Shooting Star Plant Propagation via Seed Shooting stars may be propagated either by sowing seeds or by division. While propagating shooting star plants via seed is possible, keep in mind that the seeds need to go through a period of cold stratification before they are ready to plant and they grow very slowly. After flowering, shooting star produces small, hard green capsules. These capsules are the fruit of the plant and contain seeds....

Planting Fast Growing Gardens Consider growing all or at least part of your flowers, fruits, or veggies in containers so you can move them along with you. If this is not feasible for your situation, get a ground bed ready for planting. Find an area with rich soil in full to part sun. Weed it, remove rocks, then till several inches (8 cm.) deep. Add compost and further break up the ground as you work it in for your short-term gardening project....

When to Cut Back Bachelor’s Buttons Feel free to cut back a bachelor’s button plant by about a third of its height about midsummer, or any time the plant looks scraggly and flowering begins to slow. Cutting back bachelor’s buttons tidies the plant and encourages it to put forth a new flush of flowers. Deadheading bachelor’s buttons, on the other hand, should be done continuously throughout the blooming season. Why? Because bachelor’s buttons, like all plants, exist primarily to reproduce; when flowers wilt, seeds follow....

Polka Dot Plant Propagation Tips Starting polka dot plants isn’t difficult. In fact, these plants can be easily propagated by seed or cuttings. Both methods can be performed in spring or summer. Whether started by seed or through polka dot plant cuttings, however, you’ll want to keep your new plants evenly moist in well-draining potting soil and provide them with medium light (indirect sunlight) conditions. These plants also prefer temperatures between 65 and 80 degrees F....

How to Handle Harvested Cherries Once harvested, fresh cherries must be cooled as soon as possible to slow down the ripening process, as the quality will deteriorate quickly. Keep cherries in a shady spot until you can get them into the refrigerator or another cold storage. Place the cherries in a sturdy plastic bag or container, but don’t wash them yet because the moisture will speed the decaying process. Wait and rinse the cherries with cold water when you’re ready to eat them....

Saving Peach Seeds Storing peach seeds may not be necessary, depending upon where you live. In order to germinate, peach pits have to be exposed to prolonged cold temperatures. If your climate experiences long, reliably cold winters, you can just plant your peach pit directly in the ground. If you don’t get hard winters, or just want the more hands-on approach, saving peach seeds makes sense. The first step to storing peach seeds is washing and drying them....

Strawberry ‘Northeaster’ Info This June-bearing strawberry, released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1996, is suitable for growing in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 through 8. It has gained favor for its generous yields and large, sweet, juicy berries, which are delicious baked, eaten raw, or incorporated into jams and jellies. Northeaster strawberry plants reach heights of about 8 inches (20 cm.), with a spread of 24 inches. (60 cm....

Typical Summer Allergy Plants You know the symptoms. A stuffy head, runny nose, headache, weepy eyes, and itching. Summer plant allergies don’t have to ruin your vacation. Know the plants that cause summer allergies so you can avoid them and concentrate on sunny fun. Many of the allergy causing plants in summer are found wild in ditches, fields, and abandoned spaces. That means a casual hike for those that are sensitive can become a real drag....

What are Sweat Bees? Sweat bees are a group of solitary bee species that live alone in underground nests. Some species resemble bumble or honeybees, while others resemble wasps. About half of the North American species have a green or blue metallic sheen. A few nests don’t present a serious problem, but you should take steps to control the bees when they build several nests in the same area. Since they build their nests on bare, dry dirt, the obvious sweat bee control method is to grow something....

Symptoms of Lethal Bole Rot The first symptoms of lethal bole rot include wilting of mature leaves, which turn bronze or yellow. As the disease progresses, a reddish brown, yellow-edged dry rot develops on boles at the base of the trunk. You may also notice indentations lined with mold, particularly in the trunks of trees younger than four years old. You may notice a foul, rotted odor, primarily at the base of affected leaves....

Are you interested in raising your own Szechuan pepper? Growing this sturdy plant isn’t difficult for gardeners in USDA plant hardiness zones 6 through 9. Read on and learn how to grow Szechuan peppers. Szechuan Pepper Info Where do Szechuan peppers come from? This fascinating tree hales from the Szechuan region of China. Szechuan pepper plants are actually more closely related to citrus trees than to familiar chili peppers or peppercorns....

Teaching Garden Curriculum Ideas Children learn through play. The best way to allow them to do this is by providing them fun and exciting hands-on activities that also stimulate all of their senses. If you want to get them curious and learn about gardening, give them fun activities related to just that. Activities can include, but are certainly not limited to, things like sensory play, special snacks or cooking activities, outdoor games, arts and crafts, and so much more!...

Fragrant Herb Garden Most herbs will release their aromas better when they are brushed against or touched. A nice breeze will also carry the herb’s aromatic scent across the yard to you. Keep this in mind when you are deciding where to place your fragrant herb garden. Keeping it close by would definitely be a good idea. When it comes to scented herbs, you have a huge assortment from which to choose....

Container Grown Eggplant Modern breeding programs are answering the call of the limited space gardener. With the rise of upside down gardening, traditional container gardening has expanded its previous barriers. Eggplants in pots are as easy to grow as tomatoes in pots. They need large enough containers to support the roots of such a heavy plant, a well draining medium, extra food and consistent water and, of course, the right container....

Given how long the ginkgo trees have survived on the planet, it won’t surprise you to learn that they are generally strong and healthy. Still, ginkgo tree diseases do exist. Read on for information about the diseases of ginkgo with tips for managing sick ginkgo trees. Issues with Ginkgo In general, ginkgo trees resist most pests and diseases. Their resistance to ginkgo tree diseases is one reason they have survived as a species for so long....

What is Frost Crack? The term “frost crack” describes vertical cracks in trees caused by alternating freezing and thawing temperatures. When the bark alternately contracts with freezing temperatures and expands on warm days, a crack is likely to occur. A tree with a crack is in no immediate danger and may live for several years. Reasons for Frost Crack in Trees Frost is just one of the causes of tree bark cracking....

Tree Protection during Construction Did you build your home near mature trees to take advantage of their beauty and aesthetics? You are not alone. Many trees take decades to develop the strong deep roots and attractive canopies they attain at maturity. Unfortunately, the trees you want near your home are at risk during construction. Preventing tree damage in work zones is a matter of planning carefully and working closely with your contractor....

Choosing Trees for Containers Not all trees are suited to containers, so think carefully when choosing both the container and the tree. When planting a tree in a container, you should consider the conditions that you have in your space. Is it sunny or shady? Is it windy? How easy will it be to provide the tree with water? Many fruit trees are available in dwarf form. These trees need plenty of sun, but not beating sun, and plenty of water....

What Trees Have Orange Leaves in Fall? Autumn tops the list of many gardeners’ favorite seasons. The laborious planting and tending work is done, and you don’t have to expend any effort to enjoy your backyard’s stunning fall foliage. That is, if you selected and planted trees with orange fall foliage. Not every tree offers flaming foliage in autumn. The best trees with orange leaves are deciduous. Their foliage blazes as they wilt and die during summer’s end....

Caring For Tropical Plants in Zone 9 Gardens When you think of the tropics, you probably visualize brightly colored, exotic-looking flowers; large, interesting shaped foliage in various shades of green, gold, red, and orange; and, of course, palm trees. Palm trees play an important role in zone 9 tropical gardens; they are used as specimen plants, backdrops, windbreaks, and privacy screens. However, not all palms are hardy in zone 9. For zone 9 hardy palms, try these varieties:...