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Welcome to theGardenPages.com

Photos and info on growing California natives, succulents and dry weather plants.  Garden tips, tricks, lore and wallpapers for your desktop. So, kick off your shoes and relax at theGardenPages!
ceanothis in a so cal gardenCalifornia Native Plants and Garden Inspiration - You can create a beautiful garden with plants that don't need a lot of water.  Native plants are already on your schedule.  More California plants...
red flame succulent plantSuccess with Succulent Plants - Ever hear of a color change plant? Succulents are a colorful way to go if you think cacti are too prickly.  Our photos and articles on succulents flowering and changing color during the seasons.   More succulents and xeriscape plants...
aloe vera wallpaper at theGardenPages.comGarden Plant Wallpaper & Gardening Links - Grow something nice on your desktop instead of in your coffee cup with our free wallpaper.  Check out links to nurseries, seed exchanges and plant association too.  More garden links and free wallpapers...
pomegranate care and pests What's eating your pomegranate? Let's find out together on the Pomegranate Care and Pest Page...
irish clockThe Emerald Isle - We couldn't resist including a green page on Ireland here at the Garden Pages. Irish humor and designs from the bonny green hills, including our famous Irish Time backwards wall clocks.  More on Irish plants...

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Quick Gardening and Plant CareTips:

Minimize Water Rationing Woes

If your area has been hit with water rationing, the lawn will probably have to go, but you can still might save your plants.   Here are a few tips to help save water in the garden -- and maybe a few of your favorite flowers!

* Pick one small area, or just one or two favorite plants to water.

* Mulch, mulch, mulch!  Use bark chips, purchased mulch or compost.

* Water at night when evaporation is less.

* Pour out the ice chest, leftover water bottles, etc. onto your favorite plant.

* Leftover pickle juice, coffee or tea are great for tomatoes and roses.

* Leftover cooking water from steaming vegetables is great for pouring on the compost pile or lawn.  - Never use water with animal material in it; i.e. butter or broth. 

* One good soak is generally better for plants than several light waterings.

* Put a saucer under pots to retain water.  Just watch out for mosquitos.

Have a tip?  Send me your water-saving tip gardener@thegardenpages.com
and I'll start post them on the blog!


Spring Transplanting Tips

Give your new transplants some shade for the first few days after planting.  It helps them adjust to their new home, and reduces transplant stress.  Try using a small umbrella (be creative) or a small piece of shade cloth.

Try not to do planting during the heat of the day - it just wears everyone out!

In warmest areas it it best to give new transplants a little water every day for the first two or three days.  Resist the temptation to give them too much water or they will get rot.


Quick Tomato Tip

Tomato plants prefer acid soil.  Adding used coffee grounds helps increase the acidity of the soil.  Pickle juice and tea also increase soil acidity.  Other shrubs that appreciate a cup of java are camellia, azalea, gardenia and roses.

Keeping Sweet Basil Fresh

Get ready for Pesto!

Sweet Basil herb cuttings will stay fresh in a clean glass of water. 

Keep herb sprigs on the kitchen counter out of direct sunlight.

Change the water every few days. 

Basil will eventually form roots in the water so you can make more plants!



Did You Want a Bog Plant?

If it has been raining in your area, check to be sure that your plants aren't sitting in water. 

Tip out pots and remove their dishes so they have a chance to dry out.  It also helps reduce mosquitoes!


What To Do (or not) About
Frost Damage on Succulent Plants

Frost damage usually shows up as sickly yellowish green color on leaves or whole plants.  After a few days they turn brown or black. 

Don't remove frost damaged material until all danger of frost is past, the dead leaves may help protect the rest of the plant underneath. 

If the entire plant is brown, cut away a small part to see if it is still green inside.  If the stalk is still green, it should come back. 

For example, on Jade plants (crassula ovata) the leaves will fall off, but if the stalk is still green inside it will sprout new leaves.  

Before you pull up a plant, make sure the base is really dead - it may still be ok!


Generic Watering Guide for Lazy Gardeners

Plant natives from your area - native plants are already on your schedule! Use drought tolerant plants and succulents & cacti in dry areas.

Here in the southwest, the best time to plant is in the Fall.  After I first plant, I like to water them every other day for the first week.  Then I'll cut back to weekly watering.  After two or three weeks most water wise plants like a nice deep watering once a month until established.

California natives are used to rain the the Fall and Winter; this is when they work on good, deep root development.  In Spring, they use those roots to soak up every drop of moisture from the soil to support growth and flowers.  The first year, transplants need water every few weeks in the hot summer and fall.  By the second year, succulents should be fine without water from you.  But check them;  if it's 120 degrees outside they won't object to a nice deep soak.  That's my strategy, and the plants on these pages seem pretty happy!

photo of roots forming on succulent plant

Plant
Propagation Tips


Most succulent plants are easy to multiply with cuttings. 
Find out how to root and grow cactus and succulent plant leaf cuttings.
Read more on the plant propigation page...

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What's My USDA Planting Zone?

In order to help gardeners determine the best times and plants for their area, The United States Department of Agriculture zone map shows in detail the lowest temperatures that can be expected each year in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.  The map shows different zones, each of which represents an area of winter hardiness for the plants of agriculture and our natural landscape.

Their site also gives planting, growing recommendations and cold hardiness for your area.

Use this handy link to the US Arboretum's Online USDA Zone Map.

Yeah, but what's my USDA Planting Zone if I'm in Australia?
In sincere gratitude to the 65 visitors I had from Australia last month and the 78 this month, I thought it would be neighborly of me to help sort out all this crazy Planting Zone business for you.

I've found a helpful link at the Australian National Botanic Gardens  for Plant Hardiness in Australia which also gives a comparison to USDA Zones.  Our thanks to Iain Dawson (Horticultural Research Unit, ANBG).





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