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Trees & Houseplants : Home & Garden
How Long Does it Take for Columbine Seeds to Germinate?
Available in an array of colors, including red, blue, purple, yellow and bicolor, columbine blooms during the summer and thrives in a range of garden conditions. Flowers grow up to 2 feet tall. Columbine grown from seed doesn't flower the year that you plant it so expect bright flowers the following
Cause & Cure for Leaf Curl in Zucchini Plants
Zucchini plants belong to a group of plants known as cucurbits, which also includes squash, pumpkins, melons and watermelons. These plants are all affected by many of the same pests and diseases. Zucchini plants with leaf curl problems may be suffering from a condition that will cause problems for o
How to Grow Sweet Potato Plants
Gardening has been a pastime of many people for centuries. Years ago, gardens were what people lived off of as they didn't have the grocery stores we do today. Gardening is still important to a lot of people. They grow such items as green beans, radishes, lettuce, carrots, potatoes and sweet potatoe
How to Make Southeast U.S. Flower Seed Balls
The southeastern U.S. is a biologically diverse region. In fact, the U.S. Forest Service says, it is more diverse than some countries. Growing native southeastern plants helps support the local wildlife in your area and helps the environment by using less water. Seed balls are an easy way to get a w
How to Grow Persimmon Trees From Seed
Persimmon trees are often grown as ornamentals; their glossy leaves and uniquely textured bark providing an attractive and interesting accent in any landscape. These beautiful trees, of course, also produce a delicious fruit that has been a popular addition to the home garden for many years. While m
How to Start New Guinea Impatiens
New Guinea impatiens are tender perennials that are usually grown as annuals or indoor container plants. They are taller and have larger flowers than common impatiens, and they tolerate more sun. New Guinea impatiens are grown from cuttings taken from the tips of the stems. They are more expensive w
Growing Fringe Tree - Chionanthus virginicus
A delightful sight to behold in spring is a fringe tree in bloom. The shrub is covered with white flowers that are fragrant. Learn more about the growing conditions needed for success.
How to Plant Blueberry Bushes in the Northeast
A rhododendron family member, the blueberry bush appears in three main types: rabbiteye (Vaccinium ashei), highbush (Vaccinium corymbosum) and low bush (Vaccinium angustifolium). If you live in the Northeast, low bush is the variety for your garden. It is adapted to Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Mai
How to Kill a Banana Tree Root
Banana plants are ideal for the home landscape, whether you're growing them for their fruit or ornamental use. There are a few reasons why you might want to kill roots of banana plants, which are often incorrectly called trees. Banana plants have a rhizomatic root system and send new stalks up, prod
Lemon Myrtle Pests & Diseases
Common in Australia, Lemon Myrtle is a medium sized tree with glossy green leaves that produces white, puffy flowers in the spring. The tree is noted for its insect resistance and is grown as an herbal for culinary use and for its essential oils. The oil in the tree carries high levels of...
How Large Will Lavender Grow as a Shrub?
The sweet-fragrant herb lavender has been used for centuries for its aromatic quality, culinary uses and analgesic remedies. Its sustainability in low-fertility, alkaline soil makes it popular as a speciality crop and many species of the genus grows between 2 to 3 feet.
How to Hand-Pollinate Gourds
Gourds are members of the Cucurbitaceae family. A close relative of cucumbers, zucchini, and pumpkins, these tropical vines are grown primarily for their unusual, showy fruits. The inedible fruit is frequently dried and used for decorative purposes. A single vine bears both female and male blossoms,
Earthworms & Soil Formation
Earthworms are important parts of ecosystems throughout the world. Many people look for these organisms in home gardens as indicators of healthy vegetable garden soil. Earthworms are responsible for contributing to soil formation, soil aeration and improved soil drainage through their consumption of
What Would Make Pansies Wilt?
Pansies are compact plants featuring a number of flower colors and marking patterns. They prefer cool weather and bloom any time when the temperature is above freezing. Pansies suffer from diseases or environmental conditions that could cause wilt.
Why Doesn't My Peony Bloom?
Peonies are one of the early bloomers in many Southern gardens. Usually very hardy, even peony plants have a few requirements to ensure that they will produce beautiful flowers for many years to come.
How to Care for Butterfly Ginger
The butterfly ginger (Hedychium coronarium) is a tropical species that grows outdoors only in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 7b through 11. The plant reaches up to 7 feet tall and dies back at frost before reblooming the following spring. In the midsummer, each stalk develops white blooms shap
Removing Mold From Window Sills
Mold spores can cause a variety of health problems if inhaled. Mold thrives in moist areas, such as the wood sills around your home's windows. It's important to remove any mold growth from a window sill as soon as possible to prevent the fungi from spreading and causing more potential health issues.
How Far Apart Do You Plant Pear Trees to Pollinate?
Some pear trees are self-fruitful, which means the trees do not require a pollinator. In order to produce a good crop, self-fruitful trees, like self-unfruitful trees, need a pollinator and a pollinizer.
When to Plant Miscanthus Giganteus
Ornamental grasses are often large and imposing, especially when in bloom. One of the largest and most imposing is giant Chinese silver grass, a vigorous clumping grass that grows 8 to 15 feet tall. In addition to its usefulness as a landscape specimen, this grass is being studied for use as livesto
The Best Time to Plant Rose of Sharon
Rose of Sharon, or Althea, is actually a member of the hibiscus family, rather than the rose family. This large, leafy shrub maintains summer to fall growing and blooming habits and requires some specific care for success.