Rhizome Plant Facts What is a rhizome? Technically, a rhizome is a stem that grows underground. It usually grows horizontally, just below the soil’s surface. Since it’s a stem, it has nodes and is able to put out other stems, usually straight up and above ground. This means a patch of what looks like several individual plants grouped near each other may actually all be shoots of the same plant, put up by the same rhizome....

Signs and Causes of Rhododendron Stress Burn Stress burn or scorch is a phenomenon that is not uncommon in broadleaf evergreens like rhododendron. The stresses triggered by unfavorable weather can cause: Browning on the tips of leaves Browning along the margins of leaves Extended browning and crispy leaves Curled leaves Scorch can be caused by dryness in winter. Especially windy and cold conditions can cause the leaves to lose more water than the roots can take up in frozen soil....

Why a Round Flower Bed? We tend to create flower beds in obvious spaces, around a tree, up against the house, or in a space between walkways. We tuck them away into these spaces where they serve as beautiful backdrops for garden structures or grassy lawns. What if you want to make a flower bed the focus of your garden, though? Or do you have a big open space you want to fill?...

As stated previously, sago palms are either male or female. Females form a flat, slightly rounded cone with rich, golden tones. The male cone resembles a pine cone and is more erect, growing up to 24 inches (61 cm.) tall. If the two are nearby, the male pollen fertilizes the female sago palm flower head and around December bright red seeds will form on her. These will naturally disperse through birds and wind, and the “flower” parts will disintegrate....

Sawfly Information There are several types of sawflies and most are named for the type of plant on which they feed. Here are a few types that you may find in your landscape: Currant sawfly larvae have green or tan spots and they strip the foliage off of currant plants. There are a number of different conifer sawflies that can seriously injure their chosen species by feeding on needles and tunneling into buds and shoots....

If you’re new to growing from seed, you’ll find it is a simple process. Avoid common seed starting mistakes for best results. Some reasons seeds fail to germinate are described below and can help you avoid making these mistakes. Common Mistakes with Seed Germination While starting from seed is simple and easy, there are a few steps to follow for optimum germination. Don’t expect each seed to germinate for different reasons, but your percentage should be high....

In the United States, some of the largest Shakespeare gardens can be found in New York’s Central Park and Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, the Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, and the International Rose Test Garden in Portland, Oregon. Devising a Shakespeare garden design of your very own is every bit as fun as it challenging. Read on for a few tips to get you started. How to Create a Shakespeare Garden Design Prior to selecting plants for a Shakespeare garden, it helps to have some knowledge of Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets, which you probably already have if you’re considering a Shakespearean garden design....

Should You Use Fresh Manure in Gardens? The benefits of using manure as fertilizer are well known. Manure improves soil texture, allows for proper drainage, while also improving the soil’s water holding capacity. It can be used in clay soil, compacted, hard pan soil, or sandy soils. Manure is an organic material that can increase beneficial microorganisms in the garden soil. While improving the soil, manure also provides a slow and steady release of nutrients to the plant life growing in the soil....

But what if you don’t have a yard and barely have the space for a few garden containers? Compost is just as important when growing a garden in those containers too. The solution: explore the different ways to practice small space composting. Compact Compost Solutions There are different containers we can use indoors to collect and mix composting materials. Small compost bins can fit under your sink, in a corner of the pantry, or under a cabinet, wherever you might have the space....

Why Carrots Crack If your carrots are cracking, the malady is likely the result of inadequate environmental preferences; water needs to be exact. Carrot roots need moist soil, but don’t like to be waterlogged. Moisture stress not only results in cracking in carrot crops, but may also cause underdeveloped, woody, and bitter roots. The cracking of the roots occurs after a time of a lack of irrigation and then a sudden onslaught of moisture, such as a downpour after a period of drought....

What is a Spring Onion? There seems to be some confusion surrounding exactly what a spring onion refers to. This could be that it is referred to as a green onion in Canada and the United Kingdom. And then the green onion is often called a scallion, so that identification becomes somewhat perplexing. Simply put, a green onion in the United States is also a scallion. Same animal…ahem, allium. What is the difference between a green onion (scallion) and a spring onion then?...

Using Statice as Cut Flowers Also called sea lavender (Limonium sinuatum), using statice in cut flower arrangements seems to signify fond memories in many people. Statice cut flowers are long lasting in the vase, whether fresh or dried. When growing statice as cut flowers for fresh bouquets, both foliage and protrusions should be stripped from lower stems to provide more longevity. They also look attractive in dried arrangements, and cut plants can be hung upside down in bunches and placed in a dark location with cool temperatures for drying....

What are Strawberry Plant Runners? Most varieties of strawberries produce runners, also known as stolons. These runners will eventually develop their own roots, resulting in a clone plant. Once these adventitious roots establish in the soil, the runners begin to dry up and shrivel away. For this reason, using strawberry plant runners for propagation makes it especially easy to make more plants. When to Cut Strawberry Runners Since many people choose to pinch out runners in order to allow plants to concentrate their energy on making large fruits, you can cut them off as they appear and pot them up rather than simply tossing them....

When to Plant Bulbs for Summer Flowers Summer flowering bulbs can maximize a flower garden with bountiful blooms. Since flower bulbs that bloom in summer are frequently tender to frost, they are most commonly planted after the weather has warmed in the spring. Planting time will also vary depending upon each bulb type and the gardener’s USDA growing zone. Though some summer garden bulbs are grown as annuals, many types can be lifted and stored indoors over winter....

Summer Squash Types Most summer squash today are varieties of Cucurbita pepo. Summer squash plants differ from winter squash because most summer squash varieties bear their fruit on bushy plants rather than vining or sprawling plants like winter squashes. Summer squashes are also harvested when their rinds are still soft and edible, and fruit is still immature. Winter squashes, on the other hand, are harvested when the fruit is mature and their rinds are hard and thick....

Pest Management in Sunflower Plants Not many pests bother the sunflower and those that do only wreak havoc in large numbers. The most common sunflower pests include the following: Sunflower Beetles – Sunflower beetles typically feed on the leaf foliage and in small numbers or older plants may seldom hurt the plants. However, on younger sunflower plants, the first true leaves can be severely damaged or completely consumed. Cutworms – Cutworms can also damage the leaves of young sunflowers, leaving notches or holes....

Sweet Broom Info A common bit of sweet broom info is its relation to the pea family or Fabaceae. This is evident in its bloom form, and also means the plant has the capacity to fix nitrogen in soil. The plant was popular for its rapid growth and low sweet broom shrub care. But is sweet broom invasive? It was used by the United States transportation department to colonize disturbed roadsides after building trans-continental roads and to enhance soil properties but is now considered invasive in some regions....

What are Tree Tomatoes? Tree tomato tamarillo (Cyphomandra betacea) is a lesser-known plant in many regions but makes a very nice addition to the landscape. The South American native is a small-growing shrub or semi-woody tree reaching heights between 10 and 18 feet (3-5.5 m.). Tamarillo trees bloom in early spring, producing fragrant pink flowers. These blooms will eventually give way to small, oval or egg-shaped fruit, reminiscent of plum tomatoes—hence the tomato tree’s name....

Better Vegetable Garden Layouts Many of us actually require something taking up less space and less time and we are looking for the best way to layout a vegetable garden. There is an alternative to the big vegetable garden layouts, which can be just as effective with an additional bonus– a layout designed for small areas. Small vegetable garden layouts, which fit the busy person’s lifestyle as well as accommodate those who have limited room for a traditional garden, come in the form of small beds....

Is It Safe to Compost Cat Litter? Safety is the primary concern when composting cat litter. While gardeners often add manure from farm animals like cows and chickens to their compost piles, fecal material from carnivores such as dogs and cats contain a host of pathogens that can be harmful to humans. Here are four zoonotic pathogens that can be present in cat feces: Campylobobacter – These gram-negative bacteria can cause diarrhea in humans....