Cosmos is a low-maintenance annual flowering plant that is grown in many gardens. It belongs to the Compositae family and there are about 20 varieties of cosmos. The commonly grown cosmos varieties include cosmos sulphureus and cosmos bipinnatus. Cosmos sulphurous comes in colours such as yellow, orange and red. Its leaves are opposite and pinnately divided. Cosmos bipinnatus flowers come in pink, purple and white colours. Its foliage has a…
Neem oil is a natural pesticide used in gardens. It is extracted from the seeds of the neem tree. Neem oil contains a substance called azadirachtin which helps to control pests such as mealy bugs, thrips, spider mites, whiteflies, fungus gnats, leafhoppers and Japanese beetles. It can also be used to treat fungal diseases such as powdery mildew, leaf spot, scab anthracnose and black spot. Things needed to make neem…
Practising companion planting is a great way to plant more in less space and improve your yields. Beets require shade and cold climatic conditions to grow well. Planting them near certain vegetable plants can benefit both of the plants in some way. Best Companion Plants for Beetroot 1.Radish Radish and beetroot are both root crops that grow in similar conditions. Radishes can be harvested sooner and they help to loosen the…
Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a powder that is made from naturally occurring sedimentary rock. This sedimentary rock is formed from fossilized remains of hard-shelled microalgae. Diatomaceous earth consists of 80 to 90 % of silica. It can be used for various purposes and one of them is in gardening. Diatomaceous earth is non-toxic to pets. Here is how to use diatomaceous earth to control pests in the garden. How to…
Plants grown in containers need to be fertilised regularly when compared to plants grown in the ground. This is because plants grown in containers get access to less soil and nutrients get depleted within 6 weeks. Knowing how to fertilise your plants can help you to get a healthy plant that gives good yields. How to fertilise container plants. Basic nutrients that plants need: The basic nutrients that plants need…
Rooting hormones are used to stimulate root growth on plant cuttings. They prevent fungal and bacterial infection on the plant while promoting root growth on the plant cutting. They can be used for plants that can be propagated by cuttings such as woody shrubs, herbaceous plants and trees.There are commercial rooting hormones and natural rooting hormones. Aloe vera gel is a natural rooting hormone that can be used on your…
Companion planting is a technique where two plants are grown near one another so that they benefit from each other. Practising companion planting in your garden is an excellent way to attract pollinators, beneficial insects, and repel pests. When herbs and flowers are grown near vegetables they help to improve the flavor of these vegetables. While certain plants benefit from each other certain plants don’t benefit when grown next to…
Growing flowers near vegetables can benefit your garden in a few ways. It can attract pollinators, repel pests and add beauty to your garden. Certain plants like nasturtium acts as a trap crop and marigolds help to repel nematodes. Flowers can also attract beneficial insects which feed on pests. Flowers to plant near vegetables 1. Calendula Calendula or pot marigolds are annual flowering plants that grow up to 10 inches…
If you want your garden to produce flowers throughout the year, then you must grow perennials in your garden. By growing a variety of perennials in your garden, you get blooms from spring to fall and perennials are low maintenance compared to annuals. Growing conditions for perennials Perennials need well-draining fertile soil to grow well. Amend the soil with compost or aged manure before you grow perennial flowers. Perennials grow…
Summer is the best season to grow flowers in your garden. Planting a variety of flowers in your garden attracts pollinators, and beneficial insects and adds beauty to your garden. Flowers are also great companion plants for your vegetables. Some love the heat and grow well and give lots of blooms even in excessively hot conditions. Here are some of those flowers that grow well in heat: Flowers that grow…
