It’s then you may wonder: Can I paint raised beds? If you paint a raised garden bed, that color helps enliven the space the year round. But there can be issues with painted raised beds. Read on for the whole scoop. Can You Paint Raised Beds? You expect a yes or no answer when you ask: “can I paint raised beds?” But there are a lot more considerations than you might think....
Growing Pawpaw Sucker Root Cuttings You’ve probably only tasted a pawpaw if you’re lucky enough to have a tree growing nearby, either in the wild or on a neighbor’s property. You may have noticed suckers (shoots that grow directly from the roots) emerging from the ground. Seeing these emerging from the ground, some may ask: “can you root pawpaw suckers?” It is difficult to propagate the tree in this manner. According to people experienced with this tree, pawpaw sucker propagation tends to have a low success rate....
About Santa Barbara Peaches Santa Barbara peach trees are a fairly new development in fruit growing. The peaches were first discovered as a sport growing on a Ventura peach tree in southern California. A sport is a branch with fruit that is different from the rest of the fruit on the tree. Researchers soon discovered that the new sport was similar to the Elberta variety, a peach known for its high quality, very sweet flavor and good texture....
About Growing Pershore Plums If you have been looking for the right plum tree for your yard, the Pershore has a lot to offer. Pershore plums in gardens provide a nice, shade-giving fruit tree with spring flowers, and pretty, bright yellow fruits in the fall. There is also a purple Pershore variety, but the yellow cultivar is the original Pershore, dating back to 1800s England. Also known as the yellow egg plum, yellow Pershore plums are not fruits that should be eaten fresh, which is an important consideration for the home gardener....
Persian Shield Plant Persian shield is a phenomenal foliar specimen. It produces 4 to 7 inch (10-18 cm.) long, slender leaves tipped with a point. They are slightly serrated and have deep green veins with purple to silver on the entire surface of the leaf. The plant has a bushy habit and may get up to 4 feet (1 m.) tall in habitat. Since it is only suitable for USDA zone 10, growing Persian shield indoors is the best way for most gardeners to enjoy this brilliant plant....
How to Protect Zucchini Squash from Frost Some crops, like cabbage, peas, carrots, and parsnips, will tolerate a little frost, but zucchini is a warm-season crop that can be injured by cold temps. If you are in a region where early frost is imminent, frost protection of zucchini is integral to its survival. It is important to ensure that you wait for all chances of frost to pass in your area before planting....
Why are My Philodendron Leaves Turning Brown? There are a few possible causes for brown philodendron leaves. Philodendrons have specific water and light requirements, and if the plant looks sickly, there’s a good chance it’s because one of these requirements isn’t being met. Water Philodendrons require a steady supply of water to remain healthy. The soil should always be a little bit moist. If you’re spacing your waterings out too much or watering too lightly, this could be the cause....
Although most Christmas tree varieties are green conifers with a pyramid shape, a closer Christmas tree type comparison shows a number of differences between them. Read on for information that will help you pick your best holiday tree. Classic Christmas Tree Type When you head out to the lot to buy your tree, you’ll likely see at least several kinds of evergreens available. What are the different types of Christmas trees?...
Basic Xeriscape Principles Here are seven basic tips for water-wise xeriscaping: Additional Water-Wise Gardening Tips Don’t fertilize lawns or plants excessively, as fertilizer encourages rapid growth that demands more water. Consider alternative, more advanced ways of conserving water. For example, many gardeners in rainy climates are finding ways to incorporate rain barrels or rain gardens. It’s also possible to recycle gray water (household water from washing machines or showers). Take advantage of shady areas....
What is Hybridization? Hybridization is growing two plants together in a special way to help the plants develop the natural traits we like. Hybridization differs from Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) because hybridization takes advantage of traits natural to the plant, where GMOs insert traits that are not natural to the plant. Plant hybridization can be used to create flowers with new and prettier designs, vegetables that taste better, or fruits that resist disease in the garden....
Siberian Squill Information As you may have guessed, the Siberian squill plant is native to Siberia, as well as other parts of Russia and Eurasia. Extremely cold-hardy, the plants thrive in USDA hardiness zones 2 through 8 and never require lifting for winter storage. They can also be chilled and then forced into bloom indoors any time of year. Siberian squill plants naturalize well. Little tufts of grass-like foliage emerge first, reaching heights of 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20....
If you are thinking about putting in some hot tub landscaping, read on for information about what to plant in backyard jacuzzi gardens. Hot Tub Landscaping When you decide to install a hot tub, you may have visions of romantic and relaxing evenings spent in warm water with a beautiful setting. Your first step is to select a good location for the hot tub itself. Many homeowners prefer to have their hot tubs within easy reach of the house....
Full Sun Border Plants Sunny borders are popular locations for flowers that do well in direct sun. When choosing plants for areas with full sun, it’s generally better to stick with native plantings whenever possible. These plants are well suited to your particular area and climate, giving them the best chance for success. However, you can also select plants that share similar growing conditions according to your site such as soil type, light and water requirements....
Plants for Winter Landscaping When considering plants for winter interest, there are a few aspects which you will need to consider. While plants for winter landscaping will undoubtedly need to be able to survive your winter garden climate, so too, they will need to be suited for growth during other conditions throughout the year. While many evergreen trees may thrive throughout winter and offer great color and texture, some may struggle to survive in more and hot and humid summer regions....
Growing an Indoor Potato Plant Follow these tips on caring for a potato plant in a pot indoors and you’ll be well on your way to enjoying this unique houseplant: Although you can purchase seed potatoes, plain old Russets from your supermarket make fine indoor potato plants. Cut the potato into chunks of no more than 2 inches (5 cm.). Be sure each piece has at least one or two “eyes” with sprouts....
Whether cottage, modern, or unique landscape styles are your taste, a properly designed landscape will display your style with unity. Your landscape should be appealing and inviting, not an eyesore for the neighborhood. Read on for common issues with landscape design and how to avoid them. Problems in Landscape Design Overuse of common plants. With over 400,000 species of flowering plants in the world, it often amazes me that no one can seem to find anything to put around trees besides a ring of hostas....
Here is a listing of the most common diseases to know about with our rose bushes in my Rocky Mountain Area as well as other areas across the country. Following this common listing are a few other diseases that may need to be dealt with from time to time in some areas. Remember, a disease-resistant rose bush is not a disease-free rose bush; it is merely more resistant to disease....
Propagating a sand cherry plant isn’t a difficult task, and there are several effective ways to propagate sand cherry trees. Read on to learn how to propagate a sand cherry for your garden. Growing Sand Cherry from Cuttings Take softwood cuttings from a healthy sand cherry plant in early spring. Cut 4 to 6 inch (10-15 cm.) stems, making each cut just below a leaf node. Remove the leaves from the bottom half of the cutting....
Propagating American Bittersweet Vines American bittersweet propagation is not difficult, and you have a number of options at your disposal. You can grow more bittersweet plants by rooting bittersweet vines. You can also start propagating American bittersweet vines by collecting and planting seeds. What is the best method of propagating American bittersweet vines, cuttings or seeds? If you take cuttings and begin rooting bittersweet vines, you will grow plants that are genetic echoes of the parent plants....
Read on for information about propagating deodar cedar seeds, and get tips on how to collect deodar cedar seeds. How to Collect Deodar Cedar Seeds If you want to grow your own cedar tree, it’s time to learn about deodar cedar seed planting. Keep in mind that cedar can reach 70 feet (21 m.) tall with spreading branches and is only appropriate for large backyards. The first step in growing one is getting the seeds....
