Posted by admin on December 30, 2008
Daylilies are terrific, easy to grow perennials. They can be grown in all states in the US. The most important thing to find out about daylilies is to know if the plant is an evergreen, dormant, or semi evergreen. Evergreen daylilies keep their leaves all year, so they are ideal for California and southern states. Semi evergreen plants may work ok in warmer states as well, but it depends on their breeding as to how well they will tolerate cold. Dormant daylilies lose their leaves in the winter, so are best for colder states.
There are more than 40,000 varieties of daylilies, and they come in all colors but blue, perfect white, or black. There are small flowers, double flowers, spider flowers, and large flowers. Daylilies love full sun but can tolerate poar shade. They can be derought tolerant to a degree once established.
Posted by admin on December 26, 2008
There are a number of tips I provide here to help you deadhead your annuals to get repeat blooms in your garden at home.
- Use your fingers or pruner to pinch off your dead plant blooms. Depending on ths thickness of the plant, you can choose one or the other.
- Not only does deadheading annuals help get repeat blooms, but it also keeps your garden more fresh and clean looking. The more often you deadhead plants by removing spent blooms, the more profuse your blooming will be in time.
- As you deadhead plants, collect spent blooms and compost them. This will do three things, including keeping the garden in clean shape, providing compost in the future, and preventing seeds from sprouting.
Posted by admin on December 25, 2008
Here are 5 watering tips to use when you water your outdoor and indoor plants.
- Do not water from above the leaves. Water at the base of the plant, just above the roots.
- Water in the morning or late afternoon so that the base of the plant can dry by evening. This timing of watering also allows the temperature not to be at peak. Watering in the morning gives the plant all day to absorb water.
- Do not water in the evening. This can prevent fungus and other diseases.
- Feel the surface of the soil as well as underneath the soil. If it looks dry from above, it may still be wet underneath.
- Plants that have been in your garden and established for more than a year will not need to watered as frequently as new plants. This is because well established plants will have stronger, more resilient root systems.
Posted by admin on December 24, 2008
Here are some tips for bringing plants indoors for the winter from outside. First, examine the plant for insects, disease, and pests. Second, spray down the leaves of the plant with insecticidal soap. Third, isolate the plant for a couple of weeks so it doesn’t affect other plants. Fourth, after bringing the plant in with your other plants, go less on the fertilizer and watering so the plant can rest.
Posted by admin on December 23, 2008
Here are my top shopping secrets you can use when buying new plants.
- Shop when it is raining for smaller crowds.
- Make sure plants you buy are nice and compact, not leggy and stressed.
- Instead of buying a hanging basket all done, design your own hanging basket.
- Instead of buying small single pots of plants, buy a flat.
- Buy grass seed in bulk.
- When buying plants, trees and shrubs, don’t buy them if they don’t look good. Also, don’t buy dying plants.
- When buying trees, make sure they are straight and branches are balanced.
- Take a peek at the roots by pulling the plant out of the pot, to make sure the plant has a good root system. If the plant is rootbound, it may need to be repotted after you buy it.
- Note that most plants from garden centers come with 3 months of fertilizer so it is not needed when you get the plant home.
- Save up questions and ask them in the garden center of the store you usually go.