Elderberry in the Garden and Medicine Chest

The trees and shrubs in your garden space define your area. Don't overlook their importance if you're planning a landscape. Choose trees that grow well in the area without a lot of attention from you, but don't forget to plant a tree or shrub that will hold a special meaning for you.

Be bold when looking for inspiration on what trees to plant. If you plan on living in your home long term, watching a tree grow and marking the progression of the years by comparing the height of tree with photos of the kids or grandkids who play beneath it can bring back pleasant memories each time the fragrance of the tree floats to you on a gentle breeze.

A seldom thought of small tree for the yard is the Elderberry. With beautiful blossoms that give way to fruit, the elderberry also plays an important part in herbal medicine and folklore. It has been used for such a wide variety of ills that it has been known as the peoples medicine chest.

Life presents many challenges but it’s nice to know that simple things can make it easier. Sometimes one has only to look around to see what is at hand. Need to keep witches at bay or ease painful sinus congestion? Grab a sprig of elderberry leaves.  Read More

The Graceful Astilbes

Foliage and blossoms work to help the shade loving Astilbes give a naturalized feeling to the garden. The individual blooms of this perennial are clustered high on the tall stem and look like plumes. The hybrid of the Far East native flower that grows in US gardens blooms in early summer.

Astilbes appear as fluffy spikes of white, purple, red and pink above delicate leaves of bronze or green. As the fernlike leaves appear in the garden, they are glossy. As the growing season progresses the foliage loses the shine.

Plant astilbes in partial shade because they are not tolerant to high temperatures. The soil should be moist, slightly acidic and have a high content of organic matter. They will tolerate a wet environment, but are not drought resistant.

Although astilbes are beautiful among other plants in a container, their moisture requirements means that special attention must be given to the container garden so that the soil doesn’t dry out. Care must be taken in choosing other plants for the container, making sure that they are able to survive the moist soil that the astilbes need to thrive.

Another consideration when using the showy astilbes in a container garden is the size of the mature plant. It can grow to 4 feet, with a spread of 1 to 3 feet. The pot chosen for the astilbes should be at least a foot deep with a diameter of one to two feet. Place the container in a spot that will allow the roots to stay cool and the soil to retain moisture.

Astilbes are propagated by division. New growth appears at the outside. Every three to five years the astilbes should be dug up, and the newer, outer plants should be cut away and replanted. Division and replanting can be done in the spring or fall.

Plant the astilbes at least a foot apart so that they have plenty of space to grow. The roots are shallow, so don’t plant them too deeply.

Once established, astilbes don’t need a lot of care from the gardener. The stems are strong enough to grow without staking and the flowers dry beautifully right on the plant, giving the perennial garden an ornamental look, even though the drying blooms turn brown.

With proper attention to the moisture content of the soil, the graceful astilbes will be a favorite in the perennial garden. The gardener can help the soil maintain moisture for the plant with mulch.

Should you use Lawn Seed or Sod?

Ask any of your friends how you should go about redoing your lawn and you’ll probably find that there are two distinct camps. Some gardeners insist that reseeding the whole yard is the way to go. Others won’t hear of any other method than laying sod.

How will you choose the right option?

Learn as much as you can about each option. Then, make your choice based on what is best for you and your yard. As long as you do the proper planning and preparation, information is the next best tool you have to present a lush and green outdoor living space.

Grass Seed or Sod - How to Choose

A Beautiful Lawn Needs Decisive Planning

Jan 22, 2010 Patrice Campbell

Grass Seed or Sod - Carli Rankin

A beautiful, well maintained lawn implies that the homeowner takes pride in the home and the neighborhood. But a well kept lawn takes time, planning, money and labor.

Whether establishing a completely new lawn or making repairs to an existing area, proper planning and preparation is needed. The question of whether to seed the area or lay sod can be answered by addressing the pros and cons of each of the applications.

Time of Planting Grass Seed or Sod

Grass seed is best planted in late summer or early fall, while sod can be planted at any point of the growing season.

Read more at Suite101: Grass Seed or Sod - How to Choose: A Beautiful Lawn Needs Decisive Planning http://www.suite101.com/content/grass-seed-or-sod-how-to-choose-a192810#ixzz1EWoRZ1ib


Grass Seed or Sod - How to Choose: A Beautiful Lawn Needs Decisive Planning

Gardening Tips for Petunia Problems

Petunias are a favorite it gardens all over the country. Before you spend a lot of money on bedding plants, refresh your memory and learn how to keep those colorful annuals blooming throughout the growing season. 

Once you know the problems and how to prevent them, visit your local garden center and choose your plants. Selecting from all of the colors and varieties available may just be the biggest problem you face this spring and summer. That gives you more time to relax and just enjoy your flower garden.

Isn't that really the whole point?

Gardening Tips for Petunia Problems

Jul 7, 2010 Patrice Campbell

Gardening tips for healthy petunias - morgueFile free license

The popular garden petunia is easy to grow, but not completely immune to fatal problems.

Petunias grow in gardens all across the United States. They are popular because they are easy to grow in sunny areas and container gardens, but they are not immune to disease and fatal cultural problems.

A hardy and versatile garden plant, the petunia is used not only as a bedding plant, but the annual adds immediate splashes of color in hanging baskets and containers. The trumpet-shaped blooms are available in a wide variety of solid hues. Striped petunias and flowers with blotches are also available.

Read more at Suite101: Gardening Tips for Petunia Problems http://www.suite101.com/content/gardening-tips-for-petunia-problems-a258845#ixzz1EWjk1zmx

Gardening Tips for Petunia Problems

Spring Lawn Tips: Testing the Soil

If you had problems with your lawn last summer, you may be thinking of replanting your grass this spring. Before you spend a lot of money on equipment rental and grass seed, consider that maybe the soil needs to be amended.

If there are not enough nutrients in your soil, it won’t do any good to replant. The type of soil, too, will help you determine which type of grass seed to plant. The soil has to give the grass a healthy environment for the roots to grow.

If you have a big yard, it’s possible that you have areas with different types of soil. For instance, an area that previously was home to a garden will have soil that has been amended. Areas that once supported a building will also have soil properties that are different from other parts of the yard. Plan to collect soil samples from several areas of your yard and have them tested for pH and nutrients.

If you need help finding a place to have your soil samples tested, contact the local University Extension. If they can’t conduct the tests themselves, they can refer you to a testing facility.

Before you collect your soil samples, be sure you know if there are any special requirements for digging the samples and shipping them to be tested.

Once you know what’s required for the testing, define the different areas in your yard and collect at least 6 samples from each area. A good article with tips to collecting the soil samples can be found at www.FactGarden.com.

Make sure you use clean garden tools when you collect the soil samples to be tested.

Once you know what type of lawn soil you are dealing with, you can go ahead with planning your new lawn. It may not require the intensive redesign you were dreading. It may just need some soil amendments to make your grass green and lush.

Perennial Container Gardening

When you look at your winter container garden, do you dream of the plants you will be putting in once the spring temperatures bring warmth to the soil? If you do, you may be working too hard to maintain a beautiful container garden.

Many perennials can live for years in a container garden. Once you've found the perfect arrangement of these plants for each container, you can devote your gardening budget to other garden areas, knowing the containers will thrive with a minimum of care.

Gardeners worry about the root system of the container surviving the harsh temperatures of winter because they don't have the insulation perennials planted in the soil do. If the plant can grow in a USDA Hardiness Zone that is two zones colder than your area, they can not only survive but can thrive.  Read More…..

Fern and Folklore

Gardeners can make their gardens and their gardening hobby even more interesting when they know the history of their plants. Many myths have grown around flowers and herbs, some religious in nature and some whimsical. Knowing the complete history of the plant can give you ideas to turn your garden into a personal retreat.

Imagine placing a small statue of a devil in amongst the ferns. Guests to your garden will inquire and you can regale them with the stories of the fern, and why the devil hates it.

The devil, who hates the fern so much that he makes a face whenever he sees it, uses the elusive fern seed to his advantage. Men have been known to sell their souls for a single seed that will be delivered in the devils own hand at midnight. The recipient of the rare seed will enjoy vast wealth, right up until the devil returns to collect. Read More...

A Little Snooping in the Neighbors Yard can Earn a Friend and A Beautiful Garden

They say that nobody likes a snoopy neighbor. But if you're caught snooping in the neighbors garden, the compliments can be appreciated and you may be able to make acquaintance with someone you can share your gardening hobby with.


If you have a problem growing some of your favorite plants in your garden, it may be that the climate isn't just right to grow that plant without a lot of nurturing and attention from you. For an easy to maintain garden, check out other gardens in the area to see what plants and flowers do well in your area. As you admire the neighbors garden, you may make a new friend.


It's never too early or too late to make plans to make the flower garden better. If you took pictures of other gardens that you liked last summer, pull them out and study them as you plan for changes in your garden.


Take a camera or notebook and pen with you as you walk the neighborhood or drive around the area at any time during the year. Pay attention to the things you see that you don't like as well as the things you'd like to try. Read More

Save Your Holiday Amaryllis Gift

 Did you receive a forced amaryllis for the holidays?  If you’re like me, you enjoyed the hint of spring that it brought to the home during the coldest part of winter.

The blooms are gone from the amaryllis , and you're probably trying to decide what to do with it now. The floppy leaves aren't particularly attractive, but the plant is still alive and you aren't really ready to toss  it in the dumpster. Maybe the following information will help you decide to make the effort to get it to rebloom next year.

While you're deciding, snip off the flower stalk to the nose of the bulb and give the plant a bit of water. Put the pot in the coolest part of the house, in a place out of direct sun, but where it will still get plenty of light. Treat it like you would any other houseplant, not over-watering but keeping the soil moist. Depending on the humidity where you live, a once a week watering should be enough. Read More