Awesome and easy greenhouses

A greenhouse (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If you love gardening you're probably the type that would love to have your own greenhouse. Whether you love starting your own seeds or you need a designated space to work in, greenhouses are great places to do what you love best. Here are some great new ones currently out there in the market.

1. Gardman R687 4-Tier Mini Greenhouse

What I love about this is it is great for those working with limited space. I can see this being used indoors, on a back porch or even in a sun room.  Super handy, super cute and under $40.00 Click on the image to check this one out.

2. Spring Gardener Gable Greenhouse
This green house is portable, inexpensive and great solution for those who do container gardening especially when there is an early frost and you need to protect your hanging baskets and container plants. At a cost of under $200.00 it can be a great green house for those just starting out with gardening.  Click on the image to check it out.



3. Greenhouse 15'x7'x7' Arch LARGE Green Garden Hot House

Now this green house is definitely for the no frills gardener that has a big garden and needs the extra space to start those seedlings off early. With measurements of 15'X7'X7' it's big enough to house a lot of plants especially if you make good use of the vertical space this one allows for. This one is inexpensive to at under $130.00 click on the image to check it out.

Growing bigger tomatoes

A scanned red tomato, along with leaves and flowers. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If you would like huge tomato plants you may be missing out on this handy little tip. Those living in the South know that having a large root base and plenty of warm sun and water produce big healthy tomato plants. Here's a great tip if you buy your tomatoes already started.

• If you purchase tomato plants that are already about 8 to 12 inches tall, strip all the leaves except for a few off of the top. Every leaf you remove will form a root which will create a huge root system on a young plant. The bigger the root system, the bigger the plant, the more tomatoes you'll yield.
• On a raised bed dig a hole big enough to accommodate your tomato plant. Remove your plant from its container and if the plant is root bound loosen by hand the roots at the base. 
• If you want to ensure better root production, you can apply rooting hormone to your plant prior to placing into the ground. 
•  Lay your tomato plant down sideways, yes, side ways and cover with a few inches of soil and compost leaving an inch or two below the cluster of top foliage. Do not bury too deep the warmth from the sun and quick absorption of water will help promote root production faster.
• At the neck of the plant just below the cluster of leaves at the top, wrap a 3-4 inch piece of newspaper around the plant. This will protect the plant from pests since it is the only part exposed.This will help prevent tomato cut worms from feasting on your newly planted tomato bush. 

Caring for Azaleas in your garden

Gorgeous pink Azaleas (Photo credit: dawnella66)

Azaleas can be a truly spectacular show of color in your landscape. While they aren't the most difficult plant to care for, they do have a few requirements that will ensure better results. There are very few yards in the south that don't have at least one Azalea. If you are a novice gardener, this shrub may be the one to try out. Inexpensive and usually easy to grow, it's an easy way to add beauty and color to your landscape.

1. Research Azaleas before you buy. A little research can go a long way when it comes to investing in your landscape. Ask questions from your local nurseries and find out which variety you are most likely to have success with. 
   
   
2. Plant Azaleas in a partially shaded location. Ideally it is best to plant Azaleas in early Spring or Fall. Azaleas do well in zones 6 through 8, however many have success in slightly cooler and warmer zones, when they apply more specific care to the shrub.
   
   
3. Make sure dig a hole that is twice as large as the root ball of your Azalea.
   
   
4. To ensure a good start, replace garden soil from your newly dug hole with Miracle grow garden soil mix specifically for all types of deciduous, evergreen, and flowering trees and shrubs. 
   
   
5. Azaleas prefer an acidic soil with a ph level at about 5.5. Have your soil tested if you aren't sure.
   
   
6. Once your Azalea is planted, be sure to give it a long deep drink of water. This eliminates air bubbles and settles the fresh soil. Water like this every day for about two weeks to help your Azalea settle into its new environment. 
   
   
7. Add your mulch. Use fine shredded pine bark mulch, and/or pine straw around the base of your Azalea. Leave a little space between the base of the plant and the mulch. 

Bright red Azaleas (Photo credit: dawnella66)

Tip: Drive around your immediate neighborhood area and observe what results others are having with their Azaleas. If you see great results, take note of where the Azaleas are located. If you feel extra friendly stop and ask your neighbor what variety they are growing. Make sure to compliment their yard Most gardeners love the positive feedback for their efforts and don't mind sharing their advice with you.

Related articles

• The Confederate Rose
• How to grow and care for the eastern Red bud tree
• Spring Hill Roses grand opening

Ornamental grasses

Ornamental grass like this Pampas grass are popular landscape features

Ornamental grasses add interest, texture, color and versatility to any garden landscape. Ornamental grasses are particularly great for growing in poor soil, drought conditions and in full sun. Some of the most beautiful varieties can fill in bare spots in a landscape where little else will grow. Try these varieties.

Pink Muhly Grass

This is a beautiful example and grows in clumps of narrow foliage in Spring and Summer, then in late Summer it becomes a real show stopper in the landscape. Plumes of pink grow and flourish above the foliage, maintaining their vibrant color until the end of Fall. Extremely easy, thriving despite heat, humidity, drought, even poor soil! Birds will enjoy these plants as well and will enjoy the seeds. Grows 3' tall and 2 1/2' wide.

This plant is particularly ideal for the southern garden:

Zones:6-9
Light:Full Sun
Height:18-36
Bloom Time: Late Summer to Frost

Select Blue Festuca

You will no doubt notice this plant in the garden, stunning blue and silver foliage will definitely rival less impressive plants but will highlight and add beauty to other flowers in the garden. Growing 8-10" tall, this grass is ideal in rock gardens and also will grow well in containers. It grows with lovely and numerous flower spikes from early to midsummer. Drought-resistant.

Zones 4-9

Light: Full Sun

Diamond Grass

This plant's name comes from the way the morning light  sparkles as it catches the dew. Feathery grass is a lovely backdrop for any landscape. This stately grass has a graceful upright habit. It even performs well in shade, which is a rare find for ornamental grasses. A wonderful focal point for beds, borders or even pots! Grows up to 4' tall.

Zones : 4-10

Light: Full sun to full shade

Height: 4'

blooms: Late Summer to Fall

Related articles by this author:

• How to grow and care for the eastern Red bud tree
• The Confederate Rose
• Spring Hill Roses grand opening

Slugs in the Garden

Image via WikipediaThis is just a quick tip and for many people with a garden in South Carolina and elsewhere this may be old news. However, there is always the novice gardener to think about and passing on good information on gardening is what a good gardener does.

One pest that may slither into your garden is the slug. There are a ton of  plants a garden slug love to munch on such as Hostas, and many low growing leafy plants. However a slug will climb to any height to satisfy their late night cravings. Ways to know if you have a slug infestation is the key in knowing the best way to get rid of them or at least keep them from doing too much damage.  The tell tale damage of slug damage is smooth edged holes on the leaves and fruit of your plant. Since there are a few other pests that also leave holes, slugs leave a silvery, trail on the ground around the base of the plant.

If you still aren't sure, one sure way to detect the presence is via setting an easy trap for them. There are many ways but this one is pretty much no fail confirmation, and once set will catch many. Simply take a small container fill it with beer, some advise using only "stale" beer but I have found fresh beer works just as well. Pour into your small container just enough to fill in half to three quarters of the way from the top edge.  Put the container down into the mulch or soil around the base of plants that you suspect slugs have been eating on and make sure to place a twig or a large leaf on the edge of the container, so the slug can easily climb right in. Sort of a beer pool that the slug can dive into. The leaf or twig serves as a ramp for the slug to slither into your trap. The slug will go right into the beer and there he will die a happy death. There is no escaping for the inebriated slimer.

That is one safe method, and some others swear by using a glass container filled with cornmeal which you simple turn on its side at the base of the plant. The slugs will slither inside and eat the cornmeal. They will die after eating. Using natural safe ways to combat pests in the garden assures you of  keeping the wanted visitors safe as well. Give these two tips a try and see how they work for you.

Related articles by this author:

• Lovely Hydrangeas for your garden
• How to keep your lawn green naturally
• The Southern Magnolia 
• Ornamental grasses 

Create a “Memory garden” for Mother's Day

Image via Wikipedia

Mothers rarely expect expensive gifts on Mother's Day. Most mothers really just want some of your time. However with Spring in full bloom in South Carolina, adding lovely things to your mom's garden might be a wonderful gesture, a constant reminder of your love. Planting and gardening together may be a great way to start a lovely tradition that the whole family can participate in and enjoy.
Starting a “memory garden” for your mom that the whole family can contribute to every year is a fun and warm way to spend time with mom. You can even improve on a garden mom already has established. Whether it is Mother's day, mom's birthday, Christmas or any other occasion or anniversary, your mom will love seeing the “memory garden” you and your family create over the years. Be sure to use low maintenance plants, so it will be easy for mom to maintain and make sure to stop by occasionally and help tend to it.
 
There are plenty of wonderful shops that specialize in wonderful gardening items in South Carolina. For a full list of wonderful nurseries from all over South Carolina, see : The Helpful Gardener. For a list of wonderful ways to make mom's garden beautiful check out these suggestions:

Image via Wikipedia
1. Jackson and Perkins gift certificates- Mom will love being able to use her gift  certificate to purchase some of the beautiful roses, flowers, and garden accents from Jackson and Perkins. Jackson and Perkins is world renowned for their spectacular roses and if you visit Edisto Memorial Gardens during the month of May, you will be able to see Jackson and Perkins roses growing in one of their many official test gardens.
2. Spring Hill Nurseries- One great source of giving a living gift to your mom and making a memory garden is by visiting Spring Hill Nurseries online and taking a look at the customer rated flowering trees. Flowering trees are beautiful to look at and mom will enjoy your contribution to her memory garden. Spring Hill has great prices and tons of information, and delivery available so you can give your mom a great gift any time of year.Image via Wikipedia
3. Herbs in a pot- If your mom has limited space consider a container garden that will be easy to maintain and can be replenished regularly. There's nothing like a home cooked meal flavored with herbs cut fresh from your garden. The best part is that you don’t need to cultivate an entire backyard plot to grow enough herbs to use in meals – a simple container on a deck or patio can provide herbs all season, as you need them. Here’s how to create an herb container garden. Read more here: Herbs in a Pot
   Image via Wikipedia For more gardening suggestions and inspiration, see: The Southern Garden.
   

 

 

 

 

 

Related articles by this author:

• The Southern Garden
• The carefree Peony for your southern garden
• Pier 1 Imports can add style to your garden
• Top three flowering plants for your southern garden
• Growing Oleander in your southern garden
• Top 3 South Carolina home and living articles
• The Stella D'Oro lily: a keeper for your southern garden

Growing Oleander in your southern garden

Oleander a toxic beauty...

 

One shrub you are likely to see here and there throughout South Carolina is the Oleander shrub. Because of its specific liking for hot drought climates, it is a good choice for the landscape. However there are important things to know about this plant before you decide to plant.

Oleander is one of the most poisonous plants in the world and contains numerous toxic compounds, many of which are deadly to people, especially young children, they are also poisonous to animals. That being said, most animals instinctively avoid consuming this plant.

Oleander is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the dogbane family Apocynaceae, toxic in all its parts. It is the only species currently classified in the genus Nerium. It is so widely cultivated that no precise region of origin, perhaps in southwest Asia, has been identified as its country of origin. 

It is seen widely planted in areas throughout the southern region of the US on old abandoned landscapes and also in many highway landscape plantings. Despite its well-recognized toxic potential, the oleander has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. It was used by primitive people as arrow and dart poisons.

Image via Wikipedia

Although Oleander and all of its parts are poisonous to humans and animals if consumed, it is not without it's predatory insects. Oleander can be infested by scale insects and mealy bugs. Plants thrive in good loamy soil, and it is not difficult to have good specimens if attention is paid to resting and cutting them back after flowering, and subsequent shaping and feeding when growth is active.

Good well-ripened shoots arc essential for free flowering, so they should be fully exposed to air and light. Propagated by cuttings of mature wood, which are often rooted in water. This method is convenient and easy for the gardener to attain success.

Oleanders are well suited for the Southern climate being drought tolerant and heat loving. This being said, as with many shrubs and flowers grown in zones 8 and up, a little afternoon shade will do well for the plant.

To handle this plant safely and keep it well cared for, it is recommended that the homeowner use thick rubber gloves to prune, cut back or plant. If your skin does come into contact be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after doing so. Do not use the wood cuttings to burn in fireplaces or for grills outdoors.

Image via Wikipedia

Oleanders may be infested with mealy bugs, soft scale and white or oleander scale. To control all these, fumigate greenhouses or spray plants repeatedly with nicotine or pyrethrum and soap. In Fla. a fungus often causes witches brooms (which see) on this host.

The plants are stunted and flower production ceases. Prune out all brooms together with 12 in. of the branches on which they are growing; then spray with 3-3-50 bordeaux mixture. Burn all prunings. This flowering shrub is a stunning plant and easy for most gardeners to grow.

By simply applying common sense and ordinary care, this shrub can be a beautiful part of your southern garden.  

Related articles by this author:

• Top three flowering plants for your southern garden
• Container gardening: Petunias
• Pier 1 Imports can add style to your garden
• Who says a vase has to be a vase?

Great plants for the novice southern gardener

Crepe Myrtle photograph by Dawn Gagnon

   

When we buy our first home, there is usually an urge to put our own touches on it to make it truly our own. Either we start painting, or we add some special touches to the yard to improve it. Luckily there are some plants that a novice gardener can feel pretty confident about having success with. In Southern states like South Carolina, finding plants that can stand up to our somewhat harsh zone 8 conditions can be a real challenge.  This list will give you a few to try that should be able to fill the bill.

Easy to grow and care for plants for the new southern gardener...

 Crinum Americanum aka Swamp Lily

Swamp Lily-Photograph by Dawn Gagnon

A relatively large growing lily, this plant can produce unique and exotic blossoms during the summer. Easy to grow, and very tough, this lily is a easy plant for any southern garden. Flowers are fragrant, come in a variety of colors such as pink, purple and white and will give you blooms until Autumn. They prefer moist soil, and full sun but can endure some drought.

 Canna

English: Canna hybrida flower and foliage. Pictured in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania Français : Pied de Canna (variété ‘hybrida’). Photo prise dans la province de Kilimanjaro, en Tanzanie. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 Cannas are tall, tropical and fast growing. They spread readily so be sure to plant them with that in mind. Flowers grow on top of long spikes in the midst of wide green leaves. They are usually a great plant to place in the background of shorter growing flowers. Beautiful along fences, and stunning colors, this plant is fairly easy to grow providing they get enough water. Put out a few beer traps at the base of their bed though, snails love this plant.

  Black Eyed Susan 

Image via Wikipedia

 
These beautiful  flowers thrive in hot conditions and will not be afraid of the tough growing conditions most plants crumble under. If you enjoy an informal wild and casual garden these beauties can't be beat and you will no doubt have success with them as a first time gardener. Buy plants from a reputable garden center and follow the directions and get ready for some pretty results come summer.

  Lantana

Lantana- Photograph by Dawn Gagnon

 Lantana are beautiful and great for covering bare spots in any garden setting. They have vivid colors and can tolerate harsh growing conditions often seen in the south. Heat, and drought do not seem to affect this plant and they have a pungent aroma to boot. Bright colors of yellow, orange and red, among others will set your garden off and once they are planted, very little worry is in order. They will come back year after year and do their part in your garden to make it lovely. Butterflies will love this addition to your yard as well.

Phlox

English: Garden phlox Français : Phlox paniculé Latina: Phlox paniculata (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Phlox are low growing, colorful and fragrant and start blooming in the early part of the summer months. They are most aromatic in the evening time. Many times this versatile, easy to grow flower is seen planted on either side of walk ways and as a border around garden beds. For beauty and ease of care, this lovely flower is a sure winner for the southern gardener.   

Liriope

Liriope- Photograph by Dawn Gagnon

Liriope aka Monkey Grass, Spider Grass and Border Grass 

This is a tough little plant. Once established this border plant will definitely hold up. It does well along walk ways, flower beds and is seen all over southern landscapes. Make sure you plant these attractive plants where you want them to be permanently because they will not be easy to get rid of. A great way to line a flower bed.

Day Lily 

English: A red and yellow Daylily. Daylilies fall into the Hemerocallis genus plants. This color combination is generally called a Red Magic lily. Français : Une fleur d'hémérocalle rouge et jaune. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There are few negatives that can be said for this adaptable perennial. They can grow in almost every zone in the US and you may have seen them even along roadsides. They spread easily, have stunning varieties of flowers and can endure heat and drought conditions with little problems. Once planted, these plants will not fail to give you blooms year in and year out. They require no special care, and will make any novice gardener seem like a pro. They are beautiful planted along fences, as a backdrop to low growing flowers and will fill a garden in no time.

Related articles

• The Confederate Rose
• Spring Hill Roses grand opening

The Knockout rose, a great choice for disease resistance

South Carolina has a long growing season, and Spring starts off with a burst of color in most landscapes. Cherry trees, Bradford Pears, Dogwoods, and Azaleas dominate most gardens in the south in  early Spring. There is one flower that is quite a challenge in most gardens, even in the south, and  that is roses. High temperatures, drought, and  humid nights, often prove to be the enemy when growing roses. Finding one that is a good fit for your yard is important. The Knockout rose may the one of the best to meet this challenge.

Knockout roses can be purchased from a variety of places, your local garden center, and bare root from reputable companies like Jackson and Perkins online. There are single blooming and double blooming varieties that will no doubt reward you with proper care. They typically grow fast, bloom heavy from Spring through late Summer and are disease resistant and pest tolerant. They do get aphids, but if they are healthy, are not affected by them like some more delicate variety of roses may be. Blasting aphids with a strong surge of water usually keeps them in check.

Knockout roses are great in areas where disease is prevalent,  especially to one of the worst culprits, blackspot. While no rose is entirely immune to disease,  however, Knockout roses seem to fair better than most. The key to helping any rose in its resistance to pests and disease is to ensure that they remain strong and healthy.

Knockout roses do well if planted in full sun, in the southern states, it is ok if they have some afternoon relief from the sun. 6 hours of full morning sun is ideal. Water roses on a regular basis, but to avoid disease problems, water by hose early in the day so that roses have time to dry. Roses watered in the evening stay damp overnight and this encourages disease coupled with warm night temperatures.

Knockout roses respond well to some shaping and pruning in the winter, removing dead growth and regularly dead heading spent blossoms will keep Knockouts looking their best. Slow release feeding, organic compost and fish meal worked into the base of the plant will yield beautiful strong plants. Liquid fertilizer that can be dispersed during watering will have promising results and help these fast growing heavy bloomers do their job. If you are planning on any one rose for your garden, Knock out rose will not disappoint you.

Related articles

• Top three flowering plants for your southern garden
• How to make Frozen Lemon Delight
• How to make perfect low carb iced tea
• Hamburger veggie bake
• A complete Easter menu