home sectionhome sectionFicus pumila is a member of the mulberry family and is known by its common name, creeping fig. Native to Asia, this vigorous climber produces a sticky adhesive on the rootlets that attach the plant to vertical surfaces. Ficus pumila can climb from 30 to 40 feet high. It's an evergreen vine that rarely produces flowers or fruit. Whether you want to cut the vine back or to encourage its growth in another area, you can divide it and transplant elsewhere.
With their variety of deep colors and lush leaves, garden mums work well in autumn gardens. These flowers are fall-flowering, so they thrive in cooler season after many summer perennials have faded. Garden mums are hardy to most temperate areas in the United States, and with proper care, they can thrive for several months before the onset of winter.
A mixture of sand, peat, various volcanic aggregates and cement, hypertufa is an artificial stone used to make planters, paving stones, concrete seats, birdbaths, Japanese-style lanterns, wall plaques and other garden accessories. It is relatively simple to work with, but once the water mixes with the cement, you have a short window in which to work with the mixture and insert a pole for a post, lantern or birdbath. Still, if you made mud pies as a child, working with hypertufa will bring back memories – and it is equally fun to work with.
Gardeners can force blooming on several narcissus varieties by placing the bulbs in a shallow bowl filled with rocks and water. Paperwhite narcissus is the most popular variety that responds well to this method, blooming even in the midst of winter, and adding both color and fragrance to the home. Clusters of fragrant white blooms appear atop a slender stalk creating a showy display that lasts for weeks. The bulbs need chilling for several weeks before being placed in water. You don't need to worry about this, however, because by mid-December, you can find kits readily available for sale, and…
Trimming a Zelkova Maple Bonsai is essential for keeping your plant healthy. The Zelkova Maple is also known as the traditional bonsai, according to the Misho Bonsai website. Trimmed and pruned with regularity, the Zelkova Maple will burgeon with its classic, winding trunk. Be sure to keep your trimmed bonsai in a partially shaded area with light to moderately damp soil. Bonsais will grow fast, so transfer your plant from a pot to a garden bed if you ultimately desire a large plant.
Forcing bulbs indoors allows you to enjoy the beauty of the flowers when they normally are in season. Narcissus flowers don't require soil to send up foliage and blooms, making them one of the simpler bulbs to force indoors. Paperwhite narcissus begin flowering in as little as six weeks after planting them in pebbles and water. Daffodils, another type of narcissus, bloom within eight weeks. The bulbs flower over a period of four weeks or longer, providing a long-lasting display to your home.
Made of natural cotton fibers, canvas has a natural ability to shed water. While not waterproof, canvas fibers swell when wet and then tighten when dry, making the spaces between the threads smaller than a molecule of water. Used for tents, awnings and covers, canvas, when properly maintained, will last for decades. If not properly cared for, canvas can rot in a matter of months. To enhance it water shedding abilities, canvas can be treated with silicone based sealants.
Clapboard is a wood siding found on homes. This siding covers the underlying frame and insulation to protect the home from the elements. Wooden clapboard is most commonly found on older homes. It has now given way to cheaper options, such as vinyl and aluminum siding. These new materials are used extensively in new home construction. If you have clapboard on your home, you can prepare the surface for a fresh coat of paint with a little patience and the right tools.
Air conditioning refers to an environmental control system that cools the atmosphere in or around a particular area. Although air conditioning may technically refer to heating the surroundings, it is generally used in reference to cooling a room, a building or a motor vehicle. Air conditioning has been in use since the Roman era but modern air conditioning began in the early 20th century.
St. Augustine grass is typically sodded on lawns, because grass seeds are difficult for gardeners to find. It is important for you to fertilize your newly laid sod with the right type of fertilizer and at the correct time. Fertilizing too soon or using the wrong type of fertilizer can damage your new lawn.
Boxwood must be pruned in a very specific way to allow it to stay natural and soft. Prune boxwood with help from a gardening specialist in this free video clip.
The king protea is a bizarre-looking plant native to Australia and South Africa, where it is the national flower. The flower heads range in size from 5 to 12 inches in diameter. The colorful blossoms vary from white to a deep red. King protea is woody shrub with large, glossy green leaves that grows to a height of 3 to 6 feet. Well-drained soil and six full hours of sunlight help proteas to thrive.
Teak is a strong and durable wood that is commonly used outdoors because it is highly resistant to water damage. Teak can be used on anything from outdoor patio furniture to a boat surface, and many elements can dull its overall appearance. To keep the teak looking its best, incorporate a maintenance routine that removes buildup and keeps the teak looking like new.
Garden phlox (Phlox paniculata) is a hardy perennial that sports clusters of showy blossoms in a variety of colors, including pink, orange, white, purple and bicolors. At maturity, garden phlox reaches heights of 40 inches, making the plant ideal for the middle or back of a mixed flowerbed. Garden phlox is suitable for growing in US Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 4 and above.
Birdbaths help birds find much-needed water and help them clean themselves. Although birdbaths are available in a variety of materials, some are more durable than others. Unlike stone birdbaths, granite birdbaths won't crack when winter temperatures make their water freeze, but you may use a couple of methods to keep their water from freezing.
A birdbath can give your back yard character and style, but the structure also serves a purpose: to provide clean, fresh water for your local avian visitors. Like any other feature of your garden, a birdbath requires care and maintenance to ensure the beauty of the birdbath and the health of the birds who benefit from your generosity.
Removing a mole from your home garden safely can be a challenge. Many of the conventional methods, such as traps and pesticides, carry with them significant health and safety risks for children and pets. Professional exterminations can be costly and require multiple visits. One simple do-it-yourself method involves a special mixture of ingredients designed to penetrate the soil and irritate the mole's sensitive skin and sense of smell, forcing it to abandon the area. The mixture is effective without posing risks to you and your family.
Birdbaths help keep your feathered friends clean and happy. Birdbaths are available in a variety of shapes and sizes that suit your landscape. The water in the birdbaths needs proper care to keep the birds healthy. Keeping the water clean in the birdbath will attract more birds. The clean water will also help to protect your birdbath and keep it in good condition.
After laying new sod, you need to take care of it correctly so that the roots grow deep down into the soil below. If the sod is not properly cared for, weeds can take over and the sod will turn brown and die. New sod cannot be walked on except to perform maintenance for about three weeks after installation.
A dish garden can be a beautiful addition to any room but can be a challenge to grow. The three biggest environmental enemies of dish gardens are room temperature, humidity and sunlight. But while environmental factors are a concern, over-watering is the biggest cause of dish garden death. The solution to this problem is at your fingertips. A simple touch of the soil is all that is needed to test soil moisture. This test should be done before you water the dish garden.
Moles resemble voles, shrews and pocket gophers. You can tell a mole by its distinguishing features, according to F. Robert Henderson, Extension Specialist, Animal Damage Control at the Kansas State University. They have a hairless, pointy snout, tiny eyes, and no ears. Their front feet are wide, while their hind feet are slender with claws. Moles are beneficial to the environment because they eat worms, bugs and insects. They are pests to humans because they destroy plants and dig tunnels through the ground. If you have a mole problem in your yard, you can kill them by using natural ingredients.
Teak is a type of wood used to make many types of furniture, primarily outdoor furniture for patios and seating areas. The teak is so strong, durable and water resistant, it is also used for making boats. To properly care for your teak furniture, simply clean it regularly with water to keep off residue and buildup. Then use care when applying teak oil.
Protea flowers are unique and strange, with a primitive look. Because of their many varieties, they are named after Proteus, the Greek god who changed his appearance whenever he wanted to. Fresh proteas can be used in a flower arrangement or hung upside down to dry. Their unusual appearance has created a demand for these flowers, and growers ship them all over the world.
If you live in Colorado and want to water and fertilize less and have a more sustainable landscape, then growing shrubs native to your state is an excellent plan. Native bushes are also easy to care for, require no pruning and attract wildlife such as butterflies, birds and small mammals to the garden. Just remember: native shrubs should be purchased in local nurseries; never dig them up in the wild.
The best thing about clapboard siding is that it gives your home a natural wood look. The worst thing is that the siding is made of wood, so it requires more maintenance than other types of siding like vinyl. To properly maintain clapboard siding, you will have to eventually apply a new coat of stain or paint. Like other wood refinishing projects, the secret is to properly prepare and sand the surface.
Caring for hollyhocks requires you to water them and then let them dry out. Make sure you know how to care for your hollyhocks with tips from a third-generation flower grower in this free video on gardening.
The Pindo palm, also known as Butia capitata, is a very popular tree in the state of Florida. It has a thick gray trunk and fronds that are blue-gray and are curved coming out of the top of the tree. Pindo palms, as all plants, can benefit from appropriate fertilization.
Poinsettias come from Mexico, so they should be kept in a warm, sunny window and they should be watered often. Display and care for beautiful poinsettias during the holiday season with help from a sustainable gardener in this free video on garden plants.
Rootstock is a plant or tree that consists of a short woody stem, often a mere stump, with an established root system. It is often used as the base of a grafted tree or vine where another species is used to produce fruit or blooms that are superior to the original. Grapevines and fruit trees are often grafted to produce the desired fruit on the healthy rootstock of a strong base plant. Roses and shrubs may be sold as rootstock ready for planting in your garden. Planting rootstock is easy if you follow a few simple steps.
Teak is a kind of wood that is most sought after in India, where it is used to make window frames. In the United States, teak wood is commonly found in antique furniture. Growing or propagating this type of tree is not hard, but it takes some simple preparations before planting the seeds. By taking great care in the initial planting phase, you will reap the rewards of growing a beautiful teak garden.
The vibrant colors of the Gerber daisy are an asset to any garden. Gerber daisies, also known as Gerbera daisies, are easy to care for and satisfying to grow. Whether you are growing Gerber daisies as a perennial or as an annual, the care you give your daisies will determine the number and length of the blooms you will see in your garden.
The cosmos, also known as Mexican aster, is a flower that resembles a daisy and likes a very hot climate. Grow cosmos plants by letting them dry out between waterings with instructions from a sustainable gardener in this free video on gardening and plant care.
The common aubrieta plant, or aubrieta deltoidea, is a beautiful rock plant that does really well in almost any climate. Give the common aubrieta a lot of water in the summertime with instructions from a sustainable gardener in this free video series on flower gardening and plant care.
Sprinklers can be small devices hooked up to a garden hose or intricate underground systems, but either can be programmed to water the lawn for a certain length of time each day. with help from a sustainable gardener in this free video series on garden and lawn care.
Whether you live in a warm or cold climate, gardens are likely to be impacted by extreme chills for your area. That usually results in brown crispy leaves and stalks. Here are some tips on how to care for frost damage in your garden.
Learn about routine care for your garden in this free gardening video about growing your perfect garden.
Mums make great garden plants because they are perennials, meaning that they come back for several years or longer and don't have to be replanted each year. Mums are a great addition to the garden, providing color and variety to any landscape. With proper care, you can enjoy the same plants for many seasons. Here's how to care for garden mums.
