Regular lumber begins to break down within the first year if it comes in contact with the soil, so many gardeners used to use pressure treated wood for gardening, such as landscape timbers and railroad ties, which is chemically treated to withstand the weather. This is where the problems began. What is Treated Lumber? In the 20th century and into the 21st, wood was treated by a chemical mix of arsenic, chromium, and copper....

Tree Roots in Flower Beds The impulse to decorate under a tree is almost universal among gardeners. Turf grass struggles to survive in the deep shade under trees and turns patchy. A lively and colorful flower bed would seem to be much more preferable. However, planting around flowers in soil with tree roots is both potentially damaging to the tree and may restrict the flowers growth due to limited resources. Additionally, you must find flowers that thrive in shade....

Gardening in a Tropical Climate Zones 9 to 11 (and higher) are considered ideal for growing tropic gardens. Conditions here usually include warm, humid weather (even lots of moisture). Winters are mild with little to no threat of freezing temperatures to contend with. Popular plants found in this garden may include tropical (or tender) bulbs like: Elephant ears Caladiums Calla lilies Ginger Cannas You’ll find other tender plants within these gardens too, such as the following:...

What are Two-Spotted Spider Mites? You may have heard of spider mites, but perhaps not this particular kind. So exactly what are they? These garden pests are as tiny as mites can be. In fact, one alone is barely visible to the naked eye, so you aren’t going to be able to inspect it and count its spots. Finding one mite alone is not very likely. By the time you see two-spotted mite damage and think about two-spotted spider mite control, you are likely to have a large mite population....

Can You Use Nut Shells as Mulch? The simple answer is yes, but with a few caveats. Let’s get peanuts out of the way first. Okay, you all know that peanuts are not nuts, right? They are legumes. Nonetheless, most of us think of them as nuts. So can you use peanut shells in nut shell garden mulch? It depends on whom you ask. One camp says, sure, go right ahead, and another says that peanut shells may carry fungal diseases and nematodes that can potentially afflict your plants....

Almost all types of snapdragon grown in gardens are cultivars of the common snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus). Snapdragon variations within Antirrhinum majus include differences in plant size and growth habit, flower type, flower color, and foliage color. Many wild snapdragon species also exist, though they are rare in gardens. Snapdragon Plant Varieties Snapdragon plant types include tall, mid-size, dwarf, and trailing plants. Tall types of snapdragon are 2.5 to 4 feet (0....

Using Stepable Plants in Gardens Some types of walkable plants are deciduous and die down in the winter, but many evergreen varieties are attractive year-round. Walkable plants work well along a pathway or bordering a flower bed and many work well in stubborn spots where grass won’t take hold, such as a dry spot under a tree or shrub. Most of the best stepable plants require absolutely no care once the plants are established, while others may need a trim once or twice a year....

Alternative Mother’s Day Flower Ideas Flowers are nice, but perhaps predictable. Why not try a different type of plant or something more permanent than a cut bouquet? Gift her a perennial she can put in her garden and enjoy year after year. For an even more lasting gift, plant a tree in Mom’s honor. A spring-flowering tree like redbud or crabapple will remind her of your special gift each year. For many mothers, the gift of time is truly precious....

How to Make a Basket Planter Nearly any basket will work. However, sturdy and thick baskets last longer. You may want to apply a coat or two of clear protective spray or wood sealant, which will also help the basket last longer. Be sure to let the coating dry thoroughly before planting. If the basket is very tightly woven, you may be able to go ahead and plant. Most baskets, though, need some type of lining added to retain moisture and prevent loss of soil....

How to Weed the Garden Properly A large number of gardeners don’t weed their garden correctly. It’s a sad truth, because when they weed improperly, they are only making more work for themselves. Efficient vegetable garden weeding can almost be considered a learned skill. The number one mistake that many gardeners make when weeding the garden is that they don’t pull the weed out correctly. Many gardeners approach weeding with a grab and snatch technique that snaps the stems of the weeds and leaves the roots behind in the ground....

The flesh of watermelon is usually recognized as ruby red, but can be pink, orange, yellow, or white. The seeds are small and black or slightly mottled black/brown in color. There are between 300 and 500 seeds in a watermelon, depending upon the size of course. Although usually discarded, the seeds are edible and delicious when roasted. They are highly nutritious and high in fat as well. One cup (237 ml....

What is Weed Tea? Weed fertilizer tea is exactly what it sounds like: an infusion of weeds you can use to fertilize the garden. Gardeners often pull up weeds and throw them away. The viable seeds can’t go in compost, so all the nutrients they’ve gathered from the soil go to waste. A better solution is to make a tea of the weeds. The resulting liquid has no seeds in it, but you still get all the phosphorus, potassium, nitrogen, magnesium, sulfur, copper, boron, and other minerals and nutrients they have stored in their roots and leaves....

Why Do Strawberries Get Deformed? First of all, weird looking strawberries don’t necessarily mean they are inedible; it just means they’re weird looking strawberries. Yes, there is no doubt a reason for misshapen strawberries like these. There are three reasons for deformity in strawberries with a possible fourth put forward for discussion: Poor pollination. The first reason is the most likely and has to do with lack of pollination. This can be discerned vs....

What are Earth Kind Roses? Earth Kind is a special label given to a select group of rose bushes by the Texas A&M/Texas AgriLife Extension Service through their Earth Kind Landscaping program. The program goal is to distinguish roses that folks can grow in their gardens or landscapes easily with minimal care. The Earth Kind rose bushes require no special spraying programs for fungal diseases or insect resistance. Nor would these rose bushes need a lot of fertilizer to produce big, beautiful, show-winning blooms....

What are Wheat Curl Mites? Wheat curl mites (Aceria tulipae) are tiny, almost microscopic plant feeding mites. They have two pairs of legs near the head which is perched atop a cigar-shaped body. Their favorite food, as the name suggests, is wheat, but they also infiltrate fields of onions and garlic. Wheat curl mites on plants become active in the spring and their populations virtually explode as temps increase; 75 to 85 degrees F....

What Bulbs Can Be Grown as Houseplants? Bulbs are associated mostly with spring. Favorites are spring-flowering like: Hyacinth Crocus Daffodil (and other forms of narcissi) Tulip They always remind us that winter is coming to an end. It’s usually best to take your hardy bulbs that have been grown inside your house to the garden outdoors once they flower. Once they flower, they can’t be relied upon to have good performance inside....

What Causes Aster Leaf Spots? Leaf spots on aster plants can be caused by one or more of several fungal species. These include species of the Alternaria, Ascochyta, Cercospora, and Septoria families. The fungi overwinter in plant matter on the ground and in the soil. Infection is promoted by wet conditions, especially on the leaves. Another type of fungus, Coleosporium spp., causes a similar but distinct disease on asters known as rust....

Bedhead Garden Ideas What is a bedhead garden? It is simply a new trend of landscaping with low maintenance, messy garden designs. Bedhead gardens have a careless but not completely neglected appearance. These messy garden designs are generally filled with native plants, such as ornamental grasses and wildflowers. Bedhead gardens may also contain trees, shrubs, and bulbs. Plants are usually selected for their drought tolerance and low maintenance needs. Here some common plants for bedhead gardens:...

What is a BHN 1021 Tomato? As mentioned, BHM 1021 tomato plants were developed to address the needs of southern gardeners whose tomatoes were plagued by tomato spotted wilting virus. But developers went even farther and this flavorful determinate tomato is also highly resistant to fusarium wilt, nematodes, and verticillium wilt. BHM 1021 tomatoes are closely related to BHN 589 tomatoes. They produce high yields of 8-16 ounce (up to just under 0....

Blackhaw Tree Facts Blackhaw tree facts suggest that this “tree” grows naturally as a large shrub, since Blackhaw viburnum trees (Viburnum prunifolium) don’t generally grow taller than 15 feet high. The plants, though small, offer a nice mix of blossoms, berries and fall foliage display. Slow-growing Blackhaw can spread to some 12 feet. Grown with multiple leaders, they serve as shrubs with dense foliage, perfect for screens or hedges. Prune your Blackhaw to grow with only one leader if you prefer a small tree....