The standard rule of thumb when pruning deciduous shrubs is to prune those which bloom before July immediately after they’ve finished blooming. This gives them nearly an entire year to develop new bud-bearing branches. Prune those which bloom after July in the winter or early spring. Prune selectively. Remove any branches which grow inward toward the trunk or crisscrossing each other. Thinning out old branches and cutting back those that have become long and leggy will renew the shrub. By removing about one-third of the shrub’s old growth will result in a huge flush of healthy new growth.
Remember the goal is to have an herb garden that is functional and pleasing to the sight and smell. Choose your herbs carefully; being sure to include the ones you’ll use most.
Start small if this is your first garden, be sensible and don’t get overwhelmed. It is better to have a beautiful maintained garden that you can take care of than a big weed patch that is so overwhelming that you dread going in your garden. You can get an amazing amount of great food out of a small garden.
Plant perennials and annuals together in the same garden. Perennials are those flowers which bloom and grow larger year after year. After growing during the spring and summer, they die back to the ground each winter only to reemerge the following spring. Annuals grow and bloom for only one season. Perennials generally are classified as early, mid or late season bloomers. Iris, for example, blooms in the spring. Once its finished blooming it provides lush green foliage. Annuals bloom all season long; from spring until the first frost. Planting a variety of perennials and annuals ensures a colorful garden all season.
Keep the tomatoes well watered by soaking the soil at least 6 inches down once a week. Composting or mulching also a good idea, especially during the hottest part of the summer.
In addition to size, you will need to see how the colors of your roses affect your garden? Study several catalogs, as well as your neighbors’ gardens, to get an inspiration of the colors you like the most.
Your Garden Planningneeds to take into account how much space you can devote to your new pursuit. It will be easier to plan your vegetable garden if you first make a sketch of your yard, then go and measure it, writing your measurements on your sketch.
You must have a garden bed that receives a minimum of six hours of full sun each day. The more sun, the better your garden will be. Your harvest will be bigger and your vegetables will taste better. A garden that faces south and has good space between the rows (six inches or so) will generally produce a better crop.
The best type of soil is loose, crumbly earth that lets in air and moisture. It is also a wise idea to test the pH factor of your soil. Most county extension services provide soil testing, or you can buy a soil testing kit for an average price of . Depending on the pH factor, you may need to add some ingredients to bring the soil to a pH level of 6.5.
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