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What to Do with Catnip Catnip herb plants are grey-green perennials from the mint or Lamiaceae family. They grow 2-3 feet (61-91.5 cm.) in height with fuzzy, heart-shaped, serrated leaves and are native to areas of the Mediterranean in Europe, Asia, and into Africa. Introduced by European settlers, the plants are now naturalized and grown throughout North America. Catnip is most often cultivated for our pampered feline companions, or rather to entertain us while they play with it....

Growing Chamomile Lawns Growing chamomile lawns have a few advantages over grass turf. They do not require regular mowing, fertilizing, or edging and are ideal in areas where mower access is a challenge and foot traffic is minimal. The German variety, Matricicaria chamomile, grows between 1 and 2 feet (31-61 cm.) tall and is used around beds or amongst the garden proper. It is grown not only for decorative purposes, but this type of chamomile is used for its herbal, medicinal qualities....

Chocolate Chip False Agave Manfreda plants are closely related to the agave family, which explains why this variety of manfreda is sometimes called the chocolate chip false agave. Like many varieties of manfreda, chocolate chip doesn’t die after blooming as do agave plants. Planted outdoors, it blooms during June in the Northern Hemisphere or December south of the equator. The buds form on tall stalks in late spring, followed by fascinating wiry type blossoms....

Growing Shade Tolerant Wildflowers It’s important to remember that when growing wildflowers in shade they do need some sunlight. Flowers native to wooded areas don’t grow in deep shade. They grow on the edges of forests and under tall branching trees that allow for some sun to penetrate. So make sure you plant these flowers where they get partial shade and sun. Woodland wildflowers need well-drained soil, no standing water, and a good amount of moisture....

The Benefits of Leaf Compost Composting leaves makes a dark, rich, earthy, organic matter that can be used like soil. It adds nutrients to the garden soil and the larger particle size helps enhance the tilth and loosen compacted earth. Compost retains moisture and repels weeds when used as a top dressing or mulch. How to Compost Leaves The compost bin doesn’t have to be a complex structure and you can even compost in a pile....

A true cottage garden requires a bit of backyard, but even those without one can achieve the appealing look with a cottage garden in containers on a patio, front porch or balcony. Read on for information about container-grown cottage gardens and tips on how to grow a cottage garden in planters. Potted Cottage Gardens If you love the natural look of a cottage garden but just don’t have the time or space, you can start growing a cottage garden in planters....

What is Corydalis? Corydalis plants are close relatives of bleeding hearts and you can see the resemblance in shape between corydalis flowers and small types of bleeding hearts. The genus name “Corydalis” derives from the Greek word ‘korydalis,’ which means crested lark, referring to the similarity between the flowers and spurs to a lark’s head. Of the 300 or so species of corydalis- with differing colors available- the two types that you see most often in North American gardens are the blue corydalis (C....

What is Farmhouse Garden Design? There really are no rules and plenty of room to get creative. A farmhouse garden or outdoor space is typically more relaxed and less formal. It’s not quite as loose or free as cottage style, but the two types of gardens share many elements. Farmhouse style is also practical to some degree. Form follows function. A farmhouse garden includes vegetables and herbs, maybe even fruit. It might have flower beds for cutting....

Creeping Fig as a Houseplant Creeping fig vine is often sold as a houseplant. The small leaves and lush green growth make for both a lovely table plant or a hanging plant. When growing creeping fig as a houseplant, it will need bright, indirect light. For proper indoor creeping fig care, the soil should be kept moist but not overly wet. It is best to check the top of the soil before watering....

About Cutleaf Coneflower Cutleaf coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata), is a sunflower-like wildflower native to much of Canada and the U.S. You’ll find it in open forests, wet meadows, thickets, pastures, and along riverbanks. A related species is black-eyed Susan. Also known as green-headed coneflower, wild goldenglow, and sochan, this flower grows up to nine feet (3 m.) tall. The flowers are yellow with a large greenish cone. The cone turns brown as seeds develop....

Containers for Plants in a Dish Garden When designing a dish garden, you need to choose an appropriate container. Select a shallow container that is at least 2 inches (5 cm.) deep. Ceramic containers work exceptionally well for most types of dish gardens. Once you have selected a container for your garden, it is imperative that you make sure your garden will have excellent drainage. One way to ensure this is to select a container with drainage holes or create drainage holes in the bottom of the container....

Do Avocados Grow in Zone 9? Avocados are not native to USDA zone 9, but yes, they will definitely grow there. There are three types of avocados: Mexican, Guatemalan, and West Indies. Of these, Mexican varieties are the most cold hardy but not salt tolerant, and Guatemalan comes in a close second for cold tolerance and is somewhat salt tolerant. West Indies avocados are more commonly found growing in Florida, as they are the most salt tolerant and least cold hardy....

What Is Durum Wheat? Grains used in our foods are simply grasses. As such, even a home gardener can grow these bases for our favorite meals. Semolina pasta comes from Durum wheat. Making semolina flour starts with harvest, separating the seeds from the chaff, and milling. The whole process isn’t difficult but does require some commitment. Difference Between Semolina and Durum Flour Durum is a variety of wheat high in gluten....

Early Prolific Plum Info Rivers Early plum trees need a full sun location to produce their best. With good soil and careful establishment, Early Prolific plum care is minimal, requiring just annual pruning and feeding, and attention to water. United States Department of Agriculture zones 6 to 8 are perfect for Early Prolific plum tree growing. Early Prolific is an English variety developed in Herfordshire around 1820. The parent is a Precoce de Tours....

Choosing Beginner Cactus Even if you believe you have a “black thumb,” you can successfully grow an easy cactus. Beginner cactus come in a wide range of sizes and shapes, some with amazing colors as in the case of grafted varieties. Succulents, like cactus, just need the right light and container situation to thrive with little special care from you. Looking for an easy to grow cactus? These types of plants are perfect for a novice interior gardener....

Firebush Seed Propagation You can treat firebush as a small tree or a large shrub. It grows between 6 feet and 12 feet (2-4 m.) tall and wide and delights gardeners with its lively, orange-red flowers. This plant really grows fast. If you plant a short specimen in spring, it will be as tall as you are by winter. Firebush can even get to 15 feet (5 m.) tall with a trellis or support....

About Floss Silk Trees Known almost interchangeably as silk floss tree or floss silk tree, this beauty may also be referred to as Kapok tree and is in the family of Bombacaceae (Ceiba speciosa – formerly Chorisia speciosa). The floss silk tree crown is uniform with green limbs branching upon which round palmate leaves form. Growing silk floss trees have a thick green trunk, slightly bulging at maturity and peppered with thorns....

What is Color Blocking? A few years ago, I did a backyard garden design for a retired art teacher. Her request was that the spectrum of the rainbow is displayed along the lot line of her backyard. Starting with red flowers, I used roses, quince, lilies, and other plants with shades of red for this part of her color-block garden design. Next to them, I placed plants like gaillardia, poppies, and other roses with red and orange shades....

No matter what your taste, there are plants for shade that can turn a once barren patch of dirt into a cool oasis that will quickly become one of your favorite places to sit and relax. Let’s take a look at some plant options for gardening in shade. Flowering Shade Loving Plants If colorful blooms are what you desire, there are a variety of flowers that can brighten almost any shady locale....

Start Growing Acorn Squash When learning about how to grow acorn squash, the first consideration should be space. Do you have enough to accommodate the acorn squash plant size (which is considerably large)? You’ll need about 50 square feet (4.5 sq. meters) per hill with two to three plants in each. That’s a lot of ground, but the good news is that one or two hills should provide plenty for the average family....