Basics of Rain Garden Design Before you build a rain garden, you need to decide where you will be placing your rain garden. Where to place your rain garden is as important as how to build a rain garden. There are a few things to keep in mind when deciding where your rain garden will go. Away from the house– While rain gardens are lovely, the point of them is to help draw away water runoff....
Soil preparation is best accomplished in autumn before planting the rhododendron in spring. When to plant rhododendron will depend on the USDA zone in which it grows. Growing rhododendron is an exacting task, but with the right soil and location, the rhododendron bush will provide an optimum performance. Unlike many blooming plants, rhododendron does not like full morning sun in winter and does best when planted in dappled shade on the north side of a building....
Advantages and Disadvantages of Growing in Rockwool Safety: Formed from natural materials, rockwool contains no harmful chemicals. It’s safe to use as a rooting medium and substrate material for plants. On the other hand, human exposure to rockwool represents a health issue. Due to its physical properties, rockwool growing medium can cause irritation to skin, eyes and lungs. Sterile: Since rockwool for plants is a manufactured product, it’s contains no weed seeds, disease pathogens or pests....
The common knowledge when preparing vegetables is to wash them and remove certain bits. The carrot tops, the leafy part of leeks, and broccoli stems are just a few of the edible waste we discard. Utilizing all parts is feasible in most produce, although a few are toxic and should be avoided. Eating everything is a great way to reduce greenhouse gas and enhance the environment and your wallet. Types of Root to Stalk Vegetables Many of our root vegetables have parts that are commonly discarded....
What are Pincushion Flowers? The pincushion flower is part of the Scabiosa genus of flowering plants. Its common name derived from the flower’s cushion-like center and pin-looking stamens, which resemble that of a pincushion. This attractive summer bloomer can be found in a variety of colors with blue, purple and white being the most notable. Flowers may reach up to a foot or two (.3-.6 m.) in height above the lush gray to blue-green foliage....
What to Do in September? Harvesting veggies, collecting flower seeds, and preparing the yard and garden for the upcoming dormant season are just a few of the September gardening tasks which need addressed this month. Here’s a few more chores to add to your September regional to-do list: Lawn Care Cooler weather and fall rains can rejuvenate the lawn turning it a healthy green. This makes lawn care an excellent September gardening task to add to the regional to-do list for the Ohio Valley....
Shade trees in the Rockies also need to be vigorous and hardy to survive the see-saw of weather conditions and temperatures. Some suggestions might help get you started on the shady retreat of your dreams. Cultivated Shade Trees for West North Central Region Before you purchase and plant a tree, evaluate your soil and drainage conditions. Make sure you know your individual hardiness rating, as microclimates across the region vary....
How to Grow Flowering Container Shrubs The most important factor for flowering shrubs in containers is choosing the right plant and variety. Not all bushes will do well in a pot. Some are too big or won’t tolerate the root constriction. Once you have the right shrub, choose a sturdy container that will last and that matches the size of the plant. Choose a high-quality potting soil and make sure it will drain well....
Southern Tomato Gardening Successful tomato growing in southern regions depends a lot on the weather. They have a short season for growing tomatoes – from last frost to heat of summer. Once temperatures reach 85 degrees F. (29 C.) during the day and mid 70’s (21 C.) at night, tomato plants will start aborting the flowers. To combat the short season, it’s recommended that gardeners start their seeds earlier than usual, at about 10 weeks before the last average frost date....
Azalea Color Change There are over 10,000 cultivars of azalea. The huge diversity of size and color as well as the plant’s shade loving nature have made azaleas one of the premier landscape shrubs in many regions. Sometimes, the plants are observed having different colored azalea blooms. What can account for this since azaleas do not change flower color as they age? The anomaly is likely the result of a sport, one of nature’s little jokes as it continues to increase diversity in the world....
How to Start Herb Seeds Before planting herb seeds, consider where you want to grow your herbs. A backyard garden located close to the kitchen is extremely convenient during meal preparation, but herbs can also be grown in a container inside or outside the home. Most types of herbs are also well suited for cultivation in hydroponic jars. Starting herbs from seeds is similar to sowing other types of garden vegetables....
However, learning how to remove tree sap can be as easy as opening your household cabinets. Many commonly used household products can be used as pine tree sap remover. For instance, one of the most common household items for removing sap is rubbing alcohol. Alcohol acts as a solvent, breaking up sap and dissolving it. Pine Tree Sap Remover for Skin and Hair A great way to remove sap from your skin is by using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer or nail polish remover....
About Tower of Jewels Plants This variety of Echium is native to the Canary Islands off the coast of Morocco. In this region the weather is mild with sunny, warm sea breezes in summer and cool, but not freezing, winters. Echium tower of jewels starts its first year of life as a grayish to silver rosette set low to the ground. In the second year, it produces a tall, thick flower spire with slightly ragged silver foliage below....
Moving Mature Trees Transplanting a big tree from the field to the garden provides immediate shade, a visual focal point, and vertical interest. Although the effect is much quicker than waiting for a seedling to grow, a transplant doesn’t happen overnight, so plan far in advance when you are transplanting a big tree. Transplanting an established tree takes effort on your part and causes the tree some stress. However, moving mature trees doesn’t have to be a nightmare for either you or the tree....
Causes of Yellow Leaves on Spider Plants Spider plants are charming houseplants that are often in the family for generations. The babies they produce will live on for years and produce spiderettes of their own. It is not unusual for many copies of an original spider plant to exist within a family or group due to these spiderettes. If you have the mama spider plant, it can be quite precious since it is the source of so many copies of itself....
Types of Shade-Loving Shrubs There are many types of shade-loving shrubs for the landscape. Some of the more popular ones include: Carolina allspice– Carolina allspice is a shade-loving shrub that not only adds interest with its reddish purple flowers, but this shrub also emits a pleasant, spicy aroma. Honeysuckle– Also worthy in the shade garden is the fragrant honeysuckle shrub. While you may find numerous varieties to choose from, the climbing variety will add height when trained on a trellis or similar structure....
Shovels and Their Uses The sheer variety of shovels available in gardening and hardware stores can be confusing. Fortunately, most garden shovels fall into a few common categories, each intended to be used for specific garden tasks. If you’ve ever wondered “What shovel do you need for gardening?”, this article will help answer your question. Before learning about the common types of garden shovels, it is helpful to know the parts of a shovel....
Plant Choices for Small Gardens Not all vegetables are well-suited for small-space vegetable gardening. Some crops require copious amounts of room, while others produce a limited number of fruits per plant. Choosing types and varieties of plants which produce high yields in limited space is one of the easiest methods for improving productivity in the small garden. Compact varieties – Depending upon your productivity goals, space-saving dwarf and patio varieties may meet your family’s vegetable needs....
Vegetables That Grow in Heat and How to Help Them Thrive Choosing vegetables that grow in high heat will go a long way toward saving your sanity. Check your local garden stores and southern seed specialty catalogs for the cultivars and varieties that do well in your area. You can also check with your local university extension agents in the U.S., who know what vegetables grow well in heat. Also, if you prefer transplants, local nurseries will offer hot weather vegetable plants....
Plants really dress up any room, and they can do the same for a tiny lanai or balcony. Plants will perfume and clean the air, bring wildlife and beneficial insects, and embellish the area with natural elegance. Even urban gardeners can bring nature a little closer by choosing easy balcony plants that will thrive in their small corner of the outdoors. Tips on Choosing Easy Balcony Plants Before you purchase, watch the lighting during the day in your growing space....
