Here are 10 of the most likely suspects and how to control them. Aphids are soft-bodied insects and can be killed quite easily by a strong blast of water in the shower or repeated sprays of insecticidal soap. But they are persistent and you will need to remain diligent to rid your houseplants of these pests. Some cases can be treated with a miticide, insecticidal soap, or horticultural oil if you can completely cover the plant with the spray....
Beyond this, the species resembles many other types of ants. It is 1/10 to 1/8 inch long and is usually light brown or reddish in color. It tends to seek out moisture, including that of damaged and decaying wood. Cornfield Ant Behavior and Biology Cornfield ants, like many other species of ants, have a symbiotic relationship with a variety of garden aphids. The ants protect and even nurture aphid eggs, then feed on the honeydew excretions that the adult aphids produce as they feed on the sap of plants....
The pavement ant is one of the smaller ant species, at 1/10 to 1/6 inch long. It is one of the most common species in the United States, found in all 50 states. The pavement ant is brownish-black with pale-colored legs. With a magnifying glass or microscope, you can see that it has two spines between its body parts and tiny stiff hairs covering its body. These are the ants you frequently see colonizing out of the cracks in sidewalks, but it’s not uncommon to also see them crawling across the kitchen floor in search of grease spots, trailing across your picnic blanket, or following the smell of BBQ on your patio....
After blooming, deadhead by removing flower stems right down to ground level. To avoid bacterial and fungal diseases, be fastidious in cleaning up a bed in which you are growing Batik German irises. After a hard frost in autumn, clean up any debris around the plants. Some experts recommend that you cut the leaves down to ground level at this time. This is a deer-resistant perennial. In spite of Bambi’s disdain for it, it is a plant that attracts butterflies; you can also use it as a flower to attract hummingbirds....
Blue rug juniper is a hardy evergreen plant with silvery-blue foliage that can take on a purplish tone in the winter months. Unlike the straight species, Juniperus horizontalis, ‘Wiltonii’, being a cultivar, often does not produce dark blue berries, which take two years to mature. With an intermediate growth rate, it reaches less than a foot tall and can spread several feet wide, forming a dense mat. The best time to plant blue rug juniper is in the cooler temperatures of fall or early spring....
Plant new shrubs in a shallow, broad hole that is as deep as the root ball and three times as wide. Add some compost to the soil and replace the soil up to the base of the plant. Give the new plant a good watering. cover the ground around it with a 2-inch layer of mulch, but keep the mulch 4 inches away from the stem. Water new plants weekly during the first growing season....
There are two unique growth phases of the Cebu blue pothos: juvenile and mature. The juvenile phase is the most recognizable and is characterized by the familiar small, elongated oval leaves that are silvery blue-green in color. The mature phase is usually only observed in plants that are grown outdoors and is characterized by larger green leaves that develop fenestrations over time. When it comes to care, the biggest difference between these two phases is the growth habit—while all Cebu blue pothos can be trained to grow up a moss pole or trellis, mature Cebu blue pothos are vigorous climbers and do not grow well without support....
Climbing hydrangea plants grow very slowly and may take up to three to five years just to reach the flowering stage. That said, once the plant is established, this eye-catching centerpiece can reach a height of 50 feet or more at maturity and produce its fragrant flowers all summer long. Be careful where you plant it, as all parts of hydrangeas are toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. Climbing hydrangea can also be maintained in shrub form or used as a ground cover, as it takes root wherever the suckers make contact with the ground....
Clove trees are native to the Spice Islands and the Moluccas, and their name is believed to be derived from either the Latin word “clavus” or French word “cloud.” Today, the clove tree is typically grown in India, Jamaica, the West Indies, Brazil, Sumatra, and other tropical climates. The clove tree can grow to 15 to 30 feet tall and has long leaves and white flowers. Cloves are quite delicate and will grow fairly slowly; the seed germination process will take about six weeks....
Balled-and-burlapped plants are usually planted in the fall or spring. When started from seed, it is best to plant an acorn between mid-fall and early spring; the acorn will germinate in four to six weeks. Rather slow-growing, an English oak may live for hundreds of years. English oak contains gallotannin, quercitrin, and quercetin compounds, which can cause various digestive ailments when young leaves or acorns are eaten. This is most often a problem in areas where horses and other grazing animals feed on the leaves and nuts....
The vast majority of gloxinia on the market today are hybrids of Sinningia speciosa. However, by crossing Sinningia speciosa with other plants from the Sinningia genus, such as Sinningia regina, breeders have been able to create a wonderful kaleidoscope of colors and flower forms, including striped and double flowers. Gloxinia is not especially hard to grow, and if you can grow African violets, you can be successful growing gloxinia. Outside of their hardiness zone, you can place or plant them outdoors in the spring....
This tree has a slow to medium growth rate at about 12 inches per year (some cultivars grow much more slowly). It is typically planted in fall or early spring. Once established, the trees do not require much maintenance. Light A Hinoki cypress tree does best in an area that gets full sun for at least six hours a day. Avoid areas that get direct afternoon sun in hot climates because the tree can develop sun scorch....
The foliage, arranged like rosettes and pointing downwards, is so dense that the trunk is not even visible. Birds, sunbirds, and hummingbirds flock to the flowers to get their nectar. Deer, however, show no interest, probably because its leaves have spikes and sharp edges. Besides being grown as an ornamental, Aloe arborescens is also valued for its medicinal properties, and it is sometimes touted as being more effective than aloe vera....
Also commonly referred to as the Goldcrest Monterey Cypress, Cupressus macrocarpa ‘Goldcrest’ (also known as Hesperocyparis macrocarpa) is a Monterey cypress cultivar with upward-growing branches. The unique yellow-green color of the lemon cypress can play off darker greens of other conifers, while texture can be experimented with by placing the shrub next to boulders and fencing. Light The tree requires a good amount of light. Outdoors, it should be planted in full sun to partial shade....
Native to southern Madagascar, this tropical plant is only hardy in USDA zones 9 through 11, so it’s typically grown as a houseplant in most climates. It can also be overwintered indoors in cooler climates. Identifiable by its spear-like dark green foliage, the Madagascar palm boasts a single thick grey trunk that can also have thorns. The plant blooms each spring and into the early summer with small, 4-inch buds—the flowers are typically white, but can also be seen in yellow, pink, or red....
Growing at its best in the mountainous country west of the Mississippi River, the ponderosa pine can grow to colossal heights in the wild. However, it will top off at a still intimidating height of 60 feet or so when grown in cultivation. This keeps all but those with those huge properties from considering adding it to their garden. Luckily, numerous cultivars have come on the market with different forms and sizes that help you if you are limited in the space department....
The small, evergreen foliage is lustrous and attractive and will hold its own against the cold temperatures without suffering too many ill effects. Wintergreen boxwood should be placed so that it will not be affected by direct windburn, though as some leaf bronzing will occur. In the landscape, the ‘Wintergreen’ is predominantly used as a hedge. The ability to be trimmed and pruned make this a fantastic selection for this use, and it shines above many of the other boxwood cultivars when combined with its trait of cold-weather hardiness....
Mango trees grow best in tropical and warmer subtropical climates where there is no danger of frost. In the United States, mango trees grow in California, Florida, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. They should be planted in the spring and are generally fast-growing. You don’t need two trees to produce fruit; a single tree has flowers with male and female parts. Mango trees planted in the garden are more likely to bear fruit than potted trees....
Plan to direct-sow seeds in the garden about two to four weeks prior to your area’s last projected frost date in the spring. The soil temperature should be between 45 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. You can plant again in the fall once the temperature cools, though make sure there’s enough time for your variety to reach maturity before freezing weather arrives. Selecting a Planting Site Pick a spot that gets full sun, though some afternoon shade is OK....
