Growing Dandelions for Tea Our ancestors knew a thing or two about natural health and how to use nature’s bounty to heal all manner of ailments. Dandelion herbal tea was a constant in many homes and all parts of the plant are edible. It has some potential to benefit cancer patients, improves liver health, and contains numerous nutrients and antioxidant properties. Plus, it’s free (making it a godsend to thrifty individuals) and tasty....
What is an Organic Herbicide? Herbicides may be inorganic, that is, synthetically created in a lab, or organic, meaning the product is made from chemicals that naturally occur in nature. Both have advantages and disadvantages. Organic herbicides break down quickly, leaving no residual effects, and have low levels of toxicity. Organic herbicides are gaining in popularity due to both environmental and health concerns. That being said, organic herbicides for weeds can be expensive for the commercial organic farm or the home grower....
Facts About Thistle Thistle is an adaptive plant which can grow almost anywhere from roadsides and pastures to flowerbeds and lawns. Depending upon the species, thistle can be biennials which form low-growing rosettes their first year. After flowering their second year, biennials die. Other types of thistles are perennials. They grow and spread for many years. Worldwide, approximately 200 species of thistle have been identified, many of which are native to North America....
What is Kokedama? What is a Kokedama? It is a form of Japanese garden art that is centuries old and tied into the practice of bonsai. It is an accent to that mode of plant display where a moss ball is the focal and supporting point for a sculpted tree or plant. The moss ball is fixed to a platform or suspended from string with the plant growing out from the sphere....
What is a Sweet Potato Slip? Sweet potatoes are members of the morning glory or Convolvulaceae family. They are grown not only for their edible, nutrient-rich roots but for their trailing vines and colorful blooms. Given that sweet potatoes are from a different family than regular spuds, it’s no wonder that propagation is different. Regular potatoes are grown from ‘seed’ potatoes but sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) are grown from sweet potato sprouts or slips....
Does Hydrogen Peroxide Hurt Plants? Almost anything in large quantities can be harmful, and using huge doses of hydrogen peroxide in the garden is no exception. When using hydrogen peroxide for plants, however, the solution is generally diluted, making it especially safe. Also, it is recognized by the United States EPA, giving it an extra seal of approval. Hydrogen peroxide is made up of the same atoms that water is made from with the exception of an additional oxygen atom....
Freezing herbs in ice cube trays is simple to do and there are two ways to make ice cube herbs. Interested in saving herbs in ice cube trays? Keep reading to learn how to freeze fresh herbs. About Freezing Herbs Sturdy herbs such as rosemary, sage, thyme, and oregano freeze beautifully. You can also freeze herbs like cilantro, mint, and basil, but these herbs are most often used fresh or added at the last minute to cooked foods, which means their delicate flavor loses something in the translation when frozen....
Basic Leaf Types in Plants Leaves have many aspects at which to look during the identification process. The different leaf types all have specific purposes and adaptations to help the plant thrive in its native terrain. It is important to look at all parts of the leaf including: Base Margins Tip Veins Petiole, if present Midrib The most obvious aspect to examine is the shape of the leaf. If it is an uninterrupted shape, it is simple....
How to Grow Climbing Houseplants Since vines tend to grow voraciously and often without regard to parameters, care of indoor vines requires regular pruning, training onto a trellis or the like, and monitoring water and food needs. Often indoor climbing plants are sold in hanging baskets so the vining arms dangle down from the pot. Light conditions vary according to the variety of plant chosen. Common Indoor Vine Plants There are a number of indoor climbing plants on the market....
While some people count foxes as rather endearing, cute even (that’d be me) fox pest control may be a serious issue in the garden. Foxes are often an introduced, non-native, species that can disturb the delicate balance of an ecosystem. Over time, escapees introduced for the purposes of fox hunting and fur farming roamed free and comfortably settled in coastal and valley ecosystems. Prey for the fox are rodents, rabbits, reptiles, bird eggs, insects, waterfowl, and other ground-nesting birds, and they make no differentiation between imperiled species....
Routine Lawn Care: Late Summer If you slowed or stopped basic lawn care because the grass went dormant during the hottest part of the summer, it’s time to reestablish these routines: Mowing – As the lawn greens up and begins to grow again, remove approximately 1/3 of the length of the grass blades each week. Regular mowing encourages the formation of side shoots or tillering. This produces a thicker, dense lawn which is more resistant to weeds....
Types of Iceberg Roses The Original Iceberg Rose The original Iceberg rose was bred by Reimer Kordes of Kordes Roses in Germany and introduced in 1958. This white blooming floribunda rose bush has a strong fragrance along with being very disease resistant. Iceberg rose’s white blooms are so bright it is hard to capture them well in a photo. The Iceberg rose’s winter hardiness is well known too, which has led to her popularity....
What is a Sunblaze Miniature Rose? Sunblaze miniature rose bushes come to us from a greenhouse in southern Ontario, where they make sure these beautiful miniature roses are winter-hardy and ready to plant in our rose beds or gardens. Like most miniature rose bushes, these are own root, which means even if the winter kills the top part down to the ground, what comes up from the root is still the same rose bush we originally purchased....
About Herbal Feverfew The herbal feverfew plant is a small herbaceous perennial that grows to about 28 inches (70 cm.) in height. It is notable for its prolific small daisy-like blooms. Native to Eurasia, from the Balkan Peninsula into Anatolia and the Caucus, the herb has now spread throughout the world where, due to its ease of self-sowing, it has become somewhat of an invasive weed in many regions. Medicinal Feverfew Uses The earliest use of feverfew medicinally is not known, however, the Greek herbalist/physician Diosorides wrote of using it as an anti-inflammatory....
Mulch Selection Info Picking a mulch type is the first step when choosing mulch for the garden. Mulch is available in two basic types: organic mulch and inorganic mulch. Choosing the best mulch depends on a number of factors, including purpose, appearance, availability, and expense. Organic Mulch Organic mulch, made of plant matter that breaks down over time, includes material such as: Bark chips Composted yard waste Pine needles Straw Buckwheat hulls Leaves Grass clippings...
Uses of Neem Tree Oil – Familiar primarily to organic gardeners in the United States, neem oil is made by pressing the oil-rich neem seeds. The oil is highly effective against a variety of pests, including: Aphids Mealybugs Fungus gnats Whiteflies It is also useful as a natural insect repellent and is often incorporated into shampoo, soap, lotion, and other skin care products. Additionally, the oil makes a great fungicide for issues like powdery mildew, black spot, and sooty mold....
The good news is that ocotillo propagation is surprisingly easy, but the bad news is that rooting seems to be rather hit or miss. If you’re interested in giving it a try, read on to learn the basics of propagating ocotillo plants for your garden. When to Propagate Ocotillo When it comes to propagating, ocotillo plants tend to be somewhat unpredictable, and success tends to be hit and miss. You can try to start a new plant any time of year, but in the desert climate, the best time is during the winter rainy season when the extra moisture and cooler temperatures provide better rooting conditions....
Brugmansia Cold Tolerance One of the most dramatic plants is Brugmansia. Also known as Angel Trumpets, Brugmansia is a shrub-like tropical perennial in warm zones but is grown as an annual in cold climates. This is because there are not hardy, and the plants cannot withstand cold temperatures. The plants can be overwintered indoors with reasonable success, so you can save them and have another chance at viewing the tremendously large hanging blooms in your landscape....
Oxalis Weed Facts Buttercup oxalis, wood sorrel or sourgrass. By any name the weed is Oxalis, a tear your hair out dogged weed that can take years to remove from your garden. The low growing plant can re-establish from just a tiny stem fragment, fragile breakable rhizomes or bulbils. It produces volatile viable seed and also relies upon bits of itself being transported by animals, or us, to establish itself in almost any type of soil....
What are Papedas? Papeda citrus trees are native to tropical Asia. The plants are slow growing and produce bitter fruits which have little commercial use. They, along with pomelo and citron, are the ancestors of most of our current citrus species. Some of the trees have ornamental value, others have rootstock or breeding purposes, and still others are used as flavoring agents. Although papedas grow in tropical regions, they are actually one of the more frost tolerant of the citrus trees....
