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How to Mix Powdered Fertilizer in a Hose End Sprayer. Fertilizer serves as an essential tool for landscape plant health. Hose end sprayers allow easy transmission of nutrients to a large garden area. Manufacturers supply powdered fertilizer for use in pre-packaged bags for easy mixing. Learning how to mix powdered fertilizer in a hose end sprayer requires smart application practices to prevent burning and damage to landscape plants.
Read MorePerennial Mound Flowering Plants. Some areas of the landscape simply beg for filling in with foliage and flowers. Mound-type plants fill in these difficult garden areas, adding a wealth of color to the garden. Perennial mound flowering plants include plants for use in rocks gardens as well as regular flower beds. The mounding tendency of these plants creates a bush-like cluster to enhance the garden. Mounds can take up considerable space, so always consider the mature width of the plant before placing it in the garden.
Read MoreHow to Move Dahlia Plants. Dahlias offer a compact, symmetrical flower and come in a wide range of sizes to suit any gardening situation. These beautiful plants grow from bulbs planted in the spring after danger of frost. Dahlias can be moved but preferably, plants should be allowed to grow and bloom through the season. Moving a growing plant can limit growth and discourage buds and blooms. If you absolutely must move the growing plant, provide the best conditions for transplant to prevent damage to the plant or bulb.
Read MoreVinca Vs. Annual Periwinkle. The vinca group of plants provides a wide variety of options to suit a range of garden needs across the U.S. Vinca minor is a particularly popular, low-growing vine that serves as a ground cover. Annual periwinkle, on the other hand, is an upright flowering plant for use as bedding flowers or in containers. These two plants may exist in the same family, but differ greatly in growing habit.
Read MoreHow to Clean an Outdoor Concrete Fountain. The trickling sounds of water soothe anyone who enters your backyard paradise. Birds land on the fountain rims, dipping their beaks and bodies into the cool water for a daily drink and bath. Outdoor fountains add an extra something to a garden than simply defies explanation. This lovely addition to your outdoor décor requires some care to keep the fountain working properly and looking beautiful. Concrete offers a very durable material in fountain construction as well as easy cleaning and maintenance. Let's look at how to clean an outdoor concrete fountain.
Read MoreHow to Cut Back Cornstalk House Plants. Corn-stalk plants (also called corn plants) offer indoor plant enthusiasts a tolerant hardy tall houseplant for use as a dramatic decorative accent inside the home. The corn-stalk plant, also called Dracaena fragrans Massangeana, originated in Hawaii and grows on cane-like stumps that look like tree trunks. Corn-stalk plants can grow 15 to 20 feet tall and get their nickname from their resemblance to corn crops. This houseplant has variegated dark green and yellow leaves. Learning how to cut back corn-stalk plants involves assessing how much growth you need to remove for the health of the plant.
Read MoreHow to Prune Mexican Heather. Delicate leaves and dainty flowers hide the heart of a lion in the Mexican heather plant. This sturdy plant thrives in full sun and often occupies a position in a xeriscape garden. Mexican heather loves dry conditions and produces flowers continually throughout the summer. Mexican heather resembles a ground cover with low and compact, fern-like growth and tiny purple flowers. Rarer varieties produce red, pink or white flowers coupled with the glossy green leaves seen on the lavender-flowered plants. Mexican heather can function as both an annual and perennial depending on USDA hardiness zone. It works beautifully as a border plant and in containers. Mexican heather prefers well-drained soil to thrive and produce abundant flowers throughout the growing season.
Read MorePlants Similar to Verbena & Lantana. Lantana and verbena plants feature distinctive spreading growth habits and flowers. These plants belong to the vervain family (Verbenaceae) of plants found in the subtropic and tropic Americas. Both plants produce pleasing clusters of small flowers in bright colors. Plants with similar growth and flowering tendencies allow gardeners to reap the benefits of these beautiful cultivars in different growing conditions.
Read MoreHow to Identify Ground-Cover Plants. Ground-cover plants serve an important purpose in the landscape. These plants lie close to the ground as a protective cover to reduce soil erosion. Ground-cover plants shield tree roots from mowers and also provide interest with foliage and flowers. Gardeners often plant ground cover as a transition between the sharp edge of a border and taller plants in the garden. Learning how to identify ground cover plants involves observing the plants to determine distinguishing characteristics.
Read MoreHow to Use Peat Moss When Planting Shrubs. Creating the best possible home for a new landscape shrub provides the optimum-growing situation. Gardeners use peat moss to boost soil quality. Peat moss adds organic material to soil, increases soil aeration, and provides the slow release of nutrients into the garden bed. The inclusion of peat moss when planting shrubs involves preparing the site to create the best environment to capitalize on this soil additive.
Read MoreHow to Prune Black Mondo Grass. Black mondo grass adds interesting foliage to your home landscape. Mondo grass tolerates most soil conditions and full to partial shade. Black mondo grass is something of a misnomer, since this perennial grass often colors to a dark green. Mondo grass requires minimal care, although a plant's health can be improved with regular pruning. This plant spreads with a rhizome root system to create a beautiful, simple garden of ornamental grass. Learning how to prune black mondo grass offers the beginner gardener the opportunity to practice pruning on a very forgiving plant.
Read MoreThe Best Trees to Shade a Playground. Playground slides, swings and climbing towers can turn as hot as a furnace during the summer. Shade trees help limit the heat retained in the metals and plastics used on play equipment. The best trees to shade a playground include those specimens that have a thick canopy of long-lasting leaves. Fast growth rate also factors into the choice of the best tree for a playground area. Plan for the planting of any shade tree by allowing plenty of room for the mature tree size. This allows the plant to provide 20 or more years of cool shade for playground areas.
Read MoreHow to Plant Blue Prince Holly. Blue prince holly features the typical pronged leaves of a holly shrub. This plant is a common broadleaf evergreen that can reach 12 feet in height at maturity. Blue prince holly serves as the primary pollinator for blue princess holly shrubs. The dark green shiny foliage of this plant provides year-round color for the landscape as well as shelter for birds and small animals. Properly prepare the planting site to ensure a successful transplant of this evergreen plant.
Read MoreHow to Winterize Forsythia. Forsythia occupies a special place in the hearts of gardeners, since this very plant often heralds the thawing of the ground after a long winter. This plant thrives in full sun to produce full blooms but can tolerant partial shade (4 to 6 hours of sun each day). Forsythia requires very basic maintenance to keep the plant healthy. By far, the most important aspect to keep the shrub healthy lies in adequate year round care. In order to winterize forsythia properly, you must have a healthy plant.
Read MoreThe Best Shrubs for Very Wet Soil. The perfect garden features rich organic soil with drainage that allows plant to absorb water slowly through the root system. In reality, very few gardens contain optimum soil and growing conditions. Some areas may have slow drainage and require careful selection of plants tolerant of these conditions. The best shrubs for very wet soil offer beautiful foliage and let landscapers plant in areas with poor drainage.
Read MorePerennial Flowers for Maryland. Maryland has a variety of growing conditions, ranging from the rich soil of the mountains to the sandy soil along the coast. This diversity allows for an abundant array of different perennials available for Maryland gardeners. Maryland's perennial flowering plants include some of the most beautiful varieties of blooming perennials. Choosing plants native to Maryland ensures success since the plant has adapted to the area's climate and soil conditions. These include flowering ground covers, herbaceous perennials and ornamental grasses.
Read MoreHow to Keep Potted Plants Moist Outside for a Week. Gardeners lovingly blend various plants in container gardens every year. Potted plants require intense care to remain beautiful because the container limits access to water and nutrients. In contrast, garden plants have ready access to these essentials except during times of extreme drought. Lack of water causes potted plants to dry out quickly in the close confines of a planter. If a vacation looms, keeping your potted plants moist during your absence will ensure the plants remain healthy when you return.
Read MoreHow to Thin Out Ornamental Grass. Ornamental grass serves as a hardy perennial in the landscape. These plants require very little maintenance except when the grass exhibits one or two annoying habits. Extremely tall grass can flop over and disturb the graceful clumping nature of these ornamental plants. These grasses also have the tendency to increase substantially in size to the point of overwhelming the garden plot. There are a couple of ways to lighten the foliage load to promote a healthier and more attractive plant.
Read MoreHow to Plant in Containers Sunken Into the Ground. Container gardens provide the perfect option to create a living oasis both inside and outside the garden bed. Permanent containers installed into the landscape or sunken into the ground require extra planning to promote good drainage. Another concern lies in the large volume of soil required to fill a large container. This landscape alternative also allows gardeners to shelter plants such as perennials, protecting roots during winter months.
Read MoreHow to Measure for a Garden Border. Garden borders of wood, rock, brick or plastic function to delineate a garden like the frame of a picture. Garden borders are also a practical way to reduce weed and grass encroachment into the flower bed. Further, they can tie different elements of the landscape together when gardeners use the same materials throughout the property. Measuring for a garden border involves using simple tools and a little math.
Read MoreFlowering Plants With Thorns. The never-ending battle between deer and gardeners often requires a little help from nature. The humane way to deal with deer damage lies in creating the most unappetizing yard possible to discourage wayward wildlife from snacking on your plant. Plants with thorns serve the purpose of limiting access to certain areas of the home landscape and preventing damage to foliage from wildlife. These plants provide barriers, hedges and also function as focal points in the landscape. The rose occupies the top spot as one of the most common thorny plants used in landscaping. Other worthy plants produce beautiful flowers and thorny foliage for different landscape uses.
Read MoreHow to Winterize Crape Myrtle. Crape Myrtle provides the garden with dramatic late summer blooms on a majestic looking shrub. This plant performs well in full sun and with proper drainage. Like any shrub, however, crape myrtle requires basic maintenance throughout the growing season to increase blooms and limit overgrowth. These plants should be pruned to control growth and to encourage flowering the following season. Crape myrtle will overwinter and retain foliage in warmer climates. In cooler growing zones, preparing the shrub for winter involves a few simple activities to keep the plant healthy during the dormant season.
Read MoreHow to Winterize Hollyhock. Hollyhocks tower above most other flowers in any traditional cottage garden. Some varieties can reach as tall as 8 feet. Hollyhocks have a tall center stalk that resembles a spike, with multiple flowers staggered up the stem. The stalk contains knobby green buds that will eventually burst into bloom with more flowers. Hollyhocks require very little care and preparation for the winter. However, there are a few things you can do to winterize your hollyhocks to help them thrive in your garden.
Read MoreTypes of Weeding. Weeding occupies a major amount of time in landscape maintenance. Opportunistic nuisance plants pop up between ornamental plants with incredible regularity. Different types of weeding require the gardener to address the situation based on the amount of unwanted plants, time of growth and use of herbicides. Like all plants, weeds require water, sunlight and nutrients from the soil. Using various type of weeding helps eliminate weed competition with landscape plants.
Read MoreHow to Transplant Evergreen Shrubs. Gardeners may need to transplant evergreens in the home landscape for a variety of reasons. Plants outgrow their current location or overrun nearby ornamental plants during expansion. The act of transplanting an evergreen requires planning to limit the amount of transplant shock experienced by the shrub. Transplant shock occurs when too many feeder roots are left behind in the former location. The gardener should begin preparing the plant for moving in the fall, with physical transplant occurring the following spring.
Read MorePlanting Berms. Berms provide a raised planting area in an otherwise flat location. Their original function was to allow excavators to leave excess soil on site and avoid the expense of removal. Most garden berms create a unique flavor to a yard by providing natural raised flowerbeds. Berms also provide a border around a yard perimeter for privacy. Planting berms requires an evaluation of the soil quality, available sunlight and overall landscape design to help these irregular features blend in and become a natural addition to your landscape.
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