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How to Use Neem Oil. Neem oil is a natural, non-toxic product that is a fungicide as well as an insecticide. It kills common plant pests, such as mites, flies and aphids, and common diseases, such as powdery mildew and rust. Unlike chemical pesticides, neem oil does not kill beneficial insects, such as ladybugs. You can buy neem oil pure, or buy it pre-mixed with soap--soap helps it mix properly with water and helps it stick to plant leaves.
Read MoreFertilizer for Vinca Minor. Vinca minor, also called periwinkle or creeping myrtle, offers glossy green foliage and typically produces lavender, blue or white blooms. Although this perennial ground cover may grow fine in sunny areas of the garden, it does well in partial to full shade. Like all ground covers, Vinca minor appreciates fertilizer to aid its growth.
Read MoreCare of Emerald Zoysia. Emerald Zoysia grass requires care to maintain its beautiful, lush but firm appearance. If you ignore its watering or sunlight needs, your lawn will suffer. On the flip side of the coin, Zoysia also suffers if you pay too much attention to fertilizing it, adding too much, too often. Gardeners typically start Emerald Zoysia from sod, although you can also start it from plugs--if you don't mind waiting a lot longer for a fully covered, green lawn (according to pikenursery.com, full coverage can take an entire year). No matter its beginnings, proper care of your Zoysia results in a beautiful green lawn.
Read MoreHow to Care for Blue Festuca Grass. Blue festuca ornamental grass, also called Elijah Blue fescue, provides a dash of grey-blue foliage to your landscape. This perennial grass grows low to the ground, in attractive round clumps, and fares well in most soils (including sandy soils), as long as the soil has good drainage. Because it is easy to care for and retains color all year (in warm regions), Festuca is a suitable plant for landscape borders.
Read MoreHibiscus Plants & Pets. Hibiscus is a popular perennial plant with large, vibrant flowers. You can plant hibiscus directly in your garden or keep it as a container plant. Despite the plant's beauty, the hibiscus is toxic to some animals. You may wish to rethink owning hibiscus plants if you have pets unless you can be sure your pet will not chew on or ingest any of it.
Read MoreHow to Fertilize Pansies. In most areas of the country, pansies are treated as an annual flower. In other regions, they can last for a long time, and are treated as a perennial. In either case, your pansies will do better if you fertilize them properly. Fertilize these flowers when you first plant them and then either monthly or bi-monthly thereafter, depending on whether you use a granular or liquid fertilizer.
Read MoreHow to Plant Seeds in a Cup. You can easily plant seeds in a cup, as opposed to buying traditional starter pots. This can save you some money and is a simple way to recycle old cups you may have lying around. Seeds can germinate and grow in just about anything, so long as they get enough nutrients, warmth, light and water. Later, after the plants are growing, you can transplant them into larger containers.
Read MoreHow to Spray Plants With Dish Soap. Soap is one effective and inexpensive means of controlling common pests on plants, indoors and outdoors. Unlike many chemical pesticides, these you can use without worrying you are exposing yourself, or the environment, to toxic chemicals. Dish soap sprays are safe for most plants; however oldfashionedliving.com does warn it is unsafe for cauliflower, squash and red cabbage.
Read MoreHow to Clean Concrete Planters. Concrete planters are sturdy, strong and often look like decorative stone. If you've used a concrete planter for a plant that has died (or that has been potted elsewhere), and now wish to re-use the planter, clean it first. Cleaning and sanitizing planters prevents diseases from spreading plant to plant. A concrete planter's rough surface doesn't always lend itself to easy cleaning, but with the proper equipment you should be able to prepare the planter well enough to safely house a new plant.
Read MoreHow to Sterilize Mower Blades. If your grass develops disease, clean and sterilize your mower blades before you mow again. If you do not, you risk spreading the disease over your entire lawn, or, if you've treated for the disease, you risk reinfection. Sterilizing mower blades is not any more difficult than sterilizing other metal stools or surfaces. It takes just a few extra minutes after cleaning the blades.
Read MoreHow to Stop Earwigs From Eating Plants. Earwigs are nocturnal pests that may cause problems in a garden by chewing on plant foliage. Young bedding plants and other small plants may be killed by earwigs if the pests are not eliminated before extensive damage is done. Because earwigs only come out at night and hide during the day, you won't notice bugs on your plants, but holes in leaves are a good sign you may have an earwig problem. Practicing good garden sanitation and using insecticides with residual effects are helpful for controlling earwig infestations.
Read MoreHow to Use Jobes Evergreen Fertilizer Spikes. Jobes evergreen spikes contain fertilizer that is slowly released into the soil around the evergreen. These fertilizer spikes last around 3 months before you will need to replace them. The benefits of slow-release, spike fertilizers are two-fold. You lower the risk of burning your evergreen through too much fertilizer applied at once, and you save yourself some time and effort--when you use these fertilizer spikes, you do not have to mix fertilizer and pour it around the plant.
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