By Kari Smith
(NC)-In a world filled with what seems like unlimited choices, gardeners are finding that some of the traditional varieties of plants, like old-fashioned roses, are disappearing. In an effort to bring back some of those varieties, many gardeners are creating heritage gardens to pass along plants from one generation to another.
If you want to recreate your grandmother's beautiful rose garden, start a heritage garden. Ask family members if they can recall the rose varieties, then go to your local nursery and see if they're available. If not, go online and visit some of the heirloom gardening sites.
Once you find the varieties you're looking for, plan out your garden before planting. A landscape fabric around your plants will protect against weeds without harsh chemicals. A natural product like Landmaster Biodegradable Mulch Paper offers the performance of traditional landscape fabric without harming the environment. It is made from 100 percent post-consumer waste and completely biodegradable. More information can be found online at www.easygardener.com or toll free at 800-327-9462.
Fragrances from a garden often evoke memories of gardens we once knew and the people who grew them. If you want to smell flowers instead of fertilizer, use new Jobe's Organics Fertilizer Spikes to keep your heritage garden flourishing. Push the spikes into the ground near plants and the naturally slow-release organic nutrients will ensure hearty plants and healthy soil without releasing pungent odours into the air.
Heritage gardens bring a part of the past into the present. Create a heritage garden this year and the next time you find yourself feeling "scentimental" about the past, you can visit the living scrapbook growing in your yard.