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How to Grow Drought Hardy Herbs The good news about growing drought tolerant herb gardens is that many herbs hail from the Mediterranean, a region of inhospitable, rocky land that is hot and dry. Over time these plants have evolved into sturdy heat lovers that require minimal irrigation for survival. Additionally, herbs require no fertilization, especially if the garden plot has been properly prepared prior to planting, making them the perfect useful, yet unfussy, choice for a low water garden....

When Do I Prune Black Raspberries? In the first year of growth, leave the black raspberries alone. Do not prune them. In their second year, it’s time to start cutting back black raspberries. You will likely get a small harvest of berries in the late spring or early summer. After the plants quit fruiting, you will begin pruning the black raspberry bushes. Pruning at this juncture will set the plants up with healthy, productive canes and make for a more bountiful harvest....

Designing a Backyard Water Garden There are several factors to consider when designing a backyard water garden. The size of your yard or gardening space, amount of money you wish to spend, and maintenance level are all important considerations. Building a DIY water garden may also require a professional landscaping crew if you choose something beyond the scope of your abilities. For the apartment or condominium dweller, simple container gardens are space savers, inexpensive, and easy to assemble....

What is an Earpod Tree? Earpod trees (Enterolobium cyclocarpum), also called ear trees, are tall shade trees with a wide, spreading canopy. The tree can grow 75 feet (23 m.) tall or more. The spiral pods measure 3 to 4 inches (7.6 to 10 cm.) in diameter. Earpod trees are native to Central America and northern parts of South America, and have been introduced to the Southern tips of North America....

Fall Webworm Info Webworms are caterpillars that weave loose webbing around the tree’s foliage whilst munching on leaves, resulting in plant stress and leaf loss. This larval “nest” may cover single leaves or leaf clusters, but more often entire branches covering several feet (1 to 2 m.) across. Webworm treatment options have to do with the life cycle of the critter. Webworms overwinter as pupae in cocoons found in the bark of the tree or amongst leaf litter....

Best Full Sun Desert Plants Below you will find desert plants for full sun. All are water-wise and easy to grow, even in punishing conditions. Most are environmentally friendly, native plants that are capable of withstanding full sun in the desert. Yellow Pine-leaf Beard Tongue: This penstemon plant produces bright yellow, tube-shaped flowers in late spring and early summer. Also known as yellow pine-leaf penstemon, this plant, native to the desert Southwest, is named for its evergreen foliage which resembles pine needles....

When designing a garden path, the choice of materials varies depending upon not only the budget, but the feel or theme of the garden. For instance, is the garden formal or informal? Is there a water feature or other point that can be joined by the inclusion of a bridge? Of course, what is the working budget for landscape design and how much is allotted for garden paths and walkways?...

Tips for Planting a Football Garden Before you can grow colors for your team, you’ll need to find plants that produce the correct color of flowers or foliage. Ideally, these flowering plants will bloom in late summer and early fall to coincide with football season. Here are examples of garden plants to represent your team’s colors: Black: Yes, there are dark foliage or nearly black flowers that can include varieties of hollyhock, petunia, bugleweed, and hibiscus....

What is Green Fescue? Some botanists and agriculture experts feel green fescue grass is the most important species to the high altitude regions of northern Oregon. It also ranges into Washington and British Columbia. This is a true grass in the family Poaceae, which is a long lived perennial. It grows in thick bunches alongside other native grasses and flowering wildflowers. One of the most important bits of green fescue information is its cold tolerance....

Fingerleaf Rodgersia Plants Rodgersia plants are best suited for temperate zones but they are known to be hardy down to USDA plant hardiness zone 3. The foliage provides the majority of the appeal of this plant. Flowers are minimal and resemble an astilbe flower spike. The real selling points are the palmate leaves, which can get up to 12 inches (30 cm.) in width. The deeply veined leaves have five pointed tips, which are favorite snacks of snails and slugs....

Will Store-Bought Melon Seeds Grow Unfortunately, most melons you buy in the grocery store will be hybrids. These fruits are bred and developed primarily for their ability to ship well and maintain the proper ripeness on grocery store shelves. The problem with most grocery store melon seeds is they won’t produce the same type of melon from which they came. The reason is that hybrids are crosses between two or more varieties of melons....

Habek Mint Information Habek mint (Mentha longifolia ‘Habak’) crosses with other species of mint easily and, as such, it often doesn’t breed true. It can vary greatly in height, although it tends to be a couple of feet (61 cm.) tall. Habek mint has a number of common names. One such name is ‘Bible mint.’ Since the herb is cultivated in the Middle East, this species is thought to be the mint mentioned in the New Testament, hence the name....

Types of Lime Trees Limes are closely related to lemons. They even look similar to them, especially once they have fully ripened. Until reaching maturity, limes are quite sour tasting. Unlike the lemon, though, the best lime tree harvest time is just before it turns yellow. Lime tree harvest is easier when you are familiar with the different types of lime trees and what they look like. One of the most popular lime trees is the Key lime, or Mexican lime, (Citrus aurantifolia)....

Growing hawthorn plants comes with its share of problems because they are susceptible to a number of diseases, including apple scab, fire blight, leaf spots, leaf blights, and several types of rust. Some of the diseases are potentially fatal and they leave the foliage and twigs looking tattered by the end of the season. If you decide to grow a hawthorn tree, look for a disease resistant variety such as ‘Winter King’ or ‘Washington’ hawthorn....

Managing Unruly Herbs If your indoor herbs are too big, there are a few things that you can do. Some of the options include pruning them back, propagating them, and providing better indoor growing conditions to encourage stronger growth. Prune Back Overgrown Herb Plants Don’t be afraid to prune back your plants if your indoor herbs are too big. You can use the clippings for cooking or to make tea. Pruning your herbs will keep them growing well, which means more for you to use!...

Gardening Tips for Vegetables These garden tricks and tips are sure to make your vegetable gardening endeavors a little easier (especially if you’re gardening on a budget) as well as a little more interesting. While some of these may not work for everyone, experimenting in the garden is part of the fun. Garden in a bag — This is a great time saving hack when growing vegetables with shallow roots, and it can save on space too....

What are Flea Beetles? There is no one scientific name for a flea beetle because flea beetles are actually several beetles in the same general family. Flea beetles are normally characterized by being very small and the fact that they jump from place to place like fleas do. Since flea beetles actually make up a larger family of beetles, they vary in appearance. Some may be black, others brown, and still others green....

Bringing Outdoor Furniture and Garden Accessories Inside There are many ways to create some garden-house style. Bringing garden accessories indoors is easy and fun. Here are some tips to get you started: Who said a baker’s rack was just for the kitchen or dining area? Why not move it into a bedroom or another room in the house to use for displaying prized collections, plants, or books. Use end tables that are worn and weathered or are painted with a floral design....

Tower gardens utilize vertical space as opposed to planting horizontally in traditional garden settings. They require some type of support structure, openings for plants, and a watering/drainage system. DIY tower garden ideas are endless and creating your own unique homemade garden tower can be fun and easy. How to Make a Tower Garden An array of materials can be used when constructing a homemade garden tower such as old planters, recycled containers, bits of fencing, or scraps of PVC pipe....

Hornbeam Tree Info Hornbeams, also known as ironwood and musclewood, get their common names from their strong wood, which rarely cracks or splits. In fact, early pioneers found these trees ideal for making mallets and other tools as well as bowls and dishes. They are small trees that serve many purposes in the home landscape. In the shade of other trees, they have an attractive, open shape, but in sunlight, they have a tight, dense growth pattern....