Gardeners who live in an area where the weather or soil conditions won’t support the traditional backyard garden may have to expand their horizons a little, and create a more natural looking garden for your climate. There are plenty of beautiful plants for drier climates that can really turned your scorched garden into and exotic botanical display.
You could try growing some drought resistant perennials or shrubs. Heathers are natural companions with grass like sedges, and the blues, greys, silvers, and coppers will really pop in a gravelled garden. Most of the drought resistant plants are these soft metallic or misty colors, giving most dry climates a strong ephemeral feel. Companioned with rustic stone and wooden hard scapes, these arid gardens can be really striking. You might also want to try gravel, sand, or busted brick mulches around your exotic desert garden. Allow your plants to seed, spread, clump naturally to create a more irregular and interesting look.
You could also try a drought resistant tree like the the olive tree. They are very tough in a variety of climates and produce wonderfully delicious fruits too.
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If you don’t feel like using chemicals in your garden, you can control Japanese beetles naturally. There is the old standby, knocking them into a bucket of soapy water with a stick. They will be unable to fly out of the soapy water and will drown eventually. Usually the little holes that insects use to breath, called spiracles, are too small for water to enter, but the soap fixes that problem. This procedure works best during the cooler parts of the day when the beetles are less likely to fly away from the plants.
A naturally occurring bacteria called Milky Spore kills Japanese beetle grubs which feed underground on grass and plant roots (ha ha, they’re getting you from the ground up). It is safe for beneficial insects, pets, and children. The bacteria spreads slowly through the soil, killing beetle larvae for many years. Milky Spore is sold as a dust which may be called Doom, Grub Attack, or Grub Killer. It is more effective in warmer areas of the country where the soil stays warm most of the summer (USDA Hardiness zones 6-10).
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A slew of things could be getting between you and the juicy, delicious fruit you were promised when you planted your fruit trees. Here are the main culprits and some tips on how to deal with these common, yet frustrating issues.
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Birds and butterflies are beautiful, majestic creatures. Hummingbirds and songbirds bring energy and life to any space, singing happy tunes or feeding baby birds in the nest. Butterflies are more delicate, fluttering about without a care in the world. Not to mention, if a butterfly lands on you, it’s good luck! Why wouldn’t you want to lure them into your garden? Here are some tips on how to do just that:
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Daylilies, known as Hemerocallis fulva by botanists, are naturalized throughout much of America. They are especially hardy in warm dry areas. The orange colored blossoms are often seen along roadsides and in abandoned home gardens during June and July. All cultivated varieties of daylily are edible.
Flowers and flower buds of daylilies are delicious and quickly prepared for eating. The flowers are used in soups, meat dishes, and with noodles. Prepare the flowers for eating by removing the basal end (ovary) and dicing the rest. Flowers can be used for garnishing foods in somewhat the same way as mushrooms are employed. These flowers add substance, color, and pleasing flavors to foods. Fresh flowers are best for eating since some flavors are altered when they are preserved by drying and freezing.
Not only are they delicious, but they are also very attractive as you can see by the picture of Hemerocallis Jungle Beauty above.
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