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

Technorati Tags: Backyard Flower Garden, perennial flower, plant care

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photo credit: jpopesku1

There are many different types of gardens and it helps to narrow down the purpose that your garden will serve. A garden can tend to grow and get to big, which add to the work and takes away from the fun. You may also not have enough time to work in the garden area so its best to think small, use creative organic gardening methods  and keep the fun in gardening. Plants that are properly tended will be healthier.

Will you choose a flower garden, vegetable garden or combine the two? Is your garden space limited and container or balcony gardening would suit your lifestyle better? Are herbs your passion? I myself combine all of these and like to redo the patio and deck areas about twice a summer. It just makes my backyard oasis an exciting retreat for all my friends and family.

One tip I will pass onto you is I find it a timesaving step to group my plants that need the same care in the same area. I also group any plants that need additional watering as close to my water source as possible.

Here are a few more tips that have saved me time in the past. Perennial flowers take less time and last from year to year. Properly planned, you can have a perennial garden with color from spring until fall. And just to make sure, I add annual flowers to the flower garden border and where any of the perennial plants are a little thin. Herbs will work just as well, and I have to admit I really like adding vegetables like colored Swiss chard or scarlet runner beans in flower gardens.

Herbs are amazing plants. They have wonderful color and texture. For anyone that is new to gardening herbs are good plants to start out with. They are hardy, thrive in most soils and are not bothered by as many insects.
photo credit: lcm1863

Herbs have many culinary uses, make great teas, and can be used for a variety of crafting projects. I also mix them in with my other plants for their beneficial use of insect control. Herbs are also one of the plants I grow on windowsills and teacup planters. They just have such an inviting look I have to have them everywhere.

Vegetable gardens require a little more work and planning. They also take more knowledge in how to plant and harvest numerous kinds of produce. Vegetables also add color and texture and are a very pretty addition to any yard. With proper choices there will be fresh vegetables all season long. And again I add flowers to my vegetables gardens. It adds color and fun and several flowers repel insects and small animals.

If you set up a vegetable garden in a raised bed you can grow many varieties of vegetables in a small area. Growing vertically and square foot gardening principles offer advice on how to get the most use out of limited space. I grow many of my vegetable varieties in hanging baskets or containers. This gives me fresh vegetables that are either growing on my porch or just a few steps away from the door. One of my favorite hanging baskets is a tomato plant that growing from the bottom of a hanging basket and on the top has fresh herbs and lettuce greens.

Another way of growing both vegetables and flowers would be in mini theme gardens or on windowsills. What is all comes down to is keeping your gardens fun and adding to that festive backyard feeling you have created for your home.

Technorati Tags: annual flowers, Creative Organic Gardening, herbs, perennial flower, vegetables

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I was lucky enough to attend an auction at a greenhouse where I picked up around twenty different perennial varieties.  I also traded plants with friends, which lead to another 15 varieties. Scavenging at a few local abandoned houses (anyways ask first) lead to another 15 varieties and last but not least there is a wholesale $2 a shovel perennial business nearby which I purchased $20 and divided up the plants into around two hundred new plants. I also plan to start a few perennial plants from seeds so I will have close to 75 varieties of plants for my first year with very little money in the project… but a lot of time.

If your thinking of starting a small perennial garden business you can read my first article here, How to start a Perennial Garden Business

In September I tilled the ground and worked leaves and star into the soil each week for the entire month. This made the soil more workable and this material will break down and add nutrients to the soil. The last week I added well rotted sheep manure and then added my plants. This is a working garden. I plan on transplanting the plants from here into other gardens but I still want an interesting look so I laid the garden out into 6 small sections and planted the perennials by size and color combinations. In between the small sections I placed flat rocks to add interest and to create walkways.

The plants have been watered each week and are doing well so far.

My next step in the business for this year is to make sure all my plants are marked well for easy identification in the spring, to make sure the gardens have a good mulch covering to protect the newer plants and their root system and to make raised beds for some of the other gardens I will add in the spring.

During the winter months I will be making the raised beds over in the barn out of salvaged barn boards. I will also be planning out the layout of additional gardens and starting perennial plants in a small greenhouse. So far I have spent less than $50 and have a nice start for a future business.
photo credit: Markles55

I hope to start perennial herbs in the spring, pick up a few additional plants and possibly put in a cutting garden. In the spring photos will follow of my progress. If you have a small perennial garden or wish to start one contact me. Denise

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When the blossom remains on the plant seeds begin to develop and the plant uses extra energy to develop those seeds thus taking the energy away from future blossoms. Many plants just stop blooming and will sit the rest of the season, not reaching their full beauty and potential

Tips for deadheading flowers

• Deadhead a flower when the flower starts to brown, wither or looks tired and ragged.
• Cutting the stem of a tall flower that sits on a long slender stem should be done at the base of the plant. Other plants can be deadheaded by pinching the flower off or snapping it off with your hand. A pair of garden shears, scissors or a knife will work well too.
• Trim up annuals and perennials that have dying or ragged foliage by cutting back the foliage by one-third to two-thirds. The best time to trim the plants back is when the plant has stopped blooming or when it starts to get that overall tired look. This will encourage the plants to send out a new growth of healthy, fresh foliage with flowers
• Bushy plants with many small flowers react best to deadheading by trimming the whole plant at once. It’s much easier than trying to remove one flower at a time. Hand held grass shears or small hedge clippers will do this trimming job with the best results.

When I first raised flowers I didn’t deadhead the plants but it makes a big difference in the appearance of the plants and the flowers that is has. My neighbors flower always produce better and were fuller so I asked her why. The answer: deadheading.

So add more color and life to your gardens by taking up this practice. Your gardens will be more alive and colorful.

Technorati Tags: annual flowers, Backyard Flower Garden, perennial flower, plant care

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