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Full Sun Border Plants Sunny borders are popular locations for flowers that do well in direct sun. When choosing plants for areas with full sun, it’s generally better to stick with native plantings whenever possible. These plants are well suited to your particular area and climate, giving them the best chance for success. However, you can also select plants that share similar growing conditions according to your site such as soil type, light and water requirements....

Ponderosa Pine Facts Ponderosa pines are large trees native to the Rocky Mountain region of North America. A typical cultivated ponderosa pine grows to around 60 feet (18 m.) tall with a branch spread of about 25 feet (8 m.). Planting ponderosa pine trees requires a big backyard. The lower half of the straight trunk is bare, while the top half has branches with needles. Needles are stiff and between 5 to 8 inches (13-20 cm....

Growing cannas in containers is a good way to guarantee summer blooms. Cannas in Containers Potting a canna lily is best done in a large container, as the plant needs room for the root system to develop. The larger the pot, the more bulbs you can plant, resulting in more blooms from the canna growing in pots. Containers for canna lily plants can be made of ceramic material or clay — either glazed or unglazed....

What is Clematis Wilt? The first step in treating or preventing clematis wilting is becoming familiar with the issue and its causes. So what is clematis wilt? Clematis wilt, also called clematis leaf and stem spot, is a fungal disease that progresses rapidly. A careful observer may see black spots on the leaves and stems as the disease begins, but the symptoms often go undetected until the entire stem wilts and dies....

What are Pea Weevils? Pea weevil pests are small, black to brownish insects with a white zigzag running across the back. Bruchus pisorum overwinter in plant debris in the soil and then lay their eggs on the pea pods. Pea weevil larvae hatch and burrow into the pods and feed on the developing peas while adults munch on the blossoms. The resulting pea weevil damage on the pea crop renders it unfit for sale in the commercial sector and unappetizing for the home gardener....

Propagating Indigo Plants Indigo plants grow best in warm climates with ample humidity. They are most often propagated through seed but cuttings can also be taken and rooted. How to Propagate an Indigo by Seed Starting indigo seeds is relatively simple. While growers whose gardens receive adequate heat are often able to sow indigo seeds directly into the garden after all chance of frost has passed, those with shorter growing seasons may need to start seeds indoors....

Pumpkin Harvest Information Pumpkins last longer if you harvest them when they reach their mature color and the rind is hard. Use the seed packet to get an idea of the mature color of the variety. Wait until the pumpkin rind loses its shine and it’s hard enough that you can’t scratch it with your fingernail. The curly tendrils on the part of the vine near the pumpkin turn brown and die back when it is completely ripe, though in some cases they can continue to ripen off the vine....

Salt Damage on Lawns Anyone living in the north along a busy roadway where salt is used to help melt ice understands how damaging salt is to lawns. The salt draws moisture from the grass and causes it to brown. Salt used to de-ice roads is mostly refined rock salt, which is 98.5 percent sodium chloride. Calcium chloride is less damaging to lawns and plants but is not used as often as refined rock salt because it is more expensive....

You should also protect the plants from salt spray with a cloche, row cover, or hedge of tolerant plants. Seaside vegetables grow just as well as those inland with a little planning and effort. Raised Seaside Vegetable Garden One foolproof method of growing vegetables on coast areas with high levels of salt is to make a raised bed. Raised beds warm up faster than ground level soil and are easy to cover to protect from salt spray....

Identifying Septoria Leaf Canker Septoria on tomato leaves manifests as water spots that are 1/16 to 1/4 inch (2-6 mm.) wide. As the spots mature, they have brown edges and lighter tan centers and become septoria leaf cankers. A magnifying glass would confirm the presence of small black fruiting bodies in the center of the spots. These fruiting bodies will ripen and explode and spread more fungal spores. The disease doesn’t leave marks on the stems or fruit but does spread upward to younger foliage....

Growing Shade Trees in Zone 7 Zone 7 may have nippy winters, but summers can be sunny and hot. Homeowners looking for a little backyard shade might think about planting zone 7 shade trees. When you want a shade tree, you want it yesterday. That’s why it’s wise to consider relatively fast-growing trees when you are selecting trees for zone 7 shade. Nothing is quite as impressive or solid as an oak tree, and those with wide canopies create beautiful summer shade....

Shepherd’s Purse Plant Information Shepherd’s purse gets its name from the resemblance of its seed pods to purses once carried by shepherds in Europe and Asia Minor. When the heart-shaped pods burst open, they release seeds that are carried by the elements and on the coats and feathers of animals to far-flung areas. The seeds remain viable for a long time, and they germinate easily once they come in contact with soil....

Can You Compost Spent Grains? Composting home brew waste is just one more way you can personally reduce waste and reuse something that is no longer useful for its previous purpose. That wet mass of grain is organic and from the land, which means it can be sent back into the soil. You can take something that once was rubbish and turn it into black gold for the garden. Your beer is made, and now it’s time to clean up the brewing space....

Where to Start Seeds Indoors Gardeners with the luxury of a heated greenhouse are way ahead of many other plant growers. Germinating seeds indoors is often the only option, especially for northern gardeners. All the items necessary to start seed inside can be found online, at nurseries, or big box stores. They are fairly inexpensive and often reusable. You may also create your own seed starting set up by saving egg cartons as flats, mixing your own seed starter medium, and using seed saved from the previous year’s harvest....

Can You Transplant Grape Hyacinths? Moving grape hyacinth bulbs from one area to another is a great use of the multiplied plant. It takes several years of growth before this plant stops blooming because of overcrowding in the bed. If your bulbs have been growing in the same spot without division for a long while, you can transplant grape hyacinths into other spots in the landscape. When to Transplant Grape Hyacinths Learning when to transplant grape hyacinths is not hard, because they are flexible and quite tough....

Given how long the ginkgo trees have survived on the planet, it won’t surprise you to learn that they are generally strong and healthy. Still, ginkgo tree diseases do exist. Read on for information about the diseases of ginkgo with tips for managing sick ginkgo trees. Issues with Ginkgo In general, ginkgo trees resist most pests and diseases. Their resistance to ginkgo tree diseases is one reason they have survived as a species for so long....

About Tree Philodendron Houseplants It should be noted that the plant, until recently, was classified as Philodendron selloum, but is now reclassified as P. bipinnatifidum. This Brazilian native has a stem that appears as a woody trunk when the plant is older, hence the common name, and may reach 15 feet (4.5 m.) in height and 10 feet (3 m.) across in maturity. If you’re in warmer zones and able to leave your tree philodendron houseplants in the same spot year-round, by all means, repot and fertilize to increase its size....

What are Witch Finger Grapes? You probably won’t find these special grapes in your supermarket yet, but they are worth waiting for. Grown as a table grape, both their sweet flavor and unusual shape make them appealing to kids as well as adults. Maroon in color when fully ripe, a cluster of witch finger grapes looks like a tightly packed cluster of chili peppers. They have thin skin over light-colored, juicy, sweet flesh....

Bacterial Canker Symptoms Peach bacterial canker is associated with a syndrome called Peach Tree Short Life. With a name like that, it is evident what the ultimate outcome is without adequate peach bacterial canker control. It is a slow death that results in an unhealthy tree with little to no fruit and an untimely demise. It can be hard to initially recognize bacterial canker on peach trees. By the time your eyes can see the signs, the tree is likely in great distress....

What is a Grass Driveway and Why Would You Want One? A grass driveway is just as it sounds: a driveway made at least partially of turf grass rather than being constructed entirely of asphalt, concrete, gravel, or pavers. The main reason to have this kind of driveway is to make it permeable to rain and prevent or minimize stormwater runoff. When it rains on a traditional driveway, the water is not absorbed....