Plants For Containers

Since very early times gardeners have had the idea of growing plants in containers. The practice may have begun as a way of nurturing treasured rarities or plants charged with a special religious or mystical Significance. Old frescoes and paintings give ample evidence, though, that the decorative value of container grown plants has been appreciated for a very long time.

Much in container gardening has remained unchanged over many centuries. We still grow plants that were loved by gardeners hundreds of years ago and containers of traditional designs and materials continue to be widely used. There have been changes, however, particularly with the extraordinary expansion of gardening as a leisure activity over the last 5O years. New materials, such as fibreglass and plastics, have been used in the manufacture of a greatly increased range of containers. The hanging basket already known to the Victorians, has come into its own. Furthermore, the transformation of the retail trade means that it is easy to buy all the supplies needed for the container garden - from the pots and hanging baskets to plants suitable for growing in them - at garden centres and other outlets.

Colourful half-hardy plants give a long summer display and do well in all kinds of containers. The hanging basket contains petunias, Lobelia, Fuchsias, Pelargoniums and a grey-leaved foliage plant which cools the hotter tones. In the window boxes are Petunias and Lobelia.

Roses are an important group of shrubs that has been developed by plant breeders. There are so many cultivars that roses are generally treated as a category of ornamentals on their own.

Herbaceous perennials are generally thought of as long-term plants for the open garden. However, many adapt well to life in containers, including good foliage and flowering plants. More tender ones, such as begonias, can be grown as annuals but can be kept through the winter if pro­tected from frost, such as in a greenhouse.

Bulbs (the term is here used loosely to include corms and tubers) are a special group of perennials that deserve separate treatment. They are indispensable for spring and include many star performers for other seasons.

Three main groups of short-lived ornamentals are the mainstay of many container gardens. The first are biennials, plants that flower and then die the year after they have been sown. Wallflowers (Cheiranthus cheiri),which are representative of this group, are generally bought as plants in autumn, although the gardener can sow his own seeds in summer for flowers the following spring. Annuals, plants that complete their life cycle in a season, fall into two categories. Hardy annuals, such as cosmos and pot marigolds (Calendula) are easily grown from seed sown in spring. Half-hardy annuals, like French marigolds (Tagetes), are best started in heat in spring and many gardeners prefer to buy commercially raised stock of these.

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Fertilizing Saint Augustine Lawns Correctly

Fertilizing our lawns is one of those most often overlooked aspects of good lawn care. As busy homeowners we try to keep our lawns tidy with regular lawn mowing, try to keep up with good lawn watering, and then when we remember at the shop - we sometimes pick up an occasional bag of fertilizer. Sadly this is the case with many home lawns, where the actual feeding of the turf is so often an afterthought.

Apart from the regular lawn mowing and good lawn watering practices mentioned, we must remember that good lawn fertilizing is equally as important as any other aspect of having a great looking Saint Augustine lawn. But the benefits of an annual round fertilizing program goes far deeper than just a nice looking lawn and yard, because a lawn which is fertilized regularly and properly will be maintained in its greatest possible health. And it's when our lawns are in their best health that they are more resistant to weeds, pests and diseases. A strong healthy Saint Augustine lawn will also be able to withstand greater wear and tear and damage when they are played on by our kids. We can begin to see the importance of a properly fertilized lawn, so with this information, lets begin to work out a good annual feeding program for our turf.

Choose A Good Fertilizer First

Lets first choose a good quality fertilizer, we want to find one which is not too high in nitrogen as so many fertilizers are these days. While Nitrogen is vital to good lawn health, if we put too much onto our lawns we'll only be creating excessive growth and thatch rates, without actually making our lawns any healthier.

With this in mind we must look for a lower Nitrogen lawn fertilizer, which has a more balanced profile with the other major nutrients of Potassium and Phosphate. We should then look for a fertilizer which includes some minor nutrients as well. Minor Nutrients are many, but in lawn fertilizers will usually be things like Iron, Manganese, Copper and Zinc, just to name a few.

So be sure to choose a good, well balanced lawn fertilizer to obtain the healthiest St Augustine lawn possible.

We also want to choose a second fertiliser for use in the colder months of the year. This fertiliser will be very similar to the first fertiliser, but will have even lower Nitrogen and a higher rate of Iron.

An Annual Fertilizing Program For St Augustine Lawns

We begin our annual fertilizing program one month before the beginning of Winter.

One month prior to Winter, we apply our Winter Fertilizer at manufacturers recommendations.

One month into Winter (two months after the first fertilizing) we apply another application of Winter Fertilizer.

Just be aware that the application of Winter Fertilizers are not to increase growth rates of the turf during these times, but will instead keep the lawn at its healthiest and greenest during the colder months. Feeding the lawn prior to, and during winter will also massively increase the green up and health of the lawn once Spring arrives.

From this mid winter fertilizing, we then fertilize every two months from that time onwards using our standard mix fertilizer that we chose earlier, always ensuring we are only ever applying the nutrients at manufacturers recommendations. Excessive lawn fertilizing will not help the health of the turf, but can instead cause damage to the sod, as well as to the environment as the excess nutrients being applied will only ever wash away from the lawn.

In conclusion, we can now see that a good annual fertilizing program for Saint Augustine grass lawns will not only massively improve the health and appearance of our lawns throughout the entire year, but will also greatly aid in the reduction of many other common lawn problems, knowing that a healthy lawn will naturally and easily resist such problems as disease, pests and weeds. With this in mind, lets not just grab a bag of fertilizer whenever we're in the gardening aisle at the store as a possible afterthought, but instead let's make sure we always have a quality brand of lawn fertilizer on hand throughout the year so that we can maintain our turf at the highest possible health, with the least amount of effort and cost.

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Creating a Cottage Garden From Scratch

As someone who grew up with a love of the outdoors and gardening it was no great surprise that when I was "grown up" and house hunting a good sized garden was high on my list. However, what the estate agent thought was large I thought was tiny.

I wanted a good outdoor space to create my ideal cottage garden. I have been gardening and interested in plants for as long as I can remember. A very early memory is being given a packet of polyanthus seeds by my grand mother who helped me sow and nurture them. They grew to a massive size and the story is often recounted by my also garden loving father.

As a child I was allocated an area of my fathers garden to look after and grow whatever I wanted. I remember growing a wide range of flowers and having a herb garden. Many of the plants are still thriving today.

My father is still a keen gardener although his area of expertise is the lawn. In fact it is an obsession. Being a golfer each blade of grass stands to attention and is manicured throughout the year. Personally I see lawns as wasted planting space.

Having graduated from this area in my fathers garden to my own, I was excited rather daunted at the prospect of a blank canvas. I expect there are many gardeners out there who would relish the opportunity to start from scratch.

As someone who usually rushes into things, I planned, researched, re planned and mulled many ideas over. What was really essential to me was that the garden had year round interest and the boundaries were hidden. I wanted to create my perfect cottage garden.

I have a strong aversion to structure, routine and straight lines in a garden. This aversion also includes soil and boundaries. I like to hide all evidence of garden boundaries so the garden can look as natural as possible. Covering the soil also has the benefit of suppressing weeds. Order, a place for everything and everything in its place is so unnatural and is not my gardening philosophy. Lots of billowing flowers, verticals, garden rooms and year round interest are order of the day.

I aim to mimic or imitate nature as far as possible. I simply adore the sight of plants mingling into each other, jostling for position like fans at a rock concert. This way the garden has texture, colour and form throughout the seasons.

Evergreen shrubs form the structural back bone of the garden with trees and arches providing height. All shrubs and trees are under planted with spring and summer bulbs and many have clematis growing through them, timed to flower before the leaves unfurl. The snowdrops are the first brave little flowers to emerge about February. I welcome the sight of their delicate flowers which have a delicate honey fragrance. So heart warming in those bitter winter months where little else is brave enough to flower.

I am a strong believer that a plant needs to provide interest for more than just one season. This is vital in a small garden. One of my favourite trees the Coral Bark acer, acer sangokaku, has wonderful red stems as its name suggests. This superb tree has the most delicate green leaves in early spring maturing to dark green. Finally in the autumn it erupts into vibrant yellow as it sings autumns finale. For me this tree gets better with age.

I must confess that I am a bit of a plantaholic. Buying, planting and sowing are all gardening pleasures. In my garden I have four distinct areas but they are all connected by arches,small paths and subtle nooks between plants. The garden was planned to appear unplanned, a garden to wander and explore. Each are has a slightly different feel but there is year round interest be that from frost on the remnants of last years sunflowers and perennial flowers,spiders webs glinting with dew in autumn with the fireworks of Rudbeckia, Sedum, Echinacea and acer foliage.

Spring is glowing with a wide variety of Daffodils,Tulips, Fritillaries and of course the cherry blossom. I adore cherry blossom especially when viewed against a clear blue spring sky.

Summer is my favourite time of year. My favourite flowers Sweetpeas are in full bloom. Vases of their sweet fragrance fill most rooms in my house. My other weakness are Roses. My garden is full of Roses, from ramblers to hybrid teas. I use Roses to climb walls,fences,shrubs and trees. I adore fragrant Roses especially if they are climbers or ramblers. There is nothing better in the summer than sitting under an arch of Roses with a glass of wine in the evening soaking up the scent. I also love the shape and form of Roses. From the tight bud to the full open bloom I find them exquisitely beautiful. Roses also fill my home. They also fill a large border outside my house which is planted with spring and summer bulbs. The border billows in high summer with fragrant Aquilegia, Penstemons and Lavender, an essential plant for me in the garden and romance. To me its perfect.

My large border is cottage garden heaven. It has no rules, plants are allowed to self seed freely, plants are divided, if something is not working or thriving it is removed as there are so many plants I love its like a games of swapsies. This border has trees for the vertical, evergreen shrubs, lots of bulbs and carpets of flowers from Forget-me-nots in Spring, Aquilegia, Peonies, Sweet Peas, Larkspur, Calendula, Poppies in a variety of colour, Alliums, Nemesia, Lavender, Scabious, Verbascum and Verbena. These flowers are allowed to self seed and thus follow the seasons. I leave the seed heads for birds and insects, the rest germinate and I enjoy the following year. I simply adore my flower borders as its all about feminine pastel shades and whites which simply glow in the evening light.

I adore flowers and growing them for the house is such a pleasure. There is no secret to successful growing.

Trees are something that I feel are essential in the garden. I have two fruit trees and the rest are ornamental. I have trees for the colour of their bark and trees for Autumn colour. The great thing about trees is that the add instant height and interest. Trees are also fantastic for growing Clematis, Wisteria or Roses through the branches.

This year I decided to enter Warminster in Bloom. I entered for fun and won first prize! I was so thrilled that my cottage garden had won despite being only three years old. Lets hope next year the weather doesn't wreak such havoc on the garden.

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Vermiculture - Worm Composting

There are a number of good reasons to consider giving indoor worm composting, also known as vermiculture, a try this year:

1. Worm composting is relatively easy; while it may appear to be somewhat mysterious, it's really quite simple. (If you already have an outdoor compost pile or bin that is built directly on the ground, you probably have benefitted from the great work that worms can do in converting food scraps to compost.)

2. It's very inexpensive - in fact, you might be able to get started with what you already have around you. More on this later.

3. It's ecologically sound - you can significantly reduce, or perhaps eliminate, the amount of kitchen waste that you'd put into the trash stream. And, you might eliminate the need to make trips to the outdoor compost pile during the winter.

4. You'll make more great compost for your gardens.

Getting Started - Here's what you'll need: 1. A container, tray, and a cover You'll need a good container for your industrious little worms. You can easily build a wood container or two, or you can purchase stackable plastic containers from many garden catalogs and web sites. (See GardensAlive for one example of a stackable plastic worm composting kit. Search for "worm composting".) Wood is somewhat preferable, as it will absorb some moisture; but, plastic containers can work quite well, also.

You worm farm container should be 8 inches to 12 inches deep; the size of the container should be based on how comfortably you will be able to lift it when it is filled with worms and compost. For most of us, a container with two square feet of surface (1 foot wide by 2 feet long, or a square measuring about 1 ft. 5 inches on each side) area will work well.

If the bottom of the container is completely solid, drill about 12 holes (one quarter to one-half inch in diameter) to allow for draining and aeration. If you're building your container with 1" by 4" or 1" by 6" lumber, leave a small space between the floor boards for drainage and aeration.

Assuming that your worm container is indoors (in the basement or a heated garage) you should set your container on bricks or blocks to that any excess moisture can drain into a tray. This prevents the container from becoming too wet and mucky, which is not a good environment for worm composting.

Of course, the tray should be slightly larger than the outside dimensions of the box that house your worms. If you're going to build your own box or boxes, you may want to start your project by procuring a tray or two, and then building the boxes to fit the trays.

Plastic trays will last a lot longer, weigh less, and are easier to clean. Trays can be obtained from catalogs, web sites, hardware stores, pet stores, or home supply stores. You can also buy or use and old metal cooking tray, so long as it has sides that are about an inch high. Or, a kitty litter tray could get you started.

You'll also need a cover for each container, which will provide the dark environment that worms like and also help the bedding retain moisture. The cover can be a solid piece of wood or plastic, a piece of thick burlap, or a dark plastic sheet. If you choose to do worm composting outside, a solid wood or plastic cover is necessary to keep the bedding from becoming too wet when it rains.

2. Bedding for your little buddies The best bedding for your worms is a mixture of ground-up dry leaves, straw, and either a small amount of compost from your outdoor compost pile, or a little bit of garden soil. Adding compost or garden soil will add microorganisms that will also help the compost production. The bedding should be very loose, so that you can easily move it by hand when adding your kitchen scraps.

While a lot of people recommend using shredded newspaper for bedding, we suggest that you should only use that as a last resort, as some of the chemicals in newsprint may not be the best things to add to your compost pile or garden. The bedding should be moist, but not saturated. If the bedding becomes too moist, add a little bit of sawdust to absorb excess water.

3. Worms Worm composting requires red wigglers - not dew worms or earth worms. You can find these smaller worms in fist-size clumps in an active compost pile or in decomposing manure (if you live on or near a farm), or you can buy them from a number of mail order sources, which typically sell them in lots of 1,000. For each pound of food scraps that you add per day, you should have about two pounds (or 2,000) of worms. Red wigglers will quickly reproduce in the right environment, and you may soon want to add an additional container.

4. Food The best foods for worm composting are vegetable and fruit scraps, pulverized egg shells, and coffee grounds. Don't add meat or fish scraps, dairy products, or oily foods to your worm composter because they will create unpleasant odors and, if your worm composting is done outside, those foods will be more likely to attract flies and other pests.

Bury the food in the bedding and cover it. Scoop a hole in the bedding with your hand, insert the food scraps, and cover the food with clean bedding. The worms and microorganisms will find it and quickly convert it to nutrient rich worm castings and compost.

If you're concerned that you don't have enough food for your worm population, you can supplement their feeding with bread crumbs.

5. The Right Environment Your composter should be in an area where the temperature is between 40 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If your worm composter is in a basement or unheated garage, you can provide heat with an inexpensive heating cable if the air temperature drops below 40 degrees. Place the cable in the bottom of the box and cover it with a thin piece of Styrofoam. The heating cable should have a built-in thermostat that maintains a setting of about 70 degrees.

Is it working? Your worm composter is working if the worm population looks healthy and the bedding gradually disappears and is replaced with sweet smelling compost.

Maintenance When most or all of the original bedding has been converted to compost, move the compost to one side of the container and add new bedding and food to the other side of the container. The worms will gradually migrate to the new bedding and food, allowing you to remove the finished compost without removing any or many of the worms. Your worm compost can be stored in plastic buckets or trash containers for later use, added to your outdoor compost, or added directly to the garden.

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Friendly Tips in Growing and Training Best Climbing Roses

One of the best reasons why you should opt for growing the best climbing roses out there is because of the popular notion that says: when you put on some height in your garden, you offer and bring more life to it in the process. This is especially true for gardens that are relatively smaller in diameter and size in the ground level. If this is the case, the only option you will have is going upward. And the nice thing about going upward is that there is virtually no limit.

When it comes to climbers, you conveniently have so many options you can pick from so as to be able to come up with a good and attractive effect. However, keep in mind as well that if you have a small plot, you must carefully see it that you're not overshadowing the rest of the garden. If such is the case therefore, opting for rambling rose wouldn't be practical. Instead, a well-grown modern climbing rose would obviously be a better fit.

Another thing to keep in mind is that you should cautiously look at the wall space or frame or anything that's going to support the rose climber since in the process of becoming overwhelmed and excited, you will realize later on that you actually don't need as much roses to fill in the space as you previously thought. Remember as well that most flowers will bloom once in summer but others can also provide a late summer or even early autumn showcase. The best climbing roses will have long shoots and don flowers either in single batches or in small clusters.

Always bear in mind that regardless of where and when you decide to plant and grow the best climbing roses you've contemplated on, there is one important thing to do, and that is providing the best possible supporting structure. Obviously, it can be very disappointing to see a practically well-grown and trained rose die out and collapse simply because it has become so strong and heavy for the support to withstand. Hence, you should be able to put in enough effort in providing a sturdy and durable support.

Consequently, if you are planting against a wall or a structure similar to it, you must train the rose along horizontal wires that have a distance of about 18 inches from each other, and it must be secured in place using vine eyes or something similar. Additionally, be sure that the wires have a distance of at least three inches from the wall. This is to make sure that air is properly and evenly circulated. Put in mind that without the benefit of good and enough supply of air, roses can incur diseases and die out.

Another important reminder in growing best climbing roses is that they need a place that gets a lot of sun, just like any other plant. Hence, you cannot place them under thick bushes and trees. And in relation to this, you cannot as well place them in a waterlogged soil. However, it's a proven fact that climbing roses actually grows in practically all types of soil. Nonetheless, be sure that there is no plot of weeds.

In the end, the hope and endeavor of growing climbing roses is a good thing. One of the greatest luxuries in this kind of hobby is the fact that there are so many rose plants out there that can be considered as best climbing roses. You can practically choose different colors and perhaps pick between scented climbing rose varieties or thorn-less ones.

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Diseases - Take Care of Your House Plants From Various Troubles (Part 2)

Deformed growth

The plants grow lopsided in the pots and the stately little indoor three forms a crick in its stem. Set this right by regularly tuning the plant, remembering it will turn naturally towards the light source, although it must be said that some plants, namely Azalea, Camellia, Clivia, and Hibiscus, will not tolerate this at all. Leaf and phyllo cacti are also very sensitive when the flower buds are developing, and if these plants are turned, their buds will fall off. So let the plants stay exactly where they are and if they do start to grow crooked, support them with a stick.

Root-rot

Roots will rot if the compost in which they grow becomes waterlogged. Improper watering and/or bad drainage can cause stagnation. The soggy roots will then turn dark brown or even black. The plant's new shoots droop, die off and the entire plants wilt. Severe root-rot is usually fatal but sometimes an infected plant can be saved by removing it from the pot, cleaning all soil from the roots, washing them in warm water, and then repotting the plants in fresh compost. Water very sparingly for a while, until signs of recovery to normal growth are clearly apparent.

Mildew

A fungus disease that can be particularly harmful to plants during the summer which shows itself in the form of a white, powdery mould on leaves. The infection occurs if plants are placed too close together and suffer from lack of air and light, but get too much moisture. The mould can be carefully rubbed of or affected plants can be pruned back, but if the mildew is particularly persistent, the plants should be sprayed with a fungicide. When spraying, do not overlook the undersides of the leaves, but on no account allow the fungicide to touch any flowers.

Green sickness

Deficiency disease, better known as green sickness or chlorosis, is caused because the plant is suffering from a lack of one or more of the essential nourishing elements. The leaves take up insufficient chlorophyll and become light green, yellow, and sometimes bleached in color. Feeding needs to be correctly adjusted if the plant is to survive.

Frost danger

Plants standing on the windowsill need to be protected with newspaper during the night when frost is about, especially in rooms where a stove is burning. During a period of sharp frost it is best to remove all plants from the windowsill before you close the curtains, though this is not necessary if your plants are situated above a radiator. Plants standing in an unheated room should not be watered during frost period, since a wet soil-ball will freeze much sooner than a dry one. If you have to be away for a few days, the plants can be wrapped in an insulating material, such as and old blanket, corrugated cardboard or newspaper and then placed on the floor in the warmest room in the house as far as possible from the window.

How you can tell when a plant has been affected by frost?. Leaves and stem become translucent and limp, and also change color from green to dull grey. It is sometimes possible to save a plant by moving it to a dark, cool room and then spraying it thoroughly with cold water. It needs to thaw out very slowly, and if you transfer a frost-bitten plant immediately to a warm room it will have no chance of survival. If a few days after having given it a cold shower there are still no signs of improvement, repeat the process once or twice. Should the plant perk up again, you can begin to adjust it very gradually to a higher temperature.

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Low Cost Ways To Grow A New St Augustine Lawn

A new Saint Augustine lawn can be an expensive investment when grown from turf from the turf farm. When we begin to see the total costs involved for these sod farms in growing new crops of turf, the expense in deliveries and so forth, we can understand why these costs are as they are.

But for many homeowners who want to grow a new St Augustine lawn, these high establishment costs can be prohibitive. However, with a little ingenuity and elbow grease, we can all massively cut the costs of growing a new Saint Augustine lawn by utilising one of the following cheaper methods to grow a new lawn.

Before we proceed, we should stress that regardless of what method we choose to grow our new lawn, we should always aim to establish the new lawn in Spring. A Springtime planting allows cooler weather for the new sod, so that the new turf cannot become damaged from heat stress, and without requiring too much water or time and effort to fully establish. And as the weather of Spring continues to warm up leading into the Summer, so to will our new sod be more established and needing the extra warmth to grow faster and fully establish as a new home lawn. Springtime is the perfect time.

Buying A Cheap Brand Of Sod

One of the first considerations for many people facing the costs associated with buying new St Augustine sod, is to think about buying a budget brand of grass. We strongly recommend not to do this. There's a reason why some brands of turf are cheaper than others, and that main reason is the quality of the turf being sold. There are some brands of St Augustine grass available today which aren't very good. They may grow too fast - requiring high maintenance levels, they may have poor shade tolerance, poor color, poor wear and tear properties and so forth.

For these reasons, we strongly encourage everyone not to buy discount or budget types of St Augustine grass. Because while they may be cheap to buy and establish, they may just turn into a very bad idea not too far into the future. Best to look at other methods to grow our new turf, while using the best quality grass we can buy.

Sprigs

Our first method of growing our budget St Augustine grass is to use sprigs, which are sold in small containers. These are little containers of sod sprigs which are grown in a similar way to our favorite flowering plants we buy at the garden shop. These little containers of sod are easily and quickly planted out in our new lawn area, and left to grow and spread as they continue to mature over time.

Starting our new Saint Augustine lawn with sprigs is a cheap method to choose, the sprigs are easily planted in the soil, but this method does have one major drawback. And that drawback is the establishment time required for these little sprigs to spread out to cover an entire new lawn area. Sprigs are the slowest method to grow a new St Augustine lawn.

Runners

Planting a new lawn using St Augustine runners a far better method. Using this technique involves going out and buying only a percentage of the new sod which we require for our total lawn area.

Using a sharp serrated knife, we then carefully cut the rolls of sod into much smaller pieces, while also separating away some of the runners from these new sod rolls. These small pieces of sod and runners are then planted out into the turf area, and then left to grow and spread over a period of time.

The percentage of runners required, meaning the total amount of new sod we need to buy, can be as low as 10% of the total surface area of the new lawn area. However, by using so few runners, the establishment time for the new Saint Augustine lawn will be greatly increased. Although the 10% figure will be quicker than growing the new lawn from sprigs, we believe that by using 20% of the total turf area as runners is a far better figure, as this reduces establishment times, as well as guarantees a far more successful outcome from planting the new lawn.

Caring For The Establishing Lawn

Once we've planted the sprigs or runners to grow our new St Augustine lawn, we're going to need to take good care of our new turf area as its establishing. Immediately after planting will be the time needing the greatest attention and care for our new St Augustine turf.

Regular watering is all that's needed for these new sprigs or runners, being sure to never let the sod or soil dry out during establishment. It is as simple as that. If the sprigs or runners begin looking dried out or wilting at any stage, then this is a sign to us that we need to water more frequently. We could put a little fertilizer on the new sod, but this is generally unnecessary until after the sprigs or runners are fully established and spreading rapidly. And its at this same stage of having healthy runners establishing our new St Augustine lawns that we can begin slowing down the watering to the new turf to standard watering levels.

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6 Tips You Should Know About Organic Gardening

Today, organic gardening is an incredibly popular hobby and career that is emerging. The demand for products that come from organic grown plants and crops is numerous. Now is the time to enter into it. Preparing a garden for organic vegetables is the same as any type of growing plants. The only difference is no any materials with chemicals such as spray, synthetic fertilizers, weed killer, etc. are to be used.

Here are some 7 tips that you can use to get started with your organic gardening strategies:

Plan Your Garden

Look for a spot where there will be good morning sunlight and protection from strong winds. Decide what plants you are going to grow. Research what are the individual requirements of each kind of plant to find out if that plant is suitable to be planted in the current climate, location, distance, height, etc. Draw your plan in a piece of paper.

Prepare Your Soil

Fertile soil is the lifeline of the plants. Whether you are planning to grow your vegetables in a container or garden bed on the ground, soil preparation is a must before planting to have healthy and successful gardened. Compacted soil needs to be broken up. Dig the ground into 12" (30 cm) depth and loosen it to provide good drainage and aeration. The plant roots require oxygen to thrive well otherwise the plant will not grow well.

Modify the soil by adding animal manure and compost which is the best and most natural way to fertilize an organic garden. Compost can be made from anything that was once alive. Don't discount the value of your kitchen waste, leaves and grass clippings. By composting it all, you will give invaluable life to your organic garden.

Don't be alarmed at the amount of organic fertilizer you may need to use. Organic fertilizers contain a lower percentage of nutrients per unit weight than chemical fertilizers and they help retain the soil moisture. Because of this, it will probably be necessary to apply more volume of organic fertilizer than is typical for synthetic fertilizers.

While Mother Nature will eventually do the work needed to create compost from a backyard pile, even if it is not actively tended, you can give her a helping hand by adding compost starter to the mix. Compost starters, available from the garden centers, add microorganisms to the soil that help speed up the decay process.

Lay Out Your Plan

Are you busy with your organic garden? Remember, before you replant your flowers or vegetables outside in cooler weather, you need to get them ready for the change in temperature and light! For a few weeks, move your plants to a colder spot with no light for a few hours. Gradually increase the amount of time you leave your plants in the cold. After a few weeks, your plants should be ready for the cooler outdoors. Plant your vegetables or flowers according to your plan in the paper. Place the taller plants at the back of the garden to have a good view of each plant.

Water

Know the plant water requirements. Plants do not need to be watered everyday if the soil is superb to retain moisture. Water the plants preferably before the sun comes up in the morning. This way the plants have a chance to dry out before evening. Fungal infections can develop in the leaves and roots which are left moist and cold at night. Refrain from watering the leaves of outdoor plants especially when the weather is too warm to prevent them from being burned.

Mulch

Use 3 inches of organic mulch to conserve water when you're gardening. Mulch insulates soil in winter, cools down the soil in summer, prevents compaction of soil, prevents evaporation, provides moisture to your plants, prevents soil erosion, improves the appearance of the garden, prevents the growth of weeds and saves a lot of water. It is also beneficial to the earthworms which provide air to plant roots by means of their activities.

Organic Insecticides

Dish washing soap can repel insects. If you find insects ravaging your garden, fill a spray bottle with water and add a squirt of dish-washing detergent. Spray the foliage of your plants and watch the insects flee. They will leave your garden alone until the soap washes away. Simply reapply as needed.

Give the slugs a good send-off. While there are many commercial slug baits on the market, you can create a 'humane' way of getting rid of them. Cut a 2-inch finish off the bottom of a soda bottle and bury it in the soil next to a plant that they favor, with a slight lip showing above ground level. Fill it halfway with beer. The slugs will be attracted to the sweetness of the beer, climb in, and drink themselves into a happy (and terminal) stupor.

Dry your herbs immediately after harvesting them to prevent rot. Rot is usually caused by moisture either within the herb or on top of it. Moisture can cause the production of harmful bacteria that may cause rot on the herb, or produce a nasty by-product which will then spoil your harvest.

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Guidelines on Purchasing a Butterfly Chair for Your Flower Garden

The beauty of your flower garden can be enhanced with trendy and comfortable furniture. While looking to purchase furniture for outdoor use, there is a common variety which will definitely catch your attention. It is none other than a butterfly chair which is otherwise known as B.K.F chair. It is a special kind of furniture that adds color, style and value to your flower garden. Being modern, comfy and stylish, B.K.F chair is in great demand these days. It is recognized by a folding base or frame. You can find them in classic black or other bright colors, in leather, cotton, vinyl or other quality materials for outdoor seating.

It is mostly in the patio furniture section of different websites, you can easily find various types of BKF chair for sale with complicated names like the International Caravan Folding Faux Fur Butterfly Chair and the Dorm Room Padded Butterfly Chair in Plum. Fortunately there are several other fascinating B.K.F chairs available in the market with less complex names.

Purchasing the right butterfly chair for your flower garden

Determining which patio chair to purchase for the maximum possible value can be a difficult task for you. Apart from being comfortable, your selected type of chair should have aesthetic appeal. However, aestheticism and comfort are not the only reasons for purchasing garden furniture. Hence, we have discussed certain important things that must be considered before picking and purchasing a B.K.F chair.

1. Go for the one which has firm and comfortable chair base. Butterfly chairs come with distinctive chair base ranging from simple to complex structure. If the chair base is made of low quality materials, accidents may occur anytime. When buying such type of chair, select the one with a robust base so that it won't easily tip over.

2. Also, you need to consider the type of materials used in these patio chairs. It does not hold any importance when the butterfly chair is purchased only for beauty and not for usability. It would be a complete waste of money if the purchased chair is not serving your purpose. The chair is generally made of quality fabric, leather or vinyl materials. For outdoor seating, you need to buy the one that is made from water/heat resistant vinyl or cloth. Also, you need to thoroughly check the upholstery and make sure it is neat, clean, and of high quality.

3. Another key factor to consider is where the furniture is proposed to be used. B.K.F chairs made of metal or wooden materials are perfect for use in backyard or gardens. As the chair is typically for outdoor seating, select the varieties which are not easily breakable and susceptible to weather extremes. A higher strength is preferable to sustain any kind of body weight during seating. A standard quality is more appropriate for use in a flower garden.

4. It is really necessary to select a butterfly chair which is multipurpose. In fact, you can purchase strong and not so complicated designed chairs especially if you want to use them in places other than your garden.

5. Finally, a butterfly chair is not meant to be a showcase item. It should be strong enough for daily use. Moreover, it should match your taste, preference, style, garden, requirements, budget and purpose.

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Companion Planting Will Maximise Your Veggie Crops

Whether you are planting a new garden or replanting one that has been growing for years, attention to companion planting is guaranteed to improve your homegrown crops.

It's a simple concept based on the way nature works... naturally. For instance one plant's enemy is another plant's food. Some bad bugs have pet hates, so by planting or introducing what they don't like, you can protect the plants that they would otherwise feed on. And then there are plants that have something to offer other plants, be it shade, or some sort of nutrient they put into the soil. You will also find that some plants provide other plants with specific nourishment.

A Fatal Attraction for Bad Bugs

Here the trick is to plant whatever attracts the nasties. For instance, the tiny black aphids that chomp their way through young cabbages, broccoli and other veggies provide a feast for nasturtiums. These easy-growing herbs attract the aphids with their sticky juices that effectively end up smothering large numbers of these damaging mini-bugs.

Growing Plants that Deter Bugs

An interesting fact about companion planting is that not all plants like - or dislike - the same bugs. Similarly, while some plants (like carrots) love tomatoes, some plants (like dill and asparagus) loath tomatoes.

Some examples of plants that will deter bad bugs include:

pennyroyal that keeps worms and beetles away from strawberries, asparagus and marigolds both help to protect tomatoes from harmful nematodes in the soil, lemon verbena that will keep flies, aphids and midges away from all vegetables and fruit trees, just about any plant that is related to garlic or onions, including chives (in particular garlic will chase off potato bugs).

Plants that Have Other Benefits for Companion Plants

Providing shade is a biggie, but you need to be sure that the shade giver actually likes the plant you choose to be its companion. Sweetcorn is an excellent provider of shade and works well with a lot of other plants, including pumpkin that will creep around towering corn plants, producing fruit at ground level. It can also be a support for some climbing flower plants.

Fennel is one of the few plants that most other plants hate! But there are a couple of veggies that like fennel, including gem squash and spring onions (or green onions).

There are many more plants that benefit from just about anything. Yarrow is a good example as it attracts ladybirds and wasps that both love to eat aphids. Most plants are fond of yarrow.

Picking Plants that Deter Bugs

Just as we can use leaves and other parts of certain plants to make organic pesticides, or to rid our environment of pests (scented geraniums are great for mosquitoes, freshly crushed tomato and basil leaves will usually get rid of flies, and sprigs of catnip will get rid of ants), there are similar steps we can take within the garden itself. Here are two possibilities:

Don't rake up the leaves from oak trees. Instead use them to create a barrier around garden beds where lettuces are growing and they'll keep the snails and slugs away. If you're a fan of grapefruit, cut them in half and scoop out the fruit, then use the skin "shells" to attract slugs. Simply place them upside down in any part of the garden where slugs are a problem and remove them, together with slug invaders, the next day.

Ultimately you need to be aware of which plants do well together, and which don't. Probably one of the very best examples of companion planting is illustrated by the relationship between tomatoes and asparagus. They really are best friends because not only will the solanine contained in tomatoes protect asparagus plants from insect attack, but it also encourages growth in the asparagus.

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Arborist and Tree Stress Treatment

When a human suffers from an illness it is easy to detect because humans can communicate their discomfort to a doctor. The same thing does not apply to plants and trees because of their inability to communicate. Diagnosing tree problems requires professional expertise. Thus is anyone is looking for tree treatment then there are experts that can do this job. In this way you can easily take care of the fungi and pest related issues that are affecting the health of a tree.

The longer a plant or a tree's ill-health remains undetected greater the risk that recovery period will be long and eradication from illness will be a stressful one for the tree. This is a job that can be handled by a certified arborist. A certified arborist will identify the root cause of the problem by determining whether the problem is a new development or an issue from the past that has flared up again. Pathology, entomology, climate horticultural practices, soil science, botany and the knowledge of trees are some of the areas which are needed for the proper diagnosis.

To avoid tree stress plant care is very important. Things like good soil, watering them and taking out the unwanted weeds basic essentials of good care. Steps like a yearly health diagnosis for trees and plants will go a long way in ensuring that your trees and plants remain healthy.

One of the important area is mitigation during tree construction. From the beginning of the project when you are constructing your home there should be a presence of an arborist who will actually identify the soil condition. This way soil compaction can be measured. There are lots of things like the damage roots, tree bark, automobiles and bulldozers can ruin the soil. Thus it would be better to hire the services of an arborist who will be completely responsible to ensure that after the trees and plants have been placed there would be no issue that would lead to ill-health.

Trees that are in stress and are sick are more likely to be infested with diseases and insect pests. Plant and tree sickness can arise due different environmental reasons such as excessive watering, little watering, excessive fertilizers, grade changes, soil compaction and ill-adapted plant varieties among others. The best arborists will advise you that the simple way to keep trees and plants healthy is to help them remain stress free. This way they have a better immune system that helps them fight diseases, pests and other infections.

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Enjoying the Benefits of Quality Modern Landscaping Services

Landscaping is something that's commonly seen as a commercial service, in the sense that there don't seem to be that many residential customers to these companies. And while this may have been true some decades ago, the situation is most certainly different today. Landscaping in its current form is not only widely available to everyone, including domestic users, it's actually a very beneficial service for any self-respecting homeowner. If you'd like to transform your garden into something that gives you pleasure just looking at it, then you should definitely consider investing in some proper landscaping services.

We can strongly advise you to take your time in searching for the ideal landscaping company though. You'll find that there are quite a lot of them on the market today, and many are constantly offering some very attractive deals. As you might expect though, the situation is more or less the same as with any other popular service - you can't trust every company out there and you have to be careful about who you're hiring.

Before finalizing the deal with a prospective-looking landscaping company in your local area, you should ask them if they offer any free evaluations, and have them come around to see your home in its current state. This will help them figure out if they can actually service you properly, and it will benefit you as well as you'll find out what their plans for your home are. Before proceeding forward with the deal, make sure you're on the same page with the landscaping company; if there's something you don't like about the plan in its current version, now's the time to say that, as it would be too difficult to reorganize things after the job has started.

Don't be afraid to try out some new things while you're hiring that landscaping company - for example, have you thought about putting up some decorative walls around your home? It might sound a bit tacky, but trust us, it's always possible to make some design out there work for your home, and the benefits can be significant too. Of course, it doesn't work for absolutely every kind of home, and the size of the yard will make quite the difference too; this is another reason to get a free evaluation if the landscaping company is offering it.

Last but not least, keep in mind that the landscaping work will likely interfere with your own schedule. It's going to be some heavy work and constant traffic to and from your house can definitely slow things down. With that in mind, try to organize things so that you'll interfere with the landscapers as little as possible. This is for your own benefit in the end, as you'll be able to see the job completed much faster, and you'll get to use your home again sooner than you'd expect. Plus, when there's no interference, the landscapers are far less likely to make any mistakes and mess up the job, which sadly is always a possibility, even with skilled experts.

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Growing a Vegetable Garden Is the Best Thing to Do

In most cases, our gardens are the most attractive part of our homes and that's the reason most of us maintain an amazing garden. However, there's more to a garden than meets the eye and if you're really interested you would be able to live off. All you need to do is grow a vegetable garden amongst all your beautiful plants.

Why grow a vegetable garden?

Well there are plenty of reasons as to why you should grow a vegetable garden at home, let's just take a look at a few of the prominent ones:

Organic Food

These days everyone is looking for stores that sell organic vegetables and fruits; but, if you grow them in your own garden you're saving yourself a lot of cash and at the same time you'd have a fresh harvest on your table each day.

Exercise through gardening

Another important point to stress on is the fact that gardening is also a good exercise. Therefore, if you don't want to go on daily walks or jogs just enter your garden and get busy!

Steps to growing an amazing vegetable garden

Growing a vegetable garden is really easy; however, if you want a decent harvest there're a few things that you need to do before you begin:

Choose a good site

When growing a vegetable garden the first thing that you need to do is pick a perfect spot based on the amount of sunlight it gets as well as the quality of the soil. Try to pick an area that receives sunlight for at least six hours in a day.

Water supply

Another major factor that you would need to consider when planting a vegetable garden would be the availability of water. Make sure that the area you choose is close to the supply as it makes the job a whole lot easier.

Choose your seeds well

If you want a healthy crop you need to make sure that the seeds you choose are from a healthy crop and they also need to be insect resistant and suitable to grow in your climatic conditions. Therefore, the best place to buy your seeds or plants would be a local nursery.

Harvest in time

Very often people leave the vegetables on their plants for a long time hoping for them to grow bigger. But, that's not going to happen; instead, they would rot and you would get nothing at all after the hard work you've put in.

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Garden Lights to Amplify the Beauty of Your Garden

Adding lights to your garden makes it a lot more beautiful than it already is. However, if you want to make it look really amazing you're going to need to plan it out really well. Use the right colours and brightness as well.

There are plenty of different kinds of garden lights, some of them are just designed for safety and security whereas others offer warmth and there are some that work both as garden lights as well as an added security measure to your home.

Solar Garden Lights - Today's Fashion!

Solar garden lights are becoming really popular these days and there are plenty of reasons as to why this trend is catching up so quickly. First and foremost they don't need an electricity connection and hence can be placed anywhere on your garden and at the same time you'd be saving on electricity costs.

Moreover, you won't even need an electrician to help you out with the installation. There are plenty of different kinds of solar lights that are manufactured just for your garden and they include rocks for pathways a well as stake lighting which brings life to your garden landscape. You could even add hanging solar lights on your trees and bushes to add to the beauty of your home in the nights.

Amplify the Beauty of Your Water Features

If at all you have a large garden, there's a high probability that you even have water features installed, and usually the water features that you have would be either fountains, pools, streams or outdoor aquariums.

No matter what the water feature is, you could amplify its overall beauty using simple garden lights. There are plenty of different kinds of garden lights that are manufactured specially for water features and could be submersed in water.

When it comes to pools or ponds you could use colourful lights and create shadow dances which would definitely be a great way to beautify your home as well. Fountains could be decorated using spotlights and hence they would stand out from the darkness in the nights.

Of course there are plenty of different kinds of garden lights that you could install on your garden, but you should plan them out so that it would not cost you much and at the same time it should give your garden an extraordinary look and not seem like your garden has spotlights thrown about here and there.

Three Common Gardening Styles   LED Horticulture Lights Vs Fluorescent Lamps: Which Is Better for Growing Indoor Plants?   Win the Bed Bugs Battle   Collect and Swap Your Own Seeds to Save Money in the Garden   Vegetable Gardening Beginners - Deciding What to Grow   Key Points to Consider When Starting Up a Lawn Mowing Business