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Flowering Maple Information Abutilon is a type of warm weather plant that grows in tropical or sub-tropical climates. Although hardiness varies, abutilon is suitable for growing in USDA zones 8 or 9 and above. In cooler climates, it is grown as an annual or an indoor plant. Size also varies, and abutilon may be a shrubby plant measuring no more than 19 inches (48 cm.) in height, or a tree-like specimen as large as 6 to 10 feet (2-3 m....

Growing Flowering Trees in Zone 8 Zone 8 is a pretty great climate for gardening. You get a nice, long growing season with plenty of warmth and mild winters that don’t get too cold. If you’re in zone 8, you have a lot of options for growing flowering trees and doing so is easy. Be sure that you do your research on what the zone 8 flowering tree varieties that you choose need to thrive: the right amount of sun or shade, the best kind of soil, sheltered or open space, and the level of drought tolerance....

Types of Grow Lights Fluorescent Tubes – Since they are inexpensive, easy to use, and readily available in a variety of sizes and shapes, fluorescent grow lights are the first choice for many home gardeners. Fluorescent lights, which provide light primarily on the blue end of the spectrum, are cool to the touch, so they are safe to use above tender seedlings. Compact fluorescent lights are great for small-space gardening. You can also use newer, full-spectrum fluorescent grow lights which, because they provide light on the both ends of the spectrum, are very close to natural daylight....

Fraises de Bois Strawberry Info What are Fraises de Bois strawberries? Fraises de Bois (Fragaria vesca) translates from French to “strawberries of the woods.” They are frequently called alpine strawberries and woodland strawberries. Different varieties are native to Asia, Europe, and North America. They can sometimes be found growing in the wild. The plants themselves are very small, reaching 4 to 8 inches (10-20.5 cm.) in height. The berries are minuscule, especially by supermarket standards, and don’t tend to reach more than half an inch (1....

How to Make Dried Fruit Slices in a Wreath Citrus fruit can be dried using a dehydrator or in an oven set at a low temperature. You can choose a variety of citrus when making a dried fruit wreath including grapefruit, oranges, lemons, and limes. The peels are left on for this DIY fruit wreath project. If you wish to use dried fruit slices in a wreath, cut larger types of citrus into ¼ inch (....

Gall Mites on Fuchsia So what are fuchsia plant galls? Gall mites are microscopic pests that feed on tender fuchsia stems, leaves, and blossoms. In the process, they introduce toxins that cause the plant to develop red, swollen tissues and thick, distorted growths. Controlling fuchsia gall mites is difficult because the tiny pests are transmitted easily by gardening gloves, pruning tools, or anything they touch. Unfortunately, they are also spread by hummingbirds, and biologists think they may be transmitted in the wind....

Highlighting Techniques in Gardens The term highlighting can mean two different things. Sometimes people use the term highlighting when they are talking about uplighting. Other people use the term highlighting to describe general landscape lighting. Path lighting– Of the many highlighting techniques in gardens, path lighting is the most common. Path lighting creates a sense of safety along a walkway. Alternate the lights on either side of the path and place them 6 to 8 feet (2 to 2....

Here is your August garden to-do list. Gardening Tasks For The Northern Rockies: Garden To-Do List Pay extra attention to container-grown plants. Most need watering daily, and possibly twice during warm, dry spells. Hanging baskets dry quickly in sun and wind. Continue to feed container plants regularly, using a water-soluble fertilizer. Don’t feed trees or shrubs as they begin preparing for winter dormancy. Fertilizing triggers tender new growth that is likely to be nipped by frost....

Common Gardenia Insects One of the biggest gardenia leaf pests is the aphid. These can be quite challenging to deal with. These pesky gardenia bugs have soft little bodies and are tear-shaped. They cluster usually below leaves and around new growth on the gardenia plant. The aphids actually suck the fluid from the plant, which is why they like the new growth because it tends to be more lush and moist....

How Does Gardening Help with SAD? Can gardening improve the symptoms of those diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder? Absolutely! The onset of SAD is usually in fall and lasts through the low-light days of winter. When spring returns, and an increase in day length and light, the affliction normally subsides. Symptoms such as low energy, overeating, weight gain, social withdrawal, and daytime sleepiness are common in addition to major depression. It has been theorized that an activity such as indoor gardening can help ease the symptoms by bringing the person closer to light, such as when tending to plants near a window....

As an added bonus, native herbs and vegetables are plentiful and attractive to birds and other wildlife. Why Grow an Edible Native Garden? You don’t need to be in the middle of a pandemic to appreciate fresh food from your own garden. Growing native garden foods is just another way of supporting wild flora and fauna, as well as putting diversity in your diet. There are a host of native plants you can eat, varieties that naturally occur where you live and will thrive with just minimum care....

Germinating Lavender Seeds The first step in lavender seed propagation is choosing a variety and germinating the seeds. Be aware that not all cultivars will come true when you propagate by seed. If you are determined to grow a particular cultivar, you’re better off using cuttings or divisions to get new plants. Some good varieties for starting by seed are Lavender Lady and Munstead. It can take one to three months for lavender seeds to germinate, so start early and be patient....

Golden Sage Information Sage is a historic herb with a long tradition of both culinary and medicinal use. Growing golden sage offers all these applications as well as a unique twist on the appearance. Its cream-colored leaves are decorated with an almost lime green patch in the center, which is irregular and varied on each leaf. The overall effect is striking, especially when combined with other herbs. Golden sage produces a small shrub-like plant that may grow up to 2 feet (0....

About Zone 8 Grapes The USDA encompasses a very large chunk of the U.S. in zone 8, from the majority of the Pacific Northwest down into northern California and a great deal of the south, including parts of Texas and Florida. A USDA zone is meant to be a guideline, a gist if you will, but in USDA zone 8 there are a myriad of microclimates. That means that grapes suited for growing in Georgia’s zone 8 may not be suited for a Pacific Northwest zone 8....

What is Lawn Grass Rust Fungus? Rust is a fungal disease that occurs on turf grasses when their growth is slowed. This usually happens in late summer or early fall, during periods of dry weather or when the grass is low on nitrogen. Lawn rust can weaken the vigor of the grass and open it to other diseases and turf problems. Grass rust fungus spreads easily through its spores but rust fungus in lawns does not require fungicides in most cases....

The Strophanthus Preussii Plant Strophanthus preussii plant hails from forest areas of Africa. It prefers moist areas and flowers in the first part of the dry season, with fruit forming at the end of the dry period. Once the rains arrive, it commences woody and foliar growth, getting nearly 40 feet in length in its native habitat. In cultivation, you can expect it to be significantly shorter. Strophanthus cultivation is not for the novice gardener, as this plant is very particular about its care and situation....

About Brunnera Plants The light blue blooms of brunnera plants rise above the leaves of various cultivars. Brunnera plants have leaves that are glossy green or in variegated hues of gray, silver, or white, such as the popular cultivar ‘Jack Frost’. Brunnera Siberian bugloss blooms in early to mid-spring. When growing brunnera, locate the plant in part to full shade, and in well-drained soil that can be kept consistently and lightly moist....

Cinnamon Fern Plant Info Cinnamon ferns (Osmundastrum cinnamomeum) produce two distinctly different types of fronds. Fertile, plume-like, cinnamon colored fronds grow at the center of the plant, giving way to the plant’s name. They are surrounded by larger, green, sterile fronds. The contrast between the two results in an appealing, multi-dimensional plant. Cinnamon ferns have short creeping rhizomes that can be divided into two or more plants. Cut the dense, fibrous rhizomes apart between the crowns with a sharp knife or hacksaw....

What are Echinocereus Plants? Echinocereus cacti are most often identified by their small stature. However, their diminutive size does not come without a multitude of advantages. Sometimes referred to as “hedgehog” cacti, plants seldom grow larger than 1 foot (30 cm.) tall and a few inches in diameter. Echinocereus plant varieties are often characterized by their showy blooms, which range in color from red, yellow, and even bright pink. These flowers, in combination with varying spine patterns, allow gardeners great variety when choosing which types of Echinocereus to grow....

How to Care for Gollum Jade The Gollum jade crassula is readily available and may come into a simple collection as a cutting. The plant grows and multiplies easily in a sunny location. Adjust the plant gradually into a full sun area if you’re not sure of the conditions it occupied prior to your home or office. If the plant was indoors at a nursery or garden center when you got it, you will also need to acclimate it before placing in full sun....