Tara Cochrane

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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.

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Stories By Tara Cochrane

  • Flowers
    Flowers By Tara Cochrane November 4th, 2022

    Flowering Vines In Zone 7

    Flowering Vines in Zone 7. Flowering vines are commonly used as attractive coverings for fences, walls, arches and gazebos. Many popular flowering vines such as bougainvillea and confederate jasmine only thrive in tropical and subtropical climates. However, gardeners residing in zone 7 who wish to plant flowering vines have several enticing choices as well. Zone 7 includes much of North Carolina, Arkansas, southern Oklahoma, western South Carolina and eastern Virginia. It also extends across the northern parts of Texas, Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia. Average annual minimum temperatures in this region range from 0 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit.

    By Tara Cochrane November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Flowers
    Flowers By Tara Cochrane November 4th, 2022

    What Plants Do Raccoons Not Like?

    What Plants Do Raccoons Not Like?. Raccoons (Procyon lotor) are ubiquitous creatures in the American landscape, making themselves at home in environments ranging from wilderness to inner city. Although sometimes considered adorable, these masked bandits can wreak havoc on gardens, raid chicken coops and gorge themselves on pond fish. Raccoons are notorious omnivores, eating almost anything they can get their eerily handlike paws on. They particularly enjoy corn, grapes and melons. A few choice plants, however, stand a better chance of surviving a raccoon invasion.

    By Tara Cochrane November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Lawn Care
    Lawn Care By Tara Cochrane November 4th, 2022

    Types Of Desert Grass

    Types of Desert Grass. Members of the grass family (Poaceae) are found throughout the world and in every climate imaginable. There are over 10,000 species of grass. In deserts such as the Sonoran Desert of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, grasses often grow in clumps or bunches. When landscaping in a desert environment, native grasses may be considered as a low-maintenance alternative to traditional water-greedy lawn grasses.

    By Tara Cochrane November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Flowers
    Flowers By Tara Cochrane November 4th, 2022

    Low Growing Junipers

    Low Growing Junipers. Junipers are trees and shrubs of the Juniperus genus. About 50 species of juniper exist, all bearing fleshy cones with hard-shelled seeds and aromatic, needle-like, bluish evergreen foliage. Birds distribute juniper seeds; they have carried them throughout the world. Although many junipers, including the well-known common juniper (Juniperus communis), grow in the form of trees, there are several species that exhibit a low shrub-like growth habit. Gardeners use low-growing junipers in landscaping as border shrubs or evergreen ground covers.

    By Tara Cochrane November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Tara Cochrane September 6th, 2022

    Tahitian Gardenia Care

    Tahitian Gardenia Care. The Tahitian gardenia (Gardenia taitensis) is an evergreen, flowering, tropical shrub indigenous to Melanesia and Polynesia. It is the national flower of the Polynesian island country of Tahiti, where its flowers are utilized to concoct a perfumed coconut oil used for cosmetic purposes. These fragrant blossoms are also traditionally used in the Pacific to make leis, or flower necklaces. Local Tahitian custom dictates that a gardenia blossom behind the left ear indicates being in a relationship, while one behind the right ear announces being single.

    By Tara Cochrane September 6th, 2022 Read More