When Do Black Walnuts Fall? Juglans nigra, or black walnut, is a very hardy species of nut tree. The plant sets fruit in summer but the nutmeat isn’t ready until fall. This is the time of year you might want a hard hat if you are walking under a black walnut tree. Some of the hulled nuts can be nearly as big as a fist and pack quite a wallop when dropped from upper branches....

Bonsai Soil Requirements Soil for bonsai has to meet three different criteria: It must allow for good water retention, drainage, and aeration. The soil must be able to hold and retain sufficient moisture yet water must be able to drain immediately from the pot. The ingredients for bonsai soil must be large enough to allow for air pockets to provide oxygen to the roots and to microbacteria. What is Bonsai Soil Made Up Of?...

Brown spots on butterfly bush leaves are a common symptom in Buddleia when issues do occur. Buddleia leaf spot isn’t anything to worry about, though, as long as you figure out what’s causing it and manage it promptly. Butterfly Bush Has Brown Leaf Spots Growers are often alarmed when leaf spots appear suddenly and spread across leaf surfaces. Buddleia leaves with spots can be caused by a few different problems, including fungal disease and sap-sucking pests....

Cactus garden beds allow you to have a wide selection of prickly flora without worrying about foot traffic or pets entering the area. Plus, you can make one out of a variety of easy-to-find materials. Materials for Cactus Garden Beds A raised bed cactus garden makes a unique focal point in the landscape. It also allows the gardener to control soil, moisture, and more since these plants are very particular about such things....

Can You Grow Cranberries in a Pot? Not every gardener has the luxury of a huge yard to fill with plants. With so many amazing plants on the market these days, even those who do have large gardens may eventually run out of space. Lack of gardening space oftentimes leads to gardeners to try their hand at container gardening. In days of old, container plantings were generally the standard design which included a spike for height, a filler such as geranium, and a trailing plant like ivy or sweet potato vine....

Information About Ornamental Millet Grass Ornamental millet grass is derived from ordinary millet, a cereal grain that is an important food crop in semi-arid areas of Asia and Africa, and is cultivated in the United States as a forage crop. A millet breeder collecting millet germplasm from around the world grew a hybrid with stunning purple foliage and a spectacular seed spike. While this millet hybrid had no agriculture value, it became an award-winning specimen for the home landscape....

What are Hardy Succulent Plants? Hardy succulent plants may seem an impossibility if you consider them just warm region flora. Look outside the box and consider that some succulents actually survive in chilly alpine climates and thrive in areas where freezes are potential. Many succulents for zone 5 are available as long as you consider their hardiness range. When you purchase your plants, check the tags or ask nursery professionals to determine whether they are right for your United States Department of Agriculture zone....

Causes of Cold Damaged Lawns There are a number of common causes of winter damage on turf, most of which are environmental. Depending on the cause of your lawn damage, there may be extra precautions to take to avoid it in the future. Do any of these sound familiar? Crown Hydration. When warm weather is followed by a sudden freeze, turf grasses that have absorbed a great deal of water can expand and freeze, killing the crown....

Frost and Freeze Warnings If you’ve ever wondered how cold is too cold for vegetable garden produce, you’re not alone. Even experienced gardeners don’t always get it right. This is because cold tolerance is dependent on several factors such as length of the cold spell, preconditioning, and the type of vegetable. In general, meteorologists issue a frost or freeze warning when ground temperatures are likely to drop to 32 degrees F....

How to Plant Coleus Seed Growing coleus from seed starts with getting the seeds. Coleus seeds are fairly easy to find and should be available at nearly any store that sells flower seeds. If you are unable to find them at a store, many companies sell them online. Coleus seeds are typically sold as mixed, which will give you a nice variety in the foliage colors. Start sowing coleus seed with a flat or container with a damp potting soil....

Australian Acacia Varieties Acacia are trees to shrubs and closely associated with Australia, although they do grow in other warm regions. Acacia are members of the pea family but don’t resemble those legumes at all. Most of the Acacia plant types have similar leaves but some have modified forms called phyllodes. There are also variable flower colors and some forms have thorns while others do not. The “wattles” of Australia span the country....

Becoming Familiar with Different Carrots to Grow Carrots of both the hybrid and heirloom variety come in a wide array of shapes, sizes, colors, and tastes. Though diversity among carrot varieties is an asset, many of these are seldom offered in chain grocery stores. With so many options, finding kinds of carrots that are suited to the specific needs of growers is a task worth accomplishing. By learning more about each type of carrot, home growers can make better-informed decisions regarding which types will grow well in their own gardens....

Characteristics of the Best Drought Tolerant Annuals Annuals are plants that live for only one growing season. Generally, flowering annuals bloom all summer, then set seed before they die when the weather turns cold in autumn. The best drought-tolerant annuals tend to have smaller leaves, which minimize moisture evaporation. The leaves may be waxy to retain moisture, or they may be covered with silvery or white hairs to reflect light. Drought-tolerant annuals often have long roots so they can reach for moisture deep in the soil....

About Low Water Perennials Most perennials suitable for hot, dry climates require loose, well-draining soil and are likely to rot in compacted or soggy soil. Drought-tolerant perennials tend to be low maintenance and most require little, if any, fertilizer. Keep in mind that all plants need at least a little water, particularly new plants that are just getting started, as moisture helps develop long roots that can tap deep into the soil....

Why Do We Need Vitamin A? Eating healthy can be a challenge. Many packaged foods contain excess sugar, salt and fat which we are told to avoid. Staying with a plant based diet helps eliminate these concerns, but you still want to make sure you are getting a balance of nutrients. Fortunately, there is a host of vegetables rich in Vitamin A. Vitamin A veggies have certain characteristics, too, to help you identify them....

Torpedograss Identification The methods on how to get rid of torpedograss do not encompass selective herbicides or mechanical measures. This is bad news for those of us who prefer not to use chemicals on our landscape. You could just leave the stuff alone but it would first take over your lawn and then move to the garden beds. Torpedograss weeds spread by their numerous seed but also from even tiny fragments of rhizome....

Are Eucalyptus Trees Flammable? Eucalyptus trees are widespread in California and have been introduced to many other warm states. In California, the trees have spread so prolifically that there are entire woodlands almost completely made up of gum trees. Efforts are underway to eradicate the introduced species and return woodlands to their native species. This is because the eucalyptus has displaced natives and it changes soil composition where it grows, altering other life forms as it does so....

Fast Composting Tips Simply leaving a pile of yard debris and kitchen scraps will result in compost after a while. However, the process can be sped up to just a few months if a few simple guidelines are followed. Fast ways to compost occur when the compost bin or pile is correctly managed. Getting compost to break down quickly starts with size and ends with management. The main items a compost pile needs are the proper carbon to nitrogen ratio, small surface area, aeration, moisture, and temperature....

What is an Australian Finger Lime? Australian finger limes are found growing as an understory shrub or tree in the rainforests of SE Queensland and Northern NSW, areas of the Bundjalung nation. In nature the plant reaches a height of about 20 feet (6 m.). Like many other citrus varieties, trees are thorny and also like other citrus, Australian finger lime contains aromatic oil glands. They bloom in the fall with white to light pink blossoms that give way to finger shaped fruit that is about five inches (12 cm....

Front Door Garden Design When creating a front door garden design, consider the architecture or “bones” of your home. The garden entryway should complement the design of the house and echo the mood one wants to project. The front door garden should reflect who you are and how you want to be perceived. Whether choosing a relaxed grouping of mixed border plants or a more formal potted topiary flanking the front steps, the landscaping of the front door garden area will set the tone for visitors as well as a welcome home to you....