Removing Leaves from Spring Flower Gardens

Removing leaves from my yard and gardens is a two season project; in the fall and then again in April. Not all of my oak trees lose their leaves and this year the leaves did not fall until the new leaf buds started to appear in late March. Come the first week of April I have leave in my flower gardens.

In the fall the city will remove our leaves when we put them at the curb. They will then turn the leaves into mulch. However in the spring leaves are not needed for mulch and today I found out that there is a fee for spring leaf pickup so we are going to rake and put them in lawn bags for trash pickup.

Know that I reside in the woods so keeping all of the leaves for compost recycling is not wise. I will keep only small amount of leaves for my compost but the other leaves must be removed as they harbor borer insects that will eat the tubers of the irises, dried leaves are also are good nesting ground for ticks, fleas and snakes.

Along with the removal of leaves from the flower gardens I am also removing the mulch because it will enable the new spring flowers to emerge from their sleep without difficulty. I use a rubber rake or my hands to gently remove the leaves and the mulch from the flower gardens without disturbing the plants underneath.

Gardening tips by Susan:

1. Late spring or early summer is the best time to apply the mulch as it will help to retain moisture.
2. If you used leaf mulch then add all leaves except oak to your compost pile. Oak leaves attract mites and other bad for the garden insects that are harmful to your plants.
3. If you have oak leaves I would recommend that your burn them or bag them for trash disposal.  

Gardens Small to Large Photo Gallery

Today I had a conversation about my garden and the person I was speaking to mentioned their garden.  They said how they had planned it and created an eye-appealing layout so the color would flow nicely. Then they mentioned the vegetables, herbs, and flowers that they had planted last year and that this year they hoped to extend their garden so that it was better than last year.

I asked if they had any photographs and with a smile, she retrieved a few from her phone to my surprise the garden was not located in a large or small yard but instead on 6 feet wide by 9-foot space on her patio.   

The photos showed that it was a nice container garden and that she had utilized her space well. It confirmed that anyone could have a garden as long as they have an area that has sunlight.

I complimented her on her garden and then she asked me about my garden, “you always talk about your garden, do you really have one?” I replied yes but it was not a container garden, I told her my gardens are 157 x 57 feet and that it has taken me years to complete.  My garden is what you would call large, but know that I have worked as an estate gardener and the property that I oversaw was four times the size of my own garden. 

Large garden with gravel path

 People love to garden and it does not matter if it is a small container garden or a large oversize garden, the importance should be that gardening is good and all will benefit from planting a garden.

Notes: I grow plants in the ground and in a variety of containers. I think containers make the garden look more interesting. I shop for containers at yard sales and at homedepot.com as this store has an interesting mix of containers for indoor and outdoor use. I also shop online at hayneedle.com plowandhearth.com and gardeners.com.

Here are some garden photographs. I hope that they inspire you to plant a garden.

 Wildflower and ornamental grass garden

Garden pavestone path 

 Flower garden along the fence

 Container garden

Daisies grew in the meadow

Butterfly garden

Hosta Garden

Lily garden path

Sensory Garden

Dog Kennel Garden

Backyard garden

Flowering Shrubs by the garden path

Greenwood Nursery Client Review; Flowering Shrubs

I have been a long-time client at Greenwood Nursery because the trees, shrubs, and perennial flowers that I have bought from this online nursery have thrived in my garden. All plants are shipped with care and arrive healthy and ready to be planted. In the last 7 years that I have shopped at Greenwoodnursery.com, they have never let me down.

This year I find myself looking at the greenwood nursery website for flowering shrubs that will grow on the sunny side of my dog kennel. I am thinking a shrub that has flowers will look better than a chain link fence. I have some evergreen shrubs in this area of my yard and they look nice but would like some summer color since the kennel is directly under my side sun porch.

My neighbor has Crape Myrtle in her yard. It grows along the backside of your privacy fence and it does look beautiful when it is in bloom. This flowering shrub did grow fast however the flowers are not fragrant.

Some of the flowering shrubs that I like are the Red Knockout Rose Shrub, which always looks good however my favorite flowing shrub is the Clethra Sugartina Crystalina or commonly known as the summersweet. 

 This flowering shrub produces bottle brush-shaped flowers in late summer that are very fragrant. I think this flowering shrub would be perfect if grown in masses along the outside of my dog kennel because it grows fast and the blooms will take away the doggy smell.

This summersweet when fully grown is three feet in height with a similar spread. It is deer resistant too and that is a plus since the deer cut across my yard nightly to get to the woods on the other side of my house.

I am certain that I will shop at Greenwood Nursery for the knockout double red roses to plant in my yard close to my patio. Then I will buy several summersweet shrubs to grow in masses along my dog kennel and in the front of the dog kennel where the gate is I plan to buy and grow honeysuckle Arnolds Red because the bright red flowers will look nice and this fast-growing shrub will provide a good windbreak and will also attract butterflies.

I am glad I took some time this morning to check out the new gardening supplies and plants that are being offered at greenwood nursery because it is the season to plan my garden for planting after spring frost has passed.

I am a satisfied client and know if you check them out that you will be too. Know that when you log in and become a member you will get a special discount list of prices. Affordable prices for your yard and garden needs.

Here are some photographs of my gardens, all plants that you view were bought online at Greenwood Nursery. 

 Hosta Garden

 Summersweet

 Coneflowers

 Ajuga

 Coneflowers

 Japanese flowering Quince

 Peppermint

 Ivy

Liriope

 Old Fashioned Lilacs

 Honeysuckle

Thuja Green Giant Arborvitae

Cosmos Flowers Photo Gallery

When it comes to planning a colorful garden that has nonstop summer blooms until the weather turns cool in the fall I plant cosmos flowers. These flowers are so easy to grow from seed and they are maintenance-free, although I do water them when the weather is extremely hot or there is summer drought.

Here is a photo gallery of cosmos flowers grown in the garden and in masses.  

These pretty cosmos flowers attract honey bees, monarch butterflies, and other butterflies. I recommend that you plant the flower seeds in an area where you can view the flowers and the pretty butterflies fluttering around the blooms.

 I grow cosmos flowers in my butterfly garden, containers, and along my side slope.  I also grow these flowers in masses in my side meadow that I can view from my sun porch.   

It is nice to sit on the porch and view the pretty flowers in the afternoon while sipping some lavender and chamomile tea.  This is a natural way to relax and unwind after a hectic day.

My favorite cosmos flower garden is the meadow because there is a path

where you can walk among the flowers.  This path serves as a nature walk for the kids and adults in my neighborhood.   They all enjoy standing in the middle of an enormous flower garden where they can view the butterflies, and take photographs of butterflies, birds, and rabbits.  Occasionally you can even see a deer or fox.

If you enjoy gardening and monarch butterflies then I recommend that you grow

cosmos flowers. 

Harvesting Lemon Balm for Herbal Tea

I grow a tea garden in my backyard because there is nothing better than a cup of soothing herbal tea in the afternoon after a rigorous day of working in the garden. Many of the teas that I grow fall under medicinal as they will cure many ailments. Lemon Balm is my go-to herbal tea for natural anxiety relief and it also helps me to sleep. If you like the taste of lemon then grow and harvest lemon balm for herbal tea.

Brew herbal tea from harvested leaves from the garden

When it comes to harvesting lemon balm for herbal tea I think it is best to harvest the leaves early in the morning, after the dew has elaborated. Choose young leaves as they are more potent and have the best flavor.

Today I am made an herbal tea by putting a half teaspoon of dried lemon balm leaves into an infuser. (I had harvested these leaves last fall and air dried them on a screen)  The dried lemon balm leaves in the infuser then set the infuser into the teapot.  Add the hot water and let the herbs steep for ten minutes.

Learn more about growing an herbal tea garden by viewing this YouTube.com video.

Growing Medicinal Herbs in Sun Garden

Normally I grow lavender, aloe Vera and German chamomile, rosemary lemon balm, and peppermint in my medicinal herb gardens but this year I intend on growing lemon balm, witch hazel, and St. Johns wort, thus creating a medicinal herb garden that will ease my aches, pain, heal cuts and help me to get to sleep.

Pretty yellow flower of the St Johns Wort herb plant

A photo of lemon balm growing in my garden. The leaves look like mint, and the entire plant has a strong lemon scent.  The bloom attracts butterflies.

The lavender, chamomile, and lemon balm are good for relieving stress and are a natural sleep remedy. Aloe Vera is good for stomach upset and constipation when taken internally however this herb is also good for your skin, a natural remedy for burns, and when used as a moisturizer will reduce the signs of aging. Witch hazel makes an excellent compress for bruises and St. Johns wort is an anti-inflammatory and is good when used as a compress for small cuts or wounds. It can also be used to treat stomach upset and mild depression.

Rosemary in garden

I grow these medicinal herbs in gardens outdoors, the Aloe Vera is grown in my kitchen in a container. My gardens are raised beds with organic soil. The area is sunny with partial shade in the afternoon because my summers are too darn hot.

When it comes to growing a medicinal herb garden I care for my plants by watering them in the early morning. And when it is really hot I will mist the herb garden in the late afternoon to prevent the flowers and leaves from wilting.

In the past, I have been successful in growing a variety of herbs in the garden and I am looking forward to growing new herbs; witch hazel, and St, Johns Wort this year.

View this youtube video to learn about other medicinal herbs that you can grow in your garden.

Tractor Supply Co Organic Seed - Greenhouse Review

A friend told me that I should check out the garden products and organic vegetable seed at tractor supply co.  I was told that they had a variety of organic vegetable, herb, and flower seeds for the garden and that I needed to also check out a portable greenhouse for the patio or deck.

 I shopped online at tractorsupply.com and found that they had a good assortment of lawn and garden products including five-foot greenhouses with shelves that would be perfect for starting my organic vegetables.   I was interested in viewing a small 5-foot greenhouse with shelves for my deck and saw that it was on sale but only available in the stores. 

Organic vegetable seed bought from Tractor Supply Co

I drove across town to the Tractor Supply Co I found the greenhouse and a variety of organic vegetable seeds at Tractor Supply Company.  I was able to buy Seeds of Change 100% certified organic vegetables. I am really happy that I found these USDA organic seeds because they are the only seeds that I will grow in my gardens.

If you are looking for organic vegetable seeds then I would recommend that you go to the Tractor Supply Co store and check out their products. I found that they priced were fair and liked that the seed packages are sealed and dated. You get first-quality organic seeds in safety packages.

*Tractor Supply sells a variety of seeds, be sure to look for non-GMO and organic on the seed packet.

Gardening During Winter Months

Normally this time of the year there is snow on the ground but instead bitter cold temperatures we are blessed with warm spring like weather.

 Due to the warm weather  I had two clients that needed help with their gardening needs and I was busy last week doing  yard and garden projects. This week I find that the  weather will be warm on Wednesday so I am making plans to work in my yard and garden.  I really love being able to work in the garden during the winter months.

Normal weather in January is Snow

There is not much to do in the backyard but I would like to fertilize the irises especially the ones that met my husband weedeater last fall. These irises took a beating because he cut them almost to the tuber. 

The extra soil  around the tubers will be good because the last snow did cause erosion and many of the roots are exposed.  I am mixing compost, potting soil and bone meal and will fertilize my tulip bulb garden, lily garden and the irises.

When that garden project is completed I plan on adding new mulch around the garden path and fill in where pea gravel is needed. I think the mulch and gravel will make the yard and gardens look good for the rest of the winter.

Gardening During Winter Months, cleanup gardens

Then all that is left to do is trim back the ornamental grasses and remove any leaves from this garden.  I really love that we are having warm weather during the winter months as it allows me to get my gardens ready for planting and my yard cleaned up.

Another Productive Day in the Garden

Today I was up early and out the door before stopping for coffee. I needed to be at my client's house at 8 AM to do their spring bulb containers.  Lucky for me my client Marge handed me a cup of coffee and also offered me 2 slices of cinnamon toast. It is safe to say I have been on call to do their gardening needs for years and tend to think of them as friends who are also my clients.

The bulb resin containers came in two sizes 16 inches and 19 inches, and both were deep enough for the bulbs.  

Planting the spring bulbs was an easy project.  I planted the two large containers that would feature red tulips and Dutch master daffodils and the other 2 containers would feature grape hyacinth bulbs, Muscari with yellow daffodils, and narcissus bulbs. 

Then I did some smaller daffodils and tulip containers that would be kept in cold storage (average temp 48 degrees Fahrenheit)  My client said she would use the small bulb containers to decorate indoors; dining table, and coffee table, and she would give some to neighbors.

Since the bulbs came from clients' cold storage and had sprouted already I did not recommend that they put the containers outdoors especially if the weather was bitterly cold and the soil would freeze. This would not be good for the bulbs that had signs of new growth.

My client agreed and said they would put the containers on their deck where there was plenty of sun.  Then if the weather turned bitter cold again they would move to a protected area where the soil would not freeze. 

 I also recommended that the soil stay evenly moist but not wet as they did not want the bulb to dry out.

After the spring bulb container gardens were planted I went back home and got busy being productive in my own garden. Worked some on my new herb garden and also made a list of the things that I needed for the garden center at Lowe's.

This time of the year is busy for me because clients are calling for help with their yard and garden needs and I also need to get my gardens ready for spring flower blooms and garden plantings.

Today was another perfect day for working in the garden. I am glad that we have had warm days in January because I have used my time wisely by being productive in the yard and garden.

Late Season Planting: Spring Bulbs in Containers

Its January and normally I do not plant spring bulbs outdoors during this time of the year but a client emailed me and told me she had a bag of 200 mixed spring bulbs; hyacinths, daffodils and red tulips that she wanted me to plant in her plastic containers.

In the past I have planted bulbs in containers and then kept them in the greenhouse but I have never planted them for outdoors this late in the season. There will be snow this weekend and a hard frost.

I think the bulbs should be okay as long as the containers are deep and wide enough for the spring bulbs.  However I did suggest that they keep the newly planted bulb containers on their covered patio.   This area would protect them from excess ice or snow being piled up on top to the containers. Other than that I am certain that as long as I get these bulbs into a container that is mixed with compost potting soil and bone meal that they will be just fine. 

So tomorrow I am going to head over to my clients house and plant her 200 mixed spring bulbs in containers. I will do all the planting in her garage so I won't feel too cold. The spring bulb containers will be topped with a layer of cypress mulch. I think this is wise since there is snow in the forecast.

All I need to do is do the arrangement of the bulbs so they containers look pretty when they bloom, then fill the planters with the amended soil and plant the bulb according to my drawing and then water. My clients husband said he will take them outdoors.

Now I am wondering if the garden centers have any leftover spring bulbs because I would like to fill my plastic containers with spring blooming flowers also. Maybe I will run to Lowe's garden center in the morning and talk to the master gardener that oversees that department.

Learn more about planting tulips in a container by viewing this tutorial.

Working on Raised Garden Project

My husband asked me to extend my rock herb garden down along the side of the stepping stone path. He thought fragrant herbs along the side of the garden path would look good.  He also thought he would not have to cut the grass in this area and he really liked his idea.

It seemed like a good idea at the time to extend the herb garden, so I drew out the garden plans on paper my husband looked at me blankly and then said he thought it would be cheaper to buy a raised garden kit.  I did not agree with him but knew if I did not show him a kit he would never understand.

The first stop today was Lowe's garden center where we looked at raised garden kits. One large garden was priced at $176.93 and this kit was not big enough for our garden plans.  

The husband studied the raised garden that was on display and the good thing about these kit gardens is they do give the husbands an idea as to what they are supposed to look like and they know what material is needed to put them together.  

If you guy cannot visualize your garden plans on paper the put-together kit on display will help them understand and your husband will think you are a garden genius.  (smile)

After our trip to the garden center, there was plenty of time for me to get started with my extended herb garden.  Today husband and I removed all of the river rock that went around the herb garden. Then I used landscaper marking paint to outline the area where the new garden will be located. 

 Since the top six inches of soil are workable, the husband will remove the sod and level the area before lying down the landscape liner to prevent the weeds or wild grasses from growing.

Hopefully, by the end of the week, the sides of the raised garden will be installed and then we need to fill it with organic compost mixed with potting soil.  I like that the weather is warm this week because it is allowing me to get the gardens ready for spring planting.

Looking Forward to Spring Gardening

Daffodils

It is January and I know winter is not over but this week we have spring-like weather and I have enjoyed my time spent in the garden because the spring bulbs are blooming and there are buds on my old-fashioned lilac bushes.  

Soon there will be hundreds of daffodils followed by pink tulip flowers blooming on the slope and I am looking forward to the spring flowers and gardening.

Crocus

We will have warm weather for the next couple of days and I will be getting a jump start on my spring chores.

Instead of waiting for March, I am going to cut back my large ornamental grass garden and remove any of the leaves that have covered this garden bed. 

Ajuga burgundy glow

When this garden is cleaned up then the ajuga burgundy glow that grows close to the border stones will be able to get the nutrients from the sunlight and will produce pretty blue flowers in the spring.  

I also want to work on my herb garden because my husband would like me to extend it so it grows along the side of the garden path. I agree with him that fragrant herbs close to the path would be wonderful in summer.

The warm weather break is enjoyable, I feel renewed and looking forward to spring flower blooms and planning my summer annual flower gardens.