Annual plants: These plants usually grow a full cycle. They flower, seed and die in a single season. Some annuals can be grown in autumn for them to flower in the following spring; others are usually sown in spring for them to flower throughout the summer. You can generally pick the seeds just before they die off and save them to re -sow again and again.

Perennials: These plants generally have an indefinite life span of two years or more. Some perennials maybe quite short lived, whereas trees can easily survive for centuries.

COMPOST

The best time to make compost is spring as it can rot down faster. It is a great source of bulky organic material to use in your garden. It is easy and costs nothing to make your own compost. Your garden will also benefit from all that mulch that you make.

There are two types of composts, soil less compost is made from peat or a substitute of bark or coir. Soil-based composts are a mixture of sterilized soil, peat or an alternative like sand.

Soil-less compost is suitable for sowing and potting household plants.
Always make sure you use moist, warmed to room temperature and fresh compost. Do not keep left over compost from one season to the next as the fertilizers change into harmful chemicals with age, but you can still use your old supply to improve the soil outdoors.

Most city councils supply households with bins to make your own compost, but if you are not able to get one of these bins, you can always make your own compost heap.

THINGS YOU CAN PUT ON THE COMPOST:

Shredded paper, but not shiny/glossy magazines
Dead leaves
Prunings
Uncooked vegetable trimmings, peelings
Used Tea bags from the kitchen
Annual weeds
Tops of perennial weeds
Old bedding plants
Lawn mowings
Soft hedge trimmings

Things that you should not put in your compost:

Synthetic material
Cooked food scrapes
Dog or cat waste
Soil pests
Any weeds with seed heads
Meat or bones

HERB GARDEN

If you like using herbs in your cooking, you will enjoy growing your own in your garden. You can grow herbs scattered among ornamental plants in a bed or border, or in plant pots on the patio. Just keep them near your kitchen door mainly so as they will be within easy reach for you to use. They are also great in hanging baskets. They smell great on a hot summer's day. You can also freeze them once the growing season is done and can be used as when you need them. Freezing herbs in plastic bags keeps them fresh.

Just like ornamental plants, there are annuals such as basil, marjoram, and corriander. Perennials such as mint, thyme and fennel, woody perennials such as lavender, sage, and rosemary, or bulbs such as chives.

Herbs grow best in hot and sunny spots. They also prefer well-drained soil and are perfect for growing in pots near your kitchen door. Like all plants in general, herbs enjoy regular feeding throughout the growing season.

For more on landscaping, please visit www.tnnursery.net