By Lesley Barker
Hollyhocks, with their tall spikes of red, pink, white or varigated flowers, make spectacular background plants for the flower garden. Members of the mallow family, hollyhocks or alcea rosea have been cultivated for their edible flowers, strong stem fibers for rope and as a source of blue dye since the fifth century in China. They need remarkably little care or pruning. Deadhead hollyhock...
By Joanne Mendes
There are two ways to fix a broken cactus or succulent: grafting the broken piece back on to the body of the plant or rooting the broken piece to create a new plant. Having a section of a plant break off is a fairly common problem, especially among the succulent species that have long branches such as Aloe or Jade plants. Even cactus species without branches, such as Barrel and Torch plants, are...
By Debra Turner
"Clay" actually refers to the size of the particles of soil. Clay particles are very tiny and tightly-packed not allowing much air or nutrients to penetrate and reach developing seeds. The seedlings that do survive have a tough time pushing through the sticky clay to access air and nutrition. That's why red clay soil is such a challenge to those who desire lush, beautiful lawns....
By Debra Turner
Ornamental grasses are widely used for decorative qualities, as well as for effective ground cover and erosion control. The grasses can be planted in either the spring or in the fall. Spring planting offers the advantage of giving the plants enough time to produce adequate root systems prior to winter. Planting in fall is not as desirable, particularly if winter is severe or arrives early. If you ...
By Healthygirl78
Zinnias are a type of annual flower and are quite easy to grow, so they are great for beginning gardeners. With over 20 species to chose from, zinnias complement any garden. The color of their blooms includes red, orange, yellow, pink and purple--some are even multicolored. You can also find zinnias of different heights, ranging from miniatures to 3-foot giants. Here are some suggestions on how...