July in the Northeast By June, pretty much everything that needs to be planted has been and spring bloomers have been pruned back, so it might seem like a good idea to hang up the garden gloves, sip some ice tea and watch the garden unfurl. Not so. There are still lots of July garden tasks to be accomplished. Weeding, of course, is never-ending, but to minimize having to hand-pull weeds if you haven’t already done so now is the time to mulch....
Environmental Causes of Pine Tree Browning In years of heavy rain or extreme drought, pine trees may brown in response. Browning is often caused by an inability of the pine tree to uptake enough water to keep its needles alive. When moisture is overly abundant and drainage is poor, root rot is often the culprit. As roots die, you may notice your pine tree dying from the inside out. This is a way for the tree to protect itself from total collapse....
Pinto Bean Information Native to Mexico, pintos take about 90 to 150 days to grow as a dry bean but can be harvested earlier and eaten as a green snap bean. They come in both determinate (bush) and indeterminate (pole) varieties. They require very little care, although they need more space between plants than other bean types. Since they are indigenous to subtropical climes, they can be sensitive to cold. Pintos need long, warm summers with full sun exposure of at least six hours per day....
Midsummer Planting Tips There are many vegetables and flowers that you can plant mid-summer – even in northern or mountain states such as Minnesota and Colorado. The most important things you need to know for planting in midsummer are: With these facts in hand, you can calculate whether it is worth it to fit in a second harvest or whether you should let the garden rest until winter. Some plants stop growing and die with just a light frost whereas others can keep going until it gets really cold....
Did you know, for instance, that the leaves, flowers, and roots of dandelion are edible or that the dandelion has purported medicinal properties? Bees and other pollinators also rely on them for a nectar source early in the growing season. It’s true! So, what are you waiting for? Let’s find out how to grow dandelion seeds and when to sow dandelions! Propagating Dandelion from Seed It is said that there are over 250 species of dandelion in existence, though the variety known as “common dandelion” (Taraxacum officinale) is the one that is most likely populating your lawn and garden....
Plumbago plants are sprawling shrubs with branches that resemble vines. It is prized for the profusion of blue phlox-like flowers it produces for extended periods of time. It has few pests and diseases are rare. Two additional bonuses are its deer resistance and, once established, these easy-growing shrubs also tolerate drought. How to Grow a Plumbago Plant If you live in a USDA plant hardiness zone of 9-11, caring for plumbago will be much easier, and your selection of where to grow plumbago is endless....
Container Gardening for Garlic Garlic is in the Allium family, which includes onions and shallots. The bulbs are the most powerful flavor on the plants, but the greens are also eaten. It is these heady bulbs which are the basis for planting. Each is planted 2 to 3 inches (5-8 cm.) deep and must also have room for the roots to grow. This should be a consideration when choosing your container....
Common Problems with Indoor Edibles Insufficient light: While leafy greens, herbs, and some root vegetables may grow and produce well enough in a sunny southern window, lack of sunlight is one of the indoor vegetable problems many gardeners experience. Solution: Supplement natural sunlight with artificial light for a minimum exposure of 10 to 12 hours per day. Ambient temperature: Most houses are maintained at a fairly consistent temperature, yet fruiting and vining summer vegetables produce the most fruit when exposed to temperatures around 80 degrees F....
How Can I Keep Antelope Out of My Garden? The term antelope can be confusing because it usually refers to grazing ruminants indigenous to Africa and parts of Eurasia. These hoofed animals are also often confused with deer and may be seen invading gardens and munching on our prized plants. Gardening Know How’s Q&A page is often asked, “How can I keep antelope out of my garden?” Antelope eating plants is a recurrent theme in the Great Plains, as well as the central and southern United States....
Red Clover Plant Info Red clover has naturalized to North America, although it originated in Europe. It establishes quickly, grows in almost any soil and is hardy in drought and cool temperatures. Red clover has lovely purple flower heads, which are produced in spring. Each head is made up of many small flowers. The plant itself may get up to 20 inches (50 cm.) high but generally has a more rangy creeping habit....
What are Reflecting Pools? Reflecting pools are water features that generally do not have fish, plants, waterfalls, or fountains. Their main purpose is to create a scenic reflection and they can be designed to fit into formal or natural garden styles. Formal reflecting pools are usually rectangular or round and created with bricks or perfectly cut stone. Natural reflecting pools are created to look like naturally occurring ponds and can be irregularly shaped....
What are Rose Chafers? In identifying the rose chafer (Macrodactylus subspinosus syn. Cetonia aurata), one will note that it is a tan, long-legged, slender beetle from 5/16 to 15/32 inches long (8-12 mm.). As you can see, this beetle is smaller than the Japanese beetle and does differ in appearance. They are, however, alike in the appetite and the damage they do. The adult rose chafer’s main diet is flower blossoms, especially those of peonies and roses....
Read on to see what varieties of yellow rose might suit your needs, brighten your day, and your landscape. Miniature Yellow Roses While every color of rose is a treasure and beauty, yellow rose varieties have the particular ability to make one smile. Maybe it’s their color that mimics that of a “happy face” or reflects the tones of busy honeybees, but whatever the reason, yellow tones in a rose create a perfect foil for other plants....
Uses for Seaberries Seaberry, or sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides), resides in the family, Elaeagnacea. Native to the temperate and sub-arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere, sea buckthorn has more recently become available in North America. This hardy shrub makes a lovely ornamental with the bright colored berries and also makes wonderful habitat for birds and small animals. The plant is actually a legume and, as such, fixes nitrogen in the soil while its strong root system aids in preventing erosion....
Planning an Island Bed in the Shade Before heading to your favorite nursery for a fun day of plant shopping, take a few minutes to create a shady island bed plan. This is a simple drawing that reflects the size of the island bed as well as the number and spacing of the plants. If you’re having trouble translating how the sketch will actually look in the yard, try using white rope to outline the shape of the bed on the ground....
It is entirely possible to avoid the ginkgo smell with a little planning. Eliminating the odor in a stinky ginkgo, however, is more difficult and can prove daunting. Read on for information about which ginkgo stinks and what – if anything! – a homeowner can do about it. Meet the Ginkgo Biloba The ginkgo biloba is the favorite tree of many a tree lover. It is considered a “living fossil” since its fossilized leaves (in an unusual fan shape) were found long before a living ginkgo was identified, making scientists believe the species to be extinct....
What is Sudangrass? Sudangrass (Sorghum bicolor) may grow from 4 to 7 feet (1 to 2 m.) in height and is grown as pasture, green manure, hay, or silage. When it is hybridized with sorghum, the plants are slightly smaller and easier to manage with superior high heat tolerance. In addition, sorghum sudangrass care is minimal, as the seed needs little moisture to germinate and the seedlings thrive in heat and low water regions....
Spider Plant Leaves Turning Black Spider plants are graceful foliage plants. They are from tropical and southern Africa and cannot tolerate freezing temperatures. In warm climates, they are sometimes grown outdoors but in most regions they are grown as houseplants. The plants thrive in almost any light, soil type, and temperature provided there are no freezes. Therefore, when a spider plant has black tips, water may be the most influencing factor....
When to Take Cuttings from Viburnum Viburnum plants are primarily native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, although some occur in South America, Southeast Asia, and across Russia and the Ukraine. Plants have attractive lightly scalloped leaves, stunning flowers, and clusters of small fruits. Propagating viburnum can ensure an exact cloned plant from the parent while giving an interesting look into the practices that successful growers employ. One of the most important aspects of propagation through cuttings is timing....
What are Flowering Cherry Trees? Ornamental cherries are flowering cherry trees that are closely related to orchard cherry trees but are not grown for their fruit. Rather, ornamental cherries are grown for their ornamental properties, particularly their springtime floral displays. Ornamental or flowering cherry refers to several species of Prunus trees along with their cultivars. Most of these Prunus species hail from Japan. Although some types of flowering cherry produce fruit, it is usually too tart for human consumption....
