Stephanie Suesan Smith 
Research has shown that mulching helps plant health. Each type of mulch has different uses. This guide tells you all about pine bark mulch. What is Pine Bark Mulch? When pine trees are cut for lumber, the branches and bark are removed before the tree is cut into boards. Pine bark mulch is the bark … Read more
Research shows that mulch stabilizes soil temperatures and moisture and helps protect from weeds. There are lots of different kinds of mulch, though, so what do you use where? Here is a guide to cypress mulch. What Is Cypress Mulch? Cypress mulch is the chipped-up trunk and bark of the bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) or pond … Read more
Every plant expert tells you to mulch your plants. There are so many mulches out there; how do you choose? This guide will tell you all about choosing and using mulch. What Is Mulch? Mulches are used to cover the exposed soil in landscape beds and vegetable gardens and around trees and shrubs. Advantages and … Read more
Growing your own cucumbers is very satisfying. Unfortunately, I get lots of cucumbers and can’t eat them all fresh. Canning the cucumbers into pickles is a good way to preserve them for later use. Here is a guide to the best cucumber varieties to grow for making pickles. Some of them also make good eating when … Read more
Cucumber vines can be trained to grow up trellises, down from balconies, and in hanging baskets to save space and keep the fruit clean. They can also be allowed to sprawl on the ground if you have lots of room. In any case, you may wonder what the best vining cucumbers are to grow. Vine … Read more
Cucumbers are a popular fruit to grow in the home garden. However, they take up a lot of space in the garden or have to be trellised to keep them healthy. If you do not have a lot of space or don’t want to mess with a trellis, a bush cucumber might be for you. … Read more
Cucumbers are grown by a lot of people. Unfortunately, cucumbers are plagued with a variety of problems. This guide will give you the most common reasons for your plants to wilt and die. When Will Wilting and Dying Happen? Cucumbers are most vulnerable to wilting and dying when they are seedlings. They do not have … Read more
Cucumbers can cause people to burp, which is embarrassing. However, breeders have created cucumbers that cause fewer burps, called burpless cucumbers. Here is everything you need to know to grow burpless cucumbers. Quick Growing Guide for the Burpless Cucumber Plant Type Annual Resistant to Varies by variety USDA Hardiness Zone 2a-11b Maintenance Moderate Season Late … Read more
Next to tomatoes, cucumbers are the most common vegetable grown in home gardens. There are many varieties of cucumbers. ‘Kirby cucumber’ is a general term for pickling cucumbers. Quick Growing Guide for the Kirby Cucumber Plant Type Annual Resistant to Varies by variety USDA Hardiness Zone 2a-11b Maintenance Moderate Season Late spring through frost Soil … Read more
Cucumbers are one of the most popular things to grow in the home garden. They are very good for you when harvested and stored properly. Why Should We Harvest Cucumbers Properly? Cucumbers are harvested when immature. It can be a bit tricky to determine when to harvest them. However, you need to learn for three … Read more
Zoysia grass is a warm-season grass that is considered a high-maintenance grass. It requires quite a bit of fertilization and care to thrive. Does Zoysia Grass Need Fertilizer? Zoysia needs more nitrogen and potassium than any soil contains. It also needs more phosphorus than most soils contain. Without proper fertilization, zoysia grass will not grow … Read more
Centipede grass is a warm-season grass with an apple-green color. It is slow growing and requires less fertilizer and mowing than other grasses. It is more tolerant of shade than Bermuda grass but less than St. Augustine. This article will cover everything you need to know about centipede grass fertilizer, let’s get started! Does Centipede … Read more
Almost everyone with a lawn worries about the best time to fertilize. Fall is an important time to fertilize your lawn. This guide will tell you what to use and how to use it in the fall to set your lawn up for winter and early spring, regardless of your grass type. Do I Need … Read more
Lemon trees are fun to grow. Even if you live in a climate that is too cold to grow lemon trees outdoors, you can grow one indoors. This guide will tell you about the best fertilizers for your lemon trees. Why Fertilize Lemon Trees? Lemon trees are heavy feeders in the landscape and in pots. … Read more
Many plants benefit from an application of a high-nitrogen fertilizer. However, there are so many fertilizers to choose from you may have trouble knowing which one is best. This guide will help. What is a High-Nitrogen Fertilizer? A high nitrogen fertilizer is a fertilizer where the amount of nitrogen in the fertilizer is higher than … Read more
There are hundreds of fertilizers for sale. This guide will tell you what 3-1-2 fertilizer is used for and how to buy the best 3-1-2 fertilizer. What Is 3-1-2 Fertilizer? A 3-1-2 has three percent nitrogen, one percent phosphorus, and two percent potassium. You can buy 3-1-2 fertilizer, but you can also buy fertilizer with … Read more
Lawns need fertilizer to grow and stay thick and lush. However, the many varieties of fertilizer can be confusing. Here are the best lawn fertilizers and how to use them. Types of Lawn Fertilizers Fertilizers come in many forms. Here are the most common forms of fertilizer that are used on lawns. Liquid Liquid fertilizers … Read more
Most people grow pumpkins to eat and enjoy. Unfortunately, while not all ants are bad, some sting like fire ants. So you may be wondering, “How do I keep ants off my pumpkin plants?” Fire ants hurt when they sting you as you work in your pumpkin patch. Other ants may protect pests that damage … Read more
Elephant garlic (Allium ampeloprasum) is more closely related to leeks than garlic. Elephant garlic produces huge bulbs and is very tasty. But, you may wonder, “When do I harvest elephant garlic?” Elephant garlic is more like hard-necked garlic than soft-necked garlic. This is because the stalks are cut off after curing instead of being used to … Read more
Most people have some indoor plants. They help clean the air and brighten up a room. You may be wondering which of the hundreds of fertilizers on the market are right for your plants. The right fertilizer depends on the plant. Here is a general guide to picking the best fertilizer for each plant you … Read more
Companion planting is growing more popular as a means to reduce the use of pesticides and attract pollinators. This is particularly true for small home gardeners. What Is Companion Planting? Companion planting (also called intercropping) is growing plants close together because of their ability to enhance each other. Planting the three sisters (corn, beans, and … Read more
Roses are a very popular flowering shrub. They do require a lot of care, but that is part of their charm. Here is all you need to know about fertilizing your roses to have them look their best. Why Fertilize Roses? Roses need a lot of nutrients to produce bloom after bloom. No soil can … Read more
More and more people are growing their own vegetables. However, vegetables need to be fertilized, and the many fertilizers available can be confusing. This guide will tell you everything you need to know about fertilizing your vegetable garden. Why Fertilize Vegetable Gardens? Vegetables are heavy feeders because it takes a lot to make the vegetables … Read more
You can grow cucumbers even if you do not have a lot of land. Cucumbers can be grown in containers with a little care. This guide tells you how to do that. Types of Cucumbers to Grow in a Pot Cucumbers can be either pickling cucumbers or slicing cucumbers. Pickling cucumbers have bumpy skin. They produce … Read more
Strawberries are easy to grow and nutritious. They have lots of vitamin C. Strawberries do require supplemental fertilizer, however. This guide will tell you all about fertilizing your strawberries. Why Fertilize Strawberries? While strawberry plants will grow without fertilizer, they have very small berries, and they do not produce many of them. If you want … Read more
Blueberries are a delicious and nutritious food. Taking care of your blueberry bush requires fertilizing it. Here is the best way to keep your blueberry bush healthy and productive. Why Fertilize Blueberries? Blueberries are heavy feeders year after year. Soil becomes depleted of nutrients faster than they are replaced. If you do not fertilize your … Read more
St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum) is a spreading grass with a coarse texture. It is grown primarily in the southern United States. It is the least cold hardy of the warm season grasses, so it doesn’t grow in the northern United States. St. Augustine grass is a heavy feeder and requires a yearly fertilization program … Read more
Fertilizers can be confusing. This guide will explain what 16-16-16 is and how to use it. What Is 16-16-16 Fertilizer? Triple 16 contains sixteen percent nitrogen, sixteen percent phosphorus, and sixteen percent potassium. It is a balanced fertilizer because all the numbers are the same. Briefly, nitrogen is used everywhere in the plant to grow. … Read more
Fertilizers can be confusing as you look at shelves of the stuff at a store. Which one do you need? This guide discusses 10-10-10 and when to use it. What Is 10-10-10 Fertilizer? Triple 10 fertilizer is ten percent nitrogen, ten percent phosphorus, and ten percent potassium. The other seventy percent is made up of … Read more
Corn is grown by a lot of home gardeners. There are many pests and diseases that attack corn. Planting corn with good companion plants can improve yields and reduce problems. The famous three sisters (corn, beans, and squash) have been planted together for hundreds of years. Here are the best companion plants for corn and … Read more
Turnips are grown both for their green leaves and for the starchy swelling above the roots. Both the greens and roots are vulnerable to pests. Here are some good companion plants that turnips will grow well with, and some that you should not plant them nearby. Why Do Turnips Need Companion Plants? Here are some … Read more
Leeks are an allium, in the same family as onions and garlic. Like other alliums, leeks have a strong odor. Many plants benefit from being planted near leeks. Other plants benefit from leeks when planted near them. Here are the best companion plants for leeks and the ones not to plant near leeks. Why Do … Read more
Borage (Borago officinalis) is used as an attractive plant in flower beds, in salads, and in traditional herbal medicine. Borage is often used as a companion plant in the landscape or the vegetable garden. This guide tells you which plants to use near the borage and which to plants to avoid. Note: Borage should not … Read more
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) is an aromatic herb that is used in cooking and in medicine. The lemon scent is very fragrant. There are many plants that are good companions for lemon balm in the garden. Why Does Lemon Balm Need Companion Plants? Here are the ways companion plants help lemon balm. Increase Nutrients Peas … Read more
Artichokes (Cynara cardunculus var. Scolymus) are a long-lived perennials. Since artichokes live so long, you should make certain that you only plant things near them that are good companions. This guide discusses what you should plant around your artichoke to help it grow and what plants to avoid. Note: This article deals with artichokes. Jerusalem … Read more
Rhubarb is grown for its fleshy stalk. The leaves are poisonous and should be removed when the stalk is harvested. This cool season crop has both pest and disease problems. Consider companion planting to prevent problems and make the rhubarb grow better. Here are the best plants to use and the few you should not … Read more
Brussel sprouts are a delicious and nutritious vegetable in the Cruciferae family. They are a cool-season crop that can be vulnerable to many insect pests. They also need a number of nutrients while growing. Using companion planting can help with some of these problems and needs. Why Do Brussel Sprouts Need Companion Plants? If you are new … Read more
Tomatoes are one of the most popular vegetables to grow. Nothing tastes better than a tomato fresh off the vine. Growing beefsteak tomatoes for fresh eating is not hard. Quick Growing Guide for the Beefsteak Tomato Plant Type Mostly indeterminate Resistant to varies USDA Hardiness Zone 3-9 Maintenance Moderate to High Season Summer, early … Read more
Tomatoes are delicious when they are homegrown. Roma-type tomatoes are ideal for canning and making sauce. If you want to grow your own cooking ingredients, this is a good tomato to grow. Quick Growing Guide for the Roma-Type Tomato Plant Type Mostly Determinate Resistant to varies USDA Hardiness Zone 3-9 Maintenance Moderate to High Season … Read more
San Marzano tomatoes are famous among cooks for their flavor. You may be interested in trying to grow them for yourself. This guide tells you how. Quick Growing Guide for the San Marzano Tomato Plant Type Indeterminate Resistant to Fusarium Wilt, Root Knot Nematode, Tomato Mosaic Virus, Verticillium Wilt USDA Hardiness Zone 3-9 Maintenance Moderate … Read more
Tomatoes are a popular plant to grow and come in thousands of different varieties. If you are interested in growing Early Girl tomatoes, this guide will tell you everything you need to know. Quick Growing Guide for the Early Girl Tomato Plant Type: Indeterminate Resistant to: Fusarium Wilt 1, Fusarium Wilt 2, Root Knot Nematode, … Read more
Tomatoes are grown by more people worldwide than any other vegetable. For forty years, Celebrity tomatoes were the standard that all other tomato varieties were measured against. While some recent hybrids have surpassed it, this is still a great tomato to grow. This guide will tell you everything you need to know to decide if … Read more
Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are grown by more gardeners than any other fruit. Tomatoes are native to Central and South America. They were domesticated in Mexico and there are many wild varieties still in existence. I have grown tomatoes for many years and these are the things you need to know to get your own tasty tomatoes. … Read more
Bermuda grass is native to Africa. It is grown across the southern United States as a lawn grass and on stadium lawns and golf courses. Bermuda grass requires fertilization several times a year to look its best. Here are the best fertilizers for your Bermuda grass. Best Bermuda Grass Fertilizers Different fertilizers meet different needs. … Read more
Tomatoes taste better right out of the garden. Unfortunately, a lot can grow wrong from seed to mouth. Here is a guide to the most common tomato diseases to help you have a wonderful harvest. I’ve written an in-depth guide on how to grow tomatoes that you might want to check out! Caused by Fungal … Read more
Tomatoes are delicious. Unfortunately, many pests like to eat tomato plants and tomatoes. These pests can make it hard to get vine-ripened tomatoes from your plants. To get rid of these pests, you may wonder, “Can you use Sevin on Tomato Plants?” Sevin® is a pesticide with the active ingredient carbaryl. Bayer produces several forms … Read more
Tomatoes are one of the most popular vegetables people grow. They are the most popular vegetable in the United States. You can grow tomatoes even if you do not have a yard to plant them in. Tomato plants grow well in containers. Best Tomatoes To Grow In Pots Tomatoes come in two varieties. Indeterminate tomato … Read more
Cucumbers are a popular vegetable to grow. Sometimes it is hard to know how much sun a cucumber plant needs. How Much Light Do Cucumber Plants Need? The amount of light differs inside and outside. Outside – Cucumber Sun Requirements Cucumbers need at least six hours of sun and will grow much better with … Read more
Cucumbers are very tasty and nutritious. Many people grow them in their garden or in containers. You may wonder how many plants you will need to plant to have enough cucumbers. How Many Cucumbers Does One Plant Produce? Each cucumber vine is a little different, but the average slicing cucumber has ten to fifteen cucumbers … Read more
Cucumber plants are very thirsty plants. Therefore, proper watering is crucial to getting lots of tasty cucumbers. How Often Do I Water Cucumber Plants? Cucumber plants growing in the ground should be watered once or twice a week. Cucumber plants in containers should be watered several times a week to keep the soil evenly moist. … Read more
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