While bed bugs are a serious concern when found indoors, many may be surprised to find that bed bugs may also be able to survive out in the garden. While not as common, bed bugs from garden areas can hitch a ride indoors. Can Bed Bugs Live Outdoors? In general, bed bugs do not prefer to live outdoors. However, bed bugs may show up in outdoor spaces in sheltered locations as they search for a place to feed....

Watering Boxwood Shrubs Water a newly planted boxwood shrub deeply and slowly to ensure the roots are thoroughly saturated. After that time, water regularly until the plant is well established. As a general rule, one or two deep waterings per week is plenty during the plant’s first year, decreasing to once a week during the shrub’s second growing season. Thereafter, watering a boxwood is necessary only during periods of hot, dry weather....

Identify Broomsedge Grass You may wonder what does broomsedge look like. This troublesome weed is identified by the hairy, flattened leaf sheaths growing from a basal crown with folded young leaves. Young plants are bluish green, turning brown and dry in maturity. Broomsedge control is easier in the lawn than the native pasture. Turf grass that is thick and healthy can aid in broomsedge control and eventually the short-lived perennial may disappear, no longer creating issues in the landscape....

Can Freesias Grow in a Pot? Can freesias grow in a pot? Absolutely. In fact, their bulbs are some of the best suited to container planting. The only thing you need to be mindful of when planting freesias in containers is your climate. Freesias are native to South Africa, and their bulbs cannot overwinter in climates colder than USDA zone 9. If you live in zone 9 or warmer, plant your bulbs in autumn (between August and December) and expect growth in the spring....

What is Canistel? Canistel (Pouteria campechiana), commonly known as eggfruit, is a tropical fruit tree. Though the size and shape of this fruit can vary greatly from one tree to another, the most favorable trees produce large, sweet, yellow fruits with an oval shape. Having been most commonly compared to the texture of a hard-boiled egg (hence the common name), the roundish fruits are popular for their use in dairy recipes and other baked treats....

Can I Grow Dogwood In a Container? Can I grow dogwood in a container? Technically, yes. It’s possible, but there are certain requirements to be met, and it’s not for the casual gardener. Dogwood trees have very dense, fast-growing root systems that are less than ideal for container growing. They also need extremely well-draining soil, but at the same time, the plants need lots of water, particularly in the first few years of life....

What are Corn Plant Tassels? The male flower of the corn plant is known as a corn tassel. After the bulk of the plant growth is complete, tassels will appear on top of the plant. Corn plant tassels can be green, purple, or yellow. The tassel’s job is to produce pollen that encourages the growth and ripening of the corn ear. Wind carries the pollen to the female flower, or the silk, on the corn plant....

Daffodil seed cultivation is a simple process, mostly requiring patience. Once the bees have pollinated your daffodil flowers, a seedpod will grow at the base of the bloom. Don’t deadhead your prettiest flowers; instead, tie a piece of string around each stem to mark it for later in the season. In the fall when the plants are brown and brittle, the daffodil seed pods at the end of the stems hold the seeds....

Southwest Landscaping Circulating fountains don’t require much water, but they create a beautiful focal point in a desert landscape. Don’t be afraid to be daring with colorful accents. For example, chili pepper red pots and bright turquoise tiles are great palette colors for this garden theme. Rely on gravel pathways, pavers and stone walls, but don’t overdo. Too much rock in one place can get boring – and very hot. Maintain grassy areas as small accents and avoid large lawns....

Drought Tolerant Trees for Zone 8 If you live in zone 8, you may have experienced hotter, drier weather in recent years. It’s best to deal with these drought conditions proactively, by filling your backyard with drought tolerant trees for zone 8. This is particularly important if you live in an area classified as arid because of its heat and sandy soil. If you are growing trees in arid zone 8, you’ll want to look into trees for dry soil....

Edgeworthia Information Paperbush is truly an unusual shrub. If you start growing paperbush, you are in for a lovely ride. The shrub is deciduous, losing its leaves in winter. But even as paperbush leaves are yellowing in fall, the plant develops large clusters of tubular buds. According to Edgeworthia information, the outside of the bud clusters are coated in white silky hairs. The buds hang on the bare branches all winter, then, in late winter or early spring, open into canary-colored flowers....

Whether you’re contemplating a curb-appeal makeover or privatizing the backyard, Fastigiata boxwood shrubs are a low-maintenance option. What are Fastigiata Boxwood Shrubs? Like many of its boxwood brethren, Fastigiata is a slow-growing evergreen bush. With proper care, Fastigiata boxwood shrubs can live up to 40 years or more. They are hardy in USDA zones 6 to 8 and adapt well to container living. In comparison to other varieties, the growth pattern of these upright boxwood plants is more reminiscent of a tree....

What is Seed Tape? Most commonly, seed tape is a very thin piece of paper in which seeds have been adhered. Generally, each seed will be applied at a proper spacing and planting distance. This makes it very easy for gardeners to grow certain types of crops, specifically those which have very small and difficult to handle seeds. The use of seed tape allows for quick and efficient planting in the home garden....

About False Cypress ‘Golden Mop’ The genus name for Golden Mop cypress, Chamaecyparis, comes from the Greek ‘chamai,’ meaning dwarf or to the ground, and ‘kyparissos,’ meaning cypress tree. The species, pisifera, refers to the Latin word ‘pissum,’ which means pea, and ‘ferre,’ which means to bear, referring to the small round cones this conifer produces. Golden Mop false cypress is a slow growing, dwarf shrub that only grows to 2 to 3 feet (61-91 cm....

Mizuna Greens Information Mizuna greens have been cultivated in Japan for centuries. They are likely originally from China, but throughout Asia they are considered a Japanese vegetable. The name mizuna is Japanese and translates as juicy or watery vegetable. The plant has deeply jagged, branched dandelion-like leaves, making it ideal for cut and grow again harvesting. There are two main varieties of mizuna: Mizuna Early and Mizuna Purple. Mizuna Early is tolerant to both heat and cold and slow to go to seed, making it an ideal green for continuous summer harvest....

How to Grow a Flapjack Paddle Plant Growing paddle plants outdoors is possible in USDA plant hardiness zones 10 and above, but gardeners in cooler climates can grow kalanchoe as an indoor plant. Water kalanchoe only when the soil is dry. When watering indoor plants, allow the pot to drain completely before replacing the plant on its drainage saucer. Never overwater, as kalanchoe, like all succulents, is prone to rot in soggy soil....

Is It Safe to Grow Food in Tires? That question is the crux of the problem. Both sides aren’t arguing whether it’s tasteful to use old tires as garden planters, but whether they’re leaching out harmful chemicals into the soil and, therefore, your food. It all comes down to a simple question: Are tires toxic? The short answer is that yes, they are. Tires contain a host of chemicals and metals that should not be in the human body....

Planting and Care for Good Parsnip Harvesting Plant parsnip seeds ¼ to ½ inch (6-13 mm.) deep in rows, 12 inches (31 cm.) apart about two to three weeks before the last frost in spring. Parsnips perform best when planted in a sunny spot in well-drained, organic rich soil. Other root vegetables such as garlic, potatoes, radishes, and onions make excellent companions to parsnips. Caring for parsnips is an important step for a good parsnip harvest....

How to Attract Bumble Bees How do you attract bumble bees? Attracting bumble bees to the garden isn’t difficult and it doesn’t require a lot of time or a large growing space. Even if you have a few potted plants or a window box, you can attract bumble bees. The most important thing is to provide the right types of flowers. Otherwise, a muddy or damp area provides drinking water for the bees, and a small brush pile with dry grass or twigs makes a good nesting habitat....

Planting Space Along Sidewalks Trees usually have one of two root types, either they have deep taproots or they have lateral, fibrous roots. Trees with deep taproots send their roots deep within the earth to seek out water and nutrients. Trees with fibrous, lateral roots spread their roots horizontally near the soil surface to absorb rain runoff from the tree’s canopy. These lateral roots can grow quite large and heave up heavy cement sidewalks....