ARAWDA – Association

Flowering plants could be key additions to a beautiful and productive home garden. But some of these versatile plants also have thorns, designed by nature to protect them from predators that might otherwise decimate their flowers, fruit or foliage. Thorns are usually no problem for a careful gardener, but it can be handy to identify in advance those with this pure protection. Roses When you think of plants with thorns, the rose (Rosa sp.) May be the very first to…

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Although occasionally necessary, pruning is intentionally wounding a tree for its own benefit. Since the process damages the tree, cutting at the right time can make the difference between a flowering plant and a diminished limb or an infected tree. Pruning red maple trees (Acer rubrum), which develop in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 4 through 9, can happen at various times, based largely on the grounds to prune. Shaping Like all trees, red maples may get overgrown…

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Crabapple trees are scene stealers on the spring garden point, covering their canopies using a bright cloak of blossoms worthy of a standing ovation. Crabapples are acceptable for both large and small gardens. In addition to ample spring blooms, crabapples produce small fruits that attract birds and other wildlife. “Firebird” crabapple (Malus sargentii “Select A” PP12621) is a patented cultivar developed in Wisconsin. Unlike a number of different crabapples, this tree’s fruit isn’t fit for people to eat. Based on…

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Whether you develop Lisbon lemons or Meyer lemons or any other variety, the lemon tree demands careful pruning and good orchard management practices to avoid infection. Thankfully, liquid copper sprays, applied at the correct time, can protect the lemon tree in fungal pathogens. Liquid copper shouldn’t be applied while the tree is in blossom, but is safe to use both before and after bloom. Purpose Liquid copper sprays avoid lots of fungal diseases on the lemon tree’s leaf and fruit….

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Worldwide, 237 species of blackberries are known. The most striking development for blackberry growers over the past 40 years has been the most thornless hybrids. Blackberries (Rubus spp.) Have become highly well known in the West, in which they could tolerate a wide variety of climactic conditions. Different cultivars span varying parts of the U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone scale however, almost without exception, they will increase in USDA zones 8 and 9. Taming Blackberries Blackberry plants fall…

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Ficus trees, ornamental members of the mulberry family which have rubber tree, weeping fig and fiddle-leaf varieties, are often kept small and grown indoors in pots. If not properly cared for, personal ficus trees become rootbound, developing heavily tangled, compacted origins which choke off all brand new origins and cause gradual or stopped upper growth. New trees may also be potted in addition to make them appear slimmer, resulting in nutrient competition and an low level of root density. Root…

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Prized for their sugary sweet flavor and disease immunity, white corn (Zea mays) cultivars like “Silver Queen” and “How Sweet It Is” feature prominently in many warm-season gardens. The plants need small hands-on upkeep aside from regular watering and feeding. However, the seeds must be implanted properly to perform their best. Timing and soil composition would be both most important aspects of putting white corn since both will affect the plants’ growth and vigor. Proper spacing also plays a vital…

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Native to Korea and Japan, dappled willow shrubs (Salix integra “Hakuro-nishiki”) are landscape multi-taskers. Whether working to curb sediment near streams or to hide your yard from prying eyes as hedges, they attract the weeping elegance of Asian Zen and rain gardens to your yard at U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 8. As a bonus, they are also resistant to deer depredations and tolerate wet areas. Characteristics Dappled willows are deciduous shrubs that grow 4 to…

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A balcony can become an outdoor oasis filled with lush green plants, colorful blossoms or abundant vegetables. Make the most of the small distance by putting in containers and arranging them to take advantage of vertical distance. Almost any vegetable or herb, most annual flowers and many perennial ornamentals can thrive at a container with appropriate care. Plants with the words “dwarf,” “miniature” or “terrace” in their title are especially bred to grow well in tiny spaces. Determine the sunlight…

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Herbs add flavor to your dishes, scent your home or cure what ails you. Most cooks are knowledgeable about basil, thyme and other popular kitchen herbs, but the herb list is far more than you may think. Clay tablets from Samaria at 2200 B.C. recorded above 1,000 medicinal herbs. Modern gardeners plant herbs for their culinary and medicinal properties, but also because herbs are great garden citizens; they require minimal sulfur and water, harbor few pests and repel destructive insects…

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