Ever since the industrial revolution, we’ve been sending vast clouds of toxic chemicals into the air. Even today, with our clean-burning factories and more efficient vehicles, the airways of the cities and towns we live in are clogged with particulates and chemicals that contribute to a wide range of respiratory and general health conditions.
Cleopatra and Nefertiti were two Egyptian Queens who incorporated Aloe vera into their beauty regime to keep their skin soft and supple.
I discovered a stunningly beautiful plant about eight years ago that has far surpassed my expectations in so many ways. Passionflower looks like something that belongs only in the most tropical locations in the world. However, this eye-catching plant will grow in most regions of the world, even in cooler areas like zone 5, where the thought of a tropical-looking plant may seem out of the question.
Fresh flowers brighten any space they occupy. I love to grow a number of my favorite flowers just for cutting. Once a week, I make a couple of fresh bouquets during the growing season and place them on my tables. They exude cheer and always seem to bring a smile to my face no matter how many times I look at them.
I love houseplants. Not only do they help to keep the indoor air fresh and toxin-free, but they also add a warm and organic flair to decor. Most houseplants are not overly fussy and require only minimal care once established. However, it is essential to adopt an excellent watering regime if you want your plants to flourish. Read on to discover how to keep your houseplants looking their best and discover the number one mistake you must avoid when watering your precious indoor plants.
When it comes to plant fertilizers, there are plenty to choose from. However, not all plant food is created equally. There is good reason to be overwhelmed with all of the options out there, especially if you are a new gardener. There are two broad categories of plant fertilizers – inorganic and organic. One type of plant food reigns far superior in my books, and that is organic. Let’s look at why and how you can make your very own miracle plant food using common household items that plants love.
It’s a new year; perhaps the year you will cut all refined sugar from your diet, which is a great thing to do. Your resolution to be healthier, however, may leave you with a few extra bags of white sugar – you know the kind that you loved (past tense) to put in your favorite cookies? No worries, that same sugar that you are trying to nix out of your diet is the very thing your garden needs.
As the wind blows and the snow flies, you might find yourself gazing out your window at your garden. Are you dreaming of big and beautiful spring roses with luscious warm scents? For many gardeners, roses play an integral role in the garden – they are either beautiful focal plants, the perfect privacy screen, or simply a breath of fresh air in early spring. No matter what role roses play in your garden, you won’t want to miss these tips and tricks to have the healthiest roses of all in your 2021 garden.
Unlike some garden plants, roses do benefit from a little extra TLC, especially in the spring. The first thing you want to do once the weather breaks is to remove any winter rose protection you applied in the fall. After that, take note of the rose’s condition and do the following to get your beauty off to a great start.
Proper pruning
Although not every type of rose requires pruning, spring is the best time to get the job done. Proper pruning starts with sharp and clean pruning shears. If you did not already clean your shears in the fall, do so now, before you cut your rose bushes. Soak pruners in a solution of one part bleach and nine parts water for an hour and rinse well with clean water. Dry thoroughly before using. Pruning your rose bushes before the leaf buds open will send energy into new growth, and this is what you want.
In warmer climates, spring pruning stars in January. If you live in areas with warm winters such as Florida and Southern California, you may just be pruning out dead wood and doing some thinning. For those in areas with freezing winter temperatures, pruning starts in April. Pruning too soon in these areas can result in damage from winter temps and weather.
Feeding
Once plants, including roses, come out of winter dormancy, it is time to concentrate on feeding. Giving them a nutritional boost will revive and ready them for the growing season. There are several excellent feed mixes available, but any all-purpose food will do. Follow the feeding directions on the package. If you prefer to mix your feed, here is my favorite, time-tested recipe for success.
What you need
How to make it
Something I learned a long time ago is to add a handful of Epsom salts when you feed. This extra magnesium is the perfect superfood for hungry roses.
Black spot spray
Roses, unless you have specific disease-proof versions, are prone to fungus diseases. Even organically grown roses benefit from preventative spring spraying. Black spot is a particularly nasty fungus that plagues roses. Sometimes it overwinters on the rose and appears in the spring.
In the past, I have used lime sulfur to kill fungus and also horticultural oil. I have recently used an alternative spray consisting of baking soda ( my favorite go-to natural substance), bleach-free dish soap, and water. To make, simply combine a tablespoon of baking soda with a gallon of water. Add two drops of dish soap ( which helps keep the baking soda on the leaves). Pour mixture into a spray bottle and spray both sides of leaves well. Do this weekly and after rain for best results. The exciting thing about this mixture is that the baking soda changes the pH level on leaf surfaces, making it difficult for the black spot to attack plants.
An ounce of prevention
When it comes to black spot and other rose diseases, an ounce of prevention goes a long way. This is what I mean when I spoke of TLC earlier. If you desire to have big and beautiful roses year after year, here are a few things to keep in mind:
Roses, the symbol of love, require love to thrive. Once you get in the hang of just what your rose needs, it will become like second nature to provide the care necessary. Don’t let the thought of a little extra time spent in the garden rob you of the rich pleasure of owning a rose, or many roses, for that matter. They are indeed a joy to behold when they burst forth in beautiful color and enticing aroma.
Happy Growing,
Susan, CBHC and Master Gardener
Whatever you do, don’t plant these seeds. Thousands of packages of unsolicited seeds have been delivered to households in the United States over the past several months. According to the US Department of Agriculture, mysterious light gray or beige packages containing seeds postmarked from China, have been showing up in mailboxes all over the country. In response, Amazon is now banning the sale of foreign seeds, and federal officials are warning us not to touch or plant these seeds. But what is really behind this strange seed scandal?
July and August are months when you should be enjoying the fruits of your labor in your flower garden. Unfortunately, high summer temperatures and drought conditions sometimes bring a premature end to your garden’s beauty. Fortunately, there are some key things that you can do now, in the heat of summer to renew your flower garden’s vigor.
Summer means many things, beautiful gardens, backyard fun, and long walks in nature. Unfortunately, nice weather also means a few not-so-attractive things like mosquitoes and the dreaded poison ivy. You may have heard the Ben Franklin saying, “ Leaves of three, let them be.” This is good advice to avoid this vining plant that can cause an irritating rash. To keep you and your family safe from this dangerous plant, there are a few other things that you need to know.
Susan has been nurturing her gardening tips and advice for over 00 years, it’s fair to say she knows her beans. She’ll be sharing her knowledge from tried and tested methods.
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