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
Viburnum x bodnantense “Dawn” is an upright, somewhat untidy deciduous shrub with oval leaves. For the longest time clusters of deep pink buds on the bare stems open to reveal delicate, very fragrant flowers. Common name is Bodnant Viburnum. It is characterised by its numerous and densely packed 7.5cm (3in) clusters of rose, pink 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.
Sages (Salvias) are a large group of plants including annual, biennials, perennials and shrubs that are found in many gardens. Some are hardy, others that come from the tropics are greenhouse plants. The common sage, Salvia officinalis, and its varieties has been the best culinary herb for centuries and was formerly used in herbal medicine
One of the most popular choices for your garden or landscape design is the Japanese Maple. Japanese maples (Acer palmatum) are small, deciduous trees grown for their graceful habit, fall color and beautiful foliage which may be coloured or deeply dissected. Many acers grow extremely slowly and are perfect in a smaller garden, grown in
Gardeners in colder climates must prepare their roses for the winter. The best time to make these preparations is late autumn. Frost, wind, snow and freezing days aren’t enough to stop this blooming beauty, so if you’re putting your garden to bed, wait to tuck your roses in until nights in your area are consistently
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
Saintpaulia is a genus of six species in the Gesneriaceae family and is related to gloxinia. Regardless to commonly used name African violet, it has nothing in common with European violet. Saintpaulia is named after Baron Walter von Saint Paul-Illaire (1860-1910) , who was the district commissioner of Tanga province who discovered the plant in
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
Do you want to grow hibiscus in your garden, use them for landscaping or hedging or keep them pots that can be kept indoors or out? What size and type of plant do you want? Many people love to plant them because of their size and their beautiful colors. The gardener can grow hardy hibiscus
If you are a gourmet and enjoy all benefits of delicious food, then definitely you try to improve each subsequent meal. Gourmet food is expensively delicious not only for its quality ingredients and taste, but also for its aesthetics. Aesthetics in food are making a big comeback in today’s restaurants, and for good reason. While
