Backyard Gardening

These tree planting steps are designed for the lower elevations of the desert southwest. But can be applied to almost any zone area. 1. Water - This is the most important factor. You will need to water all trees and shrubs on a daily basis for at least the first 2-3 weeks after planting them. 3-5 gallons or water per 5 ga. tree. This is very critical during the summer months. 2. To ensure successful planting do NOT fertilize right after planting your tree or shrub. Use a good root stimulator to stimulate root growth. Do not fertilize during the winter months. Use a ... Read Full Story

Container gardens are the perfect way to add texture, color and fragrance to a terrace, a balcony or a deck. Often provide the only way for people who live in apartments or urbanized areas of the garden. Most plants, including evergreens, herbs, perennials and annuals, can be used in a planter. Container gardens soften the hard lines of a paved courtyard and can provide isolation on a large terrace. Planters can be grouped for a purpose formed on a large patio while a potted specimen is effective only in a small space. To vary the theme of your container garden on the year you ... Read Full Story

There times when a plant grows out their point or need to be moved to make way for a new garden design. When transplanting a shrub or tree to be aware of the time. Although it is possible, transplanting shrubs during very hot weather definitely not recommended, it can cause great stress to the plant, even with lots of watering. To ensure the plant remains healthy, transplant in spring or fall when the weather is cooler. Even then, however, irrigation is the most important thing you can do. Before you start digging may be necessary to carefully involve existing branches as can be. Doing ... Read Full Story

Is a flower just a flower? Silver Spring, Maryland, landscapers, and florists agree there is a lot more to raising beautiful flowers than meets the eye. Of course, everyone knows flowers need cultivating-in a suitable soil, in the proper sun or shade for the specific species, and with water and fertilizer in the proper amounts. But beyond that, one of the keys to growing healthy flowers is selecting the right flower. Silver Spring, Maryland, is found in the US Dep. of farming ( USDA ) plant hardiness sectors 6b and 7a meaning the average low temperature in winter ranges between five degrees Fahrenheit and ... Read Full Story

By Kent Higgins To the neat gardener mulberry might be a nuisance with its messy berries dropping on the ground and purple mulberry splashings on the bird bath, but it is a joy to birds. At least fifty-two varieties of birds delight in the fruit of the mulberry, which lasts from June until September. June is a happy month for birds as well as humans, the month of long sunny days and fragrant nights when the honeysuckle perfumes the night breeze and the song sparrow wakes to sing a sleepy serenade to the summer moon. And whenever honeysuckle is mentioned one usually thinks of ... Read Full Story

Sowing the Seeds of Success – Rose Hips containing Seeds All good gardeners know that seeds are on your side they want to grow and thrive. Apart for some weedy exceptions that I will save until the end of this article seeds can be coaxed into blooming excess with only a little know how. Help From the Seeds. Every seed tells a story and you can learn to read that story by considering the parent plant and the seed itself. To set seed most plants need to be pollinated male to female and many plants are self-fertile. Having taken a deal of trouble to ... Read Full Story

October is the month for planting many kinds of bulbs, perennials and vegetables in the South. Lawn planting, too, is at its height, especially preparing lawns for winter color with overplantings of rye grass. We have gone through a rather difficult summer season of extremely hot weather and severe droughts in many areas. This has left garden soils badly compacted, enough to restrict root growth of lawn grasses and garden plants. This calls for deep preparation of the soil and pulverizing it thoroughly. Ample quantities of peatmoss should be added to heavy clay and sandy soils to improve their texture and moisture-holding capacities. Some ... Read Full Story