Plant Gardens 101

The botanical name for trumpet vine.

Covered with a grayish, bluish, or whitish waxy coating or bloom that is easily brushed off.

Compost is a collection of different organic matter, such as yard clippings, small twigs, leaves and organic kitchen waste that have gone through the process of decomposition. Numerous people do composting so that they can make good use of the available organic material that is around their property and even in their home. This gives composters a chance to make use of the nutrient rich muck that is produced and which is very beneficial to garden soil.

In fact, to avid gardeners, compost is highly regarded and considered the “black gold” of garden fertilizers. Material that has gone through the composting process ends up producing a wonderfully rich material that is filled with minerals and nutrients that are well suited to encouraging lush and healthy growth of new plants. (more…)

An organization for avid rock gardeners, with many local chapters and a major annual conference.

As a species name, means “wrinkled.” Usually refers to leaves, such as the heavily veined, wrinkled-looking foliage of the rugosa rose, Rosa rugosa.

Root damage in potted plants caused by excessive watering and insufficient drainage.

As a species name, means “common,” as in the common privet so often used for hedges, Ligustrum vulgare.

Been under a lot of stress lately? Do you want somewhere you can relax and unwind after a hard day at work? This is one of my favorite garden design ideas and it will work wonders in your life.

Meditation Garden:

You can enjoy the benefits of a meditation garden no matter where you live, or what kind of home you have. There are a variety of different meditation garden design ideas that you can use to bring peace to your day.

Here is a great design idea for a small back yard that will work anywhere. Of course the reason for having a meditation garden in the first place is to give yourself a place to sit down and meditate, or at least to think quietly and enjoy the surrounding environment. Make sure you only include items and decorations into your meditation garden that bring peace to your mind. (more…)

If you have the time and the inclination to create an organic summer garden there are few better ways to go when it comes to the potential impact on the planet. A summer garden is a thing of beauty to be enjoyed by all you invite into your garden. That being said, there are certain pests we’d all like to keep out of our gardens as well. The problem is that the pesticides of the past have undetermined side effects that have the potential to cause lasting harm. If we can avoid introducing those chemicals to our own gardens we are protecting our kids from dangers we may not even be aware of yet and protecting the other animals that may innocently come in contact with our gardens such as birds and butterflies from being harmed by the chemicals present in most common pesticides.What does this mean to gardeners when it comes to efforts directed towards keeping out potential pests? Quite honestly, it means we are going to have to get a little bit creative in those efforts turning to natural solutions rather than chemicals. One way in which this can quite easily be accomplished is by encouraging animals that prey upon the pests to make your garden their home. Of course, this could potentially bring about its own set of problems but from a gardening perspective it is often very sound reasoning. (more…)

The scientific study of periodic biological phenomena, such as the flowering of plants, in relation to climatic conditions. Gardeners use this study of regularly occurring cycles to judge planting dates. For example, in the Northeast the accepted wisdom is that the time to plant corn is when oak leaves are the size of a mouse’s ear (and that same corn should be knee-high by the Fourth of July).

A transparent container, tightly fitted with a glass cover, in which plants are grown in soil. Also called bottle garden. See also Wardian case.

If you’re looking for another way to make a positive impact on the planet, in addition to recycling, look no further than the wonderful world of composting. In basic terms, composting is the act of breaking down organic food and yard waste into a potent soil amendment called humus. But actually, composting is a bit more. It is about providing an environment where this process occurs quicker, usually in a compost bin or compost tumbler, and with the correct ratios of certain organic matter – you can’t just go throwin’ everything in and hope for the best.

Composting really is an art. Depending on your climate and time of year, your pile may need more or less of certain things to achieve the optimum carbon to nitrogen ratio for the organic matter to properly break down. Also, composting is not a free-for-all for your food scraps and waste. There are many things that are no-no’s as far as the compost bin goes, including meat and bones, grease and oils, dairy products, fecal matter (that’s right, no poo), diseased plants and weeds. Actually, it may be better to give a list of compostable items, so here goes: (more…)

The dried stems and leaves of cereal grains such as oats, wheat, or rye. It is often used as a mulch in vegetable gardens or to cover grass seed in a newly sown lawn. Straw contains few if any weed seeds and is therefore more desirable than hay. It decomposes quickly and adds organic matter to the soil. See also hay; salt marsh hay.

White mineral compounds used to combat soil acidity and to supply calcium for plant growth. Quicklime is calcium oxide; slaked lime is calcium hydroxide; limestone is calcium carbonate.

Whether you have a green thumb or simply want to start learning the art of gardening, it’s a good idea to be prepared for all of those little surprises that may pop up along the way. Perhaps you want to create a perfectly landscaped lawn, grow some vegetables or surround your home with a garden of beautiful flowers. Whatever the case, keep the following tips in mind when you begin any type of gardening project:

Pollen Allergies. If you are like many, you probably suffer from some type of allergies. They affect us every day and in every season, but all sufferers are especially miserable during the spring and summer months. With the pollen in the air and everything in bloom, it can be difficult to be outdoors for any length of time. Before starting a new gardening project, it’s important to consider whether or not you have allergies and to what extent you are affected. If they are moderate to severe, working outdoors may be something to carefully consider avoiding. (more…)

A geometric arrangement of ornamental garden beds separated by a pattern of walks or grass paths. Parterres are most effective if they can be viewed from above. As the name implies, parterres were originally a French garden design.

Compact gardening does not mean second rate gardening, in fact, creative gardeners can have amazing compact gardens, even container gardens for those with no land to cultivate. Compact gardening is especially proper in big cities. So if you live in a big city or urban area, don’t worry, you can still have a nice beautiful garden.

Living in a city does not mean you have to give up having a great garden, including a flower garden, vegetable garden, herb garden or any combination of them. People who live in large cities have learned to enjoy compact gardening and container gardening. (more…)

Plant and animal residues such as leaves, trimmings, and manure in various stages of decomposition. See also compost; humus.

For the person who wants to give their garden a face lift they have some options available to them. These options will range from simply adding new plants and other garden accessories to your garden to hiring landscaping firms. You could look at some landscaping ideas before you begin any major sweeping changes to your garden however.

By looking at these landscaping ideas first you have the ability at hand of seeing what items you might like to have in your garden. These ideas will also let you see how you can reasonably change your garden – no matter how big or small – into one which reflects your personality. (more…)

The botanical name for love-in-a-mist.