Plants That Add Eye-Catching Winter Color

Just because it's winter, doesn't mean you can't have some outstanding color around your house and garden.

Hen and Chicks (Sempervivum soboliferum) is a sun loving perennial that grows up to 6 inches (15 cm) tall and does very well in zones 5 to 10 which means it can take cold down to -10° F or -23.4 ° C and still do very well.

Now the Hens and Chicks (Sempervivum) I'm talking about should not be confused with Hens and Chicks (Echeveria) which is an annual and hardy only to Zones 9 to 11.

Having the same common name can lead to some confusion between the two plants so make sure you are purchasing the correct variety (Sempervivum).

What makes Hens and Chicks so perfect is that they are not only succulents that have beautiful leaves that add both ornate interest and unique texture to your garden, but as the common name Hen and Chicks suggests, the mature plants produce new offsets that can be planted.

The mature plant, the hen, develops numerous offsets called chicks, which surround the mature plant until the offsets are mature enough to support themselves.

The chicks can be pulled or cut off and transplanted so you get many new plants for free. The hen actually benefits from the removal of offsets since much of its energy is used to supporting the chicks, so the entire process is very healthy for both hen and chick.

Hens and Chicks are also unique for their leaf shapes, textures, and colors which can range from green to blue, purple to pink and even gray.

Small rosettes of succulent leaves form colorful tidy evergreen mounds which will continue to multiply, creating a living carpet of color in your landscape.

They are perfect as a ground cover, in a rock garden, rock wall, decorative container, or even grown indoors provided they get enough light.

So if you're in need of some color this winter, give these plants a try, you'll really love them.

Link to: Climate Zones Maps

For more Gardening Tips and Gardening Advice visit our main gardening website at Weekend Gardener Monthly Web Magazine - www.weekendgardener.net

Have great week!

Wood Ash In My Garden As A Fertilizer

At this time of year with the cooler weather, a lot of people want to know if they can, or even should, use wood ash in the garden as a fertilizer, or soil conditioner.

Well, let's take a quick look at the variables:

1. Wood ashes will raise soil pH because the largest component of wood ash (about 25 percent) is calcium carbonate, a common liming material that increases soil alkalinity. So generally use them only if your soil pH is under 7.0 based on a soil test.

2. The safe rate of wood ash application to lawn or gardens is 15 to 20 lbs. (7 to 9 kg) per 1000 square feet (93 square meters) per year, which is approximately a 5 gallon (19 l) pail.

3. Remember, a little wood ash is beneficial, but a lot is not because increasing the alkalinity of the soil does affect plant nutrition. Nutrients are most readily available to plants when the soil is slightly acidic. As soil alkalinity increases and the pH rises above 7.0, nutrients such as phosphorus, iron, boron, manganese, copper, zinc and potassium become chemically tied to the soil and less available for plant use.

4. Wood ash does have some fertilizer value, the amount varying somewhat with the species of wood being used. Generally, wood ash contains less than 10 percent potash, 1 percent phosphate and trace amounts of micro-nutrients such as iron, manganese, boron, copper and zinc.

5. Trace amounts of heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, nickel and chromium also may be present. Wood ash does not contain nitrogen.

6. Applying small amounts of wood ash to most soils will not adversely affect your garden crops, and the ash does help replenish some nutrients. But because wood ash increases soil pH, adding large amounts can do more harm than good.

7. Crop tolerance to alkaline soil also should be considered. Some plants, such as asparagus and juniper, are more tolerant of slightly alkaline conditions than "acid-loving" plants, such as potatoes, rhododendrons and blueberries. Wood ash should never be used on acid-loving plants.

8. The best thing with wood ash is to use it sparingly, and test your soil pH regularly to make sure you are not causing any problems.

For more Gardening Tips and Gardening Advice visit our main gardening website at Weekend Gardener Monthly Web Magazine - www.weekendgardener.net

Have great week!