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Harvesting Basket Weaving Plants People from around the world have been weaving baskets from plants for thousands of years. Modern basket weavers use some of the historical techniques, combined with fresh, contemporary designs. The first thing you’ll need to get started are basket weaving plants. Grasses and reeds are excellent, but there are many vines and even trees from which to harvest materials as well. It may be necessary to play around a bit and check plants throughout the year for flexibility....

Are There Green Flowers? Yes, green flowers exist in nature but are less commonly used in the garden. Green flowers are often found in floral bouquets however; sometimes as nature made them and sometimes dyed green. Gardeners often overlook including green flowers into the garden, probably because they worry they will just blend in with other foliage, but some plants have stunning green flowers that can stand alone as specimens or compliment other plants....

While some are chosen for their beauty, other pond plants are necessary for a pond’s health. Below is a list of eight of the most popular pond plants in the United Kingdom and the United States, with information on why people love them and why our ponds need them. Popular Pond Plants Albatross Water Lily – This beautiful water lily is, in my opinion, a must for most ponds. The Albatross is known for growing quickly so there is no need to overplant....

Can You Use Pond Scum in the Garden? Yes. Since pond scum and algae are living organisms, they are rich sources of nitrogen that break down quickly in the compost pile. Using pond scum as fertilizer also incorporates important nutrients, such as potassium and phosphorus, into the compost. Spring is an ideal time for annual pond cleaning, and for making pond scum garden fertilizer. Composting Algae from Ponds The easiest way to remove pond scum is to use a swimming pool skimmer or a rake....

Symptoms of Corky Ringspot in Potatoes What is potato ringspot? Corky ringspot of potatoes is caused by a disease called tobacco rattle virus. This virus is spread primarily by stubby root nematodes, microscopic worms that feed on plant roots. These nematodes will feed on infected roots, then move on to the roots of uninfected plants, spreading the virus underground without your knowledge. Even once a potato is infected with corky ringspot, you may not realize it, as the symptoms are almost always underground....

Prostrate Pigweed Identification Prostrate pigweed grows in a circular form with low-growing stems coming from a central spot so it looks like a spider web. The radial stems are reddish purple and can grow more than a foot (31 cm.) long. The leaves on prostrate pigweed are about a half inch (1 cm.) long and oval shaped. The flowers on prostrate pigweed are reddish green and not significant. The flowers will produce seeds that look like small black sand grains....

How to Protect Blueberry Plants from Birds Blueberry plant protection may involve more than one tactic. Birds, like most any other creature, become accustomed to things over time, so what may initially work suddenly ceases to deter them within a couple of weeks. So, blueberry plant protection may become an ongoing, ceaseless process. That is, of course, unless you try exclusion. Exclusion just means you’re going to prevent the birds from entering the blueberry patch by means of netting....

How to Protect Hanging Baskets from Frost Protecting hanging baskets near the end of the season (or even early on) can help extend their life. Some steps you can take to prevent frost damage to hanging plants are simple and quick, while others require a little more effort and planning. Even the laziest gardener can throw a garbage bag over a hanging display to help insulate it and protect it from frost, but only the most dedicated gardener will heal in their pots....

At What Temperature Do Plants Freeze? When cold weather comes your way, your first thought will be at what temperature do plants freeze, in other words, how cold is too cold? There is no easy answer to this. Different plants freeze and die at different temperatures. That is why they are given a hardiness rating. Some plants produce special hormones that keep them from freezing, and these plants have a lower hardiness rating (meaning they can survive colder weather) than plants who produce less of this hormone....

What to Do in the Garden Now Gardening in October depends on local climate, but there are some chores everyone can do this time of year. It’s a great time, for instance, to have your soil tested by your local extension office and to make any necessary amendments. Clean up beds and rake and compost leaves. Plant new trees and shrubs and save dry seeds from vegetables and flowers you want to propagate or share....

Maintaining Northwest Gardens in June Your gardening to-do list for June depends largely on your climate, but most areas of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho are seeing warmer temperatures and are finally beyond the last frost. Here are a few ideas to get you started. It’s safe to remove leaves from tulips, daffodils, and other spring bloomers as soon as they turn brown and you can easily pull the foliage. Gardeners in Central or Eastern Oregon may need to wait a little longer....

Regional To-Do List for December Some states give up gardening for a month, others for two or three. Those in other areas, such as Florida, continue to plant and harvest, just switching to cool season crops. North Carolina, where I reside, has approximately 175 days between first and last frost dates. These may be shortened during this mild winter. Keep an eye on your local forecast and check the Almanac specifically for your area to learn of your planting window this month....

Tips for Repotting a Large Plant Repotting a large plant can be daunting, but it is necessary. Some overgrown container plants, of course, are simply too big to move to a new pot. If this is the case, you should still refresh the soil by replacing the top two or three inches (3-7 cm.) once every year. This process is called top dressing, and it replenishes the nutrients in a pot without disturbing the roots....

Night Blooming Cereus Cuttings Night blooming cereus is a leggy plant with flat leaves and gangly stems, but when it is blooming it goes from wall flower to star of the show. The fragrant dinner plate sized blooms are worth waiting for as they perfume your whole house. Rooting night blooming cereus to create more plants is easy. These cactus root quickly and establish as single plants in less than a month....

Ruffled Yellow Tomato Info and Growing Tips Plant Yellow Ruffled tomatoes where the plants are exposed to at least six to eight hours of sunlight per day. Allow 3 feet (1 m.) between each tomato plant to provide ample air circulation. Dig 3 to 4 inches (8-10 cm.) of compost into the soil before planting. This is also a good time to add a slow-release fertilizer. Plant tomato plants deeply, burying about two-thirds of the stem....

Senecio Plant Info While senecio succulents grow outdoors in warm climates, they are popular indoor plants in areas with cool winters. Senecio succulents are often grown in hanging baskets with the fleshy leaves trailing over the sides. Popular varieties of senecio succulents include string of pearls and string of bananas. Some varieties of senecio that typically grow wild are known by names such as groundsel or tansy ragwort. Some types of senecio produce yellow, sunflower-like blooms....

Sequoia Strawberry Information Fragaria ananassa ‘Sequoia’ is a hybrid berry developed for coastal California. Plants are set in the early spring except when growing Sequoia strawberries in USDA zones 7 and 8 where they should be planted in the fall. They are grown as perennials in zones 4 through 8 and grown as annuals elsewhere. Widely adapted to most any region, Sequoia strawberry plants yield large, sweet, juicy berries from the 6 to 8 inch (15-20 cm....

How to Shade Plants in the Garden Using shade cloth in gardens is a great way to provide shade for plants. Shade cloth comes in a variety of materials of different weights, strengths, and colors, including UV-stabilized polyethylene covers, aluminum shade cloth, and netting. All are available in most garden centers. For vegetable gardens planted in rows, you can use floating row covers made of garden fabric. The shade cover material is lightweight and safe to drape directly over plants such as carrots or cabbage....

What is 6-Row Barley? Growing 6-row barley has many uses. While European beer makers believe this specific type of barley should only be grown as feed for livestock, many North American brewers welcome the use of 6-row barley for beer. These 6-row barley plants are easily distinguishable due to the size and shape of their seed heads. Seed heads of 6-row barley plants maintain a somewhat unorganized appearance with varying sized kernels....

Shrubby Potentilla Info Although the species’ shrubs produce single yellow flowers, you’ll find many cultivars with color variations and some with double flowers. ‘Abbotswood’ is a very popular cultivar with single white flowers and bluish green leaves. ‘Sunset’ has orange flowers that fade to yellow in the heat of summer. ‘UMan’ features bicolored red and orange flowers. ‘Primrose Beauty’ blooms in a soft shade of yellow and has silvery leaves. ‘Medicine Wheel Mountain’ has bright yellow flowers with ruffled petals....