Plant Gardens 101

Having a garden is a great idea that is greatly advised to everyone. It provides a fun – filled way of spending one’s time. Not only that but it also a good method of helping the environment. Plants help in renewing the oxygen supply of the world as well as reduce the pollution in the air. They not only provide beauty to our surroundings but they are also a good source of food and other important materials. All of these things are reasons why starting a home garden is recommended to all of us.

Planning the garden is the first thing that must be done by anyone who plans of having one. The type of garden must be considered as this is the basis of all the things that will be done with it. The gardener can choose between flowers, vegetables and fruits or he can make use of a combination of them. After choosing the type, he must now know the things that he will plant. For starters, plants that are easy to grow and nourish is the best thing to have. Other thing that must be considered in this area is the method of planning; when to start; and the location of the garden.

The next thing that must be done in when starting a garden is the familiarization of the different gardening tools and equipment. These highly – specialized tools are needed for all the processes that will be done in the garden. There are garden tools each for digging, cutting, watering and measuring. By knowing and having these tools, the aspiring gardener could make his work easier and faster. (more…)

Snapdragon family
Scrophulariaceae
Pen-stee’mon. Beardtongue . A large genus of 250 species of herbs, rarely shrubs, chiefly from the w. U.S. Many of the species are important bee plants in the West.

Description
Leaves opposite or whorled, and showy. Flowers 2-lipped, tubular, mostly in terminal racemes or panicles. Calyx 5-parted. Corolla with the lower lip 3-lobed, the upper lip 2-lobed. Stamens 5, with 4 fertile, the fifth sterile and often bearded.

How to Grow   (more…)

My gardens have always been described as whimsical. That is a nice way to say there is no order to them. Flowers are here, there and everywhere with no particular color scheme, and although attractive, they don’t have the eye catching appeal of a formal garden.

These eclectic style gardens have their place, but it’s not a bad idea to incorporate some traditional principles to add structure to your landscape. Here are some fundamentals of a formal garden; perhaps some of these ideas will find their way into your “not so formal” garden.

1. Begin by incorporating a geometric structure to your garden. This can be defined with trimmed boxwood hedges, fencing and bordered pathways. (more…)

Garden planters allow you to enjoy plants in areas where a traditional garden is awkward or impossible. In my tiny backyard, I grow nearly everything in containers, at least while the plant and I are deciding whether we like each other. Growing plants in planters allows you to provide the right conditions for different plants. Practically any type of garden planters can be used to grow plants as long as it holds soil, can drain water, and is large enough for the plant you’re growing. They are available in a wide range of materials, styles and shapes to match the style of the house, garden, or planting scheme. Take into account the mature size of the plants and their growing habits. Ideally, the pot should have a diameter equal to 1/3 to 1/2 the height of the plant.

Whatever kind of pot you choose, make sure there are drainage holes on the bottom of it so excess water can run out. Beware of decorative garden planters that lack drainage holes. You can put your plants in a regular flower pots and place them inside decorative garden planters. You can place pieces of broken pot or scoria in the bottom of your pot around the drainage hole to ensure free drainage. (more…)

A pigment in plants that senses daylength and plays a role in controlling flowering, dormancy, and seed germination. See also photoperiodism

Many of us can only dream about the perfect garden that can compliment our home and create a safe haven for us to relax in. Our idea of a great garden might consist of a few flower beds around the house, potted plants spread along the patio, or a fountain surrounded by many beautiful flower and exotic plants. Whatever our vision is the one thing that does not exist in our perfect gardens are weeds and plants that can choke them out and ruin the whole scene.

The poison ivy plant has a way of doing this. It can creep into our yard and our perfect gardens and cause mayhem. It is easy enough to spot when it is trying to grow next to our beautiful and colorful flowers – but it is not so easy to get rid of. In fact many people are not sure what to do when it comes to this creepy plant. So how do you dispose of it from your garden? (more…)