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 Do
you get frustrated year after year when your garden wilts after
only a week or two of color? A recent Realty Times article discusses
ways you can keep your garden in bloom.
When you look at beautiful gardens at places like
the Bellagio in Las Vegas or at your local botanical gardens,
it may seem link a cinch to get beautiful flowers year after year.
For many of the most enthusiastic gardeners, however, the reality
is a lot less colorful. Realty Times recently discussed ways the
most black-thumbed among us can enjoy a beautiful garden or yard.
One of the first tips to remember when cultivating
your garden is to get organized. Buy a three-ring notebook or
large scrapbook and include the plants and flowers that are in
your yard or garden. You can easily glue the empty seed packets
to the pages. Another good idea is to take photographs of your
garden in bloom so you can track the progress of your plants and
flowers and remember which colors are where. For example, if you
take photos of your bulb beds in spring, you will know which colors
you will want to add in the fall.
Jim Horacek, the store manager at Armstrong Garden
Center in Del Mar, California, also recommends using organic fertilizer.
He explains that it will benefit the plants and save you trouble
later on. Horacek also recommends using a variety of plants. “I
like planting lettuces, and maybe even violas, that are edible,
along with regular foliage or blooming plants.” Horacek
says that you do not have to stick with only flowering plants;
you can mix things up and obtain a wonderful, and surprising,
result.
Also, don’t be shy when gardening. If you
over-plant fall and spring bulbs, you will create the effect of
interim flowers until the bulbs emerge, plus the bonus effect
of a support system for delicate bulbs, such as freesias. Horacek
recommends planting pansy or violas on top of freesia bulbs to
keep stems sturdy. You can practice the same over-planting idea
when you plant in containers. Planting in larger pots means that
you can put several plants in one pot (allowing you flexibility
with colors and textures) and you will not need to water as often.
One very important tip to maintaining a healthy
garden is to never, ever over-water. A good rule is to put your
finger into the soil; if it is still moist, you do not need to
water yet. Check back in a few days. The exception is newly planted
or potted plants. You do want to water frequently at this time
until the plant is fully established.
Finally, remember to check your garden regularly
for aphids. You can get rid of aphids by introducing ladybugs
that eat these pesky insects. You can also use Neem oil or insecticidal
soap.
Now that you are prepared to
avoid some common gardening mistakes, you can sit back, put your
feet up and enjoy the splendor of your garden!
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