What is Dead Man’s Finger? Xylaria polymorpha, the fungus that causes dead man’s finger, is a saprotrophic fungus, which means that it only invades dead or dying wood. Think of saprotrophic fungi as natural sanitation engineers that clean up dead organic matter by breaking it down into a form that plants can absorb as nutrients. The fungus shows a preference for apple, maple, beech, locust, and elm trees, but it can also invade a variety of ornamental trees and shrubs used in home landscapes....

What is a Gas Plant? So, what is gas plant beyond a bit of an old wives tale? Growing gas plants (Dictamnus albus) reach a height of about 4 feet (1 m.) tall with quite woody stems at the base. In the early summer, June and July, Dictamnus gas plant blooms with long, spikes of white flowers set off by glossy green leaves. Once the flowers have faded, spectacular seedpods remain that are commonly used in dried floral arrangements....

Do Zinnias Need to Be Staked? Zinnia plant staking leaps to mind when you see just how tall these bright flowers grow. Do zinnias need to be staked? Support for zinnias is sometimes required depending on the variety. Some zinnas, like Zinnia angustifolia, are creepers, perfect for the front of the garden. Others grow to several feet tall. But staking zinnia plants is limited to the really tall zinnias – those that grow to 3 feet (1 m....

Sketching and Drawing in the Garden To make garden sketches or drawings, it helps to have a background in art or to take a beginner class, but this isn’t necessary. Anyone can draw and it’s possible to get better at it with practice, even without expert training. Here are some of the basic tools you need to get started: Paper. Of course, you need something to draw on. If you are new to drawing, start with a good quality sketchbook with lots of pages you can practice on....

How to Build a Dry Creek Bed There is a myriad of dry creek bed ideas to be found, so finding something that suits your particular needs or interests shouldn’t be difficult. That said, a few basic guidelines will help make the process an easier one. First, map out your dry creek bed, making it follow an existing slope as it meanders through your landscape like a natural stream. Consider where the water flows during a heavy rainfall or snow melt and be sure not to direct the water to a street, toward your house, or onto your neighbor’s property....

Easy Care Patio Plants Whether you have a yard or garden at all doesn’t matter. As long as you have a balcony, patio, or deck, you can fill it with plants and flowers. An easy to care for patio garden can be simple if you choose the right plants, those that do well in pots and require little maintenance to thrive. Some easy to grow container plants include: Herbs: If you have a sunny patio, herbs will thrive....

Where to Get the Best Indoor Houseplant Seeds Indoor houseplant seeds do not store well and should be used immediately. They lack dormancy since they originate from temperate regions and thus germinate rapidly in optimal conditions with no need for chilling. Best Houseplants to Start from Seeds The best indoor plant seeds to grow are also the easiest houseplants to grow. If you have a cat, cat grass is an easy houseplant to grow from seed....

How Plants Cope with Heat So how do plants cope with heat once temperatures begin to soar? While some plants, like succulents, are well equipped with handling heat by conserving water in their fleshy leaves, the majority of plants do not have this luxury. Therefore, they will normally suffer from the heat in some way or other. Generally, heat stress of a plant will show itself by wilting, which is a sure sign that water loss has taken place....

Can You Hand Pollinate an Eggplant? Just as it may be difficult to explain how babies are made to your child, understanding the exact mechanics required to produce fruit on an eggplant can be complex. Basically, there are two types of plants– those that need both male and female blossoms to produce and those that have only one type of flower that contains everything it needs to bloom. The latter are referred to as “perfect,” “bisexual,” or “complete” flowers....

About Elberta Peach Trees Elberta peach trees have so much going for them that it’s hard to know where to start. This wildly popular peach variety was developed in Georgia in 1875 by Samuel H. Rumph, who named it after his wife, Clara Elberta Moore. Those engaged in Elberta peach growing consider the tree to be among the best fruit producers. With just one tree, you can get up to 150 pounds (68 kg....

Do Eucalyptus Trees Shed Their Bark? They certainly do! The shedding bark on a eucalyptus tree is one of its most charming features. As the bark dries and peels, it often forms colorful patches and interesting patterns on the trunk of the tree. Some trees have striking patterns of stripes and flakes, and the peeling bark may expose the bright yellow or orange colors of the new bark forming underneath. When a eucalyptus is peeling bark, you don’t need to be concerned for its health or vigor....

Succulent Fertilizer Needs Along with watering, soil, and light, succulent fertilizer needs are different from other plants. In the range of natural conditions from which these plants originate, feeding is extremely limited. Succulents don’t need much fertilization. Therefore, fertilizing cacti and succulents that are domesticated should be limited to replicate their native conditions. When to Feed Cacti and Succulents Feeding succulents and cacti in most cases should be limited to just once a year, according to some experts....

Why Does a Fig Tree Need Cover for Winter? The common fig, Ficus carica, is one of over 800 species of tropical and subtropical fig varieties in the genus Ficus. Found amongst this diverse group, one will find not only large trees, but trailing vine varieties as well. Figs are native to the Middle East, but have been brought to all corners of the globe that can accommodate their habitat. Figs were first introduced to North America by early colonists....

To begin exploring flower gardening basics, you will need to consider several key aspects of setting these gardens. By learning a few general rules, those wishing to learn how to grow flowers can curate their own lush green spaces. How to Grow Flowers Before planting, those wishing to begin growing a flower garden should consider which types of flowers they would like to plant. Both positive and negative attributes will apply, regardless of the flower types selected....

Foxglove flowers are clusters of tubular shaped blooms in colors of white, lavender, yellow, pink, red, and purple. Growing foxgloves thrive in full sun to partial shade to full shade, depending on the summer heat. They are hardy in gardening zones 4 through 10 and in the hottest areas prefer more midday and afternoon shade for optimum performance. The hotter the summers, the more shade the plant needs. How to Grow Foxgloves Foxglove plants grow best in rich, well draining soil....

How Does Rain Reduce Stress? April showers bring May flowers and so much more. If you find rainy days relaxing, you’re not alone. There are several ways that rain soothes and relieves stress: Petrichor – The word for that unique fragrance produced when it is raining is petrichor. It’s a combination of a number of compounds and chemical reactions triggered by rain hitting plants, soil, and bacteria. Most people find the smell refreshing and invigorating....

The following article contains information on May garden tasks for northwest gardens. May Garden Tasks for the Northwest For most of the region, both nighttime and daytime temperatures have warmed sufficiently to complete planting of the vegetable garden. Before you get gung-ho though, be sure that your temps are reliably over 50 degrees F. (10 C.) at night. At that point you can move hardened off transplants outside for good....

Why Carry Your Phone in the Garden? For many of us, time spent in the garden is an escape, a chance to get some peace and commune with nature. So why would we not leave our mobile phones inside during this time? There are some good reasons to consider taking it out in the yard with you. The most important reason is safety. If you have an accident and are out of reach of another person, you can use your phone to call for help....

The tricky part is knowing which herbs need pruning and exactly when to prune herbs. There are many types of herb plants and all aren’t created equal. However, this information on general herb pruning should make things a little more clear. When to Prune Herbs: Which Herbs Need Pruning? Leafy (herbaceous) herbs, including cilantro, oregano, chives, sweet basil, mint, tarragon, and basil, are grown for their aromatic, flavorful foliage. Without regular pruning, the plants will begin to die back after flowering....

Follow this article for tips on sowing geranium seeds. When to Plant Geranium Seeds With their brilliant red (sometimes pink, orange, purple, and white) blooms, geraniums add major impact to garden beds and baskets. The seed-grown varieties are usually smaller and have more flowers than those propagated by cuttings. They also tend to have more disease resistance and heat tolerance. Geraniums grow readily from seed. However, to grow geranium from seed, you need to be patient....