[MoonStar]

also check out local gardening centers and talk to the workers there, the smart ones should know which plants are indigenous and which type of grass is better for dry areas and what's low maintenance. Buy perennial plants which don't need to be planted every year. (though considering you guys don't really have winters, I'm wondering when/if annual plants even die out there).

[Bruinrab]

Originally Posted by MoonStar

also check out local gardening centers and talk to the workers there, the smart ones should know which plants are indigenous and which type of grass is better for dry areas and what's low maintenance. Buy perennial plants which don't need to be planted every year. (though considering you guys don't really have winters, I'm wondering when/if annual plants even die out there).

Thanks for the ideas.

[Bluestar]

my geraniums still have flowers from the summer. I'm waiting for my christmas plant to flower now. Not too long to go. The donkeys tail has grown so much since last year. All of my plants need repotting though, something i should get round to soon, i move around too much to put them in a garden.

i feel like a proud mother

[TariqBinSleepin]

My Mom loves gardening mayb i should plant some flowers and surprise her hrmmmmmm...which one of you sisters wants to do it for me!

[smrtengineer]

Originally Posted by MoonStar

A beautiful garden can disappear if it's not maintained. But a little tlc brings it back to life again.

So are any of you into gardening? I’ve been a fan for several years now, and have been adding different kinds of plants to my yard. Share your gardening tips, pics, disease-combating remedies, favorite plants, anything relevant to gardens.

please share pics. thanks!

[MoonStar]

Originally Posted by smrtengineer

please share pics. thanks!

I would but it's winter and nothings blooming. My plants need some serious rearrangment though, the front yard just has stuff planted where they fit so it doesn't look like those perfect gardens in magazines. And the plants don't bloom at the same time so it's not that showy.

But here's what I have in the front yard:

one wisteria plant that blooms for 2 weeks in spring
one purple butterfly bush, blooms all summer
2 scented rosebushes, yellow and pink
small bright orange rose plant
scrawny light orange scented rose that needs to be moved to a better location
tall pink climbing rose bush, small flowers
a few mostly white trumpet lilies
one stargazer lily/red lily that may or may not grow back
pink azalea
yellow daylily
couple of 4 foot tall pink cosmos that I grew from seeds

that sounds like a lot but it doesn't look like much. And then I had some flowerpots on the front steps that I grew blue morning glories and petunias in.

In the backyard which looks a lot neater I have:
2 pink peony bushes
yellow rosebush
3 orange/red lilies
2 yellow daylilies
8 new large flowerpots that I grew pink/red/purple wave petunias and herbs in. I should have taken a pic in late summer but they looked nice, the flowers grew over the edges of the pots.

[Variable]

How are you supposed to prepare your yard for the wintertime? I heard leaving some of the fallen leaves down on the open soil helps.

[MoonStar]

Originally Posted by Variable

How are you supposed to prepare your yard for the wintertime? I heard leaving some of the fallen leaves down on the open soil helps.

here's a good list: How to Winterize Your Garden | eHow.com

I don't do much, I haven't mulched anything, it hasn't been that cold here, I might mulch roses. And I put flowerpots in the garage so they don't get wet and crack in the winter. And stop pruning things in the fall. I plan to leave some leaves on the ground as mulch but that site says shredded leaves breathe better, I guess leaves can rot. The site says to prune perennials but I would leave that for the early spring so you don't stimulate new growth.

"Apply a winter mulch to perennials where winter temperatures generally fall below minus 10 degrees F. Simply lay a lightweight organic mulch, such as shredded autumn leaves, pine needles or straw, over beds to protect plants from winter's extremes. Avoid more compact mulches and whole leaves (which can mat), since they can suffocate plants."

[Variable]

Thanks Moonstar.

Ugh... in that case I think I need to do some raking.

[LEGALEAGLE]

Originally Posted by MoonStar

here's a good list: How to Winterize Your Garden | eHow.com

I don't do much, I haven't mulched anything, it hasn't been that cold here, I might mulch roses. And I put flowerpots in the garage so they don't get wet and crack in the winter. And stop pruning things in the fall. I plan to leave some leaves on the ground as mulch but that site says shredded leaves breathe better, I guess leaves can rot. The site says to prune perennials but I would leave that for the early spring so you don't stimulate new growth.

"Apply a winter mulch to perennials where winter temperatures generally fall below minus 10 degrees F. Simply lay a lightweight organic mulch, such as shredded autumn leaves, pine needles or straw, over beds to protect plants from winter's extremes. Avoid more compact mulches and whole leaves (which can mat), since they can suffocate plants."

We grow apples, gooseberries, raspberries, strawberries, grapes, spinach, mint plus various other vegetables and flowers in our garden.

I still have the pics of the bumper apple crop

[Pushpa]

Does anyone know how to take care of a potted orchid? Somebody gave me one as a gift and told me I wouldn't need to water it much, especially during the winter. But I'm worried because it seems to be drooping and its colour is fading a bit.

So what is a reasonable interval between waterings? Also, how much light do they need? Like, do they need to be in direct sunlight?

[Bluestar]

I rescued a Purple Orchid from a skip. Mine is doing a bit poorly but it usually perks up in the summer. I need to repot it actually. Is yours potted in wood chippings? That's best for it. I like to keep mine in the sun but they seem to do fine when they're not in the sun. They're pretty hardy plants. I just can't figure out whether i should leave the leaves all sprawled out because they're quite heavy so they tend to droop.

sorry pushpa, not much help.

[Pushpa]

Originally Posted by Bluestar

I rescued a Purple Orchid from a skip. Mine is doing a bit poorly but it usually perks up in the summer. I need to repot it actually. Is yours potted in wood chippings? That's best for it. I like to keep mine in the sun but they seem to do fine when they're not in the sun. They're pretty hardy plants. I just can't figure out whether i should leave the leaves all sprawled out because they're quite heavy so they tend to droop.

sorry pushpa, not much help.

OK, so they don't necessarily need to be in direct sunlight all the time. Mine *is* potted in wood chippings, so I guess that's a good start.

So does anybody else know how often they need to be watered? How often do you water yours, Bluestar?

[Bluestar]

Every week. It's pretty healthy and bloomed a beautiful pink flower in the summer so i guess it works for the plant

I usually leave him on the windowsill so he gets the light when the sun comes out. I've just found out through this helpful website that the sun may burn the leaves so they should be a healthy green colour. His leaves are healthy green but have a tint of red/pink.

I think light and water depend mostly on what sort of orchid you've got. Have a look,

Orchid Care Tips: Light

[Variable]

I was just thinking about this thread