When you are looking for plants to fill your landscape, succulent ground cover plants are an excellent option. This is especially true for those who live in warmer climates and want to place vegetation in their garden that requires very little maintenance once they are established. Table of Contents You can find many varieties of succulents, and some even have dwarf species. The ones we feature in this article vary in size from low-growing to providing ground coverage with height....

If you want to grow a plant with great looking foliage and air-purifying capabilities, you can never go wrong with an Umbrella plant. Here are the best Types of Scheffleras you can adorn your home with. Check out our article for growing Schefflera indoors here Best Types of Scheffleras 1. Dwarf Botanical Name: Schefflera arboricola Dwarf Schefflera is a compact variety showcasing small, ovate, dark green leaves. This popular houseplant can grow up to 3-4 feet tall and wide....

1. Carousel Buttons Macrame Plant Hanger This is a good option for anyone that has some basic knowledge of typical macrame knots. You can grace it with welded rings and beads. Find the pattern at Craftsy! 2. Macrame-Made Plant Hanger Create this lovely plant hanger out of an ordinary clothesline following the tutorial available at Lowes! 3. Macrame Plant Holder Pattern If you want to design awe-inspiring macramé hangers, then this is one of the best DIY tutorials available here!...

Nothing is quite as satisfying as a freshly tilled garden. Unless, of course, your garden tiller isn’t cut out for the job. Tilling with the wrong type of garden tiller can be more than a hassle – it can be a nightmare. The first time I tilled my garden was a sweaty, frustrating, and time-consuming disaster. Table of Contents It doesn’t have to be that way. Tilling your garden can be a rewarding and straightforward task, provided you have the best garden tiller for your needs....

In this article, we’ll explore 9 common cauliflower disorders that cause irregularities in head formation. We’ll define each condition, describe it, examine causes, and recommend avoidance measures. Brassica oleracea var. botrytis Cauliflower, Brassica oleracea var. botrytis, is a temperamental cool-weather vegetable. If its needs aren’t met, it can become stressed and fail to produce the sweet, tender heads for which it is prized. In companion articles, we discussed how to grow cauliflower and varieties of cauliflower to choose....

If you’re a fan of tall flower stalks with interesting botanical structures, Bells of Ireland is a great plant for you. Hailing from Western Asia, these bells don’t call Ireland their home. The culprit for this common name was most likely an enterprising seed distributor in the 20th century. While they have a wide hardiness range, these plants grow best in dry, cool areas. They’re hardy down to zone 2 and do fine in regions of zones 6 through 11....

Used as a mulch, fertilizer, compost accelerator, pollinator attractor, and clay soil breaker, the comfrey plant is an invaluable addition to any garden. Table of Contents The first comfrey shoots appear in spring. By June it has grown waist high with a multitude of pretty bell-shaped, pink to purple flowers, each one with a tiny bee’s bottom protruding from the end as they feast on the rich comfrey nectar. I let the bees feast for a few weeks before taking my first harvest....

For at least a short time each year, we all like having a winter wonderland. But snow and ice tend to cause major problems on our driveways or walkways. The snow can be shoveled out of the way with a good snow shovel, or blown away with an electric snow blower. However, ice is a bit more complicated to remove. So what’s the best way to clear up that slippery ice in the dead of winter?...

But here, I simply cannot tell you which English pea to select! We’re here to look at the best varieties of shelling peas, Pisum sativum, to grow in your garden. But first I have a confession to make. I love to make very strong recommendations about what people should do in almost every situation. And I like it even better when people follow my advice. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products....

So you have a tree that needs to be trimmed, and your handheld pruners just won’t cut it – both figuratively and literally. What should you do? Table of Contents Invest in a quality pair of loppers, of course! But how do you decide what you need, and is there really any differences between them? Let’s discover all you need to know about loppers, and I’ll make some recommendations for specific brands....

Have you ever heard of an atemoya tree? This lovely tropical, a hybrid of the cherimoya and the sugar apple, is a beautiful evergreen perennial with unusual fruit. Developed in Florida, it’s now widespread internationally and is gaining in popularity. And you’ll still find native specimens in Florida today! Table of Contents While often inaccurately referred to as the African pride, custard apple, it’s more commonly called pineapple sugar apple or mini soursop....

Not only are lotus flowers absolutely gorgeous in landscaping, but their roots are also edible. With a sweet, crunchy taste, these rhizomatic tubers are popular in Chinese and Japanese dishes. You’ll soon learn how to grow lotus root for your own table because that’s our topic today! Table of Contents If you’ve ever done yoga, you’re probably familiar with the sacred lotus. This peaceful flower isn’t just a pop culture icon; it’s an important spiritual symbol in Buddhism and Hinduism....

If you are blessed with a natural green thumb, then continue doing what you’re doing. But if you’re like the rest of us mere humans, it takes time and a lot of trial and error to figure things out. It’s important to know some indoor gardening basics to give you the best chance to grow gorgeous plants. Table of Contents Save yourself some of the hassle by understanding the principles of what’s going on above and below the dirt....

However, there are environmental concerns about peat’s use due to the release of carbon as it breaks down in the soil. Perhaps you’ve seen it at your garden center. Maybe you even know how to use it. But what is peat moss? And is its use in the garden necessary? Staring in the 1950s, sphagnum peat moss became widely used as a principle ingredient in the potting soils sold in the United States....

Depending on where you live, your lawn may be comprised of warm season grass, like zoysia and Bermuda, or cool-season varieties, such as fescue, Kentucky blue, and perennial rye. The lawn may be the largest part of your garden landscape. From seeding and mowing to weeding and raking autumn leaves, you do your best to keep it looking lush and lovely, and take pride in the accomplishment. And once those leaves are cleared away, it’s goodbye to lawn chores until spring, right?...

Multiple varieties of astilbe are available for you to choose from, with flowers covering a broad spectrum of colors. The foliage varies too, ranging from a deep green to a darker brown tone and everything in between. When it comes to gardening in a shaded location, many of us turn to classic fallback options like hostas and foxgloves. Astilbe is a perennial that blooms for up to three weeks, producing elegant spikes or clusters of flowers....

It’s the flower of Hawaii, a national symbol of Haiti, and the national flower of nations including the Solomon Islands and Niue. The star-shaped flower of all hibiscus types is sought by gardeners everywhere. With so many different types of hibiscus out there, surely there’s something you can work with. Table of Contents Whether you prefer tropical hibiscus cultivars, hardy hibiscus, or perennials, most large-scale nurseries and big box stores stock plenty....

Japanese maples are one of the most common species of tree grown as bonsai. So, you’re in for a resounding yes – it’s possible, you can grow Japanese maples in pots! Whether you lack a spacious yard or just want to bring a Japanese maple closer to your home, you might want to try growing one in a pot. How difficult would that be? Is it even possible? We link to vendors to help you find relevant products....

Muskmelons are often thought of interchangeably with cantaloupe, and, even though cantaloupes are in fact muskmelons, not all muskmelons are cantaloupes. Some types look and taste very different. Cucumis melo var. reticulatus If you’re a fan of muskmelons, you probably think biting into a slice is the best taste of summer. Their juicy, nutritious, and sometimes brightly colored flesh is the perfect addition to the picnic table, adding flavors that make your mouth water when you’re craving a cool, sweet treat after a barbecue or alongside a buffet of grilled foods....

In our guide to growing blueberries, we cover how to cultivate these plants in your home garden. Nothing beats homegrown blueberries. Well, except for maybe one thing… more blueberries! If you want to expand your berry patch – or get started growing blueberries – sure, you could go buy plants from a nursery, but why not try propagating your own bushes? Doing your own propagation at home is so rewarding, not to mention cost effective....