For many gardeners, the term “invasive plant” spreads terror and discord, creating waves of anxiety and resentment. Currently, invasive plants are defined to be non-native, exotic aliens which reproduce furiously, replacing native plant species and complex self-sustaining ecosystems with, in…
As we move into spring, days are getting longer and warmer, and once again lawns in the Washington area are turning green and starting another season of growth. Behnke’s is offering a few simple tips to get your lawn off to a great start this Spring.
Annuals, in general, are plants that grow from seeds or cuttings, begin to bloom shortly afterwards, and set seed and eventually die, all in a single growing season. Annuals have many advantages for the home gardener. Most annuals are nearly…
Conifers for Gardens: An Illustrated Encyclopedia: This book, by Timber Press, is and is not a coffee table book. It is a coffee table book because it is filled with pictures – it has to be, to distinguish between cultivars…
When choosing fresh flowers, how do you decide what to buy? Throughout my many years as a florist and floral designer, I have been asked by people who are choosing flowers “what do you recommend…you’re the expert”. My standard response…
This time of year has us checking off many projects that get our lives in order, both inside the house and out in the garden. Pruning is a part of our garden maintenance each year and can be a frustrating…
Plants are wonderful subjects for science projects. Here are some hints on how to make your project a success.
Just about everyone that has ever purchased a Ficus Benjamina tree (commonly known as the weeping fig), has had to drag out the vacuum, broom, or even a rake to clean up those leaves that have dropped. All too often the concerned plant owner tries to water more, or water less, re-pot it, feed it, move it into more light, or move it into less light. Simply put, the plant just gets confused, and so do we.
Bromeliads are easy-to-grow indoor plants. They are greatly adaptable to air-conditioned surroundings and less-than-ideal light levels, and tolerant of the neglect imposed on them by the hectic pace of modern living. Bromeliads (Bro-meel-ee-ads) are members of a large family of…
One of the pleasures of the transition from summer to fall to winter is that our greenhouses once again are chock full of blooming plants to make your home more cheerful. Although a lot of attention is lavished on the…
Let’s remember the plants of Christmas past. They aren’t with us the way they used to be. The reason? People’s houses then were cold, by our standards. Early houses had fireplaces—the earliest had huge, walk-in hearths—which did triple duty in…
As the cold season approaches there are several things to do for your trees and shrubs to ease their stress during the coldest months of winter. In general it is a good idea to apply fresh mulch around your plants…
