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Cold Climate Citrus Trees Citrons, lemons, and limes are the least cold hardy of the citrus trees and are killed or damaged when temps are in the high 20s. Sweet oranges and grapefruit are slightly more tolerant and can withstand temperatures in the mid 20’s before succumbing. Citrus trees that are cold tolerant down into the low 20s, such as tangerines and mandarins, are the most optimistic choice for planting cold climate citrus trees....

Partridge Flower Info Interestingly, partridge feather ground cover (Tanacetum densum) was introduced to the U.S. from Southeastern Turkey in the 1950s but for some reason no one thought to name the plant “turkey feather.” Regardless, the use of the term “feather” is definitely apt. The leaves of the partridge plant look very much like fuzzy, silvery feathers. An evergreen, the plant might, and more appropriately, be referred to as a low-growing shrub, albeit a very short one....

What is Cherry Rugose Mosaic Virus? Cherries with rugose mosaic virus are infected by strains of Prunus necrotic ringspot virus. Pollen and seeds of the cherry tree carry the virus and spread it from one tree to another throughout an orchard or home garden. Grafting with a diseased tree can also spread the virus. Thrips that feed on the trees may carry the virus from tree to tree, but that has not been confirmed....

Chocolate Cosmos Info Chocolate cosmos flowers (Cosmos atrosanguineus) are dark reddish brown, almost black, and have a chocolate scent. They are relatively easy to grow, make wonderful cut flowers and attract butterflies. Chocolate cosmos plants are often grown in containers and borders so their color and scent can be fully enjoyed. Chocolate cosmos plants, which are native to Mexico, can be grown outside as a perennial in hardiness zones 7 and above....

Growing Succulents in Zone 9 Succulents are adaptable charmers with quirky appeal and ease of care. Growing succulents in zone 9 is an excellent way to capture a desert feel in your own landscape. Zone 9 succulents might be dainty little sedum all the way up to giant aggressive looking agave. There are so many forms and colors from which to choose you may want one of each! Most succulents like a full sun environment but many can thrive in partial sun locations....

Vertical color shows provide zing to the landscape and clematis is one of the best plants to grow for such displays. Summer-flowering clematis varieties may bloom only in June and July, or they may last until fall. The types of clematis that bloom in summer are divided into vining and non-vining types. Each has a unique growth habit, yet still the stunning colorful blooms. If you are tired of your spring bloomers peeking out by spring’s end and want clematis flowers for summer, try some of the following species....

Oleander Seed Propagation After oleander has bloomed, it produces seed pods (collecting oleander seeds is easy, but the plant is toxic and can irritate your skin if you touch it. Make sure to wear gloves when collecting oleander seeds or handling your plant in any way). As time goes on, these seeds should dry and split open naturally, revealing a bunch of fluffy, feathery things. Attached to these feathers are little brown seeds, which you can separate by rubbing against a piece of screen or simply by picking them out by hand....

Growing Requirements for Common Cucumber Types Whether growing slicing or pickling cucumber varieties, both types of cucumber plants have the same requirements. Cucumbers thrive in fertile, well-draining soil in full sun exposure. These warm-season veggies should be planted after all danger of frost has passed in your area and the soil temps are at least 60-70 degrees F. (15-21 C.). Seeds are usually planted in hills with 4-5 planted at a depth of one inch (2....

No place is free of insect pests, and that includes the American Northeast. The bugs of New England span a variety of attacking behaviors. The home garden will be visited by many annoying insects, but the greater wild regions are also prey to bugs like borers. Recognize the local flying and crawling creatures and know what steps to take to reduce their potential damage. Insect Pests in the Vegetable Garden Gardeners who plant food are aware of the need to protect their vegetables from insects....

Identification of Common Teasel Common teasel is a tall plant that can reach heights of up to 7 feet (2 m.) at maturity. The plant develops a prickly, ground-hugging basal rosette the first year. Spiny, green, egg-shaped flower heads appear atop long stems the second year, eventually morphing into tight cylinders of tiny lavender blooms. Teasel blooms are distinctive for the four or five needle-like bracts that grow from the base of the flower head and curve up and around the flower head....

Parsley Companion Planting Companion planting is the age-old trick of knowing which plants grow better next to other plants. Some plants encourage certain others to grow, while others inhibit them. Plants that are mutually beneficial are called companions. Parsley is a great companion crop, encouraging the growth of plenty of plants around it. Of all the vegetables, asparagus benefits the most from having parsley nearby. Other plants that grow well with parsley include:...

Barley Plant Nematodes If you love to eat barley, you are not alone. It’s a popular grain for humans, but also for nematodes. There are not two, not three, but dozens of varieties of nematodes that affect barley, termed barley plant nematodes. Each one of these nematodes has its own characteristics, but all operate in more or less the same way as other parasitic nematodes. They are very tiny organisms that live in the soil....

How to Add Interest with Garden Features From simple paths to complex structures, there’s a feature to fit any style or budget. Let’s take a look at some popular landscaping features for the garden. Paths Boundaries must be marked and paths need to be laid. Most likely, the garden has at least one path. Paths typically serve a practical purpose in the garden, however, they can also become prominent landscaping features used to enhance the overall design....

Reasons for Pruning Ash Trees Ash trees are handsome deciduous trees, native to North America. They offer attractive, rounded crowns in the growing season and beautiful autumn colors. The wood is hard but agile, and most baseball bats are made of ash. Ash trees have an opposite branching structure. The opposing branch growth usually requires pruning to keep the tree balanced. In addition, the tree can be attacked by diseases and pests that can be controlled by pruning....

When to Prune Bleeding Hearts Bleeding heart plants are perennials. While their foliage dies back with the frost, their rhizomatous roots survive through the winter and put up new growth in the spring. It is because of this yearly dieback, pruning a bleeding heart to keep it in check or to form a particular shape is not necessary. However, the plants will die back naturally each year before the frost, and it’s important to cut back the dying foliage at the right time to keep the plant as healthy as possible....

Deadon Cabbage Variety The Deadon cabbage variety is really more of a partial savoy. It is similar to the cultivar known as January King, with leaves that are not as crinkly as a savoy but not as smooth as a ball head variety. Like savoy types, Deadon leaves are tender and more delicate than they appear. They are easier to eat raw than the smooth, thick leaves of a ball head cabbage and have a lovely sweet flavor....

Mini succulent gardens are a fun, easy, and low maintenance way of developing a fairy garden. A fairy garden with succulents is also an innovative and creative way to introduce plants and their care to children or beginner gardeners. Succulent Fairy Garden Ideas Remember reading a favorite story book as a child and the magical feeling that swirled around you as you imagined strange new worlds and fantastic beings? You can get a smaller version of that sentiment by using inspired succulent fairy garden ideas....

Keep reading for information on propagating a dieffenbachia plant. Dieffenbachia Propagation Dieffenbachia is also known as the dumb cane because the stems and leaves contain a chemical that will sting and burn the mouth for weeks if it comes in contact with the tender flesh. It can also cause loss of speech and the sap or juice from the stems can irritate the skin. Always wear rubber gloves and consider using eye protection every time you work with your dieffenbachia, especially when rooting a dieffenbachia clipping....

The natural materials for a wreath made of acorns and pinecones can be easily and freely foraged, everything else needed is inexpensive. Read on to learn how to make a pinecone and acorn wreath, along with other natural wreath ideas. Items for Wreath Made of Acorns and Pinecones The first things needed to make an acorn and pinecone wreath are, of course, acorns and pinecones. The best way to get them is go foraging in the woods or, in some cases, your own backyard....

Do I Prune a Pindo Palm? Do pindo palms need to be pruned? If you are lucky enough to have a pindo palm growing in your garden, you might be tempted to cut it back. As the palm grows, it does have a tendency to get a little ragged looking. Each year the tree will produce eight new leaves. The leaves actually consist of a 4-foot (1 m.) long stem that’s covered in spines and 10-inch (25....