Archive for the ‘Garden’ Category
Growing Fruit Trees in Your Backyard
Flowers, palm trees,
bamboo plants and shrubbery are only the beginning when planning your perfect backyard oasis. Imagine a perfect warm summer day when you can literally stay in your yard and pick fruits to eat!
The best way to eat fruits is to grow them in your backyard and then eat them. Growing fruit trees takes work but its rewards are endless. You can get a variety of fruit trees to grow in your yard at WillisOrchards.com.
A popular option for planting fruit trees in one’s yard are the apple trees. You see, by the moment that the apple tree has grown you will find that it will not really demand more space unlike the other types of trees. As a result, planting a few apple trees in your yard is a good option, even if space is limited. Aside from its fruit, trees are not high maintenance.
If your family is living in the tropics for example, or a warmer region, mango trees are just the thing. However, there is a down part; the mango tree will require a lot of space. This is why if you are interested in planting a mango tree in your backyard, you have to have the space for it.
Zoysia Grass and its International Origins
Zoysia grass, a plant originating on the other side of the world, can be found in lawns in many parts of the United States and more recently, in the UK. Its native lands are China, Japan and other areas of Southeast Asia. It still grows in the Japanese Imperial Garden, where it has been part of the landscape for six centuries.
Zoysia grass made its journey to the U.S. in the early 20th Century, thanks to a USDA botanist. It was first called Manila Grass, referring to one of its native locales along the coast of the Philippines. Other varieties currently found in the U.S. come from the Mascarene Islands or from China’s Manchurian province. Though it does not do well in the northern states, it is a very popular choice for yards, parks and golf courses just about everywhere else. Most people don’t love it for its international status, though. They simply appreciate its heartiness and ease of care.
Today, Zoysia grass has been cultivated and hybridized into varieties that meet various needs. Zoysia japonica fares better in colder regions. Zoysia tenuifolia is softer but doesn’t withstand cold well. Zoysia matrella is fine-textured. All varieties favor warmer weather and go dormant in temperatures below the 50s. All survive well in sandy or salty landscapes, making them a popular choice in coastal areas. Like its North American counterpart Fescue grass, Zoysia stands up to drought.
As it spread around the world, Zoysia grass will also spread across a lawn, being too aggressive for some. It will fight off weeds, but on the flip-side, it can easily infiltrate flower beds. It can also spread to neighboring lawns, which might cause some tension between neighbors and make for awkward summer block parties.
Zoysia grass needs infrequent mowing, and overall, can make for an easy-to-care-for lawn. Its international back story just makes it all the more interesting.