Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Do you plant your own garden, decorate your own soul instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers?

Do you know who wrote this poem...it is one of my favorites but can't remember. I really do want to know the answer to the posted question!

Do you plant your own garden, decorate your own soul instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers?
I used to rely on others to make me happy until I realized that it is not to others to do so as much as it is to me and now I find true happiness in my Savior because He never leaves me nor forsakes me and sometimes people do. We are not to put our faith in them but in Him who died that we might live eteranlly with Him.



I don't know your poem's author,Peapie-hope you are doing ok with all you have to deal with but you know His arms are holding you.
Reply:Sorry, I don't know the author but it is beautiful.

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New Home owner who knows nothing about gardening/flowers!?

My husband and I just bought our first home. We have been living in apartments for years and know nothing about gardening, etc.



We pulled up a bunch of dead flowers, bushes, etc. around the house and now want to replant some. We know that we should plant perrenials, as I don't want to do this every year. I would like something that brings a little color to the garden. We have three different areas to plant them in. Two of the areas are not shaded, one is partially shaded.



Any suggestions?

New Home owner who knows nothing about gardening/flowers!?
Where do you live? Knowing your climate is necessary for people to give suggestions.
Reply:Please be more specific,need to know where you're living,the situation (I.e seaside,mountain,farmland,etc;).Also,the aspect of your land (Which compass point does it face),the type of soil,(Sandy,stony,rocky,loam or clay).

Is the garden sheltered or exposed,all have a bearing on the most suitable plants.

Suggest a DVD or a subscription to a gardening magazine before investing a lot of money in what may be unsuitable plants.

Hope this helps,good luck with your new garden-it'll provide endless amusement!

OK,Back again.Buy a cheap soil testing kit.Check if the soil's acid,alkaline or neutral.

That'll give you an idea what type of plants will suit,any good nursery will advise and most plants are labelled.

Container grown roses are a good bet if the soil's fairly good.Considering the temps;mentioned they'd need watering well,but can be bought in bloom for an instant show.

There's a start for the sunny areas,consult a local nurseryman for the shady part.Ferns,hostas,lily of the valley and rock geraniums might suit,but take local advice.
Reply:One thing nice about mother nature - If you plant a flower it pretty much knows what to do. You definately don't need to be an expert to garden and you learn as you go. Go to the garden store and just plant what you love. Check the tags to make sure that you are planting in the right area (Full Sun - Part Sun - Shade) My absolute favorite Perennials are Daylilies. They are easy to grow and I love to find different varieties. Congratulations on your new home and gardens. I'm sure you will become an expert gardener soon. Gardening can be addictive.
Reply:Keep in mind that perennials start small, but get larger every year. You need to leave them plenty of space to grow. This means that for the first 2-3 years, your garden may look a little bare. This is why it is a good idea to plant some annuals the first couple of years, as a filler until the perennials get a little larger. Also, as they grow larger, they can be split into 2, and used to plant in another area of your garden. All things to remember when choosing your plants.



As for what to plant, go to a local nursery or garden center, and they will carry plants that will work well in your climate. Just find something you like. Each will be tagged with information about what type of environment it likes, from full sun, to full shade, to a mix of the two. Check how much water they require (some like a consistently wet soil whereas others don't mind a little dry period between waterings), especially if you're a "low maintenance" kind of gardener. Match the type of plants you like to where you'd like to plant them, and your style of gardening. If in doubt, ask someone to help you pick plants that will be a good fit for your garden and your gardening style.



Most gardening turns out to be trial and error - something you expect to look beautiful one place, you find a year later it just doesn't give you the effect you wanted. You can always transplant or remove anything that seems out of place or that you don't like. It will take several years for your garden to get really established, and each year you'll start to learn a little more about what you like, what works, and what will grow best.



Remember it's best to start planting by turning some fertilizer or compost into the soil, to give the new plants lots of nutrients to grow. Once you've planted, a nice layer of cedar mulch makes the garden look beautiful, gives off a lovely "woodsy" scent, helps your beds retain moisture, and makes it a little more difficult for weeds to take root.



Good luck and have fun!
Reply:A good thing to do is to visit a local garden center/nursery and discuss your situation with them. They will know what plants to suggest that will grow well in your area. They can show you what works well for sun, shade, etc. You'll also be able to see what they look like so you can narrow down your choices even further.



I am also in Southern NJ and a professional landscaper for about 20 years. I could list hundreds of plants that will work, but you should really see them first to get an idea for your garden design.



If you care to, you could list your town or at least county, and I will be glad to point you towards some reputable nurseries I have done business with. You can email me directly too, if you want more help. I am in Cumberland county.


Sick of my Garden! Can I move stuff around before fall?

I stare at my garden, and it seems like it's all messed up, tall flowers in front, shorter, stuff in the middle. I've been a little leary about moving stuff now, in August. I live in Rhode Island, so we don't get frost until November or so, but I have never really been up on when you can and when you can't move things with out killing them! Mostly Hosta, Beebalm, cone flowers, black eyed susans, small yellow bushy flowers that I forget the name of. I also have a new Rose of Sharon that sprouted off the mother plant, and is flowering, but shadowed and I would love to move that too, into a more sunny, prominent area. Any advice?

thank you!

Sick of my Garden! Can I move stuff around before fall?
I have been gardening for many years. I just started removing my garden and saw your question. The rule for pruning, dividing perennials is two fold answer. One divide when it is finished flowering. Two divide when it is dormant before it flowers. You get frost late so flowers are still blooming. I would plan what flowers when and what is short to tall. Unless you have a large flower bed try and plant tall in background or bulbs in the back so perennials cover them for the summer.

Time also to add compost to tired soil for roots and shoots. good luck, start reading garden mags.
Reply:hostas- I started with one plant and ended up with about 15 of them by splitting and transplanting.

as long as you are careful to keep the root system attached, you can move as little as one leaf and have a whole new plant the next spring.

from my experience, it is a little trickier with trees or small bushes. they don't like to be moved.

You need to be careful not to disturb or damage any of the root system.

when you first move things, they will look droopy but just water them frequently until they get their footing in the new spot. most of your flowers sound like hardy varieties that should do fine.
Reply:i don't recomened it. youu would be cutting it close. to transplant just before fall the roots wouldn't be strong enough for the upcoming winter.
Reply:You really need to wait until frost because that is when they become dormant. I know it can be difficult because most of these dye back to the ground, but one thing you can do is stake and label your plants while noting their height and width. By doing this you can dig them up and place them back in the ground in a way that works better for you. You can make out a diagram or create a garden plan now so that you know exactly how you want your garden to work.

Anyhow, I hope this helps a little.

Good Luck


When will my watermelon vine grow a watermelon? It is 2m in length and has small yellow flowers, but no fruit

A few months ago I planted two watermelons in my garden from seedlings. One has barely grown at all, the other has gone absolutely berserk and is at least 2 metres long and has 5 or 6 different 'arms' on it. A few yellow flowers have appeared recently, but no actual fruit to speak of. When (if?) will it grow an actual watermelon? Thank you

When will my watermelon vine grow a watermelon? It is 2m in length and has small yellow flowers, but no fruit
You have to wait for night temperatures to reach at least 50 degrees before the watermelon plant will start to produce female flowers, which is a tiny watermelon with yellow flowers just like the male flowers you probably have noticed on your plants. Once this occurs, it will not be long before the female flowers are pollinated by the male flowers, however depending on the variety of your watermelon, the fruit may not be harvestable for up to two months.
Reply:if you live in a very worm place have very good fertilize soil and vary moister not dry water melons need a Lot's water and heater and son should have fruit in 3Mont's.
Reply:the average time for the watermelons ive grown is 90 - 110 days. You still need to wait a month and maybe a half more. If your not sure if the watermelon is ripe, dont pick it. Wait. Ive done that to many times where i get so excited, yet the watermelon isn' t even ripe. You can even wait for the vine to die. Then your gaurenteed ripe watermelons, but make shure the fruits dont rot or even start to soften.


Prettiest and easiest flowers you have in your garden?

I have a 4 by 6 foot raised flower bed in my backyard that is currently flower-less and I imagine it just overflowing with colorful flowers during the spring! But I need some ideas on which flowers will survive out in a flower bed like that because there is no shade and they will get full sun and I am known as a flower killer because I tend to be forgetful. But I am willing to learn and make an effort. Please help! I want bright colors! lol

Prettiest and easiest flowers you have in your garden?
Hibiscus and hostas under close to them would more than fill your flower bed.Buy a variety of Hibiscus that is a perennial version..not the annual types.Comes in a varity of colors and so do hostas.Good luck!
Reply:It really depends on your climate zone.



Some of the easiest flowers that can thrive practically anywhere and are super easy are perennials! You buy bulk seeds and you can plant them anywhere that has full sun.



Places like Walmart and Target sell them in canisters, there are about 20,000 per canister but like I said they are not expensive. It sounds like your flower bed is the perfect spot for them-- as long as it gets full sun.



Remember, not all of the seeds will germinate (naturally) but just plant a bunch of them, keep them watered and they will grow in no time. Some won't flower right away but they have such lovely foliage. Others will flower right away and the various types and colors are so breathtaking. Soon you will see the ladybugs and butterflies and the garden will just explode with life!



You can research online how to take care of your perennials, it's really easy. The cool thing about the assorted seed mix is the variety you'll get.



Have fun and enjoy your garden! :)
Reply:I have some yellow coreopsis that do well in a very sunny spot.



Orange daylillies also do well. Peonies and poppies are good for spring bloom.
Reply:panseys, daisies, mums, impatients, begonias, these are all easy to maintain, colorful, and grow fast
Reply:Kind of depends on where you are in the country. For instance, out here in the cool Pacific Northwest, sunflowers tend to just sort of poke along -- while they take off like rockets in the midwest.



Tell us a bit more about where you are and we can make better suggestions.
Reply:well personally i like marigolds.they r easy 2 grow n dont take that much effort.they come in colours like yellow n orange.n there r various varieties.have fun gardening!

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  • Pretty vegetable garden?

    I want to use combinations of flowers %26amp; vegetables in my garden but I want the effect to be pretty, any suggestions?

    Pretty vegetable garden?
    There are some darn fine books on this subject that you will find at the public library.

    So, I would never plant a strictly utilitarian vegetable garden, and in fact have gone to great pains to create striking ones. The most spectacular are always Formal Knot Gardens, in which you lay out geometric patterns in the garden area, the simplest to illustrate in words is 4 squares of equal size with a sundial or bird bath in the center. You follow? Then you edge these beds with your choice of greenery, typically something that will last all of the summer. You can go so far as to use a permanent non-vegetable material, such as dwarf box, or you can clip closely planted herbs such as hyssop or one of the very tiny-leaved dwarf basils. Then fill in the bed with either one type of vegetable, or another pattern of them. (example: diagonal rows of alternating red and green oakleaf lettuce.)

    Be sure to bring in some height. It is always worthwhile to splurge on something that will add some real class in this department, such as a quartet of standard bay trees. Stunning! Also don't forget to throw in a few frivolously showy flowers for color and interest.
    Reply:Taller growing sunflowers - you can then plant climbing beans under them and the stalks act as supports while attracting bees and giving you flowers. Can get sunflowers in shades of yellow, brown/red and orange these days.

    dwarf sunflowers around the edge of the vegies gives you flowers and edible seeds



    Violets flower and you can add the flowers to salads.



    nasturtiums have edible leaves for a hot adition to salads, and the flowers can be shredded for a colourful salad addition too.



    marigolds (African in the summer and English in the winter) are colourful, and the flower petals added to salads.

    the herb bergamot is very bee attracting, has large red fluffy flowers, and you can use the leaves for flavouring



    Chives have purple flowers in summer, are edible and you get the leaves for cooking



    carnations are pretty in full flower, can pick them for the vase, and flowers are sweet flavoured and used for garnishes and added to salads (petals only - base of flower is bitter)
    Reply:Flowers:

    Marigolds, Day Lillies, Tulips, Other assorted flower bulbs, if you want bulbs so you don't have to replant every year.



    Vegetables:

    Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Green Peppers, Watermelon, Cantaloupe, Pumpkin. All of these have flowers as blossoms before the vegetable starts to grow.
    Reply:Definitely marigolds around the perimeter only and nasturtiums too this site gives more a more detailed list http://gardening.about.com/od/organicgar...
    Reply:Nastursiums are nice - orange and yellow flowers that are edible.
    Reply:Marigolds are always helpful around veggies. I have a few lillies in my veggie garden as well.


    Why is my florist afraid to work with these flowers?

    At the end of July, my wedding arrives. I'm not a 'Bridezilla" although I ve been through three planners, 2 photographers, and now possibly, at the last moment a new Floral decorator...Why?...Because, after quite a bit of research, I settled on a designer who i thought would easily meet my expectations...I decicided on varied height centerpieces, using a array of summer blooms such as dahlias, Cockscomb, Peonies, Hydrangea, viburnum, asiatic Lilies, Garden Roses, and anything else that may be available the week of my party. The colrs are a mix of all shades of pink, orange, peach, butter yellow and chartreuse...But now my 'Hero" informs me that due to poor crops around the world recently he will have a difficult time procurring these types of blooms, in these colors...(However, he CAN get the flowers I prefer in shades of Lavender, Cinammon, Chocolate,Celedon and Hot pink) Interesting, these are the exact colors (minus the pink) that both he and my Fiancee suggested. What to do?

    Why is my florist afraid to work with these flowers?
    Well umm you sound a little like a bridezilla it is your fiancee's wedding too he should get some say, besides it is just flowers trust me nobody is going to care what everything looks like i guarantee they will not even remember what color flowers you had, they are there simply to get fed their dollars worth of whatever gift they bought you and leave.
    Reply:Perhaps you are asking the wrong question. From what you've said it seems there is a lack of the colors you want or is it the florist prefers the colors your future husband likes? For me, your question isn't clear. You imply that you are extremely particular, why would you "hero" lie to you? I suggest that you call the local floral warehouse and ask exactly what flowers might be available during your wedding week. If a warehouse is not available to you, call several local florists and ask the same question.
    Reply:Call around and see if other florist tell you the same thing...if they do, then he is being truthful, if not...dump him and go with someone else....hopefully this is the only wedding you will have...it should be perfect.
    Reply:As you guessed , he's probably lying . Why? - ???? The Viburnum %26amp; Peonies area stretch at the end of July , %26amp; they %26amp; Hydrangea don't hold up well in the usual July heat .Also become more expensive out of season .(What your fiancee is worried about?) Might be what he's worried about . If you are OK with that ( should hold up for the wedding itself - more than that - ???) let him know. Dahlias, lilies, %26amp; cockscomb , are most readily available in a mix , so the rest of it sounds like bs. Good Luck
    Reply:How about Mums. They could fill in the colors the other plants would be missing? Also, consider flowers that could be 'dipped' in edged dye.


    How can i get more female flowers on my cucumber and ...?

    i have cucumber and watermelon plants in my garden. its my first year for these two. i have lots of flowers but only 2 cucumbers and Lots and lots of watermelon flower and only 2 melons, and thats on 3 water melon plants. what can i do to get less male flowers and more female

    How can i get more female flowers on my cucumber and ...?
    You can make sure you fertilize correctly. Don't let all the flowers grow, pluck some of them off so the energy of the plant can focus more on a few flowers versus many while making the fruit.
    Reply:Thanks Report It
    Reply:Reaserch the type of cucumbers you are planting. Some types grom all male on one plant and all female on others. These are known as gynoecious cultivars. When planted you need to mark the male seeds so you don't thin them by mistake. One or two male vines will be enough to provide all the pollen you need

    It's normal to have only one to three melons set per plant. Many female blooms will start to grow and then shrivel after several days. Even if your vines set lots of melons you should remove all but two or three to ensure proper growth of the fruit you keep.
    Reply:never seen several melons on one plant, that is just life. it is a good idea to cut the plant when it tends to be too long - if you dont do it, it will creep further and forget about fruiting. next time plant more plants and just keep a couple of fruits on each cucumber - the whole thing will use the same space and yield more fruits. and dont rely only on insects with pollinating, take over the sex life of your melons and cucumbers if the season is not too late.
    Reply:How many cucumber plants do you have? You need to have at least two.
    Reply:Pull one of the cucumbers off and then poke the flowers with it.


    How nutritious are edible flowers?

    I'm thinking of encouraging my kids, who refuse to eat veggies, to eat flowers if there is any nutritional value. I have roses, rose of sharon, snap dragons and peonies in my garden and of course dandelions in the yard. I thought maybe a little mixture of flowers and greens might get them eating a "salad". Will the flowers upset their little tummies?

    How nutritious are edible flowers?
    I think the nutritional value isn't much except for rose hips which are rich in vitamin C. You eat the dandelion greens (unless dogs have been patrolling the yard) and they are nutritious like other dark leafy greens (good calcium!). Nasturtiums are edible. Violet leaves and flowers are edible. Johnny jump up flowers are, but not the plants. I think their stomachs will be fine because it is doubtful that they will find them tasty enough to make them sick.
    Reply:How weird would it be if your kids went to school and starting picking up stuff in the gardens around the school and eating it. I'd be so embarassed...And the other kids would tease the heck out of them.
    Reply:As long as they are edible flowers.

    Dandelions and rose petals are edible but I don't know about the other 2. Pansies are edible too. Don't know about nutritional value though.

    Perfect semi formal makeup

    First time planting a garden.?

    I want to plant a flower garden, as well as a small vegetable garden this spring. First of all, what are the appropriate times to plant in Tennessee? And we have a lot of clay in the soil at our house. What do we need to do to get it ready for planting?

    First time planting a garden.?
    If you can find a used copy of Square Foot Gardening it shows you how to have the greatest reward for the smallest area. When dealing with clay, start small. It's a tough job to convert it over to good garden soil.



    Right now be digging in manure.....farm animal, not doggies or cats. Spread no more than 1-2 inches over the top and dig in well.......a full shovel if not more. You can also add perlite to loosen the soil, but not sand!!! Sand and clay make a wonderful natural concrete. If you can find good compost, wonderful that's good too. If all else fails, use sphagnum peat moss. Of course you should have a soil analysis, but it's getting too late for that, next year you'll have time.



    It's nearly time, or actually is time to be planting peas, lettuce, the cool crops. Wait until your last spring frost (mid April) to set out tomatoes, peppers, sow or plant squash, etc. I'm a coward, I wait an extra few weeks. Also have a couple of basil and parsley plants for some flavor. In the future you can plant more permanent sage, thyme, etc.



    This first flower garden you can sow the easy things like zinnia and cosmos, but may want to get a jump by planting starts of petunia, marigolds, etc. I'd stay with the annuals this year to see if you like gardening. Next year you'll have the chance to further work the soil before adding the perennials, those that don't need replanting every year.



    Start small, plant what you like to eat and flowers you can bring indoors to enjoy.
    Reply:In regards to the clay use lots of compost and well rotted manures eg cow. and dig in with gypsum (gypsum is the most successful clay breaker, and recommended in horticultural courses. It does not change the PH and only needs to be used annually up to 3 times). Prepare your bed early before planting, now if possible.



    In regard to planting times, most plants are planted in spring, autumn, or winter (dormant trees and shrubs). As you are going to have a garden from now on buy yourself a good gardening book that suits your area, and has good advice regarding planting times for annuals and vegetables, as well as important matters such as frost. If you spend a bit and get a good book you will never regret it and it will save you plenty of time and money in the long run. Good luck, once you get the gardening bug you won't look back.
    Reply:fluffernut has a great answer but i highly recommend peat moss It will help loosen your clay soil Compost and manure is also great. without a soil test it is hard to guess but you will probably need some lime Pellitized lime works fast but don't last but about 6 months 8-24-24 is a good fertilize for your veggies then use a water soluble fertilize like miracle grow by the directions. when you spread your granule 8-24-24 sprinkle it on your soil like your salting your food not to much THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS MULCH. for your veggies and flowers it saves you water and time dealing with weeds weeds can be such a nuisance that you may think its not worth it but if you mulch good it can take alot of work out of it and you can enjoy the results
    Reply:I highly recommend you to read this. It helps you somehow rather for new garden starter. A Complete Home vegetable Gardening Guide.
    Reply:Try visiting www.burpee.com, they have the zones and times for planting and can give you a lot of information on how to do this.


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  • Which are the best frothy flowered umbeliferous plants to grow in a UK garden?

    and is one of them in particular best for attracting insects or are they all equally good for that purpose.

    Which are the best frothy flowered umbeliferous plants to grow in a UK garden?
    Not all umbeliferous, but all have lovely frothy white flowers - Gypsophila, cassiope 'Edinburgh', Primula Denticulata var. Alba, Prunus lusitanica subsp. Azorica, Smilacina Racemosa, Syringa Vulgaris 'Madame Lemoine', Aruncus Dioicus, Crambe Cordifolia, Hesperis Matronalis var. Albiflora, Iberis Amara, Rodgersia Aesculifolia, Epilobium Angustifolium var. Album, Lobularia Maritima 'Little Dorrit', Nicotiana Sylvestris Reseda Odorata, Anaphalis Triplinervis and Hebe Pinguifolia 'Paget'. (Thanks for the exercise :-))
    Reply:Queen Anne's Lace will fit the bill.


    What are you planning in planting in your garden this summer?

    we're going to plant flowers in front of our retaining wall and probably some tulips and other annuals. i want to plant hydragna bushes and more lilac bushes. i just want to plant a variety of flowers. and i'm gonna get a ton of flowers to plant in pots and planters. it's going to be really pretty and summery.

    so what are you going to plant in your garden this year???

    What are you planning in planting in your garden this summer?
    Well so far i've planted:



    *Veggies:



    5 Tomato plants.. 2 in the ground, one in a pot with a tomato cage, and two "upside down tomatos" in hanging pots, with Marigolds on top.



    *Shade garden:



    Golden Tiara Hostas, Whirlwind Hostas, 2 red Azaleas, one pink Azalea, Pothos, Impatiens



    *Front garden:



    Already had my red climbing Rose, 3 Hostas (Patriot?), and 2 Clematis... Added 2 Azalea, 4 Geranium... Planning to add Allysum near base of Rose.



    *New garden along side of porch:



    Already had climbing yellow Rose... Added pink Splash (Polka dot plant), petunias, 3 Hostas, Pansies, Azalea, Lavendar, Echinachea/Purple Conflower...



    Also have strawberries, blackberries, Irises, ferns, Pink Rose, 2 White Rose trees, 2 rock gardens (with Marigolds, Iceplant, Spike Dracena, Moss Rose), Creeping Phlox...



    In my Spring garden, I had Tulips, Hyacinths and Daffodils.



    To be planted:



    Cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers (bell and Habanero), corn, watermelon, cantaloupe, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, carrots, beans, etc..



    Rosa RADrazz Knock Out Rose, Crape Myrtle, 2 Golden Barberries, Painted Lady Hibiscus,. Birchwood Parky's Gold Hosta, Blue Elgans Hostas, Godetia, Petunias, Marigolds, Impatiens, another Strawberry plant, Columbine, Zinnia, Chamomile, Feverfew, Mint, Lemon Balm, and soooooo many others.... I guess I will be busy. lol



    I have to work on my second shade garden today, and a new garden for my new Rose and some others. Soooooo...... I guess I had better be getting off this computer soon, and get started!! rofl =)



    ..What about you. What are you planting?
    Reply:lol You're welcome. =P Report It
    Reply:I already planted everything except 2 sweet breath of heaven that are waiting for hubby to dig the holes. I planted thyme, basil, oregano, tomato, peppers, spearmint, parsley, fennel in the food garden. In the window boxes I planted, geraniums, petunia, vinca, and some hens and chicks. In the hanging baskets I planted, petunia, geranium, spider plant, sedum, ivy and impatients. In the beds, I planted freesia, columbine, upright fushia, hydrangea, boston fern, rose of sharon, oleander, dwarf peter pans, jasmine, begonia, peony, aloe and a jade plant. I probably won't stop there, though, everytime I go to the home improvement store I come home with at least 5-10 more plants.
    Reply:I went to our local Green house and spent $98.00.I bough 6 green pepper plants.3 Lg tomato plants,6 cucumber plants,Mush melon and honey dew plants.Corn,green beans,peas,turnips,radishes,carrots,Onio...

    with foods and gas prices the way they are I am going to try and can and freeze all I can.I am thinking of making salsa this year and Spaghetti sauce.I always freeze my Onion and green peppers.I am also going to buy a dehydrator.I did buy a few flowers and My Kids and Husband Bought me a Beautiful flower for Mothers Day that is very Lg and will come up every year.
    Reply:Don't have one right now. (boo hoo) I live in an apartment. But the balcony is as full as I can get it with pots. A bamboo I dug up on the side of a road, a miniature banana tree, poinsetia left over from Christmas, I even grow herbs and cherry tomatos and have a grape vine started. Don't know how I'm gonna handle that when it gets big!
    Reply:Tomatos, cucumbers, onions, radishes, bell peppers. All I have to do is buy the lettuce and have lots of salads.
    Reply:grass, no time to garden this year!!


    Could perennial flowers be considered a type of "groundcover"?

    I am just trying to clarify for myself the different categories of plants in designing a garden.



    I pretty much have catergorized as thus:



    1. Deciduous Trees

    a. Lawn Trees

    b. Flowering Ornamental Trees

    2. Evergreen Trees/shrubs

    3. Deciduous Shrubs

    a. Flowering

    b. Non- flowering

    4. Decidous Groundcover

    a. Flowering

    b. Nonflowering

    5. Evergreen Groundcover

    6. Vines



    I am trying to decide if i can leave it at this or should i make seperate categories for "perennials" like flowers. But I think that flowers are used as "groundcovers" arent they?

    Could perennial flowers be considered a type of "groundcover"?
    I can see why you're confused. The important point here is that in garden design, the plants must be classified by function, not by type. There are as many ways of classifying plants as there are designers but to get you going, try feature, focal point, groundcover, climber/wall shrub, structural, filler, do you see what I mean? classify them by function ie what they are doing for your design. Now as to perennial flowers, try to refer to 'perennial plants' or 'flowering plants'. A flower is part of a plant not a plant as such. The only plant with a perennial flower is an artificial one. Flowering plants can be used for all sorts of design purposes.
    Reply:Yes, imo. There are low plants such as woodruff and crown vetch that are low to the ground and spread. However, there are also high profile perennials as well... so it would be better to list them separately, but keep in mind that their use could be for ground cover or vine-like as well.



    You didn't list annuals or bi-annuals in your list.



    In planning a garden, you also need to break it down to

    shade, partial sun and full sun. Keep in mind, just about

    all trees 'flower'.



    Also groundcover is different than flowers. Groundcover is normally used to cover areas where you don't want grass.

    short junipers, vines and even mulch is considered a ground

    cover.



    When planning your garden, first consider the amount of sun

    and the sun's direction during the day during the growing season. Then plan on your tree placement, as you don't want

    the trees' shade to fall on the beds that require full sun. Then

    work with your flower bed arrangements. Take in consideration

    also the type of soil you have and what growing range you

    are located.



    Have fun!

    inline skates

    What type of flowers should a VERY novice "gardener" start with?

    I know zilch about gardening, but I'd like to plant and grow some flowers -- the kind that are for cutting, so I can have fresh flowers available to put in my home or give to others whenever I like. The more colorful and the larger variety, the better! What should I begin with?



    I live in central Florida -- figured my geographic location would be helpful. :)



    Thanks!

    What type of flowers should a VERY novice "gardener" start with?
    You're in a great "planting zone" there, and looks like you are off on a grand adventure!

    When I first started growing cutting flower gardens, I bought plants at a nursery. Gerber, pansies, petunias, marigold. Once I had more experience I started growing them from seed, which is an adventure all it's own! Naturally it's much cheaper to buy seed packets than pots or flats, and there are many which you can direct sow, rather than start in little flats.

    Marigolds, for instance. If you get the packet, make sure they are not a dwarf variety, for a cutting garden.

    Cosmos, a beautiful graceful bloomer...place it at the back of the garden, as it gets rather tall.

    I, too, bought a small box of wildflowers from my local superstore, for a buck. This is the first year I've had any success with that.

    Pansies and petunias are really easy to grow, but they are not great for cut flowers. You'll want something rather taller and more robust.

    Snapdragons, celosia, dianthus, dill, statice, zinnia, yarrow, aster, zinnias, are some I've really enjoyed.

    Here is a website that gives quite an extensive list of both annuals and perennials that are perfect for cutting gardens:
    Reply:There are some very showy flowers that you can grow inFlorida that are easy to work with.



    This amaryllis bears eye-catching, red single blooms with a sparkling velvety sheen. The increasingly popular African strain produces huge, beautiful flowers on shorter, sturdier stems.



    Despite the funereal connotations of the white Calla Lily this spectacular flower should find a home in almost every Florida garden.



    The Dahlberg daisy is a wonderful little daisy-like flower for the spring and summer garden.



    Daylilly flowers can provide a wide variety of forms and color to your garden. The species, and older and newer cultivars produce flowers that may be triangular, circular, double, star-shaped, or spider-shaped.



    The list goes on and on.
    Reply:petunias or bleeding hearts, hostas are great in a garden, some even flower, and they are easy to grow. petunias want full son, and so do bleeding hearts, they like lots of water too. hostas like partial sun, if you get a blue hosta, they dont like much sun at all, the blue leaves will fade and lose their glossy.
    Reply:Bulbs of any kind work well. The iceplant would be very good for you and also petunia work well also. Good luck.
    Reply:My favorite are the Pelargoniums, commonly known as geraniums. They come in a lot of different varieties and are very easy to grow. They have some that have very fragrent leaves, and some that hang like ivy. It's usually pretty easy to grow them from clippings too. Just keep them very wet until they take root. You'll really enjoy collecting all different types!
    Reply:You can get a mix of flowers for sun or shade, most can be used for cutting. You might try "straw flowers" they are fun and keep blooming into fall.



    Beards Tongue is very pretty perennial, it will spread and blooms alot and come back every year. Great cut flower!



    Lambs ear pretty much grow themselves and look awesome with flower cuttings. Super easy %26amp; Great background to any garden.



    Lavendar is very easy to grow and smells wonderful, there are many varieties, try the "butterfly" one, it continually blooms from May - Sept. Trim it back in the fall and it should triple in size within 2 years.



    Marigolds are easy to grow. Sunflowers you can get different sizes %26amp; types, they take virtually no care other than water %26amp; sun. They look fun in cut flower boquets.



    Have fun!
    Reply:zinnias are beautiful and colorful, cut flowers, they are drought

    tolerant and grow in sun.....
    Reply:have a rose bush
    Reply:Marigolds and pansies are very hardy and easy to take care of. I would go with those for your first time. The only thing you need to remember about most flowering plants is they need LOTS of water constantly!! Good luck!!
    Reply:I'd go with Sun Flowers. They grow well in Texas at least and they come in different sizes.
    Reply:start with bedding plants
    Reply:Last year my son ,age 6, decided he wanted a flower garden. We got a box of wildflowers( for sunny locations). I have never seen such a pretty garden. Once it started growing it didn't stop. We threw in some sunflowers also. The wild flowers come back every year.


    How can I stop flower boxes from being stolen in the front garden?

    I have a ground floor flat which is pretty close to the pavement and I want to put up some flower boxes on the window ledge. How can I stop them from being stolen?

    How can I stop flower boxes from being stolen in the front garden?
    maybe try a cheap survalance camera once a couple people get turned in i'm sure it would stop
    Reply:put a sign on them saying please steal these.people hate being told what to do.
    Reply:Sorry to here of your loss of windox boxes that gives yourself and others pleasure.



    Sad as it is to say think you would have to screw them down adn maybe plants also that are not as freindly with thorns.:) Hope you have better luck.
    Reply:Concrete, or big bolts. Unfortunately, there's always going to be some idiot who will steal this kind of thing - and the worse bit is, they won't do it to feed a drug habit, or even buy food. If they do get knicked, you'll probably find them in pieces at the end of the road.
    Reply:It wont be very easy to stop sneak thieves,the best advice I can give is tell the law and get a neighbourhood watch.
    Reply:plant some cactus and nettles
    Reply:A small motion light that goes on when someone gets close, have it shine on a sign that reads "stealing plants is bad Karma". Plant prickly plants around it, and/or place cardboard covered with honey around the flower box with a skull and crossbones signifying poison. It's probably the same people who think it's a fun prank, and have no idea how much your plants mean to you. Hopefully you'll be rid of them.
    Reply:Mount a phony camera with a sign saying I'm watching you now thief!
    Reply:Put them in the back garden!!
    Reply:You could put something "gross feeling" like vaseline on the sides. They wouldn't likely proceed with picking the flower box up once they realized it was covered with an unknown slippery substance.
    Reply:Fix a bracket and screw them in place.
    Reply:Plant land mines.
    Reply:screw them down
    Reply:Just give up and emigrate to Spain. There the people respect and appreciate window boxes and plants outside your home. Here, well, there's not respect for anything.
    Reply:Bolt them if possible or put blocks or someting very heavy in the bottom so that they would be difficult to carry



    Good Luck


  • pimple
  • How can I stop flower boxes from being stolen in the front garden?

    I have a ground floor flat which is pretty close to the pavement and I want to put up some flower boxes on the window ledge. How can I stop them from being stolen?

    How can I stop flower boxes from being stolen in the front garden?
    Carpet gripper rod on the bottoms. Ouch! Probably not legal, but the swines should not be stealing your boxes.
    Reply:wowwww, thats an issue? wow. put thorny climbing tea roses in it...let them drape over the sides... attach a string to it that pulls a lever some where that sounds like a pack of vicious dogs coming at them when they move it. ummmm... put a sign on it... "please watch and if someone other than ... and then describe yourself, touches this box, please ring doorbell immediatly".
    Reply:Use Rawl-bolt fixings(available most DIY stores),and bolt through the bottom of the box into the ledge.Put distance packers under the box to enable drainage
    Reply:the problem is what ever you do,if someone wants them bad enough they will find a way of gettting them.
    Reply:Screw them to the window sill with masonary screws.
    Reply:Glue them to the window ledge somehow? Or maybe buy some brackets so that you can fix them onto the wall?
    Reply:Put something really really heavy in the bottom so that they are hard to pick up, then get some brackets to fix them down somehow.
    Reply:make them full of live electricity!
    Reply:bolt them to the ledge through the bottom


    Do you know any thing easy and likable to put in a garden??

    my dad is taking cars that have been in our backyard for years,especially a green pontiac grand am! my mom said that she was going to plant a garden if my dad doesn't put any more cars in the empty spots.





    No,it's not flowers.it's vegetables



    and have something besides lettuce and greens because my dad can't eat leafy green vegetables for a while and

    plz don't say carrots.

    Do you know any thing easy and likable to put in a garden??
    Cucumbers %26amp; bush beans!
    Reply:There are several plants that you cant grow here are a few:



    Tomatoes

    eggplant

    cucumbers

    onions

    squash

    zucchini

    cantaloupe

    watermelon

    radish

    beans

    Kohl Rabbi (sp)

    peppers



    Here is a link with a lot of diff vegetables.... you might even grow some and sell them at the farmers market! People are always looking to buy fresh over store bought. Good Luck!
    Reply:Zucchini and squash are pretty hardy veggies. So are green beans, turnips, and radishes. If you don't have a yard fence, put some chicken wire around the garden to protect it from critters.
    Reply:Tomatoes.Carrots are hard to grow. Try some watermelon, pumpkin and canteloupe, they spread and take up a lot of space.

    Curves VC workout

    What kind Flower in your garden?

    rosebushes, coneflowers, daylilies, daffodils, butterfly bushes, crape myrtle, peonies, iris, flag iris, tall phlox, cosmos, sunflowers, clematis, bachelor buttons, morning glories, touch me nots, monarda aka bee balm, monkey grass, zennias, moon flowers, texas blue bonnet, canna's, asiatic lilies, liatris, butterfly weed, gladiolus, honey suckle, oriiential lilies, vinca vine, coral bells, hostas bone set and a few others that i cannot think of their names at the moment...



    not all are currently out but will be as soon as the danger of frost is done until this fall which will be about 2 weeks

    What kind Flower in your garden?
    i have mostly perennials like peonies, lilies, and violets. but I will plant some marigolds and other annuals in between
    Reply:in mi cant plant yet we do have tulips
    Reply:tulips and lillies


    Does a cats excrement damage garden plantings??

    I'm always disgusted when I find a piece of cats poop

    in my hand when tending my garden. Should I always rake it out or can it be spaded in and not damage

    vegetable gardens or flower beds?

    Does a cats excrement damage garden plantings??
    Not a good idea at all for vegetable gardens. Probably not as bad for flower beds.
    Reply:no

    it is actualy good for the garden


    Fort Worth Botanical Garden?

    where can I find a list of trees and flowers for this garden? Their website doesn't have a lot of information about the plants.

    Fort Worth Botanical Garden?
    This site gives a list of what's in bloom:

    http://www.fwbg.org/whats_in_bloom.htm



    There are several rose gardens, a perennial garden, a fragrance garden, a Japanese garden, a trial garden, a Texas native forest, a water conservation garden, %26amp; a waterwise garden which includes agave, Texas sage, salvia greggii, Mexican Bush sage, red yucca and Esparanza.



    A four seasons garden includes hundreds of varieties of iris, daylily, and chrysanthemum:

    http://www.fwbg.org/four_seasons.htm



    Luxuriant tropical foliage fills the 10,000 square foot Conservatory, which features orchids, bromeliads and exotic trees from around the world:

    http://www.fwbg.org/conservatory.htm



    Click on the photos for a 360 view of each garden:

    http://www.fwbg.org/gardens.htm

    http://www.fwbg.org/index2.htm



    A forum about the various types of roses in the Forth Worth Botanical garden:

    http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load...



    Sorry, I couldn't find a complete list of flowers %26amp; trees in the Forth Worth Botanical gardens. That would be a great help if someone would compile one %26amp; post it. Since their trial garden is always testing new plants to see how they adapt to the area, I believe that that type of list would be constantly changing %26amp; would have to be updated often.



    Good luck!!!
    Reply:Wow, that is a broad question.



    I am sure they have a listing of all the plants that are grown...but I can't imagine someone taking the time to put it on the website.



    Probably best if you bring a pen and paper when you visit and write down the names of the plants you desire.



    Like the other poster said, there are many different gardens within the Botanical Garden (the Conservatory is my favorite area) and all of them have hundreds of plants.


  • ink cartridge
  • Do you usually buy your plants/flowers from places like Home Depot or a local, smaller place?

    I have found that places like Home Depot or Wal-Mart usually have the best prices, and since I have owned my home (and garden, yeah!) that is where I have been getting my plants and flowers from. But sometimes, I drive by one of those smaller, farmer type stores, and think I should go in just to see what they have, but I'm usually in too much of a hurry to do it. But from what I see from their displays outside, some of their stuff really looks top quality.



    Although, with a little Miracle Gro, anything can look pretty good, right? ;-)

    Do you usually buy your plants/flowers from places like Home Depot or a local, smaller place?
    Local nurseries tend to carry varieties of plants that do better locally. The super mega barn stores just buy whatever is cheapest. If it doedn't grow in your area, oh well.... I found this out through experience. In 40 years of gardening I never planted a tree that died. Never. Then we moved and I bought half a dozen trees from Wally World. Every one of them died! But those I got locally are still going strong. How much did I "save" by purchasing from WalMart?
    Reply:I like to shop at the local mom/pop stores because they have a green house. They grow their own plants.

    I also like the plants at Meijer's. There is always a good selection at a good price.



    I have never bought any thing from Lowe's or Home Depot.

    We purchased our two maple trees from a local wholesale nursery. We got a good deal and they planted the trees for a good price.



    Happy Gardening.
    Reply:Like most have said already....best to stick with Mom/Pop when it comes to purchasing your plants. The local grown plants simply hold up much better and If I'm going to shell out the funds on a plant I want it to make it! I tend to plant perennials that come back year after year and my success with the local nursery is far superior to WalMart or Lowes or Home Depot who sell forced plants. You're choice however but for me I'll stick with my local guys. Besides, they are really nice and friendly and usually I walk out with at least one free plant each season!
    Reply:I would definitely go to a local nursery or garden center that specializes in plants only!! When I was taking my plant disease courses, I'd always go to those home improvement stores to find plant diseases, cause they're usually riddled with disease, insects, or wilting, or they look really bad. That is where we always went to find diseases on plants. Those places tend to be less interested in taking care of their plants because they only have to pay for the plants they sell. (Why do you think they have a warranty on their plants!)



    The local garden center, Ma %26amp; Pop's are the best place to go. They are the people that know about the plants they are growing (not saying that people at Lowes don't know). Plus they may grow the plants there and do not ship them in from larger nurseries. To me, a Ma %26amp; Pop store is more reputible and they normally have more to choose from!



    I have bought plants at Lowes and from the Ma %26amp; Pop places. I always get sad in the big chain stores becasue of all the wilting or dead plants I see. There's always somebody doing something to plants at the Ma %26amp; Pop places!



    When you do purchase plants, no matter where you get them, it is always good practice to do a mini inspection for diseases or insects. If you see something that doesn't look right, don't buy it!
    Reply:I do buy some plants at Lowe's or Home Depot, but most I buy at small Mom and Pop nurseries. The smaller places usually have better, healthier stock. They are usually buying their stock from smaller growers who spend more time caring for the plants than for mass producing plants. However, Lowe's, and probably Home Depot, have a One Year money back guarantee if you keep your receipt. So there are pluses to that too.
    Reply:Home Depot/Lowe's and even Walmart as plants go on sale or off season. Home Depot has the best warranty if you keep your receipt and your plant dies within the first year they will refund or give you another. Happy Gardening
    Reply:The best thing about the home depot is that your plants a guaranteed for a full year and they are brought in by well known nurseries
    Reply:I usually stay away from Walmart when it comes to plants.....just found they have poor quality where we live. Lowe's is good to get them from.....however, I still LOVE going to our local nursery. We get the best quality plants from them.
    Reply:we always go to wal-mart first and get the basics, like herbs and petunias and supplies. then we go to the "farmer -type" stores for more of the decorating and specialty plants.
    Reply:Only Lowes and one nursery have healthy looking plants in my area. I'm with you about miracle gro. I've nursed many a dead looking stick to a beautiful plant with a little MG juice. m
    Reply:I would suggest supporting the nurseries that grow plants organically and sell native plants. That's what I do. You'll get plants that will last longer and handle the weather shifts better.
    Reply:Absolutely have no desire to shop at Wally Mart. I have found unusual plants at our local nurseries and the people that work there are really knowledgeable on caring for the plants. Costco offers plants at reasonable prices, so that's where I go to aside from our local nurseries. The Home Depots and Lowes have lots of plants, but their personnel sometimes fail to water the plants and I see a lot of wilting plants, what a waste!
    Reply:The problem I found with plants is that they have been "forced" to grow to a certain size and maturity stage in large commercial greenhouses under ideal conditions. You buy those, plant them out in your garden, and they go into some sort of deep shock. After all, they are living things, too....

    I buy my "cheap stuff" like annuals in supermarkets, because of the price, and I don't become too depressed when they don't make it, or turn out as weaklings.

    But for expensive plants, like trees and perennials, I make sure they have been grown by a smaller nursery, and LOCALLY. That somewhat increases their chance of survival.

    roller blades

    Tell me how to keep my cats from going to the bathroom in my flower garden. thank you Lady?

    Add in a few chili pepper plants to your flower garden. Cats hate the scent and will avoid the area. chili pepper plants are also great just in the vibrance of color.

    Tell me how to keep my cats from going to the bathroom in my flower garden. thank you Lady?
    I have used gravel%26amp;sheet mulch/landscape fabric with much success. It's a little more work, but more effective than plainbark mulch (more costly and harder work as you have to spread it out in spring and rake/store gravel it in the late fall).



    Also make sure to peg a cover over the garden with either sheet mulch or landscape fabric or cats and critters will dig / deposit.
    Reply:kitty litter
    Reply:Get a hungry dog.


    How to start a garden inside the house?

    I would like some details on the following:



    How do you start a small garden inside the house

    - What do you need

    Whats good to grow

    -What kind of flowers

    -What kind of herbs

    Any tricks to get them to grown nicely

    How to start a garden inside the house?
    It is difficult to grow herbs indoors unless you have a light that is hung over the area just for the plants. The aero grow garden works well but it is a little expensive. You just need enough light and ventilation. Most florescent lights are enough if kept within a foot or so above the plants. Some good indoor gardening tips can be found at http://www.ourgardensource.com
    Reply:The inside of a house is not the right environment to grow most flowers and herbs as they need an all round light exsposuer.



    Where as house plants are more of the forest or jungle type plants that can stand a lower light level
    Reply:google "how to grow weed indoors". that should do it, ya crazy stoner. basically you need enough soil: usually 12" by 12", enough light, and proper ventilation. those are just the essentials however, supplemental ingredients for the soil help tremendously.


    Do you think people like garden in city?

    1-Do you think people like garden in city?

    2-Do you think the garden should be runned by government?

    3-If you have children,do you want them to live in city or country?

    4-If you have a private garden what would you want wo plant?sth to eat or sth to look?

    5-why some elderly people like to plant flowers?

    Do you think people like garden in city?
    people like to garden in cities

    The farms are not usual from the government.

    If i had children id live them to be in a city

    i will plant my favorite roses everywhere and it will give my house a good look.

    old people plant Flowers because its very easy for them and they love it.



    Can you rate me answer please.
    Reply:Of course...

    City love gardens....

    ^^


    How can I stop flower boxes from being stolen in the front garden?

    I have a ground floor flat which is pretty close to the pavement and I want to put up some flower boxes on the window ledge. How can I stop them from being stolen?

    How can I stop flower boxes from being stolen in the front garden?
    Carpet gripper rod on the bottoms. Ouch! Probably not legal, but the swines should not be stealing your boxes.
    Reply:wowwww, thats an issue? wow. put thorny climbing tea roses in it...let them drape over the sides... attach a string to it that pulls a lever some where that sounds like a pack of vicious dogs coming at them when they move it. ummmm... put a sign on it... "please watch and if someone other than ... and then describe yourself, touches this box, please ring doorbell immediatly".
    Reply:Use Rawl-bolt fixings(available most DIY stores),and bolt through the bottom of the box into the ledge.Put distance packers under the box to enable drainage
    Reply:the problem is what ever you do,if someone wants them bad enough they will find a way of gettting them.
    Reply:Screw them to the window sill with masonary screws.
    Reply:Glue them to the window ledge somehow? Or maybe buy some brackets so that you can fix them onto the wall?
    Reply:Put something really really heavy in the bottom so that they are hard to pick up, then get some brackets to fix them down somehow.
    Reply:make them full of live electricity!
    Reply:bolt them to the ledge through the bottom

    buckles
  • remedy blackheads
  • What kind Flower in your garden?

    rosebushes, coneflowers, daylilies, daffodils, butterfly bushes, crape myrtle, peonies, iris, flag iris, tall phlox, cosmos, sunflowers, clematis, bachelor buttons, morning glories, touch me nots, monarda aka bee balm, monkey grass, zennias, moon flowers, texas blue bonnet, canna's, asiatic lilies, liatris, butterfly weed, gladiolus, honey suckle, oriiential lilies, vinca vine, coral bells, hostas bone set and a few others that i cannot think of their names at the moment...



    not all are currently out but will be as soon as the danger of frost is done until this fall which will be about 2 weeks

    What kind Flower in your garden?
    i have mostly perennials like peonies, lilies, and violets. but I will plant some marigolds and other annuals in between
    Reply:in mi cant plant yet we do have tulips
    Reply:tulips and lillies


    Does a cats excrement damage garden plantings??

    I'm always disgusted when I find a piece of cats poop

    in my hand when tending my garden. Should I always rake it out or can it be spaded in and not damage

    vegetable gardens or flower beds?

    Does a cats excrement damage garden plantings??
    Not a good idea at all for vegetable gardens. Probably not as bad for flower beds.
    Reply:no

    it is actualy good for the garden


    Do you usually buy your plants/flowers from places like Home Depot or a local, smaller place?

    I have found that places like Home Depot or Wal-Mart usually have the best prices, and since I have owned my home (and garden, yeah!) that is where I have been getting my plants and flowers from. But sometimes, I drive by one of those smaller, farmer type stores, and think I should go in just to see what they have, but I'm usually in too much of a hurry to do it. But from what I see from their displays outside, some of their stuff really looks top quality.



    Although, with a little Miracle Gro, anything can look pretty good, right? ;-)

    Do you usually buy your plants/flowers from places like Home Depot or a local, smaller place?
    Local nurseries tend to carry varieties of plants that do better locally. The super mega barn stores just buy whatever is cheapest. If it doedn't grow in your area, oh well.... I found this out through experience. In 40 years of gardening I never planted a tree that died. Never. Then we moved and I bought half a dozen trees from Wally World. Every one of them died! But those I got locally are still going strong. How much did I "save" by purchasing from WalMart?
    Reply:I like to shop at the local mom/pop stores because they have a green house. They grow their own plants.

    I also like the plants at Meijer's. There is always a good selection at a good price.



    I have never bought any thing from Lowe's or Home Depot.

    We purchased our two maple trees from a local wholesale nursery. We got a good deal and they planted the trees for a good price.



    Happy Gardening.
    Reply:Like most have said already....best to stick with Mom/Pop when it comes to purchasing your plants. The local grown plants simply hold up much better and If I'm going to shell out the funds on a plant I want it to make it! I tend to plant perennials that come back year after year and my success with the local nursery is far superior to WalMart or Lowes or Home Depot who sell forced plants. You're choice however but for me I'll stick with my local guys. Besides, they are really nice and friendly and usually I walk out with at least one free plant each season!
    Reply:I would definitely go to a local nursery or garden center that specializes in plants only!! When I was taking my plant disease courses, I'd always go to those home improvement stores to find plant diseases, cause they're usually riddled with disease, insects, or wilting, or they look really bad. That is where we always went to find diseases on plants. Those places tend to be less interested in taking care of their plants because they only have to pay for the plants they sell. (Why do you think they have a warranty on their plants!)



    The local garden center, Ma %26amp; Pop's are the best place to go. They are the people that know about the plants they are growing (not saying that people at Lowes don't know). Plus they may grow the plants there and do not ship them in from larger nurseries. To me, a Ma %26amp; Pop store is more reputible and they normally have more to choose from!



    I have bought plants at Lowes and from the Ma %26amp; Pop places. I always get sad in the big chain stores becasue of all the wilting or dead plants I see. There's always somebody doing something to plants at the Ma %26amp; Pop places!



    When you do purchase plants, no matter where you get them, it is always good practice to do a mini inspection for diseases or insects. If you see something that doesn't look right, don't buy it!
    Reply:I do buy some plants at Lowe's or Home Depot, but most I buy at small Mom and Pop nurseries. The smaller places usually have better, healthier stock. They are usually buying their stock from smaller growers who spend more time caring for the plants than for mass producing plants. However, Lowe's, and probably Home Depot, have a One Year money back guarantee if you keep your receipt. So there are pluses to that too.
    Reply:Home Depot/Lowe's and even Walmart as plants go on sale or off season. Home Depot has the best warranty if you keep your receipt and your plant dies within the first year they will refund or give you another. Happy Gardening
    Reply:The best thing about the home depot is that your plants a guaranteed for a full year and they are brought in by well known nurseries
    Reply:I usually stay away from Walmart when it comes to plants.....just found they have poor quality where we live. Lowe's is good to get them from.....however, I still LOVE going to our local nursery. We get the best quality plants from them.
    Reply:we always go to wal-mart first and get the basics, like herbs and petunias and supplies. then we go to the "farmer -type" stores for more of the decorating and specialty plants.
    Reply:Only Lowes and one nursery have healthy looking plants in my area. I'm with you about miracle gro. I've nursed many a dead looking stick to a beautiful plant with a little MG juice. m
    Reply:I would suggest supporting the nurseries that grow plants organically and sell native plants. That's what I do. You'll get plants that will last longer and handle the weather shifts better.
    Reply:Absolutely have no desire to shop at Wally Mart. I have found unusual plants at our local nurseries and the people that work there are really knowledgeable on caring for the plants. Costco offers plants at reasonable prices, so that's where I go to aside from our local nurseries. The Home Depots and Lowes have lots of plants, but their personnel sometimes fail to water the plants and I see a lot of wilting plants, what a waste!
    Reply:The problem I found with plants is that they have been "forced" to grow to a certain size and maturity stage in large commercial greenhouses under ideal conditions. You buy those, plant them out in your garden, and they go into some sort of deep shock. After all, they are living things, too....

    I buy my "cheap stuff" like annuals in supermarkets, because of the price, and I don't become too depressed when they don't make it, or turn out as weaklings.

    But for expensive plants, like trees and perennials, I make sure they have been grown by a smaller nursery, and LOCALLY. That somewhat increases their chance of survival.


    Tell me how to keep my cats from going to the bathroom in my flower garden. thank you Lady?

    Add in a few chili pepper plants to your flower garden. Cats hate the scent and will avoid the area. chili pepper plants are also great just in the vibrance of color.

    Tell me how to keep my cats from going to the bathroom in my flower garden. thank you Lady?
    I have used gravel%26amp;sheet mulch/landscape fabric with much success. It's a little more work, but more effective than plainbark mulch (more costly and harder work as you have to spread it out in spring and rake/store gravel it in the late fall).



    Also make sure to peg a cover over the garden with either sheet mulch or landscape fabric or cats and critters will dig / deposit.
    Reply:kitty litter
    Reply:Get a hungry dog.

    roller blades

    How to start a garden inside the house?

    I would like some details on the following:



    How do you start a small garden inside the house

    - What do you need

    Whats good to grow

    -What kind of flowers

    -What kind of herbs

    Any tricks to get them to grown nicely

    How to start a garden inside the house?
    It is difficult to grow herbs indoors unless you have a light that is hung over the area just for the plants. The aero grow garden works well but it is a little expensive. You just need enough light and ventilation. Most florescent lights are enough if kept within a foot or so above the plants. Some good indoor gardening tips can be found at http://www.ourgardensource.com
    Reply:The inside of a house is not the right environment to grow most flowers and herbs as they need an all round light exsposuer.



    Where as house plants are more of the forest or jungle type plants that can stand a lower light level
    Reply:google "how to grow weed indoors". that should do it, ya crazy stoner. basically you need enough soil: usually 12" by 12", enough light, and proper ventilation. those are just the essentials however, supplemental ingredients for the soil help tremendously.


  • facial
  • Do you think people like garden in city?

    1-Do you think people like garden in city?

    2-Do you think the garden should be runned by government?

    3-If you have children,do you want them to live in city or country?

    4-If you have a private garden what would you want wo plant?sth to eat or sth to look?

    5-why some elderly people like to plant flowers?

    Do you think people like garden in city?
    people like to garden in cities

    The farms are not usual from the government.

    If i had children id live them to be in a city

    i will plant my favorite roses everywhere and it will give my house a good look.

    old people plant Flowers because its very easy for them and they love it.



    Can you rate me answer please.
    Reply:Of course...

    City love gardens....

    ^^

    Broken Teeth

    Good Plants for full sun garden in North Carolina?

    I want lots of color in my front garden, but it is in full sun all day. I am going to plant some knock out shrub roses and I have a row of hawthorne in the back, it has small white flowers in May. What kind of flowering plants can I put in the garden for good bursts of color throughout the season. I prefer to have good perennial plants and then plant an annual border each year. This year we have snap dragons and petunias as a border, but it is a very large planting bed and we need more color.

    Good Plants for full sun garden in North Carolina?
    I love day lilies- they are cheap multiply like crazy and require little care. They come in so many different varieties that it is easy to pick some you like.

    the link below is to easy to grow bulbs. I got some Lillie's from them last year and was very pleased:

    http://www.easytogrowbulbs.com/

    Also perennial:

    Shasta daisy, really easy likes the sun

    Russian sage- purple likes the heat

    In the annual category:

    Salvias are also nice in full sun. I am a big fan of the annual red salvia you purchase at Lowe's.

    Dusty miller is nice as an accent and takes no care.

    Marigolds and geraniums are pretty bright.



    Just some ideas, I always have fun just looking at the online gardening sites to get ideas. Happy planting, Spring is here
    Reply:Wave petunias will add a TREMENDOUS amount of color and are large and showy.. Vincas are a good choice in sun as well. Marigolds will do nicely as well, Mexican heather.. All have nice color and will take the sun.
    Reply:a couple of my favorite full sun perrennials are Russian sage a very large,blue spiky plant that starts blooming around the middle of july very fragrant,monardia or bee balm another taller perrennial that blooms in reds,pinks purple and white again another great smelling perrennial,gallardia or blanklet flower comes in reds yellows and oranges these are about 2 feet tall and once they start blooming they bloom until frost,and my very favorite are perrennial asters again taller plants that start blooming around the end of july and bloom until frost they are always covered with flowers and there are many colors to choose from if you need more ideas check out wayside gardens that's a site that can really give you plenty of ideas. Good luck!


    My gardinia is putting out to many little flowers and is looking scragly.?

    my gardinia used to put out nice flowers about the size of a tangerine in diameter but since the storm is putting out hundreds of very small flowers and is looking kind of scragley.it seems to have to much of something.i'm not sure what but i need to fix it.does anyone know what might help.the woman next door had put rabbit food pellets in her garden before the storm and alot of them ended up in mine could this be it?and if so how do i fix it?

    My gardinia is putting out to many little flowers and is looking scragly.?
    Rabbits pellets shouldn't be a problem. I'm not certain depending on what kind they use. If there was a storm a lot things get mixed up in the rain water that can wash in your garden. Try nitrogen and potassium based fertilizers.


    How to install blocks for flower garden?

    I assume you are talking about the blocks for a retaining wall? I am in the process of doing that for a hillside garden. Check out the website a Lowes.com and look up patio blocks and pavers. They have a project calculator and full instructions as to installation.


    I'm looking for some really unusual and eye catching flowers to plant which will bloom in the heat of summer.

    I'd like to have blooms in late July and August. My flower garden seems to peter out after spring and early summer. Any Ideas?

    I'm looking for some really unusual and eye catching flowers to plant which will bloom in the heat of summer.
    You didn't say what your gardening zone is. I'm a zone 6a and some of my gardens most unique blooms are in the fall. I have turtlehead, monkshood,toadlilies and great blue lobelia. Also, the tall candlelabra type blooms of snakeroot is awesome. All but the toadlily are native plants.
    Reply:red hot pokers are vivid and unusual looking also canna lilys bloom up til frost and are a great addition for late summer blooms. i've seen red, orange and yellow ones. hummingbirds love the red ones. late summer is a good time for mums and annuals such as marigolds and zinnias
    Reply:Russian Sage

    Coreopsis

    Echinacea

    Leucanthemum

    Gallardia
    Reply:My two favorites are nasturtium and hibiscus. Hibiscus comes in a few varieties. When I checked my local greenhouse they had shrub, tree and tropical varieties. I advise you to check into flowers that grow best in tropical climates. You want something that grows best in the heat of the summer. Impatients bloom like crazy at this time but they are not very unusual. Although you can get them in a variety of brilliant colors.
    Reply:I have a nice stand of dahlias that are really coming on nicely as are the galdiolos and the canas. This is the first year I tried hibiscus. The plants are getting big but no blossoms yet.



    Good luck with your choice.
    Reply:Black-eyed Susan (perennial). Zinnias (short or tall). Cosmos. Marigolds. Cleome. Hibiscus.

    safety shoes
  • bloom-
  • Best way to get rid of blue bells in my garden?

    I have dug up a large patch of my lawn last year to get rid of them, this year, they have spread to another area of the lawn. I love the different colours of flowers -blue/white/pink but I like my lawn to be grass. I do not use any chemical in my garden. So is digging the only way?

    Best way to get rid of blue bells in my garden?
    Why would you want to get rid of them.

    Herbicides will kill just about everything and leave you with an ugly bare or brown patch of crud.



    So you have two choices that are environmentally sound.



    Leave 'em be. What's so great about grass anyway? Just a pest. I got rid of all my grass and replaced with creeping sedum and patches of Blue-eyed grass in the Iris family which is a lot prettier than boring old grass and NEVER needs mowing. I know another bright fellow tired of the American lawn stupidity and replaced ALL of his stupid grass with Creeping Myrtle with its purple flowers. A lot saner, and better.



    There is a place for grass. In pastures and in football or baseball fields.



    Lawns with nothing but grass are for retards that just must enjoy noisy and bothersome perpetual mowing. Maybe it is for a good cause, probably the only exercize these fat couch potatoes will ever get.


    Planting a garden in michigan?

    This spring, I am going to be planting a garden around my house. We have an old Michigan basement, and was told that by planting flowers and plants around the house, we could decrease the amount of moisture that comes into our basement.



    So my question is, what types of plants, flowering plants, and flowers are good at absorbing a lot of moisture and would do well in Michigan? I want the kind that will bloom every year because I don't want to have to replant everything. Any tips or advice on growing these plants and flowers would be helpful too as I've never planted a thing in my life before. Thanks!

    Planting a garden in michigan?
    Plants absorb moisture in the air. Shrubs like the crab apple, evergreens. For flowering plants to add color to the garden, consider the annuals because the perennials such as daffodils, peony, tulips should have been planted during fall and bloom each spring (no need to replant yearly). Rose, a flowering perennial can also be grown in spring.



    You can also decorate the basement with ornamental plants to also decrease moisture in the basement since plants absorb moisture. Select the plants that thrive under low lighting condition. Examples are the amaryllis (enjoy the taste of spring indoors), chinese evegreen (low maintenance and a humidifier), to name a few.



    For more information, you may also like to google out "plants to grown in spring", "indoor plants" or refer to http://home.ivillage.com/gardening/picks...

    and www.bhg.com for garden designs and ideas.



    Happy spring gardening!
    Reply:You are asking alot of different situations in one.



    My concern is moisture in basement first., second you want to purchase perennial flower plants, not annual plants.



    I live in MI. If I had your knowledge and concerns I would contact a landscaping co. for an consultation. You have several months to research perennial plants in all our local book store, and pick out and copy what interests you.



    Sometimes, what you plant around your home can hinder and create more moisture inside than eliminate it, also check with a local basement co. for a free estimate.



    You have all this time, make good use of it.



    good luck to you.


    If your garden contained no shockingly repellent flowers, would you be horrified if you suddenly gruesome?

    That's a blooming idea that was planted and tended to with care.



    I believe any idea of such a thing happening needs to be seeded correctly, so "rows" of problems don't...photosynthesize.

    If your garden contained no shockingly repellent flowers, would you be horrified if you suddenly gruesome?
    We ed be totally out of our tree, but we would get to the root of the problem and shoot the culprit!
    Reply:Oh, indubitably.
    Reply:I would be.......hahahahaha
    Reply:Nope, all kinds of weird stuff pops up here
    Reply:Yes, I'd be Daffodillied!


    Which outdoor plants and flowers are the easiest and hardiest to grow in the uk?

    I have a city garden and am yet to fill it with any plants or flowers. I am looking for the easiest pot plants to grow. Mainly to add a bit of colour and soften the look. Please help. POTS only as no beds

    Which outdoor plants and flowers are the easiest and hardiest to grow in the uk?
    Being a landscape gardener I can tell you that they are probably hundreds of plant that would go well in pot. What I suggest you do is visit you local garden centre/nursery and see what they have got.

    But don’t make the mistake that a lot of people do, that is visit it and by all the plants at once, garden centres tend to only have plant that look good at the present time e.g. July. So lets say you have room for twelve plant and you buy all twelve together, then your garden will look good in July but the rest of the year mediocre. So go once every month and by one plant, that way you will have something interesting all year round.

    Suggestion: Olives (Olea europaea) are becoming popular as patio/terrace plants they do well in pot and their silvery leaves make them look good all year round.
    Reply:Most of my plants are in pots in my garden as i have yet to landscape it as ive just moved into the property and the best plants are:

    Geraniums, very hardy

    lilies,they are a bulb

    anything dwarf like african daisies

    fushias
    Reply:The U.K. has a wide variety of climatic conditions (zones). Consult the R.H.S. Encyclopedia of Garden Plants (at your local library). This will advise as to hardiness of plants for your garden.

    internet explorer

    What are some good flowers to plant for a new "gardener"?

    I want to plant some colorful flowers outside---but I have never gardened and I need something that will pretty much be taken care of by the sun and rain. Any ideas?

    What are some good flowers to plant for a new "gardener"?
    Marigolds and 4 O'Clocks are pretty easy to care for. I have seen 4 O'Clocks grown in some pretty rocky, poor soil.

    Marigolds don't need much water and the deer don't seem to eat them either.



    Have fun with your garden!
    Reply:Zinnias are good. There drought tolerant so thy dont need much water, although water wont harm em. They love the sun, but will take a little shade. Dollar stores usually sell a mix of colors and there 4 for a dollar so you wont waste much money on seeds. There pretty much fool proof. Just keep the ground moist till they grow a few sets of leaves, after that they just need water once a week, or if it rains often where you are maybe no water at all
    Reply:clown face pansies, they are my favorite!
    Reply:Calendula officinalis.

    California poppy
    Reply:Sorry, can't help you without knowing what region you are and what climate you have.
    Reply:Self-seeding annuals are particularly attractive: They sow themselves, giving gardeners a terrific return on their investment. Shirley poppies (Papaver rhoeas) pop up in pale pinks, roses and chiffon-thin whites, bloom for about a month and leave decorative little seed heads that pepper beds with next year's crop. If you sow Danish Flag poppies (they have clear red flowers) and interplant both types with blue bachelor's buttons, you'll have everything you need for patriotic Fourth of July bouquets.



    Other self-seeders that extend the season until frost: love-in-a-mist (Nigella), which has pale blue flowers followed by ornate seed pods, and three-foot-tall pink or white cleomes, spider flowers, which have weirdly wonderful flying-green-bean seed pods.

    White-flowering tobacco (both Nicotiana alata and N. sylvestris) releases an intoxicating fragrance into the night. Plant plenty (N. alata grows about three feet tall, N. sylvestris about four) in beds and borders and under the bedroom window. Sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus), an old-fashioned perfumer make lovely house bouquets. These will get ratty after spring.

    Try hot-colored calendulas (yellows, golds and oranges) or the 'Lemon Gem' marigold, a finer-than-ordinary variety with small single yellow flowers and ferny lemon-scented foliage. A mix of zinnias in vibrant pinks, reds, oranges and yellows will make your garden look like a Frida Kahlo painting. Star Hybrid zinnias make mounds of blooms to soften border edges. Also experiment with wild, vine like magenta Petunia integrifolia by allowing it to scamper through manly maroon perilla, which looks like big purple basil.

    Madness Series petunias or 'Purple Wave' (named an All-America Selections winner petunia) blooms all summer without being pinched back. Purple was the first color of the series, but now you can buy pink, lavender, lilac, and blue versions as well.

    Easy Wave Series; they grow 8 to 10 inches tall and about 3 feet wide. But it's the new Tidal Wave Series that has me foaming at the mouth. Their 2-inch blooms just shrug off summer showers without missing a beat. 'Tidal Wave Silver,' noted for its silvery-white petals and dark purple centers, can even survive some winters in Alabama gardens and bloom through a second summer.



    Hybrid Millifloras, a new class of dwarf petunias. Forming mounds 6 to 8 inches high and wide, they need no pinching to keep blooming. Small 1- to 1 1/2-inch flowers come in every color except yellow. Fantasy Series are perfect for containers and hanging baskets.

    Supertunia and Surfinia Series. Used in beds, they grow practically flat; they're wonderful cascaders when planted in containers. Both come in a full range of colors and never require pinching.



    Other Annuals For Sun

    lantana: particularly lavender popcorn

    coleus: The foliage is as colorful as any flower and several new ones are bred for the sun. Older versions prefer shade.

    melampodium: cheerful, bright green foliage and is profusely covered with 1-inch yellow, daisy-like flowers sporting darker centers, dappled shade in the south

    persian shield: large silver viened plum leaves

    salvia: old-fashioned blue 'Victoria' salvia.

    larkspur: poor man's self seeding delphinium
    Reply:try going to hgtv.com. They have all the gardening %26amp; landscaping shows on cable. Great plans, tips, pics %26amp; care info on what's best for your area.


  • cosmetics
  • Why did our brussel sprouts plant just turn into yellow flowers?

    we love growing stuff we can eat so last year we planted some brussel sprouts for the 1st timw, all we have are lovely yellow flowers though, which ive left growing in the garden , but what went wrong

    Why did our brussel sprouts plant just turn into yellow flowers?
    Maybe you planted the wrong seeds?
    Reply:the plants start with flowers like many vegetables, and then turn to the vegetable after the flowers have pollinated.

    Don't get rid of the flowers because then you won't get any crops.
    Reply:What happened was, I stole your brussels! Yummy!! You have to plant them every year, even if your seeds said perennial, they are not really. They only get brussels the first year, and only the flowers the next, and then they sometimes fade out. If you wait till next year you might get some brussels back, but then you'll still get them only every other year. And that's IF the flowers are good seeders. Not always the case :o(. I'd plant them every year, or 2 years in a row every 2 years.
    Reply:They are biennial. That is, they gow one year for produce brussells and the second year they flower/go to seed. Cabbage is the same way. You need to replant each year.
    Reply:Briefly,the plants have gone to seed.Brussels sprout seedlings should be planted about now,to produce sprouts in the autumn.

    They need planting very firmly and the soil should contain lime.

    Last season was cold and wet,maybe the plants never got properly established.

    It's advisable to remove and destroy the old plants,which will be harbouring pests and diseases like club root.
    Reply:You most probarbly didnt give them enough water lol
    Reply:Brussels sprouts are a challenge to grow. You need perfect conditions and maybe some luck as well. When you buy brussels sprout plants, they are often already stunted, and will not produce.
    Reply:are they not a bit like strawberries, when its in flower then they grow into strawberries.


    I want to put mulch on my garden to prevent weeds?

    My father planted bulbs that come up every Spring. And every year my garden gets run amuck with weeds. I want to put down some tarp and then some that red chipped mulch to keep the weeds from growing. Do I have to pull up the bulbs to do that? and how can I if the flowers bloomed already?

    I want to put mulch on my garden to prevent weeds?
    My personal favorite for weed barrier is newspaper! Not the shiny ad stuff but the plain old regular newspaper! Lay a thick layer (7-8 sheets) over the area, water well with the hose, apply your mulch and water that in well also. The watering makes the newspaper stay down till you can get the mulch on it and watering the mulch makes the 2 bond together.



    The spring bulbs will poke their way up through. We look for "lumps" coming up in the spring and go give them a helping hand by peeling back the newspaper. The newspaper will last a couple of years and add organic material to your soil without shutting off the air and water like the tarps and fabrics do. And you are recycling!!!!



    I would rethink the red mulch though......it's colored with dye. Just get the normal stuff, better for the environment and you both!
    Reply:Any covering on the ground such as weed mat, tarp etc is unsuccessful and horticulturists don't use weed mat anymore.

    It doesn't let enough water/ light through to encourage good plant growth. The surrounding soil goes rock hard and the plants roots grow stunted and only where the small holes are.



    Even if you put down chips etc the weeds eventually grow in the top because they are dropped by birds or blown by wind.



    Consider planting a ground cover over the bulbs, eventually the weeds have no bare earth to grow in and maintenance is virtually nil. It also allows you to fertilize the bulbs. A good ground cover for bulbs is Veronica 'Oxford Blue'. There would be others you just don't want them to be so thick they don't let the bulbs grow through.
    Reply:No you don't have to pull up the bulbs. All you have to do is cut out a little hole about 4 inchs in diam. to let the plant grow up. If you know where they bloomed, just put little sticks or somethign so you know where they are when they die down, cut a hole for them and then cover the landscape fabric with the mulch.



    Good luck


    Can you name me some low maintenance flowers that I can use in my garden?

    I want something that I can just plant, forget about but admire how gorgeous it looks.

    Can you name me some low maintenance flowers that I can use in my garden?
    Some lovely french lavender, some beautiful fuschias and some pretty anstibe (not sure about the spelling of that one)! They are all easy to maintain, will spread in your flower beds and come up every year! xx
    Reply:Tulips and lilies grow from bulbs %26amp; come back year after year. Azaleas have loads of flowers around May, are evergreen + slow growing so won't take over the garden.
    Reply:Pansies, impatience, begonia and miniature carnations, all you have to do with them is plant and dead head them once in a while.
    Reply:if your not too worried about colour what about shrubs some flower some don't but all they need it a quick snip x
    Reply:weeds...
    Reply:Sunflowers, Marigolds, Pansies, Safe-flowers,Carnations, miniature roses, Daisey's. Hope that helped best wishes on your garden.
    Reply:Daisies and dandelions!!
    Reply:French Marigolds,they multiply and look really lovely mixed in with some Winter pansies.
    Reply:wee the beds aka dandilions!

    bad credit loan

    How do you get rid of decorative ivy in your garden?

    I moved into my condo two years ago. I love to garden. Unfortunately, the previous owners took the easy way and planted an ivy ground cover. I spent all of last summer digging it up. In just a few days, it would poke its ugly head up through the soil again, even in places that I was sure I had gotten it all. I have many lovely flowers and I am afraid that I will kill them if I try to spray weed killer. Does weed killer even work on ivy? Are there any other hints for ridding my garden of this "creeping" pest?

    How do you get rid of decorative ivy in your garden?
    Every time it pokes it's little head up paint it with RoundUp. Don't spray the RoundUp or you will take a chance on killing other plants. Just take a little paint brush and really paint the sprouts. You will kill the ivy and nothing else in your garden. I have to do this in my flowerbed for weeds that sprout..
    Reply:put a layer of weed barrier down, cut out ares where your flowers are, the add a thick layer of mulch over it. it should smother out the ivy without killing the flowers. This has worked for us.
    Reply:Ivy is very hard to get rid of but it can be done you will lose all that you planted but till the ground and rake ALL the debris out and then amend the soil by add your favorite compost mine is cow manure and then next year let it set and the ivy should not come back, well it didnt when we did it
    Reply:Burn them....moo hoo ha ha ha ha. just kidding, I would say go to your local florist or green house and see what they recommend.
    Reply:you need Weed and Brush killer...and then wait 6-8 weeks to plant anything else...I would being in new soil for that...
    Reply:I had the same problem when I bought my home 5 yrs. ago.I am sorry to say it still comes back.I dug it up several times to remove as many roots as I could and finally gave up.I put up a wire cage like a trellis and it now covers it like a little gazebo.The rest I let grow long enough to get a good hold on it and rip it out.I found cutting it off ground level only caused it to get thicker.eg 2+2=4 4+4=8 and so on.There is a product out there that when you spray just on the plant it will kill the roots.But ivy is pretty tough.Good luck! If you can't get rid of it you have to love it
    Reply:You have to pull it up, by hand, by the roots.


    What are some good flowers to plant for a new "gardener"?

    I want to plant some colorful flowers outside---but I have never gardened and I need something that will pretty much be taken care of by the sun and rain. Any ideas?

    What are some good flowers to plant for a new "gardener"?
    Marigolds and 4 O'Clocks are pretty easy to care for. I have seen 4 O'Clocks grown in some pretty rocky, poor soil.

    Marigolds don't need much water and the deer don't seem to eat them either.



    Have fun with your garden!
    Reply:Zinnias are good. There drought tolerant so thy dont need much water, although water wont harm em. They love the sun, but will take a little shade. Dollar stores usually sell a mix of colors and there 4 for a dollar so you wont waste much money on seeds. There pretty much fool proof. Just keep the ground moist till they grow a few sets of leaves, after that they just need water once a week, or if it rains often where you are maybe no water at all
    Reply:clown face pansies, they are my favorite!
    Reply:Calendula officinalis.

    California poppy
    Reply:Sorry, can't help you without knowing what region you are and what climate you have.
    Reply:Self-seeding annuals are particularly attractive: They sow themselves, giving gardeners a terrific return on their investment. Shirley poppies (Papaver rhoeas) pop up in pale pinks, roses and chiffon-thin whites, bloom for about a month and leave decorative little seed heads that pepper beds with next year's crop. If you sow Danish Flag poppies (they have clear red flowers) and interplant both types with blue bachelor's buttons, you'll have everything you need for patriotic Fourth of July bouquets.



    Other self-seeders that extend the season until frost: love-in-a-mist (Nigella), which has pale blue flowers followed by ornate seed pods, and three-foot-tall pink or white cleomes, spider flowers, which have weirdly wonderful flying-green-bean seed pods.

    White-flowering tobacco (both Nicotiana alata and N. sylvestris) releases an intoxicating fragrance into the night. Plant plenty (N. alata grows about three feet tall, N. sylvestris about four) in beds and borders and under the bedroom window. Sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus), an old-fashioned perfumer make lovely house bouquets. These will get ratty after spring.

    Try hot-colored calendulas (yellows, golds and oranges) or the 'Lemon Gem' marigold, a finer-than-ordinary variety with small single yellow flowers and ferny lemon-scented foliage. A mix of zinnias in vibrant pinks, reds, oranges and yellows will make your garden look like a Frida Kahlo painting. Star Hybrid zinnias make mounds of blooms to soften border edges. Also experiment with wild, vine like magenta Petunia integrifolia by allowing it to scamper through manly maroon perilla, which looks like big purple basil.

    Madness Series petunias or 'Purple Wave' (named an All-America Selections winner petunia) blooms all summer without being pinched back. Purple was the first color of the series, but now you can buy pink, lavender, lilac, and blue versions as well.

    Easy Wave Series; they grow 8 to 10 inches tall and about 3 feet wide. But it's the new Tidal Wave Series that has me foaming at the mouth. Their 2-inch blooms just shrug off summer showers without missing a beat. 'Tidal Wave Silver,' noted for its silvery-white petals and dark purple centers, can even survive some winters in Alabama gardens and bloom through a second summer.



    Hybrid Millifloras, a new class of dwarf petunias. Forming mounds 6 to 8 inches high and wide, they need no pinching to keep blooming. Small 1- to 1 1/2-inch flowers come in every color except yellow. Fantasy Series are perfect for containers and hanging baskets.

    Supertunia and Surfinia Series. Used in beds, they grow practically flat; they're wonderful cascaders when planted in containers. Both come in a full range of colors and never require pinching.



    Other Annuals For Sun

    lantana: particularly lavender popcorn

    coleus: The foliage is as colorful as any flower and several new ones are bred for the sun. Older versions prefer shade.

    melampodium: cheerful, bright green foliage and is profusely covered with 1-inch yellow, daisy-like flowers sporting darker centers, dappled shade in the south

    persian shield: large silver viened plum leaves

    salvia: old-fashioned blue 'Victoria' salvia.

    larkspur: poor man's self seeding delphinium
    Reply:try going to hgtv.com. They have all the gardening %26amp; landscaping shows on cable. Great plans, tips, pics %26amp; care info on what's best for your area.


  • highlight
  • Why did our brussel sprouts plant just turn into yellow flowers?

    we love growing stuff we can eat so last year we planted some brussel sprouts for the 1st timw, all we have are lovely yellow flowers though, which ive left growing in the garden , but what went wrong

    Why did our brussel sprouts plant just turn into yellow flowers?
    They are biennial. That is, they gow one year for produce brussells and the second year they flower/go to seed. Cabbage is the same way. You need to replant each year.
    Reply:You most probarbly didnt give them enough water lol
    Reply:the plants start with flowers like many vegetables, and then turn to the vegetable after the flowers have pollinated.

    Don't get rid of the flowers because then you won't get any crops.
    Reply:Maybe you planted the wrong seeds?
    Reply:What happened was, I stole your brussels! Yummy!! You have to plant them every year, even if your seeds said perennial, they are not really. They only get brussels the first year, and only the flowers the next, and then they sometimes fade out. If you wait till next year you might get some brussels back, but then you'll still get them only every other year. And that's IF the flowers are good seeders. Not always the case :o(. I'd plant them every year, or 2 years in a row every 2 years.
    Reply:are they not a bit like strawberries, when its in flower then they grow into strawberries.
    Reply:Brussels sprouts are a challenge to grow. You need perfect conditions and maybe some luck as well. When you buy brussels sprout plants, they are often already stunted, and will not produce.
    Reply:Briefly,the plants have gone to seed.Brussels sprout seedlings should be planted about now,to produce sprouts in the autumn.

    They need planting very firmly and the soil should contain lime.

    Last season was cold and wet,maybe the plants never got properly established.

    It's advisable to remove and destroy the old plants,which will be harbouring pests and diseases like club root.