What is Barley Sharp Eyespot? Sharp eyespot is a fungal disease caused by Rhizoctonia solani, a fungus that also causes rhizoctonia root rot. Sharp eyespot can infect barley but also other grains, including wheat. Infections are most likely in soils that are light and that drain well. The fungus is also more likely to attack and infect when temperatures are cool and humidity high. Cool springs favor barley sharp eyespot....

Basil is one of the warm season herbs that are classics in summertime cooking. The plant requires plenty of sun and heat but basil can be grown indoors by a southern window for convenience. There are many varieties of basil, adding a twist on the plant’s flavor in essences of citrus, licorice, cinnamon, and spice. Flies on Basil The intense scent and oil in basil and many other herbs are often used to deter common household pests....

Staving Off Bay Tree Diseases Bay trees are remarkably adaptable in USDA zones 8 to 10. This perennial is really more of a large bush than a tree, but it accommodates shearing into almost any form. Bay laurel has a fairly rapid growth rate at 12 to 24 inches (30 to 61 cm.) per year. It is a low maintenance plant with few requirements or problems. In the event of any issues in this stoic plant, it’s important to learn how to treat a sick bay tree and what the most common diseases are that occur in this plant....

Any number of vegetable and fruit seeds may be salvaged from the parent plant for future sowing, however, tomatoes, peppers, beans, and peas are the simplest, requiring no special treatment before storing. This is because bean plants and the like are self-pollinating. When encountering plants that cross-pollinate, you should be aware that the seeds may result in plants unlike the parent plant. Seeds taken from cucumbers, melons, squash, pumpkins, and gourds are all cross-pollinated by insects, which may affect the quality of the successive plants grown from these seeds....

Best Places for Houseplants When you’re thinking about houseplant placement, it’s fine to be concerned about what plant will look prettiest in which room. However, if you want healthy, beautiful, long-lived plants, growing conditions must be considered before anything else. Sunlight is the number one requirement for indoor plants. All plants need light, but the amount varies substantially. Although some plants, including certain types of cactus and succulents, need bright sunlight, most prefer more moderate, less intense light....

A well planned garden should include a riot of plants that complement each other. The types selected will depend upon the zone, light exposure, soil type, and other factors, including personal taste. Dramatic foliage plants can provide interest during several seasons, while flowering plants enhance the spectacle with their bright blooms. Dramatic garden plants are part of the symphony of the landscape, lending their unique forms and hues to promote an exciting plant show....

Bottle Palm Tree Info Plants develop all sorts of amazing adaptations to help them survive. Bottle palm trees have evolved with thickened trunks topped with scaly crowns. The purpose is unclear but might have been a water storage device. Whatever the reason, the trunk makes for a standout silhouette in the garden or even as a potted plant. Caring for a bottle palm tree is a low maintenance chore due to its slow growth and drought tolerance once established....

Bright succulent flowers lend an exotic appeal to dish gardens, singular potted specimens and outdoor garden beds. One of the more commonly grown, hens and chicks, is a variety of Sempervivum, which is very hardy, low maintenance, and crowned with brightly colored blooms in summer. There are many more succulents with striking flowers that will bring a host of hues to your garden situations. Indoor Dazzling Succulents Many commonly available succulents are ready bloomers, but not hardy outdoors in most zones....

Brown Lawn Fixes No matter what’s wrong with your grass, when your lawn has brown spots, your turf care hasn’t been ideal. Before you do anything drastic, try these simple fixes for your lawn woes: Dethatch. A thatch layer of more than a half inch (1 cm.) is trouble brewing. This much thatch acts like a sponge, soaking up any water that would normally go to roots and holding onto it tightly....

One such control measure, the use of beneficial insects, is one which has shown to be especially popular for growers wishing to take a more natural and hands-off approach. How do you get these garden friendly bugs into your garden though? Beneficial Bugs for Gardens Beneficial insects can greatly improve the overall health within the garden. When planning each season, many growers intentionally choose varieties of flowers and herbs that will naturally attract large numbers of these garden helpers....

The History of Tomatoes Tomatoes are one of most popular plants to grow in the home garden. Native to the Americas, the fruit of this member of the nightshade family was consumed by the Aztecs as far back as 700 AD. Yet when tomatoes were introduced to the old world, many Europeans feared the fruit was poisonous. Today, we know tomatoes are not only safe to eat, but nutritious as well....

What is Allspice Pimenta? Allspice comes from the dried, green berries of Pimenta dioica. This member of the myrtle family (Myrtaceae) is found in the Central American countries of Guatemala, Mexico, and Honduras and was presumably brought there by migratory birds. It is indigenous to the Caribbean, specifically Jamaica, and was first identified around 1509 with its name being a derivative of the Spanish word “pimiento,” meaning pepper or peppercorn. Historically, allspice was used to preserve meats, generally wild pig called “boucan” during the 17th century peak of pirating along the Spanish Main, leading to them to being labeled as “boucaneers,” today known as “buccaneers....

Growing Squash Indoors Although vining squash needs a large growing space, smaller bush-type squash plants are suitable for growing indoors. They may be smaller, but indoor squash plants can produce a hefty harvest beginning about sixty days after planting. Some popular available in compact bush varieties include: Buttercup Butternut Acorn Yellow Crookneck Patty Pan Zucchini How to Grow Squash Inside Bush squash doesn’t require a huge growing space like standard vining squash, but it’s still a relatively large plant....

Can You Plant a Grocery Store Cucumber? The answer to using seeds from a store bought cucumber isn’t black or white. In theory, yes, you could plant seeds from a store bought cucumber but the likelihood of them ever fruiting is doubtful. If you were successful in getting grocery store cucumber seeds to germinate, chances are you would not get anything resembling the cucumber you culled the seeds from. Why? Grocery store cucumbers are F1 hybrids which means they won’t “breed true....

Can You Store Bulbs in Containers? Whether your potted bulb is living indoors or out, once the bulb becomes dormant it needs to be stored somewhere protected. Overwintering container bulbs depends on the type of plant you have. Tender bulbs, such as some types of elephant ear, can’t handle being frozen, so they have to be moved before freezing weather arrives. Other plants that are more comfortable with freezes, such as crocus and tulip, need to be treated differently....

Many times it’s possible to relocate some of your dearest plants to your new home if it is done at the right time and with the right amount of attention. Of course, you will have to make sure that whoever purchased your home is okay with you taking a little bit of your garden with you. When to Move Plants If possible, it’s best to move perennials during the early spring and fall when temperatures are not overly warm....

The arrowhead plant can be grown alone or in a mixed planting for additional interest. As the plant ages, however, it will begin to vine; therefore, it may be a good idea to grow the arrowhead plant in a hanging basket. Likewise, the plant can be trained on a pole or trellis for support. Arrowhead Plant Care Overall, arrowhead plant care is quite easy. The arrowhead plant should be allowed to dry out between waterings....

Celebrating the Equinox – An Ancient Tradition The autumnal equinox marks the end of summer and the coming of darker nights and winter. Like the vernal equinox, which marks spring and new beginnings, the fall equinox marks the passing of the sun across the equator. In European pagan tradition, the autumnal equinox is called Mabon. Traditionally celebrated as a second harvest and to welcome the darkening days, it also served as preparation for the bigger holiday of Samhain, the first day of winter....

What is Cenangium Canker? Pine, spruce, and fir trees provide much needed shade, food, cover, and enhance the landscape with their architectural elegance. Unfortunately, these species are prone to fungal diseases such as sooty bark canker, or Cenangium. Over time, the disease can girdle your trees, reducing nutrients and water to the upper growth and preventing the flow of plant starches that feed development. Trees can die without proper treatment. Cenangium is a fungal disease that produces a slow growing canker that affects the above mentioned evergreens as well as aspens....

ABC Garden Ideas There are a number of ways to design an alphabet garden theme. Here are just a few ideas to help get you started or use your imagination to come up with some unique designs of your own. General ABC’s – Most alphabet gardens are simply created by incorporating plants that begin with each letter of the alphabet; that’s 26 alphabet garden plants. For example, plant some asters for “A,” balloon flowers for “B,” cosmos for “C” and so on....