… Q. I want to recycle my fallen leaves into a compost heap. Please give me some advice on starting one this autumn. A. Nine cubic feet, in a neat pile or container, is a good, manageable size for a backyard compost heap. Begin the layering process with a few inches of twigs, which allows for air circulation under the pile. Then add 5 to 10 inches of leaves, grass and shredded garden debris; 1 to 2 inches of manure or synthetic …
Type: Plant Info
… you can see the family resemblance in the spiky succulent leaves and rosette form. It's native to deciduous tropical forests and open land from the Caribbean well into South America. In fact, one of the common names for it is Brazilian aloe. </p> <p>After maturing for years, it flowers just once, but … goes on for weeks. Then, instead of seeds, it produces plantlets along the flowering stalk to begin the next generation before it dies down. It's an easy plant to grow, happy in part shade …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… This break-through variety of novelty poinsettia was the first to feature rich red bracts speckled with pink and creamy white. Poinsettias have flower bracts that are often mistaken for flower petals because of their groupings and colors but are actually modified leaves. The … meaning that they require darkness (12 hours at a time for at least five days in a row) to change color. At the same time, they require abundant light during the day for the brightest …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… in pots with adequate drainage, but many of my pots don’t have holes. Every time I try to drill into the bottom of the pot, it cracks. How do I drill a drainage hole into a ceramic … it? A: The following process can be successful, but it is not guaranteed, and it is intended for adults with cordless drill competence. Materials/Tools: Ceramic plant pot Diamond-coated hole … directions. Turn the pot upside down outside or in a utility sink with a towel underneath to prevent chipping the container. Mark the hole location(s) on the bottom of the pot. Use clean …
Type: Plant Info
… Zinnia elegans ‘Benary’s Giant Lime’ was originally released for use in cut flower production. Fortunately, bedding plant nurseries have picked up this … the dog days of summer when most other annuals have melted out. ‘Benary’s Giant Lime’ grows up to 3 feet tall, with fully double flowers, and up to 5 inches diameter on strong, sturdy stems. This cultivar is more resistant to powdery mildew …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Crabapples are small flowering trees that provide a showy display in the spring landscape for 1 to 2 weeks. In addition to the eye-catching buds and flowers, their foliage, habit, and fruit make them attractive plants …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… appear late in the season. The flowers are 4 ½ inches across and the foliage is unusually low for a daylily, only 12 inches high. Although each flower lasts only one day, there are multiple … and several stalks on each plant. The buds open in series, so a single plant will continue to bloom for 2 weeks or more. It may re-bloom. It is easy to grow and does well in full sun to part shade. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Crabapples are small flowering trees that provide a showy display in the spring landscape for 1 to 2 weeks. In addition to the eye-catching buds and flowers, their foliage, habit, and fruit make them attractive plants …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… MUNSTEAD WOOD™ rose is named for Gertrude Jekyll's home, where she wrote many of her influential gardening books. Its buds are a light, pinkish crimson, opening to reveal velvety deep crimson roses 4 inches in diameter. The scent is also described as exceptional...old rose, with hints of berries. MUNSTEAD WOOD™ is on the compact side for a David Austen rose, about 3 feet by 3 feet, making it appropriate for the front of the …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Mexican bush sage has been used in our autumn landscapes for several years. Although it is a shrubby perennial of coniferous forests in Mexico, the Garden uses it in annual displays in September to November, when it is covered by hundreds of attractive flower spikes. The plants grow 3-4 feet … that are 6-10 inches long. It is tolerant of cool temperatures and provides a food source for late butterflies and insects. Cuttings can be taken and the plants are rooted again for the …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
