Termites cause billions of dollars in structural damage each year. The best way to avoid an expensive termite issue is to work ahead of the pest with preventative measures, but you should also know what to look for in case termite activity pops up unexpectedly. What can you do to get ahead of a termite problem, and what if you already have an established colony inside your home? What Do Termites Look Like?...

The ‘Wolf Eyes’ cultivar also adds a creamy white edging to the light green foliage, and it is a smaller cultivar than the pure species, topping out at 15 feet rather than the 30-foot stature sometimes seen in C. kousa. Older trees often develop a mottled bark (which also peels), lending this specimen further visual interest. The rounded berry that succeeds the flowers starts yellowish-green; it is surrounded by the white bracts....

This fast-growing vine is best planted as a potted nursery plant in the spring once the soil has warmed. It can extend to 8 feet in one growing season. If grown as a perennial in a warm climate, it will be relatively short-lived, but it colonizes readily by self-seeding. This talent for self-seeding can be a problem, as this plant can be invasive in warmer climates. Black-eyed Susan vines bloom repeatedly from May through fall, and no deadheading (removing spent flowers) is required to keep them in bloom....

One major selling point of this hand-pollinated cultivar is that is is not invasive, unlike the standard butterfly bushes, which have become invasive in many parts of North America. With this particular cultivar, developers have succeeded in producing a shrub that is sterile so it does not spread. Blue Chip should be planted in the spring so it has the entire growing season to grow a strong root system, which is important for successfully overwintering it....

Many people experience frustration at the hands of ficus plants. They are prone to leaf drop in drafty, cold conditions, and they don’t like to be moved. As tropical plants, they absolutely require adequate light, warmth, and humidity to look their best. Light Indoors or outdoors, ficus plants need bright light, but only acclimated plants can handle the direct sun. They appreciate being moved outside in summer but do not place them in direct sunlight....

If you live in a hot region of North America, you may be able to grow ginger root outdoors, or you can grow it in containers and move them indoors when temperatures cool. It isn’t all that fast-growing and takes around eight to 10 months from planting in the early spring to when the rhizome is ready to harvest. If you can’t guarantee tropical-type outdoor temperatures, it would be best to grow your ginger root in containers, and you can transfer them indoors when the colder temperatures hit....

This cultivar, a hybrid cross between S. japonica ‘Alpina’ and S. japonica ‘Goldflame’, is named for its golden leaves and for its mound-like habit: It matures at two to three feet tall and three to four feet wide. This, and the moderately fast growth rate, also makes it suitable for container growing. It should be planted in the spring or fall. It is rarely bothered by any pests and diseases and deer usually leave it alone....

Hosta is a clump-forming plant that grows from rhizomatous roots. It produces blooms on long stalks that extend well above the clumping foliage in late spring or summer, but the foliage is the main attraction. Among the hundreds of hosta cultivars, there are fast-, medium-. and slow-growing varieties. Smaller varieties tend to grow fastest and can reach their mature size in three to five years; larger types can take five to seven years....

Each flat, smooth seed pod is half to a quarter of an inch long and contains one or two seeds. These cool-season legumes grow relatively fast. Plant them in spring, and they should be ready for harvest after about 80 days. This plant needs full sun and grows well near cucumbers and summer savory. They like loamy, acidic soil but can grow in alkaline soil too. Do not plant where other legumes have grown in recent years or with onions or garlic....

Plant painted daisy seeds or nursery plants in the spring after the threat of frost has passed. The plant grows fast and flowers starting in the late spring, making it a perfect solution for garden spots that become empty when spring bulbs stop blooming. Butterflies love painted daisies, so they make an attractive addition to butterfly gardens or cottage-style gardens that rely on a steady stream of color. The stem of the painted daisy is sturdy, making it an excellent cut flower for arrangements....

In their native habitat of Chile and Argentina, wild stands of Peruvian lilies grow and spread into large colonies. Where Peruvian lilies are hardy and well-tended in the landscape, the plants can spread vigorously. Treat them as pass along plants, and dig and share tubers with friends. You can also control their spread by cutting the flowers for the vase with abandon, which will prevent seeding. Peruvian lilies are remarkably free of serious pests and diseases, though they can be affected by some of the usual garden thugs, including slugs, mites, and aphids....

To dry them for flower arrangements, simply pick them at their brightest and biggest, snip off the bottom leaves, and hang them upside-down indoors in a dark place with decent air circulation for about two weeks. Because they bloom in late winter to spring, some gardeners include them in holiday wreaths. Light Provide plants with lots of air circulation and full sun—the more sun, the more flowers. Soil Protea plants need very well-draining soil....

Both their flowers and their foliage make an impact on the landscape. Lamium is in the mint family (Lamiaceae), which provides a hint as to its toughness. The spotted dead nettle plant is listed as invasive in the Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States and is located mainly in the upper eastern states. Some leaves may revert back to an all-green color (instead of being variegated); be sure to prune these out, so that the green color does not eventually take over the plant....

The blooms of Shasta daisies attract butterflies and pollinators. It is best to plant these flowers in the early spring or summer, particularly in colder climates. Shasta daisies planted in the fall may not become established before the cold winter arrives, jeopardizing the plant’s survival. Once established, they are vigorous growers and easily spread via rhizomes. They make lovely, long-lasting cut flowers. According to the ASPCA, daisies are toxic to dogs and cats....

The plant is slow-growing, living for many decades with proper care. An established plant will produce many offsets, which you can plant during the tiger jaws’ regular growing season in spring or summer. Tiger jaws can be a garden plant in warmer zones, but it is most often grown as a potted plant in a coarse, well-draining potting mix. Give your tiger jaws succulent a bright, sunny spot in your home and it will thrive....

This herb frequently used in Italian cuisine has green foliage and a warm fragrance; it blooms small white, blue, or pink flowers in the summer. Oregano is a great starter herb because it’s easy to grow and tends to yield very well. Oregano has few pest and disease problems, but indoor plants can be susceptible to spider mites, especially during dry winter months. Oregano grown indoors in pots with the proper potting mix is much less susceptible to fungal root diseases than an outdoor plant grown in the garden....