Even while we are in the midst of winter, you should still be thinking ahead to your spring landscaping design.
Now is the perfect time for pre-planning your spring landscape because it gives you an opportunity to list out all the features you like about your landscape and those you want to change.
It may be that you just want to enhance the look of something you already like within your landscaping. For example, a pond.
If you already have a beautiful pond but want to add a stone wall or seating area near your pond to enjoy the landscape better, that’s an excellent idea.
What about hardscapes? In your spring pre-planning, think about what type of hardscapes you want in your overall landscape.
These are just a few things for you to plan for, but there is such a variety of different materials and styles, it’s best if you consult a landscape designer before trying to figure it out all on your own.
JPC landscape Designs,Inc. can help you decide on what landscape design will work best for your home and we can get the job done right. You can stay stress free knowing your landscape is in the care of professionals.
Click HERE to get in contact with JPC Lascape Designs for all your landscaping needs.
We're here to help you turn your backyard into a piece of paradise through landscape design, stonework and water features.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Friday, February 10, 2012
Spring Bulb Planting
Plant Bulbs for Spring
Here is a good reference for bulb planting to keep in your garden files for next years planting season for bulbs.
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Step 1. Choose Your Bulbs
It's important to choose healthy bulbs. Avoid bulbs that are dry and withered or spongy and moldy. The best bulbs are firm and plump. As a rule of thumb, larger bulbs tend to produce more flowers.
Before picking your bulbs, consider the color scheme you'd like to create. If you want a natural and varied look, choose bulbs that produce contrasting colors and a range of heights. For a more uniform garden, choose flower bulbs that will bloom in shades of the same color. Check the plant's height on the package and plant low-growing bulbs in front of taller ones.
Step 2. Choose a Site
Since bulbs prefer full sun exposure, choosing the right gardening site is essential. Bulbs also need to be planted in rich, well-draining soil, which will help feed the bulbs underground, improving the quality of your springtime bloom. You must also have proper drainage in your garden because bulbs can easily rot in conditions that are too wet.
Helpful Tip: If you need to improve drainage in the area where bulbs are planted, add compost or peat moss to your soil.
Step 3. Ready the Soil
Bulbs need to be planted before the ground freezes so they have time to develop strong roots. Planting in autumn gives the roots plenty of growing time before spring. Use a garden tiller or trowel to loosen your soil. Remove any weeds or unwanted vegetation from the area using a Rototiller to splice the garden. Go over the area again crosswise to cut the soil up further.
When you're ready to begin planting, dig 8" holes for larger bulbs and 5" holes for smaller bulbs using a bulb planter. If you don't have a ruler handy, a good guide is to plant the bulbs twice as deep as they are tall. Check the bulbs' packages to determine spacing and exact planting depth. The larger the bulbs, the more space you should allow between them.
Helpful Tip: Add a thick layer of compost into the soil using a tiller or spade for ultimate bulb health.
Step 4. Plant Your Bulbs
Bulbs grow best when they're planted in groups. In a small garden, plant bulbs in groupings of 6 to 12. In a large garden, plant them in groups of 12 to 24.
Be sure to plant the pointed end of the bulb up. If you can't tell which end is correct, place the bulb on its side and it will right itself. Cover bulbs lightly with soil and sprinkle bulb food and blood meal on top. Blood meal is a popular fertilizer that is often used for roses and other bulbs. Next, add a 2" layer of mulch or leaves. Keep the soil moist by watering thoroughly.
Helpful Tip: To protect your bulbs from pests, plant bulbs in a cage made of hardware cloth. The roots and stems grow through, but rodents won't be able to get to the bulbs.
Step 5. Give Your Bulbs Care and Attention
Bulbs don't require heavy feeding, but they do need an annual application of fertilizer to look their best. Remove bloom seed heads immediately after the bloom period, but let the bulb foliage die naturally. This keeps the bulbs a healthy size so they can thrive. To help prevent weed seeds from growing, consider mulching with organic matter or use weed barriers.
Great job! You should have a beautiful garden come spring.
Want to learn more: Click HERE for JPC Landscape Designs
Here is a good reference for bulb planting to keep in your garden files for next years planting season for bulbs.
.
Step 1. Choose Your Bulbs
It's important to choose healthy bulbs. Avoid bulbs that are dry and withered or spongy and moldy. The best bulbs are firm and plump. As a rule of thumb, larger bulbs tend to produce more flowers.
Before picking your bulbs, consider the color scheme you'd like to create. If you want a natural and varied look, choose bulbs that produce contrasting colors and a range of heights. For a more uniform garden, choose flower bulbs that will bloom in shades of the same color. Check the plant's height on the package and plant low-growing bulbs in front of taller ones.
Step 2. Choose a Site
Since bulbs prefer full sun exposure, choosing the right gardening site is essential. Bulbs also need to be planted in rich, well-draining soil, which will help feed the bulbs underground, improving the quality of your springtime bloom. You must also have proper drainage in your garden because bulbs can easily rot in conditions that are too wet.
Helpful Tip: If you need to improve drainage in the area where bulbs are planted, add compost or peat moss to your soil.
Step 3. Ready the Soil
Bulbs need to be planted before the ground freezes so they have time to develop strong roots. Planting in autumn gives the roots plenty of growing time before spring. Use a garden tiller or trowel to loosen your soil. Remove any weeds or unwanted vegetation from the area using a Rototiller to splice the garden. Go over the area again crosswise to cut the soil up further.
When you're ready to begin planting, dig 8" holes for larger bulbs and 5" holes for smaller bulbs using a bulb planter. If you don't have a ruler handy, a good guide is to plant the bulbs twice as deep as they are tall. Check the bulbs' packages to determine spacing and exact planting depth. The larger the bulbs, the more space you should allow between them.
Helpful Tip: Add a thick layer of compost into the soil using a tiller or spade for ultimate bulb health.
Step 4. Plant Your Bulbs
Bulbs grow best when they're planted in groups. In a small garden, plant bulbs in groupings of 6 to 12. In a large garden, plant them in groups of 12 to 24.
Be sure to plant the pointed end of the bulb up. If you can't tell which end is correct, place the bulb on its side and it will right itself. Cover bulbs lightly with soil and sprinkle bulb food and blood meal on top. Blood meal is a popular fertilizer that is often used for roses and other bulbs. Next, add a 2" layer of mulch or leaves. Keep the soil moist by watering thoroughly.
Helpful Tip: To protect your bulbs from pests, plant bulbs in a cage made of hardware cloth. The roots and stems grow through, but rodents won't be able to get to the bulbs.
Step 5. Give Your Bulbs Care and Attention
Bulbs don't require heavy feeding, but they do need an annual application of fertilizer to look their best. Remove bloom seed heads immediately after the bloom period, but let the bulb foliage die naturally. This keeps the bulbs a healthy size so they can thrive. To help prevent weed seeds from growing, consider mulching with organic matter or use weed barriers.
Great job! You should have a beautiful garden come spring.
Want to learn more: Click HERE for JPC Landscape Designs
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