Home and Garden

Build a Rain Garden

2011-09-22T06:06:00.002-07:00

Build a Rain Garden

There's a new garden in town. It is (mostly) easy to install, looks good year-round, requires almost no maintenance and has a terrifically upbeat impact on the environment. No wonder rain gardens are such a great new gardening trend!

Storm water runoff can be a big problem in summer during heavy thunderstorms. As the water rushes across roofs and driveways, it picks up oil and other pollutants. Municipal storm water treatment plants often can't handle the deluge of water, and in many locations the untreated water ends up in natural waterways. The EPA estimates as much as 70 percent of the pollution in our streams, rivers, and lakes is carried there by storm water! By taking responsibility for the rainwater that falls on your own roof and driveway, you'll be helping to protect our rivers, streams and lakes from stormwater pollution.

To reduce the excess water runoff, many towns are encouraging businesses and homeowners to install rain gardens in their yards. Rain gardens are specially constructed gardens located in low areas of a yard where storm water can collect. The idea is to have the water naturally funnel to this garden. The rain garden collects water runoff and stores and filters it until it can be slowly absorbed by the soil. Rather than rushing off into a storm sewer or a local waterway, the rainwater can collect in a garden where it will be naturally filtered by plants and soil.

Installing a rain garden is easy.

You simply dig a shallow depression in your yard and plant it with native grasses and wildflowers; things that are easy to grow and maintain in your area.

What makes a garden a rain garden?

First, the garden will be designed with a low spot in the middle to collect and absorb rain water and snow melt. This depression can range from a few inches in a small garden, to an excavated trough that's several feet deep. Second, rain gardens are usually located where they'll catch the runoff from impermeable surfaces like sidewalks and driveways, or from gutters and roof valleys. Third, rain gardens are usually planted with native wildflowers and grasses that will thrive in tough growing conditions. Finally, rain gardens are designed to channel heavy rains to another rain garden or to another part of the garden.

Your rain garden should be located at least 10 feet from the house. The garden's size and location depends on the yard. The ideal situation would be to locate the garden in a natural depression. You also can funnel water from downspouts on gutters into the garden. The soil should be well drained so the water doesn't sit in the garden for more than two days. A special "rain garden" soil mix of 50 to 60 percent sand, 20 to 30 percent topsoil, and 20 to 30 percent compost is recommended. You can dig this mixture into the soil to depth of 2 feet before planting.

Once you've identified the new garden's location, remove the sod and dig a shallow depression approximately 6-inches deep. Slope the sides gradually from the outside edge to the deepest area. Use the soil that you remove to build up a slightly raised area on the lowest side of the garden. This berm will help contain the stormwater and allow it to percolate slowly through the rain garden.

If your rain garden is no more than about 6-inches deep, stormwater will usually be absorbed within a one- to seven-day period. Because mosquitoes require seven to 10 days to lay and hatch their eggs, this will help you avoid mosquito problems.

Your downspout or sump pump outlet should be directed toward your rain garden depression. This can be accomplished by a natural slope, by digging a shallow swale, or by piping the runoff directly to the garden through a buried 4" diameter plastic drain tile.

Plant Selection... The final touch.

The most difficult part of building a rain garden (if it can even be called that) can be plant selection. Plants need to be tough enough to withstand periodic flooding, yet attractive enough to look good in the garden. Deep-rooted, low-care native plants, such as asters, and tough non-natives, such as daylilies, are best. If properly designed, the rain garden can consist of a blend of attractive shrubs, perennials, trees, and ground covers. Planting strips of grass around the garden and using mulch also can help filter the water.

New plants should be watered every other day for the first two weeks or so. Once they are well established, your garden should thrive without additional watering. Fertilizers will not be necessary, and only minimal weeding will be needed after the first summer of growth.

Our goal at Garden Simply is to make your organic garden work sustainable; be more productive, and ultimately more fun! Jodi Reichenberger provides education about enhancing you and your family's health through good eating, organic gardening techniques, organic gardening tips, and an all around sustainable lifestyle; providing helpful organic pest control tips (Integrated Pest Managment or IPM)to help you make the most of your effort, and the lastest community gardening and sustainable gardening news out there. Join us! Sustainability is a community effort!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/63949

Build a Rain Garden

2011-09-22T06:06:00.000-07:00

Build a Rain Garden

Installing a rain garden is easy.

You simply dig a shallow depression in your yard and plant it with native grasses and wildflowers; things that are easy to grow and maintain in your area.

What makes a garden a rain garden?

Plant Selection... The final touch.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/63949

Community Gardening

2010-11-28T20:22:00.000-08:00

Community Gardening

What is a community garden and what is community gardening all about. That question has been asked of me many times. It is simple to answer in a few words but it is also a very complex subject. Now a days a community garden is a plot of land that has been donated for use to grow food for those in need. This land may have been donated by a city, a church, a business, or and individual with the express requirement that it be maintained and used to grow food for members of a community. This is not the same thing as a food co-op where people get together and each has a share either purchased by cash or by goods contributed and receives a share of the food.

Community gardens are non for profit groups set up specifically for the purpose of growing food to help members of the community by supplying food pantries and organizations that supply meals to homeless people or others who are in need. Some of them are set up through churches and other religious organizations and run by volunteers. Others are groups of individuals who see a need in their community and have gotten together and volunteer their time to help feed others. Whether large or small community gardens are become increasingly important in feeding those in need due to the rough economic condition the recession has left many in. If it were not for these volunteers and generous contributors many people would not be able to obtain much needed produce to feed their families with. In recent years the number of these groups have been increasing and stepping in to help with hunger in America.

How can you help and get involved? Every volunteer organization has one problem that will out weigh others, that is enough volunteers. It maybe that you have talents, expertise, or knowledge that you can contribute. Maybe you have an extra two or three hours a week to stop by and pull weeds, water crops, or harvest some vegetables. Believe me no matter how much or little time you have to offer your volunteerism will be gladly accepted and deeply appreciated.

Along with growing fruits and vegetables a lot of community gardens have expanded to include honey production from bee hives, some are even raising chickens to provide fresh eggs. Did you know that in the City of Chicago it is legal to raise chickens in your backyard. I wonder how many eggs a day could be added to the food pantry if just a couple hundred people in a city of millions would put a chicken coop in their back yard. I am not advocating that you should raise chickens, but I am advocating that you should seriously think about getting involved and help others in your own community that can benefit from the food these great groups provide

Glenns Garden

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Green Gardening to Help the Environment

2010-10-08T01:13:00.000-07:00

Green Gardening to Help the Environment

The beauty of a garden can help make your home a more inviting place to go to but it is not necessarily true that having a garden can be green. It may seem counter intuitive that having a beautiful patch of land covered by flowers and greens is bad for the environment but it sure is.

A garden requires a great deal of resources. It needs space to grow and flourish. It needs the energy from the sun. It needs air to turn into carbon dioxide. Water is what they need the most and in this world of El Nino and constant droughts water becomes more and more valuable. Hence, a garden must be able to sustain itself to be considered beneficial to the general environment that it is situated in.

To make a garden green, one of the first things you need to do is make use of indigenous plants. Using indigenous plants in your garden, makes sure that the plants are able to live with the amount of water in your area. It is also adept to the amount of sunlight where you live.

Growing plants that come out of the area, you would have to adjust the amount of water you put in and the amount of sunlight you provide. You might need to put in extra effort watering the plants and exposing it to sunlight. In some cases, you might even need to build a separate greenhouse to house these plants during cold seasons.

Even if the plants are indigenous, it can cause an imbalance in the environment if it is not maintained. If it is allowed to grow out of control then it will require more from you. It would need more water and more space to spread itself out. It not only makes it less aesthetically pleasing, it also needs more to maintain. What is the point of keeping and maintaining that garden if you are not going to take care of it?

Another way to ensure that your gardening practices are kept green is by making sure that the garden has more than one purpose and not just for show. It can be anything that helps you achieve whatever effect you want. If you want to add a little more privacy to your home, you can make use of hedges to shield your windows. But, the ultimate multipurpose garden can be found in vegetable gardens. The reason this is important is because as more and more people populate the earth the space you use on your garden becomes more precious.

The world we live in needs us to ensure their welfare and make sure that everything works well with each other. That is our responsibility as humans but that does not mean we cannot make our surroundings beautiful in the process.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_F_Black

How to Grow Your Own Vegetable Garden

2010-08-20T01:37:00.001-07:00

How to Grow Your Own Vegetable Garden

You might think that growing your own vegetable garden is a lot of work, time consuming and a hassle. The first thing that would come into your mind when you hear garden would be maintenance, time and dirt. Well, that is true. Growing your own vegetable garden would require some time, your maintenance and a little bit of dirt here or there. But you will be very happy with the results from your hard work. Growing your own vegetable garden has a lot of benefits, mostly health wise. And, while waiting for your own plants to grow, you don't need to focus on them that much. All they need is some tender loving care then you are good to go.

Determination of Your Own Garden

First thing you have to consider in growing your own vegetable is whether you are really determined to grow your own vegetable garden. You have to weight out the options on whether you can manage growing your own vegetable garden. You would not want everything you did go to waste now, would you? Be sure that you have enough time before going on and reading on how to grow your own vegetable garden. If you are 100% sure and willing to, read on these helpful tips to help and guide you in doing so.

In growing your own vegetable garden, you have to think about where you will plant these vegetables. This is very important since this will be where you will be placing your own vegetable garden. As we all know, it is very essential for plants that they are exposed to sunlight. So, when figuring out where to start your vegetable garden, always think if the plants would be exposed to proper sunlight when placed there. Sunlight plays a huge part in your vegetables' growth. Never miss out on this very important tip.

Preparing soil

The next step in growing your own vegetable garden would be preparing the soil. Aside from sunlight, well-drained soil is necessary when growing your vegetable garden. Your soil should be stone free so you should be sure to pick out those stones in your soil for a successful garden. Your soil should be supplied with enough organic matter. Your soil should not be wet before you work on it. If the soil sticks together in a ball and it does not fall apart, then the soil is too wet for you to work on. Let it dry for a while.

After this, you should check out the pH level of your soil. You should research on the proper amount of pH because it differs on the vegetable that you are going to plant in that soil. Most vegetables live in soils that have a pH level of 6 and/or 7. Once your soil structure, fertility and pH have been established, the soil should be tilled one last time, and then raked smooth.

Planting Your seed

The next step, and probably the most exciting step for you, would be planting your seeds. It is always best to plant your seeds in a straight line, rather than just placing them anywhere. This is to make them grow properly. The roots might get tangled to one another or they might grow sideways, making them bump into each other, lessening the chance for your vegetables to grow beautifully, so you have to plant them in a straight, orderly line. It is also highly suggested that you plant your seeds in a depth that is twice the diameter of your seed. You may then spray them with water but do not drown them. Spray them with the right amount, just so they could be moistened.

If you are still confused on what you should plant, then consider what vegetable you would eat. Since you are growing your own vegetable garden, you are most likely to benefit from this. If not, then consider on what the people around you would love to eat. Growing your own vegetable garden does not only assure the quality and safeness of the vegetable that you would eat, it also helps you save money since you don't have to go to the market to buy your own vegetables.

Kevin Payne is gardener enthusiast, and enjoys helping others get started in this amazing hobby. The newest eBook, "Herb Garden Kits," teaches gardening and everything you need to know about Raised Vegetable Garden Beds. If you need to know more info starting and maintaining a thriving herb gardening visit http://www.herbgarden-kits.com/.

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Container Vegetable Gardening Made Easy

2010-07-08T05:38:00.000-07:00

Container Vegetable Gardening Made Easy

If you want to grow organic vegetables but don't have a plot of land to grow them on, you have another option. Container vegetable gardening is the method you want to use and I can get you started. You can grow many different types of vegetables in containers like tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, carrots and radishes.

These all do very well in containers if maintained properly. The possibilities of container vegetable gardening are only limited by the size of the container. The bigger the container the bigger the plant and the more it will yield. Another advantage of a big container is that it will require less maintenance. Following is a step by step plan to successful container vegetable gardening.

STEP 1:
Container Selection: You can use pretty much any vessel that you want to but i like them to look nice because they are usually located near your house and you don't want to wreck your houses appearance. I like to find nice ceramic pots to use because they look nice and are not too expensive. Also make sure the vessel is a light color or not too dark because darker colors absorb heat and this could damage the roots of your plants. One other consideration is the size of the container

STEP 2:
Drainage: This is important. You need to make sure that the soil will be able to drain properly so make sure that there are holes in the bottom of the container so excess water can escape. If your soil becomes over saturated for long durations of time it will result in the plants roots rotting. One technique that will help this problem is to line the bottom of the container with some gravel or small rocks to allow the water to escape easier.

STEP 3:
Soil Selection: You need to choose a light weight soil mix that has peat and vermiculite in it or make your own. One part compost and two parts soil mix will do an excellent job and will provide the needed nutrients for the entire season. These soil mixes are excellent because they are usually sterile and the pH is adjusted to the proper limit.

STEP 4:
Watering: Proper watering practices are critical here. Container vegetable gardening requires more frequent watering schedules than plants in the ground because of the limitations of soil available to the plant. You should plan on watering about once a day if it is really hot and there has been no rain. Another consideration would be to install drip irrigation because this will ensure that the plant always has water and they love consistency. Drip irrigation is easy to install and in a future post I will tell you how to do it so check back soon.

This is a great way to provide healthy and environmentally responsible food for your family and friends to enjoy. It is great for people who live in the city and have limited space available for a garden. If you always wanted a garden but never had the time or space to make it happen this is a great way to go. Give it a try and I bet you will be surprised at the results.

By: Bill M.

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A Low Maintenance Garden With Decorative Gravel

2010-03-10T06:53:00.000-08:00

A Low Maintenance Garden With Decorative Gravel
By David A Robinson

Creating a low maintenance garden with decorative gravel is easy to do. Gravel is available in a dizzying array of colours and sizes that can fit into almost anyone's garden plans. Gravel is quite inexpensive and easy to use. It requires a minimum of maintenance and always looks great.

Decorative gravel can be bought in colours ranging from gold to white, black to red, cream to brown, and purple to green, any shade of grey, and practically any other colour in between. You can get small gravel sizes of 8 millimetres through to large sizes of 75 millimetres. This article offers you five different ways to have a low maintenance garden with decorative gravel.

1. Use gravel around plants and flowers. This will add visual appeal to your flower beds. You can choose decorative gravel in a colour that enhances and contrasts the colour of each group of flowers or plants.

Gravel around flowers doesn't just look good. It will help to avoid soil erosion as well as helping to control the weeds. Gravel around plants and flowers will also help to retain the moisture in the soil, which is very useful on a hot day in summer.

2. The edges of ponds and pools can greatly benefit from decorative gravel. Don't fall into the usual trap of making it all evenly ringed around the pool or pond. That looks unnatural. Vary the area amounts in places making it a more random layering. Use different colours and sizes to vary it even more, and possibly even include pebbles or sand, as well as larger rocks and stones.

3. A waterfall area can be truly enhanced through the use of decorative gravel. It needs to be used in conjunction with natural looking rocks and stones. The gravel can be used to fill in areas between the larger items giving the whole effect a much more rounded-off appearance.

4. Perhaps the most obvious use of decorative gravel is in a main path through your garden. For a path you are probably best to choose one colour and texture and stick to it, though using patterns or mosaics is quite possible too. A path is likely to take a lot of gravel to fill. As a rough guide, expect to need around one tonne of gravel for each five metres of path that's one metre wide and 100 millimetres in depth.

5. A large area of lawn with nothing to break up the monotony is not making the best use of your garden. Lawns need regular mowing. For the best low maintenance lawn, break the area up by creating winding decorative gravel walkways through it. These needn't be too wide, just enough for someone to walk over. You can be very creative here for a most pleasing effect using different colours and patterns.

Having a low maintenance garden with decorative gravel makes sense from so many perspectives. It will look great with just a minimum of planning and thought. There isn't very much work involved in creating it. It is fairly inexpensive, and you can cut down the regular maintenance work required by half if you do it properly. That has to be worth considering.

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Choosing Accessories For Your Garden

2009-12-14T22:03:00.000-08:00

Choosing Accessories For Your Garden

Adding accessories to any landscape has so many benefits that are clear to see. They can help to brighten up areas or to add a little bit of extra charm to open spaces. Without using accessories, the landscape may be missing the vital ingredients to make it look and feel complete. It can really turn an open space into something for you to either relax or entertain other people.

Even some of the best designed gardens can often be improved upon with the use of landscaping accessories. There are many different accessories to choose from and so you really shouldn't have a problem finding something to suit you. You just need to know what is available in order to know what will best fit in with your gardens needs.

Flowers and plants are rightly the central attraction of your garden, but they needn't be the only one. Garden accessories can add character and fun to your garden as well as serving various useful purposes. From sculpted row markers and border fences to fully-functional fountains and ponds, here's what some of the best-dressed gardens are wearing this year.

Decorative trellises and arches do more than serve as supports for climbing plants and vines. They can be a beautiful accent on their own. Whether you choose a simple iron fan trellis in a corner of the garden, or build an elaborate arbor or gazebo to support roses and ivy, they'll add a graceful note of natural beauty and add to the enjoyment of your garden. If you allow colorful flowers to grow around it, you will notice how homey it actually makes your home feel. You truly cannot go wrong with an arbor as it looks great on both lawn and patio.

There are some great benefits of adding lights to your landscape area. Not only do they add a touch of class but they can add a sense of security to the area and even the house. The lights can really help to brighten up any dark areas around the yard and they can also make it easy to see at night whilst you are out in the garden. They also help the landscape to look extremely impressive and it adds that little something extra to the balance. They really are an inexpensive way of adding extra charm and style to any landscape.

Lighting allows people to stay outside in the warm months and enjoy socializing or relaxing in the garden. They are absolutely great for entertaining and it really does help to make people feel very welcome. Overall you really cannot go wrong with a little landscape lighting.

Birdbaths and Pedestal Birdbaths are a great way to invite birds into your garden. Whether set into the ground as a small ?pond? or on a pedestal, they can add a touch of old world elegance to a shrubbery or foliage garden that will benefit from the pollination efforts of your feathered friends.

Fountains and Ponds The ultimate accessory for any garden to have has got to be its own pond or fountain. Even small spaces can sport running water with a concealed circulating pump and a nearby power source. A trickling waterfall over rocks or a full-sized pond complete with Koi can both bring a measure of satisfaction and serenity to your garden.

When it comes to landscaping your garden, rocks do often make a great addition and they come in a variety of different sizes and colors to suit every gardeners needs. You can make pretty features, use them as stepping stones and you can even build small little walls for the garden too. Whatever you decide to use them for, there is certainly no getting away from the fact that stones can be great for landscaping.

Besides looking nice and adding a natural quality to your landscaping, rocks are very durable. This makes them great for walkways and retaining walls, or just to decorate a small pond or waterfall. They can be functional or just for looks. No matter what, using rocks or stones will make any landscape more interesting to look at. The type of rock or stone you choose will depend on what its use will be.

Boulders are normally rather large rocks that work well for use in water landscapes. They can also be used to mark a driveway or the entrance of a garden. They can be very dramatic, and if placed correctly, will attract plenty of attention. Very large flat boulders can even be used as a place to sit and enjoy nature.

Lawn ornaments include things such as garden Gnomes and bird baths. They are things which look good and add that little extra something to the garden. You can purchase lawn ornaments in all different styles and sizes so you should easily find something to suit you and your needs. Always remember that whatever you decide to purchase for your garden, it does need serious consideration. This is because you do not want to purchase something which either does not fit or simply looks out of place. So, be sure that it will suit the garden and that you measure it beforehand.

It is best to consider the whole theme of the landscape in order to get accessories that blend or add something special to the area. So, if you want to decorate a secluded area of the garden you could consider using trees, shrubs, a wooden bench or anything you like that can add peaceful surroundings. If you are building a water feature in your land, you could add extra features such as stones or slabs and some nice plants and flowers to add some extra color to it.

By: Luann Hays

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Five Tips For A Beautiful Urban Garden

2009-08-13T18:04:00.000-07:00

Five Tips For A Beautiful Urban Garden

You don’t need to live in a rural environment to plant and maintain a thriving garden. Here are a few tips for developing a beautiful urban garden.

Garden in containers. No soil? No problem. Container gardening allows you to build a thriving garden to fit any outdoor space—despite lack of soil. Adequate drainage is key for container gardens. Make sure you choose containers with holes at the bottom to let out moisture. Raise them several centimeters above the ground to give them room to drain.

Garden on the roof.. A rooftop garden can be lower maintenance than a garden in a more sheltered space, as you won’t need to water it as frequently. It’s good for the environment, too; soil on rooftops can absorb rainwater and reduce runoff.

Garden on the patio or balcony. Your only outdoor space may be a patio or balcony. These spaces can be perfect places for gardens, but in most cases you’ll have to keep it small—your space is likely to be limited, as is the weight your balcony can support.

Garden vertically. Build a series of slatted shelves—the slatting allows for drainage and air circulation—on which to place plants in containers. Hang baskets and build trellises.

Garden with your community. Community gardens transform empty urban lots into productive green spaces. Community gardens can be started with a purpose—for example, beautifying an urban area or feeding hungry families—or it can offer individual plots for local gardeners to grow flowers and plants for themselves.

You don’t have to live in the country to garden like you do. Whether you’re planning to develop a complex rooftop or vertical garden, a modest balcony garden, or volunteer in a community garden, chances are your gardening efforts will enrich your neighborhood.

By: Geoff Wolfenden

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Garden Lighting Made Easy With Solar Power

2009-06-09T03:30:00.000-07:00

Garden Lighting Made Easy With Solar Power

Anyone who has ever visited a public garden will know that they are usually illuminated after dark. The garden designer will often use accent lights to highlight specimen trees and shrubs, or to create a certain mood or tone in the garden space. Such a thing can be easily replicated by the home gardener who chooses to use solar lighting fixtures.

It is important to remember, however, that a lighting fixture doesn’t disappear when the sun rises and the loveliest bed of roses can be made ugly by several large and unpleasant spotlights stuck in front of them. This is something to always keep in mind when selecting and placing garden fixtures.
Fortunately, anyone who wants to add decorative garden lighting, but who also wants to retain the charm of their daytime garden can do so with the many stylish and lovely solar powered lights.

Because they are designed to be used strictly out of doors, solar fixtures are crafted from the same high-quality materials as traditional, hard wired fixtures. This means that copper, bronze and cast iron appear just as frequently in the solar powered selections as in the others.

Garden lighting can encompass everything from beauty to security and solar lighting fixtures are available for every need. There are sturdy and strong lamp posts, motion detector fixtures and even decorative strings of lights for porches and patios. The important thing for the gardener to do is remember that the lighting should highlight and accent the garden, but not be distracting. A good garden lighting plan takes into consideration the changes that occur throughout the seasons and will really emphasize the well-developed areas of a yard or garden.

The great thing about choosing solar lighting for a garden is that the fixtures can be quickly and easily installed without disrupting the plantings in any way at all. Consider that traditional electrical fixtures would require wiring, which could mean digging trenches to bury the lines, which in turn could mean digging up established beds and destroying roots.

Additionally, the appeal of solar lighting of any kind is that it requires only the initial investment, and then operates entirely for free thereafter. The bulbs used in solar lighting are usually LED, and they offer an average life span of roughly sixty to one hundred thousand hours. This is compared to the standard fluorescent lifespan of twelve to twenty four thousand hours.

This means that solar garden lighting fixtures are free to operate, require little to no maintenance, install without disturbing the garden and are just as durable, lovely and sturdy as traditional fixtures.

By: The Solar Guy

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Facts About Organic Gardening

2009-05-26T04:13:00.000-07:00

Facts About Organic Gardening

When most people think of organic gardening they think of gardening without the use of chemicals such as fertilizers, insecticides and pesticides. Although these are essential elements, organic gardening involves a lot more. Organic gardening in it's broadest sense refers to a system of gardening in harmony with nature. The organic gardener tries to minimize the impact of his gardening efforts on the environment and natural systems.

Organic gardening is self sustaining and aims to leave the environment in the same state as it was found - avoiding depletion of resources and safeguarding the delicate balance that exists in nature. True organic gardening therefore considers the role that even the smallest micro organism has to play in the ecology of the garden and attempts to make use of resources present naturally in the environment rather than introduce external chemicals into the process. Selection of plants appropriate to the environment is therefore a vital part of organic gardening.

Whereas chemical based agriculture attempts to change the environment to suit the crop by using chemical additives and fertilizers etc. The organic approach is to best use the resources naturally available. Principles of organic gardening also involve crop rotation to prevent nutrient depletion. Constantly growing the same type of plant - that is plants which have the same or similar nutrient requirements could lead to severe depletion of these elements in the soil. Crop rotation by alternately growing plants with different nutrient requirements allows the soil to replenish its nutrient supplies and rejuvenate itself.

These concepts are very succinctly stated in the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement's Principles of Organic Agriculture as follows:

"The role of Organic Agriculture, whether in farming, processing, distribution or consumption is to sustain and enhance the health of the ecosystems and organisms from the smallest in the soil to human beings".

Stated in this manner the objective of organic gardening and agriculture while laudable might seem rather unachievable. However, there are many practical and simple strategies that could promote this objective. These include:

Composting - rather than using chemicals and other artificial additives to boost soil nutrients the organic approach is through recycling of plant matter itself through composting.

Instead of using pesticides the organic gardener uses natural methods to control insects and other organisms. The emphasis is on control rather than total eradication. Crop rotation helps by not letting pests that feed on any particular type of plant to establish a strong presence. Another strategy may be to grow plants which encourage the presence of "pest predators" or growing companion plants that repel insects. These are a few of the many natural environmental control mechanisms available to the organic gardener.

Weed control could be done for instance through use of mulches and natural ground cover.

The major criticism of organic gardening is that it is not as efficient or productive as chemical based gardening. It is suggested that yields can be significantly increased by use of artificial cultivation methods. However, the organic gardener would argue that the increased yields come at an unacceptably high price. A price expressed in terms of the new and increased health risks associated with exposure to dangerous chemicals. Chemicals which find their way into all manner of products and foods as result of contamination of waterways etc. Pollution and degradation of the environment as a result is the other price we pay for non-organic gardening.

Since the beginning of the 1990's interest in organic agriculture and gardening has been increasing in leaps and bounds and shows no signs of abating. Although organic gardening is not likely to take over in the short run it is obviously here to stay.

By: suegold

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Wildflower Landscaping And Gardening

2009-05-12T08:15:00.000-07:00

Wildflower Landscaping And Gardening

Take a hike through a meadow in full bloom and chances are you'll wish you could recreate a smaller version in your own yard. The colors and varieties of flowers and grasses are totally random, yet about as close to landscaped perfection that you'll ever find. Whether you have a large expanse or a small area, a wildflower garden can be a unique addition to your landscaping plan.

The native plants are hardy and once established require little care, fertilizer or watering. In a true wildflower garden, the flowers are planted close together, at least one per square foot of dirt. This allows them to provide shelter for one another, conserve water, and helps to eliminate weeds. The brightly colored flowers attract a variety of birds and butterflies and can provide a taste of wilderness even in the most urban setting,

Once a wildflower garden is fully established, you can sit back and enjoy, but the real effort comes with the soil preparation and maintenance in the first two or three years. Here is a guide to the successful planning and planting of your own wildflower meadow.

Designing Your Garden:

Plant a combination of wildflowers and native grasses. The most common complaint from new gardeners is that the garden bloomed beautifully the first year and proceeded to get sparser in subsequent years, accompanied by a high concentration of weeds. This is often the result of choosing a seed mixture consisting of non-native annuals instead of true native, perennial wildflowers and grasses. With the latter species, you shouldn't expect blooms until the third year.

When choosing plants, use a combination of Spring and late bloomers, as well as a mixture of tall and low growing species.

Flowers that attract birds or butterflies, include Blazing stars, coneflowers, asters, silphiums and sunflowers. If deer are a problem in your area, choose a combination of deer resistant seeds such as lavender hyssop, nodding wild onion, coreopsis, purple clover, purple coneflower and meadow rose.

Choose a sunny location with good air circulation. Your wildflowers will need a minimum of one half day of full sun to really thrive. Steep north-facing slopes tend to be sheltered from the sun and are not the best candidates for meadows, but do well with ferns or woodland wildflowers.

Soil & Site Preparation:

Determine your soil type, adding to it if needed. For instance, a sandy or clay type soil will benefit from added organic matter which breaks up heavy soils, improving ability to absorb water and provides air flow to the roots. The other effective method for improving poor soil is to plant a "green manure crop" such as buckwheat. Let it grow for a year and plow it under. The roots will draw up the nutrients from the lower soil and convert them into organic matter.

In addition to proper growing conditions and good soil, the most important factor in growing a successful wildflower garden is having a smooth, surface, free of weeds. The first step is to remove any existing vegetation is by smothering, cultivating, herbiciding or a combination of these.

On smaller areas, smothering is an effective method of eliminating weeds. Cover the planting area with dark plastic, tarps, old carpeting, plywood or a thick layer of leaves for a complete growing season. Adding a layer of newspaper before covering will enrich the soil even more. As the paper decomposes, worms will move in, adding even more nutrients.

A broad spectrum, non-persistent herbicide will also do the trick, especially on larger areas. The third alternative is to cultivate the area using a rototiller or tractor.

Planting:

Once you have prepared your site, purchase your seeds from a reliable grower. On areas less than one acre, the seeds can be dispersed by hand, by mixing with a lightweight material such as vermiculite, peat moss or sawdust. For a 1000 square foot planting, combine one bushel basket of this material, dampened slightly, with your seed. Take half the mixture and spread across the area. When spreading the second half, walk perpendicular to your first spreading. If the soil is dry, proceed to roll the area. If it is wet, then wait until it dries slightly to avoid compacting the soil.

By: Tina Fountain

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Beautiful Roses: Gardening And Growing Tips

2009-04-29T21:41:00.000-07:00

Beautiful Roses: Gardening And Growing Tips

Roses have long since been recognized as a symbol of beauty. Their reputation of fragrance and color are unsurpassed by any other flower. If you are interested in planting roses in your garden, you may be interested in these special growing tips. Follow these simple steps and you will be on your way to a gorgeous rose garden that you will enjoy for years to come.

Any nursery should have a lot of options for you when you are choosing your roses. Some roses are climbing vines and some are more like bushes, so keep your location in mind when selecting your breed. Roses need a lot of sunlight, around six hours per day, so choose an area that gets a lot of direct sun.

Many people make their rose choices based on appearance. There are many different colors and sizes of blooms to choose from. In general, large blossoms will have little or no scent. Smaller blooms will usually have a more intense aroma. There are so many types of rose bushes that you should be able to choose the color and level of fragrance that you desire. If you are looking for something low maintenance, ask for landscape roses. These have been developed specifically for people who want a hearty shrub that is disease and insect resistant.

Plant your roses in full sunlight if possible. Avoid rocky areas and hard clay that may create standing water around the root system of your rose bush or vine. Soil should be able to drain well. Ideally roses should be planted away from competing plants and trees to get enough water and nutrients from the soil to flourish. Adding compost to the soil will help add nutrients and improve soil drainage around your roses.

When you buy your rose plants, they will either be potted or sold with bare roots. Bare-root roses should only be planted in the early spring after the chance of frost has passed. Soak the bare roots in water for about an hour before you plant them. Potted roses tend to have a better chance of survival. Potted roses can be planted in the spring or the fall, just avoid planting during colder weather as much as possible.

Before you plant, check your soil’s pH. A pH of 5.5 to 7.0 is ideal for roses. Check with your local nursery if you need help adjusting the pH of your soil.

You do not want to plant your roses too deep in the soil. Bare-root plants should only be planted with about one inch of soil covering the top roots. If you have a potted rose bush, plant it in the ground at the same depth that it was when it was in the bucket. To help the roots establish their hold, water the freshly planted rose bush liberally the first time. This helps to settle the soil and encourage roots to start taking in nutrients.

Set up your garden for easy care. Use a hose reel to keep your water hose handy. With a little pruning and watering, your roses can bring you a display of magnificent proportion for years to come. You will not only gain enjoyment from their beauty and fragrance, but also from the gardening experience of creating such an alluring exhibit.

By: Stacy Pessoney

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A Couple Of Tips For Gardening

2009-04-22T04:48:00.000-07:00

A Couple Of Tips For Gardening

Organic gardening is the way of growing vegetables and fruits with the use of things only found in nature.

Why would one want to indulge in organic gardening?

1.One can easily make compost from garden and kitchen waste. Though this is a bit more time-consuming than buying prepared chemical pesticides and fertilizers, it certainly helps to put garbage to good use and so saves the environment.

2. Organic farming does not use chemicals that may have an adverse affect on your health. This is especially important when growing vegetables. Chemical companies tell us that the chemicals we use are safe if used according to direction, but research shows that even tiny amounts of poisons absorbed through the skin can cause such things as cancer, especially in children.

On the average, a child ingests four to five times more cancer-causing pesticides from foods than an adult. This can lead to various diseases later on in the child's life. With organic gardening, these incidents are lessened.

Remember, pesticides contain toxins that have only one purpose - to kill living things.

3. Less harm to the environment. Poisons are often washed into our waterways, causing death to the native fish and polluting their habitat. 4.Organic farming practices help prevent the loss of topsoil through erosion. The Soil Conservation Service says that an estimated 30 - 32 billion tons of soil erodes from United States farmlands every year.

4. Cost savings. One does not need to buy costly chemical fertilizers and pesticides with organic gardening. Many organic recipes for the control of pest and disease come straight from the kitchen cupboard. Sometimes other plants can be grown as companions to the main crop. An example of this is the marigold, which helps to repel aphids from vegetables. Mixing 1 tablespoon of liquid dishwashing soap and 1 cup of cooking oil can make a cheap garden pest spray. Put 3 tablespoons of this mixture in 1 quart of water and spray on plants.

5.A simple mulch of pine needles will help to suppress the growth of weeds as well as keeping the moisture in.

6. Organic gardening practices help to keep the environment safe for future generations.

By: Jamey Sackville

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Decorating Your Beautiful Garden

2009-04-01T04:52:00.000-07:00

Decorating Your Beautiful Garden

The art of garden never fails to transform an idle tract of land into a beautiful and lively environment. Gardens feed the spirit's longing for beauty and grace as it provides a venue to witness the wonder of nature and the comforts of home. While plants and trees are enough to make a garden delightful, the landscape can surely be enhanced by installing garden décor.

There are many types of garden decors each having unique features and purposes for your garden. Here are some garden decors:

Arbors, Pillars, and Gazebos - these are large structures that can add a good focal point to your garden. Having large structures can create an illusion of having a large space. These structures can also serve as platforms for aerial plants. Climbing foliage such as vines may also cling to these platforms, creating an elegantly classic garden effect.

Statuaries and Wind Sculptures - these also provide good focal points for the landscape. Such structures add a sense of prominence, strength, and sturdiness.

Bird feeders and bird baths - these simple additions to a garden attract beautiful creatures the landscape. Since a garden is generally inadequate without the chirp of robins and jays, installing something that would make them feel welcome is a good way of cheering up the garden.

Other architectural ornamentation - architectural structures create a good balance with and contrast against the natural elements of a garden such as shrubs and trees. Man-made structures enhance the sight of nature, making it appear more familiar and inviting.

Trellises and obelisks - these are good in blocking obtrusive structure and other unwanted views. It is impossible to have a perfect view all the time as obstructions cannot be completely eliminated. Luckily you can install structures that can block eyesores. Trellises are good for this purpose because they can act as support for clinging vines.

Fountains and ponds - water dripping and splashing can be great way to relax. Fountains are usually installed to add a natural ambience that can draw positive energy to your garden. Having a fountain in your garden can also make it a suitable place for meditation exercises like yoga and tai chi. If you have the budget, you may choose to have elaborate and grand fountains installed. You my also choose to add simple rock fountain that greatly serves its purpose at such small a cost.

Landscape lighting - you can enjoy your garden even without the sun, the moon or the stars. By installing simple lights on trees and other plants, you can create a beautiful setting which can even be romantic and enticing. Lighting does not have to be permanent. You can use Christmas lights or even lanterns and candles to illuminate your garden anytime. Lights can also prevent strangers from hiding in your garden.

Garden furniture - the best way to enjoy the beauty of your garden is to stay in it and in order to do so you might need chairs and tables specifically designed for the outdoors. These could also serve as picnic furniture for those times you would want to have barbecue outdoor dinners.

The garden experience can greatly be enhanced by garden décor. To know more about garden decors, simply contact your local garden supplier or visit the many websites devoted to landscaping and gardening.

By: Joey Singer

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Palm Tree For Your Home Or Garden

2009-03-16T01:41:00.000-07:00

Palm Tree For Your Home Or Garden

Palm trees might remind you of the tropics, but actually there are many palms that can be grown in cooler weather. These wont be banana trees swaying in the breeze under a hot sun, but theyll still bring a bit of the tropics into your garden, or even inside your home. They are quite adaptable, and are both attractive and unique. Palm trees are easy to care for even for a beginning gardener. The variety you choose should be based on the palm trees intended location. Here are a few choices to consider:

King Palms are great shade trees for your yard. You can start tem off indoors, but they can grow very tall, so expect that youll need to transplant them to your yard after a couple of years. Indoors, they can shield smaller plants from the direct sunlight entering through your windows.

There are a few other varieties that are similar to King Palms but should not be started inside. Majesty Palms, for example, will grow to be ten feet tall in just ten years. In as little as seven years, Queen Palms can grow to be 25 feet tall, making it a bad choice to keep indoors.

If you live in a cool climate, there are still a few palm trees you can grow. In fact, there are hundreds of different species of palm tree. Among these, there are a few that adapt well to lower temperatures. Date Palms can survive temperatures as low as 18 degrees. Texas Sabal Palms and Canary Island Date Palms are a few other choices if you live in a cold climate. Windmill Palms can even tolerate temperatures as low as just five degrees.

If you want to grow a palm as a houseplant, of course, you need not worry about temperatures this cold. However, keep in mind that you can grow houseplants in containers just outside your front door, or on an enclosed porch.

Palm plants need good soil and attentive care, just like any other plant you purchase. Palm trees can benefit from a beneficial fungus such as mycorrhizal fungi, which is added to the soil. Do not use regular plant fertilizer for your majesty palm plants; they require a different type of fertilizer than most houseplants. Look for a slow-release fertilizer with 3-1-3 NPK ratios Also make sure that your palm receives enough magnesium and calcium, too. This may be already mixed into your fertilizer, or you may need to purchase it separately. Also look for a small amount of Manganese in your fertilizer, as this is another important element that your palm tree will use in small quantities.

Palm trees can have issues with salt buildup, but you can easily prevent this. Just flush with water every few hours and measure the salt content with a simple soil testing kit until the levels have been reduced. Palm trees can thrive with very little water, since they are used to the tropics. When you do water them, you can give them plenty of water, as theyre also used to monsoons.
When potting your palm tree, make sure it has a large enough pot to prevent bound roots, and good drainage. Your pot will need to be large and heavy enough to support a large palm.

By: Keith Markensen

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The Vegatable Gardening Tips

2009-02-19T04:54:00.001-08:00

The Vegatable Gardening Tips

Vegetable farming tips for tomato upward are speedily offered. Most gardeners are lucky to stake their tomato emergent tips and even non-gardeners who crack to grow tomatoes every mechanism will proposal guidance. The difficulty for the novice tomato farmer comes in difficult so genus the useful vegetable farming tips for tomato emergent from the old wives' tales.

One of the best sources for vegetable farming help is a regional playgroup. Buying plants at a supermarket or a sequence warehouse with plot crux may permit you to purchase plants at a cheaper charge, but it is unlikely that the pole in these supplies know a great agreement about farming. For reliable vegetable farming help, vacation a home nursery. Many nurseries pass plants that they, themselves have adult from seed, and they will be knowledgeable about each type of works and can warn on regional conditions.

Most towns have a home patch bash and meeting together with other gardeners is a great way to find vegetable farming help and result your facts. Other gardeners from your vicinity will have abundant information about the requirements of vegetables in your zone. When you get the aid of gardeners that are area to your section, you will get vegetable farming help that you can use because these gardeners understand the matchless desires of your particular zone.

Local patch clubs steadily run workshops or program on topics ranging from composting, to growing a particular diversity of heirloom vegetable, to annoyance running in the backyard. Many evenly sponsor projects such as identity gardens which can bestow gardening distance to those who live in apartments and have no patch interval of their own. And pleasing part in an altruistic effort with your fellow patch strike members is a fantastic way to learn all sorts of gardening secrets and tips.

Even if you don't bond a garden society winning part in some workshops will provide you with an opportunity to link fellow gardeners and form friendships with people with an everyday concern.

Another top source for vegetable gardening guidance is your home province porch personnel. They specialize in solving the gardening problems matchless to your local environment. They can execute soil tests, recognize plants and diseases and sometimes deliver gratis seeds or plants

Once you've gained some gardening skill it's time to get your hands dirty.

Tomatoes and other vegetables are calm to grow if you begin with good soil. Before you yard your garden, till the soil to about deepness of ten inches and dig in some well rotted manure or other organic notes. Complete this stair numerous weeks before you want to place your tomatoes.

For a bigger garden, you can rent the controls, but for a small garden freedom you can use a gardening fork to dig in the manure.

When gamble of cold has passed, desire a 3/4 shuffle stake into your prepared garden bed. Dig a gulf a little deeper and wider than the range of the tomato conceal's pot next to the stake, gently place the workshop into the defect and stable it in. A framework or tomato cage can also be worn for joist in lieu of a stake. These are readily offered at nurseries and hardware supplies. Use subtle string or tomato ties to tie the lodge's stem loosely to the stake or lattice. As the tomato place grows, prove the ties regularly and slacken them occasionally to preclude stem wound. The tomato seedlings should be planted 18.

Feed your tomato plants regularly using a potassium-based lodge food or you can invent your own organic fertilizer mix. Planting sage adjacent to your tomato plants will help in custody rats at bay.

Watering is as important as feeding. Water your tomatoes regularly with a hand-detained rinse. Direct the water at the improper of the hide and prevent wetting the grass which can control to rot.

Never let your tomatoes dry out to the purpose that they wilt. Although you can commonly avert the wilting yard by watering it, the dry spot will take its toll on the yard and influence the class of the fruit. Extending dry spells may root your tomatoes to crack.

Regularly nip out by hand any face shoots that develop between the leaf and the stem. This will help to station the yard's energy into its fruit.

When your tomatoes have mature, select them by bending back the fruit at the attain on the stem. Ripe tomatoes can be stored in the fridge for up to a week. Continue to water and nosh the place to help the enduring tomatoes to develop and mature.

By: Jasmine Stone

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Feng Shui Tips For Your Garden And Home

2009-01-07T22:33:00.000-08:00

Feng Shui Tips For Your Garden And Home

The entry to a home or the doorway into rooms is where your first view is encountered. Doorways and entrances to anything should feel welcoming. They should be clear and the pathway should allow ease of movement.

The Chi, (or energy flow), should never be made stagnant at this point. Pictures and ornamental decorations in this area should be pleasing and round leafed plants in pots attract prosperity into the home. Another tip to remember is that if you have doorways from front to back that are visible, the flowing of energy should be stopped from escape.

A Feng Shui cure for this problem, can be by placing a plant as suggested to the side of the entry: thus creating an environment to capture the Chi flow. The essence of creating good flow and attracting harmony, involves placement.

Feng Shui recognizes that small problems can have a major effect on your life, and that a well kept home will always have better chi than one where maintenance tasks have been allowed to pile up. The minor problems and inconveniences that plague a poorly maintained home can restrict your freedom of movement, cloud your ability to understand a situation, make it difficult to take advantage of opportunities, and waste your resources.

For example:

- Doors that are difficult to open make it difficult for you to progress in life.

- Dirty windows cloud your judgment and make it hard to see things clearly. This can manifest as physical eye problems or symbolically as difficulty recognizing what's really going on in a situation.

- Burnt-out light bulbs, fixtures that don't work, and inadequate lighting all contribute to a lack of vision, energy, and initiative in that area of your home and in the related area of your life.

Now that you know where your power spots are, it's a good idea to take a close look at those areas of your house. Make a note of any new or long-overdue housekeeping, maintenance, and repair tasks, and make getting them done as soon as possible a feng shui priority!

Think of Chi as an important guest you wish to welcome to your home, and make your formal entry - and the access to it from the street - as inviting as possible.

The principles of Feng Shui can be applied to your garden as well. By applying Feng Shui principles to your garden you can attract positive energy, wealth and good fortune. Given below are a few tips and ideas on how to Feng Shui your garden.

The most important principles of Feng Shui in the garden are curves and proportion. Your house is the Yin energy and your garden is the Yang energy. The Yang aspect in Feng Shui is about light and space. Try to incorporate all the five elements of Feng Shui in your garden as much as possible.

» Use a pond, birdbath or fountain to represent the water element.
» Use a sundial or bronze statue in the garden for metal.
» Use trees and shrubs for wood.
» Use plants or flowers that are red and orange in color to represent fire.
» Use earth to represent the earth element.

Water features such as pools, ponds and fountains are beautiful and encourage beneficial chi. They also symbolize prosperity and create yin (feminine) energy.

You can create more Yang (masculine) energy by using garden lights to add light to the garden's dark areas. Remember balance and harmony is the key to a Feng Shui Garden.

By: Kathy Tyson

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The Different Types Of Trees In Your Garden

2009-01-04T20:25:00.000-08:00

The Different Types Of Trees In Your Garden

We have leaves around us because they make our lives more amusing. Most people reply to grass outside basically observing the aesthetic charm. We feel peaceful, peaceful, soothing, and tranquil in an orchard of grass. Looking up into a charming strong tree gives you awareness of solidarity. Trees are the very focus part of amazing landscapes. Nevertheless that is not all, they also present great quantity in many other areas. Here are just a few profit that these magnificent living gear may add to your life.

Trees can act as wonderful sound and snake barriers creating a more peaceful, secretive outside living environment. Strategically located, windbreak planting can significantly decrease home heating costs during the frost months. A well located shade tree can also lower your roof and enclose temperatures by 20 degrees or more and help you recover considerably on your electric check in the summer months as well. Shade from grass can decrease efficacy bills for air conditioning by 15-50 percent.

Trees also help soothe your neighborhood and can add substantially to the help of your home. It is reality that homes retail faster in neighborhoods with mature foliage. They can afford privacy, accentuate views, or obstruct discarded views. They help to lessen shimmering and reflection. They can also harvest a background and allay, compliment, or enhance architecture.

Another help of grass is that they help pure the air by removing fatal gases and particles such as dust, pollen, carbon dioxide, smoke. Trees thus significantly help reload the earth's oxygen amount.

Finally, by planting plants, we restore to a more inborn, minus artificial environment. Trees present food, nesting sites and protection for birds and other plants that help saturate our lives with diversity and marvel.

With foliage comes the responsibility to nursing for them well. Like most plants in your yard, plants must unique problem. It is important to keep tree limbs away from brawn shape and away from the roof of your house. Branches can certainly appeal down gutters or begin other costly dent if they are killing over your house.

Trees add beauty and kindness to any district backdrop. They make life more enjoyable, peaceful, relaxing, and deal a plentiful inheritance for coming generations. Take the time to mind for your trees now so that the trees may keep on generous.

By: Joseph Silva

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How To Create A Garden You Can Enjoy

2008-12-16T03:48:00.000-08:00

How To Create A Garden You Can Enjoy

Whether you are in the market for a new home or fixing up your existing residence you are very conscious of your abode (or prospective one), and every square inch of land that accompanies it. You'll want to make the best use of all off the space available to you. Fencing, terracing and other techniques can turn what was once a liability into an attractive, usable asset.

Technology has rendered us capable of improving our soil, as well as thwarting insects and plant diseases that can ruin a garden. New and tougher seeds and bulbs lead to healthier, more aesthetically pleasing gardens.

Newly developed hybrids add to the gardener's palate, offering novel colors and shapes to beautify any home and garden in the best possible way. Improved garden tools grant the gardener better results in less time and sweat.

These advances in gardening mean spending time outdoors is more attractive than ever. Whether for a cookout or simply lounging on lawn chairs, even a less than spacious urban or suburban yard can be luxurious in a way unthought-of in the past.

Newer homes are designed to present more of the outside than in the past. Larger windows and sun porches enclosed in glass come close to bringing the garden inside. Because of this, it is more important that the garden be a joy to behold.

A well planned and maintained garden with a healthy lawn and the stunning beauty offered by blooming trees add a lot to the look and feel of a home, and is as much a part of décor as any interior details. Your garden will repay you with untold enjoyment and visual beauty for the time and effort put into it.

The same basic principles of design and decoration apply to the outside just as much as they do the inside of a home. A plan for landscaping is an essential thing to have, especially if you have a sizable yard.

While you can garner some ideas from gardening books, remember that your grounds should be tailored to you and your family's taste. Talk it over with your family; after all, you're the ones who will be spending time on your garden,

Within the constraints of space and your family budget, draw up a plan together. Decide what the needs and desires of every member are, and as much as possible try to take these into account. The end result will be a garden the whole family can be happy with.

Try to avoid planting anything out front that will require too much care ' after all, you want to spend quality time in the back yard, rather than having to be out puttering in the front yard all the time. Shrubs are generally a good choice for the front of your home as are flowers not needing too much care, as they are attractive without taking too much time to maintain.

Your back yard should be far and away the largest part of your outdoor space. Try to plan it around the trees you already have, to provide shade for the summer. Create peace and quiet in your lounging areas by screening off a play area for the children. In the utility area, plan for parking space and room for the occasional delivery.

Gardening and landscaping is a hobby which can keep you occupied and out of doors nearly year round, every year. The results are well worth it, and the pleasure that it will give you and your family makes it seem like no work at all.

By: Carol Stack

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Herb Gardening

2008-12-06T06:16:00.000-08:00

Herb Gardening

Herb gardening is becoming more and more popular every day, and for a good reason. Herbs have practical value, serve a purpose, and with herb gardening you can actually use your plants. When most people think of herb gardening they automatically think of cooking, but herbs are also grown for their pleasant aroma and their beauty.

One important part of herb gardening is drying the herbs for use during the winter months, especially if you plan on cooking with them. First the tops of leafy herbs have to be cut, washed, and hung up for the water to evaporate. Then, tie stems together and hang up in a paper bag to dry. After two to three weeks they must be removed; crumble the leaves, dry them out in the oven, and store in a glass jar.

One of the most common herbs gown in herb gardening is basil. “Dark Opal” and regular green basil are beautiful additions to any garden and often used as decoration. Dark Opal has light pink flowers and dark red leaves. Basil isn’t just used for its looks; it is used for extra flavor in tomato juices and pastes.

Chives are very petite looking and resemble a blade of grass. They are much stronger than they look, however, and will grow well through a drought and a drought. Their toughness and sturdiness makes Chives a perfect plant for herb gardening, especially if the gardener doesn’t want plants that require a lot of hassle. Chives are good used in salads, egg dishes, and many different sauces.

Mint is also very simple to grow and is good to use in mint jelly, mint juleps, lemonade, and any other kind of fruity drink. Mint is also good in herb gardening for its unique minty smell. Two herbs that appear in nearly everyone’s herb garden are thyme and sage. Both of these herb gardening favorites are used for flavoring soups, chicken, turkey, pork, and other sausages. Sage is also grown sometimes for its beautiful blue spiked flowers.

Lavender is probably the best smelling herb in all of herb gardening and is often used in candles, as a perfume scent, and to improve the smell in linen chests. The light purple flowers smell absolutely lovely.

Other types of herbs often grown in herb gardening include borage (used in salads), chervil (used in egg dishes), sweet marjoram (flavors lamb, fish, salad, and soup), sesame (flavors crackers, cookies, and bread), and dill (flavors meats and used in pickles).

Herb gardening allows gardeners to use herbs from their own garden for cooking, looks, and smell. Herb gardening will produce much fresher herbs with more flavor than store-bought herbs, and are a lot cheaper.

Making Your Small Garden Beautiful

2008-11-27T03:09:00.000-08:00

Making Your Small Garden Beautiful

For most landscapers, the unique beauty and spirit of something made by hand, constructed, and shaped, emphasizes the joy of creating. And even if it means having a small garden to work with, every landscaper knows the value of enjoying their craft and mastering their skills.

Having a small garden to work on does not necessarily mean less details and minor work. What should matter most is to closely assess each detail to come up with the best result.

Working on a small garden is never a problem to most landscape designers. Whether the area is large or small, the sales continue to have a gradual annual growth increase of 8% for the last five years.

In addition, from 1997 to 2002 alone, landscaping sales achieved a growth rate of almost $40 billion. This shows that the landscape designers know how to hone their craft well, regardless of the size of the area they work on.

Generally, when people describe small gardens, they refer to those areas that have straight walls, borders, lines, and/or walks. Then a problem is created because small gardens tend to create an impression of being dull, rigid, and boring. The goal of landscaping should delve into how to make the garden look alive, larger, and more appealing.

The Main Concept

The very core of landscaping a small garden is based on how a landscaper can make the most of the size of the area through plant selection.

With a small garden, having the right kind and size of plants is crucial to the outcome of the whole project.

Size is an important factor because the size of the plants that will be used in the garden should project an image of a bigger space, even if the area is quite small. The color, shape, and texture of the plantings should be coordinated.

It is best to use curves to create a visible flow to the design. Since small gardens tend to have rigid, straight lines, it is best to have curves to open up the garden to reveal its natural beauty. It is also important to create illusions that will give a small garden an effect of being larger.

Considering these, landscaping a small garden will never be a daunting task. As they say, it is all in the details. So whether it is a small or a large garden, landscape designers always take note of the details in the design.

By: Joey Simmons

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Turning Your House Into A Garden Home

2008-11-13T05:22:00.000-08:00

Turning Your House Into A Garden Home
By: Trevor Russell

If you're like many homeowners, you have a blossoming desire to bring the outdoors in-and to expand your living spaces onto porches, decks and courtyards. Carefully planning the style of windows and doors in your home is an important step in creating a seamless transition from the inside comfort of your home to the natural beauty of its surroundings.

"Transitional spaces between the home and garden invite residents to spend more quality time outdoors," says award-winning garden designer and host of the public television program "P. Allen Smith's Garden Home," P. Allen Smith.

He says regardless of your neighborhood or the type of house you have, you can use the windows and doors in your home to take full advantage of what nature has to offer.

Smith suggests planning your home in a way that maximizes your views, increases natural light and provides easy access to outdoor entertaining. When he recently built his own garden home retreat, he focused on these areas and used windows and doors made by Marvin Windows and Doors. Here's a closer look:

• Bi-fold doors, which open up accordion-style, provide a vast opening that maximizes the amount of warm, natural sunlight in a room and perfectly complements outdoor entertaining.

• Frame stunning views of landscapes with large picture windows. Marvin offers a Venting Picture Window that provides the unique combination of unobstructed views and cross-ventilation to bring in the fresh air.

• Sliding patio doors are a traditional option when planning a backyard deck or courtyard. Choose a four-panel door for a greater expanse of glass and a larger opening. Also look for top-hung panels for smooth operation and dual-point locks for security.

"For several years now I have been touting the idea of the garden home, a place that blurs the lines between indoors and out, expanding our living space into the garden and our garden into our homes. My garden home retreat is my expression of this concept," said Smith.

By: Trevor Russell

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

The Beauty of Garden Decor

2008-11-04T18:44:00.000-08:00

The Beauty of Garden Decor

By Romain Levesque

Gardens are beautiful places of relaxation and beauty. The wonderful combination of the higher oxygen levels, the aroma therapeutic scents, and the pleasant colors eases one's mind, body, and soul into a place of relations and peace.

It is for this reason that so many people enjoy growing and keeping gardens. It is also this reason that people often use various schemes of garden decor to keep the garden interesting and stimulating. There are many different garden decor styles on the market.

The fantasy land decor is very common. This includes fairies, gnomes, and other imaginary creatures and scenes painted on clay or porcelain for decoration.Another very common garden decor is the natural life decor.

This decor style includes the arrangement of creatures made of metal and other materials into natural scenes. These creatures are often symbolic representations of the real creatures that might frequent the garden.

Paths to heaven are also very popular, and in such decor, there is a very heavy religious undertone and a remembering of those who have gone before us.

No matter what the garden decor is, the premise is the same, to bring visual and mental interest to a garden that causes one to either think or further enjoy the garden.

The decor of the garden can help one better understand the garden and their place in the garden.

It is also nice for the directing of thought or mediation while visiting the garden.The garden itself can be greatly enhanced by the addition of pretty ornaments designed for the garden.

Such garden decor can often cover an area that plants do not seem to grow.It is also possible to set the decor up in such a manner that it allows for a path in which one can access the plants and tend to them.

There is so much that one can do with garden decor that it is little wonder that it is so popular with those who have gardens

source : http://www.thearticle1.com/2008/11/beauty-of-garden-decor.html

Keeping Your Home and Garden Spiffy

2008-11-03T20:06:00.000-08:00

Keeping Your Home and Garden Spiffy
By Bob Schmitt

If you are like most people, you want your home and garden to be smart and stylish. You can keep your place up to date when you shop for all the modern necessities and luxuries. You can surround yourself with beautiful and functional items as you make your choices.

Your home will be cozy and livable and your garden will bloom when you get all the right accessories. You will be able to make any kind of food or beverage in your kitchen if you have the right appliances to do the jobs. Cookbooks will guide you on your way to great family meals in your home.

For beverages, you will have blenders, juicers, and mixers. You can find cookware to suit your style, whether it is a single cooker or a complete set of nonstick cookware. Bring out the cutlery sets to chop up and prepare your foods for cooking and roasting. You can also cook in fryers, skillets, griddles, or microwaves. Toasters, toaster ovens, grills, and waffle makers complete your small cooking appliances.

When your food is finished, you can serve it with coffee, tea, or espresso. Use buffet style food servers to show off your dishes and keep them warm for guests. When the meal is over, you can bag up the leftovers in FoodSavers bags to use on another day. If all else fails and you are not in the mood to cook a fancy dinner, use can or jar openers for an easy meal.

Entertaining at home is easier with novelty items like cotton candy, popcorn, snow cone, or slushee machines. You can serve hot dogs, ice cream or nachos in a nostalgic way. Do not leave out barware and fondue equipment when you are thinking about entertaining.

Your home will look more modern if you use attractive soap dispensers in your bathroom. You can get beautiful touchfree versions that show off the colors of your soaps and shampoos. Air purifiers can clean up the environment not only in the bathroom, but all over your home.

Cleaning is a necessary evil for many people, but having the right machines and detergents will make everything work better. Steam cleaners and vacuums make tough chores easier. Special touch free trash cans make everyday clean up a breeze. The chore of garment care will not be a dreaded one in your home if you have the best in steam irons.

Children of all ages should not be left out of home plans. They need their toys and games. Golf putter sets are just as desirable for some as pedal cars are for others. Everyone loves poker sets and signs. The big kids like their toys too, and sets of tools are popular for them.

House and garden plans are not complete until you find all the little things that make a house a home. You will look forward to shopping for your kitchen, your bathroom, your comfort, and your entertainment with excitement.

source : http://ezinearticles.com/?Keeping-Your-Home-and-Garden-Spiffy&id=1361028

Home and Garden - A Magical Place

2008-11-03T19:57:00.000-08:00

Home and Garden - A Magical Place
By Casey Ryan

Do you have a special tree in your backyard? One that is big enough to sit under? Perhaps big enough to sit under with several of your friends? We have a Chinese elm on our property that we have taken care of over the years.

This particular type of tree is notorious for limbs breaking off over the winter and, for city dwellers, is considered a nuisance tree because of the falling branches, seeds and invasive roots. But for those of us that live in the country, the peculiarities of this particular species are easily overlooked.

Especially now that we have cleaned up the branches and all the surrounding area and made it into a favorite party spot - not only our favorite but the favorite of our friends and family as well! Depending on where you live, it might be an oak, maple, sycamore or a hundred other varieties. There is nothing quite like a tree to add privacy, value and comfort to your home garden or patio.

After treating our sacred Chinese Elm with the dignity it deserves (the clean-up), each year we string rope lights throughout its canopy. We like to think that the particular way in which we string them up is reminiscent of the Greek ferries that make their way throughout the Greek Isles, that trip being one of our favorites! Our guests are mesmerized by the effect as well. The lighting is just right.

Not too bright but just bright enough that everyone can see each other and easily navigate around the site. There is a string of lights over the buffet table, another extending over the bar and strategically placed lights over the tables. Add a campfire to this scene and it's just about perfect.

Plenty of light and warmth plus just enough smoke to keep the mosquitoes away. In this setting, no one is in a hurry to run off because it's "too dark" or there are "too many bugs."
Because we live in the country, you might be thinking that the campfire is easy for us to do but that you can't do that because you live in town or in the suburbs. Not so! A self-contained fire ring or fire pit, either of the wood variety or powered by gas, will allow you to achieve the same effect. One of these units will allow you to safely and easily integrate fire into your backyard patio or garden experience.

We have had people of all ages sit around our campfire. It's amazing how the conversation changes. Old, childhood memories of past camping experiences come flooding back, people wax philosophical about life in general and children are always fascinated by a fire. Sitting by a fire and staring into it just has a way of making us all more reflective and relaxed. It's kind of like looking back into the origins of the universe... See what I mean?!

Now, to really put the finishing touches on your magical garden or patio experience, add the sound of falling water. Bringing the symphony of water into your space rounds out the experience of being surrounded by Nature. A fountain allows you the sensation of a river or waterfall without leaving your backyard.

Sitting next to a fire with the sound of water gently falling in the background soothes the soul and transports one to that feeling of inter-connectedness that we can miss as we work to meet our busy schedules and take care of all the demands of our modern society. A fountain can be a simple, table top affair or it can be a centerpiece of your garden. Combining all of these elements into your backyard garden under your favorite tree(s) makes for a truly "magical" experience!

source : http://ezinearticles.com/?Home-and-Garden---A-Magical-Place&id=742914

5 Tips to Freshen Up Your Home and Garden Decor

2008-11-03T19:54:00.000-08:00

5 Tips to Freshen Up Your Home and Garden Decor
By Chris Robertson

When it comes to home and garden decor, it's easy to fall into a rut. There's only so much time in the day, and between work, taking care of the kids, and running errands, who has the energy to redecorate?

Plus, with the prices of everything from gas to groceries going through the roof, who has the money to do renovations or complete makeovers?

The good news is that freshening up your home decor doesn't have to break the bank - and it certainly doesn't need to take up a lot of time and energy. Here are five easy ways to spruce up your surroundings and make the time you spend at home more comfortable and relaxing.

1. Indulge your senses. We're blessed with five senses, but our decorating choices often only address what's in our line of vision. One way to bring another dimension to our living space is to select aromatic candles, incense, or warming oil that infuses the air with beautiful scents. There are so many from which to choose, each of which can convey a different feeling.

2. Bring the outdoors in. Increasingly, people are choosing to move the boundaries of their homes by decorating outdoor patios and yards as an extension of their family rooms and bedrooms. The soothing sounds of wind chimes and fountains, and the beauty of lawn accents will make you want to spend more time outdoors, and give you the feeling that your home has doubled in size.

3. Display your collectibles. Whether you collect figurines or baseball bats, porcelain dolls or Star Wars memorabilia, displaying your collectibles can change the mood of a room. Afterwards, you'll feel more comfortable and relaxed as you're surrounded by the things you love.

4. Use seasonal decor. You can change the tone of a room with a few simple changes. Using seasonal decor, such as a new set of throw pillows or new wall art, is a great way to transform your living space. Use one set of home decor accents in the spring, and then switch them out in the fall.

5. Add a few extra touches. Sometimes, freshening up your home decor is simply a matter of adding a few items. It's kind of like using cosmetics or other health and beauty products - but for your home. For example, the right lighting can convey a variety of moods, while decorative plants can add lushness to a sterile space. Suncatchers will brighten things up, while mirrors can make a room appear larger.

When it comes to finding the right source for home and garden decor, your best bet is to shop online. Instead of going to the big box retailers, it's best to find a site that is family owned an operated, and that is committed to providing a large product line at reasonable prices.

With the right site, you should even be able to take advantage of special promotions, like weekly specials and monthly buy-one-get-one promotions.

Keep in mind that freshening up your home doesn't require a lot of time and money. With the right items at the right prices, you can create a haven that you'll be glad to come home to

source : http://ezinearticles.com/?5-Tips-to-Freshen-Up-Your-Home-and-Garden-Decor&id=1435763

Create a Comfortable Home and Garden

2008-11-03T19:51:00.000-08:00

Create a Comfortable Home and Garden
By Caitlina Fuller

Do you look in magazines and see homes and gardens that are simply exquisite? Are you wondering about how you could make your yard and home décor look a little better? Fortunately, it is not that difficult to design a look for your home and garden décor. In fact, when you use the assistance of online stores like Online Discount Mart you will find everything you need to make your plan a reality.

The great thing about shopping online is that you can save a lot of money. What you need to do first is sit down and make a plan. If you want your garden to have fountains and hammocks or if you would prefer stones and garden furniture it is up to you.

What you do have to do is complete a design that looks good and incorporates your home and garden's best elements. So, focus on what you want to play up and the areas you want to play down. Once you have identified all these areas and have an idea of what you want then you may begin purchasing the necessary items to complete the look.

For example, you may decide that you want beautiful wicker patio furniture. Once you decide on this then you need to come up with ways to play up the new outdoor furniture. This includes buying new potted plants to create a beautiful area in your garden. You can plant grass and other flowers so that they will bloom in the spring and summer and look beautiful. Consider the colors you want to plant and the way they will look with your new furniture. Creating an overall design is the idea here.

And, the same goes for the interior of your home. Focus on creating a special place. Buy rich fabrics and paint the walls rich colors that will match. You should look through magazines and find rooms that you like. Notice the colors, fabrics, and arrangement of furniture. Try and figure out how you could copy a particular look all the while staying on your budget.

Many times you can find used furniture that will work great and save some money not to mention painting yourself in order to save money. When you do things on your own it is amazing how much money you can save. When you use these ideas in no time you will have created a special place in your home and garden that is not only comfortably but beautiful as well

source : http://ezinearticles.com/?Create-a-Comfortable-Home-and-Garden&id=889120

Home and Garden Furniture Ideas

2008-11-03T19:44:00.000-08:00

Home and Garden Furniture Ideas
By Gene Dodge

Home and garden furniture is furniture that can be used inside as well as outdoors. Some people have opted to enclose a large patio in glass or screen, carpet the floor with indoor - outdoor carpeting, furnish with a fireplace, and install ceiling fans along with an air conditioner.

The patio area can be adjacent to the house or separate. The plans of the room or structure can come equipped with a kitchen separate than that of the primary section of the house. This area would require home and garden furniture to furnish the surroundings. When looking for plants for this area, you would still opt for house plants but maybe that of the larger variety.

Home and garden furniture can be made from wicker and wood. Metal and plastic garden furniture can be used, but would probably be considered inappropriate to adorn this region of your home. You would want furniture that is not too elaborate, but on the other hand you don't want the furniture ill-suited for the region either. You will want it to blend with the surroundings you have created. The enclosing of the back patio area convince visitors that this is just an extra room in the house. You will want the room to give off the look of casual comfort.

A room in which to relax and have fun. Home and garden furniture fabricated from wicker have a classic appearance. The simplicity of the designs leans to the casual look of romantic, comfort. Since the home and garden furniture constructed of wicker is made for the outdoors, care and maintenance should be a much easier, simpler task. Consult your retailer for those requirements.

Wicker is also constructed to be durable. It is a good investment in the future of your home. The wicker constructed home and garden furniture comes in a wide range of style, designs and colors. Along with the variety of colors you will have the option to choose one of the dining sets, or from a cluster of sofa, loveseats and chairs. Wicker tables will complete the look of your conversation area of the room. You also have the option of a porch swing a cozy, intimate seating for lovers and friends young or old.

Home and garden furniture is also available an array of wooden pieces or sets. If you want to be able to move home and garden furniture, you may want to browse the teak wooden furniture lines. Teakwood is well known for its lightweight and strength. Its natural finish is a golden color. Wooden home and garden furniture like the wicker home and garden furniture is also built to be sturdy and durable.

Wooden home and garden furniture is also available in the same furniture pieces as the wicker furniture from the dining sets to the conversation sets included with loveseat or sofas. The porch swing is also one of the options available in the wooden home and garden furniture line.

The maintenance and care for the wooden furniture as with the wicker should be a much simpler and easy task. For requirements for that care, check with the retailer. As with the wicker home and garden furniture, wooden home and garden furniture is a great investment in the future for you and your home

source : http://ezinearticles.com/?Home-and-Garden-Furniture-Ideas&id=594626

Home And Garden Lighting

2008-11-03T19:25:00.000-08:00

Home And Garden Lighting
By Elizabeth Morgan

Previously, outdoor or the gardens were lit to facilitate people to see clearly when entering your home and to avert thieves.

Today, landscape lighting is more for aesthetic purposes. Landscape lighting has turned into a work of art.

The aim of landscape lighting is to exhibit a garden and a home in its complete splendor after dark. The lighting has its practical aspect and offers a well-lit area to deter thieves. The following are tips for landscape or garden lighting.

It is best to hire the services of a certified lighting consultant who is will give the best advice. Also, study your garden thoroughly before deciding what you would like to highlight using lighting.

Make sure that the lighting professional has a copy of your design. Iclude outdoor lighting when planning the garden landscape to make it easier to lay wires and pipes.

Try and get more than one quote, so that you can compare the prices. Install a big transformer to meet your present and future lighting needs.

If you are thinking about doing the lighting in parts, lay all the electrical groundwork in the initial stages. Try and use soft light that is akin to moonlight.

Don’t overdo it. The landscape should be seen, not the lights. Hide the lighting system source behind shrubs and plants.

Make sure the fixtures are not visible. Use water resistant fixtures. Most people tend to favor white light for garden lighting.

However, you could try different color variations with the help of a professional. Use fluorescent lights, as are they are less expensive and a lot more effective than incandescent lights.

source : http://ezinearticles.com/?Home-And-Garden-Lighting&id=269007

Home and Garden Decor

2008-11-03T18:50:00.000-08:00

Home and Garden Decor

By Ken Marlborough

Installing home and garden decor is a great way to make your home and garden attractive, appealing and a relaxing place to stay.

Before you enter your home, you see the garden. By creating a welcoming and pleasantly inviting atmosphere in your garden, you are creating a welcoming introduction to your home.

Not only that – there are times when you just want to spend time entertaining or relaxing in your garden, so it’s fun to keep it pleasing to everyone’s eyes

In choosing home and garden décor, first you have to know what you want and what style you are looking for.

One way of determining which décor to buy is by setting a theme to your garden. Thin about what you would like your garden to look like – what accessories you would like to see, and what plants and trees you’d like to add.

Here are some of the theme ideas that you can incorporate with your home and garden décor: butterfly, temple, sundial, Japanese, water, winter, and jungle.

After you choose your theme, you can now make a list of products that are wonderful items to compliment your home garden.

Some of these items can be flowers and flowerpots, planter pots, birdhouses, fountains, wind chimes, garden shelves, incense, garden angels, plant stands, flower vases, and statues.

Decorating your home and garden can be very challenging and you have to use your aesthetic ability to come up with a truly pleasing home garden.

But before you make any purchase, see to it that your home and garden décor items will be good together so that you will not waste money, time, and effort.

source : http://ezinearticles.com/?Home-and-Garden-Decor&id=226660