Free Gardening Tips

The Advantages of Using Organic Herbs and Vitamins

2007-08-15T09:05:00.004+02:00

With modern technologies we want to improve everything in our lives including food and vitamins. But in attempt of trying to make everything taste and look better, and produce better results, many herbs and vitamins have been severely modified from their original version. As a result, they provide us with chemicals, which bring more side effects that desired results.

What are Organic Herbs and Vitamins?

Organic herbs and vitamins are those being produced with no chemicals involved in the process of making them. Hence, they have no harmful side effects to worry about. Organic vitamins and herbs originate mostly from Asia with the main sources from countries such as China and India. People in these countries are still using age-old ingredients to prevent and cure diseases as well as boost the immune system and provide energy.

Organic vitamins and herbs may not provide the desired results very fast, but they don’t have any side effects – this is why more people adopt the organic way of life.

Where to Get Organic Herbs and Vitamins?

Organic stores that you can find both online and locally are the best place to get organic herbs and vitamins. When shopping online ensure you research the company first because there are many fraudulent companies on the internet who will sale fake organic products at cheaper prices than found in the market.

More Useful Info

Organic herbs and vitamins boost your own immune system from within and often take longer time to show results than traditional products. If you want to make a fair judgment about the product you are trying and see if it works or not, you should complete the entire treatment as indicated on the package or by your doctor.

Though organic herbs and vitamins don’t have any side effects, they still may interact with other medications you may be taking or a present health condition, so due you should always consult your doctor before you start taking them. If you have any adverse reactions from the organic herbs and vitamins stop them immediately and consult a doctor.

Organic herbs and vitamins can be your first step to a healthier lifestyle. However, organic herbs and vitamins alone are not enough – you should compliment them by consuming organic vegetables, food products and even beauty products that are now widely available. All this will help you get back to nature and reap the benefits.

For more information on Organic herbs and vitamins check out http://www.myorganicgardeningsecrets.com You'll find loads of tips and techniques plus you'll find answers to questions many others in your situation have asked before. But Hurry! For a limited time you can get your very own copy of our award winning Organic Gardening Software at absolutely no cost.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Wishley

Organic Hydroponic Gardening - Facts and Advantages

2007-08-15T09:05:00.003+02:00

Some organic gardeners consider hydroponic gardening non-organic since it doesn’t use soil. They believe that true organic gardening is impossible without rich, loamy soil. After all, organic gardening is based on good soil. However, organic hydroponic gardening does exist, and even has some advantages over conventional organic gardening.

Using Less Soil

Organic hydroponic gardening is based on the same principles as usual organic gardening, but it doesn’t use the soil. Organic hydroponic gardening relies on water to provide the nutrients needed for plant growth. Organic hydroponic gardening still requires a growing medium, something solid to put the plants’ roots into. The growing medium is not the source of nutrients, however; it is as sterile as a chemically fertilized monoculture wheat field. The growing medium is simply a structure to root the plants into and to hold the nutrient-filled water.

In organic hydroponic gardening the growing medium can be of any organic material. Vermiculite and perilte are often used. (Be careful when handling vermiculite, as it is a source of asbestos). Straw, cotton, plant fiber or any other organic material are all good choices, too.

Water is Essential

Organic hydroponic gardening relies on dissolving substances in water to provide nutrients for the plants. So, anything that goes into the water must be organic in order to comply with organic gardening rules. So-called compost tea is frequently used in organic hydroponic gardening. It is made by soaking compost in water and straining out the solid material. The water gets enriched with nutrients and then is used to feed the plants.

Manure tea is also used in hydroponic gardening. Manure tea can be a source of bacterial contamination of the produce, including contamination with lethal varieties of E. coli. Therefore, manure should be well-composted or sterilized before making manure tea. You make it the same way you make compost tea, i.e. by dissolving the manure in water and straining out the solid material.

Further organic choices include seaweed and fish emulsion. There are no special fertilizers because you continually circulate and refresh the nutrient mixture.

Special Uses

Organic hydroponic gardening has a special niche in the organic gardening landscape. Its biggest advantage is that it fits anywhere, and requires no soil to support the plants’ growth.

Organic hydroponic gardening is an excellent alternative allowing to grow crops in parts of the world where the soil has been over-farmed and is too depleted to grow food. Organic hydroponic gardening is used in outer space living and will almost certainly be part of any attempt to colonize the moon or another planet. Organic hydroponic gardening is being used for urban gardens on rooftops, allowing urbanites to grow healthy food in wasted space. This is because not every rooftop can support the weight of soil for traditional organic gardening.

As you see, hydroponic gardening can also be organic. Of course, it is different from traditional gardening, but it has a number of its own advantages. And last but not least, organic hydroponic gardening does let you grow healthy, sustainable, organic food.

For more information on Organic hydroponic gardening check out http://www.myorganicgardeningsecrets.com You'll find loads of tips and techniques plus you'll find answers to questions many others in your situation have asked before. But Hurry! For a limited time you can get your very own copy of our award winning Organic Gardening Software at absolutely no cost.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Wishley

The Benefits of Switching to Organic Plant Food

2007-08-15T09:05:00.001+02:00

Even though switching to organic gardening may seem to be a tough task for many gardeners who are used to sprays, fertilizers and chemical dusts, the results are rewarding and worth all the efforts. Probably, using organic plant food and fertilizers, and following a different process for organic gardening is new and unusual for you, but very soon you’ll be able to adjust and enjoy the thought you are saving lives as well as preserving the environment by doing so.

For those ones who just start gardening, consider practicing organic gardening from the beginning. Learn about the benefits organic plant food brings to your garden. If you are an expert gardener who have been using and following traditional methods for gardening take the time to consider all the advantages that organic plant food could bring for you and your garden.

Advantages of Using Organic Plant Food

In order to appreciate organic methods of gardening and using organic plant food, you have to understand the benefits of these fertilizers and plant foods. This information can surely break your routines of chemical gardening for good.

Organic plant food and fertilizers may seem less effective compared to chemical fertilizers. However, it is not so – they just work slower, but provide a more stable and steady release of essential nutrients to your plants. In addition, organic foods for plants supply plenty of micronutrients that are not found in chemically produced plant food. To keep your garden’s soil healthy switch to organic plant food that serves as an effective soil conditioner. It provides the soil with its needed organic compounds and increases the soil’s friability.

Fertilizers with chemical compounds usually cause an unwanted accumulation of inorganic salt. When this happens, it can greatly affect your soil’s condition and your plants’ development as well as decreasing the population of helpful microbial and soil insects. While there are still a few build-ups of insoluble salts when you use organic plant food, you can ensure less harm done to your soil compared to synthetic fertilizers.

Excessive amounts of chemical-based fertilizers can actually burn your plants. With organic fertilizers that are slowly released into the soil, you can accidentally add too much of the organic plant food, but it is far less dangerous and damaging to your soil and plants. In the same situation with chemical fertilizers your plants would be killed.

Practicing organic gardening has numerous benefits, and first of all, it ensures that your soil becomes healthy and your plants flourish beautifully and naturally. Using organic plant food is an important step towards organic gardening and, subsequently, towards tastier food and better health.

For more information on Organic Plant Food check out http://www.myorganicgardeningsecrets.com You'll find loads of tips and techniques plus you'll find answers to questions many others in your situation have asked before. But Hurry! For a limited time you can get your very own copy of our award winning Organic Gardening Software at absolutely no cost.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Wishley

All About the Bonsai Tree

2007-05-02T14:34:00.000+02:00

When people think of the bonsai tree, they usually think of China and Japan first. While these two countries are most famous for growing and training bonsai, the growing of miniature trees can be traced as far back as ancient Egypt. It's believed that the growing of miniature trees was pioneered by healers as a way to easily transport trees with healing powers for medicinal purposes. However, it soon evolved into an art form and pastime for the wealthy.

The bonsai is not a genetically modified plant or a hybrid tree. Many different trees found in nature can be made into bonsai, and master growers are always looking for new specimens. The bonsai tree is kept miniature by pruning its roots and keeping it in a small pot. The size of the tree is just one aspect of the bonsai. It's shape and style is the real way to tell the difference between a bonsai and just a small potted tree. The bonsai's trunk and branches are shaped sometimes over many years to get the perfect style.

Although you can find lots of different types of bonsai trees, the Juniper in windswept style is probably the most popular. This is where the tree looks like its blowing in the wind. The limbs spread out from the trunk in one direction as opposed to being symmetrical. You'll also see bonsai in the cascade style, where one branch flows down below the pot. Again, the trees don't grow that way by accident. It takes years of patient training and pruning, to achieve the shape.

Many connoisseurs of the bonsai aren't content with a single tree. You might see a group of bonsai trees growing in a single pot. This is called the forest style of display. But it doesn't stop there. Many growers take great pride in designing intricate miniature landscapes with their trees. It could be an indoor display or even a much larger outdoor display in a garden. However a bonsai is displayed, it requires a great deal of care to keep your tree healthy and properly groomed.

If you own a bonsai, you know how hard they are to care for. They need just the right amount of water. A little too much or too little could be fatal. Your best bet is to use a moisture meter when watering. You also need to repot your tree periodically. This is a great time to inspect and prune your trees root system. One thing that kills bonsai faster than anything else is getting root bound. You need to care for your tree above ground and below.

If you don't already have a bonsai tree, but want one, my best advice is to find a nursery specializing in bonsai. This can be hard to do, but take to the Internet, and look for one around your area. There you'll be able to talk to a bonsai master who can give you plenty of advice on caring for your tree. He can also help you select the tree that's right for you and the amount of time you have to devote to caring for it. Its good to develop a relationship with a bonsai master just like you would with a car mechanic if you want your tree to last for years to come.

Effective Ways To Really Solve Perennial Problems Of Algae

2007-04-23T15:09:00.003+02:00

A water garden pond is certainly something that can really improve your garden and make it more comfortable. The real problem however is how good you're at caring and maintaining the quality of the pond. If you are starting to have algae appearing in your pond, you should really take the time to learn about some of the effective ways to completely eliminate them.
One of the reasons why algae are growing in your pond is mostly because you're having too many nutrients dissolved in the water. There are two ways you can solve this problem. The first way, which is the easy way is to simply kill them all easily just by using a proprietary algicide which won't harm the plants and animals in it. The only disadvantages to using this method is that the materials left behind in the water will only provide ample nutrients for further algal growth. So instead of killing them, you're encouraging them to grow more.
The second which is the most effective ways but will require some time and efforts on your part. The tackle the root of the algae problem, here are some useful methods which you can use:
1. Use a rake or net to physically remove all yellowish-green filamentous algae. Repeat this process several times if there are many of them.
2. Make sure you don't overfeed the fish by giving more food that you should. This is because any food that sinks to the bottom will only place a heavy burden on the ecosystem.
3. Occasionally, you will need to reduce the water hardness. You can do this easily by adding rainwater or hang some sacks of peat in the pond for a short time.
4. Avoid the temptation to add fertiliser. You will also need make sure that nutrient-rich soil carried in by drainage from the surrounding land do not enter the pond.
5. To combat algae naturally, you can add some plants that are able to deprive them of light and nutrients. Waterlilies, hair grass, water violet, water soldier, willow moss and mare's tail are plants that can really help combat the problem of algae.

Upside Down - Perfect for Your Tomatoes

2007-04-23T15:09:00.001+02:00

You may have seen upside down tomato gardens and planters advertised, or you may have thought of building an upside down planter of your own. But what are the advantages of these upside down planters, and what are the options for buying or making one?
Upside Down Tomato Planter - Make or Buy
There are a couple of commercially available planters. Some are for just a single plant, while others handle several plants.
They are advertised heavily to be used for tomatoes, but they can also be used to grow smaller bush plants like peppers and maybe even eggplants. Many herbs will grow well in these planters.
There is a smaller type of planter (for example the Topsy Turvy planter) that your can find for under $20. It will usually hold one plant (you can sometimes put a second one on the top), and will need someplace to hang.
Another type is the larger self supporting units like the Upside Down Tomato Garden. This garden unit stands about 5 feet tall and is designed to hold several tomato plants, and herbs or flowers on the top. An ideal fit for an apartment balcony or patio, it will also serve well as a nice little garden space you can put close to your kitchen on a deck.
You should be aware that fully loaded with soil they can weigh quite a bit, so consider ahead of time just where you want to put it. The larger upside down tomato garden can hold 80 pounds of dirt, so you don't want to be moving it after it's loaded.
You can build an upside down planter yourself. A simple plastic bucket could be used for the planter with a hole in the bottom of a few inches in diameter. You can hang it from a hook on the house, or build a simple sawhorse bracket.
Pros of Using an Upside Down Tomato Planter
With the tomatoes hanging in the air they can ripen without rot. You have fewer problems with pests like snails and ants. Make sure to keep the planter soil moist, as all container grown plants tend to dry out fairly quickly in hot weather.
An upside down tomato garden is perfect for your apartment on a balcony or a patio, or put one on a patio or deck for those just looking to move part of the garden closer to the kitchen.

A Traipse Through the Tulips

2007-04-23T15:06:00.002+02:00

Flowering bulbs can change your garden from being merely a plot of dirt and rocks adorned with a few scraggly plants to being an absolute showplace, with splashes of brilliant color. Bulbs provide a good investment in terms of their longevity and hardiness. Your garden will benefit from the vast variety of bloom colors, length of flowering time, and the heights and shapes of flowering bulbs. Autumn is the ideal time to plant robust spring-flowering bulbs; most bulbs can be planted until the ground is frozen.
Most bulbs are perennials, going through a period of growth and flowering, dying back to the ground before going dormant at the end of each growing season. Late spring or early summer herald the end of the growing season for spring-flowering bulbs. However, these bulbs will begin to grow again in the fall and flower the next growing season.
Tulips and other spring-flowering bulbs, such as snowdrops, crocus, daffodils, and hyacinths require a stretch of cold weather during the winter in order to give their growth cycles a running start. This cooling process enables the bulbs to flower in early spring. They can be planted until the first frost.
Make careful plans on paper before planting your bulbs. If you sketch your plan on graph paper, it will help you to calculate the correct number of bulbs to purchase. Keeping a “roadmap” of your garden will help jar your memory in case, in the future, you want to mix in annuals or perennials where your bulbs have gone dormant. Tulips bloom anywhere, especially in full sun, from very early spring to late spring/early summer.
Your tulips may bloom in an explosion of color or you may choose to limit the color palette to just one or two. Colors give the viewer the perception of warmth or coolness; hues of blue and violet give the impression of coolness, while warm hues are tones of red, yellow, and orange. The human eye perceives warm colors as advancing while cool shades recede into the background. To create the illusion your yard is larger than it actually is, make a planting of cool-colored flowers in the rear of the yard, but if you want the illusion of a smaller and more intimate garden, plant warm-colored flowers in rear of the back plot. Remember, warm colors will create a dramatic effect, no matter where planted. Whatever color scheme you decide to use, plant each type of flower in groupings of at least three to twelve plants. A particular color, placed one here and another there and yet a third elsewhere, will diminish the effect you wish to create. Keep the color groups massed together for best effect.
When planting tulips or daffodils, use at least twelve bulbs of one variety in a grouping. The more bulbs of one variety, and color, the stronger the visual impact will be. However, when planting smaller spring bulbs, such as snow crocus, it will take a minimum of fifty bulbs or more to make a statement. Small bulbs need to be seen at close range to make the planting more effective, Mixing in early flowers such as pansies give visual contrast to a planting packed with just tulips.
If you prefer a more casual look to your garden, think about naturalizing your tulip bulbs. Naturalizing may take the guise of devil-may-care planting or, of a planting very carefully calculated to give the illusion that Mother Nature has decided to put down a bulb, or other flowering plant, in a random action, much like broadcasting wildflower seeds in a meadow. I guess this style of planting might be considered a variation of the Chaos Theory.
The process of naturalizing is that of man imitating nature with bulb plantings. Bulbs, when found in a natural state, do not grow in neat, meticulous rows; rather, they present themselves in irregular clumps dispersed throughout the landscape.
One advantage of naturalizing is that bulbs so planted need very little care. At the end of the tulip blooming cycle, either allow the foliage to die away on its on, allowing the plants sufficient time to revitalize their bulbs in anticipation of flowering during the next season or you can remove the dead foliage by hand. An important point to remember is that if you have naturalized bulbs in your lawn, the foliage must not be mowed over until it dies naturally or the bulbs themselves will sooner or later die out.
Autumn is the perfect time to plant hardy tulips. Tulips need plentiful water plus good drainage. The hard subsoil in the planting area needs to be broken up so that there is no standing water interfering with the healthiness of the tulips. After breaking up the subsoil, you will need to put in a layer of drainage material such as loose gravel, broken stone, or sifted cinders (some gardeners use barbecue briquettes smashed by a hammer) below the soil surface.
When planting spring bulbs, a general rule of thumb is to plant the bulb two to three times as deep as the bulb itself is tall; most large bulbs such as tulips should be planted approximately six inches deep while smaller surrounding bulbs will be three to four inches deep. Measure the depth of planting from the surface level of the soil to the shoulder of the bulb. To measure the distance between plants, mark off from the middle of one plant to the middle of the next.
There exist two basic methods of planting bulbs. One way is to dig individual holes for each bulb with a garden trowel or a specialized hole-cutting tool known as a bulb planter (or dibble). Dig a hole several inches deeper than the called-for planting depth; fill the hole to base level with plant food specifically designed for bulbs. After placing your bulb in the hole, cover it with loose soil. Using your hands, delicately form the soil around each plant to eliminate air pockets.
Now for the question that has plagued mankind...Which end of the tulip bulb is UP? Tulips have pointed ends that should be positioned upward. Some of the smaller bulbs, such as Poppy Anemones, can be planted in any direction. These small bulbs send out shoots which find their own way through the soil to the sun.
Once planted, tulip bulbs need serious watering. Not only does the water settle the soil in the planting bed, but also acts as a water well needed to provide moisture for rooting activity. It is vital for bulbs planted in the fall to root before cold weather sets in but avoid over-watering, the perfect setting for bulb rot.
Your tulips should get adequate hydration from average spring conditions. But, if you get a stretch of unusually hot and dry weather, a weekly deep soaking will make bigger and longer-lasting flowers. Water with a soaker hose so the blooms will not get overly wet.
Aesthetically, tulip foliage remains long after the bloom is dead. As unattractive as it is, do not mow off the foliage until it becomes yellow and dies back naturally, a process that can take several weeks. The plant needs the green leaves for photosynthesis, or the manufacture of food which is stored in the bulb for the next growing cycle. If the foliage is removed too soon, the plant will no longer be able to create the nutrient reserves necessary for future growth.
The botanical name for the tulip is believed to have been derived from the Persian (Iranian) word toliban or turban; the inverted flower was said to resemble such head wear. Tulips are members of the Lily Family and grow wild in the vast region from Asia Minor through Siberia to China. Tulips are a good bulb for the beginning gardener, as they are extremely easy to grow. Tulips are happiest in the full sun and should be planted around 6” deep. Within a few short months, tulips will bejewel your garden in a dazzling array of color.

Landscape Ideas and Design - Success Requires Planning and Action

2007-04-23T15:06:00.001+02:00

Watching the news it won’t take long until you’ll hear talk of the “Green” movement. This focus on all things green is not new; back in the 1970’s we experienced a craze where everyone wanted green plant indoors. This eye toward green zeros in on protecting our planet and it natural resources.
All this talk makes people not only look at what they consume but also pushes landscaping right to the forefront. Our microwave culture and I want it now attitude slowly begins to peel away and people begin to look at a relaxed, healthy and more laid back informal lifestyle.
This a lifestyle shift, spurred on with ever increasing gas prices, make homeowners step back and look at expanding the walls of their homes and bring the outdoors inside. The patio, pool and deck areas incorporate more green by using landscaping, decorative containers, flowers and even cared for lawns.
To make your home comfortable, usable and beautiful as possible requires some planning. Any landscape idea when properly planned and executed will blend the look of the home right into the landscape. Harmony outside creates a comfort inside and together can increase the property value.
To create your landscape plan, which fits your needs and lifestyle, take a walk around your neighborhood with a watchful eye and a digital camera to grab landscape ideas and designs for others. Some probably hired a landscape designer or architect to achieve their look. You can get that idea with a simple click.
When doing your planning don’t forget three items some often skip over. The reason they pass over these is because they can be big budget busters, but they are essentials nonetheless. The three items are large trees, a healthy lawn and walkways made of brick or pavers. During the design phase a barbeque or deck can easily overshadow the need to spend money on brick you walk on.
Consider following the lead of one successful landscape design friend of mine. He divides the landscape project for a home into three distinct sections each serving a specific function. The front yard is part of the landscape anyone driving by can admire. This he calls the public area. Most of the design in this area needs to look attractive and require minimal care.
The next section he refers to as the service or traffic area. The section is where traffic enters and leaves the property and includes the driveways, garage area and possible access to the backyard.
The final section is usually the largest and receives the most detail and focus which he calls the private area. This area and the design encompass all of your lifestyle. This area may include a pool, decks patio seating and a barbecue for cooking and entertaining outdoors, a play area for the kids, water features or even a rose garden. It’s whatever meets your lifestyle desire!
Create a “well dressed” home with a landscape will take time and a constant evolution. Watching a garden and trees mature from your plan can be very gratifying. Know the kids can play in a safe planned environment reduced stress, and a landscape that embraces your daily life has the green movement written all over it. Don’t want to catch the green movement train get started with your landscape plan today.

The Rubber Tired Backhoe Loader

2007-04-23T15:02:00.000+02:00

Also referred to as simply a backhoe, the backhoe loader is a construction and excavation machine that consists of a tractor, front shovel and bucket and a small backhoe on the rear end. Due to the small size and versatility, backhoe loaders are common on small construction projects and are used for most small excavation type work. The rubber tires allow the backhoe to drive on grass and fragile ground coverings without causing too much damage.
The first backhoe loader was originally invented over 150 years ago in Burlington Iowa. The backhoe loader is the most common variation of the classic farm tractor. As the name implies, it has a loader bucket assembly on the front and a backhoe attachment on the back.
Anytime the loader bucket and backhoe are attached to the machine it is no longer referred to as a tractor, as it is not normally used for towing and doesn't normally have a PTO or a power take-off unit. When the backhoe is permanently attached, the machine has a seat that can swivel to the rear to face the backhoe controls. Many types of removable backhoe attachments will sometimes have a separate seat on the attachment itself.
Backhoe loaders are common and can be used for many tasks, which include construction, light transportation of materials, powering building equipment, digging holes, excavating, breaking asphalt, and even paving roads.
The front assembly on a backhoe may be either removable or permanently attached. You can often replace the backhoe bucket with other tools such as a breaker for breaking or smashing concrete and rock, a post hole auger or even a fence post driver. In order to mount different attachments to the loader, it must be equipped with a tool coupler. The coupler consists of two hydraulic cylinders on the end of the arm assembly, which can expand and retract to allow different tools to be attached to the unit. There are also some loader buckets that offer a retractable bottom also known as a clam bucket that opens and closes, which enables the bucket to empty the load more quickly and efficiently. The retractable bottom loader buckets are often times used for grading and smoothing off sand.
There are several types of backhoe loader brands, including New Holland, John Deere, Case and Caterpillar. Some will offer you cabs that will keep the operator warm, cool and or dry, while others won't. The newer types of backhoe loaders even offer you air conditioning, radios, and other accessories that make you feel like you are working in a luxury automobile.
Common with excavating jobs, the backhoe is very versatile and can serve many different purposes. It can even haul or raise equipment and supplies in the loader bucket. Another great use is to cover up dirt when filling in trench lines or covering up pipe that was just put in the ground. The backhoe attachment at the rear is ideal for digging trenches for water pipes and sewer pipes.
The best thing about the backhoe loader is the fact that it is very easy to operate. You don't need to be a rocket scientist to fully operate this nifty piece of equipment.

4 Gardening Lessons Revealed: Planting Methods, Tools, Crop Rotation & Clothing

2007-02-26T11:07:00.000+01:00

1. Planting Methods: There are several methods for planting. Picking any of these methods depends on the vegetable, the size of your garden, and your fondness. Three methods of planting, namely, single rows, wide rows, and hills are clarified as follows:

A) Single Rows: In this method, seeds are sown in rows or lines that are spaced equal distances apart. The distances between the rows and between the seeds within the rows differ from vegetable to vegetable. If you want the rows to be straight, which gives a pleasant appearance to your garden, stretch a string between two stakes and sow the seeds along it. If you think this is too much work, use a stick to mark a line on the ground and try to make the line as straight as possible. With some training, you will get it straight.

B) Wide Rows: In wide row planting, seeds are sprinkled at equal spacing in both directions over a wide area. The width of the row varies from 6 to 16 inches. The row's width is limited by your arm's reach to the area in the middle of the row while standing at the edges. We find that wide rows are convenient and productive for peas and beans. In addition to giving high yield per unit area, they cut down on weeds. Wide rows are also good for starting leaf vegetables like lettuce and spinach. When the seedlings emerge, they can be thinned and transplanted elsewhere. Double rows are a special form of wide rows.

C) Hills: In hill planting, 3 to 5 seeds are sown close to each other. They need not be sown on a formed hill, as the name implies. This method is used for example when planting zucchini and cucumbers.

2. Gardening Tools: There are many gardening tools available on the market today. The basic tools you'll need are a shovel, trowel, steel rake, tomato cages, and a water hose or can. The shovel is used to till the soil, mix potting soil, move soil around, and cut the weeds if they grow big. Some gardeners use a fork instead of a shovel to till the soil, but we don't.

The choice is yours. The trowel is used for cultivating the weeds, transplanting the seedlings, mixing soil or fertilizers, and filling containers with soil. The steel rake is used to grade the soil and to compact the soil over the seeds. Tomato cages are indispensable for supporting tomato plants. You can also use them to support running plants such as cucumbers and peas. Without them the plants will collapse on the ground and their fruit will get into contact with the soil and eventually decay. A hose or a can is used to water the plants in the garden and within containers.

3. Crop Rotation: Crop rotation is the practice of planting each vegetable in a different location each year. The advantages of crop rotation are:

A) The chances of transmitting diseases and insects to next year's crop are very much reduced. Certain diseases and insects attack certain vegetables. These diseases and insects move from the plants to the soil, where they winter. If the same vegetable is planted in the same spot the following year, the diseases and insects will surface from the soil and attack the new plants once again.

B) Each vegetable absorbs trace amounts of specific minerals from the soil. If the same vegetable is planted in the same spot year after year, the minerals the vegetable needs to grow healthy plants will be depleted, resulting in a meagre harvest.

C) The roots of legumes (peas and beans) have bacteria that soak up nitrogen from the air and fix it on the roots of the plants and in the soil. To take advantage of the nitrogen they fix in the soil, the legumes should be followed by a leafy vegetable, such as lettuce and or spinach, which both need nitrogen-rich soil. This is one of the techniques organic growers use to grow vegetables without the use of chemical fertilizers. It may be impractical to rotate every crop each year if your garden is small.

This difficulty can be overcome by taking the following measures:

(1) choose disease-resistant vegetable varieties, (2) keep your garden clean of rubbish, and (3) watch for insects and diseases. If a plant becomes teeming with insects, pick them by hand; if a plant is infected by a disease, pull it from the ground and dispose of it.

4. Proper Gardening Clothing: In the course of gardening, your footwear and clothes are likely to be soiled. You walk on dirt and or mud, your clothes make contact with plant leaves and stems, and your hands are soiled. You are also exposed to the sun. Your shoes accumulate mud and will soil the floor if you walk directly into the house. Therefore, you should have a pair of aged shoes set aside for gardening. Put them on before going into the garden and take them off before entering the house. Leave them in the garage or put them in a bag until you use them again.

Also, have special clothes for the garden. If you don't, your ordinary clothes will be soiled no matter how careful you are. To protect your hands and fingernails from collecting dirt, use a good pair of garden gloves. Some are washable and can be reused again and again...

Please feel free to forward a copy of the "Gardening Online Newsletter" to any of your friends and associates.

Happy Gardening,

Drought Tolerant Trees

2007-02-26T11:04:00.000+01:00

Beautiful Southwestern Shade and Ornamental Trees. Looking for low water type trees? Check out descriptions below. Many are evergreen and some have fantastic blooms and color.

The Afghan Evergreen Pine Tree - Scientific Name: Pinus eldarica It loves full sun but can tolerate some shade. This is a fast growing evergreen tree and can used as border landscaping. It Can grow up to 80ft. tall and 30ft. wide. This is a very drought resistant evergreen pine tree. Trim bottom branches for quicker shade. They do drop numerous pine needles and cones so there will be maintenance involved. This is also called a Mondell Pine and Desert Pine. Can be planted in USDA zones 8-10

Desert Willow tree - Scientific Name: Chilopsis linearis Sun: Loves Full Sun - USDA Zone 8 - 9. The Desert willow grows to about 25ft tall. If you are looking to attract hummingbirds then this is the tree to get. Beautiful light purple blooms very hardy shrub or tree. Very drought tolerant once established. They drop some pods during fall time. Great stand alone or border tree, deciduous in the southwest USA.

Mesquite Tree/Shrub - Scientific Name: Prosopis juliflora Full Sun - USDA - Zone: 7 - 10. Mesquite trees have green foliage and are deciduous. Large sweet edible pods on branches. Very drought tolerant tree. Grows about 15-20ft tall and wide. Has large thorns can be easily trained as a tree. They will grow much taller in a tree form. Or leave alone to use as a border shrub.

Mimosa or Silk Tree - Scientific Name: Albizia julibrissin. Loves Full Sun - USDA - Zones: 6b thru 9. The Mimosa can withstand droughts. They have beautiful pink spike blooms at top. Can grow up to 30ft. tall and sometimes wider. Excellent shade tree. Very little maintenance other than fall foliage.

Vitex Tree or Chaste Tree Scientific Name: Agnus-castus. Full Sun - USDA Zones 6-10. The Vitex tree or shrub. Also called the chaste tree. Can grow to about 40-25ft. tall and wide. Very low water once established. Beautiful spiky dark blue blooms late spring early summer. Very narly looking tree during winter.

Live Oak Tree - Scientific Name: Quercus virginiana. Full Sun - USDA Zones: 8-10 Southern Live Oak - Can grow up to 70-80ft. Live oak is a long-lived, massive, evergreen shade tree. Its horizontal branches form a broad rounded canopy. This tree loves full sun and is a slow grower. Moderate water once established. You can form this tree into almost any shape.

Ocotillo Tree - Scientific Name: Fouqueiria splendens. Full Sun - USDA zone 8 & 7a - 7b The Ocotillo is more of a shrub no real shade but has beautiful bright orange spring blooms. Large vicious type thorns used for border plant. Green foilage in summer and grey in winter about 8-10ft tall. Once established can survive with desert rain only.

Southwestern Trees - photos of these and other trees.

Southwestern Chitalpa Tree - Scientific Name: Chiltalpa tashkinensis Full Sun - USDA zones 7-8 (roots are hardy to zone 6) This tree grows to about 25 - 30ft. tall and wide. Beautiful pink all summer long blooms. Fast grower and very drought resistant. Chinese Pistache Tree- Scientific Name: Pistacia chinensis Loves Full Sun - USDA Zones: 4-10 This Southwestern tree is a desirable ornamental with attractive, umbrella-like crown. Lustrous green leaves turn a brilliant orange crimson color in fall. Very drought tolerant, deciduous and extremely handsome tree. About 30-40 ft. tall and wide. Does well in the desert heat.

Magnolia Trees - Scientific Name: Quercus virginiana. Full Sun/Shade - USDA zone 8b - 10 Grows up to 60ft tall and about 40-50ft wide. Beautiful evergreen tree that will shed leaves in spring. Slow grower, not really drought resistant but has large white fragrant blooms during early summer. Does better with shade. There are numerous varieties/species. They will do quite well in the Southwestern heat but will need additional watering.

Landscaping For Small Space

2006-11-04T21:58:00.001+01:00

Having a small yard area does not prevent you from having a beautiful space that you will enjoy. It does, however, require planning and a bit more ingenuity than the average garden. There are a number of options for small spaces that will help you use the size and shape as an advantage. The trick is to work with the space that you have.

The first consideration in landscaping a small space is the shape and size. Many small yard areas are made up of straight lines that highlight the negative features of the space. Consider using curving lines that will give a sense of flow and movement to the space. You can integrate curves into your garden by creating a brick or gravel walkway that curves through the space. You can also incorporate curving lines when you form your garden beds.

Another way of making the most of a small space in the planning stages is to consider that you are dividing the space into different compartments. By creating raised beds on different levels, you can give a feeling of depth and space in a previously cramped area.

It is a good idea at this point to start mapping out your space using grid paper. Be sure to include features like trees and make space for patio furniture if you will be using it. As you work through your planning, add to your map. This simple step can save you from making costly mistakes.

Once you have a general idea of what your space is going to be laid out like, you can start thinking about what is going to go into it. For a small space, having a theme is very important. Especially if you are using raised beds, you can have more than one theme; just make sure to consider how they will relate to one another. For smaller spaces, tabletop fountains are a good choice: http://www.garden-fountains.com/Categories.bok?category=Tabletop+Fountains

In selecting a theme, consider if you are looking for a romantic classic garden or a more modern outdoor space. There are a number of possibilities. You may want to focus on a specific element, and use the rest of the space to highlight that. Oftentimes, a feature can help you determine what your entire space will look like. For example, investigate a wood barrel fountain like those seen in crafty cottages where theme is called for.

The plants you will use need to be carefully selected so that they will grow properly with limited room and be suited the light exposure and drainage of your space. Also, remember that the larger your elements, the smaller your space will appear. Limit yourself to one small tree to provide shade, or go without a tree entirely. If you do have a tree, make sure it not one that drops a lot of twigs or seeds. Otherwise, you could find yourself saddled with daily yard cleaning.

A good technique to use in a limited space is to choose plants that will look good year round and provide interesting groundcover. Avoid any plants that tend to "take over". In a small space, these can end up becoming the entire garden.

There are a number of tricks that professional landscapers use to create the illusion of more room. These are not difficult to emulate. You don't need to use all of these ideas, either. One or two tricks of illusion will dramatically affect the appearance of your small space.

Remember to utilize walls and fences with climbing vines and trellises. These are especially effective in a corner where they can soften hard right angles. Any element that works with the walls or fence around your space is a great way to make the space appear larger than it is. Mirrors are often used indoors to create an illusion of space and mirrors can be used outdoors as well.

Container plants can be a beautiful addition to your small space. The planters act as a unique decorative element and whatever you grow in them will appear different than it would if planted in the soil. Planters come in a wide range of styles that can suit any garden theme. Have a look at garden planters ranging from classical motifs to simple and modern art.

In addition to plant life, your small space can be enhanced with a water feature. Pools and running water of any kind will give a feeling of depth. Running water will bring movement and energy into the garden, in addition to its peaceful relaxing sound. If space is running tight, have a look at some of the wall fountains. These require only a minimum of space, but will give you all of the benefits of a free-standing fountain.

A small space can be more difficult to design than a large one. However, with a bit of creativity and time, you can transform a cramped yard into an outdoor retreat.

Bamboo Plants - Big Is Not Always Beautfiful!

2006-11-04T21:57:00.000+01:00

Big is NOT always Best. Do not be fooled by the tremendous foliage and mass of leaves, this is not the real story! GET to the ROOTS, Take a look at your Bamboo plant or any plant for that matter and LET the roots show the true health of your plant.

Purchasing Your Bamboo

It is important to purchase a young seedling or bamboo plant that is say 12 months old EVERY TIME. When purchasing a bamboo for your garden it is important not to become carried away with buying the biggest and best bamboo that you can find. This can be difficult however especially as the bamboo plant is ideal for screening and fencing large areas within your garden. It is necessary then to detach yourself from emmotion then to pay attention to the bamboo plant and how it has been cultivated.

BUYING A YOUNG BAMBOO - Bamboo plants need time to allow for growth and maturity, this is because of their complex rhizome and root structures, if the plant is rushed or potted on too early and not allowed to grow at its own pace then it may be of poor quality, it may well be prone to disease and ultimately die.

LARGE IS NOT ALWAYS BEST - It is easy to become carried away with how large your bamboo plant is but the most important part of the bamboo is not the amount of leaf foliage above the pot or the number of culms (remember quality not quantity), it is what is within the pot, that is the Bamboo's rhizomes and roots.

GREEN LEAVES ARE GOOD - A healthy bamboo will have healthy moist leaves and fresh culms which show new growth at its nodes. The culms should be undamaged and free from disease. Bamboo with pale or yellow leaves or a high percentage of old, woody culms should be avoided as this plant will probably have been split from an older bamboo through division.

LOOK AT THE RHIZOMES and the ROOTS - The pot must be in similar poportion to the amount of leaf foliage above the pot. Take a look at the roots within the pots as these should show a healthy white root and rhizome structure. If there are a large amount of white new roots, then there will be a good strong bamboo that will emerge, at this stage you will also be able to identify whether the bamboo plant has been container grown or containerized.

Take a look around the top of the bamboo container as there should also be visible signs of fresh new growth at the edge or around the top of the bamboo pot, which again indicates a good strong plant

CONTAINER or CONTAINERISED? There are various methods of growing bamboo for your garden, this can be from bamboo seed (which is hard to come by given the long flowering periods of bamboo), vegetative, division , tissue culture, however which ever method is used each has their own advantages and disadvantages.

Bamboos grown and potted on in containers is a bamboo plant that has been allowed to grow at its own pace and mature throughout its life, it is a bamboo that will have been potted on when it was ready for the next stage in its growing cycle. This will provide a healthy balanced bamboo plant, that when positioned in the garden will be healthy and able to adapt to the change in conditions easier than a containerised bamboo.

Let us then take a look at a containerised bamboo plant, this is one which has been split from a large stock plant through the splitting of the root and rhizome structure. If great care is not taken the rhizome and root system can be severed when the division took place, so whilst the bamboo may have fantastic foliage and be of a good size, checks must be taken as previously discussed.

Look at the culms/ canes - is there a mixture of young and old, with visible signs of new leaf growth? Leaves - these should be healthy, moist and green in colour Roots and Rhizomes - do these look white and healthy and have new growth, are they intact Pests and Diseases- look for visible signs of damage and establish if chemicals have been used when treating these (chemicals can damage the immune system) Gain as much information from the supplier as possible.

Again DON'T BE FOOLED with what is above the pot, Look To The ROOTS!

Greenhouse Overview

2006-10-28T23:50:00.002+02:00

Anyone can grow plants, but to grow plants well takes a combination of knowledge, skill and the right location. A greenhouse creates the perfect atmosphere for plants to flourish; so many people are building greenhouses on their properties, and stocking them with the right greenhouse supplies.

Many factors are required to create a productive greenhouse. The greenhouse supplies will determine these factors. In other words, to have a really successful greenhouse, it is important to have the proper accessories and supplies to maintain it. Read on to learn which greenhouse supplies are vital to creating a nourishing environment for your plants:

A greenhouse serves as a nourishing home for young and tender plants, particularly those grown out of their normal season. Greenhouses are designed to create a proper environment for the plant to grow and be successfully cultivated. All kinds of plants will grow well in a greenhouse. Cacti, citrus trees and orchids do especially well in the greenhouse environment. Greenhouses are also ideal venues for scientists to conduct plant research.

A typical greenhouse is constructed with walls and a sloping roof, all built from glass or plastic panes. This structure provides the light, temperature and moisture needed for plants to grow in balanced conditions. Ideally, natural sunlight sufficiently supplies the requirements of plants, especially in temperate regions. When winter comes, however, it is necessary to provide added light and heat sources to encourage growth in your plants. The heat source generally is created by a steam or hot-air circulating system.

During the summer, the greenhouse panes are covered to reduce the intensity of the light. The structure of the greenhouse allows heat to be easily reduced. Whitewashing the panes and opening the ventilators are two ways to reduce greenhouse heat.

Most plants grow well with a certain amount of humidity in the air, which is maintained by the water supplied in the soils. The floors are sprayed with water to create more humidity when required. Orchids and other potted plants are set on racks with moistened residues.

Installing the right type of flooring is beneficial to the greenhouse owner in a number of ways. Flooring can offer an aesthetic quality to enhance the ambience and polish the image of the greenhouse. To be functional, and safe on watering days, the flooring should be made of non-skid material. Choose flooring that is easy to clean, and make sure the material will endure the high moisture in the greenhouse atmosphere.

Keep these essential elements in mind when planning your backyard greenhouse. It can mean the difference between simply growing plants, and helping your plants to flourish to be their most beautiful best.

A Wonderful Season For Bugs

2006-10-28T23:50:00.001+02:00

Fall is a wonderful season with the beautiful foliage, clear skies, and cooler temperatures. It's a great time to be outdoors. While, you might be looking for outdoor activities this time of year, bugs are looking for the indoors. During the fall months, insects begin looking for warmer places to spend the night and where they can spend the winter. The place they find may be your home.

Ladybugs, spiders, crickets, roaches, box elder bugs, millipedes, and many more insects begin their search in the fall for a warm place to make their home. Before you are overrun with these tiny little creatures, you might want to try some prevention techniques.

Home maintenance professionals recommend a maintenance plan for your home to help you save energy during the cold months of winter. But, many of the same techniques the maintenance professionals recommend also help in keeping out insects, mice, birds, and bats.

Many insects enter your home by crawling or flying in through cracks in the doors. If you use a screen door during the cooler, fall months, make sure the door fits well and that you don't have holes in the screen. A door, screen or solid, that has cracks along the sides, bottom, or at the top, not only will let air in, but it also lets in tiny insects. Check along the edges of your doors to make sure the weather stripping is in good shape. If it is old and doesn't seal your door any longer replace it with new weather stripping. You can buy weather stripping at nearly any hardware or home maintenance store.

Did you know that mice can squeeze into an area the size of a dime? They can, and with that in mind, you should take a close look around the outside of your house. Keep a dime in your pocket so you will remember just how small the holes can be. Often, you will find holes around outside water facets, next to windows, doors, and where electrical and cable enters your home. You should seal these areas with foam insulation, caulking, wood putty, or a small patch of concrete, depending on where the holes are found. Check the areas around the foundation of your home especially, because at the foundation is where weather could have caused some damage over the past year or so, and it is a good place for pests to enter. When sealing the holes, keep in mind that you may not be keeping out just a mouse. You may be keeping out carpenter ants, beetles, spiders, and a whole list of other insects, so you probably want to seal these areas even if they are smaller than a dime.

Check around your windows for cracks in the caulking and where the window fits into the frame. If the caulking is old and weathered and it is no longer keeping the air from coming into the home, you should scrape out the old caulk and put in a fresh new coat. Any number of insects can scale your home, even to the second story, to get in through a crack in the window.

Check the gable vents in your home. Bats, birds, and flying insects love warm attics during the fall and winter months. The air vent screens should be of a small mesh and should not have any holes. Remember, the mouse and the dime here too. Mice are known to scale walls, and they could enter your attic very easily if the screen is old and worn enough that they can chew through.

Fall is a wonderful season, and it's a great time to prepare for the winter months ahead. If you do a little home maintenance this fall, be sure to keep in mind that not only do you want to keep the cold air out, but you also want to keep pests from moving in as well.

For information on how to get rid of these insects, visit www.pestproductsonline.com.

Dennise Brogdon is the managing editor of the Hughston Health Alert, a quarterly, patient-information newsletter, and she is an editorial assistant for the National Athletic Trainers' Association's scientific journal, the Journal of Athletic Training. Dennise is a Web site copywriter and editor. She has experience writing and editing SEO copy and META tags, brochures, advertorials, video scripts, and other technical and promotional material, as well. Dennise earned a BA in English with professional writing as an emphasis at Columbus State University. She is a member of the American Medical Writers Association and the Georgia Writers Association.

Ten use for a tree

2006-10-28T23:49:00.001+02:00

Many ways can be used to accentuate the beauty of your house, and make your backyard more attractive. In your yard design, having a nice patio, a pool or even toys for the kids is great. But having a tree is often overlooked. We will develop ten uses for a tree in your backyard.

Create a shade spot in your backyard Create a wind barrier on your property Use tree as an edge fence Hang your self an hamac under your shade spot Have fresh fruit at reach in your backyard Create a scent with a fragrant fruit tree Use a small tree as bonsai and patio tree Add colors to an existing flower arrangement Have a tree house or a swing rope for the kids Hang a bird feeder and attract beautiful bird species

As you see, this is a small list of utilities for a tree in your backyard. Other then those, planting a tree helps the environment by cleaning the air. It will also embelishing your neighborhood and give the surrounding properties, including your home, an increase in value.

There are many ways of acquiring a tree. You can sow a seed, either collected yourself or bougth. Many online website specialize in seeds, especially tree seeds. You could also buy a juvenile tree from a garden center or take a cutting of a tree you like, given it is an appropriate time of the year. You can always hope a neighbors tree will drop a seed in fall and next spring a tree will arise like magic.

Enhance the Look of Your Yard with Wrought Iron

2006-10-13T18:14:00.003+02:00

Are you looking for a way to draw interest to the outside of your home? Are you ready to make your home the one that everyone notices in your neighborhood? If your answer is yes to these questions, consider investing in outdoor wrought iron décor.

Using wrought iron outdoors is a timeless way to give your home character. Wrought iron is not going out of style anytime soon. It has been used as home décor since the 16th century and continues to be popular today.

There are a variety of wrought iron items available for outdoor use. These items include fences, gates, and stair railings; arbors, plant stands, and other garden accents; and patio furniture.

Fencing, gates, and stair railings made from wrought iron give your home a majestic, almost castle-like feel. When wrought iron is used to enclose your yard, it makes the statement that what it is holding is important. Wrought iron gates can even be used if you do not have wrought iron fencing as long as it compliments your existing fencing. A wrought iron gate or stair railing immediately gives a distinct character to your home's entrance.

You can give your garden the look of an elegant Victorian Garden with the help of wrought iron. Use a wrought iron arbor at the entrance of your garden as a focal point and a place to grow a beautiful vine plant. Or place a wrought iron gazebo or garden bench in the middle of your garden to give you a nice area to sit outdoors. Other garden décor items are available as well, including trellises and plant stands.

Patio furniture that is made of wrought iron is a great choice to accent your home's outdoor living area. Not only does wrought iron patio furniture look great, but also it is very durable. Wrought iron patio furniture comes in many different sizes, so there should be a set that is perfect for your outdoor area whether it is large or small.

Organic gardening or Chemical - or both?

2006-10-13T18:14:00.001+02:00

Today we will discuss a fundamental question in gardening. Previously I was posed this question: "I hear that chemicals are poisoning our waterways, and that organic growing is much healthier than using chemicals. What's the truth, and how do I grow a healthy, productive garden without hurting the environment?"

This important question deserves an accurate answer. Therefore let's learn about plant nutrition. First , plants receive nutrition only as water-soluble mineral compounds through their roots. When we put plants, compost or manure into the soil, the organic material must first decompose, and the nutrient compounds must revert to water-soluble minerals before the next generation of plants can use them. This takes time, and sometimes as much as half of the nutrients are lost in the decomposition process. Nitrogen is particularly susceptible to loss because it is volatile and returns to the air very easily.

Second, there is no real difference between organic, and mineral or chemical nutrients. Everything in this world is a chemical! To the chemist the elements in the soil are called chemicals, to a geologist they are called minerals, and to an organic enthusiast they are called organics, but they are the same substances. To quote J. I. Rodale, from Organic Gardening magazine, "we organic gardeners have let our enthusiasm run away with us. We have said that the nitrogen which is in organic matter is different (and thus somehow better) from nitrogen in a commercial fertilizer. But this is not so." And "actually there is no difference between the nitrogen in a chemical fertilizer and the nitrogen in a leaf."

Third, there is no difference between soil and rocks except for the size of the particles, and 12 of the 13 mineral nutrients plants require are essentially ground-up rocks! They are natural, and there's really nothing "synthetic" about them.

So you see, there is no difference between "organic nitrogen" and mineral or chemical nitrogen, except two primary things. 1) the nitrogen that is part of an organic substance must decompose and revert to the water-soluble mineral state before being available to plants, and 2) mineral-source nitrogen is much higher in nutritional content, so much less is required to feed your plants.

As further evidence that mineral nutrients are not bad per se, I've researched which fertilizers meet the requirements for qualification as a Certified Organic garden, and 12 of the 13 nutrients we use in a Mittleider garden are approved. And the 13th - nitrogen - is the one that's most often used by organic gardeners, both in the garden and to aid in composting! Go figure.

This being the case, what should you do to assure you have the best garden and the healthiest plants possible? Give your plants accurate dosages of the best combination of nutrition you possibly can. The Mittleider natural mineral nutrient formulas are available at www.foodforeveryone.org/learn. You can mix your own "from scratch", or get the micro-nutrients from the Foundation website in the Store section. And never over-use any kind of fertilizer. Both manure and mineral compounds will harm our water supply if allowed to leach into the water table.

Meanwhile, remember that 99% of us depend on 1% to feed us, and commercial growers feed their crops! They use formulas like ours and call them "The preferred horticultural mix." Just check out Scott's Peter's Professional Pete Lite as an example.

This is not to say that organic materials don't have a place in the garden. You can improve soil texture and tilth by adding materials that have desirable characteristics, and even add some nutrient value. However, improving the soil in that way is not necessary to having a good garden, and people often introduce weeds, rodents, bugs, and diseases into their gardens, or provide a haven for them with their organic mulching practices. It is for this reason that we do not emphasize or encourage composting and manure.

Mittleider gardens qualify as "organic" because we don't use pesticides or herbicides. However, I suggest they are even better than organic, because the plants receive just what they need, they grow fast, and we almost never have insect or disease problems because there are no weeds to provide a home, and the plants aren't in the ground long enough for the pests to get established

About Plant Damping And Preventing It

2006-10-13T18:13:00.001+02:00

Seed propagation can reveal itself to be difficult if optimal conditions are not present. One common problem is the damping of the seedling. It is often called as root rot. How do you know if your seedling are affected ? Well it’s pretty tricky. Almost 100% of the time you realize too late that your seedlings are affected.

Seeds will die in soil without germinating or seedlings will die overnight, they will be rotten at the base/soil line and the rest of the seedling will be laying against the soil. The damping off disease is caused by a fungi. Fungi being the scientific name for mushroom.

At least four different fungal elements are known to cause the suddent death. It could be initaially present in the soil used to sow the seeds, or be in the seeds itself. Seedlings can be affected in their first 4 weeks of living. Bad conditions are known to trigger this fungi activity.

First, overwatering will cause the shrooms to develop themselves and accelerate the rot of the seedling stem. Unsterile soil or dirty growing containers will cause damping.

The best way to prevent damping of your seeds/seedlings is to adopt a clean method of propagation. First, ensure that you use clean container ans sterile soil. You can also prevent damping by keeping your pot or seed tray clean. Preparing seeds correctly for germination is solving half the problem from the start.

Not overwatering is another method to prevent fungal disease. First, before each watering, you can check the soil to make sure it is dry enough. Letting the soil be on the dry side, but still moist between each watering is the best method to prevent damping.

Planting seeds too deep will also encourage productions of fungi or the activtion of the inner fungi elements. Seeds need to feel the heat of the light/sun.

Lastly, having good air circulation will help prevent damping, as it will help the seedling breath and the soil to dry out.

To be on the safe side, you can used different chemical products, such as damping-off, but the best way is to give your seeds/seedlings the best natural treatment.

Fall Lawn and Garden Preparation

2006-10-13T18:12:00.000+02:00

Today we'll talk about preparing your lawn, trees, shrubs, and garden for winter, and how best to improve your soil during this time of year.

Much of this Country seems to be clay soil, so first let's find out how to improve problem clay soils. These procedures also apply to other types of soil, but may not be so important if you have loamy or sandy soil.

I don't often dwell on amending your soil, because it is not essential for growing a good garden if you feed and water properly. However, it can be a good idea, so long as you use clean, weed, seed, bug, and disease-free materials.

Weed-free grass clippings are good soil amendments when they're available, as are pine needles. And this time of the year you can also use your leaves. Mulch pine needles and leaves as fine as possible with a chipper/shredder or mulching mower, and then turn 3 or 4 inches of them into your soil-beds. Just don't use walnut leaves, as the sap is very hard on some of your vegetables, especially tomatoes. This procedure will improve your soil tilth, and doing it in the fall gives the organic material plenty of time to de-compose before spring planting.

What else should you be doing now to get your yard ready for winter and give growing things a head start for spring? The Mittleider Method - as taught in his gardening books available at www.growfood.com - teaches the importance of and best methods of weeding and feeding your garden. .A final weeding is a very good idea for starters. Left alone, some weeds will over-winter and come back strong as soon as the snow leaves your ground and before you can get into the yard. That's why farmers plant winter wheat, and gardeners plant things like garlic - so they have a head start in the spring. Don't give your weeds that advantage!

The next thing to do is to clean up and remove all organic materials from the garden area! Clean, disease-free plant residue should be turned into the soil along with your leaves, and you should remove everything else, so as not to provide a place for bugs to winter-over.

A slow-release fertilizer is also a good thing to put down in the fall. This way, it is available to lawn, plants, and trees as they first stir in late winter and early spring. This is also an excellent time to apply calcium, which is "the foundation of a good feeding program," and an essential nutrient almost as important as nitrogen. How is this best done? Calcium does not move very far in the soil, so it's best to work it into the plants' root zone in the soil. However, what about the majority of your yard, that doesn't get turned over every fall?

With lawn, trees, shrubs, vines, and perennials such as raspberries and asparagus, it is usually impractical to dig things up every year like a vegetable garden. Therefore, sometimes the question is asked "Would it be advantageous to aerate first, or use a root feeder or something similar to get Pre-Plant minerals more into the root zone?"

Many people feel this is important, and there may be some advantage to aerating your lawn or around your shrubs and trees before applying your fall slow-release fertilizer and calcium. However Dr. Mittleider says it is not necessary and doesn't do it, and we have never aerated our yard and get along just fine. Therefore, I recommend you spread the materials evenly on the soil surface, scratch them in with a rake or hoe, and either water them in thoroughly or, if you have already turned off your outside water for the winter, let the melting snow take them down into the root zone of your plants.

Do these things now and your garden can be a thing of beauty even in the winter!

Acquiring and preparing fruit tree seeds for germination

2006-10-08T10:09:00.000+02:00

Fruit tree are usually very beautiful in spring and in fall. Spring because they are full of flowers, and fall because they are full of fruits.

Many species, such as crabapple, cotoneaster, prunus and cherry, are beauty themselves. Often such specimen can cost alot in specialized garden nursery. One way to cheaply acquire a tree is to propagate them. Fruit tree can be reproduce with seeds or cuttings. Seeds is the easiest but longest method. You can buy seeds or collect them.

The best time to gather fruit tree seeds is in fall, when leaves are starting to drop. At this time, you are certain that the fruits are mature, hence the seeds are also. So, you can pick as many fruits as you need seeds. Some species, have more then one seed per fruit.

The method to clean and prepare the seeds is simple. For fleshy fruit, such as cotoneaster cranberry, crabapple or cherry, you can fill a bowl of hot water, but not boiling water. In the water, you gather the fruits and rub them with your fingers till the flesh is fully removed from the seeds.

Once you have separate the loose flesh pulp from the seeds, you can gather the seeds in a new bowl, pour some boiling water on it, to clean the seeds. Empty the water, keep the seeds, and repeat the process of boiling water.

You will then need to sterilize the seeds. This can be accomplish by laying the seeds on a paper towel on a cookie tray. On a sunny day, you leave the seeds in the biscuit tray under the sun, for at least 4 hours and till they become dry to to the touch.

You can store your seeds, in a dry ziplock bag in the veggie compartment of your fridge till you are ready to germinate/sow your seeds. For further germination instructions you can refer to my articles on my website.

Physiology Of A Tree

2006-10-08T10:08:00.000+02:00

A tree vitality requires a complex process consisting in transformation of natural ressource. In other words, the tree’s extract from the soil and the air, the elements they need and with the energy of the sun, it transform and devellop these ressource into food. Trees are mainly composed of three parts; the roots, the trunk and branches and the foliage (leaves or needles).

Roots

The roots are usualy the hidden part of the tree as they are primarly underground. They are destinate to play four roles in the tree vitality. They anchor the tree solidly in the ground, they absorb and transport water and minerals and they store the food processed by the leaves. In younger tree’s, the root system is composed of a sole main root, called the tap root. As the tree gets older, it will develop a lateral network of roots terminating with fine “roots hair”. These small roots, are the ones that absorb water and minerals. Food storage is necessary for next seasons production of leaves, seeds and flowers.

Trunk and branches

The trunk and branches also play different functions. They are the distributor of the water and mineral of from the roots to the leaves but they return the processed food back to the roots from the leaves. They also are a flexible support for the canopy. They are composed of four main sections. First, the Bark, wich protect the inner tree sections from insects, injury and prevent dryness. The second part is the cambium. It is a small layer of tissue compose with multiple cells that reproduce themself constantly which help the tree gain girth. It is also this layer that will form a protective skin again an injury before recreating bark. Third, the layer of sapwood. This layer is the highway for food, minerals and water. It act as the canal between the roots and the leaves for a back and forth distribution of goods. Fourth and last is the heartwood. It is composed of dead wood and is normally darker in color because of the higher resin concentration.

Leaves

The leaves are the factory of the vitality process. They transform the natural elements into food, with the help of the ligth/sun, a process called photosynthesis. The leaves also absorb carbon dioxide from the air to incroporate with water and minerals to form the complex but essential compound for tree survival.

Indoor Hydroponic Systems Let You Garden Year Round

2006-10-07T21:18:00.001+02:00

Do you love gardening? There is nothing quite like going out to your own garden and picking fresh ripe vegetables for your daily meals. If you love gardening as much as I do, then you probably feel a little sad when it all comes to an end each fall.

Well. I have found a way to have fresh vegetable growing all year by growing them with indoor hydroponic systems. It takes a little work to get set up, but then so does traditional gardening.

Hydroponics means soilless gardening. That's right. You can grow lush healthy plants and vegetables without any soil whatsoever. Hydroponics actually is not new technology. I has been in use many years on the commercial and research levels. It has only been the past few years that hydroponic systems have taken off in the home use sector. Now you can buy indoor hydroponic systems in kits so it is easier to get set up.

There are actually several different ways to grow plants with an indoor hydroponic system. Soil is not used, but other growing material is. This material may be water, gravel, sand, or vermiculite. Water needs to be able to flow through the medium so the more porous it is, the better it will be for they plants to grow. One could even use bran, moss or coconut fiber as a medium for indoor hydroponic systems.

The lifeblood of indoor hydroponic systems is the nutrient solution which is added to the water and bathes the roots. The nutrient solution was first developed in the 1890s and continues to be used today. It contains phosphorous, nitrogen, potassium, and trace minerals. This nutrient solution is used in the place of fertilizer.

The fun thing about indoor hydroponic systems is that you can design and build your own system if you want. If that sounds like too much trouble you can buy parts or entire kits. When you design your own system you can use whatever is available to you such as an old aquarium which can be used as a tank for the nutrient solution.

In addition to the tank or the reservoir, you will also need artificial lighting. Lighting that is specifically designed for growing plants, or grow lights, should be used. These can be obtained easily at any garden shop.

You will also need an air pump to maintain the proper levels of oxygen in the nutrient solution for the plant roots. An aquarium air stone works just fine. Anything can be used that aerates the water and makes bubbles.

A growing tray or tubes are needed to support your plants. Design them in such a way that the plant roots can hang below the tray to come into contact with the nutrient solution.

The easiest thing to do is to buy a kit that has all the indoor hydroponic system parts in one easy package. This is especially helpful if you know little about designing and building things, particularly hydroponics systems. Once you see the system in action and have a good grasp of how it all comes together, you may want to design your own system from then on.

If you are wondering what types of plants can be grown in indoor hydroponic systems, you will be pleased to know that you can grow anything you want from tomatoes, to mushrooms, to green vegetables, and anything else you want to try.

Flowers as a sign of Condolence

2006-10-07T10:38:00.001+02:00

One of the most significant ways that you can show your condolences for the family of a deceased person is to send sympathy flowers. Normally, funerals are adorned with sympathy flowers from many concerned friends and acquaintances. Sympathy flowers are a traditional way to brighten up the home of the bereaved family and hopefully divert their grief. Sympathy flowers are a way to commemorate and honor the life of the deceased.

It is important to remember that if you are limited in your budget, synthetic flowers are not appropriate. There are several different lower priced sympathy flower arrangements that would be a better choice. Bud vases, table arrangements, and small wreaths in fresh flowers make a more tasteful choice than a large synthetic flower arrangement.

There are many choices in sympathy flowers. Standing arrangements, sprays, casket drapes, and planters are all common sympathy flower purchases. When ordering a sympathy flower arrangement, you can make a choice of type of flower, color, and style of the arrangement. These options allow you to totally customize and personalize your sympathy flower purchase.

One of the most popular sympathy flower arrangements currently is the garden basket planter. These arrangements are unique because the flowers can be kept and grown in the planter as a reminder for the family members of the deceased.

If you find yourself in a position where you need to send sympathy flowers there are certain things you need to consider. There are some cultural and religious differences that can influence the choice of sympathy flowers. For most cultures and religions, sympathy flowers are accepted and welcomed. However, for some members of the Muslim faith the emphasis at a funeral is on simplicity. Sympathy flowers are not appropriate in this case. Additionally, the shape of sympathy flowers is of important consideration. Sympathy flowers are often arranged in a cross shape, but this would not be appropriate for a Jewish funeral.

Picnic Tables Are Still In Style After Labor Day

2006-10-07T10:37:00.000+02:00

A warm, sunny, autumn day can be gorgeous, refreshing, invigorating, and exciting. It may evoke feelings of nostalgia, as you remember the thrill of finding the perfect Halloween pumpkin on just such a day in your childhood. It may make you adventurous, as it sparks the urge to hike through the woods, reveling in the vibrant colors of the foliage. Indeed, it can conjure many emotions. Unfortunately, however, in many people, it causes twinges of regret, as they gaze wistfully at the glorious day, wishing that they had not put their picnic tables away for the winter.

That's what you're supposed to do, right? It's a tradition. After the end of September, at the latest, all picnics must be tabled until next Memorial Day, because, left outside, exposed to the elements, the old picnic table soon won't have a leg to stand on.

Certainly, that's the way we remember it; but today's picnic tables are a lot sturdier than their predecessors were. Because of some of the improvements in wood treatments, as well as the introduction of many new, synthetic materials, they're incredibly strong. In fact, depending upon the material you choose, and where your picnic table is placed, you may be able to leave it outside all year long. In any case, a properly treated picnic table can last indefinitely.

Western red cedar, one of the most popular woods for picnic tables of old, remains a favorite today, partly because it has natural oils that make it resistant to decay and insects. It is also has properties that make it dimensionally stable, give it a rich, dense texture, and prevent it from warping. Add to that its natural luster and distinct, pleasant aroma, and it's not only a tough wood, but a tough wood to beat, to boot. It can be sealed and stained to maintain its reddish hue, or allowed to weather to a rustic gray.

Treated pine picnic tables, which are also in high demand, are made from top-grade arsenic-free pine that has undergone a process of kiln-drying, before and after a special pressure treatment, to help to prevent decay and minimize warping, checking, and twisting. They can also be sealed and stained, or allowed to weather to gray.

With one of the largest and best selections anywhere, AllPicnicTables.com has picnic tables made from every material imaginable. In addition to cedar and pine, you'll also find stunning oak and teak tables, as well as virtually indestructible vinyl, polywood, thermoplastic-coated steel, aluminum, and fiberglass picnic tables. The metal and synthetic tables are designed to be left outside year-round, without rusting, cracking, warping, or chipping. They are also available in a full spectrum of colors, and many are suited for commercial use.

How to Landscape Patios and Small Gardens

2006-10-06T12:21:00.000+02:00

Due to the small area available to some homeowners and apartment dwellers, patios and small gardens may seem like a challenge to landscape.

What follows are a few simple tips and strategies designed to maximize space, and help you create a lush and vibrant outdoor living area.

Container Gardening

Examine your patio or small garden, and you will probably see nothing but straight lines and right angles.

One trick used by professional landscapers is to "soften" these lines, or "round" the corners with vines or trees grown in large containers and placed tightly against walls, in corners, or at the edge of patios.

A good rule of thumb is the old adage, "There are no straight lines in nature". While many people may enjoy a more formal or symmetrical landscape, small gardens tend to benefit from a more natural, less structured design.

Both large and small, containers come in a wide variety of shapes, colors, and designs. By placing a small tree, vine, or flowering shrub, planted in a large container in a corner, and placing around it a variety of smaller plants in pots and containers, you can create a multi-tiered effect with a great deal of texture and color.

In addition, you can achieve the same affect along walls or the edge of a patio.

Imagine a painters canvas, taller objects will stand in the background with progressively shorter objects working their way into the foreground. This creates a sense of depth, and in smaller gardens this can give the illusion of more depth than actually exists.

One method used to create this illusion of depth, is to employ plants with darker foliage (greens or purples) in the background and place plants with multi-colored, or variegated leaves ("variegated" is a horticultural term for plants who's leaves naturally possess more than one color), or brightly colored flowers in the foreground.

Vines, grown in a large container, and trained to cover walls or a trellis, will allow you to cover large areas of your "canvas" and still maximize space in smaller gardens or patios. This will also serve to soften, the rigid box-like feel of smaller areas.

Also, a small, self-contained fountain, waterfall or pond placed against walls, or in corners, can become a focal point, or point of interest from which to build out from.

Low growing plants with multi-colored foliage (variegated), are excellent choices for small gardens. These types of plants, many possessing leaves with striking reds, creams, and pleasant shades of green all on a single leaf, can add interest, variety, and texture to areas where they are planted.

Many plants referred to as "house-plants" will have variegated foliage or interesting flowers. Most house-plants are native to tropical or semi-tropical regions of the world and in warm-winter areas will do well outside year-round.

Most house-plants tend to be shade-loving and so do best in shade gardens or beneath larger plantings. In regions with heavy frost or snow, you will need to bring the plant indoors until the weather warms again.

Dwarf varieties of trees are an excellent choice for large pots or ground planting in small gardens.

There are literally hundreds of fruiting or flowering dwarf varieties available to the home gardener. Many will also possess leaves with interesting shapes, patterns, or colors, that are sure to add interest and variety to any landscape.

Patio Trees: The term, Patio Tree, is used to describe trees that are generally small, as trees go, and are also quite attractive at close range. Their branches will not shed annoying quantities of leaves, or drop messy fruit that will litter, or stain patio surfaces.

In addition, all will have "tame" root systems that do well in large containers, or if planted in the ground will not crack pavement or greedily take water and nutrients from surrounding plants.

Finally, fragrant herbs and low-growing plants with colorful flowers make good choices for containers in small gardens. (e.g., Gardenias, Lavender, Jasmine).

Tips on planting in containers

When planting in containers, remember that the root system, cannot search beyond the container for food and water. This means the plant will be totally dependent on the nutrients and water you provide.

Remember to always use a good quality potting soil, and add an appropriate amount of granulated or slow-release fertilizer when planting.

All plants grown in containers will over time, need an application of a good quality liquid fertilizer. Also, when planting in containers, pack the potting soil in tightly to ensure there are no air pockets, or voids that could harm the roots.

Finally, always choose a container with drainage holes in the bottom. Without good drainage, fertilizer salts will build up in the soil and can then harm the plant.

Container gardening is an excellent way to maximize space, and enliven small gardens or patios.

A wide array of plants suitable for container culture are available to the home gardener, and with a little care and planning are sure to enrich any outdoor living space.

The types of patio trees available to you will depend upon which area or region of the country you live in. Some options include:

Acer (Maple): Patio types are: Acer buergeranum (Trident Maple), A. cercinatum (Vine Maple), A. davidii (David's Maple), A. palmatum (Japanese Maple).

Lagerstroemia Indica (Crepe Myrtle): with attractive foliage and large clusters of flowers that can range in color from pink to cranberry to a deep or hot red depending upon variety.

Magnolias: available in many regions both hot and cool, have showy displays of tulip to saucer-shaped flowers with a wide selection of colors.

Prunus: (Flowering Cherry) (Flowering Plum).

Dwarf Citrus: such as lemon, lime or orange, make good additions to small gardens and tend to hold their fruit for many months.

Good Luck and Happy Gardening!

Easy Pumpkin Centerpiece

2006-10-06T12:20:00.001+02:00

Need an easy, inexpensive centerpiece for your autumn table? All you need is a pumpkin and a handful of fall flowers. You can complete this project in less than an hour!

Supplies:

Pumpkin Fall flowers Sharp knife Large spoon

Prepare your work area by spreading out some old newspapers. Using a sharp knife, carefully remove the top of the pumpkin. Use the large spoon to scoop all of the pulp and seeds out of the pumpkin.

If you need this done in a hurry for a dinner party, go ahead and arrange your flowers inside the pumpkin. If you have the extra time, let the pumpkin dry out for at least a couple of hours before you arrange your flowers.

I used artificial flowers in my pumpkin centerpiece, but you could also use fresh flowers. If your pumpkin is wide and deep enough, you could place an entire flower pot in it.

Use your pumpkin to decorate your fall or Thanksgiving table, or place it anywhere in your home to give your home the feel of autumn.

Ways To Get Your Kids Into Organic Gardening

2006-10-06T12:19:00.000+02:00

Give them their own 'patch'. This is a great way for kids to learn to be responsible for something. It's best if their patch is small, at least in the beginning. If they love it and want to do more, you can always make it bigger.
You want to encourage them by getting results as quickly as possible. When I was a little tacker it seemed like time almost stood still - especially when I was waiting for something. Start with seedlings of lettuce, cherry tomatoes or snow peas - foods that they love and are quick to give results. Potatoes are always a winner. Digging them up is like digging for buried treasure!

Take your little one(s) with you to select seeds that they can grow in their plot. They'll probably choose plants with bright colours and interesting textures, which will add interest to your dinner table. You'll find they are really keen to eat what they've grown, so you'll have them trying new things. This also gives them a valuable sense of contribution to the family and pride in themselves.

Most little people love flowers too as they are such visual creatures, so you can introduce them to companion planting. Teach them to grow good plant combinations and how this keeps insect populations in check. Try borage and strawberries, or tomatoes and parsley or basil. By the way, spending some time together watching bugs is a great way to learn about nature and how everything is interconnected.

Let the child be in charge of their patch. You can guide them with suggestions and tips, but let the final decision be theirs. Encourage them to mark when and where they plant seeds so they're not working in a spot they've already planted seed in. This will let them know when to expect the shoots to poke through - very exciting! Remind them to water and weed. Let them to do the bulk of the 'work', so the results are truly their own. Allow it to be a place of discovery, not mistakes. Encourage them to clean up after they've finished in their plot for the day. Establishing good habits now will have far reaching benefits in their life.

Building small structures like a trellis or bean teepee adds interest and dimension. You and your child can use bamboo or wire to make a small, simple structure for plants to scramble up. Climbing plants look great on a structure and can really shoot up very quickly. Try climbing beans, peas or cucumbers.

Enjoy your time together in the garden. Make sure your child's plot is near where you spend most of your time in the garden. You can be working your veggie garden while they are in theirs. You can share moments of excitement and discovery, like when seeds first break through the surface, or when you notice the first cucumber on the vine, or a gorgeous flower just emerging. Your garden is a place of constant wonder that you can share with your little ones. So have fun and enjoy!

Guide to growing an indoor herb garden

2006-10-06T12:17:00.000+02:00

Kitchens, gardens, cosmetics have found immense use of herbs and for many years they have found their use in flavoring, dying, perfume and cosmetics, so much so that some of the herbs holds the power to repel insects, evil and vampires, while others attracted the perfect lover, good luck or bees to pollinate our crops even for curing headaches and burns. And, of course, what would fine dining be without the culinary herbs? So here in this article we give you some tips for herb gardening indoors that will replicate the conditions in an outside garden. For Herb gardening indoors the growing climates need to be pretty much the same as the conditions outside. Requirements

You have to ensure that you have a sunny windowsill that your herbs will love. Use a container that is at least 6-12 inches deep.

Always procure your herb plants from a good garden center nursery who will have plenty of garden advice to help you with your inside garden.

Apart from the space and herbs you would also require some garden equipment like a small digging garden tool, garden gloves, organic fertilizer and some small gardening containers. You probably already have most of these garden supplies in your garden shed.

Very important factor to be considered is soil and you should only resort to using top grade potting soil with an organic fertilizer mixed in. If you think it is too fine a soil, use a little perlite. Fertilize while potting the herbs and they should be happy until spring. If you have an herb that is not growing vigorously add a little organic liquid fertilizer to the water.

"How to" steps

While selecting a container go for one inch up gardening container. If the plant is in a two inch pot, go to a three inch gardening container. Leave the roots alone and be careful not to bruise the stem.

You should never plant oreganos, mints, lemon balm or bee balm with other plants they tend to "take over" the garden. Pot these herbs in a garden container all their own.

I would advice you to place a small piece of wire screening over the hole to keep it from getting clogged rather than putting garden stones in the bottom of the gardening container as the garden stones take valuable space away from the herb roots.

All herbs must get 4 to 6 hours of sunlight a day on your window sill. If your window doesn't supply that much light then purchase garden grow lights and hang them three inches above the plants. If you live in a very hot climate shade the herbs during the hottest periods. If you live in a very cold climate keep the herbs away from the cold glass panes.

Never let the herbs dry out but don't drown them either. Herbs do not like to sit in wet soil. An inexpensive water meter from your garden center nursery will help with this important step in growing your herbs. Always use room temperature water so as not to shock the herb's roots.

Here are some examples of which herbs to plant together:

* For an Italian selection try Sweet basil, Italian parsley, Oregano, Marjoram and Thyme. * For a lovely scented container use Lavender, Rose scented geranium, Lemon balm, Lemon thyme, and Pineapple sage. * For really great salads try Garlic chives, Rocket, Salad burnet, Parsley, Celery. * And to say "We love French Cooking!" use Tarragon, Chervil, Parsley, Chives and Sage

Give your herbs to grow used to their new conditions. Once you see growth you can start using you herbs. Snip and use your herbs often to encourage them to grow full and bushy

Fine gardening

2006-10-06T12:16:00.000+02:00

Gardening in and of itself is an art form. And the art of fine gardening is just that, an art. Fine gardening may mean many things to many people, but to me fine gardening means more than just a garden. It encompasses all that's good and graceful in gardening and combines them to make one garden that is the epitome of all your dreams.

My enjoyment of fine gardening comes not only from the finished garden but from the endless hours that I spend designing and planning the actual garden, from the moment I first have the germ of an idea, to the moment I place the last sapling, and plant the last flower. All I want, all that I can be, should show through when first a person steps into this land of fine gardening, a place of peace and calm where a person can meditate on the finer things in life.

Therefore, a water feature, ideally one that will make a continuously soothing gurgle, with a small stepping-type of waterfall-cum-pond, placed on lovely slabs of flat rock with a hint of moss growing on it. A nice water lily or lotus to give off a contrasting color, and perhaps a fish or two. A few ferns and leafy rain-forest type plants placed around the pond, and I'm finished with this stage of my fine gardening.

Ideally I would love a big tree to stand in a corner of the garden, with a luscious velvety dark brown trunk that I can just about span with my arms, overflowing with vibrant green leaves spilling onto the ground in heedless abandon. Since I might not always get what I want, I'll settle instead for a few saplings that will one day fulfil my wish.

Since green is my target for the moment, I'd also see about laying a lovely shady lawn that you can sink your bare feet into when taking a turn about your garden.

I love the idea of a Zen garden, but prefer colors and lots of plants, so I would incorporate this feature into my fine gardening efforts by placing a path, naturally made out of rough hewn stone, zigzagging in a leisurely course through the garden.

And to finish it all off I'd have a little alcove, unseen from afar, that afforded the curious visitor a wide-angled view of the whole garden, with a sun shade, and a low-lying bench with a few plump cushions strewn carelessly about, and all of it surrounded by a profusion of welcoming flowers.

In the distance I would set about placing a few boulders, pleasing in stature and color to the eye, surrounded perhaps by a few flowers.

And amidst all this fine splendor I would walk amongst my heartfelt efforts of fine gardening and sigh in satisfaction and peace. For what more is there to gardening, than the art of fine gardening.

Don't Neglect Your Garden!

2006-10-06T12:12:00.000+02:00

As your garden grows, you will want to make sure that you keep up with the attention so you have a full and fresh garden. You will want to make sure that you take care of the garden as closely as you did when starting the garden. You will need to water the veggies extra when it comes to dry periods and you will find that veggies benefit from getting an inch or more of water a week.

However, do not over water. If the day was very hot, make sure that you water you plants heavy in the evening. You should never water your plants in the hot sun because it will kill the plants. In addition, if you water the leaves of the plant you will find the diseases become more evident.

You should also get in the habit of mulching between rows. This will help you control the weeds and it will conserve moisture for your plants. You will also always know the pathway between rows with the mulching. This is important so that you do not end up stepping all over the plants.

You can use grass clippings, stray, wood chips, or even garden debris. If you want to make sure that the pathway is visible, you can use black plastic. This will allow ensure the moisture says in the dirt.

Another point that has to be made is insects. Insects have a tendency to ruin the crops. You will discover a bug problem early enough to make appropriate decisions for the crops. A problem will present itself before it destroys the crops. If you visit your plant everyday, you can catch this problem and pick up some insecticide that will not harm your crop, just the bugs. However, you should not use the insecticides when they begin to bare produce.

You will also have to maintain the garden by weeding the place out. Weeds are horrible! They take all the food and water from the plants and then begin to crowd the plants out. You need to be sure that you not only get the weed, but the root. If you do not get the root, it will just grow back, bigger and bigger. In addition, if you prolong weeding, the seeds will spread and all of sudden you will have a garden of weeds.

If you think that your job is over once you have harvested, your wrong! You will still spend time placing compost on the garden. During the off season you can place coffee grounds, egg shells, bread, and other things in the garden so that you can keep the nutrient levels exactly where they need to be. By you doing this, you will have fertile land to use when you plant the next spring.

Container Gardening For Beginners

2006-10-02T17:37:00.001+02:00

Many people love to garden, but quite simply don't have the room, or they want to bring a part of their garden indoors. Container gardening allows you to grow your garden any place you have the room.

If you take a look at the pictures of my garden elsewhere on this site, you can see that I've taken container gardening to something of an extreme - my containers are about 8 feet long and allow me to have a pretty decent vegetable garden. We did it this way because there was no easy way to plant a vegetable garden in the home we are renting, but really wanted to show our children where vegetables come from.

Most container gardens, however, are done in much smaller containers. The exact size depends on the needs of the plant involved.

Many plants are small enough to do well in smaller containers, allowing you to hang them or place them on your patio, or even indoors. They can be a part of your home's decor or a fun way to grow just a few vegetables.

The containers can be arranged to bring out the beauty of all the plants. Larger plants can be behind smaller ones or you can use a tiered display to hold similarly sized plants at different levels.

You don't have to limit yourself to vegetables and herbs in your container garden. The plants don't even have to flower to look beautiful. Choose based on where you want to grow them (indoor, outdoors, lots of sun or just a little), how much care you are willing to take of them and what plants you just like to look at. Done right these plants will be with you a very long time.

One of the nice things about growing plants indoors is that you don't get very many weeds at all. That saves quite a bit of maintenance.

Don't choose your plants based on the pot they are in at the garden store. You will want to repot them with a good potting soil when you get them home, and that is the time to choose your pot. Many plants will come to you in a root bound condition, so they will need a larger pot than the one you purchased them in.

Flower - the Story of Evolution

2006-10-02T17:36:00.000+02:00

Flowers are the Natural beauties sent as a Gift by Nature to the World. They add fragrance, briiliance and beauty to the surroundings. The History of the Flowers in this Earth must go to the day when the Plants emerged in the World. Scientific research have shown that the Plants are in this World for the past more than 425 Million years and they have developed from their primituve form of Spores. The seeds for the Plants came in the primitve form as spores the small copies of themselves that can grow in other places. The Plants began to develop protection for the spores and thus came the seeds and there came into being the assured way of propagation and systematic reproduction by following regular Life cycles. The Flowers must have appeared during this stage and the earliest fossil proof of actual Flowers appears only 130 million years ago. But we do not have clear proof of how and when the Flowers developed for the first time as the fossil desposits do not give enough proof in this direction. The father of the theory of Evolution Charles Darwin himself is persplexed over this issue and calls this an abominal Mystery. It is generally assumed that the function of Flowers, from the start, was to involve other Animals in the reproduction process. Pollen should be taken to other places and for this the assistance of other living beings are necessary and it may not be possible without giving any other benefit. The Plants in some Islands developed sudden, fully developed appearance of Flowers and used them to develop a highly specialized relationship with some specific Animals and Birds. This type of specialized relationship with another Animal bearing pollen from one plant to another has resulted in both the plant(s) and their partners developing a high degree of specialization. Likewise, the next stage of the Flower the Fruits are used in plant reproduction that comes from the enlargement of parts of the Flower itself and is a tool which depends upon animals wishing to eat it, and thus scattering the seeds it contains. The hard proof as to the existence of Flowers about 130 million years ago, is available though circumstantial evidence we know that they did exist up to 250 million years ago. Flowers are genetically just an adaptation of normal Leaf and stem components on Plants, and the most primitive Flowers are thought to have both Male and Female parts on the same flower and to be dominated by the Female part. In later stages of evolution, Flowers grew more advanced, some, with a much more specific number and design, and with either specific sexes per Flower or plant. We see that Flower evolution continues even today; that the Modern Flowers have been influenced by humans to such a degree that many of them cannot be pollinated in Nature.

Use Water Efficiently

2006-09-30T19:05:00.002+02:00

Water scarcity all over the world has evolved into a problem that needs immediate solution by all those involved. The water facilities, public or private, the local, governmental or international associations and organizations, the national environmental departments and the vast public have to be informed on what water quantities they should be consuming and how that translated into a deficit or overflow of water resources.

Especially when one considers watering gardens and back or front yards, watering them deeply and thoroughly sounds like the only option. But there is also another issue that one has to consider; water frequency. The number of times one waters the plants that exist outdoors as well as indoors is extremely important for controlling the overall water consumption patterns. Watering plants infrequently, depending on their specific needs, is not a bad idea. Instead of leaving the watering process last for more than three hours each time-which does not benefit the soil or the plants-it is best if one decides to water them twice or once a week; again depending on the season and specific plants watering requirements. Since plants send out extra roots in dry conditions to seek water, this type of watering plan will encourage rooting and greater tolerance to dry spells. In addition, as nature illustrates, plants often bloom more profusely when stressed, as the natural instinct to reproduce creates more flowers.

Thus, you should water responsibly, using correct watering techniques. For example, you can water only during late in the afternoon, but before the sun comes down, so as to prevent the weather conditions from heating the water and thus reducing its evaporation loss. Moreover, you should water less often and for longer lengths of time to encourage deep root growth. Extremely important is for your irrigation system to be in its proper working condition. If drip irrigation will not work for you, try a hand held hose rather than a sprinkler. If you use a sprinkler, make sure you don't water sidewalks or driveways. Install a drip or other water conserving irrigation system, as slow drip and deep root watering systems can save up to 60% of all water used during garden care. Professionally installed and maintained irrigation systems will further help conserve water. Many people have also invested in developing some kind of rainwater capturing systems from their roofs, in order to use it later to water their garden and ornamental plants.

Another important issue is the proper condition of your soil. Since water does not easily penetrate clay soils and it manages to pass too quickly beyond the root zone of plants in sandy soils, adding an organic matter to clay and sandy soils will increase the penetrability of clay soils and the water holding capacity of the sandy ones. Furthermore, you should consider keeping your lawns to a proper height. Gradually let lawns reach a height of 3 to 4 inches, as longer blades of grass can mean going 3 to 4 days longer between waterings.

Concluding, saving water and keeping your garden looking beautiful is easy when you think about it and you can always follow these ways to see how water wise you can be around the house.

Join a Gardening Club and find like minded people

2006-09-30T19:05:00.001+02:00

Gardening can bring endless hours of enjoyment to your life. Talking to other gardeners is one way to spread your joy of gardening. For those of us with the gardening bug, unless there is a friend or family member who is into gardening, there just does not seem to be any one that you can talk with.

Garden clubs are made expressly for this purpose. When you join a garden club, either locally or via the internet you can join like minded people who share your interest. A gardening club lets you exchange valuable information.

There are many gardeners who will let you in on their trade secrets of growing big, healthy plans. They know through trial and error which plants grow best in what soil, and what is the best way to make homemade compost. They can also answer gardening problems that you might have encountered.

With membership to a gardening club like the National Home Gardening Club, you are entitled to try out gardening supplies that you probably have been yearning for. Such gardening clubs may have subscriptions to gardening magazines that are full of valuable advice and tips.

The members of the National Gardening Club are allowed to try out different gardening tools and accessories and review them to the rest of the club. Imagine knowing before you buy a gardening tool whether it is worth your money or if it will spend the rest of your life in your gardening closet.

As you can see the advantages of belonging to a gardening club are immense. Besides being able to exchange ideas with other gardeners, you can see gardening products and find out from your new friends if those tools are good.

The other advantage of belonging to a gardening club is that you find ways to try new projects. The gardeners in the club can give you advice on the best way to complete your latest gardening project. There are many gardening aids that the gardening club can introduce you to. You could discuss what gardening primer is suited for a novice and will last throughout your gardening years.

Besides these benefits you get to review the latest DVDs and gardening videos. Check out information on members only websites for gardening. As a member of the National Gardening Club you get information about conservatories, arboretums and the many lush gardens to be found around the country.

The benefits and advantages of being in a gardening club are wonderful. You have many like minded gardeners that you can talk with. You can get tips and advice for gardening and gardening projects. You get to review the latest in gardening accessories and tools. Find out the best gardening books to read and DVDs and videos to watch. All of these benefits are yours to enjoy for a small membership fee, after a trial period in which you can see if you like your new gardening club.

Decking - Your Garden needs it

2006-09-30T19:04:00.001+02:00

Garden decking is a type of art in Gardening. Without Garden decking you can only watch your Garden from far away. If you start using your Garden without decking then you are spoiling your own Garden. So decking plays an important role in Gardening.

Certain points should be noted while preparing for Garden decking. It's essential to create a floored area at one end of the Garden and perhaps also a path through it on order to walk on a part of your Garden without walking on Grass. Concrete patios are a common way of doing but due to out of fashion they became fast falling.

We have other options with respect to the materials for creating your Decking. Nowadays people prefer Wooden decking method. There are two methods in decking; one is building straight over top of the Grass and another method is building on the top of an existing Patio. You can build your own decking.

A grate-style frame with Beams every meter or so is normal decking with planks of Wood fixed to the top. You can also buy parts from Garden centre. Decking is really a surprisingly easy Project if you have built things out of Wood before. For maintenance reasons leave the decking unpainted and natural. It may also look better.

Try to use Screws and an Electric Screwdriver, instead of Nails while assembling you're decking. This is a good tip. It also saves you from effort. It is much more likely to hold up against the Elements and other wear the decking will get. The assembly will not be quite so simple when your decking is going to be raised high up above the Garden.

You will need to fit a Balustrade for safety reasons. Balustrades are the 'safety bars' structures you get on things like Balconies, coming up to about stomach level. These add design and beauty to the Decking structure and you may have to select the one that fits perfectly with the overall structure of the Decking. If your decking is high enough up then there is chances of Children or Pets could be hurt by falling off it then you definitely need them.

There would not be guarantee to your safety if you build those things by your self. So it is better to buy one from an experienced supplier that conforms to all the relevant safety regulations. Usually it will have been manufactured using Industrial techniques to make it much more secure. It is also resistant than one you could build yourself.

Therefore consider Garden decking as an art, and then your Garden will look like a Heaven on Earth.

Bonsai Gardening

2006-09-26T10:47:00.000+02:00

The first thing that comes to mind when you say the word art is sculptures and painting. However, there is one kind of sculpture that is very popular but does not make use of wood and stone, but its own materials, which is known as bonsai.

Bonsai, derived from a Japanese word meaning 'tree in a tray', is an art that creates miniature bushes and trees. Through careful pruning and years of shaping and patience, the masterpieces are created by using ordinary specifics and creating bonsai.

It is not an art that just anyone can do; it takes a lot of care and patience, to create healthy plants. These are actual plants from ordinary species, such as maple or pine, which are shaped and grown in a small pot.

The artist has to control the perfect temperature and soil type to succeed. They must also possess the right temperament and techniques to perfectly prune the bonsai. There are many various ways of performing the art and it takes a great deal of practice in potting and repotting to attain the results.

The art of bonsai is an exact science right down to the watering of the bushes and trees. If you water the plant too much you will have a plant that becomes water logged and will likely develop root rot and fungi. With too little water, you will find the soil dries very quickly, eventually drying the leaves and killing the tree.

Every aspect of the art interacts with other aspects. For example, potting and soil practices depend on pruning and shaping techniques used, as well as drainage of the trees and bushes.

When it comes to art, bonsai is one of the hardest types to create. This is because all of the above elements, plus others has to be nearly perfect in order for the bushes and trees to survive. However, that is not all; this art also requires implementing pleasing colors, shapes, and styles in both the areas of the pot and plant to appeal to buyers.

When it comes to bonsai, there are 5 basic styles. These are known as semi-cascade, cascade, slanting, informal upright, and formal upright. While these are the basics, there are many advanced styles as well; one of which is called literati.

You could not learn and master this art in the time frame of a month.

Many artists work on one product for several years to create one tree. However, this tree may last more than one hundred years. Because of their longevity, these trees are generally passed from one generation to another, with each passing generating adding their own style to the tree.

The art and mastery of bonsai takes years of experience and training. It is not easy to create miniature bushes and trees from an ordinary species, just as it is not easy to create an ordinary species as it is.

Many people enjoy bonsai because it is handcrafted and takes us back to a time when technology was not an intrusion. Mass production was not available, neither were cell phones, hi-fi televisions, or high priced automobiles. It takes us back to a simpler time, when everything was just.

Tips On How To Grow A Tree From Seed

2006-09-26T10:46:00.000+02:00

When planting a tree you can either buy a tree that has already started growing or you can plant it from seed. Planting from a seed is usually harder and will require more maintenance to get it to grow. However, most people would agree it is a lot more rewarding in the end.

The first thing to remember is that you won't want to plant your tree directly in the ground outside. This is one of the biggest mistakes when planting new plants. By planting directly outside the seed would be subject to the weather, predators (such as birds and squirrels), and bad soil. The best thing to do is to plant your seed in a small pot and repot it as the plant gets bigger. Some of the supplies you will need for planting are:

Seed. You will of course need the seed to plant. Make sure you find a tree that will thrive in your area.

Pots. As the seed grows you will need bigger and bigger pots to transplant it in. If your pot doesn't have any holes on the bottom it's a good idea to drill some so water will be able to drain out of the pot.

Water. You will need to remember to water your tree as it grows and matures.

Sunlight. Find a spot where you can give your tree some daily sunlight without putting it in any harm.

When watering your seed remember to keep it moist but not overly wet. If you keep too much water in the pot you have a chance of "drowning" your seed. Good ways to keep the container moist include a mister system or for a cheaper alternative you can put a piece of plastic over the pot. Remember, if you use plastic you need to put some holes in it for air to get through to the seed.

Hoses for the garden

2006-09-25T18:34:00.000+02:00

The Hose Pipes are becoming more and more important in our Lives. We are using them in countless ways and their utility is too much to be ignored. We have Hose Pipes everywhere including in Houses, Offices, Factories and Agricultural lands etc. They help us in transporting of all kinds of fluids from one place to another. The advent of Hose Pipes has helped in making the Fluids they carry especially the Water to do many more things that were not thought some twenty -five years ago. One of the most used Place of a Hose pipe is the Garden, and the Hose Pipe happens to be one of the widely used as well as important innovation for the Gardeners. Invariably all the Houses that have Gardens have Hose Pipes for supplying water to the Plants. Without Hose Pipes man would have had to carry the Water from the Tap to the Plant. The nature of the Hose Pipe itself being very flexible and light weight has become the most ideal Garden watering accessory. The Modern Advancements in the manufacturing techniques and the emergence of new materials like PVC, and other Plastic and Polymer based Compounds has made possible for making the Hose pipes in different Shapes, different types and different sizes to suit all the applications they are put today. The Garden is the place where we are putting a Hose pipe to the basic service of watering the Plants and for supplying of Water to grasslands. Various modes of irrigation like Drip irrigation, Sprinkler irrigation etc could not have developed this much but for the development of the Hose Pipes and the fittings for the same. Now any type of irrigation or Water application system can be easily designed and implemented with the whole range of Hose pipes and fittings. Early Hose pipes were made of Rubber - and were very heavy hence they cannot be used easily and their life too was very limited as they got easily damaged due to rough handling. The damages are also could not be repaired easily. Above all not many types of fittings for the Rubber Hose Pipes were available curtailing the uses of the Rubber Hose Pipes. Nowadays the Hose Pipes are made of Plastic or Vinyl material that is very light Weight but they can be handled very easily. Due to the easy availability of cheap fittings for different applications the use of the Hose Pipes are increasing every day.

Teak Table Refining Tips

2006-09-25T18:33:00.000+02:00

Assuming it's an older teak table, use teak oil for the refining procedure. Start off with a 0000 steel wool on the top of the table which are a bit lighter than others and sanitize it thoroughly. Particularly pay attention to the grey areas on the table because they are the parts that will need the highest refining as they've been all dried up.

Afterwards make sure to sanitize the top half of the table and apply teak oil generously. Do this a multitude of cycles in a row over the course of an hour or so until the wood absorbs all the oil. Finally you can wipe off the residual oil from this course.

Now for the leaf portion of the table. Use steel wool with teak oil and rub the area over a large amount of times- again remember to wipe off any excessive oil once the leaf portion has absorbed it properly. This approach will help refine the oil buildup as well as make the leaf portion seem brighter. After a few times of repeating this procedure over the next weeks, months, and years, it will even out more and more. This takes trial and error and patience to get it just right.

The Beauty Of Iron Arbors

2006-09-23T22:14:00.000+02:00

A metal arbor can be used as a focal point for any garden. They can be constructed from almost any malleable metal, but the most common ones are wrought iron arbors. The intricacy of the wrought ironwork can be extremely simple, or incredibly complex. There really is one to suit any taste and pocket.

The majority of metal arbors are used to encourage climbing plants to form a shaded area. Many people install an iron arbor and plant climbing rose bushes all around the closed areas to form a wonderfully fragrant and shaded seating area. A metal arbor traditionally has only one open side, unlike a pergola or archway. That is why it is more suited for use as a shaded seating area.

Iron arbors, or any type of metal arbor, are extremely heavy constructions. They are usually set in concrete and are seldom repositioned. It is not very practical to set a metal arbor on soft ground or grass. The wrought iron arbor is likely to sink into the surface. For the same reason, metal arbors are not often moved. There is a lot of effort required in changing the position of an established iron arbor so it is worth planning its location carefully.

The variety of styles and sizes of metal arbors that are available means that the prices vary dramatically, too. The cheapest ones are under $100, but there is no limit to how much the most expensive might be. Many wrought iron arbors are handcrafted, which adds to the cost, but ensures that it is unlike any other metal arbor. The length of time that a commissioned iron arbor will take to finish also varies with the intricacy of the metalwork involved.

Caring for an iron arbor really depends on personal preference. If you want your metal arbor to be gleaming and new for life, it will need rust treatments and repainting when appropriate. However, many owners of metal arbors prefer to leave it to the elements. This produces a lovely rusted antique look to the iron arbor. Of course, if you are encouraging climbing shrubs to cover the metal arbor then you will not be able to, or want to, perform any maintenance on the iron arbor itself. It is possible to buy iron arbors that have come from other gardens and have already acquired the weathered appearance, but these are few and far between.

Creating a metal arbor is not something that the average DIY enthusiast is likely to be able to do. The skills involved are metalwork and welding, at the very least. The most ornate of wrought iron arbors can only be produced by skilled metalworkers and craftsmen. The most beautiful metal arbors are those that have been in situ for a number of years and have fragrant roses entwined in their intricate ironwork. These iron arbors can give the owner a truly calming place of refuge from the hustle and bustle of today.

Are you Adding a Deck?

2006-09-22T19:24:00.000+02:00

A deck is described as a wooden platform constructed above ground level and is connected to the main part of the house. It is usually surrounded by railings for the safety of the occupants. To access the deck, one must pass through the doors located in the main house or by stairs from the grounds. To control the flood of sunlight, decks may be covered by canopies or light roofing.

A homeowner who is considering improving his home may decide on building a deck that extends outdoors. Decks are considered to be a good investment for the house, it will generally raise its overall value. It will also improve the home aesthetically. Choices available for deck improvement and construction have risen considerably since more and more homeowners are getting interested in building decks for their homes.

There are several factors to consider in building house decks. Some of them are:

1. Location of the deck in the house

Spaces for decks should be designed like a regular room. The parameter of the deck should be kept out of the windows by at least two feet. If the house is located in the country where snowfall occurs, it is best to decrease the elevation of the deck from the threshold of the door. Decks should be built lower than these following problem areas: windows located below the deck, water spigots, down spouts and dryer vents. Doing so will save homeowners a lot of money.

Ideally, the realtor should include a copy of the site or plan of the house to the homeowner upon purchase, because it will be needed when he decides to build extensions on the main house. The plan will show details where not to build in excess of specific parameters of the building.

In laying down the layout of the deck, it is necessary to consider that almost all decks are not in symmetry to the back part of the house.

2. Main use for the deck and the amount of room needed

Most homeowners utilize their decks for entertaining or dining outside. Nowadays, additions such as outdoor kitchens, hot tubs, Jacuzzis and gazebos are becoming popular choices. Screening the whole area might be suited for health conscious occupants.

3. Specific area where the dining will be held

Usually, a slight elevation or an octagon is built on the deck to keep the dining table off the main floor.

4. Need of the homeowners for privacy from neighbors and the main street

Walls can be offered by the builders of the deck to afford homeowners a feeling of privacy, These walls should be limited to the sides of the decks so they won't feel too caged in.

5. Means to get on and off the deck area

The most likely area where one can enter the deck will be the side of house that is used to access the backyard. Entrances should be kept near the house itself to save space. There are certain regulations from the local building department when it comes to building stairs. A midway landing should be considered if there is a second story deck, in order to prevent injuries.

6. Placement of the grill

Grills should be placed near the kitchen door but not right next to the house itself. To save homeowners from frequent propane tank refills, a gas line under the deck should be installed permanently. The builder should then save a space for food preparation.

7. Need for shade

An awning that is custom-made can be installed over the deck to provide shade, but for homeowners on a budget, an arbor or Pergola can be built on the design of the deck. For total coverage, one should consider putting up roof over the deck, or have screens installed.

8. Preference for railings

In most areas in the U.S., any deck that is higher than 18" off the ground requires railing. A composite plastic lumber is recommended for those who prefer to have a seating constructed into the deck design. Doing this will prevent the warping and splintering that usually occurs after a long period of time.

All homeowners would like to have a picture-perfect house that will provide safety and comfort for their families. Building decks are a great way to beautify and add value to the home.

13 Master Tips to Winterize your Lawnmower

2006-09-21T18:57:00.000+02:00

The article gives you systematic instructions for making sure that your lawn mower is usable when the spring arrives and you require your lawn mower once again. If you do not take these minor precautions, the left over fuel in carburetor will make your lawn mower unusable at the end of winter.

Protect Your investment

After you rake out all the leaves, do not relax. Remember Robert Frost. There are miles to go before you sleep and miles (well not exactly) to go before your lawn mower is allowed to sleep. Unless you do it, your lawn mower might be put to a longer sleep. It may not wake up when winter goes away, and when you need your lawn mower most.

The Why Of Lawn Mower Winterizing

Gasoline in the carburetor of your lawn mower, does not take kindly to lowered temperatures of winter. The gasoline gums up and when you try to restart it after the winter, there s no gasoline flow to your engine and it does not start. You will not be able to do the maintenance by yourself. You will lose time and money making the trip to your friendly neighborhood mechanic. You get all this, for not following up simple steps of winterizing your lawn mower. Avoid all this winterize your lawn mower.

The How of Lawn Mower Winterizing

There are some simple steps for winterizing your lawn mower. You can do it your self without involving any one else.

The first thing to do is to remove the gasoline in the tank. This can be done by siphoning the contents in the in a plastic can. Usually a single gallon container should be sufficient.
Keep the can tightly closed after decanting contents of the lawn mower. Place the can in such a way that it cannot topple over and spill the content.
If you use the same grade of gasoline in your car, transfer the content to the car tank, it is much safer that way, or transfer it to winter heating system if that is possible instead of storing gasoline in a can.
Run the engine until the remaining fuel is completely consumed and engine stops on its own.
Drain gearbox oil and crank case oil. Dispose off the oil as per guidelines from municipal authorities for disposal of hazardous waste or hand it over to municipal authorities for doing it. NEVER, EVER, dump it in sewer or on ground.
Remove the spark plug, put lubricating oil (about 50 milliliter) through the opening, and crank up the engine using the rope, so the piston and crankshaft is lubricated.
Ensure that you are wearing hand gloves before you do any of the following activities and take safety precautions to avoid any injury to your hands.
Turn over the engine and clean the undersides of the lawn mower to remove traces of grass, muck attached to the blades and clean the working parts of lawn mower. Remove any foreign material lodged between blade and body.
With a small piece of steel wool, clean all the underside areas and remove any rest from the covers and body of the lawn mower.
Apply protective solution like WD-40 to the cleaned up surfaces
If required, remove, sharpen and refit the blade, and turn the lawn mower to its normal position.
Change the air filter and the oil filter. If it is possible to clean the air filter, you can do so, but if it is made of paper, it must be replaced. The air filters and oil filters can also be replaced just before re-using the lawn mower, but it pays to do this while winterizing as you might forget doing so before starting.
Fill up the tires with air and wheel it to its resting place for winter

Inexpensive tips to increase value of your home

2006-09-21T10:26:00.000+02:00

Did you know that you could drastically increase the value of your home without having to invest heavily in having your home remodeled or refitted? Yes, it's possible! And you won't even have to spend as much just to make it happen!

If you are selling your home, getting a good value for it could prove troublesome. But before you throw in the towel and sell your home for a price way below your expectations, you could try doing some inexpensive renovations to increase your home's value up to 20%. That's not a bad figure, is it?

Here is a brief walkthrough of the steps you can undertake to make your home worth much more that it is today.

The Kitchen: Bigger is Better The kitchen is one of the critical areas to address in your efforts to increase your home's worth. Homebuyers are looking for spacious kitchens that are clean, in good repair and have the necessary furnishings for working.

To make the kitchen look more spacious, try installing lights that will make it look brighter. You could also redo the windows to remove clutter and make it spill in more light. This will have the effect of making the kitchen look bigger. Make sure the floorings and the table tops are in good repair. If it is not beyond your budget you could even replace the current flooring with stone or tile, which is a lot better than linoleum that cracks and tears.

Keep the kitchen in good repair. It doesn't cost much to have scratches and bumps fixed. If you have busted fixtures or electrical outlets, have them repaired with good materials.

A paint job will do wonders not just for your kitchen but for the whole home. So consider adding a good layer of paint on your home.

The Yard Simple gardening would do much to make your home more appealing. Keeping the yard in order, and tending to the garden would result more in a yard that would most likely attract buyers.

To stress the significance of a good yard, mature trees will typically add about $1000 to the value of your home. So imagine the impact of a well-tended garden to the value of your home!

The Living Room Like the kitchen, living rooms must give the impression of space. Some people do so by installing mirrors. However, this technique is also suited to the bedroom. The little repairs - like light bulbs and electrical outlets.

Make sure the living room is airy, a coating of light colored paint, installation of good lamps, and a general cleanliness of the living room will contribute much to this effect.

Bedroom Like the other rooms, the bedroom has to be particularly spacious, airy and bright. Mirrors are particularly effective at accomplishing this effect. Most five-star hotels have to project an impression of space, and they employ this technique to its full effect.

Make sure the rooms have a sufficient number of electrical outlets. The flexibility this offers will add much to the value of your home.

If you plan to install new surfaces, you might also want to consider using natural materials such as stone, marble, quality wood, and others. Studies have shown that many people react favorably to these materials. They also add a feeling of cleanliness to the rooms. Make the cabinets and closets as large as possible without making the rooms they are in look cramped, you may have to employ a few illusionary tricks here but the results are astounding.

Bathrooms Use fluorescent lighting instead of incandescent lighting to provide your bathrooms with a light feel. Installing inexpensive amenities to your bathroom like towel holders, racks, shower curtains, shower fixtures and other will enhance the appearance and appeal of your home.

You can mix, match and experiment with the tips given here. The principle of the whole is that you should make your home look spacious, airy, and light. You should also make sure your home looks different from the other homes in your neighborhood. If you can one up their amenities, then well and good! There are other tricks and illusions you could employ to achieve this - tricks that do not have to be expensive at all! So go ahead give your home a good look and start increasing its value today!

How Green Is Your Garden?

2006-09-21T10:18:00.000+02:00

Canadians love their gardens - whether that means a patch of grass and a few sturdy shrubs by the deck, or a full-scale, blowsy English garden of roses, perennials and vegetables. Our little patches of green tend to be our personal sanctuaries and play spaces - away from the stresses of the world.

Well, for our gardens to be our sanctuaries, it would be best if they were health-inducing - and that means eco-friendly.

Here's some tips for "green" landscaping to improve your outdoor living this summer:

Begin With The Trees

Your trees are your best landscaping asset. Deciduous trees let winter sun into your house when you need it most, and shield you from the sweltering rays of summer. If your house is blessed with shade, you're already a leafy 10 degrees cooler than properties exposed to full sun. Mature trees provide the best air conditioning possible -- clean, free, and majestic! Evergreens planted on the north side of your home will help stave off the winter chill. There are other important health benefits to trees, too: all types of trees will clean the air around you. It's no surprise that many homeowners are paying big bucks for big trees. But if you start planting now, before you know it (with patience and minimal care). you too can enjoy the many benefits that trees freely offer.

Birds And Bees

Butterflies and ladybugs too. You want to attract all sorts of good creatures to your garden for pest control. Birds love thick shrubbery, shallow birdbaths, native plantings, and fruit, nut and seed-bearing plants. They also love to have a little trickle of water. A small pump will help create the best effect: the slightest stream of water flowing into a shallow plate or rock depression.

Provide butterflies with sheltered sunny spots filled with brightly coloured blooms, and a flat warm rock for butterfly sunbathing. Bees love nectar-producing flowers, ladybugs love Queen Anne's Lace, and all of these treasures thrive in a chemical free environment.

These are the creatures that will help establish a healthy, happy garden - and protect your plants from the nasty pests.

Go Native

Nurseries offering indigenous plants are springing up everywhere now, making it easier for you to find native plants. There are all kinds of reasons for showcasing hardy native plantings in your garden; they are generally pest and disease free, resistant to drought, and attractive to beneficial wildlife.

Queen Anne's Lace, tansy, all sorts of daisies and lilies - the roll call of our native plants is impressively long and beautiful.

Roll Out The Barrel

We're talking rain barrels here -- ideally several for maximum water collection. The volume of water captured after an even seemingly brief rainfall will surprise you. Your plants will be happier with warm untreated water instead of the freezing cold chlorinated water that comes out of your garden hoses -- and you'll save on your water bill too.

Black gold

Start composting now and by next year you will have the most amazingly rich black stuff to sprinkle onto your lawn and flowerbeds. Many communities offer plastic compost barrels, but it is more efficient (and aesthetically pleasing) to build a wooden three-solid-sided unit with a slatted moveable front piece.

Just remember not to put in any animal by-products -- most kitchen and garden waste (not weeds) is acceptable. Keep your compost pile slightly moist (positioning it in a shaded spot helps) and poke a stick in it once in a while. That's it.

Acceptable pest and weed control

Synthetic garden chemicals do your garden no favours - upsetting the balance of healthy soil, earthworms, good insects, birds and other creatures. Declare a no-chemical season in your garden. Kill weeds with vinegar, or a dose of boiling water. Use soapy sprays to control aphids, and diatomaceous earth to stop slugs.

Put up a bat box; a bat will eat thousands of mosquitoes, and don't deserve their Halloween-y reputation. Garden-friendly insects such as ladybugs and praying mantis will patrol for a range of problem insects. Physical trapping is also good (i.e. dishes of beer for slugs etc.) Don't hesitate to use the good old methods of hosing off, and squashing too!

Mr. Toad

A clay toad-house or other cool spot may attract a toad: one of your garden's best friends.

Push mower renaissance

Remember the delightful "clackety" sound of your grandfather's old push mower? Cancel your gym membership for the summer: low-tech and clean, push mowers cut your grass efficiently, quietly, and give you a bit of a workout too.

Lawnmower Battery Buying Guide

2006-09-20T22:09:00.000+02:00

When you own a battery powered lawn mower, you will want to pay close attention to the lawn mower batteries you purchase. Therefore, the first thing you will need to do is understand about all the different types of lawnmower batteries that are available and which ones you should be buying.

There are two general types of lawnmower batteries available for lawn mowers, these are the nickel cadmium and the lead acid batteries. Each have their advantages, however, many people are turning to nickel cadmium batteries because they are environmentally friendly and provide for better performance. All lawnmower batteries are rechargeable, however, they do not have unlimited life, they will have to be replaced occasionally. If you find that the mower is running strangely, or have troubles starting it up, it may be time to replace look for lawnmower batteries. There are two different types of batteries used in a lawn mower, 12-volt, and 6-volt. To find which type of battery you need for your lawnmower, the best thing to do is refer to your owners manual.

When it comes to lawnmower batteries, some of the most popular brands are snapper and Toro. Because battery powered lawnmowers comes in several styles such as push behind and riding lawnmowers, it is essential that you understand which batteries work well with your specific lawnmower. People choose battery powered lawnmower for a variety of different reasons. One such reason is the money saved when compared to the cost of gas-powered lawnmowers. With a battery, you can recharge it and get many uses out of it. With a gas-powered lawnmower, you have to constantly purchase gasoline to mow your yard and if you have a large yard, that could prove to be a costly task. Another reason for the popularity of a battery powered lawnmower, is that they are typically quieter and much more economical. Of course, as with anything, there are some disadvantages, such as the battery running dead before you are finished, or the amount of lawn it can mow with one charge.

What is great about lawnmower batteries is that you can find them almost anywhere, such as outlet stores, department stores, specialty stores, or even various places online. When looking online for a lawnmower battery, make sure that you only buy the battery from a reputable company.

Talk to your friends and family to determine where they buy their batteries from and who they would recommend. Make sure the battery comes with some form of warranty to protect you from a bad investment and that the dealer knows what they are talking about when making recommendations.

Perennials for your Garden - The Low Maintenance Choice

2006-09-20T22:06:00.001+02:00

Perennials are plants and flowers that will stay in your garden for more than one gardening season. Some perennials will bloom for up to three years, and others will bloom for longer. One of the best things about perennials is that they are very low maintenance, which makes them popular choices for a lot of people. Annuals require much more care and tending to. If you are looking for a simple garden that doesn't require much time and attention, try planting perennials. When you choose perennials carefully and plan their planting, they will last for many years.

When you plant perennials in your garden, don't expect to see much in the first year. During this first growing season, the perennials are getting used to their new environment. Some perennials will produce new blooms in the first year, but some won't have any progress until the second year. The second year for perennials is often the most dramatic. During this growing season, perennial plants and flowers start to fill out and take hold of their environment.

When you plant perennials, you need to pay careful attention to soil quality, water availability and sunlight. These factors can all affect the growth and longevity of your perennials. During your planning, make sure to plant your perennials with plenty of space for them to grow. Make sure not to put them too close together because you may have to move them in the future. Although this leaves some bare spots in your garden, it is important to leave room.

If you are concerned about the sparse look of your perennial garden in the first year, try planting annuals in the spaces between the perennials. The annual flowers will add color and vibrancy to your garden, but won't be in the way of the growth of your perennials. Annual plants and flowers grow and bloom for just one growing season, but they do bloom quickly and have an instant gratification factor that perennials don't offer.Technorati Profile

Indoor Gardening

2006-09-19T19:45:00.000+02:00

If you're living in the middle of the Amazon jungle, the last thing I would recommend for you to do is try your hand at indoor gardening. After all, why try to compete with mother nature and come out looking like an amateur? But if, like most of the population of the western world you don't actually live at the foot of a rain forest then I would really recommend looking into indoor gardening. As a jungle substitute of course.

Why would you go for an indoor garden - as opposed to an outdoor one of course? The reasons are pretty simple really. You don't need to get too mucky grubbing around on your hands and feet in the dirt. You'll almost never need to brave the harsher weather elements that nature will throw at you for trying to compete with her. It will make your house look nice, and you feel good. And ultimately in the grand scheme of things, it's good for you.

It's difficult to imagine how indoor gardening could be good for you, but really it has nothing to do with the gardening itself, more with the plants instead. If you hark back to the good old days of high school and peer pressure, you might just remember vaguely hearing something in science class about plants and photo-something-or-other.

To refresh your memory, it's a procedure called photosynthesis, where plants remove carbon dioxide from the air, and release oxygen into it instead, thereby removing pollutants from our environment. If you're living in a jungle there's not too much of a problem with that, but living as we are in our singular little houses, indoor plants are the next best thing. Thus the indoor gardening.

When planning your lovely miniature rainforest - substitute 'indoor garden' - you have a variety of stunning plant options to choose from. Ones that the outdoor gardner might not be privy to. I won't go into a list of possible indoor plants right now as the list is longer than my arm, but if you are interested I would suggest you take a look around in your local plant nursery.

You'll get a good idea of what types of plants there are for you to choose from, and what types are a no, no. They just won't grow indoors! You'll also find with indoor gardening that some plants can be temperamental and will flat out refuse to grow anywhere within a walled-in and roofed area! A simple and easy place to start with would be try your hand at herb gardening. Simple to grow, useful in the kitchen, and best of all not the prima donna type.

Gardening, of any kind, just doesn't get any better than indoor gardening, especially if you're not an outdoorsy type of person and don't want a close encounter with the wormy kind. Or any other type of crawly insect that resides in your outdoor garden, not your indoor garden. The benefits of indoor gardening just keep growing!

Herb Gardening

2006-09-19T19:32:00.000+02:00

When you go to the supermarket you can see fresh herbs for sale. These same herbs can be grown in your garden with a minimal amount of trouble. You can grow them from cuttings or seeds. You can divide the heavy growing herbs and plant new herb plants. Whatever format that you decide to use, herb gardening adds zest to your world.

Herbs are annuals, biennials and perennial plants. Herbs like Basil, Coriander and Dill are annuals that bloom for one season only and then die. Caraway and parsley are biennials that live for two seasons and bloom only in the second season. Perennials like chives, fennel, mint and tarragon 'die' over winter and then blossom each season once the plant has established itself.

Herbs need to be planted in a 20 by 4 foot garden space. In this garden, you can have separate plots for each type of herb. This mini plot is a 12 by 18 inch herb garden. With the many herbs that are being used, colorful and frequently used herbs can be planted around the borders of your plot. Parsley and Purple Basil are examples of colorful border herb gardening.

For your herb garden to thrive the soil should not be very wet. Herbs do not grow in wet soil. To make your herb plot well drained, remove about 15 to 18 inches depth of soil. To the bottom of the hole add some crushed stone or other material that is similar to the stones.

A compost and sand mixture added to the soil will lighten the soil's texture making it easier for the water to seep through the soil and drain away. Hummus will enrich the nutrients within the soil and restore the soil's Ph level. Then refill the hole higher than it was originally.

The herbs can be planted in the ground late winter. Herb gardening requires that you first grow them indoors in shallow trays. The herb seeds must not be covered with a thick coating of soil. The soil needs to be light and well drained. This type of soil texture will ensure that your herb gardening gets off to good start.

Once your herbs are planted outdoors there are a few insects that can attack the plants. Aphids like anise, caraway, dill and fennel herbs. The red mite spider attacks low growing herbs. Rust can be a disease-like status for mint plants.

But these minor troubles aside, herb gardening is a peaceful and intriguing activity that takes its place in history. Whether you use herbs for cooking, medicinal use or even aromatic usage, the art of herb gardening is making a comeback amongst gardeners. Join their ranks and enjoy the pleasures of using your own herbs.

Refinishing Wood Flooring

2006-09-19T19:28:00.000+02:00

Is your wood flooring already worn out? Has it already gone through the tough tests and is now looking old and pale? It may be time to refinish your wood flooring and make it look new again.

How do you know it is time to refinish the floor? You can do this simple step. Go to the area where the floor is mostly used, your living room perhaps. Get a tablespoon of water and pour it onto the floor. If the water forms beads and can easily be wiped out, there is no need to refinish it yet. Your floor is still in good condition.

If the water that you just poured slowly seeps into the floor and creates a visible spot, it may already need refinishing touches. You may want to keep it in your to-do list and schedule a time when you can do the refinishing. However, if the water seeps in as quickly as you had poured it, then don't waste more time. Your floor definitely needs refinishing, and soon.

Refinishing your wood flooring would require equipments such as a drum sander. Other equipments may be needed for other more detailed tasks in the finishing process. You need not buy those equipments, though. These equipments are available for rent in your local home shops such as Home Depot. You can rent them on a daily or weekly basis.

Different grit papers are used in the drum sander for different floor types. The lower the grit paper number is, the coarser it is for use on more damaged woods. Once you have chosen the right grit paper, you can now start sanding the wood using the equipment. It is suggested that you do the sanding diagonally on both ways then along the grain.

Once you are done sanding the whole floor with that procedure, repeat the process again using a finer grit paper (one with a higher number). After sanding the whole floor again, you can now sand the edges using a spinner/edger machine.

Vacuuming is the next step to clean off the sand dusts. Should there be gaps present after the sanding process, fill them in using the sand dust mixed with varnish to form a paste. Then leave the floor alone for some time.

After a few hours, repeat the sanding process again, this time doing it along the grain with a much finer grit. Do this twice using the highest grit number on the last sanding. After which, vacuum the floor once more and sweep off the sanddust.

Once the floor is dust-free, it is now time to apply the coat. You would need a roller to do this. Before using the roller, make sure it is clean first using a stiff brush to remove dirt and loose hairs that might get into the finish.

The urethane coating can now be applied across the floor grain by strips. Once the whole array of strips is completed, go back to the starting strip and make sure there are no roller marks or urethane build up.

Let the first coating dry for some time. When the coat is completely dry, the next step is to sand the whole floor using an orbital sander. Vacuum and sweep the floor afterwards to remove the dust.

Finally, the second coating can now be applied using the same procedure as the first. When you do the second coating, make sure the sun doesn’t shine through the window to any part of the floor to avoid uneven marks.

Refinishing your wood flooring is relatively easy as long as you have the right equipment. The rent may be a little costly though, but not as expensive as replacing your whole floor. You can even save more doing it yourself than hiring somebody to do it for you. Also, wouldn’t you be proud to show off your work and tell your friends you did it by yourself?

Nicely finished or refinished floors make your home look more beautiful. It is also a healthy alternative than carpets. Carpets are known to cause allergies because they are difficult to clean. Having just bare, nicely finished wood flooring will help you have a healthy environment inside your own home. Dusts, pests, molds, and animal stains can easily be cleaned up as well.

Garden Plaques: Make Your Garden The Stuff of Angelic Dreams

2006-09-18T10:34:00.000+02:00

Garden plaques are tablets, usually made out of wood and either suspended, appended to a vertical surface like a wall, or posted like a sign out of the ground. Garden plaques can either be small or very long, and beautiful, functional, or both.

Based on the situation, garden plaques have a selection of usages: identification, commemoration, or decorative. An example of an ID plaque would be a family marker, such as The Smiths, to accompany an address or erected out front of home.

The brief mentions one finds at museums are also ID plaques, although these are not actually garden plaques. Commemorative plaques, though, are more plenty. A headstone and historical marker are examples of this (garden plaques need not only be made of wood.

Headstones are found in cemeteries, which are mostly treated like gardens). Decorative plaques, as those seen in a garden, would be markers with flowers painted on them to contribute pizazz to the scene.

Garden plaques can be made in a selection of shapes and sizes, depending on the length of the message and the degree of ornamentation integrated on them. The aforementioned headstone would have the deceases name, dates, possible quote, and even the addition of angelic iconography.

These stones would naturally be bigger than a headstone inserted in the floor and bearing only a name and dates. Some headstones are round while others are rectangular, square, or cross-shaped. Family markers are the same way.

Garden plaques can even be in the form of 3-dimensional icons, such as animals, mythical or cultural designs, cosmological bodies (moon, sun, stars, etc.), or everyday items, like hearts, ribbons, books, even cars. When it comes to the possible style of garden plaques, the imagination is the limit!

Garden plaques come in an array of prices. Plaquemaker.com offers plaques starting at $14.00 for one. The more plaques bought, the cheaper each plaque is. $4.00 is the cheapest for one in a package having a 101-to-250 quantity.

A variety of garden plaques offered here, with descriptions made in at least ten different possible colors, have designs that are based on the customers personal choice.

For those interested, these are fun to have and to look at. They spice up the garden, the home, or wherever they are placed. Garden plaques are special and always en vogue!

Garden Plaques have an incredible ability to "take you there", whether it's a fairy tale, or a sense of tranquility, these items certainly have a spirit all unto themselves!

Gardening Equipment

2006-09-18T10:33:00.000+02:00

Gardening equipment per se, is what every gardener needs. At least that's what we all say when we rush off to buy that handy new extra-light shovel that just went on sale! However, not every gardener has all the tools, or even the right ones necessary, and most gardeners will just make do with what they have. Most of the time improvisation is the key.

But if gardening is your game, then you will at least have some of the more basic gardening equipment that is needed to maintain your garden. Namely, a hoe, a shovel, and a rake come to mind offhandedly. There is also naturally other gardening equipment that is equally important, and I know that I simply can't be without my pruning scissors.

As the years wore on I found that I had indeed collected many an essential piece of gardening equipment, and now find to my dismay that my shed is full to overflowing with tools. The best ones that I have though are a very old pair of comfortable gardening gloves, and my trusty, old kitchen knife that I had brought out one day, and just never replaced.

When I can't find my pruning scissors, my kitchen knife takes its place and acts as a pruning knife instead. If I can't be bothered to find my hoe, or shovel, I just use the tip of the knife to accomplish what I want. Then of course there are the times that I just can't be bothered with even that, and use my nicely gloved hands instead to loosen the soil, or pull up weeds.

It probably sounds like a fairly sloppy way to go about your gardening, but every dedicated gardener knows that if you're knee deep in the middle of something, the last thing you'll want to do is to interrupt your work to fetch the proper gardening equipment from your shed.

However, that said, some jobs are easier with the proper equipment at hand, and it is worth your while to go and fetch it from whatever nook or corner that you stuffed it into. One of my favorite pieces of gardening equipment is the garden claw.

With two varieties available, one for standing work, and for closer work and therefore fitting in your hand, the garden claw makes your life easier. Stick the claw in the ground, give it a simple twist with your wrist, and pull out. It loosens soil easily, and as an added benefit you get to pull out your weeds with less hassle.

Really the key thing to remember about gardening equipment is that although we might want it, we don't always need it. Besides it's always a good thing not to get too attached to your gardening equipment, it makes life easier if you're not always trotting back and forth between your work patch and the shed. Ultimately you'd not get too much done, (unless you're using your handy garden claw!).

Pest control for perennials

2006-09-18T10:28:00.000+02:00

Perennials are a great choice for any garden, with their great variety of colors, shapes and sizes. Perennials also have another important advantage over other types of flowers. That is, unlike annuals, which must be replanted year after year, perennials, by their very nature, are able to regenerate from year to year. This means you are free to plant once and enjoy many seasons of beautiful blooms.

While the actual longevity of perennials varies from variety to variety, some types, such as peonies, have been known to last for decades once planted.

This longevity, however, can come at a price, and one of those disadvantages is that perennials need more care when it comes to maintenance, weeding and pest control. Unlike the annual garden, which is dug up and restarted each year, perennials remain in the ground over the winter, and this can make them more prone to common garden pests than other types of plants.

One of the best defenses against pests in the perennial garden is a healthy and vigorous selection of plants. The healthier the plants in the garden the better they will be at fighting off common pests and garden infections. Plants that are well cared for and vigorous will be much less susceptible to damage by insects and other pests.

The vigilance of the gardener is another great tool in preventing pest infestations from getting out of control. A good gardener is constantly on the lookout for early signs of problems, such as holes in the leaves, marks or wounds on the stems, and other signs of pest problems.

Having a good guide to common garden pests and diseases is a good idea as well, since it can sometimes be difficult for the untrained eye to tell exactly what the problem is. Diagnosing the problem is the best way to cure it quickly, before it can spread.

Gardeners have a choice when it comes to pest control in their gardens. There are of course a great many chemical pesticides on the market, but there are a number of natural methods as well. Many experienced gardeners prefer to start out with the natural approach first, and move onto chemical methods only when natural attempts have failed.

One great natural pest control approach is to use beneficial insects to control harmful pests. Many garden supply stores sell these beneficial insects, and it is usually easy to seed a garden with these insects and get them to stay and remove harmful pests.

In addition, aphids can often be controlled simply by spraying plants with a very dilute mixture of soapy water, followed by a rinse of clean water. This method often works just as well, and is considerably less expensive, than chemical methods, and it has proven effective even on serious aphid infestations.

Another great way to control pests is to buy pest and disease resistant varieties of plants. Many perennials have been selectively bred to be resistant to common pests and diseases. If these varieties are available it is a good idea to seek them out. Even if they are more costly up front, the money you save on pesticides and other chemicals can make them quite cost effective.

Donatello's Fountain

2006-09-18T10:24:00.000+02:00

Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi, universally known as "Donatello", was born in Florence around 1385 and was laid to rest there in 1465. The powerful nature of his art made him the greatest sculptor of the early Renaissance

A fountain by Donatello, carved of granite and decorated with ornaments of marble, adorned the garden of the Medici Palace in Florence, Italy. As the most elaborate and monumental example of Florentine fountain sculpture from the entire century, this work merits special mention. The lost basin was almost certainly the one crowned by Donatello's bronze group of Judith and Holofernes before it was seized by the state in 1495 and transferred to the center of the Palazzo Vecchio. Four openings at the corners of the cushion on which the body of Holofernes rests prove that this group was designed for the decoration of a fountain.

Although Donatello chose a Biblical subject, he made use of a classical fountain motif. The water spurted from the open¬ings in the corners of the cushion below the drunken Holofernes, as from Hellenistic figures of tipsy satyrs on wineskins. The theme of intoxication was continued in a bronze relief of the triangular pedestal in three Bacchic scenes representing the vintage, a wine themed fountain spout, and a drunken revel -- all enacted by the inevitable putti. A potential water spout ap¬pears in the center of each side of the pedestal, as in the Gorgon's head on the great crater in the Bacchanal, but these "mouths," obviously designed for jets of water, were never pierced.

Conscious of the need of 360-degree treatment in a freestanding group, Donatello designed Judith and Holofernes as a pyramid which presents three distinct profiles, each corresponding to a side of the pedestal below. The triangular plan of this pedestal undoubtedly repeats the broader tri¬angle of the base of the lost cylix. The granite of which that basin was carved recurs in the balusters that frame the relief.

Adding wall fountains or outdoor garden fountains to your landscaping or garden project can be a great way to enhance your outdoor living space, even if it does not carry the impact of a Donatello piece. Historical fountains (such as those by Donatello) and water features provide inspiration for many current designers and manufacturers, so adding one of these fountains is a great way to build a connection from your home to the past. Beyond the design beauty and characteristics of garden fountains, they also add water and moisture to the surrounding environment, which can attract wildlife such as birds, and balance your local ecosystem. For instance, birds that are attracted by a fountain or birdbath can be the best defense against flying insects that bother both humans and plants.

The group of Judith and Holofernes was probably constructed about 1455, after the artist's return from Padua. The relaxed head of the Holofernes is similar to that of the Christ in his Crucifix in Saint Antonio. The compli¬cated drapery of Judith and the intensity and confusion of the bas-reliefs are also in his later vein. Moreover, the fountain was almost cer¬tainly designed for the Medici Palace, which was not finished until the year 1444, after his departure for Padua.

While you won't be adding a Donatello fountain to your garden, in a practical sense, most water fountains used in landscaping are self-contained, which means an electric fountain pump moves the water from a lower basin, up the back of the fountain, and then allows the water to spill down the facing of the waterfall. This makes them practical for the average homeowner. Nearly all these types of fountains rely on a household 110v electrical outlet nearby. Be sure the fountain pump is U.L. listed, and connected to a Ground Fault Interrupt (GFI) outlet.

Few works of art have suffered as much as the fountains of Donatello when re¬moved from their original setting. The broad base supplied by the cylix undoubtedly tended to stabilize the statue, now perched precariously upon a slender column which certainly has no connection with the original fountain.

Gardening Gloves

2006-09-16T17:48:00.000+02:00

Gardens are beautiful places to relax in. They can also provide endless enjoyment if you are a gardener. The idea of having flowers that give off pleasant smells as you pick your garden fresh vegetables and herbs is a pleasing one. The amount of pain that unprotected hands can go through however might make you reluctant to prune those rose bushes.

Gloves, in particular gardening gloves are the most important item that a gardener can possess. The process of choosing the right glove can be a little difficult especially if you are new to gardening. There are a few tips that can make buying your gardening gloves easy.

The best type of gardening gloves should be made from very good quality leather. They must also be gloves that can be used for whatever gardening job that you will embark upon. Buying a pair or two of general purpose gardening gloves that have a cloth backing to them, will let your hands stay cool and comfortable during the time you are gardening.

Many times you might decide to do some gardening after it has finished raining. This will mean muddy and very wet gardening. The idea of working with wet, slippery hands may not appeal to you. Therefore selecting rubber gardening gloves that have a cotton lining will absolutely protect your hands from the mud and dirt of a rainy garden.

To ensure that your plants stay healthy and insect free, many of us will use a pesticide. Wearing gardening gloves made from latex or plastic will not help to protect your skin from the harmful effects of the chemicals in pesticides. Neoprene gloves on the other hand are made for this purpose.

All most every garden has roses bushes planted in them. While a rose bush that is filled with blooms is a gorgeous sight, the many thorns on the plant can make a gardener's heart sink. To prune those very thorny plants you should wear gardening gloves that have long wrist protectors.

When the time comes to transplant your delicate seedlings in the garden you need gardening gloves that will let you handle them with care. However there are many plants that must be planted in the garden during the early winter season. Wearing gloves to protect your hands from the cold is a good idea, but it can impede your ability to feel the process of transplanting. For delicate winter time transplanting fingerless gardening gloves will allow you to do this delicate and detailed work, whilst keeping you as warm as possible.

The only other tip that you need to consider when you choose your gardening gloves is to see that they fit your hands comfortably. So, take heart, take plenty of notes, plan, and buy to your heart's content. Remember that gardening gloves truly are a gardener's most trusted companion. They will not only help to protect your hands from dirt, mud and thorns, they also aid in the prevention of painful blisters. Thus you will need to choose your gardening gloves with care.

Using perennials in your garden

2006-09-15T19:47:00.000+02:00

Millions of people world wide just love their gardens, the universal question is "what to plant, what not to plant". Perennials are favored by many gardeners, not only for their ability to bloom for several seasons, but for the wide variety of colors, shapes and sizes they come in as well.

Whereas annuals must be planted anew every season, perennials can be left in the ground to bloom for several seasons. This makes gardening with perennials less costly and means that the perennial garden can be easier to maintain.

In addition, most perennials are very easy to work with, and the demands they place on their gardeners are usually quite low. Sufficient water, good soil and abundant sunshine are all most perennials need to provide beautiful blooms all season longs.

There are several important considerations with perennials, however, given the nature of their growth. Since perennials remain in the ground year after year instead of being started fresh every season, they are more prone to disease and insect infestation than shorter lived annual plants. This means that the gardener must be on the lookout for any signs of disease or unwanted insects, since an unnoticed infection can quickly spread through the entire garden.

The best way to avoid disease and other problems in the perennial garden is to make sure the plants are as healthy and robust as they can be. Healthier plants are naturally able to withstand disease and insects better than weaker ones, and an infection that would kill a weaker plant will be fought off by one in better condition.

In addition, the gardener should be ready to immediately combat any diseases or infections that are found. Keeping a supply of common fungicides and insecticides on hand is a good insurance policy when trouble strikes. Perennials should regularly be inspected for signs of problems, such as wilting leaves, spots or holes in the leaves. These can all be warning signs of problems with disease or insects.

It is a good idea to get in the habit of checking for such problems every time the garden is weeded, watered or otherwise tended to. When watering perennials, it is generally best to water them deeply once a week instead of spraying them with a hose more often. It is important not to encourage standing water on the leaves, as this can leave the plants vulnerable to fungal infections and other problems. It is also important not to water the plants during the heat of the day, since watering then could cause tender foliage and flowers to suffer burns.

Watering deeply and less often is almost always preferable to watering more often and more shallowly. Investing in a good soaker hose or drip irrigation system is a great idea for any perennial grower.

So, in summary, since the key advantage of working with perennials is their ability to come back year after year, we must remember that it is important to care for the plants properly after the current growing season has ended, we must remember that most perennials should be pruned at least once a year, but be ever mindful and pay attention to the specific requirements of each variety remembering that while some perennials benefit from a radical pruning in the winter, others need less pruning, it is also important to understand the exact requirements of your particular plants. Happy Gardening.

Supplies & Tools For The Organic Gardener

2006-09-15T19:43:00.000+02:00

Wherever you look it seems that people are going green. They may try and drive using electric cars, or use natural methods of fertilizer or compost. There are even gardeners who use only organic products and tools in their garden. These organic gardeners will need gardening supplies that are a little different from that of your ordinary gardener. Basically they will need an organic gardening supply to continue with their gardening efforts.

As an organic gardener you will of course need a shovel, a spade and a spading fork to dig the soil in your garden and prepare it for planting. Then to take out the weeds and the rocks that are littering your new bed you need a hoe, a scuffle hoe with its forward pointing blade that you scuffle in front of you as you weed your garden, and cut the weeds at the surface. A pry bar is very good item even for organic gardeners to use in their organic gardening supply. With a pry bar you can dig up those rocks and boulders that sometimes seem to litter the surface of your garden.

There is always some pruning to be done in the garden. Rose bushes need to be cut back, especially if you want lots of big, beautiful flowers. A pair of good quality gardening shears or even a lopping shears can cut those large prickly rose stems cleanly without causing any disease causing breaks.

These however are the conventional gardening supplies that any gardener can use. For an organic gardener there are a few different items that need to be added to their organic gardening supply. Whereas the normal gardener has the choice of using chemical enhanced fertilizers the organic gardener can use bat guano or even worm castings.

With these organic fertilizers all that is needed is a couple of applications per month. Worm castings are the tunnels that are created as worms move through the soil. This movement not only breaks and loosens the soil, it also adds fertilizing nutrients to the soil. Organic fertilizers like these help to increase the growth and health of plants within your garden. Therefore they are an essential organic gardening supply item.

Gardening is said to be like painting. The gardener's canvas is the ground and the paint brushes are the tools that gardeners use. Whether you are a conventional gardener or an organic gardener many of the tools that you will use are the same. However the organic gardener has special items in their organic gardening supply. These items change the looks, taste and smell of the plants that benefit from them.

Organic gardening is 100% all natural and great for the environment. Why don't you switch to organic gardening and see the difference it makes to your life!

The Benefits Of Mulching

2006-09-15T19:32:00.000+02:00

When you see a well tended garden, you feel refreshed and at peace. The reason for this contented feeling is the green grass and bright colored flowers. However to achieve that green garden look, some work is required. One of the best ways to help your garden to look healthy and green is giving it a good mulching compound.

Mulches are a layer of protective material that is placed around your plants and shrubs. They can be organic mulches or inorganic mulches. As the gardener you must choose which type of mulching will suit your garden.

Organic mulches are very similar in effect to pine needles and leaves that fall to the ground in forests. As organic mulches are of plant matter, they decompose over a period of time. This decomposed mulch helps to keep the soil moist and the plant roots cool, while keeping nutrients locked in.

There are different types of organic mulching that you can use. Bark, Wood Chips, Sawdust, Straw, Pine Straw, Shredded Leaves and Newspaper are some of the material that is used for mulching. As each of these mulches has different characteristics you should take care where you will lay them in the garden.

Bark, Wood Chips, Sawdust, Straw and Shredded Leaves can cause problems in the garden. These organic mulches can be washed away in the rain, rob the soil of nitrogen and let weeds grow in between their organic matter. However Bark and Wood Chips can give an attractive look to the garden.

Pine Straw and Newspaper mulching are best organic types to put in the garden. Newspaper mulching works best for your vegetable garden as they tend to suppress weeds. Pine Straw mulching works like the natural fallen pine needles. They decompose slowly, resist being washed away, and keep the nutrients in the soil.

Inorganic mulches like crushed stone, gravel and volcanic rock have a tendency to work their way into the soil. When this happens, you will have a bit of trouble getting them out when you need to do some digging. This type of mulching is somewhat permanent.

Plastic mulches should mainly be used for vegetable plots. Irrigation paths can be laid out on the ground beneath the plastic mulching. This will keep the soil moist and the plants well watered. You can also cut holes in the plastic mulching where you want water to go into your vegetable plot.

The other type of inorganic mulch is that of geotextiles. This is fabric mulch made out of polypropylene or polyester. While a closely woven geotextile mulching allows water and fertilizer to enter the soil, it inhibits the growth of weeds. This is probably the best type of inorganic mulching that you can put in your garden.

For a healthy garden then, you should place some mulching compound amongst your plants. You will still need to keep an eye on those pesky weeds though and pull them out, but in the long run, this too should be easier for you.

Basic Gardening - Fertilizing and Plant Nutrition

2006-09-15T19:29:00.000+02:00

Plants, like people, need to be fed regularly, and like people, too much or too little is not a good thing. So, giving advice on fertilizing plants can be challenging. Differences in soil types, existing nutrients, plant type and climate are but a few of the factors that affect proper fertilization. First, let's understand a little bit about fertilizers in general. All plants require at least 17 different nutrients to survive. Some nutrients come from the air, some from water and others from the soil. When we fertilize a plant, we are adding some of the nutrients that come from the soil.

When we fertilize, three nutrients stand out as the ones that are needed in the greatest amount and that need to be supplemented most often. These are called the primary nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium . Every fertilizer will have three numbers on its label to indicate the percentage of each of these three nutrients that it contains. For example, our Bud-N-Bloom Booster is a 15-30-15 formulation. It contains 15% nitrogen, 30% phosphorus, and 15% potassium. Knowing the formulation is important, but there are other factors such as solubility, molecular form, etc. that directly affect nutrient availability. We will leave those details to the plant scientists and others who have a more technical interest, but it is essential to purchase fertilizers from a trusted source so you can have confidence that you are getting what you pay for and what your plants need.

In addition to the primary nutrients, many premium fertilizers (like all Cottage Farms fertilizers) include a group of nutrients know as the micronutrients. These are plant nutrients that are just as essential for healthy plant growth as any of the other nutrients we have discussed, but are needed only in small amounts by the plant. One can think of micronutrients for plants as being analogous with vitamins for people. Selecting fertilizers with a complete micronutrient package is always the best choice.

Young plants and recently transplanted plants often grow more rapidly and have a less developed root system than the more mature established plants, thus more frequent supplemental fertilization is called for. Annuals also require a lot of nutrients to sustain their rapid growth and flowering. For best results fertilize young, fast growing plants and all annuals every one to two weeks with a soluble fertilizer, such as one of our Bud-N-Bloom fertilizers. For established shrubs and trees two or three feeding in the spring to early summer should be sufficient. When applying soluble fertilizers, like those offered by Cottage Farms, the application would be very similar to a "watering" as described in the Basic Garden Watering section.

If you chose to use a "dry" fertilizer, place the fertilizer where it will reach the plant roots, within the area between the trunk and the drip line. Spread the fertilizer evenly over the entire area and be cautious to avoid getting fertilizer on the trunk. The best time for this application is in the spring when you see some new growth emerging. If you have shrubs and trees planted in grassy areas you will want to apply several small amounts to avoid burning the grass. If you use a "slow release" fertilizer, follow the label closely as each formulation varies in content and longevity.

Never fertilize a dry plant . It is a good idea to thoroughly water a plant the day before fertilizing. Be sure you have had rain or you have irrigated between fertilizations. Remember more is not better when it comes to fertilizing. It is very important to read the fertilizers directions on how much to apply. It is better to use less fertilizer more often than too much which can burn the roots and kill the plant.

As a general rule, fast growing plants like annuals need more fertilizer than slower growing plants. For most plants, stop all fertilization with the approach of fall and allow the plants to harden off and enter winter dormancy.

Over fertilization: Too much fertilizer creates a "salty" condition in the soil that can damage roots and inhibit water and nutrient uptake. The symptoms are similar to the signs of under watering (drought).

Under fertilization: Nutrient deficiencies occur when one or more of the essential nutrients are unavailable or in short supply. Nitrogen deficiency is probably the most common deficiency, and its symptoms are yellowing of the lower (older) leaves. Most deficiencies are difficult to diagnose and are usually avoided with adequate fertilization.

Creating A Garden Hideaway

2006-09-14T19:27:00.000+02:00

Many perfectly sensible and sociable adults will confess that they had a secret, private hiding place in some garden of their childhood: a hidden corner in a grandmother's garden, a secret spot in a grove of trees, or even a shrubby nook in a vacant lot. In the rush to ensure that we create environments for socializing and for family activities, we can forget the joy we found in those secret garden hideaways.

Sure, it's great to have "together" spaces: like a pool for the family to splash in... or a swingset and sandbox for the youngsters. But more than one parent with a beautifully groomed yard has listened to their child speak reverently of the "hideout" at a friend's place: a bank of towering, unkempt weeds where a child can hide from the world.

Children have it figured out: the more hectic our lives, the more we need a place for renewal and rejuvenation. Creating your own garden hideaway need not involve major construction projects or expensive plantings. Instead, scan your garden for the three key criteria:

1. Hidden from the world: Look for privacy, or a sense of enclosure or hidden-ness. You'll need space for a comfortable chair for one. Is there a spot where you can grow a screen of morning glories... or maybe moonflowers if you plan to enjoy your oasis in the evening? The perfect kids' hideout allows you to remain hidden while preserving at least a glimpse of the outside world. Use the same principles.

2. The sounds of silence: You're a very lucky homeowner if birdsong and rustling leaves are your natural sound environment. For the rest of us, we need to improvise. Wind chimes are a popular way to create a more peaceful soundscape. But to many, the sound of water is incomparably soothing, and you can achieve the effect with only a babbling fountain in a large ceramic pot. Even a gurgle can help conceal or counteract the noise of traffic or humming air conditioners.

3. Eye-level beauty: Create a focal point that you can enjoy from your chair. Flowering vines - like the morning glory or moonflowers - can be helpful. Or put a pot of pretty annuals on a short pillar or stand. Consider some scented flowers to appeal to the senses. Only a fence to keep you company? Try mounting a framed mirror that reflects a pretty area of the garden.

From daycare to office work, our lives are overwhelmingly communal - and solitude is a quality which easily goes missing in our lives. Each day, try to disappear for a few minutes - with an early morning coffee, a mid-afternoon lemonade or a late-night glass of wine. Bring a favourite book, a summer journal, or happy thoughts... but leave your roam phone in the house.

Kid's Corner

Don't forget that children still love their own little secret spaces. It's not too late to grow a Green Bean Hideout: in a corner of the garden (out of the way but not too shaded) outline a circle about 5' 'in diameter. Build a temporary teepee frame with 8 or more long bamboo poles, nestled firmly into the ground around the circle, and simply secured at the top with twine. At the base of each pole, plant 1 or 2 seeds of Scarlet Runner or other pole beans. Kids will love watching their secret hideout grow to the rafters and beyond. And this hideout has a built-in kitchen!

Five Plants for your Desert Backyard

2006-09-13T21:18:00.000+02:00

Living in the desert Southwest can be interesting, exhilarating, and sometimes trying.

Take for example, your Desert Backyard. Sure, you may want to have an emerald green expanse of lawn and trees, offset by a lovely rose garden or expansive beds of petunias and violets. Don't get me wrong, I love a well-kept lawn, but in the desert - it's just somehow wrong.

Most cities in the Southwest have restrictions on water use, or at the very least your neighbors will frown on extravagant use of the precious fluid. So let's take a look at what you can do to make your yard blend in with your surroundings and create interest to passers-by as well as for your own family.

Here are five of my favorite plants for a distinctive desert landscape

1. Soaptree Yucca - This plant has long narrow spiky leaves attached to a main trunk-like body. The leaves are similar in appearance to an aloe, but thin, without the succulent centers. At the top of the main trunk a long stalk shoots up and at the top of the stalk a bunch of white flowers sprouts in the spring.

2. Ocotillo - A member of the cactus family, this plant is characterized by its long spiny "fingers" that grow from a single point at its base. As many as 75 of these canes can grow on one plant. Ocotillo occasionally sprouts tiny leaves all along the canes, especially after a rain. The ends of the canes sprout red flowers in spring to early summer.

3. Verbena - A flowering shrub that makes a good bedding plant or ground cover. Plants normally grow to one or two feet tall and a foot and a half wide. Some varieties grow to a height of four or five feet. Flowers range from yellow and white, to orange, red, and scarlet.

4. Palo Verde - A tree whos name means green stick in Spanish. It is a spiny green multi-trunked deciduous tree. The leaves are tiny, growing in matched pairs on both sides of a main stem. The flowers are yellow and proliferous. They produce a pod that contains six or eight seeds in each one similar to peas or beans.

5. Mexican Bird of Paradise - A perennial evergreen plant that is drought resistant, easy to grow and lovely to look at. The leaves are similar to ferns. The flowers are yellow with orange and red centers.

With a selection of the right desert plants, your backyard can be virtually maintenance free and perpetually beautiful to behold.

Rose Gardening

2006-09-13T21:14:00.000+02:00

The Roses are universally favorite plants. The bright vibrant hues give gardens a splash of color. You can smell the heady perfume of roses during summer as they fill the air. With so many different varieties to choose from rose gardening is a marvelous experience.

While it's true that there many roses that you can choose from, the type is not important. What is important is that you plant them where you can reap the benefits later on. Roses are hardy plants. With so many gardeners breeding new hardy varieties, roses can now grow in any type of condition. Difficult soil and garden problems are no longer a barrier to well grown rose gardens.

The key to rose gardening lies in buying plants that are at least two years old, that have been field grown and are budded. If your young rose plants are pruned then the heavy stems need to be 1/4 inches in diameter at the top. On the other hand if the rose plant is not pruned, then there should be three or more heavy stems that are 18 inches in diameter.

You need to plant your roses in a sunny, well-drained spot. You should trim of all the bruised and broken stems off. In rose gardening roses needed to be eased into the ground. You first dig a hole 6 inches deeper than the rose roots need, then make the hole wide and big all around so that the roots will not grow crowded or bent.

The bottom of the hole should have small rocks or pebbles in it. This rock formation will aid in the drainage for the roses. After the stones have been placed, mix one tablespoon of fertilizer over the stones. Above this lay good fertile soil until the level is where you will plant your rose plant. In the mound of soil make a small hole and carefully plant your rose bush in there. You will need to make sure that the hole has room for the roots. Then cover the roots with soil, firming the soil every so often.

Rose gardening requires that you feed your roses at regular intervals to ensure healthy growth. The first feeding should therefore be given in early spring, before the roses bloom. The second feeding will come after the first heavy blossoming is finished. The third feeding occurs in late summer. If you are lucky there might be roses that will bloom until about November. If this is the case, then feed your plants a fourth time around

While all this care does help in rose gardening, chemical pesticides are needed to prevent sucking and chewing insects from damaging your roses. This pesticide also works to cut down on the fungus that likes to grow on roses.

Rose gardening is a lovely pleasant smelling hobby to do. If you take care of your plant during the initial days, then you will be rewarded with big, vibrant blossoms that are a joy to behold.

Preventing A Crabgrass Problem

2006-09-12T18:12:00.000+02:00

If you take pride in your lawn you probably spend a lot of time taking care of it. You provide it with the right fertilizer several times a year. You water it regularly and keep it meticulously manicured. But what do you do when crabgrass enters your lawn? This article will give you some tips on controlling a crabgrass problem.

There are two main ways to control crabgrass. You can use natural ways and chemical methods. The best way to control them would be a combination of both methods.

With chemical methods of crabgrass control you will need to apply a pre-emergent before it germinates. When the temperature reaches a sustained 55 degrees for more than three or four days the crabgrass will begin to grow. The only way to really treat crabgrass is to kill it before it starts to actively grow. After that time it becomes much harder.

To naturally prevent crabgrass all you have to do is maintain a healthy lawn. Crabgrass takes advantage of sick lawns and moves in so you need to keep your lawn strong. Do not cut it too short and apply fertilizer at the correct times of year (when your lawn is actively growing). Finally if you have crabgrass, rinse your mower off after cutting an affected area. This prevents the crabgrass from spreading to unaffected areas.

Crabgrass can be difficult to get rid of but have patience. By using the natural and chemical methods above you will eventually control the problem.

The Beauty of Water Fountains

2006-09-12T18:09:00.000+02:00

Ever watched a water fountain whether it is man made or natural? Ever took the time to listen to the gentle gurgle of water flowing. It envelopes one in an environment of serenity, contemplation, and reflective thought. It sets the mood for relaxation in any garden or home. Instead of using white noise, it is more therapeutic to use the actual sounds of flowing water as it freely releases oxygen into the air.

Just watching a water fountain in of itself soothes the nerves and revives the senses. All around the world you will find water fountains. It had existed during the time of the Egyptians gardens around 3,000 BC. The Persians had elaborate gardens using water fountains as irrigation. The Greeks and Romans had numerous water fountains in their gardens and baths for all to appreciate. During the 15th century of Spain the Moors introduced beautiful gardens, tiled water fountains and public baths.
In fact, around the world there has been an appreciation for gardens and water fountains from ancient times. In China, India, Japan just to name a few other countries had and still have elaborate watger fountains which always goes well with keeping a beautiful garden in the home or outside.

In modern time, the only thing that has changed is the time we take to appreciate its beauty and allow it to heal our mind and spirit.

A number of reasons for you to invest in teak garden furniture.

2006-09-11T21:51:00.000+02:00

Isn't nature wonderful? What better way is there for you to enjoy nature than from the comfort of your own patio. But if you really want to rough it and feel the roughness of the paving stones under your bottom, then you really need to consider investing in some furniture for those warm sultry summer nights. One of the best options now available is teak furniture for outdoors.

Teak furniture is renowned for being sturdy and durable and years ago it was the preferred material in many ship yards around the world for ship building. So if it good enough to be used on the seas and oceans of the world it is good enough for your garden. In fact whatever weather your part of the world can throw at it, it can cope.

You will find that most of teak used these days in this sort of furniture has come from either Indonesia or Thailand. Both these countries have tropical rainforest areas where the trees grow and mature under a number of different environmental conditions, and it is for this reason that they have become so resistant to harsh conditions and why this carries through to any piece of teak furniture.

Also teak furniture is more or less impervious to being attacked by either insects or rot and this is due to the high concentrations of natural oils within the wood that repel the insects, mould and fungus. These oils are not just present in the live trees but also in those that have been cut down to be used and so will definitely be present in any piece of teak furniture that you choose to buy. As you can imagine this is not good news for those homeowners who spent vast amounts of money of other wooden outdoors furniture and only to have it collapse or disintegrate in front them after a while.

So when looking for furniture for your garden or patio then you should definitely consider teak furniture to be the benchmark by with any other wooden furniture is judged. Although it is expensive you will find that there are large number of different variations of the furniture that you will be able to purchase such as teak chairs, teak tables, teak garden benches are just a few.

But there is one thing any owner of teak furniture should remember is the maintenance of it. There is one thing that not just wooden furniture but also teak furniture is susceptible to and that is moss. Not only is it unsightly but is dangerous if it gets wet. But don't worry teak furniture can easily with just soap and water and that is really all you need to do to maintain your teak outdoors furniture.

So all you need to think about now is how great it will look in your garden and just how long it is going to last for you.

Fall Harvesting

2006-09-10T11:01:00.000+02:00

Summer is gone. It's time to put our gardens to rest until spring next year. I grew too many tomatoes. I ended up with a lot of green tomatoes. A solution for that is putting the green tomatoes into a grocery bag, close it, and set it aside out of the way for a couple days. After two days, open the bag to see that your tomatoes are starting to change to red. Pull out the ripe ones. Keep checking the bag every day for ripe tomatoes.

I planted too many carrots, also. Keep them in the ground longer (until frost sets in) and cover with 2 inches of mulch to keep ground from freezing. By doing so, one can pull up carrots as needed for a week or so longer.

When garden is all harvested, clean out all weeds and cover with mulch for next spring.

Organic And Inorganic Fertilizers

2006-09-09T19:36:00.000+02:00

To use organic or inorganic? These days, that is the question that is being posed in gardens across the country. The subject of organic vs. inorganic fertilizers has sparked controversy, with both camps standing firm on their turf. Of course, both organic fertilizers and inorganic fertilizers have advantages and disadvantages of their own.
For the most part, plants will not recognize the difference between nutrients coming from organic sources, and those coming from inorganic fertilizers. Read on to better understand the merits and demerits of both.

Organic Fertilizers

Fertilizers labeled "organic" are derived from materials that are essentially carbon in nature. These materials that constitute organic fertilizers are derived from either animal or plant by-products.

Using organic fertilizers has advantages and downfalls. One distinct benefit of organic fertilizers is that they naturally contain matter that is beneficial to both plants and soil. The natural materials found in organic fertilizers help improve the water-holding capacity of the soil, and augments its structure to increase its nutrient-holding capacity. Additionally, the organic materials encourage microbial activity. This plays a big part in the breakdown of nutrients, which allows the plants to absorb the nutrients.

Organic fertilizers tend to break down and release nutrients more slowly, so that leaching is prevented. By using organic fertilizers, you can rest assured that groundwater will not be contaminated by any harmful substances. Organic fertilizers are generally less expensive than inorganic alternatives, and may be available free of charge if you know how and where to look.

There are disadvantages to using organic fertilizers. These materials may be difficult to apply in comparison to inorganic fertilizers, depending on the source material used. Organic fertilizers tend to have lower nutrient content compared to inorganic fertilizers, so more material has to be applied in order to get the same nutrient amount. In addition, the slow-release properties can actually have a detrimental effect on the plants. If the nutrients from organic fertilizers are not released in time, the plants will not receive them for use in their growth cycle.

Inorganic Fertilizers

Inorganic fertilizers are widely available in today's market. There are so many different varieties; it can be hard to choose the best one. To make a wise, informed choice, you must first understand the components of typical inorganic fertilizers.

Every bag of inorganic fertilizer is generally labeled with a set of three numbers. These numbers represent the ratio of Nitrogen - Phosphorus - Potassium. For example, if you choose an inorganic fertilizer that's labeled "7-3-2", it means that there is seven percent Nitrogen, three percent Phosphorus, and two percent Potassium.

When you add these numbers, the sum is just twelve percent worth of nutrients in the bag. The remaining 88 percent of made up of filler material and may contain additional nutrients. These extra materials are added help the user to apply the fertilizer more evenly.

When it's time to choose a fertilizer for your lawn or garden - organic or inorganic - know what's in the bag, and more importantly, what's best for your property.

What To Plant In A Shade Garden

2006-09-09T15:07:00.000+02:00

If you're a first time gardener, or you've inherited your garden along with your house, then you'll probably not have noticed that your garden has a shaded area. Believe me it will have a shaded space somewhere, even if it is in the very corner of the yard. That's why you'll need to be doing shade gardening this year. Executed properly, your shade garden can take you through for a long time.

If you find the shade in your garden is due to a tree or trees, even if it is your neighbor's tree, you'll find that the soil will be dry and full of roots. Planting may be difficult and you may have to improve the soil slightly before anything will grow. Be careful when doing this as some trees, like Oak, are very particular, and can be extremely sensitive to changes in soil depth. Also, if you have to till the soil around the roots, you'll again need to be very careful as root breakage may occur and the tree might be damaged in the long term. No one ever said shade gardening was going to be easy!

When choosing your plants, you'll have to keep in mind the conditions that are likely to be prevalent within your shaded area. Low, dappled sunlight, to perhaps no sun at all, or perhaps sun at only certain times of the day. Limited water in the soil due to an extensive root system, poor air circulation caused by low lying branches, or intrusive walls. These are only some of the conditions you'll have to deal with when shade gardening.

Having passed through the more serious parts of shade gardening, we can now move on to the more fun parts. Namely designing, and laying out your garden, and buying your plants!

Since plants that thrive in the shade aren't as vivid and bright as plants that grow in full sunlight, it's best if you lean more towards flowers with pastel shades, as darker colors will only tend to blend into the background.

Foxgloves are a favorite, as are Daisy's, and Begonias. Bluebells and Forget-me-nots are also some true blue favorites. If you plan your shade gardening carefully, you can have blooming flowers for almost the whole year.

Other plants to consider are groundcovers. Hostas, are traditionally a good groundcover plant, with its big leaves that tend to hug the ground. English ivy, Wintercreepers, and Ajuga are also very good for groundcover.

No matter what you decide upon, make sure that you enjoy shade gardening, and all the benefits it can bring to you, like the peace of mind and relaxation that you can get from the natural subdued colors offered by the shaded garden.

Water Gardening Basics

2006-09-09T14:00:00.000+02:00

If handled incorrectly, water gardening can contain many pitfalls for the unwary gardener. Handled correctly however, water gardening is a worthwhile and rewarding project, and will enable anyone hours of contented relaxation.

Whether you've got a small garden, or a large garden capable of handling an extensive water garden, you'll still have to plan down to every last detail, otherwise you might just be left with something you didn't bargain for.

If you already have a small lake or pond in your garden, or even a little winding stream, your water gardening efforts just became that much easier. Unfortunately, for the vast majority of homeowners, such a bonus is just not on the cards, so you'll have to build your water garden from scratch.

If you've thought about water gardening then you've probably already thought about the how's and where's of how to obtain water for your water garden, and equally, how to dispose of it with ease. This being the case, we can now concentrate on the actual water gardening.

There are plenty of DIY books in the market these days on building your own pond, so I won't go into too extensively. The basics you'll need to know about are simple really. Your pond will need to be designed in a way that will fit within your garden confines, and budget confines. Once that's done, mark out the edges and start digging to the required depth. Line with pond liner when finished, and weight down with stones and plant pots, as required.

If you want your pond to include fish you'll need to decide early on in order to make the pond a livable habitat for the fish. Hardier fish that can survive winter are a must if you want them to live for some time. Koi, and Goldfish are the most popular varieties, but your local aquarium can provide you with more information. Also keep in mind that Koi tend to grow to about 2 feet in length when fully mature, so it's desirable to leave them some swimming room for later on.

Next we can see about populating your pond and its surroundings with the plants that are so essential to water gardening. As an obvious choice, Lotus is very popular and easy to grow. You also get many varieties and shades in the Lotus family to choose from, so it does make your life slightly easier. Be careful not to overpopulate your pond with plants as this will detract from the beauty of your garden, and make it seem cluttered instead.

Place the rest of your chosen plants artistically, in and around your pond area, and you're good to go! Your efforts at water gardening will be much appreciated by all and sundry, and once you've finally gotten over all the hard work this labor of love entailed, you too, will appreciate the pleasures this bountiful water garden has to offer you.

What Is A "Raised Bed Garden"?

2006-09-09T13:59:00.001+02:00

If you're a gardening buff, then you might have heard of the term, 'raised bed gardening'. I have to confess to being quite ignorant on the subject, but upon overhearing, quite by accident I assure you, an argument by a young couple over whether they should go for the more conventional garden, or whether they should try their hand at raised bed gardening, my interest was peaked. After all what on earth was a 'raised bed garden'?

Being the curious minded soul that I am, I was sorely tempted to push my way through a trolley of plants and enquire in all politeness what a raised bed garden really was. Fortunately for all involved, sanity prevailed at the last minute and I found myself reluctant to push my way through.

I did the next best thing and gathering my purchases hot-footed it back home where I could turn to my computer for instant gardening help. Calling upon the services of my favorite search engine, I typed in the words 'raised bed gardening' and stumbled upon a veritable plethora of information. Information which I shall now try my best to impart to you in a manner that is understandable.

So, to begin with, a raised bed garden is exactly what is sounds like. A garden upon a 'raised bed'. Mostly though you're not raising the height of your entire garden so much as you're raising it in little bits and pieces. To do this people tend to utilise things like large containers, or pots. Troughs are also a favorite, as they provide a longer length for the gardener to work with.

There are generally two reasons why you would go in for raised bed gardening, with the first reason being purely to do with aesthetics. Having said that, if you find it difficult to bend down continuously when gardening, then the raised bed gardening is also ideal for you. But the second and main reason you would even consider a raised bed garden has to do with soil and drainage problems that you just can't overcome easily, in your normal, ground level garden.

Raised bed gardens are attractive, and easy to maintain, with the added benefit of being able control exactly what goes into your soil mixture, and how much water you use when watering your plants.

You also have the ability to protect your plants more easily from burrowing rodents, weeds, and unwanted feet trekking through your beds.

A more sensible method of gardening I have yet to hear of, and that wasn't the end to the long list of benefits to be found in raised bed gardening. But the one I liked the most had to do with being able to grub around in my garden in any weather, without the actual 'grubbing' part. No mud, see? Since the plants are in raised containers, you don't actually have to get down on your hands and knees in the mud to do your gardening!

The Secret To That Green Garden Look

2006-09-09T13:59:00.000+02:00

What Is A Hydroponics Garden?

2006-09-09T13:48:00.000+02:00

What do the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Floating Gardens of China, and a popular science fiction television program have in common? Hydroponics gardening!

You may have heard of a hydroponics gardening system before this, in which case you'll understand what I'm talking about. If you haven't heard about hydroponics gardening, don't worry. Hopefully by the time we reach the end of this article, you will have a clear idea of what a hydroponics garden is, and if someone asks you whether you think a drip system, or an ebb and flow system is better, then you won't have to squint at them and say 'eh?' in that confused way.

Before we get on to the subject of drip, and ebb and flow systems, let's take a crash course in hydroponics gardening.

Coming from the Greek words 'hydro' for water, and 'ponics' for labor, the word hydroponics in gardening terms is used to specify a type of gardening that doesn't have its roots in soil, if you will forgive the pun. This soil-free type of gardening depends entirely on a water based system that is enriched with nutrients.

These nutrients can either be in the form of specially formulated chemicals for hydroponics gardening, or they can come as a variety of natural nutritional ingredients found in nature itself. The use of either nutrient form is solely dependent upon the gardener.

Since hydroponics gardening is a soil free system, containers are the best methods for growing, and a number of different varieties of containers, and pots are available to buy.

As a growing medium for the plant, something for it to get its roots into, different gardeners will have different likes and dislikes. Shale is a simple and easy solution, especially for the first time gardener. With a little bit of research however, you can easily find out if Hydroton or Rockwool is a better growing medium for you than shale would be. (Hydroton and shale can be used in an ebb and flow system, whilst horticultural Rockwool can be used with just about any system).

"Any system' referring to methods used to pass along the nutrient enriched water to the plants. Again there are many options for the hydroponics gardener to choose from, but I will explain here only the two systems that I mentioned earlier.

Simply put, the ebb and flow system uses a pump to respectively flood and then drain your containers at regular intervals. The drip system uses a continuous drip that supplies a steady ration of water solution that's right for each plant.

Also it should be noted that hydroponics gardens have a higher growth rate, and many gardeners take advantage of this to create high yield vegetable and fruit gardens.

Now that you now what hydroponics gardening entails to a large extent, with a little more research you should be able to set up your own hydroponics system, and keep yourself year round in fresh fruits and vegetables!