Category: Hoses

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The time to plant or replant perennials

TheGardenLady received this question about planting and transplanting perennials, in particular hostas:

I live in southern Alberta. Can I move perennial plants now (sept 18)? I would also like to move some hostas.

The Fall is the best time to plant or transplant many perennials. You can plant or transplant plants up to 6 weeks before the first killing frost is expected in your area. Generally the Fall is the best time to transplant trees, shrubs and perennials and you have the added bonus of being able to buy plants on sale at this time of year. A Fall planting guide for Canada is this.

Hostas are forgiving plants and can be planted any time of the year when the ground is not frozen. Most books say that the best time to plant or replant Hostas is in the spring as soon as the soil is workable. This spring planting is for your benefit. Hostas like moisture, so if you plant or transplant them in the spring you have nature doing the watering for you. However, that being said, in Alberta, Canada you can plant Hostas now if the ground is still workable and if you are not getting a frost for 6 weeks – Hostas and other perennials need that time for the roots to get established. Just be sure that you plant your hostas in well draining soil where there is a lot of moisture so that the roots do not dry out.

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Searching for the perfect garden hose

Garden Hose by MoHotta18

I wish I could use a drip hose. I think drip hoses are the best for two main reasons. One is that the water goes where you want it without wasting water through evaporation or spraying overhead water on plants that don’t like overhead watering. The second is that once you lay out the configuration of the hoses, you do not have to do anything more than turn on the water.

But my property does not allow for drip hoses. So I have to buy regular hoses. And the strange way my property is, I have to buy longer and longer hoses to reach all the plants on my uniquely shaped garden.

Continue reading “Searching for the perfect garden hose”

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Want to really help you garden grow? The secret is….WATER!

raised bed with soaker hose by biologie.

TheGardenLady has invited people with horticultural interests and expertise to contribute posts to this blog. The following article was submitted by Lou Manfredini. In the article Lou discusses  products and tips on how to keep things moist in your garden so that it looks great and stays healthy.   Lou is Ace Hardware’s Home Expert.  He is a nationally recognized DIY expert, hosting his own home improvement call-in radio show on WGN Radio in Chicago and a nationally syndicated home show, HouseSmarts. Lou is also the official home improvement expert for NBC’s TODAY Show. To read Lou’s last article about how to build a raised garden bed click here.   To learn about more tips and projects from Lou visit here.

There are countless fertilizers, bug sprays, soil mixtures, and homemade concoctions that claim to enhance your flowers, trees, shrubs and vegetables but the best thing to make your garden look its best is water. Unfortunately between droughts, vacations and busy schedules watering plants and gardens can become difficult. Here are some great products and tips on how to keep things moist so your garden looks great and stays healthy.

Drip Hoses, Soaker Hoses and Water Timers:

Drip Hoses are the unsung heroes of the garden. These black hoses can be strategically placed throughout your plant material to gently soak the surrounding ground. The trick is to place the hose under the drip line of the particular plant. So if it’s a bush, run the drip hose at the base of the plant where water would drip to the ground if it was raining. Another option is soaker hoses which are heavy-duty hoses permeated with tiny holes throughout. You lay these hoses down in your garden and water will seep through the holes slow and steady to get to the root of the plants. Ace Hardware offers a Soaker Hose that can help you reduce your water usage by 70%.

Another way to conserve water is to hook up your hoses to a timer such as the Raindrip Electronic Drip System Water Timer. This will help conserve water by letting you set how long you want the water to run as well as what time of day. It also ensures that you won’t forget to turn the sprinklers off.

Water Retention Pellets and Granules:

For flower boxes, hanging baskets and potted plants, these polymer pellets and granules are designed to retain and slowly release water to your plant. By mixing these into the soil you can make each watering go farther. Using polymer pellets such as SoilMoist Granules is perfect for when you’re trying to conserve water or if you’re heading out of town for a few days as they’ll keep your plants looking healthy and vibrant.

Continue reading “Want to really help you garden grow? The secret is….WATER!”