Here are some fun facts about this annual plant, including some great growing tips!

Sunflowers may grow as tall as seven feet!  Others may remain shorter and only reach about three feet. The petals of the sunflower may be bright yellow, which is most common, but orange and even red petals have been seen.

What is commonly referred to as the flower head itself, is actually a collection of numerous florets which mature upon pollination into the sunflower seeds that are coveted by children but also birds and other animals.

Sunflower seeds are considered a very healthy snack – if eaten raw and not processed with salt – since they contain a lot of dietary fiber and phytosterols which have long since been associated with the lowering of bad cholesterol. Some have actually dubbed the little seed to be the world’s healthiest food! If you are growing your sunflowers to provide some tasty winter treats for your wild birds, be sure to place some mesh over the flower head as the seeds are ripening to prevent the birds from getting their treats a few months early!

Before sunflowers bloom, they belong to the kinds of plants that show heliotropic behavior. This simply means that the face of the unopened flower will turn itself toward the sun and slowly move along with the moving sun.

If you are ready to plant some sunflowers this year, start them inside. Use a small container that will hold your potting mix – commercially available potting mixes are your best bet – and moisten the mix thoroughly. Then put one seed about one and one half inches deep into the mix. The pointy end should be facing up. Once your seedling is growing and sturdy, go ahead and harden it off. When this is completed, you may plant it outside in full sun, picking a spot with well drained soil. Mulch around the seedling, taking good care not to actually touch the seeding or its stem, as this will cause the little flower to rot!  Keep an eye out for garden pests who love the little sunflower – especially snails and slugs! When growing more than one sunflower, make sure you have enough room to support the five to six foot tall plants! Put the little seedlings about three feet apart to ensure that the adult flowers will not crowd one another.

Smaller varieties of sunflowers will make beautiful container plants, and when combined with small ornamental grasses as well as a few ornamental rocks, you will have an interesting accent to your entrance way.

Grow several different dwarf varieties for some stunning centerpieces for Thanksgiving and before. They will make for a visual focal point of any bouquet of lowers, and you can even craft a bouquet with just a large sunflower head (which has not yet matured) and several ornamental grasses and twigs.

So go ahead and try your hand at growing this versatile and visually pleasing plant in your yard. Do it as a project with your child, who will love this foray into easy gardening. Additionally, make the birds in your yard your very best friends this winter as you treat them to the dried flower heads filled with tasty seeds!

The term pH is an abbreviation for hydrogen power. When you’re measuring the pH of soil, for instance, you’re measuring the hydrogen ions in that soil.  The measure you obtain will tell you the either the acidity or the alkalinity of the soil. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14 and as you can guess, 7 is the neutral number.

As the amount of hydrogen ions in the soil goes up, the pH of the soil goes down. With a smaller pH measurement the soil is more acidic; 7 and under is acidic while 7 and over is alkaline. Most roses need a more neutral soil–a pH measurement of 6.5-7.0 is ideal.  Because some roses do need a lower or higher pH, remember to follow the instructions from the place where you buy the roses.

Out of the seventeen essential plant nutrients, did you know that fourteen of them are obtained from the soil? This should give you a good idea of just how important that soil pH is to the health of that plant. In a more acidic soil the nutrients are move available to the plant. With alkaline soils, the nutrients aren’t as soluble. If your plant doesn’t get the proper nutrients, you can say goodbye to it. Just like people, plants need specific foods to survive.

This is why it’s so important to test the soil before you start planting. To get your soil tested there are several routes you can take. There are places locally that will test your soil for you. You just need to take a sample to them and they’ll do the rest. The testing isn’t too expensive, usually under $15. You can also buy pH strips or a pH meter which will allow you to test your own soil at home. If you do choose to test the soil yourself, remember to follow the instructions exactly as the accuracy of the results are dependent on you.

Collecting a good sample is another important aspect of testing the pH of your soil. You’ll want to remove mulch and debris from the top of the soil to begin with. Then collect 3-6 small samples of soil from the top six inches of the soil. Make sure you take the soil from the area you’d like to plant your roses and make each sample size as similar as possible. As you get the samples mix them together in a plastic bucket (if you use a galvanized or tin bucket your soil can be contaminated and you’ll get inaccurate results). Then you’ll want to get one cup of that soil to use as the actual sample. When sending in a sample you’ll want to follow the instructions for packaging as well. Some places provide a box in which to put the sample and others would rather you use a plastic baggy. It’s important to follow the directions exactly in order to get the most accurate test results.

The reason that you collect a bunch of small samples, mix them together and then only use a part of the soil is to get a representative sample of the soil. It’s the same process as when you’re finding the average in a math class. You take each part and add it together, and then you divide by the total number of parts. So basically we’re just getting one sample that represents the whole area of soil.

Before you plant anything put in the time and effort to test and improve the soil in your garden. If you skip this first step, you’ll end up watching your plants fail to thrive and you’ll have to start all over again (only that time you’ll improve the soil). For successful growing and beautiful roses make sure you take care of the soil first.

When pruning a rose remember that some plants have more specific needs than others. Make sure that what you’re going to do is right for the kind of rose that you have.

The main tool that you need to prune your roses will be a great pair of bypass pruning shears. Bypass shears make the cleanest cut, which is extremely important when you’re making a close, detailed cut. If your canes are larger you’ll want to have a pair of long handled bypass loppers because they cut through that old growth wonderfully. If you haven’t done this before you’ll definitely want to wear a long sleeved shirt and a nice pair of gloves (those thorns can really hurt).

Pruning shouldn’t be done until the last frost; times will vary depending on where you live but could be as early as January or as late as May. The reason you should wait until the last frost is because pruning too early can cause damage to the roses. Likewise you don’t want to prune your plants too late either. If you wait too long, pruning the rose will cause the plant to lose sap. It’s important to prune the rose before the sap starts to flow through the plant.

To start pruning, you’ll first need to remove dead branches and canes. You can tell that the cane is dead if it is a brown or gray color. When you cut into the cane you’ll want the pith to be cream or green–So keep cutting until you get away from the brown. When you’re removing dead canes, keep your eye open for damaged canes as well. These should be removed because it they’re rubbing on healthy growth they could damage them. Make sure that you cut as near to the bud union as possible.

No. That’s not all. If you thought we were done, sorry. That was just the beginning. Now we’ll move into the actual pruning of your rose bush. You should start pruning from the base of the plant. One of the main objectives is to open up the center of the plant. This is because opening the center up will allow more sunlight and better air circulation into the plant; this is essential to kill of diseases.

When cutting the canes, it’s best to make your cuts about ¼ of an inch above a bud eye. When making this cut it’s important that your cut is at a 45-degree angle and that you make the bud eye facing outward– Making the bud eye face outward ensures that the rose will grow that direction also.

Next, look all around the plant for branches that are thinner than a pencil. You’ll want to remove these thinner branches because they will not be able to support the new growth.

Keep on the lookout for suckers. These are shoots that grow from the rootstock and they are bad. If not eliminated they can take over your entire rose bush. Suckers are recognizable by the mere fact that they grow from below the bud union. The shape and color of the leaf will be different from the rest of the plant. Because cutting the cane promotes growth you want to pull suckers off instead.

While pruning your rose bushes don’t expect to be perfect the first time. The more you practice, the better you’ll get. In time you’ll be a pro.

Here are some tips for finding the right flowers to create a butterfly garden:

Plant some spearmint. In addition to the lovely smell that you will encounter in your garden, the white or light-pink flowers are delightfully dainty in any landscape. Butterflies adore these flowers, and gardeners love the plants since they will do quite well in shady spots of the garden, whereas many other flowers required full sun to adequately thrive.

Lantana is a sure-fire way of attracting butterflies. The fragrant plant will thrive in full as well as partial sun, and since they can withstand pretty much anything, they are a favorite of many gardeners. Keep in mind that they grow quite quickly, and proper management of the plants is required to keep them looking nice and to keep the flowers coming.

The Butterfly bush is known to anyone in the hopes of attracting butterflies. As the name implies, this bush is quite notable in its ability to attract the insects. If you are able to find the kind of bush that grows red flowers, you will be able to also lure hummingbirds to your yard!

Plant an Aster. The flower’s head is a marvelous addition to your flowerbeds, and its height will offer a more three-dimensional approach to your garden landscape. It is not uncommon to see two or three butterflies sharing one lower as they are all partaking of it nectar.

Lilacs are another favorite. To add depth to your garden design, find out ahead of time what color the flower will be. Usually the blooms will be either white or purple. Ensure that this shrub is planted in an area where it can spread out, since over pruning it will most likely rob you of a large flower harvest the following year.

Blueberries are very much welcomed by adult butterflies. They not only provide the nectar the animals need, but sometimes the slightly rotting berries provide extra moisture and also minerals they crave. Quite possibly the perfect combination of food sources for butterflies, this plant will make your yard a hands down favorite.

Marigolds provide the visual attractiveness to the butterflies that will lead them to your yard. Before planting, consider if you want to use perennial or annual plants, since this will have a long lasting effect on your landscaping.

Do not be surprised if in spite of your best efforts to attract a wide spectrum of butterflies to your yard you seem to only be able to attract a small handful. Butterflies are known to belong to the kinds of insects that are fiercely territorial, and will in fact repeatedly chase away other butterflies that might consider your yard for themselves.

The earlier the bud is removed the better off the plant will be; the bud snaps easier and the stem will have a smaller scar. All you have to do to disbud your rose bush is place the bud between your thumb and index finger. Then bend the bud back and forth until it breaks off at the base. When you terminate the secondary buds on your plant, it will send all of the energy to the main bud and this is what allows the flower to be so much larger.

People disbud their roses when they’re going to enter a competition. Of course they want the largest rose possible. Disbudding is another method of pruning and goes along with pinching and deadheading.

The main difference between deadheading and disbudding is that one is done before the rose blooms and the other is done after the rose blooms. Deadheading is just as important as disbudding your rose plant. Deadheading your rose will trick the plant into reproducing another bloom. If you were to let the bloom continue on without interfering, the plant would eventually grow fruit. So by deadheading we’re actually fooling the plant and forcing it to grow another bloom. It’s also important to the health of the plant to deadhead regularly. Remember once the rose has bloomed and starts to wither, it is time to cut off the spent rose. When you cut off the bloom remember to cut back to the base of the stem or another bloom will not grow.

Pinching back is another important part of pruning your roses. Though it’s kind of similar to deadheading, it’s done for a different reason. People pinch back their roses in order to keep the plant a certain size and to keep the plant from getting too tall. Growth at the ends of the branches is reduced in order to let the plant focus its energy on the rest of the plant. Pinching back your plant will produce a bushier look and a larger number of flowers.

Each of these three practices of pruning is important to the health and beauty of your rose bush. If you don’t take the time necessary to keep your rose pruned, you will not be able to enjoy the benefits of your rose bush. Pruning along with the right type of soil, fertilizer, and disease prevention are your keys to being a successful gardener.  Remember when doing any kind of pruning to wear gloves in order to protect your hands (those thorns can really hurt).

Here is a list of some of the best-loved lilies that may be grown in your flower garden.  Keep in mind that each variety of this lovely flower has its own special needs, and although they are easy to grow, failure to supply their needs will most likely lead to weak plants that may not flower at all.

Easter Lilies are probably the most famous of all the lilies. Easily grown in your flower garden, they add a splash of yellow and white to your landscape. While these flowers seem to enter the marketplace as cut flower predominantly during the Easter season, they are actually known to bloom at different times of the year as well.

Canada lilies are sometimes mistaken for Easter lilies because of their coloring. It is noteworthy that the petals of the Canada lily are pointing upward, whereas the petals of the Easter lily do so to a lesser extent. Canada lilies are a favorite of the deer population, and if you live in areas that are prone to have deer come by to graze, you may find that it is hard to keep these plants alive and blooming.

The Madonna lily is not widely seen in America as it takes a bit of expertise to keep this plant alive, and the hobbyist will not usually have the patience to deal with this plant, which very easily becomes victim to various diseases. Some die-hard lily loves have found ways of dealing with the dreaded botryotinia fungi that are at the top of the list of diseases for this plant.

The tiger lily, sometimes also called Henry lily, is a beautiful specimen that flowers in orange and yellow. Spotted with brown or sometime even black, this plant makes for an amazing addition to your flowerbed. Remember that this plant grows from a bulb, so you do not crowd the flowerbed with other plants when it is time for this little plant to emerge!

Sometimes Californians mistake the tiger lily for the Humboldt lily, which is a native plant that is actually considered endangered. As such it will not show up in many hobbyist gardens, but if your yard does have some, consider yourself fortunate! To properly meet this plant’s needs, do not water it after it is done blooming but instead let it die back and remain dry.

The regal lily is often seen in flower shows, since its purple and yellow coloring have long since employed the imaginations of avid gardeners. They are known for their heady scent that is strongest in the evenings. To encourage avid flowering, be sure to use plenty of humus as a soil additive. Gardeners need to take care to look after the bulbs as the plants are about to emerge; very often the little plants will come up before the danger of frost has passed, and doing so will damage the plant and might result in their being no crop that year. To this end the careful gardener will need to go ahead and take preventative measures and keep the little shoots protected from the elements until there will be no more frost.

As you can see, the number of different lilies appears to be endless. There are so many different varieties that have beautiful shapes, colors and also markings. Keep an eye open for aphids and fungi, and you will be rewarded with a beautiful display in your garden.

Carnations actually grow wild in the countries associated with the Near East, such as Turkey, Lebanon, Iraq, and surrounding areas. This hints toward the plant’s favored climate being Mediterranean in nature. Such temperate climate is characterized by hot and also dry summers whereas the winters are quite often mild and wet, but may also have occasional cold snaps. Generally speaking, the plants will withstand short periods of extreme heat or cold, but are unable to survive repeat occurrences of such meteorological occasions.

The plant that is seen growing wild is noted for its pink color, yet since it has been cultivated by plant lovers since the birth of Christ it is not surprising that a number of cultivars exist at this point, some of them resulting in yellow, green, red, and also white blooms.

The flower falls under the genus “dianthus” which encompasses a large variety of flowering plants. It is said that the name derives from the word “dios” meaning “God” and “anthos” meaning “flower,” putting the naming rights of this plant squarely into the Greek section of the Mediterranean. Indeed, it was a Greek horticulturist by the name of Theophrastus who lived before the birth of Christ. When he was not working with Aristotle’s Peripatetic school, he studied plants in his spare time and actually published widely on the subject. Thus it is not surprising that he named several species of them.

The English term carnation is a bit harder to trace; some say it goes back to the idea of the carnation being flowers used during traditional Greek coronations. Others claim that the name is a derivative from the Latin word for flesh or the term for incarnation, once more pointing to the Christian God as being honored in the naming.

No matter which naming preference you adopt, the fact is that carnations are a staple of florists’ coolers. They are perceived by lovers to be a safe alternative to roses, since they are said to express a deep devotion and admiration but stop short of implying undying love. The white cultivars are used extensively to symbolize good luck, and thus it is not surprising that so many of them making into wedding bouquets and decorations. Green carnations find their ways into Saint Patrick Day celebrations, yet it is the pink cultivar that has found its way into Christian lore.

Fairy tales including Mary, the mother of Jesus, claim that she wept bitter tears as her son was walking to his death on Golgotha, and when these tears fell to the ground the pink carnations sprang up. From this beloved story is was only a short step to Mrs. Ann Jarvis’ Mother’s Day celebration, when she chose to use the pink carnation as her symbol for the fight to dedicate on day in honor of mothers.

Carnations have also found other places of honor, such as in Ohio where it was made the official state flower. The country of Spain has made the carnation the national flower, and red carnations became the symbol of Portugal’s Carnation Revolution in 1the 1970s.

As you can see, the fascinating background and roots of the carnation truly make this plant a flower for all seasons and all occasions!

The chrysanthemum originated in China. It was first grown as early as the fifteenth century B.C. as a flowering herb. The mum was introduced to western civilization in the seventeenth century. Currently it is an extremely popular and versatile plant, commonly being referred to as the Queen of the Fall Flowers.

Chrysanthemums are most commonly used as ornamental or decorative flowers. With so many species, the blossoms come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors, and are considered by most to be showy flowers. Because they flower late in the season most gardeners will include chrysanthemums in their display in order to keep color in their garden when the rest of the plants are dieing off for the winter.

The flowers of the chrysanthemum plant are also boiled to make a sweet beverage in Asia. This drink is commonly known as chrysanthemum tea and is said to have medicinal purposes. Many believe this dense tea will help fight off the symptoms of the flu.

In addition, certain species of chrysanthemums can be used to make a natural insecticide. It is said to attack the nervous systems of common garden pests and even in its weakest form it can be used to repel insects.

Because mums are such versatile plants many gardeners are happy to include them in their garden. In order to insure that they flourish it is important to care for and maintain them properly.

To begin, plant them in a location that has at least six hours of direct sunlight exposure. Mums do best if they are planted in the spring. And, as with most plants, they require good quality soil with adequate drainage. The soil should have a pH level slightly on the alkaline side for the plant to thrive.

When lots of sun and quality growing soil chrysanthemums can grow in almost any climate and will return to bloom again next year.

Mums also require compost in order to keep them hydrated. After putting the plant on the ground you should place a layer of mulch several inches thick on top of the soil surrounding the base of the plant. This should be repeated two to three times every growing season.

It may also be helpful to use a low nitrogen fertilizer a few times a season to aid in flower production.

In order to make sure your chrysanthemum plant blooms in large quantities, deadheading may be necessary. This involves pinching off the heads of blossoms that are wilting or dieing in order to make room for new growth. This must be done because chrysanthemums are initially plants with a single stem. They must be pinched back regularly to develop additional stems.

Most authorities agree that once your chrysanthemum plant is at least six inches high you should pinch off the top two inches of the plant every four weeks. They believe this will encourage a bushier, stronger plant with many blooms.

When cared for properly this versatile plant will suit almost any occasion or situation. They look stunning is a garden bed, make great accent plants in containers, or brighten up any window when placed in a decorative basket. Besides ornamental uses, some species may be used for insecticide or medicinal purposes.

The first step implanting a rose is digging a hole in the ground that is as deep as the pot that the rose plant is being held in. Make the hole about a foot wider than the pot. Make sure you choose a location that gets at least six hours of direct exposure to the sun. When you remove the rose from its container you should loosen the roots to allow them to grow.

Before planting the rose in the hole that you’ve dug you may want to sprinkle some organic fertilizer in it. Then place the plant in the center of the role, making sure that the roots are spread out.

Then you should fill the hole with soil. Pack in the soil gently but make sure that it is firm enough to hold the plant in place. After, the hole is adequately filled you should water the plant and apply a layer of mulch or compost. The layer should be several inches thick.

Fertilizing roses is important because they are such heavy feeder. You can use any general purpose fertilizer and simply follow the instructions on the label. There are several key times to make sure you fertilize your miniature roses. When the rose bush first leafs out you need to fertilize. You should also feed the roses heavily after each new bloom. In general you should stop fertilizing your roses six to eight weeks before the first frost is predicted.

The amount and frequency of your watering depends primarily on the type of soil that your roses are planted in and the weather in your region. Most experts recommend watering one inch per week. However, in particularly hot or dry spells you may need to water more heavily.

Make sure that you water deeply, at least a foot below the surface. Also avoid getting the foliage wet to prevent fungal disease. It is also important that your garden has adequate draining. Make sure excess water can drain quickly to avoid the roots becoming soggy.

Pruning your miniature roses should be done sparingly. The best time to prune is best before a new growth, usually in late winter or early spring. Start by removing the dead, damaged or diseased parts of the rose bush. It is important to not trim the plant too much. A good rule of thumb is to avoid pruning more than one third of the plant at any time.

Roses, like most plants can become infested with insects or diseases. During your garden maintenance you should keep an eye out for any signs that your garden has been infested. If you catch it early, treating disease or pests is as simple as spraying a general pesticide.

In addition, it is important to take good care of your roses throughout the growing season in order to prepare them for the winter months. This is because a healthy plant is more likely to survive a harsh winter than a weak or diseased one. Because of this it is essential that you maintain and care for your roses during the growing season to make sure they are healthy enough to take the brunt of the cold season. Because roses store nutrients in their woody canes, the larger the plant the healthier it will be and more likely to make it through the winter

Of course, there is more to planting flower seeds than just digging some holes and dropping some seeds. As a matter of fact, this method may actually backfire if you attempt it! To get ready for another fabulous flower garden, here are some terrific tips for preparing flower seedlings for your garden.

Purchase some containers. You will need small containers in which you can drop the seeds and keep them moist. If you are planning on reusing containers you will need to thoroughly clean them and you may even wish to consider disinfecting them, since fungi have a way of remaining alive in even small bits of soil, and may negatively affect your flower garden before it has even begun growing.

Determine which kinds of flowers you want grow. While the stores are filled to the brim with seed packages, it is important that you keep in mind the needs of the flowers. If you are looking for flowers that will do well in shady spots of your garden, do not give in to the temptation of only planting sunflowers which need a lot of sun.

Find a good location to start your seedlings. A busy room with fluctuating temperatures is usually not such a good idea. Similarly, if you do not have a reliable light source, you will need to move the seedling containers until you can offer them that reliable light. Generally speaking, your seedlings – upon emergence from the soil – will require about 15 hours of light per day! Last but not least, make sure that the seedlings will not have to be moved around often because they are in the way. Find a spot where they can stay put without many disturbances.

Use some good potting mix to start your seedlings. Do not give in to the temptation of just digging up a few clumps of garden dirt.  Inside that dirt may be fungi, dormant insects, and a variety of pests that may munch on your seedlings before you even plant them. Instead it is a good idea to purchase a mix that is specifically formulated for seed starting.

Be sure to water your seedlings regularly but do not over water them! Keep them moist, but not dripping wet.

At this point you will have strong seedlings that are strapping and look like they are just ready to be planted outside and take over your flowerbed. Resist the urge to take them outside! This is quite possibly the number one mistake novice gardeners make, and more often than not they experience the frustration of seeing their entire crop of seedlings die off. The reason lies in the fact that the seedlings were moved from a warm, protected environment to the harsh reality that is a spring day.

Temperatures fluctuate and wind dries out the soil. You need to prepare your seedlings for this portion of the outdoor experience by gradually decreasing the amount of light they receive from your lamps. Additionally, take the containers outside during the daylight hours, but remember to bring them back in during the evening hours. Give the plants more and more time outside until you notice that they are still growing nicely. This is your clue that they may now be planted into your flowerbeds without the risk of getting shocked.