What are Highbush Blueberries? Highbush blueberries are the ones you usually find in grocery stores. They are members of the Vaccinium genus, along with lowbush blueberries, cranberries, huckleberries, and lingonberries. The highbush blueberry is native to eastern coastal regions of North America. Along with azaleas, mountain laurels, and rhododendrons, Vaccinium species belong to the Ericaceae or heather family. Like other heather family plants, highbush blueberries are acid-loving plants that are adapted to living in low-fertility habitats such as bogs and heaths....

Hillside Garden Irrigation Hillside garden watering is especially important in areas with full sun and during dry spells. In order for water to deeply saturate the ground and reach plant roots, proper irrigation is essential. When it comes to irrigating a hill, drip irrigation or soaker hoses are probably your best choices. This type of irrigation releases water into the soil slowly, reducing runoff and erosion, which commonly occurs when you use overhead watering and sprinkler systems for irrigating a hill....

What are Home Run Roses? Home Run is a nice, bright red blooming rosebush that was bred by none other than Mr. Tom Carruth, whose name is associated with many AARS (All-American Rose Selection) Award Winning roses. When Mr. Carruth saw Knock Out on the West Coast, he felt there was room for improvement. He felt the red color of the blooms could be brighter and that the disease resistance of Knockouts could be improved upon (like with powdery mildew and black spot issues)....

About Homemade Calendula Oil Uses Calendula is listed by the FDA as one of the safest herbs, safe enough to treat children. Its herbal uses include: first aid for wounds, bug bites, and minor burns skin care treatment (rosacea, eczema, dry skin, acne, etc.) helps alleviate muscle aches, hemorrhoids, ulcers, and menstrual cramps oral care soothes sore throats treats mites in pets Calendula flowers can be used to make a natural makeup remover, hot oil hair treatments, and insect repellents....

While they have few problems with pests, sucking insects can cause distorted foliage and make hibiscus leaves all sticky. This is honeydew on tropical hibiscus or perennial plant leaves. It can cause sooty mold and problems for plant’s photosynthetic process. Hibiscus Leaves All Sticky A tropical hibiscus with sticky leaves or your hardy perennial in the garden with sooty black moldy leaves, both have the same problem. The honeydew on tropical hibiscus and perennials causes a gummy coating, which can be host and fuel to fungal spores that cause the sooty mold fungus....

Hoop House Gardening What is a hoop house? Basically, it’s a structure that uses the rays of the sun to warm the plants inside it. Unlike a greenhouse, its warming action is completely passive and doesn’t rely on heaters or fans. This means it’s a lot cheaper to operate (once you’ve built it, you’re done spending money on it) but it also means it’s more labor-intensive. On sunny days, even if outside temperatures are cool, the air inside can heat up so much as to be damaging to plants....

Harvesting Amaranth Plants Amaranth is a plant that falls into one of four categories: grain, vegetable, ornamental or weed. The differences are more or less cultural preferences, as all types are edible and highly nutritious. Both the greens and seeds are edible, with the greens tasting somewhat like spinach, and the seeds milled into flour or eaten much like quinoa with a similar protein punch. While of the 60-70 species of amaranth, 40 are considered native to the Americas, you are likely growing one of three: A....

Drip Irrigation Installation Drip or micro-irrigation is an irrigation method that applies water slowly to individual plants. Drip systems are fairly easy to set up yourself and require four easy steps: laying out the irrigation grid, assembling the hoses, installing tees, and then installing emitters and feed lines. When installing a drip irrigation system, the first thing to do is lay out a grid with the hoses so you can get an idea of how far apart they need to be....

Raising Caterpillars and Butterflies There are many stages a caterpillar has to endure before finally emerging as a moth or butterfly. Each phase is fascinating and has a lesson to teach. Raising caterpillars and butterflies provides a window into one of nature’s little miracles and is a unique way to add beauty and mystery to your garden. You can build a butterfly house to raise and attract these beautiful insects, or simply go low tech and use a mason jar....

Read on to find answers to these questions and other tips on taking care of a newly planted tree. Transplanted Tree Watering The process of transplant is hard on a young tree. Many trees do not survive the shock of a transplant and the top reason involves water. Too little irrigation will kill a newly planted tree, but so will excess water if the tree is allowed to sit in it....

What is a Pebble Tray? A pebble tray is exactly what it sounds like: a tray that is full of pebbles. It’s also full of water, of course. The main purpose of a pebble tray is to provide humidity for plants, typically houseplants. Most houseplants are tropical varieties, but most houses have dry, conditioned air. A pebble tray is a simple, low-tech way to provide those plants with a healthier, more humid local environment....

Corpse Flower Facts A little bit of background will help determine the care of these unusual plants. Corpse flower is an aroid that is native to the jungles of Sumatra. It will take about 8-10 years before it actually blooms. But what a show when it does! The inflorescence can grow up to 10 feet (3 m.) tall. Although the inflorescence is very large, the flowers are much smaller and found deep inside the base of the spadix....

Loropetalum grows fast, often ending up as wide or wider as it is tall. This vibrant plant, also called Chinese witch hazel or Chinese fringe plant, thrives without pruning. However, if this shrub outgrows the space you have allotted for it in the garden, you may start asking how to prune a loropetalum. Pruning this plant is easy. Read on for tips on pruning a loropetalum. Loropetalum Pruning Tips Loropetalum plants generally range from 10 to 15 feet (3-4....

July Garden Tasks Even though you’re busy weeding, watering, and harvesting, it’s not too late for planting some crops. Southeast gardening in July often includes a start on the garden that provides the autumn harvest. You may be succession planting your favorite crops for an extended harvest. Tomatoes are a favorite, as so many varieties exist and grow well in these warm summer conditions. Start those seeds of your Halloween pumpkins....

Keep in mind, however, that while the cactus looks harmless from a distance, the spines are formidable. In fact, its other common name “jumping cholla” is well deserved, as the spines seem to “jump” and grab unsuspecting passers-by. Read on for more jumping cholla info. Jumping Cholla Information Native to the deserts of Northwest Mexico and the southwestern United State, jumping cholla (Opuntia bigelovii syn. Cylindropuntia bigelovii) is a shrubby, tree-like cactus that can reach heights of 5 to 9 feet (1....

But what about gardening with kids in winter? Just like any gardener, kids can spend the winter planning and prepping for next spring’s planting activities, as well as some kid’s winter activities that actually include growing plants to keep their green thumbs in practice. Gardening With Kids in Winter When the snow flies, it’s a good time to experiment with winter gardening activities for children. This is a good time to teach them all about sprouting, sunlight and water, and even kitchen recycling....

Ways to Kill Your Grass Naturally There are many reasons to get rid of grass in the landscape. The trick is in how to kill grass naturally without resorting to dangerous chemical preparations. The good news is that there are several natural ways to kill grass, all using items normally found in the home. Once the deed is done, you will be left with a safe, weed, and grass free zone ready for planting....

While one invasive species eating another doesn’t seem so bad, kudzu bugs also eat plants that gardeners love. That means seeing kudzu bugs on plants is definitely not a welcome site. Read on for information on kudzu bug control including tips for getting rid of kudzu bugs. Kudzu Bugs on Plants The kudzu bug is a “true bug” about the size of a ladybug but dark in color. It uses piercing mouthparts to suck water and nutrients from plants....

Tips for Landscaping around Driveways Driveway landscaping is different from other landscaping for a few key reasons, and as long as you bear those in mind, you should be fine. The first key thing to consider is visibility. Tall plants are all well and good in other parts of the yard, but bordering a driveway, especially where it meets the road, can create a real headache. When planning, make sure to pay attention to plants’ mature height – what may seem inconspicuous as a seedling could grow into a monster later....

What is Camassia? The Camassia lily bulb (Camassia quamash syn. Camassia esculenta) is a beautiful spring blooming, native North American plant that will grow in USDA plant hardiness zones 3-8. This pretty flowering bulb is a member of the asparagus family and was an important food staple for both Native Americans and early explorers to our country. The nutritious bulbs were commonly tossed into pits with wet grass and roasted for two nights....