Gladiolus flowers, which are grown from a corm bulb, have an elegance that will add to any backyard flower garden. They also make beautiful floral displays.
photo credit: ThreadedThoughts

The original gladioli hybrids were developed from Mediterranean species. But today the African native gladioli are the popular varieties grown.

In the United States, the Gladiolus was an instant sensation on its first appearance that the American Gladiolus Society was formed in Boston. This was in 1910 and the popularity of the gladioli only continues to grow.

This flower is also called the Sword lily, corn lily or Glad. The Gladiolus symbolizes strength of character and is the flower for August.

The gladioli grow from corms, which is a bulb like root. Depending on your climate they may or may not be left in the ground over the winter. In my zone 5 climate they must be dug up and stored.

Check your climate to know if the corms need to be removed from the ground. But a rule of thumb is, if your winters offer heavy or hard frosts dig the corms up in the fall and replant them in the spring for late spring and summer blooms.

Glads look better if planted in groups of six or more. They also look more stylish if you plant the groupings in the same color.

Some of the taller glad varieties may require some staking as the flower heads are affected by winds and the weight of the flower blossoms when in full bloom. For safely sake I always stake taller glad varieties. I usually plant these flowers near fences or shrubs for a natural wind block protection.

Gladiolus will grow well in ordinary garden soil. They need average water and sunshine. The only requirement they have is good drainage.

I have found that a pinch of bone meal when planting time will give them a boost. And later in the spring I will give them a boost with fertilizer. I prefer compost tea.

The foliage will turn brown after flowering and die back until it pulls away from the corm easily. This is a necessary step to ensure the energy will drain down to create next year’s corm.

This is not a pretty stage of the flowers growing stage. One way for this to be less noticeable is to mix the plants among other plants.

Glads range in size from the 12” tall dwarfs to the glad giants, which will reach 60”. These flowers bloom in almost every color so will fit into almost any landscaping color scheme.
photo credit: Mason2008

Glads also do well in containers so you may wish to start a few corms in the late fall and bring them in to add color to your home. I usually always have a few containers of glad growing on the patio or in the sun room.

Technorati Tags: Backyard Flower Garden, flowers

Garden trellises happen to be one of my favorite garden tools. It seems funny to consider a trellis a garden tool when it adds beauty and charm to a garden or backyard area but trellises serve many valuable purposes.
photo credit: Jellaluna

By using a trellis you can add beauty and color to an otherwise unusable area. You can also grow plants vertically to save space, add privacy and prevent plant insects and disease.

Another use for a garden trellis is that it gives you the opportunity to change the look and atmosphere of your garden in a matter of minutes depending on if you used potted plants or garden art for décor.

Garden trellises can be created from any object that can add privacy or be used for plants to grow or hang from. By shopping at garage sales or rooting through your attic you can design several unique trellises that will be a focal point in a garden, patio or balcony area.

Step Ladder Garden Trellis

An old stepladder that is no longer in use will make a great trellis or plant display area. You can leave the ladder as you found it and paint it to complement your landscape design.

You can plant vining flowers or vegetables around the base of the stepladder and allow them to climb the rungs of the ladder. This style of planting will create a flow and make the ladder part of the garden area and design. You can also add a few pots of the steps for more color but I would suggest anchoring them in place so that the wind does not blow them off.

The addition of a rectangular planted on the ground of first step also will add to this quick and easy trellis.

My favorite vine for a stepladder is the scarlet runner bean. It has such beautiful color.

Metal headboard frame trellis

Old metal headboards can be found along curbsides for free and at auctions for pennies. Choose a location for the headboard, usually along a wall or back of a garden and measure the distance between the metal posts.

Pound metal stakes into the ground and either slide the headboard over the posts if they are hollow or attach the post to the headboard with screws or plastic ties. If you want the headboard to be more sturdy, pound another metal post in between the tow other post and secure the headboard to the post.

Plants vining vegetables and flowers near the base and let them climb. In the front of the headboard add more flowers, vegetables or herbs for color and interest.

An old bedspring can also be used but I like the thicker look of an old headboard myself.

Old wrought iron fencing and posts that were popular in the later 50’s and 60’s will also work well as trellises and can often be found at junkyard and old metal scrap piles. They can be put together as trellises, gates or even arbors.
photo credit: apium

Whether you trellis is handmade or bought you can quickly change the look of your garden area by adding garden art to the trellis or placing hanging pots on the trellis that can be quickly changed for a new look in color or design.

Technorati Tags: Backyard Flower Garden, creative gardening, garden art, garden trellis, growing plants

With a few simple techniques your flower garden will be healthy and beautiful. And with all gardens keeping your garden as simple as possible so that you will enjoy its beauty is the most important step to take.
photo credit: kabils

Steps for a successful flower garden

Your flower garden area must have an adequate fertile soil, sunlight, and water. If you lack any of these three important elements, your garden will not thrive. So when planning your garden select an area for the garden or containers that receive eight hours of sunlight and add fertilizer to your soil when planting. I also set up my garden near a water source or add a rain barrel near the garden are for easy watering.

Mix and Match your Flower Garden

Perennial flowers and annual flowers compliment each other. Perennials add the lush background to emphasis bright annual flowers and take less work. But annuals add vibrant color all summer long and fill in any holes in a garden area.

I also like to add a few vegetables to my flower garden area. It adds color and interest with vegetables maturing alongside the flowers. And many vegetables have stunning color and textures.

Deadhead your flowers

Deadheading is such a strange name for removing the old wilting flower head. But this simple step makes a flower produce more flowers plus it tidies up the garden area, which will cut down on insects. Just snip the old flower head off. Sometimes I use scissors to remove the old blossom.
photo credit: kabils

The last step in deadheading to remove the old flower from the garden area and dispose of in a compost bin or the garbage.

All insects are not evil

Butterflies, beetles and bees are pollinators. 80% of flowering plants rely on insects for pollination and survival. If you are not sure which insects are good or bad you can check online or get an insect book.

If you need an insect control for bad bugs, try natural insect control. It will not harm good bugs.

Insects like dragonflies and lacewings are natural predators of those insects that do the real damage, like aphids.

Birds will also control insects in your flower garden.

And last but not least, prune any dead stems and branches off your flower plants. Sickly branches do not add to the beauty of any garden and they will also harbor bad insects and plant disease.

A flower garden will add color and relaxation to a backyard or patio area and doesn’t require much room if planned properly. So add a flower garden and enjoy the color and fresh bouquets that you can collect for your home.

Technorati Tags: Backyard Flower Garden, container garden, flower garden, flowers, patio garden, perennials