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Trees & Houseplants : Home & Garden
How to Grow Red Bananas
Bananas are semi-tropical fruit plants that are perennial and herbaceous. They require plenty of water and high humidity to produce the long slender fruits. Most Americans are familiar with the yellow banana which is commonly sold in supermarkets. There are also pink, red and orange bananas. Red ban
When to Plant a Pear Tree
Pears are a useful and attractive addition to your home landscape. Planting French, Asian or hybrid pears can provide a delicious source of homegrown fruit as well as attractive spring flowers and summer foliage. You need the right planting and cultivation conditions to grow pears successfully. Take
Nut Trees in Rhode Island
Few things top the enjoyment of relaxing in the shade of a big tree on a hot summer day. But one thing that might, is if that lovely shade tree produces edible nuts. If you reside in Rhode Island, the Ocean State, you are indeed fortunate, because numerous native trees that produce edible...
The Preparation of Garden Soil for Maximum Production
When planning a garden, test and amend the soil before planting the first seed. Most gardeners aim for a productive garden that produces enough fresh vegetables for the household. As a bonus, surplus harvest makes its way to friends and extended family, or ends up in the freezer or on the pantry she
Uses for UV Black Lights
Most people are familiar with the glow-in-the-dark UV black light posters that were popular a few decades ago. Ultraviolet lights have many uses, including many commercial uses that go far beyond entertainment value. Among these are water purification; medical diagnosis and treatment;...
How to Make a Backyard Fishpond
If your backyard consists of a flat lawn and a few trees, you might get rather bored out there. To set your yard apart from your neighbors', build a fishpond. It's pleasant to sit beside on a warm summer night and gives you interesting pets to view. Make your backyard fishpond fit your own design
How to Start a Flower Bed in a Grassy Area
Getting rid of grass in a flower bed is a headache. Bermuda grass will creep and take over the flowers if left untouched. Killing the grass outright before any flowers are added is an efficient way of getting rid and keeping away grass. Pulling up the grass after it is dead will prevent much of the
How to Prune Crepe Myrtles
Crepe myrtles are one of the most loved, and abused, plants out there. These trees have been notoriously pruned incorrectly. Although sawing off the top of the tree with a chainsaw has become common place this often does more harm than good. Learning to prune a crepe myrtle correctly will give you a
When to Plant Busy Lizzies Outside?
A steadfast flower for a shady area of the garden, busy lizzies or impatiens (Impatiens walleriana) grow outdoors when temperatures are warm and frost never threatens. Tropical in origin, today hundreds of different cultivars offer various mature plant heights and flower petal colors, ranging from w
Carnivorous Plants of the North
Pitcher plants prefer boggy, moist soil.amazing pitcher plants image by Shirley Hirst from Fotolia.comCarnivorous plants are those plants which have adapted to soil nutrient deficiencies by evolving to get additional nutrients from small mammals, amphibians and insects. Carnivorous plants...
How to Care for an Easter Eggplant
The Easter Eggplant, also called the Easter Egg Plant, is an edible vegetable, although it is grown more for ornamental purposes. The green, bushy plant produces white, oval-shape fruit that resembles eggs. The plants can be grown outdoors in moderate climates but more often are potted and kept indo
How to Sprout a Taro Root
Taro root, or Colocasia esculenta, provides a source of dietary starch for people around the world, but it also works well as an ornamental plant due to the large and attractive foliage it sprouts. When grown as an ornamental, taro root is more commonly known as elephant ear plant for the size and s
Tomato Planter Size
Compact, bush tomato varieties allow even those with no garden to grow tomatoes at home. Plant tomatoes in a large container for best growth. These plants produce large leaves, heavy vines and prolific fruit. Even determinate tomato varieties benefit from staking or caging for support. Secure stakes
How to Keep Inside Bonsai Plants
Bonsais are unique miniature trees that must be tended and cared for properly in order to enjoy a healthy lifetime. Many who purchase bonsais make the mistake of thinking that all of them are suitable as indoor trees---which they are not. Most thrive best in the outdoors during warm temperatures, so
Pea Plant Growth
With the exception of the cowpea or Southern pea, pea plants are cool-season vegetables. Some pea varieties grow between 18 to 30 inches, while some vining types can grow even taller. Since harvesting times vary based on the type of pea planted, proper cultivation dramatically impacts pea plant grow
Flowers for Centerpieces in June & July
Alliums are floral fireworks.allium 3 image by Falkenauge from Fotolia.comJune captures the last days of spring and heralds the first days of summer. July is summer in full swing and has the first holiday of the season, Independence Day. Gardens are in full bloom. Take advantage of a red,...
How to Grow Spinach in Sunlight
Containing vitamin A, iron, calcium and protein, spinach makes a nutritious salad green or sauteed vegetable dish. A cool-season crop, spinach grows well in either full sun or part sun and can be planted as soon as the soil temperatures warm to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. While spinach enjoys sunny locat
How to Remove a Boxwood Bush
The boxwood is a popular ornamental shrub. Ranging in height from 2 to 15 feet, it is commonly used for hedges, edgings and in topiaries as its dense growth can be easily trimmed into a number of shapes. While the boxwood is hardy and easy to grow, however, it is possible for it to become ill. Disea
What Depth Does the Seed Need to Planted for Cherry Trees?
Growing healthy fruit trees in your garden or landscape takes a lifelong commitment to maintenance and care but it all starts with the planting of a single seed. Cherry trees are very difficult to reproduce from seeds or pits and most growers purchase pre-started trees from nurseries and garden cent