Caring for this plant is relatively simple. However, there are some clivia plant problems and clivia plant diseases to consider. What’s Wrong with My Clivia Plant? Like many tropical houseplants, this ornamental is valued for its beauty. Even when not in bloom, clivia containers are often overflowing with glossy dark green foliage. It is easy to understand the cause for alarm when clivia issues begin to show themselves. Houseplants may be more susceptible to problems related to watering and insect infestation....

About Cold Hardy Dogwood Trees Dogwoods are known for their classic foliage and colorful, flower-like bracts. The true flowers are insignificant, but many species also produce ornamental and edible fruits. Planting dogwood trees in cold climates requires some knowledge of the plant’s hardiness range and a few tricks to help protect the plant and help it survive some seriously cold weather without damage. Zone 4 is one of the coldest USDA ranges and dogwood trees need to be adaptable to extended winters and freezing temperatures....

Growing Hedges in Zone 5 Hedges range in size and purpose. They can serve an ornamental function or a practical one. The types of shrubs you select depend on the hedge’s primary function, and you should keep it in mind as you select them. A privacy hedge is a living equivalent of a stone wall. You plant a privacy hedge to prevent neighbors and passers-by from having a clear view into your yard....

Differences Between Bees It can be easy to confuse bee species with wasps and hornets, but there are important differences. Not least of these is that most wasps and hornets are not pollinators. They do not carry pollen from plant to plant but may feed on nectar from flowers. This difference leads to an easy way to distinguish between most bees and non-bees: bees are hairier, which is how they can carry pollen, while wasps and hornets are smooth....

Common Coreopsis Diseases

Controlling Lawn Problems Most common grass diseases are caused by fungi. Although many of the different types of diseases look similar, the basic control measures are the same: Prevent the disease from spreading by keeping the grass in the affected area short. Remove the clippings, but don’t rake them across the lawn where they can infect other areas. Clean lawn care equipment before moving onto other parts of the lawn....

Kale Plant Protection Another fall project to foil diseases of kale is working compost into the soil. Most people know that compost is a great natural fertilizer, but did you know that it also helps the soil drain freely? Soil that can’t drain freely stays wet too long, and many fungi thrive in wet soil. Working in compost in fall allows it plenty of time to combine with the soil so that it is ready to manage water more efficiently in spring....

What is Pokeweed? Pokeweed or pokeberry (Phytolacca americana) is a native plant that grows in disturbed soils, such as fields and pastures. The plant is hazardous to livestock and all parts of the plant are considered toxic. It is a perennial with a red, woody stem boasting long, oval leaves that may get up to ten inches (25 cm.) long. Greenish flowers appear in July to September and yield to grape-like clusters of berries....

A common definition of a weed is a plant growing where you don’t want it. This oversimplified designation should go further to explain that many garden weeds are actually noxious and invasive. There are many basic weeds familiar to your landscape, many of which are complete nuisances. These common weeds need to be recognized and have their control recognized. Some tips on how to identify and eradicate weeds in the garden will keep your beds free of these pests....

Lilac Companion Plants If you are wondering what to plant with lilac bushes, you may be surprised at the large selection of lilac companion plants. Companion plants for lilac bushes are plants that either look good near lilacs or else complement the lilacs in some way. When it comes to companion planting with lilacs, spring-flowering bulbs are among the top choices for many gardeners. They make a natural choice to plant as companions plants for lilac bushes because they bloom at the same time....

About Growing Tea at Home Tea is grown in 45 countries and is worth billions of dollars to the world’s economy annually. While tea plants are adapted to tropical areas and lowland areas of the subtropics, growing tea plants in pots allows the gardener to control temperatures. Although tea plants are hardy and will generally survive to just under freezing temperatures, they may still be damaged or killed. This means that in cooler climates, tea lovers can grow plants inside provided they give plenty of light and warm temps....

What is Corydalis? Corydalis plants are close relatives of bleeding hearts and you can see the resemblance in shape between corydalis flowers and small types of bleeding hearts. The genus name “Corydalis” derives from the Greek word ‘korydalis,’ which means crested lark, referring to the similarity between the flowers and spurs to a lark’s head. Of the 300 or so species of corydalis- with differing colors available- the two types that you see most often in North American gardens are the blue corydalis (C....

Daffodil fertilizer can enhance the perfect trumpet-shaped forms and colors of these cheery flowers. Find out when to fertilize daffodils and what to feed daffodil bulbs for year after year of uplifting spring color. When to Fertilize Daffodils Timing is everything, and feeding bulbs is no exception. The bulbs mostly fend for themselves by storing energy gathered the previous season in the bulb. The foliage should remain after the blooms are gone so they can collect carbohydrates synthesized from solar rays in the photosynthetic process....

Symptoms of Dahlia Wilt Disease Originally discovered in tomato plants, this viral disease was aptly named the tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). In tomato species, this virus causes wilting of the leaves and yellow spots on the fruit. The name of this disease can be deceptive, though, as gardeners aren’t likely to find that their dahlias are wilting. The presence of thrips on infected plants, coupled with common symptoms, is a better indicator to suspect dahlia wilt disease....

About Deadheading Gardenias Gardenias are flowering evergreen shrubs hardy in zones 7 to 11. Their long lasting, fragrant white flowers bloom from late spring to fall. Each bloom can last several weeks before wilting. The wilted flowers then form into orange seed pods. Removing spent blooms on gardenia will prevent the plant from wasting energy producing these seed pods and put that energy into creating new blooms instead. Deadheading gardenias will also keep the plant looking nicer throughout the growing season....

Why are Deer Rubbing Antlers on Trees? Living close to nature can be an incredibly rewarding experience, but even the most dedicated lovers of wildlife may get pretty frustrated when they discover the local deer rubbed the bark off the trees in their yard. Not only does this behavior cause unsightly damage, it can permanently disfigure or kill young trees. Male deer (bucks) grow a new set of antlers each year, but they don’t start out as the horn-like headgear that normally springs to mind....

How to Make a Compost Bucket The first method uses vermiculture, which is commonly referred to as worm farming. This term can be a bit misleading as it implies the purpose of vermiculture is to produce more worms. While that does happen, the main benefit of worm farming is to make vermicompost. Vermicompost is worm castings or the bodily waste which worms produce when they consume kitchen scraps. A balance of brown and green components is needed to make vermicompost....

Corn Maze Ideas You need to have a great idea for a design when it comes to creating your own corn maze. A corn maze is often comprised of two components: a picture in the design of the maze and a challenge. The difficulty of the challenge depends upon the clientele you want to attract, while the design will depend on field size and cutting method. If you are artistic and engineer minded, you can design a DIY corn maze yourself....

If you plant one apple tree and there are no others around for miles, chances are you’re never going to see any fruit…usually. While rare, there are actually some apples that purportedly pollinate themselves. Keep reading to learn more about self-fruiting apple trees. Can Apples Self-Pollinate? For the most part, apples can’t pollinate themselves. Most varieties of apple are dioecious, and there’s nothing we can do about it. If you want to grow an apple, you are going to have to plant a neighboring apple tree....

Do Plants Like Being Talked To? Many of us had a grandmother, aunt, or other relative that seemed to have a very close relationship with their plants. Their gentle murmurings as they watered, trimmed, and fed their floral darlings supposedly made the plants grow better. Don’t feel crazy if you like talking to plants. There is actually a science behind the practice. There are many studies verifying that plant growth is influenced by sound....