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Cucumber Beetle Identification Cucumber beetles actually come in two varieties. While the two varieties look different, their damage is the same. The striped cucumber beetle is either yellowish-green or orangeish-green with three black stripes down its back. The spotted cucumber beetle is also either yellowish-green or orangeish-green with 12 black spots on its back. Both pests are about 1/4 inch (0.5 cm.) long. Cucumber Beetle Damage Image by carol2chat Cucumber beetles will eat the leaves, flowers, and fruit of bean, cucumber, melon, asparagus, corn, eggplant, and squash plants and their larva will chew on the roots of these plants....

Ponytail palms are inexpensive, fun little houseplants with slow growth and minimal care needs. Place the little plant in full sun and water sparingly and normally it will continue its tortoise-paced growth and give you no trouble. About the only problem with these plants is overwatering. Can You Trim Ponytail Palm? Let’s be clear on the difference between trimming and pruning. Trimming may be done with shears and generally refers to the removal of the tips of leaves....

Creating a glorious display isn’t as difficult as you might imagine, but there are several kinds of flower beds to consider. Read on for information on various flower bed styles. Different Types of Flower Beds: Borders and Islands Borders are flowerbeds sited against a backdrop such as a house, fence, hedge, or walkway. This type of flowerbed is viewed primarily from one side. Typically, flower bed designs for borders include tall plants at the back and mid-sized plants in front of the taller plants....

Different Types of Hostas Different varieties of hosta can be split into some basic categories. Some are bred not just for their foliage and shade tolerance, but also for their fragrance. Hostas produce stalks of delicate, trumpet-shaped flowers in shades of white and purple, and certain varieties of hosta are known especially for their scent. Types of hosta noted for their excellent, fragrant blossoms include: “Sugar and Spice” “Cathedral Windows” Hosta plantaginea...

DIY Cold Frames from Windows First, measure your windows for cold frames. Cut boards for the sides, allowing the window to overlap the frame by ½ inch (1 cm.). Each board should be 18 inches (46 cm.) wide. Join the wooden pieces, using steel angles and ¼ inch (6 mm.) hex bolts, with washers between the wood and the bolts. Use wood screws to attach metal hinges to the underside of the window frame....

There are so many untruths in this old wives tale, that it is hard to know where to start disproving them. Squash and Cucumber Are Not Related Let’s start with the whole basis of this idea that squash plants and cucumber plants can cross pollinate. This is absolutely, without a doubt, undeniably not true. Squash and cucumbers can’t cross pollinate. This is because the genetic structure of the two plants is so different; there is no chance, short of laboratory intervention, that they can interbreed....

If you are a cabbage lover, try growing Copenhagen Market cabbage plants. Copenhagen Market Early Facts This early producer is an heirloom vegetable that produces large, round heads. The blue-green leaves are rich in nutrients and are delicious raw or cooked. Copenhagen Market cabbage plants must be timed to mature before summer heat amps up or the heads are prone to cracking. This cabbage has the word “market” in its name because it is a vigorous producer and has visual appeal, making it valuable for commercial growers....

Emergent water plants grow at the edges of bodies of water, and usually show off attractive leaves or fronds. They’re not known as flowering plants, but when they do produce flowers they’re usually spectacular. You can use emergent plants for ponds you build in the backyard; they’ll add an attractive natural touch to your landscaping design. About Emergent Water Plants What are emergent plants? These plants grow in ponds and other bodies of water....

What is an English Hawthorn? English hawthorn, or Crataegus laevigata, is a small to medium-sized tree native to Europe and North Africa. It typically grows to reach 15 to 25 feet (5-8 m.), with a similar spread. The tree has lobed, green leaves and attractive bark similar to that of an apple tree. The branches of most varieties are thorny. English hawthorn is adapted to USDA zones 4b to 8. English hawthorns are commonly used as street trees and in urban landscapes, since they are tolerant of poor air and soil conditions and can be grown successfully even where the roots will be confined to relatively small spaces....

Euscaphis Information Botanist J. C. Raulston came across the Korean sweetheart tree in 1985 on the Korean Peninsula while participating in a U.S. National Arboretum collection expedition. He was impressed with the attractive seed pods and brought some back to the North Carolina State Arboretum for assessment and evaluation. The Euscaphis is a small tree or tall bush with an open branch structure. It usually grows to between 10 and 20 feet (3-6 m....

Buying Plants Online When looking for the best place to order plants online, first, start by reading all the information on the nursery’s website. Many online nurseries will show pictures of lush, established plants but then state in the fine print that they ship only bare root or young cuttings of these plants. Read about their shipping methods – are plants individually packaged and protected? Are cuttings shipped in soil? These are important things to know before buying plants online....

Bradford Pear Tree Information While growing a Bradford pear tree may be appropriate in some situations, one should be aware of the shortcomings of flowering Bradford pears. As with most rapidly growing trees, do not expect a sturdy, long term specimen for shade and ornamental effect. Learning the inherent defects in growing a Bradford pear tree may lead you to choosing another specimen. Weak, heavy branching in the canopy of flowering Bradford pears makes it susceptible to breakage in winds, ice storms, and heavy rains....

Keep reading for some fragrant desert flower ideas to perfume your garden. Choosing Fragrant Plants in Dry Climates When you think of sweet-smelling flowers, often the tropical beauties come to mind. However, the desert is an altogether different environment. The extreme heat and cold, blazing sun, and lack of water mean plants have to be very tough. Cactus is a perfect example, and while many do get flowers, few actually smell nice....

It was as if an artist had painted the intricate landscape, readjusting and fine-tuning the painting every step of the way. To my good fortune, there was a rustic wooden garden bench a few feet from me so that I could sit down and take notes. Here’s what I discovered about creating eye-catching flower borders. Elements of a Flower Garden Border Natural products can make the very best borders. The path under my feet was composed of small river stones of various subtle shades of blue, grey, and red while the border between the path and the flower bed was constructed of large, almost white, driftwood logs....

How to Garden in a Drought One of the main needs of plants is water. This need can be hard to satisfy when gardening in drought conditions. When water is scarce, plants experience stress, increased pest activity, and can fail to thrive. This is why planting drought-resistant plants and using proven water management techniques are important to the modern landscaper. The no-nonsense approach encompasses cultural and selection factors to minimize plant stress and still create a beautiful landscape....

So what wasteless vegetables can be used in their entirety? Read on to learn more. What is Stem to Root Gardening? Those who compost are utilizing the remnants of plants to nourish next year’s crop, but if you really want to maximize your yield, think twice before lopping off those turnip or beet tops and tossing them into the compost pile. Turnips and beets are just some of the virtually wasteless vegetables available....

Speedy growth and constant grooming are other reasons for getting rid of oleander plants but the chore isn’t for the faint of heart. Read on for some tips on how to get rid of oleanders with success. Oleander Root System While many of us may know oleander as an attractive ornamental bush, there are a few of us that curse the day we started growing the vigorous plants. Oleander can take over an area, and their poisonous nature makes them dangerous with young children and pets around the home environment....

How Much Water Do Grapes Need? As with any other planting, watering grapes and maintaining adequate moisture levels will directly impact plant health. Grapevine irrigation can vary depending upon the conditions in each growing zone. However, there are some key aspects on which to focus. When choosing how and when to water grapevines, it will be important to maintain balance. Ideally, the soil should remain adequately moist throughout the entire growing season....

Growing Snow on the Mountain Ground Cover Snow on the mountain plant is hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 9. Growing Aegopodium is easy in the right location. It tolerates almost any soil as long as it is well-drained, and needs full or partial shade. Shade is particularly important in areas with hot summers. In locations with mild summer temperatures, snow on the mountain ground cover won’t mind some morning sun....

Keep reading to learn about growing small, fruit-bearing shrubs and dwarf fruit bush care. About Small Fruit Bearing Shrubs The newer miniature fruit bushes are available not only as blueberries but – surprise – as blackberries and raspberries as well. Another great thing about blackberry or raspberry mini fruiting bushes is that they have an actual bush habit that is thornless! No more scratched arms and hands. And because they have a mounding habit, these mini fruiting bushes are perfect for patios or other small spaces grown as potted plants....