James Young

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Garden Guides uses a knowledgeable team of editors, writers, and experts to create all our content. We dive deep into the ever-evolving conversations surrounding gardening and landscaping, striving to deliver the most current and helpful tips, strengthened by expert insight and tutorials from our talented team.

As we cover many fields of expertise, we make it a priority to ensure every beat remains fresh and comprehensive. Additional information on our editorial process available here.

Stories By James Young

  • Trees
    Trees By James Young November 4th, 2022

    How To Shape A Redbud Tree

    How to Shape a Redbud Tree. An American understory tree, the eastern redbud grows to only 30 feet high in an open setting. Multiple forks create a natural vase shape with outward-reaching draping limbs. Shaping raises the canopy above mowing machines and reduces the chances of broken branches and trunks. Bumping with machinery or close cutting with line trimmers exposes the redbud to infection since the thin bark wounds easily. Heartwood decay starts with disease cankers or bark damage and quickly weakens this already brittle tree.

    By James Young November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Lawn Care
    Lawn Care By James Young November 4th, 2022

    How To Start My Mantis Tiller

    How to Start My Mantis Tiller. Starting a two-cycle Mantis tiller should be easy if the machine is properly maintained. Problems during starting usually have simple solutions. If following the correct starting procedure does not work, don't try to overpower the machine by simply trying to "muscle" it. Fixing the trouble is almost always easier than fighting it. The owner's manual includes detailed and understandable instructions for both starting and troubleshooting the Mantis tiller.

    By James Young November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Lawn Care
    Lawn Care By James Young November 3rd, 2022

    How To Restring A Weed Eater By Stihl

    How to Restring a Weed Eater by Stihl. Most Stihl trimmers use double lines. Rewinding Stihl line trimmer spools of different models requires very similar techniques. One design difference makes Stihl trimmers easier to load than many other brands. Stihl places anchoring holes on both sides of the spool chambers 180 degrees apart. Instead of cutting line to two different lengths as with other trimmers, two lines of equal length anchor at opposite sides of the spool.

    By James Young November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By James Young November 3rd, 2022

    How To Pollinate Plum Trees

    How to Pollinate Plum Trees. Because of blooming periods that vary widely from variety to variety and don't always coincide, plum trees often do not set good crops of fruit. Only a few types are self-pollinating, so planting different plum varieties together does help. Since honeybees and some other insects pollinate plums by transferring pollen from tree to tree, orchard hives increase the chances of a good yield. Success isn't certain because bees often prefer other types of forage. Mechanically applying commercially harvested pollen requires equipment most small-scale growers don't own.

    By James Young November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By James Young November 3rd, 2022

    How To Transplant Wild Blackberries

    How to Transplant Wild Blackberries. Transplanting wild blackberries could also transplant diseases to the garden. Commercial blackberries---certified free of disease---offer improved size and yield over their wild cousins and are the best choice for home gardeners. A healthy patch of wild berries could rival the domestics for size and flavor when planted in a fertile location. Proper transplanting techniques give the plants the best chance for a new start. The same nurturing tricks that improve the yields of commercial blackberry varieties also work for plants from wild stock.

    By James Young November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Flowers
    Flowers By James Young November 3rd, 2022

    How To Cook Cactus Flowers

    How to Cook Cactus Flowers. Technically, the flowers of the nopal or prickly pear cactus of the genus Opuntia are edible, though only part of the flower is selected for cooking. The unopened flower buds or tuna of the nopal cacti can be harvested before the bloom opens for use as a cooked vegetable. Once the flower blooms, the developing cactus berry becomes too tough for eating. Some varieties are again tasty when the fruit fully ripens.

    By James Young November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Flowers
    Flowers By James Young November 3rd, 2022

    Do Raspberry Bushes Have Thorns?

    Do Raspberry Bushes Have Thorns?. Wild bramble fruits such as raspberries and blackberries protect their canes with rows of sharp thorns. Domestic types of brambles developed for larger fruit and greater plant vigor usually do grow thorny canes, but some cultivars of raspberries and blackberries offer thornless harvests as well as improved flavorful berries. Other raspberry varieties present fragile spines rather than large thorns, and still others grow fewer thorns than found on wild plants.

    By James Young November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By James Young November 3rd, 2022

    How To Prune American Hornbeam

    How to Prune American Hornbeam. American hornbeam's ability to withstand heavy pruning makes this native wetlands tree a good choice for hedges in areas with poor drainage. Since the root system remains small and shallow, hornbeam trees grow near walkways without damaging pavement. American hornbeam could grow to 50 feet, but mature heights from 15 feet to 20 feet are more common. Pruning methods determine whether the tree will be a hedge, a thicket, or a shade tree.

    By James Young November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By James Young November 3rd, 2022

    How To Grow Peach Trees In Iowa

    How to Grow Peach Trees in Iowa. Peaches represent challenges even to Southern growers. Since Iowa lies in USDA hardiness zones 8 and 9 at the upper limits of the peach tree's range, Iowa peach growers face additional trouble. Fragile peach trees weakened by winter cold damage could succumb to other problems later in the year. Even with the best of care, peach tree flower buds die off when temperatures plummet to 0 degrees F and below. Choosing hardy varieties and the best planting sites still could produce an occasional good fruiting year.

    By James Young November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By James Young November 3rd, 2022

    How To Grow Fig Trees In Indiana

    How to Grow Fig Trees in Indiana. Since most fig varieties survive only mild winter cold, growing figs above plant hardiness zone 7 requires either special techniques, hardy varieties, or both. Unprotected, the brown turkey or Texas everbearing fig survives winter minimums as low as 10 degrees F without serious damage. Colder temperatures kill the tree back to the ground. Because the brown turkey fig regrows vigorously and fruits later in the year on new wood, crops of figs from outdoor plantings are possible as far north as Indiana. Growers willing to take extreme measures may be successful with other varieties as well.

    By James Young November 3rd, 2022 Read More
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    Trees
    Trees By James Young November 3rd, 2022

    How To Tell Tip-Bearing Apple Trees From Spur-Bearing Apple Trees

    How to Tell Tip-Bearing Apple Trees From Spur-Bearing Apple Trees. Most spur-bearing varieties of apples began as the mutated branches of known apple cultivars. As grafting stock, these spur types develop into trees 70 percent the size of a standard apple, but that mature growth drops even further if semidwarfing or dwarfing rootstocks form the base of the tree. All apple trees, including spur- and tip-bearing varieties, set fruit both at the tip of the terminal branches and on fruiting spurs to the sides of the terminal twig. Spur varieties grow more spurs per inch than the older tip varieties and set fruit on younger wood.

    By James Young November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By James Young November 3rd, 2022

    How To Grow Navaho Blackberries

    How to Grow Navaho Blackberries. The Navajo blackberry, a cultivar developed at the University of Arkansas in 1989, yields the highest sugar content of any Arkansas variety. Ripe Navajo blackberries store for three to four weeks instead of the usual three to four days for other blackberry varieties. Fruits ripen from the middle of June to the end of July on thornless vines. A good variety for the home garden or U-pick farms, the Navajo requires an extended period of winter chill. Between 800 and 900 hours of winter temperatures between 32 and 45 degrees F. are needed for vigorous growth.

    By James Young November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By James Young November 3rd, 2022

    How To Brace A Tree Limb With Wire & Cable

    How to Brace a Tree Limb With Wire & Cable. If the saddle--or junction--between a main limb and a tree's trunk is V-shaped, that branch will break under a heavy load. Wide-reaching branches of fruit trees are also at risk, especially in years when an unusually heavy fruit crop sets. Bracing threatened branches offers only a temporary solution. Easing the load on a limb poses less risk to the tree, and pruning out weak branches contributes to the tree's health in the long run. Bracing fruit trees puts off some major pruning work until the dormant season.

    By James Young November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Lawn Care
    Lawn Care By James Young November 3rd, 2022

    How To Start A Stihl Gas Powered Hedge Trimmer

    How to Start a Stihl Gas Powered Hedge Trimmer. Stihl manufactures hedge trimmers in compact models and pole models with blades mounted on long shafts. Pole models contain transmission systems which connect the cutting blades to the hand-held motor. Both types start in the same way with only slight differences in controls. Details do change slightly from model to model, so consult the owner's manual for information specific to your machine.

    By James Young November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Father and son on riding mower
    Lawn Care
    Lawn Care By James Young November 3rd, 2022

    Vibration Problems With A Mower Deck

    Vibration Problems With a Mower Deck. Mower decks might develop unusual vibrations because of improper adjustments to blades and other parts. Deck vibrations also warn of worn or broken parts that cause sudden mechanical failures. If you notice odd vibrations in the mower deck, disconnect the power takeoff and stop mowing. Simple checks can diagnose most problems, and repairs might take only a few minutes. Mowing until the deck collapses may send metal parts flying, endangering other people and nearby property.

    By James Young November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Lawn Care
    Lawn Care By James Young November 3rd, 2022

    Stihl HS 80 Hedge Trimmer Troubleshooting

    Stihl HS 80 Hedge Trimmer Troubleshooting. The Stihl HS 80 requires the same basic maintenance as any small two-cycle engine. Regular maintenance, following the procedures in the owner's manual, should prevent most problems. Repairs within the abilities of most homeowners are simple and basic problems that are easily isolated. Without regular care, several different problems may contribute to hard starting, loss of power and other common troubles.

    By James Young November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By James Young November 3rd, 2022

    How To Graft A Satsuma Tree

    How to Graft a Satsuma Tree. The satsuma mandarin orange--a tangerine which originated in Japan--arrived in the United States as experimental planting stock in 1878. Well adapted to the subtropical regions of Japan, the satsuma orange grows in regions of the United States too cold for other citrus fruits. When grafted to cold-hardy trifoliate orange--a thorny shrub with bitter fruit--the satsuma survives winter minimums of 15 to 18 degrees F. Because satsuma oranges do not produce well in the hottest climates, commercial growers limit production to the northern part of subtropical America. Outside that narrow band, home growers could still see regular crops from this hardy citrus tree.

    By James Young November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By James Young November 3rd, 2022

    How To Graft Onto A Crabapple Tree

    How to Graft Onto a Crabapple Tree. Grafting to crabapple trees diversifies orchards by introducing new varieties of apples and crabapples without planting new trees. Growers take advantage of the crabapple's hardiness and disease resistance by grafting less rugged fruiting varieties to established trees. The type of scion--a cutting from the desired cultivar--grafted to the tree determines the flowering habit and the type of fruit. The rootstock of the crabapple determines the size of the tree at maturity.

    By James Young November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Lawn Care
    Lawn Care By James Young November 3rd, 2022

    How To Clean A Stihl Weed Trimmer Muffler

    How to Clean a Stihl Weed Trimmer Muffler. Stihl does not recommend owner servicing of all muffler types on its weed trimmer and brush trimmer machines. Some models include emission control devices housed within the muffler and should not require service unless deformed or damaged. Stihl recommends replacement by a qualified technician rather than home repair. Other models without emission control mufflers may include spark arrestor screens that can be removed and cleaned or replaced by owners. Check operator's manuals for specific maintenance suggestions for your machine.

    By James Young November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By James Young November 3rd, 2022

    How To Grow Quince From Seed

    How to Grow Quince From Seed. Quince shrubs start easily from seed, though extra care is needed to get the seedlings through the first winter. Quince plants started indoors in February could be large enough for bud grafting by fall. Fruit quality of seed-grown quince trees will be a gamble, but most quince produce fruit at least good enough for pies and jellies. Seedling quince accept scions from pear cultivars as well as select quince trees, giving growers choices of many fruit varieties on the same species of hardy rootstock.

    By James Young November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By James Young November 3rd, 2022

    How To Thin Pomegranate Fruit

    How to Thin Pomegranate Fruit. Thinninga fruit crop eliminates alternate-year bearing and increases fruit quality in many species of fruit trees, but not the pomegranate. This tree produces well in semi-tropical and semi-arid regions such as southern California, Arizona, southern Texas and northern Mexico. Though pomegranates may survive temperatures as low as 12 degrees F, the trees suffer winter damage that naturally limits their crop in more northern areas. Pomegranates grown in Georgia may set only a dozen fruit in a good year, according to the University of Georgia's Cooperative Extension Service.

    By James Young November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By James Young November 3rd, 2022

    What Are The Treatments For Rust On Cedar Trees?

    What Are the Treatments for Rust on Cedar Trees?. Cedar-apple rust usually causes only cosmetic damage to eastern red cedar or rocky mountain juniper, both commonly used in home landscaping. Showing up first as woody tumors on small twigs, the cedar rust galls indicate a systemic infection deep within the tree and are unaffected by sprays. Since this fungal infection depends on two hosts--apple and cedar--successful treatment and control depends on breaking the cycle of infection between the two.

    By James Young November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • ...
    Trees
    Trees By James Young November 3rd, 2022

    Lifespan Of Citrus Trees

    Lifespan of Citrus Trees. All citrus trees -- including oranges, limes and kumquats -- have the same potential maximum lifespan. The different varieties of citrus vary in size as well as fruit type. Climate and disease cut the potential lifespan short; however, so does low productivity. Growers usually replace trees with declining yields.

    By James Young November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By James Young November 3rd, 2022

    How To Cut Stumps With A Chainsaw

    How to Cut Stumps With a Chainsaw. When felling trees, most professional sawyers, as well as home handymen leave a noticeable stump behind. A stump 2 or more feet high allows enough room to form the felling notches and precise cuts that control the direction of the tree's fall. After the tree hits the ground the stump could be safely reduced in height to 1 inch or less above ground level. Cutting stumps that short requires special tools and precautions, and may ruin a good saw chain unless you are careful.

    By James Young November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By James Young November 3rd, 2022

    How To Trim Chinese Flame Trees

    How to Trim Chinese Flame Trees. Drooping clusters of small yellow flowers cover the canopy of mature Chinese flame trees in early summer. The show doesn't end with that, since the flowers mature into pink 2-inch long fruits with the look of delicate paper lanterns. Flowers and fruit rise above the tree's canopy on panicle stems, giving the Chinese flame tree a showy look for most of the growing season. Without proper pruning, flame trees may be short-lived, since branches break and trunks split easily. Even mature flame trees 40 to 60 feet tall need annual attention.

    By James Young November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By James Young November 3rd, 2022

    The History Of Drip Irrigation

    The History of Drip Irrigation. Modern drip irrigation uses water-dispersing tapes, tubes and nozzles to deliver water drop by drop to the exact location of individual plants in the field. This modern approach depends entirely on the development of suitable plastics for the technology involved. Older approaches that were not so efficient did use similar ideas. The basic concept of releasing less water in the right place dates back thousands of years.

    By James Young November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Flowers
    Flowers By James Young November 3rd, 2022

    How To Prune Grapevines In South Carolina

    How to Prune Grapevines in South Carolina. Only a few varieties of American labrusca or non-labrusca bunch grapes and some French/American hybrids grow well in South Carolina's warm humid summers. South Carolina's climate divides between the northern mountains and Piedmont areas, and the sand hills and coastal plains. Growing conditions in these two regions don't favor the same grape cultivars. Problems include fungal diseases of fruit and foliage as well as Pierce's Disease, a bacterial infection. Proper pruning of disease-resistant varieties increases the quality and the quantity of bunch grapes and decreases damage from fungi.

    By James Young November 3rd, 2022 Read More