I remember when I first started gardening.  I took a basket of seeds out to the garden area along with wood stakes and string and just started planting. No planning or thought about where any vegetable went. As I gardened I learned more about companion planting or what plant likes what. I also started using the Square Foot Gardening methods and succession planting.
photo credit: jcestnik

At that time I learned I needed to sit down a draw out a garden plan. Why? It makes better use of your garden space and helps with succession planting. There are also plants that just grow better with other plants or that attract the same insect so it’s not best to group these in one spot of the garden.

I actually like to plan my garden in the cold winter months. It reminds me of spring and the new garden season coming up. It’s when I set with the seed catalogs and dream of the perfect garden. My one garden was an acre on year and I actually needed the plant to help others find my crops easier.

I don’t make a habit of referring a product so when I do it has to offer a unique product or enough information that I find it to be a “must have product.”

I recently discovered GrowVeg.com What I like about this program is you can lay out a garden plan very easily. This will be most beneficial to anyone planting a garden for the first time or has limited growing space.

Their blog site also has wonderful information. I was lost in their articles for quite some time. Whether you are a new gardener or have gardened for years, there is always something new to learn. Take a look the GrowVeg.com site and garden planner.  There are also many helpful articles that will benefit your garden. I think you will be impressed.

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Gardening has always been one of the top ranked hobbies in America and with our economy and more people staying at home there is a marked increase in gardening sales. And with any other hobby or home-related project, there are trends that gardens and backyard décor follow. 
photo credit: tomsaint11

This year there are many different flower varieties and color combinations. The growing interest in green gardening and community gardens has brought new life and  a new swing in garden art and décor. With a few small changes your garden area can be kept current with little extra cost.

One suggestion I would make is to get your flower and vegetable seeds as early as possible, particularly potato and onion sets . With the increase in backyard gardens there will be a shortage of popular seeds and plants quickly.

Three Garden Trends for 2009

There are more than three changes but these seem to be making the biggest impact in garden décor. Color, color combinations and garden art.

Color and Color Combination

For many years the soft pastels have been in. This year the hotter color you create in the garden the more “in” it will be. You will see a mix of yellow, red and orange with splashes of white for emphasis and contrast. Hot gardens with these three colors will make wonderful accent theme gardens, planters and windowsill gardens.

And for a refreshing garden, mixes of yellow and white will be used. The mix of these two colors is energetic but the added white will also calm and cool the garden area giving it a welcoming look. The yellow and white garden also leans heavily on art pieces and the backyard patio and furniture adding to the color theme.

I saw a rustic old bench that would not have been looked at twice painted a pale yellow with white trim and the piece became the focal pint of the small garden and pond area. The bench was also picked up at an auction for a few dollars.

You can also repaint your pots and planters for the new color theme. The added benefit of yellow is it related so well to the shades for green in the gardens and yard.

Garden Art

Garden art is taking center stage in the garden this year. Antique to modern it all seems to fit. And sculpture is being added to most gardens with an emphasis on creating you own.

And for those of you who love the garden gnome, buddha  statues are replacing them in popularity and in  gardens.

As with all gardens, your primary taste will set the garden, but a splash of the new colors will add to your home. With the high costs of travel and the economy the backyard is becoming more important for relaxing and entertaining so you may want to look at the new ideas and garden colors in plants and garden décor this year

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Perennial plants are a wonderful way to add color and ease in care to your garden areas. By using a combination of perennials, which take less care, and annual flowers you can easily create a wonderful backyard flower garden that will add to your garden area and home décor.
photo credit: amy_b

While perennials are easy to care for they do need to be divided when they get overcrowded. This will be every three to five years depending on the variety. If not divided, perennials will not flower as well and will not have a healthy robust look. You also have the added benefit of more plants for your garden areas if you divide the plants.

Perennials are divided in the fall or spring depending on what variety they are. If you plan to divide your perennials this spring here are some helpful hints on how to proceed.

Take care in up the entire root system, including all the soil from about 6 to 8 inches around the roots. A spade or spading fork seems to work best for this. Gently separate the root clumps with your hands by shaking off the excess soil. Then you will be able to pull the roots apart into divisions without damaging the roots.

If the roots are growing in tight clumps use two forks to help encourage the roots to separate. To do this by placing the forks, with their backsides together, between the clumps then push the handles apart. This should gently pry the plants apart.

Now it’s time to replant the new divisions in the ground. If your new garden area is not ready, place the plants in containers filled with a soil mix. It’s very important to get the divisions in soil as soon as possible so that the roots do not dry out. I don’t divide my perennials until I have their new location chosen. It’s just easier on the plants. Water well.

If possible, chose a day to divide you plants that is over cast. Plants suffer from shock when moved so help them by giving them a shady overcast day to relax.
photo credit: cliff1066

If the perennial plant you are digging up has runners (underground stems) or spreads by growing roots through the soil and sending up stems above ground, it will need to be treated as a single stem perennial. The following method will work better for transplanting this type of plant.

Plunge a shovel or spade straight down into the soil between groups of upright, stems that are above ground. This will separate the plant into sections. Next dig up a clump of soil that has three or four stems growing and shows a root system. You now have a new plant. Continue this method until you have thinned the plant down. Depending on the plants size you may end up with two to six more plants.

Refill any holes in the ground near the original plant with fresh fertilized soil and water well. I usually use a little compost tea to help the plant with any shock it suffers from dividing the plant.

Replant the new plants and water well. Again, it’s best to divide plants on an overcast day. I have also found digging up the perennials that send out roots dig up better when the soil is wet. You can water the ground the day before you dig up the plants or dig them up after a rain.

Breaking up your perennials will keep your plants healthier and will give you more plants to use in your gardens or to trade for other plants you may want. I have traded my left over perennials for many new plants and even a few trees and shrubs. It has saved me a lot of money over the years

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