The evergreens most commonly used for foundation planting around homes prefer fairly light, well drained soil in which has been incorporated peat moss or other well rotted organic matter. They are relatively shallow rooted and so deep beds need not be dug.

Spreading type evergreens should be planted at least 3 feet away from foundation or walks to give them plenty of growth space.

Frequent watering of both tops and soil is necessary, especially during hot, dry summers. Fertilize in the spring, using a balanced garden fertilizer. Do not overfeed. especially if slow growth is desired.

Dogs should be kept away from evergreens, by use of small fences.

By topping or pinching side growth, evergreens can be trained to desired shapes without too much trouble. Mugho Pine “candles” (the new growth) are commonly cut back to their length in the spring to produce a compact growth. When Pfitzers or other spreading type evergreens grow too long and “leggy”, they can be pruned in mid-summer by cutting off the long branches. Make the cut so that it is hidden behind a new, shorter stem and the pruning will not be noticeable.

Planting Process

In preparing the soil for the flats to grow carnations, use two parts fresh garden soil to each one part of coarse sand and one part humus or compost. Carnations are one of the few plants which should not be potted firmly. The soil should be shaken down, but not pressed. A good method of scattering the small seeds is to use a salt shaker; then after the seeds are in place, a kitchen sifter may be used to shake just enough soil to hide the seeds. This soil should be pressed lightly. Then the pots or flats may be placed in a container of warm water for several minutes, just enough to soak the soil well, but not to run over the edge of the flat.

Plastic bags make good coverings for the flats. This provides warmth as well as proper humidity for the seedlings. If the bags do not contain holes for ventilation, punch several openings before covering the flats.

If you love plants, consider greenhouse gardening. By using a greenhouse, you can choose some of the most beautiful plants available to home gardeners. You may think that you do not have enough space for a greenhouse, but actually, you only need a small space that you can adapt for greenhouse gardening. If you are a successful backyard gardener, you can use these skills to successfully grow plants in a greenhouse. By using a greenhouse, you can control the temperature for special plants and projects. A greenhouse can be used to grow many different types of plants depending on your desires.

Greenhouses are used for many projects, including growing plants and flowers during the wintertime, when they would die or stop blooming outdoors. The winter season is typically rather dreary and colorless, so use your greenhouse flowers to brighten up everyone’s mood. Grow pink roses or beautiful purple orchids during the winter months. You can also set your plants in a greenhouse to protect them from the weather, so that you can use them in your garden again the next year. That way, you’ll have a great start for a beautiful garden in the spring.

The study of our native wild flowers is a most fascinating hobby. It’s now the first week in May. For real thrills, we leave Kansas City about three in the morning and at 6:30 are having breakfast in the Ozarks beside a sparkling, rocky stream, bordered with bluebells and sweet William. Dogwoods are in bloom on the rocky slopes, and look at those birds foot violets – some are bicolors… arent they just about the cutest ever? And shooting stars in pink and white, and yellow… click, click of my digital camera and I have them in natural color pictures to enjoy next winter. Watch closely, you may see a scarlet tanager, a redstart, the big pileated woodpecker or perhaps the little cerulean warbler. Thats real honest to goodness fun.

Many perennials can be successfully grown from seed in your own garden. Save or buy seeds of delphiniums, columbines, dianthus, lupines, gaillardias, pyrethrum, linums, coreopsis, violas and veronicas. The seed may be sown in separate beds or in long rows as vegetables would be planted. It is easier, however, to carry the plants over the winter in beds than in rows. Some of the plants will be large enough to move to a proper location in the flower border this fall, but better results are usually obtained by spring planting.

How I wish I could broadcast this instead of writing so that it would be on-the-breaking-minute news. But even so it would still be too early to know what damage the past winter has done; thats part of the excitement of gardening.

Some of the damage shows up now, more will be caused if we have very heavy late freezes and some wont show up until the hot, dry days of late June or July. That makes it difficult to diagnose winter damage.

Have you discovered the usefulness of sawdust? Although we long felt that it was too acid, if not completely injurious to plants, we now know that it is neither. For a mulch it is better to get the coarse sawdust from outdoor sawmills. The very fine sawdust that you get from the local lumber yard makes an excellent thatch roof that sheds water and consequently is-of no value for a mulch.

Plant food as was mentioned, is commercially prepared and designed to replenish nutrient depletion in soil. These are made in tablet and powder form and they are water soluble and can be fed to plants in liquid form.

Plant food gives gardener many improvements over using manure or manure mixes. Firstly, they have no odor, and take up minimal space. Secondly, the mixes are scientifically prepared and come with instructions on how and when they should be used.

As with soil, you may want to mix your own, however there is no use in attempting to mix something that will unfortunately never live up to the commercial products on the market.

Plants you buy are already in the pot, and should be OK without extra additives for around a month or so. If this fails to make the plant thrive, or if the plant shows signs of distress, it is more likely something is wrong with the plant or its environment, and not due to lack of nutrients.

If within a month, the plant continues to be in distress, then you may need to feed it. Remember, when using a plant food, to use the instructions carefully, they are developed after careful research and designed to improve the health of your plants.

When you are living in the center of an Amazonian jungle, the last thing recommended would be to attempt to do indoor gardening. Why would you think of trying to compete with the beauty of mother nature and come out the loser. If like the majority of the population in the western world, you do not live at the basin of a rain forest, then something worth looking into is indoor gardening. As a substitute for your own personal jungle.

Why should one consider an indoor garden versus an outdoor one? The reasons are fairly simple, you do not need to get all dirty down on your hands and knees in the dirt. You will never have to brave the elements that will do its best to compete with you. It will improve the appearance of your home and make you feel better in turn. Ultimately, in the larger scheme of things it is great for you.

It may be hard to imagine how indoor gardening can be good for you. However, it does not have anything to actually do with the garden, but more with the plants. If you think back to your high school days and pressure from peers, you may remember distantly hearing something in science class about plants and a word called photo-something.

A lot of people bring home house plants and flowers from a gardening center or nursery to display in their home, in their same containers. The issue with this point is that the flimsy plastic containers are not meant to be a permanent home. Plants need a special pot to call home and one in which they can expand and grow.

Terra Cotta Pots

The most common form of indoor pot is made from terra cotta, which means baked earth, because of its warm, orangish color. A terra cotta pot is made from porous clay that has been fired in an oven to make it harden into the common shape it is sold in today. For the most part, terra cotta pots have one drainage hole at the bottom of the pot so you need to get the saucer as well as the pot. An indoor terra cotta pot can also be hand painted or you can purchase one that has been fired with a color glaze on it.

Sturdy Ceramic Pots

Any plant that must be replaced every year and only has flowers one time, is an annual. Annuals are grown from seeds and the major advantage of an annual is the lower cost. Thousands of plants may be grown from just one seed packet.

Being decorative, annuals provide some very wonderful flowers for cutting.

The season for their bloom can be long, as well. The chief advantage is that the late day the bloom. If they are used alone or along a border, for a good part of the season will pass and you will still have color.

Annuals can also be used as a filler in between shrubbery and set some distance apart. This is so the shrubs can grow and not appear to stark.

To grow annuals, of course will be dependant upon which class they are a member of. The heartier flowers such as a larkspur or cornflower, can be planted in the late fall. The ground must be prepped just the same way it is in the spring time. Fall planting is advantageous because it gives you a leg up on spring planting. Certain other types of hearty annuals can also be sown in the spring time as soon as the ground thaws and warms up enough.

There are many different variations and combinations that you can buy for your indoor garden. There are three important approaches you need to keep in mind when arranging your house plants:

1.) Separate pots that can be set up and moved around when needed.

2.) Tray or box arrangements can house a number of different types of plants that can be grown together.

3.) Terrariums can be smaller or the bottle variety and are easily mobile

For the novice, the easiest way to arrange plants are in separate pots. Each plant can be enjoyed and receive individual attention. The needs of the plant have to be taken into consideration and this increases its growing potential. The possibilities for arranging are endless. There are several different types of plant holders and shelf arrangements in stores, these are designed to assist you in arranging your indoor garden to its fullest potential.

You need to begin your project with a simple plan, go for individual pots instead of trying the more difficult window-box or pan arrangement. The smaller you keep your initial plan, the cheaper and safer it will be, and in the long run will provide you with the most satisfying results.