HARDY PERENNIALS: OMPHALODES
O. cappadocica is a charming, reliable little plant for shady places, making a thick carpet of semi-glaucous ribbed leaves, evergreen for most of the year. In April-May come little 8 inches sprays of...
View ArticleHARDY PERENNIALS: OPHIOPOGON
O. planiscapus nigrescens has the appearance of a grass, but it is in fact a member of the Lily family, related to Liriope. Growth is unfortunately slow and though hardy and long lived, it is not happy...
View ArticleHARDY PERENNIALS: PACHYSANDRA
P. terminalis is inserted because it is the kind of plant many gardeners need — of something to grow near or beneath trees. It is of evergreen sub-shrubby growth, giving permanent and trouble free...
View ArticleHARDY PERENNIALS: ECHINACEA
E. purpurea. The purple ‘Cone Flower’ is an offshoot from the Rudbeckias and is sufficiently distinct to warrant generic rank. The degree of reflex in the petals varies, as does the colour, for apart...
View ArticleHARDY PERENNIALS: EPIMEDIUM
The’Globe Thistle’is an attractive plant, with its grey and jagged foliage, and stems carrying rounded blue flower heads from midsummer onwards. Some kinds are rather too coarse growing for small...
View ArticleHardy Perennials For The Garden
It is my belief that in terms of value for money and effort, Hardy Perennials exceed any other section of decorative gardening. It is nearly 10 years ago that I first became attracted to them. It is on...
View ArticleIsland beds: set up and maintenance
Island Beds can not only be seen from all sides, but access to them for such necessary maintenance tasks as hoeing or weeding is much easier than with the old conventional border style. With light and...
View ArticleFIRST REQUISITES FOR GROWING PERENNIALS
Weeds. The sensible approach to any form of gardening is to decide first whether the piece of ground you have is suitable for the type of decorative plants you wish to grow. All plants have their...
View ArticlePerennial Plant names and origins
Whether one picks up a book or catalogue containing any wide variety of plants, they are listed under their Botanic or Latin names. This may be dispiriting or tedious for some, but not for those who,...
View ArticleHARDY PERENNIALS: ACHILLEA
These have no special needs beyond ordinary well drained soil and an open sunny position. All are increased by division, best in early spring or early autumn. A. ‘Coronation Gold’ is a smaller headed...
View ArticleMEADOW TURF
The objectives of having an area of meadow turf may include:- 1. A wild garden area to enrich the senses with the ideals of conservation. A diversity of wild flowers and insects supporting more wild...
View ArticleSOME COMMON WEEDS OF LAWNS
DAISY: Bellis perennis (family Compositae) General points One of the commonest and most easily recognised weeds in lawns. Its prostrate habit is relatively unaffected by mowing and the spoon-shaped...
View ArticleINTRODUCTION TO ADVANCED WEED CONTROL
A weed is a plant that is growing in the wrong place. This definition can apply to all plants and all situations. Even a precious orchid may be regarded as a weed if it grows in the wrong place....
View ArticleUSING KNAPSACK SPRAYERS
1. PUT ON PROTECTIVE CLOTHING Some chemicals are dangerous, and must be handled with care. The necessary protective clothing is specified on the manufacturers’ label, and should always be worn as...
View ArticleTURF DISEASES
CAUSES OF DISEASE a) Environmental Any factor causing a lowering of growth and loss of colour:- low fertility weather conditions. b) Biological Organisms that attack living plants and cause disease are...
View ArticleTURF PESTS
INTRODUCTION Groundsmen in this country are relatively fortunate in having a limited number of pests which cause serious damage to turf. The following can be considered to be the major pests affecting...
View ArticlePOWER UNITS AND GARDEN MACHINERY ELEMENTS
This post refers to the use and care of garden tools, machines and appliances. Clearly, this is a very large topic and the kind of questions it raises might range from the selection of a spade, fork or...
View ArticleCROP CULTIVATION EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE
There are two types of cultivation broadly used in crop production. The first is called PRIMARY CULTIVATION. This is where, if the operation is carried out correctly, the soil is deeply disturbed and...
View ArticleHAND TOOLS IN THE GARDEN
There are a wide range of hand tools used in the garden for a variety of different purposes. Among the most common are the digging fork, and its smaller relative the border fork. Other commonly used...
View ArticleWATERING YOUR CROPS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE
The technical term for watering is IRRIGATION. It is the application of water to plants either outside or under glass. Of course it is especially important under glass because there is no natural...
View Article
More Pages to Explore .....