Kit Arbuckle

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Stories By Kit Arbuckle

  • How To Plant Grapes In Ohio

    How to Plant Grapes in Ohio. Grapes grow well in much of the Midwest. Ohio has some ideal areas for grape production near the great lakes and in the Ohio River valley. Grapes also perform well in the rest of the state with careful cultivar selection and site preparation. People have successfully grown grapevines in Ohio since the early 1800s. A grapevine can live 40 years or more and provide as much as 20 pounds of fruit every year once established.

    By Kit Arbuckle November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • The Best Tomato Plants To Plant In Indiana

    The Best Tomato Plants to Plant in Indiana. To many Hoosiers, summer in Indiana has not arrived until they harvest their first garden tomato. Whether growing just one plant or a whole garden full, few can resist the temptation to eat that first ripe, juicy tomato before it reaches the kitchen. Several tomato varieties flourish in Indiana and with careful planning, you will have tomatoes ready to harvest from the end of June to well into the fall.

    By Kit Arbuckle November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Evergreens For Indiana

    Evergreens for Indiana. Every landscape design benefits from the inclusion of evergreens, especially in areas that have cold, gloomy winters. The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone map classifies much of Indiana as zones 5 and 6. The winters don't have extreme cold and snowfall, but they receive enough to create drab, muddy conditions. Evergreens bring vitality and color to counteract the effects of Indiana winters.

    By Kit Arbuckle November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Crabapple Trees For Indiana

    Crabapple Trees for Indiana. Crabapple trees perfume the air with their prolific blooms early in the spring. The small trees add color to the Indiana landscape. The miniature, edible fruits have a tart taste, effective in jams and jellies. The flowers lure bees, which in turn pollinate the tree. Crabapples can thrive in Indiana. Due to problems in the state with Japanese beetles, fireblight and apple scab, certain varieties make better choices because of their resistance to these problems.

    By Kit Arbuckle November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Zone 5 Landscaping Ideas

    Zone 5 Landscaping Ideas. If you live in the versatile USDA hardiness zone 5, you have numerous choices when landscaping your home. The many options may overwhelm, but by picking themes for areas of your yard, you can incorporate several design elements that can help to streamline the process.

    By Kit Arbuckle November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • The Best 4 Season Shrubs

    The Best 4 Season Shrubs. Shrubs provide an ideal way to add year-round interest to your landscape. They give color to each season along with texture and height. Shrubs serve as borders, specimens, hedges or accent plants. Choosing four season shrubs adds vibrancy to your landscape, preventing it from becoming dull or dreary.

    By Kit Arbuckle November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Flowering Trees Of Indiana

    Flowering Trees of Indiana. The diversity of Indiana's eco-systems makes it home to assorted tree species, including many deciduous trees. Native flowering trees grow throughout Indiana with a higher concentration in the southern half of the state. The trees enhance Indiana's natural landscape with color. The flowering trees of Indiana provide food for wildlife, attract beneficial insects, and have use in wood production.

    By Kit Arbuckle September 6th, 2022 Read More
  • What Fruit Trees Are Good For Indiana?

    What Fruit Trees Are Good for Indiana?. Indiana hosts many native fruit species as well as introduced varieties. An orchard in Indiana reflects this, combining native trees and some of the newest developed cultivars. Most of the state is in USDA hardiness Zones 5 and 6, making late spring and early fall frosts the main risk to fruit production. With careful selection for each climate area, growing fruit trees in Indiana rewards the gardener with abundant harvests of delicious, juicy fruits.

    By Kit Arbuckle September 6th, 2022 Read More
  • How To Harvest Astragalus

    How to Harvest Astragalus. Astragalus membranaceus, also known as Chinese milkvetch or Huang qi, is a perennial used for medicinal purposes. The plant grows 3 to 4 feet high and has fernlike leaves. Small, yellow flowers bloom in the summer. Astragalus, a native to China, has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine. The root, used as an immune system booster, contains antioxidants. With its mildly sweet flavor, the dried root makes an interesting additive to soups, stews or teas.

    By Kit Arbuckle September 6th, 2022 Read More
  • Rhododendron Scale Disease

    Rhododendron Scale Disease. Rhododendron scale disease is actually caused by an insect, Eriococcus azaleae, commonly called azalea bark scale. It affects rhododendron family plants, including azaleas. Rhododendron scales feed on the sap of the plant. Unhealthy and weak plants sustain more injury from scale insects than strong plants. Prevention and control of azalea bark scale requires proper plant maintenance and identifying early signs of scale attack.

    By Kit Arbuckle September 6th, 2022 Read More