The Hanna Champ pH meter is pocket sized and can be used in a wide variety of situations. Its size allows you to transport it from site to site and use it whenever you need it, regardless of the location. Calibrating the Hanna Champ from time to time will guarantee that you're getting the correct pH......[Read More]

Roses are a sign of love, friendship and beauty. While some people have their favorite colors, most would agree that any rose is lovely. Whether you choose to complement your home with a vase of fresh roses, or decorate the outside with a garden of rose splendor, the pleasure will be great. Even whe......[Read More]

The pH level of the soil indicates its acidity or alkalinity. The pH levels can range between 1 to 14, with 7 representing a neutral level in the middle of the scale. The neutral level 7 corresponds with the pH of pure water. A basic soil has a pH greater than 7, and acidic soils have pH levels l......[Read More]

Orchids have long, thin, green stalks at the top of which sits brightly colored flowers. Orchid plants usually only have three to four leaves that sit at the base of the plant near the soil. Orchids are widely considered to be finicky plants that are hard to care for, but the truth is that they simp......[Read More]

The brightly colored blooms of the giant dahlia sometimes reach more than 10 inches in diameter, making this plant an eye-catching addition to any garden. Giant dahlias come in many colors, from soft pastel shades to vibrant reds and oranges. They do best planted in full sun and well-drained soil. I......[Read More]

Many dogs, particularly brown or liver-colored Labrador retrievers, some American pit bulls and all pharaoh hounds, sport light-brown noses and light-colored eye rims. A white- or light-haired dog can be genetically predisposed to have a pink or mottled nose. As a dog of any breed ages, owners may n......[Read More]

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New Guinea Impatiens are some of the easiest varieties of annual flowers to care for. These hybrids are descended from tropical flowers imported from New Guinea where they live along the banks of rivers and streams. They love full shade and very damp soil. Impatiens can seem to collapse when thir......[Read More]

Lychee trees originated in Southeastern China but are grown across the world in climates with cool, dry winters and long, hot summers. Although suited for subtropic and tropical areas, too much humidity causes fruit damage, so the tree is not often grown in low-lying tropical areas. The trees do wel......[Read More]

The Stephanotis vine also goes by the name Madagascar Jasmine or Bridal Veil plant. It is an evergreen clematis vine with thick almost leathery, dark green leaves and creamy white fragrant flowers. Although it will grow to a length of almost 18 feet, it usually grows wider, forming almost a bush wit......[Read More]

The hoya plant, also called wax plant, is a vine native to Australia and Eastern Asia. It cannot tolerate cold temperatures and is grown as a houseplant in all but the warmest climates. In summer, the hoya plant develops globe-like clusters of pinkish-white blooms. It does best with at least four h......[Read More]

Bay windows became staples of small-business store-front windows during the early to mid-1800s. These windows were shaped in 30-, 45-, 60- or 90-degree angles and used for displaying merchandise. These windows became commonly used in residential designs in the late 1800s. Box windows -- those with 9......[Read More]

There are more than 4,000 varieties of tulips, in an array of shapes, sizes and colors. Of those, a few hundred are available commercially. Tulips typically bloom from March through May, and many can be grown indoors during the winter as house plants. Before choosing tulips for your garden, check to......[Read More]

Willow trees are such easy plants to propagate from cuttings. According to Ron Smith, a horticulturist at the North Dakota State University Extension Service, they have preformed root initials all along their stems, which will start forming roots under the right conditions. The curly willow, or Sali......[Read More]

Grass has fibrous roots consisting of a main section, or crown, that produces ever-smaller, laterally-growing branches that end in tiny filaments. This mat-like growth extends only a few inches deep. All parts, from larger arms to tiny end filaments, absorb water and nutrients, while also anchoring ......[Read More]

The large, colorfully variegated leaves of a hosta provide a lot of impact in shadier areas of the yard. Hostas grow in clumps of foliage that can be divided every few years to give you new plants for the landscape. After transplanting new or divided plants, the hosta may need some time to recover. ......[Read More]

Frangipani (Plumeria spp.) are often associated with Polynesia, but these succulent trees have origins in Central America. They are heat and drought tolerant, but freezing temperatures cause branches to rupture and then rot. Bring these tropical plants indoors if winters are too cold.......[Read More]

River birch (Betula nigra) is a more heat-tolerant and bronze birch borer-resistant tree species grown where other birch trees tend to falter or never look nice in the landscape. Fast-growing and often multi-trunked, it displays yellow fall color and flaky bark.......[Read More]

Yucca plants, iconic in desert areas of the Southwest, are flowering blade-leafed plants that naturally thrive in full sun. A member of the Agavaceae family, 56 native and introduced varieties of yuccas grow in the United States.......[Read More]

Pumpkins are an autumn favorite, baked into pies or carved into Halloween jack o'lanterns. If you're discarding the wealth of pumpkin seeds hidden inside the pumpkin, you're wasting a delicious treat loaded with fiber, zinc, iron, magnesium and healthy omega-6 and omega-3 oils. Pumpkin seeds aren't ......[Read More]