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Trees & Houseplants : Home & Garden
How to Grow Vines in the Desert
Growing vines in the desert provides an opportunity to landscape tricky or problem areas. This could include a narrow planting bed or a hot, west-facing wall, or an unsightly chain-link fence. Vines also can provide shade or an interesting transition between spaces if you grow them to cover the to
How to Germinate Bee Balm Seeds
Fragrant bee balm attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, adding color and movement to the garden. This perennial herb produces feathery blooms atop a slender stalk in early to mid-summer. Colors range from brilliant reds to shades of pink, violet and blue. Hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9, bee balm,
Homemade Fly Traps for Farm Use
Farms are absolute havens for flies. Food sources abound, including animal feed, animal waste and compost heaps. While animals don't much mind the buzzing insects, they can be a real nuisance for those living inside the farmhouse. Commercial fly traps, like glue strips and foggers, will certainly do
When Can You Plant an Avocado Seed?
For guacamole lovers and connoisseurs of California Club sandwiches, avocados are the one ingredient that stands in the spotlight. If it weren't for the buttery, green fruit, neither of those dishes would exist. While most commercial avocados are reproduced by grafting, gardeners and houseplant en
Potting Soil for African Violets
African violets are found growing in the soft, light, loamy detritus near creeks in the forests of Africa. They do not actually grow in dirt. To grow violets successfully as houseplants, you must replicate the growing conditions they enjoyed when they were weeds.
My Rosemary Plants Are Turning Brown
Rosemary plants are common backyard herbs used primarily as cooking ingredients and fragrances. Native to the arid Mediterranean coast, rosemary prefers a warm, dry and mild climate. When rosemary is poorly cared for or planted in a climate that’s less than ideal, it may begin to turn brown. T
How to Grow Dwarf Apples
Consider growing dwarf apples if you want to reap the benefits of home grown apples but lack sufficient growing space. Dwarf apple trees grow from 6 to 10 feet tall, produce apples earlier than standard apple trees and are easier to manage. Two dwarf apple trees provide enough fruit for a family of
My Hydrangeas Are Turning Blue After Flowering
Bigleaf hydrangea varieties can produce flowers that range from blue through white and deep pink or red depending on the soil pH, the presence of aluminum and whether the flowers possess certain pigments or copigments. Without these pigments bigleaf hydrangeas (H. macrophylla or serrata) remain whi
How to Water Aloe
Aloe vera is a succulent plant, adapted to arid regions that do not get much rainfall. Succulent plants store moisture inside their leaves, and the gel-like sap of the Aloe vera can be used for a variety of skin conditions such as burns and scrapes. If you are growing an Aloe vera plant in your home
How to Link Carpet Squares
If you have a bunch of carpet squares sitting around your house and you want to attach them together, you can easily create one large carpet in an afternoon. Using a tool designed for carpet layers (which can be rented), you can make your own area rug for much less money.
Food for Lily Plants
Lilies are striking, easy-care flowers on plants that are heavy feeders.Richard Goerg/Photodisc/Getty ImagesFrom about 80 original species of lilies, hundreds of striking cultivars have been developed. Flowers range from pure white, yellow and orange to pink, maroon, red and bi-color...
Why Is Sap Flowing After a Tree Trimming?
Pruning trees is a normal and necessary part of tree care, but after cutting away parts of the tree to make it look better, you may notice sap running down the trunk and discoloring the tree. However, sap flow after trimming a tree is normal and more of a cosmetic problem than anything else.
Exotic Flower Identification
Exotic plants are plants that are foreign to the region where they are planted. In some cases, the native plants die or are choked out because these exotic plants invade native lands. Exotic plants often are beautiful, but, ecologically, they cause disturbance to the balance of the native ecosystem.
How Do I Plant Hibiscus Flowers?
If you're looking for a hardy shrub that blooms from mid-summer up until the first frost, choose a hibiscus flowering shrub. The hibiscus flower, sometimes referred to as China rose, is hardy to 25 degrees Fahrenheit and grows best in USDA growing zones 4 through 9. This perennial plant can get up t
Yellow Dead Leaves on a Boxwood
Boxwood bushes are small shrubs that can be pruned into square or rounded shapes for accents or borders in landscapes and gardens. Their bright green leaves create an attractive backdrop for flowers and other plants. However, when the leaves on a boxwood turn yellow or die prematurely, the bush may
How to Brace a Sapling to Grow Upright
Planting trees in your yard is a smart move. They not only provide shade, potentially cutting your utility bills, but they also can increase a home's value. When you plant a sapling, you may find that it's having a hard time standing upright. The trunk is thin and flexible, so it needs to be braced
How to Grow Wild Blueberries and Huckleberries
Wild blueberries and huckleberries are nutritiously-packed fruits that are easy to grow and relatively low care, once the soil has been properly prepared.
How to Care for Abutilon
Also known as a flowering maple, the abutilon (Abutilon pictum Thompsonii) is a tender perennial that can grow to heights of 15 feet, with a spread to match. Native to Brazil, India and Asia, the abutilon shrub closely resembles the hibiscus, displaying variegated foliage and large, 2-inch orange fl
How to Divide Lavender Plants
Lavender is one of the oldest and most widely used herbs in history. The Greeks used it as a laxative and the Romans used it as stomach remedy. We grow it today for its wonderful fragrance. We use it in sachets and dry it to bring a bit of summer to the cold winter. This native of Mesopotamia, howev
Flowering Plants That Will Live in Full Sun
Any area in a landscape that will host flowering plants and receives six hours or more of sun each day will require plants that love long exposure to the sun. These plants will thrive in the proper conditions, rewarding you with abundant, colorful blooms. Regardless of where you live, sun-loving flo