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Archive for the ‘Garden Decor’ Category
Planting New Plants and Seeds
Though you might think you can just stick a seed in the ground, cover it with dirt, and let it grow, this is often not true. Most seeds require a bit of nurturing, including plenty of sunlight once they reach the surface, and also plenty of water. When planting a new seed—whether it’s in hanging planters or straight in the earth—you first ensure that you dig the hole at the correct depth. Seeds from plants and flowers will need to be planted at different depths in the dirt, in general, about 2-4 inches is safe, but it can vary. You will want to fill the bottom of the hole with potting soil, as well as a bit of bonemeal and fertilizer. Place the seeds on top, then cover the hole with the dirt you dug out. Then give the seeds a good soak with the hose, but make sure not to spray the dirt too hard.
Depending on the plant, if the seeds took it should be a few weeks before you see something growing out of the ground. Continue to water the plant and ensure it gets plenty of sunshine its early growth.
What Is A Growing Degree Day?
Plants, weeds and insects all grow when the atmosphere warms up. Each needs an individual amount of warmth to grow and develop/flower. Farmers and gardeners use a calculation called a Growing Degree Day (GDD) to see if they are on track with the developement of their plants. They can also use GDD’s to determine when to start watching for insect infestations.
It has been determined that all plants have a specific temperature at which they will not grow-where they stand still. This is determined to be that plant’s base temperature. If you take the high and low temperature of a day, add them together and then divide by two you will get the mean temperature of the day. The mean temperature less the base temperature will equal the Growing Degree Day (GDD). The accumulation of positive growing degree days will help you determine when your plants will flower if you know what that plant’s requirement for GDD’s are.
You can impress your neighbors with an outdoor thermometer and a little knowledge about Growing Degree Days (GDD). They will think that you are an experienced, “green-thumb” gardener.
Wind Worn Petunias
The wind blew hard the other night and continued into the next day. On top of that the tempurature rose to a warm 95 degrees. After that beating, my hanging baskets that were not protected, looked more like a sticks with a few leaves than a beautiful accumulation of petunia blooms. I watered them well and the next morning they looked like some life had come back into them but the stems seemed to be permanently bent in the direction that the wind blew and they looked very “leggy”.
Since this is not a look that I want to have for the rest of the summer, I began searching for an answer and decided that trimming my petunia plants would be best. This was not a bad idea since some of them were looking a little “leggy” and the flowers in the hanging basket were not growing evenly. I trimmed the plants back, leaving at least two leaf sets on the plant and then fertilized and watered well.
I have seen a similar trimming done by mother nature (a hail storm) and after fertilizing and watering, the petunias came back fuller and with more blooms. With the trimming that I did, I am hoping for the same results.
A Welcoming Arbor
While flowers and other flora are indubitably the focal point of your garden, adding home décor items can add a extra element of design to an outdoor living area. Even when the flowers and trees aren’t in full bloom, these inanimate objects will suffuse your garden with beauty. One of my personal favorite pieces of garden décor is the basic garden arbor.
An arbor can be two different things: a shady recess in a garden or park formed by foliage branches, or a latticework structure with climbing shrubs, vines, or flowers. An alternative term for garden arbors is bower. An arbor can serve as a doorway to a separate area of the garden, a part of the perimeter and border landscaping, or a place to welcome guests.
Trellis As Decor For A Planter
A trellis is normally used to support hanging or vining plants and can also be used to add ornamentation to a flower garden. Most trellises are made of wood or metal and can be very plain or very ornate. Trellises can create a focal point in a garden by bringing the veiwpoint up to eye level. It has been said that a viewer will like something better when seen at eye level.
This summer I did something different with a beautiful butterfly trellis. I used it as a decorative backdrop for my planter box. It added height to the look of the planter and was a nice ornamental contrast to the flowers in the pot. If I would remember to add climbing plants to my planter, the trellis would also become functional.
My Bloommaster Planters Have Bloomed!
We have finally had some warmth move into our area and the plants are loving it. It was hard to watch the plants stand still during the cold weather that we had in May and the first part of June. Summer is here, planting is done and now I just have to water, fertilize and enjoy. I fertilize my container planters with liquid fertilizer once a week and prune periodically to keep an even shape as much as I can.
When I planted my Bloommaster planters at the end of April, I posted a picture of one when it was first planted. It looked so bare-it was hard to believe it would look like it does now. As it continues to grow, I hope to have a colorful trailing planter.
I promised that I would periodically give updates on the progress of my Bloommaster planters. I have put one of the pictures here, but if you search for Cornerstone Yard and Garden on Facebook, I will post a number of pictures for you to look at if you choose.
Dressing Up Your Mailbox
Adding a vertical look to your yard or driveway can add an aesthetic look to your landscape. A vertical structure will naturally draw your eyes up. The next step is to create a look around the structure that initally pulls your eyes in that direction. You can add a vertical structure, but why not capitalize on the ones already in place such as a mailbox or a lamppost and dressing them with flowers or vines.
If the landscape between the vertical structure and the home is attractive, consider using vines or another type of plant that grows upward to dress the mailbox or lamppost. If the view to the house is not as attractive, use the vertical structure as a concentration point by skirting the area with attractive ground cover and a large concentration of flowers for color.
Dressing your mailbox or lamppost will create an inviting entrance area to you home. Use your imagination and capitalize on the benefits of that vertical structure.
Brown Thumb Got You Down?
My green thumb recently turned brown. I have always taken great care of my many house plants, but while away on a two-week business trip something went wrong. The neighbor kid I paid $100 bucks to feed my cat and take care of my plants let me down. When I returned I was saddened to find many of my beloved floral friends limp and yellowing in their garden planters. The kid left all the blinds down, so they didn’t get any sun, and it doesn’t look like he watered them much either.
I did some quick damage control by watering them, and opening the blinds to give them some much needed sun. I also went to my local nursery and purchased some plant vitamins containing humic acid. The process of soil regeneration was slow, but eventually the plants began clawing their way back to life. My thumb isn’t as green as it once was, but at least it’s not brown anymore.
That Poor Drainage Area
Unless you have a yard or garden that has been landscaped perfectly, you may have an area that has poor water drainage. A good example is the area where the rainwater from your roof drains to or collects. Others may be low spots or at the bottom of a slope. Here are a couple of ideas to help with that poor drainage area.
To improve the soil in a poor drainage area, add organic matter. Dig up the area and work the organic matter in to incorporate air into the soil. This will loosen the soil and help it to dry faster. An alternative is to build a raised bed in the area, adding new compost soil to the raised bed. If necessary to help with additional drainage, slope the raised bed slightly or create a tiered set of raised beds. Plant the area with plants that are tolerant of more moisture.
With a little ingenuity and practical application, you can turn that poor drainage area into a new garden.
Official Start of Summer is When?
The other day I heard someone ask the question “When do you feel the official start of summer is? For you, is it Memorial Weekend or the traditional calender day of June 21st?” In our country, that can be a debatable question. School is out by Memorial Weekend and the temperatures finally reach the level that you can comfortably wear shorts during the daytime. Our grandparents used to tell us, as a rule of thumb, not to plant the garden until Memorial Weekend because it is safe by then. But……
I remember freezing tempatures clear into the middle of June. We just had our last snow a couple of weeks ago. I also remember sitting at baseball games with a coat, earmuffs, gloves and a blanket just to stay warm. That is what makes it debatable. I did plant my Bloommaster planters, though. I am so very ready for flowers and summer. I am hanging the planters on railings and setting the pots out on posts to brave our erratic weather. Barring any freezes, hailstorms or windstorms, they will be a joy to look at in a few weeks.
When you you consider summer to start? Is it Memorial Weekend, June 21st or even sooner?