My love for gardening
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Sunday, January 20, 2013
5 perennials for shade gardens
Which 5 perennials for shade gardens you would like to have planted in your garden?
The five choices described below are to provide you with a starting point to get some plants into the shade areas of your gardening projects. I hope these few examples will encourage you to investigate using more types of shade plants that you can choose from throughout this site.
Most flowering plants typically like quite a bit of sunshine but there are also a great number of plants that prefer shady conditions and will do very well in shade.
The five choices described below are to provide you with a starting point to get some plants into the shade areas of your gardening projects. I hope these few examples will encourage you to investigate using more types of shade plants that you can choose from throughout this site.
Most flowering plants typically like quite a bit of sunshine but there are also a great number of plants that prefer shady conditions and will do very well in shade.
It's great that there are such a variety of plants that like either sun or shade because a garden that is either fully shaded or fully exposed to the sunlight all the time is rare. There are always different patches in gardens where the light levels change throughout the day and seasons, and it is possible to create a beautiful arrangement of flowers if you know their lighting preferences.
You can have a beautiful shade garden area to sit in when you want to shelter from that summer heat. In shaded areas of your garden you can relax, read your favourite book, enjoy a cup of coffee - gaze at the beauty of your flowers, listen to the sounds of birds, and watch the colourful butterflies.
Usually people prefer to plant taller perennials in the background, near the house, garage or trees, middle sized plants in the centre, and the shortest plants at the front or inner part of the plot.
But of course different variants are possible; just make sure your plants have their blooming periods at different times of the season.
You can have a beautiful shade garden area to sit in when you want to shelter from that summer heat. In shaded areas of your garden you can relax, read your favourite book, enjoy a cup of coffee - gaze at the beauty of your flowers, listen to the sounds of birds, and watch the colourful butterflies.
Usually people prefer to plant taller perennials in the background, near the house, garage or trees, middle sized plants in the centre, and the shortest plants at the front or inner part of the plot.
But of course different variants are possible; just make sure your plants have their blooming periods at different times of the season.
Astilbe Plants
One of the easiest perennials to plant and maintain. It comes in three main colors: white, pink or red, and different varieties grow to twenty, thirty and forty inches in height. It looks amazingly beautiful if planted in groups and/or in different color combinations, and its fluffy spikes of flowers create a great effect.
Lily Of the Valley
This plant looks humble and beautiful in its simplicity. Its bell shaped white flowers will bring a special charm to your shade garden and fill it with a fragrance. It can be used for a ground cover as it grows only up to six inches. Besides that, it is not difficult to take care of this plant, basic requirements are sufficient.
Foxglove Plant
This is a tall plant as it can reach up to five feet in height. That is why foxglove plants are perfect for the back row in your flower arrangement. Its large spikes with bell shaped flowers will bring a splash of color to your garden, ranging from purple to white. Be careful though as this pant is poisonous. Make sure it is out of reach of small children and pets.
Virginia Blue Bells
As you can make out from the name of this plant, its flowers are bell shaped and lavender blue in color. The plant is medium sized and grows up to around two feet high. In spite of having such tender flowers, this plant is actually very hardy and requires very little maintenance.
Lousiana Iris
This plant grows about two feet tall and produces four inch blooms. It also has a long flowering period which makes it an attractive option to plant it in your garden. The flowers are purple with a kind of velvety effect and are exceedingly beautiful. For a better view it is recommended to plant these perennials in groups.
Of course, this list is very short and does not contain all the wonderful plants you can choose from, but these 5 perennials for shade gardens would make a perfect start or addition to your existing landscape.
One of the easiest perennials to plant and maintain. It comes in three main colors: white, pink or red, and different varieties grow to twenty, thirty and forty inches in height. It looks amazingly beautiful if planted in groups and/or in different color combinations, and its fluffy spikes of flowers create a great effect.
Lily Of the Valley
This plant looks humble and beautiful in its simplicity. Its bell shaped white flowers will bring a special charm to your shade garden and fill it with a fragrance. It can be used for a ground cover as it grows only up to six inches. Besides that, it is not difficult to take care of this plant, basic requirements are sufficient.
Foxglove Plant
This is a tall plant as it can reach up to five feet in height. That is why foxglove plants are perfect for the back row in your flower arrangement. Its large spikes with bell shaped flowers will bring a splash of color to your garden, ranging from purple to white. Be careful though as this pant is poisonous. Make sure it is out of reach of small children and pets.
Virginia Blue Bells
As you can make out from the name of this plant, its flowers are bell shaped and lavender blue in color. The plant is medium sized and grows up to around two feet high. In spite of having such tender flowers, this plant is actually very hardy and requires very little maintenance.
Lousiana Iris
This plant grows about two feet tall and produces four inch blooms. It also has a long flowering period which makes it an attractive option to plant it in your garden. The flowers are purple with a kind of velvety effect and are exceedingly beautiful. For a better view it is recommended to plant these perennials in groups.
Of course, this list is very short and does not contain all the wonderful plants you can choose from, but these 5 perennials for shade gardens would make a perfect start or addition to your existing landscape.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
16 Foods That’ll Re-Grow from Kitchen Scraps
There’s nothing like eating your own
home- grown vegies, and there are heaps of different foods that will re-
grow from the scrap pieces that you’d normally throw out or put into
your compost bin.
It’s fun. And very simple … if you know how to do it.
Just
remember … the quality of the “parent” vegetable scrap will help to
determine the quality of the re-growth. So, wherever possible, I
recommend buying local organic produce, so you know your re-grown plants
are fresh, healthy and free of chemical and genetic meddling.
Leeks, Scallions, Spring Onions and Fennel
You
can either use the white root end of a vegetable that you have already
cut, or buy a handful of new vegetables to use specifically for growing.
Simply
place the white root end in a glass jar with a little water, and leave
it in a sunny position. I keep mine in the kitchen window. The green
leafy part of the plant will continue to shoot. When it’s time to cook,
just snip off what you need from the green growth and leave the white
root end in water to keep growing. Freshen up the water each week or so,
and you’ll never have to buy them again.
Lemongrass
Lemongrass
grows just like any other grass. To propagate it, place the root end
(after you’ve cut the rest off) in a glass jar with a little water, and
leave it in a sunny position.
Within a
week or so, new growth will start to appear. Transplant your lemongrass
into a pot and leave it in a sunny outdoor position. You can harvest
your lemongrass when the stalks reach around a foot tall – just cut off
what you need and leave the plant to keep growing.
Celery, Bok Choi, Romaine Lettuce & Cabbage
Similar
to leeks, these vegetables will re-grow from the white root end. Cut
the stalks off as you normally would, and place the root end in a
shallow bowl of water – enough to cover the roots but not the top of
your cutting. Place it in a sunny window position, occasionally spraying
your cutting with water to keep the top moist.
After
a few days, you should start to see roots and new leaves appear. After a
week or so, transplant it into soil with just the leaves showing above
the level of the soil. The plant will continue to grow, and within a few
weeks it will sprout a whole new head.
Alternatively
you can plant your cutting directly into soil (without starting the
process in water) but you will need to keep the soil very moist for the
first week until the new shoots start to appear.
Ginger
Ginger
is very easy to re-grow. Simply plant a spare piece of ginger rhizome
(the thick knobbly bit you cook with) in potting soil with the newest
(ie. smallest) buds facing upward. Ginger enjoys filtered, not direct,
sunlight in a warm moist environment.
Before
long it will start to grow new shoots and roots. Once the plant is
established and you’re ready to harvest, pull up the whole plant, roots
and all. Remove a piece of the rhizome, and re-plant it to repeat the
process.
Ginger also makes a very
attractive house-plant, so if you don’t use a lot of ginger in your
cooking you can still enjoy the lovely plant between harvests.
Potatoes
Re-growing
potatoes is a great way to avoid waste, as you can re-grow potatoes
from any old potato that has ‘eyes’ growing on it. Pick a potato that
has robust eyes, and cut it into pieces around 2 inches square, ensuring
each piece has at least one or two eyes. Leave the cut pieces to sit at
room temperature for a day or two, which allows the cut areas to dry
and callous over. This prevents the potato piece from rotting after you
plant it, ensuring that the new shoots get the maximum nutrition from
each potato piece.
Potato plants
enjoy a high-nutrient environment, so it is best to turn compost through
your soil before you plant them. Plant your potato pieces around 8
inches deep with the eye facing upward, and cover it with around 4
inches of soil, leaving the other 4 inches empty. As your plant begins
to grow and more roots appear, add more soil. If your plant really takes
off, mound more soil around the base of the plant to help support its
growth.
Garlic
You
can re-grow a plant from just a single clove – just plant it, root-end
down, in a warm position with plenty of direct sunlight. The garlic will
root itself and produce new shoots. Once established, cut back the
shoots and the plant will put all its energy into producing a tasty big
garlic bulb. And like ginger, you can repeat the process with your new
bulb.
Onions
Onions
are one of the easiest vegetables to propagate. Just cut off the root
end of your onion, leaving a ½ inch of onion on the roots. Place it in a
sunny position in your garden and cover the top with soil. Ensure the
soil is kept moist. Onions prefer a warm sunny environment, so if you
live in a colder climate, keep them in pots and move them indoors during
frostier months.
As you use your home-grown onions, keep re-planting the root ends you cut off, and you’ll never need to buy onions again.
Sweet Potatoes
When
planted, sweet potato will produce eye-shoots much like a potato. Bury
all or part of a sweet potato under a thin layer of soil in a moist
sunny location. New shoots will start to appear through the soil in a
week or so. Once the shoots reach around four inches in height, remove
them and re-plant them, allowing about 12 inches space between each
plant. It will take around 4 months for your sweet potatoes to be ready.
In the meantime, keep an eye out for slugs… they love sweet potatoes.
To
propagate sweet potatoes, it is essential to use an organic source
since most commercial growers spray their sweet potatoes to prevent them
from shooting.
Mushroom
Mushrooms
can be propagated from cuttings, but they’re one of the more difficult veggies to re-grow. They enjoy warm humidity and nutrient-rich soil, but
have to compete with other fungus for survival in that environment.
Although it is not their preferred climate, cooler environments give
mushrooms a better chance of winning the race against other fungi.
Prepare
a mix of soil and compost in a pot (not in the ground) so your
re-growth is portable and you can control the temperature of your
mushroom. I have found most success with a warm filtered light during
the day and a cool temperature at night. Just remove the head of the
mushroom and plant the stalk in the soil, leaving just the top exposed.
In the right conditions, the base will grow a whole new head. (In my
experience, you’ll know fairly quickly if your mushroom has taken to the
soil as it will either start to grow or start to rot in the first few
days).
Pineapple
To
re-grow pineapples, you need to remove the green leafy piece at the top
and ensure that no fruit remains attached. Either hold the crown firmly
by the leaves and twist the stalk out, or you can cut the top off the
pineapple and remove the remaining fruit flesh with a knife (otherwise
it will rot after planting and may kill your plant). Carefully slice
small, horizontal sections from the bottom of the crown until you see
root buds (the small circles on the flat base of the stalk). Remove the
bottom few layers of leaves leaving about an inch base at the bottom of
the stalk.
Plant your pineapple crown
in a warm and well drained environment. Water your plant regularly at
first, reducing to weekly watering once the plant is established. You
will see growth in the first few months but it will take around 2-3
years before you are eating your own home-grown pineapples.
And one for the kids….. ‘Pet’ Carrot Tops!!
I
call this a ‘pet’ because the plant that re-grows from planting a
carrot top will NOT produce edible carrots, only a new carrot plant. The
vegetable itself is a taproot which can’t re-grow once it has been
removed from the plant. But it makes an attractive flowering plant for
the kitchen, and they’re easy and lots of fun to grow…. for kids of all
ages!
Cut the top off your carrot,
leaving about an inch of vegetable at the root. Stick toothpicks into
the sides of the carrot stump and balance it in a glass or jar. Fill the
glass with water so that the level reaches the bottom of the cutting.
Leave the glass in filtered, not direct, sunlight and ensure water is
topped up to keep the bottom of your cutting wet. You’ll see roots
sprout in a few days, and you can transplant your ‘pet’ carrot into soil
after a week or so.
Your success
re-growing lovely fresh vegies from scrap may vary, depending on your
climate, the season, soil quality and sunlight available in your home or
garden. And some vegies just propagate easier than others do. In my
experience, a bit of trial and error is required, so don’t be afraid to
do some experimenting. Get your hands dirty. It’s lots of fun! And
there’s nothing like eating your own home-grown vegies.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
All trimmed and ready for winter
Trimmed this rose of Sharon back so trunk gets thicker... |
Cut back all perennials for winter! |
Grass is bad! Grubs this yr treated with nematodes in Sept! Should do the trick! |
Mans best friends Mower, blower and a chair to enjoy work performed! |
Trimmed Clematis back this fall was a wee bit too big...will renew for next spring! |
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Hosta - A gardener’s best friend
A Variety of Hosta
A remarkable tolerance for shade and cold, resistance to insects and incomparable beauty and variety make these perennials simply irresistible. Rippled, smooth, ruffled or ribbed, leaves range in size from petite (three-quarters-inch long) to giant (22 inches long). Foliage colors include bright yellows, cool blues, and just about every shade of green imaginable. Foliage edged in white, streaked with gold, or striped in contrasting tones of emerald and cream provide ample opportunity for designing one-of-a-kind beds and borders. According to the American Hosta Society, there are more than 30 hosta hybridizers at work in the United States alone. Cultivars with showier, fragrant blossoms have been cropping up in nurseries, expanding the palette still further. Old as well as new cultivars bloom with white or lavender flowers in late summer, just when a splash of color is needed most.
Site selection: While hostas tolerate a range of soils in USDA Zones 3 to 10, slightly acidic soil, amended with organic matter, produces the most vigorous growth. At least two and a half hours of morning sun are needed for the richest coloration; yellows need more sun, blues less.
Planting: Plant rhizomes anytime, with large-leaved specimens no closer than two feet apart. If possible, mulch the first winter with pine needles or boughs to prevent heaving.
Care: Young hostas need two seasons or more to mature, and require regular watering during dry spells. Before spring growth appears, put down a ring of a balanced, slow-release fertilizer around the crown of the plant (never allow fertilizers to touch plant ‘eyes’). While some gardeners divide their hostas every five years or so, it is not essential.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Great guy! Ask the Exterminator!
Ask the Exterminator is produced and written by Rick Steinau, President of Ace Exterminating Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. www.aceext.com
Rick has been involved in the pest control industry since 1963 in one
capacity or another. Beginning as a replacement technician for
vacationing full-time technicians, Rick was exposed to many different
situations including residential, commercial and institutional accounts.
He also worked on many termite crews using products ranging from
chlordane to chloropicrin.
His pest control experiences include general pest control, termite
control, fumigation, animal trapping, bird exclusion, ISO, Siliker, Yumm
Brands and AIB audit account setups.
"Ask the Exterminator", says Mr. Steinau, "is written for the
non-professional looking for clear, honest answers. I often include a
humorous look at problems, but always try to make the problem resolution
as simple and inexpensive as possible."
Mr. Steinau operates his company with the mission of giving his
customers only what they need to fix their pest issues. "I don't believe
in overselling and I strongly believe that most pest issues can be
corrected using little or no pesticides."
Thursday, September 27, 2012
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