Plant Gardens 101

The sound of water and the effect it can have on people is an experience not to be missed. Pump up the volume with the sound of splashing water to inject a sense of relaxation in the air from your water garden feature.For instance listen to the sound of running bath water and to the constant dripping of a tap -is infuriating to say the least. However, if we change the word dripping to trickling and replace the word running with flowing then that is another kettle of fish (excuse the pun if you have a pond.

If a water garden feature is to prove its worth to the eye and ears then choose your garden ornamentation with these two factors in mind – pretty to look at and nice to listen to Fountains and waterfalls are most favourable among gardeners. Before engaging in the structure of water garden features as such then you need to remember – these type of features actually oxygenate and freshen the water with the constant ongoing movements. If you have fish in the pool of your fountain/waterfall then they will love the lively waters – but water plants like lilies and lotus may suffer because of this. Plants as such prefer stillness and may well be hampered in flourishing in action packed waters. (more…)

When a stream intersects the garden, this requires more work. You should use general treatment in expanding the water area considerably. One of the ways in which you can do this is to create a lily pond in that part of the garden beyond the brook, having an inlet and an outlet, thus securing water circulation.

Bays should be formed on the near side. Communication across the stream may be by means of a simple bridge, or stepping stones if the water is shallow. You should resist the temptation to give a “rustic” character to his bridge and think carefully about adding patio statuary, large fountains, or indoor wall fountains that are best left indoors. It should be a plain affair, well and firmly built, as befits its purpose, and with a hand-rail on either side.

There is a type of water garden which is frankly artificial and depends for its water supply on the kitchen tap or the pump. This last condition means that you should have some knowledge of the economy of water and that can best be done by devising what is called a circulating system. (more…)

A good Garden Pond is a thing of beauty that makes your Garden a better place for you and your family. A Garden must not only be a beauty to look at but at the same time it must be safe for all concerned. Some steps have to be taken to ensure that the Garden Pond is safe and healthy for all. Special care has to be taken with regard to the depth of the Garden Pond if you have toddlers or small pets.

In case you have small toddlers in your House, they should be carefully watched while they are in the Garden and they do not slip and fall into the Garden Pond. Even then it is prudent to plan for any eventuality. You can add a Shelf or Ledge or other leaning Structures around the sides of your Garden Pond so that it provides an easier escape for a child to come out of the Pond by itself. Adding other materials around the edge of the Pond and its side will help in getting out of the Pond more easily. (more…)

Modern landscaped yards and water garden areas

Japanese Engineers and contractors are focusing more on garden structures such as Garden bridges, trellises and garden benches to dress up water garden areas and landscaped yards. It seems that certain individual New Age USA craftsmen have recently developed a special expertise in producing some very unique and awesome looking wooden garden arched bridges built from California Redwood, Red Cedar and other exotic woods.

Most of these wood craftsman seem to be located in the Southern U.S. States such as Arkansas and Tennessee, where woodworking has, for many decades been practiced in many different forms. It seems that the styles they have developed are descendants of “Old World” craftsman style bridges. These Tried and True wood craftsman designs and techniques are alive and well today assure quality handcrafted products. (more…)

Confused about which bedding plants to buy? Bedding plants can refer to flowers, shrubs, herbs, vegetables, fruits, and many more. There are also gardening plants that are in season at different times of the year, some in fall and winter, others in spring and summer. The type of garden you are planting will determine the bedding plant choice; there are plenty of gardening plants available to suit your preferences.

If you want garden plants that you can eventually eat instead of just look at, vegetables, herbs, and fruits are the clear choice. Edible plants add an excitement to gardening because of the produce available at harvest time. The main vegetables grown in smaller, home gardens as well as larger ones include corn, peas, cucumbers, potatoes, squash, peppers, onions, carrots, spinach, lettuce, and beets. Popular fruits are pears, plums, tomatoes, blueberries, apricots, cherries, and strawberries. Herbs are used for their wonderful fragrances, to spice up a salad, and in cooking. Herbs that are often home grown include thyme, sage, dill, mint, lavender, and chives. (more…)

Garden and water body have a healing influence in our lives. More and more medical reports are coming out on the positive effects of water bodies and greenery surroundings on stress relaxation. Realizing this people search for apartments with greenery environment with water bodies. Those who are having their own garden are taking much care to give pleasant look to their garden. The demand for soothing sound making water fountains, garden statue with fountains, decorative garden planters and bird bath to attract birds is increasing every year. Others are converting a small portion of their drawing hall into an interior garden. The high demand for interior decorative fountains and planters are proof of the positive effects of the water bodies on stress relaxation effects.

We have moved far away from nature’s rejuvenating properties. Shrinking spaces, crowded public arenas and increasing pollution are taking their toll on us. Besides this today’s work culture is taking a heavy toll on our health. People find no time even to relax for some time. The stress build up is a major cause for serious health hazards over a period of time. If you are deprived of open space convert your interior as a peaceful resting place by installing wall water fountains. Many decorative garden fountains are also suitable for interior. Place some plant around the fountain and create a greenery environment inside your home. The soothing sound of water fountain will be a great stress reliever when you return home after a day’s demanding work. (more…)

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…)

Natural beauty and manmade beauty have come together to form a magnificent combination utterly delightful to the eye! So you have decorative gardens that include an indoor or outdoor water garden. And where there are water gardens, there are water gardening accessories!

The following is a detailed commentary on water gardening accessories–

(1) To select the right kind of water features, you have to be clear about the style of water garden that you are planning to set up. Conduct an online search to discover the distinctive arrangements of water gardens that exist around the world, and narrow your choices to just two or three. Some examples are Japanese tea gardens, container gardens and country gardens. Going around to have a close look at the actual gardens should give you a clearer picture.   (more…)

If you are determined to have a lovely pond that will be admired and appreciated by all who see it then you have make sure that your pond is correctly maintained. Below we look at how to ensure that you get the best out of your pond through thorough maintenance.

There are several basic steps which you can take to ensure that your pond always looks at its best and avoids any potential problem areas. (more…)

Go about hiring someone to spruce up your water garden and in all likelihood you’ll end up emptying up your pockets. Try to Do-It-Yourself (DIY) with the help of a few gardening supplies and you’ll discover that it’s a much cheaper option due to the low cost of the supplies. There is plethora of information available for the seeking gardeners who like to take on the challenges. So whether it’s about that heavenly pond project in the backyard or that perfect water container garden, if you can dream breathtaking waterfalls, you have all the water gardening supplies available to make that dream a reality.

Container Water Gardens

Creating one’s own water garden is always a very satisfying experience as it allows a person to explore his/her creative abilities and watch his/her personality get manifested in the form of the final design. Many people prefer the oriental themed water gardens that range from lotus gardens with calm still water to the multi-level ones with waterfalls from large sculptures.    (more…)

A water garden could be either natural or artificial but there are two things, which bring them together – the adding of some kind of water gardening feature and the existence of water forming the central theme. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, a legendary garden of ancient times, brought into play a prominent water gardening feature.

In addition, Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain is also renowned for its water gardening feature. The water gardens have recaptured their importance in the landscaping area in the past few years, encompassing container based water gardens to great outdoor arrangements. They are referred by several names like water ponds, aquatic gardens, and backyard ponds. (more…)

The spring pond season is an exciting time especially after a long, cold winter. Many pond and water gardeners are anxious to experiment and try out new products and techniques for a refreshing new look. But for many, spring also means the arrival of the dreaded “spring green.” The warmer temperatures and longer days create conditions ideal for algae that turn your pond into pea soup.

The following spring algae-busting tips will help you enjoy your outdoor space throughout the summer without having to constantly worry about algae.

Get a jump start Once algae take hold, they seem nearly impossible to rid. This may be the case if conditions that encourage aggressive algae growth are not addressed in a prompt manner. Simplify algae control by getting a jump-start. Take steps to keep algae growth under control as soon as possible – don’t wait until the water turns murky green. (more…)

If there is at least six hours of light on it, and as long as a container can hold enough water to sustain some plants, and perhaps some fish, any container can become the basis for a water garden. Water gardening used to be limited to ponds and larger bodies of water. Now, many people can enjoy the pleasures of water gardening, even if they live in an apartment.

Water gardening has different needs than regular soil gardening, and as long as those needs are maintained, water gardening can be successful in some surprising places. A container that will hold at least 15 – 20 gallons of water can be used for a small garden. Contrary to some expectations, small plants need to be planted in containers. The nature of the soil will vary depending on the plant that will be in the garden. The plant may also have specific requirements as to how deep it needs to sit in the water. (more…)

You may ask ‘what are water garden kits?’ Let’s just say that this is like Batman’s utility belt for every gardener who has a water pond. With water garden kit, the water gardener has everything he needs.

So the next question is ‘what’s inside a water garden kit?’ Read on so you could take a peek at the water gardener’s utility belt.

To enhance the attractiveness and beauty of their water garden, the kit is necessary for every gardener. Not only will human beings appreciate the view, even wildlife such as birds will come flocking your garden.   (more…)

In times of drought and famine, resources always had to be rationed appropriately for the sake of survival. Luckily, some of us are fortunate to not have to go through a dire situation to have to depend on rationed resources. However, with the planet in peril, personal rationing of resources doesn’t seem like that bad of an idea.

For example, if you happen to be a gardener like my parents and you’re familiar with the idea of water conservation but you really need to water your plants for their survival, then investing in a rain barrel is an ideal option for you. Rain barrels, or water barrels, are designed to save and store rain water for gardening purposes. Great for those who are concerned that water conservation is at an all time low, utilizing water saved from these great barrels reduces your city’s overall water consumption, which could be used for a greater, bigger purpose. Not only that, it’s also environmentally conscious, which is always a plus! (more…)

Transplanting seedlings is one of my favourite tasks in the garden. There are a few simple things to consider to give your young plants the best chance to flourish – you want them to thrive, rather than just survive.

Timing
Think about the time of year. Just because certain seedlings are available at your nursery, don’t assume it’s the right time to plant them out. If you’re not sure, read the label – most tell you the best time of year to plant. You could look in gardening books, research online or ask family or friends who are gardeners (they might even give you some seedlings if they’ve bought too many).

You can plant tender plants before the risk of late frosts has passed, provided you listen closely to weather forecasts and are prepared to cover your ‘babies’ with protection or enclose them in a cloche. (more…)

A Japanese water garden is a place of serenity. It is a place that one can go to appreciate nature, gather one’s thoughts, and relax to the humble sounds of nature. You can create this type of garden in your own back yard and enjoy it’s offerings for years to come.

Even if you live in an area that is crowded and noisy, if you have your own back yard you can design one of these gardens for your enjoyment. Using some natural sound barriers and placing the garden in the right place will be very important. You can use boulders to help create a barrier against the noise of traffic and neighbors. There are a variety of plants that can help you create a barrier as well, included various tall bushes. Unless you buy mature plants, remember that these bushes will take a few years to get big enough to provide a total barrier, but the mature plants will cost you a bit more.

If you have a larger piece of land for your garden you may not need to have a noise barrier. Unless you decide that you want to go ahead and create a barrier for your privacy, then you will not need to have one. (more…)

Water gardens are attractive and can make wonderful additions to your backyard garden. A water garden has the ability to attract wildlife as well as provide an aesthetic value to your home’s landscape. When creating a water garden there are several things to keep in mind and flush out before construction begins.

One of the first things you’ll want to think about is whether or not you want your water garden to be inhabited by fish. Many people that create water gardens stock them with Koi, a fish that’s much larger than a goldfish, but looks similar to them. If you choose to do this, be sure that your pond is prepared for them. The water must have the proper ph, between 6.5-8.4, in order for the fish to survive. The water must also have been treated for chlorine. If you’re going to leave the fish in the pond year round, be sure the depth is enough so that the water won’t freeze entirely in the winter. Fish will survive on algae and leaves that happen in their pond, but supplement this with fish food daily. (more…)

What possible requirement does a water gardener have, to sign-up for a publication on water gardening? Is it not possible to purchase one from a bookstore? At the outset, let us check out what a periodical on water gardening contains.

A publication on water gardening is an essential tool for every water gardener, greenhorn as well as a seasoned gardener. It is crammed with vital inputs on aquatic flora and greenery. It enlightens the reader on the right choice of plants, and the proper way to grow and look after them. In the case of readers living in areas known for freezing winters, the books comes up with helpful information on how to ensure the plants survive during the season of frost. But why register for a periodical on water gardening?

A publication on water gardening informs the reader on the kind of water fauna that grows best in his water garden. It spells out the way in which snails, fish, fresh water molluscs, and various other living beings do good to the tiny ecosystem that the water garden represents. (more…)

People love flower gardens. That’s not news to anybody. The way they can boost your spirits and relieve your stress has been well documented. Even more than simply enjoying them is the hobby of keeping one. As you sit down in the Earth with you spade and you box full of the first spring flowers the stresses of the day slip away and it’s just you and nature. Even more delightful for the little ones and the big ones alike is the joy of watching butterflies delicately sip nectar from your favorite flowers, or the awe of experiencing a hummingbird hovering in mid-air over your carefully placed feeders.

But gardening can be just as frustrating as it can be enjoyable. Gardens tend to attract insects that love to eat tender annuals. Deer and rabbits often devour your perfectly laid rows in a matter of days. And the bare earth, so pristine at the start of the season, weeds find irresistible and soon move in, permanently. Then there’s the part that mother nature herself plays. She is the ultimate judge of whether your gardens will live or die. Drought is devastating. Flood is devastating. Wind, hail, tornadoes, late spring freezes. These are all a players in the game. You can’t always rush out to cover those perfectly manicured rose bushes or set a pale over the petunias. (more…)