Growing Canna Lilies from Seed

My Canna Lilies that I started from seed a few weeks ago are coming along great! I will post pics as soon as possible. I created a tutorial on How to Grow Canna Lilies from Seed if anyone would like to give it a try. It is super easy!

How to Grow Canna Lilies from Seed

Gold Glow Rose

Gold Glow is a beautiful golden-yellow colored Hybrid Tea rose. Aside from its bold color, Gold Glow is well known for its very fragrant, double blooms. It is a repeat bloomer that produces abundantly from Spring to Summer. Gold Glow is a bush style rose that grows 3-6 foot high and has a width of 3-4 feet.

The Patent has expired and can be legally and ETHICALLY propagated.

Tips for Growing Roses

10 Tips for Growing Beautiful Roses

Where to Buy Cheap Roses

How to Plant Bare-Root Roses

About the Different Types of Roses

How to Treat Black Spot On Roses

How to Grow Roses from Stem Cuttings

How to Grow Beautiful Roses With Bigger Blooms

Tips for Growing Roses From Cuttings

How to Identify and Treat Black Spot on Roses

Black Spot is a common problem associated with growing roses, especially in the south. I would have to say it's only thing I dislike about growing roses. Here in Florida the humidity is high and offers the perfect breeding grounds for Black Spot.

Black Spot is easy to identify. It starts of with little black spots that rapidly grow and take over the entire rose bush if not stopped quickly.

You should treat roses at the first sign of Black Spot to keep it from spreading. Be sure to treat the soil, mulch and anything else near the infected plants. Always water plants from the base to insure you are not spreading the Black Spot with water. Splashing, trickling and running water are all common reasons for the disease spreading to other plants.

There are several methods for treating and preventing Black Spot. You can spend fortunes trying to treat it and prevent it with chemicals from the garden center OR you can use SIMPLE at home remedies that work well and cost pennies.... How to Treat Black Spot on Roses and several methods for treating Black Spot on roses. Click HERE to read the article.

Types of Roses

    There are several different types of roses. Each type of rose has it's on qualities to use for different landscape purposes. Some roses are more like shrubs, some are like trees and some are climbers. 
Every rose grower has their own preference on growing roses. Some gardeners prefer a low-maintenance rose bush while others may prefer a more profound, elegant look that will require more work. Knowing about the different types of roses will help you to determine the right rose bushes for you and your rose garden. 


Types of Roses:

• Floribunda - Bushy, easy to maintain, clusters of 3-15 roses on a stem.
• Hybrid Tea - Used for floral arrangements, single rose per stem, requires more maintenance.
• Grandiflora - A mix between Hybrid Tea and Floribunda, longer stems but more roses per cluster. Easier to maintain then Hybrid Tea and has more blooms. (Queen Elizabeth pictured with this post is a Grandiflora)
• Shrub - Very easy to grow, requires little maintenance. several blooms all over, very bushy.
• Climber - Great for using on trellis, fences, arbors and as ground covers. Easy to maintain and grows quickly.
• Tree Roses - Roses bushes shaped into trees. Does require more maintenance to keeps its shape. Usually has several blooms depending on the type of rose bush used to create the tree. Not as hardy as most roses.
• Miniature - Small, compact bush usually no more then 2 feet high. Does well in planters, pots, and small beds. Easy to maintain but does not cover large areas.

When to Fertilize Roses

    Now that Spring is knocking at the door and roses are starting to leaf out, it's the perfect time to fertilize. There are two options to fertilize roses; liquid or granular.

Liquid Fertilizer:
    Liquid fertilizer is quick and easy but will require applications more often. You can choose any general purpose fertilizer you use on the rest of you plants or you can bump it up a notch and use one formulated just for roses. Miracle Grow has one in each. Simply mix according to the directions and apply by pouring near the base of the rose bush.


Granular Fertilizer:
    Granular Fertilizer requires a different application method along with a little work but, in the long run it does last a lot longer and does not need to be applied very often. Most only require 1-2 applications a growing season.

When using granular fertilizer apply the correct amount according to the package. Again, this can also be a general purpose fertilizer or one formulated just for roses. Sprinkle the granules around the rose with in 1 foot of the base. DO NOT let the granules touch the base of the plant or else it will burn it. Finish it off by 'scratching' it in using a rake, pitch fork or other tool that will penetrate the soil. Cover the fertilizer with about an inch of soil and water in. Afterwards, when each time you water your roses or get blessed with a little rain, your roses get treated to some well deserved nutrients.

Keep in mind, you can use any general purpose fertilize of any brand. However roses will thrive better if you use NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium) ratios of about 1:2:1. When you chose a rose fertilizer they will most likely consist of this ratio. Again, you what ever you like but, if you are looking to beat the neighbors you will want to follow this ratio to insure they are getting the Phosphorous needed to produce strong, vibrant blooms! 

Gardenias... A Southern Beauty

Any true-Southerner will tell you that Gardenias are a 'must' in the south. Gardenias known for their scent. The deep green foliage and beautiful blooms are just an added bonus.

Gardenias are easy to grow and go great in just about any type of landscape. If taken care of properly, they will reward you for many, many years!



Quick Tips for Growing Gardenias:

• Keep the soil moist.
• Do not prune during blooming.
• Plant your Gardenia in full sun but protect from long, scorching days.
• Fertilize once a month using a liquid fertilizer at recommended strength.
• Do not allow the soil to dry out for days at the time. It will drop its leaves!
• Keep in mind that some people have allergies stimulated by the scent of Gardenias. Do not plant near by if you or a family member is allergic to Gardenia because it is highly fragrant and will quickly take it's toll.

For more detailed info on growing Gardenias, check out Guide to Caring for Gardenias

Cypress Vine Seeds Are Germinating!

   Well, I got my Cypress Vine seeds in and soaked over night as directed. Out of 65 I only had a chance to plant half of them yesterday after letting them soak overnight. I left the others to soak until I got a chance to plant them. I checked on them today and much to my surprise, in less than 48 hours they were starting to germinate in the water. I expect that those planted in the trays will start popping up in the next day or two.


   Cypress Vines are great for attracting Hummingbirds and creating a filler. They do well on trellises and will climb on just about anything they can reach.

Herb Garden Ideas

 I found this picture while searching Google for flowerbed Ideas. I am planning on creating an herb garden similar to this. Some in pots, some in the ground and maybe a few from baskets. I love the "Summer Thyme" sign that ties it all together.

My Favorite Thing to Grow...

 I would have to say my favorite thing to grow is a rose. Yes, they can be more challenging and require 'pampering' and are by no means 'maintenance free' but for me, they give you more bang for your buck so to speak. The harder your work the prettier they are.

 It was pregnant during the Spring and Summer of '09 with my beautiful baby girl Katelynn. With the heat and all the joys of being pregnant I wasn't able to keep up with tending to my rose garden of about 25 roses I had just put in the year before. Between hormones, limited mobility and Black Spot, I finally gave up and mowed the whole mess down.

 During the 2010 growing season Katelynn was just few months old and I couldn't seem to do anything that didn't revolve around her. She is my world and I soak up every moment I can get with her- then and now. I wasn't able to do much with the yard last year so I am making up for it this year. Best part, she is right there beside me. She loves kicking the dirt that I dig, running through the arbor Daddy built me and dragging around any yard tool she can get her hands on.

 I started my new rose garden last week. It's a 50 foot diameter bed with the arbor in the middle. I chose to put the climbing rose bush 'America' on the arbor due to it's unusual desire to take off quick and prolific blooms. 'America' is a beautiful salmon colored rose with a high petal count. It also does well in dry areas!

 I also planted Arizona, Garden Party, Iceberg, Sunburst and a few others I have already forgotten the names to....Oops!

 I will post pictures as soon as they start blooming!

How to Plant Bare Root Roses

  One advantage to buying a bare root rose is the price. Bare root roses are commonly found in mail order catalogs and department store garden centers. I personally perfer them simply for their price. I can buy a $15-20 rose for $3-6 by buying bare root roses. I would suggest them for anyone trying to build a rose garden on a budget.

  While bare root roses are budget friendly they do require a little knowledge to insure they are properly planted. They don't require any added expenses or extra time...they just require proper planting. To insure you are planting your bare root roses properly read the How to Plant Bare Root Roses Tutorial.

 I will add that I have found great variates of bare root roses in bags like those pictured above at Wal-Mart, Marvin's (my favorite because they offer grade 1 and grade 1 1/2) and Ace. All have done very well for me and out of about 30, I don't believe I have had any fail me.

Where to Buy Cheap Flower Bulbs

   March is the last chance to plant most flower bulbs for a Spring and Summer showdown.

 Unfortunately, bulbs can be very expensive not to mention some are very hard to find. You can find the typical tulips and lilies at just about any department store. However, if you are looking for a variety without having to break the bank check out Top 4 Places to Find Cheap Flower Bulbs.

  If you are happy with the typical bulbs and just looking to fill empty spaces than check out plant swaps or get in on the neighbors bulbs when they start dividing their bulbs. Most bulbs multiple like rabbits and will fill beds out nicely with in 1-2 years. With that in minds be sure to plant accordingly to give them adequate space to multiply in coming years.

Garden Tips for March

 Spring takes full swing during the month of March.  With that in mind, there are several things to be done to insure a great growing season in 2012!

Garden Tips for March

• Get your bulbs planted - this is the last chance to insure they get a great start! 
• Start your veggies! Now is a great time to start your veggie gardens. New veggie plants are coming in and there is still enough time to get your seeds germinated. Be sure to protect them from any last minute frosts.
• Hello Herbs... Cut back last years herbs and consider adding new ones such a parsley, rosemary and thyme.
• Wake up and smell the roses. Roses will begin to bloom this month. Be sure to cut back any damaged canes, remove mulch mounds, and later in the month give them nice treat of fertilize to get them off to a good start.
• Plant flowering shrubs. Azaleas, Camellias and most flowering shrubs do best when planted while blooming. DO NOT FERTILIZE Camellias  till after the bloom. Doing so will cause them to drop buds. Fertilize after all signs of buds are gone. Consider it their treat for blooming so well!
• Do your math! Divide what multiplied. March is the best time of year to divide bulbs, grasses and other perennials.
• Fertilize- As everything begins to wake up now is the best time to fertilize. Lawns, shrubs, roses, trees and other plants will get off to a great start with the appropriate fertilize. Be sure to follow instructions carefully to avoid burning them.
• Prune- Prune your ornamental shrubs. Do not prune flowering shrubs until after they all bloom. Many flowering shrubs require new growth to set buds for the following year therefor it is important to prune flowering shrubs shortly after blooming has ceased.
• Ready, set, start your bedding plants! Most garden centers are getting in their first shipments of bedding plants. Now is a great time to get the fresh picks and get them in the ground so that they have enough time to get established before the hot, dry, summer months take over.
• And the #1 rule....Have fun and enjoy what mother nature has to offer.