Ann Wolters

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Stories By Ann Wolters

  • How To Get Rid Of Japanese Beetles On A Birch Tree

    How to Get Rid of Japanese Beetles on a Birch Tree. The invasive Japanese beetle damages a range of plants, including the birch tree, where it likes to feed on the upper leaves exposed to full sun. Adult Japanese beetles, just under 1/2 inch long with a metallic green body and coppery brown wing covers, leave behind their signature skeletonized leaves where they have fed. Since these pests spends ten months of the year in the turf, it is most effective to treat Japanese beetles grubs in the ground. Reserve pesticide use for when damage from beetles has been documented over two or more years and when beetle numbers become excessive. To best get rid of Japanese beetles on a birch tree, start underground.

    By Ann Wolters November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Flowering Trees For Minnesota

    Flowering Trees for Minnesota. After a long winter, Minnesotans find early-flowering trees to be a sure and welcome sign that the growing season has indeed begun. But any type of flowering tree--not just the early ones--can add visual interest and a pleasant fragrance to a yard. Flowering trees also add value to the property. Several options exist for those who want to plant a flowering tree in Minnesota.

    By Ann Wolters November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Fruit Trees That Grow In South Dakota

    Fruit Trees That Grow in South Dakota. You certainly do not want to plant a fruit tree and never get to taste the fruit of your labor. Though long, cold winters may limit the options for fruit trees in South Dakota, several fruit trees are suitable for the climate. Plant one or two-year-old fruit trees in weed-free, well-drained soil to create the best growing conditions possible.

    By Ann Wolters November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • How To Grow Huckleberries In Minnesota

    How to Grow Huckleberries in Minnesota. Western huckleberries are planted for their flavor, which advocates claim is superior to the taste of the blueberry. Berries from these woody perennial shrubs have been harvested from the wild for centuries, but western huckleberries have never been domesticated. Though the black huckleberry is native to the northwestern U.S., outcroppings do appear in Minnesota. And seeds from native plants may be planted in Minnesota gardens. But with the state's cold winters, seedlings need indoor protection during their first two winters. Huckleberry plants will begin bearing fruit three to five years after planting in Minnesota.

    By Ann Wolters November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • How To Transplant Date Palm Trees

    How to Transplant Date Palm Trees. The date palm, a well-known fruit-producing ornamental, is relatively easy to transplant, according to the University of Florida Extension. Date palms tend to be hardy and drought-tolerant and make a nice addition to the landscape. Whether you have a pot-bound palm that has been in a container for some time or a relatively young palm grown from an offshoot or tissue culture, the same transplanting techniques apply.

    By Ann Wolters November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • How To Grow Tomatoes In Water

    How to Grow Tomatoes in Water. Hydroponics, growing plants in water plus fertilizer, has several advantages over growing plants in soil. By growing tomato plants in water, you reduce problems with disease and pest control, make more efficient use of water and fertilizer, and end up with plants that bear fruit more quickly. One method for growing tomatoes in water involves an aggregate system, which means a substrate such as gravel or rockwool is used to support the plant roots. But all the nutrients the tomato plants need are provided in the hydroponic solution.

    By Ann Wolters September 6th, 2022 Read More
  • How To Keep Elephant Ears Over The Winter

    How to Keep Elephant Ears Over the Winter. The elephant ear, a tender plant in the begonia family, is named for its large leaves. Tropical in origin, elephant ears, or Colocasia esculenta, are grown from tubers, which produce corms or fleshy storage structures. The corms grow into stems when the plant comes out of dormancy. In temperate climates, elephant ear corms must be brought indoors to protect them from harsh winter temperatures.

    By Ann Wolters September 6th, 2022 Read More
  • The Best Plants To Grow Hydroponically

    The Best Plants to Grow Hydroponically. Growing plants without soil, a practice that began centuries ago, has experienced a resurgence in popularity. Hydroponic systems encourage rapid plant growth because their liquid solutions make nutrients readily available for quick absorption, according to the University of Alabama Cooperative Extension. Another advantage of hydroponics is the elimination of many pest problems common with soil-grown plants. A variety of flowering plants, vegetables and herbs are well suited for hydroponic gardens.

    By Ann Wolters September 6th, 2022 Read More
  • Types Of Plants & Flowers For A Funeral

    Types of Plants & Flowers for a Funeral. Sending flowers or a plant to a grieving family is a kind way to say you are thinking of them during their time of grief and loss. Flowers and plants at a funeral add a sense of warmth and offer comfort. Though several traditional flowers and plants are associated with funerals, you should also feel free to send a favorite of the bereaved or the type of flower or plant the deceased loved most.

    By Ann Wolters September 6th, 2022 Read More
  • How To Germinate Corn Seeds

    How to Germinate Corn Seeds. Whether you wish to grow sweet corn, popcorn, novelty-colored corn varieties or field corn, providing corn seeds with the appropriate temperature and moisture conditions will greatly improve their germination rate. Corn seeds must absorb about 30 percent of their weight in water before they will resume active embryo growth, according to Purdue University. And germination is also more successful when the seed's environmental temperature is 65 degrees F or higher.

    By Ann Wolters September 6th, 2022 Read More
  • The Best Choices For A Vegetable Garden In Minnesota

    The Best Choices for a Vegetable Garden in Minnesota. To some extent, the best choices for a vegetable garden in Minnesota are guided by the grower's preferences. But the gardener with little to moderate gardening experience can also set herself up for success by considering what vegetables tend to grow well in the state. Select a variety of easy-to-grow vegetables, provide them with adequate attention during the growing season, and come harvest time, enjoy the fruits of your labor.

    By Ann Wolters September 6th, 2022 Read More