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Fast-growing trees can be a blessing when you need shade, a bit of privacy or if you need to block an unattractive view of your neighbors. It’s tempting to choose trees that grow as quickly as possible, but sometimes the fastest-growing trees are the worst choices. This is because many fast-growing trees grow so quickly … Read more
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
Weeping trees are trees characterized by soft, limp twigs. This characterization may lead to a bent crown and pendulous branches that can cascade to the ground. While weepyness occurs in nature, most weeping trees are cultivars. Because of their shape, weeping trees are popular in landscaping; generally they need a lot of space and are solitary so that their effect … Read more
Selecting the perfect Christmas tree for your home can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience for the entire family. Decorating and displaying a real Christmas tree is a tradition followed by generations of families. The most common Christmas tree used is a cut tree. However, some prefer using a living Christmas tree sold with roots … Read more
Birch trees (Betula spp.) are prized for their delicate-looking foliage and distinctive bark. They are deciduous trees or shrubs with an appealing range of bark colors: crisp white, pink, copper, near-red or glossy brown. The mature size of birch trees varies depending on the species. In general, they range from 40 to 70 feet tall, … Read more
Azalea shrubs belong to the Rhododendron genus. Rhododendron is a genus of 400 to 1000 species and includes both of what we commonly call rhododendrons and azaleas. There are basically two categories of azaleas available, evergreen and deciduous. The variety within the two categories differ in size, shape, flower color and light preference. Azaleas are grown … Read more