Causes of Plant Lodging The causes of plant lodging are legion. High nitrogen levels, storm damage, soil density, disease, sowing date, overpopulation, and seed type are all contributing factors to lodging in cereal crops. The most common plants affected by lodging are corn, but other cereal and grain crops are also at risk. The two types of plant lodging can occur coincidentally or singly but their effect on the crop reduces overall health and harvest....

What is Phony Peach Disease? As its name indicates, Xylella fastidiosa on peach trees is a fastidious bacterium. It lives in the plant’s xylem tissue and is spread by sharpshooter leafhoppers. X. fastidiosa, also referred to as bacterial leaf scorch, is widespread in the southeastern United States but can also be found in California, southern Ontario, and into the southern Midwestern states. Strains of the bacterium also cause various diseases in grapes, citrus, almond, coffee, elm, oak, oleander, pear, and sycamore trees....

What is Plant Parenting? It’s a term coined by the millennial generation, but plant parenting isn’t really anything new. It simply refers to caring for houseplants. So, yes, you probably are a plant parent and didn’t even realize it. Millennial plant parenthood is a positive trend. Young people are increasingly interested in growing plants indoors. The reason behind this may be the fact that millennials have put off having children. Another factor is that a lot of young people rent rather than own homes, limiting outdoor gardening options....

What is Ringspot? Tomato ringspot virus is caused by a plant virus that’s believed to be transferred from sick plants to healthy ones through pollen and vectored throughout the garden by dagger nematodes. These microscopic roundworms live in the soil, freely moving between plants, albeit slowly. Symptoms of tomato ringspot vary in plants from highly visible, yellow ringspots, mottling, or general yellowing of leaves to less obvious symptoms like gradual overall decline and reduced fruit size....

What is Garden Soil? Unlike regular topsoil, bagged products labeled as garden soil are generally pre-mixed soil products that are intended to be added to the existing soil in a garden or flower bed. What’s in garden soil usually depends on what they are intended to have grown in them. Topsoil is harvested from the first foot or two of the earth, then shredded and screened to remove stones or other large particles....

Using Anise Plants Anise plants can be harvested whenever the plants are large enough to cut. The tiny, aromatic seeds are ready for harvest about a month after the flowers bloom. What to Do with Aniseed Plants in the Kitchen Toasted anise seeds (aniseeds) are used to make spicy cookies, cakes, and various types of bread. They also make delicious syrups. The seeds are also incorporated into hot dishes, including cabbage and other cruciferous vegetables, baked or steamed root vegetables, and soups or stews....

Propagating a Barrel Cactus You can remove the pups from the mother to plant in a container or a different spot in the garden bed. Of course, you’ll want to do this carefully, avoiding the prickly and painful cactus spines. Heavy gloves are a necessary part of the protection you’ll need to use when propagating a barrel cactus. Some wear two pairs of gloves when working with cactus, as the spines easily pierce through....

When are Vegetables Fresh? Fresh and ripe are not the same thing. Fresh indicates the amount of time since a vegetable was harvested, while ripeness refers to peak maturity. Many vegetables are grown and harvested in various areas of the United States. Some veggies come from foreign countries, depending upon the time of the year and the current growing season. Vegetables, which travel long distances to reach your store shelves, are often picked before they reach peak ripeness....

Understanding Different Types of Hand Pruners When to use hand pruners depends on the type of pruner and what is in need of being pruned. Here is a quick rundown of common pruners for gardening. Bypass pruners make a precise, clean cut that when held properly, prevents damage to live wood. They are best for smaller branches measuring less than ½ inch (1.5 cm.) in diameter. Anvil pruners are great for cutting old, tough, or brittle deadwood, but not so ideal for live wood because the scissor-like action may damage live tissue on each side of the blade....

White Beauty Tomato Info White Beauty tomatoes are heirloom beefsteak tomatoes with a creamy white flesh and skin. These tomatoes were popular in gardens between the mid 1800’s and 1900’s. Afterward, White Beauty tomatoes seemed to drop off the face of the earth until their seeds were rediscovered. White Beauty tomato plants are indeterminate and open pollinated. They produce an abundance of meaty, nearly seedless, creamy white fruits from mid to late summer....

White Snakeroot Facts White snakeroot plants have coarse toothed, round-based leaves with pointed tips that grow opposite each other on erect stems that reach 3 feet (1 m.) tall. The stems branch at the top where white clusters of flowers bloom from summer through fall. Snakeroot prefers moist, shady areas and is often found along roadsides, woods, fields, thickets, and under powerline clearances. Historically, snakeroot plant uses included teas and poultices made from the roots....

Reasons Houseplants Die If your indoor plants keep failing, it’s most likely due to cultural issues, many of which can be easily fixed. Too Much Water If you are watering too frequently, or your soil is taking too long to dry out, your plant can suffer from root rot and die. Some signs of root rot include a plant with leaves that are wilting. If you notice that your leaves are wilted and the soil feels moist, chances are that you have root rot....

Why Grow Succulents? Once you learn a few basics, you’ll find succulent plants are easy to grow. When you discover how to mix up the perfect well-draining soil and, most importantly, how to limit watering, you’ll find succulent plants are simple. Even if you sometimes forget to care for these plants, you’ll learn succulents are easy to get along with. Medicinal Succulent Benefits This ease of care is a definite benefit for those who like a few pots of greenery on the desk at work or scattered throughout sunny areas in the home....

What is Wild Lettuce? Wild lettuce weeds are native to the Mediterranean and are also referred to as prickly lettuce, China lettuce, horse or milk thistle, wild opium and compass plant in relation to the north-south vertical placement of its leaves – perpendicular to direct sunlight. Wild lettuce, Lactuca serriola, is a biennial, sometimes an annual plant that prefers dry conditions but can be found in moist areas as well. The weed has a deep tap root that exudes a milky sap or latex that is known to clog farming equipment on commercial farms and may also sicken cattle....

Wild Yellow Lily Information Canada lily wildflowers, native to the eastern areas of Canada and the United States, are hardy plants that grow in USDA growing zones 3 through 9. The plants, which reach mature heights of 2 to 5 feet (0.5 to 1.5 m.), are commonly found growing along roadsides, in moist meadows, and woodlands, along streams, or in marshy areas. The nectar from the fragrant blooms is highly attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees....

Willowherb Information Willowherb (Epilobium) is a Class B noxious weed in many states. In its native regions, it is simply part of the natural flora and a beneficial part of the landscape. When soils are disturbed though, the seeds spread far beyond their home turf and can cause quite a problem for farmers, land management professionals, and home gardeners. There are many varieties of willowherb weeds. Hairy, Canadian, Tall, Greater, you name it; there is a species of the weed....

How to Over Winter Strawberry Jars One of the most common questions pertaining to strawberry plants is, “Can you keep strawberries in a strawberry jar over winter?”. The answer is no, not unless you plan on keeping them indoors, well away from any freezing temperatures. For instance, you can move pots to an unheated garage for winterizing potted strawberry plants until the return of spring; however, more often than not they are put in the ground instead....

Hardy Flowering Shrubs A gardener or landscaper has plenty of choices available for growing flowering shrubs in zone 5. Starting with the classic hardy flowering shrubs, zone 5 gardeners can choose from many varieties of hydrangea, viburnum, lilac, spirea, rhododendron, azalea, dogwood, ninebark, and roses. Hydrangeas bloom for long periods in midsummer; some varieties even have fall colored foliage. Viburnums are a favorite of birds because of their berries which can persist well into winter....

About Zone 8 Evergreen Shrubs Zone 8 evergreen shrubs offer long-term structure and focal points for your backyard, as well as year-round color and texture. Shrubs also provide food and shelter for birds and other wildlife. It’s important to make careful selections. Pick evergreen shrub varieties that will grow happily and without too much maintenance in your landscape. You’ll find evergreen shrubs for zone 8 that are small, midsize, or large, as well as conifer and broad-leaf evergreens....

Attracting Hummingbirds in Zone 8 Hummingbirds, or hummers as they are familiarly known, are about the cutest things for a bird watcher. These fast-moving, tiny birds love brightly colored, nectar-rich plants. Choosing plants for hummingbirds in zone 8 simply requires paying attention to hardiness and then opting for plants that produce food enjoyed by the birds. You can part with the sugary red feeder that requires cleaning and refilling if you just put out a couple of plants that attract them and also make your outdoor space colorful....