Using Vinegar in Gardens It has been said that one of the benefits of vinegar in the garden is as a fertilizing agent. Nope. Acetic acid only contains carbon hydrogen and oxygen — stuff the plant can get from the air. Vinegar has been recommended for use to up the pH levels in your soil. Apparently not so. The effects are temporary and require large amounts of vinegar in the garden before anything noteworthy occurs....
Where to Put Your Greenhouse Before you decide where to put your greenhouse, consider what exactly you plan to grow in the greenhouse and what type of greenhouse do you plan to erect. If you are a home grower that plans to grow for your own amusement and use, the greenhouse will generally be on a smaller scale, but if you wish to start a business, it will have to be much larger....
Is Black Bamboo Invasive? There are several varieties of bamboo with black culms (stems) and over 1,200 species of bamboo in general. Phyllostachys nigra, or ‘black bamboo,’ has the potential to be very invasive. This Chinese native is classified as a running bamboo, meaning it spreads quickly by underground rhizomes. However, do not let that discourage you from planting it. With some black bamboo information in hand, you will know how to minimize its invasiveness....
Budding Propagation Technique What is budding propagation? Propagation by budding is a pretty common method of plant propagation, in which a plant bud is grafted onto the stem of a rootstock plant. Creating bizarre fruit trees that bear many types of fruit is not the only reason for propagation by budding. Orchard growers frequently use the budding propagation technique to quickly create new dwarf or semi-dwarf fruit trees that take less time to fruit and require less space in the orchard....
Types of Butterfly Bushes for Cool Climates If you live somewhere that gets winter frost and temperatures get into “minus” territory, you can still plant selected butterfly bush types. Although butterfly bushes are evergreen in warmer climes, in cool areas they die back in fall, then regrow rapidly in spring. Pick from among the cold-hardy types of butterfly bushes according to the height that pleases you. You can also choose different butterfly bushes by flower color; blossom hues range from dark purple through pink to white....
Can Compost Get Old? Composting is easy, but it does require a certain adherence to a 60/40 formula of green and brown material. Neglected compost can fail to break down, lose nutrients and even get moldy. Reviving old compost takes a bit of effort but can result in fairly good material for use in the garden. As the cold days of winter come to a close, you may wonder, “is my compost dead....
Container Grown Peanuts Peanuts, scientifically known as Arachis hypogaea, are hardy in zones 6 to 11. They are in the legume family and classified as tropical plants. It is because of this that many people in cooler climates may wonder, “Can you grow peanuts in containers?”. Yes, but they do have certain requirements. As tropical plants, they thrive in heat, humidity, full sun, and moist but well-draining soil. These growing needs should be considered before attempting to grow peanut plants in containers....
The disease not only affects cherries but also can be present in peaches, plums, apricots, and almonds. Brown rot cherry symptoms can increase exponentially in as little as 24 hours and decimate a crop. Read on for more information on treating cherry brown rot. Cherry Brown Rot Information Brown rot on cherry trees is caused by the fungus Monilinia fructicola, which spreads rapidly during ripening and in storage post-harvest. The pathogen responsible overwinters in dropped fruit or still-attached mummy fruit and any other affected plant material....
Chili Peppers Not Hot You’ve heard the phrase, “Some like it hot.” They aren’t really referring to peppers, but the saying holds true anyway. The various levels of heat that develop in a pepper depend upon the amount of capsaicin. Chili peppers not hot enough for you may just be the wrong kind. Some chilies are quite mild such as bells, pepperoncini, and paprika, which are all low on the Scoville index....
Growing Yuccas in Zone 5 The slightly dangerous looking Yucca is a large group of sun-loving plants. There are tall specimens, such as Joshua tree, and ground hugging little plants, like Adam’s Needle. Most are found in regions with little rain, plenty of sunshine, and hot days. However, even desert temperatures can dip into freezing at night and these plants have developed remarkable adaptability to temperatures below zero. Yuccas are stately, although spiky, plants that add desert elegance to any landscape or container....
Perennials for Northern Gardens Perennials in North Central states like North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Illinois must be able to survive long, cold winters and hot summers. Between native plants that naturally thrive in this region and others that grow in similar climates around the world, there are plenty of options to choose from: Purple coneflower: Also known as Echinacea, this is a solid and reliable perennial great for beginner to advanced gardeners....
So, what are the common insects in California gardens? Read on for information on regional pests, including both California garden pests and Nevada pests. California Garden Pests Insects are pests that threaten both California’s natural environments as well as homes, gardens, and agriculture. While the list of common insects that trouble California gardeners contains pests that also frequent other states, there are a few unique pests that may not be as common elsewhere....
In storing the fruits, growers will be able to enjoy homegrown produce throughout the growing season and into the winter months. Cooling is a big part of that. Why Does Fruit Need to Be Cooled? Post-harvest cooling of fruit is used both commercially and by home gardeners. Cooling fruit is important for maintaining the quality of the harvest. Removing excess heat and bringing the temperature of the fruit down to an optimal level will help stop the ripening process....
Creosote Bush Information Another name for this plant is greasewood. The unappealing name is referring to the large bush’s sticky resin-coated leaves that carry a strong smell that releases in warm desert rains, permeating the entire area with the characteristic scent. Creosote bush can live for 100 years and produces flowers most of the year followed by strange fuzzy silver fruits. The plant may get up to 13 feet (3.9 m....
Based on my understanding, while double poppy plants are a sub-type of the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum), they possess a much lower morphine content, making it perfectly legal to grow this particular variant in the garden – provided your intention is to enjoy it strictly for its aesthetics. Read on to learn more about growing double-flowering poppies. What is a Double Poppy? As the name suggests, double poppy plants (USDA Zone 3-8) are annual ornamental plants that resemble peonies with their large, tightly packed double flowers, four to five inches (10-12....
How to Help Animals in Winter Birds, beneficial insects, and other critters require natural, undisturbed areas. Helping wildlife overwinter means giving up the idea of a perfectly manicured lawn and tidy garden. For instance, you can: Leave a few piles of leaves to create a winter wildlife habitat. Rake them into a corner where they won’t be as visible. Create a bundle of plant stems where birds and beneficial insects can overwinter....
When to Split Forget-Me-Nots Many perennials benefit greatly from division. Dividing forget-me-nots can help the plant form stouter stems that are less floppy and prevent center die-out. It can also increase the number of plants or control the size of an existing plant. In the annual form, forget-me-not will readily self-sow, populating the garden in every nook and cranny over time. Perennial forget-me-not flower division is recommended for the above reasons....
How to Freeze Garden Tomatoes I like to think of myself as an excellent if sometimes, lazy cook. I cook pretty much every night of the week not only because I can but to save money and ensure that we are eating healthily – at least one meal each day. Same reason for planting a veggie garden. So with this year’s bumper crops and preserving tomato harvest, I had every intention of canning the summer’s bounty....
About Zone 7 Garlic Planting Garlic comes in two basic types: softneck and hardneck. Softneck garlic does not produce a flower stalk, but forms layers of cloves around a soft central core and has the longest shelf life. Softneck garlic is the most common type found in the supermarket and is also the type to grow if you want to make garlic braids. Most softneck garlic varieties are suited to areas of mild winters, but Inchelium Red, Red Toch, New York White Neck, and Idaho Silverskin are suitable for garlic varieties for zone 7 and, in fact, will thrive in zone 4 or even 3 if protected over the winter months....
While attention grabbing boulders and water features is one idea, implementing various types of gravel gardens is another excellent way to enhance your space. Read on for some easy gravel garden ideas you can try out yourself. Benefits of Gravel Garden Beds When it comes to ways to garden with gravel, the options are limitless. Throughout the design process, homeowners will need to consider the size and color of stones to be used....
