Posts

Bidens Tickseed Wildflowers Tickseed sunflower plants (Bidens aristosa) are in the Aster family and from the genus Bidens. As such, they are composite flowers made up of bright yellow ray flowers (what most people think of as “petals” on an aster) and small darker yellow or brown disc flowers clustered at the center. They are also typically called Bur Marigolds or Bearded Beggarticks. This fast-growing annual grows 4-5 feet (1-1.5 m....

What are Corn Tillers? Corn tillers are also sometimes called suckers because of the old wives tale that they “suck” nutrients from the plant. The question is, “Is it true that suckers on corn stalks will adversely affect yield?” Tillers on corn are vegetative or reproductive shoots that grow from the axillary buds on the lower five to seven stalk nodes of a corn plant. They are commonly found on corn....

Planting Lettuce in Container Growing lettuce in containers requires the right type of pot and planting medium. Lettuce needs ample room for roots but you can grow several varieties in 6 to 12 inch (15-30.5 cm.) pots. The greens need a consistent supply of moisture as they are almost 95 percent water but cannot tolerate wet roots. A clay pot provides a permeable surface that can evaporate any excess water and prevent soggy roots....

About Butternut Harvesting Butternuts, or white walnuts, are tolerant of a variety of poor soils but do require well-draining soil. The nuts resemble walnuts and are encased in a sticky husk inside a knobbed shell. Butternuts are richer, creamier, and sweeter than walnuts but are rarely cultivated. They are also susceptible to fungal infections. The incidence for fungal infection combined with the fact that the tree is difficult to propagate are the greatest impediments to commercial cultivation....

Why Cut Back a Weeping Willow? A mature weeping willow is one of the most romantic of trees. You often see pictures of a willow growing by a still lake, its cascading branches reflected in the still surface of the water. That beautiful canopy must be maintained to keep it healthy and beautiful though. You need to cut back a weeping willow to keep it looking its best. Trimming a weeping willow’s branch tips to even out the foliage of an ornamental tree makes sense....

Treating vegetable pests involves a number of steps, but the simplest way to deal with the problem is to prevent them from overtaking your garden in the first place. Common Pests in Vegetable Gardens The earliest pests affecting vegetable plants are the larvae or worms that are the second stage in an insect’s life. Many of these look like colorful caterpillars, but they are anything but friendly. These pests can munch through an entire row of plants in a matter of days, laying waste to your carefully planted crops....

About Veggies High in Calcium Calcium is important because it helps build and maintain strong healthy bones and teeth, helps with blood clotting, supports nervous system functions, and regulates the heartbeat. It also can help prevent osteoporosis, a disease which causes weak and porous bones. Osteoporosis accounts for over 1.5 million broken or fractured bones each year. Women over 50 are specifically at high risk for osteoporosis. The recommended daily requirement of calcium is 1,000 mg....

Vervain Herbal Information Vervain belongs to the genus Verbena – the friendly little annual found in many flowerbeds. While garden verbena is a sub-tropical plant, Vervain is native to southern Europe and most likely found its way to the New World with early settlers. Vervain is a spreading plant that displays stiff, erect stems and reaches mature heights of 12 to 36 inches (31-91 cm.). Narrow spikes of tiny, blue flowers appear from early summer until autumn....

What is a Lombardy Poplar? What is a Lombardy poplar? This species of poplar is tall and thin; its shape is columnar. It grows well in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 9a. Lombardy poplar trees grow rapidly. They could grow to a mature height of up to 60 feet (18 m.), spreading around 12 feet (3.5 m.). However, most are killed by canker disease within 15 years, so large specimens are hard to find....

What is a Tulip Prickly Pear? Opuntia phaecantha is a medium sized cactus. It matures to a shrub-like mounding form that may be 5 feet tall by 15 feet wide (1.52 by 4.57 m.). The stems or joints attach to pads and can create quite a thicket over time. The spines are both persistent and thicker – short-term glochids set in areoles. Joints are bluish-green but can develop a reddish tinge in cool weather....

Read on to learn more about contour gardening. What is Contour Gardening? You don’t always get land that is perfectly flat or has straight lines. Sometimes you just have to wing it and get creative to make garden beds. Don’t force beds where they aren’t naturally fitting into the landscape. Instead, use the oddness of the land’s configuration by building contour beds. Developing contour garden rows makes sense. It allows you to work with the land rather than against it....

Grape Anthracnose Info Spotty grapes? This could be caused by anthracnose on grapevines. The problem also affects the shoots and leaves and may result in reduced vigor in vines, affecting production and appearance. Many commercial crops and ornamental plants develop this fungal disease, especially in wet, warm periods. As with any fungal disease, the condition is contagious and spreads readily in vineyard situations. The signs of brown lesions on leaves and stems may be the first symptoms of anthracnose on grapevines....

When to Move a Camellia Bush Camellias (Camellia spp.) are woody shrubs that grow best in warmer regions. They thrive in USDA plant hardiness zones 7 through 10. You can buy camellias from your garden store during winter. If you are wondering when to transplant or when to move a camellia bush, winter is the perfect time. The plant may not look dormant, but it is. How to Transplant a Camellia Camellia transplanting can be easy or it can be more difficult depending on the age and size of the plant....

Winterizing Fruit Trees If you want to know how to care for fruit trees in the winter, think of prevention. You can avoid many problems if you buy fruit tree varieties that are resistant to the worst species of disease. It’s also important to give your trees proper attention and care. One good step toward preventing diseases and infestations in your fruit trees in winter is a good autumn cleanup of the orchard....

Witness Tree Meaning Witness trees are trees that were in place as noteworthy events occurred around them. Sadly, these events in the history of the United States are largely without exception tragic ones, important or particularly bloody battles that saw many soldiers die. The trees were usually young at the time of the battles, and stand now as mature, silent guardians of the memories they absorbed. They are meaningful to many people touched by the losses, so much so that in 2006 the National Park Service created the Witness Tree Protection Program....

Growing Heat Tolerant Flowers Growing colorful flowers in hot climates poses certain challenges. A lot of plants go into a type of dormancy when the temperatures soar. An occasional hot day or even week is not that bad. When you live somewhere with extreme temperatures for months though, flowering plants may wilt and dry. When there is no respite from the heat at night, as in regions that are both hot and humid, the effects are even more severe....

About Planting Almond Nuts A little nugget of information that you may not know; almonds, although referred to as nuts, are actually a type of stone fruit. Almond trees bloom in February or March, leaf out and produce a greenish fruit that looks quite a bit like a peach, only green. The fruit hardens and splits, revealing the almond shell in the core of the fruit hull. If you want to try almond germination from seed, steer clear of processed almonds....

Bear Control Deterrents The most common bear enticers include garbage cans, bird or pet food, and grills. They are also adept at digging and will enter gardens looking for roots and tubers, as well as vegetation. Bears also favor fruit trees and vegetables. When making plans for bear control, remember that these animals spend lots of time and energy trying to gain access to food. They will even open containers when necessary....

Researching these plant types will help you better determine whether or not they will be well suited for growth in your region. Blue witches’ hat (recently changed to Coleus livingstonei), for example, also known as hedgehog sage plant, offers its growers saturated blue blooms that are beloved by pollinators. However, it does require specific conditions for growth. About Blue Witches’ Hat Plants Blue witches’ hat plants, formerly found under the nomenclature of Pycnostachys urticifolia, are native to regions of South Africa where they are frequently found near wetlands and along the banks of waterways....

Cabbage Plant Info Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) grows well in fertile soil and likes sun or partial shade. Available in a variety of green shades, as well as purple or red, the shapes and textures vary widely. Green cabbage and bok choy have a somewhat smooth leaf, while savoy and napa cabbage leaves are crinkly. There are many different types, so be sure to choose one that’s suitable for your growing region....