What is Muhly Grass? Muhly grass grows in clumps that are 3 to 4 feet (.9 to1.2 m.) tall. It is native to Florida and the eastern half of the United States. The grass is known for its pink to purple inflorescences which float above the body of the plant in an airy display worthy of a fairy princess. The show of color gives it the name pink muhly grass. There is also a white flowering variety....

Common Pansy Problems Pansies and other members of the viola family, have their fair share of fungal pansy plant issues, including anthracnose, cercospora leaf spot, powdery mildew and botrytis blight. In early spring or fall, pansies are popular cool weather plants because they hold up to the cooler temperatures much better than many other plants. However, as spring and fall tend to be cool, rainy seasons in many regions, pansies are often exposed to fungal spores which spread on wind, water and rain....

Why Do My Sunflowers Droop Over? Drooping in sunflower plants can occur in both young and older plants. What to do about drooping sunflowers depends on what stage of growth they’re in and the cause of the drooping. Sunflower droop in young plants Diseases and pests can cause sunflowers to droop, as can transplant shock. Sunflowers do best when they are seeded directly outside. Living in a cooler climate, I have started them indoors before and then transplanted them outside....

Narcissus Plant Info Daffodils all fall under the botanical name, Narcissus. Narcissus also often refers to the smaller variety of daffodils. Regionally, jonquils may be called daffodils, but this is botanically incorrect. There are 13 divisions of daffodils, or Narcissus. Each division has special classifications and specific Narcissus plant info that delineates which class each species falls into. Is jonquil a Narcissus? Yes. Daffodil bulbs are Narcissus and jonquils are Narcissus....

The type of tree or shrub species you select will impact how effective the plants are at aiding wildlife. Read on for some top choices of native trees for birds and other wild creatures. Native Trees for Wildlife Planting windbreaks or individual trees for wildlife is a wonderful way to help local fauna and attract birds and other wild animals to your yard. But when it comes to trees, one size doesn’t fit all....

What are Natural Swimming Pools? When summer’s heat is at its worst, a natural dipping pool seems like the perfect thing. Natural swimming pool design should be integrated into the landscape, but it can be any style you wish. Natural pools are less expensive than conventional designs and require no chemicals. They are a sustainable take on traditional swimming pools. Natural swimming pools mimic a wild pond. They are designed in two zones of approximately equal size....

What is Neem Oil? Neem oil comes from the tree Azadirachta indica, a South Asian and Indian plant common as an ornamental shade tree. It has many traditional uses in addition to its insecticidal properties. For centuries, the seeds have been used in wax, oil, and soap preparations. It is currently an ingredient in many organic cosmetic products too. Neem oil can be extracted from most parts of the tree, but the seeds hold the highest concentration of the insecticidal compound....

Can You Compost Newspaper? The short answer is, “Yes, newspapers in the compost pile are just fine”. Newspaper in compost is considered to be a brown composting material and will help to add carbon to the compost pile. But when you are composting with newspaper, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. Tips for Composting Newspapers First, when you compost newspaper, you cannot simply throw it in as bundles....

No Fruit on Peach Trees Peach trees generally begin bearing fruit two to four years from the time they are planted. Several factors can cause a peach tree not to bear fruit when expected. These include over fertilization, improper pruning, low temperatures, lack of chilling hours, and the residual effects of the previous season’s crop. Fixing Peach Trees Not Bearing Fruit Fertilization – Fertilization with high-nitrogen fertilizers encourages a peach tree to focus its attention on producing new shoots and leaves at the expense of fruit....

Norway Spruce Tree Info The Norway spruce tree is native to Europe. However, for over a century it has been planted in this country for both ornamental and utilitarian purposes. The tree roots are strong and the trees can withstand high winds, making them excellent windbreaks. The trees bear stiff evergreen needles up to an inch (2.5 cm.) long, colored a shiny forest green. The bark is a red-brown and furrowed....

broccoli cauliflower cabbage beans carrots cucumbers tomatoes squash turnips garlic leeks You may also find thrips feeding on melons and some types of flowers. These insects are most active during spring but continue their damage throughout fall before overwintering in nearby debris. Onion Thrips Damage The trail of damage left by these pests can be easily seen as they can literally suck the life right of the plants. Typically, thrips prefer to feed on plant tissue from newly emerging leaves....

Orchid Light Conditions Though some types of orchid are more difficult to grow than others, many of these plants are highly adaptable to a wide range of indoor growing conditions. Upon purchasing an orchid or receiving one as a gift, researching that species of orchid light requirements is essential. The overall health of the orchid and light are directly related. Orchid plants should always be situated within the home with available light sources in mind....

Why Ornamental Tree Has Fruit Is fruit from ornamental trees good to eat? It’s hard to pinpoint a real ornamental tree definition, since many trees are grown just as much for their fruit as for their appearance. In fact, a new trend is cropping up in showcasing tasty, high yield fruit trees as ornamentals in the garden and landscape. There are plenty of pear, apple, plum, and cherry trees that are cultivated equally for their taste and their appearance....

Can You Grow Rubber Plants Outside? Gardeners in USDA Hardiness Zones 10 and 11 can grow the plant outdoors, according to most rubber plant information. Outdoor rubber tree plants (Ficus elastica) may grow in zone 9 if winter protection is offered. In this area, outdoor rubber tree plants should be planted on the north or east side of a building for protection from the wind. When the plant is young, prune it to a single trunk, as these plants tend to split when caught in the wind....

Tips for Bringing Oleander Indoors Oleander bushes have been popular container plants since the 1800’s. In the north, they are not terribly hardy and should be potted into containers and overwintered in a sheltered location or indoors for winter. If you are a northern gardener, overwintering oleander indoors may be the key to enjoying the festive blooms and intoxicating scent. There are a few things to note, however, regarding oleander care in winter....

Why Does Parsley Turn Yellow? If your parsley plant suddenly looks peaked, you may be searching for the answer to the question, “Why does parsley turn yellow?” Parsley leaves yellowing may be the result of a number of factors. Let’s take a look at some of the most common: Leaf spot fungus– A fungal infection called leaf spot may quite possibly be the culprit, resulting in parsley leaves yellowing. Both sides of the leaves are afflicted with yellow specks, which gradually turn dark brown with tiny black pin spots in the center and a yellow outer border....

Reasons for a Thin Wall on Peppers There are a number of reasons for having thin walls on peppers. Improper Harvesting The most elemental reason when pepper walls are not thick is that immature fruit is being picked. Sometimes it’s hard to tell when fruit is ripe, or sometimes patience isn’t one of our virtues. Many peppers appear to be full sized, so we pick them only to find a thin wall on the peppers....

Perennial Pepperweed Information Perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium) is a long-lived herbaceous perennial that is invasive throughout the western United States. It is known by a number of other common names including tall whitetop, perennial peppercress, peppergrass, ironweed, and broad-leaved pepperweed. Peppergrass weeds establish quickly since they thrive in a wide range of environments. These include flood plains, pastures, wetlands, riparian areas, roadsides, and backyards of residential areas. This weed is a problem throughout California where agencies in charge identify it as a noxious weed of enormous ecological concern....

Pink Stuff in Lawns That pink stuff in lawns is Limonomyces roseipelli, a fungus that produces cotton candy like spores and pink gooey fungal growth. The affected grass blades may turn tan to pink in a circular pattern. The area may be 2 to 4 inches (5-10 cm.) in diameter. Pink patch on grass is a slow growing fungus that doesn’t cause much harm. The problem could also be pink snow mold in grass, but this only appears after snow melts....

Pitahaya Information Dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus), also known as pitahaya, is native to Central and South America and needs year-round heat. It can tolerate a brief frost and will recover quickly from any freeze damage, but prolonged exposure to below-freezing temperatures will kill it. It can tolerate heat up to 104 degrees F. (40 C.). Although it is a cactus, it requires a relatively high amount of water. Dragon fruit trees are vining and need something to climb....