About Pea Trees A member of the pea family (Fabaceae), the Siberian pea tree, Caragana arborescens, is a deciduous shrub or small tree native to Siberia and Manchuria. Introduced into the United States, the Siberian pea tree, otherwise known as Caragana pea tree, attains heights of between 10 to 15 feet (3-4.5 m.) tall, some up to 20 feet (6 m.) tall. It is composed of alternate 3- to 5-inch (7....

Growing Crops in Small Spaces Gardening in small spaces can be challenging, regardless of one’s level of expertise. From potted plants to window boxes, reaping the rewards of these unique gardens often requires trial and error in order to produce abundant vegetable harvests. Ideal crops for small gardens will vary depending on how they will be planted. While those growing in the ground will be able to sow vegetables with larger root systems, gardeners who choose to use containers may have more success with plants better suited to these growing techniques....

Spigelia Indian Pink Information Indian pink is a clump-forming perennial that reaches mature heights of 12 to 18 inches (31-46 cm.). The emerald-green foliage provides delightful contrast to the vivid red flowers, which appear in late spring and early summer. The flared, tube-shaped flowers, highly attractive to hummingbirds, are made even more interesting by the bright yellow insides that form a star when the bloom is open. Growing Requirements for Indian Pink Wildflowers Spigelia Indian pink is a good choice for partial shade and doesn’t do well in full sunlight....

When to Divide Herbs Herbaceous plants should be lifted and divided between the early autumn and midspring, depending on weather conditions. This means that in areas where the weather is mild in the fall, divide the herbs. In colder regions, herb plant division should occur in the spring when the roots are still slumbering. To keep herbs at their peak, they should be divided every two to four years. How to Divide Perennial Herbs Herbs that do well propagated via root division include:...

What is Lawn Thatch You must know your enemy to win the battle, so what is lawn thatch? Spongy lawns are the result of excess buildup of old and dead grass material. Some types of grass don’t produce thatch but others with thick stolens will trap their own leaves and stems. Overly thick thatch not only makes the lawn spongy but can interfere with the plant’s ability to gather air, water, and fertilizer....

Spring Lawn Cleanup It may not be a lot of fun, but spring lawn maintenance requires a few hours of spring lawn cleanup. It’s tempting to get started on the first sunny day, but it’s critical to wait until the ground is dry or you may compact the soil and damage the tender roots. Once the lawn is dry, you can gently rake away dead grass, leaves, twigs, and other debris....

Do You Need to Prune Sugarcane? Sugarcane is a perennial grass, so if you’re wondering does sugarcane need to be pruned like a tree or shrub, the answer is technically no. However, if you want your sugarcane to look nice, pruning is a good way to do it. These large grasses can grow quite unruly, with side shoots and leaves. Sugarcane pruning can also concentrate growth on the main cane, which is what you will harvest for sugar....

Regardless of the rationale behind growing these beautiful plants, there is no doubt that planting sunflowers is an asset to many gardeners. However, there is one thing that many do not know – sunflower weed control can be used in the garden. How can sunflowers stop weeds from sprouting though? Let’s find out. Do Sunflowers Limit Weeds? While sunflowers are commonplace in the garden, one interesting and frequently overlooked aspect of these plants is that they are allelopathic....

Symptoms for Sunscald in Tomatoes On tomatoes, sunscald will appear as a yellow or white-spotted area on the side or upper part of the fruit that has been directly exposed to the sun. As the fruit ripens, the affected area may become blistered before it finally turns thin, wrinkly, and paper-like in appearance. At this stage, the fruit becomes more susceptible to secondary fungal problems, like Alternaria. Causes of Sunscald Tomatoes To find cause of sunscald in tomato plants, you should look towards one of the following possibilities:...

What is a Portable Garden? Portable gardens are really nothing more than small container plantings that are relatively easy to relocate. They are perfect for people who are renting, in transition, have limited funds, or restricted growing space. Types of Portable Gardens The sky is the limit when it comes to the types of portable gardens you can have. Just put on your creative thinking cap, find a container of any sort, fill it with soil, and install your favorite plants....

Although tarragon is best grown from seedlings, cuttings, or divisions, some varieties can be propagated from seeds. Growing tarragon can add a sophisticated herb to your garden. Tarragon Seeds Tarragon seeds should be started indoors around April or before your area’s last expected frost. It’s usually easier to sow about four to six seeds per pot using moist, composted potting soil. Cover the seeds lightly and keep them in low light at room temperature....

Information About Crocus Bulbs Crocus flowers appear from March to April in a wide range of colors, from white to yellow and shades of purple, with solid and striped varieties. The bulbs grow best in well-drained, sandy loam but tolerate many soil types. They prefer a sunny location but will tolerate partial shade. The flowers will not open in full shade. Tips for Propagating Crocus Bulbs Crocus bulbs must be dug up for division when they have gone dormant after the first frost in the fall....

Out of Town Garden Care If you’re going to be gone for more than a few days, enlist somebody to provide plant care. Be sure it’s somebody you can trust, such as a friend or neighbor– preferably one who understands gardening and plant care. Better yet, work a deal to trade favors with a fellow gardener. Provide special instructions, such as a watering schedule and tips for plant care, including regular deadheading....

How to Root Tomato Cuttings If you admire a neighbor’s lush tomato plant, starting tomato plants from cuttings is an excellent way to clone their plant and, hopefully, get the same vigorous result; just be polite and ask first before you snip from their prized plant. Rooting tomato cuttings is cost-saving as well. You can purchase a couple of plants and then root additional ones from the cuttings. The advantage of starting tomato cuttings in this manner is that it can take seedlings, from seed, six to eight weeks before they are of transplant size....

Tomato Ripening Facts In order to find the answer to the question as to whether tomatoes ripen from inside out, we scoured the websites of the horticultural departments at many of the universities across the United States. At first, we could not find a single mention of this particular ripening process and, as such, assumed that this could not be true. That being said, after a little more digging, we have, in fact, found mention of this “inside-out” ripening of tomatoes from more than a handful of experts....

Gardeners in northern U.S. climates can also take advantage of cold-hardy vegetables by planting these winter vegetables as early spring or fall crops. In addition, coupling cold-season vegetables with techniques for extending the growing season can make one’s garden more productive throughout the year. To get you started, here’s our list of the 10 best vegetables for cold-weather cultivation. The Top 10 Winter Vegetables Beets – It’s best to direct seed these cold-hardy vegetables into the garden as they don’t transplant well....

Even those of us that have been enjoying this pastime for years found ourselves on the front lines of the COVID gardening boom. An avid gardener myself, I learned a thing or two while gardening during a pandemic, trying my hand at growing something new too. You’re never too old (or young) to start a garden. As we finally approach the end of this taxing year and the quarantine gardens so many of us took part in, what gardening questions were asked most?...

Staghorn Fern Repotting When to repot a staghorn fern is a common question to many but an easy one to answer. Staghorn ferns are happiest when they’re slightly crowded and should only be repotted when they’re nearly busting at the seams – usually once every few years. Staghorn fern repotting is best done in spring. How to Repot a Staghorn Fern Here are some tips to follow when you begin transplanting staghorn ferns into another pot....

Symptoms of Downy Mildew on Roses Initial leaf symptoms of roses with downy mildew are light green to yellow spots, called “oil spots” because they may appear greasy. Downy mildew on roses seems to attack the new foliage growth first and works its way down the rose bush. You may also see a reddening of the stem or sepals on the rose bush. Treating Roses with Downy Mildew Rose downy mildew can be a very tough customer to get rid of once it gets started....

Hops With No Cones Hop bines need a minimum of 120 frost-free days to produce flowers. The female flowers are the cones, or burrs, the source of the aromatic flavor characteristic of good beers. The time of planting can be a driving force for when, or if, you get cones in your zone. Most growers recommend planting in May, but in warmer climates, you could plant a bit earlier as long as there are no freezes expected....