I have just planted window boxes with trailing geraniums, trailing petunias and trailing fuscia. In my hanging basket and tubs i have similar things. In the ground i have a peony rose and some shrubs including a gorgeous orange blossom (That doesn't actually blossom, or at least it didn't last year, but the leaves are lovely), some heather, a clematis going up the wall and some other things i don't know the name of.
I put fish blood and bone in all the soil and have been watering them alot. I have soluable miracle grow..how often should i use that?
How quick will my baskets grow?
How can i care well for the following plants in my garden (first time i've grown them)?
Your baskets should fill out really quickly.
Different feeds have different strengths so you should follow the instructions on the packet. Baskets and containers need to be fed more often. Make sure you dead head regularly, remove all the dead and dying flower heads from your petunia, geraniums, fuscia- that will encourage the plants to produce more flowers
The Heather plants should be pruned each year immediately after they have finished flowering, which results in additional flowers the following year.
A well prepared soil with good drainage is needed.
The best time to feed them is in late winter or late spring.
There's lots of types of clematis. here's a site to get you started: http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/plantfinde...
And some info on peony roses: http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/1997/ar...
Happy gardening!
Reply:Don't feed the heather, they grow in acid impoverished soil and don't like their roots to sit in water.
Your Petunias, Fuchsias and Geraniums will bloom brighter and bigger for a good feed once the flowers are out. The Fuchsias and Geraniums will need to be taken in later in the year or the frost will kill 'em but the Petunias only last the year anyway.
Reply:With the window boxes, watch the fuscias, as they usually like a more shady spot, whereas geraniums and petunias thrive in high sun. For the petunias, the best thing you can do is deadhead them when the bloom gets old/crusty looking. This allows for blooms more of the time.
I would use your miracle grow once a week. Annuals just love miracle grow!
The clematis' base and roots should be kept cool, so make sure the area at the base of the clematis is covered with mulch, or better yet, some medium sized stones that allow air and water to get to the base, but not sun and heat.
As for your shrubs, I have not grown them, so I dont' want to stear you in the wrong direction!
As for watering, do NOT water in the middle of the afternoon or in the evening. Both are not good for your plants. The best time to water is in the morning hours.
Good luck, and enjoy your plants!
Reply:Good for you. Learn by trying and failing, we all do...
Your baskets will need lots of water, maybe twice a day, once it gets warmer and the plants grow, and feeding once or twice a week. Lack of enough water is the biggest mistake, becasue they are up in the air they get dry much more quickly than pots.
I would only use the Miracle gro in pots and things, not in the soil. In the soil the microrganisms will be killed by it and also you are using blood fish and bone which is enough. In autumn put on a couple of inches of rotted horse manure if you can get it, or compost if not ( the cheapest will do, or even the remains of your tubs). In spring put on 2 inches of compost after some heavy rain and that will be enough with your BFB as well.
Clematis - if it flowers before June don't prune it at all except where it gets too big. If it flowers after july cut it down to the ground in february and feed it well. If it flowers in between you've got one of the complicated ones, get a book! They like lots of water and shade at the roots, so if it is planted in the sun find a big bit of slate or something to keep the roots cool.
Baskets will sit, and sit, and sit, and one warm day will go off like mad. Just wait.
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