AskTony's Popular Articles

Robert Lenney — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 13:15:43 GMT

Tree Suckers

Robert Lenney — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 22:25:10 GMT

Suckers are shoots that develop below a graft union. If not removed, suckers can intermingle, compete with, and eventually overwhelm the desirable plant parts that are above the graft.

Hedges

Robert Lenney — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:05:49 GMT

Plants used for a hedge should naturally be proportionate to the particular application, so that they do not need to be shorn very aggressively, or may not need to be shorn at all. Arborvitaes, as well as hop bush, euonymus, myrtle and some types of pittosporum, are actually better as informal, unshorn hedges where space allows, but need to be shorn where narrow hedges are needed.

House Plants

Robert Lenney — Mon, 25 May 2009 19:29:32 GMT

Houseplants are merely plants that live in the house. Of course, in their natural environments, they do not live in houses, but outside in nature. Most are originally from tropical forest environments, where they are adapted to living in the shade of taller trees, and do not mind mild weather all year, which is why they can be happy inside.

Fountains and Koi Ponds

Robert Lenney — Mon, 18 May 2009 17:20:55 GMT

For those of who do not mind the maintenance, ponds, fountains and even simple birdbaths can be appealing features in our home gardens as well. They can be all sorts of styles, shapes and sizes, and can add various acoustic and visual elements to the environment.

English Daisy

Robert Lenney — Wed, 13 May 2009 00:38:36 GMT

Typical English daisies look innocent enough as compact perennials in refined landscapes. They actually seem rather puny since they individually get only a few inches tall and wide, with red, pink and a few white flowers.

Prosperity Gardens

Robert Lenney — Mon, 04 May 2009 12:03:42 GMT

Victory Gardens are becoming trendy again because so many of us have less to spend on groceries. We are rediscovering that areas occupied by more or less useless landscapes and lawns can be used to produce fruits and vegetables.

Growing Herbs

SuperUser Account — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 06:51:04 GMT

It would seem that because the local climate is so mild that native species would not need to have developed any special adaptations. Such adaptations would seem more necessary where weather can become severely cold during winter or hot during summer.

All About Vines

SuperUser Account — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 20:37:47 GMT

Boston ivy has climbed to the top of the highest buildings at San Jose State University by the use of ‘holdfasts’, or suction disks. Both supportive structures damage paint, wood siding and stucco.

Sharing Your Garden Vegetables with the Needy

SuperUser Account — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 06:13:01 GMT

There is nothing like fresh vegetables from the garden. Especially when the garden produces so much that it can be shared with friends and neighbors, and with those in need. There are many food banks that would enjoy receiving your excess vegetables and give to those who are less fortunate.

Leaf Aromas And Colors

SuperUser Account — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 05:59:15 GMT

Deciduous trees are generally not as messy as evergreen species because foliage abscises and falls within such a limited season rather than throughout the year. Few garden enthusiasts appreciate foliar aroma, but many enjoy foliar color of various deciduous species during autumn.

A Trees Dormancy Cycle

SuperUser Account — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:11:13 GMT

Most plant species are beginning their dormancy cycle when the weather becomes cooler. The quantity of moisture that has been necessary to sustain foliar activity during warmer weather is no longer required.

Growing Warm Season Vegetables

SuperUser Account — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 20:35:27 GMT

Many warm season vegetables should be grown from vegetable seed, but it is more practical to obtain some as seedlings in cell packs or six packs. Because only a few individual plants of tomato, pepper and eggplant are needed, and because they take a bit of work to grow from seed.

Tomatoes Are Fruit

SuperUser Account — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 20:34:03 GMT

Green tomato fruit that is still on the plants when removed need not be discarded. Much of it can eventually ripen on a sunny window sill. In fact, most tomatoes in markets were harvested when beginning to ripen but still green.

Summer Vegetables

SuperUser Account — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 20:32:34 GMT

Vegetables which are produced by many individual plants, such as corn, beets and salad greens, should always be sown as seed. Corn purchased in cell packs only provides six plants at nearly the cost of an envelope of seed.

Growing Vegetables in Autumn

SuperUser Account — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:47:04 GMT

As warm season vegetables finish in the garden, they maybe replaced with cool season vegetables. Cool season vegetables which are seeded directly in the garden this time of year include peas, beets, turnips, carrots and radishes.

Weeds In The Garden

SuperUser Account — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:46:13 GMT

Weeds may be pulled from near shallow rooted plants, but may be tilled or hoed in areas where surface roots are not a concern. Once eradicated, weeds may be more easily controlled if soil is not exposed to sunlight.

Weeds Everywhere

SuperUser Account — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:45:25 GMT

Weeds are defined as ‘plants where they do not belong’. Bermuda grass is one of the most bothersome weeds and can be difficult to remove. It has become widely distributed because it was once commonly used as a lawn grass.

Native Plants Can Adapt To Changing Weather Patterns

SuperUser Account — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:43:53 GMT

Maple and Oak Fall Colors

SuperUser Account — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:42:52 GMT

Impressive autumn foliar color among the silver maples is nearly as incredible as lemons on shattuck trees during this weather change during this time of the year. The silver maple is one of my favorite trees but disappoints those expecting it to color as other maples do.

Climate Zones

SuperUser Account — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:39:33 GMT

The Sunset Western Garden Book is perhaps the most comprehensive encyclopedia of plant species used in western gardens. It also includes a guide to plant selection, a guide to gardening and a description of the west’s 32 climate zones.

Abnormal Weather Can Confuse Plant Growth

SuperUser Account — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:38:39 GMT

Winter weather will likely continue sometime between now and Spring, but the recent weather that is more typical of Spring has confused many species. Many spring bulbs, such as daffodil and narcissus have begun to bloom somewhat prematurely. Some saucer magnolias and star magnolias have also initiated bloom.

Oak Tree Selection

SuperUser Account — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:36:26 GMT

The massive valley oaks and coast live oaks in my neighborhood are totally rad! The largest specimens have been here for centuries. Although many have succumbed to decay as a result of urban development and irrigation, some of the most impressive are remarkably healthy and have been tolerating irrigation since the late 1950’s.

Tree Selection In Tight Places

SuperUser Account — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:35:59 GMT

This is only one example of why “location is everything”. Large trees are simply not appropriate for easements under utility lines. Likewise, trees that typically exhibit voracious roots are not appropriate near pavement.

Tree Selection

SuperUser Account — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:35:02 GMT

When landscaping a garden, it is important to use the right tree and plant selection for respective applications that may exploit the natural characteristics of the species. Selection of species for areas where low growth is necessary, under low windows for example, should be limited to low growing or sprawling species.

Summer Dormancy

SuperUser Account — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:27:34 GMT

Summer dormancy occurs when an individual is unable to preserve its own foliage during exceptionally warm, dry periods. Instead, the foliage is abscised before any more resources are expended. New foliage is produced when the weather is more conducive and abscised as normal in autumn.

Selecting An Arborist

SuperUser Account — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:20:37 GMT

The arboricultural industries are unfortunately attractive to many who are not exactly career oriented. Dedicated arborists who have studied the most contemporary arboricultural procedures and spend their career improving their techniques are more common than one would think.

Red, White and Blue Tree Fall Colors

SuperUser Account — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:19:01 GMT

Pam uses a wide range of species to achieve the desired effect and normally enjoys all colors, the range of colors is now limited to only red, white and blue. These three appropriately stylish colors have become very popular.

Winter Tree Maintenance

SuperUser Account — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 15:50:00 GMT

Winter pruning is also preferred by trees that bleed if pruned while active, such as fruitless mulberry and fig or trees that produce tender new growth prior to frost if pruned at the wrong time, such as jacaranda.

Pest Control

SuperUser Account — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 06:58:36 GMT

Many of the chemicals formerly used to control insects and diseases in the garden are no longer available because they have been found to have detrimental effects to the environment or present a health risk to those who come into contact with them. A good pest management program is needed.

Eucalyptus Tree Pests

SuperUser Account — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 06:56:48 GMT

Natural pathogens from Australia have mysteriously appeared in California and are causing problems on the eucalyptus tree. The main pests are the eucalyptus longhorn borer, eucalyptus gall wasp, various leaf eating beetles and at least six species of the psyllid.

Hedges In The Landscape

SuperUser Account — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 06:07:50 GMT

The most effective structure for a formally sheared hedge is with the top slightly narrower than the bottom. Not only does this allow increased sun exposure to lower foliage, but compensates for increased growth higher up.

Culling – The Removal Of Fruit

SuperUser Account — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 06:06:29 GMT

Culling, removal of superfluous fruit, is similar to deadheading, but diverts resources to remaining fruit rather than to floral or vegetative parts. Many fruit trees benefit from selective culling while fruit is beginning to develop during more productive seasons.

Snail Control In The Garden

SuperUser Account — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 05:48:13 GMT

The preferred method of minimizing snail population is hand picking and having a good pest management program in place. To be effective, this procedure must be performed thoroughly and regularly.

Powdery Mildew And Anthracnose

SuperUser Account — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 04:42:27 GMT

Regardless of resistance to the most common fungal pathogens that affect other vegetables and flowers, corn is detrimentally stunted by inhibited growth because it is on such a ‘strict schedule’. Unfortunately, while growth is inhibited, susceptibility to fungal diseases, such as powdery mildew and anthracnose, is enhanced.

Phytophthera: Sudden Oak Death Syndrome

SuperUser Account — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 04:40:10 GMT

The two main pathogens associated with the phytophthera disease have been the western oak bark beetle and the oak ambrosia beetle. Infection of rhododendrons only occurs on foliage during rainy periods and only near the ground. When the disease had annihilated several hundred coast live oaks and tanbark oaks on his rhododendron farm …

Sunscald

SuperUser Account — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 04:31:25 GMT

Even during the warmest days of summer, heat alone only damages a few sensitive species. Extreme solar exposure, minimal humidity or insufficient soil moisture causes ‘Heat’ damage.

Sudden Oak Death Syndrome

SuperUser Account — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 04:27:17 GMT

Sudden death of oaks, SOD, is caused by ambrosia fungus, which is spread by the oak ambrosia beetle. The beetles bore into the trunks of mature oaks and inoculate their galleries with spores of the fungus. Anyone with coast live oaks, tanbark oaks or black oaks in their garden should be aware of the sudden death of oak syndrome and how to recognize the symptoms.

Planting With Vegetable Seeds

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 07:32:57 GMT

These seeds should be sown directly into prepared soil in the garden. If seedlings of these vegetables in cell packs or six packs can still be found in nurseries, they are a scam. Six packs cost more than a dollar but only provide six groups of seedlings, which if not separated, provide only a few vegetables.

Winter Gardening

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:44:08 GMT

I normally do not want to rush winter pruning of fruit trees and roses. Late pruning is somewhat of a shock, as well as breaks off some of the developing flowers or fruit. Winter is also bare root season and selection must be very careful.

Selecting A Nursery

SuperUser Account — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 02:26:43 GMT

Garden enthusiasts who want only the best products as well as reliable horticultural advice concerning these products shop at real nurseries. These establishments are usually staffed by actual horticulturists who are very familiar with the material that is marketed.

Plant Irrigation

SuperUser Account — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 02:12:45 GMT

Probably the most common question I am asked is “How often should I water.” Because I am very educated and experienced in horticulture, I always have the correct answer. “I don’t know.” There are too many factors to consider and correct irrigation can only be determined by observation.

Anthracnose and Modesto Ash

SuperUser Account — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 04:44:28 GMT

Regardless of what my colleagues tell me, I have always liked the Modesto ash and the shamel ash as actually one of my favorite trees. I realize that ash innately exhibit inferior structural integrity and are susceptible to anthracnose, but they are just so rad.

Shade Trees

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:09:59 GMT

When the weather is this warm, it is good to have at least some shade in the garden. Shade trees or structures make working in and enjoying the garden much more comfortable. Too much shade however, can be detrimental to many plants which prefer full sun exposure.

Fig Tree Pruning

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:46:35 GMT

Pruning of fig trees should be done during cold weather if possible. Slow circulation allows wounds to “cauterize” rather than continue to bleed as they often do during warm weather. The autumn figs eventually appear on new growth of the immediately preceding summer.

Don't Hire A Tree Hacker

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:50:26 GMT

Specimens may be left in their nursery cans if the cans are placed into larger pots or containers, or nestled into shallow shrubbery or deep ground-cover. Containers and pots in which plants are grown in around the home should not exhibit the same uncomfortable characteristics of the nursery cans.

Propagation By Root Cuttings

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 07:33:50 GMT

Vegetable Mediterranean and Herb Medley

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:52:48 GMT

This is such a wonderful recipe for your garden vegetables. Chef Roessler prepares a wonderful recipe here. The flavor is out of this world and it’s hard to believe it's coming from just the ingredients below.

Suckers On Trees

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:53:48 GMT

Suckers are stems that emerge from below the graft and are genetically identical to the understock. Almost all suckers therefore emerge from below the soil or very near to it. However, suckers may also emerge from the mediary stock of weeping cherries, usually immediately below the graft.

Nomenclature: The Naming of Plants

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:02:16 GMT

Giving names to plants, trees and flowers is important, and the rules for naming species are known as “nomenclature”. Nomenclature is only concerned with the last two of these classifications; genus and species. It is also often helpful to know the ‘family’, or third classification. Cultivars and varieties are variations within species.

Oregon Grown Plants

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:02:56 GMT

While driving back through the Willamette Valley, I noticed that Spring is only beginning! Dogwoods, cherries, apples and redbuds were in full bloom. It was rather cold and even snowing in the Klamath and Siskyou Mountains.

Poisonous Plants

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:03:30 GMT

San Francisco Flower & Garden Show

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:04:39 GMT

The San Francisco Flower and Garden Show is the largest in California and one of the largest in America. The show is devoted to Flower Power featuring new plant exhibits, orchid pavilion, garden living pavilion, bonsai show, ikebana show, floral arrangement exhibits, garden vignettes, numerous show gardens and a koi show.

Sunset Western Garden Book

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:06:31 GMT

Unusual Weather Changes Gardening Habits

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:09:13 GMT

Many other species that are not endemic to the area are also exhibiting symptoms associated with the unusual weather. For example, a Chinese pistache near my home is already coloring in response to the earlier cool nights.

Destructive Root Systems

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:13:41 GMT

Roots may be very destructive to surface features, such as concrete or asphalt pavement, irrigation plumbing and occasionally, foundations of buildings. Hence the need for root pruning and the installation of root barriers.

Tree Hackers vs Arborist Experts

SuperUser Account — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 02:28:05 GMT

Arboriculture, or tree care is a sensitive subject. I have been very fortunate to have worked with many of the most qualified arborists in the industry. Consequently, I am very disturbed to see so many trees severely damaged or even completely destroyed by unqualified individuals.

Propagating Tropical Plants

SuperUser Account — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 06:53:29 GMT

Rinsing Your Dirty House Plants

SuperUser Account — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 06:55:24 GMT

If the weather is rainy but not too cool, houseplants may be brought outside for a gentle rinse. For reasons that no horticulturist has yet identified, houseplants seem to benefit more from mild rain than from rinsing with a hose or shower.

Seed For Cool Season Plants

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:42:50 GMT

Seed of cool season perennials such as columbine, coreopsis, heuchera, Shasta daisy, dianthus and primrose may also be sown in flats now. (Most primrose are used as annuals.) Seed of cool season vegetables such as beets, radishes, carrots (ick!), cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage and lettuce may all be sown directly into the garden.

Maple Trees

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:08:51 GMT

I want to clarify the difference between maple trees and the more commonly known Japanese maples, which ironically are among my least favorite trees. The main reason I don’t like them is that they have been very trendy and are so commonly planted where they just don’t belong.

Hiring An Arborist

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:07:58 GMT

When working with large trees, improper tree pruning can be much more damaging and difficult to correct. As with gardeners or other horticultural “professionals”, good arborists (horticulturist who specialize in tree care) are difficult to find.

Growing Figs

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:59:22 GMT

Healthy figs produce two types of fruit. Summer figs emerge with new foliage during spring from stems that grew during the previous summer. They are not so profuse, but are larger and softer than later figs.

Fruit And Citrus Tree Grafting

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:45:31 GMT

A ‘sucker’ is a stem that originates below the graft of a viable tree. Because many grafted cultivars are less vigorous than their own understock, they may easily be overwhelmed by suckers.

Citrus Trees

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:44:00 GMT

The most popular of citrus include sweet orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit and mandarin orange. Less common citrus include variations of these as well as blood orange and kumquat. The variations of the more common citrus are distinguished by their acid content or flavor.

Lemons Grow, Even When Not In Season

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:44:19 GMT

Eureka’ and ‘Meyer’ lemons actually continue producing minor quantities of fruit throughout the year so that a fresh lemon can be found even when lemons are not in season. However, limes that will be seasonable later may not be left on the trees as long because they are used prior to ripening.

Maintaining Your Cut Christmas Tree

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:39:33 GMT

The more common live Christmas trees are Italian stone pines, Canary Island pines, Monterey pines and Aleppo pines. Each might be accommodated into a larger garden with very careful planning, but will certainly not remain cute and innocent for long.

Cactus and Succulents

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:37:28 GMT

Many other succulent plant species, such as jade tree, are often identified with cacti. The family Cactaceae exhibits swollen green stems which perform photosynthesis and store moisture.

Cactus

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:36:36 GMT

True cactus of the family Cactaceae are very useful ornamentals comprising much of the group known as succulents. Succulents are any plant species which stores water in thick, watery leaves or stems. Most are drought tolerant.

Rakes, Cultivators and Picks

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:34:34 GMT

Lawn or leaf rakes are designed to collect light material from flat surfaces. In summer they are useful for raking clippings from lawns. In autumn, they are useful for cleaning up fallen leaves from lawns, ground cover, gravel or paved surfaces.

Tools of the Garden

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:32:51 GMT

I should first describe the difference between shovels and spades. Spades are designed to be pushed into soil with the foot. Shovels lack the rolled rim on the top edge and are designed to be “shoved” into soil by hand. This can be confusing because most shovels are very often used as spades.

Garden Pruning Tools

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:29:47 GMT

Pruning tools are probably the most misunderstood and commonly misused, Hook and blade shears, hand shears,are likely the most important of the pruning tools employed in home gardening. When pruning, it is best to keep the blade toward the subject plant.

Composted Soil Amendments

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:27:14 GMT

Perhaps the most practical method of enriching soil is by amending it with compost. When a compost pile is initially constructed, it should contain various types of organic matter which are each added in layers on top of previous layers.

Composted Organic Material

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:25:58 GMT

Composted organic material enhances soil texture so that is more conducive to healthy root development. Organic matter is lighter and coarser than the fine clay particles which most endemic soils are composed of.

Soil Amendments

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:24:02 GMT

When selecting organic amendments, the most simple are usually the most suitable. We studied clay, silt, sand, loam and the various amendments used in the horticultural and agricultural industries.

Organic Soil Amendments

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:23:23 GMT

Every year, quantity and quality of organic soil amendments is determined by the condition of the soil. If the optimum soil amendments are not used, you might not get the right growth results from your vegetables.

Fish and Poop Fertilizers

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:22:36 GMT

Fish emulsion is of course another organic fertilizer that will not cause any of the rare but potential problems associated with chemical fertilizers, and it is very popular with every cat in the neighborhood.

Aromatic Fragrance Plants

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:20:00 GMT

Perennial plant species with fragrant or “aromatic” foliage, such as sage, rosemary and thyme, are often used specifically for their fragrance and many are culinary herbs. Incense cedar, camphor, cypress, eucalyptus and pine are examples of some of the trees which exhibit aromatic foliage.

Seed Terminology

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:16:21 GMT

Everyone knows that plants grow from seed. Some are more easily grown from seed than others. Fountain grass and Mexican evening primrose grow so easily from seed that they can become invasive.

Winter Fruit Tree Pruning

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:49:20 GMT

Winter is the best season to prune because the trees are dormant. As dormancy ends, growth is concentrated among remaining stems and can be left to complete a year (growing season) of a natural growth and fruit production cycle.

Hardwood Cuttings Promote Natural Dormancy

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:47:32 GMT

Unlike softwood and semihardwood cuttings that exploit the active growth that occurs between spring and summer, hardwood cuttings are ‘stuck’ (installed in their rooting medium) when inactive so that they can emerge slowly from dormancy in their new environment, producing new adventitious roots as needed.

Deadheading - The Removal Of Fading Flowers

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:45:53 GMT

Deadheading, the removal of fading flowers, is important for many species to conserve resources that would otherwise be utilized by developing fruit structures. For example, maturing rose hips (the fruiting structures of roses) require so many nutrients that there is not enough left for continued bloom, which is therefore inhibited if rose hips are not removed.

Fruit Tree Pruning

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:25:24 GMT

In winter, I try to explain why it is important to prune dormant trees, particularly fruit trees, prior to the end of their dormancy. Fruit trees, which were not pruned properly last winter may now be experiencing problems as the weight of the developing fruit is more than the limbs can support.

The Art of Topiary Pruning

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:23:55 GMT

Unfortunately, like many intensive horticultural practices, real topiary is almost never seen anymore. Traditional topiary, as it was perfected by the English, involved intricate shearing of dense shrubbery into less than traditional and often whimsical shapes.

Line Clearance Pruning

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:22:57 GMT

I hear many complaints about how the tree pruning crews who perform line clearance brutalize trees. Not only can poorly maintained trees in high voltage lines cause outages, but they can be extremely dangerous. Before I continue I should say that only trained professionals should prune trees near the PG&E high voltage lines.

Adding Soil To Container Plants

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 07:34:50 GMT

When soil levels become so low within a plant container that more must be added, it is usually not advisable to add new soil above older soil. Instead, the container should be “stuffed”.

Bulb Planting

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 07:29:45 GMT

Generally, earlier planted bulbs are the first to bloom in spring. Although bulbs as well as corms, tubers, rhizomes and tuberous roots are all considered to be perennials, many only bloom once and should be treated as annuals.

Autumn Garden Planting

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 07:28:45 GMT

Autumn is a good time of year to plant just about anything, except plants which are frost sensitive or those planted bare-root in winter. Although most are dormant through winter, roots grow slightly during warm weather and get an early start in late winter.

Bonfante Garden Nursery

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 07:24:26 GMT

Bonfante Gardens, a theme park which celebrates trees, is a beautiful garden nursery theme park in Gilroy California. This park features everything one might expect from a theme park, as well as attractions of special horticultural interest.

Yerba Buena Nursery

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 07:22:24 GMT

Yerba Buena Nursery has specialized almost exclusively in California native plant species and ferns since 1960. Although most of the commonly available plant species can not be found here, many of the more rare native species can be. Yerba Buena Nursery is for garden enthusiasts who enjoy nurseries.

Garden Conservancy

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 07:20:13 GMT

The Garden Conservancy was developed in 1989 as a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of America’s exceptional private gardens and facilitation of transition from private to independent, not-for-profit ownership.

Tour des Fleurs

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 07:18:59 GMT

Guests to the Tour des Fleurs may select from six package tours which include visits to three each of the eleven hosting horticultural establishments. Most of us are familiar with cut flowers available in retail markets; but few have seen acres of them!

Rhododendrons At Bay Laurel Nursery

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 07:17:34 GMT

Rhododendrons at Bay Laurel Nursery in Scott’s Valley are grown locally and slowly. Rhododendrons and citrus were my favorites of all the horticultural crops that I have been involved with. Like bamboo, Japanese maples, bare-root fruit trees and most roses, rhodies and citrus are best grown by specialty growers who can accommodate their cultural preferences.

Bay Laurel Nursery

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 07:15:41 GMT

Bay Laurel Nursery is perhaps the most interesting nursery I know of. Rhododendrons are the primary crop of this nursery in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California. The landscape also includes many field grown specimens and companion plant species. Story by Tony Tomeo.

Irrigation Is Key To A Successful Garden

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 07:13:28 GMT

Irrigation is so often excessive because the problems it causes are not as apparent as desiccation that may occur if irrigation is insufficient. For example, clients may not see shallow roots or decay below the surface of the soil, but cannot miss a brown lawn.

Proper Irrigation In the Garden

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 07:12:27 GMT

Unfortunately, the various species within most landscapes require specific but different duration and frequency of either drip or sprinkler irrigation. Lawns and most annuals only extend roots into the upper few inches of soil.

Remedies For Garden Pests

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 07:10:27 GMT

Those of us who truly enjoy gardening generally try to avoid problem situations that require the use of chemical pesticides. Application of pesticides is not the sort of chore that garden enthusiasts enjoy.

Controlling Aphids In The Garden

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 07:06:55 GMT

However, most severe aphid infestations are established and maintained by ants. Therefore, aphid control, thrip control, moth control and even ant control (insect control) measure are necessary with these types of yucky insects. As for the moth, you can always consider buying a ‘moth trap’ (insect trap), available at most nursery or garden centers.

Slugs and Snails

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 07:00:54 GMT

Slugs and snails lack many things, such as intellect, cultural refinement, credit cards and sneakers. They also lack a protective exterior that most other biological organisms are familiar with. A good pest management plan may be needed.

Sustainable Gardens

SuperUser Account — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 06:02:27 GMT

My garden is very unique but very sustainable. It is mostly concrete with some asphalt, a small lawn, Algerian ivy and junipers. It really takes care of itself. It is unique because no other horticulturist has composed a garden quite like it!