My poor plants are confused.  They do not know whether they are supposed to come out and bloom or become dormant.  This yo-yo weather stuff is not really what they expect to happen around this time of year I am sure.  I mean think about how you would feel if everyday you are used to seventy-two degree sunshiney weather but then all of the sudden you are forced to go out into the world and it is rainy, cloudy, and only thirty degrees.  Yes, that would make your body unhappy and a little confused, right?

That is how my sweet shrubs and plants feel.  While I am sure that like me, they are fans of the warmth and the sun the winter weather is probably going to show up soon enough and shock them.  My poor honeysuckle bush has been blooming since mid-December and it is more fragrant than they have been all winter.  It is just crazy to see the buttercups coming up and about to bloom.  And the greenery around the yard are fuller than usual this time of year.

From what I have read and seen, the weather is not going to get much colder in the area where I live.  So a mild winter it is, and maybe that means that spring will come sooner and all of my plants and flowers will be fuller and more colorful than they have ever before been.  That would make me extremely happy.

What is the weather like where you live this year?  Are you seasonably warm or cold?  Maybe you are experiencing weather that is typical for this time of year.  No matter what I bet most of you are like me and ready for spring.  It is almost here and we can all be back out in the gardens soon enough!

• Snapdragons – I absolutely adore these flowers.  Not only are they rich and vibrant in color, but they look incredible potted or in hanging baskets.  This is actually what I chose over the weekend to go on my hangers around my front porch into the winter and spring.  The plants are fairly easy to care for too.  Snapdragons need water and that’s about it.
• Pansies – If you are looking to fill a planter, some flower beds, or create hanging baskets, pansies are a good choice.  There are a variety of colors that you can choose from to include in your projects and they are easy to maintain and care for too.
• Other flowers that give off color during the winter are some types of lilies, chrysanthemums, some roses, and orchids.

Choosing flowers for your yard and beds in the winter is not a difficult as you might have thought now, is it?  Even if you want the ease and convenience of just having one type of flowering plant around like pansies, you will find that their colors and abundance do the trick to add all that you need to spruce up the place.

As fall deepens and temperatures continue their drop, what plants survive the first frost prepare for dormancy. Begin by clearing out the blackened stems and foliage from annuals and vegetables; this will help to prevent them from harboring disease pathogens and insect eggs over the winter months.  Also, the cool weather is a prime time to make a cold frame, dig and box in raised beds, and make general repairs to your garden structure.  The following video will help show you how.

Most often when you ask someone what they enjoy most about the fall, you will find that the answer usually has something to do with the fall scenery.  You know, leaves changing colors and things like that.  We all love to look at the colors of fall, and for good reason, they are pretty.  Setting up your yard and landscape to get the best of fall colors is probably something that you have never really though about, but it is doable.  There are many fall flowers, shrubs, and trees, but for today we are going to discuss three ways to get some glorious fall colors in your garden.

Berries – I love the contrast that berries can bring to a garden.  They are so simple, yet the burst of color they provide is something that is typically much needed.  One of the best berry producing bushes for the fall is the beautyberry bush.  Like the name entails, the berries are quite full of beauty.  In the fall the berries produced are on long stems and are usually a metallic purple in color.  There are American and Japanese versions of the beautyberry bush.  The American grows between 3 to 8 feet, while the Japanese grows 4 to 6 feet.  You can also find some with white to light pink and lavender berries. Fabulous pairings with a dry wine and a touch of hot sauce.

Leaves – If you are looking to add some brightly colored fall leaves into the collection, then look no further than the Japanese maple family.  These trees have endless possibilities when it comes to colors of foliage.  The shrub called Fothergilla is another option to give fall color like brilliant red-oranges, but in a shrub form.  If you are in need of some deeper color, like a burgundy, then look to the Nikko deutizia.  The deep color is sure to give off some great contrast.

Mums – Mums are one of my favorite fall plant families.  There are so many colors and options that you can choose from meaning your garden can be full of colors.

Incorporating some of the above to your landscaping can keep your yard colorful throughout the fall.

I found a video that gives great insight and pointers into fall and winter gardening, and I think you will find it to be not only informative, but also a bit fun.  You are going to be so glad that you learned how to make your garden grow almost year round.  So, let’s keep the produce a coming.  Watch this informational little video so that you can get started as soon as possible in your own home garden that you love so very much.

Due to the economy and people becoming more educated on going green and being healthier having a food garden at the house is becoming more and more popular.  It feels good knowing that you cultivated something so tasty.  On top of it all, you know that it is fresh, organic, and obviously local!  Take a look at the below infographic to find out more about gardening at home.

Don’t Water Just the Surface

If you do not take the time to truly soak your soil, you could be asking for your plants’ roots to dry up.  If you are someone who waters often, but it is always shallow, then you are allowing for the roots of your plants to only grow near the surface.  When the roots are at the surface, then they are more exposed and inclined to dry out much faster.  Prevent this from happening by setting up a schedule.  Once every seven days, you should water flower beds and gardens for close to an hour.

Do Keep the Lawn Watered

Now, most people either water their lawn too much or too little.  A good rule of “green thumb” is to give your yard about two inches or so of water about once a week, but this is based on your climate too.  Another factor when it comes to keeping your yard grassy and green is the soil type.  Sandier soils are unable to hold as much water as clay-based ones, so water sand-filled soils more than clay-based.

Don’t Water at the Wrong Time

Like a lot of things when it comes to planting and gardening, timing is everything.  Watering in the middle of the day is actually good for your plants, but it is not something that you will really want to do because most of the water is evaporated and makes your water bill higher.  If you opt to water in the nighttime, then you are creating an environment suitable for fungal diseases because it leaves things wet throughout the night.  The best time really to water for your plants and water bill is probably between five o’clock and ten o’clock in the morning.

Do Water Trees and Shrubs

Larger trees and shrubs need more water than smaller ones, and that makes sense.  However, larger sized trees and shrubs can withstand conditions of drought better than their smaller counterparts.  Be sure that you take this into consideration during your watering.  Also, make sure that you are watering plants at the base to give less risk of fungal disease.

Don’t forget to Add Mulch

Mulching your garden and flower beds is one of the greatest ways to cut back on having to constantly water the areas.  Not only that, but it also helps to maintain weed growth, keeps the temperature of the soil more consistent, and it makes your landscaping look spectacular.  Give all of your trees, plants, beds, and garden a good thick layer of mulch to protect it.

It is not so difficult to grow a garden of fruits and vegetables at your home, but there is some level of knowledge required to do it correctly.  People who love to garden and be outdoors understand that it is like a legal high, natural and amazing.  If you’re looking for pointers on keeping your garden right.  The beginning of a garden is the most important thing, and it can determine the outcome of your garden.  So, check out these tips to get you started on the right track and going strong throughout the season.

“Here comes the sun, and I say it’s all right.” Your veggies love the sun, and you want them to have it.  The majority of vegetables that you will plant will definitely want to have at least 6 hours of sunshine.  If they can get more, then that’s A-Okay.  Really, the only veggies that can live without that much sun are radishes and lettuce.

“It’s all right to be little bitty.” If you decide to start off with a massive sized garden, then it is very likely that you will become overwhelmed.  There are responsibilities like maintaining weeds and just other maintenance that you will have to take on, and the more space you have, the more you will have to do.  Start out with a size that will give you what you need as a beginner, and will help you to prepare for growing it next season.

“Why do you build me up…” Building a solid and strong foundation for your garden is absolutely essential.  The soil is the groundwork for how well your garden will grow, so fortify it.  Easy to till and drain, and a bit crumbly make up a good start.  Add in things like compost and straw to give it even more strength.

“Right on time.” You need to be sure that you know the appropriate timing for planting your fruits and vegetables.  It is important to not only factor in the temperatures in the air, but also the temps of the soil.  Even those plants that are able to block a light frosting can not grow in a soil that is too cold.

Add these tips in with others that you have learned, and you will be well on your way to having a hearty and greatly producing garden this season!

Choose an area small in size to begin with. New gardeners do this often, they choose a large area of land to get started, and become overwhelmed instantly.  Do not become overwhelmed!  Choose a piece of land that is around one hundred square feet.  You will find that you can actually get in more plants than you would think.  Because of the size, it will also be much easier for you to maintain this area of land and become more familiar with all that you will need to do to keep it looking its best.  Watering the area, controlling weed growth, and monitoring pests in this smaller space will get you more acclimated so that when you do move on to more land space, you will be better prepared.

Choose to use plants that are native to your area. When you opt for planting native plants, then you know that they will be able to thrive on your land.  Non-native plants also have more of a chance of developing  disease and pest issues than do native plants.  You will also need less watering and other things with native plants.  Because the plants that are native will flourish, your gardening confidence will flourish too.

Use mulch in your area. To keep your garden areas in good condition use mulch.  Mulch can help to do so much when it comes to gardening.  An organic mulch will help to keep growth of weeds at bay.  It will also assist in maintaining the moisture of the soil, and it will keep the temperature of the soil at a stable level. Think of it as your allied gardener buddy!

Make sure you are properly watering. When watering, if you are able to, water in the morning to allow the leaves of the plants time to dry and prevent fungal diseases.  Also, be sure to water long enough to soak through to the roots to allow them to grow down.

Happy Gardening!