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African Violet Leaf Curl Caused by Cold If the leaves on your African violet are curling under, the most likely cause is temperature. These plants grow best when temperatures during the day are around 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 Celsius) and not much cooler at night. Watering African violets with cool water can also be problematic. Let water warm to room temperature. Being too cold for too long will cause the leaves to turn brittle and curl under....

What Causes Spinach Leaf Spots? Leaf spots on spinach are likely the result of a fungal disease or a pest, such as a leaf miner or a flea beetle. The spinach leaf miner (Pegomya hyoscyami) larvae tunnel into leaves creating mines, hence the name. These mines are at first long and narrow but eventually become an irregular blotched area. The larvae look like a whitish maggot and are shaped like a carrot....

What is a California Pepper Tree? If you don’t live in southern California where these trees have naturalized, you may ask: “What is a California pepper tree?” For those looking for a fast-growing evergreen shade tree for a Mediterranean style garden, the California pepper tree might be the perfect choice. It shoots up rapidly to its mature height, usually about 40 feet (12 m.), and often grows branches as wide as wide as the tree is tall....

What is a Contemporary Garden? Contemporary design relies upon simple, clean lines but can encompass one’s personality. These traits work well in garden design. But what is a contemporary garden? A contemporary garden should have a relaxed and homey feel. It brings the outside in and provides a living space that reflects the owner and invites conversation while providing a modern look. When we talk about contemporary garden design, think sleek but unique....

What is a Frost Hardy Peach? Close your eyes and conjure up the scent of a fully ripe summer peach. There are few things like the abundant fruits of summer, and peaches are one of the best. A Frost peach produces medium to large fruits on a self-fruitful tree. Fruits are so abundant that tip pruning may have to occur to allow fruit space to develop. Frost peach grows in USDA zones 5 to 9, making it one of the hardiest peaches available....

Kola Nut Information So exactly what is a kola nut? Kola nuts are sometime called cola nuts. They grow as nuts on several trees in the Cola genus, including Cola acuminata and Cola nitida. The kola nut is a symbol of hospitality and kindness in the communities in its native range in Africa. Plates of these nuts are offered as gifts or brought out when visitors arrive. Although they have little taste, they are chewed to help promote digestion....

Monk’s Hood Cactus Info There are numerous smaller succulents available today that weren’t available just a few decades ago. Plant breeders and collectors have been busy developing new species or breeding more of harvested wild species. This makes the selection for home gardeners broad and introduces us to monk’s hood cactus. It is endemic to the central Plateau of Mexico but is now widely found as a houseplant. Monk’s hood has interesting geometric form from all angles....

Artificial Lawn Grass Info Artificial lawn grass consists of synthetic, grass-like fibers or yarn – often polypropylene or polyethylene. Quality artificial lawn grass consists of several layers, including backing, cushioning, two or three drainage layers, and infill, which is often made from substances like recycled rubber tires or natural cork. If you are thinking about installing an artificial lawn, the pros and cons of using artificial grass for yards should be carefully considered....

What is Onion Purple Blotch? Purple blotch in onion is caused by the fungus Alternaria porri. A fairly common disease of onions, it first manifests as small, water-soaked lesions that rapidly develop white centers. As the lesions progress, they turn from brown to purple with a halo of yellow. Often the lesions merge and girdle the leaf, resulting in tip dieback. Less commonly, the bulb becomes infected through the neck or from wounds....

What is Pink Evening Primrose? Pink evening primrose is Oenothera speciosa and is also sometimes called showy evening primrose and pink ladies. It is native to the southeastern U.S. and is considered an attractive wildflower in many locations. Pink evening primrose plants grow low to the ground and spread vigorously in an informal and loose way. The foliage of pink evening primrose is dark green with some variation. The flowers are about 2 inches (5 cm....

What is Tree Topping? Topping a tree is the removal of the top of the central stem of a tree, called the leader, as well as the upper main branches. They are usually sheared off at a uniform height. The result is an unsightly tree with thin, upright branches called water sprouts at the top. Topping a tree seriously affects its health and value in the landscape. Once a tree is topped, it is highly susceptible to disease, decay and insects....

Are All Nematodes Bad? Nematodes are microscopic, but multicellular, non-segmented round worms (earthworms are segmented, for comparison). If critters creep you out, don’t worry. You can’t see the millions of nematodes in your soil without magnification. Luckily for gardeners, of the approximately 80,000 species of nematodes, only about 2,500 are parasitic. Of those, only some are parasitic and damaging to crop plants. So, no, not all are harmful nematodes, and most are normal members of the soil ecosystem....

Why Do Strawberries Rot in the Garden? There are a few different diseases that can cause rotting strawberries, and if you understand how these develop, you can take steps to prevent them: Gray mold. Gray mold looks just like it sounds: gray, fuzzy mold growing on your berries. It can begin early, before any berries develop, causing the flowers and stems to brown and even die. As the berries form, they get moldy and rot....

Aloes look spectacular alone or in an arrangement with other succulents. The thick, serrated leaves make an excellent foil for softer rounder plants with similar cultivation needs. Aloes need little supplemental care as long they are grown in well drained, slightly gritty soil with adequate sun exposure and occasional water. Insects affect plants that are not well cared for or are in stressful conditions. Why is Aloe Sticky? Once you rule out exposure to chemical residue or another plant’s sap, the logical conclusion is honeydew....

What is Xylella Fastidiosa? Xylella fastidiosa is a bacterium that infects and causes diseases in plants. It is mostly an issue in the southeastern U.S. but can infect plants in other areas too, including the Midwest and Ontario. As the name Xylella suggests, this is a bacterium that sets up shop in the xylem of plants, the vascular tissue that moves water and nutrients up from the roots. The bacteria are transferred and spread to new hosts by leafhoppers because they feed on xylem tissue....

The plant also blocks water flow and damages bird nesting sites and important fish habitat. These hardy plants are found across the United States, with the exception of the Rocky Mountains. Learn more about its control in this article. Yellow Flag Iris Control When not in bloom, yellow flag iris looks much like familiar cattails, but the resemblance stops there. The plant, which spreads by long rhizomes and by seed, is easy to spot by its sword-like leaves and the bright yellow blooms that appear in late spring and early summer....

Be sure to select trees that are suited to your climate and to the characteristics of your property. This article will give you ideas for zone 8 boundary trees to choose from in planning an effective and attractive privacy screen. Planting Trees for Privacy in Zone 8 Some homeowners plant a row of all one kind of tree as a privacy screen. Instead, consider planting a mix of different trees along a boundary....

About Chinese Fringe Plants Loropetalum plants are native to Japan, China, and the Himalayas. The plants may be as tall as 10 feet (3 m.) but are usually small trees of 5 feet (1.5 m.). The leaves are oval and glossy green, set on stems with crinkly brown bark. Blooms appear in March to April and last for up to two weeks on the stems. These flowers are 1 to 1 ½ inch (2....

About African Violet Pruning African violets are a bit old fashioned, but they are still one of the most popular indoor blooming plants. With their softly furred leaves, intensely colored blooms and diminutive size, they snuggle into any moderately bright area of the home. One of the easiest chores that helps the plant attain perfection is trimming African violets. This is a relatively simple task that just needs a little finesse but no real skill or timing....

Agrimony Plant Info Agrimony belongs to the rose family, and the spikes of sweet-scented, bright yellow blooms are an attractive addition to the landscape. In days of yore, fabric was colored with dye created from the blooms. Historically, agrimony herbs have been used to treat a variety of conditions, including insomnia, menstrual problems, diarrhea, sore throat, cough, snake bites, skin conditions, blood loss and jaundice. According to various sources of plant folklore, witches used the agrimony herb in their spells to ward off curses....