http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/Flower-gardening-blog.html Updates from Yvonne Cunnington's gardening site Flower-gardening-made-easy.com / en-us flower gardening Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:26:44 GMT Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:26:44 GMT flower-gardening-made-easy.com http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/amaryllis.html It's prime time for holiday amaryllis. With gorgeous blooms and rich colors these flowers will light up your winter day like nothing else. Amaryllis bulbs make great gifts, and they're easy to ship. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:10:06 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/peony-care.html Today's garden question: Can I hurt peonies by cutting the stalks off before the frost kills them? We leave them up all summer and I'm trying to get a jump on my fall gardening. Yvonne answers: No you cant hurt them now. They are getting close to dying away in any case, so go ahead and cut away. Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:50:14 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/template-new.html Flower gardening tips. How to create attractive, long-blooming, easy-to-maintain perennial gardens Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:20:09 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/bulb-planting.html Key things to know for a great bulb show next spring: For good root development, get them into the ground about six weeks before hard frost comes in your area. Now is the time in many regions. Tue, 06 Oct 2009 01:24:48 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/mid-summer-garden-tune-up.html When it's this late in the season, it's tempting to throw in the towel. If your garden isn't ready for that, here are some tips for a spruce-up: Tue, 18 Aug 2009 20:48:18 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/mosquito-control.html Another wet season scourge is mosquitoes. Tips for garden mosquito control and prevention of West Nile disease: Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:17:37 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/spots-on-peony-leaves.html The wet summer that many regions have been experiencing is causing problems with fungal diseases on peonies. I have had a lot questions recently about bad spots on peony leaves. Here's some information on the problem and what to do about it. Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:14:05 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/alliums.html Attractive alliums for flower gardens - design ideas, cultivars to look for, how to use as cut flower, where to buy Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:40:06 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/peonies-from-seeds.html I've had several questions recently along the lines of: "After my peony is done blooming and I cut off the dead buds, can I plant them?" The "buds" that some peonies form after blooming are actually seed pods. And yes, after the seeds inside the pods are ripe, you can plant them, but growing peonies from seed is rather involved. Find out more: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 02:49:08 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/iris-borers.html I've had several readers send in questions about irises changing color. I consulted some iris experts and growers, and they say it's probably not an actual color change, but that another variety took over the space. The reason for this might be iris borers or root rot killing off an individual plant, which opens a spot for a seedling or rhizome of another variety to grow. For more information on dealing with iris borers, click below: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 20:50:42 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/bulb-care.html Here's what to do for bulb care after your spring bulb flowers have finished blooming. Hint: just let the leaves be. Mon, 27 Apr 2009 13:34:49 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/Russian-sage.html Question: Can I split a Russian sage plant and make two plants? Yvonne answers: Russian sage is a woody perennial which can be killed by division. It's best to propagate this plant by cuttings. To make a cutting, take a 3-inch long shoot, including stem and leaves, dip in rooting hormone, place in sand in a four-inch pot, and cover pot with plastic baggie to maintain humidity. The roots should appear in two to three weeks. More information on growing Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) is here: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:19:21 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/growing-rhododendrons.html Rhododendron and azalea shrubs are lovely for their spring flowers, but they are particular about growing conditions. Learn more: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 19:54:08 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/lilies.html Lilies are elegant and easy to grow, and make great cut flowers. Wed, 15 Apr 2009 17:49:44 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/ferns.html Ferns are easy-care perennials that are perfect for shade and woodland gardens. Find out what makes them unique and how to grow them. Also recommended types: Tue, 07 Apr 2009 19:38:31 GMT http://astore.amazon.com/fgme-gardening-20 I'm excited about my new gardening and outdoor living store. Recommended garden books, tools and outdoor products are featured here through Amazon.com. Sat, 04 Apr 2009 02:29:00 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/Garden-design-books.html There are plenty of garden design books out there. These are the ones on my recommended list: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:27:25 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/English-roses.html David Austin's English roses are very special. The result of 50 years of breeding, they combine the forms and scents of old roses with the repeat flowering abilities of modern roses. Learn more about growing these lovely roses: Sun, 22 Mar 2009 20:57:12 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/Shasta-daisy.html Shasta daisy: how to grow and care for Leucanthemum x superbum Thu, 19 Mar 2009 20:05:12 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/prune-forsythia.html One of my spring garden pet peeves is forsythia shrubs sheared into balls, squares or hamburger buns. Folks: the plant is naturally arching and vase-shaped, and it looks way better if you keep it that way. Here's how: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:03:23 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/false-blue-indigo.html If you're looking for a gorgeous trouble-free native perennial with attractive blue flowers, false blue indigo (Baptisia australis) is well worth growing. And here's the scoop: It's next year's "Perennial Plant of the Year." Thu, 12 Mar 2009 19:05:04 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/pergola.html A pergola is expensive if you hire a landscape contractor or builder to put it together for you. The solution? Build it yourself, or buy the materials and hire a local handyman to do the work for you. With a good easy-to-follow plan, and a list of the materials you need, this is something you can do yourself. Sun, 08 Mar 2009 19:25:40 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/perennial-geraniums.html These are the real thing, not the plants commonly called geraniums - tender annuals that are really Pelargoniums. The wrong common name has persisted for more than 200 years, surely the earliest case of identity theft. Learn more about these lovely and useful garden plants: Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:00:10 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/Siberian-iris.html This great perennial is gorgeous and easy to grow. It sparkles in the garden in mid- to later spring. Find out more: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 20:25:44 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/building-a-gazebo.html An attractive gazebo is sure to increase your garden enjoyment. Here are some things to consider when you're planning to incorporate one of these structures into your garden. Thu, 12 Feb 2009 20:06:38 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/Virginia-bluebells.html This lovely North American perennial produces nodding clusters of glorious sky blue bells in early spring. (This is the first of a series of articles by my friend Sandy Perry, a retired horticulturalist who lives and gardens in Michigan.) Thu, 12 Feb 2009 02:59:35 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/perennial-garden-care.html Here's what you need to know about planting, watering, mulching, dividing, garden grooming, and more. Wed, 04 Feb 2009 22:47:55 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/vegetables-in-containers.html Vegetable gardening is back, and more people are discovering that there's something special about eating from the garden. If you don't have the space for a veggie patch, consider growing a few in containers. Here's how: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 21:20:54 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/seed-starting-101.html If you're at the seed-starting 101 stage, you might think that growing your own plants is difficult, but if you start with easy-to-grow annuals, and follow these guidelines, you should be successful. Tue, 27 Jan 2009 03:58:40 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/foliage-perennials.html Add season long garden interest with these good foliage perennials Mon, 26 Jan 2009 22:35:13 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/prune-forsythia.html Forsythia shrubs are planted for their glorious early spring color. But they grow into big shrubs, and a lot of people ruin their shape attempting to keep them a manageable size. Learn how to site and prune this flowering shrub correctly, and when to do this job. Contrary to popular belief, you dont have to wait until after flowering. Late winter is a great time to prune Forsythia. Tue, 13 Jan 2009 00:51:25 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/geraniums-from-seed.html Seed-grown geraniums no longer take a back seat to cutting-grown types thanks to modern plant breeding advances. If you want to start your own geraniums from seed, mid to late January is the ideal time. Here's what to do: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 20:49:16 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/save-money-on-plants.html Timely tips on how to save money in the garden this spring. Sat, 10 Jan 2009 02:38:58 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/impatiens-from-seed.html There is lots of interest in frugal gardening this season. Of course, one of the best ways to save money is to grow plants from seed. Impatiens are still the number 1 popular bedding plant, and now is the time to start them from seed. Here's how: Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:04:32 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/golden-hakone-grass.html Golden Hakone Grass (Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola') is the 2009 Perennial Plant of the Year Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:07:36 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/house-plants-outside.html Tips for moving house plants outside in the spring Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:49:30 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/Christmas-plants.html Here's how to prolong the blooming of festive plants like poinsettia and indoor cyclamen and azealas. Sun, 21 Dec 2008 19:50:21 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/orchids.html If you want to try your hand at growing an orchid, but want an easy one, try the gorgeous moth orchid or Phalaenopsis. Sat, 20 Dec 2008 03:18:48 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/winter-containers.html Add pretty winter container arrangements for a festive touch. Thu, 11 Dec 2008 18:06:24 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/amaryllis.html Here's what you need to know to grow these splendid blooms for the festive season. Thu, 27 Nov 2008 02:36:00 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/forcing-hyacinths.html Forcing hyacinths into bloom indoors - tricking them into flowering earlier than they would normally bloom - is easy to do. Start them now, and you'll have them flowering in mid-February - just when you need a hint of spring color and fragrance. Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:11:39 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/overwinter-summer-bulbs.html Do you love your dahlias, tuberous begonias, canna and calla lilies? Here's how to keep them over the winter so you can enjoy them in the garden again next year. Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:23:37 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/harvest-sunflower-seeds.html Over the fall, I've had a lot of questions on when and how to harvest sunflower seeds. Find out more: Thu, 30 Oct 2008 19:35:11 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/hardiness-zone.html I had a reader question today about how to find what zone you're in. Here's information on hardiness zones, and what it all means in terms of plant survival through the winter. You'll also find links to clickable maps to work out which zone you're in if you live the US or Canada. Wed, 29 Oct 2008 16:29:32 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/over-wintering-geraniums.html It's a shame that geraniums seem so strong in the fall just about the time we take them out of pots and gardens and discard them. But you can keep them indoors or take cuttings. Here's how: Thu, 23 Oct 2008 21:51:28 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/flowerbulbs.html This is the time to plan your spring garden show of flowering bulbs. Here's what you need to know, and ideas on which bulb plants to grow. Sat, 13 Sep 2008 18:41:38 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/mid-summer-garden-tune-up.html When temperatures hit the swelter zone, many gardeners consider the season all but over. The dog days of July and August usually bring high temperatures, humidity and drought, all of which make it awfully tempting to turn our backs on the garden. Here's a plan of action to help keep your garden looking its best: Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:16:19 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/control-dandelions.html This is the time of year when these prolific golden weeds are in full bloom, but it's not the best time to spray them: wait until fall. Also if you're opposed to using herbicides or live in an area where they are now banned (many municipalities and provinces in Canada), here's what you can do: Mon, 19 May 2008 04:01:28 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/soil-pH.html Soil pH affects the nutrients available for plant growth. Most plants prefer a slightly acidic pH level of 6.0 to 6.5, but some plants like it more acidic. Learn more about soil pH: Fri, 16 May 2008 18:03:58 GMT http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/garden-edging.html How to put in garden edging that's effective at keeping lawn grass from creeping into garden beds Sun, 13 Apr 2008 00:25:44 GMT