Gardening The Environmentally Friendly Way

True Organic Fertilizer: Manure and Muck By Bill Urell

2010-05-13T21:56:00.000+05:30

I visited a store last week, out in the country, where people might be expected to know better, and discovered that one of their products was 'organic fertilizer.' That's right; they were bagging cow dung and selling it, at six dollars a pound, no less. And this in a remote farming area surrounded by cow pastures!

"Organic fertilizer" sounds lovely, but truth be told, for a little work, you can get it free from any nearby farmer. Or you can usually pay someone to deliver it for you. It doesn't come in plastic bags, but I guarantee, it will be less than six dollars a pound.

What kinds of manure work best as organic fertilizer? Well, the store had one thing right; cow dung is best. Because cows digest so little of their food, cow manure won't burn plants the way nitrogen-rich chicken manure will. Nor does it need to be composted before putting it on the garden. (Actually, elephant dung is slightly better than cow dung. But this article assumes that you'll have a slightly easier time finding cow dung than elephant dung.)

Horse manure is another good one. It's not quite as nutrient-rich as cow dung, but again, it won't burn plants and it can be applied directly to the soil.

Chicken manure is the best as far as sheer nutrients go. It's rich in nitrogen; an application of chicken manure will grow some of the best corn you can imagine. However, chicken manure is what's know as a 'hot' manure; it will burn plants, and cannot be applied directly to the soil. In order to use it, let it compost for at least three months (six months to a year is better) in an out-of-the-way corner of the garden, then apply it sparingly to your unplanted beds and wait at least two weeks and one good rain before planting in it. Or, mix it with dry matter, such as leaf mold or sawdust, to cut down on the heat. (Unfortunately, this also dilutes the nutrients. But chicken manure diluted this way makes an excellent organic fertilizer because it can be applied directly to the beds, left two weeks and one good rain, and then planted.)

Ultimately, organic fertilizer should be free or--at the very least--cheap as...well...dirt. Because that's exactly what it is.
Why wait to learn the truth about healthy lifestyles? There is a gallery of powerful information for the taking. Decide now to improve the quality of your life. Click here: Pet Safe Fertilizer

Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Bill_Urell

2010-05-13T21:44:00.001+05:30

I visited a store last week, out in the country, where people might be expected to know better, and discovered that one of their products was 'organic fertilizer.' That's right; they were bagging cow dung and selling it, at six dollars a pound, no less. And this in a remote farming area surrounded by cow pastures!

"Organic fertilizer" sounds lovely, but truth be told, for a little work, you can get it free from any nearby farmer. Or you can usually pay someone to deliver it for you. It doesn't come in plastic bags, but I guarantee, it will be less than six dollars a pound.

What kinds of manure work best as organic fertilizer? Well, the store had one thing right; cow dung is best. Because cows digest so little of their food, cow manure won't burn plants the way nitrogen-rich chicken manure will. Nor does it need to be composted before putting it on the garden. (Actually, elephant dung is slightly better than cow dung. But this article assumes that you'll have a slightly easier time finding cow dung than elephant dung.)

Horse manure is another good one. It's not quite as nutrient-rich as cow dung, but again, it won't burn plants and it can be applied directly to the soil.

Chicken manure is the best as far as sheer nutrients go. It's rich in nitrogen; an application of chicken manure will grow some of the best corn you can imagine. However, chicken manure is what's know as a 'hot' manure; it will burn plants, and cannot be applied directly to the soil. In order to use it, let it compost for at least three months (six months to a year is better) in an out-of-the-way corner of the garden, then apply it sparingly to your unplanted beds and wait at least two weeks and one good rain before planting in it. Or, mix it with dry matter, such as leaf mold or sawdust, to cut down on the heat. (Unfortunately, this also dilutes the nutrients. But chicken manure diluted this way makes an excellent organic fertilizer because it can be applied directly to the beds, left two weeks and one good rain, and then planted.)

Ultimately, organic fertilizer should be free or--at the very least--cheap as...well...dirt. Because that's exactly what it is.

Why wait to learn the truth about healthy lifestyles? There is a gallery of powerful information for the taking. Decide now to improve the quality of your life. Click here: [http://www.fertilizer.best-info-only.com/]Pet Safe Fertilizer

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?True-Organic-Fertilizer:-Manure-and-Muck&id=247229] True Organic Fertilizer: Manure and Muck

Make your own seed planters with old newspapers

2010-05-13T21:18:00.000+05:30

Homemade pesticide

2010-05-05T23:43:00.000+05:30

Organic Fertilizer - Salt, Coffee Grounds, and Day Old Coffee Pump Up the Peppers By Laura Maness Brown

2010-04-18T14:54:00.001+05:30

I love gardening. I'll plant vegetables anywhere. I also love using organic fertilizer and gardening products whenever possible. This past summer, we had more than our share of rain. My pepper plants did not seem to be doing well during the excessively rainy summer. Peppers like it hot, and they love sun. I had a wide variety of peppers, too, including bells, Tabasco, volcano, pimiento, jalapeno, sweet banana, and a few other varieties.

I tried using Miracle-Gro which was working fine on some of my other garden plants. I normally alternate among fertilizers, using organic fertilizer as often as possible. The peppers remained dull and listless, as if completely stuck. I switched over to fish emulsion, that really awful smelling yet highly effective fertilizer. Things improved slightly, but not enough to suit me.

I started doing some research and discovered two fertilizers that I had not yet tried. Amazingly enough, both products were ready available in my own home. The first "fertilizer" product I discovered was Epsom salts, more commonly known as magnesium sulfate.

I took a small handful of the Epsom salts and put them around the base of each pepper plant, and then I watered the salt into the soil. I repeated this process once weekly. The results were amazing.

At the same time, I also began to take our used coffee grounds and spread those around the plants as well. After a few days, I decided if the pepper plants liked coffee grounds, surely they would not have a problem with the excess coffee left in the pot, so I made sort of a "coffee tea" by diluting the left over coffee with a little water and applied that to the plants as well.

My husband and I could not believe the results. The plants bushed up and out, transforming into some of the most gorgeous, luscious pepper plants I've ever seen. We had to stake the plants to support the heavy pepper load. I have never, in all my years of gardening, had pepper plants produce that many peppers.

One thing that commonly happens when fertilizing vegetables is that you might get a lot of green leaf and plant growth without much vegetable production. That was not the case. These plants became abundantly loaded with peppers. I had to spend half days washing and slicing them so I could preserve them in the freezer.

One thing I noticed when using the Epsom salts on other garden plants, such as squash. Do not "throw" the fertilizer onto the vegetable plant leaves. Take the time to place it around the plant base, and then water it in. I made the mistake on a really hot day of trying to do a quick scatter. Some of the salts got on the squash leaves and the sun literally burned the leaves up.

I am still not sure if that was what caused the problem with the squash, but without more experimentation I personally recommend a plant base application and lightly watering in.

It could primarily be the Epsom salt, or it could primarily be the coffee grounds and "coffee tea" producing these outstanding results. Then again, it might be the combination of the two. Of course, the fertilizer is just a part of the gardening process. You can't expect miracles. Vegetables still require good soil, adequate sunlight, and sufficient water.

It is now late September, and the pepper plants are still lusciously green and loaded with peppers. I live in the Deep South so our growing season is a little longer than in some other locations. As long as we keep harvesting, those plants keep producing. We'll keep harvesting peppers until frost comes, I suppose! From now on, my pepper plants will drink coffee and get salted on a regular basis! Happy gardening!

REPRINT RIGHTS statement: This article is free for republishing by visitors provided the Author Bio box is retained as usual so that all links are Active/Linkable with no syntax changes.
Laura Brown is an experienced ghostwriter and freelance writer. She also enjoys gardening and cooking. You can find some delicious recipes on her website, The Rancher's Daughter, along with a lot of useful and informative information on gardening, cooking, flowers, and living in the country. Learn more about Organic Fertilizer

Living Closer To Nature With Window Boxes

2010-04-04T12:22:00.000+05:30

If you live in a city apartment or a flat where space is scarce but still want to have some green around you, window boxes planters are a very good solution. That's the main advantage of them, they allow you to have plants around with out demanding space. Imagine opening the window of your room in the morning to see beautiful plants and blooming flowers with their nice fragrance's soothing and cheering you! Dreamy, isn't it?

Even if you do have a garden, window plant boxes are still very handy. They can make your house and the garden blend nicely together, filling up the gap between the house and the garden. Then your house and the garden will look more like one beautiful scenery.

There are a few factors for you to consider when choosing a window box. First decide on your budget, measure the dimensions of the window, think about how much time and effort you can put in to setting up and maintaining, what types of plants to have, whether you need to customize it, and, not the least important, whether you want to go organic. Window boxes differ greatly in material, size and shape, style and color, as well as type, each of these aspects relate to those “to be considered before choosing” factors at different levels. Some materials are cheep,some durable, some easy to maintain, some easy to customize, and some more environmentally friendly.Obviously the shape, color and size must be compatible with the window. If you are a busy person with not enough time to care for your plants, there are self watering window box planters too.

So you have a general idea about how window boxes planters can be of great use to you, so why not give it a try?

Pruning Techniques For Common Vegetables By Crisologo Ramasasa

2010-03-25T17:56:00.000+05:30

Pruning or simple trimming is the latest technology applied to horticultural crops to increase the quality of fruits and and vine crops. Reducing the number of branches and vines provides the maximum utilization of nutrient elements by the plant which supports the production of quality and vigorous fruits. The excess branches and vines are only an addition to the plants' burden, since they utilized more nutrients and not giving advantage in terms of fruit quality.

To produce more quality fruits, those excess branches and vines should be removed. They're just simply excess plant parts and have no economic value to gardeners.

Benefits Derived in Pruning

1) Minimize sunlight competition, nutrients, and water - These three factors when limited to the plants growth reduces its productivity. Pruning helps them to be available to the plants because some unnecessary plant parts have been removed.

2) Minimizes insect pests and diseases occurrence - When you prune your plants, they are exposed to total sunlight, therefore, reduces pests and diseases attack. Pests and diseases don't stay long in hot condition as compared to shady place.

3) Minimize spraying - When you don't spray, you minimize your production cost and at the same time helps for a chemical - free environment.

4) Improve quality of fruits - Pruned plants have bigger fruit size and have a better price in the market.

Pruning Techniques of Common Vegetables

• Upo, Patola and Ampalaya

1) 14 - 15 Days after transplanting, remove lateral vines including flowers and fruits from the 1st - 12th node (at least one meter from the plant base.
2) Allow to fruits on the 13th node up (this is the fruiting zone).
3) Do follow-up pruning and remove those curly leaves.

• Watermelon

1) Cut the terminal bud after the 4th node allowing 4 late5ral vines to develop.
2) Remove secondary lateral vines including flowers and fruits up to the 9th node.
3) Allow to develop fruits on the 10th node up
4) Remove lateral vines not the leaves that may crop up below the 9th node.
5) Allow 1 fruit each lateral vine to develop a total of 4 fruits for the 4 lateral vines.

• Honeydew and Muskmelon (without trellis)

1) Cut the terminal buds the same as in watermelon.
2) Remove sec0ondary lateral vines including flowers and fruits up to the 5th node.
3) Allow to develop fruits on the 6th node up.
4) Maintain 3 - 4 fruits per plant.

• Honeydew and Muskmelon (with trellis)

1) Remove lateral vines including flowers and fruits from the 1st node - 9th node.
2) Allow to develop fruits between the 10th up to the 20th node (fruiting zone).
3) Maintain two fruits per plant.

• Squash

1) Remove all the lateral vines including fruits and flowers from the 1st up to the 5th node.
2) Allow to develop fruits on the 6th node up
3) Remove leaves below the 6th node once the lateral vines are fully develop.
4) Don't allow any lateral vines to develop below the 6th node. Follow-up pruning should be observed always.

• Cucumber

1) Remove lateral vines including flowers and fruits up to the 5th node.
2) Allow to develop fruits on the 6th node up.
3) In every secondary vines allow twp fruits to develop then cut the tip after the 3rd node.

• Eggplant, Pepper and Tomato

1) Remove all the auxiliary buds up to the pork.
2) Above the pork allow to develop 4 branches and remove the leaves below the pork.
3) After fruiting stage remove the leaves below the pork.
4) Don't allow branches to develop below the pork area.

Always prune your vegetables to get a better quality you desired.

Cris Ramasasa, Freelance writer, writes about home gardening and Internet marketing tips. You can get a copy of his latest ebook "Discover How to get started in Flower Gardening" and "Vegetable Gardening Made Easy", also get lots of tips, Free articles, and bonuses at: http://www.crisramasasa.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Crisologo_Ramasasa

Tips on how to control weeds in your garden

2010-03-21T17:36:00.000+05:30

Here is a nice video showing what to do for one of the biggest inconvenience experienced by almost every gardener, weeds. Learn and enjoy!

Organic Gardening Pest Control - Some Insects Can Help You By Clint Sidney

2010-03-16T20:46:00.000+05:30

Pests are harmful insects which are detrimental to the growth of plants. To have a healthy and prosperous organic garden, one must adopt various ways to eliminate these pests. However, using pesticides can defeat the whole purpose of organic gardening. Pesticides are harmful chemicals which are likely to enter our system through the vegetables and fruits we cultivate. Besides, pesticides can kill even those helpful insects that help in getting rid of harmful pests. There are many insects which are natural predators of pests and can be used extensively for organic gardening pest control.

Green lacewing larvae are great enemies of some of the soft bodied pests called aphids. These larvae also feed on mites and eggs of the pest insects. These larvae thrive in humid conditions. Mealy bug, a pest found in greenhouses, spider mites, whiteflies, moths and tobacco budworm are other pests that fall prey to the lacewing larvae. These larvae should be deployed at least 4 times, with a gap of two weeks, to make use of their entire life cycle.

Ladybugs and ground beetles feed on many of the pests too. AN adult ladybug can eat up to a thousand aphids per day. Ladybugs are very active and hence they are cooled off in a fridge to make them less active and hence prevent them from disappearing out of the garden itself. They stick better in moist soil. Even as larvae, they can eat hundred of aphids a day.

Fly parasites are tiny flies which do not sting or bite and live entirely off pupa or larva of the pests. They are natural predators of the most common pests like house flies, stable flies, horn flies and face flies. Decaying organic matter where pests usually thrive is also the environment where fly parasites can be found in great number, thus preventing the very growth of the pests.

Beneficial nematodes can prey on as many as 250 different species of pests. Maggots, worms and fleas are common prey to these nematodes which usually hunt underground. These are also useful because of their resistance to pesticides.

Organic gardening pest control is hence very much possible through natural ways instead of resorting to use of chemicals that undo the benefits of organic gardening.

Clint Sidney is a gardening enthusiast and enjoys giving information about Organic Gardening, Pest Control. You can learn more about gardening at GreatGardener.eHelpshome.com.

Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Clint_Sidney

This is about organic seeds

2010-03-13T11:19:00.000+05:30

It you need more information,pleas visit Organic Seed Alliance.

Discover Why Bee Pollen is One of the Greatest Foods in the World By Glenn Reschke

2010-03-04T20:10:00.002+05:30

I adore bee pollen. The little-known health food supplement known as bee pollen is legitimately one of the best health foods in the world. Research all over the planet verify its effectiveness in everything from combating exhaustion, prostate cancer, stabilizing the immune structure and even in removing the bad LDL cholesterol in your blood. Just what is bee pollen (sometimes it's called "bee bread" by the way)?

Why is it so good for you?

Bee bread is produced by honey bees. It has trace amounts of minerals, vitamins, enzymes and is incredibly high in protein and carbohydrates. Scientific studies also demonstrate that bee pollen is teeming in enzymes and co-enzymes. Enzymes are essential in the body for digestive as well as the all-important immune performance.

The enzymes in bee bread are imperative for a balanced chemical metabolism. It is a perfect food, nutritionally speaking. Here is the nutritional profile of bee bread. It has approximately a 25% protein quantity containing at least 18 amino acids. It provides more than 12 vitamins, 28 minerals, 11 enzymes and co-enzymes, 14 beneficial fatty acids, and 11 carbohydrates.

So, what are some of the well touted health benefits?

*It is great for a quick energy boost. It is a wonderful energy supplement, which is something almost everybody wants more of. In his book Bee Pollen, Dr. Kurt Donsbachid wrote that boxer Muhammad Ali was an avid user of bee pollen as it gave him much needed endurance in the boxing ring.
*It improves the human sex drive. This is something most people are interested in -- especially males! It literally is a honest-to-goodness alternative to Viagra or Cialis.
*This metabolic regulating capability of bee pollen helps to expedite weight loss.
*It improves the human immune system. Bee bread can help facilitate weight control by righting a possible chemical imbalance, which may be a player in abnormal weight gain.
*Will help with conception problems as it stimulates the ovaries and improves the female's egg health.
*It improves nail and hair health.
*It slows down human aging. One Dr. G. Liebold, a medical doctor and psychologist of Karlsrude, Germany who has studied bee bread in several tests maintains that, "Bee's Pollen is an excellent prophylaxis and therapeutic treatment against the precocious symptoms of old age. It should be considered a universal geriatric treatment in the form of a natural remedy."
*It helps ward off Father Time with the aging of your skin.
*It bolsters, increases, and enhances human corporal and mental functions.
*It helps in destroying food cravings and other non-food cravings.
*Medical studies prove bee's pollen has a regulating effect on intestinal functionality. It even helps to relieve the most difficult constipation.
*Beepollen granules is exceptionally low in calories only sporting a low90 calories per ounce.
*The undesirable cholesterol (low-density lipoproteins - LDL) decreased and the good cholesterol (high-density lipoproteins - HDL) increased and this is what you want. Blood serum is also augmented. Moreover, triglycerides are also removed. (Triglycerides are fat in the blood.)
*Improves blood health. Medical researchers have found that bee's pollen improved the white and red blood cell count. In one clinical study, those with anemia had improved levels of hemoglobin.
*Diminishment of cardiovascular problems like arteriosclerosis.
*Improved mental function like memory and emotional states. One more easily deals with stress through the usage of bee pollen.
*Research has shown that bee pollen inhibits the development of numerous harmful bacteria, even E. Coli.
*It helps facilitate immune system resistance to noxious allergies.
*It's cheap.

What about research that validates these statements? Unfortunately, in the 1940s, the United States began moving to synthetic pharmaceutical drugs so there hasn't been a lot of medical research studies conducted on bee pollen in the States. In Europe, however, there has been a significant number of studies that validate these benefits. What about the Big C cancer? Let me quote from a study done on mammary tumors and bee's pollen.

This particular medical study discovered that "Particular attention was given to the weight of the treated animals, since underweight can in itself bring about a delay in tumor development. No decrease in weight occurred in the animals receiving the pollenized food. Instead, a slight but fairly uniform increase was noted, possibly due to a nutritional factor in pollen."

Yes, bee pollen is an unbelievable nutritional health food. It is easily added to your daily health regime. It can be sprinkled on salads, added to shakes, added to herbal teas, or just eaten raw. If eating it is unappealing to you, there are outstanding bee pollen supplements on the market.

Look for one that is made from pristine bee pollen with pharmaceutical-grade quality such as in northern Canada or New Zealand. The sourcing of the bee pollen is critical. The farther away the bee hive is from industrialization, the better. The more pristine the environment it's cultured from the better too.

A word of warning, if you decide to take beepollen, see your medical professional first in case you have an allergy to bee products. If you are allergic to honey or bee stings, bee pollen could bring about anaphylactic shock.

There you have it. Bee bread is astonishing. Perhaps you will see learn that for yourself too.

Glenn Reschke is the webmaster of a popular Nutritional Supplement website as well as a website on Bee Pollen health benefits.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Glenn_Reschke

Collect Rain Water And Use It In Your Garden

2010-02-27T01:18:00.001+05:30

You would definitely agree if I say that water is one of the most significant natural resources for our existence. It is becoming scarcer and scarcer, with ever increasing global population, forest destruction, I don't really have to name it all, do I? We can't afford to waste water any more.

So how could you contribute to preserving earth's precious water? There are many things that you can do, and I will discuss one of them here, rain harvesting.

Rain harvesting generally means to gather and store the rain water that streams down from your house’s roof, and put it in to use later on, when it's quite dry. You basically need a rain barrel attached to a down spout of the roof for the rain water to collect, and a way of directing that collected water where you want, such as an attached hose pipe, a sump pump or a diverting system. There is a variety of rain barrels for sale in the market. They greatly differ in size, shape, and color.

Suppose your rain barrel gets filled very quickly and over flows, that won't be very effective rain harvesting, will it? What could you do about that? You can calculate the approximate amount of rain water you are likely to get by considering the surface area of the roof, and the average rain fall of the season in your area. A rain water barrel merchant can help you with that. Then you can have a barrel with a matching capacity, or better yet, have two or more rain water barrels.

You can also use a tank to store water from the barrel. That too will reduce over flowing.

Another great way to prevent over flowing is having a plumbing system that let the water from the barrel to be absorbed in to the soil of your garden. The layout of the plumbing has to be designed in a way that it diverts the water to the desired spots on the ground.

It is a good idea to use the water from the rain water barrel to water your indoor plants, wash your vehicle, bathe farm or pet animals and clean their kennels, cages or stables, fill your garden or indoor ponds, use on garden fountains and waterfalls, etc, while the barrel is being filled, so that it will not over flow. As the rain seizes and dry season approaches, you can use the remaining rain water in the barrel to water your garden crops and indoor plants.

So with these methods your crops will survive a draught, you will save money over municipal water bills, and you will contribute to preserving water and protecting the environment. Happy rain water harvesting!

Planters, an overview

2010-02-25T00:47:00.000+05:30

Almost every gardener uses planters to some extent. They are useful for gardeners in many ways. Planters save your time and effort as they eliminate the need for all the preparations that has to be done if you are growing your plants on the ground. They save space too. Planters also let you have more control and flexibility over the layout of your garden because the plants grown in planters can be moved around, provided they are small enough. If like having plants indoors, planters come in handy. Weeds are not as troublesome in planters as on ground, mainly because there is much less surface area in a planter  for them to spread, and you can easily pull them off if they do appear.

Planters greatly vary in size, shape, placement, materials they are made of, and their purpose. You need to consider what type of plants to grow, whether to grow them outdoors or indoors, the extent of planting, and the available space, and your budget, when deciding what sort of planters to use.

Planters can be categorized according to their location as "Counter Top Planters", "Garden Planters", "Hanging  Planters", "Patio Planters", "Wall Mounted Planters", and "Window Box Planters".

A "Decorative Planter" can be considered as an example for how the planters vary according their purpose. As the word suggests, "Decorative Planters" can be used to make your garden attractive.

Ideally you would want to use a combination of planter types in your garden, home or office. Make sure you assess your needs and resources thoroughly before deciding exactly what to use.

Vermicomposting over view

2010-02-21T16:16:00.002+05:30

This is a nice video giving and over view of vermicomposting,very capable of arousing your interest. Expect more informative vermicomposting videos soon!

Soil Test - A Crucial Step Towards A Greener Lawn By Stephen Chua

2010-02-18T04:47:00.001+05:30

The chemistry of your soil has a direct and huge impact on how your lawn grass will grow. Before you start any maintenance on your lawn, do a soil test first. The result of the test will determine how much you need to water your lawn as well as give you an idea what nutrients are required for your lawn.

The first thing you want to know is to find the pH balance of your soil. There are several test kits that are available for your use to determine the level of pH that your soil. If you are uncertain about using one of these kits, there are universities and companies that offer pH balance testing for your soil. By knowing the pH, you can determine how many nutrients will be needed in order to balance out the soil. If the pH is off, it will be harder for the right nutrients to be given to your grass. By balancing out the nutrients through the pH, it will help with the growth of your lawn.

The second thing you want to know is the type of soil you have. There are three basic types with a lot of variation in between. The first type is sandy soil, which is usually airy and light but more difficult to maintain. The main reason is that sandy soil is unable to carry a large amount of water or nutrients due to its grainy nature. In this case, frequent watering with a lot of nutrients is required.

The second type is clay soil, which has a thick texture and is able to absorb water and nutrients better than sandy soil. However, due to its thick texture, it is more difficult for the water and nutrients to reach the grass roots.

The third type is loamy soil and is noted to be a more balanced type. It is able to hold water and nutrients as well as drains properly. This is actually the preferred type of soil for many people who want to build a lawn.

Here is a quick way to determine the type of soil you have. Scoop up a handful of soil from your lawn. If it clumps together, it is likely to be clay type. If it falls out of your hand easily, it is likely to be sandy type. If it is loamy soil, you will find that it stays is in your hand but does not clump together. If you have the budget, it is still advisable to send some samples to a soil test lab for a more accurate testing

By testing the lawn soil for both the pH balance as well as the type, you will be able to know how to maintain your lawn with little to no extra work. You will be able to determine how often to water your lawn as well as finding the right type of nutrients for your lawn. This ensures that your lawn will continue to grow healthily throughout the year.

Stephen Chua is the webmaster of diylawncaretips.com where he provides more information on lawn care and soil maintenance

Sign up for a free 7-part lawn care mini course at this site today!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephen_Chua

Lets have some birds in your garden

2010-02-13T17:28:00.000+05:30

Why there should be birds in your garden? There are adorable and nice to watch,for one thing. They also act as natural pest controllers, pecking away the menacing bugs slugs and snails. They sing pretty songs in the morning.

What could you do to attract birds to your garden? you provide them with food, shelter and nesting space,that's how.

So let's see how you can build a bird house with easily found material with little effort and time.

Liked that? Good,now what? Make a bird feeder, may be? Why not? Here goes,

Well, that's not all,I share another video to make you all the more tempted!

So how was that? Of course you can opt to buy the things ready made but it's a great feeling doing it your self, right folks?

7 "Must-Have" Herbs to Grow in Your Garden By Herbert Fraser

2010-02-10T18:40:00.001+05:30

1. Basil

There are so many varieties of basil, but all of them are great, so use which ever ones are available in your area to plant. My favorite one is sweet basil. Sweet basil originally came from the Mediterranean.

Some people like to plant basil from seedlings, as it is a bit easier. You can get the seedlings in any plant store, specifically in the spring. Spring is really the best time to plant basil, especially if you are planting it outdoors. You can start a little earlier if you are planting indoors.

Basil is a very versatile herb used in a lot of Mediterranean and Italian dishes. It is used in soups and sauces to make everything taste good. Basil has a way of bringing out the sweetness in a dish, and adding its own to enhance the whole favor. The trick is to use the right amount of fresh basil, specifically not too little, as basil is a relatively mild herb and loses its flavor quite easily. For this reason, do not keep basil on the shelf longer than one year. The best way to use basil is to use it fresh, immediately after cutting.

2. Garlic

Garlic is one of the greatest herbs on the planet, in terms of adding flavor and nutritional value to your food. Eaten raw or sauteed, garlic is a must have for a lot of dishes. I love Russian garlic. That is my favorite because of the fantastic flavor it has.

Russian garlic has a pinkish shell on the outside and is usually organic. It is best to grow organic garlic, because you get the most nutritional value from organic garlic. One clove of garlic, cut up fine, is great on romaine lettuce for a quick and easy salad. Add organic cold-pressed olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and you have an easy and lovely nutritional salad.

Garlic can be used in almost any entree. I even have heard of people using garlic in their deserts, but I have yet to find a way to do that. If you eat the right amount of garlic, not too much with any one meal, you will not have bad breath. As long as the body absorbs the food eaten, there will be no lingering odor. But, if you did have a problem with that, just cook or saute your garlic and that usually takes care of the problem. You can also drink mint tea, after your meal, to help freshen your breath.

3. Oregano

Oregano is great in tomato based sauces, soups, stir fries and freshly cut as a garnish in salads. If you want to get rid of unwanted bacteria in the foods you eat, or even in the gut, oregano is an antibacterial herb that will kill the unwanted bacteria. Oregano has a great flavor and is used in many Italian dishes. Also, oregano is known for being one of the highest foods to contain anti-oxidants.

Anti-oxidants fight free radicals in the body; therefore, oregano is very beneficial to the body. It can help a person keep their youth, as the free radicals add to the aging process of the body. So, use oregano on a regular basis. Grow it in your herb garden, or in your windowsill, and cut off the fragrant leaves for daily use.

4. Chives

Chives are relatively easy to grow indoors or outside and are a great garnish. Chives are a tender and flavorful type of green onion with a deep rich green color full of sulphur. This enhances the flavor of many dishes from omelets to mashed potatoes. Chives can be used in potato salad and sprinkled on top of soup as a garnish.

Chives grow in little clumps of about five to six little bulbs. If you want to use them all year long, cut off two or three stems off of each clump. The next day, cut off another one or two stems. It is best to leave about two inches of growth from the base of the plant so that it continues to grow.

If growing chives outdoors, after three years of growth, it is best to uproot and divide the clumps of chives and replant. This way the chives will remain fresh and not get too overcrowded. If you want to make a little money, you can easily plant three sets of five to six bulbs into a little container, with a whole on the bottom, and sell the whole container. People like to buy little container plants of chives and put in their windowsill.

5. Sage

There are many different kinds of sage, each with distinct flavor differences, but all are very good. Sage is very beneficial to the body. It is generally known to help calm nerves and relieve headaches due to nervous stress. People burn sage to cleanse the air and get rid of negative energy accumulated in the area. Sage smells nice if burned.

Sage is known to help the oral cavity, specifically the teeth and gums. Sage will help to fight cavities. Organic toothpastes, for example, usually have sage as one of its main ingredients. In India, people brush their teeth using ground sage leaves. If you run out of toothpaste, you can try that.

You can use sage to help joint pain caused by nerves. Basically, any condition that causes distress due to nervousness can be alleviated with sage. In food, sage is usually used with meat; for example, almost everybody adds sage to their turkey stuffing. Sage can be sprinkled on top of pork, beef, chicken, turkey and sausage any time. Any high protein food that is heavy to digest will benefit from the use of sage. Not only will sage add flavor, but it will also help to digest the high protein food.

6. Mint

Mint is an easy herb to grow that can be used every day to add flavor to your water or lemonade. Spearmint is used is cooking and salads, whereas peppermint is usually used for tea. You can easily grow mint from a seed, both indoors and outdoors.

If growing outdoors, plant it in a container in the ground, so that it does not take over your garden. Cut off the mint leaves using scissors and use daily and it will replenish itself. Mint likes to have about 4 to 5 hours of sunshine per day. It prefers to grow in the shade. Mint helps to keep pests away in your garden.

Mint has a refreshing aroma, even if you rub it between your two fingers. You can put a leaf in your mouth to freshen up your breath any time. Mint will help aid digestion. After lunch or dinner is a great time for mint tea. A combination of green tea and mint is also very nice.

You can dry your fresh mint easily on a cookie sheet in the sun, covered by light cheese cloth. This way you can use the mint all winter long, when it is especially nice to sip on hot tea. In the summer time, however, add ice and lemon to fresh mint for a cooling and relaxing drink. It is also very beneficial to your stomach and can help with gallstones, irritable bowel syndrome and the common cold. If you have an upset stomach, drinking mint tea can help alleviate the symptoms.

7. Dill

Dill is one of the easiest herbs to grow. It grows almost like a weed. What is so great about dill is its distinct flavor. Dill is a must have in borscht or any dish that has cabbage in it. Flavor your coleslaw with a bit of fresh dill, and people will be complementing you. Dill goes great with yogurt dishes as well. It can be used in soups, salads, sauces and as a garnish.

If you have an outside garden, all you will need is to plant your dill seed and it will grow. When it is full grown, do not wait for your plant to go into seed. Instead, cut the leafy dills and lay them on a cookie sheet. Put the cookie sheet outside in the sun until it is dry and transfer it into a glass container. You will have freshly dried dill for the rest of the whole year. What is so great about this is that you know exactly when and how your herb was harvested. You know it was sun-dried and that it is healthy. You will know that there were no chemicals sprayed on your dill.

When it comes to drying your dill, if it is rainy outside or humid, place your cookie sheet inside the house near a big window where the sun can filter through and dry it out. It may take a little longer to dry, but it will work as well. You will enjoy your dill on all of your favorite recipes. In recipes that require dill, there is no substitute. Dill is...well.....dill!

Herbert Fraser is an avid herb garden enthusiast who enjoys the nutritional and aromatic benefits of herbs in everyday cooking. Herbert enjoys sharing his knowledge and teaching people how to grow their own herb gardens. http://www.herbgardentricks.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Herbert_Fraser

Creating a Raised Bed By Tauqeer Ul Hassan

2010-02-08T05:39:00.001+05:30

It is often an extremely frustrating time in store for any gardener whose plans include plants that require good water drainage, but whose garden is constantly water logged. While there are many plants that do just fine even in conditions with excess water, the converse is also true. The same water that causes some varieties of flowers to bloom beautifully quickly kills off other flower varieties. It is therefore important that any gardener investigate the water requirements of any plants, and match them with the garden, before buying and planting, to ensure a less stressful gardening experience.

There is an easy way to test just how well the drainage in your garden is. Dig a small hole, about 30 cm deep, in the garden. Fill that with water, and then leave it for a day or so. When all the water has gone from the hole, fill it with water again. If this second filling of water has not disappeared within 12 hours or so, then the garden has high water retention, or relatively poor drainage. If you are unfortunate enough to have such a garden, you will need to put in a bit more effort to ensure good plant survival and growth for most plants.

One of the most popular ways of dealing with poor drainage in a garden is through the use of raised beds. The basic recipe involves the creation of a border for a bed, and then adding compost and soil in enough quantities to raise it about 5 inches above the rest of the garden. Even a modification this small will add substantially to the drainage for that specific patch.

There are differences in creating a raised bed, depending on whether you are creating it on a grassy area, or over dirt. A raised bed over a non-grassy area is a relatively simple affair. A border or guard to retain the compost and soil you use to create the bed is all you need. Many gardeners succeed in doing this with just a few two by fours nailed together. Once the border is in place, just add the right combination of soil and compost or manure. Remember that you might have to add more if any deterioration occurs once you water your new raised bed.

Things are a bit more complicated when you are building a raised bed in an area that already has sod. The best way is to mark out the perimeter for your intended raised bed, and cut out the sod around this edge. The grass then needs to be flipped over. While this sounds like a simple procedure, care needs to be taken, to ensure that the instrument you use is sharp enough to cut the sod, so it can be turned upside down. Furthermore, it is advised to add a layer of straw, to prevent the sod from growing back up. Once this is done, soil and compost can then be added to create the raised bed.

Once you are happy with your raised patch you can plant in it in the normal fashion. The one precaution is that the roots of your new plants do not extend too far into the original soil level. The very essence of creating a raised bed, is to reduce the amount of waterlogged soil that your plants' roots are in, so the shallower the better.

Many gardeners report seeing immediate improvements in the health, and growth of plants in raised beds, compared with those in normal water logged soil. While water is good for plants, the more controlled measures in raised beds are better, and result in better plant well being. The prospect of creating raised beds seems at first daunting for most gardeners, but the results certainly make the task a worthwhile one. If you are not sure if creating a raised bed can improve your garden, you can experiment with a small patch of your garden, and if you see improvements, increase the size of the raised patches.

Also information about spring bedding biennials and the aftercare of bulbs would be very beneficial for you.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tauqeer_Ul_Hassan

This is not your usual tea

2010-02-06T00:42:00.005+05:30

Hello there,here I share a another video that caught my attention.It's very very interesting. You are gonna love this!

Recycling Plant Waste Into Nutritious Fertilizer By Patton Andres

2009-12-14T10:46:00.002+05:30

Lots of people out there wish they had better looking lawns, but can't make the time and money commitment to make it happen. There is, however, a way to make your yard look great for practically free - organic garden fertilizer. There are so many different materials from your yard that can be turned into fertilizer, and it is actually easier to do than you might anticipate. The best fertilizer comes from the garden, especially your grass. When you accrue those heaping bags of grass, don't throw them out. With a little composting education, you can learn how to manage these materials and turn them into nutritious fertilizer to feed plants of all types.

Creating a heaping pile of grass will turn slimy and rot, so we must introduce additives into the grass in layers. Specifically, additives of high carbon content, which includes leaves, branches or wood pieces. These are otherwise known as "browns". Aerate the pile on a regular basis using a shovel or rake. Fresh grass contains a lot of nitrogen content and moisture, which makes the grass stick together and reduces oxygen flow. Oxygen needs to be introduced into the system to promote bacteria growth. The grass is broken down and recycled back into nutrients that plants can use.

Another tip to promote a clean compost pile is to dry out the grass in the sun before piling up. Several smaller piles are easier to manage than one huge one. Trying to oxygenate and turn over a large pile can be difficult. If you find that the decomposition process is just too smelly, or you want to speed up the process, try adding some lime to the mixture. You will notice a dramatic improvement.

If piles just aren't your thing, consider purchasing a compost bin. This isn't a free method, but a bin will provide many years of use and is a more controlled system. A compost bin can turn any garden material into plant feed. Material is put into the container and begins a controlled rot. The container can be tumbled to oxygenate the material. Offensive odors are effectively contained and moisture is kept in well. While waiting for the solid materials to degrade, you can also extract a special liquid plant feed from the container. This liquid will gather in the bottom of the compost bin over time. Many bins have a convenient tap that can extract the liquid easily.

Composting can recycle many materials that would more than likely be thrown out. You can save money on fertilizer and produce a happy, healthy lawn at the same time. This natural plant feed is better in many ways than the store bought products.

Working in the yard can be a time of peace and relaxation in the fresh air. To learn tips and tricks on yard care, visit the informative guide at Yardsurfer.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patton_Andres

Herbs As Aid to Organic Gardening By John Beaver

2009-12-07T12:56:00.000+05:30

This guide to organic herb gardens intends to offer you some advice on using herbs as natural pest and disease repellents in a vegetable or flower garden. Gardening free of chemical use can be easily achieved by planting certain herbs which will keep your garden bug free and eliminate the need for harmful pesticides.

Those gardeners who are keen to adopt an organic approach to their gardening should know that they can discourage garden pests without using all those chemical products that harm beneficial insects such as bees and ladybugs and which have such devastating effects on birdlife. You do not have to tolerate, or fight to eliminate, all those pesky insects that are out there just waiting to pounce.

Some herbs, because of their smells or secretions, will deter pests naturally so when planted generally around the garden will sit there doing their work with absolutely no effort from the gardener. Just think what a relief that would be.

Being just a short guide to organic herb gardens this is intended to be no more than an insight into the chemical free way to bring natural balance into your garden, but it cannot cover every herb. Following however, is a list of the most common ones. Every one of these herbs has specific, and some duplicated benefits, for the organic gardener. Just choose those you like best as the most suitable herbs for your purpose and get them planted out in your organic garden. Then sit back and stop worrying about attacks from insect pests.

BASIL will repel flies and mosquitoes.
BAY LEAF should be ground up and sprinkled around as a natural insecticide dust.
BORAGE will deter tomato worms.
CALENDULA when planted throughout the garden will discourage many insects.
GARLIC will repel aphids.
HORSERADISH should be planted in the potato patch to keep away potato bugs.
HYSSOP is good for deterring cabbage moths.
LOVAGE mixed with your compost heap will improve the nitrogen content.
MINT will repel white cabbage moths.
NASTURTIUM planted under fruit trees will deter aphids and other pests.
PEPPERMINT repels white cabbage moths.
PETUNIAS repel the asparagus beetle, tomato worm and general garden pests.
ROSEMARY will deter cabbage moths, bean beetles, and carrot flies.
SAGE is good for repelling cabbage moths, beetles, carrot flies.
TANSY: is another herb for fruit trees, also roses and raspberries as it will deter flying insects,
WORMWOOD: is just a bonus, what is your biggest pest - is it the neighborhood tom cat? Wormwood will keeps animals away from your garden if planted out along your borders.

That is not the end of the benefits to be had from growing these herbs because they all make excellent companion plants when planted among various fruit and vegetable crops. Look out for an article coming soon explaining about companion gardening.

My name is John and I've been interested in growing and using herbs for longer than I care to think about. Having carried out a great deal of research on the subject I've now compiled a huge amount of knowledge which I want to share. To see more great information on organic herb gardens, and much more please visit my website where there are details of a free herb gardening mini-course: http://www.herbgardendelights.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Beaver

Organic Container Gardening - Growing Strawberries in Containers By Nova Person

2009-11-10T12:13:00.002+05:30

Fresh, bright red and juicy strawberries are often used as dessert toppings and decorations because they make any food appear visually sweeter and mouth-watering. No wonder why many people love strawberries. But did you know that you can grow strawberries in your home? And for those interested in organic container gardening, strawberries are actually one of the easiest fruit-bearing plants to grow in pots. As long as all their growing requirements are met, strawberries can thrive well in any potted environment.

But before you rush to your local nursery to purchase a seedling, here are some points that you must consider to in order to successfully grow your own potted strawberries:

One: Choose the variety that suits your climate. There are two main types of strawberries - seasonal and ever-bearing. Seasonal variety bear fruits during May-June while Ever-bearing produce crops twice a year, one early in summer and another late in summer. If you live in colder regions, you're more suitable to grow the seasonal variety because ever-bearing strawberries don't thrive well in cold weather. But you can winter your plants by covering them with plastic sheets to keep the cold out. And since they are in containers, you can easily bring them in, especially during the night, to protect them from the cool evening draft.

Two: Pick pots or containers with enough drainage holes. Strawberries do not like to sit in soggy soil so good drainage is important. You containers must be at least 8-10 inches deep.

Three: Start with a good potting soil and enhance it by mixing organic matters in. You can also add fertilizers to the starting soil. When transplanting a young seedling, add enough soil such that the roots are covered and the bottom leaves are level with the top of the soil. But also, make sure that you leave at least 1 to 1 1/2 inch space between the rim of the pot and the top of the soil.

Four: Strawberries like it warm so give them daily doses of sunlight, making sure that you turn the plant around on a regular basis to expose all sides evenly.

Five: Avoid overwatering your strawberry plants. Water only when the top ½ inch of the soil feels dry to the touch.

Six: Feed your strawberries regularly with organic fertilizer to encourage them to bloom. Organic fertilizers that are high in phosphorus are your best bet because they aid plants in flowering and seeding.

Seven: Strawberry plants may produce fruits during the first year, but don't expect too much. For the ever-bearing varieties, you can suppress flowering (by removing the buds) during the first season to ensure more fruits on the next year. They are sure to yield a good harvest during the second year. Wait until spring before your strawberries ripen.

Eight: When picking strawberries, pick only the ones that are already bright red in color with no green patched left.

Nine: Like you, some pests will not be able to resist the sweetness of your strawberry fruits. Slugs and ants are most likely to pester on plants that are placed at ground level. You can hang your potted plants to prevent these pests but make sure that the hooks are sprayed with ant-sprays. Birds, raccoons and other bigger animals can be attracted to the bright red berries too, so install a barrier or cover your plants with netting to stop them from enjoying your strawberries before you do.

Follow these organic container gardening tips and you'll enjoy a sweet harvest of fresh, plump and red strawberries every year.

Nova Person is an organic gardener who's been growing different types of plants including fruits, flowers and vegetables in her home garden. She especially loves Organic Container Gardening and shares her tips on her site at http://theorganicgardeningsecrets.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nova_Person

An indigenous ritual of crop pest controlling from Sri Lanka

2009-10-19T12:03:00.000+05:30

Sri Lanka is basically an agricultural country, having the weather, soil, and geographical conditions all favorable for that. Sri Lankans have had many indigenous rituals which they perform at various stages of growing crops. They are gradually fading away now, with the arrival of modern technology. But many of them have a sound scientific basis, there for it’s very advisable to study them thoroughly because of today’s environmental problems use of chemicals and machinery in agriculture.
Let’s get know one such ritual that Sri Lankans used to get rid of pest insects in paddy fields. This is how it’s done. In the house that belongs to one who has some paddy grown, a pot of milk rice [rice cooked with coconut milk extract] is prepared, with pieces of fruit mixed in, early in the morning. Then the farmer takes it to the paddy field and spreads it evenly on the paddy growth by hand. No one involved in this speaks during all this.
How do you think this rids the paddy field of insects? It’s simple. The milk rice and fruit pieces attract many birds to the field, some of them omnivorous. These birds take care of the milk rice and fruit as well as insects in the field. It’s a bio pest controlling.
This is originally used in paddy cultivation, but you can use it with other crops, even in your garden. This is applicable only on insects that attack crops before the emergence of harvest because otherwise the birds will eat the harvest too. You can also alter what you use to attract birds accordingly.

Fall is an Important Time of the Year When Organic Gardening By John Yazo

2009-10-12T12:11:00.003+05:30

The end of the gardening season has arrived in many areas. The leaves are falling and winter in close to arrive. There is still a lot that needs to be done in an organic garden so that you will be ready to plant your early spring crops and to get the most of your growing season.

Soil structure is the most important part to grow a successful, healthy and thriving crop. In an organic garden, fall is the time to add the soil amendments needed to your garden so you are ready for next gardening season, it always seams to sneak up on us when we aren't ready.

Once your crops have stopped producing, clean all debris from the garden. Composting this organic matter is the best and most beneficial way of getting the most out of your garden. The compost will add the nutrients needed back into your gardens soil for your plants to benefit from, flowers, herbs and vegetables all will greatly benefit from the nutrients and the organic matter compost will provide to the soil.

When adding organic matter to your gardens soil, you are feeding the soil food web. This is what keeps an organic garden alive. It keeps the needed microorganisms in the soil working hard for you, improving the soils tilth in your gardens soil and supplying the nutrients needed for plants to thrive. These organisms are what do all the work in your garden to keep the soil healthy.

There is a large, complex community of life in your organic gardens soil that is working behind the scene to make sure your garden will be healthy and thrive, along with aiding in pest and disease control naturally.

Fall garden maintenance is an important part of organic gardening. A environment friendly and healthy way of gardening. Organic Gardening is away of gardening in harmony with nature. Growing a healthy and productive crop in a way that is healthier for both you and the environment.

John Yazo

http://www.organicheirloomgardening.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Yazo

Organic gardening: How to grow an organic vegetable garden

2009-10-05T12:19:00.003+05:30

Hi folks! Here I share another interesting video. Tell me how you find it.