How to Draw Songbirds to Your Yard Whether you live in the suburbs, a rural area, on a farm, or even in the heart of a big city, there are birds in the air and they are looking for great gardens to visit. There are a few musts for any size of garden that wants to maximize these visitors: food, protection, and shelter, and water. Yes, the plants in your garden can provide these things, but you need more....

While you’re wrapped up in your own hay fever misery, you likely didn’t notice Fido rubbing his snout on the floor, clawing at it, or knocking over furniture while obsessively trying to scratch. “Hmm, the dog seems as miserable as I am,” you think. Then you wonder, “Can dogs and cats have allergies too?” Continue reading for more information about pets and plant allergens. Pets and Plant Allergens Pollen is to blame for many people’s seasonal allergies....

Maintaining a Wildflower Meadow in Fall Water the wildflower meadow lightly in late fall. This is also the time to cut any wildflowers you want to dry. Otherwise, wildflower meadow maintenance in fall consists primarily of cleanup. Remove dead stalks and rake plant debris. If you have weeds, such as crabgrass or bindweed, pull the weeds when the soil is moist. Work carefully to avoid disturbing the soil more than necessary....

About Xanthomonas Leaf Blight Onion bacterial blight was first reported in the U.S. in Colorado but has now also been found in Hawaii, Texas, California, and Georgia. It also affects onions in South America, the Caribbean, South Africa, and parts of Asia. The disease is a bacterial infection caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis. The conditions favorable to an infection include moderately warm temperatures and high moisture or humidity. Plants with leaf wounds are more susceptible to infection....

Can You Grow Beets from Seeds? Yes, the common method for propagation is via beet seed planting. Beetroot seed production is different in structure than other garden seeds. Each seed is actually a group of flowers melded together by the petals, which create a multi-germ cluster. In other words, each “seed” contains two to five seeds; hence, beetroot seed production may engender multiple beet seedlings. Therefore, thinning a beet seedling row is crucial to a vigorous beet crop....

Big Bend Yucca Information Big Bend yucca is native to the rocky hillsides and canyon walls of Texas, Northern Mexico, and Arizona. Historically, Native Americans put Big Bend yucca plants to good use as a source of fiber and food. Today, the plant is appreciated for its extreme drought tolerance and bold beauty. Although Big Bend yucca is slow growing, it can eventually reach heights of 11 to 15 feet (3-5 m....

What is Bishop’s Cap? This delicately lobed woodland plant pops up in spring and blooms soon after with little white cup-like flowers. The species is an easy-to-grow addition to a native landscape and bishop’s cap ground cover will produce an eruption of dainty leaves and charming scented bells. Not only do native species like bishop’s cap fit into the landscape more easily than exotics, but they are easier to maintain. This is because the conditions they are used to thriving in are already provided....

English and Spanish Bluebells English bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) are native to France and England and have been gracing gardens and wooded areas with their beautiful bluish-purple flowers since the early 1500’s. These spring delights reach heights of 12 inches (30 cm.) and can be planted in the fall for spring bloom. The flowers are fragrant and make a wonderful addition to any cut bouquet. An interesting feature of English bluebell is that the flowers are all on the same side of the stalk and, when gravity kicks in, the stalk bends in a dainty curve....

Identifying Bugs That Eat Burning Bush Healthy burning bush plants don’t have a lot of problems with insects, but under the right circumstances, any plant can come under attack. Monitor the overall health of the plants and watch for insects and leaves that show evidence of insect feeding. Try to identify the problem before treating the pests of burning bush shrubs. Spider mites are a problem in dry climates or during long dry spells....

How to Plant Boxwoods in Containers Plant your boxwood shrubs in containers that are fast draining and big. You want your pot to be as wide as the plant is tall, and even wider if you can manage it. Boxwoods have wide-reaching, shallow roots. Also, any plant that stays outside through the winter winds is going to fare better if it’s closer to the ground. Plant your boxwood in fertile potting mix and water thoroughly....

Cutting Back Dwarf Spruce Trees Can dwarf spruce trees be pruned? That really depends upon what you’re trying to do. If you just want to do some shaping and encouraging bushier growth, then pruning should be easy and successful. If you’re looking to cut back a large or overgrown tree to a more manageable size, however, then you might be out of luck. Vigorous Dwarf Spruce Pruning If your dwarf spruce tree is larger than you’d hoped, and you’re trying to cut it down to size, you will probably run into some problems....

Can You Grow Amsonia in a Container? Can you grow amsonia in a container? Yes, indeed, you can. Container-grown amsonia can light up your home or patio. Amsonia brings with it all of the benefits that come with being a native plant. It is easy to grow, low-maintenance, and drought tolerant. In fact, amsonia thrives happily despite entire seasons of neglect. Amsonia plants are known for their willow-like foliage, with small, narrow leaves that turn canary yellow in autumn....

Can You Grow Breadfruit Indoors? The answer is a resounding yes. However, indoor breadfruit trees should be moved outside in summer so they can get maximum sunlight and pollinate through wind and insects. Additionally, breadfruit needs quite a bit of humidity which you can provide by misting and setting the container on a bed of rocks with water surrounding them. Once the plant is in a large enough container with good, rich but well-draining soil, there are just a few tricks to keep it happy and healthy....

Can You Plant Bulbs In Containers? Yes, you can! Autumn is the time to plant bulbs, and planting bulbs in containers is no exception. When picking out your container, you can go as wide as you want, but you want it to be deep enough to accommodate 2-3 inches (5-7.5 cm.) of soil in the bottom, plus the height of your bulbs, plus an inch (2.5 cm.) of space below the rim....

Feeding Cape Marigolds Also known as Dimorphotheca, cape marigolds are small and brightly colored annual flowers. Low growing, these flowers are perfect for planting in areas which receive little rainfall. Due to their adaptability to various soil conditions, cape marigolds often spread when planted in locations with ideal growing conditions. As one may imagine, this too, means that the fertilizing needs of this plant will vary from location to location. For the most part, cape marigold plants don’t need much in the way of fertilizer....

How to Grow Hardy Red Kiwi Like all species of kiwi, Hardy Red requires both a male and female plant to produce fruit. These deciduous climbing vines can reach 30 feet (9 m.) and bear fruit on second-year wood. A sturdy trellis or arbor is required to support the vines. Hardy Red kiwi vine can be started from seed by sowing indoors in late spring. Although mature vines are winter-hardy, new growth can be damaged by frost....

Mock Orange Plants Though it’s not a true orange, its name supposedly derives from the fragrant white flowers which in some varieties are thought to resemble that of orange blossoms. While the blooming of this lovely shrub is short (only about a week or two), you can still enjoy the dark green foliage of mock orange plants. Mock orange bushes come in many varieties, ranging in height from 4 to 8 feet (1-2 m....

Prairie Clover Information Purple prairie clover plants (Dalea purpurea) are perennials that produce upright, stiff stems and bloom from May to September. The flowers are bright purple and form as fuzzy cones on the top of the stems. Bees and other pollinators find these blooms irresistible. In their native habitat, clover thrives in sandy to alluvial soils, requiring little moisture after the plants have been exposed to spring rains. Clovers have an extensive branching root system and make excellent erosion control....

What is Stonehead Hybrid Cabbage? Stonehead cabbage plants are easy-to-grow members of the Brassicaceae family. Like kale, broccoli and brussels sprouts, Stonehead hybrid cabbage is a cold weather crop. It can be planted early in the spring for a summer harvest or later in the season for a fall crop. Stonehead cabbage forms small, round globes that average between 4 and 6 pounds (1.8 to 2.7 kg.). The flavorful heads are perfect raw ingredients for slaw and in salad and is equally delicious in cooked recipes....

Squash, Melon, and Cucumber Stem Split Several circumstances can cause stems to split on maturing cucurbit crops. These plants often have long, hollow stems that can be easily damaged by the weight of the foliage or fruit. Splits, tears, and twisted stems can be especially problematic after a windy storm. If this happens frequently, try locating the cucurbits in a sheltered location against a wall or solid fence. Damage can also occur when animals, such as deer or the neighborhood dog, decide to walk through the garden....