Growing Thyme

!±8± Growing Thyme

Thymus is a genus of over 400 species of aromatic hardy and non-hardy perennials with very small, fragrant leaves and twiggy stems. Thymes are native to Mediterranean Europe, as far as the British Isles. These wonderful herbs have long been cultivated for their neat and orderly appearance in the container, border, rock garden and dry walls. The creeping varieties are excellent as ground covers or fill in between pavers. Thymes grow wild on the hillsides in Greece and well-known in the ancient world. Sumerians used it as a medicinal herb, and Egyptians used it as an ingredient in mummification. Thyme was used by the Greeks as a temple incense; the word thyme comes from a Greek word meaning "to fumigate". The Greeks and Romans used hyme for its healing properties. It was thought to be an aphrodisiac and was enthusiastically strewn around banquet halls in the Middle Ages! Thyme was considered to be a symbol of courage, knights rode into battle with sprigs of thyme embroidered into their scarves. Shakespeare speaks of thyme in A Midsummer Night's Dream:

"I know a bank where the wild thyme grows", says King Overon, king of the fairies.

Thyme [http://www.thegrowers-exchange.com/search?q=Thyme] is an easy herb to grow; all thymes need full sun and dry, light, well-draining soil. If grown in too rich soil, the plant tends to grow excessively and makes the plant susceptible to disease and winterkill. Keep thymes well cut back in the growing season so that they do not get too woody. Once the plant develops an open center, either divide the plant or replace. If growing in a humid area, watch for fungus. They do not like "wet feet"! Thyme does grow well indoors on a sunny windowsill.

Thyme is a major culinary herb and has a wonderful aroma. You can use thyme in a multitude of dishes, either fresh or dried. Harvest the leafy tops and flower clusters.

Growing Thyme

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Pruning Knockout Roses

!±8± Pruning Knockout Roses

In order to make the best decision when pruning Knockout roses several factors need to be considered. This variety is a brand new hybrid that requires less care than most of the other types. However some trimming and pruning is required even for these low maintenance varieties.

Here are some tips to help you.

Do not prune too often: Knockout roses do not require pruning more than every three years. Of course if you want to do a little trimming to keep the bush or shrub in a certain shape then this can be done anytime.

When to prune? Early spring when growth is just starting is the best time to do this. You will stimulate growth by removing old, dead wood from the center of the plant. This will also allow more air to circulate and prevent disease from attacking the plant. However you can prune in summer if you wish to retain the shape of your bush or shrub.

Keep your pruning tools clean: It is wise to use pruning shears for these types of plants. You should always sterilize them before you start work and in between plants. You can use rubbing alcohol for this. When you do this it will cut down the risk of disease to your plants.

How tall? Decide how tall you want your bushes or shrubs. Always trim them two feet under the required height you want. For example if you want the bush to be five foot you should trim it to three foot. It will grow up to the five foot mark during the growing season.

Position and angle: You should try to cut the branch at a forty five degree angle. This will reduce old stumps and stimulate new growth. You should make your cut a quarter of an inch above an outward facing bud. This will enable the bush or shrub to grow upwards and outwards.

Cutting canes: New canes are meant to produce new blooms, but they do not always do so. Therefore it is better to cut these out at their base. They are usually weaker branches that shoot up from the base of the plant. This will keep the bush stronger and flowering better.

These points will help you when pruning Knockout roses and will keep them looking good for a long time. They really do not need much maintenance to make a beautiful addition to your garden. All you need to do is to know how to plant, water and prune your plants and you will be able to enjoy them with minimum effort.

Pruning Knockout Roses

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