Savvy Gardening: Garden Ideas, Tips, Pictures, and More » Flowers

Plant of the Week: American Holly

Sirena Van Schaik — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 06:00:40 +0000

Okay, I probably shouldn’t be talking about Holly right now when Christmas is so far away but I figured now would be a great time to think about adding some color to your yard during those winter months. The bright red berries, distinct deep green leaves, small white flowers and the diversity of the plant makes it an excellent choice for many homes.

The American Holly grows in several zones, specifically Zones 5 to 9, and is well adapted to almost all soil types. This means the plant is fine in clay or sandy, acidic or rich soil and everything in between. It is very hardy and thrives in full sun or partial shade.

One of the best features of the American Holly is the fact that it can either serve as a focal point in a garden, growing to heights of 40 to 50 feet, with the typical evergreen pyramid shape. If it is privacy that you crave, the American Holly can be trimmed down to serve as a hedge.

Despite the functions of the tree, the American Holly offers food and homes to many animals and you will find yourself not only enjoying year round color but also a host of friendly animals to your yard. It is a well-known fact that the luscious berries that reach maturity between September and October are enjoyed as a food source by birds and deer alike. I should mention that, although deer and birds enjoy the berries they are poisonous to humans.

Lastly, if you are interested in having a successful American Holly in your yard, complete with berries, it is important to plan for more than one. The American Holly is a dioecious, which means that male and female are found in separate plants. To pollinate correctly, there must be more than one tree. Another detractor of the American Holly is its slow growth rate. On average, an American Holly can take roughly 4 to 7 years before it even begins to blossom and it gains an average of only 12 to 24″ in height each year.

Still, despite its detractors, the American Holly is a hardy plant that grows in a wide variety of zones, soils and geographical areas. It is a perfect addition to any yard, whether you want a decorative tree or a nice hedge.

Sirena Van Schaik

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Plant of the Week: Cyclamen

Sirena Van Schaik — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:02:54 +0000

With all the talk of fall that I have had over the last week, I have almost given up hope and started packing in my outdoor furniture. Of course, it’s not really time to start resorting to such drastic measures and I will have a few weeks left to enjoy my outdoors.

Still, even with that knowledge safely tucked away, there is still one point about fall that many people are thinking about in late summer and that is the fall bulbs. There are many to choose from but for this week’s plant of the week, I thought I would look at the Cyclamen, which is a beautiful fall bloom that you will want to see in your garden.

The Cyclamen can be planted in late August and early September and you will begin to see blooms in October, although this can vary with blooms occurring between September through to November and some varieties also have blooms as late as January.

It is a hardy plant that can survive low temperatures that are found in Zone 5 and it does well in shade. It has small shooting star-like flowers that come in several different colors; pink, white and rose-purple. The stems are usually between 2 to 4 inches, which make them an excellent plant for the front of a garden. The leaves are two toned and provide ample color throughout the fall and winter.

Lastly, this is a plant that can be brought inside, and you will often see it at Florist’s or the garden section at the grocery store. All you need to have success with this plant indoors is to provide it with enough humidity and a cool temperature (the recommended temp is about 55 to 65 degrees).

So if you are looking for a beautiful fall bloom, I would suggest the Cyclamen.

Sirena Van Schaik

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Plant of the Week: Camellia

Sirena Van Schaik — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 01:43:49 +0000

The history of this vibrant flower is as amazing as the large blooms that fill the deep green shrub. The Camellia can be dated back to 1200BC and was a popular flower used in Korean weddings. The flower itself is said to represent both longevity and faithfulness.

The Camellia is an excellent plant that I would love to have in my garden. It does well in soils with a high acid level and actually thrives in them. It is an evergreen shrub that maintains a deep, glossy green throughout the year. The flowers come in a range of colors from red to pink to white with yellow centers. On top of color, the blooms can be found in single, semi-double, formal double and irregular double. You can also purchase them in peony, rose or anemone form. This gives a lot of diversity for the gardener and the fragrant scents and large blooms that usual range in size from 3 to 6 inches.

The Camellia does well in zones 8 through to 10 and it can also do well in zone 7 and in zone 6 if it has proper protection from the cold. The blooming season for the Camellia is between November and March, which is a wonderful time of year to see the exquisite blooms. The plant itself does much better in partial shade with moist soil.

So, as much as I would love to have one of these in my gardens, the Camellia falls out of my zone but many gardeners can delight in having such an exquisite evergreen, one that is related to the tea plant, in their gardens.

Sirena Van Schaik

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Plant of the Week: The Knock Out Rose

Sirena Van Schaik — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 01:49:37 +0000

I would like to take some time each week or every other week to look at a plant that may be a great addition to any garden. I have my personal favorites, as do many other gardeners, but I always look for new plants that may find itself worked into a new or old part of my garden. This week, I would like to start off with the Rosa ‘Radrazz’, which is also known as the Knock Out Rose.

I have to admit, like most gardeners, that many of the plants that I find are either found in a nursery, garden center or on the pages of a gardening magazine or book. The Knock Out Rose is one that I saw in a Fine Gardening magazine and after seeing the plant, it has been put on my must have list. This is surprising in itself since I am not a big rose fan. I mean, I love them in a garden but since they are not my favorite flower, I tend to move away from them and move towards flowers and plants that I love.

The reason why I love the Knock Out Rose is simple. It is a “Knock Out” with its dark foliage providing a breathtaking backdrop of deep green, which deepens to a dark purple in fall, for this fast growing shrub rose. The flowers themselves are brilliant colors and you can find this rose in red, pink, blush and rainbow (pink with a yellow center) and sunny (white with a yellow center). The rose comes in single or double blooms.

Although the color and shrubbery is wonderful, the main draw for me over this flower is the fact that it is fairly hardy and requires very little care. Generally, you only need to prune in the spring, provide it with proper care, i.e. water, fertilizer, and that is it. The plant does the rest right down to the deadheads. This rose is also very resistant to black spots. The bush itself is very hardy and can survive in Zones 4 to 10.

I honestly do not believe that you can find a rose that requires such a low amount of fuss and have as much glory with a full shrub filled with brilliant blooms. There is nothing that I find that would deter me from purchasing this rose for my garden, well except space but I can always make more of that.

Sirena Van Schaik

Garden Center Deals

Sirena Van Schaik — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:15:33 +0000

Every year I tell myself that there is no way that I am spending more than $50 on some annuals to fill in around my perennials. I try to avoid the extra cost but once I get into the garden center, I often find one or two – okay, make it more like 5 to 10 - perennials that I could see fitting into a space in my garden. By the time I wander out of the garden center, I have spent much more than my budget and I hurry home to get the plants in the ground before my husband notices that instead of having a flat or two of annuals, I have filled up the minivan with flowers.

For this reason, I have found ways to alleviate some of the cost of my happy growers finger when I am at the garden center and thought that I would share them with you.

Timing: Although I am usually chafing at the bit to get growing sometime around mid-April (I know way to early) I will force myself to wait until the planting season is almost over. This can mean that the plants you are getting are not as great in quality but if you find a good garden center, you probably won’t have this problem. If you wait until early June, you will still have lots of time to get your flowers in and you will also be able to cash in on some deals. One of my favorite growers offers half off the second annual, the last week of May. This can usually equate to less cost but usually for me it equates to more flowers. (Hey, I never said my method was solid.)
Starting Small: I know that perennials can really add a lot to gardens and it is often very hard to wait for a small plant to grow large and lush. Many gardeners will purchase the larger plant so they have more coverage right from the start but plants grow very quickly and there really is no need to start with a 60 dollar plant when the exact same plant, although smaller, starts at 14 dollars. You will find that you can save money or as in my case, add more.
Return Trips: Go to the garden center, see what they have to offer and then leave. If you find a great deal, as I did with a braided Hibiscus this year, pick it up but if the prices still seem high or there isn’t anything that catches your eye, don’t bother shopping. You might drive the garden center crazy but it will give you time to plan, decide how many plants you need and what you want exactly. When you are ready to buy, usually when that sale is on, you can go back, fill your wagon and leave without overspending.

I know that I should probably have a few more tips on saving money at the garden center but it really only comes down to the last three. To stay on budget, you could bring cash so you don’t over dip into the bank account but it is up to you. Another money saving tip is to never bring kids with you to the garden center. This is the one advice tip that I never follow and I can usually add on a good dozen plants that the kids just had to have.

Happy Gardening!

Sirena Van Schaik

Gardening Ideas for Container Gardens

Jennifer — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 05:54:35 +0000

Often the biggest problem with a small garden is, what can I do? If you look around your garden you will see that there are actually lots of gardening ideas that can make your small space look wonderful. Limited space doesn’t mean you have to limit the color or types of plants you have in your garden. With a few of these gardening ideas you should be able to maximize the little space you have.

Use Containers

If you don’t have a lot of place to plant then containers are an ideal place to start. If you think flower pots are boring then think again. There are a lot of gardening ideas that you can utilise flower pots in a way that is interesting and colorful. First of all, your pots don’t have to be the same color. They can be several different complementary colors. Paint plain pots different shades that match if you want, or pots of the same color in different shapes and heights. Hanging baskets are also a great option if you have limited space, this way you are using all the available space you have.

The Right Container

Gardening ideas abound for container gardens, there are many different types of flowers and plants you can plant even with these little gardens. First make sure that your container has a good drainage system. Without good drainage your plants will turn soggy and the roots of your container will rot away. When selecting a terra-cotta or ceramic container make sure that it has at least four or five good drainage holes. When you buy plastic or steel containers that don’t have drainage holes you can easily make your own with a drill.

You can even turn ordinary objects into containers for your garden. Whether it’s an old trough, watering can, wellington boots or tin cans spruced up with paint. Your gardening ideas are limited only by your imagination. Line the bottom of baskets that you want to turn into containers with sphagnum moss or coco fiber, this will allow water to drain and keep the soil in your container.

Choosing Color

The best way to utilize container gardening is to use color as much as possible. Limit color to one shade per container to avoid overwhelming your container. Choose a few plants with the same shade, for example two plants with different shades of red. A vibrant container filled with red flowers will make a bold statement. Or you could have a rich container filled with green foliage. Some plants have beautiful leaves and can be just as pretty as flowers.

Economic Gardening To Fit Your Budget

Jennifer — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 05:20:35 +0000

Many people love landscaping and gardening, but all to often, the vision they have for their property doesn’t match their budget. Gardening can be an expensive proposition, depending on what you’re trying to do. Fortunately, with a little creativity and a willingness to do it yourself, you can create a scene that rivals professional jobs. Check out some of these easy economic gardening ideas.

Landscaping

If you’re trying to create an attractive landscaping scene, you might not even be aware of the useful items you already have lying around. For retaining walls and boarders, many people will purchase expensive decorative stones and bricks. How many of us already have rocks and stones of all shapes and sizes lying around our property. Rocks and stones are great for economic gardening purposes. In addition to the walls and borders already mentioned, rocks and stones are great for decoration as well. Carefully placed rocks inside a garden can be a great addition as well. Some people even use rocks as the focal point of their garden.

Scrap pieces of wood can also be very useful for economic gardening. Planting containers and decorative fences can be constructed out of scrap wood to save you money on buying them. If you have old tree stumps that you can’t get rid of, why not turn them into part of your garden? A stump with flowers planted in it or around it can be quite lovely. These are just a few of the common items you might have around your property that you can use. Don’t stop there, though, use your imagination and see what else you have that can be of use.

Plants And Flowers

There are also several ways you can save money on your plants and flowers as well. Instead of buying expensive plants, try growing them from seeds. There is a little more effort involved, but you will save a bundle. Some seed packets will cost you as little as a dollar. You can also save unused seeds until the following year if they are kept cool and dry. When your plants begin to come up, you can make them stretch further by dividing and transplanting them as well. Buying plants out of season can also save you some money. Another economic gardening idea is to plant your seeds in the ground. This will save you money on pots and potting soil and things like that.

These are just a few economic gardening ideas to help you create a beautiful lawn and garden while staying within your budget at the same time. Remember, you’re only limited by your imagination, so let your creative juices flow.