Can You Overwinter Tomato Plants? Tomatoes are a warm season crop that thrives in full sun and warm temperatures. Temperatures that fall below 60 F (16 C) prevent pollination and fruit development, which is why so many of us discard our plants as seasonal temperatures cool. Tomatoes are native to South America where they grow as perennials. Domesticated by around 500 BC, tomatoes are more commonly grown as annuals, but what if there was a way to winterize tomato plants?...

Learning more about when and how to properly fertilize petunia plants is essential to their growth, as well as their continued bloom throughout the summer. This applies to those planted in ornamental beds, as well as petunias in pots, containers, and hanging baskets. How Often to Fertilize Petunias Petunias grown in ornamental garden beds benefit from routine feeding, but they generally need much less than those in pots. Fertilizer for petunias in pots is especially important throughout their growing season, as nutrient levels quickly become depleted....

Northeast gardeners can increase the number of pollinating insects and animals by utilizing the wild flora of the region. A pollinator garden should feature a variety of flowering plants that support bees and others. The most common New England pollinators are bees, butterflies, wasps, flies, and beetles. A well planned pollinator garden for Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, and other states of the northeast will be rife with plants and pollinating partners....

What Is Shou Sugi Ban? Shou sugi ban appears to date back to the Edo period in Japan. There are surviving structures in Japan that are centuries old and feature this wood preservation method. In the process, the wood is charred and oiled. The resulting material is resistant to pests, rot, and fire. It has an alligator skin texture and a deeply black color. In traditional preparation, 3 boards were tied into a chimney of sorts and fire was allowed to travel up the chimney, charring the wood....

Why Add Eggshells to Compost? You can add eggshells to your compost pile as part of your regular kitchen waste. And you should, because doing so reduces waste to the landfill and because they add nutrients to your soil. Eggshells are particularly rich in calcium, a micronutrient for your plants. Do You Need to Wash Eggshells Before Composting? When putting eggshells in compost, salmonella might be a worry, but it shouldn’t be....

Though not always a cause for alarm, sudden changes in the appearance of plants can be a source of worry. Below, we will explore various types of plant pests and diseases that growers are likely to encounter and how to proceed. Why is My Plant in Trouble? Plants can begin to show signs of trouble for a variety of reasons. Understanding each potential cause is key for a proper diagnosis....

These plants will amaze you with their ability to sleep soundly under winter snow, then burst forth with new leaves, shoots and flowers in spring. If you are looking for the hardiest perennials, read on for some great ideas. Choosing Hardy Perennials for Cold Climates You’ll find the easiest way to determine whether a plant is ‘cold hardy’ is to look at its USDA hardiness zone range. The USDA planting zone map divides the US into 13 climate zones based on average temperatures....

Average Costs of Landscaping Stones Rocks and stones are everywhere, but that doesn’t mean they’re cheap. Landscaping materials, including rocks, can be expensive. The more you need, the more the costs add up. Basic rocks average between $50 and $150 per ton. Larger boulders can be upwards of $800 per ton. Gravel, including crushed granite, limestone, and pea gravel, cost between $20 and $200 per ton. Bags of these smaller rocks are often between $7 and $25....

Damage caused by the larvae of the Western tent caterpillar moth can be devastating and occurs during outbreaks that can last for 3-5 years resulting in defoliation or even deforestation of thousands of acres of forest tree hosts. For this reason, Western tent caterpillar control is of paramount importance. Read on to learn how to manage Western tent caterpillars. Western Tent Caterpillar Life Cycle Adult Western tent caterpillars are large moths in colors varying from dark reddish brown to yellow, gray or tan....

Back-Saving Tips for Raking the Yard Few gardeners look forward to raking leaves. It twists the back, fatigues the shoulders, and blisters the hands. Depending on the number of trees, it can also be quite time consuming. But raking the leaves is important to preserving the lawn and it prevents plants from becoming buried. There are a few things that can reduce the pain of this necessary chore. Wear the Right Clothes The first order of business is to be comfortable....

North American native flowers come in every size, shape and hue imaginable, and have significant benefits over cultivated blooms. Where to begin with native plant landscaping? There are over 18,000 native plants in North America, many of which are termed wildflowers. The following compiles a list of our favorite top ten varieties to include in your native plant garden. Why Should You Plant Native Flowers? Native plants have a number of benefits over hybrids and other cultivated plants....

Most plastic products are not renewable and do not decompose readily. As a result, hundreds of thousands of pounds of plastic join the waste stream annually, leading to harm to ecosystems, animals, and even human health. Recycling is good, but plastic reduction is even better, and you can start in the garden. How to Stop Using So Much Plastic in the Garden Plastic has become ubiquitous, so cutting down on plastic in the garden can be challenging....

What Is A Hybrid Vegetable? Cross-pollinations occurs in nature, but hybridization is when a grower intentionally cross-breeds two different cultivars of the same species. This intentional breeding has been around since at least the mid-19th century when the Austrian Monk Gregor Mendel demonstrated the procedure. Often confused, it is worth noting that hybrid plants are not genetically modified plants. Advantages of Hybrid Crops Hybrid plants are created because someone noted that a particular variety of cucumber, for instance, has a marked resistance to disease over another type of cuke....

With proper hydrangea care, plants will last for decades. However, while they are not high-maintenance, they do have a few particular care needs that are often overlooked or neglected. There are numerous types of hydrangeas you can grow, including mophead, lacecap, oakleaf, panicle, smooth, and climbing. All have beautiful flowers, comprising larger clusters of little blooms that form a colorful mass. If possible, perform a soil test before planting so you can purchase a variety that will like the environment and not require rigorous care....

Are you making serious mistakes with your trees? Read on for a list of seven tree care practices that may cause serious tree problems in the future. 1. Poor Species Choice Selecting the right tree for the right place is essential. Consider both the mature height and width of any trees you may plant, as well as the preferred soil type and exposure. Select species and varieties suited to your area, picking those that are resistant to common insect and disease pests....

Decorating with Houseplants I have paintings and photographs on my walls, but I also have pothos cascading down my built in bookcases, a Hoya carnosa ambling across and back down my armoire, a rather large dracaena that started out a couple of inches (5 cm.) tall and is now a tree, a fiddle leaf fig that is over 6 feet (2 m.) tall, and a couple of air plants hanging out in the kitchen....

What is a Beer Garden? A beer garden, or biergarten in German, is an outdoor space that serves alcohol. It usually serves food as well. Beer gardens originated in Bavaria in the 1800s. At that time, laws in many local areas forbade brewers from making beer in summer due to fire hazards. Brewers began storing more beer in cellars to get them through the summer. To keep the beer cool, they planted trees to shade the cellars....

An Abundance of Wildlife Overall, I’m glad that I have a lot of wildlife in my yard. I see some newer subdivisions that look so sterile. My neighborhood was built decades ago when developers still created large lots and left natural spaces. As a result, we get a lot of animals and birds: rabbits and deer, but also foxes, coyotes, hawks, squirrels, opossums, racoons, and more. The foxes and coyotes prey on rabbits, but deer have no natural predators in the area, so we get them in abundance....

So how does a bee see? Not exactly like us. Bee vision does not line up with human vision and the differences are fascinating. Read on for more information. Bees and Their Eyes The eyes of a bee are large, black, and oval, but what exactly do those eyes see? Do they see better than humans, or not as well? Bees have compound eyes, just like dragonflies and wasps. Since compound eye resolution is not great, one must conclude that bee vision is not as good as human vision....

Start with a Soil Test If you’re trying to improve soil in established beds, you’ll want to do as little as possible. Doing too much digging, tilling, or mixing can harm your plants and their roots. Start with a soil test to find out exactly what it needs to be healthier. This allows you to apply only the amendments you truly need and eliminates disruptive trial-and-error actions. Contact your county’s local extension office for information on soil testing, including instructions, pricing, and a timeline....