Check out our software, it will help you get your garden started.
You'll find helpful info here in our blog, to get you ready to hit the ground running this spring!
www.landscapeyourvisions.com
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Beginner gardening tips By Yvonne Cunnington
Your first season? Beginner gardening tips
"Help: I'm beginner gardening this season. I don't know where to start."
Before you sink your spade into your first garden bed: Relax! "It's just gardening, not rocket science," as one of my favorite gurus likes to say.
I remember my first spring poking around the yard of the older home we had just bought wondering what was coming up - it was 1991.
First came snowdrops and crocuses, followed by tulips and mysterious (to me) little blue flowers that turned out to be forget-me-nots.
That's right, when I started, I didn't know a forget-me-not from a fritillaria. My motivation for gardening was the need to turn a plain-Jane backyard into an inviting garden. I learned by digging in.
What made it easier for me was that I'd had plenty of practice in my mother's vegetable garden while growing up, so while I didn't know much about flower gardening at the time, I did know the basics of planting and weeding.
Beginner gardening - so where do you start?
If you're like most of us, you won't start with a plan. Even I had no grand plan, just raw enthusiasm.
In the first few years, I moved plants around so much that my husband joked that my perennials should have had wheels, not roots.
The fact is that most gardens evolve. It's difficult to draw up a plan on paper (as instructed by garden designers) when you can't tell a daisy from a dianthus.
Once you've learned a few horticultural ropes and have discovered what appeals to you, you'll have a better idea about how you would like your garden to look.
First things - you need some garden tools
So to get started in the garden, you're going to need a few tools. (Isn't the fun part of a new hobby shopping for gear?) The best-quality tools are often carried by specialist suppliers. Information about tools is here.
Start with annuals - easy plants for beginner gardening
window.google_render_ad();
The great thing about annuals is that they're widely available and easy-to-grow. If you follow the simple basics about light, spacing, water and fertilizer, you'll have your first success. Find out how with these beginner gardener tips for growing annuals, and then learn more about other flower garden plants.
Improve your soil before you plant
Most plants thrive in moist, but well drained soil. Sounds contradictory, right? But it simply means soil that retains moisture and doesn't stay too wet. Ideal garden soil has the texture of crumbly chocolate cake and is easy to dig.
The way to improve almost any kind of soil - from sticky clay to porous sandy soil - is actually the same. You add hummus (composted manure, compost or leaf mould, or a combination of them). For more information, see Garden soil 101 - dealing with sand and clay.
If you have sandy soil, the hummus acts like a sponge to hold moisture. And if you have clay, it breaks up sticky particles to create larger pore spaces that drain more easily and help plant roots get the air they need. More information about fixing your soil is here.
Right plant, right place - light levels
Unless you live in a neighborhood dominated by huge shade trees, you will have areas of full sun, and perhaps some spots shaded by buildings (house, garage, shed) or trees.
Remember that most perennial flowers and roses do best in full sun. That means at least six hours of full sun. With only two to three hours of sunlight, sun-lovers will struggle, but plants that like part shade will do well. Usually, shade and part-shade plants will do best where they don't get hot afternoon sun.
Plant shopping can be overwhelming at first
Here are some plants to grow in lower light situations: astilbe, hosta, cranesbill (hardy perennial geraniums), bleeding heart, foxgloves, columbine, heuchera. More tips for shade gardening are here.
When you go to buy plants
Good garden centres group plants according to their sun and shade requirements. Trees and shrubs also have light preferences, so read the plant tags and do some research before deciding what to plant.
Check out more info from Yvonne Cunnington
http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/index.html
"Help: I'm beginner gardening this season. I don't know where to start."
Before you sink your spade into your first garden bed: Relax! "It's just gardening, not rocket science," as one of my favorite gurus likes to say.
I remember my first spring poking around the yard of the older home we had just bought wondering what was coming up - it was 1991.
First came snowdrops and crocuses, followed by tulips and mysterious (to me) little blue flowers that turned out to be forget-me-nots.
That's right, when I started, I didn't know a forget-me-not from a fritillaria. My motivation for gardening was the need to turn a plain-Jane backyard into an inviting garden. I learned by digging in.
What made it easier for me was that I'd had plenty of practice in my mother's vegetable garden while growing up, so while I didn't know much about flower gardening at the time, I did know the basics of planting and weeding.
Beginner gardening - so where do you start?
If you're like most of us, you won't start with a plan. Even I had no grand plan, just raw enthusiasm.
In the first few years, I moved plants around so much that my husband joked that my perennials should have had wheels, not roots.
The fact is that most gardens evolve. It's difficult to draw up a plan on paper (as instructed by garden designers) when you can't tell a daisy from a dianthus.
Once you've learned a few horticultural ropes and have discovered what appeals to you, you'll have a better idea about how you would like your garden to look.
First things - you need some garden tools
So to get started in the garden, you're going to need a few tools. (Isn't the fun part of a new hobby shopping for gear?) The best-quality tools are often carried by specialist suppliers. Information about tools is here.
Start with annuals - easy plants for beginner gardening
window.google_render_ad();
The great thing about annuals is that they're widely available and easy-to-grow. If you follow the simple basics about light, spacing, water and fertilizer, you'll have your first success. Find out how with these beginner gardener tips for growing annuals, and then learn more about other flower garden plants.
Improve your soil before you plant
Most plants thrive in moist, but well drained soil. Sounds contradictory, right? But it simply means soil that retains moisture and doesn't stay too wet. Ideal garden soil has the texture of crumbly chocolate cake and is easy to dig.
The way to improve almost any kind of soil - from sticky clay to porous sandy soil - is actually the same. You add hummus (composted manure, compost or leaf mould, or a combination of them). For more information, see Garden soil 101 - dealing with sand and clay.
If you have sandy soil, the hummus acts like a sponge to hold moisture. And if you have clay, it breaks up sticky particles to create larger pore spaces that drain more easily and help plant roots get the air they need. More information about fixing your soil is here.
Right plant, right place - light levels
Unless you live in a neighborhood dominated by huge shade trees, you will have areas of full sun, and perhaps some spots shaded by buildings (house, garage, shed) or trees.
Remember that most perennial flowers and roses do best in full sun. That means at least six hours of full sun. With only two to three hours of sunlight, sun-lovers will struggle, but plants that like part shade will do well. Usually, shade and part-shade plants will do best where they don't get hot afternoon sun.
Plant shopping can be overwhelming at first
Here are some plants to grow in lower light situations: astilbe, hosta, cranesbill (hardy perennial geraniums), bleeding heart, foxgloves, columbine, heuchera. More tips for shade gardening are here.
When you go to buy plants
Good garden centres group plants according to their sun and shade requirements. Trees and shrubs also have light preferences, so read the plant tags and do some research before deciding what to plant.
Check out more info from Yvonne Cunnington
http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/index.html
Friday, January 23, 2009
The Zen Of Seed Germinating Fran Sorin
For us gardeners, the process of seed germination is quite magical. It starts for me each January, when my garden is covered with snow and working in the yard feels like a distant memory. My mailbox is deluged with seed catalogs, and I dreamily flip through about a dozen to see what's in store for me. Envisioning what the seeds from each packet will become, I see the colors, smell the scents and touch the leaves. I dog-ear pages with specimens that catch my eye. I feel extravagant as I begin to tally up the cost of all of my orders. But then I remind myself that the cost per plant is so minuscule that it would be criminal not to buy them.
Once the seeds arrive, the preparation begins. First, wash and sanitize all containers (a dab of bleach in soapy water does the trick). Separate the seed packets into piles based on the time needed to reach maturity, whether they are early or late sowers, and whether you plan to sow the seeds directly outside or get a head start by sowing indoors in early spring. (If you sow them indoors, then take them out to the garden as fledgling plants -- usually four to eight weeks later, after any chance of frost has passed -- the blooms will appear weeks or even months earlier.)
Annuals that are easily sown directly in the ground:
Basil, cosmos, cleome, hyacinth beans, larkspur, marigold, morning glory, nasturtium, pole beans, poppies, sunflowers, sweet alyssum, sweet pea, peas
Annuals to start indoors:
Calendula, celosia, cucumbers, eggplant, globe amaranth, marigolds, nicotiana, peppers, pumpkins, salvia, tithonia, tomatoes, zinnias, zucchini
Easy perennials to grow from seed:
Chrysanthemum, columbine, coneflower, foxglove, gaillardia, helenium, hollyhock, linaria, lysimachia, oriental poppies, salvia, Shasta daisy, verbascum
If you have a window with a true southern exposure, you can successfully germinate sun-loving seeds such as cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, cosmos and sunflowers. Just move the seeds away from the windows at night or put newspaper between the window and the seeds to ward off the cold. To maintain high humidity, either cover the container with a plastic bag or use the clear plastic domes sold with sowing flats.
You also can rig up a germinating room using fluorescent lights. A few years ago, I bought 12 fluorescent lighting fixtures, each 4 feet long. I attached them to 2-by-4-inch pieces of wood that are about 8 feet long and hung from chains; that way, the height of the lighting unit can be adjusted as the seeds turn into seedlings and, eventually, plants. This system gives the seeds the optimal 14 to 16 hours of light per day. Keep the lights 2 inches above the pre-germinated seeds, and when they become seedlings, raise the lights to 4 inches. I set up this system in my basement, but you can use any room in the house.
Buy a premade sowing medium. The package will be labeled "seed starting mix" and will be a composite of vermiculite, peat moss and perlite. Fill the containers to the top with sowing mix, tamp it down to compress the feather-like texture, and then add more sowing mix to bring it to the top again.
The number of seeds you plant in each container depends on their size. With large seeds such as sunflowers and sweet peas, I limit myself to three or four to a 2-by-2-inch container; with tiny poppy and nicotiana seeds, I allow up to 100 per pot. Simply press larger seeds into the soil until they're slightly covered; sprinkle smaller seeds on top of the soil. Then water the containers from the bottom and cover with a plastic dome or bag to conserve humidity.
At its essence, the Zen of germinating seeds is about taking delight in all of the rituals of selecting, ordering, preparing, planting, tending and then waiting. When all the seeds are sown, I pause and give thanks. It reminds me of when I used to tuck my children under the covers and feel that all was good and right in my world.
Soon I see that what was a dormant seed has nuzzled its way through the earth and sprouted into a green stem with two leaves ready to unfurl, and I'm filled with joy and awe. No matter how many years I do it, I always have an emotional response to this life-affirming process.
http://fransorin.com/book/ Check out Fran Sorin's book.
Once the seeds arrive, the preparation begins. First, wash and sanitize all containers (a dab of bleach in soapy water does the trick). Separate the seed packets into piles based on the time needed to reach maturity, whether they are early or late sowers, and whether you plan to sow the seeds directly outside or get a head start by sowing indoors in early spring. (If you sow them indoors, then take them out to the garden as fledgling plants -- usually four to eight weeks later, after any chance of frost has passed -- the blooms will appear weeks or even months earlier.)
Annuals that are easily sown directly in the ground:
Basil, cosmos, cleome, hyacinth beans, larkspur, marigold, morning glory, nasturtium, pole beans, poppies, sunflowers, sweet alyssum, sweet pea, peas
Annuals to start indoors:
Calendula, celosia, cucumbers, eggplant, globe amaranth, marigolds, nicotiana, peppers, pumpkins, salvia, tithonia, tomatoes, zinnias, zucchini
Easy perennials to grow from seed:
Chrysanthemum, columbine, coneflower, foxglove, gaillardia, helenium, hollyhock, linaria, lysimachia, oriental poppies, salvia, Shasta daisy, verbascum
If you have a window with a true southern exposure, you can successfully germinate sun-loving seeds such as cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, cosmos and sunflowers. Just move the seeds away from the windows at night or put newspaper between the window and the seeds to ward off the cold. To maintain high humidity, either cover the container with a plastic bag or use the clear plastic domes sold with sowing flats.
You also can rig up a germinating room using fluorescent lights. A few years ago, I bought 12 fluorescent lighting fixtures, each 4 feet long. I attached them to 2-by-4-inch pieces of wood that are about 8 feet long and hung from chains; that way, the height of the lighting unit can be adjusted as the seeds turn into seedlings and, eventually, plants. This system gives the seeds the optimal 14 to 16 hours of light per day. Keep the lights 2 inches above the pre-germinated seeds, and when they become seedlings, raise the lights to 4 inches. I set up this system in my basement, but you can use any room in the house.
Buy a premade sowing medium. The package will be labeled "seed starting mix" and will be a composite of vermiculite, peat moss and perlite. Fill the containers to the top with sowing mix, tamp it down to compress the feather-like texture, and then add more sowing mix to bring it to the top again.
The number of seeds you plant in each container depends on their size. With large seeds such as sunflowers and sweet peas, I limit myself to three or four to a 2-by-2-inch container; with tiny poppy and nicotiana seeds, I allow up to 100 per pot. Simply press larger seeds into the soil until they're slightly covered; sprinkle smaller seeds on top of the soil. Then water the containers from the bottom and cover with a plastic dome or bag to conserve humidity.
At its essence, the Zen of germinating seeds is about taking delight in all of the rituals of selecting, ordering, preparing, planting, tending and then waiting. When all the seeds are sown, I pause and give thanks. It reminds me of when I used to tuck my children under the covers and feel that all was good and right in my world.
Soon I see that what was a dormant seed has nuzzled its way through the earth and sprouted into a green stem with two leaves ready to unfurl, and I'm filled with joy and awe. No matter how many years I do it, I always have an emotional response to this life-affirming process.
http://fransorin.com/book/ Check out Fran Sorin's book.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Buy Plants On-Line
Experienced gardeners buy plants online or shop for garden gear by mail order for three reasons:
-Greater selection of mail order plants, seeds, bulbs and garden products.-The convenience of armchair shopping.-Garden plants and goods shipped right to your door.
Better selection is really the best reason to buy plants online. Many mail order companies concentrate on particular plants and offer you much more choice.
For example, an online rose specialist will offer scores of varieties and types of roses, while your local garden center can only afford to stock perhaps a dozen or so.
Few garden centers are big enough to stock a fraction of what's available, so web suppliers or mail order catalogues help you find plants and garden products that may difficult to find locally.
Other advantages of shopping online
Many garden suppliers and growers have now have excellent websites to help you buy plants online and find general garden merchandise too.
But when you buy plants online, how do you tell who's legit and who's trying to pawn off miserable scraps of greenery on unwary gardeners?
If the deal is too good to be true, remember the old saying: You get what you pay for. If you see strident headlines promoting sweepstakes, you've got to wonder what they're really selling.
Buy plants online -Gardening stores on the web
Gardens Alive: Offers a variety of environmentally responsible products for your garden and lawn, from sprays and fertilizers to garden gear. Ships to US addresses, including Alaska, but not Hawaii.
Gardener's Supply Company: Offers a wealth of tools and supplies for gardeners, from seed-starting to watering, fertilizing and weeding, even garden furniture and sheds. Good garden tips too. Ships to US only.
Roses from Jackson & Perkins: Discover unusual and new roses. Also offers perennials, bulbs and garden gifts. Ships roses and perennials at the best time for planting in your area. US only, including Alaska and Hawaii.
Smith & Hawken: Offers stylish quality in garden tools, outdoor accents, garden decor, furnishing, indoor gardening goods, house plants and gifts. US only.
Gurney's - Save $20 off $40 Order: Seeds, plants and growing supplies. Ships to US, but not Alaska, Hawaii.
Richters Herbs: This Canadian company offers an excellent variety of culinary and other herb plants and seeds. They ship around the world and pride themselves on delivering herb plants to your door safely. I've often ordered plants from them and have been happy with their healthy green condition, even after shipping. Ships to Canada and US. All plant shipments to US are government inspected and come with a phytosanitary certificate free-of-charge.
Before you hit the send button, check your order
Bare-root daylilyready for planting
Be sure to order early to avoid "sold out" notices. Because seeds and planting stock are produced at least a season in advance, quantities are often limited, so it pays to order early.
If you don't want substitutions, state this clearly on your order form. Many mail-order companies will substitute a similar item for a sold-out product. Usually there's a box to check if you prefer no substitutions.
Read and understand the company's guarantee policy. Most suppliers have a date by which you must a notify them about problems or plant failures to get your money back.
Read the fine print. When shopping or buying plants online, check the size of plants shipped. It's discouraging to pay top dollar for something that comes in a tiny pot.
Keep a record of orders and shipping dates. You don't want to order same tulip bulbs twice because you misplaced the original order.
By Yvonne Cunnington
To read more great tips and to check out Ms. Cunningtons book;
http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/index.html
-Greater selection of mail order plants, seeds, bulbs and garden products.-The convenience of armchair shopping.-Garden plants and goods shipped right to your door.
Better selection is really the best reason to buy plants online. Many mail order companies concentrate on particular plants and offer you much more choice.
For example, an online rose specialist will offer scores of varieties and types of roses, while your local garden center can only afford to stock perhaps a dozen or so.
Few garden centers are big enough to stock a fraction of what's available, so web suppliers or mail order catalogues help you find plants and garden products that may difficult to find locally.
Other advantages of shopping online
Many garden suppliers and growers have now have excellent websites to help you buy plants online and find general garden merchandise too.
But when you buy plants online, how do you tell who's legit and who's trying to pawn off miserable scraps of greenery on unwary gardeners?
If the deal is too good to be true, remember the old saying: You get what you pay for. If you see strident headlines promoting sweepstakes, you've got to wonder what they're really selling.
Buy plants online -Gardening stores on the web
Gardens Alive: Offers a variety of environmentally responsible products for your garden and lawn, from sprays and fertilizers to garden gear. Ships to US addresses, including Alaska, but not Hawaii.
Gardener's Supply Company: Offers a wealth of tools and supplies for gardeners, from seed-starting to watering, fertilizing and weeding, even garden furniture and sheds. Good garden tips too. Ships to US only.
Roses from Jackson & Perkins: Discover unusual and new roses. Also offers perennials, bulbs and garden gifts. Ships roses and perennials at the best time for planting in your area. US only, including Alaska and Hawaii.
Smith & Hawken: Offers stylish quality in garden tools, outdoor accents, garden decor, furnishing, indoor gardening goods, house plants and gifts. US only.
Gurney's - Save $20 off $40 Order: Seeds, plants and growing supplies. Ships to US, but not Alaska, Hawaii.
Richters Herbs: This Canadian company offers an excellent variety of culinary and other herb plants and seeds. They ship around the world and pride themselves on delivering herb plants to your door safely. I've often ordered plants from them and have been happy with their healthy green condition, even after shipping. Ships to Canada and US. All plant shipments to US are government inspected and come with a phytosanitary certificate free-of-charge.
Before you hit the send button, check your order
Bare-root daylilyready for planting
Be sure to order early to avoid "sold out" notices. Because seeds and planting stock are produced at least a season in advance, quantities are often limited, so it pays to order early.
If you don't want substitutions, state this clearly on your order form. Many mail-order companies will substitute a similar item for a sold-out product. Usually there's a box to check if you prefer no substitutions.
Read and understand the company's guarantee policy. Most suppliers have a date by which you must a notify them about problems or plant failures to get your money back.
Read the fine print. When shopping or buying plants online, check the size of plants shipped. It's discouraging to pay top dollar for something that comes in a tiny pot.
Keep a record of orders and shipping dates. You don't want to order same tulip bulbs twice because you misplaced the original order.
By Yvonne Cunnington
To read more great tips and to check out Ms. Cunningtons book;
http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/index.html
Friday, January 09, 2009
Get a Jump on Spring!
Hard to believe, but Spring is not that far away. You need to get ready. Landscape Vision can help.
Even if your lawn is covered in snow, with Landscape Vision you can still get started on designing your Spring gardens.
Our software allows you to draw a green lawn right over the snow. Drag and Drop plants and outdoor living products onto your lawns and patios. See what Spring can bring now, in the dead of Winter!
Get a jump on Spring!
www.landscapeyourvisions.com
Even if your lawn is covered in snow, with Landscape Vision you can still get started on designing your Spring gardens.
Our software allows you to draw a green lawn right over the snow. Drag and Drop plants and outdoor living products onto your lawns and patios. See what Spring can bring now, in the dead of Winter!
Get a jump on Spring!
www.landscapeyourvisions.com
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