About Groundcover Mint Mint has been around and prized for centuries for its fresh scent and flavor. There are more than 600 mint varieties, some with an upright habit and some low growing mint more suitable as groundcover. Using mint as groundcover really does seem to be a win/win, provided that’s pretty much all you want in the space. Mint spreads quickly and stealthily by underground stems. It can live in a variety of climates and is easy to grow....

What is a Cape Cod Weeder? I’m a gardener and come from a long line of gardeners, but I have to say I’ve never heard of a Cape Cod weeder tool. Of course, right away, the name gave me a clue. The story about the Cape Cod weeder is that many years ago a woman living on Cape Cod designed this weeding tool. It is a knife-like tool that is used to slice weeds and loosen difficult soils....

Read on to learn about growing Capture cabbages, with helpful tips on Capture cabbage care. Growing Capture Cabbages At 87 days from the date of transplanting into the garden, Capture F1 cabbage is relatively slow to develop. Plant as early as possible, especially if you live in an area with short growing seasons. Plant these cabbage seeds directly in the garden about three weeks before the last expected hard frost in your area....

What is a Himalayan Lantern Plant? Himalayan lantern plant (Agapetes serpens) is a member of the Ericaceae family. It is native to the cool Himalayas and grows as an evergreen shrub. It is drought tolerant once established and can tolerate low temps for a short period, down to 22 degrees F. (-6 C.). The plant produces a large woody tuber at the base. Long arching branches of 3 to 5 feet (1-1....

Certain plants are better for succession plantings than others, though, like lettuce. The quick maturation and cool-season preference oftentimes allow you to start planting earlier in the spring and later in the summer. Unfortunately, if you live in a region with hot summers, you know that many of these crops have a tendency to bolt in the midsummer heat. However, some crop varieties, such as Winter Density lettuce, boast the ability to withstand the heat of summer and grow fresh heads of lettuce all season long....

What are Dewberries? To answer the question, “What are dewberries?” it’s helpful to look at the difference between dewberry and blackberry. While they are both trailing berry producing plants whose propensity for growth nears that of a weed, growing dewberry plants have a more shrub-like habit as opposed to the upright 3 to 6 foot (1-2 m.) vines of the blackberry. The berries of dewberry plants are purplish red, similar to raspberries, and the seeds are much larger and tougher than those of the blackberry....

Balsam Plant Information Balsminaceae impatiens is a common sun to partial shade flowering annual. It is easy to grow and widely available at nurseries and garden centers. Impatiens balsamina is known by the common name balsam or by the umbrella moniker of impatiens, which covers a wide variety of forms and tones. Balsam may also be found as “Rose Balsam.” The flowers bear double petals and come in an array of colors but are partially hidden by large attractive leaves with pronounced veins....

About Stella d’Oro Daylilies Most daylilies bloom for a short period of time during the summer. For this brief period they produce showy, beautiful flowers, but for the rest of the growing season all you get are spiky green leaves. In 1975, the first reblooming variety was developed by Walter Jablonski. The Stella d’Oro daylily produces bright, cheerful flowers that continue to bloom all season if you care for them correctly....

Christmas Cactus & Cat Safety When your cat eats a Christmas cactus, your first concern should be the health of the cat. Is Christmas cactus bad for cats? The answer depends on how you grow your plants. According to the ASPCA plant database, Christmas cactus is not toxic or poisonous to cats, but insecticides and other chemicals used on the plant may be toxic. In addition, a sensitive cat eating Christmas cactus may suffer an allergic reaction....

Cherry Tree Borer Damage The larvae of the borers are responsible for cherry tree borer damage, as the pests feed on the wood, unlike other pests that feed on the plant juices or foliage. If your trees are affected by cherry tree wood borers, you may notice a gummy sap oozing from small holes in the trunk. The small holes are a sign of big trouble, as shot-hole borer larvae (adults are brown or black beetles with striped wings) create tunnels that block the free flow of nutrients and water....

What is Bupleurum? Although bupleurum is from Asia, it can’t really be classed as a cool-season or warm-season annual. The plant is hardy in United States Department of Agriculture zones 3 to 10, a pretty broad spectrum for a leafy herb. Most gardeners across North America and beyond can learn how to grow bupleurum and keep a ready supply of this useful herb on hand, either fresh or dried. Once a common name among Chinese herb plant info, Bupleurum gibraltaricum, or hare’s ear, grows readily from seed....

Yams vs. Sweet Potatoes A major difference between yams and sweet potatoes is that yams are monocots and sweet potatoes are dicots. Additionally, yams are related to lilies and a member of the Dioscoreaceae family while sweet potatoes are a member of the morning glory family (Convolvulaceae). Yams are a root crop common to Africa and Asia while sweet potatoes are native to tropical Central and South America and the Caribbean....

Citrus Phytophthora Info Feeder root rot of citrus causes a slow decline of the tree. Citrus root weevils sometimes attack feeder roots and encourage the progression of decline. Citrus trees with feeder root rot may also display damage on the trunk. At first, you may notice leaves yellowing and dropping. If the trunk stays wet, the water mold (Phytophthora parasitica) can spread and cause significantly more damage. Severe cases may cause defoliation of the entire tree....

Annual Plants for Zone 3 Luckily for gardeners, even though summers are short, cold climate annuals manage to put on a real show for several weeks. Most cold hardy annuals can tolerate a light frost, but not a hard freeze. Here is a list of beautiful cold climate annuals, along with a few tips for growing annuals in zone 3. Zone 3 Annual Flowers for Sunlight Petunia African daisy Godetia and Clarkia Snapdragon Bachelor’s button California poppy Forget-me-not Dianthus Phlox Sunflower Flowering stock Sweet alyssum Pansy Nemesia...

Oleander Plant Diseases Bacterial pathogens are the culprits behind the primary oleander plant diseases, although some fungal pathogens may also infect oleanders. These organisms can infect plants through pruning cuts, and they’re often transmitted by insects that feed on the plant tissue. Some diseases of oleander plants may look like other oleander problems, such as cultural disorders that include insufficient water or nutrient deficiencies. Troubleshooting tip: Take a plant sample to your local Extension office for their expert diagnosis of specific oleander problems....

Can You Grow a Hellebore in a Container? Hellebore plants are prized for their unusual and pretty flowers, but also because the blooms come out in winter or early spring. These are great plants for four-season gardens and if you need something to add winter color to your beds. But what about hellebore in containers? You absolutely can grow these plants in containers, but there are some important things to keep in mind in order to help them thrive in pots....

Growing Lobelia in Containers Annual lobelia plants come in a wide range of types, including those which are often seen trailing from containers. These petite pink, white, or blue flowers create a dramatic impact in planters. The profusion of blooms makes growing lobelia in a pot an excellent choice. Deciding to grow lobelia in planters is a great way to ensure the success of this flower. Although these flowering plants are beautiful, they do require some specific growing conditions to truly thrive....

Can Peach Trees Grow in Pots? Absolutely; in fact, growing peaches in a container is an ideal growing method. Peaches bloom as early as March, so growing peaches in a container makes the it easier to protect the tree from sudden frost or winds. There are a few things to consider if you want a container grown peach tree. First, unlike apple trees, peaches have no dwarf rootstock to keep the trees small....

Before You Plant Horseradish… The best way to be certain you’ll be able to control your horseradish plant is to containerize it from the beginning. Whether or not you sink the container into the ground is up to you, but planting it first in a barrel, bucket or some other kind of sturdy pot can help confine the roots so they don’t spread to areas where they’re not wanted. If you use a clay or ceramic container, however, the roots are likely to break through and spread, regardless....

Controlling Zoysia Grass Zoysia grass spreads through underground rhizomatous runners. One of the best ways to keep zoysia out of neighboring lawns or garden beds is to establish good borders. You can accomplish this by installing lawn edging that zoysia is unable to get through, such as plastic or aluminum. Place the edging in the ground at least 6 inches (15 cm.) deep with another 2 or 3 inches (5-8 cm....