Water the plants consistently and well during the growing season but don’t leave the soil soaking wet. If your soil is poor, you can fertilize lightly during the growing season, but you’ll need to be careful to avoid fertilizer burn. Keep fertilizer away from the stems; feeding with a diluted liquid fertilizer in a watering basin a few inches away from the plants is your best bet. You may need to stake the tallest plants. For a fun look, grow the sunflowers among pole beans; they can support each other.
When to plant: In spring when the soil has reached 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit (13 to 16 degrees Celsius) Light requirement: Full sun Water requirement: Regular to generous Days to maturity: 68 to 90 Favorites: Giganteus, Kong, Mammoth Grey Stripe, Mammoth Russian, Mongolian Gian, Rostov OG, Russia Giant, Sunseed, Sunspot, Sunzilla, Titan Planting and care: Choose a spot that gets full sun for at least six hours per day, preferably more, and that is not overly windy. Before planting, work in a complete fertilizer about 2 inches to the side of the planting row and about 2 inches deep. Plant seeds 1/2 inch deep and 6 to 12 inches apart, in rows 2 to 3 feet apart. Thin to 1 to 1 1/2 feet apart once the seedlings have reached about 6 inches. It’s generally better to start sunflowers from seeds, as transplanting can be tricky due to fragile taproots, but if you buy seedlings, set them 1 to 1 1/2 feet apart.
Is this a DIY project? Absolutely. Many home improvement stores carry a range of rain tanks and, as long as you already have gutters and downspouts installed, adding the attachment is not too difficult. You just need a downspout diverter and a screen or filter to keep out debris. When you purchase the tank, instructions are usually included.
Tulips are at their most dramatic when planted en masse. A single variety fills each of these formal garden beds, which are defined by clipped boxwood hedges. Because they’re corralled in this way, the garden has structure, even when the bulbs are not in full bloom — an especially important consideration when they begin to decline.
Origin: The Mediterranean, Western Asia and North Africa; Butterfly Blue is a garden hybrid. Where it will grow: Hardy to -40 degrees Fahrenheit (USDA zones 3 to 9) Water requirement: Average Light requirement: Full sun Mature size: 1 foot tall and wide Benefits and tolerances: Makes a great cut flower; attracts butterflies Seasonal interest: Summer When to plant: Spring Planting notes: Plant it in moisture-retentive soil.
Origin: The species is native to the Caucasus Mountains in Eurasia, but Jack Frost is a garden hybrid. Where it will grow: Hardy to -40 degrees Fahrenheit (USDA zones 3 to 8) Water requirement: Average to low Light requirement: Partial shade Mature size: 18 inches tall and wide Benefits and tolerances: Drought tolerant once established; makes a great cut flower; low maintenance Seasonal interest: Spring to fall When to plant: Spring or fall Planting notes: Plant it in average, well-drained soil.
Leave the leaves! One great thing about daffodils is they naturalize, which means they tend to come back in bigger numbers every spring. Once the bulb has flowered, you may be tempted to cut back the leaves, but don't if you want it to bloom the next season. The bulb needs the food stored in the leaves, and only after they have died can you cut them back.
Great Lakes. "Gather mophead hydrangea seed heads for dried arrangements. While Hydrangea macrophylla seed heads are most commonly used, the seed heads of Invincibelle Spirit (Hydrangea arborescens 'NHCA1') are also attractive. Sedum (Hylotelephium spp) seed heads are also good for dried arrangements,"
I hope you kept your old nursery pots or got some from a neighbor who was throwing them away. Fill them about halfway with potting soil or even just your regular garden soil (clay, sand, whatever), and broadcast the seeds evenly across the surface. Let winter snow bury the seeds for you. Come spring you'll have dozens of seedlings in each container, ready to pot up or place in the garden once they've rooted better in a few weeks. Congratulations! You've now become you own wildflower nursery.
Gather Seeds When They're Ready My rule of thumb for seed gathering over the course of late summer into fall is rather laissez-faire: When the seeds start falling off or blowing away, they're ready. (Then you really have to be on the ball, especially if it gets windy.) Here, old Liatris blooms are all puffed up, ready for the seeds to be collected.
Always read the package directions when using any fertilizer, as overapplying can lead to a number of plant health issues. Some plants, like morning glories, will develop lush foliage but few flowers if overfertilized. Even worse, too much fertilizer can increase salt in the soil to unhealthy levels, stunting growth or burning the roots.
When purchasing plants, ask the garden center staff what type of soil that plant needs, and then make sure to group plants with like needs together in your garden. Plants like cacti and succulents need well-drained loose soil; hostas and impatiens need soil that holds a bit of water (not soggy, though); hydrangeas and azaleas prefer soil that is on the acidic side.
In the photo below, the large, heart-shaped foliage of variegated false forget-me-not (Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost') is set off nicely between the tiny, simple foliage of a ground cover and the airy, linear foliage of a grass.
Use an undulating edge when creating a border next to a lawn.
Vary heights - here they range from gourds and their vines on the ground up to hollyhocks that are seven feet tall.
A classic storied plant is franklinia, a small deciduous tree, much like a dogwood, with a unique history. It was first collected in 1770 in the southeastern U.S. by one of America's great early botanists, John Bartram, who named it after his friend Benjamin Franklin.
How to use it. Plant Rocky Mountain zinnia as a showy drift of bright color in prairie gardens, xeriscape gardens and desert gardens. Combine it with drought-tolerant, short, native grasses, like blue gramma grass (Bouteloua gracilis, USDA zones 3 to 10) and buffalo grass
If you're struggling with a hot and dry area that needs a big dose of color, Rocky Mountain zinnia can come to the rescue! Hearty to -30 F and needs full sun.
Planting notes. Dahlias grow from tubers, which should be planted in the spring after the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed up. Select a site that is fairly sunny, with well-drained soil. Dig a hole three times as deep as the diameter of the tuber and set the tuber in the hole with the buds facing upright. Cover the tuber with soil and gently tamp down, watering in thoroughly if the soil is dry. Space the tubers 1 to 3 feet apart, depending upon the variety. Be prepared to stake the taller varieties to keep them upright as they grow.
Be on the lookout for slugs and snails, especially as new plants are emerging from the soil. Use slug bait until the plants are at least a foot tall. Earwigs are another potential problem; they can be controlled by careful application of insecticidal soaps or sprays. Dahlias are susceptible to powdery mildew, which can be treated with a fungicide. To avoid powdery mildew in the first place, consider using drip irrigation at the base of the plant to keep water off the foliage.
Gardeners who live in zones colder than zone 8 should cut the foliage back when it has withered from the first freeze, then dig up and store the tubers over the winter before replanting in the spring.
They grow in a huge range of colors, petal formations, sizes and shapes, making them a very versatile addition to many gardens.
Dahlias are almost embarrassingly flamboyant, so don't even bother trying to sneak them in. Give them a stage to play on and let them create their drama — they're divas, after all.
Due to its propensity to spread, the plant works well as a ground cover. It's used outdoors in many landscape installations and works especially well with other moisture-loving plants, such as the foxtail fern in the foreground and the asparagus fern in the background here. Baby tears prefers shade and moderate moisture outdoors, and in colder regions it dies back during the winter, returning with lush growth as the temperature increases.
Cultivate calm. A gentle breeze on a warm day is a welcome thing, but strong winds can turn reading the Sunday comics at the patio table into a Three Stooges comedy routine. It helps to understand the dynamics of airflow before you erect a windbreak, whether built or planted.
The colorful, tubular flowers are irresistible to hummingbirds as well as butterflies, which is why this plant is a must-have for any butterfly or hummingbird garden.
Some fans of autumn sage (Salvia greggii) will rave about its beautiful flowers. Others will praise the fact that deer and rabbits leave it alone. Desert gardeners love that it will thrive underneath their favorite tree, while Southern gardeners like to plant it in full sun. And people aren't the only ones who find the flowers irresistible — so do butterflies and hummingbirds.
Tip: Anyone can incorporate an artist's touch when designing a home landscape by treating the garden like one big canvas. How? Here's a hint: Artists paint using brushstrokes rather than random splotches, so plant accordingly. A good painter plans a work of art with creativity and wild abandon before refining it into a finished product, and the same is true for gardens.
Common name: Pasque flower Origin: Native to the central and northern U.S. plains from Wisconsin, south to Nebraska and west, all the way up and down the Rocky Mountains. USDA zones: 4 to 9 ;Water requirement: Dry to very dry soil; Light requirement: Full sun to 50 percent shade Mature size: Slowly spreading clump to about 1 foot wide and tall Benefits: Early bloomer, offers insect nectar and pollen for early risers; Seasonal interest: Good two-week bloom period, then puffy seed heads for added show. When to plant: Spring to fall.
The key to good garden design, and replacing butterfly bush, is succession gardening. This means always having something in bloom from spring through fall. When one key pollinator plant stops blooming, another turns on to take its place.
Sneezeweed is another good choice for attracting butterflies and to use for cut flowers.
Easy-Care Sedum. When a plant has a variety named ‘Autumn Joy’, there’s no doubt that it belongs in the fall garden. While ‘Autumn Joy’ is one of the best known of the sedums, a lot of options are available. For the fall garden, hybrid varieties and Sedum spectabile are favorites for humans as well as birds, butterflies and hummingbirds.
The Other Coneflower. There are plenty of Echinacea species available for home gardeners, but purple coneflower, now available in other colors, is the most popular. It's a hardy perennial with a long blooming season. Not only do the flowers attract butterflies and bees, they’re great cut as well.
Glorious Black-Eyed Susan. Humans aren’t the only ones who love this plant. Bees, birds and butterflies also flock to it. Plus, it’s easy to grow and can handle tough conditions. Most begin blooming in summer, but the flowering will continue well into fall. There are any number of species available; two of the most popular are ‘Herbstsonne,’ also called ‘Autumn Sun’, and ‘Goldsturm’.
Decorative Flowering Cabbage and Kale. What were once underappreciated vegetables have found their niche as stars of the ornamental fall and winter garden.Their oversize rosette or leafy heads in shades of white, cream, red and purple look like transplants from a giant’s garden. Grow them just as you would their edible cousins, either in the garden or in containers, and don’t worry as the colder weather approaches. They only look better with a touch of frost, as it brings out their color.
Following closely on the heels of mums in popularity are the asters. There’s a reason these perennials are favorites: Their pink, blue and purple flowers (usually with a bright yellow center) offer a cool contrast to the warmer autumn colors of the changing leaves and grasses. They’re also hardy in almost every climate. A
Mums, specifically florists’ or garden mums, have become the go-to plants for a fall garden. You can go with the traditional yellow-, orange- and red-flowered mums or find varieties with flower colors ranging from white to purple.
LOOK FOR THESE SIGNS OF GOOD HEALTH WHEN PICKING PLANTS.The foliage should look and feel plump and firm. Avoid plants with wilted, yellowed or sunburned leaves. Examine the entire plant for signs of insects or disease. (Reject these plants and bring them to the attention of the staff for isolation and treatment or disposal.) The root ball of balled and burlapped trees should be whole and firm. Remove smaller plants from their containers (ask the sales staff for assistance) and examine the root system. A well-established root system will hold the soil ball together. Healthy roots will be white and firm. Roots that are black or brown, mushy or with a bad odor are not healthy. Avoid plants that are root bound as well; their overgrown root mass may have a difficult time adapting to and growing in your garden soil.
How to use it. At home in traditional gardens, prairie gardens and xeriscapes, poppy mallow looks beautiful winding through the rock garden, blanketing sunny slopes, draping over retaining walls or scrambling between taller perennials and shrubs. Plant it with contrasting foliage textures: fine, grass-like or small. Blue and gray leaves also provide a nice contrast, as shown here, where poppy mallow joins dwarf rabbitbrush
Every landscape needs a plant with a bit of rambunctious zing. Poppy mallow, with its long, trailing stems and summerlong show of flowers, is stunning as a single specimen plant, used en masse as a ground cover or planted throughout the landscape as a unifying element. This native perennial can adapt to a wide range of growing conditions but is a standout performer in those tough spots that are sunny, hot and dry.
Waterwise Landscapes Ideabooks527Questions4 “colorful xeriscape, purple, reds, yellows. Varying heights with ground coverings and shrubs”
Xeriscapes are low-water landscape designs that offer attractive and environment-friendly alternatives to grass lawns, conserving water with drought-tolerant plants and efficient irrigation.
More great design plants: Redtwig Dogwood | Hens-and-Chicks | Snake Flower | Toyon | Black Mondo Grass | Feather Reed Grass | New Zealand Wind Grass | Red Kangaroo Paw | Blue Chalk Sticks |Catmint | Slipper Plant
How to use it. Golden creeping Jenny is a natural ground cover choice where it can be left to run wild: a backyard bank, along a path, or even near a stream. Because golden creeping Jenny prefers moist soil, this is also a great plant to use in a rain garden.
How to use it. Golden creeping Jenny is a natural ground cover choice where it can be left to run wild: a backyard bank, along a path, or even near a stream. Because golden creeping Jenny prefers moist soil, this is also a great plant to use in a rain garden.
Bougainvillea is great for climbing on trelaces and smell great in full sun
"Sneezeweed" is a hardy plant to -40 F. Enjoys full sun and grows 3 ft tall and wide. Attracts butterflies and bees. Very colourful.
Use the colour wheel. Look to the garden for ideas about which colours look good together. Using a colour wheel can also help you determine which colours look good when combined. Group cool colours, like purple, pink and white, for a lovely bouquet. Or, if you prefer warmer colours, use plants with red, orange or yellow flowers. For a striking colour contrast, pair flowering plants with cool colours with those that have warm colours.
Golden catalpa (Catalpa bignonioides 'Aureum'), seen at the right, can be allowed to grow as a midsize tree or cut back hard in spring to keep it as a large shrub. Either way, its large, heart-shaped leaves make a great contribution to this combination. These open with a red flush but quickly turn to a vibrant acid yellow.
Add structure with ferns. The boldest of them all, seen in the foreground above, is sword fern (Polystichum munitum). Although evergreen, it benefits from having its coarse foliage cut down in spring to make room for fresh growth. Cutting is worth doing, just to enjoy watching the fronds unfurl. Cut back in spring.
Add some grasses to the bouquet for filler.
The easiest way to determine if a plant can be used in a bouquet is to cut a stem or two, put them in water and see how they hold up. If the flowers wilt or droop right away, then they won't make a good bouquet. Ideally, they will last at least 24 hours.
Creating a bouquet isn't difficult. In fact, it can be as simple as filling a vase with the stems from a single flowering shrub. Or try pairing flowering shrubs with perennials and vines. Whether your bouquet is made from a single type of plant or several, there are countless possibilities.
Ornamental grasses create movement in the garden.
Put a working fountain in the garden by a secluded sitting area.
s do well in containers, and in some cases even prefer them. For gardeners with poor soil, or no soil at all, container gardening can be a way to create the edible garden your landscape wouldn’t otherwise allow you — all within steps of your house. But where to start? San Francisco Bay Area gardening consultant and edible-garden designer Steve Masley shares 10 great tips to growing the edibles in containers.
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