African Violets: Seven steps to success

African violets are one of the easiest and most adaptable flowering houseplants to grow, as they do well in the conditions found in most homes.  There are seven main cultural factors you should be aware of to ensure their success. African violets that you buy are almost certainly hybrids, generally of one main species (Saintpaulia ionantha).  The native habitat of […]

What to do in your Garden – September Gardening To do list

Provided is a list of tasks you need to perform in your garden during September. Please understand your gardening zone which is identified in the menu above. Look for Hardiness Zones. Zone 1 Sow wildflower seeds Water to winterize trees and shrubs Clean up vegetable and perennial gardens Plant spring-blooming bulbs Apply winterizing formula lawn fertilizer (with high potassium) Clean […]

What Gardening Chores you need to do in August where you live.

Learn the August garden tasks for your gardening hardiness zone. Do you know what your hardiness zone? Once known, then find the required task. Zone 1 Sow seeds of wildflowers and fall veggies Aerate, dethatch and fertilize the lawn As first frosts threaten, pick mature green tomatoes to ripen in a dark, cool place indoors Purchase containerized trees and shrubs […]

Keeping Lawns Weed Free

A few years ago weeds were a major lawn problem. Today, however, it is no longer necessary to spend hours of back-breaking labor pulling and digging trouble-some weeds. The use of selective lawn week killers such as Ortho Weed-B-Gon or Lilly-Miler, takes the drudgery out of lawn weeding. Dandelions, common plaintain, buckhorn, thistle, wild carrot and over 80 other broadleaf […]

Ants in the Garden

Ants are unwelcome in the garden for various reasons but chiefly on account of their nest-building activities which interfere with the roots of the plants, often causing death. They may also be a nuisance on lawns. They are often seen running over plants infested with greenfly to which they are attracted by the sweet honeydew. They may help to spread […]

Ajuga – Bugle Flower, Perennials Guide to Planting Flowers

Ajuga – Bugle Flower For creeping over the soil in shaded places the Bugle Flower is excellent. Two sorts are commonly cataloged. Ajuga replans rubra has deep purplish-blue flowers and purplish leaves and is prostrate in habit; A. genevensis is more upright in growth and bears flowers varying in color from dull red to white and blue. There is a […]

Arabis – Rock Cress, Wall Cress, Perennials Guide to Planting Flowers

Arabis – Rock Cress, Wall Cress The Rock Cress is a small, white, four-petaled flower, and its masses of snowy bloom early in the Spring contrast beautifully with the Basket of Gold (Alyssum saxatile compactum) and the blue False Wall Cress (Aubrietia). It blooms very soon after the snow disappears and the flowers are so numerous that when a plant […]

Buddleia – Butterfly Bush, Summer Lilac, Perennials Guide to Planting Flowers

Buddleia – Butterfly Bush, Summer Lilac Buddleias have made a great place for themselves in the garden where their abundant bloom, attractive color and delicate fragrance wins our admiration the first time we become acquainted with them. These plants are nearly hardy shrubs, but because of our cold Winters they serve as perennials with us. SPECIES. B. variabilis is a […]

Callirhoe – Poppy Mallow, Perennials Guide to Planting Flowers

Callirhoe – Poppy Mallow The Poppy Mallow has long, trailing stems with many saucer shaped or Poppy-shaped flowers. These flowers are borne in the axils of the leaves and vary in color from rosy crimson to cherry red and rose, with white centers. Callirhoe involucrata is the most useful species and blooms all during the Summer and early Fall. The leaves […]