Category: Earth Wild Gardens

Cutting lower branches of coniferous evergreens should be avoided unless there is disease or the branches are dead. The removal of too many lower branches will make the evergreen appear to be top heavy. Once lower branches are removed, they will not fill in as the evergreen develops new growth […]

Lilacs: Lilacs produce flowers at the tip of the stems that grew the year before. Little pruning is necessary for Lilacs; to rejuvenate an old Lilac bush, cut a few of the oldest stems close to the ground. Most of the suckers should be removed, however, to have a dense […]

Hybrid teas, grandifloras, and floribundas should be pruned in the spring when the buds are swelling, but before new growth has begun. Prune to about one-third to half the height and width each year. To remove dead wood, cut the canes to live green tissue. Entire canes that have died […]

The best time to prune shrubs is late winter or early spring, before flower growth, or, for spring flowering shrubs, after the flowering is complete. To determine which branches can be removed without changing the natural shape of a shrub, remove dead wood, weak growth, and broken and diseased branches. […]

The best time to prune a tree is in the spring or fall, when there is no foliage. At these times, it is easier to get a view of the display of branches. The first pruning should be done at planting time, which will stimulate growth. Begin by removing all […]

Light Heading Back: Light heading back is the procedure where branch tips are removed. This will control the shape of a mature shrub and increase bloom. The cut should be made approximately 1/4″ above a healthy bud. Severe Heading Back: Severe heading back is the removal of approximately half of […]

 It is first important to determine which type of plant the seeds will come from. Knowing the type will determine whether or not the seed is worth saving. There are two types of plants: Open-pollinated and Hybrid. Open-pollinated plants are just that…plants that have been allowed to freely pollinate. Seeds […]

If seeds are kept in a cool, dry location they can last for several years. Place the seeds in an airtight container and place in the refrigerator. Silica gel packets placed into the seed container will keep the humidity level down. Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, collards, kohlrabi, endive, cucumber, lettuce, pepper, […]

Definitely not the mustard you find in local supermarkets, this plant makes an interesting addition to a garden plot. The mustard plant has been used since antiquity, and in the beginning was a common ingredient in many rustic cures. Romans used the mustard seed in the majority of their dishes, and […]

Although there are a ton of annuals from which to choose that will work in full sun, if you’re looking for easy to care for annuals, then here are five you may want to take a look at. 1. Petunias. Petunias grow great in full sun and are very easy […]