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How to Plan Your Dream Garden In order to make your dream garden a reality, it is important to first decide what type of growing space you would like to create. While many growers choose to focus solely on ornamental and flowering plants, others may wish to design spaces for vegetables. Regardless of the type that you intend to plant, knowing how to use the space is essential. Consider aspects like plant spacing, plant height, and/or any leftover space that can be used for relaxation or for entertaining guests....

What is Fleabane? A member of the aster family, fleabane produces masses of tiny white to yellowish, daisy-like blooms. The plant can reach heights of up to 3 feet (91 cm.) at maturity. Fleabane produces seeds prolifically; a single plant can produce more than 100,000 seeds. The fluffy, umbrella-like seed heads are easily dispersed by wind and water. This makes the need for fleabane control methods of utmost importance. How to Get Rid of Fleabane Fleabane weed control isn’t easy because of the plant’s long, thick taproot; however, the plant is fairly easy to pull when it is young and measures less than 12 inches (30 cm....

Tips for Mandevilla Care When you buy your mandevilla vine, chances are good that it’s a lush plant full of flowers. You may wish to transplant it to the ground or into a bigger or more decorative container. Mandevilla flowers need sandy, well-draining soil with plenty of organic material mixed in. A good soil mix for mandevilla plants include two parts peat moss or potting soil to one part builder’s sand....

Help, Why Isn’t My Abelia Flowering? Before we delve into why an abelia won’t flower, a bit of background on this perennial favorite is in order. Abelias are grown for their prolific and generally reliable long bloom time. The masses of pretty pink flowers at the end of arching branches make for a dramatic effect in the garden. The plant is naturally roundish in shape and works beautifully in a butterfly garden where it attracts insects to its sweet-scented blooms....

Do Alocasia Elephant Ears Have Seeds? Alocasia odora is also known as elephant ear plant because of its colossally huge leaves and the general shape of the foliage. They are members of the Aroid family, which encompasses plants with some of the most attractive foliage available to gardeners. The glossy, heavily veined leaves are a standout and the main attraction, but occasionally you get lucky and the plant will bloom, producing unique dangling seed pods on elephant ear plant....

Among the most common problems found in sandboxes are insects. The specific types of insects can vary greatly. Regardless of the type, bugs in sandboxes are a major concern. Bugs in sandboxes can quickly ruin a much anticipated day of play. Various types of stinging insects, such as wasps, may be attracted to sandboxes. Several species of ants may be found as they tunnel throughout the box. These cases are especially troublesome as they are likely to bite or sting children while they play....

How to Root Naranjilla Cuttings Taking cuttings of a naranjilla is easy. Late spring and early summer are the best times for growing naranjilla from cuttings. Fill a 1-gallon (3.5 L.) pot with a well-drained potting mixture such as half peat and half perlite, vermiculite, or coarse sand. Be sure the pot has a drainage hole. Water the mixture thoroughly and set the pot aside to drain until the potting mix is evenly moist but not sopping wet....

Creating a Border for Native Gardens When selecting native plants for edging, it’s best to choose those that are native to your particular region. Also, consider the plant’s natural habitat. For instance, a woodland fern won’t do well in an arid desert environment. A reputable local nursery that specializes in native plants can advise you. In the meantime, we have provided a few suggestions here for edging a native garden....

There are many uses for discarded clothing, hats, gloves, blankets, and sheets. And nylon pantyhose for gardening has multiple uses. They can dress a scarecrow for the garden, keep squash borers off your vines, support your cucurbits, protect your plants in winter, and more. Learn how to reuse old clothing and blankets in the garden. New Uses for Old Clothes: Scarecrows, Pantyhose Squash Supports, And Frost Protection Here are ways you may not have thought of to reuse items headed for the donation box in the garage....

While beautiful, highly scented flowers and plants are a pleasure to behold, vegetable gardens are a more obvious way we are able to celebrate taste. There are several plants that have unique textures; however, our perception of touch is often overlooked. One way landscapers are utilizing this sense in garden planning is through the creation of sensory garden walkways. Sensory Walkway Ideas Outdoor sensory paths can be beneficial for many reasons....

Oxeye Daisy Perennials The plant spreads aggressively by producing seeds and underground through spreading rhizomes, eventually finding its way into unwanted areas such as crop fields, pastures, and lawns. The average plant produces 1,300 to 4,000 seeds annually and a particularly vigorous plant can produce as many as 26,000 seeds that germinate rapidly when they land on bare soil. Historically, there have been several attempts to legislate control of oxeye daisies....

Times for Planting in Washington State Garden enthusiasts often have to rein themselves in from planting too early. In Washington state you may have already experienced daytime temperatures in the 60’s (16 C.) and the urge to get gardening is almost overwhelming. You need to pay attention to your zone and date of last frost and select plants that will thrive in cooler temps. A March planting guide can help get you started....

One is the European pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium), which is a member of the mint family. The other is the American pennyroyal from an unrelated genus, Hedeoma pulegoides. American Pennyroyal Plant Either variety of pennyroyal has a fresh, minty scent but American pennyroyal is not in the mint family. They are both low growing plants with slightly hairy stems but the American has a square stem. It has many branches and creeps along at only 6 inches (15 cm....

Peony Foliar Nematode Symptoms If you have peonies with leaf discoloration, you could have a peony leaf nematode eating them. Foliar nematodes, those that feed on leaves rather than roots, are species of Aphelenchoides. They are tiny and you won’t identify them without a microscope, but there are clear signs of their infestation on peonies: Discolored sections of leaves that are bound by the veins, forming wedge shapes Discoloration that begins yellow and turns reddish purple or brown...

Garden Zone Info Many novice gardeners make the same mistakes, either attempting to grow plants the wrong time of year or choosing plants that are not suited for the region in which they live. Essential to the healthy growth and development of all plants is the length of the growing season, timing, amount of rainfall, winter temperature lows, summer highs, and humidity. Differences in any one of these factors can spell disaster for your garden....

Can I Plant a Pine Cone? You can’t plant a pine cone and expect it to grow. There are several reasons why this won’t work. The cone serves as a woody container for the seeds, which are released from the cone only when environmental conditions are exactly right. By the time you gather cones that fall from the tree, the seeds have probably already been released from the cone. Even if the seeds in the cones are at the exact perfect stage of ripeness, sprouting pine cones by planting entire pine cones still won’t work....

What is Pumice? Pumice is fascinating stuff, borne out of the superheated earth. It is basically whipped volcanic glass that is made up of tiny air bubbles. This means that pumice is a lightweight volcanic rock that makes it perfect for use as a soil amendment. The airy rock is ideal for use with cacti and succulents as well as other plants that require excellent drainage and air circulation. Plus, the porosity of pumice allows microbial life to thrive while maintaining soil structure better than perlite....

The Ponytail Palm Tree Oddly enough, a ponytail palm tree is neither a palm nor a tree. In fact, it is a member of the Agave family and is actually a succulent. Other common names for this plant include the bottle palm tree or the elephant foot tree. In the past, it has been classified as either Nolina recurvata or Beaucarnea recurvata, but the latter is now the correct classification of this plant....

About Artichokes in Pots Artichokes thrive with mild winters and cool, foggy summers where they can be grown as perennials. In these mild climates, USDA zones 8 and 9, artichokes in pots can be overwintered when pruned and mulched. Those in cooler regions needn’t despair; you can still grow artichokes in pots, albeit as annuals which are planted in the spring. In the subtropical regions of zones 10 and 11, container grown artichokes should be planted in the fall....

Why Do Flowers Change Color? Ever notice that a variegated specimen stops producing the characteristic speckled colors? Or observed your hydrangea flowering pink one year, when traditionally it was a blue bloomer? How about a transplanted vine or bush that suddenly blooms in a different hue? These changes are common and may be the result of cross pollination, pH levels, or just a natural response to different environmental cues. When a plant shows change in color of flower, it is an interesting development....