Do You Have to Deadhead Petunias? Why remove spent petunia flowers? Plants live to reproduce themselves, and annuals, like petunias, create blooms to form new seeds. Once the bloom browns and falls off, the plant spends its energy creating a seed pod filled with seeds. If you clip off the old bloom and the forming pod by deadheading, the plant will start the process all over again. Instead of a straggly stem covered in brown pods, you’ll have a bushy plant with constant blooms through the entire growing season....

About Phytophthora Root Rot of Peach Trees with peach phytophthora root rot are usually found in soggy, poorly drained areas, especially where the soil stays heavy and wet for 24 hours or more. Phytophthora root rot of peach is somewhat unpredictable and may kill the tree gradually over a few years, or an apparently healthy tree may decline and die suddenly after new growth appears in spring. Symptoms of peach with phytophthora rot include stunted growth, wilting, reduced vigor and yellowing leaves....

What Can Plane Trees Be Used For? Wood: Although plane tree uses are primarily focused towards their ornamental value, their wood also has a number of purposes. While plane tree wood isn’t well-suited for outdoor use, it is prized for indoor furniture because of its attractive, lacy appearance. In the early history of the United States, people have been using plane trees for boxes, utensils, paneling, flooring, buckets, butcher blocks, carvings, veneers, and even barber poles....

Yellow Leaved Plants The following plants provide yellow or gold foliage and used sparingly in the garden can add that extra “wow” factor: Shrubs Aucuba – Aucuba japonica ‘Mr. Goldstrike,’ suitable for growing in USDA plant hardiness zones 7 through 9, is a hardy shrub with green leaves generously speckled with gold flecks. Also consider Aucuba japonica ‘Subaru’ or ‘Lemon Flare.’ Ligustrum – Golden privet (Ligustrum x vicaryi) displays bright yellow leaves which grown in full sun, and yellowish-green leaves in shade....

Plants with a Halloween Theme Of course you’re going to see pumpkins everywhere as time ticks toward October 31st, but your selection of plants for a Halloween garden can’t stop there. The current trend of carving out jack-o’-lanterns is a relatively recent one. Before pumpkins were popular for Halloween, kids carved turnips and the large, orange roots of mangold. So, when you are choosing Halloween garden plants to include in your festivities, pick those as well....

Poblano Pepper Facts There are a number of poblano uses in the kitchen. Since they’re so sturdy, poblano peppers are ideal for stuffing. You can stuff them with nearly anything you like including cream cheese, seafood, or any combination of beans, rice, and cheese. (Think chili rellenos!) Poblano peppers are also delicious in chili, soups, stews, casseroles, or egg dishes. Really, the sky is the limit. Poblano peppers are frequently dried....

Poinsettia Plant Propagation If you are wondering about propagating poinsettias, there are two primary methods of poinsettia plant propagation. You can get new poinsettia plants either by planting seeds or by rooting a poinsettia cutting. Most people who propagate these plants do so by rooting a poinsettia cutting. This is the only way to ensure that you will get a poinsettia plant that is identical to the parent plant. It’s fun to plant the seeds though, and you may grow a great new variety....

Common Toxic Garden Plants Although there a numerous plants that can be toxic, here are eight of the most common garden plants to look out for: Rhododendron – The nectar of certain types of rhododendron, including a popular variety known as Rhododendron ponticum, is so toxic that even honey produced in nearby hives can be extremely dangerous. (The leaves of the plant are reportedly less toxic). The nectar of other members of the Rhododendron family, including azalea, may also be toxic....

The portion of the potato plant which is harvested for food is called a tuber, not a root, and is often associated with the great potato famine in Ireland in the 19th century. Tuber formation occurs when soil temps are between 60 and 70 degrees F. (16-21 C.) and will fail to thrive if temperatures hit over 80 degrees F. (27 C.) All potato plant varieties may be planted in March or April whether early season, midseason, or late-season potatoes....

Why Lettuce Has Flowers Cool season annual vegetables, such as spinach and lettuce, bolt when chilly spring days turn into warm spring days. Bolting lettuce plants become bitter and sharp in taste as they shoot towards the sky. Other crops that are sensitive to bolting include Chinese cabbage and mustard greens. Lettuce bolt will occur when daytime temperatures go above 75 degrees F. (24 C.) and nighttime temperatures above 60 degrees F....

What is a Fruit Cage? A cage is generally something to contain an animal or bird so that they cannot escape. In this case, a fruit cage is designed to keep the birds and animals out, away from those succulent berries you had planned on using. A fruit cage can be a very simple structure just for protecting the fruit or quite grandiose. Some gardens are designed with ornate fruit cages as a focal point....

Pruning An Overgrown Red Twig Dogwood Shrub Rejuvenation pruning is a way of cutting back neglected and overgrown shrubs. One plant that responds well to this type of pruning is the red twig dogwood shrub. It’s easy to tell when these bushes have been ignored because their radiant red stems turn woody and gray. Only young, new growth is that vibrant shade that brightens up the winter landscape. Timing is very important for proper pruning....

Why a Lemon Tree Won’t Bloom As with all fruiting plants, there’s usually a reason that a lemon tree won’t bloom. This can be any of a range of problems, from how it’s growing to where it’s growing or even what it’s been fed. Here are the most common causes and some solutions to non-flowering lemon trees: Plant age. Many varieties of fruit trees have to mature completely before they begin to fruit....

About Regal Trumpet Lilies Lilium regale, or regal lily, is a stunning species of lily native to southwestern China and suitable for growing in USDA zones 4 through 8 in the U.S. The name describes the tall stature and striking flowers, up to 6 feet (2 m.) tall with blooms that are about 6 inches (15 cm.) long. The flowers are white, trumpet shaped, and blush purple on the outside. The interior of the flowers is streaked with yellow....

Can I Regrow Fennel? Can I regrow fennel? Absolutely! When you buy fennel from the store, the bottom of the bulb should have a noticeable base to it – this is where the roots grew from. When you cut up your fennel to cook with, leave this base and just a little bit of the attached bulb intact. Regrowing fennel plants is very easy. Simply place the little piece you saved in a shallow dish, glass, or jar of water, with the base facing down....

Adult Rove Beetle Identification Due to the wide diversity between species, in-depth rove beetle identification is beyond the scope of this article. However, there are a few common identifying factors to watch for. In general, rove beetles have short front wings, giving them the appearance that they are poor flyers, but longer hind wings hidden under the short wings allow them to fly very well. Most rove beetles have large heads and prominent eyes....

How to Grow Sage Plant Indoors Learning how to grow sage plant indoors is not difficult when you understand that lots of light is necessary for successfully growing sage indoors. A sunny window with several hours of sunlight is a good start whenever you are growing sage in containers. Likely though, the sunny window will not give potted sage plants enough light to flourish abundantly. Therefore, supplemental lighting can improve the situation and is often necessary for the care of potted sage herbs....

What Causes a Sago with Multiple Heads? Sago palms grow from a center crown. As they age, the dropping of old stems and the addition of new creates a scarred, rough trunk. The trunk is usually a single trunk, but occasionally a double headed sago palm will occur. This can happen due to environmental changes, stress on the plant, or just because nature deemed it time for a surprise! These multi-headed sagos are not something to dislike but rather a cause for celebration....

Shantung Maple Facts Almost any garden is big enough for one or two Shantung maple trees. The slender trees generally don’t get taller than 25 feet (8 m.) in the sun, or even less in the shade. Those growing Shantung maples appreciate their interesting trunks and the bright yellow flowers the tree produces every spring. New leaves grow in a bronze-purple shade but mature to a lively green. These small trees are among the first to show fall color....

What is Apricot Pit Burn? Apricot pit burn, also referred to as ‘stone burn’ in apricots, is a when the flesh surrounding the apricot stone, or pit, browns and begins to soften. When caught early, fruit afflicted with pit burn is still edible as long as the fruit shows no signs of rot. In many commercial apricot groves, growers are replacing some traditionally grown older varieties that are susceptible to pit burn with newer proprietary cultivars less inclined towards the disorder....