Gardening Daily Tips
For You
Tuesday February 23, 2010 |
Celosia, Plume (Celosia argentea) | Today's Featured Plant
Celosia, Plume (Celosia argentea)
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: When to Prune Trees Question: When is the best time to prune maple trees, flowering cherry, flowering pear, and pine trees?
Answer: Pruning is one of the most satisfying of garden jobs. Unfortunately many gardeners avoid this task because they are not sure WHEN to prune certain trees. In general, it's safe to prune during the inactive or dormant period, ideally late winter to early spring, as long as the trees are not frozen. It's usually NOT a good idea to prune in late summer or early fall because pruning stimulates growth and the new tender shoots may be damaged in the upcoming colder months. However for every general rule there are exceptions, and maple is one of them. While it is not harmful to the tree to prune in late winter, maples are "bleeders" (the sap flows freely). All cuts during this time will "bleed." This is not harmful to the tree, but could create an untidy situation. Under such circumstances maples and other bleeders can be pruned in midsummer when the sap will not run. Pines are also specific in their pruning needs. Except for removing any dead branches, most pines require little pruning. But some pruning can be beneficial to produce a denser tree. New growth on pines at the tips of the branches is called a "candle." Pruning should be restricted to cutting new growth of the candles back about halfway. This is done after the candles elongate but before the needles expand in spring. While this is difficult to describe, once you observe the tree in spring, it will become clear. Flowering cherry and pear are also exceptions to the general rule! Spring flowering trees are pruned immediately AFTER bloom which would be late spring or early summer. The reason is that the flower buds are formed on last season's growth and to remove it in late winter would cause the loss of the flowers for that year. If you are uncomfortable with tackling a pruning job, just start slowly, doing a little bit. With time you will gain confidence, and your trees will be more attractive and healthier for it! |
| Comment on this Story | Printer Friendly | Send Story to a Friend | Top |
Q&A: Houseplants With Fragrance Question: What are some fragrant houseplants?
Answer: The first thing I think of are citrus plants such as Seville orange (Citrus aurantium), Meyer lemon (Citrus 'meyeri'), and Ponderosa lemon (Citrus limonia ponderosa). Some other good choices are orchids (Dendrobium nobile), pink jasmine (Jasminum polyanthum), freesia hybrids, natal plum (Carissa grandiflora), gardenia (Gardenia stricta nana), and cherry pie plant (Heliotropium x hybridum). |
| Comment on this Story | Printer Friendly | Send Story to a Friend | Top |
Tip: Plant Cole Crops In warm areas, broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage seedlings should be transplanted into the garden. Before transplanting, place seedlings in a cold frame or under a floating row cover for 5 days to acclimate to the outdoor environment. |
| Comment on this Story | Printer Friendly | Send Story to a Friend | Top |
Choose from 60,000 Books -- Get Your Free Samples at BookDaily.com Be sure to check out one of ArcaMax's hottest features, BookDaily.com!
Browse, search and read sample first chapters from your favorite authors -- and sign up for free email newsletters with the book samples you want to read later.
You'll find books from Lisa Jackson, Tucker Max, Brian Herbert, and many more.
Visit BookDaily.com now.
-- 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 |
Advertisement Congratulations...You've Won: Free $1,000 Sam's Gift Card
* Use at any Sam's Club location
* Works the same as cash - never expires
* Get the latest Toys and Gifts
* Groceries, Furniture, Tools...
* HDTV Or A New Computer... Click And Claim Yours!
p.s. - Also includes a Full Sam's Club 1 Year Membership. |
| Recent Stories |
 Q&A: Are Paperwhites Worth Saving?
Q&A: Herb Seedlings Dying
Tip: Control Damping Off Disease
Coral Bells (Heuchera sanguinea)
Q&A: Separating Seedlings
|
| More From ArcaMax Publishing |
| Newsletters: Comics - Knowledge - Lifestyles - News - More Classic Books: Fiction - Non Fiction - Short Stories - Sci Fi - More More: Quizzes - Sudoku - Crossword - Weather - Sports - Columns En Español: Ultimas Noticias - Tiras Comicas - Deportes - Sudoku |
Ad Free Newsletter
ArcaMax publications are now available in an "advertising-free" format.
Please click here for details. |
| |
| |
