Category: Tropical Style

Sod is an ideal solution for many homeowners looking to establish a new yard. As with other procedures of yard establishment, sod requires special care regimens, particularly during its initial season. Fertilizing and weed control are important when establishing lawns, and several weed-and-feed products line the shelves of hardware stores and garden centres. Timing is the most important aspect of applying weed-and-feed; improper timing could be ineffective or, worse, destructive. Pre-emergent Products Although a lot of products are labeled “weed-and-feed,” not all are all the same. Some products contain fertilizer and a pre-emergent bud preventive. Pre-emergents function by preventing weed seeds from germinating, which means you need to apply them before the target weeds start to grow. You must be aware of that types of weeds you have in your yard before applying a pre-emergent. These goods will not work if you wait till the weeds emerge from the soil….

Because evergreens retain their leaves or needles year, they are consistently blocking views which deciduous shrubs would let through in the wintertime. Organic tree or shrub fences may also be planted in areas where local zoning laws don’t permit artificial fences over a certain height. Evergreens act as windbreaks in addition to providing privacy. Arborvitae Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis) are coniferous evergreens that grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 8. Thriving in full sun and well-draining soil, they have a pyramidal shape that needs little to no pruning. The green needles are arranged in flat, horizontal sprays. “Brandon” is a fast cultivar that reaches 15 feet tall and 8 feet wide. “Techny” has the same proportions as “Brandon,” but is slow-growing. “Green Giant” will grow up to 60 feet tall and 20 feet wide. Holly Holly really are broadleaf evergreen shrubs that flower in the summer…

Popular flowers are those that are generally available in seed catalogs and in the nursery, although selection varies from the season. The garden center may be overflowing with geraniums (Pelargonium x hortorum) in the spring and also with chrysanthemums (Chrysanthemum morifolium) in the autumn in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 9. Configure the bones of the garden with perennials and fill in using lots of color from annuals. Bulbs Tulips (Tulipia) and daffodils (Narcissus) show off in spring gardens while lilies (Lilium) follow in the summertime. Bulbs are almost never-fail for your first year. At mild-winter areas — USDA zones 8 through 10 — some bulbs like tulips, daffodils and Asiatic lilies must be cooled for 10 to 12 months or they won’t blossom. Chill in the vegetable crisper of the refrigerator. Mark in which the lights are planted so you can dig them for the…

Evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) is a low-growing plant with blooms that open in the day. Individuals plant it as an accent plant in the backyard, and its own oil has medicinal uses. It is available in a couple of distinct varieties, such as Mexican evening primrose and typical evening primrose. Attributes Evening primrose has a sprawling growth pattern, green leaves and small- to medium-sized blooms. The blossoms bloom during late summer and spring. Mexican evening primrose has pink or purple blossoms, as does showy evening primrose. Common evening primrose and evening primrose wildflowers native to the Ozarks are far bigger and yellowish. The plant frequently stays low to the ground, reaching heights of between 6 and 24 inches tall. The plant foliage dies back during cold weather, which makes it less attractive during autumn and winter than during summer. Supply Evening primrose grows throughout most of the United States and…

Leafy green houseplants may add a little bit of the outside for a indoor environment, a particularly welcome feature through the cool winter season. Heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron scandens) and golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum) are two options that share a few similarities, but also differ in a lot of ways. Both make fast-growing houseplants and can be grown outdoors year round in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 and 11. Origin and Foliage Golden pothos is indigenous to the Solomon Islands, where it grows wild as a climbing vine, covering tree trunks or tumbling along the ground. In its native habitat, it may attain a full span of around 40 feet. Heartleaf philodendron is also a tropical plant, but grows wild in Mexico, the West Indies and Brazil, in which the vines normally reach a whole length of 20 feet. Although both plants possess heart-shaped leaves, those on adult…

If you reside in a climate that is warm, “George Burns” roses are red with yellow stripes; at a cool climate, yellowish predominates. Unpredictable as its namesake, actor and comedian George Burns, this floribunda rose grows in small clusters of double blossoms in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 though 10. A compact plant with shiny dark leaves and a nice citrus fragrance, the “George Burns” rose bears tea-rose size flowers, 4 inches round, each with 26 to 40 petals. It grows about 3 feet high and can be trimmed or pruned back severely in early spring. Wipe the blades of the clippers with a cloth dipped in denatured alcohol. Repeat this gesture between cuts. This prevents the transfer of ailments. Prune out dead or weak canes at ground level. If you are not certain that a cane is dead, remove a thin slice of bark and scrutinize…

Beans grow readily in the vegetable garden from seeds sown directly in the ground once soil temperatures reach about 60 degrees Fahrenheit in spring or early summer. Pole beans grow as long vines that need support, while 2-foot-tall bush bean plants need no support. Beans come in green snap varieties or those used as a tree that is dry. All bean plants need similar planting procedures, irrespective of the variety. The seeds germinate quickly; snap beans are ready to harvest in about 60 days. Turn the top 6 to 8 inches of dirt in a full-sun garden bed, with a shovel or hoe. Break up any dirt clods, and remove all weeds. Mix a 2-inch layer of compost into the soil to provide necessary nutrients to the growing beans. Smooth the surface of the bed after amending the ground. Pull the corner of a hoe blade down every planting row…

Using its brilliant yellow leaves that hold their color all season, “Goldmound” spirea (Spiraea japonica “Goldmound”) is a deciduous shrub that adds a spot of sunshine wherever you plant it. “Goldmound” grows 2-3 feet tall and up to 4 feet wide in sunlight in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 8 and in regions of greater zones where summers are not extreme. The vibrant yellow leaves are topped in late spring from flat clusters of bright pink blossoms that resemble yarrow. As with other late-spring flowering shrubs, harassing “Goldmound” spirea in late winter to early spring before new growth starts. Wipe the blades of your hand pruners with full-strength household antiseptic cleaner. A family antiseptic cleaner is just as successful as bleach or rubbing alcohol at preventing the transfer of plant disorders from resources, but is less corrosive to metal tools. Cut all the stems of the…

Red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta Buren) are aggressive, reddish brown to black ants which build dome-shaped mounds of soil when they construct their nests. Fire ants prefer to construct mounds in sunny, open areas of your lawn, but are not restricted to these areas. Their mounds might be found in rotting logs, under buildings and pavement, round trees and stumps, and even inside. Powerful control of red imported fire ants is dependent on applying treatment at the right time of day and in ideal conditions. Best Time of Year In Mediterranean climates, winters are wet and summers can be hot and dry, so use of therapy products for crimson fire ant control are usually ineffective because they either gets washed off in the wintertime, or so the ants don’t come in contact with them because it’s too hot for the ants to appear. Spring and fall applications are more…

Flowering quince (Chaenomeles ) is also a early-blooming shrub that creates beautiful 1 1/2- to 2-inch flowers in hues of white, pink, orange or red. Following the showy screen, which last only a couple weeks, the plant yields into a tangle of thorny, bare branches. Flowering quince is easy to grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9. You can easily dig up and transfer the plant if needed to transplant or eliminate it from your lawn. Prepare the brand new area for the flowering quince before digging up the plant, if you intend to transplant it in a brand new site. Choose a sunny site with enough room to accommodate the mature size of a flowering quince, which is generally 6 to 10 feet wide and tall. Dig a planting hole that is 2 to 3 times wider than the root ball, that is estimated in…