Learn More About The Florida USDA Zone Map For Plant And Tree Hardiness The map above is the Florida USDA zone map for plant hardiness. This map shows the growing zones for Florida. Knowing the plant growing zones in Florida is important because this will help you decide which plants you should have in your garden. In order to find the plant growing zone in Florida that applies to you, locate where you live on the above Florida planting zone map....

Propagation of Bottlebrush Trees Bottlebrushes grow into big shrubs or small trees. They are excellent garden plants and can range from several feet (1 to 1.5 m.) tall to over 10 feet (3 m.). Most tolerate frost and require little care once established. The blaze of flowers is spectacular in summer, and their nectar attracts birds and insects. Most species are frost tolerant. It is understandable that you might want to increase the number of these lovely trees in the backyard....

What is Naturescaping? Naturescaping is the idea that you can design a landscape that is nature-friendly. In other words, the landscape becomes something that is attractive and functional for people but that also benefits wildlife, insects, and pollinators. Naturescaping also aims to minimize negative impacts on the environment by reducing the need for pesticides and water and preventing erosion. Why Create a Native Plant Lawn? One of the most common strategies for naturescaping is planting a native lawn....

Navel orange trees are relatively easy to grow in the warm climates of USDA plant hardiness zones 9 through 11, (zone 8 is possible with extra protection). In the United States, commercial navel orange trees are grown primarily in California, Arizona, and Florida. Read on and learn about growing navel oranges. How To Grow Navel Oranges: Tips On Navel Orange Care Plant navel orange trees in early to mid-spring so the roots have time to establish before temperatures drop in fall....

What is Oca? Oca is beginning to show up in Latin American markets in the U.S. It is a fruitful perennial that produces brightly colored, rough, waxy tubers that are best harvested in early winter. It is used as a season-extending crop in many areas. Growing oca plants requires a long growing season. Contrary to its other common name of New Zealand yam, oca is neither related to potato or the sweet potato....

Help for Blueberries Not Fruiting Blueberries, and their relatives, the cranberries, are the only native crops of North America that are commercially produced. There are two types of blueberry — the wild lowbush (Vaccinium augustifolium) and the cultivated highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum). The first hybrid blueberries were developed for cultivation in the early 1900’s. There may be a number of reasons for no flowers on blueberries. While blueberries can grow in a number of soil conditions, they will only truly thrive in acidic soil with a pH below 5....

Reasons for No Fruit on Kiwi Vine There may be several reasons why a kiwi vine is not fruiting. The first thing to discuss is the type of kiwi planted relative to the climate. Kiwi fruit grows wild in southwestern China and was introduced to the United Kingdom, Europe, the United States, and New Zealand in the early 1900’s. New Zealand has since become a major producer and exporter; hence the term “kiwi” is sometimes used in reference to its people....

Propagating Oak Trees For convenience, the many species of oak are divided into two main groups: red oaks and white oaks. You can tell which group an oak belongs to by taking a close look at the leaves. Red oak leaves have pointed lobes with little bristles at the tips, while the lobes on white oak leaves are rounded. Propagating oak trees is good for the environment and it’s an easy, fun project for kids....

Want to know the best thing about creating a “time capsule” garden? It’s a wonderful way to tie some historical relevance into your child’s learning. What is a Time Capsule Garden? An innovative term for garden trends from the past, the time capsule garden can be a planting strategy that was used in the 1700s or 1800s, and works perfectly in your current landscape. Ornamental blooms were not as widely used back then....

Old Gardening Book Uses As the saying goes, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. You might try gifting used gardening books to your gardening friends. Gardening books you’ve outgrown or no longer want might be exactly what another gardener is seeking. Do you belong to a garden club or community garden group? Try wrapping up the year with a gift exchange featuring gently used gardening books. Add to the excitement by making it a white elephant exchange where participants can “steal” one another’s gifts....

Planning Guide for Organic Gardens Everyone can benefit from a planning guide for organic gardens. For this reason, I’ve outlined ten organic gardening tips to get your organic garden off to the right start. Designing organic gardens is easy with a little planning. Follow these organic gardening tips and enjoy the bounty and benefits that go along with it. Organic gardening guarantees you healthier food than what is normally found in your local supermarket....

What Grass Grows on Sand? Sandy sites can be tricky places to plant. They either will need soil amendment or you have to choose plants that are naturally at home in gritty, inhospitable soil. Enter ornamental grass for sand. Many of the varieties are suited for such substrate, making ornamental grass sandy soil an almost perfect combination. But first, you must learn which genera are the most content in that environment....

Osiria Rose Information So, what is an Osiria rose anyway? The Osiria rose is indeed a beautiful rose in her own right– a very pretty hybrid tea rose with a strong fragrance, and the true bloom coloration is more cherry or fire engine red with a nice white reverse on the petals. Some of the photo enhanced pictures of this rose, however, are a deep satiny to velvety red with very pronounced white reverse to the petals....

What is Par-Cel Cutting Celery? Related to both stalk celery and celeriac, European cutting celery descended from wild celery which grew in marshes throughout the Mediterranean. Bred for sweeter-tasting leaves, varieties of cutting celery spread throughout Europe and Asia as far back as 850 BCE. Par-Cel is a Dutch heirloom variety of European cutting celery. Named for its celery flavor and physical resemblance to parsley, Par-Cel cutting celery grows in a clump....

Parlor Palm Seed Collection You may be able to purchase parlor palm seeds online or from a reputable growers, but if you have a blooming parlor palm, seed collection is easy. Simply gather parlor palm seeds when the fruit is completely ripe, or when it naturally falls from the plant. Collect several seeds because parlor palm seed germination is notoriously unreliable. Growing a Parlor Palm from Seed A few tips for the seed propagation of parlor palms will have you well on your way to starting a new generation of these beautiful plants....

What Causes Pea Streak in Plants? If you aren’t quite clear on this disease, you may still be asking “what is pea streak virus?” It’s a virus that infects pea plants, causing them to develop bruise-colored streaks extending the entire length of the stem. According to pea streak virus information, this is not a rare disease. Pea streak in plants is quite widespread in pea-growing areas, especially in pea crops growing at the end of the season....

Planting a Friendly Neighbor Perennial Garden Another way to rejuvenate the looks of your city block or suburban housing development involves landscaping with neighbors. With this type of project, you can plant perennials in the neighborhood to not only add sparkle but also create a sense of unity. In a day and age when neighbors rarely know each other, this type of project can bring neighbors together. Engaging in a community-wide “perennial garden for neighbors” project, can also improve property values and attract homebuyers to the area....

Pernettya is a small shrub that produces massive amounts of glistening berries. Growing pernettya plants is not difficult if you site them appropriately. Read on for information about pernettya plant care. What is Pernettya? The pernettya bush is a broadleaf evergreen with small, shiny leaves of the deepest green. In some regions, the pernettya’s leaves turn brown or bronze in winter. The plant grows to between 2 and 5 (61 cm....

About Harvesting Barley Harvesting barley involves more than simply picking barley grains. You need to know how long the crop takes to mature, as well as factors that can impact when to harvest barley. The exact timing and procedure for a barley harvest depends on the size of your operation and how you intend to use the cereal. Some plant barley for home eating, while other gardeners intend to sell the crop to malt houses or brew their own beer....

Pine Trees and Sap Sap is essential to a tree. Roots take up water and nutrients, and these need to be spread throughout the tree. Sap is a viscous liquid that carries nutrients throughout the tree to the areas where they are most needed. Tree leaves produce simple sugars that must get transported through the tree’s fibers. Sap also is the means of transportation for these sugars. Although many think of sap as a tree’s blood, it circulates through the tree much slower than blood circulates through the body....