The paulownia (Paulownia tomentosa), also called princess tree, royal empress tree or foxglove tree, is theoretically a fairly tall, fast-growing tree from 30 to 50 feet/10 to 15 m tall, usually grown for its abundant of pinkish-lavender trumpet-shaped flowers: sort of a jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia) for moderate climates. Under the right circumstances, it quickly grows into a multi-branched, very presentable shade tree, although its tendency to self-sow over-abundantly has somewhat tarnished its reputation. [ 382 more words ]

http://laidbackgardener.blog/…/how-to-grow-a-monster-leaf-…/

Researchers at the Aprilscherz Institute of Horticultural Technology of Wunschdenken, Germany, have announced the development of a self-mowing lawn grass that will be introduced next year. The blades of this new cultivar of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), ‘Unsinn 382’, develop an abscission layer near the leaf tip when it reaches a height of 8 to 10 cm (3 ¼ to 4 inches) in height, causing the tip to drop off neatly. [ 255 more words ]

http://laidbackgardener.blog/…/give-away-your-mower-theres…/

There’s a persistent and long-held belief that you have to remove the anthers (the orange structures that emerge from the center of the flower) from Easter lily blooms (Lilium longiflorum). But how true is it? In fact, it’s both true and false. Here’s an explanation: It’s true if you’re afraid of stains. Orange lily pollen easily stains natural fabrics (tablecloths, clothes, curtains, etc.). [ 293 more words ]

http://laidbackgardener.blog/…/is-it-really-necessary-to-e…/

Officials in Saguaro National Park in Tucson, Arizona, have had to resort to microchipping some 1,000 specimens of the park’s iconic saguaro cactus (Carnegia gigantea) in a bid to deter cactus thieves. The tall cactus with thick arms are often over 150 years old and moving them is quite a task. Even so, they’re highly prized in landscaping due to their stark, almost otherworldly appearance, with tall specimens fetching up to $1,000 apiece, and that’s enough to stimulate lust in the heart of plant rustlers. [ 256 more words ]

http://laidbackgardener.blog/…/cactus-microchipped-to-stym…/

In North America, the serious decline of the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), the black-veined orange migratory butterfly that winters in Mexico and California and travels all the way to Canada in the summer, has been highly publicized. It’s hard to imagine of anyone who hasn’t heard about it. Its population has been declining for at least 50 years, and since 2008, the population has dropped dramatically, from 1 billion to 93 million butterflies. [ 1,757 more word ]

http://laidbackgardener.blog/…/plant-more-than-milkweeds-t…/

With seed-starting season in full swing, it’s worth pointing out that most seed packs indicate how deep you should sow the seeds they contain and how far apart you should space them. If they don’t, you will probably find this detail in a book or on the Internet. If not, use the following rule which has served gardeners for generations: … [ 647 more words ]

http://laidbackgardener.blog/…/seeds-you-dont-need-to-cover/

The peace lily or spathiphylllum (Spathiphyllum spp.), also called spathe leaf or white sails, is one of the most popular houseplants and with good reason. Very few houseplants that bloom so beautifully are as easy to grow. And it’s not just a flowering plant. Thanks to its attractive leaves, it makes a stunning foliage plant as well. It is often offered too as an excellent plant for air purification, although that point is debatable. [ 1,583 more word ]

http://laidbackgardener.blog/…/making-peace-with-your-peac…/

If you sow only one variety of seed in a given year, setting up a sowing schedule is not that difficult. You only need to determine the best sowing date, which is probably indicated on the seed packet. For example, the packet may indicate “sow indoors 8 weeks before the transplant date.” You only have to count backwards according to this information. [ 235 more words ]

http://laidbackgardener.blog/…/organize-your-seed-packets-…/

Question: Help! I just discovered two bags of tulip bulbs that I forgot to plant in the fall. Can I still plant them this spring? P. Carmichael Answer: You wrote me on March 17th. Essentially, therefore, in early spring (at least in the northern hemisphere), while you would normally plant tulip bulbs in the fall (September, October or November), The usual growth cycle for a tulip is to produce roots in the fall in cool soil and grow under the snow all winter to be ready to bloom early in the spring. [ 592 more words ]

http://laidbackgardener.blog/…/can-you-plant-forgotten-tul…/

In temperate climates, ‘Annabelle’ smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’) is among the most popular landscape shrubs. You simply can’t miss its big pompons of pure white flowers from midsummer through early fall. In my neighborhood alone, I’m sure at least one house out of five features this shrub. And it’s been around for quite a while. ‘Annabelle’ was first discovered in the town of Anna, Illinois (whence the name Annabelle) in 1960 and was first made available to gardeners starting in 1962. [ 466 more words ]

http://laidbackgardener.blog/…/honey-they-shrunk-the-hydra…/

In spring, when trays of seedlings and cuttings start to fill our homes, transparent mini-greenhouses are ideal for covering the soon-to-be plants. They help create the famous “greenhouse effect” young plants so love, keeping both seedlings and cuttings in warmth and high humidity … just what they need for a good start in life. You can, of course, buy plastic domes specifically designed for this purpose: every garden center sells them, as do seed catalogs, but you may already have everything you need at home … in the form of plastic bottles: water bottles, juice bottles, soft drink bottles, etc. [ 233 more words ]

http://laidbackgardener.blog/…/plastic-bottles-make-great-…/

If you’re still reading the paper edition of the local newspaper or if you regularly receive ads on newsprint in your mailbox, you can make pots for seed starting for next to nothing. There is even a tool—called a Potmaker, Pot Maker or Paper Potter, depending on the manufacturer—designed specifically for this purpose. Here’s how it works: This video by Lee Valley Tools shows how to use a Potmaker. [ 380 more words ]

http://laidbackgardener.blog/…/how-to-make-your-own-paper-…/

You tell everyone that soil isn’t dirty … and you really believe it. Whether you’re at the grocery store, the hardware store, a flea market or even on the beach or in a forest, you always find products or items you can use in your garden. You spend more on gardening than on clothes. You read a plant or seed catalog like other people read a novel. [ 575 more words ]

http://laidbackgardener.blog/…/40-signs-youre-obsessed-wit…/

Tho' an old man, I am but a young gardener. Thomas Jefferson, August 30 1811

http://laidbackgardener.blog/2018/03/15/thought-of-the-day/

Typically, leaves of deciduous trees and shrubs drop off in the fall, often after changing color. However, sometimes these leaves—or more commonly, some of these leaves—remain on the plant into and even throughout the winter. They are dead and brown by then and really stand out compared to nearby trees and shrubs that are completely bare at that time of year. [ 350 more words ]

http://laidbackgardener.blog/…/when-autumn-leaves-fail-to-…/