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Myth #1 – Xeriscaping is All About Cacti, Succulents, & Gravel The most common myth is the idea that cacti, succulents, and gravel mulch are considered xeriscaping. However, this is not true. In fact, the overuse of gravel can actually increase the temperature around plants, resulting in even more water use. Instead, organic mulches, like bark, can be used. These types of mulch will actually retain water. As for the use of cacti and succulents only in xeriscapes, there are numerous plants available, from annuals and perennials to grasses, shrubs, and trees that will thrive in a xeriscape setting....

Symptoms of Black Rot on Creeping Phlox Creeping phlox with black rot may initially look like the plants lack fertilizer. When infections are mild, older leaves are often yellowish green, while younger leaves may take on a reddish tint. As the disease progresses, lower leaves curl downward. The roots of rotting creeping phlox plants display light brown spots and lesions develop on the stems. Eventually, the roots shrivel and turn brown or black....

Should You Cut Back Alstroemeria? Only a few cultivars of Peruvian lily are hardy to USDA zone 4. The majority of the species will be treated as annuals in zones under USDA 6 or should be potted up and moved indoors for winter. They will remain green in warm climates until the bloom period, so there is no reason to cut them back like you would with many perennials. Cutting Alstroemeria plants to the ground is not recommended, as it will stunt the vegetative growth and diminish blooms the next season....

About Delphinium Plants One commonly thinks of delphinium plants (Delphinium) as having true blue flowers, which is the most common color. But numerous hybrids are available in shades of pink, lavender, red, white and yellow. Blooms may be single or double. Delphinium planting is normally at the back of the bed, where flower spikes can reach 2 to 6 feet (.6-2 m.) tall. Delphinium flowers are often planted in masses or groups....

Damage from Sand Storms in the Desert Deserts aren’t the only place plants can become exposed to extreme arid wind storms, but the combination of the sand and the gusty weather scrub plant leaves and dry out the entire tissue. The symptoms noticed are leaf scorch, torn foliage, seedlings ripped out by their roots, dropped leaves or cactus pads, and other physical injury. A desert dust storm swirls scratchy dry soil and sand around the area, leaving behind plants that look like they have been in a blender....

Greenery to Use in Hanging Christmas Baskets Add varying types of greenery to some of the baskets. These may be sprayed with snow or allowed to display naturally, with some adding fragrance. Evergreen boughs with cones, holly with berries, along with pine and traditional cedar boughs and branches are perfect additions to festive Christmas hanging baskets. You could also use fan clubmoss or running cedar as part of these displays for the holiday....

Dodder Plant Info Dodder weed has thin, twining stems either pale green, yellow, or bright orange in color. It is either leafless or with tiny, triangular leaves. The weed bares cream-colored bell-shaped blooms containing a seed capsule with two to three seeds. The rootless seedlings have a limited ability to photosynthesize and rely on the host plant to provide them with energy. A dodder seedling can live five to ten days without a host but will soon die....

If you’re interested in different cuisines, you may already have encountered the need for different herbs, so now it’s time to grow your own. About Unusual Herbs to Grow at Home Different herbs to try might simply be variations of a standard herb. Take mint, for instance. There are so many varieties of mint, from chocolate to pineapple to grapefruit and ginger, each with that intrinsic mint flavor, but with a twist....

What is a Fringe Tree? Native to the southeastern U.S., Chionanthus virginicus can grow anywhere in the country except for the southernmost tip of Florida. Its botanical name means snow flower and refers to the tree’s large clusters of snow white flowers. There is also a Chinese fringe tree, C. retusus, which is very similar to the native species but has smaller flower clusters. It hasn’t yet proven itself to be invasive, but as with all imported species, there is always a chance that problems may arise....

Strawberry Plants and Frost Frost can decimate an entire berry crop, especially if the berries have been exposed to warming temperatures. A freeze following warm spring weather can be devastating. And strawberries are particularly susceptible to frost damage since they are often in bloom before the last frost free date. Strawberry blossoms are most sensitive to frost right before and during opening. At this juncture, temperatures below 28 F. (-2 C....

Choosing a Tree By Its Mature Size Most people fail to consider the mature height and appearance of a tree when they are selecting one for their landscape. Trees are generally sold in containers, much smaller than their full-grown height. The tree’s shape will also say a lot about whether it is suitable for the area in which you want to place it. Sure, the tree might look great while it’s sitting there in the container, but once it’s planted and grown to the point of concealing your existence, or the roots have become entwined in your septic lines, how great is it then?...

What are Artichokes? What are artichokes? They’re the vegetable made famous by Marilyn Monroe when she was crowned Artichoke Queen in 1948. What ARE artichokes though? They are some of the best eating… Okay, okay. We didn’t want to tell you this since you’re probably not fond of their weedy cousins. Artichokes are giant thistles. You eat the inner, fleshy part of the bracts that surround the base or heart of the bud and the heart itself is tender and delicious....

Best Herbs for Hanging Baskets While some of the best herbs for hanging baskets are those that are comfortable in potted environments, basically any type of herb can be successfully grown this way as long as you provide adequate growing conditions and drainage. Although you can grow nearly any herb in hanging baskets, here are some good choices to start with as well as the most common: Dill Parsley Thyme Sage Lavender Mint Rosemary Oregano Basil Chives Marjoram...

Fennel is an herb that grows freely in gardens throughout the USDA hardiness zones 5 to 10. The seeds and leaves can be used in a variety of recipes, including flavoring for Italian sausage, and the leaf stalks make a different and wonderful vegetable dish. There are several species available for this use, including Foeniculum vulgare (common fennel), the wild fennel that grows along the roadsides in many parts of the United States....

Eucalyptus Herb Information There are more than 500 species of eucalyptus, all native to Australia and Tasmania, ranging from small, shrubby plants that grow in containers to others that grow to great heights of 400 feet (122 m.) or more. Most are easy to grow in the mild climate of USDA plant hardiness zones 8 through 10. You’re probably familiar with the aroma of eucalyptus oil, which is an important component in many common products such as cough drops, throat lozenges, ointments, liniments, and chest rubs....

What is Homalomena? What is Homalomena? Homalomenas are tropical to subtropical native plants found in such humid climes of Columbia, Costa Rica, Borneo, Java, Sumatra, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Nearly 135 species of Homalomena plants can be found in the rainforest floors of southern Asia east to Melanesia. These indigenous florae are among the more than 100 species of tropical plants in the aroid family of Araceae. Through Central America and northern South America, there are 12 additional species of growing Homalomena plants alone....

Japanese Honeysuckle Weed Info Japanese honeysuckle was introduced in the U.S. as a ground cover in 1806. Birds loved them and spread the vines by eating the seeds and transporting them to other areas. By the early 1900’s, it was clear that the vine could spread rampantly in both open fields and forests, crowding and shading out native species. Freezing winter temperatures keep the vines in check in cold, northern climates, but in southern and Midwestern states, managing honeysuckle weeds is a never-ending problem....

Learning how to propagate plants just relies on knowledge of some of the most common ways plants reproduce and a bit of info on the ways to utilize each method. Propagation Basics If you ever started a seed in grade school, you probably know the fundamentals of this most basic way to grow a plant. However, there are other propagation basics for certain varieties of plants that go outside of seed starting....

If there are pet feces in the garden, is disinfecting contaminated soil even necessary? After all, many gardeners add manure to the soil, so what is different about dog poop in soil? Cat or Dog Poop in Soil Yes, many gardeners amend their soil with nutrient-rich manure, but the difference between putting pet feces in the garden and spreading some steer manure is huge. Manures used in gardens are either treated so they are pathogen-free (sterile) or have been composted and heated to kill off any pathogens....

Identifying Fungus Gnats Fungus gnats are tiny, delicate flying insects that resemble miniature mosquitoes. They are present any time of year, but they tend to be more common in fall and winter. The pesky gnats aren’t selective about when they lay eggs, which they deposit in the top 2 to 3 inches (5-8 cm.) of potting soil. One female can produce several generations of larvae in a single season. Fungus gnats are weak flyers and they usually don’t stray too far from the plant....