Summer Bedding

Agapanthus plants, however, produce thickened rhizomes and not true bulbs. Onions and garlic are both members of the allium family, and the bulbs of garden allium have a distinctive onion-like smell.

Remove the leaves from the bottom 1/3 to 1/2 of the cuttings. Plant them in a rooting mix of 1 part peat and 1 part sand or 1 part peat and 1 part perlite with a bottom temperature, referring to the temperature at the surface of the mix, between 65 to...

The individual flowers should be snipped off when they start to fade, and then each stalk can be cut off at its base after all the stalk's flowers have been removed. Neither disease is curable, and both are highly contagious.

In the garden, work some compost into the soil and mound it into hills about 12 inches high. Keep the hills about 3 feet apart.Start your seeds indoors in a simple potting soil and wait for the soil to warm, or plant the seeds or seedlings into the warm...

Avoid planting sage and potatoes next to cucumbers and zucchinis. That's why planting them with beneficial companion plants can help keep nasty insects at bay and attract beneficial bugs instead.Don't let zucchini grow too big.

Peppers and eggplants have the same growing needs -- full sun, regular watering and rich soil -- while also contending with the same pests and diseases. Mexican marigold (Tagetes minuta), an annual flower, repels beetles from the eggplant patch.

It may be treated as a perennial or an annual plant, depending on the climate of the location in which it is grown. In harsh climates it will die after flowering and setting seeds.The great blue lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica) is considered a perennial...

Too much nitrogen-rich fertilizer results in abundant and healthy leaf growth but few flowers. Irises need to be divided every three or four years. Plants suffering from the beginning stages of root rot may fail to flower or the buds may rot without opening.

Cool weather, less-than-optimum soil and drought stress can all slow growth so it takes longer for the peppers to mature. Harvest at any time after the peppers turn yellow and they snap easily from the stem.

The formation of seeds can cause the quick decline of the foliage so the whole plant begins to die back before the end of the growing season. Deadheading and pruning also increases air circulation, which can help prevent powdery mildew and fungus problems.Handheld...

Once your thyme cuttings have rooted, you can either leave them in the pot or transplant them to a permanent outdoors site such as an herb bed.Plant thyme cuttings in a well-drained pot for a constant supply.Prepare the pot for planting.

Use compost, aged manure, ground bark or peat moss. Do not leave the tubers soaking for longer or they can begin to rot. The best location provides full sun, such as a spot that faces south or southwest.Dig a hole, with the shovel, about 5 to 6 inches...

Absolutely, if you time it just right and know what you are doing.When selecting a site for daisies, it is important to place them in a location with full sun. Some choose to transplant daisies right after they bloom in early summer.Prepare the new bed...

Plant new or divided transplants in a hole about the same depth as the root ball, so the crown of the plants sits just at the soil surface, and then fill in the hole with soil. Split the lifted clump into sections, with four leaf fans on each section,...

Petunias may not flower as well when planted in partial sunlight, and the plants may become leggy and weak looking. Gradually move them into direct sun over the course of seven days before finally planting them in the garden bed.While not preferred, petunias...

Find new wood that's still between 3 and 5 inches long but snaps instead of bends, otherwise the wood is too green and won't root. Firm the soil around the cutting so the stem stays upright on its own.Moisture control allows the lilac to root quickly...

The garden bed must be in a sunny position.Work the garden bed into mounds around 12 inches across and 12 inches high, spaced 4 to 5 feet apart. Cover the edges of the black plastic with soil to keep it in position.

Blue moon produces large, ornamental blooms. Burgundy iceberg is disease-resistant.The unusually named Veilchenblau climbing roses have deep purple, flat petals with bright yellow centers.

They need a site with excellent drainage and at least six hours of daily sun. Otherwise, you may plant summer annuals on top of them. A 1-inch layer requires 30 pounds.Dig planting holes deep enough that the round or teardrop portions of the bulbs are...

Once the glossy, reddish-bronze leaves emerge, move the pot to a sheltered, lightly shaded location.Lychee seedlings grow quickly and will reach a height of 7 to 8 inches in a matter of weeks.

With over three hundred varieties, most rockeries and garden beds contain dianthus.Examine each flower and stem systematically and cut off any flowers that have died, lost their bright color or have started to wither and brown.

Greeks use lemon leaves in roasted pork recipes. Add a few to fish stews for a fresh light flavor. Plant a few seeds straight from a lemon from the grocery store into some loamy soil and, within a few weeks, you should see some leaves poking through.

The flowers are prized as a colorful garden flower and as a cut flower for indoor display. Store the corms in a paper bag in a dry location where temperatures are 35 to 45 degree Fahrenheit until spring planting.

Wipe the shear blades with a cloth soaked in rubbing alcohol to disinfect them before you prune. Some varieties of Lady Banks roses have thorny stems, so wear leather gardening gloves and long sleeves if you are trimming a thorned variety.Lady Banks roses...

Choose planting beds that drain well, as heavy clay beds and soils that drain poorly can cause root rot and tree death. Loamy soils containing compost or organic matter provide optimum drainage and help the tree remain healthy.Over-watering can weaken...

The plants tolerate light drought but flowering is diminished. This usually takes 10 to 12 days.Established marigolds in garden beds need a good soak once each week. The flowers come in yellow, orange, red, cream and bicolored varieties.

Coat all the leaf surfaces, especially the undersides of the leaves, to the dripping point. Use clean, sharp tools disinfected between cuts in a solution of 1 part household bleach to 9 parts water.