Fall Garden Planning - Garden Plans For Next Spring And Ordering By Mail

It's August, the weather has cooled a bit here and the summer monsoons where I live in New Mexico have begun. The kids are starting back to school and I feel the onset of fall. I'm getting that garden planning itch again! It happens 2-3 times a year... This time, it's time to start ordering bulbs and perennials for fall planting.

I'm always planning how my garden will look better next season and I suppose most of you do the same. Fall is the perfect time to plant for established growth next spring!

Take a good look at your garden now and think about areas you need to fill in. Do you need late season color, early spring blooms? Are there bare spots or places where plants like poppies or tulips go dormant and you need a filler to keep your garden alive with color? I find the best time for next years planning is in the fall when bloom time and plant combinations are fresh in my mind.

You may be disappointed with a plant combination you chose last season. Fall is the perfect time to rearrange. Get rid of overgrown plants and revive areas with new color or foliage combinations. Think about areas in your bulb or perennial garden you want to develop.

What size, shape and bloom color do you need? Plant them this fall and watch your pans come to fruition come spring.

Shrubs and trees do take years to mature and fill their place. You can get a jump start by planting them this fall. When spring arrives they'll be much more hardy and will require less babying.

Fall is the perfect time to mail order bulbs, perrenials, shrubs, hedges and trees. We're winding down the season and if you're anything like me you're just not ready to quit quite yet. Sure there's clean up to be done, but I find more planting helps to finish those mundane cxhores. As I clean out I plant new!

Ordering online or by mail

Ordering plants online can be a bit scary. How are the plants shipped? Will they be good quality? Will they arrive at the right time and will I be prepared to plant them then? Fear not! I've ordered in fall for years and have had tremendous results!

Plant Quality and Guarantees

Nurseries do differ in what and how they ship so make sure you do some research, but almost all reputable mail order nurseries do guarantee their plants to grow or your money back. I've never had trouble collecting on that promise and I have used it a time or two for certain plants.

I also admit, a bit grudgingly as a then new gardener, that I should never have ordered those specific plants for my climate. Nevertheless the nursery did stand behind it's guarantee.

How Plants Are Shipped

Some plants will be shipped bare root, others as potted plants. This depends on the plant variety and I've actually found preference to bare root plants. They do look dead when they arrive (they are actually dormant), but I assure you that unless they have visible signs of disease like rot they'll thrive come spring.

*Note - If you do get any plants that look like the crown has rotted either ship them back immediately or just phone the nursery and they'll ship out new ones.

When to Plant

While you never know exactly when your plants will arrive, they are shipped to you at the proper planting time for your gardening zone. If plants arrive and it's not convenient to plant immediately just make sure you follow the directions included in your shipment for keeping your plants viable until you can plant them.

If you've planned ahead you will know where they go and it'll take you little time to get them in the ground. A Saturday afternoon will usually give you ample time to get this done.

Keep in mind these companies have been in business for years and years and have shipped bare root and potted plants for eons. They do know what they're doing and most of them do it very well. They'd be out of business if they couldn't fulfill your planting requirements.

Gardening Budgets and Selection

You can't beat the cost and selection of ordering by mail! Most mail order companies offer plant varieties you'll never find anywhere else. The selections seem endless and I've been amazed what I can grow in New Mexico.

Take advantage of fall specials and free shipping and you get a double bang for you buck. For about half of what I spend on a trip to the garden center on a single spring garden binge, I can have more variety and many more plants shipped to me at home.

Get on the Mailing Lists

Make sure you're on the mailing list for the following nurseries at least! You'll get a catologue several times a year. Take it into the garden with you,look around and plan accordingly. Then hop online and place an order or order by mail, but use the online resources for their help with plant combinations and companion planting.

They offer great suggestions you may not have thought of before. Remember - pictures will help any gardener no matter how experienced.

Published At: www.Isnare.com
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Grandfather Clocks: So Nice To Start A Home With

As a new wife, you’re in charge of making your first house into a nice place to come home to. Why don’t you start with one of those elegant grandfather clocks that will remind you of home? You’ll have top value for earnest money.

A House Is A Home When. . .

A bed, a refrigerator, an oven, one of those grandfather clocks - that’s all it takes to make a small rented room into a livable hole in the wall. The niceties can come later when the time is right. For a newly married couple ready to take on the world, this is the most exciting but exacting part of your life together – building your hearth and home.

It won’t take a fortune to turn a barren apartment into your private haven. If budget is tight, start with the basics. Furniture and crockery are the essentials, including the indispensable coffeemaker.

A nice comfy bed, big throw pillows, and a wall bookshelf will establish your domicile. You already have the basic comforts that will make each new day something to look forward to. A tired but happy husband will appreciate all your efforts and will be excited to pitch-in on weekends doing some fixing or painting.

Never mind if the furniture was brought from a garage sale and are mismatched. Spruce them up with colorful throw pillows and place one of those traditional grandfather clocks in your tiny living room and everything else will follow.

Investing in one those beautifully carved grandfather clocks will give you a lifetime of pleasure. One day, you will be proud to give this to one of your children, along with established traditions, come hell or divorce.

How to choose the right grandfather clocks

When choosing your first clock from a beautiful collection of grandfather clocks, look for established brand names. This will assure you that you are getting quality and top value for your money. Established brands carry years of experience and expertise in clock-making especially, grandfather clocks.

Choose a clock that has three chimes. You can adjust this if you want a change of melody. Also, ask for a night shut-off, you wouldn’t want to be alarmed out of your beds at midnight. You can choose between a cable-driven or chain-driven clock. You might also want a traditional clock with battery-operated quartz movement, which won’t need winding every 7-8 days.

Ask for the manufacturer’s manual and instructional video to set up your grandfather clock. This will also include valuable tips for its proper use and care.

Several of these traditional grandfather clocks come with free shipping. All you have to do is make sure that you’ve decided on a spot far from the radiator. The white glove delivery service will place your clock where you want it.

If the particular design you want is not available, the manufacturer will have it custom-made. You will get the same quality craftsmanship, so there is no need to settle immediately on something because you want one in a hurry.

Bring that homey feeling to a new house. It could a palace or a tiny cubicle, but still a nice place to settle in after a hard day’s night – with the ticking of the clock assuring you everything is all right. That’s the magic of grandfather clocks. They’re so nice to start a home with.

Published At: www.Isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=203076&ca=Womens+Interest