Plant Gardens 101

A term used to describe a plant bred to, or naturally able to, resist a particular disease such as fusarium or fire blight.

The botanical name for shooting star.

Solar Pumps and Solar Lights for Ponds

As the president of a company that sells a lot of fountain pumps, and who also receives a lot of OEM inquiries, I’ve been around the block on solar pumps. They seem like such a great idea. No wiring needed! No electric bill! I tried to sell solar pumps to major fountain manufacturers but never got a sample to one of them that could pass muster.

Many customers believe that we are just too lazy to try solar, or we don’t want to cut into a 110-volt market that is already doing well. But the truth of the matter is that solar still runs into quite a few problems, not the least of which has been, in my experience, not enough sunlight!

(more…)

An organism, usually microscopic, that causes disease.

Before entering into a discussion as to why digital ballasts are superior to the old-fashioned magnetic core and coil types, it may be helpful to know exactly what a ballast system is in terms of grow lights and grow systems.

All standard grow lights used in hydroponic gardening – whether some type of metal vapor or fluorescent – employ a ballast system. This consists of a housing, within which is contained electronic components that in essence “prime the pump.” A fluorescent light has its own built-in ballast system; this builds up the energy required to activate the molecules inside the fluorescent tube, which in turn causes them to glow, emitting light. Metal Halide and HPS grow lights have “remote ballasts” which are housed inside a metal container. The components are what make up these lamps’ main power supply. Together, they function as a “pre-heater,” which allows electrical power to build up to the point that the lamp will run. (more…)

The botanical name for sweet flag.

As opposed to a lawn grass, a grass that is not mown but is allowed to grow to its full potential and is used in the landscape in the same way as perennials or other ornamental plants.

You find that your plants are giving you fits in your landscape because it seems like a parade of weeds, insects or diseases have invaded and taken over. The problem is probably not due to insects or diseases but the poor soil that the plants are in. This poor soil is the major cause of invading insects and/or plant diseases.

With the poor soil comes weak and unhealthy plants that are more likely to get insect or disease problems. By improving the soil with compost, either before or after planting, will create a big difference. Anytime is a great time to add compost.

Compost is made of rich organic matter, which is crucial to growing healthy and fruitful plants. It is the result of a natural process of decay and recycling of materials such as leaves and twigs. In every corner of the world, in every meadow, forest and wetland composting is taking place. By copying this process, our plants will reap the benefits also.

(more…)

Having flowers that open at night.

For some, figuring out where they can start composting can be a bit of a challenge. After all, there are a few things one should keep in mind, like how far the compost heap should be from their home, how to keep it hidden away from nosy neighbors and prying eyes, and how to keep rodents and wildlife from digging around in the compost. And while there are a couple options like keeping your compost under wraps in a compost tumbler or bin, there are consumers out there who look for other aesthetically attractive options. One such option is a bench that doubles as a composting bin.

Dual functional furniture is always a plus, and owning a bench that offers a composting bin option is a terrific way to hide your compost in plain sight. You may want to consider this alternative versus a normal compost bin or compost tumbler if you feel that composting out in the open may ruin or distract from your natural landscape. With a composting bench, you can fearlessly hide your compost out in the middle of your garden without it taking away from the landscape. (more…)

A device to support indoor climbing or vining plants. It usually consists of sphagnum moss attached to a flat piece of wood, but it may also be a wire cylinder filled with moss.

As a species name, means “with broad (or broader than average) leaves.” For example, northern sea oats, Chasmanthium latifolium, has leaf blades up to 3/4 inch wide, which is greater than the blade width of many other grasses.

There are some greenhouse accessories that you can live without. Some of these items could even be considered luxuries and are used mostly to enhance the greenhouse. Shelving and greenhouse benches are greenhouse accessories that are necessary for gardeners to make the best use of their greenhouse space.

Shelving is generally something that you attach to the interior of your greenhouse walls or they lay on top of built in framing. These are not the same things as greenhouse benches, which are free standing and can be moved throughout the greenhouse.

Benches and shelving do have some things in common. Both can help you organize the greenhouse. Making good decisions concerning the use of these greenhouse accessories will allow you to function efficiently while you are gardening. Shelving and benches are used in combination to give the gardener choices as far as working, storing things and providing areas for the flowers and plants. (more…)

A showcase park created by bulb growers in the Netherlands.

Plant diseases are usually produced by different kinds of organisms. Diseases that affects the leaf and the stems are bacteria, fungi or viruses. Soilborne diseases on the other hand are caused by various fungi. Bacterial diseases are caused by bacteria who are unable to manufacture their own food thus they depend on the host plant for food depriving the plants of the nutrients necessary for a healthy growth.

Fungal diseases are the most widespread plant maladies. Fungi parasitically obtain their food from green plants, causing diseases in the process. Fungi produces spores in great number which are tiny reproductive bodies. These spores can be carried by wind or water. Each spore will germinate and grow producing new infections. Viral diseases are viruses capable of invading plant tissue and reproducing in it. Viruses can be spread by aphids, leafhoppers and thrips. Even humans can spread viruses by propagating virus-infected plants. (more…)

A dense growth of mostly small-leaved evergreen shrubs, as found in the foothills of California. Because the leaves are rich in highly flammable resins and because these shrubs normally grow on steep slopes, these areas are subject to frequent wildfires.

The botanical name for holly.

Good flower garden design is the result of good planning. Be careful not to place too much emphasis on a colorful spring, also plan ahead.

Plan ahead and enjoy the best results
Make sure to plan spring, summer and autumn bloomers. I know the months after the grey winter we are drawn outside and are prepared to work out butts of, but with some planning your garden will be an explosion of color and a quick succession of blooming flowers the whole gardening season.

So if you want your garden to look good in spring, summer and autumn, do some planning at the start. If you are going for annuals, choose plants that bloom in all seasons where possible. (more…)

A chemical used to kill plants. Selective herbicides kill only particular kinds of plants. Nonselective herbicides kill or damage a wide range of plants.

To remove or damage the bark (both outer bark and inner bark) in a ring extending completely around a trunk or shoot of a tree or shrub. This kills the plant—not immediately, but in the subsequent growing season.