House & Garden 2024, November

This leaf disease attacks plants throughout the year but is prevalent during the dry months. If left untreated, the black leaf spot spreads rapidly, and severely weakens plants. It is important to realize that black leaf spot is a fungus that originates in the soil and is always present.

To get a beautiful lawn it is not necessary to use a lot of chemicals. Careful irrigation, mowing and fertilization allow you to grow a lawn that is resilient enough to deal with disease, weeds and drought on its own. If you still have problems despite all this, you can restore your lawn to perfect health by changing the composition of the soil or the techniques with which you take care of the garden.

Do you have the habit of filling the refrigerator a bit at random when you come back from the supermarket, putting everything where there is space? Organizing the refrigerator shelves will help you remember which foods you have on hand and which ones are running out.

It is not at all easy to recognize oak leaves. In the United States alone there are over sixty species and in the rest of the world there are hundreds of different varieties. To try to narrow it down as much as possible, you can divide oaks into two basic categories by looking at just the shape of the leaf:

Keeping seedlings healthy, regardless of type, depends on respecting some basic basic rules. This article explains what you need to consider to keep your seedlings in the best condition. Steps Method 1 of 3: Maintain Healthy Seedlings Step 1.

Transplanting a sapling is a little more complex than buying a container grown tree and simply planting it - there are a few additional things to consider. However, the basic principles are the same, so don't think it's too difficult a task.

Perhaps you too, like many homeowners, have planted fruit trees in the garden to increase the value of the property in a useful and aesthetically pleasing way. While growing these trees may seem like a real challenge, with proper care and precautions you can ensure that every single plant reaches its growth potential.

Replanting a tree after removing it from the ground can seem like a daunting task. With proper preparation, however, novice gardeners can replant most of the smaller trees. By assessing the condition of the tree and keeping the root ball intact, you will be able to preserve its health until you are ready to plant it.

Propagating plants means generating multiple from a single specimen. Starting from a cutting you will duplicate the starting plant, thus obtaining one of the exact same variety. But when you grow a plant from seeds, you won't always be able to predict what will come out of it.

If you love to take care of your plants and want to make your garden even more beautiful, but find that organic fertilizers are impractical, knowing how to use commercial fertilizers (i.e. synthetic or chemical ones) in the right way could be a great solution.

Ferns are very common plants used both as houseplants and as green garden plants. Present on earth since prehistoric times, there are tens of thousands of different species of ferns. Their appearance varies from light and delicate to dense and bushy, but their needs and care remain similar.

Grassy lawns need periodic care to stay in good condition. However, even a well-kept lawn can get old, and it may need to be replaced every 6-7 years to keep it in the best possible condition. This method requires little work on your part and guarantees a beautiful new lawn as a result.

Lettuce is the simplest vegetable to grow with the hydroponic method. Instead of growing lettuce in the soil, water, minerals, and another growth medium, such as gravel, are used. Once you've got your hydroponic system set up, you'll have your first lettuce crop in just a few weeks.

The delicate and fragrant lavender is easy to dry and store and then be reused in aromatic bags or for a bouquet of dried flowers. To dry lavender it is important to harvest the flowers at the right time, when their color is at the highest level of brilliance and fragrance.

Thinning out means removing the seedlings from the original container and replacing them in single pots to give them more space for growth. The method explained here is suitable for any type of plant. Steps Step 1. Know when the seedlings are ready Thinning is necessary when the leaves of the seedlings begin to touch.

Growing plants is an inexpensive and satisfying hobby. Propagation consists in producing new plants by dividing, grafting or cutting existing plants. If you have seen a beautiful plant in your neighbor's garden and in your area, you can add it to your garden with these methods.

Planting a bare root tree is a fun and economical way to have green and lush plants within your land, avoiding the too high cost of sod plants. While it is not difficult, it is important to consider some particular indications for successful planting.

Aloe vera is a perfect plant to keep indoors or outdoors; having one available can also be convenient for its healing properties. It is a succulent plant and for this reason it can suffer when given too much water, too little or in the presence of other adverse environmental factors.

Peonies are fantastic flowers that don't require excessive care, so they are a great choice for those who don't want to have to rearrange their garden every spring. These plants, in fact, are able to bloom continuously every year, for decades or even for over a century.

Adding plants is a good way to liven up areas under trees. However, gardeners should keep in mind that finding plants suitable for the shade conditions present under a tree can be a challenge. In addition, shrubs, flowers and other ground cover planted under trees must compete with their larger companions for valuable nutrients and water.

Moss doesn't kill grass, but it can creep in if your lawn has already begun to die. To get rid of it, you must use physical and, if possible, chemical methods of removal. Next, you will need to improve the quality of the lawn, in order to discourage further moss growth.

Most succulents can be propagated by cuttings very easily. This article will give you the basics to start multiplying your collection of succulents and making them become very numerous. Steps Step 1. Choose a succulent that is healthy and ready to be pruned Jade plants, in particular, are very resistant succulents, which will have no problem being propagated by cuttings.

There is a plant in the garden that you really like. Maybe it has lush foliage or produces some delicious berries or it's just too beautiful and you can't help but look at its long, lustrous stems. You wish you could keep her for the rest of your life, but you realize her days have come to an end.

The buddleia (Buddleja davidii) is a shrub with many branches that tends to grow and bloom rapidly; it is one of the plants favored by gardeners for its fragrant scent. Because it grows so fast, you need to prune it every spring before it begins to develop.

African violets, also called Saintpaulia, are beautiful indoor plants that are easy to care for. Native to Tanzania and Kenya, they are perennials that bloom outdoors in some climates, but perform best as indoor plants in most parts of the world, as they cannot tolerate cold.

Alfalfa sprouts grow quickly, sprouting in just 3-5 days. You can grow them in a glass jar and only 1 tablespoon of seeds is needed to get 350ml of sprouts. These nutritious sprouts are rich in antioxidants and are great when added to salads and sandwiches.

An irrigation system will help you have a lush green garden, even when drought makes your neighbor's one dry. This is not a beginner's job, but with some research and effort it can be done. Steps Step 1. Prepare a scale drawing of the garden and the areas to be watered This way you can have a plan of the pipes and sprinklers that you will then buy.

Clematis are gorgeous climbing plants that bring a sparkle of bright colors to a garden or home. Like all plants, Clematis need to be pruned to produce healthy blooms. Pruning not only helps the plant to flower, but also allows it to produce more shoots at the base, so that the clematis can grow taller and bushier.

Marsh hibiscus, also known as scarlet hibiscus or simply hibiscus (and "Texas star" in the United States), produces a bright red flower that can liven up any garden. In order to grow this beautiful plant, you need to know how to plant and care for it.

Roses require heavy nutrition and thrive when they are given the right fertilizer. Although most roses have the same requirements regarding the type of fertilizer and the applications required, some roses can differ depending on the conditions, such as variety, hardiness and climatic conditions.

Although there are several species of walnut trees, especially black and white (or fruit) walnuts, the basic instructions for planting and caring for them are basically the same. Yet, due to the existence of hundreds of varieties that have adapted to different climates and have different resistance to diseases, it is preferable to plant walnuts of a native variety.

Impatiens, commonly 'balsam', is the colorful flower plant that can be found everywhere and can be seen adorning the borders of gardens and blooming from pots on the front courtyards of houses all summer long. These beautiful and hardy flowers come in a variety of colors and can be planted in patterns for high impact effects.

Marigolds are easy to grow and are available in different colors, including white, yellow, orange, red and mottled ones. The flowers will bloom from mid-summer until the onset of frost. They can be used for interiors, but they give off a peculiar smell that is sometimes too strong in the house.

The roots of large trees can be a problem if they grow out of control near the house or a busy driveway. Being able to manage the development of the root system without killing the tree is a complicated job that requires continuous maintenance;

Spider mites are tiny pests, hard to see with the naked eye, that can cause serious damage to your lawn and garden. If you suspect a mite infestation, you should confirm your theory before attempting to eliminate them. Once you are sure they are on your plants, you can flush them out with the water pump or use an insecticidal mineral oil to remove and prevent more serious infestations.

Sometimes, especially when an unusually hot summer occurs in your area, extreme weather events can become more common than we would like. In more temperate climates, such a change cannot last long, and many plants recover quickly or suffer minimal heat damage.

Violets are evergreen blooms, fertile but with a short lifespan. They are grown as annuals because their first flowering is often the best. Steps Step 1. Buy the violets They are often sold in baskets thus facilitating choices. You can choose from baskets without flowers or baskets with ripe blooms with different violets.

Lavender is a plant that is part of the mint family, it produces small purple flowers and intense aromatic foliage; it grows best in sunny areas, with rocky soils and takes the form of a shrub that develops every year. With each passing season, it grows thicker and thicker and its stems can become thick, woody and heavy.

Growing a tree from seeds has always been difficult… until now! Learn how to germinate tree seeds in several easy steps. Steps Step 1. Note: Specifically, how to germinate Japanese maple seeds is explained below. For other trees, the germination process doesn't change much.

Dogwood (digitaria sanguinalis) is an annual weed that develops from seeds. It is a fairly common weed and takes on a rather unsightly appearance if it begins to invade most of a lawn. While it is quite unlikely that you will be able to get rid of it completely, by keeping your lawn healthy and taking care of it consistently, you will be able to get the upper hand over most of the dogwood.