Gardening Guide - Gardening Zeal

Grow China Girl Holly Tree – Get Yum Red Berries!

By Sarwat Rehman

China Girl Holly is the dense spreading shrub with yum red berries and bluish-green foliage that beautify your garden. If you want showy red berries in your yard, you must grow its companion male plant ‘China Boy’ for pollination.

What Do Squirrels Eat – Is Your Garden At Risk?

By Sarwat Rehman

A wondering question of a gardener “What do squirrels eat from garden?” is worth wondering. Sitting beneath your apple tree, you have noticed the nibbling of apples. Is that eaten by squirrels?

If yes, what more squirrels eat? Squirrels eat all they find.

They have a desire for Flower, buds, fruits, vegetables, bird seeds, and many more grown things from your garden.

Let us discover more about what squirrels eat from garden.

Squirrel Food: What Do Squirrels Like to Eat?

Most of the time, you have seen squirrels, the springing creatures in your garden, and wonder what is attracting them to my garden and questioned yourself “What do squirrels eat that they are camping my yard?”

You are just asking right yourself because there is something, not something, most of the things in the garden that squirrels are fond of.

Squirrels have strong taste buds.

Generally, their diet consists of fruits, nuts, and vegetables but like humans, they try anything that is available. There is no limitation to their diet.

They like to eat flowers, plants, young stalks, nuts, and even insects.

They are also foodies!

Typically, they do not stick to one food but have the curiosity to taste new food. Once they try, they become fond of it and start dining.

Their eating habits are making them capable to live in urban areas.

Squirrels are forest ambassadors that are now inhabiting our backyard gardens and yards to dine fresh, ripped fruits and vegetables.

Have a check on their favorite food!

Squirrel Food List – Favorite Food

Here is the answer to your wondering thought “What do squirrels eat from your garden”. Squirrels like

Plant materials and vegetables
Fruits
Squirrels eat nuts and walnuts

As squirrels are vegetarians and have to die heart craving to these things from the garden but they also have a natural appetite for

Cereals
Bird seeds
Cheese
Eggs
Insects

Plant Materials and Vegetables

Fresh vegetables and plant materials add flavors to squirrel’s diet.

They love to eat them. Gardeners must be aware of it and have some precautionary measures to protect the garden’s vegy asset.

Young plants with soft growth tips are most liked by squirrels.

In addition to vegetables, plant materials and green parts of young plants are delicious for squirrels. Passing squirrels from the garden are definitely attracted towards branches, new leaves, buds, young stalks of plants, and soft twigs.

Squirrels drool to see leafy greens such as lettuce, kale, chard, or spinach and attack to fulfill the desire.

They also find other vegetables delicious like

Root vegetables
Tomatoes
Beans
Asparagus
Carrots
Radishes
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Peas
Corn

what do squirrels eat — Squirrel enjoying corn in the garden

Fruits – Squirrels Like to Eat

Having sweet and delicious ripped fruits is drooling for everyone. So is the case with squirrels.

They eat fruits with keenness.

They can easily climb on fruit trees and snatch fruits with full devotion. You have noticed leaping squirrels several times in your yard that jump from mango tree to apple and all-around other trees.

Squirrels will also eat any berries they can get their hands on such as strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, mulberries, and more.

Squirrels need high energy for scrambling and to hunt food for winters.

These fruits are a supplement source of energy for squirrels and keep them energetic.

These foraging creatures also need fruits in their diet as a necessary element because sweet sugar-rich fruits add carbohydrates to their diet.

Pears
Avocados
Figs
Plums
Bananas
Peaches
Kiwi
Watermelons
Cherries
Melon

Squirrels Eat Nuts and Walnuts

Yes! Nuts and walnuts are prime interests of squirrels. Keeping the desire fulfilled with body need is important! Nuts are among their naturally desired foods.

Squirrels have an amazing sense of it!

Like other opportunistic rodents, bushy-tailed tree squirrels also have constantly grown four front teeth so, they don’t wear down from the constant gnawing.

To prepare for winters, squirrels bury their food in fall as you have seen holes in your yard.

They are dig and filled by squirrels to have a safe time when food is no longer available for them.

Among nuts almonds and walnuts are the most preferred ones.

Yet others are

Acorns
Pecans
Hazelnuts
macadamia nuts
Pistachios
Cashews
Chestnuts
Hickory nuts
Pine nuts
Beechnuts

Some of the seeds are also attacked by squirrels like sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and safflower seeds. Now you must be aware of this naughty creature after sowing seeds to your garden.

Other Foods

In addition to above mentioned vegetarian food and nut diet, squirrels also consume cereals, insects, bird seeds, cheese, eggs.

In absence of fruits, protein deficiency is supplemented by insects like caterpillars, larvae, and bugs, etc.

Squirrels find cereals, cheese, and eggs as a tasty diet and add them to their menu.

Bird seeds are also stolen by squirrels to fulfill their seed craving.

If you are noticing that birds feed is all gone before birds eat, you must be sure that squirrels are making you fool and eating from bird’s feed.

Food Not Liked by Squirrels

Foodie squirrels don’t say no to most of the food. They try anything they see!

But few things that squirrels avoid includes

Raw onion and garlic
Flower bulbs of allium, daffodil, snowdrop, and hyacinth
Hot and spicy chili

Squirrel Exclusion – Need of Safe Gardening

All of your efforts to grow plants go fruitless when squirrels attack them.

In order to have a safe garden, you must follow a care guide to exclude squirrels from your garden.

There are some measures you can take to keep squirrels out of your garden.

You can use natural squirrel repellents or a new technique of using hot sauce on plants as repellents are working.
You can also spread mulch and cover plants or use physical barriers like nets or caging to grow plants. In this way, your fruiting plant will be saved.
You can also trim branches to discourage leaps from one tree to other and use traps if not any other strategy is working.

The eating habits of squirrels are emerging as their ecological habitat is changing. This wild forest creature is now compelled to adapt to urban habitats.

When we will have diversity in our garden, poor squirrels will be definitely curious to taste them.

From nuts and walnuts to tasty ripped tomatoes and sweet apples would be quite a mouth watering for them.

But we as gardeners can not allow to spoil our passionately grown food and must take humane steps to get rid of them.

Star of Bethlehem Flower: 7 Exceptional Care Tips for Best Growth

By Sarwat Rehman

Star of Bethlehem plant delicately embellishing Star of Bethlehem flower is a bulbous perennial belonging to Lily family.

This winter bulb is native to the Mediterranean region spreading along banks of streams and ditches.

Six petaled Star of Bethlehem flower add to the glory of the plant and if you will grow this plant, you will find it soothing.

In joy or sadness, flowers are our constant friends.

Love them! These floral friends would never let you fade.

If you want to beautify your garden with the Star of Bethlehem flower, you must follow the given guide.

You will get about flower meaning and significance, growth, most noteworthy care tips, uses, and warnings to have full blooms.

Star of Bethlehem Plant: A Splendid Plant to Grow

Star of Bethlehem plant (Ornithogalum umbellatum) is perennial with white star-shaped flowers that bloom in late spring or early summer.

It is similar to garlic but does not have a garlic odor when crushed.

Flowers of Star of Bethlehem form clusters with arch-shaped strap-like green foliage.

They are perfect garden ornamental plants with flowers that bloom for 1-3 weeks even in a vase placed at your table.

There are almost 50 to 300 species but some are favored for gardeners. Here are some popular species of Ornithogalum

Ornithogalum arabicum

Ornithogalum. magnum

O. nutans

Ornithogalum. thyrsoides

O. dubium

Star of Bethlehem Flower Meaning – Etymological and Color Significance

Every flower is a soul blossoming in nature. The Star of Bethlehem Flower has special religious significance in Christianity too.

It is also known as Ornithogalum where “ornithos” means “bird” and “gala” means “milk” indicating “bird’s milk flower”.

The flower bulbs of this plant are also referred to as ‘Dove’s Dung’ and this name of the flower is still used in some cultures.

Piety white Star of Bethlehem Flower supplements glory of plant and are most commonly known but Star of Bethlehem plant with a different colored flower are also grown.

These may be orange, yellow, blue, purple colored flowers each with significant meanings like:

White – a symbol of peace, innocence, honesty, and purity

six petaled Star of bethlehem Flower — Six Petaled White Ornithogalum umbellatum

Yellow – a sign of joy and happiness

Purple – depicts royalty due to its uniqueness

Orange – although not very common but is a symbol of optimism and joy

Blue – shows a high level of respect and dignity

You can also use the white flower to make beautiful bouquets for greetings in addition to floral arrangements for Christian ceremonies like marriages and baptism.

Above all, you can also beautify your garden with these enchanting flowers and make parties delightful with decorations.

How to grow Star of Bethlehem Flower– 3 Easy to Follow Steps

If you want to beautify your garden with the Star of Bethlehem flower, fall is the best time to plant.

1. See Your Zone

Different species of Ornithogalum grow well in different zones. Generally, Star of Bethlehem is hardy to USDA Hardiness Zones 4-9.

Ornithogalum dubium is hardy to USDA 8 through 11 while O. umbellatum and O. nutans are hardy to zone 6-9.

2. Select the Best Place

Ornithogalum is a sun-loving plant and grows best in full sun. You can plant it in a landscape that gets full sunshine.

But it can also grow in partial shade.

If you are having only a free site where partial sunlight comes, then you can also plant there.

Your efforts will not go fruitless!

3. Plant the Star of Bethlehem Flower Bulb

Growing Star of Bethlehem flower in your garden s not difficult. Rather it’s very easy.

You can do it on your own!

You just need to get things needed and plant with care by following this procedure:

Organic and humus-rich soil is best for the growth of Star of Bethlehem therefore, try to provide medium moisture and well-drained soil mixtures.

As far as soil type is concerned, it can easily grow and propagate in ordinary garden soil but sandy and loamy soils are preferred for best growth.

As the plant is easy to spread and can invade other plants, take a container to grow safely.

Dig a hole in soil and plant bulb of Star of Bethlehem about 3-6 inches deep and 10 to 15 cm (4-6 inches) apart.

Be sure about the environment in which you are living and plant accordingly.

But if you think you are at borderline for plant hardiness, place the bulb deeper in soil consequently it will give good results.

Ornithogalum umbellatum- Star of bethlehelm — *Ornithogalum umbellatum*– Beautifully Grown in Garden

Set the bulb with pointed ends facing up. Now cover the bulb with soil and water as per need.

Your beautiful white flower will bloom and beautify your garden.

Star of Bethlehem Flower Care: 7 Exceptionally Workable Tips

Plants need care and maintenance. If they would be attacked by diseases or wilt, the beauty of the garden will be ruined.

Mostly they are not at high risk of insects or pesticide attacks. Blue rot and root rot attack plants with soggy soil having improper drainage.
You must take care when watering this delicate plant. Do not overwater because the plant needs average watering.
Take special care of soil drainage as you will see by giving good drainage plant health will also increase.
Improve drainage of the soil, health will be improved.
As Star of Bethlehem is invasive and can grow easily and quickly it must be grown in a container so that other plants remain safe. Avoid cutting and mowing when bulbs are at beginning of growth.
Apply general purpose, houseplant liquid fertilizer every two weeks.
Once leaves have started yellow after flowering is over, stop watering until new growth appears.

Star of Bethlehem Flower Uses and Benefits

Star of Bethlehem plant has its own significance in the garden as people are using it as a remedy from ancient times. Here are some beneficial uses that you must know if you have or wants to grow in the garden.

1. Shock Healing

It is an effective remedy for shocks that might be of any sort like shock, accident, distress, after effect shock of any bad or unexpected news or event.

It is also a remedy to console or figure out emptiness or loss that occurs when someone special is lost or died.

This shock healing plant neutralizes your present or past shocks even that of your childhood.

2. Heart Failure

Extract of Star of Bethlehem is good in curing heart failure. Most people use it for congestive heart failure. Many people who took its extract felt wellness in their heart function.

As heart patients need more precautions, one must consult a doctor prior to considering it as a remedy for heart failure.

3. External Application

It is applied to the skin against blisters or ulcers externally.

4. Homeopathy

Bulbs of Star of Bethlehem flower are also used in a homeopathic remedy.

5. Cancer Treatment

Certain forms of cancer are treated using the Star of Bethlehem.

6. Emotional Pain

Suicidal behavior, sadness, or a state of discomfort are relieved by plant extract.

Is Star of Bethlehem Flower Invasive?

Growing a plant with a cool and pretty flower-like Star of Bethlehem flower is amazing. But often things go at a path where they are not directed to.

Star of Bethlehem also shows sort of directionless growth if allowed to grow without a container. It has some invasive nature to grow, grow and grow where wants to grow in its vicinity.

It might be the case that if you have enjoyed the charm of Star of Bethlehem flower and want to place it with other flowering plants, it is not so easy to get rid of it.

This plant has waxy leaves and is quite herbicide-resistant.

But above all don’t be disappointed.

You need to do some effort to clear up the place. You have to individually dig up each bulb.

That is why it must be handled carefully.

Grow but With Care – Warning!

If you are growing this plant, you must be aware of its pros and cons.

The bulb and foliage contain toxic alkaloids and could be dangerous for animal livestock or pets.

But it does not mean that you can not have this exceptionally beautiful plant in your garden and outdoors.

You just need to follow some safety measures.

Try to plant in inaccessible areas of your dogs, cats, or other grazing animals if you plant outdoor.

Hope if you were lacking any information about Star of Bethlehem Flower, you have got ideal knowledge about it and if you were planning to grow after some time, you will definitely grow promptly.

Now plant it, care for it and appreciate its captivating beauty!