How to create a Rockery (Rock Garden)

Butterfly Milkweed

The Best Growing Tips for Butterfly Milkweed in Your Garden The Butterfly Milkweed plant is certainly one of the most beautiful wildflowers in North America. Its beauty comes not only from its appearance but also from its fragrance. The plant that most people think of is A. Syriaca or the common plant. The Butterfly Milkweed blooms out in a star-spangled banner-type display. At the top of the stem is a myriad of tiny flowers colored in a watercolor-like light purple. They also bloom in most other colors of the spectrum. The plant is blooming in yellow, orange, green, and pink. To propagate themselves, these plants develop a seed pod that dries and then splits open to spread hundreds of seeds in the fall. How Butterfly Milkweed Attracts Pollinators and Benefits Your Garden Depending on the type of plant, it can grow from 2 to 5 feet in height. It grows in zones 3 to 9. This plant attracts the usual pollinating insects, such as bees, hummingbirds, and especially Monarch butterflies. Monarch butterflies love this plant because it is their main food source and also supplies a secure place for the female to spread her eggs, mostly on the underside of the leaves. These plants are fast spreading, giving them plenty of room in your garden. They like from 6 to 8 hours of sunshine. A good place in the garden is where they are protected from the wind so that you can control the spread of the seeds. This helps prevent the plant from taking over your garden. This also provides a haven for the Monarchs. Caring for Butterfly Milkweed A Complete Guide to Healthy Plants Most Butterfly Milkweed plants do well in just about any soil. The exception is the Swamp weed, which requires moist and humus soil. Plant them in a well-cultivated flowerbed that has been worked to a fine mix. Add the recommended amount of fertilizer for an average soil mix. There is no genuine special care for the soil. Sow the seeds and tamp the soil. Water the flower bed and wait.

Periwinkle Plant

Periwinkle Plant Care Tips for Vibrant Ground Cover The Periwinkle Plant is a small, somewhat dainty plant that grows over the ground. It's an ideal plant to consider if you're looking for something to fill in spaces in your flower beds while adding a little bit of color. The plant also has a light purple appearance. The underside of the flower is usually a bit darker, and the center of the flower is typically white. Leaves on the plant grow to about two inches in length when fully mature. The leaves are usually dark green and shiny, making them stand out among other plants you might have. The plant can reach heights of about six inches, making it an excellent option to have with plants like daffodils or tulips so that there is a range of heights in your garden. How to Grow and Maintain Periwinkle Plants in Your Garden You'll find that it blooms in the spring months of March and April. They can also bloom again during the early fall months. The plant grows in various directions with long trailing as well as shoots that take root in the ground, leading to the plant covering a larger area of space. More significant types of plants grow faster. They typically have leaves about three inches long, with the petals about two inches across. A benefit of Periwinkle is that it only requires a little care to spread and grow. When the tip of the stem touches the ground, it usually begins to take root in that area. Aside from filling empty spaces in your flower gardens, it can help control erosion, especially on banks in your yard. It's also a beautiful plant as it cascades over flower boxes or hangs from flower baskets. The Benefits of Periwinkle Plants: Ideal for Low-Maintenance Landscapes  The plant enjoys shady areas but can grow in sunny ones, making it ideal for almost any location. It doesn't need to be divided as often as others, which means that you can keep it in your garden for a longer period.

Ajuga Reptans

Discover the Beauty and Versatility of Ajuga Reptans for Your Garden Ajuga Reptans is a fast-growing member of the mint family. It is known to spread quickly enough via runners to become invasive in some areas. The reptans part of its Latin name means "to creep." It is a naturalized North American plant introduced from several places in Europe and Asia. Ajuga Reptans grow well in Hardiness Zones 3 through 10. They are susceptible to most dirt, though they prefer slightly acidic. Fully grown plants generally stand 6" to 8" high; flower stalks can grow to 12". Each plant may extend up to 12". They quickly form mats, especially in shaded areas beneath other trees and shrubs. The plant is hardy enough to grow beneath black walnut trees. Ajuga Reptans A Low-Maintenance Ground Cover Solution The plant's growth speed can be controlled by where it is planted. Plants in shadier areas tend to grow faster than those in sunnier regions. The plant is best planted in rock gardens, container-edged beds, or wide-open areas that need ground cover quickly. It lends itself well to erosion control. It should not be planted near any less hardy flowers at home, as it may choke them out. Transform Your Landscape with Vibrant Ajuga Reptans Plants They should be periodically divided and thinned, at minimum, every third year. They flower through the spring and summer, generally beginning in May or June. Pinching off runners helps with this, too. The flowers are blue, purple, or white, though there is at least one cultivar with pink flowers. Other cultivar strains have leaves that are multi-colored or variegated. Beyond thinning, the Ajuga Reptans is relatively low-maintenance. It needs no extra fertilizer and is worry-free against most garden pests. However, care should be taken in areas of high humidity to ensure properly drained soil and prevent southern rot. It is deer and rabbit-resistant.

Shasta Daisy

How to Grow Shasta Daisy for a Beautiful Summer Garden Shasta Daisy is a drought-resistant perennial with abundant flowers that blossom from late spring through premature fall. These hardy plants make excellent cut or dried flowers and survive in full sun and partial shade. Shasta Daisy Care Tips Keeping Your Flowers Blooming Strong It is a perennial with green and divided leaves that stays low to the ground. In spring and early summer, it bears immense flowers in clusters that develop into flat oval seed pods. With proper care, it can become a staple in your garden. The plant can be propagated by seed. The seeds need light to germinate, so sowing them in a ground area that receives adequate sunlight is essential. Germination should occur about two weeks after the seeds are sown. You will see the green shoots popping up above the ground surface. The young sprouts should be transplanted into larger pots with space for growth and root development, which may occur two months after transplanting them from the seedbed site. Why Shasta Daisy is the Perfect Addition to Your Perennial Garden To obtain the best results, it is recommended that the young plants be transplanted one foot away from the plants during the growing season. The plant will adapt to its new environment while providing fertilizer and water. Shasta daisy plants need regular pruning. This activity should be done frequently to avoid lumpy growth near the plant base. Proper pruning will allow light to circulate through the plant, provide more nutrients, and promote an optimum growth environment. They can be grown indoors or outdoors. If grown outdoors, ensure that the plant receives adequate sun and a moderate amount of water. If grown indoors, place the pot near a sunlight source. The soil should be kept moist but not too wet or dry for the healthy growth of the plants. In addition, if the Shasta Daisy is grown in pots, water must be continuously applied to the soil. It would be best to mistreat the plants with water at least daily. Watering and fertilization should be done as often as necessary to keep the soil moist during the growing season, which is essential for plant maintenance.