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Watsonia coccinea is a showy flower native to South Africa. It has sword-like leaves and bright tubular blooms arranged along 1-foot spikes. Though coccinea usually indicates a red bloom, the flowers may also be purple, pink or orange, according to the Pacific Bulb Society. In the iris family, Watsonia coccinea is hardy to U.S. Department of Agriculture planting zone 9. It usually is planted as a bulb-like corm, but ambition gardeners can start Watsonia coccinea from seed.
Variegated Aztec grass (Liriope muscari) is a plant with white and silver striped foliage and spiky white flowers that appear in summer. This upright grass grows to heights of about 12 inches, with a spread of 1 to 2 feet. Variegated Aztec grass is a low-maintenance plant that requires virtually no care once established. It thrives in partial sunlight, but tolerates full shade. Also known as monkey grass or border grass, variegated Aztec grass is appropriate for planting in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 6 through 10.
Though a septic tank riser provides easy access to your sewer system, it is also an eyesore that can upset the balance of your lawn and gardens. Rather than leaving the space around the septic riser bare, use various shrubs, grasses and flowers to disguise the riser and minimize foot traffic around the entire area. This area is where wastewater is dispersed, and is referred to as a septic tank system soil absorption field. Look for plants with short root systems that cannot interfere with the riser, as well as those that are low-maintenance and prefer dry soils.
Most plants don’t like “wet feet.” When many plants stand in waterlogged soil, their roots rot and the plants die. Many grasses, especially turf grasses, are bred to have hybrid vigor, which includes a tolerance to drought. In slow-draining sites, these grasses will not thrive. Water-tolerant grasses are better choices for these landscape areas.
Brush cutters are tractor attachments used for clearing land meant for urban or agricultural development. Smaller brush cutters are also known as string trimmers, since they use nylon string for cutting grasses. Using a hand-held string trimmer is more practical for cutting tall grasses than larger brush cutter models, which are reserved for eliminating large shrubs and small trees. Some publications, such as Popular Mechanics and Consumer Reports, offer recommendations for the best string trimmers.
German chamomile (Chamomilla recutita, formerly Matricaria chamomilla) features thick clusters of daisy-like flowers, making it an attractive addition to a yard, patio or herb garden. Additionally, the flowers attract bees and butterflies and you can make the herb into soothing teas. German chamomile grows readily from seeds, which are widely available from suppliers if you don’t have access to an established plant from which to collect your own.
The long, spindly petals of the spider aster give this flower its common name. The spider aster is actually just one form of the common aster (Callistephus chinensis), a summer annual that grows well in most climates. Spider asters grow readily from seed started indoors approximately six weeks before the last expected spring frost. Planting the seeds inside provides the controlled conditions that ensure the asters germinate and become mature enough to flower by late summer.
Poor soil conditions, fungus and insect infestations will cause grass to turn brown despite proper water and fertilizer applications. The cause of the problem must be determined and remedied. Simply planting new grass, and continuing to water and fertilize it will not result in a lush green lawn.
Appreciated for their casual beauty and easy maintenance, many ornamental landscape grasses are especially well suited for low-water gardening, known as xeriscaping. Drought-tolerant grasses need little supplemental watering or special care once they're established in the garden. Proper site preparation and mulching can also improve the drought tolerance of landscape grasses.
The 1920s were a prosperous time for most Americans, including those in Lynchburg, Virginia. If you have an historic 1920’s Lynchburg bungalow you may want to landscape it in keeping with time period it was built in order to preserve its original look. Landscaping trends of the 1920s were all about looking natural and providing spaces from the natural world to come into your garden. You can replicate this look for a traditional 1920’s landscaping.
Growing grass, though typically achieved using only soil, can be grown with pebbles for a decorative and useful touch. Though grass roots will adhere to pebbles, a small amount of soil is required to provide the grass with essential nutrients. Pebbles used in container gardening help lessen upkeep as the drainage provided by pebbles helps maintain optimal moisture levels for roots. Clear glass containers or trays create a distinctive decorating look with the pebbles layers visible under the grass. Buy pebbles or find them outdoors a cost effective approach to indoor gardening.
Serviceberries are tall shrubs or small trees that bloom in early spring. The white flowers hang in clusters, and they are followed by small, reddish-purple berries. In most cases, you will have to harvest the berries when they ripen in summer to extract the seeds because the seeds aren’t readily available for purchase by home gardeners. You’ll need patience to grow serviceberries from seeds because it takes several months to prepare the seeds for planting, and germination may take several additional months.
Lonicera brownii, better known as scarlet trumpet honeysuckle, is an upright-standing vine that produces colorful clusters of tubular flowers. They grow to reach heights of 10 to 20 feet and are further distinguished by their rounded, waxy bluish-green leaves. If you live in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 9, consider growing Lonicera brownii from seed to add a little beauty to your lawn or garden.
Zoya grass, also known as zoysiagrasses, is prized for its dense, slow-growing properties. This sod is hardy and adaptable, capable of withstanding cold temperatures and cold weather. Growing zoya grass is labor-intensive and requires a long process of planting plugs of sod to establish the lawn and frequent fertilizing. Although establishing a zoya lawn is a high-maintenance proposition, with time and patience, you can have a plush, thick lawn.
In spite of its name, broomsedge is actually not a sedge at all, but a perennial grass. Most common in the Southwest, the region to which it is native, broomsedge can often be seen in fields, along roadsides and in openings to forests. Broomsedge is considered an undesirable plant in backyards and farm pastures, and a number of ways are available to control this plant.
A carport is a structure that protects a car from the elements and provides cover to stop birds messing up your paintwork after you just cleaned the vehicle. Carports are often built from a simple wood frame with a flat roof and open sides. You can frame a carport to the side of your home inside of a day, while your efforts will provide protection for your car for many years to come.
Many homeowners seek ways to grow a lawn in areas that are not hospitable to large areas of grass. Soils with a high alkaline content, or high pH, literally burn away grass roots. Alkaline soils that are also low in nitrogen fail to give grass a nutrient critical to greening and growth. Planting grasses already adapted to high pH and low nitrogen maximizes your chances of growing a good lawn.
A sodded yard is established by installing turf grass sod and not by growing seeds. Installing sod grass produces an almost instant, carpet-like result and is more practical for certain varieties of grass. Sod grass is grown on commercial farms and harvested in long strips, leaving the roots and a thin layer of dirt intact. Sod is typically cut into squares and sold for landscaping purposes.
Native to parts of Africa and India, the moringa, or Moringa oleifera, is a versatile tree that offers numerous medicinal and nutritional benefits. Also called horseradish tree or drumstick, almost all parts of the small tree or large shrub are edible. Although it tolerates light frost, the moringa tree flourishes in warmer, drier climates. The drought-tolerant, easy-care tree grows from seed. Because moringa does not transplant well, it’s best to plant the seed in its permanent location, where it should gradually develop into a healthy tree.
While broadleaf weeds may threaten large areas of your lawn, weed grasses are more difficult to control. Sedge and bahiagrass are common weedy specimens that can spread rapidly throughout your lawn, choking out your desirable grass varieties. Infestation of weed grasses commonly occur when poor growing conditions damage the health of your lawn, leading to weak spots that allow the weed grasses to take hold and begin growing. Removing the sedge and bahiagrass from your lawn can help enhance the health and appearance of your landscape.
A rolling green lawn beckons you to play a game of croquet, sit in the sun and enjoy the breeze or just contemplate the flowers. A new lawn is planted through sheets of sod -- growing grass with a root system -- that's rolled out onto the soil or from seeds sown in the ground. You'll need to attend to bare spots, which can ruin the expanse of green.
Sod is soil held together by the tangled roots of grass. For sod bricks, a strong grass, such as wiregrass or buffalo grass is preferred, with matted roots that bind the soil together tightly. In areas such as the prairies of Iowa, where trees were scarce, sod bricks became the standard building material for the early pioneers. The method for cutting sod bricks hasn't changed much -- you cut them, one at a time, with a spade.
Timothy grass is an important part of the diet of many domesticated animals. It can be fed to horses, cows, guinea pigs and other animals kept as pets or livestock. Usually timothy grass is cut and dried to make timothy hay. You can also grow timothy grass to feed as a dust- and mess-free alternative to hay for your indoor pets. It requires well drained, sandy loam soil to thrive and must be watered frequently throughout the growing cycle.
Grown throughout the world, millet is an annual summer grass and grain crop that is similar in appearance to the sorghum plant. Producers of millet often grow the grass for forage and wild bird feeding, although in some instances the grass also serves as a small-grain cereal used in recipes. Grown from seed, millet quickly germinates when planted in well-draining, warm soils throughout the U.S. This rapid growth trend continues as millet matures, usually reaching harvest stage within 45 to 60 days of planting.
Most gardeners grow tulips from bulbs, the thick storage organs that some plants create to store energy and protect themselves from heat or drought. Tulip bulbs are planted in the fall and bloom in the spring. You can also grow tulips from seeds, but it is much more difficult. Seeds take several years to produce flowers, and the tulips that grow from seeds may have a different color or size than you expected.
Hybrid delphiniums that are part of the Belladonna group (Delphinium x belladonna) are flowering perennials, hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 3 to 7. They bloom during the summer months; however, if you sow the seeds outdoors--which is typically done in the fall--expect your delphiniums to bloom the second year. To get a head start on your delphinium flowers, start them indoors in the fall and then transplant them outdoors after the last frost in the spring. They will then bloom the first summer.
Crape myrtle and pampas grass are tall plants that lend height and beauty to a garden. Crape myrtle is native to China and grows well in Southern climates. Pampas grass is native to South America and grows well in warm climates, although several varieties can tolerate cold winters in the north. Both plants have the same sun and water requirements, and they make good companions in the garden.
Excessive moisture is hard on a horse’s hooves. It softens them, making them vulnerable to bacterial invasion, causing scabs, inflammation, cracking and splitting. Wet, muddy pastures also make a horse susceptible to thrush, a fungal disease of the hooves. Good pasture management includes keeping livestock in pastures with at least 3 inches of vegetation and firm, not soggy, soil. Sometimes reseeding a muddy pasture by spreading 5 to 10 pounds of grass seed over it in the fall is sufficient. Otherwise, a complete renovation is necessary.
Crushed decomposed granite is a natural material used for walks, patios and driveways. Water permeable, it is the surface of choice for both eco- and budget-conscious homeowners. Occasionally, however, grass and weeds sprout in even firmly compacted gravel. While annoying, the grass is easily dealt with if you take quick action using one of several methods.
Aquaponics blends aquarium and garden environments, combining aquacultural and hydroponic systems. In simple terms, these closed-loop mini ecosystems incorporate fish in the growing environment and produce plants without soil, creating a system in which plants feed off the nutrient-rich water produced by the fish. The soil-free nature of aquaponics makes growing seeds quite a bit different than the traditional gardening process -- generally, aquaponic gardeners start from seedlings rather than seeds. The process varies depending on the type of seed and your aquaponic setup.
Dill, or Anethum graveolens, are annual and biennial herbs that belong to the parsley family. This fragrant, feathery herb grows wild in some areas of the world but is also cultivated for culinary uses in home and commercial gardens. Dill is a popular ingredient in pickling and cream-based sauces. You can buy dill seedlings from gardening centers or grow your own plants from seed. For the tastiest results, it is recommended that dill is grown from seeds.
Lavatera is the genus name for a small group of flowering plants commonly known as "tree mallows." Although Lavateras possess a range of growth habits, all share similar flowers, which resemble those of hibiscus but with a purplish-pink coloration and a dark center. Seed propagation is the most reliable means of growing Lavatera plants at home, but the seeds must be sown indoors two months before the last frost so that the plants are well-established and strong before they are planted outside in spring.
Growing grass is not easy and growing it on a hillside may be a bit harder depending on the slope. While starting a lawn from plugs or sod provides more immediate results, growing grass from seed is the least expensive for the average homeowner. However, you need to incorporate some extra measures to prevent the seeds and young seedlings from washing away down the hill.
Hedge clippers have the power to cut through thick-stemmed ornamental grasses yet can also handle lawn grass. While not as efficient as a lawnmower, a manual or electric hedge clipper works well for small patches of grass. The clippers can likewise stand in for grass shears when you need to trim just a few strands of errant grass. Cut grass when it's dry since wet grass can clump together.
Also known as Love-in-a-Mist, Nigella damascena is an annual that produces feathery foliage and abundant flowers in shades ranging from blue to pale pink or white. Nigella plants grow to about 24 inches in height. The flowers are lovely in the garden or for cutting, and they make excellent dried flowers. The interestingly shaped seed pods are also used in dried arrangements. Once established, nigella self-seeds easily, making replanting unnecessary. Nigella is a frost-tolerant, cool-weather annual that blooms best in spring and fall. Plant seeds every three or four weeks for a continuous display of flowers, or allow the plants…
Killing all grass and vegetation is the first step in replanting a lawn or planting a vegetable garden in the spring. Although there are many natural ways to kill vegetation, they all require time. The fastest way to kill undesirable grass and broadleaf plants, such as dandelions and plantains, is by using a chemical herbicide. Plan to apply herbicide far in advance if you are replanting the area, so the chemicals will seep out of the soil.
In order to keep their lawn looking neat and tidy, many homeowners install grass edges. Edges made from rock or brick help to keep grass from invading flower beds and they also make edge trimming unnecessary. Installing a grass edge using rock is a simple procedure that the average homeowner will be able to handle after minimal preparation. It may be surprising to find that such an easy project can make a big difference in reducing lawn maintenance and enhancing the appearance of your yard.
Growing a healthy lawn in regions where it snows presents a specific set of challenges. The first step is to select and plant cold hardy grasses. Once the lawn is established, providing it with the proper care in late fall impacts how the grass will fare over the winter. Identifying and reseeding problem areas in spring after the snow melts keeps lawns healthy.
Red Push pistache trees (Pistacia x "Red Push") are native to China. These trees reach 60 feet tall with a canopy spread of 25 to 35 feet wide. The tree's dark green leaflets turn bright red in the fall before dropping from the branches. Pistache trees are dioecious, which means there are male and female trees. Only the female tree produces the bright red fruit, which change to dark blue when ripe. Harvest the mature fruit when attempting to grow the Red Push pistache from seed. Seed taken from red fruit often fail to germinate. Expose the seed to cold,…
After conducting a UK survey about stress, a major American doughnut retailer decided to design a somewhat tongue-in-cheek product to help fight urban stress: flip-flops made of real grass. As it turns out, the stressed-out survey participants cited a lack of contact with nature as a source of their woes. With grass sandals, you can feel the grass between your toes, even as you pound pavement. The novel footwear had a relatively short life span and a limited release, so if you want a pair, you'll have to make them yourself. Doing so is not difficult.
Golden clematis, or Clematis tangutica, makes a striking addition to any garden with its golden flowers and feathery seeds pods. Numerous cultivars of Clematis tangutica have been developed to improve the hardiness and flower characteristics of the species, including a showy, purple-trimmed variety called Helios. Clematis "Helios" grows well from seed and will mature to a height of 8 feet in just a few months, but the seeds must be started indoors 10 weeks before the last frost to bloom successfully in their first year.
Growing ornamental grasses in attractive pots and containers on tables in your home gives you a long lasting natural display for your table in lieu of cut flowers, which usually fade in a matter of days. The Colorado State University Extension notes that grasses are easy to take care of, highly adaptable and they can often tolerate poor soil better than other plants.
China aster is a member of the family Asteraceae and resembles the hardy asters in many ways. China asters, however, are annuals and frequently display double blooms. They are used in floral displays, as well as tender bedding plants in gardens. China asters have been selectively bred into a rainbow of colors, from white to red, yellow, purple and blue. They are also easy to grow and do well when started indoors in pots that can be planted.
Subalpine firs (Abies lasiocarpa Nutt.) grow below the highest parts of the Rocky Mountains. The subalpine fir grows up to 50 feet tall in its native habit with blue-green needles on horizontal tree limbs. The distinctively purple female cones retain their color until fertilized. The trees don't begin producing cones until they are over a century old and then they mast, producing copious amounts of cones, in alternating years. Masting allows some seeds to avoid consumption by squirrels and birds.
While erosion is a thoroughly natural process, human land-use practices can exacerbate its effects and devastate a tract of country formerly secured by vegetation. Bare ground is quickly gullied by surface runoff, and topsoil can vanish surprisingly fast. A common method to combat erosion is seeding the spot with soil-anchoring plants, including grasses.
Ornamental grasses are clump-forming plants that die out in the center as they grow larger. Removing the plant from the garden allows you to cut out the center area without damaging the plant’s healthy areas. Cutting the plant into smaller sections is a propagation method, so you can add this grass variety to other parts of the garden or replant it in the same area. Dig out the middle area of ornamental grasses every 3 to 5 years, or as needed keeps the plant productive and healthy.
The uses of ornamental grass beds are only limited by a gardener's imagination. This group of plants, which belongs to the Poaceae family, grows in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colors, and these plants are classified as clumping (growing in non-spreading mounds) or running (spreading by underground rhizomes). Cool-season grasses grow most in spring and fall and lie dormant in summer, while warm-season grasses thrive in hot weather. Regardless of classification, all ornamental grasses add movement and rustling sound to the landscape with each passing breeze.
Teff is an Ethiopian grain that now grows in temperate and tropical climates all over the world. In Africa, India and South America, teff is a food crop, and in the United States, it grows as a forage or hay crop. The small tan or brown seeds measure only 0.04 inch in diameter. According to the Oregon State University Extension, teff’s short growth cycle and drought tolerance make it a good emergency forage crop. Teff does not tolerate freezing temperatures and grows at a much slower rate in the fall.
Growing your own cashew tree from a seed may be a lot less convenient than buying the nuts at a grocery store, but it's much more rewarding. Cashew trees will not only bear nuts, but they'll also provide cashew apples, which are rich in vitamin C. For a cashew tree to thrive, it needs to be in a tropical environment with an average daytime temperature of 77 degrees Fahrenheit. If you plant the tree correctly, it won't take much additional effort to get your cashew tree to produce a crop.
Birdsfoot trefoil is the common name for Lotus corniculatus, which is a perennial species of leguminous plant sometimes grown as an ornamental ground cover for its small, yellow flowers and light-green foliage. Although it resembles clover in the shape of its leaves, birdsfoot trefoil is unrelated and differs greatly in the appearance of its flowers. Like most leguminous plants, birdsfoot trefoil grows easily from seeds and will quickly establish itself. However, the seeds must be soaked prior to planting to prompt fast, reliable germination.
