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Among ginkgo leaf uses (ginkgo leaf extract) are supposed benefits to cognitive function and improved circulation. However, examining the validity of these claims is important when deciding whether or not to begin ginkgo supplements. Read on for more information on using ginkgo leaves for health. Are Ginkgo Leaves Good for You? Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) has long been touted for its purported medicinal benefits and uses. While many parts of the tree are toxic and should never be consumed, products made through the extraction of ginkgo extract are widely available in health food and supplement stores....

How To Get Rid Of Squash Bugs With Plants The three sisters is a popular companion planting whereby corn, beans and squash are grown together for the mutual advantages each provides. One such benefit is a reduction in the number of cucurbit pests found on the squash sister. It’s believed the variety of foliage types in a companion planting confuses insect pests and makes it harder for them to locate their host plants....

Types of Autumn Crop Greens Fall leafy greens to grow include: ArugulaCabbageCollard GreensLeaf Lettuce VarietiesKaleMustard GreensSpinachSwiss Chard Growing Autumn Greens Salad greens are cool weather crops that generally germinate their best when temps are around 70 degrees F. (21 C.). When soil temperatures dip below 50 degrees F. (10 C.) or above 80 degrees F. (27 C.), germination rates begin to fall off. Once seeds have germinated and have their first true set of leaves, they thrive when temperatures are around 60 degrees F....

Growing Calendula for Tea Calendula (Calendula officinalis) are loved by gardeners for their vibrant orange and yellow flowers that brighten the back yard from the middle of summer until winter’s first breath. The blossoms send out a siren’s call to bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies. But many people are also growing calendula for tea. Tea made from calendula plants has properties just as exciting as the ornamental value of the plant. Calendula blossoms have long been renowned for their healing properties, and have been found useful for wounds, inflammations of the skin and mouth and sunburns....

Although fernleaf peony plants tend to cost a bit more, they’re worth the extra expense because they grow slowly and live so long. How to Grow Fernleaf Peonies Growing fernleaf peonies is easy in USDA plant hardiness zones 3-8. Peonies need cold winters and won’t bloom well without a period of chill. Fernleaf peony plants prefer at least six hours of sun per day. The soil should be fertile and well drained....

Things to Consider About Flowering Fences Almost everyone loves flowers. If you have an old, unkempt fence, cover it in blooms. Flowers to cover fences may be vines or shrubs, and they are the perfect cover up for a divider that is past its prime. Flowers that climb fences are another option to beautify an eye sore. Using flowers along fences can pretty up the boundary. They will also attract bees and other pollinators to help your veggies and other flowers produce....

What is Four-Winged Saltbush? Atriplex canescens is also known as chamiza, bushy atriplex, and fourwing shadscale. Native to the western U.S. and parts of Canada and Mexico, it is a dense shrub that can grow low, or more like a tree. It grows up to eight feet (2.4 m.) tall and wide. Four-winged salt bush has very deep roots, which makes it useful for erosion control. It has grayish-green leaves and unremarkable flowers....

Can You Grow a Hellebore Plant Indoors? There are plenty of colorful houseplants to enjoy during the winter months. Classic examples are the poinsettia, amaryllis, and Christmas cactus. If you are bit bored with these varieties, however, try bringing hellebores inside. Their white to dusky rose hued blooms provide much needed depth and melancholy beauty. Keeping a hellebore as a houseplant is easy but getting them to bloom requires a little trickery....

Information on Growing Potato Plants When undertaking the cultivation of potatoes, be sure to purchase certified disease-free seed potatoes to avoid some of the nasty diseases like potato scab, viral disease or fungal issues such as blight. Plant the potato seed about two to four weeks before your last late frost date, depending on the potato variety and whether it is an early season or late season type. Soil temperature should be at least 40 F....

Can you Grow Pothos in the Garden? Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is an understory vine native to the Solomon Islands. In this tropical environment, pothos can reach 40 feet (12 m.) in length. Its genus name is derived from the Greek ‘epi’ which means upon and ‘premon’ or ‘trunk’ referring to its habit of clambering up tree trunks. It’s logical to assume that you can grow pothos in the garden, which is correct provided you live in USDA zones 10 through 12....

Growing shooting star from seed is the easiest way of propagation. Let’s learn more about shooting star seed propagation. When to Plant Shooting Star Seeds Plant shooting star seeds directly in the garden. The time of year for planting depends on your climate. Plant after the last frost in spring if you live where winters are cold. Plant in autumn if your area has mild winters. This allows your shooting star plants to get established while temperatures are cool....

About Shrimp Plants The Mexican shrimp plant, or Justicia brandegeeana, is a native of Guatemala, Honduras, and as its name implies, Mexico. It is an evergreen shrub that rarely grows more than 3 or 4 feet (1 m.) high, and about as wide. It thrives in the understory, a partially shaded area of tropical forests. The plants grow in many stemmed clumps and in USDA plant hardiness zones 8-11 growing shrimp plants in gardens has become so prevalent, it has now naturalized in many areas....

Spreading Cotoneaster Info Spreading cotoneaster plants (Cotoneaster divaricatus) are native to central and western China. They are very tolerant of the cold and are hardy down to USDA zone 4. They reach a mature height of 5 to 7 feet (1.5-2 m.), with a spread that is equal or slightly greater. The shrubs have a distinctive growing pattern that earns them their name, with branches that grow horizontally for several feet (1 to 2 m....

Can I Grow St. John’s Wort? If you live in USDA plant hardiness zones 5 or 6 to 10 and have a partially shaded site, you can probably grow St. John’s wort. The plant isn’t particular about the soil type. It grows well in sand, clay, rocky soil or loam, and tolerates acidic to slightly alkaline pH. St. John’s wort adapts to both moist and dry soil, and even tolerates occasional flooding....

Sweet Lime Varieties The sweet lime (Citrus limettioides) has a number of names depending upon what language is being spoken. In French, sweet limes are called limettier doux. In Spanish, lima dulce. In India, mitha limbu, mitha nimbu, or mitha nebu, with “mitha” meaning sweet. Other languages have their own names for the sweet lime and just to confuse matters, there is also a sweet lemon (C. limetta), which in some circles is also called a sweet lime....

How to Detect Grub Worms Knowing how to detect grub worms is key to treating them. Visible lawn grub damage can be seen from late summer to early fall. Look for irregular brown patches of lawn that peel away easily from the soil, like carpet. To determine the extent of infestation or which areas require treatment, dig up small sections of lawn. Typically, more than five grub worms per ¼ square foot (0....

Why You May Need to Use Hand Pollination of Cucumbers Cucumber pollination may be lacking in the garden where many varieties of vegetables are planted, as cucumbers aren’t a favorite vegetable of pollinators. Without their pollination, you may get deformed cucumbers, slow growing cucumbers, or even no cucumber fruit at all. If bees and other pollinating insects move on to more attractive vegetables, hand pollinating cucumbers can be your best chance at a successful crop....

Collecting Ornamental Grass Seeds Often, one of the most rewarding aspects of gardening is the process of collecting seed and propagating plants within the garden. This cost effective and economical strategy can help gardeners create beautiful outdoor spaces, even when restricted by tight budgets. Like many other plants, the process of harvesting grass seed is quite simple. However, before you begin collecting ornamental grass seeds, there are a few considerations to examine....

Hawaiian Ti Plants Ti plants (Cordyline minalis) come in a wide variety of colors, including green, red, chocolate, pink, orange, variegated and combinations of all of these. They grow in a tiered rosette and do not often flower. They make excellent houseplants on their own or can be combined with other houseplants with similar needs to make a stunning display. How to Grow a Ti Plant When potting up your ti plants, it is best to avoid potting soils that contain perlite, as some perlites can contain fluoride as well....

Yellow Leaves on Ivy Plant There are many causes of ivy turning yellow, including pests, disease and environmental stressors. Fortunately, these problems are simple to correct if they’re promptly identified. When your ivy leaves turn yellow, look for signs of these problems on your plant: Environmental Stress Yellowing leaves on ivy are often caused by a shock to the plant’s system. Leaves may yellow following transplantation or when exposed to drafts, dry air or when there are high levels of fertilizer salts in the soil....