Plant Gardens 101

The English term for perennial border. Such plantings were invented by Gertrude Jekyll as an alternative to the popular Victorian style of carpet bedding with annuals.

There are many people who relish the idea of having a summer garden but feel that the reality is well outside the realm of the possible. The good news is that in the modern world in which we live nothing could be further from the truth. The only thing is you may have to rearrange your idea of what a summer garden is and is not. You can still manage to have the beauty of flowers or fresh picked vegetables in almost any situation if you are willing to take the necessary extra steps required to do so.First of all, those who live in high rise buildings often feel as though they have no options larger than a window sill for their gardening needs. This is often not the case. Discuss with the landlord the option of establishing raised gardens on the roof top of the building in which you live. These are becoming more and more popular and some buildings also offer greenhouse possibilities, usage, or space to tenants to satisfy the urge many of us get to give our green (or not so green as the case may be) thumbs an adequate workout. Raised gardens are a great choice for many landlords and building owners as long as they are created and maintained at the expense of the tenant who proposed the garden. Some buildings even offer gardening coops as perks to those who live within the building and a system of contributing and sharing the fruits of the labor of those who have contributed to these gardens by planting and maintaining flowers, plants, fruits, and/or vegetables. This is also a great way to meet neighbors that may share your passion. (more…)

Excited, that¡¯s how you felt when you saw that space in your backyard. Don’t go out and buy garden plants yet! Your garden will be a disaster unless you doing some basic planning. What kind of soil do you have? How big of an area? What type of the garden do you really want.Think it over.

Before buying plants you should be attentive of where are you going to place the plants in the garden – shade-loving plants for the sheltered areas, sun-lovers for the warm spots, drought-resistant plants for the parched areas which may be either sunny or shaded, and swamp plants for the poorly-drained parts. Once you decided with your selections it is time to choose how you are going to position them in your garden.

Take a look at these pointers: (more…)

Bearing stiff prickly hairs.

A hugely diverse orchid genus with more than 1,000 species, including some of the most beautiful of all orchids.

There are many instances when homeowners choose not to get started with backyard composting because of the perception that it is hard to do correctly. In reality, you just need to collect the basic organic materials, find a place for the compost heap and then allow nature to take over the task. But, there are some basic guidelines to keep in mind that can help make the whole process move forward without a hitch.

There are a number of different types of compost bins on the market that you can use to help manage and contain your compost. But, a special bin is not a requirement that is needed to accomplish successful composting, but more of a convenience. It is easy enough to build your own bin for your pile and simply cover it over with a sheet of polythene or chunk of cardboard. (more…)

As a species name, means “native to the Carolinas” but was used by early botanists for plants that grow, throughout the eastern United States. For example, the hornbeam or musclewood tree, Carpinus caroliniana, grows from Minnesota and Massachusetts to Texas and Florida.

A system of controlling plant pests and diseases without the use of chemicals, by employing predators and parasites that feed upon them. For example, populations of ladybugs can be introduced into the garden to consume aphids.

In many ways, gardens are very personal creations, each choice and each hour of tending yields specific results. After several seasons, however, the garden you dreamed may have never bloomed or no longer pleases you as you thought it might. At these times it is worthwhile to consider some more unusual, that is to say, more interesting or less common garden features. The most important thing when planning the space of your garden is keeping in mind the visual balance between the various elements. Stone elements always add excellent contrast to a garden. By using stone to offset your garden you will draw attention to all of the textures in your garden. A coarse sandstone finish will help display glossy green leaves, helping them to look lush and vibrant by drawing attention to the edges of individual leaves. A matte gray stone will help bring out the reds in your roses while a shiny marble will best offset flowing water and large “roundish” plantings.  (more…)

An organization with almost 30,000 members and more than 550 affiliated local societies. It is the major source of information about orchids for both scientific researchers and hobbyists.

The botanical name for flowering quince.

Gardening is an engaging, fun activity that anyone can take up at any point in their life. The benefits to starting a garden are numerous, and after realizing these benefits, one might wonder why they did not start pursuing this hobby earlier. You do not need to have a large backyard or living area to tend to a garden, although having space certainly helps. Gardens can be started in the smallest of areas. The benefits one yields from gardening activities are more or less the same regardless of the size of the garden.

Most people get so lost in the fun of gardening that they forget that it is an inherent form of exercise. The tasks involved in gardening, such as composting, digging, and shoveling, are quite physically involved, and are great ways of losing weight and improving your general health. Since gardening is a near daily activity, the consistent exercise can be nearly as good as going to a gym (and a lot cheaper, too).  (more…)

A substance that does not dissolve in water but remains suspended in it. Usually refers to pesticides that are applied as sprays.

During World War II, a vegetable garden made by homeowners to grow their own food crops and thus support the war effort.

Located in Superior, Arizona, an arboretum featuring plantings of cacti and succulents, and dramatic spurts of flowers following spring rains.

The botanical name for germander.

There is no hard and fast rule as to what a summer garden should be. This means that your personal vision for your summer garden is going to be quite achievable if you take the time to do the proper research and plan the planting for your summer gardening wisely and with great care. One thing is certain, planting wisely can produce a summer garden that is beautiful and maintains some degree of natural pest control. Your summer garden can produce fruit, vegetables, flowers, and even be designed in order to attract certain birds or butterflies. Of course, your summer garden may also be designed to accomplish more than one of these goals as well. That’s the beauty of the versatility of your average summer garden.Here are a few things to consider. Versatility in a summer garden means that you aren’t committed to one prevailing purpose or theme. This means that it is not at all inappropriate to plant a few flowering plants or herbs as pest control along with your favorite summertime vegetable offerings. At the same time it is completely acceptable to add a few vegetables that you just can’t seem to live without in your flower garden or amid a the plants in a garden of green. (more…)

A tall rounded clay pot with holes along the sides into which strawberry plants are rooted. Such pots are often used to grow other plants in a decorative way.

Greenhouses are becoming more and more popular to those people with “green thumb.” Even home gardeners are considering having one for their garden for the benefits that it gives. Since full-sized, regular greenhouses can really be expensive and costly to maintain, it may be impractical for these small home gardeners to build one.

But do not fret! It is because there are new portable and mini greenhouses now available for one to purchase and conveniently place in their gardens. These portable greenhouses are ideal for those who want to start their growing season early in the spring and extend it during the fall. These are also best for overwintering crops and are inexpensive too. (more…)

The botanical name for locust.