Check out all our blog posts on Outdoor gardening.
Commercial gardening is growing plants to sell rather than just to eat or enjoy at home. It covers everything from a quarter-acre market garden to a full greenhouse operation or a backyard nursery selling perennials. If you’ve ever had more tomatoes than your family could eat, you’ve had a small taste of it. In this … Read more >>
Money tree leaves turning yellow almost always point to a watering problem. In most cases, the cause is soil that stays wet too long, which starves the roots of air and leads to root rot. Light, cold drafts, pests, and a lack of nutrients come next. A single old leaf yellowing at the bottom is … Read more >>
No, a true money tree isn’t toxic to cats. The ASPCA lists the money tree (Pachira aquatica) as non-toxic to cats, dogs, and horses, so a nibbled leaf won’t poison your pet. That’s good news, since this braided plant sits in a lot of living rooms where cats love to explore. There are two catches … Read more >>
When a money tree starts dying, the most likely cause is soggy soil and the root rot that follows. Most dying money trees are suffering from overwatering or poor drainage, which rots the roots so the plant can’t take up water, and that shows up as yellow, drooping, falling leaves and sometimes a soft trunk. … Read more >>
Yes, you can plant a money tree outside year-round if you live in USDA zones 10 to 12, where frost doesn’t happen. Everywhere else, you can keep it outdoors in a pot for the summer and bring it in before nights drop below 50°F. The money tree (Pachira aquatica) comes from the warm wetlands of … Read more >>
A tidy garden is not just about looks. Good cleanup habits cut down on pests and disease, protect your soil, and give your plants a strong start each year. These garden cleaning tips walk you through what to do in fall, what to save for spring, and how to keep things in shape all year. … Read more >>
The secret to areca palm care is steady conditions. Give your butterfly palm bright indirect light, water it when the top 1 to 2 inches of soil feel dry, and use filtered or rainwater so the frond tips stay green. Add 40 to 60% humidity, a fast-draining mix, and light feeding in spring and summer, … Read more >>
To keep raccoons and squirrels out of the garden, start by identifying which animal is causing the damage, then remove food sources and protect the plants it targets. The right fix depends on the visitor: raccoons often raid gardens at night, while squirrels usually feed and dig during the day. No single trick works everywhere, … Read more >>
Yes, podocarpus grows well in pots. Podocarpus can grow in pots for years as long as you use a container with drainage holes, a loose, well-drained mix, and enough light, and the compact forms like Podocarpus macrophyllus ‘Maki’ are the easiest choice for patios and bright rooms. It’s a slow, steady grower, so a potted … Read more >>
Yes, podocarpus is poisonous to cats, and the ASPCA lists it as toxic to dogs and horses too. The plant is sold as yew pine, Buddhist pine, or Japanese yew. If your cat chews the needles or seeds, expect stomach trouble such as vomiting and diarrhea. The good news is that podocarpus is far less … Read more >>