Self-Heal Tea Info Is self-heal tea good for you? Self-heal tea is relatively unfamiliar to most modern North American herbalists, but scientists are studying the plant’s antibiotic and antioxidant properties, as well as its potential to lower high blood pressure and treat tumors. Tonics and teas made from self-heal plants have been a staple of traditional Chinese medicine for hundreds of years, used primarily to treat minor ailments, disorders of the kidneys and liver, and as an anti-cancer drug....

Is Water Hyacinth Invasive? Although the brilliant purple water hyacinth isn’t yet federally listed as a noxious weed, plant and waterway experts the world over agree: this plant is bad news. The plant was initially spread because of its beautiful flowers, but the mistake of this particular decision was soon realized– after the damage couldn’t be undone. Now, water hyacinth threatens dams, waterways, and wildlife across the globe, often forming dense mats so thick that a grown man can walk across them....

Growing Martha Washington Geraniums: Tips on Martha Washington Geranium Care Plant Martha Washington geranium plants in a hanging basket, window box, or large pot. The container should be filled with good quality commercial potting mix. You can also grow in a flower bed if your winters are mild but well-drained soil is essential. Dig a generous amount of compost or well-rotted manure into the soil before planting. Apply a thick layer of leaf mulch or compost to protect the roots from winter chill....

How to Grow Mesquite from Seed Plant propagation by amateur gardeners is an interesting way to develop new plants and enhance your garden expertise. Sowing mesquite seeds for intentional propagation requires some specific steps to enhance germination. In the wild, any animal who eats a bean pod will spread the seed, and the animal’s digestive tract provides the necessary treatment to break embryo dormancy. For the home gardener, additional treatment will be necessary....

Growing Different Mint Plant Varieties Most types of mint require the same, or similar, growing conditions. They like full sun to partial shade and most prefer moist but well-draining soil. Another aspect that most mint types have in common is their invasive tendency. Therefore, regardless of the types of mint grown, care should be taken in keeping these plants under control — preferably with the use of containers. In addition to their invasiveness, consideration must also be given to spacing when growing various mint plant varieties in the garden....

Transplanting pittosporum shrubs to a different location can save money and preserve a favorite tree or shrub. However, the larger the shrub, the heavier and more difficult it will be to transplant. If the size of the shrub is beyond the capabilities of the gardener, it’s wise to hire a professional. So before undertaking the task of moving a pittosporum, gardeners should first ask themselves, “Can I transplant pittosporum?”....

Using Plastic Bags for Plants If you know a move is in your future and you have several indoor plants, save your plastic grocery bags ahead of time; you’ll find them very handy. Plastic garbage bags are also useful for moving plants. Additionally, if you’re sending plants to someone else, like shipping them through the mail, you can purchase bags specifically designed for this, or save your money and opt for those clear plastic storage bags, which are available in a number of sizes....

What is a Nara Melon? Nara melon plants (Acanthosicyos horridus) are not classified as desert plants despite their growing location. Naras rely on underground water, and as such, bear deep water seeking roots. A member of the cucumber family, nara melons are an ancient species with fossil evidence dating back 40 million years. It was most likely responsible for the survival of Stone Age tribes into modern times. The plant is leafless, an adaption no doubt evolved to protect the plant from losing water through leaf evaporation....

Help, My Persimmon Tree is Not Bearing Fruit! Before attacking the reason behind a persimmon tree that isn’t bearing fruit, it’s a wise idea to know a little about the proper planting of the tree. First of all, persimmons are only rarely self-pollinating, as each tree bears only male or female flowers. The exceptions are some of the oriental varieties, which are capable of producing fruit from each gender. Depending upon the varietal, you may need to plant two or more trees....

Do you know which trees living today have the most candles on their birthday cake? As an Earth Day or Arbor Day treat, we’ll introduce you to some of the world’s oldest trees. Some of the Oldest Trees on Earth Below are some of the world’s oldest trees: Methuselah Tree Many experts give the Methuselah Tree, a Great Basin bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva), the gold medal as the oldest of ancient trees....

About Pythium Root Rot of Onions Onion pythium root rot can infect onion plants any time soil is moist for extended periods, but it tends to be most severe in rainy weather when days are hot, and nights are warm. The fungus also lives on plant debris and in weed roots and may be spread by overirrigation and splashing water. Onion seeds may be killed before germination, or infection may show up a few weeks later....

What is Pecan Shuck and Kernel Rot? The disease is caused by a fungal species, Phytophthora cactorum. It causes rot in the fruit of the tree, turning the shuck into a mushy, rotted mess, and rendering the nuts inedible. The disease is most common after it has been wet for several days and when the temperatures remain below 87 degrees Fahrenheit (30 Celsius) during the day. Pecan shuck and kernel rot infections usually occur in late August or early September....

Growing Apples from Seeds Growing apples from seeds is easy, but there is a caveat. The odds that you’ll get the exact fruit from the seed of your favorite variety are extremely low. It is more likely that you’ll get a tiny, tart apple that isn’t particularly tasty. The problem is that apples reproduce sexually, cross-pollinate freely and have a lot of genetic diversity. Variety is the name of their game....

Zucchini Squash Harvesting Zucchini is a summer squash, a member of the Cucurbita family amongst which melons, pumpkins, cucumbers, and gourds also reside. Zucchini dates back to 5500 B.C. in the northern parts of South America. It was then “discovered” by European explorers and introduced into their countries of origin. Zucchini grows on a bushy, non-vining plant with large, dark green leaves peppered with silvery grey streaks. These large leaves provide shade to the fruit but also tend to play “hide n’ seek” with it....

Can You Use Pig Manure for Gardens? Absolutely. The best way for using pig manure in the garden is to compost it. Add pig manure to your compost pile and allow it to rot long enough and hot enough. It will break down and kill all the organisms it might carry that are a danger to your health. Compost is known by many gardeners as “black gold” for the amount of good it does in a garden....

There are several pine trees that will produce reasonably sized seeds for harvesting that will thrive in North American regions. Once you know how to grow pine nuts, you can store seeds for up to a year for your family’s use. How to Grow Pine Nuts Toasted pine nuts in salads, pastas, pesto, and other dishes add a nutty crunch and earthy flavor to any recipe. Pine nut harvesting is an arduous process and adds to the hefty price tag fetched by most producers of the seeds....

What is Crown Vetch Weed? Crown vetch (Coronilla varia L.) is a trailing herbaceous member of the pea family. This cool season perennial plant is also known as ax seed, ax wort, hive-vine, and trailing crown vetch. Introduced in North America from Europe in the 1950’s as a ground cover for soil erosion on banks and highways, this ground cover spread rapidly and naturalized throughout the United States. Although commonly planted as an ornamental, it is important that homeowners be aware this plant can become invasive in many areas, lending to its reference as crown vetch weed....

Pollinators and Winter Survival Chances are, you won’t see pollinators out and about on cold winter days. Where they go and how they survive the cold tends to be species-specific. As a whole, pollinating invertebrates have adapted several methods for surviving harsh winter weather. When we think of pollinators, we often think of honeybees. To survive the winter, these hive-dwellers cuddle together and vibrate their bodies to create heat. Along with a sufficient supply of honey, it takes a special generation of bees during winter months to sustain the hive....

About Storing and Handling Pears In the commercial market, pears are harvested before the fruit is ripe. This is because unripe fruit is less susceptible to damage during transport and storage. Also, when pears are harvested less than ripe, they have a longer storage life and, with proper post-harvest pear handling, the fruit can be sold on the market for up to six to eight months. The same rules apply for the home grower....

Growing Container Plants in Full Sun When you grow plants in full sun, the main threats you’ll need to protect plants from are the drying out and heating of soil and the burning of leaves. Plants in containers are more exposed to the elements than plants in the ground, so drying and heating problems are intensified. To minimize these problems, be sure to choose a large enough pot that is still proportional to the size of the plant inside....