What are evergreen herbs? They hold their leaves through the winter, giving you a ready source of fresh flavorings and medicinal tea all year around. An evergreen herb garden may slow down production through the coldest of the winter months, but there will always be a good supply of herbs until the spring buds burst open. Types of Evergreen Herb Plants for the Garden The types of evergreen herb plants vary from area to area, but most of them are viable in most climates with some care during extreme weather....

Crafting Things from Nature Whether made as a celebration of bountiful harvests or a welcome of the cooler weather, the exploration of fall nature crafts is an excellent way to get creative with family and friends. While homemade wreaths are especially popular, exploring various fall craft ideas may help one gain a greater appreciation for the changing seasons. DIY crafts for fall are ideal for both young and old. In fact, crafting is among the most popular ways to spend quality time with grandchildren....

When to Fertilize Wax Plants Hoyas most likely originated in India. There are at least 100 species, many of which produce marvelous bloom clusters. Most growers find them to be unfussy little plants that simply need average light, warm interior temperatures, and regular water. The best performance can be achieved with a regular feeding program. This will fuel growth, enhance health, and increase the chances of some of the beautiful blooms....

The common flax plant, Linum usitatissimum, may be grown as a commercial crop in some areas. Flax is grown for the oil of its seeds, linseed oil, a protein source for livestock. Some commercial growers plant legumes as companions of the flax flower. How to Grow Flax Continued bloom of the flax flower is assured if conditions are right, due to self-seeding of this plant. A single planting in early spring provides an abundance of flax flowers in late spring and summer, but re-seeding by this plant assures a continued mass of growing flax in the meadow or natural area....

What is Flower of an Hour? Hibiscus flower of an hour is technically a perennial in frost-free areas, but it is usually grown as an annual. It forms a neat mound about 18 inches to 24 inches (46-61 cm.) tall and blooms between midsummer and early autumn. The flowers are pollinated by nectar-feeding insects, including bumblebees and butterflies, which hover around the plant during the bloom season. Once the flowers fade, inflated seed pods take their place....

How to Force Amaryllis Bulbs in Soil Purchased forced bulbs allow you to enjoy flowers earlier than they are produced in nature. This jump-start on spring can brighten the dark spaces in the winter home. Amaryllis forcing indoors is easy and allows you to watch the tall stems grow right before your eyes. Take a do-it-yourself approach and try amaryllis bulb forcing. Kits are available readily or you can force the previous season’s bulb, provided you kept it in a dry location....

Using Pavers in the Garden Also known as hardscaping, including pavers in the landscape adds a contrast to plants and beds and also fills practical needs. Pavers include any non-plant material, usually hard but sometimes rubbery or soft. Pavers can be made from a number of materials: Concrete/concrete blocksCut stoneNatural stoneBricksWoodEngineered woodRubberRecycled materials Constructing with pavers isn’t difficult, but there are some things you need to keep in mind. For instance, it’s important to have a plan and mark it out in the space....

Reusing Cardboard for the Garden When you think about it, cardboard is just a form of paper and comes from a natural source, trees. As a natural source, it will break down and release carbon into the soil. Garden upcycling with cardboard has many more benefits, however. You can use it as planters, to start a garden path, mulch a prepared bed, start a new bed and much more. It is important what type of cardboard you use in your landscape....

Gardening To-Do List From planting to clearing out the growing space, the gardening to-do list for this month can be quite extensive. Learning more about the various tasks that need to be completed in the South Central region can help create and maintain beautiful green spaces. September is a time of great change in South Central gardens. Regarding vegetable crops, most to-do lists put great emphasis on the harvest of remaining summer plantings....

Topographical characteristics, as well as features of the landscape, can greatly influence the climate of the garden and how it is used. By utilizing microclimates to their advantage, however, gardeners can create beautiful and vibrant garden spaces that serve a wide range of purposes. How to Use Microclimates When designing a garden with microclimates in mind, it will first be important to closely observe the various conditions. It is imperative to consider the needs of the plants and be sure those are met during both the warmest and coldest times of the year....

About Pet Rodent Compost Adding compost to soil increases soil fertility and provides both phosphorus and nitrogen needed for healthy root and plant development. Pet rodent compost such as guinea pig, rabbit, hamster, and gerbil manure in gardens is a great way to make use of waste material and improve your soil diversity. Composting Small Rodent Manures Although small rodent manures can be used directly in the garden, most people prefer to compost the manure first....

About Ginger Gold Apple Trees There are many wonderful apple cultivars available for both commercial and home growers. Growing a Ginger Gold apple tree provides fresh fruit even during the heat of summer, much earlier than most apple varieties. Most fruit is ripe and ready to pick by mid to late August. Trees attain 12 to 15 feet (4-4.5 m.) in height and are considered semi-dwarf plants, making them ideal for most landscapes and easy to harvest....

Reasons Glads Did Not Flower Gladioli grow from corms, which are underground storage organs much like bulbs. Glads thrive in sunny warm areas of the garden with good drainage and rich organically charged soil. The corms should be healthy at planting in fall, and around ¾ inches (2 cm.) in diameter. Gladiolus come in a riot of colors and will re-bloom every year. Northern gardeners will need to lift the corms in fall and store them through the cold season to protect the gladiolus from freezing temperatures....

About Grape Hyacinth Seed Propagation You would have to look far to find grape hyacinth flower seeds because the bulbs are generally sold for faster color displays in the garden. All you really need for Muscari seed planting is a spent crop of the plants in your landscape or your neighbor’s lot. Harvest the seeds from finished flowers that have dried on the plant and sow them after a chilling period....

Controlling greenbrier is an ongoing job once it gets established, so it’s best to get rid of greenbrier vine as soon as you identify it. Pay attention to the weeds you pull from your flower and vegetable beds so you can identify greenbrier weeds as soon as they pop up. Greenbrier Plant Control So what is greenbrier and how does it appear? Greenbrier vines produce berries that birds love to eat....

Tomato Growing Tips For Beginners Tomatoes are great candidates for container gardening. However, you need to pick the right type. Let’s start with the basics. There are two types of tomatoes that you can grow: indeterminate and determinate. Indeterminate tomatoes are the most common type of tomato plant. They are vining and continue to grow and produce fruit all season until the first frost. Indeterminate varieties can grow 3 to 5 feet (0....

Bear’s Breeches Plant Info The leaves of the Bear’s Breeches plant were used extensively in Greek and Roman art and, therefore, give off a distinct classical air. They were perhaps most famously recreated in stone as decoration on the top of Corinthian columns. On top of the familiar shiny green leaves, Bear’s Breeches produces a striking 3 foot (1 m.) tall spire of white to pink snapdragon-like flowers, topped by purple sheathes....

Growing Bergenia in a Container Can you grow bergenia in pots? The short answer is: absolutely! Bergenia plants are very well suited to container life. As long as the soil is kept relatively moist, bergenia thrives in pots. It will perform well in both sunny and shady spots. While its blooms are more impressive in richer soil, the color of its foliage tends to be better in less fertile conditions. This adaptability is good news for maintenance, it’s true, but it’s also very good news for companion planting....

How to Take Care of Birds of Paradise Outside Bird of paradise is a clump-forming, evergreen plant. A mature clump can be 5 feet (1.5 m.) tall and wide. The waxy, gray-green leaves get some 18 inches (45.5 cm.) long and resemble banana leaves. Gardeners are particularly interested in the brilliantly hued flowers, each with three bright orange bracts and three indigo petals. It is these blossoms that give the plant its common name....

About the Indian Paintbrush Also known as Castilleja, Indian paintbrush wildflowers grow in forest clearings and grasslands across the western and southwestern United States. Indian paintbrush is a biennial plant that usually develops rosettes the first year and stalks of blooms in spring or early summer of the second year. The plant is short-lived and dies after it sets seed. However, if conditions are right, Indian paintbrush reseeds itself every autumn....