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What is Wood Chip Mulch? Expert gardeners extol the virtues of mulching. There are many kinds of mulch, from organic to inorganic. Each has its special advantages and there is not one recommended over another in some cases. Using wood chips, however, has the added advantage of increasing nutrients in soil over time. This is because wood chip garden mulch is organic and will slowly break down, releasing nutrients to the soil....

What are Brazil Nuts? The fruit takes about 14 months to mature once pollinated. The resulting fruit is quite large (4-6 inches (10-15 cm.) across and weighing up to 5 pounds or 2.3 kg.) and looks much akin to a coconut endocarp. Inside the hard, woody shell, 8-24 distinctly triangular seeds reside packed together just like orange segments. These seeds are what we refer to as Brazil nuts. Nuts, botanically speaking, are actually a hard-shelled indehiscent fruit like an acorn....

What Bulbs Can Be Grown as Houseplants? Bulbs are associated mostly with spring. Favorites are spring-flowering like: Hyacinth Crocus Daffodil (and other forms of narcissi) Tulip They always remind us that winter is coming to an end. It’s usually best to take your hardy bulbs that have been grown inside your house to the garden outdoors once they flower. Once they flower, they can’t be relied upon to have good performance inside....

What is Witloof Chicory? Witloof chicory is an herbaceous biennial, which was grown centuries ago as a cheap substitute for coffee. Like the dandelion, witloof grows a large taproot. It was this taproot that European farmers grew, harvested, stored, and ground as their knock-off java. Then about two hundred years ago, a farmer in Belgium made a startling discovery. The witloof chicory roots he’d stored in his root cellar had sprouted....

What Makes Apples Fall from the Tree? Let’s start with the simplest and most positive reason why apples may drop prematurely. Sometimes, early fruit drop in apple trees is just Mother Nature’s way of reducing a heavy fruit set. This isn’t necessarily bad at all; in fact, it is recommended that you thin apples to one per cluster, six weeks after full bloom so that each apple is 4-6 inches (10 to 15 cm....

Baby’s Breath Problems Baby’s breath (Gypsophila paniculata) is an herbaceous perennial that is hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9. It usually grows between 2 and 4 feet (60 and 120 cm.) tall with a similar spread. This plant has slender stems and narrow leaves, with showy white sprays of flowers. To keep baby’s breath plants happy, plant them in full sun in a site with good drainage. They need regular watering but will die if they get “wet feet....

What is Wild Lettuce? Wild lettuce weeds are native to the Mediterranean and are also referred to as prickly lettuce, China lettuce, horse or milk thistle, wild opium and compass plant in relation to the north-south vertical placement of its leaves – perpendicular to direct sunlight. Wild lettuce, Lactuca serriola, is a biennial, sometimes an annual plant that prefers dry conditions but can be found in moist areas as well. The weed has a deep tap root that exudes a milky sap or latex that is known to clog farming equipment on commercial farms and may also sicken cattle....

What is a Cover Crop? A cover crop is anything that is planted in order to literally “cover” a piece of land that is not in use. Cover crops are used for a wide variety of reasons, from green manure to soil improvement to weed control. For the home gardener, the question of where to plant cover crops comes down to what part of your garden will be empty during the cold weather....

With a wide-ranging selection – from an elegant wine-bottle bird feeder to a cool cotton hammock for outdoor relaxing in the garden – these are unique and delightful gardening gift ideas that cost under $50 each, with half of them less than $25. Here at Gardening Know How we want to keep you in the know. If you make a purchase through one of the links below, we may collect commission or other compensation at no extra cost to you....

Growing Malted Barley for Beer Malting barley comes in two varieties, two-row and six-row, which refer to the number of rows of grain on the head of the barley. Six-row barley is much smaller, less starchy, and more enzymatic than two-row and is used for making many American style microbrews. Two-row barley is plumper and starchier and is used for all-malt beers. It used to be that six-row was most commonly grown on the East Coast and in the Midwest while two-row was grown in the milder Pacific Northwest and the Great Plains....

Boxwood Winter Damage Boxwoods suffer badly in winter because they’re native to areas where winters are very mild. This means that having them in your landscape may require a great deal more effort to keep them looking good. Winter burn is a common problem of boxwoods. It may cause you some pretty serious concern the first time you see it, but a little bit isn’t usually a major problem. The primary symptom of winter burn is a discoloration of exposed areas of the plant, especially on the south side....

Tetrastigma Voinierianum Info Tetrastigma voinierianum info tells us that this plant is native to Laos and can be found under the names chestnut vine houseplant, wild grape, or lizard plant. A rampant climber, chestnut vine may grow a foot (30 cm.) or more in a month in ideal conditions. A member of the Vitaceae family, chestnut vine is a vigorous climber with lush foliage and 8 inch (20 cm.) or longer tendrils....

Clematis is a familiar flowering plant with a great diversity of form, color and complexity. The plants have different bloom sites, so pruning by Class is important. Additionally, it is best to know if you have a bush or vine clematis, as support needs will vary and they should be trained when young. For year around greenery, an evergreen clematis can’t be beat. What Clematis Variety Do I Have? You may have inherited a plant and have no idea what kind is in your garden....

Selecting Zone 6 Grass Seed Seeding grass is a bit more work than simply purchasing sod rolls, but it is economical and almost anyone can accomplish the task. The tricks are preparing the seed bed correctly and choosing a grass variety that will thrive in your zone. The best grass seed for zone 6 will depend upon your needs. There are some better suited for shady areas, while others need full sun....

Issues with rhododendrons are rare as they are relatively low maintenance plants. Rhododendron pests and disease harm plants that are stressed due to environmental conditions or injury. Common problems of rhododendron bushes can be avoided by providing the best growing environment possible and maintaining a consistent pruning, mulching, and fertilizing program. Plant your rhododendron in a shady area that drains well has a pH of 4.5 to 6.0 and provide fertilizer several times during the spring and summer to encourage growth....

Composting Basics Numerous benefits are associated with the use of compost: It can enhance the soil, building up the structure and texture. It increases airflow and water retention. Compost also stabilizes pH levels and supports essential bacteria. Compost allows plants to effectively use nutrients for achieving healthier growth as well. In addition, the organic matter found in compost encourages earthworms, which also help aerate the soil. Other benefits include erosion control and the reduction of soil-borne diseases....

How Do Composting Toilets Work? Unlike conventional toilet systems, there is no flushing involved. Compost toilets depend on aerobic bacteria to break down waste, similar to that of outdoor composting. Rather than flushing, waste is composted with carbon-rich sources like wood shavings, bark mulch, leaves, etc. The end product, as with any compost, is a soil-like material similar to humus. While the disposal of this humus is occasionally permitted in non-edible garden soils, depending on where you live, this compost is generally hauled away....

What are Sorrel Herb Plants? Sorrel herb plants are small edible green-leafed plants related to rhubarb and buckwheat. There are three main varieties: broadleaf, French (buckler leaf), and red-veined sorrel. Broadleaf sorrel has slender, arrow-shaped leaves while French sorrel herb plants have small, bell-like leaves. Red-veined sorrel looks exactly as it sounds and is streaked with bright red veins across green leaves. Sorrel Plant Uses Common sorrel has been cultivated for hundreds of years....

What are Cranberry Hibiscus Plants? Cranberry hibiscus plants (Hibiscus acetosella) are multi-stemmed shrubs that grow from 3 to 6 feet (1-2 m.) in height with green/red to burgundy serrated leaves. The foliage looks much like that of Japanese maple. Cranberry hibiscus is also referred to as African rose mallow, false roselle, maroon mallow, or red leaved hibiscus. Cultivars to look for include: ‘Red Shield’ ‘Haight Ashbury’ ‘Jungle Red’ ‘Maple Sugar’...

How to Manage Cricket Pests Controlling crickets in the garden can be accomplished in a variety of ways, with the most success arising from a combination of cricket control practices. Getting rid of crickets can be accomplished with an application of poison, but let’s consider some non-toxic methods to manage cricket infestations first; we can always fall back to poisons if necessary. Crickets mate and lay their eggs in the soil in the late summer to early fall, prior to dying from age or freezing temps....