Plants

If you enjoy watching wildlife in the fall and winter months, consider planting trees, shrubs or vines that produce berries. Many native berries mature in late summer to early fall and disappear, in part, because animals and birds eat and spread them. Fortunately, many native plants and introduced species can provide beautiful berries that persist into the winter months and … Read more

Vegetables are parts of plants that are consumed by humans or other animals as food. The original meaning is still commonly used and is applied to plants collectively to refer to all edible plant matter, including the flowers, fruits, stems, leaves, roots, and seeds. These plant parts are either eaten fresh or prepared in a number … Read more

Site Preparation Like most summer vegetables, peppers require rich, moist soil that drains well so it doesn’t become waterlogged. Working a 2-inch layer of compost into the site improves moisture retention. You can perform a soil test to determine fertilizer needs and soil pH, which must be between 6.0 and 6.8 for healthy growth. Work … Read more

Crabgrass sometimes grows upright but typically grows in a flattened, prostrate habit. It grows in patches, producing branched stems that spread outward to form thick mats that choke out other grasses. Roots grow from nodes on the stems. Crabgrass blades are coarsely textured, are yellowish-green and grow about 1 to 8 inches long. The sheath … Read more

Just like animals need food to grow and thrive, plants need nutrients. They get some of what they need from the soil, but often, they don’t get the optimal amount. That’s the purpose of fertilizer: to provide plants with the specific nutrients they need to grow that are lacking in the soil of your garden. … Read more

Bellflowers have characteristically bell-shaped, usually blue flowers, and many are cultivated as garden ornamentals. They are native mainly to northern temperate regions, Mediterranean areas, and tropical mountains. Blooming in shades of blue, purple, pink or white, Campanula (Bellflowers) are perfect for beds and borders, particularly in areas with cool summers. Whether annuals, herbaceous or evergreen perennials, they … Read more

Salvia is the largest genus of plants in the sage family Lamiaceae, with nearly 1000 species. Salvia species include annual, biennial, or perennial herbaceous plants, along with woody subshrubs. The stems are typically angled like other members in Lamiaceae. The leaves are typically entire, but sometimes toothed or pinnately divided. The flowering stems bear small bracts, dissimilar to the basal leaves … Read more

Hostas (Hosta spp.) originate from Asia and are also known as plantain lilies. This genus of herbaceous perennials consists of 40 species with thousands of hybrids. Hostas are primarily known for their full leaves that come in blue, green, gold and white, depending on the variety. These leaves are what attract many home gardeners to … Read more

Agapanthus also known as the African lily or lily of the Nile, agapanthus (Agapanthus orientalis) is a perennial bloomer available in a range of blue hues, from pastel lavender to deep bluish-purple flowers, which contrast with the plant’s strappy, deep green foliage. Mature height of the plant is 2 to 4 feet. African lilies produce … Read more

What is a Giant Pumpkin? A Giant pumpkin is simply a pumpkin that is larger in size than the average pumpkin. Contrary to what the name suggests, there is no actual difference between a Giant pumpkin and any other pumpkin in terms of taste or nutritional value. However, Giant pumpkins do tend to have more … Read more