Plant Gardens 101

Organic gardening can be a great way to enjoy the outdoors and grow beautiful flowers, fruits and vegetables. An important step in organic gardening is soil preparation. Experienced gardeners know that nothing beats rich, organic soil for growing a lush and productive garden. Although organic gardeners may choose to skip chemical fertilizers, most experienced gardening enthusiasts know that there are excellent organic solutions to make your vegetables thrive.

Among the most beneficial additives to an organic garden are items from the ocean and its tributaries. These include leftover portions of crabs, fish, lobsters, shrimp, and even seaweed. These valuable sources of nutrients and minerals can be collected in a number of ways.

Crustaceans are a favorite source of minerals for organic gardening. Lobsters, crabs and shrimp all have hard shells which contain limestone, nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, magnesium and other important minerals. Buying fresh seafood is a great way to obtain these wonderful shells. Using crustacean shells is very easy. After preparing a meal, the shells and other scraps are simply put in the compost pile or dried in the sun. The dried shells and other parts provide an excellent source of minerals which are dispersed over a period of months, helping to prevent runoff problems and lowering the need to re-apply nutrients during the season. (more…)

Many are finding that, with craftsman Joe’s help, they are able to create works of art that they never thought they could,www.RedwoodGardenBridges.com­ is not only a place where you can purchase beautiful handcrafted Bridge but also a place where you can learn to make your own Bridge and discover the inner craftsman in yourself and have fun at the same time.

Step 1 Determine a location for your bridge. The foundation of the bridge must be on solid, dry ground. Measure your space and buy materials.

Step 2 Place one pair of concrete pier blocks at each end of the bridge location. Dig down or build up in order to ensure that the blocks are level with each other.

Step 3 Connect beams to the pier blocks. Place the pier blocks one length of beam a part. Attach the beams using metal straps. (more…)

With the inability to plant directly into the earth, planters and pots offer an alternative growing medium. In cases such as an upstairs patio or a small outdoor space, the use of decorative pots, combined with wood planters, allows for both functionality and décor. By choosing your plants carefully you will be able to create a long-lasting show of greenery and create needed elements such as screening unwanted views or softening a corner.

Plants for Screening
It is very common to use plants on the patio or deck for the intention of screening. Screening can be something as basic as hiding an unattractive waste receptacle or adding privacy from a too-close neighboring home.

In these instances, you will want to consider the needed screening, height and width, and then choose evergreen trees and shrubs appropriate to your local microclimate. I recommend doing a simple site survey to note factors such as: prevailing wind and sun exposure.

What to use? The use of evergreen trees can be especially useful if planted in large pots (over 20” diameter) and planted closely to create a hedgerow effect. Shrubs with small leaves like boxwood or myrtle can be useful for creating low privacy screens: to maintain their height, a nicely sharpened pair of hedge clippers is useful.

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It is especially important for beginning gardeners to know what to look for when buying orchids. You have to examine the plant closely to make sure it’s in good health before you take it home. There are a few things you need to pay special attention to. This article will give you a few tips to make sure you pick the best plant.

Age
One of the first things you need to ask about is the age of the plant. Beginners should try to choose a plant that is relatively mature. Younger plants are much less durable than their older counterparts. Therefore, they will be much less forgiving of any mistakes that you make when caring for them. (more…)

You know your soil is “clean”, that your soil is not contaminated in any way because you got your soil tested, so now you’re looking for some organic seeds to plant. At this point you are probably asking yourself, “How do I know that the seeds I am buying are organically grown and where is the best place to buy my seeds?”

Well, you can wait till the last minute and chance buying your seeds at your nursery or such places as Canadian Tire or Home Hardware. However, your best bet is to plan ahead and order via seed catalogs so that you can identify whether the company’s seeds are organically grown.

When looking for companies, look for those who have labels for the seeds which they grow and sell. Those who grow and sell organic seeds will use one or more of these labels: U for untreated, O for organic, OP for open-pollinated, and H for heritage. (more…)

An outdoor pergola is a standing structure which typically is used for shading or covering a specific area in an outdoor living space. The two separate design styles of pergolas are described as being either free standing or attached to a solid wall, such as the side of your home. Pergolas can be designed in a combination of different shapes and sizes, the most popular shape being a rectangular. That being said, a pergola can be almost any shape, even curved. Curved pergolas, however, can be quite costly due to the additional labor involved. They are often designed in the shape of an arc. These fit nicely along a curved hardscape surface.

A free standing pergola gives you the flexibility of being able to cover any area of your garden, patio space, or pool. For example, you may have a patio space which was designed adjacent to your pool decking. A pergola could be built over this area, regardless of the shape of the patio, for the purpose of decor and shade. It’s beautiful to look at and provides much comfort on very hot, sunny days. (more…)

A flat-topped cluster of flowers, which begin blooming at the edge and proceed toward the center.