Japanese Maple Grafting Most Japanese maples sold commercially have been grafted. Grafting is a very old method of reproducing plants, especially those that are difficult to grow from seed and cuttings. Japanese maples fall into this category. Growing Japanese maple cultivars from seed is difficult since the tree’s flowers openly pollinate, this means that they accept pollen from most other maples in the area. Given this, you can never be certain that the resulting seedling will have the same looks and qualities as the desired cultivar....

How to Grow an Urban Jungle Growing an urban jungle is essentially just picking the right plants for indoor containers and providing the best conditions so they can grow and thrive. Here are some indoor jungle ideas and tips to get your creativity flowing: Use what you already have to arrange plants. Bookshelves and windowsills, for instance, are great staging points for jungle plants. Use hooks in the ceiling for hanging plants and to create more vertical plant space....

What is Savoy Cabbage? Savoy cabbage belongs in the Brassica genus along with broccoli and Brussels sprouts. This low calorie veggie is used both fresh and cooked and is high in potassium and other minerals and vitamins A, K and C. The most obvious difference between common green cabbage and savoy is its appearance. It has multi-hued shades of green foliage that is typically tighter at the center, gradually unfurling to reveal curly, puckered leaves....

Tips on Heated Birdbaths The shape and where you place the bath are important. A gentle sloping basin will allow you to more easily clean the bowl. This is important because fecal matter, feathers, feed, and other foreign objects will make the water unclean to drink. Some advocate putting sand or rocks in the bottom of the basin, so bird’s claws have a purchase, but this is negotiable. What is important is having a non-slip surface like terra cotta....

How to Grow a Hedge of Firebush Shrubs Can you grow a firebush hedge? The short answer is: yes. Firebush grows very quickly, and it will come back from even vigorous pruning. This means it, or a series of shrubs in a row, can be shaped reliably into a hedge. If left to its own devices, a firebush will usually grow to a height of about 8 feet (2.5 m.) and a spread of about 6 feet (2 m....

About Gooseberry Pruning There are two types of gooseberries: the European gooseberry and the American gooseberry. Almost all American gooseberry plants have been crossed with European species at some point. These resulting crosses are smaller and more resistant to mildew than their European counterparts. As mentioned, gooseberries can become a tangled mess and susceptible to diseases if allowed to grow unchecked. So cutting back gooseberry bushes is a worthy practice. The goal of cutting back gooseberry bushes is to keep the center of the plant open to air and sunshine, prune out any dead or diseased branches and to shorten the growth of the plant to a manageable size and to facilitate harvest....

Starting a Vegetable Garden First, you must begin the planning stages. Typically, planning is done during the fall or winter months, allowing you plenty of time to figure out what you want and where you want it. You’ll need to learn more about your particular climate and soil conditions. Also, educate yourself on the different types of vegetables and their individual requirements. Using the non-gardening season to plan will not only help you find useful information, but you can find out whether or not particular plants are worth your time since some varieties require more maintenance than others....

Identifying Fungus Gnats Fungus gnats are tiny, delicate flying insects that resemble miniature mosquitoes. They are present any time of year, but they tend to be more common in fall and winter. The pesky gnats aren’t selective about when they lay eggs, which they deposit in the top 2 to 3 inches (5-8 cm.) of potting soil. One female can produce several generations of larvae in a single season. Fungus gnats are weak flyers and they usually don’t stray too far from the plant....

Plants such as lavender, basil, and chamomile, and spices such as ginger and turmeric, can be grown in an indoor medicinal herb garden. How To Grow Medicinal Plants Indoors Growing a medicinal garden indoors is a bit more challenging than it is outdoors, but it can be done. The trick is to mimic outdoor conditions as much as possible. Site the medicinal herb garden near a sunny window, such as south or west facing, away from heater vents and temperature extremes....

Growing Plants in Water Many plants grow easily in water, an often used method of propagation. Some folks choose to root houseplants in bottles or the like. An indoor water garden may often consist of clippings from existing houseplants in bottles covering every surface available, to a couple of growing plants in water perched on the kitchen windowsill. Growing plants in water allows for a greater flexibility in arrangement and can be accomplished in most any type of receptacle that will hold water....

However, if you’re interested in trying your hand at indoor zinnias, go ahead and give it a shot. Potted zinnia flowers may live a few months indoors, but don’t expect zinnias as houseplants to survive indefinitely. Here are some tips for indoor zinnia care. Indoor Zinnia Care Although you can grow zinnias from seed, it’s easiest to start with small bedding plants from a garden center or nursery. Look for dwarf zinnias, as regular varieties can become top-heavy and may tip over....

How to Make Compost Tea While there are several recipes available for making compost tea, there are only two basic methods that are used—passive and aerated. Passive compost tea is the most common and simple. This method involves soaking compost-filled “tea bags” in water for a couple of weeks. The ‘tea’ is then used as a liquid fertilizer for plants. Aerated compost tea requires additional ingredients like kelp, fish hydrolysate, and humic acid....

Island Bed Garden Design There are a number of considerations to keep in mind when designing an island bed. This can include its location, shape, size, plant selection, and additional accents. Island Bed Location Island beds are not placed against the home or any type of structure. Instead, they float alone in the landscape, oftentimes surrounded by lawn where they can be viewed from all sides. Island beds can be placed near a corner, by the driveway, or by an entrance walk....

What are Jamaican Bell Flower Plants? Also known as Glorious Flower of Cuba, Jamaican Bell Flower (Portlandia grandiflora) is a slow growing evergreen shrub native to Jamaica and Cuba. The plant starts out looking like a small tree, with one single stem, but fills out to be more shrub-like with age. Generally, you’ll find it growing only about 6 ft. tall but sometimes reaches a height of 15 ft. The flowers are trumpet shaped, 5-6” long and white or pink, smelling like rich creamy chocolate....

What is Khorasan Wheat? Sure you’ve probably heard of quinoa and maybe even farro, but how about Kamut? Kamut, the ancient Egyptian word for ‘wheat,’ is the registered trademark used in marketing products made with khorasan wheat. An ancient relative of durum wheat (Triticum durum), khorasan wheat nutrition contains 20-40% more protein than ordinary wheat grains. Khorasan wheat nutrition also is significantly higher in lipids, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. It has a rich, buttery flavor and a natural sweetness....

Kohlrabi is popular across Europe, though it’s less often seen in English-speaking countries. That shouldn’t deter you from growing this interesting, tasty vegetable. Keep reading to learn more about growing kohlrabi in the garden and kohlrabi plant spacing. Plant Spacing for Kohlrabi Kohlrabi is a cool weather plant that grows well in the spring and even better in the fall. It will flower if temperatures fall below 45 F. (7 C....

Symptoms of Late Blight on Tomatoes Phytophthora infestans, the pathogen that causes tomato late blight, needs tissue to survive. Sporangia from an infected plant are carried through the air, sometimes several miles, and once they land on a suitable host, germination is almost immediate. Tomato late blight needs only a few hours to take hold. All it wants is a little free moisture on the leaves from rain, fog, or morning dew....

Why Plants Need Water When we think about the water required to grow vegetables, we often think about hydration. Water comprises as much as 95% of plant tissue and is an essential nutrient. Water is also used in the chemical reactions involved in photosynthesis and in the uptake and distribution of minerals. As gardeners, we often associate wilting as the primary indication of a lack of hydration. Yet in a vegetable garden, other signs exist....

In addition to their attractive blooms, the foliage remains green throughout the growing season before turning into a rich bronze color in fall. How to Grow Liatris Plants Growing liatris plants is easy. These prairie wildflowers provide many uses in the garden. You can grow them nearly anywhere. You can grow them in beds, borders and even containers. They make excellent cut flowers, fresh or dried. They attract butterflies. They’re relatively pest resistant....

What is a Green Doghouse? Even in urban settings, “green roofs” are all the rage. These have a multitude of purposes, but one of the most popular is as a peaceful resting point for the eyes. Beautifying a doghouse roof can help integrate it into the landscape and perk up an old eyesore. Plus, it can provide a habitat for birds, produce food, attract pollinators and butterflies, and even help clean the air....