Plant Gardens 101

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There is nothing quite as welcome as those beautiful spring flowers that seem to emerge from nowhere to welcome the arrival of spring. Bulb type flowers are really unique plants, because they spend most of their days resting quietly beneath the surface of the soil. Then right on schedule, up they come, full of bloom and vigor, and then almost as fast as they came, they go. Except for the green leafy part of the plant that tends to linger longer than we would like them to. (more…)

The more you understand about any topic, the more interesting it becomes. As you read this section you’ll find that the issue of home farming is certainly no exclusion.

Gardening with bulbs has many advantages for the gardener. For one thing, most bulb plants are inexpensive, and bulbs are resilient out of the ground and enduring in the ground.

Shopping for the right bulbs is also painless; minimally choosing stable, healthy looking bulbs, and avoiding those that are cracked, dry or velvety is a good way to wish the best bulbs for your plot.

There are so many types of bulbs, however, that it can be strenuous to find the right ones for your backyard. The clause presents the orders overview of some of the most prevalent flower bulbs. (more…)

In the summer, the sun is shining and everything is vibrant. Even the summer flowers are brighter and bolder. No meek pastels or pasty whites here; summer flower bulbs are vivacious. While less hardy plants are dried, brown, and dying, summer flowers are bright, alive, and thriving. Summer flower bulbs are flowers that bloom in the summer. Some examples are daylilies, lilies, gladiolus, dahlia, begonia, and caladium.

Summer flower bulbs should be planted in early spring. They need to be planted in an area with adequate drainage. Flower bulbs will rot in standing water. For this reason, they should never be planted at the bottom of a hill.

Summer flower bulbs vary in their sun requirements. Dahlias, lilies, and daylilies, for example, thrive in full sun to partial shade. Gladiolus, on the other hand, requires full sun and iris prefer partial shade. When planning your arrangement, pay special attention to the amount of sun your garden or flowerbed receives and pick your flower bulbs accordingly. (more…)

Spring is the favorite season of many. It is a time of rebirth, renewal, and rejuvenation. One of the greatest joys of spring is the beautiful assortment of flowers. You can get this joy at home by planting spring flower bulbs. These are bulbs that bloom in early spring while other plants are still developing.

There are many spring flowering bulbs, but some of the most popular are crocus, tulip, narcissus, and hyacinth. These bulbs should be planted before the ground freezes, preferably in late September or early October. This enables them to develop a strong root system before the first frost. (more…)

While many enjoy the beauty of home-grown flowers, not everyone can afford the hefty price tag of creating an elaborate floral retreat. Luckily, there are discount flower bulbs available for the budget-conscience.

One option is to order wholesale. Some companies will offer wholesale prices to consumers if they meet a minimum order requirement. Colorblends, for example, offers wholesale prices to consumers with a $50 minimum order.

Many stores will offer discounts if you are willing to buy a large quantity. Most stores do not advertise this policy, so it never hurts to ask. When shopping for discount flower bulbs, it’s a good idea to leave your shyness at home!

Another way to buy cheap flower bulbs is to catch sales and incentives. American Meadows, for example, offers incentives for ordering early. If you order your bulbs in the spring or early summer, you receive a 50% discount; orders placed in fall are regular priced. (more…)

Before you opening functioning with busy flowers you have to know how to press flowers.

Before you lead working with constrained flowers you be duty-bound to know how to press flowers. Adding repayment and flowers gratification to your commotion of creating a finished and compelled flower piece is you knowing the art flower of criticalAntonym the flowers.

Should you not know how to press flowers, gratify read on as I flowers deliberate a quantity of nitty-gritty of tenacious flowers.How to press flowers?? Flower Preparation ? The idea is to press flower the flowers after there is no vapor comfortable on them. This can be ensured by urgent the flowers flowers right away after picking them.

This will allow you to see the spot-on colors of the flowers flower the minute they blossom.? Press flowers in records ? Buy certain rugged files for a low bill and flowers reserve them for your flower unrelenting needs. (more…)

Most gardeners know that daffodils, snowdrops, hyacinths and tulips grow from bulbs and that many other flowers grow from rhizomes, tubers or corms but what is the difference and can they all be treated in the same way?

There are many different definitions to be found, but I think these explain the variations in quite simple terms:

Bulb - a central bud surrounded by a fleshy layer. The bulb serves as a store for nutrients as well as a reproductive structure.

Rhizome - a reproductive stem which grows horizontally underground, topped by shoots and with roots below. The stem also acts as a food store. Some rhizomes are edible, such as ginger, galangal and turmeric but common flowers are irises and various types of lily. (more…)

Allium Bulbs
Allium bulbs are perennials in the genus Allium and the family Liliaceae. There are about three hundred species in the group, which about seventy of these are native to theUnited States. Most of these grow in theRocky Mountains and inCalifornia. Some of the plants in this group are only four inches tall where others can grow three feet tall.

The leaves on alliums are long, narrow, and flat. The flowers grow in a cluster at the top of the stems. Individually, each flower can be less than a half-inch wide or they can be four inches wide. Alliums can be one of several colors, including but not limited to white, yellow, and red. They can reproduce in three ways depending on species. They can form offsets, they can grow from seeds, or they can form tiny bulbs in the flower head and grow from them. (more…)

Nothing brightens a dreary winter day like a bouquet of fresh flowers. But there’s no need to venture out in the cold to purchase pre-cut flowers that won’t last; you can grow your own long-lasting arrangement in the comfort of your home. Forcing bulbs to bloom in your home is an excellent way to bring a little of that spring color you’ve been dreaming of inside during that last long cold stretch of winter. It’s also a great project to do with the kids or grandchildren. With just a few simple steps and a bit of patience, you will soon have a flower display that will be the envy of your neighbors.

First, we need to define what is meant by forcing. Forcing is tricking the bulb into thinking that it’s spring. That is achieved by creating an environment that pushes the bulb through its natural growth stages more quickly than they would occur on their own. (more…)

Many people consider gardening as an occupation that should be undertaken by those who know their way around. You may surprised to find out that having a garden full of beautiful flowers requires only little attention, the right garden bulbs and few easy to follow guidelines so you will not fail. You can do it yourself even if you have no experience.

First you should know how to plant flower bulbs. It requires a hole for each individual bulb. You should dig holes between 3 and 8 inches, taking under consideration the size of the bulb. Place the bulb inside the whole and cover it up.

Next you should know about soil quality. Since you are a beginner, you don’t have great knowledge about this field. In order to be sure that your garden bulbs reach full potential, you should use special soil that can be purchased from local stores for a very cheap price. After all, it is dirt. (more…)

Perhaps you received an amaryllis bulb as a gift for the holidays. No other interior flower can add such a volume of delightful color in a home during the long winters than the amaryllis. With so many colors to choose from — white, with streaks of red, various shades of red, orange,and yellow you will certainly want to take care of your plant to insure that it reblooms year after year. It’s not hard to do once you know the secrets.

Planting

The large amaryllis bulbs are often purchased in potted kit form with directions included. These potted bulbs require only watering and light to begin growth. Plants which are already growing are available at many flower shops. (more…)

When it comes to favorite seasons many people prefer spring. There are many reasons why this happens. For some it is because they hate the cold winter, the blizzards and the snow. Children can’t wait for spring vacations. But for people that occupy their time with a great passion for gardening, spring is the time when they can see what their hard work was for.

Not many people have an inclination for this occupation. Some may think it is too boring, others have the tendency to overlook some key aspects. But for the few people that show a real interest in this occupation, there is nothing like taking a look over what you have achieved with all that hard work. Spring has its way of rewarding the ones that tend to their gardens.

How can you make the most of your garden? With a good choice of flower bulbs, the garden of your dreams is just waiting to come to life. With the right choices of flowers, you will be able to show everyone how great results can be obtained with a little effort. (more…)

A is for Amaryllis, a big bulb which produces big showy flowers in red or white or pink and which is often given as a gift at Christmas time.

B is for Bonemeal, which many flowering bulbs enjoy having mixed into their soil when planted – but which may attract bulb eating creatures such as rodents.

C is for Crocus, the tiny flowers that are the harbingers of spring and which come from corms and not true bulbs.

D is for Daffodil, the common name of the genus Narcissus, and which are the yellow and white trumpets that sound the true arrival of spring.

E is for Eremurus, a genus commonly know as foxtail lilies or desert candles, and which have large stalks topped with plumes of beautiful flowers.

F is for Fritillaria, a genus of varied flowers which hang down from droopy stems which sometimes have an intriguing checkerboard pattern on them.

G is for Gladiolus, a genus that produces large flowering stalks in vibrant colors including pink, red, yellow, and white. (more…)

In most books on rock gardening, a large part of the space is devoted to the description of plants, and of individual varieties. This is as it should be, and to those who are taking up seriously this fascinating form of gardening, the acquisition of at least one or two of these larger volumes is by all means recommended. Anyone planning a rock garden should conduct more research than simply what this article contains.

Bulbs for a Rock Garden:

To one who thinks of bulbs in terms of Darwin tulips with three-foot stems, and the modern Giant Trumpet daffodils, in the spring garden, or of gladiolus and dahlias throughout the summer months, the rock garden would seem to offer no suitable place of residence for this important group of flowers. Many “complete” catalogs of rock garden plants contain never a whisper concerning bulbs, though often including shrubs, evergreens, and garden fountains (http://www.garden-fountains.com/Detail.bok?no=1071). (more…)

Are you interested in learning about how to get started with flower bulbs? Here are a few tips that will help to get you started:

Choose the right bulbs.

Being particular about what bulbs you want to plant is not a bad thing. Keep the variety and the quality of the bulbs in the front of your mind while shopping. Selecting a bulb that will fit well into your environment is of highest importance. After you buy your bulbs, store them in a cool dry area that has good airflow. Never stack bulbs on top of each other or in a close pile. Label your bulbs so that you know what you have when it comes time to plant. Check the bulbs frequently for signs of decay while you are waiting to plant them.

Use good planting supplies.

Trowels or bulb diggers are good tools for planting small areas of bulbs. Spades are more useful in planting larger areas. Always remember to fertilize so that your bulbs get all the proper nutrients. When planting in a smaller area, a teaspoon of bone meal can be added into the soil before planting. Label where you plant each bulb so that you can easily keep organized. (more…)

October is the month for planting many kinds of bulbs, perennials and vegetables in the South. Lawn planting, too, is at its height, especially preparing lawns for winter color with overplantings of rye grass.

We have gone through a rather difficult summer season of extremely hot weather and severe droughts in many areas. This has left garden soils badly compacted, enough to restrict root growth of lawn grasses and garden plants. This calls for deep preparation of the soil and pulverizing it thoroughly. Ample quantities of peatmoss should be added to heavy clay and sandy soils to improve their texture and moisture-holding capacities.

Some bulbs such as Madonna lilies, freesias, ornithogalums, zephyranthes and leucojums must be planted immediately. Get these in first. The latter part of the month will be too late. (more…)

Spring flower bulb planting in the fall is fast, easy and a nearly foolproof way to add color to your garden. By following a few simple steps you should enjoy your spring and summer bulb garden for years to come. Here are a few basic guidelines. Spring flowering bulbs need to be planted in the fall before the first hard freeze. Subsequent cold weather will sustain the bulbs’ dormancy period required to stimulate root growth and spring flowering. If you have purchased your bulbs early in the fall it is ok to store them unpackaged in a cool dry place between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit for a few days. For extended periods store them in your refrigerator, but keep them away from ripening fruit as the ethylene released by the fruit can damage your bulbs. When planning a new bulb garden site keep in mind the following: (more…)

Make the most of your spring bulb display by using some of these planting tips.

Make your bulbs look like they just popped up by planting them in random clusters instead of in orderly rows. As a rule of thumb, plant larger bulbs, such as tulips or daffodils in groups of five to 15 bulbs. Smaller bulbs, such grape hyacinth or crocus stand out best in groups of 15 to 25.

Plan your color combination’s to make the most of your display. Combine two-tone colored tulips with solid colored varieties. For instance, ‘Palace Purple” coralbells look striking up against the burgundy ‘Uncle Tom” tulip. Pair up white daffodils (also referred to as the orchid narcissus), with pink or rose colored ‘Christmas Marvel’ tulips.

Don’t ignore shady areas of the garden. Brighten them up with paperwhite narcissus combined with ‘Spring Green’ tulips. Intermingle some low growing vinca among your bulbs. Or, use a combination of pastel colored tulips with small forget-me-nots. (more…)

Outdoor Plants Before you shop, choose plants that will withstand the rigors of your climate. Select the location in your yard where you will grow each plant: sunny, shady, windy, etc. Select plants that are disease resistant, especially to pests that are already present in your environment.

Buying and selecting quality plants: Whether you are planting seeds, bulbs, transplants or mature plants, always buy from a reputable source. Look for sources that back their plants with a money-back guarantee. This is especially important when shopping by mail or on the internet, as you will not have the chance to personally inspect for quality.

Seeds: When possible, order seeds from mail order companies to ensure that you are receiving fresh seeds that have been stored at optimal temperatures. Read before you buy. Many companies offer information on height at maturity, flower and fruit size, disease resistance, how many days until bloom, growing requirements and zones. After you have gotten your plants off to a great start, be sure to keep your plants free of disease and bugs.   (more…)

As a group, flower bulbs are outstanding plants—colorful, showy, and generally easy to grow for container gardening. Many have evergreen foliage; with others, the leaves ripen after flowering and the bulbs are stored and started again, year after year. Some flower bulbs are hardy, others, tender, though what is, and is not hardy, in a particular area is a matter of winter temperature averages. In cold regions, tender types—tuberous begonias, gloxinias, and calla lilies—can be treated like summer in container gardens. This gives the gardener a wide variety to grow from earliest spring to late fall. (more…)