Using Cottage Garden Plants for Dry Areas Xeriscaping means reducing the amount of water needed to maintain a garden or landscape by using drought-tolerant plants, smaller lawn areas, mulch, hardscape, and more shade elements. To create a cottage garden in a xeriscape setting, select heat tolerant plants that are also drought tolerant. Some plants for cottage gardening in the south include: Autumn Sage (Salvia greggii): This shrub-like perennial blooms from spring to frost....

Why Do Bird of Paradise Leaves Curl? The natural form of bird of paradise is as a 5 to 30 foot (1.5-9 m.) tall tree. There are several varieties but each one has huge paddle shaped leaves that start out as curled tubes from the main body. The leaves unfurl as they mature, but even older foliage will bear some curve at the edges. Bird of paradise is a tropical plant with 18-inch (46 cm....

Cyclamen mites are most prevalent in warm, humid environments and cause a lot of harm in greenhouses. What Do Cyclamen Mites Look Like? Part of the challenge of cyclamen mite control is the fact that these pests are too small to see without magnification. About a hundredth of a centimeter, the mites are yellowish brown, semi-transparent, and elliptical shaped. They have eight legs. The body is smooth and shiny, and the mite has large mouthparts....

Damson Plum Tree Information What do Damson plums look like? The small clingstone prunes are dark purple black with firm green or golden yellow flesh. The trees display an attractive, rounded shape. The ovoid green leaves are finely toothed along the edges. Look for clusters of white blooms to appear in spring. Damson plum trees reach mature heights of about 20 feet (6 m.) with a similar spread, and dwarf trees are about half that size....

Southwest Landscaping Circulating fountains don’t require much water, but they create a beautiful focal point in a desert landscape. Don’t be afraid to be daring with colorful accents. For example, chili pepper red pots and bright turquoise tiles are great palette colors for this garden theme. Rely on gravel pathways, pavers and stone walls, but don’t overdo. Too much rock in one place can get boring – and very hot. Maintain grassy areas as small accents and avoid large lawns....

What are Gemsbok Cucumbers? Gemsbok cucumber fruit (Acanthosicyos naudinianus) is borne off an herbaceous perennial with long annual stems. It has a large tuberous rootstock. Like squash and cucumbers, the stems of desert gemsbok cucumbers jumble out from the plant, grasping at surrounding vegetation with tendrils for support. The plant produces both male and female flowers and a resulting fruit that looks artificial, like a plastic, pastel yellow toy that my dog might slobber over, soon follows....

What is Broccoli Di Ciccio? Broccoli Di Ciccio is an heirloom variety that comes from Italy. It is small to medium in size compared to other varieties of broccoli and has long, thin stems. Each plant produces a central head but also offshoots with smaller heads. You can remove each head one at a time and get a continuous harvest from your broccoli Di Ciccio plants. The flavor of this broccoli variety is mild but sweet and tasty....

What is Diatomaceous Earth? Diatomaceous earth is made from fossilized water plants and is a naturally occurring siliceous sedimentary mineral compound from the remains of algae-like plants called diatoms. The plants have been part of Earth’s ecology system dating back to prehistoric times. The chalky deposits the diatoms left are called diatomite. The diatoms are mined and ground up to make a powder that has a look and feel much like talcum powder....

How to Determine Your Microclimate The biggest key to finding microclimates in the garden is to be a keen observer. Throughout the entire year, growers will need to pay special attention to temperature. Noticing ranges in temperature can be quite helpful in identifying microclimates. Temperature is greatly impacted by the amount of sun which the garden receives. Finding the orientation of the yard will assist growers in determining what areas of the yard will receive the most direct sunlight....

Deciduous Variegated Shrubs Deciduous variegated shrubs are among the most versatile and can brighten up shady areas with ease. Try some of the following: Hydrangea – Variegated hydrangea shrubs, like H. macrophylla ‘Variegata,’ not only provide stunning flower color but have attractive silver and white foliage for additional interest. Viburnum – Try the variegated viburnum shrub variety (V. Lantana ‘Variegata’) with pale, creamy yellow and green leaves. Cape Jasmine Gardenia – Cape Jasmine Gardenia, Gardenia jasminoides ‘Radicans Variegata’ (may also be called G....

Wooden Pallets in the Garden We’ve all seen them, used wooden pallets leaned up beside garbage cans waiting to go to the dump. Then someone thought of bringing those wooden pallets into the garden and planting veggies, flowers, or other plants between the bars. Gardening with wooden pallets is an easy and inexpensive way to create a vertical planting area when space is tight. If you are wondering how to grow a pallet garden, all you need is landscape paper, hammer, nails, and potting soil....

Do Butterfly Bushes Need Fertilizer? Before you start debating about what type of fertilizer to use, ask a simpler question: Do butterfly bushes need fertilizer at all? Every plant requires certain nutrients to grow, but feeding butterfly bushes is generally not required. The shrubs grow well on average soil as long as it is well drained. Many experts suggest that there is no reason to start fertilizing a butterfly bush, as the plant will grow and bloom perfectly well without feeding....

Are Anise and Fennel the Same? While both fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) and anise (Pimpinella anisum) are native to the Mediterranean and both are from the same family, Apiaceae, there is, indeed, a difference. Sure, they both have a licorice flavor profile similar to tarragon or star anise (no relation to P. anisum), but they are completely different plants. Fennel vs. Anise Anise is an annual and fennel is a perennial. They both are used for their licorice flavor, which comes from the essential oil called anethole found in their seeds....

Propagating Dogwood Cuttings Knowing when to take cuttings of dogwood stems can mean the difference between successful propagation and failure. The best time to cut is in the spring, as soon as the tree completes its bloom cycle. You know the stem is ready to cut if it snaps when you bend it in half. Cuttings aren’t always successful, so take more than you need. The cuttings should be 3 to 5 inches (8-13 cm....

Help! My Calla Lily is Drooping! These plants are as lovely for their sword-shaped leaves as well as the cupped blooms. The leaves may become limp and drag if you have given the plant too much nitrogen fertilizer, which encourages leafy growth. They will also droop if the soil condition is too dry or too wet. The problem can also simply be that the blooms are too large. Stems may grow 2 to 3 feet (61-91 cm....

Fertilizing Plum Trees Before you apply plum tree fertilizer, it’s a good idea to do a soil test. This will help you to determine if you even need to fertilize. Fertilizing plum trees without knowing whether or not it is necessary not only wastes your money, but it can result in excessive plant growth and low fruit yields. Fruit trees, including plums, will absorb nutrients from the soil, especially if they are surrounded by a lawn that is regularly fertilized....

What is an Australian Finger Lime? Australian finger limes are found growing as an understory shrub or tree in the rainforests of SE Queensland and Northern NSW, areas of the Bundjalung nation. In nature the plant reaches a height of about 20 feet (6 m.). Like many other citrus varieties, trees are thorny and also like other citrus, Australian finger lime contains aromatic oil glands. They bloom in the fall with white to light pink blossoms that give way to finger shaped fruit that is about five inches (12 cm....

Fishtail palm houseplants are a beautiful and interesting addition to sunrooms, patios, or any brightly lit indoor room. Keep reading to find out how to grow fishtail palms. How to Grow Fishtail Palms Growing fishtail palm trees indoors is relatively easy as long as you provide the right conditions. When you first purchase your indoor fishtail palm plant, it’s important to inspect the root structure. If the roots are tightly wound or seem out of control, it’s necessary to transplant the palm....

Rules of French Garden Design Symmetry and order are the cornerstones of French garden style. They form the “bones” of the garden within, which are geometric designations along with areas of confined perennials and grasses and more rigid designs of formal hedges, parterre, and topiaries. French garden design will also be viewed as a mirror image wherein both sides of the landscape reflect each other. French garden style incorporates neat, defined spaces, a cool color palette, and numerous stone elements as well....

While flower only arrangements are beautiful in their own right, why not explore more non-traditional options – such as fruit and flower arrangements. They can even make great gifts for others. Fruit in Flower Arrangements? The arrangement of fruit and flower bouquets can be quite unexpected. While the concept of fruit in flower arrangements is not new, creative-minded florists are now using these “ingredients” in exciting ways, and so can you....