Plant Gardens 101

The brilliant autumn colors have exploded and now the leaves are falling. Pumpkins dressed with frost in the early morning tell you winter is around the corner and preparations should be made. Keeping some annuals and summer bulbs in colorful shape through the winter is possible, relatively easy and saves buying all new plants come spring. Coleus, dahlias, gladiolus, crocosmias, acidanthera, geraniums are all among the plants you can continue to grow or keep safe indoors. It is your choice. You could just leave all of them to die with the deep freeze and start with new plants next year. But the longer the potted plants are left to grow, the larger the plant, and the better the show for next spring when you will place them outdoors again. If you have any of the plants mentioned above and would like to keep them safe and sound through the winter, here are some guidelines to do just that. Some can share your living quarters and others have to be set aside in a cool, dry location. ? After the gladiolus, crocosmias, and acidanthera have finished flowering or when frost kills their leaves, carefully dig the corms of these plants and spread them out in a dry, well-ventilated area at room temperature for about two to three weeks. Remove and throw away the old corms, and in paper bags in a 35° to 40° location, store the new corms collected. (more…)

Since the Victorian Era, rose cuttings have been used to propagate roses, and even pioneers who journeyed west to find a new life would use this art as well. They would take along various cuttings from their gardens in the east, putting them in mason jars and carting them across the land until they found the right place to plant.

If you want a garden project that is easy and fun propagating new roses by using rose cuttings can be done quite simply. This is a great way to start your own rose garden for cheap. While there is not set way you have to prepare your cuttings, just about everyone seems to have their own special way of doing it. However, here are a few things that will help you out as you get started in the art of preparing your cuttings and then planting them. Consider doing some experimenting to find out which method works the best for you.

Mason Jar Method

This is a fairly simple way of using rose cuttings for propagation. You’ll first want to cut a stem from the rose bush of your choice. Then you’ll want to take the stem and take off any leaves there are on it. Once you plant it into the ground, you’ll need to cover it with a mason jar. Make sure that you water the area around the jar, just to be sure that the stem doesn’t get too dry. Usually after a couple months, you’ll see new leaves growing from this cutting. (more…)

The death of a plant’s stems, beginning at the tips, caused by lack of water, nutrient deficiency, disease, frost damage, insect attack, or injury from pruning.

It is always been said that first impressions last, and that is why people do their best to create that long lasting impression especially during first time encounters. The same goes for your garden out in the front or back lawn of your house. Your garden acts as the “welcome area” of your dwelling place, inviting the visitors to come and see the rest of the house.

It is also the best place of your home to relax while pondering about things. A landscaped garden refreshes your mood, driving away all the pressures and fatigue, and soothes your emotions. Staying for a little while in your beautiful landscaped garden will rejuvenate you and help you realize that beauty still exists in a world full of burdens.

Your landscape garden is part of your home and since you might want to have a spectacular garden, one that would be the envy of your neighbors, it is always a good idea to have a landscape design which would be in symmetry with your present location. Even though you just have a small space reserved for a landscaped garden, good planning and design will enable you to have that enchanting garden. (more…)

This plant, of which the species are numerous, never receives the care and attention its beauty merits. Every green-house contains plants of the well-known Daphne odorata, sometimes called D. Indica and vulgarly known as “Daphne odora.” It is to this, plant we intend more particularly to confine our attention.

It is a green-house evergreen shrub, attaining the height of about four feet, remarkable for its long, dark, glossy, green leaves, and its terminal bunches of fragrant, white flowers. It is one of the few old-fashioned plants which the modern rage for novelties has not driven entirely out of cultivation.

It has only been thrust into the corners, and left to make its merits known by its beauty and fragrance. It is one of our most popular flowers, and as a window plant is unsurpassed, flourishing and blooming in situations where most plants would dwindle and die. It looks best when planted near outdoor statues (http://www.garden-fountains.com/Detail.bok?no=1063) or water features. (more…)

Everyone likes to have a beautiful home and garden; however, paying for all the best decorations and extras is not always easy. There are many things you can do to save money on home and garden items; you just have to know where to look and what strategies to use. Consider the following five tips when you are planning your next purchase.

1. Mix It Up – When you are designing your home and garden area, use a variety of colors and patterns. Consider using a theme for the room or garden area and then all you have to do is shop for items along that theme. This is a great way to save money on clearance racks and closeout sales. While you may not find six matching linen napkins, you can probably find six green linen napkins. You can also mix up your plates. Instead of a matching set that costs hundreds, buy individual plates along the same theme.

2. Shop Exclusively – Forgo the department stores and shop at stores that exclusively have what you are looking for. While everyone knows large retail stores are known for cheaper prices, it is often easy to find even better deals at a specialty store. Consider the bedding you need for your home. When you shop at a bedding store, you will have a larger selection and there will be more markdowns and clearance items as well.

(more…)