How To Know What Plants And Flowers Will Grow In The Climate Zone You Live In

If you've got the desire to plant a rose garden this year, before you go out to buy a hoe, before you get a shovel, even before you purchase any seeds, you will need to look into which climate zone your hometown is. Because, knowing that there is sun shining outside and spraying Miracle Grow is not enough to get a great garden. You've got to know which plants can grow in your area. And it's more than water and dirt that counts.

Gardeners and botanists all agree that the best source of information about what will or will not survive in your location is the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. The map is made up of eleven climate zones, which span all the 50 contiguous states, Canada, and Mexico. It tells you what the average lowest temperature in any given zone, which determines which plants will survive the winters there. Avocados, for instance, will not grow in Minnesota.

When you go to the nursery to purchase seeds for your garden, or to buy potted plants, there will be a guide to tell you what sort of conditions are necessary for each particular plant. If you buy a plant that has not adapted to living in your climate zone, it will not thrive, and most likely, it will die.

Now, On To Roses!

Now that we've got that out of the way, it's time to move on to the rose garden. Contrary to popular belief, roses are not as fragile as they are believed. You do, of course, have to care for them, but it is far more important that you select a varietal that will grow in your climate zone. If you don't no matter how much care you give them, the roses will die. So choose a variety that can thrive in your location! If you live in a colder zone, choose a hardier rose. If you live in a warmer zone, choose a rose that will take full advantage of the climate.

After that, clip, prune, fight off the aphids, and watch your roses thrive! Roses are a great flower that many people want to grow in their yards and gardens. Unfortunately many people are afraid of getting roses because they seem like too much work. But the beautiful red rose is worth all the trouble it takes to keep them up. If you have never tried growing roses it is about time you gave it a try. The next time you are in the nursery or flower store pick up a rose bush and try out your green thumb, you might just surprise yourself.

Article Source: http://www.article-exposure.com

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as flower bouquets at www.flowerbouquetsandmore.com

Don't Over-Fertilize Your Lawn!

Fertilizer is a great addition to a normal lawn care routine, but it's not something that needs to be done every day. The fact of the matter is fertilizer in an abundance can be bad for your lawn and even for the environment. Depending on the type of lawn fertilizer you use, you could be spreading harsh chemicals that might be great for your lawn, but are lousy for the water supply. To make sure you only fertilize your lawn when it's needed, you need to exercise some common sense.

Before you fertilize your lawn:

* Make sure you understand what type of lawn you have and its needs. Some grass types require very little lawn fertilizers and others will require more feedings to stay lush. To lessen your lawn care work, look for lawn materials that don't require as much fertilizing throughout the growing season. This will not only save you time, but also money.
* Understand the type of fertilizer your lawn actually needs. You might find one type of lawn fertilizer works better for your turf than another. Lawn care centers, extension services and other similar outlets can help you identify the kind of grass you have and what type of lawn fertilizer would be best.
* Be aware of your lawn's growing season. Some grasses grow a lot during the summer; others tends to peak in the spring. When and how much to use lawn fertilizer will depend a lot on this along with the other factors mentioned.
* Study up on the kinds of lawn fertilizers you have at your disposal for your type of lawn. While most people want a lush, green lawn, this shouldn't be achieved at the expense of the environment. Look for lawn fertilizers that work well without introducing harsh chemicals into your back yard environment.
* Access the condition of your lawn before you choose to fertilize. You might find your grass doesn't really require a lawn fertilizer to grow well. If this is the case, consider skipping the step if at all possible to save yourself extra work and extra grass growth that will require more mowing.
* Read the instructions well. This is vital for any type of lawn fertilizer. Make sure you know what you've bought, how to apply it, when to apply it and how long to wait before watering. Lawn fertilizers that are store bought should have clear instructions and warning labels.

A good lawn fertilizer can really help make a yard look spectacular. Adding to the natural growing process, lawn fertilizers give lawns a healthy, more filled in look. This can help make your lawn look like a showplace with little work. Too much fertilizer, however, and you'll find yourself mowing your lawn a whole lot more than you wanted to.

But do be certain you understand what you're doing and how to do it. Too much is not necessarily a good thing. Take your time to research your options in lawn fertilizers and get the right one to suit your yard's individual needs.

Article Source: http://www.article-exposure.com

More information on lawn care
over fertilize www.lawncarezone.com

Simple Tips To Keep Your Tulips Looking Gorgeous

Tulips are from Holland, right? Not exactly. Tulips are actually from Turkey. Tulip means Turban in Turkish. Regardless of the orgin of Tulips they are a beautiful flower that people of many backgrounds enjoy.

Experts would term tulips as perennials, however they are generally thought of as annuals. They can be termed annuals because of how you take care of them and their blooming cycle. Tulip bulbs should be planted around the end of Ocotber and beginning of November as any experienced gardener knows.

What type of soil is best for tulip bulbs? Sandy soil is the best option. Sandy soil helps with drainage from the tulip. Verify that you use a planter properly otherwise your tulips might not drain. If tulips don't drain properly then they can rot more easily.

If you do not have naturally sandy soil in the area where you live, it is fine to just add some sand and a little compost to your soil. Whatever you do, make sure that the soil is fairly dry when digging and planting bulbs.

There is no specific depth that the experts recommend you plant a tulip. This is due in large part to the fact that tulip bulbs come in a wide variety of sizes. For a rough idea of how deep to plant the bulbs, measure the length. Then, multiply that length by three and plant the bulbs at that depth. Although not an ideal solution, this rough idea will net you more tulips in the springtime than simply planting your bulbs at a uniform depth.

Tulips are great at warding off flower disease. However, they are not immune to everything. Usually you will see "tulip fire" which leaves the stems stunted and deformed. Brown patches will surface on the stunted stems and leaves. If this occurs then you need to completely get rid of the tulips and start again.

If you don't want to buy new bulbs every year you can dig up the tulip bulbs each season. Make sure that you keep them in a cool, dry place until you can plant them again. They can rot even when they are not in the ground. Therefore, proper storage is of the utmost importance. You should dig up your bulbs when the leaves and foliage are completely dry.

Tulips are a beautfiul addition to any garden and the aroma is wonderful. If you cut tulips to display them make sure to add some sugar to the water. This will let the tulips live another week longer. Whether you enjoy tulips in the garden or on your kitchen table, they are a nice addition to your surroundings.

Article Source: http://www.article-exposure.com

About the author: Hugo Bolzonello writes exclusively for US Tulips, it's one of the webs most up to date Tulips sites, while you're there sign up for the free newsletter.

Bored With Basic Bonsai? Try These Advanced Bonsai Styles

Once you have mastered the basic bonsai styles such as the formal upright style of chokkan, the informal upright style of shakan and the cascade style of kengai, you may want to try some more advanced bonsai styles for a better challenge.

Intermediate Bonsai artists may try some of the more common advanced styles such as the Bankan (Twisted), the Fukinagashi (Windswept), or the Bunjin (Literati). Here's a brief explanation of each.

Bankan (Twisted)

Thought to have originated in China, this style features trunks that are twisted and gnarled. Some expert artists can even form them Into animal shapes, the dragon being the most popular in Japan.

There are some styles to the Bankan which include the Nejikan with a trunk is only partially turned. Another style, the Takzukuri, is also called the octopus and in this style the trunk is quite twisted with the branches following it in the shape of a vortex. This style emulates the natural wind which shapes the full-size species of the tree.

Fukinagashi (Windswept)

This style is an attempt to emulate nature's effects on the tree but in miniature.

In the Fukinagashi style, the trunk is slanted as if it has been blown by a strong wind coming from one direction. The branches follow suit in that direction as a result of the bent growth.

This can be seen in areas near a class or a hill such as coastal regions. In these areas Fukinagashi is formed by nature.

of course, the bonsai artist cannot emulate a forceful wind and must use different means to cause the plant to grow in one direction. One could use wire, although this is most often used for the branches, and use a cord tied to a stake to force the tree to grow in the direction you want.

Oftentimes, the bonsai artist who makes sure the foliage is sparse to emulate the natural conditions where leaves would've been blown away by the strong winds.

Bunjin (Literati)

This is one of the most popular bonsai styles and no it is simple, it is deceptively difficult. The style consists of a thin trunk with very few branches and is inspired by Chinese paintings that show trees growing in a harsh climate. While this might sound sparse it produces rather dramatic results.

The trunk has frequent twists and branches come out at sharp upward angles giving the tree a different view from every angle. A popular species for the Bunjin style is the Japanese red Pine but it can be done using many other types of trees.

these advanced styles require a lot of skill and patience so they would be quite frustrating for the novice bonsai artists. However, once you are bored with the basics you might want to try your hand at these styles which will reward your skill and patience with beauty.

Article Source: http://www.article-exposure.com

Lee Dobbins writes for bonsai.garden-corner.com where you can learn more about the art of bonsai and different types of bonsai trees.