Planting Noise Blockers You should plant noise reducing plants as you would a hedge. Space them so that there won’t be gaps between the plants when they reach maturity. You can even install dense layers of plants to provide optimum noise protection. Begin with a row of shrubs nearest the noise and plant a row of taller shrubs or trees behind them. Finish with a row of showy shrubs that face your home or garden....

Zone 8 Nut Trees The U.S. Department of Agriculture put together the hardiness zone map based on the lowest winter temperature in each area. Zone 8 regions get temperatures that drop to 10 degrees Fahrenheit (-10 degrees C.). Lots of zone 8 nut trees thrive in the region’s moderate temperature. These include classic nut trees like: Almond trees Hazelnut trees Chestnut trees Walnut trees Hickory and pecan trees can also grow happily as zone 8 nut trees....

How to Propagate Vanda Orchids While there may be various orchid propagation methods, the surest way to accomplish Vanda orchid propagation is to take a cutting from the tip of a plant with a healthy system of aerial roots. Look closely at the plant and you can see white Vanda orchid roots growing along a stem. Using a sharp, sterile knife, cut several inches from the top of that stem, making the cut just below the roots....

How to Create an Outer Space Garden Theme When creating an outer space garden, there are two main directions you can go. One is to pick plants whose names are sci-fi and outer space related. The other is to choose plants that look like they belong on an alien planet. If you have enough room, of course, you can do both. It’s actually remarkably easy to find plants with good names that will fit right into this theme....

How to Overwinter a Mesquite Tree Mesquite tree hardiness varies from species to species, but they are mostly hardy from zones 6 through 9. This means that they can tolerate well below freezing temperatures in the winter. If mesquite can survive outdoors in your climate, then you should grow it in the landscape. If you live in zone 5 or below, you will have something of a hard time. Since they have such a long taproot and large root system, mesquite trees are extremely difficult to grow in containers....

How to Fix Ozone Damage Plants under stress are most likely to be seriously affected by ozone damage, and they recover slowly. Treat injured plants by providing conditions as close to the ideal for the species as possible. Irrigate well, especially on hot days, and fertilize on schedule. Keep the garden weed-free so that the plants don’t have competition for moisture and nutrients. Treating ozone injured plants won’t correct the damage that is already done, but it can help the plant produce new, healthy foliage and help prevent diseases and insects that normally attack weak and injured plants....

Pecan Leaf Blotch Info A minor foliage disease, leaf blotch of pecans occurs throughout the pecan growing region. Symptoms of a pecan tree with leaf blotch first appear in June and July, and primarily affect less than healthy trees. Older foliage and weak or frail trees are more susceptible. The first symptoms appear on the underside of mature leaves as small, round green, velvety spots, while on the upper surface of the leaves, pale yellow blotches appear....

Do You Have to Deadhead Petunias? Why remove spent petunia flowers? Plants live to reproduce themselves, and annuals, like petunias, create blooms to form new seeds. Once the bloom browns and falls off, the plant spends its energy creating a seed pod filled with seeds. If you clip off the old bloom and the forming pod by deadheading, the plant will start the process all over again. Instead of a straggly stem covered in brown pods, you’ll have a bushy plant with constant blooms through the entire growing season....

Is Planting Gloriosa Lily Seeds Worth It? Usually, gloriosa lilies are propagated by vegetative or root cuttings because the success rate is much higher. While it’s not quite as likely to work, growing gloriosa lilies from seed is another viable option. Just be sure to plant several seeds to increase your chance of getting one that germinates and grows into a plant successfully. When to Plant Gloriosa Lily Seeds If you live in a very warm climate (USDA zones 9-11), you can plant your gloriosa lilies outdoors....

Why are Camellias not Blooming? A certain amount of bud drop is normal, but when camellias absolutely refuse to bloom, it’s often due to some type of stress. Here are some possible reasons when camellias won’t bloom: Camellia buds are very sensitive to cold and chilly wind or a late frost can damage the buds and cause them to drop. Cold weather can be a particular problem for early blooming camellias....

What is Red Rooster Leatherleaf Sedge? Red rooster is a cultivar of the sedge species Carex buchananii. Also known as red rooster leatherleaf sedge, it comes from New Zealand where it grows in the mountains, forests, and even along rivers and beaches. This is an easy grass to grow, which along with its unique color has made it a popular ornamental grass choice in many gardens. Red rooster sedge grass grows in clumps of tight leaves up to 24 inches (61 cm....

The sago palm has a reputation of being a tough tree that can take a wide range of temperatures and soil conditions. However, providing ideal sago palm soil requirements is more important to the health of this plant than one might originally think. So what kind of soil does a sago need? Read on to learn more. Best Soil for Sago Palms What kind of soil does a sago need?...

The following seasonal garden calendar should provide basic guidelines but always be aware of your particular growing zone before planting. Your local garden center or OSU Extension Office can provide specifics. Tips on Oregon Planting in April Western Oregon (Zones 8-9): Beets, turnips and rutabagasSwiss chardOnion setsLeeksAsparagusChivesCarrotsRadishesSweet cornPeasCabbage, cauliflower, and other cole crops Eastern and Central Oregon (Higher Elevations, zones 6): RadishesTurnipsPeasSpinachLettuceAsparagusPotatoes Eastern Oregon (Lower Elevations: Snake River Valley, Columbia River Valley, Zone 7):...

Symptoms of Tar Spot on Japanese Maple Known for their beautiful, color-changing foliage, growers may be understandably alarmed by the sudden change in appearance of the leaves of their maple trees. The sudden appearance of spots or other lesions may leave gardeners wondering what could possibly be wrong with their plants. Luckily, many foliar issues such as Japanese maple tar spots, can be easily identified and managed. Tar spot of maples is fairly common and, like many other foliar issues in trees, spots on Japanese maple leaves are most often caused by various types of fungus....

How to Start a Staghorn Fern Plant from Spores There are a few ways to go about staghorn fern propagation. In nature, the plant often reproduces from spores. Growing staghorn ferns from spores in the garden is possible, though many gardeners choose against it because it’s so time intensive. In the summer, look on the underside of the foliar fronds to find the spores. As the summer wears on, the spores should darken....

Summer Bearing Red Raspberry Plants It’s easier to remember the rules for when and how to prune summer raspberry bushes if you understand how they grow. The root systems on summer-bearing red raspberry bushes live for many years and send up shoots each year. The shoots grow to full height the first year, then produce those sweet red berries the following summer. They die after fruiting. When Do You Prune Summer Bearing Raspberries?...

Starting a Community Garden The great thing about a community garden is that no one person has all the responsibility. Every member of the group that planned the garden contributes their skills to get it started. If you are in charge of identifying the urban gardening supplies you will need, take into account the size and overall design of the garden. Obviously, you’ll need more tools for urban gardens that are large than or those that are small....

Sweet Cicely Herb Uses All parts of sweet cicely plants are edible. Although sweet cicely has been widely cultivated in past years and used to treat ailments such as stomachache and coughs, it isn’t commonly grown in most modern herb gardens. Many herbalists think sweet cicely deserves more attention, especially as a healthy, zero-calorie replacement for sugar. You can also cook the leaves like spinach, or add fresh leaves to salads, soups, or omelets....

Texas Star Hibiscus Info There are at least 200 distinct species of hibiscus in the world, which means there should be one for every gardening need. So, what is a Texas Star hibiscus and what sets it apart? The Texas Star species (Hibiscus coccineus) is native to the southern United States and pacific coast. It is hardy in USDA zones 8 to 11, though it will die back to the ground and regrow in the spring in colder areas, sometimes as cold as zone 5....

What is Time Domain Reflectometry? Time domain reflectometry, or TDR, uses an electromagnetic frequency to measure how much water is present in the soil. Most often, TDR meters are used by large scale or commercial growers. The meter consists of two long metal probes, which are inserted directly into the soil. Once in the soil, a voltage pulse travels down the rods and returns to the sensor which analyzes the data....