What is Oleocellosis? Oleocellosis of citrus is not a disease but rather a phenomenon caused by mechanical injury that can occur any time during harvest, handling or marketing. The injury causes greenish/brown areas to arise on the fruit’s peel as a result of essential oils spilling over into the sub-epidermal tissues between the oil glands. It can effect oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit and other citrus types. Symptoms of Oleocellosis of Citrus Initially, citrus oil spotting is practically unobservable, but as time goes on, the damaged areas will darken and become more prominent....

Claret Cup Cactus Information Plants of the Southwest are particularly appealing to those of us who do not live in these wild desert zones. The sheer variety and wonder of the desert landscape is a treasure even indoor gardeners are keen to experience. Claret cup hedgehog cactus is one of those desert beauties that warm, arid climate gardeners can grow outside in their landscape. The rest of us can try growing claret cup cacti as summer patio plants or indoor specimens....

Cold Climate Succulent Gardening In colder climates, succulent lovers have the following options for growing succulents in the cold: Plant them and cross your fingers. Plant all succulents, both soft and hardy in the ground, in appropriate soil, and see how long they last. When planting, you should consider current fluctuations in the weather patterns and when you’re likely to see the last frost. Late winter to late spring, depending on your climate, is the optimum time for planting the majority of succulents....

Cold Hardy Crepe Myrtle Crepe myrtle in full bloom may offer more flowers than any other garden tree. But most are labeled for planting in zone 7 or above. The canopies survive down to 5 degrees F. (-15 C.) if fall leads into winter with a gradual cool down. If winter comes abruptly, the trees can suffer severe damage in the 20’s. But still, you’ll find these beautiful trees flowering in zones 6 and even 5....

About Collar and Stem Rot of Chrysanthemums Collar and stem rot of chrysanthemums are caused by several different fungi. These include Fusarium, Pythium, and Rhizoctonia. When Fusarium fungus causes the rot, the disease is also called fusarium wilt. You’ll notice that the plants wilt, as if they need water. However, water won’t help with fusarium wilt, and the plants soon turn brown and die. When Fusarium enters through the soil line, it is called chrysanthemum collar rot....

Colocasia Varieties for Zone 6 When it comes to planting elephant ears in zone 6, gardeners have only one choice, as most elephant ear varieties are viable only in the warm climates of zone 8b and above. However, Colocasia ‘Pink China’ may be hardy enough for chilly zone 6 winters. Luckily for gardeners who want to grow zone 6 elephant ears, ‘Pink China’ is a lovely plant that displays bright pink stems and attractive green leaves, each with a single pink dot in the center....

Lavender Plant Companions Lavender is very particular in its growing requirements. It needs full sun, little water, and little to no fertilizer. It’s usually happiest if left alone. This means that if you place it next to a plant that prefers more attention, one of them is going to suffer. Some good plants to grow with lavender which share similar needs are: Echinacea Aster Sedum Wild indigo Baby’s breath Drought tolerant roses...

Mulch is any material put on top of the soil around plants to help keep in moisture and shade out weeds. You can make mulch from dead leaves, wood chips, and even shredded tires. On the other hand, compost is a mixture of decomposed organic ingredients. Once the ingredients in the compost mix break down, it becomes a universally prized substance gardeners know as “black gold.” If you have a large compost pile and have more than enough for your soil amendment, finding out how to use compost for mulch is the logical next step in your landscaping design....

What is Soil Contamination? Before you begin to plan and construct your garden, it’s always wise to have a soil sample analyzed. The quality of soil can be affected by many things. It is important to determine what nearby land was used for in the past and assess the impact of any nearby industry. Oftentimes, the causes of soil contamination result from dangerous chemicals that find their way into the soil and disrupt the soil structure....

What is Downy Mildew? Often times, when gardeners hear the name downy mildew, they think this disease is related to another common garden disease called powdery mildew. While the two have very similar names, they are two very different diseases. Downy mildew is caused mostly by organisms that belong to either the Peronospora or Plasmopara genus. While powdery mildew is cause by a true fungus, downy mildew is cause by parasitic organisms that are more closely related to algae....

Wild Garlic in Landscapes Wild garlic (Allium vineale) in lawns and garden areas can be found throughout the southeastern United States along with its almost indistinguishable relation, the wild onion (Allium canadense). A true annoyance, wild garlic grows rampantly during the cooler months and controlling wild garlic can be a challenge, not to mention the stench that may linger for hours after mowing or cutting. As they are both similar in nature, wild onion and wild garlic control are also similar with a few exceptions– wild garlic is more commonly seen in crop-like areas and wild onion most common in lawns....

Cotton Root Rot Symptoms Ornamental, fruit and nut trees, cotton, and alfalfa are among the plants susceptible to cotton root rot. Fortunately for northern gardeners, the fungus that causes the disease is limited to the southwestern regions of the United States. Sadly for these gardeners, the fungus lives for years in soil and has the ability to kill even tall trees. It is important to recognize cotton root rot symptoms since correct identification of the disease is key to control....

How to Have a Safe Seed Swap Many garden clubs, learning institutions, and other groups have annual plant and seed swaps. Are seed swaps safe to attend? In this year, 2021, there will have to be a different approach to such events. A safe Covid seed exchange will take planning, placing safety protocols in place, and organizing special steps to ensure a social distance seed swap. Organizers of seed exchanges will have their work cut out for them....

When to Transplant Crabapple Trees The best time for moving a crabapple tree is when the tree is still dormant in late winter or very early in spring. Make it a point to transplant the tree before bud break. Before Transplanting Crabapples Ask a friend to help; moving a crabapple tree is much easier with two people. Prune the tree well, trimming branches back to nodes or new growth points. Remove deadwood, weak growth, and branches that cross or rub on other branches....

Cranberry Pest Management First of all, it’s important to clear up which kind of cranberries we’re talking about. This article is about cranberry vines (Vaccinium macrocarpon), which are often confused with cranberry bush (Viburnum trilobum). With that in mind, here are some of the most common bugs that eat cranberries and their methods of control: Cranberry Tipworm – Maggots feed on leaves, creating a cupping effect. Apply insecticide during the growing season’s first hatch period, usually in mid to late spring....

About Crassula Wine Cup Plants The succulent group Crassula has many species and hybrids. They are interesting plants to cultivate and breed. Only true succulent enthusiasts seem to be growing Crassula wine cups due to the plant’s scarcity. Wine cup succulents are truly adorable and well worth sourcing, if possible. Not only having a unique appearance but the ease of wine cup plant care makes it a succulent well worth acquiring....

Backyard Picnic Ideas Summer is the best time for picnics and, while you might think a park is the place to go, we think your backyard is the perfect spot to celebrate the occasion with family and friends. These summer picnic ideas will help you create the perfect garden for entertaining. Food: Ramp up your food a notch by ditching the old standby hamburgers and potato salad. Visit the farmers market or grocery store for delectable fruits in season and combine several for a mouth-watering fruit bowl....

Creeping Fig as a Houseplant Creeping fig vine is often sold as a houseplant. The small leaves and lush green growth make for both a lovely table plant or a hanging plant. When growing creeping fig as a houseplant, it will need bright, indirect light. For proper indoor creeping fig care, the soil should be kept moist but not overly wet. It is best to check the top of the soil before watering....

Epiphyllum Curly Locks Info Epiphytic plants live in trees and rock crevasses. The mother of the Epiphyllum cactus, curly locks, was from Guatemala. It was a plant that sprouted one or more abnormal curved stems. These were harvested and cloned to produce the crazy little cactus we propagate today. These plants are wonderful hanging basket specimens and make quite the conversation piece with their twisted, arching limbs. In nature, curly locks might be growing in a tree crotch or other almost soilless area....

When to Prune Lithodora When discussing when to prune lithodora plants, there are quite a few considerations. Pruning lithodora plants can happen at different times throughout the season. While trimming and rejuvenation are most likely to occur in the early season, the removal of overgrown plant matter in late winter will also be important in maintaining quality plants. Since the plant is an evergreen, lithodora trimming is common in the early spring, just as winter has ended....