Zinnias are annuals grown from seed, so they won’t return next year and you start fresh each spring. Dahlias grow from tubers and are tender perennials, hardy in zones 8 to 10. In colder climates, you must dig up the tubers and store them over winter. I’m planning my cutting garden for next year right […]
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Lavender needs full sun, gritty soil that drains fast, and a soil pH of 6.5 to 7.5. Water deeply but rarely once it is established. One tablespoon of slow-release food per plant covers a whole season, so skip extra fertilizer. Plant after the last spring frost. Prune yearly into green growth, never into bare wood. […]
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New potatoes are ready about 6 to 8 weeks after planting, often once the plants flower. Storage potatoes are ready about 2 weeks after the vines die back completely. I know the pull to dig early. Every year I poke around a hill just to peek, and every year I find tiny tubers that needed […]
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Give your prayer plant bright, indirect light and evenly moist soil. Water less in winter. Keep the air humid, and keep the plant away from cold drafts. Skip direct sun, which bleaches the leaves. Get those four habits right and most common problems, like crispy edges, get easier to fix. Most prayer plants arrive the […]
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No. The ASPCA lists Helianthus, the sunflower group, as non-toxic, so your cat’s nibble is not expected to be life-threatening. Take a deep breath. Still, any plant can cause mild vomiting or an upset stomach. Two hidden risks, lilies in mixed bouquets and seed shells, deserve a closer look below. What the ASPCA Actually Says […]
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Yes, you can plant tulips in spring, but don’t expect a full show of flowers this year. Spring-planted tulip bulbs usually grow leaves only. Real blooms often wait until the following spring, after the bulb finally gets the cold season it needs. So if you just found a forgotten bag of bulbs in the garage, […]
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If you want a palm that stays small for good, choose Pygmy Date Palm, Parlor Palm, or Dwarf Palmetto. These three top out at 6 to 10 feet or less, even after years of growth. They won’t turn into a towering tree that crowds your yard or scrapes your roofline. Here’s the problem a lot […]
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The best time to trim crepe myrtle trees is in late winter, during the dormant season. This usually falls between January and March, before new buds break open. Pruning in this window keeps your tree healthy and sets it up for strong summer blooms. Timing matters because crepe myrtles flower on new growth. Cut too […]
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Plant shedding leaves is usually not a crisis. It’s your plant doing something it was built to do. Here’s the quick answer: shedding is a process called abscission. A plant grows a special layer of cells where each leaf meets the stem, called the abscission zone. When the plant is ready to let go of […]
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To plant an avocado seed pit, rinse off every bit of fruit flesh so mold has nothing to feed on. Find the flat bottom (that’s the root end) and the slightly pointy top (the shoot end). Then sprout it one of three ways: suspend it over water with toothpicks, wrap it in a damp paper […]
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