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What is Cytospora Canker? You may not have heard of cytospora canker until after a tree in your backyard is infected. If you notice that the lower limbs on your tree are dying, the tree might have cytospora canker disease. It attacks older trees, stressed trees and those with shallow roots or planted in inappropriate sites. One of the first symptoms of cytospora canker disease on spruce is the browning of needles on the tree’s lower limbs....

Which Magnolias are Deciduous? There are both evergreen and deciduous magnolia trees. In the large group of magnolias, deciduous trees are noted for their frost hardiness and attractive form. Some of the different varieties of magnolia are even known to flower in late winter and continue until the end of summer. These may have huge saucer or star-shaped flowers in a variety of hues. If you are walking about your neighborhood and spy an especially appealing magnolia species, how can you know if it is one of the deciduous magnolia varieties?...

Watermelon Diplodia Rot Watermelon diplodia is a fungal disorder, spread by Lasiodiplodia theobromine fungi, that generally results in post-harvest crop loss of watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew. Symptoms appear from mid to late summer and can run rampant in humid semi-tropic to tropical locations, when temperatures steadily linger between 77 and 86 degrees F. (25-30 C.). At 50 degrees F. (10 C.) or below, fungal growth goes dormant. Symptoms of watermelons with stem end rot may first appear as discolored or wilted leaves....

How Do Stink Bugs Damage Tomatoes? The severity of leaf-footed bug damage to tomatoes depends on the size of the tomato when the insect attacks. When the bugs feed on tiny, new tomatoes, the tomato will likely never mature and develop. You may find that little tomatoes drop off the vine. When they feed on medium sized tomatoes, they cause scars and depressions in the fruit. When the insects feed on large, nearly mature fruit, they cause minimal damage, and the fruit is often good enough to eat, though you may notice discoloration....

When to Fertilize Dogwood Trees Dogwoods are native to Eurasia and North America in temperate to warm regions. The plants are part of a classic landscaping scheme of natural deciduous trees and shade to partial shade understory plants. The delicate flower-like bracts liven up the garden and lead up to a festive display of colorful berries. Fertilizing dogwood trees in spring will produce good tree health and vitality to ensure the best displays....

Depending on the cultivar, dracaena may reach heights of up to 10 feet (3 m.) or even more, which means that regular dracaena trimming will probably be necessary. The good news is that pruning dracaena plants isn’t difficult. These sturdy plants tolerate trims with little complaint, and you can cut back a dracaena to any height you like. How to Prune a Dracaena Pruning dracaena plants produces a full, healthy plant, as two or more new branches, each with its own cluster of leaves, will soon appear....

Keep reading to learn more about these easy to grow hydrangeas that are not only hardy but bloom reliably each and every year. Oakleaf Hydrangea One of the easiest hydrangea types to grow is the oakleaf hydrangea (H. quercifolia). The leaves are shaped much like leaves of an oak tree, hence its name. These medium to dark green leaves can grow up to 12 inches (30 cm.) wide with a dramatic color change in the fall to shades of red or burgundy....

What Parts of Cattail are Edible? Cattails are incredibly unique looking plants and, in fact, are actually grasses. There are dozens of species found growing in the Northern Hemisphere and Australia with the largest and most common being Typha latifolia. They can be found in some marshy areas in such proliferation it’s no wonder that ancient man discovered that the cattail plant is edible. Many parts of these tall, reedy plants can be ingested....

What Causes Eggplant Yellows? Tobacco ringspot virus is often called yellows when it infects eggplants. This is because the symptoms include yellowing of the leaves and eventually of the entire plant if the infection is severe. Although tobacco ringspot virus is named after tobacco, it can affect a lot of different plants that may grow in your vegetable garden, including: Tomatoes Potatoes Cucumbers Peppers Eggplant The virus is spread by dagger nematodes, but infected seeds and plant debris also contribute to the spread of the disease....

About Mexican Flame Flower Growing Mexican flame vines have attractive, dark green foliage that can climb a trellis or other support or cascade over a wall. Leaves are as large as 4 inches (10 cm.) in length and add a lush, tropical feel to the area in which they’re planted. When flowers appear, butterflies and hummingbirds will be regular visitors and may be enticed to remain if a water source is provided....

Honor mom and celebrate spring with pretty seasonal flowers and creative displays. Read on for some ideas to get you started. Flowers for Mother’s Day Tables What better way to show mom you care and are thinking of her than to use her favorite flowers? Plants for Mother’s Day centerpieces can be just about anything you want. Keep in mind what the woman of the hour likes best, though. Also, consider the time of year....

Planting a pollinator garden is one of the best ways to attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects into one’s yard. Fortunately, even the most inexperienced homeowners are able to easily plant and maintain a wide variety of nectar-rich plants. While it is common practice to grow flowers from seed or to add annuals to the landscape, the addition of flowering bulbs can take pollinator gardens to the next level....

This plant is indigenous to southern Brazil and also commonly found throughout the South and Central Americas. Shrub-like in appearance, the flowering maple houseplant also has blooms similar in shape to hibiscus flowers. The flowering maple is striking enough to make a lovely specimen plant in the garden or in a container and will bloom from June through October. As mentioned, the leaves of the houseplant resemble those of the maple and are either light green or often stippled with gold hues....

White Fountain Grass Foliage Fountain grasses are perennial plants that form dense clumps of airy foliage. The grasses are warm-season plants, which means that they go dormant in winter. Fountain grass problems are few and the plants are tolerant when established. They are hardy, low-maintenance plants for the savvy gardener. White fountain grass, or Pennisetum setaceum ‘Alba,’ is an attractive form with slender green foliage and delicate nodding white inflorescences. Contrary to the name, it should not have white or even silvery leaves, but the name instead refers to the flower hue....

About Early Transparent Gage Plums This plum variety comes from England and dates back to the 19th century. All gage plums date back to an even earlier period in France, where they are called Reine Claude plums. As compared to other types of plums, gages are very juicy, which makes them exceptional for fresh eating. Among the gage, Early Transparent is a variety with unique coloring. It is yellow to pale apricot with a blush of red that creeps over the fruits as they ripen....

How to Expand a Garden If you dream of growing more food for your table, or just developing an outdoor green space, you can make your garden bigger. Organizing the garden space and providing adequate water are two key items. Plan the garden so you have the plants you will want to grow. Build or purchase raised beds to consolidate plants and make watering easier. Cut back any existing plants and move any that have gotten too large for the space, if applicable....

Zone 1 Perennial Plants Even extreme northern gardens should have some perennials and annuals. Plants for extreme cold are rare, but the first choices to look at are the native specimens. If it can survive in your region in the wild, it should do pretty well in your garden. However, you aren’t limited to native choices, especially if you don’t mind annual plants. Many of these are hardy enough to survive the warmer season in the region and then simply die back when the really cold temperatures arrive....

What is Seed Tape? Most commonly, seed tape is a very thin piece of paper in which seeds have been adhered. Generally, each seed will be applied at a proper spacing and planting distance. This makes it very easy for gardeners to grow certain types of crops, specifically those which have very small and difficult to handle seeds. The use of seed tape allows for quick and efficient planting in the home garden....

Garden Tasks for the Southeast Get prepared for Southeast November planting by selecting the right site for your landscape additions. If you think November is too late to plant deciduous trees and shrubs in your area, you may be right, depending upon the temperature of your soil. If the soil is consistently 50°F (10° C) or above, you may plant. When planting evergreen trees, the soil should be 60° F (15....

Gasteria Information Gasteria succulent plants are often small and compact, just the right size for container growth. Some are excellent additions to the xeric garden. Textured leaves on these plants vary, but most are rough to the touch. They are flattened, stiff, and thick on many species and lead to common names, such as lawyer’s tongue, ox tongue, and cow tongue. Many varieties have warts; some are black while some are pastel colors....