Plants, Seeds & Bulbs | Home & Garden Classifieds

Many people find gardening an incredibly relaxing hobby that allows them to get in touch with the earth and themselves. Gardening is not an expensive hobby to start, although the hobby may become expensive as the art of planting is developed. Thousands of people enjoy gardening. If fond of the outdoors, you may find an interest in gardening too.

BUYING PLANTS, SEEDS AND BULBS

PLANTS

Hardiness
Various "hardiness" systems exist to enable gardeners to ascertain which plants and flowers are suitable for a particular environment. A plant is considered "hardy" in an environment if it can thrive without special protective measures such as insulation with mulch or similar.

Sun & Shade
The amount of sunlight to which a plant will be exposed is the next most important concern. Select plants that are adapted to the level of light in the garden. Avoid planting species adapted for shade in full sun and similarly avoid subjecting sun-loving plants to the shade of trees etc. Descriptions of plants generally include preferences for light levels, which should be followed as far as possible.

Every plant cell contains an "invisible" world that traps light energy, mixes it with water and carbon dioxide, and turn it into a simple sugar. It is this sugar that plants use to grow, flower, and set seed. Researchers have tested various plant-growing methods and are able to present the gardener with a new range of annuals every season. For the average gardener, nature provides all the sunshine, water and elements needed to grow beautiful plants and flowers.

SEEDS
Seeds are the cheapest way of growing plants, especially when large quantities of plants are required. If needing to fill a border, plants can be expensive and choice limited. Seeds allow more extravagant planting and the opportunity to experiment with rarer plant varieties. Garden centres may stock several hundreds of plant types at any time, but seed wholesalers offer a range of many thousands. Seeds are generally inexpensive, so even if plants fail, outlay is minimal. Furthermore, once plants have finished flowering, the seeds can be saved for the following season. The downside to this is that plants form saved seed will not always be "true," i.e. the same colour as the parent. However, there is always the rare, but nonetheless exciting prospect of producing a new variety.

BULBS
Bulbs provide a year round interest with minimal work. From the first snowdrops and croci of early spring to the lilies and hardy cyclamen which can supply a flash of late colour until beyond the first frosts of winter, bulbs can be relied upon to brighten the garden.

For the summer months, there many varieties of flowering allium (onion genus) and the spectacular iris family. Many bulbs are hardy and can be left in the ground to multiply. Suitable places include grassy areas, the bases of trees or shrubs and uncultivated parts of borders or rock gardens, where they are likely to remain undisturbed. Where bulbs are planted in grass, mowing should be delayed after flowering to allow time for the foliage to decay naturally. When buying flower bulbs, it is important to ensure that you are getting a quality product from a reliable company. Many suppliers have a large selection of bulbs, along with a one hundred percent satisfaction guarantee.

Planning
Bulbs can be planted anytime from September to early November. Select a location that will see some sunshine in spring, when the bulbs are blooming. Drainage is important as bulbs do not grow well in soggy soil. Help the bulbs along by adding fertiliser and organic matter to the planting area. Select large bulbs with a solid feel. Planting depth should be about three times the height of the bulb. Keep the site watered, but not soggy, until the ground freezes. In cold weather, protect the bulbs from freezing by using an insulating mulch. A large amount of one plant variety and colour in a large group is more effective than an odd few of different colours and varieties. If working with a limited budget five to seven large bulbs, along with forty to fifty larger bulbs can be effective. Plant bulbs in groups and avoid planting in rows.

Other bulb planting tips:

1. Plant low at the front and higher behind. For example, plant low-growing bulbs such as hyacinth in front of higher-growing bulbs such as tulips.

2. Group together pleasing colour combinations.

3. Plant mass displays of one colour against another. Red and yellow are traditional choices. Other favourites include red / pink and orange / purple.

4. Create geometric shapes by using large quantities of bulbs.

It's also important to consider the blooming times of flowering shrubs and other perennials as well. For the really ambitious, plant with blooming times in mind so that everything happens when you want it to, in sequence