Not every yard is suited for in-ground gardening. In rental situations or in areas with poor soil, garden space must sometimes be “created.” That's when raised beds and containers come into play.
As winter months drag on, some people with the gardening gene find themselves seeking to bring nature indoors. Houseplants are one way to address that desire. Here are five easy ones that will bring the greenery inside.
The choices go beyond traditional poinsettias and amaryllis. Colorful African violets, gloxinia, cyclamen, orchids, ornamental peppers and Christmas cactus are blooming and readily available.
That tiny anthill you noticed may actually be the entrance to a ground-nesting bee family. A single female bee excavates a ground nest by using her saliva and tough mandibles to break up and move soil.
Check winter houseplants for brown leaf tips, wilting, dropping of lower leaves and little or no new growth - all signs that your plant may be in trouble.
Fruit cracking in sweet cherries can have a severe economic impact in the Pacific Northwest, even with new optical sorters. This publication helps growers understand the causes of cracking and describes cultural practices that can minimize cracking.