How will we apply that water to our lawns and gardens? Watering cans are obsolete. Watering with a hose by hand is time consuming and sometimes hard on the back if you must drag the hose. Sprinkler hoses are good for root systems but have to be replaced and don’t allow much control of the water applied. Enter the smart sprinkler systems…. Smart Water Sprinkler Info Sprinkler systems for the lawn and garden are often controlled improperly or totally forgotten....

What is a Tree Guild? A useful way to look at landscaping is holistically. Taking the entire concept into consideration and opting for plants that complement each other helps minimize upkeep and builds a strong scaffold for each species to thrive. Fruit tree guild design is one way to optimize a planting space and create a more diverse producing food garden. Knowing how to plant a tree guild provides practical permaculture that withstands stress and enhances each plant’s health....

What is Apple Cotton Root Rot? What is apple cotton root rot? It’s a hot-weather fungal disease. Apple cotton root rot symptoms usually appear from late June through September with the high summer temperatures. Cotton root rot of apples is caused by a fungus that can attack some 2,000 species of plants, including apple, pear trees, and other fruit, as well as nut and shade trees. The disease is also called phymatotrichum root rot, Texas root rot, and ozonium root rot....

What Causes Baldhead of Beans? Baldhead bean “disease,” also known as “snake head,” is the result of physical damage or cracking that happens when the seeds are handled while harvesting, cleaning, or planting. Bean seeds with low moisture content are more susceptible to mechanical injury. Dry soil is also a contributing factor, and damage occurs when seeds attempt to germinate and push through cracked, dry soil. Symptoms of Baldhead Bean Disease Although seeds may germinate, seedlings with baldhead bean disease typically show damage at the point of growth....

Elm Yellows Disease in Plants The hosts of elm yellows phytoplasma in the United States are limited to elm trees (Ulmus spp.) and the insects that transport the bacteria. White-banded elm leafhoppers transport the disease, but other insects that feed on the inner elm bark – called phloem – may also play a similar role. Native elms in this country have not developed a resistance to the elm yellows phytoplasma. It threatens elm species in the eastern half of the United States, often killing trees within two years after the initial symptoms appear....

What is Lacy Phacelia? The lacy phacelia flower is a 1 to 3 foot (0.5-1 m.), leggy wildflower with a bloom that looks similar to a thistle. It is a heavy nectar producer. An attractive addition to the ornamental bed, you might want to plant some of the purple tansy wildflowers to attract pollinators. In fact, you might want to plant several. Lacy Phacelia Info Lacy phacelia info says the plant is well-known for its ability to attract bees and butterflies to an area....

What is Ravenna Grass? If you want hardy elegance, combined with towering magnificence, try ravenna grass. It is a massive specimen grass that makes a perfect screen or simply a focal point in the landscape. Is ravenna grass invasive? Be aware that it is a Class A noxious weed in Washington and some other states. It is best to check with your local extension before growing ravenna grass. Ravenna grass has year-round appeal....

What Pests Do Cosmos Get? Plant pests abound in spring and summer. Those that eat plant parts and suck sap can cause stunting, disfiguring, and loss of vigor in our beautiful landscape plants. Bugs that eat cosmos flowers can do successive damage to plants over time. These tiny marauders are often difficult to spot, but their feeding activities bring obvious results. Identifying the insects on cosmos can help control the pests and restore your plant to health....

Though these plants are generally trouble-free, there are some issues which may cause plant vigor to suffer when growing mountain laurel. What’s wrong with my mountain laurel, you ask? Find out about common problems with mountain laurels here and how to fix them. About Mountain Laurel Problems Issues with mountain laurel plants may occur for a wide variety of reasons. Whether injury has been caused due to weather, fungal infections, or bacterial issues, it is important to be able to quickly identify the problem and determine the best course of treatment for plants....

About ZZ Plants ZZ plants are popular for their unique upright, zigzagged foliage. Its Latin name Zamioculcas zamifolia is in reference to its visual similarity to cycads, Zamia spp. Its common name is an abbreviation of the Latin. Although ZZ plants look much like cycads, they are actually related to elephant ears, anthurium, and philodendron, which are aroids. Like these other aroids, ZZ plants use their rhizomes to store water which helps the specimen survive desert-like conditions in its native Eastern Africa....

How to Gather Vinca Seeds When collecting vinca seeds, look for long, narrow, green seedpods hidden on the stems beneath blooming flowers. Snip or pinch the pods when the petals drop from the blooms and the pods are turning from yellow to brown. Watch the plant carefully. If you wait too long, the pods will split, and you’ll lose the seeds. Drop the pods into a paper sack and place them in a warm, dry spot....

Daphne Plant Blooms The genus Daphne was named for the nymph who, in a Roman myth, refused the god Apollo’s love and was turned into a shrub. The genus numbers some 100 species, including both evergreen and deciduous varieties. Daphne plant blooms are among the loveliest of flowers, and most Daphne plants are grown for their exquisitely fragrant blossoms. However, some varieties of Daphne also offer small berries and attractive foliage....

Planting Vegetables in a Wildlife Garden There is an old concept about taking some harvest for yourself but leaving at least half for the wildlife. Along those lines, you can create a wildlife garden and veggie plot. Your vegetable and wildlife garden can coexist, without sacrificing your harvest while providing for nature’s fauna. Applying some simple rules can see both goals coexisting in a safe and productive manner. If you are like me, you always plant more than your family can eat....

Winterizing Astilbe Plants Astilbe plants like to be kept moist, so it’s important to keep watering yours until the ground freezes. After the first hard frost, put down about two inches (5 cm.) of mulch around the stem. This will help regulate the temperature of the soil and keep the roots moist throughout the winter. Be careful not to put the mulch down until the frost, though. While the roots like to be moist, mulch in warmer weather can trap too much water and cause the roots to rot....

Marigold Leaf Problems Yellow leaves on marigolds can be attributed to many things. Powdery Mildew – The most familiar symptom of a powdery mildew infection is powder. Powdery white blotches form on the leaves and stems of a plant. This may not seem relevant to your marigolds with yellow leaves. However, when leaves are severely infected, they can twist or turn yellow due to this infection. What to do when you have powdery mildew as one of your marigold leaf problems?...

Growing Rock Gardens in Zone 5 When you think rock garden, alpine plants seem to come to mind. This is because the natural rocky outcrops in mountains and hillsides sport native plants that hug the rocks and soften their rugged rigidity. Alpine plants are also highly adaptable to a wide range of conditions and provide maximum performance with minimum output. However, there are many perennial rock garden plants for zone 5 with similar appeal and ease of care....

Choosing Cold Hardy Vines for Zone 5 Zone 5 is on the cool side of the hardiness charts. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, winter temperatures in plant hardiness zone 5 regions dip to -20 degrees Fahrenheit (-29 C.). That means that zone 5 vine varieties must be quite cold hardy to survive. Choosing vines for zone 5 is a process of sifting through the zone 5 vines available and finding plants that please you....

Hibiscus Plant Varieties The name hibiscus actually covers a wide range of plant types, including both perennials and annuals, shrubs, and tropical flowering plants. Hibiscus is most often chosen by gardeners for the pretty blossoms they produce, but they are also used because certain varieties grow quickly and provide hardy greenery. Zone 7 hibiscus options generally include the hardy outdoor perennial varieties, not the annuals. Hibiscus Plants for Zone 7 If you live in zone 7, which covers parts of the Pacific Northwest and California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, northern Texas, Tennessee, Virginia, and the upper portion of North Carolina, you can grow hardy perennial varieties of hibiscus in the garden....

Zone 8 Shade Perennials When looking for zone 8 shade tolerant plants, you must first consider the type of shade your garden has. Some plants only require a little shade while others need more. Partial or Dappled Shade Perennials If you can provide shade for part of the day, or if you have a planting location in dappled shade under a deciduous tree, selecting shade-tolerant perennials for zone 8 is relatively easy....

Common Zoysia Grass Problems Although relatively free from most pests and diseases, zoysia grass isn’t without its faults. One of the most common zoysia grass problems is the buildup of thatch, which is caused from undecomposed organic matter. This buildup forms just above the soil line. While raking can sometimes alleviate the problem, regular mowing helps to prevent thatch from accumulating throughout the lawn. It also helps to limit the amount of fertilizer used on zoysia grass....