What Not to Plant near Hops As you contemplate starting hops rhizomes, you should consider what to plant with hops and what not to plant near hops. The hop vines will likely crowd out many other plants, as they rapidly develop. Hops companion plants will need to be at least a foot (30 cm.) away and vines should be kept pruned to avoid smothering the other plants. Any plant that likes full sun, plenty of water, and doesn’t mind being clambered over can be grown with hops....

Planting Companions with Succulents Companion planting is often used to add height above ground hugging succulent plants. Drought tolerant flowering plants such as the osteospermum are good candidates. The flowers on this daisy may stand upright or trail alongside your succulents, as do blooms of the perennial Santa Barbara daisy. Allow them to trail among taller succulents like aloe and agave. Ornamental grasses, often with autumn blooms and interest through winter, are appropriate companion plants for succulents....

Preparation Tips for Composting During Winter It is best to empty compost bins of all usable compost prior to the onset of winter. Use the compost around your garden, in your raised beds, or transfer to a dry container with a lid for use in the spring. Harvesting the compost before starting your winter compost heap will free up space for the new compost. Keeping the bin warm is important if you live in an area that has harsh winter temperatures and strong winds....

Ferret Manure Fertilizer Is ferret poop good fertilizer? Unfortunately, no. While manure from cows is extremely popular and beneficial, it stems from one very important fact: cows are herbivores. While manure from herbivorous animals is great for plants, manure from omnivores and carnivores is not. Feces from animals that eat meat, which includes dogs and cats, contains bacteria and parasites that can be bad for plants and especially bad for you if you eat vegetables fertilized with it....

What are Sweetgum Balls? As previously mentioned, sweetgum balls are the fruit of a medium to large size tree (65-155 feet or 20-47 m. tall) with a trunk up to 6 feet (2 m.) across that can live for an extremely long time — up to 400 years. The sweetgum tree (Liquidambar styraciflua) produces an extremely spiked capsule containing one or two seeds in the summer. The resulting dropped fruits become woody and are the bane of any wanderer, as they will pierce tender flesh....

Composting Basics Numerous benefits are associated with the use of compost: It can enhance the soil, building up the structure and texture. It increases airflow and water retention. Compost also stabilizes pH levels and supports essential bacteria. Compost allows plants to effectively use nutrients for achieving healthier growth as well. In addition, the organic matter found in compost encourages earthworms, which also help aerate the soil. Other benefits include erosion control and the reduction of soil-borne diseases....

Keep reading to learn more about container gardening in cold weather. Container Gardening in Cold Weather Fall container gardening requires some knowledge as to what can survive. There are two groups of plants that can fare well in fall container gardening: hardy perennials and hardy annuals. Hardy perennials include: Ivy Lambs ear Spruce Juniper These may stay evergreen all through the winter. Hardy annuals will probably die eventually, but can last well into the autumn, and include:...

What is Eating My Pepino Melon? A relative rarity in the United States, but attaining some popularity, is the pepino melon. Native to the Andean region of South America, these small fruit are not actually melons at all but members of the nightshade family. Thus, the insects that feed on pepino melons are generally those that feed on members of the Solanaceae family, which includes tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplant. Pepino melons are delicious with a taste like honeydew melon and cantaloupe....

To some it may be known as “buckvine” and “cow itch” but to others it may be known as an expletive because it is very invasive due to its vigorous root system. Once it takes hold, it will overtake a garden and choke out plants in its path. Read on to learn more about peppervine control. What is Peppervine? Peppervine is a close cousin of grapes but, as we alluded to earlier, it gives whine instead of wine....

What are Phlox Bugs? A phlox that is speckled and has curling leaves may be a victim of garden phlox bugs. These are actually quite pretty insects, but their feeding habits can diminish the health of your plant. There are many potential bugs on phlox, but this particular pest targets only wild and cultivated species. The pests are fast moving, live under the leaves, and can be hard to spot. Spend some time with your sick phlox and if you see one of these insects, use this info to kill phlox bugs....

Uses for Wild Radish What is wild radish? It’s similar to cultivated radish, and the two can cross pollinate when growing near each other. In appearance it looks very similar to wild mustard, a close relative. All parts of it are edible if you’re feeling brave. Boil the greens and eat the flowers and pods raw. The tough outer skin of the roots can be peeled away easily with your hands, revealing an inner core that is quite good and tender when boiled for 45 minutes....

What is Cow’s Tongue Prickly Pear? If you are familiar with the look of prickly pear cacti, then you have a good idea of how prickly pear cow’s tongue will look. It is a large, mounding cactus that can grow up to 10 feet (3 m.) in height. Branching are long, narrow pads that look almost exactly like, yep, a cow’s tongue seriously armed with spines. Native to central Texas where it gets hot, cow’s tongue cactus produces yellow blossoms in the spring that give way to bright purplish red fruit in the summer....

Wildcrafting Info Long ago people did not have the same luxuries as we do today. They could not go out shopping for various household items or gifts for decorating. Instead, their gifts and decorations came from what was readily available in and around their homesteads. Some of these materials were gathered from the wild, while other items were taken from their gardens. Wooded areas and open prairies are filled with plants you can use for wildcrafting....

Trying to keep deer out of the garden can be frustrating to say the least, but with a little know how and ingenuity, your efforts for garden deer protection could be well worth the trouble. Keep reading to learn a little more about how to keep deer out of garden. How to Keep Deer Out of Garden Figuring out how to keep deer out of garden areas may be as simple as installing fencing around your perimeter....

How to Make a Bird Feeder Making bird feeders can be as simple as using a pinecone and some peanut butter and as involved and creative as using toy building blocks. Here are some ideas to get your family started: Pinecone bird feeder – This is an easy project for little kids but still fun for everyone. Pick pinecones with plenty of space between the layers, spread them with peanut butter, roll in birdseed, and hang from trees or feeders....

There are several easy ways to start a new mandevilla plant, including seeds and softwood cuttings, but propagating mandevilla from tubers probably isn’t a viable method of propagation. Read on to learn more about mandevilla plant tubers. Do Mandevillas Have Tubers? Mandevilla plant tubers are thickened roots. Although they resemble rhizomes, they are generally shorter and plumper. Mandevilla plant tubers store nutrients that provide energy for the plant during the dormant winter months....

Dogwoods need fertile, moist soil with good drainage. They are understory trees and require dappled lighting with protection from the hottest rays of the day. Even plants with good site conditions, annual fertilizer, and adequate water may still encounter dogwood tree problems that destroy their health and vigor. Diseases of Dogwood Dogwood anthracnose is one of the most common fungal diseases to attack this plant. It starts out with blighted leaves, showing purple margins, and tan color around the edges of leaves....

How to Dry Tomatoes Drying tomatoes doesn’t require any special equipment, but is faster when done in a dehydrator or oven. The fruits should be blanched to remove the skin, which holds in moisture and will extend the drying time. Dip the tomatoes in boiling water for 30 seconds and then plunge them into an ice bath. The skin will peel up and you can pare it off. When choosing how to dry tomatoes, consider your weather....

Dwarf Turkish Euonymus Info It’s a long name for a short plant! So exactly what is a dwarf Turkestan euonymus? According to dwarf Turkish euonymus information, it is a deciduous upright shrub. This plant grows in a vase shape. Its long, lance-shaped leaves are green during the growing season but turn a bright crimson in autumn. The shrub can grow to 3 feet (1 m.) in both directions. However, it tolerates pruning or even shearing....

It is an extremely resilient plant able to tolerate a variety of conditions, and is often grown as a windbreak. Since Elaeagnus growing conditions are so varied, it can be utilized in a multitude of ways. The following article contains information on how to grow Elaeagnus ‘Limelight.’ Information on Elaeagnus ‘Limelight’ Elaeagnus ‘Limelight’ is a hybrid comprised of E. macrophylla and E. pungens. This thorny evergreen shrub grows to about 16 feet (5 m....