Plant Gardens 101

A traveller saw two fields of tea bushes at the side of the road. In one field, the farmer was happily picking the fresh green young leaves, however in the other, the farmer was spraying his plants to destroy the insects that were ruining his crop. So how come the two crops, situated so close together, were so different? The answer is that the first farmer was using organic methods.

Sadly, many growers see nature as something to be tamed, but the sensible ones work with her. That is the essence or organic farming. An organic culture creates a balanced and self-sustaining system that requires no artificial fertilisers or pesticides.

Much of the sickness of crops are created because they are forced to grow too fast, too large or out of season. In the same way that an athlete is more prone to disease or illness during periods of intense training, plants are most prone to problems when they are forced to their natural limits or even beyond. (more…)

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 emotion then to pay attention to the bamboo plant and how it has been cultivated. bamboo care

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. (more…)

Among the legendary creatures that have helped shaped our imagination as children are fairies. My daughter began her fascination with after receiving a gift from her grandmother. She gave her a story book filled with illustrations of Flower Fairies and even now she is still enchanted by them.

Flower Fairs are a rather small type of fairies who grow only up to 6 inches. They were created by author and artist Cicely Mary Baker. Epilepsy prevented Cicely from going to school and was instead tutored at home. It gave her a lot of time to develop her talent for drawing and used the children who attended the kindergarten that her sister ran as models.

Cicely’s artistic talent and her love or nature enabled her to create a wonderful magical world for the Flower Fairies. Her drawing was intricate with vivid colors that stirred the reader’s imagination. The flowers and plants were drawn carefully with the accuracy of a seasoned botanist. Her first book, titled Flower fairies of Spring came out in 1923. (more…)

Nothing focuses the mind on transforming raw material into an object of beauty, utility, and practicality better than landscaping. The land will make you wait when you do not feel like waiting, and nature, a mysterious consequence of every landscaping design, will do everything you do not want it to do.

Landscaping can do wonders for the surroundings. Many people find it very useful. In fact, in the survey conducted by the Gallup Organization, almost 54% of Americans have said that the top benefit of landscaping is the relaxation and enjoyment it brings for people to enjoy.

In beautifying a big garden, employing the principle of landscaping is extremely important. Some people contend that improving the appearance of a big garden can be a daunting task.

So what is a landscaper to do? It would be best to relax and respect the natural rhythms of the elemental materials found in the garden.

A landscaper should learn the value of patience and flexibility. It is with these attributes that a true landscaper can work out the details of the job.

The landscaper must take into consideration the size of the yard. If it is a big garden, it is best to use the proper number of plants and trees so that the area will not appear dull and empty.

When landscaping a big garden, one should keep in mind that employing the principles of landscaping should not just focus on enhancing its features. The way the trees provide shade is a vital factor.

A big garden usually contains some trees and shrubs even before the landscaping process begins. It is best for a landscaper to examine the area before he starts planning the design.

The proper placing of the plants is a necessity. Since it will be a bigger area, it is best to consider the plants that need more sunlight and those that should not be directly exposed to the sun.

In landscaping, what is important is to emphasize the beauty of the nature. This means that if there are natural rock formations in the area, it is best to put emphasis on them if the rocks seem to be worthy of attention.

All of these things boil down to the fact that the size of the area should be the top consideration of the landscaper. The size of the garden will determine if it needs more trees, plants, or other embellishments. Size really does matter.

Read about canna lilies and gloriosa lily at the Types of Lilies website.

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Imagine never having to buy vegetables again. How much money could you save in a year? For those on a tight budget, growing micro greens in your own home can offer some financial relief from paying high grocery store prices for fresh produce. You will not only save money, but you will still enjoy the benefits of eating healthy food.

Micro greens are seedlings that have not been allowed to mature into full grown plants. Many trendy restaurants serve these greens in salads, and as garnishments for other dishes. These seedlings can be grown in large or small batches. You can decide how much or how little you want to grow.

It is very easy to learn how to grow micro greens. You can grow an endless supply of vegetables and herbs on your windowsill or deck, using just a window box or seedling tray filled with potting soil or potting mix. It requires very little room and very little care. It is also very inexpensive. (more…)

You’ve started to plan your next garden in terms of needs and desires, your budget, and amount of time you have to devote, and created a preliminary garden design. What comes next?

- Analyzing Your Garden Sites -
Once you have an idea of how you are going to use your garden, consider it as it is during the different seasons. What plants are indigenous? What times or the day does each area get sunlight and for how long? How much shade do your gardening spots receive over the course of each season? How does your soil measure up in terms of content, texture, aeration, pH? Are there tree roots, wet areas, or other issues that may need to be worked with or around? Consider your plant ‘recipes’; which combinations of plants will work best with your particular garden spot conditions.

- Plant Selection -
Though plant selection should actually be fine-tuned towards the later stages of your planning, it definitely helps you to avoid breaking the bank and prevents disappointment down the road. What should you consider when selecting your plants, shrubs, and trees? (more…)

With the increased new trend in outdoor living, which has undoubtedly been by TV Gardening DIY programs, we are all spending more money on our garden and patio areas. Creating an inspirational outdoor living space is something we can all do with a wide range of hard and soft landscaping products, lighting, decorations and garden accessories available widely on the market.

Some of the latest innovations are in garden heating which allows us to spend more of our precious leisure time enjoying our garden or patio area, be it for entertaining family and guests or simply for relaxing.

Fire pits and fire baskets are now widely available and not only bring the real flame, cosy atmosphere to your garden or patio but also create a great amount of heat, light and ambience. (more…)

Many of us flip through garden magazines, all the while thinking that it takes years, a professional, or tons of money to landscape the gardens featured in the glossy pictures. This isn’t necessarily true. You can design a breathtaking garden and be the envy of the neighborhood by following some of the following tips.

Know What You Like and What Works Drive around your neighborhood and see what’s out there that grows well in your zone. You can jot down what you see on index cards, so they are organized and handy. Start gathering page clippings from magazines and collect some pictures of the designs that interest you. This can help you decide what garden style you like. You’ll have an easy reference for plants and placement too.

Select Location and Color Next, look at your notes and clippings and choose the color scheme you‘d like to have in your garden. Don’t forget to keep in mind if you’re designing and planting in shade, sun, or partial shade or partial sun. Are you looking for something bright and vibrant or something more calming and soothing? Consider starting with a foundation of shrubs and accenting with some perennials, bulbs, ornamental grasses, and annuals for more seasonal color. Perhaps, you want all flowers. Decide on a shape that compliments your house style. Straight styles give a more formal appearance while curves give a more informal feel. If you don’t feel confident selecting colors, you can use a color wheel to help pick contrasting and complimenting colors. (more…)

You’ve struggled, you’ve toiled and, at last, you are satisfied with your garden. It just couldn’t be better. But what’s this? Pests! Now you’ve got to prevent the invasion of destructive bugs in your garden. Here’s the best kind of gardening advice you can find for that purpose: Try growing companion plants.

Companion plants are very useful to gardeners or farmers. They have natural substances in them that will repel or attract insects. In specific cases, they can even increase the growth rate of plants, even improve the flavors these plants produce. Not only that but they help to bring a balanced ecosystem to the landscape. Overall then, growing companion plants will result in much healthier and productive plants and better crop production.

There are many kinds of companion plants available. If this is the first you’ve heard of them, you’ll probably be very surprised by what you’ll find. These are some examples of companion plants: (more…)

The importance of having good seeds has already been declared. They must not only grow, but grow into what we have bought them for–be true to name. Without the latter quality we cannot be sure of good gardens, and without the former they will not be full ones. A meagre “stand” from seeds properly sown is a rather exasperating and discouraging experience to encounter. The cost for fertilizing and preparing the land is just as much, and the cost of cultivating very nearly as much, when the rows are full of thrifty plants or strung out with poor ones. Whether you use ten cents’ worth or ten dollars’ worth, the best seed to be had will be the most economical to buy–to say nothing of the satisfaction that full rows give. Inexperienced gardeners seem universally to have the conviction that the only thing required in seed sowing is to cover the seed with soil. What sort of soil it is, or in what condition, or at what depth or temperature the seed is planted, are questions about which they do not trouble themselves to think. (more…)

There is another thing to be considered in making each vegetable do its best, and that is crop rotation, or the following of any vegetable with a different sort at the next planting…

With some vegetables, such as cabbage, this is almost imperative, and practically all are helped by it.

Even onions, which are popularly supposed to be the proving exception to the rule, are healthier, and do as well after some other crop, “provided” the soil is as finely pulverized and rich as a previous crop of onions would leave it.

If the same vegetables are grown in the same place year after year, there is a risk that soil borne pests and diseases will become a problem, and that plant health can decline as a result of this. (more…)

As what most people would say, growing plants is a skill and great skills comes form experience. You need to have some experience before you can start growing plants successfully. But with NaturesHydro grow boxes, only a little experience is needed to actually start growing plants such as medical marijuana. A lot of marijuana growers know how hard it is to become successful in growing marijuana the traditional way. With all the hassle of monitoring and all the efforts in maintaining with the absence of control over these things, it is possible that there is a big room for errors which would result to failure. But when you switch to using NaturesHydro grow boxes in growing your herbs, not only that you will become successful but you can also have better yield compared to traditional soil growing methods. With NaturesHydro grow boxes you will be able to accelerate the growth of your medical marijuana and optimize its full potential. This is because a NaturesHydro grow box has all the accessories, like hydroponics system, plant light, nutrients, CO2 ventilation, that made it capable of controlling and customizing the growing environment to make it suitable for marijuana to grow and yield optimally. (more…)

What is organic gardening? It is gardening using materials and or matter that comes from compost, manure and other living matter. It is also a way to garden without using pesticides, insecticides and other harmful ingredients.

Organic gardening is an excellent way to grow your trees, shrubs, flowers, vegetables and plants. Start Spring color for your garden Organic composting comes from worms, food waste, grass clippings and old leaves. If left alone in some type of tumbler or rotating container it will eventually be consumed by bacteria. You can then use this type of “Compost” to amend your soil for your gardening needs. Humus comes from composted vegetable matter. You can make your own organic compost using a Compost Tumbler. Mulching is another form of organic gardening. Mulch is added to the top layer of any gardening bed, tree, or plant thus keeping moisture in and suppressing weeds from growing. This helps in eliminating harmful herbicides and or insecticides into the environment. Organic fertilizers are cottonseed meal, blood meal, Fish Emulsion, manure and sewage sludge. Many of these type of fertilizers are high or low on the three types of nutrients needed for your plants such as nitrogen, phosphorus, or potash.

You can try organic gardening for Spring color

Be sure to read labels before purchasing. In my opinion fish emulsion is the best and easiest to apply. You should also be aware that some organic fertilizers may burn the roots of plants.

Manure the fresher the better over time this type of fertilizer will weaken, but do not overuse as it can burn plants. Yea I know it stinks but it works. Cottonseed oil is the safest but is normally used for acid loving plants. Blood meal comes from cattle blood after they have been slaughtered. Be careful not to overuse blood meal as it can also burn plants. It is high in nitrogen and good for green foliage. If you are concerned about the environment then “Organic Gardening” is the

Paul Guzman is the author of this article and webmaster of Guzmansgreenhouse.com

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Due to seasonal changes in weather, many plants have adapted to survive harsh conditions through a process called dormancy. Seasonal environmental changes, such as day length, temperature, and drought, stimulate the transition of a plant from active growth to dormancy in the fall and then reverse the process in the spring. This natural process is essential to the health and survival of our garden plants. We do not want to use gardening practices that interfere with this cycle.

Gardeners should not fertilize in late summer or fall. Fertilizing can stimulate new growth that will not survive the cold winter months. It is okay to fertilize plants in more temperate areas where they will grow throughout the fall and winter.

Gardeners should not water in the fall, unless they are is suffering through a severe drought. Mother Nature will usually take care of herself at this time of the year. If you are having an extremely dry fall, moderate irrigation is appropriate. Excessive watering in the fall can promote new growth and delay dormancy. (more…)

Homegrown Hydroponics Fantastic Customer Support

I recently purchased the Homegrown Hydroponics Mini Fridge Grow Box to use in my home. However I almost did not purchase it because it seems like there is some mixed reviews regarding the customer service and customer support of Homegrown Hydroponics. There have been some negative publicity for this company, and even though I have no affiliation whatsoever with Homegrown Hydroponics I wanted to post this article to show my gratitude towards this company for a job and a product well done. From my personal experience I have found that what some others have said Homegrown Hydroponics to be totally untrue and unwarranted, and since few others have spoken up, I thought that I would speak up by writing this article and give a honest review of their product and services.

My foray into hydroponics came a few months ago when I decided to purchase my first hydroponics growing machine. I did my due diligence and research to find companies that manufacture hydroponics grow boxes for home use, and after many weeks of research I narrowed my focus specifically down to Homegrown Hydroponics and their Mini Fridge Grow Box specifically. However I was also interested in one time and possibly considered their Living Room grow box which looked exactly like a piece of furniture but would allow me to grow plants inside with stealth as to not detract from my simple bedroom. I also briefly considered that PC grow box for growing my plants. However because I know because I have very little experience with hydroponics, I really needed a helping hand and some good insight on a grow box to purchase. (more…)