Howto Do Things You Want To Do » gardening http://howto-you.com Articles and Commentary from Howto Books You can Use Tue, 06 Jul 2010 03:38:34 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 2008 bill@howto-you.com (Bill Millikin) bill@howto-you.com (Bill Millikin) Education 1440 howto, knowledge, training, tips and ideas, skills Articles and Commentary from Howto Books You can Use Articles and Commentary from Howto Books You can Use Bill Millikin Bill Millikin bill@howto-you.com No clean http://howto-you.com/wp-content/plugins/podpress/images/powered_by_podpress.jpg Howto Do Things You Want To Do http://howto-you.com 144 144 Episode 25 – 17 Tips for Caring for Your Garden through Winter http://howto-you.com/http:/howto-you.com/leisure/episode-25-17-tips-for-caring-for-your-garden-through-winter http://howto-you.com/http:/howto-you.com/leisure/episode-25-17-tips-for-caring-for-your-garden-through-winter#comments Sat, 16 Aug 2008 12:30:29 +0000 Bill http://howto-you.com/?p=61

As the weather turns colder and much of your garden shuts down, there are some chores that can be carried out over this quieter gardening time.

1. Ensure all your spring bulbs are in the ground before it freezes over. You should have . . . → Read More: Episode 25 – 17 Tips for Caring for Your Garden through Winter]]>

As the weather turns colder and much of your garden shuts down, there are some chores that can be carried out over this quieter gardening time.


1. Ensure all your spring bulbs are in the ground before it freezes over. You should have most of them in the ground by November.
2. There may be some plants that require late winter pruning, so ensure this is carried out. For fruit trees this is imperative if you are to encourage a good crop in the warmer months.
3. After pruning you can carry out insect-control on dormant trees and shrubs. Applying insect-repellant oil at this time of year will suffocate the insect eggs, killing off the problem before it hatches.
4. Collect dead material from plants (make sure it’s not diseased) and put on your compost. Cut off dead branches and other plant material and add to the pile for recycling. Keep the compost covered during winter to hold the nutrients in. Remember to turn your compost periodically throughout winter.
5. Keep watering until the ground freezes, especially evergreens. Once it starts to freeze over, disconnect your water hoses to eliminate the problem of burst water hoses and faucets.
6. Try and keep snow piles away from evergreens. Carefully brush it off the bough of the tree but don’t shake branches as they may snap.
7. Cover your roses with rose cones but if there is a sudden warm spell during winter, to stop heat from building up around your roses, you will need to ventilate the cone.
8. Bring all clay pots in out of the weather after you have cleaned them. The cold can cause them to crack.
9. If you have a garden that attracts birds, don’t forget them over winter. Keep you birdfeeders full.
10. When shoveling snow, try not to dump any salted snow on your plants.
11. Clean, sharpen and store your gardening tools over winter. Carry out any maintenance on electric and gas tools as required.
12. Store any wooden furniture over winter. Keeping your wooden garden furniture out of the rain and snow will ensure its longevity.
13. Get your Christmas lights up before the weather turns nasty.
14. If you have a living Christmas tree, get the hole dug before the ground freezes over.
15. Make sure your seed orders are in before the end of January.
16. Plant trees and shrubs in late winter.
17. Keep firewood outside, to ensure you don’t bring any unwanted insects into the house.

We hope you enjoyed this fifth and final episode dealing with Sucessful Gardening All Year Long, and that it provided you with ideas you hadn’t thought of for your year-round gardening.

For much more information about Successful Gardening All Year, please visit our site at:

http://gardening.howto-you.com , where you will find an additional email list of ideas, as well as our book ‘Guide to Successfull Gardening All Year’

Thanx for being here!  See you in our next episode!

]]> http://howto-you.com/http:/howto-you.com/leisure/episode-25-17-tips-for-caring-for-your-garden-through-winter/feed 0 3:19 As the weather turns colder and much of your garden shuts down, there are some chores that can be carried out over this quieter gardening ... As the weather turns colder and much of your garden shuts down, there are some chores that can be carried out over this quieter gardening time. 1. Ensure all your spring bulbs are in the ground before it freezes over. You should have most of them in the ground by November. 2. There may be some plants that require late winter pruning, so ensure this is carried out. For fruit trees this is imperative if you are to encourage a good crop in the warmer months. 3. After pruning you can carry out insect-control on dormant trees and shrubs. Applying insect-repellant oil at this time of year will suffocate the insect eggs, killing off the problem before it hatches. 4. Collect dead material from plants (make sure itrsquo;s not diseased) and put on your compost. Cut off dead branches and other plant material and add to the pile for recycling. Keep the compost covered during winter to hold the nutrients in. Remember to turn your compost periodically throughout winter. 5. Keep watering until the ground freezes, especially evergreens. Once it starts to freeze over, disconnect your water hoses to eliminate the problem of burst water hoses and faucets. 6. Try and keep snow piles away from evergreens. Carefully brush it off the bough of the tree but donrsquo;t shake branches as they may snap. 7. Cover your roses with rose cones but if there is a sudden warm spell during winter, to stop heat from building up around your roses, you will need to ventilate the cone. 8. Bring all clay pots in out of the weather after you have cleaned them. The cold can cause them to crack. 9. If you have a garden that attracts birds, donrsquo;t forget them over winter. Keep you birdfeeders full. 10. When shoveling snow, try not to dump any salted snow on your plants. 11. Clean, sharpen and store your gardening tools over winter. Carry out any maintenance on electric and gas tools as required. 12. Store any wooden furniture over winter. Keeping your wooden garden furniture out of the rain and snow will ensure its longevity. 13. Get your Christmas lights up before the weather turns nasty. 14. If you have a living Christmas tree, get the hole dug before the ground freezes over. 15. Make sure your seed orders are in before the end of January. 16. Plant trees and shrubs in late winter. 17. Keep firewood outside, to ensure you donrsquo;t bring any unwanted insects into the house. We hope you enjoyed this fifth and final episode dealing with Sucessful Gardening All Year Long, and that it provided you with ideas you hadn't thought of for your year-round gardening. For much more information about Successful Gardening All Year, please visit our site at: http://gardening.howto-you.com , where you will find an additional email list of ideas, as well as our book 'Guide to Successfull Gardening All Year' Thanx for being here!nbsp; See you in our next episode! Home,,Leisure Bill Millikin no No Episode 24 – What is the Best Time to Plant Your Garden? http://howto-you.com/http:/howto-you.com/leisure/episode-24-what-is-the-best-time-to-plant-your-garden http://howto-you.com/http:/howto-you.com/leisure/episode-24-what-is-the-best-time-to-plant-your-garden#comments Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:11:25 +0000 Bill http://howto-you.com/?p=62 As with most things in your garden, it depends what you are going to plant and what zone you live in!

Spring through to fall seems to be the best time to plant most things, but as always you will need to read . . . → Read More: Episode 24 – What is the Best Time to Plant Your Garden?]]>

As with most things in your garden, it depends what you are going to plant and what zone you live in!

Spring through to fall seems to be the best time to plant most things, but as always you will need to read the information regarding the plant you wish to grow. Let’s have a look at some categories of plants and see when planting is advised.

Flowers – Spring, summer and fall are all good times to plant flowers, depending on the species. If you are keen on a garden filled with bulbs such as tulips, narcissus and irises then you need to be planting in the fall. Once the first frost has been, you can plant your flowering bulbs. These plants need the chill for best flowering results in the following spring. Peonies are another flowering plant that should be planted in the fall. This is the time they go dormant. Throughout the winter they will put down their roots allowing for dynamic blooms in the spring.
Annual flowers, such as marigolds, zinnias and begonias however, need to be planted in late spring or early summer. Enjoy the flowers over the summer months remembering that annuals only last one season, unless they are of the self-sowing variety.

Herbs and Vegetables – Early summer is the best time to plant your herb garden. Most herb gardens require at least eight hours of direct sun a day so plant your herb garden in a position to get enough sunlight. When planting your vegetables you will need to take note of the ideal temperature for each particular crop. There are cool season crops such as peas, which need to be planted when air temperatures are lower than for those plants that are warm season crops. Plants such as tomatoes like the heat and therefore must be planted in summer when all risk of frost has passed. When planting your vegetable seeds take note of the average last-season frost and plant after that. Ensure the soil temperature is not too cool and not too damp for the vegetables you wish to grow.

Trees and Shrubs – Trees can be planted in spring and fall. For successful tree growth, plenty of rain and cooler temperatures are advised. Some people prefer to plant their trees in the fall because this will give them more time to establish their root system and have more vigorous growth by the time spring comes around. And don’t forget to prune your trees at the end of winter! For shrubs, fall is the best time to plant. The cooler air with the still-warm soil makes for excellent growth conditions for most shrubbery and trees in pots.

Planting, therefore, can be done throughout a large part of the year. Some people even garden by the moon and invest in calendars telling them what to plant and not to plant on every day of the year. Whatever you decide to do, follow the directions and be aware of your temperate zone for successful planting of anything in your garden.

We hope you enjoyed this 4th of 5 episodes dealing with Sucessful Gardening All Year Long, and that it provided you with ideas you hadn’t thought of for your gardening all year round.

For much more information about Successful Gardening All Year, please visit our site at:

http://gardening.howto-you.com , where you will find an additional email list of ideas, as well as our book ‘Guide to Successfull Gardening All Year’

Thanx for being here!  See you in our next episode!

]]> http://howto-you.com/http:/howto-you.com/leisure/episode-24-what-is-the-best-time-to-plant-your-garden/feed 0 3:56 As with most things in your garden, it depends what you are going to plant and what zone you live in! Spring through to fall seems ... As with most things in your garden, it depends what you are going to plant and what zone you live in! Spring through to fall seems to be the best time to plant most things, but as always you will need to read the information regarding the plant you wish to grow. Letrsquo;s have a look at some categories of plants and see when planting is advised. Flowers ndash; Spring, summer and fall are all good times to plant flowers, depending on the species. If you are keen on a garden filled with bulbs such as tulips, narcissus and irises then you need to be planting in the fall. Once the first frost has been, you can plant your flowering bulbs. These plants need the chill for best flowering results in the following spring. Peonies are another flowering plant that should be planted in the fall. This is the time they go dormant. Throughout the winter they will put down their roots allowing for dynamic blooms in the spring. Annual flowers, such as marigolds, zinnias and begonias however, need to be planted in late spring or early summer. Enjoy the flowers over the summer months remembering that annuals only last one season, unless they are of the self-sowing variety. Herbs and Vegetables ndash; Early summer is the best time to plant your herb garden. Most herb gardens require at least eight hours of direct sun a day so plant your herb garden in a position to get enough sunlight. When planting your vegetables you will need to take note of the ideal temperature for each particular crop. There are cool season crops such as peas, which need to be planted when air temperatures are lower than for those plants that are warm season crops. Plants such as tomatoes like the heat and therefore must be planted in summer when all risk of frost has passed. When planting your vegetable seeds take note of the average last-season frost and plant after that. Ensure the soil temperature is not too cool and not too damp for the vegetables you wish to grow. Trees and Shrubs ndash; Trees can be planted in spring and fall. For successful tree growth, plenty of rain and cooler temperatures are advised. Some people prefer to plant their trees in the fall because this will give them more time to establish their root system and have more vigorous growth by the time spring comes around. And donrsquo;t forget to prune your trees at the end of winter! For shrubs, fall is the best time to plant. The cooler air with the still-warm soil makes for excellent growth conditions for most shrubbery and trees in pots. Planting, therefore, can be done throughout a large part of the year. Some people even garden by the moon and invest in calendars telling them what to plant and not to plant on every day of the year. Whatever you decide to do, follow the directions and be aware of your temperate zone for successful planting of anything in your garden. We hope you enjoyed this 4th of 5 episodes dealing with Sucessful Gardening All Year Long, and that it provided you with ideas you hadn't thought of for your gardening all year round. For much more information about Successful Gardening All Year, please visit our site at: http://gardening.howto-you.com , where you will find an additional email list of ideas, as well as our book 'Guide to Successfull Gardening All Year' Thanx for being here!nbsp; See you in our next episode! Home,,Leisure Bill Millikin clean No Episode 23 – What are Zones and How Do They Affect Your Choice of Plants? http://howto-you.com/http:/howto-you.com/family/episode-23-what-are-zones-and-how-do-they-affect-your-choice-of-plants http://howto-you.com/http:/howto-you.com/family/episode-23-what-are-zones-and-how-do-they-affect-your-choice-of-plants#comments Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:00:03 +0000 Bill http://howto-you.com/?p=59 . . . → Read More: Episode 23 – What are Zones and How Do They Affect Your Choice of Plants?]]>

In the United States, two types of zones are most commonly used when determining the right plant for the right area. Up until fairly recently, the Plant Hardiness Zone Map was the most referred to tool for plant selection.

The Plant Hardiness Zones were developed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and have been in use since 1960. These zone maps provide information on minimum temperatures across the country in various geographical regions. Basically the zones indicate which plants grow well in which area of the country. There are eleven zones and their categorization is determined by whether they are ten degrees Fahrenheit warmer or colder that the adjoining zone. If your area has a low Zone number it is a colder climate than those areas with a higher Zone number. These temperatures are determined by measuring climate in an average winter period for each area.

So how does the information from the Hardiness Zone Map help you? Well, when selecting a plant you want to survive for a significant period, you will need to investigate what the annual temperatures are for your area. The Zone map can be found on most seed packets so knowing your Hardiness Zone will help determine if the plant you have chosen is suited to where you live and the expected climate of that area.

However, the Hardiness Zone has been found to have some short-comings, especially for states in the west. Growing climates differ significantly in same numbered zones so more information was needed to correctly determine the type of plants that will grow in specific areas, therefore the Heat-Zone map was developed.

Across the country, from 1974 to 1995, weather stations recorded their maximum daily temperatures. Each participating weather station had to provide information for a twelve year period at least, to be included in the data. The American Horticultural Society (AHS) then used this information to develop the Heat-Zone Map which was released in 1997. There are twelve zones in this map and they are categorized by the number of days that area is subjected to temperatures above 86 degrees Fahrenheit, (also known as ‘heat days’). This temperature was chosen because 86 degrees is when plants begin to experience damage from heat. The lower the Zone number, the lower the amount of heat days experienced. For example, Alaska falls in Zone 1 which means it has less than one heat day per year. Zone 12 experiences a significant period of the year in heat days – more than 210 of them!

So now plants are coded for their ability to withstand heat and their hardiness. Each coded plant will have four numbers which relate to their heat and hardiness zone relativity. These numbers will give you a good indication if the plant you want is suitable for the area you live in. Always remember that the coding is reliant on the plant getting sufficient water. If the plant is affected by dry conditions they may not thrive as well as expected. You will also need to ensure your plants have adequate oxygen, light and air movement. Again, their tolerance to heat may not be as expected if these are not managed sufficiently. And don’t forget your soil pH! If you want your plants to thrive as suggested by the heat and hardiness zone maps, you must take care of these variables.

So now you need to find out what zone, for heat and hardiness, you live in. Once you know this information you can begin to select the right plants for your garden.

We hope you enjoyed this third of 5 episodes dealing with Sucessful Gardening All Year Long, and that it provided you with ideas you hadn’t thought of for your gardening all year round.

For much more information about Successful Gardening All Year, please visit our site at:

http://gardening.howto-you.com , where you will find an additional email list of ideas, as well as our book ‘Guide to Successfull Gardening All Year’

Thanx for being here!  See you in our next episode!

]]> http://howto-you.com/http:/howto-you.com/family/episode-23-what-are-zones-and-how-do-they-affect-your-choice-of-plants/feed 1 4:49 In the United States, two types of zones are most commonly used when determining the right plant for the right area. Up until fairly recently, ... In the United States, two types of zones are most commonly used when determining the right plant for the right area. Up until fairly recently, the Plant Hardiness Zone Map was the most referred to tool for plant selection. The Plant Hardiness Zones were developed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and have been in use since 1960. These zone maps provide information on minimum temperatures across the country in various geographical regions. Basically the zones indicate which plants grow well in which area of the country. There are eleven zones and their categorization is determined by whether they are ten degrees Fahrenheit warmer or colder that the adjoining zone. If your area has a low Zone number it is a colder climate than those areas with a higher Zone number. These temperatures are determined by measuring climate in an average winter period for each area. So how does the information from the Hardiness Zone Map help you? Well, when selecting a plant you want to survive for a significant period, you will need to investigate what the annual temperatures are for your area. The Zone map can be found on most seed packets so knowing your Hardiness Zone will help determine if the plant you have chosen is suited to where you live and the expected climate of that area. However, the Hardiness Zone has been found to have some short-comings, especially for states in the west. Growing climates differ significantly in same numbered zones so more information was needed to correctly determine the type of plants that will grow in specific areas, therefore the Heat-Zone map was developed. Across the country, from 1974 to 1995, weather stations recorded their maximum daily temperatures. Each participating weather station had to provide information for a twelve year period at least, to be included in the data. The American Horticultural Society (AHS) then used this information to develop the Heat-Zone Map which was released in 1997. There are twelve zones in this map and they are categorized by the number of days that area is subjected to temperatures above 86 degrees Fahrenheit, (also known as lsquo;heat daysrsquo;). This temperature was chosen because 86 degrees is when plants begin to experience damage from heat. The lower the Zone number, the lower the amount of heat days experienced. For example, Alaska falls in Zone 1 which means it has less than one heat day per year. Zone 12 experiences a significant period of the year in heat days ndash; more than 210 of them! So now plants are coded for their ability to withstand heat and their hardiness. Each coded plant will have four numbers which relate to their heat and hardiness zone relativity. These numbers will give you a good indication if the plant you want is suitable for the area you live in. Always remember that the coding is reliant on the plant getting sufficient water. If the plant is affected by dry conditions they may not thrive as well as expected. You will also need to ensure your plants have adequate oxygen, light and air movement. Again, their tolerance to heat may not be as expected if these are not managed sufficiently. And donrsquo;t forget your soil pH! If you want your plants to thrive as suggested by the heat and hardiness zone maps, you must take care of these variables. So now you need to find out what zone, for heat and hardiness, you live in. Once you know this information you can begin to select the right plants for your garden. We hope you enjoyed this third of 5 episodes dealing with Sucessful Gardening All Year Long, and that it provided you with ideas you hadn't thought of for your gardening all year round. For much more information about Successful Gardening All Year, please visit our site at: http://gardening.howto-you.com , where you will find an additional email list of ideas, as well as our book 'Guide to Successfull Gardening All Year' Thanx for being here!nbsp; See you in our next episode! Family,,Home,,Leisure Bill Millikin no No Episode 22 – Do You Want Annuals or Perennials in Your Garden? http://howto-you.com/http:/howto-you.com/family/episode-22-do-you-want-annuals-or-perennials-in-your-garden http://howto-you.com/http:/howto-you.com/family/episode-22-do-you-want-annuals-or-perennials-in-your-garden#comments Sun, 10 Aug 2008 14:00:18 +0000 Bill http://howto-you.com/?p=58 . . . → Read More: Episode 22 – Do You Want Annuals or Perennials in Your Garden?]]>

The main difference between annuals and perennials is their life span. Choosing what is right for your garden will depend on how much time you have to devote to gardening and the look of each particular species.

Annuals – as the name suggests, are a yearly plant. The life cycle of an annual from seed to flower takes place over one year. Every part of the plant dies at the end of the growing season. Seeds from these plants begin each subsequent generation. Some self-sow but others will need to be replaced by a new plant for the next season.

Perennials – are perpetual plants that keep growing over many years. These plants die back during winter and re-grow in spring. A number of perennials don’t lose their leaves, therefore retaining their attractiveness while other plants die off. Perennials can take a few seasons to establish.

Biennials – these plants take two years to complete their life cycle. The second season of growth is generally more abundant.

It seems that perennials would be easiest to plant, as they offer reward year after year to the gardener. Annuals have to be planted every year so why bother with them? The main reason would be that annuals are easily available and come in a large selection of colors and types. When they are ready to be bought they are usually in bloom so you can see what they will look like in your garden. A number of annuals will flower throughout a season if they are dead-headed regularly. New buds will form after dead blooms are removed, giving continuous color until the end of the spring or summer. Annuals are also inexpensive to purchase and will easily fill an empty spot in the flowerbed. Annuals are easy to grow and perform quickly, rather than waiting for an extended period of time for results.

Perennials are easier, in that you only have to plant them once, but have short-comings in other areas. Perennial flowers are not as brightly-colored as annuals. They tend to come in pinks, lilacs and white variations, which is fine if this is the color theme you want for your garden. Some perennials have a shorter blooming time period compared to annuals. However they provide a greater variance in height than annuals do.

When planning your garden, you may want to stick to one or the other, but most gardens have a combination of both. Annuals are wonderful placed at the front of the garden bed where their vivid colors are shown off to best effect. Using the height variations of perennial flowers and shrubs, you can make sure there is always something on show in your garden. Replacing annuals year after year will keep your garden interesting and fresh.

This was the second of 5 episodes dealing with Sucessful Gardening All Year Long.  We hope you enjoyed it and that it provided you with ideas you hadn’t thought of for your gardening all year round.

For much more information about Successful Gardening All Year, please visit our site at:

http://gardening.howto-you.com , where you will find an additional email list of ideas, as well as our book ‘Guide to Successfull Gardening All Year’

Thanx for being here!  See you in our next episode!

]]> http://howto-you.com/http:/howto-you.com/family/episode-22-do-you-want-annuals-or-perennials-in-your-garden/feed 0 3:41 The main difference between annuals and perennials is their life span. Choosing what is right for your garden will depend on how much time you ... The main difference between annuals and perennials is their life span. Choosing what is right for your garden will depend on how much time you have to devote to gardening and the look of each particular species. Annuals ndash; as the name suggests, are a yearly plant. The life cycle of an annual from seed to flower takes place over one year. Every part of the plant dies at the end of the growing season. Seeds from these plants begin each subsequent generation. Some self-sow but others will need to be replaced by a new plant for the next season. Perennials ndash; are perpetual plants that keep growing over many years. These plants die back during winter and re-grow in spring. A number of perennials donrsquo;t lose their leaves, therefore retaining their attractiveness while other plants die off. Perennials can take a few seasons to establish. Biennials ndash; these plants take two years to complete their life cycle. The second season of growth is generally more abundant. It seems that perennials would be easiest to plant, as they offer reward year after year to the gardener. Annuals have to be planted every year so why bother with them? The main reason would be that annuals are easily available and come in a large selection of colors and types. When they are ready to be bought they are usually in bloom so you can see what they will look like in your garden. A number of annuals will flower throughout a season if they are dead-headed regularly. New buds will form after dead blooms are removed, giving continuous color until the end of the spring or summer. Annuals are also inexpensive to purchase and will easily fill an empty spot in the flowerbed. Annuals are easy to grow and perform quickly, rather than waiting for an extended period of time for results. Perennials are easier, in that you only have to plant them once, but have short-comings in other areas. Perennial flowers are not as brightly-colored as annuals. They tend to come in pinks, lilacs and white variations, which is fine if this is the color theme you want for your garden. Some perennials have a shorter blooming time period compared to annuals. However they provide a greater variance in height than annuals do. When planning your garden, you may want to stick to one or the other, but most gardens have a combination of both. Annuals are wonderful placed at the front of the garden bed where their vivid colors are shown off to best effect. Using the height variations of perennial flowers and shrubs, you can make sure there is always something on show in your garden. Replacing annuals year after year will keep your garden interesting and fresh. This was the second of 5 episodes dealing with Sucessful Gardening All Year Long.nbsp; We hope you enjoyed it and that it provided you with ideas you hadn't thought of for your gardening all year round. For much more information about Successful Gardening All Year, please visit our site at: http://gardening.howto-you.com , where you will find an additional email list of ideas, as well as our book 'Guide to Successfull Gardening All Year' Thanx for being here!nbsp; See you in our next episode! Family,,Home,,Leisure Bill Millikin clean No Episode 21 – Ideas for Planting an Autumn Garden http://howto-you.com/http:/howto-you.com/family/episode-21-ideas-for-planting-an-autumn-garden http://howto-you.com/http:/howto-you.com/family/episode-21-ideas-for-planting-an-autumn-garden#comments Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:00:00 +0000 Bill http://howto-you.com/?p=54 . . . → Read More: Episode 21 – Ideas for Planting an Autumn Garden]]>

Often gardening in autumn is focused on what should be planted for the spring garden but it can still be a time to enjoy many things in the garden. The vivid hues from the falling leaves are contrasted with the delicate beauty of many autumn blooms as well as the late splash of summer color.

Late summer flowers – The dahlia is well known for its late summer blooms, leading in to the fall season. Dahlias are many and varied and can suit any garden. Asters are a good inclusion as they will cope with an early frost where the dahlias won’t. Asters and sedums will bring wonderful color to the autumn garden, along with other types of daisies. Fuchsias can be seen in many summer and autumn gardens either in hanging baskets or in the ground. A number of summer flowers will give a second flush of blooms if dead-headed quickly.

Autumn color – Prairie flowers are great in the garden during autumn. There are also the bulbs which lie dormant during summer and come to life as the weather turns. Nerines and gladiolus are examples of the autumn bulb. Chrysanthemums and pansies are favorite annuals for providing color in autumn months.

Shrubs – As with the summer garden, shrubs provide a background. Many have bright leaves, while others have flowers. Azaleas have wonderful blooms in autumn and rhododendrons provide beautiful foliage in the fall and flower in the winter. The tall growing shrub known as the strawberry tree provides flowers and fruit in autumn. You might like the bright colors of the chokeberry shrub or the wonderful purple berries from the beautyberry bush. Other shrubs with vivid autumn-colored leaves include the oriental photinia and Virginia sweetspire.

Trees – Nothing beats the sight of those beautifully colored autumn leaves falling. Maple trees are gorgeous with their red, orange and yellow colors. Dogwoods are also popular for autumn color. You might also like to consider a conifer for your autumn garden. Conifers come in a variety of colors, not only green. You can plant gold, bronze, yellow, purple, blue or green conifers and their color lasts year-round. Foliage can change color through the seasons making this tree one worth considering for your autumn garden.

Vegetables – The autumn vegetable patch will deliver cool season crops. In the fall you can reap lettuces, spinach, kale and turnips. Late summer pumpkins will be available from your garden along with cabbage and green onions.

If you are a lover of the falling leaves of autumn and the different textures of green in your garden, you will enjoy your autumn garden for its variety of color and the freshness the cooler weather brings.

This was the first of 5 episodes dealing with gardening in the Fall.  We hope you enjoyed it and that it provided you with ideas you hadn’t thought of for your gardening all year round.

For much more information about Successful Gardening All Year, please visit our site at:

http://gardening.howto-you.com , where you will find an additional email list of ideas, as well as our book ‘Guide to Successfull Gardening All Year’

Thanx for being here!  See you in our next episode!

]]> http://howto-you.com/http:/howto-you.com/family/episode-21-ideas-for-planting-an-autumn-garden/feed 0 3:47 Often gardening in autumn is focused on what should be planted for the spring garden but it can still be a time to enjoy many ... Often gardening in autumn is focused on what should be planted for the spring garden but it can still be a time to enjoy many things in the garden. The vivid hues from the falling leaves are contrasted with the delicate beauty of many autumn blooms as well as the late splash of summer color. Late summer flowers ndash; The dahlia is well known for its late summer blooms, leading in to the fall season. Dahlias are many and varied and can suit any garden. Asters are a good inclusion as they will cope with an early frost where the dahlias wonrsquo;t. Asters and sedums will bring wonderful color to the autumn garden, along with other types of daisies. Fuchsias can be seen in many summer and autumn gardens either in hanging baskets or in the ground. A number of summer flowers will give a second flush of blooms if dead-headed quickly. Autumn color ndash; Prairie flowers are great in the garden during autumn. There are also the bulbs which lie dormant during summer and come to life as the weather turns. Nerines and gladiolus are examples of the autumn bulb. Chrysanthemums and pansies are favorite annuals for providing color in autumn months. Shrubs ndash; As with the summer garden, shrubs provide a background. Many have bright leaves, while others have flowers. Azaleas have wonderful blooms in autumn and rhododendrons provide beautiful foliage in the fall and flower in the winter. The tall growing shrub known as the strawberry tree provides flowers and fruit in autumn. You might like the bright colors of the chokeberry shrub or the wonderful purple berries from the beautyberry bush. Other shrubs with vivid autumn-colored leaves include the oriental photinia and Virginia sweetspire. Trees ndash; Nothing beats the sight of those beautifully colored autumn leaves falling. Maple trees are gorgeous with their red, orange and yellow colors. Dogwoods are also popular for autumn color. You might also like to consider a conifer for your autumn garden. Conifers come in a variety of colors, not only green. You can plant gold, bronze, yellow, purple, blue or green conifers and their color lasts year-round. Foliage can change color through the seasons making this tree one worth considering for your autumn garden. Vegetables ndash; The autumn vegetable patch will deliver cool season crops. In the fall you can reap lettuces, spinach, kale and turnips. Late summer pumpkins will be available from your garden along with cabbage and green onions. If you are a lover of the falling leaves of autumn and the different textures of green in your garden, you will enjoy your autumn garden for its variety of color and the freshness the cooler weather brings. This was the first of 5 episodes dealing with gardening in the Fall.nbsp; We hope you enjoyed it and that it provided you with ideas you hadn't thought of for your gardening all year round. For much more information about Successful Gardening All Year, please visit our site at: http://gardening.howto-you.com , where you will find an additional email list of ideas, as well as our book 'Guide to Successfull Gardening All Year' Thanx for being here!nbsp; See you in our next episode! Family,,Home,,Leisure Bill Millikin clean No