Your National Gardening Association weekly news for April 29, 2017

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Recently popular question and answer from our Q&A Archive: Lilac Growth Rate
"I am going to plant some lilacs in my yard, 2 common lilacs and a hybrid lilac. Can you tell me about the growth rate on lilacs, I know they grow good, but how much will they grow in a year? The common lilacs get up to 15 feet and the hybrids gets up to 10 feet. So will it take a real long time to grow? So can you just tell me about how fast they grow I want to leave them large, too. I love the look of a large mature beautiful lilac." - Click to read the answer

Articles you may enjoy:

Planting Blackberries

"Blackberries need full sun. They aren't fussy about soils, although good drainage is important. If the soil has a good amount of humus, so much the better, but average fertility is all they need."

Growing Sage

"Sage is for more than seasoning your Thanksgiving turkey. Harvest fresh leaves from your kitchen garden to flavor meat and bean dishes, or toss the blossoms into salad! You can even wire dried sprigs to a frame to create an aromatic wreath or swag."

Weeds: Dandelion

"Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is a perennial weed with a strong taproot that can make itself at home almost anywhere. No lawn or garden can escape dandelion seeds that blow on the wind from spring to fall."

Drought Tolerant Annuals

"No matter where you live, water is a precious resource. Some of us need to conserve more actively than others, but none of us would willingly waste water. So why not plant drought tolerant flowering annuals? In addition to saving on your water bill, you'll spend less time on garden maintenance."

Renovating an Overgrown Houseplant

"Branching, shrub-like houseplants, such as scented geranium, hibiscus, flowering maple, begonia, and schefflera, need regular pruning to keep them healthy and attractive."

Cabbageworm

"Found throughout the United States. The cabbageworm is the larva of a common white, day-flying butterfly with three to four black spots on its wings. The damage done by these caterpillars is similar to that"

Garden Prep for Tomatoes

"Where you plant your tomatoes in the garden is important. Tomatoes need at least six to eight hours of sun a day to produce well -- and full sun is best, especially in cooler, more northern climates. Tomato roots won't do well in soggy soil -- a sunny, well-drained part of your garden is best."

The most popular images last week from our plant database:

Photo of Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Emblematic')
By grannysgarden:

Photo of Crown Imperial Fritillaria (Fritillaria imperialis 'Striped Beauty')
By William:

Photo of Rock Jasmine (Androsace cylindrica)
By kniphofia:

Photo of Tulip (Tulipa 'Janis Joplin')
By William:

Photo of Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Ghirardelli Square')
By mesospunky:

Photo of Hellebore (Helleborus 'Tanzer')
By William:

Photo of Crown Imperial Fritillaria (Fritillaria imperialis 'Maxima Lutea')
By William:

Photo of Daylily (Hemerocallis 'Sherry Lane Carr')
By Seedfork:

Photo of Fosteriana Tulip (Tulipa 'Purissima Blonde')
By William:

Photo of Rose (Rosa 'Teasing Georgia')
By Calif_Sue:

The most popular Landscape Photos from last week:

Click an image to view the names of the plants in each photo.

Photo by jmorth:
Photo by kniphofia:
Photo by William:
Photo by William:
Photo by csandt:
Photo by William:
Photo by kniphofia:
Photo by William:

Noteworthy acorn tips given this week:

9 people gave for post #1421202 in "Banner for April 22, 2017 by dirtdorphins" by dirtdorphins

6 people gave for post #1423106 in "Schreiners Dwarf Iris Sale today" by grannysgarden

5 people gave for post #1426711 in "Banner for April 28, 2017 by Fleur569" by Fleur569

5 people gave for post #1426521 in "Bloom Season 2017" by janwax

5 people gave for a photo of Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Emblematic') by grannysgarden

4 people gave for post #1424080 in "Banner for April 25, 2017 by Dutchlady1" by Dutchlady1

3 people gave for post #1423401 in "Iris identification" by crowrita1

3 people gave for post #1424926 in "Banner for April 26, 2017 by Paul2032" by Paul2032

2 people gave for post #1422159 in "Banner for April 23, 2017 by sunnyvalley" by sunnyvalley

2 people gave for post #1425904 in "Banner for April 27, 2017 by dirtdorphins" by dirtdorphins

The most active threads this week:

Subject OP Area Replies
Jerry's Peony GiftsOldgardenrosePeonies forum48
The Fritillaria ThreadWilliamBulbs forum33
Schreiners Dwarf Iris Sale todaycbunny41Irises forum23
California Bloom Season 2017AndreaDIrises forum23
Will this kind of flashing work?Garden10Ask a Question forum23
Slightly Off Topicurania1Irises forum22
Utah Iris Season 2017ZencatIrises forum18
'Temby'... or not 'Temby'... that is the questiontcstoehrSempervivum and Jovibarba forum18
My Enchanted GardenDachsylady86Irises forum17

Check out these numbers from last week:

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