Tips, Tricks, and Answers

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Adding to Your Home's Security. Shrubs and foliage are great for decorating, but can also create a home security problem. Make sure shrubs do not create hiding places, either by themselves or by covering up light that would reveal a thief. Make sure trees and trimmed back from upper windows and balconies. Use thorny shrubs as a deterrent to sneaking around in your yard.

Brighter Azaleas with Vinegar. Azaleas love acid. To give your azaleas a boost and keep them brighter than ever, water them with a vinegar and water solution. Make sure to keep your azaleas in the shade.

Bury Fuchsias to Keep Them Every Year. Fuchsias are a beautiful addition to any garden, but they can die between seasons if you don't keep them properly. Instead of replanting your fuchsias every year, bury them with soil and mulch to protect them from fall and winter frosts. Make sure to keep your fuchsias buried until all chances of frost are over.

Choosing a Flowering Shrub. Flowering shrubs can make a great addition to your yard. These shrubs look best while flowering, can provide a great focal point, and many will attract birds into your garden. Look at pictures of flowering shrubs to decide which you want to grow. Just make sure the one you choose will grow where you live without too much unnecessary work on your part.

Secret to Rounded and Shaped Shrubs. Getting interestingly shaped shrubs may seem too difficult, but with some patience and just a couple of cutting sessions a year, you can attain your goal. Instead of cutting your plants regularly, cut them at the beginning and end of the growing season. Cut your plants back little by little into the shape you wish them to attain.

Trimming Lilac Bushes. If your lilac bush doesn't flower in the spring, it is probably because you trim it improperly. You should only trim a lilac bush when the flowering process is complete, else you cut away next season's flowers while pruning.

Trimming Shrubs. The best time to trim your shrubs is late spring or early summer. Trimming later in the season puts the new growth of next season at peril. Use sharp blades when trimming, don't trim aggressively, and always remove dead branches so that your plant doesn't use its energy trying to revive a dead branch.

Use Tea Bags to Give Azaleas the Acid They Love. While most plants like basic soil, azaleas grow better in acidic soil. Most plants are damaged by acid, so you'll need to be careful where you use this tip. To give your azaleas just the right amount of acid, put a teabag in the soil by your azaleas and replace it every week.

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