Containers get too hot and dry in summer and conversely they get colder than a surrounding garden in winter because a greater area is exposed to the elements. Plants in containers therefore need special attention in cold winters and may well have to be protected, however warm the microclimate of the individual patio, windowsill or
Often, due to lack of time, or fine day in October, we don’t clean the garden before November. Keep your garden looking beautiful well into the fall season by trimming hedges, weeding and “dead heading” flowers no longer in bloom. From the garden bring out the stakes and rope that served as the underpinnings of
Do you really want to have a beauitifully manicured lawn? It is really only a bit of work to get a lush green lawn and anyone can do it. You don’t have to use chemicals to have a beautiful lawn. In fact, your lawn will be much healthier if you ban the use of chemicals.
If you plan to grow large trees or shrubs, you need an equally large container. It must be in proportion with the plant and must blend in with the design of your garden. There are a number of things to think about when considering large containers. Many large plants, trees and fruit shrubs will need
These days we know that we need to recycle as much as we can, and anyone with a garden has a head start and can make a great contribution. To many novice gardeners, this subject can be somewhat difficult to grasp;new composters sometimes feel frustrated as they struggle to learn more about how the process
Gardeners must plant the bulbs in the fall and wait all winter before the plants and blooms emerge. It can be disappointing to wait months only to have a rodent deny you the payoff. Fortunately, gardeners have developed several methods to thwart rodents in their bid to destroy or carry off your tulips. Crocus and
Winter is around the corner and your garden needs some pampering to help it through the cold and stormy months ahead and get it in good shape for next spring. A November gardening calendar really highlights the differences in regional gardens. For many there is no November garden to speak of. But even if your
Mealy bugs are off-white in colour and have oval flattened bodies growing to about 3mm long. Waxy strands that resemble legs occur along the sides of the body and some species also have a long “tail.” Normally they leave small cottony masses, their eggs, where the leaves join onto the stem. They like dark places
Testing the pH level of garden soil is an important step to maintaining a healthy garden, even if it has been successful for many years. PH levels range from 1 to 14, with the neutral value as 7; 1-6 is considered acidic, and 8-14 is alkaline. The most plants grow well in the middle of
People need healthy food to perform their best, and roses are no different. Roses flourish beautifully in the right conditions, and the proper balance of soil “ingredients” is important for growing rose bushes. While these flowers are not frail, caring for roses can mean a lot of preparation work before you get to enjoy their
The Tudors followed Italian influence in creating gardens which mirrored the alignment of the house, creating a harmony of line and proportion that had been missing in the Medieval period. For the first time since the Romans left, sundials and statues were once more popular garden ornaments. But the most prominent contribution of the Tudors
