Owner: Gardening Shortcuts - Simple Steps to a Great Garden. URL:http://gardeningshortcuts.blogspot.com/ Join Date: Tue, 09 Oct 2007 06:56:25 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: My blog on planning the perfect garden to suit your lifestyle, depending on your time and space constraints. Along with useful gardening tips and short cuts, as well as guides on various types of garden plants. Site statistics:Click here
Adiantumraddianum (Delta Maidenhair Fern) 2007-10-08 06:59:00 These ferns have delicate, pale-green fronds borne on black, wiry stalks. They mix well with both foliage and flowering house plants and are useful for softening the outline of arrangements. They are also attractive on their own. Small plants can be planted in terraria.
Mini-climate
Warm, shady.
Size
Adiantum raddianum grow to 1 foot in height with a similar spread. Plants of all sizes are Read more:Delta
Achimenes Grandiflora (Cupid's Bower) 2007-10-08 06:51:00 Also known as "magic flowers", these plants have hairy, upright, green or red stems and dull-green leaves which are also hairy. Flowers can be pink, purple or yellow in color, with white throats. The flowering period lasts from summer to autumn. These are very useful infill plants for an indoor window-box.
Mini-climate
Warm, sunny.
Size
Achimenes grandiflora grow to about 1'/ aft in height. Read more:Cupid
Abutilon Hybridum 'Canary Bird' - Flowering Maple 2007-10-08 06:44:00 These are pretty, woody plants which can be trained when young. They have maplelike leaves from whose leaf-joints come the bell-shaped flowers. The flowers of the hybrids are red, pink, yellow or white. Abutilon hybridum 'Canary
Bird' are long-lasting, making them suitable for use as feature plants, especially in front of a window.
Mini-climate
Warm, sunny.
Size
They can reach a height Read more:Flowering
, Maple
Getting to know your own garden 2007-10-06 18:43:00 By putting plants in the right place, you will be gardening with nature rather than fighting against it. In the long run, this saves a lot of time because you will not need to replace unsuitable plants later. For instance, if conditions are too shady, some plants will grow tall, weak and leggy and may refuse to flower. Or, if they are in too much sun, their leaves will scorch and develop brown,
Gardening case study 3 - Letting in the light 2007-10-06 18:32:00 Anne and David Fenwick are in their forties with one son aged 12. They like to spend time in the garden at weekends, and their son and his friends spend a lot of their free time in the warmer months playing outside.
David Fenwick works in the sales department of a local manufacturing company and often works late in the evenings. Anne works part-time at a bank and is home by mid afternoon. Read more:Letting
, light
Using modern techniques for gardening 2007-10-06 18:28:00 Gardening techniques are constantly evolving. Each year, dozens of new developments make it possible to garden more efficiently or with better results. The easiest way to keep up to date is by subscribing to a gardening
magazine. Choose one that regularly features new products and techniques, and that has an extensive small ads section at the back. This is the best place to find manufacturers of
Gardening case study 2 - Planning a garden with a swimming pool 2007-10-06 18:17:00 Pat and Robert Lariccio run a clothing store, partly operated from their home, which is in a warm, sub-tropical climate. They have two children aged 10 and 13 and, although they love the idea of a garden, have irregular hours to spend on maintenance.
The Lariccios have just had a pool installed, both for the children to play in and because they would like to entertain friends and business
Designing out the workload 2007-10-06 18:13:00 Most gardens are never designed at all. Instead, they evolve over many years, as their owners add new ideas - or find room for impulse buys of anything from plants and planters to ponds and gazebos. Many people buying a house 'inherit' someone else's garden which, though ideal for the previous owners, is not right for their lifestyle. Whether you want to create a totally new garden, or simply to Read more:Designing
Gardening case study 1 - Paradise for my plants 2007-10-06 18:02:00 Danni and Michael Clarkson work full-time, and they don't get home until late most evenings. They are gardening enthusiasts, but their work and family commitments -they have two young children - mean they have little time for regular garden upkeep.
The Clarksons prefer the creative side of gardening, especially designing new features and planning new planting, rather than more mundane tasks, Read more:Paradise
Deciding your priorities in gardening 2007-10-06 18:00:00 Gardening gets you out in the fresh air and is a good way to keep fit, as well as an excellent way to relax. It is one of the most popular pas¬times, probably because it is easy to adapt to suit your interests and lifestyle. For some, gardening
is a labor of love, and time is invested in nurturing treasured plants. For others, the garden is a design statement, and is treated as another room to Read more:Deciding
, priorities
You can have a beautiful garden even with a busy lifestyle, just watch out for these things... 2007-10-06 13:24:00 If you find that gardening is one long battle against the clock and calender, take a look at the way you have designed your garden, the plants you have chosen and how you organize your work. Consider the 12 top time-wasters on this post and decide how you could achieve the garden that you really want and also leave yourself time to enjoy it.
1. Training
Select climbers that need no tying to Read more:lifestyle
, things
, watch
Gardens in dry, free-draining soil 2007-10-15 15:06:00 In free-draining soils you can grow a range of plants that are not happy in moist conditions. Since rain soaks through fast, you can dig and cultivate the soil almost at any time - even after heavy rain, when clay is too boggy to work on. However, with excessively free-draining soils, such as sand or gravel, it can be a time-consuming chore to keep plants moist. There are several solutions - Read more:Gardens
Beautiful gardens in wet, sticky soil 2007-10-15 15:03:00 In soil that stays wet, the roots cannot take in air because the air spaces within the soil are filled with water. The roots then 'drown' and rot, causing plants to die. Some plants, however, are specially adapted to life in wet soil, particularly bog-garden plants and those that grow in shallow water along pond margins. Some border plants are also happy in permanently moist soil that is not Read more:Beautiful
Allamanda Cathartica (Golden Trumpet) 2007-10-11 22:21:00 These climbing plants produce bright, buttercup-yellow flowers over a period of many weeks during the summer. The oval leaves which are carried on long stems are a glossy dark-green color. If grown in a conservatory border, or in a tub, Allamanda cathartica can be trained to cover a wall. For the smaller room, they can be grown in pots and trained over a wire framework of any shape.
Mini-climate Read more:Golden
Aglaonema Crispum ‘Silver Queen’ (Silvered Spear) 2007-10-11 22:17:00 The beautiful foliage of these plants is green only at the margins and main veins; the rest of the leaf is silvery-white and cream. As plants age they lose some of their lower leaves and develop a short, trunk-like stem. They are excellent as part of a bold, leafy arrangement, particularly if contrasted with dark-green foliage plants.
Mini-climate
Warm, filtered sun.
Size
Aglaonema crispum Read more:Queen
, Silver
, Spear
Aechmea Fasciata (Urn Plant) 2007-10-11 22:12:00 When three or four years old, these plants produce a drumstick-shaped inflorescence which rises from the center of the rosette. This flower head comprises many spiny, pink bracts through which peep short-lived, pale-blue flowers. Display large plants as specimens, or grow small plants on a dried branch covered with sphagnum moss. Mini-climate
Warm, sunny.
Size
The leaves of these plants reach Read more:Plant
Gardens in the cool and shade 2007-10-10 01:11:00 In deep shade, where even weak shafts of sunlight do not penetrate, very few plants will grow. As a general rule, if the shade is too deep for you to read comfortably, then it is too dark for plants. However, a certain amount of shade provides ideal conditions for some plants that will not grow happily elsewhere. Ferns, hostas, impatiens and periwinkles (vinca) are all shade lovers. If they are Read more:Gardens
For sunny gardens under the hot sun 2007-10-10 01:04:00 Sun-loving plants need exposure to direct sunlight to keep growth compact and to ensure good flowering. Insufficient light makes them grow weak and spindly, and may stop them from flowering. Check the label on the plant before you buy it for advice about the correct growing position, or consult reference books for further detail.
Some plants will grow in a wide variety of situations. Their
Asparagus Densiflorus ’Sprengeri’ (Emerald Fern) 2007-10-18 08:22:00 These plants have arching stems which begin to trail with age. Each stem is covered in tiny branchlets, giving the plants a delicate, fernlike appearance; in fact they are not true ferns but related to the lilies. Use them to soften the outline of arrangements, or group with true ferns in a hanging basket. They thrive in most conditions and have a fresh, informal look which makes them suitable Read more:Emerald
Araucaria Heterophylla (Norfolk Island Pine) 2007-10-18 08:12:00 Also known as "Christmas tree plants", these are at their best when four years old. Because of their starkness, they seldom look well mixed with other plants, but a most striking effect can be created by grouping several of these conifers together to give a Japanese look.
Mini-climate
Cool, filtered sun.
Size
Araucaria heterophylla are slow-growing: a ten year old plant rarely exceeds 6 Read more:Island
, Norfolk
Aphelandra Squarrosa 'Louisae' (Saffron Spike) 2007-10-18 08:08:00 These are dual-purpose flowering and foliage plants. For about six weeks the plant has unusual flower heads of overlapping yellow bracts. When flowering has finished, pinch off the dead blooms, then use as a foliage plant. The leaves are large and glossy and marked with large, white veins. Mix with plain-leaved plants for a contrasting display in a modern living-room.
Mini-climate
Warm, Read more:Saffron
, Spike
Anthurium Andraeanum Hybrids (Flamingo Flower) 2007-10-18 08:03:00 The exotic flower heads consist of a bright scarlet bract encircling a tail-like flower spike. They last for several weeks and can appear at any time between February and July. When in flower, several plants grouped together make an attractive display; when not in flower, the leaves harmonize with those of other tropical plants suitable for shady spots.
Mini-climate
Warm, shady.
Size
Small Read more:Flamingo
, Hybrids
Ananas Comosus Variegatus (Variegated Pineapple) 2007-10-17 10:16:00 These plants are prized for their stiff, spiny leaves which curve gracefully outward, giving them a symmetrical shape. When five or six years old they produce striking pink flower heads, followed by a pink fruit which is unlikely to ripen and be edible. Large plants displayed in an urn suit formal interiors.
Mini-climate
Warm, sunny.
Size
These plants grow to a maximum height of about 3
Begonia 'Tiger Paws' (Eyelash Begonia) 2007-10-22 05:07:00 The common name of these plants derives from the short, coarse hairs which grow around the edge of each lopsided, heart-shaped leaf. The attractive foliage is bright lime-green in color, marked with a bronze-red pattern which gives the leaves a patched or blotchy appearance. The stalks are also speckled with red and arise from a rhizome which creeps across the surface of the potting mixture. Mass
Begonia Semperflorens-cultorum (Wax Begonia) 2007-10-22 04:51:00 A profusion of white, pink or red flowers begin blooming in spring and continue well into the winter. Single- and double-flowered varieties are available. They are best treated as annuals and discarded when flowering has finished. Group them together in shallow containers or mix with colorful foliage plants in light, well-ventilated rooms.
Mini-climate
Warm, sunny.
Size
These plants never
Begonia Rex-Cultorum (Painted-leaf Begonia) 2007-10-22 04:41:00 Also known as "rex begonias", these are among the most handsome of the species, grown for their beautifully colored leaves rather than their flowers, which tend to be insignificant. The heart-shaped leaves, which can be up to 1 ft in length, bear striking patterns made up of variations of red, black, silver and green. Leaf texture also varies: some hybrids have smooth leaves; this one has a Read more:Painted
Begonia Foliosa Miniata (Fuchsia Begonia) 2007-10-21 05:05:00 These delicate-looking plants have small, oval leaves with a glossy texture. The leaves are borne on long, thin stems which begin to arch over as they get longer. Small, waxy, succulent-looking, shell-pink flowers appear in clusters between autumn and spring. They need some kind of support if they are to be seen to best effect. Display with green foliage groups in an informal setting. They can
Begonia 'Elatior' Hybrids (Elatior Begonia) 2007-10-21 04:56:00 These plants flower for most of the year. The large, roselike flowers range in color from deep red, through pink to yellow and white, They are best treated as annuals and discarded when flowering has finished. The foliage is usually pale green but plants with deep-red foliage are sometimes available. As their flowers are quite large they can be displayed as specimen plants or grouped together in Read more:Hybrids
Beaucarnea Recurvata (Ponytail) 2007-10-21 04:47:00 These are most bizarre-looking plants, having a ponytail-like tuft of narrow, green leaves sprouting from the top of a fat or long, woody stem. The swollen base adds to the unusual appearance of the plants, which are ideal for displaying in a modern interior and will thrive in any centrally heated room.
Mini-climate
Warm, filtered sun.
Size
These plants reach a maximum height of 5feet with a
Aucuba Japonica ‘Variegata’ (Spotted Laurel) 2007-10-21 04:40:00 Also known as "Japanese laurels", these plants were much used by the Victorians in their shrubberies and greenhouses. The modern hybrids are more cheerful, having leaves strongly variegated with yellow. They can be used in window-boxes and in cool rooms as they tolerate a certain amount of neglect, poor light and drafts.
Mini-climate
Cool, filtered sun.
Size
These plants can reach 3-4 feet Read more:Laurel
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