What are Hobby Farms? There are various hobby farm ideas out there which leave the definition of ‘what are hobby farms’ slightly loose, but the basic gist is that a hobby farm is a small-scale farm that is worked for pleasure more than for profit. Generally, the owner of a hobby farm does not rely on the farm for income; instead, they work or rely on other sources of income....

Holiday Potpourri DIY Crafts Homemade Christmas potpourri gifts are a great, budget-friendly option if you’re looking to spread joy to others through the holiday season. To begin gathering natural Christmas potpourri, crafters need to consider readily available materials. These could include potpourri components which can be purchased in stores, as well as those which can be collected from your own backyard. As with any garden craft, always make certain to carefully research and identify each type of plant, making sure to avoid any which are potentially toxic or that may be protected by local regulations....

Attracting birds of prey to gardens requires you to make an attractive habitat for the predators. Discover how to attract birds of prey and protect your yard from rodents and invading pests. Attracting Birds of Prey to Gardens The presence of birds of prey in the garden is a mixed blessing. They can make excellent rodent controls but they also tend to eat the little songbirds that enliven the garden....

What’s more, the fronds will dry and last into the winter, making for an even more welcome splash of color. How can you make sure you’re getting the most out of your astilbe blooms though? Keep reading to learn more about how to fertilize astilbe plants. Fertilizer for Astilbe Plants Feeding astilbe is a very low impact process. Astilbe is a perennial and it really only needs a yearly application of a basic slow release flowering perennial fertilizer....

The goals of bird of paradise pruning are to remove old plant matter, thin the leaves, and take out damaged stems. Bird of paradise (Strelitzia reginae) is one of those plants that you don’t forget. It’s not just their sheer size and impressive foliage but the plant’s namesake blooms. Near life-sized crane’s heads in bright, exotic plumage are the focal point of this extraordinary tropical plant. The flowers will last 2 to 3 weeks before dropping petals and dying....

Pruning a dieffenbachia is not the same as pruning an evergreen shrub or tree. It is done only to preserve the form, remove dead leaves, and make the growth bushier. When you take top growth off, the plant responds by producing branching stems that make the leaves denser. Regular dieffenbachia pruning results in a thick, strong plant. Tips on Trimming Dieffenbachia With some plants, timing is everything with regard to pruning....

Grown in a wide range of soils, the only requirements are that soil be well draining and not highly acidic. Tolerant of salty sea spray and wind, the foxtail palm tree is an excellent choice for those who live on ocean fronts and other salt prone areas. Let’s take a look at how to grow foxtail palms in your garden. How to Grow Foxtail Palms From Seed Easily started from seed, the foxtail palm tree is suitable for container growing and may be used as an interior planting if correct growing conditions exist....

Read on and learn about a few easy-to-grow shade flowers for hummingbirds. Choosing Shade Plants Hummingbirds Like Hummingbirds need flowers with tubular blooms which hold nectar and accommodate their long beaks. They are drawn to red, yellow, pink, and orange flowers, either solid colors or blends and variegations. Fuchsia plants – Fuchsia, with dangling, tubular flowers from midsummer to fall, is ideal for a hummingbird shade garden. There are more than 100 species of fuchsia, both annual and perennial, in shades of reds, pinks, blues, and other colors that hummingbirds love....

Common Purple Lawn Weeds

Identifying Wood Ear Mushrooms The Chinese have long used the wood ear jelly mushroom in recipes. It was thought to improve breathing, blood circulation, and overall health. The mushrooms are mass produced in Asia but also grow in the U.S., Canada, and parts of Mexico. It is one of the first fungi to come back to life after winter and is easy to recognize and forage. As you would expect, these fungi resemble little ears....

Basic Inch Plant Care Inch plant care requires bright, indirect light. If the light is too dim, the distinctive leaf markings will fade. Keep the soil slightly moist, but don’t water directly into the crown as this will cause an unsightly rot. Care should be taken, particularly in winter, that the plant doesn’t become too dry. Mist inch plants frequently. Feed your plant monthly with a half-strength liquid fertilizer. An important part of growing inch plants is pinching back the long, vining tendrils....

Parsley Container Gardening Parsley herbs (Petroselinum crispum) grow best in a sunny, preferably south-facing window where they will receive six to eight hours of direct sunlight every day. If your window doesn’t provide that much light, you’ll have to supplement it with fluorescent lighting. Turn the pot every three or four days so that the plant doesn’t lean into the sun. Parsley container gardening is no different than growing any other potted herbs....

Lemon Tree Pollination “Lemon tree, very pretty, and the lemon flower is sweet,” goes the traditional song. And it’s true – gardeners are attracted by the lemon tree’s shiny green leaves and the white blossoms that smell like heaven. Still, most folks growing lemon trees are also hoping for a lemon crop and, for indoor trees, this requires that you manually pollinate lemons. In warmer climates, lemon trees grow happily outdoors....

What is Stinging Nettle? Stinging nettle is a member of the large family Urticaceae and is a decidedly unpleasant herbaceous perennial. As the name implies, stinging nettle has the capacity to irritate and blister when it comes into contact with skin. The most common variety (Urtica dioica procera) is native to North America, being prolific in California and other areas of the western United States, and is referred to by a number of common names for its two most widespread subspecies....

Planting Organ Pipe Cactus Organ pipe cactus grows well in well-drained, gritty soils. Planting the cactus in an unglazed clay pot will allow excess moisture to evaporate. Use either a cactus mix or make your own with one part potting soil, one part sand and one part perlite. Immerse the cactus in the soil up to the bottom of the stems and press the soil around it to firm. Put a mulch of tiny rocks on top of the soil to conserve moisture and prevent weeds....

Italian Jasmine Shrubs Italian jasmine shrubs come from western China. They were imported into this country for ornamental purposes. Many gardeners grow this shrub for the pretty, Italian jasmine flower that attracts bees and hummingbirds in summer. These yellow blossoms develop into black berries by autumn. The flowers appear in waves in May and June. The Italian jasmine flower returns over the summer in smaller amounts, contrasting beautifully with the brilliant green leaves that remain on the bush all winter in mild climates....

Ohio Valley Garden in June As gardeners compile their regional to-do list of June gardening tasks, the focus turns from planting to tending. Lawn Mowing continues to be a routine chore on this area’s regional to-do list. As spring rains taper off and temperatures rise, grass growth begins to slow. Continue to remove excessive amounts of grass clippings. These can be composted or used as mulch around garden vegetable plants, provided the lawn wasn’t recently treated....

Synthetic Mulch for Your Garden There are three popular types of synthetic mulch: ground rubber mulch landscape glass mulch plastic mulch There is a bit of debate concerning the pros and cons of synthetic mulch, which will be highlighted here. One of the biggest benefits with all synthetic mulch is the lack of insects that it attracts, as opposed to organic mulch. Ground Rubber Mulch Ground rubber mulch is made from old rubber tires, which helps free space in the landfills....

Leatherleaf Viburnum Information Leatherleaf viburnum (Viburnum rhytidophyllum) is one of a number of attractive viburnum shrubs. The leatherleaf viburnum’s creamy white blossoms never fail, even when the shrub is planted in the shade. Bright red berries appear after the flowers fade, gradually changing to shiny black. The berries attract birds and last well into December. In most parts of its range, leatherleaf viburnum is a broadleaf evergreen, but in the coolest areas, it is only semi-evergreen....

What Will Grow Under a Lemon Tree? Lemon trees are very productive and their tart, tangy fruit is a natural source of Vitamin C. Lemon uses in cooking and making beverages abound and their flavor is found in many international cuisines. What will grow under a lemon tree that will enhance its growth and possibly pair nicely in the kitchen? There are many partner flavors in the herb family as well as several ornamental and edible trees and shrubs that can contribute to a Mediterranean feel in the landscape and make excellent lemon tree understory plants....