About Root Knot Nematodes on Begonias Nematodes are the most numerous pests on our planet and unfortunate parasites to plant roots. They are non-segmented roundworms that occur wherever there is moisture. They are too small to see with the naked eye, which makes identification very difficult. Begonias with root knot nematodes are diagnosed from visual cues on the upper part of the plant. Usually, once symptoms are observed, it is too late to help the plant....

Scary Garden Plants Plants, like people, have always been split into groups of good and bad, useful or harmful – therefore, it shouldn’t be a surprise to learn that there are many creepy plants out there. So what makes a plant scary? It could be nothing more than its name, such as: Devil’s tongue Blood lily Spider orchid Bleeding heart Bloodroot Snake’s head iris Sometimes, in addition to the name, it’s the mere color of a plant that makes it creepy – black being the most common here....

Yellow Seedling Leaves The first thing to establish is which of your seedling leaves turned yellow. When seedlings emerge from the soil, they put forth two starter leaves called cotyledons. After the plant becomes more established, it will begin producing differently shaped leaves that are characteristic of its species. The cotyledons are designed to get the plant started in the very beginning of its life, and once it’s producing more leaves, these aren’t really needed anymore and will often yellow and eventually fall off....

Blue Chalk Succulent Info Attractive and easy to grow, this plant thrives happily in many landscapes and containers, reaching 12 to 18 inches (31-46 cm.) and forming a dense mat. Growing blue chalk sticks as a groundcover is common in warmer areas. Various hybrids of the plant differ slightly in appearance and may perform differently in the landscape. Most varieties grow as an annual plant in places with cold winters, but might surprise you and return depending on the microclimate and the location in the landscape....

What is Root Pruning? When you are transplanting established trees and shrubs, it’s best to move them from one location to another with as many roots as possible. The roots and soil that travel with the tree or shrub make up the root ball. Usually, a tree or bush planted in the ground will spread its roots far and wide. It would be impossible, in most cases, to try to include all of them in the plant’s root ball....

What is Silver Falls Dichondra? Silver Falls is the common name for Dichondra argentea, an herbaceous and evergreen perennial. Outdoors it is hardy to zone 10 and can be grown as a low groundcover or as a plant that trails over the edge of a raised bed or container. It is especially popular in hanging baskets because of its trailing foliage. The name Silver Falls comes from the unique coloring of the leaves, a silvery pale green....

What is Softened Water? Softened water is water that has been treated, normally with sodium or potassium, to help remove minerals from hard water. Can You Use Softened Water on Plants? Most of the time it is not a good idea to water your garden with softened water. The reason for this is that softened water typically has a high amount of sodium, which is attained from salt. Most plants cannot tolerate high amounts of salt....

What is a Solar Tunnel? What is a solar tunnel? Well, if you look it up on the internet, you’re more likely to find information on skylights than anything to do with gardening. More often, solar tunnel gardens are referred to as high tunnels or low tunnels, depending on their height, or even quick hoops. Basically, a high tunnel is a poor man’s greenhouse made of bent galvanized metal pipe or more often PVC pipe....

About Using Sorrel Herbs In Europe, cooking with sorrel (Rumex scutatus) was commonplace during the Middle Ages. The type of sorrel that Europeans initially grew was R. acetosa until a milder form was developed in Italy and France. This milder herb, French sorrel, became the chosen form by the 17th century. Sorrel plant uses were entirely culinary and the herb was used in soups, stews, salads, and sauces until it faded from favor....

Growing Veggies in Hot Climates The primary benefit of growing veggies in hot climates is, of course, the extended, sometimes year long, growing season. Southern vegetable gardening requires warm soil and air temps, not too hard to come by, for germination, growth, and yield. Of course, many of these heat loving vegetables will not tolerate frost and can be damaged or even die when temps remain at 45 degrees F. (7 C....

How to Plant a Fruit Tree Hedge When considering fruit trees to use as hedging, it is best to stick with dwarf or semi-dwarf varieties. Larger trees can be pruned down to restrain their size, but then you are constantly pruning. All kinds of fruit trees can be used to create a hedge from cherries to figs to apples to citrus. Be sure to plant trees that are suitable for your region....

Reasons for Peace Lilies with Brown and Yellow Leaves Normally, peace lily leaves are long and dark green, emerging directly from the soil and growing up and out. The leaves are strong and oval shaped, narrowing to a point at the tip. They are durable, and often the biggest problem they encounter is that they collect dust and need to be wiped off periodically. Sometimes, however, the edges of peace lily leaves turn a sickly yellow or brown color....

About Mandrake Roots and Rhizomes Mandrake, Mandragora officinarum, is most famous for its root. The large, thick taproot splits characteristically into a shape that resembles the human form. This gave rise to many of the legends associated with the plant. Mandrake plants propagate naturally through rhizomes. These fleshy, underground growths are actually specially adapted stems. They grow under the soil and send out new shoots and roots. These develop out of the rhizome’s nodes....

It Does Sting! Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) is a medicinal herb that grows around the globe in temperate regions. Many are quite familiar with the stinging sensation brought on by brushing up against the plant. This is the result of tiny hairs which release histamine when coming in contact with skin. Nettle Tea Benefits Despite its prickly exterior, stinging nettle has a number of benefits, some valid, some unsubstantiated. Stinging nettle can be consumed as a vegetable, à la spinach, or medicinally in a number of ways, the most common being stinging nettle tea....

Sustainability in Mulching Gardeners are increasingly aware of how their practices impact the environment and local ecosystems. Sustainability means using methods, tools, and materials that have minimal negative impact or that actively promote the health of the ecosystem. For instance, more gardeners are planting native species to support local wildlife, attract pollinators, and avoid problematic invasive plants. Not everyone gives a lot of thought to mulch. They have a few options at the garden center and choose what looks good....

How to Grow Sweet Onions The key to successful sweet onion growth is giving the plants enough time to form really large bulbs. The best way to do this is to plant them in late summer or early autumn and let them grow through the winter. This means sweet onion plants grow best in climates that have mild winters. The most popular sweet onion plants for winter growing are called short-day onions, a variety that still grows well during the short days of winter....

Why Sweet Potato Leaves Turn Yellow This vining, herbaceous perennial, of the family Convolvulaceae, is usually grown as an annual and harvested at the end of its first growing season. The plant is cultivated for its delicious nutritious edible tubers, which may be red, brown, yellow, white, or even purple in color. The spectacular vines are dotted with lobed, heart-shaped leaves that may reach up to 13 feet (4 m.) in length....

Diseases of Sweetbay Magnolia Sweetbay magnolia is a graceful southern tree, evergreen in many regions, that is a popular ornamental tree for gardens. A wide columnar tree, it grows to a height of 40 to 60 (12-18 m.) feet tall. These are lovely garden trees, and the silver undersides of the leaves glimmer in the wind. The ivory flowers, scented with citrus, stay on the tree all summer. Generally, sweetbay magnolias are strong, vital trees....

When to Fertilize Peonies Well-established peonies don’t need frequent fertilizer application. Start off new plants with rich, composted soil and fertilize in spring and fall for the first few years. At that point, your peonies should only need fertilizer every three years or so, if at all. In spring, fertilize peonies just as you begin to see new growth poking through the soil. In the fall, add fertilizer after cutting back the plants....

Vertical Vegetable Garden Info and Plants Consider growing a vertical vegetable garden. You can easily produce the same amount of fresh vegetables without taking up excess space. A vertical vegetable garden is easy to create. You can create one using shelves, hanging baskets, or trellises. The first step is to determine what the conditions are like in the area you wish to place the vegetable garden, such as on the balcony....