Now that we’ve finished planting daffodils, crocus, scillas, camassia, and snowdrops and enjoyed the spring beauty they will bring, we must consider these bulb plantings’ appearance when they bloom over. Their dying foliage is not a pretty sight. Therefore, we should plant seeds of annuals this month to hide the bulb beds next summer. Annuals: … Read more
Have you reached the point where you can’t devote as many hours to your garden as you would like to? Do you have other commitments which consume a major portion of your time? Or must you, for some reason, be away from home for several months? If this is true, then it’s time to start working … Read more
If it is the middle of September, there is still time to order tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths for forcing on the window sill, or in your greenhouse. Potted from mid to late October and left outdoors in a cold frame for a rooting period of eight to ten weeks, they may then be brought indoors … Read more
Strawberries benefit from mulching with clean straw. Place, the covering over the plants so it settles to a depth of about 3” inches. If the wind blows strong in winter, hold the mulch with a chicken wire covering. Put mulch on strawberries after the first light frosts in fall, but before severe frosts. Applying mulch … Read more
Something about October hires one to the woods. It is the best time to dig native ferns. Although the fronds may be dry one can still tell the kind it is. Native Ferns Grow Under Trees Since the native ferns usually grow under trees a hatchet will cut mats of roots so that the whole … Read more
Clear warm days and crisp cool nights promote superb color and quality to roses and annuals that flower until cut down by hard frosts. Petunias, pansies, snapdragons, verbenas, lobelia, alyssum, annual asters, ageratum, cosmos, salvias, scabiosa, and browallias put on a final burst of bloom; dahlias do the same. The garden chrysanthemums practically alone among … Read more
Like the popular pachysandra, ivy, and myrtle which carpet the bare ground with green, there are indoor-style ground covers that serve the same purpose in a diminutive manner. To the lover of terrariums, dish gardens, and similar small-scale replicas of outdoor plantings, they are indispensable. To anyone who loves the miniature, the delicate, the modest … Read more
We have been delighted with the gladiolus species, especially with Gladiolus tristis, which should be planted in November. It is a hardy little fellow that begins growth immediately after planting and which, in our experience, has never been damaged by freezes. Gladiolus Flowers The flowers, which appear in March when we are planting large-flowered garden … Read more
So wide is the variety of seeds and bulbs that can be planted this season that even – the most experienced home gardener is apt to be confused when deciding what to plant. Planting Schedules and Seed Catalogs As we study planting schedules and seed catalogs, we tend to try to grow everything under the … Read more
Now that you find outdoor gardening cool and uncomfortable, you can doubly appreciate your own backyard greenhouse. It’s a good place to take refuge on windy days, and even rain does not put an end to your gardening pleasure. For A Cool Winter Greenhouse’s Spring Bloom For the cool (45° to 50° degrees Fahrenheit night) … Read more