Grape ivy in the home is tolerant of low light exposure, medium heat, and low water requirements. How to Care for Grape Ivy Houseplant Caring for grape ivy is a lesson in less is more. These plants do not care for temperatures over 80 degrees F. (27 C.), especially those into the 90’s (32 C.). When growing grape ivy plants, maintaining temperatures between 68 and 82 degrees F. (10-28 C....
Beneficial Ground Beetles Ground beetles are members of the Carabid family. While there are about 2,000 different species of ground beetles in North America, most of the ones we encounter in the garden are nocturnal. These beneficial ground beetles help reduce the need for chemical pest control by eating common garden pests like: Caterpillars (and other insect larvae) Ants Aphids Maggots Wireworms Slugs A few species of ground beetles will also eat the seeds of invasive weeds such as lambsquarter, foxtail, ragweed, and thistle....
What is a Mamey Tree? Growing mamey fruit trees are indigenous to areas of the Caribbean, West Indies, Central America and Northern South America. Mamey tree planting for the purposes of cultivation does occur, but is rare. The tree is more commonly found in garden landscapes. It is commonly cultivated in the Bahamas and the Greater and Lesser Antilles where the climate is ideal. It can be found growing naturally along the roads of St....
Using Walls in the Garden Garden walls may be adapted to be more than just a barrier but to also accent the garden and soften or enhance these privacy structures. Garden wall plants create a conduit between the manmade structure and the garden that they protect. They may also form a symbiotic relationship with the wall as it supports them and provides them with a foothold. Planting on walls is also the equivalent of a gardener’s “tag....
Most fruit trees are propagated from compatible rootstock or the mother plant onto which the desired variety is grafted to obtain a “true” copy of the fruit. Planting plums from a pit may result in a very different variety of the original; the fruit may be inedible, or you may produce an even better variety. Either way, it is fairly easy and super fun growing plums from pits. How to Plant Plum Pits First when considering planting plums from a pit, look at your geographic region....
Growing Specialty Herbs and Vegetable Crops Specialty crops that don’t grow well in your area or out of season can still be grown successfully. Farmers with greenhouses, high tunnels, and cold frames have an advantage over other gardeners. They can grow plants that won’t usually grow in their area, or grow them out of season. Imagine being able to grow fresh tomatoes year-round, or have a citrus tree in Maine. It is all possible....
Can You Grow Succulents in Zone 8? Parts of Georgia, Texas, and Florida as well as several other regions are considered to be in the United States Department of Agriculture zone 8. These areas receive average annual minimum temperatures of around 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit (-12 to -9 C.), so freezing does occur occasionally in these warm regions, but it is not frequent and it is often of short duration....
How to Detect Grub Worms Knowing how to detect grub worms is key to treating them. Visible lawn grub damage can be seen from late summer to early fall. Look for irregular brown patches of lawn that peel away easily from the soil, like carpet. To determine the extent of infestation or which areas require treatment, dig up small sections of lawn. Typically, more than five grub worms per ¼ square foot (0....
As with most vegetables, learning how to pick Brussels sprouts at the right time is a worthwhile endeavor. When to Harvest Brussels Sprouts Picking Brussels sprouts should begin when the sprouts are one inch (2.5 cm.) in diameter. Harvesting Brussels sprouts is best done when maturity occurs in cooler weather. Lower sprouts will mature first, with upper sprouts maturing a day to a few days later. With most hybrid varieties it takes upwards of 85 days for the sprout to reach maturity....
Can You Grow Peony in Hot Weather? Designated appropriate to grow in USDA hardiness zones 3-7, many gardeners in more southern areas wish to grow the exquisite blooms of the peony plant. Since that’s a large part of the country, growers and hybridizers have experimented to help fulfill this desire for gardeners in the Deep South and California. Both areas have experienced success with growing heat tolerant peonies. But with more than 3,000 peony cultivars available, some direction in what variety to grow is helpful....
Honey as a Root Hormone We all know that honey has many health benefits. It is, after all, a natural antiseptic and contains anti-fungal properties — both of which are believed to be one of the reasons honey as a root hormone seems to work so well. In fact, just 1 tablespoon (15 mL.) of honey is said to contain about 64 calories and 17 grams of carbohydrates, most of which come from sugars, and seems to provide plants with a much needed boost just as it does for us....
Propagating Corn on the Cob Usually corn is propagated from seed, dried kernels, but it can also be grown from a cob of corn. This is a particularly fun project to do with kids that teaches them how their food is grown, plus the results are awe-inspiring, towering stalks. Propagating corn via corn cobs isn’t particularly difficult. You will want to make sure the cobs you use look healthy with no mold or sign of disease or pests....
How Do I Get Rid of Chickweed? “How do I get rid of chickweed?” is a common question. There are two species of chickweed. There is perennial species, known as Mouse-ear chickweed (Cerastium vulgatum), which forms dense, low-lying patches within lawns and gardens. The other species, common chickweed (Stellaria media), is an annual and is easier to control. The best way to kill chickweed is by pulling as much of it out of the ground as possible by hand....
How to Get Rid of Poison Ivy If poison ivy has already made a home in your garden, you are probably looking for an effective poison ivy killer. Unfortunately, killing poison ivy is not any easy task, but it can be done if you know how to do it. The first thing you must decide is if you wish to use organic or chemical poison ivy control. Both methods of killing poison ivy are effective, but chemical poison ivy control will be quicker....
There are numerous types of cool office plants to choose from, depending on your space and specific needs. With so many choices, nearly any setting can be incorporated with your own ideas for office plants. Let’s look at some good plants for the office. Cool Office Plants for Beginners Some of the best plants for an office are those requiring little care. After all, not everyone has a green thumb....
When to Plant Lettuce The lettuce growing season begins in early spring and extends through fall for northern U.S. climates. In warmer areas, such as southern Florida, lettuce can also be grown outdoors throughout the winter. Increasing daylight hours and hot temperatures stimulates lettuce to bolt, which makes growing lettuce more challenging during the summer months. As a cool-season crop, lettuce can be direct-seeded into the garden as soon as the soil can be worked in the spring....
About Leucothoe Plants As a gardener, I am always looking for unique plants that require no special attention and will persist as beautiful focal points for the duration of my garden. Sounds like wishful thinking but it isn’t. Leucothoe plants provide the interest, longevity and ease of care that suit my landscape. They grow wild in the eastern United States in moist woodlands and along streams. This deer resistant plant is suitable for the more temperate regions of North America....
Number One Rule to Make your Garden Look Big Gardeners tend to want more and more space to put all those plants in. The number one rule to follow when faced with a small yard is to pare down. Remember less is more. A cramped and crowded garden will definitely not look big; in fact it’ll look quite the opposite. Instead, decide what you absolutely must have and make that your priority....
Moon Cactus Info Hibotan cacti are native to desert habitats in various parts of South America. There are over 80 species found in Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, and Bolivia. They are a colorful group of succulents that lack the necessary chlorophyll to produce plant sugars through photosynthesis. For this reason, the plants are grafted onto a species that produces plentiful chlorophyll upon which the moon cactus can sustain itself for several years....
Can You Save a Palm Tree Without Fronds? Palms are notable for their air of tropical elegance and ability to conjure up warm trade winds and sandy beaches. In areas with hurricanes, it is common to find sickly-looking trees which require special care to resurrect. Reviving dying palm trees may take expert assistance depending upon the level of damage sustained by the plant. In cases where just some of the foliage has been killed, a palm has a good chance of thriving after a good rest and some excellent care....
