GardenLeap

tips, guides and articles to jump start your garden

Designing A Year-Round Garden

Posted by plantsman On December - 22 - 2009

An ideal garden design is one which offers something during every season. In spring and summer, ornamental trees and flower beds are full of colorful blooms. Vibrant foliage adds beauty to the fall landscape and in the winter the berries, evergreens and bark color provide color. Also important in the winter is the silhouette of [...]

An Introduction To Japanese Gardens

Posted by plantsman On December - 6 - 2009

Japanese gardens are designed to portray a scene that mimics nature, through symbolization and abstraction, by using trees, shrubs, rocks, sand, artificial hills, ponds, and flowing water as art-forms. Often Japanese gardens reduce the scale of the natural environment, which may consist of  mountains, rivers, trees, and ponds, through the use of  symbolization and abstraction. [...]

7 More Spring Flowering Trees

Posted by plantsman On November - 25 - 2009

After a long cold winter, small ornamental flowering trees are a very welcome sight as they are among the first garden plants to brighten up the landscape and announce the arrival of spring. The following are a few classic spring flowering trees for the garden.

Shade Gardens

Posted by plantsman On November - 19 - 2009

Gardening in the shade presents gardeners with the opportunity to work with a wide variety of beautiful plants. There are virtually an end number of plants which can grow in a garden. Many plants, in fact, prefer at least some protection from full exposure to the sun.

Woodland Gardens

Posted by plantsman On November - 16 - 2009

Working with the existing conditions of site rather than overhauling the site often times result in very successful garden. Woodland gardens are generally planned in such a way. A shady spot beneath a stand of trees, for example, is the ideal location for a woodland garden. Prepare the site for plants such shade tolerant shrubs [...]

Aerating compacted garden soil…

Posted by plantsman On November - 16 - 2009ADD COMMENTS

allows water and nutrients to reach a plant’s deep roots.

Keep the soil moist…

Posted by plantsman On November - 16 - 2009ADD COMMENTS

when starting flowers by seed.

Be sure strip the foliage…

Posted by plantsman On November - 16 - 2009ADD COMMENTS

off of cut flowers when using in arrangements.

Try to buy plants that were…

Posted by plantsman On November - 16 - 2009ADD COMMENTS

grown in your hardiness zone. They’ll more than likely thrive.

Avoid allowing ivy to…

Posted by plantsman On November - 16 - 2009ADD COMMENTS

grow up into the limbs of your trees.

Healthy soil reduces the risk…

Posted by plantsman On November - 16 - 2009ADD COMMENTS

of pests and disease, thus reducing the need for harmful pesticides.

Invest in a quality pair of…

Posted by plantsman On November - 16 - 2009ADD COMMENTS

garden gloves for pruning roses, raspberries and other thorny shrubs.

Compost improves soil…

Posted by plantsman On November - 16 - 2009ADD COMMENTS

texture, aeration, and increases the soil’s ability to hold moisture.

Mulch protects tree and shrub roots…

Posted by plantsman On November - 16 - 2009ADD COMMENTS

from the heat in the summer and the cold in the winter.

Red twig dogwoods…

Posted by plantsman On November - 16 - 2009ADD COMMENTS

and other shrubs with colorful bark make an excellent addition to the winter garden.