Archive for January 25th, 2007

 
Steps to digging a perfect garden trench
Start with laying a garden hose on the ground to define the shape of the new planting area.  The hose will give you a guideline to follow.  You will need to use a sharp digging shovel to dig a v-type trench. 
Select a sharp flat shovel to cut the trench.
Hold your spade at about 45 degrees, with its sharpened head on the edge line. Put your foot on the head and guide it at a 45-degree angle 3 inches into the soil.
Lift out the grass and soil and toss it into your wheelbarrow. Take a step to one side and make another cut and toss to match the first. Continue down the line you’ve drawn until the entire edge is dug out.
The trench should be 3 inches deep, sloping up to 3 inches wide at the top. Let the lawn grow right up to one side, with the garden bed meeting the other side.
 
 
 

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Soil
This is the key to a successful hanging basket that thrives and brings colorful flowers for many months.  Start with a professional potting mix; I suggest using a Scott product.  It is important that the soil contains organic materials like pine bark or core to help in water retention. 
     

Moss
Appling moss to a basket adds both texture and longevity to liner.  It is important to use a clean moss, we recommend Oregon Green Moss. 
           
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Fertilizer
                       
The food for flowers campaign!  You want flowers….you need to give them food.  Slow release fertilizer is recommended for continuous feeding.   Osmocote granular, Sta-Green and Sierra tablets are all great fertilizer that are needed for a 4” annual.  Sierra Tablets are formula and per measured to take the guesswork out of fertilizing. 
 Planting
            How to buy plants:  best variety/hybrid, not always the biggest
            When to buy plants: make sure to select materials for the up coming seasons
 
Design
            Develop a theme
            Use Contrast
            Group plants by light requirements
            Water
Water
            Great baskets require water: morning not afternoon and may require twice daily. 
               
 
Maintenance
             Dead Heading or picking off old dead flowers
            Pruning old flowers promotes new growth
            Rotations of dead plants sometimes make baskets look fresh
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Hummingbird Plants 

Pineapple Sage, Salvia elegans  Giant Blue Sage, Salvia guaranitica Cypress Vine, Ipomoea quamoclit Shrimp Plant, Justicia brandegeana  Mimosa, or Silktree, Albizia julibrissin Shrub Verbena, Lantana camara Butterfly Bush, Buddleja davidii. also spelled Buddleia 

Rose of Sharon, Hibiscus syriacus Common Foxglove, Digitalis purpurea  Cigar Plant, Cuphea ignea  

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