If you're lucky enough to live in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 through 12, you can grow Ficus trees (Ficus Benjamina) outdoors year-round. Elsewhere, ficus trees are grown as houseplants year-round or overwintered indoors and brought outside for summer … [Read more...]
How to Grow Crabapple Trees
Crabapple trees (Malus spp.) are known for their brilliant spring display of white or pink blossoms, but they offer something to the garden year-round. The trees have glossy leaves during the summer that turn yellow in the fall. As crabapple trees mature, they develop interesting … [Read more...]
How to Grow Weeping Willow Trees
In a wide, sweeping lawn or near a pond or lake, weeping willows make a calming and picturesque addition to the landscape. Unfortunately, they have several liabilities that make them unsuitable for most homeowners. If, however, you have the right conditions, weeping willows can … [Read more...]
How to Grow Japanese Yew Shrubs
Native to Japan and Korea, Japanese yews (Taxus cuspidata) were first introduced to North America by George R. Hall. Since the shrub species’ introduction, many cultivars have become available. All yews have needles and seeds that are highly toxic to humans and many animals, … [Read more...]
How to Grow Mulberry Trees
By Julie Christensen Native to China and Japan, the white mulberry tree (Morus alba) has been cultivated for thousands of years there, where it is the preferred food source of silk worms. In the early 1800s, enterprising settlers brought white mulberry trees to the U.S., … [Read more...]
How to Grow the Jacaranda Tree
By Julie Christensen Visit any exotic tropical region in late spring and summer and you’ll probably find the jacaranda tree (Jacaranda mimosifolia) in full bloom. These trees are among the loveliest of tropical trees, with an open, vase-shape and extravagant clusters … [Read more...]
How to Grow Inkberry (Evergreen Winterberry) Shrubs
By Julie Christensen Native to the eastern United States, the inkberry shrub (Ilex glabra) might just be the answer to a problem area in your yard. This evergreen shrub tolerates and even thrives in continually wet soils where other plants fail. It’s also more … [Read more...]
How to Grow Winterberry Holly
By Julie Christensen Found throughout the eastern United States and Canada, winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata) is aptly named for its bright-red berries that persist well into winter, attracting birds and wildlife. This native shrub grows 6 to 15 feet tall and wide. It … [Read more...]
How to Grow an American Holly Tree
By Julie Christensen American holly trees (Ilex opaca) were valued long before Europeans arrived. Native Americans dried the berries and used them for buttons or decorations. They also used the hard wood for various purposes. In the landscape, American holly trees make … [Read more...]
How to Grow a Brown Turkey Fig Tree
By Julie Christensen Fig trees are heat-loving plants and most of them are hardy only in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 11. Brown turkey fig tree (Ficus carica ‘Brown Turkey’) is a cold-hardy variety that grows as far north as zone 6. … [Read more...]
How to Grow Corkscrew Willow
By Julie Christensen If you love willows, you just might want to try a corkscrew willow (Salix matsudana 'Tortuosa'). Unlike weeping willows, these trees have an upright form. The branches and twigs initially grow almost vertically before moving to a more horizontal growth. … [Read more...]
How to Grow Boxwood Shrubs
By Julie Christensen Boxwoods (Buxus) were first introduced in America from England in 1652. Colonists planted them widely and they still can be found in old colonial gardens throughout the East Coast. With their small, evergreen leaves, boxwoods are most widely used as … [Read more...]
How to Grow Coconut Palm
By Julie Christensen Few trees are more exotic than the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera Linn.). This regal tree produces edible seeds – coconuts. Unfortunately, coconut palms are hardy only in USDA plant hardiness zone 11 and 12. They need minimum temperatures of about 72 degrees … [Read more...]
How to Grow Cedar Trees
By Julie Christensen The name cedar is used to refer to several species of upright evergreen trees. These trees have a similar form and use, but their growing conditions vary and they do not belong to the same family. All of the cedars grow to be fairly large, long-lived … [Read more...]
How to Grow Bayberry Shrub
If you’ve got a tough landscaping situation, bayberry shrub (Myrica) might just be the solution. Bayberry is native to eastern North America and thrives along the rugged coastal areas of Maine. Hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 6, this shrub has a loose, open form and … [Read more...]
How to Grow Blackhaw Viburnum trees
By Julie Christensen Blackhaw viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium) is one of those low-maintenance trees that you can put in the ground and count on to thrive. Native to the eastern and central United States, blackhaw viburnum tolerates most soil types, so long as the soil is … [Read more...]
Growing Nut Trees
A great, low-maintenance, and decorative way to grow food in an urban or suburban environment is by planting nut trees. Nuts have a high nutritional value, are popular in many recipes, and require little maintenance or upkeep as compared to most garden vegetables. The … [Read more...]
How to Grow Bamboo
By Julie Christensen Native to Asia, bamboo might seem like a tree, but it’s actually a type of grass. There are over 1,400 species of bamboo, ranging from dwarf varieties that stay under 2 feet tall, to giant types that reach over 100 feet tall. The plants are … [Read more...]
Diplodia Blight in Trees
This is actually one of the most common diseases affecting trees in cities, suburbs, and other urban environments. Most people do not know what they're seeing when they notice it, however, and usually attribute it to poor irrigation or sun bleaching. … [Read more...]
How to Grow Acacia Tree
By Julie Christensen Native to subtropical regions throughout the world, the acacia trees grow in the harshest climates. Acacia trees (Acacia spp.) can be found in the African savannah, Arizona’s gullies and the plains of Australia-where they’re called wattles-as well as … [Read more...]