What are Golden Delicious Apples? These apple trees are self-pollinating and quite hardy, thriving in USDA zones 4 through 9. The medium to large yellow apples have a mild, sweet flavor that is delicious in pies as well as adding sweetness to pork dishes and salads. The trees can be found in dwarf, 8 to 10 feet (2-3 m.), and semi-dwarf, 12 to 15 feet (4-4.5 m.), sizes, fitting easily into a variety of garden spaces....

Shagbark Hickory Tree Info Shagbark hickory trees are native to the eastern and midwestern sections of the country and are usually found in mixed forests with oaks and pines. Slow-growing giants, they can rise to a mature height of over 100 feet (30.5 m.). Shagbark hickory tree info suggests that these trees are very long-lived. They are considered mature at the age of 40 years, and some 300 year old trees continue to produce fruits with seeds....

Worm Tube Information Worm tubes consist of 6 inch (15 cm.) pipes or tubes inserted into the soil. Believe it or not, that’s really all there is to making a worm tube! Once the tube is installed in your garden bed, you can drop fruit and vegetable scraps directly into the tube. Worms from the garden will find and eat the goodies prior to leaving rich worm poop (castings), extending to a 3 to 4 feet (1 m....

What Causes Peach Gummosis? This is a fungal disease caused by Botryosphaeria dothidea. The fungus is the infecting agent, but the illness occurs when there are injuries to the peach tree. There can be biological causes of injuries, like the bore holes of peach tree borers. Injuries that lead to fungal gummosis of peach can also be physical, such as those caused by pruning. The infection may also get into the tree through its natural lenticels....

What is a Sweetgum Tree? Sweetgums are straight, tall trees with a single trunk that reaches a height of 75 feet (23 m.) or more. These handsome trees have a pyramidal canopy when young that becomes rounded with age. They make excellent lawn or shade trees in large landscapes. Sweet gum tree leaves have five to seven pointed lobes, and their shape will remind you of a star. Mature leaves are 4 to 7 inches (10 to 18 cm....

Texas Sage Info Texas sage is a classic in the American southwest. What is a Texas sage shrub? As a native plant, it provides cover for wild animals and birds and helps stabilize loose desert soils. This adaptable plant is drought tolerant and useful in areas with high heat and cold desert temperatures. It is also a landscape surprise that produces profuse lavender flowers. The plant additionally has deer resistance and thrives in poor soil....

What is Avocado Cercospora Spot? Avocado cercospora spot is a common and frustrating fungus that thrives on the tissues of avocado trees. The disease is caused by the pathogenic fungus Cercospora purpurea, but it presents much like other types of Cercospora infections. Cercospora symptoms can include, but are not limited to, small brown to purple spots on leaves, angular-appearing spots on leaves, small irregular brown spots on fruits, or fissures and cracks in the fruit’s surface....

Interested in growing Cinnamon basil? It isn’t difficult. Read on for more Cinnamon basil info. Cinnamon Basil Information Cinnamon basil is sometimes used medicinally, and is said to be good for maladies such as constipation, headaches, cough, and diarrhea. It contains vitamins A and C, and provides a generous amount of vitamin K. The spicy herb is appreciated by chefs too, who use it as an attractive garnish or to flavor hot drinks or other dishes....

What is Grasscycling? Mowing the lawn doesn’t have to be such a chore if you know how to grasscycle. Even if you don’t have a mulching mower you can grasscycle. The key is in how and when you mow so you can prevent thatch buildup, unsightly grass debris, and the clippings are returned to the earth quickly. Your grass clippings can be a precious resource rather than a pain in the neck to bag and remove....

What is Lettuce Tipburn? Tipburn of lettuce is actually a physiological disorder similar to blossom end rot in tomato. The symptoms of lettuce with tipburn are exactly as they sound, usually the ends or edges of the leaves browning. The brown area may be confined to a few small dots at or near the leaf margin or may affect the entire edge of a leaf. Brown veins may occur near the brown lesions....

What is Needlegrass? Needlegrass grows early in the season and retains greenery well into the cool period. It is a long lived perennial much prized to prevent erosion. It is also used to reestablish depleted green spaces. The grass provides cover for many animals and is high in protein when ingested early in the season. There are even several needlegrass plant varieties found in different genus names with exceptional ornamental attributes that can be used in the garden such as:...

Growing Showy Jasmine Showy jasmine plants can be trimmed to form a neat shrub or hedge, but they are at their best when left to sprawl across the ground or climb over a wire fence. Use showy jasmine plants to stabilize the soil on a difficult slope, or plant one in a large container where the arching vines will cascade over the rim. Showy jasmine plants reach mature heights of 3 to 4 feet (1 m....

What is Siam Queen Basil? The Siam Queen basil is such a lovely plant that it doubles as an ornamental. In fact, some gardeners start growing Siam Queen basil in flower beds for the large emerald leaves and brilliant purple flowers. According to Siam Queen basil information, this plant grows leaves that are 4 inches (10 cm.) long and 2 inches (5 cm.) wide. It also produces intensely colored deep purple flowers....

What is Sodium? The first question you need to answer is, what is sodium? Sodium is a mineral that is generally not needed in plants. A few varieties of plants need sodium to help concentrate carbon dioxide, but most plants use only a trace amount to promote metabolism. So where does all the salt come from? Sodium is found in many minerals and is released when they break down over time....

Getting rid of signalgrass plants in such situations increases economic profit, but it is important in the home landscape as well. This is because broadleaf signalgrass flower spikes have two to six seed-filled spikelets and spread quickly. Identification of Broadleaf Signalgrass Signalgrass has wide, flat leaves with fine hairs along the stems and ligules. The leaves are hairless, unlike crabgrass, and usually prostrate but may occasionally get 3 feet (1 m....

Winter Pruning for Shrubs While all deciduous plants go dormant in winter, not all of them should be pruned in winter. The appropriate time to trim these shrubs depends on a plant’s growth habit, when they flower, and whether it is in good shape. Healthy spring-flowering shrubs should be pruned back immediately after the blooms fade so that they can set buds for the following year. However, if they are overgrown and require a severe rejuvenation pruning, go ahead with cutting back plants in winter....

When Can I Transplant Sago Palms? Once established, sago palm trees do not like to be moved. This does not mean that you can’t transplant sago palms, it just means that you must do it with extra care and preparation. The timing of transplanting sago palms is important. You should only attempt to move a sago palm in late winter or early spring when the plant is in its semi-dormant stage....

How to Feed Your Indoor Potted Ferns In their natural environment, fern plants draw nourishment from a steady diet of decaying leaves and other organic matter. Although regular fertilization is important, indoor ferns don’t need heavy doses of fertilizer, which may scorch the leaves. Be sure to water well immediately after fertilizing indoor ferns; both organic and chemical fertilizers that may damage the roots when applied to dry soil. When to Feed Fern Houseplants If your fern is newly potted (or repotted), allow the plant time to adjust to its new environment before fertilizing....

The Best Herbs to Direct Sow The majority of herbs can be started from seeds, but the best herbs to direct sow are those which don’t transplant well. These can be started outdoors either in the garden or in large pots. Many of these herbs readily self-seed and only need to be planted one time. One of the alternatives to direct sowing is to start herb seeds indoors. These plants benefit from the headstart they receive in the protected environment inside the home or greenhouse....

Why is My Okra Dropping Flowers? Okra losing flowers can be scary, but it is not necessarily a bad thing. The edible part of the okra plant is the seed pod that develops after the flower is pollinated. The flower itself is very showy but also short lived. Okra flowers usually bloom for less than a day before dropping off the plant, leaving behind a small green nub that will form into the okra pod and be ready to harvest in just a few days....