d o r i c s o u t h – A s s o c i a t i o n – Page 6 – Regardless the destination, all roads lead home.

Flowering Plum Tree Pruning

Pruning ornamental plum trees (Prunus spp.) Encourages new development, fragrant blossoms and wholesome fruits. Based on cultivar and variety, plum trees developed in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 to 10 along with different regions of earth feature brightly coloured leaves, pink or white flowers and berrylike or pitted fruits. Removing dead or [...]

Are Landscaping Timbers Safe for Garden Use?

Landscaping timbers available in many home and garden centres nowadays are made from the center wood of trees which have been refined for plywood and are seldom dangerous to use in your garden. However, before 2004, landscaping timbers were treated with a solution which contained arsenic, which may not be safe for use in your [...]

The way to Germinate Arborvitae

With their clean growth habit and feathery, evergreen foliage, arborvitae shrubs (Platycladus orientalis) add construction and year-round color to gardens within U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 to 11. They are most commonly propagated from cuttings, although arborvitae shrubs will even grow true from fresh seeds. The seeds sprout reliably if gathered in [...]

How to Prune a Bonsai Plant

Bonsai plants require pruning to keep up the miniature size, as well as the stylized shape. Taking your time while pruning a bonsai gives you a well-shaped plant with just the correct amount of branching to seem natural. Bonsai plants mimic nature in scenery and form, making pruning essential to keeping the plant’s aesthetic value. [...]

When to Trim a Citrus Tree

Growing a citrus tree in your backyard does not just create cooling shade, it may also offer you a fresh supply of fruit. The tree’s shiny, green foliage and brightly colored fruit help add interest to your lawn. Unlike many fruit trees, citrus trees don’t require regular pruning to remain healthy and produce fruit, but [...]

How to Grow Gourds and Conserve Them Properly

Gourd varietals, such as “bicolor pear,” “cannon ball” and “Aladdin’s turban,” have served several purposes through the centuries, such as storage containers, utensils as well as music instruments. Although gourds are now commonly used for ornamental purposes, the process of growing and conserving gourds hasn’t changed much. After growing and harvesting, they need to be [...]

What Are the Benefits of Butterfly Gardens into the Environment?

Butterflies are beneficial to the environment through the symbiotic relationship they maintain with the plants they see and their preferences for organic, indigenous habitats. Although the larval caterpillar feeds on its host plant, this nominal damage is often worth the benefits that come in the adult butterfly. With the visual appeal of these showy insects, [...]

The way to Install a Iron Railing on Open Stairs

An open staircase without a railing is an accident waiting to happen. Many individuals don’t feel comfortable walking up or down a set of open staircase that doesn’t have a sturdy hand railing installed for assistance. You may install an iron railing on open staircase — regardless of whether the stairs are wooden, carpeted, covered [...]

The Potato Vine Caterpillar

Potato vine (Solanum jasminoides) is a flowering vine that does not create vegetables of any kind. This evergreen plant develops in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11, producing fragrant bluish-white flowers. Potato vines attract various guests with their leaf and blooms, including hummingbirds and butterflies. Some butterflies utilize the potato vine [...]

How to Remove Tree Roots from a Septic Tank

A septic tank, which is the most important part of a septic system, is a large, underground, concrete tank which is used chiefly in suburban and rural properties as a personal sewage facility. Household waste water from toilets and drains travels through pipes and enters one end of the tank. The waste water decomposes through [...]