Showing posts with label Gardening. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gardening. Show all posts

How To Grow A Garden With Minimal Space


What if you could create an oasis of calm in your own backyard? Mother Nature has blessed us with trees, grass, flowers and many interesting and exotic plants that can add beauty, tranquility and serenity to your yard. There is something about being surrounded by nature and living plants that soothes the soul and relaxes the mind. Start small and choose a few plants that complement your yard, then start building your own private oasis to access any time you want.

When buying plants, take a look at the roots. For the most part, healthy roots are white or light pink in color. Black roots can be a sign of root rot for all but a select few varieties. Healthy roots will equal a hardier plant, and a more successful addition to your garden.

Selecting a climbing plant. Climbing plants are usually container-grown, although occasionally they are sold as bare-root plants. Choose a healthy looking plant with a good framework of both established stems and new shoots. Turn the pot over, and check to see if there are any young roots growing out of the holes in the bottom. If so, this means that the plant is well-rooted. Reject any plant that is potbound (meaning you can't easily remove it from the pot).

Create warmth with golden or yellow foliage. Visual vibrancy and warmth exudes from golden and yellow-leaved foliage. They are particularly effective in shady locations, giving the illusion of light and depth. They coordinate beautifully with purple flowers or deep bronze foliage. Good choices include Caryopteris 'Worcester Gold', Viburnum 'Aureum', various Hostas and Spirea 'Gold Flame'.

That's all there is to it. Just follow the tips above and you will be able to enhance your existing garden or start a new garden from scratch. You may want to add garden accessories as well, but whatever you do -- creating your own garden space creates an instant getaway that you can indulge in any time you feel the need.

Learn How To Have A Glorious Garden


Gardening is one of the most rewarding and relaxing hobbies you can spend your time on. To be able to do it well, and do it cost-effectively, you need the best advice. Read on for helpful advice and tips on how to get more from your efforts.

Be realistic about the types of plants you can grow in your garden. If a particular plant has failed you in the past, don't try it again. You need to right kind of climate, soil, and sun/shade ratio for certain plants. If you don't have it, no amount of effort will make those plants a success. Choosing realistically will increase your yield while decreasing your effort.

To grow great potatos, plant the spuds in burlap bags. Simply fill the bag with soil, plant the buds, and let it rest in your garden. This method of growing gives the spuds better air flow, and allows for excellent drainage. This is also a great way to grow potatoes if your garden is lacking in room.

Yeast traps can rid your garden of slugs. Just sink some shallow jars filled with beer into the ground. The slugs are naturally attracted to the yeast the beer contains. They will enter the trap and won't come out. Check your traps every few days to keep them clean.

If your tomato plants have long branches that are not flowering or producing fruit, go ahead and pinch them off. It won't hurt the plant, but will actually help. Pruning back the branches that are not producing fruit, allows the plant to focus its energy and nutrients on producing larger and more flavorful fruit.

There you have a few more ways to make gardening more enjoyable and productive. A garden is one of the most beautiful additions to any environment. It also provides its caretaker with a great way to reduce stress, forget about the trials and tribulations that life may hold, while giving you a real sense of pride and accomplishment. So get out there and enjoy!

City Dweller? You Can Still Grow A Garden!


Gardening is a great hobby. Whether it's a small patch in your back yard or your entire lawn, it makes your home look beautiful and inviting. But if you're a beginner, you might not know where to start. This article contains many suggestions that can help you answer some of the questions you might have and get started.

If you will be doing a lot of pruning in your garden, invest in a high quality pair of gloves. Garden gloves with a leather hand, or that are grip-enhanced, can be a good choice. The gloves will protect your hands, and help to make your work tasks more pleasant.

Salt deposits can form unsightly marks on your clay pots. To easily remove the deposits mix water, rubbing alcohol and white vinegar in equal parts and spray onto the pots. Scrub with a plastic pad or brush and allow the pot to dry completely. Once the pot is dry, you are ready to plant.

Build a structure to house your compost in. Due to the nature of compost, it sometimes benefits a homeowner to hide the decaying material from the general public. This also gives you an opportunity to shield the compost from harmful light radiation that might inhibit the growth of good decaying bacteria.

If you have to lift something heavy you need to lift with your knees. Many people make the mistake of lifting with their back when they are lifting heavy objects. This can lead to a lot of back ache and could even cause extreme damage. You should never lift anything that is extremely heavy without help from someone else.

There is a great satisfaction in enjoying your garden after all the effort you've put into making it. It is a great, fun activity but also one that takes time and patience. If you follow the tips in this article, you will find that making the garden of your dreams is easier than you might think.

Gardening Tips For Green Thumbs And Newbies Alike


Dig up a spot of dirt, add a splash of water, drop in a seed or two, and "voila!" you have a garden. In some ways, gardening is that easy. On the other hand, it's understandable why you might have many questions about how to make your garden grow as beautifully and productively as possible. This article has many tips and guidance points to help you start your garden and enjoy a bounty at harvest time.

Gardening is not hard, but you should get advice before you jump in head first. You want your garden to be successful rather than fail, so it makes sense to read up a little beforehand. There is no need to purchase expensive gardening books because you can find gardening books at your local library, or find out as much as you need online.

Use a sanitary laundry basket to pick your fruit and vegetable harvest. They are reusable and already have holes so you can rinse the dirt and debris off your yields. It acts like a strainer and will replace the function of wood baskets. Save money and stay green at the same time.

Make use of rain buckets and barrels around your home. You can later use this collected rainwater on your garden to grow healthier plants, while saving the planet. This method also reduces your water bill, as you can't be charged for using the water that runs off your roof!

To keep pests out of your garden without using chemicals, try planting onions at your garden's borders. The scent of the onion will work as a natural repellent and will keep many creatures from disturbing your plants. As an added bonus, this allows you to regularly have fresh onions to use in your cooking.

Gardening, as mentioned at the beginning of this article, is usually more involved than simply combining dirt, water, and seeds. Gathering useful tips and advice, like the ones you learned here, will help you reap the rewards that can come from creating and managing your own successful garden, and truly enjoying the fruits of your labor.

Curious About Gardening? Read The Following Article


Gardening is a great way to escape the stress of daily life by working with your hands and getting in touch with nature. It's also a way to add some beauty and peace to your home by surrounding it with lovely plants. Read on to find out how to start your home garden today.

If your gardening boots and gloves are beginning to develop an odor, try using orange slices! Simply place a orange slice in the boot or glove and leave it there overnight. Oranges are ideal for eliminating the unpleasant smells often picked up in a garden. If you don't have an orange, other citrus fruits like lemons or limes, will work as well.

When dividing or transferring a plant, make sure you keep the roots cool and moist. Roots are the most fragile part of a plant and are extremely sensitive to light and heat. Put a dark plastic bag over the roots if you plan on not transferring the plant right away.

Get rid of any garden pests immediately. Garden pests, such as red spider mites, ants, whitefly, and aphids, can infect your plants with various diseases, so if you notice any of the plants in your garden dying or failing to thrive, check for pests first. To get rid of garden pests, invest in a good pesticide.

If you order roses and they arrive in the mail, be sure to get them in the ground as soon as possible. If you can't, be sure to keep them in a damp container and cool. They will be fine if you stick them in a bucket of water for a few days before planting. Just be sure not to let them dry out because that can kill the plant.

If your life is stressful, gardening cannot be recommended enough. As you have seen by reading through this article, gardening is an easy hobby as well as a great stress reliever. So, what excuse do you have in not starting? Apply the tips in this article today to produce a fantastic garden and to make yourself feel fantastic, too!

Growing A Garden For The Whole Family To Enjoy


Very few things are as rewarding as gardening. Seeing a plant grow from seed to a mature plant is fun and fulfilling. By reading the following tips, you can gain new insight into your garden and expand your techniques. Even the most basic of actions can produce satisfactory and noticeable results.

Slide your fingernails against a bar of soap to prevent dirt from getting under your nails. The dirt doesn't necessarily hurt you, but you will save time and effort when cleaning your hands later. Instead of having to dig underneath your nails, you can just use a nailbrush to quickly remove the soap residue.

Utilize proper tools and keep them in tip-top shape to lessen the stress on your body when you're gardening. Spades and hoes should be periodically sharpened to keep them working at their best. If you have the space, choose tools such as long handled spades that allow you to stand while working. The better you feel after gardening, the more often you'll enjoy getting your hands dirty!

When the vegetable season is over, grow a shoulder season crop if possible. Fruits like strawberries or raspberries bear fruit very early or very late in the season before or after the summer vegetable crops take over and can be planted. Raspberries can be planted to bear fruit in the fall and strawberries can be planted to bear fruit in the spring.

Don't underestimate perennials in making your gardening life easier. Perennials will continue to come back every year and will only require minimal maintenance such as weeding and fertilizing. You'll save time by not having to plant and care for seedlings or starts. Different perennials will perform better in different climates, but sorrel greens and horseradish should work almost anywhere.

No one said gardening was easy. However, few will say it isn't worth the effort. As with anything that requires effort, time and patience are needed. You already spent a moment to read these tips, so take the initiative and give these tips a try. You won't regret it and you might even be glad you did.

Creating A Garden The Whole Family Can Enjoy


Gardening can be a fun and exciting way to beautify the outside of your home and improve the aesthetic value. There are many things you can do to create the garden of your dreams that can stay within your budget. These suggestions are sure to help you on your way to a great garden.

Buy Diatomaceous earth as an alternative to toxic pesticides or adding predatory insects to your garden. Diatomaceous earth is natural, organic, and non-toxic as well as inexpensive and easy to find. It is a green way to keep pests under control. Sprinkle over the surface of soil and water as normal.

Plant seedlings on cloudy days. The cloud cover will help protect your new seedlings from the heat and radiation of the sun. This extra protection gives them a better shot of survival than if they were planted on a hot, sunny day. If your seedlings were being grown out of direct sunlight when you purchased them, be especially careful about exposing them to direct light.

Make sure to pick the right seeds for your location and zone. Certain crops grow better in certain locations. Seed packets usually have information regarding USDA zones. Information regarding USDA Plant Hardiness Zones is also available online. A good example of this is growing oranges in warmer climates and apples in cooler climates.

Spend the additional money to fence in your garden. You are about to make real investment in time and money to create a garden of your own, but it can all go to waste through the stomping feet of playful children, pets and other small animals. Protect your investment with a small fence that keeps the kids and critters out.

As you can see, having a successful garden is dependent upon many different things. If you employ the tips given to you in this article, you are sure to find your garden growing in attraction and becoming the talk of the neighborhood. You certainly deserve to have a terrific garden.

Gardening Tips For Gardeners Of All Levels


Many people enjoy getting their hands dirty in the garden. There's nothing quite like growing your own flowers, fruits, and vegetables, and it's easy to do with the right information, like that found in this article. Even if you don't have a large yard, even small spaces like balconies can provide enough space for a surprising amount of plants.

Gardening can be a great way to relieve stress and so it should be done by people who are suffering from any stress related diseases. This will allow the people to quickly feel more relaxed as they are outside and working with different kinds of plants as well as the earth.

The presence of birds can make your garden more beautiful. Attract them to your garden by placing bird feeders, water, and places for shelter around your yard. Material for making nests can also be helpful. Different species of birds are attracted to different types of seed, so ask at your favorite home and garden store.

Old pantyhose make useful garden tools. Next time you find yourself reaching for some twine in your garden, consider using an old pair of pantyhose instead. Pantyhose are flexible, yet strong; and their soft feel will not damage plant stems by cutting into them. The elastic nature also gives your plants room to grow without strangulation.

If you like to plant flowers that produce a lot of fragrance, consider planting them close to your house. One reason is that you can enjoy the scent whether you are inside or outside your house. Another reason is that the heat from the walls of your house can intensify the scent from your flowers, making them more fragrant.

You don't need a green thumb or lots of land to be a gardener. Whether you want the satisfaction of growing your own delicious vegetables in the garden, or having the prettiest roses on the block, these great hints can help you to succeed.

The Greener Gardener: Best Gardening Tips And Ideas


Gardening can be an enjoyable hobby, or even a source of additional income for you. Gardening is not rocket science, but it does require some knowledge so that you don't end up losing money on poorly maintained plants and crops. This list of tips should help you become a more successful gardener.

When planting a new rose bush, be sure to prune the canes to about eight inches before you plant the rose in the ground. Also, remove decayed wood at the ends of the canes. Pruning a new rose will encourage it to grow more quickly. Keep in mind when you are pruning, try and cut the canes at a 45-degree angle to help the plant to shed water.

Improve the health of your soil before your plant your crops and seed. Three or four weeks beforehand use organic compounds like mulch, fertilizer, and compost to increase the nutrient value and retention of your soil. It will also improve the retention of water, create a soil buffer, and more.

Experiment with color pairings. Purple and yellow work very well together, and can be used to create either a warm or cool effect. For a warm effect, use more yellow flowers than purple, conversely, using mostly purple flowers will give you a cool, soothing effect. A mixture of tall purple delphiniums or penstemon, and lower growing yellow achillea gives a spectacular display.

A great tip to consider in regards to gardening is to be sure that you are protecting your skin when outside. This is important because long hours in the garden can potentially mean long hours of UV ray exposure. Wear a hat, loose clothing and protect yourself with sunscreen.

As you can see, there is a lot of very useful pointers that can help you get better results. It requires a lot of work and patience, but it will be worth it in the end. By following the above tips, you are well on your way to becoming a more successful gardener.

Tired Of An Ugly Yard? Use These Tips To Transform It!


Many people have gardens in their homes. Some of these gardens are floral based, containing flowers for decoration, and others are food based, with fruits and vegetables, grown for consumption. Growing a garden in your own home is simple and the gardening tips in this article, will help you get started.

Water saving ideas for the garden. In areas where water is scarce, gardeners may need to shift the emphasis to plants that require little moisture. The best thing to do is to eliminate as much lawn as possible, as it uses more water per square foot than any other form of ordinary landscaping. Lawn areas can be replaced with groundcover that needs little moisture, gravel, wood chips or decking. Mulching helps to keep moisture in the soil by lessening evaporation.

Think about a color scheme. Your garden design will take shape more smoothly and quickly if you choose a color scheme to work around. Before deciding, take into account any existing plants and such things as the color of the facade of your house. You can choose one color scheme for the entryway planting, and something completely different for a mixed border in the back garden. If you are a beginning gardener, don't worry about mistakes. If you end up with a garish looking display, you can simply remove certain plants!

When you're picking vegetables from your garden, choose to harvest them when they are at the peak of ripeness for the best flavor and the most nutrition. It is best to pick vegetables and fruits in the early morning, because they are still full of moisture and nutrients. With only a few exceptions, anything that you're not going to use right away can then be preserved by chilling in the refrigerator.

As stated before, many people have gardens in their homes. Some gardens are floral based and some are food based. You can easily grow a garden at your home using the tips from this article. Soon you'll be able to smell fresh flowers and eat fresh fruits and vegetables.

The Best Information About Gardening That Exists


Gardening is as beneficial on a psychological level as it is on an environmental level. Gardening can help us attain a sense of calm and self-sufficiency that is hard to replicate with other activities. By following the tips in this article, even a novice gardener can quickly progress in developing great gardening skills, as well as, peace of mind.

To prevent pain in your knees while gardening you should use a knee pad. A knee pad is typically a foam board that will allow your knees to rest on padding rather than on the ground. You will find that most of the knee pads that are sold in stores are less than $10 and can be purchased anywhere that gardening supplies are sold.

Vegetable water makes a wonderful fertilizer. Next time you boil or steam your vegetables to eat, set aside the cooking water. This water is chock full of nutrients, and will provide a nice, nutritious boost to your garden. Make sure the water is thoroughly cooled first hot water can damage and even kill plant roots.

When you boil or steam vegetables for cooking, let the water cool and then use it to water your garden. Not only does this reduce your overall water usage, it provides a useful source of nutrients to your place. Your potted plants, especially, will appreciate the extra nutrients provided by your vegetable water.

When gardening, be sure to use proper posture. Don't lift with your back, and try to bend at the knees instead of at the waist. Keep your back straight when bending over. This allows you to use stronger and more flexible muscle groups to lift, and also protects your spine.

In conclusion, gardeners approach their hobby from different perspectives and different skill levels. Many are just starting their gardening hobby. Others have been gardening for years. Nonetheless, everyone has room to learn. This is true, regardless of how advanced they are. This article contains some of the guidelines for this learning process.

Don't Have A Green Thumb? Follow This Advice And You Soon Will!


Gardening can be an essential part of beautifying your home or supplementing you, your family, or your career. However, understanding it and buying the right gardening equipment can be tricky. Here are some tips that you can use to help you properly and successfully grow a garden like a pro.

Pick a location in your backyard where your compost pile won't be an eyesore to your neighbors. People don't always understand the importance of green recycling, and might take personal offense to having a decaying pile of matter right before their noses. However, if you correctly build your compost pile it shouldn't have a strong scent.

Create a convenient cleaning station next to your outside faucet or garden hose. Collect all of your old soap slivers from around the house (or simply use a whole bar) and place in a plastic mesh bag. You can often find these bags in the produce department of your favorite store for storing vegetables in the refrigerator, or in the laundry department for delicates. Hang the bag near your hose, and the mesh works as a scrubber as well as containing the soap for an easy hand washing station.

Did you know that a tablespoon of powdered milk sprinkled around your rose bushes early in the season can help to prevent fungus growth on your beautiful flowers later in the spring? If you prefer to use a spray, you might try diluting some skim milk and spraying the plant leaves. The lower fat content in skim milk reduces the chance that it will turn rancid.

As you read, gardening can be incredibly important to your current and future home. Understanding how to do it right will help you to truly beautify your home or your business. This article makes it easier for you to understand what you need to do to help your plants grow, and by following the above tips you have a very good starting place.

Great Gardening Advice Everyone Needs To Know


The entire gardening process can be quite a lot to take in and very confusing at first, especially if you don't have the best information to help you along the way. This article will provide you with the information that will start you along this very rewarding journey. Don't wait any longer to grow the garden of your dreams!

Use seedlings to run relay planting. Using seedlings can allow you to get a jump start on the growing season and improve yields to the harvest by extending time. If growing lettuce and a squash harvest is needed for summer, then after the lettuce has been harvested you can plant seedlings to get a jump start on another crop and a higher yield for the garden.

Use your used pantyhose in two beneficial ways for gardening. Wrapping and knotting up old soap slivers in pantyhose allows you to scrub stubborn ground in dirt off your hands, without needing expensive garden soaps. You can also use pantyhose to bag up your squashes and melons as they grow to give them more support on the vine, and the sun can still get through hosiery.

Use bar soap to keep dirt out from under your fingernails when you are gardening. Before you start digging in the dirt, drag your fingernails across a bar of soap. The soap will gather under your nails and seal them up so no dirt can get stuck in there. Then you simply wet your hands and use the soap that is already under your nails to wash them.

If you have clay soil, the most important thing to do is work it over and amend it with some type of compost. Plants tend to do well this type of soil once they are established, as they can sink their roots deep enough into an area that never dries out. Conversely, plants in lighter soil need watering constantly. Remember to place an organic mulch on the surface, which will stop the surface from baking in the summer.

If you want a patch of green in your garden, consider planting a ground cover instead of a lawn. Lawns require a lot of water and maintenance. On the other hand, a ground cover usually uses less water, and certain varieties discourage weeds from growing. Many varieties of ground cover have the green color comparable to a lawn. You can save time and money with a ground cover.

Finished compost can be soaked in water to create a potent brew for various gardening needs! This compost tea becomes a high-protein solution, rich in necessary nutrients you can use for foliar feedings, your backyard garden or even the plants that you keep indoors. Just another advantage of compost you can put to good use!

A great tip to consider in regard to gardening is the fact that you want to wait a few weeks after spreading your fertilizer before planting your crops. This is important because the soil needs time to blend and stabilize its pH levels. During this time you can help the process by manually tilling it.

Install a sprinkler system to water your garden. It can be difficult to find the time to water your plants each day, particularly if you work outside of the home. Proper hydration is essential to the success of your garden, so putting in a simple sprinkler system can save you time and energy.

In the beginning of this article it was stated that the entire gardening process can very easily be taken as a very simple process, which will lead to failure if you don't have the information that will best suit your needs. Now that you have read this article, you have the information. Now all you need to do is apply your knowledge!