The following is a simple design, but it can serve to provide a home for those in need of one. Construction is simple, but take your time and remember – measure twice and cut once! Got bats? If conditions permit, adding a bat box to the garden is a great way to invite our flying friends into a safe home. It is a project that requires some basic carpentry skills, but once you’re finished, it is such a rewarding experience....
Pomegranates grown in soil that is lacking may not produce the best quality fruit either. They may be small or bland in flavor, or they may ripen poorly. Some plants are heavy feeders, relying on the application of fertilizers every year to grow and produce fruit. Pomegranates, however, are not included in that category. They’re able to grow in soil that is low in organic material, and can tolerate some salt, sand, and drought-like conditions....
By Erin Marissa Russell Tobacco etch virus is spread by aphids of 10 different species on plants in North and South America as well as Africa, Asia, Turkey, and Spain. An aphid in contact with an infected plant for as few as 10 seconds can become a carrier of tobacco etch virus, and the aphid will remain a carrier for up to four hours, having the highest potential to infect plants for the first hour....
If you’ve ever driven past or visited a farm with rows of tall blueberry shrubs, those were probably highbush plants. Of all the available species and varieties, northern highbush is the most common type cultivated commercially. Vaccinium corymbosum To heck with apples, eating some blueberries each day is what keeps the doctor away! Or at least that’s what professor of nutrition and epidemiology Dr. Eric Rimm and his colleagues at Harvard Medical School announced, based on the results of a study published in 2013....
Green onion is one of the most versatile vegetables. From garnishing your food to making it a part of your salad, there are countless ways to consume it. No doubt! And the best part, you can grow this in a very small space, in a DIY container, EASILY. What are Green Onions? Green onions are immature onions with green shoots. The green shoots form and grow before the bulb formation....
A light frost even improves the flavor, adding sweet notes to plants that may have become bitter in the summer months. Will kale grow in containers? You bet it will! In fact, this cabbage-family super veggie is one of the easiest of garden greens to grow. And just a few plants can keep you and your family supplied with a weekly harvest almost year-round! Being a cool weather and frost-hardy crop, it lasts well into winter....
By Matt Gibson Though Maidenhair Ferns are popular houseplants, they have gotten a bad reputation amongst gardeners for being very particular, difficult to please plants that need a high humidity environment at all times to perform well. While maidenhair ferns do require some specific care to thrive, they are not as tough to please as their warning label suggests. One thing is essential in caring for maidenhair ferns, and that is keeping the soil fully and evenly moist at all times....
by Matt Gibson Looking to add a sago palm plant to your garden? Like some ferns, the sago palm plant has been around since the prehistoric era, and the sago palm is one of the oldest groups of plants in the known world. How cool is that? Despite its namesake, the sago palm is not a palm tree, but instead is a member of the plant family called Cycad, of the genus Cycas....
Garden tools that have been properly maintained will allow you to work more efficiently and you will also save more money in the long run. Letting your equipment fall into a degraded state is always a waste since you will simply have to purchase new if yours deteriorate to the point that the various devices can’t be brought back into shape. Before giving tips for maintaining your garden tools, we will provide a few important shopping hints....
Plants Have you considered growing mint in your garden, but really aren't sure where to start? Mint can be an excellent addition to any garden if you can handle the fact that it likes to take over certain areas very quickly. In this article, gardening expert and farm owner Taylor Sievers walks through each step of how to successfully plant, grow, and care for mint in your garden. By Taylor Sievers Last updated: April 6, 2022 | 16 min read The perennial herbs we know as “mint” are members of the family known as Lamiaceae....
Houseplants If you've decided that a philodendron gigas is the next houseplant on your list, you've come to the right place! This lesser known philodendron is seeing an increase in popularity due to it's beautiful foliage, and ease of care. In this article, gardening expert and houseplant enthusiast Madison Moulton looks at all aspects of the philodendron gigas, including maintenance and care. By Madison Moulton Last updated: September 26, 2022 | 10 min read Once you’ve grown one type of Philodendron, it’s almost impossible not to want more....
Propagating plumerias is a great way to expand your collection, or share your favorites with friends. In this post, I’ll talk about the different methods, tell you when and how to take cuttings, and then show you how to root them, step-by-step. Though it sounds like it would be difficult, plumerias (aka: frangipanim, kalachuchi, or Hawaiian lei tree) are surprisingly quick and easy to propagate. Below I’ll talk about the different methods you can try, and then dive into all of the information you need to know, including my best tips for success....
If you are looking for a hardy, low light house plant, the ZZ plant (or Zamioculcas zamiifolia) is a great choice. You may, however, wonder whether ZZ plants are poisonous, and if they are safe for your family and pets. Is a ZZ plant poisonous? Yes, ZZ plants are poisonous to both humans and pets. ZZ plants can cause skin and eye irritation with direct contact, and can cause stomach ache, vomiting and diarrhea if ingested....
Plants Want to start planting some coleus this season, but aren't sure if it's an annual, biennial, or perennial plant? The answers to these questions will largely depend on your geographic location. In this article, certified master gardener Laura Elsner breaks down the life cycle of the coleus plant. By Laura Elsner Last updated: June 8, 2022 | 6 min read Coleus are a foliage lover’s dream. They provide color and texture to garden beds and pots without flowers....
The spider plant is one of the easiest indoor plants to grow. They need minimal care, and spider plants prefer to be left alone once they have a good foundation for thriving. They’re easy to propagate and look lovely in a hanging basket. These tough plants are a perfect addition to any home, whether it’s full of plant lovers or not. Table of Contents Chlorophytum comosum is one of those potted plants you’ll find on patios or in offices....
If you are like me, you probably end the summer with way too many cherry tomatoes from your garden. Or at least, more that you can eat. Don’t let that overabundance go to waste! You can use them to make homemade sun dried cherry tomatoes. Read on to learn how incredibly easy it is to make DIY sun dried cherry tomatoes with just a couple of simple tools and ingredients....
If you’ve ever come across a large deciduous shrub with dark green heart-shaped leaves and clusters of small purple flowers, then you may have encountered Syringa vulgaris, common lilac. Its most identifiable characteristic, however, is probably its scent. They tend to smell sweet and floral, almost like roses, and their scent carries easily on the wind, wafting through windows in late spring and early summer. Table of Contents Common lilac makes a lovely addition to any garden....
1. Create a brush pile for birds and wildlife Use your dead Christmas tree to create a brush pile, you can find twigs, leaves, and logs in your garden, the Christmas tree can be used as its base. It’ll help and redirect the small animals and birds towards during the wintry months. The dead tree will not only offer the much-needed protection from chill to the animals but also act as a source of food....
Information Fiddle leaf figs are popular houseplants. But they can be picky when it comes to their care. If you recently repotted this popular houseplant and notice it's drooping, there could be a couple reasons behind it. In this article, gardening expert and houseplant enthusiast Madison Moulton examines why these plants may droop after repotting. By Madison Moulton Last updated: August 23, 2022 | 5 min read As popular as they are, Fiddle Leaf Figs are susceptible to an impressively long list of problems....
Question: Why is my kale flowering? Should I still harvest the leaves? -Pam W. Answer: Kale sprouts flowers, or bolts, typically in its second year, just after winter is over and warm weather starts to return. How fast your kale bolts depends on how quickly the weather warms, and it will happen quicker in warm weather areas. Whenever any plant bolts, it just means that it has reached full maturity and is ready to shift its focus to producing seeds....
