What is a Mixed Graft Citrus Tree? Citrus trees with more than one fruit growing on them, often called fruit salad citrus trees, are a great choice for gardeners with big ambitions but little space. Most commercial fruit trees are actually the product of grafting or budding – while the rootstock comes from one variety of tree, the branches and fruit come from another. This allows gardeners with a range of conditions (cold, tendency toward disease, dryness, etc....

What is a Pohutukawa? According to pohutukawa information, these striking trees grow to 30 to 35 feet (9-11 m.) tall and wide in mild climates. Native to New Zealand, they thrive in this country in USDA plant hardiness zones 10 and 11. These are handsome, showy trees that grow fast – up to 24 inches (61 cm.) a year. The New Zealand Christmas tree/pohutukawa is an attractive hedge or specimen tree for mild climates, with its glossy, leathery leaves, crimson blossoms, and interesting aerial roots used to build in extra support as they drop from the branches to the ground and take root....

Butterkin Squash Information What is butterkin squash? As its name suggests, it’s a hybrid between a butternut squash and a pumpkin, and it looks the part. The fruits have the smooth, light orange skin of a butternut and the round, ridged shape of a pumpkin. Inside, the flesh is the best of both worlds – deep orange, smooth, and extremely sweet. The fruits tend to come in at 2 to 4 pounds (1 to 2 kg....

Citrus Scab Symptoms Raised, spongy pustules start out a pinkish color and become grayish, then brown. Citrus scab affects virtually all citrus types and also appears on leaves, stems, and twigs. According to citrus scab info, warts are more raised on some fruits and flattened on others. Fruits are only vulnerable during the first few weeks of their development. A similar disease, called sweet orange scab, may affect fruits in combination with citrus scab....

What is Fallowing? Fallow ground, or fallow soil, is simply ground or soil which has been left unplanted for a period of time. In other words, fallow land is land left to rest and regenerate. A field, or several fields, are taken out of crop rotation for a specific period of time, usually one to five years, depending on crop. Fallowing soil is a method of sustainable land management that has been used by farmers for centuries in regions of the Mediterranean, North Africa, Asia and other places....

Galangal Plant Information Galangal is a tropical plant that grows in USDA plant hardiness zones 9 and above. The plant requires partial shade and moist, fertile, well-drained soil. Galangal rhizomes, or “hands,” widely available at ethnic supermarkets are ideal for planting. Many gardeners prefer to plant whole rhizomes, but if the rhizomes are too large, cut them into chunks with at least two “eyes.” Keep in mind that larger pieces produce bigger rhizomes at harvest time....

What is Hairy Vetch? A type of legume, hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) is a cold-hardy plant belonging to the same plant family as beans and peas. The plant is sometimes planted in spring, especially in agricultural applications. In the garden, hairy vetch cover crops are usually grown through the winter and plowed into the soil before spring planting. Hairy Vetch Benefits Hairy vetch absorbs nitrogen from the air as it grows....

What is Needle Cast Disease? Needle cast diseases cause spruce trees to “cast off” their older needles and keep only the young needles at the tips of the branches. The tree becomes unattractive and may look as though it is dying, but don’t despair. Rhizosphaera and Stigmina, the two most common needle cast diseases of spruce trees, are treatable. You can have your tree looking lush and beautiful again within a few years by following a program of needle cast treatment....

Choosing Rose Bushes for Zone 9 When planning your rose garden, first choose a rose type that fits your lifestyle. Old garden roses are among the easiest to grow, but most only bloom once per year. By contrast, hybrid tea roses and other formal roses require more maintenance. They need proper pruning and fertilization, and they are prone to fungal diseases like black spot, Cercospora leaf spot, and powdery mildew, so you’ll need to spray with fungicides to keep them looking their best....

How to Prune Lilac Bushes When pruning lilacs, cutting back the tops of overgrown stems is oftentimes not enough. It is generally better to cut the entire stem. Trimming lilacs is best accomplished using clippers. Remove spent blooms all the way to the stems to prevent seeding and encourage more blooms later on. Cut back about a third of the branches. Cut away shoots growing near the ground that may be sprouting from the main trunk....

When Can You Transplant Honeysuckle? Can you transplant honeysuckles vines and bushes? Yes, you can. Just be sure you act at the right time. Despite its vining habit, honeysuckle is a woody shrub. In cool to moderate climates, it’s a deciduous plant that goes dormant in autumn. This is an ideal time to transplant. If you happen to live in a very warm climate where honeysuckles don’t go dormant, you have more choice in timing....

Different Types of Watering Cans Nozzles and necks. Who knew these were important items in the watering world? The many different types of watering cans encompass unique body styles but also different diameter and length necks and a host of handy nozzle designs. Each is fashioned for different plant needs. The style you choose depends upon the size of the plants as well as the method needed to deliver water. Some tips on when to use a watering can with certain design features can help you decide which device to purchase....

Facts About Sugar Pine Trees Sugar pines are the tallest and biggest of the pine tree clan, second only to the giant sequoia in sheer bulk. These pine trees can grow to 200 feet (60 m.) tall with a trunk diameter of 5 feet (1.5 m.) and live past 500 years. Sugar pines bear three-sided needles, about 2 inches (5 cm.) long, in clusters of five. Each side of each needle is marked by a white line....

Symptoms of Hibiscus with Powdery Mildew Powdery mildew begins as white spots that turn gray or tan as the fungus grows and covers more of the foliage. The fungus causes stunted growth and in severe cases, the leaves may wither and fall off the plant. Powdery Mildew Treatment on Hibiscus If a hibiscus has white fungus, it’s important to tackle the problem as soon as possible; once the problem is established, it becomes more difficult to control....

Help, My Guava Tree Won’t Fruit! First, it’s helpful to know a little bit about guavas in order to determine why a tree won’t fruit. First of all, guava plants need full sun to part shade to grow, but they cannot tolerate too much heat. That said, they also dislike the cold and are very frost tender. Guava trees can grow in U.S. hardiness zones 9 to 11, which translates to Hawaii, Florida, protected areas of California and Texas, and the Virgin Islands....

Also known as Chusan palm, windmill palms are named for the large rounded leaves held above a slender stalk, creating a “windmill” like form. Windmill palm trees are covered with dense, brown, hairy fibers with the 1 1/2 foot (46 cm.) long, fan-shaped fronds extending outward from jagged petioles. Although the windmill palm can attain heights of 40 feet (12 m.), it is a slow growing variety and generally is seen between 10 and 20 feet (3-6 m....

Taking a more in-depth look at various winter planter ideas is a fun and imaginative way to ensure that homes look festive and cheerful throughout the winter season. How to Plant a Holiday Container Themed Christmas thriller-filler-spiller displays are an ideal way to add color and vibrancy to holiday décor. In the creation of floral arrangements, “thriller” elements relate to high interest focal points consisting of plants, plant parts, or manmade art pieces....

What are Witchetty Grubs? These are the larvae of a large wood moth native to Australia. The grubs can cause diminished vigor or even death with their feeding behavior. Witchetty grub control information is spotty, as the larvae is also a common and important food source. However, the adult insect can be prevented from laying eggs that turn into these damaging, yet delicious, grubs. Witchetty grubs are called witjuri by the indigenous people of Australia....

In order to manage these piles of castings, it is important to answer the question, “What do worm casting mounds look like?” Once you are armed with a bit more information, you may decide that worm castings problems are worth living with when compared to the benefits they provide for your garden. What Do Worm Casting Mounds Look Like? If you have small, quarter sized piles of dirt in your yard or garden, you are lucky!...

When you encounter these problems, it is a good idea to fix them as soon as possible. More often than not all you need is to implement xeriscaping techniques. Effective xeriscape design solutions allow the landscape to work with its natural conditions rather than against them. Xeriscape Plantings Many people think of xeriscapes as merely cactus and rock gardens. The truth is that these types of landscape designs are very efficient and make interesting landscapes....