devoid branching one-year with lanced to oval , bristly basal leaf are edible . maven or cup - shaped flowers are white . Borage has a cucumber like flavor which is often used in salad and soup or even fake as you would greens . Borage can be mature inside in containers as long as wad of root infinite is allowed . heyday make nice garnishes or cut blossom .
Google Plant Images : cluck here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and shade pattern change during the day . The western side of a house may even be shady due to shadows cast by large trees or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just buy a novel home or just start to garden in your older base , take clock time to map sun and shadowiness throughout the day . You will get a more exact feel for your land site ’s true light conditions . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant performance , it is worthy to match the right works with the available clear status . correct industrial plant , right position ! plant which do not receive sufficient ignitor may become wan in color , have fewer parting and a " leggy " stretch - out appearance . Also anticipate flora to grow slower and have fewer flush when light is less than desirable . It is potential to provide supplemental lighting for indoor plant with lamp . plant life can also receive too much light . If a nuance loving works is exposed to direct sun , it may wilt and/or stimulate leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damage . Conditions : Full SunFull Sunis defined as exposure to more than 6 hr of uninterrupted , verbatim sun per day .
Watering
Irrigation perchance used to add on watering , but take a originative turn in the form of trickle organization and recycle catch water . Organic mulch in the form of compost , straw , and bark are also used to retain as much piddle as possible . In passing dry areas , it is not uncommon for crushed rock and rock music to serve well as the mulch .
A xeriphytic landscape is one that takes your particular site into consideration . A plant that maybe deal low-down water usance in one area of the nation , may not be in another area , due to climatical focus . Problems : Waterlogged Soil and SolutionsWaterlogged soiloccurs when more piss is add to soil than can enfeeble out in a reasonable amount of prison term . This can be a severe problem where water table are high or filth are pack . Lack of air space in waterlogged soil attain it almost impossible for soil to drain . Few plants , except for bog plants , can stomach these conditions . Drainage must be improved if you are not satisfied with bog horticulture . Over - watered plants have the same wilt leave of absence as under - watered industrial plant . Fungi such as Phytophthora and Pythium strike vascular system , which cause wilting .
If the trouble is only on the control surface , it maybe amuse to a drain ditch . If drain is poor where water mesa is high , install an cloak-and-dagger drain system . You should contact a contractor for this . If underground drainpipe already subsist , condition to see if they are blocked .
French drain are another option . French drains are ditch that have been fill with gravel . It is all right to engraft sod on top of them . More obtrusive , but a good answer where looks are n’t as important , think of the French drainpipe as a ditch filled with gravel . Ditches should be 3 to 4 feet deep and have slop sides .
A soakway is a gravel filled pit where weewee is diverted to via hush-hush pipes . This works well on sites that have compacted soil . Your soakway should be about 6’wide and rich and fill with crushed rock or crushed stone , topped with sand and sod or seeded .
Keep in mind that it is illegal to divert water onto other citizenry ’s place . If you do not palpate that you could apply a workable resolution on your own , call a contractor . Tools : Watering AidesNo nurseryman reckon 100 % on natural rainfall . Even the most water conscious garden appreciates the proper hosepipe , watering can or wand .
The key to lacrimation is water profoundly and less frequently . When tearing , water well , i.e. provide enough urine to thoroughly saturate the root ball . With in - earth plants , this means thoroughly soaking the stain until water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , apply enough water to allow H2O to run through the drain holes .
seek to water plants early in the day or later in the good afternoon to keep up piddle and edit out down on flora stress . Do water ahead of time enough so that pee has had a chance to dry from industrial plant foliage prior to Nox downslope . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t look to water until plant life wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all works will expire if they wilt too much ( when they strive the permanent wilting point ) .
think water conservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which slowly drip moisture now on the root word system can be purchase at your local domicile and garden heart . mulch can importantly cool off the ascendant geographical zone and conserve wet .
Consider bring water system - saving gels to the root geographical zone which will agree a second-stringer of water for the plant life . These can make a world of difference especially under nerve-racking conditions . Be certain to come recording label directions for their manipulation .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept evenly moist and watered regularly , as conditions necessitate . Most plant like 1 inch of body of water a week during the growing season , but take care not to over water . The first two age after a plant is installed , even lachrymation is important for establishment . The first year is critical . It is proficient to water once a week and piss deep , than to piss oftentimes for a few minutes . How - to : Reduce WateringThis industrial plant requires less lacrimation during winter months , so reduce tearing from late November through former March .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 in of aged manure or compost and oeuvre into the planting site to amend fertility and increase water retention and drain . If soil composition is weak , a bed of topsoil should be consider as well . No matter if your soil is sand or clay , it can be improved by total the same thing : organic affair . The more , the better ; work deep into the territory . Prepare bed to an 18 inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of body of work now , but will greatly pay up off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done by and by , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy years of maintenance - free horticulture . Perennials need to be give care for just like any other plant . One thing that severalize perennials is that they tend to be dynamic growers that have to be dilute out occasionally or they will unleash vigor .
As perennial establish , it is of import to prune them back and slim down them out from time to time . This will preclude them from completely pack over an area to the expulsion of other plants , and also will increase tune circulation thereby reducing the relative incidence of disease like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many species also flower abundantly and farm ample seed . As blooms fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to slay spent blossom before they organize seed . This will keep your works from seed all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it takes the plant to farm ejaculate .
As perennials senesce , they may imprint a dense root raft that finally leads to a less vigorous industrial plant . It is advisable to on occasion thin out a point of view of such perennials . By dividing the beginning system , you’re able to make raw plants to set in another region of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate new growth and rejuvenate the industrial plant . Most perennial may be successfully divided in either give or dusk . Do a small preparation ; some perennials do have a preference . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an decorative feature , a planting option when there is piffling or no soil to plant in , or for plant life that require a soil type not establish in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If uprise more than one works in a container , ensure that all have exchangeable ethnical requirements . Choose a container that is inscrutable and large enough to set aside root development and growth as well as proportional Libra the Balance between the fully develop industrial plant and the container . set large containers in the lieu you intend them to stay . All container should have drain hole . A mesh screen , broken clay mountain pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter commit over the hole will keep dirt from washing out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate premix for the plant you have opt . Quality soils ( or land - less medias ) absorb wet pronto and equally when wet . If H2O runs off soil upon initial passing water , this is an index that your grease may not be as good as you think .
Prior to fill a container with ground , wet potting soil in the bag or place in a bathtub or wheelbarrow so that it is equally moist . Fill container about midway full or to a grade that will allow plants , when planted , to be just below the rim of the stool . Rootballs should be level with soil communication channel when project is complete . piss well . How - to : Sow SeedNow is the preferred metre to sow ejaculate .
Problems
Prevention and Control : establish insubordinate varieties and distance plants properly so they get adequate spark and air circulation . Always piddle from below , keeping water off the foliage . This is predominate for roses . Go easy on the atomic number 7 fertiliser . Apply fungicides according to label guidance before problem becomes life-threatening and follow direction exactly , not missing any required discussion . Sanitation is a must - pick up and remove all parting , flowers , or debris in the fall and demolish . Weeds : forbid grass and Grass
Weeds rob your plants of piddle , food and twinkle . They can harbor pests and disease . Before planting , remove weeds either by hand or by spraying an herbicide according to label directions . Another alternative is to lay charge card over the area for a couple of month to stamp out eatage and weeds .
You may utilise a pre - emerging herbicide prior to planting , but be indisputable that it is labeled for the plants you are care to turn . be beds may be post sprayed with a nonselective weedkiller , but be careful to harbor those plant life you do not want to kill . Non - selective means that it will belt down everything it follow in striking with .
Mulch plants with a 3 inch bed of pinestraw , pulverized barque , or compost . Mulch conserves wet , keeps sens down , and create it well-situated to pluck when necessary .
holey landscape painting or open weave cloth works too , allowing line and urine to be substitute .
Miscellaneous
When portions of edible flowers are desired , take out petal or eatable serving from fresh flowers and snip off the petals from the base of the prime . Remember to always wash flowers thoroughly making sealed any residue or dirt has been slay . Give them a gentle bathing tub in water system and then sink the petal in methamphetamine water to perk up them up . drainpipe on newspaper towels . Petals and whole bloom may be stored for a short time in plastic suitcase in infrigidation . suspend whole small flowers in ice rings or cubes . verify you jazz what the heyday isbeforeyou consume it ; have an accurate identification done . Glossary : Low MaintenanceLow maintenancedoes not mean no maintenance . It does mean that once a industrial plant is established , very little needs to be done in the path of water , fertilizing , pruning , or intervention in order for the flora to remain healthy and attractive . A well - designed garden , which ingest your life style into consideration , can greatly reduce sustenance . Glossary : Mass PlantingMass is one of the elements of conception and relates directly to equilibrate . Mass planting is delineate as the group of three or more of the same type of plants in one area . When mass plant , keep in brain what optical effect they will have . Small properties take pocket-size deal where larger property can handle larger masses or sweep of works . gloss : NaturalizingNaturalizingrefers to plant in a random traffic pattern , much as itwould occur in nature . If you spend any time in the woods , you ’ve in all likelihood noticed that plants often grow in groups . The center of the group is dim and towards the edges , plants are locate far aside . Narcissus medulla oblongata are easy to naturalize if you use this method acting : fill a bucket with bulbs and toss them out . Plant them where they fall . You will remark a destiny of the bulb are close together while the others have disperse farther aside . gloss : AnnualAnannualis any plant that completes its life cycle in one growing season . Glossary : PerennialPerennial : traditionally a non - arboreous plant that survive for two or more growing seasons . gloss : Long LastingLong Lasting : have efflorescence that last for an extended menses of time . Some works may have the appearance of providing long lasting flowers because they are prolific , repetition boo-boo . Glossary : pHpH , means the potential of Hydrogen , is the measure of alkalinity or acidulousness . In horticulture , pH refer to the pH of grunge . The scale measures from 0 , most acid , to 14 , most alkaline . Seven is electroneutral . Most plants prefer a range between 5.5 and about 6.7 , an acid mountain range , but there are plenty of other plants that like soil more alkaline , or above 7 . A pH of 7 is where the flora can most easily engross the most nutrients in the soil . Some plant favour more or less of certain nutrients , and therefore do better at a sure pH.Glossary : Plant CharacteristicsPlant characteristic define the plant , enabling a search that witness specific types of plants such as bulb , trees , shrubs , grass , perennial , etc . Glossary : Flower CharacteristicsFlower characteristics can vary greatly and may aid you adjudicate on a " " look or sense " " for your garden . If you ’re look for aroma or large , jazzy bloom , snap these box and possibility that outfit your ethnical conditions will be establish . If you have no orientation , get out boxful unchecked to return a greater number of possibilities . Glossary : Foliage CharacteristicsBy look foliage characteristics , you will have the opportunity to look for foliage with distinct features such as variegate leaf , redolent foliage , or strange texture , color or shape . This orbit will be most helpful to you if you are look for accent plant . If you have no preference , lead this field blank to rejoin a larger selection of plant . Glossary : EdiblesAn edible is a plant that has a part or all of it that can be safely squander in some means . Glossary : Soil TypesA soil type is defined by granule size , drainage , and amount of constitutional material in the soil . The three main soil types are sand , loam and clay . gumption has the largest mote size , no organic matter , little to no fertility , and drains rapidly . Clay , at the opposite end of the spectrum , has the smallest mote size of it , can be robust in organic matter , birthrate and moisture , but is often unworkable because particles are hold together too tightly , resulting in poor drainage when wet , or is brick - comparable when dry . The optimal grime type is loam , which is the happy median value between sand and clay : It is high in organic affair , nutrient - fertile , and has the perfect water system holding capability .
You will often hear loam referred to as a sandy loam ( possess more gumption , yet still plenty of constitutional matter ) or a corpse loam ( heavier on the clay , yet workable with well drainage . ) The addition of organic thing to either sand or Henry Clay will result in a loamy soil . Still not sure if your soil is a sand , clay , or loam ? Try this simple run . squash a handfull of slightly moist , not wet , soil in your hired hand . If it work a stringent ball and does not shine aside when gently tapped with a finger , your soil is more than likely clay . If filth does not form a globe or crumbles before it is knock , it is sand to very sandlike loam . If ground mould a ball , then crumbles readily when lightly tapped , it ’s a loam . Several quick , loose taps could signify a clay loam . gloss : FertilizeFertilize just before new growth get with a sodding fertilizer .
