Are Peanut Shells Good for Compost? The answer to that question really depends upon where you are. In the southern United States, the use of peanut shells as mulch has been linked to the spread of Southern Blight and other fungal diseases. While it’s true that the composting process may kill any fungus that’s being harbored in the shells, Southern Blight can be nasty, and it’s really better to be safe than sorry....

There are over 6,000 species of lizards worldwide and it’s likely that native species of common garden lizards live near you. So why should modern day gardeners take an interest in these scaly remnants from the age of the dinosaurs, as opposed to getting rid of them, and how are lizards good for gardens? Let’s learn more. Lizard Friendly Gardens First and foremost, many species of lizards eat garden pests, such as slugs and harmful insects....

South Central Gardening Tasks for August Ready to get those garden chores done? Here are some things that require attention right now. Lawn There’s no doubt that maintaining a healthy, green August lawn in the South-Central region requires supplemental water. Set the irrigation system to apply one to one and a half inches (2.5-4 cm.) of water per week. Follow local water restrictions to conserve this precious resource. Consider these additional August garden tasks for the lawn:...

What is the Avalon Dessert Plum? The new Avalon dessert plum is a large fruit that ripens about 10 days earlier than Victoria. Aficionados of these fruits should try growing Avalon plums, as they are sweetly juicy, quite large, and beautifully blushed. Best eaten fresh, they also make great preserves and canned fruit. Best of all, growing Avalon plums is fairly low maintenance and they are considered strong, versatile trees. Plums are stone fruits and are closely related to peaches, nectarines, and almonds....

How to Make a Bay Topiary The key to bay tree topiary pruning, or any topiary pruning in general, is multiple cuttings in a single growing season. A single heavy pruning should be done in the spring to achieve the desired shape. The tree will continue to grow throughout the growing season, and it can be trimmed back regularly to keep its shape. There are a few very popular bay tree topiaries....

What is Aromatherapy? Scent has a transporting effect in that it can soothe the mind or jar the senses. This is the basis of aromatherapy, where naturally derived oils are used for specific effects on the body. Gardeners armed with aromatherapy information can try their own hand at making cosmetics, perfumes and concoctions for wellness. There are many simple recipes using plants found in most kitchen gardens with the potential to balance mind, body and spirit....

Fountain Grass Feeding Most ornamental grasses do not need to be fertilized. Container plants need occasional feeding because they are in a closed environment, but in-ground plants usually do better without extra nitrogen, which can make leaves floppy and cause excess growth and limp plants. If you feel you need to fertilize your plants, you need to learn how to fertilize ornamental fountain grass and, more importantly, what to feed ornamental grasses....

However, the advantages of involving toddlers in the garden are numerous. Learning more about the very special needs of this unique demographic of future growers can help to ensure that time spent outdoors is valuable, enjoyable, and safe. Garden Tools for Toddlers Allowing toddlers to be involved in gardening is beneficial for a variety of reasons. Quality, supervised time outdoors is an excellent way in which young children are better able to experience and sense the world around them....

Growing Black-Eyed Susan Vines Rapidly growing black-eyed Susan vines quickly cover a fence or trellis for perky summer flair in the landscape. Thunbergia alata may be grown as an annual in USDA zones 9 and lower and as a perennial in zones 10 and above. Those in cooler zones can overwinter black-eyed Susan vines indoors, in a greenhouse or as a houseplant. Be sure to bring interior plants outside in summer as an important part of the care of black-eyed Susan vines....

To achieve this spatial illusion when designing a blue colored garden, concentrate the more brilliant, bold blue blooms at one end of the garden area and graduate, blending lighter shades at the other end. The blue garden plan will appear bigger from the bolder end of the spectrum and as such should be the area that is most used. Designing a Blue Colored Garden An overabundance of blue can seem cold and icy, so accents of purple and yellow can warm up the blue garden plan....

About Bougainvillea Colors First, note that the flowers you describe on bougainvillea are actually bracts, not petals. The true flowers are tucked inside these leaf-like structures that come in bright colors. The bract color for bougainvillea may come in various shades of pink, red, purple, yellow, and white. Yes, they can also change color without warning. Why Did My Bougainvillea Turn Colors? There are a number of reasons that could explain why your bougainvillea changed color....

What is Sweet Corn Brown Spot? It is very easy to detect brown leaf spot in sweet corn, which is caused by the pathogen Physoderma maydis. Bands of very small round or oblong yellow or brown spots will be seen across the leaves, while the midrib of the leaves will display clusters of dark purplish to black oval spots. Upon further inspection, you may also observe the darker colored spots clustered on the stalk, leaf sheath, and husks....

Causes of Watermelon Splits There are a few causes of watermelon splits. The most common cause for a bursting watermelon is erratic watering. Whether it’s due to poor irrigation practices or drought followed by heavy rain, excessive accumulation of water can put the fruit under a lot of pressure. As with tomato cracking, when the plants absorb too much water too fast, the excess water goes straight to the fruits. Like most fruits, water makes up a large percentage of the fruit....

Can You Eat Cactus Pads? If you have ever been to an ethnic store specializing in Mexican and southwestern cuisine, you may have seen cactus pads. The plants grow especially well in desert type areas and adult plants can produce 20 to 40 pads per year. The locality where the plants grow wild call the pads nopales, a desert delicacy that has been transported across the states. There is a specific time of the day and year for harvesting edible cactus pads....

Can you grow sweet alyssum in a container? You bet you can. In fact, sweet alyssum’s trailing, creeping habit makes it perfect for growing in a container, hanging basket, or window box. Want to learn how to grow alyssum in a pot? Read on for information on container planting sweet alyssum. Growing Potted Alyssum Plants The easiest way to get started with container planting sweet alyssum is to begin with small plants from a garden center or nursery in your area....

About Cape Marigold Water Needs Cape marigolds are small, low-growing flowers that bloom even in arid growing conditions. Planted in spring or in fall (in mild winter areas), the small flowers range in color from white to purple and orange. Cape marigolds differ from many other varieties of flowers in that the appearance of each bloom and the overall shape of the plant improves with decreased watering. While the plants should receive some water each week, too much water will cause the plants to produce leggy green growth....

Let’s take a closer look at some of the many available cape marigold varieties. About Cape Marigold Plants Cape marigolds are daisy-like plants in the Dimorphotheca family. They may be found in garden centers or online nurseries labeled as Dimorphotheca, Cape Marigold, African Daisy, or Osteospermum. Their preferred common name is usually a regional matter. They are half-hardy perennials in zones 9-10 but are generally grown as annuals. True Osteospermum plant types, however, are considered perennials....

How to Grow a Money Tree First thing you need when growing these trees is, of course, some seed. Again, you should be aware that growing money trees from seed takes time, and lots of it, but in the end you’ll be financially rewarded. Money trees are available by denomination – pennies will yield a dollar tree, nickels a five-dollar tree, dimes a ten-dollar tree and quarters a twenty-dollar tree. I prefer dollar trees, as they seem to have a higher yield per season over all, and over time dollars add up....

What is a Rumberry Tree? Growing rumberry trees (Myrciaria floribunda) are native to the Caribbean islands, Central and South America through North Brazil. Rumberry is shrub or slim tree that reaches 33 feet (10 m.) and up to 50 feet (15 m.) in height. It has reddish brown branches and flakey bark. An evergreen, the leaves are wide, glossy, and slightly leathery – dotted speckled with oil glands. Blossoms are born in small clusters and are white with about 75 obvious stamens....

Have you a passion for violet-blue flowers? Then discover sky vine growing! What is a sky vine you ask? Read on to learn more about growing this charming landscape plant. Sky Vine Growing Sky vine (Thunbergia grandiflora), also commonly referred to as clock vine, a member of the tropical Acanthaceae family and is an evergreen in frost free climates, where it also produces fruits, but growth slows or stops in cool temperatures....