What is a Dwarf Lilac? Space challenged gardeners, or those that prefer a tidy looking plant, will love the dwarf lilac varieties. These smaller bushes offer all the same color and scent the standard forms present with a more compact form. Dwarf lilacs are fairly new developments with the Korean dwarf one of the first to be marketed. Syringa are old-fashioned garden classics that conjure warm spring days and crisp nights....

What is a Fringed Tulip? To many gardeners, tulips are the sign that spring is right around the bend. The bright-blossomed flowers are the most popular bulb plants, and some 3,000 varieties are available. Fringed tulip flowers are relatively new to the scene, and fringed tulip varieties have quickly gained a following. What is a fringed tulip? It is a type of tulip with finely incised fringe on the edges of the petals....

While many homeowners choose to explore more intensive methods of producing vegetables, others may prefer more traditional growing techniques. Furrow gardening is a method that produces a beautiful garden, as well as high yields. What is a Furrow? In gardening, a furrow refers to a long narrow trench. These trenches can be used in a variety of ways, from planting to irrigation. The furrow method of planting is beneficial to growers in that it can make routine garden care and maintenance much easier....

What is a Lombardy Poplar? What is a Lombardy poplar? This species of poplar is tall and thin; its shape is columnar. It grows well in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 9a. Lombardy poplar trees grow rapidly. They could grow to a mature height of up to 60 feet (18 m.), spreading around 12 feet (3.5 m.). However, most are killed by canker disease within 15 years, so large specimens are hard to find....

Madame Galen Plant Info If you need a plant that will both be beautiful and yet doesn’t need much maintenance, try growing a Madame Galen. This gorgeous trumpet vine relative can grow up to 25 feet (8 m.) in length and climbs using its aerial roots. In just a couple of seasons, any eyesore in your landscape can be transformed with lacy foliage and bright colored blooms. Best of all, Madame Galen needs no special care and only minimal maintenance....

Red Horsechestnut Info What is red horsechestnut? Red horsechestnut is a hybrid of two common species of Aesculus. This spring bloomer is deciduous, but the large leaves have little interesting fall color. What it does have is an early season show of deeply pink-red panicles comprised of clusters of small flowers. These, unfortunately, become rather annoying, spiked fruits that may pose a litter problem and should be kept away from children and animals due to their toxicity....

What is a Red October Tomato? Red October is a variety of tomato plant that produces large, about half-pound, fruits that store well and have a long shelf life. If you love tomatoes, you can design your garden to produce different varieties that ripen early, mid-season, and late. For those late tomatoes, you want fruit that will store well and keep well into late fall or early winter, depending on where you live....

What is Butternut Canker? Canker in butternut trees prevents the flow of sap up and down the tree. Without the means to transport moisture and nutrients, the tree eventually dies. There is no way to “fix” a canker or cure the disease, but you may be able to extend the life of the tree. Butternut tree cankers are caused by a fungus called Sirococcus clavigignenti-juglandacearum. Rain splashes the fungal spores onto the trunk or lower branches of a tree where it penetrates through scars left behind by buds, fallen leaves, and through wounds in the bark from insects and other injuries....

What is Cherry Leaf Spot? Leaf spots on cherries are caused by the fungus Blumeriella jaapi. The disease is also known as “yellow leaf” or “shot hole” disease and also affects plums. English Morello cherry trees are most commonly afflicted with leaf spot, and the disease is considered to be serious in the Midwest, New England states, and Canada. The disease is so prevalent that it has been estimated to infect 80% of eastern United States orchards....

What is French Sorrel? French sorrel herbs are members of the Buckwheat family. Most gardeners grow French sorrel to use fresh in a variety of recipes. It is used in a similar manner to spinach but has a highly acidic taste that can overwhelm other flavors. It is also high in oxalic acid and, therefore, used sparingly by those that are bothered by the compound. The part of the plant used in cooking are the long, lance-shaped leaves....

Grape Anthracnose Info Spotty grapes? This could be caused by anthracnose on grapevines. The problem also affects the shoots and leaves and may result in reduced vigor in vines, affecting production and appearance. Many commercial crops and ornamental plants develop this fungal disease, especially in wet, warm periods. As with any fungal disease, the condition is contagious and spreads readily in vineyard situations. The signs of brown lesions on leaves and stems may be the first symptoms of anthracnose on grapevines....

What is Japanese Wabi Sabi? Wabi sabi can be defined as “beauty in imperfection” and can incorporate asymmetry, incompleteness, impermanence, and simplicity. In addition to gardens, wabi sabi influences many other aspects of Japanese art and culture, such as the tea ceremony and pottery making, and it is also seen as a way of life. A garden based around wabi sabi incorporates natural and manmade elements in a way that allows visitors to appreciate their humble and imperfect forms....

Pyrola Plant Info Pyrola is a perennial herb with slender stems that emerge from clusters of heart-shaped leaves. Depending on the variety, between one and 20 white, pink or pale purple Pyrola flowers grow along the stems. Pyrola herb plants are generally found in organically rich forests and wooded areas. However, some varieties perform well in moist meadows and along lake shorelines. The plant prefers filtered or dappled sunlight but tolerates bright light or full shade....

What is Red Sanders? Sandalwood includes plants in the genus Santalum. There are some 10 species, most native to southeastern Asia and the islands of the South Pacific. What is red sanders? According to red sandalwood information, red sanders is a type of sandalwood native to India. The trees have been cultivated for centuries for their beautiful heartwood that is used in religious rites as well as medicinally. This type of sandalwood tree does not have fragrant wood....

What is Red Toch Garlic? Red Toch is one of the garlics found to grow vigorously near the city of Tochliavri in the Republic of Georgia, of former USSR. This small area claims a variety of tasty cultivars, with Tochliavri garlic becoming a favorite in many places worldwide. Wondering what makes it such a favorite? An Allium sativum offering a mild, yet complex, flavor and a unique aroma, many use this Tochliavri garlic for occasions when it will be eaten raw – yes, raw....

What is Ruby Grass? The name ruby grass ‘Pink Crystals’ refers to the attractive pink flower panicles that soar in airy magnificence a foot (31 cm.) above the slender green foliage. What is ruby grass? This plant is a tropical tufting grass that is easy to grow and divide after a few seasons for more of the finely foliaged plants. Ruby grass care is minimal and the plants keep a compact habit that is perfect for the detail oriented gardener....

What are These Aphids on My Oleander? You may see oleanders and aphids together regularly if you live in some southern states, like Florida. When you have oleanders, and aphids attack these shrubs, the odds are great that the insects are oleander aphids. What are oleander aphids? They are bright yellow, sap-sucking insects that can be found in warm regions throughout the world. These aphids probably originated in the Mediterranean, which is also the native country of oleander plants....

So, if you’re wondering what to do with garlic, grab a clove and get ready for some info on historical advantages with improved health. Is Garlic Good for You? There are many proven and unsubstantiated health benefits derived from garlic. Evidence of garlic use goes back 6,000 years in the ancient Egyptian era. It has featured prominently in many other classic civilizations and continues to be used in most global cuisine....

Pepino Fruit Harvest Info Although it prefers warm, frost-free climes, the pepino melon is actually fairly hardy; it can survive low temperatures down to 27 degrees F. (-3 C.). The succulent fruit varies in color and size from variety to variety but at its peak tastes much like a cross between a honeydew and cantaloupe with a hint of cucumber thrown in. This makes it a unique fruit that can be used in both sweet and savory dishes as well as being delicious eaten fresh on its own....

Direct Sowing Info Many varieties of plant seedlings perform best if they are transplanted. These include long season plants such as tomatoes and peppers. In northern zones, plants which take a long time to mature should be transplanted if any chance of fruiting or flowering should be achieved by the time the season ends. But direct seeding works for short season plants such as lettuce. Deciding between direct sowing and transplanting will depend upon plant type and zone....