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Are Wood Chips Good Mulch? Using wood mulch benefits the environment because waste wood goes into the garden instead of a landfill. Wood mulch is economical, readily available, and it’s easy to apply and remove. It isn’t blown around by winds like lightweight mulches. When it no longer looks its best, you can compost it or work it directly into the soil. A 1990 study that rated 15 organic mulches found that wood chips came in the top of three important categories:...

About Carrot Companion Planting Companion planting creates a more diverse garden with the benefits of sharing nutrients efficiently, repelling pests and attracting beneficial pollinators. A companion planting of carrots and onions for instance is a long standing tradition, wherein the aroma of the onions deters the carrot root fly and the smell of the carrots repels onion fly from the onions. Another option to plant to repel carrot fly is mint....

Bolting in celery means the plant is trying to set seed and ensure its genetic material will be carried on into more favorable growing conditions. Is celery still good after bolting? Well, it’s not going to kill you, but my guess is you would prefer chewable, crispy stalks with a sweet flavor and not the tough ones that develop after flowering occurs. Bolting in Celery The celery we use today is a relative of wild celery and a cultivated crop....

What is a Botanist? Botany is the scientific study of plants and a botanist is a person who studies plants. Plant life can vary from the smallest one celled life forms to the tallest redwood trees. Thus, the field is widely varied and the job possibilities are endless. What Does a Botanist Do? Mycologist – studies fungi Wetland conservationist – works to preserve swamps, marshes, and bogs Agronomist – conduct tests to determine the best practices for soil management...

What is Botrytis Blight? Botrytis blight on plants is caused by Botrytis cinerea, a fungus that attacks tender parts of the plant in the presence of high humidity. Botrytis blight symptoms on flowers include spotting, discoloration, and wilting. Buds often fail to open. It may look as though the flowers are old and fading. You can tell the difference between an old flower and one affected by botrytis blight by the pattern of discoloration and wilting....

How to Grow Yuletide Camellia Bushes Hardy to USDA growing zone 7, evergreen camellia shrubs produce large single red flowers. As the name would imply, the Yuletide camellia bloom time often coincides with the holiday season in much of its growing zone. In fact, many growers even cut the flowers for use in decorative indoor vases and centerpieces. With so many positive attributes, it is easy to see why camellias are such an exceptionally popular choice for adding color and texture to home landscapes....

Here are a few ideas for building a DIY backyard putting green. Build Your Own Backyard Putting Green To get started building a backyard putting green, you will need equipment for moving the earth, 4-inch (10 cm.) drainage pipe, grass seeds or sprigs, a reel mower, cups and flags, irrigation plan, fertilizer, and pesticide. How to build a putting green at home: Assess your site. It should be in full sun for best turf growth, with no low areas....

So can inch plant survive outdoors? Yes indeed, provided you live in USDA zone 9 or higher. Inch plants like warm temperatures and fairly high humidity. The plant has a wandering or trailing habit, and in USDA zone 9 and above, it makes an excellent groundcover, especially under taller specimen plants or around the base of trees. How to Grow an Inch Plant Outdoors Now that we have ascertained that inch plant is not just a pretty houseplant, the question remains, “How to grow an inch plant outdoors?...

Mesquite Pod Uses Are mesquite trees edible? Why, yes, they are, if you’re willing to put in a little elbow grease. Mesquite trees produce sweet seed pods which can be milled into flour. The seed pods should be harvested, when they are ripe, between the months of June and September (in the U.S.). It is recommended to harvest pods when they are dry and brittle, and to collect them directly from the tree branches in lieu of the ground to avoid contamination with fungi and bacteria....

Clove Tree Information The clove tree is native to Indonesia, but clove tree information suggests that it has naturalized in many warm countries. These include Mexico, Kenya, and Sri Lanka. The plant has been cultivated since 200 B.C. to produce cloves. The most important clove tree use is, of course, the plant’s aromatic dried buds, or cloves. The name cloves comes from Latin “clavus,” meaning nail, as cloves often look like small nails....

Anise Insect Repellent Anise is a stunning, low-maintenance, drought-tolerant plant with feathery upper leaves and umbrella-shaped clusters of dainty yellowish-white flowers. But, does anise repel bugs in the garden? Commercial pest control products are loaded with chemicals that are harmful to pets, human beings and the environment. Seasoned gardeners say anise pest control is an easy, nontoxic way to discourage aphids and other harmful pests. Aphids may be tiny, but the voracious little sapsuckers can decimate a healthy plant in nothing flat....

Candy Crisp Apple Info As the name suggests, Candy Crisp apples are said to be as sweet as candy. They are a ‘golden’ apple with a pink blush and a shape very reminiscent of a Red Delicious apple. The trees bear large juicy fruit with a terrific crunchy texture that is said to be sweet but with more pear rather than apple overtones. The tree is said to have been a chance seedling founded in the Hudson Valley area of New York State in a Red Delicious orchard, thus thought to be related....

Biennial flowering plants require two growing seasons to set seed. While growing caraway from seed will require some attention to detail, the process of propagating caraway is simple. How to Propagate Caraway Plants There are two methods by which one is able to propagate caraway– seeds and caraway plant cuttings. Thriving in full sun, caraway should be planted in well-draining soil. To ensure a bountiful harvest, always make certain the garden bed is weed free until plants have become fully established....

Pothos with Yellowing Leaves Yellow leaves on pothos is never a good sign. That doesn’t necessarily spell the end for your plant though, or even a serious disease. One of the primary causes of yellow leaves on pothos is too much sunshine. The pothos plant prefers moderate amounts of light and can even thrive in low light. On the other hand, it will not tolerate direct sunlight. Yellow pothos foliage can be an indication that your plant is getting too much sun....

Cyclamen need not only be enjoyed in the home. Hardy cyclamen lights up the garden with showy mounds of silvery-white foliage and heart-shaped leaves that appear in autumn and last until the plant goes dormant in late spring. Deep rose-pink blooms appear in late winter and early spring. Fall-blooming varieties are also available. Although this woodland plant looks delicate, hardy cyclamen is vigorous and easy to grow. The plant pairs well with other small woodland plants such as hellebores, ajuga, or trillium....

Will Squash Grow in Pots? Many cultivars of cucumbers, peppers, peas, leaf crops, tomatoes, and squash can be grown in pots. Contrary to what you might think, these plants will produce just as much fruit in a container as they do in the ground, as long as you pick a suitable variety and provide the care that they need. Squash Varieties for Container Gardening There are a number of varieties of squash that are appropriate for container gardening....

Hardy Hibiscus vs. Tropical Hibiscus Although the flowers may be similar, hardy hibiscus plants are very different from the fussy, tropical hothouse plants available in floral shops and grown indoors. Hardy hibiscus is a non-tropical plant that tolerates punishing winters as far north as USDA plant hardiness zone 4 (with protection), while tropical hibiscus won’t survive outdoors north of zone 9. Tropical hibiscus is available in single or double blooms in colors that include salmon, peach, orange or yellow....

How to Grow Sonata Cherries Sonata cherry trees are self-fruiting, so it isn’t necessary to plant a pollinating variety nearby. However, planting another variety of sweet cherries within 50 feet (15 m.) can result in larger harvests. Sonata cherry trees thrive in rich soil, but they are adaptable to nearly any type of well-drained soil, with the exception of heavy clay or rocky soil. Dig in a generous amount of organic material such as compost, manure, dry grass clippings, or chopped leaves before planting....

November Ohio Valley Gardening As you look around, you may be surprised to see a number of November gardening tasks still needing attention. Check out the following Central Ohio Valley to-do list for additional tasks. Lawn and Trees Removing autumn leaves from the lawn before snow falls tops the list for November gardening tasks this month. A few leaves are okay, but thick piles can smother the lawn and kill the grass....

Okra Charcoal Rot Information Charcoal rot of okra is caused by a fungus in the soil called Macrophomina phaseolina. It lives in the soil, so it can build up each year and attack and infect roots year after year. The infection is most likely to set in when drought conditions have caused stress in okra plants. Signs of okra with charcoal rot include the characteristic ashy, gray appearance of infection on the stems that give the disease its name....