Planting Petunias in Hanging Baskets Petunias are perfect for locations exposed to full sunlight. Look for cascading petunias, which include any variety that produces flowers on long, flowing stems. Planting petunias in hanging baskets is a cinch, as long as you use a sturdy container with at least one drainage hole. Fill the container with a lightweight commercial potting mix, which will promote healthy drainage. Never use garden soil, which quickly becomes compacted and too heavy for proper drainage....

Zone 7 Plants That Grow in Full Sun Since there are way too many plants that can be grown in this climate, choosing a favorite plant that tolerates full sun can be difficult. For a more complete list of direct sun plants in your area, contact your local extension office for information. And with that, here are some of the more popular choices for zone 7 full sun plants: Crape Myrtle – Also called crepe myrtle, this beautiful, showy shrub or small tree is hardy down to zone 7 and produces stunning summer flowers, especially in full sun....

What is a Garden Urn? A garden urn planter is a type of unique container, usually made of concrete. These larger containers are generally very decorative and ornate. Unlike conventional containers, urn gardening offers growers the opportunity to create elegant plantings without much effort or fuss. Planting in Garden Urns Before planting in garden urns, growers will first need to establish whether or not the selected urn has drainage. While some containers will already have drainage holes, others may not....

What is Plum Pox? Plum pox is a virus in the genus Potyvirus, which includes several commonly known mosaic viruses that infect garden vegetables. It is generally only transmitted over short distances, since it remains viable for just a few minutes inside the aphids that transmit the virus, such as green peach and spirea aphids. Aphids spread plum pox virus when they probe infected plant leaves for potential food sources but move from the plant instead of settling down to feed....

Does Ponytail Palm Flower? You can grow ponytail palm in the ground or in very large pots. In either case, given sufficient patience, you may be lucky enough to see it flower. Flowering on a ponytail palm does not occur the first year you purchase the small plant nor is it likely to during the next decade. Before the plant flowers, it increases significantly in size and girth. The plant’s palm-like trunk sometimes grows to 18 feet (5....

Elephant Bush Succulents Elephant bush plant may get 6 to 20 feet (2-6 m.) tall in habitat where it is a favorite food of elephants. In the home interior, it is much more likely to remain just a few feet (around 1 m.) tall. The bush has thick succulent brown stems with small tender green leaves that resemble a diminutive jade plant. The home interior is an excellent place to grow elephant bush houseplants....

Can You Grow Clematis in Containers? Growing Clematis in pots is slightly more involved, as potted Clematis plants require more attention than in-ground plants. However, Clematis container growing is definitely possible, even in climates with chilly winters. Clematis for Containers Many varieties of Clematis are suitable for growing in containers, including the following: “Nelly Moser,” which produces purplish pink blooms “Polish Spirit,” with violet-blue flowers “The President,” which displays blooms in a rich shade of red “Sieboldii,” a dwarf variety with creamy white flowers and purple centers...

How to Propagate Peonies If you have been considering propagating peony plants, you should know there are some important steps to follow. The only way to multiply peony plants is to divide peonies. This might sound complicated, but it’s not. First, you need to use a sharp spade and dig around the peony plant. Be very careful not to damage the roots. You want to be sure to dig up as much of the root as possible....

Can I Compost Pickles? Certain items, like meat and dairy, can attract unwanted pests to compost piles. Other items, like pickles, can throw off the pH balance of compost. While the cucumbers and dill used in pickles can add great nutrients (potassium, magnesium, copper, and manganese) to a compost pile, the vinegar in pickles can add too much acid and kill beneficial bacteria. Pickles also usually contain a lot of salt, which can be harmful to many plants in high concentrations....

When to Prune Blackberry Bushes One of the most common questions about blackberries is, “When do you cut back blackberry bushes?” There are actually two different types of blackberry pruning you should be doing and each must be done at different times of the year. In the early spring, you will be tip pruning blackberry bushes. In late summer, you will be doing clean up blackberry pruning. Keep reading to learn how to trim blackberry bushes both of these ways....

Why is My Loquat Tree Dropping Fruit? Loquats (Eriobotrya japonica) are lovely little trees native to mild or subtropical areas of China. They are evergreen trees that grow to 20 feet (6 m.) tall with an equal spread. They are excellent shade trees thanks to their glossy, tropical looking leaves. Each leaf can row to 12 inches (30 cm.) long by 6 inches (15 cm.) wide. Their undersides are soft to the touch....

Reine Claude Conducta Information The Reine Claude Conducta plum belongs to the group of plum cultivars known as Green gage. These are plum varieties that were introduced to France from Armenia about 500 years ago. They are known for unique flavors and very high-quality flesh. Many of the Green gage varieties are green to yellow in color, but Reine Claude Conducta plums have skin that is pink to purple in color....

Chilling Pears on the Tree Why do pears need to be chilled? Pear trees enter a period of dormancy when temperatures drop in late autumn. This dormant period is nature’s way of protecting the tree against damage from winter cold. Once a tree is dormant, it won’t produce flowers or fruit until it is has a certain amount of cold, followed by warm temperatures. Pear chilling requirements vary widely depending on the variety, as well as other factors such as growing zone and age of the tree....

What is a Rocky Mountain Bee Plant? Rocky Mountain bee plant (Cleome serrulata) is native to the north and central states and the Rocky Mountain region of the U.S. It is considered a weedy annual, but it is also a useful plant that some people are interested in cultivating. Probably the most important reason to grow it today is to attract bees or provide a source of nectar for beekeepers. In the past, though, Native Americans cultivated this plant for the edible seeds and young leaves, as a medicine, and as a dye plant....

One way to get around this problem is to select plants that grow well with rose of Sharon, and there are many from which to choose. Read on for a few great rose of Sharon companion planting ideas. Rose of Sharon Companion Plants Consider planting rose of Sharon in a hedge or border with evergreen or flowering shrubs that bloom at various times. That way, you’ll have glorious color all season....

Unfortunately, bamboo is just one of many in a mighty long list of invasives that plague gardeners. Another royal pain in the rump is the royal empress tree (Paulownia tomentosa), also known as princess tree or royal paulownia. While getting rid of this extremely fast-growing tree may seem like a never-ending battle, there may be some things you can do to stem the spread of paulownia. Read on to learn more about royal empress control....

Identifying Scotch Thistle Scotch thistle plants (Onopordum acanthium) boast amazing blooms atop their towering stems, but this invasive species has become a menace to livestock across the country. Its ability to act as a living barbed wire, preventing cows, sheep, and other animals from reaching valuable water sources, has earned the title of noxious weed in most states. Even though it’s not as big of a problem for home gardeners, managing Scotch thistle in your landscape is important in the battle against this troublesome plant....

The following seasonal garden calendar should provide basic guidelines but always be aware of your particular growing zone before planting. Your local garden center or OSU Extension Office can provide specifics. Tips on Oregon Planting in April Western Oregon (Zones 8-9): Beets, turnips and rutabagasSwiss chardOnion setsLeeksAsparagusChivesCarrotsRadishesSweet cornPeasCabbage, cauliflower, and other cole crops Eastern and Central Oregon (Higher Elevations, zones 6): RadishesTurnipsPeasSpinachLettuceAsparagusPotatoes Eastern Oregon (Lower Elevations: Snake River Valley, Columbia River Valley, Zone 7):...

Using Sedge as Lawn It’s time to look outside the box on landscaping and veer away from the old tried and true. Sedge lawn substitute brings a modern, yet natural, touch to the garden. Adding to that is the ease of care and lazy man’s upkeep, and sedge is a winning plant for lawns and other spaces. There are dozens of varieties from which to choose, many of which are native to North America....

Harvesting Plant Seeds Saving seeds from your garden is not a modern concept. Our forefathers commonly saved seeds year after year to preserve the most premium specimens, those with most abundant production and flavorful results. Saving seeds from the garden was, and is also, a great way to save money by recycling last year’s seeds instead of purchasing them. A renewed interest in our environment and how to preserve it brings a renewed interest in sustainability....