The Iris plant takes its name from the Greek Goddess of the Rainbow – Iris. Color patterns are of extreme importance when buying and growing this genus. Iris plants come in a wide variety of color patterns. Each pattern has a distinctive name that lets the grower know what to expect from that plant. There…
Brighten up the kitchen and celebrate spring with a windowsill herb garden. All it takes is a few plants, colorful containers, potting soil and sunlight. Windowsill gardens are an easy way to invite nature indoors. With a few purchased herbs, several pretty containers, potting soil and fertilizer, even apartment dwellers can enjoy a bountiful garden….
Whether you’re a hobby grower or a large commercial grower here is a tried and true system for overwintering container grown perennials and herbs. There are many ways to overwinter perennials. This is one of the systems used successfully by many hobby and commercial growers throughout the country. Cold Frames are never out of style…
Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are the major ingredients in garden fertilizers. Many elements including nutrients are present in soil and needed for plant growth. What does “N P K” have to do with gardening? Healthy, robust lawns, gardens and houseplants depend on a number of factors including soil characteristics, location in the U.S., nutrients present…
Lilies, castor beans, cycad palms, rhododendrons, azaleas, laurels, yews, crocuses, foxgloves and oleanders are among the most common poisonous plants for cats and dogs. Many of the plants kept in homes and gardens contain substances which can be extremely toxic when ingested by pets. Some of the most poisonous varieties can cause severe illness and…
You can lug large container plants into the greenhouse or garage for the winter, or you can provide each plant with frost protection right where it lives. All serious gardeners have special plants; they spend large amounts of time and money on these beauties and will do almost anything to protect them from damage. When…
Gardeners love to grow plants that will not survive the winter outside. Overwintering tender plants successfully takes a little preparation. Tropicals and tender perennials add beauty and charm to a patio, deck or garden in the summer. To insure that these tender plants survive to beautify the yard another year, it is necessary to bring…
Annual plants grow and flower quickly and these annuals are perfect additions to a nose-pleasing fragrance garden. Which scents will you add to your garden? Scented Geranium (Pelargonium spp.) Zones 9-11. Scented geraniums are actually Pelargoniums and should not be confused with hardy garden Geraniums. They do, however, have a great place in the fragrance garden…
Invasive plants may be alien or native, but all have the ability to become superabundant at the expense of neighboring plants. The effects of invasive plants on neighboring plants vary, but each has the ability to become established and abundant at the expense of native species. These plants grow around, on top of, or below…
Birds disperse the seeds of invasive plants that often crowd or even kill native plants. Yet, these berries are often essential, providing birds with needed nutrients. Hikers walking along the edges of woodlands in late fall and early winter are often amazed by large masses of red berries on shrubs and trees. These berries serve…
Learn some guidelines for using evergreens in the garden to provide winter interest. Look at the types of evergreens available, and variety of uses for your landscape. In the winter, evergreen plants move from the background elements we build the rest of our gardens around, to the primary players that are hugely important. A winter…
See the best of the new perennial plants available to home gardeners. New colors, healthier plants and interesting flower forms can all be found. This new year finds gardeners with many new plant choices to use in their gardens, containers and flower borders this year. Here are some of the best and most unique new…
See the best of the new annual plants available to home gardeners. New colors, healthier plants and interesting flower forms can all be found. Annual plants add quick color, long-lasting flowers and great accents to garden beds, borders and containers. Here are some of the best new annuals of the new year. 1. Ginger ‘Tahitian…
Many broadleaf evergreen shrubs and conifers can be reproduced by the home gardener using cuttings of mature stems. Some plants grow roots from a cutting more readily than others do, and there are different types of cuttings, depending on the type of plant you want to duplicate. In this article, we give instructions for using…
Sweet almond verbena is a drought tolerant shrub for a southern garden. Perennial verbenas benefit bees and butterflies with fragrant flowers and leaves. The genus, Aloysia, includes sweet almond and lemon verbena. These plants are large shrubs when grown in southern gardens. In the north, gardeners find them useful as an annual or tender perennial. Aloysia is a…
