Archive for the ‘Gardening’ Category
Gardening: Vegetable Gardening
Vegetable gardening has lately become just as popular as going to the grocery store fore produce. Vegetable gardening can produce vegetable that are usually cheaper than store bought, and vegetables from a home vegetable garden definitely taste better by far. Vegetable gardening is no different than growing herbs or flowers and if the proper steps are taken and the plants are give the proper care they will flourish and produce very tasty vegetables.
First you must decide what size of garden you wish to plant and then select a place for it; somewhere that has good drainage, good air flow, and good, deep soil. It also needs to be able to get as much sunlight as possible. Because vegetable gardens have such tasty rewards, many animals, such as dogs, rabbits, deer, and many others will try and get to your veggies. One way to prevent this is to surround your garden with a fence, or put out a trap to catch mice, moles, and other animals.
Before planting, the soil must be properly prepared. Good soil for vegetable gardening is achieved by cultivation and the application of organic materials. The soil must be tilled (plowed) to control weeds and mix mulch into the soil. If you have a small garden, spading could be a better bet than plowing. Mulching is also a vital part of soil preparation. Organic matter added to the soil releases nitrogen, minerals, and other nutrients plants need to thrive. The most popular and best type of mulch you can use is compost. While the kind and amount of fertilizer used depends on the soil and types of plants, there are some plants that have specific needs; leafy plants, like cabbage, spinach, and lettuce usually grow better with more nitrogen, while root crops like potatoes, beets, turnips, and carrots require more potash. Tomatoes and beans use less fertilizer, while plants like onions, celery, and potatoes need a larger amount.
Organic Gardening Supply – What You Need For Your Organic Garden
Organic gardening is a skill that most people should learn. In these dire times, pesticides and chemicals have poisons the very ground that crops are grown in, learning to grow your own food at home is probably one of the wisest decisions that anyone could make. However, before making the leap into the organic gardening arena, there are a few supplies that you need to get before you can begin to grow your own food. Here are a few tips on what you need before planting season begins.
If you are a regular gardener, or an organic gardener, most of the needed supplies needed are relatively the same. Everyone needs a hoe, pail, shovel, and a hose to get water to your crops. Themain difference is that most organic gardeners will not be at the local hardware store purchasing weed killer or other pesticides or herbicides in order to take care of their garden quickly and easily.
Most organic gardeners know that by using these types of products, you can affect your food in a detrimental way and you can end up eating many of these poisons which become part of the food you are ingesting. You have to ask yourself if you would actually drink the poison that you are spraying on the plants. If not, then why would you want to eat it alter when it has become part of the plant you are about to eat!? The answer is that you wouldn’t and that by taking a time out, looking at a game plan, and deciding what to do way in advance, you are ensuring your success with your crops now and in the future.
Is It Organic? Hydroponic Gardening
Some organic gardeners believe that hydroponic gardening can’t be organic because you don’t use soil. How can you have an organic garden without rich, loamy soil? Good soil is at the heart of organic gardening. Organic hydroponic gardening does exist, however, and has some advantages over conventional organic gardening.
Soil-less Gardening
Organic hydroponic gardening is organic gardening without the soil. Organic hydroponic gardening relies on water to provide the nutrients needed for plant growth. Organic hydroponic gardening still requires a growing medium; most plants won’t grow without something solid to put their roots into. The growing medium is not the source of nutrients, however; it’s as sterile as a chemically fertilized monoculture wheat field. The growing medium is simply a structure to root the plants into and to hold the nutrient-filled water.
Stressed? Try Gardening
Do you ever feel like you know just enough about Gardening to be dangerous? Let’s see if we can fill in some of the gaps with the latest info from Gardening experts.
Many of us garden because we want to grow our own fruits and vegetables. An attractive landscape or curb appeal may be the goal of others. Gardening, no matter what kind, can also be therapeutic. For many people gardening relaxes the mind, body and spirit. Actually, it is not gardening that’s relaxing but the way that we approach it. If gardening is seen as a chore, it’s stressful. If we view it as enjoyable, it can help relieve stress.
Focusing on your gardening task is the key to relieving stress. Digging, chopping, and hitting motions can relieve stress and tension. In some settings, people hit dummies, slam pillows or hit into thin air but motions of gardening release stress. Strenuous activities also provide an outlet for pent up aggression. Strenuous activities are certainly not the only ways to relieve stress. Something as simple as a walk around the garden may be just what the doctor ordered. When you take your walk, be sure to absorb all the colors, fragrances and designs in the garden. You can also admire your gardening skills and this is sure to reverse the stress into a state of well being.
Save Water and the World With a Rain Garden
The indigenous soil and forests of many regions accumulate, sieve, and gradually release fresh, clean water to streams, wetlands, and estuaries. The varieties of life in marine and fresh water, as well as on land, require clean water to thrive.
As human populations intrude and alter natural settings, native forests and soils are replaced with roads, rooftops and other hard surfaces. When it rains or snows, more water flows from these surfaces than undisturbed areas, carrying oil, fertilizers, pesticides, sediment and other pollutants downstream. In fact, much of the pollution in streams, wetlands and rivers now comes from storm-water (water flowing off developed areas). The added volume of water and associated contaminants from developed land are damaging water resources and harming aquatic life.
One possible solution is a type of landscaping called the rain garden-
WHAT IS A RAIN GARDEN?
A rain garden acts like a native forest by collecting, absorbing, and filtering storm-water runoff from roof tops, driveways, patios, and other areas that don’t allow water to soak in. Rain gardens are created as shallow depressions that:
Can be shaped and sized to fit your yard.
Are constructed with soil mixes that allow water to soak in rapidly and support healthy plant growth.
Can be landscaped with a variety of plants to fit the surroundings.
The Garden Show Season Has Arrived!
Spring is here, summer’s on its way and it’s time to enjoy the fruits of other people’s labour. Yes, garden show season is almost upon us and there’s a lot to see.
Garden shows in the UK come in all styles and sizes, so you’ll be able to pick one that appeals to you. Whether you want to go to a big show and pick up some tips and bargains or to a small private viewing, there’ll be something for you.
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) puts on regular shows throughout the summer, most famously the Chelsea Flower Show at the end of May, in central London. Here you’ll find show gardens laid out in a huge variety of styles – Mediterranean, woodland, cottage gardens, water gardens, secret gardens, contemporary designs and gardens designed by celebrity gardeners.
Choosing The Right Garden Center For Your Garden
Choosing a garden center for your gardening needs can sometimes be a difficult process. There are many garden centers attached to large box stores and hardware stores and even the grocery stores carry garden center type areas for everything from tomatoes to potted plants. So how do you know what is best for your garden or flower area?
There are a number of ways to choose the correct garden center for your needs. You could go by price, but some places, you get what you pay for. Make sure that the garden center you choose has fresh, hardy, good looking plants in all sections, not just the flowers or the vegetables. If only one area has good looking plants, move on to another garden center. This means they only water or feed certain plants and ignore the others. You want to be able to choose from a wide variety of plants that are healthy and blooming and not droopy or dying.
Is Urban Roof Garden Possible?
A roof garden is any garden situated on the roof a building. A flat or gently sloped roof transformed into a landscape environment.
These are grown plants atop structure that started during ancient times, about 2,500-3,000 years ago in Rome and Mesopotamia. It became popular in the 19th century. Here are some benefits of Roof Garden:
Very attractive & decorative
It can provide food & other useful plants
It helps in controlling environment temperature (reduce heat loss during winter & heat gain in summer)
It is considered as architectural enhancement and
For recreational opportunities
It promotes biodiversity; valuable inner city habitat and feeding stations especially for insects and birds.
It controls flood
It creates usable space for people
The Basics of Designing Gardens
Just like the ad says “Just Do It,”; this is exactly the perspective one needs in getting good at garden designs. You can always move plants around your gardens and as your ideas and taste change, your gardens can grow with you. There are some simple elements of garden design. Think of designing your garden with living art in mind being creative and free to try whatever suits your taste. There are no limitations to the creativity that is within, no comparison or fear of failure. Although gardening successfully requires learning certain skills, when all is said and done a garden’s beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder. Just go for it and let your gardens be the expression of you.
Garden design and its principles used may be called by different names. There are three basic concepts when combined together will bring about good garden design. Ultimately your gardens’ design is up to you and should reflect your own personality and flare.
Express Yourself: Adding Interest to Your Garden
There are many ways that you can add interest to a garden. Anything that becomes a focal point will add interest and that can range from garden sculptures to the types of plants you choose.
Adding block planting of a particular specimen can become a focal point in the garden. Even adding areas of variegated foliage can create a focal point in the
garden.
Seats are another item that can add interest to the garden and additionally they can offer a nice place to rest and relax while you admire your work.
Mirrors that are strategically placed can enhance the garden in many ways. They can bring reflected light to dark corners of the garden. They can also give the impression that the garden is bigger or alternatively they can give the impression that the open space is bigger. Placed at various angles, mirrors can add a lot of fun and interest to a garden and help to lead a visitor on to other areas.
Using hedges can also add interest to the garden while offering protection to the plants. Hedges are also an excellent way to gain privacy without feeling closed in.