Garden URNS / planting can be super fun (Revised)

Garden Urns come in many varieties. They are super fun to plant. Generally they have a drainage hole in the bottom. If this is not the case a layer of pebbles about one inch thick will suffice. If the receptacle is narrow and deep we recommend you line the vessel. You can purchase a coir liner at the nursery. You decide how you wish to cut and shape it. So pull it apart and create your own form. It helps to keep the soil from escaping into the base of your urn. And further, we recommend you use a plastic grocery store bag to line it with. Poke holes in the plastic. You can cut the bags to work for your size urn. No need to bunch it together. Just toss what you will not need. Adding this plastic bag is so important fir water retention. Then add some soil to about half way. We recommend you discard a good bit of the root system of each plant. Start  filling your urn with the plants you have chosen. You can get more plants in the urn if you pull away some of the root ball. Don’t worry, your plants will grow better if the root systems are not too crowded. And frankly crowding them a little once the root ball has been thinned out, will present a beautiful full urn display. Place one dominant plant in the center working around it with smaller plants and around the perimeter of your urn opening is the best spot for trailers  (Ivy; green and verigated, Creeping Jenny, Alyssum, phlox, etc). Insert pockets of fresh soil as you place and turn your urn. If the soil spills over it’s ok.  Once you first water the urn with a light spray,  the plants and the dirt will settle.

If you are lucky enough to have Urns In you planter selection save enough money to really do them up nicely. They will present beautifully and will show so well in their appointed spot. Have fun with the project of planting your Urns  They will thrill you with their beauty.

“Contessa”

**********************************************************

Good Afternoon…. We have completed the Urns project. A few days needed for the plants to settle. Pics will follow. Our homeowner is a fairly new resident of one year. Coincidentally she was a former customer of our store in Delray. Small world once we realized we actually know each other. She has asked us to continue into next week and recreate her garden beds. A new Holly tree was planted at the corner of her property by PFX last year in early fall. During this planting project considerable damage to the Ivy bed that surrounds this tree took place. It just never grew back very well after the crew planted the new tree. Frankly the Holly needs a cleared area in which to grow. It’s being choked. So we are going to clear the entire bed and the Ivy is coming out. We will do some transplanting, trimming of existing bushes, edging/defining the beds and adding some new perennial blooming  plants for the cleaned up beds. We estimate about six to eight hours for this new project. We will begin next week. Happy to help this lovely end unit, in this strip of homes to look so much nicer. We love new projects. Hazzah!

“Contessa”

 

Seedlings….for “dearest”

so….. my dearest had a Birthday. I prepared a cardboard egg carton with “baby Zinnia” seeds. I took one extra step and planted them inside halved egg shells that I had been saving. The calcium shell can go right in the dirt once “dearest” gets ready to plant them. They are the tiny variety and will be about 6 inches tall. Perfect for a smallish vase in the kitchen or bathroom. A nice little project for you to do as well. You can frankly just fill the egg carton with dirt. No need to save egg shells. They will give you the same result. Enjoy!!

We think they are so “sweet.”

“Contessa”

 

Gardening Today on Martha Custis

Exciting… a new client. She wants to learn. We are going to transplant an Azalea today, remove a brick border, cut back last years growth, trim existing bushes, level her beds and cultivate existing growth by abating the soil. Lots of things to transplant so the beds will be more evenly distributed. Finally we will mulch her beds and talk about a few new plantings. It should be fun. Her enthusiasm has been encouraging. She even recruited permissions from her next door neighbor to pitch in on the project. Both are new homeowners and now that they are both working at home, they want to spruce up their places, so that they can sit on their front stoops and “take in” spring. It should be fun because they are very open to learning. We arrive at 11 and will add some photos to this post later today. Fun…..fun!!

 

Philodendron – Planting and Care 101

Philodendron is one of the most common plants you will see in a houseplant setting. They are very easy to plant and to grow. They can extend for two weeks or more without being watered. If you happen to be a traveler, this plant might be for you. It will give you the “feel” of having plants to warm your homes ambiance. They are also perfect for your bathroom as they love humidity and again they will  manage without sunlight if you don’t have a window. A nice touch. Plants do make your house feel like a home. They add a warm and cozy feeling. Philodendron are inexpensive, are very forgiving if you neglect them.

The best way to take care of them is to provide rich new potting soil, and a planter that is two times the size of their rootball. An indoor light source is their preferred growing location. They love the warmth of a lamp. Avoid direct sunlight. It will burn their leaves. Do not put them in a highly sunny window.

This particular philodendron pictured above is one of the newest varieties called “Lemon Philodendron.”  Most often you will see two other varieties. One in a deep green, the other in a variegated cream and green leafed plant.  Deep green is the most common variety. 

Philadendron grow quickly and the best way to water them is to place them in a deep bowl of water for about a half hour. This way they can soak up their moisture from the bottom. This watering technique prevents overwatering, which can bring yellowing leaves and pests. They will drink what they need.You can then lift them out, and place them on a towel for awhile to catch the residual water. Then move them back to their location. It is best to place them in a drainage saucer.

If you acquire your plant in a plastic pot, that will work for a short time, but if you want new growth it’s best to remove the plant from the plastic pot. Slightly loosen their rootball and place your plant in a larger pot with new soil, and one that has drainage and a saucer. The last thing you want is water ruining a table from drips: 

Very often they will produce trailers that can be snipped with a scissors (on the diagonal) and placed in a jar or vase filled with water. They will produce new roots in about three weeks to a month.  Be sure to change the water once a week. Magically you will have the beginnings of another new plant. Economical and propagation is such fun.

We encourage you to try all three varieties of this terrific and very available and prolific houseplant. 

“Contessa”