To Mulch or not to Mulch .... that is the question and we have an answer.

From our Gardeners' Corner. Visit our site at www.leavesandpetals.com to get your questions answered frequently.

If you have a question, please send it in to us. We will be more than happy to answer it. And remember, you will probably be helping many fellow gardeners that may have the same question/problem but haven't asked.

Q. I keep reading about not mulching around trees. I thought that would help keep moisture in and help them to grow?A. It’s not that you should not mulch around trees, it’s HOW you mulch that’s important. Some gardeners make what are called “mulch volcanoes.” This is mulch that starts out two inches from the end of the diameter and ends up about six inches by the time it is to the base of the tree. When the tree is watered, the water flows up and out of the top and down the sides of the mulch, depriving the tree of water. If the mulch is that deep, then you can get rodents, diseases and even suffocate the roots. The correct way is to mulch around the tree about 2 inches deep with mulch. This keeps the tree cooler in hot weather. If you’re mulch is composed of shredded leaves, this breaks down faster, the tree gets the nutrients quicker and it’s cheaper!

Container Gardens in Bowls ,,,

Here are some ideas for garden bowls, miniature gardens to place around your main garden:

Succulent Bowl Garden for a sunny spot

carved out lava rock becomes a bowl ...

Another simple and attractive succulent bowl - the contrast is great!

for a shadier spot ...

different contrast,different plants,different succulent bowl garden

succulents and lava stone make a great combo ...

 succulents runneth over the bowl ...

assorted perennials make a colorful garden basket.

Let us know at Leaves and Petals what you would

like to read or see images on. We'll take out our 

cameras and pass on some ideas.

At Leaves and Petals you are No. 1!!! 

We're not the biggest ... just the best!

Caring for your Gardenias

Now that you have planted your Camellias, here's a little bit on keeping your Fragrant Gardenias well cared for:

Gardenia Plant Care

Gardenias are generally found outdoors in southern regions and are admired for their glossy green foliage and fragrant blossoms. These beautiful plants are grown as ornamental shrubs in warm regions and as patio plants that are brought indoors in cooler areas. However, gardenias are tricky plants that are very particular about their growing conditions and require some consistent maintenance in order to keep happy and beautiful. Many people give up on gardenias because of their finicky nature. However, once you understand what a gardenia needs to survive, growing them is very rewarding.

Basic Gardenia Care and Growth Requirements

Paying attention to the particular growing requirement of gardenias is especially important. If you provide the gardenia with the right conditions, it will reward you with vibrant foliage and a proliferation of fragrant blooms.

Soil

Well-drained, acidic soil with a pH of 4.5 to 5.5 is ideal for gardenias, whether potted or in the ground. During the day, gardenias prefer temperatures from 68 to 74 degrees with a low of 60 degrees at night. Moderate humidity assures a healthy plant but soggy roots cause flower buds to drop, as will soil that is too dry. Adding peat moss to the soil will benefit your plant by helping it retain moisture without becoming too wet.

Water

While the gardenia likes humidity, misting the leaves can cause problems. Water droplets can lead to fungal growth on leaves. This is important to keep in mind if you plant your gardenia outside. You don't want to place it under plants that drip onto its leaves. You must also be careful your plants are not crowded too close together. A lack of air flow also causes fungal issues.

When you water potted plants, check to see if the top inch of soil is dry by poking your finger into the soil and then give your plant a good soak. Any water that accumulates in the tray under the pot should be drained out. It is a great idea to place gardenias in a pebble filled tray. Water can be poured over the pebbles to provide moisture and humidity without excessive water being absorbed into the soil.

Light

Outdoor gardenias prefer full sun, with some shade in the hottest summer months. Indoor gardenias should not be placed in direct sun, but in a room that gets plenty of bright, indirect light.

Temperature

Temperature is considered one of the most crucial aspects of growing a gardenia. When daytime temperatures are above 70 degrees F or if night temperatures are over 65 degrees F or below 60 degrees F, flower buds will not form. Keep your gardenia between 65 and 70 degrees F during the day and 60 to 62 degrees F at night.

Fertilizing

Feed gardenias every three weeks during the growing season with an acid-based fertilizer.

Outdoor Gardenia Care

If you are fortunate enough to live in a climate where these tropical plants will grow outdoors (zones 8-10), you may want to plant one near a window or patio to fill the air with its intoxicating scent. The process is simple as long as you remember the basics of gardenia plant care.

Take Care When Planting Outside

Be sure to plant your gardenia in well-draining soil conditioned with peat moss and organic matter. Dig a hole twice the size of the gardenia's root ball and just as deep as the container. When you place the plant into the hole, be sure that the top of the root ball is slightly above the soil's surface. Mound a mixture of native soil and peat moss around the plant and tamp down to eliminate air pockets. Water thoroughly and keep well-watered during the growing season.

Tips for Outdoor Gardenia Health

There are several things that you can do to improve the health and longevity of your outdoor gardenia plant. If you take good care of your plant, it will perform to its maximum potential year after year.

• Prune: While it is fine to cut gardenia plants back as far you would like in order to shape, be sure to do your pruning when the plant is dormant. Use only clean pruning shears and do not cut all of the leaves off of the plant.
• Mulch: Mulch will help with moisture retention. You can use pine needles, bark, finely shredded bark or other organic matter. Provide a mulch covering that is two inches thick and do not allow the mulch to touch the trunk of the bush.

Avoid Common Gardenia Pests

The best way to protect any plant from pests is to keep it healthy and prevent over-crowding. Other common causes of insect problems include allowing too much moisture to sit on the leaves and not maintaining the proper temperature and moisture levels. Keeping gardenias in the proper conditions goes a long way toward protecting them from common pests.

Gardenias are vulnerable to various insects including:

• Aphids
• Mealy bugs
• Spider mites
• Thrips
• Scale
• Whiteflies

Beautiful Blooms Are Your Reward

While gardenias are picky about their care, if you are patient and remember the basics, your efforts will be rewarded. A beautiful blooming gardenia is worth it.

Are you ready for the upcoming Camellia Show ....

We all know how time can fly, and before you know it fall blooming Camellias will begin to put on their spectacular show. We hope this won't be another year that catches you wishing you had planted a camellia or two... or more. To add to their gorgeous blooms, their evergreen foliage make for a spectacular plant. You can even create one of the most outstanding hedges or privacy screens that money can buy.
If you did get caught without planting one, this would make a great time to visit our web site and purchase plants that are developed - ready to bloom for you this very season! Just visit Leaves and Petals and check out or selection of camellias.

And to get you ready, here are some instructions on how to plant the perfect camellia bush. Whether from us (we offer only the best) or not, these instructions will help get your plant off to the start it needs to establish itself in your landscape.

Happy Gardening!

Planting Camellias
Choose a planting site with well-drained soil. Do not plant where shade trees with shallow root systems will compete with camellias for nutrients and water. Plants in the sun may suffer scald on the leaves or leaves may appear yellow rather than deep green. Plants of Camellia sasanqua generally do better in the sun than those of C. japonica.

Soil preparation: Camellias will grow in most well-drained slightly acid soil. A soil pH (degree of acidity or alkalinity) of 6.0 - 6.5 is considered best for camellias. However, they will tolerate a lower pH. A soil test made before planting will tell you what is needed to bring the soil to the desired pH and fertility level. Practically all soils will benefit from the addition of organic matter when planting. Two to four inches or peat moss, leaf mold, ground aged bark, sawdust or cow manure worked into the soil improves both the drainage and fertility of the soil. 

Planting 

Camellias are generally planted in the late fall through the early spring although they may be set out any month of the year if properly cared for. Adequate moisture is a necessity until the roots become well established in the soil. The newly developed roots will then provide enough moisture for the plant to start growth when spring arrives. Allow a minimum of five feet between plants and preferably more when planting unless planting a hedge when a distance of three feet between plants is recommended. The following steps should be followed when planting a camellia. 

Dig a hole at least two feet wider than the root ball. 

Leave soil in the center of the hole undisturbed to prevent settling.

Place ball on column of soil. 

The top of ball should be slightly above soil level. 

When planting a container-grown plant, wash away the soil from the root ball with a water hose and rough up the root ball if tight to allow better penetration into the soil. 

Fill the hole around the root ball with a mixture of topsoil and organic matter. 

Build a berm of soil around the plant three feet in diameter to prevent water from running off. 

Mulch with straw or other organic matter around the plant. 

Water well after planting and soak once a week during dry weather. 

Note that the State Extension Service no longer recommends the addition of organic matter to the backfill soil. Research has shown that this does not improve plant growth. They now recommend digging a wide hole and refilling with the removed soil.

Preparing Your Garden for Fall

Even though the dog days of summer are here, gardeners need to be thinking about fall. Preparing your garden for the fall so that you are ready for spring is what we gardeners do. So here are a few suggestions to think about while enjoying your iced tea in the summer shade.

Go over what grew this year and what did not. Figure out if anything needs to be moved to a different or better location. Or maybe you don’t even want to grow that particular plant next year and want to try something else.

Remove debris, such as dried leaves and stems of plants. Fluff up the mulch around the plants to help water go deeper into the soil when you give them that last watering. Also, now’s the time to collect any seeds for spring planting. If you’re feeling bold and daring, toss a few handfuls of hardy annual seeds around. They’ll be conditioned after being under the snow and come up in the spring. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at the variety.

Another way to prepare your garden for fall is to plant any evergreen shrubs or trees.  Green Velvet boxwood is a round evergreen for limited space. Another nice selection is the Hollywood Juniper. This shrub is drought, wind, cold and salt tolerant. It also attracts birds that make a feast from its blue berries in winter. You can also still purchase deciduous flowering shrubs as well. The cool autumn soil will push for strong root growth. One thing to remember when planting either is to water well. The root systems of evergreens pump water through the winter so give them a final watering before the ground freezes.

Remove all debris from your summer annuals and clean up everything. If you’re planning on leaving some of the annuals and perennials seed heads for the birds, leave those but clean everything else up. Rake the dead leaves and fallen petals so there is not anything for insects to nest in to start an early destruction on next year’s flowers.

One last thing, clean, sharpen and store your gardening tools. When spring does finally arrive after the long cold winter, then you’ll be ready to go!

A big welcome to Cycle of Seasons giftware

As the owner and proprietor of Leaves and Petals, I’m proud to announce the opening of the first in our gift section “Cycle of Seasons.” The products for our gift section are carefully chosen, and Cycle of Seasons was our first choice to bring on board because they’re not only beautifully handcrafted, but made with care. These handcrafted items were created with, you, the gardener in mind. Whether you purchase them for yourself, a gardening friend, for birthday gifts, Christmas, or a special occasion, the gardener in your life will be glad you did.

Our Cycle of Seasons gift shop has a variety of gifts geared toward gardening. Whether it’s to help you to remove the dirt from your hands with our special Gardener’s Soap, or just relaxing in a tub of hot water with our aromatherapy bath salts and bath scrub, we have a product for you. If a shower is what you’d rather have, we have an array of aromatherapy bath soaps that will relax and revive you.

We also have hand crafted cards for all occasions. There is a desk pad to keep notes when ordering your plants, trees and shrubs plus a Gardening Journal to help keep track of what you planted and what did well or needs moved. After a day of heavy gardening, you can place your mug of coffee or tea on our garden themed mug rug coaster. You can wrap the heated garden themed neck wrap around your neck while a potpourri gel jar releases a heavenly scent. Browse through our garden themed gift selection, make your choices and let the rest up to us!

Enter our drawing to win an exquisite Tiki Alumina Garden Fire Sculpture

Enter our drawing to win an exquisite Tiki Alumina Garden Fire Sculpture

Perfect way to accent any backyard, deck, or patio

Extends the season by keeping you warm outside

With each purchase of $50 you will receive one entry into the drawing!

Draw will take place on September 28th
Happy shopping and good luck!

http://www.shopleavesandpetals.com