Must Know Plant Care Tips: Balsam are fairly easy to maintain and fairly forgiving. You can buy plants or grow easily from seed, starting indoors about 8 weeks before your usual last frost. Plan on waiting about 60 days from seeding to see your first blooms. Don’t cover seeds with soil, […]
Plant Encyclopedia
Plant Encyclopedia: Yucca
Must Know Plant Care Tips: Be careful where you plant yucca. You don’t want it close to pathways or sidewalks where people may be scratched or poked by it’s sharp-tipped leaves. All your yucca should really need is well-drained soil and plenty of sun to thrive. Plant Problem Solver: If you want great […]
Plant Encylopedia: Ficus
Must Know Plant Care Tips: Ficus trees can be picky. Outdoors they need moist soil with good drainage. Soil amendments are important, with organic material like compost. For root growth, add superphosphate to help the tree get a strong start. Plant Problem Solver: Growing ficus indoors is suitable for most of the […]
Plant Encyclopedia: Aster
Must Know Plant Care Tips: Aster can be started from seed in the spring, but are usually purchased as a potted plant and transplanted. Plant in well-drained soil that is loamy, and keep new plants moist until well established. When watering, water at the base as not to encourage powdery mildew and […]
Plant Encyclopedia: Lavender
Must Know Plant Care Tips: For cut flowers, gather the blossoms right after they open. Provide sunny conditions, warm temperatures, and well-drained soil. Alkaline soil is best. Lavender does not tolerate too much moisture, so consider location carefully. Can be prone to root rot if too much moisture is present. Space plants far […]
Plant Encyclopedia Blue Lobelia
Must Know Plant Care Tips: Blue lobelia will bloom its best in cooler temperatures, like fall and spring. In the heat of summer, it will usually stop flowering. At this time, shear it back and it will likely bloom again in the fall when temperatures cool down. It will grow in a […]
Perfect Perennials for the Pacific Northwest
If you live in the Pacific Northwest, you probably want to take advantage of the amazing growing conditions available for all kinds of beautiful plants. But what grows best there, and what perennials should you try that won’t simply have your yard looking like everyone else’s? Here are some perfect perennials for the Pacific […]
Plant Enyclopedia: Violet
Must Know Plant Care Tips: Violets will grow in sun but do prefer light shade, and will require less water when planted there. They are good self-seeders, but are not particularly invasive, unless they’re the wild violet variety. Plant Problem Solver: Violets make great bedding plants or ground cover, and also do […]
Plant Encyclopedia: Lilyturf
Must Know Plant Care Tips: Lilyturf will grow in most soils, but loose, well-drained, rich soil is best. Slightly acidic soil helps as well. For the best appearance, mow or shear it back to the ground in very early spring, or even better, late winter. Do this before any new growth shows up. […]
Plant Encyclopedia: Rock Cress
Must Know Plant Care Tips: Care is pretty minimal. Rock cress will do well in fair soil, as long as it has good drainage and is slightly acidic. Pine needle mulch will help increase acidity and reduce moisture loss. High nitrogen fertilizer is recommended with planting, and a phosphorus fertilizer is a good […]