About Siberian Iris Deadheading Siberian iris plants naturalize, forming clumps or colonies of 2 to 3 foot (61-91 cm.) tall plants in zones 3 through 9. Blooms form from spring to early summer on strong, erect stems above stiff, sword-like foliage. They bloom along with other spring perennials such as allium, peony, bearded iris, and foxglove. One of the notable characteristics is that their stems and foliage remain green and erect after the blooms fade....

Purpose of Skinny Leaves on Plants When scientists began to examine plants with long, thin leaves (Fun fact: Approximately 7,670 types of plants with long and narrow leaves exist), they discovered some commonalities. Plants near the equator tended to have larger leaves, but as you move toward the poles and into deserts, you see more leaves that are long and thin. Why would plants with long, thin leaves abound in arid and northern regions?...

What is a Smart Garden? Pretty much what they sound like, an indoor smart garden kit is a technological gardening device that is controlled by a computer. They generally have an app that will help you manage the unit from your iOS or Android phone. These small units are designed for indoor use, providing their own nutrients to the plants and managing their own lighting. More than likely, they are also a self-watering indoor garden too....

Natural remedies have been around for untold centuries. These natural remedies included cures for almost any physical ailment as well as mental and emotional afflictions. Ancient healers may not have known why something worked but simply that it did. Modern scientists have unraveled the why of many medicinal plants and practices but only recently are they finding remedies that were previously unknown and yet, still a part of the natural life cycle....

Southern Arrowwood Information Southern Arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum) is a plant of the open woods and marginal sites of our forests, mountains and even roadways. It prefers a partially sunny location but can thrive in full sun. The name Arrowwood likely came from Native American men using the wood to fashion arrow shafts. In the landscape, it is very adaptable and produces an attractive multi-stemmed shrub. Like all viburnums, it has three distinct seasons of interest....

Overcrowding of rose bushes can lead to major problems with various diseases, fungal and others. Keeping our rose bushes spaced well allows for good oxygen movement through and around the rose bushes, thus helping keep the diseases at bay. The good oxygen movement also increases the overall health and performance of the rose bushes. Proper Spacing of Roses Depends on Where You Live We really cannot begin to know how far apart to plant our rose bushes without doing some research on them....

Spindle Palm Plants Spindle palms (Hyophorbe verschaffeltii) are slow growing plants equally at home in containers or in-ground. The plants are native to the Mascarene Islands in the Indian Ocean. Spindle palm plants are so called because of the ridges on the trunk that resemble a spindle and the shape, which is narrow at the base, widens and then constricts where fronds begin to grow. The spindle palm is a true palm that may grow up to 25 feet in full sun conditions....

Starkrimson Pear Info The origin of the Starkrimson pear variety was simply a fluke. It occurred as what is known in fruit growing as a sport. It was the result of a spontaneous mutation and was discovered on a tree in Missouri. Growers found one branch of red pears on a tree that typically has green pears. The new variety was given the name Starkrimson for its stunning, rich red color and for the nursery that patented it, Stark Brothers....

Growing Conditions for Bird of Paradise Strelitzia reginae, also known as crane flower, is native to South Africa and derives its name from the unusual flowers, which resemble brightly colored birds in flight. The plant needs warm temperatures and plenty of sunshine to produce the characteristic blooms. They are hardy in USDA zones 9 to 11, but cooler regions can use them in containers outdoors in summer and move them inside as cooler temps arrive....

Succulent Terrarium Instructions Terrariums and dish gardens have been a part of indoor growing for centuries. Succulent plants seem to like arid conditions and a desert or beach themed terrarium will provide the right conditions while adding some unexpected appeal in the home. Creating succulent terrariums doesn’t take a lot of time or money. You can literally make one in an old food jar or search a thrift market for an unusual dish or clear container....

Symptoms of Powdery Mildew on Beets The sooner you detect signs of powdery mildew on beets, the easier it will be to control and treat it. An early sign of the disease, which is caused by a fungus that only grows on beet and chard plants, is the formation of small white spots on the undersides of older leaves. Eventually the white, powdery substance will spread to all areas of the leaf and to all leaves on the plant....

What is a Terrace Garden? Now that your interest in a hillside terrace garden has been piqued, you might be asking yourself, “What is a terrace garden and where do I start?” Terracing in the landscape creates mini-gardens and is an excellent option for homeowners with steep slopes where planting is otherwise impossible. Terrace gardens help prevent erosion by dividing hilly areas into smaller, level sections where water is more easily distributed and soaked into the ground....

Cleaning Out the Garden for Winter One of the key aspects of fall cleanup is the removal of potentially problem pests and disease. When you rake up old leaves and debris, you are removing a hiding place for overwintering insects and pests. The old plant material left behind is a perfect refuge for diseases such as fungal spores, which can infect fresh new plants in spring. Garden clean up should also include maintenance of the compost pile and proper practices to prevent mold and seed bloom....

Why Do Certain Flower Colors Have Meaning? The history behind what flower colors symbolize is not perfectly clear. It certainly varies depending on culture, and some of the meanings reach so far back that no one knows for sure why they exist. The various meanings of flower types and colors date back hundreds of years and are found worldwide. They are found in Shakespearean writings, ancient Greek and Egyptian texts, and in Asian folklore and mythologies....

Can You Trim a Cactus? New succulent growers may ask, “Can you trim a cactus?” Most cacti really don’t need any form of shaping unless they have a great huge limb that looks ready to tip the plant over. The major reasons for trimming cactus are to remove parts to root for new plants, remove offsets or pups for the same reason, reinvigorate a plant that has gotten too tall or too leggy, and to take off damaged material....

Symptoms of Gray Mold in Tomato Plants Gray mold, or Botrytis blight, affects not just tomatoes, but other vegetables such as: Beans Cabbage Endive Lettuce Muskmelon Peas Peppers Potatoes Caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea, these one-celled spores are borne on multiple branches which gives the fungus its name from the Greek ‘botrys,’ meaning a bunch of grapes. Gray mold of tomatoes appears on seedlings and young plants and appears as a grayish-brown mold that covers stems or leaves....

Passion Flower Training Passion vines belong to the genus Passiflora, a genus including some 400 woody vines native to the tropics of North and South America. The vines produce gorgeous and unusual flowers and, in appropriate climates, passion fruit. The vines of the Passiflora plants are extremely vigorous and excellent climbers. Passion vine training involves maneuvering the vine’s growth into the direction you believe best for your garden. Trained passion vines add vertical interest and vibrant colors to your backyard....

Pests of Jasmine There are two main types of jasmine plant pests. The sucking insects, like aphids, are those whose feeding behavior entails piercing the plant material and eating the sap. There are also foliage insects which cause visual damage to the leaves of a plant. Most of these are caterpillars and larvae of a variety of moths and butterflies but a few represent other invertebrates. Pests affecting jasmine plants vary in size and degree of damage but it is best to establish some basic methods of dealing with the invaders....

What are the Symptoms of Witches’ Broom Fungus? Witches’ broom dates to the Middle Ages and aptly refers to tangled mats of twigs protruding from many woody plants. Since each broom is unique, how do you go about identifying witches’ broom fungus? Generally, witches’ broom in blackberries is seen as a dense cluster of twigs and/or branches protruding out from the center of the plant. As you may guess, the protuberance looks much akin to a stereotypical “witches’ broom....

Can You Grow Knock Out Roses in Zone 8? Yes, you can. Knock Out roses grow in zones 5b to 9, and they certainly do well in zone 8. Knock Out roses were first developed by breeder Bill Radler and released to the market in 2000. Since the introduction of the original variety, eight additional Knock Out rose varieties have been made available. Types of Knock Out roses include specimens suitable for a wide range of planting sites and flower colors that include red, pale pink, white, yellow, and even coral....