tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405151485655961782012-02-01T22:02:19.757-08:00My blog on planning the perfect garden to suit your lifestyle, depending on your time and space constraints. Along with useful gardening tips and short cuts, as well as guides on various types of garden plants.Fadila & Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626322579166317075noreply@blogger.comBlogger1081100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-440515148565596178.post-16255625096758765142008-03-10T09:42:00.000-07:002008-03-10T09:43:55.500-07:00

Gardening is fun and rewarding and may be considered a hobby, talent or both and sometimes it’s just luck. Gardening is not as easy as it looks and involves dedication, time and consistency and many trials and errors. There are many aspects to maintaining a healthy garden, but some aspects are more important than others. An individual who likes to garden can have the knowledge to produce the best

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A good way to stock a new garden with shrubs is to propagate your own. Not only does it save money, but growing a healthy plant from a cutting can bring a great sense of satisfaction. If you want to plant a large area using one type of plant, it is well worth propagating your own from one bought plant.Not all shrubs are suitable for raising from cuttings. In general, the more expensive shrubs are

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The name 'Floribunda' is of Latin origin and means "many flowered" or "abundance of flowers" and this variety of rose certainly lives up to its name. These roses have been described as some of the most colorful of the modern rose types. Typically, their flowers are arranged in low-growing large clusters. The Floribunda rose is the result of crossbreeding a Hybrid Tea and a Polyantha in the 1920's

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Most plants are generally trouble free, but from time to time they may be attacked by pests and diseases. If there is not much damage, or there are not many pests, it may not be worth taking action. Instead, let birds and other natural predators clear up the problem. For example, leave aphids that appear on shrubs and trees in spring, in particular on roses, for ladybird beetles, which will

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A modern rose, the Hybrid Tea Rose is the result of two old timers getting together: the Hybrid Perpetual and the Tea Rose. These gorgeous modern flowers grow on large stems and bloom throughout the year. Although this rose only gives off a faint scent, it makes up for this shortcoming with its many petals and tall stature. The Hybrid Tea Rose is commonly referred to as "your basic rose on a

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As long as you keep to a few basic rules, pruning is not complicated - it can even be enjoyable. Prune little and often to keep your plants under control and in good health; it left for years pruning will build up into a massive task. Not all shrubs must be pruned each year, but they should be checked and lightly trimmed when they get untidy. It is important to know a little about the shrubs

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Whether you're planting miniature roses indoors or out, they are very easy to grow. Although these little guys have often been frowned upon because they give off little or no fragrance, they're the perfect accent to any home or garden. Miniature roses are practically maintenance-free. Just give them a "bath" once a week and they'll last forever.There's a common misconception about miniature roses

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Maintenance tasks will need to be carried out regularly in order to help your garden to become established, and to keep it neat and tidy. If time is short, concentrate on weeding and watering new shrubs and trees. To ease the task of deadheading flowering shrubs, gather together the flowering stems once they are past their best and trim them with a pair of secateurs. Alternatively, for shrubs

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Roses are beautiful flowers that have graced homes for literally thousands of years. Roses are flawless, colorful, large, small and simply perfect in every way, except for one: a rose, being a living thing, eventually will die.But there are ways to let their splendor live on! Drying roses is a great way to preserve their beauty. With very little effort and very little expense, dried roses can

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Most plants are bought at garden centers, nurseries and supermarkets. The range varies according to the time of the year, as plants in flower are the easiest to sell. Most plants are sold container-grown and can be planted at any time of the year, but the best times to plant are in spring or autumn when the soil is warm and moist, and the plants become established quickly. Summer planting

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The name, Shrub Rose is somewhat confusing because a rose, any rose in fact, is actually a shrub. Most varieties of roses can be considered shrub roses including hybrids, modern roses, old garden roses, and even miniature roses. The term "shrub" refers to the appearance of the rose plant, which in general resembles that of a bush or shrub. Shrub roses are a great colorful alternative to use

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For a low-maintenance border, plant a backbone of easy-to-grow shrubs that can be relied on to give a good display every year without much attention.Spiraea japonica 'Goldflame' (pictured above)Young red tips turn a brassy color, then green. The foliage is best if hard-pruned each spring. Grows to 90 cm x 90 cm. A sun lover.Camellia japonicaLarge evergreen with pink, white or red winter flowers.

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Blackspot is a prevalent rose disease that is caused by the fungus Diplocarpon rosae. Should your rose bushes develop the telltale signs of Blackspot, remedial measures must be taken immediately. Otherwise, the bush will begin producing fewer blooms and the rose's ability to survive the winter months will be jeopardized. Blackspot is easy to recognize in its latter stages, but might not be

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The choice of easy-care shrubs is vast. Most shrubs are hardy and need either no pruning or a simple pruning once a year and many require no specific soil type or position in the garden. Even if they do require some upkeep, sometimes it is possible to cut out one or two of the regular tasks to save time, keeping the end result just as pleasing. May bushes, for example, are grown for their massed

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A woodland garden is a mini forest that requires quite a lot of room. The trees should not be so densely planted that nothing will grow beneath them. For best results choose only smaller-growing trees and space them at least 10 m apart. Too many evergreens clumped together will cast a big area of dense shade. If you mostly use deciduous trees, you will be able to grow a wide range of spring bulbs

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It makes sense to water and feed plants at the same time. Soluble fertilizers can be applied through a hose or watering can, and are available to the plant straight away. If, on the other hand, you rarely need to water the plants, a granular, slow-release fertilizer can be applied once a year, in spring, round the base of the plant.Hose-end FeederWater and feed in one go using a special feeder

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Keep your garden looking good all year by planting a selection of easy-care shrubs, each with different attractions, making sure their flowering times vary.Deciduous floweringChaenomeles x superba 'Crimson and Cold', Deutzia gracilis, Viburnum opulus 'Sterile', Weigela florida.Evergreen floweringChaenomeles uncinatum, Choisya ternata, Euryops pectinatus, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Lavandula

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Pruning and deadheading are important parts of your rose care routine. There are as many different opinions about how and when to prune as there are roses in need of pruning.While individual rosarians may have their favorite "tried and true" methods, this article is geared towards new rosarians who have no idea where to start. As time goes by you may feel the urge to modify these techniques or

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The way a border is planted can play an important part in reducing the amount of time needed for maintenance. Once you have decided what to plant, you then have to decide whether to plant the shrubs or trees singly or in groups of the same variety. One advantage of planting many of one specimen in a group is the instant impact, due to the greater area covered: instead of a single flowering shrub,

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Louise and Phil Pankhurst are in their early fifties. They both work full-time, but like to spend time in the garden at weekends and on summer evenings. They want a garden with a Mediterranean style that will suit their sunny climate and remind them of a recent trip.Phil Pankhurst is an information technology specialist at the university nearby. Louise is the director of a charity. They want a

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Sometimes old garden borders lack interest, especially if some of the shrubs are past their best. One option is to replace all the shrubs and start again, but this is hard work and will leave you with empty spaces until the new shrubs begin to grow. A quicker method is to keep some of the existing plants to provide the structure for the new border and shrubs that offer more than one season of

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Trees and shrubs easily and effectively add long-lasting color and interest to a garden but, to keep down the workload, you will need to choose plants that need minimum pruning. Shrubs and trees can be used without the addition of other plants to create a beautiful planting on their own. They can also provide a permanent framework for a border that includes many other plants: for instance, they

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Now that you finally have a rose garden that you can be proud of, it's time to take the next step and let others judge the beauty of your roses. Rose shows and exhibits are exciting events where you get a chance to see how your roses stack up against those from other rosarians. It doesn't matter if you win, just the experience will teach you a lot.Before entering your own roses, take the time to

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If you want to be the proud owner of a bountiful garden this year, the first thing you need to find out is which climate zone you live in. It's helpful to know that your town gets a lot of sunshine throughout the year, but that's not enough. It's actually the cold temperatures that make a difference in what you can and cannot grow in your area. Know Your ZoneAnyone who knows anything about

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Trees and shrubs form the ideal basis for an easy-care garden because this group of plants needs less maintenance than any other. Plants from this group provide interest all year round, giving a long sequence of flowers, fruits or berries, winter bark and stems, as well as variegated and evergreen foliage. Do not purchase all or even most of the shrubs for your garden at the one time: instead buy

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What could possibly smell or look better than a vase of beautiful rose blooms on your table or the table of someone you love? Roses, especially hybrid tea roses, are made to be cut and they can last a very long time in a vase if you follow these simple tips.Always make sure that you cut your roses with a sharp and clean pair of shears. Dull shears will crush the rose's stem, and dirty shears can

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Building paths and steps requires a great deal of advance preparation so it is probably best left to a contractor. Point the cracks between slabs with mortar to prevent weeds taking hold. Heavily used paths need proper foundations, but paths that are used infrequently, such as an informal path through a garden bed, can be built relatively easily. Set paving slabs or bricks to half their depth in

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Hard surfaces need virtually no maintenance. They can be used in all sorts of creative ways in place of a lawn. For instance, you can create a courtyard garden enclosed by walls, a Mediterranean-style garden surrounded by evergreens, a minimalist Japanese-style garden, a walkthrough rock garden, a modern patio or a traditional, formal terrace. Gravel The quickest and easiest surface to lay

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Did you realize that there's an organization of rose enthusiasts who actually care that the roses you purchase live up to the highest standards of quality? Well there is and most people don't even know this organization exists. Most consumers probably take for granted a rose's beauty and heartiness because they think that's just the nature of the rose. After all, how else could this elegant

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Colorful climbing roses can add a dramatic effect to your home. They're nice because you can wind them around a trellis, a column, or even let them climb up the side of your home. It's interesting to note, however, that many seasoned gardeners fear climbing roses. This is likely because of the belief that climbing roses can get damaged by cold weather and also because they can take years to reach

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Families make many conflicting demands on a garden. Children need space to play and keep pets, while adults want an attractive environment in which to relax and entertain friends. The design of a family garden needs to reflect these different requirements and be flexible enough to evolve as the family grows up.Child friendly plantsThere are many easily grown, non-toxic plants soft enough to do no

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Where you want the low openness of lawn but not the work associated with it, a spreading ground cover can be the ideal choice. You won't be able to walk, lie, play games or wash the car on it, but once it is established and is forming a thick cover over the ground, your only work will be to water it when necessary and perhaps to pull out the occasional persistent weed.The best ground cover is one

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Old Garden Roses are any of the rose varieties that were recognized and celebrated prior to 1867, the year in which the first modern flower was introduced. The name of this flower is the hybrid tea. The major classes of Old Garden Roses include: bourbons, noisettes, portlands, species, centifolias, albas, chinas, damasks, hybrid perpetuals, moss roses, gallicas, and teas. Although some of these

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Herb lawns and ground-cover plants are easier to maintain than a grass lawn because they do not require regular mowing. They are often more successful than traditional lawns in difficult situations, such as dry sunny sites, on steep banks or in shade under trees. But non-grass lawns are not a perfect substitute for grass, as they won't stand much wear. If you need to walk through a non-grass lawn

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There's nothing worse than seeing all of your hard work destroyed by a rose disease or fungus. Roses can be weakened during the winter dormancy and become more susceptible to disease when the growing season begins.Even if the bush survived winter unscathed, spring rains and summer's heat and humidity can open the door to a variety of fungus infections.Here is a summary of the most common diseases

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Investing in the right equipment is the easiest way for the busy gardener to reduce the time spent on lawn care. Mowing is the most time-consuming task, so make sure you choose a mower that suits the type and size of your lawn.Ride-on The time-saver's choice for a very large garden. Ride-on mowers have an extra-wide cutting width and move faster than you can walk with a powered mower. They are

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You can save time on regular jobs, such as lawn edging, by investing in the right equipment, jobs such as spiking the lawn, which require special equipment, can be made easier by hiring the equipment or employing a contractor to do them.Cutting the grass If you have a small lawn and want a fine finish, and don't mind a little gentle exercise, then consider a hand-pushed mower. Electric machines

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There's an enormous selection of roses that you can grow in your home garden. With such a large selection to choose from, your decision may seem more like a difficult task than the fun that it should be. In order to make this process easier, there are a few important factors that you should consider prior to choosing your roses.ColorHow will the color of your roses effect your garden? Look at

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It wasn't too long ago that no serious rosarian would even consider having a potted rose on their property except for, maybe, last minute emergencies where they had run out of space but couldn't resist buying just one more plant.Times have changed and potted roses have a place in the lives of condo and apartment dwellers, city slickers who live in areas where there isn't a tree in sight, and

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Looking for a colorful way to make a grand statement? If you like to putter around in the garden, then do what the nobles of the past did and surround your home with rose trees. Doing so will definitely add an air of elegance to any landscape. Rose trees, also known as Rose Standards, differ from rose plants or rose shrubs in that they are actually cultivated to resemble a tree. A rose tree

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No matter how weed-infested or bald an existing lawn has become, it will take less effort to improve it than to create a new lawn altogether. However, if you prefer quick results, or if you have no lawn to begin with, you will have to start from scratch.Laying cultivated turf is the quickest way to create a lawn, but it is relatively expensive. Turf will thrive anywhere except in heavy shade or

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Although there is no one set of "official" classification system of roses, there are many different popular rose classification schemes that are employed throughout the world. The most popular of the systems in use has been proposed by The American Rose Society in cooperation with the World Federation of Roses. Although this classification system is not the only one in use, a large majority of

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A grass lawn takes effort to establish, but keeping it in top condition is where the real work lies. If you want a lawn, but don’t have time for a lot of fiddly maintenance in spring and summer, following these simple steps will reduce the workload of lawn care.Two or more small lawns take a lot more maintenance than a single larger lawn. Not only do you have more edges to trim, but corners on

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Regular mowing keeps grass growing thickly and prevents weeds from getting established. To rescue an overgrown lawn colonized by weeds, cut back the long grass in either spring or autumn using a line trimmer or a rotary lawnmower with blades set high, at 5-8cm. For a large area, hire a powered scythe or get in a contractor for the first cut. Then feed the neglected lawn with a lawn fertilizer.Mow

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Like any job you tackle, the work is always much easier if you arm yourself with the right tools. Before heading out to your rose garden, make sure you bring along these basic rose gardening tools.PrunersA good pruner is one tool that you will use almost daily. There are two types of pruners on the market. One is called an "anvil" pruner, and the other is called a "bypass" pruner. An anvil pruner

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The months of November and December can be an awkward time for many rosarians. While the growing season is coming to and end, the winter hibernation season has not yet begun. Some of us just don't know what to do with ourselves or our rose bushes during this period of time.Because your bushes are not yet in hibernation they still require some attention from you. Water continues to be a prime

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A lawn may seem the perfect way of covering most of the ground in your garden, but if you want to reduce the time spent on garden maintenance there are various options to consider. For example, where a well-kept, 'bowling green'-style lawn might require 100 hours of maintenance a year, a similar area covered by a tough family lawn which contains hard-wearing buffalo or durban grass would claim

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By simplifying the shape of your lawn, removing obstacles and adding easy-care features, you can cut mowing time. A radical solution is to choose a non-grass surface that requires little maintenance.The traditional ideal of a lawn is a manicured, close-cropped expanse of grass that covers the 'floor' of the garden. Its big drawback, from the busy gardener's point of view, is the time that such a

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A properly laid driveway should have had all weeds removed during excavation for the foundations, and additionally may incorporate a weed-proof membrane. If weeds do appear in driveways, deal with them at once so they don't have time to set seed; most seedling weeds can be pulled out easily. More established ones will succumb to suitable weedkillers, or can be controlled organically with a fatty

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September and October are your rose's finest hour. If you have faithfully followed suggestions at GardeningShortcuts up to this point, you should start to see full, colorful, magnificent blooms as your reward.Your work isn't quite through yet, however. While fall is the best growing time, you also need to start thinking about the coming winter months.Your bushes are working hard to produce blooms

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Heat is one of the worst enemies that roses face, and the months of July and August can be scorchers. Not only are your roses at risk of heat damage, but the accompanying humidity breeds insects and fungal diseases.Here's a look at what we can do to keep our roses beautiful and healthy until the cooling days of autumn arrive.Make sure that your roses have all the water that they need. Remember to

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A car parking space doesn't have to be purely functional: it can also look attractive. The golden rule is that the larger the parking area, the greater the need will be to break up the monotonous appearance of paving. This can be done in several ways: by introducing a variety of textures and colors; by using more than one paving material; by creating a single central bed, either circular or

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By now you have already been captivated by the first blooms of late April and you're filled with anticipation over the wave of blooms which are yet to come. This is the beginning of the season that we wait for!Begin your deep watering programIn early May, heavy rains could still be left over from April. If that's so, then adjust your watering schedule accordingly. Otherwise, maintaining the

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The need for low-work planting is greater in the front yard than in the back. You want a planted area that provides easy access for you and your visitors, rather than dense plants that will require constant trimming and pruning. Aim for a welcoming appearance and easy care.Plants also need to be tough and capable of recovering quickly from damage. Children may take short cuts over the beds; cars

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If you live in an area where you can start seeing the promise of spring in late March or early April, then you're an "early spring" rose gardener. However, if you live where March and April bring the season's best skiing, then just keep waiting out old man winter until your turn at spring arrives and then follow the tips in this article.Early spring is a time of great activity in the rose garden

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EARLY SPRING Cutting height in early spring depends on the type of grass you have. Warm-season grasses, such as buffalo, couch or kikuyu, which are not yet growing strongly, are cut high. Cool-season grasses, such as bent and tall fescue, which are still growing strongly, may be cut moderately low.MID SPRINGLower the cutting height for warm-season grasses; start to raise it for cool-season

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Winter is a time of rest and purification for your rose garden, but it can be a time of disaster as well if you fail to take the proper precautions.While "old garden roses" and own-root species are generally hardy enough to make it through the winter unscathed, the more fragile varieties, such as hybrid teas and budded roses, can have a rough time if they aren't well protected.Preparing for the

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In the wild, water appears as rain, mist or fog and is taken up mainly by the root system. Plants in the home are reliant on us to meet all their watering needs. Water is essential to all plants; without it they will die. The length of time this takes may vary from one day for young seedlings to several months in the case of a succulent plant, but death will always occur eventually. Water acts as

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All types of pesticide are labeled as to their contents and the pests or diseases they should be used against. Always follow strictly any specific instructions, such as the dilution ratio.Contact insecticidesInsecticides are most commonly applied in liquid form as a fine spray, so that they hit the pest directly and, with luck, kill it quickly before it has time to multiply. These "knock­out"

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These plants have dainty, deeply divided fronds arching from the central stem. The fronds are fresh green when young and darken with age. Mature plants produce small sprays of tiny, yellow, beadlike flowers. They thrive in the warm, humid conditions of bottle gardens and terraria.Mini-climate Warm, filtered sun. Size Chamaedorea elegans 'Bella' is a dwarf species, reaching a height of about 3ft

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An increasingly popular plant bearing brightly colored fleshy berries which appear in autumn and remain decorative for 8-12 weeks. The most familiar berries are orange-red in color but white, yellow, green and purple-berried varieties are also available. They are best treated as annuals and discarded when the fruiting has finished. They make colorful displays and are striking massed together as a

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Campanula isophylla produce clusters of delicate-looking white or pale-blue flowers in early August and continue flowering until November. The flowers are normally so numerous that they completely hide the pale-green foliage. They are best treated as annuals and discarded when flowering has finished. These are useful plants for massing in hanging baskets or window-boxes. They look good in

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For a simple yet aesthetic front yard, choose plants that look good from inside and out. Here are some easy-care varieties. The trees can be used singly, while most of the other plants need to be grouped to create impact.Small treesAcerpalmatum 'Blood-good' Bauhinia variegata, Callistemon 'Harkness', Cordyline kaspar, Eucalyptus erythrocorys, Gordonia axillaris, Myoporum laetum, Plumeria rubra

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Many front yards have a gradient, which makes mowing a lawn impractical. A low-maintenance alternative is to carpet the slope with easy-care ground-cover plants. Alternatively, you can create a rockery on the gradient. Embed rocks into the slope or, especially if the gradient is steep, terrace the slope by creating a series of low retaining walls with plantings in between. A terraced garden may

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A simple design is the key to keeping down the workload in your front yard. Gravel gardens can provide the ideal solution - easy-care plants that grow through mulch matting topped by a 5cm layer of gravel. Not only do the natural color and texture of a gravel garden help to set off plants to their best effect, but the 'fluid' nature of the loose materials used is ideal for covering an area of an

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Most front yards need to be functional and easy to look after. All too often, however, this leads to a stark, uninviting area that is low on interest for much of the year. A well-designed front yard combines the practical considerations, such as direct access on wide paths, while being pleasing to the eye. Many people make the mistake of treating the front yard like a replica of the back yard,

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Making plansDo draw a scaled plan on graph paper to decide the positioning of essential features.Do use fences, walls, trellis or shrubs to screen the garden from neighboring properties or the road.Do confirm your property line (with a surveyor if necessary) before erecting a new boundary, and check for council regulations.Do use bold plantings, strong focal points and sweeping curves to create

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James and Rebecca Wong have bought a new home in an outer suburban area. James works at the district hospital and Rebecca has a part-time job in a shop. They have two young, school-age children.The Wongs want a garden which will add character and charm to the front of their home and distinguish it from their neighbors' houses. They need a better defined, more welcoming entrance that is within

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First impressions count most - and it is the front yard that gives the first impression of your home. It is what we­lcomes you home at night and sends you on your way in the morning. And it plays the dual roles of welcoming visitors while keeping out intruders, and letting you see the surrounding neighborhood while maintaining privacy. Front yards vary tremendously in size: from pocket

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Early SpringRemove any weeds and tidy up debristhat has fallen in winter. Top up the mulch so that it is at least 5cm (2 inches) deep. Apply snail bait around susceptible plants.Mid SpringSprinkle complete plant food evenly between shrubs. If you have frosts, prune away any blackened stems.Late SpringIncrease rate of watering. Inspect flowers and shrubs for aphids, caterpillars and thrips. Prune

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The leaves of these plants look as if they have been hand painted with dark-green patterns. They look best in a mixed group of foliage plants. Smaller plants can be used in bottle gardens and larger terraria.Mini-climate Warm, shady.Size Calathea makoyana can grow to a height of 3 feet with a spread of about 2feet. Plants of all sizes are offered for sale.Feeding Feed with standard liquid

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Caladium hortulanum hybrids send up long, fleshy stalks bearing the paper-thin, heart-shaped leaves. The variety of leaf colors and patterns is immense - besides green leaves with red veining, white and cream leaves veined with pink or green are also available. These plants are highly ornamental, especially if different leaf colors are grouped together.Mini-climate Warm, shady. Size The mainly

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These are showy plants with violet-blue flowers that appear in early summer or autumn depending on climate and when seeds were started. They are best treated as annuals and discarded when flowering has finished. The stems tend to droop so display plants in eye-level hanging baskets or massed together on a low table.Mini-climate Warm, sunny.Size Browallia speciosa grow to 10-12 inch tall with a

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Armed with sharp spines, these plants are woody-stemmed. The small, creamy-white flowers are insignificant in themselves but are surrounded by large, decorative, papery bracts which can be white, yellow, orange, pink, red or purple. These are produced in clusters of between 10 and 20, mainly during spring and summer. Although they are naturally climbing plants, Bougainvillea buttiana can be

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These plants have tough leaves with toothed edges. There may be many plants in the same pot, as production of offsets is prolific. 1 luring the main flowering season, May to June, the foliage is interspersed with trailing, bright-pink bracts. These bracts open to display the small yellow, green and purple flowers. Billbergia nutans are best displayed at eye-level as feature plants.Mini-climate

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The common name of these plants derives from the short, coarse hairs which grow around the edge of each lopsided, heart-shaped leaf. The attractive foliage is bright lime-green in color, marked with a bronze-red pattern which gives the leaves a patched or blotchy appearance. The stalks are also speckled with red and arise from a rhizome which creeps across the surface of the potting mixture. Mass

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A profusion of white, pink or red flowers begin blooming in spring and continue well into the winter. Single- and double-flowered varieties are available. They are best treated as annuals and discarded when flowering has finished. Group them together in shallow containers or mix with colorful foliage plants in light, well-ventilated rooms.Mini-climate Warm, sunny. Size These plants never reach

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Also known as "rex begonias", these are among the most handsome of the species, grown for their beautifully colored leaves rather than their flowers, which tend to be insignificant. The heart-shaped leaves, which can be up to 1 ft in length, bear striking patterns made up of variations of red, black, silver and green. Leaf texture also varies: some hybrids have smooth leaves; this one has a

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These delicate-looking plants have small, oval leaves with a glossy texture. The leaves are borne on long, thin stems which begin to arch over as they get longer. Small, waxy, succulent-looking, shell-pink flowers appear in clusters between autumn and spring. They need some kind of support if they are to be seen to best effect. Display with green foliage groups in an informal setting. They can

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These plants flower for most of the year. The large, roselike flowers range in color from deep red, through pink to yellow and white, They are best treated as annuals and discarded when flowering has finished. The foliage is usually pale green but plants with deep-red foliage are sometimes available. As their flowers are quite large they can be displayed as specimen plants or grouped together in

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These are most bizarre-looking plants, having a ponytail-like tuft of narrow, green leaves sprouting from the top of a fat or long, woody stem. The swollen base adds to the unusual appearance of the plants, which are ideal for displaying in a modern interior and will thrive in any centrally heated room.Mini-climate Warm, filtered sun.SizeThese plants reach a maximum height of 5feet with a spread

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Also known as "Japanese laurels", these plants were much used by the Victorians in their shrubberies and greenhouses. The modern hybrids are more cheerful, having leaves strongly variegated with yellow. They can be used in window-boxes and in cool rooms as they tolerate a certain amount of neglect, poor light and drafts.Mini-climate Cool, filtered sun.Size These plants can reach 3-4 feet high.

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These plants have shiny, apple-green fronds arranged in an upward-spreading rosette at whose base is a circle of young leaf fronds. These slowly unroll from the fibrous core of the plant. Large specimens are too bold in shape to display with other ferns and look best either arranged on their own, or included in a mixed group of large-leaved foliage plants.Mini-climateWarm, shady.Size The fronds

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As their common name suggests, these plants will tolerate a certain amount of neglect. They were much used in Victorian days as specimen plants, but despite these associations, Aspidistra elatior can be used to great effect, either massed together or grouped with other, smaller plants. They are ideal plants for filling difficult, darker spaces.Mini-climateCool, filtered sun. Size These plants

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Asparagus setaceus have light, feathery foliage made up of tiny branchlets on wiry stems. Taller growing kinds may be trained up thin canes to form a delicate column shape. Trained around east- or west-facing windows they can give a charming "cottage" effect. They can also be included in fern groups in a hanging basket.Mini-climate Warm, filtered sun. Size These plants can produce stems up to 4

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These plants have arching stems which begin to trail with age. Each stem is covered in tiny branchlets, giving the plants a delicate, fernlike appearance; in fact they are not true ferns but related to the lilies. Use them to soften the outline of arrangements, or group with true ferns in a hanging basket. They thrive in most conditions and have a fresh, informal look which makes them suitable

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Also known as "Christmas tree plants", these are at their best when four years old. Because of their starkness, they seldom look well mixed with other plants, but a most striking effect can be created by grouping several of these conifers together to give a Japanese look.Mini-climate Cool, filtered sun.Size Araucaria heterophylla are slow-growing: a ten year old plant rarely exceeds 6 feet in

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These are dual-purpose flowering and foliage plants. For about six weeks the plant has unusual flower heads of overlapping yellow bracts. When flowering has finished, pinch off the dead blooms, then use as a foliage plant. The leaves are large and glossy and marked with large, white veins. Mix with plain-leaved plants for a contrasting display in a modern living-room.Mini-climate Warm, filtered

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The exotic flower heads consist of a bright scarlet bract encircling a tail-like flower spike. They last for several weeks and can appear at any time between February and July. When in flower, several plants grouped together make an attractive display; when not in flower, the leaves harmonize with those of other tropical plants suitable for shady spots.Mini-climate Warm, shady.Size Small plants

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These plants are prized for their stiff, spiny leaves which curve gracefully outward, giving them a symmetrical shape. When five or six years old they produce striking pink flower heads, followed by a pink fruit which is unlikely to ripen and be edible. Large plants displayed in an urn suit formal interiors. Mini-climate Warm, sunny.Size These plants grow to a maximum height of about 3 feet

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In free-draining soils you can grow a range of plants that are not happy in moist conditions. Since rain soaks through fast, you can dig and cultivate the soil almost at any time - even after heavy rain, when clay is too boggy to work on. However, with excessively free-draining soils, such as sand or gravel, it can be a time-consuming chore to keep plants moist. There are several solutions -

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In soil that stays wet, the roots cannot take in air because the air spaces within the soil are filled with water. The roots then 'drown' and rot, causing plants to die. Some plants, however, are specially adapted to life in wet soil, particularly bog-garden plants and those that grow in shallow water along pond margins. Some border plants are also happy in permanently moist soil that is not

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These climbing plants produce bright, buttercup-yellow flowers over a period of many weeks during the summer. The oval leaves which are carried on long stems are a glossy dark-green color. If grown in a conservatory border, or in a tub, Allamanda cathartica can be trained to cover a wall. For the smaller room, they can be grown in pots and trained over a wire framework of any shape.Mini-climate

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The beautiful foliage of these plants is green only at the margins and main veins; the rest of the leaf is silvery-white and cream. As plants age they lose some of their lower leaves and develop a short, trunk-like stem. They are excellent as part of a bold, leafy arrangement, particularly if contrasted with dark-green foliage plants.Mini-climate Warm, filtered sun. Size Aglaonema crispum '

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When three or four years old, these plants produce a drumstick-shaped inflorescence which rises from the center of the rosette. This flower head comprises many spiny, pink bracts through which peep short-lived, pale-blue flowers. Display large plants as specimens, or grow small plants on a dried branch covered with sphagnum moss. Mini-climateWarm, sunny.Size The leaves of these plants reach 2ft

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In deep shade, where even weak shafts of sunlight do not penetrate, very few plants will grow. As a general rule, if the shade is too deep for you to read comfortably, then it is too dark for plants. However, a certain amount of shade provides ideal conditions for some plants that will not grow happily elsewhere. Ferns, hostas, impatiens and periwinkles (vinca) are all shade lovers. If they are

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Sun-loving plants need exposure to direct sunlight to keep growth compact and to ensure good flowering. Insufficient light makes them grow weak and spindly, and may stop them from flowering. Check the label on the plant before you buy it for advice about the correct growing position, or consult reference books for further detail.Some plants will grow in a wide variety of situations. Their label

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These ferns have delicate, pale-green fronds borne on black, wiry stalks. They mix well with both foliage and flowering house plants and are useful for softening the outline of arrangements. They are also attractive on their own. Small plants can be planted in terraria.Mini-climate Warm, shady.Size Adiantum raddianum grow to 1 foot in height with a similar spread. Plants of all sizes are offered

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Also known as "magic flowers", these plants have hairy, upright, green or red stems and dull-green leaves which are also hairy. Flowers can be pink, purple or yellow in color, with white throats. The flowering period lasts from summer to autumn. These are very useful infill plants for an indoor window-box.Mini-climateWarm, sunny.SizeAchimenes grandiflora grow to about 1'/ aft in height. Small

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These are pretty, woody plants which can be trained when young. They have maplelike leaves from whose leaf-joints come the bell-shaped flowers. The flowers of the hybrids are red, pink, yellow or white. Abutilon hybridum 'Canary Bird' are long-lasting, making them suitable for use as feature plants, especially in front of a window. Mini-climate Warm, sunny. Size They can reach a height and

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