Reblooming Tall
Reblooming Tall
Attracting Birds to the Garden
A gardener's relationship with birds is one of mutual benefit. The gardener provides for a few of the birds basic needs, and the birds help to keep down the insect population while treating us to an unending source of entertainment. Birds take their role as insect predator seriously. A single bird will gulp down 500 to 1,000 insects in an afternoon.
Birds have four primary needs: food, water, shelter, and a place to raise a family. As you'll see, these needs are easily met.
Food
Two types of seeds, white proso millet and black oil sunflower seeds, will attract most common seed-eating birds. These two seeds should be the mainstay in your feeders. To broaden the diversity of birds visiting your feeders, add species-specific seeds such as red proso millet, black- and gray-striped sunflower seeds, Niger thistle (for goldfinches, pine siskins and purple finches), milo and peanut kernels (for chickadees and white tufted titmice).
Beef suet helps birds maintain their body heat in cold weather. Hang plastic mesh bags of suet or pinecones dipped in melted suet from tree limbs. Woodpeckers are particularly appreciative of this treat.
Deadheading, or removing spent blossoms, is the easiest way to keep plants blooming. Annuals especially will benefit from a periodic deadheading. Flowers are just there to produce seed. Once the plant sets seed, it has no more reason to produce flowers.
Many perennial flowers will also rebloom if deadheaded. Exceptions are perennials that bloom on a single tall flower stalk, like astilbe or iris and perennial flowers that need a chilling period to set their flower buds.
Water
An ideal water source for birds should be about three inches deep and three feet off the ground. Motion and sound will grab a bird's attention. You can create moving water by suspending a leaky container from a branch over a birdbath. Fountains and waterfalls are favorite hangouts for songbirds, and misters place in the plants near your birdbath will attract a variety of feathered visitors.
Shelter
Birds need shelter to protect them from the elements and allow them to hide from predators. Dense, twiggy shrubs and evergreens are the shelter of choice for most birds.
Nesting Sites
Different species of birds have different nesting requirements, and you can find ready-made bird houses or build-it-yourself plans for almost every species of bird. Choose birdhouses that are weather resistant and have a pitched roof to shed rain. There should be holes in the sides and bottom for ventilation and drainage. A hinged or removable roof is a bonus for you because it makes cleaning much easier. The birdhouse should be cleaned after each nesting season.
When hanging your birdhouse, position the entrance hole away from prevailing winds.
About the Author
Cactus Lover
- Blog about cacti and succulent
Queensoccer
- Online Soccer Jersey Shop
Reblooming Tall
100116 dan bifano talks rose pruning and other secrets.wmv
|
|
TALL PINES: TALL PINES $12.29 TALL PINES: TALL PINES |
|
|
Very Tall $14.99 Very Tall |
|
|
Standing Tall $22.99 Standing Tall |
|
|
Stand Tall $11.2 Stand Tall |
|
|
Walk on Tall $13.56 Walk on Tall |
|
|
Tall Stories $21.55 Tall Stories |
|
|
Tall Tales $15.68 Tall Tales |
|
|
The Tall Ships $7.87 The Tall Ships |
|
|
The Tall Stranger $5.19 The Tall Stranger |
|
|
Tall Drink $12.4 Tall Drink |
|
|
Tall Ships $12.65 Tall Ships |
|
|
Tall Blondes $13.53 Tall Blondes |
|
|
Walk Tall $14.65 Walk Tall |
|
|
Tall $5.21 "A must-have title for any children who have ever felt less than enchanted with their diminutive status." - SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNALWhen you’re a tiny chimp like Bobo, it seems that everyone else is bigger than you. Luckily, Bobo’s pa |
|
|
Walking Tall $19.99 Walking Tall - Poster |
Hydrangea Arborescens 'ryan Gainey'
Native Woodland Hydrangeas - Summer Blooms Even in Deep Shade
One of our most common requests is from folks looking for summer blooming shrubs to brighten up shady spots, especially deep shade. Quite frankly, there aren't many good choices. Mother Nature created flowers to attract bees to pollinate the flowers and carry on the species. And, bees prefer sunshine. That's why there is so little to choose from. To fulfill this requirement, for years we've recommended a selection of our eastern native (from New York to Florida) Hydrangea arborescens, called 'Annabelle.' This variety has only one major defect; the flowers are so large they tend to flop, especially after a rain. Recently a new selection of Hydrangea arborescens was discovered: 'Ryan Gainey.' This selection has thicker stronger stems, darker Green Leaves that stand up better to the stress of summer and smaller flowers, but a lot more of them. For moderate to heavy shade, Hydrangea 'Ryan Gainey' will make the most spectacular display of any summer-flowering shrub I have ever grown.
White, snow-ball shaped flowers literally cover 'Ryan Gainey' starting in late May and lasting almost two months. These blooms make excellent cut flowers and can also be dried to enjoy in arrangements year round. 'Ryan Gainey' blooms on current year's growth allowing it to bloom year after year, even after severe pruning or extremely cold winters. As soon as the flowers start to turn brown, remove them and you will be rewarded with an entire second bloom just about as fulsome as the first and lasting until the first hard frost.
'Ryan Gainey' can reach heights up to three and a half feet tall, and about as wide, but can easily be trimmed in the late fall to keep it to the size you prefer. An excellent hydrangea for colder climates (hardy to Zone 4), 'Ryan Gainey' can be cut to within six inches of the ground for the winter and still come back to full height, bearing the masses of white flowers for which Hydrangea arborescens is known.
Planting and Care
Like most hydrangeas, 'Ryan Gainey' prefers morning sun and afternoon shade, but will perform handsomely with virtually no sun - the kind of deep, dense shade where you would expect only mosses and ferns to grow. With adequate moisture this Hydrangea will also flourish in full sun in the north. Even in the south, with afternoon sun and dry soil, 'Ryan Gainey' will perform. However, under these conditions the first bloom period will be shorter than the typical six to eight weeks and rebloom may not occur.
Very easy to grow!
For best results plant in spring to late fall.
Prefers afternoon shade, will tolerate full sun especially with sufficient ground moisture.
Plant 3 to 5 feet apart in moist, well-drained soil.
Amend soil with compost when planting.
Water regularly until established.
Hardy in Zones 4-9.
Fertilize with Plant-Tone in early spring and late fall.
About the Author
Alan Summers, president of Carroll Gardens, Inc, has over 30
years experience in gardening and landscape design. He has made Carroll
Gardens one of America's preeminent nurseries.
Click
here to sign up for the Carroll Gardens weekly enewsletter. You may also
visit the
Carroll Gardens Blog
Reblooming Tall