Plant Gardens 101

When summer rolls around, many individuals enjoy spending time in their backyard. When it comes to summer, many individuals associate backyards with picnics, barbeques, swimming, and outdoor sports. While all of these activities are nice, there are not the only things that you can do in your backyard. In fact, there are a number of other popular backyard activities that you may never have given much thought to. One of those activities involves growing a garden.

When it comes to gardening, there are many individuals who wonder why they should even bother. Growing a garden may take a lot of time and hard work; however, there are a number of benefits to gardening. To determine if growing a garden would be the perfect backyard activity for you, you are advised to fully examine these benefits. After that examination, you should be able to decide whether or not gardening is an activity that you would enjoy. (more…)

Your yard and garden are places that you can spend countless hours relaxing if you want to. Luckily, there are some things that you can add to the yard or garden that will make it a more ideal place for you to spend time, or will simply better the results of your efforts. Some things are quite little but others will make a big difference in what you are able to grow as well as how efficient your outdoor space is.

You can transform your outdoor space with something as small and seemingly insignificant as garden wind chimes. Wind chimes come in many different shapes and sizes and if you like this sort of thing you will find that the chimes offer a welcoming sound each time the wind blows. If your garden is near your bedroom you may even enjoy being lulled to sleep by the chimes or simply place them by a hammock or a chair that you keep in the yard. Wind chimes are always a great choice when you are looking to make small changes to your outdoor space. (more…)

Imagining your goal is to avoid ingesting pesticides, pick organic crops from the most common – pears, peaches, grapes, nectarines, apples, strawberries, bell peppers, cherries, celery, lettuce, carrots, and kale. A regular diet of the non-organic versions of these could lead you to consume up to 10 different pesticides a day.

Every plant regardless of its properties starts as a seed. Each seed starts off in a good amount of soil or fertilizer. While many people still don’t see the differences between organic and non-organic there could be high health risks involved. In several schools around California school children have been exposed to pesticides with out even ingesting the product. Imagine acres of farm land being sprayed with pesticide on a mildly windy day, as the pesticide hits the crops, not all of it is kept on the fields. Chemicals have blown through local schools causing two children to collapse in spasms at one local school in Strathmore California. (more…)

Many people may not be alert that farming can actually harm the environment. A large quantity of carbon dioxide can be free through tilling the soil. This contributes to overall warming. When you cultivating and compacting the soil, destroys good fungi. Fertilizers like nitrogen and dung often leach out of the soil and infect the water you down.

Global warming

Did you know that the earth’s soil gives out carbon dioxide in the atmosphere 10 period more than the creature activity? This comes from the pill bugs, bacteria, fungi and worms when they breathe, digest food and then die. Although in the former plants have been clever of absorbing carbon dioxide caused by small-amount tillages, this isn’t the instance today. The intensify of the sphere’s mode temperature is because of the carbon dioxide the soil emits when tilled. The good reports is that tilling can be minimized by mulching or layer composting. (more…)

You have put a lot of hard work into your vegetable garden and the fruits of your labor, the composting, watering, nurturing, should not go without reward. Sure you are going to enjoy the many benefits of healthy vegetables grown right in your backyard (or on your porch), but you can also earn some extra spending cash with them as well.

I have put together this small list of ideas and venues where you can give selling your delicious fruits and vegetables a try. Who knows you might even make enough to pay off a lot of bills or take a great vacation getaway.

Schools, Churches, Synagogues etc. Is your local school or place of worship having an event to raise some money like a craft fair, science fair and so on? Chances are you can rent a table from them for as little as $10. Bring in your fruits and vegetables to sell at a price far more affordable then the competition and you can walk away with some extra cash and you will be helping out your community by supporting a good cause. (more…)

The summer of 2006/7 was quite dry and to make matters worse we had water restrictions in Melbourne and my one and only water tank had very little water in it. So to say that water for the garden was a scarcity was an understatement.

I’d just planted out my new garden just a few months earlier and most of the plants were just surviving let along actually growing. The exceptions to this were about 3 or 4 Eremophilas that I’d planted. These plants were doing really well, putting on new growth and getting ready to flower for the autumn, winter and spring period. They seemed to be thriving despite the lack of water and were living up to their reputation as being really drought tolerant plants.

It was because of this that I decided that these plants had earned the right to occupy a much larger piece of my garden. Also because these plants come in so many varieties I knew I’d have no shortage of variations to choose from. The only problem was that most nurseries didn’t stock them. If I was to fill my garden with them I’d have to go to some specialty Australian native plant nurseries. Luckily though in the meantime I came across a local market with quite a few plant stalls and these turned out to be a real treasure trove. (more…)

Where are you going to plant it, do you have the garden equipment to do so and how big do you want your garden to be? When do flowers bloom and what are their heights? These are all very important questions, however they mean very little if you have not yet decided which types of flowers you want to plant. There are many to choose from and don’t le anybody tell you which ones you can and can’t plant. Gardens are unique and fascinating to look at because each one is unique it its own way.

The secret to making your flowering trees, shrubs, annuals, and perennials bloom more is in the numbers. All fertilizers have analysis numbers on the package. These numbers represent the percentage of each chemical the fertilizer contains.

For example, 12-12-12 is a typical garden fertilizer that would contain 12% nitrogen, 12% phosphorous, and 12% potassium. The quick explanation is; nitrogen produces vegetative, or top growth, phosphorous produces flower buds, fruit, and root development, while potassium builds strong healthy plants.

Most lawn grasses are vigorous growers and therefore require significantly more nitrogen than the other plants in your yard. A lawn fertilizer would have an analysis of 26-3-3, indicating a fertilizer high in nitrogen. You would not want to use a fertilizer containing such a high percentage of nitrogen on landscape plants because it would be very easy to burn them. You must also keep in mind that many lawn fertilizers contain broadleaf weed killers, and most ornamental plants have broad leaves. The fertilizer doesn’t know the difference, and it will damage or kill ornamental trees and shrubs. (more…)

When starting a new plant from a leaf or stem cutting, the cutting will be more likely to form roots and create a new plant if a rooting hormone is used.

While commercial rooting hormone can be used there are organic homemade versions that work as well.

To make rooting hormone soak the yellow-tipped shoots of a weeping willow tree in water. A tea made from the bark of a willow tree is also effective. When using the shoots or bark soak them for 24 hours prior to using.

Some people have found that using honey makes an effective rooting hormone as well. (more…)

Are you tired of going out in the heat or in the rain to get in the car? If you are like a lot of people you have a garage but you use it for storage so your vehicle is parked outside exposing you and it to the elements. You don’t have to continue to struggle with this, instead you can consider buying one of many carport kits that are out there and available for purchase. Carport kits come in many different shapes and sizes and will allow you to cover your drive way or parking spaces with a tent like structure so you and your vehicle are protected from the rain, sun, and other elements. There isn’t a better way to make use of your outdoor space.

Would you like to make use of your waste? Most households throw away a lot of potentially useful products that could be put back into the ground to fertilize your garden. With a compost tumbler you will have a place to put all of these items until you use them. A compost tumbler is a storage unit that will allow you to put any food products that could potentially strengthen the soil in your garden, encouraging your garden to grow and blossom in new and exciting ways. With a compost tumbler you can make use of the items that you are throwing away. (more…)

Any fertilizer that is “certified organic” has been inspected by an authorized third party agency to verify the organic integrity of its procedures. Any product labeled organic has to meet a list of strict standards. Fertilizer farm organic chicken manure has met all standards as required by the USDA National Organic Program. Standards of quality include:

1. No harmful chemicals or prohibited substances have been used or applied to the field for at least 3 years.
2. Documentation that operations follow strict standards to qualify for certification.
3. Detailed records of company practice.
4. Eco-friendly methods and substances have been implemented to help improve soil, control pests, and clean processing facilities. (more…)

Grevilleas are a plant that have been used it gardens and landscaping for many years and despite this it still amazes me as to how many misconceptions there are about growing them, especially in the home garden.

They are a genus of plants that grow mostly on the continent of Australia and consist of well over 300 species as well as hybrids that number well into the hundreds. In fact the Grevillea genus hybridises so readily that horticulturalists for years have used the different species to breed new hybrids as well using the hybrids themselves in the quest to breed new and exciting varieties that can be used both in the home garden and also for landscaping. (more…)

When you are choosing a house plant you need to go beyond the appearance of the plant although that is a good place to start. If there is a certain kind of plant that you want to have look into the care instructions first. Some plants need more care and others are best left to an expert gardener as opposed to a novice one. If you fall into the latter category of gardeners you will want plants that are easy to care for, are hardy, and have a low maintenance schedule.
Ferns are a popular choice for indoor gardens as they are easy to care for, do not require to be repotted very often and are attractive. There is a wide range of fern varieties available and each one has a unique look. Some of the different ferns great for houseplants are:

* Maidenhair Ferns
* Davallias
* Fishbone Ferns
* Cretan Brake Ferns

Begonias are a great choice for the indoors too especially if you do not have a great light source. This plant can survive on very little light each day. Some will flower indoors but the leaves are beautiful on their own too. They also don’t mind cooler temperatures either, but it should not get colder than 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees Celsius). A few the begonia varieties available: (more…)

By default gardeners are green, green thumbed that is. They take necessary steps to cultivate their land, regardless of the size, and do the things to make their gardens a success. But did you know you can also do some other things that not only will add to your green thumb but make you go green and be more environmentally friendly? Here are some things as a gardener you can start implementing today for a cleaner environment.

Recycle Water Well you are not really recycling water but what you are doing to trapping rain water to be used at a later date so you do not pull more water from the municipal supply. You do this by using a rain barrel, which is just really a fancy word for a container that catches rain water from your down spouts. Just use a garbage can, rubber maid container or something similar and instead of your rain down spouts just going to the ground, redirect them into your containers. When they get full, use the water in your garden. (more…)

Why should you use organic fertilizers in your plot? Simply because they are good for your plants and good for the environment.

Nearly 70 percent of water pollution comes from agricultural areas that use substance fertilizers, according to the EPA. These chemicals trickle into the water and instigate soil erosion. While large-magnitude rural operations are a chief mine of compound fertilizers in water, home gardeners are also guilty of such pollution. However, many growers are attempting to mark their mistakes by with organic emergent methods.

Organic fertilizers are those that use organic soil amendments to rear the nutrient gratify and increase the soil characteristics of a patch. The addition of decomposing organic equipment in an organic backyard provides a true fertilizer, supplying plants with the nutrients they poverty for best lump. These fertilizers also enrich the character of your patch soil, not theme what brand you have.

If your plot has soil, organic fertilizers preserve its tilth, which prevents it from clumping together. Organic fertilizers are also a brilliant means of property water in the soil. This is a help if you have grimy soil in your backyard. Fertilizers made of organic supplies have properties that make micro-nutrients like iron and zinc free to your plot plants. (more…)

Gardeners growing vegetables find that companion planting provides many benefits, one of which is protection from garden pests. A major enemy of the carrot is the carrot fly, whereas the leek suffers from the onion fly and leek moth. Yet when leek and carrot live together in companionship, the strong and strangely different smell of the partner plant repels the insects so much that they do not even attempt to lay their eggs on the neighbor plant. They take off speedily to get away from the smell. This is why mixed plantings give better insect control than mono-culture, where many plants of the same type are planted together in row after row. Even when plants are affected by plant diseases, a mixed plant culture can usually alleviate the situation. (more…)

When summer rolls around, many individuals have spending time in their plot. When it comes to summer, many individuals friend backyards with picnics, barbeques, swimming, and outside sports. While all these activities are good, there are not the only things that you can do in your patch. In truth, there are several other admired plot activities that you may never have given much thought to. One of those activities involves rising a patch.

When it comes to farm, there are many individuals who wonder why they should even concern. Growing a patch may take a lot of time and hard work; however, there are several payback to farming. To influence if rising a patch would be the exact garden activity for you, you are advised entirely to appraise the repayment. After that examination, you should be able to decide about whether farming is an activity that you would have.

One of the many benefits of farming is that you can strategy your patch however you want. There are many of individuals that elect to grow planting, plants, or vegetables; however, you do not have to elect just one. If you appeal, you could have your patch be a collection of plants, plants, and vegetables. (more…)

Designing a garden on a budget can be a fun challenge. Determine what you can afford to spend, then choose plants and flowers that complement each other. Always look for sale items and shop around until you find something you like that you can afford.

Here are a few tips for creating a garden on a budget:

- Choose a plot

Consider what type of soil and how much sunlight your yard has. Choose varieties that will thrive in your featured location. If you are new to gardening, start with a small space and try to find plants that are easy to care for, such as irises, azaleas. (more…)

How close can you go to killing a plant without actually killing it?

Before I actually wrote this article I thought long and hard as to whether other gardeners would actually believe my story or if I should try to change some of the detail to make it sound more believable. In the end I decided to protect its integrity and just tell it as it happened.

It was a hot summer afternoon in the middle of December which had been preceded by a winter and spring with well below average rainfall. You’d have thought that transplanting a semi established shrub would be the last thing a gardener with any ounce of credibility would consider on a day like that.

Well in this case I’m not sure if I had a moment of madness or I was suffering from a bout of extreme optimism but I still look back today and find the story I’m about to tell quite amazing. The shrub in question was a Grevillea Caloundra Gem (G. Banksii x ‘Coochin Hill or so the label said) that I’d planted right at the front of the garden bed just two years earlier. It had grown to a height of about 2 m and was doing quite well. The problem for me was that despite the lack of rainfall it was doing just a little bit too well and was starting to hide the slower growing plants behind it. So the only solution for me was to shift it to another place alongside a fence where it would serve much better as screening plant. (more…)

Your indoor plants are going to let you know if something isn’t right. The leaves will fall off, turn brown or some other symptom will manifest itself. The are various causes, some that can be rectified and others that cannot. When you are trying to figure out what is wrong, start with the simplest solution as a starting point.

The most common cause of a sick houseplant is watering, either too much or not enough. If the plant’s leaves are starting too look wilted or are drying up, check the soil and if it is dry add a good amount of water to wet the dirt and leave it moist once the water has run through. If you have over watered a plant, make sure the drainage hole is not clogged and if you have a dish that catches excess water, empty it out to make room for more water to drain out of the pot. (more…)

garden: – Gardening tips for pruning
As we discussed in the introduction, pruning plays an important role in the garden maintenance. If you commit any mistake while pruning, don’t lose your heart because it’s like a bad haircut, it is going to grow again. Avoid watering in the evening

During summer, you may experience high humidity, which might result in lot of problems in your garden. To get your plants nice and dry, tuck them in for night. In addition to this watering in the evening may be avoided to prevent damage to the plants. Get rid of Powdery mildew

Powdery mildew is the common fungus mostly affects your ornamental plants. This will create white film on the leaves of the plants in your garden. Even other ornamental plants such as Sand cherry and Dogwoods are also getting affected with this fungus. Efficient gardening is necessary to curtail the growth of this fungus. You can easily prevent this by spraying general fungicide in the garden centre. Prevention of Pythium Blight (more…)