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Choosing Evergreen Trees for Zone 6 Most evergreen trees for zone 6 are native to North America and uniquely adapted to thrive in its average annual temperatures and weather conditions, while others are from locations that have similar climates. This means there are many wonderful evergreen plant specimens from which to choose for zone 6. One of the most important choices when developing a landscape is the selection of trees. This is because trees have permanency and anchor plants in the garden....

What Makes Planting Apples in Zone 7 Different? With lots of plants, the biggest temperature concern is freeze damage. While this is a problem with apple trees, it’s not the only thing to take into consideration. Apples, like many fruit trees, have chilling requirements. This means they need a certain number of hours below 45 degrees F. (7 C.) in order to enter and emerge from dormancy and set new flowers and fruit....

Choosing Roses for Zone 8 Roses may look delicate, but some varieties are hardy all the way down to zone 3, while others thrive in balmy zone 10. When you need roses for zone 8, you’re in the sweet spot where most roses can thrive. Hardiness is only one factor in rose bush selection though. Even in a rose-popular region like zone 8, you’ll still need to pick other rose bush qualities....

Growing Groundcover in Zone 9 Below you will find some zone 9 groundcovers suitable for your landscape or garden. Algerian ivy (Hedera canariensis) – This ivy plant prefers any well-drained site in deep or partial shade. Note: Algerian ivy can become invasive in certain areas. Asiatic jasmine (Trachelospermum asiaticum) – Also known as yellow star jasmine, this groundcover prefers rich, well-drained soil in partial shade to full sun. Beach morning glory (Ipomoea pes-caprae) –Also known as railroad vine or goat’s foot, beach morning glory plant enjoys nearly any soil, including poor soil, and full sun....

What is 2-Row Barley? Commonly referred to as 2-row malting barley, 2-row barley plants are the most common type of barley used for brewing beer. European brewers, specifically, emphasize its use due to the large kernel sizes produced by the plants. This type of barley is extremely easy to identify, as evidenced by the growth arrangement on the seed head. Seed heads of this barley are neatly organized, with two distinct rows of seed growing down the entire length....

How to Grow Ferns Indoors Before choosing among the many types of ferns for your next houseplant, it’s important to understand what they need to thrive inside. Most ferns grown as houseplants come from the tropics, so they like indirect light, warmth, and humidity. All ferns should grow in containers with good drainage. When watering a fern indoors, know the variety’s specific needs. Most ferns like moist soil, but some, like the Boston fern, do best when the top of the soil just dries out before the next watering....

Agapanthus Bloom Season Bloom time for agapanthus depends on the species, and if you plan carefully, you can have an agapanthus flowering from spring until the first frost in autumn. Here are a few examples to give you an idea of the many possibilities: ‘Peter Pan’ – This dwarf, evergreen agapanthus produces pale blue flowers throughout the summer. ‘Snow Storm’ – Shows off in a big way with snow white clusters in late summer and early autumn....

What is a Memory Garden? Memory gardens stimulate patients living with memory loss. They can carry gentle reminders of past experiences and jog the memory as plant identification and care are highlighted. Gardens for people with Alzheimer’s are also helpful for the caregivers, whose lives are also turned upside down and need a much deserved place of peace. Alzheimer’s friendly gardens have been scientifically shown to help heal body and mind as well as bring hope and engagement in the form of activities and participation....

About Angelonia Flowers An Angelonia plant grows about 18 inches (45.5 cm.) tall, and some people think the fragrant foliage smells like apples. The flowers bloom on upright spikes at the tips of the main stems. Species flowers are bluish-purple and cultivars are available in white, blue, light pink, and bicolor. Angelonia flowers don’t need deadheading to produce a continuous display of blossoms. Use Angelonia as an annual bedding plant in borders or plant them in masses where they make a striking display....

Arizona Ash Tree Information Arizona ash (Fraximus velutina) is an upright, stately tree with a rounded canopy of deep green leaves. It is relatively short-lived but may survive 50 years with proper care. Arizona ash reaches heights of 40 to 50 feet (12-15 m.) and widths of 30 to 40 feet (9-12 m.). Young Arizona ash trees display smooth, light gray bark that turns rougher, darker, and more textural as the tree matures....

What Causes Leaf Mold in Pecan Trees? Articularia leaf mold of pecans is a common fungal disease that frequently occurs after extended periods of rainy weather. Weak pecan trees are more susceptible to disease. Symptoms of pecan with articularia leaf mold are an early indication that there is a problem. Fortunately, leaf mold in pecan trees is easy to recognize by the patchy white tufts on lower leaf surfaces. The white tufts actually contain fungal spores....

Recognizing Common Problems with Asters As plants go, asters are relatively problem free. There are, however, several common aster pests and diseases that can become a problem if left untreated. Some aster plant diseases are more superficial than anything, and will not affect the plants’ health or ability to bloom. These include rust and powdery mildew. They can be treated with fungicide. Some other more serious diseases are root rot, wilt, and foot rot, all of which can result in the death of the plant....

Australian Gardening Style Grow an Australian garden in any style you choose. Design your ornamental beds to complement the design of your home. Plant eye-catching shrubs or upright dwarf conifers in available corners. Follow the slope or slant of your property and plant erosion control specimens where needed. Garden design in Australia may replicate the natural landscape using water features, rocks, and native plants. About Australia Garden Plants Plants for gardening in Australia may include a shrub or tree border to add privacy or block the noise of traffic from the street....

Autumn Blaze Tree Information If you think fast-growing trees are bad bets in the backyard, Autumn Blaze maple trees will make you think again. These hybrids shoot up to 50 feet (15 m.) tall and 40 feet (12 m.) wide without succumbing to insect pests or diseases. Anyone growing Autumn Blaze maples will find that the trees combine the finest traits of both parents. That’s one reason for the cultivar’s popularity....

Meet the Autumn Olive Before we start a discussion of autumn olive lookalikes, let’s address more basic questions. What does autumn olive look like? Where does it grow in this country today? Read on to learn how to identify autumn olive. The autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) is a woody shrub that usually doesn’t exceed 20 feet (6 m.) tall. It is deciduous, dropping its leaves in winter. Those leaves are attractive, green above but, on the underside, covered densely with silver red scales....

When to Fertilize Azalea Shrubs If you work organic compost or dried, chopped leaves into well-draining garden soil before planting your azalea shrubs, this may be all of the fertilizer for azaleas that’s required. It is only if the plants show signs of nutritional deficiency or are growing too slowly that you may need to set up an azalea fertilizing schedule. An azalea with a nutritional deficiency shows signs that it has a problem....

Are Hops Grown from Rhizomes or Plants? A rhizome is a subterranean stem of a plant that is capable of sending out roots and shoots from its nodes. Also called rootstocks, rhizomes retain the ability to send new shoots upwards to become a plant. So, the answer is that hops plants are grown from rhizomes, but you can purchase either hops rhizomes for growing or established hops plants for planting in your beer garden....

Identifying Wildlife with Kids Wildlife in the garden will vary depending upon the habitat created. Throughout the planning stages, ask children for feedback regarding the types of animals they would like to attract (within reason, of course). This helps encourage engagement in the process. Creating an attractive garden will include a variety of native perennial plantings, evergreens, shrubs, and wildflowers. Do keep in mind, however, that when you teach children about wildlife, it should not be limited to the plants found in the garden but also other elements like rocks, statues, bird houses, and water features....

Fertilizing Basil Plants If your soil is rich, your plants may do just fine with no fertilizer at all, or you can dig an inch or two (2.5 to 5 cm.) of compost or rotted animal manure into the top 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20.5 cm.) at planting time. If you think the plants need a little extra help, you can use a very light application of a dry fertilizer once or twice during the growing season....

Beefmaster Tomato Info There are around 13 species of wild tomato plants and hundreds of hybrids. Hybrids are created to breed selected traits into a tomato. Such is the case with Beefmaster hybrids (Lycopersicon esculentum var. Beefmaster) wherein the plant was bred to produce larger, meatier, and disease resistant tomatoes. Beefmasters are categorized as F1 hybrids, which means they have been cross bred from two distinct “pure” tomatoes. What this means to you is that the first-generation hybrid should have better vigor and producer larger yields, but if you save seeds, the successive years’ fruit will likely be unrecognizable from the previous one....