Forcing Spring Bulbs to Bloom in the Winter

 Small Space Garden  No Responses »
Feb 252010
 

Here is a fun and easy way to add fresh color and a spring like feel to your indoor plants and gardening. Try coaxing or forcing spring flowering bulbs into blooming in the mid-winter months.

Canberra Floriade display
Creative Commons License photo credit: robynejay

There are dozens of bulbs that will add beautiful spring color to your home in the winter. Some bulbs will require minimal effort, while others require planning. So when selecting your bulbs to force take effort and time into consideration.

Many bulbs require a cold period to stimulate growth and flower production. If you have such bulbs place them in the refrigerator for a few weeks.

Not all bulbs will require a cold period. Amaryllis, freesia, and tropical narcissus are a few that do fine without chilling the bulbs.

How to force spring bulbs into winter bloom without pre-chilling the bulbs.

  • To force spring bulbs into winter bloom, pot the bulbs in either potting soil or water. Potting soil gives you the garden look and you can create more indoor decor with the selection of the container or garden pot.
  • You will keep both growing styles indoors. The bulbs will not survive outdoors in cold weather.
  • If you are potting in the bulbs in water, squeeze as many bulbs as you can fit into a shallow pot so they are secured. Pour enough water over the bulbs to cover the bottom half of the bulb. You can also anchor the bulbs with pebbles if you are unable to hold them down by squeezing them together in the pot.
  • By planting bulbs in pots or vases you get a modern look that emphasizes the container, bulb and flower. I think planting done in this style have a delicate look.
  • The spring bulbs should sprout within a week or two of potting them. This pertains to both growing methods.
  • Once the plants have sprouted, keep them in indirect light and in a cool place where the temperature is about 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • You will want to keep the sprouted plants in the cool room with indirect light for two weeks. This gives the bulbs a feel of cooler outdoor climates.
  • After two weeks in the cool room with indirect light, move the pot into bright, direct light where there will be warmer temperatures.

poppy @ Canberra Floriade
Creative Commons License photo credit: robynejay

The plants should flower within 4 weeks. Flowering bulbs in the winter add such color and life to indoor living. It seems to speed up the arrival of spring.

Posted by Denise at 10:54 pm  Tagged with: , , ,

How to Prepare your Yard for Spring

 backyard oasis  No Responses »
Feb 232010
 

Spring is just around the corner for many of us and this is the perfect time to prepare your yard for spring.

iris @ Canberra Floriade
Creative Commons License photo credit: robynejay

What makes spring a perfect time for sprucing up the backyard, gardens and shrubs or trees? That spring feeling of energy and new growth and the fact that with your backyard area coming back alive it’s easier to see debris and evaluate your plants.

Start by raking your leaves and any dead grass. Add this to a compost bin so that you can create your own healthy compost for gardens. Small sticks can also be added, particularly if you can chop them up.

Trim any shrubs or trees and pull off the dead heads from any flowers or plants. While doing this take a good look at the property. You will see if you need to trim around any
Flowerbeds or gardens. Make sure they aren’t being overrun by grass.

Give the yard a fresh look by cleaning mulch in the yard. Remove the top layer or mulch, pull any weeds and put down a fresh coat or your favorite mulching material. I use pine needles, tree chips or leaves, depending on what area of the yard I am working on.

Mow the lawn if it is tall in some areas, but don’t cut it as short as you normally would in the summer. The first mowing is always my favorite. The smell of fresh cut grass and the bright green color makes the spring season special.

Clean up after any pets if you have them.

Till any gardens, move, redo or remove any garden area that you didn’t like. This is also the perfect time to prepare pots for new plants and flowers. Some plants may have to be potted indoors so they start out healthy before moving outside.

Patch any bare spots in the yard with grass seed. You may want to add slow release fertilizer and/or weed stopper to your yard. If there are big brown spots, consider doing a ground test and adding some nitrogen. Brown spots may also be a pet problem too.

Plant some spring flowers and add any window boxes. Window boxes can hold spring bulbs or early spring flowers.

Bulbs are the most versatile of spring flowers and will do as well in pots as the ground. I grow mine in pots now to protect them from small animals and so that I can bring them in or mover them around the patio or porch areas.

Clean and spruce up your porches, patio or entertainment areas. Bring out the lawn furniture and fire pit if you have one, and enjoy spring and the promise of summer that follows.

Posted by Denise at 8:29 pm  Tagged with: , ,

Backyard and garden pathways

 backyard design  No Responses »
Feb 192010
 

Pathways add to a backyard or garden area. They can be used for utility purposes to stop wear and tear on a yard. They can also be used to divide the backyard into garden areas or separate areas for specific uses.

This you tube video shows how to create a pathway

Its important to get the pathway flat and any rock edges even so that people will not trip.

If you concerned about weeds coming through later you can place plastic or cardboard under the rocks. I use cardboard and have had much luck with it controlling weed growth.

This next you tube video shows how to spruce a walkway or pathway up with moss and ground covers. This look is particularly nice near gardens.

Pathways serve a utility purpose but also add the the landscape design. With proper layout they will add value and beauty to your backyard.

Posted by Denise at 4:07 pm  Tagged with: , , ,

Working with the Large Backyard

 backyard design  No Responses »
Feb 172010
 

The large backyard creates a totally different set of concerns than a smaller piece of property. From personal experience I have learned you need to break the area down into sections and work on them separately.

Tents
Creative Commons License photo credit: get directly down

First of all with a big backyard you have more time that is needed to work the property, so “simplify!” Use mulch, put in a pond, plant an orchard or tree stand. Create areas that use space but are manageable. And to tie the areas together make use of matching color, shrubs or trees or pathways.

Break down your large backyard into manageable areas.

One idea is to create one to several island of flowers to attract butterflies, hummingbirds and other beneficial insects. How many you create will be decided on the size of your backyard.

But remember in your backyard planning – keep it simple. Drought resistant and naturalizing flowers will be easy to care for and attract the natural insects, butterflies and birds. Ground covers will stop weeds and cut down on watering and mowing.

Your garden area will be a focal attraction and add color and interest to your yard. You may consider adding a bench or two for relaxation near the garden areas.

A large backyard can be arranged to create a campfire or camping area by surround he area by shrubs or small trees that grow 12 to 15 foot tall. This area could be used for camping, parties or as a secluded area to get a few quiet moments to yourself.

A grove of trees or a small orchard will also make use of an acre or two. Just select trees that are hardy and will not add time to your backyard work schedule.

2009 11 09 - 0402 - Greenbelt - Buddy Attick Lake Park
Creative Commons License photo credit: thisisbossi

And to tie your backyard designs together and make walking your property easier add pathways.  Pathways with a width of approx. three to five feet are better for circulation and maintenance along with children being able to use them for bicycle trails.

Posted by Denise at 11:10 pm  Tagged with: ,

Small Space Garden Design Time Savers

 Small Space Garden  No Responses »
Feb 152010
 

When working with small spaces in your backyard, patio or balcony design every item counts and should serve two purposes. Another concern to keep in mind with garden design is time savers. After all, you have created an oasis to relax in, why add work?

my little garden
Creative Commons License photo credit: slideshow bob

Keep it simple.

Simple easy to work with designs and ideas will cut your time in half. You might want to mix artificial plants in the back and fresh live plants in front. Window boxes on a top window that is hard to water will do better with artificial plants, and no one will know the difference. I know I have been doing this for years.

Place any gardens near water or add a rain barrel. Lugging buckets of water or winding and unwinding water hoses takes time and energy.

Storage space

Having adequate storage space for tools, kitchen utensils and children’s toys will stop the running back and forth to get these items. A bench that serves as a storage space will add space and shelves on patio wall also add extra storage room. Pegs on the wall will get larger toys off the patio floor. If placed properly they can also decorate the wall space

Use all available space

When you space is limited it doesn’t take much to get a cluttered look that will make your space look smaller. Use trellises to give you extra space going up. Why place plants in containers on the floor when you can continue a lush green wall being the plants. And if these plants are vegetable you will have a mini garden within arms reach from the kitchen.

Hanging baskets will free up floor space and if you have an open rafter that can be used for storage.

Make you gardens work overtime.

  • Combine vegetables with flowers. It’s a great look and will save space.
  • Use more mulch in your gardens and backyard. You will save time mowing and watering the lawn.
  • Drought resistant plants take less time and water. They also seem to have less insect problems.
  • Consider using square foot gardening methods. You use less space and water. And with less space you will have less weeding.
  • Hardscaping takes less time to maintain and will add interest to the backyard.

Each year I find I want more time to enjoy my backyard and take the time in the spring to look around a see how I can simplify my garden and backyard tasks.

Posted by Denise at 6:15 pm  Tagged with: , , ,
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