Is a tomato a fruit or a vegetable? The answer to this question depends on whether you are a botanist or a chef. Human beings have been naming and classifying things around them since they first learned to speak. Indeed, language may have developed partly out of our need to describe and identify things we …
Gardening
Landscaping under any tree can be challenging, thanks to the dense shade cast by the branches and the abundance of thick roots in the soil. But black walnut trees (Juglans nigra) seem to be in a category all their own; nothing will grow anywhere near them! Although landscaping under black walnut trees may feel like …
Everybody loves dahlias! They certainly have a way of capturing the imagination. With their colorful petals and unique shapes, dahlia flowers come in a variety of shades, such as red, pink, yellow, orange, and purple. But to grow these gorgeous flowers, you should consider using a good fertilizer and apply it at the right time. …
Easy to grow and easy to love, mint is among the most common perennial herbs. Whether you grow peppermint, spearmint, chocolate mint, pineapple mint, or common garden mint (or one of the many other varieties!), knowing the best companion plants for mint can help you grow healthy, happy plants. First, it’s helpful to know the …
Petunias are such great flowers for landscaping! Brimming with brilliant colors and a delicate smell, petunia flowers are great for adding a splash of color to your gardens. Landscaping with petunias is as easy as it gets, as long as you plant them in a sunny spot and give them water and well-fertilized soil. Petunias …
If you have ever peeled a banana, you probably tossed the peels in the compost — or worse, the trash — without giving them a second thought. But many seasoned gardeners, like @Judybaogarden, teach us that those humble banana peels could be the secret to healthier, more luscious plants. There isn’t an easier way to make …
Cool, crunchy cucumbers are great in salads, pickled, or even eaten plain with a little salt (or is that just me?). These wonderful summer veggies can grow well in all sizes of vegetable gardens, since proper trellising means they take up very little horizontal space. In addition to providing the proper growing conditions, choose some …
There’s something magical about watching birds splash around in a backyard bath—it brings life, movement, and joy to any garden space. Yet, choosing from all the available bird baths can be tough. You can buy a stone bird bath or a concrete one. There are heated bird baths and bird bath heaters for cold weather. …
We all have that one problem tree in the backyard around which nothing will grow. The ground under the branches displays little more than patches of bare soil. If you’re reading this post, your problem tree might be a spruce, or perhaps you’re simply searching for inspiration on landscaping for under your spruce trees. Whatever …
It’s beyond frustrating to look out your window and see your garden stripped clean—flowers gone, leaves chewed, and stems standing like sad little reminders. If your yard is starting to feel more like a deer buffet than a flower bed, it’s time to fight back (beautifully). Deer will avoid certain plant varieties due to bitter …