What are Olive Bud Mites? What are olive bud mites? They’re little creatures that measure about 0.1-0.2 millimeters long – too small to see with the naked eye. Under a microscope, you can see that they’re yellow, teardrop shaped, and four legged. They live and feed exclusively on olive trees. Since you can’t see them, the best way to tell if you have olive bud mites is to look for the damage caused by them....

Cotton Plant Info While cotton (Gossypium) has been around for a long time and grown mainly for its fibers, cotton growing with kids can be a fun learning experience. Not only will they get a chance to learn some cotton plant info, but they will love the fluffy, white product of all their labor. You can take the lesson further by exploring how your harvested cotton gets processed to make the clothes we wear....

What are Cottonwood Trees? Members of the Poplar family, cottonwoods were important to Native Americans who used all parts of the tree. Their trunks were used as dugout canoes. The bark provided forage for horses and a bitter, medicinal tea for their owners. Sweet sprouts and inner bark were a food source for both humans and animals. The trees also served as trail markers and meeting places for both Native Americans and early European settlers....

Crataegus Tree Information What is a mayhaw? The scientific name for mayhaw fruit trees is Crataegus aestivalis, the same genus as the other some 800 species of hawthorn tree. The features that make the mayhaw special among hawthorns are the edible fruit they produce and their outstanding ornamental qualities. These are the primary reasons people start growing mayhaws. Mayhaw fruit trees can present as shrubs or round-topped small trees no taller than 30 feet (10 m....

If you are interested in learning how to grow Geum creeping avens, read on for helpful tips. How to Grow Geum Creeping Avens Reportedly, creeping avens plant is suitable for growing in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 through 8. Some sources say the plant is hardy only to zone 6, while others say it is tough enough for climates as low as zone 2. Either way, the growing creeping avens plant appears to be relatively short lived....

What are Crown Borers? You may not realize you’re looking for crown borer information when you search Google, trying to discover the identity of the creature drilling holes in your caneberries and ornamental plants, but as it turns out, this damage is their most distinctive sign. The larvae of these clearwing moths tunnel their way into plants, eating as they go. The life cycle of crown borer moths begins when adults emerge in June and July to lay their eggs on wounded or stressed plants, either on the bark or on leaves nearby....

How to Grow Crown of Thorns Indoors If you’re looking for a plant that thrives in the conditions inside most homes, try the crown of thorns plant (Euphorbia milii). Growing the plant is easy because it adapts well to normal room temperatures and in dry indoor environments. It also forgives occasional missed waterings and feedings without complaint. Crown of thorns houseplant care begins with placing the plant in the best possible location....

White Spot Fungus This fungus is caused by a species of Cercospora and has become more common in recent years. White spot on leafy vegetables is one of several cruciferous fungal problems. It also goes by the name frogeye. White spot fungus presents as circular to irregular spots that range from ¼ to ½ inch (6 mm. to 1 cm.) across and scattered across the leaf. It begins as light tan, dry spots and soon turns to papery white lesions on the leaf surrounded by a halo of yellow or pale green....

There is almost nothing a deer will not eat if it is hungry enough, but some plants, optimistically termed “deer resistant,” are lower on the deer’s list of preferred dining. Read on for information on flowering deer resistant shrubs. Deer Resistant Flowering Shrubs A deer’s list of favorite flowering plants to munch include lilies, tulips, burning bush, and hybrid tea roses. They also love to eat saucer magnolia, as well as crocus, dahlias, daylilies, hostas, impatiens, phlox, and trillium....

Deodar Cedar Info This airy evergreen cedar tree rises to 50 feet (15 m.) or more when cultivated, and much taller in the wild. It is native to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, and thrives in the coastal regions of the United States. Deodar cedar trees grow into a loose pyramid shape, with 2-inch (5 cm.) long whorled needles that give the tree a soft allure. The branches extend almost horizontally, angling slightly down, and the tips rise slightly....

Identifying ladybugs and understanding the behavioral differences between lady beetles can help gardeners control unwanted populations of Asian lady beetles. Asian Lady Beetle Characteristics The harlequin or multicolored Asian lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis) has its origins in Asia, but these bugs are now found worldwide. Like other species of ladybugs, the Asian lady beetle feeds upon aphids and other garden pests. When comparing Asian vs. native lady beetle behavior, the major difference is native ladybugs overwinter outdoors....

Pests on Dill Plants Dill isn’t bothered by too many pests. That said, there are a few frequent insects that enjoy feasting on these plants. Aphids One of the more common pests on dill plants is the aphid. This comes as no surprise since aphids seem to enjoy munching on everything. A few aphids are no big deal, but aphids tend to multiply rapidly and can then severely weaken the plant....

Dill Plant Problems Dill is an herbaceous plant grown as an annual. A member of the family Apiaceae, dill is cultivated for its leaves and seeds which are used in foods and medicinally. Dill means “to calm or soothe,” hinting at its ancient use to calm upset stomachs or colicky babies. Believed to originate in the Mediterranean, dill (like other Mediterranean herbs) can be grown in a variety of soils but thrives in well-draining sandy loam, rich in organic matter....

Do Avocados Grow in Zone 9? Avocados are not native to USDA zone 9, but yes, they will definitely grow there. There are three types of avocados: Mexican, Guatemalan, and West Indies. Of these, Mexican varieties are the most cold hardy but not salt tolerant, and Guatemalan comes in a close second for cold tolerance and is somewhat salt tolerant. West Indies avocados are more commonly found growing in Florida, as they are the most salt tolerant and least cold hardy....

In the process of photosynthesis, plants take in CO2 (carbon dioxide) from the air and combine it with water absorbed through their roots. They use energy from sunlight to turn these ingredients into carbohydrates (sugars) and oxygen, and they release extra oxygen to the air. For this reason, the forests of the planet are important sources of the oxygen in the atmosphere, and they help keep the level of CO2 in the atmosphere low....

Astilbe Plant Bloom Time Astilbes are popular flowering plants for woodland gardens because they are one of the few garden gems that bloom so brightly in full shade. Their flowers display as upright, feathery plumes and come in shades of white, pink, red, and lavender. Each feathery plume is made of many tiny little flowers which open up one after the other. Astilbe cultivars come in a wide range of sizes, from 6 inches (15 cm....

Dusty Miller Care Although the dusty miller flower blooms in midsummer, the small yellow blooms are small and not considered showy. The foliage of the dusty miller plant, however, is long lasting and drought resistant. As with most silvery, furry plants, growing dusty miller helps the garden remain attractive through the heat of the summer. It will also tolerate frost. The dusty miller plant is often grown as an annual and discarded after the first season, however, it is an herbaceous perennial and may return in USDA plant hardiness zones 8 to 10....

Dutchman’s Pipe Info The plant is also called pipe vine and is suitable for gardens in USDA zones 8 to 10. The vine is usually only 10 to 15 feet (3-4.5 m.) long but can get as long as 25 feet (7.5 m.) in perfect growing conditions. Growing a Dutchman’s pipe requires a trellis or vertical structure to support the twining stems and wide foliage. The large heart-shaped leaves alternate along a woody stem....

Dwarf Palm Info Sabal minor, or the dwarf palmetto, is the smaller relative of the Sabal palmetto, popular in the South. For a warm-weather plant, the dwarf palm is pretty hardy. It can be grown in zones 7 through 11, and it will survive the occasional winter cold snap or snow with minimal or no damage as long as it has had time to get established. Smaller than the Sabal palmetto, when growing a dwarf palm, expect it to reach a height anywhere between two and seven feet (0....

Is Colored Mulch Toxic? I sometimes encounter customers who ask, “Is colored mulch toxic?”. Most colored mulches are dyed with harmless dyes, like iron oxide-based dyes for red or carbon-based dyes for black and dark brown. Some cheap dyes, however, can be dyed with harmful or toxic chemicals. Generally, if the price of dyed mulch seems too good to be true, it probably is not good at all and you should spend the extra money on better quality and safer mulch....