Plants have very specific requirements, depending upon the variety. Placing plants in sites where they do not receive enough light, for instance, can limit growth and productivity. Similarly, putting plants where the soil is too soggy — or too dry — will affect overall health. A raised bed layout needs to take into consideration all plant factors. These can be found on the seed packet or plant tag. Where to Position Raised Beds The best place to put a raised garden bed relies on a host of factors....

White Drupelet Disorder A drupelet is the individual ‘ball’ on the berry fruit that surrounds the seeds. Occasionally, you may find a berry that appears white in color, especially on its drupelets. This condition is known as White Drupelet Syndrome, or disorder. White Drupelet Disorder can be recognized by a tan or white discoloration of the drupelets on either blackberry or raspberry fruits, with raspberries being the most commonly affected. While a blackberry or raspberry with white drupelets may be unsightly, the fruit itself is still usable and relatively safe to eat....

These plants are prized for their ease of growth, adaptability to regional growing conditions, as well as their bloom time and dependability. Aloysia whitebrush entices bees with its strong vanilla-scented flowers, which are produced throughout the entire warm growing season. What is Beebrush? Before determining whether this plant is a good candidate for the yard, it will first be important to delve deeper into whitebrush information. Also known as beebrush or Texas whitebrush (Aloysia gratissima), Aloysia whitebrush plants are native to regions of Mexico and the southwestern United States....

Why Did My Seedling Die? When you go to the effort of placing a little seed in the soil and nurturing it until it germinates, it is wrenching when the little seedling dies. This happens to most gardeners on occasion, and it’s always a disappointment. You may also be interested in learning about methods for protecting seedlings. But first, you need to understand the conditions a seed needs to germinate and what a seedling needs to thrive....

Why Do Broccoli Heads Become Loose? Broccoli that is grown in the fall produces the most tender, healthy, and sweetest broccoli that you will ever grow. In some areas of the country, spring conditions are still somewhat cool and predictable, but for many of us, spring temperatures warm too quickly, morphing into summer heat long before the calendar declares the summer solstice. When temperatures ramp up too quickly during the spring months, broccoli plants’ response is to open the flower buds prematurely, or bolt....

Why a Mock Orange Bush Does Not Bloom Hardy in zones 4 through 8, mock orange shrubs bloom in late spring to early summer. When mock orange is pruned, it is important to future flower development. Like lilacs, mock orange should be pruned right after flowers fade. Pruning too late in the season can cut off next year’s buds. This will result in a mock orange not flowering the next year....

Wichita Blue Juniper Information Wichita Blue juniper trees (Juniperus scopulorum ‘Wichita Blue’) are a cultivar of the tree called Rocky Mountain juniper or Colorado red cedar, native to the Rocky Mountains. The species tree can grow to 50 feet (15 m.) tall and 20 feet (6 m.) wide. If you like the look of a Rocky Mountain juniper but have a small garden, Wichita Blue is a good alternative, as this cultivar grows slowly to about 15 feet (5 m....

Removing the vines from trees is often a very common issue for home gardeners. Let’s learn more about removing trumpet vine on trees. Will Trumpet Vines Damage Trees? While beautiful, these Campsis vines on trees can be very detrimental to the overall health of the host tree. Though trumpet vines only use trees to climb, there are some negative effects to consider. Trees which have been covered in vines may struggle to support the additional weight, which may lead to broken or damaged limbs....

Though beneficial insects undoubtedly play a major role in garden production and in the large picture of plant reproduction, some plants use other means in order to be fertilized and to set seed. Wind pollination for plants is just one example of this. Learning more about how wind pollination works can help us gain a better understanding of this interesting process. How Wind Pollination Works Wind pollination is used by several types of plants for reproduction....

Why Does My Wisteria Not Flower? There are a few common reasons why wisteria blooms don’t open, but they all point to the same thing — bud injury at critical development points. Severely damaged flower buds won’t open; instead, they usually dry up and fall off the plant. Damage can be caused by a variety of environmental problems or very tiny pests called thrips. If your wisteria has bloomed successfully in years past, thrips or uncontrollable weather patterns are most likely causing bud blast and your plant may perform just fine in future seasons....

Indoor Plants for Home Offices Choosing plants for workspaces in your home is similar to that of any houseplant you have. Consider growing conditions, such as available light and space, when choosing houseplants for a home office. Generally, plants for workspaces are relatively compact, but in the home nearly anything goes. Most require little care and tolerate occasional neglect. Here are a few suggestions for home office space plants. Pothos (Epipremnum): A popular office plant for good reason....

What Causes Dahlia Leaves to Turn Yellow Plants can become ill for a host of reasons. The actual cause may take some sleuthing to discover. Keep in mind that if this occurs towards the end of the growing season, it is likely due to the plant getting ready for its normal dormancy period. Cultural Reasons for Dahlia Leaves Yellowing If you notice your dahlias turning yellow early in their growth cycle, it could be the soil or cultural problems....

Characteristics of Zebra Grass Plants There are few showier plants for the garden. Zebra ornamental plants have long arching leaves with appealing stripes across the width, like dappled foliage in the sun. The plant is perennial but the foliage dies off in cold weather, leaving an architecturally interesting skeleton. It produces brand new deep green leaves in spring that begin to show more and more golden striping as the leaf matures....

Can You Grow Bananas in Zone 8? Amazingly enough, there are actually cold hardy banana trees! The most cold hardy banana is called the Japanese Fiber banana (Musa basjoo) and is said to be able to tolerate temperatures down to 18 degrees F. (-8 C.), a perfect banana tree for zone 8. Information on Banana Trees for Zone 8 As mentioned, the most cold hardy banana tree is Musa basjoo, the largest of the bananas which may attain heights of up to 20 feet (6 m....

Container Vegetables to Plant in Spring For this project you will need a watering can, pots, potting soil, and seeds. Use whatever spring vegetables you like to eat. Onions, lettuce, and carrots are good container vegetables to plant in spring, but you can also grow spinach, radishes, or beans. The first step is to fill your pots with a good potting soil for container vegetables. And yes, you really do need to use potting soil, not garden soil....

African Violet Sucker Propagation Exactly what are African violet pups? Pups, also known as suckers, are miniature plants that grow from the base of the mother plant. A pup grows from the plant’s main stem– not from a leaf or the crown. A mature African violet might have one pup or it may have several. Removing suckers is a good way to propagate a new plant, but it also keeps the mother plant healthy, as suckers can rob the plant of nutrients and energy, thus reducing flowering and shortening the life of the plant....

Landscaping in the Southwest often leaves out fussy water-loving plants in favor of low maintenance, drought-tolerant landscape alternatives. Fortunately, there are many lawn alternatives that work well in these dry areas. Read on for information on Southwest alternatives to grass lawns. Landscaping in the Southwest It is a real pleasure to walk barefoot across thick, healthy turf grass but tending that kind of a lawn in the Southwest is no fun at all....

Are Orange Vegetables Good For You? When we look at our orange vegetables list, we find food which is packed with beta-carotene. This precursor of vitamin A is a powerful antioxidant associated with a reduced risk of cancer. Additionally, vitamin A is credited with preserving our vision and improving our dental health. Eating plenty of dark orange vegetables also helps supply our bodies with vitamins C and K. In addition to being an immunity booster, vitamin C is essential for dental health....

What is a Systemic Pesticide? A systemic pesticide is any pesticide that is absorbed into a plant and distributed throughout its tissues, reaching the plant’s stem, leaves, roots, and any fruits or flowers. Systemic pesticides are water-soluble, so they easily move throughout a plant as it absorbs water and transports it to its tissues. Typically, these chemicals are applied to soil and taken up through plants’ roots; less commonly, they are applied to foliage or injected into tree trunks....

USDA Map Of Zones For Plants & Trees In Arkansas The USDA Arkansas growing zones map will help you understand the type of plants that can grow where you live. To use the USDA Arkansas hardiness zone map, find the place you live on the map and compare the color of that place on the map with the legend. This will tell you exactly which USDA Arkansas gardening zone you live in....