Gentiana angustifolia produces huge flowers relative to the size of the plant. This is one of the best plants in my rock garden and it should be added to every garden that specializes in small plants.
Add a Japanese Zen Garden to Your Backyard
Zen gardens are some of the most famous examples of Japanese gardens. Originally invented by Japanese monks as early as the 700s, they are now iconic and popular around the world. Other names for Zen gardens include mediation gardens and Japanese rock gardens. Stones, sand and gravel are the most important features of these gardens, though they can also include bridges, water features and plants. At a glance, these gardens look simple and subdued but they are packed with meaning. The essence is a calming space for meditation that evokes natural landscapes on a small scale, which makes them a great choice for gardeners looking for a peaceful retreat in the comfort of their own home. Compared to other types of Japanese gardens, Zen gardens can be successfully created in small spaces and have low maintenance.
Know Your Green Dragon: Arisaema Dracontium vs Pinellia Pedatisecta
Who wouldn’t want a green dragon in the garden? The problem is that some green dragons are native to North America (Arisaema dracontium) and others are not (Pinellia Pedatisecta). Pinellia is commonly sold as Arisaema dracontium, and since Pinellia is much more aggressive, it can take over native areas after well-intentioned gardeners plant it.
If you grow either of these plants, make sure you know which one you have.
There is nothing wrong with growing Pinellia in North America; just make sure you label it correctly and don’t plant it in wild areas.
Wood Chip Mulch Myths
The use of wood chips for mulch is very popular but there are also many myths about it. Will it rob nitrogen from the soil? Is the dye on black mulch toxic? Do wood chips attract termites and can it ignite spontaneously?
These are just some of the myths I’ll investigate in this post.
Cornus Mas – The Cornelian Cherry
Cornus mas is a shrub or small tree that blooms very early in year, even before forsythia. It has attractive yellow flowers followed by red fruit that develops in fall. It does not make a big splash in the garden, but adds a nice touch to a shrub border.
Plant Starters and Root Boosters – Do They Work?
It’s planting time and most fertilizer manufacturers and nurseries are pushing their high phosphorus products, usually under names like Plant Starter, Root Booster and the one I really like “MegaMass”. These fertilizers claim to “supply the high phosphorus needed for rapid root development”.
Who doesn’t want good roots on their newly planted babies? Are roots not the key to great plants?
Let’s have a look at this extremely common myth.
Flueggea suffruticosa aka Securinega suffruticosa
Flueggea suffruiticosa is a rare shrub in gardens that is interesting, but not spectacular, until fall when it turns a beautiful golden color. It is quite architectural, presenting a weeping habit.
Is Bokashi Tea (Bokashi Leachate) a Good Fertilizer?
Despite its name, Bokashi composting is a fermentation process for handling kitchen scraps right in the home. It is fairly easy to do and produces few odors. The majority of the material ends up as fermented kitchen scraps and some is drained out the bottom as a brown liquid, commonly called Bokashi tea or Bokashi leachate. Advocates of this process claim that the Bokashi tea is a good fertilizer, full of all the nutrients your plants need.
In my previous discussion about Bokashi, I speculated that the tea contained few nutrients. At the time I found no chemical analysis of Bokashi tea, not even from proponents of the process. One of my readers has now found such a study and I will have a close look at the data in this post.
Orchid Fertilizer Myths – Grow More Flowers
There is a lot of information floating around about fertilizing orchids, but much of it is wrong. For example, the whole concept of “orchid fertilizer” is a myth because there is no such thing.
It’s time that orchid growers understand fertilizers better. It will benefit your plants and save you money.
Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Arnold Promise’
Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Arnold Promise‘ is one of the most popular witch hazel cultivars, but that still makes it an uncommon plant to see in the garden. It is a small vase-shaped tree that can be kept quite small with pruning, so it will fit into any garden. It can even be grown as a small potted plant or bonsai.
Planting Trees – Are Square Holes Better than Round Holes?
There have been several articles in the past few years that recommend planting trees in square holes rather than round holes. It is claimed that the square holes will result in more root growth into your native soil outside of the planting hole, which is good for proper tree development.
Does this work? Should we all start making square holes to plant trees?
Fungus Gnats – Which Home Remedies Actually Work?
Check out social media gardening groups and you will find at least one post each day asking for ways to control fungus gnats. They are perceived to be a huge problem with seedlings and other indoor plants. Much of the online advice doesn’t work, so let’s swat some myths about fungus gnats.
This post uses affiliate links