Category: Tropical Style

Cedar sawdust and chips function as both mulches and soil amendments. But you might be avoiding cedar goods due to reports that they leach toxic substances, which in turn make their way to waterways in which they poison fish. It is also a frequent belief that substances in cedar stop seed germination and harm plants. There’s minimal evidence cedar sawdust and mulches are a threat to plants and aquatic creatures, but the insect-repellent and pathogen-inhibiting properties of cedar have been documented, according to Linda Chalker-Scott Ph.D. with Puyallup Research and Extension Center at Washington State University. Alleopathy Alleopathy refers to the release of poisonous substances that affect plants and animals. Plants in the Cedrus and Thuja genera include chemicals within their heartwood that protects the plants in decay. These very same substances, thujaplicin and thujone, inhibit bacteria and fungi and deter insects, like ants, cockroaches and beetles. These chemical compounds…

“Off with his head” worked well for the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland, but it is not an proper approach for a gardener. While young pear trees (Pyrus spp.) Can be trained to several growth habits where the pear whip is topped after planting, the upper crown of a mature tree should never be lopped away. Nor will topping a pear tree encourage fruit production. Gentler alternatives are available to decrease the size of the overgrown pear. Pear Tree Training Most gardeners who plant pear trees aspire to relish pears in their pantry. To ease the anticipated harvest, they prune the pear tree to make sure that its divisions are big enough to keep the weight of their fruit and reduced enough to be within easy reach. Often young pear trees are educated to a central leader; this usually means the gardener allows you to central erect trunk…

Tree root sprouts, commonly called suckers, sometimes grow around the base of several tree species, including crabapple. Crabapple trees (Malus) are in the Rosaceae family, and many varieties, like “Profusion” and “Indian Summer,” are hardy to U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 8. When a crabapple tree is beneath a certain amount of anxiety, it starts to spread itself by creating shoots, or suckers, from its root system. All these suckers drain energy and other resources from the parent plant, causing more pressure for the tree and also more suckers. The best method to prevent a crabapple tree from generating suckers is to take preventive measures and keep the tree as healthful as possible. Factors like drought, overwatering, extensive pruning, diseases and insects threaten and pressure that a crabapple tree. Establish a watering hose at the bottom of the crabapple tree, and use it to water the…

An apricot tree blooms profusely in spring, creates stone fruit in summer and provides colorful foliage in autumn. Apricot trees (Prunus armeniaca) remain relatively small, especially when grown on dwarf rootstock, and also grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 8. They require a pruning schedule that differs from that of other stone fruit trees in the Prunus family. With proper management, including yearly maintenance pruning, one apricot tree can create up to four bushels of fruit. Timing An apricot tree requires pruning in mid- to late summer. Pruning your apricot in late August gives it the best chance of avoiding diseases brought on by wet conditions while it has fresh pruning wounds. Apricot fruit usually ripens in July and August, giving you time to prune after fruiting but well before the wet season. You may have to delay pruning to prevent stressing the tree in…

The lawn tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a tender, heat-loving plant which needs a quite long frost-free season. Gardeners usually extend the tomato season by starting plants inside and putting out well-developed transplants shortly following the normal last frost date. An early autumn frost, however, can bring a premature end to your own tomato plants, so that it makes sense to consider the possible advantages of frost protection. The Effects of Frost “Frost” is a common term that’s actually of little use to gardeners. Cold temperatures affect various plants in various ways, and the harshness of plant injury brought on by low temperatures is affected by several factors, such as the duration of the low temperatures, the wind speed along with also the garden’s microclimate. However, tomatoes are quite tender, therefore it is safe to assume that any night with temperatures near or below 32 degrees F will cause substantial damage…

Unless your tomato plant produces blossoms, it will not produce tomatoes. Develop a tomato plant that is well-suited for your climate. Otherwise, the plant probably will not produce fruit and blooms as anticipated. In a climate with moderate summer temperatures and cool nights around 45 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit, develop varieties such as Carmelo, Valerie, Large Red Cherry and Bingo. Then carefully care for your tomato plant in the get-go to raise and get as many flowers as possible for optimum tomato creation. Water a tomato plant deeply with 1 to 2 inches of water every watering session to help it develop a deep, extensive root system. The better the root system, the more blossoms your plant will create. Water only when the soil feels dry to the touch approximately 3 to 4 inches deep. If, however, the plant remains in its transplant pot, water when the soil is dry…

Commonly referred to as snowball bush, Viburnum opulus “Roseum” is a deciduous shrub cultivar precious for its round, white flower clusters and spreading growth habit. It grows well within U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 to 8, in which it can reach a rise of 8 to 12 feet with a 15-foot spread. Snowball bushes are flexible and will thrive with small hands or maintenance. But they perform best with occasional pruning to improve their form and foliage production. Step out 1 part bleach and 3 parts water in a bucket. Soak a set of sharp, sturdy pruning shears in the way of approximately five minutes to sanitize them. Wash them well and let them air dry prior to use. Prune the snowball bush in early summer to promote new, new growth. Wait until after the flowers fade. Cut back the oldest stems to ground level, in addition…

Also called black sapote, chocolate persimmon (Diospyros digyna) gets its name not only from the rich, brown color of its fruit pulp, but the taste, frequently described as comparable to chocolate pudding. Native to Mexico, Central and South America, chocolate persimmon trees belong to the ebony family. Even suitable for growing in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 and 11, the plant may be hard to find commercially. Growth Habit Black or chocolate persimmon grows to approximately 30 feet tall in cultivation, as long as they’re pruned regularly. Left to its own devices, the tree can top 80 feet. An evergreen with attractive, heavily furrowed black bark, chocolate persimmon trees have an erect growth habit with an oval or oval canopy. The tree is dioecious — male trees bear no fruit. Some trees have female or both female and male flowers, allowing them to set fruit. Varieties include…

Lemon trees are a part of the citrus genus of plants, and are prized by home gardeners because of their lush green leaf and juicy, flavorful fruit. Two common varieties found in home gardens are the eureka orange tree (Citrus limon ‘Eureka’) along with also the Meyer orange tree (Citrus limon ‘Meyer’). While both make ideal plants for any Mediterranean landscape, they vary in many ways. Origins The Meyer lemon tree is indigenous to China, but was brought to North America over a century ago, and is thought to be a cross between a lemon tree along with some form of tangerine or orange tree. Eureka lemon trees originated in California from seeds that came from Sicily in the late 1850s. Classification Eureka lemon trees have been classed as true lemons, along with Lisbon lemon trees. Meyer lemon trees, on the other hand, aren’t classified as accurate lemons because they’re…

When planting more than 1 fruit tree, separation is a significant consideration for garden design and fruiting potential of the tree. The type of fruit, the rootstock on which the tree grows and the amount of available space in your garden will all affect the choice of just how far apart to plant your own trees. Apple and Pear Trees Apple and pear trees have been popular fruit trees for your backyard garden. They are typically grown on rootstocks as grafted trees rather than from seeds. These rootstocks impact the minimal spacing between trees more than the variety of apple or pear that grows on it. Dwarf or semi-dwarfing rootstocks are best for the backyard unless only 1 tree is to be planted. Total size trees may require up to 18 feet of spacing between trees, however semi-dwarfing apple rootstocks such as the M.7 and MM.106 can be planted 10…