Plant Basics

The hardy kiwi differs from the kiwifruit in size and flavor. Kiwi fruit do not grow as well in North America as they do in Asia, but amateur horticulturalists and the average home gardener are...

Rhododendrons are flowering bushes that are abundant throughout the United States, especially in the Southern region. They are very popular in landscape plans due to the fact that the leaves...

The ficus bush, also referred to as the weeping fig, is an indoor plant that can be seen in homes and offices everywhere. Though the bush is void of flowers, the dark green foliage complements any...

Thuja arborvitae is popular for its fast growth, but that very trait means you will need to prune it regularly if you want to maintain a particular size or shape--especially if you are growing it...

Rubber plants are very easy to manage and take care of, which means they grow quickly. Rubber plants do not grow horizontally but vertically as they grow from the ends of the stems, so pruning...

When you trim your hibiscus plants will depend in part on where you live and what kind of weather you have. Spring is the most common season for pruning but small upkeep can take place throughout...

Gardenia plants are a gardener's favorite with their strong, sweet fragrance and low maintenance requirements. Gardenias can be grown indoors, in containers and outside as floral shrubbery....

Rhododendrons make for a colorful and attractive display in a home garden, with their showy, trumpet-shaped flowers in a variety of hues. However, they must be maintained if they are to thrive....

Hedera, or English ivy as it is more commonly called, is a great plant for beginning gardeners, as well as a favorite with experts. A quick growing, attractive evergreen vine, it quickly covers...

You've planted that beautiful shrub or tree in your yard a couple of years ago, but now it has gotten seriously overgrown... How in the world do you get that overgrown tree looking it's best so...

The foxglove is a colorful biennial that can grow up to six feet tall. It produces foliage in the first year and blooms in the second year, in the spring or early summer. It is covered in bold,...

Kiwi, botanically known as Actinidia, is a fruiting vine with a climbing-growth habit. Kiwi are fast growers with up to 20 feet of new vine growth per bud, per year. With their relatively heavy...

Clematis Montana is a flowering vine that produces white or pink flowers in the spring and early summer. It is a very low maintenance plant that doesn't really require major pruning unless the...

Most trees and shrubs require pruning at some point during their growing lives. Knowing how to prune and using the proper tools makes this exercise in grooming your plants easier for you and...

The highbush cranberry is an ornamental plant with fruit that resembles cranberries. A native to North America, it flowers from May to July and produces fruit from August to September, although...

Mahonia, commonly referred to as Oregon grape, is an evergreen shrub with dark blue berries and glossy, leathery leaves. There are dozens of species of Mahonia. While other plants lay dormant...

If you are hesitant to prune back your sedum for fear of making a mistake and ruining the appearance of your plants, you are not alone. Even seasoned gardeners experience apprehension when it...

There are many reasons why you should prune your flower plants. You should always remove any parts that are dead, diseased or damaged. You can remove dead flowers, called deadheading, to make...

To prune houseplants, use a pair of gardening shears or a pair of scissors to trim back branches off the mother plant that grow too far out. Keep a plant pruned back to encourage more growth later...

There are over 150 species of viburnum. These flowering shrubs can range from 2 to over 30 feet in height! Chances are good that your viburnum will need pruning at some time. Fortunately, pruning...

Clematis is one of the most popular vining plants grown in gardens and back yards across America. Some varieties of these rapid growers can stretch to heights of 30 feet, but most are curtailed at...

Nothing is quite as delicious as fresh-picked blackberries in the early summer. But blackberry bushes left untamed can be a nightmare. Although they produce a luscious fruit, the thorny limbs can...

Brambles are vine-like plants, such as raspberries and blackberries, that fall into the genus Rubus. Trimming and pruning them is one of the best ways to protect them from pests, infection and...

You started your tomato seeds inside too early, and now they're leggy--pale and stretched out, with more stem than leaf. This can happy to any vegetables, flowering plants or house plants. Lack of...

Symmetrical plants are something that every gardener wants, whether they realize it yet or not. One of the most aesthetic qualities of plants is when they grow evenly on all sides, though bonsais...

Crape Myrtles, while easy to properly prune, are often done incorrectly. Incorrect pruning causes knots to form on the tree. This article will show you how to stimulate growth, control shape and...