How To Grow And Care For Camellias

 

Photo source:  Southern Living

"The South is the heart of camellia country. Indeed, common camellia (Camellia japonica) is even Alabama's state flower. Although it seems like these evergreen flowering shrubs, which are so well suited to our area, must have been born here, they actually hail from eastern and southern Asia. Camellias are members of the tea family, Theaceae, and bring beautiful blooms to our gardens during the cold months.

More than 3,000 named kinds of camellias exist in a remarkable range of colors, forms, and sizes. They are not browsed by deer, another plus point for life outdoors in the South. These beautiful shrubs—some grow as much as a foot a year to eventually form a small tree—can be planted in the fall through early spring in Southern gardens. Read on for more tips on planting and tending camellias."  Comment from Southern Living

Trying to learn as much as I can about this beautiful plant I'd love to grow.

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Camellia Flower Facts and Why This Shrub is So Popular

 

Photo source:  Better Homes and Gardens

"If it seems like the camellia flower blooms almost all year, that's because they do. Sometimes called the rose of winter or the queen of winter flowers, camellia varieties usually bloom during the colder months. What does a camellia look like? In addition to resembling roses, camellia flowers can be shaped like anemones or peonies. The blooms can be single, double, and semi-double, and come in red, pink, white, or a mix of these colors. There's more to camellias than just their beautiful blooms—here are some fascinating facts to make you love them even more."  Comment from Better Homes and Gardens

This is one plant that I have always wanted to grow, but never did.  It is so beautiful!

Click here to go to the Better Homes and Gardens article.

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Grass Alternatives For A Low-Maintenance Lawn

 

Photo source:  Southern Living

"Americans are rethinking their relationship with lawns. While traditional turfgrasses do serve many purposes in the landscape, such as a place to play, erosion control, and mitigating solar heat, they are not always the best solution. They require vast amounts of time and resources to maintain while supporting little ecological diversity. In the face of increasing drought and water restrictions, the time has come to consider grass alternatives."  Comment from Southern Living

I'm looking into all possibilities so I can get rid of the grass and weeds that I totally dislike.

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Perlite vs. Vermiculite: How and Why to Use Them

 

"Do you know what’s in your potting mix? Perlite and vermiculite are natural soil additives that help improve soil structure in similar ways, but this one key difference between them can make or break a gardening project."  Comment from Garden Betty

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Fast-growing Flowers to Attract Hummingbirds

 

Photo source:  Birds and Blooms

"With hummingbirds, there’s no time to wait. They constantly desire food, plus we crave the instant satisfaction of watching them. But many perennials take a season or two to bloom, and shrubs might even take years. So how to attract hummingbirds right away?

First, look at the bigger picture, says Karen Bussolini, senior horticultural advisor at White Flower Farm. Use flower choices that invite them to nest in your yard, rather than just pass through, by choosing plants that bloom across the growing season and offer abundant nectar.

“Surprisingly, insects are a large portion of their diet, too,” says Karen. Add native plants to your garden and you will see hummingbirds vacuum up the protein-filled insects that feed on these plants.

Here are some ideas for fast-growing flowers that hummingbirds love."

Comments from Birds and Blooms

I hope to once again try to attract hummingbirds to my garden, so I need to learn from this article.

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Native Plants That Will Bring More Birds to Your Yard

 

Photo source:  Better Homes and Gardens

"Many of us love attracting birds to our yards with feeders, but did you know that certain native plants work even better? Native plants offer birds natural food, shelter, and nesting sites year-round. Plus, their diverse food supply supports a wider variety of birds than feeders do. Here are 25 native trees, shrubs, vines, and flowers that birds adore. Plant a few (or all!) and transform your yard into a bird paradise."  Comment from Better Homes and Gardens

Being a bird lover, I am going to use some of their advise to attract more birds into my garden.

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Tomato Plant Care 101: Everything You Need to Know

 

Photo source: Birds And Blooms

"Juicy slicers for BLT sandwiches, cherry types for salads and snacking, Romas for homemade sauce—the tomato varieties are endless, but the amount of space in your garden and on your countertop is most likely not. One tomato plant goes a long way, so before you run out and buy the first seedling you spot, first decide how you’re going to use your harvest in the kitchen." Comment from Birds And Blooms

Click here to go to the Birds and Blooms article to learn all about growing tomato plants.

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How To Grow Pansies In Early Spring

 

Photo source: Old World Garden Farms

"The best time to plant pansies is earlier than most gardeners expect. In many regions, pansies can be planted as soon as the soil can be worked and daytime temperatures remain consistently above freezing. And yes, you can keep them blooming until Summer!" Comment from Old World Garden Farms

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Perennials You Should Divide in Early Spring

 

Photo source:  Rural Sprout

"Early to mid-spring is the perfect time to make more plants by dividing the ones you (or your neighbors, friends and family) already have growing in the garden. That is genuinely the only disadvantage I can think of when it comes to this method of propagation: you must already have a plant to divide."

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Grow Onions in Containers

 

Photo source: Martha Stewart

"You don't need a big garden to grow delicious onions at home—a bright location, the right container, and well-draining soil are all it takes to yield flavorful results. Whether you have a small balcony, patio, or windowsill, growing onions in pots and containers is an easy solution for gardeners with limited space. While this method is best suited for small-bulb varieties, such as bunching or pearl onions, it still yields an abundant harvest when done properly. Ahead, experts share their tips for growing onions in containers, from planting to harvesting."  Comment from Martha Stewart.com

This is an article that I need to learn from so I can grow these green onion bulbs successfully.

Click here to go to the Martha Stewart.com article.

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Why Every Gardener Should Plant Zinnias This Year

 

Photo source:  Rural Sprout

"When it comes to flowers in the vegetable garden, marigolds, nasturtiums and calendula are the first blossoms that pop into my mind. I can see them vividly, swaying in the breeze, bejeweled with yellow-orange petals, being visited by a great variety of beneficial insects.

So, for the sake of beauty, among other things, let’s bring them on over to the vegetable patch. Trust me, the zinnias will fit right in with the other flowers growing in your vegetable garden."  Comments from Rural Sprout

I have many packs of zinnia seeds that I should have already sown, but they will be the first to get started.  I love zinnias!  Some are tall, some are short . . . all with varying colors.  

Click here to go to the Rural Sprout article to find out about zinnias.

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Say Goodbye To Garden Pests

 

Photo source:  Outdoor Guide

"If you frequently find yourself battling pests in the garden, you're probably willing to try anything to get rid of them. Store-bought sprays offer a chemical solution, but those can sometimes be harmful to plants. They also pose a risk to bees, butterflies, and other garden pollinators. Luckily, there are several home remedies worth trying, some of which require little more than basic kitchen scraps."  Comment from Outdoor Guide

I've had fierce battles with the slugs in my part of the world.  As an organic gardener, you must learn natural tricks other than using chemicals.  It can be done!

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Low-Cost DIY Garden Path Ideas

 

Photo source: Better Homes and Gardens

"The purpose of a garden path is to make it easier to get where you’re going. But garden paths are also important aesthetically, directing the eye toward a focal point or a destination. The good news is that several options perform both functions handsomely without breaking the bank.

Here are 10 money-saving ways to create a garden path that will make a big impact on your yard, not your wallet."  Comment from Better Homes and Gardens

My preference is a stone path.  I've had the mulch path that ended up being a big weed farm.  If you do the mulch thing, be careful who you buy the mulch from.

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Spring Jobs For Stunning Azaleas

 

Photo source:  Rural Sprout

"When it comes to spring azalea care, three things hold true: It’s the most important time of the year for taking care of these plants.

You have a specific window of opportunity to meet their needs.

Finally, those needs are pretty easy to take care of.

So don’t sweat it. We’ll get your azaleas squared away and your spring off to a great start."

Comments from Rural Sprout

If you want a hedge that blooms like crazy and makes a bold statement, the azalea is for you.  Check out the article to learn all about the azalea and how to care for it.

Click here to go to the Rural Sprout article.

 

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The Easiest Way To Ruin Lavender

 

Photo source:  Southern Living

"This plant isn’t finicky, but you do need to understand its needs and how it grows in its original native range. “Lavender is a resilient, drought-tolerant plant, native to the Mediterranean,” says Josh Geiger, propagation manager for the Southern Living Plant Collection. “It thrives in dry, sunny conditions and well-drained soil.”  Comment from Southern Living

Click here to go to the Southern Living article if you are a gardener who grows or wants to grow lavender.

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Don't Start Your Spring Yard Cleanup Too Soon

 

Photo source:  Better Homes and Gardens

"As the weather warms and the first green shoots appear after the winter, many gardeners are eager to start tidying up their yard. Yet, starting yard cleanup too soon can do more harm than good. That's because our yards are important habitats for a wide range of beneficial insects that play a key role in maintaining the health of our garden plants."  Comment from Better Homes and Gardens

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