Lop the laurel, cutting as low as possible. We used Wilkinson Sword long handled ratchet loppers for the smaller stems and a chainsaw for anything too big for the loppers. Pile the newly lopped laurel onto the raft, to make a brash heap. This prevents the laurel stems from touchingRead More →
Uses. Jack-by-the-Hedge is edible and, if collected when young, the leaves make an excellent addition to salads, sauces and other dishes. Does garlic mustard have any poisonous look alikes? Yes, there are garlic mustard lookalikes, but it depends on the current form of the plant. … piggy-back plant, (Tolmiea menziesii)Read More →
Native to South America, pampas grass houses around 100,000 seeds in its flower heads, and these are known to spread in a 25-kilometre radius from light winds. Fluffy and feather-like, the heads are incredibly flammable and it’s said any florist found selling the grass in banned areas will be slappedRead More →
California is a hub of artichoke culture, where the plant is considered aggressive and invasive because of its ability to spread if it goes to seed. In our colder climate, though, it stays in check. … Most plants won’t produce flowers until the second year. I found few gardeners growingRead More →
All extant species of honeybees are indigenous to Eurasia, although a fossil proves that at least one honeybee species (now extinct) lived in North America 14 million years ago. The honeybees we know and love in the United States (Apis mellifera) are an introduced species. Where did honey bees originallyRead More →
Common names: Bugle, blue bugle, bugleherb, bugleweed, carpetweed, carpet bugleweed, and common bugle, and traditionally but less commonly as “St. Lawrence plant”. NOTE: All parts of plant are poisonous if ingested. … How do I identify bugleweed? Distinguishing Features Growing in a prostrate mat growth habit, bugleweed is perennial thatRead More →
Daffodils, foxgloves, and poppies are common flowers with a toxicity that deer avoid. Deer also tend to turn their noses up at fragrant plants with strong scents. Herbs such as sages, ornamental salvias, and lavender, as well as flowers like peonies and bearded irises, are just “stinky” to deer. IsRead More →
It is a desirable native plant that is not invasive, and plays an important role in the ecosystem. The three species of buckthorn overlap in their distribution and habitat in North America. Distinguishing between non-native and native buckthorn is important so that management efforts can be targeted appropriately. How canRead More →
Basket-of-gold is native to sunny areas of central and southern Europe, usually growing in thin rocky soils. It forms a dense evergreen mat, low to the ground, and is often planted in rock gardens. Does basket-of-gold spread? Aurinia saxatilis commonly called basket-of-gold is a low-growing, spreading perennial that produces aRead More →
However, the biggest challenge in growing butterbur plants is keeping them from spreading to where you don’t want them. Propelled by vigorous rhizomes (underground stems), they are invasive plants whose natural tendency is to colonize. How do I get rid of Pyrenees butterbur? Weedkiller control Apply glyphosate as a spotRead More →