Gardening Tips

Choosing Garden Furniture

It is a good idea to invest in a set of garden furniture for your home. You need to make sure they will fit into the overall concept of your garden. It is an established fact that modern day users have a very high expectation from every single piece of garden furniture they purchased. Choose a set of furniture that blends into the existing theme you have worked on to create.

Compliment your backyard by adding a large bar and a fireplace to create a very cozy outdoor dining room you can enjoy. The same principles apply when you select garden furniture as you would when choosing furniture for your living room. The way you add furniture will determine how it will be transformed. Some are interested to create very large size outdoor dining area to cater for a large family or guests. Make sure you don’t overcrowd your backyard though.

Modern garden furniture is normally made from wood, and metals. These designs can be both stunning and cozy. It is important to be able to spend time to maintain it or it won’t last very long. What differentiates outdoor with indoor furniture is the ability to withstand the harsh environment. Your furniture will still need regular maintenance and care whatever the quality level.

One of the best places to buy outdoor seating is Argos garden furniture. They have an excellent range and can cater for most tastes as they are a huge retailer with many different branches.

When choosing your garden furniture, think about your own comfort and your guest. You can choose cushioned seats, love-seat, benches, rocking chairs to lounger, the list is endless when it comes to selecting the furniture of your dreams. Place small side tables to let your guests use them to place their drinks or snacks during a conversation. Outdoor furniture comes in a wide variety of colors ensuring that you will be able to find the perfect color to add just the right amount of splash to your garden. Choose a few pieces that you like and match them to your surroundings.

For an outdoor event, where you will host dinner parties or lunch, select garden furniture that would meet your requirements. Check out those large tables that let you entertain more people at your next outdoor dinner party. For formal settings, oblong tables would be great and you can entertain between ten to twelve guests at the same time but a round table is ideal if the space is smaller and you can have between four to six guests at one time. Desire an adult entertaining area? Then include an outside bar. There is a wide variety of designs you can choose from to suit your taste and preferences.

Bonsai Care

Often considered an art form, bonsai care can be a meditative and enjoyable activity for anyone. The trees used can be one of many popular bonsai species such as juniper and black or white pine as well as some tropical tree varieties. How you care for your bonsai is the most important aspect of this activity.

What is Bonsai?

Originally practiced in China over a thousand years ago, bonsai constituted the growing of a single tree in pots. Early specimens often resembled animals, dragons and birds. The Japanese adopted the art for in the 12^th century by means of Zen Buddhism. First practiced only by monks the art form soon spread to include the aristocracy.

The term, bonsai, literally means tray planting or tree pot. The term specifically refers to the training and artistic vision applied to the trees. For the Japanese, bonsai care represented a fusion of ancient beliefs with the eastern philosophies of harmony between man and nature.

Caring for Your Bonsai

A fun and rewarding activity, bonsai care requires diligence and practice. As noted above, the species of tree may vary depending on personal taste. The type of care your bonsai will require depends on the tree species you choose to grow. You should follow the general growing guidelines outlined for this particular tree. To dwarf the plant to a workable size you may employ a number of techniques. The main methods used are use of a small ceramic pot, foliage pruning, root pruning and direct sunlight exposure.

Your individual bonsai care will determine the form that your tree will take. There are several different main styles of bonsai, which include formal upright, informal upright, slanting, cascade, windswept and forest. Remember this is not a strict list of styles; you may work with another, lesser-known style, or provide a variation on one of the main styles.

Growing Guidelines

One of the most important aspects of bonsai care is watering. Requirements will vary by species, but it is important to note that regardless of the species of the tree you must be sure that your tree never dries out. Generally, you will need to water the tree when the surface soil appears dry.

You will not be required to immediately prune your bonsai upon purchase. However, this is a main point in any bonsai care, since pruning will help to bring the desired shape to your tree. You can accomplish most pruning by simply pinching the new growth between your thumb and forefinger.

Also be sure to consider lighting requirements and fertilization. As with watering, lighting will depend on the type of tree. Fertilization, utilizing a good balanced fertilizer, should be restricted to the growing season.

Art & Mediation

Bonsai care can be an artistic, meditative, and horticultural experience. With correct bonsai care, you can be sure to guarantee your success and the continued growth of your tree.

Think Bird Houses to Attract Aviary Friends to Your Home & Garden

Bird houses add charm, whimsy, and beauty as well as a place for birds to nest.  It is no wonder that the bird house and bird feeder industry is growing.  There are safety factors to consider when buying or building a bird house.  There are some birds that will use a bird house and others that are not attracted to them. 

Types of Bird Houses

The type of bird house you will use depends on the type of bird or birds that you want to attract to your home.  Bird houses come in many shapes, sizes, colors and materials.  One of the best types of bird houses is the wooden one.  There are several reasons to choose this type of bird house.  Wooden bird houses can breath for ventilation, are durable and have a good insulation quality to them.  Gourds are another good material for bird houses.  They are functional, breathable, and pretty as well.  Properly designed pottery, concrete, and plastic houses will breathe and are also durable. When choosing the bird house that you will use for your feathered friends always check for proper ventilation, drainage, and easy access for maintenance and monitoring.  When considering the type of bird house that you want another thing to think about are safety and maintenance.

Safety and Proper Maintenance

Items to consider once you have chosen the type of bird house that you want are ventilation, drainage, ease of access for maintenance and protection from predators.

You should also make sure that no harmful chemicals where used on the materials used for the building of your bird house.  You would not want your new friends to become sick.  Part of proper maintenance of your new bird house is to check them for unwanted critters, such as fleas, wasp, or flies.  Sometimes mice and others will want to take up residence in your bird house. The main thing to remember if this happens is to remove them.  If insects are the problem, use only pesticides that are not harmful to your feathered friends.  “If wasps are a problem, coat the inside top of the box with bar soap” (US Fish & Wildlife Service “Homes for Birds”).  One of the problems that you may encounter while cleaning the nest and parasites or insects are present, baby birds may also be present.  If one of the baby birds gets out of the nest you can pick it up and put it back where it was.  Birds have a lousy sense of smell and they will not reject the babies because you helped them. 

Don’t let the care and safety be a deterrent in deciding whether you want a bird house or not.  The upkeep and maintenance is part of the joy and can be a wonderful way to learn more about your new birds. You will quickly become a backyard birder with your new bird house or houses. The joy of watching beautiful bird is an immeasurable pleasure. 

Increase The Quality And Productivity Of Your Organic Vegetable Garden.

Organic Vegetable gardening is very different from conventional gardening. A great deal of care and preparation must be undertaken before you get started. You will need to know how best to prepare soil and know how to enrich it and also provide it with adequate protection from insects that can often do a lot of harm to your vegetables.

Healthy soils usually produce healthy plants provided you incorporate the right Ingredients  into your preparation there is no reason why you should not produce healthy abundant plants.

To get the right kind of fertile soil for your organic vegetables, you need to ensure that the soil will is as fertile as possible, and to ensure that you need to have proper amount of nitrogen, phosphorous and also potassium. Before doing anything else, you need to have drawn up detailed plans about how you are going to perform your organic vegetable gardening chores; obviously the type of soil that you use will be a major consideration as far as your plans to grow vegetables organically are concerned.

Your plan must decide what you wish to grow, know the space requirements, make a small scale plan and know where to place different vegetables, and also you will need to calculate the right distance between seeds and rows. Once you have your plans sorted out, you will be ready to get the full benefits of organic vegetable gardening which includes giving your taste buds a treat and being able to choose to sow your favourite vegetables.

In order to be successful in your organic vegetable gardening endeavours you should protect your garden from unwanted intrusion by pets or vermin and plan towards well and constantly cared for gardening this requires a strong will if you want to reap the many possible benefits. Ypu will need to mix the soil well and do so at least three weeks before planting, the soil must have been well prepared to take the seeds and even maybe the transplants.

You also need to ensure that the soil has those materials that have plenty of nitrogen and the soil should have pH of approximately 7.0 and temperatures should hover close to fifty degrees Fahrenheit. In addition, the soil must be properly aerated and to prevent soil from turning acidic there should be enough lime present. While irrigating the soil, care should be taken to make the soil thoroughly wet at least once in a week unless it has rained, which will ensure that the soil is moist especially around the root zone.

Go to your local garden supplier they will be able to assist you with local conditions and where to source your organic compost and manures lime and other soil inputs. When you start of with a well prepared patch you will find it easy to control weeds and provided your plants are well fed and healthy you should have no problems with insects and other parasites.. Before you realize it you will be harvesting your first produce and from then on there is no looking back.  

How To Plan A Herb Garden Layout?

Thankfully, planning the layout of your herb garden is not rocket science nor does it have to be like any of the magnificent garden of the world like Kew Gardens in England or the Longwood gardens in Pennsylvania. These gardens are artificial in nature and require the skill of professional horticulturists to grow and maintain them. Your herb garden layout is much simpler and will not require anywhere near as much work.

A real herb garden needs to still look and grow like they were meant to.  Not only will this help the herbs, but will save your back.  Let the herbs themselves help you plan your herb garden layout.

What Resources Are Available to You?

Take an honest look at what resources you have for your herb garden layout.  If you already have a greenhouse, you have a great place for seedlings or herbs that need a more Mediterranean climate in order to grow, like basil.  If you don’t have a greenhouse or a large garden plot, away from car exhaust and tons of shade, then don’t fret.  Just use a simple steel rack and flowerpots in your kitchen or front porch as your portable herb garden layout.  An herb garden doesn’t have to be all in one patch of ground in order to be a useful, satisfying herb garden.

What Herbs To Grow?

Take a look at what herbs you usually use in your cooking and start from there.  Now, if you want to grow mint, you must keep in mind that mint demands a lot of space and will choke any other herbs or flowers growing nearby so it needs to be in a space all on its own.  However, herbs like parsley don’t mind a little company.  

As you can now see you just can’t plant herbs willy-nilly into the ground.  That’s an herb garden layout that’s a recipe for disaster.  You have to actually do some homework as to what kind of soil your herb prefers, how far apart it should be from other herbs, how much sunlight it needs, and when its growing season is.

As they say don’t run before you can walk. Why not start of with a few hardy herbs such as thyme, parsley, chives and dill until you get the hang of it. Your herb garden layout will vary from season to season as your experience grows and understanding of what plants need to flourish. You will soon start to reap your harvest of fresh organic herbs and your cooking and life will be richer for it.

The Art of Cultivating Bonsai Trees

The art of cultivating bonsai trees has been a Japanese tradition stretching back hundreds of years.  Translating literally to “tray planting,” growing a bonsai tree involves actively working to shape a tree into a dwarfed, artistic version of itself.  A bonsai tree is not a special dwarf or hybrid species of a common tree; they’re genetically identical to their larger relatives.  It’s the careful cultivation that keeps these trees small.  Surprisingly, the trees are not damaged by this process, however.  In fact, with the proper care, the dwarfed version of a tree can live longer than the same tree if it was allowed to grow in the wild.

Bonsai trees can either be grown from seeds or from cuttings of trees, and they usually grow from two inches to three feet in height.  They are kept miniture through pruning both branches and roots.  They’re also repotted periodically, and new growth is often pinched off. 

There is a much about art as there is about horticulture in the growing and cultivating of bonsai trees.  Bonsai trees are not only kept miniture, they are also formed into pleasing shapes.  They frequently follow a number of different patterns of growth, from simple triangles to waterfall shapes cascading down over their pots.  The shapes are usually a result of both the pruning of the tree and by the use of wrapping the trunk and branches with wire, shaping the tree into its desired form.  The pots themselves are part of the art as well, chosen to compliment the color and shape of the tree itself.  Mosses and rocks are frequently added to the base for aesthetic appeal. 

Care of a bonsai tree is more complicated than taking care of most houseplants.  Since the bonsai, by definition, has has a smaller root system than most plants, it needs fertilizer and water more frequently than most garden-variety houseplants.  Pruining is also essential occasionally, since the bonsai tree would grow into just a normal large tree without pruning.  Also, if wire is used to help mold and form the tree, it is important to take care that the wire doesn’t dig into the bark of the tree, scarring the branches permanently.  Depending on the type of bonsai tree and your climate, you may be able to keep some bonsai trees outside year round, while others will need to be kept inside for at least part of the year.  Moisture is also important, not only in the soil but in the branches and leaves of the bonsai.  They need to be misted occasionally for the bonsai to develop healthily. 

Rock Gardens: Creating Breathtaking Garden Vistas

Rock gardens really offer some of the most spectacular garden vistas. Along with extensive usage of rocks and stones the plants native to the rocky or alpine environments are featured in the rock gardens or rockeries. Usually nowadays the rock gardens are designed by homeowners as a measure to make advantageous use of the rocky tract lying in their yards.

Creating a rock garden and looking after its upkeep can be a good hobby. The retired persons can especially take this up as a pastime and spend many a leisurely moment in the rock garden.

Origin of rock garden concept and aspects of rock gardens

Originally it were the travelers to the Swiss Alps who got impressed by the flora that grew among the snowy heights and rocky terrain out there and introduced the exotic flora and feel in their homelands. The rock gardens can come in various shapes and sizes. They may be small and simply done as also vast and elaborately set up. Every rock garden can be set up in a unique way. While simple rock gardens may include only flowers, foliage and rocks the exotic ones can also be made having ponds and waterfalls in them. Your landscape can indeed be wonderfully transformed by making use of a worthy rock garden idea.

The rock garden is usually observed as a pile of rocks of different sizes that are aesthetically arranged with small gaps being introduced in between them for planting of flora. Bonsai may also be incorporated suitably in rock gardens. Rock gardens can also be styled in the Japanese rock garden way. In such case the rock gardens are also referred to as Zen garden. These are special rock gardens with hardly any plants. Rocks and affine, light colored gravel are what make up such Zen gardens.

Going about with setting up of rock garden

While proceeding with setting up of rock garden the rock that is available in the locality is primarily considered for building up the garden. This also gives a natural look to the garden. Often there are a number of rock types to choose from. Any native rock that helps create a natural look should be selected. After placement of the rocks they ought to be allowed to settle down for a few weeks for judging their stability and effect on soil conditions.

While selecting the flora type for rock gardens, though there are no rules or conventions as such, choices of plants need to be made judiciously. Plants that will be able to withstand and thrive in the climatic condition of the garden should be the ones that are to be naturally selected. Personal favorites among such plants can be opted for of course keeping with your ideas of a rock garden setting.

Using of the right kind of soil - rich, light in texture, and well drained to avoid water stagnation - is much needed in the rock garden. Usage of strong fertilizers should be avoided and natural soil enriching material should be preferably used. Watering is also a very important thing to take care of. Using a watering can for watering purpose is the best way out. Alongside, care must be taken to ensure that the garden is not overshadowed by large trees. The garden must get exposed to the sun, wind and other natural elements.

Grow Your Own Basic Herb Garden

No matter where you live in the world most cultures like to use herbs in their cooking to provide the flavours and aroma that we have all come to love. With the enormous spread in popularity of Gourmet Cooking shows on television we are encouraged to expand our culinary tastes to include dishes from all over the world . As most professional chefs prefer to use fresh herbs in their cooking why should we not follow in their steps and grow our own basic herb garden at home.

It is quite easy to put in a basic herb garden to grow the ones used the most. Most of the common herbs used as spices in cooking can be successfully grown in average soil but some do request rich soil, such as oregano.

Additionally, some herbs in a basic herb garden such as parsley are biennial in nature. This means the first year they are grown they will not be useful for seasoning. It is during the second year that the crop can be used. Ideally, with parsley, , plant a new crop of seeds one year after planting your first parsley plants so that in a couple of years they will overlap, providing u sable seasoning every year.

Most of the herbs grown in a basic herb garden such as, parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, oregano and basil are tolerant of direct sun, but will require a minimum amount of water to survive. You can harvest leaves, sprigs and twigs from any of your herbs as they are growing giving fresh organic herbs for your kitchen.

However, some plants like thyme is a very forgiving plant and if it dries out will likely come back when an appropriate amount of water is given. Since some have different soil requirements and can grow under slightly different conditions, having them separated by variety can help get them started and keep them growing throughout their life.

Plant Herbs Close To Where They Will Be Used

In most cases it is easier on the grower to plant the basic herb garden close to the kitchen for easy harvesting of the fresh crop. Remember, the entire growth does not have to be cut and used at once. With the right care, the spices will continue to grow and be usable during the entire season. Drying or freezing the extra cuttings at the end of the season can possibly supply the spice throughout the winter, often lasting until the next crop produces the following year.

If you are little short on space why not consider companion growing? When planting a basic herb garden that would take more room than available, certain herbs can be planted among other plants, especially tomatoes. Parsley can play well with other plants specifically tomatoes, asparagus and among roses. Broccoli and cauliflower also welcome rosemary in their midst. Basil also likes to grow alongside tomatoes too.

The only problem with planting herbs among other plants is that they can be mistaken and trampled on inadvertently when weeding, pruning and maintaining the other plants in your mixed garden bed. A basic herb garden is a valuable addition to your kitchen supplies and really wont take to much of your valuable time to look after.

Container growing tomatoes for small gardens

If your garden is small i recommend that container growing is the best option because you can put them in good locations and maintain them easliy. Container growing tomatoes will grow just as well as those grown in the main garden but you need to do a couple of things a bit differently to have good success.

Container growing tomatoes

The first thing to do is grow the right variety. Some varieties have such large fruits that this makes them unsuitable for growing in pots and containers. The reason for this is that tomatoes are very hungry and needy plants when it comes to watering and feeding. The large varieties need a larger root system to sustain the plants long enough and well enough to give you the large tomatoes you would want.

Good types that grow in pots include the small cherry types and the medium ones.Do not grown the very large italian steak tomatoes.

The second thing you must do is to use only your largest containers and pots for tomatoes. Your plants need regular watering and feeding and to get really good plants the roots need plenty of space. Tomato roots that are restricted will reduce the size and quality of your fruits.

Tomatoes need constant and regularl feeding through the season once the first flowers have appeared. I do this every Sunday morning without fail until the last fruits are present. Then you just continue with water. I use specially prepared feed but you can use most organic feeds such as fish blood and bone. The feed is useful for plenty of other types of plant so it is well worth the investment.

Growing tomatoes in pots

My last hint is to ensire thay are watered daily. It might seem odd to be watering on rainy days but it is needed because the leaves of the plants do not allow the water to get to the pots. The ones in the ground will grow much more easily. Container growing tomatoes for small gardens work very well as long as you follow these simple tips.

The Real Scoop on Planning a Vegetable Garden

Garden grown vegetables are superior to grocery store produce by anyone’s  standard, both in freshness and flavor. You can go out to the garden and pick your vegetables just before mealtime, at the peak of ripeness. You’ll save money and your family and lucky neighbors will love the results. Here’s a quick primer on the basics of planning a vegetable garden. If you’ve never grown your own vegetables, give it a try!

Start small. It’s easy to let your enthusiasm run wild, wanting to plant all of your favorites. The problem arises when you find yourself overwhelmed by the time required to maintain a large garden. Get one growing season under your belt to get a good idea of the tasks involved and the time you need to nurture your babies. A good size for the first-timer is about 4′ x 8′. A patio or balcony garden is easily managed, even when filled to capacity.

When planning a vegetable garden, your first decisions are location, layout and type of bed. Most vegetables require a southern exposure with at least eight hours of sunlight, so plan accordingly. Raised beds are easy to work and drain well. Lining the bottom of the frame with wire mesh provides protection from burrowing critters. You have a little more initial expense in constructing the frame and filling the bed, but in the long run, you’ll have less work and better results. If you choose to dig the ground directly, double-digging to a depth of 24 inches is recommended for the most friable soil and best drainage. If you’re growing in pots, use oak half-barrels or similar sized containers. Consult your nursery worker for veggie varieties that grow well in pots.

Prepare your soil thoroughly. You should be able to gently squeeze a big handful and have it just barely hold its form, then easily crumble as you sift it through your hands. Get a soil test kit and make any adjustments to correct for too acid or alkaline soil.

Planning a vegetable garden for maximum yield includes considering interplanting, a technique that allows you to grow two crops in sequence in the same space. For example, carrots and radishes may be planted with a row of lettuce. The carrots and radishes will be ready by the time the lettuce fills out the space.

Knowledge of companion planting is also useful when planning a vegetable garden. Some vegetables grow more vigorously when planted with another particular plant. For example, tomatoes and basil are good companions, producing better tomatoes, tastier basil and provide natural protection from pests. You also want to know what not to plant in proximity. Gladiolas shouldn’t be planted anywhere near tomatoes! Your tomatoes will not thrive!

Planning a vegetable garden is almost as much fun as growing and harvesting the delectable fruits. Start small, do your research, apply TLC generously and watch your garden grow!