Any time those tissues are punctured in a maple tree, you may see a maple tree oozing sap. Read on to find out what it means when your maple tree is dripping sap. Why is My Maple Tree Leaking Sap? Unless you are a maple sugar farmer, it is disconcerting to see your maple tree oozing sap. The cause of sap leaking from maple trees can be as benign as birds eating the sweet sap to potentially fatal diseases of the maple....

Miscanthus maiden grass is easy to care for and hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9. There are numerous maiden grass varieties with different sizes and foliage colors. Bring one of these elegant grasses into your home landscape for powerful dimension, color, and movement. Miscanthus Maiden Grass Maiden grass thrives in full sun and may get 6 feet (2 m.) wide with a 10 foot (3 m.) spread. The grass requires well-drained soil, but is tolerant of excess moisture, dry conditions, acidic soils, and even hard clay sites....

Mulch is any type of material, either organic or inorganic, that is put atop soil in the garden or landscape to suppress weeds and conserve moisture. Generally speaking, it is one of the gardener’s most prized tools, but on occasion, you may incur mulch problems in the garden. Mulch quality varies depending upon the type and/or supplier, either of which may create problems with mulch. Common Issues Associated with Mulch First of all, too much of a good thing is just that — too much....

Ferns Turning Brown at Tips Most ferns have three basic needs: shade, water, and humidity. You need all three of these conditions to grow a healthy fern, and you can’t make up for one by giving more of another. For instance, extra water won’t compensate for too much sun or not enough humidity. The plant tag will tell you to plant the fern in a shady location, but it may not stay in the shade....

Given the tens of thousands of plants native to the west coast’s many ecosystems, it can be difficult to select a few native California plants to install. Read on for tips and advice on selecting California and Nevada native plants. Considerations When Selecting Plants There are so many reasons to add native plants to your garden. Anyone trying to attract more birds, pollinators, and other wildlife will find native plants are more appealing to native wildlife than anything else you might offer....

Reasons and Fixes for a Lime Tree Not Producing Blossoms or Fruit Here are the most common reasons for no lime tree blossoms or fruit: Need for fertilizing lime trees Proper care of lime trees requires that the lime tree get an even mix of nutrients. A lack of certain kinds of nutrients can result in a lime tree not producing blossoms and fruit. Fertilizing lime trees means that they need to get a good amount of nitrogen as well as phosphorus and an occasional boost to the acidity level of the soil....

There are a variety of potential causes for small fruit on orange trees. Read on for an overview of causes of your tree’s small orange problem. Why Orange Tree Has Small Fruit If your orange tree has small fruit early in the season, the situation may be normal. These citrus trees are known for dropping a number of tiny fruits early on when the tree has produced too many. However, if the oranges that mature on the tree are also undersized, you have a small orange problem....

If you are interested in planting an Osage orange hedge row, you’ll need to learn about techniques for pruning Osage orange trees. The tree’s thorns present special pruning issues. Osage Orange Hedges Barbed wire wasn’t invented until the 1880’s. Before then, many people planted a row of Osage orange as a living fence or hedge. Osage orange hedges were planted close together – no more than 5 feet (1.5 m....

Reasons for Peach Fruit Falling Off Tree There are three main category causes for fruit falling off a peach tree. The first is a natural occurrence, the second is environmental disturbances, and the third would be pest or disease related. Natural All fruit trees get rid of a portion of their immature fruit, so while watching peaches fall from the tree may be painful to see, it’s part of a natural process....

What is Pepper Sunscald? Sunscald on peppers occurs in the high heat of summer when humidity is at a peak. The pepper is not the only fruit affected. Tomatoes are also commonly scalded, and many tree fruits are also at risk. Usually the foliage on the pepper plant will help shield it from the most intense rays of the sun, but in some cases, the leaves have defoliated partially due to insects or disease....

Is Planting Gloriosa Lily Seeds Worth It? Usually, gloriosa lilies are propagated by vegetative or root cuttings because the success rate is much higher. While it’s not quite as likely to work, growing gloriosa lilies from seed is another viable option. Just be sure to plant several seeds to increase your chance of getting one that germinates and grows into a plant successfully. When to Plant Gloriosa Lily Seeds If you live in a very warm climate (USDA zones 9-11), you can plant your gloriosa lilies outdoors....

Green Crop Green Beans This bush snap bean variety has been around for a long time, delighting gardeners with the excellent pods and easy garden performance. In fact, green crop bush beans earned their way into “All America Selections” in 1957. These dwarf plants grow to a height of 12 to 22 inches high (30-55 cm.). They stand perfectly well on their own and do not need a trellis or staking....

How to Plant Salsify The best time to plant salsify is in early spring in areas that get snow, and early autumn in areas where snow does not fall. It takes about 100 to 120 days for salsify plants to reach harvesting size and they prefer cool weather. When you grow salsify, you’ll be starting with seeds. Plant salsify seeds about 1 to 2 inches (2.5-5 cm.) apart and ½ inch (1 cm....

How to Grow Verbena When you are ready to learn how to grow verbena, you’ll want to locate this tough specimen where it gets eight to ten hours of sun each day. The verbena flower is not particular about soil, except that it must be well-draining. Poor soil is acceptable for verbena growing conditions. Perennial varieties of the verbena flower are often lost when planted in soil that becomes soggy following heavy winter snow or spring rain....

Plum Trees Not Fruiting Plum trees begin to bear when they are three to six years of age. You can tell right after bloom if your tree will set fruit. Inspect the terminal ends after blossom drop. The ovary should be swollen with the beginning of the new fruit. If these are absent, there was a problem with the initial fruit set. This may be due to insects (such as aphids), weather-related, or even due to poor tree health....

Planting Annuals in Zone 7 Annual plants add immediate punch to the flower garden. There are annuals for sun or partial sun locations. Most popular annuals for zone 7 are tried and true selections with many cultivars and colors. Some are more commonly grown for their foliage and are perfect foils for setting off color displays. With good care, annuals can brighten the garden from spring until the first frost. Local garden centers will carry the most popular annuals for zone 7....

Types of Zinnia Flowers Direct sown after all chance of frost has passed in the spring, zinnias thrive with little attention or care. Gardens which receive ample sunlight and warmth throughout the growing season will enjoy a colorful display of bright, vibrant blooms. With the introduction of new hybrids and specifically bred, open pollinated varieties of zinnias, these plants offer an option for nearly any landscape application. Here are some popular zinnia flower varieties for the garden: Dwarf Zinnias– Dwarf zinnias are most commonly planted in flower borders and reach around 10 inches (25 cm....

How to Grow a Prayer Plant Although the prayer plant houseplant is somewhat tolerant of low light conditions, it does best in bright, indirect sunlight. The prayer plant prefers well-drained soil and requires high humidity to thrive. Prayer plant houseplants should be kept moist, but not soggy. Use warm water and feed prayer plant houseplants every two weeks, from spring through fall, with an all-purpose fertilizer. During winter dormancy, the soil should be kept drier....

Why are My Banana Peppers Turning Brown? There is a difference between the fruit turning brown and the plant turning brown, first of all. When Banana Peppers Turn Brown A common affliction of peppers, as well as tomatoes and eggplant, is called blossom end rot or BER. This happened to me in my container grown peppers, which were otherwise gloriously healthy and abundant until one day I noticed a dark lesion at the blossom end of some developing fruit....

Pothos Leaf Growth The Pothos plant is a notoriously hardy specimen that can thrive even when neglected. Like all plants, however, it requires regular water, sun or artificial light, proper nutrition, and air circulation. Stunted Pothos plants can be suffering from a host of issues, both cultural or pest derived. The most common causes are fairly easy to fix and even a novice gardener can save the plant. Pothos plants have heart-shaped, glossy green or variegated, waxy leaves....