Choosing Vines for North Central States When growing vines in the North and Central states of the U.S., it’s best to choose those that are native or that at least will not become invasive and overgrown if non-native. For example, honeysuckle is a pretty, sweet smelling vine with flowers pollinators love, but be sure not to choose the highly invasive and damaging Japanese honeysuckle. Here are some other native and non-invasive options:...

It does require some warmth, though, so if your climate is too cold, Portuguese laurel is not the best option. About Portuguese Laurel Hedges Portuguese laurel can actually be considered a tree and a hedge, but botanically speaking is a tree. Native to Spain and Portugal, this is a broadleaf evergreen that thrives in warm climates. It is hardy only through zone 7 in the U.S., and can maybe stretch to zone 6 winters with protection....

What is Rice Sheath Rot? Rice is actually a member of the grass family and its arrangement is very similar. For instance, the sheath, which is a lower leaf that wraps around the stem, is much the same as any other grass plant. Rice with sheath rot will have that tubular, clasping leaf turn brownish black. This clasping leaf enshrouds the budding flowers (panicles) and future seeds, making the disease damaging where the sheath dies or infects the panicles....

About Boysenberry Problems Once a popular garden plant, boysenberries are seldom grown in home gardens today because of their susceptibility to fungal diseases and certain insect pests. However, fungal diseases can happen to any plant. Fungal problems with boysenberries can be prevented with proper sanitation and irrigation practices. Providing plants with adequate air circulation is one such practice. Giving plants a little extra space of their own and pruning out crowded old canes can increase air circulation for plants....

Propagating Indigo Plants Indigo plants grow best in warm climates with ample humidity. They are most often propagated through seed but cuttings can also be taken and rooted. How to Propagate an Indigo by Seed Starting indigo seeds is relatively simple. While growers whose gardens receive adequate heat are often able to sow indigo seeds directly into the garden after all chance of frost has passed, those with shorter growing seasons may need to start seeds indoors....

Flowering Quince Propagation Native to China, Chaenomeles, or flowering quince, flowers on the previous year’s wood. Like most shrubs, it can be propagated by layering, cuttings, or seed. Asexual propagation (propagating quince from cuttings or layering) will produce plants that are exact replicas of the parent plant. Sexual propagation with the help of pollinators and flowering quince seeds produces plants that will vary. Propagating Quince from Cuttings To propagate flowering quince by cuttings, take 6- to 8-inch (15 to 20....

When to Prune China Doll Plant Learning when to prune China doll plant isn’t difficult. The China doll houseplant isn’t fussy about the time of year when it is pruned, so trimming China dolls can be done any time without harming the plant. The trick to pruning China doll plants is to do so before they look like they need pruning. It is much easier to encourage proper growth than it is to correct problems later on....

Pruning Back Gladiolus via Pinching Pinching, a way of pruning back gladiolus, is a task that you should do throughout the blooming season to keep the plant neat and healthy. To pinch glads, just remove faded glad blooms with your fingertips or garden shears. Pinching wilted blooms will encourage the opening of the remaining buds on the stalk. Additionally, some gardeners like to remove the top, unopened bud to speed up the blooming process for all of the buds up and down the stalk....

Pruning Tool Sterilization Many gardeners ask, “Do you need to clean garden tools?” To maintain proper function, prevent rust and reduce the spread of plant diseases, garden tools should be kept clean and frequently sanitized. After each use, soil, sap and other debris should be cleaned off garden tools. Rinsing or washing pruners regularly will not prevent the spread of many different plant diseases. For this reason, we recommend regular pruning tool sterilization....

Bromeliad Propagation Bromeliads are popular tropical looking houseplants, or outdoor plants in warm regions. The most commonly sold forms develop a cup at the center of the rosette which holds water. Many also form a brightly colored flower that dies after a few months. At this time, pup starts from bromeliad begin to form. You can carefully divide these away from the parent plant and have a new bromeliad that will flower and pup after a few years....

Gardening with Plastic Pipes PVC pipes in the garden may seem counter to the idea of natural environments and growing plants, but why not use this sturdy material? Especially if you have access to used pipes that are only going to be thrown away, turn them into useful garden implements, beds, and accessories. In addition to the PVC pipes, all you really need to accomplish most of these plastic pipe garden projects is a drill, a tool that will cut the thick plastic, and any decorative materials you want to make the industrial plastic look pretty....

Causes of Yellow Leaves on Rose Bush If you notice yellow leaves on a rose bush, you’ll need to determine the likely cause before treatment can take place. Here are some causes of yellow rose leaves: Light– Rose leaves turn yellow and fall off at the bottom of the rose bushes at times when the upper leaves are shading them. The lower rose leaves are not getting the sunlight they need to, so the rose leaves turn yellow and drop off....

Symptoms of Plant Rust Rust fungi are very easy to identify on the plant. The disease can be characterized by a rust color on plant leaves and stems. The rust will start out as flecks and will eventually grow into bumps. The plant rust will most likely appear on the underside of the leaves of the plant. The good news is that there are so many kinds of rust fungi and they are so plant specific, that if you see the rust color on plant leaves of one type of plant, you will not see it appear any other types of plants in your yard....

Daylily Rust Symptoms Daylily rust (Puccinia hemerocallidis) first appeared on select plants of the species in 2000 here in the U.S. By 2004, this affected half of the country. It has become a concern for many garden clubs who regularly sell and trade the plants, and promote them as pest and disease-free. Their advice is that selling plants with “no earth/no scapes” will prevent the spread. Today, info suggests some have managed to avoid rust by planting certain daylily types and others have learned to effectively treat rust on daylily plants....

Avoiding Rutabaga Plant Issues Rutabagas (Brassica napobassica) are members of the Cruciferae, or mustard family. Rutabagas are a cool season crop, 40 to 60 degrees F. (4-16 C.) grown for their edible, thick, cream colored root and can be grown as either a spring or fall crop. Also know as Swedish turnips, rutabagas are milder and sweeter than an ordinary turnip. Like its cousin, the leaves of the rutabaga are also edible and may be grown for its greens as well....

Can You Grow Sand Lilies? Yes, you can grow sand lily plants if you live in USDA plant hardiness zones 5 through 9. The important question is, SHOULD you grow sand lilies? If you can find plants or seeds at a garden center or nursery that specializes in native desert plants, you’re in luck and you can grow these lovely desert wildflowers at your heart’s content. If you can’t locate the plant or seeds commercially, please enjoy sand lily flowers in their natural environment....

When and How to Harvest Pear Seeds Pear seeds, like many other fruit tree seeds, rarely produce the same pear as the original fruit. This is because pears reproduce sexually and, just like humans, they have a lot of genetic diversity. For example, if you plant a seed from a Bosc pear, grow the tree and harvest its fruit ten to twenty years later, you will not get Bosc pears. The pears may even be tasteless or inedible....

Sea Buckthorn Information It is always fascinating to go to the farmer’s market and check out new and unique cultivars of fruit that can be found there. Seaberries are occasionally found whole but more often crushed into a jam. They are unusual fruits introduced to the United States in 1923. Sea Buckthorn is hardy to USDA zone 3 and has remarkable drought and saline tolerance. Growing Sea Buckthorn is relatively easy, and the plant has few pest or disease issues....

Lawn Seeding Tips If you are seeding your first lawn, roll up your sleeves and prepare to put in more than a few hours. Every task takes time and must be done carefully. If you don’t know what you are doing, follow a lawn seeding how to that will walk you through the necessary steps. The first step is preparing a lawn for seeding. Preparing a Lawn for Seeding This is the biggest step, since it requires the most physical effort....

Growing Vegetables in a Shady Garden Light conditions vary in the shady garden, depending on its source. While many vegetables need a lot of light, a select few will actually thrive in the cooler, darker areas of the shade garden. Therefore, it’s possible to grow vegetables in the shade. Leafy vegetables like greens are the most shade tolerant while root and fruit crops, which largely depend on light for their flowers, require more sun....