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Sunset magazine originally developed garden zones for the 13 Western states. Sunset zones differ from U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones, which are based primarily on regional high or low temperatures, because they are assigned based on what plants already grow in a region. Sunset zone 24 includes coastal California from Santa Barbara to San Diego, a climate that calls for specific varieties of ground cover, hedge, seacoast and wind-resistant perennials.
Calling a plant "tender" doesn't mean it's soft to the touch or that it will break easily. Instead, it means that the plant doesn't tolerate cold weather well. If the plant is a perennial, it needs special care during the winter to keep it alive until spring. If it's a tender annual, it has a short lifespan and can only grow when the weather is warm enough. Planting it too early in the spring can kill the seeds.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone system divides the country into 13 zones, based on 10 degree Fahrenheit differences in low winter temperatures. This system helps gardeners in Maryland and the other 49 states choose plants that will flourish in their home gardens. The USDA updated its hardiness zone map in January of 2012; with this revision, the map splits the state of Maryland into four zones, ranging from zone 5 to zone 8.
Whether you're looking for showy flowers or want to add some textured foliage to your Tennessee shade garden, several plants can help you achieve your goals. Tennessee's climate zones vary from U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 through 8a, and many shade-loving plants thrive in these temperate conditions.
In North America, plants that existed prior to the arrival of the European settlers are generally considered to be “native,” or indigenous. Native plants evolved as part of a local community of plants and animals and are adapted to the specific climate, soil and rainfall conditions of the area. Although these plants were once difficult to purchase commercially, native plants are becoming easier to find in garden centers and specialty nurseries. As concern for protecting the environment increases, more gardeners are discovering the benefits of gardening with native plants.
Ground cover plays a number of important roles in your landscape, from preventing erosion and run-off to reducing weed growth. Nebraska lies within U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 to 5, so ground covers for this Midwestern state must tolerate annual average low temperatures to 30 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. Along with hardiness, the best ground covers for your Nebraska landscape should have cultural requirements, such as moisture levels, sunlight exposure and soil types, for your planting site.
Although yuccas (Yucca spp.) and cassava (Manihot esculenta) are often mistaken as the same fibrous tuber, they are two different plants. While cassava grows from a tuber, yucca is an evergreen shrub. Both can be used to good effect in your yard, provided you understand their characteristics and the differences between them.
Everyone knows that plants need water, sunlight and nutrients usually found in soil. But, some plants need a more exotic food source: meat. Unlike cartoon versions, real life carnivorous plants don't open mouths and swallow a meal, but instead rely on complex systems of trapping and digesting to eat.
Carnivorous hanging plants make unusual houseplants provided they are given the care they need to thrive in a home environment. Native to Southeast Asia, the tropical pitcher plant (Nepenthes) is the only known variety of carnivorous hanging plant. There are more than 120 different species. The use of the word tropical in the common name is important so it is not confused with pitcher plants that grow at ground level.
Planting succulents on walls is going to require you to use a very specific type of container. Find out more about planting succulents on walls with help from a resident expert in anything botanical in this free video clip.
A garden with a pebble ground cover can make a lovely asthetic addition to your yard. Make a garden with pebble ground cover with help from an experienced professional gardener in this free video clip.
Fertilizing an acid-loving boxwood always demands that you keep a few useful tips and tricks in mind. Fertilize acid-loving boxwood with help from a gardening professional in this free video clip.
Planting ground cover with tulips is something that you're going to have to do in a very particular way. Plant ground cover with tulips with help from a bulb and garden expert in this free video clip.
Planting bulbs with ground cover is a great way to make sure that those bulbs grow up to be as healthy as possible. Plant bulbs with ground cover with help from a bulb and garden expert in this free video clip.
Landscaping with shade plants always requires that you keep a few very important things in mind. Find out how to landscape shade plants with help from a professional gardener in this free video clip.
Cypress trees are well-suited to containers. Use them on decks, porches and patios as well as in the garden. They make a terrific framework for doorways, and strategically placed pots help direct foot traffic. In the landscape, place them in groups or as stand-alone specimen plants. Container-grown cypress needs more water than one grown in the ground, but when you find that you need to water your cypress constantly and it isn't putting on new growth, it's time for a larger container.
Dwarf jade (Portulacaria afra), also known as elephant's food or elephant bush, can grow to 12 feet in height or be cultivated as miniature bonsai. The plant has green stems when young and reddish-brown to slate-grey branches later on. A succulent, dwarf jade leaves are small, water-storing and egg-shaped. Small pink, star-shaped flowers emerge in springtime. Successfully propagating dwarf jade takes a single cutting and rooting medium.
Creeping fig (Ficus pumila) is a vigorous evergreen vine with dark green leaves that grow from slender stems. Creeping fig is attractive growing up walls, but when allowed to sprawl, it creates a dense, low-growing ground cover. Creeping fig is appropriate for planting in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 8b through 11. Creeping fig roots readily from stem cuttings any time the plant is in active growth.
The simplest type of plant arbor is two free-standing trellises connected by an overhead trellis or some sort of roof structure. Plant arbors are commonly used to create a shady area that offers relief from the hot afternoon sun. It is also a landscape element that looks natural and doesn't overpower its space. Keep track of the sun’s path during nice weather to help you determine where to position the plant arbor when used as shade protection.
With glossy, dark green foliage and brightly colored berries, holly bushes provide compelling splashes of color in winter landscapes. Short, drought-tolerant species are ideal for foundation plantings where the reflected heat from bricks, siding and concrete keeps the soil dry. Use taller species to naturalize areas without access to irrigation. When used as a hedge, the tough, spiny foliage forms an impenetrable boundary that serves the dual purpose of keeping undesired animals out and keeping pets in.
Dwarf Joshua trees (Sedum multiceps) get their common name from their resemblance to the large Joshua trees (Yucca brevifolia) that grow in the American Southwest. Native to the mountains of Algeria, S. multiceps rarely grows more than 6 inches tall, but spreads rapidly when well sited. The plants make active growth in the winter, unlike most other houseplants. Dwarf Joshua trees are easy to care for and propagate easily.
Putting together a 10-by-10-foot Rainier shed requires at least two people. Confirm that you have received all of the parts that should have come with the shed kit before putting it together. The kit does not include roofing felt, shingles or the runners that are recommended for underneath the shed. You must purchase these items separately before putting the shed together.
A stately shade tree with an attractive, rounded shape, Shumard oak (Quercus shumardii) grows to heights of 50 to 75 feet at maturity. The foliage of a Shumard oak, also known as Shumard's oak, is shiny and dark green, changing to a deep reddish-yellow in autumn. A relatively drought-tolerant, fast-growing tree, Shumard oak is hardy to U.S. Department of Agriculture growing zones 5 to 9. A versatile tree, Shumard oak grows in urban landscapes and tolerates nearly any soil type.
The iris is a sturdy plant that tolerates very harsh conditions and returns for a new display of color every spring when given proper care. Although its big, colorful blooms add an atmosphere of elegance to a garden, iris is surprisingly simple to grow. Cutting back iris is a critical aspect of its maintenance because removing the foliage keeps the plant neat and prevents rot, fungus and other problems caused by excess moisture.
Trying to find a ground cover that is both resistant to deer and safe for use on a septic mound can be a difficult task. Since septic mounds are dry on the top, the ground cover must be resistant to water stress, which means the plant has to handle drought-like conditions well. Several species of plant will thrive on septic mounds without attracting deer.
Dymondia margaretae, the only species in the Dymondia genus, is a compact-growing ground cover that's also known as silver carpet because of the silver cast to its foliage. Growing to a height of 1 inch, Dymondia works best in areas with light foot traffic or in place of moss between pavers. Because of its tight, low growth, it blocks out weeds effectively. Gardeners are growing Dymondia in place of lawns and on hillsides. A perennial plant native to South Africa, Dymondia is not popular, so it may be challenging to find. If your local nursery doesn’t stock it and can’t…
Choosing the right plant for shaded gardens with salty soil is a challenge. Sea spray, saltwater flooding and road salts all raise salt concentrations in soil, which in turn affects a plant's ability to absorb nutrients and water. As a general rule, plants are more adaptable to light levels than salt levels, so salt tolerance is the most important criterion when choosing ground covers for shaded, salty areas.
The Craftsman Dual Rotating Rear Tine Tiller, which is also referred to as a roto-spader, is designed to help break up soil that is heavy, uncultivated and difficult to spade or till manually. The unit can be purchased at Sears department stores, online and in many other home or garden stores. Potential buyers of the spader may want to consider the unit's specifications prior to buying the appliance to ensure the device suits their needs.
A sunny backyard creates a striking image and is pleasant to observe from indoors. The appeal quickly fades when spending time in your sunny backyard results in sunburns and overheating. In addition, full sun in your backyard makes your home hotter, increasing summer cooling bills. Growing plants in your backyard provides protection from the sunlight and increases its aesthetic appeal. Placing them properly will ensure you always have a shady area to relax beneath and will help keep your home cooler. Started plants from your local gardening store will provide immediate shade and reduce labor time of growing them from…
Agapanthus, also known as lily of the Nile or African lily, grows from a rhizome into a 2-foot-wide, 3-foot-tall clump of long, fleshy leaves adorned with globelike groups of flowers on tall stalks. Like most rhizomes, agapanthus prefers a rich, well-drained soil, hot summers and mild winters. Native to South Africa, it thrives in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 7 to 11. Once established, it is relatively drought-resistant, requiring weekly deep waterings. Plant agapanthus divisions in March for best results.
Traditional gardening requires preparing soil in garden beds, weeding, watering, fertilizing and controlling pests. Aeroponic gardening grows plants in the absence of soil, which eliminates the need for weeding, watering and pest control. Aeroponics works by using a mist system that keeps plant roots hydrated with a water-and-nutrient spray while exposing the roots to air.
There are a number of succulent plants, including cacti, that look like peppers or have a pepper's body shape. Some, such as the Peperomia nivalis, look like green peppers on a stalk, but they aren't peppers. Peperomia, part of the Peperaceae family, contains five genera and 1,400 herb species, and includes both succulent and non-succulent plants. The only relationship to pepper, however, is in the name and one or two plants that look like peppers. Various cactus plants look similar to pepper plants in body shape, but they are also not related to peppers.
The ground cover shrubs belonging to the genus Pachysandra are indigenous to the forests of eastern Asia and the southeastern United States. Rhizomous growth and the plants’ glossy, often broadly toothed leaves make for dense nests of foliage. Commonly cultivated as shade species, pachysandras sometimes suffer from fungal blights that first register as dead spots on the leaves.
Native to the Americas, Neoregelia bromeliads are interesting outdoor plants in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 through 11, but most gardeners grow the plants indoors. Neoregelia is an epiphyte, which means that it grows on trees and other plants but does not feed or harm their hosts. Several types of neoregelia are available to home gardeners, including blushing bromeliad, Neoregelia carolinae, which has bright maroon centers, and painted fingernail, Neoregelia spectabilis, which has red-tipped, finger-shaped leaves.
Window boxes are both decorative and functional. Annuals, perennials and vines are some of the varieties used as window box plants. Drought-tolerant plants do well in window boxes due to sun exposure and their requirement for a minimal amount of watering. When growing plants in a window box, use plants with flowers that complement the colors of the building's window panes and walls.
There are more than 50 different species of juniper plants available for growing. Nearly all juniper plants are considered to be hardy plants that can withstand the harshest of conditions. Junipers, which are part of the evergreen family, can grow to be small bushes up to large trees. The color of juniper's foliage can vary from green to blue to yellow and several other colors in-between. Even though they are a hardy plant, junipers are susceptible to developing blight, which can lead to discoloration and eventually suffocation of the plant's tissues, such as branches or twigs. Proper care can eliminate…
Succulent plants have thick, fleshy leaves that store water. Some varieties flower while others only produce attractive foliage and stems. Most succulents thrive in dry conditions because too much moisture can cause the plants to rot. Rocky soil that drains quickly works well for most succulent varieties. You can grow them indoors in a dish filled with gravel, which provides adequate moisture drainage, although some soil is still necessary to provide nutrients and a medium for the succulent roots.
Terrariums are an interesting way to grow plants indoors, especially during the winter months when sunlight may be scarce. If you plan to put a terrarium in a partially shaded or fully shaded location, then pick plants that require little or no sunlight. A variety of such plants are available, and experimenting with different combinations of them can help you achieve the aesthetic effects you desire for your terrarium.
Hardy kiwi, a vining plant, can be grown throughout North America for its edible fruit. As a vine, hardy kiwi relies on an outside structure for support, since vines do not have woody stems or trunks. Several types of trellises are available for hardy kiwi planting. Gardeners can establish trellises before or within several days after planting the hardy kiwi vine. Aside from supporting kiwis, trellises also provide attractive ornamentation for a garden.
Gardeners plant ground covers for covering up bare patches on the ground and as a substitute for lawn in areas with little-to-no sunlight. Many groundcover species are creeping plants, meaning the plant's stems grow sideways rather than straight up. Ground covers are useful in gardens where they cover the ground between existing shrubs and flowering plants. Some groundcovers also serve as a garden's border plants and tolerate partial shade for growth.
The art of topiary can be as simple as pruning shrubs into globes, or it can be as complex as training creeping plants to a metal form or shaping bushes into whimsical characters. Broadleaf evergreens, such as privet and boxwood, are among the most common shrubs used for topiary, but they require moderate amounts of moisture and are not classified as "drought tolerant." Even drought-tolerant plants may need an extra watering after heavy pruning because moisture is lost through the newly cut branches.
Variegated shrubs feature leaves with multiple colors, allowing gardeners more flexibility in the color patterns they want in their garden. Many variegated shrubs are also drought tolerant, meaning they only require a minimal amount of water for growth. Drought tolerant plants are advantageous to gardeners not only for their beauty, but also because they cut the water bill.
A beautiful yard and garden invite neighborhood wildlife to your landscape. Many of these animals burrow into garden beds and lawns to nest or in search of food. Squirrels, moles, mice and chipmunks are a few of these digging pests. Designing your landscape to discourage or exclude as many of these animals as possible prevents future digging in the garden beds. If digging is already a problem, a few simple alterations to the landscape should discourage it.
Nasturtiums are an old-fashioned flowering plant that has regained its popularity in many people’s gardens. The bright orange, yellow or red flowers of the nasturtium make it a favorite summer annual in many regions. Both the flowers and leaves are edible, and add color and a peppery taste to salads. They are available as a compact dwarf plant and as a trailing or climbing plant. If you are growing the climbing variety, expect your nasturtiums to produce 6- to 8-foot vines. To keep it from climbing areas where you don’t want it, trim your nasturtiums about once a month.
Although the boundaries of what can be considered the northeastern United States may vary somewhat, it is usually considered to cover an area from Maine to Virginia and from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River. The temperature ranges can run into the extremes in the northeast with hot and humid summers followed by sub-zero snowy winters. In addition, because of the vast amount of natural foliage found in the northeast, creating a shade garden is a common option for home gardeners. There are a number of plants, flowers and shrubs that can be used in your shade garden that…
Vines add dimension and height to a garden and are also a useful tool for camouflaging less-than-beautiful walls and posts. While vines such as clematis require careful watering, many other useful, attractive vines thrive even during extended dry spells. There are drought-tolerant vines for almost any garden location.
Creeping phlox is a common ground covering plant that is evergreen most of the year but flowers in the spring. According to the University of Florida IFAS Extension, an area of creeping phlox blends in with grasses during most of the year, with plants staying 6 inches or under. The leaves of the plant are stiff and narrow, and the "creeping" nature of the plant makes it suitable for a wide variety of decorative applications.
Shaded gardens are cool and soothing, but finding plants that thrive in them can be a challenge. One of the easiest plants to grow in shade is spotted deadnettle (Lamium spp. and cultivars). This spreading ground cover has pink, white or yellow flowers and heart-shaped leaves that are often variegated with silver, white or gold. Spotted deadnettle also makes a hardy edging plant, but be prepared to thin it yearly to keep it in bounds.
Bulb flowers are dramatic in a landscape because of their vivid colors, heights and distinct flower shapes. Several varieties of perennial flower bulbs are drought-tolerant, making them easy to care for over time. With the wide choices in flower types, you are sure to find a bulb flower for your landscape that meets your criteria for appearance while remaining hardy through times of little rainfall.
Evergreens do not require as much pruning as deciduous plants . Blue star juniper, an evergreen ground cover, grows slowly and may not need an annual trim. Still, pruning this evergreen controls its size and keeps branches healthy.
