Plant Gardens 101

There are several different types of mulches that can be used in a garden, everything from wood chips to old newspapers. Most people use chips or bark because they add beauty and color to the landscaping. Cedar, Pine and Cypress are the most commonly used ones because of their durability and smell. I love the smell of Cedar for my own personal preference, but that is a matter of choice, however wood chip mulches can be found and purchased at any local gardening center.

If straw is your choice to use as mulch, it is best used in a vegetable garden because it decays away and it will improve the soil as it is also ideal winter mulch for your perennial garden. You should note to be very careful as not to purchase straw that may have a lot of weed seeds in it. If you have newly plant trees or shrubs, Pine Needles make for excellent mulch.

While cocoa hulls have a beautiful color and smell they should NOT be used if you have pets. Dogs are particularly attracted to the smell as so are cats. The cocoa hulls contain Theobromine which is extremely toxic to cats and dogs. Some dogs are attracted to the smell. (more…)

Many people ask What Is Organic Gardening? Organic gardening is simply the non -use of synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. The basic of organic gardening is replenishing the soils natural resources as it uses them. Replacing some of the depleted soil with composted plants and using cow and other animal manures as fertilizers is one sure way of replenishing the soil naturally, in other words co-operating and being in sync with Mother Nature herself.

The organic matters used in organic gardens is nothing more than decaying plants and/or animal wastes, compost made from dried leaves, grass clippings, with added household food scrapings make for good soil enrichments to be used as a top soil dressing for established garden or added and then worked into the soil for a new garden. With the addition of organic matters into the soil it naturally improves its texture while enriching it for the plants to get the air, water and nutrients that they need. (more…)

Looking for a garden activity for that junior gardener of yours? Here’s one that will surely be a challenge, have him/her start growing a pineapple plant. Most people think that you need live in the tropics to grow a pineapple plant, you don’t, however it is a challenge.

These plants are best started in the fall of the year and kept indoors in a bright sunny window. To begin the plant you will need to cut off the top of a whole pineapple and remove any excess fruit and skin from around the leaves. The top should then be place in a small bowl of water with ¼ teaspoon of Epson salt, being sure to keep the water level from 1/8 to ¼ of an inch above the bottom of the leaves then place the bowl in a sunny window for about two weeks adding more water as it is needed. (more…)

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When you only have a few feet of balcony or patio but love the idea of gardening, try some container gardening. The basics are simply, easy and great fun. What you plant inside your container is entirely up to you; just make sure that you have the right size and type for your plants. In containers you can grow anything from pansies to petunias, from tomatoes to peppers the choice is yours.

One upside to container gardening is that you have the ability to guarantee yourself a great and an ideal gardening soil. The use of a good potting soil mixed with peat moss, vermiculite and perlite will hold moisture longer and it also helps to make the soil well draining. First thing is to decide what sized container you want for which area, then what you want to plant. Know how much sun you will be getting at what time of day, some plants don’t need all day sun while others only need partial sun and when planting plant, plants that will thrive in the same amount of sun, heat, and water, containers heat up faster and hotter than an in ground garden.     (more…)

Some plants will not do well come spring if you wait and prune them too late in the season, especially your perennials. Pruning your plants in the spring will not only help guarantee a beautiful garden but you can also use the debris to make compost for later use.

Plants that are diseased or infected should have been pruned back in the fall and should never be used in your compost bins or piles. Leaving the old growth as a marker for the new growth as it starts to appear on your perennials will help you to determine exactly where to start pruning back on plants that emerge later in the spring season.

Depending on what does or does not work best for you depend primarily on what you have or had planted. Many perennials are better off when left alone and not pruned at all until spring when the new growth starts to appear. (more…)

Soon the season will have changed from cold to warm and gardeners everywhere like me will be getting ready and getting set to start growing again. Before any planting is to begin your garden will need the spring clean-up task of removing all the debris that accumulated over the winter months.

If you plan on starting an early flower garden, begin by removing and or composting dead plants that are left over from last year. If any of these plants were self-seeding they have already dropped their seeds and are more than likely beginning to sprout.

If you had perennials in the garden and you didn’t get a chance to cut them back last fall, when the new growth can be seen around the base of the plant begin to remove the winter mulch and then prune them down to ground level to allow air to get around them.

Your soft stemmed succulent green perennial plants known as (herbaceous perennials) generally like to be left standing during the winter months for extra protection, and will only need to be cleaned around the base and with the removal of any dead stems they will be good to go. (more…)

Nothing will add more instant beauty to a garden than climbing vines. Climbing vine plants tend to grow pretty much carefree while adding a point of beauty and interest to a trellis, wall, fence or tree trunk.

Climbing vines can make a bland garden picturesque during its first growing season. Nothing will add more beauty to a tree in your garden than a trail of Morning Glory streaming up its trunk, or maybe the sweet smell of Honeysuckle or Jasmine Tobacco overhanging a patio. (more…)

There are several ways to successfully weed a garden, adding a good heavy layer of mulch will cut down on weeds but the most successful way is the old fashioned way, pulling them by hand. Hand weeding is the easiest, quickest and by far the most convenient way to eliminate weeds from your garden.

The best tool however to use when hand weeding is a hand small hand hoe for those stubborn larger weed that have taken a good root hold. If you have a vegetable garden that has long rows of plants then a traditional Draw Hoe will be best in removing weeds.

If weeds have begun to grow between the rows I suggest a Warren Hoe, it has a sharp pointed blade that just right for removing small weeds in between rows and making furrows. If you have a large area that needs weeding use a Dutch hoe it easy to use with a simple pushes and pulls action. (more…)

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There are three common ailments that roses are susceptible to, Rose rust, Powdery or Downey Mildew and Black Spot all of which are known as fungal infections. They are easily treated with fungicides when they are applied at the first signs of the disease or before the onset of hot, humid weather is evident. Prevention is one of the most important parts of growing and caring of roses, although prevention is not always possible. There are however a few easy precautionary tips for preventing roses diseases.
First begin by promoting strong healthy plants by providing plenty of water and fertilizers, along with good air circulation, then keeping them pruned, water at the roots whenever possible trying not to get the leaves wet ( this sometimes promotes diseases ) then cut or pick off old weak leaves and stems.

Most of all watch for signs of insects or diseases on your other garden plants, they are often times the breeding ground for insects and diseases and insects are the carriers of many diseases. Once they are spotted in your garden start treatment right away. (more…)

Have you ever wanted to know what it would be like to walk right outside you r door and pick a nice fresh tomato? Have you ever wanted to grow your own vegetables but simply don’t have the space? Can container vegetable gardening be the answer? Container gardening is fast becoming more and more popular since many vegetables will grow just as well in a confined area. Depending upon what you plan to plant your containers should be large enough to allow for root spreading and growth. Oversized wooden tubs and half barrels are the most popular because they make excellent garden containers. Planters made of plastic, metal or clay should always be checked for proper drainage holes. (more…)

There is no magical Green Thumb needed when it comes to growing roses, beautiful roses. Roses love water and a regular fertilizer feeding so keep these two factors in mind and your reward will be healthy plants with beautiful blossoms.

With over 2000 varieties of roses to choose from each with its own distinctive fragrance, selecting which to plant can be a difficult challenge. The plants growth habit and what’s it going to look like in your garden after its planted should be taken into consideration. Remember that soil types vary by regions and that dark red color you get in the south may become a deep pink in the north.

Knowing the differences in varieties is also important, a climber or rambler, a hybrid tea, a floribunda or an ever bloomer all have distinctive growing conditions, so knowing what you are planting is very important. Select an area of your garden where you plan to plant your roses and know what your flowering blooms will look like to compliment the rest of the flower garden. (more…)