Boardash: ArcaMax Gardening Daily Tips for Friday January 15, 2010

Thursday, January 14, 2010

ArcaMax Gardening Daily Tips for Friday January 15, 2010

Having trouble seeing this email? View the most recent issue or stories from previous issues.

	Today's Wine & Dine Daily Video
	Mock Meatloaf Recipe Play Now!

Get Healthy in 2010

Gardening Daily Tips
For You
Friday January 15, 2010

Sage (Salvia officinalis)
Q&A: Seed Leaves vs. True Leaves
Q&A: Oleander Toxicity
Tip: Water Evergreens
Get Healthy in 2010
Reader Photos

Sage (Salvia officinalis)

Today's Featured Plant
Sage (Salvia officinalis)

Read the full profile of this plant at ArcaMax.com.

Interested in reading about other plants? Search through hundreds of plant profiles and helpful articles by keyword.

Comment on this Story | Printer Friendly | Send Story to a Friend | Top

Q&A: Seed Leaves vs. True Leaves

Question: What does the term "true leaves" mean? Is there such a thing as "fake leaves?" Should I pinch off the first set of leaves on my seedlings?

Answer: The first set of leaves that appear when a seed germinates are called, strangely enough, 'seed leaves'. These serve to nourish the new sprout until it can photosynthesize its own food. A plant's seed leaves usually don't look much like the leaves that emerge later and are considered "true leaves." (Consider a bean plant: the first leaves resemble a bean seed split in half, while the true leaves are heart-shaped.) There is no need to remove the seed leaves. Once they've done their job, they'll shrivel up on their own.

Comment on this Story | Printer Friendly | Send Story to a Friend | Top

Q&A: Oleander Toxicity

Question: I have heard that oleander is very toxic. Just how toxic? Can I put prunings in the compost pile? How far away should I keep my vegetable beds from the oleander?

Answer: Oleander (Nerium oleander) is listed in the American Medical Association's book of poisonous plants. According to the book, any part, green or dried, is toxic if eaten by humans or livestock. Even brushing against the leaves can cause rashes in some sensitive individuals. Also, if burned, the resulting smoke is irritating to certain sensitive people. With that said, it would be perfectly safe to compost the prunings from your oleander bushes. The plant is toxic only if eaten, so planting your veggie garden in close proximity to oleanders shouldn't affect your vegetables in any way.

Comment on this Story | Printer Friendly | Send Story to a Friend | Top

Tip: Water Evergreens

Winter dry spells can be as hard on evergreens such as pine and spruce. If the ground isn't frozen and you haven't had rain for 1 to 2 weeks, water trees and shrubs, especially those under building eaves.

Comment on this Story | Printer Friendly | Send Story to a Friend | Top

Get Healthy in 2010

Get in shape for the New Year with health tips from ArcaMax! Get the latest news in health and medicine, free diet and exercise tips, and more with a free subscription.

Subscribe to Health Tips instantly.

Find out more before subscribing.

-- From the ArcaMax editors

Comment on this Story | Printer Friendly | Send Story to a Friend | Top

Today's Reader Submitted Photos

Click an image above to see full size and read caption.

To see more of our subscriber photos visit our full Photo Gallery.

Enter your Gardening Daily Tips pictures so you can show them off to other readers right here in this ezine and on the ArcaMax.com Web site. Click here to submit your photo.

Sincerely,
ArcaMax Editors