Growing Ginger Mint Ginger mint, like all other varieties of mint, is easy to grow and can quickly get out of hand when allowed to grow freely. If you have the space to let your mint plants run, it will kindly oblige. Otherwise, it’s best to contain it in a pot of some kind. To keep growth under control, you can even cut the bottom out of large coffee can and place this in the ground....
French composer Achille-Claude Debussy is often quoted as saying “Music is the space between the notes,” suggesting that the silence in a song is as important as the sound. Without a break in sound, or color in a scene, the results clash and collide. One way to add breaks in garden color is by using “muted” colors in the garden, such as plants with silver or gray color. Plants with silver or gray color serve as buffers between areas of intense color or changes in theme....
Types of Autumn Crop Greens Fall leafy greens to grow include: ArugulaCabbageCollard GreensLeaf Lettuce VarietiesKaleMustard GreensSpinachSwiss Chard Growing Autumn Greens Salad greens are cool weather crops that generally germinate their best when temps are around 70 degrees F. (21 C.). When soil temperatures dip below 50 degrees F. (10 C.) or above 80 degrees F. (27 C.), germination rates begin to fall off. Once seeds have germinated and have their first true set of leaves, they thrive when temperatures are around 60 degrees F....
How to Grow Barrel Cactus Barrel cactus plants are characterized by their ribbed, cylindrical shape. The cacti come in many sizes and may be low and squat or as tall as 10 feet (3 m.) in height. The barrel cactus cares for lost travelers in the desert because it habitually grows tilted to the southwest. Caring for barrel cactus is quite easy and it makes a great plant for the beginning gardener....
What is Horehound? Horehound (Marrubium vulgare) is a woody stemmed herb that can grow 2 to 2 ½ feet (61-71 cm.) tall. It is a wild herb commonly found in disturbed soils, roadsides, and dry scrublands. The slightly serrated leaves are arranged alternately on the stem and small clustered white, purple, or pink flowers form at the axils in summer. The horehound herb plant is packed with nutritional benefits including high amounts of Vitamins A, B, C, and E....
How to Transplant a Palm Pup Before you remove a palm pup from the mother plant, you need to make sure that the palm pup is large enough to be taken from the mother plant. A palm offshoot should stay on the mother plant for at least one year. Allowing it to stay two to five years is ideal though, as this will allow the palm pup to develop its own healthy root system, which will in turn increase your success rate with transplanting the palm pups....
But sometimes your herbs can get away from you, and if you’re growing them outside, they can get beaten back by fall frost. In these cases, the best thing to do is to cut and preserve them. What are some of the best ways to do that? Keep reading to learn more about preserving herbs from the garden. Preserving Herbs from the Garden There are a few herb preservation methods, but two of the easiest and most successful are freezing and drying....
Holly Plant Varieties There are two common types of holly categories: evergreen and deciduous. Here are some popular types of holly shrubs to grow in the landscape. Evergreen Hollies Chinese Holly (I. cornuta): These evergreen shrubs have dark green leaves with pronounced spines. Chinese holly shrubs tolerate hot temperatures but sustain winter damage in areas colder than USDA plant hardiness zone 6. The different types of hollies in this group include ‘Burfordii,’ which is one of the most popular cultivars for hedges, and ‘O....
What Plants Need to Grow Let’s take a look at the most important factors for growing healthy plants. Water and Nutrients Like humans and animals, plants need both water and nutrients (food) to survive. Most all plants use water to carry moisture and nutrients back and forth between the roots and leaves. Water, as well as nutrients, is normally taken up through the roots from the soil. This is why it’s important to water plants when the soil becomes dry....
Read on for more information about this useful tree. Pignut Hickory Tree Pignut hickory (Carya glabra) is a tall, deciduous tree, native to the Eastern areas of the United States. It can grow to 100 feet (33 m.) in the wild, with short, picturesque branches and a spreading crown. This hickory makes an excellent shade or street tree in cultivation since it is attractive in all four seasons. In springtime, the pignut hickory tree’s bud scales open....
Sedum Frosty Morn Info Sedum plants fill a variety of needs in the landscape. They are drought-tolerant, low maintenance, come in a variety of habits and tones, and thrive in a host of conditions. The plants, found in the stonecrop group, are also vertically appealing since they are the taller, less sprawling members of the family. Sedum ‘Frosty Morn’ brings that statuesque beauty combined with all the other wonderful traits of the genus....
What is root beer? It is a very old brew that became popular in the late 1800’s, and even more so as a substitute for real beer during the prohibition era. Originally a tea, by the time the temperance period came about, carbonation became part of its makeup. Root beer ingredients vary slightly, but usually include the roots of the sassafras tree, birch bark, juniper berry extract, ginger, and licorice....
Starting with a young rubber tree houseplant will allow it to adapt to being an indoor plant better than starting with a more mature plant. Proper Light and Water for a Rubber Tree Plant When it comes to rubber plant care, the correct balance of water and light is crucial, as with any plant. You can control the amount of light and water it gets, which is important because they shouldn’t have too much of either....
Signs of Sugarcane Disease Is my sugarcane sick? Sugarcane is a tall perennial grass with thick canes and feathery tops. If your plants are displaying slow or stunted growth, wilting, or discoloration, they may be affected by one of several sugarcane diseases. What’s Wrong with My Sugarcane? Red Stripe: This bacterial disease, which shows up in late spring, is indicated when leaves show distinctive red streaks. If red stripe affects individual plants, dig them up and burn them....
What Is Kaolin Clay? A clue to answer the question “What is Kaolin clay?” is that it is also referred to as “China clay.” Kaolin clay is used in the manufacture of fine porcelain and china and also instrumental in the production of paper, paint, rubber, and heat resistant materials. Arising from the Chinese for Kau-ling or “high ridge” in reference to a hill in China where the pure clay was first mined by Jesuit missionaries around 1700, Kaolin clay uses today extend to Kaolin clay in the garden....
Signs That Broccoli is Ready to Harvest Broccoli planting and harvesting are sometimes a bit tricky, but there are a few signs you can look for that will tell you if your broccoli is ready to be harvested. Has a Head – The first sign as to when to harvest broccoli is the most obvious; you have to have the initial head. The head should be firm and tight. Head Size – The broccoli head typically will get to be 4 to 7 inches (10 to 18 cm....
Mediterranean Climates and Wildfire California’s climate is termed a Mediterranean climate, with winter rains and dry, hot summers. Mediterranean climates are also found in Europe and the coasts of Chile, South Africa, and Australia. These areas are prone to regular wildfires and their native plants are often adapted to these fires. Plants that have adapted to fires have developed biological characteristics that help them survive the heat and smoke. Introduction of new species, however – like extremely flammable cheatgrass in Nevada’s rangeland – can reduce the effectiveness of plant adaptations....
Basil as a Companion Plant Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) is an easily propagated warm-weather herb which can survive winters in USDA zones 9 to 11. In other climates, this herb is often grown as a outdoor annual in the summer or in pots that can easily be moved indoors when the temperature drops. Due to its strong scent, basil has biochemical pest suppression abilities that can benefit a range of companion plants....
Making Calla Lilies Planted in the Ground Bloom Calla lilies planted in the ground tend to bloom without too many problems. When they fail to bloom, it is due to one of three reasons. These reasons are: Too much nitrogen Lack of water Lack of sun If your calla lily is not blooming due to too much nitrogen, the plant will grow rapidly and be lush. You may notice a brown edge on the leaves as well....
These gardens, which are near the home or attached to it for protection from the elements, require tough plants that flourish in these conditions. They are often surrounded by a hedge to block winds and offer privacy. Many of these attached rooms provide afternoon shade. This type of garden is called a riad. Plants for a Moroccan Garden Plants for these centralized gardens provide a lush, tropical feel even though they’re friendly to their xeriscape location....
