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Source: "gardening" - Google News

Source: "gardening" - Google News

The annual Pennsylvania Home Show in Harrisburg began last weekend and runs through this Sunday March 4, 2007. This is the first of a number of spring expos and events in the area that attract the interest of homeowners, …

Source: Kenny Point

Hi everyone

Welcome to this edition of your Gardening Weekly, today's edition is entitled:

Weed Killer Damage

QUOTE: If it weren't for the last minute, nothing would ever get done
- Anonymous

If by chance you are using a weed killer and it accidentally gets on to your plants you should hose it off immediately.
The sooner you can do this the less chance of damage affecting the condition of your plant.

Sometimes while we are spraying elsewhere a wind can carry the spray to other plants and it won't be until sometime later that the damage from this appears.

This damage will appear as leaves that have become smaller, narrowed and twisted.

Website Of Interest. Check out the following:
http://blog.mygardeninghome.com/plants.html

Once this damage is seen there is nothing that can be done other than to remove the damaged portions of the plant and hope that more damage will not occur over the following days.  Often a plant will recover if it has only received a light residual amount of weed killer that has blown over from a breeze.  It really depends on how much weed killer it was exposed to and how big, or how durable the plant it.  Some plants are a lot more susceptible to weed killer than others and only a small amount of exposure to this will be enough to kill the plant.

You really need to take care when using weed killer to ensure that none of it drifts to areas where it shouldn't be.
Only use weed killer when there is no wind and hold the sprayer close to the weeds so it will only go on them and nowhere else.

It is also wise to have dedicated containers for weed killer and other sprays in the garden as residual weed killer left in a container that you would use for other things in the garden could ruin your plants.  If it is not possible to have more than one container for poison and another for other garden sprays then you should always ensure that you clean it thoroughly after use to remove all the poison.

Website Of Interest. Check out the following:
http://blog.mygardeninghome.com/plants.html

Thanks,
Annie
http://blog.mygardeninghome.com

Hi everyone

Welcome to this edition of your Gardening Weekly, today's edition is entitled:

Succulents

QUOTE: In my garden there is a large place for sentiment.
My garden of flowers is also my garden of thoughts and dreams.
The thoughts grow as freely as the flowers, and the dreams are as beautiful.
- Abram L. Urban

To ensure that your succulents get the very best in growing conditions, particularly if you are growing them in pots, you will need to buy good quality specially formulated succulent mix.  This is generally the same type mix that you would also use for growing cacti.

Slow release fertilizer will help them to remain healthier by supplying them with necessary nutrients throughout the year and the best time to give them this fertilizer is in spring.

They will grow better when exposed to the full sun as they don't like frosts.  Over the summer months you will need to give them sufficient water and that will generally be once or twice a week.

Website Of Interest. Check out the following:
http://blog.mygardeninghome.com/plants.html

Over the winter months they should get enough water to only need watering once a month.  Obviously you will need to adjust this depending on the climate they are growing in but that is a general guideline to follow.

When you water your succulents you should avoid wetting their foliage.

They are fairly maintenance free and can add color to pots where you are growing larger trees.  They also make a nice looking ground cover that will reduce the amount of weeds depending on the type of succulent you choose.

Placed in multi colored pots, succulents can look quite impressive with contrasting colors in designer gardens and courtyards.

They are excellent for smaller pots where they can add color and life to patios and decks provided they get sufficient sunlight.

They make an ideal plant for the busy apartment dweller where there is only minimal outdoor area and not enough room for larger plants.

They can also withstand winds that might damage other plants grown in these conditions.  They are the ideal plant to have in window boxes and come in many different varieties, colors, shapes and sizes.

Website Of Interest. Check out the following:
http://blog.mygardeninghome.com/plants.html

Thanks,
Annie
http://blog.mygardeninghome.com

Hi everyone

Welcome to this edition of your Gardening Weekly, today's edition is entitled:

Plants Have a Mind of Their Own

QUOTE: If I'm ever reborn, I want to be a gardener?
There's too much to do for one lifetime!
- Karl Forester

Plants are a lot cleverer than we might think.  If you are aware of the changes that occur with the plants in the garden, you can sometimes predict everything from the coming weather to the changing of the seasons without ever having to consult the weather charts or your diary.

The weather can, however trick flowers into 'thinking' there has been a change in the weather or even the season.

This can be seen when there is unseasonal hot weather after a cold snap in winter.  Plants can 'assume' that it is the start of Spring and bulbs will start flowering.

In recent years many areas throughout the world have experienced unseasonal weather and extremes of weather and this has caused many problems for people growing crops.

Website Of Interest. Check out the following:
http://blog.mygardeninghome.com/plants.html

Creating sheltered areas on your property can help you to control your plants and ensure that you get the flowers or fruits when you expect them to be ready.  This will also help you to reduce damage that might occur from conditions such as hail or heavy rain.

Shading plants can also create a false reduction in daylight hours, which will affect the plants growth patterns as they measure the seasons by the amount of daylight.

Hothouses can create a false environment and this can be beneficial if you want to produce plants throughout the year for flowers or fruit.

Temperature can be adjusted to control the plant growth and to a lesser extent this can also be done by the placement of your plants in various different positions on your property depending on their exposure to sunlight, wind, cold and rain.

Designing your garden by taking into account all these factors will allow you to read your plants mind in advance, allowing you to get what you want, when you want from your garden.

It will allow you to plan the progression of plants from one season to the next.

Website Of Interest. Check out the following:
http://blog.mygardeninghome.com/plants.html

Thanks,
Annie
http://blog.mygardeninghome.com

Hi everyone

Welcome to this edition of your Gardening Weekly, today's edition is entitled:

Leaf Scorch

QUOTE: Gardening is the art that uses flowers and plants as paint, and the soil and sky as canvas
- Elizabeth Murray

When you notice yellowing or browning on the leaves of your plants then it's quite possible you have leaf scorch.
It generally begins on the edges or the tips of the leaves and eventually will cover the whole of the leaf.
Sometimes the leaves will fall off.

It is usually caused by winds and particularly those winds that are hot and dry.  It will also happen with salt laden winds that can occur if you are living close to the sea.

Often you will only notice this condition on one side of the plant and that will be the side that is exposed most to the winds.

Creating shelter will help to reduce the damage that the wind will cause.

Website Of Interest. Check out the following:
http://blog.mygardeninghome.com/soil.html

Another reason why you might get leaf scorch will be through the application of excessive amounts of fertilizer.

There is no treatment for the leaves that have already been damaged other than to remove them from the plant and try to solve the problem before the rest of the plant suffers.

Other than providing a windbreak, you should ensure that the plant gets sufficient water, particularly in the dry season and always follow the instructions on the fertilizer packets to ensure you aren't giving your plants too much fertilizer.

You might also need to consider moving the plant to a better position that is less exposed.

Yellow or golden leaved plants are usually more susceptible to leaf scorch than other plants and you might find that the plant you have chosen, that is suffering from leaf scorch, might not be suitable for the climate you are trying to grow it in.

If this is so, then the only alternative will be to replace that plant with something that is a little hardier.  If you live on a coastal property you need to consider the affect that the salt wind will have on plants and chose accordingly.

Website Of Interest. Check out the following:
http://blog.mygardeninghome.com/soil.html

Thanks,
Annie
http://blog.mygardeninghome.com

PS  May I take this opportunity to wish you, your family and friends all a very Happy and Peaceful Christmas and a New Year full of everything you wish for!  I look forward to speaking to you again then.  I am taking a break for the holidays.

Now that summer is well and truly over in the northern hemisphere and autumn is in full swing, here are a few tips for things you can be doing in the garden now all the leaves have fallen, the nights have closed in and the bbq is all packed away.

When clearing away the spent stems of summer bulbs, why not mark their position with a pebble or a short piece of cane?  That way you will know where they are when you start to work on the border next spring.  

As I said, the days are now a lot shorter and the nights have turned colder, which all means there is now a danger of hard frosts that can damage garden taps. Why not use some foam tap covers or put bubble wrap around each tap?  You can then seal them with a plastic bag  for protection. Also, If you have pipes that are exposed to the elements, why not lag them for protection?

Containers intended to stand outside should be brought into the shade and protection of a building, which will mean they are less likely to spall or burst in frost. You should also store your precious pots empty, dry and under cover.

Collect the fallen leaves in perforated bin bags to turn into leaf mould.  You need to make sure they are thoroughly wet when you put them in and soak with a hose if necessary. If they are packed dry, they will never rot properly. 

Always remember you should turn your houseplants on windowsills.  This will help to keep an even growth. Water them less; winter growth is rarely desirable.

It may be cold and it obviously rains more often than not, but try to keep mowing the lawn, but not too short and cut above the moss. Make sure air vents in the grass box are not clogged or the mower will struggle to lift the clippings into the box.

So, that little lot should help to keep you busy now the winter is well and truly on the way.

Happy gardening!

The Gardener

Hi everyone

Welcome to this edition of your Gardening Weekly, today's edition is entitled:

Ground Cover

QUOTE: There are no gardening mistakes, only experiments
- Janet Kilburn Phillips

Ground cover has many different uses in the garden.  It can be used to help reduce the amount of weeds that will appear in the garden by covering over the space between plants where the weeds might grow.

There is a downside to this though, as weeding can become a bit more difficult when you need to remove the weeds that will still invariably grow in amongst the ground cover.

Ground cover can also help to keep the moisture in the soil by stopping it from drying out from direct sunlight.

It can also add color and texture to the garden.  A lot of the ground cover that is available can supply a splash of color right throughout the year where some will have color in their leaves and then additional color when they flower.
Being so close to the ground they can stay in better condition in windy conditions where they aren't quite so exposed as other flowering plants.

Website Of Interest. Check out the following:
http://blog.mygardeninghome.com/plants.html

Most ground cover is quite durable and it is an excellent way to add color to gardens that are in conditions where other flowering plants might not survive.

Some ground cover plants grow very well and thrive in shaded areas where other plants might struggle to survive and they generally require very little maintenance.

They are also excellent for creating borders around gardens where there are larger plants or trees growing or where other plants won't be able to get sufficient nutrition to grow to their full potential.

They are particular good for covering areas that are not easily accessible and would normally be too hard to maintain if you were to attempt to grow other plants there.  They also make a nice display when grown in and around rocks and sculptures in the garden and can make a nice mat when grown at the foot of a garden seat, provided of course that you choose one that is durable enough to withstand light foot traffic.

Website Of Interest. Check out the following:
http://blog.mygardeninghome.com/plants.html

Thanks,
Annie
http://blog.mygardeninghome.com

Hi everyone

Welcome to this edition of your Gardening Weekly, today's edition is entitled:

Gardening Can Improve Your Health

QUOTE: I'd rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck.
- Emma Goldman

While we are attending to the health of our plants, we too are improving our health both physically and mentally.

Even the relatively light work of weeding the garden is good exercise and particularly with elderly people it is an opportunity to get outside, breath the fresh air and improve their well-being.

As we bend down to pull out weeds or pick up plants and pots we are exercising and stretching our muscles and keeping our joints active.

This helps to circulate the blood through the body and help maintain a healthy heart.
It is also good for the mind as gardening can relax the mind and reduce stress.

Website Of Interest. Check out the following:
http://blog.mygardeninghome.com/plants.html

Working outside in the garden also exposes us to sunlight and that is essential for Vitamin D, which helps the body to absorb calcium, and this is particularly important for women.

Gardening is one of the most popular hobbies in the country and also ranks as one of the most popular forms of exercise for many people.

Along with any form of exercise precautions need to be taken. Lifting heavy pots and plants can also do damage to the lower back and knees so we need to be sensible when gardening to ensure we can continue to enjoy this wonderful pastime.

Like the lower back, our knees are susceptible to damage from gardening if we tend to kneel down while working but fortunately there are various gardeners' aids that can be worn or used to help protect our knees.

There are also belts that can be worn to support our back when lifting heavy items in the garden.

If you take a sensible approach to your gardening and don't over extend yourself you can reap the rewards of improved health and happiness while enjoying the fun of creating your own piece of paradise.

Website Of Interest. Check out the following:
http://blog.mygardeninghome.com/plants.html

Thanks,
Annie
http://blog.mygardeninghome.com