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What is your favorite flower? Does it start with the Alphabet “A?” Read on to enjoy some of the Flowers that Start with A. Here are the most low-maintenance flowers you can grow Flowers that Starts with A 1. African Lily Botanical Name: Agapanthus Type: Perennials Blooming Period: September to December Agapanthus is a genus that comprises about ten species belonging to the family of Amaryllidaceae. This flowering plant with beautiful clusters of bright-colored blooms is also known as Lily of the Nile or African Lily and Flower of Love....

by Erin Marissa Russell You may have heard the gardening tip about putting coffee grounds in your garden, but this technique should only be used in a specific situation. Coffee grounds are acidic, and if you put them on plants that like neutral or alkaline soil, they won’t be good for your plants at all. Use coffee grounds with plants that crave acidity to change the pH level of your soil....

Have wasps decided that the eaves of your house look like a fantastic place to move in? I know I’ve had troubles with them here in California well into the fall, although they’re at their most active in the summer. Eventually, you sigh and start shopping for the best wasp trap. Table of Contents But do you really need a trap, and if so, what kind do you want? Are lures necessary, and if so which ones?...

You will be surprised to know that many of your favorite indoor plants come with different patterns. Amazed? Have a look at some gorgeous Variegated Versions of Most Popular Houseplants. Check out our article on beautiful Variegated houseplants here Variegated Versions of Most Popular Houseplants Pothos Pothos is the most popular, air-purifying, and easy to grow houseplant that does not require any introduction. It offers a range of beautiful variegated varieties:...

Along with taking companion plant research seriously, I also entertain a bit of the commonsense home-gardener advice that enriches the concept. I consider choosing companion plants for kohlrabi to be equal parts creativity and practicality, with a smidgen of folk wisdom sprinkled in. Kohlrabi, Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes, is a brassica, and it’s one of the oddest-looking cole crops you can grow. It sports an above-ground bulb in purple or light green that sprouts stalks of the same color with green leaves....

What is a trellis? A trellis is a vertical plant support that can be temporary or permanent. You can buy or DIY a trellis. There are many advantages of trellis gardening in a raised bed garden. Growing vegetables vertically is a great way to maximize garden space and boost production, especially in smaller space or urban gardens. For example, growing vining cucumbers on the ground takes up a lot of space which leaves less room for other crops....

Why plant a tree with white flowers There are many advantages to using white in the garden. Here are three reasons to plant a tree with white flowers: First, white is a calming color that invokes serenity and peacefulness. White is also a color that goes with everything, so pair a tree with white blooms with other pale flowering plants, as well as those with bright and bold colors. You’ll find that white makes nearby colors POP!...

Question: Can I grow kale indoors? Which varieties will grow betting inside? -Lenny H. Answer: Yes, you can grow kale indoors and enjoy this leafy green vegetable year-round, regardless of your climate. Use a seed tray that has holes to provide drainage, and fill the tray with three or four inches of soilless seed starting mix. (A soilless seed starting mixture meant for growing vegetables is best.) Use a spray bottle to mist the surface of the seed starting mix so it’s damp....

Growing your own alfalfa is an easy and fun project. Alfalfa hay is ideal for livestock, and you can provide rotational grazing in the fields throughout the year. Most of us know about alfalfa sprouts, which are yummy and nutritious, but we rarely think about growing alfalfa as a cover crop or to provide nutrients to the dirt, or as fodder for cattle, horses, and sheep. Table of Contents The purple blooms on this plant are well-loved by pollinators and alfalfa tea is popular with many folks because of its high vitamin content....

Buying fresh sprigs of basil at the grocery store is expensive and it makes sense for basil lovers to grow their own during the summer months. For an average family of four, two to three basil plants should be enough. But, if you also wish to make several batches of pesto for the freezer, and I know that I certainly need my winter supply of pesto, I’d suggest planting at least eight to ten plants....

By Erin Marissa Russell Have you just started a garden in your new home only to learn to your dismay that the yard has been plagued with Phytophthora in the past? If so, or if you’re just looking for the best ways to identify, treat, and prevent Phytophthora crown, collar, and root rot in your trees, keep reading to learn exactly what you should do to keep this potentially fatal disease out of your soil and off of your plants....

A succulent with a thick trunk! This is what makes the jade stand out from the rest making it one of the most loved plants and what’s more–you can grow it both indoors and outdoors. If you too like it how about learning How to Grow a Jade Plant into a Tree! Find how to grow coleus as a tree here Can You Grow a Jade Plant into a Tree? You can and it’s not at all difficult!...

USDA Zones — 4-9 Difficulty — Easy Other Names — Angel’s Herb, Root of the Holy Spirit, Garden Angelica, Holy Ghost, Wild Celery, and Norwegian Angelica. Angelica archangelica is a biennial herbaceous plant that belongs to the Umbelliferae family. The average height of the angelica plant is 100-120 cm. Its stems are branched, hairless, quite sturdy and with streaks of dark red. Angelica leaves are green on the upper side, lighter in the lower one and are arranged alternately on the side....

By Erin Marissa Russell & Matt Gibson Camellias are dense evergreen Japanese shrubs with beautiful foliage. They produce bright, delicate, long-lasting flowers during the cool season. The most commonly cultivated types of camellia are C. japonica and C. sasanqua, though there are many hybrids as well, which were bred to create different colors, shapes, and other traits, such as cold hardiness. C. sinensis is cultivated commercially to create a tea that is very popular in East Asia....

Coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides), with its beautiful, heart-shaped foliage, is the darling of the annual shade garden (though some varieties are adapted to full sun). If you’ve never grown coleus before, you’ll be surprised by the stunning variety of colors and foliage. Although coleus does produce flowers in late summer, it is grown chiefly for its foliage, which comes in brilliant shades of fuchsia, lime, pale yellow, dark green, purple and even black....

Feijoa or pineapple guava is a large and attractive evergreen shrub that is native to South America. It belongs to the myrtle family (Myrtaceae) and is widely known with the name of guaiabo, pineapple guava, guavasteen. However, it is not real guava and generally grown for its ornamental values and sweet, aromatic fruits that taste like a combination of guava, pineapple, and mint. USDA Zones— 8 to 11 Difficulty— Easy...

Today, I am delighted to find my current acreage is dotted with the trees. They provide shade in the summer and habitat for a variety of birds, bees, and butterflies. All of my childhood summers were marked by lazy days in the mulberry trees, grabbing fistfuls of the tiny, dark fruits for hours of casual snacking. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission....

The hardest part of growing herbs in a greenhouse is building the structure. Herbs can make or break a dish. Sure, the dry ones can be used to flavor food, but there’s no true substitute for the fresh taste of recently plucked leaves. Does that mean we have to resign ourselves to eggs with dried chives and cucumber basil salad sans the basil during the winter? Heck no! If you have a greenhouse, or you’re thinking of constructing one, put it to work growing herbs year-round....

This plant is easily identifiable. Just look for the big, bulbous base, scaly gray trunk, and stringy foliage. When combined with a simple bonsai container, it creates a visual statement that is sure to start a conversation. Some trends just make sense. Consider the fact that ponytail palms are popping up in more and more places as bonsai. One look at their eye-catching trunks that resemble the leg of an elephant and their elegant strap-like leaves, and it’s no wonder people want to capture the spirit of this unique plant with the art of bonsai....

If you plan to cultivate this unique vegetable for its looks and taste in your garden, then we have all the details on How to Grow White Eggplant in Pot for you! Learn about growing eggplants in pots here Difference Between White and Purple Eggplants If you think that the only thing that separates eye-catching veggies from the purple ones is the color, then you are wrong! White eggplants have a lot creamier taste and are also less bitter, making them perfect for baking, steaming, and frying, thanks to their hard outer skin....