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Junipers With ‘Strange Fruit’ are part of the life cycle of cedar-apple rust

Junipers With ‘Strange Fruit’ Can Harm Apple, Crabapple Trees
The disease’s common name — cedar-apple rust — reflects its two-plant life cycle.

Released April 8, 2010
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Some junipers – including Kansas’ native Eastern red cedars – are now developing what appears to be strange fruit.
The structures are actually brown, brain-shaped galls. In spring, these galls [...]

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I like to think I can solve all my customers needs when they call. Truth is, sometimes I can't. Or so I thought...

I like to think I can solve all my customers needs when they call. Truth is, sometimes I can’t. Or so I thought…
I had a customer call saying she was having trouble with her DIG misting controller. Very strange since she had purchased it just a week earlier and I had programmed it and tested [...]

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Why you should not plant burning bush, and what you can plant in it's place

Although a euonymus alatus (Burning Bush, Winged Euonymous) is a beautiful plant when it’s leaves turn a fiery red in the fall, that is where the plants good qualities end. Here is a list of 10 reasons you should not plants this invasive shrub in your landscape.

It has escaped from ornamental plantings into urban and [...]

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An Unforseen Drawback To Water Softeners-Smelly Water! Part 3

Now that we know what the smell is and why my water softener needed to be replaced, I will explain what my plan of attack is.
About 6 months goes by after the new water softener is installed when I get the rotten egg smell. Oh yea, I forgot the water heater needed an new anode [...]

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An Unforseen Drawback To Water Softeners-Smelly Water! Part 2

The last post explained a bit about why my hot water smells. This post will explain why I had to replace my water softener.
About 6 months after chlorinating the well, the smell was back. At that point I figured the anode rod in the hot water heater was completely gone. Before I could figure out [...]

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Intermatic Timers-Why you should not use them for misting systems

Now don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with using an Intermatic timer. In fact, I own a few myself; one controls my hot water heater,  but if you are looking for an Intermatic timer to control your misting system, you may want to think again.
Although mechanical timers like the Intermatic timer have been [...]

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What is wrong with my plant? (And how do I fix it?)

I just ran across a book that I think every gardener, landscaper, homeowner, plant propagator, and plant lover should have. It is called What’s Wrong With My Plant? (And How Do I Fix It?): A Visual Guide to Easy Diagnosis and Organic Remedies and I thought I would pass along my opinion.
With this book, you [...]

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Peat or Perlite-Which Is Best For Softwood Cutting Propagation?

Image via Wikipedia

Peat and Perlite are great rooting media for softwood cuttings. Successful plant propagation begins with understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each rooting media as well as the advantages of mixing the two.
Peat
To Quote Wikipedia:
Peat is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation matter. Peat forms in wetland bogs, moors, muskegs, pocosins, mires, [...]

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75 Plants That Attract Butterflies

Some great plants for attracting butterflies to the garden:
Annuals

Alyssum
Bachelor’s buttons
Borage
Cosmos
Dahlias
Dill
Geraniums
Heliotrope
Lantana
Marigolds
Nicotiana
Parsley
Pentas
Impatiens
Rosemary
Salvia
Snapdragons
Sunflowers
Verbena
Vinca
Zinnias
Perennials
Anise hyssop
Asters
Astilbes
Boltonia
Butterfly weed
Candytuft
Cardinal flower
Catmint
Columbine
Coreopsis
Daylilies
Dianthus
Gaillardia
Goldenrod
Joe Pye weed
Jupiter’s beard
Lavender
Lupines
[...]

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How to reinvigorate your ornamental grass

Ornamental grasses are great additions to the landscape. Like other perennials, some maintenance is required to keep the plants happy and healthy. As ornamental grass ages, the center dies back because all new growth is concentrated on the outside edges of the clump where it can get plenty of moisture and sun. If left alone, [...]

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