Home And Garden

Pest attractors Often, while people take the best precautions to keep their home insect and rodent free, the problem that is inhibiting the insects is hidden in plain sight. The beautiful flowers, fruits, and leaves of your garden, might be the reason for pests, snakes, and insects in your home! ​Ivy One of the most popular and beautiful climbing plants is the Ivy. And so, people love having it in their garden. But, the thick leaves and vines of Ivy are the perfect hiding spots for aphids, spiders, and beetles. ​Bamboo Bamboo is another excellent choice when it comes to a home garden. It grows quickly, has tall branches, and just looks regal at times. But sadly, Bamboo is also a magnet for pests. Aphids and mites can infest bamboo, and the dense leaves can become home to snakes. ​Citrus fruits and plants Another insect magnet is citrus plants. Orange, lemon, lemon balm, and the likes all can attract pests because of their fruit and scent. Plus, the fruits on the plant will attract rode...

Today we will be talking about  ornamental plants  as they can be grown inside and outside of your house? They are, in fact, very adaptive to where they are planted. However, if you are looking into planting your flowers, trees, or shrubs for the first time, then you should always take into consideration the climate you live in as they tend to have specific special requirements. Ornamental plants are so common nowadays that it’s very likely you either have one inside your house or someone close to you have one as well! They are grown for display purposes, thus, they have gained popularity within the last couple of years. However, some plants can be ornamental and functional, but more often than not, ornamental plants tend to be the ones that do not have any utility to humans, so we tend to think of them as beautiful and attractive, but that’s it. They give our senses some joy, thus, they only serve a decoration purpose. As a result, ornamental plants come in a wide range of co...

Q: How often should I water my orchid? A: Many people make the mistake of assuming that since orchids are native to tropical rainforests, they must be watered several times a week. Unfortunately, watering this frequently will kill the roots of any orchid in short order. The general rule of thumb for orchids grown in the home is to water every 5 to 12 days, depending on the type of orchid, the temperature the plant is grown in, and the time of year. During the warm summer months when days are long, more frequent watering is required than in the cooler, shorter days of winter. There are three basic types of orchids, as far as watering is concerned: those that should be kept evenly moist at all times; those that should be allowed to nearly dry out between waterings, except when in active growth; and those that should always be allowed to dry out a bit between waterings. The guidelines below list the major varieties of orchid in each type. Varieties to keep evenly moist (not soggy or ...

Verbena is one of those garden essentials that bloom from spring to fall with very little fuss. In frost-free climates it is grown as a perennial, but most of us will have to grow it as an annual. Plants grow in clumps that reach a height of six to ten inches. Flowers can be mauve, purple, white, pink, apricot or red. Verbena is a popular hanging basket plant, and it also looks good in rock gardens or as an edging, and in window boxes. You'll find them in your local garden center in little pots and big hanging baskets, but you don't need to spend a lot of money on verbena because they are easy to grow from seeds. These charming little plants are relatively carefree. In fact, the main cause of problems with verbena is over-pampering, especially overfeeding and overwatering. There are just three things you will need to do to keep your plants healthy and blooming all season. 1. Deadheading Deadheading is picking off the faded blooms. If you don’t deadhead your verbena, it will qui...

Planting roses correctly means you will have fewer problems down the road. Much of the fussiness associated with roses is due to improper care. Find out how to plant a rose that will bloom beautifully. Here's How: 1.         First, find an area that receives full sun.   2.         If you have a bare root specimen, soak it in a bucket of water before planting. For roses that are potted, you can water the pot thoroughly and let it sit until ready to plant. Then, when you remove the pot from the plant itself, you will have a moist ball of soil to ease stress on the roots. 3.         Dig a hole about six inches deeper than you will be planting the rose. You will need to add bone meal and compost to the hole before planting and want the crown (or area where the plant first starts growing above the ground) to be just at ground level when finished. Your hole should be twice the width o...

Pansies are one of the earliest flowering plants, blooming right alongside your spring bulbs. These members of the violet family herald in the new garden season with a wide variety of bright, brilliant colors. They include almost all colors of the rainbow including black, and many bi-colors. There are so many combinations of these profuse bloomers that we don't' think any two are alike! Pansies are popular, easy, and fun to grow. Fill an area or entire bed with Pansies for a striking spring effect! They also are great in windowsills and containers. Propagation: Pansy are grown from seeds. Pansy plants like full to partial sun. Pansies can be directly seeded into your flower garden or seeded indoors for transplanting later. For spring blooms, you need to start your Pansies in pots and containers indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost. Sow  Pansy seeds early in the season and cover lightly with 1/8" soil. Water thoroughly once. They germinate slowly. ...

Geraniums are one of the most reliable plants in the home garden. They can be obtained in flower in late spring and will add color to the garden until frost. The new cultivars offer almost shatter-proof flowers that withstand wind and rain. Geraniums can be obtained as seedlings or established plants. Planting: Set out plants in the spring after danger of frost is past. Geraniums that have been injured by cold temperatures will produce little growth and the foliage will often be red. Planting in late May is preferable for the most productive plants. Plant geraniums where they will receive sunlight for best flower production. Select a site where water drainage is good. Geraniums will grow in almost any type of soil if well-aerated and porous. Heavy clay soils should be improved by adding organic matter each year. An inch of coarse sphagnum peat moss, partially-rotted manure, or compost spaded in when preparing the beds is ideal. Geranium plants are generally available as roote...