Posts Tagged: garden

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25
Jun 11

Southern Lilies – Get Ready For Planting

Roses are best planted in late November, December and January. Many new varieties are not ready for shipment until after the first of the year. For the Lower South special attention should be given to the preparation of the soil. Roses don’t like very sandy soils. So, make sandy soils more retentive by adding peat. Use plenty of rotted manure for both fertility and humus. Mulch with pine straw or peat.

Many Lilies are ready for planting-regale, centifolium, tiger, Philippine, the many new hybrids, speciosum rubrum, auratum. Old lily stems that have finished their growth should be cut back to ground level. Destroy them. Stems often carry insects and diseases through the winter.

Perennials have finished growing by this time. Clean up mums, phlox and others by cutting back old tops to the ground. Burly to prevent the spread of pests next spring. Many perennials can also be set out in the Lower South. Try the giant Improved Shasta Daisy for size. It’s the biggest daisy I have ever seen. It is too bad it won’t grow well farther north.

Dahlias – When the leaves turn black and wilt cut back the tops to a few inches above the ground. After a few days lift the clumps carefully with a spading fork. Turn the clumps upside down and leave on top of the soil for a day or two if weather permits to let any excess moisture drain out of the stems. Remove the dried dirt and pack tubers in peatmoss, sand or vermiculite. Keep in a cool place (40 degrees) until spring.

Hardy Annual Seeds are best planted now in the Upper South. Plant late enough to keep them from starting growth before cold weather but early enough to germinate and start very early in the spring. This applies to sweet peas, larkspur, poppies, California poppies, Phlox drummondi and cornflowers. Plant larkspur in tulip and daffodil beds. It will hide the fpliage after the bulbs have finished blooming.

For the Lower South plant ageratum, alyssum, arctotis, babysbreath, calendula, California poppy, candy-tuft, carnation, clarkia, cornflower, dimorphotheca, forget-me-not, gaillardia, godetia, hunnemannia, linaria, linum, mignonette, nasturtium, nemophila, pansy, petunia, periwinkle, phlox, poppy, Queen Anne’s lace, scabiosa, snapdragon, statice, sweet pea, sweet william, verbena and viola. In Texas include bluebonnets.

Early-Flowering Camellias and anthurium flamingo flower in the Lower South can be given their first feeding in late November or early December after they finish blooming. Use a special camellia food, a small handful for an 18-inch plant to 2 pounds for a 4 to 6-foot one is about right.

Seaside Shrubs – Ones that really tolerate salt spray and some brackish water include raphiolepis, elaeagnus, pittosporum, ligustrum, yucca and the century plant. Native palms are also good where height is needed. Others good for seashore planting in protected areas are: bottlebrush, Ilex vomitoria, junipers, oleander, palms, podocarpus, bananashrub, crapemyrtle and euonymus. In more tropical areas, kumquat and calamondin may be included.

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15
Jun 11

How to Cat Proof a Garden Fence

It is becoming more common for responsible pet owners to keep their cat indoors to protect them from road accidents or attacks from other cats or dogs. If a cat has never been exposed to the great outdoors, then he may be content to live inside the house, but it could be a dull, lonely life. There is a simple system of cat proofing your garden fence so that your pet may enjoy a fuller life, playing and hiding, watching birds and insects.

There are many reasons for keeping your pet indoors or wanting to prevent him from leaving the safety of your garden. The average age of an indoor cat is 16 years, with some living to 21 years. Compare this with the outdoor cat’s average age of only 2 – 3 years, and you can see why some pet owners are reluctant to allow their cat outside. In addition, neighbours can get upset about cats using their garden as a toilet and damaging young plants. If bitten by another cat, your beloved pet may be infected with the feline HIV virus. There is no treatment or preventative vaccine for this fatal disease. In addition, cats can be killed or maimed by dogs, and may be seriously injured or killed if hit by a car.

If your garden is enclosed by a six foot high wooden fence, you can make the fencing cat proof by adding some plastic mesh trellis to the top. It is important that the trellis is set at an angle pointing inwards to the garden, to deter the cat from jumping at the fencing and climbing over the top. In order to climb a fence, a cat will jump about half way up and scramble up to the top by using his claws to get a grip. He will then balance on the top edge before deciding whether to walk along or jump down the other side. When he looks up at a cat proof fence from the ground, he will see that access to the top of the fence is blocked. He may make a few attempts to climb to the trellis, but when he realises he cannot get around the trellis, he will jump back down to where he started. This method of cat proofing a garden fence also has the advantage of keeping stray cats out of your garden, so that your pet will be safe from fights and infectious diseases.

Most garden centres sell plastic mesh climbing plant trellis in 50 cm widths. You will need enough trellis to run along the top of your fencing, some metal brackets bent at 45 degrees to support the trellis, fencing staples and cable ties. These items can be purchased from good DIY stores or builders merchants.

After installing the trellis, supervise your cat to make sure there are no weak spots where he can make his escape. Then sit back and enjoy pottering in the garden with your feline friend!

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30
May 11

Create Your Own Garden Paradise

More and more Americans are realizing that their own homes and backyard gardens can be the paradises they are looking for. As travel becomes too expensive and too inconvenient-with delays, traffic, security checks, and weather problems-homeowners are turning to their own homes as sources of relaxation and fun. All it takes is flowers and garden accessories to turn your outdoor space into your own personal heaven.

First of all, you want to attract friendly wildlife into your garden. There is no better way to do that than with bird feeders. Different birds like different kinds of food and favor specific shapes and styles of feeders. Tubes of red-colored sweet liquid bring hummingbirds to sip the nectar. Chickadees like seeds; you can watch them husk sunflower seeds before they eat them. Woodpeckers prefer suet, which provides both fat and protein.

Many hardware stores and garden centers carry a variety of tube and suet feeders, as well as birdhouses. If you want to be creative you can make your own, or you can buy bird feeders that look like barns, parrots, angels or houses and birdhouses that look like churches, garden statues, or even gas stations.

The birds bring life to your garden during the day. You can carry the feeling of life and the energy of light into the evening with solar lights. Solar lights collect the power of the sun during the day, and produce light when the sun goes down. You can use solar lights for safety and security and to create just the right atmosphere in your paradise garden. They are ideal for areas without access to electrical power.

You can light up a path by placing solar lights shaped like mushrooms in the ground every few feet. Top your fence posts with solar fence post lights and you have instant lighting. Solar lights vary in their power and length of service. A typical life for the LED bulbs they use is 100,000 hours. The rechargeable batteries last about two years and can be replaced.

Candles complement solar lights, providing a feeling that nothing but that flickering light can bring. For an international flare, try a Moroccan or Asian candle lantern. Or let an elephant sculpture hold your candle. Tee lights placed along the edges of a deck create an intimate and welcoming atmosphere.

Nothing is as soothing as the sound of water. No matter how big or small your garden is you can find a fountain to fit. You can place a wall fountain on the side of the house or tuck a cherub fountain in with the plants.

Another way to get enjoyable sound into the garden is with chimes. While there’s nothing wrong with putting wind chimes in the house, they are perfect additions to an outdoor living space. The sound they make depends on their size and the material they are made from. Acrylic chimes, for example, will sound very different from aluminum or ceramic chimes.

Let your imagination be your guide as you create your own garden paradise.

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23
May 11

Planning the Perfect Garden

If you are growing and planting an organic garden, starting a chart for crop rotation is a very important aspect of it. Crop rotation ensures that the fertility of the soil does not diminish. When a certain crop is planted, it uses some of the nutrients present in the soil. On the other hand, every crop also adds certain nutrients to the soil. If you plant the same crop again, it will continue to deplete and add the same nutrients in the soil, making it unfit for the crop in later stages.

So far, the solution people have for situations like this is to add more fertilizer to the soil with every crop. However, this practice is extremely harmful. Apart from the soil getting completely depleted of its natural nutrients, the crop contains residue of chemical fertilizers, affecting our health in the long run.

This is why keeping a chart for crop rotation is a must. In crop rotation, a single crop is never planted successively. Instead, a crop is alternated with another crop that reverses the soil condition. For instance, if one crop uses nutrient A from the soil and deposits nutrients B into the soil, you next crop should be the one that uses nutrient B and deposits nutrient B. It is important to remember that you may not get the exact combination of nutrient exchange and may have to plant 2-3 different crops before going back to the first one.

Start a chart to keep track of which plant is sown in which part of the diagram. Consult crop charts to identify the different families that crops belong to. This will help you ensure that the crops are planted in perfect rotation.

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6
May 11

The Home Farmer Caring For a Vegetable Garden

A good vegetable garden can give the homeowner immense satisfaction and pride. What can surpass the flavour of freshly-cut asparagus, garden-fresh peas, a bowl of freshly picked strawberries or corn on the cob boiled and eaten within minutes of picking from the garden? Only a home gardener or a true gourmet really appreciates the difference in flavour between “store bought” produce and garden-fresh vegetables.

Plan to grow the vegetables which your family enjoys. Consideration of family preferences will go a long way towards making the vegetable garden a success.

Locate your vegetable garden where it will receive at least six hours of sunshine during sunny days.

A few crops can be planted in the spring as soon as the soil can be worked. These include peas, onions, lettuce, radish, spinach, parsnips and beets but in general, it is not advisable to plant your vegetable garden until after danger of frost is past.

The soil should be well dug and fertilized before planting. For root crops such as carrots, it should be free of hard lumps or stones. Leafy vegetables such as lettuce, spinach and cabbage do best if a high nitrogen fertilizer is used.

Buy good seed from a reputable dealer. Plant varieties suited to your locality. If you purchase plants to set out in your garden, examine them carefully and do not buy any which are diseased – watch for spots on stems and leaves or galls on roots.

Transplanting – When setting out plants like the snapdragons in the garden, choose a dull, sunless day if at all possible. If plants are set out on dry, sunny days or when the wind is strong, the newly set plants may dry out before the roots become established, causing severe stunting or even death of the plants. For best results, water the plants immediately after transplanting with about 1 pint of water-soluble fertilizer solution such as 1 tablespoon of 20-20-20 dissolved in a gallon of water.

Spray or dust regularly during the summer to keep down insect pests and diseases. A Multi-Purpose Flower and Vegetable Spray is an excellent all-around treatment for most common insect and disease troubles. Cabbages and other related cole crops will require frequent treatment to keep them free from insects. After edible portions of crops appear, or if insects are present just before harvest, use a non-toxic type insecticide such as Neem oil which is all natural and organic.

One tip from a Lazy Husband: Do not plant any more than your wife can keep weeded.

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29
Apr 11

Organic Gardening – How to Improve Your Garden’s Soil to Best Benefit Your Heirloom Tomatoes

Tomatoes can be a very productive crop if the condition they are planting in are favorable for them. They are a crop that likes a loose, nutrient rich organic soil structure.

Improving the soil where tomatoes are planted can be very beneficial for a good crop. Tomatoes need a loose, rich soil so they can spread their root system deep and easily. By mixing plenty of organic matter into the garden is an ideal way to improve the soil that you plant them in. Compost and composted manure are two of the best organic amendments to use when improving the soils structure for your tomatoes. another important part of improving the soil is to do a pH test of the soil. Tomatoes do best in a neutral to slightly acid soil, they absorb nutrients they need best when the pH level is between 6.5 to 7.0. Keeping the soil in the lower part of this range will help prevent a condition tomatoes get known as “yellow shoulder.”

To prepare your gardens soil for your tomatoes, dig in compost or composted manure deeply into your garden beds. Using aged or composted manure when amending your gardens soil can also be done in the spring. Remember that roots of tomato plants love to travel and will grow out as well as down. when preparing the soil for your tomatoes you can at the same time mix in a slow release organic fertilizer, along with some lime if needed.

When you take care of your gardens soil it will take care of you by providing a healthy, high yielding crop for you to enjoy.

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25
Apr 11

Make this Father’s Day Special – No More Ties

People spend untold time selecting just the right gift for moms on her special day, but rarely give a second thought to dad on his. What抯 up with that? As a father, I抦 here to say, and I think I speak for most, – please, no more unused ties, shirts or slippers. Why not show dad that you understand, love and appreciate him with a gift that is geared to his interests. For example, if dad likes to barbecue, why not select a gift relating to his outdoor cooking passion. There all kinds of great gifts ranging in price from $5.00 to over $500, many especially nice ones around $50.00. If one is on a low budget, seasonings, injectors and marinades can be relatively expensive and grills, smokers and barbeque tools are available in all price ranges.

One of the hottest new gifts this season for dad, priced just under $50.00 is the Oregon Scientific Wireless BBQ Thermometer. What a neat gadget and unique gift idea for dad. What is it you ask? It is a digital LCD screen thermometer that looks kind of like a cell phone with a remote wireless probe to identify temperature/readiness of meat. Never again will dad overcook those steaks! Why? Because he knows when the food is fully ready to eat – even from up to 100 feet away! No need to have to wait by the grill to find out when dinner is ready. This wireless thermometer alerts dad when the meat has reached the perfect temperature – even if he抯 in another room entertaining guests. And guess what mom; dad will probably let you use it in the kitchen when summer is over.

Or, is dad a beer drinker or enjoy outdoor parties. Every thing from beer dispensers, beautiful mugs to home beer making kits can be purchased for between $20 and several hundred dollars. For about $25-30 dollars a shot glass checker set makes for a really nice Father抯 Day gift. Also in the alcohol vein, bar products and gadgets might also make a nice gift for dad.

For the dad that is into physical fitness a wide range of gifts, many quite different from the old standby ties and shoes are exercise equipment, jogging suits, and juicers/processors for creating fabulous healthy and nutritious drinks. One such gift my kids got me several years ago that I really love is the Magic Bullet. Just drop in a few strawberries, a banana, orange juice and ice cubes and one can create a fantastic drink in about a minute. Using the juice extractor, one can created great tasting drinks that include vegetable juices as well.

I抦 not a golfer, but a lot of dads are. This is just one of the many athletic areas that dads spend time pursuing. Or, perhaps bowling, darts or pool is dad抯 passion. Many great unique golf gifts can be found by checking out the department stores and golf sites on the internet. Ab loungers, Gozelle Freestyle and Bigguns Bicep and Triceps machines are real big this season. Just do an internet search for gifts that fit the bill.

Some dads, like myself are avid gardeners and would love receiving a unique or needed new tool from a nursery or garden supplier. A wide variety of products exist for the home gardener, many of which could make this Father抯 Day really special. In planting peonies or rose I might opt to purchase the more standard less expensive varieties. But by spending $25 ?30, one could buy a very rare or unusual variety of these plants making for a truly special gift. For a bit more money the tiered strawberry beds with an integrated watering system is great. If one wants to buy a gift that dad will love and the entire family can enjoy as well, consider bigger ticket items such as green houses, gazebos and patio items. For me though, I’m hoping my kids stumble on to the Oregon Scientific Wireless BBQ Thermometer this year as I am gadget lover.

The one area that I would recommend avoiding is workman tools unless you really know what dad wants and what you are doing. Work tools can be a bit tricky because of the extreme difference in brands, qualities, etc. as well as just knowing what particular tool(s) would be appreciated. Some electronic gifts also fall into this category. Buying cameras, computer, and printers can be difficult because of personal brand and quality issues. But electronic accessories or a gift certificate for these items might be a better solution.

Whether one has a dollar or thousands to spend, make this Father抯 Day really special by telling dad ?I know you! Personally I would prefer to receive a really nice personalized Father抯 Day card than a $75.00 all silk tie that sits in the closet year after year.

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22
Apr 11

How to Care For Your Exotic Houseplants

Plants make a wonderful addition to your indoor environment. If you are fortunate enough to live in a warmer area, then most likely plants are a part of your outdoor landscape year round. When you decide to buy some new houseplants, you need to consider where you will be putting your new addition. Is the area well lighted and suitable for the plant? You need to fit the plant to the area, not the other way around. There are several suitable choices when you are looking for a great flowering plant to add to your home. Go to your local gardening center and find a knowledgeable associate that can answer any questions you may have, when choosing your new plant.

Plants for your home

Bromeliads, Crypthanthus, Aechmea and Ananas, are called by their Latin genus, and any of these would make a great addition to your home. Bromeliads are fabulous houseplants, they thrive in brightly lit areas. The flowers can last for several weeks and they need to be place in a well drained pot, with a mixture of bark and coarse.

You need to remember to keep the reservoir at the bottom of the pot, filled with water. It is also very important that you do not over water this plant and to change the water weekly.

The proper choice of potting for your plant

You could add a choice from the Gesneriad family, such as a Hot Water Plant or a Cupids Bower. These plants flower from spring to early summer and throughout the fall.

Once they bloom, you need to move them to an area of reduced lighting and water them so the top of th4e plants dieback to the soil. You can store the dormant plants at 60 degrees over the winter and leave them in the pot.

When the springtime rolls around, you can start to grow or reproduce them by dividing tiny spouts and gradually increasing the watering amount and introducing more light.

When they are in growing mode, they need care that is similar to African Violets. You can also display them in the same places you would an African Violet plant.

A Zebra Plant is a popular plant, but it can be difficult to grow inside. No matter how perfect the growing conditions may be, the lower leaves always seem to fall off, mostly after blooming.

The Zebra plant requires high humidity levels and varying soil moisture, depending on what the time of year is, it can be difficult to keep your plant healthy looking.

It is better to replace dying or tired looking plants, you can start new plants by strategic tip cutting, after the flower dies and the spike tip is removed.

Great Table Top Plants

Clerodendrum thomsoniae are well know for their beautiful milky white, bell shaped buds with burgundy red tips. These plants are best grown on a sunny window sill, during March through September. They prefer soil that is well drained and lightly moist.

The Glower Bower grow best with a temperature are 65 degrees, with an average amount of humidity. You also need to ensure that it has the ability to climb as it grows. You can use them as a floor plant or they look just as great in a hanging basket.

The Flowering Maple plants are best known for their bushy, tailing folliage, with leaves shapes like maples. Some species in this family have yellow and green variegated leaves, while some have lovely flowers, shaped like hollyhock blooms. Flowering maples require a bright sunny location with soil that is moist, but not soggy and they prefer high humidity. The Flowering Maple thrives best in cool night temperatures between 55-60 degrees. You must remember to sink the pot in outdoor containers during the warm season, which allows the plant to continue bloom in the warmer seasons, and it makes a great accent plant.

Kaffir Lily

Clivia miniata produces long, leather-like leaves with beautiful, showy orange-red flowers, followed by ornamental red berries. Propagated by seed or division.

The Kaffir Lily, is a member of the clivia miniata family and its plants has long, leathery leaves with striking orangish-red flowers. You can get starters of this plant from the seeds or by dividing the plants. The grow outside during the summer, in a lightly shaded area with water, and need to be fertilized regularly.

During the first week of September, you need to bring the plant inside to rest in a cool location, until mid-January. Water this plant lightly and then move to a sunny and warmer location. Then begin to water and fertilize it regularly. The yellow variation of the plant is called, “Aurea”, it is harder to find, but beautiful. This plant is best used for accent on a tabletop, while larger ones can be put on the floor.

The Cape Primrose, is a member of the gesneriad family, produces lovely flowers in shades of pink, white, purple and blue. It grows best in an east or west window that allows for exposure to the most sunlight. You need to keep the soil lightly moist and just remember to provide adequate humidity exposure. The plant does best between between 55 to 70 degrees. The plant prefers to be put in loose, organic soil and needs to be checked periodically in the spring for repotting needs. The plant culture is comparable to that of the African Violets, and they can tolerate cooler temperatures quite well. You need remove the dead flowers and stalks to keep the plants from further growth. You can display it much in the same way as an African Violet.

Flame-of-the-Woods

Ixora coccinea is an evergreen shrub that produces dense clusters of tubular flowers with some varieties being scented. Colors of white, orange, yellow and salmon are available.

A Flame-Of-the-Woods are an evergreen flowering bush that produce a dense cluster of tubular shapes blooms and some types have scents. They come in colors of white, orange, yellow and salmon-pink. For the best growing conditions, the temperature should be between 65 and 75 degrees, with sun exposure coming from an east-west location. These plants need adequate humidity and moist soil, and to be placed in a draft-free location. There are also dwarf varieties available, these versions are perfect for a table top, while the larger variety is perfect for a floor plant.

Flame Violets are members of the Episcia family. This genus produces trailing tropical foliage with bright leaves and brilliantly colored flowers. Flame Violets grow best with minimal sun exposure with temperatures between 65 and 70 degrees. They thrive in high humidity and the soil should be kept lightly moist. Other requirements are similar to that of African Violets and can be displayed in the same way.

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2
Apr 11

Rose Bush Care – 5 Things You Need to Know When Taking Care of Roses

Roses are beautiful, delicate flowers in a variety of types and colors. If you are passionate about growing roses, there are a few things you must know to be successful.

- How much water do they need?

Roses need a lot of water. You must be careful however not to over water them. Too much water can leave the roots shallow and unable to absorb nutrients from the soil. It is best to water roses deeply 3 times a week rather then sprinkle every day.

- How much sunlight do rose bushes need?

Roses need the maximum amount of sunlight available. An ideal location would be an area which provides at least 6 hours of sunlight a day. When full sunlight is not available, an area with partial shade would be sufficient.

- What kind of soil do they need?

Soil that is high in nutrients is necessary. Nitrogen rich fertilizer should be used in the beginning stages to aid in the growth of leaves and roots.

- How important is weed control?

Weed control is very important. When caring for your rose bushes, it is good to keep in mind that weeds will slow down the growth of your roses. Weeds rob water and essential nutrients from the soil, starving the rose plants.

- Do I need to prune my rose bushes?

Pruning should be done once a year, normally at the end of winter. This helps eliminate any dead or diseased plant pieces, making it a very important step in caring for your rose bushes.

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12
Mar 11

Home Vegetable Gardening – Recycling Food Waste

San Francisco, California recently enacted a law where people will put their food scraps in a red container and have that container picked up by the local municipality waste collection department. The idea is to separate the food waste from other garbage so the food wastes can be recycled into compost.

While the concept of what they are doing is a noble one, the cost to do it makes no sense whatsoever. The reason being is the fuel used to power the trucks to pick up the food waste is a far much more expenditure than the resulting compost that can be produced.

A better solution to recycling food waste into useable compost is the one I am about to outline here in this article. It requires little effort on your part and absolutely no cost in fuel and transportation. The best part is the ecosystem does all of the work for you.

Every person in North America creates some kind of food waste. Obviously the larger family you have the more likely you are going to create a larger amount of waste. Most people do one of two things with that food waste. They either flush down their sink via the means of a garbage disposal, or they simply throw it in the regular trash. Both methods are wasting what could be the best fertilizer for your soil.

When food waste is broken down by bacteria and other living organisms the result is compost. This compost, when added to your soil, increases the amount micro and macro nutrients required to grow strong and healthy plants.

The food recycle method I am about to describe is what I call the lazy person’s method. Why? Because it requires no “real” physical activity on your part. Here is how it is done.

Get yourself a container of some sort, I like to use a large Tupperware bowl. This is the container where you will putt all of your food scraps. Any food waste that would normally go into the trash or down the sink will now go into this container.

What goes into the container? Left over dinner, shredded newspaper, cotton clothing with plastic and metal pieces removed, coffee grinds and filters, tea bags and so on. What does not go into the container? Chicken or steaks bones, aluminum foil, plastics, laminated paper etc.

Now that your container is full what do you do with it? Grab yourself a shovel, go to your backyard and dig a hole about 18 inches deep. Then pour the contents of your container into that hole and then cover with the dirt. You have just now recycled your food waste. From this point forward the ecosystem that lives underneath your soil will take over. Worms, bacteria and other organisms will break this down for you and turn it into compost.

That’s it! You just recycle your food waste and didn’t have to pay someone to haul it away. Just remember to mark the spot where you buried the food waste and do not dig in that same spot within 60 days.

I have been using this method my entire life, first helping my dad with his garden and now with my own and the results to my vegetable gardening have been incredible and I know yours will too. Watch as you continue to use this method as the volume of your soil will actually increase!

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