Plastic mulch applied over the bed before you plant retains the most moisture in the soil, so less watering is necessary. Adding compost or peat moss to the bed before planting aids drainage in heavy soils.Cucumbers typically need 1 to 2 inches of water...
The azalea is a flowering shrub related to the rhododendron. With too much shade, the plant does not flower. These hybrids grow in full sun and are nicknamed sun azaleas.The University of Illinois recommends azaleas such as the Flame Azalea that tolerates...
Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) grow as annuals, with some varieties only living for two months. Soil quality and the amount of natural moisture in the soil affects how much water sunflowers need, so monitor the soil moisture in your garden and water when...
Ice plant is a succulent plant desired for its rapid growth, low maintenance and hardy nature. Usually, no more than 18 inches of water a year is required to grow ice plant effectively.Ice plant's growth is based on the amount of water it receives.
Strawberries are best planted in early spring. Choose a bed with full-sun exposure.During the growing season, strawberries need full sun. Better fruit and stronger plants result from 10 hours of sun daily.Moving a strawberry plant from a container into...
I planted the birch on the rectangle next to the curb in front of the house and put a guard fence around it. My initial plan for a jungle get-away complete with Tarzan swinging on a vine, was modified somewhat when I came across a zone chart.
Although there are over 90 species of boxwood, just three of them -- and their hybrids -- make up the majority of boxwoods used in landscapes in the United States today. In fact, "Compacta" has an extremely slow growth rate and may take 15 years to reach...
So I tried it, and lo and behold, my little jug sticks are budding this spring!Now that my husband I have learned how to both control and propagate our forsythia, our only problem today is deciding what to do with the fresh shrubs that we produce.
You should also have one nesting box for every three to four hens. However, you can do a few things to encourage that behavior in a bird that is prone to do so. Hanging some drape-style curtains can encourage a broody hen as well.
While they're not the easiest plants to grow, they're far from the most difficult. Never use cold water – anything below 50 F. Place your orchid's pot in this tray – the evaporating water from the gravel tray will surround your plant in moisture without...
Indoor palms may need watered up to twice a week depending on how dry your home is. Overwatered plants, however, may begin dropping otherwise healthy fronds. A foul odor may also emanate from the soil as the roots begin to rot and turn mushy.Even indoor...
For comparison, full-time confinement in my A-frame mobile coop would require a flock no larger than three full-sized chickens, but because my coop has no vertical space, it's inappropriate for healthy, full-time confinement.
This will not lower yields at harvest, but it's a waste of expensive seed.You may be interested in knowing how many alfalfa seeds you will be planting. It can be grown where there is adequate water or in arid areas.
Remove any dead or broken plant material and continue training young plants. The scientific designation isbanana shrubs are more properly trees that can grow 6 to 15 feet in height.
Beautyberry doesn't need pruning every year if you use this system.If you are concerned about a gap in the garden while the shrub regrows, prune it gradually. The fall foliage is an attractive yellow or chartreuse color.
Colored mulch in gardens can actually rob the plants of the nitrogen they need to survive., natural double or triple processed mulch, cedar mulch or pine bark. They will help retain soil moisture and help protect plants during winter, but they do not...
Put down a sheet of sturdy plastic, weighted down with rocks, over any bare beds, and you'll be welcomed in the spring by soil that is un-eroded and decidedly warmer (thus, easier to plant in) than the surrounding soil.
Think of mulch as a blanket you tuck over your plants' toes, but not just to keep them warm. What can mulch do? When you layer tea tree mulch in gardens just on top of the soil, it creates a physical barrier to weed growth.
This unique product made of recycled, tumbled glass is used in the landscape much like gravel or pebbles. Clear glass mulch is also available. Some municipalities offer recycled glass mulch to the public free of charge.
Mulch quality varies depending upon the type and/or supplier, either of which may create problems with mulch.First of all, too much of a good thing is just that — too much. This is generally a temporary condition with yellowing of leaves and wilted...
If the area drains too quickly, you'll need to amend the soil with organic material or plant only. At this point, succulents can be weaned to one watering a week.After the third week, continue watering new plants 2-3 times a week for the rest of their...
Read on to find out.Pine straw is freely available in areas with pine trees and is inexpensive to purchase in bales. It is especially good around acid-loving plants such asIn fall, rake up the needles and place them over spent tender perennials and other...
Many gardeners view the piles of dropped autumn leaves as a nuisance. These are partially decomposed and can be worked into the soil.Using leaf litter for mulch is an easy way to recycle the debris in your yard.
Even the most beginner gardeners among us know about, but there are so many different options: hay and straw, woodchips, leaves, compost, and even rocks. It is dry and hollow and there is no nutrition left in it.
While some of the colored reflective films have been reported as more effective than white or black plastic mulches for management of pests, they are not effective on a wide array of pests.
Leave a 4- to 6-inch ring of bare soil directly around the trunk.While corn cob mulch is suitable for any location in your garden, its coarse texture makes it especially useful for the soil around young evergreen trees and shrubs.
The hoses have a rough surface that hides millions of tiny pores. Loop the hose around plants that need extra water, but allow a few inches between the hose and the stem. Soaker hose irrigation keeps the soil moist but never waterlogged, and the foliage...
