Posts

Are Coyotes Dangerous? Although the wily canines may occasionally dine on juicy vegetables or fruits (especially melons), they depend primarily on rats and other rodents and are extremely effective at keeping destructive, disease-causing vermin under control. Since they are such important members of the ecosystem, coyotes should be appreciated more than feared. However, it’s sometimes necessary to devise ways of controlling coyotes that venture too near the home and garden. Coyotes tend to be shy creatures, but like most wild animals, they can be dangerous and shouldn’t be approached....

How Does a Smart Watering System Work? A programmable irrigation system allows homeowners and property managers to set a timer which automatically turns lawn sprinklers on and off. These systems have overrides which can prevent the sprinklers from running when nature takes over the job of watering the lawn, but these overrides must be operated manually. Not so with smart irrigation! Smart irrigation advantages include the ability to monitor either local weather conditions or the actual ground moisture level....

Soapberry Tree Info Soapberry (Sapindus) is a moderate sized ornamental tree that reaches heights of 30 to 40 feet (9-12 m.). Soapberry trees produce small, greenish white flowers from fall through spring. It’s the orange or yellow soapnuts that follow the blooms, however, which are responsible for the tree’s name. Types of Soapberry Trees Western soapberry grows in Mexico and the southern United States Florida soapberry is found in the region extending from South Carolina to Florida Hawaii soapberry is native to the Hawaiian Islands....

How to Grow Spindle Bushes Propagate spindle bush by taking semi-ripe cuttings from a mature plant in late summer or early fall. Plant the cuttings in a mixture of peat moss and coarse sand. Place the pot in bright, indirect light and water often enough to keep the mixture moist but never saturated. You can also plant spindle bush seeds, although the seeds are notoriously slow to germinate. Gather spindle bush seeds in fall, then store them in a plastic bag filled with moist sand and compost until spring....

Using green cut flowers in arrangements or even growing your own lucky plants in the garden, there are plenty of options. Green Flowers to Grow for St. Patrick’s Day Green is the color of the holiday and the color of the season. In mid-March, depending on where you live, you may be just starting to see some green. Celebrate the new growth and the color of Ireland, and the holiday, with green St....

Propagating Baby’s Breath Plants You may have planted seeds of this flower without success. Seeds are tiny and sometimes a little tricky to get going. When propagating baby’s breath, you will likely have better success by taking cuttings from an existing plant or planting one in the landscape. Baby’s breath is normally grown as an annual flower in most areas, but some types are hardy perennials. All types are easily grown from cuttings taken in early summer....

Plants with Beautiful Foliage Every leaf has its own beauty, but some are more exceptional. They may ‘wow’ us by their size, shape, or color. Some of these plants also grow flowers, but the leaves are the primary ornamental attraction. You’ll find stunning plant foliage on more than a few perennials. One to look for is canna (or canna lily). This plant is actually not a true lily. It has huge, banana-shaped leaves that can be green, red, or even striped....

Summer Crisp Lettuce Info If you’ve ever eaten lettuce grown in too-hot weather, it’s likely you found it bitter tasting and even tough. That’s a good reason to put in Summer Crisp lettuce plants. These plants grow happily in summer heat. But they remain sweet, without any trace of bitterness. Summer Crisp lettuce varieties are a great meld of open lettuce and compact heads. They grow in loose, making it easy for you to harvest the outer leaves if you like, but they mature into compact heads....

What is Soil pH? Soil pH is a measurement of the alkalinity or acidity of the soil. The soil pH range is measured on a scale of 1 to 14, with 7 as the neutral mark– anything below 7 is considered acidic soil, and anything above 7 is considered alkaline soil. Importance of Soil pH for Plants The middle of the range on the soil pH scale is the best range for bacterial growth in the soil to promote decomposition....

Herbs for Thai-Inspired Gardens While some components of a Thai-inspired garden may already be growing in your vegetable patch or readily available at your local grocery store, there are quite a few Thai herb plants and spices that may be more difficult to find. These plants offer a distinctive flavor to soups, curries, and other recipes. Growing a Thai herb garden will ensure that you’ll have everything you need, freshly picked and ready to use....

Taking Care of Gardenia & Growing Gardenia Plants Gardenias require bright, indirect light. They also need moist, well-drained, acidic soil for optimal growth. Gardenias also thrive in humid conditions, so when growing gardenia plants, use pebble trays or humidifiers to add moisture to the air. Gardenias prefer warmer days and cooler nights as well. Fertilizing Gardenias An important part of taking care of gardenia plants is to give them fertilizer. Gardenias should be fertilized in spring and summer....

How Do I Kill a Mole? Moles can be so frustrating that many people wonder, “How do I kill a mole?” The most effective method for killing moles is using traps or poisons. Traps are usually set in spring or fall when moles are most active, with early spring being the most favorable time, as this is when females are pregnant. There are several types available, all of which should be placed near active tunnels, especially where they are known to feed....

Lovage Herb Harvest Information Lovage, sometimes referred to as “love parsley,” is indeed a member of the parsley family. The amorous nomenclature is in reference to its use as a love potion; in fact, the emperor Charlemagne decreed that lovage should be grown in all his gardens. That hopeless romantic! The name ‘lovage’ is actually an alteration of its genus name Levisticum, which refers to the plant’s Ligurian origins. Lovage, like many other ancient herbs, hails from the Mediterranean....

What to Know Before Planting Blueberries Blueberries need acidic soil to produce fruit so before even thinking about planting a blueberry, have a soil test done. Most fruit like a neutral soil pH of 6.5 to 7.5 but blueberries are unique in that they thrive between 4.3 to 5.5 pH. Growing them in a neutral soil will result in slow growth, stunted plants with yellowing leaves, and little to no fruit....

What is Damping Off? Damping off occurs in many types of soil and in various climates. The amount of damage to seedlings depends on the particular fungus, soil moisture, and temperature. Typically, germinating seeds are killed by the damping-off fungus prior to emerging from the ground, and older, more established plants are seldom affected. However, portions of the roots and stems can still be attacked, resulting in poor growth and reduced yields....

However, learning how to remove tree sap can be as easy as opening your household cabinets. Many commonly used household products can be used as pine tree sap remover. For instance, one of the most common household items for removing sap is rubbing alcohol. Alcohol acts as a solvent, breaking up sap and dissolving it. Pine Tree Sap Remover for Skin and Hair A great way to remove sap from your skin is by using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer or nail polish remover....

Growing Hibiscus in Containers Many people who are growing a hibiscus plant choose to do so in a container. This allows them to move the hibiscus plant to ideal locations, depending on the time of year. Provide the plants with at least six hours of sunlight, especially if you want to see those lovely blooms. Although warm, humid conditions are ideal for tropical hibiscus, you may want to provide a little afternoon shade when it’s overly hot....

How to Store Bulbs That Have Sprouted Here are a couple tips on storing bulbs that have already sprouted. Store Bulbs in a Dry Place If the bulbs are in a plastic bag, the first thing to do is remove the sprouting bulbs from the bag and either put them in a cardboard box wrapped in newspaper or a paper bag. Be careful that you do not break the bulb sprout off, as this will kill the bulb....

There are many types of exotic pitcher plants, all surprisingly easy to grow once you learn how to meet the plant’s basic needs, including proper pitcher plant watering. Read on to learn what’s involved in watering a pitcher plant. Pitcher Plant Watering Pitcher plants like humid, boggy environments; this is the main thing to keep in mind when watering nepenthes. Feel the planting medium regularly, and water whenever the surface of the medium begins to feel slightly dry to the touch....

Causes of Tomato Plant Leaves Wilting Here are some common reasons for tomato plants and tomato seedlings wilting. Tomato Plants Wilt Due to Under Watering The most common and easily fixed reason for wilting tomato plants is simply a lack of water. Make sure that you are properly watering your tomato plants. Tomatoes need at least 2 inches (5 cm.) of water a week, provided either through rainfall or manual watering....