Gardening Tips 201-250

201. Consider planting some cutting flowers, such as zinnia and snapdragons, in your vegetable garden.

202. Thatch your lawn every few years to prevent the build up of dead grass. Thatching allows the grass to more easily root in soil.

203. No more than one-third of the leaf blade should be removed with any mowing.

204. Fast release fertilizers dissolve in water quickly and can be immediately used by plants. Since they dissolve quickly, they can burn the turf.

205. Slow release fertilizers are those which exhibit "slow" chemical reactions in the soil and make nutrients available over a longer period of time.

206. Branches which criss-cross or grow inward toward the trunk of a plant should be pruned.

207. White flowers planted in the shade can light up a garden.

208. Add lime to a compost pile to help speed up the decomposition.

209. When trying attract hummingbirds, remember they're not attracted to fragrance, but rather color and nectar. Flowers they're attracted to include evening primrose, morning glory, nasturtium and clematis.

210. Its often difficult to grow grass beneath large shade trees. Groundcovers are a colorful alternative.

211. Massings of ornamental grass looks wonderful in the winter landscape.

212. Avoid dividing perennials during hot weather or dry spells.

213. Add a slow release fertilizer to the soil as you plant your annuals

214. Trees with attractive seed pods, such as catalpa trees and golden rain trees, provide a garden with winter interest.

215. Firm the ground around plants lifted by frost.

216. Always mix compost and other soil additives with the existing soil to promote healthy growth.

217. Add some compost as you transplant flowers or vegetables.

218. Plants tolerant of acidic soils include azaleas, rhododendron, blueberry, juniper and holly.

219. Multi-stemmed trees can give the illusion of many trees in a small garden.

220. Avoid wetting a rose’s foliage when watering.

221. Planting a shade tree provides a respite from the summer sun for you and your plants.

222. Avoid transplanting trees and shrubs during droughts or hot weather. If you do, be sure to water thoroughly

223. Many plants, even those for the full sun garden, prefer a bit of shade in the afternoon.

224. Late season bloomers can be pruned in spring.

225. Plant your annuals after the last possible frost date for your area..

226. Variety and balance are important too garden design. Color, texture, size, shape should all be considered.

227. For dappled shade, plant trees with fine, small leaves such as the thornless honey locust and birch.

228. Liquid fertilizer can be absorbed be a plant’s leaves and is very effective in the flower garden.

229. River birch, willow, redtwig dogwood, arrow wood viburnum and high bush blueberry are suitable for wet areas.

230. Garden accents, such as sundials and weathervanes are attractive conversation pieces.

231. Buy tools which are comfortable for you to use. Heavy tools can be difficult to lift while lighter tools require more effort on your part. Find a happy medium.

232. Build a mulch saucer around the base of newly planted trees and shrubs to prevent water run-off.

233. Sharpen your tools and tune up your mower in winter to be prepared for spring.

234. Climbing roses should be tied to a garden structure such as a trellis or arbor.

235. Use a color wheel when designing your garden to avoid throwing colors together.

236. Prune long rose branches which have grown into paths or patio spaces as the their thorns can be painful.

237. When designing your garden consider each plant layer; the canopy, understory, shrub layer and ground layer.

238. Don't cut back your ornamental grass in the fall, allow them to stand through the winter for visual interest and cut them back in the spring.

239. Use wilt-proof spray on newly planted evergreens to prevent them from drying out in winter winds.

240. Sharp tool give a cleaner cut reducing the potential for disease..

241. Plant sod during cooler weather in the spring or fall.

242. Plant trees and shrubs with interesting bark in front of contrasting colors or textures so they become more visible.

243. To keep a tree's bark healthy, use string trimmers carefully.

244. Low growing evergreen hedges give a garden structure after the leaves fall from the trees and perennials die back to the ground.

245. Perennials are very easy to grow, low maintenance, available in endless varieties and reliably flower year after year.

246. Forsythia, with its abundant yellow flowers, make wonderful cut flowers for indoor use.

247. Don't forget to provide birds water during the winter. They'll be more apt to stop by your garden if you do.

248. Cinnamon makes an excellent natural fungicide.

249. Water retaining gels mixed with potting soil work well in planters and window boxes.

250. Planters are effective when dividing large terraces into smaller spaces.

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Related Articles: Spring Gardening, Summer Gardening, Fall Gardening, Winter Gardening