Michelle Z. Donahue

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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.

Stories By Michelle Z. Donahue

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    Flowers
    Flowers By Michelle Z. Donahue November 4th, 2022

    Exotic Fruit Trees That Can Be Grown In Zone 7

    Exotic Fruit Trees That Can Be Grown in Zone 7. In recent years, zone creep has allowed gardeners to experiment with many plants which once could not grow in their local climate. However, even with generally warmer winters, most exotic tropical fruits cannot withstand the moderate winters of USDA hardiness zone 7. True tropicals like mango, papaya and banana can be grown in Florida, but must be brought indoors for the winter in any other zone.

    By Michelle Z. Donahue November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Produce
    Produce By Michelle Z. Donahue November 4th, 2022

    Anatomy Of A Tomato Plant

    Anatomy of a Tomato Plant. As with all organisms, a tomato's primary objective is to reproduce and carry on its genetic line. Every element of the plant's anatomy is designed to reach this goal. Roots seek out water and nutrients, which the semi-woody main stem carries through vascular tissues to the leaves, flowers and developing fruit. The large compound leaves capture the energy of the sun to fuel the growing plant, which opens bright yellow flowers that attract the attention of passing insects. Once pollinated, the sexual organs of the flowers develop into fruit, housing the seeds of the next tomato generation.

    By Michelle Z. Donahue November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Produce
    Produce By Michelle Z. Donahue November 4th, 2022

    Cedar Mulch Vs. Hardwood Mulch

    Cedar Mulch Vs. Hardwood Mulch. Mulch has gained popularity in recent years for its attractive appearance and numerous benefits to nearby plants. A wide variety of wood-based mulches is available on the market for use in home gardens and landscape settings; questions surrounding each option concern the effects on plants of mulch as it decomposes. Generally speaking, any type of wood-based mulch is beneficial for plants, and the chemical effects of leaching and decomposition are negligible.

    By Michelle Z. Donahue November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Produce
    Produce By Michelle Z. Donahue November 4th, 2022

    Bean Plants That Grow The Fastest

    Bean Plants That Grow the Fastest. In general, the earliest maturing garden bean varieties are all bush beans, or bean plants which do not require trellising. Most bush bean varieties reach maturity between 50 and 60 days, whereas most pole and lima beans need anywhere from 65 to 110 days to mature. Half-runner types have growth habits between bush and pole beans, and while they are typically grown as bush beans, yields may be increased by using short string trellises.

    By Michelle Z. Donahue November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Michelle Z. Donahue November 4th, 2022

    How To Clean Gourds For Food Or Water Storage

    How to Clean Gourds for Food or Water Storage. Using properly cured and prepared gourds for food and water storage is an ancient practice of Native Americans, who used the indigenous plant as a versatile and easily transportable container. While most dried gourds are destined to be painted as decorative items or for use as a birdhouse, cleaning a gourd and preparing it to be used as a food or water container is relatively simple. Unless you grow and cure them yourself--which can take six months to a year--it is easiest to purchase a gourd that has already been cured. Well-cured gourds are either laid out on ventilated pallets or allowed to dry in the field for several months until all internal moisture has evaporated, leaving behind only the hardened shell and seeds.

    By Michelle Z. Donahue November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Flowers
    Flowers By Michelle Z. Donahue November 4th, 2022

    Blueberry Leaf Identification

    Blueberry Leaf Identification. Though blueberries are a treat widely available in stores, wild blueberries abound in the forests of the eastern United States and seem to be even tastier when they're discovered while on the trail. Touted for their antioxidant properties, blueberries are also an important food for wildlife. In the home garden, blueberry bushes provide year-round interest with their spring flowers, summer fruits, fall color and winter bark.

    By Michelle Z. Donahue November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Flowers
    Flowers By Michelle Z. Donahue November 4th, 2022

    The Best Strawberry Plants For Virginia

    The Best Strawberry Plants for Virginia. The modern strawberry is the result of a hybridization of the native Virginia strawberry and a variety from South America. Today, a dizzying array of more than 600 individual varieties are available. Many of these varieties have been developed for specific growing conditions, fruit type and disease resistance, so different varieties perform best in different regions. Several varieties of strawberry plant have been developed that do well in Virginia and other mid-Atlantic states; varieties that perform in heavy soils and exhibit drought tolerance are good choices for this region.

    By Michelle Z. Donahue November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Trees
    Trees By Michelle Z. Donahue November 4th, 2022

    Weeping Cherry Tree Facts

    Weeping Cherry Tree Facts. The weeping cherry tree is a spectacular ornamental tree that is grown more for its long, graceful branches than its fruit. Though the tree can be disease and pest prone when neglected or sited incorrectly, healthy weeping cherries invariably attract the eye and are excellent showcase plants.

    By Michelle Z. Donahue November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Produce
    Produce By Michelle Z. Donahue November 4th, 2022

    Stunted Bean Plant Growth

    Stunted Bean Plant Growth. Under good growing conditions, beans are among the easiest and most rewarding summertime garden vegetables to grow. However, beans can be stunted during their early growth and development by disease, attacks by pests or poor cultural practices. To ensure a timely and abundant crop, gardeners should be able to identify and remedy these issues at the earliest sign of a problem.

    By Michelle Z. Donahue November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Flowers
    Flowers By Michelle Z. Donahue November 4th, 2022

    Rarest North American Plants & Flowers

    Rarest North American Plants & Flowers. Over 1,900 plant and animal species have been added to the endangered or threatened list under the Endangered Species Act since its inception in 1973. Of these, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lists 719 species of flowering plants, some of which grow in only a handful of sites in very restricted ranges. A large majority of these endangered species occur at least in part on privately managed lands, where public and private stakeholders work to bring as many species as possible back to self-sustaining levels.

    By Michelle Z. Donahue November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Flowers
    Flowers By Michelle Z. Donahue November 4th, 2022

    Feverfew & Bees

    Feverfew & Bees. Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) is a biennial herb found in medicinal gardens, long valued for its purported ability to treat fevers, headache and mask unpleasant flavors in food. Unlike many additions to herb gardens, feverfew is not a favorite plant of bees; in fact, the plant is known to actually repel the insects and can inhibit pollination of plants that depend on honeybees for pollination.

    By Michelle Z. Donahue November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Flowers
    Flowers By Michelle Z. Donahue November 4th, 2022

    Native California Carnivorous Plants

    Native California Carnivorous Plants. While several different species of carnivorous plants are found only in Pacific states, most of the native California carnivorous plants are also native to other parts of the United States, Canada and Central America. Carnivorous plants occur most frequently in bogs, swamps, standing water and wetland environments, and make up for poor nutrient or soil conditions by capturing and devouring prey. Carnivorous plants use a variety of methods, employing liquids which drown the prey or sticky substances in which insects become ensnared.

    By Michelle Z. Donahue November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Flowers
    Flowers By Michelle Z. Donahue November 4th, 2022

    What Kind Of Sunflowers Are Best To Plant For Eating?

    What Kind of Sunflowers Are Best to Plant for Eating?. A trip to the old ball field wouldn't be the same without a bag of sunflower seeds. Favorites of kids and adults, easy-to-grow sunflowers make a beautiful addition to the garden and come in a range of colors, flower size and overall height. While some gardeners’ goal is to produce cut flowers to bring indoors, other gardeners grow sunflowers for their large heads full of delicious seeds, which are relished by sports spectators and local wild birds alike.

    By Michelle Z. Donahue November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Produce
    Produce By Michelle Z. Donahue November 4th, 2022

    What Are The Sunflower Plant Growth Stages?

    What are the Sunflower Plant Growth Stages?. The growth progression of the sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is divided into three stages: vegetative emergence, vegetative growth and reproductive growth. Sunflowers have a relatively short maturation period, requiring between 90 and 100 days from germination to full seed head maturity in most parts of the north and central United States. It is grown in these areas as an oilseed and snack food crop.

    By Michelle Z. Donahue November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Lawn Care
    Lawn Care By Michelle Z. Donahue November 4th, 2022

    The History Of Kentucky Bluegrass

    The History of Kentucky Bluegrass. What is familiarly known as Kentucky bluegrass is actually one of the most widespread varieties of grasses in the world, with a native range that spreads across most of Asia and Europe. The grass, identifiable by its silvery-blue cast and tips that resemble the prow of a boat, grows best in cooler regions with adequate annual rainfall.

    By Michelle Z. Donahue November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Flowers
    Flowers By Michelle Z. Donahue November 4th, 2022

    Types Of Grape Vines

    Types of Grape Vines. Depending on the home gardener's regional climate and growing goals, nearly anyone can grow some type of grape vine. Warm climates with hot, dry days and cool, humid nights are well-suited for growing wine grapes of the species Vitis vinifera. Gardeners in cooler regions, where growing wine grapes is more difficult, can still plant a variety of table grapes or even wild grapes. Be warned, though: wild grapes are considered noxious weeds in many states, as they grow aggressively and may not be for sale in commercial nurseries.

    By Michelle Z. Donahue November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Flowers
    Flowers By Michelle Z. Donahue November 4th, 2022

    Growing Saffron Flowers In South Carolina USA

    Growing Saffron Flowers in South Carolina USA. With its predominantly clay soils and humid climate, growing saffron flowers in South Carolina may certainly be a challenge. The saffron plant, Crocus sativus, will not tolerate wet soils for any length of period; the bulb will rot if it sits in damp soils for any amount of time. Home gardeners with unsuitable soils can grow saffron crocus flowers in containers, which are easy to move in and out of doors.

    By Michelle Z. Donahue November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Flowers
    Flowers By Michelle Z. Donahue November 4th, 2022

    Spiral Flower Identification

    Spiral Flower Identification. Spirals appear frequently in nature. In plants, one easily recognizable spiral pattern is in the arrangement of seeds on a sunflower head. Many plants also have leaves arranged in a spiraling pattern around the branches to catch the maximum amount of sunlight. A spiral arrangement of flowers on the stem, however, is rather unusual, and the list of potential candidates is short.

    By Michelle Z. Donahue November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Flowers
    Flowers By Michelle Z. Donahue November 4th, 2022

    Mock Orange Leaf Identification

    Mock Orange Leaf Identification. The mock orange (Philadelphus species) is a group of 50 or so tall, hardy shrubs, several of which are native to the United States. Popular because of their simple white flowers and sometimes sweet scent, they were widely hybridized from the early to mid 20th century for use as ornamental shrubs in the garden; over-breeding led to many varieties of scentless flowers. A West Coast species of mock orange, Philadelphus lewisii, was first collected by Meriwether Lewis in 1806 during his and William Clark's joint expedition to the mouth of the Columbia River.

    By Michelle Z. Donahue November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Produce
    Produce By Michelle Z. Donahue November 4th, 2022

    Green Worms Or Caterpillars On Red Cabbage Plants

    Green Worms or Caterpillars on Red Cabbage Plants. Anyone who has grown red cabbage or its relatives is more than likely familiar with a very hungry visitor: the cabbage worm. The larvae of the common white cabbage moth, this velvety green worm readily eats its way through leaves and into the heads of cabbages, depositing large quantities of BB-sized waste pellets in its wake. In smaller home gardens, best control practices consist of hand-picking worms as they appear, though larger plots may require the use of pesticides.

    By Michelle Z. Donahue November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Flowers
    Flowers By Michelle Z. Donahue September 6th, 2022

    Allium Globemaster Propagation

    Allium Globemaster Propagation. Used widely as a cut flower, the Globemaster is easily grown in most home gardens. However, because the plant is a hybrid, developed by crossing two different species of alliums, flowers are sterile; any chance seeds that may be produced by Globemaster plants in the garden will be unviable. Propagation of the plant is accomplished strictly through separating the bulbs as they naturally divide each year.

    By Michelle Z. Donahue September 6th, 2022 Read More
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    Flowers
    Flowers By Michelle Z. Donahue September 6th, 2022

    Lobelia Plant Winter Preparation

    Lobelia Plant Winter Preparation. Most lobelia plants are annuals. They die back completely after the first frost and must be replanted from seed or as transplants in the springtime each year. But several types of lobelia plants grow as perennials, meaning they survive the winter as dormant plants and regrow year after year. For perennial lobelia, careful preparation of the planting site for winter will ensure a successful regrowth each year for the life of the plant.

    By Michelle Z. Donahue September 6th, 2022 Read More
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    Produce
    Produce By Michelle Z. Donahue September 6th, 2022

    Life Cycle Of A Nonvascular Plant

    Life Cycle of a Nonvascular Plant. Nonvascular plants, or types of plants that lack the tissue structure to transport water and nutrients, are typified by plants such as mosses, liverworts and hornworts. Because these plants cannot move water and nutrients through their leaves, they usually are very low-growing and found in consistently moist environments. Water is also necessary for the reproductive process of these plants, as it facilitates the movement of sperm to the egg for fertilization.

    By Michelle Z. Donahue September 6th, 2022 Read More
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    Trees
    Trees By Michelle Z. Donahue September 6th, 2022

    The Value Of Black Walnut Lumber

    The Value of Black Walnut Lumber. In addition to their value as shade and nut-producing trees, black walnut has long had a reputation as a valuable species for timber and veneer production. Though prices for top-quality timber peaked in the 1970s, high-quality black walnut can still command fairly decent dollar amounts. However, quite a few factors are in play when determining the value of any black walnut specimen, and not every tree is worth a small fortune.

    By Michelle Z. Donahue September 6th, 2022 Read More
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    Trees
    Trees By Michelle Z. Donahue September 6th, 2022

    Black Walnut Trees And Soil Toxicity

    Black Walnut Trees and Soil Toxicity. Black walnut trees are one of the United States' largest and most valuable native trees, able to grow to massive size under even difficult growing conditions. However, the tree is known as a species that doesn't "play nice" with other popular garden plants, including several types of vegetables and ornamental shrubs. Careful husbandry of the tree, however, can help reduce levels of the responsible toxin in the soil.

    By Michelle Z. Donahue September 6th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Michelle Z. Donahue September 6th, 2022

    Planting Wild Flowers In Tennessee

    Planting Wild Flowers in Tennessee. A planting of wildflowers not only adds beauty to any area but is also virtually maintenance-free once established. Though many of Tennessee's unique wildflowers are endangered and very difficult to find, wildflowers suited for North Carolina, Georgia and Alabama typically also perform well in most areas of Tennessee. Plan to take up to a year for site selection, planning and planting; careful preparation will reward the meticulous gardener with lush meadows of wildflowers for years to come.

    By Michelle Z. Donahue September 6th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Michelle Z. Donahue September 6th, 2022

    How To Plant Seeds By The Moon

    How to Plant Seeds by the Moon. Lunar gardening, the custom of using the phases of the moon to determine when to plant seeds, is a popular but fairly unsubstantiated practice. Proponents of the method---which is also touted in the annual Old Farmer's Almanac---claim that the gravitational pull of the moon on the Earth affects how certain types of plants develop, depending on the lunar phase. According to the practice, root crops should be planted during a waning moon, when gravitational forces are at their weakest, and aboveground crops should be planted during waxing moon phases.

    By Michelle Z. Donahue September 6th, 2022 Read More