Planning and Laying Out a Flower Garden

A flower garden adds a great deal of variety and beauty to the landscape. Many people find that laying out flower gardens is a very rewarding task. And, while it is possible to create a very attractive flower garden without planning it out first, it is much more efficient, in the way of saving time and money, to make a plan for what you would like in your flower garden, and to have an idea of where you might like some of the different flowers. Then when you are ready to lay the garden out, you have a pretty good idea of what to do, and you are not bothered with having to re-arrange things to account for something that you may not have realized before.

The first order of business to determine when planning out your flower garden is how many annuals and how many perennials you want. Annuals last only one growing season, and therefore have to be replanted each year. Perennials appear yearly on their own. If you have all annuals, you can change your garden layout as you wish every year, and with perennials you have the same layout (unless you wish to transplant all of your flowers). However, it is possible to have a combination of the two, keeping the perennials where they are each year and varying the charm of the flower garden with a few different annuals in different placement.

Next, you should determine where you will likely place your flowers, taking into consideration the comparative heights of the plants, what time of the year they bloom, and what colors you will use. These things all contribute to an aesthetically pleasing look to your flower garden — one that implies order and beauty rather than looking ill-planned with some plants looking wildly out of place. Also to take into consideration when planning your flower garden: climate and sun exposure. Make sure that all of the plant you choose for your garden will flourish in your region, and that your garden is placed in a location that will allow the flowers to receive a proper amount of light.

After you have determined what will go in your garden, it is time to prepare the flowerbed. You should mark of the dimensions of your proposed garden carefully. Using a garden hose to mark the boundaries is advisable, as it is heavy and will stay in place, but it also provides the flexibility needed to tweak the proposed shape of your garden. After you have determined on your boundaries, you need to strip the enclosed area down to the topsoil. This can be done using a shovel for smaller gardens and a sod cutter for the larger sections.

After getting down to the topsoil, you should loosen the dirt by prying up a section with a shovel and then turning over the dirt. This loosens the soil and provides a good place for flower roots to establish themselves. You can make improvements to the soil but adding organic materials such as peat moss, mulch, compost, or manure. You should probably also roto-till the area to better mix the soil amendments in with the original soil. Next, use a rake to smooth out the soil without packing it down. Create your border with plastic edging, concrete, stones, or by digging around the edges, angling the soil down and creating a gap between flower garden and lawn.

After you have prepared the bed for the garden, acquire the flowers you would like to use. Seeds are less expensive, but you will not be able to see the final result until they spring up. If you purchase flowers in containers, set the containers, with their plants, in the places in the garden that they will inhabit. Then you can get an idea of what the garden will look like. If you need to move the flowers around for greater attractiveness, it is simply a matter of moving the pot around until the garden looks as you wish it to. After you have settled that everything is in place, begin removing the flowers from their containers and placing them in the ground, beginning from the back and working up toward the front.

A GARDEN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

You can have the most elaborated back yard from the entire neighborhood, but if it isn't functional you have built it in vain. We all want to have beautiful and flourishing gardens, but when we have a family, we must also take into consideration the needs of the other members of it. Divide the space of your yard in two or three visual spaces, one for play and relaxation, one for gardening and maybe one for pets.

An open space, covered by lawn is ideal for your children. Here you can install a table for open air lunches or for a romantic summer evening dinner.
Do you have a fireplace? Keep a portion of your garden especially for depositing fire woods, but make sure it is at a considerable distance from the house or animals that can cause damage.

How about pets? You can build for these little members of your family special spaces, in which they can play and exercise. Before you plant bushes and ornamental plants, surround the pet space. Cats and dogs tend to be attracted exactly by the things we try to keep them away from.
Keep the by-passers' eyes away from your personal life. Before planning the scenery, you must have in sight a place for the garbage cans. It wouldn't be very nice to have a wonderful garden right next to the garbage cans. These can be efficiently hidden in some kind of surrounded space, decorated on the sides with life fence.

Functionality is an important factor in your garden, so you have to think about children, little pets and family assets before you plant anything. Save a portion of the yard especially for you, in which you can plant whatever you want and leave for the others some space to breathe freely.

You will find it more satisfying this way, once the whole family is happy with your garden and they might even bring their personal ideas for it. It is important that personal space is respected and that is why the garden must not be very wide, taking up all available space. Build from time to time a pathway or some benches where you can just relax and admire your work.

Lilies for the garden

Lilies are one of the most striking and beautiful plants in the garden, and most gardeners will work with these beautiful plants at least once or twice in their lives. Lilies can add beauty and drama to any garden, and they are very popular flowers for indoor display as well. Lilies are popular in many contexts, from giving a beautiful contrast to a winter rock garden, to providing a beautiful accent to surrounding shrubs and trees.

No matter how the lily is displayed, and whether it is enjoyed indoors or out, there are some important things to know about these wonderful plants. This article focuses on some of the most frequently asked questions about choosing, planting, caring for and enjoying lilies.

When should I plant my lilies?

The best time to plant lilies is in either the spring or fall of the year. Regardless of the time of year, however, it is important to get the bulbs in the ground as soon as possible after purchasing them. Unlike many other types of bulbs, lily bulbs do not store well.

What is the difference between a daylily and a garden lily?
The plant known to gardeners as the garden lily is grown from a bulb, but the plant known as the daylily actually grows from a corm. In addition, the daylily contains many leaves that grow from the corm, but the garden lily contains only one shoot that contains leaves. That shoot grows directly from the bulb.

How deep should lily bulbs be planted?

The general rule of thumb for many types of bulbs, including lily bulbs, is to plant them three times as deep as the bulbs are wide. For instance, a two inch wide lily bulb would be planted to a depth of six inches In addition, lilies should be planted in groups for the best effect when they bloom. It is a good idea to dig a hole to the proper depth, then plant several bulbs together in that hole.

How do I propagate lilies?

Garden lilies are best propagated through breaking off a few of their scales in the spring or fall and planting them approximately one inch deep. Daylilies can be propagated by dividing the corms and planting them. In addition, some lilies will produce bulbils, which may appear to be black or dark green seeds. These bulbils are found at the point at which the lily leaf meets the stem. Even though these bulbils are not really seeds, they can be planted, and they will emerge within two or three years of planting.

Should I cut back my lily after it has finished blooming?
After the lily has bloomed, it is best to remove only the stem itself. That is because garden lilies will continue to feed off their foliage, and lilies that are left to die off naturally tend to grow better the next year. On the other hand, daylilies usually bloom for longer periods of time. The blooming season of daylilies can be extended if the gardener deadheads the blooms and cuts back the stems. After the blooming season is over, the foliage on the daylily should be allowed to die back naturally.

Can Easter lilies be planted outside?
Many people are interested in planting their Easter lilies outside, and it is fine to attempt that. The main problem with Easter lilies is that they do not bloom naturally at Easter time. Easter lilies are actually forced to bloom at that time of year by the florist. This forced blooming can make it harder for the lily to grow properly once it is transplanted.

If you plan to transplant your Easter lily after you have enjoyed it outside, the following steps will help increase your chances of its survival.
 Plant the lily in a sunny spot using well drained soil
 Use a good, high quality planting mix
 Plant the bulbs three inches under the surface of the soil and also place an additional three inches of soil on the top
 Allow enough space for the lily to spread its roots
 Water the newly transplanted lily thoroughly

Using fungicides to prevent and treat common plant and flower diseases

Gardening is a wonderful, relaxing hobby for many people, and it continues to top surveys of favorite leisure activities. Most of the time a garden provides a soothing, relaxing environment, and healthy, attractive plants. As with any living thing, however, flowers and plants are prone to a number of diseases and pest infestations. It is important to use commercial fungicides properly to banish disease from your garden.

Simply paying attention to the condition of the plants in your garden may be the best way to keep disease outbreaks at bay. After you have been gardening for awhile, you will develop a feel for what is normal, and that will make it much easier to spot any outbreaks before they spread throughout the garden.

In addition, simply keeping the plants in top condition is a great way to prevent disease. Just as healthier people are better able to fight off infection, so too are healthier plants. The better the condition of your plants, the more they will be able to fight off disease.

Even the healthiest plants, however, sometimes succumb to disease, so it is important to be on the lookout for the first signs of problems so that they can be treated promptly. Symptoms like holes in the leaves, black spots, white spots and wounded stems can be signs of trouble. If you notice any of these conditions, it is important to diagnose and treat the affected plants as quickly as possible. This is because an outbreak of disease, or a pest infestation, can quickly spread throughout the garden.

Many of the most common diseases of flowers and plants are fungal diseases, and these diseases are best treated with a high quality synthetic fungicide. There are a great many fungicides on the market, and we are providing a list of some of the most popular and well known fungicides. If you are unsure of the nature of your plant disease, it is important to seek the help of the staff at your local garden center, or consult with a more experienced gardener.

It is important to note that the fungicide Chlorothalonil slowly dissipates with time, but the other fungicides on this list are systemic. Their systemic nature means that once they are applied to the plant, they are absorbed into the foliage and the root system. A systemic fungicide works to prevent and cure infection from within the plant itself. Because of this property, it is important never to use a systemic fungicide on plants intended for food.

Some of the most commonly used fungicides are:

Chlorothalonil (Daconil) – Chlorothalonil is a multipurpose fungicide with is used to prevent and treat common fungal diseases which affect lawns, fruits, vegetables as well as many ornamental and flowering plants.

Theiophanate-methyl – Thelophanate-methyl is a systemic fungicide that is effective in treating many common plant diseases, including powdery mildew and black spot.

Triadiemefon (Bayleton) – Triadiemefon is a systemic fungicide which is usually used to prevent and treat powdery mildew and rust. It is also effective against some lawn diseases.

Triforine (Funginex) – Triforine is a systemic fungicide used to treat and prevent common fungal diseases such as rust, black spot and powdery mildew. It has also proven effective against some other diseases of both flowering and non-flowering plants.

When working with any chemical, including systemic and non-systemic fungicides, it is vital to follow the direction carefully and to use the minimum effective amount. Pay particular attention to any warnings on the label, and dispose of any unused product carefully. It is important to wear protective clothing, such as a breathing mask, goggles and gloves for protection while applying any fungicide.

The importance of proper soil chemistry to a healthy garden

Trying to grow healthy, vibrant flowers without proper soil chemistry is definitely a case of putting the cart before the horse. Good soil is the cornerstone of successful gardening, and it is important to make sure that your soil will meet the needs of your plants before the first seed is planted.

While soil chemistry is important no matter what types of plants or flowers you grow, it is particularly critical when it comes to working with bulbs, perennials or other plants that remain in the ground for more than one season. The reason is that the chemistry of the soil can change from year to year.

Therefore, if a formerly well blooming patch of the garden is looking a bit haggard, the first place to look is at the condition of the soil. Erosion, overuse of pesticides and fertilizers and a number of other factors can impact the quality of the soil, so it is important to test the soil if you suspect a problem.

Of course the soil should be tested anytime a new flower bed is prepared as well. It would be a mistake to assume that the soil chemistry is the same everywhere on your property, since the makeup of different patches of soil can be markedly different, due to past use, chemicals or residue in the ground, etc.

It is a good idea to have a thorough soil analysis done prior to planting a bed of flowers. Most major cities have several laboratories that do soil testing, so be sure to contact such a lab to have the soil analyzed for pH level, and for levels of important plant nutrients. If you are unsure where to get the soil tested, be sure to ask the staff at your local nursery or garden center for a recommendation.

After the present condition of the soil is known, you will be in a much better position to know how to amend the soil and make the changes that are needed. Once you know the pH level, the level of organic material in the soil, the amount of clay, amount of sand, etc., you will be able to choose the right additives to provide your plants with what they need to thrive.

The pH level of the soil can be a particularly critical factor when deciding what types of plants will work best. Most varieties of annuals, perennials and bulbs will grow well in a wide range of soil pH, but some plants have specific needs, and prefer soils that are either very alkaline or very acidic. If your pH range is outside the norm, or if it needs to be amended, there are a number of ways to accomplish this goal. For instance, limestone can be used to make acidic soil more alkaline, while sulfur is often used to make very alkaline soil more acidic. A pH level that is out of balance can also be helped by adding humus. This rich soil can be created at home by using a compost bin, or it can be purchased ready made from a garden center or nursery.

After you know the baseline content of your flower bed, it will be easier to track chemistry changes from year to year, and to make amendments as needed. The more you know about the quality of your soil, the more confident you can be that the plants you buy will thrive in your home garden.

The first flowers of spring

One of the most thrilling sights for any gardener, from the newest to the most experienced, is the first spring flowers peeking up through the last snow of winter. Spring flowers have long been seen as a sign of new life, and gardeners certainly enjoy seeing these beautiful harbingers of warmer weather.

Whether it is the tiny, delicate blossoms of the snowdrop, the delicate petals of the econite or the subtle beauty of the Irish reticulate, it is hard to beat the beauty of spring flowers. These first delicate blossoms of spring are a sign that the long days of winter are finally over, and that it is time to look forward to warmer weather. Even the most jaded gardeners continue to be excited by the sight of the earliest blossoms making their way through the last snow of winter.

The well named snowdrop is one of the most beloved, and most popular types of flowers for early spring. These delicate blossoms are breathtaking to behold. The common snowdrop, scientific name Galanthus nivalis, features small, delicate blossoms, while the giant snowdrop, known to scientists as the Galanthus elwesil, features striking large early spring blooms.

The Iris reticulate is another favorite early spring bloom. This bulb is one of the most striking flowers in the world of gardening, and it is highly prized for its beauty. The Iris reticulate originally came from the high mountain areas of Western Asia, and it does well in cold climates. The Iris reticulate does best in a well drained bed containing coarse sand or grit.

When caring for an Iris reticulate, it is important not to over water the plant, since this can cause severe damage to the bulb. This plant comes in a wide variety of colors, ranging from a pale amethyst to a deep, dark purple. In addition, the Iris reticulate has been thoroughly hybridized, and a wide variety of hybrid colors, including solids, speckles, stripes and splotches are available as well.

In addition to these somewhat common early spring blooms, there are rarer varieties as well. One of the rarest of late winter and early spring bulbs is the Adonis vernalis. The Adonis appears to be a delicate plant, but it is able to make its way through the snows of late winter to provide a beautiful bloom in March. The Adonis has a beautiful yellow bloom, and it makes a wonderful companion to any landscape. The Adonis can be used anywhere, but it makes a particularly good addition to a winter rock garden.

No matter which types of late winter or early spring blooming flowers you choose, you will be rewarded with beautiful color in your garden as the last days of winter give way to the first days of spring.