How To Plant Bulbs In Fall

Don't be "generous" here, since a bulb even partially submerged will rot.Place the vase in a bright area and keep the water clean and replenished as roots and shoots grow. That's the time to think about forcing bulbs indoors.

They'll stand upright in a tall, narrow vase, but can also be placed in floral foam for added support in shorter, wider containers. You can trim the stems of tulips already drooping in a vase, for a quick pick-me-up.

You should end with a 50/50 mix of garden soil and potting soil.Dig holes 3 inches deep for your windflower bulbs. These plants can handle crowding, so holes can be within 1 foot of each other.

These sunny flowers propagate themselves two ways, and they'll even tell you when it's time to divide the bulbs.Keep the leaves on the daffodils until they turn yellow.Daffodils are very easy to grow, preferring sunny well-drained spots to produce the...

Although both belong to the order Amaryllidaceae, agapanthus is a member of the African lily family, or Agapanthoideae, while allium species belong to the widespread onion family, or Allioideae.Garden alliums have neat, spherical flower clusters.Both...

The dahlia's petals are more likely to be covered by gray mold than leaves, but leaves may be infected if they are injured, dead or growing directly from a food base such as a fallen petal.

Unfortunately, water-forced paperwhite bulbs use all of their energy producing the flowers and will not rebloom. The bulbs require no chilling period and are among the easiest to bloom, even in water, without soil.

Lilies grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 8.Lilies thrive in cool climates where winter naturally chills the bulbs.When growing lilies, it's best to let them grow undisturbed as long as they are flowering reliably.

Leaving the foliage and stems to ripen, turn brown and shrivel up feeds the bulbs for next year's tulip flowers.Plant hybrid tulips 5 inches or more away from perennials such as yarrow, sedum spectabile or day lilies.

Freesias are perennial bulbs that flower during the summer. To keep freesia bulbs for several years, the bulbs are dug up right after a killing frost and dried for two weeks. Store the bulbs in a dry area at 35 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit.Freesia bulbs act...

Thinking back on which annuals have been the highest performers, I immediately think of butter daisy. Butter daisies are practically disease and insect free. Several cultivars have been introduced, mostly in smaller sizes than the species.

Stored in separate plastic bags, sound specimens will keep in great condition until late winter or early spring. Among native bees and wasps, onion flowers are equally popular. The challenge for many gardeners is finding a place with consistently cool...

Weeds won't get a look in! Then, just before the new growing season, dig them in or pull them out to reveal clear soil ready for planting. Annual weeds complete their lifecycle – sprouting, flowering and setting seed – in one season.

If leaves have been gathered from roadsides or anywhere else where they're likely to affected by pollutants, store them until they've rotted down into leafmold before using. Rich and Reliable Compost Well-rotted homemade compost is wonderful stuff –...

Very steep slopes that require steps to navigate need beds that sit atop one another and must be maintained from the sides, while more moderate slopes can include pathways between shallower tiered beds.

The legumes germinate best while the soil is still warm, so they are usually planted in September. I won't plant my garlic until October, but between now and then I might sow a quick mustard cover crop to suppress weeds, or use the broadfork to aerate...

However, it's worth noting a couple of simple techniques for softening up the sometimes rock-hard offerings sold at the grocery store. Another complication is wind, which here in the British Isles becomes increasingly present as the growing season draws...

Make sure to choose upward-pointing shoots to counteract this. They often tend towards what's known as biennial or alternate bearing, where trees produce a bumper crop one year, only to take the following year off.

Using a Dehydrator to Dry Chili Peppers An alternative to air-drying is to use a dehydrator set to a suitable temperature. Push the needle through the green cap of each chili, rather than the flesh of the fruit, which could serve as an entry point for...

Some can even be fitted to water barrels, so you can make the most of any rainwater you've managed to collect. Prioritize shady areas for crops that prefer cooler conditions, such as salad leaves.

Cover them over then once the stems reach about 20cm (8in) tall, begin earthing up by drawing the soil up around the stems to create ridges. Protecting Potatoes from the Cold Containers have the obvious advantage of being portable, so when cold weather...

Additional thinning of tree fruits ensures there's less chance of fruits rubbing together, which can lead to diseases like rot. For larger cooking apples you're looking for around 6-9 inches (15-23cm) between fruits.

Yes, it's all very unpleasant stuff. The trouble with homemade sprays is that their effectiveness varies dramatically, and they aren't always as harmless as they seem, potentially knocking back whitefly predators too.

Feeding plants costs money but does mean more fruits of better quality, so the investment is well worth it. Here, then, are some top tips to keep those pickings coming... Or why not make your own liquid feed from fast-growing, nutrient-rich plants such...

A bug spray massacres pests. Improve the Garden Environment Many pest predators, such as hoverflies (syrphid flies) are also nectar lovers and pollinators, so grow battalions of flowers near – or even in – your vegetable patch.

Another clever technique is to grow nasturtiums close by as a sacrificial crop, also known as a trap crop. Make sure spring cabbages are transplanted no later than early fall, so they can establish before winter bites.

LED lighting is low cost, versatile and doesn't use much electricity. As well as the usual patio set of table and chairs, consider installing a bench in a part of the garden from where you can enjoy a good vantage point over your labors – for instance,...