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Mistakes when it comes to gardening

17 Apr

Veteran gardeners make mistakes just like rookies do at times. You can water plants too much as well as not watering enough. There are lots of mistakes that can be made during gardening.

Many times, when you purchase a new home you will find yourself filled with the urge to do yard work. But you really need to think things through before you make a change. Sometimes, a spring week might be a fall-blooming vine. You may want to consider waiting a year before you make any changes in your yard. Watch the yard to see how much sun each part of your yard gets sun. Test the pH of your soil so that you can determine which plants will work best in your yard. Watching your yard for a year will save you money, as you will be sure to plant the right things for your yard.

Remember to leave plenty of room between trees and shrubs so that they don’t crowd each other after a couple of years. When they are small the spacing may be fine, but remember they will grow and compete for sun, water and nutrients. Be sure to reach all the instructions before you begin to dig. You will want to give all your plants some room to breathe. When you first plant the trees and shrubs they will look very far apart, but they will grow and not looked so spaced out.

You will want to make a plan for your new garden. Draw a sketch of your yard and include any structures you may want to add later like a patio or a pool, etc.

Plants have a hard time rooting in new locations. You will need to help the plant by watering the root ball which is underground. Otherwise, the plant will be stunted or will not live for very long. Place a hose at the base of the newly plated bush or tree and let water trickle for 20-30 minutes twice per week for 4-12 weeks. If it is really hot outside, you will want to do this even more.

Be sure to plant sun-loving plants where they are sure to get the sun that they need in order to grow. If you plant one of these bushes in an area that will be shaded, then the plant is not likely to survive.

Make sure not to over water your plants. It is recommended that you water two or three times per week for 40-60minutes.

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Posted in Landscaping

Winter Gardening: Wisteria Vines

08 Nov

A planted Wisteria Vine with years to grown and training can add a great winter time effect for any home or home garden. The vine, while it grows quickly, can take anywhere from 10-15 years before it releases those beautiful purple blooms. Since we’re talking about winter gardens; the flower won’t be blooming, but with proper vine training, and perhaps an arbor. The look of the vine covering the arbor and the snow covering it can add a beautiful effect to both your home and winter garden area.

Wisteria & Wisteria Vine Care:

Location is the most important factor to consider when planting your wisteria. Its is a twining vine that requires sturdy support and regular pruning to keep it under control. Wisteria doesn’t fair well in cold so make sure it receives plenty of sunlight.
This vine requires deep, rich soil that is somewhat moist but will tolerate many soil conditions.

Pruning is the main requirement for wisteria vine care. The vine is an aggressive grower; so there’s no need for fertilizing and being drought tolerant, wisteria requires little watering.

Training Wisteria Vines:

When training wisteria vines the variety may exhibit different twining characteristics. A good example is the Chinese wisteria (W. sinensis) twines counterclockwise while the Japanese variety (W. floribunda) is the opposite, twining clockwise.

When you train wisteria vines, select an upright stem and attach it to the chosen support. Remove any side shoots and train the main vine upwards. You can train any new side branches to fill in spaces by attaching them where desired. Try to keep these side branches spaced about eighteen inches apart. Once the wisteria has reached the desired height, pinch off or cut the main vine tip; this will slow the growth process.

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Posted in Soft Elements: Plants

Low Maintenance Shrubs

16 Mar

Picking the right shrub for your garden is everything when you take into account the amount of time, money, and water you have to dedicate to your garden. Most people prefer to find shrubs that offer them beauty, long lasting, and don’t require a lot of maintenance on the part of the owner. With that said, the list below contains a few of those shrubs that will add value to your landscape and free up your time from all the work and care other shrubs might require.

Sweet Pepperbush

This shrub adapts easily to most soil conditions, making it one of the best choices for a variety of soils. The sweet pepperbush prefers moist soil, but tolerates wet soils with poor drainage. It grows in both sunny and slightly shady areas, and produces fragrant blossoms in the middle of the summer. The foliage turns golden yellow in the autumn. It reaches a mature height between of between 3 and 8 feet.

Common Pearlbush

The common pearlbush grows to a height and width of between 6 and 10 feet. It produces upright, arching branches. Once established, this shrub tolerates droughts and arid conditions. This tough shrub adapts to a variety of soil conditions and thrives in a shrub border. The common pearlbush produces white blossoms in late April, adding floral beauty to a spring landscape.

Northern Bayberry

This shrub produces suckers and forms colonies, making it one of the best selections for mass plantings in many yards and parks. This semi-evergreen produces clusters of gray berries in the fall and thrives in poor soils. At a mature height and width of 5 to 12 feet, the northern bayberry forms a bushy, rounded shape in areas with full sun or light shade. This shrub tolerates soil compositions high in salt, and withstands periods of drought.

Flameleaf Sumac

The flameleaf sumac requires little care and thrives in neglected areas. It reaches a height and width of between 20 and 30 feet at maturity. Although it prefers well-drained soils, it tolerates infertile, dry and rocky soil compositions, making it an excellent choice for areas resistant to other types of plant growth.

Keep in mind, if you don’t trim your shrubs, they will turn into trees.

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