Archive for the ‘garden plant’ Category
Herb garden plants are probably one of the more useful plants a gardener can grow in his or her garden.
Whether indoor or outdoor, herbs are relatively easy to raise, if one knows how. There are many types of herb garden plants to consider if one wants to get into herb gardening.
Each type has their own special needs, some may be similar to each other, and others may be radically different. To maximize the chances for your herbs to flourish, one must read and learn all about the specific herbs he or she wishes to grow.
The most basic classifications of herbs are annuals, perennials and biennials. Annuals, like basil, summer savory and cilantro will never survive in a frost. These type of herbs need to be planted via seed or sapling every year.
Perennials on the other hand, like sage and winter savory are hardier to winter conditions and will return year after year. As for biennials, these plants first form their leaves in the first growing season, and in their second season, flowers and seeds, then wither and die.
Biennial herbs should be planted directly into the garden during late spring.
To prepare the soil for biennial herb garden plants, you should first work the soil into a fine texture and wet it slightly. Place the seeds in shallow rows then pat the soil solid on top of them.
Some of the more fine seeds can be planted in a soil mixture of sand to help them spread more evenly.
During germination, it is recommended to cover the bed with a wet burlap bag or paper bag to keep the soil moist. Types of biennial herbs include parsley, angelica and caraway.
Another categorization of herb garden plants is how they are used.
Probably the most useful types of herb garden plants are culinary herbs. As the name implies, these herbs are used for cooking and these include thyme, basil, sage, savory and marjoram.
These herbs are known for their strong flavors. Parsley, however, is more commonly used as a garnish for dishes.
Then there are the aromatic herbs.
Known for the pleasant smell of their flowers and leaves, aromatic herbs are used in toilet water, perfumes, colognes and their various scents. These types include loyage, mint and rosemary.
These can also be used to scent clothing and linens, as well as dried up and made into potpourri. Lavender and lemon verbenas are great herbs to use for potpourri.
Then there are the herbs used for medicinal purposes.
Believed for many centuries for their healing properties, the present knowledge of their medicinal properties are mostly overrated, though some are indeed effective, so it is best to use extreme caution when attempting to use these herbs to heal the sick.
Some can be dangerous to eat so it is best to consult a doctor first.
Herb garden plants are not all just used for cooking, scenting and as medicine, some herbs are also used for their aesthetic qualities.
Called ornamental herbs, these usually have bright colored foliage and flowers, with many having whitish or lightly colored flowers like valerian, with crimson blossoms, and borage and chicory, which blossom beautiful blue flowers.
Given these categories, some herbs are not restricted to their classifications since some have multiple uses.
One example is mint, which not only is used for cooking, but is effective as well for pest control. Whatever herb you decide to use for herb gardening, you will find that these plants are one of the more useful plants you will raise.
Choose which type of herb you most likely will be using, and learn how they are taken care of. Herb garden plants are one of the more fulfilling plants a gardener can grow.
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Having a garden is great because you have a green area that produces fresh and clean air all year round. You can also enjoy the beauty of your garden and it is a good way to relieve stress and other worries in your life – a form of therapy if you will. Now, you know the advantages of your garden you should make the best use of it. All those functions can be realised if you have a clean and tidy garden. I’m sure you want a great garden, and because of that just make a plan for gardening project. You will need to prepare the correct gardening equipment that supports your project.
Often, you will need more than just traditional or conventional gardening equipment especially if you have a large garden area. In this case, you need several heavy duty gardening tools to make your job easier. Moreover, the job will be faster because you work with electric gardening equipment. Let say you can buy several gardening tools such as a power digger to dig the soil faster, cultivator to cut through the soil quicker or an aerator to help your lawn get more oxygen.
Traditionally, you could just go to your local hire store to find the correct tool to hire, nowadays the internet can help with the process. By finding your garden clearance equipment online, you will save time and often money in the process. I bet it will help you green fingered types, who don’t have too much spare time on their hands.
Gardening is identically with tired activity but if you have the equipment above I think you can reduce the level of your tired because you just need to turn on the devices and you can start to manage your garden. At least, you can reduce the impact of global warming and safe our beloved earth for better condition in the future. As we know that it’s difficult in finding fresh and green area today and you have it one and you can enjoy it personally. In conclusion, this is the time for you to have a beauty garden area and feel the different.
Gardening is a tiring activity, but if you have the equipment above I think you can reduce the level of your tiredness because you just need to turn on the devices and you can start to manage your garden.
As we all know, it can be difficult in finding a fresh and green area today and if you have it one, you should really enjoy it to the maximum. In conclusion, this is the time for you to have a beautiful garden area and feel the happy about it. With the right tools at your disposal you can make this dream a reality.
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Make the Valentine day so special with a unique online place that is known by the “1-800-Flowers”. In relation of this unique online place, it is a best flowers shop for everyone who desires to buy the special and most attractive gifts for gifting to others. In specially, the gifts are a basis way to express the happiness towards the others.
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Because of being in continuous practice, one day as a normal search in the internet, I got a unique and special online place that is known the title “1-800-Flowers”. In relation of this unique online place “1-800-Flwoers” by just visiting and seeing the available variety and ranges of gift items, I felt so much happiness and by heart, I gave a huge thanks to this unique site.
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The importance of proper watering cannot be stressed enough for your container garden plants. Container Gardens are exposed to wind and sun so they dry out quicker than plants in the ground. There are no exact rules about watering your container garden plants. You have to become acquainted with the needs of various garden plants. The best tip is to examine them daily and water the plant when the surface of the soil begins to look dry. Feeling the soil will also help you determine the moisture needs of your container garden. Or, take the easy way and invest in a water meter if you are not sure.
How much and when to water will depend on the kind of plant and soil, the type and size of container, and the amount of exposure to sun and wind. Climate and the weather also play their part. During hot spells most plants in your container garden need daily water, except those in small clay pots, which may require it twice. Some plants, like fuchsias and tuberous begonias, wilt when dry, but geraniums and succulents are not so sensitive to neglect. On the other hand, it is good to let soil dry out a little between watering. This prevents the soil from depleting its nutrients.
Since unglazed containers dry out quickest, watch them more closely. Wooden tubs, window boxes, and planters dry out more slowly; metal is the slowest of all. Groups of plants in large containers keep moist longer than single specimens. A good technique to avoid excess dryness is to have groupings of plants, arranged close together. This allows the container plants to shade one another to keep cool and stop moisture evaporation.
There are several methods of watering the plants. If you have many containers in your container garden, depend on the hose, allowing water to flow through slowly and gently. Water small pots with a watering can that has a long spout or buy one of the self watering containers now available. When plants are grouped closely in a container garden, set up a sprinkler or hose with a fine spray nearby, allowing it to run for a long while, until the soil is soaked. In many states where the climate is dry, an automatic sprinkler system is a must to keep your whole garden hydrated. Remember this tip with geraniums and petunias, avoid sprinklers which spot blossoms.
One thing is certain; you must not depend on rain to keep your container garden plants hydrated. Even heavy showers deposit a surprisingly small amount of moisture, and unless rains are frequent and lengthy, you must do your own watering. Remember those window boxes and other containers near houses or under trees can stay dry in spite of an all-day downpour.
Though it is essential to give enough water to your container garden, it is equally important not to over water and so cause root rot. Over-watering also prevents aeration of the soil, and will cause the plant to drown.
One good method is to set your container garden, if the containers are not too large, in a basin or pail of water for several hours, or until the surface of the soil feels moist (this is the theory behind self watering containers). Or immerse the pot in a tub or large barrel of water and leave it there until air is eliminated and the bubbling stops.
The best general rule is to soak soil thoroughly when you water and then allow it to go just a bit dry before you water your container garden again. Best of all, keep a small spiral notebook and paste the care of each plant into it so that you will always have the needs of each individual plant at your fingertips.
If you go away for long periods during the summer, give the container garden serious thought before making it a project. On the other hand, you can enjoy both holidays and plants if you are absent for only short periods. The best safeguard is to entrust your container garden to a responsible friend. Or if you are going away for a vacation at your second home, or one that you have rented, take the container garden with you as a little bit of home.
Several techniques can be practiced. One is to arrange smaller containers in boxes of peat moss, sawdust, or soil, which has been well soaked. Then there is the pot-in-pot method, whereby small pots are set in larger ones, with moist peat moss inserted between.
As mentioned above, in many of the garden centers self watering containers are offered for sale. These are ideal for your container garden when you are traveling or taking a vacation.
Happy Container Gardening!
Copyright © 2006 Mary Hanna All Rights Reserved.
This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged.
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Flower garden plants can be used effectively to produce a stunning garden that has blooms the entire season long. The type of garden plants used should figure prominently in your garden design. Annuals, flower bulbs, ornamental grasses, perennials, biennials and climbing vines are all excellent flower garden plants. These plants will have their own growth requirements and will only grow in specific conditions. Additionally some plants may require special treatment to grow properly.
Flowering plants that last year after year are called perennials. These plants will return every year but they only produce flowers for about two to four weeks a year. You can chose perennials that bloom at different times of the year so your garden should have a mix of early, mid and late blooming perennials in order to have blooms all season. Perennials will multiply on their own, so you can plan on dividing yours and having new plants for another part of your garden every 3 years or so.
Annuals are flower garden plants that only last for one season as their whole life is contained within one season. These plants produce colorful flowers that will last the entire season. Some popular perennials are nigella, sweet alyssum, blue salvia, spider flowers, marguerite daisies, Brazilian verbena and cosmos. These flowers do produce seeds each year so they can grow again.
Biennials are similar to annuals but their life span lasts for two years. The first year they grow leaves and then it is during the second year that they produce flowers. Despite the fact that they die after two years many gardeners love biennials, as their flowers are exquisite. Verbascums, foxgloves and hollyhocks are all very popular biennials. Many times you will find biennials next to the annuals in your garden store.
Tuber and corms are also called flower bulbs and these plants hibernate underground. Each year they store energy for the following year in their bulb that is stored underground. In order to grow the next year they need to go through a cold season though some bulbs, mainly summer bulbs cannot tolerate temperatures under freezing. Tulips, crocuses, daffodils and snowdrops are all early blooming bulbs and gladioli, dahlias, begonia, calla lilies and canna lilies are summer flowering bulbs. If you live in a very cold climate and want to plant bulbs that can’t tolerate the freezing temperatures, you can dig them up in the fall and overwinter them in your cellar or a cold area, then plant them again in spring.
If you have a small yard and need to focus on vertical space then climbing vines are the flower garden plants for you. These plants are great on a trellis. Some easy growing vines that have lovely flowers are the hyacinth, sweet peas, morning glories and clematis. Ornamental grass is also a different type of flower garden plant as it is mainly used to add texture to a garden. The grass will change color throughout the year while flowering in the fall and it moves when touched by the smallest breeze.