Why Do Zucchini Blossoms Fall Off the Plant? There are two reasons why zucchini blossoms fall off the plant. Male Zucchini Blossoms This is the most common reason for zucchini flowers falling off the plant: zucchini plants have male and female flowers. Only female zucchini blossoms can produce zucchini squash. Once male zucchini blossoms have opened to release their pollen, they simply fall off the plant. Many times, a zucchini plant will produce only male blossoms when first in bloom to ensure that pollen will be available when the female blossoms open....

Information on Lithops There are numerous colorful names for plants in the Lithops genus. Pebble plants, mimicry plants, flowering stones, and of course, living stones are all descriptive monikers for a plant that has a unique form and growth habit. Lithops are small plants, rarely getting more than an inch (2.5 cm.) above the soil surface and usually with only two leaves. The thick, padded leaves resemble the cleft in an animal’s foot or just a pair of green- to grayish-brown stones clustered together....

The fedge grows quickly, often 6 feet (2 m.) per year, so trimming is necessary to train the structure in the shape you want. Live Willow Fence Making: Learn About Planting A Living Willow Fence Live willow fence making begins with the preparation of the site. Choose a moisture-retentive area in full sun for the best growth, but Salix is not fussy about soil. Plant at least 33 feet (10 m....

About Plane Tree Lumber Planting of London plane tree, specifically for the timber industry, is very rare. While oriental plane trees are sometimes planted for these purposes, most plantings of London plane trees are made in landscaping and cityscaping. With this in mind, however, tree loss is not uncommon due to damage caused by severe thunderstorms, wind, ice, or other drastic weather events. Homeowners may also need to remove trees when undertaking various home additions or when beginning construction projects throughout their properties....

Differences Between Jams, Jellies, and Preserves Jam is made of chopped or pureed fruit, while jelly is smoother and comes mainly from the juice of fruit. Preserves cover other types of processed fruits such as compotes and chutneys. These have more body than jam and are much more robust. Each has a slightly different process but learning how to make preserves also requires some canning knowledge for long term storage, unless you plan on freezing your fruit....

What Causes Citrus Slow Decline? Slow decline of citrus is a major concern to growers, and it should be to you as well if you have a home orchard. Trees with this condition lose vigor and show yellow foliage and small fruit. The citrus nematode (Tylenchulus semipenetrans) is responsible for this decline. Nematodes are microscopic roundworms that live in soil and plant tissues and feed on plant roots. The citrus nematode was first noted in 1913....

What is Fleabane? A member of the aster family, fleabane produces masses of tiny white to yellowish, daisy-like blooms. The plant can reach heights of up to 3 feet (91 cm.) at maturity. Fleabane produces seeds prolifically; a single plant can produce more than 100,000 seeds. The fluffy, umbrella-like seed heads are easily dispersed by wind and water. This makes the need for fleabane control methods of utmost importance. How to Get Rid of Fleabane Fleabane weed control isn’t easy because of the plant’s long, thick taproot; however, the plant is fairly easy to pull when it is young and measures less than 12 inches (30 cm....

How Manure Affects the Soil In order to maximize the benefits of manure compost in the garden, proper application is vital. One of the best ways to use manure as plant fertilizer is by mixing it in with compost. Composting manure eliminates the possibility of burning the plants. Another option is to till it into the soil prior to spring planting, such as during fall or winter. Generally, fall is the best time to use manure in the garden....

Ecological Impact of Moving Plants Across International Borders That beautiful flowering plant growing outside your hotel balcony may look innocent enough. You might even consider gathering a few seeds or taking a root clipping home so you can grow it in your backyard. You must resist the temptation of sneaking plants over borders though. Bringing non-native plants into an ecosystem can create an invasive nightmare. Without natural population controls, non-native plants can overtake the habitat of native species and squeeze them right out of existence....

My Impatiens Have Yellow Leaves It’s a sad day in the garden when you see your impatiens getting yellow leaves. Generally, impatiens are disease-free annuals in the backyard beds, showing off healthy, dark-green leaves. The plant is, however, very sensitive to water stress. The key to healthy impatiens is to keep the soil moist at all times but never soggy. Overwatering and underwatering can result in the leaves of impatiens turning yellow....

What is a Naturalized Plant? The naturalized plant definition includes two key features: It is a plant not native to the area in which it grows, and is typically from another country. It grows on its own and reproduces without a gardener’s intervention. These plants are not native but have been in the area for a long time. Many may assume they are native species for this reason. A naturalized plant can be good or bad, depending on whom you ask....

Nectarine Harvest Season Knowing exactly when to pick a nectarine isn’t as simple as looking at the calendar. Nectarine harvest season runs anywhere from midsummer to mid-autumn, depending upon the cultivar and USDA growing zone. So what are some of the characteristics of ripeness that will indicate it is time for nectarine tree harvesting? How to Harvest Nectarines Nectarines can be picked when they are close to being ripe and then ripened indoors in a brown paper bag or on the counter....

Interested in incorporating different plants for Christmas? Read on to learn about unique Christmas plants. Holiday Season Plants We all know which holiday season plants will be available: poinsettias, Christmas cactus, amaryllis, and the like. Once the season has passed, many of us toss them out but there are a number of unique Christmas plants available that will keep on giving long after that season has passed. Non-Traditional Holiday Plants When looking for different plants for Christmas, think about plants that can be maintained year-round....

Types of Fruit for North Central Regions The best types of fruit trees to plant in upper northern U.S. regions include apples, pears, plums and sour cherries. These types of fruit trees originated in the mountains of Central Asia where cold winters are the norm. Apples, for instance, grow best in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 7, but several varieties can be successfully cultivated in zone 3. Depending upon your hardiness zone, gardeners may also be able to grow other types of fruit trees in North Central states....

Your Regional To-Do List Most of the chores for upper Midwest gardens at this time of year are maintenance, cleanup, and preparation for winter. Keep pulling out those weeds until you can’t anymore. This will make spring easier.Continue watering any new plants, perennials, shrubs, or trees you put in this fall. Water until the ground freezes, but don’t let the soil get waterlogged.Rake the leaves and give the lawn one last cut....

What is Organic Material? What is organic material? Basically, anything that occurs in nature can be considered organic material, although not all of it is useful as a gardening addition. If you read organic gardening information, you’ll find that almost every plant and animal by-product can be used in one form or another, and most of them can be added to composting. Using organic material for gardening helps sandy soil to retain moisture while it allows clay soil to drain more efficiently....

Can You Kill a Plant From Over Pruning? Although over pruned trees and shrubs don’t usually die if some part of the canopy remains, the damage from over pruning can be extensive. Over pruning reduces the foliage that’s available for making food for the rest of the plant and can allow pests and diseases access to the tree if cuts are made incorrectly. Plants may sprout excessively in response to so much canopy loss, both to protect the bark of the plant from sunscald and to increase food production....

Winterizing Four O’Clock in Mild Climates Four o’clocks grown in zones 7-11 need very little help to survive the winter because, although the plant dies down, the tubers remain snug and warm underground. However, if you live in zones 7-9, a layer of mulch or straw provides a little extra protection in case of an unexpected cold snap. The thicker the layer, the better the protection. Overwintering Four O’Clocks in Cold Climates Four o’clocks winter plant care is a little more involved if you live north of USDA zone 7, as the gnarled, carrot-shaped tubers are not likely to survive the winter....

If you have one of these delightful fruit trees, you’ll be sad to see your persimmon tree losing leaves. Leaf drop of persimmon can have a variety of causes. Read on for information on the causes of persimmon leaf drop. Why is Persimmon Dropping Leaves? Whenever you see a tree such as a persimmon dropping its leaves, look first at its cultural care. Persimmons are generally undemanding little trees, tolerating most types of soil and a range of sun exposures....

Bark forms in thick square blocks that resemble alligator skin. The wood is strong and resistant, used to make golf club heads, flooring, veneers, and billiard cues. The fruit is sweet when left to ripen and is similar in taste to an apricot. Growing persimmons is a fun and rewarding project for the home gardener. Learn more about persimmon tree growing conditions so you can grow these amazing fruits yourself....