Sunday, September 28, 2014
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Thursday, September 18, 2014
Successful Composting
Always remember to add a layer of grass cuttings, leaves and such (brown food) over the top of the kitchen scraps (green or nitrogen rich food). You will want to have about twice as much brown food in your compost bin as green food. At this point, depending on how much humus you may need, you may want to go ahead and construct another bin to fill up while the first one is maturing. One will never run out of humus for your organic garden. When the first container if full begins filling the second bin. Turn the materials every day or so in order to get fresh air to all the ingredients and also to help control odors. When the bin is full, add a layer of brown food to the top. Heat the mixture wants to leave your humus to cure or mature.Remember to stir or turn the humus every couple of days. It is also necessary to sift your humus before using it on your garden to make sure that any large pieces are removed.
The better perennials
They can grow anywhere from two to four feet and grow in clusters to form a shrub-like appearance. Irises are another great choice. They have a shorter blooming period but will take your breath away. They grow in any color one could imagine and will multiply each year when they return. Daylilies are also beautiful and even though their blooms only last one day, they bloom all spring and summer long. They are also low maintenance and can grow in a variety of conditions. Try one of these perennials in your garden today!
Choosing a garden
Some gardens take more effort, but it will be worth it! You can even have some of these plants indoors to give you year round fresh vegetables! A harder garden would be to try a fruit garden. These are fairly high maintenance and pests, and other animals are often drawn to the area. The soil needs to be adjusted, and they are fertilized at the right times to ensure proper growth and development. The work will be all worthwhile once you are enjoying fresh fruits! Every garden need to have a plan and make sure your schedule allows the right amount of time to fully care for and maintain the area. If you cannot just pick one, do not worry as you can have multiple types of gardens in your landscape area!
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Bonsai Care tips
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Wild Rose Care
They need lots of sunlight and moist soil conditions. Space them properly because overcrowding can stunt their growth or even kill them over time. Overcrowding also increases chances for disease and pests. After planting, make sure they get lots of water and a little extra attention. However, after these plants’ root systems have become established in their new home, they will need very little from you as a gardener. Little maintenance is involved such as removing deadheads and trimming the branches. Removing old blooms and unsightly parts of the plant will promote and encourage new growth and will make the plant over healthier and happier in the process. These are beautiful for lining driveways or walkways, or you can even make this a show piece in your garden to impress your friends and family who come to visit. Just make sure you when buy these that you have the time in the beginning to get these established in your garden so that they last for years and are beautiful. Also, read up and research the particular variety you are choosing to plant in your garden and soil conditions. Enjoy your wild roses!
Christmas trees
When you visit the nursery or area where you will be cutting, check the area for needles on the ground. If there are many of these, it may signal that the trees are not healthy, and you should take your shopping elsewhere. There is a simple way to see how fresh a tree may be. Take your hand a lightly grab a branch and pull towards yourself. When you do this, the needles should not falloff. When you get your beauty home, you want to take care of it. Most recommend cutting a few inches off the bottom before you put it in water as it absorbs water better and will last longer. They need lots of water. When a tree is first cut, they can take in a gallon of water in a single day. You should never let the water level get too low, so check on this daily. Also remember that the temperature in your home will affect how well the tree does. They love cooler temperatures so the lower you can go, the better for the tree. Christmas is special for most families, so make sure to get the best tree you possibly can.
Monday, September 15, 2014
Do organic gardens at home
Simply add food scraps, grass clippings, leaves, coffee grounds, etc. Remember to locate this bin or barrel away from your home and stir it all up a couple of times a week. It will smell a bit unpleasant, especially if it is warm in your area. Add this material to your soil, mix it all it, add some peat moss and maybe some earthworms and your area will be ready for your to plant your vegetables. You will need to research and get some advice as to which vegetables will do well in your area. Your local nursery or gardening store can give you excellent advice in this area. Pests and disease will be another concern for you as your garden begins to grow. Get rid your garden of pests or prevent them to begin. Natural predators such as lizards, birds, frogs and even other insects are great to add to your garden. These will control your pests in a natural way. Most diseases can be handled with warm water and mild dish detergent. You will also want to add some fencing if you live in a rural area where wildlife might enjoy your garden before you do. It is a simple process. You will need to plan some and learn and enjoy the benefits of eating healthier.
Farmers are starting to go organic
Therefore, the soil is good to use for future generations to come. Fertilizers and even pesticides are all natural. Pesticides such as frogs, lizards, birds and even other insects are just as effective in preventing pests as the toxic pesticides used in conventional methods of gardening. Fertilizers consist of manure and composted materials, which are all natural, therefore, not harmful to the environment or the people who are eating the produce. This method of gardening is not difficult. It is easier than one could imagine. The main things you need are sunlight, water and soil. Most homeowners have all of these in their back yards. Although organic vegetable gardening can take more planning and commitment than conventional gardening, it well work the extra trouble to invest. Not only does it feel good to grow one's food, but it is so much healthier for you and your families. You will all be much healthier for investing in this new project.
Preventing Weeds
If you need to remove weeds, wait until the soil is moist and kill them at the root. It will keep the seeds lying in the soil never to bother anyone! Mulching is also another way to keep these weeds at bay. It will starve the weed seeds of sunlight which they need in order to grow. It keeps the soil moist which plants and flowers love and will encourage growth and productivity. If you do not like mulch you can also use other things such as wood chips, bark nuggets and pine needles to get the look and benefits that you want in your garden area. You also want to weed areas if needed after a rain. The soils roots of the weeds will come out with little effort. Destroy weeds at the root to remove that one fully from the area without fear of it coming back over and again. If weeds are larger you will have to lop off the head of the plant that will also keep it from spreading its seeds over your landscape. Whatever method you use to keep weeds out your garden area, just make sure to be smart and efficient in the removal and prevention of this time consuming plants.
Rose Gardens
Making an area in your garden that is completely devoted to the beauty and splendor of roses is a great idea and will give a very sophisticated feel to that particular area. These flowers have been and will remain popular among homeowners and gardeners simply because of their classic look. Just like other flowers with many cultivars, there are hardy rose bushes and not so versatile ones. This type of garden will require more preparation than others and also will need more care and maintenance to encourage these beauties to reach their potentials. Make a beautiful rose garden right in your backyard. When choosing a location, make sure to pick one that gets anywhere from four to seven hours of sun if the soil has good draining qualities. The pH needs to be slightly acidic of anywhere from 6.2 to 6.8, but roses will also do just fine with pH readings of up to 7.5. Preparation also helps and in the fall months of the year, and this is a prime time to mix in fertilizer the following spring. Anything like grass clippings, leaves and coffee grounds will have a wonderful effect of adding much-needed nutrients.
When planting the roses, make sure to loosen the ground so its an easier time of adjusting and branching out in their new homes. When planting, make sure to about two to three inches of mulch to help keep water in the soil, weeds away and give the area an overall finished look. Adding compost regularly is also recommended by experts to keep the entire area healthy and full of nutrients. Follow these tips to a healthier and happier rose garden and enjoy the fruits of your labor each spring!
Sunday, September 14, 2014
Types of Bird feeders
If you choose to use, this kind makes sure to have a screen on the bottom so water, and other elements can drain out and make sure to empty and clean it at least once a week. House feeders are another popular choice. They keep the seeds dry and protected and will attract multitudes of different kinds of birds including finches, grosbeaks, cardinals, chickadees and sparrows. What a variety! If you have a smaller landscape, try a window feeder. These attach to your glass using suction cups, and they have hooks that attach to the frames as well. They bring finches, chickadees and many other birds to the area. They also give you a personal and up close look at the beautiful wildlife in your area that will be something very wonderful to behold. Tube feeders are also a great choice. They keep the seeds dry and can keep most squirrels away from the area. You will love watching the birds move around this tube and feed as it is quite interesting to watch. Try one of these birds feeders in your garden soon and bring the wildlife to you.
Saturday, September 13, 2014
Landscaping with bridges
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Removing old trees
The main thing that most gardeners, nurseries and landscapers will recommend is that you hire a professional to take the tree down if it is an extremely large tree. If it is a medium size tree that is not close to anything like fencing or buildings or other trees, you are probably safe to take it down yourself. But make sure that you plan it out before you start to cut. Plan on which direction you need a tree to fall in, measure so that you are sure the tree will clear any obstacles and then you can plan on taking down the tree. You will need to get together all the tools that you need, such as a chainsaw, ropes, rakes, gloves and above all, make sure you use protective eyewear. Flying wood chips can do serious damage to your eye or even cause loss of sight. Once you have everything assembled, along with a few good friends to hold the ropes, you can start to cut. You will need to cut a sideways “V” into the trunk to be sure that the tree falls just as you have planned it to. Don’t cut a straight line into the tree, this can cause the tree to roll to either side and make in more uncontrollable. If your friends are holding the ropes and the cutting process goes as it should, the entire process of taking down the tree should be very uneventful. The trunk, however, presents another problem altogether. The recommendations are to use a tree removal company to handle the stump.
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Organic Gardening
Monday, September 8, 2014
Why use landscaping stones?
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Best Plants for Border Areas
In my garden I have three types of borders employed. The most simplest of these is 'banked' borders. These are borders that have something substantial being used to contain the area worked in. Banked borders come in four specific types. 1 – Stones, masonry, walling or cement, bricks. 2 – Wooden. Whether that is an actual trunk of a tree laid down, or a wooden fencing it self, or just garden posts of wood. Hedging/trees inclusive. 3 – Metalic. Standard chain-link fencing and gating. Circular cages. 4 – Tubbing borders. These are usually container gardens in themselves, used for the purpose of giving a different height and perspective to the plants and shrubs.
Personally I use stones, and circular cages made of chicken wire. Occasionally employing the odd wood and tree limb. Depending on what effect I am trying to achieve in my garden. Here's some ideal tips and advice, for making your borders more attractive and easier on the maintenance level.
Stones & Slab Borders
You can buy stones in all shapes and colors and also all sizes. There are a variety of ways to stop stones looking dull and boring. Especially if you are like me, and only have one type available to use. When lining say, a flower bed, with stones, try using larger flatter pieces, on their sides. You can paint these, if you are feeling adventurous. Build your stones thicker as a border, and place a few species of rock growing plants on the top spread down. Creating a beautiful carpet of color. Chose something simple like a phlox or a succulent used to arid rocky areas. The plant called 'chicks-n-hens' is good. Cemented slabs, formatted stone (tiled or specifically patterned) add their own uniqueness to a garden border. Try paving your border. Placing slabs at varying intervals between plants.
Wooden Borders. Use an old tree trunk. Trim off excess branches. Cut or delve a deep groove along its center, and plant pansies or similar annuals and perennials. Even new saplings planted inside all cut trunks. Of course you could paint them too. Or you could just waterproof stain them. Add planter hangers as an extra decorative touch to your wood fences, then add wind chimes.
Tubbing & Metallic Borders. Sadly not much you can do about chain-link fences. Unless you plant a climbing plant that is hardy and fast growing. Like ivies.
Tubbing is pretty self explanatory. I use this method, as it helps add depth, perspective and extra color to the garden.
Easier to remove the tubs, when mowing. Planters come in a variety of shapes/sizes. Don't be afraid to experiment!
Pointer: If painting a border. Do it before you plant. Ensure its non-toxic all weather paint. So that it lasts, and doesn't kill your garden.