In general, wildflowers cope better with adverse conditions. They have not been bred, after all, for perfect soil and watering. You can get a glorious range of colors and shapes even when the growing season has not been kind to your other plants.

Most wildflowers love a bright, sunny spot. Remove all weeds and loosen the soil, then plant the seeds according to package directions. Plant them in spring for best results, but you may be able to get away with a summertime planting in some areas.

To prepare your seeds for planting, mix them at about 2:1 sand to seed ratio with a fine sand and vermiculite mixture. This will help with distribution.

You don’t have to be very neat about planting wildflowers. You can scatter them randomly, just as they would scatter randomly in nature. Use a rake to cover them just a quarter inch or so deep in the soil.

Keep the soil moist to encourage germination. Once the plants are growing, they will still need some water, but probably less than other flowers.

You can encourage seeds to drop for the next year by waiting until about October or when the flowers are done blooming, then cutting or mowing the plants down. If cutting, try to make sure to shake the seeds loose. Mowing, of course, is rough enough that they should fall out on their own.

You’ll probably have to battle some weeds each year, of course, but at least with wildflowers you should not have to buy new plants every year.

Technorati Tags: flower gardening, wildflowers, seeds

One of the most important things is to choose flowers that will grow strong in your area. No matter how much you love a particular flower, if it is going to have a lot of trouble staying alive or is prone to disease, it’s going to greatly hamper your organic gardening efforts. You are better off sticking to flowers that are stronger and more suited to your area.

Just as an example, we’ll consider tropical plants. Beautiful colors, amazing shapes… but they require extra help if they aren’t suited to your area. They won’t be happy at all in a cold climate.

The best flowers for an organic garden are ones that are native to the area. They cope best with local weather conditions. They’ll have very little need of chemicals and require less water.

Even if you live in an area where most native plants can be described as “scrub brush” or something similar that you don’t like, you may be surprised at the range of colorful flowers available to you. I live in the San Diego area, and when I look around at undeveloped areas, the plants don’t seem terribly inspiring. There’s a nursery in the area that specializes in native plants, however, and the color range is quite simply amazing.

When buying plants, do your best to only pick healthy specimens. Buying a diseased one is only going to give you trouble as you try to keep it from infecting the rest. Check the plants for harmful insects too, so that you can avoid taking unwelcome pests home. Of course, if you know your insects, you might find a few welcome ones too.

Transplant your purchases as soon as possible. Very often roots get crowded in the containers from the nursery, and with so little soil it is easy for them to dry out. Being transplanted can be a shock to plants, but the soil will give them the resources to get over it. Give them a good watering after transplantation, of course.

Don’t forget a nice addition of compost from your compost heap. Depending on your soil, you may want to add compost as much as eight inches deep into the soil. Most people will simply mix compost in with the soil removed to plant the plants, and that is generally sufficient.

If roots have grown out past the plastic containers from the nursery, go ahead and remove them. You don’t want to damage the plant too much, but these roots are generally safe to remove.

An organic flower garden can look quite lovely. Done right, it is no more challenging than any other kind of flower garden. You might even get a garden that is more accustomed to local conditions and thrives when other gardens die.

Technorati Tags: organic gardening, organic flower garden, native plants

Annuals need good soil. OK, so all plants like good soil. Does it really hurt to state the obvious?

To be more specific, annuals like soil with good drainage. If you do composting at home, use some of the compost in the beds in which you plant the annuals. This is especially helpful in dry soil or soil that has a lot of clay. If you don’t compost, get some from your local garden store.

The amount of sunlight needed will vary by variety, but pretty much all annuals do like to have at least a few hours of sun each day. Ageratum, browallia, coleus, fuschia, dianthus, pansy, and impatiens do well in partial shade, to name a few.

When shopping for annuals, don’t go buying the ones that are fully bloomed. They just won’t thrive as well, even if they do look prettier at the moment. Instead, you want annuals that have deep green leaves and look healthy. Treat them right and they’ll bloom for you later.

When it comes time to plant your annuals, I hope it is obvious to you that you shouldn’t plant them if you expect to have any more frost that season. Frost kills annuals. The hardiest ones can be planted when nights are cool but frost free, but otherwise wait until things warm up at least a little.

As when planting anything, you will want to make the hole a bit bigger than the root ball. This makes it easier for the roots to establish themselves in their new home. Give them a bit more water than you would normally as they establish themselves.

If the bed is well kept, your annuals will help your gardening efforts by coming back year after year. You’ll have a lovely, natural looking flower garden enhancing the outside of your home.

Technorati Tags: annuals, flower gardening, planting

Gladiolus
Gladiolas are among the most popular of all bulb plants, and their distinctive sword shaped leaves and funnel shaped flowers are instantly recognizable to gardeners and non gardeners alike. This striking appearance has made gladiolas a favorite bulb with many gardeners, and they make a fine centerpiece to any garden due to their large size and attractive appearance. The large summer flowering gladiolas can range in height from three feet to a huge six feet, and their variety of colors makes them great for any garden.

Gladiolas are best planted in the spring, but only after the soil has warmed. Gladiolas typically bloom between 65 and 100 days after planting. Many gardeners plant new gladiola bulbs at one or two week intervals over a four to six week period in order to enjoy continuous blooms.

Each gladiola bulb should be planted four times as deep as the bulb is wide, for instance a one inch wide bulb would be planted four inches deep. The spacing of gladiolas should be between four to six inches.

Gladiolas do best in full sunlight and they should be watered regularly during their blooming and growth phase. In much of the country, gladiola bulbs can be left in the ground over the winter months, but many gardeners choose to dig them up and store them during the winter. If you decide to take this approach, it is best to dig them after the leaves have turned yellow. The bulbs should be placed in a single layer and stored in a cool, dry and dark place to dry for two or three weeks. After the bulbs have dried sufficiently they should be stored in nylon stockings or onion sacks and kept in a cool and well ventilated place.

Hemerocallis
Hemerocallis is the scientific name for the daylily, and it is one of the most well known types of bulb plants on the market. Gardeners love the hardy and trouble free nature of the daylily, and their arching and sword shaped leaves provide a striking addition to any garden.

Daylily hybrids can grow as tall as six feet and bloom in the spring and summer months. The daylily produces flowers ranging in size from three to eight inches, and they are available in a wide variety of colors. The daylily gets its name from the fact that each of its flowers lasts only a single day, but its buds open on successive days, and this enhances the beauty of the plant.

The daylily is actually a tuberous root variety of bulb, and they are best planted during fall or early spring. Daylilies should be planted between ½ inch and 1 inch deep and space between 2 to 2½ inches apart in the garden. As with other varieties of bulbs, it is important to water daylilies on a regular basis during their growing season.

Some bulbs are, of course, more popular than others. They are quite appealing to look at and relatively easy to grow. Today I thought I would go over some of those bulbs.

Hyacinths (Dutch Hyacinth)
The Dutch hyacinth is one of the most instantly recognizable, and most popular, of all the varieties of bulb plants. The Dutch hyacinth blooms in the spring and features the well known foot high spires with their small bell shaped and very fragrant flowers. Hyacinths come in a wide varieties of colors, including red, pink, buff, white, blue and purple. The Dutch hyacinth grows best in colder areas, and it can last from year to year. In these cold water climates, the hyacinth is best planted in September of October.

In areas where the weather is milder, hyacinth bulbs will not last from one year to the next. In these more temperate areas, hyacinths are best treated as an annual and replanted each year, preferably in October, November or December. It is best to plant hyacinth bulbs four to five inches deep, and to space them from four to five inches apart as well. Hyacinths grow best in full sunlight, and they benefit from regular watering, especially during their blooming and growth periods.

Iris
The most frequently seen variety of irises are the bearded varieties. Bearded irises are striking plants, and they appear in a dazzling array of colors and combinations of colors. Irises appear in a variety of sizes as well, with very small varieties and very large ones as well.

Irises should be planted in July or August in cold climates and in September or October in warmer areas. Irises are actually rhizomes, and they should be spaced from one to two feet apart, with the tops placed right below the surface of the soil. Irises grow best in full sunlight or light shade, and they benefit from a regular watering schedule during their growing season.

Lilium
The lillium is the scientific name given to the Asiatic and oriental hybrid lily. Asiatic lilies bloom early in the summer, and they range in height from a mere six inches to a towering 4½ feet. These lilies feature blossoms ranging in size from four to six inches and in colors like white, yellow, orange, pink and red.

Oriental lilies bloom later in the year, usually in midsummer or early autumn. Oriental lilies have stems from two to ix feet in height, and they feature large and fragrant flowers up to nine inches in length. These beautiful flowers feature pink and white petals with stripes and speckles, and they provide a striking addition to any garden.

Lilly bulbs should be planted as quickly as possible after they are bought, since these particular bulbs do not keep well. If it is necessary to delay planting, the bulbs should be stored in a cool place. It is important to examine the bulbs carefully before they are planted. Any shriveled bulbs should be placed in peat moss or moist sand until they have recovered.

Asiatic and oriental lily bulbs are best planted spaced about a foot apart. Smaller bulbs should be covered with a layer of soil two to three inches thick, which medium sized bulbs need a layer of three to four inches and large bulbs should be covered with four to six inches of soil.

The most commonly seen problem encountered when growing bulbs is a viral infection, and unfortunately that infection is incurable. The best way to avoid infection is to buy only the healthiest bulbs from the best sources. Any lilies showing mottled or very stunted leaves should be destroyed.

Lilies tend to do best in full sun or partial shade, and like other bulbs they benefit from regular watering during their growth and blooming phases.

The selection of bulbs can be somewhat daunting. There are all kinds and you have to learn how to spot the best bulbs.

Looks for large, firm bulbs. The larger bulbs are more likely to bloom better. Soft bulbs are in poor condition and unlikely to grow if you plant them. Look for water damage as well, since this can also be an indicator of a poor quality bulb.

Another thing to watch out for is cracking or scarring. These may be so dry that they simply will not bloom. Also do not pick out bulbs that are already sprouting roots. These may not bloom when planted.

You need to plant your bulbs correctly, however even if you decide to get started at the wrong time of year don’t despair. Most bulbs are best off planted in the fall, before the ground freezes. This is common practice, however if you plant at the wrong time the bulbs may simply lie dormant until the following year, so it may not be a complete loss.

The depth of the planting depends on the particular variety of bulb. A crocus bulb may only need to be planted four inches deep, but tulips need to be eight inches deep. Get instructions for each variety.

A tool called a bulb planter can make the job easier if you want to plant your bulbs in neat rows. You don’t have to stick to the perfect rows, of course. You can plant bulbs randomly, even close together or in a single hole if you want a more natural look.

You can help your bulbs get a good start by adding a bit of fertilizer at the bottom of each hole before adding the bulbs. Cover the fertilizer with a bit of soil; do not place the bulb directly on the fertilizer or it may be damaged by it.

Plant your bulbs with the pointed end sticking up, flat side down. Cover with soil and water thoroughly. No, you aren’t expecting them to grow just yet if you’re doing this in the fall, but the water will help them nonetheless.

As with any flower, you can remove dead blooms to encourage new growth. This practice is called deadheading, and works with just about any flower. It removes dead growth from the plant, which allows it to grow more.

Bulbs are among the easiest flowers to grow, and produce beautiful flowers in a marvelous range of colors and styles. They go well in just about any garden. Perhaps best of all, you don’t have to buy new ones year after year.

When you decide to grow roses at your home you need to decide which variety is right for you. You want roses that will look graceful and make your home look more inviting. You want them to complement your home and the rest of your landscaping.

One of the most wonderful things about roses is the sheer variety available. This may also mean that you have a hard time settling on which ones you want to grow, but that’s not a bad problem to have.

If you want roses growing over a trellis, for example, tea roses are the classic choice. Tea roses are known for their lovely blooms, which will be visible to those going through the arch.

You might want a climbing rose to accent a wall. Climbing roses can be trained to best accent your home for a wonderful effect through the years.

Want color? Consider the Polyantha or modern day Floribunda rose. These roses offer large sprays of blooms, giving you the most color for your landscape.

What if you don’t want a large bush hiding what’s growing behind it? Miniature roses or low growing China roses might be the answer for you.

Roses can even be used as hedges, with modern Shrub roses and Rugosa roses are excellent choices.

Don’t worry about not being able to find the perfect color of rose for your landscaping. Roses come in an array of colors that is truly amazing, as well as a variety of shapes and sizes.

Make sure you check the variety of rose you like against the varieties recommended for your climate. Some will grow better than others, depending on where you live. The right rose will need fewer pesticides, grow more blooms and generally be more beautiful in your garden.