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Plumeria Flower Fertilizer Plumeria plants require a lot of phosphorous. This is the middle number on fertilizer labels. You also want to avoid fertilizers with too much nitrogen, which is the first number on fertilizer labels. Nitrogen encourages growth, and if you’re trying to grow a tree in a pot, this is the last thing you want. Using a plumeria flower fertilizer with a low first number will make for a more compact tree....

What is Side Dressing? What is side dressing? It’s simply what the name implies: dressing the plant with fertilizer by adding it to the side of the stems. Gardeners usually lay a line of fertilizer along the plant row, about 4 inches (10 cm.) away from the stems, and then another row the same way on the opposite side of the plants. The best way for how to side dress garden plants is by finding out their nutritional needs....

Trumpet Vine Feeding Trumpet vines thrive in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9. Generally, the vines grow fast and require a strong structure to keep them where you want them to be. Most soil contains sufficient nutrients for trumpet vine plants to grow happily. In fact, you are likely to spend more time trying to keep these vines a manageable size than worrying that they aren’t growing fast enough....

Garden Planning Software Features Whether you’re planning a total garden makeover, or you want a quick method for laying out your veggie patch, you can find garden design software to meet your needs. Some garden planning software can be used for free, while others charge a nominal fee. In addition to cost, these programs vary in the virtual garden design tools they offer. Here are the more common features available and how to use them to design a garden virtually:...

How to Create Fountains in the Garden For basic water fountain design and construction, creating garden fountains begins with an underground unit to catch the falling water and circulate it back to the top. The easiest way to do this is to sink a large plastic bucket or tub into the ground so that the lip of the tub is even with the soil line. Place the pump inside the bucket and make a notch in the lip of the tub for the electrical cord....

Can You Plant Garlic Near Tomatoes? Companion planting works by increasing plant diversity. Simply put, companion planting is alternating two or more types of veggies in a single row. This practice seeks to confound insects that tend to consume certain crops, leading them to move onto greener pastures, so to speak. This practice is also referred to as intercropping— that is combining plants that are desired by insects among those that are undesirable....

What is Gentian? Gentian wildflowers grow all over the world, except on the continent of Antarctica, and have unusual pollination habits. More than 1,000 species have been identified, some in boggy forest areas and others in the desert. Plants in the Gentian species range from a small herb to a tree that grows in the rainforest. Growing gentian is pollinated by moths, bees, birds, bats and flies. An unusual aspect of gentian flowers is that the buds on some types do not open until the right pollinator forces them to expose their inner pistils and stamens....

What are Grecian Windflowers? A. blanda, or Grecian windflower, is a colorful perennial spring bulb that produces pretty blooms with a shape and appearance similar to that of daisies. They are short, growing only to about 6 inches (15 cm.) at a maximum, and can act as a blooming spring groundcover. They can also be grown in clumps or in low rows to complement taller perennials. There are several varieties of Grecian windflower that produce different colors: deep blue, white, pale pink, magenta, lavender, mauve, and bicolor....

Evergreen Plants for Indoor Décor Many types of greenery are suitable for indoor decorating, but the best choices are types that dry out slowly at warm indoor temperatures. Possibilities include: Pine Fir Cedar Juniper Boxwood Holly Ivy Yew Spruce Most of these retain their freshness for up to a month if they are kept cool. Looking for more natural décor ideas? Join us this holiday season in supporting two amazing charities working to put food on the tables of those in need, and as a thank you for donating, you’ll receive our latest eBook, Bring Your Garden Indoors: 13 DIY Projects for the Fall and Winter....

Cherry Plum Information Prunus cerasifera is a true plum tree native to Asia and hardy in zones 4 and 8. They are mostly grown in the landscape as small ornamental trees, though with the correct pollinator nearby, they will produce some fruit. The fruit they produce are plums and have no attributes of a cherry, but still they became known commonly as cherry plum trees. Popular varieties of Prunus cerasifera are:...

Potted Asparagus Plants Ideally, asparagus plants are grown outside in garden soil in USDA zones 4 through 8. Thriving in deeply cultivated and consistently moist soils, growers can expect to harvest from plants for upwards of twenty years. Ample garden space is key to growing healthy asparagus, as the plant’s root system can grow quite large. Fortunately, for those of us growing in tight spaces, there is another option. Whether gardening on a small apartment balcony or simply not in the position to plant long-term perennials, asparagus may also be grown in containers....

Growing Cape Marigold from Seed Cape marigold is a pretty, daisy-like annual flower that is native to South Africa. It thrives in warm but not too hot temperatures. In hotter zones, in areas like southern California, Arizona, Texas, and Florida, you can grow this flower from seed starting in early fall for blooms in the winter. In colder regions, start seeds in late winter or early spring, outdoors after the last frost or indoors earlier....

What is Cherry Laurel? Whether you want a lovely specimen tree or an attractive living hedge, cherry laurel shrubs (Prunus laurocerasus) are a beautiful addition to any landscape. Native to the eastern Mediterranean –the Balkans, Asia Minor, and areas bordering the Black Sea– this attractive, upright, evergreen shrub or small tree grows from 15 to 40 feet (4.5-12 m.) in height with a 10 to 35 foot (3-10 m.) spread. Hardy to zone 5, according to the USDA plant hardiness map, cherry laurel shrubs produce beautiful and aromatic white flowers in the spring....

Desert Lupine Information A member of the pea family, desert lupine is a distinctive plant with dark green, palmate leaves and spikes of blue or purple, pea-like flowers. Height at maturity is about 18 inches (45 cm.), but desert lupine may reach heights of up to 4 feet (1 m.). Desert lupine plants bloom prolifically in moist years, carpeting the desert with color. However, this hardy plant blooms even in dry years, and is commonly found growing along roadsides....

How to Grow Lady’s Mantle in Containers Can you grow lady’s mantle in a pot? The short answer is yes! Relatively low growing and usually forming a clumping or mounding habit, lady’s mantle is well suited to container life. A single plant can reach a height of 24 to 30 inches (61-76 cm.) and a spread of 30 inches (76 cm.). However, the stems are thin and delicate, and the flowers are numerous and heavy, which often means the plant droops down under its own weight....

Nectarine Nectar Babe Tree Info Nectarine Nectar Babes have smooth, golden-red fruit that grow on very small trees. The fruit quality of nectarine Nectar Babes is excellent and the flesh has a sweet, rich, delicious flavor. Given that Nectar Babe nectarine trees are natural dwarfs, you may think that the fruit is small too. This is not the case. The succulent freestone nectarines are large and perfect for eating fresh off the tree or canning....

Growing Over Septic Tanks What is a septic drain field? Basically, it’s an alternative to sewer systems, usually found on rural properties. A septic tank separates solid waste from liquid. This liquid waste is sent through long, wide, perforated pipes buried underground. The wastewater is released gradually into the soil where it is broken down and sanitized by microbes before it eventually reaches the water table. Planting on a septic drain field is a good idea because it helps prevent soil erosion and reduces foot traffic, which can compact the soil and cause problems....

Birdbath Planter Ideas Maybe there are no birdbaths on your property at all but you’d like to include one somewhere in hopes you might entice part of a migrating flock. There are numerous DIY ideas available that include a bird bathing tray on top and a wide range of foliage plants, flowers, or both planted on a different level. You can put together your own ideas for creating birdbath flowerpots. If necessary, you can even start with a new birdbath for your project or if there is not a used one available....

Purple Stripe garlic is suitable for growing in nearly every climate, including those with very cold winters. However, it may struggle in hot, humid climates. Read on to learn about growing Purple Stripe garlic. Growing Garlic with Purple Stripes Plant garlic in the fall, about four to six weeks before the ground freezes in your area. Divide a large Purple Stripe garlic bulb into cloves. Save the plumpest bulbs for planting....

Sea Thrift Plant Info This slow grower produces beautiful sea pink flowers that are bright pink, red, violet, or white. These round flowers appear in clusters on top of wiry and erect stems. This dainty little plant, native to central and southern Europe, blooms from late spring to early summer. Over 80 species of sea pink exist and the plant has been known to be used medicinally to treat epilepsy and obesity, as well as used as a sedative....