Gardening Basics for Dummies Quotes

“I have to admit that fertilizing the majority of perennials isn’t mandatory. If you plant them in soil that suits them (and do your homework when choosing the plants), they may do just fine without it. Good, organically rich soil and good growing conditions and regular water can sustain healthy, hearty perennial growth for quite some time.”
― Steven A. Frowine, Gardening Basics For Dummies

“Many perennials (like most people) enjoy being fed. They respond by growing more robustly and producing more flowers. You’re fine with a general, all-purpose garden fertilizer, applied according to the label directions during the height of the growing season.”
― Steven A. Frowine, Gardening Basics For Dummies

“The water needs of perennials vary. Some are moisture-lovers, others are drought-tolerant, and many are somewhere”
― Steven A. Frowine, Gardening Basics For Dummies

“They’re especially nice for shady areas where lawn won’t grow.”
― Steven A. Frowine, Gardening Basics For Dummies

“So, what, exactly are perennials? They’re long-lived herbaceous (non-woody) plants — flowers and herbs, mainly. How long they last depends on the plant and the conditions in your garden.”
― Steven A. Frowine, Gardening Basics For Dummies

“Some annuals are so fast-growing that you can sprinkle their seeds on good soil in late spring, right outside, and they’ll quickly sprout and grow. This group includes popular ones like zinnias, marigolds, and nasturtiums. This process may require you to do some thinning at some point, but otherwise, it’s dead easy.”
― Steven A. Frowine, Gardening Basics For Dummies

“You can’t deny that regular doses of plant food significantly boost your annuals (make sure you apply it according to directions). The leaves become healthier and greener, and you end up with more buds and flowers.”
― Steven A. Frowine, Gardening Basics For Dummies

“Without a doubt, water is an annual’s number one need.”
― Steven A. Frowine, Gardening Basics For Dummies

“You can use annuals To fill an entire flowerbed (this popular use is why some places call annuals bedding plants) In container displays — in pots, windowboxes, patio planter boxes, and more To fill a hanging basket To edge a walkway To “spot” color in a perennial bed In edging and as decoration for a vegetable or herb garden To cover over or at least distract from a fading spring bulb display”
― Steven A. Frowine, Gardening Basics For Dummies

“A hybrid plant is the result of the cross-pollination between two genetically different plants, usually of the same species but different varieties. This combination can happen because of cultivation, or it can occur naturally through bee pollination between two different plants.”
― Steven A. Frowine, Gardening Basics For Dummies

“The species name is kind of like your own first name (except it comes last in a plant’s botanical name). The genus name is similar to your family name (except in botanical names, it comes first).”
― Steven A. Frowine, Gardening Basics For Dummies

“Black spot: Rose leaves develop small black spots with fringed edges. The fungus that causes black spot is worse in hot, humid weather. To treat, remove and destroy affected leaves (don’t add them to the compost pile). Prune the plant to improve air circulation, and water in the morning. Some sprays that fight this disease include summer oil (a light horticultural oil), neem oil, a baking soda solution, sulfur-based sprays, and strong chemicals — ask at your local garden center.”
― Steven A. Frowine, Gardening Basics For Dummies

“or brown bugs that lead to misshapen leaves, deformed buds, and discolored flowers (with brown spots). They especially love light-colored roses and are most common in early summer. You can spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil.”
― Steven A. Frowine, Gardening Basics For Dummies

“That said, forewarned is forearmed,”
― Steven A. Frowine, Gardening Basics For Dummies

“I’m not going to lie — other creatures as well as humans adore roses.”
― Steven A. Frowine, Gardening Basics For Dummies

“Minis: Spare the minis — they’re so small already. Just shape miniature roses lightly in early spring, and maybe take out old stems every few years to make way for newcomers.”
― Steven A. Frowine, Gardening Basics For Dummies

“Here’s stuff you can cut out any time you see it: Dead wood: Remove dead canes down to the ground level. Damaged wood: Cut it back into about 1 inch of healthy wood. Misplaced stems: Take off stems that are rubbing together (choose one and spare the other), stems that are taking off in the wrong direction, and stems that are trailing on the ground.”
― Steven A. Frowine, Gardening Basics For Dummies

“Foliar (leaf) feeding is another way to supplement your roses’ fertilizing program. Use any water soluble fertilizer, mix it up in a tank sprayer or sprinkling can, and apply so that it just drips from the foliage. This form of fertilizing is seldom sufficient for all the nutrient needs of roses, but it’s a nice pick-me- up in addition to your regular fertilizing program. Fertilize early enough in the day so the water has time to evaporate — wet leaves can invite fungal disease.”
― Steven A. Frowine, Gardening Basics For Dummies

“Fertilizing Unless your soil is fabulously fertile, some supplemental fertilizer is very nice for your roses. It inspires robust growth and more flowers. Also, a well-nourished plant is healthier and is thus less likely to succumb to stress, disease, or insect attacks. Use an all-purpose garden fertilizer, because it has balanced amounts of N (nitrogen), P (phosphorus), and K (potassium). Fertilizers touted especially for roses — such as Rose Food — are fine but not mandatory. In spring, as the plant emerges from dormancy, you can water with a tablespoon of Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) dissolved in a gallon of water to promote strong canes.”
― Steven A. Frowine, Gardening Basics For Dummies

“so I recommend picking up Roses For Dummies (Wiley Publishing, Inc.) if you just can’t get enough of roses.”
― Steven A. Frowine, Gardening Basics For Dummies