How to Plant Bulbs in Your Garden by Dee Power

Bulbs are almost a guaranteed flowering success. Each bulb holds the embryonic plant and flower buds within it. Plant the bulb in full sun, water consistently and you'll be rewarded with lots of blooms. After the blossoms have died, continue to water and feed the plant so it has the energy to produce the next season's flowers.

Easter Basket Cut bamboo fencing 8 inches high. Dig an oval trench 2 inches deep. The oval should measure 3 feet across and 2 feet deep. Dig the oval down to a depth of 12 inches. Add 3 inches of compost and fertilizer per package directions. Mix well. Plant spring bulbs that all bloom at the same time inside the bamboo "basket.". Good choices would be purple hyacinths at the back of the oval. Plant Pink tulips in front of the hyacinths, and yellow daffodils in front of the tulips. Finish with dwarf white tulips at the very front. This can all be done in fall before the ground freezes. In the spring, before the bulbs have sprouted, sprinkle white sweet alyssum seeds over the planting area. Cover with 1/4 inch of soil. Place a ceramic rabbit in one corner of the oval "Easter" basket. Twist grapevines or twigs into a handle. Bury each end of the handle inside the basket arching over it.

Patriotic Bed Japanese iris comes in a purple that is nearly blue and white, as well as yellow and light purple. Plant two rows of white irises in the back of the bed. In front of the white irises plant two rows of the nearly blue irises. Continue with the alternating rows of white and blue irises. Finish the bed with a border of red geraniums. Irises and geraniums both bloom in late May so this bed would be perfect for Memorial Day. Over seed the Irises with white zinnias and blue salvia and the bed will refresh itself and be ready with new flowers for Fourth of July.

Moon Garden White flowers glow in the moonlight. Plant a bed with bulbs that start blooming in spring and continue through the end of summer. Tulips, hyacinths, cyclamen and freesia bloom in spring and come in white. Summer bulbs include gladiolus, Asian lilies, oriental lilies, day lilies and Bella Donna lilies. Plant medium height white flowers to mask the yellowing leaves of bulbs that have finished blooming. Good choices would include gerbera daisies, Shasta daisies, petunias, chrysanthemums and pansies.

About the Author
Free report on Tips to Lose Weight Fast Dee Power is the author of several nonfiction books, screenplays and a novel. She loves to cook and has lots of gardening tips.

Get your Garden Goodies with Growing Tulips in the Spring: by Kevin Payne

Tulips are one of the highlights of spring. They ere elegant, colorful and pleasing to the eyes. They come with an assortment of types and most of them are not hard to grow so this spring, why not plant some of them? You will find a wide array of tulips to choose from and you will be amazed by the rewards of your efforts once the spring has begun.

Attract attention in your garden this spring by growing these kinds of tulips:
Kaufmanniana These flowers are beautiful when it bloom and it's also one of the first among the other types of tulips. Growing 8 to 10 inches tall, this tulip has different varieties. Some includes Concerto (cream), Tarafa (red and white), Shakespeare (red and orange) and Scarlet Baby (red). Some types of these tulips are cup-shaped while some looks a lot like water lilies.

Parrot Tulips The petal of these tulips often comes in large sizes and oftentimes, they are curled or twisted. Its bright colors are really vibrant. These flowers grow approximately 18 to 21 inches high.

Double Early The elegance of these tulips makes it a number one choice for bouquets as well as for displaying at homes. Some of the varieties are Peach Blossom (pink), Orange Nassau (reddish orange) and Bonanza (orange and yellow), Monte Carlo (yellow).
Single Early These cup-shaped flowers are known for its many lively colors as well as its fragrance. Single Earlies grow 12 to 14 inches in height. More often than not, this one produces one flower per stem. Varieties of Single Earlies include Diana (white), Flair (red with yellow lining), and Brilliant Star (red), Merry Christmas (red), and White Cascade (white).

Darwin Hybrid This type is perfectly ideal for wedding bouquets because of its long stems and multiple colors. Furthermore, it is a cross between Darwin and the Fosteriana tulips. This hybrid is excellent for cut flowers and it grows up to 24 inches tall.

Fosteriana Like the Darwin Hybrid, this tulip is also ideal for wedding bouquets. The Fosteriana grow 12 to 14 inches in height and comes many varieties namely Zombie (red and cream), Golden Emperor (yellow) and Sweetheart (yellow and white lining).

Single Late Similar to other types, this one comes in a wide assortment of variety to choose from. They also make a good choice for cut flower arrangements. Its varieties are Blushing Beauty (cream and fuchsia), Esther (pink with silver lining), and Union Jack (white and red).

Griegii This tulip's uniqueness will really capture your attention. It has beautiful full-sized flowers and color that sometimes appear in two tones. It blooms mid-seasons on stems with different sizes and heights.

These are just some of the elegant types of tulips you can choose from. Do not give up yet on planting tulip bulbs, tulips look their best when they are planted in groups along your garden borders or compress them together within flower garden beds. Another option is to place them on their own pots and display them on your front step. Regardless of how and where you grow them, tulips are definitely charming in their own rights and are sure to brighten up anyone's spring.

About the Author
Kevin Payne is gardener enthusiast, and enjoys helping others get started in this amazing hobby. The newest eBook, "Herb Garden Kits," teaches gardening and everything you need to know about Planting Tulip Bulbs.

Low maintenance tips for gardens by Chris Moore

Gardens are always considered to be costly. Many gardeners around the world will restrict themselves from achieving the desired beauty and items in the garden to enhance the look of their houses. This is mostly seen in the houses where people have much work to do apart from looking after their gardens. Garden maintenance therefore has taken a new path for the busy and instant schedules of the current business world. This however has managed to lower the cost of maintenance as well. Garden designs are there to suit a low maintenance in the future. Also the process of choosing plants will decide how much work and labour you will need to maintain the garden in future.

One important factor to be considered is that people who have got lawns in their gardens will have more work to do than their counterparts. This however is not expected. Many people tend to think that flowers, fruits and vegetables will have more maintenance to do than lawns. But the cost factor for labour and ingredients tend to be higher in lawns than in other plants.

An automatic irrigation system would be another way of cutting the maintenance cost. This however will require expert knowledge by gardening services. It will reduce the time you will have to spend in the garden and will probably reduce the amount of labour needed if the garden is of large scale.

Making the rocks in your garden in a way that it will assist on water toleration will also help on low maintenance gardening. It will also give a better enhanced beauty to the garden. Having a garden pool however will not help your course towards saving money and time. But by spending a little extra money at the beginning to build a high-tech swimming pool will make sure that you will no longer need to refresh the water regularly.

A garden that has proper technical equipments to confront any seasonal changes will also makes sure to reduce the amount of maintenance you will have to do. An example would be a melting system for a garden in the winter. This will make sure that you won't have to take off the snow out of the plants every morning to avoid them dying.
Garden designer will also have a role to play in order to make a low maintenance garden to the customer. The landscape and the types of plants to be planted are some of the topics you will need to touch on to.

It would be a smart idea to always dig the soil and remove all the unwanted impurities such as stones and dead plant particles underneath. This will help for a better growth in the plants in the garden. Also make sure to get the correct amount of fertilizers. An extra amount of fertilizers will be wastage. There is a less chance that you can take use of any unused chemicals in the future without harming the plants hence a better analysis of fertilizers will help your course.
With all these little tips at the end of the day you will be able to save a lot of money and time. Make sure to do proper investigation about your land and do a proper designing of the garden to have low maintenance in the future.

About the Author
Chris Moore is a successful author. Visit http://www.depositarticles.com to read more articles from Chris Moore.

Tips for Knowing When to Plant Roses

Roses are a very popular flower, so it is nice to have them in your landscape. However, a lot of people worry about rose planting and care, thinking it must be very difficult to do. However, this really isn't the case. It just takes a few simple steps to plant a rose bush.

One of the most important things to consider when you are planting a rose is the location. This can really indicate whether or not your rose is going to flourish and be filled with buds. When choosing rose planting locations, you want to find a spot with good drainage that gets a lot of sun, preferably full sun. Make sure that your new rose will have plenty of space so that it can grow without being crowded. You don't want your rose to be exposed to a lot of wind though either, so take care and choose just the right spot for your rose.

Another concern with rose planting is the soil. You want it to have the proper nutrients and drainage, as well as the right pH level (around 6.5). If your soil isn't just right, you can amend it by mixing the required nutrients into the soil that you plan to put back around your rose bush.

Once you have chosen your location, prepare your rose for planting. If you have a bare root plant, you should soak it in water overnight to rehydrate it before planting. Some people recommend putting a small amount of bleach (one cup per five gallons water) in the water that you use to soak the plant in order to kill off any harmful microorganisms that might be present. Bushes that come in a pot of soil do not need to be soaked.

Dig a hole for your rose that is a bit bigger than the pot that the rose is in, or bigger than the plant that you have. You will want to put back a cone shaped pile of soil so that you can put your new plant in at the right depth and spread the roots out a bit. The correct depth for planting really depends on where you live. The union should be one inch underground if you live in zones five or six, at ground level if you are in zones seven or eight, and above ground if you live in zones nine or ten. Fill the hole in with the rest of the soil.

Make sure that your newly planted rose bush gets plenty of water, but not too much. This type of plant really prefers to get less frequent but deeper waterings. Water them about once a week with enough water to make the soil wet about ten inches deep. Wait until the soil is dry before you water the plant again. Too much water too often will make it so that the plant does not have enough air circulating near the roots, so it is important to avoid making this mistake. When you follow these elementary steps for rose planting, the results will be beautiful rose flowers.

About the Author
Valerie Knotts is a rose gardening expert and author who enjoys teaching others how to plant and grow beautiful roses. For more information onrose planting, visit http://www.guidetogrowingroses.com

An Aerogarden by Ron Lee

People nowadays are very intelligent in everything they do, thus modern facilities are on the list and keep on track. An aerogarden sounds new doesn't it? Now let's reflect on these. An aerogarden is an indoor gardening system. It is computerized that tells you to add water and nutrients to your plants on your own garden. So instead of nourishing the plants with soil they placed the roots in liquid nutrient solution.

It is a soil less gardening technique in which plants accept nutrient faster that means a speedy growing, makes your plants healthier and nutritious even in a smaller area, meaning you don't have to burden yourself in planting your plants in the soil. Not only that, it makes your life easier and you can do more important things rather than cultivating the said soil. Sometimes your plants are sprayed with water and nutrients. No need for you to look for a best soil for you to plant what you wanted. This method is new which allows any plants or flowers to grow fresher.

An aerogarden is very essential to all vegetarians, who loved to eat vegetables or even those who are not, those who just love seeing vegetables in their garden. Those who just love to plant flowers in home beautification, and in marketing this helps a lot simply because even though climate changes it doesn't affect your plants anyway. You can harvest anytime as much as you wanted as it is a self feeding technique.

This vary in sizes and shapes, it depends on a plant type. It does the work, deliver the nutrients, the cycle of its growing, in other words this is similarly like a washing machine, when you start it in washing your dirty clothes you are going to set the time and it automatically shut down. Same as with this technology, you don't need to do the doings all you have to do is to see what will be the result.

If you want your plants grow fresher and greener this is the best way for you to do. Have the aerogarden it gives you less time in planting, gain enjoyment and you are having fun as well. It is very convenience and friendly to our mother earth. Thus, no worries, all you have to do is protect it from your pets. So why wait for so long? Try it now.

About the Author
Learn more about the aerogrow aerogarden? The concept of the aerogarden? is to make these plants directly available from your kitchen counter top.

Spring and the Best Flowers to Plant by Drew Bowen

After a long, cold winter, you are probably anxious for the first signs of spring. Springtime automatically brings thoughts of flowers. Choosing the best flowers for spring can be difficult and it is often confusing. Perhaps the most effective way to ensure spring flowers that bloom each year is to plant bulbs in the fall to mid-winter. There are of course flowering plants that you can purchase from your local nursery, but you will want to make sure any chance of freezing weather has passed before planting and in many areas of the country, spring does not arrive until late in the season and by that time you will want to plants flowers in anticipation of summer. You always have the option of purchasing bulbs that have been grown in pots over the winter and are in stock in most garden centers beginning in the late winter months.

Here are a few choices of flowering plants that are suitable to plant now and will produce early spring flower:
Winter Aconite, or Eranthis hyemalis, will give you yellow flowers approximately three inches in height and resemble common buttercups. These particular bulbs may begin to flower as early as January if you live in a warm area and you will get the best results if you plant them in masses as they grow low to the ground.
Glory Of The Snow, or Chionodoxa luciliare, produce flowers that are bright blue with a white center. The plants will grow between six and ten inches tall, making this particular plant very handy for walkways, borders, and rock gardens. You may also be able to find white/pink varieties depending on the area in which you live
Spring Snowflake, or leucojum vernum, give you bell-shaped flowers that droop from the green part of the plant. These plants will be six to twelve inches in height and are white in color with small green spots on the ends of the petals. You will get the best results if you plant them in clumps and you can expect to see blooms in late February to early March. As with any other springtime bulb, they are best planted in the fall but you can plant in the mid to late winter if you purchase potted bulbs that have already begun the growing cycle.

Netted Iris, or iris reticulate, are wonderfully scented and are most commonly purple in color, although you can also find light blue and white irises in many areas. Irises are one of the earliest blooming plants and you can expect a beautiful display of flowers in early March. As with any other type of bulb, after several growing seasons you will have to thin the bulbs from time to time, as they tend to reproduce rapidly and could actually begin to stunt the growth of the plants due to over-crowding.

About the Author
Information on bamboo stalks can be found at the Bamboo Flower site.

Guide to Mulching Your Flower Bulbs by Britt Ramos

Flower bulbs need a good, long, winter's sleep. Like some people we know, if they wake up before they are fully rested they get kind of cranky, and then they don't bloom well at all.
Actually what happens is during a mild winter, the soil stays too warm and the bulbs begin to come out of dormancy early. They start to grow, and once the tips emerge above the soil line, they are subject to freezing if the temperatures dip back down below freezing. And that's usually what happens. After the bulbs have emerged, they freeze and then don't bloom at all, or if they do it's a very sad display.
Another reason this happens is because the bulbs are not planted deep enough. They may have been deep enough when you planted them, but as the soil goes through the freezing and thawing process, the bulbs can actually work their way up in the ground. One way to keep your flower bulbs sleeping longer, which will protect them from freezing, is to mulch the bed.
In the fall just apply a 3-4" layer of well composted mulch. This layer of mulch will do a couple of things. It will maintain a higher moisture content in the soil, which is good as long as the soil isn't too soggy. Well composted mulch also adds valuable organic matter to the planting bed. Organic matter makes a great natural fertilizer. A 3-4" layer of mulch also acts as an insulator. It will keep the soil from freezing for a while, which is good because you don't want the bulbs going through a series of short cycles of freezing and thawing. Then when the temperatures drop below freezing and stay there for a while, the soil does eventually freeze. Then the mulch actually works in reverse and keeps the soil from thawing out too early. Keeping it in a frozen state is actually good because the bulbs remain dormant for a longer period of time. When they finally do wake up it is spring time, and hopefully by the time they emerge from the ground the danger of a hard freeze is past and they will not be damaged. If you can keep them from freezing, they will flower beautifully. The extra organic matter will help to nourish the bulbs when they are done blooming, and the cycle starts all over again. We also plant annual flowers in the same beds with our spring bulbs. By the time the danger of frost is past and it's time to plant the annuals, the top of the bulbs have died back and are ready to be removed. The mulch that is added in the fall also helps to nourish the annual flowers, as well as improve the soil permanently. Any time you add well composted organic matter to your planting beds, you are bound to realize multiple benefits. The key words here are "well composted". Fresh material is not good.

About the Author
Find tips about indoor bamboo and growing bamboo indoors at the Bamboo Flower website.

How to Force Spring Flower Bulbs by Dee Power

Waiting for spring during the cold winter months doesn't have to mean staring at a bleak winter landscape wishing for warmer weather. Get a head start on spring with forced flower bulbs. Many varieties do well in pots when given the proper environment. A little planning ahead and the right types of bulbs is about all it takes.

Bulbs Lots of bulbs can be forced or tricked into blooming out of season. Most of them naturally flower in the spring time with a few exceptions. Easter or trumpet lilies are forced for very early spring blooming when they naturally bloom in mid summer. Amaryllis is forced for blooming during the winter holidays but naturally bloom in early summer.

Spring blooming bulbs include tulips, hyacinths, crocus, daffodils, tulips, and grape hyacinths.

Get the bulbs ready to grow Most spring bulbs require a period of cold to induce the flowering process. However, cold doesn't mean freezing. If the bulbs freeze they'll die. Keep the bulbs in a dark cool (below 40 degrees) place such as a garage, in the vegetable crisper of the fridge or planted in pots that are kept outside in a protected area. When the chilling period is within a week or two of the appropriate time check the tops of the bulbs for any new shoots. They'll appear as tiny very light green bumps. If you see them it's time to plant.

Tulips and hyacinths require the longest chilling period, 16 weeks. Crocuses require from 12 to 14 weeks. Daffodils from 10 to 12 weeks. Narcissus, a relative of daffodils don't require any chilling. Chilling times are approximate.

Planting Select a pot with drainage. Fill with three inches of soil. Place the bulb in the pot flat side down and pointed end up. If you have spotted the light green bumps, plant that end up. Cover the bulbs with soil and water thoroughly. Let drain. Do not over water or the bulbs will rot. Let them almost dry out completely between waterings. Keep in a cold dark area until the shoots are above the soil. Move to a warmer sunnier area.

Forced in water Bulbs will grow forced in water without soil. After the chilling period fill a clear glass or glass container with several inches of marbles. Place the bulb on top and add marbles up to the neck of the bulb. Fill the glass with water up to just over the bottom of the bulb. Place in a well lighted window. Keep the water level steady. Don't immerse the bulb in water. If the water gets cloudy change it completely.

About the Author

Find more gardening tips Dee Power is the author of several nonfiction books. She loves cooking and gardening and coming up with party ideas for kidsand Valentine Gift Ideas

Hibiscus, The State Flower of Hawaii by Rene Thompson

The hibiscus is a beautiful flower that is closely associated with the state of Hawaii. In fact, it is known as Hawai's State Flower. While there are over 200 distinct species of this floral plant, only seven of them grow natively in the state of Hawaii. Tourists to the islands today may see many varieties of the hibiscus, but few of these are actually native plants. Other varieties have actually been brought to Hawaii from other tropical and subtropical climates around the world, where they grow as both annuals and perennials.

Hibiscus flowers are quite large, and are generally used for ornamental or landscaping purposes, either using cut flowers or the entire plant. These iconic flowers are often used in flower leis, though other flowers, particularly the orchid or plumeria, are also popular for this purpose. The cut flowers are often found decorating the side of a fruity tropical drink.

There are many unique uses for the hibiscus, too. The strong fibers of hibiscus bark can be used to make grass skirts or paper. This plant has also been used for teas (known as karkady) and jams. Some people believe that hibiscus extract will relieve constipation or nausea. The flowers are used in shampoos, where they are said to prevent dandruff. The seed of the hibiscus is used in South America and in the West Indies as a remedy for snakebite wounds, while the Xhosa in South Africa use the leaf to dress wounds, and the Zulu use hibiscus lotion to treat skin ailments. Hibiscus juice can be found throughout Malaysia, where the hibiscus is the national flower.

It is so closely identified with the culture of the Hawaiian Islands that it is a very popular tropical-themed tattoo design. A type of hibiscus with large, red flowers can often be found in the hair of a woman. When placed behind the left ear, the flower indicates that the girl is available. When placed behind the right, the girl is taken. Giving the gift of a hibiscus bloom means "seize the day;" because hibiscus blooms only last for a short period.

Hibiscus flowers may be found in many different colors, growing on plants ranging from bushy shrubs to trees. Their wide variety of colors makes for beautiful hibiscus bouquets. Combined with the oversized flowers, hibiscus flowers make striking ornamental bouquets. These bright and tropical flowers fit in well with the décor you'll see in Hawaii. On the mainland, hibiscus flowers are the perfect accompaniment to Hawaiian or tiki-themed décor, where they evoke the relaxed mood of the islands.

In Hawaii, the most commonly grown hibiscus species native to the Islands is the Chinese Hibiscus. This variety is commonly grown for decoration, and is also used in distinctive leis destined for special visitors or important people. This variety is the one known as the official state flower; it is also known as "Pua Aloalo" by native Hawaiians. Some native varieties of the hibiscus are very rare. The hibiscus arnottianus immaculatus grows in mountainous areas of western Oahu, and its flowers are large and white. There are believed to be less than a dozen of this hibiscus species left in the wild.

The hibiscus is a tropical plant that needs a warm climate and high humidity to thrive. If you plan to grow a hibiscus indoors to complement your tropical or tiki décor, they must be kept in temperatures between seventy and eight five degrees Fahrenheit, and you must never let the soil dry completely. In Hawaii, dozens of hibiscus gardens have been planted with both native and imported varieties, becoming a popular tourist attraction.

About the Author

Royal Tiki has a wide range of Tiki, hand-carved on Hawaii. Also check for current specials on statues for your Tiki bar

Growing Herbs in Garden by Tom Talbott

When things go right, you just can't beat it! Some herbs are just like that. What you need to do is create a location for your herb to thrive, focusing on water, sunlight and soil condition.

Here's a list of herbs that after you start them and get them going, they will do the rest:

* Borage: Boil the leaves to reduce the chewy texture, because without this, the long, fuzzy and prickly leaves are not easily edible. The borage herb loves dry, dark soil and full sun-the blue or purple star-patterned flowers are sweet as can be. You can begin with seeds in mid-to-late spring and by mid-summer you'll have all the borage you can handle.

* Caraway: The leaves of this biennial are a lot like the foliage of a carrot during its first season. In the second year, it will display beautiful pink or white umbrella-shaped flower clusters on 1 to 3 feet tall stems. Give your caraway plant full-sunlight and also make sure it has well-drained soil for the best outcome. Plant the seeds outdoors in spring or fall. Since your herb is a self-seeder, you can let the dead blooms fall to the ground and you will not need to resow it for the next growing season.

* Dill: Dill is among my favorite herbs to look at because of its fine, fern-like leaves. Dill will grow fast for you as long as you give it with well-drained soil and full sun. It will grow to a height of more than 3 feet tall, but you can start harvesting it to eat once it reaches a foot. The yellow flowers on the umbrella-like tops will look beautiful in floral arrangements and can also be used as seasoning. Dill will thrive well from seed and because this plant grow fast you won't need to start the germination process in advance.

* Fennel: The adult version of fennel appears to be a lot like dill, but its licorice taste is nothing like dill. If you plant your seeds in early summer, you will have a mature, four-foot-tall plant in only a few weeks. Plant them in full sun in well-drained soil for the best outcome. The seeds are the best part. You will want to harvest them before they go fully brown. Dry them and use in baked breads, soups and stews.

* Lemon Balm: If you like the sweet, lemony aroma of lemon balm, you will be pleased to know that this perennial enjoys light, shady, well-drained soil. I like its heart-shaped leaves. Don't bother with seeds, buy a little herb at the greenhouse and let it grow for you. You'll soon be able to divide your lemon balm and replant it. Don't feel like you have to put the new part beside the old one, because lemon balm will spread through self-sowing. Snip off the dead flowers to prevent lemon balm from self-sowing.

* Sweet Cicely: Here is a perennial herb that appreciates light shade, so give it that and loose, rich dirt and it will take off from there. Plant it with organic compost and mulch to support sweet cicely's growth. Since sweet cicely is a self-sowing plant you'll only need to buy the first couple of herbs and it will do the rest.

If these aren't enough to get you going, you can try German chamomile and chicory.

Good luck with your herb gardening. Be sure to let me know how your herb garden grows.

About the Author

Tom Talbott is an Herb Garden enthusiast. Here is more information on Herb Garden Information. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.