What is a Sweet Lemon? Given that there are many citrus hybrids referred to as sweet lemon or sweet lime, what exactly is a sweet lemon? Sweet lemon (or sweet lime) is a generic catchall term used to describe citrus hybrids with low acid pulp and juice. Sweet lemon plants are not true lemons, but a lemon hybrid or a cross between two other types of citruses. In the case of Citrus ujukitsu, this sweet lemon fruit tree is thought to be a strain of tangelo, which is a cross between a grapefruit and a tangerine....

What is a Whipcord Cedar? Barbara Hupp, co-owner of Drake Cross Nursery in Silverton Oregon, is credited with the discovery of the Whipcord cultivar in 1986. Unlike other arborvitae, Whipcord western red cedars grow as a compact, rounded shrub. It’s very slow growing and will eventually reach 4 to 5 feet tall (1-1.5 m.). This is dwarf-like in comparison to the 50 to 70 foot (15-21 m.) mature height of the giant arborvitae....

What is a Yellow Egg Plum? According to its namesake, Yellow Egg plums are a type of yellow egg-shaped European plum. Known for being somewhat smaller, European plums are a great addition to home orchards for their fresh eating qualities when allowed to fully ripen as well as their use in pies, tarts, and various savory recipes. Thriving in USDA growing zones 5 through 9, gardeners are able to reap large harvests of these sweet freestone plums....

Are Azadirachtin and Neem Oil the Same? Neem oil and azadirachtin aren’t the same, but the two are closely related. Both come from the neem tree, native to India but now grown in warm climates around the world. Both substances are effective for repelling and killing insect pests and also interfere with feeding, mating, and egg laying. Both are safe for humans, wildlife, and the environment when used properly. Bees and other pollinators are also unharmed....

Frost blankets are lightweight, easy to use, and can save the end of season harvest from a cold snap. How does a frost blanket work? The material traps heat stored in soil and keeps plants warm. A professional frost blanket for garden use also allows light to penetrate during the day, which means you can leave the blanket on day and night. What is a Frost Blanket? If you don’t have time to purchase frost cloth, also known as reemay or floating row cover, you can use lightweight sheets or other cloth in a pinch....

What is Nemesia? Nemesia is a small bedding plant with many uses in the garden. Use them as edging plants, ground covers, in mixed borders, woodland plantings and as container or hanging basket plants. Most varieties grow to about a foot (30 cm.) in height, but there are some that get as tall as two feet (60 cm.). These versatile little plants offer a wide range of flower colors, and some come in bicolors....

What is Purple Deadnettle? Purple deadnettle (Lamium purpureum) is a common annual weed that belongs to the mint family, which explains why it’s such a pest. Like other mints, purple deadnettle is an aggressive grower that spreads like wildfire anywhere it can get a foothold. You’ll recognize it and its cousin, henbit, by their distinctive square stems that hold up an umbrella of tiny flowers and small, pointed leaves reaching up to an inch (2....

What is Purple Sprouting Broccoli? Purple broccoli plants are extremely cold hardy withstanding temps below 10 degrees F. (-12 C.). This unique attribute is critical to success in growing the plant, as Purple Sprouting broccoli growing will require at least 180 days to mature. Unlike other broccoli plants, which produce a single large head, Purple Sprouting broccoli plants produce smaller heads with multitudes of tender side shoots. These shoots often taste especially sweet and delectable due to their exposure to cooler temperatures....

“Why should I tickle my plants?” you may wonder. This article will explain the reasons behind this unusual practice. Thigmomorphogenesis Info So, what is thigmomorphogenesis? Plants respond to light, gravity, and moisture levels, and they also respond to touch. In nature, a growing plant encounters rain, wind, and passing animals. Many plants detect and respond to these touch stimuli by slowing their growth rate and developing thicker, shorter stems. Wind is an important touch stimulus for many plants....

What is Watermint? Shore plants, like watermint, are important for erosion control, food sources, animal habitat, and simple waterline beauty. What is watermint? Growing watermint around the pond will add fragrance in the summer blooming season and attract butterflies and pollinating insects. The midsummer blooms are caps of tiny florets amassed into a larger flower in deep hues of purple to blue, creating a beautiful effect. Watermint has thick, dark green leaves, tinged with deep, purple veins, and slight hair....

How Do I Dispose of Sod? Don’t dispose of it; put it to use instead. The easiest thing to do with freshly dug sod is to reuse it. If it’s in good condition and you have another area that’s in need of grass, you can just relocate it. It’s important to move quickly, though, preferably within 36 hours, and keep the sod moist and in the shade while it’s out of the ground....

When Should I Prune Hops? Hops plant pruning starts very soon after the plant emerges from the soil. Hops grow from rhizomes that put out a bunch of vines over the course of the growing season. In the spring, you should have several vines coming out of the same spot. Once they’re between 1 and 2 feet (31-61 cm.) in length, pick three or four of the healthiest vines to keep....

Cultural Causes of Oleander Leaf Drop Oleanders are more common in warm regions but can withstand winters in temperate zones. They are hardy to 35 degrees Fahrenheit (1.6 C.) and have remarkable drought-tolerance once established. The best blooms come from plants in full sun and well-drained soil with average water application. If you are providing these conditions and still wondering, “Why is my oleander losing leaves?”, we may be able to provide some answers....

Reasons for Color Changing in Hibiscus If you’ve ever noticed the flowers on your hibiscus turning a different color, you’ve probably wondered what was behind the change. To understand why this happens, we need to look at what creates flower colors in the first place. Three groups of pigments create the vibrant color displays of hibiscus flowers. Anthocyanins produce blue, purple, red, and pink colors, depending on the individual pigment molecule and the pH it is exposed to....

How to Attract Birds in the Garden Encourage birds to take up residence in your garden by providing them with the three essentials: food, water, and shelter. If you provide any of these essentials, you will occasionally see birds in the garden, but if you want them to take up residence, you must provide all three when attracting birds to your garden. Trees and shrubs provide hiding places and nesting sites for birds....

Trees Resistant to Wind Wind isn’t particular about climate. There are high wind areas in places with mild winters and hurricanes also blow through in humid, subtropical climates. Even northern states can experience winds that threaten trees. If you live where the wind can be strong, you’ll need to plant wind hardy trees. Trees that can tolerate wind have a better chance of lasting out the storm or hurricane and also protecting your home from damage....

Xylella Fastidiosa and Olives Olive tree Xylella disease has wreaked havoc on the olive industry. The growing problem of Xylella and a resulting disease known as Olive Quick Decline (OQD) has been catastrophic in Italy and other countries in southern Europe, where it has wiped out many ancient olive groves. The Xylella bacterium is native to the United States, where it has created problems in the southeastern states and California, particularly in riparian areas....

Yellow Pershore Plum Information Sometimes known as ‘Yellow Egg’ plum, Pershore plums are a large, egg-shaped variety of European plum. Most often used in cooking, the Yellow Pershore plum tree is a heavy yielder and reaches over 16 feet (5 m.) tall at maturity. Since the trees are self-fertile, growers need not worry about the need to plant additional pollinator trees for this variety of plum, as fruit set will occur with a single planting....

About Planting Apple Trees in Zone 3 There are thousands of different cultivars of apples grown in North America with quite a few zone 3 apple varieties. The rootstock that a tree is grafted onto may be chosen due to tree size, to encourage early bearing, or to foster disease and pest resistance. In the case of zone 3 apple varieties, the rootstock is chosen to promote hardiness. Before you make a decision regarding what variety of apple you want to plant, you should consider a few other factors besides the fact that they are listed as apple trees for zone 3....

Lawn Grass for Zone 3 Zone 3 plants must be extremely winter-hardy and able to thrive in spite of cooler year-round temperatures. Growing grass in cold climates can be challenging because of the short growing season and extreme weather. In fact, there are only a handful of appropriate turfgrass options for this zone. There are more zone 3 ornamental grasses, but these are mostly hybrids of each other and lack diversity....