Gardening can be a rewarding pastime and can bring many benefits. Whether veggies or flowers are your passion, the very act of creating a garden is immensely rewarding. This article lends a hand and gives pointers about growing plants and gardening.
Use both biennials and annuals to add color to your flower bed. These flowers grow quickly and can be planted at any time during the year. If you want to maintain a flower garden all year or you want to add new flowers to reflect the changing seasons, annuals and biennials are for you. They are very helpful when trying to fill in gaps between shrubs and perennials in an area that is sunny. Some excellent choices include rudbeckia, hollyhock, sunflower, cosmos, petunia and marigold.
Take extra care of any fragile shrubs that are known to drop their leaves in the autumn. Tender, potted shrubs must be protected when the weather is cold. Fasten the tops of the canes together, and cover this wigwam loosely with a cloth. Using fabric, rather than plastic, allows air circulation and prevents rotting from moisture build up.
Knee Pads
If your landscape includes low-growing plants, you should invest in a set of knee pads specifically designed for horticulture. Your knees will take a beating if you spend a great deal of time on the ground while tending your garden. Cushion your knees with a pair of horticulture knee pads.
Pest control can become a major issue. Do not spray harsh chemicals on the vegetables you are going to eat. One way to keep pests at bay is to remain diligent about your garden. By noticing them at an early stage, you can simply pluck them away from your plants with your fingers.
Make sure your pesticides are focused on only what you’re trying to kill. These pesticides will also kill any beneficial insects that consume the pests you are trying to get rid of. Useful insects are more sensitive to these pesticides than the pests, so by killing them, you could be growing your pest population. When this happens, you will spray another round of pesticides to get rid of the pests, thus creating a never-ending cycle for yourself.
When planting anything, think about planting for color so that you have something to enjoy in the fall. However, that does not have to be the case! When it comes to vivid foliage, autumn offers the best opportunity to view it. There are many variations in leaf color with different varieties of Maple, Beech and Dogwood trees that can give you lively yellows and deep crimsons. Also, when considering shrubs, try using cotoneaster, hydrangea, or barberry.
Gardeners who are intrigued by the ideas of organic and sustainable methods should think about designating a portion of their landscape to support native plants and animals. You will see many of the birds and insects that are present will assist in pollination and plant production, helping to create a much better garden.
As has been noted above, there are many rewards inherent in horticulture. The benefits of a garden are obvious and many, whether it be because of the fresh vegetables or the beautiful flowers grown. By using a few of the recommendations presented above, you can turn your garden into a mini paradise on earth and impress your friends with your new-found horticultural knowledge.