In the next couple of months, as the weather cools, the time for planting those shrubs and trees will come. And rhododendrons and azaleas are some of Americas favorite garden shrubs. If you are planning on ordering a new azalea this year, here are just a few planting tips to keep in mind so your shrubs will have a great start this fall planting season.
The first step when planting any new addition to you garden is to choose an appropriate site. Pick a spot that is not exposed to drying winds or all-day sun that may lead to scorched leaves. If you live in an especially hot and dry area, your plant will probably do best in partial shade. Rhododendrons need large amounts of moisture, but they should not stay wet. A light, well-draining soil is best, rich in organic matter like compost or leaf mold. The soil should also be slightly acidic.
Like most other hardy shrubs, Rhododendrons can be planted almost any time of the year, as long as the ground is not frozen, with early spring and early fall being the preferred times to plant. Dig a hole about 3 times as wide as the root ball and just deep enough to cover it. If needed, amend organic material into the soil before replacing it, and mound up a nice mulch on top to control moisture and temperature extremes.
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Topiary is an art-form for the advanced landscaper, but a simple formal hedge can be attained by any novice gardener willing to give a little extra care and attention.
Preparing The Soil
To get the dense green growth typical of the traditional formal hedge, your will need well drained, nutrient-rich soil. Cultivate a trough about four feet wide and 18 inches deep. Mix in rich organic matter like peat or a nice dark compost. Because your hedge will be in place for decades, amending the soil will a large amount of future work.
Training and Trimming Your Formal Hedge
Once your shrubs have grown together into a thick hedge, you will only have to trim them a few times a year to maintain the perfect hedges.
If you have planted a fast growing hedge of thujas or cypress, trim the hedge to the desired shape the first winter. If you are trying to achieve a thick boxwood hedge, shape the sides, but allow the top to grow – trimming new growth will hinder the shrub from reaching the desired height. For a nice dense hedge, always shape your shrub to be a little wider at the bottom than at the top, allowing light to reach all of the visible leaves.
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Bulbs should be firm and never mushy or rotten—small amounts of surface mold should be okay. If only a small part of the bulb seems to be mushy, try slicing off that part with a knife and stick it in the ground anyway. It’s better to give it a fighting chance than to just assume it’s dead and throw it away. Even chancy plants can live a healthy life if you’re diligent.
Bulbs that have already sprouted will be vulnerable during the winter, so make sure your bulbs have as little new growth as possible. Larger flower bulbs, like tulips, produce bigger plants and tend to come up later in the season than plants from smaller bulbs. Plants with smaller bulbs, like crocus, come up much earlier.
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If you don’t feel like using chemicals in your garden, you can control Japanese beetles naturally. There is the old standby, knocking them into a bucket of soapy water with a stick. They will be unable to fly out of the soapy water and will drown eventually. Usually the little holes that insects use to breath, called spiracles, are too small for water to enter, but the soap fixes that problem. This procedure works best during the cooler parts of the day when the beetles are less likely to fly away from the plants.
A naturally occurring bacteria called Milky Spore kills Japanese beetle grubs which feed underground on grass and plant roots (ha ha, they’re getting you from the ground up). It is safe for beneficial insects, pets, and children. The bacteria spreads slowly through the soil, killing beetle larvae for many years. Milky Spore is sold as a dust which may be called Doom, Grub Attack, or Grub Killer. It is more effective in warmer areas of the country where the soil stays warm most of the summer (USDA Hardiness zones 6-10).
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A slew of things could be getting between you and the juicy, delicious fruit you were promised when you planted your fruit trees. Here are the main culprits and some tips on how to deal with these common, yet frustrating issues.
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Here are a couple of really simple tips to keep in mind as you potter around your garden this summer.
Watering Your Garden
If your climate usually exhibits high humidity, don’t water in the evening, the dew will set and the moisture will not evaporate, leaving your plants moist all night long– may lead to fungal growth. For hot and dry weather, you should water deeply once a week to promote deep root growth. Daily light waterings may lead to shallow root growth, which will cause your plants to dry out more quickly. The best time to water is in the morning, before the heat of the day. This should prepare your plants for the evaporation from the sun and winds it will experience throughout the day.
Trimming, Dead-Heading and Pruning
Keeping hedges and shrubs trimmed promotes fuller growth and keeps your plants looking neat and healthy. Dead-head throughout the summer to allow plant to focus on new growth a keep blooming. Don’t be afraid to prune and trim throughout the summer– keeping shrub growth in check is not only good for the plant, but keeps your garden looking very neat and structured.
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Birds and butterflies are beautiful, majestic creatures. Hummingbirds and songbirds bring energy and life to any space, singing happy tunes or feeding baby birds in the nest. Butterflies are more delicate, fluttering about without a care in the world. Not to mention, if a butterfly lands on you, it’s good luck! Why wouldn’t you want to lure them into your garden? Here are some tips on how to do just that:
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Daylilies, known as Hemerocallis fulva by botanists, are naturalized throughout much of America. They are especially hardy in warm dry areas. The orange colored blossoms are often seen along roadsides and in abandoned home gardens during June and July. All cultivated varieties of daylily are edible.
Flowers and flower buds of daylilies are delicious and quickly prepared for eating. The flowers are used in soups, meat dishes, and with noodles. Prepare the flowers for eating by removing the basal end (ovary) and dicing the rest. Flowers can be used for garnishing foods in somewhat the same way as mushrooms are employed. These flowers add substance, color, and pleasing flavors to foods. Fresh flowers are best for eating since some flavors are altered when they are preserved by drying and freezing.
Not only are they delicious, but they are also very attractive as you can see by the picture of Hemerocallis Jungle Beauty above.
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