Whether you want an ugly fence covered or adding a focal point using vining plants. My favorite vine for quickly covering a large fence is hops. It is a green vine without noticeable flowers, however, having cute papery hops. A…
Vining Plants
Category: Gardening & Landscape
Crabgrass
I keep telling people that crabgrass should be our state weed. I do not know when this weed has been so prevalent. With the hot, dry days the lawns are going dormant but this is the weather that crabgrass thrives…
Tomato Leaves Curling
I have received many questions about tomato leaves curling. The most common reason for this during this time of the year is environmental. It even has its own name: physiological leaf roll. The plant is growing rapidly and the roots…
Have an Unattractive Stump in the Yard?
If you have an unattractive stump in the yard, try making it into a planter. The easiest way is to hollow out the center and drill some holes in the side to allow the excess to drain away. They will…
Calendula
Calendula gets its name from the Romans in that the plant blooms every month of the year in warmer climates. In the early history of the plant, it was grown as an herb in easing headaches, toothaches, and fevers. You…
Perennial Weeds in the Flowerbed and Garden
With the spring rains and now the heat, many gardeners are having problems with perennial weeds in the flowerbed and garden like creeping Jenny (field bindweed) and thistles. The use of herbicides in the garden is not a choice, so…
Planting a Tree
When planting a tree or shrub that is grown in a container, do not dig and amend a large hole. The tree thinks it has been transplanted into a larger pot. The roots will grow in the kinder soil and…
Backyard Tree that is Unsightly Underneath
Do you have a backyard tree that is unsightly underneath where no grass is growing? You can landscape to make the area look nice. The first thing is not to harm the tree. Never pile the dirt around the ground…
Hardening Off
Ever bought plants from a greenhouse and transplanted them to your garden just to have them die a couple of days later? The plants from a sheltered greenhouse were not able to withstand the full sun of drying winds, they…
Wind Spinners
Wind spinners can be a do-it-yourself project or a high-dollar piece of art. Using one in the backyard gives motion to the area giving a calm feeling. The wind or breeze is now something you can see. In the garden,…
Neem Oil
There is a “new” product making its way to the garden shelves called Neem oil or Neem oil extract. Actually, Neem oil has been around for thousands of years, however, is entering the garden area. It comes from the Neem…
Two Shrub Pests
Last year there were two shrub pests and now is the time to control them. One is the honeysuckle aphid, a small black and white aphid that attacks the plant early and leaves twisted leaves and dead twigs. The damage…
Good Shade Tree
Looking for a good shade tree for the backyard without any hassles? There are many proven trees that you can grow starting with the common hackberry. A medium-growing shade tree getting around 55 feet tall and 35 feet spread. The…
Spring Blooming Dutch Bulbs
The earliest flowers in the spring are the spring blooming Dutch bulbs. Many blooms thru the snow. Snow crocus have already bloomed and now to the jumbo crocus, early tulips, and snowdrops. While many of these flowers are small, they…
Season Extenders
I used to plant everything in the garden the second week in May. Trying to get everything done in May was impossible. So, lately, I have started to plant much earlier. Last weekend I planted radish and spinach seeds. These…