It would be best to plant peonies at the back of
flower borders as they are large plants. In the
spring, the peonies have attractive ferny foliage and
the beautiful blooms are usually produced in May.

Peonies best thrive in a place that receives at least
half a day to a full day of sunshine. If the climate
is very hot, then provide some afternoon shade for
these plants.

The best time to plant the peony is the early fall but
early spring plantings do well also. Make sure to
prepare the site well. Dig an oversized hole and make
sure that you fill some of it with compost.

The secret of having a successful peony is this: Make
sure that the tuber is positioned so that the eyes
which are located on the crown are covered with about
two inches of soil.

Peonies are picky – they do not like to be planted
very deeply. If your peonies have stopped producing
flowers after a few years, then you should see if
perhaps they have sunken too low in their bed. Perhaps
they have had too much soil sitting on top of them.

If your peonies seem to flop over by mid-summer, then
it would be a good idea to stake them. When you go to
cut your flowers, clip them when the buds are just
beginning to unfurl. Once they are put in water, the
blooms will quickly open and will last for about a
week indoors.

This plant thrives in tropical climates. So if you
live in a tropical climate, gardenias should be
plentiful.

In order to choose a nice gardenia, look for a compact
plant and one that is full of glossy foliage. The
leaves should have a rich, bright green color.

The gardenia needs a lot of light. You should see that
the gardenia does not get direct afternoon sun as that
is usually the hottest part of the summer.

The gardenia needs an even amount of moisture. They
react to the water’s quality and temperature. They
like room temperature distilled water the best. When
the gardenia isn’t blooming, it should be kept a
little drier.

These plants bloom the best when the days are warm and
the nights are cool. Gardenias are usually tolerant of
different variations in temperatures, particularly if
it is humid. In order to perform at their very best,
gardenias need a climate that has high humidity.

It is best to use a water-soluble fertilizer on
gardenias every two to three weeks. Several times
during the year, you may use an acid fertilizer.

Once you have smelled the gardenia, you will become
hooked! Follow the above tips and you will more than
likely be able to grow beautiful gardenias both
outside and inside of your home.

Gloves – You should have a good pair of waterproof
gloves that fit well. You should also find some that
have long cuffs. Gardening gloves seem to be best
suited to fit men so women will probably have to hunt
to find a good pair.

Sun hat – You should have a hat with a wide brim
equipped with a drawstring cord. This should provide
adequate protection from the sun. You have to make
sure that your hat will not be lifted aloft when those
spring winds come.

Canvas apron – A good apron to have is one that has
pockets to fit some of your tools in as well as your
phone. This is good when you don’t always have a
chance to put on your grubbiest clothes.

Five-gallon bucket – This comes in handy to tote your
tools around with you as you make your way through the
flower beds. You can always toss weeds in as you are
working!

Spade – This is an important tool to have but one that
can easily get misplaced or thrown out by accident. It
would be a good idea to get some brightly-colored tape
to wrap around the handle so it will show up against
the grass.

Pruners – These are great to clip back woody stems.
You will get a nice, clean cut that will minimize any
injury to plant tissue.

Hand rake – This is just a little bit larger than a
spade and does a great job in fluffing up mulch or in
turning up very young weeds.

These plants are very easy to grow so they would be
good for a beginner gardener to try. If taken care of
correctly, they will give you years of enjoyment.

Make sure you choose an appropriate variety, plant
your mums in a sunny, well-drained location and
protect them during the winter.

Planting Time

The best time to plant your chrysanthemums is after
the danger of frost has passed. You are able to use
small plants that you have obtained from rooted
cuttings or divisions or you may even use the larger
container plants that you have bought from nurseries.

The chrysanthemums may be put in the ground at anytime
in the spring, summer or even during the early fall.

Soil, Site, and Fertilizer

Garden mums will grow very well in a variety of soils
but they must all have excellent drainage conditions.
Mums also enjoy sunny locations. Try to mix in two to
four inches of peat moss or compost into the soil. If
you only use peat moss, then try to add a fertilizer
in the spring.

Pinching

If your mums are pruned or pinched on a regular basis,
then they will have a bushy and compact plant form.
The traditional method includes pinching out the tip
in order to induce branching so that stockier plants
will be produced.

All pinching must be completed by the 4th of July to
assure that your plant flowers before the frost.

This technique is largely used in areas that have
abundant sunshine and high temperatures. However, it
can be adapted for cooler areas as well. The results
may not be quite as effective, but it can do wonders
in your battle against weeds.

What exactly is solarization? It is a technique that
does not use chemicals, but it captures the sun’s
radiant heat and energy which, in turn, causes
physical, biological and chemical changes in the soil.

These changes are able to control or eliminate soil
borne plant pathogens including bacteria, fungi,
pests, and nematodes along with weeds.

In order to solarize the soil, you must cover it with
a clear plastic tarp for approximately 4 to 6 weeks
during a time of the year when it is very hot and when
the soil will be able to receive maximum direct
sunlight.

The soil heats up to temperatures that are hot enough
to kill some soil inhabiting pests including root rot
fungi, wilt, noxious weed seed and root knot
nematodes.

Soil solarization also stimulates the releasing of
nutrients from organic matter that is present in the
soil. It is very effective in treating garden soils
where it is intended to plant herbs, vegetables and
flowers.

Now that you know what soil solarization is, you may
want to give it a try to your soil rather than using
different chemicals to control weeds and other pesky
little critters!

Reports of roses getting such things as powdery mildew
can make the novice fearful of giving rose growing a
try. Yet, by paying attention to four basic elements,
your rose growing can turn out to be a huge success.

1. Soil – The best soil for a rose to grow in is if it
has a pH from 6.5 to 6.8. The soil must have good
drainage for rose growing. You are able to promote a
soil’s drainage by using peat moss.

2. Irrigation – The best thing to do is to give your
rose bushes a good drink at least twice a week. If you
give your roses two deep waterings each week, this is
better than four less thorough waterings. It is best
to try not to water your roses late in the evening.
This could foster powdery mildew which is a common
disease among roses.

3. Spacing – If you do not adequately space your
roses, you are inviting powdery mildew to form on your
roses. It is best to let them breathe. Be sure to
follow the spacing requirements that are indicated on
the plant label when you buy your roses.

4. Sun – Roses enjoy six hours of sunlight each day.
It is preferable to have the roses get morning sun
rather than the afternoon sun.

There is nothing more beautiful than a rose bush in
full bloom. Do not let the growing of roses intimidate
you. Just follow the above tips and you are bound to
be a success at rose growing!

Lilacs are shrubs that grow best in areas of the
United States where winter freezes take place. Doesn’t
that seem odd? Yes, but in areas that do not
experience the winter freeze, the lilac may fail to
bloom.

If you want to grow lilacs and live in a very warm
climate, check with you nursery for varieties that are
suited especially for warm climates.

Lilacs will do best if they are planted where they can
receive about six hours of full sun. The best planting
times for lilacs would be in late April, early May,
later in September and even into October.

Lilacs like slightly alkaline soil, and they also need
to have good drainage.

You have to be careful to space lilacs about ten feet
apart as most of them grow into large bushes. You
should try to mulch lilacs with about three inches of
bark or wood chips.

You will not only be able to conserve water, but you
may prevent trimmer and lawn mower damage. Lilacs
should be fertilized in the early spring and right
after they have finished flowering.

When the lilac has finished blooming, it is time for
it to be pruned. Take away about 188 of the stems.
Make sure to prune off any dying or dead limbs.

Although the geranium can put up with a little frost,
it loves the warm weather. Here are some tips for
growing geraniums:

* Light – Most geraniums do well in full sun. That
means that they should receive at least six hours of
direct sunlight each day.

If the climate you live in is very hot, then you may
plant them in an area that is partly shaded. Many
geraniums will do quite well in a partly shaded spot,
but they will not bloom as prolifically.

* Soil – Geraniums thrive in rich soil that is very
well drained. If you add compost to your soil, this
will give your plants an extra boost.

* Fertilizer – When you grow geraniums, it is good to
note that they are heavy feeders. You should plan on
giving them fertilizer at least every two weeks. You
may also feed them when you plant them with a
time-released fertilizer that will last the entire
season.

* Water – When it does not rain, you will have to make
sure that you water your geraniums regularly. If you
are not sure if you should water, just poke your
finger down into the soil. If it is dry at least two
inches down, then you had better get out the hose!

* Grooming – You want to keep your plants looking
their best by dead heading them and by taking away any
dried or discolored leaves. In this way, your
geraniums will look great all season!

In order to get the earliest flowers, you should start
your tubers off by letting them sprout in a seed tray
or in a box of damp potting soil in the months of
February or March.

Space them approximately two inches apart, and do not
bury them too deeply. The top side should just be
covered by a surface layer of potting soil.

The begonias like to be put in a temperature of about
64 degrees Fahrenheit. However, they do not seem to
mind higher temperatures.

After the tubers have sprouted and you can see small
leaves, transfer the tubers to a five inch pot and
cover them with compost. Since you will probably be
using the begonias in an outdoor garden, begin getting
your begonias acclimated to the temperature outdoors
in stages.

This process should probably begin towards the end of
May. After a week, if the threat of frost has passed,
you may leave your begonia plants outside all night.

Begonias like a place that is moist and partially
shaded. If they happen to be in the sun for most of
the day, then you should water your begonias
frequently in order to prevent bud drop.

As the plants continue to grow and buds begin to form,
the begonias should be given a regular liquid feed
every ten days or so. This will help to promote good
growth as well as an abundance of flowers!

Planting tools

You can either use a trowel or shovel to dig the holes
for the bulbs. Your job would be made a great deal
easier if you used a bulb planter.

It may be a good idea to mulch the newly planted bed
of bulbs. This is recommended by most experts. The
mulch will help to prevent weeds, cool the soil,
retain moisture and it will provide more organic
material that is necessary for the growing plants.

Watering Newly Planted Bulbs

After you have planted the bulbs, they should be given
a good drink of water. It may also be helpful to water
the bulbs occasionally if the fall and winter seasons
were very dry.

You should plan on giving the bulbs at least an inch
of water each week when the growing season becomes
active. This can either be from natural rainfall or
from supplemental watering.

Fertilizing the Growing Bulbs

When you begin to see the bulbs pop their tiny little
heads out of the soil, it is very important that you
begin to fertilize them every few weeks. It is best to
use a good water soluble fertilizer. This will help to
promote additional flowering and better bulb growth.

All of the above will make sure that you have
beautiful flowers from the bulbs you have planted. It
may take a little work, but it will be worth it in the
end!