Blog | Designs 4 Gardens

Autumn garden cleaning and preparation for winter

October 17, 2020/in Blog /by admin

Summer is behind us a long time ago, the trees are showing more and more colorful leaves, the gardens are turning brown, yellow and purple, the days are getting shorter and the evenings and mornings are cooler. This is a sign that autumn is fast approaching. We will advise you on how to take care of the garden and everything that is in it before winter, so that you can easily welcome the next season.

Hide potted plants home

At the beginning of autumn, the potted plants that are sensitive to low temperature, decorating the terrace or balcony, should be brought home.

Sow and plant the plants

Many plants, mainly annuals (black seeds, cornflowers, poppies, marigolds, gypsophila) will bloom the next season earlier if sown in the fall. From mid-September, biennial plants (mallow, bluebells, foxgloves, pansies, daisies) and perennials can be transplanted to their target sites so that they can take root before winter. Large clumps can be divided. Plants planted with a lump of soil take best.

Feed the plants

A universal fertilizer for autumn use is compost (it can be fertilized until the end of November). For fertilizing trees and shrubs, mature compost, which is spread under plant crowns, or phosphorus and potassium fertilizers (nitrogen fertilizers are not used in autumn, because they extend the vegetation period of plants, which may cause them to freeze). Fertilizers should be distributed around the plants in a circular pattern (most active roots are on the edge of the crown), they can also be mixed shallowly with the soil.

Plant the bulbs

Spring-flowering bulbs that winter in the ground can be planted in September and October. It is worth doing it before the first frosts, because the bulbs must have time to take root before the onset of winter (until the middle of October, you should plant the bulbs of ornamental garlic, iris, sapphires, scallops, tulips, lilies and crocus bulbs).

After the first frosts, the places where the bulbs were planted should be covered with a 2-4 cm layer of bark or peat, dry leaves, straw or spruce branches. At the beginning of autumn, you can plant or replant some coniferous trees and shrubs, as well as evergreen plants. If we do this later, they may not be able to take root before the coming winter. In heavy soils, rooting may be more difficult; then planting is better to postpone in the spring.

Protect the plants from frost

Perennials are protected against frost in autumn, against soil freezing (usually it is done only in November). This can be done by mulching the soil with bark or leaves, as well as manure. Mulching prevents temperature fluctuations in the soil and helps to keep it moist. The plants are watered and trimmed to a height of about 15 cm, also covered with pine or spruce branches. The grass roots that are sensitive to frost should also be covered with twigs in the fall. Perennials that do not winter in the ground (dahlias, begonias, gladioli, gilding) need to be dug up, remove the above-ground parts, and the underground ones – rhizomes, tubers, bulbs – slightly dry, thoroughly cleaned and put for the winter in a dry, airy, cool room – at a temperature of 5 10 ° C. Bulbs should be stored in boxes filled with peat or sawdust, arranged so that they do not touch each other.

Regardless of the covering, some plants should be protected by the so-called mounding, that is sprinkling the roots with soil, leaves, bark or sawdust – up to a height of 20–40 cm. Even if the shoots are frozen in harsh winter, the branches will bounce off the lower, covered part of the plant in spring. This is how it is worth protecting hydrangeas, roses, clematis, young specimens of palm maples and buds. In periods of drought, evergreen plants should be watered even in winter – during the thaw, water evaporates through their leaves, which exposes the plant to drying out. Evergreen plants should also be shaded with shading nets that do not let in UV radiation and protect against wind. Potted plants overwintering on the terrace – properly secure. A small root ball, a small water supply, strong winds and winter sun rays increase evaporation, which makes the plant vulnerable to freezing.

The easiest way is to place the pot in the soil and make a mound of soil around the plant. If this is not possible, you can wrap the pot with straw or corrugated cardboard and place it in a wooden crate or in a cardboard box filled with bark, dry leaves or even newspapers or polystyrene pieces.

Plants wintering in this way should be placed as close to each other as possible and their shoots should also be secured, as in garden plants, with straw mats, coniferous branches, agrotextile (one that provides the necessary light access) or dry leaves (you can first wrap the plant loosely with a net, and then pour the leaves inside).

Useful tools in your garden in autumn

September 24, 2020/in Blog /by admin

October is the month when you have to think intensively about preparations for autumn and winter in the garden. One of the important issues is the purchase of the necessary things that will support us while working in the garden. The first stage of autumn means early autumn works, which include mowing, fruit picking, fertilization and the beginning of cleaning works. You have to collect fallen leaves, clean all surfaces or use a special vacuum cleaner. The second stage is more cleaning work. There may also be a need for periodic snow removal or de-icing. Therefore, in the fall it is worth preparing properly and, above all, buying equipment that we will use during the work. You can even create a list of essentials.

Rakes for leaves

This is called basic necessity. A good rake is characterized by a wide strip and dense claws that will work well in the case of large surfaces.

Leaf and grass scraper

It will greatly facilitate cleaning work in the garden at any time of the year. The tool will allow you to collect not only leaves, but also cut grass, fallen fruit or hay. The long handle is convenient for collecting waste without bending down. The scraper will also protect your hands from getting dirty or injured.

Compositioner

We will use it to compost biodegradable waste. The obtained compost can be used primarily in our garden. We can put mowed grass, leaves, kitchen waste, parts of plants into the container, so the solution is very useful and practical.

Furniture covers

In autumn and winter, we do not want to expose our furniture to damage. It is worth protecting garden furniture against the influence of negative weather conditions. Good quality covers have strings that can be squeezed, which will protect the cover from the wind.

Ladder

The ladder will certainly be useful in every home throughout the year. With its help, we can easily select leaves from the gutters or cut trees.

Leaf blower

The device can be in a manual or a backpack version. The strong airflow easily blows the leaves into one place, which will be easier during cleaning works. Some blowers also have a leaf suction function for the included bag.

Plant trimming tools

For small gardens, hand tools will certainly be useful. Useful tools include secateurs, shears, saws, leaf shredders. The devices should be adapted to your needs and the size of the garden and plants.

Plant care products

In the fall, plants need special care. The appearance of the garden is often evidenced by the lawn, which should be fertilized in the fall with a special fertilizer.

Digging tools

When caring for autumn plants, various types of planting spatula and claws will be useful first of all. Their size and type should be adjusted to the type of plants.

Wheelbarrow

Small and plastic wheelbarrows are sufficient for small gardens. Metal or stone wheelbarrows are suitable for transporting heavy items. The devices listed in the article will greatly facilitate work in the garden and make it comfortable.

Take care of your garden in autumn

Autumn on the plot is a period of intensive preparations for winter. So equip yourself with the necessary tools and invest your time and energy in gardening.

Garden plants that cannot be dried

August 22, 2020/in Blog /by admin

The rich group of plants allows us to adjust them to many habitat conditions. We can successfully plant plants in the garden that will be very resistant to the lack of water, so they will not cause problems in hot summers. Many wild plants, whose natural growth conditions are dunes or sand, grow well without water, produce colorful inflorescences or have attractive leaves. Some of the plants have reduced their leaves in such a way as to reduce evaporation. There are also cases when plants are able to change the angle of the leaf to the sun’s rays and thus regulate water loss.

Below is a set of iron plants that can cope with harsh conditions.

Trees and shrubs resistant to drought

Trees resistant to drought are mainly numerous species of birch or pine – useful or weeping birch, as well as black pine, mountain pine will look beautiful regardless of the weather. The trees also have a shading function – other, smaller plants have a favorable shade within them, which also protects them against drought and heat.

pines, for example mountain pine, black pine
all birches, such as “Doorenbos”, “Tristis”
junipers
ores, e.g. Californian fir, Korean fir
black locusts – which in spring are covered with numerous white, fragrant flowers. Acacia ropes come in many varieties, the Robinia “Umbrella”, popular for small gardens, has a compact spherical crown that does not require shaping
maples that will be an attractive accent in summer and autumn – changing colors will create real masterpieces.
lilac meringues – covered with numerous fragrant flowers in spring, it will become a pleasant accent, while in summer this large shrub will be a source of shade
wrinkled rose – resistant to drought and diseases, it will blend in nicely in the garden, and its fragrant flowers and red, autumn fruits will become a real decoration

Perennials for a sun-drenched and dry garden

Sedum plants – these are plants with fleshy leaves that may vary in color within the species. In late summer, sedum plants begin to bloom profusely, the flowers are in the form of canopies, pink, red and yellow in color. Sedum plants remain decorative also in autumn and winter – when dried inflorescences become garden decorations. Low maintenance requirements and easy cultivation are the reasons for the success and popularity of this group.
Swarms – these are succulents that grow perfectly not only on dry but also poor soils, thanks to which they help fill the niches in the garden. Swarms are small plants, most often forming decorative rosettes. Swarms have many colors of leaves and flowers become their decoration.
Antennaria dioica – is a low plant, ideally growing in permeable soils and in a sunny position. It will also cope with poor quality or dry soils. The ornaments of the meanders are small leaves that are covered with tarnish, and flowers – pink or white, appear in May.
Bearded irises – a variety of classic irises (irises), which do not like moist soils, they cope well in drought conditions, thanks to the bulbous rhizome, which are the roots and organ used for vegetative reproduction. Irises are rich in colors, fragrances and textures – the flowers are violet, yellow and red. They blend in beautifully in sunny and semi-shaded positions.
Carnations – bearded and garden carnations, are very attractive because of their flowers, they are red, white, pink – they can be single or multi-colored. The advantage is resistance to drought and sun.
Lavender – who among us does not know this charming plant? Violet-blue flowers with an intense, pleasant fragrance. Lavender requires calcareous soils, but it does well in blankets or in dry weather. Its dry flowers can be used as a wardrobe fragrance, or as an ingredient in cookies or lemonade.
Sage – very attractive plants, with purple flowers and slightly silver leaves. Salvia grows quickly and the numerous seeds give us many seedlings in the garden.
Woolly purgatory – decorated with leaves covered with white bloom. The silvery shade makes it a unique showcase.
Carolingian yucca – has the form of compact, sharp, leathery leaves decorated with white flowers placed on an upright stem.
Mullein – forms a dense clump of large leaves, which in the second year after planting, are decorated with yellow, tiny flowers placed on an erect stem.