A banana plant houseplant offers interesting foliage and white flowers emerging from purple buds. Keep in mind that while some banana tree varieties produce edible fruit, others do not—like that of Musa basjoo. Therefore, be sure to look into the type of indoor banana tree you have or want to ensure that it will accommodate your needs and vice versa. Below you will find some tips for taking care of a banana tree inside....
Growing juniper trees or bushes is not difficult. Read on to learn about juniper tree varieties and juniper tree care. Juniper Tree Varieties If you are looking for a ground shrub with a flat or a mounded form, think juniper. If you want to create a hedge of upright evergreen bushes, think juniper. If you need a tall, evergreen tree in the sunny spot in your garden, think juniper. Juniper species come in all sizes and shapes, from low-lying shrubs that cover sand dunes to huge ancient trees in the high Sierras....
The end of the harvest season signals the beginning of soil protection. As our harvests are finishing, the vegetable garden should be tidied and rejuvenated for the following season. Summer cover crops started in August take advantage of the warm weather for quick germination and establishment. Legumes and grains are the top choices for cover crops, with each having distinct benefits. Grains vs Legumes Some cover crops are best sown in spring, such as Dutch clover....
What are Hunnemannia Poppies? Gardeners not familiar with the Mexican tulip poppy may be wondering, “What are Hunnemannia poppies?”. They are members of the Papavercae family, as are other poppies. Flowers on the 1 to 2 foot (0.5 m.) plant are shaped like ruffle-edged tulip flowers and exhibit the delicate characteristics of the typical poppy flower. Mexican tulip poppy info indicates they are tender perennials in the warmest USDA Zones and grow as annuals in areas with cold winters....
How to Grow Moor Grass Ornamental grass lovers should not pass up the opportunity to acquire autumn moor grass. Also, called purple moor grass, this attractive plant has appeal as a single specimen in a combined planter, an accent in the perennial garden or even perched in the rockery. Moor grasses come in many cultivars and are commercially represented by 12 commonly available names. Each has a slightly different foliage trait, height and inflorescence but the basic mounding habit and fine blades recognize them as part of the family....
Morning Glory Seed Propagation When starting morning glories from seed, it can take two and a half to three and a half months before they begin blooming. In northern climates where cold winters and shorter growing seasons are the norms, it’s best to start morning glories from seed indoors four to six weeks before the last frost date. When germinating seeds of morning glory, use a file to nick the hard coating of the seeds....
Needle Palm Information The needle palm, Rhapidophyllum hystrix, is a perennial shrub native to the southeastern U.S. Although it is native to this warmer region, the needle palm plant is actually very cold-hardy and gardeners further north prize it for giving their beds and yards a more tropical look. It puts out multiple stems, with sharp needles that give the plant its name, and slowly grows into a large clump that may be approximately 6 feet (2 m....
Palm Tree Choices Palm tree care starts with the proper selection of species. Choose one that is hardy in your region and situate it where it gets adequate light and has excellent drainage. There are many varieties of palms from which to choose, but consideration should also be taken as to the plant’s mature size. Some are towering plants and don’t fit into many home landscape situations. Hardy palms are those that can withstand light freezes and even a bit of snow....
Pellonia is usually utilized in hanging baskets but also works well in terrariums. This herbaceous perennial hails from the family Urticaceae and has a low growing habit, 3 to 6 inches (8-15 cm.), with spreading or creeping tendencies of 1 to 2 feet (31-61 cm.), making Pellonia useful as a groundcover in appropriate climates. How to Grow Pellonias Hardy in USDA zones 10 through 12, Pellonia is an easy to grow houseplant that requires minimum maintenance....
Pests in Southwest Gardens Here are some of the more common southwestern garden pests you may come across in this region: Palo verde beetles Adult paloverde beetles are huge black or dark brown beetles often measuring more than 3 inches (8 cm.) in length. The larvae, pale greenish yellow with brown heads, are even bigger. Mature beetles lay their eggs in the soil, near the base of trees and shrubs. As soon as the larvae (grubs) hatch, they get to work feeding on the roots of shrubs and trees such as rose, mulberry, olives, citrus, and, of course, palo verde trees....
About Harvesting Barley Harvesting barley involves more than simply picking barley grains. You need to know how long the crop takes to mature, as well as factors that can impact when to harvest barley. The exact timing and procedure for a barley harvest depends on the size of your operation and how you intend to use the cereal. Some plant barley for home eating, while other gardeners intend to sell the crop to malt houses or brew their own beer....
How are Almond Trees Pollinated? Almonds are among the most economically valuable bee-pollinated crops. In fact, almonds are nearly 100% dependent on bees for pollination. If enough bees are present, 90 to 100% of almond flowers per tree can develop into nutlets (the first stage in nut development), but none will develop if no bees at all visit the tree. It’s not just honeybees that pollinate almonds. Almond pollinators also include bumblebees, blue orchard bees, and various other wild bees, and almonds serve as a valuable food source for these insects at a time when other flowers are scarce....
What are Psyllids? Psyllids, also known as plant lice, are tiny, sap-sucking insects with very host-specific feeding preferences. Most species of psyllids will feed exclusively on a single type of plant, though some may expand their horizons to closely related family members. There are over 100 species, ranging in size from one tenth to one fifth inch (25-51 mm.) long. Like other sap-feeders, psyllids penetrate plant tissues, tapping into transport tissues and siphoning off part of the nutrient-laden liquids running through them....
If you are planting pumpkins in your garden, it pays to learn something about companion planting with pumpkins. Read on for more information about plants that grow well with pumpkins. Pumpkin Growing Companions The first time you hear about pumpkin companion plants, you may feel confused about what companion planting means and how it can aid in the garden. Companion planting with pumpkins or other vegetables involves grouping together garden plants that help each other to grow....
About Edible Bay Leaves Are some bay leaves toxic? For starters, the leaves produced by Laurus nobilis are not toxic. However, certain species with the name “laurel” or “bay” may actually be poisonous and should be avoided, while others may be perfectly safe. Don’t take chances if you are uncertain. Limit cooking with bay leaves to those available in supermarkets or that you grow yourself. Cooking with Bay Leaves So which bay trees are edible?...
Tips for Making a Recycled Garden with Kids Recycling in the garden with kids is all about finding ways to reuse ordinary household materials that might otherwise end up in a landfill. From milk cartons to yogurt cups, kids and recycled containers naturally go hand-in-hand. Creating a children’s recycled garden helps your kids see how the disposable items they use every day can have a second life. Here are a few of the many items which can be made into recycled planters for kids to decorate and use:...
Pruning a red twig dogwood can help keep those branches red. If you are wondering how to prune red twig dogwood trees, just keep reading! Keeping Red Twig Dogwood Small Red twig dogwood (Cornus sericea) is a wonderful shrub. It grows fast and provides interest in the garden all year. The sharp-tipped leaves are deep green in summer but turn purple red in autumn. Small white flowers appear in early summer and the smooth, deep red branches make the shrub eye-catching in a winter landscape....
What are Cairns? In simple terms, a rock cairn is just a pile of stones or rocks. Cairns have been used for thousands of years. In ancient times, they served as an intricate form of art, as small rocks were precariously balanced on top of smaller rocks, artfully constructed with no tools or mortar to hold them together. Cairns have also been used as monuments or to mark a burial site....
Rodents in Houseplants Any time you’ve got mice digging up houseplants, you’ve got a problem that reaches far beyond just your indoor greenery. Your first and foremost goals should be to eliminate the mouse doing the digging and preventing more mice from doing the same. A house cat allowed to roam freely at night is one of the best control methods for mice, but if you don’t have a cat or Fluffy is laying down on the job, snap traps are almost as effective....
What is sheet mulching? Keep reading to learn more about sheet mulch gardening. What is Sheet Mulching? Sheet mulching involves the layering of organic materials, similar to lasagna gardening. Different layers of ingredients are placed on the ground in layers, much like building lasagna in a pan. The layers turn the existing weeds into compost and add nutrients and soil amendments to the dirt underneath, while allowing a first year’s planting to start your garden....
