Sometimes, the easiest way to fix a garbage disposal is to push the reset button on the bottom of the disposal and try it again. But if that doesn’t work, the top reasons for garbage disposal failures are: Electrical system issuesA jam in the grinding mechanismFaulty seals in the mounting, hoses, or pipe connectionsClogs in the drain pipe The most common garbage disposal problems have solutions, are easy to diagnose, and are almost always easy to fix....

Leaf spot diseases should be taken seriously, especially if they result in leaf loss for more than two consecutive years. There are many causes for leaf spot diseases, and they are often fungal in nature. And, because many common fungal diseases are similar, they can often be managed the same way. Often it just takes some planning before planting and routine yearly preventative maintenance to avoid fungal diseases. What Are Brown Spots on Leaves?...

Read on to learn how to prevent and get rid of these pesky pests. What Do Pantry Moths Look Like? P. interpunctella is one of several insects known to feed on stored grains and other dry foods. It is known by several common names, including pantry moth, Indianmeal moth, flour moth, grain moth, and weevil moth. Adult moths are quite small (1/4 to 3/8 inch in length) with a wingspan of 1/2 to 3/4 inch....

BloomStruck hydrangeas produce large three to five-inch diameter, mophead-style flower heads with attractive reddish-purple branches and dark-green leaves. This fast-growing plant can be planted in spring or fall. Hydrangeas are toxic to humans, cats, dogs, and horses. Pruning is usually not necessary other than removing dead, diseased, or winter-damaged branches. Remove branches that are rubbing against each other or are growing outward in a way that spoils the shrub’s overall mounded shape....

Spirea is a fast-growing shrub, and it usually achieves full size within a single growing season. Like many shrubs, this native of China, Korea, and Taiwan is best planted early in the growing season as a container-grown nursery plant, which will allow the shrub’s root system plenty of time to become established before winter. If you must plant in the fall (this sometimes is when nurseries are discounting available stock), try to do it with enough time so the shrub’s roots can settle in and begin growing before winter weather sets in....

Though it is considered an annual, the cypress vine can also be technically called a perennial because its self-seeding ability makes it appear year after year without much intervention. If planting from scratch, do so in the spring after the threat of frost has passed. The fast-growing vine begins its aggressive climb once the soil becomes warm and blooms in about a month. (Keep an eye out for straying, invasive vines that may be reaching out to other plants) Cypress vine poses a moderate threat of toxicity to humans, cats, dogs, and horses....

This epiphyte or air plant can grow on other plants or surfaces, not just in soil, getting nutrients and moisture from the air vapor and debris on top of the surfaces. It’s ideal for hanging baskets or growing up trellises. What makes this plant stand out from other hoya species is the size of the leaves. They can grow to be at least 12 cm, and they feature thick, raised, light green veins....

Larches are known for autumnal displays of yellow-gold needles that make them not only particularly attractive but also hardier than other conifers. The tree is bare during the winter and hence the needles cannot get damaged by extreme cold. The needles of larches, which grow in dense clusters, are soft, not sharp or spiny like other conifers. Larches vary in their needles and twig shape and size, and some have a pyramidal shape, while other cultivars have a weeping growth habit....

Common nicknames for the plant include Jericho rose and rose laurel. Native to southern Asia and the Mediterranean and beloved since ancient Roman times (possibly earlier), oleander is hardy in USDA hardiness zones 8 through 10. Oleanders can be allowed to grow in their natural mound form, or they can be trained into a multi-stemmed or single-stemmed tree form. To create a single-stemmed tree, cut off all other stems and any side branches on the main stem to about half their length....

Due to its rapid and adaptable growth, it’s essential to watch for invasiveness, especially in coastal regions. Bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and a wide range of insects and songbirds are drawn to its nectar-rich flowers. Trimming the flower panicles before they seed helps to cut down on dispersion. Light Pride of Meidra thrives in four to six hours of full sun each day. Partial sun is also acceptable, and the afternoon sun is preferable to the morning sun, as light intensity is more significant at that time....

This perennial flower bulb will spread abundantly in your flower garden with little or no care. As with many small flowering bulbs, rain lilies look best when planted in large drifts. On the other hand, if you have a small garden and can’t afford to dedicate that much real estate to one flower type, a group of a dozen rain lilies looks splendid tucked in beside a boulder, or peeking out between other sun-loving summer flowers like begonias, million bells, or guinea impatiens....

Selecting a Planting Site If you choose a sunny site with good drainage for your rue plants, they almost certainly will thrive with virtually no care. Rue flowers are good candidates for tough sites and will even grow in gravel. If your garden has heavy or wet soil, consider container culture. Avoid putting the plants near walkways or other areas where you might come in contact with them, as the sap can cause skin irritation....

Sometimes referred to as a “living rock,” star cactus is very slow-growing, with mature specimens being impressive as they can grow quite big. It is also a very difficult plant to propagate and usually needs grafting onto an Echinopsis cactus for best results. Although star cactus requires patience, when properly grown, it is among the most beautiful of the North American cacti. Light Plant star cactus outdoors in an area that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight per day....

Plant your coral bean in late spring or early summer. During the winter, place your coral bean in a greenhouse. If left out, the plant will die in hardiness zones cooler than 8, such as in the Northeast. Light Coral bean shrub blooms best in full sun for four to six hours daily, but it can tolerate partial sun, as it naturally occurs along the edge of woodlands and forests....

Often used as a Christmas tree this evergreen is attractive in any season and will bring cheer to your landscape with blue-green tones and easy-going maintenance. Though it is native to the western mountains of North America, white fir is beloved as an evergreen that is often planted in the Midwest and mid-Atlantic regions because it is fantastically hardy. That is the best care you can give your tree—plan for its success....

So how does a banana tree reproduce? Commercial bananas are grown as herbs, not trees, which involves propagating the fruit using rhizomes. Rhizomes are stems that grow underground which then shoot out of the ground to produce what are known as “banana pups.” Those little pups are taken off the mother plant and transplanted to create new plants, no seeds involved. However, some non-commercial banana varieties are grown with seeds inside....

All types of basil grow easily in warm, sunny weather. The leaves are commonly used in cooking, but the flower buds are also edible. This fast-growing herb thrives equally well in gardens and containers. With sufficiently warm weather, new basil plants are ready for pruning (to encourage bushier growth) in about six weeks. Prevent your basil from blooming for as long as possible by harvesting or pinching off the top sets of leaves as soon as the plant reaches about 6 inches in height....

Burnet is usually planted in the spring from seeds started indoors four to five weeks before the last frost. Once transplanted into the garden, the plants will reach maturity about two months after germination. You can thin direct-sown plants to one foot apart and use the thinned seedlings in a salad. First-year plants will grow to about eight to ten inches tall. Subsequent years will produce larger plants that flower....

Selecting a Planting Site A sunny spot with well-draining soil is key for growing eggplant. A raised garden bed or container can be ideal because the soil will warm up faster than the ground. Try to plant where other plants of the nightshade family haven’t been planted in recent growing seasons to help protect your eggplant from diseases. Spacing, Depth, and Support Space plants at least two feet apart in rows that are at least three feet apart....