Perennials - Perennials should be cut back after blooming and reset this month (October). Perennials set now will be established and ready to grow in the spring. Some of the biennials tend to become perennials in our gardens, and occasionally a half-hardy annual lives on and on.

If you have not yet cleaned up all litter or garden trash, be sure it is done this fall. Do not provide a winter home for insect pests.

Chrysanthemums - October is the month of heaviest bloom for this queen of fall flowers. The most important thing to remember is to provide plenty of water for them. They are heavy feeders (which should have been taken care of in September) and heavy drinkers. Visit the fall shows and gardens of chrysanthemums and write down names of varieties you like and try them another year. The fall shows are wonderful places to see the best in the seasonal flowers. Keep a close check on the weather, and before killing frost lift clumps of chrysanthemums and put in the garage or basement for continued bloom. A few may even be potted and kept in the house. An additional month of flowers may be had in this way.

Soil Preparation - In open spaces in the garden, dig the soil deep, adding a little complete fertilizer. Or plant some type of cover crop and turn it under for a green manure. Soil preparation can go on all year in a garden. Just turning the soil will keep it in good tilth.

Miscellaneous - Take cuttings of herbaceous plants like the donkey ears plant and root them for next year’s garden. Many gardeners carry over plants of all kinds like the donkey ears plant simply as rooted cuttings taken during October. The cutting wood should be firm and seasoned, and not soft and succulent, for best results. Plant pansy seeds for transplanting next month. Pansies are the chief source of bloom in many winter gardens. Continue planting the garden lilies started last month.

Visit the countryside and gather seed pods, weeds and flowers for drying. Many interesting materials are available for winter bouquets, and October is the month for collecting and drying them. Divide and replant peonies, or plant new ones, this month.

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There are a lot of reasons why so many folks enjoy gardening in a portable greenhouse. The same benefits can be had as you would enjoy from conventional gardening outside. However there are a few significant differences and advantages.

Greenhouse gardening has some important differences from planting an outdoor garden. Controlling the temperature is an important consideration in a portable greenhouse. It’s also important to properly care for your plants. There is no rain in a greenhouse. Therefore, you have to make sure your plants get the suitable amount of water for their survival.

In a portable greenhouse you can enjoy gardening whether it is cold outside or not. A greenhouse makes a great place to store your plants during the winter months . Throughout the winter, you can plant seeds and watch them grow into seedlings that can be planted in the ground come the spring. If you have a greenhouse, you will be able to have the pleasure of enjoying fresh flowers and vegetables all winter long.

It’s not just vegetables that make greenhouse gardening a great pastime. It is also perfect for ornamental plants and flowers. A portable greenhouse is just what you need to over-winter plants that will give your outdoor garden a head start the following spring. They are able to protect the plants from exposure to strong winds, rain and other elements. Seedlings should be sheltered from the outdoor elements, and a greenhouse is ideal for providing that protection.

Other reasons for a portable greenhouse include having a continuous supply of plants for every season. It’s a great chance to try out new species of plants that you might not otherwise consider. Greenhouse gardening allows you to tend your plants without any concerns about the elements that may beat down on them. The controlled atmosphere and climate in a greenhouse makes it perfect for fragile plants not accustomed to cold weather.

It’s important that you place your portable greenhouse in a suitable location. One of the keys to successful gardening in a greenhouse is having the right sun exposure. This is critical to the well being of the plants you are planning to grow. Also keep in mind any buildings and trees that are situated close to the greenhouse. Do they create a shadow over your greenhouse? Will the trees grow so tall that they will cut off the light?

Ventilation is a requirement to lessen overheating that sun exposure might generate in the greenhouse. You should place a thermometer in a shaded area within the greenhouse. Then you must constantly monitor the temperature, especially during warm days. You may need to ventilate the greenhouse when necessary to avoid wilting of your plants due to excessive heat.

Greenhouse gardening is not only productive, it is also relaxing. Gardening has been shown to help ease stress and improve health. You’ll also reap the rewards of a bountiful harvest, whether it’s beautiful plants and flowers or tasty, nutritious vegetables.

In the beginning there were no roses, just the house set among oaks on a sloping hill. They were not interested in landscaping but something had to be done. So the couple called in an energetic nurseryman who planted the grounds with honeysuckle, Bridalwreath, lilacs, spirea and evergreens. In a few years his plants far outgrew their allotted space and the grounds were no more pleasant than before.

About this time the oak trees succumbed to a disease, one by one, and had to be removed. As if to save the situation, fate, disguised as an Etoile de Hollande rose flourishing in the shrubbery border, stepped in and inoculated the couple with a rose-growing virus.

Never since has Etoile de Hollande bloomed so luxuriantly, but no matter. The rose was responsible for the slowly rising fever that caused this husband wife teem to get eight more roses.

Despite neglect, the plants thrived. Maybe fate made them beautiful to inspire but more likely, it was good soil balance, lack of cultivation and a “green growing mulch” of portulaca or “moss roses” Which had crept into the bed.

Not much later fate took full charge. A broken arm in the fall and during the slow months it was mending, all the books in the house had been read and the only thing left was seed and flower catalogues.

The picture of roses brought the old fever back and now there was nothing to interfere with its course. Not even the persistent considering of golf as the only worthwhile diversion but the arm would not allow any play.

Due to the early training under a wonderful mother who loved growing things, the man of the house felt quite at home in this new world and as his vision broadened, he realized how easily a rose bed could replace a golf green.

Right off he knew growing roses on flat ground was as challenging as desert landscaping. It was a tame adventure compared to the thrill of hillside landscaping to develop really good ones on a hillside, such as his.

The property, on a slope facing south, was 168 feet long, 85 feet wide and rises approximately 50 feet above the street. The land climbs in a series of terraces from street to level ground and the house. The ascent continued, in smaller terraces behind the house, to level ground and the garage. It rises again to the rear lot line.

Such terrain is unconventional and presents obstacles. Some imagination, a strong determination-. to have lots of A bright roses and a free expression of our creative powers were needed to develop it.

Beauty and Utility

The highly decorative flowering crabapples are choice trees for the purpose in attracting flying wildlife. Those with the smaller fruits seem to be more favored by the birds. First to be eaten will be the abundant, beautiful scarlet fruits of the Sargent Crabapple (Malus sargenti), lowest growing of the family (up to 8 feet) but wide spreading. By winter the fruits of Malus floribunda will be taken, while those on Malus seiboldi will provide late-winter food.

The European Mountain Ash (Sorbus aucuparia), or Rowan Tree as it is known abroad, produces spectacular clusters of orange fruits that are as delectable to Waxwings, Robins, and other birds, as the foliage, unfortunately, is to Japanese beetles. The native Mountain Ash (S. americana) is equally interesting to the birds but poorer in form and more difficult to purchase.

The hawthorns, too, are widely used ornamentals which produce abundant, colorful food. English Hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantha) is perhaps the best of half a dozen fine bird-attracting varieties. Cockspur Thorn (C. crus-galli), Washington Hawthorn (C. phaenopyrum), and Arnold Hawthorn (C. arnoldiana) are among the most widely planted for this purpose. All of these hawthorns require full sun, and well-drained soil.

Popular Dogwoods

Popular with man and bird alike is the lovely Flowering Dogwood, whose showy red fruits are eaten by no less than 93 species.

Of the shrub Dogwoods, we have found that the migrating Thrushes prefer the blue berries of the Silky Cornel (Cornus amomum). Generally they are all eaten by mid-October. Gray Dogwood (C. paniculata) and Redosier (C. stolonifera) also give excellent results.

Evergreens like the aglaonema chinese evergreen add much to the gardens year round beauty and to its success in attracting birds. Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) is among the best. Unfortunately it is an alternate host for the cedar-apple rust and should not be planted in the vicinity of apple orchards. Elsewhere it serves a triple purpose: excellent cover, fine nesting sites, and choice winter food. The blue-gray fruits are eaten by more than a score of birds. Both staminate and pistillate trees must be present to produce fruit. This is also necessary to produce berries on the showy American Holly (llex opaca), and Black Alder or Winterberry (I. verticillata), both favorites of many birds. Ordinarily, the latter holds its fruits into mid-winter, as its name suggests. This past year, though, we watched flocks of Robins and Bluebirds completely strip several heavily laden bushes by early November, though the majority of the plants such as chinese evergreen were untouched until later.

For planting around the trees, the suburban gardener has a wide choice of shrubs, with barberries, blackberries and raspberries, blueberries and huckleberries, buckthorns, chokeberries, cotoneasters, dogwoods, honeysuckles, and viburnums all highly recommended.

Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) and Alder-Buckthorn (R. frangula) reach a height of 15 to 18 feet, and are considered by some authorities to be the most effective of all shrubs in attracting birds. Buckthorn is not recommended, however, in areas where oats are grown because it harbors oat rust.

Perhaps the most popular plants, in the gardeners estimation, are the viburnums. The majority of them are noted for their brightly colored fruits, either at maturity or at some time during ripening. Some are notable, too, for their blossoms or their fall foliage, or both.

Most widely planted is the vigorous growing European Cranberrybush (V. opulus) which closely resembles the native High-bush Cranberry (V. trilobum). Unfortunately, its brilliant red fruits are much tarter than those of V. trilobum which are used in making preserves. The birds evidently find the berries unpalatable until they have frozen and thawed a number of times. In late winter they are greedily eaten, by flocks of wandering Waxwings and by Robins and Bluebirds migrating northward.

Because Aloe plants are made up of 95% water, they are really frost sensitive. If they are grown outdoors in temperate climates, they ought to stay planted in extensive sun, or else light shade. The dirt they are grown in should be moderately fertile, and fast draining. Established plants will endure a lack of water quite well, but for the gain of the plant, H2O ought to be provided.

Because of their reputation, Aloe vera plants are obtainable at nearly all garden shop or garden centers. Unless you reside in an area with an extremely balmy environment, it’s best to leave your Aloe plant in the pot and position it close to a window that gets a lot of sun. You can move the pot to the open air during the summer months.

Aloe vera is a succulent, and as such, retains a considerable amount of water within its foliage and root system. At some stage in the winter months, the plant will become dormant, as a consequence will require very little moisture.

During this cycle watering must be negligible. Let the potmix become totally dry before giving the plant a mug or two of h2o. Throughout the summer months, the soil should be entirely soaked, but then be allowed to dehydrate again before re-watering.

When it comes time to re-pot your Aloes be mindful that that they have a shallow, spreading root structure so select a wide planter, rather than a deep-seated one. Using a planter with a drainage opening, or you will need to lay a 1-2 inch tier of gravel inside the base of the planter to make sure there is adequate drainage.

Utilize a first-class commercial potting blend with extra perlite, granite grit, or coarse sand added. You may possibly also use a packaged ‘cacti mixture’ soil. Fertilize once a year, in the spring with a dilute (half potency), bloom type fertilizer (10-40-10).

Aloes are propagated by re-potting the pups which are formed at the base of older plants, when they are a couple inches tall (or higher). They may also be grown from Aloe seeds.

The Aloe plant has many healing properties, however, I can only talk from my individual experiences. I always make sure I have an Aloe plant witin easy reach of the kitchen. I do this mostly for helping with minor burns. I know if I apply Aloe immediately to my burn with newly picked gel it removes any pain almost immediately. Any subsequent blistering is also kept to a minimum.

I also found Aloe Gel successfully reduced itching from stings, bites in addition to a variety of ’stinging’ flora, such as poison ivy. It is also excellent for the same problems, when they are encountered by your family pet.

To benefit from it medicinally, merely detach a lower leaf from the plant, cut it open and apply the gel to the affected area.

If you have ever spent any time at all in a garden (your own or another persons) then you know that flower gardens bring joy and tranquility. They are very soothing to be around. In fact, I would go so far to say that being in a garden is one of my very favorite spots to be in. Here are some steps in making your garden really pop!

Pick the right plants.

When you choose a perennial garden (meaning the plants come back every year) then you will need to make sure that the plants not only are suited to your climate or zone, but also bloom in succession, so that you always have something blooming in your garden.

This is not as difficult as it may sound. Shop at your local nursery for the best selection of perennial plants that will be cold hardy in your area. Then simply look at the tags on the plants you are buying to select staggered bloom times.

An alternative to this approach is to get a premade plan or garden map that is made for your zone, and to buy the plants listed. This is a great way to go if you want your garden to be as fuss free as possible.

Add hardscaping elements.

The plants in your garden are really important, but what makes your garden shine are the other elements that you add.

When you use garden fencing, garden statues, and pathways in your garden, you will really make your plants stand out more. For a simple cottage look just add a white picket edging a few stepping stones and a statue of children. Or you can achieve an Asian theme by selecting plants with clean lines, using polished rocks, and placing a Buddha garden statue front and center.

Water, water, water.

It is easy to kill a garden when it is not watered enough - or if you water too much. One of the easiest ways to get enough water to your garden is to use a soaker hose, and just leave it on for an hour or so every 2 to 3 days depending on your weather.

The problem with food and plants these days is that they are all too expensive with the economy as it is. A garden is a good alternative, but the start up costs of getting your garden going can be too much at once for you. Following some simple tips, you can lower the costs and have it running in no time.

Gardening costs that we don’t commonly think about would include reading material. After all, we have to learn somewhere! If you don’t have a knowledgeable friend around to teach you, you will end up paying possibly hundreds on learning material. The smart beginner will instead use the library for books, or use the Internet to find the gardening tips and advice necessary.

Going to a nursery is expensive- it’s probably the last place you want to look. That is, unless you have knowledge of how to buy plants and flowers off season. The only real problem here is that when buying like this, the plants or flowers will not bloom until the next growing period. Since they are in less demand, the price associated with them will drop.

Roadside shops that sell plants are the most cost effective for your money- the only problem is finding them. Going to a local farmer’s market is your best bet in finding discount plants and flowers. You can also barter at these locations, unlike nurseries, so you can truly find a good fit for your budget and what you want for your garden.

Don’t be afraid to make friends with other gardeners- you will find they are the most generous of the bunch. Gardeners will actively engage in garden swapping, or a term used to describe the process of trading seeds, bulbs, and other materials to grow a new type of plant in your garden. The trade will, of course, demand that you have something to give in return.

True need for food and the like should be solved through organizations in your area. Government and private organizations that help those in poverty will be glad to help start gardens, offer tools, and even provide food for families in extreme need. Don’t be too full of pride to make use of the services- they are, after all, made for those in your situation.

Closing Comments

Creativity is the key to all problems. When you are looking for money to go towards a garden, just think of how you can approach the situation with a frugal sense of mind. You will either come out ahead, and build the garden, or just keep trying harder and make progress.

Whether you purchase or grow your transplants, well-grown 6 to 8 week old plants are best for the majority of these vegetables, except celery which should have a longer period of growth. The transplants should appear stalky and well grown showing every sign of receiving ample light. Tomato transplants will be about 6 to 8 inches high. Sometimes these transplants are sold in Hats without separation. Although they may be more expensive, plants grown in flats in individual containers like peat-pots, will transplant best and get off to a quicker start.

Bean seeds do not germinate successfully until the soil has warmed up somewhat. So there is little advantage in starting them too early. They are very tender and easily damaged by frost.

Some transplants benefit by watering them in with a weak fertilizer solution. These are known as starter solutions. Some companies sell some of their high analysis fertilizers in packages specifically for such use. Follow the manufacturers directions in using the fertilizer in this way.

Sweet corn addicts find plenty of varieties to suit their taste in home garden planting. Some prefer the old fashioned strains because of their sweetness and tenderness; others prefer the higher yields of the many hybrid sweet corn varieties available commercially.

Gardeners in the extreme north of the western region, particularly in the higher altitudes, are not quite so fortunate. The season is not long enough to mature these varieties successfully each year. To help fill these needs, earlier maturing kinds have found a place in some seed catalogues.

Glad Planting Time

May is the month to plant gladiolus corms out west. It is well to plant any time after the leaves start coming out on trees and shrubs. You can choose from a variety of best shade trees. This varies from late April until late May, depending on locality. Some plantings may be made at two week intervals up until the last of June to insure blossoms until frost. A better way to get succession of bloom is to select varieties whose blooming dates vary from early to late in the season. In general, smaller size corms bloom later, so planting corms in a variety of sizes will also aid in bloom succession.

Soaking corms in fungicide dips aids in reducing glad diseases. Plant #1 size corms from four to six inches deep (deeper in a light sandy soil) and smaller corms somewhat shallower, according to their size.

Dont plant dahlia tubers until danger of killing frosts is past. Plant the tubers so the eyes or buds are about four inches below the ground level. Make sure, when planting dahlia tubers, that a bud is present at the top of the tuber, otherwise no plant will form. Large clumps can be cut into a number of smaller divisions as long as one makes sure that each division has a bud at the base of the crown.

Roses are beautiful flowers but they require a lot of care. Especially when it comes to uprooting them and transferring them to a new place. You simply do not pull them out of the ground and go. This guide will teach you the proper way to do that so that your blooms maintain their beauty.

You want to fix up your new place making sure it is the appropriate site for your flowers. It is also a good idea to surround the roots of the plant with a wet cloth so as to keep it hydrated even when you are moving the plant under the scorching heat.

Lots of H2O is also essential especially on the eve of the transfer. This will keep the plant intact and will have a better chance of surviving the entire process.

Most likely you are going to lose some of the roots from transplanting the plant. The roots of a rose plant grow very deep into the soil past the point of a reasonable amount of soil that can be removed. But, with enough water absorbed by the rest of the plant, your roses have a greater chance of survival. When digging the plant out, take as much of the root ball as you can handle.

It is not necessary to prune healthy plant growth from the top structure in order for the plant to survive. The growth of the plant is important in the production of sugars. It only hurts the plant to cut its growth away. After the transplant if the plant starts to wilt at its tips it’s a sign that it is having trouble supporting its top structure. If this happens increase the amount that you water it and you can prune any tips that do not recover.

You should also line the new hole with compost such as bone meal and place it at an angle a bit more elevated than the old. It is okay for the bud union to be around two inches higher than the soil. Do not forget to remove the pockets of air on the soil after the entire relocation process.This can be done by patting the soil.

Most rose enthusiasts would agree not transplant roses in the growing season for several reasons. It is easier to transplant the roses while they are dormant because there is less of a risk of them going into shock since they are not growing. Plus, right after the annual pruning the plant will be smaller and easier to move around. But, with proper preparation and a lot of water, anyone can follow the steps listed here and anyone can have beautiful, flourishing roses after a transplant during any season.

Backyard landscaping is all about making your surroundings look better. When you do it right, it can almost become a science of planting, growing, constructing, and sculpting the area to look its best. All the elements need to be taken into consideration such as climate, presence or lack of wind, lighting, and overall weather conditions to beautify the areas around your house.

The soil that is in your backyard or garden along with the climate will have an impact on what types of plants and flowers you should use. You might also find out what kinds of pests might be a problem and what you will have to do to fertilize and keep everything pest free and growing. Once you have considered these things you will then be able to start putting together a plan of what you want things to look like.

Designing a garden will allow you to pick from a wide spectrum of colors, shapes and sizes of plants and flowers. There are plants that have purple, yellow, blue, pink, and red colors and of course there are also vines and shrubs that have all sorts of looks. You will also need to decide whither you want your trees and plants to be evergreens where they always stay green or whether you want ones that lose their leave at winter time.

Plants and trees can be chosen for functionality as well as looks. Big shrubs and trees can help shade a house from the sun during the summer and hedges can be grown that serve to provide privacy. Natural walls built of plants and shrubs always seems to look better than a wood fence that will grow old and worn looking over time.

For the landscaping of a backyard, on the other hand, other ideas come into play. The more practical use of space is to be considered in a backyard. Front yards are usually for aesthetics and for show. Backyards are living spaces. In a household with children, the backyard could be landscaped as a mini playground for young kids. A house with no kids and plenty of backyard space might consider a wading pool for a cooler house atmosphere. A young couple as homeowners might want an entertaining area for the occasional get-together with friends and family. A busy homemaker might want an herb or vegetable garden in lieu of the flowering plants.