Archive for September, 2008

Rose Gardening

Author: admin
09 19th, 2008

The bright vibrant hues of roses give gardens a splash of color.
The heady perfume of roses fill the air during summer. With so many different varieties to choose from, rose gardening is a wonderul experience.

Roses are hardy plants. Many gardeners are breeding new hardy varieties so that roses can now grow in any type of condition. Difficult soil and garden problems are no longer a issue to growing rose gardens.

The key to rose gardening lies in buying plants that are at least two years old and have been field grown with buds. If your young rose plants are pruned then the heavy stems need to be 1/4 inches in diameter at the top.  On the other hand if the rose plant is not pruned, then there should be three or more heavy stems that are 1/8 inches in diameter.

You need to plant your roses in a sunny, well-drained area. You should trim of all the broken stems off.  Roses needed to be eased into the ground. You first dig a hole 6 inches deeper than the roots need, then make the hole wider so that the roots will not grow crowded or bent.

The bottom of the hole should have small rocks or pebbles in it. This rock formation will aid in the drainage for the roses. After the stones have been placed, mix one tablespoon of fertilizer over the stones. Above this lay good fertile soil until the level is where you will plant your rose plant. In the mound of soil make a small hole and carefully plant your rose bush in there. You will need to make sure that the hole has room for the roots. Then cover the roots with soil, firming the soil every so often.

Rose gardening requires that you feed your roses at regular intervals to ensure healthy growth. The first feeding should therefore be given in early spring, before the roses bloom. The second feeding will come after the first heavy blossoming is finished. The third feeding occurs in late summer. If you are lucky there might be roses that will bloom until about November. If this is the case, then feed your plants a fourth time around

While all this care does help in rose gardening, chemical pesticides are needed to prevent chewing insects from damaging your roses. This pesticide also works to cut down on the fungus that likes to grow on roses.

Rose gardening is a lovely hobby. If you take care of your plant during the initial days, then you will be rewarded with big, vibrant blossoms that are a joy to behold.



09 18th, 2008

One of the best ways to help your garden to look healthy and green is giving it a good mulching compound. Mulches are a layer of protective material that is placed around your plants and shrubs.

Organic mulches are like pine needles and leaves that fall to the ground in forests. As organic mulches are of plant matter, they decompose over a period of time. The decomposed mulch helps to keep the soil moist and the plant roots cool, while locking nutrients in.

There are different types of organic mulching that you can use. Sawdust, Straw, Bark, Wood Chips, Pine Straw, Shredded Leaves and Newspaper are some of the material that is used for mulching. As each of these mulches has different characteristics you should be familiare with them before you lay them in the garden.

Bark, Wood Chips, Sawdust, Straw and Shredded Leaves can cause problems in the garden. These organic mulches can be washed away in the rain, rob the soil of nitrogen and let weeds grow in between their organic matter. However Bark and Wood Chips can give an attractive look to the garden.

Pine Straw and Newspaper mulching are best organic types to put in the garden. Newspaper mulching works best for your vegetable garden as they tend to suppress weeds. Pine Straw mulching works like the natural fallen pine needles. They decompose slowly, resist being washed away, and keep the nutrients in the soil.

Inorganic mulches like crushed stone, gravel and volcanic rock have a tendency to work their way into the soil. When this happens, you will have a bit of trouble getting them out when you need to do some digging. This type of mulching is considered to be permanent.

Plastic mulches should mainly be used for vegetable plots. Irrigation paths can be laid out on the ground beneath the plastic mulching. This will keep the soil moist and the plants well watered. You can also cut holes in the plastic mulching where you want water to go into your vegetable plot.

The other type of inorganic mulch is that of geotextiles. This is fabric mulch made out of polypropylene or polyester. While a closely woven geotextile mulching allows water and fertilizer to enter the soil, it inhibits the growth of weeds. This is probably the best type of inorganic mulching that you can put in your garden.



09 17th, 2008

Many of us buy our vegetables from supermarkets. But with a little planning and a nice sunny area in your yard, it is possible to grow your very own vegetables. There are many vegetables that are easy to grow and plenty of gardening tips that can help you to make the most out of your garden.

First off you need to decide where you will plant your vegetable plot. This section of the garden should receive at least 6 hours of sunlight. The more sunlight that your plants receive, the healthier and more fertile they will be.

For the best growth, it’s best to start with a rich, sandy loam type of soil. If the plot requires more nutrients, then the addition of compost or manure will cure the problem. You will need to place the compost underneath and around your vegetables as well.

The best way to grow good vegetables and herbs is by planting your vegetables in rows that face a north to south direction so that they can take full advantage of the sunlight. Your vegetable garden should be on level ground with wide spacing between the rows. This spacing will help with the harvesting and when you need to weed.

New and fresh seeds should be sown into the soil. Older seeds will not germinate fully and your first crop will most likely fail or not grow as well. Besides planting seeds, you can also plant transplants as well. While the seedlings are growing, the transplants will give you some fresh vegetables early.

To begin, go to a gardening center and select your starter plants and fresh seeds from the center. As a first time vegetable gardener it is a good idea to get some vegetable gardening tips from experts. They will advise you on what works best for planting your vegetables.

Try planting your vegetable in some raised beds as well. Another way to maximize your vegetable crop is to plant different yet complementary plants next to each other. This way you have lots of different vegetables to harvest for your table.

Have one plot near your home so you can always grab a handful of your favorite vegetables quickly. Plant another bigger vegetable plot a little further away. This is a handy vegetable gardening tip that allows you to have lots of vegetables to choose from for your table, and also allows you the luxury of fresh vegetables even on a rainy day.



Indoor Gardening 101

Author: admin
09 16th, 2008

What are the benfits to planting and indoor garden – as opposed to an outdoor one? The reasons are quite simple. You won’t need to get too dirty working on your hands and knees. You’ll won’t need to brave the harsher weather elements. It will beautify your home while providing you with natural health benefits.

The reason why indoor gardening is healthy is because of a procedure called photosynthesis, where plants remove carbon dioxide from the air while releasing oxygen, which removes pollutants from our air.

When planning your indoor garden, you have a variety of stunning plant options to choose from that would not do well outdoors in many planting zones. Some of the best indoor growing plants include aloe vera, bamboo, bonsai plants, cactus, begonias and impatiens. You can find many of these in your local plant nursery.

A simple place to start with indoor gardening would be try growing an herb gardening. These plants are simple to grow, useful in the kitchen, and are not difficult to care for.

Gardening, of any kind, just doesn’t get any better than indoor gardening, especially if you’re not an outdoorsy type of person and don’t want a close encounter with the wormy kind. Or any other type of crawly insect that resides in your outdoor garden, not your indoor garden. The benefits of indoor gardening just keep growing!



Flowers For Every Season

Author: admin
09 15th, 2008

Flower gardening is not limited to the summer months. If you plan carefully, your garden can be filled with an abundance of flowers for most of the year.

In the sping, the best thing to plant are bulbs. You will find the basic bulbs at any nursery. If you’re inclined towards the exotic, and rarer flowering bulbs, then you may need to special order them.

The most popular early springtime bulbs are Crocuses and Snowdrops. Tulips are the most in demand bulb by flower gardeners and are available in a variety of shades, including black. All spring flowering bulbs should be planted in mid autumn, as this gives them time to establish before the winter frost.

In the summer, we find that perennials are a favorite for flower gardening as they yield blooms almost continuously throughout the season. You’ll also find that as the years go by, your perennials will become fuller and more abundant than the first year you planted them.

As autumn settles in, the best varieties to plant are hardy, drought resistant plants like Asters and chrysanthemums which look stunning in late summer and early fall. Generally, autumn plants will grow to a good 3-4 feet in height, and have vivid colors. Ornamental grasses are another favorite and will nicely complement your fall flowers.

To round out the year, the best winter blooms are Amaryllis, Hyacinth, and Narcissus which are available in bulb form. If you want something a little more out of the ordinary, you could always try Winter Jasmine, or Winter Honeysuckle, depending on what planting zone you live in.