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October Gardening Tasks Before you head outdoors, organize your chore chart with this regional to-do list for October in the Ohio valley. Lawn October in the Ohio valley beckons the onset of a spectacular display of fall foliage. Once those leaves come down though, the work begins. Use your grass catcher to get double duty from your mowing efforts and pick up fallen leaves as you cut the grass. Chopped leaves compost faster and make great winter mulch....

Cold Hardy Rhododendrons Rhododendrons are found native in temperate regions of the world. They are outstanding performers and landscape favorites due to their large, showy flowers. Most are evergreen and start blooming in late winter well into the summer. There are many rhododendrons for cold climates as well. New breeding techniques have developed several cultivars that can withstand zone 4 temperatures with ease. Zone 4 rhododendrons are hardy from -30 to -45 degrees F....

Most turtles are harmless, but snapping turtle control may be necessary to avoid children and pets from becoming injured. If you’re wondering “how to get rid of turtles in my yard,” read on for some tips and cautions about handling nesting turtles. Turtles in the Garden Turtles in the garden may be a delight or a nuisance, depending upon the variety and nesting preferences. If they prefer to nest in a garden bed, the area cannot be disturbed, which puts the brakes on any further landscape planning....

About GazaniaTreasure Flowers Care of Gazania flowers is limited and often non-existent if you have neither the time nor the inclination to care for them. Botanically called Gazania rigens, treasure flowers is a more common name. The plant is often referred to as the African daisy (though not to be confused with Osteospermum African daisies). The South African native often trails along the ground. In areas where it is hardy, landscapers use this plant in combination with other low growers as an ornamental ground cover to edge lawns or even replace parts of them....

What is Cardamom? An interesting and crucial piece of cardamom information is that the plant is in the Zingiberaceae family, or ginger. This can be seen in the aroma and flavor. The many uses for cardamom have made it one of the most sought after of the spices. This forest dwelling plant is a perennial, which grows from large rhizomes. Cardamom spice can successfully be grown in United States Department of Agriculture zones 10 and 11....

What Diseases Do Mandevilla Plants Get? Mandevilla disease problems are usually caused by humid, wet conditions and overhead watering. These cultural problems encourage many types of mandevilla diseases originating from fungal spores or bacterial colonies, but if they’re caught early they can often be treated. The most common diseases on mandevilla and their treatments are outlined below. Botrytis Blight Botrytis blight, also known as gray mold, is most troubling when the weather has been cool, but moist....

Borage Cover Crops and Fertilizer Borage is an old-fashioned herb with a history of culinary and medicinal use. Also known as starflower because of its arresting blue flowers, borage is also a great companion plant that’s said to improve the flavor of tomatoes. Commercially, borage is grown for its oil content, but in the garden, you can use its leaves soaked in water as a fertilizer, or plant masses of the herb as a living soil enricher....

Considerations for Front Yard Vegetable Gardens Creating an edible front yard does not have to be complex. You might want to just incorporate an herb garden or potted vegetables tucked in amongst existing landscaping. In my neighborhood, every house has a parking strip. You know the ones, generally covered with grass that is often ignored. Many of my neighbors have replaced the grass with raised vegetable beds. If you live in a neighborhood governed by a homeowner association, it would be wise to check the rules....

Wild West North Central Vines The High Plains region is a genuine breadbasket for the nation and has rich soil necessary for large scale agriculture. Homeowners can benefit from this soil by planting native vines for plains or at least those with similar cultivation needs. Wild vines in the Northern Rockies often make excellent additions to the garden and are already adapted to the cold winters and sizzling summers. If you are a hiker, you are already aware of the local flora available in nature....

Popular Corn Plants You Can Grow As you start your list of seeds to purchase, deciding which corn plants to grow can ensure a big crop of this sweet veggie. However, deciphering those seed catalogs can be challenging. Among all the types of corn, you will also have to decide if you want normal sweet corn, sugar enhanced, or super sweet corn. The choices can make a gardener dizzy. A primer on the three main categories of corn can help narrow down the selection....

What are Invasive Species in Zone 5? Major cities like Portland, Maine; Denver, Colorado; and Indianapolis, Indiana are all in USDA zone 5. These regions are heavily populated but also centers for important agriculture and conservation. Invasive species in zone 5 threaten the natural flora and intended crops. Invasive species management is incumbent upon all gardeners to support the native diversity of a region. Invasive species are either introduced to a region intentionally as ornamentals, fodder, or even for erosion control....

What is a Pequin Pepper Plant The only pepper native to the United States, the pequin can be found growing wild in various regions of Texas. As a cultivated pepper, it is easy to grow in almost any type of garden soil. It remains a compact size and is quite productive, making it well suited as a container grown chili. Related, and sometimes confused with the chiltepin pepper, the pequin is thought to have a slightly fruitier flavor....

Water Chestnut Facts Trapa natans, sometimes called “Jesuit Nut” or “Water Caltrops,” is a water plant with huge floating leaves grown in ponds. Cultivated in China and commonly used in that cuisine, it is also grown to a lesser extent in southern Europe and Asia. This type is considered invasive in most areas. E. dulcis is also grown in ponds primarily in China and the edible tuber is then harvested for food....

Why is My Cauliflower Curd Loose? Cauliflower is a bit picky regarding its environmental conditions. For optimal results when growing cauliflower, it is best started from transplants for both spring and fall crops. Cauliflower is far more sensitive to cold temperatures than its cabbage family counterparts, so it is imperative to only transplant two to three weeks after the last frost date for your area. Cauliflower needs to be started early enough so that it matures before the heat of summer, yet not so early that cold can potentially damage it....

About Wild Mustard Plants Mustard, Sinapis arvensis, is in the same family as cabbage, broccoli, turnips, and others. All wild mustards are edible, but some are tastier than others. Greens are most succulent when young and tender. Older leaves may be a bit too strong for some palates. Seeds and flowers are also edible. Flowers bloom from spring through summer. The little yellow blossoms have a unique shape, like that of a Maltese cross, a nod to their family name of Cruciferae, or cross like....

Native species gardeners will want to learn windmill grass information and try this for erosion control, deer resistant planting, and to attract butterflies. That being said, however, windmill grass control is often necessary, as this is a prolific grower. What is Windmill Grass? Even wild species aficionados may wonder, “What is windmill grass?” This warm-season grass and member of the Poaceae family has a fibrous root system, which can be divided for propagation and makes an excellent erosion control....

How to Grow a Winter Garden Growing a winter garden is easy. There are a number of winter garden plants and accents that can be included in your winter garden design. Foliage Color and Bark Interest The most dramatic change in the garden comes when trees begin losing their leaves. Once flowering bulbs and other plants have faded, the garden takes on another dimension with stunning foliage displays in shades of yellow, orange, red and purple....

What to Do in a Garden in Winter Most winter gardening tips from experts focus on trees. This makes sense since gardeners often spend the other three seasons cultivating and caring for flowers, vegetables, and shrubs. Let’s look into some winter gardening do’s and don’ts for trees: Early winter is an excellent time to plant new trees but aim for at least six weeks before the ground freezes. To give those newly transplanted saplings the best opportunity for survival, be sure to keep them watered....

Using Drip Irrigation Systems Drip irrigation kits are available at most garden centers. They allow you to water plants separately with emitters, or water groups of plants with micro-spray stakes or tapes that ooze water along their entire length. You can enlarge the system as plants grow or as new plants are added. Drip irrigation is excellent for home use and easy to install. This highly efficient watering method consists of a system of nozzles that deliver small quantities of water at low pressure directly to where it does the most good, at the root zones of plants....

Reasons for Yucca Plant Leaning The three main causes of a yucca leaning over are root rot, drought, and shock. Root Rot – The number one cause of problems with all houseplants is overwatering, and yuccas grown indoors are no exception. Overwatering leads to root rot, which prevents the plant from taking up enough water. Drought – It is ironic that the symptoms of too much water and not enough water are the same: drooping stems, wilting leaves, and yellowing....