Pruning removes old and dead wood and produces new shoots for vibrant, youthful plants with full foliage, abundant clouds of flowers, and a manageable size. Beautiful flowering shrubs, spirea are enthusiastic growers with woody or cane-like stems that benefit from an annual pruning. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. It thins the plant’s mass and reduces the existing canopy, which improves air circulation and allows sunlight to reach the understory, resulting in dense mounds of growth....

They have a well-documented history and are relatively easy to care for, but propagating them from cuttings is an exercise in pleasure. In my long list of “favorite plants,” the African violet sits comfortably somewhere near the top. That’s because of its profuse and reliable blooming, the ease of care, and the mystique of being a plant native to Africa. But there’s a more personal reason in there, too. When I was in charge of maintaining greenhouse stock at an old job, I took special pride in the condition of the African violets....

Infected leaves appear as white or gray spots in the early stages of an infection. They may quickly enlarge to completely cover the infected plant parts with a nasty blight. If you live in a temperate zone, chances are that you have encountered powdery mildew in your garden. Powdery mildew is a worldwide menace, with hundreds of species of fungi that may cause it, and the ability to infect more than 10,000 species of plants....

Read on to learn about the many ways in which you can use these hormones to control insect pests as part of your integrated pest management strategy. What lures a potential mate? While it may be looks and charm in humans, for insects, it is typically a seductive chemical. You may have heard of pheromones – chemical attractants. Scientists have identified pheromones for over 1,500 insects, although only a small number of them are used commercially....

Difference Between Catnip and Catmint It is true that catnip and species commonly known as catmint have quite a lot in common. They are low maintenance perennials that grow in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 9, and thrive in full to part sun. The common name catmint refers to a number of species in the Nepeta genus of herbaceous perennials in the mint family. Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is a long-used medicinal herb that drives kitties wild, while other species, including N....

We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. In 1959, the first edition of The Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening was published. It advocated the cost-effective, healthy practice of growing home food crops without chemicals – a radical idea! Rodale’s Ultimate Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening: The Indispensable Green Resource for Every Gardener Let’s jump right in!...

Worry no more. Controlling fungus gnats on your spider plants is simply a matter of combining a few of the easy strategies we’ve compiled for you, to make your job as a plant parent a little easier. Just about every proud plant parent has a spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) on their shelf. And every spider plant parent can relate with the irritation of having to bat fungus gnat adults away from their face and the stress of stewing over how to rid their plant babies of the root-chewing maggots....

The winding vines are dormant in winter and wake with gorgeous green leaves in the spring that turn yellow, orange, and brown in autumn. Vitis spp. Make your dream of growing grapes come true! You don’t need a field to grow your own. All you need to cultivate a proper harvest is a small space with fertile soil that receives full sun. Vitis plants give gardens a mythic appearance. Their existence is mentioned and honored in many ancient texts....

Whether you need a little help with your existing hostas or you’re looking for something new for your space, we’ve got your back. Here is what we’ll cover in this guide: Hosta spp. It’s easy to see why hostas are some of the most popular perennials on the market. They’re practically foolproof to grow; come in a massive array of sizes, patterns, and colors; and can adapt to a range of conditions....

Read on to find out how to distinguish the two and what to do if the trunk or limbs are disfigured in this manner. Does your fruit, nut, or shade tree have weird growths on its trunk or limbs? There are two main reasons for this. One is that they are burr knots or burls. Your tree is confused and growing root tissue on its limbs. The other reason is due to a bacterial infection that causes tumors to be produced....

Flavors improve with cool nights, and plants can even withstand a light frost – but not a sustained freeze. As midsummer hits its stride with long, hot days, the production of leafy greens often slows or stops as plants bolt and prepare to set seed. But you can extend the season for fresh, crisp greens with a late planting of cool-season favorites like Swiss chard. Chard comes in a rainbow of brightly hued colors, with a highly attractive ornamental value for the fall garden, as well as outstanding nutrition and kitchen uses....

Over the years I’ve whittled down a long list of what works and what doesn’t, and have honed my expert’s eye on what makes a good pair of gloves for working in the garden. I’ll save you all my backstory, except to say I’ve been working with my hands for more than 20 years and know what works and what doesn’t. I’ve worked through just about every style of glove and have decided that, heck, most gloves stink....

If you are tired of the boring look of your patio then we have some awesome Patio Garden Ideas From Instagram to help you out! Check out some great small patio garden ideas here Patio Garden Ideas From Instagram 1. Wooden Walls and Water Feature A post shared by DECO PATIOS Y JARDINES (@decoracionpatiosyjardines) 2. Green Space A post shared by Blaine (@blaine_would) 3. Hanging White Lights and Curtains A post shared by Iwona ZZ (@ivon_homeuk)...

Besides properly cultivating the maple tree and providing preventive care to keep it free of pests and disease, a gardener will need to prune an Acer as it grows and develops. If you’re the proud owner of a maple tree, congrats on having such an amazing plant in your landscape! The brilliant foliage and fall color of various Acer species makes them true works of art! However, what sets a maple tree apart from, say, a statue or painting, is that a growing maple is never quite finished....

Thankfully, there’s no better weapon for fighting against disease than knowledge. By knowing what afflicts an infected Strelitzia and how to control or prevent it, you can save your birds of paradise from an early demise. Birds of paradise look really cool – there’s no denying it. With gorgeous tropical fronds and flowers that resemble folded origami birds, they truly possess a sense of majesty. Whenever I see one, I think to myself, “that’s sick!...

There are three methods available to you for propagating dumb canes. Coming up, we’ll go over each of them in detail. While one dumb cane is good, two (or three, or four…) are even better. But if you’re like me, you’d rather spend your hard-earned cash on a new pair of secateurs or some good gardening gloves – especially when you can start new plants for the cost of some fresh potting soil....

Growing new spider plants from offsets is an easy indoor gardening project that can be accomplished with three different methods – we’re going to cover all three. In this article, we’re going to get down and dirty with spiderettes. Not sure what I’m talking about? They were the female backup singers for Ziggy Stardust back in the early ‘70s. Well… weren’t they? Ahem. Moonage daydreams aside, we’re actually talking about a different sort of spider altogether here – the offsets or plant babies that grow from spider plants, no Ziggy involved (unless of course you choose David Bowie as background music, in which case, I applaud your decision)....

With a vigorous growth habit, they readily naturalize via their extensive root systems and by self-sowing. The challenge is to be able to enjoy them without letting them take over your yard. Perennial asters are members of various genera in the Asteraceae family, including Aster, Eurybia, and Symphyotrichum. They are native to the United States, Europe, and Asia. There are numerous species and cultivated varieties with heights ranging from six inches to over six feet tall....

Even though asparagus is dioecious – with plants that are either male or female gendered – both the males and females produce foliage and flowers. But only female plants produce seed. Growing asparagus in the home garden takes patience. Depending upon which option you choose at planting time – seeds, crowns, or starts – it can take several growing seasons before the bed you’ve lovingly prepared will play host to those tender, delicious springtime spears....

Known for attracting hummingbirds, this member of the Lamiaceae family is remarkably easy to care for. Salvia clevelandii If you love growing common sage in your herb garden and live in a warm area, you’ll want to consider adding Cleveland sage into the mix. Salvia clevelandii, also known as California blue, fragrant, and most often, Cleveland sage, is a fast-growing, highly aromatic herb that is native to the coast of southern California....