If you’re looking to try a flocking project this season, you’ll want to read on for expert advice. There are also many pre-flocked trees and accessories on the market if you’re not looking to embrace your crafty side at this time! Assemble Your Tree First Flocking can be done to either a live or artificial Christmas tree. If you have an artificial tree, assemble and fluff it first, Parkhurst says....

While flour mites do not bite, if given the chance to make themselves at home in your kitchen or pantry, they can infest a variety of food items including grain-based items, dried fruit or vegetable products, and even cheese. It’s easy to bring flour mites into your home without knowing, so how do you avoid them and what should you do if they’re already in your kitchen? What Do Flour Mites Look Like?...

If not controlled, woolly adelgid can kill a healthy hemlock within three to five years, and a tree under drought or other form of stress even faster. Therefore, it is important to recognize the early signs of an infestation. And while it is not possible to completely eradicate woolly adelgid, taking prompt action when you spot the pest allows you to at least contain it. What Does Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Look Like?...

An Invasive Species The house sparrow originated in the Mediterranean region and spread naturally throughout Europe and eastern Asia. The birds were imported to North America during the 1850s for nostalgic reasons and to help control insect populations. By the time it was realized that house sparrows do not regularly eat insects outside the nesting season, the birds’ range had already spread uncontrollably. Today, there are an estimated 150 million house sparrows in North America alone, and the species is one of the most abundant birds in the world....

Kudzu bugs are most noticeable at two times of the year: early spring when they emerge from winter hibernation and fall when they congregate on sunny spots to warm themselves. They are attracted to light-colored surfaces, especially white house siding, white cars, and even white shirts. During their winter inactivity period, you might see groups of them in cracks of house siding, spaces around windows, or even in crevices of trees....

Odorous house ants can be found trailing through kitchens in homes all across the U.S. This ant is most likely to enter homes after heavy rains when it is attempting to escape flooding of its shallow nest. Odorous house ants are tiny but fast. They usually travel in lines, but if they are disturbed or alarmed they will run around erratically, releasing their odor as they run. Some people have also equated their odor with a sort of a strange pine scent, though rotten coconuts are the most frequent association....

Sycamore trees grow best in deep, moist, rich soils. The best time to plant one is late winter or early spring. They have a fast growth rate and good tolerance for pollution, wind, wet soil, and even drought. The sycamore tree is a good tree for shade. However, their large size can make sycamore trees a problem, as their widespread, shallow roots can damage pavement, underground pipes, and more. Plan to water your American sycamore tree during periods of prolonged drought and feed it in the spring....

For those not put off by the prospects of this extra work, Abutilon plants are still well worth growing. You simply need to know how to care for them properly. That subject will be addressed below. But the first order of the day is finding out just what, exactly, Abutilon plants are. All About the “Flowering Maple” You may have seen Abutilon plants at the nursery without even knowing it....

The round-leaved calathea (Calathea orbifolia or, the more recent synonym, Geoppertia orbifolia) is no exception. The silver-green stripes on its luxuriant, large leaves make it a bold statement plant, but it’s somewhat fussy and definitely doesn’t fall into the low-maintenance category. However, this tricky plant has lots going for it if you’re willing to put in the extra effort. Calthea oribifolia is fast-growing, pet-friendly, lush, and eye-catching. Regularly dusting your plant’s leaves helps prevent their pores from clogging, maximizing light-capturing efficiency and helping promote healthy growth....

Common juniper, like most conifers, is usually planted during mild weather of spring or early fall. The rate of growth varies somewhat by variety, but most are slow-growing shrubs, rarely adding more than about 6 inches per year. The planting technique is typically for container-grown woody landscape plants: Dig a hole about twice as wide as the plant’s container or root ball; amend the fill soil with organic material; position the shrub in the center of the hole, at the same height it was growing in its container; then backfill firmly and water thoroughly....

Light Heliotropes are full sun plants that require at least six hours a day of direct sunlight. However, they prefer morning sun and in hot climates, intense afternoon rays may burn the delicate flowers. A location that receives bright morning sunlight and light shade in the afternoon is ideal. Water Heliotropes require lots of water in order to thrive. Keep the soil evenly moist, but not waterlogged, and don’t allow the plants to dry out....

Leaves resemble slightly rounded ovate wedges, 2 to 3 inches wide. Catching the breeze and the sunlight, leaves are dark green above and lighter underneath and showcase glorious golden fall foliage. To brighten the quietude of winter, this deciduous tree reveals its gleaming white bark along the trunk and young branches. Commonly referred to as white-barked birch, the thin peeling bark was used in ancient times as paper for Sanskrit scripture....

Oregano starts as a ground-hugging rosette of leaves, but it can easily grow to about 2 feet tall. It’s generally planted in the spring and grows quickly, providing leaves suitable for cooking almost immediately. Note that oregano is toxic to pets, so be mindful of where you plant it. Selecting a Planting Site Oregano is one of those Mediterranean herbs that grow well in full sun and lean-to-average soil that’s well-drained....

Though some gardeners find the berries to be messy, you may find your array of songbirds becomes more diverse with a serviceberry planted in your yard. Some people enjoy the berries also; they have a blueberry-like flavor and can be used in much the same way for making pies, cobblers, or preserves. Like blueberries, they also contain many beneficial nutrients, including antioxidants, magnesium, iron, vitamin E, and fiber: Toss them in your morning smoothie for a nutritional boost....

The term spider mum simply refers to one single exhibition class within the very large group known as garden mums or hardy mums. All garden mums are derived from Chrysanthemum x morifolium hybrids, and so-called spider mums are the subgroup that features tubular petals that are hooked or curved. Spider mums typically have large flower heads that can grow up to six inches in width, depending on the cultivar. Like all other garden mums, they are herbaceous perennials that bloom in the fall....

This plant is toxic to both humans and animals. Light Although it can grow in partial shade, Star of Bethlehem prefers a spot with full sun, meaning at least six hours of direct sunlight on most days. Its flowering will be better in full sun. Soil Star of Bethlehem likes loamy soil. Sharp soil drainage is key for healthy growth. In waterlogged soil, the bulbs can rot. Water Young Star of Bethlehem plants need regular watering to keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy....

The nutmeg tree (Myristica fragrans) is a tropical evergreen native to the balmy and very un-autumn-like Spice Islands in the South Pacific. The tree is the source of not just one spice but two: nutmeg from its seed, and mace from the aril of the seed. Luckily, if you live in zones 10 or 11 in the United States, you can grow your own (or, if you’re impatient, head to the grocery store while you wait for yours to grow)....

The species only reaches around a foot tall with a slightly wider spread, but it quickly grows and reseeds itself to form a dense mat. This makes it an effective ground cover plant. You can direct sow seeds in the late summer or early fall, or you can start seedlings indoors over the winter to be planted after the last frost in the spring. These plants are fairly hardy and low-maintenance....

The coral bark maple is a slow-growing, medium-sized Japanese maple with beautiful aesthetic qualities that make it prized for landscape use. During the spring and summer, its foliage is a light yellow to almost neon green color, which cannot be missed and contrasts nicely with every dark green plant surrounding it. These leaves turn to a shocking yellow or salmon-red color in autumn. When most trees shed their last burst of color, the coral bark maple shows you where it gets its name at leaf drop....

Cucumbers are in the same family as squash and melons. A popular way to categorize cucumbers is to describe them as either slicers or picklers. Both types can be eaten fresh, while pickling cucumbers hold their texture well during processing. Cucumber leaves are somewhat triangular in shape, with pointed lobes. The texture of the whole plant is rough and prickly. Cucumber flowers are yellow and most commonly monoecious, requiring both male and female blossoms to produce fruits....