Plant Gardens 101

The botanical name for bog rosemary.

The wood produced by broad-leaved flowering trees or shrubs such as maples and oaks, used as timber, lumber, or firewood.

The end of the winter is a good time to plan some changes in our garden. We are planting, watering, cutting the grass – all thos works might be pleasant for us but sometimes painful. And the garden is not just a place where our spine pain is beginning. It should be also used for a relaxing times. That’s what we have garden furniture for.

When we are inviting friends to our home and we are willing to show them our garden, it’s not only beautiful flowers or trees they will be happy to see. Your friends will probably look for a comfortable place to sit and relax with a cold beer or soda in their hands. And also have a nice chat with the host.

Probably we will have enough space to put a few benches, a hammock and a garden table there. But how to arrange the garden to not to ruine the whole design. Even more, to improve its look?

It’s probably all about choosing the right furniture that won’t take too much space and will match our plants, house and our expectations. For example very natural and wooden furniture would match almost every garden (wood would look perfect among the green) but plastic, glass or metal one defenitely not. Sometimes some of them can give an impression of bad taste and some of a cold look.   (more…)

With just a little effort it is possible to turn your garden into a haven for wild birds. Things to think about are accessories such as bird tables, bird baths and bird feeders, plants, providing food and shelter for birds and keeping predators away.

A well stocked bird table should be the focal point of any bird friendly garden. You can buy bird tables in many different designs so you should be able to find one to suit your garden. Traditionally bird tables were made of wood but they now come in other materials such as metal, plastic and even glass which are easier to clean and will last longer.

Make sure your bird table is positioned somewhere quiet so the birds are not disturbed when they are feeding and site it away from bushes and shrubs where predators like cats and squirrels can lurk.

You can put all sorts of food out on bird tables such as kitchen scraps like animal fats, cheese, fruit, rice, bread and peanuts. You can also buy ready made bird food mixes some of which are designed to attract a particular species of birds. (more…)

As with garden sheds, there are two ways to build a greenhouse: you can either buy the sheets of glass and the frame and do it yourself, or you can hire a professional. However, building a greenhouse can be a lot harder than building a garden shed, which is why even experienced DIY enthusiasts might want to think about calling in some professional help.

The main reason greenhouses are difficult to build is the material that they’re made from: glass. If you drop glass or install it wrongly, it will shatter, meaning that any mistakes you make will start to get expensive fast. Would you put in your own windows? If not, you probably shouldn’t be building a greenhouse. If greenhouses are built incorrectly, not only is it dangerous, but it is unlikely that any of your plants will actually grow properly. Also, it is very difficult to build greenhouses when the sun is shining, as you will get very hot – it’s easier to do it in the winter or the night, but then those are hardly ideal building conditions either. (more…)

Joining a bud or shoot from one plant onto the roots or trunk of another plant so that the two parts will unite and grow together.

Manure tea is simply water in which manure has been steeped. By soaking the manure in water for a few weeks much of the goodness in the manure is leached into the water. The resulting liquid is a highly potent fertiliser.

Manure tea or manure water can be made from any farmyard manure. Poultry, pig, horse or cattle manure is all exceptionally nutritious stuff. All the trace elements as well as the ‘biggies’ such as potash, nitrogen and phosphorous, which plants need are contained in animal dung. All types of animal dung are different and will contain different proportions of nutrients. But all animal dung is good! Even zoo-poo will do! Just use whatever is available in your locality. (more…)

The nonliving, water-resistant outer tissue of bark.

Growing in an unexpected or unusual position, such as new shoots growing out of the trunks of trees or roots growing from the climbing stems of vines.

Use A Grow Tent To Improve Germination And Speed Plant Growth

by Susan Slobac

If you are trying to start your own seeds, you might have discovered some of the challenges in this project. One issue that has to be dealt with is appropriate air and soil temperatures for germination to occur. The other is adequate light, and a third is sufficient moisture. If all of these areas are at suitable levels, you will have a better chance of your seed having a higher germination rate. If any of these three are missing or at too low a level, however, you will not get any germination from the seed at all. What many growers do to take the guesswork out of seed starting is to use a grow tent, also known as a grow closet.

Grow tents essentially work like a perfect little room especially suited to starting seeds. Better grow tents have a reflective inner lining, which helps to spread the light around the entire grow tent and plants held therein. (more…)

A term used to describe leaves that have a smooth edge with no teeth or lobes.

Trying to make up your mind as to which type of greenhouse is going to be best for you? It can be a tough choice since there are so many different varieties available when it comes to size, shape, and of course the construction materials. While wooden frames are often chosen because they look so visually appealing, there are many reasons to consider plastic greenhouses instead. Most of these reasons have to do with the structure’s integrity and longevity. These are important considerations because of course you want a greenhouse that looks very nice but you also want it to last more than a few years! So let’s look at why so many recommend plastic greenhouses over other frame materials so that you can make the best decision for your greenhouse. Keep in mind that while wood looks very nice, it is prone to eventual rotting and this means wood that has been pressure treated and coated. While this might not be a problem for most, in very humid areas plastic greenhouses may be a better bet. That humidity is going to eventually affect the wood, either from the outside or from what it absorbs from the ground. (more…)

Vermicompost, also known as worm castings, is the end result of worms feeding off of organic material such as food waste. Vermicompost has shown in studies that it contains much needed water soluble nutrients your vegetables, fruits and flowers crave.

You can either make your own vermicompost by adding worms and food scraps to a ventilated container or buy vermicompost commercially. Either way is fine and if just adding nutrients to your soil is not enough proof to use vermicompost than read these three other ways to justify its purpose. (more…)

(1815–1852)

The first great American landscape architect. He adapted the romantic English style to the great estates along the Hudson River and on Long Island, New York. His picturesque landscapes were notable for their wild look—woods, meadows, and rushing streams—and the rambling parks he designed for his wealthy clients were idealized versions of nature, complete with rolling meadows and artificial ponds surrounded by naturalized bulbs and wildflowers.

1. A digging or lifting tool with tines instead of a solid head like a spade.
2. The point at which two branches of approximately equal size divide.

Ask anybody who has a garden pond and they will tell you how much the pond has changed their garden. Not only does it provide a focal point for relaxing and enjoying your garden but it can also become a real haven for wonderful local wildlife. There are a few pointers to take into consideration that will ensure the success of your garden pond project

The Beginning It is important to really plan your pond project, so don’t just rush out and start buying material and pond equipment without considering the best way forward. The first thing is to draw up a plan of your pond and how you would like it to look. (more…)

If you enjoy cooking or gardening, or perhaps both, you should consider growing your own herbs at home. There are literally hundreds of herbs that you can grow yourself. Not only do fresh herbs make a wonderful addition to a kitchen garden, but they can also be attractive plants to weave in with other flowers, perennials, and bushes.

When considering what types of herbs to grow, first ask yourself which herbs you use the most in cooking. Consult your recipe box; are there any particular herbs that you routinely buy fresh at the grocery store? If so, these should be your first choices. Also remember that fresh herbs will taste far better than dried seasonings purchased in little bottles. While you may not care for the taste of dried dillweed, you may find that fresh dill is a real treat. When it comes to growing herbs, don’t limit yourself. They don’t require a lot of space, so start with a variety and see which ones you like best. (more…)

The main constituent of the cell walls in most plants.

Gardening is Enjoyable

If organic gardening is something you like to do then maybe you could become an organic food distributor

Every person needs their own time, some way to relax, some sort of task to release tension from our day to day lives. Many have discovered that gardening has helped them maintain a peaceful composure. A organic food distributor has been a worldwide act for thousands of years, so it must work.

It is no secret that our country’s economy is in a state of panic as unemployment rates rise. The planting of simple vegetable gardens would be of some financial help for families. If families were to be able to grow a good portion of their own vegetables, it would save them money that could be spent elsewhere. You could make a few extra dollars if you became an organic food distributor. (more…)

A plant that requires two years to complete its life cycle. During the first growing season, the seed germinates and the plant grows but produces only foliage. During the second growing season, it flowers, sets seed, and dies. If allowed to reseed themselves, biennials can keep the garden in flowers indefinitely. Two popular biennials are foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) and, despite its species name, money plant (Lunaria annua).