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Trees & Houseplants : Home & Garden
The Life Cycle of Buckthorn
Buckthorn is armed and considered dangerous--to indigenous shrubs and plants. Native to Eurasia, this shrub has spread to much of the northern United States, where it is considered an invader species. It thrives in many habitats, invading oak forests, clearings and even frontage areas beside highwa
What is the Best Way to Heat Swimming Pools?
Even if is an extremely warm day outside your pool's temperature may be far too cold to swim in. Because of this there are two options available to help heat the swimming pool. Although some are more effective the methods cost far more. Depending on your budget and how "green" you want to go with th
Three Leaf Sumac Trees
Three-leaf sumac (Rhus trilobata) grows throughout western North America from northern Mexico into Canada. Common names for this shrub include "skunkbush" because of the unpleasant odor it gives off when the leaves are crushed, and "basketbush" because the young stems were used in basket-weaving. Th
How to Divide & Transplant Hostas
Hostas are easy to divide and can give your outdoor landscape lasting beauty for years to come. Dividing hostas may be done any time of the year, but August is best because new roots are actively growing. With a little practice, you can produce beautiful plants that will never look as though they ha
Non-toxic Plants for a House
Plants look beautiful in your home and keep the air cleaner, but if you have pets or small children, you want to make sure the plants in your house aren't poisonous. Be mindful of any type of plant that you bring into your home to make sure everyone in your house stays safe. Call Poison Control if y
Damaged Fruit Tree Bark
A good fruit harvest depends upon healthy cultural practices that include timely pest and disease management. Other factors can also contribute to fruit tree bark damage besides pests and pathogens.
What Is a Tiger Lily?
Tiger lilies are perennial plants with striking orange flowers. There are actually two plants that go by the name "tiger lily." Lilium lancifolium are grown from bulbs; their flowers are spotted and orange. Hemerocallis fulva are orange day lilies grown from tuberous roots.
How to Grow Peach Trees in Arizona
The warm Arizona sunshine and arid desert climate creates the ideal conditions for growing luscious plump peaches that can be enjoyed all year round. Growing a peach tree requires just a little work to get it properly planted, followed by a vigorous yearly feeding and maintenance schedule to keep it
How to Remove Ice Dams in Gutters
Ice dams are frozen water buildups that can occur in rain gutters during freezing winter days. They can block a whole gutter and hang over it in long and thick icicles. Because of their spike-like shape, these ice dam icicles present a danger to anyone who walks underneath them. It is best to remove
Household Ways to Kill Spider Mites
Spider mites are one of the most common pests to attack plants in households. These tiny bugs in the arachnid family feed on houseplant tissues, resulting in little brown or red dots on plant leaves and stems. If left untreated, the houseplant may die. If the plants in your home are...
How to Plant Organic Sweet Corn Seeds
Sweet corn is a popular crop in the home garden, and it grows throughout the country during the long, hot days of summer. This crop has specific growing conditions, including temperatures over 60 degrees Fahrenheit, nutritious, crumbly soil, plenty of moisture and 80 to 90 days to grow to full matur
What Are the Purposes of Thorns on a Cactus?
Cacti come in 1,600 species in 104 genera, almost all from the Americas. Most cactus plants have fleshy stems and clusters of spines, which are actually modified leaves. Cactus spines do much more than simply protect the plant from animals that want to eat them. The spines act as a protective layer,
How Tall Do Hibiscus Plants Get?
Hibiscuses are flowering plants that bloom for most of the year. The large flowers make this plant a delight in the garden. The sizes of the hibiscus vary from 12 inches to 5 feet tall if not pruned or cut back.
What Type of Planter Is Best for Tomato Plants?
Tomatoes are hungry, thirsty plants that can thrive under the right conditions. They can grow in the ground, in standard planters, in hydroponic systems and in hanging planters, all with equal success.
Floral Arrangement Tricks
Flower arrangements can add elegance, color or just a sense of style to any room or event. But, sometimes, simply putting fresh flowers in a vase seems a bit dated or you just want to do something new and fun. There are lots of tricks that can take floral arrangements to a whole new level with littl
How to Grow Ruellia Dwarf Mexican Petunia
Ruellia brittoniana or dwarf Mexican petunia is a low growing flowering plant that will grow in most of Southern United States. It is found in pink, white and purple, and is heat and drought tolerant.If you live in a warm climate and want an easy plant to keep going in the ground, it is
How to Grow Citronella
Citronella is a tender tropical grass that needs a long, warm growing season. It is native to southeast Asia and only reliably hardy in USDA zones 10 through 12. It grows in a clump, much like other ornamental grasses, and can reach heights of 5 to 6 feet, and spread out nearly as far. The true citr
How Tall Are Pineapple Plants?
The pineapple plant has a short stem and long, waxy leaves with sharp tips and margins. When the plant blooms, the stem grows longer and larger, then develops small flowers that transform into fruit.
Garden Weeds & Herbicides
To use herbicides to help control weeds in the garden could require more than one product to do the job effectively. There is no single herbicide that works on all weeds, and some herbicides injure some types of garden plants.
Factors That Can Alter the Rate of Photosynthesis
Rates of photosynthesis are affected by a combination of environmental factors.Roine Magnusson/Photodisc/Getty ImagesPhotosynthesis is the process of absorbing sunlight and converting it into sugars and oxygen. Green plants are the only structures that are able to accomplish this feat,...