Recent Q&As
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What is this plant and how do I care for it? A – Night-blooming Cereus
This is a Night-blooming Cereus or Epiphyllum oxypetalum. University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond says it is also called an orchid cactus. This particular plant likes to be rootbound in the container. Joellen recommends taking it out of the pot this spring to inspect and possible prune the roots. Then repot it back into the same container.
Related Videos: Repotting Houseplants Repotting Aloe Vera What is this plant? A: Triangle Cactus Related Resources: Epiphyllum oxypetalum Orchid Cactus: Epiphyllum and New Friends |
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What is the best fertilizer to use on tomatoes and best tomatoes to plant?
The kind of fertilizer is up to you. University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond says plants see the elements in the soil and take them up. Whether you want to use organic or manufactured fertilizers is up to you. You should get a soil test to see what fertilizer you need. As to what kind of tomato to grow, Joellen says to contact your local extension office. They will have a list of tomatoes that do well in your area.
Related Videos: Growing Tomatoes How to Side Dress Tomato Plants Related Resources: Lawn and Turfgrass Weeds: Annual or Daisy Fleabane Annual Fleabane |
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Do you have a soil ‘recipe’ for tomatoes or peppers in a 5-gallon bucket?
Regular potting soil will generally not work in 5-gallon buckets. University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond says those soils are too light and porous and the water runs through them taking the nutrients with it. She recommends using some native soil mixed with compost or manure. This will provide nutrients for the plants as well as retaining the right amount of water.
Related Videos: Houseplant Potting Soils Composting Related Resources: Using Soil and Soil Mixes Container gardening with vegetables & herbs tip sheet |
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What is this plant I found? (A: Peppervine)
This is peppervine. It is a hardy perennial woody vine native to the south-east United States. It produces small berries that are enjoyed and spread by birds. As a result, it can be invasive.
Related Videos: Summer Flowering Woody Perennials Invasive Plants Related Resources: Peppervine Ampelopsis arborea |
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Can you eat hostas?
Yes you can, and the Japanese have been doing it for a long time. Harvest the young tender leaves, preferably when they are still curled up. The taste is similar to lettuce or asparagus depending on which family the particular hosta is from.
Related Videos: Hostas Dividing Hostas Rossizing Hostas Related Resources: Hosta: Not Just Another Pretty Plant Hosta Types and Cultivars |
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Why has the trunk of my lilac tree split? How can I help it?
This is probably caused by freezing and thawing of the bark during the winter. The split part is probably in the southern side of the tree because that is the warmer side. There is nothing directly to do to help the wound. Keep the tree healthy with watering and some fertilizer to help it heal.
Related Videos: What is Splitting the Bark On My Maple Tree? Effects of Sunscald Protecting Shrubs and Perennials from Winter Cold Related Resources: Protecting trees and shrubs in winter Winter Damage to Trees and Shrubs |
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Is diatomaceous earth useful
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Can apple cider vinegar kill fungus in the garden?
Yes, but there are many unknowns, and it may hurt your plants. If you want to use vinegar (acetic acid) to control fungus on plants, it is available in a formulated fungicide product with instructions for use to keep your plants safe.
Related Videos: Fungicides Understanding Common Fungicides: An Essential Guide Related Resources: Why is Apple Cider Vinegar so Popular? Using Organic Fungicides |
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Why do my flowers look like hamburgers?
This is fasciation, which is a completely natural mutation of the plant. There are several different kinds of fasciation and UT Extension Horticultural Specialist Celeste Scott talks about them. This is all totally natural and gives you a fun variation in your garden.
Related Videos: Growing Cut Flowers at Home: A Beginner’s Guide Annual Flowers for Full Sun, Part-Shade, or Shade Related Resources: Fascinating Fasciation Fasciated flowers fascinate gardeners |
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How do I prevent cane borers in my raspberries and blackberries?
Cane borers can be devastating for raspberries and blackberries, but they are easy to control without chemicals. Gardener Peter Richards talks about the life cycle of the cane borer and explains how to stop them.
Related Videos: Pruning Dead Floricanes from Blackberries Building a Blackberry Trellis Planting Blackberries Related Resources: Rednecked and Raspberry Cane Borers Home Garden Raspberries and Blackberries |
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How do you get rid of goat head stickers (puncturevine)?
Puncturevine or goat head stickers are sharp and can stab your foot or get tangled in fabric or fur. They rapidly spread, but UT Extension Horticultural Specialist Celeste Scott outlines several things you can do to get rid of them including herbicide sprays.
Related Videos: Three Common Herbicides Pre-Emergent Herbicides Related Resources: Puncturevine Getting rid of goatheads |
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Why are my daffodils not blooming?
Daffodils are usually reliable bloomers, but there are several reasons they may not be blooming anymore. UT Extension Horticultural Specialist Celeste Scott talks through some of the most likely possibilities.
Related Videos: Daffodils Pick - Don't Cut - Daffodils Daffodils That Don’t Require Chilling Related Resources: Spring Flowering Bulbs: Daffodils Spring-Flowering Bulbs |
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What animal attacked my tree and how can I save it?
This is definitely not natural damage, but there are several different animals that could do this. The tree should be fine. It will recover over the next few years.
Related Videos: Included Tree Bark What are these deformations on the bark of my apple tree? What is this bark damage on my crape myrtles? Related Resources: Tree Wounds: Response of Trees and What You Can Do Tree Wounds and Healing |
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How do we control leaf-footed bugs in our fig tree?
Leaf-footed bugs can damage plants by sucking plant juices. While this usually does not harm the tree, it can damage the fruit. UT Extension Horticulture Specialist Celeste Scott talks about several ways to control the leaf-footed bug without insecticides.
Related Videos: What is this bug? Is it bad? A:Leaffooted bug Figs Pruning Fig Trees Related Resources: Figs Figs in the Home Planting |
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How do I prevent mildew in my flower garden?
Many flowers get mildew and start to look bad towards the end of summer. This is natural and the plants generally will tolerate it. UT Extension Horticulture Specialist Celeste Scott tells what to do when plants get mildew and identifies a few ways to reduce the problem.
Related Videos: Powdery Mildew on Coneflower Powdery Mildew on Zinnias Related Resources: Powdery mildew in the flower garden Powdery Mildew on Flowers |
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Can I grow blueberries in a pot?
Yes, you can! Depending on how large they get you may need a big pot. Peter Richards gives some tips on how to be successful with blueberry plants in a pot.
Related Videos: Planting Blueberries Growing Blueberries: The Best Variety for Where You Live Related Resources: Blueberries in Home Gardens Blueberries for home landscapes |
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Can cucumbers be pollinated without a bee?
You can manually pollinate your cucumbers. UT Extension Horticulture Specialist Celeste Scott tells how to do it.
Related Videos: Cucumbers Training Cucumbers: String and Trellis – Family Plot Related Resources: Cucumber Cucumber Pollination |
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How do you lower the pH in a lawn?
There are a few options for lowering the pH of soil. Several options are given.
Related Videos: What is Soil pH and why is it so Important? Changing Garden Soil pH Related Resources: Soil pH Modification Lawn Insects and How to Control Them Understanding Soil pH |
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Can I heavily prune my loropetalum without killing it?
Yes, loropetalum plants can handle severe pruning well, and will quickly recover. UT Extension specialist Celeste Scott recommends doing severe pruning in late winter.
Related Videos: When and how do I prune my Loropetalum? How to Prune Shrubs Related Resources: Loropetalum Loropetalum chinense |