What S A Mistletoe

Spring spraying of the growth regulator ethephon has been shown to have some effect.The leaves of the mistletoe must be completely wet and the process needs to be done before the host tree has leafed out.

The only holiday plant on the list of actual toxicities reported in birds is the ever-present Poinsettia, and those episodes involved mild oral irritation and perhaps some vomiting.

It was thought to be a remarkable and sacred shrub because it seemed to grow from the air and not from the earth.Over time its folklore has grown to include the belief that the oak mistletoe could extinguish fire, that it held the soul of the host tree...

While the etymology of "mistletoe" is uncertain, some people have claimed that it means "dung-on-twig", from the way the birds spread the seeds.The seed sprouts on the bark, and eventually the young plant's roots then invade the inner bark layers.Its...

Our writers and admins will handpick a few of your questions and answer them in an upcoming Ask-a-Gardener, one of our Saturday morning features. Try reducing their water in preparation for whatever passes for winter down there, and see how they do.

We hope you find these questions (and answers, penned by our admins and writers) helpful as you grow your gardening knowledge! Answers: Fungus gnats frustrate gardeners and are sometimes tricky to banish once established.

Now, if you have hot peppers and mild peppers in the same garden, it is wise to separate them by a trap crop such as squash, since the pollen is insect-borne, not wind-borne.If hot peppers cross-pollinate with sweet ones, the seeds inside will contain...

Answers: As a disclaimer, I have only gardened in New England. You can read DG member feedback on almost any plant by checking the PlantFiles. Either research the plants yourself then go to a general, hardware, or big box store and buy what you've chosen,...

The ultimate height and spacing numbers are also a range of what a gardener can expect. The healthiest and largest plants will be found in the optimum ‘middle conditions' of climate and PH.answers: By adding leaves and kitchen scraps to the holes, they...

One of the simplest things to do is to add some Epsom salts to the water. Soil in pots dries out much faster than soil in the ground. The alkalinity makes it more difficult for the plants to take in minerals such as iron and magnesium.

Occasionally we come across a question that we find particularly interesting or intriguing. We hope you find these questions (and answers, penned by our admins and writers) helpful as you grow your gardening knowledge!

Even though you indicate an uneventful summer, the events earlier in the season set the stage for an unusual cycle. If you're not familiar with its appearance, it can look like a problem.

Enjoy watching caterpillars as they grow and change.Mulch the garden so bees do not visit looking for bare dirt to use in nest building.Add a shallow water dish, or muddy spot in the garden, as a place for butterflies to drink.Keep your flowers away from...

When the worst of the winter is over, remove the bucket and pull the mulch back so your plants can wake up. Any kind of windbreak or structure that holds heat, affects the micro-climate around a plant and the area remains a few degrees warmer.

And I'd venture to say, if you don't think you are seeing an improvement in your soil yet, you just are not adding more than the garden uses each year. Do not let the containers dry out and when the little shoots start to appear, gradually move them to...

I'd say your jade plant (Crassula ovata) looks pretty healthy, judging by the bright green tips on the branches. You are going to want to do this a little bit at a time. Make sure to keep all your light-sensitive indoor plants rotated so they don't lean...

Or sometimes the Black Sooty Mold that makes the leaves look like smog is settling on them.The problems controlling white flies are multiple. Would you then rip all the offenders out?

Are the roots from these behemoths very invasive and/or should I think of installing this palm elsewhere?"Remember, if you have a gardening question that you would like to suggest for this feature, post it.

Take a small paintbrush or a Q-tip and lift pollen from the anthers of a male flower and gently transfer it to the stigma on a female one. If that isn't the issue, I'd look to the soil.

The plants were there long before the holidays were attached to themThe early Christian missionaries were a tough lot. On the other hand, its sacred meaning transferred itself anyway.

A big part of what attracts people to Dave's Garden has always been our forums, where gardeners ask and answer questions for one another. Mix a good fertilizer "bulb food" into the soil, and compost if you have it.

A previously tilled area qualifies as well.The soil is generally looser and drains a bit better than the surrounding undisturbed earth. I will always remember the mid-west for the HUGE clumps of irises in every yard.

People who grow AVs to show say 3 rows of leaves are enough for the plant to have when you repot.Stick the neck of your crown cutting down into the pot, and firm up the potting mix around it.

Whether you're creating instant gardens for a special event like a family reunion or a birthday party, or you're just short on gardening time in general, the result will be spectacular!

It's a constant creation, and you really can't go wrong. See ya' laterthere. I'm not an “artsy” person per se, but I always tell people that the garden is my canvas because it truly is my way of letting the artist out.

While using herbicides can effectively kill grass, it may not be suitable for planting until much later, as herbicides are not environmentally friendly. Add some plants, water thoroughly and mulch generously to keep out weeds.

Whether you are just starting a garden or rejuvenating an existing one, giving it life can be as simple as changing its overall shape.Even if the garden is filled with beautiful plants and other features, a dull or unimaginative layout can quickly turn...