What’s a pond owner to do? Keep reading to learn more about how to keep plants safe from koi fish. Koi Proofing Pond Plants Koi pond owners do have options regarding the plant decimation. Some enthusiasts simply eliminate plants from the pond, opting instead to landscape the perimeter of the pond only. However, in locations with warm summers, plant cover is essential in keeping water temperature lower and koi comfortable....

Lacebark Elm Information Also known as Chinese elm, lacebark elm is a medium size tree that typically reaches heights of 40 to 50 feet (12-15 m.). It is valued for its shiny, dark green foliage and rounded shape. The multiple colors and rich textures of lacebark elm bark (the focus of its name) are an added bonus. Lacebark elm provides shelter, food, and nesting sites for a variety of birds, and the leaves attract a number of butterfly larvae....

Routine Lawn Care: Late Summer If you slowed or stopped basic lawn care because the grass went dormant during the hottest part of the summer, it’s time to reestablish these routines: Mowing – As the lawn greens up and begins to grow again, remove approximately 1/3 of the length of the grass blades each week. Regular mowing encourages the formation of side shoots or tillering. This produces a thicker, dense lawn which is more resistant to weeds....

How to Cut Back Hydrangea Plants for the Winter The first step in hydrangea winter care is to cut away the old wood at the base of the plant, and remove any dead or weak branches by cutting them off at their base. Be careful not to cut off healthy wood, as this wood will be where your hydrangea will bloom from next year. In-ground Hydrangeas – Winter Protection Protect your in-ground hydrangea in winter by making a frame around the plant using stakes....

How to Grow Beets in the Garden When thinking about how to grow beets in the garden, don’t neglect the soil. Beets do best in deep, well drained soil, but never clay, which is too heavy for large roots to grow. Clay soil should be mixed with organic matter to help soften it. Hard soil can cause the roots of the beet to be tough. Sandy soil is best. If you plant beets in the fall, use a slightly heavier soil to help protect against any early frost....

Planting Hyacinth Bulbs Hyacinths in the garden are suitable for a wide range of USDA zones, 3 through 9. They are thought to be native to the eastern Mediterranean region and need well-draining soil and winter’s chill to thrive. Their signature fragrance has been used in French perfume and their appearance is a part of the Persian New Year celebrations. In the home garden, they are just plain lovely and a signal that spring has arrived and colorful flower displays are just getting started....

Garden bug lessons can be a lot of fun and in the process, kids learn the difference between destructive pests and helpful bugs that work to keep bad guys under control. Wondering how to teach about insects? Basically, just tap into their natural curiosity. Here are a few helpful suggestions about bugs and kids. How to Teach About Insects The Internet offers a wealth of information when it comes to lessons about insects....

Letizia Sedeveria Plant Sedeveria ‘Letizia’ is a little jewel of a plant. This beautiful small succulent has stems some 8 inches (20 cm.) tall topped with small rosettes. Newer stems have leaves as well as rosettes but when the stems are mature, they are bare except for the rosette on top. Over cold, sunny winter days, the “petals” of this sedeveria turn deep red. They remain bright apple green, however, all summer long or all year, if grown in the shade....

Chrysanthemum Lifespan So how long do mums live? Chrysanthemums, or mums for short, can be divided into two distinct categories: garden and floral. These two varieties are bred with different goals in mind, and this results in very different lifespans. Floral mums are planted in the fall and pretty much all their energy is devoted to blooming. This makes for some spectacular blossoms, but it doesn’t give the plant enough time or resources to put down a good root system before the frost....

If you are wondering when to pick macadamia nuts, you have to wait until they are ripe. The nuts ripen at different times depending on where you are and what type of tree you have. Even on one macadamia tree, the nuts don’t all ripen the same week or even the same month. Read on for more information about macadamia nut harvesting. When are Macadamia Nuts Ripe? So when are macadamia nuts ripe enough for picking?...

What is a Rose Topiary Tree? Topiary refers to the intentional shaping of shrubs, bushes, and/or trees. While several types of bushes can be trimmed or sculpted, rose topiary trees are generally pruned so that the blooms of the rose grow in a mound at the top of the plant. This makes them ideal for placement near walkways, porches, and other highly visible landscaped areas. Real (and artificial) topiary rose bushes are also an extremely sought-after gift....

Common Bok Choy Problems Bok choy is very attractive to bugs, and some of them can do serious damage. Here are the most prevalent bok choy pests: Cabbage maggots Flea beetles Tarnished plant bugs Cutworms Leafminers Aphids Seedcorn maggots Slugs Whiteflies Vegetable weevils A lot of these pests can be combatted with row covers and crop rotation. Another useful method is growing bok choy as a fall crop, when pests are past their natural growing season lifecycle....

Humidity in a greenhouse is important but managing it is crucial to preventing fungal and other issues. Learn how to reduce greenhouse humidity when necessary to prevent common plant problems. Greenhouse Humidity Info Is greenhouse humidity important? Well, depending on what you are growing in your greenhouse, humidity may be necessary or just a common effect. Some plants, like most tropical specimens, need humidity. Other plants, such as many succulents, will develop rots and mildews that can kill them....

Do marigolds keep bugs away? The best way to find out is to experiment in your own garden, and you really can’t go wrong. Marigolds are beautiful, and there’s no doubt that they attract a variety of beneficial insects that prey on bad bugs, which is a very positive attribute indeed! Read on to learn more about marigold plants and pests. How Do Marigolds Keep Bugs Away? Research indicates that marigold plant roots produce toxic chemicals that kill root knot nematodes, as well as other harmful nematodes that feed on plant roots....

Marimo Moss Ball Information The botanic name for these fascinating green balls is Cladophora aegagropila, which explains why the balls are often known as Cladophora balls. “Moss” ball is a misnomer, as Marimo moss balls consist entirely of algae – not moss. In their natural habitat, Marimo moss balls can eventually reach diameters of 8 to 12 inches (20-31 cm.), although your home-grown Marimo moss ball probably won’t be quite this large – or maybe they will!...

About Mickey Mouse Plant Propagation Mickey Mouse plant (Ochna serrulata), or carnival bush, is a semi-evergreen shrub to small tree that grows to about 4-8 feet (1-2.5 m.) in height and 3-4 feet (about a meter) across. Native to eastern South Africa, these plants are found in a variety of habitats, from forests to grasslands. The glossy, slightly serrated green leaves are accented with fragrant, yellow blooms from spring to early summer....

Mountain Azalea Info Learn how to grow wild azaleas in the landscape is as easy as enjoying their blooms. Hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies are attracted to the clusters of sweet-smelling pink or white flowers that appear before new growth in spring too. That being said, the plant is also attractive to wildlife, including hungry deer. Keep this under consideration before adding it to the garden. Plant mountain azalea seeds in the garden in late fall or propagate softwood cuttings in late spring....

Different lantana varieties have different combinations of colors, but multiple colors are also often found on a single plant. Individual multi-colored lantana flowers also exist, with one color inside the tube and another on the outer edges of the petals. Color Changing Lantana Flowers Like many other members of the verbena plant family (Verbenaceae), lantana bears its flowers in clusters. The flowers on each cluster open in a pattern, beginning in the center and moving out toward the edge....

Seedless Papaya Fruit Papaya trees can be male, female, or hermaphrodite (having both male and female parts). Female trees produce female flowers, male trees produce male flowers, and hermaphrodite trees bear female and hermaphrodite flowers. Since female flowers need to be pollinated by male pollen, the preferred kind of tree for commercial fruit production is the hermaphrodite. Hermaphrodite flowers are self-pollinating. A seedless papaya fruit usually comes from a female tree....

Eastern Black Swallowtail on Parsley Parsley is suitable for growing as a perennial in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 through 9. By planting parsley, you’re doing a huge favor for eastern black swallowtail butterflies, as this species feeds only on a few plants, including: Dill Parsley Fennel Carrots Queen Anne’s lace Providing parsley for butterflies can create a home for a native population that you can observe throughout their lifetime. Eastern black swallowtails, appreciated for their delicate beauty, are recognizable by their black wings, each marked with two rows of bright yellow spots, which are larger and brighter in males....