To plant a shade landscaping effectively we will need a plan to fit the proper plants. Shade landscaping is for the dim backyard, areas that sit under a shade tree or some hidden corner that does not get very much sun. Planning before we start planting is the key to a successful landscape design.

When a plant fails in our shady backyard it usually means that it was not a shade tolerant landscaping plant. Sometimes when we visit the garden nursery we fall in love a particular plant, buy it, take it home and plant it without checking to see if our environment is conducive to its requirements. We go ahead and plant it where there is room, it dies and then we discover it was planted in the wrong spot.

Some of the health benefits of strawberries can help all of us in one way or another. We can enjoy the health benefits of strawberries by eating them on a regular basis. We all know they are delicious, but also nutritious, and it would be great to have them as part of our daily diets. Unfortunately we are unable to purchase fresh strawberries all year long. Sometimes we need to buy frozen or dried strawberries.

We all know that the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends that all Americans should eat at least five helpings of fresh vegetables and fruits every day, unfortunately most of us do not come close to that. If we could add strawberries to our daily diet, whether fresh or frozen, in smoothies, salads or alone we could possibly get enough fruit servings daily that our body needs for a healthy immune system. Most of us recognize the strawberry as having a sweet juicy taste but the nutritional value of strawberries is also good for us. Like many other fruits they have plenty of nutrients and antioxidants for a healthy body. The best fact yet is that the calories of strawberries are exceptionally low and they are a better choice than some cookies, a piece of pie, or a cupcake when you experience a snack attack.

Growing berries in the garden is something many gardeners are passing on because they feel it is too difficult a task. Growing berries such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, loganberries, blackberries, boysenberries, and even grapes have a better taste, very healthful, more economical and are easy to grow.

Strawberries are the most productive of them all because they produce the largest amount in a small area. If you have never tried growing them this year would be a good time to start. You can plant them in the spring, summer, or fall. Planting them in the fall would be the best time for freezing cold winter climates but can be planted in winter in the warmer climates of the country. Planting at this time, the cooler months, helps to develop a healthy root system so they will start growing bushy in the spring. If you plant them in spring or summer you will need to disbud the plants as the flowers form and pinch the runners back to make certain you get vigorous growth the next season. If you plant them in the fall or winter you will not have to perform these procedures. When choosing your strawberry plants stay with the June-bearing varieties, the "everbearing" varieties do not always yield well.

One of summers flowering bulbs, the gladiolus, comes from the Latin word "gladius" which means sword or little sword and was named because of their long spiked leaves. The gladiolus, one of the flowering bulbs of summer, originated in South Africa and the Mediterranean areas; they belong to the Iridaceae family and the gladiolus colors are a wide variety with the exception of a true blue.

Gladiolus planting is a very popular project for any gardener. These summer flowering bulbs are very colorful and bring life to any garden. These colorful flowers not only look wonderful in the garden but also make a beautiful bouquet for your home or as a gift. You really do not want to leave gladiolus bulbs out of a summer garden. After one season of growing them you will see why so many home owners plant them in their gardens. They will thrive when the right conditions are met.  

The flowering bulbs of the iris come in many shapes, forms, sizes, and colors and is named after the Greek Goddess Iris. The flowering bulbs of the iris have sword-like leaves that are most attractive even when the plant is not blooming. The Greek Goddess Iris is regarded as the messenger of love and will use the rainbow for travel. The iris flower is considered to be the same and also come in a rainbow of colors.

Irises are categorized into two main groups, the rhizome irises and bulbous irises. The rhizomes group has thickened stems that will grow horizontally underground or partially underground. After they have been planted they will produce the sword-like leaves that will overlap and form fans of green foliage. Three of the most popular irises in the rhizome group are the Beardless, Bearded, and Crested. The bulbous iris grows from bulbs that will require a dormant period after blooming. They are generally smaller than the rhizome irises and produce smaller blooms.

Your outdoor landscape will look gorgeous with camellia shrubs. By using the camellia as part of your outdoor landscape you will have a difficult time finding a plant that is equal to this evergreen shrub it in terms of beauty. They not only have lovely flowers but this evergreen shrub has shiny dark green foliage that makes them very attractive outdoor landscape features even if they are not blooming.

In the milder zones of the United States, January is the most advantageous time to shop for and plant camellias. Many of the plants that are in the nurseries are in bloom now, This way you will be able to see what the blooms will look like and it is best to plant them now before the new growth begins. The new growth will start after the blooming period ends.

The flowering bulbs for summer can add quite a bit of beauty to the garden landscape if planted accordingly. Many of these flowering bulbs for summer that have small flowers need to be grouped together in flower beds in order to show off their flowers. There are others that have large flowers and sometimes need to be staked for a proper display. Many of these summer flowering bulbs, rhizomes, corms, and tubers will add beautiful color and a sense of the tropics to any garden. In the warmer climates, a number of these flowering bulbs are left in the ground all year long. Gardeners in cooler climate zones can still enjoy these bulbs by growing as annuals or digging them up in the fall and storing for winter to replant them during the warmer weather of spring. These flowering bulbs of summer bring additional color to the garden just when the spring flowering bulbs have started to die down. Just about all these summer bulbs bloom from June all they way through fall are considered tender.

Tuberous Begonias
There are several types of tuberous begonias available, but usually we think of the large camellia flowered versions that have various color combinations. The magnitude of color that is offered by tuberous begonias will quickly brighten up a shady corner of the garden. The leaves of the begonias look almost succulent. The longevity of the blooming flowers makes these tubers wonderful for containers. Begonias vary in shape and size and the cluster flowers range from white to red or pink and give the home gardener many uses. Some gardeners will plant only the species that has an unusual foliage color. These plants are ideal for hanging baskets, containers, and flower borders.  

Growing an indoor garden of herbs is a very rewarding way to efficiently grow some fresh herbs. When you have an indoor garden of herbs there are a few things that need to be kept under control in order to have the best results. Once this management is achieved you can grow almost any herb indoors even if they are difficult to grow outdoors.

The herbs that will grow very well indoors consist of basil, oregano, parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, mint, angelica, lemongrass, chamomile, fennel, dill, chives, coriander, fennel, geranium, and lavender. The things that you will need are the herbs, either plants or seeds, a good quality soil or compost, and some suitable containers. Choose a good all purpose compost as your herbs will be relying on it for their nutrition. The containers will be much easier to select. Most home and garden centers and garden nurseries will have a wide selection. You can also use containers that you already have on hand such as an old coffee mug with a broken handle or a small child's pail.

Many homeowners are creating an outdoor landscape in their heads even though it is bitterly cold in most of the country. The best time for creating an outdoor landscape is now, in your head or on paper, for that beautiful garden setting come spring. A successful landscape does not have to be a hit or a miss project. Doing a little bit of homework should solve most of the problems.

Some of us have small front yards while others have small back yards. There are many things that can be done in small yards we just have to use the space accordingly. Now is when the homework starts; look through some gardening magazines on landscape garden ideas and start cutting out the things you would like to see in your garden or your front lawn. Everything may not work for your landscape but you will at least have a head start. Please do not forget the hardscapes you already have or want to have such as fencing, patios and decks.

Miniature rose bushes grown indoors means we do have to be deprived of those beautiful flowers during the winter. Miniature rose bushes attune to indoor life quite easily. These rose bushes will require more light and humidity than some of the other flowering indoor plants.

Mini rose bushes are actually a smaller version of the full sized rose bush. These mini bushes can range in size from 5 inches or less to about four feet tall. Their flowers can be from 1/2 to 2 inches across and have a vast array of colors. For miniature rose bushes that are grown indoors you many want to acquire the smaller versions and you want to purchase containers that are about 4 to 8 inches across as the original pots are far too small.