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Pruning Blackberries in Winter You can’t just forget about blackberry bushes in winter. They require care. You need to cut back your blackberries during the cold season. Pruning blackberries in winter is part of blackberry bush winter care. Before you begin snipping blackberry bushes in winter, you need to identify which canes on your plants are first year canes (primocanes). These are the canes that have not yet borne fruit. If you have erect canes (canes that stand up on their own), prune your canes in late winter....

What are yellow wax bells? These are unusual plants and rather unforgettable. If you’d like more information on these interesting ornamental plants, read on. We’ll also give tips on growing yellow wax bells. What are Yellow Wax Bells? The yellow wax bells plant is a unique beauty. Its dark green leaves resemble large maple leaves, deeply lobed and larger than your hand. The yellow wax bell flowers are small and pendulous, hanging in dainty yellow clusters....

Growing Trees in Zone 4 Young zone 4 tree selections may need a little extra protection to make it through the winter. It’s not uncommon for deer or rabbits to rub or chew on new saplings in fall and winter. Tree guards placed around the trunks of new trees can protect them from animal damage. Experts argue about using tree guards for frost protection. On one hand, it is said that tree guards can protect a tree from frost damage and cracking by keeping the sun from thawing and warming the trunk....

Can Olive Trees Grow in Zone 7? Zone 7 in the U.S. includes inland areas of the Pacific Northwest, colder regions of California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona, and covers a large swath from the middle of New Mexico through northern Texas and Arkansas, most of Tennessee and into Virginia, and even parts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. And yes, you can grow olive trees in this zone. You just have to know which cold hardy olive trees will thrive here....

Can You Grow Berries in Zone 8? While some berries are more suited to cooler climates, the plants are very widespread and as a rule very forgiving of broad temperature ranges. If you want to grow a berry, chances are good that there are at least some varieties that will work for you. Many berry plants are more than cold-hardy enough for zone 8 winters. The problem with zone 8 berries tends to be, in fact, a lack of cold....

Shade Plants for Zone 8 While there are numerous choices for evergreen plants that thrive in zone 8 shade gardens, below are some of the more commonly planted in the landscape. Conifer Trees and Shrubs False cypress ‘Snow’ (Chamaecyparis pisifera) – False cypress ‘Snow’ reaches 6 feet (2 m.) by 6 feet (2 m.) with gray green color and rounded form. Suitible for zones 4 through 8. Pringles Dwarf Podocarpus (Podocarpus macrophyllus ‘Pringles Dwarf’) – Pringles dwarf podocarpus gets around 3 to 5 feet (1-1....

Acacia Tree Facts Most acacia tree types are fast growers, but they usually live only 20 to 30 years. Many varieties are valued for their long roots which help stabilize the soil in areas threatened by erosion. The sturdy roots reach deep for underground water, which explains why the tree tolerates extreme drought conditions. Many types of acacia are protected by long, sharp thorns and an extremely unpleasant flavor that discourages animals from eating the leaves and bark....

What is Eco-Friendly Outdoor Furniture? The main underlying idea behind anything eco-friendly or sustainable is that resources are finite. Sustainability means processes that limit the depletion of natural resources and support environmentally-friendly practices. Eco outdoor furniture can be more sustainable in several ways. The materials from which furniture is made is one example. Bamboo is more sustainable than wood because it requires less energy to grow and use. Bamboo grows more quickly than trees and can be replaced more efficiently....

Different Agave Plants Generally hardy in U.S. zones 8-11, agave plants are native to southern parts of the North America, Central America, West Indies and northern parts of South America. They thrive in intense heat and sun. Oftentimes confused with cactus because of their sharp teeth and spikes, agave plants are actually desert succulents. Most varieties are evergreen with very little ability to handle frost. Many common varieties of agave will naturalize by forming clumps of new rosettes....

Amsonia Flower Information The Amsonia flower is a North American native with a long season of interest. It emerges in spring with willowy foliage that forms a neat, rounded mound. In late spring and early summer, loose clusters of half inch (1 cm.), star-shaped, blue blossoms cover the plant, giving rise to the common name blue star. After the flowers fade, the plant continues to look good in the garden, and in fall, the foliage turns bright yellow-gold....

About Apple Mint Plants Europeans introduced this member of the mint family to America where it has been embraced as a garden plant including many cultivars. Reaching about 2 feet (.60 m.) at maturity, apple mint plants have woolly stems, fragrant serrated leaves and terminal spikes that bear white or light pink flowers beginning in late summer or early fall. How to Grow an Apple Mint Herb Apple mint, known endearingly by some as the “fuzzy mint” or “woolly mint,” can be planted from seed or plant and it propagates easily by cuttings....

Aster Seed Growing Asters are a group of perennial flowers that belong to the Asteraceae family, also called the daisy family. Many species and varieties, both wild and cultivated, are available to gardeners. This means you have a lot of options, including tall or short plants with flowers in many different shades of blue, purple, pink, or white. In North America, asters provide valuable food sources for butterflies, native bees, and other insects....

Careful planning will also allow gardeners to make the most out of their usable space in the coming months. August To-Do List Though vegetable garden production often begins to slow down in this month, the August to-do list continues to grow. For those who have not been sowing in succession, many vegetable plants will need to be harvested and preserved at this time. Beans, sweet corn, peppers, tomatoes, and squash are all at peak ripeness....

Recognizing Bacterial Leaf Spot of Turnip Bacterial leaf spot of turnip begins to appear on the upper sides of leaves. It isn’t very evident initially, but by the time the disease progresses it is fairly easy to spot. When left unchecked, bacterial leaf spot on turnips will defoliate the plant and reduce its vigor, which can also diminish turnip production. The first signs will be on the upper surface of the leaves, usually at the edges....

Information About Bat Flowers The bat flower (Tacca chantieri) is an exotic plant with flowers that mimic a bat in flight, deep purple with ruffled wings, and long, hanging filaments. Indoor blooms and those outside in semi-tropical climates may appear in spring and last until early autumn. Large, attractive leaves surround the bloom. Growing bat flowers requires a little extra bat flower care, but blossoms of this unusual specialty plant make the extra care of bat flower worthwhile....

Choosing Shrubs for Winter Fall can bring brilliant and fiery displays as leaves turn different reds and yellows. Eventually, the colors fade and winter gray blankets all. If you choose your backyard shrubs carefully, however, they can add color and interest to the garden. Which plants make good winter shrubs? It is important to pick cold hardy shrubs that thrive in your hardiness zone. In addition, look for shrubs that offer ornamental qualities when their leaves are gone....

If your plant is growing in a container, it is an essential part of proper bird of paradise plant care to keep it from getting too root bound, though they like to be somewhat so. Let’s look at dividing bird of paradise plants. About Splitting Bird of Paradise First of all, it’s important to note that bird of paradise generally blooms best from large clumps or when slightly pot bound....

About Broccoli Companions Utilizing companion plants for broccoli or for any other crop means growing plants nearby that have a symbiotic relationship. This beneficial relationship may be one-sided or benefit both types of plants. Many times the benefit is that one plant acts as a pest deterrent for another plant. Repelling insects often have the benefit of preventing disease too, since many pests act as vectors for diseases. Companion planting also increases the diversity of the garden, which is nature’s way of thwarting disease and pest infestations....

However, fruit bearing plants can be susceptible to pests and diseases that ornamentals are not bothered by. Citrus trees can be infected by Asian citrus psyllids, apple trees can be attacked by twig-cutter weevils, and stone fruit trees can be infected by brown rot. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at brown rot plum tree disease. Plums with Brown Rot Brown rot on plums is a fungal disease scientifically classified as Monilinia fructicola....

Effects of Sustainable Gardening Soil is the building block for plant growth. Sustainable gardening requires soil management to enhance its properties but does not have to be costly or time consuming. It is an annual check-in on soil health, and then a response to improve that health. It is a gradual process and one that needs to occur as long as you are around. However, with just a little work, your soil’s organic matter can improve, leading to numerous benefits in the garden....