Month: November 2020

Raising the soil level around a tree’s back is not recommended. Although large piles of mulch often are found around tree roots and trunks, that practice is harmful to tree health. Rather than placing a raised bed around a willow tree, then it’s ideal to create the illusion of a raised bed using one of many practices. Willow Root and Trunk Systems It is a common misconception that tree roots grow deep as opposed to long. A willow tree’s active origins, such as those of most trees, are within the top 3 feet of soil. The largest and most productive origins are in the top 1 foot of soil. This is since roots seek both moisture and oxygen, which can be found together only in the top layers of soil. When soil or mulch is stacked around a tree’s trunk, it cuts off the oxygen supply to your tree roots….

Capsicum plants, better known as pepper crops, are among the simplest vegetables to grow in the home. Pepper plants grow upright naturally, and come in an assortment of sizes and colours. They often benefit from the support of a tomato cage or other reinforcement to maintain their feeble branches from breaking under the weight of growing fruit. Although pepper plants need minimal care, they can sometimes gain from ancient- or late-season pruning. Early-season pruning helps to increase the grade of the fruit and is best done before thriving when the plant reaches a foot tall. Late-season pruning is done after the fruit has set and helps to speed the maturing of the fruit to the plant. Eliminate any dead branches or dying leaves with pruning shears by cutting the branch flush with the rear of the pepper plant. Cut back smaller branches in place of the notch where two other…

Buttercups are prettier than most other weeds, but they are able to make a nuisance of themselves at a flower bed. Normal weeding and herbicides offer control. Typical buttercup varieties include common or tall buttercup (Ranunculus acris), that grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 8, and also California buttercup (Ranunculus californicus), that grows in USDA zones 6 through 9. Small flowered or early woodbuttercup (Ranunculus abortivus) is another common type, and it grows in USDA zones 3 through 8. Buttercup seeds can infest a flower bed and, since perennial plants, buttercups live for many years. Hand Weeding and Hoeing Normal hand weeding and hoeing can efficiently control buttercups in flower beds. Digging weeds up isn’t possible when it disturbs your flowers, but also you can hand weed with a trowel from the spaces between plants. Hoe open places between flowers with a scuffle hoe to…

Because most bedding plant geraniums (Pelargonium spp.) Originated in Africa, they can live on minimum levels of water. For this reason, they may be stored dormant through winter, hanging in a garage or other frost-free place. Usually grown as annuals, these geraniums really are tender perennials at U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11, depending on their own variety. Where they need protection to survive winter, attempt enforced dormancy on just the plants using stocky, woody stems. Cranesbill or hardy geraniums (Geranium spp.) , which are perennial in USDA zones 3 through 10, typically do not have to be kept indoors for winter and probably would not survive the bare-root experience. Choose a Location Throughout the age when basements were dim and moist, gardeners generally stored their dormant bedding plant geraniums there, by hanging them out of nails driven into exposed beams. Today, most people need to…