Chive Seed Propagation Chives are grown primarily for their culinary uses, but the herb may also be grown for its lovely, light purple flowers and flourishes in containers as well as in the garden proper. A member of the onion or Amaryllidaceae family along with garlic and leeks, chives are native to northern Europe, Greece, and Italy. This hardy, drought tolerant perennial grows to between 8 and 20 inches (20-51 cm....

Growing Nut Trees in Zone 4 Growing nut trees requires patience, as many are slow to produce nuts. Walnut and chestnut, for example, eventually turn into majestic specimens, but depending on the variety, they may take up to 10 years to bear fruit. On the other hand, some nut trees, including hazelnuts (filberts), may produce nuts within three to five years. Nut trees aren’t terribly fussy, but all require plenty of sunlight and well-drained soil....

What are Sweetgum Balls? As previously mentioned, sweetgum balls are the fruit of a medium to large size tree (65-155 feet or 20-47 m. tall) with a trunk up to 6 feet (2 m.) across that can live for an extremely long time — up to 400 years. The sweetgum tree (Liquidambar styraciflua) produces an extremely spiked capsule containing one or two seeds in the summer. The resulting dropped fruits become woody and are the bane of any wanderer, as they will pierce tender flesh....

Many people use Virginia creeper as a ground cover in large open spots and control rapid growth by clipping it frequently. Even though the vine is attractive, it can easily become a nuisance because of its aggressive climbing habit. When this happens, it helps to learn ways for getting rid of Virginia creeper. Virginia Creeper or Poison Ivy? Although Virginia creeper is often found growing with poison ivy, they are two distinctly different plants....

What Causes Oranges to Split? One of the most commonly grown citrus is the orange. Orange rinds split open, as well as mandarins and tangelos, but never grapefruit. Navel oranges are the most prone to the problem. So what causes oranges to split? The rind splits because water and plant sugars travel to the fruit too quickly for it to produce enough rind to hold the substances. The excess fluids cause the skin to burst....

What is Crimson Ivy? If you are looking for a pretty foliage houseplant, look no further than crimson ivy plant. What is crimson ivy? It is a tropical foliage plant that may produce tiny white blooms if you are lucky. It is best grown as a houseplant but can thrive outdoors in warm regions. Crimson ivy may also be known as flame ivy or even purple waffle plant. Flame ivy plants are not true ivies but do have a horizontal growth and sprawling nature....

Why are My Cucumbers Curling? Cucumber fruit curl, properly known as crooking, is a common condition of cucumbers. There are many causes, requiring you to do a little detective work to correct the situation. Pollination Problems: Even when there are plenty of pollinators in your garden, conditions might not be right to ensure complete pollination. Pollen requires semi-humid, warm conditions to be as its best, and when it’s too dry or prolonged rains occur during flowering, cucumber ovaries may not be fully pollinated....

Chicory Plant Pruning People grow chicory as easy-care, flowering plants. The lovely, blue blossoms open during sunny days and close during cloudy times and at night. But that is not the only reason to grow chicory. The roots of chicory plants are used to make a coffee substitute, and some gardeners decide to plant chicory for this reason. One type of chicory (called ‘Witloof’ chicory) is used for Belgian or French endive, while small-rooted plants are used for salad greens....

Deadheading Daisies One of the most commonly asked questions in the gardening realm refers to daisies, specifically Shasta daisies, which seem to be one of the more popular varieties grown. For example, we hear a lot of “when do Shasta daisies bloom?” and “should Shasta daisy be deadheaded to keep blooming all summer long?” First of all, Shastas normally bloom in summer and will continue throughout fall if regular deadheading is performed....

Keeping Cats Away from Flower Arrangements Any bouquet that contains something toxic to cats is a risk, no matter how cat-safe you think you have made it. Even with cat-friendly flowers, there are still good reasons to cat proof your arrangements. You would probably like to keep the flowers looking nice for one. If your cat nibbles the plants, though, eating too much of even a safe plant can lead to vomiting....

Do Potato Plants Bloom? Potato plants produce flowers during the end of their growing season. These turn into the true fruit of the plant, which resemble small, green tomatoes. Potato plant flowering is a normal occurrence, but the flowers usually just dry up and fall off rather than producing fruit. Why potato plants flower can depend upon the temperatures or excessive amounts of fertilizer. Plants that experience cold, nighttime temperatures will set fruit....

How Do Stink Bugs Damage Tomatoes? The severity of leaf-footed bug damage to tomatoes depends on the size of the tomato when the insect attacks. When the bugs feed on tiny, new tomatoes, the tomato will likely never mature and develop. You may find that little tomatoes drop off the vine. When they feed on medium sized tomatoes, they cause scars and depressions in the fruit. When the insects feed on large, nearly mature fruit, they cause minimal damage, and the fruit is often good enough to eat, though you may notice discoloration....

Belonging to Phylum marchantiophyta, for example, liverworts are a popular addition to water plantings. What are the characteristics of liverworts though? Let’s learn more. Liverwort Information Considered some of the most primitive of plants, liverworts consist of about 6,000 to 8,000 species. These non-vascular land plants lack stomata, specialized openings that regulate air flow in the plant. Upon further research, understanding facts about liverworts may be somewhat confusing due to the large list of names surrounding this simple plant....

Using Pavers in the Garden Also known as hardscaping, including pavers in the landscape adds a contrast to plants and beds and also fills practical needs. Pavers include any non-plant material, usually hard but sometimes rubbery or soft. Pavers can be made from a number of materials: Concrete/concrete blocksCut stoneNatural stoneBricksWoodEngineered woodRubberRecycled materials Constructing with pavers isn’t difficult, but there are some things you need to keep in mind. For instance, it’s important to have a plan and mark it out in the space....

Importance of Garden Pot Cleaning So why is it so important to clean containers for the garden? Soil builds up salts that can damage plants, and these salts get deposited on the inside of planters. In addition, any diseases your plants may have carried last season can get transferred to your new plants. The solution is cleaning used flowerpots before using them again. Garden pot cleaning only takes a few minutes, but it can keep your plants healthy and productive....

Using Copper in the Garden or Home Copper has unique properties in its shiny surface. Not only does it have a warm glow when new, but it becomes a rich verdigris green with age. This changeling ability is perfect to accent the green spaces of our homes. The rich tone is a perfect complement to flower and foliage plants, softening the harsh edges of a patio and creating a reflective surface to display the garden’s lush beauty....

Planting Between Pavers When using groundcovers around pavers, you want them to meet several criteria. Look for plants that are tough so you don’t have to tiptoe around them. Choose short plants that won’t obstruct your path, and plants that are suited to the current light exposure. Using plants that spread to fill the space around them make growing plants between pavers easier. Here are a few suggestions. Irish moss – Irish moss adds soft, spongy texture to paths in shady areas....

‘Murray’ is becoming the top choice for screening out noise, unsightly views, or nosy neighbors. It can increase in height by 3 to 4 feet (1 to a little over 1 m.) per year, making it highly desirable as a quick hedge. When mature, ‘Murray’ cypress trees reach 30 to 40 feet (9-12 m.) with widths ranging from 6 to 10 feet (2 to a little over 2 m.). Hardy in USDA zones 6 through 10, its tolerance to heat and humidity makes growing ‘Murray’ cypress popular in the southeastern United States....

What is Guerrilla Gardening? There are many reasons that people take up the cause of guerrilla gardening. The activity is sometimes an attempt to increase urban green space for recreation. It can also provide spaces with edible plants for neighborhood use. Some gardeners simply do it to cover up unsightly areas or take back overly developed regions. It may even be a protest against inadequate government maintenance practices. Whatever the reason, creating guerrilla gardens is a satisfying activity that can be meaningful in many ways....

Looking for rock herb garden ideas? Here you will find the herbs that grow in rocks, how to set up the site, and what care it requires. Using herbs for a rock garden is an easy way to beautify a difficult site and provide you with the kitchen staples necessary for culinary success. Why Use Herbs For a Rock Garden Many of the herbs you find in the supermarket and stock in your pantry are native to regions with poor soil and plenty of rocks....