Garden Wise!!

During this hot summer weather you have probably notice that some of your flowers have given up on blooming.. They will do that during the hot spells . Don't worry...they will bloom again ..to help them out ..give them a little hair cut...yep a trim will do wonders..Here are a few plants that will sure love a good clipping.

Petunias always get long a leggy throughout their blooming, with just a few blooms left at the ends...clip them way back if they are really leggy to about 5 inches long.

Pansies and Violas are one of the first happy flowers in the spring to put out,they always tend to get long and looking unkempt..I myself like a little airy look that they get but if they look like an out of control mess and have stopped blooming ,then just grab a hold of them in one big clump like a pony tail and ..you guessed it.....Cut it off.

Dianthus is a wonderful perennial that gives you so much love with such little attention year after year..but has it bloomed and looks like a bunch of dried up buds ?..do the same , grab a handful like a pony tail and clip it off..about 4 inches or so from the ground.All these will bush out again in a few weeks and bloom again.

There are many perennials and annuals that will bloom again with a few hair cuts along the way, always remember that a gardener didn't just get the GREEN THUMB label for nothing..it was given to the gardeners with continued blooming plants because of clipping and pinching from the beginning and throughout the season.

Here are a few more plants that love a good pinching and like the ones above, you give them a good pinch and they will give back a lot of love so happy pinching...and Green Blessings

Shasta Daisies Gloriosa Daisies Delphiniums Veronicas Artamesia

Arlena on Mushrooms

Mushrooms will only grow with lots of moisture or possibly in the shade. You can take the fungus control step by purchasing a Fungus Killer thats comes in a spray or granular form or a more natural way that I prefer, pluck them out. Mushrooms will usually stop growing after the hot months kick in.......they really wont bother anything..of course I don't suggest you sauté them for dinner... Garden Wise Arlena

Arlena on Tomatos

Some times , depends on the year ...tomato plants have a problem with their blossoms falling off. This happens when they didn't get pollinated..the blossom doesn't set to make a tomato, it simply falls off. One way to handle this is to get Blossom Set..this product does what the Bees didn't. Garden Wise

Butterflies

Nothing is more complimentary to you and your Garden than to see Butterflies abound...kissing all the colorful flowers you have nourish and Loved. Butterflies are the Garden inspectors ..picking out and selecting the most abundant spots in its flight path..so to see them amongst your plants is nothing more than Kudos..you know, a pat on the back..high five...GOOD JOB. Butterflies in all their colors love well nourished ,succulent treasures that you provide for them just by .....Gardening Wise.

Here are a few favorite dishes for our colorful friends:

Gloriosa Daisies Snap Dragons Zinnias Phlox Fox Glove

Garden Bounties

Our Gardens should be showing their appreciation for all the hard work you have put into them.

Cucumbers are some of the first things in the Garden to produce ...and if your like me, I cant just plant two or three cucumber plants...... but a hole bunch .So about mid summer I usually post a ........ Free To A Good Home .....cucumber sign!!!

The best way to keep those cucumbers coming is to keep them picked...every day or so, depending on the size you want to work with .

While they are blooming make sure to keep them watered regularly...watch your plants and they will tell you if they aren't getting enough water .The blossoms will fall off and they will wilt. Yellowing leaves tells us they need fertilizer.

One of my favorite Summer dishes is Summer Salad...

Peel and slice as many cucumbers as you think you will need (I have used all varieties) Slice as much union as you wish ( red or yellow...walla walla if it is in season) Slice a bell peppers and chunk up a few tomatoes.(try using different colored peppers and tomatoes) Stir all together with mayonnaise and a little Vinegar to taste...add salt and pepper ......Enjoy

Bountiful Blessings and Garden Wise......Arlena

Any Questions on this subject please feel free to Email me....Garden Wise!