Wednesday, December 12, 2018

How To Grow Standard Roses In Your Backyard

Why standard roses?

How To Grow Standard Roses - 1

The creation and growing of standard roses is not just gardening, but a form of art.

The planting of standard roses involves a simple technique where you join three rose bushes to a stem. However, the art part involves the numerous combinations that you can employ to turn your backyard into an artistic piece.

There are a few plants or roses that will give you the freedom to experiment with various combinations and bring out your creativity.

What do you need?


Of course, you will need a backyard that is not too congested with good lighting. Here are the things that you will need:

  • Clay pots (the number will depend on the size of your backyard)
  • Gardening tools (you should check out these small garden budget ideas)
  • Commercial shrubs and roots ready for planting
  • Soil (most types will do except sandy soil)

How do you go about it?


See this video:


  1. Arrange the pots in the yard in any pattern of your liking.
  2. Ensure the pots are in an open space with direct sunlight.
  3. Put the soil in the pots and ensure the pots are adequately watered.
  4. Make holes 25 cm deep in the soil.
  5. Place the roots in the holes.
  6. Water the plant and then cover with soil.
  7. Ensure the point of budding is 25 mm above the ground level.
  8. Insert a supporting stick in the soil.
  9. Join the shrubs to the root section.
  10. Tie the standard roses to the supporting stick in a flexible manner.
  11. Cover the soil with mulch to reduce water loss.
  12. Water again thoroughly.
  13. Wait for the roses to bud.

If you fail to water the roses regularly then they will not bud.

The primary reason most people fail when growing standard roses is that they forget that the plants need water. If you feel that you have a busy schedule and will not always be available to water the roses, then it is advisable to find someone who can help you with the task.

What to Avoid


  • Avoid using any form of fertilizer until you see roses budding.
  • Do not let the roots dry during any stage in the planting process.

Saturday, November 24, 2018

7 Anatomical Differences Between Stem And Root Cross Section

In some cases, stems and roots look identical. So what's the difference between a stem and root cross section?

One may be easily tempted to say that stems are above ground and roots below ground, that's not entirely true. One huge difference is that stems bear leaves while roots don't bear leaves.

After reading this article, you'll be well-prepared to develop a beautiful plant garden on your property that is edged nicely with brick or some other material.

Differences Between Stem And Root Cross Section

Here are some of the ways in which you can differentiate between stems and roots. Let's start by defining the two:

Stem


This is the part of a plant that lies above the surface of the soil. It's known to rise from the plumule to the embryo.

A stem shows positively phototropic and negative geotropic growth. They consist of both nodes and internodes. Flowers, branches, leaves and bracts are developed from nodes.

Root


The root is the part of a plant that lies below the surface of the soil. It's known to rise from the radical of the embryo.

Roots show positively geotropic and negatively phototropic growth. It should be noted that roots are not divided into nodes and internodes.

Similarities between stems and roots


Both contain vascular tissues, namely xylem and phloem, which act as the circulatory system of the plant.

Both stems and roots are capable of initiating lateral growth, which means they are able to form branches.

Differences between stems and roots


1. Vascular Tissues

In herbaceous stems, vascular tissues are contained in bundles which sit near the surface of the stem.

In roots, the vascular tissues are known to form a central location or core where they protect themselves from harsh conditions.

2. Origin of Branches


In stems, side branches are known to arise from axillary buds. These buds can be found where the leaf attaches to the stem.

Lateral roots on the other hand rise from deep within the root's tissues. Roots don't have buds and nodes.

3. Epidermal Cells


In stems, epidermal cells are cutinized inside the stem. In roots, epidermal cells are not cutinized.

4. Epidermis Function


The function of the epidermis in stems is to protect. In roots, the function of the epidermis is to absorb water and nutrients.

5. Root Hairs


In stems, root hairs are unicellular or multicellular. In roots, root hairs are always unicellular.

6. Hypodermis


The hypodermis is present in stems while absent in roots.

7. Outer Cortical Cells


Outer cortical cells in stems have chloroenchyma, while it's completely absent in roots.

These are some of the notable differences between stems and roots.

Friday, November 23, 2018

Althea Rose of Sharon - Care & General Info

Rose of Sharon, also known as Shrub Althea, makes and produces a very colorful flower during summer and fall. The deciduous shrub is upright, has multiple stems, and grows to about 8-12 feet tall and 4-6 feet wide.

Rose of Sharon (Althea) - Care & General Info
Care & General Info
The flowers of the Althea bloom in late summer to fall. It has several different colors depending on which variety it belongs.

The plant shows a good tolerance to pollution, and it is ideal to plant in urban gardens. The flowers display a contrast in colour at the center which enhances its beauty.

Some special features of this plant are:

  • it is very easy to take care of
  • it is low maintenance

In choosing a site for these plants to grow, you need to place it in a full sun to partial shade location, with soil that is moist. It should be planted in well-drained soil to avoid any damage to the plant.

You can prune and shape the plant as you see fit, whether to keep it in its typical form or to just let it grow naturally into a vase-like form.

It is also great to prune some parts of these plants during early spring to strengthen and develop new flowering stems.

See this informative video on Rose of Sharon:



When planting these plants, you need to follow the right procedure. The following procedure shows the correct way of handling and planting the Rose of Sharon. For more tips, see this article.

  • It is important to plant during spring or fall.
  • You need to allow proper spacing depending on the expected size at maturity of the plant.
  • Dig a hole that is not too deep and a space that is wide.
  • If your soil is in poor condition, add compost to it to make the soil conditions ideal for planting.
  • Carefully remove the plant from the container and place it in the hole with the soil filled halfway.
  • Water the soil to prevent air pockets in the soil.
  • Drain the water, fill the upper half with soil and water the plant completely.

For plants to grow properly, they need to be cared for properly. It turns out that Althea Rose of Sharon varieties are easy to take care of.

After planting, you will need to follow up with the plant every now and then to see its progress and tend to its needs. Now start growing your Rose of Sharon and enjoy its aesthetic.

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