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What is a Chokecherry? So, what is a chokecherry? Growing chokecherry trees are large suckering shrubs (small trees) that are indigenous to the Southeastern United States but may be grown as a perennial landscape specimen elsewhere. Prunus viginiana can attain heights of up to 41 feet (12.5) tall with a canopy of 28 feet (8.5 m.) across; of course, this is extremely rare and generally the plant can be maintained to a size of about 12 feet (3....

Can You Grow Bulbs from Seed? Flowering bulbs offer diverse color and form during several different seasons. Gardening with bulbs also allows you to experiment with plants from around the world. Many of these are banned from import or are simply difficult to find. That is where growing bulbs from seed can be advantageous. Can you grow bulbs from seed? A few tips on how to grow bulbs from seed can help start you on the road to successfully propagating your favorite plants....

Growing German Primroses German primrose plants prefer sandy loam, cool temperatures, and indirect moderate light. They cannot tolerate bright summer sun, and do best indoors near, but not too close to, an eastern or western window, where they can soak up the briefer, less intense morning or afternoon light. Water your German primrose moderately; don’t over soak the soil, but don’t let it dry out completely. Growing German primroses is easy, as long as you take some precautions....

Growing Herbs for Health As a type of alternative medicine, herbal remedies contain chemical compounds which comprise the active ingredients of an herbal treatment. Since these compounds can react with traditional medications, it’s advisable to discuss natural remedies with a doctor before embarking on a routine of herbal treatment. Additionally, growing herbs for health and beauty can produce varying results depending upon when and how the herbs are grown, harvested, and used....

What is Hornwort? The name hornwort comes from the stiff protrusions on the stems. The genus, Ceratophyllum, is from the Greek ‘keras,’ meaning horn, and ‘phyllon,’ meaning leaf. Plants that bear the surname “wort” were often medicinal. Wort simply means plant. Each plant’s characteristics would lead to its individual name. For instance, bladderwort has little bladder-like growths, liverwort looks similar to tiny livers and kidneywort resembles that body part. Hornwort in ponds protects small frogs and other animals....

Flowers of nicotiana, flowering tobacco (Nicotiana alata), are tubular shaped and grow moderately to quickly. Too much fertilization when growing nicotiana can lead to excessive growth of the petite plants causing them to get leggy and cease flowering or flop. Growing the Nicotiana Plant Nicotiana flowering tobacco is most often grown and sold as an annual plant although some species of the nicotiana flower are really short lived perennials. Plant seeds or seedlings into a sunny or partially shaded area of the garden with well-drained soil in late spring....

Can You Grow Potato Plants in Leaves? Growing potatoes is a rewarding experience since yields are generally fairly high, but traditional methods for planting potatoes do require some time and effort on your part. You start with a trench and then cover the growing potatoes with soil or mulch, continually mounding the medium as the spuds grow. If you don’t like to dig, however, you can also grow potato plants under leaves....

How to Grow Turnips If you are planting a summer crop, plant the turnips early. If you are planting so you can have turnips to store throughout the winter, plant late in the summer to harvest turnips before first frost. Turnips generally require a full sun location but will tolerate partial shade, especially if you plan on harvesting the plant for its greens. Preparing the bed to grow turnip plants in is easy....

Is It Safe to Grow Food in Tires? That question is the crux of the problem. Both sides aren’t arguing whether it’s tasteful to use old tires as garden planters, but whether they’re leaching out harmful chemicals into the soil and, therefore, your food. It all comes down to a simple question: Are tires toxic? The short answer is that yes, they are. Tires contain a host of chemicals and metals that should not be in the human body....

Choosing Hardy Vines for Zone 3 Growing vines in zone 3 gardens needn’t be frustrating. There are some zone 3 vines that can work in these cooler conditions if you know what to look for. Here are some of the best choices for vines that grow in cold regions of zone 3. Arctic kiwi– This impressive vine is hardy down to zone 3. It grows to 10 feet (3 m.) long and has very attractive pink and green variegated leaves....

If you are having a party or a sit-down dinner for the holiday, you might want to consider using Halloween flowers and plants as table decorations. Of course, the pumpkin is the rock star of Halloween, so it will feature in most Halloween centerpieces for tables, but there are plenty of other creative options. Read on to learn more. Halloween Table Plants Everybody knows that Halloween colors are pumpkin orange and dark as night black, but you won’t necessarily have to select Halloween flowers and plants in these colors for table decorations....

About Harko Nectarine Fruit Most people who invite a Harko nectarine tree into their orchard do so with the intention of enjoying its fruit. Harko fruit is both beautiful and delicious, with solid red skin and sweet yellow flesh. But those growing Harko nectarines also rave about the ornamental value of this tree. It is a vigorous variety, filled with huge, showy pink blossoms in springtime that develop into freestone fruit in late summer....

Hellebore in the Garden Although hellebore in the garden is beautiful, it can present a danger to pets. The plant is also harmful to cattle, horses, and other livestock but generally only when they are desperate and starving because sufficient feed is unavailable. If you aren’t sure about the existence of hellebore in the garden, or if you have any plants you are unsure of, show a picture to knowledgeable folks at a greenhouse or nursery....

You can’t find any signs of bacterial, viral, or fungal infections when you inspect your hollyhock. Pest control sprays haven’t helped either. You’re not sure why your hollyhocks are failing. Perhaps it’s because the trouble lies under the soil. You may have hollyhock nematode problems. How Do Nematodes Affect Hollyhocks? Nematodes are tiny parasitic worms that feed on plant roots. They’re distributed worldwide and cause problems for commercial growers, greenhouse operators, and the garden hobbyist....

Hops Plant Harvesting Hops plants grow from rhizomes: fleshy underground stems that can be separated to grow new plants. You can dig up these rhizomes from existing plants or buy them from brew supply websites. You should plant your rhizomes in very early spring, and over the course of the summer, they will grow into 20- or 30-foot (6 to 9 m.) long vines. Eventually, the vines will produce flower cones....

What is the Lifespan of a Tree? So exactly how long do trees live? Much like animals, the average age of trees depends on its species. If a tree has enough water, food and sunshine throughout its life, then it can live to the end of its natural lifespan. That said, no amount of care can make an elm live as long as a sequoia. Some of the shorter-lived trees are include palms, which can live around 50 years....

Birch Tree Lifespan How old do birch trees get? The answer to this question depends in part on the species of the tree. It also depends on its growing conditions. Paper birch trees (Betula papyrafera), also known as white birch or silver birch, are popular garden trees. The species is native to this continent. The lifespan of a paper birch in the wild is between 80 and 140 years. Cultivated paper birches have a much shorter life if they are grown in the home landscape....

Chrysolphyllum Oliviforme In many ways, the satin leaf is the perfect tree. With a mature height of 45 feet (14 m.), it is small enough for small gardens but doesn’t have that miniature look. It is large enough to serve in bigger landscapes and as a street tree, as well. The evergreen leaves are the satin tree’s prime feature, a full 4 inches (10 cm.) long and two colors. They are a silky-smooth bottle green on top and a glowing silvery copper color beneath....

How Do I Get Rid of Chickweed? “How do I get rid of chickweed?” is a common question. There are two species of chickweed. There is perennial species, known as Mouse-ear chickweed (Cerastium vulgatum), which forms dense, low-lying patches within lawns and gardens. The other species, common chickweed (Stellaria media), is an annual and is easier to control. The best way to kill chickweed is by pulling as much of it out of the ground as possible by hand....

Monstera Deliciosa Flower Monstera belongs to the same plant group as skunk cabbage and Jack-in-the-pulpit, and the resulting monstera plant flower looks much the same. The Monstera “flower” is a fleshy erect spadix or spike with tiny blooms surrounded by a boat-shaped spathe. Monstera deliciosa flowers are creamy white and large, about 8-12 inches (20-38.4 cm.) in length. Monstera Deliciosa Fruit A Monstera may bloom and fruit at the same time due to the lengthy period of time the plant takes to bring an inflorescence to a mature fruit....