{"appState":{"pageLoadApiCallsStatus":true},"categoryState":{"relatedCategories":{"headers":{"timestamp":"2022-08-15T12:31:14+00:00"},"categoryId":33917,"data":{"title":"Gardening","slug":"gardening","image":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33809"},"slug":"home-auto-hobbies","categoryId":33809},{"name":"Garden & Green Living","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33916"},"slug":"garden-green-living","categoryId":33916},{"name":"Gardening","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33917"},"slug":"gardening","categoryId":33917}],"parentCategory":{"categoryId":33916,"title":"Garden & Green Living","slug":"garden-green-living","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33916"}},"childCategories":[{"categoryId":33918,"title":"Community","slug":"community","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33918"},"image":{"src":"/img/background-image-2.fabfbd5c.png","width":0,"height":0}},{"categoryId":33919,"title":"Containers","slug":"containers","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33919"},"image":{"src":"/img/background-image-1.daf74cf0.png","width":0,"height":0}},{"categoryId":33920,"title":"Flowers","slug":"flowers","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33920"},"image":{"src":"/img/background-image-2.fabfbd5c.png","width":0,"height":0}},{"categoryId":33921,"title":"Herbs","slug":"herbs","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33921"},"image":{"src":"/img/background-image-1.daf74cf0.png","width":0,"height":0}},{"categoryId":33922,"title":"Organic Gardening","slug":"organic","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33922"},"image":{"src":"/img/background-image-2.fabfbd5c.png","width":0,"height":0}},{"categoryId":33923,"title":"Urban","slug":"urban","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33923"},"image":{"src":"/img/background-image-1.daf74cf0.png","width":0,"height":0}},{"categoryId":33924,"title":"Vegetables","slug":"vegetables","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33924"},"image":{"src":"/img/background-image-2.fabfbd5c.png","width":0,"height":0}},{"categoryId":33925,"title":"General Gardening","slug":"general-gardening","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33925"},"image":{"src":"/img/background-image-1.daf74cf0.png","width":0,"height":0}}],"description":"Fetching flowers and vegetables are sure to sprout with gardening guidance. Discover how green your thumb can be!","relatedArticles":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles?category=33917&offset=0&size=5"},"hasArticle":true,"hasBook":true},"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33917"}},"relatedCategoriesLoadedStatus":"success"},"listState":{"list":{"count":10,"total":296,"items":[{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-26T21:41:47+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-07-28T14:30:37+00:00","timestamp":"2022-07-28T18:01:30+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33809"},"slug":"home-auto-hobbies","categoryId":33809},{"name":"Garden & Green Living","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33916"},"slug":"garden-green-living","categoryId":33916},{"name":"Gardening","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33917"},"slug":"gardening","categoryId":33917},{"name":"General Gardening","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33925"},"slug":"general-gardening","categoryId":33925}],"title":"Designing Your Vegetable Garden","strippedTitle":"designing your vegetable garden","slug":"designing-your-vegetable-garden","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"The best advice for planning your first vegetable garden is to start small. Just be sure you locate your garden in a sunny spot where expansion is possible. As ","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"The best advice for planning your first vegetable garden is to start small. Just be sure you locate your garden in a sunny spot where expansion is possible. As for actual size, it depends on what you want to grow. Here's what you can put in the following standard-size gardens:\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">A 6 x 8 foot plot can support a couple tomato plants, maybe some bush beans, and some lettuce.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">A 10 x 18 foot plot can hold all that, plus a couple space-consuming squash plants and cucumbers, and maybe some carrots or beets.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">A 20 x 24 foot plot can hold all that, plus peppers, leeks, broccoli, turnips, and maybe some herbs.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">A 40 x 60 plot allows you more of everything, plus some bigger items, such as corn (corn isn't worth growing unless you can have a dozen or more plants because otherwise they don't pollinate or pollinate completely, and you end up harvesting gap-toothed ears) and asparagus or rhubarb.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nSketch out your vegetable garden plan on paper before planting. Figure out how much space to allot to individual plants — and don't forget to allow for space between the rows, or paths, so you can tend the plants. (Mature sizes of various vegetable varieties are noted on seed packets and often in catalog descriptions.)\r\n<p class=\"Tip\">Allow for <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/article/home-auto-hobbies/garden-green-living/gardening/vegetables/growing-vegetables-by-succession-planting-and-square-foot-gardening-193739/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">succession planting</a>: If something is harvested early in the summer, lettuce, say, or peas, you can then free up that space for another crop, such as carrots. Succession planting is a good trick, but to pull it off, you may need to do some research as well as some trial and error — and be willing to invest the time and effort.</p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"imageBlock\" style=\"width: 526px;\">\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"526\"]<img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/177426.image0.jpg\" alt=\"Garden plan showing succession plantings.\" width=\"526\" height=\"400\" /> Garden plan showing succession plantings[/caption]\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n<p class=\"Remember\">You could also plan for a constant vegetable harvest by <i>i</i><i>ntercropping,</i> or interplanting. This method is simple: Just have two different plants share the same part of the garden in an alternating or checkerboard pattern. This setup can look rather nifty, but it has practical advantages as well. Smaller, faster-maturing plants can grow with larger, slower-growing ones and so you always have something to harvest. And plants that appreciate a little shade can grow in the shelter of taller ones (have pole beans next to lettuce or spinach, for example).</p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"imageBlock\" style=\"width: 373px;\">\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"373\"]<img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/177427.image1.jpg\" alt=\"Garden plan showing interplanting.\" width=\"373\" height=\"400\" /> Garden plan showing interplanting[/caption]\r\n\r\n</div>","description":"The best advice for planning your first vegetable garden is to start small. Just be sure you locate your garden in a sunny spot where expansion is possible. As for actual size, it depends on what you want to grow. Here's what you can put in the following standard-size gardens:\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">A 6 x 8 foot plot can support a couple tomato plants, maybe some bush beans, and some lettuce.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">A 10 x 18 foot plot can hold all that, plus a couple space-consuming squash plants and cucumbers, and maybe some carrots or beets.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">A 20 x 24 foot plot can hold all that, plus peppers, leeks, broccoli, turnips, and maybe some herbs.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">A 40 x 60 plot allows you more of everything, plus some bigger items, such as corn (corn isn't worth growing unless you can have a dozen or more plants because otherwise they don't pollinate or pollinate completely, and you end up harvesting gap-toothed ears) and asparagus or rhubarb.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nSketch out your vegetable garden plan on paper before planting. Figure out how much space to allot to individual plants — and don't forget to allow for space between the rows, or paths, so you can tend the plants. (Mature sizes of various vegetable varieties are noted on seed packets and often in catalog descriptions.)\r\n<p class=\"Tip\">Allow for <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/article/home-auto-hobbies/garden-green-living/gardening/vegetables/growing-vegetables-by-succession-planting-and-square-foot-gardening-193739/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">succession planting</a>: If something is harvested early in the summer, lettuce, say, or peas, you can then free up that space for another crop, such as carrots. Succession planting is a good trick, but to pull it off, you may need to do some research as well as some trial and error — and be willing to invest the time and effort.</p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"imageBlock\" style=\"width: 526px;\">\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"526\"]<img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/177426.image0.jpg\" alt=\"Garden plan showing succession plantings.\" width=\"526\" height=\"400\" /> Garden plan showing succession plantings[/caption]\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n<p class=\"Remember\">You could also plan for a constant vegetable harvest by <i>i</i><i>ntercropping,</i> or interplanting. This method is simple: Just have two different plants share the same part of the garden in an alternating or checkerboard pattern. This setup can look rather nifty, but it has practical advantages as well. Smaller, faster-maturing plants can grow with larger, slower-growing ones and so you always have something to harvest. And plants that appreciate a little shade can grow in the shelter of taller ones (have pole beans next to lettuce or spinach, for example).</p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"imageBlock\" style=\"width: 373px;\">\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"373\"]<img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/177427.image1.jpg\" alt=\"Garden plan showing interplanting.\" width=\"373\" height=\"400\" /> Garden plan showing interplanting[/caption]\r\n\r\n</div>","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":9155,"name":"Steven A. Frowine","slug":"steven-a-frowine","description":"Steven A. Frowine is a noted professional horticulturist and a longtime avid gardener and communicator. ","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9155"}},{"authorId":9156,"name":"The National Gardening Association","slug":"the-national-gardening-association","description":"","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9156"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33925,"title":"General Gardening","slug":"general-gardening","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33925"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[{"articleId":209195,"title":"Gardening Basics For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"gardening-basics-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","general-gardening"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/209195"}},{"articleId":206147,"title":"How to Divide Perennials","slug":"how-to-divide-perennials","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","general-gardening"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/206147"}},{"articleId":200692,"title":"Choosing the Right Vines for Your Garden","slug":"choosing-the-right-vines-for-your-garden","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","general-gardening"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/200692"}},{"articleId":200542,"title":"Deciding Where to Put Your Water Garden","slug":"deciding-where-to-put-your-water-garden","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","general-gardening"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/200542"}},{"articleId":199075,"title":"Understanding the Benefits of Garden Mulch","slug":"understanding-the-benefits-of-garden-mulch","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","general-gardening"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/199075"}}],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":236815,"title":"How to Grow and Care for Succulents","slug":"grow-care-succulents","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","general-gardening"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/236815"}},{"articleId":209364,"title":"Sustainable Gardening For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"sustainable-gardening-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","general-gardening"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/209364"}},{"articleId":209195,"title":"Gardening Basics For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"gardening-basics-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","general-gardening"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/209195"}},{"articleId":209067,"title":"Gardening Basics For Canadians For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"gardening-basics-for-canadians-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","general-gardening"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/209067"}},{"articleId":208914,"title":"Gardening All-in-One For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"gardening-all-in-one-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","general-gardening"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/208914"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":282222,"slug":"gardening-basics-for-dummies","isbn":"9781119782032","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","general-gardening"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119782031/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1119782031/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1119782031-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1119782031/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1119782031/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/gardening-basics-for-dummies-2nd-edition-cover-9781119782032-203x255.jpg","width":203,"height":255},"title":"Gardening Basics For Dummies, 2nd Edition","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":true,"authorsInfo":"<p><p><b><b data-author-id=\"35029\">Steven A. Frowine</b></b> is a professional horticulturalist who grows more than 200 orchids in his Connecticut home.</p>","authors":[{"authorId":34784,"name":"","slug":"","description":"","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/34784"}},{"authorId":35029,"name":"Steven A. Frowine","slug":"steven-a-frowine","description":" <p><b>Steven A. Frowine</b> is a professional horticulturalist who grows more than 200 orchids in his Connecticut home. ","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/35029"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;garden-green-living&quot;,&quot;gardening&quot;,&quot;general-gardening&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119782032&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-62e2cefa1ee88\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;garden-green-living&quot;,&quot;gardening&quot;,&quot;general-gardening&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119782032&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-62e2cefa1f663\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Articles","articleList":null,"content":null,"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":"","sponsorEbookTitle":"","sponsorEbookLink":"","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Explore","lifeExpectancy":"Five years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-07-28T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":193659},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-26T21:41:34+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-07-28T13:57:52+00:00","timestamp":"2022-07-28T18:01:29+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33809"},"slug":"home-auto-hobbies","categoryId":33809},{"name":"Garden & Green Living","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33916"},"slug":"garden-green-living","categoryId":33916},{"name":"Gardening","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33917"},"slug":"gardening","categoryId":33917},{"name":"Flowers","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33920"},"slug":"flowers","categoryId":33920}],"title":"How to Repot an Orchid","strippedTitle":"how to repot an orchid","slug":"how-to-repot-an-orchid","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Learn how to tell when your orchid needs to be repotted and how to do it, including choosing the right pot and potting mix.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"Don't be afraid to repot your orchids <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/home-garden/gardening/flower-gardening/how-to-care-for-an-orchid/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">while caring for them</a>. Despite their reputation, orchids are tough, and repotting helps them thrive. You'll know it time to repot orchids when\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Orchid roots are overflowing the pot</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">The plant itself is going over the edge of the pot</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Potting material is getting soggy and drains poorly</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nThe ideal time to repot most orchids is when the plant starts new growth — usually right after it finishes flowering.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >Prepare the potting mix</h2>\r\n<p class=\"Tip\"><a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/deciding-on-a-potting-mix-for-orchids.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Choose a potting mix</a> that suits your particular type of orchid. Whether you mix it yourself or buy it ready-made — it must be wetted before you use it. Otherwise, it'll never hold moisture properly and will always dry out.</p>\r\nHere's how you prepare the orchid mix for potting:\r\n<ol class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Pour the amount of potting material you intend to use into a bucket that has about twice the volume of the mix.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Fill the bucket with hot water.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">Hot water penetrates the material better than cold water.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Let the mixture soak overnight.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">The next day, pour out the mix into a colander or strainer.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Rinse the mix thoroughly to wash out the dust that was in the mix.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nNow the mix is ready to use.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab2\" >Time to repot</h2>\r\nWhen you're ready to repot the orchid, spread out some newspaper over a work surface. Gather up a knife, scissors, new <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-choose-an-orchid-pot.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">orchid pots</a> (or old ones that are thoroughly cleaned), wooden stakes, and soft ties.\r\n\r\nNow, follow these steps:\r\n<ol class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Remove the orchid from the pot.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">You may need to use a knife to circle the inside of the pot and loosen the roots.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Remove the old, loose, rotted potting material and any soft, damaged, or dead roots.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">If the roots are healthy, firm, and filling the pot, put the orchid in a pot just one size larger than the one you removed it from, placing the older growth toward the back so the new lead or growth has plenty of room.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">If the roots are rotted and in poor condition, repot the plant in a container of the same or one size smaller than it was removed from.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">If you place a poorly rooted plant in a container that's too large, the growing material will stay too damp, which will result in root rot.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">Some orchid growers like to add a coarse material like broken clay pots or Styrofoam in the bottom of the pots to improve drainage. You don't have to do this if you're using shallow, azalea-type pots.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Place the plant in the pot so it's at the same depth as it was originally.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">The new shoot should be level with the pot rim.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Press the fresh potting material into the pot and around the orchid roots with your thumbs and forefingers.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">The orchid should be secure in the pot so it doesn't wiggle — otherwise, the new roots won't form properly.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Place a wooden or bamboo stake in the center of the pot, and tie up the new and old leads with soft string or twist ties.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">When orchids are in bloom, the <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/article/home-auto-hobbies/garden-green-living/gardening/flowers/how-to-stake-blooming-orchids-193788/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">staking techniques</a> will vary, depending on the type of orchid.</p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"imageBlock\" style=\"width: 258px;\">\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"258\"]<img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/177663.image0.jpg\" alt=\"Repot your orchid for improved growing space and drainage.\" width=\"258\" height=\"400\" /> Repot your orchid for improved growing space and drainage.[/caption]\r\n\r\n</div></li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<p class=\"Remember\"><i>Monopodial</i> orchids are those with one growing point that always grows vertically, not sideways (such as phalaenopsis, angraecums, and vandas). The potting process for these orchids is similar to the process just outlined, except that the orchid should be placed in the <i>center</i> of the container, rather than toward the back.</p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"imageBlock\" style=\"width: 300px;\">\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/177664.image1.jpg\" alt=\"When repotting monopodial orchids, place them in the center of the pot, not at the back.\" width=\"300\" height=\"230\" /> When repotting monopodial orchids, place them in the center of the pot, not at the back.[/caption]\r\n\r\n</div>","description":"Don't be afraid to repot your orchids <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/home-garden/gardening/flower-gardening/how-to-care-for-an-orchid/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">while caring for them</a>. Despite their reputation, orchids are tough, and repotting helps them thrive. You'll know it time to repot orchids when\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Orchid roots are overflowing the pot</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">The plant itself is going over the edge of the pot</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Potting material is getting soggy and drains poorly</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nThe ideal time to repot most orchids is when the plant starts new growth — usually right after it finishes flowering.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >Prepare the potting mix</h2>\r\n<p class=\"Tip\"><a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/deciding-on-a-potting-mix-for-orchids.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Choose a potting mix</a> that suits your particular type of orchid. Whether you mix it yourself or buy it ready-made — it must be wetted before you use it. Otherwise, it'll never hold moisture properly and will always dry out.</p>\r\nHere's how you prepare the orchid mix for potting:\r\n<ol class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Pour the amount of potting material you intend to use into a bucket that has about twice the volume of the mix.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Fill the bucket with hot water.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">Hot water penetrates the material better than cold water.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Let the mixture soak overnight.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">The next day, pour out the mix into a colander or strainer.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Rinse the mix thoroughly to wash out the dust that was in the mix.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nNow the mix is ready to use.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab2\" >Time to repot</h2>\r\nWhen you're ready to repot the orchid, spread out some newspaper over a work surface. Gather up a knife, scissors, new <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-choose-an-orchid-pot.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">orchid pots</a> (or old ones that are thoroughly cleaned), wooden stakes, and soft ties.\r\n\r\nNow, follow these steps:\r\n<ol class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Remove the orchid from the pot.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">You may need to use a knife to circle the inside of the pot and loosen the roots.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Remove the old, loose, rotted potting material and any soft, damaged, or dead roots.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">If the roots are healthy, firm, and filling the pot, put the orchid in a pot just one size larger than the one you removed it from, placing the older growth toward the back so the new lead or growth has plenty of room.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">If the roots are rotted and in poor condition, repot the plant in a container of the same or one size smaller than it was removed from.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">If you place a poorly rooted plant in a container that's too large, the growing material will stay too damp, which will result in root rot.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">Some orchid growers like to add a coarse material like broken clay pots or Styrofoam in the bottom of the pots to improve drainage. You don't have to do this if you're using shallow, azalea-type pots.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Place the plant in the pot so it's at the same depth as it was originally.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">The new shoot should be level with the pot rim.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Press the fresh potting material into the pot and around the orchid roots with your thumbs and forefingers.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">The orchid should be secure in the pot so it doesn't wiggle — otherwise, the new roots won't form properly.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Place a wooden or bamboo stake in the center of the pot, and tie up the new and old leads with soft string or twist ties.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">When orchids are in bloom, the <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/article/home-auto-hobbies/garden-green-living/gardening/flowers/how-to-stake-blooming-orchids-193788/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">staking techniques</a> will vary, depending on the type of orchid.</p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"imageBlock\" style=\"width: 258px;\">\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"258\"]<img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/177663.image0.jpg\" alt=\"Repot your orchid for improved growing space and drainage.\" width=\"258\" height=\"400\" /> Repot your orchid for improved growing space and drainage.[/caption]\r\n\r\n</div></li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<p class=\"Remember\"><i>Monopodial</i> orchids are those with one growing point that always grows vertically, not sideways (such as phalaenopsis, angraecums, and vandas). The potting process for these orchids is similar to the process just outlined, except that the orchid should be placed in the <i>center</i> of the container, rather than toward the back.</p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"imageBlock\" style=\"width: 300px;\">\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/177664.image1.jpg\" alt=\"When repotting monopodial orchids, place them in the center of the pot, not at the back.\" width=\"300\" height=\"230\" /> When repotting monopodial orchids, place them in the center of the pot, not at the back.[/caption]\r\n\r\n</div>","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":9155,"name":"Steven A. Frowine","slug":"steven-a-frowine","description":"Steven A. Frowine is a noted professional horticulturist and a longtime avid gardener and communicator. ","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9155"}},{"authorId":10266,"name":"National Gardening Association","slug":"national-gardening-association","description":"The National Gardening Association is the leading garden-based educational nonprofit organization in the United States, providing resources at garden.org and kidsgardening.org.","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/10266"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33920,"title":"Flowers","slug":"flowers","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33920"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[{"label":"Prepare the potting mix","target":"#tab1"},{"label":"Time to repot","target":"#tab2"}],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[{"articleId":209249,"title":"Orchids for Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"orchids-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","flowers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/209249"}},{"articleId":194097,"title":"Discover Fragrant Orchids","slug":"discover-fragrant-orchids","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","flowers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/194097"}},{"articleId":194094,"title":"How to Pronounce Orchid Names","slug":"how-to-pronounce-orchid-names","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","flowers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/194094"}},{"articleId":193824,"title":"How to Choose the Right Orchid","slug":"how-to-choose-the-right-orchid","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","flowers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/193824"}},{"articleId":193822,"title":"How to Help a New Orchid Adjust to Your Home","slug":"how-to-help-a-new-orchid-adjust-to-your-home","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","flowers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/193822"}}],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":242896,"title":"How to Care for an Orchid","slug":"how-to-care-for-an-orchid","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","flowers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/242896"}},{"articleId":209458,"title":"Roses For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"roses-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","flowers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/209458"}},{"articleId":209249,"title":"Orchids for Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"orchids-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","flowers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/209249"}},{"articleId":205435,"title":"How to Grow Perennials from Seed","slug":"how-to-grow-perennials-from-seed","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","flowers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/205435"}},{"articleId":201174,"title":"Identifying and Controlling Insects that Prey on Roses","slug":"identifying-and-controlling-insects-that-prey-on-roses","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","flowers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/201174"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":282433,"slug":"orchids-for-dummies","isbn":"9781119854951","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","flowers"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119854954/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1119854954/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1119854954-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1119854954/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1119854954/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/9781119854951-203x255.jpg","width":203,"height":255},"title":"Orchids For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":true,"authorsInfo":"<p><p><b><b data-author-id=\"35029\">Steven A. Frowine</b></b> is a professional horticulturalist who grows more than 200 orchids in his Connecticut home.</p>","authors":[{"authorId":34784,"name":"","slug":"","description":"","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/34784"}},{"authorId":35029,"name":"Steven A. Frowine","slug":"steven-a-frowine","description":" <p><b>Steven A. Frowine</b> is a professional horticulturalist who grows more than 200 orchids in his Connecticut home. ","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/35029"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;garden-green-living&quot;,&quot;gardening&quot;,&quot;flowers&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119854951&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-62e2cefa01655\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;garden-green-living&quot;,&quot;gardening&quot;,&quot;flowers&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119854951&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-62e2cefa02519\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Articles","articleList":null,"content":null,"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":"","sponsorEbookTitle":"","sponsorEbookLink":"","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Explore","lifeExpectancy":"Five years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-07-28T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":193628},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-26T21:43:41+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-07-25T20:59:08+00:00","timestamp":"2022-07-26T00:01:09+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33809"},"slug":"home-auto-hobbies","categoryId":33809},{"name":"Garden & Green Living","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33916"},"slug":"garden-green-living","categoryId":33916},{"name":"Gardening","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33917"},"slug":"gardening","categoryId":33917},{"name":"Vegetables","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33924"},"slug":"vegetables","categoryId":33924}],"title":"Gardening Tips for Conserving Water","strippedTitle":"gardening tips for conserving water","slug":"gardening-tips-for-conserving-water","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"There are many ways to conserve water in your gardening, including by the types of plants you choose, the time of day you water, and more.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"Whether you're a novice or experienced gardener, embrace water-conservation methods even if you don't live in a water-restricted area. Conserve water as you garden, and you'll help save this precious resource and save some money, too.\r\n\r\nKeep these water-saving pointers in mind when tending to your garden:\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><strong>Grow plants that perform better under low water conditions: </strong>Some drought-resistant food crops you might try include herbs and hot peppers. For flowers and other ornamentals, consider native plants and wildflowers, ornamental grasses, and succulents.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><strong>Plant closer together: </strong>Doing so allows you to conserve soil moisture and shade the ground, keeping it cool and moist.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><strong>Consider the time of day that you water, especially if you use a sprinkler:</strong> You lose less water to evaporation (an important consideration in hot, dry climates) if sprinklers operate in the cool of the morning rather than during the heat of the afternoon. Watering in the morning also gives leaves a chance to dry off before evening; wet foliage is an ideal fungus-growing medium.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><strong>Frequent, shallow waterings do more harm than good:</strong> They cause roots to develop mainly in the upper few inches of the soil, where they're susceptible to drying out. Instead, go for occasional, deep waterings. Deep waterings allow moisture to penetrate deeply into the soil. The roots will follow the water, and the plant will be deep rooted and less likely to be effected by dry conditions. You'll water less frequently; maybe deeply once per week.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><strong>If your garden has heavy clay soil or is on a slope, and you find that water begins to run off before it penetrates 6 inches deep in the soil, try watering at intervals:</strong> Water for 10 to 15 minutes, let the water soak in for 15 to 20 minutes, and then water again.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><strong>Try to use soaker hoses and drip irrigation to direct water to the plants and not waste it on pathways:</strong> Use a timer to turn on the system during cool parts of the day for only as long as needed.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><strong>Collect rainwater from roofs and store it to be used in the garden:</strong> Rain barrels (often used with <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/article/home-auto-hobbies/garden-green-living/gardening/general-gardening/what-is-a-rain-garden-180678/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rain gardens</a>) are becoming more widely available. In some areas you can even use gray water from your home in your yards. Check with your local water municipality for regulations on using gray water.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><strong>Apply </strong><a href=\"https://dummies.com/article/home-auto-hobbies/garden-green-living/gardening/general-gardening/understanding-the-benefits-of-garden-mulch-199075/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>mulch</strong></a><strong>, </strong>which helps retain moisture and keeps soil from drying out quickly.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>","description":"Whether you're a novice or experienced gardener, embrace water-conservation methods even if you don't live in a water-restricted area. Conserve water as you garden, and you'll help save this precious resource and save some money, too.\r\n\r\nKeep these water-saving pointers in mind when tending to your garden:\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><strong>Grow plants that perform better under low water conditions: </strong>Some drought-resistant food crops you might try include herbs and hot peppers. For flowers and other ornamentals, consider native plants and wildflowers, ornamental grasses, and succulents.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><strong>Plant closer together: </strong>Doing so allows you to conserve soil moisture and shade the ground, keeping it cool and moist.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><strong>Consider the time of day that you water, especially if you use a sprinkler:</strong> You lose less water to evaporation (an important consideration in hot, dry climates) if sprinklers operate in the cool of the morning rather than during the heat of the afternoon. Watering in the morning also gives leaves a chance to dry off before evening; wet foliage is an ideal fungus-growing medium.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><strong>Frequent, shallow waterings do more harm than good:</strong> They cause roots to develop mainly in the upper few inches of the soil, where they're susceptible to drying out. Instead, go for occasional, deep waterings. Deep waterings allow moisture to penetrate deeply into the soil. The roots will follow the water, and the plant will be deep rooted and less likely to be effected by dry conditions. You'll water less frequently; maybe deeply once per week.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><strong>If your garden has heavy clay soil or is on a slope, and you find that water begins to run off before it penetrates 6 inches deep in the soil, try watering at intervals:</strong> Water for 10 to 15 minutes, let the water soak in for 15 to 20 minutes, and then water again.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><strong>Try to use soaker hoses and drip irrigation to direct water to the plants and not waste it on pathways:</strong> Use a timer to turn on the system during cool parts of the day for only as long as needed.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><strong>Collect rainwater from roofs and store it to be used in the garden:</strong> Rain barrels (often used with <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/article/home-auto-hobbies/garden-green-living/gardening/general-gardening/what-is-a-rain-garden-180678/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rain gardens</a>) are becoming more widely available. In some areas you can even use gray water from your home in your yards. Check with your local water municipality for regulations on using gray water.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><strong>Apply </strong><a href=\"https://dummies.com/article/home-auto-hobbies/garden-green-living/gardening/general-gardening/understanding-the-benefits-of-garden-mulch-199075/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>mulch</strong></a><strong>, </strong>which helps retain moisture and keeps soil from drying out quickly.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":9170,"name":"Charlie Nardozzi","slug":"charlie-nardozzi","description":" <p><b>The National Gardening Association </b>is the leading garden-based educational organization in the United States. Visit http//:garden.org.</p> <p><b>Charlie Nardozzi</b> is a nationally recognized garden writer, radio and TV show host, consultant, and speaker. Charlie delights in making gardening information simple, easy, fun, and accessible to everyone.</p> ","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9170"}},{"authorId":10044,"name":"The Editors of the National Gardening Association","slug":"the-editors-of-the-national-gardening-association","description":"The National Gardening Association offers plant-based education in schools, communities, and backyards across the United States, through the award-winning websites garden.org and kidsgardening.org. ","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/10044"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33924,"title":"Vegetables","slug":"vegetables","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33924"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[{"articleId":209497,"title":"Vegetable Gardening For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"vegetable-gardening-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","vegetables"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/209497"}},{"articleId":206218,"title":"How to Start Seeds Indoors","slug":"how-to-start-seeds-indoors","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","vegetables"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/206218"}},{"articleId":206148,"title":"Container Gardening: How to Plant Vegetables in Pots","slug":"container-gardening-how-to-plant-vegetables-in-pots","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","vegetables"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/206148"}},{"articleId":196457,"title":"Preventing Pests and Other Problems in Your Vegetable Garden","slug":"preventing-pests-and-other-problems-in-your-vegetable-garden","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","vegetables"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/196457"}},{"articleId":196456,"title":"The Five S’s of Vegetable Gardening Success","slug":"the-five-ss-of-vegetable-gardening-success","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","vegetables"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/196456"}}],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":209497,"title":"Vegetable Gardening For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"vegetable-gardening-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","vegetables"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/209497"}},{"articleId":209201,"title":"Growing Your Own Fruit & Veg For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"growing-your-own-fruit-veg-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","vegetables"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/209201"}},{"articleId":206218,"title":"How to Start Seeds Indoors","slug":"how-to-start-seeds-indoors","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","vegetables"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/206218"}},{"articleId":206148,"title":"Container Gardening: How to Plant Vegetables in Pots","slug":"container-gardening-how-to-plant-vegetables-in-pots","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","vegetables"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/206148"}},{"articleId":200857,"title":"Planting Vegetables from Seed and Seedling","slug":"planting-vegetables-from-seed-and-seedling","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","vegetables"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/200857"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":282655,"slug":"vegetable-gardening-for-dummies-2nd-edition","isbn":"9780470498705","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","vegetables"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0470498706/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0470498706/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/0470498706-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0470498706/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/0470498706/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/vegetable-gardening-for-dummies-2nd-edition-cover-9780470498705-203x255.jpg","width":203,"height":255},"title":"Vegetable Gardening For Dummies, 2nd Edition","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":true,"authorsInfo":"<p><p><b>The National Gardening Association </b>is the leading garden-based educational organization in the United States. Visit http//:garden.org.</p> <p><b><b data-author-id=\"9170\">Charlie Nardozzi</b></b> is a nationally recognized garden writer, radio and TV show host, consultant, and speaker. Charlie delights in making gardening information simple, easy, fun, and accessible to everyone.</p> The National Gardening Association offers plant-based education in schools, communities, and backyards across the United States, through the award-winning websites garden.org and kidsgardening.org.</p>","authors":[{"authorId":9170,"name":"Charlie Nardozzi","slug":"charlie-nardozzi","description":" <p><b>The National Gardening Association </b>is the leading garden-based educational organization in the United States. Visit http//:garden.org.</p> <p><b>Charlie Nardozzi</b> is a nationally recognized garden writer, radio and TV show host, consultant, and speaker. Charlie delights in making gardening information simple, easy, fun, and accessible to everyone.</p> ","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9170"}},{"authorId":10044,"name":"The Editors of the National Gardening Association","slug":"the-editors-of-the-national-gardening-association","description":"The National Gardening Association offers plant-based education in schools, communities, and backyards across the United States, through the award-winning websites garden.org and kidsgardening.org. ","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/10044"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;garden-green-living&quot;,&quot;gardening&quot;,&quot;vegetables&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9780470498705&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-62df2ec5148dd\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;garden-green-living&quot;,&quot;gardening&quot;,&quot;vegetables&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9780470498705&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-62df2ec515291\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Articles","articleList":null,"content":null,"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":"","sponsorEbookTitle":"","sponsorEbookLink":"","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Explore","lifeExpectancy":"Two years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-07-25T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":193873},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-27T16:58:30+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-04-27T20:44:48+00:00","timestamp":"2022-06-22T19:37:39+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33809"},"slug":"home-auto-hobbies","categoryId":33809},{"name":"Garden & Green Living","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33916"},"slug":"garden-green-living","categoryId":33916},{"name":"Gardening","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33917"},"slug":"gardening","categoryId":33917},{"name":"Flowers","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33920"},"slug":"flowers","categoryId":33920}],"title":"Roses For Dummies Cheat Sheet","strippedTitle":"roses for dummies cheat sheet","slug":"roses-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Picking the perfect rose for your garden involves finding a hardy plant for your growing zone (based on climate), deciding on a type of rose, and following a pl","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"Picking the perfect rose for your garden involves finding a hardy plant for your growing zone (based on climate), deciding on a type of rose, and following a plan for rose care. Know your rose terminology and the most popular roses, and you'll sound like a gardening guru.","description":"Picking the perfect rose for your garden involves finding a hardy plant for your growing zone (based on climate), deciding on a type of rose, and following a plan for rose care. Know your rose terminology and the most popular roses, and you'll sound like a gardening guru.","blurb":"","authors":[],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33920,"title":"Flowers","slug":"flowers","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33920"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":242896,"title":"How to Care for an Orchid","slug":"how-to-care-for-an-orchid","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","flowers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/242896"}},{"articleId":209249,"title":"Orchids for Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"orchids-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","flowers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/209249"}},{"articleId":205435,"title":"How to Grow Perennials from Seed","slug":"how-to-grow-perennials-from-seed","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","flowers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/205435"}},{"articleId":201174,"title":"Identifying and Controlling Insects that Prey on Roses","slug":"identifying-and-controlling-insects-that-prey-on-roses","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","flowers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/201174"}},{"articleId":201169,"title":"Identifying Rose Classifications","slug":"identifying-rose-classifications","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","flowers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/201169"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":0,"slug":null,"isbn":null,"categoryList":null,"amazon":null,"image":null,"title":null,"testBankPinActivationLink":null,"bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":null,"authors":null,"_links":null},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;garden-green-living&quot;,&quot;gardening&quot;,&quot;flowers&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[null]}]\" id=\"du-slot-62b36f83dc5b9\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;garden-green-living&quot;,&quot;gardening&quot;,&quot;flowers&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[null]}]\" id=\"du-slot-62b36f83dcd20\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Cheat Sheet","articleList":[{"articleId":195919,"title":"Know Your Rose Lingo","slug":"know-your-rose-lingo","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","flowers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/195919"}},{"articleId":195918,"title":"Ten Popular Roses","slug":"ten-popular-roses","categoryList":[],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/195918"}},{"articleId":195917,"title":"USDA Hardiness Zones for Plants","slug":"usda-hardiness-zones-for-plants","categoryList":[],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/195917"}},{"articleId":195916,"title":"Foolproof Tips for Growing Roses","slug":"foolproof-tips-for-growing-roses","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","flowers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/195916"}},{"articleId":195925,"title":"Types of Roses","slug":"types-of-roses","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","flowers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/195925"}}],"content":[{"title":"Know your rose lingo","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>To grow roses successfully, you need to know the lingo. These rose terms describe parts of the rose plant, petal forms, color types, and more! Get to know these terms and start sounding like a master gardener:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Bareroot: </b>Sold in winter to early spring while dormant and without soil on their roots.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Bicolor: </b>A two-colored rose, usually with two or more colors on opposites sides of the petals.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Blend:</b> A multicolored rose with two or more colors blending together on both sides of the petals.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Bud: </b>An unopened flower. A bud eye is dormant vegetative growth that forms in the upper angle where a leaf joins a cane.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Bud union: </b>A swollen or knobby area on the lower trunk of a rose plant, usually near the soil surface, where the flowering variety joins the rootstock.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Cane:</b> A structural branch of a rose plant, usually arising from the base of the plant.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Deadhead: </b>To remove spent blossoms from a bush and channel more energy into new flowers.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Double flower:</b> A rose with more than one row of petals.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Hardiness: </b>The capability of a rose to withstand cold temperatures without being killed or injured.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Hip:</b> The seed pod that forms after a rose’s petals fall off. Some may turn bright orange or red and are quite colorful in fall and winter.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Leaflet: </b>A part of a leaf. Rose leaves are usually divided into 5 to 7 leaflets, but some have as many as 19 or as few as 3.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Own-root roses: </b>Roses that grow on their own roots and are not budded onto a separate rootstock.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Reverse: </b>The underside of a rose petal.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Rootstock: </b>The roots onto which a rose variety is budded. A rootstock increases the adaptability of the rose, giving it increased hardiness, vigor, soil tolerance, and other advantages.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Semi-double:</b> A rose having two or three rows of petals.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Single: </b>A rose having a single row of petals.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Sucker:</b> A vigorous cane that arises from the rootstock of a rose. Its leaves look different from the rest of the plant, and you should remove it.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Variety: </b>A specific type of rose. For example, &#8216;Mister Lincoln&#8217; is a variety of hybrid tea with fragrant red flowers.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"10 popular roses","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Looking for popular rose varieties? For the past several years, these ten roses have been popular among home gardeners:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Ballerina: Pink and white shrub</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Blaze: Red climber</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Bonica: Pink shrub</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Chrysler Imperial: Red hybrid tea</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Double Delight: Red and white hybrid tea</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Iceberg: White floribunda</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Mister Lincoln: Red hybrid tea</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Olympiad: Red hybrid tea</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Queen Elizabeth: Pink grandiflora</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Scentimental: Red and white floribunda</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"USDA hardiness zones for plants","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>If you live in a cold-winter area, choose roses that can survive with minimum damage. This plant hardiness zone chart (based on average annual minimum temperatures) is from the USDA; it helps you figure how cold it gets in your area. Choose roses suitable for your climate zone.</p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th>Temperature in ° C</th>\n<th>USDA Zone</th>\n<th>Temperature in ° F</th>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>–45.6 and below</td>\n<td>1</td>\n<td>Below –50</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>–42.8 and below</td>\n<td>2a</td>\n<td>–45 to –50</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>–40 to –42.7</td>\n<td>2b</td>\n<td>–40 to –45</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>–37.3 to –39.9</td>\n<td>3a</td>\n<td>–35 to –40</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>–34.5 to –37.2</td>\n<td>3b</td>\n<td>–30 to –35</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>–31.7 to –34.4</td>\n<td>4a</td>\n<td>–25 to –30</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>–28.9 to –31.6</td>\n<td>4b</td>\n<td>–20 to –25</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>–26.2 to –28.8</td>\n<td>5a</td>\n<td>–15 to –20</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>–23.4 to –26.1</td>\n<td>5b</td>\n<td>–10 to –15</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>–20.6 to –23.3</td>\n<td>6a</td>\n<td>–5 to –10</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>–17.8 to –20.5</td>\n<td>6b</td>\n<td>0 to –5</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>–15 to –17.7</td>\n<td>7a</td>\n<td>5 to 0</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>–12.3 to –14.9</td>\n<td>7b</td>\n<td>10 to 5</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>–9.5 to –12.2</td>\n<td>8a</td>\n<td>15 to 10</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>–6.7 to –9.4</td>\n<td>8b</td>\n<td>20 to 15</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>–3.9 to –6.6</td>\n<td>9a</td>\n<td>25 to 20</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>–1.2 to –3.8</td>\n<td>9b</td>\n<td>30 to 25</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1.6 to –1.1</td>\n<td>10a</td>\n<td>35 to 30</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>4.4 to 1.7</td>\n<td>10b</td>\n<td>40 to 35</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>4.5 and above</td>\n<td>11</td>\n<td>40 and above</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody>\n</table>\n"},{"title":"Foolproof tips for growing roses","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Planting your roses is just the beginning of care. Follow these basic rose-growing guidelines to help keep your plants growing vigorously and producing fabulous blooms:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Roses are tough; you don&#8217;t need to baby them.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">After they&#8217;re established, water deeply once a week if it doesn’t rain.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Fertilize every four to six weeks.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Whack &#8217;em back in late winter or early spring.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">If a rose isn&#8217;t growing as well as you&#8217;d like, yank it out and replace it with something better.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Ask questions. Find a rose society meeting near you and join up; they can help. And don&#8217;t forget your local nursery or master gardener association.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Types of roses","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Picking a rose plant is a matter of personal preference. Do you want fragrance, a climber, lots of blooms, a certain bloom size, or a compact plant? Here are the types of roses and their basic differences so you choose the type that fits your gardening plan:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Climbers:</b> Vigorous, sprawling rose plants that need the support of an arbor, fence, or trellis to stay upright.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Floribundas:</b> Free-blooming shrubs that produce tons of flowers, usually borne in large clusters. One of the best types of roses for landscaping.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Grandifloras:</b> Vigorous bushes producing large, beautifully formed flowers that are more likely to be borne in clusters than one to a stem. &#8220;Queen Elizabeth&#8221; is a classic grandiflora.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Hybrid teas:</b> The most popular type of rosebush, with beautiful long-stemmed flowers that are ideal for cutting.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Miniatures:</b> Small in leaf and stature but big in amount of bloom. Grow only 4 to 36 inches high but make great landscape plants, especially as edgings and in containers.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Old garden and species roses (antique roses):</b> A huge group of roses varying in plant habit and flower type. A larger number bloom only once a year. Many have extremely fragrant and/or uniquely formed flowers.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Polyanthas:</b> Small, compact shrubs producing large clusters of flowers. Good landscape plants.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Shrubs:</b> A diverse group of quite varied plants, includes many new excellent landscape varieties known for their easy care and abundant bloom. Also includes some of the hardiest roses.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":null,"sponsorEbookTitle":null,"sponsorEbookLink":null,"sponsorEbookImage":null},"primaryLearningPath":"Explore","lifeExpectancy":"Five years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-04-27T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":209458},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-27T16:56:28+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-04-18T17:44:11+00:00","timestamp":"2022-06-22T19:37:37+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33809"},"slug":"home-auto-hobbies","categoryId":33809},{"name":"Garden & Green Living","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33916"},"slug":"garden-green-living","categoryId":33916},{"name":"Gardening","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33917"},"slug":"gardening","categoryId":33917},{"name":"General Gardening","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33925"},"slug":"general-gardening","categoryId":33925}],"title":"Gardening Basics For Canadians For Dummies Cheat Sheet","strippedTitle":"gardening basics for canadians for dummies cheat sheet","slug":"gardening-basics-for-canadians-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Learn the basics of growing plants in the Canada's cold climates, including regional frost dates and how to prepare perennials for winter.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"Gardening in Canada presents specific challenges due to our cold climate and short growing season. This cheat sheet offers tips for getting the most out of your Canadian garden.\r\n\r\nStart by checking the frost dates in your region and consult some of the many online gardening resources that are available. Protect your perennials through the winter and choose the best grasses for Canada’s climate to maintain a beautiful, thriving lawn and garden year after year. Read on to see how.","description":"Gardening in Canada presents specific challenges due to our cold climate and short growing season. This cheat sheet offers tips for getting the most out of your Canadian garden.\r\n\r\nStart by checking the frost dates in your region and consult some of the many online gardening resources that are available. Protect your perennials through the winter and choose the best grasses for Canada’s climate to maintain a beautiful, thriving lawn and garden year after year. Read on to see how.","blurb":"","authors":[],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33925,"title":"General Gardening","slug":"general-gardening","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33925"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":236815,"title":"How to Grow and Care for Succulents","slug":"grow-care-succulents","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","general-gardening"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/236815"}},{"articleId":209364,"title":"Sustainable Gardening For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"sustainable-gardening-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","general-gardening"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/209364"}},{"articleId":209195,"title":"Gardening Basics For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"gardening-basics-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","general-gardening"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/209195"}},{"articleId":208914,"title":"Gardening All-in-One For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"gardening-all-in-one-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","general-gardening"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/208914"}},{"articleId":206147,"title":"How to Divide Perennials","slug":"how-to-divide-perennials","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","general-gardening"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/206147"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":0,"slug":null,"isbn":null,"categoryList":null,"amazon":null,"image":null,"title":null,"testBankPinActivationLink":null,"bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":null,"authors":null,"_links":null},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;garden-green-living&quot;,&quot;gardening&quot;,&quot;general-gardening&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[null]}]\" id=\"du-slot-62b36f810fecb\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;garden-green-living&quot;,&quot;gardening&quot;,&quot;general-gardening&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[null]}]\" id=\"du-slot-62b36f8110607\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Cheat Sheet","articleList":[{"articleId":192821,"title":"Canadian Gardening Frost Dates by Region","slug":"canadian-gardening-frost-dates-by-region","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","general-gardening"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/192821"}},{"articleId":192811,"title":"Online Resources for Gardening in Canada","slug":"online-resources-for-gardening-in-canada","categoryList":[],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/192811"}},{"articleId":192820,"title":"Preparing Perennials for Cold Canadian Winters","slug":"preparing-perennials-for-cold-canadian-winters","categoryList":[],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/192820"}},{"articleId":192810,"title":"The Best Grasses to Plant in Canada","slug":"the-best-grasses-to-plant-in-canada","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","landscaping"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/192810"}}],"content":[{"title":"Canadian gardening frost dates by region","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Canadian gardeners need to know when the growing season in their area begins and ends so they can avoid losing plants to frost. This chart provides frost dates across Canada.</p>\n<p>To be extra careful, plant or transplant temperature-sensitive plants ten days after the dates below. For more Canadian locations, go to <a href=\"http://tdc.ca/canadian_frost_dates.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">tdc’s FarmGate</a>.</p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th>Location</th>\n<th>Last Frost Date</th>\n<th>First Frost Date</th>\n<th>Typical Number of Frost-Free Days</th>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>St. John’s</td>\n<td>June 2</td>\n<td>October 12</td>\n<td>132</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Halifax</td>\n<td>May 6</td>\n<td>October 20</td>\n<td>167</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Montreal</td>\n<td>May 3</td>\n<td>October 7</td>\n<td>157</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Toronto</td>\n<td>May 9</td>\n<td>October 6</td>\n<td>150</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Winnipeg</td>\n<td>May 25</td>\n<td>September 22</td>\n<td>120</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Regina</td>\n<td>May 21</td>\n<td>September 10</td>\n<td>112</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Calgary</td>\n<td>May 23</td>\n<td>September 15</td>\n<td>115</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Yellowknife</td>\n<td>May 27</td>\n<td>September 15</td>\n<td>111</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Whitehorse</td>\n<td>June 11</td>\n<td>August 25</td>\n<td>75</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Vancouver</td>\n<td>March 28</td>\n<td>November 5</td>\n<td>222</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Victoria</td>\n<td>March 1</td>\n<td>December 1</td>\n<td>275</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody>\n</table>\n"},{"title":"Online resources for gardening in Canada","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>If you’re looking for reliable Canadian gardening websites, you’ve come to the right spot. The following sites offer interesting Canadian gardening blogs, excellent gardening tips, Canadian gardening communities, upcoming regional gardening events, and more.</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><a href=\"http://planthardiness.gc.ca/?m=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada</a></p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><a href=\"https://www.rbg.ca/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Canadian Botanical Conservation Network</a></p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i></i><a href=\"http://www.cwf-fcf.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Canadian Wildlife Federation</a></p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><a href=\"http://www.coldclimategardening.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cold Climate Gardening</a></p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><a href=\"http://www.communitiesinbloom.ca/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Communities in Bloom</a></p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><a href=\"http://www.compost.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Compost Council of Canada</a></p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><a href=\"http://www.growarow.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Plant a Row; Grow a Row</a></p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><a href=\"http://www.seeds.ca/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Seeds of Diversity Canada</a></p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Preparing perennials for cold Canadian winters","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>In Canada, tender perennials like geraniums, impatiens, and gerbera need to be kept alive with good winter protection — otherwise they become one-hit wonders. To overwinter your tender perennial plants during Canada’s cold winter months, follow these steps:</p>\n<ol class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Dig up the roots or entire plant.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Bring them indoors to a nonfreezing spot for the next few months (where they will become dormant or semidormant houseplants).</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Pot the plants in any good soil, and grow them in a cool (5°C-10°C, or 40°F-50°F) and bright area.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Keep them barely moist through the winter, just keeping them alive.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Once replanted in the spring, they’ll spring back to life with the help of warmer temperatures and brighter light.</p>\n</li>\n</ol>\n<p class=\"Tip\">You can also trim and prune your perennials and use mulch to protect them through the winter.</p>\n"},{"title":"The best grasses to plant in Canada","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Growing and maintaining a lush green lawn in Canada can be a challenge. It starts with choosing the best type of grass. The best types of grasses to grow in Canada are cool-season grasses because our summers are short and our winters are cold – and usually snowy.</p>\n<p>Cool-season grasses grow actively in spring and fall, slow down in summer, and go dormant in the winter. They do best at temperatures between 16°C and 27°C (60°F and 80°F) and can survive freezing winter temperatures. The following cool-season grasses thrive in Canada’s cooler climate.</p>\n<table>\n<caption>Cool-Season, Northern Grasses</caption>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th>Type of Grass</th>\n<th>Appearance</th>\n<th>Ideal Mow-to Height</th>\n<th>Description and Care</th>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Kentucky bluegrass</td>\n<td>Fine to medium texture.<br />\nCanoe-shaped.<br />\nDark blue-green.</td>\n<td>6 to 8 cm</td>\n<td>Hardy but not drought-tolerant so water generously.<br />\nDisease resistant.<br />\nNeeds more fertilizer.<br />\nShallow roots make it a good showpiece lawn but unsuitable for<br />\nheavy foot traffic.</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Fescues, fine and tall</td>\n<td>Fine texture.<br />\nBristle-leaved.<br />\nMedium green.</td>\n<td>6 to 8 cm</td>\n<td>Water deeply and infrequently (do not soak or make soggy).<br />\nShade-tolerant.<br />\nTolerates foot traffic very well.<br />\nCan perform well in poor soil.<br />\nIs often mixed with other grasses.</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Bent grass</td>\n<td>Fine texture.<br />\nBlades begin to bends at a couple of centimeters tall (hence the<br />\nname).</td>\n<td>3 to 4 cm</td>\n<td>Needs generous watering (weekly during the height of the<br />\ngrowing season).<br />\nCut regularly to avoid stems from forming thick mats and<br />\nthatching.<br />\nPopular for golf and tennis courses.<br />\nUse a mower with very sharp blades.</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Perennial ryegrass</td>\n<td>Fine texture.<br />\nGlossy.<br />\nDark green.</td>\n<td>6 to 8 cm</td>\n<td>Has shallow roots, likes consistent water.<br />\nDisease resistant.<br />\nTolerates foot traffic well.<br />\nNice in full sun or shade (but not reliably hardy).<br />\nGerminates and grows quickly and is often used in blends.</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody>\n</table>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":null,"sponsorEbookTitle":null,"sponsorEbookLink":null,"sponsorEbookImage":null},"primaryLearningPath":"Explore","lifeExpectancy":"Two years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-04-18T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":209067},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-27T16:58:00+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-04-08T19:00:38+00:00","timestamp":"2022-06-22T19:37:35+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33809"},"slug":"home-auto-hobbies","categoryId":33809},{"name":"Garden & Green Living","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33916"},"slug":"garden-green-living","categoryId":33916},{"name":"Gardening","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33917"},"slug":"gardening","categoryId":33917},{"name":"General Gardening","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33925"},"slug":"general-gardening","categoryId":33925}],"title":"Sustainable Gardening For Dummies Cheat Sheet","strippedTitle":"sustainable gardening for dummies cheat sheet","slug":"sustainable-gardening-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Discover what tools you need to create a sustainable garden, and learn some tips to make your garden grow.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"Gardening sustainably just makes sense in our fragile world. Doing it in your own backyard takes a little effort, but more and more gardeners are finding that every step is worth it to create a sustainable garden that not only looks after your plants and you, but also helps the whole planet.","description":"Gardening sustainably just makes sense in our fragile world. Doing it in your own backyard takes a little effort, but more and more gardeners are finding that every step is worth it to create a sustainable garden that not only looks after your plants and you, but also helps the whole planet.","blurb":"","authors":[],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33925,"title":"General Gardening","slug":"general-gardening","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33925"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":236815,"title":"How to Grow and Care for Succulents","slug":"grow-care-succulents","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","general-gardening"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/236815"}},{"articleId":209195,"title":"Gardening Basics For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"gardening-basics-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","general-gardening"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/209195"}},{"articleId":209067,"title":"Gardening Basics For Canadians For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"gardening-basics-for-canadians-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","general-gardening"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/209067"}},{"articleId":208914,"title":"Gardening All-in-One For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"gardening-all-in-one-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","general-gardening"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/208914"}},{"articleId":206147,"title":"How to Divide Perennials","slug":"how-to-divide-perennials","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","general-gardening"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/206147"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":0,"slug":null,"isbn":null,"categoryList":null,"amazon":null,"image":null,"title":null,"testBankPinActivationLink":null,"bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":null,"authors":null,"_links":null},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;garden-green-living&quot;,&quot;gardening&quot;,&quot;general-gardening&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[null]}]\" id=\"du-slot-62b36f7f24542\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;garden-green-living&quot;,&quot;gardening&quot;,&quot;general-gardening&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[null]}]\" id=\"du-slot-62b36f7f24d5b\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Cheat Sheet","articleList":[{"articleId":194884,"title":"Reducing Your Environmental Footprint in the Garden","slug":"reducing-your-environmental-footprint-in-the-garden","categoryList":[],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/194884"}},{"articleId":194866,"title":"A Few Essential Tools for Your Sustainable Garden","slug":"a-few-essential-tools-for-your-sustainable-garden","categoryList":[],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/194866"}},{"articleId":194828,"title":"Some Sustainable Plants for a Coastal Temperate Climate","slug":"some-sustainable-plants-for-a-coastal-temperate-climate","categoryList":[],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/194828"}},{"articleId":194859,"title":"Top Tips for Small Sustainable Gardens","slug":"top-tips-for-small-sustainable-gardens","categoryList":[],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/194859"}}],"content":[{"title":"Reducing your environmental footprint in the garden","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Switching over to sustainable gardening practices goes a long way to building a garden that you can enjoy, admire and even eat. At the same time, you reduce your environmental footprint, by increasing carbon storage, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and contributing to plant and animal biodiversity. Here are a few tips to create your sustainable garden:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Plant trees.</b> Planting trees helps to store carbon from the atmosphere into the soil. Trees can also cool your home in summer and let in the winter sun. If you don’t have room for trees at your place, volunteer with a local landcare group.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Grow your own organic food. </b>Not only does this help to reduce the distance your food travels before it hits your plate, but it also helps to save water and fossil fuels.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Compost your waste. </b>The less green garden waste and food scraps going into landfill the better, and you get to use the compost in your sustainable garden.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Take responsibility for your gardening practices.</b> Think very carefully before you reach for the bug spray or synthetic fertiliser! So many good, sustainable alternatives exist — use your compost to help feed your plants, and get worms and insects working for you.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Help stop the spread of environmental weeds.</b> Find out what plants have become weeds in your area and, if you have them or they pop up, either get rid of them safely or contain them.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Minimise your use of powered tools. </b>Mowers, blowers and brush-cutters can make life easier, but think about their environmental impact. Buy an energy-efficient mower, mow less often and keep the grass height to about 4 to 5 centimetres — it’s better for your sustainable lawn as well.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Start a list of groups of like-minded people you can join or learn from.</b> Local knowledge goes a long way in establishing sustainable practices.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Get the kids into sustainable gardening.</b> At home, at school or in the community, if kids learn the right way from the beginning, they’re sure to keep gardening sustainably into the future.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Only use renewable resources in the garden. </b>Check the source of gardening materials, and make sure you reuse, recycle and renew. Think about where your pavers, sleepers and mulch come from and how they’re manufactured.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Create a haven with a diverse range of plants.</b> Not only do you help increase plant biodiversity, but you also provide a habitat for animals, beneficial insects and birds.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Build your garden for the future, not for fashion.</b> Make your garden climate-friendly and water-wise. Understand your environment, weather patterns and the plants that thrive where you live, not what the magazines dictate.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"A few essential tools for your sustainable garden","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>To create your sustainable garden, some things are just too good to pass up. Compost, mulch and worms all help to condition your soil and retain moisture, and you can get beneficial insects to work with you to keep your plants healthy, sustainably.</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>A compost heap or bin: </b>Choose whatever type suits your garden — a three-bay heap for a large property, a classic upside-down-bin style to place in an average garden, a tumble-type bin that neatly sits on a paved area or a bokashi bucket to keep in your kitchen. Mature compost ends up as a delightful humus to use as a soil conditioner in your sustainable garden, or, for the bokashi method, a delicious pickle your plants love.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>An insectary:</b> A garden plot, or even a series of pots on a balcony, with at least seven different plant species of varying heights attracts various beneficial bugs to your sustainable garden. Good candidates to plant include amaranthus, coriander, cosmos, dill, lemon balm, parsley, tansy and yarrow.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Mulch:</b> To help keep in precious moisture, cover the soil around your plants with the finished humus from your compost or an organic mulch, such as matured manure, pea straw, pine bark, seaweed or sugar cane. Inorganic mulch, such as pebbles or granitic sand, should be use sparingly in a sustainable garden.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Worms: </b>You can buy or build a worm farm or simply attract earthworms to your soil. Either way, worms produce a fantastic by-product, commonly known as worm castings, or vermicasts, that attracts microorganisms, such as good bacteria and fungi, to your soil so your plants thrive. If you have a worm farm, the worm wee, actually the liquid that accumulates at the bottom, is an added bonus for your garden.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Some sustainable plants for a coastal temperate climate","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>These plants are climate-friendly (that is, sustainable) in a Victorian seaside garden in the temperate climate of Australia’s southern coast. Some are indigenous to that region, some are native to Australia and some come from elsewhere.</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Blue fescue (<i>Festuca glauca</i>):</b> These small, blue, tufted grass plants provide a nice contrast in the garden and lizards love to hang around them.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Common correa (<i>Correa reflexa</i>):</b> This lovely little shrub grows wild in the region, with little hanging bell flowers all over it, some red and others a dusty pink.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Common heath (<i>Epacris impressa</i>):</b> The dark green, short pointy leaves and clusters of narrow little bell flowers along the stem, which are sometimes pink, sometimes white, are a Victorian classic.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Geraldton wax (<i>Chamelaucium uncinatum</i>):</b> This magnificent Western Australian shrub, with its masses of pale pink, waxy flowers in spring also suit this region of Victoria.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Grampians thryptomene (<i>Thryptomene calycina</i>):</b> Tiny, tiny aromatic leaves and weeny white flowers packed on the stem in spring make this a favourite in many gardens in the area.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Hebe, particularly the ‘Icing Sugar’ variety:</b> This shrub is tough as old boots and grows all over the place, and the tough green leaves and pink and white flowers make it stand out in any sustainable garden.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Liriope (<i>Liriope muscari</i>):</b> A clumping, strappy plant with shiny green leaves that always deserves a spot in the garden; the flower spikes in blue or white are an added bonus.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>New Zealand Christmas tree (<i>Metrosideros excelsa</i>): </b>A New Zealand favourite, this great tough tree, with bright red flowers in summer, is just right for a garden near the sea.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Sage, or salvia: </b>All kinds of salvia in all kinds of colours, some tougher than others, are terrific in just about any sustainable garden — you can find at least one, if not six or seven, for your garden.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Toothed lancewood (<i>Pseudopanax ferox</i>):</b> Another Kiwi plant, this one starts off with long-toothed narrow leaves pointing downward, and then matures into a large, rounded, spectacular tree — often loved for its weirdness.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Top tips for small sustainable gardens","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Modern urban living poses many challenges, not the least being how to create and maintain a sustainable garden in a small space. If you’re a gardener at heart and only have a small backyard or even just a balcony, here are a few tips to get you growing, sustainably.</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Grow beans, peas or cucumbers on a trellis or tripod in large decorative pots.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Plant dwarf fruit trees.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Espalier your trees along a fence or a wall.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Grow herbs and cherry tomatoes in hanging baskets.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Pay attention to detail; it’s easy to make a small garden look cluttered.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":null,"sponsorEbookTitle":null,"sponsorEbookLink":null,"sponsorEbookImage":null},"primaryLearningPath":"Explore","lifeExpectancy":"One year","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-04-08T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":209364},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-27T16:57:05+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-04-01T13:13:34+00:00","timestamp":"2022-06-22T19:37:33+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33809"},"slug":"home-auto-hobbies","categoryId":33809},{"name":"Garden & Green Living","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33916"},"slug":"garden-green-living","categoryId":33916},{"name":"Gardening","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33917"},"slug":"gardening","categoryId":33917},{"name":"General Gardening","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33925"},"slug":"general-gardening","categoryId":33925}],"title":"Gardening Basics For Dummies Cheat Sheet","strippedTitle":"gardening basics for dummies cheat sheet","slug":"gardening-basics-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Get ready for gardening with this handy Cheat Sheet, which includes plant hardiness zones, measurement conversions, fertilizers, and more.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"To have the garden of your dreams, make sure you pick the right plants for your hardiness zone and select the right fertilizers for your plants. If your garden is shady, this Cheat Sheet offers a list of plants made for the shade. When you're planning and measuring your garden use the handy conversion chart for metric and standard measurements.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_275476\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"556\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-275476\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/gardening-basics.jpg\" alt=\"gardening\" width=\"556\" height=\"344\" /> © Bobex-73 / Shutterstock.com[/caption]","description":"To have the garden of your dreams, make sure you pick the right plants for your hardiness zone and select the right fertilizers for your plants. If your garden is shady, this Cheat Sheet offers a list of plants made for the shade. When you're planning and measuring your garden use the handy conversion chart for metric and standard measurements.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_275476\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"556\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-275476\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/gardening-basics.jpg\" alt=\"gardening\" width=\"556\" height=\"344\" /> © Bobex-73 / Shutterstock.com[/caption]","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":9155,"name":"Steven A. Frowine","slug":"steven-a-frowine","description":"Steven A. Frowine is a noted professional horticulturist and a longtime avid gardener and communicator. ","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9155"}},{"authorId":9156,"name":"The National Gardening Association","slug":"the-national-gardening-association","description":"","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9156"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33925,"title":"General Gardening","slug":"general-gardening","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33925"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[{"articleId":206147,"title":"How to Divide Perennials","slug":"how-to-divide-perennials","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","general-gardening"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/206147"}},{"articleId":200692,"title":"Choosing the Right Vines for Your Garden","slug":"choosing-the-right-vines-for-your-garden","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","general-gardening"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/200692"}},{"articleId":200542,"title":"Deciding Where to Put Your Water Garden","slug":"deciding-where-to-put-your-water-garden","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","general-gardening"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/200542"}},{"articleId":199075,"title":"Understanding the Benefits of Garden Mulch","slug":"understanding-the-benefits-of-garden-mulch","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","general-gardening"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/199075"}},{"articleId":199017,"title":"How to Choose a Garden Hose","slug":"how-to-choose-a-garden-hose","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","general-gardening"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/199017"}}],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":236815,"title":"How to Grow and Care for Succulents","slug":"grow-care-succulents","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","general-gardening"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/236815"}},{"articleId":209364,"title":"Sustainable Gardening For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"sustainable-gardening-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","general-gardening"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/209364"}},{"articleId":209067,"title":"Gardening Basics For Canadians For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"gardening-basics-for-canadians-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","general-gardening"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/209067"}},{"articleId":208914,"title":"Gardening All-in-One For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"gardening-all-in-one-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","general-gardening"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/208914"}},{"articleId":206147,"title":"How to Divide Perennials","slug":"how-to-divide-perennials","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","general-gardening"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/206147"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":282222,"slug":"gardening-basics-for-dummies","isbn":"9781119782032","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","general-gardening"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119782031/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1119782031/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1119782031-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1119782031/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1119782031/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/gardening-basics-for-dummies-2nd-edition-cover-9781119782032-203x255.jpg","width":203,"height":255},"title":"Gardening Basics For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":true,"authorsInfo":"","authors":[{"authorId":34784,"name":"","slug":"","description":" The <b>National Alliance For Youth Sports</b> provides a wide range of programs for coaches, administrators, officials, parents, and young athletes. <p><b>Greg Bach</b> is the Director of Communications for the Alliance.</p>","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/34784"}},{"authorId":35029,"name":"Steven A. Frowine","slug":"steven-a.-frowine","description":" <p><b>Steven A. Frowine</b> is a professional horticulturalist who grows more than 200 orchids in his Connecticut home. ","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/35029"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[{"title":"Making Things Grow","slug":"making-things-grow","collectionId":291872}],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;garden-green-living&quot;,&quot;gardening&quot;,&quot;general-gardening&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119782032&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-62b36f7d8586e\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;garden-green-living&quot;,&quot;gardening&quot;,&quot;general-gardening&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119782032&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-62b36f7d85fb0\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Cheat Sheet","articleList":[{"articleId":193575,"title":"Gardening by USDA Plant Hardiness Zones","slug":"gardening-by-usda-plant-hardiness-zones","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","general-gardening"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/193575"}}],"content":[{"title":"Gardening by USDA Plant Hardiness Zones","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>When choosing plants for your garden, select the plants best suited to your climate. Know your <a href=\"https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) hardiness zone</a> and use this chart to determine the time and length of your growing season. Of course, the climate is changing, and apparently, warming up, so you may be able to move a half or 1 zone colder and still be safe.</p>\n<table width=\"727\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Zone</strong></td>\n<td><strong>Minimum Temperature</strong><br />\n<strong>(°F/°C)</strong></td>\n<td><strong>Last Frost Date</strong></td>\n<td><strong>First Frost Date</strong></td>\n<td><strong>Typical Number of<br />\nFrost-Free Days</strong></td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1</td>\n<td>Below –50°F<br />\nBelow –46°C</td>\n<td>June 15</td>\n<td width=\"95\">July 15</td>\n<td>30</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>2</td>\n<td>–50°F to –40°F<br />\n–46°C to –40°C</td>\n<td>May 15</td>\n<td width=\"95\">August 15</td>\n<td>90</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>3</td>\n<td>–40°F to –30°F<br />\n–40°C to –34°C</td>\n<td>May 15</td>\n<td width=\"95\">September 15</td>\n<td>120</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>4</td>\n<td>–30F to –20F<br />\n–34° to –29°C</td>\n<td>May 10</td>\n<td width=\"95\">September 15</td>\n<td>125</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>5</td>\n<td>–20°F to –10°F<br />\n–29°C to –23°C</td>\n<td>April 30</td>\n<td width=\"95\">October 15</td>\n<td>165</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>6</td>\n<td>–10°F to 0°F<br />\n–23°C to –18°C</td>\n<td>April 15</td>\n<td width=\"95\">October 15</td>\n<td>180</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>7</td>\n<td>0°F to 10°F<br />\n–23°C to –12°C</td>\n<td>April 15</td>\n<td width=\"95\">October 15</td>\n<td>180</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>8</td>\n<td>10°F to 20°F<br />\n–12°C to –7°C</td>\n<td>March 10</td>\n<td width=\"95\">November 15</td>\n<td>245</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>9</td>\n<td>20°F to 30°F<br />\n–7°C to –1°C</td>\n<td>February 15</td>\n<td width=\"95\">December 15</td>\n<td>265</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>10</td>\n<td>30°F to 40°F<br />\n–1°C to 4°C</td>\n<td>January 20</td>\n<td width=\"95\">December 20</td>\n<td>335</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>11</td>\n<td>40°F and up<br />\n4°C and up</td>\n<td>Frost free</td>\n<td width=\"95\">Frost free</td>\n<td>365</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody>\n</table>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n"},{"title":"Plants That Grow in the Shade","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Don’t fret if your garden gets more shade than sun; plenty of plants thrive in the shade. This chart names annuals and <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/article/home-auto-hobbies/garden-green-living/gardening/flowers/how-to-grow-perennials-from-seed-205435/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">perennials</a> that do well in the shade, so keep this list handy and you can decide which plants you want for your shady garden oasis.</p>\n<table width=\"727\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Annuals</strong></td>\n<td><strong>Perennials</strong></td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Wax begonia (<em>Begonia semperflorens-cultorum</em>)</td>\n<td>Bear’s breeches (<em>Acanthus mollis</em>)</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Amethyst flower (<em>Browallia</em>)</td>\n<td>Beebalm (Monarda didyma)</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Canterbury bells (<em>Campanula medium</em>)</td>\n<td>Bellflower (<em>Campanula portenschlagiana</em>)</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Coleus (<em>Coleus spp.)</em></td>\n<td>Bergenia (<em>Bergenia crassifolia</em>)</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Impatiens <em>Impatiens spp</em>.)</td>\n<td>Bleeding heart (<em>Dicentra spectabilis</em>, recently changed to <em>Lamprocapnos spectabilis</em> )</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Lobelia (<em>Lobelia ssp.)</em></td>\n<td>Columbine (<em>Aquilegia</em>)</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Monkey flower (<em>Mimulus</em>)</td>\n<td>False spirea <em>(Astilbe</em>)</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Forget-me-not (<em>Myosotis sylvatica</em>)</td>\n<td>Globeflower (<em>Trollius</em>)</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Flowering tobacco (<em>Nicotiana alata</em>)</td>\n<td>Hosta (<em>Hosta spp</em>.)</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Love-in-a-mist (<em>Nigella damascena</em>)</td>\n<td>Lady’s mantle (<em>Alchemilla mollis</em>)</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Scarlet sage (<em>Salvia splendens</em>)</td>\n<td>Lungwort (<em>Pulmonaria</em>)</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Black-eyed Susan vine (<em>Thunbergia alata</em>)</td>\n<td>Meadow-rue (<em>Thalictrum</em>)</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Wishbone flower (<em>Torenia fournieri</em>)</td>\n<td>Siberian iris (<em>Iris sibirica</em>)</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody>\n</table>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n"},{"title":"Key Measurement Conversions for Gardening","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Surprisingly, a great deal of measuring goes into garden planning. If you need to change between metric and English (U.S. standard) units, use this basic conversion chart to make sense of it all when planning your garden.</p>\n<table width=\"727\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>T<strong>ype of Measurement</strong></td>\n<td><strong>Metric to English</strong></td>\n<td><strong>English to Metric</strong></td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Distance</td>\n<td>1 centimeter = 0.4 inch</td>\n<td>1 inch = 2.5 centimeters</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td></td>\n<td>1 meter = 39 inches = 1.1 yards</td>\n<td>1 yard = 0.9 meter</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td></td>\n<td>1 kilometer = 0.6 mile</td>\n<td>1 mile = 1.6 kilometers</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Volume</td>\n<td>1 liter = 1.1 quarts</td>\n<td>1 quart = 0.9 liter</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Mass/weight</td>\n<td>1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds</td>\n<td>1 pound = 0.4 kilogram</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td></td>\n<td>1 gram = 0.04 ounce</td>\n<td>1 ounce = 31 grams</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody>\n</table>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n"},{"title":"Fertilizers for Your Garden","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Fertilizing is an important part of gardening because given at the right time, fertilizers can really give your plants a boost. When you’re trying to decide on which fertilizer to use, keep this list handy to make sense of fertilizer terminology:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Complete fertilizers:</strong> These fertilizers contain all three macronutrients: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K).</li>\n<li><strong>Incomplete fertilizers:</strong> Incomplete fertilizers are missing one or more of the macronutrients, usually the P or the K.</li>\n<li><strong>Chelated micronutrients: </strong>If your plants don’t get nicely green (they remain mottled yellow and green, or just yellow), no matter how much nitrogen you apply, you probably have a deficiency of micronutrients — iron, manganese, or zinc. These fertilizers are in a form that allows a plant to absorb them more quickly than the more commonly available sulfated forms.</li>\n<li><strong>Organic fertilizers:</strong> <em>Organic</em> means these fertilizers derive their nutrients from something that was once alive. Examples include blood meal, fish emulsion, and manure.</li>\n<li><strong>Slow-release fertilizers:</strong> These fertilizers provide nutrients to plants at specific rates under particular conditions. Some slow-release fertilizers can deliver the benefits of their nutrients for as long as eight months.</li>\n<li><strong>Foliar fertilizers:</strong> Apply this plant food to leaves rather than to the roots (ground). You can use most liquid fertilizers as foliar fertilizers, but make sure the label says you can.</li>\n</ul>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":null,"sponsorEbookTitle":null,"sponsorEbookLink":null,"sponsorEbookImage":null},"primaryLearningPath":"Explore","lifeExpectancy":"Two years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-03-29T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":209195},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-26T18:54:00+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-03-31T16:52:56+00:00","timestamp":"2022-06-22T19:37:33+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33809"},"slug":"home-auto-hobbies","categoryId":33809},{"name":"Garden & Green Living","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33916"},"slug":"garden-green-living","categoryId":33916},{"name":"Gardening","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33917"},"slug":"gardening","categoryId":33917},{"name":"Flowers","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33920"},"slug":"flowers","categoryId":33920}],"title":"Month-By-Month: Chores for Northern Flower Gardeners","strippedTitle":"month-by-month: chores for northern flower gardeners","slug":"month-by-month-chores-for-northern-gardeners","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"If you live in the northern part of the United States, flower gardening involves different chores than for other regions of the country.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"Gardeners in northern regions deal with warm summers and cold winters. But there is work to do in your garden through most of the year. Here is a month-by-month guide that keeps you in the gardening frame of mind, even through the dreary months of winter.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >Winter</h2>\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>January:</b> Settle next to the fire with a stack of new seed catalogs. As you order seeds, think about where you want to plant new annuals and what color combinations you find appealing.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>February:</b> Prepare a space for starting seeds. Clear an area in a sunny window or set up fluorescent lights for seedlings to sprout and grow. Buy seed-starting trays or use old trays that you’ve cleaned with a dilute bleach solution and rinsed well. Providing bottom heat maintains an even, warm soil temperature and improves germination.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>March:</b> March through mid-April is seed-starting time in cold climates. Plan a seeding schedule — essential in short-season climates where you want to make every day count. Start by figuring when you want to move plants into the ground, and work backward to calculate the best time to sow the seeds indoors — four to eight weeks ahead of transplanting time, in most cases.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p class=\"article-tips tip\">Also see these month-by-month chores for gardeners in other U.S. regions: <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/article/home-auto-hobbies/garden-green-living/gardening/general-gardening/month-by-month-chores-for-southern-gardeners-180823/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">southern</a>; <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/article/home-auto-hobbies/garden-green-living/gardening/general-gardening/month-by-month-chores-for-gardeners-in-the-pacific-northwest-180824/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pacific Northwest</a>; <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/article/home-auto-hobbies/garden-green-living/gardening/general-gardening/month-by-month-chores-for-desert-gardeners-at-extreme-altitudes-180858/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">desert at extreme altitudes</a>.</p>\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"tab2\" >Spring</h2>\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>April:</b> You still have time to sow seeds indoors for transplanting next month. If your last-frost date falls around Memorial Day, sow seeds for all annuals, except fast-growing, tender plants (cosmos and zinnias, for example), by mid-April. If you live in warmer areas with milder winters, you can start sowing seeds of hardy annuals directly into the ground a couple weeks before the last frost date in their region.</p>\r\nIf it’s still cold in April where you live, wait until next month to direct-sow seeds. If you plant nothing else, sow sweet pea seeds as soon as the ground can be worked. Depending on your region, late April or May is the time to lay out beds and prepare the soil. Adjust the soil pH based on soil tests done in the fall. Amend the soil with a 2- or 3-inch layer of organic matter and a complete fertilizer.</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>May:</b> Early May is generally the best time to plant hardy annuals (seeds or transplants) in most areas — 10 to 14 days before the last frost is usually safe. Check local garden centers for ready-to-plant, cool-season annuals. Look for stocky, green plants when shopping at garden centers. Avoid plants with dead lower leaves and brown, overcrowded roots, as well as plants that are already flowering. Start transplanting tender annuals, such as impatiens, lobelia, and petunias, into the ground when frost danger has passed, the soil and air have warmed up, and the nights are no longer cold.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>June:</b> Continue planting tender annuals, and remember that newly planted seeds and transplants are vulnerable. Gardeners in cold, mountainous areas often wait until June 10 to plant the most tender plants, such as impatiens. Water if June is dry. Mulch to conserve water and slow weed growth. Pull off or pinch back fading blooms of cool-season annuals to extend their season of color.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>July:</b> Plants require extra water and nutrients to keep them at their peak in hot, dry weather. Container-bound plants, particularly, suffer from heat stress and usually need daily watering if they’re located in the sun. Container gardens quickly deplete soil nutrients; feed window boxes and pots with a liquid fertilizer every couple weeks. Continue feeding annuals to promote steady growth for the remainder of the summer. Stake taller plants. Deadhead flowers regularly. In hot climates, cool-season annuals probably have peaked, so pull them out.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>August:</b> In northern regions where the growing season is 90 to 110 days long, late July through early August is the garden’s peak. Continue to deadhead, water, and weed. Containers still need to be fertilized. Tidy beds and containers by pulling out plants that have passed their peak. Harvest flowers for drying and enjoy fresh-cut bouquets</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab3\" >Autumn to Winter</h2>\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>September:</b> Be ready with row covers or blankets if an early frost is predicted and you still have tender plants in bloom. Use pots of asters, calendulas, and flowering kale to replace frosted or dying annuals. Collect seed pods, dried flowers, and grasses to make arrangements.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>October:</b> Pull out dead plants and add them to your compost pile. Take soil samples in the fall to know how to amend soil next spring. Use the results of the soil tests to gauge any adjustments that you need to make in soil pH and fertility.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>November through December:</b> Sharpen, clean, and oil your tools. Keep a record of any extra seed you have. Store the extra seed in an airtight container in a cool location; add packets of silica gel to absorb any moisture in the container. Build your own window boxes or trellises for next year. Build a cold frame for growing and hardening off your transplants. Seek inspiration for next year’s garden in books and magazines.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>","description":"Gardeners in northern regions deal with warm summers and cold winters. But there is work to do in your garden through most of the year. Here is a month-by-month guide that keeps you in the gardening frame of mind, even through the dreary months of winter.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >Winter</h2>\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>January:</b> Settle next to the fire with a stack of new seed catalogs. As you order seeds, think about where you want to plant new annuals and what color combinations you find appealing.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>February:</b> Prepare a space for starting seeds. Clear an area in a sunny window or set up fluorescent lights for seedlings to sprout and grow. Buy seed-starting trays or use old trays that you’ve cleaned with a dilute bleach solution and rinsed well. Providing bottom heat maintains an even, warm soil temperature and improves germination.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>March:</b> March through mid-April is seed-starting time in cold climates. Plan a seeding schedule — essential in short-season climates where you want to make every day count. Start by figuring when you want to move plants into the ground, and work backward to calculate the best time to sow the seeds indoors — four to eight weeks ahead of transplanting time, in most cases.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p class=\"article-tips tip\">Also see these month-by-month chores for gardeners in other U.S. regions: <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/article/home-auto-hobbies/garden-green-living/gardening/general-gardening/month-by-month-chores-for-southern-gardeners-180823/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">southern</a>; <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/article/home-auto-hobbies/garden-green-living/gardening/general-gardening/month-by-month-chores-for-gardeners-in-the-pacific-northwest-180824/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pacific Northwest</a>; <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/article/home-auto-hobbies/garden-green-living/gardening/general-gardening/month-by-month-chores-for-desert-gardeners-at-extreme-altitudes-180858/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">desert at extreme altitudes</a>.</p>\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"tab2\" >Spring</h2>\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>April:</b> You still have time to sow seeds indoors for transplanting next month. If your last-frost date falls around Memorial Day, sow seeds for all annuals, except fast-growing, tender plants (cosmos and zinnias, for example), by mid-April. If you live in warmer areas with milder winters, you can start sowing seeds of hardy annuals directly into the ground a couple weeks before the last frost date in their region.</p>\r\nIf it’s still cold in April where you live, wait until next month to direct-sow seeds. If you plant nothing else, sow sweet pea seeds as soon as the ground can be worked. Depending on your region, late April or May is the time to lay out beds and prepare the soil. Adjust the soil pH based on soil tests done in the fall. Amend the soil with a 2- or 3-inch layer of organic matter and a complete fertilizer.</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>May:</b> Early May is generally the best time to plant hardy annuals (seeds or transplants) in most areas — 10 to 14 days before the last frost is usually safe. Check local garden centers for ready-to-plant, cool-season annuals. Look for stocky, green plants when shopping at garden centers. Avoid plants with dead lower leaves and brown, overcrowded roots, as well as plants that are already flowering. Start transplanting tender annuals, such as impatiens, lobelia, and petunias, into the ground when frost danger has passed, the soil and air have warmed up, and the nights are no longer cold.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>June:</b> Continue planting tender annuals, and remember that newly planted seeds and transplants are vulnerable. Gardeners in cold, mountainous areas often wait until June 10 to plant the most tender plants, such as impatiens. Water if June is dry. Mulch to conserve water and slow weed growth. Pull off or pinch back fading blooms of cool-season annuals to extend their season of color.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>July:</b> Plants require extra water and nutrients to keep them at their peak in hot, dry weather. Container-bound plants, particularly, suffer from heat stress and usually need daily watering if they’re located in the sun. Container gardens quickly deplete soil nutrients; feed window boxes and pots with a liquid fertilizer every couple weeks. Continue feeding annuals to promote steady growth for the remainder of the summer. Stake taller plants. Deadhead flowers regularly. In hot climates, cool-season annuals probably have peaked, so pull them out.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>August:</b> In northern regions where the growing season is 90 to 110 days long, late July through early August is the garden’s peak. Continue to deadhead, water, and weed. Containers still need to be fertilized. Tidy beds and containers by pulling out plants that have passed their peak. Harvest flowers for drying and enjoy fresh-cut bouquets</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab3\" >Autumn to Winter</h2>\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>September:</b> Be ready with row covers or blankets if an early frost is predicted and you still have tender plants in bloom. Use pots of asters, calendulas, and flowering kale to replace frosted or dying annuals. Collect seed pods, dried flowers, and grasses to make arrangements.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>October:</b> Pull out dead plants and add them to your compost pile. Take soil samples in the fall to know how to amend soil next spring. Use the results of the soil tests to gauge any adjustments that you need to make in soil pH and fertility.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>November through December:</b> Sharpen, clean, and oil your tools. Keep a record of any extra seed you have. Store the extra seed in an airtight container in a cool location; add packets of silica gel to absorb any moisture in the container. Build your own window boxes or trellises for next year. Build a cold frame for growing and hardening off your transplants. Seek inspiration for next year’s garden in books and magazines.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":9156,"name":"The National Gardening Association","slug":"the-national-gardening-association","description":"","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9156"}},{"authorId":9163,"name":"Bob Beckstrom","slug":"bob-beckstrom","description":"","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9163"}},{"authorId":9164,"name":"Karan Davis Cutler","slug":"karan-davis-cutler","description":" <p><b>Suzanne DeJohn</b> is an editor with the National Gardening Association.<br/> <b>The National Gardening Association</b> is the leading garden&#45;based educational nonprofit organization in the United States, providing resources at www.garden.org and www.kidsgardening.org. ","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9164"}},{"authorId":9165,"name":"Kathleen Fisher","slug":"kathleen-fisher","description":" <p><b>Suzanne DeJohn</b> is an editor with the National Gardening Association.<br/> <b>The National Gardening Association</b> is the leading garden&#45;based educational nonprofit organization in the United States, providing resources at www.garden.org and www.kidsgardening.org. ","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9165"}},{"authorId":9166,"name":"Phillip Giroux","slug":"phillip-giroux","description":"","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9166"}},{"authorId":9167,"name":"Judy Glattstein","slug":"judy-glattstein","description":"","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9167"}},{"authorId":9168,"name":"Michael MacCaskey","slug":"michael-maccaskey","description":"","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9168"}},{"authorId":9169,"name":"Bill Marken","slug":"bill-marken","description":"Bill Marken is the author of the first edition of Container Gardening For Dummies and coauthor of the second edition.","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9169"}},{"authorId":9170,"name":"Charlie Nardozzi","slug":"charlie-nardozzi","description":" <p><b>The National Gardening Association </b>is the leading garden-based educational organization in the United States. Visit http//:garden.org.</p> <p><b>Charlie Nardozzi</b> is a nationally recognized garden writer, radio and TV show host, consultant, and speaker. Charlie delights in making gardening information simple, easy, fun, and accessible to everyone.</p> ","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9170"}},{"authorId":9171,"name":"Sally Roth","slug":"sally-roth","description":"","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9171"}},{"authorId":9172,"name":"Marcia Tatroe","slug":"marcia-tatroe","description":"","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9172"}},{"authorId":9157,"name":"Lance Walheim","slug":"lance-walheim","description":"","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9157"}},{"authorId":9173,"name":"Ann Whitman","slug":"ann-whitman","description":" <b>Ann Whitman</b> is the author of the first edition of <i>Organic Gardening For Dummies</i>. <p><b>Suzanne DeJohn</b> is an editor with the National Gardening Association, the leading garden-based educational nonprofit organization in the U.S. NGA's programs and initiatives highlight the opportunities for plant-based education in schools, communities, and backyards across the country. These include award-winning Web sites garden.org and kidsgardening.org.</p> <p><b>The National Gardening Association (NGA)</b> is committed to sustaining and renewing the fundamental links between people, plants, and the earth. Founded in 1972 as &#8220;Gardens for All&#8221; to spearhead the community garden movement, today&#8217;s NGA promotes environmental responsibility, advances multidisciplinary learning and scientifi c literacy, and creates partnerships that restore and enhance communities.<br /> NGA is best known for its garden-based curricula, educational journals, international initiatives, and several youth garden grant programs. Together these reach more than 300,000 children nationwide each year. NGA&#8217;s Web sites, one for home gardeners and another for those who garden with kids, build community and offer a wealth of custom content.</p>","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9173"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33920,"title":"Flowers","slug":"flowers","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33920"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[{"label":"Winter","target":"#tab1"},{"label":"Spring","target":"#tab2"},{"label":"Autumn to Winter","target":"#tab3"}],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":242896,"title":"How to Care for an Orchid","slug":"how-to-care-for-an-orchid","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","flowers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/242896"}},{"articleId":209458,"title":"Roses For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"roses-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","flowers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/209458"}},{"articleId":209249,"title":"Orchids for Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"orchids-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","flowers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/209249"}},{"articleId":205435,"title":"How to Grow Perennials from Seed","slug":"how-to-grow-perennials-from-seed","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","flowers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/205435"}},{"articleId":201174,"title":"Identifying and Controlling Insects that Prey on Roses","slug":"identifying-and-controlling-insects-that-prey-on-roses","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","flowers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/201174"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":0,"slug":null,"isbn":null,"categoryList":null,"amazon":null,"image":null,"title":null,"testBankPinActivationLink":null,"bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":null,"authors":null,"_links":null},"collections":[{"title":"Making Things Grow","slug":"making-things-grow","collectionId":291872}],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;garden-green-living&quot;,&quot;gardening&quot;,&quot;flowers&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[null]}]\" id=\"du-slot-62b36f7d703bd\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;garden-green-living&quot;,&quot;gardening&quot;,&quot;flowers&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[null]}]\" id=\"du-slot-62b36f7d70be8\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Articles","articleList":null,"content":null,"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":null,"sponsorEbookTitle":null,"sponsorEbookLink":null,"sponsorEbookImage":null},"primaryLearningPath":"Explore","lifeExpectancy":"Two years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-03-29T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":180857},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-26T18:54:01+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-03-31T16:48:38+00:00","timestamp":"2022-06-22T19:37:33+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33809"},"slug":"home-auto-hobbies","categoryId":33809},{"name":"Garden & Green Living","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33916"},"slug":"garden-green-living","categoryId":33916},{"name":"Gardening","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33917"},"slug":"gardening","categoryId":33917},{"name":"General Gardening","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33925"},"slug":"general-gardening","categoryId":33925}],"title":"Month-by-Month: Chores for Desert Flower Gardeners at Extreme Altitudes","strippedTitle":"month-by-month: chores for desert flower gardeners at extreme altitudes","slug":"month-by-month-chores-for-desert-gardeners-at-extreme-altitudes","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"The Southwest deserts encompass mild-winter climates of the low-elevation deserts of Arizona and California. (The mountains of Arizona and New Mexico, as well a","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"The Southwest deserts encompass mild-winter climates of the low-elevation deserts of Arizona and California. (The mountains of Arizona and New Mexico, as well as west Texas, have a more typical cold-winter, summer-only season for growing annuals.)\r\n\r\nGlory time for annuals is late winter and early spring in low-desert Arizona, primarily around Phoenix and Tucson, and California’s Coachella Valley. This calendar starts in September to reflect the true beginning of the planting season:\r\n<p class=\"Tip\">If you live in a temperate, high-altitude climate, follow the <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/article/home-auto-hobbies/garden-green-living/gardening/flowers/month-by-month-chores-for-northern-gardeners-180857\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">calendar recommendations for Northern gardeners</a>.</p>\r\n\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>September:</b> Prepare planting beds. Midmonth or later, set out nursery transplants for winter and spring bloom — maybe even by Christmas. Provide temporary shade during the hottest weather. Early in the month, you still have time to start annual flower seeds in flats or pots to transplant into the ground later in the fall. If summer annuals are still going strong, keep them watered thoroughly and fertilize every two or four weeks.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>October:</b> Continue to set out annuals for blooms before the end of the year. Water thoroughly after planting and provide temporary shade during extra-hot spells. Sow seeds of low-spreading annuals to cover bare spots in bulb beds. If your timing is good, everything will bloom all at once. Start regular feeding a few weeks after planting annuals.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>November:</b> You still have time to plant for winter and spring bloom. Cooler weather encourages a new crop of aphids, plus slugs and snails.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>December:</b> You still have time to plant seedlings. Watch your soil for signs of dryness, and water as needed.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>January:</b> After the holidays, nurseries stock up with blooming annuals in small pots. Shop for color that you can use right away in pots or in gaps in planting beds. Watch for aphids and take steps to control them. Pull or hoe seasonal weeds, or mulch beds with a layer of organic matter to smother weeds and weed seeds.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>February:</b> Cool-season annuals are peaking this month in the low desert. Maintain top performance by removing dead flowers, watering thoroughly, and feeding regularly. Start seeds of warm-season annuals indoors to transplant into the garden in four to six weeks. Prepare beds for spring planting.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>March:</b> In the low desert, transplant warm-season annuals. Pinch back at planting time and snip off flowers to encourage bushier growth. A few weeks after planting, fertilize young annuals and begin a regular (bi-weekly or monthly) fertilizing schedule.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>April:</b> Plant heat-loving annuals, such as marigolds and zinnias. Adjust the frequency of sprinkler systems as the weather heats up.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>May:</b> Spring flowers are winding down. Pull them out and replace them with heat-lovers. Pinch tips of young annuals for bushier growth.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>June:</b> This is your last chance to plant for summer blooms. Make sure that you choose from among the true heat-lovers: globe amaranth, salvia, and the most reliable of all, vinca rosea.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>July and August:</b> Water and mulch. You don’t do any planting at this time of year. Feed summer annuals regularly. Remove faded flowers.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>","description":"The Southwest deserts encompass mild-winter climates of the low-elevation deserts of Arizona and California. (The mountains of Arizona and New Mexico, as well as west Texas, have a more typical cold-winter, summer-only season for growing annuals.)\r\n\r\nGlory time for annuals is late winter and early spring in low-desert Arizona, primarily around Phoenix and Tucson, and California’s Coachella Valley. This calendar starts in September to reflect the true beginning of the planting season:\r\n<p class=\"Tip\">If you live in a temperate, high-altitude climate, follow the <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/article/home-auto-hobbies/garden-green-living/gardening/flowers/month-by-month-chores-for-northern-gardeners-180857\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">calendar recommendations for Northern gardeners</a>.</p>\r\n\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>September:</b> Prepare planting beds. Midmonth or later, set out nursery transplants for winter and spring bloom — maybe even by Christmas. Provide temporary shade during the hottest weather. Early in the month, you still have time to start annual flower seeds in flats or pots to transplant into the ground later in the fall. If summer annuals are still going strong, keep them watered thoroughly and fertilize every two or four weeks.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>October:</b> Continue to set out annuals for blooms before the end of the year. Water thoroughly after planting and provide temporary shade during extra-hot spells. Sow seeds of low-spreading annuals to cover bare spots in bulb beds. If your timing is good, everything will bloom all at once. Start regular feeding a few weeks after planting annuals.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>November:</b> You still have time to plant for winter and spring bloom. Cooler weather encourages a new crop of aphids, plus slugs and snails.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>December:</b> You still have time to plant seedlings. Watch your soil for signs of dryness, and water as needed.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>January:</b> After the holidays, nurseries stock up with blooming annuals in small pots. Shop for color that you can use right away in pots or in gaps in planting beds. Watch for aphids and take steps to control them. Pull or hoe seasonal weeds, or mulch beds with a layer of organic matter to smother weeds and weed seeds.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>February:</b> Cool-season annuals are peaking this month in the low desert. Maintain top performance by removing dead flowers, watering thoroughly, and feeding regularly. Start seeds of warm-season annuals indoors to transplant into the garden in four to six weeks. Prepare beds for spring planting.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>March:</b> In the low desert, transplant warm-season annuals. Pinch back at planting time and snip off flowers to encourage bushier growth. A few weeks after planting, fertilize young annuals and begin a regular (bi-weekly or monthly) fertilizing schedule.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>April:</b> Plant heat-loving annuals, such as marigolds and zinnias. Adjust the frequency of sprinkler systems as the weather heats up.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>May:</b> Spring flowers are winding down. Pull them out and replace them with heat-lovers. Pinch tips of young annuals for bushier growth.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>June:</b> This is your last chance to plant for summer blooms. Make sure that you choose from among the true heat-lovers: globe amaranth, salvia, and the most reliable of all, vinca rosea.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>July and August:</b> Water and mulch. You don’t do any planting at this time of year. Feed summer annuals regularly. Remove faded flowers.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":9156,"name":"The National Gardening Association","slug":"the-national-gardening-association","description":"","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9156"}},{"authorId":9163,"name":"Bob Beckstrom","slug":"bob-beckstrom","description":"","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9163"}},{"authorId":9164,"name":"Karan Davis Cutler","slug":"karan-davis-cutler","description":" <p><b>Suzanne DeJohn</b> is an editor with the National Gardening Association.<br/> <b>The National Gardening Association</b> is the leading garden&#45;based educational nonprofit organization in the United States, providing resources at www.garden.org and www.kidsgardening.org. ","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9164"}},{"authorId":9165,"name":"Kathleen Fisher","slug":"kathleen-fisher","description":" <p><b>Suzanne DeJohn</b> is an editor with the National Gardening Association.<br/> <b>The National Gardening Association</b> is the leading garden&#45;based educational nonprofit organization in the United States, providing resources at www.garden.org and www.kidsgardening.org. ","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9165"}},{"authorId":9166,"name":"Phillip Giroux","slug":"phillip-giroux","description":"","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9166"}},{"authorId":9167,"name":"Judy Glattstein","slug":"judy-glattstein","description":"","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9167"}},{"authorId":9168,"name":"Michael MacCaskey","slug":"michael-maccaskey","description":"","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9168"}},{"authorId":9169,"name":"Bill Marken","slug":"bill-marken","description":"Bill Marken is the author of the first edition of Container Gardening For Dummies and coauthor of the second edition.","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9169"}},{"authorId":9170,"name":"Charlie Nardozzi","slug":"charlie-nardozzi","description":" <p><b>The National Gardening Association </b>is the leading garden-based educational organization in the United States. Visit http//:garden.org.</p> <p><b>Charlie Nardozzi</b> is a nationally recognized garden writer, radio and TV show host, consultant, and speaker. Charlie delights in making gardening information simple, easy, fun, and accessible to everyone.</p> ","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9170"}},{"authorId":9171,"name":"Sally Roth","slug":"sally-roth","description":"","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9171"}},{"authorId":9172,"name":"Marcia Tatroe","slug":"marcia-tatroe","description":"","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9172"}},{"authorId":9157,"name":"Lance Walheim","slug":"lance-walheim","description":"","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9157"}},{"authorId":9173,"name":"Ann Whitman","slug":"ann-whitman","description":" <b>Ann Whitman</b> is the author of the first edition of <i>Organic Gardening For Dummies</i>. <p><b>Suzanne DeJohn</b> is an editor with the National Gardening Association, the leading garden-based educational nonprofit organization in the U.S. NGA's programs and initiatives highlight the opportunities for plant-based education in schools, communities, and backyards across the country. These include award-winning Web sites garden.org and kidsgardening.org.</p> <p><b>The National Gardening Association (NGA)</b> is committed to sustaining and renewing the fundamental links between people, plants, and the earth. Founded in 1972 as &#8220;Gardens for All&#8221; to spearhead the community garden movement, today&#8217;s NGA promotes environmental responsibility, advances multidisciplinary learning and scientifi c literacy, and creates partnerships that restore and enhance communities.<br /> NGA is best known for its garden-based curricula, educational journals, international initiatives, and several youth garden grant programs. Together these reach more than 300,000 children nationwide each year. NGA&#8217;s Web sites, one for home gardeners and another for those who garden with kids, build community and offer a wealth of custom content.</p>","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9173"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33925,"title":"General Gardening","slug":"general-gardening","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33925"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":236815,"title":"How to Grow and Care for Succulents","slug":"grow-care-succulents","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","general-gardening"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/236815"}},{"articleId":209364,"title":"Sustainable Gardening For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"sustainable-gardening-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","general-gardening"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/209364"}},{"articleId":209195,"title":"Gardening Basics For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"gardening-basics-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","general-gardening"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/209195"}},{"articleId":209067,"title":"Gardening Basics For Canadians For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"gardening-basics-for-canadians-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","general-gardening"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/209067"}},{"articleId":208914,"title":"Gardening All-in-One For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"gardening-all-in-one-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","general-gardening"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/208914"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":0,"slug":null,"isbn":null,"categoryList":null,"amazon":null,"image":null,"title":null,"testBankPinActivationLink":null,"bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":null,"authors":null,"_links":null},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;garden-green-living&quot;,&quot;gardening&quot;,&quot;general-gardening&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[null]}]\" id=\"du-slot-62b36f7d6a037\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;garden-green-living&quot;,&quot;gardening&quot;,&quot;general-gardening&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[null]}]\" id=\"du-slot-62b36f7d6a7db\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Articles","articleList":null,"content":null,"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":null,"sponsorEbookTitle":null,"sponsorEbookLink":null,"sponsorEbookImage":null},"primaryLearningPath":"Explore","lifeExpectancy":"Two years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-03-31T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":180858},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-26T22:39:17+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-03-30T17:42:30+00:00","timestamp":"2022-06-22T19:37:32+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33809"},"slug":"home-auto-hobbies","categoryId":33809},{"name":"Garden & Green Living","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33916"},"slug":"garden-green-living","categoryId":33916},{"name":"Gardening","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33917"},"slug":"gardening","categoryId":33917},{"name":"Organic Gardening","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33922"},"slug":"organic","categoryId":33922}],"title":"Using Botanical Pesticides in Your Garden","strippedTitle":"using botanical pesticides in your garden","slug":"using-botanical-pesticides-in-your-organic-garden","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Learn about botanical pesticides that can be used in your garden, including their potential hazards to people and animals.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"Insect and disease killers that come from plant extracts are called <i>botanical pesticides</i> or <i>botanicals.</i> Although derived from natural sources, botanicals are not necessarily safer or less toxic to non-pest insects, humans, and animals than synthetically derived pesticides. In fact, most botanicals are broad-spectrum insecticides, which kill both good and bad bugs indiscriminately.\r\n\r\nSome botanicals cause allergic reactions in people, others are highly toxic to fish and animals, and some may even cause cancer. All pesticides — including botanicals — should be used only as a last resort after thoroughly reading the label on the package. The pesticides in this section are listed from least to most toxic to humans.\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><b>Hot pepper wax and powder: </b> The chemical <i>capsaicin</i> causes the heat in hot peppers and it's the active ingredient in these useful botanical products. In low doses, such as found in ready-to-use sprays and dusts, hot pepper wax repels most common insect pests from vegetables and ornamental plants. It doesn't cause the fruit or vegetables to become spicy hot, but instead stays on the surface of the plant where it remains effective for up to three weeks. Stronger commercial formulations kill insects as well as repel them. Hot pepper wax is even reportedly effective in repelling rabbits and tree squirrels.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><b>Neem:</b> This pesticide is made from the seeds of the tropical neem tree, <i>Azadirachta indica,</i> and it comes in two forms — azadirachtin solution and neem oil. Unlike the other botanical insecticides in this section, neem does not poison insects outright. Instead, when insects eat the active ingredient, it interrupts their ability to develop and grow to their next life stage or lay eggs. It also deters insects from feeding and is effective against aphids, thrips, fungus gnats, caterpillars, beetles, leafminers, and others. Amazingly, plants can absorb neem so that any insects that feed on them may be killed or deterred from feeding.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>Neem breaks down in the presence of sun and soil within a week or so. To discourage insects from eating your plants, spray neem before you see a large infestation. The product Safer BioNeem contains azadirachtin solution.</ul>\r\n<ul>Neem oil, the other seed extract, also works against some plant leaf diseases, such as black spot on roses, powdery mildew, and rust diseases. Mix the syrupy solution with a soapy emulsifier to help it spread and stick to the plants. The neem oil products called Rose Defense and Fruit & Vegetable Defense (from Green Light) control insects, mites, and leaf diseases.</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><b>Pyrethrins:</b> These insecticidal compounds occur naturally in the flowers of some species of chrysanthemum plants. The toxins penetrate the insects' nervous system, quickly causing paralysis. In high enough doses or in combination with other pesticides, the insects die. Powerful synthetic compounds that imitate the natural chrysanthemum compounds are called <i>pyrethroids.</i> Pyrethroids are not approved for use in organic farms and gardens. Also avoid any pyrethrins that list \"piperonyl butoxoid\" on the label. This additive is not approved for organic use.\r\n\r\nThe compound breaks down rapidly when exposed to sun and air and becomes less effective if stored for longer than one year. Many commercial products contain pyrethrins.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p class=\"article-tips warning\">Although relatively harmless to humans, pyrethrins are very highly toxic to fish and bees and moderately toxic to birds. It kills both beneficial and pest insects. To keep bees safe, spray pyrethrins in the evening after bees have returned to their hives for the night and avoid spraying blooming plants.</p>\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><b>Ryania:</b> This pesticide comes from the tropical <i>Ryania speciosa</i> plant. Although it controls fruit and codling moths, corn earworm, European corn borer, and citrus thrips, it is also moderately toxic to humans, fish, and birds. It is very toxic to dogs. Seek other botanical pesticides before considering ryania.</li>\r\n \t<li><b>Sabadilla:</b> Made from the seeds of a tropical plant, sabadilla is a powerful broad-spectrum insect killer. It's especially useful for controlling thrips, aphids, flea beetles, and tarnished plant bugs, but it also kills bees and other beneficial insects, and some people have severe allergic reactions to the chemical. Use it only as a last resort.</li>\r\n</ul>","description":"Insect and disease killers that come from plant extracts are called <i>botanical pesticides</i> or <i>botanicals.</i> Although derived from natural sources, botanicals are not necessarily safer or less toxic to non-pest insects, humans, and animals than synthetically derived pesticides. In fact, most botanicals are broad-spectrum insecticides, which kill both good and bad bugs indiscriminately.\r\n\r\nSome botanicals cause allergic reactions in people, others are highly toxic to fish and animals, and some may even cause cancer. All pesticides — including botanicals — should be used only as a last resort after thoroughly reading the label on the package. The pesticides in this section are listed from least to most toxic to humans.\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><b>Hot pepper wax and powder: </b> The chemical <i>capsaicin</i> causes the heat in hot peppers and it's the active ingredient in these useful botanical products. In low doses, such as found in ready-to-use sprays and dusts, hot pepper wax repels most common insect pests from vegetables and ornamental plants. It doesn't cause the fruit or vegetables to become spicy hot, but instead stays on the surface of the plant where it remains effective for up to three weeks. Stronger commercial formulations kill insects as well as repel them. Hot pepper wax is even reportedly effective in repelling rabbits and tree squirrels.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><b>Neem:</b> This pesticide is made from the seeds of the tropical neem tree, <i>Azadirachta indica,</i> and it comes in two forms — azadirachtin solution and neem oil. Unlike the other botanical insecticides in this section, neem does not poison insects outright. Instead, when insects eat the active ingredient, it interrupts their ability to develop and grow to their next life stage or lay eggs. It also deters insects from feeding and is effective against aphids, thrips, fungus gnats, caterpillars, beetles, leafminers, and others. Amazingly, plants can absorb neem so that any insects that feed on them may be killed or deterred from feeding.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>Neem breaks down in the presence of sun and soil within a week or so. To discourage insects from eating your plants, spray neem before you see a large infestation. The product Safer BioNeem contains azadirachtin solution.</ul>\r\n<ul>Neem oil, the other seed extract, also works against some plant leaf diseases, such as black spot on roses, powdery mildew, and rust diseases. Mix the syrupy solution with a soapy emulsifier to help it spread and stick to the plants. The neem oil products called Rose Defense and Fruit & Vegetable Defense (from Green Light) control insects, mites, and leaf diseases.</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><b>Pyrethrins:</b> These insecticidal compounds occur naturally in the flowers of some species of chrysanthemum plants. The toxins penetrate the insects' nervous system, quickly causing paralysis. In high enough doses or in combination with other pesticides, the insects die. Powerful synthetic compounds that imitate the natural chrysanthemum compounds are called <i>pyrethroids.</i> Pyrethroids are not approved for use in organic farms and gardens. Also avoid any pyrethrins that list \"piperonyl butoxoid\" on the label. This additive is not approved for organic use.\r\n\r\nThe compound breaks down rapidly when exposed to sun and air and becomes less effective if stored for longer than one year. Many commercial products contain pyrethrins.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p class=\"article-tips warning\">Although relatively harmless to humans, pyrethrins are very highly toxic to fish and bees and moderately toxic to birds. It kills both beneficial and pest insects. To keep bees safe, spray pyrethrins in the evening after bees have returned to their hives for the night and avoid spraying blooming plants.</p>\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><b>Ryania:</b> This pesticide comes from the tropical <i>Ryania speciosa</i> plant. Although it controls fruit and codling moths, corn earworm, European corn borer, and citrus thrips, it is also moderately toxic to humans, fish, and birds. It is very toxic to dogs. Seek other botanical pesticides before considering ryania.</li>\r\n \t<li><b>Sabadilla:</b> Made from the seeds of a tropical plant, sabadilla is a powerful broad-spectrum insect killer. It's especially useful for controlling thrips, aphids, flea beetles, and tarnished plant bugs, but it also kills bees and other beneficial insects, and some people have severe allergic reactions to the chemical. Use it only as a last resort.</li>\r\n</ul>","blurb":"","authors":[],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33922,"title":"Organic Gardening","slug":"organic","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33922"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":208347,"title":"Organic Gardening For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"organic-gardening-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","garden-green-living","gardening","organic"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/208347"}},{"articleId":202614,"title":"Fertilizing Naturally and Organically with 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General Gardening Designing Your Vegetable Garden

Article / Updated 07-28-2022

The best advice for planning your first vegetable garden is to start small. Just be sure you locate your garden in a sunny spot where expansion is possible. As for actual size, it depends on what you want to grow. Here's what you can put in the following standard-size gardens: A 6 x 8 foot plot can support a couple tomato plants, maybe some bush beans, and some lettuce. A 10 x 18 foot plot can hold all that, plus a couple space-consuming squash plants and cucumbers, and maybe some carrots or beets. A 20 x 24 foot plot can hold all that, plus peppers, leeks, broccoli, turnips, and maybe some herbs. A 40 x 60 plot allows you more of everything, plus some bigger items, such as corn (corn isn't worth growing unless you can have a dozen or more plants because otherwise they don't pollinate or pollinate completely, and you end up harvesting gap-toothed ears) and asparagus or rhubarb. Sketch out your vegetable garden plan on paper before planting. Figure out how much space to allot to individual plants — and don't forget to allow for space between the rows, or paths, so you can tend the plants. (Mature sizes of various vegetable varieties are noted on seed packets and often in catalog descriptions.) Allow for succession planting: If something is harvested early in the summer, lettuce, say, or peas, you can then free up that space for another crop, such as carrots. Succession planting is a good trick, but to pull it off, you may need to do some research as well as some trial and error — and be willing to invest the time and effort. You could also plan for a constant vegetable harvest by intercropping, or interplanting. This method is simple: Just have two different plants share the same part of the garden in an alternating or checkerboard pattern. This setup can look rather nifty, but it has practical advantages as well. Smaller, faster-maturing plants can grow with larger, slower-growing ones and so you always have something to harvest. And plants that appreciate a little shade can grow in the shelter of taller ones (have pole beans next to lettuce or spinach, for example).

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Flowers How to Repot an Orchid

Article / Updated 07-28-2022

Don't be afraid to repot your orchids while caring for them. Despite their reputation, orchids are tough, and repotting helps them thrive. You'll know it time to repot orchids when Orchid roots are overflowing the pot The plant itself is going over the edge of the pot Potting material is getting soggy and drains poorly The ideal time to repot most orchids is when the plant starts new growth — usually right after it finishes flowering. Prepare the potting mix Choose a potting mix that suits your particular type of orchid. Whether you mix it yourself or buy it ready-made — it must be wetted before you use it. Otherwise, it'll never hold moisture properly and will always dry out. Here's how you prepare the orchid mix for potting: Pour the amount of potting material you intend to use into a bucket that has about twice the volume of the mix. Fill the bucket with hot water. Hot water penetrates the material better than cold water. Let the mixture soak overnight. The next day, pour out the mix into a colander or strainer. Rinse the mix thoroughly to wash out the dust that was in the mix. Now the mix is ready to use. Time to repot When you're ready to repot the orchid, spread out some newspaper over a work surface. Gather up a knife, scissors, new orchid pots (or old ones that are thoroughly cleaned), wooden stakes, and soft ties. Now, follow these steps: Remove the orchid from the pot. You may need to use a knife to circle the inside of the pot and loosen the roots. Remove the old, loose, rotted potting material and any soft, damaged, or dead roots. If the roots are healthy, firm, and filling the pot, put the orchid in a pot just one size larger than the one you removed it from, placing the older growth toward the back so the new lead or growth has plenty of room. If the roots are rotted and in poor condition, repot the plant in a container of the same or one size smaller than it was removed from. If you place a poorly rooted plant in a container that's too large, the growing material will stay too damp, which will result in root rot. Some orchid growers like to add a coarse material like broken clay pots or Styrofoam in the bottom of the pots to improve drainage. You don't have to do this if you're using shallow, azalea-type pots. Place the plant in the pot so it's at the same depth as it was originally. The new shoot should be level with the pot rim. Press the fresh potting material into the pot and around the orchid roots with your thumbs and forefingers. The orchid should be secure in the pot so it doesn't wiggle — otherwise, the new roots won't form properly. Place a wooden or bamboo stake in the center of the pot, and tie up the new and old leads with soft string or twist ties. When orchids are in bloom, the staking techniques will vary, depending on the type of orchid. Monopodial orchids are those with one growing point that always grows vertically, not sideways (such as phalaenopsis, angraecums, and vandas). The potting process for these orchids is similar to the process just outlined, except that the orchid should be placed in the center of the container, rather than toward the back.

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Vegetables Gardening Tips for Conserving Water

Article / Updated 07-25-2022

Whether you're a novice or experienced gardener, embrace water-conservation methods even if you don't live in a water-restricted area. Conserve water as you garden, and you'll help save this precious resource and save some money, too. Keep these water-saving pointers in mind when tending to your garden: Grow plants that perform better under low water conditions: Some drought-resistant food crops you might try include herbs and hot peppers. For flowers and other ornamentals, consider native plants and wildflowers, ornamental grasses, and succulents. Plant closer together: Doing so allows you to conserve soil moisture and shade the ground, keeping it cool and moist. Consider the time of day that you water, especially if you use a sprinkler: You lose less water to evaporation (an important consideration in hot, dry climates) if sprinklers operate in the cool of the morning rather than during the heat of the afternoon. Watering in the morning also gives leaves a chance to dry off before evening; wet foliage is an ideal fungus-growing medium. Frequent, shallow waterings do more harm than good: They cause roots to develop mainly in the upper few inches of the soil, where they're susceptible to drying out. Instead, go for occasional, deep waterings. Deep waterings allow moisture to penetrate deeply into the soil. The roots will follow the water, and the plant will be deep rooted and less likely to be effected by dry conditions. You'll water less frequently; maybe deeply once per week. If your garden has heavy clay soil or is on a slope, and you find that water begins to run off before it penetrates 6 inches deep in the soil, try watering at intervals: Water for 10 to 15 minutes, let the water soak in for 15 to 20 minutes, and then water again. Try to use soaker hoses and drip irrigation to direct water to the plants and not waste it on pathways: Use a timer to turn on the system during cool parts of the day for only as long as needed. Collect rainwater from roofs and store it to be used in the garden: Rain barrels (often used with rain gardens) are becoming more widely available. In some areas you can even use gray water from your home in your yards. Check with your local water municipality for regulations on using gray water. Apply mulch, which helps retain moisture and keeps soil from drying out quickly.

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Flowers Roses For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 04-27-2022

Picking the perfect rose for your garden involves finding a hardy plant for your growing zone (based on climate), deciding on a type of rose, and following a plan for rose care. Know your rose terminology and the most popular roses, and you'll sound like a gardening guru.

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General Gardening Gardening Basics For Canadians For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 04-18-2022

Gardening in Canada presents specific challenges due to our cold climate and short growing season. This cheat sheet offers tips for getting the most out of your Canadian garden. Start by checking the frost dates in your region and consult some of the many online gardening resources that are available. Protect your perennials through the winter and choose the best grasses for Canada’s climate to maintain a beautiful, thriving lawn and garden year after year. Read on to see how.

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General Gardening Sustainable Gardening For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 04-08-2022

Gardening sustainably just makes sense in our fragile world. Doing it in your own backyard takes a little effort, but more and more gardeners are finding that every step is worth it to create a sustainable garden that not only looks after your plants and you, but also helps the whole planet.

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General Gardening Gardening Basics For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 04-01-2022

To have the garden of your dreams, make sure you pick the right plants for your hardiness zone and select the right fertilizers for your plants. If your garden is shady, this Cheat Sheet offers a list of plants made for the shade. When you're planning and measuring your garden use the handy conversion chart for metric and standard measurements.

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Flowers Month-By-Month: Chores for Northern Flower Gardeners

Article / Updated 03-31-2022

Gardeners in northern regions deal with warm summers and cold winters. But there is work to do in your garden through most of the year. Here is a month-by-month guide that keeps you in the gardening frame of mind, even through the dreary months of winter. Winter January: Settle next to the fire with a stack of new seed catalogs. As you order seeds, think about where you want to plant new annuals and what color combinations you find appealing. February: Prepare a space for starting seeds. Clear an area in a sunny window or set up fluorescent lights for seedlings to sprout and grow. Buy seed-starting trays or use old trays that you’ve cleaned with a dilute bleach solution and rinsed well. Providing bottom heat maintains an even, warm soil temperature and improves germination. March: March through mid-April is seed-starting time in cold climates. Plan a seeding schedule — essential in short-season climates where you want to make every day count. Start by figuring when you want to move plants into the ground, and work backward to calculate the best time to sow the seeds indoors — four to eight weeks ahead of transplanting time, in most cases. Also see these month-by-month chores for gardeners in other U.S. regions: southern; Pacific Northwest; desert at extreme altitudes. Spring April: You still have time to sow seeds indoors for transplanting next month. If your last-frost date falls around Memorial Day, sow seeds for all annuals, except fast-growing, tender plants (cosmos and zinnias, for example), by mid-April. If you live in warmer areas with milder winters, you can start sowing seeds of hardy annuals directly into the ground a couple weeks before the last frost date in their region. If it’s still cold in April where you live, wait until next month to direct-sow seeds. If you plant nothing else, sow sweet pea seeds as soon as the ground can be worked. Depending on your region, late April or May is the time to lay out beds and prepare the soil. Adjust the soil pH based on soil tests done in the fall. Amend the soil with a 2- or 3-inch layer of organic matter and a complete fertilizer. May: Early May is generally the best time to plant hardy annuals (seeds or transplants) in most areas — 10 to 14 days before the last frost is usually safe. Check local garden centers for ready-to-plant, cool-season annuals. Look for stocky, green plants when shopping at garden centers. Avoid plants with dead lower leaves and brown, overcrowded roots, as well as plants that are already flowering. Start transplanting tender annuals, such as impatiens, lobelia, and petunias, into the ground when frost danger has passed, the soil and air have warmed up, and the nights are no longer cold. June: Continue planting tender annuals, and remember that newly planted seeds and transplants are vulnerable. Gardeners in cold, mountainous areas often wait until June 10 to plant the most tender plants, such as impatiens. Water if June is dry. Mulch to conserve water and slow weed growth. Pull off or pinch back fading blooms of cool-season annuals to extend their season of color. July: Plants require extra water and nutrients to keep them at their peak in hot, dry weather. Container-bound plants, particularly, suffer from heat stress and usually need daily watering if they’re located in the sun. Container gardens quickly deplete soil nutrients; feed window boxes and pots with a liquid fertilizer every couple weeks. Continue feeding annuals to promote steady growth for the remainder of the summer. Stake taller plants. Deadhead flowers regularly. In hot climates, cool-season annuals probably have peaked, so pull them out. August: In northern regions where the growing season is 90 to 110 days long, late July through early August is the garden’s peak. Continue to deadhead, water, and weed. Containers still need to be fertilized. Tidy beds and containers by pulling out plants that have passed their peak. Harvest flowers for drying and enjoy fresh-cut bouquets Autumn to Winter September: Be ready with row covers or blankets if an early frost is predicted and you still have tender plants in bloom. Use pots of asters, calendulas, and flowering kale to replace frosted or dying annuals. Collect seed pods, dried flowers, and grasses to make arrangements. October: Pull out dead plants and add them to your compost pile. Take soil samples in the fall to know how to amend soil next spring. Use the results of the soil tests to gauge any adjustments that you need to make in soil pH and fertility. November through December: Sharpen, clean, and oil your tools. Keep a record of any extra seed you have. Store the extra seed in an airtight container in a cool location; add packets of silica gel to absorb any moisture in the container. Build your own window boxes or trellises for next year. Build a cold frame for growing and hardening off your transplants. Seek inspiration for next year’s garden in books and magazines.

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General Gardening Month-by-Month: Chores for Desert Flower Gardeners at Extreme Altitudes

Article / Updated 03-31-2022

The Southwest deserts encompass mild-winter climates of the low-elevation deserts of Arizona and California. (The mountains of Arizona and New Mexico, as well as west Texas, have a more typical cold-winter, summer-only season for growing annuals.) Glory time for annuals is late winter and early spring in low-desert Arizona, primarily around Phoenix and Tucson, and California’s Coachella Valley. This calendar starts in September to reflect the true beginning of the planting season: If you live in a temperate, high-altitude climate, follow the calendar recommendations for Northern gardeners. September: Prepare planting beds. Midmonth or later, set out nursery transplants for winter and spring bloom — maybe even by Christmas. Provide temporary shade during the hottest weather. Early in the month, you still have time to start annual flower seeds in flats or pots to transplant into the ground later in the fall. If summer annuals are still going strong, keep them watered thoroughly and fertilize every two or four weeks. October: Continue to set out annuals for blooms before the end of the year. Water thoroughly after planting and provide temporary shade during extra-hot spells. Sow seeds of low-spreading annuals to cover bare spots in bulb beds. If your timing is good, everything will bloom all at once. Start regular feeding a few weeks after planting annuals. November: You still have time to plant for winter and spring bloom. Cooler weather encourages a new crop of aphids, plus slugs and snails. December: You still have time to plant seedlings. Watch your soil for signs of dryness, and water as needed. January: After the holidays, nurseries stock up with blooming annuals in small pots. Shop for color that you can use right away in pots or in gaps in planting beds. Watch for aphids and take steps to control them. Pull or hoe seasonal weeds, or mulch beds with a layer of organic matter to smother weeds and weed seeds. February: Cool-season annuals are peaking this month in the low desert. Maintain top performance by removing dead flowers, watering thoroughly, and feeding regularly. Start seeds of warm-season annuals indoors to transplant into the garden in four to six weeks. Prepare beds for spring planting. March: In the low desert, transplant warm-season annuals. Pinch back at planting time and snip off flowers to encourage bushier growth. A few weeks after planting, fertilize young annuals and begin a regular (bi-weekly or monthly) fertilizing schedule. April: Plant heat-loving annuals, such as marigolds and zinnias. Adjust the frequency of sprinkler systems as the weather heats up. May: Spring flowers are winding down. Pull them out and replace them with heat-lovers. Pinch tips of young annuals for bushier growth. June: This is your last chance to plant for summer blooms. Make sure that you choose from among the true heat-lovers: globe amaranth, salvia, and the most reliable of all, vinca rosea. July and August: Water and mulch. You don’t do any planting at this time of year. Feed summer annuals regularly. Remove faded flowers.

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Organic Gardening Using Botanical Pesticides in Your Garden

Article / Updated 03-30-2022

Insect and disease killers that come from plant extracts are called botanical pesticides or botanicals. Although derived from natural sources, botanicals are not necessarily safer or less toxic to non-pest insects, humans, and animals than synthetically derived pesticides. In fact, most botanicals are broad-spectrum insecticides, which kill both good and bad bugs indiscriminately. Some botanicals cause allergic reactions in people, others are highly toxic to fish and animals, and some may even cause cancer. All pesticides — including botanicals — should be used only as a last resort after thoroughly reading the label on the package. The pesticides in this section are listed from least to most toxic to humans. Hot pepper wax and powder: The chemical capsaicin causes the heat in hot peppers and it's the active ingredient in these useful botanical products. In low doses, such as found in ready-to-use sprays and dusts, hot pepper wax repels most common insect pests from vegetables and ornamental plants. It doesn't cause the fruit or vegetables to become spicy hot, but instead stays on the surface of the plant where it remains effective for up to three weeks. Stronger commercial formulations kill insects as well as repel them. Hot pepper wax is even reportedly effective in repelling rabbits and tree squirrels. Neem: This pesticide is made from the seeds of the tropical neem tree, Azadirachta indica, and it comes in two forms — azadirachtin solution and neem oil. Unlike the other botanical insecticides in this section, neem does not poison insects outright. Instead, when insects eat the active ingredient, it interrupts their ability to develop and grow to their next life stage or lay eggs. It also deters insects from feeding and is effective against aphids, thrips, fungus gnats, caterpillars, beetles, leafminers, and others. Amazingly, plants can absorb neem so that any insects that feed on them may be killed or deterred from feeding. Neem breaks down in the presence of sun and soil within a week or so. To discourage insects from eating your plants, spray neem before you see a large infestation. The product Safer BioNeem contains azadirachtin solution. Neem oil, the other seed extract, also works against some plant leaf diseases, such as black spot on roses, powdery mildew, and rust diseases. Mix the syrupy solution with a soapy emulsifier to help it spread and stick to the plants. The neem oil products called Rose Defense and Fruit & Vegetable Defense (from Green Light) control insects, mites, and leaf diseases. Pyrethrins: These insecticidal compounds occur naturally in the flowers of some species of chrysanthemum plants. The toxins penetrate the insects' nervous system, quickly causing paralysis. In high enough doses or in combination with other pesticides, the insects die. Powerful synthetic compounds that imitate the natural chrysanthemum compounds are called pyrethroids. Pyrethroids are not approved for use in organic farms and gardens. Also avoid any pyrethrins that list "piperonyl butoxoid" on the label. This additive is not approved for organic use. The compound breaks down rapidly when exposed to sun and air and becomes less effective if stored for longer than one year. Many commercial products contain pyrethrins. Although relatively harmless to humans, pyrethrins are very highly toxic to fish and bees and moderately toxic to birds. It kills both beneficial and pest insects. To keep bees safe, spray pyrethrins in the evening after bees have returned to their hives for the night and avoid spraying blooming plants. Ryania: This pesticide comes from the tropical Ryania speciosa plant. Although it controls fruit and codling moths, corn earworm, European corn borer, and citrus thrips, it is also moderately toxic to humans, fish, and birds. It is very toxic to dogs. Seek other botanical pesticides before considering ryania. Sabadilla: Made from the seeds of a tropical plant, sabadilla is a powerful broad-spectrum insect killer. It's especially useful for controlling thrips, aphids, flea beetles, and tarnished plant bugs, but it also kills bees and other beneficial insects, and some people have severe allergic reactions to the chemical. Use it only as a last resort.

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