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...

Old Bradford pear trees are popularly known for their oval shape and the beautiful and juicy pear fruits they produce. They are considered old or mature trees when they reach a height of 30 to 50...

While pecan trees offer shade and edible nuts, they are high-maintenance trees that need space, proper irrigation and fertilization to reach their full height of at least 70 feet. Along with...

Citrus trees are deciduous trees that are hardiest in warmer climates with temperatures that rarely dip below freezing. Brightly colored fruits in yellow, orange or green make for a colorful...

Trees enhance home landscapes. A thorough knowledge of appropriate species, proper timing and the correct tools to use will improve homeowners' success in transplanting trees into their landscapes.

The American beech tree is found in the Eastern regions of the United States; it once flourished as far west as California. Beech trees are susceptible to 70 varieties of fungus, flooding and...

Shade gardens feature a wide variety of plants with tone-on-tone green, purple and red foliage. Often the textures are shiny and pleasing to the eye. Converting a sun garden into a shaded area for...

Wild apple trees are different from commercial apple trees in that they are not hybrids and they are more easily grown from seed than popular apple trees often found in nurseries. If you live in a...

The pygmy date palm, also known as Phoenix roebelenii, is a small ornamental palm tree that is common across warmer parts of the United States and in tropical locations. It is easy to care for,...

Ficus trees are not generally capable of withstanding cold temperatures. Temperatures below forty degrees will cause the ficus to freeze, damaging both the foliage and wood. While a deep freeze of...

Whether you want a nice cold glass of juice each morning, or just a bold splash of color in your yard, the Republic of Texas Orange Tree is perfect. This thorny tree is known throughout Texas for...

Ficus benjamina, also known as weeping figs, are popular indoor trees. As temperamental as they are attractive, making a ficus grow can be like getting a supermodel to eat a five-course...

The pecan is a nut tree native to North America and grown predominantly in the southern United States. Pecan pies are a holiday classic, but the nut makes a great addition to salads, desserts,...

Sometimes nothing is more enjoyable than relaxing outside on your hammock during a warm afternoon, listening to the birds sing in the air while you hold onto a cold, refreshing drink. Hammocks can...

Citrus trees are an asset to any garden or landscape. Many of them have attractive foliage and flowers, especially in spring, and all of them produce tasty nutritious fruit. It is usually best to...

Juniper bonsai trees are great trees for beginning gardeners to grow. They grow best in direct sunlight and slightly dry soil, so it is easy to water these trees. As long as the tree's pot has...

The art of growing bonsai trees originated in China. However, it is associated with Japan today since it was Japan that first introduced bonsai to the Western world. The process of cultivating...

Starting a tree seedling in a container gives it advantages over trees that are started in the ground. You can move the container around to get the seedling better light, protect it from cold...

Shade netting, or green shade cloth, is a garden tool with dozens of useful applications. This inexpensive, versatile material can be put to use for crop season extension throughout the year, as...

There are more than 30 species of white spruce, frequently referred to as "Alberta spruce." These evergreen trees grow up and down North America, into New England, Canada and Alaska. The white...

Fruit is delicious and yummy! Fruit can be expensive. Why not try growing a variety of different fruits in your own backyard? It's easy, fun, economical and healthy for you and your family. ...

Olive trees grow in relatively warm and dry climates including Southern Europe, the Middle East, and on the West Coast of the United States. Left untended, they grow to a height of about 30 feet....

Avocados are valued for their wonderful flavor and texture. The trees are heavy bloomers, but only about 1 percent of these blooms will produce fruit. Some people prefer the non-fruit producing...

Gardens and landscaping are meant for enjoyment and add curb appeal to your home property. Excellent landscape planting preparation is required for completing and protecting your investment....

Linden trees, also known as lime trees or basewood, are very popular in urban landscapes, because of their hardiness, resistance to pests and tolerance of alkaline soils. They also keep their...

Bing cherries are the most common variety of cherries in the United States. Bing cherry trees yield big, sweet fruit and are an aesthetically beautiful tree for any landscape. Contrary to popular...

Cedars are evergreen trees originating from the Mediterranean and western Himalayas. Strong wood and aromatic qualities have made cedar trees popular for use in building construction, furniture...

Pin oak (Quercus palustris), a deciduous tree from the beech family, is one of the most popular ornamental trees in the Midwest and eastern United States. The pin oak's fibrous root system makes...

Podosphaera leucotricha is the fungus that causes mildew on apples and apple trees. The fungus can affect all parts of the apple tree from stem and leaves to shoots and fruit. Fruit that has been...

From a small acorn, some of the greatest oak trees have grown. Properly tended oak trees can live for 200 years or longer so deciding what plants to grow around your oak trees is something you...

Gala apples were first cultivated in New Zealand in the 1920s by crossing Golden Delicious apples with a little known type called Kidd's Orange Red. Though Gala apples are relatively new on the...

Fruit trees offer atmosphere and foliage for your lawn, and they provide scrumptious fruit for your family. By growing your own fruit, you will save money on your grocery bills. You'll also know...

Fruit tree mulching is an easy and important practice for keeping your trees healthy year after year. Any fruit tree will benefit from the application of a good mulch as long as a few key points...

Planting trees is one of the best ways to beautify the outside of your home. Trees provide shade and a nesting habitat for birds and other desirable animals, and they help the environment by...

The most important thing to consider when planting a dogwood tree is the type of soil. If the soil is already rich in nutrients, less fertilizer will be needed. Dogwood trees do not grow well in...

Citrus trees are flowering, warm-weather plants that produce tart, edible fruits such as oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit and kumquats. Citrus fruit trees are popular garden trees because of...

Growing your own apple trees is fun and rewarding. Many apple varieties can be grown in various climates and soil conditions, making the fruit an optimal addition to your garden. Unfortunately,...

With colors ranging from white to deep red and more than 700 varieties, crabapple trees attract people and animals alike. Unlike a true apple, this tree yields fruit less than 2 inches in size. ...

A freeze warning is issued for your area and you are concerned with losing your decorative plants and shrubs. You have seen fruit growers water trees during a freeze to protect them and wonder if...

Shade is an important concept in gardening because just as different plants need different amounts of water, sunlight needs differ from plant to plant. Incorrectly placing a plant so that it...

The cold, northern reaches of the United States are not known for fruit production, but a surprising number of fruit trees can be grown there. Many fruit trees require a cold winter to produce...

Fruit trees have special nutritional requirements depending on age, size, type of tree and what nutrients are already present in the soil where your fruit trees are planted. Determining what your...

San Mateo County has three climate zones, with the inland areas, including Portola Valley, most conducive to fruit tree growth. In the coastal regions of South San Francisco and Daly City, too...

Grafting is the uniting of the bottom and top portion of two different trees. This is a common practice when propagating fruit trees. The bottom part is called the rootstock and the top part is...

Learn how to trim pecan trees for the purpose of safety, to increase the yield of the nuts and for visual appeal. Use the appropriate tools when trimming a pecan tree. Take precautions for...

Hungry deer will eat and damage just about any shrub, tree or plant in your yard. No longer a winter-time only concern, herds of deer are on the increase and doing damage to trees and shrubs year...

Azalea are a flowering shrub that range from white, pink, purple to red, orange and yellow. According to the Azalea Society of America, there are over 10,000 types of azaleas, which have been...

Growing your own fresh lemons is easier than you might think. Lemon trees require less sunlight than other citrus trees, tolerate a variety of soil types and can be successfully grown either...

In this article you will learn how to fertilize your mountain ash. These flowering trees are a great asset to many lawns. As with all plants, the trick is to take care of it properly. This...

Some are cultivated for their sweet or tart fruit, and some are prized for their delicate pink or white flowers, but all cherry trees add visual interest to landscapes with their colorful blooms,...