How to Propagate Asparagus Asparagus root crowns must be one year old before they’ll produce any stems. Plants started from seed will need an extra year before they reach that point. Established asparagus plots yield even more plants when you dig up the crowns, divide, and replant them. All three methods of propagating asparagus plants are simple ways to introduce asparagus to your home garden. You can start harvesting the spears when the plants are in the ground for two years....

Regularly pruning and trimming beech hedges encourages more branches and leaves to grow. This translates to a fuller hedge with fewer gaps or bald spots. Likewise, pruning at the correct time of year allows beech hedge plants to retain their foliage throughout the winter. How to Prune Beech Hedge Select the best tool for the job. Firing up the hedge trimmer may get the job done quicker, but rough-hewed leaves can turn brown and leave the beech hedgerow looking unattractive....

Red Raspberry Herbal Use Raspberries are suited to USDA zones 2-7. They are perennials that grow to their full height in their first year and then fruit during the second. While most of us know raspberries for their use in preserves, baking, and eating fresh, Native American peoples used the leaves to make tea to treat diarrhea. Raspberry tea has long been used to treat menstrual symptoms and ease childbirth. Aboriginal tribes of Australia used a raspberry decoction to treat morning sickness, menstrual cramping, and the flu....

About Edible Bay Leaves Are some bay leaves toxic? For starters, the leaves produced by Laurus nobilis are not toxic. However, certain species with the name “laurel” or “bay” may actually be poisonous and should be avoided, while others may be perfectly safe. Don’t take chances if you are uncertain. Limit cooking with bay leaves to those available in supermarkets or that you grow yourself. Cooking with Bay Leaves So which bay trees are edible?...

Never heard of spittlebugs? You are not alone. There are around 23,000 species of spittlebugs (Family: Cercopidae), yet few are the gardeners that have ever really seen one. Most probably have seen the protective covering or nest they make, wondered what it was (or if someone had spit on their plant), and then blasted it off with a hard stream of water. Learn About Spittlebugs Spittlebugs are very good at hiding too, so they’re not really easy to spot....

Bent Flower Stems It’s not always the children who damage plants. A dog’s romp through the garden can end badly for your plants – with bent flower stems. And even you, exercising utmost caution, place a foot in the wrong spot on occasion. Strong winds can bend over plant stems too. The key to helping these plants is to know how to repair crushed or bent stems and to have on hand the tools you need....

Building a rock garden in shade is a little more difficult, as the usual rockery plants like sunlight. However, it can be done with the right soil and selection of plants. Shade Rock Garden Tips Any rock garden usually features low growing plants that produce flowers or interesting foliage. When developing a rock garden for shade, you can’t rely on these traditional alpine plants, but there are plenty of specimens that will thrive in the shadows....

What are Rosette Bud Mites? Rosette bud mites are eriophyid mites that live inside Fraser fir buds. Eriophyid mites are different than other mites, such as spider mites. They are worm-like with a wedge shaped body and four legs on their anterior end. They can only be seen with the aid of a microscope or hand lens. Their feeding causes galls to form in the vegetative buds. The mites emerge from the prior year’s gall during spring bud break and then either drop to the ground or are windblown onto healthy shoots....

Causes of Rubber Tree Plant Leaves Falling Off Light Change – A common reason for a rubber plant losing leaves is a change in the light. Many times, this will happen when you bring your rubber tree plant in from outdoors, and this change can cause a total drop of the rubber tree leaves. A few rubber tree leaves may fall off the plant with the change from summer to fall, when light levels change....

What is a Sausage Tree? Kigelia is found from Eritrea and Chad south to northern South Africa and west to Senegal and Namibia. It is a tree that can grow up to 66 feet (20 m.) in height with smooth, gray bark on juvenile trees that peels as the tree matures. In areas of plentiful rainfall, the Kigelia is an evergreen. In areas of scant rain, sausage trees are deciduous. The leaves are set in whorls of three, 12 to 20 inches (31-50 cm....

About Common Self Heal Plant Prunella vulgaris plant is commonly known as the self heal herb. It has been used medicinally for centuries. In fact, the entire plant, which is edible, can be used both internally and externally to treat a number of health complaints and wounds. The plant’s most common use is for the treatment of cold sores. Prunella is a perennial plant native to Europe but can also be found growing in parts of Asia and the United States....

What are Sensory Gardens? Sensory gardens strive to maximize the sensory impact that the garden has on its visitors. Sensory gardens can be themed, divided into sections, or presented as a whole. Sensory gardens are user-friendly and encourage garden guests to touch, taste, admire, and listen. Creating a sensory garden is an exciting and worthwhile project that provides limitless opportunities to teach and exercise horticultural healing therapy techniques. How to Create a Sensory Garden Sensory garden design ideas are plentiful and can be suited to any garden objective....

What shade tree to plant? Read on for our thoughts on the best shade tree varieties for different areas. About Trees for Shade Every tree provides some shade since branches and a canopy will always block some sun. The best shade trees, though, have expansive canopies that create islands of shade beneath. The larger and denser the canopy, the deeper the shade. When you are thinking about planting a shade tree, make the process efficient by learning your hardiness zone and only looking for shade tree varieties that thrive there....

But hedges and even individual evergreen bushes need to be maintained, and if left to their own devices they can look sloppy. You can remedy that situation quickly with an electric hedge trimmer. If you are new to this tool, you may have questions. What are hedge trimmers for? Should I use an electric hedge trimmer? When to use hedge trimmers? Read on for the answers you need. Should I Use an Electric Hedge Trimmer?...

Silver lace vine propagation is often accomplished by cuttings or layering, but it is also possible to start growing this vine from seed. Read on for more information on how to propagate a silver lace vine. Propagating Silver Lace Vines Silver lace vines cover your pergolas in no time at all and can grow as much as 25 feet (7.5 m.) in one season. The twining vines are covered with tiny white blossoms from summer through autumn....

How to Grow and Store Spaghetti Squash In order to effectively grow spaghetti squash, which is considered a winter squash, you must understand what the spaghetti squash plant needs in order to grow to its typical 4 to 5 inch (10-13 cm.) diameter and 8 to 9 inch (20-23 cm.) length. Here are some tips on growing spaghetti squash and some basic information on how to grow and store spaghetti squash:...

Will Frost Hurt Spring Bulbs? Bulbs that normally bloom through snow, like muscari, snowdrops and crocus, don’t need spring bulb frost protection. Frost protection for bulbs that like warmer temperatures may be prudent, though. While the actual bulb that is buried underground is usually not damaged, emerging foliage, buds and blooms can be nipped, and browning and wilting of flowers often results. You can sometimes avoid this by providing frost protection for bulbs....

Indoor Plant Stand Ideas There are many different types of materials that plant stands are constructed from – various types of wood, wrought iron, powder coated metal, bamboo, and even wicker. The sky is the limit! Let’s take a look at some creative types of plant stands and how to use an indoor plant stand. Choose ones that go well with the décor of your home. Here are some creative houseplant stand ideas:...

Rooting String of Pearls Plant Cuttings If you are lucky enough to have a string of pearls plant or know someone who does, it is easy to make more of this delightful succulent. Taking string of pearls cuttings is the easiest and fastest way to multiply your stock of this whimsical succulent. No matter if you are a pro or a novice, cuttings of succulents are practically foolproof ways of string of pearls propagation....

What are Sugar Beets? A cultivated plant of Beta vulgaris, sugar beet growing accounts for about 30 percent of the world’s sugar production. Most sugar beet cultivation occurs in the European Union, the United States, and Russia. The United States harvests over one million acres of growing sugar beets, and we use it all, only the E.U. and Ukraine are significant exporters of sugar from beets. Sugar consumption per nation is somewhat cultural but it appears to directly correlate with the relative wealth of the nation....