About Marshmallow Peeps Yes, they may be cute and fluffy, but these sugar coated chick- and bunny-shaped marshmallows can quickly flock the lawn and garden in no time. The good news is that marshmallow peeps are easy to manage if you know what attracts them and catch the little critters early. There are different types of peeps but most fall into one of two categories: chicks or bunnies. So how do you tell which one you have lurking in the landscape?...

One such cultivar, called ‘Little Beeswing’ dahlia, can add a vibrant pop of intense color to the garden one season after another. Not only will you enjoy this plant, but the pollinators will appreciate the bright blooms too. About Little Beeswing Pompon Dahlias Little Beeswing dahlias are a pompon (or pompom) type of dahlia plant. Pompon references the shape and size of the flower. Blooms of these plants have small, ball-like flowers which curve inward....

Is Dandelion Tea Good for You? Before you pull that weed, you may want to consider its usefulness in your well-being. Dandelion has been used for centuries due to its medicinal properties. It is also a yummy addition to salads and the root can be roasted as a vegetable. Healthy dandelion tea brings a load of vitamins and minerals and has certain detoxifying properties that can result in the reduction of many health complaints....

Rodent Tree Damage Winter is a hard time for rodents, killing off many plants that they usually eat, or else covering them up with a thick layer of snow. That’s why rodents turn to trees for food. Rodents that eat tree bark, like rabbits, mice, and voles, work hard to get access to the softer, tastier inner tree bark called the cambium layer. The hungry creatures chew through the outer bark of the tree to get to this green cambium....

Do Balloon Flowers Need Deadheading? You may ask, do balloon flowers need deadheading? The answer is yes, at least if you want to take advantage of the longest bloom period. You can let the flowers go to seed early if you want to feature other blooms in the same area. You can keep your plants bursting with blooms all season by using this technique of balloon flower pruning along with some deadleafing (removal of spent leaves)....

Effect of Color on Planters Planter colors in academic studies have been proven to have a measurable impact on plant growth. The direct impact for container color and plants is on soil temperature. Variations in temperature, in turn, impact how the plant grows. Researchers have found that containers in darker colors, especially black, heat the soil more. For instance, in one study researchers grew bush beans in black, white, and silver containers....

Learn how to make an earwig trap and keep your plant’s young shoots safe from the insect’s voracity here. Earwig Trap Ideas In most cases, earwig damage to plants is minimal. However, if you have an infestation, throw together a flowerpot earwig trap or other snare. Earwig trap ideas are not only quickly assembled but usually made from common items in the home. If you have ever had a piece of wood or plastic laying out in the soil overnight, you will likely see earwigs on the contact side in morning....

Why are My Eggplants Seedy? If you find too many seeds in an eggplant, it’s time to fine-tune your eggplant harvesting practices. Timing is everything when it comes to harvesting the perfect eggplant. Once the flowers bloom, the fruit develops and matures quickly. Eggplants are at their peak for only a few days, so check for ripe fruit every time you visit the garden. When eggplants are ripe and at their best, the skin will be glossy and tender....

Esperanza Pruning Information Should I prune my esperanza? Yes, but not too much. Esperanza, also frequently called Yellow Bells and Yellow Elder, is a remarkably low maintenance plant. It performs well even in very poor soils and has excellent heat and drought tolerance. It needs full sun in order to bloom to its fullest potential and to maintain a compact shape. It will still grow in partial shade, but it will form a long, gangling appearance that not even pruning will be able to fix....

What hydrangeas are evergreen year-round? Are there hydrangeas that don’t lose their leaves? There aren’t many, but evergreen hydrangea varieties are stunningly beautiful – all year. Read on and learn more about hydrangeas that are evergreen. Evergreen Hydrangea Varieties The following list includes hydrangeas that don’t lose their leaves, and one that makes a great alternative plant: Climbing evergreen hydrangea (Hydrangea integrifolia) – This climbing hydrangea is an elegant, rambling vine with glossy, lance-shaped leaves and red-tinged stems....

Floating Forest Ideas If you have a small backyard pond, you could recreate one of these fascinating habitats of floating trees yourself. Choose an item that freely floats and simply add some soil and trees, then let it go and grow – similar ideas include floating wetland gardens. Rotterdam’s Floating Trees A historic port in the Netherlands is home to a miniature floating forest consisting of 20 trees in the water....

Insects That Feed on Flower Bulbs Flower bulb pests are inevitable if you grow any significant number of bulbs for any amount of time. The trick is to not panic when you encounter them. All’s not lost when you come across bugs that eat flower bulbs, you just need to know how to handle them. Below, you’ll find a list of the most common pests and some tricks for dealing with them: Aphids....

Choosing Your Flowering Houseplants Choose your plants wisely in order for them to stand the test of time. Don’t be drawn into the beauty of a huge, light-craving, hot-climate houseplant if you live in a small, dark, cool cottage. And if your home gets the full glare of the midday sun, there’s little point in buying a plant that requires shade. You can pick from the most popular plants available or look for something different from a specialist grower....

Are There Really Annuals That Like Wet Soil? Gardeners generally avoid wet soil and standing water. Most plants will get soggy roots and become susceptible to root rot in too much moisture. This is especially true for many annuals, which often come from dry regions like the Mediterranean or California. While excessive moisture is one of the more difficult issues to find annuals to tolerate, it is possible. There are, in fact, wet tolerant annual flowers that thrive in these conditions....

Reasons for a Forsythia Not Blooming There are several reasons why a forsythia will not bloom. The simplest would be winter kill. Many older varieties of forsythia won’t bloom after a hard winter or a late spring frost. The buds are simply not hardy enough to survive. However, the most common reason for forsythia not blooming is improper pruning. Blooms are created on one year old wood. That means this year’s growth brings next year’s flowers....

Preventing a Frozen Crown of Thorns in Potted Plants Basically, crown of thorns is treated like a cactus. Although it may be able to tolerate light frost, extended periods of cold below 35 degrees F. (2 C.) will result in a frost-bitten crown of thorns plant. Unlike an in-ground plant, potted crown of thorns is particularly susceptible to damage because the roots have little soil to protect them. If your crown of thorns plant is in a container, bring it indoors in late summer or early fall....

What is a Swale? Whether you live in drought stricken California or another part of the state, water conservation is a topic on everyone’s lips. Swales in the garden provide excellent storage spaces for water while also cleaning and dispersing it. Swales, ditches, berms, and water gardens are all part of municipal water management in many regions. What is the difference between a berm and a swale? Berms are the raised sides of a swale that contain filtering vegetation and porous soil....

What is Stem Canker of Gardenia? Stem canker of gardenia is a problem caused by the fungus Phomopsis gardeniae. The cankers themselves begin as dark brown, oval shaped spots that run longitudinally (perpendicular with the ground) along the stem of the plant. Sometimes, these spots are sunken with a sharp edge. With time, the spots harden and crack open. On occasion, they form into galls, swollen areas on the stem. Gardenia stem galls are also symptoms of the Phomopsis fungus that develop when there are several cankers in the same spot....

How Gardening Helps in Recovery from Addiction Helping addiction with gardening should only be done after or while receiving professional support. This is a serious disease that is best treated by mental health and addiction professionals. Used as a supportive therapy or activity, gardening can be very useful. Gardening is a healthy activity to replace drug or alcohol use. People in recovery are often encouraged to take up one or two new hobbies to fill in extra time in beneficial ways....

Northeast The winter blues can make monthly garden chores a bit dreary. Hang in there! Spring is right around the corner. Start cool-season vegetables in the house. Try Brussels sprouts or kohlrabi this year. Clean the freezer and cupboards. Inventory food you preserved last fall. Clean up downed tree limbs following ice storms. Gently brush heavy snow off bushes and shrubs to prevent damage. Central Ohio Valley Shoveling snow is a predictable chore this month but includes indoor tasks on the gardening to-do list too....