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Window Box Watering One of the reasons window box watering can be such a pain is that the containers by nature are not particularly deep, meaning they dry out more rapidly than plants growing in the ground. This also means remembering to water more frequently which, while optimal, isn’t always the case. A self-watering window box system on a timer will remember to irrigate the plants for you. Window boxes are sometimes difficult to keep consistently watered due to their placement....

Deadleafing vs. Deadheading Many gardeners are familiar with the process of deadheading, but deadleafing garden plants may be less known. Just as deadheading refers to the removal of old or spent flower blooms, deadleafing refers to the removal of dead or dried leaves from the plant. When to Remove Leaves – Is Deadleafing Necessary? For many flowering plants, the process of plant regrowth is constant. Depending upon the time in the growing season, plant leaves will naturally turn brown and die back to the ground or to the plant’s stem....

Japanese Maples Not Leafing Out Trees not leafing out when they’re supposed to will almost certainly cause alarm in homeowners. When this happens to trees prized for their foliage, like Japanese maples, it can be especially heart wrenching. If winter has come and gone, you look to your Japanese maples to start producing their beautiful leaves. If, instead, you see no leaves on Japanese maples in spring or early summer, it is clear that something is amiss....

Getting Active in Nature Keeping kids active at home shouldn’t be hard. Get creative with fun games or learning activities to promote physical movement and tie into gardening or nature. Here are some ideas for nature exercises and activities to get you started: Go on a nature walk. For this activity, you simply go for a walk around your backyard, through your neighborhood, or your garden. Talk about things that you see related to gardening or play nature “I Spy....

What is a Lady Banks Climbing Rose? Lady Banks (Rosa banksiae) is an evergreen climbing rose which can send out thornless vining branches over 20 feet (6 m.) in length. Hardy as an evergreen in USDA zones 9 to 11, Lady Banks can survive into USDA zones 6 to 8. In these colder climates, Lady Banks acts like a deciduous plant and loses its leaves during the winter. The rose is named after the wife of Sir Joseph Banks, director of Kew gardens in England, after the plant was brought back from China by William Kerr in 1807....

Fairy Castle Cactus Classification Some experts classify the cactus as a form of Acanthocereus tetragonus. It has also been given the species name hildmannianus in the genus Cereus. The susbspecies is the real puzzler. Fairy castle cactus is either in the subspecies uruguayanus or monstrose. Whichever scientific name is correct, the plant is a delightful little cactus for your home. Information About Fairy Castle Cactus Plant Cereus tetragonus is native to North, South, and Central Americas....

How are Pepper Plants Different? In general, there are several different types and species of peppers that growers may choose for their gardens. Even novice growers may be familiar with both sweet and hot peppers; however, the species of these plants will impact their size, shape, flower appearance, and sometimes appearance of the leaves. How to Identify Pepper Plants In many cases, the differences between peppers of the Capsicum genus can be minimal....

Why Weeds in the Lawn Can Be Helpful One of the major benefits of having a weedy lawn is that many weeds in your lawn attract butterflies and caterpillars. Common lawn weeds, such as plantain, dandelion, and clover are sources of food for the Buckeye butterfly, Baltimore butterfly, Eastern tailed blue butterfly, and a great many others. Allowing some of these common weeds to grow in your garden encourages butterflies to lay their eggs in your yard, which will result in more butterflies in your garden later on....

How to Grow a Lotus Plant Growing lotus plants requires a certain amount of diligence. The plants will spread quickly and easily if grown in the soil, so it’s best to plant them in containers. Make sure your container has no drainage holes – lotus roots can easily escape through them, and since your container will be underwater, drainage is a non-issue. If you’re growing lotus plants from rhizomes, fill a container with garden soil and lightly cover the rhizomes, leaving the pointed tips slightly exposed....

What Causes Mango Tipburn? When you inspect your mango and find mango leaves with burnt tips, the plant is probably suffering from a physiological disease called tipburn. The primary symptom of tipburn of mango leaves is necrotic sections around the leaf edges. If your mango leaf tips are burnt, you may ask what causes mango tipburn. It is important to figure out the cause of the condition in order to begin appropriate treatment....

When it comes to growing Medinilla plants, gardeners have a few options. The easiest way is to acquire these ornamentals as transplants. Though available in some garden centers, this may be difficult in cooler growing zones. Luckily, Medinilla can also be started by planting viable seeds. How to Grow Medinilla from Seed To successfully plant Medinilla seeds, growers will first need to locate a reliable seed source. While seeds are available online, it is important to use only reputable sources in order to obtain the best chance for success....

Mountain Pepper Info Native to Tasmania, mountain pepper (Drimys aromatica) is a sturdy, mostly trouble-free plant that grows in the relatively mild climates of USDA plant hardiness zones 7 through 10. Birds are highly attracted to the plant’s pungent berries. Mountain pepper reaches heights of 13 feet (4 m.) at maturity, with a width of about 8 feet (2.5 m.). It works well as a hedge plant or privacy screen, or holds its own as a focal point in the garden....

Ginger with Brown Leaves Ginger plants can be charming and exotic houseplants and garden plants; their hardy nature makes them welcome in a wide range of environments. Although they suffer few serious problems, they do complain loudly when they’re not getting what they need, with the results often being browning ginger leaves. Brown leaves on a ginger plant isn’t usually a sign that your plant is doomed, but it is a sign you should take a careful look at the conditions where it’s growing....

Spindly Knockout Roses Knockout roses really are great plants that bloom repeatedly without much maintenance. You don’t even need to deadhead the blooms when they fade. “Low care” does not mean “no care” though. If you’ve been ignoring all maintenance, it’s little wonder that you have spindly knockout roses instead of compact bushes filled with flowers. The key to getting bushier knockout roses is seasonal pruning. Pruning Leggy Knockout Roses It’s natural to want your knockout roses to be healthy and vital plants....

Nasturtium Seed Harvest: Tips on Nasturtium Seed Saving Collect plump nasturtium seeds when the plant is winding down in late summer or early fall, before the rainy season or first frost. Don’t gather nasturtium seeds too early because immature seeds aren’t as likely to germinate. Ideally, the seeds will dry and fall off the vine, but you may want to harvest them before they drop. Move the leaves aside to find the seeds in the centers of the flowers....

Creating a Border for Native Gardens When selecting native plants for edging, it’s best to choose those that are native to your particular region. Also, consider the plant’s natural habitat. For instance, a woodland fern won’t do well in an arid desert environment. A reputable local nursery that specializes in native plants can advise you. In the meantime, we have provided a few suggestions here for edging a native garden....

Symptoms of Southern Pea Root Knot Nematode Infestation Root knot is just one type of nematodes of southern pea, but it is a common one that can cause a lot of damage. It is helpful to take steps to prevent an infestation, but you should also be aware of the signs and symptoms so that you can manage this disease early if it impacts your garden. Because these nematodes attack the roots, the most definite signs of an infection are below the soil line....

Pacific Northwest Gardens The Pacific Northwest covers a lot of ground from mountains to coasts and arid landscapes to rainforests. Each area of the region may be quite dissimilar regarding planting times so it’s a good idea to consult with your local Master Gardeners or nursery prior to planting. About the Northwest Planting Guide Along with other garden related chores, March is planting time in the northwest. The following northwest planting guide is just that, a guide....

Oregano Disease Problems Diseases affecting oregano plants are primarily caused by fungi. Fungi thrive in moist conditions where the air doesn’t circulate well enough to keep the foliage dry. Pruning plants will open them up for better air circulation, and spacing them according to the plant tag solves some oregano problems. If your soil doesn’t drain well grow oregano in a raised bed or in containers. The fungi that cause oregano disease problems often result in rotting leaves or roots....

Urban Landscaping Ideas Creating ornamental urban gardens is a matter of integrating hardware and hardscaping with plants. You’ll want to select urban ornamental plants and trees that tolerate city pollution but do not require an enormous amount of space. While in the past urban garden design included complex plant arrangements, modern city gardens are simpler. Gardeners create a focal feature in the yard around which to place plantings. Focus is created by using placement, contrast, and surprise....