Easy-care plants that produce stunning flowers in an amazing range of colors, day lilies (Hemerocallis) are long-stemmed perennials with big, trumpet-shaped blooms rising above attractive, strappy leaves. Although each flower lasts only a single day, each stem provides blooms for several weeks. Day lilies are hardy plants suitable for growing in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 9.
Zinnias are easy to grow from seed. They produce a variety of vibrantly colored flowers on long stems that range from 8 to 48 inches in length. The size of the flowers can be as small as 1/2 inch or as large as 5 inches in diameter. Zinnias are prone to several diseases, including one virus disease that causes the leaves to curl. Another problem that leads to curling leaves is attack by aphids.
There's nothing like the fresh taste of steamed homegrown corn slathered in butter at summer's end. Many folks grow corn because it's easy to cultivate and freezes well. Some gardeners choose to germinate their seeds before planting to ensure the plants come up.
Orchids can be grown as either indoor or outdoor plants, though they can survive only the summer months outside in most areas of the United States. If you want to keep an orchid growing all year long, you must container-plant the orchids indoors where you can maintain a steady daytime temperature between 65 and 75 degrees. Whether planted indoors or outdoor, like many flowers, orchids are prone to issues, including leaf curling.
Hard, compacted soil drastically limits the types of vegetation that a gardener can grow. Clay typically dominates the makeup of hard soil. Clay-based soils usually have a glue-like consistency that prevents the soil from draining moisture. Healthy garden plants require soil that absorbs and filters water well. The ingredients necessary to create soft soil include organic matter, which breaks down hard soils over time, and sand. Give clay soil time to heal by amending it in the late fall, before the next planting season.
The AgrlLife Extension at Texas A&M University hails lettuce as the world's most popular salad plant. It's named from the old French word laitues, which means "milky." The Latin word for lettuce, lactuca, has the root "lac," which also means milk. Lettuce's high water content creates a milky liquid you may be able to see when you tear a leaf apart. Try a variety of lettuces in your diet to get the most nutrients.
Both too much water and too little causes problems for tomato plants and affects the quality of the fruit; however, tomatoes do need more water than some other vegetable crops. Exact moisture needs depend on the type of soil, the age of the plant and the current weather. Monitoring rainfall and calculating the amount of irrigation water applied helps keep soil moisture at the optimum level for healthy tomato plants.
The curling down of leaf tips is a symptom of many plant problems, including disease, nutrient deficiencies and insect damage. A diagnosis of the problem requires additional observation of plant behaviors and information about the surroundings. Soil tests could help determine if a nutrient deficiency or pH problem could be the cause, and analysis of plant tissue may be essential to identify a disease.
Emily's Tea Garden consists of five scenarios. Each scenario has 10 levels. Before you start playing the game, go to the "Settings" tab and select the "turn on tips" option. Selecting this option provides you with information about making the food for each level. Start with the tutorial level, as this gives you a step-by-step guide to how the game works.
Planting and designing gardens is a satisfying pastime and profession for people who have green thumbs. Nurturing plants to grow, thrive and bloom are functions of gardeners and landscapers alike. Landscapers and gardeners are in demand for both private and public sites that require beautifying with the bounty of nature. There are differences between the two terms.
Perennial plants grow for a number of years, providing color and texture to a garden without the need to replant. They can be grown together in a large flowerbed or can be interspersed among annuals. There are many different varieties of perennial plants, including those suitable for cut flowers and a large range of perennial shrubs.
After the spring flurry of gardening chores and tasks is over, the maintenance part of gardening begins. Taking care of the garden all through the summer means the difference between a weedy, neglected space and a productive, bountiful garden. With a little luck, a little knowledge and a little work, your weed patrol, harmful insect management, gardening shortcuts and healthy garden practices will pay off. A few gardening tips and tricks save time and work in the summer garden.
Indoor landscaping is a way of designing our interior spaces to bring living plants into closed environments. It brings increased productivity in the work place and provides a sense of tranquility and peace at work and home. Plants remove carbon dioxide and many poisonous toxins and pollutants from the air we breathe, creating a clean environment in which to live and work.
Climbing plants can offer architectural interest when coupled with pergolas, walls, trellises, fences and gazebos. Most local garden centers and greenhouse nurseries offer a variety of plants adapted for your area. Information about the plant characteristics can help you to choose wisely.
A garden tiller is a lawn and garden tool that loosens soil and chops up weeds, roots or any plants present on the soil surface. Garden tillers come in manual and motorized varieties, with various levels of horsepower. For cutting roots, you will need a motorized tiller with a 3 to 8 horsepower motor. The larger the roots you need to cut, the higher the horsepower you will need.
Growing a garden full of colorful blooms and lush foliage requires regular maintenance after planting. Annual flowers, which survive for one season, need to be replaced yearly. Perennials live in the garden for many years as long as they are cared for. Combining both annuals and perennials and following general care guidelines makes your garden an attractive oasis for relaxation and play.
Looking at a neighbor's thriving garden can be intimidating for new gardeners who may think no matter how hard they work, they'll never have the green thumb needed to produce gorgeous fruits, veggies and flowers. Don't let intimidation stand in the way though, as a few tips and tricks can help aspiring gardeners get off to a good start and create a beautiful, healthy harvest of their own.
Plant flowers in your home garden that will bring year-round color to your landscape. Mix flowering evergreen shrubs with annuals and perennials that bloom during each season. Select species for your home garden based on the hardiness zone in your area and on the amount of daily sunlight the garden receives. Soil pH and drainage are also considerations, but you can alter the pH levels and increase drainage as necessary.
You have hundreds of plants to choose from for your perennial garden, from shrubs and ornamental grasses to tall or short flowers. You can even plant annuals among your perennials to create height, texture and color contrast. Although the range of possibilities may seem overwhelming, your choices are limited depending on your geographic location and the sun and soil characteristics of your yard. Before purchasing any perennials, find out about any specific growing conditions the plants have to see if they coincide with your outdoor landscape.
The EarthWay planter and garden seeder is designed to ease the process of planting crops with a lot of seeds, like grass or dense flowers. The planter can easily be used for planting wheat, and while seeding large fields is an arduous proposition, the area to be seeded is limited only by how far the EarthWay user is prepared to walk with planter in hand.
The success of flowers, such as begonias, daffodils, dahlias and tulips, depends on proper storage and care of the flower's bulbs. Improper storage may result in problems with flowering and growth, while improper care may stunt or discontinue growth.
Domesticated horses have been widespread in human society since about 3000 B.C. They were first domesticated in 4000 B.C, and have since been used for transportation and for labor. Their high endurance and strength make them ideal for fast transportation and for pulling heavy objects like farm machinery.
Tomato plants can be planted in a garden format to provide an abundance of tomatoes to last throughout the year. In order to have thriving plants, plant tomatoes in the early spring after the last chance of frost. Tomatoes can be jarred or frozen to last through the winter.
Although attractive, tree peonies (Paeonia suffruticosa) are not as well-known as herbaceous or common garden peonies. A native of China, tree peonies grow larger than garden peonies and produce woody stems that stay alive in winter.
Once you have decided to create a butterfly garden, the next step is planning its location and layout. There are numerous possibilities, but a few key considerations must be observed in order for your butterfly garden to attract and keep butterflies.
Zen gardens are Japanese rock gardens that add a unique, aesthetic appeal to the landscape. They are said to help relax and heal the mind, body and soul, and have been used in miniature versions in the home or at the office. Zen gardens were originally created as a meditation aid and for teaching spiritual principles. The sand in the garden represents water, the rake designs symbolizing the ripples in the water. Making your own miniature Zen garden is not a difficult task and only requires the use of a few items.
The national flower of China, the tree peony is a shrub that grows about 3 to 5 feet tall, producing blossoms in a wide range of colors. While nurseries graft some varieties of Chinese tree peonies, you can propagate mature specimens to produce additional plants.
In fall and spring it can be tempting to hire a yard cleanup crew to get your flower beds looking their best. Doing garden cleanup yourself not only saves you money, but it allows you to keep the garden clean year around, which helps prevent problems in the soil and with the plants. Clean gardens take less time to maintain and remain healthier than those that are allowed to become overgrown or unkempt.
Lemon trees thrive in organic conditions. They are naturally resistant to most pests and diseases when grown in full sun and protected from frost, and when grown in nitrogen-rich, well-draining soil.
The Chao Garden is a mini-game included with the video game Sonic Adventure 2 and Sonic Adventure DX for Sega Dreamcast and Nintendo GameCube consoles. In this fantasy simulation game, players raise cute animated creatures called chaos, hatching them from eggs, feeding them and even using them to compete in foot races. Due to its addictive nature and customizable qualities, Chao Garden quickly became a favorite among fans.
Pansies are popular flowers to plant in containers, baskets, window boxes and flowerbeds. They are available in an extensive array of colors and are easy to grow in many climates and most types of soil.
Planning a successful garden requires research into the nutritional, light and hydration needs and space required for each seedling and plant type. Your garden's aesthetic appeal is also important in creating a space in which you enjoy working and relaxing. Arrangement of flowers by type and color, as well as the placement of water features, statues or other accessories, affects the design and flow of your garden and forms its uses.
Home gardens can be enjoyable and produce delicious food, but there is also an element of frustration that can spoil the party. Learning everything you can about the specific plants grown in your garden can help to cut down on the frustration and increase the enjoyment. Produce bigger, better and more appetizing fruits and vegetables by understanding what you may be doing wrong and learning how to solve the problem.
If you are not an experienced gardener, growing a garden in the winter months can be challenging. To grow healthy and thriving plants, provide your plants and flowers with nutrients during the fall months, so they are well-prepared for a winter in the freezing soil. Keep an eye on them during the winter to help your plants and flowers get through.
North Central Texas is located in the northern part of the state just west of the East Texas Pineywoods. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the center of this region. The soil is dark and heavy, especially in bottomlands and river banks. In some areas, the soil is loamy and dry. Keep these soil conditions, and the area's dry, hot weather in mind when planting to achieve the best results.
A plant curls its leaves in response to its environment. This response is usually related to an imbalance of temperature and moisture, which causes the plant to retain water as a means of survival. When a plant curls its leaves down, it decreases the surface area of the leaf, so it can preserve moisture. A plant also curls its leaves when it's infected with a pest or disease, which weakens the plant. If your plant's leaves begin to curl down, you can implement various cures to restore the health of your plant.
A garden tub is larger than a traditional bathroom tub, and it provides a place for bath lovers to relax and soak after a long day. Installing any type of bathtub can be a challenge, and garden tubs are no exception. Due to their size, and depending on the weight and shape of your garden tub, you may experience some challenges during the installation process. If you know what to expect, however, you can make the best installation possible.
Holy basil (Ocimum sanctum) is a low-maintenance plant that is grown the same way as the other 40 or so fragrant herb varieties. For successful home gardening with holy basil, the best tips for success are to maintain proper temperatures and provide adequate sunlight.
Miniature Zen gardens are simple office or home embellishments that can alter the design of a room or the level of stress of the person who uses the garden. These small gardens are usually made of a wood frame container, in which grains of sand, anywhere from 1/4 to 1 inch deep, and natural rocks lie. A small rake is used to move the sand around. This activity can have a profound, calming effect.
Whether you plan to grow vegetables to save a little money at the market or you just enjoy being surrounded by flowers, gardening in a cool climate presents some challenges. Selecting the right plants, starting the seeds early, and knowing when to transplant will help make your Ontario garden more successful.
Bittersweet is a vine that comes in two primary varieties--American bittersweet and Oriental or Asiatic bittersweet. Both green vines climb nearby trees and other supports. Bittersweet vines can be grown at home with relative ease by following some basic gardening tips.
The Methley Plum, Prunus salicina, also referred to as the red plum, is a fruit-bearing tree known for its red colored plums. Self-pollinating, a heavy bearer and hardy, this tree makes a popular addition to the garden.
Planting seeds throughout the season by hand is time consuming even if it is a smaller garden. It can be a tough task but the Earthway Garden Seeder offers you some help. It is a device that will trowel the ground and put the seeds down into the soil for you. Maneuvering it requires minimal effort and there are fewer seeds wasted while using this device, which in turn will yield a better result at the end of the growing season. Here are some tips to get the best use out of your garden seeder.
Planting a beautiful outdoor garden is possible for anyone, even a beginner who has never gardened before. Here are some tips that will help guarantee garden success even if you've never touched a spade in your life. The planning and preparation tips are the same whether you are planting annuals, such as impatiens and marigolds, or perennials, such as daylilies.
Using a garden tiller, or roto-tiller, is often the best way to break up soil before planting a flower or vegetable garden. Whether you rent or own a tiller, there are a few garden tiller tips that will make the job easier. Plan ahead and have some extra help nearby for safety purposes, and so you can take turns working the soil.
Raised bed gardening is a good option when you have limited space or less than ideal soil conditions. They are built from mounded soil, or framed with untreated wood or other materials. Raised beds provide a higher yield crop from a smaller area, they look good, allow easier access to the plants and they provide an extension to the growing season because the raised beds warm up more quickly in the spring and stay warmer later into the fall than the soil on the ground. With a little planning your raised garden will yield satisfying crops for years to come.
High above the city streets, small patches of green can be found. Roof gardens are a wonderful respite from city life. Here are a few tips to create a successful rooftop garden.
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 the lettuce are the same, regardless of its origin.
Outdoor planters are both functional for growing plants and a decorative addition to your yard or deck. You could purchase a pre-made planter from your local garden supply store, or you could make your own planter box out of concrete and stones. Homemade planter boxes save money and let you create a box the right size for what you want to grow and still fit the space you have.
Pricking out seedlings is a process of transferring partially developed seedlings to larger pots before their roots become too entwined. Use a dipper or a spoon to scoop out seedlings and put them gently into a pot with tips from a professional horticulturist in this free video on gardening for wildlife.
Becoming a master gardener requires attending a master gardening program sponsored by the local state extension service, usually comprising of one class per week for three months. Get certified as a master gardener with tips from a professional gardener in this free video on gardening.
Growing ivy involves maintaining it to prevent it from spreading and killing everything in its path. Grow ivy with tips from a professional gardener in this free video on gardening.
When gardening, bring plants to garden shows and the farmer's market in order to sell them for profit. Find out more about gardening for profit with tips from a sustainable gardener in this free video on gardening.
A natural way to control aphids is to release ladybugs into the yard or sprinkle diatomaceous earth onto the lawn. Control aphids with tips from a professional landscaper in this free video on lawns and gardening.
Bees are vital to crops and farmers because they facilitate pollination and permaculture gardening. Farm and care for plants correctly and safely with these spring gardening preparation tips from an experienced farmer in this free video.
Fencing is very important to farms because it keeps the crops organized and labeled and it sets planting boundaries. Farm and care for plants correctly and safely with these spring gardening preparation tips from an experienced farmer in this free video.
Crop covering is a great way to repair damaged ground and prepare it for planting. Farm and care for plants correctly and safely with these spring gardening preparation tips from an experienced farmer in this free video.
Cut back hollyhock stems to the ground after they begin to turn brown, but before they release seeds and multiply all over an area. Care for hollyhocks by giving them full sun and good drainage using tips from a sustainable gardener in this free video on gardening.
Onions can be transplanted in large clumps to save time for the backyard gardener. Learn to use hoop houses for transplanting onions from an organic farmer in this free gardening video.
Crown vetch is a plant that is in the legume family, but it has a tendency to act as an invasive weed. Find out how to kill crown vetch by pulling it up as much as possible, or by burning it, with help from a sustainable gardener in this free video on gardening tips.
Hardening off seedlings is a method that is used to get seedlings to survive outside, and it involves simply making a plant more acclimated to cold weather. Gradually introduce seedlings into colder and colder environments with help from a sustainable gardener in this free video on gardening tips.
To control pigeons under the carport, block off any areas or ledges where they can sit, run a fine mesh or chicken wire over the rafters of the carport ceiling and sprinkle or mist strong-smelling spices around the area. Prevent pigeons from nesting under a carport by setting clear boundaries with plant tips from a sustainable gardener in this free video on gardening.
The easiest way to order flowers online is by finding a florist in the neighborhood where the flowers will be sent. Make sure to get a confirmation when ordering flowers online with help from a sustainable gardener in this free video on gardening tips.
Roses need to be watered all year in warm climates, but roses in colder climates don't really need to be watered in the winter. Water roses in the morning to avoid mildew with help from a sustainable gardener in this free video on gardening tips.
When pruning blackberries, direct the wild branches back onto the fence and cut them back as much as possible. Pull up the main plant of blackberries with help from a sustainable gardener in this free video on gardening tips.
Larkspur, or consolida ambigua, is a plant that likes coastal climates, and it can handle cold temperatures as well. Find out how larkspur has been used to help clotting and wound healing with help from a sustainable gardener in this free video on gardening tips.
Gardening can be very beneficial, rewarding and fun for paraplegics or people with other disabilities. Discover the benefits of gardening with tips from a paralympic gold medalist in this free video on gardening and landscaping.
When someone with a disability uses a riding mower, they should bring a cell phone in case it runs out of gas. Be safe on riding mowers with tips from a paralympic gold medalist in this free video on gardening and landscaping.
Learn tips for creating the moon garden of your dreams in this free gardening video.
Learn about how to make a manageable garden in this free gardening video about growing your perfect garden.
Learn about supplies for creating a garden in this free gardening video about growing your perfect garden.
Learn how cacti are potted with tips from an expert in this free gardening clip.
Landscaping and gardening are rewarding hobbies, get expert tips and advice on plants, yards, and gardening in this free video.
Learn gardening tips and advice on aquatic gardening from a horticulture expert in this free gardening video.
Learn gardening tips and advice on plants for your garden from a horticulture expert in this free gardening video.
Learn gardening tips and advice on giving plants from your garden as gifts from a horticulture expert in this free gardening video.
Learn tips and advice on how to become a better gardener from a horticulture expert in this free gardening video.
Eating organic parsley can be extremely healthy depending on your methods of food preparation. Learn a few healthy tips for eating parsley from a professional organic gardener in this free gardening video.
It's important for organic parsley not to remain damp when you begin storing it. Learn some tips to help you store your parsley from a professional organic gardener in this free gardening video.
Selecting organic parsley seeds can be done quite easily through gardening catalogs. Learn some tips for selecting parsley seeds from a professional organic gardener in this free gardening video.
At the end of the season, remove fallow plants in your garden to avoid pest control problems the next year. Learn how, plus get a great tip for organic garden pest control, in this free gardening video lesson.
It's important for organic lettuce not to remain damp when you begin storing it. Learn some tips to help you store your lettuce from a professional organic gardener in this free gardening video.
Eating organic lettuce can be extremely healthy depending on your methods of food preparation. Learn a few healthy tips for eating lettuce from a professional organic gardener in this free gardening video.
It's important for organic spinach not to remain damp when you begin storing it. Learn some tips to help you store your spinach from a professional organic gardener in this free gardening video.
Eating organic spinach can be extremely healthy depending on your methods of food preparation. Learn a few healthy tips for eating spinach from a professional organic gardener in this free gardening video.
It's important to pick healthy sized portions of organic spinach in order to maximize it's nutritional value. Learn some tips for harvesting spinach from a professional organic gardener in this free gardening video.
Tips for creating a gardening plan from an expert in this free gardening video.