About Pet Rodent Compost Adding compost to soil increases soil fertility and provides both phosphorus and nitrogen needed for healthy root and plant development. Pet rodent compost such as guinea pig, rabbit, hamster, and gerbil manure in gardens is a great way to make use of waste material and improve your soil diversity. Composting Small Rodent Manures Although small rodent manures can be used directly in the garden, most people prefer to compost the manure first....

Caring for Goumi Berries Goumi berry shrubs (Elaeagnus multiflora) are very durable. The plants can survive temperatures as low as -4 F. (-20 C.). Although the aboveground plant may die back at colder temperatures, the roots can survive as low as -22 F. (-30 C.) and will regrow again in the spring. The shrubs can tolerate any kind of soil, from sand to clay and acidic to alkaline. They will grow in nutritionally poor soil and polluted air and will do well in full sun or partial shade....

How to Grow Bleeding Hearts Care for bleeding heart includes keeping the soil consistently moist by regular watering. The bleeding heart plant likes to be planted in organic soil in a shady or part shade area. Work compost into the area before planting the bleeding heart plant in fall or spring. Organic mulch breaks down over time to supply nutrients and helps retain moisture. Growing bleeding hearts need a cool, shady area for optimum bloom in warmer southern zones, but farther north this specimen may bloom in a full sun location....

Identifying Chamomile There are two kinds of chamomile. The first is Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) and the other is German chamomile (Matricaria recutita). The Roman variety is the true chamomile but German chamomile is used herbally for nearly the same things. The steps for growing Roman chamomile and growing German chamomile are also nearly identical. Roman chamomile is also known as Russian chamomile and English chamomile. It is a creeping ground cover that grows like a mat....

Growing Leafy Greens in Containers Growing orach in pots is not too different from the usual methods of growing leafy greens in containers. There is one thing to keep in mind, though – orach mountain spinach gets big. It can reach 4 to 6 feet (1.2-18 m) in height, so keep this in mind when you’re choosing a container. Pick something large and heavy that won’t tip over easily. The plants can also spread to 1....

Growing ponytail palm outdoors is possible in warmer climates and caring for ponytail palm outdoors is not difficult. Read on for more information about how to grow a ponytail palm outside. Can You Plant Ponytail Palms Outside? If you live in a very warm climate like that found in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11, growing ponytail palm outdoors is entirely feasible. They can grow to 30 feet (9 m....

Harvesting verbena plants is easy, and you can use the leaves either fresh or dried. Read on and we’ll tell you more about verbena harvesting in the garden. When to Harvest Verbena Harvesting verbena plants occurs throughout the spring and summer growing season – generally, after the plant has several leaves and has reached a height of about 10 inches (25 cm.). In fact, picking verbena leaves frequently triggers new growth and keeps the plant from becoming long and leggy....

What is a Herman Plum? The Herman plum variety was developed from Czar plums in Sweden and was first introduced in the 1970’s. The fruit is medium in size with a deep purple-black skin and yellow flesh. In appearance it is very similar to Czar, but the Herman plum has a better flavor and is delicious when eaten fresh, right off the tree. You can also use Herman plums for cooking, canning, and baking....

This tropical plant is perennial for growing in USDA plant hardiness zones 8 and above but is widely grown as an annual in cooler climates. It works well in borders and flower beds, and smaller varieties look great in containers. Lantana thrives without a lot of attention, and when it comes to fertilizing lantana plants, less is definitely more. Read on to learn about feeding lantana plants. Should I Fertilize Lantana?...

Hoop House Gardening What is a hoop house? Basically, it’s a structure that uses the rays of the sun to warm the plants inside it. Unlike a greenhouse, its warming action is completely passive and doesn’t rely on heaters or fans. This means it’s a lot cheaper to operate (once you’ve built it, you’re done spending money on it) but it also means it’s more labor-intensive. On sunny days, even if outside temperatures are cool, the air inside can heat up so much as to be damaging to plants....

How to Grow a Hedge of Firebush Shrubs Can you grow a firebush hedge? The short answer is: yes. Firebush grows very quickly, and it will come back from even vigorous pruning. This means it, or a series of shrubs in a row, can be shaped reliably into a hedge. If left to its own devices, a firebush will usually grow to a height of about 8 feet (2.5 m.) and a spread of about 6 feet (2 m....

How Do I Grow Lemon Verbena? Growing lemon verbena isn’t too difficult. The lemon verbena herb is a sensitive one, preferring warmth to cold and having a high water requirement. Lemon verbena seeds or cuttings are used when you want to generate a new plant. In other words, you can propagate the plant or grow it fresh from the seeds. The cuttings of lemon verbena plants can be placed in a jar of water while you wait for new roots to form....

Are Cocoon and Chrysalis the Same or Different? Most people understand that a cocoon is the structure a caterpillar weaves around itself and from which it later emerges transformed. But many also assume that the term chrysalis means the same thing. This is not true, and they have very different meanings. The main difference between a chrysalis and a cocoon is that the former is a life stage, while a cocoon is the actual casing around the caterpillar as it transforms....

Kettle River Garlic Info Kettle River Giant garlic is an artichoke type garlic which is capable of producing large garlic bulbs. Though the size of the bulbs will vary depending upon growing conditions in the garden, it is not uncommon for it to reach sizes of 4 inches (10 cm.) across. Developed in the Pacific Northwest, this giant Kettle River garlic also demonstrates an impressive tolerance for both cold and hot temperatures....

What is a Kirpi? A kirpi Indian hoe is a tool designed to serve more than one purpose in the garden. Some compare the shape of the blade to the lower half of a human leg. Using this analogy for the kirpi weeding hoe, you can hoe with the smooth back of the tool that ends in the heel of the “foot.” When you want to saw something tougher than a weed, the kirpi weeder saws well....

Kohlrabi Seed Starting Kohlrabi is a nutritious vegetable to add to the garden. It is a terrific source of potassium and vitamin C, containing 140% of the RDA for vitamin C. It is also low in calories with one cup of diced kohlrabi weighing in at only 4 calories, a great reason for propagating kohlrabi seeds! Starting kohlrabi from seeds is a simple process. Because it is a cool season vegetable, kohlrabi seed starting should take place in early spring or in early fall....

Mahonia Information Leatherleaf mahonia (Mahonia bealei) won’t resemble any other plants in your garden. They are small shrubs with sprays of dusty green leaves in curiously horizontal layers. The leaves look like holly plant leaves and are a bit spiny, like those of their relations, barberry shrubs. In fact, like barberries, they can make an effective defensive hedge if planted correctly. According to mahonia information, these plants bloom in winter or early spring, filling the branches with shoots of fragrant, butter-yellow blossom clusters....

What is Diplodia Stem-end Rot of Citrus? During flowering and fruiting, citrus trees can develop many fungal problems, but such issues also occur once the fruit is harvested and stored. These diseases are the worst because you have to watch all that hard work go to waste. Diplodia citrus rot causes decay of the fruit. It spreads in packed citrus and can cause widespread damage. Stem-end rot on citrus occurs most frequently in subtropical regions....

Morning Light Maiden Ornamental Grass Native to regions of Japan, China, and Korea, Morning Light maiden grass may be commonly known as Chinese Silvergrass, Japanese Silvergrass, or Eulaliagrass. This maiden grass is noted as a new, improved cultivar of Miscanthus sinensis. Hardy in U.S. zones 4-9, Morning Light maiden grass blooms later than other Miscanthus varieties, and produces feathery pink-silver plumes in late summer into fall. In autumn, these plumes turn from gray to tan as they set seed and they persist throughout winter, providing seed for birds and other wildlife....

Why is My Astilbe Not Blooming? You may be wondering how to keep astilbe blooming, especially if you notice yours isn’t flowering like it was before. Here are the most common reasons for blooming troubles and how to remedy them: Soil and Moisture – Although astilbe prefers organic, well-drained, acidic soil, it’s important that the plant is relatively moisture retentive. The soil shouldn’t be allowed to become bone dry and may require more frequent irrigation during hot, dry weather....