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Fruit Trees That Like Wet Soil. Most fruit trees will grow poorly, if at all, in wet soil. Their roots will die from lack of oxygen if water takes more than 24 hours to drain through the root system. Occasional floods probably aren't lethal, and trees planted on mounds will often survive. For a truly boggy area, choose a fruit tree that is genuinely tolerant of those conditions.
Read MoreAt What Temperature Should Rose Bushes Be Covered to Protect Them From Freezing Weather?. Roses grow wild in a wide variety of habitats, from near-arctic conditions to areas with little frost to contend with. To get the large, colorful blossoms that are so beloved by gardeners, hybridizers have crossed many species so the cold hardiness of the hybrids varies tremendously. It's always wise to choose varieties that are adapted to your area, but appropriate winter protection will widen your choices and guard against extra-cold weather.
Read MoreTrees That Grow Quickly in Washington State. New homeowners often want an "instant" tree for shade and privacy and, indeed, there are many trees that will grow quite quickly to a considerable height. But allow enough room for the mature tree to spread out, especially when planted near your house. Also be aware that many fast-growing trees are relatively short-lived and may need to be removed in 30 to 50 years.
Read MoreEvergreen Hedge Plants in Washington. Evergreens are preferred as hedge plants because of their year-round privacy screening, but before you choose, decide how tall a hedge you'd like to have, whether you want to shear it twice a year or not and whether you'd prefer a fine-textured hedge or one with larger leaves. Try to choose plants that grow several feet taller than the hedge height you desire to avoid constant pruning. Larger plants fill in faster but need more work later on.
Read MoreHow to Prune Red Osier Dogwood. Red Osier Dogwood is an attractive ornamental shrub native throughout North America. Its small heads of white flowers and white berries are decorative in their season, but it is for the bright red bark of the new growth that the plant is usually grown. Most noticeable in winter, the red stems are still conspicuous among the green leaves during spring and summer. Since the older branches have less vivid color, pruning is often used to force new growth as well as to control the size of the shrub.
Read MoreHow to Dry Honeysuckle Flowers for Tea. Honeysuckle, an attractive, fast-growing vine, has been used for centuries for medicinal purposes, both in Europe and in Asia. Salicylic acid, a compound similar to aspirin, is found in both the honeysuckle's leaves and blossoms and may be helpful in treating fevers, headaches, pains and arthritis. The fragrant flowers and buds, both fresh out of the garden and dried, can be used as a tea, and when you dry your own you can be more assured of their freedom from chemical residues. There are many species of honeysuckle available, but the one most often used in Chinese medicine is the Japanese honeysuckle, Lonicera japonica. The European species, also used as a medicinal herb, is L. periclymenum, often called woodbine.
Read MorePeat Moss & Clay Soil. Peat moss is often recommended as an amendment for all types of soil. Clay is one of the most difficult soil textures to work with, requiring more space between the grains of soil to allow air and water to move through quickly. The combination of peat and clay can be beneficial for many plants but understanding the unique properties of each one will allow you to make the choices that benefit your plants the most.
Read MoreWhat Shrubs Do I Plant in a Flood Plain?. The silt and organic matter brought by the river makes the soil of a flood plain fertile and easy to garden in. A few weeks of spring floods, though, can discourage most shrubs from growing. Look for shrubs tolerant of wet soil, and also check out plants recommended for "rain gardens," areas created to absorb surface runoff.
Read MoreThe Effect of Fertilizers on Radish Growth. Radishes are quick-germinating, fast-growing vegetables that can give new gardeners a sense of accomplishment without taxing their patience. A member of the mustard family, radishes have been grown in Europe since Roman times and are popular in Asia as well. Because radishes are a root vegetable, fertilizer needs are for nutrients that promote strong stem and root growth without overly large leaves.
Read MoreVegetables to Grow in Western Washington. Western Washington has mild, rainy winters and cool summers that can be quite dry, ideal for some vegetables and a challenge for others. Some vegetables will stay green in the garden right through winter, while others find the infrequent summer hot spells too warm for their liking. The best plan is to use the advantages and work around the disadvantages.
Read MoreAdaptation of Tulips. Tulips in the wild grow in a variety of habitats in western Asia, from moist valleys to arid mountain slopes. In general, the summers are dry and even the valleys lose much of their moisture. You'll find tulips growing in grassy meadows, separate rather than in large clumps. Their evolution has prepared them to survive well in these open, exposed habitats with cold, moist winters and warm, dry summers.
Read MoreSoil Requirements for English Hardy Ivy. English ivy (Hedera helix) is a hardy, evergreen vine native to Europe, western Asia and northern Africa. It grows quickly, even to the point of being invasive, when given the conditions it prefers and makes an attractive groundcover for larger areas. The leaves are lobed, with strong veining. Smaller leaved varieties grow more slowly than the larger species and are not as likely to become weedy.
Read MoreMaple Trees in Washington. Maples, plants in the genus Acer, are among the loveliest of trees, and Washington has three outstanding species: big-leaf maple, vine maple and Douglas maple are all valued ornamentals, but each has a situation in which it shines. For a large shade tree, choose the big-leaf maple. For a delicate tree in part-shade, try vine maple. For a drought-tolerant small tree, plant the Douglas maple.
Read MoreHow to Prune Vine Maple Trees. Vine maples are a common understory tree of Pacific Northwest forests, well adapted to the shade and moist soil of the region, though it will also take full sun and occasional drought in cool areas of the country. The long, thin multistemmed shape that gives it the name of "vine" maple is most often seen near stream banks. It is easily pruned into a variety of shapes, short, tall, single trunk and multistemmed.
Read MoreClay Soil Facts. Clay is one of the most difficult soils for gardeners. It's sticky when wet, dense and hard to wet when dry, and it cracks and erodes rather than absorbing water. Most plants dislike growing in clay. On the positive side, clay holds water and nutrients well and, when improved by adding organic matter, can be moist and fertile.
Read MorePotting Soil Mix for Herbs. Herbs are easy to grow in containers. Most are small perennials or shrubs that adapt well to confined root spaces and some, but not all, are drought-tolerant Mediterranean plants that can take dry spells and windy sites. When deciding on a potting soil, group moisture- and shade-loving herbs, such as mint, together and use one mix for all. Use a separate, less moisture-retentive mix for the drought-tolerant herbs.
Read MoreHow to Grow Birch Trees in Washington State. Few trees are as graceful as the white birch, Betula pendula, an upright tree with white bark, lacy, pendulous side branches and small leaves. Native to Europe and Asia Minor, it is hardy in all areas of Washington state in the U.S. and thrives both east and west of the mountains if given plenty of water. It eventually reaches 30 to 40 feet in height and half that in width, and is especially suitable for planting in small groves.
Read MoreFlower Leaf Identification. Leaves are distinctive features of annual and perennial flowers and, if you're observant, you can make a good guess as to the identity of the plant. The flowers themselves are the key to solid identification, but if you get to know the leaves of familiar plants you'll be able to recognize them by texture, shade of green and shape. Paying attention to the details is critical.
Read MoreOrnamental Tree Leaf Identification. We grow trees from all over the world in our gardens, hundreds of different kinds, and identifying a tree you like but don't know the name of can be challenging. Accurate identification requires looking at the flowers because unrelated trees can have similar leaves but getting to know the typical leaf shapes, textures, shades of green and other characteristics of each group of trees makes identification of individual species much easier.
Read MorePine Trees of Washington. Pines, trees in the genus Pinus, are definite assets in a garden, with furrowed bark, picturesque branches, woody cones and, usually, a fair amount of drought resistance. They can be distinguished from other conifers by having needles gathered into bundles of two, three or five. Those native to Washington inhabit wet lowlands, high mountains and dry desert foothills. All, however, are possibilities for garden culture if given the right environment.
Read MoreExternal Structure of the Bean Plant. One of the first vegetables gardeners grow is often the bean. The seeds are large and easy to plant, they germinate and grow quickly, and the pods are tasty. The twining vines can cover teepees and unattractive fences, and the flowers, usually white, are bright red in the scarlet runner bean. Few other crops offer such a bonus of beauty in addition to providing food.
Read MorePeat Moss Substitutes. Peat moss is a popular organic material used to lighten heavy soils and help sandy ones hold moisture and nutrients. It is, however, somewhat expensive, acidic, difficult to wet when dry and produced from bogs that are damaged in the process. Alternatives to peat moss include locally abundant organics such as ground bark and imported substances such as coir, produced from coconut fibers.
Read MoreList of Mint Plants. Mints, plants in the genus Mentha, are easy to grow if given enough water and a bit of shade. Most spread by underground runners into large patches, sometimes even overwhelming smaller plants with their rampant growth. Mints can be contained in pots, either set into the ground or on a back step. Peppermint and spearmint are common, but other types have subtle, delicious variations on the basic mint fragrance.
Read MoreVegetable Planting in Washington State. Washington is divided into two climate areas by the Cascade Mountains. On the west side the winters are mild, in USDA zones 7 or 8, and the summers are cool. On the east side, winters are colder, in USDA zones 5 and 6, and summers are hot, with temperatures often rising into the high 90s or low 100s. The types of vegetables that do well differ with the climate, and the strategies for planting are different, as well.
Read MoreHow Does Grass Reproduce?. Grasses are some of the most successful plants on Earth, found in almost every ecosystem. Not only do they sprout leaves from the base of the plant, giving them the ability to regenerate quickly from damage by browsing animals, but they expand by underground stems that sprout new plants along their length as well as propagating by seeds.
Read MoreTree Planter Sizes. Those whose garden area is limited to a patio, porch or balcony need not confine themselves to flowers and herbs. Trees give strength, height and structure to a composition of pots and there are many that will adapt to containers with a little extra care. Though the Japanese have developed the art of bonsai, miniaturizing trees, to a fine art, most gardeners will want more substantial specimens in planters that give their roots room to grow.
Read MoreTree Seedling Identification. If you see a seedling in your garden that looks substantial enough to be a tree, you might wonder what it is and whether it would be worth transplanting. The problem with seedlings is that they lack flowers and fruit, the main features botanists used to classify plants. Close examination of trees around you will give you some good clues -- leaf and stem characteristics that can point you in the right direction.
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