Gardens come in different varieties like the plants you find in them. There are several gardening tips that can be used for all type of gardens.
1.Mulching protects your garden topsoil from being blown away. It also provides nutrients as it decomposes and improves the appearance of your gardens. Mulching has other benefits and is one of the most recommended gardening tips by gardeners and farmers alike.
2.Healthy plants are more disease resistant. Plants are like people, a person with a strong immune system can combat diseases. A healthy plant does the same.
3. Pests can be eradicated by cleaning the plant with a watery solution of soap. Just make sure to rinse after. This gardening tip is best heeded for fruit bearing trees or edible plants.
4. Using compost fertilizers are a great way to have healthy plants. It is also a great way to save money on expensive fertilizers. Non -organic fertilizers also tend to leave chemical residues that can accumulate in garden soils and harm not only the plants but the gardeners as well. They cause toxins to go to the water supplies. Another gardening tip recommended not just by farmers and gardeners but also by environmentalists.
5. There are several plants that are only suitable for a specified climate, a certain kind of soil or can only grow with certain plants. You have to know what plant grow in the conditions you have in your area this is for you to avoid unnecessary purchases. This is a money saving gardening tip.
6.Landscaping is a good investment which can double the value of your home. This is one gardening tip that can earn you money.
7. Growing grass on bare ground is an easy way to make your home look better and appreciate in value. This is one gardening tip that promotes earning money while growing grass legally.
8. Aside from looking great in your home, trees also provide some sort of protection from direct sunlight exposure and strong winds.
9. Vines on the walls, fences and overhead structures also would offer some protection and would also look great.
10.Flowers are beautiful, but they are also expensive. Get one that is resistant to many elements. Flowers from your local community already have developed resistance to conditions present in your area.
11.For most gardens plants, their roots go only as deep as 6 inches. Putting fertilizer deeper than that would be a waste of money. Put them shallower as they seep down when the plants are being watered.
12.Earthworms are important to plants. They till and aerate the soil for the roots to breathe. Non-organic fertilizers can kill them. This gardening tip dates back to the old days of gardening.
13. Having several kinds of insects that are beneficial to your garden would be good. These insects can be encouraged to stay by having diverse plants in your garden.
14. Spot spraying weeds with household vinegar, instead of using commercial weed-killers, can eradicate them. This is another environment friendly gardening tip.
15. Avoid putting too much mulch on tree trunks; this would encourage unwanted pests to reside on them.
16. Use plant varieties that are common to your area or have been taken from an area with similar conditions.
17. Be sure to know the plants that are poisonous. If you are intent on growing them, make sure to have the necessary cure available in your household. Take note of this gardening tip, it can save your life.
18. The best time to water plants is during mornings.
19. Before planting a new plant in your garden, you must consider its height and size when it matures. This garden tip can help you save money in the future.
20. Newly transplanted plants may require special attention during its first week. This is to reduce the stress and shock it got during transplantation.
And last but not the least of the gardening tips...
21.Plants are living entities. If you want them to grow in your garden you have to treat them as such. They need to be taken care of. They are like your pets, you look out for them. In return you get that feeling of contentment watching them thrive.
A good way to take care of them is to consider that plants might have some feelings too.
more gardening tips here
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mat_Nayie
Monday 12 April 2010
Sunday 4 April 2010
Types of Garden Tools Required For Gardening
A garden tool is equipment that is used for gardening, agriculture or horticulture. There are a number of garden tools available in the market, however you might or might not require every tool for gardening. The tool size and requirement of a particular tool depend on the size of your garden and other physical conditions of your garden such as soil conditions, strength required to plough your garden, the plants or grass you prefer to grow in your garden etc.
Some of the common types of tools used for gardening include hand tools, power tools, cutting tools, pruning tools, wheelbarrows, watering tools, etc.
Hand Tools:
o The most common type of garden tools used by majority of people all across the globe is still hand tool especially if the garden is small. These garden tools are in use since long time.
o If you use your garden for growing vegetables or you just want to landscape it, you need some of the common hand tools such as spade, garden rake, hoe, garden fork and trowel.
o All these equipments are available in varying sizes and depending on your strength you can buy the particular equipment that suits your requirement.
o You may require spade, shovel, hoe and forks generally, however your requirement will depend on size of your garden and various other factors.
Power Tools:
o The second type of garden tools comes under the category of power tools. In addition to the hand tools, people also use power tools for landscaping and growing various vegetables especially if the garden is bigger.
o The most common power tool required by the people is tiller or rotary tiller.
o Tiller blades make the soil loose so that it becomes ready for planting. It generally comes in two models front-tines and rare-tines and if you have a small garden, front-tines tiller will be the best choice for you.
Other garden tools:
o You may also require pruning or cutting tools especially if your garden is large and have various types of plants that require pruning from time to time.
So, for an easy and enjoyable gardening, you should have the required garden tools.
Depending on your garden area and the types of grass, flowers, vegetables or other items grown in the garden, you will need a few or all of the above tools.
If you are an avid gardener Please visit [http://www.garden-tools-guide.com] for more information about Garden Tools [http://www.garden-tools-guide.com] and all your other gardening requirements.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ashish_K_Arora
Some of the common types of tools used for gardening include hand tools, power tools, cutting tools, pruning tools, wheelbarrows, watering tools, etc.
Hand Tools:
o The most common type of garden tools used by majority of people all across the globe is still hand tool especially if the garden is small. These garden tools are in use since long time.
o If you use your garden for growing vegetables or you just want to landscape it, you need some of the common hand tools such as spade, garden rake, hoe, garden fork and trowel.
o All these equipments are available in varying sizes and depending on your strength you can buy the particular equipment that suits your requirement.
o You may require spade, shovel, hoe and forks generally, however your requirement will depend on size of your garden and various other factors.
Power Tools:
o The second type of garden tools comes under the category of power tools. In addition to the hand tools, people also use power tools for landscaping and growing various vegetables especially if the garden is bigger.
o The most common power tool required by the people is tiller or rotary tiller.
o Tiller blades make the soil loose so that it becomes ready for planting. It generally comes in two models front-tines and rare-tines and if you have a small garden, front-tines tiller will be the best choice for you.
Other garden tools:
o You may also require pruning or cutting tools especially if your garden is large and have various types of plants that require pruning from time to time.
So, for an easy and enjoyable gardening, you should have the required garden tools.
Depending on your garden area and the types of grass, flowers, vegetables or other items grown in the garden, you will need a few or all of the above tools.
If you are an avid gardener Please visit [http://www.garden-tools-guide.com] for more information about Garden Tools [http://www.garden-tools-guide.com] and all your other gardening requirements.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ashish_K_Arora
Wednesday 31 March 2010
A Few Gardening Tips For You
Below are some gardening tips that I feel are worth mentioning, and may possibly get you on your way to earning your green thumb. There are never to many gardening tips and I will just brush up on a few to get you started. I am sure if you do a search in Google for "gardening tips", you will have more at your disposal than you can ever ask for.
You could also try garden magazines and books and even gardening clubs. There is plenty of knowledge to go around. The list below will sum up tips on planning your plot, soil preparation, mulch, compost and the watering of the plot.
Garden Tip Number 1
Always plan out your garden before you start digging away at your yard. A good way to start is to take a long look at your garden a try to picture your finished product. Take into account the hight the plants can grow to, the sun spectrum, and the proximity to a water source. Once you see a place you like take a seat and start your gardening plot plan on paper. This way you can get more detailed and include things that you may forget otherwise. Make sure to include in your plans the proximity of your garden hose or garden hose reel and fixture.
Garden Tip 2
Possibly the most important tip of all is correct soil preparation and mixture. It is extremely important to use the non toxic soil nutrients when you are growing anything that you plan on eventually consuming.If you are growing vegetables in your garden then a homemade compost is by far the best fertilizer for your garden. The results will speak for themselves. It is not as hard as you think. Do some research and you would be surprised. If compost is not available the next option is mulch. If you are going to go with this rout, it is best to look for soft woods such as redwood or spruce. Softer woods have an easier time breaking down and spreading the nutrients to the soil in the bed. If you are not growing vegetables there are loads of fertilizers that can fit your project. Just go to your local nursery and they will lead you in the right direction. When you decide on your fertilizer, make sure everything is mixed well and aerated properly. A garden tiller can make this part of the job a lot easier but is not necessary.
Garden Tip 3
Once your plant area is picked out and the soil in properly spread in your garden, you can then start laying your plants in the pattern you thought up in your plans. Laying the plants out can give you a better picture of your end results. It is also best to arrange the plants from the largest growing in the back and decreasing toward the fron of the garden. You can group the plants together according to characteristics. This way you can get the most out of your area with all the plants getting the full benefit of the suns rays. This alone can make a huge difference.
Garden Tip 4
It is always best to use gardening sprinklers but this is not always possible for your first garden. If you cannot afford garden sprinkler you can still automate the garden with a hose attachment sprinkler.You can use timers that attach to the hose fixture and place the sprinkler wherever needed and this can make the watering automated also. You might still need to use the garden hose here and there. If you don't mind watering than a garden hose and garden hose reel setup can work nice and fulfill all the necessary watering you need.Another option is the drip irrigation systems although this will also cost you a little more.
Though the above tips are very important for the basics of your garden you can get a lot more from doing your own research on the internet search engine, ordering a book, or joining a garden club. Ordering a magazine or joining a club can help a lot as you get new informative tips every month. I hope the tips are helpful and wish you good luck on your green thumb quest. You will be there before you know it.
Simon Moris is a horticulture specialist with more than a decade experience. For more Gardening Tips visit his site at: http://www.ourgardensource.com/Gardening/Gardening-Tips.php
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Simon_Morris
You could also try garden magazines and books and even gardening clubs. There is plenty of knowledge to go around. The list below will sum up tips on planning your plot, soil preparation, mulch, compost and the watering of the plot.
Garden Tip Number 1
Always plan out your garden before you start digging away at your yard. A good way to start is to take a long look at your garden a try to picture your finished product. Take into account the hight the plants can grow to, the sun spectrum, and the proximity to a water source. Once you see a place you like take a seat and start your gardening plot plan on paper. This way you can get more detailed and include things that you may forget otherwise. Make sure to include in your plans the proximity of your garden hose or garden hose reel and fixture.
Garden Tip 2
Possibly the most important tip of all is correct soil preparation and mixture. It is extremely important to use the non toxic soil nutrients when you are growing anything that you plan on eventually consuming.If you are growing vegetables in your garden then a homemade compost is by far the best fertilizer for your garden. The results will speak for themselves. It is not as hard as you think. Do some research and you would be surprised. If compost is not available the next option is mulch. If you are going to go with this rout, it is best to look for soft woods such as redwood or spruce. Softer woods have an easier time breaking down and spreading the nutrients to the soil in the bed. If you are not growing vegetables there are loads of fertilizers that can fit your project. Just go to your local nursery and they will lead you in the right direction. When you decide on your fertilizer, make sure everything is mixed well and aerated properly. A garden tiller can make this part of the job a lot easier but is not necessary.
Garden Tip 3
Once your plant area is picked out and the soil in properly spread in your garden, you can then start laying your plants in the pattern you thought up in your plans. Laying the plants out can give you a better picture of your end results. It is also best to arrange the plants from the largest growing in the back and decreasing toward the fron of the garden. You can group the plants together according to characteristics. This way you can get the most out of your area with all the plants getting the full benefit of the suns rays. This alone can make a huge difference.
Garden Tip 4
It is always best to use gardening sprinklers but this is not always possible for your first garden. If you cannot afford garden sprinkler you can still automate the garden with a hose attachment sprinkler.You can use timers that attach to the hose fixture and place the sprinkler wherever needed and this can make the watering automated also. You might still need to use the garden hose here and there. If you don't mind watering than a garden hose and garden hose reel setup can work nice and fulfill all the necessary watering you need.Another option is the drip irrigation systems although this will also cost you a little more.
Though the above tips are very important for the basics of your garden you can get a lot more from doing your own research on the internet search engine, ordering a book, or joining a garden club. Ordering a magazine or joining a club can help a lot as you get new informative tips every month. I hope the tips are helpful and wish you good luck on your green thumb quest. You will be there before you know it.
Simon Moris is a horticulture specialist with more than a decade experience. For more Gardening Tips visit his site at: http://www.ourgardensource.com/Gardening/Gardening-Tips.php
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Simon_Morris
Monday 29 March 2010
Vegetable Gardening - Which Type Will Suit You?
Every gardener has his own set way of growing things, this is what makes him suitable for certain gardening styles. If you know this yourself and your gardening style, then you will adapt the growing of your organic garden to your abilities. This will be a big help for the yield of your vegetables. Doing this will pretty much give you an edge over other gardening enthusiasts. But the Question is, just what are these different gardening types? This article will cover some of the types that you may consider suit you.
Residential Gardening
You will find that this type of gardening is the most common of all the gardening techniques. If you have just started or are a beginner may not be ready or inclined to produce vegetables for commercial reasons yet, Thus, residential gardening will be just right for you. The main objective of residential gardening is to try and sustain a family of two with a regular supply of vegetables.
Residential gardening requires very little space. It can also be done in window boxes on balconies and on many other small areas that are available to you, that is as long as they have enough of a light source. Growing this way is easy for you to monitor, also it is easy to maintain as well, which means you can keep on top of any nasty little pests. The best thing about residential gardening is that way it ushers the gardening wannabe with ease from having no prior planting experience to expanding to the various other gardening styles
Specialized Gardening
Specialized gardening is normally for non residential areas that are often marketed as parks, botanical gardens, amusement parks and other tourist attractions fall under this category. Normally a staff is required to maintain these places, this is due to there size, also administrative skills will be required on top of gardening expertise.
Indoor Gardening
Indoor gardening comes under the huge scope of residential gardening. The types that come in this category are conservatories, greenhouses and academic institutions. Buildings with heating and air conditioning may used to grow certain types of plants. If you are the type of gardener who really loves cultivating plants in and out of season, then indoor gardening is for you
Water Gardening
If you want a garden that requires only minimal supervision, then water gardening will be for you. This can normally be quit a bit of a challenge for most gardeners, this is because it moves away from the traditional gardening techniques that most people are used to. But this style appeals to many because of the aesthetic look it brings to there garden.
So there you have a few different styles to help give you an idea on what may suit you, there are many more for you to choose from yet. Just do a quick search on the internet and choose the garden style to suit you.
Greg F Williams runs a content site about Organic Gardening A popular website that provides free advice and resources to include information on Organic Gardening Tips
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Greg_F_Williams
Residential Gardening
You will find that this type of gardening is the most common of all the gardening techniques. If you have just started or are a beginner may not be ready or inclined to produce vegetables for commercial reasons yet, Thus, residential gardening will be just right for you. The main objective of residential gardening is to try and sustain a family of two with a regular supply of vegetables.
Residential gardening requires very little space. It can also be done in window boxes on balconies and on many other small areas that are available to you, that is as long as they have enough of a light source. Growing this way is easy for you to monitor, also it is easy to maintain as well, which means you can keep on top of any nasty little pests. The best thing about residential gardening is that way it ushers the gardening wannabe with ease from having no prior planting experience to expanding to the various other gardening styles
Specialized Gardening
Specialized gardening is normally for non residential areas that are often marketed as parks, botanical gardens, amusement parks and other tourist attractions fall under this category. Normally a staff is required to maintain these places, this is due to there size, also administrative skills will be required on top of gardening expertise.
Indoor Gardening
Indoor gardening comes under the huge scope of residential gardening. The types that come in this category are conservatories, greenhouses and academic institutions. Buildings with heating and air conditioning may used to grow certain types of plants. If you are the type of gardener who really loves cultivating plants in and out of season, then indoor gardening is for you
Water Gardening
If you want a garden that requires only minimal supervision, then water gardening will be for you. This can normally be quit a bit of a challenge for most gardeners, this is because it moves away from the traditional gardening techniques that most people are used to. But this style appeals to many because of the aesthetic look it brings to there garden.
So there you have a few different styles to help give you an idea on what may suit you, there are many more for you to choose from yet. Just do a quick search on the internet and choose the garden style to suit you.
Greg F Williams runs a content site about Organic Gardening A popular website that provides free advice and resources to include information on Organic Gardening Tips
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Greg_F_Williams
Saturday 27 March 2010
How To Grow Vegetables
Everybody has vegetables listed in their diet. Vegetables are healthy and should be eaten regularly. It is nice to grow vegetables by yourself and eat them. But the question arises as to how to grow vegetables. We shall further see some tips and hints on how to grow vegetables.
If you are thinking on how to grow vegetables in the house then it is not very difficult. Growing vegetables requires a lot of sunlight. So it is necessary to see that your garden does get sufficient sunlight. Start from the spring season. It is always better to have a vegetable garden close to the kitchen. This way you have easy access into the garden that would provide faster cooking. The seeds need to be soaked and require moisture. Once they are a little plump they are ready to be grown. Some vegetables like cabbage and broccoli do not require you to soak their seeds. Over doing the soaking the process could cause harm to the seeds. Do not leave them overnight.
Thinking of how to grow vegetables in the cold then you will have to utilize tepees that are filled with water around the vegetables that are gentle. There are certain plastic sheets that are available in the market which acts as a barrier to the plant once water is filled. Sun can also easily pass through this sheet so that the plants stay warm later.
Wondering how to grow vegetables that are leggy then, you should be planting them deep inside. If you have planted them inside the house then they may grow a little awkward and tumble in the garden. So if it is more deeply sown then they get more support. Tomatoes require to be planted horizontally in the trench. This is not necessary to be sown deep in the soil. It would grow well without it itself.
Try to avoid cutworms that spoil gentle and tender plants. When planting vegetable plants always try to put them vertically, this would save some place. Vegetables like cucumber, beans, melons etc. can be left to go on trees or pillars rather than spreading them across. All the vegetables require fertilizers timely. So do take care that you take good care of them. This would ensure that they keep giving vegetables at regular intervals.
Cucumbers and melons can easily grow in compost. Any kind of remaining food and fruits can be thrown into them. They would act as manure and see that the vegetable grows well. This is the best way to grow such vegetables.
Robert Grazian is an accomplished niche website developer and author.
To learn more about how to grow vegetables [http://growvegetablesonline.info/how-to-grow-vegetables] visit Grow Vegetables Online [http://growvegetablesonline.info] for current articles and discussions.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Grazian
If you are thinking on how to grow vegetables in the house then it is not very difficult. Growing vegetables requires a lot of sunlight. So it is necessary to see that your garden does get sufficient sunlight. Start from the spring season. It is always better to have a vegetable garden close to the kitchen. This way you have easy access into the garden that would provide faster cooking. The seeds need to be soaked and require moisture. Once they are a little plump they are ready to be grown. Some vegetables like cabbage and broccoli do not require you to soak their seeds. Over doing the soaking the process could cause harm to the seeds. Do not leave them overnight.
Thinking of how to grow vegetables in the cold then you will have to utilize tepees that are filled with water around the vegetables that are gentle. There are certain plastic sheets that are available in the market which acts as a barrier to the plant once water is filled. Sun can also easily pass through this sheet so that the plants stay warm later.
Wondering how to grow vegetables that are leggy then, you should be planting them deep inside. If you have planted them inside the house then they may grow a little awkward and tumble in the garden. So if it is more deeply sown then they get more support. Tomatoes require to be planted horizontally in the trench. This is not necessary to be sown deep in the soil. It would grow well without it itself.
Try to avoid cutworms that spoil gentle and tender plants. When planting vegetable plants always try to put them vertically, this would save some place. Vegetables like cucumber, beans, melons etc. can be left to go on trees or pillars rather than spreading them across. All the vegetables require fertilizers timely. So do take care that you take good care of them. This would ensure that they keep giving vegetables at regular intervals.
Cucumbers and melons can easily grow in compost. Any kind of remaining food and fruits can be thrown into them. They would act as manure and see that the vegetable grows well. This is the best way to grow such vegetables.
Robert Grazian is an accomplished niche website developer and author.
To learn more about how to grow vegetables [http://growvegetablesonline.info/how-to-grow-vegetables] visit Grow Vegetables Online [http://growvegetablesonline.info] for current articles and discussions.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Grazian
Friday 26 March 2010
Garden Advice And Tips For People With A Small Garden
Perfect Designs For A Small Garden
The trick to getting the best from a small garden is planning. Before you begin, you need to narrow your wish-list to your top priorities. In a bigger garden, for example, you might have a barbecue area; in a small garden, you may have to settle for a space for a portable barbecue and devise a storage plan when it's not in use. Small family gardens are hardest to plan as you'll need to find room for a play area.
We asked garden designer Katrina Wells of Earth Designs to come up with three different designs. Our tip is to choose light-reflecting colours and add details you'd find indoors, such as mirrors, to increase the sense of space. As for budget, we've suggested where you can make savings. All you have to do is choose the right plan for you.
Low Maintenance In A Small Garden
Creating a two-level garden linked by steps and flanked by split-level pools fed with waterfalls gives the space more interest. The design is bordered by raised flowerbeds and built-in bench seating, which can seat more guests than garden chairs. A colourful buddleia is an ideal standard plant for this kind of garden; easy to care for, it will attract lots of bees and butterflies when it flowers.
Will it take much looking after? Raised beds can be much easier to look after than borders and you won't need to get on all fours to tend them. The rest of this garden is given over to paving, which will only need an occasional sweep.
Are there any space-stretching tricks I can use? An attractive standard plant, urn or statuette at the end of the garden will provide a focal point and draw the eye to the garden's furthest part, tricking you into seeing it as larger than it is. Benches with lift-up lids give more storage. If you need a play area for children, swap tiles for decking in the lower part of the garden and sink a hidden sandpit beneath a section of it?
How can I cut costs? Raised beds look great, but will cost money to install, so you could opt for ground-level planting. Small gardens are more interesting if you add extras, like water features, but you could replace these with more borders and swap decorative paving for gravel or decking.
Small Family Garden
Strong shapes such as circles (arranged diagonally) will make a small garden appear wider and longer. At the heart of this garden is an open grassy circle (to give kids room to run about), while the smaller paved circles are used as seating/dining areas. Stepping stones lead to a tucked-away play area. Children will also love the shape of the allium plant, or ornamental onion. It flowers in early summer, likes most soils and is easy to care for.
Will it take much looking after?
The lawn will need cutting once a week in the summer, and if you go for low-maintenance plants, such as hebes, you'll only need to give it a quick tidy.
Are there any space-stretching tricks I can use?
Paint walls and fences white to make space appear bigger, keep planting in borders low to make the garden seem wider, and go for a low-level chest storage unit instead of a tall shed.
How can I cut costs?
This is not an expensive garden to create, but you can cut down on planting by making the central grassed area larger, or by stretching it into an oval to fill more of the borders.
Small Secluded Garden
Want seclusion? Then this is the garden for you. All walls/fences have trellis panels fixed to their fronts and tops so that climbers can be trained up to hide the space from onlookers. The wide S-shaped path is cobbled for a relaxed feel, so make sure you choose a table and chairs with chunky legs to avoid wobble. Go for low-maintenance exotics, which provide year-round interest, and place large plants, such as tree ferns and a windmill palm, in the borders, so that the shed can't be seen from indoors and the bench is hidden from neighbouring houses. Passionflowers grow quickly, but won't damage fences or brickwork if given supports, such as a trellis, to cling to.
Will it take much looking after? Once planted, this garden will look after itself -- aside from the odd pruning of climbers, such as clematis, and the addition of some bright summer blooms, like lilies or poppies.
How can I cut costs? There's an urn water feature here, but you could replace this with an eye-catching plant, such as zebra grass. Swap the patio cobbles for gravel, which is cheaper to buy and easier to lay.
You can find more information on garden advice and gardening tips at house to home, helping you create a look you'll love
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Penny_Day
The trick to getting the best from a small garden is planning. Before you begin, you need to narrow your wish-list to your top priorities. In a bigger garden, for example, you might have a barbecue area; in a small garden, you may have to settle for a space for a portable barbecue and devise a storage plan when it's not in use. Small family gardens are hardest to plan as you'll need to find room for a play area.
We asked garden designer Katrina Wells of Earth Designs to come up with three different designs. Our tip is to choose light-reflecting colours and add details you'd find indoors, such as mirrors, to increase the sense of space. As for budget, we've suggested where you can make savings. All you have to do is choose the right plan for you.
Low Maintenance In A Small Garden
Creating a two-level garden linked by steps and flanked by split-level pools fed with waterfalls gives the space more interest. The design is bordered by raised flowerbeds and built-in bench seating, which can seat more guests than garden chairs. A colourful buddleia is an ideal standard plant for this kind of garden; easy to care for, it will attract lots of bees and butterflies when it flowers.
Will it take much looking after? Raised beds can be much easier to look after than borders and you won't need to get on all fours to tend them. The rest of this garden is given over to paving, which will only need an occasional sweep.
Are there any space-stretching tricks I can use? An attractive standard plant, urn or statuette at the end of the garden will provide a focal point and draw the eye to the garden's furthest part, tricking you into seeing it as larger than it is. Benches with lift-up lids give more storage. If you need a play area for children, swap tiles for decking in the lower part of the garden and sink a hidden sandpit beneath a section of it?
How can I cut costs? Raised beds look great, but will cost money to install, so you could opt for ground-level planting. Small gardens are more interesting if you add extras, like water features, but you could replace these with more borders and swap decorative paving for gravel or decking.
Small Family Garden
Strong shapes such as circles (arranged diagonally) will make a small garden appear wider and longer. At the heart of this garden is an open grassy circle (to give kids room to run about), while the smaller paved circles are used as seating/dining areas. Stepping stones lead to a tucked-away play area. Children will also love the shape of the allium plant, or ornamental onion. It flowers in early summer, likes most soils and is easy to care for.
Will it take much looking after?
The lawn will need cutting once a week in the summer, and if you go for low-maintenance plants, such as hebes, you'll only need to give it a quick tidy.
Are there any space-stretching tricks I can use?
Paint walls and fences white to make space appear bigger, keep planting in borders low to make the garden seem wider, and go for a low-level chest storage unit instead of a tall shed.
How can I cut costs?
This is not an expensive garden to create, but you can cut down on planting by making the central grassed area larger, or by stretching it into an oval to fill more of the borders.
Small Secluded Garden
Want seclusion? Then this is the garden for you. All walls/fences have trellis panels fixed to their fronts and tops so that climbers can be trained up to hide the space from onlookers. The wide S-shaped path is cobbled for a relaxed feel, so make sure you choose a table and chairs with chunky legs to avoid wobble. Go for low-maintenance exotics, which provide year-round interest, and place large plants, such as tree ferns and a windmill palm, in the borders, so that the shed can't be seen from indoors and the bench is hidden from neighbouring houses. Passionflowers grow quickly, but won't damage fences or brickwork if given supports, such as a trellis, to cling to.
Will it take much looking after? Once planted, this garden will look after itself -- aside from the odd pruning of climbers, such as clematis, and the addition of some bright summer blooms, like lilies or poppies.
How can I cut costs? There's an urn water feature here, but you could replace this with an eye-catching plant, such as zebra grass. Swap the patio cobbles for gravel, which is cheaper to buy and easier to lay.
You can find more information on garden advice and gardening tips at house to home, helping you create a look you'll love
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Penny_Day
Thursday 25 March 2010
Top Vegetable Gardening Tips For Tomato Growing
Vegetable gardening tips for tomato growing are readily available. Most gardeners are happy to share their tomato growing tips and even non-gardeners who attempt to grow tomatoes every spring will offer advice. The difficulty for the novice tomato grower comes in trying so sort the valuable vegetable gardening tips for tomato growing from the old wives' tales.
One of the best sources for vegetable gardening help is a local nursery. Buying plants at a supermarket or a chain store with garden center may allow you to purchase plants at a cheaper price, but it is unlikely that the staff in these stores know a great deal about gardening. For reliable vegetable gardening help, visit a local nursery. Many nurseries carry plants that they themselves have grown from seed, and they will be knowledgeable about each variety of plant and can advise on local conditions.
Local Garden Club
Most towns have a local garden club and meeting together with other gardeners is a great way to obtain vegetable gardening help and improve your knowledge. Other gardeners from your locality will have abundant information about the requirements of vegetables in your zone. When you enlist the aid of gardeners that are local to your area, you will get vegetable gardening help that you can use because these gardeners understand the unique needs of your particular zone.
Local garden clubs often run workshops or classes on topics ranging from composting, to growing a particular variety of heirloom vegetable, to pest control in the garden. Many often sponsor projects such as community gardens which can provide gardening space to those who live in apartments and have no garden space of their own. and taking part in an altruistic endeavor with your fellow garden club members is a fantastic way to learn all sorts of gardening secrets and tips.
Even if you don't join a garden club taking part in some workshops will provide you with an opportunity to meet fellow gardeners and form friendships with people with a common interest.
The County Extension Office
Another top resource for vegetable gardening advice is your local county extension office. They specialize in solving the gardening problems unique to your local environment. They can perform soil tests, identify plants and diseases and sometimes supply free seeds or plants
Once you've gained some gardening knowledge it's time to get your hands dirty.
Tomatoes and other vegetables are easy to grow if you start with good soil. Before you plant your garden, till the soil to about a depth of ten inches and dig in some well rotted compost or other organic material. Complete this step several weeks before you want to plant your tomatoes.
For a larger garden, you can rent a tiller, but for a small garden space you can use a gardening fork to dig in the compost.
When risk of frost has passed, drive a ¾ inch stake into your prepared garden bed. Dig a hole a little deeper and wider than the size of the tomato plant's pot next to the stake, gently place the plant into the hole and firm it in. A trellis or tomato cage can also be used for support in lieu of a stake. These are readily available at nurseries and hardware stores. Use soft twine or tomato ties to tie the plant's stem loosely to the stake or trellis. As the tomato plant grows, check the ties regularly and loosen them occasionally to prevent stem damage. The tomato seedlings should be planted 18 inches apart to allow the sun to reach the ripening fruit.
Feed Your Tomato Plants
Feed your tomato plants regularly using a potassium-based plant food or you can create your own organic fertilizer mix. Planting basil adjacent to your tomato plants will assist in keeping pests at bay.
Watering is as important as feeding. Water your tomatoes regularly with a hand-held hose. Direct the water at the base of the plant and avoid wetting the leaves which can lead to rot.
Never let your tomatoes dry out to the point that they wilt. Although you can usually save the wilted plant by watering it, the dry period will take its toll on the plant and affect the quality of the fruit. Extended dry spells may cause your tomatoes to crack.
Regularly nip out by hand any side shoots that develop between the leaf and the stem. This will help to channel the plant's energy into its fruit. When your tomatoes have ripened, pick them by bending back the fruit at the notch on the stem. Ripe tomatoes can be stored in the fridge for up to a week. Continue to water and feed the plant to help the remaining tomatoes to ripen and mature.
Alison Stevens is an online author and maintains Grow Great Tomatoes website to assist anyone who wants to get started growing tomatoes and other vegetables.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alison_Stevens
One of the best sources for vegetable gardening help is a local nursery. Buying plants at a supermarket or a chain store with garden center may allow you to purchase plants at a cheaper price, but it is unlikely that the staff in these stores know a great deal about gardening. For reliable vegetable gardening help, visit a local nursery. Many nurseries carry plants that they themselves have grown from seed, and they will be knowledgeable about each variety of plant and can advise on local conditions.
Local Garden Club
Most towns have a local garden club and meeting together with other gardeners is a great way to obtain vegetable gardening help and improve your knowledge. Other gardeners from your locality will have abundant information about the requirements of vegetables in your zone. When you enlist the aid of gardeners that are local to your area, you will get vegetable gardening help that you can use because these gardeners understand the unique needs of your particular zone.
Local garden clubs often run workshops or classes on topics ranging from composting, to growing a particular variety of heirloom vegetable, to pest control in the garden. Many often sponsor projects such as community gardens which can provide gardening space to those who live in apartments and have no garden space of their own. and taking part in an altruistic endeavor with your fellow garden club members is a fantastic way to learn all sorts of gardening secrets and tips.
Even if you don't join a garden club taking part in some workshops will provide you with an opportunity to meet fellow gardeners and form friendships with people with a common interest.
The County Extension Office
Another top resource for vegetable gardening advice is your local county extension office. They specialize in solving the gardening problems unique to your local environment. They can perform soil tests, identify plants and diseases and sometimes supply free seeds or plants
Once you've gained some gardening knowledge it's time to get your hands dirty.
Tomatoes and other vegetables are easy to grow if you start with good soil. Before you plant your garden, till the soil to about a depth of ten inches and dig in some well rotted compost or other organic material. Complete this step several weeks before you want to plant your tomatoes.
For a larger garden, you can rent a tiller, but for a small garden space you can use a gardening fork to dig in the compost.
When risk of frost has passed, drive a ¾ inch stake into your prepared garden bed. Dig a hole a little deeper and wider than the size of the tomato plant's pot next to the stake, gently place the plant into the hole and firm it in. A trellis or tomato cage can also be used for support in lieu of a stake. These are readily available at nurseries and hardware stores. Use soft twine or tomato ties to tie the plant's stem loosely to the stake or trellis. As the tomato plant grows, check the ties regularly and loosen them occasionally to prevent stem damage. The tomato seedlings should be planted 18 inches apart to allow the sun to reach the ripening fruit.
Feed Your Tomato Plants
Feed your tomato plants regularly using a potassium-based plant food or you can create your own organic fertilizer mix. Planting basil adjacent to your tomato plants will assist in keeping pests at bay.
Watering is as important as feeding. Water your tomatoes regularly with a hand-held hose. Direct the water at the base of the plant and avoid wetting the leaves which can lead to rot.
Never let your tomatoes dry out to the point that they wilt. Although you can usually save the wilted plant by watering it, the dry period will take its toll on the plant and affect the quality of the fruit. Extended dry spells may cause your tomatoes to crack.
Regularly nip out by hand any side shoots that develop between the leaf and the stem. This will help to channel the plant's energy into its fruit. When your tomatoes have ripened, pick them by bending back the fruit at the notch on the stem. Ripe tomatoes can be stored in the fridge for up to a week. Continue to water and feed the plant to help the remaining tomatoes to ripen and mature.
Alison Stevens is an online author and maintains Grow Great Tomatoes website to assist anyone who wants to get started growing tomatoes and other vegetables.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alison_Stevens
Wednesday 24 March 2010
Tips To Improve Your Garden Decor
Gardens are not just places where one grows plants and vegetables. To complement the amount of effort you put in here, you should try and improve your garden decor so that your garden looks beautiful, even without flowers. Here are some tips to help you work on it:
1) Singular focus
One way to make a difference to your garden decor is to focus on one part of the garden and build the rest around it. This can be done by building a gazebo, an arbor, a rose pillar or any statues or sculptures of interest.
2) A sense of architecture
You can provide an architectural form and a sense of style to your garden decor by adding a bit of iron gate work, elegant metal topiary forms or concrete statuary to the garden. Simple garden ornaments and artful decor contribute tremendously to the aesthetic value to your outdoor living garden spaces.
3) Adding water features - a waterfall or a fountain
Building a waterfall or a fountain can add a lot of value to your garden decor. In fact, most Japanese gardens have a water feature, and the ones without water features have something that represents water, like grey gravel or sand. If you would like to be a little innovative, you can turn your whole garden into a water garden.
4) Collect and scatter
After having collected a variety of art and ornamentation to add to your garden decor, make sure you scatter it throughout the landscape. Some people place topiary, sculpture or tuteur forms in distant small landscaped garden spaces for maximum viewing impact. Try and frame ornamental pieces of art with easy-growing shrubs and low-growing flowers.
5) Correct use of planters and containers
For an elegant garden decor, you may need to carefully choose the planters and containers to hold your plants. Many kinds of containers are available, the popular ones being made of concrete, fibre stone, fibreglass and plastic. For earth tones, you might choose terracotta. Correct use of planters can also add height, shape and life to your garden.
6) Lighting
Lighting up a garden nicely also enhances the garden decor. Other than lighting up the pathway in your garden, you can also light up a specific tree by focusing light beams on it. Make sure you keep safety concerns in mind for lighting options.
7) Define your place - use varieties of height
Garden ornamentation will define garden spaces. Taller garden decor and sculpture can create pleasant and sprawling visual architecture in small spaces. Always try and place taller plantings toward the back of the garden. Try and use varieties of height to beautify your garden.
8) Block what you do not like
Block a part of the garden with climbers like ivy or vines if you do not like the way it looks. A trellis or obelisk can also be combined with the climbers to block the view. It will only end up enhancing your garden decor. You can also add a birdbath to your garden.
9) Temporary additions for special purposes
If you organize parties in your garden, they are some ways to improve on your garden decor. If you are on a shoestring budget, you could light the garden by candles, lanterns or string lighting. Clean up a certain area within the garden to provide a tidy place for your guests. Addition of fragrant containers would fill the garden air with a pleasant smell. Also, do not forget to get comfortable garden chairs for your guests.
Finally, no matter how you wish to decorate your garden, you should make sure that everything is harmonized. Utilizing all your resources with perfect balance can enhance your garden decor and make it your own piece of paradise.
Get all of the latest in gardening know how from the one and only true gardening resource at http://www.gardendesignadvice.com/ Be sure to check out our garden decor pages on our web site.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Finch
1) Singular focus
One way to make a difference to your garden decor is to focus on one part of the garden and build the rest around it. This can be done by building a gazebo, an arbor, a rose pillar or any statues or sculptures of interest.
2) A sense of architecture
You can provide an architectural form and a sense of style to your garden decor by adding a bit of iron gate work, elegant metal topiary forms or concrete statuary to the garden. Simple garden ornaments and artful decor contribute tremendously to the aesthetic value to your outdoor living garden spaces.
3) Adding water features - a waterfall or a fountain
Building a waterfall or a fountain can add a lot of value to your garden decor. In fact, most Japanese gardens have a water feature, and the ones without water features have something that represents water, like grey gravel or sand. If you would like to be a little innovative, you can turn your whole garden into a water garden.
4) Collect and scatter
After having collected a variety of art and ornamentation to add to your garden decor, make sure you scatter it throughout the landscape. Some people place topiary, sculpture or tuteur forms in distant small landscaped garden spaces for maximum viewing impact. Try and frame ornamental pieces of art with easy-growing shrubs and low-growing flowers.
5) Correct use of planters and containers
For an elegant garden decor, you may need to carefully choose the planters and containers to hold your plants. Many kinds of containers are available, the popular ones being made of concrete, fibre stone, fibreglass and plastic. For earth tones, you might choose terracotta. Correct use of planters can also add height, shape and life to your garden.
6) Lighting
Lighting up a garden nicely also enhances the garden decor. Other than lighting up the pathway in your garden, you can also light up a specific tree by focusing light beams on it. Make sure you keep safety concerns in mind for lighting options.
7) Define your place - use varieties of height
Garden ornamentation will define garden spaces. Taller garden decor and sculpture can create pleasant and sprawling visual architecture in small spaces. Always try and place taller plantings toward the back of the garden. Try and use varieties of height to beautify your garden.
8) Block what you do not like
Block a part of the garden with climbers like ivy or vines if you do not like the way it looks. A trellis or obelisk can also be combined with the climbers to block the view. It will only end up enhancing your garden decor. You can also add a birdbath to your garden.
9) Temporary additions for special purposes
If you organize parties in your garden, they are some ways to improve on your garden decor. If you are on a shoestring budget, you could light the garden by candles, lanterns or string lighting. Clean up a certain area within the garden to provide a tidy place for your guests. Addition of fragrant containers would fill the garden air with a pleasant smell. Also, do not forget to get comfortable garden chairs for your guests.
Finally, no matter how you wish to decorate your garden, you should make sure that everything is harmonized. Utilizing all your resources with perfect balance can enhance your garden decor and make it your own piece of paradise.
Get all of the latest in gardening know how from the one and only true gardening resource at http://www.gardendesignadvice.com/ Be sure to check out our garden decor pages on our web site.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Finch
Sunday 21 March 2010
Organic Gardening Tips - 5 Tips to Successful Organic Gardens
Unlike the popular theories that state that the space shuttle could miraculously appear if blown up enough times, an organic garden is usually not the result of an accident. People that have a successful garden have created one based upon their consistent upkeep, planning, and a desire to make their garden grow. Regardless of the therapeutic value the gardening has, relaxation has little to do with the steps that it takes to ensure the success of your gardening endeavor. Here are a few organic gardening tips on how to make sure that your organic garden goals are reached by looking at planning, soil preparation, fertilizers, irrigation, and insect and disease control.
Tip #1 - a plan is always needed. Not something that is thought of and reconsidered over time intermittently, but a specified plan of action that leads to a specified end result. When you decide to grow your garden, and you choose to do it in an organic matter, you will need to take a few things into consideration such as location, the environment that the plants will grow it, the time that it will take in order for you to properly take care of your garden, how much effort will be involved and are there any resources that you may or may not be able to acquire in order to reach your final goals.
Once you have a clear written outline of what it is you need to do and what you need to acquire to reach your garden goals, it is time to start the plan into action. Action is everything once the goals are defined. If you set your goals but neglect factors such as good seed, compost, or even a source of good water for your plants, you will fail in your attempt because any compromise will lead to an overall failure.
Tip #2 - prepare your soil. Soil preparation is the foundation of the growth of any and all plants that you have. From the soil, the plants will be able to get their nutrients. Soil that is hard or dense will be almost impossible to aerate and therefore the plants will not get enough oxygen through the root system in order to thrive and flourish. Likewise, if there is no way for the water to evenly percolate to the plants roots in your garden, some plants will make it while others will die without consistent moisture, and some will be oversaturated and get root rot.
Another organic gardening tip is that you must also consider the consistency of the soil in regard to the amount of compost and nutrients that will be accessible to the seeds that will grow into the plants in the garden that you desire. By adding natural compost or other fertilizers to enhance the nutrients within the soil such as nitrogen or potassium, you will need to prepare this ahead of time, specifically as you are preparing the soil and getting ready to plant your seeds.
Tip #3 - Add compost. With reference to fertilizer, if you are doing this in an organic matter, some of the best fertilizer that you can get can either come from your compost pile or from a worm bin that you have created through your vermicomposting efforts. This needs to be prepared several weeks in advance so that it is ready to use when you are ready to plant. Compost that has not had time to properly finish will be detrimental to your soil and therefore proper preparation is always mandatory before getting ready to add these nutrients to the soil that will bear the fruit of your labor.
Tip #4 - Consistently water your garden. The consideration of water is also paramount in your success. You must have a way for your organic garden to get enough water on a regular basis so that it can grow unimpeded by the periods of droughts that are self induced by someone to did not plan ahead of time and create an optimal situation for the gardens irrigation needs. This includes having enough access to water, easy access through an irrigation system or hose system, and potentially a sprinkler system on a timer which can ensure that the garden is receiving water on a regular basis.
Tip #5 - Beware of insects. One final organic gardening tip that you should consider is that when your plants begin to grow, insects will appear. Weeds will also appear as well as potential diseases that can kill off your crop. This will take some wisdom on your part knowing the types of plants you are growing and finding natural alternatives to pesticides that may inhibit or deter the natural growth processes of your plants. If you are an organic gardener, you will not want to use these anyway and therefore finding beneficial insects that attack bad insects or natural scents or plants that will deter weed growth or disease is paramount in ensuring the healthy growth of your garden.
When considering all of these things together in a big picture, you realize that gardening cannot possibly be the result of an accident. There must be proper preparation and access to all of the tools necessary in order to make a garden successful and to make your efforts worthwhile. Take some time and use these five organic gardening tips to your benefit and make your garden one of the best you have ever had.
To find out more information on composting or other organic gardening information, go to: http://www.superorganicgardeningsecrets.com to download 7 free little known organic gardening strategies today!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Kohler
Tip #1 - a plan is always needed. Not something that is thought of and reconsidered over time intermittently, but a specified plan of action that leads to a specified end result. When you decide to grow your garden, and you choose to do it in an organic matter, you will need to take a few things into consideration such as location, the environment that the plants will grow it, the time that it will take in order for you to properly take care of your garden, how much effort will be involved and are there any resources that you may or may not be able to acquire in order to reach your final goals.
Once you have a clear written outline of what it is you need to do and what you need to acquire to reach your garden goals, it is time to start the plan into action. Action is everything once the goals are defined. If you set your goals but neglect factors such as good seed, compost, or even a source of good water for your plants, you will fail in your attempt because any compromise will lead to an overall failure.
Tip #2 - prepare your soil. Soil preparation is the foundation of the growth of any and all plants that you have. From the soil, the plants will be able to get their nutrients. Soil that is hard or dense will be almost impossible to aerate and therefore the plants will not get enough oxygen through the root system in order to thrive and flourish. Likewise, if there is no way for the water to evenly percolate to the plants roots in your garden, some plants will make it while others will die without consistent moisture, and some will be oversaturated and get root rot.
Another organic gardening tip is that you must also consider the consistency of the soil in regard to the amount of compost and nutrients that will be accessible to the seeds that will grow into the plants in the garden that you desire. By adding natural compost or other fertilizers to enhance the nutrients within the soil such as nitrogen or potassium, you will need to prepare this ahead of time, specifically as you are preparing the soil and getting ready to plant your seeds.
Tip #3 - Add compost. With reference to fertilizer, if you are doing this in an organic matter, some of the best fertilizer that you can get can either come from your compost pile or from a worm bin that you have created through your vermicomposting efforts. This needs to be prepared several weeks in advance so that it is ready to use when you are ready to plant. Compost that has not had time to properly finish will be detrimental to your soil and therefore proper preparation is always mandatory before getting ready to add these nutrients to the soil that will bear the fruit of your labor.
Tip #4 - Consistently water your garden. The consideration of water is also paramount in your success. You must have a way for your organic garden to get enough water on a regular basis so that it can grow unimpeded by the periods of droughts that are self induced by someone to did not plan ahead of time and create an optimal situation for the gardens irrigation needs. This includes having enough access to water, easy access through an irrigation system or hose system, and potentially a sprinkler system on a timer which can ensure that the garden is receiving water on a regular basis.
Tip #5 - Beware of insects. One final organic gardening tip that you should consider is that when your plants begin to grow, insects will appear. Weeds will also appear as well as potential diseases that can kill off your crop. This will take some wisdom on your part knowing the types of plants you are growing and finding natural alternatives to pesticides that may inhibit or deter the natural growth processes of your plants. If you are an organic gardener, you will not want to use these anyway and therefore finding beneficial insects that attack bad insects or natural scents or plants that will deter weed growth or disease is paramount in ensuring the healthy growth of your garden.
When considering all of these things together in a big picture, you realize that gardening cannot possibly be the result of an accident. There must be proper preparation and access to all of the tools necessary in order to make a garden successful and to make your efforts worthwhile. Take some time and use these five organic gardening tips to your benefit and make your garden one of the best you have ever had.
To find out more information on composting or other organic gardening information, go to: http://www.superorganicgardeningsecrets.com to download 7 free little known organic gardening strategies today!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Kohler
Saturday 20 March 2010
Organic Garden - Helpful Ideas and Tips
Organic gardening is growing in popularity as people increasingly see the need to avoid chemicals and synthetic products. Organic gardens also provide protection form genetically modified organisms (GMO) in the garden.
Those who take up organic gardening often are at a loss as to where to buy supplies. They don't know what products they need for soil nourishment or pest control. They may not know how much water to supply, or how to go about composting kitchen scraps for their gardens. They need more than a few organic garden tips and ideas.
Organic garden helpful ideas and tips are widely available, if you know where to find them. Here are a few places to begin your search.
Organic Garden Helpful Ideas
One of my favorite organic garden tips is this one. The most important thing you can do to control pests in the organic garden is to keep the soil healthy. Healthy soil produces healthy plants. Healthy plants, like healthy humans, are better able to withstand disease.
A second helpful organic garden idea I like is to control pests with ladybirds (ladybugs). These beautiful little red insects with shiny black spots control aphids naturally and totally. You can order them from several organic garden places on the Internet. Until they arrive, spray every part of aphid-infested plants with well diluted soapy water. Rinse with clear water.
My third favorite organic gardening idea is to plant guardian plants around and among tender vegetables. Marigolds make the organic garden border colorful, and ward off many pests. Onions and garlic are also great deterrents to pests that would like to break in and steal organic produce.
Sources for More Organic Garden Helpful Ideas
We do not give specific websites here, but most of these groups or products can readily be located on the Internet. Simply use key words from any one of these categories in your search engine to find more organic garden ideas.
* Cooperative Extension Office: The Cooperative Extension System is a nationwide network. Every U.S. state and territory has a state office at its land-grant university. They also have a network of local or regional offices. The staff at these offices includes at least one expert who can give you useful, practical, and research-based organic garden helpful ideas.
* Park and Recreation Departments: If you live in a large neighborhood, your local park and recreation department will be a good source of helpful ideas for your organic garden. Classes may be available on topics such as organic garden plans, planting seed, and how to compost.
* YMCA / YWCA: In some areas, these organizations provide workshops on organic garden topics, with plenty of helpful ideas and tips. These are led by local organic garden experts. They may include vegetable organic gardens and organic gardening of flowers.
* Gardening Stores: An increasing number of gardening stores are beginning to offer organic garden products, seeds, and supplies. Many try to have at least one person on staff who can give organic garden helpful ideas.
* Nurseries: Local nurseries may have helpful ideas and tips for your organic garden. As the demand becomes greater, they are learning that they must provide not only organic fertilizer and seedlings, but advice also.
* Magazines: Organic gardening magazines have been around for many years now, and are filled with organic gardeners' helpful ideas and tips. Visit your public library and browse the magazines. Some are aimed at small farming size organic gardens. Others focus on organic gardening of vegetables for family or farmers' market. Choose one that has the most helpful tips for you, and subscribe for ongoing organic garden help.
* Seed Catalogs (catalogues): Many times, seed catalogs have not only organic seeds, but also ideas and tips for the organic garden. Look for major seed companies' catalogs.
* Books: If you are new to organic gardening, you will want to invest in at least one good book on organic gardens. Books can explain how seeds and produce are certified organic. They can provide organic gardening advice from ants to weed control.
* Family and Friends: They say we all have a circle of 250 acquaintances. Within that circle, you will likely find at least one person who is experienced in organic gardening and has ideas or tips that will help you. Their own organic garden may be only a container, or it could be 50 containers. Anyone who does any organic gardening will be eager to share the tips and helpful ideas they have received.
* Internet: The Internet excels in providing information. It is a wonderful source of organic garden helpful ideas and tips. Become a member of an organic gardening forum and share ideas. Read organic gardeners' blogs. Finally, visit Cornell University's organic garden website. They offer an online class in organic gardening. The professor is sure to have helpful organic gardening ideas and tips.
©2007, Anna Hart. Anna Hart invites you to read more of her articles about organic gardeners' helpful ideas and tips at http://www.organicspringtime.com. Anna is posting new articles regularly on that site. If you want to know how to make compost for your own organic fertilizer, you will want to read Anna’s article on the subject.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anna_Hart
Those who take up organic gardening often are at a loss as to where to buy supplies. They don't know what products they need for soil nourishment or pest control. They may not know how much water to supply, or how to go about composting kitchen scraps for their gardens. They need more than a few organic garden tips and ideas.
Organic garden helpful ideas and tips are widely available, if you know where to find them. Here are a few places to begin your search.
Organic Garden Helpful Ideas
One of my favorite organic garden tips is this one. The most important thing you can do to control pests in the organic garden is to keep the soil healthy. Healthy soil produces healthy plants. Healthy plants, like healthy humans, are better able to withstand disease.
A second helpful organic garden idea I like is to control pests with ladybirds (ladybugs). These beautiful little red insects with shiny black spots control aphids naturally and totally. You can order them from several organic garden places on the Internet. Until they arrive, spray every part of aphid-infested plants with well diluted soapy water. Rinse with clear water.
My third favorite organic gardening idea is to plant guardian plants around and among tender vegetables. Marigolds make the organic garden border colorful, and ward off many pests. Onions and garlic are also great deterrents to pests that would like to break in and steal organic produce.
Sources for More Organic Garden Helpful Ideas
We do not give specific websites here, but most of these groups or products can readily be located on the Internet. Simply use key words from any one of these categories in your search engine to find more organic garden ideas.
* Cooperative Extension Office: The Cooperative Extension System is a nationwide network. Every U.S. state and territory has a state office at its land-grant university. They also have a network of local or regional offices. The staff at these offices includes at least one expert who can give you useful, practical, and research-based organic garden helpful ideas.
* Park and Recreation Departments: If you live in a large neighborhood, your local park and recreation department will be a good source of helpful ideas for your organic garden. Classes may be available on topics such as organic garden plans, planting seed, and how to compost.
* YMCA / YWCA: In some areas, these organizations provide workshops on organic garden topics, with plenty of helpful ideas and tips. These are led by local organic garden experts. They may include vegetable organic gardens and organic gardening of flowers.
* Gardening Stores: An increasing number of gardening stores are beginning to offer organic garden products, seeds, and supplies. Many try to have at least one person on staff who can give organic garden helpful ideas.
* Nurseries: Local nurseries may have helpful ideas and tips for your organic garden. As the demand becomes greater, they are learning that they must provide not only organic fertilizer and seedlings, but advice also.
* Magazines: Organic gardening magazines have been around for many years now, and are filled with organic gardeners' helpful ideas and tips. Visit your public library and browse the magazines. Some are aimed at small farming size organic gardens. Others focus on organic gardening of vegetables for family or farmers' market. Choose one that has the most helpful tips for you, and subscribe for ongoing organic garden help.
* Seed Catalogs (catalogues): Many times, seed catalogs have not only organic seeds, but also ideas and tips for the organic garden. Look for major seed companies' catalogs.
* Books: If you are new to organic gardening, you will want to invest in at least one good book on organic gardens. Books can explain how seeds and produce are certified organic. They can provide organic gardening advice from ants to weed control.
* Family and Friends: They say we all have a circle of 250 acquaintances. Within that circle, you will likely find at least one person who is experienced in organic gardening and has ideas or tips that will help you. Their own organic garden may be only a container, or it could be 50 containers. Anyone who does any organic gardening will be eager to share the tips and helpful ideas they have received.
* Internet: The Internet excels in providing information. It is a wonderful source of organic garden helpful ideas and tips. Become a member of an organic gardening forum and share ideas. Read organic gardeners' blogs. Finally, visit Cornell University's organic garden website. They offer an online class in organic gardening. The professor is sure to have helpful organic gardening ideas and tips.
©2007, Anna Hart. Anna Hart invites you to read more of her articles about organic gardeners' helpful ideas and tips at http://www.organicspringtime.com. Anna is posting new articles regularly on that site. If you want to know how to make compost for your own organic fertilizer, you will want to read Anna’s article on the subject.
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