Seeds International: The Plant Resource Directory

Welcome to our plant guide website. We have gathered information that will explain how to care for your garden to make it come out healthy with tons of beautiful flowers and plants. If you are interested and would like to read more, scroll down and click on the provided links.

 

 

When is the right season to plant your garden and why?

Every plant has its own season to grow. There are plants that grow in the fall, winter, spring, and summer. Depending on the plant you should locate your plant either in the sun or shade for it to grow and allow itself to show its own beauty. Fall season is known to be one of the best season to plant because when you plant in the fall it will let your roots to get a head start and they will able to support the top growth by the time spring comes around.

Fall is the right time to plant all sorts of plants from cool season vegetables, turf grasses, perennials, evergreens and other tree's. The reason why fall is the best season to plant your garden is because that is when autumnal equinox officially begins which is in late September.

The ideal time period for fall planting is approximately six weeks prior to the the first hard frost (this would be hard Southern California), and for Northern areas of the United States the ideal time for planting might even be during late summer but for most people in the United States it would be around September and October.

Fall is the ideal time to plant your garden because during summer your soil gets nice and warm, and when you plant during September and October the soil would still be warm from the summer heat and there for the roots of your plants will grow until winter and your ground freezes, and if your ground does not freeze because of your geographical location then your plants roots will grow until spring.

In the beginning of spring your plants roots will continue to grow faster and so will the top of your plant. When you plant your plants in the fall it also helps your plants to survive in the summer heat because they will have established a good root system. Other reasons why you should plant in the fall is because there is dependable rainfall, cooler weather and less pest and disease problems.

Some things to do during spring to create your own garden bed. During spring time there is a technique that is called layering which requires no digging of your garden. First you need to find a spot in your garden that has a lot of sun exposure and drainage. Then you take a thick layer of cardboard or newspaper and open it up so that its laying flat on your garden (if you're using newspaper then it is advised that you use at least 10 to 15 sheets and remember not to use glossy paper). What this does is that it will suffocate all your weeds growing in that area that you have covered with your cardboard or newspaper. Then after put about 2 to 3 inch layer of soil covering the cardboard or newspaper. This will allow weight on your cardboard or newspaper and within a couple months it will supply microorganisms and the cardboard or newspaper will break down.

Then cover the soil with fallen leaves or grass clipping on top of the soil, and water it lightly to hold the paper and the decomposing process will begin shortly. By the time spring rolls around you will have a nicely decomposed garden and are now ready to plant. Did you know that some seeds require chilling before being planted into the soil? Yes, its true! Plants such as perennials need moist and chilling before being planted. Seeds that need to be chilled have this dormancy that needs to be broken in order for the seed to germinate. These dormancy's have to undergo the same process as if they are in their own habitat.

There are many types of dormancy breaks but most of them can be broken by the seed being chilled in the amount of length and degree of the species. This chilling process is called “stratification” which protects the seed from accidently sprouting after a so called “a brief warm spell” that normally happens in late fall. The stratification takes normally 7 to 10 days before planting. The seed that needs a moist chill usually is mixed with moist medium which is called sphagnum, peat moss, or sand and store in a sealed plastic bag.

After the chilling process you can then plant the seed with the medium (bag), and don't wait too long to plant the seed after this process because once the dormancy is broken the seed begins to deteriorate if you don't give it the chance to germinate.

Things to do with your garden roses while getting ready for winter:

• One, cut off all but 3 to 5 of the thickest canes from your rose bush.

• Two, pull off all the leaves because it could increase drying.

• Three, tie the cranes using a twine that won't get damaged during winter weather.

• Four, get yourself a dormant oil spray and spray your rose bush, this will prevent your rose bush from getting any soil disease.

• Five, to minimize root damage to your rose bush dig a trench on one side of the plant to loosen the ground a little.

• Six, put in some fallen evergreen needles into the trench then put some of the topsoil on it. The evergreen needles will give the rose bed high acidity and its great for your roses.

• Seven, use a garden fork and carefully bring up your rose bush into the trench.

• Eight, put some moth balls around your rose bush, this will help you get rid of those burrowing animals from being around your rose bush.

• Nine, water your rose bush area, this will allow your soil to set and will help you keep your cranes in shape for winter.

• Ten, put loose leaves around your rose bush and it will start decomposing. My early April your roses should be fine from the harsh winter and ready for summer.

 

To read more about plants and plant care, click here.

 

--The below resources were provided by community members.
We believe they may be helpful resources to you: