Posts

About False Cypress ‘Golden Mop’ The genus name for Golden Mop cypress, Chamaecyparis, comes from the Greek ‘chamai,’ meaning dwarf or to the ground, and ‘kyparissos,’ meaning cypress tree. The species, pisifera, refers to the Latin word ‘pissum,’ which means pea, and ‘ferre,’ which means to bear, referring to the small round cones this conifer produces. Golden Mop false cypress is a slow growing, dwarf shrub that only grows to 2 to 3 feet (61-91 cm....

When to Harvest Gooseberry Plants In order to determine when to begin picking gooseberries, it’s a good idea to know how you are going to utilize them. Why is that? Well, the great news is that you can harvest gooseberries that are not fully ripe. No, they don’t continue to ripen but if you are going to use them for preserves, they actually work better when they are unripe, firm, and slightly bitter....

Can You Transplant Grapevines? Relocating an old grapevine is not an easy undertaking. Grapevine roots are deep when compared to many other types of plants. They do not produce excessive roots, but the ones that they do grow extend deep into the earth. This can make transplanting grapevines very difficult, as you have to dig deep enough to capture the entire root system. In old vineyards, this is accomplished with a backhoe....

Stop Grasshoppers from Eating My Plants Learning how to control grasshoppers begins with prevention and an understanding of how these pests feed and reproduce. Grasshoppers lay their eggs in the soil during fall, where they hatch the following spring. Once hatched, they begin feeding on grasses and broadleaf plants. Gardens that are well irrigated with an abundance of vegetation available are quite favorable to grasshoppers. Therefore, they will stick around as long as this food supply remains abundant....

Great Lakes Gardening – Prepping for Winter Preparing for a harsh winter is a must for Great Lakes gardeners. While the winter months are much colder in Duluth than Detroit, gardeners in both areas have to prep plants, beds, and lawns for cold and snow. Water plants throughout fall to ensure they don’t dry out during winter. This is especially important for transplants.Cover vegetable beds with a good layer of mulch....

Making a Greenhouse Out of Old Windows A greenhouse is nothing more than a glass and wood or steel edifice that directs solar rays inside for a warm, protected and semi-controlled growing area. Greenhouses have been used for centuries to extend the growing season, jump start the spring planting, and overwinter tender and unique specimens. A greenhouse built with old windows is remarkably economical and is a great way to repurpose items....

Growing Ficus Indoors Ficus is infamously finicky. Outside its native range, confined to a pot indoors, it can be difficult to grow. Ficus trees need bright light. They like regular watering but will struggle if the soil stays damp all the time. They also don’t like to be moved, so find the best spot and stick with it. If you want to attempt growing a ficus inside, understand its needs first....

What is a Cordyline Houseplant There are several members of the Cordyline genus commonly grown as houseplants, including the Hawaiian Ti or Good Luck plant. Most have lance-shaped foliage which radiate outward from a central stem. The mountain cabbage tree plant is readily identified from other species by its blue-green foliage. Also called blue dracaena or simply the cabbage palm, this Cordyline houseplant has broader leaves with a thicker midrib than most of its brethren species....

Growing Prunes in the Home Garden Before jumping in and learning how to make prunes, first consider whether or not you have a suitable type of plum for drying. Not all plums make good prunes. Commercial prune growers generally opt for European plum varieties over Japanese or indigenous American species of plums. For the home gardener, European plums offer an additional advantage. Many European plum varieties and cultivars are self-fertile or are grafted with two compatible varieties on the same root stock....

What is Organic Gardening? Only in an organic garden can you literally pluck a tomato from the vine and eat it right there and then, savoring the flavor of fresh and sun-ripened. It isn’t unusual to see an organic vegetable gardener eat the equivalent of a full salad while tending the garden — a tomato here, a few leaves of lettuce there, and a pea pod or two. An organic vegetable garden is free of chemicals and grows naturally, making this a healthier, safer way to grow your plants....

How to Grow Blackberries in a Container Blackberries are quite easy to grow in USDA zones 6 to 8 but, as mentioned, once established can grow out of hand. A great way to contain their rather rapid growth is by growing blackberries in containers. Blackberries grown in a pot cannot escape into surrounding garden spaces. First things first, selecting the right cultivar for container grown blackberries. Really, any variety of blackberries can be grown in a pot, but thornless varieties are especially suited for small spaces and patios....

Learning how to grow blanket flower is a fairly simple process. They are easily started from seeds or may be purchased as seedlings for a garden display of blooms in red and yellow colors of the traditional Indian blanket. Blanket Flowers in the Garden Gaillardia aristata is a resilient wildflower, often used in roadside plantings for its ease of naturalizing and care. Cultivars ‘Goblin’, ‘Burgundy Wheels’ and Arizona Sun’ drop seeds for more of the growing blanket flowers and are parented by G....

Growing Blue Aster Flowers Asters of any color are easy to grow, another reason they are so popular with gardeners. They prefer full sun to partial shade and need well-drained soil. Blue aster flowers and other cultivars do well in zones 4-8. These are perennials that will come back year after year, so divide them every couple of years to keep the plants healthy. Deadheading asters is important because they will self-seed but won’t be true to the parent type....

Coppertone Stonecrop Info Stonecrop plants come in sizes that are knee high to just a couple of inches (5 cm.) from the ground. Coppertone sedum plants grow 8 inches (20 cm.) tall with short stems that support large rosettes of nearly 2 inches across (5 cm.). These rosettes are the source of the name, as they can be yellowish green, but in full sun turn an orange rust or copper-like tone....

Gumbo Limbo Info What is a gumbo limbo tree? Gumbo limbo (Bursera simaruba) is an especially popular species of the genus Bursera. The tree is native to southern Florida and ranges throughout the Caribbean and South and Central America. It grows extremely fast – in the course of 18 months, it can go from a seed to a tree reaching 6 to 8 feet in height (2-2.5 m.). Trees tend to reach 25 to 50 feet (7....

Information About the Hardy Ice Plant The hardy ice plant (Delosperma) is a succulent, perennial ground cover with daisy-like flowers. The ice plant is not called an ice plant because it is cold hardy, but rather because the flowers and leaves seem to shimmer as though covered in frost or ice crystals. The plants grow to be about 3 to 6 inches (7.5 to 15 cm.) tall and 2 to 4 feet (0....

Growing Irises in Zone 5 There are plenty of cold hardy iris varieties available. In fact, many irises like the cold and prefer having a drop in temperature during which they become dormant. This isn’t the case for all irises, but it is for many. You won’t be able to grow all irises in zone 5, but you are certainly not without options. When growing iris plants in cold climates, their care isn’t much different than anywhere else....

Growing Pink Cacti Ready to get started? Here are several pink cactus plants to consider: The grafted moon cactus, botanically called Gymnocalycium cacti, comes with pink heads. This specimen comes in 80 types and is becoming more common in-home collections. The most often available of this group is the moon or Hibotan cacti, found at mass retailers. “Flowers” bloom on the colorful heads that are grafted onto a taller, green base....

Even if you’re new to gardening, that’s okay. Growing tomato plants just got easier with Gardening Know How’s Ultimate Guide To Growing Tomato Plants! Soon you’ll be on your way to harvesting loads of tasty tomatoes for sandwiches, salads, and more. Choosing the Types of Tomatoes You Will Grow Learn The Difference Between Non Hybrid Seeds And Hybrid Seeds Tomato Varieties & Colors What Is An Heirloom Tomato? Seedless Tomato Varieties Determinate vs Indeterminate Tomatoes Miniature Tomatoes Growing Roma Tomatoes Growing Cherry Tomatoes Growing Beefsteak Tomatoes What Are Currant Tomatoes...

How to Grow an Indoor Salad Garden Lettuce and salad greens are some of the easiest vegetable plants to grow indoors. These leafy plants germinate quickly, grow fast in any sunny southern window, and reach maturity in about a month. Follow these steps to learn how to grow an indoor salad garden with your children: Make it fun – As with any kid-friendly project, encourage creativity by having your children decorate their own indoor salad-gardening planters....