What is Fasciation? So exactly what is fasciation in flowers anyway? Fasciation literally means banded or bundled. Scientists aren’t sure what causes the deformity, but they believe it is probably caused by a hormonal imbalance. This imbalance may be the result of a random mutation, or it can be caused by insects, diseases, or physical injury to the plant. Think of it as a random occurrence. It doesn’t spread to other plants or other parts of the same plant....

What is Fine Fescue? Fine fescues encompass at least five major species. These are: Hard fescue Sheep fescue Chewings fescue Creeping red fescue Slender creeping red fescue The five varieties are often sold as a blended seed mix for better turf vigor. These grasses are perfect for temperate and cooler regions, especially maritime and low mountainous climates. The majority of the species clump and form tufts with the exception of the red creeping varieties, which spread by rhizomes....

Types of Support for Plants Different situations call for different types of support. The most common plant supports for garden areas include: Stakes Cages Hoops Trellises Walls Fences How to Support Garden Plants You may have to tie your plants to stakes, trellises, and fences. Long green twist ties are barely noticeable and make the job of retying a snap. Tie the plant to the support firmly, but loosely enough that you don’t strangle it....

Choosing and Preparing Bulbs for Forcing Almost any spring blooming bulb can be forced to bloom indoors, but some spring blooming bulbs are more popular for bulb forcing. Some popular spring bulbs to force are: Daffodils Amaryllis Paperwhites Hyacinth Tulips Crocus Choose flower bulbs for forcing that are plump and firm. The larger the flower bulb is, the bigger the bloom will be. With the exception of amaryllis, unless you have bought flower bulbs that have been specifically prepared for forcing, you will need to prepare them....

Mulberry Tree Dropping Fruit Unlike other fruit bearers, mulberry trees begin bearing at an early age and quite heavily at that. Soon enough, you will have entire buckets of berries, far more than the average family can eat. Not too worry. Fruit drop in mulberry trees is very common, hence the mention of a mess. Birds will get to them but probably not before they stain the drive or sidewalk or even the soles of your shoes to be tracked indoors....

Designing Your Shade Border Yes, even the soil in shady areas can vary — hot, dry shade to cool, moist shade. Once you’ve carefully considered both light and soil requirements for your shaded area, finding suitable shade-loving plants is easy, especially in the border. When it comes to foliage plants, don’t be afraid to integrate every color of green into your shade border, using bright greens to the darkest olive greens....

How to Make a Garden Gift Basket If you are a gardener yourself coming up with garden gift basket ideas will be a breeze. For those with less than a green thumb; however, ideas for garden gift baskets might be more difficult. No worries, we’ve got plenty of garden gift basket ideas to suit every budget. First things first, choose a container. A container can be almost anything, but it’s better when making gardening themed baskets to stick with the theme....

About Different Garden Styles Travel to almost any destination and you will see many types of gardens. Some are colossal professional landscapes with historical importance, while others are simple home gardens for food or backyard enjoyment. Whether it is a landscape already mentioned, a native garden, tropical or any other of the many unique gardening styles, ease of maintenance, appropriate plants for site and zone, hardscape details and other items are all considerations of the design....

In this Beginner’s Guide to Compost, you will find the basics of composting for beginners in the garden and advanced techniques for others, including how to start, what to use and more. Getting Started with Compost How Composting Works Benefits of Composting Starting a Compost Pile How to Keep Compost Over Winter Making Indoor Compost Choosing Compost Bins Turning Your Compost Pile Heating Up the Compost Pile Tips for Storing Compost...

Common Bugs That Eat Ginger Insects can be beneficial in the garden, but those that we call pests are the bane of the gardener’s existence. These are the bugs that target certain plants and aim to conquer and destroy. Ginger, both edible and ornamental types, are no exception and there are plenty of pests of ginger that will take every opportunity to eat your plants. Some of the many pests that like to go after ginger are:...

Golden Oregano Information Golden oregano plants (Origanum vulgare ‘Aureum’) get their name from their yellow to golden foliage that is the brightest and truest yellow in full sun and cooler weather. In the summer, the yellow leaves are covered in delicate pink and purple flowers. Is golden oregano edible? It sure is! Golden oregano is very fragrant and has the classic oregano smell and taste that is in such demand in cooking....

Growing Golden Stars Growing golden stars is easy. Golden star plants need at least half a day of sunlight. When grown in less light, the foliage loosens up and flowers are smaller and fewer in number. The plants tolerate almost any type of soil but do best when the soil is amended with plenty of organic matter. Good drainage is also essential. Space the plants 8 to 18 inches (20.5 to 45....

About Grapes that Grow in Cold Climates Grape breeders realized that there was a niche for grapes that grow in cold climates. They also noticed that there was an indigenous grape that grows along river banks throughout much of eastern North America. This native grape (Vitis riparia), while small and less than tasty, became rootstock for new breeds of cold hardy grapevines. Breeders also began hybridizing with other hardy varieties from northern China and Russia....

Greasy Spot Fungus The fungus caused by greasy spot is caused by the fungus Mycosphaerella citri. Whether you grow citrus trees for a fresh fruit market or processing plant or just for your own use, you need to be able to control greasy spot fungus. If you allow the fungus to simply live, you will end up with a ruined fruit crop. Grapefruits, pineapples, and tangelos are most susceptible to greasy spot than other varieties of citrus fruit plants....

What is a Green Curtain? A green curtain is simply a curtain made of plants. These green curtain gardens can be grown in a wide range of locations: indoors, outdoors, and on small apartment balconies. Plantings of vining plants or vegetables can be made directly into the ground outdoors or in containers. Large trellises are used vertically to create an area of shade as the vines grow. In turn, the living plant curtain adds additional enjoyment to the space and can be quite useful for cooling in regions which receive especially hot weather....

What are Ground Cover Roses? Ground cover rose bushes are low-growing with a strong spreading habit and are considered landscape roses by some folks. Their canes run out along the surface of the ground, creating a carpet of beautiful blooms. They flower very well indeed! My first experience with ground cover roses came in the 2015 growing season and I have to tell you that I am now a big fan of them....

Winter Barley Cover Crops Winter barley cover crops are cool season annual cereal grains, which when planted, provide erosion control, weed suppression, add organic matter, and act as a topsoil protectant crop during times of drought. Other information about winter barley cover crops indicates its low price point and ease of growth, as well as its large area of growth tolerance. Winter barley cover crops prefer cool, dry growing regions and are hardy to USDA growing zone 8 or warmer....

About Blue Elf Succulents An intergeneric hybrid developed by the innovative growers at Altman Plants, Blue Elf succulents are one of the latest to hit the market but are by no means the only one they’ve developed. Beautiful and bountiful blooms are what gives this hybrid its cheery nickname of happy plant. Blooming multiple times per year, the flowers make it a showstopper. Teal-green leaves with pink to red tips, this small rosette forming plant usually reaches no more than 3 inches (8 cm....

Dymondia Lawn Alternative Native to South Africa, Dymondia consists of low-growing mats of narrow, grayish green leaves with fuzzy white undersides that give the plants a silvery appearance. In summer, this environmentally friendly plant produces masses of tiny, daisy-like blooms that are frequently visited by bees. Using Dymondia as a grass substitute isn’t the best option if your lawn receives a lot of activity, as Dymondia tolerates only light to moderate foot traffic....

Can You Grow Eggplants Indoors? Some people call them aubergines, but by any name eggplants are a dining treat. Growing eggplants inside is a bit tricky because it is difficult to provide enough heat and candle hours of light. The obvious solution is to build a grow system that not only enhances heat but includes grow lights. It still might not result in fruit, but you will have an elegant eggplant as a houseplant....