Do you know the basics of gardening? Before you don your gardening garb and head out to the front/backyard to plant, make sure you are “in the know”!

 Types of Flowers

 -Annuals are flowers which grow from seed to flower and seed again in a year’s time.

-Biennials take two years to grow from seed to flower and seed again.

-Perennials go on year after year once planted. They generally need a year to settle in, as they won’t be at their best during the first year.

-Bulbs are embryo plants packed with their own food supply, and go from year to year, producing baby bulbs (also referred to as offsets). Tulips are an example of a bulb plant.

-Corms are similar to bulbs but last for only one season, during which time it makes a replacement corm for the next year. Examples of flowers that develop from corms are crocuses and anemones.

-A tuber is a swollen root used for food storage. Dahlias come from tubers.

 Tulips

 -Tulips tend to be at their best in their first year, after which they show a decline.

-When it comes time to save tulips, lift the bulbs when the leaves have turned yellow and store them in a shed for planting the next November.

-You know the offsets (baby bulbs) that can be found at the bottom of a lot of bulbs? These can be carefully removed, saved and planted to grow on into full sized bulbs. It’s a smart idea to put them in an odd corner for the first year so that they do not flower while still very young.

 Climbers

 -Climbers grow up a fence or wall in three different ways- by hanging on with their tendrils (such as clematis), by twisting themselves around uprights (like honeysuckle), or by clinging to the walls with aerial roots (like ivy).

-Take care to fix supports in place for climbers before you begin planting.

-Of all climbers, ivies are the simplest to grow. They are very hardy as they grow in almost any kind of soil and in any location. Another advantage is that they climb enthusiastically by themselves (with little care or maintenance from outside help) and give year-round cover for walls. They come in a number of variegated types and have leaves that are dabbled with white or gold. The colors appear the most dazzling when the ivies are planted against south or west-facing walls.

-For north-facing walls, consider the climber garrya elliptica, which produces green tassel-like beads.

 Lilacs

 -There are over 1,000 different varieties of lilacs and they come in many colors. The most popular is the purple, with pink and white coming in close seconds.

-As beautiful and fragrant as they are, lilacs bloom for only a few short weeks in the springtime. In order to prolong their magnificence, consider planting a variety of lilacs including early, mid, and late bloomers. Doing this should help ensure that you enjoy the fragrant blossoms for up to six weeks.

-Pruning is very important for lilac bushes as it gives them a more attractive shape and look but also has an effect on the health of the bush. They should be pruned each year but the timing is very important. Prune your bush immediately after the blooming is over for the season.

-Lilacs need very little care to grow but do not appreciate getting their roots wet for long periods of time. With this in mind, the most appropriate sites to plant lilac bushes are in slightly elevated areas, hillsides or on level ground where a good amount of drainage can take place.

 Soil

 -Clay is as fertile as any other kind of soil but has a tendency to become water- clogged. To improve drainage, add compost, gravel or sand to the clay.

-Drainage occurs too quickly when soil is light and sandy. To improve the condition of the soil, add compost, peat or farm manure.

-Mulching is a process of scattering vegetable material like straw, peat, or grass clippings over the surface of flower or vegetable beds. Mulching is a good gardener’s habit and yields many benefits for plants- it locks in moisture in the summertime; cuts down on weeds by smothering them and as it rots it adds nutrients to the soil.

 Gardening Tools

 -When it comes to the tools of the trade, look for specific features such as replaceable parts, rustproof metal parts, items that can be cleaned easily and holes in handles for easier storage. To improve comfort and performance, look for features such as ratchet action, handle bumpers and swivel handles.

-Buy a good pair of pruners as they are used a great deal. Pruners are made in a variety of sizes and everyone’s grip is not identical. A good rule to bear in mind is to buy pruners with handles that do not open wider than your hand, because if they do, then they will be uncomfortable to use.

 Now that you’re equipped with some basic “know-how” you can go and get your hands dirty, you determined and devoted gardener you!