Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Looking for Stinky flowers for my garden. plants that are fragrant. any strong suggestions?

MASTER GARDENER TO THE RESCUE





You want the stinky ones (sweet stinky i'll assume?)


some perennials and annuals.... (short list, so we'll skip trees, shrubs and vines)


belladonna lily


garden nasturtium


english primrose


summer pholx


iris, bearded


moonflower


sweet sultan





just a few ideas. contact your local extension office and get a list from a local MASTER GARDENER that does best for you own area.

Looking for Stinky flowers for my garden. plants that are fragrant. any strong suggestions?
Begonias. They are low maintenance and they grow back ever year. They grow big, beautiful flowers, that smell very good.
Reply:marigolds
Reply:How about Pikoki Flowers?

Why do hotels always use white towels

Do you have any butterflies in your flower garden? If you do, where do you live? Anyone in the Midwest?

Living in the midwest, I have only seen 3 butterflies this year. I have a beautiful flower garden and miss seeing the beautiful butterflies that I have had in past years.

Do you have any butterflies in your flower garden? If you do, where do you live? Anyone in the Midwest?
I live in St. Louis (so, yes, the midwest). I saw two gorgeous Monarch butterflies this morning hovering around my garden, and I saw some pretty butterflies yesturday around my pool area. Truthfully, though, I haven't seen that many butterflies this year either. It may be because of the lack of rain (that's killing our poor little squirels right now because they can't get any food) in the midwestern area. I'm not quite sure, but good question. I'll be on the look-out for butterflies today.





-Lella^_^
Reply:i answered this question once for you





you must have forgot .......you asked it once





do you suffer from memory loss???
Reply:the only butterflies I got are in my stomatch. lol. sorry for being a jerk, its a monday so Im not my self.
Reply:Many butterflies in New Jersey this year. Lots of Monarchs and Yellow Swallowtails.
Reply:I've noticed some yrs there are more then other years...this year I've seen lots and even some I've never seen before...live in the northwest


Does anyone know a home remedy to repell cats from a garden/flower bed?

I need to know a home remedey to repell cats from flower beds and/or gardens. Thanx

Does anyone know a home remedy to repell cats from a garden/flower bed?
This works on cats chewing houseplants...I dont know how hard it would be in a garden or if the cats are chewing or poohing in yours.You can take hot sauce mixed with water and brush over the leaves..It wont hurt them but will bother the cats...maybe that would be enough to keep them out of the dirt as well?
Reply:M60
Reply:orange rinds, cayenne pepper
Reply:There is a product called NO NO in the pet stores. Pet Smart
Reply:moth balls are said to.
Reply:grow some cat grass for them they should leave the other plants alone.
Reply:vinegar repels cats
Reply:Ask your vet and they'll probably be able to help you figure out what to use and or do.
Reply:you can grow wheatgrass, which is a plant cats can eat. but they might not eat it because they only eat your plants to piss you off.
Reply:I don't know a home remedy...but I do know that stores sell things that repel cats. Also, kitties don't like strong smells....that's why they tell you to put vinegar around your x-mas tree.
Reply:Take a squirt bottle and everytime she goes near it squirt her with it. And tell her no.
Reply:12 gage 00 buck shot works best


Aside from tulips, daffodils, crocus what are some flowers that I could plant in my garden for spring color in

a zone 4 climate? What would be some good deer resistant plants for sping color?

Aside from tulips, daffodils, crocus what are some flowers that I could plant in my garden for spring color in
Plant iris. They are just beautiful and come in a variety of beautiful colors. I'm not any good with plants but sure like irises.
Reply:plant some roses and some raspberry bushes
Reply:Pansies and violas. They are very hardy and will reseed themselves.
Reply:Pansies are cold hardy and so cheerful looking.
Reply:snowdrops,bluebells
Reply:http://www.npsot.org/plant_lists/deer_re...


Just finished digging a 10' diameter flower garden (Dianthus varities) in our front yard. Uncertain what the

Just finished digging a 10' diameter flower garden (Dianthus varities) in our front yard. Uncertain what the


next step should be. Yep, this is a first for me. The soil appears to be in really good shape and removed all weeds and roots. Should I cover the bed with plastic and cut holes then plant the flowers? If so, after the flowers are planted, should I put something (bark perhaps?) on top of the plastic? Will the plastic provide too much moisture and destroy the roots of this particular flower? Do I need to mix potting soil with the dirt in my bed? Again, this is my first flower bed and I need instruction. Do you know anything about this particualr kind of flower? Your responses will be deeply appreciated.





P.S. I dont want to spend a fortune on upkeep. I live in central Kentucky. Thank you.

Just finished digging a 10' diameter flower garden (Dianthus varities) in our front yard. Uncertain what the
Dianthus definitely would not benefit from a plastic cover or bark. If your bed is surrounded by lawn, you might put in some kind of border to keep the grass from invading your flower bed. It could be natural rock, a ground level row of bricks, or simple bender-board. After that, you could add some soil amendments (compost being the first choice). However, if your soil is in really good condition already and not too heavy or too sandy, you will get at least mediocre results without adding anything. Dianthus is not especially fussy, so I wouldn't worry about soil acidity or alkalinity or heavy feeding. If your budget allows, add lots of compost. (I'm assuming you have to purchase it and don't already have your own compost as a newish gardener.) Dianthus is somewhat drought tolerant so you may have enough natural rainfall in Kentucky.
Reply:I live in Kentucky, too. This is what I have done to every one of my flower beds. Keep in mind that the dianthus will come back ever year if taken care.


1. level your ground.


2. Miracle Grow. Slow release or steady release formula, (not exactly sure what the name is).


3.Measure yard fabric and cut it a little bigger than the actual size you need.


4.Lay the plastic down on the level flower bed, (do not use the fabric pegs and this point to secure the yard fabric) place the flowers where you want them leaving enough room for the flowers to grow.


5.After you have the flowers laid out the way that you want then. I cut the holes shaped in an X pattern onto the yard fabric and pull the fabric up dig a hole large enough for the flower and put the miracle grow and the flower into the hole through the yard fabric this way you don't have to wiggle the fabric over the flower blooms.


6. When you are finished planting all of the flowers, secure the yard fabric into the ground with the fabric pegs.


7. Generously water the flowers


8. Place mulch over the yard fabric and water the first couple of weeks every day.


I hope that this help and the mulch will help keep the moisture in the ground during our hot summers. Enjoy.
Reply:Make sure the soil is fluffy enough to establish the roots of the new plants you want to use - till or 'garden weasel' or 'claw' your garden using a bag of peat and a bag of composted manure - (not fresh manure) or just compost and water well. This will help retain moisture and feed your plants.


Newspapers, plastic or landscape cloth layed over the soil covering the edges well - you could use an edging around the perimeter to keep the grass from rooting into your bed and avoid future weeding for that. This method helps retain moisture for your roots rather than them drying out too soon and requiring frequent waterings. I recommend the cloth because it aids in oxygen to the soil and roots.


Plant and be sure you are spacing them properly. Use 2 inches of shredded bark or your preferred mulch (nutshells, gravel) over all. Then you're ready to enjoy the rewards of your labor knowing you did it right the first time.


Dianthus are very interesting plants.





http://www.parkseed.com/webapp/wcs/store...





This is the site page of dianthus at parks seeds that will give you details of growing these beauties - just click on the picture and all the details are there to grow and care for this plant. Your garden should be a work of art with your job well done....gotta love gardeneing!!!!


note* You may consider a spray of 'invisible fencing' around the perimeter as well to keep animals from eating your investment!
Reply:use old newspapper instead of plastic is biodegradable and it wiil help keep it moist and help with the weeds then buy a bag of miricle garden soil and bag of cow manure mix it with some of ur soil put on top of news papper plant ur flowers and enjoy

massage shoes

What kind of flowers and herbs do you have coming up now in your garden?

What zone are you in?

What kind of flowers and herbs do you have coming up now in your garden?
I have daylillies, lilies, rosemary, cilantro, salvia, passionfruit, milkweed, crocosmia, bananas, purple verbena, red shrimp plant, white shrimp plant, black eyed susan, blanket flower, and some purple leafed thing that smells spicy. I have dill, gazania, cosmos, zinnia, daisy, coneflower, and butterfly weed seedlings to plant. My flowering maple is blooming and the satsumas have tons of buds. I have lots of work to do :)
Reply:I'm in zone 9, here's what I've got:





Herbs: cilantro, rosemary





In flower now in the orchard: apple trees, California poppies, wild lupine, flowering quince, daffodils, lilac, wild radish and some other wild flowers I don't know the name of





In my garden area: (Flowering) primrose, impatiens, lobelia, sweet alyssum, Abutilon, pansies, Sambucus, viola, bacopa; (not flowering) tree peony, lemon tree, mandarin tree (my garden needs lots of additions this year)





Waiting to plant: (still in seedling trays) morning glories, sweet pea, sunflowers, celosia, Datura, forget-me-nots, cypress vine, tomatoes, green beans, snap peas and peony poppies - who wants to come and help?!?!
Reply:Theres still snow in my garden...New England
Reply:I have purple iris and many other coming up, but I don't remember what I planted last fall. I started seedlings inside to early and they are ready to be planted but it still gets cold here in Pennsylvania.


I would like to know what plants/flowers I can put in my garden to attract humming birds?

there are plants called humming bird plants,,,also they love anything red. make sure the flowers have throats that they can dip into.

I would like to know what plants/flowers I can put in my garden to attract humming birds?
One of the hummingbirds most favorite plants in my garden are the gladioulas. Believe it or not, it doesn't matter what color!
Reply:they seem to be attracted mainly to trumpet shaped flowers ...... lillies and my rose of sharon bush really attract them and they even go after my fake (dark pink) freshia on my front deck .....also trumpet flowers ... get a hummingbird feeder too... for the nectar you just boil one cup water with a quarter cup of regular sugar...let it cool and i put just a little jello powder in it before it starts cooling
Reply:In the back, we have trumper honeysuckle and they like it. Also have seen them on the red roses.
Reply:My daughter bought a nectar pot that she fills with sugar water and hangs it outside her window. She get several different humming bird visiting daily.
Reply:This should help you - good luck.





landscaping.about.com/cs/forthebirds/a...


Are these seedlings from the flowers I planted in my garden or are they weeds?

I've been getting a lot of grass and weeds popping up in my garden, but this surprised me. Can anyone tell me if these are my Columbine seedlings or if they're weeds? The second picture is a picture of some of the seedlings popping up in my Shasta Daisies section and I was afraid I sowed them too deep. Could they be weeds too?





Columbines:


http://i9.tinypic.com/4t8c60y.jpg





Shasta Daisies:


http://i11.tinypic.com/4pby3xi.jpg





Thanks!!

Are these seedlings from the flowers I planted in my garden or are they weeds?
the second picture appears to be of seedlings. the first picture could be your seeds growing and not a weed but it is a little hard to tell, as there are weeds that look like that. if both types of seeds were planted at the same time, they should be about the same size. also, here is a link that may help you. there are pictures of different varieties of columbine, look at the leaves and see if they match what youre growing.





http://www.sd1new.net/GardenPages/columb...
Reply:They both look like the plants. The first one is definitely the columbines; the second is very small, but looks like new seedlings for a plant, not a weed.
Reply:the first looks like columbine, but the second does not look like shastas
Reply:I agree with wilaem, the first does look like columbine. The second is kind of hard to say, They're pretty small. Do another picture in a week or so.


I want to start my first garden but don’t know where to start and what flowers will bloom year round.?

I live in Belgium and the weather and sun are very tricky! But I really want to do this and dont know where to start. Please help!

I want to start my first garden but don’t know where to start and what flowers will bloom year round.?
Its not rocket science and don't be intimidated ,first thing I would suggest walk around your local area and have a look at all of the gardens especially the ones that are not maintained regularly and see what is growing ,take careful note if it is in shade or sun and then do the same ,people always complement me on my garden but it is really survival of the fittest not my gardening skills ,if something grows well I replant if it dies I move on to another plant .
Reply:If you really want to do the job properly and save money and effort then plan it out on paper first. Put down your entire block of land including the house mark where doors and windows go. Then mark the position of things that are already there and unlikely to be removed, like trees Then place permanent features that you'd like to have. A chook pen for instance or a gold fish pond or maybe even a swimming pool. It's easiest if you use graph paper and call a 1cm square 1 metre.





Next plan paths. they are the bones of your garden. First off pencil in straight lines connecting doors and gates. Then round these off. Don't plan silly wiggly paths plan for wide sweeping curves, they're more natural. Main paths should be at least 1.25 metres across. You'll soon lose some to plants that spill over and look to nice to cut back. Then make paths to create Island beds a bed shouldn't be wider than you can reach across to weed the centre.





If you don't know the names of plants just say like (a) shrub, 1m X 2m white flowers scented. (b) ground cover, blue flowers. Then you can find plants that match the description either in books or by asking at the nursery or friends or here.





Try to keep it simple. There's a lot of different kinds of environment. In a small garden it's best to keep to one. For example A herb garden will easily fill a 1/4 acre block. repetition is good. In nature you see one dominant tree species two or three understory sp of tall bush a dozen types of small bush. Down on the ground it can be more eclectic.





It's just like inside having furniture that is all in the same style. A rose, a cactus, a foxglove and a camelia will not look good next to each other.





Having your garden divided into beds by well defined paths makes maintenance easy. it's like, "oh that bed needs some work, but that one is looking good" you know where to start


:-) .





That's where you start gardening, a big sheet of graph paper, a ruler and a pencil and a set of french curves is handy. Good luck.
Reply:I agree with "tessajan". Go to your local nursery, but more than this, grab pictures from magazines. Grab pics on the type of garden you would like, eg: Cottage, native, modern, japanese etc.. (or a bit of everything).. Show your nursery person what sort of effect you would like and they should be able to show you the plants you need.


Happy Gardening !


Maz (Ms Mazscapes Nursery, Morwell. Vic. Australia)
Reply:I suggest visiting a local nursery if there is one around, and then getting the information you need there. Because they will know everything about what works and what does not in your specific area. : D

Perfect semi formal makeup

Please let me know what organic bug spray I can use on my flower garden and vegetables.?

I have a flower garden underneath pine trees. Earwigs are the biggest pest, eating holes into the leaves of all my lovely flowers!

Please let me know what organic bug spray I can use on my flower garden and vegetables.?
Over the counter you can use Neem, or Safer-soap


From home, use mild dish detergent, like Ivory with a drop of vegetable oil and water to spray on your flowers and veggies.
Reply:Try the forums at http://www.suburbangarden.com/ they are geared more toward this type of questions
Reply:I am so glad that you want something organic! I have a recipe that I use on my flowers and my vegetables to keep the bugs away. In your blender, put 2 cups water, 1 whole bulb of garlic, and 2-4 very hot peppers. Liquefy and pour into a glass container. Let it sit overnight. The next morning, strain mixture through a cheesecloth then add 2 more cups of water. Pour into a spray bottle and lightly spray all of your flowers and even the pine tree. Repeat if it rains. This mixture will keep for a week in the refrigerator. Insects and varmints (like squirrels) hate the smell of garlic. If they do take a bite, they get the hot pepper and won't take another bite. This formula has worked for me for many years. Good luck. I hope this helps.


I love to garden but it is so expensive to buy all those plants and flowers. Is there a way to get roots free?

Such as ground cover (english ivy, decorative grass, etc.) and starts of perinnials?

I love to garden but it is so expensive to buy all those plants and flowers. Is there a way to get roots free?
I am a landscaper and get alot of free plants for my garden. I get them from jobs where the owner wants to change their landscape. also alot of native plants can be found in the woods and on roadsides. Another thing you may also try is going to nurseries and green houses. They throw alot away and if you can bring back diseased and weak plants you could go dumpster diving. seeds from existing plants that are not hybrids will also work if you can get them started. as far as english ivy just a cutting would work. english ivy is very hardy.
Reply:Neighbors, friends, family My personal favorite is, I buy at the seasons end and get them cheap,cheap, cheap and sometimes FREE.


Just check the plants for little hairy white roots use root hormone and many plants are salvageable.


This is the root hormone I use


http://lawn-and-garden.hardwarestore.com...


Or join a group on Yahoo


http://groups.yahoo.com/


or search for a craigslist in your area.


http://stlouis.craigslist.org/
Reply:A lot of gardeners will offer starts and shoots from their plants, or seeds. And there are many that will root easily if you just place the cuttings in water.





Good luck!
Reply:Check and see if there is a garden club in your town. The members might have extra plants to share or would be willing to trade plants with you.





Also, be alert when doing your errands. I was driving home from work one morning and a lady had divided her Daylilies. She had the divisions sitting at the curb in a bucket with a sign on them, "Free". I took a handful of them and they have spread nicely in my yard.
Reply:It is so much fun to share plant starts with family, neighbors and friends. My mother had a wisteria which she shared with others including me. There were cuttings of that first plant in at least three additional yards.
Reply:How are you with your neighbors or family? All it takes is a little to get started. You can take a "shoot" or "starter" from a lilac bush or rose of sharon, just water and fertilize alot and you will have some beautiful bushes!!!
Reply:A lot of my plants came from cuttings or younger plants that my mom gave me.


www.gardenweb.com -- great forum!


Sometimes people offer seeds if you send them a self addressed stamped envelope...
Reply:Check on or place an add on your local craigslist for plants. I have gotten many plants and pots and other garden items for free.
Reply:ROFLMAO...sorry, but here in Australia, a "root" can mean something quite different than what you're meaning...LOL...if you told people here you were looking for "free roots" - you could get as many as you wanted, I'm sure...


Seriously though, ground cover-type plants root quite easily - just pinch a bit off of a plant and put it into rooting solution and, in a few days, you'll have a plant ready to go into the ground...
Reply:Watch for ads in the paper, sometimes people will offer free plants from their yard, usually you have to dig them up yourself.
Reply:I got a bunch of different plants and bulbs by offering to help my neighbors to redo their flower beds... Sometimes if you offer to pot up plants for older people they will trade your labor for plants OR the money so that you can go buy the plants
Reply:Yes, but if you get caught, put in for the job of prison gardener


Which mulch should be used for a flower garden?

I am so confused. I would like to know which type of mulch to buy for my flower garden? I have used what is in my yard to the best of my ability but will need something more. Cypress, Pine, Red Bark...Nuggets? What is best? I have never had to buy it before where I used to live. I am in NW AR if that helps also. Thank you for any advice.

Which mulch should be used for a flower garden?
I used to work with a mulch manufacturing company and would suggest that you buy Cypress mulch if you can find it. Don't be fooled by the labels, as some companies "mix" or blend other types of wood into what they are calling "Cypress". 100% Cypress deters most insects away and keeps good moisture levels in the ground where as pine bark tends to attract spiders, ants etc. As for color, that would be a preference as some manufacturers color mulch Black, Red, Brown etc.
Reply:I use Cypress mulch. It works for me.
Reply:I prefer red bark. It has more weigh and won't blow away when it gets windy, Plus when it's wet, its a different color. Cypress is good too and has a delightful smell. I just prefer the red bark. Fl weather, ya know!





Good luck!
Reply:J.P is on the money. Cypress is one of the BEST and if you were concerned about it "floating " away they have made a more dense Cypress mulch..Eucalyptus is even more bug resistant but its also extra on the wallet. They last about the same and they both look great around any plants!! Pine Bark is the worst!!!
Reply:well telling us here you live helps A LOT!! you should Cypress.red bark and pine are for bush gardens and cactus gardens.
Reply:Really, any kind type of wood is fine, but the more important thing is the form of the mulch. Chunks/nuggets, I don't find do any good. They take far longer to break down, don't hold water and float away more easily. I much prefer a shredded mulch. It stays where it's put, breaks down faster and keeps more water in. I'm in California where they have something called Gorilla Hair which is shredded redwood and it's the greatest thing there is. But, whether it's redwood,cypress, cedar or whatever, shredded is the only way to go. And put it on thick. At least two inches.
Reply:I always prefer to use a mulch that both looks attractive and will eventually break down and add compost material to the soil, and/or can be dug into the soil for aeration. Any mulch that is shredded (as opposed to nuggets or large pieces) will look better and will eventually break down, creating better aeration in the soil. Large nuggets have a tendency to weather poorly, after which they are no longer attactive and add nothing to the soil.





There are lots of different shredded barks and woods -- choose one that looks good (usually the darker colors). Spread it at least 2 inches thick. Don't use landscape fabric, as it won't allow you to dig in the mulch if your soil becomes hardened because of too high a clay content.





If you don't care about the appearance, you can also use grass clippings. I use grass clippings to keep down the weeds in our back alley, and it works like a charm!


Does anyone know how to keep cats out of a flower garden?

4 stray cats showed up in our yard and took over the flower garden. Please help!

Does anyone know how to keep cats out of a flower garden?
Yes, use orange peals and anything orange in the garden the cats detest the smell of oranges. Proven to work, we have used this in our flower garden too. Best Wishes and Happy Cat Free Gardening!
Reply:Sprinkle your garden with Cayenne pepper. They don't like the smell (it burns their noses a little) and they will be gone soon!
Reply:put a fence around it .cats don't bother flowers???
Reply:Rent a large snake .
Reply:I put a box of kitty litter about a two feet away from the edge of the garden and dumped all their cat poop into the litter box to let them know where they should poop at. They started using the cat litter box instead. At the same time I would fill a spray bottle with mouth wash (or something strongly minty, you can also get the scents from the craft store or ebay) Both mint and citrus keep cats away. I would spray it on the ground around the garden.
Reply:My neighbors had an ugly orange cat that thought it owned my yard too. I would suggest Bitrex, it is a product made to keep animals out of your garden. But if I had known orange peels worked I would have tried that first.





One thing I know works is skunk! The cat was under my porch late one evening so I stomped my foot and it took off running, directly at a skunk that was wandering around looking for a late night snack from the garbage bins.





I never knew a cat could jump that high!





But it never came back. (I always wanted a pet skunk after that!)


.
Reply:Get a dog. Or borrow a neighbors or friends dog.
Reply:Sprinkle moth balls around your flower garden,they won't harm the plants and will keep the cats away.
Reply:I had the same problem! Try Hot Pepper flakes. It worked for me.
Reply:1. Try planting herbs that cats don’t like such as lavender, rue, geranium, absinthe, and lemon-thyme.


2. Also, a German professional gardener, Dieter Stegmaier of Essingen, has created a hybrid so repulsive to cats, they stay a yard away from it. It smells like schnapps to us, and is actually a pretty and hardy plant with blue flowers that bloom throughout most of the summer. Its Latin name is Coleus canin and is nicknamed, "Scaredy Cat." lol! http://plants.thompson-morgan.com/uk/en/...


3. Or you can try this pepper mixture: 2 parts cayenne pepper


3 parts dry mustard, 5 parts flour. Simply mix together and sprinkle.


4. Use large flat river stones in your garden beds to make the soil less diggable, and so less attractive to cats. Besides, river stones are pretty.


5. Cats don’t like tea leaves, so empty your used ones onto the garden soil.


6. You could also try using a sprinkler that is activated by a motion-sensor. All it takes is a time or two of getting dowsed with water to deter any cat. It can work for intruders, too.


7. Install an electronic device that emits a high frequency sound that is unpleasant to cats and rodents.


8. Spray repellants made for cats and rodents.
Reply:I have heard if you lay deer netting down after you plant your flowers, that dogs and cats won't like it. They like the soft dirt and they like the easy digging. They won't like the netting, it catches their claws.

inline skates

I want to plant a bird garden in my back yard(northeast Ohio). What plants/flowers should I plant?

'angel' nailed the hummingbird's food. Just about any flower not dead headed and let go to seed will feed the birds. Some will pick the seed out of the head, others will pick up those that fall to the ground. My favorite plant and so too of many birds are sun flowers allowed to ripen in the garden. I get a chuckle watching them stand on there heads trying to get to the seeds. Nearly all berry producing shrubs and trees are eaten by one bird or another. When the Cedar Wax Wing come through late on there migration they take every berry I have left in a couple days. RScott

I want to plant a bird garden in my back yard(northeast Ohio). What plants/flowers should I plant?
Birds like all kinds of flowers.


Zone 5


Cornus florida (Flowering dogwood)


Deutzia gracilis (Slender deutzia)


Rosa multiflora (Japanese rose)


http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/hrdzon...





Cardinals like flying from tall trees to shorter bushes.





Hummingbirds like small cone or trumpet shaped flowers like those found on the honeysuckle.


Plants that Attract Hummingbirds:


Bee Balm


Red Columbine


Delphinium and Hollyhock


Butterfly Bush )


Catawba Rhododendron


Rose of Sharon


Trumpet Vine and Trumpet Honeysuckle


http://landscaping.about.com/cs/forthebi...


Humingbird forum:


http://www.network54.com/Forum/439743/th...





Shrub plants can be massed in a border to form sheltered areas for your winged creatures. Breaking up a large flat expanse is an important consideration -- not only for landscape design in general, but particularly when trying to attract wildlife.


Good luck! Hope this helps.


How can I keep Cats out of my garden flower and vegetable?

the neighborhood cats use my freshly dug and prepaired garden as theyr litterbox and all my neighbors swear that it is not theyr cat what can I do ?

How can I keep Cats out of my garden flower and vegetable?
Cats like to use loosely packed material for their toilet, so they can cover it up, and they also form strong habits about where they go.





One thing they don't like is strong smells. Try putting small bowls of anything with a strong scent around your flowerbeds and vegetable patch. Although this method is more appropriate for indoors to stop them soiling carpets, it could be worth a try outdoors.
Reply:Well, you can use a product like "Critter Ridder", which is basically capsacin (the natural ingredient in pepper) or even place rubber spikes in the ground to deter the neighborhood cats from using your garden as their litterbox. Good luck!
Reply:lay fine netting down- they catch their paws in it and don't repeat the action


How to transfer flowers that already bloomed into a new garden?(i really dont have a green thumb)?

starting a new garden

How to transfer flowers that already bloomed into a new garden?(i really dont have a green thumb)?
You'll want to prepare the new garden for the plants, then -carefully- dig up the plants. Try to keep the root ball (the big bundle of roots usually right under the plant) as complete as possible. Settle the plant into a hole in the new ground, cover with dirt, and water frequently. If you're careful and keep most of the root ball intact, your plants should be fine. :)





Good luck!
Reply:first off dig the appropriate spaced out holes for each bulb in the new area u'll plant them in. then carefully dig about 4-5 in. below the surface of the plant and be aware of the bulb, try not to hack at it, then lift gently and transfer. after replanted then water them and put fertilizer over the soil.
Reply:Get a nice, healthy rootball when you dig up the flowers. The less you expose the roots, the more likely a successful transplant. There is still that likelihood of shock so if you can wait until the petals fall, you'll do even better transplanting. Good luck! You are on your way to developing a green thumb!
Reply:And here is more information for you:





http://www.ehow.com/how_2068240_transpla...





Happy gardening to you. :o)
Reply:I prepare a hole in the new place, saving the dirt. I take a large shovel and lift the WHOLE plant and gently transfer it to the new home for it and use the soil I've saved to fill the old hole. This may be rather unorthodox but it works.





The Muse
Reply:dig them up by the roots carefully and just put them in there knew place make sure you give them water right away after you put them in there knew place.


What are some plants/flowers that are bee-friendly and would look awesome in a garden?

I would like to know certain types of plants that are bee-friendly and the season they bloom/die and if possible, the price of the seeds.





Thanks.

What are some plants/flowers that are bee-friendly and would look awesome in a garden?
Bees are attracted to about every flower that blooms.


However favorites are daisies.


I'll try coreopsis it blooms all summer long and comes back every year. Seeds cost 1.00 to 2.00 depending on stores.


other daisies are Rudbeckias, Purple Coneflowers and Gailardias


An adorable spring flower is the Columbine bees love those and also members of the pea family like lupines and a plant called the false indigo. The mainly bloom in the Spring to Early Summer. Also any kind of clovers.


Bees also like flowers related to Hollyhock and Mallow family. They fall asleep in side of them some times lol


Annuals include plants like California bluebells, Purple tansy, and Gillia species. These plants are called bee food.
Reply:Try planting Bee Balm (spring/summer), Wisteria (spring) and Butterfly bush (summer). All three of these plants attract bees. See sites below for some ideas.
Reply:You don't state where you live! In Australia we like the native plants %26amp; bushes/shrubs for bringing the bees. Calistemons, Banksias %26amp; Grevillias are all good for the purpose %26amp; a bonus is the birds they attract. Birds eat insect pests--- need I continue?
Reply:i am sorry but you cannot have flowers without bees but you could try to make a tropical garden which means they have no flowers but they look good unless you find some flowers that grow in winter then there is less chance of bees comming to get pollen

Curves VC workout

What is the best to plant in a small north-facing garden - no sun!? I like purple flowers!?

There are purple hydrangeas which are very shade tolerant, also hostas, and a pink to purple ground cover called callistega.

What is the best to plant in a small north-facing garden - no sun!? I like purple flowers!?
try some impatience or begonias
Reply:Pansy's come in a variety of colours and you can find also hydrangea in purple.
Reply:Ajuga repens.


Has any one ever heard of putting newspaper in your flower garden to prevent weeds?

Last year, my flower garden had so many weeds, I couldn't stand it. I heard some where that if you put newspaper down first and then water it and then cover that with mulch, that the newspaper will prevent weeds from growing. Is that true? Is there a certain way you have to do it? Any input would be nice.

Has any one ever heard of putting newspaper in your flower garden to prevent weeds?
yes. put down several layers. weeds need sun, and the newspaper will block it, and rot into the soil by fall and nourish your garden.
Reply:Yes, I do it all the time.





How it's done is by placing several layers of newspaper in the flower beds, then covering up the newspaper with grass clippings. The newspaper does break down after 4-6 weeks, which means that you will have to repeat this several times during the summer.
Reply:yes, it helps mulch, keeping the ground moist between watering's, and the weeds down too.


Just like you said. lay the newspaper down, cover with a little bit of dirt, then more mulch. I use old bird seed bags as well.
Reply:Love newspaper as a weed barrier. In all of my beds outside.





7-9 layers of paper (easier to work with wet) mulch on top. You'll still get seedling weeds on top of the paper/mulch but easy to pull they're only on the surface.


Where do i start when gardening? planting flowers etc?

Im moving soon to a house with a large garden and i want to make the garden look pretty with flowers and trees etc, id like to plant some flowers, do some hanging baskets and window boxes, hedging etc, but i dont have a clue where to start as ive never done anything to do with gardening before, can anyone help please? thanks.

Where do i start when gardening? planting flowers etc?
Often the most neglected thing in the garden is the soil when this is the most important for without healthy soil you will not have healthy plants.





Before you even think about planting anything find out what type of soil you have.





Dig a few soil profiles around the garden. A soil profile is quite simply a small pit so you can see the depth of your topsoil and discover the type of subsoil you will be dealing with. It might be clay, sand and stone or even rock.





Test the soil to find out if you have acid, alkaline or neutral pH. You could spend lots of money on plants that will die because they cannot survive in your soil type.





I found a web page for you that explains all this without any technical jargon.


http://www.global-garden.com.au/gardenbe...





Check out the neighbourhood gardens and see what grows well.


Go to your garden centre / local nursery every 4 to 6 weeks and buy something in flower, that way you will get a continuation of interest throughout the growing season.





Most important of all, enjoy your garden.
Reply:Window boxes and hedging should be the easiest; however, it is getting late to plant hedges right now. You can wait to do those in the fall.





For this year, starting in late June, I would recommend doing the window boxes and hanging baskets. There should be some good sales on bedding plants right now and there are some easy ones to use.





For sunny locations, I suggest Moss Rose (or Rose-Moss, Portulaca grandiflora) is good for planting in boxes, for partially sunny to partially shady, zonal geraniums (pelargoniums) and marigolds are a good choice. For shady spots, Impatiens and Fuchsias are a pretty good choices.





These are all annuals in cold climates, so they are good plants to start out with. They tend to be pretty tough, but it will give you a chance to learn how to take care of them. Learning how to water just right is probably the biggest thing you want to learn to do.





Keep in mind that it is usually over-watering that kills more than underwatering. On the window boxes and hanging baskets, remember that if they are plastic, make sure they have open drain holes. Some don't at all, others require you remove a plastic plug so they will drain. If there isn't any at all, drill a hole or drive a nail in and pull it out.





The trick is to not let the soil dry out completely, but not leave it sopping wet either. It should all be moist to the touch after you water and just dryish without being dusty when it's time to water again (this varies, but for most plants you'd find out in front of a grocery store or in the garden department at a big retailer this will hold true). I find that watering once per week when it's cool (under 80) and twice per week when it's warm (80-90) and every other day when it's hot (more than 90) usually keeps things about right moisture-wise.





Next year, try to get started around March on planting some perennials. You'll have all winter to read up. If you want to start in February, you can also start seeds indoors.





When you get around to starting garden beds, a good way to convert lawn to garden bed is to mow the area on your mowers lowest setting, lay down newspaper at least six pages thick and cover it with bark mulch or compost. Do this in the fall or very early in the the spring. This will kill off the grass and by time the newspaper and the mulch start breaking down nicely, the bed is ready to be planted.





Good luck.





P.S. I'm guessing Helly doesn't live in Maine or North Dakota based on her comments. Certain seeds can still be planted in certain places. You could probably still get a good zinnia blooms by August if you planted now. Giving gardening advice is difficult if you don't give your general location. So in the future when you ask a garden question on Yahoo, try to let everyone where you are gardening. We can be much more helpful to you if you do that.
Reply:Hi


I moved into a house that just had lawn, I started by making mowing the lawnd and then giveing it a shape, putting curves by digging into it, then I put a brick border around the edge so it the grass would not expand into my borders.


I then started on the fence around the garden, as you do not want to do the garden then have to dig plants out to put a fence. Once this has been done, move on to plants that grow on a yearly basis not ones that grow just the first year then die.


Try and put the tallest at the back and the small ones at the frount, its too late to plant seeds, Try and look for plants that grow ad different times as well, so you can have flowers all year round, The following year try and grow seeds, the easist seeds to grow are lupins, if you go to Thompson and Morgan website they have a picture of the seeds and how tall and colour


Hope this helps


Do not put plants that spread or vine type plants as they are difficult to control
Reply:After you get your area landscaped,keep in mind your average highs and lows of temperature. That will narrow down some possibilities. Planting instructions all are based on a zone of the U.S. Found on seed pack or Info.tags joined to the plant.Some flowers that work for me are Magnolias because mosquitoes dislike the them.I plant alot of night blooming plants because it is cool enough to set out and enjoy them. Fruit Tress are logical, find the best for your area.
Reply:Firstly you need to weed and cut the lawn and get rid of any dead growth. If you can bear it ,it is best if you can wait a full year to do anything else with the garden then you can see what is already in it as the flowering time comes round and you do really need to be able to find out where there are any bulbs.
Reply:Remove any weeds and trim the grass first. This will help it look neat. Plant hedge next followed by any seeds/ flowers you like. Baskets etc can be done whenever you like esp if you have a greenhouse.
Reply:outside
Reply:buy some garden tools first


Can i use dog droppings in my flower garden to get rid of rabbits?

I've heard of using dog urine to deter rabbits from a flower garden or dog hair but since I have no way of collecting my dogs urine and he doesn't shed, can I use his droppings to keep rabbits out of my flower gardens?

Can i use dog droppings in my flower garden to get rid of rabbits?
Plant a few extra flowers for the rabbits. I wouldn't mess with the dog poo. That's pretty smelly stuff and will probably kill the flowers too.
Reply:No. Try hanging small mesh bags of dog hair or human hair.
Reply:no,-


dog feces may harbor disease and toxins that will contaminate your garden vegetables and make tham unsafe to eat.
Reply:NO
Reply:Can't say I've heard of that one although I know you can buy lion droppings to deter Deer. I have a dog that poops and pees in the garden (we do clean up the poop of course) and we are over run with rabbits so I don't think it works. Rabbit fencing or netting is the only answer.

roller blades

How to know which native plants are good for a flower garden?

There are so many pretty plants and wildflowers along the roadside right now. How can I learn which ones would make a good flower garden without the neighbors thinking I have a weed bed?

How to know which native plants are good for a flower garden?
Your state or one of your surrounding states that are in the same gardening zone as you are should be a good resource for you. Also, there are often smaller garden centers that specialize in native plants and they are often very happy to provide advice.





try searching with key words such as : native plants - horticulture -and then name of your state. or gardening with native plants and the name of your state.
Reply:you can go to your local flower/landscape center for starters (not a chain store where generally the assistants are usually not educated on plants)... or could research the plants you like... also, most states have a chapter of 'Wild ones'.. an excellent resource.. or any native plant growers, retailers in your area.. or your local botanical gardens... as far as your garden looking neat rather than a 'weed bed', just design it well, maintain it well (keeping things cut back and weed free), maybe mulch it... actually, your neighbors will probably love it, it would be something not everyone else has and attract so many butterflies and birds that they'll all want it too :)


What is the best way to keep kitty from using flower garden for a litter box ?

I have 3 grown kitties, and they all have started usng my new flower garden for their litter box . I guess they like the soft dirt. I heard that moth balls will help, so I tried sprinkling some around on top of the dirt, but it didnt help at all. Any help is appreciated very much. Thanks

What is the best way to keep kitty from using flower garden for a litter box ?
you can try cayenne pepper, lemon or orange rinds or coffee grounds. if those don't work, you can try a commercial cat repellent.





Good luck!!
Reply:Hi. I wish to thank everyone for the great answers I received. I decided the best thing to do is just keep my kitties inside. They dont like it of course, but it is safer for them. Thanks again for all the help and great answers ! Mary Report It

Reply:Moth balls are poisonous. Go to a grocery store that sells bulk spices %26amp; buy cayenne pepper. Sprinkle it in goo amounts where the cats are relieving themselves. Refresh the cayenne after watering or after it rains. Hope this helps.
Reply:Black pepper.. it is cheaper and works well!
Reply:The best way to keep your kitties out of your garden is to keep them in the house. They will not get fleas, ticks, and in general stay healthier. That said I guess you don't want the cat's in the house or your garden. There are a large number of things that will work, I don't know why every answer to a pet or animal problem is moth balls. You can check with your garden supply store for a list of things they would recommend for your problem. There are books in your local library that should cover this problem too. You could also check with your local vet for information on this problem. You should be careful with letting your cat's out side as there are a lot of plants that are poisonous to cat's that I'm sure you don't want them to get into. So I would recommend the Library then your local garden store, then your vet. Best of luck...
Reply:If they are outside and this is an "outside" flower garden don't worry about it. That is natural for them. However, I would make sure they don't contract any parasites etc. that may be in the soil. So they need vet check ups occasionally if they start showing signs out of the ordinary...If this is an indoor "flower garden", find a spot they cannot reach or get to...and try to reinforce the use of the normal litter box.
Reply:Well, if you have a wall of some sort around the flower garden, spray it with a diluted bleach mixture. Cat's sense of smell is so strong, they can't STAND the bleach odor and usually steer clear of it.
Reply:moth balls or chicken wire
Reply:Get rid of the moth balls, napthalene is toxic and can kill cats. Provide her with an alternative, you can get a cheap plastic tray and fill it with grass clippings or shredded newspaper or buy a commercial cat litter and put that in the garden for her to use. You will need to train her to use it, so you might need to confine her with the litter tray for a few days so she understands what it's for. Cats if given a choice will use what nature intended. You could try putting some wire mesh or weed mat over the garden, she won't be able to dig and this should deter her.





You could make a self composting litter tray, using soil and wood shavings, dig a hole in the ground and put those things into it. Turn them every so often and clean it out completely and put fresh litter into it. (you can use the compost on your garden) Where do you rather her to do it? In the neighbours garden instead or on your front doorstep?
Reply:Are they digging up your flowers? I heard planting marigolds deter rabbits because they dont like the smell, you may try that for cats, I can't guarantee anything. BUt if they are not digging up your flowers and its not stinking to high heaven, I say dont worry about it because its probably wonderful fertilizer for it!


Why does my flower garden have mushrooms and a smelly scent?

I live in MO. The mushrooms are brown and smell. Last year my flower garden was very nice and this year I don't know what happened.

Why does my flower garden have mushrooms and a smelly scent?
To much moisture and your soil is to dense, it happens because the old flowers and leaves die and become natural compost (fertilizer of decayed mineral filled plants), problem is in flower beds we fail to rake them out in the fall, and the compost turns to soil over time and years, and the ground gets dense, to much moisture trapped and little if any air, and the decayed matter becomes your new top soil and yes it stinks. dig down and add sand, just plain sand, to the soil, mix it in to aerate the rich soil, you will use quit a bit, hard to tell you how much not knowing the size of the flower garden, but you should see an even mix of dark soil and light sand, for about 6 inches down. you need to do that every few years in your area, should take care of mushrooms and the smell.
Reply:Smell could also be from skunk or cat spray
Reply:It's probably a pH level problem, or maybe there's stale groundwater.
Reply:overwatering


rule of thumb...one time a week, for one hour, early a.m. in your area twice a week for 30 mins each time would work nicely.





hope this helps
Reply:Is it mulched, or was there a dead tree there ? The fungus needs a food source , so when that is exhausted, the mushrooms will be gone . Are you watering a lot ? Let it dry out a bit between waterings.





ps MO = Missouri, correct?
Reply:Mushrooms tend to thrive in very moist / humid environments it could be due to the weather being different unlike what you experienced last year, most likely hotter, with more light showers. I suggest you water the flower garden in the early morning so the heat from the sun doesn't let the water condense and create a moist, humid environment that gets trapped in by the flowers like what a canopy in a forests does. Also prior to doing this dig up about 3 to 4 cm of top soil around the flowers ofcource because the soil density lowers the waters absorption rate therefore leaving some moisture on the top to condense also creating humidity. This i am certain will fix your mushroom problem and once the mushrooms are gone i am certain the smell will disappear also due to the mushrooms being fungi and most fungi have distinctive smells in majority unpleasant.
Reply:Don't know where MO is? But reason can be 2 things.You have a virus in soil. Or you have watered the area too much. Inviting smelly fungus. Dry off soil, if neccessary get fungus killer from garden center. Take in piece of it to center, and they will advise you. Good Luck!


How do I start a Wild Flower Garden?

I want to be able to cut fresh flowers this summer, I just bought a house and was wondering what i would have to do to grow them, do i need a shady area or high sunlight? I am a gardening Novice that would love to make this my hobby.

How do I start a Wild Flower Garden?
Wild flowers grow in different areas of shade or sun depending on where they originated in the wild. Many wildflowers have specific needs regarding soil, light and moisture. In some cases, the conditions can be changed to create more favorable growing conditions, but in the long run, it is always easier to select wildflowers that are suited for the existing location. Planting flowers that are native to your area makes growing them easier, too.


http://www.enviro-explorers.com/wildflow...


http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/HGIC1...


Coneflowers, Black-eyed-Susans, Liatris, etc like a lot of sun.





The best plants for the more heavily shaded areas to partially shaded are those found in the woods in their native habitat, such as Violets, Bluebells, Lilies of the Valley, %26amp; Wild Ginger.


http://www.mastergardenproducts.com/gard...


http://pss.uvm.edu/ppp/articles/asarum.h...





Here's how to plant a meadow of wildflowers:


http://www.life.ca/nl/43/flowers.html





I've just bought a wildflower seed combination pack called "North American Wildflowers" of native plants. It includes wildflower seed, fertilizer, %26amp; mulch in one package for less than $2. It says to "plant in the spring %26amp; to water daily until plants are established (4-6 weeks). Mow plants to 4" in the fall after the flowers have bloomed." The annuals will bloom the first year, but some perennials will not bloom until the second year.





I've also bought a pkg of 6 Lilly-of-the Valley (Convallaria) pips %26amp; a pkg of 12 Liatris bulbs ( tuberous corms). These I've planted in pots indoors now, but the Liatris will go in my sunniest spot outdoors, when I get a chance, %26amp; the Convallaria is eventually going under my trees.





You can plant some wildflower seeds soon %26amp; surprise yourself with what will grow from a small pack of seeds. Also, if you purchase %26amp; plant one blooming plant of several different varieties of wildflowers you'll find you'll have all the seeds you need in the fall. Many wildflower seeds are planted outdoors in the fall or spring. Some are planted indoors 6-8 weeks before the last spring frost date. The back of the seed packs will give you this information.





Besides planting by bulbs %26amp; corms, Liatris, %26amp; many other bulbous wildflowers, can also be grown through seeds you've purchased (or collected once they have matured, in late summer to early fall), and sown into flats that can be left outdoors throughout winter and will germinate once the temperature and soil begins warming in the spring. These plants can also be allowed to self sow in open areas of the garden for a pleasant surprise later in the growing season once they begin blooming. The tuberous corms of older plants can also be dug up and divided in late winter while the plant is dormant.





Here's a list of some wildflowers %26amp; their moisture/sun/shade requirements:


http://www.wildflowerinformation.org/Lig...


http://www.wildflowerinformation.org/Moi...





Video of wildflowers I thought you'd enjoy:


http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=...





Good luck!!! I hope this helps.
Reply:WOW...Thanks to the person who voted on this to release it from it's tie.


Two months seems a long time to wait for the voting outcome, so having someone take the time to vote on this is truely appreciated.





Thank you so much!!!! Report It

Reply:Till up some dirt in a mostly sunny area - plant wildflower seeds. Water every evening (Not during the day when the sun can evaporate the water) - let grow. Have fun cutting!!!!!
Reply:Find out what kind of wild flowers are indigenous to your area, and plant them, they will grow the best. clean the area you desire to plant, broad cast the seeds selected and cover with a thin layer of top soil, garden soil or, potting soil. 1/4 to 1/2 inch should be fine.
Reply:theres a thing you can buy.... its like two pounds of random wild flower seeds... for 4 bucks.... i used a rake to rake my soil around.... and spread them around...... i even had too many so i randomly threw some (without tilling soil) in the city parks and such.
Reply:Gardening stores sell wild flower seeds. The instructions for planting are on the bag. They can be planted about any where! Some people even plant them in the lawn in patches. They look great. If every one just had grass it would not be a very pretty place!!!We even plant some bright flowers in our garden, it adds a bit of color to it!!You can also plant wild flowers in hanging pots to add color. We use trelesus for cucumbers, and have morning glories growing with them!! The more variation you have the better your garden will look. People will comment on it too...I wish i could start now..Got to get rid of 2 ft of snow first!!!

buckles

What's the best way to start planting a flower garden?

I just bought my first house, and I have no idea where to begin in planting and designing a flower garden. If it helps I live in Virginia where it's a little warmer.

What's the best way to start planting a flower garden?
i found i come up with better ideas AFTER i finish a project. so start in the back of the house, by the time you get to the front, you'll be experienced and know what you like and don't like. choose low maintenance plants that come back every year (perennials or bulbs). choose durable materials like stone or brick, even treated wood will rot eventually and you'll be doing it all over again.
Reply:First take in an overall look of where you would like to see plants take into account your space and the time involved for its maintenance.Being you never gardened before you need to look into low maintenance plants would invest in all seasons bulbs so all year through you can have beauty.How much can you afford or how much do you really want to spend ? There is also a soil check to make sure what you invest in will grow good in your soil some plants do not do well if not grown in a soil with maybe too much lime .So you need to take that into consideration also.Maybe you want mulch or rocks .Is there anything planted now that you would like to keep?perennials are great they come back every year and bigger so take spacing into consideration too.The success of a outstanding garden is to place high plants to the back shorter ones in the front this will create a dramatic effect also look for color schemes pinks with purples look great together use your imagine look in magazines to get ideas look around your neighborhood too I could stay here all day with ideas I LOVE to garden and i love plants congratulations on your new home Hope i helped out a little bit . I am also from VA.In dollar tree they have annual seed packets 10 for a dollar you can also get boxes of wildflower seeds for a buck it has over one hundred seeds if you like wild flowers but in some boxes you will get seeds that come back .Start taking a study of where you want to start your garden so you can watch the sun or shade this will also help okay one more thing how is your drainage some plants will adapt and some wont Remember when you have some ideas draw a plan on paper so you can remember your ideas much luck to you again when you are finished and and your garden takes shape pat yourself on the back gardening also is a great stress relief
Reply:The soil is where it all begins. Do NOT plan your whole garden to begin with. Take your time. You will have a more magical and better growing garden if you make sure your soil is well drained, fertile (with plant based and not animal based waste is preferable if you're in Oakland, since many of our best choices are not compatible with posphorous fertilizers, which are all animal based). I recommend removing everything you do not want to keep. Prepare the soil--often in Oakland that means importing the soil--so that all plants have a nice 18" deep layer of prepared soil. When you get your trucked in or super deeply ammended soil prepared to a depth of 18" (if you amend, you'll need plant based compost--basic mix from Amer. Soil--sand, grit and gravel, all weed seed free) you must THEN cover it with a good 8" layer (minimum) with mulch (some sort of slow rotting mulch is best). This will protect your soil investment while you are taking your time to choose plant selections that are approprate for our climate (first) and for your tastes (second). All your plants should be able to survive without any irrigation after establishment. Plant your plants in the fall to take advantage of winter rains and short cloudy days (gentler on new plants). You're mulch layer may need to be replaced every 2-3 years. If you maintain a shallower layer of mulch, you will have to replace it more often or erosion will take your ammended soil away where you haven't planted with something that will hold the soil. Fortunately, appropriate plant choices number in the thousands here in the Bay Area. You have appropriate selections to choose from for year round bloom, season bloom, cutting flowers, screens, dear and gopher resistant, all colors of leaves, flowers and even bark! Many appropriate choices are not only drought thriving but also fire retardant. We're truly blessed here. Your appropriate plant selections can come from native selections, or selections now grown here originally from Chile, SW and S Australia, Argentina, Mediterranean areas, Middle East, North Africa, tropical cloud forests, wet/dry season tropical high elevation forests. The diversity of our options is breathtaking, in a good way.





Hope this helps. Simple bottom line: Start with the SOIL first...
Reply:Handygirl has some great ideas but also keep in mind the height of the plants.... taller ones in the background and shorter ones in the front. Remember to allow space for the plants to grow and spread! As well as whether the plants are better suited for sun or shade! Gardening is fun and very rewarding too! Just get the plants you like in the colors you like and have fun!!! I made a great water feature out of and old rusted out antique milk can placed sideways on a stack of stepping stones with the end of it over an old water trough. I planted some lantana in the background to hide the hose and some daises in the front to hide the trough! It gets raves on a daily basis! Just do whatever looks good to you... you are the one who has to look at it and you will enjoy it! Have fun!


How do I get rid of mushrooms in my flower garden?

For some reason this year, I'm getting a number of tall skinny red mushrooms growing in my flower garden. I have no idea what type of mushrooms these are. Everytime I remove one, it grows back in a day and they seem to be spreading. Any ideas of how I can get rid of them?

How do I get rid of mushrooms in my flower garden?
Mushrooms live on decomposing vegitation such as old tree roots or mulch etc. Mushrooms are impossible to get rid of but if you get rid of the decomposing matter the mushroos will most likely go away to


What is the best way to plant a flower garden?

I have never planted a flower garden. I would like too but don't know where to start. Any imput would be great.

What is the best way to plant a flower garden?
Get down and get Dirty Girl. Start close to your house and Water Faucet. Just start small and add on over the years as you know more and what you want. A small flower bed you can take a hand shovel when the ground is wet, maybe a day or two after it rains. Dig down about an inch to scrap off the Grass then dig a hole for your flowers about 2X the size of the pot they in, Wet the plant in the pot real well. Pull from pot and take a Sharpe knife or I just use my fingers and rip down the outer roots to get them unwound some, 2-3 sides. Then have some good potting soil or Miracle Grow Potting mix and plant in your hole like you re-potting it mounding it about 1 inch above the ground. Then when everything planted, get a HARDWOOD Mulch and mulch about 3 inches thick around everything going a little thinner at the plant base. Then wet down real well and you are done. Water lightly in Dry times about every 3-4 days. The Mulch helps retain Moisture. DO NOT use those big Pine Nuggets they just float away in a heavy rain, use a Mulch that looks Shredded, it tangles together and holds its place. The Mulch Thick enough to keep the grass and weeds out, add about 1 inch every spring to compensate for what rots. WHEN you mow, Blow the grass cuttings away from your flowers or you just re-seed grass. Any unwanted growth will easily pull up throw in the yard and sun do it's thing. Good Luck!
Reply:Plant tall plants in the back and shorter plants in the front. The best flower garden is a mix between perennials and annuals. I keep a garden area for different mixes. One year we put in all sunflowers of different shapes, sizes, colors. The next year we put in "black" plants and purple flowers. This years we are putting in dinner plate dahlias. It is always fun to try new things. Just go to the nursery and do what you like best! Marigolds, vinca and geraniums are so easy to grow. So are nasturtiums. Good luck and have a great time.
Reply:in dirt.
Reply:I am new at this gardening stuff but I have found out that every plant I have planted and used miracle grow shake n feed all purplse fertilizer have done better than ever before. Hope this helps when you do plant.
Reply:The first step if to pick your plot of land. Make sure you have a lot of sun all through-out the day. Also look for rich moist soil that will encourage plant growth.





Tilling your garden is a term for loosening up the dirt so it is easier for the plants to grow. You can do this with a gardening hoe. While tilling mix cow manuer and fertilizer in the ground to give extra nutrients to your plants.





Here is a list of easy flowers to grow:


Blue Flax


Calendula


Cardinal Climber


Cleome


Coreopsis Double Sunburst


Cypress Vine


Gaillardia


Lavatera


Marigold Bonanza Blend


Mexican Sunflower


Morning Glories


Nierembergia


Shasta Daisy


Shirley Poppies


Yarrow


Zinnia





But dont just grow whats easy, grow what you want to see in your garden. It's not that hard. And always remember, if at first you dont succeed, try try again.
Reply:You first need to decide where your flowers will be. Will you be putting them in pots or will they be in a bed? When you purchase your flowers, be sure to look at the information provided about the plants. The little tags will tell you how much light, how much water, the temperature range, how tall %26amp; wide the plant will be and the best times for the plants (spring to summer; summer to fall). When planting a bed, you will want taller plants closer to the middle, medium height plants then some sort of edging plant around the edge- the tags will tell you this info as well.





Miracle Grow Potting soil works best for pots, and be sure to use some sort of topsoil whether it is a pot or a bed. After planting, be sure to water and use a root stimulant that you dilute with water. DO NOT fertilize until about 3 months after you have planted your plants. If you fertilize too soon, you could burn the roots. 3 months give the plants time to establish their root system. Hope this will help!


Please write a paragraph on : the flowers in my garden have been disappearing daily what will do ?

When we examine a phrase such as 'the flowers in my garden have been disappearing daily what will do ?' we find that it makes little sense. Perhaps it might better have been expressed as two sentences, but the meaning of the sub clause 'what will do?' is unclear in this context. It may mean 'what is fitting or appropriate', for example. Alternatively we may be missing a pronoun in which case, all we are doing is guessing, and probably to little purpose.

roller blades

How do you kill flowers? I am trying to destroy a neighbors garden?

they are always talkin shyt and being a$$holes so help me with my problem

How do you kill flowers? I am trying to destroy a neighbors garden?
If you get caught, you will face criminal, and civil prosecution. You will be convicted of malicious destruction of private property, (a felony), and sued for the replacement of the garden by the most expensive landscaper they can fly in from Holland.


The good news is...We will all know you are guilty.


I think you are being immature, and petty.


Grow-Up.
Reply:boiling hot water seems to work.
Reply:The flowers did not do anything to you. Why destroy something beautiful?





Just ignore them and get on with your life. You are focusing way too much negative energy on them.





As a final note--if their yard looks awful, it will bring down your property value. Not a good idea!!!
Reply:Well, aren't we hateful? Maybe you talk s--t and are an a--hole? Are you. Try being nice to them. If that doesn't work don't be like them-be better than them and ignore them.
Reply:dont do it, karma's a mother Fu.....r,


ok just throw some potatoes under there house
Reply:spray bleach on them
Reply:Build a better flower garden.
Reply:I feel your pain--had the same situation here but I have learned a neat little trick.... Every time I see them I give them the look of the cat that swallowed the canary. Now they run around wondering what I am up to. And the answer is nothing but it makes them wonder and it puts me on the high road--I don't need to stoop to their level. I hope it helps to know that others have the same problem...GOOD LUCK!!!!
Reply:The first thing you DON'T do is post evidence like this on the internet for the cops to find when you're charged with vandalism and sued by your neighbor.
Reply:I had that same problem with neighbors-I bought some roundup-that's a brand name weed killer-from the local Lowe's.Sprayed it on real good when they weren't home and presto-3 days later everything was deader than a door nail.I think I even got there cat.That will teach em!!


Need some help with planting a flower garden!?

Hey Everyone!





I am moving to a new house in the next couple weeks and noticed that the previous tenants had a small flower bed in the front of the condo.





I have never planted my own garden before, only helped my mom. What is the best way to do it? Should I plants seeds or potted plants?





Also what are some suggestions for easy growing purple, pink, yellow %26amp; white flowers? can you grow gerber daisies?





Your help would be appreciated, I'm pretty clueless when it comes to this stuff!! Thanks!

Need some help with planting a flower garden!?
Buy bedding plants at your local garden center. They will be in packs of 5 or in 4 inch starter pots. They are likely separated there by sun or shade, so choose plants for the amount of sun your flower bed has.





They will also be divided by annuals and perennials. Annuals will bloom all summer, but not return next year. Perennials usually only bloom for a few weeks, but will come back next year.





DON"T forget to buy some bags of mulch to put down, or you will have a bed of weeds before long, too.
Reply:I'd buy plants as it is getting late to start them from seed this year. Pansy's are easy and come in many colours, even black, even though they are annuals they will readily self seed for next year. Primroses also come in many colours and grow easily. Lily's are also nice and in assorted colours as well.


I have dug up my entire front yard over the last couple years and I go mainly for perennials and then fill in any bare spots with the annuals I particularly like.


Good luck and happy planting.
Reply:The type of flowers you can plant depends on several things; the light (shade, part shade, sun), the drainage (does the soil stay wet, or dry under normal conditions), the Ph level of your soil), the type of soil (clay, sand, etc), and how much work you want to put into it.





Visit your local nursery to get ideas of what will grow best in your area. And you could ask your Mom as it sounds like she knows how to garden. I'd imagine she'd be happy to hep you.
Reply:It's easiest to use plants, not seeds/ I recommend petunias, if it is realtively sunny. Just fluff up the soil and stick them in, about 6-10" apart. You might want to mix some composted manure in the soil and/or mix in a slow-release fertilizer, such as 'Osmocote' for best results.
Reply:well luckly i know a lot about planting about the plant it pots i think it would look much better not potted in plants if it's by your condo. And You can grow anything you want but some flowers you need to be careful where you put it.
Reply:u should be able to grow almost anything just have fun with it.


I like potted plants so you can read the labels on pot thy kind a tell you about the plant and how to plant it

Broken Teeth

What kind of plants and flowers can I use for a garden in Albuquerque?

Check out this website as they specialize in your climate. www.highcountrygardens.com

What kind of plants and flowers can I use for a garden in Albuquerque?
Plants that are native to New Mexico or well adapted to the climate are the best choices for gardeners in the high desert.


They must be comfortable with the heat, sunlight, lack of abundant water, winter cold, and most importantly great fluctuations in temperature between night and day. You want plants that will thrive in these extremes and not be tricked into waking up too early in the spring only to be frozen to the ground by a May frost.


High Country Gardens is a great source for information. They have a website, an e-newsletter and a great print catalog. Plants of the Southwest in Albuquerque has a print catalog and a nursery/outlet store on 4th st. They both specialize in trees, shrubs and perennials that do well in your climate.


You should also visit the Albuquerque Garden Center on Lomas East of Wyoming and walk around the grounds and see what type of plants you like.


Right now is a great time to get out and look at what is growing in your city. It is also a great time to plant pansies in a south facing garden or in pots on the south side of your home. They love Albuquerque weather from now until the heat of next summer and will bloom all winter if they have full sun.


Have fun!


Flowers in the garden?

when busy lizzies die during the summer,would the seeds grow again without having to atend to them,like just let them drop on the ground from the flowers.

Flowers in the garden?
During the early summer we remove the seeds before they swell up but during the end of the summer when the weather will kill them off anyway, we let the seed heads swell really large then go round and pop them into a paper bag. If you have a greenhouse or hot house you can use these seeds and they will grow, but very rarely in UK would they survive if just left out in the garden.
Reply:the seeds will fall and may grow again but that depends on the wildlife. the birds/snails/slugs n bugs will probably eat them before they get buried in the soil, and of course you have to account for wind dispersal. thats why they're called 'annuals'. you're supposed to plant them every year.
Reply:Busy Lizzies are very difficult to grow from seed, however I have had a couple seed themselves the following year. But the answer is no, buy new next year.
Reply:No,afraid not,they only grow once,they are called annuals.
Reply:Yes, but it will grow too slowly outdoors.





It is better to take the seed pods indoors, squeeze them and the seed will come out. Keep the seed in an envelope and start it off in some compost indoors next year.





They grow pretty easy.


How do i rid june bugs from my garden?

My veggie garden, flowers and even the leaves on my trees are being ate up by june bugs. They swarm my yard and are eating all the foliage on anything green around my house. My biggest problem is in my veggie garden. How can I get rid of them w/out using poisons.

How do i rid june bugs from my garden?
catch them, tye a string around one of their legs and have a good time listioning to them buzzz as they go around your head!


I'm not teasing, I did this when I was a kid, for fun. because we did not have T.V. or nintedo or real toys! I lived in the mountains of N. C.
Reply:Sevin also kills bees! :( You want flowers, you need bees. Are you sure you are talking about June bugs not Japanese Beatles?
Reply:tennis racket
Reply:i use 7 dust .. its non toxic to you or animals if your dog has flees you can rub it on your dog or in your house just sprinkle...the only bad thing is its dust so after it rains it washes off...but will kill every pest in the garden
Reply:without using pesticide...I think you're out of luck. You just might have to wait out the season





I looked into a little more and managed to find this website about possible "safe" pesticides:





http://www.e-bug.net/bug/junebugs.shtml


What kind of flowers are good for a small pond?

We just installed a small pond. It is only 125gal. I would like to put some water lilies in but know some pond plants can be very invasaive. Also do you need to feed them or other water plants like you do garden flowers? What kind of plants do you suggest for around the pond and other plants in the pond?

What kind of flowers are good for a small pond?
There are a couple of dwarf varieties of lily that would work in a small pond like yours. Lilypons is a good start to look for some. Pretty much all pond plants are invasive, that's the reason that you always put them in pots.





In a 125 gallon pond, I'd put in 1 dwarf lily, 1 pot of japanese iris, and probably 1 pot of bog bean to go across the water. You could also use acorus, taro, horsetail or even dwarf cattails in a pond that size.





For around the pond I like ferns and iris. I also have something called wire plant by one little pond that is a low grower and trails into the pond, very cool.





About water hyacinths. Your pond is small so they'll fill the hole thing up within a month. They're good filters and fish like them to munch on the roots, but you'll have to keep up with them to keep them from taking over the whole thing. They do compost well.
Reply:I have a small pond of maybe 500 gals and have pond lilies and irises.... that come back each year but I think on the pond lilies you will need more depth than you have with 125 gals. why not give it a try. I also buy new each year, water hyacinth and water lettuce.(I live in NH and they don't winter over) these aren't very expensive, that are both floating plants. If you have fish they will love the shade and all plants help the eco system. Watergarden.com can give you some ideas even if you decide to buy them locally. Oh ya, about the feeding. I do give mine some water plant food tablets that have to be poked into the pots, but it is difficult because you have to remove the pots that will become grown in a bit to the bottom rocks or sediment.
Reply:Water lilies will get invasive. They look really nice when first installed eventually they will get quite large and you will have to thin them out on a yearly basis. They are perennials which means they will go dormant in winter but will come back year after year.





You could try water lettuce and hyacinths. Both are small and will propagate themselves. The hyacinth will produce a small purple type bloom.
Reply:"the gubmint" is 100% right on. I would like to add that the cheap lillies from HD, etc, are really invasive, and not worth the money. Spend a few more bucks at a pond store and get a really good lily. They will give you years of enjoyment.





Fish do NOT fertilize the plants. I use the Jobes from the dollar stores.





As far as the landscaping plants, I have: Spiderwort, 3 small grasses, Garden Germander, and, my favorite, Burgenia.
Reply:mostly any but just make sure that if they are shade plants you plant them in the shade and if they are sun plants you plant them in the sun. there are many kinds of Lily's that look nice
Reply:Water hyacinths are illegal in many states because of the way they reproduce and clogged up the streams and waterways,but many have them in their gardens incl. me. Just make sure you do not throw your excess in someones ponds or lake! I also have water lettuce which is really pretty. There are many grasses that are ornamental and also some flower somewhat and they do not take up too much space.Iris , cannas,elephant ear, arrow leaf and many other plants can be planted in or around your pond to give it a really tropical look. Make sure you have the right species to handle a lot of water though. If you have some small goldfish in your pond you shouldn't have to fertilize your plants because of the fish poop. Make sure you have the kind of fish in your pond (if you have fish) that won't damage your plants and vice versa. If your pond is balanced you shouldn't have to do anymore than give it a cleaning once a year if that often. A good resource for information is Water Club of South Texas. They have a website and are really sweet and helpful people! They would be really willing to help you with all questions and problems you might have. Have fun!

safety shoes

I need some ideas. Have rock garden in middle of lawn & want orange flowers. Zone 5?

I'd prefer perrenials that are orange, please? I just need ideas %26amp; the names of some orange flowers.


Thanx.

I need some ideas. Have rock garden in middle of lawn %26amp; want orange flowers. Zone 5?
Butterfly Weed – This flowers in summer and can get as high as three feet. It has compact clusters of flowers and as the name implies, it does attract butterflies!





Day Lily – I see this beautiful flower growing wild all over the place here in New Hampshire. It blooms in summer and sits on 30” tall stalks. These perennials are virtually care free and will grow in most locations. Since 1 stalk can have over fourty flowers, you can have a bed of these that blooms for a month or more in the summer.





Gaillardia – This comes in a regular size that has 4” daisy like flowers and a dwarf size. The plant is short growing to about 2 feet and blooms in summer. These like to be planted in the full sun but are quite hardy and you can extend the bloom time if you cut off the fading flowers. And the best thing is that they also attract butterflies!





Helianthemum - Blooms This is a good ground cover that blooms in summer It is easy to grow on rocky slopes and creates a border of color. If you are lucky it will bloom twice, once in early summer and then again in late summer.





Oriental Poppy – Beautiful orange flowers that bloom in spring and grow to 24”. These beautiful perennials like a sunny spot with well drained soil.





Torch lily - This interesting perennial blooms in summer and produces spikes of orange cone shaped flowers that can grow to 6 feet. It likes to be planted in a sunny location and is great for zones 5 – 10. This plant attracts hummingbirds!


Trumpet Creeper – I had one of these beautiful vines growing wild up my chimney. It blooms in mid to late summer and has trumpet shaped flowers that hang from it’s lush vines. It will cling to anything and can grow up to 30 feet. It can also grow as a shrub when it has nothing to cling to. It grows quickly and also attracts hummingbirds.
Reply:Need more info. Is it a sunny location or shady? How big is the area? Zone 5 Chicago area? Are you looking for small or large plants? Some options are daylily, orange coneflower, orange iris, poppy. Problem is, poppies %26amp; iris have a short bloom time, coneflowers spread and daylilies get big. There are other orange flowers out there, but more so in the annual varieties. There is a nice orange pansy, but they won't live in the hot sun long.
Reply:I'm assuming that it is a sunny location, since its in the middle of your lawn. so, hibiscus...cornflower (sunset variety)...gaillardia (fanfare in particular, a lovely yellow/orange mixed flower)....anthemis (a type of orange daisy, very large centers, shorter petals)....aquilegia (tequila sunrise variety, also called grannys nightcap...absolutely beautiful, looks very much like columbine).....chrysanthemum....coreopsi... (I love the Jethro Tull variety, but they are more golden. There is an orange variety, the flowers are a bit larger but they ar so easy to grow!)....trollius (truly an orange flower). ..and of course lily.


Thats the only ones I know of. I'm sure there are many, many more.
Reply:Daylilies are easy to grow and you can start with a small bit and they will spread. Then you can separate them and use some to start in other parts of your yard. I am in Northern NH and they have worked out great for me.
Reply:Only orange I can think of are ones that reseed but not perrineal. Marigolds and California poppies. Others are bulbs that have to be dug up and stored.
Reply:lillies, day lily, iris,


What plants and flowers will attract butterflies and insects to my garden?

I bought a bag of seeds that's "Butterfly %26amp; Hummingbird Attracting." Here's what's in it:





Baby's Breath


Zinnia


Chinese Forget Me Not


Bachelor Button


Cosmos Sensation


Candytuft


Shasta Daisy


Black-Eyed Susat


Alyssum


Scarlet Sage


Foxglove





I haven't tried it yet, so I can't speak from experience. I'm hoping to have some butterflies around this summer as well. Hope that helped some. Good luck.

What plants and flowers will attract butterflies and insects to my garden?
One of the best especially for butterlies is Buddleja


http://www.pbase.com/hjsteed/butterflies...





Can come in a number of colours (Buddleja davidii)


Empire Blue, Royal Red, White Profusion, Black Night , see following UK site


http://www.hedging.co.uk/acatalog/Index_...





This US site has some good info on plants to attract butterflies


http://www.nwf.org/backyard/butterflies....
Reply:Buddleia davidii is the botanical name for Butterfly Bush. I have several in my yard. They are alive with butterflies, moths and bumble bees all season.





I think they smell great, too. It's a spicy scent sort of like carnations. My whole yard smells good.
Reply:A butterfly bush. Don't know the technical name for it..they always work well and are so pretty.
Reply:this will definitely help u out!: http://springhillnursery.com/search.asp?...





http://www.brecks.com/search.asp?t=xx%26amp;ss...





http://www.naturehills.com/search.aspx?q...





http://michiganbulb.com/search.asp?ss=bu...





alyssum-carpet of snow also attracts butterflies
Reply:the butterfly plant it is


a bush that gets larger every year. my butterfly


plant is purple.


they need room to grow.





best wishes


laney


www.michiganbulb.com


this is a magizine i bought my plants here.
Reply:lantanas, butterfly plants also, the home depot or lowes or walmart have info on each of their plants, as to which ones attract butterflies.
Reply:One i know off the top of my head is the budlea- butterflies LOVE This!! It also comes in a variety of colours.You will notice all types of butterflies, and place it close to the window so you can look at them from inside- a great talking point!! xx





Somebody mentioned foxgloves- be careful if you have small children as they are poisonous.
Reply:Honeysuckle and Jasmine.
Reply:to attract butterflies,





Annual and biennial garden flowers


African marigold (Tagetes erecta)


Ageratum (Ageratum houstonianum)


Alyssum (Lobularia maritima)


Candytuft (Iberis amara)


China aster (Callistephus chinensis)


Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus)


French marigold (Tagetes patula)


Heliotrope/cherry pie (Heliotropium cultivars)


Honesty (Lunaria annua)


Marigold (Calendula officinalis)


Mignonette (Reseda odorata)


Stocks (Matthiola incana and hybrids)


Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus)


Verbena (Verbena rigida)


Wallflower (Erysimum cheiri)


Zinnia (Zinnia elegans)





Herbaceous perennials


Alyssum (Aurinia saxatilis)


Agastache foeniculum


Arabis (Arabis alpina subsp. caucasica)


Asperula hexaphylla


Astrantia major


Aubrieta (Aubrieta deltoidea)


Blanket flower (Gaillardia cultivars)


Catmint (Nepeta x faassenii)


Centaurea species e.g. C. dealbata, C. montana, C. macrocephala


Dahlias - single-flowered types


Elephant's ears (Bergenia species)


Eryngium species


Garden mint (Mentha spicata)


Globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus)


Globe thistles (Echinops species)


Golden rod (Solidago species)


Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis)


Ice plant (Sedum spectabile - dark red cultivars are less attractive)


Jacob's ladder (Polemonium caeruleum)


Liatris spicata


Michaelmas daisies (Aster novae-angliae, A. amellus)


Perennial candytuft (Iberis sempervirens)


Phlox (Phlox paniculata)


Red valerian (Centranthus ruber)


Scabious (Scabiosa species)


Soapwort (Saponaria species, especially S. ocymoides)


Sweet rocket (Hesperis matronalis)


Thrift (Armeria species)


Verbena bonariensis





Shrubs


Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus)


Butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii, also B. globosa, B. alternifolia)


Caryopteris (Caryopteris x clandonensis)


Cherry laurel * (Prunus laurocerasus)


Escallonia hybrids


Firethorn (Pyracantha cultivars)


Hawthorn * (Crataegus monogyna)


Heather (Calluna vulgaris)


Heaths (Erica species, Daboecia species)


Hebe species


Ivy * (Hedera helix)


Lavender (Lavandula species)


Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium)


Privet * (Ligustrum species)


Sallows (Salix species, especially male forms of Salix caprea)


Thyme (Thymus species)





* These will not flower as young plants and severe pruning, such as clipping to make a formal hedge, inhibits flowering.





for plants that attract beneficial insects try http://www.farmerfred.com/plants_that_at...





didnt want to make my answer any longer!!
Reply:as many flowers you can put in the garden; ie; daisy,pansy, crivellias,snap dragons,allysiums
Reply:Simple. Buy packets of wild flower mix from your garden centre and sow them.