What are Ground Cover Roses? Ground cover rose bushes are low-growing with a strong spreading habit and are considered landscape roses by some folks. Their canes run out along the surface of the ground, creating a carpet of beautiful blooms. They flower very well indeed! My first experience with ground cover roses came in the 2015 growing season and I have to tell you that I am now a big fan of them....
What to Grow for a Christmas Dinner Garden A Christmas dinner garden starts around April or May. Many of the vegetables you will use in your recipes during the holidays will need that long to mature. Others that are cool season crops can be started midsummer. Think ahead if you want to grow your own Christmas dinner. There are many traditional recipes we commonly see on our holiday tables. Root vegetables, allium bulbs, and crops from the cole family often feature in our holiday recipes....
That’s right! Many plants are useful as a substitute for this hygiene product. Leaves for toilet paper are often more soothing, softer, and as an added bonus, compostable and sustainable. Can You Grow Your Own Toilet Paper? Certain situations can cause toilet paper woes, so it’s best to be prepared. Few things are worse than being shy on some comforting tissue after you do your duty. Good news! You can use plants as toilet paper should the situation call for it....
Children love to learn about and explore nature. A child as young as three years old will marvel at the different and exciting scents that are available in a fragrant herb garden. Children are delighted to learn that they can grow many of the herbs that you use in cooking their dinner. Starting a Children’s Herb Garden Young children may not have heard of many of the herbs that they eat or come into contact with daily....
Linden Tree Info Linden trees are attractive trees that are ideal for urban landscapes because they tolerate a wide range of adverse conditions, including pollution. One problem with these trees is that they attract insects. Aphids leave sticky sap on the leaves and cottony scale insects look like fuzzy growths on the twigs and stems. It’s hard to control these insects on a tall tree, but the damage is temporary and the tree gets a fresh start each spring....
About Zone 7 Nut Trees The hardest thing about growing nuts in zone 7, or anywhere, is having patience. Different kinds of nut trees can take several years to mature enough to bear nuts. Many nut trees also require a pollinator to produce fruit. So, while you may have a hazelnut tree or pecan tree in your yard, it may never produce nuts if there isn’t a compatible pollinator nearby. Before purchasing and planting zone 7 nut trees, do your homework so you can select the best trees for your specific needs....
What are Harlequin Bugs? Harlequin bugs (Murgantia histrionica) are 3/8 inch (1 cm.) long, shiny stinkbugs and significant pests of crucifers like cabbage, broccoli, and mustard feeding greedily on the nutritious juices inside the leaves of these plants. When crucifers are unavailable, you may find harlequin bugs sucking the life out of your squash, beans, corn, asparagus, okra, or tomatoes. Harlequin bug damage appears on stems and leaves, depending on the species of plant attacked....
Hardy Hibiscus Varieties for Zone 8 Hibiscus are known for the brightly colored, showy blooms that appear all season long. The flowers conjure up images of sandy, white beaches and sunsets in hot, humid locale. Fortunately, even inlanders can enjoy these sultry flowers. The presence of several varieties that are hardy even in regions with sustained freezes means members of the Hibiscus family have a long range. You just need to pick the right hibiscus varieties for zone 8....
High Traffic Landscaping Alternatives to Grass Grass lawns are high maintenance with mowing, watering, fertilizing, and edging, and they are expensive to keep pest and weed-free. If you are looking for a lawn that is practically maintenance-free and inexpensive, there are a few alternatives you can choose from. Before you make any decisions regarding replacing your current lawn there are some things to consider. There are many ways to landscape your yard so it can be functional, low maintenance, and beautiful....
Small Garden, Big Yield If you’ve been gardening for a few years, it’s likely you’ve already been taking steps to increase garden yield. Practices like making compost and using it to amend the soil gives garden plants the nutrients they need to grow bigger and be more productive. Here are a few additional ways to improve soil quality for a bigger garden yield: Grow a cover crop over the winter.Spread 1 to 2 inches (2....
What are Turnip Greens? Turnips are creamy white veggies with purple tops. Often erroneously referred to as root vegetables, turnips are actually related to Brassicas such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, arugula and kale. While turnips can be used much as you would a potato, the greens are something else. Turnip greens are the dark leafy tops of turnips. They are often cut off and discarded, which is a mistake. Save the greens and use them like lettuce or cook with them instead....
How to Create a Poison Garden Creating a poison garden need not be so morbidly named or crafted. Make it your own, like you would for a recipe. Put your favorite “toxic” herbs in a corner of the landscape… fenced off from other more traditional plants. Showcase old-world specimens with a long history surrounded in lore. Choose commonly seen plants once found in a witch’s garden. Likewise, you might want to stick with everyday toxic garden plants....
What is Hydrilla? Hydrilla management is the responsibility of pond and lake denizens. What is hydrilla? The plant is often confused with our native Elodea, but it has one or more teeth on the underside of the midrib. This gives the plant a rough feel when you drag your hand down the length of the stem. The plant is native to Africa, Australia, and parts of Asia but has managed to take over many areas of our native flora here in the U....
How to Take Indigo Cuttings Take cuttings early in the morning from vigorous shoots on healthy plants. Try to pick a day following a rain so that cuttings will be turgid. Take extra clippings, a few more than you need to allow for those that don’t take root. Cuttings should be 4 to 6 inches (10-15 cm.) long and contain at least one node (where the leaf will emerge) for indigo cutting propagation....
Annual vinca plants are low growing flowering plants that come in a selection of colors, usually white to pink. Also known as annual periwinkle, these plants thrive in a wide range of growing conditions. The ability of vinca to grow and bloom throughout periods of hot weather make it especially popular. However, like many annuals, there are some concerns in regards to pest and disease tolerance. Vinca Plant Diseases When discussing the vinca plant, problems may result for a variety of reasons....
How Manure Affects the Soil In order to maximize the benefits of manure compost in the garden, proper application is vital. One of the best ways to use manure as plant fertilizer is by mixing it in with compost. Composting manure eliminates the possibility of burning the plants. Another option is to till it into the soil prior to spring planting, such as during fall or winter. Generally, fall is the best time to use manure in the garden....
Chlorophytum comosum is one of the most shared houseplants due to the offsets it produces, which can be culled from the parent plant and started as separate spider plants. The attractive hanging offsets, or babies, occur when a mature plant is in the right conditions. The comment that “my spider plant has no babies” is a common theme in garden blogs. We will investigate possible reasons for this condition and some easy solutions to get your plant producing these aerial growths with whimsical appeal....
What is Zoysia Grass? Zoysia is a rhizomatous, warm-season grass that holds up well to a myriad of conditions, including foot traffic. In fact, with its tough stems and leaves, zoysia grass has the uncanny ability to heal itself quite effectively when trod upon. Although zoysia generally thrives in full sun, it can tolerate shade. Zoysia grass has the ability to remain alive in conditions that most other grasses would perish in....
Invasive Plant Species in Your Zone If you aren’t sure if a plant is potentially problematic in your area, it’s always best to check with your local Cooperative Extension office regarding invasive plant species in your zone. Keep in mind that once established, controlling invasive plants is extremely difficult and, sometimes, nearly impossible. Your extension office or a reputable nursery can advise you about non-invasive alternatives. In the meantime, read on for a short list of the many zone 8 invasive plants....
Annual flowers for Central Region If you live in the Ohio Valley or Central region, annuals can be used to bring color to flowerbeds as border plants, in planters, and hanging baskets. Central region and Ohio Valley annuals can be chosen for their flower color, plant height, and growth requirements. Since these flowers are only grown for one season, winter hardiness is not a primary consideration when selecting species. Many times, these plants are started indoors much the same as garden vegetables....
