Garden Guides uses a knowledgeable team of editors, writers, and experts to create all our content. We dive deep into the ever-evolving conversations surrounding gardening and landscaping, striving to deliver the most current and helpful tips, strengthened by expert insight and tutorials from our talented team.
As we cover many fields of expertise, we make it a priority to ensure every beat remains fresh and comprehensive. Additional information on our editorial process available here.
Does Roundup Contaminate Soil for Gardening?. Roundup herbicide takes much of the toil out of weeding a garden, eliminating the need for hoeing or hand pulling. Because the active ingredient, glyphosate, kills plants by interrupting the growth process, there is no soil contamination to affect on seeds or plants introduced to the garden after spraying the herbicide. Plant leaves and stems absorb this broad-spectrum herbicide.
Read MoreDoes Roundup Weed Killer Kill Insects?. Roundup weed killer, a nonselective, postemergence herbicide marketed by the Monsanto company, is absorbed by plant leaves and stems. Interruption of enzymatic processes stops plant growth and leads to plant death. The active ingredient, glyphosate, is broken down by microbes in soil, where it has no further impact on plants. According to the Monsanto ecological information statement on the product label, Roundup weed killer is "practically nontoxic" to arthropods, with the honeybee the tested subject.
Read MoreDo Aphids Bite?. Aphids (Aphis spp.) do not bite human beings or chew plant leaves. Instead, these small, soft-bodied insects insert microscopically thin, piercing mouthparts into plant leaf and stem phloem and feed off of sugar-rich plant juices. Commonly called plant lice, colonies of aphids inject saliva into plants as they suck fluids. The saliva prevents wound healing, causing leaves to curl and become distorted.
Read MoreHow to Successfully Plant Winter Ryegrass. If you live in a region where the warm-season grass turns brown in the wintertime, ryegrass (*Lolium spp.*) can give you a spring-like green lawn even in January and February. Although annual ryegrass (*Lolium multiflorum*) grows in all climate zones of the United States and perennial ryegrass grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 6, you can overseed with annual or perennial ryegrass for a green winter lawn in USDA zones 7 through 10.
Read MoreFront Landscaping for a Colonial Home. Colonial architecture is marked by its symmetry: a square house featuring a center entrance, flanked by an equal number of windows above and on either side. Traditional landscaping for this type of home mirrors the building's straight, formal lines, while a more casual approach is designed to soften them.
Read MoreWhat Is the Difference Between a Grove and an Orchard?
Read More
