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Guinea Flower Info HIbbertia plants can grow as medium to large shrubs or as wide reaching, woody, stemmed vines. The snake vine, Hibbertia scandens, produces long stems that range out from the center of the plant in a scraggly manner. These stems do not grow vertically, nor do they self adhere like ivy and other vines. The vine-like stems can get nearly 11 ½ feet (3.5 m.) long. Shrub-like forms, such as Hibbertia empetrifolia, are evergreen and generally hardy and pest free....

You can also both feed and enjoy birds in the garden using a bouquet of deadhead cuttings, which is especially helpful during the fall and winter months. What is a Bouquet Buffet for Birds? This type of “buffet for birds” is sure to be attractive to wildlife, as well as beautiful. To begin the planning process, learn how these types of bouquet buffets work in the landscape. Many species of backyard birds can be drawn to the garden....

When to Pick Spinach When to pick spinach is an important consideration in order to get the best-tasting leaves and prevent bolting. Spinach is a cool-season crop that will flower or bolt when the sun is high and temperatures are warm. Most varieties mature in 37 to 45 days and can be harvested as soon as it is a rosette with five or six leaves. Baby spinach leaves have a sweeter flavor and a more tender texture....

What’s Wrong with My Horse Chestnut Tree? As with all trees, there is always a chance of pest infestation and disease infection. These trees are popular but have recently experienced serious health problems from the horse chestnut leaf miner and bacterial bleeding canker. How can we avoid horse chestnut problems like this in our trees? Here are some tips for identification of horse chestnut issues and how to avoid the problems....

In this Beginner’s Guide to Houseplants, you’ll find info on good plants to start with, as well as how to care for your houseplants, and diagnose and treat common problems. Basic Houseplant Growing Tips General Houseplant CareTips for Healthy HouseplantsIdeal Houseplant ClimateRepotting HouseplantsChoosing the Best ContainersSoil for HouseplantsKeeping Houseplants CleanRotating HouseplantsMoving Indoor Plants OutsideAcclimating Houseplants for WinterHouseplant Pruning GuideReviving Overgrown PlantsRoot Pruning HouseplantsKeeping Houseplants Through WinterPropagating Houseplants from SeedsPropagating Houseplant DivisionsPropagating Houseplant Cuttings and Leaves...

Houseplants Victorian Style Nostalgic fads of the Victorian era have a classic stylishness even today. Some of the more interesting home decor practices involved the use of plants inside. Plants were inexpensive, brought the outdoors in and could change a room in a heartbeat from a fussy parlor to a tropical haven. Most of us have heard of the use of palms as parlor plants. In fact, there is a variety that is called the parlor palm....

For more information about potted lilac, including tips on how to care for dwarf Korean lilac, read on. Growing Potted Lilac Growing a lilac tree in a pot works well in many circumstances, particularly if the lilac tree you choose is a dwarf Korean lilac tree (Syringa meyeri ‘Palibin’). This compact shrub tops out at 4 feet (1 m.) with a somewhat larger spread. It grows well in large containers and is hardy to USDA hardiness zone 3....

Red Fall Foliage Trees with red leaves have a powerful impact on the autumn landscape. It is striking how they glow in the autumn sunlight. But sometimes our plans go awry. That “Red Sunset” maple or the “Palo Alto” liquidambar tree turns brown and drops its leaves without a whisper of rosy glow. Why foliage doesn’t turn red is a frustration for gardeners. What went wrong? When you buy a tree at a nursery described as having red fall foliage, you want red fall foliage....

Sedum Dendroideum These can grow to three feet (.9 m.) in height in the right container and spread to three to four feet (.9 to 1.2 m.) across. While many Stonecrop varieties are hardy in cold temperatures, the Dendroideum and Frutescens need to avoid temperatures that drop to frost (42°F or 0° C). Otherwise, you can grow these outside in the full sun with filtered sun being preferred. Plant them in areas with poor or sandy soil where nothing else tends to do well....

What is a Stale Seedbed? Stale seedbed weed control may be a practice used by our grandparents because it allows pesky weeds to emerge before the coveted crop. Studies have shown that the majority of weeds that will germinate after soil disturbance are in the top 2.5 inches (6 cm.) of soil. Encouraging these seeds to grow and then either flaming or using an herbicide will kill the weeds. Then carefully planting the crop without disturbing soil should result in less weed pests....

Invasive Plant Information for Zones 9-11 In the U.S., parts of California, Texas, Hawaii, Florida, Arizona, and Nevada are considered zones 9-11. Having the same hardiness and climates, many invasive plants in these states are the same. Some, though, may specifically be a problem in one state but not another. It is always important to check with your local extension service for your state’s invasive species list before planting any non-native plants....

Is Lithodora frost hardy? Keep reading to find out. Is Lithodora Frost Hardy? If you want a no-fuss, easy-to-grow, sprawling, blooming beauty, try growing Lithodora. It grows natively in a Mediterranean climate and needs plenty of water to produce an abundance of flowers. It blooms in spring, but in some climates, a second bloom in summer can be expected. Northern gardeners may have to provide Lithodora with winter protection, due to its half-hardy nature....

Growing Lavender Mint Growing lavender mint (Mentha piperita ‘Lavendula’) isn’t difficult, as mint is generally not fussy and a perfect starter plant for those just getting into gardening. Like peppermint, lavender mint plants have a red stem and delicious floral overtones. One caveat that must be mentioned about growing any type of mint is its invasive nature. Once mint gets started, it runs like a freight train throughout the garden. It is best to contain lavender mint in a fairly shallow, wide pot, for best results....

How to Grow Carrots When you grow carrots, soil surfaces should be cleared of trash, rocks, and large pieces of bark. Finer pieces of plant material can be mixed down into the soil for enrichment. Start out with soil that will help your carrots grow healthy. When you grow carrots, soil should be a sandy, well-drained loam. Heavy soils cause the carrots to mature slowly and the roots will end up unattractive and rough....

Parsley is considered a biennial but is treated as an annual in cold climates. This herb can be grown in containers or out in the garden and is generally established through seeds. Read on to learn more about how to grow parsley. When to Plant Parsley Seeds Parsley seeds can be started indoors or out. While they can be sown directly in the garden as soon as the soil is manageable in spring, the best time when to plant parsley seeds is to sow them indoors about six weeks beforehand....

Leatherleaf Viburnum Information Leatherleaf viburnum (Viburnum rhytidophyllum) is one of a number of attractive viburnum shrubs. The leatherleaf viburnum’s creamy white blossoms never fail, even when the shrub is planted in the shade. Bright red berries appear after the flowers fade, gradually changing to shiny black. The berries attract birds and last well into December. In most parts of its range, leatherleaf viburnum is a broadleaf evergreen, but in the coolest areas, it is only semi-evergreen....

Diseases Affecting Lettuce Plants Diseases affecting lettuce plants are either bacterial or fungal. Fungal lettuce diseases, such as damping off or sclerotinia drop (white mold), are caused by soil borne fungi that thrive in cool, damp soil and are primarily lettuce seedling diseases. Treat these lettuce diseases by spacing the plants apart to provide airflow, and by reducing the amount of irrigation the seedlings receive. If you live in an area of more consistent precipitation and cooler temperatures, try planting fungal disease resistant lettuce such as ‘Optima’ to prevent lettuce seedling diseases from taking hold....

What is Lewisia? Lewisia is hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8. There are several species available and this native of North America performs well in alpine gardens, rockeries, planters, or even along a gravel path. Lewisia bitterroot plants are herbs with medicinal uses and a name straight from history after Meriwether Lewis, the famed explorer. An interesting bit of Lewisia plant info includes its status as the Montana state flower....

What is a Green Doghouse? Even in urban settings, “green roofs” are all the rage. These have a multitude of purposes, but one of the most popular is as a peaceful resting point for the eyes. Beautifying a doghouse roof can help integrate it into the landscape and perk up an old eyesore. Plus, it can provide a habitat for birds, produce food, attract pollinators and butterflies, and even help clean the air....

How to Care for Cactus Dish Plants Care for your cactus dish garden begins at the time of preparation. To limit its care, be sure to start your dish garden cacti in proper soil. Several pre-mixed soils are available for cacti and succulents. Plant them in one of these. You can further amend the soil by adding one third lava rocks or pumice. Builder’s sand is a good amendment too. These allow water to move through the planting mix quickly, so it does not settle on the roots and make the plant rot....