Most bulbs are planted in autumn to flower next spring. Usually tulips are planted in early October, when soil temperature at the depth of 10-12 cm drops to +10C. If autumn is warm, tulips can be planted throughout October, even as late as early November. Experienced growers maintain that one can plant tulips even in midwinter, as long as the ground is not frozen over. Bear in mind that mulching with a 25cm layer of sawdust, peat or compost is absolutely necessary in such case. Bulbs root within three weeks – this is how long it should take before the ground completely freezes over. If planted too early, bulbs will break into growth too soon.
One of the most spectacular of autumn flowers – dahlia – unfortunately is not hardy enough to overwinter outside. However, be in no rush to lift them – many late-season blooms will still be produced during warm autumn days; while minor frosts cause little damage to dahlias, if their tubers are mounded. Start lifting dahlias, [...]
Insects fascinate us with their colours, variety and fragility. They are mostly beneficial to the garden, with only 2 percent out of 2000 species of butterflies, native to Lithuania, being harmful. The good news is that these useful insects can be attracted into the garden with some simple techniques. Most butterflies are pollinators, especially of [...]
Seedlings start flowering same year after sowing, in their fourth month. The growth of delphiniums halts, when seeds ripen, so inflorescences are best removed after the flowering is over. Delphiniums may flower repeatedly in autumn, if the spent blooms have been removed. Bear in mind that this wears the plant down, as it does not have time to set new buds, which may result in less than spectacular flowering next year.
The best time to plant rhododendrons is either in spring, from early April to mid-May, as soon as soil warms up, or in autumn, from early September to early October, so that plants would still have time to root the ground freezes over. Rhododendrons can be planted any other time, if need be, except when in flower or when new shoots are growing fast, which is usually after, and sometimes during, the flowering period.
Came March, and a keen gardener starts sowing vegetables with a long days to maturity period. These are vegetables which take 50 to 80 days from seed sowing to transplanting outside or into the greenhouse. The sowing time depends a lot on whether you have a heated greenhouse. And sure, on your country`s hardiness zone. [...]
The suburbs are expanding, with new properties mushrooming all over the place. After construction work has been finished, the builders will only clear up the site and level off the ground, at most. So it is down to the new owners to face the challenge of tidying up and planting the plot. Some new home owners are lucky enough to buy a new property with lawn and several trees installed; however, their joy is often short-lived.
Most deciduous shrubs get old over several years time and loose their vigour eventually. Having said that, if your have an overgrown deciduous hedge, it still can be brought back into shape. To begin the process, cut back all growth to about 15-30 cm above the ground just before plants break dormancy in spring, and after any danger of severe frosts has gone.
Lithuanian climate lies between maritime and continental, with wet and mild winters, but during the coldest months the temperature may drop to -300C for some short period. Average temperature in winter: -4,9°C, average temperature in summer: 20,0°C , rainfall per year – 748 mm (please check this site for further information http://www.climate-zone.com/climate/lithuania/). Hardiness zone [...]
