Foot Health Information

Contrary to popular opinion, rose gardens are relatively simple to start and maintain. Rose plants are hardy perennials, many of them surviving with little or no human intervention, growing wild. Getting your garden off to a good start may be the best way to stave off the dangers that could damage your plants in the long run.

First, select healthy plants that are suited for your climate and soil. Your local garden center will be stocked with appropriate plants for your growing season. You should inspect the rose plant as you would any plant you are interested in purchasing. Any rot along the roots or dead canes would be an indication that the plant is unhealthy or has been mishandled and will not survive planting.

The next step in ensuring that your roses survive will be preparing the soil. Most experts agree that careful conditioning of soil is vital to your garden’s healthy success. Simply put, the extra work you complete before planting will pay off in the long run in the way of healthier plants. Begin by digging down into the ground about a foot. Save this soil for later use. Next, add compost, peat moss or even cultured manure to this layer, followed by a second dig meant to mix the soil with the additive. Now, you can replace the first foot of soil and begin your planting. Poor soil quality is an enemy of your rose plants.

During the cold winter months, the dangerous cycle of freezing and thawing can cause plants to shift underground, damaging their root systems. This can kill your rose plants. Mulch is a great way to protect these plants during the damaging winter months.

It works in the summer too, keeping weeds away and helping to keep the moisture level of your plants consistent. For this benefit, add mulch to your regular care shortly before the first bloom appears. By reinforcing the plant with several inches of soil and covering that soil with mulch, you will protect the plant’s root system from the harsh conditions of winter and you will see a healthy plant emerge in the spring

Fungal diseases, such as black spot and powdery mildew thrive on wet plants and messy flowerbeds. Keeping fallen leaves and other garden debris away from the roots of the plants will enable you to water the plants directly at the roots as well as keep fungus and other problems at bay. Watering should always be done at the base of the plant, avoiding the leaves, stems and flowers to keep away mold and rust, both of which endanger the health of your roses.

Insects such as aphids, thrips, beetles and caterpillars may also target your roses. For insects, prevention may be found with early season spraying of dormant season oil just before the growth of spring begins. If pests still make their way into your rose garden, there are several options for ridding your plants of them. These can be maintained with a combination of removal by hand and treatment with insecticidal soap.

Your roses, with a little care and vigilance, will be well protected from dangerous weather conditions, diseases and pests.

Like any thing you can think of, whether it be people, pets or plants, their basic needs must be met to ensure a happy, healthy life.

Plants, of course, are alive, and so have both general and specific needs, depending upon the variety of plant in question.

In this article, we’ll learn about the different parts of plants – root, stem, leaf and flower – and how they work together.

Roots

Most often overlooked and neglected, the root system of any plant plays a critical role in overall plant growth, health and vigor.

The root system is responsible for supplying a plant with water, vitamins and minerals, all necessary ingredients that promote and maintain healthy vigorous growth. As the nutrients around the plant are consumed, the roots will continue to grow out and down, searching for new sources of food and water.

Gardening Tip: Adding a granular or slow-release fertilizer to the soil before you plant will ensure a steady supply of nutrients throughout a plant’s growing season, especially important for vegetables and flowering plants.

Gardening Tip: Growth above ground mirrors growth below ground. For example, if your bell pepper plant is 1 foot tall and 1 foot wide, its root system is 1 foot deep and 1 or more feet wide.

Gardening Tip: Always follow the directions for any gardening product (fertilizer or pest controls). Although if you’re not sure, using less is always safer than using too much. Using the right amount however, will help ensure consistent results.

Roots and Soil

As you may have guessed, the type of soil in your garden plays an important role in overall plant health and vigor.

In general, most plants like a loose, well-drained soil with lots of organic material. Organic material can be peat moss, shredded bark, composted or decomposed plant material, some form of manure (generally cow manure), or even worm casings or rice hulls to name a few.

Potting soil is usually some combination of the above list and may have little or no actual “dirt” in it. Organic material helps to maintain moisture content levels in the soil and helps to prevent soil compaction.

Stem

The stem, stalk or trunk is the “super highway” of the plant. It starts at ground level and supplies the food and water from the roots to the leaves and flowers or fruit.

Leaves

The leaves of a plant take the food and water from the roots through the stem and with the help of sunlight will turn the water and nutrients into energy. That energy is then sent back through the stem to the entire plant, including right back down to the roots. Natures example of Solar Energy at work.

Flowers

The flower or fruit of a plant is responsible for the reproduction of the plant. Whether it’s strawberries, lemons, tomatoes, pansies or pine-cones, their sole purpose in life is to reproduce more of their own kind.

Humans have found over time that various plants either taste good, have a nice scent or are pleasant to look at and have therefore selected out of millions of varieties just a few types to cultivate.

The Gardening Tips and Advice found throughout Your Healthy Gardens are written with the beginning gardener in mind. However, as time passes and the seasons change more and more detail will be added to help any home gardener improve their gardening skills.