Can You Compost Dryer Lint? In a nutshell, yes you can. Composting lint from dryers is a simple task, as this brown material is easy to save until you have enough to add to the mix. Is Dryer Lint Beneficial to Compost? Is dryer lint beneficial to compost? While dryer lint in compost isn’t the powerhouse of nutrients as other materials, such as kitchen waste, it still adds some carbon and fiber to the mix....
What are Turnip Greens? Turnips are creamy white veggies with purple tops. Often erroneously referred to as root vegetables, turnips are actually related to Brassicas such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, arugula and kale. While turnips can be used much as you would a potato, the greens are something else. Turnip greens are the dark leafy tops of turnips. They are often cut off and discarded, which is a mistake. Save the greens and use them like lettuce or cook with them instead....
Fetterbush Information What is a fetterbush? There’s more than one species of plant that’s commonly referred to as a fetterbush, and this can lead to some confusion. The best way to distinguish them is to use their scientific Latin names. One plant that goes by “fetterbush” is Lyonia lucida, a deciduous shrub native to the southern United States. The fetterbush we’re here for today is Leucothoe fontanesiana, sometimes also known as Drooping Leucothoe....
Planting tall trees does more than just provide you with esthetic delight. It can provide a wind block, create privacy and encourage wildlife. Read on for a list of the world’s tallest trees as well as tips for choosing tall trees for your landscape. Very Tall Trees The tallest trees on the planet may or may not be trees you want in your landscape. And some of them have very specific cultural requirements....
What is a Shower Caddy Garden? A shower caddy garden is an arrangement of plants in one of those tiered shelving units that are intended for the shower. Instead of putting shampoo and soap on the shelves, you put plants there. Adding small potted plants to the shower caddy creates vertical appeal and adds a touch of nature to the bathroom or wherever you choose to hang it. You can use these hanging gardens to good advantage anywhere in the house or the backyard....
About Japanese Willow Pruning All too often homeowners realize that cute little willow with the pink and white foliage can quickly become an 8 to 10 foot (2-3 m.) monster. As they grow and age, they can also lose a lot of the unique foliage colors that drew your eye to them in the first place. Fortunately, with regular pruning and trimming, the size and shape can be maintained. Pruning Japanese willows will also encourage new colorful growth....
Can You Move Wild Rose Bushes? Of course, you know that it is not okay to go transplanting wild roses from someone else’s land or even public park land without permission. Since lots of people consider these bushes weeds, permission may not be difficult to come by. In fact, some, like the multiflora rose, can become quite invasive in certain areas. If you have these shrubs growing on terrain you own or if you get the owner’s permission, it’s perfectly okay to think of moving wild rose bushes into your garden....
A scythe is a curved, sharp blade at the end of a long pole. It is used to trim grass and light brush. During use, the operator is standing and making controlled sweeps to cut plant material. The benefit of a grass cutting scythe is in the management it gives on high grasses without using fossil fuels. Scythes are also relatively inexpensive and readily available. Tips on Using a Scythe A scythe was used widely in Europe and North America up until the early 20th century....
Using Landscape Fabric in Vegetable Garden Weeds left to grow rampant in the veggie garden compete for water and nutrients, host diseaseS and pests, and make harvesting difficult. It would seem that landscape fabric for the vegetable garden would be a win/win and indeed laying a barrier of landscape fabric will slow weeds… for a while. Obviously landscape fabric has the benefit of slowing weeds. It allows water to flow freely to roots and can also be used temporarily in the vegetable garden to warm the soil....
Who Should be Over Wintering Hibiscus? If where you live gets more than a few days a year below freezing, 32 degrees F. (0 C.), you should store your hibiscus indoors for the winter. Location Indoors for Hibiscus Winter Care Hibiscus are not picky when it comes to indoor storage. Keep in mind, when you take care of a hibiscus indoors, their summery, flower covered glory will quickly fade. Unless you have an atrium or greenhouse, your hibiscus will most likely start to look less than stellar before spring returns....
Hydrangeas for Zone 3 Gardens Panicle or Pee Gee hydrangeas, offer the most variety in hydrangeas for zone 3. Blooming on new wood from July-September, panicle hydrangeas are the most cold-hardy and sun-tolerant of zone 3 hydrangea varieties. Some zone 3 hydrangea varieties in this family include: Bobo Firelight Limelight Little Lime Little Lamb Pinky Winky Quick Fire Little Quick Fire Ziinfin Doll Tardiva Unique Pink Diamond White Moth Preacox...
Freezing herbs in ice cube trays is simple to do and there are two ways to make ice cube herbs. Interested in saving herbs in ice cube trays? Keep reading to learn how to freeze fresh herbs. About Freezing Herbs Sturdy herbs such as rosemary, sage, thyme, and oregano freeze beautifully. You can also freeze herbs like cilantro, mint, and basil, but these herbs are most often used fresh or added at the last minute to cooked foods, which means their delicate flavor loses something in the translation when frozen....
The Bromeliad Water Tank Bromeliads grow in many different conditions. When taking care of a bromeliad, water it well. The center of a bromeliad is called a tank or cup. This particular plant will hold water in its tank. Fill the tank in the center and don’t allow it to get empty. Don’t let the water sit for a long time or it will stagnate and possibly cause damage to the plant....
Iris care is minimal once the growing iris is established. Iris plant care consists mainly of dividing the iris plants to assure continued blooms. Iris plants are abundant multipliers but once the rhizomes of iris plants become crowded, the iris flowers may be limited and the rhizomes need to be separated. About Iris Flowers The most commonly planted iris in the United States is the bearded iris. Height of the bearded iris plant ranges from 3 inches (7....
What is Kudzu? Kudzu was introduced to the U.S. in the 1930’s to help with erosion control. It was also used as a forage crop and over 300,000 acres are planted in the southern states. The vine can grow up to 12 inches (30.5 cm.) in a day and is not finicky about poor soils and unfavorable conditions. The vines grow up and over almost any structure, including houses, and conceal from view entire buildings in unmonitored locations....
Landscape Lighting Design Take a close look around your home so you can see what you have to work with before you get started. Take note of whether or not there are any electrical outlets nearby; otherwise, you might need to reconsider your outdoor lighting options. If there are no outlets in the area that you want to highlight, you can still provide low-key lighting. This type of light provides subtle hints of illumination wherever you need it through the use of lanterns, candles, and strings of light....
Why is Crop Rotation Important? Different vegetables belong to different families, and different botanical families have different nutritional needs and have different issues they are susceptible to. When you grow plants from the same family in the same place year after year, they slowly leach away the specific nutrients that they need. Eventually, without rotating vegetables, the area will be depleted of the nutrients that the family needs. On a related note, vegetables in the same botanical family will also be susceptible to the same pests and diseases....
Learn Why Burning Poison Ivy Is Dangerous Poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), poison oak (T. diversilobum) and poison sumac (T. vernix) can produce an allergic reaction if any part of the plant – leaves, stems, roots or berries – is touched, bruised, crushed, cut or burned. The colorless oil, urushiol, is quickly absorbed by the skin and can adhere to clothing, pet fur, camping equipment, and yard tools. Touching those items even weeks later can cause a reaction, referred to as contact dermatitis....
Information About Leyland Cypress Leland cypress (x Cupressocyparis leylandii) is a rare, but successful, hybrid between two different genera: Cupressus and Chamaecyparis. Leyland cypress has a short lifespan for an evergreen tree, surviving for 10 to 20 years. This tall, evergreen conifer is grown commercially in the southeast as a Christmas tree. The tree grows to a height of 50 to 70 feet (15-20 m.), and although the spread is only 12 to 15 feet (4-4....
Christmas Cactus Problems Wilted or limp Christmas cactus is sometimes caused by a lack of water or too much direct sunlight. If you’ve neglected to water the limp Christmas cactus, begin by giving the plant a limited drink. Continue to water sparingly every few days until the soil is lightly moist. Soil that is too wet causes Christmas cactus problems too. As an epiphyte in its native home on the tropical forest floor, the Christmas cactus absorbs water and nutrients from the air, and as such can’t handle soggy roots....
