What Defines Steep Sloping Lawns? Steep sloping lawns are those that have a grade of 20% or more. A 20% grade rises one foot (31 cm.) in height for every 5 feet (1.5 m.) of distance. To put this into perspective, it’s dangerous to mow horizontally with a riding tractor on slopes with a 15% or greater grade. At this angle, tractors can overturn. In addition to mowing issues, growing grass on a slope becomes more difficult as the grade becomes steeper....

Types of Sugarcane If you want to grow sugarcane and start to investigate how to go about it, you’ll find there are a lot of different sugarcane plants. It can be confusing, especially if you are reading information for farmers and commercial growing of sugarcane. To help narrow down your options, there are a few basic types of sugarcane: Chewing canes. These are sugarcane varieties that have a soft, fibrous center which is good for chewing....

A Christmas-themed terrarium can include mini houses, trees, colorful ornaments, deer, and artificial snow. Ideal plants include miniature tropical plants, ferns, and other woodland plants. It’s easier than ever to create a mini ecosystem, as a layer of rocks along the bottom are no longer needed or recommended. All you need are a glass container, potting soil and/or sand, and plants! Here are more Christmas terrarium ideas and how to build them....

Do Cherry Laurels Need Fertilizer? Cherry laurels have many benefits to the landscape. They tolerate full sun to shade, drought, and salt spray. Cherry laurel plants are also resistant to many common pests and diseases. However, they are not so tolerant of over-fertilization. When fertilizing cherry laurels, it is important to follow all fertilizer labels and instructions carefully to avoid burning cherry laurel roots and significantly damaging these plants. That being said, cherry laurels will benefit from an annual application of fertilizer....

Do Pomegranate Trees Need a Pollinator? Most pomegranates are self-fruitful, meaning they do not require another tree to cross-pollinate with, as the bees do all the work. That said, planting another pomegranate nearby can increase fruit production on both plants. A little cross-pollination doesn’t hurt, but it isn’t necessary. That answers the question, “Are pomegranate trees self-pollinating?”. What might be the issue if your pomegranate does not set fruit or fruit drops before it is mature?...

Does a Cactus Need Fertilizer? The classic perception of the perfect environment for cacti is a harsh, dry desert with two extremes: periods of no rainfall whatsoever or sudden deluges that the plant must absorb, store and use throughout the next dry spell. It’s important to remember that whether they are outside in the garden exposed to seasonal extremes or in a bright sunny spot in the house, fertilizing cactus plants can keep them happily growing no matter the season....

About Dry Fig Fruit on Trees Fig trees are extremely shallow rooted and as such, are susceptible to stress. High temperatures and lack of water during summer months will certainly impact the tree, resulting in dry fig fruit on trees. Be sure to mulch heavily around the plant to retain water. Consider putting a soaker or drip hose under the mulch. Another possible origin for withering figs may be that you have a male tree, which produces fruit but whose sole purpose is to cross-pollinate a female fig tree....

Dwarf Peach Tree Varieties Small peach trees aren’t difficult to grow, but they are only moderately tolerant of cold temperatures. Peach tree dwarf cultivars are suitable for USDA plant hardiness zones 5 through 9, although some are tough enough to withstand chilly winters in zone 4. •El Dorado is a medium-size, early summer peach with rich, yellow flesh and red-blushed yellow skin. •O’Henry are small peach trees with large, firm fruit ready for mid-season harvest....

This odd looking but tasty vegetable is closely related to tomatoes and are in the same family — the nightshade family, and many of the issues and pests that affect tomatoes also affect eggplants. One of these issues is when the eggplant flowers fall off the plant without producing fruits. When an eggplant has flowers but no fruit, this is due to one of two issues. The first thing that can cause eggplant flowers to fall off is a lack of water and the other is a lack of pollination....

When to Divide Elephant Ears Elephant ears can become huge plants with gigantic leaves. Many spread through underground runners, or stolons, and send up baby plants along the way. These babies can be separated from the parent plant and installed elsewhere. Dividing elephant ears requires sterile, sharp instruments to prevent transferring disease and causing injury. Elephant ear division isn’t necessary, but it helps rejuvenate old plants that may be performing poorly....

Friendly Toad Control One of the best ways to get rid of garden toads around your garden or landscape is to make it less attractive to toads. Generally, for toad control, if you remove their favorite hideouts and water or food sources, they will move elsewhere. For instance, toads enjoy dark, damp places. Look for and remove pots, water containers, or ground-level birdbaths. Also, remove any wood, old lumber, or brush piles....

About English Daisy Flowers English daisy flowers (Bellis perennis L.) have a yellow disk in the center and are surrounded with delicate petals of white, pink, or even red. Flower stems usually reach 3 to 6 inches (8-15 cm.) in height. Sometimes called lawn daisy or European daisy, petals of the flower fold up at night and open again with the sun. Unfortunately, attractive English daisy flowers easily reseed and are sometimes considered a weed, particularly when growing in areas of the lawn....

Growing Tropical Fruit Trees Many exotic fruit plants can be grown in regions of the United States that have temperate or tropical climates. Some plants can even thrive indoors if grown in optimal conditions. When picking out your tropical fruit plants, be sure that you understand which conditions are best. Most exotic fruit plants require a southern location near a house or other structure that will provide protection and heat during the winter....

Fall and Garden-Themed Scavenger Hunts for Kids Sending kids on a scavenger hunt is a great way to get them outside and keep them active and occupied. Give kids a list of things to find that they can easily pick up and bring back, for instance a red leaf. This kind of fall garden scavenger hunt can be educational as well as fun. Challenge kids based on age and ability. Depending on age, the kids can do the hunt alone or with parents along....

Whether you’re contemplating a curb-appeal makeover or privatizing the backyard, Fastigiata boxwood shrubs are a low-maintenance option. What are Fastigiata Boxwood Shrubs? Like many of its boxwood brethren, Fastigiata is a slow-growing evergreen bush. With proper care, Fastigiata boxwood shrubs can live up to 40 years or more. They are hardy in USDA zones 6 to 8 and adapt well to container living. In comparison to other varieties, the growth pattern of these upright boxwood plants is more reminiscent of a tree....

Feeding Passion Flower Vines A casual stroll in sub-tropical states may find you spotting a wild, tangled vine in a ditch or along a roadside with complicated, scented flowers sporting distinctive fringed ray petals. The plant may or may not also bear round to oval waxy fruits of speckled purple, orange-gold or light yellow. These are passion flowers, which have become naturalized in some regions and are a commonly grown ornamental vine....

Blue Daisy Information Felicia daisy is often known as blue daisy or blue kingfisher daisy. Mature height of the plant is about 18 inches (46 cm.), spreading out 4 to 5 feet (1-1.5 m.) in width. The plant is grown as an annual in most climates. However, it is perennial in USDA zones 9 and 10. Where summers are cool, Felicia daisy often blooms from late spring until autumn. In hot climates, the plant usually stops blooming when temperatures rise in midsummer....

How to Plan a Flower Garden First, you’ll want to choose the appropriate location in your landscape. Both sun and partial shade will work, but you’ll need to choose flowers that are suitable to the light conditions. The most versatile location is one with morning sun and afternoon shade, especially in southern regions. The fun part is choosing which flowers to plant, but this can also be a challenge. Choose a limited number of colors and shades of those colors for best results....

Companion Planting with Flowers Flowers tend to have specific blooming times – planting something that blossoms in the spring next to something that blossoms in high summer will ensure bright color in that spot the whole time. Also, the foliage and flowers of the later blooming plants will help disguise the fading foliage of perennials that have already passed. That being said, some flowers just look good together with their complementary colors and heights....

About Early Rhubarb Plants Rhubarb forcing can be done indoors or outdoors to produce a harvest out of season. Historically, West Yorkshire, England produced 90% of the world’s winter rhubarb in “forcing sheds,” but the home gardener can replicate forcing rhubarb in winter in a cellar, garage, or another outbuilding – even in the garden. In order to produce by way of forcing rhubarb in winter, the crowns must go into a dormant period and be exposed to temperatures of between 28 and 50 degrees F....