Gardening Against a Wall Whether you’re looking to add plants up against the walls of your house or against a garden wall or fence, first consider several different factors. Choose plants that will do well facing a particular direction (like against a north-facing or a south-facing wall) or in full sun or partial shade. Consider that south-facing walls can get very hot in summer. Don’t select plants destined to grow taller than the garden wall....

What is a Self-Sowing Plant? Self-seeding garden plants drop their pods, capsules, or seeds at the end of the season. In most cases, the seeds need nothing more than the soil they fall onto, relying on natural seasonal changes to germinate and grow. Occasionally, self-seeders can become nuisance plants, so it is important to choose wisely or just adore the crazy spread of the plants. Using self-sowers to fill gardens is an old, time-honored practice invoked by modern gardeners who spread wildflower seed in disturbed or unused fields and beds....

Will Store-Bought Melon Seeds Grow Unfortunately, most melons you buy in the grocery store will be hybrids. These fruits are bred and developed primarily for their ability to ship well and maintain the proper ripeness on grocery store shelves. The problem with most grocery store melon seeds is they won’t produce the same type of melon from which they came. The reason is that hybrids are crosses between two or more varieties of melons....

What Kind of Plant is a Tickle Me Plant? So, what kind of plant is a tickle me plant exactly? It’s a shrubby perennial plant native to tropical regions. The plant can be grown outdoors as an annual, but it is more commonly grown indoors for its unusual growing characteristics. When touched, its fern-like leaves close up and droop as if being tickled. Mimosa plants will also close their leaves at night....

Types of Vines in the South There are three types of southeastern U.S. vines that you may grow. The difference is how they climb: clinging, twining, and sprawling. The clinging vine has specialized organs to grab and hold onto your trellis or other structure. These tendrils assist in upward growth. Other specimens, like English ivy, have adhesive rootlets.Twining vines grow differently, twisting their stems to hold onto their support. When growing twining vine types, locate them to grow in the desired position....

Halloween Decorating in the Garden Some people have a tendency to make their garden Halloween decorations a bit too frightening, which can scare away young trick-or-treaters (and maybe even squeamish adults). Others overdo their Halloween décor to the point of overkill, which results in a cluttered, unappealing mess. So what’s the fix for this? Simple. When scouring over Halloween garden ideas, use a theme. Halloween Garden Ideas There are a number of garden Halloween decorations to consider when it comes to choosing a theme....

About Zone 7 Herb Gardening When choosing herbs for zone 7, if you have your heart set on a particular perennial herb that isn’t suited to zone 7 herb gardening, you might want to try growing it in a container and then bring it indoors over winter. If the difference is minor, say between zones a and b, plant the herb in a protected area such as between two buildings in an alcove or between a solid fence and a building....

Regardless of personal beliefs, information related to the moon and growing crops remains relevant. The connection between the harvest moon and gardening, for example, is just one of these many interesting aspects to explore. Learning about harvest moon facts can help determine whether or not there is validity to these garden legends. What is the Harvest Moon? Answering the question, “when is the harvest moon,” is key to understanding exactly what it actually is....

You can save seeds from your favorite flowers, fruits, some vegetables and even shrubs or trees. Perennials that need a cold stratification can be planted right away, while annuals such as marigolds and zinnias can be saved until next spring to plant. Tree and shrub seeds can usually be planted in fall too. Collecting Fall Seeds from Plants As the season ends, let some flowers go to seed rather than deadheading....

Dragon’s Tongue in an Aquarium The dragon’s tongue aquarium plant is not fully aquatic. It enjoys and thrives in high humidity. It can exist with wet roots and occasional submersion but usually does not live for an extended time underwater. It’s easily confused with red dragon’s tongue macroalgae (Halymenia dilatata) and numerous other related plants which are fully aquatic. Try to learn exactly which type you have. This dragon’s tongue plant is sometimes sold as fully aquatic, which is a mistake, and can experience the issue discussed above....

How to Grow Herbs in Zone 8 Herb gardening in zone 8 is very rewarding. Zone 8 is a great area for growing herbs. While some herbs prefer cooler temperatures, a lot of popular cooking herbs are native to the Mediterranean and thrive in hot, sunny summers. Most will do very well in full sun, although a few may benefit from some partial shade. If you’re growing herbs in containers, keep an eye on them to make sure they don’t dry out too much....

Hollow Heart Potato Disease Although many people refer to hollow heart as a disease of potato, there is no infectious agent involved; this problem is purely environmental. You probably won’t be able to tell the potatoes with hollow heart apart from the perfect potatoes until you cut into them, but, at that point, it will be obvious. Hollow heart in potatoes manifests as an irregularly-shaped crater in the potato’s heart — this empty area may have a brown discoloration, but that isn’t always the case....

The flavor of the fruit is quite similar to Golden Delicious, only a bit blander. One source describes it as Golden Delicious with honey on it. Fruits have greenish yellow skin and are ready to pick in October. Growing Honeygold Apples Learning how to grow Honeygold apples is similar to growing other apple tree varieties. Apple trees are easy to grow and keep at a relatively small size with regular winter pruning....

Is Ruellia Invasive? Although plenty of gardeners have cultivated Ruellia brittoniana over the years, it has since escaped home gardens and become classified as an invasive plant in nine states, stretching from South Carolina to Texas. Due to its adaptability and rapid reproduction, Mexican petunia has managed to supplant native species in many areas and across several types of natural communities. If you want to cultivate this plant, it’s still okay to do so, provided you purchase sterile specimens from your nursery....

With very specific growing habitats, those wishing to grow their own ginseng must provide ideal conditions to harvest marketable roots. This may lead growers to begin thinking about ways in which they are able to best maximize their crop yields. The establishment of consistent watering and fertilization routines are important to the needs of growing ginseng plants. How to Feed Ginseng Plants When it comes to fertilizing ginseng plants, there are several options....

Calendula Benefits Also known as pot marigold, calendula is a pretty, bright flower that adds cheer to garden beds. But did you know that this is also a medicinal plant? You should always talk to your doctor before trying any kind of herbal or supplement, but if calendula is safe for you, there are some medicinal purposes it may serve: Helping wounds and burns heal faster Treating hemorrhoids Reducing skin inflammation Preventing dermatitis Healing ear infections Healing diaper rash Reducing inflammation Helping to heal various skin ailments, like acne, eczema, and rashes...

Help! My Hyacinth is Turning Brown! Before you panic because your hyacinth is browning, take a deep breath. Browning hyacinth plants aren’t always a cause for concern. In fact, it’s often just a signal that they’ve done their thing for the year and are getting ready to shed their flowers or go into dormancy. If your plant is turning brown, check these things before panicking: Light. Indoor hyacinths need plenty of light, but they shouldn’t be in a window with direct sunlight....

How to Grow Climbing Houseplants Since vines tend to grow voraciously and often without regard to parameters, care of indoor vines requires regular pruning, training onto a trellis or the like, and monitoring water and food needs. Often indoor climbing plants are sold in hanging baskets so the vining arms dangle down from the pot. Light conditions vary according to the variety of plant chosen. Common Indoor Vine Plants There are a number of indoor climbing plants on the market....

Pincushion Cactus Plant Varieties Pincushion cactus is a member of a family called Mammillaria, which includes 250 species of cactus. Some of the species of pincushion have colorful names. The Giant Snake or Crawling Log cactus (Mammillaria matudae) produce long stems. Snowball cushion cactus (Mammillaria candida) is a ball-shaped plant with white felt or fuzz on the skin of the plant. Old Lady cactus (Mammillaria hahniana) is a solitary cactus with white, fuzzy, hair-like spines and purplish red flowers....

What is an Instant Garden? An instant garden is essentially a quick shortcut for making a garden overnight using potted plants, both flowering and foliage. Here is an example: Only two days before my daughter’s wedding in June, the bride-to-be appears on my doorstep with tears streaming down her soft face. “Oh mom, what am I going to do? The English Garden we were going to have the reception in has been vandalized!...