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Gardening

Climbing Plants A Gardening Solution

August 6, 2018

One glance through a gardening magazine, and we are showered with images of pristine gardens, beautifully appointed with hundreds of varieties of plants, trees, and shrubs. While many of us aspire to have yards as beautiful as those in a magazine, few of us have the time or resources to achieve such perfection. However, with a little work and some good planning, even those of us with the blackest of thumbs will feel good about our efforts in the garden.

When reviewing your outdoor space, try to identify those areas that you’re not very happy with. What do you want to change about them? Do you need some additional flowers or other plants? Perhaps the space doesn’t feel balanced? Climbing plants may be just the answer you are looking for to solve a variety of common problems in outdoor areas.

Many plants, both annual and perennial, fall into the category of climbing plants. The more common climbers are clematis, morning glory, ivy, and honeysuckle. However, many plants that spread along the ground like creeping phlox and periwinkle can provide coverage for unsightly spaces in your outdoor area, as well.

Climbing plants can be used to solve a myriad of problems in your outdoor spaces. For example, do you have something unsightly that you need to cover, such as a garage wall, tree stump, or electrical meter? Use climbing plants to cover it up! They not only change the view you are seeing, but they can also provide color and fragrance to an area. Consider putting up a trellis on the side of your shed to soften it up with a burst of color and fragrance. Climbers can also provide coverage of retaining walls and fences with little effort.

While climbing plants can be trained to climb a trellis or wall, they can also be planted in a pot and allowed to cascade downward, or used as a groundcover. If you have some areas of the garden where bare soil is showing, consider using a vine or other groundcover plant to hide those bare spots.

Lack of privacy is another major issue that homeowners commonly cite when asked why they dislike their yards or gardens. Perhaps you have neighbors that are a little too close? A trellis, arbor, or pergolas is a great solution to this problem. Climbing plants will easily climb and cover these structures, providing privacy and beauty to your yard. Pergolas and arbors can also be used over pathways or gates, or to mark a transition from front yard or side yard into a backyard. In all of these places, consider planting a climbing vine at the base of the structure. Within a few months, you’ll have a stunning focal point for your yard.

Climbing plants are usually pretty self-sufficient and require little care to grow. Of course, there are the basic needs like sun and water. You might also want to be aware of the soil type or soil pH level that the plant requires, though with climbers this is usually a less important consideration. Obviously, the most important thing to consider when planting a climber is providing some support structure upon which it can grow. When allowing climbers to grow near buildings, it’s important to keep a close eye on the plant so it doesn’t get out of control. Some very vigorous climbers can damage homes, garages, or barns when allowed to grow unchecked.

Gardening

Something Fungal This Way Comes…

August 1, 2018

The gardening headlines this week have been plastered with the threat of two new diseases that could potentially devastate Europes indigenous tree population.

In southern France, along the famous Canal du Midi, a plan has been in motion since last winter that will see the felling and destruction of 42,000 plane trees in the region. This is due to the arrival of Ceratocystis platani, a disease that, since the 1970s, has been blitzing across Europe, originating in Italy. It is believed the blight, endemic to North America, was brought across the ocean by U.S. soldiers in World War Two. While the Midi, perhaps due to its recently endowed world heritage title, is certainly the most noticeable among the losses, the disease has also become prevalent in Switzerland, Germany and Greece, where it now threatens a vast percentage of the original Plane population.
The Canal, a world renowned tourist attraction, was originally designed as an economic conduit that allowed the merchants of old to bypass the treacherous Atlantic Ocean en route to the Mediterranean Sea. However, in a somewhat ironic twist, the original species of Mississippi Plane that have successfully adapted to this affliction are being imported in great numbers in order to replace one of the Canals main attractions. Unfortunately, while Toulouse can cater to their favoured humid environment, it is unclear whether this species will be viable to supplement the depletion that chillier areas of the continent have suffered.
The threat does not stop in Toulouse however – given the virility of the affliction, tree pathologist Steve Woodward (University of Aberdeen) agrees that it poses a grave threat to the urban based Planes of cities like Paris and London. It is the Plane that so commonly and attractively lines our city streets.
“We are talking about a massive disaster here if it continues to spread,” he says.
The disease is a fungal infection that, once exposed to the roots of the organism, will completely overrun it within 3-5 years and due to the damage this causes to the plants integrity, it is imperative that it be removed, lest it should fall and endanger passers-by in doing so. The disease is characterized by cankerous sores appearing on the inner bark of the tree, as well as an accelerated decline in both the quality and density of the plants foliage. No wound to the outer bark is too great or small to escape it and contact equals instant infection.

In addition to this threat from abroad, a new menace has been identified in rural Devon as a potential watershed moment for the diminishment of our domestic Yews and Lawson Cypresses in the form of Phytophtora lateralis. Identifiable by the patchy colouring of its trunk, a tree will also often exhibit slightly lighter foliage in places followed by out of season autumn colours. The tree will succumb soon after, as this foliage deterioration signals that the tree has become totally infected. While certain soil drenches can be utilized in the earlier stages of the disease, these will likely prove ineffective once it has advanced past the root structure; aside from which, use of these drenches on a mass scale would likely cause further environmental concerns and prove something of a pyrrhic victory.

Due to this increasing encroachment of pests and diseases, a body has been established to specifically target incoming detriments to our native plant life. This group, known as the Tree Health and Plant Biosecurity Action Plan, has been allocated seven million pounds with which, over the next three years, they will attempt to exert a tighter control on the intrusion of foreign fungi and pathogens that threaten the endemic population.
“If we don’t act now, we could end up with a similar situation to the 1970s when more than 30 million trees in the UK died [as a result of] Dutch elm disease.”
-Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman.
The key responsibilities of the plan will include the monitoring of exotic plants allowed to cross British borders, as well as increasing the knowledge and awareness of currently existing domestic threats.

Gardening

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Home Hydroponic Automated Home Gardening

July 24, 2018

Hydroponic is very common these days that even a 9-year-old child already knows what hydroponic is. In home gardening settings there is what we call automated home gardening with the use of hydroponics. This home hydroponic system is a gardening system that allows us to grow plants without the use of soil. With home hydroponic system you can also grow plants without them actually ever seeing real sunlight. It uses plant light to impact and make use of photosynthesis which is the process by which a plant takes in light and turns it into a fuel. A home hydroponic system can grow any kinds of plants from edible to non-edible plants, from seasonal to off-season plants, and even plants that only grow in certain climates.
Hydroponic is very common these days that even a 9-year-old child already knows what hydroponic is. In home gardening settings there is what we call automated home gardening with the use of hydroponics. This home hydroponic system is a gardening system that allows us to grow plants with out the use of soil. With home hydroponic system you can also grow plants without them actually ever seeing real sunlight. It uses plant light to impact and make use of photosynthesis which is the process by which a plant takes in light and turns it into a fuel. A home hydroponic system can grow any kinds of plants from edible to non-edible plants, from seasonal to off-season plants, and even plants that only grow in certain climates.
We all know that growing plants in soils needs proper skills and experience to achieve success. In gardening, there is what we call green thumbs these are people who are so luck when it comes to growing plants. But with a home hydroponics system you dont have to have a green thumb or skills and even experience in growing plants from soil because home hydroponic system will automatically work the gardening for you. Its as if you are just operating a home appliance which usually only go through a plug and play process. Home hydroponics system is as easy as one-two-three. All you have to do is to place the stating pods of plants into the designated holes in a home hydroponic system, put some nutrient pellets, add water in the system, and lastly turn on the plant lights to start the ball rolling. There are also led lights in a home hydroponic system that will tell you if you need more water or nutrients in it. Plants grow exponentially and you will have to constantly add more water and nutrients as these plants suck up more and soaking up much more. So basically thats how a home hydroponic system works the gardening conveniently for you.
Home hydroponic system is science and an art at the same time. Science since it involves photosynthesis and hydroponics and art because the sense of growing things and gardening is part of the package. It is said that home hydroponic system is the future of growing anything using water and nutrients without the plants ever touching soil and the use of artificial light to jump start the process and make the process of photosynthesis actually happen.

Gardening

How To Take Care Of Red Roses

July 20, 2018

It’s just not that easy to cultivate healthy roses. Some roses need to have more attention than different kinds of plants but you can find some species that are easy to grow, even by a beginner. Let’s analyze the easiest way to grow healthy roses.

1) Cut the roses in the early spring, immediately after small red bumps appear on the rose. The bumps will definitely become new branches afterwards.

2) Cut any branch that appears to be dead and leave just the 4-5 of them that look healthy. Generally, they will be dense as a pen.

3) Make tiny slits on the outer surface of the bulb at the bottom. This will definitely affect the appearance of your rose as it will improve the odds that it will grow up straight.

4) Making use of fertilizers is going to ensure your roses grow healthily. Roses demand extra attention and nutrition on a daily basis. Progressive release fertilizer delivers your roses the nourishment they need, when they need it. You can even use liquid fertilizer once per month to help keep your roses healthy. Roses must have ample water if they are to thrive. Should you be residing in an area where there is reduced rain, you can also think about installing a watering system.

5) If you want to make accurate slits, use sharp scissors. If you use a reliable garden shear, this will ensure that you get a clean cut which is important for your roses. Whatever the width or size, never fail to get it done carefully.

6) To protect your rose bushes against the blistering rays of the sun, cover them while still ensuring that they get partial sunlight. This will also make sure that the soil stays wet for longer. Put a 5 centimeter layer of fertilizer for best results. If its freezing, cover your rose bushes with a protective sheet and add an inch of soil at the stems to keep them healthy.

7) Dry roses possess the potential of preventing new buds from sprouting so cut them off when you can. If you would like your roses to flourish throughout every season, it will take effort on your part. Try your best to keep an eye out for insects that will damage your roses. Afflicted portions of the rose bush are easy to remove and then the surviving portion must be washed. Do not forget that it’s possible to consult your local store to find effective poisons to get rid of insects that may be damaging your roses.

8) A lot of bug sprays made for roses are organic. Take the time to read the steps on the effective application of the poison. Some of those solutions are generally toxic if they are not applied according to the instructions. Once Autumn starts, don’t give your roses anymore fertilizer. Should you continue to nourish them, they will sprout too early and will ultimately die in the colder months that follow.

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Epimedium with short flower spikes and large spider-type flowers

July 15, 2018

This article in the Epimedium series catalogs Epimedium species by their plant form and flower types in order to help you select the best plants for your site. There are too many Epimediums to list in a single article so check out the others in the series to see other categories such as white Epimediums or large Epimediums. The next group are evergreen epimediums that have large flowers in pink to white, but are borne on short flower stalks. Epimedium brachyrrhizum, first described from China in 1997 is similar to another species, Epimedium leptorrhizum (Zone 5-8) that has been known since 1938. Both have spreading rhizomes with Epimedium brachyrrhizum possessing a thicker rhizome, spreading considerably slower. For us E. leptorrhizum never exceeds 6″ in height, while E. brachyrrhizum typically reaches 1′ tall. Both evergreen species are topped in early spring with very short flower spikes of 8-12 flowers ranging from pink to lavender, and occasionally white. E. brachyrrhizum (Zone 5-8) is represented in the trade by two hard to find cultivars Epimedium ‘Elfin Magic’, and soon, the white flowered PDN selection Epimedium ‘Little Angels’. The foliage of E. brachyrrhizum turns a nice shade of lavender in the winter. Epimedium ogisui(1993) (Zone 6-9) is a similar spreading evergreen species with near horizontal spikes of large white flowers. The Chinese Epimedium epsteinii (Zone 5b-8), also named in 1997, is a similar evergreen species with short, but spreading rhizomes and short flowers spikes, sporting up to 12 large bicolored inflorescences of purple cups and spurs, backed by a white outer sepal. Plants in this group make superb groundcovers, often with attractive red mottled foliage. Some of the most showy epimediums are those with large flowers on long spikes. The evergreen Epimedium acuminatum (Zone 5-8) from limestone cliffs in the Southern Chinese provinces of Yunnan and Sichuan leads this list along with its hybrid, Epimedium x omeiense (acuminatum x fangii). E. x omeiense is fairly new to cultivation, first flowering in cultivation in 1982 (W. Stearn 2002). In our studies, the primary easily visible difference is that Epimedium acuminatum has smaller, narrower leaves and is shorter in stature, 12″ tall for E. acuminatum, compared to 24″ tall for E. x omeiense. E. acuminatum flowers with 18″ long arching spikes, each adorned with up to 50 large flowers composed of long dark purple spurs, highlighted by pale lavender inner sepals. The flowers are so large, the spikes can become quite heavy, so much that their tips nearly touch the ground. For this reason, I recommend both E. acuminatum and E. x omeiense be planted atop a berm, so the flowers can be better enjoyed. Both E. acuminatum and E. x omeiense are prized for their long-pointed and wonderfully mahogany mottled leaves. Compared to the tight clumping species, this is a reasonably good spreading species. Heronswood’s E. acuminatum ‘Ruby Star’ (white sepals, lavender spurs, and a purple cup), and Darrell Probst’s E. acuminatum ‘Night Mistress’ (pink spurs, purple spurs, and a purple cup) are the two easiest to find clones on the market. Mikinori Ogisu=s wild collected clone of E. x omeiense released as Epimedium ‘Stormcloud’, Dan Hinkley’s ‘Myriad Years’ (white sepals, light lavender spurs and a purple cup), and the Japanese ‘Akane’ Epimedium are the easiest to find in the market.

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