Garden Landscape 101

 

A garden landscape is a wonderful and relaxing place to be in away from the hassle and bustle of the noisy downtown. Garden landscaping is usually laid out in a large area but still some gardens are also made in limited space.

During the Renaissance and the 1880s in United States formal garden landscaping was popular. The basis of the formal garden landscape is on geometric shapes that has boundaries defined by stone walkways, walls, hedges, fences, fountains, and statuary. Today formal garden landscape still exist in Botanical gardens and large estate.

For limited space usually in urban areas the modern/domestic garden landscape are used.

The types of garden landscapes are Organic, Herb, Roof, Vegetable, Rock, Water, Flower, and Public gardens.

The Organic garden landscape is highly emphasize nowadays because it will not use artificial pesticides and fertilizers that harms living things. This garden landscape they use only biological fertilizers and pesticides to keep the plants healthy.

Herb gardens are found in botanical gardens and medieval garden. In this garden landscapes the plants have medicinal properties like parsley, fennel, thyme, marjoram, dill, and rosemary that is used in flavoring foods.

Roof garden landscape are found in urban areas which have limited space. The plants are usually in small pots and containers.

The Vegetable garden landscape is the healthiest garden landscape. This garden landscape needs open and sunny location. It is important that there is rotation of crops to prevent disease transmission between the plants. Being knowledgeable on the season to which to plant a vegetable is vital.

In rock garden landscape, it mimics the rocky hillside or a slope. It is vital that in this garden landscape the look should look like a part of a hillside. A bit of large boulders looks better. The rocks must be arranged that it should provide exposures to sun-tolerant plants like rock roses and shade-tolerant plant like primulas.

The next one is the Water Garden Landscape. In this Garden landscape it’s important to consider your location, culture, and climate. The shape of water garden landscape in Europe and North America are rectangular or circular pools that contain one or two water lilies and a fountain, or sometimes there are no flowers. Also in United States and Europe informal water garden landscape are irregularly shaped with profusion of water lilies and other plants that suit a watery habitat.

Water Garden Landscape in Japan has a particular and beautiful patterns in them that they preserved for centuries. While in temperate countries, the water garden landscape is grown under the glass in which the pools are heated.

Water Garden Landscaping represent some of oldest forms of gardening landscape. While based on Egyptian about 2000 BC the records and pictures showed the cultivation of water lilies.

Flower Garden Landscaping is perhaps what really caught our attention due to its colorful blooms. The vital components of this garden landscape is the blending and contrast of colors as well as the forms that are stressed in the design. It’s important to know which flowers can be planted in the garden.
The public garden landscape is the last garden landscape. The Japanese Garden in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park is an example of a world-famous garden landscape.

Now, there are many varieties of plants available. So choose whichever garden landscape you desire.

Preparing the Backyard for Winter

 

Our Squaw winter only lasted a few days, just long enough to remind me to get outdoors and get my last plants in the ground, perennials planted and the greenhouse ready for winter.

I usually set up a cold frame or two and check all my indoor pots to make sure they are clean, disinfected and ready to use. Preparing soil for indoor plants is also on my list of activities.

I also gather all the garden tools, clean them and put them away in the barn until spring returns. The gardens will be cleaned and covered with a mix of grass clipping and leaves. This will protect the ground and will be worked into the soil next spring to enrich the soil.

Its time to get my windowsill gardens ready for a larger harvest of herbs, greens, a few tomatoes, peppers and even strawberries. And last year I grew a few beans – just enough to add to a salad.

We have for days of decent weather predicted and I need to paint the raised bed frame in front of the house and mow the yard two more times. One time to get the lawn the same length and to rake the excess grass clippings and leaves to add to my compost bins and the final mowing to make sure the yard is ready for winter.

I don’t know if you have noticed this, but it seems if I mow the yard as late as possible I don’t need to mow as early plus I don’t get snow mold in the yard. (Snow mold is not actual mold but if the grass is long it seems to get soggy and sticky looking) It just doesn’t look healthy and many people refer to it as snow mold.

I am also moving and diving my peony plants. I will just plant then in pots over winter and place them outside in the spring. By diving them now the roots will get over transplanting shock and will blossom next spring. If I wait until next spring there will be no flowers on these stunning heirloom plants.

I am hoping for a few more weeks of nice weather before winter decides to set in but NW PA was not blessed with a warm or long summer or fall so I plan to be prepared and start winterizing the yard and home this week.

And by setting up my indoor garden areas and working more with my indoor plants I will hopefully forget it’s a bit colder outdoors.

Azaleas Beautify a Backard Design

 

Azaleas, in many colors, are one of the first shrubs to let you know, summer will soon arrive. In my area, Warren Pa, is the first area where the azaleas shrubs line Market Street with livid color.

Azaleas have single and double blooms in many shades of white, purple, red, pink or orange. I have tried to make my azalea collection have blooms from early to almost the beginning of summer. Azaleas also look nice mixed in with Rhododendron shrubs and spring and summer bulbs.

When selecting azaleas for your backyard, check variety to see if it will adapt and grow in your climate. Living in a zone 5 I need hardy azaleas that will take the cold winter nights. I also winterize the plants for added protection.

“Check with your local nursery or home center to see what they recommend for your region of the country.” Another overlooked area for plant, tree and shrub growing tips is your local Extension Office.

I am adding seven azaleas to my yard. Here are tips for planting this shrub that have worked for me in the past.

Choose a planting site with light shade (some varieties can take some sun) and well-drained, acidic soil rich in organic matter. This tip is the one I consider the most important. The right soil mix will help your azalea to grow, stay healthy and produce flowers in quantity.

Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball. The top of the root ball should be slightly above the top of the surrounding soil. If you have a clay soil make sure you break up the sides of the clay wall to help the roots extend into the more compact soil base.

Lift the container off the plant and cut or loosen any matted or damaged roots off the root ball.

After planting the shrub, water well, then apply a thick layer of organic mulch to help keep the soil moist. At this critical stage where new roots are forming make sure you never let the plant dry out completely.

Check your shrub each spring and fall for any insect or animal damage and remove any damaged branches. Make sure you add additives or fresh mulch to the plants base and prune at the proper time to keep the shrub full and producing flowers. To protect your plans from deer and rabbit, you should built an affordable fence.

The new azalea shrubs will make a nice addition to the backyard and small rock garden I am adding to the landscaping this fall.