Different Types of Milkweed With monarch butterfly populations having dropped more than 90% in the last twenty years because of a loss of host plants, growing different milkweed plants is very important for the future of monarchs. Milkweed plants are the monarch butterfly’s only host plant. In midsummer, female monarch butterflies visit milkweed to drink its nectar and lay eggs. When these eggs hatch into tiny monarch caterpillars, they immediately begin to feed on the leaves of their milkweed host....

Difficult Houseplants to Grow The following is a selection of particularly challenging houseplants. Common indoor conditions just won’t cut it for these plants and if you want to grow these indoors, you’ll have to take some extra measures in order to succeed. Even then, success is not guaranteed: Azalea – Potted flowering azaleas are often sold at certain times of the year and it is tempting to buy a plant to take indoors....

What is Ferning Out? Ferning out in asparagus is sometimes confused with asparagus bolt. Many veggies will bolt during lengthy periods of hot weather. Meaning that plants such as lettuce, broccoli, or even rhubarb prematurely send up a flower stalk indicating the plant is finished for the season and has gone to seed. Asparagus bolt is really an incorrect term to describe what is actually happening to the asparagus patch, however....

Why Hydrangeas Droop Hydrangeas droop for many reasons, but it’s rarely due to illness. When hydrangeas are drooping, they’re often expressing their dislike of local conditions. Too much sun and not enough water lead to wilt; heavy flower loads can cause tender branches to bend until they touch the ground. Even an extra dose of fertilizer may contribute to droopy hydrangea plants. Correcting the problem will require extra attention to your hydrangea’s care....

Drought Tolerant Grass Varieties Finding a drought resistant grass type is not as difficult as it used to be. Tighter water restrictions in moisture deficient municipalities have made using drought tolerant lawn grass or alternatives to turf lawns a priority. Fortunately, breeding and technology have come to our rescue and you can now install a lawn that requires less than one quarter of a traditional turf grasses water needs. Sod selection isn’t only dependent upon water needs....

What is the Difference Between a Christmas Cactus and an Easter Cactus? The Thanksgiving and Christmas cacti are members of the Schlumbergera family, while the Easter cactus is in the Rhipsalidopsis family. The Thanksgiving and Christmas cacti hail from Brazilian rainforests while the Easter cactus is from drier forests. Christmas cactus blooms around the winter holidays. The Easter cactus plant blooms late winter to early spring. Both types have flattened stems, called segments, which are lightly serrated on the edges....

Low-Maintenance Landscape Design When planning a low-maintenance landscape, it often helps to draw out your ideas on paper. Go outside, pen and paper in hand, and survey your property. Take note of light conditions, drainage patterns, and existing plants. Pay attention to the soil in and around your landscape. This will make it much easier to find additional plants that thrive in your particular area. Include possible recreation areas in your drawing as well....

Choosing Beginner Cactus Even if you believe you have a “black thumb,” you can successfully grow an easy cactus. Beginner cactus come in a wide range of sizes and shapes, some with amazing colors as in the case of grafted varieties. Succulents, like cactus, just need the right light and container situation to thrive with little special care from you. Looking for an easy to grow cactus? These types of plants are perfect for a novice interior gardener....

Easy Growing Flowers For Beginners More Flowers That Are Easy To Grow

Why Do We Need Vitamin A? Eating healthy can be a challenge. Many packaged foods contain excess sugar, salt and fat which we are told to avoid. Staying with a plant based diet helps eliminate these concerns, but you still want to make sure you are getting a balance of nutrients. Fortunately, there is a host of vegetables rich in Vitamin A. Vitamin A veggies have certain characteristics, too, to help you identify them....

Echeveria ‘Ramillette’ Info Echeveria ‘Ramillette’ info indicates this is one of the hybrids that readily produce offsets. Ramillette succulents have the traditional echeveria rosette and pointy leaves with apple green color, tipped in red. Colors become more pronounced with bright sun and cooler temperatures. Summer and fall flowers are orange, tipped with shades of yellow. You might grow them in containers, dig them in fall from ground beds, or expect to replace them next spring....

What is Shellfish Fertilizer? Fertilizer made of shellfish is composed of the shells of crustaceans such as crabs, shrimp, or even lobsters and is also called shrimp or crab meal. The shells, which are rich in nitrogen, are mixed with coarse carbon rich material such as wood shavings or chips, leaves, branches, and bark. This is allowed to compost over the course of several months while microorganisms feast on the proteins and sugars, effectively converting the pile into rich humus....

Fertilizing an Oleander Oleanders are hardy plants that can grow up to 3 feet (1 m.) in one season. Plants damaged by cold will often re-grow from the base. They can live for more than 100 years, reliably providing the gardener with their stunning summer to mid-fall clusters of large (2 inch or 5 cm.) double blossoms in dizzying hues of pale yellow, peach, salmon, pink, deep red, and even white....

When to Feed a Rhododendron If your soil is fertile and your plants look happy, there’s no urgency to learn about feeding rhododendrons. No fertilizer is always better than too much fertilizer so you might do best leaving healthy plants alone. Be wary of nitrogen deficiencies, however, if you mulch with fresh sawdust or wood chips. As these materials disintegrate into the soil, they use up available nitrogen. If you see your rhododendron growth slowing and the leaves turning yellow, you’ll need to start fertilizing rhododendron bushes with a nitrogen fertilizer....

Overwatered plants have the tendency to become stressed, and certain bacteria and fungi thrive in such conditions. Even the expert gardener has been guilty of overwatering, but when container plants are outdoors, it is the result of too much of Mother Nature’s tears. We can’t control how much rain occurs, but you can learn how to protect potted plants from heavy rain. Is Rainwater Safe? Excess moisture causes fungal and pest issues, but it also leaches soil of necessary nitrogen and other nutrients and minerals....

Although not classified as a different species, French tarragon herbs should not be confused with Russian tarragon, which has a less intense flavor. This tarragon herb is more likely to be encountered by the home gardener when propagated by seed, while French tarragon herbs are entirely propagated via vegetation. True French tarragon may also be found under the more obscure names of ‘Dragon Sagewort,’ ‘Estragon,’ or ‘German Tarragon.’ How to Grow French Tarragon Growing French tarragon plants will flourish when planted in dry, well-aerated soils with a neutral pH of 6....

Vines That Like Sun Trailing upward, vines that like the sun can grow up a fence, trellis, or an arbor with various purposes in the landscape. Vertical vines can be used to add privacy or block a view from next door. An arbor can be used as an entrance to an area of the yard or garden. Loaded with flowering vines, it becomes even more spectacular. Below are some popular vines for full sun that will add a pop of color and a wow factor to the garden:...

About Finding a Landscaper for Gardens When hiring garden landscapers, remember that there are different levels of landscape design for gardens. Sometimes, someone that refers to themselves as a landscaper is only qualified for maintenance, such as mowing or pruning. They may or may not have a college degree and may or may not be licensed and bonded. If you want a total renovation or are starting from scratch, then you are most likely looking for a landscape architect....

Implementing Decorative Garden Fences Fences for gardens often expand to encompass the whole backyard and sometimes the front too. Depending on your landscape design, you may use some of the following fun garden fence ideas. You may find the appearance of your new fence stark or unattractive. If so, soften lines and add color with plant materials and interesting hardscape features to hold them in place and direct their growth. There are many innovative and unusual ideas for decorating fun garden fences on Pinterest and Facebook....

What is a Labyrinth Garden? A labyrinth and a maze are not the same things, but either can be made in the garden with plants or other materials. For a labyrinth, you simply construct a continuous path that twists and turns until it reaches the center of a circle, square, or another shape. As compared to a labyrinth, maze gardens are more of a puzzle. This will look similar but contain branching paths....