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For the past few years, cucumbers, squash, and zucchini have wilted in my garden – no matter what. My best guess is that my soil is infected with a virus, be it phytophthera or some other crippling condition. Since then, I have planned to build a raised bed for cucurbits, which would give me some fresh soil to try growing them again. Well, I finally got around to it! I built a raised bed out of dog-eared cedar fence posts and pressure treated 2x2s....

It recently came into news and attracted the attention of environmentalists and biologists. According to the Fox News–“In brief, the sap prevents your skin from protecting itself from sunlight, which leads to a very bad sunburn.” What Is Giant Hogweed? Heracleum mantegazzianum is the scientific name of the invasive plant- Giant Hogweed. It’s native to the western region of Eurasia and was introduced in Britain originally as an ornamental plant. Some of its kinds are found in some areas of Europe, the United States, and Canada....

The best Rudbeckias for sunny gardens Rudbeckia laciniata, the tall coneflower, cut leaf coneflower, or green-headed coneflower, is one of the tallest Rudbeckias. Topping out between three and twelve feet, cut leaf coneflower has divided leaves and four-inch wide flowers that have green, cone-shaped centers and yellow, downward curved petals. It is native to nearly all of North America. I grow mine in the back of my perennial border where it can stand watch over all the other plants I have growing there....

Sago palms look exotic and difficult to care for, but they are surprisingly simple to grow. In this detailed guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about how to keep them thriving indoors or outside. Though they are very popular landscaping plants in warm regions, sago palms also make excellent houseplants. They are low maintenance and very forgiving, making them an excellent choice for beginners and experts alike. Below I’ve shared everything you need about sago palm care....

One of the biggest advantages of growing vertically is that it makes maintenance much simpler. Growing plants up and off the ground makes it easier to care for them, and protects them from many common problems. Even though caring for vertical gardens is easier, they aren’t completely maintenance free. But don’t worry, there are lots of things you can do to ease the burden of vertical garden maintenance. In this vertical garden care guide, I’ll show you how to take care of your vertical garden so that you don’t have to spend your entire summer weeding, watering, fertilizing, and fighting pests and disease....

Who doesn’t like strawberries? They’re a fabulous accompaniment to many meals. You can have them in your tart pastry filling, salad, or cereal topper or smoothie flavoring! Do you want to grow strawberries? You only need a couple of strawberry growing tips to get you started. Compare your growing technique to these tips. You Need to Choose Your Strawberry Plants Wisely Is growing strawberries hard? No, strawberries are generally easy to grow....

Chemical fertilizers are available in abundance in the market and have an adverse effect on the environment. So, it is best if you stick to homemade products. Not only are those effective, but they are also eco-friendly. Moreover, homemade fertilizers are also cost-effective. 1. Compost Tea Compost tea is a multipurpose liquid fertilizer and is not only suitable for flowering plants but all plants and vegetables in general. Besides providing nutrients, compost tea has other benefits as well....

Chinese Evergreen or Aglaonema is one of the easiest houseplants to grow that thrive well in almost every indoor growing condition. Its stunning looks, bright colors, air-purifying ability make it a great houseplant. If you too want to add it to your collection, pick one from our list of Most Colorful Aglaonemas! Have a look at the most beautiful pictures of Aglaonemas here Most Colorful Aglaonemas 1. Red Aglaonema Not exactly a variety name, just search for red aglaonemas either online or offline and you’ll find many options for growing both indoors and outdoors....

1. DIY Zen Garden Use balsa wood or polymer clay as a base of your miniature zen garden and paint it with acrylic paint. Add some sand and decorate it with rocks, mini figurines, and if you like, plants. In the end, create zen garden patterns on the sand. Watch the tutorial here. 2. Adorable Mini Zen Garden Create an adorable mini zen garden with some sand, stones, and a stirrer....

Flowers Orchids can be picky about their growing conditions, which makes them great indoor flowers. There are also a few things you can do to maximize their blooms. In this article, gardening expert Melissa Strauss shares her top tips for growing beautiful orchids indoors! By Melissa Strauss Last updated: January 11, 2023 | 9 min read Orchids have quite a reputation for being fussy and difficult to grow indoors. In the wild, orchids require little more than a tree to grow on and regular rainfall and humidity....

by Jennifer Poindexter Are you interested in starting a vegetable garden? Are you looking for the easiest vegetables to start from seed? This is a smart move. Starting vegetables from seed is typically the least expensive route to take when growing a garden. Also, some plants don’t handle transplanting well. In these cases, it’s best to directly sow the seeds into the growing area. Thankfully, there are many easy vegetables to start from seed....

Having shrubs with elegant, white flowers is an ideal choice to brighten up your garden area! As the color symbolizes purity, light, and goodness, it brings a certain touch of tranquility to space. If you are searching for bushes with white flowers, then take a look at the article below! Check out our article on the best shrubs for containers here! 1. Korean Spice Viburnum USDA Zone: 4-7 Botanical Name: Viburnum carlesii...

Have a look at some amazing Gardening Hacks that will help you in a lot of ways, both in the home and yard. Check out some space-saving genius hacks for small kitchens here Best Gardening Hacks 1. Self-Watering Wine Bottle Planter The terracotta stakes are fitted with a water-filled wine bottle stuck in the plant’s soil. As the terracotta absorbs the water, it will slowly leak into the soil and keep the plant’s roots moist....

Pretty planters can multiply the beauty of plants, but they’re expensive! And if you’re low on budget and want to save your money–Instead of buying, make them at home with the help of these DIY Houseplant Pots Ideas and Makeover tips. Learn the art of making tiny planters in minutes here DIY Houseplant Pots Ideas and Makeover 1. Decoupaged Terra Cotta Pots Introduce an array of bright spring colors to the terra cotta pots using acrylic paint....

At the back of our house, we had a lush mango tree, replete with delicious fruit, which as children we would have to grab before the monkeys had their fill. Hibiscus. A flower quite like no other. Appearing in all her glory in the morning, and then fading as the evening sun casts long shadows amongst the trees. I remember this flower well, from my childhood home, a bougainvillea-clad house on the coast of East Africa, with fragrant frangipani and the bright red of the hibiscus....

Flowers Thinking of planting some white flowers in your home garden? Between annuals and perennials, there are a wide variety of white flowers that will liven up your yard, or provide some balance to a brightly colored flower garden. In this massive guide, we take a look at over 50 of our favorite white flowers, with names and pictures of each! By Jason White Last updated: November 19, 2022 | 27 min read White flowers are one of the best ways to tie a garden together and add brightness to the landscape....

These Best January Birth Flowers are exactly what you are looking for so you understand what blossoms represent you and their special meanings. Here are Beautiful July Birth Flowers and Their Meanings Best January Birth Flowers 1. Carnation Botanical Name: Dianthus caryophyllus Carnation offers brilliant red blooms with heart-shaped leaves and velvet-like petals with crinkly edges. Regarded as the Best January Birth Flower, Carnation has a spicy fragrance and is native to the Mediterranean....

By Erin Marissa Russell It can be hard to find plants you love for shady areas since so many plants are sun-loving. But if you’re looking for groundcovers that will thrive in the shade, this list of 15 groundcovers for shady areas is for you. We’ve got options for just about any soil type that will thrive in partial shade or full shade, so you’re sure to find a few that will work in your shade garden....

So, there you are with garlic galore and everything’s perfect. Your garlic-growing work is done and it’s time to relax, right? Well, not exactly. It’s time to deal with storage problems. Store garlic the wrong way and you risk losing a good chunk of your yields. Unlike other veggies, garlic can last for months. So it’s a pity it goes to waste for all the wrong reasons. Read on to find all the answers you’re looking for....

While they may not be the easiest plant to grow, they aren’t all that difficult either. You just need to be sure to give them a few specific conditions that they crave, including high heat and lots of humidity. Plerandra elegantissima There are some houseplants out there that take a bit of extra work to keep happy, but they’re so beautiful that they’re worth it. False aralia is one of those plants....