Griselinia is a tender evergreen shrub native to New Zealand that grows in areas with mild winters. It withstands salt spray well and is a good choice for coastal areas. It will tolerate cramped conditions but it needs rich soil that is not too dry. It produces purple berries in fall.

A variety of Japanese ornamental trees are available in the United States. The most common kinds--flowering cherry, Japanese maple, zelkova, dogwood and snowbell--require temperatures that conform to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's hardiness zones 5 through 8. Winter temperatures in these zones

Heavy trucks, cars and nearby businesses can create a cacophony of intrusive noise. Because there is really no way to move your home away from this racket, using landscaping to reduce traffic noise can muffle the din to some extent. Landscaping incorporates the use of organic and inorganic elements

Fresh, homegrown corn from your own garden can provide a regular harvest of vegetables to your table, supplies to store, and an opportunity to collect and save kernels for planting the following year. By collecting strong, healthy and large ears of corn over the fall, you can prepare corn seed for n

Millions of Easter lilies are harvested each fall in the U.S., then shipped to greenhouses where they are prepared to bloom in time for the Easter season. In 2005, the Easter lily industry had a wholesale value of $35 million, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Potatoes grow from other potatoes, producing plants that are composed of two main parts: the roots that grow below the ground and the leafy plant that grows above the ground. While the leafy part does the above-ground work of using the sun's energy to manufacture food for the entire plant, the potat

Evergreen bushes often suffer from fungal diseases that affect the vigor of the plant. Identifying fungal disease is key to providing your evergreen with effective treatment.

Grasshoppers are insects with two pairs of wings, strong hind legs and chewing mouth parts also known as mandibles. They go through "incomplete metamorphosis," in which each stage looks similar but adds a few changes each time they shed. The female is usually larger, while the male frequently has br

Corn, like any other plant or vegetable, needs the proper amount of soil nutrients and water in order to yield the delicious corn cobs that growers desire. Most farmers and gardeners know that accomplishing this balance of nutrients requires the addition of fertilizer to the soil to supplement the n

Although the common national impression of Washington is that of rainy, dreary winters, this state actually features long, warm summers and mild winters in many areas. These conditions are ideal for vegetable gardening, and can support multiple plantings every season. In both warm and cool regions o

Armenian heirloom tomatoes are a variety of tomato that has been passed down from a variety originating in Armenia. The definition of an heirloom tomato is an unusual variety that has been passed down through several generations. Typically, heirloom tomatoes are considered to be an heirloom if they

Southern gardeners appreciate the value of the crape myrtle tree to the home landscape. With large flowers, in shades of pink, red or purple, the tree can stand alone as an ornamental. Best grown within U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 6 through 11, it thrives in sunshine and moist soi

According to Dave's Garden, peaches and nectarines are hardy enough to grow anywhere in the U.S. As stone fruit trees, they require a period of winter cold to set their lush spring blooms and juicy fruit and so do better in areas that get a dramatic temperature drop during the winter. Unlike many fr

Most mechanical devices are composed of several integral parts. These parts must connect properly and often must remain sealed even when under great pressure. A mechanical seal can help with this task.

Growing tomatoes can be rewarding and also easy, but you have to pay close attention to your tomato plants and give them the care they need to survive. You will need to carefully gauge how much water your plants require on a daily basis. You will see noticeable signs of distress if you are over-wate

Aphids are some of the most common plant insects, according to W.S. Cranshaw from the Colorado State University Extension. There are approximately 4,000 different species of aphids in the world, and about 1,350 of those species live in North America. Approximately 250 types of aphids are serious pes

Shell ginger is an ornamental plant that is a member of the Zingiberaceae family. It produces 2-foot long, dark green leaves that grow vertically. The flowers grow on stalks and are white and pink colored resembling seashells. The variegated varieties of the plant have colored stripes that run throu

Peace lilies are flowers native to the rainforests of Central and South America. They are identifiable by their long, dark green leaves and white, single-petal flowers. These plants like part sun to full shade and a warm, humid environment. Normally, peace lilies are grown indoors in tem

Growing sweet peppers in containers is an alternative to raising them in the ground. A garden sometimes is not big enough to plant everything desired, or maybe you live in an apartment and do not have access to a garden area. Growing sweet peppers does not require much space. There are many sweet pe