Gardening Basics

Fruit trees are broadleaf and usually deciduous, meaning they lose their leaves annually in the fall. Knowing what types of fruit trees occur naturally will narrow the list of possibilities when...

Earth worms are nature's gardeners. They cultivate, aerate and fertilize, all without any effort or payment from you. Raise or buy them, then add worms to your lawn and garden and let them go to...

Having an encounter with poison ivy, oak, or sumac can be a terrible experience. The best way to deal with poison ivy, oak, and sumac is to be able to identify them and avoid them.

Mimosa trees are stunningly beautiful when in bloom. Gardeners are generally taken by their unique beauty, but at the same time loath the upkeep of these finicky trees. Unfortunately, not only do...

Two problems are associated with magnolia leaves: they are easily blown by the wind and because they are thick, waxy, and fibrous they take substantial time to decompose into a workable mulch or...

The shady hosta is a very low maintenance perennial plant that does well with little attention. The plant will die back in late fall, and gardeners could allow the leaves to decompose naturally...

Composting is an ideal way to recycle scraps and yard waste so they do not end up in landfills. During the fall, many people like to put their raked leaves into compost bins but they also want to...

People use elephant ear leaves for many different crafts. Casting the leaves and drying them are two of the most popular options. Whether you want to preserve the elephant ears for casting at a...

Lemon trees are small thorny evergreens which grow 10 to 20 feet high. In addition to their flowers and popular citrus fruits, lemon trees are coveted for their leaves as well. Young supple lemon...

The ponytail palm bonsai is a tiny version of the Beaucarnea recurvata, a popular houseplant native to Mexico. Because ponytail bonsais need only a little attention and care, they are ideal for...

It's fall time and the leaves are falling. Raking leaves and bringing them to the local compost dump can be very time consuming. Also when you need mulch it can be a pain driving to and from the...

Outdoor plants need to be protected from harsh, cold winter weather. Some plants grown in a container are simply too big and too heavy to bring indoors. You may not have room inside your house for...

Fall is a great season for working on your lawn and garden. It is a season of harvest and a season of preparation. In the fall I collect the figs from my fig tree, enjoy the last of the flowers...

When you hear holly bushes mentioned you automatically picture the holiday season and the green leaves and red berries. You may be surprised to learn that there are many different types of holly...

As the cold season sets in and the leaves begin to fall, the flowers and vegetables in your garden will begin to transform. If you have had a fruitful harvest this summer, the time has come for...

Every autumn when the leaves fall from the trees, you have a choice. You can either hire someone to clean up your leaves or you can rake the leaves yourself. Save money this fall and rake the...

Identifying a mystery seedling can be a fun but challenging task. Cherry tree seedlings can be difficult to identify since they can grow in virtually any region, though they produce the best fruit...

Each fall my family mulches our garden beds with leaves from our trees. It is a wonderful way to avoid using plastic garbage bags and adding to landfills. And it is easy to do.

Soil problems mainly fall into two broad categories, clay soil that won't drain water and sand soil that won't hold water. Th solution to both problems it to add organic material to the soil. ...

Often linked with Ireland, the shamrock plant is actually native to South America. It features not only leaves that grow in groups of three, but also small white flowers. It's not widely known,...

There are many reasons why an outdoor plant's leaves may turn yellow and possibly die. Sometimes this yellowing process is perfectly natural, and other times it is caused by environmental changes...

Big leaves create a special effect in the garden. You can use them to enhance your landscape design. But plants with big leaves also should be handled with care to keep those leaves in good...

When Swiss chard seeds germinate, a small clump of seedlings often emerge because chard “seeds” are actually a fruit that contains several seeds. Chard plants grow best spaced about 8 inches...

Chives send up tender, hollow shoots in very early spring followed by purple pompom flowers in early summer. As the flowers begin to fade their stalks become tough and the chives’ leaves begin to...

When beet seeds germinate, a small clump of seedlings often emerge--because beet “seeds” are actually a fruit that contains several seeds. In order to prevent stunted, malformed roots--it is...

A garden can be planted in many ways. But to get the best effect, there are some guidelines that should help you plant your garden to make it as beautiful as possible.

Choosing red leaf lettuce is simple, whether you are selecting appropriate leaves from your garden, or choosing a head of red leaf lettuce from the supermarket. The properties you will look for in...

Incorrect watering for your flowers can harm them just as much as pests or diseases. Plants need a good drink of water every day. Set the hose on the shower setting and turn on the water. The...

One of the hardest things for a gardener to do is willfully kill a plant—but sometimes it is completely necessary. When you sow vegetable seeds, especially small ones like basil, carrots and salad...

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by all the plants at your local nursery? How do you judge the quality of the nursery plants you should buy? This article will show you how to choose and buy the best...

Rooting a sweet potato vine can easily be done by even the blackest of thumbs. With only a few simple step you can turn sweet potato vine cuttings into plants of their own.

Cordylines are wonderful plants that can decorate the exterior or the interior of your home. They have long, strap leaves or sword-shaped leaves that grow from a single head. As plants age, they...

Do you always buy bunches of spring onions (scallions) only to discover a couple of weeks later that they have rotted away in your vegetable crisper? Wouldn't you rather have fresh scallions...

Learn how to detect and cure many of the most common houseplant problems.

Every fall leaves drop down through the air and onto your manicured lawn. These small bits of tree do not have to be a nuisance any longer. They can save you money in the spring by making great,...

Mulching is a great way to make free topsoil!

If you're thinking about bagging those fallen leaves in your yard and hauling them to the curb, think again. You just might be throwing away a pile of gold. Black gold, that is. Those pesky leaves...

Raking up leaves and throwing them away is such a waste, especially because leaves are so easy to compost! Leaf compost, also called leaf mold, returns nitrogen, carbon and micronutrients to your...

Deciduous trees will drop all their leaves at once, unlike evergreens that drop them a little at a time over the course of the year. You can use those leaves to make wonderful compost. But...

It’s almost here! It’s almost time! Can you hear it? Shhh. Listen. Huh? Crunch. Crunch? Yes! That’s it! Old, dried-up, fallen leaves. Look down and see last springs sprouting miracles curly and...

When I worked at a nursery most days customers would come in either with part of a plant, the entire plant, or attempt to describe what was going on. Most of the time it was more than just lack of...

Colorful foliage plants make sure your garden looks great even when other plants are dormant or out of flowering season.

Aquatic plants are just as interesting and fun to grow and care for as terrestrial plants. All requiring constant contact with a pool of water, aquatic plants are classified as fully submerged,...

Leafmould is a form of compost produced by the breakdown of shrub and tree leaves.Leaves alone take between one and two years to break down into rich organic mulching matter. It can be readily...

With the recent scare of salmonella in our tomatoes many have moved to growing their own. Here are some tips you can use to help with your gardening venture.

Essentially, composting can best be described as putting back into the earth what was taken out. Gardeners rely on compost—the definitive soil amendment— to guarantee a cornucopia of...

Wouldn't it be nice to drink all natural green tea from green tea leaves your grew at home? Here's how.

Plants breathe through their leaves, which is why it is important to always keep them clean. Outdoors, Mother Nature takes care of cleaning the leaves through rain showers and gusty winds....

Leaves may be one of the most versatile things your garden produces. They keep your yard shady and cool during the summer and when they fall off your trees in autumn you can use them as mulch, in...

Your autumn leaves sometimes have more uses then simply acting as compost. With a leaf shredder, you can turn leaves into ready to use mulch. You need to know how to properly use a leaf shredder,...