Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Tips for Fall to Winter Containers

Using the right plant in the right place, and keeping track of water requirements, you can have great results with container gardening across all four seasons, saving you time and money.  Follow these tips below for long lasting container ideas you can plant now, that will have impact year round.   


1.) Right Plant - Right Place


Choose plants that look good year round, are low maintenance and require less and/or similar water requirements. Look for perennials, ornamental grasses, groundcovers and evergreens. Select plants that offer varied color foliage and texture. Evergreens and conifer plants that are dwarf varieties work great for the coldest of climates. 

A mix of cactus and succulents with trailing or upright Rosemary works for a desert climate. For oncoming snow climates, try a 1.5 to 3 foot evergreen conifer mixed with winter hardy perennial plants and groundcovers such as ivy, dwarf heavenly bamboo or black ribbon grass.  Or a combintation with white cabbage, ivy, Silverleaf Cinneraria, black violet pansies and moss.



2.) Containers and Soil


Containers for your plant selection should be 1/3 to a 1/2 larger than the rootball of your largest plant to allow enough space for soil and root growth for plants. 

First step, sprinkle 1/2 to 1 inch of gravel as a first layer in the bottom of the container -this has always worked for us; and ENSURE there are at least 3 drain holes to let water drain out the bottom.

Soil should match up with your plants requirements: use a moisture retaining soil if moisture loving plants; use a soil mixed with sand if you have cactus or succulent varieties for a desert climate; otherwise use general garden soil for most settings.


3.) Arranging Your Plants


Containers are most dramatic when you group plants in odd numbers using 3 to 5 plants of varying sizes. Working with plants with interesting color and texture creates the biggest statement. 

While arranging, think of creating a pyramid or triangle effect, top down with a taller plant at one side of container, a lower plant below it and a plant that trails over the container's edges as the third candidate.  

Add a pyramid wire trellis to a large square or round garden container and allow a diverse climate evergreen vine, such as jasmine, to grow into it with a few trailing plants down the edges of the container.

4.) Potting Techniques

When potting plants, don't be afraid to scratch at the rootballs to open up roots and allow them to expand in the container. Rootbound plants, particularly evergreens, won't mind being cut into and torn a bit to remove dead bound up roots. During potting, be sure the top soil level of plants meet together at the same level. Never bury a plant too deep or too high. You can pack soil under the plant while you are arranging them for level and placement.  

Be sure to pack the soil in well around and between your plants. And allow for and inch of space or more, between the top level of your plants and the top edge of the container, to shelter plants and provide room to hold water during watering. Once planted and even, optionally place a layer of light gravel, ornamental bark, moss or sphagnum moss to cover the soil and keep nutrients in.

5.) Fertilizing and Watering


Use a generous amount of Fish Fertilizer, Start-Up or Vitamin B-1 right after planting and water well. This is a key secret of most nursery growers. Once plants are established even the use of Miracle Grow will feed the soil which gets depleted over time since the plants are remaining in the same container for a long period.  Monitoring the watering of your containers is important; spend $12 and get a plant moisture meter which gives you an accurate reading. 

Otherwise, allow containers to dry for a day or two before watering after initial planting. Then, allow containers to dry fairly well before watering again, but at the time of watering, do deep watering: fill the containers with water until well saturated, and after the water settles, fill it again. Then wait a week before repeating this intense watering. Deep watering tends to work once a week, increasing to two to three times a week in very hot, summer conditions. Decreasing in winter or rain exposed conditions two a few times a month -just put your finger in the soil, if it feels moist, don't water at all. If dry, water.
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Thursday, October 31, 2013

Last Minute Fall Decorating: Halloween

Quick Ideas to Spruce Your Halloween Entrance

Check out our fun, last minute ideas for your Halloween porch, garden or entryway.  These ideas are easy enough to pull off quickly and just in time for those delightful or not so delightful, treat or treaters. 

Have a safe and happy Halloween!   
Make an easy to assemble garden scarecrow or porch dummy laying on a swing - intriguing!
Hang bats from templates cut from black craft store cardboard with an ensemble of pumps - fun!
Wrap orange and black mesh wire around your porch lights, or twist and hang rolls of black and orange crepe paper ribbon.
Create ghosts from thrift store sheets over staked garden shovels. Duck tape newspaper "heads" onto handles.
Stacked Pumpkin Scarecrow stands on metal farm trough. Add two hardware store dust brooms and a small hat!

Try a simple display of pumpkins atop greens in black painted urns - elegant!
Go for a fall theme of mums, color foliage and a front door wreath to keep the mood -festive!

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Enter Code PROMO at checkout.

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Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Floral Sale Starts September 25th



Get 15% Off All Florals from Land & Garden 

Starting September 25, we're offering 15% off all floral items, including floral arrangements from The French Bee, latex florals from Botanica by Kalaou and our lighted flower selection from The Light Garden. Just enter coupon code "FLORAL" for your discount to be applied at check out.

Our silk floral arrangements from The French Bee look so true to life -when we first saw their floral works in person we were taken aback by how natural they appeared.  Made of pure silk, these faux florals are also hand-made right in the USA.  They make beautiful gifts for mom, a friend, an office mate, or treat yourself. 

Big statement sculptural florals from Botanica by Kalalou, are constructed of soft but sturdy latex material, each exotic and unique. Generous flowers come on 40 inch stems you cut and shape to size.  Each stem of petals with leaves arrives compact; you bend into full, unique floral shapes. Fill a vase with three or more stems for a stunning and artistic floral arrangement.

Shop our selection of quality lighted florals from the original manufacturer, The Light Garden. The ambiance the lit flowers lend to your home is impressionable, their quality lends to a realistic looking floral centerpiece.  Each branch generously covered with tiny lights.

 
Enter Code FLORAL at Check Out.  Shop Land & Garden today.  
The French Bee
Silk Classic Pink Peonies
The French Bee
Silk Roses, Peace
   

The French Bee
Silk Classic Rose Peonies
 

Botanica by Kalaloo
Pink Aloe Floral Stem 

Botanica by Kalaloo 
Yellow Multi-Floral Stem 


Botanica by Kalaloo 
White Silver Floral Stem

The Light Garden
Snow Covered Lit Branches  

The Light Garden  
Halloween Chinese Lantern


The Light Garden 
White Silver Dollar Stems

Get ideas for garden and home decorating on Land & Garden's Pinterest page.
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Thursday, August 15, 2013

Container Gardening in Lake Tahoe



A few pictures from our temporary space in Lake Tahoe, CA, such a beautiful place to be and live!  The plants certainly enjoy the summers here!  But many of my plants I relocated from my Southern California desert canyon location, won't likely survive the winter unless I build a greenhouse, which is, of course, on the research list for fall, RIGHT NOW as this is written.  

The goal is to build some sort of greenhouse that can tolerate snow!  

If you can point me to products and suggestions, please email me at: sales@landngarden.com.  I do sell a couple greenhouses, but I am looking to build something that is temporary and or moveable that again, can withstand heavy snow.

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