Avocados are a delicious fruit and an ingredient in many dishes, including guacamole. Avocados are unique and come with a variety of health benefits, like lowering your cholesterol and improving your triglyceride levels. Amazingly, you can grow this fantastic food with the seed that you would usually just discard. Avocados thrive in warm and humid climates and grow in zones 8 through

If you’re looking to add a colorful and hardy maple tree to your landscape, there’s good news—no matter what variety you choose, maples are pretty easy to plant. Before your shovel hits the dirt, do a bit of homework and pick a maple variety that fits your climate, available space, and soil conditions. From there, it’s mostly a job of digging a big hole, putting the tree in it, and

Crepe myrtles are shrubs or small trees that produce large flowers in the summer. They are distinguished by their multiple trunks and mottled, peeling bark. They prefer warmer temperatures and do well in southern states. Crepe myrtles bloom from new growth, so pruning is important; however they perform best with light, natural pruning. The following steps will guide you in pruning your

Pine trees are evergreen trees that come in many varieties. Young pines need special attention, and need to be guarded rigorously against animals and sun damage during their first few years. With good care while young, your pine trees will grow for decades.

Weigelas are beautiful, ornate shrubs with flowers that are known to attract hummingbirds. Weigela shrubs can be planted directly into your garden in a spot where they will get ample sunlight. These plants are native to China, Korea, and Japan, but they can thrive in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 10 and provide food for pollinators like bees and butterflies.

Boxwoods are hardy, durable shrubs. If your boxwood has become overgrown, all you'll need is a pair of sharp, clean pruning shears or loppers. Before shaping the shrub, make sure you remove all of the dead or damaged sections of the plant. Thinning boxwoods so that air and light can reach the middle of the shrub is the most important thing you can do, as they tend to become very thick.

Garden shrubs serve many purposes, both ornamental and practical. Their scented flowers and colorful foliage please the senses, and their berries attract birds. Yet shrubs also play more mundane roles. They can artfully camouflage eyesores like garbage cans, compost piles, and bulky air-conditioners. A row of tall shrubs can give you privacy by hiding your home from neighbors. The

Tapping pine trees to capture the sap for use in paint products and in making pine resin products is almost a lost art. Here are the basic steps if you would like to try this project for yourself. Because this project does inflict damage to the tree and expose it to dangers from pests and diseases, careful consideration should be given before proceeding.

Lemon trees are evergreen citruses with a pleasant aroma that produce tart, yellow fruits. Although lemon trees grow best outdoors, they can be grown inside as well if given plenty of care. By meeting your tree’s needs as it grows, you can help it adapt to its indoor environment. Before you know it, your lemon plant will be thriving and ready to harvest!

The Leyland Cypress tree is a hybrid of the Alaska-cedar and Monterey Cypress. It has recently become a very popular choice for Christmas trees because it grows faster and requires much less maintenance than the Virginia pine. You can plant your own Leyland Cypress to beautify your property, to sell, or to save money on future Christmas tree purchases. You can do this by carefully