Our grandmothers, growing strawberries, or strawberries, as we used to call them, were not particularly worried about mulching. But today this agricultural practice has become fundamental in achieving high quality berries and reducing crop losses. Some might say it's troublesome. But practice shows that labor costs in this case pay off handsomely. In this article, we invite you to get acquainted with the nine the best materials for mulching garden strawberries.
Succulents are very versatile. Despite the fact that “kids” have always been considered more fashionable, the assortment of succulents with which you can decorate modern interior, it is worth taking a closer look. After all, colors, sizes, patterns, degree of pricklyness, influence on the interior are just a few of the parameters by which you can choose them. In this article, we will talk about the five most fashionable succulents that surprisingly transform modern interiors.
Mint was used by the Egyptians as far back as 1.5 thousand years BC. It has a strong aroma due to the high content of various essential oils with high volatility. Today, mint is used in medicine, perfumery, cosmetology, winemaking, cooking, ornamental gardening, and the confectionery industry. In this article, we will consider the most interesting varieties of mint, and also talk about the features of growing this plant in open ground.
People began to grow crocuses 500 years before the advent of our era. Although the presence of these flowers in the garden is fleeting, we always look forward to the return of the heralds of spring next year. Crocuses - one of the earliest primroses, whose flowering begins as soon as the snow melts. However, the timing of flowering may vary depending on the species and varieties. This article focuses on the earliest varieties of crocuses that bloom in late March and early April.
Shchi from early young cabbage in beef broth is hearty, fragrant and easy to prepare. In this recipe, you will learn how to cook delicious beef broth and cook light cabbage soup with this broth. early cabbage it cooks quickly, so it is placed in the pan at the same time as the rest of the vegetables, unlike autumn cabbage, which takes a little longer to cook. Ready cabbage soup can be stored in the refrigerator for several days. Real cabbage soup is tastier than freshly cooked.
Looking at the variety of varieties of tomatoes, it is difficult not to get confused - the choice is very wide today. Even experienced gardeners he is annoying sometimes! However, it is not so difficult to understand the basics of selecting varieties “for yourself”. The main thing is to understand the peculiarities of culture and start experimenting. One of the easiest tomato groups to grow are varieties and hybrids with limited growth. They have always been appreciated by those gardeners who do not have much time and energy to care for the beds.
Once very popular under the name of room nettle, and then forgotten by everyone, coleuses today are one of the brightest garden and indoor plants. They are not in vain considered stars of the first magnitude for those who are looking primarily for non-standard colors. Easy to grow, but not so undemanding as to suit everyone, coleus require constant supervision. But if you take care of them, bushes of velvety unique leaves will easily outshine any competitor.
Salmon backbone baked in Provence herbs is a “supplier” of delicious pieces of fish pulp for a light salad with fresh wild garlic leaves. The mushrooms are lightly fried olive oil and then watered apple cider vinegar. Such mushrooms are tastier than ordinary pickled ones, and they are better suited for baked fish. Ramson and fresh dill coexist perfectly in one salad, emphasizing the flavor of each other. Garlic sharpness of wild garlic will saturate both the flesh of salmon and pieces of mushrooms.
Conifer tree or a shrub on the site is always great, and a lot of conifers is even better. Emerald needles of various shades decorate the garden at any time of the year, and phytoncides and essential oils, secreted by plants, not only flavor, but also make the air cleaner. As a rule, most zoned adult conifers are considered to be very unpretentious trees and shrubs. But young seedlings are much more capricious and require competent care and attention.
Sakura is most often associated with Japan and its culture. Picnics in the shade flowering trees have long been an integral attribute of the meeting of spring in the Land of the Rising Sun. Financial and academic year here begins on April 1, when the magnificent sakura blossoms. Therefore, many significant moments in the life of the Japanese pass under the sign of their flowering. But sakura also grows well in cooler regions - certain types can be successfully grown even in Siberia.
It is very interesting for me to analyze how people's tastes and preferences for certain foods have changed over the centuries. What was once considered tasty and traded lost its value over time and, conversely, new fruit crops conquered their markets. Quince has been cultivated for more than 4 thousand years! And even in the 1st century BC. e. about 6 varieties of quince were known and even then the methods of its reproduction and cultivation were described.
Make your family happy and make themed Easter egg-shaped cottage cheese cookies! Your children will be happy to take part in the process - they will sift the flour, combine all the necessary ingredients, knead the dough and cut out intricate figures. Then they will watch with admiration how the pieces of dough turn into real Easter eggs, and then with the same enthusiasm they will eat them with milk or tea. How to make such original cookies for Easter, read in our step by step recipe!
There are not so many decorative and deciduous favorites among tuberous crops. And the caladium is a true star among the variegated inhabitants of the interiors. Not everyone can decide to start a Caladium. This plant is demanding, and first of all - to care. But still, the rumors about the unusual capriciousness of the Caladium never justify. Attention and care allow you to avoid any difficulties when growing caladiums. And a plant can almost always forgive small mistakes.
We have prepared a hearty, incredibly appetizing and simply elementary dish for you today. This gravy is one hundred percent universal, as it will suit every side dish: vegetables, pasta, and anything. Gravy with chicken and mushrooms will save you in moments when there is no time or you don’t want to think too much about what to cook. Grab your favorite side dish (you can make this ahead of time to keep it hot), add gravy and dinner is ready! A real lifesaver.
Among the many different varieties of these most popular vegetables, we will talk about three that are distinguished by excellent taste and relatively unpretentious conditions cultivation. Characteristics of eggplant varieties "Diamond", "Black Handsome" and "Valentina". All eggplants have a medium density pulp. In "Almaz" it is greenish, and in the other two it is yellowish-white. They are united good germination and excellent yield, but different time. Everyone's skin color and shape is different.
Flower bouquets are beautiful, but short-lived. However, there are ones that you can admire for many months, or even years. Among florists, they have a common name, and a bouquet of such flowers can decorate a home for a long time. These plants may belong to different families, but they are united by the ability to maintain shape and color for a long period.
This is a perennial dried flower, but in our latitudes it is grown as an annual. The stem is branched, reaches 70 cm in height. Inflorescences are white, with a large yellow center. The diameter of the inflorescence is 1.5–2 cm. Ammobium begins to bloom from mid-June, flowering continues until the first frost. 
The plant is an annual, American origin. Its stems can be simple or branched, sometimes growing up to one and a half meters in height. Inflorescences of such decorative species as caudate, dark or paniculate, are collected in long spikelets or panicles. They can be of various colors: golden, purple, red, etc. Flowering begins in June and stops with the onset of autumn cold. 
Did you know? not exhausted decorative species. For thousands of years, this plant was the main crop of the indigenous peoples of the Americas. The Spaniards called it "Aztec wheat" and "Inca bread". It is also used as pet food. This plant is also widely used in, amaranth oil is especially valuable.
The genus belongs to the amaranth family. About 60 species of this dried flower are known, among them there are both annuals and perennials, but in our country, as a rule, annuals are bred, as they cannot withstand the winter cold.
Plant height reaches 90 cm. small flowers collected in spectacular inflorescences, which can be various shapes: pinnate, comb-shaped, spikelets. Their colors can be red, purple, yellow, etc. Celosia blooms from late June until autumn frosts. 
This flower is better known as immortelle. It belongs to the aster family. The plant can be perennial, but it is grown as an annual. The stem is straight, reaches a meter height. Flowers form large inflorescences-baskets. Their color is very diverse - golden, red, white-pink, purple, etc.
There are more than 600 types of immortelle. The most famous are helichrysum bracts, helichrysum milford, helichrysum sandy. Flowering - from June to October. 
This is an annual plant from the Asteraceae family. He is also called dry flower. The stems of xeranthemum are straight, branched. Height up to 60 cm. Inflorescences are baskets of purple, white or Pink colour. In temperate climates, it blooms from mid-summer to early autumn. 
This plant is often called. It is annual, sometimes biennial, belongs to the Asteraceae or Compositae family. It has a straight branched stem, reaching a height of one and a half meters. Inflorescence - a basket of red, orange or yellow color. Outwardly, it resembles Flowering from June to September. 
Did you know? A dye extracted from cartamus is used to dye their robes Buddhist monks, and in cosmetology, safflower oil is valued as softening and firming the skin.
Like many others on our list, this dried flower belongs to the aster family. The stem is erect, grows up to 90 cm. The plant is perennial, but there is also an annual species. Small flowers in the form of tubules form a spectacular spherical inflorescence up to 4 cm in diameter, various shades of yellow. Craspedia blooms in August and September. 
Kermek (limonium)
This type of dried flower belongs to the lead family. Among the numerous representatives of this family, one can find both shrubs and herbaceous specimens, among them there are both annuals and perennials. Plant height, depending on the type and growth conditions, is from 30 to 1.3 m. This plant blooms from July until the end of autumn. 
Outwardly, the inflorescences look very impressive - slightly wrinkled and elongated-oblong panicles of the most diverse colors. They can be purple, green, yellow, white and pink.
Appearance, with proper care, resemble a colored cloud. wild plant, broad-leaved kermek, also called tumbleweed, since in autumn, with a strong wind, dry inflorescences often break off from the stem and roll across the steppe. 
Although this Mediterranean plant is not yet a favorite among gardeners, it certainly looks exquisite in its graceful simplicity. This variety of dried flower is ideal for planting in rustic style, and is also used for complex solutions landscape design. Catananhe was cultivated in Europe in the 16th century.
The plant has only 5 species. The most popular variety is with a pale blue flower resembling chicory. Catananche flowers can also be white, yellow and purple, depending on the species. The petals have serrated edges. The height of the erect stem is up to 60 cm.
May and June are the flowering time of this dried flower. But some varieties of katananhe, for example, "Capids Dart", can bloom until the very frost. This plant is also frost-resistant species, katananhe bushes do not die even at a frost of -30 ° C. The information that the catananche lives only two years is erroneous. It's just that this plant, after 2–3 years of flowering, partly loses its decorative effect and requires more frequent division than other perennials. 
Briza (shaker)
This plant of the cereal family was described by the ancient Greek physician Galen, but in addition to its beneficial healing properties, it is often used in decorative interiors. "Cuckoo's Tears"- this is how the people called this type of dried flower because of the unusual inflorescence, resembling droplets (teardrops) on thin stems. A small breeze of wind is enough to make them sway, which adds a certain flavor to the breeze.
In the wild form of the breeze, it is found in Europe, Africa, in the western part of Asia, as well as in South America. These are usually annuals and perennials. The stems are thin and solitary, upright with branching from below, up to 80 cm high. The apical inflorescence resembles a sprawling panicle 3 to 20 cm long and consists of 20–50 spikelets. Spikelets rather large, drooping, 10–25 mm long. The teardrop cones themselves are round, ovoid, or triangular in shape. At the beginning of flowering - green, with time brownish-golden. 
Lagurus
This dried flower has another name - "haretail", because of the fluffy inflorescence, really resembling the tail of a hare. In stylized photos, this plant looks especially impressive.
Lagurus refers to cereal annuals. Approximately 50–60 cm high. The plant blooms all summer, its fluffy white heads are often painted in different colors, making spectacular bouquets of them. Lagurus is very loved by children because of original form inflorescences and soft, fluff-like leaves. 
It is a compound or aster plant with a bright, bitter, musky smell. Distributed throughout the northern hemisphere in temperate climatic zones. Tansy grows up to one and a half meters in height and has bright yellow inflorescences collected in baskets on strong, elastic stems of dark green color. 
Important! Among gardeners, tansy is popular not only as ornamental plant, but also as a natural remedy against mosquitoes, flies and other unpleasant ones. This dried flower is often used for medical purposes, not without reason another name for tansy is worm. It must also be remembered that the fruits and inflorescences of tansy are moderately poisonous.
Features of growing dried flowers
As a rule, plants of this type are very unpretentious, and their cultivation is not difficult. Seeds are usually sown in March-April, in open ground plants are planted in the second half of May, some heat-loving species - in early June. Usually planted in a sunny area of \u200b\u200bthe flower garden. Most species of these flowers are drought tolerant, additional watering they don't need to. On the contrary, plants can suffer from waterlogging of the soil.
How to cut and dry flowers
Properly selected dry flowers will cheer you up on the darkest and harshest winter days. In principle, any flower can be dried, but it is dried flowers that do not lose their shape during drying and retain their bright colors.
The summer season, with its cheerful colors and spicy floral scents, passes very quickly. There are short cloudy days in autumn, followed by cold winters. And everyone wants to feel like in a blooming summer park again. Bright sunny bouquets of dried flowers come to the rescue. They fill the interior with elegant scents and warm shades. Making bouquets from dried flowers is not only effective method decorate your home, but also a very entertaining activity. Even a beginner can cope with this task.
Many believe that any dried flower can be called flowering plant dried. Actually it is not. Florists claim that after drying and trimming, integrity, and external aesthetics not all representatives of the flora are able to save. At first glance, it seems that the most beautiful dried flowers come from luxurious flowering crops. But in fact, the “queens” and “princesses” of the garden after drying lose their bright colors and crumble at one touch. For artistic and decorative purposes, specially grown species and varieties of dried flowers are used. To compose various compositions, you can use any part of the dried flower: from the bud and flower, to seed pods, and fruits.
If we compare dried flowers with other cultivated and field plants, then their durability is much higher. But in order to extend this period, plants must be processed. by special means. However, many connoisseurs of bouquets of dry plants do not bother themselves, and at the beginning of the new season they replace compositions that have lost their aesthetics with new bouquets. Dried flowers are unpretentious. They do not take up much time and space on the site. Unfavorable weather factors do not scare them either. They need plenty of sunlight and a little care.
Species and varieties
In order for a beginner not to get confused in the variety of varieties and types of dried flowers, it is enough to start acquaintance with the most famous specimens:
- . Famous for its species and varietal diversity. All instances are strikingly different from each other. external dimensions, shape and color. Dried flowers are harvested at the moment when the flower is fully opened.
Helipterum
- . Great option for areas with long and cold winters. Outwardly, the plant resembles baskets small size collected on one bush. Florists prepare a long shoot with an inflorescence during the dissolution period.
Ammobium winged
- . The flowers of this plant are corymbose, bright purple. At the height of flowering, the plant is cut and used later to compose artistic compositions.
- . Among the inflorescences there are terry and simple views. Most often red or white. Breeders bred a variety with many inflorescences. The people call the plant "cat's paws", because of the distant similarity of flowers with soft cat's paws. It is better to harvest dried flowers before its final dissolution.
helichrysum
- . A plant with thin, branched stems. Inflorescences in the form of small baskets, with a red, pink, purple or white color. Only full dissolution is used as a floristic preparation.
xerantemum
- . Has original appearance: large racemose inflorescences hanging from a strong stem. As soon as flowering begins, amaranth is cut off.
- . Another decoration of the winter bouquet can be called this plant, with an orange, yellow or red inflorescence. large flowers can be cut only after flowering.
Cartamus
- . The most common element of the floristic composition. It is valued for its beautiful decorative leaves and spherical flowers of various shades (beige, lilac, pink, blue, scarlet).
Gomphrena
- . Most of all, this plant with a dense inflorescence in the form of a ball reminds of the summer sun in a bouquet. There are no leaves on the shoot. The color of craspedia is bright yellow. The material is harvested in whole bunches of several flowers.
Kraspedia
- . The inflorescences are quite large, collected in dense panicles and come in cream, yellow, pink, red, orange, and even purple.
Celosia Pinnate
- . The inflorescence in shape resembles a ball richly of blue color bears a strong resemblance to a thorn.
Mordovnik
- . Another extraordinary copy from the series of "thorns". Inflorescences have a capitate form of a steel color, an openwork form of leaves.
Feverweed
- . The flowers of this garden planting do not attract florists at all, but the fruits are of great value to lovers of winter bouquets. The fruit is framed by thin sepals, bright orange. The shape and structure resembles a paper lantern.
- . The inflorescences are numerous and spike-shaped, the milky-white coloring and soft purple frame add to the showiness. Grass is often used to make wedding compositions.
Use in landscape design
Dried flowers are the most popular element of a rocky flower garden (). They are perfectly combined with various types of stone and do not require special care, not capricious to growing conditions. For such a composition, you should not choose delicate and fragile varieties. Best suited eryngium, breeze and other "prickly representatives".
Flower beds with perennials or annual plants colorfully dilute bright, original views dried flowers. They are able to compete with the most sophisticated representatives of the flora. A delicate elegant aroma adds a touch of romance and peace to the garden. Dried flowers often act as a backdrop for single-leaf plants. After they have faded, dried perennials continue to decorate the garden with their appearance.
Along the paths, as a living border, low, lush dried flowers are planted. You can use lavender for this. It also helps in the soft, unobtrusive division of the site into the required number of zones. Refined and deep color goes well with many garden plantings. An easily recognizable spicy aroma completes the list of virtues.
Reproduction, planting and care
Dried flowers propagate by seeds. Most species are planted immediately in open ground, as soon as the snow melts and the earth warms up enough. They delight gardeners with fast germination and flowering after a short period of time. Those varieties whose seeds need to be planted in a greenhouse are transplanted into open ground after one to two months (depending on the variety). These are more capricious representatives of dried flowers. Also requiring more careful care and attention.
Care
Plants must be provided with sufficient sunlight, systematic and sufficient watering, mulching and top dressing (depending on the variety). Most dried flowers prefer loose, fertile soil.
If the soil is acidic, then before sowing it is fed, reducing the level of acids. Dried flowers do not tolerate stagnant moisture, it is important to provide a drainage layer.
Plants do not tolerate drafts. A rare exception can be called species that do not tolerate direct sun rays. They need to provide shade or partial shade. Otherwise, they will not be able to good stuff for a winter bouquet, having lost its strength and bright colors. Each variety is prepared according to its own rules.
Video - garden dried flowers
You can hang flowers, put them under a press, and even put them in the microwave.
Flowers are a wonderful addition to any setting, but their colorful color lasts only a few weeks or less. Drying flowers is a great way to keep them in a vase or in beautiful composition in frame.
Depending on the type of flower, there are several different methods drying. This is easy to do at home with the help of improvised means.
Photo source:
When is the best time to cut flowers to dry?
To keep the flowers in their natural beautiful color, cut them out before they are fully opened. Flowers should also dry in a dark, cool place, as sunlight turn them into hay.
If you want to dry a finished bouquet, such as a bridal bouquet, it's best to start drying it as soon as you enjoy it, as the flowers have likely been cut at least a day before. If you've been given roses, for example, you might be tempted to leave them in the vase until all the flowers are fully open. However, if you really want to keep them, it's best to start drying until they're fully opened.
Photo source:How to dry flowers
Hanging
The most common and quite reliable method is to collect flowers in small bunches and hang them upside down. You can use a clothes hanger by tying a few bundles to its perch. Then the hanger can be placed in the closet. Drying this way takes several weeks. Please note that some petals may fall off in the process.
Photo source:Pressing
If you only want to keep the flower, pressing is a great option that doesn't require as much space as the previous one. It is best to cut the flowers just before they are due to bloom early in the morning and after the dew has evaporated. Spread the cut plants on a newspaper, cloth or napkin and cover with the same material on top. Then put everything in a thick book for a few weeks.
Pressing is ideal for flowers that you want to frame under glass.
Photo source:In the microwave
If you don't want to wait for your flowers to dry out, this is the way to go. Place flowers without stems in a container for microwave oven. It is recommended to sprinkle them with quartz sand or an even combination of borax and cornmeal. Put the container in the microwave (no need to cover it!) for one minute. Finally, leave the flowers in the mixture for one day to dry completely.
Where is the best place to put dry flowers?
If you want your dried bouquet to please you for as long as possible, do not place it on the windowsill and other places where direct sunlight enters. Also, keep dry flowers away from stoves, fireplaces, heaters, and radiators. In principle, the cooler it is in the room, the longer they will not decay.
