Gardening Archives – Page 32 of 33 – Strength Of The Small

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Beautiful Day in The Garden

By JM PerezOctober 30, 20122 min read596 views

I am so grateful for the bright and warm weather we’ve had since the beginning of the week, contrary to what we had last week. As much as I enjoy Fall season; I am not fond of the cold nights, especially when the temperature goes down to 32 degrees °F (Fahrenheit) and I begin to wonder whether or not it will snow (how bad and for how long)? Snow is really not something I look forward to.

Yesterday, the kids helped their Father finish putting together the Halloween Robot he built for them. They used Solar Cells to light up the chest area (red) and eyes (green). As cute as the project turned out; I wouldn’t want to stumble upon such a thing at night as I might be scared out of my mind.
We will create a separate post with pictures as well as a DIY Tutorial.

I planted some California Poppies in the backyard as well as some Roses from the 99¢ Only Stores. I’ve come to love Roses from this store. The store carries so many varieties and they are so gorgeous. Some of my favorites are: Let Freedom Ring, French Lace, Moonstone Hybrid Tea, Madame Plantier, among others.
Determined to help me garden, my kids’ favorite activities were watering, drawing on the dirt and of course, splashing about! No matter how things turn out, family time is very much cherished in my house.

I will setup my new Hammock and enjoy the rest of my afternoon reading.

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By JM Perez

Plant Propagation Gardening High Desert

Propagation by Simple Layering

By JM PerezOctober 20, 20121 min read1.1K views

It’s always a delight, for a Gardener, to wake up in the morning and find little surprises in the garden.

A simple layering is the process in which a branch or a flexible stem is buried/bent to the ground and partially covered with soil. Some gardeners will wound the area beneath a bud to induce rooting. This propagation technique works best on plants with low-growing branches such as Roses, for instance.

In my case, Nature did all the work for me. All I had to do was to transplant the new growth and voilà!

Rose Simple Layering (Pristine®) — *Pristine® Hybrid Tea Rose.*

Early this year I transplanted my first growth. I waited for the new growth to reach a certain height before carefully separating it from the main branch. The Chicago Peace® Hybrid Tea Rose is a gorgeous fragrant Rose. Ever since I purchased mine, it has never produced the same colored flower twice. At first, I was afraid the little plant would die, but to my amazement, it is doing well and I am looking forward to watch it bloom.

Rose Simple Layering (Chicago Peace®) — *Chicago Peace® Hybrid Tea Rose.*

Click here, here and here to learn about Propagation by Simple and Tip Layering.

Happy gardening!

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By JM Perez

Plant Propagation Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening High Desert

Growing Trees from Branches

By JM PerezOctober 12, 20122 min read1.1K views

As we know, all trees grow from seeds. Some grow from stem cutting and others don’t. Success often depends on the timing, the type of tree and as well as the methods of propagation (Rooting, Seeding, Grafting, Cuttings, Layering, Separation, Division, etc).

Mulberry

I grew the Mulberry on the right using a branch from the main tree. It started by mistake, really. In December 2010, we cut off some branches from the main tree and decided to use them as decoration for the backyard. We placed them in pots and added dirt and water to hold them in place. After about two weeks, I spotted new buds at the base of one of the branches.

As surprised and amazed as I was; I cringed at the idea of having a second Mulberry tree as they shed all their leaves in the Fall and I do not look forward to raking and picking them up (though I always do). On the other hand, I told myself, why not? We could always use the shade it provides during Summer (and Summer here is really hot). So, we planted it somewhere in the backyard and it’s been almost two years now.

Navajo Globe Willow

Growing up in his parents home; Eduardo’s Dad got a hold of some willow Saplings which grew and grew and grew. On one of his visits he asked if it could grow from a branch and his Dad said” Yes they can and will”. Three branches about an arm’s length came from the San Joaquin Valley up to the High Desert and after sprouting roots and getting planted; only one branch survived. After a year or so, we cut a branch from that first one and after it grew roots; we set it down with plenty of water to drink. They are both doing well so far.

Happy Gardening!

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By JM Perez

Insects Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening High Desert

Helpful Garden Insects

By JM PerezOctober 7, 20122 min read1.7K views

Living in the High Desert and being passionate about gardening can be challenging at times. Regardless of the care I give my plants, Powdery Mildew, white dusty spots found on leaves and sometimes on stems of plants, have always been an issue in my Rose garden during Fall and Spring; possibly due to the cool weather. I have had a few dieback, and lots of Aphids (plant lice) early this year. I use fertilizers on my plants and I have used fungicide to eradicate them and it worked on and off.

My Roses bloom all year round. This Summer, however, I didn’t see a single bloom and I noticed that the plants were a lot healthier. A couple of days ago, I spotted a Praying Mantis on my Camelot Hybrid Tea Rose and I smiled at the fact that it was there primarily to feed, which in turn helped keep my plants disease free.

*Praying Mantis on ‘Camelot Hybrid Tea Rose.’*

For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated with Praying Mantises, especially with their strange shape. Though I have always known of their advantages in the garden; I had never witness the marvelous results they produce. The Praying Mantises are wonderful insect control in the garden, as they feed on Aphids, caterpillars as well as other harmful and beneficial insects. The Praying Mantis is an insect which does not discriminate.

Other Helpful Garden Insects:

Green Lacewings
Assassin Bug
LadyBugs
Dragonflies
Predatory Mites
Bees
Centipedes
Damsel Bugs
Spiders
Syrphid Fly
Ground Beetles
Ichneumon Wasp
Trichogramma Wasps

You can read more about the benefits of Praying Mantises here.

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By JM Perez

DIY: Projects Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening High Desert

Delightful Garden Planters

By JM PerezJuly 21, 20122 min read1.3K views

For me, there’s nothing more fun than spending time outdoors with my family. Gardening on a beautiful day as well as building garden furniture pieces which are made from recycled wood scraps. These are some perfect activities for us and my kids learn tremendously.

Growing up, I was fascinated by wheelbarrows. We enjoyed transporting toys from one location to the other and I have fond memories of my siblings and I playing in them. Wheelbarrows make attractive planters and they are always a delight to the eyes. In building ours, we used dismantled pieces of wood and slabs we kept from the demolition of an old Stall as well as one of our smaller storage shed a couple of years ago. When it comes to creating, we are not interested in perfection; rather, we embrace the flaws in the wood and make them stand out. The character of aged wood is what gives it its charm.

We chose to use a real wheel for easy relocation to various parts of the yard. We started by fitting the wheel and legs, then we cut all the pieces needed, nailed/screwed them together, spray-painted the finished product, drilled a few holes on the tray base to allow for drainage then we began filling it with compost, dirt and potting soil. We placed small stones on the tray base to stop the mix from leaking out and we placed a few more on top of the mix (in lieu of) to help retain moisture. Plants in the wheelbarrow are Anigozanthos.