By Bethany Hayes Towards the end of summer, you can find fields of goldenrod plants with their tall flower plumes full of yellow flowers. Goldenrod practically screams that fall is on the way, so get ready. Despite its beauty, few people purposefully include it in their garden, thinking that it’s mostly a weed, but learning how to grow goldenrod in your garden can give your beds a splash of color needed as summer winds down....
Pansy Basics Pansies are a biennial plant, so they flower every other year, and are in the same family as violets and violas. They’re suited to most North American climates, and are fairly cold hardy, flowering in the early spring and spreading quickly throughout the summer. They are a fast-growing groundcover plant, so be mindful that they may pop up in other places in your yard than where you first planted them....
By Jennifer Poindexter Do you remember a trendy houseplant from the 1980’s that looked like swiss cheese? They’re making a comeback! The monstera deliciosa plant, also known as the swiss cheese plant, is an indoor vine with large leaves. As the plant matures, the leaves develop holes which resemble those found in a slice of swiss cheese. If you’re desiring a houseplant with style for your home, the swiss cheese plant could be exactly what you need....
This Valentine’s Day, create a romantic ambiance at home with a heart-shaped floral centerpiece that you can make in minutes. This lovely low-profile arrangement is called a pavé. It’s made with carnations, roses, mums, baby’s breath, and berries that have had their stems cut short to create the effect of a surface paved with flowers. It’s easy to make and perfect for a Valentine’s Day table for two. Read on to learn how to make your own!...
Indoor succulent gardens are fun and easy to make. In this post, I will show you exactly how to make your own, with detailed step-by-step instructions. I love combining my succulents into miniature indoor gardens! They have shallow roots, so they are perfect for planting in mixed containers. Plus, combining a bunch into one pot makes them easier to care for. It means less maintenance! I’m all for making life easier....
Fruit Kaffir lime trees can make an excellent fruit tree for any home or garden, if you are in the right hardiness zone. They are unique looking, and are sure to be a conversation piece in your yard. In this article, hobby gardener Jason White walks you through each step of how to plant, grow, and care for kaffir lime trees in your garden space. By Jason White Last updated: February 18, 2022 | 17 min read Unlike the traditional lime trees that most of us know, Citrus hystrix, or kaffir lime trees, are prized for their fragrant leaves instead of their fruit....
In this article, I’ll include options for growing these vegetables in different conditions so you can find the best way to bring your plants to a tasty harvest. Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus If you love to eat artichokes, why not grow your own fresh supply? You can grow this highly ornamental plant in your garden or yard, where its silvery foliage can do double duty as a striking landscape feature....
Repotting succulents doesn’t require any special skills, and it’s pretty easy once you know how. In this post, I’ll show you exactly how to replant your succulents step by step. If your succulents are no longer flourishing, or they are too big for their pot, then it may be time to replant them. Repotting succulents at the right time is an important part of their care, and can help to rejuvenate them....
Squash plants have both male and female blossoms, and they each play a key role in fruit production. In this post, I’ll talk about the differences between female vs male squash flowers, and show you tons of photos to help you easily and quickly tell them apart. It’s important to be able to tell the difference between male and female squash blossoms so you can troubleshoot problems like low yield, and hand pollinate them yourself if necessary....
Figuring out what seed starting supplies and equipment you need can be complicated. This list will show you what you need for seed starting, and also give you some optional items that will make your life much easier. These days, there are tons of different options for seed starting supplies and equipment out there. There is so much in fact, that it can be overwhelming to figure out what you actually need....
However, all of the pet owners I know shudder at the thought of pussy or fido undergoing any suffering after they opted to make a meal of one of their houseplants. The Dracaena genus includes many different species that are popular as houseplants. But did you know that all of them can make your cat or dog sick if he or she ingests any part of the leaves, stems, bark, or roots?...
It’s a brand new year, and we’re all planning our garden escapades for the next season and preparing to start seeds. Peat pots are a fantastic option for those who’re starting plants or transplanting them. Table of Contents But what exactly is a peat pot? What are they made of, and how do they work? Are these better than other containers? Today, we’ll explore these peat-based options: pots, pellets, and strips....
Few people would associate a plant, not even the one called Pitcher plant, with any kind of hunting! This activity itself implies movements, stalking, or other dynamics completely uncharacteristic for plants! Yet, in an almost infinitely diverse plant world, a group of plants cannot use soil nutrients through the photosynthesis process. They usually grow in nitrate-poor areas, solving this problem by exploiting these compounds from animal proteins. Therefore, they base their survival on what they capture and digest!...
What is a plumosa fern? When I was a professional floral designer, I worked with this plant on a regular basis. It is commonly used as a filler green in floral arrangements because of its soft leaves. Known botanically as Asparagus plumosus (means “plumed”) or Asparagus setaceus (setaceus means “hairy”), this plant is in the Asparagaceae family. It is in the same genus as edible asparagus, but it is a different species....
by Matt Gibson Looking for hard to kill vegetables? Maybe you love gardening, but are troubled with guilt due to a less-than-stellar history when it comes to keeping your plants alive long enough to harvest. Putting off having a vegetable garden because you aren’t looking forward to the laborious task of digging up a plot, weeding, watering, and all the rest? These vegetable plants are perfect for beginning gardeners who want to start their own vegetable garden—or proficient gardeners who are ready to reap the rewards of easy-peasy homegrown veggies....
Your options for controlling this disease vary depending on what part of the country you live in. States vary in the number and types of fungicides that you can use to control Alternaria leaf spot on crucifers. Alternaria brassicicola / brassicae Two species of the fungus Alternaria, A. brassicicola and A. brassicae, can cause leaf spot on turnips. You will know that you have Alternaria leaf spots on your turnip or rutubaga leaves when they develop yellow to black leaf spots with concentric rings like a target....
Yellow cucumbers are a common problem that many gardeners face, but what causes the color change? In this post, I’ll discuss all of the possible causes, and give you tons of tips to prevent it from happening. Healthy vines are in bloom and you’re excited to start enjoying the fruits of your labor, only to notice you have yellow cucumbers. It can be very frustrating and confusing, but even experienced gardeners battle with this problem....
There is no better way to countdown to the holiday season than with the best Christmas advent calendars. From sweet treats to tiny trinkets, advent calendars are a delightful way to mark the days to Christmas. There’s an advent calendar for everyone, according to their favorites, from candy to candles, and taking into account their interests from general to niche. We’ve rounded up 15 exciting and unique options, and finish off with ideas to make your own advent calendar, if you’re up for the task....
How do you know which ones are the best for your garden and the varieties that you’re growing? They’re not one-size-fits-all, after all. So, you’re looking for the best options for fertilizing your vegetable garden. Your goal is most likely to support plant health while increasing productivity, right? If you’ve spent some time shopping around but you’re not sure exactly what you’re looking for, then chances are that you might be feeling pretty overwhelmed....
Bugs that invade homes can get quite troublesome if you do not get rid of them. Tiny Black Bugs that Look Like Poppy Seeds can quickly spread in kitchens and bedrooms, and they might be too hard to spot. Here is how you can! Learn how to make homemade insecticidal soap to kill pests here Tiny Black Bugs that Look Like Poppy Seeds The seeds of poppy are tiny, measuring up to 0....
