Mulching your plants is one of the most beneficial things that you can do in your garden. A layer of mulch can help to keep the soil cool, protecting the plant’s sensitive root system from temperature extremes. It can also help to deter weed growth and pests while improving moisture retention. While synthetic mulches are
During the fall months, gardening and general yard work can be a little more time-consuming due to falling leaves that pile up everywhere. There are dozens of products available to help clean them up, including leaf blowers. The problem lies in trying to figure out what to do with the leaves once you rake them
Buying mulch at a traditional garden center or nursery can quickly get expensive, especially if you have a large garden or multiple flower beds to maintain. You usually apply mulch once or twice a year, but you may have to apply it more if you plant new shrubs or get a lot of rainfall that
The naked lady is an attractive, fragrant flower that makes an ideal addition to the home or garden. Versatile enough to sit in the garden or in a pot in your home, despite their showy appearance these are surprisingly easy to care for flowers. In fact, one of the most difficult care aspects is knowing
Pink lady flowers, or Amaryllis belladonna, are a showy addition to the home or garden. Producing fruitily fragrant clusters of pink trumpet-like flowers on long stems, these eye-catching plants also make good cut flowers. A popular ornamental plant, if you want to grow pink lady flowers, this guide is packed with all the information that
Producing fragrant lily-like white or rose pink flowers with a hint of lilac the surprise lily is a welcome addition to late summer and fall gardens. Pleasingly easy to care for, these low maintenance plants will reward your efforts with eye-catching, colorful floral displays. If you want to learn more about the surprise lily, including
If you want to add late season color and interest to your garden, why not try the red spider lily? This is a distinctive flowering bulb that attracts scores of pollinators, butterflies, bees and birds to the garden. The plants also reliably provide you with color and interest just when other flowering bulbs are fading
The Jersey lily flower is a late season plant which brings exotic elegance to the garden. Colorful and fragrant, these attractive plants are as popular with pollinators as they are with gardeners. A versatile plant, you can also grow the Jersey lily flower in pots either outside or in your home. If you would like
The Easter lily is popular for its large, fragrant flowers. As the name suggests, a popular Easter plant, learning how to care for the Easter lily, a type of naked lady lily, enables you to enjoy these eye-catching blooms in your homes or flower beds year after year. The large trumpet-shaped flower of the Easter
One of the naked ladies, the amaryllis belladonna is an attractive ornamental bulb flower. Easy to care for, learning how and when to divide amaryllis belladonna is an important part of plant maintenance. This guide to when to divide amaryllis belladonna will take you through the entire process, explaining exactly how and when to divide
Seeing a brown spot on your plant’s leaves can be frightening, especially since it may be hard to identify the cause. Brown spots are common among indoor and outdoor plants and should always be investigated. The brown leaves may be from watering, light, or heat issues, or a pest such as a bacteria or fungus.
Hedera helix, otherwise known as English ivy, is a beautiful houseplant that is known for its foliage and minimal maintenance. English ivy was my first houseplant, and after a few weeks of having it, the leaves started to turn brown. You may have the same issue, and are wondering, “why is my ivy dying?”. It
Water is vital for growing plants. Determining how much or how little to give your growing plants can take time and effort. Too little moisture stunts growth and causes seeds to fail. On the other hand, overwatering can drown or rot plants. This guide to how to water seedlings is designed to take you through
A staple of the vegetable garden, sweetcorn is popular for its sweet and juicy plump kernels. Learning when to plant corn is just one important step on your cultivation journey. This guide will explain not only when to plant corn but will also share care and planting tips as well as detailing how and when
Retaining walls have come a long way in the past couple of decades, going from simple cinder block or concrete one-dimensional structures to elaborately engineered, multi-dimensional hardscapes with style options to fit every aesthetic. While the need to cover up unsightly walls may not exist like it used to, training plants to cascade over walls
If you are looking for something a little different to add to your herb garden, look no further than chocolate mint. A hybrid plant produced by crossing peppermint with Mentha Citrata or orange mint, this is an attractive cultivar that tastes of orange and smells of chocolate. Chocolate mint is a fragrant hybrid plant. Menthe
At first glance conifer trees can all look the same. However, each variety of conifer has its own growing preferences and requirements. They also bring different benefits to your garden. Learning the skill of pine tree identification, as well as being able to identify the other types of conifer, can have numerous benefits for both
If you are looking to add an attractive evergreen tree to your garden, look no further than the macadamia nut tree. This majestic glossy broadleaf specimen, the foliage of which is similar to that of the holly bush, is an increasingly popular garden design choice. A versatile choice, these specimens can be used in a
Who doesn’t dream of a lush, green lawn? Despite what you may believe this is easy to achieve without resorting to synthetic chemical or even artificial grass solutions. Top dressing your lawn helps to enrich the soil with nutrients, creating thick, healthy grass that not only looks great but is also beneficial for your garden’s
Two tropical fruits that are similar in appearance, when it comes to choosing between durian vs jackfruit, you can be forgiven for struggling to tell the two apart. However, there are some key differences between these two tropical fruits. Once you learn how to spot these differences you will be able to tell them apart
One of the most useful herbs, learning how to grow lemongrass can also add visual interest to your garden. Its long leaves sway gently in the summer breeze filling your outdoor space with color, interest and movement. As summer turns to fall the leaves turn from light green to pleasing shades of red or burgundy
There is nothing like the taste of a home grown, freshly picked tomato. If you want to enjoy this taste but worry that you don’t have the space, growing small tomatoes is the ideal solution. Taking up surprisingly little space, small tomatoes can be grown in pots, planters, hanging baskets and even on kitchen windowsills.
Photinia is a broadleaf evergreen shrub that can come with striking red coloring on the new leaves. As the shrub matures, the foliage takes on a deep, leathery green appearance. Many people choose to use this plant as a privacy screen or hedge due to the dense growth habit. However, fungal leaf spot can quickly
Grown as a shrub or the loquat tree, this fruiting plant is very interesting. It’s a relative to the rose, and it produces small fruits that taste like a mixture of mango, citrus, and peaches, and many people claim it has a honey note. However, most people have never tasted this fruit and know virtually
Many people don’t have access to large plots of land to grow a garden, and a lot of people have to make do with a balcony or porch. However, if you don’t have a lot of space and you still want to experience picking fresh fruits and vegetables from a garden, you can try growing
Liatris, also called gayfeather or blazing star, is a perennial wildflower that has a long blooming period and is native to the eastern part of North America. It’s a member of the bigger, Asteraceae family, but it doesn’t have the daisy-like blooms most plants in this family produce. Instead, you get very unusual flower heads
The snake plant (Sansevieria) is a hardy low maintenance houseplant. Tolerant of a range of conditions and even a little neglect, the snake plant is one of the easiest plants to care for. However snake plant problems are all too common. Being able to quickly identify any problems helps you to solve the issue quickly,
A popular member of the vegetable garden, crunchy cucumbers freshly harvested from the garden are one of the joys of summer. If you don’t like eating these nutritious fruits, you can also use them to flavor water or as part of your skincare regime. As the summer draws to a close, excess fruit can be
Once considered an exotic delicacy today the banana is one of the world’s most popular fruits. This popularity is largely due to the fruit’s delicious flavor and creamy texture. They are also packed with nutrients such as potassium and vitamin C. A popular choice at the grocery store, but did you know you can also
One of the most popular members of the vegetable garden, lots of people, myself included, love growing tomatoes. As many gardeners will tell you, once you have tasted a homegrown tomato freshly picked from the garden, store bought types will never taste as good again. While many people buy young plants or transplants from garden
One of the most popular flowers in the garden, peonies are popular for their large, showy blooms. While the peony flower is not one of the longest lasting blooms, they are certainly one of the showiest flowers, providing your garden with lots of colorful, frilly interest. Surprisingly easy to grow, particularly as a cut flower,
Hostas are popular ornamental plants, their lush green leaves are an ideal choice to fill a difficult space in the garden. Once established the hosta provides long lasting interest. A resilient, shade perennial, the hosta is versatile enough to work in a range of planting schemes. Providing further interest, the plants are also available in
If you’ve ever gotten a hydrangea in a pot, you probably enjoyed how it looked for a few weeks then watched as it faded and slowly died off. This experience may have led you to believe that hydrangeas in pots aren’t a good idea, but this isn’t necessarily correct. Most gifted, potted hydrangeas don’t thrive
Globe amaranth is a tropical annual that has globe-shaped blooms that last for a long time, and they come in a range of colors. They work well in rock gardens, beds, borders, and xeriscapes as they’re very tolerant to drought. This plant is one of the 90 Gomphrena species of flowering plants that you find
The bitter melon plant is a favorite in Southeast Asian and Asian cooking, and you can stuff it with shrimp or pork and pickle or steam, or curry it before serving it in a soup or with meat. As the name suggests, bitter melons are a very strong acquired taste, and you can liken the
There are some plants that need a lot of water to survive and thrive, and this can be an interesting challenge for some gardeners. Unlike a lot of moisture-sensitive species, they can tolerate a large range of growing conditions and planting zones. Landscapers and horticultural specialists value these plants for their ease of growth and
Everyone loves a sunny garden with bright and bold flowers. However, shady gardens also deserve the spotlight. There are a range of shade perennials that have stunning leaf colors with exotic, delicate flowers, and some come with very memorable names. You should pick plants that grow in your hardiness zones, and read the plant label
Pomegranate trees produce delicious fruit, and if you live in a warmer climate and decide to grow it, they’re generally easy to maintain while not being affected by a lot of diseases or pests. The fruits have a leathery, red rind with edible, sweet seeds that are packed full of antioxidants and come with many
Wax begonias are a very popular smaller plant. It’s a very versatile begonia type that you can use as an annual in colder climates, a houseplant in any climate, or a perennial in warmer climates. They have waxy-looking, glossy leaves that can be bronze, green, or maroon. The flowers come in shades of pink, white,
Chard is also called Swiss chard or silverbeet, and it’s a very easygoing and well-behaved member of your vegetable garden. It tends to stick to itself, and it’ll grow in tender, colorful, upright stalks with leafy growth without a huge amount of effort on your part. If you want to grow it in your garden,
Artichokes are herbaceous perennials that fall into the Asteraceae family, and this family group also includes dandelions, thistles, and sunflowers. Artichokes are short-lived perennials in warmer climates, but you can grow them as annuals in cooler climates or extend the growing season by growing artichokes in pots. Most people choose to grow them for the
Companion planting is arguably one of the easiest and best methods to help boost both plant’s health, and many people choose this practice to get rid of pests and some plants work as deterrents for bugs that want to eat your vegetables. Other plants draw predators in to eat the nuisance pests, but what are
Planting yellow perennials is a great way to introduce vibrant color to the garden. With a little care the plants return every year, providing you with a reliable source of outside interest and color. When it comes to selecting perennials, it is important to choose plants that are suitable for your garden. Our guide to
Kale is a versatile, leafy green vegetable that is packed with antioxidants and nutrients. The ultimate cut-and-come-again vegetable it is also easy to grow and, as this guide explains, harvest. As well as explaining how to harvest kale we will share lots of useful care and growing tips, enabling you to get the best from
Eggshells are a common piece of kitchen waste. Did you know that you can use eggshells in garden soil? Prepared and used correctly eggshells can have a range of benefits from enriching the soil to boosting growth and even feeding the birds. During the course of this article we will not only look at how
A room doesn’t give off that indoor garden vibe without climbing indoor plants that run up your walls, drape over your bookshelf, or fill in an empty corner shelf by climbing up it and replacing what was once empty space with something vibrant and beautiful. Indoor vine plants give you a great vertical dimension to
For many gardeners, homegrown tomatoes are one of the best tastes of summer. Growing tomato plants is a rewardingly straightforward process. But there is some skill involved. As well as knowing when to water and fertilize, knowing when to pick tomatoes is key. Picking the tomatoes too soon means that they will be small and
Resilient, low maintenance and surprisingly productive, bunching onions are amongst the easiest vegetables that you can add to your garden. Once started you can practically forget about these unfussy plants. After harvest they die away before returning bigger and better the following year. As well as their productivity bunching onions (Allium fistulosum) are also good
A staple of southern gardens, black-eyed pea plants are a productive addition to the vegetable garden. Eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day is considered to bring you luck during the following year. Easy to grow and versatile enough to suit a range of growing conditions. If you are looking to add legume plants to
When the bright colors of late summer and fall start to fade the garden can begin to look dull and drab. Winter pansies provide a great way of adding color and interest to the garden during dark days. Pleasingly cold tolerant, there are not many plants that are happy to grow let alone flower during