Posts made in September, 2007

If you’ve ever taken a walk in the woods, and noticed the plants along the edge of the trail, you know prevalent ferns are. They are tough plants that will grow just about anywhere given the opportunity. They are ancient plants, standing the test of time, and adapting to many different climates.

There are many varieties with many different looks – they can be red, green, or silver – tall, short, dense, or sparse. There are evergreen varieties, and ancient tree ferns. They always have an interesting look and that is why gardeners love to have them.

If you have a partially shady spot in your yard, you should fill it with ferns. Most of the hardy ferns prefer, good loamy soil and lots of moisture but very good drainage. However, many varieties are pretty tough and will grow in less than ideal conditions.

It’s almost time to plant those bulbs! You can plant your summer bulbs this fall and they will have plenty of time to establish, giving you a much stronger display and longer bloom time than if you planted them next spring. So, go ahead and order your lilies and iris now to have a great flower garden next summer.

Planting bulbs is one of the least expensive ways to fill your garden with a huge variety of colorful flowers in all shapes and sizes. Bulbs can brighten your garden from early spring until it’s time to plant for the next year. Most bulbs are planted in the fall to bloom the next spring. And most plants grown from bulbs are perennials that come back year after year. If you choose strong varieties and care for them properly, the flower bulbs you plant this fall may become the most important feature of your flower garden.

If you are looking for a permanent low-maintenance accent to your landscape design, and would really love the elegance of a rose bush. Don’t stress, Try a Knock Out Rose or Kordes Rose – both lines have been specifically bred to be the toughest plants in your yard. They will resist all sorts of fungal and insect pests, and they will persist beautifully in extreme weather conditions that would kill most roses. The Knock Out roses are especially tolerant of heat and drought. Kordes roses are known to be very cold hardy, and will thrive in zones where other roses cannot.

The shrub roses are the classic rose bushes that most people are familiar with. Landscape roses are almost always shrub roses. They are generally between 3-6 feet tall and about that wide. Shrub roses can be seen anywhere from old homesteads to urban landscape plans. They are an easy way to add classic  beauty to any garden. The newest varieties like many of the Kordes Roses and the Knock Out Roses are super disease resistant and hardy against the toughest elements, making them a great choice for any gardener looking to save themselves a little trouble.

Gardeners who live in an area where the weather or soil conditions won’t support the traditional backyard garden may have to expand their horizons a little, and create a more natural looking garden for your climate. There are plenty of beautiful plants for drier climates that can really turned your scorched garden into and exotic botanical display.

You could try growing some drought resistant perennials or shrubs. Heathers are natural companions with grass like sedges, and the blues, greys, silvers, and coppers will really pop in a gravelled garden. Most of the drought resistant plants are these soft metallic or misty colors, giving most dry climates a strong ephemeral feel. Companioned with rustic stone and wooden hard scapes, these arid gardens can be really striking. You might also want to try gravel, sand, or busted brick mulches around your exotic desert garden. Allow your plants to seed, spread, clump naturally to create a more irregular and interesting look.

You could also try a drought resistant tree like the the olive tree. They are very tough in a variety of climates and produce wonderfully delicious fruits too.