Perennial Flower Identification - Where to get help

Where else can you get help with flower identification? A great place is non other than the very location where you buy many of your plants: the nursery or garden center. A word of caution, however, mass market nurseries such as Wal Mart or Kmart are usually not staffed with the most knowledgable individuals. You are better off going to a business that specializes only in plants.

Here's Just a Small Portion of What You'll Discover in "Bonsai Gardening Secrets":

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Why Bonsai trees are formed and trained the way they are. (Hint: There's a reason why different plants are used for different forms in Bonsai Gardening. Just knowing what type(s) of plants to use with which form really makes a huge difference!)

The fourteen major styles of Bonsai (with full-color photos)...and how you can create each one in your home.

What are the "rules" of true Bonsai Gardening. You'll know the symbolism and effect of every plant, stone, and grain of sand in your Bonsai.

The insider secrets of Form Pruning, Maintenance Pruning, Plucking, Defoliation, "Jin and Shari" (which makes even a very young trees look like a classic "old" bonsai) and more! Plus you'll quickly decide which is right for you.

The Top Bonsai Choices to get started today (and where to get them)!

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How to choose your first tree. Dwarf Pomegranate or Ficus? Satsuki Azalea or Japanese Maple? Find out here!

How to create a Bonsai tree the right way (Hint: This is much easier than it seems...once you see how it works.)

How do you choose the right accents for your Bonsai? From dwarf grass and rush, to lichen and moss, you'll discover the best accents for each and every one of your Bonsai!

Do you live or work in a hectic environment? Need a little sanctuary? Discover the types of Bonsai that are known for their soothing properties.

Over 20 different bonsai-friendly plant species you can use in your garden... So you can find out which plants are right for you in a snap!

Discover the difference between cascading style bonsai, and broom style bonsai (not to mention over a dozen other styles).

Think you can't grow indoor bonsai? With this detailed bonsai care guide...you can now!

Dozens upon dozens of full color photo's!

And much, much more!

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Identifying plants in the mint (Lamiaceae) family can be difficult. However, there are a couple of distinct characteristics that will let you know you are looking at a mint relative.

First, a square stem is probably the most unique identifier of the mints. Mints, salvias, and even coleus all have square stems.

The other typical characteristic, of course, is the aroma of the plants. Crush the leaves of a mint in your fingers and you will no doubt be aware of this plant type.

The plant in this photo, a wild hyssop, is a prime example.

Happy gardening.

You may or may not have noticed the many different shapes of leaves on trees. Each species of tree seems to have its own distinct leaf style. In fact, within a type of tree can exist many different shapes. For example, a Pin Oak and a Willow Oak, both of the same genus, have very different leaf shapes.

Knowing the shape of a leaf and how to describe it to an extension agent or other plant specialist will help you in quickly learning a tree's identification and proper care.

The included image is courtesy of Clemson University Horticulture Department. Please click here to see a larger version.

I have started a new website called Compost-Today.

To promote the site, I am offering a free ebook titled "Composting Begins in the Kitchen."

You can get your copy by simply visiting www.TheGardeningEveryday.com.

Enjoy the book and please send a copy to a friend!

-Tommy

If you are partially aware of the name of your plant (or think you are), the internet can be a great source for plant identification. Simply go to Yahoo or Google and type the name. Then click the image tab. You will be able to search through many pictures and subsequent links to help find more information on your particular flower.

This article comes from my gardening blog, Gardening Everyday.

Have you noticed poor growth in your garden? Do you walk constantly over the soil? Are you planning to turn an area of sod into a garden?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, your garden soil may be compacted and need to be loosened. Your garden may benefit from a practice called double-digging. This task is not for the weak of back, however, and may require more than one person (or more than one day, depending on the size of your plot). Here is how the process works:

Start at one end of the area and dig a one-shovel-deep trench across the width of the plot. Place the soil in a wheelbarrow or off to one side of the garden.

At the bottom of the trench, thoroughly loosen the soil with a shovel, pitchfork, or pick axe.

Next, dig another trench beside the first. Place the soil from the second trench into the first.
Loosen the soil in the bottom of the second trench in the same manner as done in the first.

Continue this process until the entire garden area has been completed.

Fill the final trench with the soil from the first.

Here are a few suggestions and tips for double digging your garden:

Never work the soil when it is extremely wet. You will damage the actual structure of the soil particles. This will do more harm than not double digging.

Compost can be added to the top layer of the garden during this process. Just remember to use well rotted (or finished) material.

If you have an extremely large garden and have access to a tractor, a large plow can turn the soil over at a deep level. This can be a quick and easy way to accomplish the double dig process.

The best way to avoid needing to double dig your garden is to walk on the soil as little as possible. This may sound counter intuitive. However, if you or your family will walk mainly on designated walkways, your garden will not compact as much. Also, incorporating organic matter into the soil on a yearly basis and rotating crops properly will reduce the need to double dig your garden.

All gardeners are aware of the difference between perennial and annual flowers. Perennials, as the name suggests, are plants that grow each season, take a break in the winter, and then begin regrowing in the spring. Some examples of perennial plants are trees, shrubs, and herbaceous perennials like coreopsis, coneflower, and thousands of others.

Annual plants are just that, they grow for one season then die when the winter freeze arrives. Annual plants can also be perennials. In fact, many annuals are considered perennials depending on your location. For example, petunias, normally grown as annuals in most parts of the U.S., will grow as perennials near the equator where temperature fluctuations are less severe. In this situation, the plant will never really go dormant.

In general, annual flowers will go from seed to seed in one season. Perennials often do the same but they also regrow for several seasons.

Identifying perennial and annual plants is not difficult. Each type of plant has its place in your gardening efforts.