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Trees & Houseplants : Home & Garden
Is Tomato Plant Food Good for a Hanging Basket?
Hanging baskets can be bright, decorative additions to any home property, but they come with the same requirements as any planting site: the right soil, water, location and nutrition. Fertilizer for the plants or flowers in a hanging basket should always depend on the individual needs of those plant
Hunting Morel Mushrooms in Iowa
The morel mushroom is the edible flower of a fungus in the genus Morchella. Two different varieties of morel mushrooms, yellow and black, grow in the state of Iowa.
How to Use Russian Olive Trees for Firewood
Russian olive trees were recommended for many years as natural windbreaks, but have fallen out of favor in recent years. Some find their odor offensive, while leaves and fruits are messy. In natural settings, they quickly become invasive, crowding out other native species. They are considered noxiou
How to Plant Hydrangea in a Container
The hydrangea is a deciduous shrub that blooms in big, round balls of color. Although the shrubs can get rather large, there are some varieties that will do well in a container. Look for the Annabelle, Nikko Blue, Veitchii or Alice varieties for best results. Growing hydrangeas in pots and container
How to Weed a Juniper
Many types of junipers are grown in the home landscape. Controlling the weeds around junipers that grow as trees is much easier than controlling junipers that grow as low-growing shrubs or ground covers. Weeds that are embedded among these junipers are often difficult to reach without getting stuck
How to Grow Celeriac
You don't see celeriac much in the grocery stores - one good reason to grow this tasty, turnip-like root. Another is that this cool-season crop is much less finicky than its close relative, celery.
How to Grow Coca Leaves
Coca plants are native to South America, where they are widely cultivated. The Andes mountains are widely used for coca plants, which thrive on hilly and sloped sites. Coca may also be grown at lower elevations. The drug cocaine is derived from the leaves of the coca plant. Coca plants have also bee
What Kind of Fertilizer Do You Use on a Holly Bush?
Holly bushes are easy-to-grow shrubs, usually evergreen, requiring well-drained soil and sun locations. Bushes grow in a range of sizes and traits. All ornamental holly shrubs benefit from proper mulching and balanced fertilizer.
Crabgrass Vs. Bermuda
Bermuda and crabgrass look very similar in the garden, and both can be pests. They are warm-season grasses that have similar seed stalks when flowering. The main way to tell the difference is by sight, but classification by type or reproduction methods can be helpful as well.
Will Flower Petals Absorb Dye?
A dye-and-water mixture will effectively color a cut flower. The dye travels up the stem and into the petals. Experimenting with cutting the stem and using a variety of colors enhances the results.
Description of a Snowball Plant
Also known as European snowball bush, snowball plant (Viburnum opulus "Roseum") is a cultivar of the wild European Cranberrybush Viburnum (Viburnum opulus). The plant is characterized by pom-pomlike, pure white flower heads that resemble a ball of snow. The plant is sterile and, therefore, does not
When to Trim Maple Trees
The eastern U.S. is home to many species of maple trees, the most well-known being the sugar maple (acer saccharum). However, even a tree as inherently beautiful as a maple may need to be pruned. To minimize damage to the tree while maximizing your pruning effort, using the proper tools and consul
How to Plant Duke Blueberry Bushes
Duke blueberry bushes are one of the most widely planted northern high-bush varieties. The plants bloom late and ripen early and produce firm, flavorful, medium-blue berries. Commercial growers find it hard to keep the Duke blueberry bushes growing well over a long period of time, so they must emplo
How to Naturally Keep Unwanted Animals Out of Your Garden
Are squirrels and chipmunks dining on your flower bulbs? Are the neighborhood cats using your freshly-mulched flower beds as litter boxes? Are dogs delighting in romping through your garden and plants? Are bunnies nibbling on your lettuce? Here is how to naturally keep unwanted animals out of yo
When to Plant Zinnia Seeds in North Texas?
The eye-popping colors and long, slender stems of zinnias can add an alluring contrast to your other flower-garden tenants. You need to follow suggested planting times for these flowers, so the North Texas weather doesn't take a toll on your zinnias.
Deciduous Shade Trees
A bald cypress is a large deciduous shade tree.bald cypress image by FFprod66 from Fotolia.comMany deciduous tree species grow to be rather large, making them excellent shade trees to have planted around your home. Though deciduous trees lose their foliage in the fall, they provide...
What Is the Best Way to Preserve Flowers & Why?
Fresh cut flowers are beautiful. Most people are uncertain of how to preserve their flowers. The best way to preserve flowers depends on the decision to either keep them fresh a week or so longer or to preserve them for life. The options to preserve them for life include hanging, waxing, drying or p
Garden Evergreen Shrubs
Evergreen shrubs are an important landscaping element. These plants can be used to create privacy hedges, ornamental bushes, and container plants. They are found in all parts of the country and thrive with very little care. It is entirely reasonable to expect your shrubs to last for decades if you p
After-Harvest Care of Raspberries
Raspberries ripen in midsummer, producing for several weeks through the peak of summer. Yearly maintenance of the plants doesn't end when the last berry is picked. Raspberries still require basic care as they collect the necessary energy from the soil and sun to produce a new batch of fruiting canes
How to Prepare Daylily Seeds
Daylilies are among the most popular garden flowers available, well-loved for their colorful blooms and resilience. They are not fussy and will reward you every year with a host of cheerful blooms, even when treated with neglect. They are drought- and heat-resistant and will grow in shade or in full