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Recognizing Fruit Trees with Powdery Mildew Knowing how to treat powdery mildew requires being able to recognize it. The clearest sign of powdery mildew is the characteristic spores and mycelium. They are white or gray in color and appear like a powdered substance on both sides of leaves. Less commonly you will see the powder on new shoots and flowers. When flowers are infected, the fruit will then either not set or be stunted, russeted, or will develop rough spots....

Pitcher Plant Info Growing pitcher plants outdoors requires a combination of conditions quite different from ordinary garden plants. Garden-grown pitcher plants love nutrient-poor soil that is deficient in nitrogen and phosphorus. In their native environments, pitcher plants grow in highly acidic, sandy, peat-rich soil. So normal soil nitrogen levels can kill pitcher plants and also invites other competitive plants into their growing space. Pitcher plants in the garden also require full sun....

Storage Zone in Backyard If you’ve got a backyard, you may have gardening equipment, landscaping tools, kids’ backyard toys, and even pool cleaning equipment that needs to be stored somewhere. Yes, you could rent a storage unit, but that’s so inconvenient when you need something NOW. Don’t worry, no matter how small your balcony or how large your lawn, there are lots of ways to create DIY garden storage. The idea of creating a storage zone in backyard corners is to provide storage space built in to another useful piece of outdoor furniture....

Blooms of the Cardiocrinum Himalayan lily are large, nodding, trumpet shaped and a creamy white color with reddish purple centers. As the name indicates, this is a large lily, reaching 6 to 8 feet (2 m.) in height. Some giant lily plant facts say this lily can reach 14 feet (4 m.). It is hardy in USDA zones 7 through 9. How to Grow Himalayan Giant Lilies Giant Himalayan lily care includes planting bulbs in a partially shaded location....

What are Gogi Berries? Gogi berries are in the nightshade family of plants, which include tomatoes and peppers. The berries grow on shrubs of 3 to 5 feet (1-1.5 m.) in height, with long arching stems. These berries spring from bright purple, funnel-shaped flowers. Orange globular berries then form in late season. The bush is native to Asia, but it is also found wild in Russia, China, Turkey, and Japan. Berries are a brilliant orange-red and oval shaped....

Does Ginger Grow in Water? Ginger is inappropriately called ginger root, but what is actually used is the rhizome of the plant. From the rhizome, spring upright, grass-like leaves. As the plant grows, new rhizomes are produced. As mentioned, usually the plant is cultivated in soil, but can you grow ginger in water? Yes, ginger does grow in water. In fact, growing ginger in water has advantages over traditional cultivation. Growing hydroponic ginger plants takes less maintenance and less space....

Growing Kiwi in Zone 8 What kiwis grow in zone 8? Actually, most kiwis can. There are two main types of zone 8 kiwi vines: fuzzy kiwis and hardy kiwis. Fuzzy kiwi (Actindia chinensis and Actinidia deliciosa) are the kiwi fruits that you would find in a grocery store produce department. They have egg size fruit with brown fuzzy skin, green tart pulp, and black seeds. Fuzzy kiwi vines are hardy in zones 7 to 9, though they may need winter protection in zone 7 and 8a....

What are Arum Weeds? Arum is a broad family of mostly foliage plants. Italian arum is also known as Lords and Ladies or Orange Candle flower. It is an attractive foliage plant from Europe that quickly colonizes introduced ranges. It spreads by both bulb and seed and reproduces rapidly. In many areas, it is classified as a toxic weed. Managing arum plants is challenging but possible. Most arums are pleasant and well-mannered plants, but Italian arum are pests....

Monstera Deliciosa Flower Monstera belongs to the same plant group as skunk cabbage and Jack-in-the-pulpit, and the resulting monstera plant flower looks much the same. The Monstera “flower” is a fleshy erect spadix or spike with tiny blooms surrounded by a boat-shaped spathe. Monstera deliciosa flowers are creamy white and large, about 8-12 inches (20-38.4 cm.) in length. Monstera Deliciosa Fruit A Monstera may bloom and fruit at the same time due to the lengthy period of time the plant takes to bring an inflorescence to a mature fruit....

Can You Press Fall Leaves to Preserve Them? Pressing flowers is an ancient art that preserves delicate beauties of nature. The same strategy works with leaves. If you have pressed flowers before, you know that the colors may not remain quite as vivid as with other flower drying methods, but you’ll still get rich, stunning color for fall displays and artwork. As with flowers, leaves can be preserved through pressing because it removes moisture....

How Much Water Do Flowers Need? Watering gardens of any kind is important. Knowing how to water flowers correctly begins with the basics, how much water they actually need to grow and thrive. A good general rule to follow for most flowers is one inch (2.5 cm.) of water every seven to ten days. This is just for the growing season, though, as many flowers need less during the dormant part of the year....

Though hydrangea bushes within flower beds are most common, many flower lovers have chosen to explore the idea of making a hydrangea hedge. Learning more about this process can help growers decide whether making a hydrangea hedge row is right for their garden. Hydrangea Hedge Ideas Hydrangea hedges are popular with homeowners who wish to build privacy between neighbors while making a show-stopping visual impact. In full bloom, large hydrangea hedges are enough to make most passersby stop and look twice....

What are Pit Greenhouses? What are pit greenhouses, also known as underground gardens or underground greenhouses? In simple terms, pit greenhouses are structures that cold climate gardeners use to extend the growing season, as underground greenhouses are much warmer in winter and the surrounding soil keeps the structure comfortable for plants (and people) during summer heat. Pit greenhouses have been constructed in the mountains of South America for at least a couple of decades with tremendous success....

Indoor gardening for seniors can help with depression, stress, and loneliness, especially while social distancing – and one study indicates indoor senior gardening may even reduce the risk of dementia. Indoor Gardening for Seniors Here are a few ideas for elderly gardeners: Succulent or cactus gardens are interesting and extremely easy to care for. Succulents and cacti require very little water, but most need plenty of sunshine. Plant one in a small pot or fill a large, shallow container with three or four plants....

Is Spinach a Shade Plant? If you flip a spinach seed packet over and examine the growth requirements, you’ll find spinach does best when planted in full to partial sun. Full sun refers to six or more hours of direct sunlight per day, while partial sun generally means four to six hours. As a cool-weather crop, spinach doesn’t fit neatly into either one of these categories. In early spring and late fall when the sun resides lower in the sky and its rays are less intense, spinach shade tolerance is low....

Jerusalem Artichoke Companion Planting As an ornamental and an edible, Jerusalem artichoke has plant friends or companions in the veggie garden, as well as in flowerbeds. It attracts pollinators, beneficial insects, and birds. However, it also can be prone to aphids. In fact, it is sometimes used as an aphid decoy plant. Jerusalem artichoke can inhibit the growth of potatoes and tomatoes, so it should not be placed near either of them....

Leaf Spot Diseases on Hydrangeas Leaf spotting on hydrangea is mostly caused by the fungus Cercospora and affects most of this family of plants. It is common from summer through fall. The fungus exists in the soil and is moved onto the plant by overhead watering or rain. Plants are usually infected a month or two before spots appear on the leaves. Symptoms worsen during summers with heavy rainfall. Plants may flower less, with smaller blooms, and are less vigorous overall....

How to Grow Lemon Thyme Plants Low growing lemon thyme plants appear as an evergreen shrub with small lemon scented foliage. They are an easy plant to grow with endless gastronomic uses in any dish requiring citrus and savory notes. How to grow lemon thyme is pretty straightforward. This little Thymus variety will flourish in USDA plant hardiness zones 5 through 9, remaining an evergreen in zones 8 and 9. Plant lemon thyme plants in the spring in a full sun setting and space them 12 inches (31 cm....

Peaches Cherries Apricots Plums Nectarines Leucostoma canker of stone fruits can be deadly to young trees and significantly decreases health and productivity of older trees, with a slow decline that often results in the demise of the tree. The disease also affects several types of hardwood trees, including willow and aspen. What is Leucostoma Canker? Leucostoma canker affects the bark through various types of injuries, including winter damage, dead branches, and improper pruning....

Information About Leyland Cypress Leland cypress (x Cupressocyparis leylandii) is a rare, but successful, hybrid between two different genera: Cupressus and Chamaecyparis. Leyland cypress has a short lifespan for an evergreen tree, surviving for 10 to 20 years. This tall, evergreen conifer is grown commercially in the southeast as a Christmas tree. The tree grows to a height of 50 to 70 feet (15-20 m.), and although the spread is only 12 to 15 feet (4-4....