Western juniper is a very slow-growing tree that is somewhat unusual in the nursery trade—perhaps because it is very widespread as a native specimen and is sometimes considered weedy and invasive. As a landscape tree, it is usually planted as a container-grown or ball-and-burlap tree in the spring or fall. It can take as much as 100 years to reach its full 50-foot height, and a seedling may achieve only about 10 feet in its first 20 years....
Early autumn has traditionally been the best time of year to plant white ash, usually from a container-grown or ball-and-burlap nursery plant. Young white ashes start out with a somewhat pyramidal shape, and they grow at a moderate rate to eventually be more rounded and quite tall. But although it is still possible to buy white ash trees, planting them is now discouraged by scientists and civic officials seeking to slow the spread of emerald ash borer, which thrives when ash trees are plentiful and in close proximity....
Brassavola orchids have long, thin, tubular leaves that can reach up to a foot in length and sometimes appear unrolled or flattened. Brassavola orchids and their hybrids have much smaller pseudobulbs than other epiphytic orchids, so the leaves often appear to arise directly from the rhizome without a thick pseudobulb. The typical Brassavola flower features an enlarged, scoop-like lip with petals and sepals that have narrowed into spear-like shapes....
‘Contorta’ is a sport—a naturally occurring variation of Corylus avellana, a shrub commonly known as the common hazel or European filbert. The ‘Contorta’ variation was discovered during the mid-1800s in England. The plant’s common name comes from a well-known Scottish entertainer in the early 20th century who always carried a twisted cane onstage. Growing to a maximum height of eight to ten feet, this shrub is commonly used in hedge and screen borders where the interesting stems can be observed up close....
Like many other tropical fruits, such as avocado, lychee is not a natural choice for indoor gardeners. It’s more of a novelty plant and will be unlikely to ever bear fruit or grow to maturity (unless you have a greenhouse). The plant, while requiring a subtropical climate, needs at least 100 chill hours in order to produce flowers that bear fruit. Still, it can be fun to sprout these seeds in an attempt to grow an attractive plant....
Sweet potatoes are always planted in the spring. They are slow-growing and require warm temperatures to develop full-size tubers. You can usually get three to five tubers per plant and more if you’re in a warmer climate. Sweet potato plants come back every year if you live in a warmer growing zone (USDA zones 8 through 11). The orange-fleshed sweet potatoes are the most familiar, but sweet potatoes can be white, yellow, and even purple....
Fresh grout looks beautiful, but without proper cleaning and maintenance, it can become stained, mildewed, and even cracked. And when grout starts cracking and falling, water can seep behind the wall and cause major damage. From daily maintenance to grout replacement, here’s how to care for grout. Keep your grout clean, extend its life, and avoid premature time-and-money-wasting grout replacement. Everyday Cleaning Routine A daily wiping-and-spraying routine after your bath or shower is essential to keep your tiles clean and prevent premature staining and damage....
Neglect can also lead to lower yields and inferior vegetables due to more pest problems. Use the tips below to keep your plants healthy and growing steadily all season long for a high yielding vegetable garden. Water Your Garden Regularly Regular water is as important to growing vegetables as sunlight. This means an inch or two per week, every week, and more if it’s extremely hot. Without regular water, vegetables will not fill out and some, like tomatoes, will crack open if suddenly plumped up with water after struggling without for awhile....
Here are some tips for how to make a DIY planner. Customize an Existing System One easy way to customize a planner is to go with a system that’s designed to let you build your own. Three such options are Martha Stewart’s Discbound, the M. by Staples Arc System, and Levenger’s Circa. Each of these planners has the same disc binding, but they offer different aesthetics and customization options. A customizable planner lets you mix and match the components you want and leave out those you don’t need....
However, indoor seed starting can be fraught with difficulties, the most common being legginess. Even seeds that are carefully sown in the proper soil, watered precisely, placed in a south-facing window, and watched diligently until they germinate and sprout can fall victim to weak and spindly stalks. This irregular growth pattern, known as “legginess,” is unhealthy for your plant as it grows larger, making it unable to support its weight....
It’s best to use the more rigid black pots for this or double up pots with flexible sides so that they don’t collapse when the planter is heavy with water. A lightweight potting soil will also help. Another bonus of lifting the planter higher is you don’t have to bend to water it. Overturning a plastic container in the bottom of the larger pot will cut down on the amount of soil needed and the weight....
