My Garden info

In this garden, which blends so seamlessly with the surrounding natural landscape, certain plants play an important role in the transition from manicured beds to wild vegetation. The following are mostly native shrubs and perennials that tolerate challenging conditions well. They are equally at home in the garden and on its edges. What is an Eco Garden? Eco-gardening is a collection of environmentally friendly practices for growing plants and maintaining gardens and lawns. The goal is to choose plants that create a harmonious and balanced ecosystem without synthetic chemicals and consider how you use natural resources. Ecological gardening follows natural growing cycles and relies solely on biological processes. When you start sustainable gardening, you learn to respect "nature's ways" that encourage the presence of beneficial insects, protect the ecosystem from invasive species, and reduce water loss. This approach creates a balanced ecosystem where plants t...

Bright flowers, grass-like leaves and surprising hardiness can give your beds and borders a long season of sparkle. Like many northern gardeners, I've had red-hot poker envy for years, but have ruled out growing them because they're more likely to survive the winter in my area. However, there are a few things I'm really excited about. New Kniphofia Introductions We are growing at the Chicago Botanic Garden. It's pretty cool to have a South African plant overwintering in the Midwest, isn't it? This is not the first time experiencing the thrill And the agony of cultivating Kniphofia. Thirty years ago, we tested 20 red-hot pokers on a slope with full sun, well-drained soil and a wooden fence to block prevailing winds. Each plant survived the winter, grew vigorously, and simply glowed in the second summer. I crowed about our success, perhaps a little faintly, but certainly too soon, for the next winter the plants all died. Complete failure can be soul-sucki...

 How to Start Seeds Indoors  When spring rolls around after a long winter, you don't want to waste a minute of that glorious warm weather for growing! Starting seeds indoors is a great way to get ahead of the season. With just a few dollars worth of seeds, you can grow a lot of plants very cheaply. Starting your own seeds allows you to try unusual and interesting varieties that you might not find at the local garden center. Here's what you need to know to successfully start seeds indoors to plant seeds in your garden once the temperatures warm. Container options Plastic seed trays and seed-starting kits are very easy to grow seeds indoors. But you can also dig out your recycling bin. Remember to drill a drainage hole in each container before planting. Cardboard egg cartons work well, but you can also reuse items like clean, cut-up milk jugs and yogurt cups. Or, you can make your own seed starter pots out of newspaper. How to start seeds indoors Although the plant...

These are perennial plants to cover a small or large area The term "ground cover" often conjures up visions of boring patches of plain green leaves — just enough to fill space but not satisfying for the color-loving gardener. Fortunately, sprawling perennials do an equally good job of protecting the soil and suppressing weeds. Mass plantings of these easy-care perennials are great for new gardens because just a few can fill a lot of space, making it easier on your budget. In established landscapes, combining individual shrubs with large beds of flowering ground covers dramatically reduces laborious mowing and trimming work. Repeated blooms are best for smaller spaces The best ground covers for small spaces have a long flowering season, but usually require light trimming or deadheading after the first flush to prevent blooms. Keeping these plants in manageable patches makes this tedious maintenance easier because you can reach all the plants from outside the bed. ...

These options have manageable habits that bring shape  When you think of ornamental grasses, the bigger the plant, the bigger the show, right? In the same way, many of us agree that the smallest grasses in the front of the garden attract the most attention because we can get close to admire their shape, texture and lush color. Being the middle child means you're likely to be overlooked, but that doesn't mean you're not still part of the family.  Medium-sized grasses play an important role in bringing texture and shape to the middle of the bed. They are a great way to draw the eye upwards from the front of a border. The following are some of my favorite options for grasses that are manageable varieties of 2 to 3 feet tall and wide. 1. Peruvian feather grass (Stiba ichu) It is a southern relative of Mexican feather grass, horsetail grass (Nassella tenuissima, zones 7-11). Bonus: It's tall and beautiful. Although relatively new to the garden center, Peruvian f...

Reduce problems in your landscape  One of the biggest challenges gardeners face is controlling unwanted plants. Weeds and other problematic plants are introduced into garden areas in a number of ways. Seeds can be carried by wind currents or carried by wildlife. Dormant seeds buried beneath the soil may germinate when the soil is disturbed by plowing or digging. Some garden plants have invasive growth habits and must be controlled so that they do not displace other plants. Invasive plant species have become a major problem in recent years with increased development, shrinking natural habitats and a changing climate. Many introduced plants from other parts of the world have displaced native species and disrupted local ecosystems. Gardeners can do their part by keeping weeds under control and planting invasive species. Learn more about some of the most invasive plants and what to plant instead. 1. Bradford pear (Pyrus galleriana) Introduced from Asia in the 1960s, this d...

Spice up your garden in late summer   With my garden information plants for August and beyond. In late summer, gardens run out of steam. The best antidote to a flagging August garden is to add plants that bloom later in the year. my garden info reveals how to boost your borders and patios and bring color well into autumn by growing some favorite plants for late summer colour. 1. Callistemon The bottlebrush plant, Callistemon, is native to Australia, but the shrubs are now popular ornamental shrubs due to their showy flower spikes. Grow in a warm, safe place. 2. Echinacea No list of plants for late summer color would be complete without echinaceas. These hardy perennials can be adapted to suit a variety of planting themes, from tropical to prairie. 3. Lychnis coronaria Not only do rose campsis (Lychnis coronaria) enjoy the heat, but they also thrive and develop excellent leaf color in dry soil. Deadhead magenta flowers frequently to prolong the display. Need to fill hot...

 Fragrant indoor plants  Houseplants add beauty to any room, but few provide a wonderful fragrance with their leaves or flowers. From sweet and floral to warm and spicy, these are highly fragrant houseplants to fill your home with sweet aromas. 1. Angel's Trumpet In full bloom, angel's trumpet is nothing short of spectacular. The large flowers are stunning, and at night, their strong fragrance fills the air. This tropical tree can be grown outdoors year-round (zones 8-10). Elsewhere it must be brought indoors for the winter. Be warned, though: All parts are highly toxic if eaten, so keep it away from pets and small children. 2. Arabian jasmine The stars of Arabian jasmine, the pure-white fragrant flowers bloom year-round, creating a soft, floral fragrance. Its flowers are used in Hawaii to make jasmine tea and flower necklaces. You can let this shrub vine grow long stems and grow it on a trellis or trellis. 3. Citrus Certain varieties of oranges, lemons, and other...

They're Worth the Trip Alone When we're looking for garden inspiration, we turn to home and garden shows, Instagram, and our test garden pros along with our more seasoned neighbors. But lately, we've been gathering innovative ideas around edible gardening and flower gardening from unexpected hotels and resorts. The typical traveler often factors features such as a property's location, the number of beds in a room, and the on-site spa and restaurant to decide which place to book. However, you might want to start looking at the grounds, because hotels and resorts around the world have some seriously stunning gardens. 1. Adare Manor County Limerick, Ireland With this 19th-century castle, 104 elegant guest rooms, an excellent spa and a Michelin-starred restaurant are what first catches your eye—but the greenery helped give the property its name. The Irish translation of Adare is Áth Dara, meaning "fort of the oak tree". Blooming oak trees join reflect...