Home And Garden

With spectacular trumpet-shaped flowers up to 6 inches in diameter, morning glories (Ipomoea spp.) are most frequently grown as annuals, though they can be perennial in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones ranging from 8 to 12. Their heart- or ivy-shaped 4 to 6-inch leaves decorate twining vines which can climb to 20 feet or more. Morning glory blooms usually close by noon on sunny days, but frequently will remain open longer on overcast ones. Easy to grow, the plants can become invasive in almost any climate due to their heavy self-seeding. Understand the Types of Morning Glories Most of the intricately patterned morning glories, including tie-dyes and those with white edges or spatters such as “Chocolate” or “Blue Silk,” are Ipomoea nil -- also known as Ipomoea imperialis -- types (USDA zones 9 through 12). They produce flowers up to 6 inches in diameter and are often known as Japanese morning glories. Ipomoea tricolor varieties (USDA zones 8 through 12), incl

Plantains are unsightly lawn weeds that thrive in compacted soil and neglected lawns. Plantain weed treatment consists of diligently digging out the plants as they appear and treating the plants with herbicides. Since weed plantain thrives in poorly established lawns, the best prevention is a healthy lawn. Keep reading to learn more about plantain control. Broadleaf and Narrow Leaf Plantains The two types of plantains that are commonly found in lawns are broadleaf plantain ( Plantago major ) and narrow-leaf, or buckhorn plant ( P. lanceolata ). These two perennial weeds are easily differentiated by their leaves. Broadleaf plantains have smooth, oval leaves while buckhorn plantain has ribbed, lance-shaped leaves. Both types are found throughout the U.S. where they thrive in compacted soil. Preventing Plantain Lawn Weeds The best way to prevent plantains in the lawn is to keep the soil aerated and healthy. Aerate compacted soil and follow a regular schedule of fertilization a

There are times when the only way to get rid of a stubborn weed is to treat it with an herbicide. Don’t be afraid to use herbicides if you need them, but try other control methods first. Pulling, hoeing, tilling and digging will often take care of weed problems without the need for chemical sprays. Let’s learn more about using herbicide in gardens. What are Herbicides? Herbicides are chemicals that kill plants or prevent them from growing. Their method of killing plants is as varied as the plants they kill. The first step in understanding herbicides is to read the label. Labels tell you how to use herbicides safely and effectively. It is illegal to use herbicides for any purpose or by any method other than as indicated on the label. Here are some tips to help you use herbicides safely and effectively: Avoid using herbicides on windy days and near bodies of water. Always wear a protective mask, gloves and long sleeves. Make sure children and pets are indoors when you spray h

A well-planned garden design should reflect the personal style and needs of its owner, but it should also give the garden a sense of belonging within its surroundings. It is essential for a garden to complement its surroundings, connecting with both the landscape as well as the hardscape. Complementing Garden Surroundings The hardscape is just as important, serving as the framework for the garden. Think of the hardscape as a design map for planting flowers, trees, and shrubs. The hardscape is made up of the non-growing structures within a landscape, such as patios, walkways, edging, and even the home itself. General hardscape features such as a deck, wall, or flagstone walk, are added to the garden design at a later time. Basic hardscape features, like the driveway, are normally already in place and should also be considered beforehand. Always plan ahead when you are undertaking any type of garden design, considering both the landscape and hardscape features carefully prior to

I cannot begin to tell you how many times I have had someone tell me how hard roses are to grow. It just really is not true. There are some things a beginning rose loving gardener can do that will make it very easy on them to be successful. One of those things is choosing where to plant your rose bush. Tips for Choosing Where to Put a Rose Bed Select a place for your new rose bed first before you order your roses. For best results, select a spot that gets 6 to 8 hours of good sun a day. The selected spot should be an area that has good drainage with good soil. The soil can be built up by using some compost and if a bit heavy on the clay or sandy, can be worked up nicely using some soil amendments. Most garden centers carry bagged compost, topsoil and soil amendments. Once you have selected your garden location, go about working up the soil by adding the amendments needed for your rose bed. Deciding How Big Your Rose Bed Will Be Roses need room to grow. Each location for

Using compost tea in the garden is a great way to both fertilize and improve the overall health of your plants and crops. Farmers and other compost tea makers have used this fertilizing brew as a natural garden tonic for centuries, and the practice is still commonly used today. How to Make Compost Tea While there are several recipes available for making compost tea, there are only two basic methods that are used—passive and aerated. Passive compost tea  is the most common and simplistic. This method involves soaking compost-filled “tea bags” in water for a couple of weeks. The ‘tea’ is then used as a liquid fertilizer for plants. Aerated compost tea  requires additional ingredients like kelp, fish hydrolysate, and humic acid. This method also requires the use of air and/or water pumps, making it more costly to prepare. However, using this compost tea starter takes less brewing time and is oftentimes ready for application within a few days as opposed to weeks. Passive Compos

It might seem that the best time to use a pesticide is right when you see pesky insects. However, a few rules do apply and timing is also an important issue. The insect has to be at the most effective state of development, weather can minimize the usefulness of the product or even cause it to get into ground water and poison streams, effecting entire ecosystems. Let’s learn when to apply pesticides and some safe tricks and tips. When to Apply Pesticides Responsible pesticide use in gardens is important no matter whether you use a chemical form or a natural homemade combatant. The very fact that it is used to kill something means it requires respectful and smart handling. You should always garb protectively and follow the manufacturer’s instruction regarding mixing, application rates and timing. Pesticide application timing for a direct strike relies upon the product catching the insect at the correct stage. Many insects have several instars and go through metamorphosis. They m

Well managed soil with plenty of organic amendment is rich in micro- and macro-nutrients essential for good plant growth and production. But even the best managed garden plot can benefit from fertilization. The way to maximize these benefits is to know when to fertilize plants. Application of fertilizer in the wrong season can cause bursts of tender new growth that can succumb to cold weather. For this reason, a fertilizer application schedule for each type of plant is an effective tool. When to Fertilize Plants Fertilizers contain the building blocks for foliar and fruit production, bloom formation and root and general plant health. In poor soils, the treatment is essential for good plant vigor. The application of fertilizer may be from a soil drench, time release granular formula, stakes, or foliar spray. Whichever method works best for you, the time of year for fertilizing is a crucial bit of information. Each plant is slightly different, but there is one overall rule for most

Yucca plants are one of the most  popular  houseplants . Learning how to do the propagation of a yucca plant is an excellent way to increase the number of  yuccas in your yard  or home. One of the more popular choices is to take cuttings from yucca plants. Your yucca plant cutting should be taken from mature growth rather than new growth as mature wood is less prone to rot. Cuttings should ideally be taken in the spring, though they can be taken into the summer if needed. Use sharp, clean shears to cut at least 3″ (or more) from the plant as the cutting. Once you take the cutting, strip all but the top few leaves away from the cutting. This will reduce the amount of moisture lost from the plant while it grows new roots. Take your yucca plant cutting and place in it a cool, shady place for a few days. This will allow the cutting to dry out some and will encourage better rooting. Then place the yucca plant cutting in some potting soil. Put it in a place where is will get indirect li