Perennial Gardening tips for a great garden

 backyard oasis  No Responses »
Aug 182010
 

Any backyard, patio or balcony will look more inviting with a few plants. And many plants will take little time, particularly if chosen wisely.

Perennial flowers are strong, local flowers that come back every year without having to replant or do any extra work. This is one reason they are as popular as they are. Perennials usually have a peak flowering season. During the plants off seasons, the flowers and stems die back and you can hardly even tell the plant is there (rather than just dying and looking like hideous brown clumps in your garden). When it’s time to bloom, entirely new flowers shoot up where the old ones were. Many people will intermix annual flowers in with perennials to keep a constant flow of color to their backyard or garden area.

Before deciding whether to put in perennials or not, you need to make sure that your soil has proper drainage. If the water stays saturated for long periods of time, you should build a raised bed. Raised beds help drainage and can be used in areas where the soil is not really acceptable for plants.

To test for water drainage, dig a hole and fill it with water. Wait a day, and then fill it with water again. All traces of water should be gone within 10 hours. If the hole isn’t completely dry, you will need to build a raised bed.

Picking your perennials can be a complicated process. The goal should be to have them flowering as much as possible during the year, so you should create an outline of the year. There are tow ways to go about selecting perennials.

Research the different types of flower you want, and create a timeline of flowering. If you plan it right, you can have a different type of flower blooming at any point in the year. You can research plants online or by selecting a good perennial book.

And one final step for a great perennial garden is using mulch. You should definitely use mulch when planting perennials. This will reduce the overall amount of work you have to do. It will reduce the amount of weeds and increase the water retention of the soil thus cutting back on extra garden maintenance. Bark or pine needles work great. In my area I can pick up bark and needles for free. (Check at tree companies and local township office for these items.)

Perennials are quite easy to care for once they adapt to their surrounds. Use fertilizer sparingly once your plants start to come to life. And add more mulch to the plants every two or three years

Note: Perennials will grow well in containers or patios or balconies. Either store them in the winter in a slightly warmer area or cover well with straw. How well they need protected from winter will depend on your climate.

Posted by Denise at 8:07 am  Tagged with: , , ,

Hillside Landscaping Ideas

 backyard design  No Responses »
Aug 152010
 

For those of you who have a slope in your yard you know the challenges it can create. My yard has a slope that is as bad as what this you tube shows. It’s created mowing and water runoff problems for me.

I am working on a design for the yard that includes, plants, shrubs, trees, steps and a railing and soon to be added – a driveway.

This you tube will give you some ideas for planning a design for a sloping yard.

Drainage for rain and removal of snow is also an issue with my landscape planning.

The most important part of a terraced design or layout for a slope is trying to plan for all the situations that might occur.

Posted by Denise at 6:42 pm  

Check your trees and shrubs in the fall

 landscaping  No Responses »
Aug 102010
 

Fall is the time to take a look at your trees and shrubs and see what care they need. Depending on your summer they may need pruning or tender loving care to make up for a stressful summer. In my area we had intense heat and lack of rain so I know my plants need new compost and additional fertilizer to help with the strain of the summer temperatures.

My first plan is to check the plants for any damaged branches and remove them. Then it’s time to give them a good soaking and a liquid fertilizer. I prefer my own compost tea mix. It’s chemical free and packed with nutrients.

Next after the ground is thoroughly soaked I will apply a new thick ground cover to keep the moisture in and add additional nutrients to the soil.

If my plants look weak or tired I will check them over for any disease or root problems.

So far my trees and shrubs seem fine but a few seem to be heading for an early leaf loss. I have noticed this in many trees and shrubs in this area.

If you have a plant that really looks sad contact your local Master Gardens group or an Extension Office for help.

This is also a great time to analyze your backyard landscape and add any new shrubs or trees. If you plant them now they will have time to acclimate to their new surroundings and begin to grow roots.

And one final note: If you need to prune trees or shrubs, do it in late fall or winter before the new growth of spring has started. The exception to this general rule is spring-flowering shrubs like lilacs that should be pruned immediately after flowering

Posted by Denise at 9:24 pm  Tagged with: , , , ,

Growing Potatoes in Small Spaces

 Small Space Garden  No Responses »
Aug 092010
 

You can grow potatoes in small garden areas, even on patios, balconies or in cities. With planning the backyard oasis will be a perfect place for a crop of potatoes.

One of the easiest ways to grow potatoes in a small area is in  a garden basket or wire cage, Using this method you actually grow the potato above ground.

This you tube will give you ideas on how to plant potatoes using this method.

One advantage of growing potatoes or other ground crops using a method like this it that harvesting is much easier. And for a more festive look add vines near the container or flowers and create a mini garden area.

There are many root crops that can be grown in baskets or wire cages. And depending on how the growing area is set up you can extend your growing season or even move the crop indoors.

Just because you live in a city or don’t own a lot of land does not mean you can not have a successful garden. You will have to learn how to plant in small spaces and make the most of the soil you have.

Posted by Denise at 9:18 pm  Tagged with: , , , ,

Identifying Poisonous Plants

 Backyard Garden  No Responses »
Aug 072010
 

If you have plants in your backyard and small children or pets its helpful to know what plants may be poisonous.

Poisonous plants may cause illness if chewed on or touched. It all depends on the plant and the person.

Many flowering plants may look pretty but can have flowers or leaves that will make some people ill. Castor beans are very poisonous and many grow this beautiful plant as an accent plant. I grow it for its beauty and also because it control moles, which I have in abundance in my backyard. But because if its poisonous attributes I grow it behind fencing.

The following you tube will show you a few poisonous but popular flowering plants.

Poison Ivy or Poison Oak affects everyone differently but knowing what it looks like and removing it from you backyard will benefit all. There are certain sumac plants that will make people ill. And many wild plants and weeds will affect people with a rash if picked.

If your yard is very big or contains a wooded area there may be many toxic plants.

One tip is if a plant has a red stem it is often poisonous. One tip I follow is if I don’t know a plant, I don’t touch it.

Learning to identify plants can be both beneficial and a fun project. These videos should have helped you to better recognize plants that may grow in your backyard or community.

Posted by Denise at 9:38 pm  Tagged with: , ,
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