Did you know that Peonies are a one-time investment for a lifetime of beauty? And since Peonies roots can be divided again and again, a single planting can provide beauty for many generations to come. As a little girl, I remember that my mother always had Peonies in her garden and so did all the neighbors. That is because mother always shared them with anyone who came to visit so every garden near our home had gorgeous Peonies.

Did you also know that if you order your Peonies now you can save over 60% off the regular price? Peonies are planted in the fall for spring flowering and if you get them now, you can enjoy them right in you garden or yard at very special money saving prices. Very reputable companies like Breck’s are offering special prices for anyone who wants to place orders now for fall shipping of Peonies. So the time to buy Peonies for fall planting is now.

Peonies are long lived perennials that produce large flowers in the spring that actually look like roses and are absolutely beautiful. It comes in many colors but some of my favorites are cream, coral, pink, white, rose, scarlet and yellow. Peonies require winter cold to flower and it is best to plant them in a northern exposure and do not mulch in the winter. They grow best in full sun but can tolerate light shade. Be sure to plant them in well drained soil and preferably in a raised bed for proper drainage. (photo courtesy: Breck’s)

Ideally Peonies should be planted around September or October. Dig a hole about 12 to 18 inches deep and about 18 inches wide. Be sure to space them at least 3 to 4 feet apart. Add some compost to the hole and about a half a cup of fertilizer. Be sure the fertilizer is at the bottom of the hole and not on the soil that will surround the roots. Peonies are deep rooted plants so be sure to prepare the soil properly before planting. Add some regular soil to the hole, about half full, then place the Peonies root with the eyes facing upward and work the soil in around the fleshy roots.

In the spring, you can mulch the Peonies with a 3 inch layer of organic matter to control weeds and conserve moisture. In the fall, remove the old mulch and leave the plants without mulch during the winter months. Remember, Peonies need cold weather to promote flowering and growth. Peonies flowers are very large so it is recommended that you stake the plant to prevent them from breaking or bending over. Select stakes that are at least 12 inches shorter than the plants and sink them in the soil behind the plant. Using a soft cloth or plastic covered wire, tie the stems to the stakes carefully.

There you have it! Follow these simple guidelines and you too can have gorgeous Peonies in your flower garden. The best part is that you will have them for many years to come. Remember to order them from a good company like Breck’s that offers the best quality and will provide planting instructions. And, as I mentioned before, you can save lots of money by purchasing your Peonies now for fall planting.

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Technorati Tags: Fall Gardening, Gardening, Mulch, Peonies, Soil, Spring Flowers

It is October and cooler temperatures are in the horizon signaling the end of busy summer gardening chores. There are no set standards to winterize your garden because it really depends on where you live and weather conditions in your area. But there are some things you can do now without much effort. Start by taking inventory of what worked well in your garden during the summer and what you would like to change.

Remove all the annual plants that should be just about gone by now and figure out if you want to plant fall flowering plants in the bare areas left by the annuals. Choose your fall flowering plants carefully as not all do well in cold weather. But it is still early enough for you to have a beautiful fall garden. Also, the fall season is the time when perennial plants need to be pruned and trimmed before these go dormant for the winter months.

There are lots of branches that need to be cut from trees and bushes and this is actually good for the plants in the coming spring season. Most gardeners agree that pruning and trimming at this time of the year is good for the dormant plants as these will support new growth during the spring.

If you need to trim some trees of branches that can be easily removed, be sure that you have the right tool for the job. In general, big tree trimming should be done by a professional arborist. However, if a pole pruner is all you need, then be sure to remove no more than a third of the total bud and leaf-bud bearing branches.

Avoid scalping a tree and be sure to cut to the tree’s natural shape. Remove dead branches but make sure these are not dormant ones that can stay on the tree. One way to find out is if the branch looked dead and had no leaves in the summer, it is time to remove it. Take a look and prune out diseased limbs and cut below the diseased areas. If you see branches that are in your way where you walk or mow, trim them. Branches should be cut next to the branch collar which is the area that the bark and trunk meet.

If you have dogwood, walnut, birches and maple trees, these should be pruned in the summer or fall because these will bleed sap when pruned in early spring or late winter. Use caution when pruning evergreens that have needles such as pine or spruce because these will not bounce back from a bad pruning. My recommendation is to only remove diseased or dead branches from evergreens.

And don’t forget your roses. If you have a rose garden, be sure to prune them in the fall or winter if you live in northern regions. Somehow, roses do benefit from fall and winter pruning and will come back stronger in the spring. Climbing roses should be pruned right before the leaf buds break and in colder climates this should be done late winter or early spring when danger of frost has passed. If you live in southern regions, chances are that you will have roses all year round and pruning can be done several times a year.

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Technorati Tags: Annual Plants, fall flowering plants, Fall Garden clean up, Fall Gardening, Perennials, Roses

Get beautiful color during the winter months by planting Cyclamen. It is native to the Mediterranean region from Spain to east of Iran, and also in northeast Africa. Although Cyclamen has been confused with Persian violet or primrose, it is actually in the myrsinaceae family and has nothing to do with primroses or violets.

Cyclamen are herbaceous plants with a surface or underground tuber which produces leaves and blooms during the winter months and continues to bloom until April each year. They can be propagated from seeds but usually takes between 9-18 months to reach the flowering stage. For this reason, it is best to buy the plants at a local nursery which are already established.

These garden beauties rarely do well in warm weather and they do have a dormant period during the summer months. One key feature of Cyclamen is its unusual variety of leaves and markings which range from round to oval, arrowhead shape, and ivy-leaved ones. Cyclamen is a tuberous potted plant that loves the cool weather and indirect sun light. They thrive in temperatures ranging from 55 to 65 degrees.

This gorgeous plant will give you lots of much needed color during the winter months and will continuously bloom all season long. The leaves are deep green heart-shaped with silvery marbled patterns. Cyclamen will do well if planted in the garden where winters are mild, but my advice is to plant them in containers and place them in the patio. They also do well in balconies, window boxes and large flower pots.

Caring for Cyclamen is easy as these require very little care. Just make sure that the soil if kept moist but be careful not to over water them and that they have indirect sun light. With proper light, adequate moist soil and cool temperatures, you will have beautiful color in your garden all winter long. If your garden lacks color during the long winter months, go ahead and get some Cyclamen plants and place them in your garden. To get you started, here are some Cyclamen that I am familiar with.

Hardy Cyclamen Lily Pad White – Botanical name is Cyclamen coum Lily Pad White

This hardy Cyclamen blooms continuously from December to April with gorgeous white blooms above silvery green foliage. The blooms seem to arch above the wide rounded heart shaped foliage which looks like little frogs jumping from one lily pad to the next. The leaves usually arise in autumn and are olive green shade with silver overtones. These will tolerate frost and other inclement winter conditions and around December, white blooms will appear which will continue for up to 5 months. Lily Pad White likes the shade and thrives in zones 5-9.

Hardy Cyclamen Neapolitanum – Botanical name is the same

Wow! This Cyclamen is hardy even in 20 degrees Fahrenheit. This dainty Cyclamen is ideal for planting under the shade of trees to add beauty and color to your garden. It offers masses of lilac flowers with rich dark eyes and petals curving upward above heart shaped foliage. It thrives in zones 5-9 and in the shade beneath trees and shrubs and can also be planted in containers or pots.

Hardy Cyclamen Lily Pad Pink – Botanical name is Cyclamen coum Lily Pad Pink

This Cyclamen actually tolerates frost and inclement winter weather. Recommended for the shade garden, Lily Pad Pink blooms continuously from late winter to mid spring. It has lavender-pink flowers and two tone green foliage marked with silver. Plant these in containers or large pots or even beneath trees or shrubs for a stunning winter flowering garden.

To a beautiful winter garden,
Diana

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Technorati Tags: Bulbs, container plants, Cyclamen, cyclamen seeds, Fall Gardening, flower pots, Perennials, persian violet, primrose, shade plants, tuberous plants, window boxes, winter blooming bulbs

Chrysanthemums which are often called mums are truly a winner for your fall and winter garden and after trying to spell and pronounce that name, I much rather call them mums. This hardy plant in the Asteraceae family will add lots of color to the somewhat bare garden when all the annuals have withered.

There are approximately thirty species of Chrysanthemums which is native to Asia and northeastern Europe. The history of this plant says that it was cultivated in China as a flowering herb as far back as the 15th century. However, its name is actually Greek and comes from combining the Greek word chrysos which means gold and the word anthemon meaning flower.

In China, the leaves were steamed or boiled and used in teas and as greens in Chinese cuisines. In addition, Chrysanthemums was used as Chinese medicine as an aid in healing from influenza and acne. Tea made of Chrysanthemum is very popular and used as a relaxant.

Although you can plant Chrysanthemums in your outdoor garden, it is most recognized as a pot or container plant that most gardeners use to accentuate an entrance way or patio with its beautiful fall colors. These are also a favorite of florists for flower arrangements because of the longevity of the blooms. Its daisy-like flowers comes in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors.

 

Chrysanthemums are a great choice for a landscaping plant in your garden adding gorgeous color before the cold winter months arrive but you must plant them at least six weeks before heavy frost starts in order to allow the plant to establish in the soil. Don’t forget to remove the tips of new growth on your plants. This will give you bushy plants and more blooms.

 

To your gardening success,
Diana

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Technorati Tags: Annual Plants, Chinese medicine, Chrysanthemums, container plants, daisy plants, Fall Gardening, Flowering Herbs, healing plants, mums, outdoor gardening