Girdling is a method of killing undesirable trees, including fruit trees. It involves destroying part of the trunk and exposing the inner trunk to powerful herbicides that soak down to the roots and kill the entire tree. Girdling takes longer than other tree removal methods, but also involves less u

Water globes save time by removing some of the plant care chores from your list.Jupiterimages/Goodshoot/Getty ImagesPlastic water globes for plants are a take on automatic watering systems. It is method to consistently and evenly applies moisture to a plant without having to remember to...

Fungus gnats are a common pest in houseplants. Fungus gnats are despised by many gardeners, due to their rapid reproduction, their damaging effects on plants and their persistence. While fungus gnat infestations are next to impossible to fully destroy, it is easy to identify them and keep their numb

Almonds are usually called nuts, but they are technically a fruit. Like peaches, they develop inside a fruit. The almond fruit is small and leathery and often called a hull. The “nut” is actually the seed inside like a peach pit. Aside from their use as a food-producing tree, the

Spruce tree diseases must be taken seriously. Once a spruce tree loses its needles to disease, and treatment is not started as soon as possible, they do not grow back and the branch itself will die. The needles are also important in the manufacturing of food for the tree. However, if the disease is

Herbicides are chemicals.protection before chemicals image by Witold Krasowski from Fotolia.comHerbicides are a class of chemicals used to kill unwanted plants such as broadleaf weeds and woody plants. Herbicide applications include both agriculture and residential use. There are risks...

The Norway spruce has long needles and long, thin pinecones.spruce image by Tatuana Badokina from Fotolia.comThe Norway spruce is an evergreen conifer and one of the most common spruce found in North America. Native to Europe, the Norway spruce grows in central and northern Europe, Canada...

Valued for their flashy and showy flowers, rose bushes are among the most common ornamental plants for home gardens. Yellow spots and leaf drop are symptoms of a variety of fungal diseases. Prevention and early identification of these diseases can help reduce the severity of infection. Early control

Hanging baskets hold flowers and plants with ornamental foliage, and they are attractive places for birds to nest. Preventing birds from nesting in your hanging baskets allows you to keep the plants in good shape and to keep the underlying area clean and tidy.

Magnolia trees bloom with striking large, waxy flowers.magnolia image by Andrzej Włodarczyk from Fotolia.comFlowering trees are popular tree selections for a landscape as they help to add beauty and seasonal interest. Flowering trees are second in importance only to the functional...

Purple and maroon landscape bushes stand out when you plant them in front of a light background, such as white siding or tan stucco. You can also highlight their rich color by placing them among plants with light green foliage or plants bearing yellow or orange flowers. The wonderful purple and maro

Pruning a bonsai can be a tricky chore, but it helps shape the tree and encourages growth. Knowing when to prune is important. If the tree is deciduous, it should be pruned only after the leaves have fallen or in the fall. If the tree is a conifer, it needs to be pruned at the end of its dormancy or

Perhaps you've inherited a yard full of young fruit trees along with your new house, or maybe someone has gifted you with a seedling that doesn't have fruit yet. You can identify each tree using the leaves. Peach and other fruit trees have distinctive leaves that can be identified with a little rese

Flax is a common agricultural product normally grown on a large scale, but home gardeners can also produce small quantities of the crop in their backyards. Flax seed has many nutritionally beneficial properties, including a high content of fatty acids. To harvest flax seeds, gardeners must dry out t

Growing and starting plants indoors is rewarding for any gardener. The beauty of indoor plants enhances and brings life to any room in your house. With the proper grow lights and plant containers you can start your own little greenhouse indoors. Advantages to both fluorescent and incandescent lighti

A winter annual, henbit has green oval leaves and purple flowers that bloom in spring, giving the plant a chance to self-sow before dying in the summer. This is an opportunistic weed that takes advantage of thin or bare spots in your lawn to establish itself. Therefore, the first step you need to ta

Salvia begins blooming in late May or early June and blooms to produce the seeds it needs for reproduction. Once the seeds mature, the plant has reached its goal and doesn't need to bloom anymore. If you remove flowers before seeds form or mature, the plant resumes flower production. This practice i

Growing tomatoes and strawberries upside down will allow you to free up space in your garden. The planters can hang from your porch or in your yard. The upside-down approach protects the plants from insects and diseases. Tomatoes do not need to be staked when grown upside down, and the strawberries

Morels are a spring delicacy, best fresh from the woods.The mushroom morel image by Ludmila Galchenkova from Fotolia.comMorels are recognized by their spongy cap, with brain-like folds and very erect posture. The white and black varieties are equally tasty. The flavor is rich and creamy...

Carnations (Dianthus caryophyllus) are among the most popular flowers grown in gardens today. Native to Europe, carnations have been in cultivation for over 2,000 years, and have been developed into a wide variety of sizes from a bushy dwarf border plant to a tall long-stemmed cultivar. Available in