A Pot of Pastel Colours for Summer

Buck the trend for hot sizzling summer colours and opt for
cool pastels instead.

Osteospermum

There are lots of little osteospermums in garden centres
and nurseries in the summer months of May June and heaps of
colour choice.I like them because they flower well into
autumn and if we have a mild winter they should survive.

Marguerite

I use alot of marguerites in my planting arrangements
because of there cottage garden looks.They flower well into
autumn but are not as hardy as osteospermums.They have a
great variety of colours to choose from to compliment the
other flowers in your pot.

Petunia

You can get some pale colours in petunias such as pale pink
in the Surfinia series which is a very popular series that
can be found in most garden centres.Also Mr Fothergill's
catalogue has a new series called Fanfare with a lovely
pale pink flower called Appleblossom.

Nicotiana

Each year I sow nicotiana seed but only single colours so I
can co-ordinate my colour schemes.At this time of year May
June look out for good sized plants at the garden centres.
How to Plant Your pastels for Summer Pot

1. Drainage is really important in pots so start by lining
the bottom with a number of broken crocks, or use pieces of
broken up polystyrene.Then fill a third of the pot with
container or multi purpose compost, breaking down any large
lumps with your fingers as you work.

2. Because the marguerites, osteospermum and nicotiana all
grow to about the same height, plant these towards the back
of the pot.Depending on the size of your pot ,you might
only need one of each plant.Place the petunias around the
edge at the front and then firm everything in with more
compost.

3. Now give the pot a good soak.Make sure you keep it well
watered throughout the summer, especially over the first
couple of weeks as the plants establish.To make sure you
get the best blooms feed fortnightly with a liquid feed.Do
not forget to deadhead regularly to keep the flowers coming.

More Pretty Pastels

Geranium

Geraniums are so versatile and there are dozens of
different colours available.Many people only consider the
gaudy reds and oranges, but the softer pinks are
lovely.They can be tricky from seed so try taking cuttings
or buy plug plants.

Diascia

Diascias have a long flowering period and if you can cut
them back after the first flush of flowers, they should
give you a repeat performance.They have become quite
popular so they are widely available as young plants in
lots of different colours.

Nemesia

Nemesia ia a cheap and cheerful filler often used to plug
gaps in borders, but its also great in pots.It can flower
from summer to christmas and is a spectacular sight.Look
out for pale apricot and lemon colours.


----------------------------------------------------
Want to find that pefect Garden Container Planter or Pot
for your planting arrangements then visit
http://www.mygardencenteronline.com .
Also while your there why not checkout our full range of
plants and seeds.

 

Lawn Care - What's the Best Length

It seems like all it would take is pushing or riding the
lawnmower over the grass. But there's more to it than that
if you want a beautiful and healthy lawn.  The first step
to overcome is deciding on the proper length. This depends
on several things, such as the type of grass, how much sun
the grass gets each day, how much it rains, and so on. Here
are some of the benefits of mowing less often and letting
the grass grow longer.

Saves Time

Keeping most grass a little longer saves effort cutting.
Allowing the lawn to grow an extra week between cuttings,
mowing every two or three weeks instead of every week,
reduces the effort by up to a third. That saved hour or two
can be well used on other activities - fertilizing, weeding
and other needed tasks.

Grows Slower

The grass grows faster when it is short and slows down as
it gets longer. So since the length increases at a higher
rate at first and then decreases as the blade grows to be a
couple of inches or more, remember this: The longer the
blade, the slower the growth.

Grow Deeper Roots

Deeper roots are encouraged by longer grass. Grass and
weeds compete for the same nutrients and space in the soil.
With longer roots, the grass takes up more of the space and
gets more of the nutrients, leaving less for the weeds.

Another benefit of longer roots is it the grass reach
moisture deeper down, making the grass better fed and
stronger.

Needs Less Water

Here's another interesting fact: Longer grass can keep in
moisture better. So not only do you save time by mowing
less frequently, but you save money on water as well. This
is really important in some areas that often experience
drought.

Gets More Sunlight

It's healthier for grass to grow a little longer for
several reasons. For instance, longer grass has more
surface area for photosynthesis, the biochemical process
that turns sunlight and compounds into energy used for
reproduction and growth.

Reduces Weeds

Allowing the grass to grow longer actually reduces weeds
and the time needed for weed maintenance. Since weeds need
sunlight and warmth in order to grow, just like nearly
every plant, longer grass blades prevent weeds from getting
started.

Problems with Long Grass

There are problems that can increase if the grass grows too
long. Not only do you have to put up with a shaggy lawn,
but grass that is too short encourages lawn bugs and
mosquitoes. The latter prefer cool temperatures, and the
longer grass gives them a place to enjoy the shade. So
keeping your lawn down to a moderate length will reduce the
number of bugs.

Don't Cut it Too Short

Cutting grass does not hurt it in any way as long as it
isn't cut too short. Grass grows from the base (called the
crown), not from the top. If you are careful not to damage
the crown with the lawnmower, the grass will do fine. Be
careful of bumps in the yard that can cause the lawnmower
to dip too deep into the grass and dig into a crown.

In summary, if you keep the grass a little longer in hot
weather and a little shorter in cool weather you will
achieve the perfect balance.


----------------------------------------------------
Grab plenty of tips and tricks for making your yard and
garden healthier and more beautiful. Carol Stack and her
family live on a large piece of property where they enjoy
trying out new gardening ideas. Carol's website,
http://www.freegardentips.info covers lawn care, organic
gardening, landscaping and more.

 

Grow Your Own Garden Fruit Trees for Real fruit

When visiting a supermarket have you never wished you had a
few garden fruit trees? Have you ever noticed how purchased
fruit these days is bit inconsistent in quality?  Sometimes
it will be fine, but mostly is tasteless, too hard or too
soft.  The pears are rock hard, you can push your fingers
through the plums, and the peaches start growing mould
before they are soft enough to eat.

Some of this has to do with forced growing and artificial
fertilizers, and some on picking too early, and being left
to ripen during shipping.  Much of the foreign grown fruit
is picked unripened, and then ripened in the ship's hold.
This leads to fruit with the taste and texture of wet
cardboard. Why not grow your own?  It is both cheaper and
better for you, and the taste is far superior to anything
grown and shipped from thousands of miles away, and fed on
who knows what.

Even a small garden can be used for growing fruit trees,
and there are apples, peaches, pears, cherries and plums
suitable for the smallest garden.  And these are just a few
of what is available that be grown in shapes suitable for
training along fences and walls, and up garden mesh and
netting. You don't need a massive orchard for garden fruit
trees any more if you know how to train them properly, and
what varieties are best for growing in your local
conditions.

If your garden is susceptible to early frosts, you should
purchase trees that flower later, or you will lose the
flowers before they can develop into fruit. Irrespective of
your conditions, you should be able to grow a selection of
apples, pears, plums and so on and even apricots and
peaches if you have a reasonable amount of sun.  Even
grapes can be grown in temperate climates.

You should buy your stock from a good supplier that knows
what you need for the areas in which you live.  It is
always best to buy local, since if they can grow it then so
can you.  Many people travel to warmer climates and return
with fruit trees that looked great in 35 degrees of sun,
but are stunted in your chillier 25 degrees.  You should
choose a selection of fruits suitable for your climate, and
at least two of each.  There are some self-pollinating
varieties of fruit around, but it is safer to have two
trees - you also get more fruit!  If you are purchasing
more than one variety of each fruit, then make sure that
their pollen is compatible.  In fact if you are buying two
trees for pollination, then they should be different
species, but compatible with each other.  Your supplier
will have this information for you.

You should also check out the fruit provided by each and
make sure that it is what you are looking for.  You don't
want a Bramley tree if you want a desert apple, and some
plums are naturally sour while others are sweeter.  The
same is true of grapes, and some of the sweetest wines can
come from very sour grapes. Make you're your vines are
desert grapes, and not cultivated for winemaking unless
they are also suitable for eating.

The rootstock is very important, because fruits trees are
generally propagated on rootstocks.  Depending on the
rootstock, an apple tree can grow to 5 ft or 25 ft in
height and spread. The size of the tree will be determined
by the size of your garden, so you should check with your
supplier what the eventual size will be.

When buying a fruit tree, keep in mind that the older tress
can be hard to transplant, so try to get a tree no more
than two years old. Don't purchase too young or you might
have to wait some years for a fruit, and the best type of
plant is a bare root plant rather than ones in containers.
If your garden is small, then many species of most fruits
are suitable for espalier,  fans and cordons.  In a small
garden, the cordons take up least space and provide a good
crop of fruit from a single supported stem.  However, if
you have a lot of fencing space, or can put up a few
trellises, then fans and espaliers would make good use of
that space.  Most fruit trees can be grown in that form.

Irrespective of whether you grow the full sized trees, or
in dwarf or trained form, garden fruit trees will provide
you with fruit that is ripened on the tree and that tastes
like fruit and not cotton wool.  If you are careful with
your source of supply, and ensure that your variety is
suitable for your climate, then there is no reason why you
should not be a successful fruit grower, independent of
supermarkets for your fresh fruit.


----------------------------------------------------
Want to find that perfect Fruit tree for your garden  then
visit http://www.mygardencenteronline.com .
Where you will find a full range of
apple,pear,cherry,plum,apricot and alot more other types of
fruit trees.

 

Feeding the Birds in Your Yard: Are you at risk for the Bird Flu?

This is the time of year in which the birds come back to
your home in droves.  Many bird enthusiasts actively
attract birds through the use of birdhouses, bird feeders,
and bird-baths.  With the growing threat of an avian flu
(bird flu) pandemic, it is wise to consider the threat that
wild birds may bring to your home. Are you at risk?

The United States is preparing for the eventual spread of
the avian flu to this country and has an aggressive
interagency detection program led by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA).   This involves testing of tens of
thousands of live and dead birds from our coastal regions,
including Alaska, which is the state in closest proximity
to Asia. In addition, the USDA has a "Biosecurity for the
Birds" program, which provides important information about
reducing the probability of birds becoming infected with
the avian flu.  This program develops practical, common
sense management practices to keep the avian flu and other
poultry diseases out of our commercial and backyard flocks.

The good news is that up to this point, the avian flu has
not been detected in the United States, although some
predict that it is only a matter of time before it affects
this country.  The avian flu is carried primarily by
waterfowl and shore birds but is also found in domestic
poultry such as chickens. So far songbirds and your typical
backyard birds such as hummingbirds, bluebirds,
woodpeckers, purple martins, wrens, and many others remain
unaffected.

The Department of Interior's National Wildlife Health
Center has issued guidance to follow routine precautions
when handling wild birds.  This is not because there is a
threat at this time for avian flu but for general hygiene
against other bird-related illnesses.

The Center recommends that people handling wild birds:    
1) Do not handle birds that are obviously sick or birds
found dead,
2) Wear rubber or disposable latex gloves while handling
(and cleaning) game, wash hands with soap and water (or
with alcohol-based hand products if the hands are not
visibly soiled), and thoroughly clean knives, equipment and
surfaces that come in contact with game,
3) Do not eat, drink, or smoke while handling or cleaning
birds.

The Author recommends that you continue to invite wild
birds into your yard through the use of bird feeders,
birdhouses, and birdbaths.  At this time, there is NO
threat for the avian flu, especially in North American
songbird populations. Monitor your local news service for
updates on the spread of the avian flu and other related
bird-born illnesses.


----------------------------------------------------
Mike Kershaw is a wild bird enthusiast and owner/operator
of the online wild bird supplies superstore
http://www.TheBirdWarehouse.com . Mike has a graduate
degree in biological sciences and is an expert in
attracting and retaining wild birds to your backyard.

 

Can Plants Grow Without Soil? Hydroponic Gardening is the Answer!

Hydroponic Gardening is the system in which plants can be
made to grow without soil.  Using hydroponics to grow
plants can be beneficial for many growers since it allows
plants to be grown much faster and many times with less
problems.

Plants are grown in a solution which consists of water and
dissolved nutrients required for the particular plant.
There are several hydroponics techniques and systems that
are used in producing thriving plants

The different types of hydroponics systems and techniques
include the nutrient film technique (or NFT), aeroponics,
and the aeration technique.

With the aeroponics technique, plants are secured using
rigid pipes, screens, or films.  The nutrients are
dissolved into the plants' water supply and the plants'
roots are suspended within the water. The plant then
obtains its food nutrients directly from the water or from
an air mist which is sprayed directly onto the plant roots.

Hydroponic gardening also requires the use growing media.
Different mediums can be used which have to retain the food
rich moisture.  They must also be able to physically
support the plant roots.  The following have been the most
effective media so far: expanded clay, perlite, styrofoam,
sand, rockwool, vermiculite, pea gravel.

Many types plants that can be grown in a hydroponics
system. Some plants will grow better in hydroponics system
than others, but some of the most popular are lettuce,
tomatoes, cucumbers, herbs, watercress, and various other
edible plants.

Tree seedlings and flowers can also be grown using
hydroponics. Hydroponic greenhouses have been producing
millions of plant seedlings every year.  These are then
transplanted and grown at other locations where they are
later planted into soil.

If you are just a beginner at hydroponic gardening, you
will no doubt be satisfied with the quality of your crops
and the faster rate of growth.  Hydroponically grown plants
will grow and mature faster and yield an earlier harvest of
vegetable crops.

There are many benefits to growing your own plants in a
hydroponics system. Hydroponic gardening doesn't require a
fertile farmland or a large water supply growing plants.
Vegetable and plants can be grown year round.  Hydroponic
vegetables and plants in almost any small space, or a
basement, or even an apartment balcony.

The hydroponic systems require less space because the plant
roots don't have to spread and search for food and water.
The smaller space requirement makes hydroponic gardening
perfect for limited space home gardeners.

Hydroponic plants can also be grown in nurseries and
greenhouses as well.  The benefit of growing these plants
without soil in a sterile medium includes not having to
remove weeds or dealing with soil-borne pests and diseases.
 And since all the nutrients necessary for the plant are
readily avaliable to it, the plant is noticeably healthier
than the plants grown in soil.

The greatest benefit to hydroponic gardening is the ability
to automate the hydroponics system with timers and remote
monitoring equipment. This reduces the time it takes to
maintain the plants and the growing environment. It also
allows the grower to leave their system for long periods of
time without worrying about watering plants.

Hydroponic growing without the use of soil is not simple,
but with time it will become an easy routine. Hydroponics
offers the advantage of many techniques that can be
beneficial to your plants and produce a richer and
healthier plant.


----------------------------------------------------
Author of Hydroponic Gardening Website: Tony Buel
http://www.hydroponics.com-afl.com
Hydroponic Gardening Article Found at:
http://www.hydroponics.com-afl.com/Hydroponic-Gardening--Plants-Grow-Without-Soil.htm

 

Using Mulch to Control Garden Weeds Naturally and Inexpensively

Using Mulch to Control Garden Weeds Naturally and Inexpensively
It's springtime and the home gardener is busy planting
flowers, shrubs and vegetables in anticipation of the
enjoyment they get from a beautifully landscaped yard
and/or a bountiful harvest. Springtime also means that the
weeds are popping up in your garden, threatening to take
over. Now is the time to get those pesky plants under
control and clear the way for your plants.

Mulching is the recommended way to not only control weeds
but retain precious moisture and protect root systems from
extreme temperatures. There are many different types and
ways to apply mulch. Some of them can be very costly. I've
found a better way to control weeds naturally and
inexpensively.

If you're putting in new plants, be sure to follow planting
procedures like proper depth and spacing as well as
watering the holes where your plants will go. For
established garden areas, make sure to hoe or pull weeds
more than two inches tall. Also be sure you have applied
any compost and tilled it into the soil well. Level the
ground and break up any large clods of soil.

Then it's time for the mulch. While you can purchase rather
expensive commercial mulches, a more cost effective
alternative is to use newspapers and shredded bark. The
newspapers are of course free, and you can feel good about
recycling them. The shredded bark can be picked up in
quantity at a very reasonable cost from your local sawmill.

First, wet the ground to be covered. Don't make a mud
puddle, but be sure to soak it well. Then lay out the
newspapers. You can use 1-2 sheets, overlapping them to
keep them in place. Put rocks or some other heavy object
down to hold them down temporarily. Once you have an area
covered, wet it again to soak the newspapers. This will
keep the paper from blowing away and you can pick up and
move the rocks or weights to the next area. Repeat this
procedure until the entire area is covered.

If you have existing plants, you can tear and fit the
newspapers around them. Make sure they snug right up
against the base of the plants to keep the weeds out.

Then apply the bark mulch. Since you've already put down a
weed barrier (newspapers), you won't need nearly as much
bark mulch as is usually called for. You can apply just
enough to cover the newspapers. Commercial applications
calling for mulch at a 2 inch depth will require one 2
cubic feet bag to cover 12 square feet. So it will take
about half that if you use the newspapers under it.

Which kind and size of mulch to use will depend on your
budget. The treated mulch will help repel insects, but is
about twice the price of plain medium sized bark mulch at a
commercial outlet. Purchasing shredded bark from a sawmill
will cost less than that.

Be sure to spread the mulch evenly. To keep your garden
weeds down, reapply as needed in the fall or spring each
year.

The newspapers will work as a weed barrier and are free
compared to expensive weed cloth. They will also retain
moisture in the soil and degrade naturally to improve the
condition of the soil in your garden. The mulch will cover
the newspapers giving your garden or flower beds an
attractive look. They too will degrade into soil-enhancing
nutrients. Mulching will also help protect roots from
extreme temperatures, keeping the root system warm during
cooler spring nights and cooler during the hot summer days.


----------------------------------------------------
Cindy Dykstra writes for Article-DirectorySite.com, where
you can find articles on everything from gardening to
health. Free content to use on your website, blog or
newsletter and free RSS feeds. Free article submission too!
Visit http://www.article-directorysite.com today!

 

Landscaping Tips for a Beautiful Yard

No matter what the season, we all dream about having a home
with a lush, green lawn, colorful flowers and landscaping
that looks like it was planted by a professional gardener.
It won't be easy, and you will have to spend time doing
research and learning some landscaping basics, but it is
within your reach.

Proper planning in any landscaping project is the key to
success. With the proper planning and some patience,
avoiding some common mistakes can make the entire project
proceed without many problems and give you the result you
have always wanted.

If you are planning on landscaping a small area, you
shouldn't have any problems doing this small project
yourself. Begin by looking at landscaping books to get some
ideas. When you are out for a walk notice what you like and
don't like about the yards in your neighborhood.

Write your ideas down on paper. Draw some preliminary
sketches and discuss it with family and friends. Take the
plans to your local nursery and discuss your plans with
someone who is familiar with what plants and flowers do
well in your area.

Here are some ideas for different landscaping areas and
options.

Flowers to Make Your Yard Colorful

To make your home look friendlier, add some flowers to your
yard. If you want color throughout the year you will need
to research what plants bloom during which seasons.

By planning your garden you can arrange the flowers around
the yard so that there is color year-round, and so the
colors complement each other.

Besides placing flowers in the beds bordering the lawn,
flowers can be used to line a sidewalk or the pathway to
your front door. Splashes of color can add charm and beauty
to any yard.

Designing a Functional and Beautiful Backyard

A home backyard is a special place. Unlike a front yard of
the house a backyard is free of any artificial and injected
rules of design. If your backyard is fenced off from public
view, you have only yourself and your family to please.

Depending on the size of the yard you can have different
areas. For instance, you can have a corner of the yard set
up for children with a swing set and fort. Another area can
be set up with a bar-b-q and picnic table. Perhaps you can
even find a spot for a cascading waterfall.

Again, borrow some landscaping books from the library to
give you some ideas. If you are going to go through all the
work and expense of landscaping your backyard, you want to
do it right. You want a yard that will bring you enjoyment
and that you can be happy with for years to come.

Lawn

Do you know that a beautiful and well put together lawn has
many benefits? It helps keep the house cooler in summer,
provides a wonderful play area for children, and more. For
added beauty, intersperse the lawn with trees randomly
planted in between.

Shrubs

Some shrubs along the outside of the house will give it an
entirely different look, and a stone walkway is something
even a landscape novice should be able to do themselves
with a little instruction.

Examples of landscape design elements in transition are
plants that go from coarse to medium to fine textures or
softscapes that go from large trees to medium trees to
shrubs to bedding plants.

Landscaping to Reduce Expenses

Did you know that you can save money on heating and cooling
costs by carefully planting trees, shrubs and even some
grasses and vines around your home? Planting trees on the
south and west sides of the house have been proven to
reduce summer temperatures by ten degrees in the house.

Vines growing on the house and shrubs near the home
(protecting basement windows) help further. Keep this in
mind when planning your landscaping.


----------------------------------------------------
Visit http://www.howtogarden.info for lots of gardening
tips and resources. Find information on landscaping,
vegetable gardening, growing flowers, lawn care, and more.

 

Bonsai Tips

In my view bonsai gardening is the one hobby you can take
up and create something which can only be described as a
stunning art form, even if, like me, you were born with as
much natural flair for painting and drawing as Andre Agassi
has for understanding retirement speeches.

There is now doubt that a well kept Bonsai tree is a thing
of beauty; a miniature version of a full size tree that
replicates the full sized tree but is small enough to fit
in a pot on a table.

Genuine living art at its best.

So, how easy is it to grow one of these magnificent,
miniature plants? There is no doubt that it takes some
skill, patience and a little luck but it is not in fact as
difficult as it seems. Let's find out a little more about
the fascinating hobby of bonsai gardening.

There is not really a limit on what type of trees can be
grown as a bonsai although the most popular varieties these
days are pine, juniper and maple. The trees are trained
into the required shape by wiring, followed by judicious
and careful pruning. The idea is that the wiring and
pruning will produce a tree that looks like a tiny version
of what you would normally see in a park or garden.

Caring for bonsai trees is something which also requires a
little knowledge and experience; some trees are hardy and
can survive a winter outside whilst others will need a more
protected environment. Other important considerations in
bonsai gardening relate to the tools that you need to do
the work. It is very important that you have the right
equipment. Whilst a basic set of tools is not particularly
expensive the correct equipment is essential if you are to
make your new hobby a success.

With the right tools and a little training you can quickly
learn enough to start shaping your own bonsai trees. The
shape of the tree is crucial and there are a number of
different recognized styles that you can use for your
plant. It is always a source of great enjoyment when over
time you see your tree slowly but surely taking on the
shape you had envisaged for it. A true reward for your
developing bonsai gardening skills.

The presentation of a bonsai tree is absolutely vital and
to this end you do need to ensure that your tree is
displayed in the most suitable container. There are a huge
variety of containers available and you should always be
searching for something that will complement and enhance
your tree; something that will allow your living art to
shine.

The scope of this introduction article is obviously very
limited and you will need to look into bonsai gardening
more deeply to decide if it is really for you. However, I
do hope that I have managed to raise some enthusiasm in the
reader for at least taking the next step to finding out a
little more about Bonsai gardening.


----------------------------------------------------
If you thought this information was useful, try Bonsai
gardening secrets visit 
http://baller39.cbpower.hop.clickbank.net/

 

Hammock Stands and Hammocks - For Relaxation in Your Own Backyard

The creation of the hammock stand has made access to
hammock relaxation accessible to everyone. Large yards and
gardens are unnecessary, as hammock stands allow us to
enjoy a hammock in the smallest of spaces, like a courtyard
or patio and partake in all types of hammocks from
traditional reclining hammocks, as well as hammock chairs
and swings.

Like anything to do with hammocks, there is a hammock stand
to suit any budget and while we will pay more for
aesthetics, one needn't spend a small fortune to enjoy the
feeling of swinging or lazing about in one of the world's
most comfortable inventions.

Of course using a hammock stand gives your hammock the
added advantage of your being able to set it up almost
anywhere. It makes the use of your hammock more versatile,
whether it is used on your porch, the backyard or garden or
if you want to take it away to another location on holiday.

Hammock stands come in a veritable smorgasbord of designs
and construction elements. Aluminium-framed stands are the
most popular choice and biggest sellers because of their
durability, set-up ease and cost. However, for those
wanting more of a centrepiece for a patio or courtyard,
there are some rather beautiful, if more expensive, options
available.

More expensive hammock stands are usually made of timber or
steel. Designs are streamline and quite stunning, often
borrowing lines from Scandinavian modern furniture and are
simple, yet elegant. The shapes include a 'C' shape, where
the hammock or hammock swing hang from the top of the 'c'
to a rather space-age 'x' frame, where the hammock is hung
from the top ends of the 'x'. Some of the timbers used in
their construction include cypress and oak. All of these
stands would be a feature to any garden, patio or even
indoors.

Hammock stands for traditional, full-recline hammocks are
also available and these are a clever alternative for those
who lack back yard or garden space and, unlike a
conventional hammock, attached to two trees or poles, they
can be moved easily and set up anywhere in or outdoors.

Believe it or not, a hammock stand is even available to
attach to the back of a standard sized pick-up truck or
utility. These are ideal for people who camp and are also
easy to put up.

So whether you are seeking a striking, useable feature for
your garden or simply a fold-away hammock you can bring out
on a warm day, there is, quite literally, something for
everyone.

Isn't it time you gave yourself a break and bought a
hammock?


----------------------------------------------------
Michael Jennings loves to relax with his family in his
garden and has plenty of first-hand knowledge on patio and
garden furniture, especially hammocks. To find out what
would suit your garden visit his Garden and Patio Furniture
site. http://www.hammocks-swings-chairs.com

 

Basic Care for a Juniper Bonsai

Growing bonsai trees is an ancient art that is becoming
increasingly more popular. Research shows that plants
benefit our mood and attitude. Introducing bonsai plants
into your life will bring these benefits along with reduced
stress levels and enhanced the ascetics of your home
environment. Because juniper bonsai trees are easy to grow,
they make great plants for beginners. Anyone can grow a
bonsai tree if they properly care for it. The following
information will help make your bonsai experience a
positive one.

There are over 50 species of evergreen juniper trees. The
needles range in color from dark green to blue. The juniper
increases in beauty as it grows and is a great addition to
any landscape. The juniper is an outdoor plant. Fresh air
and sunlight are essential to its growth and health.
Although it should not be exposed to extreme freezing
temperatures, it is a hardy plant, withstanding the
coldness of winter and thriving in most climates. Still, it
should not be exposed to extreme freezing temperatures and
should be brought inside during sub-zero temperatures.
Indoors, it should not be placed near heating vents or left
without sun exposure. In winter, an unheated, sunny,
enclosed porch is an appropriate place for a juniper. If
left inside indefinitely, a juniper will lose its healthy
appearance and eventually die.

Plenty of fresh air and sun are the first elements to
caring for your bonsai. Soil and fertilizer are other
important components. Buy soil specifically formulated for
bonsai trees. These mixtures contain less fertilizer than
the average potting soil, which is designed to encourage
maximum growth. The fertilizer should have a high nitrogen
content. Fertilize your bonsai every other week during the
growing season, spring until autumn. If your bonsai looks
unhealthy do not add more fertilizer, which is a common
mistake with beginners. Rather, an unhealthy bonsai is
usually due to over-watering. Re-pot your bonsai every two
years until the plant is 10 years old. After it is
re-potted do not expose it to wind or direct sun for 1-2
months.

The next important element for a healthy tree is water. The
saying, "if some is good, more is better" cannot be applied
in reference to watering your bonsai. Beginners have the
tendency to over-water their bonsai plants. Over-watering
causes Bonsai roots to rot. You should water your bonsai
when the soil is nearly dry--but not completely dried out.
The soil should be dry about a half inch to an inch deep.
It should appear dry on top, but when you check the soil
underneath with a toothpick or your finger, you can still
feel moisture. In most conditions you will water every two
to three days, but could be as little as once a week or as
often as every day, depending on your climate. When it
needs watering place it in a container of water or your
sink for about 5-10 minutes to saturate the roots. Then let
it drain. You can also top water. If top watering your
bonsai, water, and then wait a few minutes, and water
again. You will repeat this until your bonsai has received
enough water.The juniper can also be misted every couple of
days to keep dust off the needles and help in keeping
humidity.

Plenty of fresh air, rich soil, and the right amount water
are the first items to consider when growing a juniper
bonsai tree. The basics are usually the most important in
any skill or trade. If you can control and regulate the
basics, you will be well on your way to growing a healthy
bonsai plant. Those elements combined with your care and
attention will produce a beautiful plant that will help
your mood, attitude and stress levels for many years to
come.


----------------------------------------------------
Fran Black works in marketing at Bonsai Garden
http://www.bonsai-garden.com and Pilates Shop
http://www.pilates-shop.net leading portals for bonsai
gardening and natural exercise.

 

Landscaping Your Yard - Tips and Ideas

Whether you have a large yard or a small yard, one of the
fun things of having a yard is landscaping it. Have you
always wanted a garden pond? Or perhaps you have always
dreamed of having a waterfall in your yard? Why not develop
the landscaping of your dreams?

Do you have children or grandchildren? Imagine your yard
with wooden playscapes in an area of the yard designed
especially for youngsters.

Other areas of the yard can include walkthrough gardens,
flowers that add color and charm, and a selection of trees,
shrubs, and other flora to balance the yard. Here are some
basic ideas.

Areas

Having like elements repeat throughout the landscape, such
as plants or rocks, will help unify different areas to each
other. To fill in areas that need color perennials and
summer bulbs can be added.

A play area is really beneficial if you have children or
grandchildren. Wooden play sets can be attractive and a lot
of fun.

A path for a tricycle or small bike can add to the fun. A
gravel walkway around the yard will provide such a path and
save the grass from being trampled down.

One of the all-time favorites for just about any child is a
tree house. Any large tree can be turned into an endless
adventure with a few boards and a ladder. The possibilities
really are endless.

Lawn

A lawn adds color and a cool place to play on hot days. You
can make it even more beautiful by adding flowerbeds and
shrubs along with a number of trees for shade. These things
can turn a plain lawn into a paradise.

Flowers

Flowers add color and grace to any yard. Sprinkled
throughout the border of the yard flowers can transform
your home from a run-of-the-mill house to a showplace full
of style. To have color year-round, plant a variety of
perennials and annuals mixed together.

Pond

Just about every yard has grass, shrubs and tress, but a
pond adds something special, especially if there is a
waterfall going into it. There are many ready-made
waterfalls and ponds that you can choose from. The Internet
is a great place to research and learn about what is
available and how to take care of a pond and waterfall.

Rock

Rock gardens really can be breathtaking when done right.
Adding drought-resistant plants compliments dry rock
landscaping well. This is a great way to reduce your water
bill. In some areas where there is a shortage of water,
this can be a terrific way to conserve limited resources.

Rock can be used in walkways, groundcover, walls, ponds and
waterfalls with spectacular results. Rock walls are a good
alternative to picket fences, especially if the surrounding
area cries out for rock instead of wood.

Landscaping - One of Life's Pleasures

Landscaping a yard is one of the pleasures of life. It's a
prime opportunity to add beauty to your surroundings. With
some planning and research, and perhaps some help from a
professional, anyone can design and create a yard that is
eye-catching.


----------------------------------------------------
Grab plenty of tips and tricks for making your yard and
garden healthier and more beautiful. Carol Stack and her
family live on a large piece of property where they enjoy
trying out new gardening ideas. Carol's website,
http://www.freegardentips.info covers lawn care, organic
gardening, landscaping and more.

 

Pruning Roses

Roses seem to grow and produce flowers for only a few years
before becoming exhausted and starting to develop flowers
down the lower part of the stem.Pruning is therefore needed
to prevent the plant becoming a tangled mass of dying and
living wood with inferior blooms.

Rambling Roses

Rambling roses have diminished in popularity over the
years.They bloom only once a year albeit with a spectacular
show of flowers but are not generally disease resistant and
do need regular pruning.

Flowers grow on new wood so you will need to prune each
year for a good show of flowers all over the plant.However
rambling roses are a good choice in some areas, where their
natural talents can be exploited.Rambling roses flexible
stems will clamber enthusiastically up dead trees that would
otherwise be an eyesore, or scramble riotously along the
soil to produce unusual ground cover.

Climbing Roses

Climbing roses have much less flexible stems than rambling
roses, many are more disease resistant and some are repeat
flowering.Since flowers develop on a framework of
established wood,pruning climbing roses is a much less
demanding than pruning rambling roses.Essential pruning is
restricted to removing dead weak or diseased growth.

Deadhead as much as is practical during the summer and
prune in the autumn after flowering.If you also shorten the
side shoots that have flowered taking them back to three
buds.You will encouragea good coverage of flowers next year.

Regenerating Old Climbing Rose

If a climbing rose has been neglected and lateral growth
not encouraged by regular training and tying in, there may
be many bare stems visible near ground level.You can
encourage new basal shoots to develop by cutting down some
of the old bare stems almost to ground level.

Hybrid tea and Floribunda Roses

Hybrid tea and floribunda roses are popular garden choices
and have broadly similar pruning needs.Hybrid teas have
been used for around 100 years their flowers have what is
often seen as a classic rose shape.Hybrid teas are
available in an amazing range of colours and are often well
fragranced.

However there are some drawbacks with some varieties many
hybrid tea bushes are quite ridged in shape, producing
quite a stiff appearance that does not suit all
gardens.Hybrid teas generally bloom less frequently than
floribundas and are more susceptable to rain damage and not
tolerant to less than perfect conditions.

Floribunda roses have been popular for around the last 50
years.Although the individual blooms may not be as first
choice compared to the hybrid teas floribundas are chosen
for there ability to flower continuously for long periods
of time.Their increased disease resistance their ability to
thrive in less than perfect conditions and for their rain
tolerance.

Prune hybrid tea and floribunda roses in early spring when
growth is just beginning but to avoid the possibility of
damage by wind rock cut back long shoots in autumn.Cut
stems back to approximately half there length and remove
damaged weak or diseased stems.Floribundas hard prune some
old stems close to the ground to encourage new basal
growth, while pruning last years new shoots only
moderately.This variable pruning will encourage a good
coverage of flowers over the whole plant.


----------------------------------------------------
Want to know more about rambling roses or other roses such
as hybrid teas (Ingrid Bergman Rose) or floribunda (Day
Breaker Rose).Then come and visit
http://www.mygardencenteronline.com and checkout the rose
department.While your there have a look around maybe your
interested in Bonsai or fruit trees.

 

Getting Started With Indoor Gardening

When the weather prevents you from going outside to enjoy
some gardening, it's just as beneficial and effective to do
some indoor gardening instead. In this way, you can indulge
in some gardening all year round, while still keeping warm
and dry. Better yet, your plants also keep warm and out of
harms way from frosts, slugs and deer! By the end of
reading this article, you will have many indoor gardening
ideas and tips that will have you well on your way to
growing lots of wonderful indoor plants and flowers.

Indoor gardening will allow you to have much more
flexibility when growing certain types of plants that need
a specific temperature. For example, you could grow
whatever vegetables you feel like all year round, and not
have to wait until they are in season to enjoy their
benefits. It also allows you to grow them organically to
your own personal requirements.

Many people decide to grow plants in a greenhouse, as this
is a form of indoor gardening, and perhaps the most
popular. The temperature within the greenhouse is
controlled by you, and can be adjusted to suit all kinds of
plants. They are made out of either glass or plastic
material, and can be bought or made in many different
sizes. They are a tried and tested method of indoor
gardening, as many professional and amateur gardeners use
them, so you are safe in the knowledge that they are
suitable for all purposes.

If your budget doesn't stretch to buying a greenhouse,
there are many different indoor gardening ideas that are a
lot simpler and cheaper, such as just having some pots in a
warm area, perhaps in a conservatory or on a sunny
windowsill. However, you will have to bear in mind the type
of plants that you wish to grow, as you may need a lot of
space! If you don't have a lot of space, there are several
plants that can be grown indoors in a smaller space, such
as cherry tomatoes. They don't require a large pot, as they
don't grow too big.

The room that you choose to grow your plants in should be
warm and receive a lot of sunlight. You will have to ensure
that there is enough heat and sun for the specific plants
that you wish to grow, perhaps speak to someone at your
local garden centre and they should be able to advise you
on some indoor gardening ideas and on what conditions your
plants need.

Another indoor gardening idea is that you may wish to place
your plants at different places around your house, so you
benefit from colours and well-oxygenated air throughout the
house. However, when growing plants like this, you have to
ensure that they will constantly have enough light, warmth
and humidity.

If you wish to get started straight away, it is a good idea
to buy an indoor gardening kit from a garden centre, which
will give you all the equipment and instructions that you
need to begin. It will also allow you to choose exactly
what type of garden you want in your house. You should also
consider the difficulty of each kit, and choose one
specifically designed for beginners to indoor gardening.

It is also worthwhile to bear in mind that if young
children or animals can access the plants, it could be
dangerous for both them and the plants! If either children
or animals tries to eat your plants, it could seriously
harm them depending on the type of plant. It could also
kill your plant. If it's difficult for you to place your
plants out of reach of children and animals, then perhaps
research plants that are not dangerous at all, as this
could be a solution. However, again, I advise you to talk
to someone at your local garden centre.


----------------------------------------------------
Michael Saville has written more articles on indoor
gardening. These can be found at
http://www.indoor-gardening.org . The site provides
information and indoor gardening ideas for people
interested in this popular pastime

Delightful Dahlias For Every Gardener

Sometimes the sheer audacity of a flower grabs your
attention and simply won't let go. The first time I saw a
dahlia, I was stunned. Not only is their size larger than
life, but also the colors are absolutely amazing! The
intricacy of petal structure, the huge array of shapes, oh
yeah, did I mention the COLORS! In short, I was mesmerized.

In the intervening years, not much has changed, except of
course, there are better selections of these incredibly
immense dahlias. Stronger stems, better foliage, brighter
colors are all thanks to the hard work and intuitive genius
of many hybridizers.

I know several people who have devoted their entire garden
to growing dahlias. Some people might say it's a sickness.
I don't agree - if dahlias are your passion, live it! On
the other hand, not everyone can - or would want to --
devote a large amount of time and effort to one kind of
plant. But, seriously, there's room in just about any
garden for a few of these show-stopping flowers.

Besides border dahlias, there are decorative, dinner plate,
karma, powder puff, tree, collarette and a huge number of
unique dahlia shapes available. Flower sizes range from
under 2 inches wide to more than 10 inches in diameter.
While the colors include everything under the rainbow with
a few surprises in between. That's a lot to choose from;
I'm certain there is more than one for your garden.

One of the best reasons of all to grow dahlias is their
flowering time. They begin to bloom usually in late July
and continue unabated until frost, a time when many other
perennials are finished blooming and there's not much else
going on in the garden.

Dahlias are native to the mountainous central region of
Mexico and Guatemala. Spanish settlers in Mexico sent the
first dahlia seeds and tubers back to Spain in the 18th
century. Spanish botanists at the Royal Botanical Garden in
Madrid sent seeds and tubers to botanists in other parts of
Europe, and the dahlia began to spread across Europe. The
first varieties with large, double ball-shaped flowers were
bred in Belgium in 1815 and within a few decades nurserymen
had expanded the combinations of colors as far as they
thought they could be. Most turned their attention to other
projects, and dahlias languished.

Then, in 1872, a box of dahlia roots from Mexico arrived in
Holland. All the roots had perished except one, which
produced a brilliant red flower whose shape was distinctly
different. It was combined with earlier varieties and the
resulting babies became the parents of today's diverse
hybrids. Thanks to the skill of breeders in England,
Holland, Germany, Australia and America, dahlias come in a
range of sizes and colors unmatched in the world of garden
flowers.

There are some spectacular dinner plate sized dahlias that
grow 36-48 inches tall. How about 'Emory Paul', biggest of
them all in orchid lavender; maybe 'The Big Wow', with
enormous bright, scarlet red flowers. What about checking
out 'Ferncliff Illlusion', fabulous in white with violet
tips or 'Kelvin Floodlight', immense, dazzling, deep, clear
yellow. Any one would be perfect for creating a dramatic
display in your garden.

There are more demure dahlias that come in powder puff
shapes and grow 24-40 inches tall. Most of these large
flowers have a petticoat of regular petals with a puff of
smaller, ruffled petals in the middle. Try 'Blue Bayou' in
lavender-blue; or 'Soulman', in a rich, deep maroon, a
color very rarely seen in the horticulture industry.

You can mix it up with Karma dahlias for an array of
different shapes and vibrant, iridescent colors. These tall
dahlias (36-44 inches) were developed for the Dutch cut
flower market and have long, very sturdy stems. The colors
are truly magnificent. For an amazing effect in your
garden, try 'Karma Sangria' with a rose center, and golden
yellow petals tipped in salmon rose. Single colored flowers
include 'Karma Prospero', in soft lilac-pink with a golden
center and 'Karma Ventura', a dazzling lemon yellow the
perfect contrast to the pink petals of 'Prospero'.

Like I said, there are delightful dahlias for every
gardener! You just have to find the one that suits you best.


----------------------------------------------------
Since 1893 Van Bourgondien has been providing the finest
quality Dutch bulbs and perennials in the horticultural
industry. See all of the dahlias mentioned in this article
by visiting the author's website: Van Bourgondien
http://www.dutchbulbs.com/bulbs/article-wrapper.do?mainPage=
articles/bulblady/plantProfiles/delightfulDahlias.vm&utm_sou
rce=ArticleSubmission&utm_medium=article&utm_content=dahlias

 

Setting Up Your Own NFT Hydroponic System

The NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) used to be commonly used
among commercial and smaller scale hobbyist or amateur
hydroponic growers. Its use has diminished among commercial
growers in recent years mainly because new hydroponic
techniques exist today that are better suited to
large-scale farming.

Amateur hydroponic growers however still use NFT often.
It's not that expensive, it's very easy to use, and it can
be easily adapted to suit many different plant types.

The NFT is one kind of solution culture in hydroponics.
Solution culture hydroponics involves the growing of plants
without growth medium and without soil. Many hydroponics
growers believe that solution cultures are the only true
form of hydroponics. They say that when growers add solid
growth mediums, they are adding nutrients to the plants in
the same way soil does. NFT on the other hand, treats the
plants only with nutrient solutions prepared by the growers
and delivered to the plants root system via water.

NFT Hydroponics Systems work by generating a constant water
flow at the plants' root systems which are suspended in a
tub. The slow moving water solution is spread out across a
flat surface at a depth of approximately 1 to 3 inches.
This shallow solution depth is constantly maintained to
create a nutrient film over the plant roots.

When setting up your own NFT system you will need a
shallow, flat-bottomed tub and a submersion pump which will
keep the water flowing over the plant roots. The plants
should be placed close together in order to enable the
nutrients to more readily cling to the roots. The
submersion pump will constantly recycle the water back into
the system. And because the water is being constantly
recycled, you will need to closely monitor the nutrient
levels in the water.

The NFT technique does have a few potential drawbacks which
need to be addressed. For example the nutrients necessary
for the plants can cause damage to the submersion pump. If
the submersion pump fails, or if there is an electrical
failure, your plants will not be getting the nutrients they
need to survive. A relatively short disruption in the pump
can lead to complete failure in your plants.

Nevertheless the NFT Hydroponic System remains a viable
method of hydroponic gardening for small scale and indoor
gardeners. By closely monitoring the pump and nutrient
solution, hydroponic gardening can be made nearly risk free
and quite productive!


----------------------------------------------------
Author of Hydroponic Gardening Website: Tony Buel
http://www.hydroponics.com-afl.com
NFT Hydroponics Article Found at:
http://www.hydroponics.com-afl.com/Setting-Up-an-NFT-Hydropo
nic-System.htm

 

How is Hydroponic Gardening Different from Regular Gardening?

When growing hydroponics, there are a vast variety of
growing mediums that may be used.  The mediums include
materials, including perlite, vermiculite, coconut fiber,
gravel, sand, or any number of other materials.  Even air
may be used as a hydroponic growing medium.  The hydroponic
growing medium is an inert substance that does not supply
any nutrition to the plants.

All of the nutrition comes from the nutrient solution,
typically combining water and fertilizer.  Hydroponic
fertilizer and fertilizer intended for use in soil
(regularfertilizer) contain the three main nutrients.
These nutrients are nitrogen, Phosphorus, and potassium.
The main difference between hydroponic fertilizer and dirt
fertilizer is that hydroponic gardening fertilizers contain
the proper amounts of all of the essential micro-nutrients
that regular fertilizers do not include.  The plants are
expected to find these elements in the soil.

Problems may arise for the plants if any or all of the
micro-nutrients are not present in the soil or have been
depleted by successive or excessive plantings.  Hydroponic
gardening fertilizers are usually in a more pure form than
are regular fertilizers so they are more stable and
water-soluble.

Organic fertilizers are typically very different than
either the hydroponic fertilizers or the dirt fertilizers
in how the deliver nutrients to the plants.  The organic
fertilizers rely on the action of bacteria and microbes to
help break down the material into its basic elements so the
plant can easily use it.  Hydroponic and regular
fertilizers then supply the plants with these elements.

Another difference between hydroponic and regular gardening
is that growing hydroponics can be extremely complicated.
Hydroponics are controlled with computers and sensors which
help control everything from watering cycles to nutrient
strength, and the amount of light the plants receive.
However, hydroponics can also be very simple.  The average
home hydroponic system usually consists of a few basic
parts, including a growing tray, a reservoir, a timer
controlled submersible pump to water the plants, and an air
pump to oxygenate the nutrient solution.  Light is, of
course, also required to help the hydroponic garden to grow.

There are also micro-nutrients that are required for
healthy plant growth.  These micro-nutrients include
calcium, sulfur, magnesium, boron, cobalt, iron, copper,
manganese, zinc, and molybdenum.  These nutrients are the
essential elements that plants need in very small amounts.
Plants are likely to become sick without these trace
elements and will develop all sorts of problems depending
on which nutrient is missing.

The lack of micro-nutrients in food crops can mean a lack
of nutrients in the food.  This will result in the food not
being as healthy as it could be and potentially lead people
to develop health problems due to the lack of these
essential elements.  Any hydroponic gardener needs to use a
good quality hydroponic fertilizer when they are growing
plants using hydroponics.

It is also vital that the pH is controlled in both growing
hydroponics and in the soil as well.  Plants lose the
ability to absorb different nutrients when the pH varies.
The pH must be monitored during the entire growth cycle of
the plants to maintain the maximum healthy uptake of
nutrients.  The pH of the nutrient solution will affect how
well each element can pass through the root cell wall to
nourish the plant.  Once the gardener has properly
calibrated the fertilizer concentrations and the pH of that
solution, they can generally assume it will stay steady
barring any unforeseen root disease.

Gardeners should always monitor their system too much
rather than too little to avoid any problems.  The ability
to quickly and easily test and control pH in hydroponics is
a major advantage over regular gardening, where testing and
adjusting the pH is much more complicated and time
consuming.


----------------------------------------------------
Hydroponic Gardening can be a fun and productive new way of
gardening for you.  We have tips and resources to get you
started fast! Author Tony Buel
http://www.hydroponics.com-afl.com

 

Koi Pond: Digital Masterpieces- Virtual Water Features Part I

One of the most challenging aspects of designing ponds and
waterfalls  is trying to convey my ideas to my client.
Coming up with award-winning pond designs or implementing
them using adequate skills and experience is not a problem.

My challenge is getting my client to see what I see.
Drawing and painting are not my forte; it is next to
impossible for me to draw a rock, not to mention water. The
hardest part for me is drawing perspective. Prior to
discovering the art of digital design my most common phrase
used was, "Just trust me." Wait till your pond and
waterfall is finished, I promise you'll like it.

Unfortunately, "trust me" are the most common two words
spoken by used car salesmen!  Thank goodness that most of
my clients were referrals from other satisfied customers
and already knew what I was capable of creating.

A few years ago, I discovered a computer program called
"Photoshop" and realized I could use it to create virtual
photos of water features. I learned how to cut an item from
one picture and paste it into another. Actually, that was
nothing new for me since I did that in third grade.  It's
called cut and paste. Only now I'm using a mouse instead of
rounded scissors and edible white paste. (I hear the
manufactures are adding vitamins to it now. :)

I started out scanning dozens of photographs into
"Photoshop," which converted them into a digital image
capable of being manipulated in hundreds or thousands of
ways.  The Photoshop program has a large learning curve,
especially for someone who is unfamiliar with graphic
design techniques, so I started searching for a solution
for my pond design department.

DIGITIZING PHOTOS

Microsoft has developed a user-friendly software (small
learning curve) for working with photographs.They can be
scanned into the program or digital photos from a digital
camera can be downloaded into the program. Then each
picture can be enhanced through a variety of processes such
as brightness, contrast, blur, tint, etc., all with a
simple click of the mouse.

Once the photo is finished, I can then cut out objects from
the picture, such as rocks, groups of rocks, plants, or
portions of the waterfall and pond. Which I did from
several thousand photos of waterfalls and ponds I have
constructed over the past 26 years.

I gathered these jpg images into  an  indexed library. 
Using this process with pictures from hundreds of my
projects, I was able to build a substantial library of
objects for pasting into the "before" photo of a client's
yard for a pond design.

Now I can take a digital picture of someone's yard and
download it into Microsoft's "Digital Image Suite "
program. (This is not an endorsement, it just happens to be
the product I use. I do not sell Microsoft products and
have no investments in the company)  Next, by dragging
various items from my library, I can construct a waterfall
and pond of any shape, size or configuration onto that
picture.

So thanks to the arrival of the digital age, I can
construct on paper a virtual image or idea that was in my
head.  As a result, my clients can see exactly what their
pond and waterfall will look like when finished. Now a pond
design takes only minutes.

Whether you are building a waterfall and pond for yourself
or for a customer a pond design or waterfall design can be
a marvelous thing. Simply marvelous!  Happy koi, Peace &
Joy.

For more details on digital design, read Koi Pond: Digital
Masterpieces-Virtual Water Features Part II


----------------------------------------------------
Douglas C. Hoover; CEO of Aquamedia Corp, freelance writer
and author
designer, architect, inventor, engineer and builder of over
1,900 waterfall and ponds in California or the past 26
years. Read my other articles at:
http://www.ezinearticles.com Have a question?
http://www.askdoughoover.com

 

Teak is Made for the Outdoors

Food, friends, and a good chair are something makes an
outdoor party an excellent event. Food and friends aren't
hard to find, and good outdoor furniture shouldn't be
either. Why just get boring, regular outdoor furniture when
you can get furniture that will not only last but impress
your guests.

Some of the most stylish people will drop a considerable
amount of money on all the indoor couches and wall mounted
television sets but what many of these people neglect is
making the outdoors look just as good.  Starting with some
nice grass, perhaps complement your yard with a barbeque
grill, and then add quality outdoor furniture that matches
your taste. How about a nice luxury patio set that makes a
person feel like royalty when eating off it? Being such a
great table that one would want to clear the table right
away so half eaten food doesn't take away from the
beautiful table.

When filling your outdoor with nice furniture, it adds
options like getting out of the house to do work on the
laptop, reading a book while getting a tan, and playing
with the kids instead of sitting in the house breathing in
circulated air with the shades drawn. Outdoor furniture can
help you get out of the house on a nice day and enjoy more
of the luxuries of life.

The best material for a patio set is with out a doubt Teak.
Teak is from a genus of tropical hardwood trees and is
tightly grained hardwood that is very durable a resistant
to weather. The advantage of Teak is that even if you do
not coat it with a protective cover of paint, it can still
with stand the elements for a long time and changes shades
to a pretty silverfish color.

Teak is at the top of luxury outdoor furniture. If you want
to make your backyard experience nothing less than amazing,
using furniture made from teak will ensure that you have to
all around best outdoor experience on the block.

Don't just stop at the patio set. Put in a romantic park
bench in your backyard, and add some Teak chairs for that
patio set. This will add to how great your outdoor
experience will be with all of this next long lasting
furniture.  Purchasing beautiful and durable Teak outdoor
furniture will ensure long lasting outdoor enjoyment for
future generations to come.


----------------------------------------------------
This article was written for our friends at Teak Select -
http://www.teakselect.com to let consumers know the benifit
of Teak when funishing your outdoors.  Article written and
distributed by Secure Link - http://www.slwebsolutions.com .

 

Pest Control Breakthrough in the never ending battle around home and garden

Since I am not only an avid gardener, but also much
concerned about the environment, I'm always looking for
safe methods to grow plants including pest control in home
and garden.

Think about pest control and how it works: We spray
chemicals on plants or pests and the bugs die or stop
reproducing because the chemicals are toxic to them.
Unfortunately, many of these products are also toxic to
humans and animals. Reading warning labels on pest control
products makes you wonder why anybody would want to risk
using them. Exposure to the fumes of these  products can
result in headaches, feelings of nausea and other
discomfort  Pesticide use can also results in chronic
illness such as allergies, in miscarriages, sterility,
cancer and even death.

We not only spray and fumigate in home and garden, we also
apply bug killing toxins on our pets and expose them and
ourselves non stop to a variety of chemicals to kill fleas,
ticks and more.

Over  the years, I have had some success with such Earth
friendly things as vinegar, diatomaceous earth, garlic,
cayenne pepper and Saver Soap in my never ending battle
with bugs that invade home and garden. My quest also led me
to pure essential oils which repel or kill bugs, yet are
actually healthful to people and their pets.

Experimentation lead to the discovery that if the oils are
used undiluted, they repel the pests, but if the oils are
mixed with water, they often become "insecticides". In
other words, if you like to repel insects from entering
your home, you can do that by putting a few drops of the
appropriate oil on your fingers or some other applicator
and then brush or spray the oil along the line of
demarcation such as a windowsill, a door jamb, or other
point of entry.

To kill or disable pests, mix a few drops of a specific oil
with water  in a spray bottle, shake frequently and aim at
the pests. For example, to discourage aphids and ants from
roses and other plants, generously spray infested plants
with the mix. While the pests will leave or fall off, there
is no harm done to the plant itself. (Best not to do that
in mid day when temperatures go above 100 degrees F.)

You can keep ticks, chiggers and fleas off yourself and
your pets when in the outdoors by using the appropriate
oils. Either spray on exposed areas or rub on cuffs around
neck, wrists and ankles. Avoid using oils near the eyes.
Should you get oils in the eyes, dilute with vegetable oil
- NOT with water. If an oil should be too strong for the
user, experiencing a slight discomfort, apply a little
vegetable oil to dilute. For your pets, you can put
recommended oils around the neck, legs and along the back,
but keep oils from around the eyes and other tender areas.

If an oil should be too strong for the user, apply a little
vegetable oil on the area to dilute.

The following oils have been used successfully in the
elimination of pests from home and garden:
ANTS: Peppermint, Spearmint
APHIDS: Cedarwood, Hyssop, Peppermint, Spearmint
BEETLES: Peppermint, Thyme
CATERPILLARS: Spearmint, Peppermint
CHIGGERS: Lavender, Lemongrass, Sage, Thyme
CUTWORM: Thyme, Sage
FLEAS: Peppermint, Lemongrass, Spearmint, Lavender
FLIES: Lavender, Peppermint, Rosemary, Sage
GNATS: Patchouli, Spearmint
LICE: Cedarwood, Peppermint, Spearmint
MOSQUITOES: Lavender, Lemongrass
MOTHS: Cedarwood, Hyssop, Lavender, Peppermint, Spearmint
PLANT LICE : Peppermint, Spearmint
SLUGS: Cedarwood, Hyssop, Pine
SNAILS: Cedarwood: Pine, Patchouli
SPIDERS: Peppermint, Spearmint
TICKS: Lavender, Lemongrass, Sage, Thyme
WEEVILS: Cedarwood, Patchouli, Sandalwood

I like to add these cautions about essential oils: Not all
essential oils on the market are safe. Many are diluted
with harmful chemicals. Many essential oils are ineffective
due to the  way they are processed.  Please make sure that
you use safe, pure, properly distilled oils.


----------------------------------------------------
The author has a Home and Garden Decor business. She is
also an avid gardener with many years of experience and
likes to share her knowledge with others. Find great value
here
==> http://www.buyhomeandgardendecor.com/home.html
For more information on pure organic oils
==>  http://www.AZaroma.com
which offers a free report about the use of essential oils
==> http://www.essentialorganicoils.com/pet-health.html

 

Planning a Flower Garden - Things to Consider Before You Plant

One of the first things to consider in creating a flower
garden is the style of flower garden that you would like.
Another thing to consider is where it is going to be
placed, and what type of soil the flowers will need.

What kind of flower beds do you want? Are you going to have
color all year, or just at certain times of the year? These
questions need to be answered before the first plant is
placed in the ground.

If you decide to go for a small flower garden, then using
pencil and paper to create your design is fine. In the
design stage you will factor in such items as concrete or
mulch for walkways, brick for walls, seating, water
features or lighting or any other accessories you might
want to add to your new garden.

Considering Water, Light and Soil

With any gardening undertaking, a flower garden must have
its sufficient supply of water, light, and rich soil. To
begin your garden, select a sunny area, as flowers usually
requires 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight each day.

Are you going to water by hand or does your yard have
automatic sprinklers. If you are going to water by hand, is
the flower garden easily accessible to a water supply?

Planning for Color Year Round

In order to have constant color available, consider when
each flower blooms. Other things to consider include the
question of whether the garden and house complement each
other.

If you want flowers blooming throughout the year then you
will need to investigate what plants produce flowers in
different seasons. Then you will need to plan where you are
going to scatter these various flowers throughout the
garden so each area continually has color.

Preparing the Soil

A flower garden, just like any garden you wish to plant,
requires good quality soil that will meet the needs of the
plants you put in it. If your soil is rather poor and lacks
proper nutrients, there are many available fertilizers and
plant food available that you can add to the soil.

Planting the Flowers

You are now at the stage where you have designed your new
flower garden, installed your hardscaping, prepared the
ground, amended the soil and purchased your plants and
seeds. Since you already planned out the location where you
want to put each flower, all you have to do is follow your
plans. By planning in advance where you want to put each
kind of flower, you have tremendously simplified this last
job.

Enjoying the Results

Planning carefully and planting ahead of time, you will
have the garden filled with an array of flowers and color
for all of the year round.


----------------------------------------------------
Carol Stack has always enjoyed gardening. She lives with
her husband, children, dogs, and cats in the United States.
They have a large yard that they are continually trying to
keep looking good. Her website, http://www.howtogarden.info
covers lawn care, organic gardening, landscaping and more.

 

Garden Remodeling - Plan Early

Many homeowners are actually glad when winter arrives and
they can basically forget about yard work for several
months. This does not mean that they are not aware of the
shape their garden is in. Particularly when those garden
catalogs arrive in the mail, or when they open a Sunset
Magazine, the urge to remodel their yard comes over many.

While everything is covered with snow and the ground is
frozen it is actually a great time to start planning.
Landscaping takes some doing and homeowners who first
identify their goals usually achieve better results.

Define how much work and money you want to spend on your
project. Look what you have already, what you want to keep
and what you want to change. Be clear what is important to
you. Is it beautification, privacy, ease of maintenance?
Does outdoor entertaining play a big role in your life or
is food production you major goal? Another vital factor in
landscape planning is safety and convenience. It is
important that your paths and steps are lighted and lead
where you want them. If you consider all these points
before you start, you'll surely end up with the garden you
want.

Whether your garden encompasses an acre or is just a tiny
plot, certain considerations are the same.  With small
children or dogs, sturdy plants may have to be planted. If
sports are a popular activity, decide how to allot space.
Maybe you want to run the tracks for your model railroad
through a corner of the yard.  If you have a problem area
in your yard, how will upgrading it affect the rest of the
garden. Will adding a patio cut down on the lawn area? Will
trellises block your view?  Will planting  trees produce
too much shade where sun is wanted?

Learn what kind of materials are available and what you can
do with them. Wood, vinyl, brick, concrete and others all
have advantages and disadvantages. A wooden arbor blends in
more naturally with the surrounding plants, but a vinyl
arbor is practically maintenance free. Concrete is
relatively inexpensive and strong but also can easily crack
on shifting land.

Other guiding principles to consider are proportion,
balance, unity and variety.

Proportion. Choose plants and garden structures that are in
scale with the architectural lines of your house. Always
think ahead to the size the mature plant will have. An
8-foot poplar today could overpower a one-story house once
it reaches 80 feet while a lonely 6-foot bush would look
lost at the corner of a two-story structure.

Balance. We are talking of the balanced, not symmetric,
distribution of landscaping elements, which create the same
visual weight on either side of a center of interest. A
large tree on the right of the entryway, balanced by two
smaller trees on the left draws the eye to the focal point,
the front door, where a single tree would draw it away. The
'visual weight' does not have to be mass. It can also be
form, color or point of interest.

Unity. An indiscriminate assembly of unrelated plants and
structures creates a chaotic overall picture. Unifying the
various landscaping materials is essential for creating a
pleasing landscape. By repeating common garden elements, a
sense that everything belongs together will be achieved.
Grouping a certain plant together next to the patio edge
and planting a few more along the path, followed by another
group at the end, ties one area of the garden with another.
Avoid planting too many distinctive areas; it makes it
harder to achieve unity.

Variety. This  is a welcome element in landscaping, it
provides surprise. If you plan to have predominately
conventional plants, add something exotic, or plant a
purple leafed tree in a predominantly green color planting
scheme.

Apart from these principals you have to consider what style
of garden you want. Formal, rustic, native, oriental,
shade, dry. Your decision about a garden style determines
many things. The kind of plants to buy, what structures to
add, gates, fences, walk, etc. etc.

Climate is one of the most significant factors to weigh.
How does the path of the sun throughout the year affect
where you will plant what. Where will heat be trapped,
where will the wind need to be controlled. Don't forget the
seasons. With careful planning it is possible to increase
the number of days you can enjoy outdoors.

So many things to consider, so much to learn. That's why I
say start early, while you have no yard work. Get those
books about landscaping. Study what you need to know. Check
out what materials are available.   Go talk to a landscape
specialist while he is not yet busy. When those first fine
spring days come you will be ready to start your project
and have it done to enjoy all summer.


----------------------------------------------------
The author has a Home and Garden Decor business where she
makes sure that her customers get the best deal as well as
expert advice. She is also an avid gardener with many years
of experience and likes to share her knowledge with others.
http://www.buyhomeandgardendecor.com/home.html
Planters and plant stands add interest to your garden  as
well.
http://www.buyhomeandgardendecor.com/planters_and_plant_stan
ds.html

 

Garden Insects - Not All Are Pests

There are gardeners who think that every insect they see is
a pest and needs to be destroyed as quickly as possible,
when in reality there are some insects that actually help
your garden. They catch and eat any number of their harmful
cousins. To know which ones are beneficial will help you
decide which insects to eliminate and which ones to welcome.

It is important to realize that there will always be some
harmful insects in your garden, the key is to keep them
under control. Three insects that can help you to do this
are praying mantis, ladybugs and lacewings.They are
ferocious hunters and most beneficial to have around.

Lacewing larvae can eat up to 60 aphids in an hour. They
also eat whiteflies, mites, the eggs of caterpillars and a
variety of other small pests.

Ladybugs and their larvae consume up to 40 aphids per hour.
They also devour spider mites, beetle grubs, whiteflies and
other soft bodied insects.

Praying mantis are fierce predators that will eat a wide
variety of pests.

Apart from these three,  there  are other beneficial
insects which are common and can  help destroy garden pests.

A variety of  predator mites feed on harmful spider mites
and thrips without harming plants themselves.

Parasitic nematodes are microscopic worms in the soil that
eat their way into numerous soil dwelling pests including
grubs, sod webworms, carpenter worms, weevils and destroy
them.

Different kinds of wasps are very effective when it comes
to insect control. The Trichogramma wasps deposit their
larvae into the eggs of caterpillars, from where they eat
their way out, destroying the eggs. The Aphytis melinus,
another  tiny parasitic wasp attacks and kills red scale
and Metaphycus helvolus attacks black scale.

Several species of small wasps attack whiteflies in their
immature stages. Many other tiny wasps help to control
flies when they lay their eggs in the pupae of  several
types of them, including houseflies.

Most of these beneficial insects can be bought from
nurseries and garden supply stores for a few dollars. It is
best to release them in the evening because daylight
encourages flight. Be aware that without access to prey,
water and shelter they will fly away. It is necessary to
provide the right environment by growing many kinds of
plants in your garden. In return these 'good' insects will
help your garden to stay healthy and reduce the need to use
chemical pesticides.


----------------------------------------------------
The author has a Home and Garden Decor business where she
makes sure that her customers get the best deal as well as
expert advice. She is also an avid gardener with many years
of experience and likes to share her knowledge with others.
http://www.buyhomeandgardendecor.com/home.html

 

Why Hydroponic Gardening Is Becoming More Popular

Hydroponic gardening has spiked in popularity recently
mainly because the quality and productivity of
hydroponically grown plants has been unmistakable.  These
plants grow faster and healthier than their soil-grown
counterparts.  This is due to the fact that they are grown
in an environment where there is a virtual limitless supply
of nutrients and water at their disposal.

These hydroponically grown plants, because they are not
grown in soil, do not need to fight off diseases and pests
which are natural in soil.  Pesticides can be decreased or
even eliminated.

And because the nutrients and water are delivered in just
the right proportion directly to the plant's roots, they
are better equipped to grow - faster, healthier, larger!

Hydroponically grown plants have the following benefits:

- They will provide high levels of nutrition

- They will be better tasting

- They will be rich in color.

In hydroponic gardening you will find that the crop's water
and nutritional needs are less complicated and sometimes
more effective.  Just a few simple measurements and it will
be evident what adjustments need to be made to the
nutritional balance in the water.  All the guesswork is
eliminated!

Although nutrient solutions are available from local
hydroponic suppliers and contain the correct proportions of
essential minerals, gardeners may also make their own
nutrient rich solutions.  This may sometimes require quite
a bit of extra work however.

When it comes to the growing medium that will provide
plants their nutrition, different materials have been
successfully used.  Materials such as sand, porous rock,
gravel, pumice, perlite,  and vermiculite have all proven
to be good choices. Fired clay particles can also be used.
These all are capable of providing a way of getting the
nutrient rich water into the plant's root system.

Also, there are various types of containers and pumping
arrangements for delivering nutrient solutions to the
garden and draining it back to the storage tanks for reuse.

If you're just starting out in hydroponic gardening you may
be wondering which types of plants are most suitable for
hydroponic gardens. The answer to this is tomatoes,
peppers, lettuce, and cucumbers. There are some types of
tomatoes that will continue to produce year round.

Some plants can be started from seeds and seedlings. In
this case use commercially available rock wool plugs
submerged in the media.  These make excellent incubators
for germination and seedling growth.

And since hydroponic gardens are self-contained, they can
be located just about anywhere space permits.  It is not
unusual to find these by windows, on rooftops, or in
closets.


----------------------------------------------------
Author Tony Buel
http://www.hydroponics.com-afl.com
Getting Started:
http://www.hydroponics.com-afl.com/Hydroponic-Supplies-You-N
eed-to-Get-Started.htm

 

A Greenhouse Provides Many Advantages for Hydroponic Gardening

Hydroponic gardening is the science of growing plants in a
controlled environment without soil - free from soil borne
pests and diseases. Hydroponically grown plants are raised
in greenhouses under carefully monitored and controlled
conditions. Gravel is normally used as the medium to
support the plant's roots within the hydroponics
greenhouse. Carefully mixed nutrients are then periodically
fed to the crops in liquid form - a method called
sub-irrigation culture. Once seedlings are planted almost
all of this work is done by automation. In these hydroponic
greenhouses sensors within the gravel are used to determine
when the plants need more nutrition and turn on the pumps,
giving the plants the just the right amount of solution.

These hydroponically grown plants are fed the exact
nutrients needed for rapid growth and volume production.
Some hydroponic gardeners use special tanks that are made
from big drums which are cut in half. The bottom of each
half is brazed with brass tubing. A hose hose is clamped to
one end of the tube. The other end is attached to a similar
tube which is brazed into a small can.

Inside the tanks the can is painted with an asphalt based
paint in order to prevent metal surfaces from rusting. The
tanks are filled with small sized gravel pellets.

The hydroponic gardening process starts with 'planting the
tanks' by first starting seedlings in carefully prepared
paper cups full of vermiculate to allow the hydroponic
solution to enter. After the plants are started, the entire
cup should be placed in the gravel. The plant's roots are
irrigated from below as the fluid flows down the hose and
into the gravel. The system is set up to ensure that the
crops are moist but are never flooded with solution for
more than a few seconds.

The advantages of hydroponic gardening in a greenhouse are
numerous. When crops are grown hydroponically, crop yields
are increased dramatically over conventional agriculture.
For example acre of land will yield five to the tons of
tomatoes. The same amount of space will yield 60 to 300
tons when grown hydroponically. A lettuce crop grown in a
hydroponic greenhouse will yield an increase of 12,000
pounds over conventionally grown lettuce.

Hydroponic gardening provides other advantages besides
increased crop yield. The hydroponic greenhouse environment
extends the growing season and doesn't require heavy labor.
And of course the obvious -there's no need for greenhouse
soil!


----------------------------------------------------
Author Tony Buel
http://www.hydroponics.com-afl.com
Getting Started in Hydroponic Gardening:
http://www.hydroponics.com-afl.com/Hydroponic-Gardening-Gree
nhouse-Advantages.htm

 

Teak Benches - Charming and Chic

To add elegance and comfort to any patio, deck or porch, a
teak bench is a perfect choice.  Teak benches come in an
array of sizes, lengths, styles and designs.  They are
weather and water resistant and last for years.  With their
handcrafted beauty and durability, a teak bench complements
all areas in and around any home.

One of the most appealing features of teak benches is the
variety of styles in which they are made.  Choose from
armless and backless benches or ones with straight or
curved backs.  There are even rounded benches which can be
wrapped around trees and add grace to gardens of any size.

Backless and armless chairs are one of the most versatile
choices and less formal than their counterparts.  This type
of teak bench looks great indoors and out.  Placing one in
a garden complements lawns of all sizes.  Adding one to a
foyer allows for convenience and comfort when returning
from work or a jog. This style of teak bench also looks
great and fits perfectly with a teak dining table.  Unlike
chairs, benches allow more people to enjoy a meal together
and the bench easily slides under the table for added space.

Teak benches with arms and backs are also perfect for
indoor and outdoor use, but create a more formal appearance
than the armless and backless benches.  Choose from backs
that are straight, curved, half-moon shaped or slatted.
Slatted teak benches look great with a teak coffee table
and carved back benches are ideal for adding elegance to
any patio or porch.  Half-moon teak benches are open and
inviting, while straight-back benches are perfect for
lounging.  Teak benches with curved backs are excellent for
creating a classic look.  All styles are comfortable, so
choice depends on an individual's personal taste.

Glider teak benches not only refine a garden or deck, but
add romance as well.  Many people enjoy the smooth swaying
of a glider teak bench with a loved one while others enjoy
this type of bench by themselves for relaxing moments of
solitude.  Since these benches come in a number of sizes,
they can accommodate families of any size.

The Spirit Song teak bench is one of the most unique and
stylish types of teakwood benches available.  These benches
are extremely appealing to the eye, are original and
luxurious.  Mimicking the contours of the human body, these
benches, although armless, are exceptionally comfortable.
Carved in a variety of styles, including backless and
curved, Spirit Song teak benches are both furniture and
art.  Quality constructed and handcrafted this type of teak
bench will enhance any home's interior or exterior.

All of these benches are perfect poolside.  Whether used to
relax and catch some sun or after an intense swim, a teak
bench makes for a spectacular outdoor experience.

Bench cushions are available in various shapes and sizes,
ideal for enhancing the comfort of any teak bench.  Plus,
there's even a teak bench that stores cushions of multiple
sizes which keeps them dry and organized.

So make the teak bench choice, and make your porch or patio
a more inviting place.


----------------------------------------------------
Jesse Akre, owner of numerous sites specializing in
Furniture for your patio or garden, offers the online
consumer information when looking for perfect Teak Patio
Furniture or a classic coffee Teak Table. Finish your home
in style-Visit today: Teak Furniture at
http://www.MoreThanTeak.com