Shade Tolerant Flowering Ground Covers

 

Shade tolerant ground covers that produce flowers are the perfect way to add color and weed protection to your garden. It can be hard to find ground covers that produce flowers and live in shady areas. Here I will provide you detailed information on several shade tolerant flowering ground covers.

Ajuga

This shade tolerant ground cover is popular because of its ability to grow in sun, partial shade, and shade. This plant is also known as bugleweed, and it produces blue flowers. It is hardy in zones 3-9, and it grows up to 12" in height. This fast growing ground cover will grow up to 4 feet wide and flowers in spring.

Bethlehem Sage

This ground cover is shade tolerant, but will also thrive in partially sunny areas. Bethlehem sage produces white, pink, and blue flowers. This plant needs a moderate amount of water and lives in zones 4-8. This shade loving plant produces flowers in the spring. Bethlehem sage grows from 8"- 12".

False Spirea

This shade tolerant ground cover enjoys thorough watering once a week. False Spirea produces pink and white flowers in summer. The large showy flowers make this a perfect perennial for your shady garden ground. This flowering ground cover enjoys full shade and partial shade, and grows from 6" -24" in height. False Spirea grows in zone 6.

Vinca Vine

This flowering ground cover is also known as periwinkle because of its tiny blue flowers. This popular shade loving plant also produces white, red, and purple flowers. The Vinca vine can be major or minor, and these plants enjoy similar conditions. Periwinkle is drought tolerant as well as shade loving. Another benefit of this popular plant is its resistance to deer. This flowering ground cover grows in zones 4-9. It grows up to 6 inches.

Wild Ginger

This ground cover enjoys full shade to partial shade. Wild ginger produces flowers that are white, purple, maroon, and red. It needs thorough watering and is hardy in zones 5-9. The one of a kind flowers produced by this perennial ground cover are sure to attract attention along with its heart shaped leaves.

Wood Sorrel

This shade loving ground cover can also tolerate partial shade. Wood Sorrel produces white, pink, and purple flowers. It is hardy in zones 7-10, and grows up to 6" high. This flowering ground cover produces tiny flowers that are shaped like stars. The leaves resemble clovers and it is drought resistant.

Try using these plants in shaded spots in your garden. They add the perfect detail with their flowers and foliage and they provide protection from invasive weeds.

How to Create a Flower Garden Layout

 

Creating a flower garden layout is easy and beneficial for several reasons. Creating a flower garden layout will allow you to maximize your garden space, create depth, and add style to your garden. These simple steps will help you learn how to create a flower garden layout.

1.Draw a map of your garden. You can simple use a pencil and paper, or you can break out the crayons to add detail and color to your drawing. Either way start by drawing the basic shape of your garden. Remember to add details such as existing plants, rocks, and decorations.

2.Determine the amount of sun and water your garden will receive. If there are many trees than you know you will be looking for plants that tolerate shade. If you do not plan on being able to water the garden often you will want to look for flowers that tolerate drought.

3.Determine what type of pests you will have to deal with. If you have deer in your area you will need to chose plants that the deer are not fond of if you want your garden to grow nicely. Beetles, aphids, and ants are all common garden pests that can affect your garden and you will want to take precautions for them. You may also want to build a fence to keep out unwanted animals.

4.Pick out flowers. After you have established the growing conditions in your garden and the pests that are native to your area you can pick out flowers. Start by researching on the Internet and visiting local garden stores to get an idea of what type of flowers you would like in your garden layout. Make a list of the flowers you would like, their colors, height, bloom time, and spacing.

5.Now use your list to create your flower garden lay out. Remember to consider the height, colors, and spacing when creating your layout. Taller plants can be used as borders or focal points. Varying height will add depth and interest to your flower garden layout. Also keep color combinations in mind when creating your layout. Using colored pencils or crayons to simulate the plants on your layout is a great way to get an idea of your finished garden. Bloom time is another factor to incorporate into your flower garden layout, and it should be used to make sure the entire garden is blooming all season.

Creating a flower garden layout will help you eliminate garden woes before they occur. These simple steps will make your garden layout easy to create, and your flower garden will be guaranteed to please.

Natural Ways to Lower Soil PH Level

There are many natural ways to lower the soil pH level in your garden. Many plants need a lower soil pH level in order to grow and produce healthily. Lowering the ph level in your garden soil is essential when growing blueberries, cranberries, orchids, hydrangea, and azaleas.

The pH level of your garden soil can have a strong impact on plants. Certain minerals can only be absorbed through soil with lower pH levels. Osmotic water pressure is is also affected by pH level of the soil in your garden. A lower pH level also dissolves metals in soil.

A lower ph level can be achieved through several natural means. Many of these means are temporary so the soil can be used later for other plants that do not require a low pH level. Some natural methods for lowering pH in soil can be found right in your kitchen, and some are little more expensive. If you are trying to grow plants that need a lower pH level these methods are imperative.

Coffee grounds can be used to lower the pH level in your garden. Place the grounds around the base of the plants that need lower pH. If you are amending the soil before planting mix the coffee right into the soil. This is a great way to recycle your coffee grounds and feed your plants.

Vinegar is another household item that will naturally lower the pH level of your soil. Add a few tablespoons of vinegar to a gallon of water and use it weekly around roots of the plants that need lower pH levels. This is a temporary fix, but will work quickly. Apple cider vinegar will work best for this method.

Sphagnum peat is another natural way to lower the pH level in your garden. This can be mixed with the soil before planting or place around the base of plants that are already in the ground. This should be done in the spring and fall to keep the pH level lower year round.

Adding sulfur or sulfur flowers to the top soil around your plants will also help lower pH levels in your garden. This method of soil amendment will work gradually over time. If you are adding the sulfur to soil before planting it will still take less time to lower levels.

These guidelines will help you lower the pH level of your soil in a natural way. Remember to check the level of pH in your soil beforehand to get an accurate estimate of the changes to be made.

Growing Sunchokes in Your Perennial Vegetable Garden

 

Growing sunchokes in your perennial vegetable garden is a great way to add variety to your garden. This perennial vegetable will produce hardily year after year. This article will provide you with detailed instructions and tips on growing sunchokes in your perennial vegetable garden.

Sunchokes are also known as Jerusalem artichokes although they are not grown in Jerusalem or related to artichokes. The flavor of this tubular vegetable is similar to the flavor of the artichoke. The tubers produced by the sunchoke are delicious vegetables that are low in starch.

Sunchoke tubers should be planted in your vegetable card about 3 weeks before the last frost date. Sunchokes take 100 days to harvest, but they produce many vegetables. This perennial can be planted in winter in warmer climates, and the soil they prefer to be planted in will be a temperature of about 59 degrees ferinheight.

This hardy vegetable is a perennial that can grow up to 10 feet in height. Sunchokes can deal with frost well, and they can even survive a very hard frost if they have a layer of mulch covering them. Sunchokes should be planted in full sun, and they enjoy loose soil that drains well. Adding sand and compost to the soil will increase the production of the plant as well as increase the ease of harvesting.

When deciding where to plant this vegetable in your perennial garden it is important to choose a place that will not be disturbed because your sunchokes will remain there for many years. This perennial spreads quickly, and they will take over any area they are planted in. Sunchokes should be planted in rows that are at least 3 feet apart. They should also be planted about 3 or 4 inches deep and a foot or so apart. Water them regularly, but make sure drainage is adequate. Too much water will cause the tubers to rot. Sunchokes are drought tolerant, and can be planted in containers as well. A large container is required for these plants because they spread very quickly.

When growing sunchokes in your perennial vegetable garden it is recommended that flowers are removed when they first appear. This will allow the tubers to receive the majority of the energy produced by this plant. When harvesting sunchokes you should wait for the leaves to die back. Leave tubers in the grown to produce a new crop in the following season.

Growing sunchokes in your perennial vegetable garden is fun and easy. This perennial vegetable is easy to grow and will spread fast with little care.

(via 25 Incredible DIY Garden Fence Wall Art Ideas -...

(via 25 Incredible DIY Garden Fence Wall Art Ideas - Architecture Art Designs)

http://ift.tt/1dlx6om

I absolutely love these recycled artsy garden fence ideas!

from Tumblr http://ift.tt/1dlxinv
via IFTTT

Step 5 – Create Your Garden Plan - My Square Foot Garden

Garden Party Tips on Decorating and Recipes

by Sarah Ganly

Garden Parties are a fun and easy way to get together with friends and celebrate spring. It may seem that throwing a garden party may be overwhelming, but here are some tips to help your party go smoothly and pleasantly.

The décor should obviously suggest spring, and flowers should be abundant. If the party is an evening party set up white lights in the trees or bushes by the table to create ambiance. If the party is scheduled for the day make sure the table is set under a tree in order to provide shade for your guests. Another way to set a terrific mood for this party would e to float some flowers in a big glass bowl filled with water. It is also quite enchanting to set some tea lights around the table.

Food and drinks are an important part of any party, and your garden party is not different. The food at a garden party should be light so start off with a salad. My favorite summertime salad is a cucumber onion salad. It is easy and simple to make; all you will need is about 3 large onions, 4 large cucumbers, and a bottle of red wine vinaigrette. Slice the cucumbers and onions thick and put them in a bowl. Pour most of the oil out of the salad dressing, and coat the onion cucumber mix with the rest. Let this mixture sit overnight and serve chilled.

Another delicious garden party treat is tomato, prosciutto, mozzarella wraps. Simply slice the tomato thinly and layer it with the prosciutto and the cheese inside of a wrap. Drizzle with a light oil and vinegar mix, and serve on a wrap or a pita. This sandwich is also delicious if fresh spinach and basil is added. A delicious desert for garden parties can be a fruit salad soaked in honey and orange juice, or some fruit flavored sorbet.

Garden parties are a great way to celebrate the end of winter and enjoy the outside, and now that you have some of these garden party tips, your party should be as fun as possible.