Growing Grass in Zone 9 Lawn grasses fall into two categories: warm season grasses or cool season grasses. These grasses are placed in these categories based on their active growth period. Warm season grasses usually cannot survive the cool winters of areas in the north. Likewise, cool season grasses usually cannot survive the intensely hot summers of the south. Zone 9 itself also falls into two categories of the turf world....
You can have even more fun by creating a zoo flower garden with them – putting in flowers and plants with animal names. What is a Zoo Garden? Some plants get their names because parts of the flower look exactly like the animal’s head and others because of the color of the plant. This offers the perfect opportunity to talk to your child about different animals and how they fit into the plant world....
1. Bougainvillea This tough, drought-resistant plant will light up your backyard with brilliant, dramatically pink flowers. You can find bougainvillea plants that are shrubs and others that are vines, so pick whichever works for your yard. Native to Mexico and other points south, bougainvillea thrives in USDA hardiness zones 9 through 11. It can be grown both as a vine and as a shrub. 2. Daphne Do you want an evergreen shrub with pink flowers that will fill your yard with fragrance?...
What Trees Have White Bark? White bark on a tree is not as rare as you might think. The natural white color provides sun protection. Darker bark absorbs heat from the sun, while the white color reflects it. You can find white trees among birches and aspens in moderate and colder climates as well as in gum trees native to Australia. White Birch Trees For many northern regions, a birch tree is the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of white trunk trees....
What is Horticultural Therapy? Essentially, it is using gardens and plants to help with physical or emotional healing. The art of using plants as tools for healing is not a new practice. Ancient civilizations and various cultures throughout time have incorporated the use of horticultural therapy as part of a holistic healing regimen. Horticultural Therapeutic Benefits The horticulture therapeutic benefits for people with physical, emotional, mental and social challenges are numerous....
So just what plants thrive in acidic shade conditions? Read on to learn about shade plants for acidic soil. About Shade Plants for Low pH Gardens Shade gardening is often a challenge, especially when combined with acidic soil, frequently the result of trees producing the shade. If your soil’s pH is below 7.0, your soil is acidic; but don’t worry, there are plenty of plants for shade and acid conditions to choose from....
What are Arctic Raspberries? Native to northern areas of Europe, Asia, and North America, the arctic raspberry’s natural habitat includes coastlines, along rivers, in swamps, and throughout soggy meadows. Like raspberries and blackberries, arctic raspberries belong to the genus Rubus. Unlike these close cousins, arctic raspberries are thornless and they don’t grow tall canes. The arctic raspberry plant grows as a bramble, reaching a maximum height of 10 inches (25 cm....
No Leaves on My Azaleas Before deciding that there is something wrong with your azalea, give the leaf buds plenty of time to open. Deciduous azaleas – those that lose their leaves in the fall and regrow them in spring – usually have blooming flowers before they have leaves. Wait a while before you worry that this azalea is not leafing out. Some azaleas are evergreen in warm climates and deciduous in cold climates....
Why Do Plant Leaves Turn Yellow? Bachelor’s button plants seldom have trouble with insects or disease, so what can cause the leaves to turn yellow? Improper watering or sunlight are the most common causes of yellowing leaves. Though less likely, insects and nutrient deficiencies can also be a problem. Let’s take a look at some possibilities and solutions. Both over- and under-watering can cause yellowing leaves, and when it comes to bachelor’s buttons, overwatering is far more likely....
Banksia Information Banksia (Banksia spp.) is a stunning plant with unique leaves and stunning flowers that bloom nonstop. This diverse plant family contains a variety of forms that include 6 to 12 foot (2-4 m.) shrubs and full-size trees that attain heights of 30 to 60 feet (9-18 m.). The tiny blooms, arranged in round, oval, or cylindrical clusters, come in a range of colors such as yellowish green, brown, orange, pale yellow, cream, and red....
Basil Plant Flowering If your basil plant has flowered, the question of what to do depends on what you are growing the herb for. Basil is a member of the mint family, Lamiaceae, with over 40 known varieties. Most folks grow it for its aromatic and flavorful foliage, redolent of mint and clove with slight peppery notes. Although basil is most often associated with the Mediterranean or Italy, the herb actually originated in Asia– Thailand, Vietnam, and parts of India– where it is often grown as a perennial....
What is Batavia Lettuce? Batavia lettuce is a summer crisp variety that will germinate in warm temperatures and is slow to bolt. There are both open and close headed varieties in colors of green, burgundy, red, magenta, and mixed hues. All kinds of Batavia lettuce are open pollinated and good options for a late season garden. Batavian lettuce plants produce beautifully in cool days like most other lettuce varieties, but they also stand up once the heat comes....
Christmas Cactus Soil Requirements In its native Brazil, the Christmas cactus has very specific growing conditions. It’s an epiphyte, meaning it grows on the trunks of larger trees and gains most of its moisture from the air. It sinks its roots into decomposing leaves and debris resting on the sides of trees. It also draws some moisture from this makeshift soil, but because of its small volume and position high in the air, this soil dries out easily even with daily rainfall....
Black Knot Tree Disease Info Black knot fungus (Apiosporina morbosa) is primarily a disease of plum and cherry trees, although it can also infest other stone fruit, such as apricots and peaches, as well as ornamental Prunus species. Black knot disease spreads in spring. On rainy days, the fungus releases spores which are carried on wind currents. If the spores happen to land on the new spring growth of a susceptible tree, and especially if the tree is damp, the spores germinate and infect the tree....
The blackberry lily plant is also commonly named, not for the flowers, but for clusters of black fruit that grow after flowering, similar to a blackberry. Flowers of the blackberry lily plant are star-shaped, with six petals and are about 2 inches (5 cm.) across. Blackberry Lily Plant Blackberry lily plant, Belamcanda chinensis, is the most commonly grown plant of the species, the only one cultivated. Belamcanda blackberry lilies are of the Iris family, and were recently renamed ‘Iris domestica....
What is Brown Rot Blossom Blight? Brown rot blossom and twig blight is a fruit tree disease that is caused by the fungus Monilinia fructicola. This blight, if left unchecked, can destroy stone fruit trees in your garden or orchard. Another type of brown rot blossom and twig blight, called European brown rot, is caused by the Monilinia laxa fungus. This type seems only to attack sour cherry trees. If a tree in your yard is infected by the brown rot fungus, you will notice....
Thatch Removal with Fire Thatch is a fibrous you, tan-brown organic matter that builds up in lawns or field between the soil and the grass blades. Despite the common misconception that thatch is a buildup of grass clippings and other debris, it is actually comprised of living surface roots, stems, and runners. Lawn clippings and other organic debris usually decay and break down quickly rather than accumulating on the soil surface....
Can I Harvest Strawberry Seeds? The short answer is, yes, of course. How come everyone doesn’t grow strawberries from seed then? Growing strawberry seeds is a bit more difficult than one might think. Strawberry flowers pollinate themselves, meaning that after prolonged seed saving, the plants would become inbred with less than stellar berries. If you save seeds from Fragaria x ananassa, you are saving seeds from a hybrid, a combination of two or more berries that have been bred to bring out the most desirable traits of each and then combined into one new berry....
While they have a reputation as great easy-to-grow houseplants, can philodendron plants grow outdoors? Why yes, they can! So, let’s learn more about how to care for philodendrons outside! Outdoor Philodendron Care When learning how to care for philodendrons, it is best to consider the growing criteria for your specific variety; however, this article can help provide you with a general overview of outdoor philodendron care. The first question you should ask is, “In my region, can philodendron plants grow outdoors?...
Can Plants Move? Yes, plants most definitely can move. They need to move in order to grow, catch sunlight, and for some to feed. One of the most typical ways that plants move is through a process known as phototropism. Essentially, they move and grow toward the light. You have probably seen this with a houseplant that you rotate once in a while for even growth. It will grow more to one side if facing a sunny window, for instance....
