Posts

Is My Catnip Sick? Catnip is probably one of the easier herbs to grow. In fact, they thrive in low nutrient soil, are drought tolerant when established and reliably come back in spring even after the harshest winter. So why would you have dying catnip plants? If they haven’t been loved to death by your local alley cats, the problem may be fungal or viral. Problems with catnip are usually related to site and conditions, and can be easily prevented....

How to Get Rid of Johnson Grass As with most invasive weeds and grasses, using multiple strategies usually works best for Johnson grass control. This means that you may use a Johnson grass herbicide program along with other kinds of Johnson grass control methods. This is fitting, as Johnson grass reproduces and invades crop areas in two ways, spreading both by seed and rhizomes to overtake farmland and other areas of your property....

If you aren’t familiar with this gorgeous and unusual plant, you’ll be interested in a few kowhai tree facts. Anyone living in a mild zone can consider planting a kowhai tree in order to enjoy the beautiful blossoms spring after spring. Read on for tips on kowhai tree care. Kowhai Tree Facts The iconic Kowhai tree fascinates botanists and gardeners alike. Kowhais produce brilliant yellow flowers in spring, such a prominent feature of the plant that the word “kowhai” means yellow in te reo, the language of the Maori....

About Scented Geranium Plants Many people consider the various scented geranium types to be herbs. They produce flowers, but the real reason to grow them is for attractive and scented foliage. The aroma comes from oil produced at the roots of leaf hairs. Each variety has a unique smell, including aromas reminiscent of lemon, rose, mint, and even coconut. Scented Geranium Varieties The options for aromas are nearly endless with these species of scented geranium: P....

What is a Lowbush Blueberry? Lowbush blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium) are often harvested in the wild, where they are found growing in sandy forest clearings and meadows and near the edges of bogs. Lowbush blueberries are also grown in semi-wild patches that are managed by blueberry harvesters. Most lowbush blueberries are produced in Maine, New Brunswick, Quebec, and Nova Scotia. But gardeners in a wider geographical region can grow them on a small scale....

Spinach as dye? You better believe it, but not just spinach. You can also make dye from orange peels, lemon ends, even the outer leaves of a cabbage. These dyes are easy, eco-friendly, and really cheap to produce. Read on to learn how to make spinach dye. Making Dye with Spinach The first step in making natural spinach dye (or dye from any other veggies or fruits) is to gather a sufficient amount....

Meyer lemon growing can be grown outside in USDA Hardiness Zones 8-11. Those in more northern areas successfully grow Meyer lemons in large containers that are overwintered indoors, away from freezing temperatures. Caring for a Meyer lemon tree is simple when you follow a few basic steps. We’ll list them here for those who may be having difficulty growing these lemons and for those new to Meyer lemon growing....

Plants That Tolerate Wet Areas Here are just some plants that can take moist conditions. Water tolerant perennials and bulbs include: Lily of the valley Bugbane Crinum Sweet woodruff Daylily Rose mallow Blue vervain Monkey flower Iris Certain grasses add beauty and texture to damp areas. For example, the following grasses perform well in moist soil: Northern sea oats Indian grass Little bluestem Cordgrass If you’re looking for a vine or a groundcover for a damp area, keep in mind that most vines and groundcovers require some drainage and don’t perform well in areas that are flooded or consistently wet....

Morning Glory Problems Problems with morning glories can vary but may include environmental issues and fungal diseases of morning glory. Environmental problems with morning glories When the leaves of a morning glory turn yellow, it is usually a sign that something is not right with your plant. Insufficient sunlight can be a cause of yellowing leaves, as morning glories require full sun to flourish. To remedy this, you can transplant your morning glory to a sunnier spot in the garden or trim any plants that are blocking the sun....

What is Mushroom Compost? Mushroom compost is a type of slow-release, organic plant fertilizer. The compost is made by mushroom growers using organic materials such as hay, straw, corn cobs, and hulls, and poultry or horse manure. Since the mushroom growing process varies slightly between individual growers, mushroom compost recipes may differ here and there. For instance, additional materials like gypsum, peat moss, lime, soybean meal, and various other organic items may be added to the compost as well....

Help, My Pansies Aren’t Blooming! The first thing to consider about pansies that won’t bloom is temperature. Pansies are cool weather plants that take a season to mature prior to blooming and setting seed. This means that in the northern region pansies should be planted in the fall; in warmer areas plant seedlings in the winter. Pansies stop or slow their blooming when the weather gets hot. The heat is a signal to the plant that it is time to start a new generation, so it goes into overdrive to produce seeds instead of blossoms....

About Pecan Brown Leaf Spot Disease Pecan cercospora is most prevalent in neglected pecan orchards or in older trees. It rarely causes serious issues in healthy, mature plants. By the time you see brown spots on pecan leaves, the fungal disease is well advanced. Early signs can help avoid the disease getting a foothold in an orchard situation. The name of the disease gives some indication of the symptoms; however, by the time the leaves are that advanced, the fungus is well established....

How to Grow a Viburnum Hedge Planning a viburnum hedge comes before planting one. Taking the time to assess your needs and landscape situation now will save you problems later. Lots of types of viburnum are available in commerce, many that are perfect for someone planting a viburnum hedge. Before you choose among the varieties, figure out the basics. You need to decide how tall and how deep you want the hedge....

About Plants for Cutting Propagation Rooting plants from cuttings is one of the easiest ways to propagate, or make more, plants for the garden. The propagation process can be used for both woody and herbaceous plants; however, the procedure will vary somewhat depending upon type. Before choosing plants for cutting propagation, it will first be important to do some research. While a number of plants can be multiplied in this way, this method will not work with every plant species....

You may know prickly poppy plant (Argemone Mexicana) as yellow prickly poppy, flowering thistle, crested prickly poppy, or argemone. It is perennial in USDA plant hardiness zones 8 through 11. In cooler climates it is grown as an annual. Mexican Prickly Poppy Uses Growing Mexican prickly poppies is easy, and prickly poppy flowers are pretty, but keep in mind that the plant is extremely prickly and may not be a good choice for places where children play....

How to Propagate Clematis from Cuttings The best way to grow clematis is from clematis cuttings. Cuttings are the easiest way to perform clematis propagation. Start propagating clematis by taking clematis cuttings for clematis propagation from your healthy clematis in early summer. You will want to take half green wood cuttings; in other words, cuttings that have just started to become hard (brown) wood. Treat them with a special rooting hormone to help them root and place the clematis cuttings in sterile soil....

Gazebos in the Garden So what is a gazebo? A gazebo is a roofed open structure in the garden, often octagonal in shape, with ?posts in each of the eight corners. The typical classic gazebo is topped by a shingled roof with a small cupola on top and features built-in seating inside the sheltered area. These structures were enjoyed by folks in ancient civilizations as outdoor, ornamental destination spots and serve much the same role today....

What is Tobacco Streak? Tobacco streak virus belongs to the genus Illavirus and appears in a wide range of plants, from tomatoes to cotton and even soybeans. It is an incurable disease that causes visual damage to fruits, but doesn’t necessarily kill plants, although many gardeners will see reduced production due to the stress this virus causes. Tobacco streak virus goes by many different names, depending on the plant infected....

Why Protect Amphibians in the Garden? One in three amphibian species, including frogs, toads, and salamanders, are on the red list of endangered species according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Amphibian friendly habitats in the garden are a small but important way to help reverse this trend. Some added benefits of amphibians in the garden include: Beautiful chirping sounds that signal spring and sound throughout the summerNatural pest insect controlAn all-around healthier local ecosystemCute garden residents...

These tough, flexible plants seem almost bulletproof, but when brown rosemary plants appear in the garden, you may wonder, “Is my rosemary dying?”. Although brown rosemary needles aren’t a particularly good sign, they are often the only early sign of root rot in this plant. If you heed their warning, you may be able to save your plant. Causes of Brown Rosemary Plants There are two common causes of rosemary turning brown, both involving environmental problems that you can easily correct....