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Growing gardenias.

27 Jun

Gardenia plants are difficult, but if you understand the needs of them, you can grow them indoors or outdoors, depending on the climate. As a houseplant, they seem to wither most of the time. With proper care, you can grow beautiful and fragrant shrubs successfully all year around.

The Gardenia originated in China and Japan and when grown in the southern gardening zones 9 and 10, can be grown up to six feet tall depending on the species. When you planting gardenias, consider the east or west side of your home. Be sure that the soil is well drained and has a pH of 4.5 to 5.5. Preferred temperatures range from 68 to 74 degrees with a low of 60 at night. Add peat moss, which will help it retain moisture without allowing it to get too wet.

Gardenias like humidity, but misting the leaves could spell out problems as the water can lead to fugus on the leaves. Be sure also that the plants are not too close together, as a lack of airflow will also lead to growth of fungus. If you are planting them indoors, be sure that the top soil is dry, using your finger, then soak with water. All water in the catch tray should be drained.

April through November, you should fertilize the plants monthly. Use a fertilizer for azaleas. Prune the Gardenia plants right after the flowers stop blooming. This will encourage new growth and more frequent blooming.

When planting them outdoors, dig a hole twice the size of the root ball. Be sure that the top of the root ball is slightly above the soil’s surface. Eliminate air when covering the root ball, then water thoroughly.

There are more than 200 species of gardenias, some of which are believed to have medicinal properties. However, please do not consume any part of the plant without speaking with an expert. The most common gardenia types are:

• Gardenia Jasminoides–This is the most common type of gardenia, which gets up to two feet tall. It is named for its fragrance which reminds some of jasmine.
• Gardenia Thunbergia–Also known as Star Gardenia, this can be grown as a tree or a shrub and gets to be about four feet tall.
• Gardenia Nitida–This species gets up to three feet tall and produces white flowers.
• Gardenia Radicans Floreplena–This is a Japanese dwarf variety that gets to about 18 inches and produces double blooms.

The best way to protect any plant from pests is to keep it healthy and prevent over-crowding. Other common causes of insect problems include allowing too much moisture to sit on the leaves and not maintaining the proper temperature and moisture levels. Keeping gardenias in the proper conditions goes a long way toward protecting them from common pests.

The number one thing to remember about gardenias is, if you are patient you will be rewarded.

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Posted in Basic Gardening, Garden Watering

Choosing grass for your lawn.

20 May

How to Grow Ornamental Grass From Seed – Courtesy of GardenGuides.com

Choosing grass for your yard is a very important task. The grass you choose needs to fit your landscape maintenance plans as well as have the ability to thrive. You may choose to lay sod or seed or you may choose ornamental grass.

First, choose where you will lay the grass and remember that you be sure that you can efficiently water and care for the lawn. Lawn grass works better in larger square areas, which makes it easier to water and mow.

You will want to consider doing a soil analysis to do soil conditions. You can increase the chances of having a successful lawn by choosing grass sod or seed compatible with the soil that you have in place. Also, consider the climate of the location you live in before you choose the grass you want to plant. Bermuda grass and St. Augustine work well in hot climates, Kentucky bluegrass is popular but does not do well in drought conditions. Then hardy zoysia grass, buffalo grass and centipede grass are good for locations that don’t see much water.

Ornamental grass is not good for using as the lawn. They grow taller and look more distinctive and needs less maintenance. Some ornamental grasses do well in dry soil while others require more moisture.

You need to consider how long the grass will grow and remember that the willows and other large grasses do work well in small areas. In a large area you can look at planting fewer different types of grasses. Ornamental grasses should be planted in large patches of color and/or texture which can contrast nicely with other portions of landscape.

Another thing that you will want to consider is your budget for your lawn. Each grass is different when it comes to lawn care, will you do it yourself or will you hire a lawn care company to work in your yard.

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Posted in Basic Gardening, Garden Watering

Gardening mistakes.

11 Apr

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Posted in Garden Tools Maintenance, Garden Watering

The ins and outs of bamboo.

05 Mar

The thing we all know about bamboo is that it is known to run amuck, but it has been shown in garden magazines a lot. There is a good chance that if you plant bamboo could becom uncontrollable if it is planted in your garden.

There is a very real chance that bamboo planted in your garden could become uncontrollable. Non-native plants can behave erratically, depending on the climate, conditions and care they receive. But there are more and more reputable bamboo dealers who are marketing clumping varieties of bamboo, targeted for growing in certain areas. Most bamboo plants are still ordered through the mail.

Bamboo is a form of grass. Bamboo is one of the most useful plants in the world and can range in size from inches to 100 foot. People use the plannt as animal fodder, food, building material as well as other things.

This plant has varying names from region to region and is easiest classified by dividing it into runners or clumpers. If you plan to plant bamboo, be sure to be cautious when planting bamboo and install some type of inground barrier immediately at planting.

Perennial plants, like bamboo, expands but there are limited roots when you clump it and will not creep more than a few inches per year. Covering a great distance, running bamboos spread underground by rhizomes. They are all connected like one plant and can become next to impossible to kill off. Since they are all connected as one plant, it can become impossible to kill off. Rhizomes grow at a depth of only 2 – 18 inches and can be contained with 2 – 2 1/2′ plastic edging buried around the circumference of the plant. Most bamboos prefer full sun.

Some of the tips for growing bamboo are to remember that newly planted bamboo requires a lot of water and lack of water is the biggest problem. Standing water inhibits the growth of bamboo and it does not like competition from weeds. To prevent uprooting, taller bamboo should be staked. They will loose leaves and replace them as they grow. They should be fed a high nitrogen fertilizer. Bamboo will do well with much as it will control the moisture as well as help protect it during winter.

There are several problems that bamboo may have including Bamboo Mites. These mites suck the juices from the leaves of the plant. Be sure to thoroughly ispect the bamboo before planting it in the garden or near other bamboo. Mealybugs are another pest that you may have to deal with if you grow these plants.

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Posted in Basic Gardening, Garden Watering, gardening ideas

Garden Hose Storage Units

27 May

So now that you have those water hoses for your lawn and garden, what do with them once your done using them? Are you tired of having to pick them up each time you go to mow the lawn, only to have to move it again when you get to the other side?

Well, we’ve pulled up some photos of garden hose storage units that you can find on the market. It appears they make one for every type of home, both mounted and unmounted, hidden and in plain site.

You have your hose pots like the one seen above. You can use this for those really long hoses that you will need to get too often.

Hose Hangers allow you to locate and retrieve the hose rather easily and keeps up off the lawn while also taking up very little space.

The Hose Box allows you to hid the hose, most come with rollers so you don’t have to get the dirt and grime on you while you’re putting the hose back in the box.

As you can see from the gallery below, there are tons of options, models, prices for each type of hose container. Just find the one that meets your needs and roll with it.