Artificial Plants for When You Have a Location That Is Not Conductive to Live Plants

Artificial Plants for When You Have a Location That Is Not Conductive to Live Plants
By Kenneth Nel

There are many situations where you will require having flowers and plants. However, it is not always possible to have foliage that is real. You need to discover why artificial plants are the best choice when you have a location that is not conducive to live plants.

Although the amazing scents of fresh flowers is always welcoming it is not always possible to have them in certain locations. This is due to the maintenance that comes along with them. This is why in many offices and restaurants they are now starting to use artificial plants. This is partly due to the fact that fresh plants require a lot of care. On top of that they do not last forever and will need to be replaced regularly. This will end up costing you a lot of money. Many people choose fresh flowers over fake because they believe that they are more sophisticated and look better. However, this is no longer the case. Artificial plants are now rivalling their counterparts. They are being made with only the best materials and the flowers are more often than not getting made from silk. In some cases it is not even possible to tell that the plant is in fact fake unless you physically go up to it and touch it.

The reality is that you cannot always have fresh flowers in some environments. This is especially true when it comes to restaurants. Fresh flowers will attract bugs that will end up annoying your guests. The last thing you want is for your guests to be sitting down enjoying a meal and having flies and bees floating around their heads. The other issues that occurs with fresh plants is pollen. The pollen can end up getting all over the place and in some cases it can even end up staining services. This is why it is better to have artificial plants in a restaurant setting. You can enjoy the beauty of the plants without having to worry about the maintenance that goes along with them. All that you will need to do to, to maintain their original look is to give them a dust every now and then.

How artificial plants can add life to even the smallest spaces

Apart from being used in offices and restaurants, they are now being used to give life to peoples small apartments. It is not always possible to buy a starter apartment that includes a garden or even balcony. You can liven up your space by simply creating an artificial garden paradise. Choose between both exotic and local foliage as you won't need to worry about them not being available all year round. Instead of staring at grey concrete blocks around, you can now transport your home to a tropical paradise.

To get your hands on the best artificial plants you need to come to us at Creations Elegance. We have a number of options available that are suitable for both personal and professional use. Visit our website http://www.creationselegance.co.za today to find out more.

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Invasive Plants of Sedona

Invasive Plants of Sedona
By John Stuart Leslie

There are two species of plants in the Sedona area that top the list for invasive species and they are the Tree of Heaven and Vinca which is a ground cover. The difference is that nobody deliberately plants Tree of Heaven, however Vinca is widely available at nurseries and is planted often.

Plants that grow out of control or spring up in unwanted spaces are a nuisance to the average gardener. Na�ve homeowners who plant these species in the first place unknowingly are creating a potential maintenance headache. Some of these invasive species are so difficult to eradicate completely, that only containment is possible.

The Tree of Heaven or Alianthus is one of the worst culprits to fit the category of invasive plants of Sedona. It is also invasive across the entire United States and is extremely difficult to kill, let alone keep under control. It spreads from seeds that are so prolific and blow through an area, easily germinating in almost any conditions. Once it takes hold, it starts what is called a "colony."

There are chemicals that are used to both spray the foliage as well as to inject or spray into a wedge cut into the trunk. Personally, I have tried using RoundUp on some small seedlings, but all that does it cause the leaves to wither and not really kill it down to the root. Best way to control young Tree of Heaven is to remove the entire plant. Knowing what these look like is important so if one pops up in your yard, you should remove it right away.

Vinca major, also called Periwinkle is an evergreen ground cover that likes shady areas and can be seen all over Oak Creek canyon under the shade of the Sycamores and Pines that line the canyon. In a garden, it can quickly take over by sending out new runners and rooting along the way. The good thing is the roots are not that difficult to remove and a patch out of control can be removed or contained provided you pay attention and spend the time to do it.

Another invasive plant of Sedona that I see much of is the Trumpet Creeper. Having an orange tubular flower in spring and summer, it is a popular deciduous vine that clings to walls. The problem is it seems to like to spread underground as well. It spreads like it has rhizomes for a root system. Fortunately, Trumpet Creeper does respond to RoundUp. I would not plant this plant in the first place though. It is perhaps better used as a container plant against a fence or wall.

Bamboo Horror Stories

Bamboo is a type of grass spreading by rhizomes that stem out from the mother root rhizome mass. Some are considered "clumping" while others are "running" types. For a thick screen, many people opt to plant the running kind because it will spread and fill in gaps better than the clumping varieties. The problem with the running bamboo is when a shoot comes up in a spot you don't want it to. But it can be controlled by simply cutting the rhizome. Enough space must be given to allow the running bamboo to spread. The problem is not understanding how bamboo rhizomes grow and not paying attention.

Typically, the only bamboo you will see for sale in the Sedona area is Golden Bamboo or Phyllostachus aurea which does well in our Zone 7 climate. Bamboo is usually planted to create a screen. Golden bamboo typically reaches about 12 feet high. Planted along a property line or fence can be risky if it is not contained with a rhizome barrier. You wouldn't want it popping up in your neighbor's yard and answer to their complaints. Therefore, it is best to be prudent and do provide some kind of containment or barrier to the boundaries that you would like the bamboo to spread and cover. Thick plastic material that comes is rolls 24" wide is available specifically for the purpose of containing bamboo or other root systems. The key is to not ignore the growth of your bamboo, rather keep an eye on it so that you will notice any new shoots popping up where you don't want them and then can easily cut the rhizome. The reason bamboo is feared is that most people plant it and forget about it until it is too late to be easily controlled.

Heavenly Bamboo (Nandina domestica) is an alternative that does not spread and would have to be planted fairly close together to provide a screening effect. If you like bamboo because of its Asian theme, consider planting it in containers in groups, otherwise do use a rhizome barrier and keep an eye on it.

Research Before you Buy

Many homeowners may the common mistake of buying the pretty plant at the nursery because of its flower and general form whether it's a shrub, ground cover, vine or tree. Think about this: why would a vendor selling a plant at a retail nursery put a description on the plant label that it is invasive? Of course it would put up a red flag and discourage the sale. Descriptions about the characteristics of plant growth are best researched online or in a good gardening book such as Sunset Western Gardening. There you will find objective useful information whether a plant is considered invasive or not.

John Stuart Leslie holds a Master's degree in Landscape Architecture and has been a landscape designer and contractor since 1982. His website, http://www.jsllandscape.com is filled with pictures and ideas about landscape and garden design for all levels of project needs.

For homeowners tips, insights and education, follow his blog at http://sedonalandscapedesign.com where you wont get generic gardening information, but wisdom from someone with over 20 years experience in the industry.

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Winterizing Roses

Winterizing Roses
By Adolf Moser

Winter protection for roses starts in late summer early fall.

About six weeks ahead of the first frost date in your region you have to stop encouraging your roses to grow.

Otherwise, new tender, soft shoots are caught by the frost and will easily be killed.

To slow down growth in late summer, you can do that in two ways

• Stop feeding your roses six weeks before the first frost date
• Stop deadheading the roses and let hips develop

These actions slow growth and encourage dormancy. The plants will start to prepare for hibernation.

Winter Care For Roses

When temperatures reach 10�F or less, most of the roses need some kind of winter protection. The harsher your winters, the more you have to think about it. Choosing and planting roses in a proper way will protect your flowers upfront.

• Selecting winter hardy roses will reduce frost damage even in very cold regions
• Planting roses with bud unions 2 inches beneath the soil level will protect the roots and the bud union
• Securing roses against cold and wet winds will protect them against rocking loose
• Mounding soil, mulch or other insulating materials over the base of the plants will protect them from freezing

In areas with dependable snow cover less winter protection can be used than in areas with less snowfall. Snow is a superb insulator.

Winter Protection For Roses

Mounding soil may be too much work for some gardeners. That is why we should talk about some other methods of winterizing roses.

Winter rose collar: One of the best winter protection for roses is to use a winter rose collar. It eliminates die back by drying out of the canes, is easy to install and can be used season after season.

Landscaping blankets, frost covers: Frost covers are installed in seconds and stow easily. They come with several different sizes and are perfect to protect tender shrubs and hybrid teas.

Other methods to protect your plants would be to apply sawdust, pinewood-spray or Styrofoam cones on the base of the plants. Personally, I prefer the easy rose gardening way and use a winter rose collar or frost covers.

Dormant oil spray: I recommend spraying the rose canes with an organic dormant oil spray. This will kill pests and diseases. Otherwise they will overwinter with your roses and bother your plants in spring again.

Hope I could help a little bit with my easy rose gardening tips.

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