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What is an Aphid Midge? Aphid midges (Aphidoletes aphidimyza) are tiny flies with long, slender legs. They often stand with their antenna curled back over their head. Their larvae are bright orange and consume soft-bodied insect pests. Aphid midges consume about 60 different species of aphids, including those that attack vegetable crops, ornamentals, and fruit trees. Voracious feeders, aphid midges can be more effective at managing an aphid infestation than ladybugs and lacewings....

Are Onions Good for You? The simple answer is yes! Eating onions has health benefits. For one thing, onions are low in calories and sodium, and contain no fat or cholesterol. This makes them a healthy option to flavor foods versus adding salt, sugar, or fat. Onions are rich in vitamin C, fiber, folic acid, sulphuric compounds, flavonoids, and phytochemicals. We have all heard about the benefits of vitamin C, but what about the other nutrients?...

Are Pansies Annuals or Perennials? How long do pansies live? Pansies are actually quite hardy, but they bloom in cooler weather and hot temperatures can reduce flowering and make them leggy and unsightly. In their natural state, plants start out as biennials. By the time you purchase them blooming, they are in their second year. Most commercially sold plants are hybrids and do not have cold hardiness or longevity. That being said, you can get pansies to survive into future years in temperate climates....

No Leaves on My Azaleas Before deciding that there is something wrong with your azalea, give the leaf buds plenty of time to open. Deciduous azaleas – those that lose their leaves in the fall and regrow them in spring – usually have blooming flowers before they have leaves. Wait a while before you worry that this azalea is not leafing out. Some azaleas are evergreen in warm climates and deciduous in cold climates....

Reasons for Begonia Leaf Curl As with any garden question, the reason behind why begonia leaves are curling may be difficult to diagnose. A begonia with curled leaves may have been affected in a number of ways in order for this to occur. First, growers will need to carefully observe recent changes in water, fertilization, or even weather patterns. Each of these issues can cause begonia leaf curl. Temperature – Since many begonia plants are native to tropical regions, curling begonia leaves may occur when plants have been exposed to wide temperature change....

Choosing the Best Drought Tolerant Shrubs The best drought tolerant shrubs vary from region to region. The trick is to find drought resistant shrubs that grow well in your area. Select shrubs on a site-by-site basis, taking soil, climate, and exposure into account. When you are selecting shrubs for arid conditions, remember that all shrubs need irrigation while they are establishing a root system. Even the best drought tolerant shrubs – including drought tolerant evergreen shrubs – only develop the ability to use water efficiently after the initial planting and establishment period is over....

How to Store Garlic There are a number of methods for storing garlic from the garden. Once harvested, you’ll need to decide how to store garlic based on your preferences and what you plan on doing with your crop. Storing Garlic at Room Temperature Spread some newspapers out in a location away from sunlight and in a cool, well-ventilated area. Allow the garlic to dry for at least two weeks, in a mesh bag or airy container, until the skins become paper like....

Ribbon Grass Plants Ribbon grass (Phalaris arundinacea) is a relatively small grass, growing only about a foot high. It has a dense mat of foliage with strappy leaves that begin with pink or white tinged variegation. As the leaves mature, they become striped with green and white, which has earned them the name gardener’s garters. They are also called reed canary grass. The plants are native to Europe and North America and are hardy in USDA gardening zones 4 to 9....

About Catnip Herb Plants Catnip, Nepeta cataria, is an herbaceous perennial that is native to Eurasia but has become widely naturalized in temperate areas of the world. It is hardy to USDA zones 3-9 and hails from the mint, Lamiaceae, family. Catnip contains high levels of terpenoid nepetalactone in its essential oil. This is the stuff that drives kitty wild. Humans are generally not as receptive to the oil, or at least to its aroma, and variously describe it as a combination of thyme and oregano, or downright skunky....

Finely cut foliage and long, fuzzy flowers may spread along the ground or cascade over the sides of a hanging basket. Some types of growing chenille plants take on a shrub form. Commonly known as red hot cattails or fox tail (Acalypha hispida), you are likely to find a variety suitable for your summer garden and beyond. Caring for chenille red hot cattails is simple in USDA plant hardiness zones 9 and 10, where plants grow abundantly all year long....

Chocolate mint plants (Mentha x piperita ‘Chocolate’) are attractive, fragrant and easy to grow. As with most square-stemmed members of the mint family, growing chocolate mint can take over the area in which it is planted in the ground, readily and quickly. When learning how to care for chocolate mint, know that it must be contained in some way to avoid rapid spread. Horror stories of the escape of uncontained chocolate mint are shared by gardeners who planted it directly in the ground, only for it to take over the bed or spread to a neighbor’s property where it then had to be removed....

Growing Hedges in Zone 5 Hedges range in size and purpose. They can serve an ornamental function or a practical one. The types of shrubs you select depend on the hedge’s primary function, and you should keep it in mind as you select them. A privacy hedge is a living equivalent of a stone wall. You plant a privacy hedge to prevent neighbors and passers-by from having a clear view into your yard....

Although these familiar cacti are traditionally available in shades of red, today’s holiday cactus varieties come in magenta, pink, and scarlet, as well as yellow, white, orange, purple, salmon, and apricot. Although all three are native to Brazil, Thanksgiving and Christmas cactus are tropical rain forest plants, while Easter cactus is native to Brazil’s natural forests. Different Types of Holiday Cactus The three types of Christmas cactus plants (holiday cacti) are primarily recognized by the time of bloom....

How Much Zinc Do I Need and Why Zinc deficiencies are common in vegetarians and vegans. That is because a plant based diet doesn’t allow for ingestion of zinc-rich animal products. Supplements are one solution, but the addition of certain vegetables for zinc can also increase levels of this mineral. Keep in mind that foods in the legume family may actually limit absorption, so if your diet is high in these, counter balance with other vegetable zinc sources....

Growing Wisteria in Pots Wisteria offers so much ornamental value. This includes attractive, gnarled stems and stunning blooms with a delightful fragrance. However, they are aggressive vines that can easily outgrow the area you’ve allotted them. There are many species of wisteria. The most popular for gardens are Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda), Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis), and silky wisteria (Wisteria brachybotrys). These species of wisteria are all vigorous. They can reach 30 feet (9 m....

Selecting Full Sun Groundcover Groundcovers perform a variety of functions. They fill in empty spaces which reduces weeds, cover soil to keep moisture in, pretty up blank spaces, and more. Groundcover plants for sunny locations can also help cool soil. Any full sun groundcover needs to be tolerant of periods of dryness and thrive in blistering summer heat. Prior to installing plants, determine which are hardy in your zone. You should also consider the type of soil, pH, drainage, irrigation, and other site conditions....

The fluffy powder-puff flowerheads grow in shades of pink, purple, blue, and white and may reach 24 to 30 inches (60 to 76 cm.) in height. These taller floss flowers like “Blue Horizon” and “Red Top” bloom in the colors red and blue, and can add a patriotic display for 4th of July when combined with the shorter white flowering types of the plant. Taller ones are of the Ageratum Houstonianum type....

When is It Time for Dividing Tulip Bulbs? Once in awhile a person may find that they just so happened to plant their tulips in ideal conditions and that their tulips flourish year after year. If you are one of these rare and lucky people, you may find yourself in the unusual circumstances of needing to divide the tulip bulbs in your tulip bed. Tulip bulbs are much like any other kind of bulb....

What is Dogfennel? Dogfennel weeds (Eupatorium capillifolium) are common sights in the southeastern United States, frequently overrunning pastures, popping up through thin turf and sprouting in otherwise manicured landscapes. These tall weeds are easy to identify by their thick, furry stems and lace-like foliage. As they grow to heights of six feet (1.8 m.) or more, the stems may toughen into a woody base. Dogfennal weeds are easy to confuse with similar-looking weeds like mayweed chamomile (Anthemis cotula), pineapple weed (Matricaria matricarioides) and horseweed (Conyza canadensis)....

Douglas Fir Information Douglas fir information mentions two species of Douglas fir, the coastal variety and the Rocky Mountain variety. Both are evergreen, but coastal Douglas fir trees are taller and grow faster. The tree’s native range spreads from New Mexico’s Rocky Mountains to the Gulf of Alaska. You’ll find the biggest Douglas firs in the landscape along the wet Pacific coast. Douglas fir is a big tree that grows to over 120 feet (37 m....