What are Pollenless Sunflowers? The name is self-explanatory; pollenless sunflowers are sunflowers that are sterile males and do not produce pollen. In the wild, sunflowers without pollen would be a tragedy, but for the sake of brides everywhere, pollenless sunflowers for cutting are a boon that almost didn’t come into being. Pollenless Sunflower Info Pollenless sunflowers were introduced to the market in 1988 but they were actually an accidental discovery. They originated as a mutation or genetic error that was soon seen as a major marketing coupe....

Types of Dieffenbachia Here are some popular varieties of dieffenbachia houseplants, keep in mind though, there are many more types available. ‘Camille’ is a bushy dieffenbachia plant with broad, ivory to yellow leaves edged in dark green. ‘Camouflage’ is one of the more unusual types of dieffenbachia, with light green leaves and creamy veins that pop out in contrast with the green background. ‘Seguine’ displays large, dark green leaves with creamy white splashes....

Types of Sunflower Plants Different varieties of sunflowers can vary greatly in size and color. In general, however, they can easily be divided into several different kinds of sunflowers. Here are just a few types of sunflower plants: Giant Sunflowers As the name would imply, these sunflower varieties are capable of reaching amazing heights, some as tall as 16 feet (5 m.)! Giant varieties of sunflower are sure to make a statement when grown in the home garden, as they often grow taller than nearby fences (and sometimes houses)....

A truly beautiful, low-growing groundcover type plant is called the portulaca (Portulaca grandiflora), sometimes known as the sun rose or moss rose. Portulaca plants are native to Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. Portulaca flowers are easy to grow and enjoy. Let’s look at what is needed for portulaca care. How to Grow Portulaca Plants Portulaca flowers tolerate many kinds of soil but prefer sandy, well-drained soil and love the full sunlight....

Succulent Soil Needs Outdoors Outdoor succulent soil needs vary from area to area, but the best plant performance comes from soil with amended drainage. Learning how to prepare the soil for a succulent garden depends on how much moisture your climate gets and protecting succulent roots. Keeping roots dry is your goal, so whatever works best in your area is the best soil for your succulent garden. You can use the soil you’ve dug from your garden bed as a base for outdoor succulent soil, then add amendments....

Pruning Privet Hedges Privet (Ligustrum spp.) is an excellent shrub for hedges. It has oval or lance-shaped leaves and grows dense, compact foliage. Privet is an evergreen bush in USDA plant hardiness zones 8 through 10. Privet works well for tall privacy screens. It is one of those shrubs that make good hedges 5 feet (1.5 m.) tall or taller. Privet gets leggy and uneven over time though. In order to keep these hedges looking neat and attractive, you’ll definitely need to start privet hedge pruning....

Can You Grow Almonds from Cuttings? Almonds are usually grown by grafting. Since almonds are most closely related to peaches, they are usually budded to them, but they can also be budded to plum or apricot rootstock as well. That said, since these fruiting trees can also be propagated via hardwood cuttings, it is natural to assume that rooting almond cuttings is possible. Will Almond Cuttings Root in the Ground? Almond cuttings will likely not root in the ground....

How to Propagate Clematis from Cuttings The best way to grow clematis is from clematis cuttings. Cuttings are the easiest way to perform clematis propagation. Start propagating clematis by taking clematis cuttings for clematis propagation from your healthy clematis in early summer. You will want to take half green wood cuttings; in other words, cuttings that have just started to become hard (brown) wood. Treat them with a special rooting hormone to help them root and place the clematis cuttings in sterile soil....

Muscari Propagation Propagating grape hyacinths is so easy, it may not take any effort at all. You can propagate Muscari grape hyacinth from either seeds or bulbs. Grape Hyacinth Seeds When your grape hyacinth is done blooming, it will drop its seeds. By the spring, with any luck, these grape hyacinth seeds will have become their own plants. If not, you can propagate Muscari grape hyacinth by saving the seeds. Remove the dried seedpods from the plant, harvest the small seeds inside, and lay the seeds on a damp paper towel in a not quite sealed plastic bag....

When Do You Prune a Pear Tree? Pruning a pear tree begins in late winter before the buds begin to swell. Earlier pruning may encourage excessive vegetative growth and suckering in spring and summer. It also increases the chances of winter injury to the pruning sites. Limit spring and summer pruning to light thinning and try to avoid trimming pear trees after midsummer. Pear tree pruning also begins at planting time....

When to Prune a Rubber Tree Rubber tree plants are quite resilient and rubber tree trimming can basically take place any time of the year. In fact, branches that are out of sorts can be removed without any damage to the plant. However, these plants will usually respond faster to pruning during late spring or early summer—around June. This is also considered a good time for taking cuttings, as they are thought to root quicker and easier....

How to Trim a Basil Plant Basil is grown for its flavorful leaves, which can be used fresh or dried. However, there is no comparison, and fresh is better than dried. There are a number of different varieties of basil, with the most common being Sweet Basil, used to make magnificent pesto sauce. Basil is a very easy herb to grow and can be started indoors in flats or outside in the garden after the danger of the last frost has passed....

Raspberry Fertilizing Needs Raspberry fertilizing needs are very basic and not hard to keep up with. Raspberry plant fertilizer should be heavy in nitrogen, although a balanced type is often preferred. For instance, the best fertilizer for raspberry bushes is a 10-10-10 fertilizer or actual nitrogen at a rate of 4 to 5 pounds (1.8 to 2.3 kg.) per 100 feet (30.4 m.) of row. If you’re looking for organic raspberry plant fertilizer, you can substitute with manure (50 to 100 pounds (22....

How do you get started reusing items in the landscape? Read on for information on how to landscape with recycled materials as well as lots of recycled backyard ideas. Recycled Landscaping Mulch Recycled landscaping can include any home waste you find a purpose for in the garden, including making mulch. Preparing your own mulch is cheaper than buying bags of processed mulch from the garden store. Making mulch is a great way to get started using recycled materials in landscaping....

May Gardening To-Do List This is an appropriate time to divide clumps of bulbs previously growing in the landscape. Other perennials may be dug and divided now. Add some of the divided flowers into new beds, if needed. Are you getting an urge to plant tomatoes and other warm-season crops? Many sources advise waiting until June in some parts of the Southeast. While freezing nighttime temperatures are usually history by this time of year in most of the southern states, check your local forecast for 10 days ahead....

How Do I Get Rid of a Yucca Plant? Unbeknownst to many people, getting rid of yucca plants is not a one-time deal. In fact, simply digging them up or cutting them down may not always be enough. Yucca plants have an extensive root system and will continue to grow long after the plant has been removed. For instance, where one yucca plant is dug up, numerous yucca sprouts may appear again and again....

When to Repot Boston Ferns If your Boston fern isn’t growing as rapidly as it usually does, it may need a larger pot. Another clue is roots peeking through the drainage hole. Don’t wait until the pot is badly root bound. If the potting mix is so root-compacted that water runs straight through the pot, or if the roots are growing in a tangled mass on top of the soil, it’s definitely time to repot the plant....

Repotting Lemongrass Lemongrass is a great plant to have on hand if you like to cook Asian cuisine. The plant is hardy in USDA zones 10 and 11. In those zones, it can be grown in the garden, but, in colder climates, it won’t survive the winter and should be grown in a container. Potted lemongrass plants require repotting at some point. The best time to repot a lemongrass plant is in the fall....

Orchids don’t grow like other houseplants; instead of putting out roots in a pot of soil, they exist in a container of loose materials such as bark, charcoal, and moss. Repotting can be the most finicky time for orchid plants because they are susceptible to disease and you’ll be exposing the roots, but with a little care, you can be repotting orchid plants with great results. Repotting Orchid Plants When to repot orchids is important in order to ensure success....

About Rose Plant Iron Deficiencies What does iron do for the overall rose bush you may ask? Iron aids in chlorophyll formation and activates other enzymes, which help activate nitrogen used by the bush. In other words, iron helps promote that nice dark green foliage that is one of the signs of happy, healthy rose bushes or other plants in our gardens. It is rare that iron is actually deficient in the soil; more often it is something about the soil’s makeup that is locking up the iron and not allowing it to be readily available to the plant....