Xeriscaping (“z”era-scape-ing) is the practice of landscaping with drought tolerant plants to conserve water. Given the many drought affected areas in the US as well as the many environmental concerned gardeners, xeriscaping is gaining popularity in today’s world of gardening. When considering xeriscaping, you do not need to give up a beautiful landscape for a…
Over half of household water consumption goes to landscape watering. With this in mind, watering correctly and effectively should be a great concern to all responsible individuals. Proper watering will not only help our environment but it will also help your expenses by cutting water costs and protecting your investment in your precious flowers, trees,…
Studies have proven that the Mexican marigold actually fights some ground weeds such as the elder, bindweed and couchgrass. They also can fight off nematodes and worms that eat away your beautiful plants! Marigolds are said to be good companion plants or cover crops. The African Marigold and the French Marigold also fight harmful nematodes.…
When planting shrubs to enhance your landscape, proper planning and consulting a professional landscaper is advisable to get the optimum value out of your expense and efforts. Prior to planting make sure the shrubs you choose are suitable for the space your want to fill. Some shrubs grow higher than others and can be used…
Hummingbirds have always been a fascination of bird lovers! These colorful and amazing birds’ wingbeats have been recorded as fast as 80 beats per second. The Ruby-throated and the Rufous are the most common species in North America. These birds are relentless in their quest for food and will not disappoint your gardening efforts. There…
Roses are a passion for many gardeners. Keeping your rose garden healthy is not difficult, but does take a good routine of time and care. Roses like most beautiful flowering plants need a lot of water to survive. Water once a week if there is not rainfall. Water roses deep at the soil level to…
Not all bugs are bad!! There are many insects that are helpful to your landscape. Certain insects deter the bad insects from destroying your plants and they can also increase pollination. Before you go squashing those little critters read on and see why you should keep them around. Dragonflies are great to have on your…
What do the numbers on fertilizer bags mean?? These numbers are the percentage of Nitrogen, Phosphate and Potassium respectively that are contained in the fertilizer mix. These are the major nutrients needed for healthy soil and plant growth. For example: 18-24-6 means it contains 18% Nitrogen, 24% Phosphate and 6% Potassium – a typical lawn…
With over 80 species of Magnolia trees in the Eastern United States and Southeast Asia, the Southern Magnolia is the one most popular native trees in the Southeast US and is the state tree of Mississippi. The Southern Magnolia is known for its beautifully fragrant large white flowers, its cone shape and its dense verdant…
There are about 50 species of this beautiful flowering plant native to South America. It is commonly called the Peruvian Lily or Parrot Lily as it looks like a miniature lily. There are many different colors but no fragrance. Once cut, these flowers can last up to 2 weeks in a vase. The Alstroemeria flower…
