Dark Opal Basil Info There are scores of basil varieties, many are a traditional green color, but some are an eye-catching purple. Purple basils are unusual and attractive growing in containers in both indoor and outdoor herb gardens. Some purple basil plants, such as Dark Opal purple basil, are intensely aromatic. Plant Dark Opal basil where you can enjoy the fragrance as you enter your yard or along walkways as you stroll through the garden....

What is Fallowing? Fallow ground, or fallow soil, is simply ground or soil which has been left unplanted for a period of time. In other words, fallow land is land left to rest and regenerate. A field, or several fields, are taken out of crop rotation for a specific period of time, usually one to five years, depending on crop. Fallowing soil is a method of sustainable land management that has been used by farmers for centuries in regions of the Mediterranean, North Africa, Asia and other places....

What will Attract Hedgehogs? There are 17 species of hedgehog, which can be found in Europe, Asia, and Africa natively and in New Zealand through introduction. These small spiny mammals are primarily nocturnal and eat small invertebrates and insects. They are potent allies in the garden where they help keep insect populations to normal levels. But how do you attract hedgehogs to gardens? This is where you have to think like the animal and remove any potential booby traps and dangers as well as provide a safe habitat for the little mammals....

Help, All My Plants are Dying! Never fear, we are here to help figure out why all your plants are dying. Again, the most likely reason has to do with plant root problems. Roots perform many vital functions. They take up water, oxygen, and nutrients from the soil. When roots are damaged or diseased, they cease to be able to function properly which, indeed, can kill a plant. Why are All My Plants Dying?...

American Rose Society Consulting Master Rosarian – Rocky Mountain District Wild roses tend to stir one’s thoughts towards Medieval times of knights, kings, queens, princes, and princesses, as many of them date back well into our history. The botanical term for them is “Species Roses.” Though this term does not conjure up the same emotions, it is the classification where you will find them listed or placed for sale in rose catalogs and nurseries....

Is Foxglove Winter Care Necessary? Foxgloves can be a source of much frustration for the gardener. I frequently talk with customers who are upset about having lost their foxglove, wondering what they did wrong to kill it. Many times, it’s nothing that they did wrong; the foxglove plant just lived its life cycle and died. Other times, customers come to me concerned about why their foxglove grew leafy foliage but did not flower....

Giant Chain Fern Facts Named for its sporangia pattern resembling a chain stitch, Woodwardia chain ferns have high-arching fronds with delicate, dark green blades. Their attractive, evergreen leaves remain intact until the new spring fronds begin to uncurl. They make an eye-catching addition to shady spots in the garden where year-round foliage is desired. Best of all, giant chain fern care is relatively simple. The largest and only evergreen species of the Woodwardia genus, this fern plant is also known as western chain fern and giant chain fern....

Zone 9 Cactus Info Cactus and other succulents are easy to maintain and have few special care requirements once established. They perform beautifully either in the ground in warmer climates, in containers outdoors in summer, or indoors year-round. Using cactus for zone 9 can provides a desert themed landscape with drought tolerance and often brightly colored flowers and fruits. Most specimens suited for the region are smaller plants but mixed with yucca or agave for vertical appeal, they can bring a note of Saharan splendor to your backyard....

Amsonia Propagation Methods Amsonia propagation can be done by seed or division. However, seed germination can be slow and irregular and not all varieties of amsonia will produce replicas of the parent plant when propagated by seed. If you have a certain variety of amsonia which you want more of, propagation from division can ensure clones of the parent plant. Propagating Amsonia Seeds Like many perennials, amsonia seeds require a cool period or stratification in order to germinate....

Reasons for Edges of Rose Petals Turning Black We watch excitedly as those nice big buds develop, and just when they open up, the edges of the petals go to black or a dark crispy brown. Why does this happen and what can we do about it? Frost More often than not, this condition is caused by either Jack Frost kissing the rose blooms early or late in the season. That frosty kiss creates a burn on those delicate petal edges....

While you’re wrapped up in your own hay fever misery, you likely didn’t notice Fido rubbing his snout on the floor, clawing at it, or knocking over furniture while obsessively trying to scratch. “Hmm, the dog seems as miserable as I am,” you think. Then you wonder, “Can dogs and cats have allergies too?” Continue reading for more information about pets and plant allergens. Pets and Plant Allergens Pollen is to blame for many people’s seasonal allergies....

Determining When Mice are Eating Tree Bark Trees add so much to a garden or backyard. They can be expensive to install and require regular irrigation and maintenance, but most homeowners find it well worth the trouble. When you first see mouse bark damage, you may feel that your house is under attack. Just keep in mind that small rodents need food to survive the winter too. The mice are eating tree bark as a last resort, not to annoy you....

Ferocactus Plant Info Barrel cactus varieties share much in common. Flowers, which appear at or near the top of the stems between May and June, may be various shades of yellow or red, depending on the species. Flowers are followed by elongated, bright yellow or off-white fruits that retain the dried blooms. The stout, straight or curved spines may be yellow, gray, pinkish, bright red, brown or white. The tops of barrel cactus plants are often covered with cream- or wheat-colored hair, especially on older plants....

Best Cover Crops for Chickens There are a number of garden cover crops suitable for chicken feed. Among these are: Alfalfa Clover Annual rye Kale Cowpeas Rabe New Zealand clover Turnips Mustard Buckwheat Grain grasses The height of the cover crop is important since chickens, due to their size, forage at a different height than other livestock. Chicken cover crops should be no taller than 3-5 inches (7.5 to 13 cm....

When to Fertilize Agapanthus Agapanthus plants are not reliably hardy below United States Department of Agriculture zone 8. In protected sites, they might survive the winter but a little special Agapanthus care and feeding are necessary in the spring to start them off right. Avoid fertilizing Agapanthus plants with high nitrogen fertilizers in spring, which will force new leafy growth at the expense of flowering. The best Agapanthus fertilizers will be fairly balanced, such as 10-10-10 or 5-5-5, or slightly higher in phosphorus than nitrogen....

What Seeds Make Good Sprouts? There’s no doubt that the mild flavor of both mung bean and alfalfa sprouts has contributed to their decades-old popularity in mainstream food culture. But germinating other types of seeds for sprouts can add a variety of flavor palates to your culinary dishes. Consider substituting cabbage or kale sprouts to your next stir-fry in place of shredded cabbage. The flavor is similar, but the sprouts will impart a different texture to the dish....

What Type of Vine for a Brick Wall? The classic, elegant effect of ivy on the walls of a stately home is one that many of us wish to mimic. Covering brick walls with vines is also an excellent way to cover up any damage or repaired masonry that doesn’t match. Vigorously growing vines are a natural cover up and add Old World appeal to even a modest rancher. Make a list of the attributes you are looking for in a wall covering before you purchase and install....

When are Walnuts Ready to Pick? Walnuts may be either English or the black walnut varieties, with the latter having a thicker shell and more intense flavor. Both types are fruiting, deciduous trees that are fairly easy to grow and lacking in few serious issues especially once mature. They can grow to 100 feet (30 m.) tall and 50 feet (15 m.) across, which makes the tree a bit unmanageable for some landscapes....

Signs of Black Rot on Sweet Potato Dark, dry, bruise-like lesions on sweet potato may be a symptom of a common disease of Ipomoea. The disease can also affect such plants as cacao, taro, cassava, coffee, and mango. The fungus essentially breaks down the outer vascular layer of the root, rarely infecting the interior of the tuber. Sweet potatoes with black rot are essentially animal fodder or garbage once infected. Small round spots that appear to be slightly sunken are the initial symptoms of the disease....

Blackberry Bush Viruses Causes Blackberries Not Fruiting If your blackberry plant looks healthy and blooms, but grows misshapen fruit or even no fruit at all, chances are that your blackberry plants are affected by one of many blackberry viruses. Some of these viruses include: Blackberry Calico Blackberry/Raspberry Tobacco Streak Raspberry Bushy Dwarf Black Raspberry Streak Unfortunately, most of these blackberry diseases will show almost no outward signs of infection on the blackberry plant other than to decrease the number of blackberry fruit found on the plant....