Container Herb Care in Cold Weather When the weather starts to get cold, the first thing to decide is whether you will be keeping your herbs inside or outside. This decision is not an easy one due to the fact that either choice holds both pros and cons. If you decide to leave them outside, they’ll be at risk to be killed by the cold and wet. You will need to take certain steps to ensure that your herbs are well protected and able to survive the weather....

Signs of Cowpea Curculio Cowpea curculio insects are a destructive type of weevil that is most commonly found on cowpeas. While adult cowpea curculio damage plants as they feed, further damage is done when larvae are hatched and begin to feed inside the developing cowpea pods, leading to decreased yields. Cowpea curculio damage may not be immediately noticeable. Most often, gardeners and large-scale growers will notice eaten sections or indentations in the cowpea pods....

Scotch broom shrub was introduced as a landscape ornamental as early as the 1800’s, then used extensively for erosion control in public landscapes, such as roadside plantings, but quickly became a nuisance. Once established, it is difficult to kill scotch broom. Scotch Boom Identification Scotch broom is a deciduous shrub that can be found on the edges of wooded areas and in open fields. It is an aggressively invasive plant that will grow thickly rather quickly....

How to Plant Hardy Geraniums Growing hardy cranesbill geranium may be as easy as planting and watching it blossom when conditions are somewhat damp. Hardy geranium plants grow best in consistently moist soil when first planted but become somewhat drought tolerant when established. Growing hardy cranesbill geranium in fertile soil also encourages the plant to spread. Many varieties of hardy geranium plants exist and thrive in full sun to shady locations....

Cumin Herb Information Cumin seeds are usually yellowish-brown in color, oblong in shape, resembling a caraway seed. They have been used since ancient Egyptian times. Cumin is referred to in the Bible and the ancient Greeks used the spice as a table-side condiment just as we use a salt shaker. Spanish and Portuguese colonists brought it to the New World. During medieval times, cumin purportedly kept chickens and lovers from wandering off....

Mesquite Tree Pruning If you don’t get mesquite tree pruning right the first time, you’ll have plenty of second chances. These desert trees can grow between 20 and 50 feet (6-16 m.) tall if they get plenty of water. Tall, full mesquites require annual pruning. On the other hand, it’s a good idea to ease off mesquite irrigation when the tree reaches the size you prefer. The tree will grow less and require less pruning....

As the name implies, the actual flowers of the daylily plant will only bloom for one day. Luckily, each plant will produce multiple blooms that come into flower continuously, creating the beautiful visual display that its growers have come to love. What happens once these blooms begin to fade though? Is daylily deadheading necessary? Is it Necessary to Deadhead Daylilies? The process of deadheading refers to removing the spent blooms....

Deadnettle Uses in Lawns This sturdy, adaptable plant tolerates nearly any type of well-drained soil, including poor, rocky, or sandy soil. Deadnettle is best for shade or partial shade, but you can grow the plant in sun if you’re willing to water it frequently. However, the plant won’t last long in climates warmer than USDA plant hardiness zone 8. Before you consider growing deadnettle in lawns, be aware that it has aggressive tendencies....

About Zone 8 Deer Resistant Plants There are no plants that are completely deer proof. That being said, there are plants that deer prefer to eat, and there are plants that deer rarely eat. When food and water are scarce, however, desperate deer may eat anything they can find, even if they don’t particularly like it. In spring and early summer, pregnant and nursing deer require more food and nutrition, so they may eat things that they don’t touch any other time of the year....

Disease Problems of Brugmansia Understanding the pathogen is the best way to get started with diseased brugmansia care. Although this list is far from exhaustive, being able to recognize these common brugmansia diseases will help you make the right care decisions for your plant: Bacterial Leaf Spot – Caused by the bacteria Xanthomonas campestris pv. hederae, bacterial leaf spot is encouraged by high humidity. It appears as a series of small, brown spots surrounded by a yellow halo and can spread rapidly....

What is Indian Corn? Indian corn is that beautiful, multi-colored corn that you see used as decorations in the fall. It’s also known as flint corn or just ornamental corn. The name flint corn for this ancient variety comes from the fact that the outside of the kernels are hard. Despite this hardness, Indian corn is edible and especially good for popcorn. The hard starch exterior of Indian corn makes it great for decorations....

One method in particular, using alcohol as herbicide in the garden, beckons the question, “is it safe?” Does Alcohol Kills Weeds? Like many “home remedy” weed killers or “weed killer recipes” that can be found online, the use of rubbing alcohol for weed control has been popularized. While rubbing alcohol may be efficient in killing weeds sprouting through the cracks in concrete sidewalks, killing weeds with rubbing alcohol is not an ideal or realistic option for the garden....

No scientific studies suggest that mint plants in the garden keep away domesticated animals like cats, or even wildlife, like raccoons and moles. However, gardeners swear that bugs don’t like mint, including mosquitoes and spiders. Read on for more information about repelling pests with mint. Does Mint Repel Pests? Mint (Mentha spp.) is a plant prized for its lemony fresh aroma. Some varieties of mint, such as peppermint (Mentha piperita) and spearmint (Mentha spicata), also have insect repellent properties....

Echeveria ‘Lola’ Info Lola echeveria has pale gray-blue leaves, often tinged in pink. Flowers, blooming in summer, are peach or salmon shades. Find a Lola succulent at your local nursery or order from a reputable online site. Avoid ordering from individuals without credentials. Many are ripped off after being enticed by an inexpensive price. You want to start off with a healthy and pest-free plant for the best succulent growing experience....

Effects of Climate Change on Pollinators Climate change is a change in global (or regional) climate patterns in direct relation to increased levels of carbon dioxide produced by the use of fossil fuels. What is the effect on bees? Climate change affects pollinators in several ways, but the gist is that the extremes in weather create stressful conditions that affect feeding, habitat, and procreation. Most species have the ability to adapt to changing conditions within reason, and bees and butterflies are no exception....

Fast-Growing Houseplants Pothos is an extremely fast-growing vine that has the added bonus of being easy to grow. If you give your pothos (also known as Devil’s Ivy) good growing conditions, it can grow substantially in just a few weeks. Pothos prefers shadier conditions, and you should water when the soil surface dries. A variety of ferns, including the popular, yet elusive, maidenhair fern, are fast growers. The key to ferns is ensuring that their soil never completely dries out....

Fertilizing Grapevines Prior to Planting If you are still in the planning stages with regards to grapevines, now is the time to amend the soil. Use a home testing kit to determine the makeup of your soil. Generally, but dependent upon the grape variety, you want a soil pH of 5.5 to 7.0 for optimal growth. To raise a soil pH, add dolomitic limestone; to lower a pH, amend with sulfur following the manufacturer’s instructions....

Learn About Ficus Houseplants What is commonly referred to as a ficus is technically a weeping fig. It’s a member of the Ficus genus of plants, which also includes rubber trees and fig fruit trees, but when it comes to houseplants, most people refer to a weeping fig (Ficus benjamina) as simply a ficus. Ficus trees can maintain their tree-like shape regardless of their size, so this makes them ideal for bonsais or for massive houseplants in large spaces....

What is Field Brome? Field brome belongs to the brome grass genus containing over 100 species of annual and perennial grasses. Some brome grasses are important forage plants while others are invasive species that compete with other native pasture plants. Field brome can be differentiated from other brome species by the soft, hair-like fuzz that grows on the lower leaves and stems, or culms. This grass can be found growing wild along roadsides, wastelands, and in pastures or croplands throughout the United States and southern provinces of Canada....

Choosing Flagstones for a Flagstone Path Natural flagstone walkways are a great way to create welcoming paths for a beautiful landscape. Flagstones are rocks that have been split into slabs and cut into irregular flag-like shapes. Flagstones are available in varying thicknesses, depending on the job at hand, from 1 ¼ to 2 inches (3-5 cm.) thick. They can also be found in different color variations and rock types to easily match the surrounding landscape design such as bluestone, limestone, or sandstone....