About Companions for Asters There are several varieties of aster that you may have in your perennial beds: New England, aromatic, smooth, purple dome, New York, East Indies, calico, and others. All of these are characterized by fall blooms in colors ranging from white to purple to vibrant blue. They grow 2 to 3 feet (61-91 cm.) tall and produce daisy-like flowers. Asters are showy, but they look best with the right companion plants to highlight their colorful abundance of blooms....

Plants Voles Won’t Eat Salvia (Salvia officinalis) has good things to offer if you’re human or even a hummingbird, but there is apparently something about the aroma that voles don’t appreciate. Salvia (available in perennial and annual forms) is most often blue or red, but you can also find varieties in pink, purple, green, white, yellow, and even brown. Hardiness of perennial salvia depends on the species, but most are suitable for growing in USDA zones 4 through 8....

About Blue Fescue Grass Blue fescue plants are evergreen, but they do lose some of the older blades and grow new fresh deep blue leaves in spring. The older leaves adhere to the plant and spoil the bright coloration. However, you can simply comb them out with your fingers. The grass forms low tight mounds and produces tall flower tipped stems in May to June. A key fact about blue fescue would be its zonal tolerance....

Before you even think about sowing the tiny seeds, you need to know how to fix your soil and avoid stunted and distorted roots. Growing healthy carrots requires loose soil and a heavy addition of organic amendments. A brief carrot soil profile will give you the knowledge to produce a bumper crop of perfect, straight vegetables, perfect for a fresh snack, and a host of other recipe applications. Best Soil for Carrots Root crops, like carrots, are best sown directly into a prepared seedbed outside....

Let’s take a look at the conditions you need for growing heliotrope inside. Indoor Heliotrope Care Give your heliotrope houseplants as much sun as you can indoors. In cooler climates, give your plant the sunniest window possible. If you live in a hotter climate, you may want to protect your heliotrope indoors from hot mid-day sun. If your light is not sufficient, your plant will become leggy. If this happens, prune it back and give it more light, and you can even use a grow light if you don’t have sufficiently sunny windows....

Different Kinds of Marigold Flowers Marigolds come in four different types. These are: African – These marigold flowers tend to be tall French – These tend to be dwarf varieties Triploid – These marigolds are a hybrid between African and French and are multi-colored Single – Have long stems and look like daisies. Some people also refer to Calendulas as Pot Marigolds, but they are not related to the flowers most people know as marigolds....

What is a Mosquito Fern Plant? Mosquito fern gets its name from the belief that mosquitoes cannot lay their eggs in still water covered by this plant. Azolla is a tropical and sub-tropical water plant that resembles moss more than ferns. It has a symbiotic relationship with blue-green algae, and it grows well and quickly on the surface of still or sluggish waters. You are most likely to see it on the surface of ponds, but slow-moving streams may also be a good setting for mosquito fern....

Native Orchid Plant Info What are native orchids? Native orchids are those that grow and have evolved naturally in a particular area or habitat without any help from human beings, either directly or indirectly. Of more than 30,000 orchid species identified thus far, at least 250 are native to North America. These wild orchid plants were present long before the arrival of European settlers. Considering the vast number and diversity of wild orchid plants in North America and around the world, it’s nearly impossible to present a list of common types of native orchids....

Oakleaf Hydrangea Information Native to the southeastern part of the country, oakleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea quercifolia) are attractive all year long. These hydrangea shrubs bloom in spring and early summer. The panicle flowers are greenish white when they are young, picking up subtle shades of pink and brown as they age. After new flowers stop coming, the blooms stay on the plant and look lovely as they mature. The lobed leaves can grow large, up to 12 inches (31 cm....

Pros and Cons of Sedum Lawn Substitute Sedums are wonderful succulent, drought tolerant plants that grow like weeds and need little babying. The only drawback with growing sedum lawns is its inability to take heavy foot traffic. The leaves and stems are fragile and break off easily, but for lightly used areas it will create a wonderful textured green groundcover. It is true that sedum is a fast growing, no fuss plant with few pest and disease issues and wonderful drought tolerance....

Growing Vines in Zone 8 Do you want flowers sailing up the trunk of a tree or an eyesore dilapidated building covered in foliar displays of Boston ivy? No matter what your landscape goal is, vines are a quick and easy solution. Most are tough enough for a broad range of weather conditions while others are suited to the slow, sultry heat of the South. Zone 8 plants need to be both....

Eggplant varieties were first crossbred for different fruit color and shape in China, and the new resulting varieties were instant hits. Breeding new varieties of eggplant gained popularity all over the world. For centuries, deep purple to black varieties were all the rage. Today, however, it is varieties which are pure white, or have white striping or mottling, that are highly coveted. Continue reading for a list of eggplants that are white and tips on growing white eggplants....

Can I Transplant A Clematis? Replanting a clematis vine requires a little extra work and patience. Once rooted, a clematis will struggle if it is uprooted. Sometimes, replanting a clematis vine is necessary because of a move, home improvement or just because the plant is not growing well in its present location. Even with special care, transplanting will be very stressful for the clematis and you can expect it to take about a year for the plant to recover from this trauma....

Growing Hanging Baskets Inside Indoor hanging plants filled with damp potting mix tend to be heavy, especially if the pots are clay or ceramic. Make sure hanging baskets in the home are securely attached to wall studs or ceiling beams. If you’re concerned that the pot is still too heavy, you can mix the potting soil with perlite, which also improves drainage conditions. Keep in mind, however, that improved drainage means more frequent watering....

Planting and Care for Good Parsnip Harvesting Plant parsnip seeds ¼ to ½ inch (6-13 mm.) deep in rows, 12 inches (31 cm.) apart about two to three weeks before the last frost in spring. Parsnips perform best when planted in a sunny spot in well-drained, organic rich soil. Other root vegetables such as garlic, potatoes, radishes, and onions make excellent companions to parsnips. Caring for parsnips is an important step for a good parsnip harvest....

When to Harvest Pecans Statuesque and stately pecan trees begin to shed their nuts in the fall, prior to leaf drop. Depending upon the variety and climate, harvesting pecan trees takes place from late September through November. Before the nuts begin to drop, they look nothing like the finished product – light brown, dark-striped nuts. The nut forms inside a green husk that gradually browns as it dries and the nut matures....

Seed Pods on Plumeria A plumeria plant can take up to 5 years to send out its first blooms. In non-sterile plumeria cultivars, these blooms will be pollinated usually by Sphinx moths, hummingbirds, and butterflies. Once pollinated, plumeria flowers will fade and begin to grow into seed pods. These seed pods will take 8-10 months to mature into viable plumeria seeds. Propagating plumeria by seed is a test of patience but, generally, is a better method of propagation for plumeria than taking cuttings....

Types of Hedging Hedges can be as tall or as short as serves your purpose. Some hedge shrubs grow taller than 100 feet tall (30 m.) while others don’t get taller than you are. If you want a line of short hedge plants to mark the edge of a patio, you’ll want to use different hedge varieties than when you are trying to block 50-mile-an-hour winds. Plants used for hedges might be deciduous or evergreen....

Growing a Japanese Herb Garden Up until the 1970s, plant imports were not very regulated. Because of this, for centuries immigrants to the U.S. from other countries, such as Japan, usually brought with them seeds or live plants of their favorite culinary and medicinal herbs. Some of these plants thrived all too well and became invasive, while others struggled and died in their new environment. In other cases, the early American immigrants realized that some of the same herbs already grew here....

Herbal Bath Bombs DIY bath bomb ideas are a great personal treat and make excellent presents. All you need for a bath bomb recipe is essential oil, baking soda, dried flower petals, and citric acid. Optional items, such as Epsom salts or witch hazel will also add to the experience. Learn how to make bath bombs with flowers and spread the luxurious and healing experience of bathing with natural essences. How to Make Bath Bombs with Flowers Flowers and aromatic oils are key to DIY bath bomb ideas....