For questions asking for particular plants that meet a specific need.
1
vote
1answer
19 views
Growing in the Tropics
Can I grow peonies, camellias or magnolias in the tropics/Philippines? or at least a good substitute for those I have mentioned.
15
votes
6answers
1k views
What kind of plants will survive the heat from an air conditioner?
I live on the 18th floor of a building in Hong Kong. In summer, all of my neighbors turn on their air conditioners, which generate a huge amount of heat.
I have a little balcony like gardening area ...
4
votes
1answer
371 views
Could I grow a Sochi tea plant (Camellia sinensis) in zone 6b?
I saw a Sochi tea plant in a catalog that was hardy in zones 7-10. Since I am in zone 6b, I was wondering if I could successfully grow these without wrapping in tar paper or anything like that. I am ...
15
votes
8answers
1k views
Low maintenance plant choices for apartment (indoor) living?
I'm not an expert on plants, but would like to add some plantlife to my apartment. I'm looking for good choices that:
don't require direct sunlight,
require minimal watering,
survive for at least a ...
6
votes
3answers
66 views
Hardy plants for wind break in the Rocky Mountain West?
Here in Montana, high winds are a common cause for both gardening problems and poor energy efficiency in homes (as well as maintenance issues). Can anyone recommend some low-maintenance plants that ...
6
votes
2answers
115 views
cultivating a cactus from cutting
I've recently gotten a san pedro (Echinopsis pachanoi) cutting as a gift. I'm trying to take care of it as good as possible, but I'm not sure if I'm doing it the right way.
The situation is: the ...
1
vote
2answers
72 views
How can I rejuvenate a privet and hawthorn hedge?
I have a mixed hedge which is about 6 feet high. I think it is privet and hawthorn.
Currently, it is very top heavy in terms of the growth, and it has a lot of bare stems lower down. Please see the ...
1
vote
1answer
37 views
Plants for a duck enclosure - Sydney, Australia
I'm looking for suggestions for plants to put in a duck enclosure that are not going to be eaten or trampled by my ducks.
I will have some small raised hills running down two sides of the enclosure ...
1
vote
3answers
67 views
What are some hardy trees with medicinal properties?
I am looking to plant a few trees this year, they are not in a high priority location. I am mostly just doing it to keep my hill from eroding. I have heard ( i dont know how well documented this is) ...
3
votes
2answers
117 views
Tall Living Fence
I live in NJ and my house next to a daycare facility playground. Not only is there zero privacy, it also gets really noisy with the kids screaming all day. I am looking into the possibility of a ...
4
votes
1answer
67 views
Leafiest Tropical Tree
I currently live in tropical country Philippines and I would like to plant or graft the most leafiest tree serving 2 purpose; first to have a better shade, like I said we live in a tropical climate ...
2
votes
1answer
49 views
What are the uses of rice hulls?
I see a lot of rice hulls that are burned after harvest seasons. Is there a good use for it in my garden or it is best suited for large scale farming like rice and corn? Is there a good use for its ...
3
votes
1answer
81 views
What climbing vines will cover a 40' high cliff in southern Spain?
We live in southern Spain, and have the problem of trying to disguise a massive cliff wall behind the house. We intend to erect large metal fencing to the cliff, which is 100 feet long by 40 feet ...
3
votes
1answer
107 views
Can I plant a tree into a concrete foundation to break it?
Apparently, what used to be a foundation for a small house is now part of our backyard. The house is long gone, but the concrete foundation has been there for as long as anyone can remember. Is there ...
5
votes
4answers
681 views
Plants to grow over and cover up an ugly wall?
On my property there is an ugly wall/fence, made of concrete, with vertical pieces of concrete and gaps between, like a picket fence. but far, far less attractive.
I want to plant some plants at the ...
5
votes
1answer
92 views
Pruning a mimosa
I have a mimosa and I have to prune it. I'd like to be less invasive and do this "operation" in the best way.
Which is the best weather to prune mimosa?
Which is the best time to do it?
2
votes
2answers
223 views
What are good plants for sandy soil?
My landlord asked us to take care of the overgrown yard in exchange for reduced rent. I cleared a lot of the dead weeds and piles of leaves out and it looks like the soil is mostly sand (we live near ...
2
votes
1answer
38 views
What bulbs will do well planted in containers in the fall in Dallas, and how should I take care of them?
I'm a total and complete novice when it comes to gardening...
I'd like to plant some bulbs this fall in large containers on my back patio. I live near Dallas, Texas.
What bulbs would you recommend? ...
5
votes
3answers
493 views
Plants to dry out a soggy lawn
I live in the north of England (where it's fairly wet) and have a section of lawn near a fence that is quite mossy and boggy.
I cannot put any drainage pipe in, because the only place to run the ...
1
vote
1answer
110 views
Which are some good indoor plants for upside down planting?
Would like to grow indoor plans upside down, to save space...
Which are some good choice?
Would like those promoting more leaf growth?
Will the stem continues to grow at the same rate, as if it's ...
3
votes
2answers
285 views
Pacific N.W. sandy, sloped probably acidic soil. Needs ground cover!
I have a 5 acre parcel of land and just excavated it, leaving just large cedars and firs. I am trying to find a low ground cover that's pretty dense and can cover at least an acre of hillside that ...
2
votes
1answer
53 views
Advice on growing Naranjilla (Solanum quitonense)?
I have been trying to transform a previously ornamental garden into a productive but still attractive one. I've used citrus and guavas for hedging, lemongrass for borders etc. One final niche I'm ...
1
vote
2answers
232 views
What are some low maintenance plants I can use for my front yard?
I've got two sections in my front yard, each with one terrible looking plant. I've removed all other plants(mostly weeds). I want to remove the remaining two plants leaving me with a clean slate.
...
11
votes
5answers
1k views
What is the best shade tree to shade the front of my house?
What type of tree(s) should I plant to provide the best shade on a two-story house?
I would like to provide as much shade as possible on the red square below:
The part I'm most concerned about is ...
2
votes
2answers
670 views
Plant suggestions for a rockery in a dry, shaded position
I am planning to make a rockery down the end of my garden. The position is directly underneath two tall Leylandii. The soil there is poor and any moisture very quickly sucked out by the Leylandii.
...
4
votes
1answer
83 views
Landscaping to Reduce Visual Size of Home
We are building 2-story home (~2300 sqft) in a neighborhood of mostly 1-story homes, and typically less square feet, and no large attached garage. Needless to say, with the extra square feet, and ...
1
vote
1answer
84 views
Where can I educate myself about palm trees?
I'm looking for a palm tree to provide a back drop to a swimming pool. I think I want a medium sized palm but I know nothing about them and need to educate myself. Where can I learn about the ...
4
votes
1answer
111 views
Is there any replacement for the privacy that the thick undergrowth in woods provide?
In the back of my lot I have about 20 feet thick of woods/brush. This provides some very nice privacy from the house that is on the other side of that brush. However, I have had problems with poison ...
1
vote
1answer
144 views
Does an Eastern Redbud tolerate partial shade?
I'm thinking of replacing an ugly evergreen shrub in my front yard with a flowering tree of some kind. The location on which I'll be placing the tree is overshaded by some very large old oaks, so I'm ...
2
votes
2answers
265 views
Plant which can withstand heat up to 40 degree Celsius?
There are many plant recommended over the internet as heat tolerant plant. Well, I am not sure how much heat they are talking about.
My Habonaro Chili pepper are in bad shape due to heat wave coming ...
6
votes
2answers
538 views
Ground cover for large sloped area
I have a fairly large area, ~1000 square feet, that I would like to plant with ground cover that looks good, is low to the ground, and is zero maintenance. The area gets full sun the first half of the ...
3
votes
1answer
82 views
Looking for recommendations for houseplants to freshen up air that do not grow much
I do a lot of soldering in my room which smells. Not only that, I find my room smells stale anyway.
Ideally I want a fairly small plant that is easy to maintain and doesn't grow into a forest/ palm ...
18
votes
11answers
2k views
What is an easy vegetable to grow in a hot, dry summer / cool, wet winter climate?
I want to try growing vegetables. What is an easy veggie to start with? I live in a climate with hot, dry summers and cool rainy winters.
11
votes
5answers
210 views
What are some fast-growing, voluminous vines that are suitable to be grown in containers?
I have a large terrace in New York City, and am looking to fill it with some greenery without spending a fortune. In the past I have had good luck with morning glories in containers - they grow ...
3
votes
2answers
548 views
What are some low-maintenance vegetables and annuals that take no extra care beyond watering?
We have a fairly short growing season-- last frost mid-May, first frost mid-Sept. This year, it's even more compressed because I'm having a baby in late June (yay!). I want to put an easy garden in ...
6
votes
2answers
228 views
What can I grow in a very damp, shaded part of the garden?
I have a small flower bed which is in a very shaded corner. It never gets any direct sunlight, and tends to be very damp (although it's well-drained - but the water never evaporates).
I'd like to be ...
5
votes
1answer
308 views
What ground cover would be best for my old stone driveway?
I have a steep driveway that isn't very practical for parking in, but looks pretty nice. It is "paved" with bricks and large marble slabs, with dirt in between the stones. Although this looks pretty ...
3
votes
2answers
90 views
What plants are complementary to these plants in a crop rotation?
I would like to know what vegetables would work well in a garden with the following history:
Season 1: Tomatoes (various varieties, (vv)), eggplants, peppers (vv), basil, marigold, asparagus (did ...
3
votes
1answer
32 views
What heirloom varieties are easiest to work with for a 'heirloom beginier'?
I would like to grow heirloom varieties of the vegetables listed below. However, I have never worked with heirloom seeds before and I have heard they are difficult to grow. So, I would like ...
7
votes
2answers
564 views
Options for an edible privacy “fence”?
I live on a corner lot, with neighbors' fencing on two sides of my back yard, the house on a third, and an open street on the fourth.
Rather than installing a fence myself, to provide privacy in the ...
3
votes
1answer
148 views
What flowers and shrubs will grow without outside help?
I would like to plant some shrubs and/or flowers in a mostly wooded area behind my house (in NE Oklahoma). What are some good candidates that are (1) cheap, (2) perennial, and (3) hardy enough to ...
3
votes
2answers
110 views
What rose would be best for hip production?
I am looking for a rose that produces a good crop of large hips. It has to be winter hardy and relatively carefree , but I will be able to prune, mulch, and, water it. It also will have to be disease ...
8
votes
2answers
184 views
What are some edible plants (vegetable or fruit) that can produce roots in water?
I would like to know which edible plants can actually root from twigs and/or leaves put in water or a similar setup? Is it as simple as leaving them in water or do you need chemicals to induce ...
6
votes
1answer
1k views
What creepers can be grown to cover an entire wall in a southern Californian climate?
I'm planning on covering the stucco (which has a texture like this) on the back facing walls (faces west) of my house with a creeper. I'd rather the plant not grow any roots on the walls and adhere to ...
21
votes
4answers
1k views
What is a good grass replacement plant?
I don't like mowing my lawn. Is there a grass replacement plant which:
looks like grass,
one can step on it,
does not need mowing?
4
votes
1answer
89 views
What's a good successor crop to snow peas in a narrow bed against a West-facing wall?
For the past couple of years, one of my neighbors has allowed me to use a 20' by 15" / 6m x 35cm strip of land against his garage wall. He had installed hooks on the wall so I've tied string around ...
6
votes
2answers
165 views
What can I plant to attract butterflies and other pollinators in Minnesota?
A lot of plants can pollinate themselves.
Fruits: Tomatoes, Strawberries
Vegetables: Peppers, Eggplant, Snap Beans, Lima Beans, Lettuce, Endive, Peas,
Cabbage, Broccoli, Beets, Kohlrabi
...
6
votes
1answer
199 views
Is Cotoneaster an appropriate plant to fill an empty space along my fence?
I have 8ft Leylandii along the outside of most of my west and north facing fences, but there are some gaps on the north side, so I have been using a range of climbing plants inside the fence to ...
6
votes
3answers
301 views
How can I get the most produce out of my allotment with limited time each week?
I have recently acquired a new 33 x 33 ft plot in the West Country (south west England). I was just wondering with a new baby and limited time, what would be the best vegetables to grow, to maximize ...
8
votes
4answers
663 views
Hardy edible perennials that are easy to propagate?
I'm looking for hardy (USDA Z4/Z5; -15F winter lows) perennials (or low maintenance reseeding annuals) that are easy/reliable to propagate either via cuttings, division, or seed. The growing season is ...
