Although lavender grows best in dry, well-drained soil, it still benefits from mulch, which has other uses beyond improving water retention. First, adding mulch around lavender plants will help reduce weeds. Weeds, of course, compete with lavender for space and nutrients, and they can also increase humidity and soil moisture and act as disease vectors. …
Gardening
When learning how to grow chervil, you’ll be happy to know it is fairly easy. This versatile herb grows well in USDA hardiness zones 4-9, thriving best in partial shade or full sun when provided with consistent moisture. Chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium) is one of our most aromatic kitchen herbs. It can be harvested throughout the …
Proper pruning keeps lavender plants healthy and attractive. Without it, the woody base can grow large and unruly, becoming prone to splitting in the freezing winter months. But when you know how to prune lavender correctly, you can train it to grow in a tidy mounded shape that produces denser foliage and more blooms. Pruning …
If you would like to preserve lavender, drying is the most common and easiest method. Dried lavender has innumerable uses, including culinary, medicinal, and crafting. Wondering how to dry lavender and what to do with it? Here’s all you need to know. How to Dry Lavender The important thing to remember when drying lavender is “low …
Louisiana’s warm climate, plentiful rain, and abundant sunshine make the state, unfortunately, welcoming to invasive plant species. With such favorable growing conditions and a lack of natural controls (i.e., diseases, pests, etc.), these plants spread readily, forming monocultural swaths that displace native plants and disrupt entire ecosystems. Some of these plants may even grow in …
About 145 invasive plant species threaten the natural areas of Kentucky, according to the Kentucky Invasive Plant Council. Many of these noxious weeds have been planted in gardens as ornamental landscaping plants, and some are still sold by garden centers. Learn how to identify some of the worst invasive plants in Kentucky so you can …
Learning how to plant a Jane magnolia tree is easier than you might think. Start by deciding why you want a magnolia tree and why the Jane magnolia is a good choice. With pink blooms and a massive spread, this tree makes a beautiful statement in your landscape. When most people think of magnolia trees, …
Freshly picked bell peppers add a welcome crunch and color variety to summer dishes such as salads, salsas, and kebabs. Wouldn’t it be great if this summer you could enjoy your own homegrown sweet bell peppers? Learn how to grow bell peppers with this quick and easy guide. Growing bell peppers is a fun and …
Once you learn how to grow borage, you’ll wonder why you didn’t start sooner! Borage Is a robust, quick-growing annual herb whose deep blue, star shaped flowers make it a colorful and refreshing addition to salads. Growing borage is a great way to add beauty and flavor to a garden. Although not as common as …
Kansas is home to more than 2,200 native plant species. These plants have evolved in the Kansas prairie and adapted to the growing conditions and ecosystems there, creating a landscape unique to the region. Exotic plants, on the other hand, come from a completely different habitat and have no established relationship with the native flora …