Bonsai Care tips

Bonsai trees are wonderful plants you could add to your indoors.  It is long lasting, and each one will have its unique shape and style.  Here are some tips on caring for this plant inside your home to make sure it grows and develops properly. Before just placing it, any old place ponders on where you want to put it. These trees need lots of sunlight, so placing near a window will be the best choice. They do not grow well in sun all day long as too much is a bad thing for these indoor wonders.  Temperature is also something to consider.  They should not be placed near things such as televisions or heaters and love cooler temperatures.  Place where there is cooler air as heat will dry the plant out quickly, and it will not survive.  Humidity is also a factor.  These trees love moisture!

Some experts even recommend placing them in your kitchens or bathrooms due to the level of moisture in the air in these rooms.  They also believe that keeping the plant on a drip tray will allow for prolonged evaporation that will be better overall for the tree.  Misting the tree is also a great way to increase moisture levels.  Even though you want this to be an indoor plant, you will also want to think about letting it get some outdoor love as it will benefit drastically from the warm summer months and the contact with nature.  Many ask a lot about how water this kind of tree.  Since they are kept in pots to control the root system, they will require extra watering.   If the climate is warmer, the bonsai will also need additional water to thrive. Check the plant by touching the top of the soil in the pot.  If it feels dry, water needs to be added.  Bonsai trees are beautiful, low maintenance and will make an impact on any home.

Do organic gardens at home

Just imagine growing your own fresh, natural, better tasting vegetables own your own in your back yard. What an amazing way to eat! If you can plant a plant and water it, you can succeed in your organic vegetable garden. It is that simple. And the benefits for your health and the health of your family are worth the commitment. First you will need to determine where in your back yard is a good place for your garden. Your garden needs about six hours per day of sunlight, and you will need a place with good drainage and rich soil. Do some work for your garden area to enrich and fertilize the soil. It can be done naturally using mulch and compost. You can purchase compost at your local lawn and garden store or, if you want to be sure that you have natural compost, you can start your compile pile, bin or barrel.

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

People are becoming more and more informed about what they ingest. They are researching healthier ways of eating and growing their food. And many more of them are buying organic vegetables. In years so many have now started growing their vegetables organically. Probably the most beneficial to the gardener is that there are no harsh chemical pesticides or fertilizers to worry about feeding to your families. All organic vegetables are grown using only natural things, and no chemicals. Therefore, people who eat organic foods are eating less processed foods and have less chance of ingesting any of the toxins used in conventional gardening. And organic vegetables have been proven to contain more nutrients, vitamins and minerals that those grown conventionally. However, there are even more benefits from organic vegetable gardening. It is environmentally-friendly. When harsh chemicals are used in conventional gardens. Through organic gardening, the soil and the environment are preserved. By using a method called crop rotation, which is simply not planting the same crop in the same spot each season, but rather rotating things around, the soil is not left harmed or drained from nutrients.

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.

Landscaping with bridges

Deciding to add a focal point such as a small bridge in your backyard garden is a great move and will pay off with the many ways that you can use it in decor as well as all of the many varying compliments you will receive from this beautiful addition.  In a Japanese garden, bridges take on quite a different meaning and effect.  These will look simply gorgeous over a pond, a small river or any other small body of water in your landscape.  They will create a tranquil and peaceful environment,  giving you the zen you are looking for.  Gardens are supposed to give us a calming feeling and be somewhere we can relax.  For some reason, bridges seem to do that quite well.  These also look nice over a rocky or stony area and will give you much needed life where it is otherwise hard to grow plants and flowers.  When first looking at designs for Japanese bridges, you may be overwhelmed.  There is so many different types of bridges to choose possibly from, and each type has its own different things it will bring to your garden.  Once you have fully decided on the design you want and placement of your bridge, you will also need to think about whether to leave it as it is or accent it with various plants and flowers.  Here are a few in some categories that will do just that! Evergreens are essential with this type of garden or bridge.  They represent the permanence of peace and calming.  Some evergreens that are great for this are cedars.  Cedars will also add a lovely scent to the area.  Also, Canadian Hemlocks and redwoods are perfect!  With their dark green foliage, you can have a brightly colored bridge that will really stand out!  Pine trees are also great for this type of design.  You can also add flowers such as Japanese Irises, peonies, azaleas and Japanese Maples to the area to  complete and bring together the zen look you are trying to achieve.  All of these flowers and trees are whimsical in their appearance and will look beautiful much of the year!  Try out a Japanese garden bridge and get creative with you garden area!

How to Grow Moss in Your Backyard

Growing moss is the perfect alternative to having a high-maintenance lawn that requires constant attention.  Moss provides lush, green ground cover that never needs cut and only needs occasional watering once the plant is mature.

Preparing your backyard for planting moss is relatively simple with little elbow grease.  It is most important to prep your soil, plant any complimentary vegetation before the moss and provide a moist environment with plenty of sunlight.

Prepping Soil

Before planting moss on your landscape, all debris and dead vegetation must be removed.  An effective method to even things out is to use a stiff rake and a coal shovel to pick up tiny rocks and unwanted materials that could keep moss from growing.

Divits and tiny indents in the soil can also be hazardous to the growth of moss.   Water can collect in these areas, killing the vegetation.  Once you have the debris away from the area where the new moss will reside, take a look at any vertical surfaces that the moss may meet.  If you plan to have your moss grow up a tree, for example, be sure gradually to increase the grade of the soil leading up to the tree.  When meeting a vertical surface, moss tends to stop growing so it is necessary to create a 'hill' effect leading up to the surface.

Plant Additional Plants First

Seedlings will not be able to grow under a thick bed of moss, so it is important to plant them ahead of time.  Annuals or perennials make great additions to any moss bed, so feel free to experiment with colors.

To make things easier on yourself, try getting mature flowers to plant along with your moss.

Growth Rate

There are many different types of moss and all of them take some patients to develop.  Pleurocarp moss types can double in size in only 6 months, depending on the level of care and attention.  When planting moss you need to space out everything using tiny pieces.  These will eventually grow together to form a beautiful carpet of moss across your landscape.

How to Water Moss

Moss requires a moist, sunlight rich environment to thrive.  When you first start growing moss, water everything daily for the first two months to promote optimum growth.  After that, water the moss every three days for the third month.

The watering eventually tapers off as the moss continues to grow, so months four and five it is only necessary to water weekly and monthly.

If you are tired of mowing your lawn and constantly landscaping, moss is an alternative that may be best for your backyard.

Before choosing the vegetation for your backyard landscape, try contacting a nursery specializing in moss for tips and advice on your next project.

Plant Live Moss to Enhance any Garden

Moss can be added to any garden to create an attractive, healthy bottom the layer. It can build a more natural feel into a rock garden, add a counterpoint to a flower garden, or even form its own whimsical moss garden. There are differing types of moss which can be added to the garden, and you lots of places has moss for sale, online and at garden centers.

The moss garden should start free of competing plant life, such as grass, and smooth enough that the low-lying moss bed can spread easily. If you wish to combine moss with perennials or other features, add those first before planting the live moss. Finally, it is important to remember that moss grows very slowly. If you have a large area, buy a lot of moss to cover it do not expect it to grow and take over quickly. Sheet moss and carpet moss sell by the square footage in places such as an online plant nursery or a local gardening store.

When it is finished, live moss garden looks natural and beautiful. A simple layer of sheet moss will mingle easily with artificial garden features too, so you can be as creative as your imagination and budget allow. When planted in the garden, it forms a thick carpet-like texture, with a smooth surface and only medium growth. Since it can cover soil, wood, or even rock, arrange those artfully across the garden and allow the live moss to create a lighter appearance of untrammeled wilderness without the bother of thick weeds and heavy trees. Whether you use carpet moss or sheet moss, the results will be beautiful between the preparation work and the patience.

Spagnum moss, or peat moss, is often added to gardens without becoming the garden’s centerpiece. It has many properties which enhance an existing garden, such as gradually enabling the release of water or fertilizer to the other plants, allowing them to thrive on less of both. It also functions to improve soil type. Heavy clay soil is loosened to aid root growth, while sandy soil is given extra body to help the soil maintain nutrients and water. Spagnum moss also speeds up composting by helping break down organic matter, and its own decay is very slow so it becomes an appropriate growth medium for other plants.

When you buy moss for your garden, you are making the right choice.   


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