Organic Gardening Tips

Garden Plants

admin — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 02:38:20 +0000

Like any other plant, herbs come in annuals, biennials and perennials. There are many different types of herbs and each one is different. If you are interested in a specific type of herb, you should research that one to understand the care it needs and how to use it properly. In this article we will look at the different types of herbs and how they are used. Many kinds of annuals such as cilantro, basil and summer savory will perish in a frost. They need to be planted from a seed or a small plant every year. Perennials will tend to survive colder temperatures Examples of these are winter savory and sage and they will return year after year. Click here for more: plant herbs

Biennials are Herb plants that only survive two seasons. In the first they form leaves and in the second, befor they die, flowers and seed. Biennial herbs like parsley, angelica, or caraway should be sown in late spring directly into the garden. Get the soil ready for planting, work it into a fine texture soaking it slightly. Plant the seeds in shallow rows then firm the soil on top of them. If you have fine seeds, plant these in a mixture of sand as this will spred them within the mix more evenly. You can also cover the bed with wet burlap or paper in order to keep the soil moist during germination. Herbs are also grouped into the categories for which they are used. Culinary herbs are probably the modt useful to herb gardeners. They provide a vast range of menu options in cookery.

Because of their strong flavors, herbs like chives, thyme, basil, sage, savory, and marjoram are generally used in small quantities to add flavor to different types of food. Parsley is an extremely popular herb that is used mostly as a garnish. Fragrant herbs have wonderful smelling foliage or flowers. The oils from herbs like mint, loyage and rosemarycan be used to make all kinds of perfume, scents and toilet water. Parts of aromatic herb plants used intact can also be used in the home to scent linens or clothing. For more visit our blog: Herb Gardening Blog

Drying them will allow them to retain their aroma for longer and be used in products such as potpourri. Great herbs for this are lemon verbena and lavender. Some herbs are also used for medicinal purposes. Since ancient time herbs have been used to cure all sorts of ailments. Modern medicine has proved the advantages of using some herbs to treat some conditions. However, you should be careful in using herbs for medicinal purposes in this way. Although many are harmless, many can be dangerous if eaten.

Some herbs are not used for their flavor, power to heal or fragrance. Some herbs are used for their beauty. These decorative herbs. Many have whitish or various light colored flowers like valerian which has crimson blossoms and borage and chicory which grow gorgeous blue flowers. Even thought herbs can have these different categories, many of them have multiple uses. So for example mint can be used for controlling pests, cooking and making tea. By taking the time to understand herbs, whatever your reason, you will be able to choose the ones most beneficial to you. Click here for more: Herb Garden Guide

Secrets For Successful Organic Rose Gardening

admin — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 02:37:48 +0000

Instead of envying your neighbor’s rose garden, you too can grow healthy plants with magnificent blooms, rich in color and sweet fragrance. Most people think that organic rose gardening takes too much time and effort but in truth, you can have a gorgeous garden with little help simply by knowing how. Roses have been the number one flower throughout the world’s existence, grown naturally without modern day chemicals. If you love roses and want to do what you can to promote a healthy environment, you can simply by getting involved with rose planting naturally.

Nature has created incredible flowers and trees with nutrients being provided by soil, water, and sun. One of the most important aspects of rose planting is by making sure you use rich soil and when watering, you want to make sure you deep water so roots low in the ground are being provided with moisture. With this, your rose garden would be stunning and healthy.

Leaves of the rose bush will go through a process known as photosynthesis. Water and the sun’s energy will cause change, resulting in this phenomenon. Additionally, microorganisms in the soil such as nematodes, fungus, bacteria, and worms are a huge part of organic rose gardening, which actually break down dead parts of the rose bush. This entire process helps to enrich the soil, which then produces healthier plants. Unfortunately, many people will use chemical products on roses, which kill these micro organisms. This means your roses are not getting the natural assistance needed.

Chemicals are not just dangerous but they are also addictive to roses. This means when transplanting roses or starting a new garden, you want to avoid chemicals at all costs. Instead, you would use only homemade organic products or you could purchase a variety of commercial products now being offered on the market. Best of all, the cost associated with organic rose gardening is far less than you would imagine. Comparing cost of using chemicals versus of growing plants without chemicals is quite interesting.

As mentioned earlier, one of the key elements of organic rose gardening has to do with the soil. One of the best ways for proper rose bush care is to create rich soil is by using compost. You can create your own compost pile simply by throwing all your waste into an area of the yard away from the home. This would include food scraps, grass clippings, dog waste, and literally anything that would decay. As the compost pile gets larger, it would need to be turned, which helps with the overall decay process, heating things up so when used, the soil would be highly nutritious.

In addition to soil, roses are prone to pests but not all pests are bad. In fact, ladybugs and wasps are quite helpful so if you were to use chemicals, the good insects would be destroyed. Instead, you want to use only organic products so you let nature take its course. You will also find that snakes, birds, lizards, and frogs are good for rose gardens in that they eat worms and grubs that can be destructive. Along with making organic solutions, many organic products are now sold at gardening centers.

The bottom line is that organic rose gardening is not hard and when a few simple tips are followed, you grow the most spectacular blooms possible. Your roses will be full of large, colorful, and sweet smelling flowers for you to enjoy. Choosing to grow organically will not just save you money but also time working in the garden. Even if you are planting roses that have been grown chemically, you can still grow them organically although you would need to provide a little more care.

Candy’s Garden Oasis: Garden Decoration Selection Tips

admin — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 02:37:20 +0000

If you want to spruce up your garden, you should consider putting colorful garden decorations in your yard. For instance, a Beach Bungalow Birdhouse from Candy’s Garden Oasis will attract different birds in your Florida summer home patio. There are actually a wide variety of garden decorations and accessories that are designed to prep up any garden or patio, so it is very likely that you may be tempted to spend on any type of decor even if it will not be a good match to your patio or lawn. If you want your garden décor to complement your lawn, you need to carefully pick the one that will match the size and style of your home. Garden Decorations

One of the first things you will learn at Candy’s Garden Oasis about picking garden decorations and accessories for your home is to check the decoration scale. You must always ask yourself, is the garden decoration that you are planning to buy big or small for your lawn? Are you going to use the garden décor to fill up a large empty space or you are just going to add it to the other decorations you already have? Another good example occurs when you are planning to put a blue and red colored Welcome Garden Gnome that you can find at Candy’s Garden Oasis online shop, here you have to know if the gnome’s size looks good on your lawn.

Bigger garden decorations are mainly used by homeowners to occupy the central spot in your garden. Focus, aside from size, is another aspect that you have to consider when buying your garden decor. For example, if your friend bought an Iron Birdbath at Candy’s Garden Oasis, he can use it as the centerpiece of the garden if he chooses to put it in a sunny spot. Nevertheless, such iron birdbath may not become the focal point of the garden or lawn if your friend decides to put it in an area that is shaded or near a beds of roses, in this case the birdbath only becomes an accent to the plants or the area. around it.

Placing a lot of garden decorations in the yard or garden is actually a big mistake that many homeowners commit because doing so can ruin the balance of the garden. This element of design is vital so that all the decor in your garden will complement each other and look all good together. Besides, if you are unable to achieve balance, your guests and neighbors will find your garden messy and chaotic. For instance, if you want your garden pond to be the centerpiece of your garden, never put in other decor that can make the pond obscure. Putting the exquisite birdbath near the pond might minimize instead of enhance your pond’s appearance. If you think that a garden decor needs to be added near the pond, you can choose the Crane Sculptures available at Candy’s Garden Oasis online shop because such sculptures can really blend with any body of water. Outdoor Garden Decor

Japanese Knotweed Elimination: The Many Techniques Of Doing It Successfully

admin — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 21:33:46 +0000

Japanese knotweed is known to be a source of worry for some people like gardeners, builders, land developers, and land owners themselves. It can produce a large amount of destruction to properties and structures such as roads, pavements, drains, and buildings. They are so intrusive that they inhibit native plants from propagating in the garden. Their original habitat is in the harsh hillsides of Japan. Thus, they can easily mature and flourish in weak soils.

Due to the problems that the plant can create, you would surely like to dispose of them particularly when they spread in your backyard or near your properties. Although for you to get rid of them, it is of course important that you identify them. The plant can be characterized as a dense clump, which develops a stem of up to two to three meters high. It has red, truncate leaf stalks and stems. Its leaves are broad with a lighter green color underneath. Its flowering season is from August to October, and its blossoms are white.

Don’t you realize that laws have been made pertaining to the propagation and eradication of this perennial weed? You can even get litigated for letting it grow and spread onto other properties. The regulations that govern this are The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, The Environmental Protection Act 1990, and The Environmental Protection (Duty of Care) Regulations 1991.

The commercially obtainable means for containing Japanese knotweed consists of excavation and removal from landfill, herbicide application, burial and cell burial, bund treatment, and the use of root barriers.

Nevertheless, this plant is such a survivor that disposing of this appears to be difficult. One of the things that you have to do is to control its spread by utilizing plastic or poly tarps and covering it. Containing it earlier in spring will likewise help prevent its growth. Check that you have totally concealed all parts of the plant. This is to prevent it from getting subjected to daylight.

Other ways of eradicating it is by removing the whole plant which, of course, includes its roots and runners. Nevertheless, be certain that you correctly dispose it in a container otherwise it will try to grow again right in the area from which you tried to remove it. You can likewise use a different eradication system that is by cutting its stem two inches above the ground level and putting a 25% of glyphosate and water onto the cross-sectioned area.

A survivor in nature, Japanese knotweed can be very difficult to eradicate. While you can take advantage of the tips mentioned above, you can likewise request the help of a company that specializes in the eradicartion of Japanese knotweed.

Plant Encyclopedia

admin — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 21:33:21 +0000

Caring for plants deals with more than simply fertilizing, watering and tending to them. Investing in a plant encyclopedia gives you an invaluable resource that will ensure that you have the knowledge you need to keep many different types of plants alive, ranging from medicinal herbs, common flowers and rare plants.

A good plant encyclopedia should contain several different types of information on each type of plant it documents. One important aspect is how the plants are named. Depending on region, a plant may have several different names. A good encyclopedia will include the most common references for each plant, so you can use that book to purchase your plants as seeds from the internet, and ensure that you are buying the correct type of plant.

In addition to that, the plant encyclopedia should have care information for every plant|tending information should be present for every plant, as well as whether or not it is suitable for indoor or outdoor growth. A good reference will include a legend showing the grow zones of plants, the temperature ranges that they survive in, and how the plants react to changes in the temperature. Watering information, required exposure to sunlight, tolerance, scale of hardiness, as well as difficulty of keeping should also be included. This is all knowledge that is needed to ensure the long life of your plants.

Referencing a plant encyclopedia will not be enough to guarantee the survival of your plant. Knowing how to use the information once you have it is key. Many people use these plant encyclopedias after they have purchased the plant. However, their proper usage is in referencing before you buy. Some species of plants, like uncommon varieties orchids, that are only suitable for those who are who are able to tolerate and tend to fickle plants prone to wilting.

Additional information that is useful in a plant encyclopedia is the history and breeding characteristics of the plants. As there are many hobbyists interested in the breeding of plants, and the creation of new varieties, having this information at your fingertips is invaluable. If you are interested in cross-breeding, the references that cover this data should include information on what types of plants can be bred against your plant, and the process of breeding.

In the case of herbs, a plant encyclopedia should include how they are used, information on the safe use of the herbs, and any risks that may be associated with improper usage of the herb. If there are plants that are poisonous listed in the plant encyclopedia, data on the toxicity of the plant should be referenced.

Bonsai Basics – How To Choose A Tree

admin — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 21:33:17 +0000

One of the most fascinating hobbies is the raising of trees from seeds sown directly in a shallow container in order to learn how to grow bonsai. If the seedlings are allowed to grow for a few years, they appear like a miniature forest; the same may be done with cuttings. The bonsai basics include first selecting a tree suitable for cultivation. I will mention here some suitable varieties.

Peaches and Pears. Though rarely seen as dwarfed potted trees they make lovely ones. These are, with a few exceptions, called by the “dignified” connoisseurs merely “potted lowering trees”

Birches. By planting several very young seedlings a few inches high in a shallow container the shape of a rectangle or an ellipse (with a depth of two inches or more, and about one by two feet, or less) the beautiful scenes of a birch community are easily achieved in less than ten years.

Every birch that attains one to two feet in height is limited and kept to that height easily, and needs only pinching to regulate growth. The dwarfed trees possess the fine slender white-barked trunks, with handsome foliage. I highly recommend that you try birch. Place the container, in summer, into another larger and shallower basin filled with water and carry it to your room. It will be cheerful to both the birches and yourself.

Pines. Pines, the inhabitants of the poor, dry, sandy soils, become weakened or die off if the drainage is poor in the containers. But as pines are vigorous in their nature, the repotting is only necessary once in every three or four years. With deciduous trees it is generally better to repot each year. In either case, the best season for reporting is in the spring.

The bonsai basics involve removing the tree from the container, with its ball of soil. Very long roots will be seen on the underside; these must be shortened rather severely. Some soil should be removed from all faces of the ball, and the exposed root and rootlets cut off. In repotting, put coarse sand sparingly on the bottom of the same container; place the pine on the sand and fill the container with new soil to take the place of the old.

For dwarfed and denser growth, pinching of new growth must not be neglected. As the tree becomes older the pinching should be lighter. The thickly cork-barked Black Pines are much admired for their trunks; the bark is thicker than the trunk itself. Japanese Red Pines are not much appreciated, but their slender trunks with impressive reddish bark are very ornamental-whether planted singly or several trees together in a container.

It is more difficult for the average fancier to keep the branches and twigs of Red Pine healthy. The Japanese White Pine (Pinus parvifiora) is extensively grown and dwarfed, though there are also many naturally dwarfed, aged trees of this species. Pines symbolize longevity.

Japanese Flowering Apricots. If you are in Japan in the midst of winter, you will see Japanese homes with flowering apricots (Prunus mume) in dwarfed potted forms. There are numerous named varieties, single flowered or semi-double, upright and weeping. These dwarfed potted Mumes bring life-long joy with their delightful and very sweet fragrant blooms in late winter and early spring. Just after the blooms have faded, every shoot or twig that bloomed should be shortened to the lowest one or two buds, from which new growth soon comes to replace the twigs that were removed.

Bamboo. The bamboos are dwarfed by peeling off the sheath, one a day, while the shoots are very young. The dwarfed potted bamboos are very decorative indoors and out.

Learn the art of bonsai with these basics and enjoy your cultivation of these lovely potted trees!

How To Grow Azalea Bonsai

admin — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 21:28:17 +0000

Azalea bonsai are great plants to cultivate. Satsuki azaleas are especially suitable for bonsai.

Repotting is best done just after flowering-late May to early June in temperate regions. Autumn repotting is not so good. The fertilizers used mostly are soy bean cake, rape cake, and dried fish (herring cake, etc.). Liquid fertilizers are simplest.

Water is given to young plants three or four times a day in spring, summer, and autumn; to old plants, twice a day, in the morning and in the evening. In warm weather it is good to syringe the plants.

Exposure.

A sunny and well ventilated place is the best tip for how to grow bonsai varieties of Satsuki azaleas, but in the height of summer they should be in partial shade; I place them under a marsh-reed screen.

With the approach of freezing weather (in November most generally), keep them in a sunny place and prepare the frost cover.

Propagation.

Satsuki azalea bonsai are propagated by cuttings. When the young shoots attain a length of 2½ to 4 inches and are somewhat hardened (that is in May or June), the shoots are cut off, a few leaves at the bases removed, and the bases recut on a slant and placed in water for two or three hours. These should then be inserted 1 to 2 inches apart and an inch or so deep into a good rooting medium in a cutting box. Water, let drain, and wrap box in polyethylene film. Place in full light (no sun) where they should root in 30 to 40 days.

After remaining for fifteen to twenty more days in the cutting boxes or pans, they should be transplanted into soil prepared as described above for young plants. Two weeks or so after this, fertilizer is placed on the soil to encourage growth. If liquid fertilizer is preferred, it must be very dilute, otherwise the fibrous roots often become damaged and may decay.

Application of Liquid Fertilizer

Use fish emulsion fertilizer or other commercial liquid fertilizer, diluted according to manufacturer’s directions. Liquid fertilizers should be applied three to six times a year, starting as the buds burst in spring, and every three to four weeks thereafter until mid or late summer.

Use the diluted liquid fertilizer as though you were watering. Do not sprinkle the foliage with fertilizer-only the soil.

So as you can see there really isn’t much to learning how to care for your bonsai. Follow the rules and your trees will bloom with wonderful flowers and thick trunks. Good luck producing your beautiful azalea bonsai.

The Secret Art of Growing Bonsai Elm

admin — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 21:26:16 +0000

The gray-barked elm (Japanese zelkova) can be trained to form miniatures of the naturally grown forest trees, and will make beautiful bonsai. These bonsai elm are much sought after.

Unwanted sprouts. At budding time in the spring and after leaf thinning, sprouts appear at unexpected places on the trunk and branches, and these should be rubbed off or cut off. Aphids and other insects are exterminated in the usual ways.

Autumn. After the leaves have fallen, any disproportionate and undesirable twigs and shoots are removed, so as to enhance the symmetrical and delicate beauty of fine twigs and shoots which produce the atmosphere and image of a great tree throughout the winter.

Branches in a circle and a branch parallel to trunk should both be avoided. Branches alternating and spreading is the result to be desired In the spring, just before the buds burst, for the sake of possible improvement in the beautiful shape of the tree, twigs and shoots are cut back as short as possible. Then the renewing and rewarding beauty of the young leaves is awaited.

General Care For Bonsai Elm

Soil for growing bonsai should be selected to match the variety of plant. For potting soil for zelkova bonsai I use loamy soil from cultivated land or sandy loam from the mountains. The soil is sifted through a sieve, and used only after it has been well and thoroughly dried. The tree should be planted in the dry soil in the pan, and the pan shaken several times after planting. The surface of the soil is then leveled and immediately watered gently and thoroughly with a watering can. The soil should never be pressed.

Surface roots. When a zelkova bonsai becomes older, several roots become thick and appear at the surface of the soil. Such a “root-surfaced-on-the-soil” tree is much sought after and very ornamental. However, if the roots are surfaced when the tree is young, they never thicken; only roots in the soil will do so. After learning by bitter experience, I cover surfaced roots slightly with soil, and on this place moss.

As the roots develop, the moss becomes scanty and the roots gradually appear on the surface. Sometimes even when the tree is 14 to 15 years old the roots are not yet developed sufficiently to appear on the soil. I have several trees of the same age that do show surfaced roots. Bonsai merchants often show surface-root formations in young trees for commercial reasons, but this is not good for nice root formation on the soil later on.

Shading. In the hottest weather, July and August, the trees are shaded; I use marsh-reed screens.

Watering. Over watering is not good for the trees. However, as zelkova bonsai are grown in shallow pans, they dry out rapidly in the summer, and watering twice a day is necessary; but in other seasons once a day is enough. After the leaves fall in the winter, it is sufficient to give water once every other day.

The bonsai elm is a beautiful plant to learn how to grow bonsai, and it will give you joy for many years.

Getting started With Your Own Fall Flower Garden

admin — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 02:57:47 +0000

So you know that you want to get into gardening, but where do you start? Planting fall flower garden is very enjoyable and simple enough for the beginner gardener. Now if you want to go ahead and plant a fall flower garden in your yard, there are a few steps that you are going to have to take.

Fall Flower Garden: Plant in Spring

Although it is called a fall flower garden, remember that you are going to have to plant it in spring. The point here is that it is a fall flower garden because the plants will bloom in the fall. Flower garden makes a lovely landscaping around the yard and to bloom at the right time you have to choose right plant.

You want to find late blooming varieties of traditional spring and summer blooming flowers such as tulips, which are all going to work great in a fall garden. You can look up information and make sure that you spend some time researching whenever you are going to do anything with your garden, so that you know what you are doing and know that you are going to have the best results.

Adding a few climbers into the garden will be a great idea, because these will turn scarlet and red and will create a beautiful color pattern in the fall season around your home.

You are also going to want to plant a border around the garden. Not only is this going to be good for aesthetic appeal, but as well the border is going to help keep your plants contained. A border for your yard is very necessary so that your garden plant does not comes outside of it.

As long as you are researched and know what you are doing, and of course choose the right plants, then you are going to have great success with your fall flower garden and not only that but can enjoy yourself while you are doing it. That is one thing about gardening, and that is that although there may be a lot of things that you have to learn, at the same time you always want to keep it fun.

Gardening is a great hobby, because not only are you going to have fun and get more relaxed, but it is a great way to showcase your home and add to its appeal.

Growing Basil – Tips on Growing Basil

admin — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 02:57:17 +0000

Herbs are beneficial in many ways. Growing basil, Ocimum basilicum, is an easy way to spice up the garden and your favorite recipes. I am pleased to introduce, Basil, a sweet herb, member of the Mint Family. Although there is a few different varieties of basil, sweet basil is the most popular and well known. This herb is well known for flavoring foods and in its long past has been used for folk remedies.

Old tales-

Growing basil has a special significance in many cultures throughout the world. The people of India swore their oaths in court on basil leaves. Italian lovers would wear a piece of basil in their hair when courting ladies. The Mexicans believed it would bring back a cheating lover if you walked around carrying basil.

Medical uses-

There are big health benefits of growing basil. The plant contains beta carotene, naturally packed with vitamin A. The herb is known by herbalists as a ‘cure-all’ for a wide array of ailments, from stomach trouble to headaches. There are so many benefits derived from basil, that it is known as the ‘King of Herbs’.

How to Grow Basil-

No need to worry, growing basil is a breeze. The seed can be sown indoors, then transplanting outside at a later date. It can even be full grown indoors if preferred. If you decide to do this, remember the plant needs sunlight, so a man-made alternative should be used, like fluorescent growing lighting.

The seeds should be sown about 1” from each other, in a warm time of year. After a few leaves have grown, the basil can then be re-planted. Make certain you wait until a late frost is no longer a threat.

Add layer of mulch of about three inches. Organic mulch is an excellent choice. Watering should take place one day per week, before noon. Never use too much fertilizer, as this can remove the unique odor from the herb.

When re-planting, dig the herbs in at least 1 – 1 feet apart from each other, to ensure appropriate growing space. Growing basil has two main requirements: well draining soil, and a sunny, but damp area.

Basil should be pruned fortnightly to increase its hardiness. To do this, clip the leaves back, but stop ¼ inch above the node. This is to ensure enough foliage is left for growth to continue. Remove dead heads from flower stems for it to continue in good health.

Try growing basil near tomato plants. Both of these plants require a lot of sunlight, and watering, so it is convenient to place them close to each other. Just like in your famous spaghetti sauce, these 2 plants go well together. Basil is a big help around the kitchen and helps to repel insects in the garden.

After 6” of growth, the top leaves are ready to be pinched off. Basil plants can grow to approximately two feet tall. Growing basil not only adds to your culinary delights, but it is delightful addition in the garden.

Organic Gardening Tips

Garden Plants

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