Chamomile Tea Benefits There’s no wonder that a cup of chamomile tea soothes the soul. Not only does it have mild sedative properties, but has been used for centuries for its anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and for anti-allergenic uses as well. Chamomile has also been used to treat stomach cramps, irritable bowels, indigestion, gas, and colic as well as menstrual cramps, hay fever, rheumatic pain, rashes, and lumbago. The herb has been used as a salve for hemorrhoids and wounds, and the steam has been inhaled to treat cold symptoms and asthma....

What is a Japanese Digging Knife? “Hori” is the Japanese word for “dig” and, coolly enough, “hori hori” is the Japanese onomatopoeia for the sound that digging makes. But while it’s often used for digging, this Japanese gardener’s knife has so many other uses that it’s best to think of it as a multi-purpose tool. There are a few different styles of hori hori available commercially, though the difference tends to be in the handle....

What is a Western Azalea? Western azalea plants (Rhododendron occidentale) are deciduous shrubs of about 3-6 feet (1-2 m.) tall and wide. They are commonly found in moist areas such as along the coast or along streambeds. They leaf out in the spring followed by brilliant blossoms of fragrant blooms in the late spring – May to June. The trumpet-shaped blooms may be pure white to pale pink and occasionally marked with orange or yellow....

What is a Willingham Gage? The fruit is a type of greengage plum, but this information won’t help you unless you are familiar with the greengage. A greengage plum is a type of fruit tree imported to England from France by Sir Thomas Gage. What makes a plum a greengage? Don’t rely on the color to help you. Some greengage plums are green, but some are purple and some are yellow....

What is a Yellow Doll Melon? Watermelon is a classic summer fruit that nearly everyone enjoys, but handling the large fruit can be difficult or impossible. With Yellow Doll watermelon plants, you get fruits that weigh no more than five to seven pounds (2.2 to 3.2 kg.), a size that anyone can manage. And, these are among the earliest of watermelons, so you can enjoy them sooner in the summer. These are also attractive melons that grow on compact vines....

Sometimes it’s amazing that anything manages to grow in the vegetable garden because there are so many things that can go wrong. Fungal and bacterial disease can spell trouble and are difficult to control. These diseases are further complicated when multiple diseases share a common name, causing confusion over treatment. Blackleg disease in vegetables can refer to a fungal pathogen that affects cole crops or bacteria that attacks potatoes. We’ll discuss both in this article so you can manage whichever blackleg plant disease happens to be troubling you....

What is Curly Parsley? This is an easy-to-grow type of parsley with round, curly leaves. The taste is stronger than that of the flat-leaf type and not too similar. Curly parsley uses include garnishing plates, often along with a fruit slice. You may also chop it finely and use as the parsley called for in those recipes, although the round curly leaves require more effort to wash than the flat-leaved type....

What is Oats Culm Rot? You may be wondering, just what is oats culm rot? To explain, you first need to understand that the culm is the stem of the oats, sometimes called the foot. Stems are usually hollow, making them susceptible to infection by spores that cause rot. Young seedlings are generally attacked as they reach this stage of growth. Plants are sometimes infested with the rot as heads are developing....

Will Rust Disease Kill Onions? First, the gardener must know what is puccinia allii and how to recognize it. The fungus overwinters in plant material and is most destructive in regions with heavy rain and fog. Over irrigating can also promote the formation of the spores that cause the fungal disease. The fungus appears as white to yellowish spots on the foliage and enlarge as the disease progresses. The spots become orange and they develop into black lesions over time....

What is Spotted Winged Drosophila? Native to Japan, spotted winged drosophila was first discovered on the U.S. mainland in 2008 when it infested berry crops in California. From there it quickly spread across the country. It is now a serious problem in areas as far away as Florida and New England. The more you know about these destructive pests, the better you will be able to deal with them. Known scientifically as Drosophila suzukii, the spotted winged drosophila is a tiny fruit fly that ruins orchard crops....

Ways to Reuse Garden Hoses The first thought of alternative uses for an old hose is to use it in a similar situation as before. Add some holes with a small drill bit and turn it into a soaker hose for your garden. Connect one end to the faucet and add a hose cap on the other end. Gardeners have also used pieces of the hose with holes in containers to use for gentle watering access to the roots....

What is actinomycetes? This is a fungus-like bacterium, which works as a decomposer, breaking apart plant tissue. The presence of fungi in composting can be a bad thing and indicate improper balance of bacterial agents, but actinomycetes in manure compost and other organic material indicates successful decomposition of tough fibrous items. What is Actinomycetes? Fungi are important components of breaking down compost, combined with bacteria, microorganisms and actinomycetes. The fine white filaments that resemble spider webs in organic piles are beneficial organisms that look like fungi but are actually bacteria....

Why are My Peony Leaves Spotted? Spotted peony leaves is usually an indicator of fungal disease. Once a fungal disease is present, there is very little that can be done to treat it. However, preventative measures can be taken to ensure that plants do not get fungal diseases. Preventative use of fungicides in early spring is one method. When using any product, it is important to follow all labeling instructions thoroughly....

Why Are Peppers Hot? An ingredient called Capsaicin is what gives peppers their fiery spice. It is odorless and tasteless except for the hot element. How little or how much of this substance each pepper creates within depends on different factors. These factors have long been the subject of much research. What is Capsaicin? Capsaicinoids are the chemical produced in fruits of the plant. It is an oil-like compound, repelling water and is primarily located in the membranes of the fruit, as well as more lightly in the flesh....

Viburnum Leaves Turning Brown So why do viburnum leaves turn brown? In most cases, fungus is to blame. Below are the most common situations for browning in these plants: Fungal spot or Anthracnose Take a close look at your browning viburnum leaves. If they have irregular brown spots that are sunken and dry, they may have a fungal spot disease. The spots begin small but merge together and may appear red or gray....

Why Force Chicory? Chicory and endive are often used interchangeably, which can lead to some confusion. This is because the forced product of Witlook chicory is also called French or Belgian endive. Endive is grown for its leaves, which are used as salad greens or are cooked while Witloof chicory is forced for chicons. Why force chicory? Well, because forcing a chicory plant begets an altogether sublime, tender, sweeter product that makes eating them an almost transcendent experience....

In the meantime, here are some tips for troubleshooting a stunted houseplant. Help, My Houseplant Stopped Growing! Light: All plants need light. Some thrive in bright, direct light, but most prefer more moderate indirect light. If your houseplant stopped growing, you may need to move plants away from a too-bright window, or you can reduce the light with a sheer curtain. If, on the other hand, the light in your house is low, you may need to supplement available sunlight with grow lights or fluorescent tubes....

What to Do With Boston Ferns in Winter Winter care for Boston fern starts with finding the right location for overwintering them. The plant needs cool nighttime temps and lots of bright, indirect light like that from a south window not blocked by trees or buildings. Daytime temperatures should not be over 75 degrees F. (24 C.). High humidity is necessary to keep the Boston fern as a houseplant. Overwintering Boston ferns in a hot, dry home environment usually causes lots of mess and frustration for the gardener....

Jelena Witch Hazel Information Say goodbye to empty garden blues in winter. All you have to do to liven up the backyard is to start growing Jelena witch hazel shrubs (Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Jelena’) with their fabulous blossoms. The flowers on Jelena witch hazel plants are like nothing you’ve ever seen before. The dense clusters of flowers cover the shrub’s naked branches in winter. Each flower is comprised of four long, wavy, spidery petals....

What are Woodland Tulips? There are so many tulip varieties out there in a rainbow range of colors that it’s possible you’ve never heard of woodland tulips. They are an old variety of bulb flower with brilliant butter-colored flowers that make themselves right at home in your garden. Woodland tulip plants begin as bulbs, just like other tulips. However, these are wildflower tulips with distinctive yellow, lemon-scented flowers. The petals are pointed and the flowers look like stars....