Summer Summer is finally here. Break out the sunblock and the gardening hose. This edition has you covered from patriotic planters to cutting your fresh flowers. Reading by a pool is optional, but highly recommended.
It's not too late to plant a container garden The rainy weekends of late spring may have gotten the best of some gardeners. But while it s already mid-july, there s still plenty of time to beautify your outdoor living space with containers full of brightly colored foliage and blooms. Many garden centers and independent nurseries are still stocked with annuals and perennials perfect for potting up in beautiful arrangements. And better yet, many retailers are discounting. Colorful foliage plants, like coleus, look great all season long and come in contrasting colors that attract the eye without flowering blooms. Scabiosa is a perennial that bears flowers through autumn. Dahlias and trailing varieties of campanula also offer prolific color through the end of summer. Or consider designing your containers with perennials that can be planted in-ground in the fall, such as hydrangea. Planting in a premium potting mix will ensure that your plants get off to a great start. And feeding with Osmocote Plant Food will keep them beautiful all season long. Of course, in another few weeks, the garden centers will be full of great plants for fall containers. Colorful mums, pansies, and sedum will make their debuts shortly. So, if you miss out on summer, don t despair - there s always autumn.
What you ll need: Container Drill Trowel DIY Patriotic Planter Step 1: Select a Container and Plants There are many options for planting flowers in containers. Baskets, ceramic pots, aluminum pails you can select any container you d like. The key is to select a container that has drainage holes and is large enough to allow the plants space to grow. You can use any of your favorite annuals for this project, as long as they are red, white, and blue. We recommend using healthy, quality annuals. Additionally, when selecting your plants, be sure all have similar light and water requirements. Mixing shade and sun flowers will leave you with a floral display where half of the flowers struggle once the weather becomes hot and dry. We used the following plants for our container garden: New Guinea Impatiens (Red) Lobelia (Blue) Mini Flowered Impatiens (White) Step 2: Ensure Proper Drainage Some pots on the market don t have holes in the bottom of them. The holes are important in order for the soil to properly drain. Drill approximately ¼ inch holes in containers if needed; don t make holes too large or the soil will fall through them. Step 3: Add Potting Mix Next, fill your planter about 1/3 full with potting mix. Remember when you re planting your pot, do not place gravel in the bottom to help with drainage, as drainage is a function of the potting soil. Also, never use soil from an outdoor garden because it doesn t contain the ingredients container plants need to thrive. Step 4: Add Annuals These should be watered thoroughly before putting them into the soil. After watering, place your annuals in the pot and fill in the areas around them with soil. Leave about an inch of space at the top of the pot, which helps with watering. Upon completion, keep the pot out of direct sunlight for the first few days. Step 5: Caring for Your Container Garden Now the hard work is done. You can enjoy your new planter! Check your new container garden to see that the soil has enough moisture.
the ARTof Drying Flowers You planted, mulched, fed, watered and your efforts have paid off with beautiful flowers. But, with a few exceptions, they bloom for a short period and then leave you until next season. With a little additional effort, you can preserve your favorite garden flowers and foliage to provide your home with beauty and enjoyment through the rest of the summer, fall, winter and many seasons to come. Drying flowers for use in arrangements, potpourri, wreaths, swags, or a myriad of other items is extremely simple. And best of all, it doesn t take much of your time just a little patience. How to Start Start by selecting the flowers or foliage you want to preserve. A few tips to keep in mind, as you are getting ready to cut your selections: You can dry buds, flowers and foliage. Pick flowers that are almost mature. Try to pick those that aren t fully opened, as they will open further during the drying process. Make sure the flowers or foliage are not bruised, wilted or otherwise damaged, since these imperfections will be enhanced as the flower dries. Dark colored flowers, such as reds and purples will become almost black after drying. White flowers will take on a beige hue. Pinks, yellow, and orange flowers retain the best color when dried. Cut the flowers in the late morning or early afternoon. Make sure they are dry, but not wilted from heat or sun. Cut as much of the flower stem as possible (even if you will discard it later) and put the cut flower into water immediately to prevent wilting while you finish gathering your flowers. Different Approaches There are several methods for drying flowers air-drying or hanging, using a drying agent or glycerin preserving. Each method is best used with certain types of plants or flowers for maximum effectiveness. Air Drying or Hanging By far the simplest way to preserve cut flowers, hanging allows you to dry bunches of flowers at one time with tools you likely have on hand.
Remove the foliage from the lower two-thirds of the stem. If the stems are weak now, they will be even more so when they are dried, so it is best to insert a wire now to provide stability. Put the flowers in small bunches and tie the stems with a rubber band. (Large flowers, like peonies, should be dried separately, not in bunches.) Hang upside down (a spring-loaded shower curtain rod is a great temporary drying rack ) in a warm, dry, dark place, such as a closet, with decent air circulation. Humidity in areas like bathrooms or basements, as well as direct sunlight, can inhibit the drying process. Then leave them alone until they are dry usually two to three weeks. Using a Drying Agent Many different agents can be used, but silica gel (which is actually a granular substance, not a gel) is probably the most mistake-proof. You can buy silica gel at most hobby or craft stores and use it over and over for years, since it can be reactivated by heating it in the oven. Cut off the entire stem except for about an inch. If you plan on using the dried flowers in an arrangement, you ll want to insert a wire before drying. A synthetic stem can be attached to this wire, if desired, once the flower is dried. Flowers can be dried face-up, facedown, or on their side. The flower shape determines the best method for drying. Flowers with many petals, like roses, are best dried face-up to preserve their shape. Flat flowers like daisies, do better facedown; and spiked flowers, like snapdragons, should be dried on their sides. Pour about an inch of silica gel to cover the bottom of a shallow, airtight container. Put the flower into the middle of the silica so that the granules are supporting the flower in a natural position. Lightly sprinkle the flower with additional silica until it is completely covered. Take care to add the silica a little at a time so that the weight of the silica doesn t crush or bend the petals. If any petals do get bent, use a toothpick to gently reposition them before adding more silica. Lightly tap the container to settle the contents. If any of the flowers become uncovered, add more silica. Then tightly seal the container and store it in a warm, dry place until the flowers are dry usually two to three weeks. Gently remove the dried flowers from the silica granules. Turn the flower upside down to dislodge the silica. Gently blowing or using a soft artist s brush and a light touch to brush them off can remove any granules that stick to the petals. Placing the silica-covered flowers in the microwave can accelerate this process. Simply insert a microwave-safe thermometer about ½ inch from the flower. Heat until the silica gel reaches about 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Cover the container (leaving a crack for air to escape) and put it aside for 24 hours. After 24 hours, the flowers can be removed from the silica gel. Glycerin Preserving Glycerin preserving allows foliage you plan to use in a wreath or arrangement to keep its flexibility, instead of becoming brittle and difficult to work with. Glycerin is available at most pharmacies. The technical grade is less expensive than the laboratory grade. Stems or branches shouldn t be more than 18 inches long and, like flowers, they shouldn t be wilted or damaged. Strip the leaves from the lower 1/3 of the branch and crush the cut end of the stem with a hammer. Mix one part glycerin to two parts warm water. Stir and pour into a container to a depth of 6 inches. Put the crushed end of the stem into the glycerin water mixture. As the plants absorb the solution, add more, keeping the level at no less than 6 inches. You ll know the process is complete when the leave color is golden brown. This takes one to three
Cutting Fresh Flowers Summer is in full swing and your annuals are blooming non-stop. Bring some of the beauty of your garden indoors by cutting flowers to decorate your home, porch, and deck. Tips for Cutting Flowers Perennials, roses, even some ornamentals can all be clipped and added to a vase inside however it is annuals which most of us prefer when selecting clippings from the garden. Annuals make wonderful flowers for cutting because they have lots of blooms up until the end of the growing season. Cutting flowers not only allows you to bring some of the beauty of your garden indoors, but cutting off flowers actually stimulates more blooms. To keep your plants healthy, clip not only the blooms for use indoor, but also the spent blossoms. When cutting flowers, try and get not only the beautiful flower but also a good portion of the stem. The stem of the flower will give your flowers height in the vase or however you choose to present them. Tips for Keeping Cut Flowers Fresh The secret to keeping cut flowers from wilting is to give them a constant supply of water. The first rule is to cut in the early morning, and take only the freshest, just barely opened flowers. If you can, place cut flowers into a container of tepid water immediately after cutting, you will keep the vascular system within the stem working in an upward direction. When you take the stems out of water, air can clog the cells and can stop the capillary action. Place the stems into a container filled with a mixture of 1 teaspoon bleach and 1 tablespoon of sugar stirred into 1 gallon of water. The acid slows bacterial growth and the sugar provides nutrients. Change the solution every three days to help prolong the blooming time. You could also use a clear soft drink as it contains acid and sugar.
Plan Your Fall PlantingNow It won t be long until it s fall planting season, so right now is a good time to begin the larger part the mental preparation and planning of the work you re going to do in your garden. The time you spend in the next few weeks to plan your fall gardening activities will not only make you more productive (and less stressed), but will make your gardening more successful as well. Fall is an ideal time to plant or transplant many garden stalwarts, including: Perennials Bulbs (spring flowering) Container roses Ornamental grasses Groundcovers Trees and shrubs Stroll around the yard and note plants to be moved or replaced, places where new plants can be added, areas where the soil or drainage needs to be improved, trees that need trimming, and any other items that should be addressed before winter. Sometimes it helps to make sketches or take photographs of areas that need work, then have these handy while shopping in catalogs or at the garden center. This is also a good time to check your gardening supplies and purchases any that you will need for fall planting especially garden soil, plant food, and mulch. If you re going to have a lot of trimmings from trees and shrubs and have been thinking about buying a chipper/shredder to turn those trimmings into compost, this might be the time to make that investment. A power garden tiller could be a timely purchase if you have a large vegetable garden or will be creating new flowerbeds. And don t forget the lawn. The time just before Labor Day is ideal for planting new grass seed, the fall months are a good time to ill lawn weeds, and fall is the single best time of the year to feed your lawn.
2015, All rights reserved. Feed your passion. Osmocote Smart-Release Plant Food Outdoor & Indoor. Your partner in a beautiful world. When perfection matters, why trust anything else? where gardeners go to grow.