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Best Fertilizer for Rhododendrons If you have planted your shrubs in fertile soil, fertilizing rhododendrons is not a necessity. However, those rhododendrons growing in poor soil need feeding. Likewise, plants grown with mulch that depletes nitrogen in the soil, such as fresh wood chips, will probably do better with a regular rhododendron fertilizer schedule. If your shrubs require feeding, you not only need to know when and how to fertilize rhododendron bushes, but you’ll want to use the best fertilizer for rhododendrons....

Lemongrass Propagation in Water Propagating a lemongrass plant is as easy as placing the stalks in a glass of water and hoping for the best. Lemongrass can be found in most Asian grocery stores as well as some larger supermarkets. When buying lemongrass for propagation, pick stalks that have as much of the bottom bulb still intact. There’s a chance there may be some roots still attached – and this is even better....

How to Grow Roses from Cuttings The best time to take rose cuttings and rooting roses is in the cooler months, perhaps starting in September, as the success rate is higher for home gardeners at this time. The rose cuttings that one is going to try to root are best taken from the stems of the rose bush that have just flowered and are about to be deadheaded. The rose cutting should be 6 to 8 inches (15-20....

Symptoms of Rose Rust Disease Rose rust most commonly appears in spring and fall but can appear in the summer months as well. Rose rust fungus appears as small, orange or rust colored spots on the leaves and will grow to bigger markings as the infection advances. The spots on the canes of the rose bush are orange or rust colored but become black in the fall and winter. Rose leaves that are badly infected will fall from the bush....

About Plumeria Rust Fungus Plumeria rust fungus is specific to plumeria plants. It is caused by the fungus Coleosporium plumeriae. Plumeria rust affects the foliage of the plant but not the stems or flowers. Its spores are airborne or spread from plant to plant from the backsplash of rain or watering. When the spores make contact with moist leaves, they stick to them, then begin to grow and produce more spores....

The tiny, deep pink flowers appear in late summer and last well into fall. The dry flowers are nice to look throughout the winter, especially when coated with a layer of frost. Meteor sedum plants look great in containers, beds, borders, mass plantings, or rock gardens. Interested in learning how to grow Meteor stonecrop? Read on for helpful tips! Growing Meteor Sedums Like other sedum plants, Meteor sedums are easy to propagate by taking stem cuttings in early summer....

About Sedum Plants The Sedum family encompasses plants that trail, spread like ground cover, tower 2 or more feet (0.6+ m.), and those that just barely graze your ankles. The variety of the group allows the home gardener an opportunity to bring these relatively hardy succulents into their landscape. The thick leaves are coated with a waxy substance to help conserve water, making these plants tolerant of low moisture conditions. Sedum plants come back in spring and begin as ground hugging rosettes....

Why Do Pecan Trees Drip Sap? If your pecan tree has sap dripping from it, it probably isn’t really sap— although in a roundabout way it is. A seeping pecan tree is more than likely afflicted with pecan tree aphids. The seeping from the pecan trees is simply honeydew, a sweet, charming nomenclature for aphid poop. Yes, folks; if your pecan tree has sap dripping from it, it’s probably the digestive remnants from either the black margined or yellow pecan tree aphid....

Low Growing Palm Trees Small palm trees that grow up from a single trunk are excellent for front yard garden beds because they have such small root balls. You can plant small palm trees close to your house and avoid the damage to your foundation another tree’s roots might cause, while adding an interesting extra level of height to your landscape. So what are some short height palm trees? The following palms all reach heights under 12 feet (3....

Are Soldier Beetles Good or Bad? Soldier beetles are your allies in the fight against harmful insects. They eat soft-bodied insects, such as caterpillars and aphids, while doing no harm to garden plants. They may take a sip of nectar or nibble at pollen, but they never chew leaves, flowers, or fruit. In fact, they help pollinate garden flowers as they travel from plant to plant. While the beetles attack insects above the ground, their larva consumes the eggs and larva of garden pests below the ground....

Southwest Region Perennial Flowers In general, southwestern perennials, especially perennials in the desert, must be tough enough to withstand dry conditions, intense sunlight, and in some cases, extreme heat. Many of the best perennials for the southwest are native to the area, which is always a plus. Here are some popular plants to try in your southwestern garden: Black-eyed Susan: Black-eyed Susan produces bright orange-yellow blooms all summer. There are perennial varieties available....

Causes of Leggy Geranium Plants Most leggy growth on geraniums is the result of irregular pruning maintenance. Geraniums are naturally leggy, woody plants in the wild, but in our homes, we like them to be compact and bushy. In order to keep a geranium compact and bushy and prevent it from getting leggy, it needs to be pruned hard at least once a year. The more regularly you prune your geranium, the better able a geranium is able to keep a pleasing shape....

What are Spotted Lanternfly Bugs? While the adults look like a rather pretty moth, Spotted Lanternflies are not moths or flies, but are insects in the order Hemiptera, which includes cicadas and hoppers. Spotted Lanternfly bugs are easily identifiable. Black juveniles with white spotting hatch in the spring. As they mature, these nymphs become red and black with white polka dots. In late July-August, the nymhs mature into adults. Adults are rather pretty with black heads, grey/black forewings and reddish black spotted rear wings....

How to Start Herb Seeds Before planting herb seeds, consider where you want to grow your herbs. A backyard garden located close to the kitchen is extremely convenient during meal preparation, but herbs can also be grown in a container inside or outside the home. Most types of herbs are also well suited for cultivation in hydroponic jars. Starting herbs from seeds is similar to sowing other types of garden vegetables....

Symptoms of Strawberry Cercospora Leaf Spot We all look forward to those first chubby, ripe, red strawberries. The resulting strawberry shortcake and strawberry topped ice cream are just some of the joys. Leaf spot on strawberry can threaten the amount of fruit the plants produce, so it is important to know the initial signs of the disease and how to control cercospora, the fungus that causes the ailment. The initial signs are small, round to irregular purple spots on the leaves....

Creating a Living Succulent Wall A wall that appears to be only plant material is enjoying success in many commercial landscapes and even indoors. Succulent wall displays in or around businesses are usually maintained through hydroponics (water growth) and often too pricey and complicated for the home gardener. However, there are plans for succulent wall planters growing in traditional soil situations that are simple and affordable. Sometimes a handmade shelf with several levels is built from wood....

Tea Plant Pruning The leaves of tea plants (Camellia sinensis) are used to make green, oolong, and black teas. The processing of the young shoots involves withering, oxidation, heat processing, and drying. Tea is usually grown in tropical or subtropical areas. Plant your tea shrubs in a warm site that gets full sun for best growth. You’ll need to plant them in well-drained, acidic, or pH neutral soil some distance from trees and structures....

What are Tepary Beans? Wild tepary beans are vining plants that can reach up to 10 feet (3 m.) in length, allowing them to clamber up desert shrubs. They mature rapidly and are one of the most drought and heat tolerant crops in the world. In fact, tepary bean plants (Phaseolus acutifolius) have now been planted in Africa to feed people there. The trifoliate leaves are similar in size to those of lima beans....

About Thai Basil Plants Thai basil (Ocimum basilicum var. thyrsiflora) is a member of the mint family and as such has a particular sweet flavor reminiscent of anise, licorice, and clove. Popular among the cuisines of Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, growing Thai basil has a pleasing aroma similar to sweet basil and is generally used fresh in recipes. Also referred to as ‘Sweet Thai,’ Thai basil plants grow to a height of between 12 to 18 inches (30....

Wouldn’t such a welcome experience be a wonderful way to honor someone you know and care for every month of the year? Right now is the season when we’re pondering the most thoughtful and pleasing gifts for the people we love, and there’s nothing more appreciated than a monthly delivery of brilliant fresh flowers. The vibrant colors are almost surreal, the cool greens slightly moist and fragrant. Sustainably Grown Flowers with a conscience: Expertly curated floral subscriptions and gifts that are sustainably grown and ethically harvested from farms around the world....