Perennials in the Flower Garden

Written by Sandra Dinkins-Wilson


Perennials arerepparttar basic flowers of any flower garden. To many people, a flower garden is simply beds of perennials. Each year they die and renew themselves forrepparttar 123194 next growing season. They can be long-lived and last for many seasons. However, care must be taken forrepparttar 123195 rapid growers which may smother less vigorous flowers. Perennials such asrepparttar 123196 iris and shasta daisies must be divided or transplanted every few years to prevent this from happening. This is a simple process which we will cover in another article.

Historically, perennials are among our oldest plants. They have been cultivated for centuries and can bear little to no resemblance to their wild antecedents. In some perennials,repparttar 123197 blossoms have become so specialized through centuries of cultivation that they no longer grow 'seeds'. Indeed most perennials reproduce by sending up new plants fromrepparttar 123198 base ofrepparttar 123199 old one which is whyrepparttar 123200 dividing process spoken of earlier must take place at intervals.

Another supposed disadvantage isrepparttar 123201 tendency of certain perennials to die down after flowering, thereby leaving gaps inrepparttar 123202 garden. There are a number of ways to solve this problem andrepparttar 123203 resultant spaces. One way is to intersperse perennials with annuals and other flowering plants, whose bloom occurs either later or earlier than that ofrepparttar 123204 perennials. Instead of being a disadvantage, think of this as an opportunity to phase in more flowering plants into your garden design.

Organic Roses in the Flower Garden

Written by Sandra Dinkins-Wilson


Many people believe growing their flowers and vegetables organically is healthier for them and their environment. It is natural that you may wish to grow your roses this way also. Usingrepparttar pesticides and insecticides that are usually considered to go along with growing roses and keeping them healthy can cause many people have to health problems . Maybe you just don't want those kind of chemicals in your garden and around your children. This article will give some pointers in using more natural methods of growing your roses.

1. First do your homework and find out what type of roses grow well in your area. Buy disease resistant varieties. If you live in an area that has problems with a certain disease, look for a variety that is resistant to it. If you can, purchase organic roses. As they have already been growing with organic methods, this supposes they are "healthier". and not already loaded with chemicals. Thus they have a stronger immune system. Of course, buy roses with no blemishes on them.

2. Roses like full sun. Make sure they are placed so as to get 6 to 8 hours of sunlight a day.

3. Do not crowd your roses together. Ensure that stress is reduced by providing lots of space for air to circulate aroundrepparttar 123193 bush. Take growth ofrepparttar 123194 rose bush into account.

4. Plant your roses in good loamy soil. If your soil is not ideal, then amend it with organic material such as from your compost pile. You do have a compost pile, don't you? Roses like well draining soil but they don't want it draining as fast as you might get with sand, so amend your sandy soil. If you have clay soil, an alternative requiring a bit of work is to build a raised bed for your roses much like vegetable gardeners use. It should be at least a foot deep but more is better. Fill it with will amended soil.

5. Keep your watering consistent. Don't allow your plants to dry out and suffer stress before watering. Roses can need up to 2 inches of water a week. Water every two to three days. This, of course, depends on your area andrepparttar 123195 type of weather (how much rainfall) you are getting. Also, be careful not to stressrepparttar 123196 plant by overwatering and deprivingrepparttar 123197 roots of oxgen.

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