Choosing Shade Trees for the Southeast You’ll want your shade trees in the South to be hard-wooded, at least those planted near your home. They may be deciduous or evergreen. Fast growing southeastern shade trees are often soft-wooded and more likely to topple or break during a storm. The more quickly a tree grows, the more likely this is to happen, making it unsuitable for providing shade near your home. Select trees that don’t grow so quickly....

About Peperomia Seed Propagation Those wishing to grow peperomia have a couple options. Most growers choose to grow them directly from transplant. Locating healthy peperomia plants online or in local garden centers should not be difficult. These transplants can be moved into pots indoors that are at least twice as wide and tall as the root ball of the plant. Large transplants grow quickly and offer stunning visual interest to their growers....

Interested in starfruit tree growing? Read on to learn how to plant a starfruit tree and about starfruit tree care. About Carambola Starfruit Trees Carambola starfruit trees are subtropical and in ideal conditions can reach a height of about 25-30 feet (7.5-9 m.) and 20-25 feet (6-7.5 m.) across. The tree is an evergreen in warmer climates but will lose its leaves when temperatures drop below 27 F. (-3 C....

Sesame Seed Drying Sesame plants grow well in your backyard in a sunny area. They can grow to 6 feet (2 m.) tall. The plants need between 100 and 130 growing days in warm air and soil before you can harvest the seeds. The tubular flowers develop into long, narrow seed pods. As the plants mature, the pods ripen. They are ready for harvest when they are brown and crack a little....

What is Succession Bulb Planting? Planting bulbs in layers at the appropriate depths, and with an eye towards finished heights, will result in non-stop glory in even the smallest of garden beds. Bulb layering ideas should be planned out in advance. You can’t just pop in bulbs in a willy-nilly manner, but should instead plot out the effect. Once it is done correctly, your garden will be the envy of everyone on the block....

What is a Sweet Dumpling Squash? Sweet Dumpling squash (Cucurbita pepo) is a winter squash variety that bears small, individually-sized acorn squash. The fruit is about 4 inches (10 cm.) in diameter, perfect for roasting whole or stuffing. The exterior is a deeply ribbed, ivory white or cream marked by dark green stripes, while the interior is an incredibly sweet, tender orange color. This winter squash stores well post-harvest and is incredibly productive, generally producing 8-10 fruits per vine....

What is Terra Preta? Terra Preta History Scientists believe that part of the reason the soils are so deeply dark and rich is due to plant carbons which are retained in soil for thousands of years. These were the result of clearing the land and charring the trees. This is quite different from slash and burn practices. Slash and char leaves behind durable, slow to break down carbon charcoal. Other theories suggest volcanic ash or lake sediment may have deposited on the land, fueling nutrient content....

The gardener above is talking about two peach trees in her backyard. She’s not alone in her complaint. Many backyard gardeners consider their peach trees to be strictly ornamental because of the poor crop they produce. What these gardeners may not know is how to thin peaches on a peach tree to improve quality and size. Reasons for Peach Tree Thinning Each piece of fruit that remains on a tree must get its share of nutrients from the parent tree....

But where do you begin? You know it can be a lot of work and you wonder how to make gardening easier than everyone says it is. What are the best time saving tips for gardeners? Read on to learn more. How to Make Gardening Easier The best gardening ideas for beginners require you to slow down, proceed methodically, and get organized. That may not sound like much fun, but it will be worth it in the long run....

Choosing Flowering Perennials for Shade Just like any other plants, however, shade-loving perennials do best in conditions that meet their particular requirements. Moisture considerations are especially important, and a successful shade garden should be divided into damp and dry areas. Your shade garden may have only damp areas or only dry areas, but it is possible to have a combination of the two. Determining the moisture level of your shade garden before you buy plants can save you the expense of purchasing varieties that are not suited to your shade garden....

When to Move Yuccas Moving yucca plants takes preparation and good timing. Some specimens may be very large and old and might need professional help. At the very least, it is a good idea to have an extra hand or two, as these are cumbersome plants with sharp leaves. Choose your site very carefully when transplanting yuccas, as they prefer not to be moved frequently. Expect to baby it for a few months and don’t be surprised if a bit of transplant shock occurs....

Signs of Northern Corn Leaf Blight Northern corn leaf blight is an infection caused by a fungus that is fairly common in the Midwest, wherever corn is grown. The disease generally only causes limited damage, but it may lead to crop loss under certain conditions. Some varieties of corn are more susceptible, and when the infection sets in early, losses are often greater. The characteristic sign of corn with northern leaf blight is the formation of lesions on the leaves....

Symptoms of Pink Mold on Pecans Initially, pink mold enters through cracks and fissures in the pecans, which exposes damaged tissue within the green hull. If conditions are moist, the pink mold grows rapidly and enters the interior of the pecan, destroying the nut and leaving a mass of pink powder in its place. A rancid odor is often present. How to Treat Pecan Pink Mold Management of pecan scab disease usually takes care of any problem with pink mold on pecans....

Common Fuchsia Diseases Diseases that affect fuchsia plants include both fungal and viral infections. Fungal diseases of fuchsia Botrytis blight – Grayish brown mold is often the first sign of botrytis blight, a fungal disease that results in spotted, discolored flowers. In time, buds rot and fail to open. Leaves and stems wilt and drop from the plant. Rust – This fungal disease begins as small, orange-brown spore masses, primarily on the underside of fuchsia leaves....

About Calla Lilies Plants Calla lilies are not true lilies; they belong to the Arum family of plants and the genus Zantedeschia. There are six different species of this flower, which hail from South Africa and that have become popular for growing in the garden and for cut flowers around the world. Both in beds and in containers, all types of calla lily make for an elegant addition. In general, calla lilies prefer full sun or partial shade and rich, moist, well-drained soil....

What is Miticide? Miticides are chemical agents used to kill mites. Choosing a miticide can be a daunting task because of the number of products on the market. Read the label carefully to make sure it is safe to use on the plants you intend to treat and in the setting where you plan to use it. Begin with miticide sprays having the least toxic option. You’ll find the word “caution,” “warning,” or “danger” on every miticide label....

Texas Gardening Information – Do You Know Your Zone? The coolest zone indicated by the Texas USDA planting map is 6b, located in the northern part of the state. The rest of Texas enjoys a very warm climate year round, including the winter months. The remaining Texas zones include 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b and 9a. Winter lows may drop down to -5 degrees F. or be as warm as 20 degrees F....

Beginner Vegetable Seeds The first rule of vegetable gardening is plant what you like to eat. That being said, here’s a list of easy vegetables seeds to grow. Concentrate on a few or choose them all. With a little luck, you’ll be picking veggies for dinner in no time! ArugulaBeansBeetsCarrotsCollardsCornCressCucumbersEdamameKaleLettuceMelonPeasPumpkinsRutabagaRadishSpinachSquashSwiss ChardTurnips Achieving Success with Easy-to-Plant Vegetable Seeds Once you’ve selected a few of these easy vegetable seeds to grow, it’s time to garden....

About Vines for Windy Locations It is true that sustained winds or gusts can wreak havoc with many plants. As the plants are tugged at by the wind, the roots are pulled from the soil, making them weaker and weaker. They may lose their ability to absorb water, which leads to smaller plants, unusual development, and even death. Winds may also break stems, branches, or even trunks, which disrupt the plants ability to uptake water and nourishment....

Why Put Distance Between Watermelon Plants? Just as an architect doesn’t just begin building without a plat and a blueprint, gardeners usually map out the garden plot prior to planting. It’s important to consider where to plant certain plants in relation to other plants, taking into account their different or shared water requirements and sun exposure as well as their mature size. In the case of spacing watermelon plants, those set too far apart waste valuable garden space while those set too close together compete for light, air and soil nutrients, resulting in a potentially compromised crop....