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Times have changed for roses since Shakespeare, centuries ago wrote: “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet.” With the growth of modern gardening systems and tools, we have witnessed hybridization of roses which are tougher with larger blooms and which bloom frequently. Experiments with cross-pollination of different types of roses have resulted in hybrid tea roses and floribunda roses which have reached the peak of popularity with rose lovers all over the world. Despite the shift of preference to modern hybrid roses, heirloom roses are still everyone’s favorite which has stood the test of time and is geared for a successful comeback.

Heirloom roses are also called by another name: antique roses. As the name suggests, this typical variety of rose is nearly a century old and still cultivated carefully so that plants can be produced from their seeds. While the exact number of varieties available in antique roses is difficult to ascertain, there are several categories of antique roses which one can come across. These include: the Gallicas, the damasks, the albas, the centifolia and the moss. All these types of antique roses are famous for their magnificent fragrance and their large bloom size. Though modern rose gardeners have created many hybrid varieties of roses, antique roses are fairly simple to grow, just as the hybrid tea and the floribunda.

Information about heirloom roses are available in plenty in the numerous websites and your local garden store may even have some antique varieties in stock. The local horticulture societies as well as the local garden club are great places for accessing more information on the types of such roses which would be suitable for your climate and soil.

While the same rules and principles of rose gardening apply for antique rose gardening, you could add that special flavor of that era in the form of a Victorian gazing ball. A brand new gazebo could add some more excitement to your garden with a lovely climbing variety of the antique rose.

Remember some of the fundamental rules of rose gardening apply here also, in the sense that watering has to be done only at the base of the plant and not on the stems, leaves or flowers. This will deep mold and rust at bay which have a habit of damaging delicate and fresh plants. The base of the plant must be kept free of debris including dead and fallen leaves. Practice careful pruning to avoid unnecessary damage to your rose bushes. Try and complete your pruning during early spring, to ensure that you get a full and healthy bloom through out summer. Use clean and high quality shears and always wear gloves to avoid cuts and bruises from thorns. Prune the center of the rose bush as this will facilitate fresh air circulation later in the season. All dead wood, weak growth and old canes must be removed at all times. The right height of the plant which your pruning must ensure would largely depend on the variety of rose that you have chosen. But the right height can ensure strength and health for your plant. The pruning shears must be thoroughly cleaned after use with dabs of alcohol to prevent mold or fungus from spreading to the healthy parts of your plants.

There are plenty of heirloom roses to choose from which can make your rose garden a marvelous display of color, fragrance and beauty. This way you could also lend a helping hand in keeping the heirloom tradition alive in your own way.

Rose Maven recommends MiniGarden.com, PlantWebsite.com, and Williger.com.

Now that summer is over, many of the flowers you have will no longer make it into the winter. However, there are a few ways to save some of your plants and get them through the winter. The other ones though will not be as lucky and have to be emptied and removed. Doing this is not difficult and can be done relatively easily.

If you planted any tropical annuals, they can be brought indoors for the winter. They will need:

·A very sunny window or ledge.·Good amount of available moisture.·Of course enough space to set them up.

Along with any tropical plants you have, you can also bring in palms and ferns. Removing some cuttings and essentially cloning your plants may be a better idea if you do not have a lot of room or an area that they can still strive in. The plants need to be very healthy with no bugs or blights. What you will need to do to succeed is:

1. Make sure you use a sharp knife and remove some of the non-flowering stems. It should be about three to four inches long.

2. You will then need to make sure all the leaves are removed from the lower part of them stem; around two thirds of the way down.

3. Now that you have prepared the cuttings that you have chosen, dip the edges in rooting hormone. Rooting hormone is available at all plant stores.

4. Once they have been dipped, put the cuttings that are still damp, into moist sand or peat moss. Even tap water will work if you do not have sand or peat moss to use.

5. Next, take the container that they are in and place it in a sunny place for three to four weeks.

6. Do not forget to keep the sand or peat moss moist during this time.

7. Keep checking your cuttings until you see that the roots are about 1 inch long.

8. Now you are able to plant them in a regular pot and grow them on a sunny window ledge or room.

This method works well when you are dealing with such plants as geraniums, pelargonium, coleus, and certain ivies. Sometimes impatiens work too.

So, you have rescued and saved all the plants that you can and you are ready to move onto cleaning the containers of the other plants and disposing of them. All the plants that you are getting rid of you can cut up and put into a compost heap, this includes the soil. You definitely want to get rid of all the soil especially if you have soil in terracotta or ceramic pots and containers. Any moisture in the soil will expand when it freezes and it will crack the pots and containers, ruining them and making a mess.

Now, simply wash out all the containers and pots to make sure all debris and fungus are gone. If there is a white ring on your terracotta pots then just soak them for twenty four hours in white vinegar, water, and baking soda. After they have soaked use a stiff brush and scrub them in soapy water and rinse.

Next, dry the containers and pots in the sun and then stack them with paper towels or newspapers between them to absorb any moisture that is left. Try to store them somewhere at room temperature so that they do not freeze together during the winter months. However, as long as there are layers between them, they should be fine until the spring.

As long as you follow these tips you should have no problem saving some of your plants and being prepared for the following summer.

Plant Website recommends MiniGarden.com, SiteKing.NET, and Williger.com.

Anyone who has always had some interest in the topic of landscaping would be better off learning about landscaping from experts. A lot of people would have read one gardening magazine or the other but usually the best way to learn about landscaping is for a person to take a landscaping class.

Landscaping classes are an excellent option for people who have a love of plants. It is a way for people to translate their love into visual action which other people will see and appreciate.

You’ll learn about:

• Plant health, soil, and fertilizers
• Servicing garden tractors and other tools used in landscaping
• Creating landscaping designs using shrubs and ground covers
• Specialty landscaping, starting and operating your own landscaping business
• And you may be able to learn it right at home

With the right qualifications, you’ll be able to:

• Work for an established landscaping firm or start your own business.
• Complete your training in as little as six months from today, or take longer if you wish.

Anyone with a basic knowledge of flowers and plants will be helped when it comes to studying the initial parts of the landscaping business. If you don’t know a lot about either plants or landscaping, it really isn’t a problem because a landscaping class will usually teach you all of the basic things and a whole lot more.

Several levels of landscaping classes can be chosen from and it all depends on what you know now. Basic landscaping classes will have something to do with being able to identify specific kinds of plants and how they can be implemented in different landscaping designs.

One essential thing that you should understand about landscaping is that you will have to pay strict attention to the kinds of plants that do well in your own climate. If you love a certain kind of plant which only thrives in warm climates and you live in a cold climate, you should opt for another option which will suit your climate a whole lot better.

One essential thing that you have to learn about landscaping has to do with quality of soil which you have. Soil tends to vary with climate. The kind of soil that you have available should have enough nutrients so that you get all the possible nutrients that your plants require. If you end up taking a landscaping class, this should be one of the very many essential topics.

Another crucial aspect that people want to be informed about when it comes to landscaping classes is their cost. The price of landscaping classes often has to do with how advanced that particular class is as well as how long the class will last. It also tends to include materials which are needed for the class.

If you’re really serious about landscaping, you should look out for the programs which are available at your local higher institutions. You can also ask some local landscaping companies about their own suggestions. With the right research you can get a good landscaping class.

Professional Landscaper training should also include:

• All the books, lessons, and learning aids you need
• “Landscape Tools Use and Safety” videos
• Tree and shrub identification books
• 3D Home Design Suite Deluxe Software
• Instructional support and
• Some Access to Informational Websites

Plant Website recommends MiniGarden.com, SiteKing.NET, and Williger.com.

Herb gardens are among some of the easiest gardens that a person can grow. These sorts of gardens require an area of land that is relatively small. They can be grown indoors in pots, window boxes or even hanging planters. These gardens may be used to spice up your dinner dishes or for medicinal purposes and their pleasant aroma and beautiful flowers. They may also be used either fresh or dried and they are a staple in every kitchen cupboard.

If you’ve ever reached for spice in the kitchen and realized that you were out, it may be a good enough reason to plant your own herb garden. Rather than running off to the store for some fresh supplies you can easily walk over to a plant and clip off what you need. You can have everything from fresh basil, thyme, sage, chives, dill, to tarragon or rosemary right at your fingertips from your herb garden.

Herbs may annuals, biennials or perennials. Annuals tend to flower one season and then die the next. Biennials live for at least two seasons, flower once and then die. Perennials tend to die in water but return to blossom the next season. If you pick perennials you should ensure that they are planted in a place that they can be kept from one year to the other.

Herb gardens require very little space and they may be either planted as seeds or plant clippings. Seeds should also be planted in shallow boxes in the late winter and from then they can be transplanted outdoors during the spring. Soil is a determinant factor that governs the issue of whether your garden thrives or falters. Herbs also do not grow properly in wet soil so it is essential that you provide adequate drainage for the herbs. If adequate drainage isn’t available then you can easily compensate by adding compost and sand to the soil that you have. You may also dig out at least 15- 18 inches of dirt and add crushed stone in it to aid in the process.

Unlike other plants herbs don’t need too much fertilizer. The more fertile the soil that you have, then the less foliage will occur and your herbs won’t have enough flavor. Certain diseases or insects also tend to attack herbal plants too.

Harvesting herbs should take place in the morning and only when the plant has had enough foliage to maintain its growth. Whenever they are picked they should be washed almost immediately in cold water. They can also be used fresh or dried for use in winter.

In order to dry herbs, after washing you should hang them up in order for the water to evaporate. After this you should bind the stems together and place them in a band with the stems placed at the bags opening. After this close the bag with a rubber bag and hang them from a line so that they cool in a place that is dark and dry. The attic is usually a better choice as basements are usually damp. When two to three weeks have passed then you may remove the herbs from the bag and then crumble the leaves. When the crumbled leaves are perfectly crispy they should be stored in glass jars or airtight containers placed in a cool place so you can have them whenever you require them.

Darren Williger is an over-caffeinated, low carbohydrate eating, winemaking enthusiast who writes for PlantWebsite.com, MiniGarden.com, and ContainerGardening.Net.

If you’re a gardener who hates the fact that the onslaught of winter puts a halt to your gardening or if you’re an apartment dweller who has yard but wants to plant, then indoor gardening may just be what suits you nicely. Indoor gardening brings in a bit of the outdoors into your home or apartment and provides you with color all year round. Indoor gardening may be different from outdoor gardening but in the true nature of the word, the same principles apply. With some know-how about the difference between indoor and outdoor gardening, you should be well on your way to growing in no time at all.

It’s a well-known fact that plants get rid of the carbon dioxide in the air and replace it with oxygen. This is very beneficial to your health and it is a reason for you to want to learn some indoor gardening. Other than this, plants also remove toxins and pollutants from the air. Not only is this healthy for you it helps you get rid of some of the dust and allergens that are found in the air, which can cause problems for you.

Because lighting is essential in the life of a plant and needed for growth as well, it tends to be a major consideration whenever you’re starting indoor gardening. The amount of light that comes into your home naturally and how much it has will help in determining which plants will be able to survive. Plants that require medium or low light tend to do well in homes except you plan on using artificial lighting. Another thing that is important is for you to condition your plant after it has been purchased. Because your house has a limited amount of light filtering in, you can slowly adjust your plant to cope with this condition by providing maximum lighting for it and decreasing the amount of lighting over the period of several weeks until you attain the needed condition. This also energizes the growth pattern of your plants. Another thing to note is that if you watch you will notice that a plant tends to turn towards the sunlight. Unless you want your plant pointing in a particular direction, rotate it on a very regular basis.

When you heat up your house during the winter, the internal humidity in your home will also decrease. Plants need a lot more moisture in the air and during these months you may want to increase the humidity levels in your home. You should use a humidifier or spray the leaves of your plant with water in order to achieve this.

An indoor garden will need to be watered as much as an outdoor garden. Watering too little is bad and so is too much watering. You should also supply your plant with a container that drains through at the base. This allows excess fertilizer and salts to drain out of the soil and gives the plant access to the necessary nutrients. Fertilization should be based on the type of plant that you have. It should be done every two or three months but never during the dormant seasons.

Plants tend to do excellently in temperatures that are in the region of 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and some 10- 15 degrees cooler during the night. You should ensure that your plant isn’t placed in a place that is prone to hot and cold drafts. Sudden changes in temperature may harm your plant. Placing your plant on a cold windowsill in the middle of winter may make it freeze as well.

Darren Williger is an over-caffeinated, low carbohydrate eating, winemaking enthusiast who writes for PlantWebsite.com, MiniGarden.com, and ContainerGardening.Net.