Worth It - Gardening Tip

Every year I try to plant a few T. acuminata (these from Brent and Beckys) in the front yard. They’re expensive as tulips go—about 4-5 bucks a bulb—and are considered heirloom. Most of the bulb experts seem to think they are an older hybrid, not a wild tulip, but their exact origins are a bit murky. Anna Pavord is a fan; she writes about them as being “spidery and mad.” Brent and Beckys thinks they date to 1813; Old House Gardens sees them as a survivor of the c. 1700s thin-petal tulip craze.

And not only are they expensive, they’re fussy. I put 5 in every year, but for whatever reason, they often fail to emerge. It’s a very exciting event when they do. This year’s are quite tall—I would say about 30”.

Moulin Rouge from Longfield Gardens

Spring does not exist without tulips as far as I’m concerned. Indeed, when winter transitions directly into summer, as it did this year, I need tulips to help me pretend that spring happened.

http://gardenrant.com/2014/05/worth-it.html

"Small Garden Design"

WORDS JERRY COLEBY-WILLIAMS

In the heart of Brisbane lies a magical garden filled with luscious plants and stunning features.

Many would believe that designing a small garden is a simple affair. In reality, the smaller the space the more every centimetre counts. Award-winning garden designer, Phillip O’Malley explains: “When you’re designing a large garden you can see certain elements from a distance. Space allows whimsy. And you can overlook a few weeds. But designing a small space puts you right in the fishbowl. Nothing is hidden. The bones must be strong and everything well-planned.”

*Check out our small garden design gallery*

One garden at Tarragindi, in suburban south Brisbane, bears all the hallmarks of Phillip O’Malley’s beliefs. But there’s much more to it than good design. It’s perfect for a garden-lover and clearly exudes ‘soul’. Eight years ago this 415 square metre property was a garden from hell – hot, exposed and barren. Worse than a car park, this almost all-lawn garden needed lots of regular work to keep it contained.

Garden harmony

We see so many instant garden makeovers we forget that the true test of good design is if it still looks as good three years later. So what went right in this garden? In a word: harmony. There’s a balance between the necessities of practical gardening and the pleasure to be gained by being in it, whatever the season. Well-placed plants have matured without overcrowding each other, and wherever you stand there’s a view, a pattern or a setting to engage the mind and the senses.

Here the whole is truly greater than the sum of the individual parts. The garden is as pleasurable to work in as it is welcoming after a hard day’s work. Constructed features, such as paving and retaining walls, are not only functional and well-built, they’re also stimulating to the eye. The garden has stood the test of time, and developed a soul, something Phillip is determined to imbue in every garden he plans.

Magic and drama

The combined effects of healthy plants and colour, ever-changing patterns of welcome shade and pools of sunlight combine with fragrance and the sound of water to work magic. The pavilion creates an invitingly cool, shady, restful space for entertaining and enjoying the garden whatever the weather, while lawn provides a small space for playful kids – and somewhere to put a wheelbarrow when gardening. But the most enticing feature in this garden has been created using the simplest of materials and design.

White concrete pavers have been laid through the centre of a long, turfed area. Apart from making the garden seem larger, the pavers bring this formal area to life. The same pavers have been laid in a chequerboard fashion creating a dramatic entrance to the oriental-inspired pavilion. Here the pavers are interplanted with low-growing clumping grass, which also act to break up reflected heat and light from intense summer sunshine. The pavers shed rain onto the grass, reducing the need for watering. Together they work to create a vibrant space that glows in cloudy or sunny weather.

Standout plants

All the plants growing at Tarragindi are suited to a frost-free, coastal climate where some shelter is available. And few need much water or fussing over to look great. Plants have been placed together to create a sense of theatre. Swathes of liriope grow beneath clumps of clivia, and the patterned leaves ofCalathea zebrina highlight a rustic bench.

Everywhere contrasts abound: waterlily flowers add a tranquil, cool charm to formal pools, their reflections broken by rippling water. Cordylines with beetroot-coloured leaves add zest and warmth through winter. And the border plants spilling over lawn edges have a softening effect, uniting two distinct garden features.

• Blue ginger (Dichorisandra thyrsiflora) Forming a tight upright clump 1.2m high, blue ginger flowers from summer to autumn in the subtropics. It grows best in semi-shade. Another bonus is it attracts native blue-banded bees.
• Mussaenda (Mussaenda frondosa) In Perth and Sydney it’s autumn-flowering and winter deciduous. In the tropics it’s evergreen, flowering from summer into winter. It needs full sun and compost-rich soil and is suitable for growing in containers.
• Macarthur palm (Ptychosperma macarthurii) This moderately fast-growing, sun-loving, native clumping palm is best suited to coastal subtropical and tropical climates. It looks wonderful in containers and as a feature in lawns with its beautiful pendant bunches of fruit. Water regularly in drought.
• Spider lily (Hymenocallis littoralis) This is a stunning sight in full flower. For best results give this drought-tolerant, clumping lily well-composted soil in either full sun or part shade. It’s expensive to buy, but can be easily propagated each spring.
• Syzygium paniculatum ‘Elite’ This dwarf, native lillypilly is sometimes sold as ‘Aussie Compact’. It has a neat, slender, upright habit, which lends itself to many uses, including hedging, topiary,  containers or as a courtyard tree. It is best suited to warm temperate and subtropical climates.
• Clumping temple grass (Zoysia tenuifolia) With a tufted, mossy appearance, temple grass is a good informal alternative to turf. Sun- and shade-tolerant, it may lose its colour during winter when grown in areas as far south as Sydney. Grow it in swathes to maximise its impact.
• Star fruit (Averrhoa carambola) This decorative tree is usually grown for its refreshingly tart summer fruit. It is deciduous in winter and slowly reaches 9m tall. Its broad canopy provides good shade and its leaves, which fold at night, are curious in their own right.

http://www.homelife.com.au/gardening/beautiful+gardens/small+garden+design,15669

Grow up Hydrogarden

Container Gardening Tips & Plans : Planting a Container Garden: Home Gardening Tips, Ideas & Advice

10 Tips for Spring Gardening on the Cheap

A scrawny daffodil dared to bloom in my garden today – and thank heavens. It’s about time the yellows and greens of spring burst through the dreary winter.

If you’re as eager for gardening season as me, and equally conscious of your budget, these 10 garden money savers will lift the pressure off your wallet.

DIY planters.

Instead of paying for pricey glazed planters at your local garden store, up-cycle other materials and containers you have on hand to create unique, stylish planters.

Got extra building materials crowding your garage? Turn a cinder block into a planter.

This single serving container is perfect for voracious plants like mint and strawberries, and also portable! Scrap wood can be fashioned into a window box or raised bed with a few nails.

Even an old suitcase can find new life as a funky home to succulents or other greens. If you must have terra cotta pots, head to a dollar store.

Score free plants and seeds.

Search Freecycle.org and the free section of Craigslist for free plants. If you ask for extras, many gardeners consider it a huge compliment to be able to spare plants–it’s a sign that their garden is THAT healthy!

Most gardeners are happy to swap plants and seeds, or you can post a seed swap listing for free on the National Gardening Association website.

Free weed killer.

Store bought weed killer is not only expensive, it often contains harsh chemicals that leach into the soil and eventually find their way into the water supply. But there are equally effective alternatives that are cheap and toxin-free!

Pour boiling water on weeds to kill them (really tough weeds will need a second pour). You can also use vinegar, newpaper, and black plastic bags to kill weeds.

DIY seedling trays.

Do not let me catch you buying those ridiculously overpriced soft cardboard trays with mini-pockets for delicate seedlings. (Eyes rolling.) All you need to make your own individual seedling starters is newspaper, duct tape, and a tray.

Rip a few sheets of newspaper into three to four inch strips. Roll up each piece so the opening diameter is about two inches wide and tape closed. Place upright in tray. Repeat until you have as many seedling starters as your green thumb desires!

Fill with moist soil, then plant your seeds and spritz with water as you would normally. I like to cover my new seeds loosely with plastic wrap to keep in moisture.

You can even use egg cartons.

Make a composter.

Forget about paying hundreds of dollars for a composter. (Yes, some really cost that much!)

You can make a composter for very cheap – about $4 – by drilling a dozen holes in the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket. If you start now, you may have compost ready for a late summer or fall garden.

Grow money makers.

Not all plants were created equal. At least, not all plants you can grow cost the same amount at the grocery store. Why not grow the plants and herbs that will cost you the most money to buy?

By square foot, here are the 10 most valuable plants: cilantro, arugula, green salad mix, chives, dill, lettuce, cherry tomatoes, turnips, large tomatoes, and winter squash.

Save seeds.

Set a reminder in your calendar a few months away to save seeds for next year.

Remember, once you have prepared them for storage to keep them in a Ziplock envelope in the fridge.

This way, the seeds go into hibernation mode until you pull them out for planting.

Harvest and preserve.

Harvest edible plants regularly, even if you don’t plan to eat them immediately.

It’s easy to dry herbs by hanging them in a sunny window, or melt fresh herbs into a butter/oil sauce that you can freeze in ice cube trays and use to season dishes later.

Eat the weeds.

As long as you know what you’re serving, look out for these eight weeds you can eat.

Some are considered delicacies!

Enjoy your garden.

Get into the mindset that gardening is a fun way to relax and get fresh air! Turn on your favorite tunes, plop on a special gardening hat, and dig in!

Doing this hard work, errr, fun hobby, yourself will save you hundreds of dollars in the long run over hiring someone else.

http://www.mint.com/blog/how-to/10-tips-for-spring-gardening-on-the-cheap-0413/

14 Simple Gardening Tips and Tricks

Here are the latest tips and tricks from Paul James, host of Gardening by the Yard:

1. To remove the salt deposits that form on clay pots, combine equal parts white vinegar, rubbing alcohol and water in a spray bottle. Apply the mixture to the pot and scrub with a plastic brush. Let the pot dry before you plant anything in it.

2. To prevent accumulating dirt under your fingernails while you work in the garden, draw your fingernails across a bar of soap and you'll effectively seal the undersides of your nails so dirt can't collect beneath them. Then, after you've finished in the garden, use a nailbrush to remove the soap and your nails will be sparkling clean.

3. To prevent the line on your string trimmer from jamming or breaking, treat with a spray vegetable oil before installing it in the trimmer.

4. Turn a long-handled tool into a measuring stick! Lay a long-handled garden tool on the ground, and next to it place a tape measure. Using a permanent marker, write inch and foot marks on the handle. When you need to space plants a certain distance apart (from just an inch to several feet) you'll already have a measuring device in your hand.

5. To have garden twine handy when you need it, just stick a ball of twine in a small clay pot, pull the end of the twine through the drainage hole, and set the pot upside down in the garden. Do that, and you'll never go looking for twine again.

6. Little clay pots make great cloches for protecting young plants from sudden, overnight frosts and freezes.

7. To turn a clay pot into a hose guide, just stab a roughly one-foot length of steel reinforcing bar into the ground at the corner of a bed and slip two clay pots over it: one facing down, the other facing up. The guides will prevent damage to your plants as you drag the hose along the bed.

8. To create perfectly natural markers, write the names of plants (using a permanent marker) on the flat faces of stones of various sizes and place them at or near the base of your plants.

9. Got aphids? You can control them with a strong blast of water from the hose or with insecticidal soap. But here's another suggestion, one that's a lot more fun; get some tape! Wrap a wide strip of tape around your hand, sticky side out, and pat the leaves of plants infested with aphids. Concentrate on the undersides of leaves, because that's where the little buggers like to hide.

10. The next time you boil or steam vegetables, don't pour the water down the drain, use it to water potted patio plants, and you'll be amazed at how the plants respond to the "vegetable soup."

11. Use leftover tea and coffee grounds to acidify the soil of acid-loving plants such as azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias, gardenias and even blueberries. A light sprinkling of about one-quarter of an inch applied once a month will keep the pH of the soil on the acidic side.

12. Use chamomile tea to control damping-off fungus, which often attacks young seedlings quite suddenly. Just add a spot of tea to the soil around the base of seedlings once a week or use it as a foliar spray.

13. If you need an instant table for tea service, look no farther than your collection of clay pots and saucers. Just flip a good-sized pot over, and top it off with a large saucer. And when you've had your share of tea, fill the saucer with water, and your "table" is now a birdbath.

14. The quickest way in the world to dry herbs: just lay a sheet of newspaper on the seat of your car, arrange the herbs in a single layer, then roll up the windows and close the doors. Your herbs will be quickly dried to perfection. What's more, your car will smell great.

http://www.hgtv.com/gardening/14-simple-gardening-tips-and-tricks/index.html