Bonsai plants are extremely attractive specimens of age old practice. Bonsais are highly attractive, so many people proudly display them in their houses. However, extra care is needed for indoor bonsai trees.
photo credit: Rex Roof

This is mostly because they do not receive the full benefits of natural sunlight and natural weather conditions. They might appear to be hardy. However, there are certain bonsais that will become fragile when it comes to light and water.

Watering Your Indoor Bonsai

When you bring a bonsai tree indoors it will require lighting to replace the natural sunlight that it would have been receiving beforehand. You also need to keep an eye on the frequency of watering. Your bonsai plant will also thrive if kept in a well ventilated area. The variety of bonsai plant that you possess will dictate how how often it requires watering.

Another key factor is the soil. Some bonsai plants or trees require damp soil, whilst others survive well in a drought. Misting your plant might be a necessity. This will help to create a rainforest humidity in which your bonsai plant will thrive. If you decide to use a humidity tray then ensure that the pot is not exposed to the water, but rather placed on some pebbles or a stand.

Bonsai Cutting and Pruning

Indoor bonsai trees still require pruning and cutting on a regular basis in order to maintain their appearance. Simply because bonsai plants look as though they are frozen in time, does not mean that they do not grow.

Depending on the variety of your bonsai plant or tree, you will need to repot it every year to three years. Maintaining the branches is also essential if you want it to hold its shape and style.
photo credit: OpenEye

Depending on the type of bonsai, it’s important to reduce the amount of fertilizer you use during the winter. The reason for this is that there are some types of bonsai that go into hibernation at this time. So they don’t require as many nutrients as in the warmer months.

Because of the artificial environment in which they are kept, indoor bonsais don’t experience the complete cycle of seasons. It is also important to check indoor bonsai trees for pests and other anomalies. When bonsais are situated indoors, they may become a favorite place for spiders and other mites.

The best practice is to clean the leaves and branches with great care using a damp cloth or a brush.

By following these tips for bonsai care, your tree is sure to be an attractive feature of your home for years to come.

Technorati Tags: bonsai, bonsai care, bonsai tree, container gardening, creative gardening, indoor plants, the art of bonsai, thegardenersrake.com

© SarahDuke for The Gardener's Rake, 2009. | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: bonsai, bonsai care, bonsai tree, container gardening, creative gardening, indoor plants, the art of bonsai, thegardenersrake.com

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

photo credit: cliff1066

During the summer I collected plants and in the fall I set up a starter garden for the perennials. Theses were for the plants I bought, found or traded for. I divided the perennials that you divide in the fall and covered the soil with a heavy mulch to stop weeds from growing and to protect the plants from heavy frosts.

This spring I worked the mulch into the ground and found more plants to add to the collection. I also divided many of the plants that should be divided in the spring. My plants quadrupled in a twp week times from dividing plants. The divided plats will be ready to sell in the fall.

Last year at this time I had about 150 perennial plants. This year I have 2000 plants that are a good size and healthy. By fall, even with sales I will have about 5000 plants.

My goal was to start a perennial gardening business on a budget by finding or trading plants and purchasing plants that could be easily divided for more new plants. I wanted to set up a backyard business that is enjoyable.

I spent $50 last year and have made $500 this spring just selling a few plant varieties I don’t like to grow. In the fall I hope to have a business that can be run full time.

Where to find Free Plants

From your friends when they divide their perennials
From houses that are going to be torn down. Ask first!
From greenhouses at the end of their season
Along the road and abandoned houses.

This last week stopped at two garage sales and they had beautiful gardens. I asked what they did with their plants when they divided plants and worked in the garden and they admitted they just tossed them. So I made arrangements to pick up their “homeless” plants. I have 4 boxes of plants (about 200 plants and 12 new varieties) and in a few weeks I will be getting more perennials.
photo credit: carterjk

I also plan to sell my bee balm patch that has taken over an old garden. It’s a lovely plant and I plan to keep some of the plants but I have dug up 100 clumps of bee balm and it’s going to a flea market tomorrow. The money I make from the plants will go to buy new plant varieties I don’t have.

Another suggestion that will save you money is to make your own compost for your plants which will cut back on buying soil.

Free  pots and garden containers can be found along curbs that are being tossed out or at garage sales.

So when it comes to saving money on plants, ask around. You will be surprised what plants you can get for free or for trading. It adds to the fun of gardening and makes for a prettier backyard garden area.

Technorati Tags: Backyard Flower Garden, dividing perennials, flower garden, free plants, perennial garden, perennial garden business, perennial plants, plant care, thegardenersrake.com

© Denise for The Gardener's Rake, 2009. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Backyard Flower Garden, dividing perennials, flower garden, free plants, perennial garden, perennial garden business, perennial plants, plant care, thegardenersrake.com

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

A great, low maintenance way to decorate your garden is with the use of vines, since they look good on almost anything. If You’ve got a fence that stands out in your lush green garden, growing a vine over it can be a quick and beautiful solution. Depending on what look you want, there are many vines that can meet your needs.
photo credit: DominusVobiscum

Trying to find an alternative to grass? Ground vines are a great way to easily cover ground, and since they are so easily directed, you can use them to make a border around your garden, or even have them weave throughout your plants. Some varieties of the ground vine are resilient enough to survive being stepped on, and even survive dogs!

Along with ground vines, “twining” vines are vines that make their way up a lattice or any equally porous surface by sending out small tendrils that latch on and loop onto whatever is close enough to reach in their search for the sun. While they require a lot of direction at first, once these vines have grown a bit, they require almost no care.

Ivy is a vine that nearly everyone is used to seeing. It is this way because Ivy is one of the most adaptable and resilient types of vines growing, and it can grow pretty much anywhere. Ivy is great to use for ground cover, and it will also grow up any wall you put it near. Over the years, however, people have found that buildings covered in Ivy have been deteriorating because of it.

If you are looking for a natural way to improve the architecture of your home, or simply want to go green, vines are the way to go! A great way is with Virginia Creeper, a “twining” vine that can grow up a wall of any home in a matter of months. Make sure to keep your eye on it, though; while it looks great when its where you want it, it can very easily take over your home.

So no matter what you want to do with a vine, you should have no problem getting it to grow. You should always do your research beforehand and find out about any negative qualities the vine has (such as its ability to destroy buildings, as is the case with Ivy) and researching how fast the vine will grow, especially if you plan on using it on your home.

Technorati Tags: container gardening, creative gardening, decorating, Exterior Design, flowers, gardening, Home and Gardening, home improvement, landscaping, lawn care, plants, thegardenersrake.com, Yard Care

© LauraWhitston for The Gardener's Rake, 2009. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: container gardening, creative gardening, decorating, Exterior Design, flowers, gardening, Home and Gardening, home improvement, landscaping, lawn care, plants, thegardenersrake.com, Yard Care

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

May is iris and peony time throughout our section. The real work has already been done on these two and the results indicate just how thorough we were. The main thing now is to provide plenty of water through the flowering season, to produce top quality bloom.
photo credit: Donnaphoto

Each iris plant should have a feeding of one cupful of balanced fertilizer but it should be kept well away from the plant. It will be wise to note the ones that should be divided after flowering and perhaps prepare the soil for planting in new locations.

Peonies are subject to aphid infestation and many times this is first noticed by the presence of ants. These ants live on the honey dew secretions from the aphids and quite often there are “farms” of aphids that are milked” regularly by ants. Aphids cause a blasting of the buds quickly on peonies. Regular spraying with a contact spray will control these critters.

Rose Time

Throughout our section roses are giving their first lush crop of blooms. The annual rose shows are usually staged beginning the second week in May.

In the garden the chief chores are regular spraying at ten day intervals with products to control blackspot, spraying to control aphids, watering. feeding and light pruning to control blooming and habit of growth.

Rock garden plants respond beautifully to feeding and watering this month. Divide and transplant violets and allow a spacing of about ten inches. As the perennials come into flower, keep the faded blooms cut back to encourage new growth and a second crop of flowers. Pinch the early set chrysanthemums is one of the highly recommended plant branching ideas, and feed lightly.

For those of you who enjoy gourds, May is the month to plant. These plants are among the novelty group and are most interesting. Be constantly on the alert for weeds… most of these have an uncanny way of getting established very early.

Investigate the new herbicides for control of weeds by chemical sprays; many hours of hard work can be saved by using them. Read and follow the directions carefully. There is still time to replant water lilies and other aquatic plants. And why not plant a few herbs for both seasoning and unusual foliage for arranging?

Technorati Tags: container gardening, Creative Organic Gardening, garden, Gourds, iris, peonies, rock garden, rose, thegardenersrake.com

© KeithMarkensen for The Gardener's Rake, 2009. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: container gardening, Creative Organic Gardening, garden, Gourds, iris, peonies, rock garden, rose, thegardenersrake.com

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

Living by a large creek and swamp and being only a few miles away from The Roger Tory Peterson Nature Center my thoughts wander back to the food supply and safe living areas for birds.

The birds feed heavily in the Shoemack trees, blackberry and raspberry bushes. They also feast on wild rosebushes and cherry trees.

The deer and squirrels are happy collecting and eating the oak and hickory nuts that lay heavily down by the Creek side. Every morning as the fog rises off the creek you have a ring side seat to the deer. They also clean up apples under the small apple orchard we have. So far they have not damaged the branches and twigs on the apple trees.

We also have otters, beavers, and many varieties of duck and geese on the creek and in the swamp.

The land is rich with wild food so the wildlife flourishes. I occasionally feed the birds, more for entertainment.

Living close to the Roger Tory Peterson Nature center and a large swamp has taught me the importance of nature. To appreciate the land and wildlife.

Many people think swamps are a nuisance and nothing more. The creek and swamp behind the property is beautiful and the wildlife is amazing. I see plants in the fields, outer swamp and creek bank that I do not see other places.

The Blue Herons have a large grouping of nests on the very far corner of the property and swamp. They fly down the creek to make their landing and they are just awesome to watch.
photo credit: hart_curt

The RTP Center in NW New York offers many classes and has beautiful paths for walking and studying nature. It adds to my community and helps remind me of the value of nature.

And as Spring sets in and another summer season heads my way its nice to see life start fresh and new in the outdoors.

Technorati Tags: nature, Roger Tory Peterson Nature Center, RTP Center, thegardenersrake.com, Wildlife

© Denise for The Gardener's Rake, 2009. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: nature, Roger Tory Peterson Nature Center, RTP Center, thegardenersrake.com, Wildlife

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

This summer, many patio owners will be looking for ways to make their patios shine. What you might find is that any patio design that brings in the garden around it will do the best job of highlighting the patio itself. You might have a very nice patio but if the garden around it looks awful then the patio will not stand out like it should.
photo credit: gailf548

Your patio can be a normal looking patio if the plants, flowers, and hedges surrounding it look spectacular. By working on your backyard and making sure it looks great, you will also be making your patio look better as well. This way, you don’t have to spend a lot on your patio but just put in the time and care to the garden around it.

This coming summer, you will be glad if you take the time right now to think of all the ways you can make your patio more pleasing to the eye. This doesn’t mean that you have to spend a lot of money redoing and remodeling your whole patio. If you take the time to plan your garden you can make your whole patio environment much more enticing. By carefully blending your patio and the garden around it you can make it look like they are meant to fit together.

Many homes that come with a patio, have a plain slab of concrete. While this is sufficient for some, those who have a nice big yard and live in a place where they are going to use their patio a lot for entertaining, will most likely be interested in trying to find some better patio ideas. Anyone can have that slab of concrete for a patio but if you have a carefully thought out garden and patio combination, it will enhance your whole house and even raise it’s value.

If you use your patio a lot, you will probably want to make it as accommodating as possible and have it be a fun place to hang out. This means you might want to be creative in the furniture you pick and how you arrange the surroundings. The more work and thought you put into your patio and the surrounding area, the better your patio will look and the greater your satisfaction will be. You might look in garden and home improvement magazines for all sorts of ideas for your patio remodel.

Technorati Tags: container gardening, diy, patio design, patios, small space garden, thegardenersrake.com

© SherylJohansen for The Gardener's Rake, 2009. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: container gardening, diy, patio design, patios, small space garden, thegardenersrake.com

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh