Sarah Terry

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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 Sarah Terry

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    Trees
    Trees By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022

    How To Identify A White Flowering Tree

    How to Identify a White Flowering Tree. Many different tree species bloom in white flowers, some with very large, showy blossoms and others with more inconspicuous blooms. The most common white flowering trees you're likely to see are the autumn cherry, crabapple, white and Kousa dogwoods, pear and Carolina silverbell, as well as the star, Southern and sweetbay magnolias. The best time to identify a white flowering tree is when it's in bloom and has yet to drop its leaves, giving you many different physical attributes to use as clues in your tree identification.

    By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Trees
    Trees By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022

    How To Identify Avocado Trees

    How to Identify Avocado Trees. The avocado is a fruiting tree that originated in Mexico, growing in tropical and subtropical regions. Three main varieties of avocado trees exist: West Indian, Guatemalan and Mexican, as well as a wide range of hybrids among the three. Prized for their nutrient-rich fruits that are high in monosaturates and healthy oils, the avocado tree is easy to identify by its fruits, flowers, leaves and overall growth habit. If you're attempting to identify an avocado tree when it isn't fruiting or flowering, or when it's dropped its leaves, you can reference a fruit tree field guidebook for help.

    By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022

    How To Plant A Tree With A PVC Watering Tube

    How to Plant a Tree With a PVC Watering Tube. Planting trees on your property can provide shade, privacy and even a wind barrier. In general, spring and early fall are the best times to plant your trees. With the help of a PVC watering tube, you can make watering your tree easy and more efficient. Instead of watering the soil surface, leaving the tree's roots dry, a PVC watering tube inserted into the ground beside the tree will deliver water directly to the roots.

    By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Produce
    Produce By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022

    Active Ingredients In Miracle Grow

    Active Ingredients in Miracle Grow. Miracle Gro is a well-known commercial fertilizer mixture used for various types of plants, mainly flowers and vegetables. Miracle Gro contains both macronutrients and micronutrients. Macronutrients are the elements that plants use in greater quantities and include nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, sulfur, calcium and magnesium. Micronutrients are the essential elements that are used in small quantities but are still important to plant development.

    By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022

    Cures For Serviceberry Tree Fungus

    Cures for Serviceberry Tree Fungus. Serviceberries (Amelanchier spp.) are deciduous shrubs or small trees that produce small edible berries and bloom in clusters of white or pink blossoms during spring. The serviceberry also is known for its purplish new leaves in spring that turn dark green in summer and yellow, orange or reddish in autumn. Serviceberries are susceptible to a few fungal diseases.

    By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Trees
    Trees By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022

    How To Identify Elm & Ash Trees

    How to Identify Elm & Ash Trees. At first glance, ash and elm trees may look quite similar. Both ash trees and elms produce winged seeds, or "fruits." Ashes and elms are very different upon closer inspection, however, and are even rather different among their individual species. Distinguishing between ash and elm trees isn't difficult, if you know what to look for. You'll have to look even closer, however, when you want to identify the exact ash or elm tree species.

    By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Trees
    Trees By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022

    How To Identify Maple Trees And Liquid Amber Trees

    How to Identify Maple Trees and Liquid Amber Trees. Maple (Acer spp.) and liquid amber trees (Liquidambar styraciflua) are similar-looking trees that grow in similar climates. Both maples and liquid amber trees, also known as American sweetgum trees, are prized for their sap. Maples and sweet gum trees grow best in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 8 or 9, enduring minimum winter temperatures down to minus-15 degrees Fahrenheit. Some maples can also grow in Zones 3 and 4, however, where winter temperatures get as cold as minus-35 degrees.

    By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Structures
    Structures By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022

    How To Get Rid Of Algae In Water Features

    How to Get Rid of Algae in Water Features. Algae is a common problem in water features, such as ponds, waterfalls and fountains. Two main types of algae grow in water features: string algae and plankton algae. Plankton is the algae that grows in the water and turns it a pea-soup green, while string algae looks like green hair and grows along the bottom of your water feature. String algae are usually much easier to get rid of than plankton, due to the different conditions that cause it to grow. String algae grow where there is little water circulation, but plankton grows from an abundance of nutrients in the pond and sunlight.

    By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Flowers
    Flowers By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022

    Stinging Nettle-Like Plants In Florida

    Stinging Nettle-Like Plants in Florida. Four different stinging nettle-like plants are found in Florida, three of which belong to the genus Urtica. Stinging nettles have tiny hairs covering either all or certain parts of the plants that contain a toxic substance. When you touch the tiny stinging hairs, you'll experience a painful, stinging or burning sensation and often a reddish rash on your skin. Although all stinging nettle-like plants in Florida are considered herbs, they're also regarded as weeds.

    By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Trees
    Trees By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022

    How To Identify Different Plum Trees

    How to Identify Different Plum Trees. Plum trees (Prunus spp.) come in a wide range of different species and cultivated varieties, or cultivars. Plum trees are among the cold-hardiest of fruit trees, some species growing in regions with winter temperatures that are well below 0 degrees F. Different types of plum trees can be difficult to tell apart, especially when they aren't fruiting, but you can distinguish the species or cultivar by looking at many other characteristics. About six or seven main plum tree species are the most common throughout the world.

    By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022

    How To Care For Sabal Palm Trees

    How to Care for Sabal Palm Trees. The sabal palm tree (Sabal palmetto), also called the cabbage palm or cabbage palmetto, is a large, stately palm tree that grows 50 to 70 feet tall with a small, 12- to 18-foot-wide crown. Native to the southeastern United States, as well as Cuba and the Bahamas, the sabal palm is the state tree of Florida and is extremely tolerant of salt and droughts. Sabal palm trees grow best in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 10, tolerating winter temperatures as low as 15 degrees Fahrenheit.

    By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022

    How To Calculate Drip Irrigation Flow

    How to Calculate Drip Irrigation Flow. Drip irrigation is one of the most water-efficient hydration systems used for plants. Calculating drip irrigation flow is easy and will tell you how much water flow is needed for your irrigation system. The drip-irrigation flow rate will also let you know whether you have adequate tubing and valves for the number of emitters and flow rates in each section of the system. With a simple mathematical formula, you can calculate the drip-irrigation flow rate for your entire system or a single section or zone.

    By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Flowers
    Flowers By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022

    How To Identify Lavender Plants

    How to Identify Lavender Plants. Part of the mint family, lavender grows in many different species, including some hybrid varieties, which range widely in height, flower colors, foliage characteristics and colors, shape and blooming seasons. Because many of the main lavender varieties have such differences in appearance and flower fragrance, you can easily distinguish between them. Identifying specific hybrids is trickier, however, because they are often too similar in appearance and scent to the parent species. Simply use your nose and eyes to identify lavender plants.

    By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Trees
    Trees By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022

    How To Identify Nut Trees

    How to Identify Nut Trees. Many types of nut trees exist, but the most common types include almond, butternut, chestnut, hickory, pecan and walnut. Identify types of nut trees by the characteristics of their leaves, flowers and nuts, as well as their size and form. A tree field guidebook can help you in properly identifying nut trees, especially during the non-fruiting or non-flowering seasons. Purchase or borrow a field guidebook from your local agricultural extension office or from organizations like the Arbor Day Foundation.

    By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022

    How To Remove Weeds From Ivy Beds

    How to Remove Weeds From Ivy Beds. Most well-established ivy beds don't have major weed problems, but newly-planted ivy beds can be quite susceptible to weed invasions. Because ivy beds are usually thickly planted with ivy plants, you can't use most herbicides because these will kill the weeds and the ivy plants along with them. Your only option is to pull the weeds by hand. Perform your weed removal in the springtime, when the weeds are first sprouting, and are small and easier to remove. You can also take a few extra steps to prevent the weeds from coming back.

    By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Trees
    Trees By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022

    How To Identify Willow Trees

    How to Identify Willow Trees. The most recognizable willow tree species are the weeping willow and the pussy willow, but there are several other willows found in Europe, North America and Asia. Willow trees are best known for their love of water and their lovely shapes. At first glance, willow trees may seem difficult to distinguish between different species, but you can identify willow trees upon closer inspection of their various characteristics. To help in properly identifying the willow trees, you can reference a tree field guidebook, which you can obtain from your local library or agricultural extension office.

    By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Trees
    Trees By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022

    How To Identify Types Of Lemon Trees

    How to Identify Types of Lemon Trees. A common citrus tree, the lemon tree (Citrus limon) grows 10 to 20 feet tall with alternately arranged oblong and elliptical leaves that are reddish when they first emerge and turn dark green in summer. The lemon tree's leaves are usually 2 ½ to 4 ½ inches long with finely toothed edges. The ¾-inch-wide flowers are borne from reddish buds, blooming with four or five petals that are purplish on the outside surfaces and white on the insides. Several different types of lemon trees exist, most of which are distinguished from one another by the characteristics of their fruits.

    By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022

    How To Fix A Crack In A Ceramic Flower Pot

    How to Fix a Crack in a Ceramic Flower Pot. Cracks are common in ceramic pots, especially when they're exposed to freezing temperatures. The water in the potting soil can freeze and expand, causing the clay to crack and break. Larger ceramic flower pots can be expensive to replace. If your flower pot has simple cracks with no missing clay pieces, however, you can repair the pot easily using an epoxy glue that dries clear. You can even paint the pot afterward to help conceal any visible cracks.

    By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Flowers
    Flowers By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022

    How To Identify A Begonia

    How to Identify a Begonia. Thousands of begonia species and cultivated varieties exist, mostly because begonias are so easy to hybridize. Begonias are divided into several different groups, based on their growing habits, as well as their leaf and stem characteristics. Begonias are semitropical and tropical perennial plants that are prized for their beautiful flowers and foliage. Begonia species and cultivars display an astonishing array of flower and foliage colors, patterns and shapes. Begonias are usually grown as bedding plants in warmer climates or potted in containers in colder regions.

    By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022

    How To Identify Elderberry Problems

    How to Identify Elderberry Problems. Part of the honeysuckle family, the elderberry (Sambucus spp.) is a deciduous shrub-like tree that produce edible berry-like fruits. Elderberries are usually pest- and disease-free, rarely succumbing to debilitating infestations. However, sometimes elderberries can suffer from diseases like cankers, leaf and stem spots, and heart rots, as well as from pests like soft scales, borers and aphids. Elderberry shrubs can also be affected by nutritional deficiencies and excesses, as well as under- and over-watering.

    By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022

    How To Keep Squirrels From Pecan Trees

    How to Keep Squirrels From Pecan Trees. Squirrels' love for pecans can leave you with no nuts for yourself. In the spring, squirrels start eating pecan trees' fresh buds and later eat the immature nuts. Squirrels also will snatch ripe pecans and bury them to save for later meals. Before you know it, your pecan tree is completely stripped of nuts. There are different ways to keep squirrels from your pecan trees, including squirrel guards and repellents.

    By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Lawn Care
    Lawn Care By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022

    How To Take Care Of New Bermuda Sod

    How to Take Care of New Bermuda Sod. Bermuda grass is a warm-season variety that grows best in areas with mild winters. Although Bermuda grass can be planted from seed, you can establish it more quickly by installing sod. This should be done during warm, moist conditions so that the grass can establish properly and not become dormant. After you've laid the Bermuda sod, you will need to provide some special care to make sure that the sod roots readily and becomes established.

    By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Trees
    Trees By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022

    Diseases Of Willow Trees

    Diseases of Willow Trees. Willow trees (Salix spp.) are susceptible to several common diseases that attack many types of deciduous trees, as well as a few diseases that are specific to the Salix tree species. Properly diagnosing the disease that's infecting your willow tree is the most important step in treatment. Some diseases are caused by harmful fungi. Others are caused by a bacterium, making the treatments vary widely.

    By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Trees
    Trees By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022

    How To Get Rid Of The Insects On Your Lemon Tree

    How to Get Rid of the Insects on Your Lemon Tree. Lemon trees can easily become infested with insects, and getting rid of these insects can be easy or difficult, depending on the type of pest you're dealing with. Your lemon tree is most susceptible to attacks by insects such as mites, brown soft scales, citrus thrips and whiteflies, and aphids. Orangedog caterpillars and snails can also create serious problems in your lemon tree. To control these lemon tree pests, you must use either a miticide, an insecticide, horticultural and dormant oils, Bacillus thuringiensis or an insecticidal soap.

    By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Trees
    Trees By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022

    The Best Trees For Erosion Control

    The Best Trees for Erosion Control. The best trees to control soil erosion have deep root systems that can grow down into the subsurface of the ground and grip the slope or hillside. Many different tree species are deep-rooting and appropriate for erosion control. The best strategy is to plant a mixture of trees, shrubs, plants and groundcovers to control soil erosion.

    By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022

    How To Grow Beech Nut Trees From Seeds

    How to Grow Beech Nut Trees From Seeds. The beech nut tree (Fagus grandifolia), an enormous tree native to many parts of the United States, can grow to 100 feet tall and 70 feet wide, yet it has a shallow root system. Because the beech tree is a prolific seed producer, you can harvest your own beech seeds and plant them to grow a new tree. Growing a beech nut tree from seeds, however, can be hit or miss because both germination and transplanting the seedlings can be difficult. With patience and right techniques you can increase your chances of successfully planting beech nut trees from seeds.

    By Sarah Terry November 4th, 2022 Read More