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For example, it is possible to examine the trees around you to determine a rough estimate of direction. Plant leaves can give you an idea of north and south. While navigating with plants may not be an exact science, you never know when this invaluable knowledge will come in handy. It could even save a life if someone is lost without a map or compass. Natural Navigation Tips Learn how to find your way with plants by unlocking the secrets of nature....

What Animal is Eating My Plants at Night? Many animals come out at night to eat under the safe cover of darkness, so your pest might not be an insect. Some common nighttime feeders are deer, groundhogs, rabbits, raccoons, opossums, and skunks. Deer and rabbits tend to do the most damage. Deer nibbling leaves behind ragged edges, while rabbits leave a distinctive 45-degree angle cut. The best way to deter animal feeders at night is a barrier....

What is Purple Love Grass? Eragrostis purple love grass is a North American native bunchgrass that forms a neat, tight clump. It spreads by means of underground rhizomes and also from the abundant seeds that drop to the ground. Cattle will graze on purple love grass until the flowers bloom, but it is usually considered a weed when it is found in pastures. Several species of grass, including some weeds, belong to genus Eragrostis....

What are Peach Twig Borers? Don’t confuse the peach twig borer with the peach tree borer. The twig borer bores into tender new growth tips, causing them to wilt and die back. The tree borer bores into the trunk of the tree. Both the peach twig and peach tree borer attack stone fruit such as peaches, nectarines, and plums, and can ruin a crop. Peach Twig Borer Life Cycle Peach twig borers have two to five generations every year, depending on the climate where you live....

Shade Plants That Come Back Every Year Perennial plants for shade tend to be relatively slow growing. Most perennials for shade need at least a little sunlight, which may be dappled through trees or reflected from a building. Selecting perennials for a shade garden may be easier than you think, as there is an impressive variety of beautiful, shade-tolerant perennials. Here are just a few, along with their USDA growing zones:...

What is Dogscaping? There is hope for those that love both their dogs and a nicely maintained landscape. Pet friendly backyards are a new trend in landscaping. You’ll find that designing a landscape for dogs is fun and satisfying. The goal: develop a garden that is beautiful AND has room for your dog’s habits and activities. You both can be happy! The first step when designing a landscape for dogs is observation....

Common Pieris Propagation Methods Pieris plants, like Japanese andromeda, can be successfully propagated both by cuttings and by seeds. While both methods will work for any species of pieris, the timing differs slightly from plant to plant. Propagating Pieris Plants from Seeds Some varieties form their seeds in the summer, and other types form them in the fall. This just depends upon when the plant flowers – you’ll be able to tell when the flowers fade and brown seed pods form....

Growing vegetables isn’t something you have to be an expert at to be able to do. A good choice for any gardener is the Pineapple tomato. With Hawaiian Pineapple tomatoes, there’s only a little info that you need to read up on before you go out and buy some seeds. Check out the following Pineapple tomato information so you can grow your best crop yet. What is a Hawaiian Pineapple Tomato Plant?...

Mixing Pinecones with Succulents Pinecones are dried seed repositories of conifer trees that have released their seeds and fallen to the ground. Succulents are plants native to dry areas that store water in their fat leaves and stems. Could any two botanical objects be more different? While pinecones and succulents are not natural woodland companions in most areas, something about the two feels like they go well together. Growing Succulents in a Pinecone Since succulents are living plants, they obviously require water and nutrients to keep them alive....

How to Identify Plantain Herbs Native to Europe, plantain herbs are perennial, adaptable plants that grow nearly anywhere and tend to be weedy. In spite of their benefits, the hardy plants are a source of frustration for many gardeners and, as such, are more often considered weeds. The low-growing, ground-hugging plants display short, thick stems and rosettes of dark, shiny, oval, or egg-shaped leaves measuring about 6 inches (15 cm.) long and 4 inches (10 cm....

What is a Water Iris? Although several iris types grow in wet soil, true water iris is a semi-aquatic or bog plant that grows best in shallow water deep enough to cover the crown year round. However, most water iris plants will also grow in wet soil alongside a pond or stream, or even in a well-watered garden spot. True water irises include: Rabbit-ear iris Copper or red flag iris Siberian iris Louisiana iris Yellow flag iris Blue flag iris...

What to Plant in Hot Weather There are a few crops that are drought-resistant and grow with little water. Vegetables to plant in summer include: Lima beansPole beans CornField peasCowpeas Black-eyed peas Edible amaranth Quinoa Mustard greens Okra There are others that can produce with little irrigation. Try to get your primary crops growing in early spring for best results and most abundant harvest. Plant again if needed to grow more crops in the fall....

If you have no experience with planting sunflowers, you may have some questions about how to plant sunflower seeds and when to plant sunflower seeds. When to Plant Sunflower Seeds Knowing when to plant sunflower seeds is important. Most package directions for how to plant sunflower seeds suggest sowing directly into the ground after all danger of frost is past and that’s fine if you live in an area where your growing season is long enough, but if your season is short, you may not have enough time for an outdoor planting....

Climbing Vines Climbing vines add interest to just about any landscape. They’re available in a variety of forms, textures, and colors. Many of them will even delight you with beautiful flowers or fruit. Vines can be incorporated into nearly any garden style using supports such as fences, trellises, and arbors. They can even be grown in containers wherever space is limited, adding height and dimension to these areas. The type of vine you grow often determines the type of structure used to support it....

Red and Green Centerpiece Plant Arrangements Changing up the plants for Christmas table arrangements doesn’t necessarily mean ditching that traditional red and green centerpiece. Plant arrangements for that special holiday floral centerpiece can include some not-so-traditional reds and greens: Roses – Rose, the flower of love, beautifully expresses the romance of the Christmas season. Use solid, red roses accented with greenery for an elegant look or arrange white roses with red tips in a decorative sleigh to create that wintry feel....

Covering Chain Link Fences with Plants There are a few things to consider when covering chain link fences with plants. Before deciding which plant you will use, think about what you would like the plants that grow on fences to accomplish: Do you want flowering vines for fences or foliage vines? Do you want an evergreen vine or a deciduous vine? Do you want an annual vine or a perennial vine?...

Ponderosa Pine Facts Ponderosa pines are large trees native to the Rocky Mountain region of North America. A typical cultivated ponderosa pine grows to around 60 feet (18 m.) tall with a branch spread of about 25 feet (8 m.). Planting ponderosa pine trees requires a big backyard. The lower half of the straight trunk is bare, while the top half has branches with needles. Needles are stiff and between 5 to 8 inches (13-20 cm....

Why Has My Jade Gone Limp? When the foliage on a jade plant is drooping or you appear to have a dying jade plant, the usual cause is improper watering. In spring, summer, and fall, keep the soil lightly moist. The plant takes a rest break in winter and needs less water. Overwatering in winter is the most common reason for a dying jade plant. This is because the roots begin to rot when you give them more moisture than they can absorb....

Problems with Naranjilla Naranjilla is a fun subtropical shrub to grow that provides interesting foliage as well as tasty orange fruit. In warm climates, grow outdoors year-round, and in colder regions, either enjoy naranjilla as an annual or in a container; just watch out for its spines indoors. Naranjilla is fairly easy to grow if you give it the right conditions. When conditions are not the best, you may run into some issues....

How to Propagate an Artichoke As a tender perennial, artichokes are winter hardy in USDA zones 7 through 11. Modern-day gardeners wishing to cultivate artichokes in other climates can do so by planting artichoke from seeds and growing them as annuals. Rooting artichoke cuttings is another method of artichoke plant propagation and is used in areas where they can be grown as perennials. Planting Artichokes from Seeds When growing artichokes as an annual crop in cooler climates, it’s best to start the seeds indoors approximately two months before the last frost date....