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Yellow Leaves on Holly Tree. Hollies, with their lush, evergreen foliage, beautify the garden during all four seasons. Add berries for Christmas, and you have one of the most generous plants in the garden. Hollies--usually easy to care for--sometimes require a little TLC. Usually bright and green, holly leaves sometimes turn yellow, often signaling a cultural problem. Chlorosis, one of the more serious holly ailments, is often the cause of yellow leaves.
Read MoreFoxgloves & Acid Soil. Foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea) are beautiful and elegant. Their tall, curving racemes of pink and purple blooms are indispensable in the cottage- or English-style garden. Usually easy to grow, foxglove does need a few basic conditions to thrive. One of the easiest conditions to modify is soil acidity. Attention to soil acidity will go a long way toward achieving beautiful foxgloves.
Read MoreHow to Transplant Mahonia. Mahonia aquifolium, or Oregon grape, is an ornamental shrub native to the Pacific Northwest prized for its sweeping branches with holly-like leaves and its grape-like berries. It contributes structure, texture and color to home gardens throughout North America. It is very easy to grow. So easy, in fact, that it often quickly outgrows its location and needs to be transplanted. Sometimes, when not planted in the right light or soil, it languishes and needs to be moved. Mahonia is easy to transplant and once given a more suitable location, will thrive very quickly.
Read MoreHow to Plant Flowers for Fall & Winter in North Carolina. From the grand gardens of Biltmore to the tiny window boxes on seaside cottages, North Carolina is known as one of the great garden states. No wonder. The mild temperatures and abundant rainfall provide the perfect environment for growing a wide selection of plants all year long. Fall is a great time for planting flowers that bloom in the fall and winter in North Carolina. Some plants like pansy, violet and flowering cabbage can be counted on to give color all winter. Others, like snapdragon, aster and chrysanthemum will give color until the first freeze.
Read MoreWhy Are My Leyland Cypress Trees Turning Yellow?. Leyland cypress is fast-growing and easy to maintain. Given good conditions, it quickly grows into a thick screen, providing privacy and shelter from winds. It also makes a pretty specimen tree. As easy as they are to grow, Leylands sometimes hit a bump in the road and turn yellow. Yellowing needles on a Leyland cypress often indicate chlorosis. Close attention to soil conditions will both prevent and cure chlorosis in Leyland cypress.
Read MoreBrown Spots on a Jade Plant. Jade plants (Crassula ovata) are beautiful and exotic, displaying thick, fleshy jade-green leaves. Whether placed in the house, the greenhouse or the patio, jade plant becomes the center of attention. Relatively easy to care for, its green, waxy leaves sometimes become marred with brown spots. The likely culprit, oedema (or edema), is easy to remedy.
Read MoreHerbicide for Ferns. Ferns contribute to a lush and exotic atmosphere in the garden. Ferns, once given ideal growing conditions, rapidly spread, forming a dense, green mat of fronds. Some growing conditions are so ideal that certain species of fern can outgrow the garden, taking over significant sections of yards and woodlands. Chemical herbicides are an important part of controlling invasive ferns.
Read MoreThe Best Way to Kill Boston Ivy. Boston ivy, Parthenocissus tricuspidata, is the ivy of the Ivy League. It effectively and attractively covers masonry with its rich green foliage. Unfortunately, Boston ivy can sometimes get out of control. If not trimmed regularly, it can work its way into woodwork and under siding and roof shingles. The best way to get rid of Boston ivy quickly and permanently is to use a combination of cutting and chemical control. Start this project in spring or early summer when the plant is actively growing.
Read MoreHow to Grow Maple Trees in Virginia. The maple is a prominent tree in the Virginia forest. Tall and majestic, the maple tree is also a favorite landscape tree in the state. With their broad, dense canopies, maple trees provide cooling shade in the summer, reducing air conditioning costs and giving cool relief on hot summer days. Maples come in many shapes, sizes and colors and make beautiful specimen plants. Because the genus is so diverse, there are maples for every part of Virginia---from the snow-covered mountains to the mild coasts. Easy to care for, they are fast-growing and will start providing shade and structure to your garden in just a few years.
Read MoreHow to Grow a Bay Leaf Tree in Michigan. Bay leaf is a sweet, pervasive flavoring that pops up in so many recipes that to not have it available is to not have a properly stocked pantry. In warm climates, cooks take it for granted that they can step outside the kitchen door and snip an evergreen leaf or two for their stews, soups and sauces. Unfortunately, the bay leaf tree is not hardy in Michigan, but this doesn't have to stop the home cook or gardener from having fresh bay leaf all year-round; it's easy to grow in a container.
Read MoreCamellia Root Rot. Camellias are of great value in the garden. They beautify gardens with their deep green, glossy foliage and brighten the winter and early spring landscape with their colorful flowers. Usually easy to care for, camellias are sometimes prone to fungal diseases which undermine their health and beauty. Camellia japonica, the winter- and spring-blooming species, is prone to one of the worst fungal infections, phytophthora root rot.
Read MoreFertilizer for Bahia Grass. Growing turf grass is a challenge for many homeowners. Constant attention to watering, mowing and fertilizing do not always produce the lush, green lawns we want. Making the job more challenging, many properties don't have the rich, loamy soil required by most grasses. Bahia grass is a low-maintenance alternative, tolerating poor soil and minimal attention. Introduced to the southeastern United States from Brazil in 1914, Bahia grass is versatile and easy to grow.
Read MoreDahlia Tubers in Canada. Dahlias, with their abundant, extravagant blooms, are the centerpiece of many Canadian summer gardens. Dahlias are best known for their large, sometimes dinner plate-sized blooms. Unfortunately, many gardeners, especially in cooler Canadian climates, stay away from dahlias because they think they're hard to grow. Dahlias, for sure, are not hardy in Canada, but their successful culture is still not difficult.
Read MoreFertilizer for Apricot Trees. Home-grown apricots, fresh off the tree, are a real summer treat. Growing your own fruit is a rewarding experience. Apricots are relatively easy to grow with proper care. Key to growing healthy apricot trees is good soil nutrition, with the right fertilizer playing a part.
Read MoreWhite Fungus on Bushes & Trees. Trees and bushes form the backbones of the home landscape. They supply the garden with structure and leafy texture, with many offering colorful blooms. Sometimes, however, trees and shrubs are affected by diseases that mar their beauty and health. Among them are a white fungus known as powdery mildew. Proper plant care and occasional chemical treatment usually control this common affliction.
Read MoreFertilizer for a Privet Hedge. Privet (Ligustrum spp.) is a tall shrub often planted as a privacy hedge. Growing 15 to 18 feet tall, it is usually trimmed to a more manageable height. Gardeners appreciate the privet hedge for its fast growth and full habit. To maximize growth and fullness, it is sometimes necessary to fertilize privets.
Read MorePorosity of Different Types of Soils. Soil structure is one the most important aspects of growing a healthy garden. Many gardeners work for decades to achieve garden soil rich in mineral and organic compounds. Attention to soil structure is crucial in achieving good soil porosity. A look at a few basic soil types helps the gardener understand the importance of porosity.
Read MoreFertilizer for Pampas Grass. Pampas grass, tall and stately, is a prized specimen in many Southern gardens. Growing up to 10 feet tall with its fluffy flowers, pampas grass is easy to grow. Though not a heavy feeder, like all plants, pampas grass sometimes loses its vigor and requires fertilizer.
Read MoreSedum Autumn Joy & Deer. Many gardeners understand the heartbreak of finding their prized plants nibbled to the ground or denuded of flowers by browsing deer. Gardeners use many strategies to control deer in the garden; the most effective strategy is selecting plants that deer don't like. Sedum Autumn Joy is a versatile perennial flower that many gardeners find deer-resistant.
Read MorePeony Food for Old Plants. Peonies are classic, long-lived perennials. Given their basic cultural requirements, they bloom reliably with little care for many years. After several years, peonies will require fertilization. A careful application of food will ensure many more years of abundant blooms from your peonies. Always water immediately after fertilizer applications.
Read MorePeonies & Deer. Many gardeners know the joy and the agony of planting a beautiful perennial garden only to have their best specimens mowed down by hungry deer in one night. Deer are voracious eaters of many garden plants, according to University of Vermont Extension. It is important for the gardener to find plants that the local deer population stay away from. One favorite perennial, the garden peony, is a plant many gardeners find deer resistant.
Read MoreSoil Conditions for Growing Poppies. Poppies, exotic and romantic, are great plants for the garden. These easy-to-care-for biennials will beautify the garden for a long time if given their very basic requirements. Site selection and soil preparation are key to poppy culture.
Read MoreGrowing Fig Trees in Arizona. When most people think of figs, they think of either dried figs or fig bars that come from the grocery store. Few people know the delight of biting into a plump and sticky fig dripping with sugary goodness. A fresh fig is one of the greatest treats that can come out of the garden. Arizona, with its mild, dry climate and rocky soil is perfectly suited to growing fig trees. Unlike many fruit trees, they are easy to plant and care for. Gardeners in the hotter southern regions of Arizona can plant figs anytime in the fall until about mid-November, while northeastern gardeners in USDA Zones 5 to 7 should plant anytime in the spring.
Read MoreHow to Grow English Walnut Trees in Georgia. A fast-growing shade tree, walnut can be found in landscapes all over Georgia. There are many kinds of walnuts which grow in the state, but the English walnut tree (Juglans regia) may be the best of all. Growing 60 feet tall like its cousin, the native black walnut, it consistently produces the walnuts sold commercially. English walnut is perfectly suited to growing in all parts of Georgia. Even when not grown for its nuts, the English walnut tree makes a stately elm-like specimen in the landscape.
Read MoreGrowing Fig Trees in New Jersey. Those of you who have eaten a fig right off the tree know what a sweet and succulent treat it is. Like a fresh peach, it melts in your mouth and the sticky liquid runs down your chin. Garden-fresh figs make for some great food memories. You don't have to live in sunny Italy or south of the Mason Dixon to grow figs. They are easy to grow and the mild New Jersey climate is well-suited to their culture. Just one friendly warning: be prepared for your garden to become the most popular gathering spot in the neighborhood when the figs ripen in summer.
Read MoreHow to Reduce the Size of a Huge Hydrangea. Hydrangea (Hydrangea spp.) graces gardens in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 9. A hydrangea left on its own without pruning can eventually get out of hand, outgrowing its location and its purpose. If you have a big, or even huge, hydrangea, you can prune it to the desired size. Some hydrangeas bloom on old wood -- the previous season's growth -- so prune them right after they bloom.
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