Hay vs. Straw Mulch The first thing you need to know is that there is a difference between hay and straw. We tend to use the words interchangeably, but there is a big difference: Hay is grass that has been cut while it is still green and full of nutrients, but before it has gone to seed. The highest quality hay will have few to no seeds, but some are inevitable....
Common Varieties of Yucca Southwestern types prefer dry, sandy soil and lots of sun. Southeastern yuccas tolerate moist soil as long as it drains well. Here are some common yucca varieties you might want to consider for your garden: Banana yucca (Yucca baccata) – Banana yucca is a Southwestern native plant that needs very little water and no maintenance. The spiky leaves can reach heights of 2 to 3 feet (61-91 cm....
Veggie Gardening in the Mountains When high altitude vegetable gardening, the first thing is to be realistic. Higher altitudes have cooler temperatures and a shorter growing season that is often measured in weeks rather than months. Part of being realistic is knowing there is no way you are going to grow warm weather eggplant. Stick to the cool weather veggies for your mountain vegetable garden. Not only is the growing season shorter but more critters than just you will be competing for those nutrient-rich vegetables....
Why Are Vegetables Popping Up in Compost? The simple answer to “why are vegetables popping up in compost” is because you are composting seeds, or rather not composting them. You either belong to the lazy group of people, such as myself, and just toss everything into your compost, or your compost is not superheating to a high enough temperature that will deter the seeds from sprouting. How to Prevent Veggie Sprouts in Compost Keep in mind the mechanics of the compost pile....
What are Viburnum Leaf Beetles? If you’ve never heard of this insect pest, you might ask: “What are viburnum leaf beetles?”. Viburnum leaf beetles are small insects that feed on viburnum leaves. The beetles arrived fairly recently on the continent. They were first found in North America in 1947 in Canada and were not seen in the United States until 1996. Today, the pest is found in many eastern states. An adult viburnum leaf beetle is between 4....
What is a Weeping Pussy Willow? If you are looking for a new addition to your garden that will create early spring interest in the landscape, look no further. Start growing weeping pussy willows (Salix caprea ‘Pendula’). According to weeping pussy willow information, it’s a small willow with pendulous branches. Every year in late winter or early spring, those branches overflow with pussy willows, those fuzzy gray catkins soft to the touch as kittens....
If you are new to adventurous cookery you may wonder, what are Asian herbs? They are the products of centuries-old civilizations whose flexible and adaptive methods of cooking utilize cultured and natural plants for their medicinal, sensory, and healthful uses. There are many types of Asian herb plants to grow for almost any climate, or as potted herbs. Try a few and expand your culinary horizons. What are Asian Herbs?...
Why Grow Cortland Apples The question here should really be why not, as tasty Cortland apple uses abound. The sweet, juicy, slightly tart apples are good for eating raw, cooking, or making juice or cider. Cortland apples work well in fruit salads because the snow white apples are resistant to browning. Gardeners appreciate Cortland apple trees for their beautiful pink blooms and pure white blossoms. These apple trees set fruit without a pollinator, but another tree in close proximity improves production....
What are Thai Bananas? Thai banana fruit comes from Musa black banana plants. These hardy banana trees grow to about 20 feet (6 m.) in height. The plant starts out green but after a few months, the trunk and petioles turn a dark brown to black in color. They can be grown in USDA zones 7 through 11 and make a great house or patio plant grown in containers. This variety is not only cold hardy, but disease and wind resistant too....
What is Tatter Leaf Virus? Citrus tatter leaf was first discovered in 1962 in Riverside, CA on a symptomless Meyer lemon tree that was brought over from China. It turns out that while the initial rootstock Meyer lemon was symptomless, when it was inoculated into Troyer citrange and Citrus excelsa, tatter leaf symptoms cropped up. The conclusion was formed that the virus came from China and was imported into the United States and then on to other countries through the exportation and distribution of old bud-lines of C....
Freeman Maple Information So, what is a Freeman maple? Freeman maple (Acer x freemanii) is a large shade tree that resulted from a cross between red and silver maple trees (A. rubrum x A. saccharinum). The hybrid has inherited the top qualities from each of these species. According to Freeman maple information, the tree gets its attractive form and blazing fall color from its red maple parent. Its rapid growth and broad soil tolerance are attributable to the silver maple....
What is a Golden Raintree? The golden raintree (Koelreuteria paniculata) is a lovely shade tree for backyards and gardens in USDA plant hardiness zones 5 through 9. According to golden raintree information, these trees fit well into smaller yards since they usually grow between 25 and 40 feet (8-12 m.) tall. Those growing golden raintrees love the dramatic panicles of small brilliant yellow flowers that appear midsummer on the tree’s spreading branches....
Kola Nut Information So exactly what is a kola nut? Kola nuts are sometime called cola nuts. They grow as nuts on several trees in the Cola genus, including Cola acuminata and Cola nitida. The kola nut is a symbol of hospitality and kindness in the communities in its native range in Africa. Plates of these nuts are offered as gifts or brought out when visitors arrive. Although they have little taste, they are chewed to help promote digestion....
Before Making a Moss Slurry In order to make a moss slurry, the first step is to gather moss. In most climates, the best time to gather moss is in fall or spring, when the weather is rainy and the ground is moist. If your garden has shady areas, you may be able to gather enough moss for making a moss slurry. Otherwise, you can usually purchase moss from a greenhouse or nursery that specializes in native plants....
What is a Thalia? Sometimes called powdery alligator flag or water canna, thalia is a tall perennial which can reach heights of 6 feet (about 2 m.). These name designations come from the white powdery coating covering the entire plant and the resemblance of its leaves to those of the canna plant. Due to its exotic look, growing powdery thalia in backyard ponds adds a tropical ambiance to water features. The 18 inch (46 cm....
What is a Zen Garden? Zen gardens, also called Japanese rock gardens, appeal to people who like carefully controlled settings of raked sand or rocks and precisely clipped shrubs. If you’re more likely to find serenity in the natural look of a woodland setting and find peace when surrounded by wildflowers and soft-textured plants, you should think about a more traditional or natural garden. Zen gardens emphasize the principles of naturalness (Shizen), simplicity (Kanso), and austerity (koko)....
What is Japanese Ginger? Japanese ginger, which is also called myoga ginger or just myoga, is a perennial, herb-like plant native to Japan and the Korean peninsula. It has not been common in the U.S. but is now easier to find in nurseries. You can grow myoga outdoors in partially shady beds or in containers – indoors or outdoors. They will grow to about 18 inches tall (46 cm.) but may grow twice as tall if you use fertilizer....
What is Nectria Canker? What causes nectria canker disease is one of the several nectria fungal species. These fungi are opportunistic and attack trees at their weak spots from injury, pruning, root damage, freezing, pest infestations, and other diseases. Any damaged wood is susceptible to this pathogen and the resulting disease. Signs of Nectria Canker The characteristic sign of nectria canker is the formation of the cankers, wounds on twigs, stems, and trunks that look like sunken areas that may be discolored....
What is Witchgrass? Witchgrass is considered a weed in most parts of the eastern United States. It takes over in disturbed areas, dry ditches, fields and almost any under grown soil area. The grass can get 30 inches tall with a bunching habit. The plant has a shallow fibrous root system that anchors it in dry or wet soils. The stems are hairy and erect with a large panicle produced in summer....
What Planting Zone Do I Live In? Below is the USDA planting zones map, also known as the USDA Hardiness Zone map. Answering the question, “How do I go about finding my hardiness zone?” is as easy as locating where you live on the map. To see larger maps of the U.S. growing zones for each state, click on the state where you live in the list located below this map....
