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About Erosion and Native Plants Using native plants in the landscape provides a visual “tie-in” to the surrounding flora. They’re more adaptable than imported species and have the ability to thrive once they mature without much human intervention. Whether you have a hillside, slope along a waterway or a previously eroded space, native plants can help preserve the soil and maintain the land. Erosion can occur from wind, gravity, water and even over-use....

By thinning the crop, you simply should pick some of the fruit as it is producing, because otherwise, you can end up with more apricots than you know what to do with. You would think, because of how many apricots grow on one tree, you would never have a problem with no apricots on the tree. However, it can and does happen. Reasons for Apricot Tree Not Fruiting Since apricot trees are so easily grown and apricot fruits so easily harvested, if you have no apricots on the tree, it signals a problem....

About Peach ‘Belle of Georgia’ Peaches are one of those fruits that are delicious fresh but also translate well to canned, grilled, and dessert recipes. The peach ‘Belle of Georgia’ is a blushed freestone with white, succulent flesh. As an added bonus, the tree is self-fertile and doesn’t require a pollination partner to crop. It does, however, need at least 800 chilling hours for a reliable harvest. Not all peach trees are created equal....

What is a ‘Pink Quill’ Air Plant? Also known as Wallisia cyanea or Tillandsia cyanea, pink quill plants are a dependable tropical perennial. Native to Ecuador, the small evergreen plant grows best in USDA growing zones 9 through 12. Throughout the gardening season, quill bromeliads produce rosettes of thin grass-like foliage. Though the plant is relatively short at maturity, its foliage is known to sprawl and reach impressive widths. Masses of leaves range in color from glossy green to attractive shades of silver and gray....

What is a Mother’s Day Garden? A Mother’s Day garden is whatever you want it to be. There are no rules or strict traditions. This is simply a good idea for celebrating an important day and a very important person. You could create a garden together with your mom or do it for her as a surprise. And if you are a mom, plan a garden with your kids. Regardless, it will give you something everyone can enjoy working on for years to come....

Planting Florence Fennel Fennel germinates quickly in soils that are well-drained and in a sunny location. Check the soil pH before planting Florence fennel. Fennel require soil with a pH of 5.5 to 7.0, so you may need to add lime to raise the pH. Sow the seeds 1/8 to ¼ inch (3-6 mm.) deep. Thin the plants after they have sprouted to a distance of 6 to 12 inches (15-31 cm....

Choosing Vines for North Central States When growing vines in the North and Central states of the U.S., it’s best to choose those that are native or that at least will not become invasive and overgrown if non-native. For example, honeysuckle is a pretty, sweet smelling vine with flowers pollinators love, but be sure not to choose the highly invasive and damaging Japanese honeysuckle. Here are some other native and non-invasive options:...

Barberry Plant Propagation Several hundred different species of barberry plant exist on the planet, and more than a few might find their way into your local garden store. Generally, barberry plant propagation is similar for all species. Can you grow seeds from barberries? You can, but you cannot be sure that the new plant will look like the old one. The only method of propagating a barberry shrub that is sure to duplicate the parent is to root barberry cuttings....

Pruning for Potted Fruit Trees Pruning fruit trees is a very important element of maintenance, whether the trees grow in the orchard or in containers on the porch or patio. Trimming helps keep the tree the size and shape you want it to be and maintains the tree’s health. Potted fruit tree pruning, like pruning field fruit trees, can also have a beneficial effect on fruit production. Almost any type of fruit tree can be grown in a pot, and each must be pruned to keep it happy and thriving....

Can You Hard Prune Rosemary? Gardeners are sometimes hesitant to make drastic cuts on rosemary shrubs because a few herbs with similar, woody stems don’t recover if you make severe cuts. A mature rosemary plant, however, tolerates this drastic pruning, even into the woody parts of the stem. You can do light pruning and harvesting any time of year, but a rosemary plant responds best to hard pruning in winter when it isn’t actively growing....

How to Keep Snakes Out of Garden A snake-proof fence is an effective approach in how to keep snakes out of the garden. Use ½ inch (1 cm.) wire mesh and design the fence so that 6 inches (15 cm.) is buried underground with 30 inches (76 cm.) above ground. Slant the above ground part of the fence outward at a 30 degree angle and place all supporting stakes inside the fence....

Striped Maple Tree Information Not all maples are soaring, graceful trees with snow white bark. According to striped maple tree information, this tree is a shrubby, understory maple. It can be grown as a large shrub or a small tree. You’ll find this maple in the wild from Wisconsin to Quebec, from the Appalachians into Georgia. It is native to the rocky forests in this range. These trees usually grow from 15 to 25 feet (5-8 m....

Summer Set Tomato Info Tomato plants often abort flowers when temperatures are too high. To prevent this problem, selecting a breed that is resistant to heat is recommended. The Summer Set variety is both heat and humidity resistant. These are two of the harshest conditions in which to grow tomatoes, often resulting in flower loss and cracking on any tomatoes that do form. Here are some tips on how to grow Summer Set tomatoes and finally reap a bumper crop of fruit....

Fungal Trouble with Swiss Chard Fungal Swiss chard diseases are the most common culprits responsible when your plants fall ill in the garden. Cercospora Leaf Spot – This fungal disease tends to affect lower leaves first. It is recognized by brownish-grey or black spots with reddish-purple halos. In humid weather, the leaves may take on a fuzzy appearance due to the silvery-gray spores. Downy mildew – Humid conditions or excess moisture may result in downy mildew, a fungal disease that is unsightly but usually not deadly....

Why Do Certain Flower Colors Have Meaning? The history behind what flower colors symbolize is not perfectly clear. It certainly varies depending on culture, and some of the meanings reach so far back that no one knows for sure why they exist. The various meanings of flower types and colors date back hundreds of years and are found worldwide. They are found in Shakespearean writings, ancient Greek and Egyptian texts, and in Asian folklore and mythologies....

Tilling and Soil Health Tilling and working soil increases porosity for root growth and moisture penetration and drainage. It also allows the gardener to work in important soil amendments such as compost, leaf litter or other organic aids. Turning the soil allows oxygen to penetrate the earth for root uptake and to aid aerobic bacteria in their composting work. The process also helps to smooth garden bed and allows a chance to remove rocks, invasive roots and other debris, making way for tender seedlings....

Tips for Transplanting Monkey Grass If you look around and find that you have monkey grass growing here and there, you have a great starting point. All you need to do is dig some up, roots and all, and move it somewhere else. For instance, if you find that monkey grass grows well around the front walkway of your new home, you could pull a few sprigs of it up, including the roots, and transplant monkey grass under the bushes in front of the house....

Monitoring and correcting high phosphorus levels in soil will be essential in ensuring optimal plant growth in the garden. About Excessive Phosphorus Having a garden soil sample tested is a great way for gardeners to learn more about the needs of their garden. Becoming more familiar with the nutrients present in the soil can help growers adapt their garden beds for the best results. Unlike other plant nutrients, phosphorus does not leach in the soil....

Erect vs. Trailing Raspberries Both trailing and erect raspberry varieties have similar requirements. All raspberries love a sunny location with periodic rain or regular watering. Raspberry plants like well-draining acidic soil, and they don’t do well in wet areas. The main difference between trailing and erect raspberry plants is whether or not they require a trellis. Like the name suggests, erect raspberry varieties have a sturdy stem which supports upright growth....

Are There Animals That Eat Lily of the Valley? Over time, a lily of the valley patch will spread and fill in with broad, scooping leaves and the tiny, delicate blooms. There are few animals that eat lily of the valley, as the bulbs contain a toxin that even rodents find distasteful. Even deer do not browse the leaves and flowers. The ASPCA cautions home growers against having lily of the valley in the landscape....