How to keep gardens fresh, clean and decorated?

What are your 5 tips to keep home garden fresh, clean and decorated throughout the year.

Hi Lovelyplants...My number one is Mulch....keeps in moisture in summer, warmth in winter and helps suppress weeds. It gives beds a neat "finished" look. My number two is deadheading...keeps the plants looking nice and promotes blooming. I always keep a bucket and pruners handy to remove spent blooms and any dead leaves from the area. And my number three is the use of seasonal annuals...that way there is always something green and in bloom for the most part of the year. My number four would be containers...they make it easy to keep bright spots in the garden and can be moved around as needed. And I guess my number five would be the use of evergreen shrubs/trees/perennials for structure and a spot of green year round.

Excellent!

Thanks for the tips, I have shared your tips with my readers at http://www.thelovelyplants.com/.

You are very welcome....you run a nice, informative site Waqas.

Keeping your garden fresh, clean and adorable all through the year is quite a challenging task. Mulch retains moisture in summer, warmth in winter and helps suppress weeds. It gives beds a neat ‘finished' look. Containers not only make it easy to keep bright spots in the garden, they can be used to add thematic and dramatic effects to your garden. Deadheading keeps the plants looking nice and promotes blooming. Always keep a bucket and pruners handy to remove spent blooms and any dead leaves from the area.

Thankyou lovely..... truely inspiring photos!!!!
pg. 9 Linaria... just a warning, the yellow variety is a rampant reseeder and banned in most U.S. states as a noxtious weed. However, Linaria purpurea is an excellant choice, truely a diminutive wonder. I have grown both, also L. Cannon Went another great beauty.
pg. 8 Phaceleia..Wow!!!! What an electric scene, just memerizing, I will have to try and grow enmass next time.
pg. 26 Awesome...Oh my...Wouldn't you just love to have that garden scene personally!!!!!!
pg. 15..photo#9
pg. 44...Espalier
pg. 46..Topiary
pg. 49..Laburnum walk..Wow!! This is still on my list of to dos.

I would have to agree with the other gals...mulch can do wonders for the garden... most people don't even realize how important mulch can be and also how much faster and bigger plants will grow with such. (personally I use grass clippings and chopped fall leaves (chopped with the mower) . Not only do they help retain moisture but add humis to the soils health and tilth.


Deadheading...very important not only to keep flowers in continuous bloom but this chore allows you an excuse to roam among your flowers and enjoy their beauty upclose, along with their wonderous visitors...the hummingbirds, butterflies and moths (my favorite are the hawkmoths or lunar moths which flit about after dark, such a joy to watch).

Pix: Valariana officinalis, very fragrant early spring blooomer.
Pix: Daucus carota, spring biennial at 5-7ft, fragrant......both of these are great additions as bouquet fillers for home arrangements.

Pix: Clematis Prince Charles and Gypsophila paniculata (baby's breath) in June, there are many wonderful early clems.
Pix: Centranthus ruber, Humulous a. Golden Hops vine rambling amonst the flowers, Perennial Geranium Rozzane an all summer bloomer.
Pix: from top clockwise: wild sunflowers, Daisy Becky, Penstemon Rocky Mountain Blue, Lavendula angustifolia Munsted, Veronica spicata Sight Seeing Blue, center is a Malva Party Girl

Thank you for the contribution!