Let’s Talk about Gardening!

Rose Gardener asked:


Gardening and caring for the different rose types

WATERING

Roses are deep rooted and once they are well established are more capable than most plants of surviving mild drought spells. The first spring and summer directly after planting your rose is very important. During this period if the soil around your rose seems to be drying out give your roses a good soaking. Each rose could get about 2 gallons of water. In following years you will only need to water them if drought seems iminent.

FEEDING YOUR ROSES

As with all plants that provide us with beautiful blooms they need plenty of the correct nutrients. Give roses a good helping of blood, bone and fishmeal in early April, about two handfuls to each rose. In June a handful of specially prepared rose fertilizer will give your roses a huge lift. The magnesium and potash gives the rose a great kick. Just work the fertilizer in gently around the soil at the base of the plant.

MULCHING YOUR ROSES.

Mulching is a very simple task with great benefits. Mulching retains moisture, smothers weeds and generally boosts the health of your roses. Well rotted manure is best but garden compost or bark mulch can also be used.

DEADHEADING YOUR ROSES.

Deadheading spent blooms not only tidys up the rose but actually saves the plants energy and thereby encourages more bloom flushes. A light pruning of hybrid teas will encourage a second flush.

WATCH OUT FOR ROSE SUCKERS.

Shoots that emerge from rootstocks are known as suckers. These will be different in coloring and often by the amount of leaves, than what grows from the stems over ground. Gently scrape away the soil until you can see where the sucker is growing from the rootstock, tear the sucker away cleanly.

CONTROL OF WEEDS.

Mulching is the most effective method of controlling weeds and also the less back breaking.

Hoeing is not as effective and you must take care not to damage the stems.

Sowing other plants underneath the rose is also an option. The least favored option is the application of a rose-bed weedkiller. This will eventually damage the soil and thus your rose.

ROSE DISEASES AND PESTS.

This is an area that turns people off growing roses and really it shouldn’t. Roses have diseases and pests particular to them and as such regular treatment is very effective. The main problems are greenfly, mildew and blackspot.

There are plenty of products that treat these main three problems in one treatment. Performing a regular maintenance schedule starting in April will leave you with very few problems. Do make sure to follow exactly the manufacturers recommendations.

Your roses will respond brilliantly to a little regular maintenance and once you have started your routine there will be very little work attached. Issues will only arise once you neglect your routine and this is what often deters people from growing roses.



DAVE

Corina Clemence asked:


The Loire Valley in France is a superb delight for garden enthusiasts. Not only can you admire the spectacular chateaux and sample fine French cuisine and great Loire valley wine, tourists can also marvel at some amazing gardens. The whole valley is now a world heritage site listed by UNESCO.

Chateau Villandry is a gem and a must see for any one with a vegetable patch in need of some inspiration. Chateau Chaumont on the banks of the Loire River holds a spectacular international garden festival every summer. Peony and rose lovers should visit the botanical gardens at Orchaise west of Blois.

Chateau Villandry owes its fame to the exceptional terraced gardens which sit on three levels and include a water garden, an ornamental garden and an ornamental kitchen garden. Eight gardeners work at Chateau Villandry full time, and plant about 60,000 vegetables and 45,000 plants in its gardens each year. Villandry is a dynamic place, the site of many activities such as the “Vegetable Garden Days” in September, the summer festival, special exhibits and workshops with the gardeners from the chateau.

The gardens at Chateau Villandry are an imaginative twentieth century re-creation of a 16th century renaissance castle garden. The moated Chateau dates from 1536 and had a formal garden in the eighteenth century. The existing garden dates from the years after 1906 when it was purchased by a Spaniard, Dr Joachim Carvallo.

He purchased the property and poured an enormous amount of time, money and devotion into repairing the castle. Inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement, he wished the garden to have a sixteenth century character. He created what many people believe to be the most beautiful gardens anywhere in the world.

The gardens are split into several parts: a maze made from 1,200 beech trees, a kitchen garden with aromatic herbs and vegetables, an ornamental flower garden near the castle, a children’s garden with a play area, a water garden with a pond and a greenhouse garden.

An arbour of grape vines leads to a great parterre, designed as a Garden of Music. The Garden of Love is o nthe other side of the canal. Symbolising the moods of love, it looks rectangular from the chateau but is actually trapezoid. The love garden has its colourful flowers and heart-shaped box hedges laid out with square beds illustrating “Tragic Love”, “Fickle love”, “Tender Love” and “Insane Love”. There is also the beautiful water garden with its lawns and pool of water.

But the real treasure at Chateau Villandry is the ultimate vegetable garden. It is It is bordered by espaliered apple trees, drooping pear bushes and standard roses which symbolise the monks who once tended the first medieval vegetable gardens and laid out in nine squares. Villandry is a vegetal feast, with zigzags of crazy-growing leeks, blocks of autumn pumpkins, beds of yellow and green peppers, big purple cabbages and mounds of celery all replanted twice a year with a brilliant eye for the colours of the changing seasons.

In 1934, Chateau de Villandry was designated a monument historique. It is still owned by the Carvallo family, and open to the public. It is one of the most visited castles in France. In July afer dark the gardens are lit by over 2000 candles and this beautiful vision of the gardens is accompanied by baroque music played by musicians wandering throughout the gardens.

An international garden festival takes places every day during the entire summer, on the grounds of the Chateau de Chaumont. Gardeners from all over the world produce outstanding gardens around a central theme, using nature and art together to create the contemporary effects.

Lasting six months from late April to mid-October, some 25 gardens at Chateau de Chaumont take a different theme each year - from water, vegetables and weeds to more conceptual poetry. The Garden Festival at Chaumont drawing international teams of architects, artists and stage directors as well as gardeners and landscape designers.

The theme for the festival for 2007 is mobility. Last year it was play and most of the exhibits were highly interactive and a delight to the young and to the young at heart.

The botanic park at Orchaise boasts over 2,000 plant varieties from around the world ranging from water lilies to blooming cherries. It is especially well known for its beautiful array of peonies and roses.

The Loire Valley can not help to inspire gardeners. Even Mick Jagger gyrating lead singer of the Rolling Stones, is now garden enthusiast at his preferred second residence near Amboise. He got Alvilde Lees-Milne to lay out a marvellous formal walled garden at his 15th century chateau and he has now become completely part of the garden, knowing every single thing about all the plants, the flowers, and the way the fruit trees are espaliered.



DERRICK

GirlyGirl asked:


I remember they use to sell shelf units with like 3-5 shelves with plant grow lights. Now that I can a bigger home I would love one!

TIM

David H. Urmann asked:


Mohali is the capital of Punjab, adjacent to Chandigarh. It was named after the eldest son of Guru Gobind Singh called SAS Nagar or Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar. Mohali continuously develop its priceless attractions including the fascinating Gardens of Mohali.

Mohali is the 18th district of Punjab, India, adjacent to Chandigarh. It is located west of Chandigarh, Rupnagar district at the north and Fategarh Sahib and Patiala in the south. The fast urban growth and attractions of the city has made visitors from locals and foreign lands praise the majestic Gardens of Mohali.

Below are some popular gardens to visit in Mohali:

Pinjore Garden

Pinjore Gardens is also called the Yadavindra Gardens. It is one of the most popular resorts that lie at the foothills of the Shiwalik ranges. Pinjore is a religious and ancient historical place located 20 kilometers from Chandigarh and 14 kms from Panchkula. Pinjore houses a Japanese garden, mini zoo, plant nursery, guest houses, picnic lawns and the beautiful Mughal Gardens.

Pinjore has been associated with the five Pandava brothers of the Mahabharatha epic. People believed that the Pandavas stayed in this place during their exile. Pinjore nowadays bears some images of the past.

Baisakhi or spring festival is held at the Yadavindra Gardens in April. Moreover, programs for the Mango Festival are arranged in June and July. The gardens have sheltered walks with a cool atmosphere. Fountains are switched on and lights brighten up the place at night during weekends. The doorway end structure is like a disc of an open-air theater. The outer wall is stiff and has all around dieter pavilions that house the zoo. The entire garden is surrounded with arched balconies, fountains, watercourse, flowerbeds, terraces, limpid pools and monumental gateways.

The seven terraces of the garden has a magical descending effect and the green Himalayas rises up that sheer over the walls of the white buildings of Kasauli hill station. Its watercourse showcases a never-ending bubbling music from terrace to terrace.

The garden was designed by architect Nawab Fadai Khan, the foster brother of Emperor Aurangzeb. The garden was built on a classical Charbagh pattern with a central water way, Sheesh Mahal or the palace of glass, Rang Mahal and Jal Mahal (the palace of water). Pinjore Garden was restored by Maharaja Yadavindra Singh of Patiala.

Rose Garden

Rose Garden is one of the largest gardens in Asia with thousands of rose species. It was named after the former president of India, Zakir Hussain. The garden started last 1967 under the guidance of Dr. M.S. Randhawa, Chandigarh’s first Chief Commissioner.

The 30 acre of land contains more than 17,000 plants with 1,600 roses and 50,000 rose bushes. Some of its varieties are hybrid and very rare. It also consists of medicinal trees like the harar, bel, bahera, and yellow gulmohar. The rose garden is a popular venue for the annual rose festival which is celebrated with more than 20,000 visitors. It is held during the end of February or beginning of March. There are contests, competitions, stalls and cultural shows that delight tourists.

Rock Garden

Rock Garden is a splendid work of sculpture in Sector 1 of Chandigarh. The forty acres of land is located between the Capitol complex and Sukhna Lake. The foundation was held by Nek Chand, the road inspector of Chandigarh engineering department.

This garden is very unique because of its art objects made by urban and industrial waste. It uses discarded fluorescent tubes, broken chinaware, auto parts, mudguards, handle bars, broken glass bangles and building clays, coal and waste. The discarded materials was use to create sculptures of soldiers, palaces, temples, women, monkeys and village life.

The Rock garden showcases an open-air exhibition hall and is separated by tunnels, turns, twists and gateways. It is also enhanced with pools, waterfalls and a theater. The garden was run by the Rock Garden Society and even appeared on the Indian stamp in 1983.

The gardens of Mohali can truly be appreciated by visiting, walking through it and studying its meaning for global concerns.



ZACHARY

dzydaim asked:


i want to be creative in my garden, i want it to look beautiful but on my hands on creation, can you help me?

HUNTER

Mary Hanna asked:


When you are ready to mix ingredients for your container garden, be sure the soil is damp and workable. To determine this, take a handful, squeeze it and allow it to drop. If water comes out, it is too wet; if it breaks apart, it is too dry. But if the lump of soil retains its shape or cracks just a little when it is dropped, it is in good condition to work into your gardening pots.

Be certain your garden containers are clean when you start. Soak used or new clay gardening pots overnight so they will not draw moisture from the soil after planting. This is a very important step when you are beginning your plants life. If the pot draws off the moisture the new plant will be deprived. Clean dirty clay pots with a stiff brush and hot, soapy water. Clean gardening pots will be much more attractive in your container garden.

Though redwood, cedar, and cypress gardening pots may be left natural, they may also be stained or painted. First clean the surfaces then apply one or two coats of stain or paint. Let dry completely before planting. Concrete, metal, plastic, fiberglass, and similar materials all need cleaning before planting your container garden.

Suiting plants to garden pots is very important in container garden design. Consider the shape of each container, its color, and texture in relation to the color of flowers and foliage, as well as the ultimate size of each plant in your container garden. Don’t choose material that is too small, and if you want a group of plants for a large container, select one tall specimen for the center to give height and scale. Don’t forget that you can plant vegetables in container gardens; try to incorporate them into your container garden design. And, for a tasty addition to your container garden plant herbs in garden containers or even hanging baskets, your recipes will become marvelous.

In low pots or bulb pans and in tubs, use low-growing plants like fancy-leaved caladiums, petunias, verbenas, Iantanas, ageratum and wax begonias. Hyacinths, tulips, and daffodils are also appropriate. In tall containers, plant specimens of geraniums, heliotropes, coleus, balsam, dwarf dahlias, fuchsias, and marguerites. Reserve the larger container pots and boxes for trees and shrubs or roses.

As a gardener, keep in mind the form of plants, particularly the evergreens which stand out boldly in winter. Rounded types, as clipped yews or globe arborvitae, look well in angular containers. Hollies or yews, sheared into squares or pyramids, look better in circular tubs. This contrast of the curving with the straight always gives interest to the garden and those guests that visit your container garden.

The first step in potting for a gardener is to place sufficient drainage material in the bottom of each garden container, allowing the water to pass through freely, but not so much as to interfere with the roots. An inch or two of flower pot pieces (rounded sides up), or chips of brick or flagstone, pebbles, gravel, small stones, or cinders can be used. The larger the container, the larger the pieces should be. Some gardeners spread a piece of coarse burlap and a layer of sand over large drainage pieces. A layer of Vermiculite or sphagnum moss over the drainage material is also fine to keep soil from clogging holes. If the holes clog the roots will drown in their gardening pot.

Above the drainage, spread a layer of soil, the amount depending on the size of the container and the root ball of the plant. Place the plant in position so that the surface of the soil will be an inch (more for big plants) below the rim of the container. This space is needed to hold water.

Fill soil in around the roots, firming gently with your fingers or a piece of wood so as to eliminate air pockets. Add more soil and firm, but do not make the soil too tight for fine feeding roots must be able to penetrate it with ease.

Finally, water your garden container plants well, let them drain. If water passes through the gardening pot very rapidly, press soil again to firm it; that means there are air pockets. If the soil holds water too long, loosen it a little.

Place the container garden in a sheltered spot out of sun and wind for the first week while they make new root growth and adjust to new conditions. This also helps to avoid shock. Once your plants have settled in, you ready to arrange your container garden according to your original container gardening design.

Happy Container Gardening!

Copyright © 2006 Mary Hanna All Rights Reserved.

This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged.

Mary Hanna is an aspiring herbalist who lives in Central Florida. This allows her to grow gardens inside and outside year round. She has published other articles on Cruising, Gardening and Cooking. Visit her websites at http://www.GardeningHerb.com http://www.CruiseTravelDirectory.com and http://www.ContainerGardeningSecrets.com or contact her at mary@webmarketingreviews



BURTON

b asked:


I have no formal education but I do have a green thumb, an eye for design and I’m pretty crafty. In order to start a landscape business I think you really need to be a landscape architect. So hope someone can help!

MARLON

Rene F asked:


We are starting a new garden and wish to keep organic as much as possible. We haven’t found much at our local garden center or large retailers for items such as compost or organic seeds or seedlings. We live in Metuchen, but are willing to travel if there is a store that matches our needs. Thank you.

DANA

Bare Bones Gardener asked:


There is a strong belief among many people, that Australian Natives are beautiful but have no perfume. A stroll through the bush will dispel that rumour easily.

The fragrance of crushed leaves and scented blossoms can be almost overpowering at times. But many of the natives have a more subtle fragrance; you have to be close to them at the correct time to appreciate the flavours and scents.

The perfume of native plants is often produced at different times of the day or night. Perfumed native flowers include many of the Grevilleas (some like G. biternata and G. G. buxifolia have a strong honey-like perfume others like G. buxifolia have a light fragrant perfume), Boronias ( e.g. B. floribunda, B. serrulata and B. megastigma), Sowerbaeas (Vanilla Lilies), Xanthoreas (Grass Trees), Banksias, Eleaocarpus reticulatus (Blueberry Ash) which has a strong almost aniseed scent, Hakeas, Pittosporum undulatum (Native Daphne) — the perfume of this species may becoming overpowering in the evening –, Leptospermum species (e.g. L. flavescens), Homoranthus species (which has a Baked Biscuit scent) and Hymenosporum flavum (Native Frangipani). Many of the white flowering Eucalypts, Melaleuca and Callistemon species have a strong honey scent.

There are a number of fragrant orchids particularly the Dendrobium species: these tend to be strongest from early morning to the early afternoon. While some of the Cymbidium species such as C. suave have a good perfume during the middle of the day). The Sarcochilus species have what is best described as a spicy aroma.

The aroma released by some plants foliage is not revealed until it has been disturbed, crushed or brushed against. These include the Backhousia citriodora (Lemon Myrtle) which is probably the best of all native lemon scents and is also used commercially as a cooking ingredient, while the foliage of B. anisata is strongly scented like aniseed; Eremophilas, Eriostemon species, Prosantheras,

Leptospermum petersoni (Lemon-scented Tea-tree — also good as a hedging plant), Darwinia citriodora (a light lemon scent) and some Melaleucas (Paperbarks) also have scents.

Of course you can’t forget the Eucalypt family with its famous eucalypt scent, which is redolent of our bushland. But now many other countries are growing vast plantations of them for timber, firewood and revegetation programs on every continent bar Antartica. One species, the E. citriodora gives off a strong lemon-come-eucalypt scent while Agonis flexuosa has a combination of eucalyptus and peppermint scent.

Calomeria elegans has been used as a substitute for lavender. Some species of Boronias also have strongly scented foliage.

And let’s not forget the grassy type plants, the lomandra’s and the Grass trees, both of which give a lovely honeyed smell when in flower.

So why not think about using some fragrant native plants in your garden. Not only will you get the benefit of supporting your local environment. But you might also get other benefits, like attracting birds, other wildlife and butterflies to your garden.



JOE

Ashley asked:


I live in TN. So, far we have had about 2 weeks of warm weather (60s & 70s) before spring even set in. Last year, our winter ended right around this time also unlike past decade where cold weather ( < 60F) would last through April. So, should I wait a little longer or can I go ahead and start my flower gardening now?

KERRY