Plants
Yellowing leaves, overwatered pots, moss in the lawn. Keep your plants alive and thriving.
When to Prune Hydrangeas? Timing for Every Type
Timing depends on the type of hydrangea. Prune panicle and smooth hydrangeas hard in early spring, around late February to early March, because they flower on new wood. Prune bigleaf hydrangea (macrophylla) only lightly - it sets next season's buds on last year's stems, so hard pruning or autumn pruning removes the flowers.
When to Prune Roses? In Spring, Summer and Before Winter
Do the main rose pruning in spring, when forsythia comes into bloom - usually late March to early April, once the hard frosts have passed. Prune bed roses hard then; climbers depend on the type: once-flowering kinds right after they bloom, repeat-flowering ones in early spring. For winter, just lightly shorten the long stems and mound soil around the base.
When to Prune Thuja? Timing and the Most Common Mistakes
Prune thuja twice a season: first in early spring (April), then a touch-up in June after the first flush of growth. The last safe date is the end of August, because later growth will not harden before the frost. The golden rule: never cut into old, brown wood, because thuja will not regrow from it.
When to Prune Lavender? In Spring and After Flowering
Prune lavender twice a year. In spring, once new growth appears at the base (usually in April), cut it back hard by 1/3 to 1/2, but never into bare, woody stems. Do a second, light trim after flowering. In a cold climate like Poland's, avoid autumn pruning - fresh wounds and young shoots freeze over winter.
When to Prune Fruit Trees - a Timing Guide for Every Species
The right time depends on the species. Prune apples and pears in winter and again in summer, but stone fruits - sour cherry, sweet cherry and plum - only during the growing season, ideally right after harvest, because winter wounds invite disease. Prune walnut trees only in late summer.
When to Prune Grapevines - in Winter and Summer, Step by Step
Do the main grapevine pruning in winter or very early spring, strictly before the sap starts rising, or the vine will bleed heavily from the cuts. Shorten the fruiting canes to spurs with 2-3 buds. In summer, do the green pruning: tip the shoots, remove the laterals and expose the grape clusters.
How to Water an Orchid So It Doesn't Rot? Step-by-Step Guide
Water a phalaenopsis with the soak method: set the pot in a bowl of soft, room-temperature water for 15-30 minutes, then drain it thoroughly. Do this every 7-10 days in summer and every 10-14 days in winter, but always go by root color. Silvery roots mean water now, green roots mean wait.
When to Prune Apple and Pear Trees - Timing and Technique
Prune apple trees mainly in winter, from February to the end of March, picking a frost-free, dry day. This cut opens up the crown and stimulates the tree to grow. In summer, in July and August, do a follow-up cut that curbs excessive growth and improves the color of the fruit.
How to Care for an Orchid at Home: Light, Watering, and Blooming
Give a phalaenopsis bright, indirect light from an east or west window, temperatures of 18-25°C (64-77°F), and water it by soaking once the roots turn silvery. During the growing season, feed it every 2-3 waterings with half a dose of orchid fertilizer. After blooming, cut a green spike back above the second or third node, and cut a dried one off at the base.
How to propagate hydrangeas: cuttings, layering, and division
The easiest way to propagate a hydrangea is from semi-hardwood cuttings taken in June and July: cut an 8-10 cm (3-4 inch) tip without a flower, strip the lower leaves, dip the end in rooting hormone, and plant it in moist medium under plastic. Roots usually appear after 4-6 weeks. The method works the same for panicle and bigleaf varieties.
When to Prune Raspberries - Autumn and Summer Types Step by Step
It all depends on the type. Autumn (everbearing) varieties are easiest - cut all the canes to the ground in late autumn or in late winter. On summer-fruiting raspberries, remove only the woody canes that have fruited, right after harvest, and leave the green, current-year canes.
When to Prune a Globe Catalpa (Nana) and How to Do It Step by Step
Prune a globe catalpa (the Nana variety) hard once a year, in late March or early April, before the buds break. Shorten last year's shoots to 2-3 buds at the base - this keeps the crown dense and compact. A catalpa in its natural form only needs sanitary pruning.
How Often to Water Tomatoes in the Ground, in Pots, and in a Greenhouse
Water tomatoes in the ground generously 2-3 times a week, straight at the base, giving about 3-5 liters (roughly a gallon) per mature plant. In pots and in a greenhouse water more often, in a heatwave even daily. Consistency matters most, so water in the morning and never over the leaves.
When to Prune a Hakuro Willow? Timing and the Standard Form
Prune a Hakuro willow hard once a year, in March, shortening last year's shoots by 1/3 to 1/2 - this forces dense, brightly colored new growth. Through the season, give it 2-3 touch-ups to keep the ball shape. On the standard (top-grafted) form, remove all wild shoots from the trunk and from below the graft point.
How to Get Rid of Moss in Your Lawn and Keep It From Coming Back
To get rid of moss in your lawn, comb it out by scarifying or with a stiff rake, then apply iron sulfate, which turns the moss black and kills it. That only treats the symptom though - moss grows where the soil is acidic, compacted, and shaded, and the grass is weak. A lasting result comes only from correcting the pH, aerating the soil, and thickening the lawn.
Why Monstera Leaves Turn Yellow and How to Fix It
Yellow monstera leaves usually mean overwatering - the soil stays constantly wet, so the roots suffocate and rot. Check the soil moisture with your finger 3-4 cm (about 1.5 inches) deep and water only once the top layer has dried out. Less often the culprit is underwatering, too little light, a cold draft, or the natural aging of the lowest leaf.