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Catnip and Insects Common pests of catnip are few but do include the following: Spider mites are difficult to spot, but if you look closely, you may notice telltale webbing and tiny, black spots moving around the leaves. Leaves infested by spider mites are dry and take on a stippled, yellow appearance. Flea beetles are small beetles that jump when disturbed. The pests, which may be brown, black, or bronze, damage catnip by chewing holes in the leaves....

What is Corn Cockle? Corn cockle flowers can be found in part of the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It has become rarer in Britain as agricultural measures eradicate the plant. The focal point of Agrostemma corn cockle is the flowers. Stems are so slender as to almost disappear when in a field of other plants. The brilliant purple flowers are produced between May and September. Blooms may also be tinged a deep pink....

Primary Apple Tree Types Most domestic apples come from two primary apple tree types. In fact, according to the New Sunset Western Garden Book, most apple tree types are natural hybrids of Malus pumila and Malus sylvestris, native to two overlapping areas in southwestern Asia. Some apple tree types tolerate cold weather as far north as Alaska, while other apple trees prefer milder climates, including coastal climates and low deserts. However, most apple tree types need at least 500 to 1,000 hours of chilly weather to produce healthy, flavorful apples....

Take potatoes for instance; many people say not to add them to the pile. The reason in this case is the spuds’ desire to replicate and become more potatoes, turning into a pile of tubers instead of an organic mixture. Squashing the tubers before adding them to the pile will solve this problem. But what about onions in compost? Can you compost onions? The answer is a resounding, “yes.” Composted onion waste is just as valuable an organic ingredient as most any with a few caveats....

Containers for Vegetable Gardens Before you win any blue ribbons at the county fair, you’ll need something to grow those veggies in, and luckily, just about anything will work. Clay or plastic pots, washtubs, trashcans, whiskey barrels, and buckets are just some of the things you can transform into a mini-garden. Depending on the space available and what you want to grow, your container can be anything from a 6-inch (15 cm....

Potato Beetle Signs Both adult beetles and the larvae feed on the leaves of nightshade plants. The adult beetles are small yellow and black striped beetles. The young are hard bodied red insects with a row of ridges across their humped backs. The young also have a line of black dots along each side of their bodies. The eggs of potato beetles are bright orange and laid on the underside of leaves....

Crimson Clover Information Crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum) is native to the Mediterranean region. Also called incarnate clover because of their blood red blooms, crimson clover has been used as a cover crop in the United States since the mid 1800s. Today, it is the most common legume cover crop and forage plant for livestock in the U.S. Although it is not a native species, crimson clover has also become an important source of nectar for honeybees and other pollinators in the U....

Watermelon Diplodia Rot Watermelon diplodia is a fungal disorder, spread by Lasiodiplodia theobromine fungi, that generally results in post-harvest crop loss of watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew. Symptoms appear from mid to late summer and can run rampant in humid semi-tropic to tropical locations, when temperatures steadily linger between 77 and 86 degrees F. (25-30 C.). At 50 degrees F. (10 C.) or below, fungal growth goes dormant. Symptoms of watermelons with stem end rot may first appear as discolored or wilted leaves....

DIY Basket Planter Basics You can make your own basket from reeds and canes purchased online or at your local craft store. It’s much more fun to harvest basket making supplies from plants in your own backyard though. Here are a few plants, shrubs, and trees with the flexibility needed for weaving a basket pot: ForsythiaGrapevinesHoneysuckleIvyMulberryVirginia creeperWillow Autumn is the perfect time of year to harvest basket making supplies, as many plants benefit from pruning in the fall....

Garden Themed Costumes Admittedly, it’s easier to dress up as a ghost than a plant since all it requires is a sheet and some scissors. However, creating garden themed costumes is more fun. Starting with a solid green outfit gets you on your way toward a plant costume. If you don’t have anything green, consider dying last year’s white summer capris and a T-shirt. A green sheath dress works too or simply a green poncho....

Feeding mandevillas nourishes the growth and bloom flushes. The correct food and knowledge on how to fertilize a mandevilla will have you on the road to a glorious, season-long producer, with plenty of potential for consistent annual growth. Best Time for Feeding Mandevillas Apply mandevilla fertilizer in spring and summer every two weeks. The vine will go dormant in winter, so don’t feed at that time or you may have a flush of tender new growth that will be harmed by cooler weather....

What is a Wreath of Flowerpots? If you are always looking for ways to express your creativity, try DIY flowerpot wreaths. This cute project results in a wreath you can change for the seasons and use year after year. Used indoors, flowerpot wall décor may reflect any holiday or burst with colorful blooms to escort in the growing season. Learn how to make a flower pot wreath and enjoy it for years....

What is a Soaker Hose? If a soaker hose looks a little like a car tire, that’s because most soaker hoses are constructed from recycled tires. The hoses have a rough surface that hides millions of tiny pores. The pores allow water to seep slowly into the soil. Soaker Hose Benefits The main advantage of a soaker hose is its ability to wet the soil evenly and slowly. No precious water is wasted by evaporation, and water is delivered directly to the roots....

What is Crown Gall of Grapes? Grape crown gall is introduced to vines through some method of injury. The pathogen itself can live for years in buried plant material and can even survive extended freezing temperatures. Grapes with crown gall will slowly starve to death but initial symptoms may be hard to observe. Grapes with crown gall may by symptomatic or asymptomatic. Plants in the latter case are almost impossible to diagnose....

About Grapes that Grow in Cold Climates Grape breeders realized that there was a niche for grapes that grow in cold climates. They also noticed that there was an indigenous grape that grows along river banks throughout much of eastern North America. This native grape (Vitis riparia), while small and less than tasty, became rootstock for new breeds of cold hardy grapevines. Breeders also began hybridizing with other hardy varieties from northern China and Russia....

Indoor Camellia Care One crucial part of indoor camellia care is the appropriate temperature. These plants need lower temperatures in order to bloom. Typically, temperatures below 60 degrees F. (16 C.) work beautifully. Just take care that temperatures stay above freezing. Give your camellia houseplant a nice bright window indoors. A southern exposure window would work very well. Wherever you place your plant, be sure that it receives at least a few hours of direct sun for the best growth and flowering....

Blue Agave Plant Uses The blue agave plant is used to make another alcoholic drink called pulque. A sweet liquid is captured after the flower stem is cut just prior to flowering and is then fermented. For the production of tequila and mezcal, the sugars are extracted from the heart of the blue agave plant and then distilled. Mezcal is similar to tequila but only made in select regions and from specific varieties of agave....

About Hardy Fuchsia Plants Hardy fuchsia plants (Fuchsia magellanica) are perennial flowering shrubs that are hardy to USDA zone 6-7. They grow from four to ten feet (1-3 m.) in height and three to six feet (1-2 m.) across. The foliage is green, oval, and arranged opposing each other. The shrub blooms in spring and reliably persists through fall with red and purple dangling blossoms. These plants have naturalized in South America and other mild climatic regions and are so prolific they are now considered an invasive species....

Read on for information on how to plant pecans, including tips on pecan seed germination. Can You Plant a Pecan? It is entirely possible to plant a pecan seed. However, it is important to realize that growing pecans from seed will not produce a tree identical to the parent tree. If you want a particular type of pecan nut, or a tree that produces excellent pecans, you will need to graft....

Planting White Peonies The process of planting white peonies is very similar to that of planting other peony varieties. Though plants are often available through local nurseries or home improvement stores, more rare or unique white peony varieties can be purchased online as “bare roots.” Not only is purchasing bare roots sometimes cheaper, but it also affords gardeners with greater selection. Ideally, both bare roots and potted peonies should be planted in the fall, several weeks before the first frost....