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Should I Dethatch Zoysia Lawns? A little thatch isn’t a bad thing. In fact, it actually conserves moisture and insulates roots. Once it gets a half-inch (1.5 cm.) or more though, thatch actually reduces the health of the sod. Pests and disease are the top two zoysia thatch problems, but thatch can also reduce the plant’s ability to feed itself. Dethatching a zoysia lawn can help minimize the impact of that heavy organic matter surrounding the lower blades and roots....

What are Heirloom Flower Bulbs? Heirloom flower bulbs come from open-pollinated varieties that have survived for generations. They are in a sense the originals to those grown today – most of which are hybridized. While opinions may vary, antique garden plants are generally considered heirlooms if dated prior to the 1950s and earlier. Heirloom bulbs offer special qualities that differ from those sold today, like stronger fragrances. They are also genetically diverse and unique....

Fall and winter are the best times to protect plants from spring fungal problems with homemade Bordeaux mixture. Issues such as downy and powdery mildew, and black spot can all be controlled with proper application. Fire blight of pear and apple are bacterial diseases that can also be prevented with the spray. Bordeaux Fungicide Recipe All the ingredients are available at garden centers, and the recipe that follows will help with making Bordeaux fungicide....

If you are wondering “how to fix my dying succulent,” you are in the right place. Can You Save a Dying Succulent? Succulents (including cacti) have so many fascinating forms, sizes, and colors that make them a perfect plant for almost any taste. Sudden decline in their health is usually due to water concerns but occasionally can be from pest or disease issues. Saving dying succulents starts with figuring out what started their deterioration so you can remedy the problem....

Rock Garden Bed Design A well-planned rock garden is not only pleasing to the eyes but relatively carefree. And there are a number of rock-garden designs to choose from – they can be sprawling, naturalistic creations or rustic mounds of growing rocks. The overall design is limited only by your personal taste and growing space. Likewise, the rocks you choose to grow a rock garden bed are up to you. While many people prefer sticking to one type of stone throughout the garden, using a variety of rocks in various shapes, sizes and earth-tone colors can create added interest....

Why Hydrangea Color Changes After you have decided that you want to make your hydrangea change color, it is important to understand why hydrangea color can change. The color of a hydrangea flower depends on the chemical makeup of the soil it is planted in. If the soil is high in aluminum and has a low pH, the hydrangea flower will be blue. If the soil has either a high pH or is low on aluminum, the hydrangea flower color will be pink....

About Cold Tolerant Ferns Ferns are beloved shade plants for many gardeners. Unlike most garden plants, ferns do not produce flowers. They are a truly ancient type of plant that has been around for hundreds of millions of years, reproducing through spores rather than seeds. In the garden, ferns work well in shady areas where you may struggle to grow other plants. They provide interesting, feathery foliage that gives a tropical feel no matter what your local climate is....

Do you find the idea of wanting to deadhead roses intimidating? “Deadheading” roses or the removal of the old blooms from our roses seems to generate some controversy, much the same as pruning them. On the subject of deadheading rose bushes, I recommend using a method that gives you the results you are looking for. Should someone tell you that you are doing it “all wrong,” do not immediately believe that you are....

Creating Mardi Gras Decorations The Mardi Gras season comes to a climax on Fat Tuesday, the last day before the start of Lent. From King cakes to crawfish boils, the day centers on food, fun and indulging oneself before 40 days of abstinence begins on Ash Wednesday. It’s the perfect time for creating Mardi Gras table decorations in the traditional colors of purple, green and gold. Chosen by Krewe of Rex in 1872, these colors each have a special meaning....

How to Use Fly Repelling Herb Plants The following fly repellent herbs can be planted just outside the door, in areas such as decks or patios where you tend to sit, or inside on the kitchen window — basically anywhere that you want to repel flies with herbs. The fly repelling qualities of herbs are heightened when the foliage is bruised or moved about, allowing the essential oils — the fly bane — to release....

Flood Damage in the Garden When plants are exposed to standing water for long periods of time, the roots can suffocate and die. Toxic compounds can also build up in saturated soils. Photosynthesis is inhibited, slowing or stopping plant growth. Excessively wet soils also favor fungal growth. Flood damage to ornamental plants from rising water generally is not as extensive as with vegetable crops. In addition, dormant plants are more tolerant than actively growing plants to flooding....

Choosing a Garden Theme for Kids Kids not only enjoy plants with various shapes and colors but aromatic plants are pleasing to them as well. They also love touching soft, fuzzy plants and eating sweet, juicy fruits. However, always make sure your kids are aware of the dangers associated with poisonous plants and avoid them whenever possible. Adding features that create various sounds, such as water fountains and wind chimes, will also spark interest....

Because native plants are “at home,” they are hardy, drought-tolerant and generally require no pesticides, herbicides or fertilizer. These plants even improve water and air quality and prevent soil erosion too. Are you convinced to try your hand at gardening with native plants? Before you begin, it pays to learn about gardening with natives and native plant environments Native Garden Plants Native plants are defined as plants that occur in a particular area without human assistance....

Where to Put a Berm in the Landscape Berms are mounds created by gardeners in a landscape. Sometimes called “earthworks,” they can serve practical or aesthetic ends. The best berm placement often depends on the purpose you want the particular berm to serve. For example, a berm that is intended to block the view of a compost pile must be located near that area. It’s also important to make sure you have enough room to construct a berm....

How to Garden in the City Do not let the rules discourage you. Most towns have very few restrictions. There are dozens of books about edible landscaping. Lettuce and greens, for instance, make a beautiful bed edging. A large healthy bush squash can become a beautiful feature plant in a flower bed. Mixing and staggering your planting of flowers and vegetables often keeps them healthier by discouraging pests. Most neighborhoods need uplifting with beautiful flowers and attractive beds, so you are only limited by your imagination....

How to Grow Kidney Beans There are a number of kidney bean varieties to choose from. Some of them, like Charlevoix, are more prone to viruses and bacteria, so do your research. They come in both bush and vine varieties. In the same family as black beans, pinto, and navy beans, these big red beans are a staple in most chili recipes. They are only used dried and then cooked, as the raw beans are toxic....

Nectarine Growing Zones The USDA Hardiness Zone map is divided into 13 zones of 10 degrees F. each, ranging from -60 degrees F. (-51 C.) to 70 degrees F. (21 C.). Its purpose is to aid in identifying how well plants will survive winter temperatures in each zone. For example, zone 4 is described as having a minimum average temperature of -30 to -20 degrees F. (-34 to -29 C.). If you’re in that zone, then it gets pretty chilly in the winter, not arctic, but chilly....

Different Varieties of Opuntia Cacti provide numerous textures and forms for the fun dish garden or as standalone specimens. Opuntia, with their many varied species, are readily available and have a classic form that calls to mind open deserts and searing sun. The genus can be found wild across the North and South Americas, the Caribbean, Argentina, and even as far north as Canada. Interestingly, Opuntia freely hybridize, leading to new species and hybrid crosses....

Environmental Control with Greenhouses Greenhouses allow a gardener the unique opportunity to control the climate no matter what’s actually happening outside. In some regions, having better control means you can grow a wider range of plants, even if they never get to venture outdoors. Many gardeners keep the chill off their plants with unheated greenhouses or cold frames, but this is the least flexible of greenhouse structures. Year-round greenhouse growers will need more complicated systems fitted with heating and cooling systems, ventilation, lights, and shades to cloak plants that require darkness to flower....

How and When to Harvest Borage Before we get into borage harvesting, a little more info about the plant is useful. An ancient herb, borage also goes by the names “bee plant,” “bee bread,” talewort, starflower, and cool-tankard. The reference to bees is particularly apt, as the plant is an excellent bee attractor with its also aptly named star-shaped flowers. Borage flowers are usually bright blue, but the cultivar ‘Alba’ has white flowers....