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You can’t find any signs of bacterial, viral, or fungal infections when you inspect your hollyhock. Pest control sprays haven’t helped either. You’re not sure why your hollyhocks are failing. Perhaps it’s because the trouble lies under the soil. You may have hollyhock nematode problems. How Do Nematodes Affect Hollyhocks? Nematodes are tiny parasitic worms that feed on plant roots. They’re distributed worldwide and cause problems for commercial growers, greenhouse operators, and the garden hobbyist....

Compost is nothing more than decayed organic matter. This matter can be: leaves grass clippings yard trimmings most household waste – such as vegetable peelings, eggshells, and coffee grounds An empty coffee or plastic pail kept in your kitchen can be used to collect the kitchen waste to be dumped into your compost bin or garden compost pile. Compost Bin Plans An outdoor compost bin can be as simple as just choosing an unused corner of your yard to pile inside and outside waste....

What is Hoodia? Picture a low-growing plant with plump, spiny limbs and an attractive flower that smells like rotting flesh. It probably doesn’t represent a plant you want in your home, but this African native succulent has been a staple of the indigenous people’s diet and may signify some hope for those challenged with obesity. Hoodia has been on the menu for thousands of years in South Africa and may soon be coming to a store near you....

What Does Organic Gardening Mean? The first step to growing an organic garden is understanding what the term organic means. Organic, in the definition of gardening, means to grow without the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Organic gardens are grown using natural fertilizers, such as fish emulsion, and natural insect deterrents, such as companion planting. How to Grow an Organic Garden An organic garden is not harder to grow than one that relies on chemicals, but it does take a bit more advance planning....

How to Grow Vegetables on a Hillside The degree of slope affects the type of irrigation you can use, and the slope of the land determines which way the rows run in your garden. The best solution for hillsides is to plant your vegetables across the slope using contour rows, terraces, or raised beds. This not only makes it easier for you but also prevents problems with erosion. Also, take advantage of microclimates when placing crops....

Protecting Yourself From Toxic Plants First, wear rubber gloves and avoid getting any plant juices into your eyes, mouth, or any open wounds. If you have small children, it’s definitely best to avoid dangerous plants until children are old enough to understand the dangers. Also, pets aren’t always as smart as we think. Cats and birds love to nibble green plants, and they don’t know which ones are poisonous or not....

Acacia cutting propagation isn’t very difficult. But if you want to start growing acacia plants from cuttings, there are a few important points to keep in mind. Read on for information on how to root acacia cuttings as well as tips on how to plant acacia cuttings. About Acacia Cutting Propagation When you are starting on acacia cutting propagation, remember that it is not the method of choice for all plants....

Fall-planted bulbs will add an exciting dimension to your flower garden in early spring while spring-planted bulbs will add brilliant color to your garden throughout the summer. There is one thing that you can always count on with bulbs: they will steal the show in your flower garden! So when is the best time for planting to take advantage of these blooms? Keep reading to get tips for adding bulbs to your flower garden....

Is My Naranjilla Sick? Naranjilla is a pretty tough plant that will thrive in most situations, as long as you provide the right conditions. However, it can also be susceptible to a few diseases that can stunt growth and even kill your shrubs or reduce your fruit harvest. Here are some of the indications you may have sick naranjilla trees and what may be causing symptoms: Root knot nematode. The most common disease of naranjilla is infection by root knot nematodes, microscopic worms that survive in the soil....

There is a difference between lava rock and feather rock, however. A little more information will help you decide which is right for your landscape design. What is Feather Rock? Feather rock forms during volcanic activity. It is caused by the reaction of air and lava which “churns” the lava making it foamy and porous. Lava rocks are any form of rock that is created when lava or magma erupts through the earth’s surface and cools....

What is a Living Wall? So exactly what is a living wall? While a living wall can be as simple as growing vines over an outdoor patio wall, the term also refers to a special kind of indoor gardening. Living walls are basically walls made up entirely of plants or an existing wall that is covered with them. All living walls require some type of support structure, a physical barrier to protect the wall, a way to deliver water, and a growing medium for the plants....

Different lantana varieties have different combinations of colors, but multiple colors are also often found on a single plant. Individual multi-colored lantana flowers also exist, with one color inside the tube and another on the outer edges of the petals. Color Changing Lantana Flowers Like many other members of the verbena plant family (Verbenaceae), lantana bears its flowers in clusters. The flowers on each cluster open in a pattern, beginning in the center and moving out toward the edge....

Are Yellow Limes Bad? If you have neglected to use your limes in a timely manner, you may end up with limes that are yellow. This will be especially true if you have stored them in an area of sun exposure. The sun causes them to turn yellow and will change the flavor of the lime. So, are limes with yellow skin bad? No. In fact, depending upon the variety of lime, the flavor may be even more intense and juicier or more on the bitter side....

No Flowers on Milkweed, No Worries Milkweed without flowers can be extremely disheartening to beginner butterfly gardeners. Most people assume milkweed without flowers will not attract any butterflies. Flowers or not, though, female monarch butterflies spend most of their lives seeking out milkweed plants to lay eggs upon. Once these eggs hatch, the caterpillars don’t care if their milkweed host plant has blooms as long as they have plenty of milkweed leaves to eat....

How to Design a Native Garden Always become familiar with the types of native garden plants that may already be growing on your property. This not only gives you an idea of the types of plants that thrive in your particular location but also makes it easier as you begin gardening with native plants and adding them to your design. Native plants flourish in their natural environment and complement the surrounding landscape of your home....

Grandparents’ Gardening Tips and Tricks Some of those tips follow, including those from my grandparent’s generation and beyond. Perhaps, they will answer some of the questions you might have or even some tried and true tips and methods that have withstood time. Supporting Bean Plants Growing beans along a sunflower stem planted in the same hill can offer attractive and sturdy supports for climbing crops. Garden tips from the past say sunflower plants are more stable than even the traditional beanpole....

Old Gardening Book Uses As the saying goes, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. You might try gifting used gardening books to your gardening friends. Gardening books you’ve outgrown or no longer want might be exactly what another gardener is seeking. Do you belong to a garden club or community garden group? Try wrapping up the year with a gift exchange featuring gently used gardening books. Add to the excitement by making it a white elephant exchange where participants can “steal” one another’s gifts....

Are Red Onions Easy to Grow? Growing red onions is as easy as any other type of onion. All onions are biennials, meaning they take two years to complete their life cycle. In the first year the seed grows, forming modified leaves and tiny underground bulbs. In the succeeding year, red onion bulbs mature until they’re ready to harvest. Most gardeners plant onion sets the second year that small red onion bulbs to hasten the maturation and harvest of the onions....

Choosing Shrubs for Pacific Northwest Gardens Whether you are searching for shrubs in northwest states that provide food (like berries) for wildlife, or you want to brighten up the winter landscape with a blooming perennial, there are plenty of options for suitable Pacific Northwest bushes. There are even suitable northwestern shrubs that are drought tolerant and plenty of native Pacific Northwest bushes that are acclimated to the region, thus, making them low maintenance....

What is Phytotoxicity? Phytotoxicity in plants usually occurs in those that are overly sensitive to chemicals. It can also occur when tank mixed chemicals are applied in hot weather or when an adjuvant or solvent is added to the tank mixture. Stressed plants are also more prone to sensitivity than those that are well watered and healthy. Phytotoxicity can exist as a response to an external condition or as a defense to an external condition....