i have many animals that eat different types of flowers how hard are these types to grow adn what maintinace do they need
these are the kind i would like to grow
chinese and other types of hibiscus
flowering maple
mallowMore
Asked by: fagmanyeah
Geraniums are a good choice.You can break them off and stick them right back in the dirt, and they will grow.Also I've seen goofers spit them out. More
I am planning to grow tulips in my garden. The flowers look beautiful but I have really not seen a second flower growing (after the first flower dies or breaks). I want to know how it works. After the first flower blossoms and dries up, do more flowers grow on it one after the other or the plant then is a total waste??More
Asked by: sahumansi
The tulip bulb will only produce one flower per year. There is a trick to it and it's important that you follow these steps: once your tulip flowers have faded, snap off the flower stem BUT leave the foliage/leaves to die back naturally. It's not pretty, but they turn yellow and then brown. That helps the bulb store energy for next years tulip blooms.
If you purchased a tulip that naturalizes (it will tell yon on the bag if this tulip naturalizes), the tulip bulbs will grow "babies" giving you more flowers next year. The flowers are greatly increased if you divide the bulbs every 2-3 years. Once you see the bulbs emerge, fertilize with a bulb fertilizer and fertilize again once the foliage dies away in late Spring. More
The flower bed is just filled up with dirt, weeds, and little pcs of rock. First I need to clean it out I guess but do I use the dirt that's already in there or do put soil down? If you want to know, I live in Charlotte, NC (Zone 7). I want to plant perennial flowers. I'm new to gardening and want to know how prepare the flower bed, what type of soil I need (if necessary) and any tips on types of flowers to plant. Thanks alot!More
Asked by: ncbrian2007
Start by amending the soil.
Soil by analogy: As we require food to support us so do plants. Our digestive system works to break down dinner to supply the basic units that will become us structurally, and provide energy, so soil acts to feed plants. Soil requires a steady supply of organic mater to support the worms and micro-organisms, which digest the organics into available plant nutrients. Then just as we take vitamins to complement our diet we can give plants trace minerals and other supplements but these are no substitute for the staple of organic matter to feed the plants. Balance and moderation are key.
You can do a visual soil survey by digging a small hole. First look at the hole and take some soil in hand. Check your soil's texture by picking up a handful and squeeze gently: If it feels sticky and stays in a tight mass, your soil is likely too high in clay. If it feels harsh or gritty and won't hold any shape or crumbles it is likely too high in sand. If it feels smooth or floury and won't hold any shape, it's likely too high in silt. If it molds into your hand yet crumbles apart when squeezed, it has the perfect texture. It is loam.
If it formed a sticky ball try to squeeze it upward to form a ribbon. Measure the length of the ribbon. Now wet the soil in your palm til muddy. Rub the soil against your palm with your other fingertips. Is it smooth, gritty or both?
1” gritty ribbon is sandy loam
1” smooth ribbon is silty loam
1” both is loam
1-2” gritty ribbon is sandy clay loam
1-2” smooth ribbon is silty clay loam
1-2” both is clay loam
GT 2” gritty ribbon is sandy clay
GT 2” smooth ribbon is silty clay
GT 2” both is clay
Amounts and Specifications: To make a significant change in your garden soil, an amendment must equal at least one-third of the volume of the soil you are amending.
For clay soils: the goal is to improve soil aggregation, increase porosity and permeability, and improve aeration and drainage. For example, to amend a garden to a depth of 1 foot, you need to add one-third of a foot (4 inches) of material.
*3 to 6 inches of organic material dug in 9 to 18 inches
*Perlite or pumice 5-25% of amendment
*Coarse sand 5-25% of amendment
For sandy soils: the goal is to increase the soil's ability to hold moisture and store nutrients.
*4 to 8 inches of organic material dug in 12 to 24 inches
*Vermiculite 5-25% of amendment
For both soils:
*Fertilizer - the type and amount of fertilizer to use CAN be determined by a soil test. Fertilizer comes in various forms (pellets, powder, liquid) and many nutrient ratios. If you add all the organics suggested above you can suppose a balanced organic like Whitney Farm rose and flower food 4-6-2 will be enough.
Design pointers for making garden pictures
Don't create fruit salad -- Without a focal point, there is nothing upon which your eye can rest. I suggest taking a black-and-white photo of the garden, because this lets you see form instead of color. It will be easier then to discover where you need to include an important feature. Take pictures as if from the house and towards favorite views. No favorites, then with an eye to creating a vista within your garden.
Use a strong evergreen element for year-round interest -- Outside the family room window, try copper or colorful clay pots to represent the "evergreen" element, and the seasonal plantings around them become "moments of glory." Evergreens can include ground covers like Acaena inermis, conifers that never reach 3 feet tall, or a trellis displaying a winter clematis as backdrop. Try an evergreen rhododendron, with hydrangea and seasonal bulbs like tulips, then allium and calla lilies.
Think in threes -- Each plant combination should use these three attributes: vertical, round and spiky. The contrast adds interest to even the smallest garden. Vertical can be the tall Daffodil arising from a bed of Wall Rock Cress with the daffodils orange center matched to the mounding primroses color. The tall waving lines of Feather Reed grass 'Overdam, with Heuchera 'Pewter Vail', and the round solidity of Bergenia.
Play to your strengths -- Choose plants with which you enjoy working. Intermingle plants with scented foliage to ambush you with their presence while simply weeding among them. Choose a play of color that reminds you of a favorite place. Cool blues to greens or flamboyant golds and oranges, vary the shape but stick with a color. Yucca 'Gold Sword' with Coleus 'Pineapple Queen' or Hakone grass with Hosta 'Sun Power'.
Be as organic as possible -- Lots of compost and thoughtful choice and placement are keys to organic gardening. "This is your chance to protect a small part of our planet."
Imagine looking out at the winter garden. Remember, the entire mood changes with the season. As the large vine maple (Acer circinatum) outside the window unfurls its leaves, the room takes on a decidedly spring green feel, while autumn turns the room warm with tones of orange and red.
Questions to ask yourself
Is a particular style of garden desired? Formal, informal, scented, night flowering for evening use, cottage style for growing herbs or vegetables as well as flowers?
What time of day is your garden most used, and by whom?
Will it be used year round or on summer weekends only?
How much time and energy will be available for maintenance?
Is there a particular view or landscape feature you like?
Is it visible from the house while seated?
Is it visible from a possible bench site in the garden?
Do you like what your windows frame?
To choose the right plant for the right place visit your local gardens. Lucky you to live in a state with such a choice of botanical gardens. The North Carolina Botanical Garden is one of the finest in the country and they have lists of plants. The Garden Club of North Carolina & the botanical garden cosponsor North Carolina Wildflower of the Year program as well as sponsoring many garden talks. It is well over an hours drive from you but would be worth the trip.
http://www.ncbg.unc.edu/
But you have three much closer to visit; Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden http://www.dsbg.org/index.php
UNC-Charlotte Botanical Garden,
and Wing Haven Garden and Bird Sanctuary
248 Ridgewood Avenue (off Selwyn Avenue)
Charlotte, NC 28209-1632
704-331-0664 More
I want to make a rock filled garden but i wanted to plant flowers in it also. what flowers do well in rock gardens?More
Asked by: Bobbi
The plants that tolerate the reflected heat of rock or gravel mulch are generally known as Mediterranean plants. Many herbs are Mediterranean, like Rosemary, Thyme and Lavender. There are shrubs like Vitex and Cistus, and trees like Olive and Fig and that are considered Mediterranean as well. One warning, though: the soil needs to be well-drained, with sharp sand mixed in for the Mediterraneans to survive, especially if you live where rains can be plentiful, even if not that way every single year. In poorly-drained clay soils they will slowly, or quickly, decline and finally die. More
I am new at this flower bed stuff and i dont know my flowers and plants very well. I love doing it but i need some information on different types of plants that grow well in arkansas. Please let me know what plant you like and describe it to me or send picture. Just trying to get ideas for my own gardens. I love gardening and tropical type plants, but i like all flowers really.More
Asked by: dynabody
Daylilies are a good choice as they are easy to maintain and come in a variety of colors. A mix of bulbs, spring and summer (tulips, Iris, etc) help to give color in down times. Sedum (tall variety with large flower head) gives you flowers in late fall and gives shape to your garden during the winter as well. One of my favorites is Lupin, depending on the variety they can be tall, short and a wide variety of colors. Another good one is Baptista, it looks almost like a shrub but gives excellent flowers, and year round form and interest.
Speaking of shrubs/bushes, one of the earliest blooming plants is Forsythia, vibrant bright yellow flowers make it stunning. Lilacs are excellent not only for scent but for color. Burning Bushes are also fun as they give excellent fall and winter color and if you look closely, they actually have green flowers. There are also evergreens like Rhododendron which will give you interest year round as well as flowers.
Check with your local nursery for varieties of these plants that do best in your area. More
