These evergreens come in solid or variegated cultivars and with foliage that can range from pale gray-green to deep, dark green, and some with yellow or cream accents. Ilex crenata Dealing with a difficult area in the garden? I’ve been there. I once had a group of Japanese hollies growing next to my patio and I made the very stupid, no-good decision to pull them out to plant something with showier flowers....
Once plants are dormant, they readily handle hard frosts, freezing temperatures, and a blanket of snow. Showy, fragrant, and unfussy, lilies (Lilium) are beautiful, summering-flowering bulbs that are tough and durable enough to withstand harsh winter conditions. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Most of these easy-care plants require a period of cold vernalization to produce big, healthy blooms....
There is perhaps nothing more cheerful than a bulb blooming in the early days of spring. That promise of the gardening season to come is like balm for the soul and a feast to the eye. Provide that pleasure for yourself (and your neighbors) by planting bulbs in your garden. Preparing the Soil for Bulbs Choose a sunny spot for bulbs. Remember that the bare branches of most deciduous trees will still provide plenty of sunlight for early blooming spring bulbs....
Now, it’s hard to get mad at these little insects, because they’re important pollinators. They’re docile as can be, and rarely sting, doing so only when forced to. In fact, the males don’t even have stingers – although they put on a good show of buzzing intruders. Xylocopa Ah, springtime! Don’t you just love the glorious profusion of new life as gardens and landscapes wake up from their long sleep? The days get longer, flowers and trees blossom, and birds, butterflies, and cute critters return from their winter respite....
Summertime is approaching and bringing the sweltering heat with it. We’ll be reaching for ice cream, ice buckets, and … ice plants! Their flowers won’t cool your garden down, but they do add an icy appearance. Each petal is covered with translucent hairs that shimmer like ice crystals in the sunlight. Any ice plant variety you choose is sure to make a splash in your summer garden! Table of Contents...
The moniker potato bug refers to several insects. The Jerusalem cricket is one such insect, which has a striking appearance and a nasty bite. There are also pill bugs, and three-lined potato bugs. However, today, we’re discussing the Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata). Table of Contents Just like the Jerusalem cricket, these bugs feast upon potatoes. The Jerusalem cricket prefers the subterranean tuberous roots of potatoes, whereas the potato beetle dines on the leaves of plants....
First cultivated near Naples in southwest Italy’s Campania region, and named for a town there known as San Marzano, the fruits are fleshy, easy to peel, and nearly seedless – all highly favorable traits in a sauce tomato. Solanum lycopersicum ‘San Marzano’ Growing ‘San Marzano’ tomatoes at home in the US is a tasty reminder that sometimes it’s just fine – good, in fact – to be second best. We are never going to be able to duplicate the growing conditions exactly in order to replicate the terroir of this famed Italian plum variety in our backyard gardens....
Plant propagation is the easiest way to grow an extensive garden by multiplying the mother plant into several cloned varieties that take weeks to develop. But if you want to speed up the process, learn How to Use Vodka to Propagate Plants and brainstorm your gardening journey! Click here to know how coconut water can benefit your plants! How to Use Vodka to Propagate Cuttings Vodka can help to keep the cutting safe from bacteria as it has Ethanol, promoting the plant to propagate in a safe manner....
QUESTION: What’s the best mulch to use in a vegetable garden? I’m planting a veggie garden for the first time this year, so I want to use the best mulch for it. — Thomas R. ANSWER: There are so many different options to use as mulch for your vegetable garden, and which one is best depends on lots of different factors. The mulches below are each great options for mulch, and each type is best for particular situations....
Houseplants are more popular than ever and have gained a wide following during pandemic. If you want to grow the most popular ones, check out the Most Googled Houseplants of the Year so far! Check out variegated versions of the most popular houseplants here Most Googled Houseplants of the Year So Far 1. Bonsais Global Search Volume: 565,000 Bonsais are popular for their remarkable appereance and rich history. They feature striking foliage and come in a wide range of shapes and sizes....
Plants are known to improve the overall appearance of your home, but do you know they also contributes to your overall health? There are plants that are actually known to have soothing properties and help if you have trouble sleeping from time to time, you can benefit from such plants– not only they detoxify your bedroom’s air, but help you get a warm good night sleep as well. Check out our article on best houseplants for stressed-out people here To start, here are 14 of the best plants you can grow....
Check out some amazing and easy-to-make Front Yard Water Feature Ideas that will help you use the extra space wisely and boost the curb appeal! Have a look at some amazing indoor water feature ideas here Front Yard Water Feature Ideas 1. Disappearing Water Fountain A disappearing fountain gives you the spray and sound of water, without the open pond. It can be a pretty cool visual effect! Details are here....
Here are the best indoor palms you can grow 1. Palms with Plant Painting Having palms indoors will improve your air quality as well. 2. Parlor Palm in a Living Room The slender and charming fronds of a parlor palm will look awesome in a living room. 3. An Urban Room A dwarf potted palm is just perfect for a small urban apartment’s room. 4. Areca Palm Interior Decor Add a touch of natural decor to your room by growing an areca palm....
by Erin Marissa Russell In gardening as with so many other things in life, like they say, “It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt.” It’s easy to see with 20/20 vision what we wish we’d have done differently. So many accidents that happen could be avoided if simple precautions were taken. By reading these safety tips, you’re taking action today to give ammunition to that part of your brain that gives you warnings in the heat of the moment....
1. Tiny Light Bulb Terrarium This tutorial from the Hipster Home has all the information, tips, and instructions for creating a light bulb terrarium. Check that out here! 2. Terrarium Bulb Planter This DIY terrarium craft from a light bulb is perfect for room decoration. Watch this tutorial for instructions. 3. Hanging Wall Planter Create the wall hanging bulb terrariums to decorate your otherwise boring wall using upcycled materials. Catch the tutorial here....
Most gardeners skip examining the acidity level of the medium and end up with an unhealthy harvest despite all the hard work. To avoid such mishaps, learn How to Check Your Soil pH at Home and enjoy healthy plant growth. Learn some Great Tips to Rejuvenate Your Old Soil here Can You Test Soil pH at Home? Yes, you can test the soil pH at home. It is basically all about determining the level of hydrogen ions in the soil, i....
This calathea makes an excellent foliage houseplant that will blend with many different styles of decor. Goeppertia ornata (aka Calathea ornata) While some prayer plants are known for their almost outlandishly patterned leaves, the pinstripe plant has a quieter beauty that’s subdued and elegant. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. It’s also easy to take care of once you have a good understanding of its needs – and that’s exactly what we’re going to cover in this article!...
By Jennifer Poindexter Viburnum shrubs come in over 150 species. These plants can grow to be the size of small trees or can be kept in shrub form, depending upon preference. They’re unique due to their bloom shape. Some varieties produce blooms similar to hydrangeas, while others produce blooms shaped like balls. These plants bloom in white and pink and produce berries in shades of blue, purple, red, pink, or black....
by Matt Gibson What’s a tisane? Most of the tea steaming in cups around the world is made of the leaves and buds of a shrub botanists call Camellia sinensis. All of the “true teas,” such as black tea, green tea, and oolong tea, are the product of steeping the Camellia sinensis plant’s leaves. Herbal teas are also known as tisanes, and though they’re not “true teas”, these delicious drinks have seen a popularity explosion in recent years....
That used to be my experience, as well. But then a few years ago I started changing up the way I did things, and now I have parsnips popping up all over the place. There are some plants out there that I just won’t grow from seed. But not parsnips. These exceptional root veggies are fairly straightforward to start (no stratifying needed here) once you know what to do. And because they have long taproots that don’t like to be disturbed, they practically beg to be started from seed....
