Plants should be grown with caution These popular species are harmful if eaten; some should not be touched. Here's what to look for when considering them for your garden. Word traveled fast about giant hogweed, a poisonous plant mistaken for Queen Anne's lace, a related, but a harmless, plant that grows wild in many parts of the United States. Besides weeds, some plants commonly grown in gardens and landscapes contain toxic chemicals in their leaves, berries, and/or stems. Here are some dangerous plants to be aware of, especially if you have children and pets. However, don't feel like you have to remove them all. If you take a few precautions, such as keeping children and pets away, and wearing gloves when handling them, you can continue to enjoy them in your garden. 1. Oleander Oleander is a dense flowering shrub with short pointed leaves. I am hardy and hardy in USDA zones 7. Attractive pink, white or red flowers bloom in summer. All parts of oleander, includi

12 Popular Spices You Can Easily Grow in Containers Want to pick fresh herbs growing in pots outside your kitchen door? Consider growing 12 popular spices that you can easily grow in pots. That way, if you're in the middle of making dinner and realize you forgot to harvest some onions or cilantro, it's only a few steps away. Also, growing these spices in pots will save your garden space and help you create a small garden around your home such as a balcony, porch, and windowsill. These herbs are easy to grow, making them a great choice for beginners. They adapt well to climate change and do not require much effort from the gardener such as water, fertilizer, and insects. You will easily have herbs for every dish but will gain experience in planting and care. 1 Onion Onions are easy to grow in pots. Ideally, choose plants that are at least 10 inches deep and wide, or grow them in a window box or pot where they will grow well. 2 Coriander Coriander is also called cilan

Privacy screens with a lush look Maintaining your privacy doesn't have to be a rigid fence. Now is the time to grow a living barrier with plants for your property. They are great alternatives to a natural screen that can make your yard look secluded. They can play a role in adding lush greenery to your landscaping ideas. Here are 18 plants for living privacy screens with a lush look. There are great options such as tall bamboo, hedgerows, or rows of evergreen trees, all of which can maintain their appearance year-round. Also, growing these plants can be cheaper than installing a fence or other privacy structures. Moreover, their easy growth characteristics make them well suited to any conditions to create privacy fences with living walls. 1 Bamboo This tropical plant is a fast-growing and low-maintenance plant that adds a beautiful look to the landscape. You can grow it to create an aesthetic living privacy screen or hedge. 2 Climbing Rose This lovely flowering plant of

Healthy Holiday Cactus  How to Choose a Healthy Holiday Cactus bad this time of year. But with a little poking and prodding and judicious selection, you can find a Schlumbergera that will outlast you! 1. Christmas cactus on the door If you see a holiday cactus sitting inside a store's drafty door, don't be tempted; Keep walking. Schlumbergera is a tropical plant that does not do well with cold temperatures. If exposed to drafts and cold air, they drop all their buds for the year. They can even collapse entire divisions. Although you can still buy one of these plants, it is unlikely that the buds will survive long enough to bloom. Additionally, although rarely, avoid purchasing holiday cacti that are exposed to extremely hot temperatures. One year I went to a fancy garden center and saw a full tray set up in front of a gas fireplace. "Well, they're snacks," I thought. 2. Check Sections & Crown Holiday cacti don't have normal 'leaves'. In

 6 Fragrant Plants That Can Repel Flies Summer and spring are the time for great outdoor activities like picnics or grilling for family and friends. Unfortunately, such outdoor activities attract pesky bugs, one of life's little annoyances. There are many skin sprays and clothing to protect you from them, but the use of toxic chemicals is frowned upon by many. Don't worry, there are some fragrant plants that not only repel flies effectively but are also attractive to look at. Here are 6 fragrant plants that can repel flies. Planting these plants throughout your home has many benefits. Apart from keeping flies away with their special scent, they also display some beautiful flowers to make your landscapes more attractive. Other plants are actually edible, so add them to your savory dishes. 1 Lavender Lavender offers a sweet fragrance and small purple flowers that make it ideal for decoration. Apart from flies, it is often grown for its qualities to repel insects such

 6 Plants You Can Use As Soap Did you know that there are some plants around us that can be used as soap? Besides decorating, purifying the air, and helping you sleep better... each plant has its own effects. In today's post, we want to share that you can use plants as soap daily. They are natural plants, which means they don't contain chemicals and of course, they won't harm your skin. Check them out with us! You may not know that soap is best known for creating a lather with gentle cleansing properties. In fact, soap is one of the world's richest sources of compounds called saponins. Research shows that they have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and astringent properties. So they are safe for you! 1 Clematis Clematis is a popular climbing plant that beautifies any nearby garden space. It displays stunning flowers in a wide variety of colors. The highest concentration of saponins is found in flowers and leaves. First, collect its flowers and leaves, then c

 Essential fall chores for every tomato grower As the first cold days of fall arrive, those of us still with tomatoes on the vine are starting to look a little closer at the ten-day forecast. Time is running out and the annual race to the first frost begins. Will that beef have enough time to ripen on the vine? What do we do with the green tomatoes still in the garden? When will you get that first frost? Grab a trowel and your gardening gloves, tomato grower; We have some work to do with the fate of your tomatoes this year. 1. How to protect your tomatoes from frost It's always best to have a game plan ready before the weatherman calls for that first frost. How much you still produce in the garden will determine how much effort you want to put into protecting your plants. Cover your plants in the evening before snow falls. Usually, a few spare bed sheets will do, but depending on where you live, you may want something substantial like a tarp or a mylar emergency blanket