Why Do Plants Die in Winter? You were probably very disappointed to discover that your perennials died over the winter, despite their long-lived nature. Plopping a perennial in the ground isn’t a guaranteed recipe for success, though, especially if you live in an area where it gets very cold and tends to freeze. A couple of different things can go wrong during your plant’s dormancy, including: Ice crystal formation in cells....

Tools for Cactus Repotting Cacti are succulents and tend to favor dry, hot conditions. They store moisture in their pads and use their spines as both defense and to provide some protection from burning hot sun rays. Cactus grown in the home can almost be ignored but they do require light, warmth, water and repotting to refresh the soil. Cactus repotting requires a special soil mix, well-draining container and some tactical protection....

Getting Rid of Lawn for Wildlife Habitats Whether a disdain for mowing the grass or the wish to welcome more pollinators into the landscape, the practice of replacing home lawns with wildflowers and other native plants is not a new concept. Restoring habitat at home is an exciting process, as the possible combinations of flowering shrubs, trees, grasses, and bushes is nearly limitless. The first step to creating a new backyard habitat is to remove portions of lawn....

While reusing plastic Easter eggs is an option from one year to another, you may be looking for other ways to reuse them. Surprisingly, Easter eggs in the garden may have quite a few uses. Ways to Reuse Easter Eggs When exploring upcycled Easter egg ideas, the options are only limited by your imagination. Using Easter eggs in the garden may initially sound like “out of the box” thinking, but their implementation can actually prove to be quite practical....

Can You Root a Pussy Willow Branch? Growing cuttings from pussy willow trees is actually one of the easiest propagation methods out there. Willow trees, pussy willows included, contain a natural rooting hormone. In the past they were frequently steeped in water to make a “pussy willow tea” that was then used to encourage other cuttings to develop roots. This method is seeing a real comeback lately as a natural alternative to commercial rooting hormones....

Sago Palm Care & Pruning Sago Palms Oftentimes, unsightly yellow fronds are a signal of a nutrient deficiency, which can usually be remedied with a boost of fertilizer, such as palm food or even citrus fertilizer. Poor, sickly looking plants can also be rejuvenated with manganese sulfate (amounts vary with plant size, from an ounce (28 gr.) for small sagos on up to 5 lbs (2 kg.) for larger ones) watered into the soil....

Salad Burnet Herb The salad burnet herb (Sanguisorba minor) is a low, 6 to 18 inch (15-46 cm.) leafy plant that begins as a rosette. It has pinnate basal leaves with four to twelve pairs of leaflets. The leaflets are oval and lightly serrated at the edges. The leaves taste like cucumber and add a fresh taste to salads. The herb is savory when mixed into an herb butter, mixed into spreading cheese, chopped and sprinkled over vegetables, or as part of a potato dish....

Sansevieria (Mother-in-Law Tongue) – Weeds or Wonders? Is mother-in-law tongue plant invasive? The answer is that it depends on the variety. There are many different types of Sansevieria and most, including the popular Sansevieria trifasciata, are perfectly well behaved and make hardy, attractive indoor plants. However, University of Florida IFAS Extension reports that Sansevieria hyacinthoides has escaped cultivation and has become a nuisance in south Florida – primarily coastal areas in USDA zone 10 and above....

Collecting Seeds from Melons Melons are members of the cucumber family, and they are open pollinated by wind or insects. This means that melons cross-pollinate with others in their family. Before you start saving melon seeds, be sure that the melon species you want to propagate are not planted within a half mile of other types of melons. Melon seeds grow inside the fleshy fruit. Wait until the fruits are fully ripe and separated from the vine before collecting seeds from melons....

Botched Pruning in the Garden Gardeners prune for a variety of reasons. Pruning can train a plant, keep it healthy, help it to flower or fruit, and keep the foliage or stems strong and attractive. In order to help the pruning cuts heal over quickly, you have to prune at the right time and in the right way. Common pruning mistakes include inappropriate pruning, pruning too much, and pruning at the wrong time....

What is Septoria Cane and Leaf Spot? Septoria cane and leaf spot (Mycosphaerella rubi) is a fungal disease common to cane berry plants such as: Marions Boysenberry Blackberry Dewberry Blueberry Raspberry Spores are disseminated by wind and water splash. All cane berries are perennials, as the roots come back year after year. However, the plant above the soil is biennial– the canes grow vegetatively for a year, bear fruit the next year, and die....

Should You Mulch Groundcovers? Does groundcover need mulch? This oft asked question has a couple of answers. The benefits of organic mulch are numerous and the only drawback would be when planting seed, which may have difficulty pushing up through the mulch. Although, mulching around groundcover isn’t strictly necessary either. Most plants will establish just fine without any mulch at all but using it could ease your maintenance routine. The whole idea behind groundcover is to give a natural carpet of low maintenance plants....

About Citrella Leaf Miners Citrus leaf miners, also called citrella leaf miners, are not destructive in their adult stage. They are very small moths, so minute that they are rarely even noticed. They have silvery white scales on their wings and a black spot on each wingtip. The female leaf miner moths lay their eggs one by one on the underside of citrus leaves. Grapefruit, lemon and lime trees are the most frequent hosts, but all citrus plants can be infested....

Uses for Silver Mound Artemisia This attractive plant is useful as a spreading border for the flower bed, when used as edging in the perennial garden and growing along paths and walkways. The delicate foliage retains its shape and color during the hottest months of summer. Of the Asteraceae family, the silver mound Artemisia is the only member with a prostrate, spreading habit. Unlike others of the species, the silver mound plant is not invasive....

Facts about Slugs What do slugs eat – A better question than what do slugs eat would be what DON’T slugs eat. Slugs will eat any kind of vegetation but prefer tender leaves. This means that particularly tender-leaved plants or seedlings are very vulnerable to slug damage. Slugs will also eat vegetables and fruits, causing unsightly damage to crops. Where do slugs live – Slugs thrive in a high moisture environment....

What is a Small Farm? The definition is up for debate, but a small farm generally consists of less than ten acres. Work is mostly done by hand without expensive equipment or technology. Animals are small, such as chickens or goats. A backyard farm can support small food production, but crops such as wheat or barley, when grown on a large scale, are not well suited to small backyard farms....

Tiny Flowers, Big Interest Plants that have little flowers are great in mixed bloom containers, rockeries, and color beds. They have the ability to fill in and spread out in most cases, creating a living carpet of color. Plants with small flowers usually have an abundance of blooms and will provide that “wow” factor in a large manner. Baby’s breath is a classic floral arrangement filler but there are many more small blooms with bright colors, heavenly scents, and perennial convenience....

Exactly how do we locate such plants, those that are beautiful and sometimes unusual, yet don’t need a lengthy stream of sunshine? Listening to other home gardeners that already grow small low light plants is an excellent option and reading articles such as this might help too. We can begin with a minor list of a few of the more common plants that grow in low light. Of course, there are many that won’t be included, but part of the fun is finding them for ourselves....

Can you grow smoke tree in a container? Smoke tree is suitable for growing in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 8. This means you can grow smoke tree in a container if your climate isn’t too cold–or too hot. Read on for more information about growing smoke tree in pots. How to Grow Smoke Tree in a Container Growing smoke trees in containers isn’t difficult, but there are a few important things to keep in mind....

What is Soil Drenching? Trees and other plants often need herbicides, nutrients, fungicides, or pesticides. While some gardeners choose to spray leaves and stems, still others use time-release granular formulas mixed into the soil. Using soil drenches allows quick delivery of the chemicals and avoids overspray and drift. Soil drench application is easy enough even for novice gardeners and practically foolproof. Soil drenches are usually used to apply water-soluble chemicals which flood roots and are up-taken systemically to all parts of the plant....