How Much Water does a Plane Tree Need? As with all trees, the age of the plane tree dictates the amount of watering it requires, but that isn’t the only factor to consider regarding plane tree irrigation. The time of the year and weather conditions are, of course, a huge factor when determining a plane tree’s water needs. Soil conditions are also a factor when determining when and how much water a tree needs....

Meadow Grass Uses The good part about native grasses is their resilience. Wild grasses have adapted to local growing conditions and are aggressive regarding competitors and hardy in extreme conditions. For this reason, many gardeners choose to remove turf grass and use the more water-friendly, rough native grasses. Controlling meadow grass lawns requires less work than the usual mowing, weeding, thatching, etc. that is required in traditional turf lawns. Meadow grass also makes a perfect companion in a wild plant vacant lot or field....

Native Garden Weed Control As a gardener, weeds are the bane of one’s existence. Other maintenance tasks pale in comparison to dealing with interlopers in carefully planned beds. Luckily, there are steps you can take to at least minimize the weeds in your landscape and prevent these competitive pests from spoiling the appearance of the garden and the health of your plants. Proper preparation of the area in which you plant your natives is important – not only soil prep but also removal of existing weeds, especially perennial varieties....

Can You Grow Oranges in a Pot? Yes, indeed. Growing orange trees in containers is the easiest and surest method to protect them from possible cold damage. The key is selecting the best orange trees suited for pots followed by appropriate fertilization, watering, and maintenance of size through pruning. Best Orange Trees for Pots Almost any citrus can be container grown, but due to their large size, they may suffer in a pot....

Tips for Bringing Oleander Indoors Oleander bushes have been popular container plants since the 1800’s. In the north, they are not terribly hardy and should be potted into containers and overwintered in a sheltered location or indoors for winter. If you are a northern gardener, overwintering oleander indoors may be the key to enjoying the festive blooms and intoxicating scent. There are a few things to note, however, regarding oleander care in winter....

Common Pest Problems of Hibiscus Aphids: Tiny green, white, or black pests that suck the juices from the foliage, usually found in clusters. Control aphids with horticultural oil or insecticidal soap. Whiteflies: Miniscule, gnat-sized pests that suck juices, usually from the undersides of leaves. Control whiteflies with horticultural oil, insecticidal soap, or sticky traps. Thrips: Small, narrow pests that lay eggs inside hibiscus buds, often causing buds to drop before flowering....

Caring for Phalaenopsis Orchids Post Bloom Phalaenopsis orchid care bears a simpler set of instructions compared to many other orchids, which is probably why this plant is one of the more commonly grown. Most Phals can be forced to bloom from the old flower spike and then the stem can be removed. A few species will only bloom off old stems, which should not be cut off. The most common moth orchids are the type which require the old stem to be removed after a secondary bloom....

Can You Plant an Apricot Seed? Query no more. Yes, growing apricots from seed is possible, cheap, and fun. So, how to start an apricot tree from a pit? Growing apricots from seed is an easy project and, in fact, pits from a variety of fruit can be used to grow trees. Cross pollination between varieties begets uncertain results, so most fruit trees are not grown from seeds. Instead, cuttings or buds of the most favorable specimens are grafted onto rootstock to produce trees that are near carbon copies of the parent trees....

Annual Wildflowers for Zone 10 Few things are as spectacular as a field or bed of hot weather wildflowers. If you are an urban gardener and don’t have the opportunity to see a native pasture or hillside taken over by these colorful beauties, you can still select species that will fit into your landscape and provide the eye-popping color of a wildflower oasis. Annuals often start beautifully from seed and can be found already blooming in the season in which they should be planted....

Preparing Power Equipment for Winter When winterizing gas power tools, there are two options. You may drain the gasoline from the engines or add a stabilizer to the gas. If you have to remove the gas when storing power garden equipment for the season, you can use it in your automobile. Read the equipment manual to learn if gas is meant to be drained or stabilized. Many equipment manuals are available online at the dealer’s sight....

About Peach Tree Pruning The performance of peach trees is dependent upon annual pruning combined with proper fertilization, irrigation, and pest management. Left unpruned, peach trees become susceptible to increased diseases, shorter life, and overproduction, resulting in smaller fruit. There are several reasons for pruning a peach tree. Pruning creates a strong framework that is able to support large yields. It also aids in balancing fruit production and vegetative growth. Pruning is used to control the height and spread of a tree, allowing for easier harvesting....

Why Do Plants Die in Winter? You were probably very disappointed to discover that your perennials died over the winter, despite their long-lived nature. Plopping a perennial in the ground isn’t a guaranteed recipe for success, though, especially if you live in an area where it gets very cold and tends to freeze. A couple of different things can go wrong during your plant’s dormancy, including: Ice crystal formation in cells....

Why are My Watermelons Small? Okay, let’s attack the obvious here. Do you know what type of watermelon you are growing? Are you sure it’s not one of the personal sized? I’ve been guilty of not labeling areas of the garden and forgetting not only what cultivar, but even exactly what I sowed in a certain spot! If you’re sure your melons are not supposed to be small, you’re still left with the question “why are my watermelons small?...

About Shade Plants for Wet Sites You may think finding wet-tolerant shade plants is a challenge. Often, when looking up shade plants, you will get a list of shade plants for dry areas, not shade plants for poor drainage or wet sites. But there are many, and shade plants for wet sites aren’t limiting either. There are interesting, moisture-loving plants for the shade that bloom or have unique foliage shapes and colors....

Choosing Southern Fruit Trees Fruit you can grow in the south is often chosen by your zip code on specialized nursery sites. Local nurseries and even big box stores can purchase appropriate trees for the growing zones they serve. Autumn is often the best planting time for fruit trees. While it is no problem to find just the right southeastern U.S. fruit trees for your area, you still have many decisions to make:...

About Spider Mites in Trees Although we sometimes call them “bugs” or “insects,” the fact that they have eight legs means that technically, spider mites are more closely related to spiders and ticks. They can seriously damage trees because they are present in large numbers. Each adult female can lay around 100 eggs and, in warm weather, they can have up to 30 generations in a year. The last clutch of eggs overwinters on the trees and waits until warm weather returns to hatch....

What is Subterranean Clover? Subterranean clover uses span many areas from soil improvement to beneficial insect habit. There are several species that thrive in Mediterranean environments, most of which thrive if planted in late summer to early fall. Plants go dormant in winter but come back into full leaf and bloom in spring. The name for the clover actually comes from its reproduction process, not its spread through stolon. In spring, the seeds mature in a bur that is just below the soil surface....

Crabapple trees produce beautiful spring blossoms and small, apple-like fruit. The resemblance to apples ends with the flavor, which is quite tart. Crabapples are best used in recipes with some sugar. They make excellent preserves or may be added to any recipe in which you would use apples. And in the right zone, crabapples are easy to grow, producing prodigiously. Are Crabapples Edible? The crabapple is a small tree up to large shrub....

A bit crunchier than spinach, but more tender than kale, this gorgeous vegetable comes in a surprising array of colors. Technically speaking, chard is a beet, but doesn’t have a bulbous root. It’s referred to as a member of the “goosefoot” family due to the shape of its leaves. What makes it Swiss? It was identified and named by a Swiss botanist. Full of Vitamins A and C, Swiss chard counts toward the dark leafy vegetable component of your diet....

How to Grow Beans At Home Shell beans are one of the easiest crops to grow, harvest and dry. Beans require very little work and are loaded with nutrients. Many types of shell beans contain about 22% protein. Dried beans also provide plenty of fiber, zinc, iron and folic acid. To grow beans at home, choose a sunny spot with good drainage. Fertile soil works best, but beans are a nitrogen-fixing crop and actually help improve soil quality....