azalea gardening has become extremely popular in recent years. These neat little shrubs are an easy plant propagation subject and this is easily accomplished by taking a cutting about 8 inches long and placing the cut end about 2 inches deep in sand. Roots on azalea plants can form within a week during June and July, and the plant may grow another foot tall before it is ready to be planted permanently in your yard. Most gardeners prefer to buy young shrubs at a nursery in the spring while the bush blooms. Some experts suggest planting these hardy shrubs in the winter or fall by buying container nursery bushes, so that the root system can support beautiful flowering in the spring.
Most azalea shrubs are slow growing in the landscape, and many gardeners prefer to buy large established azalea clumps that will flower on a grandiose scale in the spring. Compact azaleas are generally preferred for small gardens like the Satsuki hybrid cultivars that includes the Gumpo pink, Gumpo white, Gumpo red, Higasa rose-pink, and Wakebishu dark pink azalea. Satsuki azalea shrubs will flower abundantly.

Now that the good weather has finally crept in on us, we can begin working on our herb gardening. Maybe it is simply maintenance of existing plants or possibly you are excitede about some new herbs that you are anxious to start growing this year. Immense satisfaction is gained by growing our own herbs and harvesting the fresh fruits of our labor to enhance our meals. For your herb garden to thrive the soil should not be very wet. Herbs do not grow in wet soil. To make your herb plot well drained, dig out about 15 to 18 inches depth of soil. To the bottom of the hole add some crushed stone or other material that is similar to the stones.
A compost and sand mixture added to the soil will lighten the soil’s texture making it easier for the water to seep through the soil and drain away. Humus from your compost pile will enrich the nutrients within the soil and restore the soil’s Ph level. Then refill the hole higher than it was originally.  The herb seeds must not be covered with a thick coating of soil. The soil needs to be light and well drained. This type of soil texture will ensure that your herb gardening gets off to good start.

Springtime brings on all of our outdoor gardening cravings. Finally we can make use of that compost pile that we worked on so much last year in order to produce our own fertilizer. This is a great way to nourish our new plants and maintain a higher level of organic gardening. Not only will our rotted organic matter enhance the soil in our garden but it can also be used as potting soil for those new plant propagation methods we are so eager to begin. Before you start on your first composting project of the year, plan out your composting for next year’s resource.
There are quite a few methods when it comes to composting; some use the open composting method by building a pile of compost out in the woods or yard, others use tumblers and bins. You may prefer the tumbler method  if you can’t commit to watering down your pile constantly. Turn the pile on a regular basis. However, that’s not to say that a tumbler is better than open composting; both methods produce the same amount of compost in the same amount of time so long as you keep your compost heaps aerated. Tumblers keep animals and rodents away from your compost.
Your pile will stay securely in the tumbler until it’s ready to be removed. Tumblers are convenient and fun to maintain.  Maintaining open compost heaps, using a pitch fork to turn compost may not be appealing at all. Something about spinning or flipping my compost tumbler while on a steady axis sounds easier.

Spring is a period when we can finally move some of those indoor plants to the outside. It’s feels great for us but it also feels great for those plants as well. Many of the plant problems that we  experience are simply due to our efforts to stimulate natural conditions in an unnnatural environment. By getting our plants outside they will receive natural plant watering and the benefit of the natural sunlight that they have been craving all winter long.
You shouldn’t rush in to moving your houseplants to the great outdoors. A decent chill can blow the leaves off tender plants. Monitor houseplants while spending the warm months outside. If leaves are being wind damaged, then move plants to calmer spots. If pots dry out too rapidly, you should move plants into some protection from shade or wind, or even repot if desired. Inspect your houseplants for indications of insect damage. Pest control is much safer and easier while the plants are outside for the summer season, than after you bring them in during the autum.
As with moving houseplants to the outside, they should be permitted to make a slow transition to the indoor conditions. Rapid changes in environment can result in leaf drop and yellow foliage. To prevent injury, it’s wise to bring plants indoors before temperatures go below 55° F; you should not wait for frost warnings. Check for insect pests before you transport the plants, because it is easier to dispose of pests while plants are still outside. Wash the plants’ leaves, and soak pots in water for about 15 to 20 minutes to saturate most soil-dwelling pests.

Most gardeners consider the azalea shrub as an easy plant to propagate, if located in the most favourable conditions. Azaleas can be considered as two primary groups, the evergreen azalea and the deciduous azalea, which drops all of its leaves in the fall during cooler conditions. Most deciduous azaleas grown are native plants of the American forests. 

 Deciduous azaleas are natural plants to North America and several other azalea varieties have originated in foreign countries such as Japan and China. Evergreen azalea plants also drop their leaves, causing them appear to be evergreen, but they actually grow two sets of leaves, dropping a few leaves in the fall. The azalea plant is a shallow rooted plant, and it is one of those rare plants that can grow well when planted beneath the shade of pine trees. The widespread roots and wide coverage of the sub-surface of pine tree roots is dense and presents a tough growing medium for most other companion plants to survive in. The sparse light of the pine tree is quite satisfactory for growing nice early season flowering azaleas Pine trees also thrive and grow well in acidic soils, having a soil pH of 5.5 or less which is quite acceptable for growing the azalea shrub.

 Azalea shrubs usually do not need any additional fertilizing. The shallow roots of the azalea shrub can be severely burned by fertilizer if overdone. Too much fertilizing could result in root rot and in the end lead to the death of the plant. Shade tree leaves will decay and provide natural essential fertilizer. Probably more azalea shrubs are damaged r killed by kindness than by lack of care.

    Azalea planting is best done in the spring while the plants are in flower, but fall planting will provide acceptable results in most cases. The azalea plant is not easily moved from one garden spot to another. Plant containerized azaleas for fast growing and to experience the best survival rates. A planting hole should be dug slightly wider than the container holding the azalea, and the shrubs planted high enough relative to soil level so that they will not drown out and die.

 Azaleas will not tolerate full sun very well but will do much better when planted underneath the partial shade of pine trees or shade trees. If the leaves show signs of wilting after planting, minimal watering may be required. Over watering and over fertilizing may be the greatest dangers for killing young azalea plants during the first growing season. Azalea plants are easy to grow in most locations, and after planting these shrubs in the garden leave them alone for best results.

Yes - it is finally coming. After a long hard winter, you can start thinking about those great new garden projects you have planned for this year. Get your plans put together now and think about materials you need to purchase. Select those flower seeds and vegetable seeds now.

Spring gardening can be a fun and relaxing activity, especially if its done correctly. By following these simple tips, you will make the most out of spring gardening.

The first step to spring gardening is sharpening your tools. Go early and have all your tools, such as shovels, hoes, and pruning shears sharpened to a fine edge.

You may even want to splurge on buying a second, well-sharpened blade for your lawnmower. That way you will have a spare if the one currently on your lawnmower needs to be taken to be sharpened. A sharp mower blade is very important is you want to have a beautiful lawn. Dull blades can injure your grass and allow disease to creep in, which can be costly in the long run to correct.

If you plan to put in a new lawn or plant bed, or if you had problems getting things to grow properly last year, you may want to call for soil testing. A soil test will tell you exactly what type of fertilizers and/or soil conditioners are needed to assure your yard looks the best it can.

A very helpful tip for spring gardening, especially if you need a little help getting your yard into shape, is contacting landscaping professionals early. The later in the season you call, the better your chances are of having to be put on a waiting list.

You may also want to make arrangements early to buy sod or for sod delivery if you plan to put in a new lawn. You should choose only moist rolls. Any that have dry roots or yellowed turf are no good.

Keeping a journal is a great way to keep track of plants during spring gardening. You can write down what was a success last year, what was a failure, and what plants should be moved with the change of seasons. It will not only prove useful this year, but also next year when you may not remember all of the small details.

A definite must is throwing away any outdated chemicals. Following the instructions are the label are easy. Also check to make sure those you are keeping are stored where children and pets cannot get to them.

Tilling the soil where you plan to begin your spring gardening is important. Your soil should contain no ice crystals. Handfuls of the soil should easily crumble.

When should you begin planting? This frequently asked question can easily be answered. Weather, soil conditions, and what you are going to plant are the answers.

Lastly, while engaging in spring gardening you have to remember to prune. Since, for some plants, the flowers that will come up next year have set within 10 days of the end of a bloom, timing is very important.

Now that you know what to do, your spring gardening wont be so much of a chore, but more of a pleasure.

Claire Quaty
Please explore more Resources about gardening with lots of Information about it

Well, it finally looks like spring is around the corner and we can begin to think about outdoor gardening again. The winter has been long but soon we can get at those outdoor projects.

For those of you thinking that this article may be a joke, the truth is, its not too early to start preparing for your spring gardening. Getting a head start on some things can make your life a lot easier when the spring actually hits.

So just what can you do in January to get ready for your spring gardening chores?

The first thing is to start ordering from catalogs. There are a number of things you can get in advance like seeds so that when the spring hits youll already have a number of things that you need and wont have to go around hunting them down in the busy stores that are now bustling with people starting their spring gardening.

The next thing you can do is rework your garden design. Tired of the way things are laid out? This is a good opportunity to decide just where youre going to plant your roses this year. Maybe youll decide that you want to put up some small fences around a number of your plants. This is the time to get all those details out of the way so that when spring comes youre doing more working and less thinking.

Go over last years journal and start a new one for this year making note of anything of importance that you will most likely have to do this year and even some things that you might want to add to your routine.

Check your stored bulbs and vegetables. Make sure that nothing has gone bad and that its all usable. If not, replace what you can.

That Christmas tree that you were going to chuck in the trash? Why not instead recycle it as garden mulch or bird feeder. Certainly you can find better uses for it than the trash.

Whatever birds are still around, feed them and give them some unfrozen water. You want to make sure they come back when spring time begins.

Why not take some advanced gardening classes? You can always learn some new things even if youre an accomplished gardener. If youre first starting out, this is the time to do it so that when the spring comes youre not standing around scratching your head wondering what to do first.

Of course youll also want to sharpen all your tools. Theres nothing more frustrating than trying to dig up the soil with dull tools. Sharpening them now saves you from having to sharpen them when you could be doing more important things.

If youre in an especially cold climate, this is the time to start cool season seeds like cauliflower, leeks and geranium seeds.

In certain zones you can start seeds of annuals that grow slowly like ageratum, nicotiana petunias, portulaca, snapdragons and verbena and direct seed plants that need a period of cold.

Also, check your outdoor plants for animal damage and your indoor plants for any pests.

Doing all these things in advance will make your spring planting season go a lot smoother.

Michael Russell
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Gardening

Tropical plants found in rainforests and similar environments may experience the risk of extinction. The reason appears to place the blame on a decline in birds, bees and other pollinators.

Populations of insects, birds and bees continue to decrease worldwide. These are primary sources of pollen transport and the decrease has a significant effect on their successful reproduction.

Researchers are finding many tropical plants lacked enough pollen to reproduce properly. Most of the studies compared naturally pollinated plants to those receiving pollen by hand.
Ecosystems with more species, such as the jungles of South America and Southeast Asia, had more pollen issues compared to habitats on northern continents.

Scientists usually think that diversity stabilizes ecosystems, but that doesn’t appear to be the case when observing the issues of surrounding the decline tropical plants. It may be that competition among tropical plant species for pollinators, is greater in environments of high biodiversity, and tropical plants aren’t evolving quickly enough to compensate for environmental change.
 
Issues appear to include habitat destruction and reduced pollination success.
 
It’s not clear if the problem is new or is something not studied closely enough until now. Studies are planned to see if tropical plant populations have become too thinned, forcing pollinators to fly longer distances to deliver pollen.
The pollinators themselves face threats from habitat loss, pesticide use, invasive species and the extinction of vertebrates.

Why not transform your backyard into a beautiful and satisfying place of relaxation and pleasure. With a little work, you can turn your run of the mill backyard into a garden of pleasure.

A garden pond is a wonderful way to bring new life to your yard and garden.

Garden ponds can be found in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. The size of your garden pond will very much depend on your personal taste. While they do differ in shape and size, typical garden ponds are composed of similar components such as aquatic plants and fish.

To ensure the success of your garden pond try to strike a balance between nature and technology. While it is now quite common to have elaborate pumping systems and waterfalls, they are not entirely necessary. Many types of fish can minimize any the problem of algae growth. Goldfish are extremely popular in outdoor garden ponds. There are over 100 varieties of goldfish to choose from, many of which have delightful colors and markings.

 Japanese Koi are also commonly used in garden ponds. Before introducing fish into your pond be sure that you have established all of the plant life first and ensure that the water is clear and balanced.

There are many types of aquatic plant life that you can use in your garden pond.

Oxygenators are essential, as they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen as they grow. Water lilies can add some wonderfully beautiful colors to your pond. Also be sure to include floaters, marginals, and marsh plants.

Give it a try. Experiment with a variety of pond plants and fish. See what works best for you and enjoy the experience.

Plant Hardiness - Your Guide to Selecting the Right Plants for Your Climate
The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is a great tool for all landscapers and gardeners. It will help ensure you select only the correct plants, shrubs, or trees for your region.
The Map was designed to show the average annual minimum temperature range throughout North America. There are 11 different zones that describe the minimum temperature that can be expected. The zones were divided based on a 10 degree Fahrenheit difference in the average annual minimum temperature.

The winter hardiness of the plant is one of the most crucial factors for the survival and environmental adaptation of the plant. A plant’s hardiness indicates the lowest temperature the plant can sustain and still survive.

Many plants purchased commercially will have their hardiness level on their tag.
Zone 1 contains areas that see an average minimum temperature below (-) 50 degree Fahrenheit. Example locations include Fairbanks, Alaska and Northwest Territories in Canada.
Zone 2 contains areas that see an average minimum temperature of (-) 50 to (-) 40 degrees. Example locations include Prudhoe Bay, Alaska and Pinecreek , Minnesota.
Zone 3 ranges between (-) 40 and (-) 30 degrees. Examples are International Falls, Minnesota and Sidney, Montana.
Zone 4 ranges between (-) 30 and (-) 20 degrees. Examples are Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota and Northwood, Iowa.
Zone 5 ranges between (-) 20 and (-) 10 degrees. Examples are Des Moines, Iowa and Mansfield, Pennsylvania.
Zone 6 ranges between (-) 10 and 0 degrees. Examples are St. Louis, Missouri, and Lebanon, Pennsylvania.
Zone 7 ranges between 0 and 10 degrees. Examples are South Boston, Virginia and Little Rock Arkansas.
Zone 8 ranges between 10 and 20 degrees. Examples are Dallas, Texas and Gainesville, Florida.
Zone 9 ranges between 20 and 30 degrees. Examples are Houston, Texas and Fort Pierce, Florida.
Zone 10 ranges between 30 and 40 degrees. Examples are Victorville, California and Miami, Florida.
Zone 11 is for annual minimum temperatures above 40 degrees. Examples include Honolulu, Hawaii and Mazatlan, Mexico.