A Flower Garden Adds Color to Your Yard

If you are looking to beautify your home, few things will
do it as cost effectively as a flower garden. Just think of
it; the garden can be large or small, in one area or spread
out, roses, tulips, daffodils or any other kinds of flowers
you fancy.

Some people think you have to have the proverbial green
thumb to have a beautiful flower garden. While this is true
with some types of flowers, if you stick to the easy to
grow varieties you can have a gorgeous garden in no time!

Visit your local nursery or check online to discover what
flowers grow best in your area. You will want to choose
flowers that blossom at various times of the year so that
there is constantly some flowers blooming.

Before you begin to plant your flower garden, you will need
to prepare the soil, which means getting it ready to
receive the plants. This should be done whether you are
planting bulbs, seeds or annuals.

You will want to select a spot that is near a water source
so you will not have to carry a bucket to and from the
flowers every day. Next, remove any weeds or rocks from
your new garden. Using a shovel or tiller turn the soil
over. This will let oxygen in and help promote healthy
roots.

Next, add some slow release fertilizer, making sure to
follow the directions. Turn the soil again and you are
ready to start planting.

After you have gathered the necessary tools, it may be
helpful to arrange the plants while they are still in their
seedling containers so you know where you want them to go.

Now, remove the plants and gently loosen plants that are
root-bound. You only want to put the plants as far down as
the soil it is in now. In other words, do not get over
zealous and bury it too deep or not deep enough. A good
thing to keep in mind while planting is that the crown of
the root ball should be level with the soil.

Now, place the plant into the hole you just dug. Then push
down the plant and soil with the side of the trowel or with
your hands. You want to make sure the plant is set, but do
not manhandle it.

Water the plants right away, the plants will be thirsty.
Using a low-pressure garden hose or a watering can, try to
keep the water on the roots, not the leaves of the plants.

When planting, do so either in the early morning or later
in the evening. This will help prevent the roots of the
seedlings from drying out.

If you are going to start your plants from seeds, you will
want to do so inside six to eight weeks before you plan on
putting them outside.

Bulbs for flowers such as tulips and daffodils should be
planted in the fall so they have time to rest over the
winter and be ready to sprout in the spring.

With a little work and a little expense anyone can have a
stunning flower garden to brighten up their yard. Nothing
adds beauty to a yard or patio like some colorful flowers.


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Carol Stack enjoys writing articles. She lives with her
husband, children, four dogs and seven cats in the United
States. They have a large yard that they are constantly
working on to make more beautiful. Her website,
http://www.freegardentips.info covers lawn care, organic
gardening, landscaping and more.

 

Lawn Weed Control - Don't Let Weeds Take Over Your Lawn

How quickly weeds appear

A weed is a plant that grows where it is not wanted.
Keeping a lawn free from weeds is nearly impossible as
their seeds are very quick to germinate and only need to be
within an inch of the soil surface to be able to sprout.
Once they have sprouted, it doesn't take long for them to
appear.

The key to weed control is to make sure you stay ahead of
them. If your garden is neglected, even for a couple of
weeks, it could quickly become overrun with weeds.

How to keep weeds away

A weed is just like any other plant that requires
nutrients, except they compete with other plants to get the
nutrients they need. A way of keeping your lawn free from
weeds is to focus on how to make your lawn grow healthier.

The key things to having a strong and healthy lawn are,
proper watering, sufficient nutrients and regular aeration.
A healthy, strong lawn will become an unhealthy habitat for
weeds. It will then be able to fight off the weeds and
pests that try and take over.

What to do once they appear

Weeding is an ongoing process but once you have a healthy
lawn, weeding shouldn't take much of your time at all. When
they appear, the way to keeping your lawn free from weeds
is to simply dig or pull them up as you see them appearing
and your lawn will be kept weed free with the minimum of
effort. A little weeding here and there is far better than
a whole weekend's worth of work.

Use of chemicals to fight weeds

Daisy is a weed that can stand close mowing and still
flower. It spreads by seed so it will be able to cover
anywhere quite quickly. They are however susceptible to
weed killers and you would only need to use one application
to kill them.

Dandelion is a perennial weed that has large rosettes and
bright yellow flowers. It can stand close mowing so the
best control method is to pour salt on to the center of the
weed, which will kill it overnight and then remove it by
hand with removing the long tap root.

Always be careful when using any kind of chemical. Most
chemicals that are used are for keeping your lawn free from
weeds. However, they can also be used in flower beds but do
not use chemicals until the existing plants and flowers
have matured to at least four or five inches in height.

The use of herbicides should be used as a last resort. When
applying any type of chemical or herbicides, make sure you
have the correct weather conditions, as the slightest
breeze can carry the chemical onto your plants and flowers
and kill them. When spraying weeds, the nozzle should be
kept close to the ground and sprayed directly onto the weed
itself.

A beautiful lawn requires regular care, including the time
to keep the lawn free from weeds. A little bit of time
spent controlling weeds each week is much easier and more
successful than trying to get rid of the weeds once they
have taken over.


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Carol Stack enjoys writing articles. She lives with her
husband, children, four dogs and seven cats in the United
States. They have a large yard that they are constantly
working on to make more beautiful. Her website,
http://www.freegardentips.info covers lawn care, organic
gardening, landscaping and more.