Removing Grass With Rototilling You can rototill a lawn area that you wish to convert into a flower bed. Always call the call-before-you-dig hotline before using a rototiller. A large machine is preferable for this operation since you’ll want more power than a small garden tiller can offer. But it’s not as simple as it sounds. The stolons will remain in the soil after you’re done tilling, so you’ll have to cover the tilled soil with landscape fabric or another material to prevent new grass shoots from sprouting up....

3 Ways to Get Rid of Rats The two most common rat pests in North America are the roof rat and Norway rat. Roof rats are relatively small, weighing between five and nine ounces, and have slender bodies and smooth gray coats. They can also be identified by their pointed snouts and large ears with no hair. Norway rats weigh between 12 and 19 ounces, have shaggy brown coats, blunt snouts, thick bodies, and short ears with dark hair....

The common cultivar is “Bradford” which was commonly planted in the United States as an urban landscape tree, but is these days regarded as an undesirable and even invasive species. The Callery pear is very resistant to disease, and generally sturdy, but the “Bradford” cultivar is susceptible to damage from stormy weather. This is due in part to their rapid rate of growth, which was also one of the characteristics that made them a desirable urban tree, until their various problems became evident....

Blackberry lily is normally planted in the spring from potted nursery plants or bare roots purchased from online sellers. They can also be planted from seeds, though it may take three years to achieve flowering plants in this way. Bare roots will generally mature into flowering plants in their first season, though it sometimes can take two seasons. Native to parts of India, China, and Russia, blackberry lily is a fairly short-lived perennial, but its rhizomes will spread gradually to sustain the plant in the garden....

Broom plants bear pea-like flowers in shades of yellow that attract pollinators. Cultivars and hybrids in a wide range of other flower colors are also available. Broom plants are toxic to humans, and toxic to pets. If you decide to plant a broom, which can be done in the spring or fall, be aware that depending on where you live, certain broom species might be classified as invasive. Broom plants like workable, well-draining soil in open, sunny locations....

While you wouldn’t want to plant false hellebore anywhere that animals might graze upon it or children might come in close contact with it, it can be a good choice if you want prolific and verdant greenery. These plants grow to a height of up to 6 feet and send up shoots of tiny, star-like flowers in yellow, green, or white. Even when not in bloom, the broad, oval-shaped leaves are visually appealing....

Flowering quince is typically planted in the fall or winter months as a nursery container plant and must be watered consistently until the roots are established. It has a medium growth rate and can take several years to reach its full 6- to 10-foot height. A member of the rose family, flowering quince can be susceptible to fire blight, so be alert for the stem dieback that signals this bacterial disease....

Native to China, the woody and hollow stems of golden bamboo feature lush, lance-shaped green foliage, while the lower cane has a striking yellow-green tortoiseshell pattern and distinct compressed internodes (the stem section between two joints). As with most bamboo species, golden bamboo rarely flowers, and seed production is exceptionally unusual. In fact, you may wait up to a decade or more to have a season where the bamboo displays any blooms at all....

Best planted in spring, the growth habit of Japanese sedge is dense, clumping, and mounding. The plant will grow at a moderate pace, reaching its mature height and spread within about two years’ time. Inconspicuous brown flowering spikes emerge on the plant in mid to late spring. Mass plantings of Japanese sedge will attract a slew of pollinators to your yard, including butterflies and bees. Similar to tussock and foothill sedges, Japanese sedge is deer tolerant and low-maintenance, offering year-round interest, and can even thrive through the winter as long as it doesn’t get too cold....

This hardy plant. which is best planted in the spring, produces tiny, vividly blue, star-shaped flowers profusely from late spring to mid- or late summer though the bloom is more more sporadic later in the season. It grows densely and its dark-green leaves remain evergreen year-round in more southern climates with warm winters. Reaching modest heights of six to 10 inches, a single plant can slowly stretch 24 to 36 inches wide....

Malabar spinach is a tropical leafy green that was named after a coastal region in southwestern India. It is botanically not a true spinach yet it resembles it. The dark green, glossy, oval or heart-shaped leaves, and shoots can be eaten raw in salads or cooked. The taste of Malabar spinach is mild, similar to spinach, with peppery notes and a hint of citrus. Once cooked though, the texture is different from spinach....

The flower stalks of these orchids grow from leaf joints, or axils, and often bear multiple flower buds, which can bloom for a month or more when properly cared for. Their long-lasting flowers are held on arching branches and open successively. A single multi-branching flower spike can have more than 20 flowers, and individual flowers can last for weeks. How to Grow Phalaenopsis Orchids Indoors Phalaenopsis orchids are not temperamental when grown indoors and under the right conditions, they will reward you with showy blooms for months....

While this plant is a perennial, growing runner beans as an annual outside of their hardiness zones is common too. Runner bean seeds should be planted in the spring after the threat of frost has passed; they have a rapid growth rate. Note that while you can eat the beans of runner beans, eating them uncooked can be toxic to people and animals. So be mindful of runner bean plants around children and pets....

If purchased for the garden, shooting star hydrangea is usually planted in spring as a container-grown nursery specimen. Also, small potted specimens are sometimes sold during the holiday season as flowering plants in much the same way as poinsettias. Because these seasonal plants are often forced to bloom out of season, you’ll need to provide them with nurturing care if you want to continue to grow them through the winter to move outdoors in the spring....

This rugged tree is native to a large part of the United States, from Maine to Florida and westward to Minnesota and Texas. It grows up to 70 feet tall and its canopy can grow just as wide, which makes it a valued shade tree. The tree has a long lifespan; some specimens live up to 300 years old. Swamp oaks hold up great in areas prone to heavy winds....

Vinca minor vines are often planted beneath mature trees, where most lawn grass struggles with the lack of available sun. Drought tolerant, this hearty vine also won’t need to compete with tree roots for moisture. This shade-loving vine can provide better coverage for those troublesome bare spots with the bonus of a spring floral display. Their creeping, sprawling habit of setting down roots also makes vinca minor a good choice for slopes, hillsides, and other areas where rainfall and water cause erosion....

There are around 75 different hydrangea species and many more cultivars. One lesser-known species worth considering is the hardy mountain hydrangea (Hydrangea serrata). With the right care and conditions, the delicate globes of blue or pink lacecap flowers bloom from early summer right through to fall. Their compact, rounded habit and glossy green foliage make them a great choice for low privacy hedging, mass planting, foundation plantings, or even in containers on your patio....

Adventurous home cooks enjoy using wasabi, too, and you can grow the real thing in your own backyard. The plant prefers complete shade, so it is ideal for gardens that don’t get a lot of sun. But Wasabi is a finicky plant, and serious growers often turn to greenhouse culture to grow it. Wasabi is usually planted from potted nursery starts in the early spring. The rhizomatous stalk will not be ready for harvest until the second year....