Stephen Oakley

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Stories By Stephen Oakley

  • Trees
    Trees By Stephen Oakley November 4th, 2022

    How To Grow Cherry Trees In Ontario

    How to Grow Cherry Trees in Ontario. Cherry trees of many types are grown in Ontario, predominantly in the southern part of the province where winter temperatures are milder. However, cold-tolerant varieties like the purpleleaf sand cherry are commonly found in the north. Most sour cherries are self-pollinating, whereas sweet cherries are usually cross-pollinators--meaning you need two trees for fruit production. Stella and tehranivee are two types of sweet cherry suitable for Ontario that self-pollinate if you only want one tree in the garden.

    By Stephen Oakley November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Flowers
    Flowers By Stephen Oakley November 3rd, 2022

    Green Worms On Rose Bushes

    Green Worms on Rose Bushes. Many gardeners find small green worms resembling young caterpillars living and feeding on their rose bushes. The first sign of trouble is the appearance of holes in the leaves as these uninvited guests begin to eat their way through the plant. The culprits are sawflies. Sawfly larvae usually are green and can be mistaken for caterpillars.

    By Stephen Oakley November 3rd, 2022 Read More
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    Trees
    Trees By Stephen Oakley November 3rd, 2022

    Varieties Of Lemon Trees In Australia

    Varieties of Lemon Trees in Australia. Lemon trees (Citrus limon) belong to the citrus genus of plants, which includes oranges, grapefruits and tangerines. In Australia, several varieties of lemon trees are grown commercially with more than 30,000 tons of fruit produced annually. Although there are well over 100 varieties of lemon trees worldwide, only a handful are commonly found in Australia.

    By Stephen Oakley November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By Stephen Oakley November 3rd, 2022

    Growing Cherry Trees In Georgia

    Growing Cherry Trees in Georgia. Flowering cherry trees have been a perennial favorite in the United States since they were introduced from Japan in 1912. Unfortunately for gardeners in Georgia, the hot, humid climate of the southeast is not favorable for growing most varieties of cherry. Preferring cooler climates with long winters, cherry trees in Georgia are usually found only at the higher elevations of the Piedmont Plateau or in the Blue Ridge Mountains. However, recent trials have found limited success with sour varieties such as early Richmond, Montmorency and Ranier at elevations as low as 700 feet above sea level.

    By Stephen Oakley November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By Stephen Oakley November 3rd, 2022

    How To Make Thuja Green Giant Trees Grow Fast

    How to Make Thuja Green Giant Trees Grow Fast. The thuja green giant variety of arborvitae is a fast-growing evergreen that has become very popular for hedges and privacy screens. Young trees often grow more than 3 feet per year and readily adapt to soils ranging from clay to loam. Green giant thujas are very-low-maintenance plants and can reach heights of 50 to 60 feet if not pruned.

    By Stephen Oakley November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By Stephen Oakley November 3rd, 2022

    How To Grow Fruit Trees In Georgia

    How to Grow Fruit Trees in Georgia. Home fruit production is becoming increasingly popular in Georgia, predominantly in plant hardiness zones 8a and 8b, which lie south of a line from Columbus in the west to Augusta in the east. New varieties developed by university horticultural departments and private growers make it possible for home gardeners to enjoy many type of peaches, pears and plums. A visit to your local nursery or garden center is a good way to start gathering information on what fruit trees grow best in your area.

    By Stephen Oakley November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Stephen Oakley November 3rd, 2022

    How To Plant Garlic In Utah

    How to Plant Garlic in Utah. Garlic is used in so many recipes that no herb or vegetable garden would be complete without it. The best time to plant garlic is between September and November, according to the experts at Sandhill Farms in Eden Valley, Utah. Planting about three weeks before the first hard freeze of the season will give the garlic time to develop some roots before winter.

    By Stephen Oakley November 3rd, 2022 Read More
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    Flowers
    Flowers By Stephen Oakley November 3rd, 2022

    Caterpillar Insecticide For Roses

    Caterpillar Insecticide for Roses. Cultivating roses has been enjoyed by gardening enthusiasts for centuries. But as any experienced rose gardener knows, the plants attract a wide variety of insects and other pests which can be challenging to eliminate. Caterpillars are usually moth larvae and they can be effectively controlled with the application of several popular types of insecticide.

    By Stephen Oakley November 3rd, 2022 Read More
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    Trees
    Trees By Stephen Oakley November 3rd, 2022

    North American Flowering Trees

    North American Flowering Trees. Flowering trees provide an extra dimension of color to any landscape. North America is home to many types of flowering trees, but several varieties stand out for the intensity of their blooms. These trees are easily recognized and well-loved by gardeners in both the United States and Canada.

    By Stephen Oakley November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Stephen Oakley November 3rd, 2022

    How To Care For Santorini Tomato Plants

    How to Care for Santorini Tomato Plants. Santorini cherry tomatoes are well known among culinary circles in Greece for their aroma and full flavor. As the name indicates, these tiny tomatoes originate from Greek island of Santorini in the Mediterranean Sea. The first cultivation of this variety is believed to date from 1875 although the original seeds arrived in Greece as early as 1818. Although the Santorini variety can be grown much like any other cherry tomato, it is difficult to reproduce the strong flavor of the originals due to the mineral-rich volcanic soil that predominates in their native habitat. Another problem is finding seeds for this plant. The best bet is to check with seed exchanges or heirloom variety collectors as you won't find Santorini tomato seeds available from regular sources.

    By Stephen Oakley November 3rd, 2022 Read More
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    Produce
    Produce By Stephen Oakley November 3rd, 2022

    Propagation Of Laurus Nobilis

    Propagation of Laurus Nobilis. Laurus nobilis originates from the Mediterranean region and is known by many common names, including bay laurel, sweet bay and Grecian laurel. These evergreens can grow to 40 feet in height in the wild but are usually found as medium sized shrubs and hedges in the home landscape. Bay laurel can be propagated from stem cuttings that should be taken in the spring. Other methods of propagation include planting seeds, layering and root division.

    By Stephen Oakley November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Stephen Oakley November 3rd, 2022

    Growing Vegetables In Nevada

    Growing Vegetables in Nevada. Nevada is not the ideal place for growing vegetables, but it can be done if you're willing to put in a bit of work, such as composting to enrich the soil and setting up shade-cloth filters to protect your plants in the hotter southern regions of the state. Average temperatures and precipitation vary widely across Nevada, from the hot, dry south to the cooler regions of the north. Plant hardiness zones range from 4b in the mountainous northeast to 9b in the far south. The average growing season in the north is 175 days, while the far south enjoys seasons averaging 275 days.

    By Stephen Oakley November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By Stephen Oakley September 6th, 2022

    How To Grow Cherry Trees In Texas

    How to Grow Cherry Trees in Texas. The hot, dry climate of Texas makes growing cherry trees very difficult over most of the state. Cherry trees need cool winter months in order to bloom in spring and produce a crop. Sweet cherries are particularly unsuited to this southern region and are virtually unknown in Texas. However certain varieties of sour cherry such as Montmorency and Nanking are adapted to warmer climates and do fairly well in the Texas Panhandle. This area lies roughly north of an east-west line between Lubbock and Wichita Falls.

    By Stephen Oakley September 6th, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By Stephen Oakley September 6th, 2022

    How To Grow Cherry Trees In Oklahoma

    How to Grow Cherry Trees in Oklahoma. Cherries are a very popular fruit with many different varieties grown across North America. The hot, dry climate and variable soil conditions in the southern central state of Oklahoma present some challenges for growing cherry trees. Visit your local nursery or garden center for advice on what varieties grow well in your area. Decide whether you want sour cherries for baking or sweet cherries for fresh fruit. Sour cherry trees are usually self-pollinating but most sweet varieties are cross-pollinators. Unless you plan to plant more than one tree, choose a self-pollinating sweet cherry cultivar such as Stella or Lapins.

    By Stephen Oakley September 6th, 2022 Read More
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    Flowers
    Flowers By Stephen Oakley September 6th, 2022

    Hedges That Grow In The Shade

    Hedges That Grow in the Shade. Whether planted to create privacy or as an ornamental touch to the garden, hedges add depth and beauty to the landscape. But if your yard has large areas of full or partial shade, it is critical to select hedging plants that are suitable for low-light conditions. Fortunately, there are a number of evergreen plants that make excellent hedges for locations that are in full or partial shade.

    By Stephen Oakley September 6th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Stephen Oakley September 6th, 2022

    How To Grow Bald Cypress Trees From Seed

    How to Grow Bald Cypress Trees From Seed. The majestic bald cypress is native to the wetland areas of the American Southeast, commonly found in the bayous of Louisiana where it is also designated as the official state tree. Reaching heights of 150 feet in the wild, it is often seen in much smaller form as an ornamental landscape plant. Bald cypress seeds are dormant when taken from the cone and must be stratified to ensure germination. Stratification is the natural process whereby the seeds dormancy is broken by exposure to cool, damp conditions over the winter.

    By Stephen Oakley September 6th, 2022 Read More
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    Produce
    Produce By Stephen Oakley September 6th, 2022

    Jade Plant Facts

    Jade Plant Facts. Very popular as houseplants in temperate climates, jade plants are succulent shrubs that originate from the Cape Province of South Africa. Known by their current botanical name as crassula ovata, they were previously called crassula argentea. Classified as USDA plant hardiness zones 10 and 11, they are usually grown outdoors only in southern Florida and coastal southern California. Other common names for crassula ovata include money tree and friendship tree.

    By Stephen Oakley September 6th, 2022 Read More
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    Produce
    Produce By Stephen Oakley September 6th, 2022

    Monstera Plant Care

    Monstera Plant Care. Monstera plants (Monstera deliciosa) originate from the tropical forests of Central America. They are known by a number of common names, including cut-leaf philodendron, Swiss-cheese plant and windowleaf. Thriving only in warm, humid environments, monstera plants are grown primarily as an indoor ornamental outside of their natural habitat.

    By Stephen Oakley September 6th, 2022 Read More
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    Produce
    Produce By Stephen Oakley September 6th, 2022

    Plumbago Plant Care

    Plumbago Plant Care. Plumbago plants are a genus of about 20 species belonging to the leadwort family, known as plumbaginaceae by the Latin name. According to horticulture educator Jennifer Schultz Nelson at the University of Illinois, the name plumbago derives from the Latin word for lead, plumbum, as these plants were thought to cure lead poisoning in times past. Plumbagos originate in locales with warm subtropical climates such as India and South Africa.

    By Stephen Oakley September 6th, 2022 Read More
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    Trees
    Trees By Stephen Oakley September 6th, 2022

    Fertilizer For Pine Trees

    Fertilizer for Pine Trees. Knowing how and when to fertilize pine trees is essential to keeping them healthy and maintaining their vibrancy and color. However pines, like nearly all evergreens, require far less fertilizer than most other plants. Pine trees are a hardy species and usually obtain sufficient food from most types of soil. Over-fertilizing can cause burned roots or make the tree weaker due to rapid growth. The less-is-more rule is certainly good to bear mind with pines.

    By Stephen Oakley September 6th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Stephen Oakley March 23rd, 2022

    How To Grow Hydrangeas In Alaska

    How to Grow Hydrangeas in Alaska. Despite the short growing season in Alaska, hydrangeas are surprisingly popular. This may be due, in part, to the several very cold-hardy varieties available. Hydrangea arborescens and hydrangea paniculata will survive in temperatures down to -35 degrees Fahrenheit, which make them obvious choices for tough Alaskan winters. Some garden centers in Anchorage regularly stock hydrangeas and have no shortage of takers for these hardy perennials.

    By Stephen Oakley March 23rd, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Stephen Oakley March 23rd, 2022

    Growing Bamboo In Northern Pennsylvania

    Growing Bamboo in Northern Pennsylvania. The popularity of bamboo in the United States has grown, thanks largely to the efforts of the American Bamboo Society, which actively promotes this beautiful and useful evergreen. According to the society there are 33 cold-hardy varieties of bamboo. This includes three species tolerant to temperatures as low as -20 degrees which would be suitable for the climate of northern Pennsylvania. These species are known as phyllostachys, pleioblastus and pseudosasa. These are all runner-type bamboos meaning they spread quickly by sending out underground rhizomes.

    By Stephen Oakley March 23rd, 2022 Read More