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Interested in growing shade trees in Washington or other Pacific Northwest states? Read on to learn about shade trees for the garden. Pacific Northwest Shade Trees There are three things to consider before investing in shade trees for the garden. First of all, decide where the tree is going. West and south exposures are the warmest, so trees should be placed to shade these areas during hot summer months. Once you have decided on the placement of your shade trees, think about the canopy shape and size....

Norway Maple Weed Trees Norway maples are tall, attractive trees that taller than 65 feet (20 m.). They have dense, rounded canopies that offer deep shade beneath. The trunk of the Norway maple is mottled gray and smooth. The color and texture of the bark contrasts with the dark green, deeply lobed leaves that grow to 6 inches (15 cm.) long and 5 inches (13 cm.) wide. Both the leaves and the twigs “bleed” a milky sap when cut or broken....

Oleander Bushes for Privacy Oleander, Nerium oleander, is a tall bushy evergreen shrub in zones 8-10. Growing 3-20 feet (6-9 m.) tall depending on the variety. Oleander’s dense, upright growth makes it an excellent screening plant. As a tidy hedge or privacy wall, oleander is tolerant of salt, pollution, and drought. Add in the beautiful, fragrant clusters of blooms and oleander sounds too good to be true. There is a downfall, however....

Orange Flowering Plants In learning how to design an orange garden scheme you should incorporate many different shades and hues, from light orange to deep gold, so that your orange garden design doesn’t become monotonous. When choosing plants for an orange garden you should give careful consideration to form and shape as well. When you look at a garden with many different colors, your eyes jump rapidly from color to color....

Propagating Orchid Keikis Keikis are a good way to start new plants from the following varieties: Dendrobium Phalaenopsis Oncidium Epidendrum It is important to note the difference between a keiki and a shoot. Keikis grow from buds on the cane, usually the upper portion. For instance, on Dendrobiums you’ll find the keiki growing along the length of the cane or at the end. On Phalaenopsis, this will be on a node along the flower stem....

How to Make Natural Pesticide The best way to make natural pesticides is to use natural products that you have laying around your house. Garden pests are repelled or killed by a surprising number of safe and natural products. Here are a few natural insect repellent recipes: Organic Garden Pest Control Recipe #1 1 head of garlic 1 tablespoon (15 mL.) dish soap (Note: do not use a dish soap that contains bleach) 2 tablespoons (29....

Making a Garden To-Do List for August The Northwest has some of the nicest summers in the Northern Hemisphere. It would be good to lay in the shade on a chaise lounge with a glass of iced tea and a good book, but first we must attend to our Pacific Northwest gardens. Keeping up with gardening tasks for the Northwest will actually give you more overall time for the tea and novel....

What are Peacock Orchids? You may ask, “What are peacock orchids?”, and the answer may surprise you. Acidanthera bicolor is not an orchid at all. It is a member of the iris family and related to gladiolus. Blooming peacock orchid bulbs display a different flowering form than one finds on the typical gladiola. Also labeled botanically as Gladiolus callianthus, the showy blooms are fragrant and offer a range of possibilities in the garden or in containers....

Cotton Root Rot on Pear Trees The fungus causing cotton root rot only thrives in regions with high summer temperatures. It is usually found in calcareous soils with a high pH range and low organic content. The fungus causing the root rot is soil-borne, and natural to the soils of the southwestern states. In this country, these factors – high temperatures and soil pH – limits the geographic spread of the fungus to the southwest....

What is Pecan Crown Gall? Crown gall on a pecan tree is caused by a bacterial pathogen. It is found around the world and afflicts both woody and herbaceous plants belonging to over 142 genera within 61 separate families. Plants infected with crown gall become stunted and weak and more susceptible to winter injury and other disease. The bacterium infects the tree through wounds caused by insects, grafting and cultivation and may be confused with other growths caused by fungi, virus or other diseases....

Ping Tung Eggplant Info Ping Tung eggplant (also spelled Pingtung) is an heirloom plant originating from Ping Tung, Taiwan. The 2- to 4-foot (.61-1.21 m.) tall plants produce dozens of long, slender purple fruits. The fruit is about 12 inches (30 cm.) long and 2 inches (5 cm.) in diameter. Its tender skin is alight purple which darkens with maturity. The fruit grows from green calyxes and have a pearly white flesh which is drier than most eggplants....

Squash Vine Borer Life Cycle As the saying goes “know your enemy,” so it is true when thinking about squash vine borer prevention. Squash vine borers can be found throughout North America east of the Rockies, from Canada to South America. While they do most damage to squash and pumpkins, signs of infestation may occur in cucumbers and melons as well. This borer overwinters as either a pupa or larva under the soil....

Growing Figs in Pots When growing figs in pots, the first consideration is to ascertain the appropriate varieties suitable for container grown figs. The following cultivars are suitable for fig tree container planting: Blanche, also known as Italian honey fig, Lattarula and White Marseille, is a slow grower with a dense canopy that bear medium to large lemon scented fruits. Brown Turkey is a popular cultivar for fig tree container planting and is also known as Aubique Noire or Negro Largo....

Can You Re-Grow Beets from Tops? Beets brighten up any dish made from roasted root vegetables, from chips to borsht. While many of us are familiar with the bright pink, bulbous roots, not many of us have used the greens. They can be used similarly to Swiss chard or other dark green leafy veggie tops. They can be used fresh in salads but are best sautéed or chopped into stews and soups....

When is the Seed Ball Season? If you’ve never used seed balls, it’s an interesting concept. Gardeners either purchase or make seed balls by stirring humus, clay and the desired seeds together. Small balls are formed by rolling the mixture between the hands. The seeds balls are then tossed into the landscape, which is why they are sometimes called seed bombs. The seed ball protects the seeds from the hungry mouths of small animals and birds....

Butterfly Migration Info For Gardeners It may seem like a crazy idea, but keeping weeds in gardens for butterflies is a helpful practice. Humans have destroyed so much native habitat that migratory butterflies can starve as they move to their destination. Cultivating plants for butterfly migration entices these pollinators and gives them strength for their long migration. Without fuel for their migration, butterfly populations will decline and along with them a part of our earthly diversity and health....

Prairie Garden Design The first step to this low-maintenance plot is to come up with a prairie garden plan. Prairie garden design requires you to choose the plants that you want in the space. Make your own prairie garden plan and select seeds that are beneficial to wildlife and will not become nuisance plants. Give some consideration regarding invasive species, as many plants included in prairie garden mixes may spread and take over the space....

Choosing Plants That Evolve with the Seasons Make the most of plants and seasonal changes to create a garden that is stunning any time of year. Plants That Change Dramatically in Winter If you live in a zone with cold winters, you may be limited as to what your garden will host in the winter months. However, there are some options for winter color and texture in a variety of climates:...

What Plants are Poisonous to Dogs? There are numerous plants that are poisonous to dogs. Because of this, it would be nearly impossible to go through and name each one (along with symptoms) in one brief article. Therefore, I’ve decided to split some of the mast common toxic plants to dogs into three categories: those that are mildly poisonous, moderately poisonous, and severely toxic. Plants Poisonous to Dogs with Mild Effects While many plants can result in mild toxicity, these are some of the most common:...

Making a Plumeria Branch Prime time for plumeria pruning is in spring, before new blooms emerge. This is the best way to encourage plumeria branching, as two or three new branches will emerge from each cut. Prune the plumeria a couple of inches (5 cm.) above the junction of two branches. If the plant has grown out of control, you can prune drastically, about 12 inches (31 cm.) above the soil....