A good garden design not only depends on the plants that you plant in it and the garden lay-out. Garden pots and other plant containers add beauty and texture to your over-all garden look. They add interest and if you place them in a certain way, you can make a regular garden, a spectacular one. There are many in which you can use garden containers to the advantage of your garden.

You can use garden pots to define your garden spaces. You can create a “walkway” by lining some plants in beautiful garden pots. This “walkway” might lead your guest to the showcase portion of your garden. You can also group or cluster together some garden pots to create an intimate space around a garden bench for example. You can also enclose a space or frame a view by placing pots with different shapes and sizes to provide a sense of enclosure.

Mix and match not only your plants but also its containers. It will add more interest and enhance the look of the plant cluster. You can play with the various textures, shapes and colors of the plants as well as the type of container you will use on them. You can also take advantage of the containers as a movable form of garden design. Because you can move the containers, you can change the design of your garden as often as you want. You can create variety by changing the plant groupings.

Aside from using garden pots and containers to create a “walkway”, you can also use them to control the traffic in your garden. This will cause the garden visitors to slow down and appreciate more the beauty of your garden. You can do this by placing your garden pots in such a way that it forms nice, tight passageway. You can place aromatic plants in these containers for an added sensory-enhanced stroll. Some of these plants can be pineapple sage, scented geraniums, rosemary, lavender and other herbs. This will make a very nice impression of your garden and your visitors will love it and will want to visit again.

To enhance the beauty of a flower pot, pair it with a plant that will match and compliment its look. Group it together with other potted plants that are annuals, perennial or plants in complimentary colors. If you can’t find a plant that will compliment your pot, then you can make it as a focal point in a plant cluster or use it to anchor a seating area in your garden.

You are very satisfied with how your new garden grows except for that spot where no matter what you plant, it won’t prosper and grow. Now, what will you do with that spot? The answer is to put a hardscape on that spot. But what is a hardscape? A hardscape refers to paved areas like sidewalks for housing developments but in your case, this will refer to the brick patios, sidewalks, retaining walls and water features. Hardscapes are placed in areas where human traffic is allowed to flow and in areas where there is barren earth.

There are many things that you can use as materials for your hardscape. You can use stones, bricks, fountains, benches, the options are endless. All you need is your imagination. Once you have decided on what to do for your hardscape, you must plan it well. Look at the whole landscape before you start. Take into consideration the entire area of your garden, backyard or frontyard. You should plan a design for the whole area. Anticipate how your design fits into your future plans especially if you have objects in your hardscape that are hard to move or a fixed object like a retaining wall. Include in your planning the drainage requirements. You must plan how the drainage will be affected when you place, say, a wall or a patio. It may cause puddles or worse. You should plan runoff so you can capture the water and use it on site, instead of letting it hit that concrete and go down the drainage pipe.

Make a focal point for your hardscape and make a path so that when someone will view your garden, their eyes will be drawn to it. As much as possible, develop a good balance between your hardscape and your softscape or your garden. Make all of your elements work together so that it will look natural, as if it has always looked like that and not manipulated by you. It is not advisable that your hardscape space is much, much bigger than your softscape. The garden or some grass and greenery will soften and compliment your hardscape.

It is okay to match your hardscape materials with the materials used in your home’s exterior but you have to do this carefully. The idea is to find two or three materials that are visually creative and coordinate not just with each other but with the interior and exterior of the house. Make sure also that your hardscape will match the style of your house. It will look awful and will do more harm than good in terms of aesthetics. If you are in doubt and have an extra budget, don’t hesitate to hire a professional. You will save on time, money and effort spent on your landscape. Hire a designer or contractor that comes with good recommendations and references. Professionals can also do some projects that you have in mind that are complicated such as building a retaining or a structural wall.

When all is set and work is ready to start, you can now buy the materials needed. Buy enough materials at the start because you’ll never know if the materials will be lacking and there no more available. You can still use the extra materials later as accents like stepping stones or landings. When you consider the materials to be used, take into consideration not only the prize and installation of the materials but also how long the material will last and will it suit the project that you have in mind. It makes more sense to economize by scaling back a project or the number of design elements, with the help of a cost-conscious professional, then to always buy the least expensive materials.

Taking all of the above advice, plus you careful planning, you will be on your way to having a great landscape that you and your family and friends will enjoy for a long time.

We all know that gardening is a very relaxing and fulfilling activity. You and your family can also take part in this activity and make it a family venture. Your family can experience all the fun and benefits of gardening and you can make it as one of your family bonding activities.

When starting gardening with your kids, start small so that they will not be overwhelmed by the work to be done. You can then expand your garden little by little as your family’s gardening skill and courage expands. For starters, get your kids some child-sized tools. You can buy these at your local nursery or the garden center. Try to look for tools that look genuine so that the kids will feel like real gardeners. Be willing to accept less than perfect looking gardens with crooked rows and stray weeds here and there.

Before starting to plant in your garden, you and your kids can have a little “experiment”. You can place some seeds on wet tissue paper and place them in a sandwich bag. This will make the seed germinate faster. The kids can observe how the roots grow and steer towards the water as well as the how the leaves grow and steer towards the sunlight. After your little experiment, you can transfer the seedlings on the ground or on the containers. They will have a bigger chance of survival this way. The experiment will teach your children and make them more fascinated with the plants that you will soon be planting in your real garden.

When everything is all set, start small, like in your window boxes. If you have none, then start on a small patch in your garden and you can then expand as your family’s gardening skills grow. Don’t forget to leave an area in your garden for your kids to dig even if all the plants are in place. Children just love to dig and look for anything like worms. Set an area also where you can put some poles and fashion some chicken wire to form an arc. You can then train some ivy around the chicken wire and presto! You have an instant shade where you can sit and rest and your kids can play. You can add hummingbird feeders, spinners and chimes which will make your garden more interesting.

Include your family on planning as to what plants and flowers they would like to grow in your garden. You can let them help in plotting your flower beds and the overall design of your garden. This way they will really feel like real gardeners at the same time, they will be proud of your garden because they are part of its growing process.

To make the garden more interesting to your kids, you can plant some sunflowers and small vegetable plants like cherry tomatoes and herbs that you can use when cooking your family’s favorite dish. Plant also some fragrant flowers and herbs like peonies,lavender,chocolate and pineapple mint. Show you kids how to rub the herbs between their fingers in order to appreciate their scent.

You can teach your children how to make a compost. The compost can be placed in an out of the way area in your garden. This way, it will be hidden. You can dig a hole in the ground and toss in rinds and peels from fruits and vegetables. You can also include tea bags, eggshells and coffee grounds. Don’t include anything that ever swam, walked or flew. Cover the compost and wait for several months so that the mixture will decompose. When it will become crumbly and black, you can then mix it with your garden soil. This way, you can teach your children the importance of recycling as well as organic gardening.

The fun isn’t over when the garden is planted. Kids love to catch bugs and worms and then introduce them into the garden. Let them water with interesting containers or spray nozzles for the water hose. Children simply loves watering the plants, as well as themselves.

dvesycq9xi

What is bonsai? Bonsai originated from China and is the intricate art of miniaturizing trees and shrubs through the pruning of  its trunk and roots and growing them in small and shallow pots or trays. Growing bonsai plants involves great amount of  patience and care so that the resulting plant will achieve that characteristic look of a bonsai. The art of growing bonsai plants originated in China and was then taken up by the Japanese who took it into a much more venerated and refined art form.

Perfect bonsai plants are regarded as treasures for you can’t measure the care, time and patience that is involved in growing  the plant. Presently, the art of growing bonsai plants is practiced all over the world which many enthusiasts finds it relaxing  and a way to relieve the stresses of the modern world.

Growing a bonsai plant involves partly the art form of sculpture, and partly the practice of horticulture, which skills are used to shape, bend and miniaturize the plant. The main purpose is to achieve the look of a large full grown plant but in a miniaturized form without making it appear that it was created through manual manipulation. It is creating a visual harmony between the bonsai plant and the tray or pot in which it is grown in. You can grow two or three bonsai plant in one tray provided that the tray is large enough for the plants until they mature and the tray will not compromise the whole look of the bonsai plants in it. This is called group planting. When you add stones and figurines together with the plants, it is called Saikei. Bonsai trees are categorized according to various styles used for growing them, which relate to the angle of the trunk, the number or shape of the trunk, whether they are planted in groups, cascade, slant, are unconventionally upright or conventionally upright. The size of bonsai trees also differs a great deal, from trees that are fairly large to tiny ones that are grown in thimble-sized containers.

There are several methods used in order to make yo0ur bonsai look old. The trunk and branches of the young bonsai tree are wired so that they will grow in a certain way and make them look old and gnarled. The barks of the tree are sometimes removed in order to create an aged look. These methods are called Sabamiki, Sharimiki and Jin. Bonsai plants are not that much different from their counterparts that are growing normally. The only difference is that the bonsai are small because they are grown in a confined space. Some of the trees that are made into bonsai trees are juniper, maple and pine but some local species are also grown successfully.

The frequency of pruning the roots and repotting of bonsai trees is based on the age of the tree. Older trees can be repotted every 3-4 years, while younger trees may require it every second year. When the tree is repotted and the roots are pruned, it encourages the growth of new roots at the base of the trunk, giving a look of new vigor. Root pruning and repotting is usually done in the spring, before new buds start opening.

Aside from the plants that you so lovingly planted and nurtured in your garden, there are some things that you can add in order to enhance the beauty of your garden. These things are fun, interesting and most of all, inexpensive.

1. Wind chimes
Wind chimes add to the relaxing effect of your garden by way of their tinkling sounds. There are beautiful wind chimes available in the market that will suit your style and budget. However, you can pump up your creative juices and make your own wind chime. You can even let your kids help. Wind chimes are easy enough to make. Once you have your wind chimes, hang them in a strategic place and position so that it will catch a draught.

2. Lanterns and lights
Lanterns and lights are great for your garden especially at night. These add beauty, illumination and serves as intruder-deterrent. Choose candles for calm nights and opt for lanterns if there’s a breeze about. Solar powered lights are a good choice as well. Large garden candles will burn for many hours and are available in all sorts of aroma-therapeutic scents.

3. Garden furniture
We don’t spend half as much time as we should outside simply because we don’t feel comfortable. Look for unique ways of furnishing your garden. The furniture should be comfortable as well as weather resistant. There is an endless outdoor furnitures to choose from. Whatever the style or size of your garden, look for relaxing furniture so you can fully enjoy your outside space.

4. Fake flowers
You cannot have mature gardens and fresh flowers all year round. If you have to resort to a little deception, who cares if it looks good? Hang some pretty silk flowers on a wall or low roof or even in a tree. If nothing else, you’ll keep your visitors guessing.

5. Cut down on big toys
Children’s outdoor toys like swings and slides can take up a big space in the garden. Look for something a little less permanent. Maybe separate items you can load away in the shed at night or go for something completely different and build a giant chess set. Or if you really feel creative, what about a tree-house? They can always go to the park for the swings.

6. Containers and pots
Collect large pots and grow plants you can move around in the garden. Grow herbs and flowers and position sweet smelling plants on the patio or round your seating area. Strawberries grow very well in containers as do other useful plants. Make sure the pots aren’t too heavy for you to move or invest in a garden trolley if they are. If you grow color coordinated flowers, a wonderful display can be created by positioning your pots well.

7. Water features
Water features are fast becoming a trend when it comes to gardens. Create a water feature that will suit your garden. Do some research before you start. There could be a fair amount of physical work involved and you should arrange some strong arm help. You could go for a full waterfall and pond or perhaps a simple water feature on your patio.

8. Rock gardens
Rock gardens can take on different themes and color schemes throughout the year with a little careful planning. There is again some heavy physical work involved when you’re putting together your rock garden but well worth it in the end. Make sure you can get to all areas for weeding, watering etc. Try out different rock plants and flowers until you feel happy with the overall view and even then you can change it.

Plants love mulch because it reduces evaporation of water from the soil surface and reducing weeds which compete with the plants for water and nutrients. If mulch is placed around garden plants, the plants will grow better and be more resistant to diseases. Mulch can also be used on potted plants for the same purpose.

Mulch can be organic or inorganic. Inorganic mulches are rocks, gravel, marble and brick chips. Inorganic mulches can be used in fixed landscape beds that you don’t plan on redigging and replanting. Small gravels migrate easily, working their way down into the soil. Even fairly large rock or brick nuggets can wash or get kicked out of their landscape beds.

Organic mulch does good things for poor soils of almost any type. If the mulch stays on top, the change will happen more slowly but earthworms and microorganisms will slowly break it down and mix it in. However, every time you disturb the bed in any way, such as when you are planting annuals, it happens much faster. Organic mulch adds fertility to sandy soils and helps hold water and nutrients. It loosens and helps drain heavy clay soils and it adds micronutrients that might be missing from even a good garden loam. The organic mulches that are high in lignin which is an organic compound in woody plants, take the longest to break down. Bark has more lignin than wood, so bark mulches last longer than wood mulches. Cypress and pine straw last almost as long as pine bark. The faster the mulch percolates water and the drier it stays, the longer it lasts. Pine-bark nuggets will last a long time. There is a lot of air space between the nuggets, and the microorganisms don’t have enough moisture to break them down.

Mulch cools the soil by either absorbing heat from the sun and not transferring it to the soil (dark organic mulch, such as bark and wood) or reflecting the heat (light mulch, such as rocks or light-colored woods) so that it’s not passed down to the soil below. In most cases that’s good, because overheated roots don’t have to work so hard. In very hot or sunny areas, however, the heat radiated from the mulch can do a number on sensitive plants. o if you’re planning to use bark mulch in a sunny bed, make sure the plants are heat tolerant. This is especially important if the mulched area is large and the plants are young and small. Most inorganic mulches don’t get as hot because they transfer some heat to the soil below.

If you’re buying mulch from large piles that may not have been turned in a while, make sure you give it a sniff test first. Good mulch has a clean smell like fresh-cut wood or soil. The odor of vinegar, ammonia, rotten eggs or silage means that the mulch has gone sour–a toxic condition that results from too much moisture and too little oxygen. Sour mulch can seriously damage and even kill plants within 24 hours after application.

You can easily suffocate a plant by mulching too deeply. The same goes for laying any impermeable cover such as plastic or several layers of cardboard that doesn’t allow the soil to breathe. This will cause root problems. The less porous and more compactable the mulch, the thinner you spread it. For very finely shredded hardwood, no more than two to three inches deep; coarse nuggets, three to five inches; loose straw, up to six inches deep for wintertime protection of sensitive plants. Top off aging or discolored mulch with a minimum of new material.

Don’t give wood borers and other insects easy access to your trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants,leave a space of eight inches between mulch and tree trunks or tender stems. Be sure to keep wood products away from your home’s foundations.

Weeds are plants that are not wanted because they are persistent, hamper human activity and most of all, competes with the consumption of the soil’s nutrients. When we say that a plant is a weed, it has the ability of growing where it is not wanted and propagates abundantly and spreads quickly. Weeds can survive for a long time and is very adoptable to any soil condition, so much so that they can be found anywhere.

Weeds are considered nuisance by gardeners because some kinds of weeds attracts insects to be used as their shelter during winter and they carry crop diseases. Aside from interfering with the harvest, they minimize the quality of the produce. Some weeds produce chemicals that are
harmful to humans and animals as well as the crops. The main reason weeds are disliked by farmers and gardeners is because they compete with
the “official plants”. They compete with the space, soil’s nutrients, light, water and fertilizer.

There are many varieties of weeds and they compose about 3% of the total number of plant species. Some of the common weeds that are found in our gardens and fields are ground thistle, giant foxtail, field bindweed, stinging nettle, ivy, dandelion and barnyard grass. Ground thistles grow hidden and can remain undetected until they start flowering. Their flowers are deep pink which is surrounded by spiny leaves. Giant foxtails grow erect with a hairy stem while field bindweed has stems that are thin and wiry and twines around anything. Stinging nettle is a familiar weed and is very difficult to get rid of while iviess are the most common of the creeper weeds type. The most common weed in fields
and pastures are dandelions that have seeds that are attached to hairy parachutes which will be carried by the wind while barnyard grass on
the other hand have seeds that are large and purplish in color.

Weeds are indeed a nuisance wherever they grow and the only solution to this problem is by using weed killers. Weed killers curb the growth of
weeds and minimize it from growing back. Weed killers or also known as herbicides are chemical agents that kill weeds and prevent them from
growing up again. There are weed killers that are targeted on a specific variety of weed but there are also those that kill all the plants which come in contact with it. These are used to clear large areas like railway embankments and industrial sites.

Like other plants in your garden, some weeds are easy to deal with while others keep growing back and are considered great nuisance. Selecting
herbicides depends on the type of weeds you want to eradicate and the type of herbicide you want. There are three kinds of herbicides. These
are pre-emergence herbicides, post-emergence herbicides and non-selective herbicides. Pre-emergence herbicides are preferably used when you expect weeds to raise their head in your lawn. You can spray them as soon as you get any signs of weed growth. Post-emergence herbicides can be sprayed when weeds have already started growing. The strongest weed killers are the non-selective herbicides which kill all the plants and are used to clear large areas especially before reseeding.

If you don’t want to use commercial herbicides, you can make your own weed killer with ingredients that are found in your home like salt, bleach and vinegar. You can spray bleach in your lawn to curb weed growth. The bleach powder will evaporate within a next few days making your lawn as healthy as ever but this is not advisable if you have a huge lawn. You can also add a pinch of salt at the base of unwanted plants.

Whatever method you choose to use to get rid of weeds in your garden or field, be reminded that they can poison the plants as well as you if  you are not careful. Follow directions carefully if you are using commercial herbicides. You have to take into consideration the weed killer reviews as well as the type of weed affecting your plants before choosing the weed killer. It’s important to act fast as soon as you sense weed growth in your garden because the more that become in number, the more they will be hard to get rid of.

Garden tours or garden hopping is a very unique way to gather insight on other people’s garden to pick up some proven and tested tips and hints on gardening. Aside from this, gardening enthusiasts will have a chance to view some of the most spectacular gardens.

So, what will you do if you are on a garden tour? First, don’t forget to bring a notebook, pen or pencil, a tape measure and of course, a camera to document your garden tour. Your notebook will become your reference book. It will be loaded with priceless tips, guides, hints, notes and answers to your gardening problems. Don’t be afraid or hesitate to ask questions, even stupid ones. Most garden owners will gladly answer your questions and inquiries. They will also recommend some plants that will be great for your own garden. You can prepare these questions before going on a garden tour. This way, you won’t forget to ask some answers to your gardening delimmas.

Pay close attention as to how each garden layout compliments the house or how the garden is presented. Take note of the location of the garden and most of all, the plants that are used and how they are positioned in the garden. Notice also how the plants complement each other and of the general design and layout of the entire garden and lawn. You can measure the length and width of the garden plots, the width of the paths between the flower beds and take note of its shape. You can discover as to how the garden owner cleverly hides her compost pile behind a large shrub. Take note of each detail of all the gardens that you have visited for your future reference. Most of all, enjoy the day out in the sun with the
various blooms and gardens.

Soil fertility is one of the most important things need for your plants to grow healthy. But sometimes, you need to add  something to your garden soil in order to increase its nutritional value. These things that you will add to the soil are called soil amendments. Soil amendments are soil additives to make it more fertile so that it can provide what the plants will need to grow healthy. There are two ways to add soil amendments. The first way is to just place it on top of the soil. An example of this is mulching which is done mainly to prevent rapid evaporation of moisture from the soil and for artistic appeal. The second way to add soil amendment is by mixing it with the soil. An example of this is adding fertilizer. You must mix the amendment with the soil throughly and properly. You must be careful to add amendments in the right amount,
otherwise, it can lead to an adverse effect.There are two types of soil amendments. These are the organic amendments and the inorganic amendments. Organic amendments are made from natural ingredients. Some common organic soil amendments are sphagnum peat, wood chips, straw, saw dust, compost and manure. Inorganic soil amendments, on the other hand, are man-made amendments. These include chemicals that are used to make the soil more fertile. Inorganic soil amendments are used for good output but they deplete the soil’s natural nutrients if they are used for a long period of time.

Choosing the right soil amendment will depend on several factors. These factors are:
a. type of plant you want to grow
b. salinity of the soil
c. texture of the soil
d. how long the amendment will stay in the soil
e. type of soil
f. required soil improvement needed

It is recommended that you use different types of soil amendments in order to gain the optimum benefit that these amendments can give. Soil amendments compliment each other in their use and benefit, so you have to choose carefully and wisely. An example of this is when you use wood chips for mulching during summer to prevent evaporation of moisture and in winter to retain warmth. The wood chips will tie up the nitrogen in the soil, so you will be needing nitrogen fertilizers to avoid nitrogen deficiency in plants. If you choose the appropriate soil amendments, you can benefit from any type of soil.

When we say Japanese garden, what comes to our mind is the picture of slender bamboos swaying in the light breeze or of the awesome sight of Japanese maples in the fall. Well, a Japanese garden is like that and much more. Japanese gardens are very soothing to the soul and encourage relaxation, communing with nature, peacefulness and meditation.

There are different types of Japanese gardens with each having its own distinct characteristics. One classic example of a Japanese garden is the Ryoan-ji garden in Japan. The Ryoan-ji rock garden almost has no plants in it except for carefully tended seas and lakes of fine gravel that surrounds rock groupings. Maybe you will think that Japanese gardens are only this, but it’s not. Another good example of a Japanese garden is of a large pond with brightly colored koi fishes swimming in it. Some Japanese gardens just blend in with the natural scenery thereby enhancing its natural appearance. The garden is incorporated with the view of the natural surroundings which give the notion of a much bigger size that it originally is.

Japanese gardens tend to be simple yet have a big impact on the visitors of the garden. It leaves a lasting impression on ones soul, even if you are not a garden enthusiast. Careful planning is the key to creating Japanese gardens in order for it to be simple enough yet has a great impact and it need not be big. If you find Japanese gardens fascinating and you want to create your own, it is recommended that you visit one first and study what makes it tick. If there is none in your locality, there is no need to visit Japan just to have a closer look. You can browse the net for all the information that you will need. You can also read some books about Japanese gardens.