Stage Ideas, Tips & Guides

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Butterfly bushes are hugely popular in the South for many reasons. They’re easy to grow and bloom all summer long in shades of pink, purple, white, and magenta. Of course, they also provide nectar-rich food for butterflies, which visit these pretty shrubs all season long. Since they bloom in the summer, some may think you should prune them in the fall, but the best time to prune butterfly bushes is actually in late winter to early spring.

When most people picture the perfect kitchen, a few things might come to mind. From beautiful appliances to ample counter space to perfectly organized walk-in pantries, everyone has different musts on their list. 

Ladybugs, or lady beetles, are insects in the beetle family. There are about 5,000 species of these tiny insects, and most of them are quite helpful. Although best known as a red insect with black spots, ladybugs come in a variety of colors, and some have stripes or no markings at all.

The value of having compost available for use in the home garden is immeasurable, and the convenience of creating that compost on-site for instant availability adds to the reward. Of course, learning how to successfully compost and creating a process that works for your home and lifestyle can certainly be a challenge. For those with plenty of available material for the composting process, along with enough space, the popular three-bin system allows for maximum efficiency in creating nutrient-rich compost. Constructing or purchasing a three-bin system establishes a time-tested design and organized approach that accelerates composting quickly and consistently, while allowing for three various stages of decomposition in close proximity.

As the crisp air of autumn approaches, it’s the perfect time to take advantage of nature’s generosity by expanding your garden without spending a penny. During this season, many common garden plants and shrubs enter a stage of growth that makes them ideal for propagation. By taking semi-hardwood stem cuttings, you can easily root a variety of plants, such as weigela, hydrangea, and daphne. This simple gardening technique can help you cultivate a flourishing garden with minimal cost. Why Autumn is Perfect for Plant Cutting

If your lawn is looking a little sad or sparse this year, June bugs may be to blame. These beetles emerge from the soil in spring or early summer, earning the common name of May or June bugs. “June bugs are a type of scarab beetle, with several species found in the Southeast,” says Shimat V. Joseph, PhD, associate professor of turfgrass and ornamentals, department of entomology, at theUniversity of Georgia. “They release pheromones for mating so you’ll typically see them congregating on the side of a building, often near a light.”

What are these insects on pole butterbeans?

Welcome to another Six on Saturday, the meme kindly hosted by Jim at Garden Ruminations.

Adam Albright

Better Homes & Gardens

When you see a caterpillar on dill in your garden—or other plants—you may be startled, grossed out, or annoyed that your plant is being systematically decimated. I get excited. Because I know it’s a black swallowtail caterpillar (Papilio polyxenes) that’s going to turn into a beautiful butterfly. And that butterfly is going to become one of many valuable pollinators in my garden. I see a few types of swallowtail butterflies fluttering about my property, landing on various annuals and perennials. They are am

After all that hard work, a bad harvest can spoil your mood. Not anymore, though; with these tips and tricks on pruning cucumbers for a juicy harvest, you’ll have plenty of these veggies, and that too, really good ones!

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Do Black Swallowtail Butterflies Eat Carrots?

Growing garlic is simpler than you probably imagine. The outcomes are usually satisfying and the whole process takes little time and effort. The main conditions garlic requires are sufficient sunshine, well-drained soil, proper watering, and regular weed removal.

Pothos is a champion survivor, and might even go through an apocalypse if maintained well! However, if you are going to neglect it way too much, the plant may suffer and die. If you see yours in a bad state, too, here’s how to take care of it.

Q: We have a small back garden that includes an old wall covered in ivy. I love the ivy, but it has become home to an army of slugs that have eaten many of my plants over the years. I have tried many different things to combat the slugs (ground eggshells, coffee grinds, various different pellets), none of which have really made that much difference. I am also concerned about using products that may harm the birds that visit the garden and our dog. At this stage, I think I have to accept that the slugs are part of the garden and learn to live with them. So, I would like to look at planting some small shrubs and flowers that are not appealing to slugs. I would be grateful for some suggestions. JM

If you’re like me as soon as you plant your seed potatoes you’re already anticipating the harvest of tender tubers. However, potatoes are a long season crop and you’ll have to practice patience. So how long does it take for potatoes to grow? Generally the potato growing season is three to four months, but there are a few strategies you can do to encourage an early harvest. In this article you’ll learn about the different types of potatoes, which ones grow the fastest, and discover six ways to speed up the homegrown harvest. Types of potatoes Potatoes are categorized according to the length of their growing season. To ensure the longest season of homeg

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What is this red-eyed creature found crawling up a pine tree?

What is this maggot-looking insect on the bottom of this strawberry leaf?

If you're dealing with an awkwardly shaped room in your home and are coming up short on how to best arrange furniture within the space, professional interior designers are here to help.

Robin L Marshall / Stringer / Getty Images

Spilling jade plant can be an amazing addition to hanging baskets, where you can see its stems hanging down with those fleshy leaves! If you don’t know how to train one for the job, we have the best tips!

What is the bloated tan thing found on the underside of this strawberry leaf?

This article uncovers a variety of plants that not only mimic the appearance of corn, but also look eye-catching with their tall stalks of lush, green leaves, making them a great addition in garden and pots!

Hornworms can be very frustrating and difficult to get rid of. They have impressive appetites, which means they can do a lot of damage very quickly – but it is possible to save your plants.

Pinching is an art of stimulating new growth in plants by pressing and removing the ends of the stems. Let’s have a deeper understanding of the ones that benefit the most from it.

If you will get the details of watermelon growing stages, you will cultivate it better while avoiding the mistakes, which will result in a guaranteed juicy and bigger fruits!

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Have you heard of the saying, “You are what you eat”? The body is in a rapid growth stage from puberty through early adulthood. As you age, you make more choices that affect your body and health. To support proper growth and development, teens need a nutritionally balanced diet, physical activity, and adequate sleep. A diet high in nutritious foods can benefit a teen’s overall health as well as:

Growing butternut squash involves several distinct stages, from seed germination to fruits. Understanding these will help you get a plentiful harvest!

The jade plant (Crassula ovata) is one of the quintessential succulents for homes that becomes a little leggy and overgrown with time – this calls for some pruning action, and this is where this guide comes in!

Monsteras are popular indoor plants that stand out with their lush foliage having unique cuts! Growing it involves witnessing various stages that you should be aware of to understand its requirements better.

There are several important stages in the cultivation of a plant and one of these is the planting of plants in pots. This is known as potting. The move is dictated by the vigor of the plant, especially in its root system. Once it outgrows its original soil area in a pot it is necessary to provide more room for the root development and the plant has to be moved on or potted into a larger pot. If the plant is being raised from seed or a cutting, it will be necessary to give it more root room eventually and the next move is into a small pot.