Found anywhere from a few inches to several feet beneath the surface, hardpan is a layer of soil so compacted that neither plant roots nor water can penetrate it. Though typically associated with desert regions, it
You get a wonderful feeling when the potted perennials youve been ignoring all winter start to reappear in spring. Just when youve given up hope that new life will somehow spring forth from those clumps of strawlike
Oak root fungus (Armillaria mellea) is named for a favorite host, but it attacks a variety of woody plants. It is prevalent in the Southeast and in low-elevation, nondesert regions of California. The first symptoms
Pacific Northwest: Spring shopping tips
Like a fine delicatessen, a well-stocked garden center serves up a horticultural feast this month: tables laden with cool-season bloomers like English daisies, pansies, and violas (pictured); sawdust-filled beds hol
Professional growers who supply cut flowers to farmers markets face the same constraints home gardeners do ― not enough time, not enough space. But cut-flower pros have another challenge: They need to turn a profit.
How to transplant shrubs, trees
To increase your success transplanting a shrub or small tree, root-prune two or three months before you move the plant. The process shortens long roots and encourages the formation of many new roots closer to the tr
Lawns need some fertilizing to grow well each year. If unfed, theyll grow sparsely, allowing weed seeds to germinate and flourish. Grass thats insufficiently nourished is also more susceptible to pests and diseases.
To decide which trees are best for you, start by considering the points below. Also consult local nursery personnel and look carefully at the trees in your neighborhood to see which ones perform particularly well.La
Now that organically grown foods have become mainstream, it makes sense that the same farming practices would soon be applied to other important agricultural crops ― such as the $16 billion U.S. cut-flower industry.
PLANTINGGrow a spineless cactus Sunset climate zones 12–13: Closely resembling its namesake in shape and color, bishop’s cap (Astrophytum myriostigma) is a nearly pure white spineless cactus that is one of the best
Planting and caring for perennials
Most perennials are purchased in 4-inch or 1-gallon containers; mail-order sources often also ship them bare-root.Soil, water, and fertilizerIn general, these plants prefer soil well amended with organic matter, but
Pruning shears designed for comfort
A good pair of pruning shears is imperative for all kinds of dormant-season pruning, from cutting back roses and trimming fruit trees to thinning out dead and diseased wood from deciduous trees and shrubs. Good shea
Container plants are like family pets: the more attention you give them, the better they behave. But its not always easy to give plants the care they need, particularly when hot or dry weather means daily watering.A
Southern California style: Pebbles and paint
The impetus for the scene from Lynne Blackmans Del Mar garden (shown) was what she calls beach murk. To combat overcast days that suck all the color from the garden, she stripped away the vegetation growing against
You know whiteflies are present when you touch a plant and a mass of tiny, white, winged insects fly out of it. Turn over a leaf and youll see other adults as well as stationary pupae and nymphs. Both adults and nym
Northern California May checklist
Go shopping• Buy herbs, lavenders, and salvias Find an extensive range of culinary and medicinal herbs, 40 varieties of lavender, and 60 -varieties of salvias at Morningsun Herb Farm in Vacaville (707/451-9406). Enj
One of the worst diseases of peaches and nectarines, peach leaf curl is most active during rainy, cool springs. The spores of the fungus Taphrina deformans overwinter on a trees bark, having been carried there by wi
Plants of the Southwest. Santa Fe; (800) 788-7333 or www.plantsofthesouthwest.com. Several Southwest mixes, plus single species.Wildlands Restoration. Tucson; (520) 882-0969. Specialized mixes, such as Old Town Tucs
If you want your garden gear ready for spring, tune it up before storing it. What only takes a few minutes can add years to the lives of your tools.Heres what our garden writers do: Remove dirt and sap from hand too
Although leaves vary in appearance and structure (a few examples are shown at right), all have as their basic function the manufacture of sugars and other carbohydrates through the complex process of photosynthesis:
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