When is Japanese Beetle Season? Usually feeding in groups, Japanese beetles are most active during warm, sunny days. In fact, once the adults emerge from the ground in spring, they immediately begin feasting on whatever plants are available. This activity can take place for a month or two throughout summer. Damage can be recognized as a lacy or skeletonized appearance of the leaves. In addition, their young can be just as devastating....
Can you Reuse Potting Soil? The answer is a resounding yes. Not only can you reuse potting soil, but you should. Reusing potting soil saves money, time, and resources. If you reuse potting soil, however, you need to do a little tweaking to the medium. Reusing Old Potting Soil: Step One The first thing you want to do with used potting soil it to sterilize it. Sterilize old potting soil to rid the medium of soil-borne fungi which cause diseases and to kill any harboring pests....
Why Do Mature Plants Become Spindly? Plant growth is unpredictable in most cases. Legginess in plants is often the result of perfect growing conditions which allows them to add on too much greenery before the plant has adequate dimension and strength in stems and roots. The result is a floppy, leggy plant growth. You can prevent this to some extent with a little manual grooming and the proper fertilizing program. Plants that die back in winter and come again in spring experience a rapid growth spurt in perfect weather conditions....
Reine des Glaces Lettuce Plant Info Ice Queen lettuce is a French heirloom lettuce that was developed in 1883. Since it thrives in cool and even cold weather, it is a top choice for early spring sowing. Does that mean that lettuce Reine des Glaces wilts and bolts when the summer heat sneaks in? Not at all. In fact, it remains crisp and resists bolting even in summer. However, Queen of the Ice lettuce plants do prefer a few hours of afternoon shade in hottest weather....
Little Bluestem Information Schizachyrium scoparium is the botanical name for little bluestem plant. It is a perennial warm-season grass with pretty bluish green color followed by rust colored fall foliage and fluffy white seed heads. Growing little bluestem grass in the landscape as an ornamental foliage plant provides a dimensional and architectural foil for broad leaved and flowering plants. As an added bonus, songbirds and gamebirds enjoy the seeds and it provides cover for foraging wildlife....
Pollarding a London Plane Tree In some areas, London plane trees are on every boulevard. This is due to their rapid growth, relative resistance to disease, and hardy constitution. Plane tree pruning is useful to control that growth, remove dead or diseased material, and promote a strong form. The plants are very tolerant of pruning and can be trained to a variety of forms, but each form requires a different timing for cutting back a plane tree....
Mahogany Seed Propagation Mahogany is a beautiful tree, tall with large buttresses on the trunks and broad crowns of shining leaves. It is, unfortunately, disappearing in its native ranges, a victim of its own value. Mahogany wood is said to be valued at four times the price of any other wood. If you would like to help increase the number of mahogany tree seedlings on the planet, or just have a hankering for a homegrown tree in your backyard, consider mahogany seed propagation....
What are Gratitude Flowers? Gratitude flowers help a child put into words the people, places, and things they feel thankful or grateful for in their life. Whether it’s Mom and Dad, the family pet, or a nice, warm place to live, making gratitude flowers can help children feel good about themselves and those around them. Whenever anyone is having a challenging day, a look at the gratitude flowers on display should provide a positive pick-me-up....
Where to Grow Mandarin Lime Trees The Mandarin lime tree (Citrus x limonia) is also grown variously in other countries of temperate climate, such as Brazil where it is known as limao crayon, southern China as the Canton lemon, hime lemon in Japan, Japanche citroen in Indonesia and Kona lime in Hawaii. Any region with a temperate climate and well-draining soil, including areas of Florida, is where to grow mandarin lime trees....
Benefits of Marigold Plant Companions Scientific research doesn’t always back up claims that marigold companion planting repels pests, but gardeners with years of hands-on experience say otherwise. Your mileage may vary, so experiment with different combinations to discover what works best in your garden. It certainly never hurts to try planting a few marigold plant companions in your garden. In fact, Cornell Cooperative Extension says that marigolds just might keep a number of pests in check, including:...
McIntosh Apple Tree Info McIntosh apple trees were discovered by John McIntosh in 1811, purely by chance when he was clearing land on his farm. The apple was given the family name of McIntosh. Although no one knows exactly what cultivar is the parent to McIntosh apple trees, the similar flavor suggests Fameuse, or Snow apple. This unexpected discovery became integral to apple production throughout Canada, as well as the Midwest and Northeast United States....
Growing Mexican Oregano Plants Mexican bush oregano (sometimes referred to as rosemary mint) can’t be grown everywhere. In fact, Mexican oregano hardiness falls between USDA zones 7b and 11. In zones 7b through 8a, however, it’s only root hardy. This means that all the top growth will die back in the winter, with the roots surviving to put up new growth each spring. The roots aren’t always guaranteed to make it, especially if the winter is a cold one....
What is Monkey Grass? Monkey grass is a groundcover that looks very similar to turf grass. It is the common name for liriope (Liriope muscari), but it is also referred to as border grass. In addition, monkey grass is oftentimes used as the common name for a similar plant, dwarf mondo grass (Ophiopogon japonicus). Are Liriope and monkey grass the same? In so far as ‘monkey grass’ is often the terminology used for liriope, then yes, which is confusing since mondo grass is also called ‘monkey grass’ and yet liriope and mondo grass are not the same at all....
Morning Glory Seed Propagation When starting morning glories from seed, it can take two and a half to three and a half months before they begin blooming. In northern climates where cold winters and shorter growing seasons are the norms, it’s best to start morning glories from seed indoors four to six weeks before the last frost date. When germinating seeds of morning glory, use a file to nick the hard coating of the seeds....
Moss Lawns Instead of Grass Moss lawns instead of grass save on water, time and fertilizer. The stuff practically grows on trees. Actually it does, as well as steps, rocks, wheelbarrows, etc. You get the idea. Moss is nature’s natural carpet, and with the right combination of conditions, it forms a nice alternative to standard turf. In order to have moss lawns instead of grass, it’s necessary to meet a few conditions....
If you search the internet for declining moth populations, you will find many efforts to help rebuild their populations in the United Kingdom, but very little mention of saving moths in the United States. However, moth populations have been declining drastically here since the 1950s. Continue reading to learn how you can help by attracting moths to your garden and providing them with safe habitats. Attracting Moths to Your Garden Moths play an important but understated role in the cycle of life....
When it comes to lavender mulch, what type of mulch is best and what mulches should be avoided? Read on to learn more. How To Mulch Lavender Lavender requires well-drained soil and plenty of space to allow air circulation around plants. When it comes to lavender mulching, the goal is to keep the foliage and the crown as dry as possible. This means using about an inch (2.5 cm.) of mulch that won’t trap moisture around the roots....
Why Soil in Berm is Settling For architectural appeal, few things are as attractive as a well planted berm. Berms offer the opportunity to change the topography of your landscape. Most berms are built with organic matter such as compost. This will rot over time and cause soil settling in berms. Another factor when soil in berm is settling is drainage. The first step to fixing the problem is identifying the cause....
Why Plant Native Species? Native plant gardening is a growing trend. More gardeners and homeowners are coming to realize the benefits of choosing native species: They support and stabilize the natural environment in a region.Native species support wildlife, providing habitat and food sources.Many native flowers attract pollinators.They require less water and maintenance.Natives are particularly well-suited to their area and are better able to survive and thrive. Choose native plants that grow in your region for a successful, beautiful, and environmentally friendly garden....
Growing Omero Cabbages The heat tolerance given to this hybrid is responsible for the extended growing season. This variety takes 73 to 78 days until it is ready to harvest. Plant earlier in the typical summer planting season or later in the winter to spring time frame. Omero cabbage tastes best when touched by a hint of frost, so allow for main growth during cooler days. It has a mild, smooth taste that is slightly sweet and slightly peppery....
