Learning more about PeeGee hydrangea care will help homeowners decide whether growing this shrub in their yard is doable. Growing PeeGee Hydrangea Also known as Hydrangea paniculata ‘grandiflora,’ PeeGee hydrangeas may reach upwards of 15 feet (5 m.) at maturity. These hardy plants produce a profusion of sizably white panicles each growing season, which usually begin to show a subtle pink blush tint as they age. Their size and visual appeal makes them ideal for use as hedges and against walls or fences....

What is a Brandywine Tomato? Brandywine will never win an award for the prettiest tomato, but it just might win for tastiest. This is a rich, full-flavored tomato that doesn’t disappoint. The fruits are large, about a pound (454 g.) each, and are often a little misshapen or ridged. The skin is a pinkish-red color, hence these tomatoes are often referred to as Pink Brandywines. These tomatoes can be used in a variety of ways in the kitchen, but they are prized for simply slicing and enjoying raw and fresh right off the vine....

Things to Do with Potatoes Potato crafts for kids are perfect for a dreary winter day or rainy afternoon. Here are a few ideas to jumpstart your creative juices. Potato Stamps One of the greatest potato craft ideas is surprisingly easy: using cut potatoes to stamp paint onto fabric or paper. Make the potato stamp by cutting the tater in half. Then select a metal cookie cutter and press it into the potato flesh....

Flowers from the Past Old flowers are fascinating in that they were not initially the primary mode of pollination and reproduction in many instances. While seed producing trees, like conifers, are much older (around 300 million years), the oldest flower fossil currently on record is believed to be roughly 130 million years old. One prehistoric flower, Montsechia vidalii, was believed to be an aquatic specimen which was pollinated with the assistance of underwater currents....

Does Asparagus Need Winter Protection? In mild climates, the root crowns of asparagus need no special winter care, but in cooler regions, winterizing the asparagus bed is a must. Prepping asparagus beds for winter will protect the roots from the cold and encourage the plants to go dormant, allowing the plant to rest before its next growth phase in the spring. Overwintering Asparagus Plants In the fall, the leaves of asparagus begin to yellow and die back naturally....

Cauliflower Protection in Gardens Cauliflower is cold-hardy, but it’s not invincible, especially when it’s young and tender, so some cauliflower frost protection is necessary in the spring. Start your cauliflower seeds indoors and transplant them outside around the time of the average last frost. If a later frost is likely, protect your young plants with row covers. Likewise, cauliflower has just as hard a time with hot weather. If grown too late into the summer, the plants are likely to get leggy and bolt....

When it comes to homemade rain barrels, there are a number of variations, depending on your specific site and your budget. Below, we have provided a few basic considerations to keep in mind as you begin to make your own rain barrel for the garden. How to Make a Rain Barrel Rain Barrel: Look for a 20- to 50-gallon (76-189 L.) barrel made of opaque, blue or black plastic. The barrel should be recycled food-grade plastic, and should never have been used to store chemicals....

About Growing Gloxinia Gloxinia is a perennial plant that naturally grows in the mountains in rocky soil. In your garden, this pretty trumpet flower will prefer soil that is well drained and not overly heavy. It prefers cool nights and most varieties are hardy to zone 5. The plants thrive in full sun to partial shade and tolerate droughts fairly well. Keep your gloxinia watered but not overly wet or it will not do well....

Slash Pine Tree Facts Slash pine tree is suitable for growing in USDA plant hardiness zones 8 through 10. It grows at a relatively fast rate, attaining about 14 to 24 inches (35.5 to 61 cm.) of growth per year. This is a good-sized tree that reaches heights of 75 to 100 feet (23 to 30.5 m.) at maturity. Slash pine is an attractive tree with a pyramidal, somewhat oval shape....

But what if you don’t have a yard and barely have the space for a few garden containers? Compost is just as important when growing a garden in those containers too. The solution: explore the different ways to practice small space composting. Compact Compost Solutions There are different containers we can use indoors to collect and mix composting materials. Small compost bins can fit under your sink, in a corner of the pantry, or under a cabinet, wherever you might have the space....

Southwestern Succulents in the Garden The southwest has a wide range of temperatures and precipitation. Remember, that while succulents are low-maintenance, there are still limits to when they will grow. Planting time for desert succulents and for those in the Colorado Mountains differs. Soil temperatures have a large effect on when to plant succulents in the southwest. As in other areas, a soil temp of 45 degrees F. (7 C.) accommodates many succulent plants in the southwest....

Succulent Plants for Zone 6 Northern gardeners have no shortage of beautiful succulent plants for zone 6. Here are a few examples of zone 6 hardy succulents: Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ – Grayish-green leaves and large, pink flowers that turn bronze in fall. Sedum acre – A groundcover sedum plant with bright yellow-green blooms. Delosperma cooperi ‘Trailing Ice Plant’ – A spreading groundcover with reddish-purple flowers. Sedum reflexum ‘Angelina’ (Angelina stonecrop) – Groundcover with lime green foliage....

Sweetbay Magnolia Information Sweetbay magnolias can grow 50 feet (15 m.) tall or more in warm, southern climates, but in cool areas it rarely exceeds 30 feet (9 m.). Its sweet fragrance and attractive shape make it an ideal specimen tree. The flowers have a sweet, lemony scent while the leaves and twigs have a spicy fragrance. The tree benefits wildlife by providing cover and nesting sites. It is a larval host for the sweetbay silkmoth....

There have been tools for women gardeners on the market for quite some time. Unfortunately, these are often simply made with shorter handles and painted pink or decorated with flowers. Most of these tools are not well made, do not last, and don’t really take advantage of design for ease of use. Well made women’s gardening tools should last and have a construction that better suits lighter weight, shorter individuals....

About Charcoal Rot of Potatoes Potatoes are an important economic crop and one which is prey to several insect and disease problems. Charcoal rot is one that affects the tubers and the lower stems. It is a fungal disease that also affects over 500 other plants; beans, corn, and cabbage among them. In potatoes, charcoal rot causes tubers that are inedible and can’t even be used for seed. In many crops, charcoal rot will diminish yield and cause evident damage to stems....

Tree Aloe Info What is a tree aloe? Native to South Africa, tree aloe (Aloe bainesii) is a large tree-like succulent and aloe plant relative with mottled gray stems and rosettes of greenish gray leaves. Butterflies and hummingbirds are attracted to the clusters of spiky, tube-shaped blooms that show up in winter. Tree aloe is a moderately fast growing tree, gaining about 12 inches (31 cm.) per year. Allow plenty of space when growing tree aloe, as this lovely evergreen reaches mature heights of 20 to 30 feet (7-10 m....

How Deep are Trumpet Vine Roots? Trumpet vines can reproduce by seed, but they rarely need to. This is because their roots are able to grow new shoots very easily. The trumpet vine root system grows deep and away from the vine. It will then surface far from the original and begin a new vine. To make matters worse, a section of vine that comes into contact with the soil will put down new roots which then, in turn, spread to who knows where....

Fuchsia Plant Varieties Fuchsias are actually perennials, but they’re quite cold-sensitive and are grown as annuals in a lot of areas. The most popular fuchsia plant types are probably the trailing fuchsia varieties, especially in the northern U.S., where these are very common in hanging baskets on front porches. More recently, upright fuchsia plants have been making a strong showing, too. These varieties tend to have smaller flowers and look great in garden beds....

Vietnamese Coriander vs. Cilantro The Vietnamese cilantro plant (Persicaria odorata syn. Polygonum odoratum) is also frequently called Cambodian mint, Vietnamese coriander, and Rau Ram. It’s not the same thing as the cilantro usually eaten in western cuisine, but it is similar. In southeast Asian cooking, it’s actually more often used in the place of peppermint. It has a very strong, smoky flavor and, because of its strength, should be used in quantities about half that of cilantro....

Aromas Strawberry Facts What are Aromas strawberries? Aromas strawberry plants produce large, moderately firm, bright red strawberries that are delicious eaten fresh, frozen, or incorporated into jams, jellies, or desserts. Growing Aromas strawberries is easy if you live in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 9. This exceptional, heavy-producing plant tends to be resistant to spider mites, as well as mildew and other plant diseases. Tips on Growing Aromas Strawberries Place Aromas strawberries where the plants are exposed to sunlight for at least six hours per day....