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Flower, Vegetable and Herb Gardening

• About Annuals, Perennials and Biennials


• About Bulbs


• About Vegetables and Herbs

About Annuals, Perennials and Biennials

Sunlight Conditions

When planning your new garden, you need to consider the sun conditions and select plans that will thrive in your available lighting.

Full Sun plants require at least 6 hours of sunlight per day. Although these plants thrive in full sun, they still require plenty of water in hot and dry conditions.

Part Sun plants require 4-6 hours of sunlight per day. These plants might receive morning or afternoon sun, or they could be dappled in sunlight under a tree. Sometimes Part Shade is used interchangeably with Part Sun.

Shade plants require less than 4 hours of sunlight per day.
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Sizing Considerations

Know the potential size of your plants before putting them into the garden. Put the larger plants in the back of the garden and smaller plants in the front to avoid obstructed views. Remember that plants grow and spread. Follow the spacing directions which are usually provided on the plant label.
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Blooming Considerations

When planting perennials, try to select plants with various bloom times to create a full season of color. For this reason, many gardeners choose a combination of perennial and annual plants for their beds.

Mormino Landscape Services Inc can help with plant selection as well as installation.
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Hardiness

Perennials are rated for hardiness. The U.S. Department of Agriculture maps the areas of the country and assigns a Hardiness rating according to the degree of winter coldness. In northeastern Illinois, the hardiness rating is zone 5. In order for your perennials to survive the typical Chicago winters, you need to choose plants rated as hardiness 5 or greater.

Some plants which are rated lower than hardiness 5 can still be planted in the Chicago area. However, these plants need to be dug up and stored indoors over the winter. Examples of these non-hardy plants are begonias, calla lilies and gladiolus.
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How to Plant

Spring is the best time to plant perennials, although early fall is another good planting period. Try to avoid planting during the hottest, sunniest periods because this stresses young plants. If you plant during the summer, be prepared to water daily until the plants are established.
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Preparing the Bed

Remove weeds and grass from the planting area. Use a pitch-fork or shovel to break up the soil so it is loose. If the soil is very dry, water lightly approximately one hour before planting. If you notice that the water pools in your garden bed instead of draining, this is a sign that you have heavy clay in your soil. Since most plants do not thrive in clay, you will need to work peat most, mushroom compost or other compounds into your soil before planting. Contact your Mormino Landscape expert for help with clay soil conditions.

If your plants were purchased in pots, you can place them on top of the soil to get a feel for the appearance and spacing of your garden before digging.
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Preparing the Hole

Dig a hole which is three times the width of the pot and twice as deep. If planting from seed, follow the directions on the seed packet. Some gardeners mix the soil with peat moss, mushroom compost, or all-purpose fertilizer (10-10-10) before filling the hole half way.

Remove the plant from the pot by placing your hand over the top and inverting it. Then give the bottom of the pot several firm taps to loosen the plant. Place the plant in the center of the half-filled hole. The plant should be even with the surface of the garden bed. If not, increase or decrease the amount of soil in the hole.

If your plant is ball-wrapped or burlap-wrapped, place it in the hole such that it is about 1-2 inches below the surface level. Then untie the burlap and loosen the burlap from around the plant. Do not completely remove the burlap.

Turn the plant around in the hole to make sure the best side is facing out.

Fill up the rest of the hole with remaining dirt. Water the plant thoroughly and come back in one hour. If the soil has settled below ground level, add more soil to insure the ground is level around the plant.

Add mulch around the plant to help retain moisture and prevent weeds.

If your new plant does not stand upright on its own, consider using a stake. Tie the stem with stretchy material like hosiery to give the plant support without cutting into the growing branches.

After planting, your new plants will require frequent watering to encourage established root systems. Monitor the plants closely for the first few days to ensure the soil remains most.

If your plants flower, consider removing the spent blooms (often called dead-heading) to encourage root development.

Enjoy as your garden grows and changes throughout the season. If you planted perennials, you can expect many seasons of colorful blooms.

For any questions about gardening or installing flower beds, feel free to contact Mormino Landscape Services Inc.
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About Bulbs

Bulbs have an internal flower bud that is surrounded by layers of food supply. This class of plant consists of true bulbs (tulips, daffodils), corms (crocus and gladiolus), rhizomes, tubers and tuberous roots (dahlias and begonias).

If the bulbs are rated as hardiness 5 or greater, they will generally survive the Chicago winters and return the next spring. Bulbs less than hardiness of 5 can be planted in the spring, but must be dug up in the winter and stored indoors before planting the following spring. Gladiolus and begonias require such lifting in the winter.

To lift non hardy bulbs for the winter, wait until the foliage has yellowed, usually in October. Dig and separate the bulbs. Brush off the soil and cut the foliage back to six inches above the bulb. Lay the bulbs on newspaper to dry for a few days. Put the bulbs in a ventilated bag or container, and place in a spot where the temperature is around 50 degrees F such as your basement. In the spring, plant the bulbs back in the garden.
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Planting Bulbs

As a general rule, spring flowering bulbs (such as daffodils and tulips) should be planted in fall and late summer. Fall flowering bulbs (such as lilies) should be planted in the spring. Follow the instructions on the bulb packaging to ensure you dig holes to the proper depth. Some gardeners like to mix a handful of bone meal into the soil when planting bulbs.
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About Vegetables and Herbs

Consider your sunlight and space situation when planning your vegetable and herb garden. Some vegetables and herbs thrive even in partially shaded positions, while others require lots of sunshine for best results. Place your taller vegetables in the back of the garden to avoid shading your shorter vegetables.

Some vegetables plants spread and require several square feet of space such as squash, muskmelon and pumpkins. Others require staking to ensure the plant remains upright such as tomatoes, peas, and sometimes beans.

Some crops are fast-growing and you should plan on multiple plantings over the summer to ensure a longer harvest. Lettuce is a good example of a fast-grower.

Follow the planting instructions on the seed packet or the plant pot. If instructions are lacking, allow a distance of 20 inches between the rows. Tomatoes and corn should be allowed at least 2 to 2 1/2 feet and should be staked for best results.

If planting from seed, thin out the vegetables so the plants are 2 to 6 inches apart in the row.

Planting Tips:

• Establish pathways during planting so you can harvest in the vegetable garden without stepping on planting areas.
• Be sure to follow the recommended planting depths and spacing. If unsure, contact your Mormino Landscape expert for advice.
• Put a tag or marker on each row or area so that you will know what you planted.
• Herb gardening is easiest when you buy already-established plants typically available at garden and home stores.
• The easiest herb to grow from seed is basil.
  
  For planting seeds:
  
  • Use a hoe or shovel to dig a furrow to the recommended planting depth.
  • Sprinkle seeds into the furrow and cover with soil.
  • Water planting from seed, thin out the vegetables so the plants are 2 to 6 inches apart in the row.
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    thoroughly using a gentle spray so that you don't disturb or uncover the seeds.
  • Seeds need moisture to germinate, so it is important to keep the soil moist until the seedlings have sprouted.
  • When the seedlings have emerged and developed their second or third set of leaves, thin them as needed, keeping the strongest plants.
  
  For planting bedding plants, or if you started your seeds indoors in pots:
  
  • Dig a small hole which is slightly wider and deeper than the root ball of the new plant.
  • Invert the plant and gently tap the pot to loosen the roots and remove the new plant.
  • Set the plant in the hole, cover it with soil. And water well.

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Monitor your plants for needed moisture. During dry periods, vegetable gardens need extra watering. Most vegetables benefit from an inch or more water each week, especially during harvest.

Mulching between the rows will help to control weeds, conserve moisture in the soil, and provide you with pathways to access your plants.
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Popular Herbs:

• Basil
• Lavender
• Mint
• Lemon balm makes great iced tea
• Sage
• Rosemary
• Dill
• Chervil
• Chives
• Sweet Marjoram
• Thyme

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If you do have any further questions, please feel free to contact us at :
847-955-0113   Phone
847-955-0117   Fax
info @ morminolandscaping . com

"Mill Pond is a unique and unusually beautiful property with special landscaping needs. We selected Mormino Landscape Services to maintain our landscaping, which they have been doing for the last three years. In addition, Mormino Landscape Services provides snow removal with excellent reliability and fair prices.
We have been very pleased with the high level of care provided and the accessibility to the staff when special circumstances arise. I recommend their services enthusiastically."
Sherman Gerber, Owner
Mill Pond Shoppes
Long Grove