Page 7 Fall Home & Garden | September 2024 Lincoln Daily News many hours per day. This should lead you to pay attention to which windows have the most sunlight and if it is direct sunlight and for how many hours per day. Another item to consider is the temperature during the day and night on your windowsill. Temperatures can vary dramatically depending on the amount of sun coming in, wind against that window and the temperature you keep in that particular room. Therefore, it is best to determine the best location of that houseplant or herb based on each one individually. Plants that you need to consider bringing indoors from your flower bed are: • Tropical and subtropical plants - These plants are not as hardy and cannot survive freezing temperatures and snow. Plan to bring these indoors, but make sure you check thoroughly for bugs before doing so. • Annual plants – You can bring annual plants in but put them into compost. Some annuals are as expensive as perennials, so to preserve from year to year, plan to move them inside. • Perennials - There are some perennials that are extremely cold sensitive such as Hibiscus, Impatient and Coleus. For these plants if your area frequently dips below 60-65 degrees, you should consider bringing them in for the winter. • Young Trees – Trees are expensive, and some are finicky especially during freezing temps. Plan ahead and talk to your greenhouse about the best way to keep your young tree healthy during the winter months and the best time and way to plant it back in the yard. Windowsill Garden If you are interested in herbs or smaller house plants, they are an excellent choice for your windowsill all year round. Herbs such as thyme, lemon thyme, sage, oregano, basil, chamomile, lavender, lemon balm, mint, parsley, and chives are all great starters. You can learn to use these fresh herbs in casseroles, meats and with vegetable dishes all year round while saving money. A wise tip for beginners is to start small. Pick 2-3 different plants so you can learn and grow as your plant does. Make sure you label each plant or herb and pay attention to the watering, sunlight, and soil that plant or herb best grows in. When starting out you will also want to choose plants or herbs that do not get too wide or tall to contain the growth. Make sure you set up a schedule to water (usually 2-3 times a week) and have adequate draining holes to avoid overwatering and the drowning of the herb roots, because the biggest reason for demise in plants and herbs is overwatering during the winter. You will need to snip your plants to encourage growth, not more than 1/3 of the plants foliage, but follow your specific plant instructions. If you cannot get ahold of any live plants, using WERTH & ASSOCIATES REALTORS Becky S. Werth Broker - GRI Bus: 217-735-3411 Cell: 217-737-8920 1203 Woodlawn Road, Lincoln, IL Continue --
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