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What is Olive Knot? Olive knot (Olea europaea) is a disease caused by the pathogen Pseudomonas savastanoi. This pathogen is known as an epiphyte. ‘Epi’ is from the Greek meaning ‘upon,’ while ‘phyte’ means ‘upon the plant.’ Thus, this pathogen thrives on the rough bark of the twigs rather than the olive’s leaves. As the name suggests, olive knot presents itself as galls or “knots” at infection sites, usually but not always, at leaf nodes....

What is an Ornamental Tree? Ornamental trees are grown for their aesthetic value and the sheer enjoyment of having them in the garden. They may have outstanding flowers and fragrance, an interesting shape, colorful or unusual bark, excellent fall color, or a combination of these and other features. Most gardens have room for at least one small ornamental tree, and some can accommodate two or three. They add framework and structure to the garden and provide at least a little shade....

Can Ginger Grow Outside? Common ginger (Zingiber officinale) is hardy in zones 9-12, but a few other varieties of ginger are hardy down to zone 7. While common ginger needs about 8-10 months of active growth to reach maturity, the roots can be harvested at any time. Because the cool, damp winters of zones 7-8 can rot ginger rhizomes, plants are usually harvested in these locations in the fall. In zones 9-12, ginger plants can be harvested all throughout the year....

Droopy, Leggy, Overgrown Parsley If you have a drooping parsley plant or parsley plants falling over every which way, it may be too late, especially if the plant has blossomed and gone to seed. Don’t despair. Parsley grows rapidly from seed or you can get some inexpensive starts from the local nursery. Moving forward, however, you will want to learn how to trim parsley (and use it!) to avoid drooping and falling over parsley plants....

How to Winter Peppers Indoors A note — if you plan on overwintering pepper plants, realize that doing this will keep the plant alive, but it will not produce fruit. In order to produce fruit, peppers need a certain temperature and amount of light that the average house in the winter cannot provide. If you want to grow peppers for fruit in the winter, you will need to do so in a greenhouse with supplemental light....

How to Stake Peas How to stake peas will be determined by the variety of pea you plant and how tall it gets. Some peas climb to just 3 feet (90 cm.), while others reach over 6 feet (1.8 m.). Knowing the height your peas will reach helps when it comes to deciding the best way to support pea plants. Pea Plant Support Options The cheapest and often the best way to support pea plants is by using materials you already have....

In this part of the South— Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi— many pests feed on leaves, fruit, and stems. The Asian citrus psyllid, though tiny and unassuming, threatens every state that grows citrus, not for its feeding damage, but because it can carry and transmit a bacterium that causes the deadly disease known as citrus greening. Garden experts say to examine your plants at least twice a week. Closely inspect the top and underside of the leaves, as many of the culprits reside there....

Pests of Petunias There are a number of pests of petunias that can affect these plants. Here are the most common: Mites: Mites are nearly microscopic pests that suck the juices directly out of petunia cells. These cousins to the spider may cause leaves to curl, cup, or flowers to discolor and stiffen. Spider mites also leave thin webs behind where they feed. Spray your petunias with neem oil once a week until all signs of mites are gone....

Pink Citrus Rust Mite Pests There are two types of rust mites that cause fruit loss in citrus trees, the citrus rust mite and the pink citrus rust mite. Both types suck juices from citrus fruit and citrus foliage, causing blemishes on the peel and subsequent fruit drop. Pink citrus rust mite pests would be easy to recognize if they were larger. But they are .005 inches (15 mm.) long and very difficult to view with the naked eye....

Those tiny black or red specks are a sucking insect that can do a lot of damage to the health of trees, edibles, ornamentals, and even some herbs. There are many types of mites, each of which has preferred plant hosts. Learn the signs of plant mites and how to deal with them. Types of Mites Mites may be found on landscape, ornamental, or houseplants. These versatile little insects not only reduce plant vigor but can also transmit some dangerous viruses and diseases....

Tips for Planting Carnation Seeds Successful carnation flowers (Dianthus caryophyllus) begin with planting. Here are some guidelines to keep in mind when growing carnations in the garden. Pre-Planting Considerations Proper care of carnations begins before you even plant your seeds. Growing carnations will be much easier if you plant the seeds in an area that gets a minimum of four to five hours of sun each day. Use well-draining soil without using mulch, which could prevent good air circulation....

When Water is Scarce Though irrigation is an option in some places, the problem becomes much more serious in regions where strict water usage restrictions are enforced. Fortunately, all is not lost for those who frequently experience these less than ideal growing conditions. Specifically selecting plants which are able to tolerate scorching sun and dry soil can transform the appearance of the landscape. Learning more about full sun/dry soil plants will allow growers to craft spaces that are low maintenance, beautiful, and able to thrive during the stress of summer....

The question some indoor gardeners have is not so much what is a terrarium, but what plants will grow well in a terrarium. Once you have a little know how on plants for terrariums, you’ll soon be on your way to growing these old-age houseplant gardens with ease. What is a Terrarium? So what is a terrarium? Houseplant terrariums are sealed plant display units that are more modest than plant windows, but equally as beautiful when taken care of properly....

Clothing Material Made from Plants The most commonly used plants for making clothing comes from hemp, ramie, cotton, and flax. Hemp Plant fiber clothing made from hemp is tough and durable, but separating, spinning, and weaving the tough fibers into fabric is a major project. Hemp grows in nearly any climate, with the exception of extreme heat or cold. It is relatively drought tolerant and can usually withstand frost. Hemp is usually grown in large agricultural operations and may not be well-suited for a backyard garden....

What is Poison Hemlock? Thanks to the imagination of mystery and gothic novel writers, most of us have heard of poison hemlock. You may have seen it without realizing what it is because of its resemblance to cultivated plants and other weeds. Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) is a poisonous invasive weed that has caused many accidental deaths because of its resemblance to carrots, including the wild carrot (Queen Anne’s lace). The poisonous agents in the plant are volatile alkaloids found in every part of the plant....

Care of Christmas Plants Surprisingly, many holiday plants are tropical plants. This means that the care of these Christmas plants is more like caring for a houseplant than a plant meant for the cold and snow. All of the Christmas plant types listed below should be treated as tender plants and should not be left where cold drafts could blow on them. Christmas Plants and Flowers Poinsettia – Perhaps the most recognizable flower for Christmas is the poinsettia....

Potted Japanese Laurel Plants If you’re interested in growing Japanese aucuba in containers, then you’ll have to become familiar with the plant and its needs. Japanese laurel is a relatively slow-growing plant that eventually reaches heights of 6 to 10 feet (2-3 m.), although it can grow as tall as 15 feet (4.5 m.) when conditions are just right. If you’re concerned about the size, consider a dwarf plant, which generally tops out at about 3 feet (1 m....

Container plantings give dimension and texture to the outdoor living space, but they need some extra help to withstand cold temperatures. Potted plants winter care is important because there is not much buffer between the roots and the outdoor temperatures, making roots more sensitive to cold than those in the ground. Begin preparations well before that first freeze or you may lose one of your prized plants. Why Winter Care for Container Plants?...

Plants for Creating Shade Containers If you are trying to think of ideas for a shade container garden, this means that you will need shade plants for containers. A few annuals that are good ideas for a shade container garden are: Coleus Impatiens Begonias Caladiums Fuchsia Wishbone flower Some perennial shade plants for containers are: Bleeding heart Ferns Forget-me-not Hosta Hardy geraniums Ideas for Shade Container Garden When assembling your container garden for the shade, it is best to keep in mind a few standard tips for containers....

About Stem Rust of Oat Crops While these crops are generally easy to grow in most climates across the United States, there are some issues that must be considered when planning grains. Diseases, such as oat stem rust, can greatly reduce potential harvests. Knowing how to treat oat stem rust will be key to a successful oat harvest. In the past, stem rust in oats has been a major problem for commercial growers, which resulted in a high loss of yields....