When renovating the garden, there are some specific things to keep in mind, such as the time of year, location, maturity, usefulness, health, and safety in removal or major amendment of the plant or area. How to Remove Plants That Have Outgrown Gardens: Perennials Perennial gardens may need to be revamped by removing existing plants. The goal may be to transplant elsewhere or do away with the specimen entirely. The practice of removing existing plants remains the same, generally undertaken in April or May and again optimally in the fall months of late August to September....

Why Does My Rhododendron Have Yellow Leaves? Before you begin, make sure that what you are seeing is not just leaf senescence – old leaves falling off at the end of their two or three year life. This happens just before winter or in summer drought. Yellow rhododendron leaves often represent the plant’s expression of dissatisfaction with its care. Rhodies are picky about the soil you plant them in and about how much water they like....

Reasons for Glyphosate Alternatives Roundup and other herbicides containing glyphosate are effective system herbicides that kill many types of annual and perennial weeds and, if used as directed, are not supposed to harm nearby plants. Although the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) claims that Roundup is safe when used as directed, there are growing concerns about the herbicide’s toxicity, and with good reason. Studies indicate that glyphosate may be harmful to the environment and to aquatic life if it reaches streams and waterways....

The sago palm has a reputation of being a tough tree that can take a wide range of temperatures and soil conditions. However, providing ideal sago palm soil requirements is more important to the health of this plant than one might originally think. So what kind of soil does a sago need? Read on to learn more. Best Soil for Sago Palms What kind of soil does a sago need?...

Flower and vegetable seed packets provide specific instructions that when properly followed, will result in healthy growth and production. Interpreting the Seed Packet Directions For help with understanding seed packet info, you should be aware of each item listed on the seed packet labels. For the majority of flower and vegetable seed packets, you will find the following seed packet information: Description – Seed packet information generally contains a written description of the plant and whether or not it is a perennial, biennial or annual....

Seedbox Plant Info Marsh seedbox plants are short lived, perennial members of the evening primrose family. In fact, they are also known as water primrose plants. Other names for the plant include floating seedbox and floating primrose willow. They are hardy in USDA zones 4 through 8 and thrive in areas where ground moisture remains constant. Their notable characteristic is a cube shaped seed box which rattles when the seeds are ripe....

Planting Shrubs in Rocky Soil Rocky soil and gravel beds make quick-draining gardens but lack the nutrients many plants need to survive. Amending the soil is possible if you don’t mind the very long process. The other option is to find shrubs that grow in gravel. Fortunately, there are more than a few. Many gardeners use their gravel soil areas to build rock gardens. Planting shrubs in rocky soil can create a garden for all seasons if you select the correct plants....

Most turtles are harmless, but snapping turtle control may be necessary to avoid children and pets from becoming injured. If you’re wondering “how to get rid of turtles in my yard,” read on for some tips and cautions about handling nesting turtles. Turtles in the Garden Turtles in the garden may be a delight or a nuisance, depending upon the variety and nesting preferences. If they prefer to nest in a garden bed, the area cannot be disturbed, which puts the brakes on any further landscape planning....

Effect of Acid Soils on Plant Growth Sometimes there could be too much aluminum in the soil, making it acidic. Sometimes there is too much manganese, which is toxic to plants. If the soil is too acidic, it can be because of a calcium and magnesium deficiency, which is just as bad for plants as it is for humans. Iron and aluminum in great amounts can tie up phosphorus, which also makes the soil too acidic for plants....

Identifying Spider Mites on Houseplants and Outdoor Plants Initially, spider mite damage will appear as small yellow or brown spots on the leaves of the plant. If the plant is badly infested, the plant’s health will suffer, it may develop completely yellow leaves and it may stop growing. Spider mite damage may also include a telltale spider web type webbing on the plant. Spider mites are arachnids and are related to spiders....

Why Do My Cucumbers Get Prickly? Cucumbers are members of the Cucurbit family along with squash, pumpkins, and melons. They are divided into two groups: pickling and slicing varieties. Both varieties may have varying degrees of cucumber prickles – so prickly cucumbers is actually quite normal. Some might have tiny little hairs and others all out spines. The slicing varieties are usually less prickly while the pickling types are spinier. Native to India, cucumbers may have become spiny for the same reason that some animals are camouflaged or have horns…to protect themselves from predators....

Mosaic Virus Symptoms Squash mosaic virus is usually apparent from the earliest leaves, since this disease is frequently seed-borne. As susceptible plants mature, symptoms can all but disappear, making diagnosis difficult, but early leaves are typically distorted or mottled. Although an older plant can appear more or less normal, mosaic disease of squash causes reduced vigor, poor branching and mottling of maturing fruits. More obvious cases of squash mosaic virus include symptoms like infected leaves that cup upward or develop irregular patterns of dark and light coloration....

Sunchaser Information Sunchaser tomatoes are produced on determinate plants which grow about 36-48 inches (91.5-122 cm.) tall. They are vigorous producers, even in the arid conditions of the Southwestern United States. Sunchaser heat tolerance has earned it recognition as one of the best tomatoes to grow in Arizona and New Mexico vegetable gardens. Where similar tomato varieties, like Early Girl or Better Boy can tucker out and stop producing fruit, Sunchaser tomato plants seem to just scoff at the high temperatures and intense sun of these arid, desert-like climates....

Are Sweet Potato Leaves Edible? So, are sweet potato leaves edible? Yes, definitely! Next question: what are “camote tops?” The vines of sweet potatoes (especially the deep purple varieties), are known as camote tops (or kamote tops) in Spanish-speaking countries. No matter what you call them – sweet potato leaves, camote tops, or kamote tops – the vines are rich and flavorful, although like most greens they may be somewhat bitter....

Extending the Harvest in a Fall Garden Extending your growing season in the fall garden allows you to benefit from fresh vegetables longer and with more variety than you normally could. The fall garden includes most spring crops and many others that thrive in the cooler temperatures such as the following: peas broccoli cauliflower greens lettuce beans potatoes carrots onions Learning how to extend the harvest season with cold frames and greenhouses makes this endeavor easier and is inexpensive....

Cilantro Seeds In cooking, cilantro seeds are called coriander. The “seeds” are actually two cilantro seeds encased in a husk. The husk is hard, round and is light brown or grey in color. Before you plant them in the ground, you need to prepare the cilantro seeds to increase the chances that they will germinate. Gently crush the seed husk holding the two seeds together. Soak the cilantro seeds in water for 24 to 48 hours....

What is Aster Root Rot? Rhizoctonia affects many types of ornamental perennials and even a few herbs and shrubs. This widespread fungus causes blights, rots, and damping off. Aster stem rot information indicates the disease as starting in soil. The stem rot can progress in the plant to leaves and blooms. Aster stem and root rot is a result of the fungus Rhizoctonia solani. The pathogen is a soil borne organism that occurs in many types of soil....

Are There Animals That Eat Lily of the Valley? Over time, a lily of the valley patch will spread and fill in with broad, scooping leaves and the tiny, delicate blooms. There are few animals that eat lily of the valley, as the bulbs contain a toxin that even rodents find distasteful. Even deer do not browse the leaves and flowers. The ASPCA cautions home growers against having lily of the valley in the landscape....

When to Move Trees Move a deciduous tree in early spring before it begins to leaf out or early fall after the leaves begin to turn color. Don’t move evergreens during a growth flush or in the fall when it’s too late for them to become established before winter weather arrives. Late summer is usually a good time to move evergreens. Tree and shrub roots extend well beyond the volume of soil that you will be able to move....

About The USDA Idaho Hardiness Planting Zone If you are looking to find out what your growing zones in Idaho are, you will need to look at a USDA map of the plant hardiness zones. The above map is for Idaho plant zones and can help you find what planting zone you live in. You can find your Idaho hardiness planting zone by looking at the map above and locating approximately where you live on that map....