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These slimy members of the mollusk phylum like moist soil and warm temperatures. They generally feed at night and target young seedlings. During the day, slugs like to hide under mulches and in wormholes, so handpicking these intruders is difficult. Tilling and cultivating destroy their hiding places, but this can dry out the soil and damage plant roots. Perhaps, you’ve heard of killing slugs with beer and wonder if this alternative method for non-chemical control is effective....

Today, people are using garden fire pits for social gatherings, for outdoor grilling and even for an attractive landscape focal point. They sometimes position the fire pit for convenience in movement between important outdoor areas. It is nice when our guests can easily transition from the outdoor dining table, pool, or spa to the fire pit and back again. Tips on Building a Backyard Fire Pit If you are building a backyard fire pit, consider the size and location of the fire pit....

Repetition in the garden is a relatively easy way to create structure, flow, and a balance between shapes, textures, and colors. Don’t be intimidated, as creating garden repetition is a relatively straightforward concept. Read on for a few basic tips on using garden repetition to your best advantage. Repeating Garden Designs Although planting with repetition means using similar elements, your garden plan doesn’t need to be exact. In fact, too much precision tends to become dull and monotonous....

Varieties of Anemones Different types of anemone flowers include perennial, non-tuberous plants that grow from fibrous roots and tuberous anemone varieties that are planted in the fall, often alongside tulips, daffodils, or other spring-blooming bulbs. Non-Tuberous Anemones Meadow anemone – An American native that produces small, white center flowers in groups of two and three. Meadow anemone blooms profusely in spring and early summer. Mature height is 12 to 24 inches (31-61 cm....

When to Plant Vegetables in Zone 9 The growing season in zone 9 typically lasts from late February to early December. Planting season extends all the way to the end of the year if the days are mostly sunny. In light of those very garden-friendly parameters, here is a month-by-month guide that will carry you through an entire year of planting a zone 9 vegetable garden. Zone 9 Planting Guide Vegetable gardening for zone 9 takes place nearly year-round....

About Water Lilies Water lilies are low-maintenance plants that grow in shallow, freshwater ponds and lakes in tropical and temperate climates. They can also be grown in buckets or large aquariums. The rounded leaves appear to float on the surface of the water, but they actually grow atop long stalks that extend to roots in the soil at the bottom of the pond. The plants are peaceful and colorful, but water lilies also serve several important functions in the environment....

Shrubs for Rockies and Plains Planning landscaping is fun and exciting but with the price of plants, it pays to do some research and select specimens that are suited not only for the zone but also the site exposure and soil type. West North Central gardens run a wide range of zones, but the region is known for its fertile soil and hot summers. Take advantage of the native weather and soil and choose shrubs that are versatile and adaptable....

What is Western Honeysuckle? This North American native vine produces lovely, fragrant flowers. Bees and hummingbirds love western honeysuckle vines for the fragrant, trumpet-shaped blossoms that are rich in nectar. Kids also love to suck the sweet nectar from the base of a honeysuckle flower. Gardeners, on the other hand, appreciate the way these vines twine their way up fences and trellises or ramble over trees. They provide year-round greenery as well as brilliant flowers in season....

What are Allium Leaf Miners? Allium leaf miners are tiny insects. During the larval phase, they can reach a length of one-third of an inch (1 cm.). Adults are only one-tenth of an inch (0.25 cm.) long. Even so, these pests can ruin crops of onions, garlic, leeks, and other alliums. Their tiny size makes allium leaf miner adults hard to identify on site. On close inspection, you may be able to see a bright yellow spot on their heads....

Blue Lips Plant Info Blue lips (Sclerochiton harveyanus) is a glossy-leaved spreading perennial shrub that is suitable for a woodland garden. The small to medium sized evergreen shrub is hardy in USDA zones 10 and 11. In July, August, and September (December through March in Southern Hemisphere), small blue to purple flowers cover the plant, followed by seed pods that burst when ripe. The multi-stemmed shrub reaches 6 to 8 feet tall (2 m....

Diseases of Hops Plant Poorly drained soil can lead to fungal diseases affecting hops. Black root rot – One such disease of hops plants is called Black root rot or Phytophthora citricola. This fungal disease causes water lesions on the roots of the plants, blackened or yellow leaves, and wilting stems. This hops plant disease is easily mistaken for Verticillium wilt or Fusarium canker. Fusarium canker – Fusarium canker, or Con tip blight, forms cankers at the base of the bine accompanied by the sudden wilting of the bines when flowering or when temperatures soar....

What are Perennial Vegetables? Okay, so what are perennial vegetables anyway? As with all perennials, perennial veggies are those that live for more than two years. The word “perennial” distinguishes them from the short-lived annuals and biennials. There are fewer true perennial vegetables than annuals, but there are still plenty to choose from. Perennial veggies extend the growing season by providing food both earlier and later in the year. Since they return each season, they give you more bang for your buck than annuals....

Rembrandt Tulip History Visit your local museum and take a look at Old Dutch Master paintings. Many were still-life pictures featuring fruits and flowers, and many included tulips with more than one blossom shade. These bi-color tulips had a base color often red, pink, or purple, but they also had “flames” of secondary colors like white or yellow. They were extremely popular in Holland at that time, part of the reason for the speculative market bubble for these bulbs, known as Tulip Mania....

Growing Shrubs in Zone 4 Gardens Growing shrubs in zone 4 is not much different than growing shrubs in any zone. Cold hardy shrubs will benefit from an extra heap of mulch around the root zone in late fall for insulation in winter. Most shrubs can be pruned back when they go dormant in late autumn, except for evergreens, lilacs and weigela. Spirea, potentilla and ninebark should be cut back hard every couple years to keep them full and healthy....

What Causes White Spots on Jade? The few times I have discovered white spots on my jade plant, I simply rubbed them off lightly and the plant was no worse for wear. The actual cause of the white spots on jade leaves might be powdery mildew, or even a condition where the plant stores salts and “sweats” the excess out through its leaves. One cause has a quick fix and the other requires some cultural adjustment and treatment....

Butterfly Weed Characteristics Butterfly weed plants are milkweed cousins with tall, clumping perennials that reach heights of 12 to 36 inches (31-91 cm.). The blooms appear atop fuzzy, green stems, which are adorned by attractive, lance-shaped leaves. Butterfly weed plants spread by way of seeds, which are released from large pods in early autumn. Butterfly weed grows wild in a variety of environments, including open woods, prairies, dry fields, meadows, and along roadsides....

What is a Slippery Elm Tree? The scientific name for slippery elm is Ulmus rubra, but it’s generally called red elm or slippery elm. So exactly what is a slippery elm tree? It’s a tall tree indigenous to this continent with lovely arching branches. These elms can live for 200 years. The winter buds of slippery elms appear fuzzy, as they are covered with red-brown hairs. The flowers appear in spring before the leaves, each bearing at least five stamens....

If you’re lucky enough to come across this interesting aloe plant, tips on how to grow spiral aloe will be next on your list. What is a Spiral Aloe? Spiral aloe (Aloe polyphylla) information says pups don’t often grow on this plant, but propagation from seed is simple. Lack of babies partially explains the rarity of this South African native. That said, seeds are available for purchase online. The spiral aloe is unusual, with symmetrical leaves twirling around in a circle of growth....

What is a Spotted Snake Millipede? Spotted snake millipedes, along with centipedes, are members of a group of animals called myriapods. Centipedes are soil dwelling predatory animals that have only one pair of legs per body segment. Juvenile millipedes have three pairs of legs per body segment. Centipedes are more active than millipedes and, when discovered, make a run for it while millipedes either freeze in their tracks or curl up....

What is a Winter Pear? Sweet juicy pears are one of the few fruits that do not ripen on the tree. Since they ripen from the inside out, by the time they reach perfect readiness on the tree, as judged by the eye, the centers would be mushy. For this reason, winter pears are picked when hard and green, stored in a cool location, and then placed in a warmer place to finish ripening....