Friday 10 April 2009

Learning About the Daisy Flower

The daisy flower is the blossom of one the most popular perennials chosen for gardens everywhere. It's a natural for indoor vases, and there are literally dozens of different daisies to choose from. The most popular breeds are African Daisies and Shasta Daisies. These are great for those who are new to gardening, and those who enjoy the hobby but don't really have a green thumb.

When you grow daisies, year one is the year you plant them, and they will bloom from year two onwards. If your daisy flower plants get to crowding each other too much, you can separate or divide them and spread them out a bit. You don't want the plants competing with each other for nutrients. If they do, the blooms will be much smaller.

Daisies are happiest in full sunshine, and in well-drained, rich soil. But they are a very forgiving and hardy plant. They will tolerate lesser soils and some shade. They don't need much attention throughout the year, either. If you give them a bit of fertilizer when they are young, it will help your daisies to grow strong leaves and big stalks. If you want to help each plant to have an even more beautiful daisy flower, give it a fertilizer with a good phosphorous content right before it blooms.

Daisies are not very often bothered by disease or insects. They don't normally need any fungicides or pesticides. If you do have a problem with disease or insects, just treat your plants with a fungicide or insecticide at the first sign of problems, and that will usually take care of it.

Some of the most popular plants in the home garden are in the class of the daisy flower. They have earned their popularity outdoors and indoors by their attractive blooms, and their ease of growth. They are as at home in containers as they are in flowerbeds. And they are an excellent choice for arrangements and flower vases. They are often used as corsages for weddings and proms.

Most daisies are perennials, and the white-colored Shasta Daisy is among the most popular in that group. Some are annuals, with African Daisies leading the popularity in that category. People who are new to home gardening, as well as children, will find these plants easy to care for, and the perfect first plant to grow. If other flowers were as easy to grow as daisies, we'd have lots more types for beginners to choose from.

You can grow daisies from seed or by starts. You can simply plant seeds into a flowerbed, with good results. If you start them indoors, they may bloom the first year. Wherever you plant them, you will enjoy the perky and happy daisy flower.

By Peter J Lee

Want to find out about lilac facts and stephanotis facts? Get tips from the Plants And Flowers website.

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Phalaenopsis Orchid Care - What Should I Do?

Phalaenopsis orchids are one of the most popular varieties of orchids, so much so that they represent around a staggering 75% of all the orchids that are purchased. Much of their popularity is due to the fact that they have long flowering periods and do well as houseplants. Out of all the orchid varieties, these are probably the easiest to cultivate.

There are many types of phalaenopsis orchids and they originate mainly from misty, mountainous regions such as the Himalayas or Indonesia. They have a characteristic butterfly appearance which results in their nickname "the moth" and exist in a range of vibrant colours. To keep them happy and replicate their natural habitat as much as possible, pay particular attention to the following factors:

1. Light

Phalaenopsis orchids like a generous amount of radiance but take care to protect them from harsh, direct sunlight. Place them near a southern facing window; you may need to install a net curtain to diffuse the light in summertime. If you live in a cloudier climate, you can supplement illumination levels by simulated means using a specialist daylight lamp.

2. Temperature

This variety does best in daytime temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees; this is not at all hard to achieve in the average house, even in winter. The plants do require a significant overnight temperature reduction of about 15 degrees, so, if you leave your central heating on while you sleep it is advisable to switch off any heaters that are located nearby.

3. Water

The general rule with every kind of orchid is to avoid over-wetting and hydrate as sparingly and as infrequently as possible. The same applies to phalaenopsis'. They are very susceptible to root-rot and definitely prefer drier conditions. Don't allow their roots to dry out completely, but exercise caution by checking the dampness of the planting medium with your fingers or a wooden stick before adding any extra moisture. Housing in containers made of natural materials is a good idea as these will be more porous and absorb excess moisture.

4. Humidity

This family demands high humidity quantities which can be quite difficult to achieve in the average home. Create extra mistiness by placing damp pebbles or bowls of water close by your plant. Spraying a fine mist in the surrounding area can also help.

In addition to the above factors, it is also essential to feed your phalaenopsis with specially formulated orchid-feed available from garden centres. Different compositions of feed will be needed depending on whether the orchid is in its flowering or its resting phase.

It will also be necessary to re-pot your bloom every 12-18 months as the roots do tend to outgrow their containers quite rapidly. When re-housing, choose a container that is only slightly larger than the original pot to avoid the risk of the planting matter become too wet and waterlogged.

Look after your phalaenopsis and it will have a long life and reward you with weeks and months of beautiful flowering.

Carl Harrison is an orchid enthusiast. For more great tips and advice on phalaenopsis orchid care, visit http://www.theorchidresource.com

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Tuesday 7 April 2009

Home Vegetable Garden Basics - Convenience and Exposure

Many people think that the first criteria when picking the "best spot" for a home vegetable garden is good soil; however, although good soil is important, good soil is made, not found. You can rebuild the soil once the spot has been chosen. When you are choosing where you want your garden patch to be, you must focus on its convenience and exposure.

Convenience means your garden area should be "close by" or as close to your house as possible. You may think that a difference of only a few hundred yards cannot be that significant; however, if you have to largely depend upon spare moments for working in it and for watching it, convenience will be much more important than you think.

Don't wait till you have had to make a dozen time-wasting trips for forgotten seeds or tools or gotten your feet soaking wet by going out through the dew-drenched grass to gather those "vegetables of the day" to realize that "close access to your home vegetable garden" is important.

Another point to remember is that the garden area does not have to be set in an ugly spot in your backyard or hidden behind the barn or garage. If you carefully plan, plant, and care for your vegetables, this little patch can end up not only producing very nourishing food for you, but it can also end up being a most beautiful and harmonious part of your landscape. Thus having your area in close proximity to your house can lend a touch of comfortable homeliness that no shrubs, border, or flower beds can ever produce.

The next most important criteria when picking out your area for your home vegetable garden which is to give you hours of joy and yield delicious vegetables all summer, or even for many years, is the exposure.

Pick out the "closest" spot or plot you can find where your garden will slope a little to the south or east, will catch the sunshine early and hold it late, and will be, as much as possible, out of the direct path of the chilling north and northeast winds.

It's important to get seedlings growing as soon as possible and to keep them growing; therefore, if a building, or even an old fence, protects your vegetables from the chilling north or northeast winds, your vegetables will be helped along wonderfully.

If this garden patch is not already protected, a board fence or a hedge of some low-growing shrubs or young evergreens would be most helpful. The importance of having such a protection or shelter is greatly underestimated by the amateur.

To summarize, when you are choosing that "best spot" for yourhome vegetable garden, make sure you consider these basics: Find a spot which is convenient and close to your house and make sure your garden is positioned so that it gets lots of sun and is somewhat protected from the elements.

By Marcie Snyder

Bio: A gardener for years, Marcie has learned the value of composting and using it to put nutrients back into the soil. You can download her newly released Free ebook at http://www.OrganicVegetableGardeningGuide.com/blog

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How to Choose the Right Gardening Tools

No matter what size your garden is, there's no doubt that gardening tools can help make the job of maintaining your garden a lot easier. However there are so many tools available that it can be difficult to know which ones you really need, particularly if you're new to gardening. It's tempting to avoid the confusion by just buying everything, but that just means you'll end up with no money and a storage area full of tools you don't use.

So which tools are worth buying? Gardening involves moving dirt around, so a digging tool is always a good choice. If you're mainly working in pots or containers, then a sturdy trowel is a fabulous investment. A shovel is better if you're going to be moving large amounts of soil around, or to assist you with planting trees, vegetables and flowers. It might be tempting to save yourself some effort by choosing a power tiller or plough, but unless you have a very large garden, they're probably involve more expense and trouble than they're worth.

Another worthwhile tool to buy is a rake or hoe. Again, if you're going to mainly be working in smaller areas, a pot-sized equivalent is a good idea. These tools can be used to smooth soil and remove weeds. This sort of work can be done by hand, but it's easier with the right tool, particularly in a large garden.

Although they're not technically a tool, good gardening gloves are also useful. It may be worth having a couple of pairs - some heavy duty ones for rough work, some thinner ones when you need to feel what you're doing.

Once your garden is established, then at least one pruning tool is a necessity. Depending on the size of your plants, choose anything from pruners or secateurs through to large tree loppers. It's worth spending a little extra to buy a solid, reliable pruning tool, otherwise it may be ruined the first time you try to cut anything with them.

A few more tools that you can probably survive without, but will make life easier depending on the size of your garden, include:

- Wheelbarrow
- Garden fork
- Watering can
- Hose & hose reel
- Rake

Again, it's easy to find cheap tools, but if you're serious about using your tools for a long period of time, think of buying good quality tools as an investment. Cheap tools don't usually work as well, and tend to be less sturdy and easier to break. Happy gardening!

By Jean Murphy

If you want to learn more about choosing garden tools, click over to Jean's site at http://www.gardeningzoneonline.com

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Tuesday 17 February 2009

Greenhouse Kits - Getting Started

Greenhouse kits are a versatile option for both amateur and professional gardeners. Different people decide to use greenhouses for different reasons. For instance, one person may wish to raise plants for winter use. Another may wish to get an earlier start in the year for growing trickier plants. Still another may wish to better hold over existing plants for use during the next season.

Whatever the reason for selecting a greenhouse, there is certain to be a design suited for every gardener's needs. While it is always possible to build a custom structure, it may be much easier to purchase a ready-to-assemble kit.

    Here are some tips for selecting the right greenhouse and setting it up correctly:

  • Make a list of desirable plants to maintain. Under each species, take notes on the required climate and space as well as general life spans. This information will assist in determining what functions a greenhouse needs to perform during different times of the year.

  • Compare that list to the regional climate. Growing tropical plants in a cold environment will take a lot more work than growing them in warmer areas. Different greenhouse kits will provide different potentials for control.

  • Determine how much space is necessary for the plants. After that, choose a structure that is a bit bigger. This allows room for changes in plans of cultivation. A person may also discover that, though plants may fit easily into their allotted amount of space, the area is still too crowded for adequate ventilation. The truth is more plants die from overheating within a greenhouse than they do from the winter cold.

  • Decide where the greenhouse will be placed. Light is an important consideration for this matter. In particular, the amount of winter light should be kept in mind. The change of the angle of the sun over the year will affect placement. Obviously, there should not be any shading structures within a location. It is also important to remember that trees may grow and lose leaves over time.

  • Remember that if the ideal situation for the summer is different than that of the winter, perhaps the best option is to purchase a portable greenhouse kit. Another situation where this may be excellent is if great changes of terrain may be expected over the years. For instance, if a new shed may be built in an area, blocking sunlight, then an option which is capable of eventually being transported with ease may be best.

  • Choose the material type carefully. Wooden frames often come with the risk of rotting or developing mold and mildew. Some are created with PVC tubing, which is more affordable. Aluminum and steel options are much more durable, though more expensive.

  • Calculate any additional purchases necessary. A sturdy, reliable frame may come at a great low price. However, it is possible that it does not include the other elements which many kits do, such as shelves. The need for additional purchases can bring the price up. Also, if it is not built in an adaptive manner, the cost of altering greenhouse kits through drilling and other such practices may also increase the expense.

By Anne Clarke

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for Web sites on gardening, parenting, and home decor. Her background also includes teaching, yoga, and fashion. For more of her useful articles on greenhouse supplies, please visit Greenhouse Kits, supplier of greenhouse news and information.

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Garden Folklore - Plants Thrive in Good Company

Farmers and gardeners of long -gone past were aware of the importance of keeping some form of order in their farming or gardening to keep the plants healthy, repel insects and pests with no other tool but the plants and how they are grouped together. Plants that are not "friendly" together are planted separately.

There were no supportive scientific data to back up their findings. They conducted their experiments, with their lands as the laboratory using the trial and error method year after year. This method of gardening helps to keep this earth healthy, minimize if not eliminate the use of chemicals for growth or pest and disease control. It keeps the soil balanced.

Plants can be good companions to one another. They provide pest and insect control to their neighbors. It can be the scent, hormones and oils coming from their roots, flowers or leaves that help to discourage disease and harmful pests without losing their beneficial assets.

Taller sun-loving plants provide shade for the shorter plants that prefer the shade.

Some plants provide extra nutrients, such as deep- rooted plants that bring out sulfur, potassium and calcium to the surface, for the benefit of the shallow-rooted ones to share.

Some plants act as fungicide, insect and pest repellants. Some plants accumulate sulfur well and this gives an odor that many pests avoid.

Flowers and leaves with strong scent are known to repel flying insects.

Secretions from the roots inhibit weeds and kill parasitic worms and nematodes.

Some gardeners provide a "trap" plant to absorb the disease or attract harmful pests without causing harm to itself

These plants can be used as borders, ground covers, backdrops or interplant to keep the plants happy and healthy and in good company.

Some good neighbors and partners

Marigolds top the list. The strong scent from the flowers and foliage repel pests and the roots inhibit nematodes. Plant with vegetables and other flowering plants.

CAUTION: Marigolds are not friendly with herbaceous plants. The root secretions can inhibit the growth of the herbs. If you must plant marigolds with herbs, don't plant them too close, keep them around the edges.

Foxglove ( Digitalis) have beautiful flowers and it is known to stimulate the growth of plants near it. It makes the neigboring plants disease resistant. It improves the storage qualities of fruits and vegetables and root vegetables. probably due to gaseous secretions and minute hormones.

Insect repellants : Many flowers used as border plants repel flying insects, such as: coreopsis, coriander, cosmos, geranium, marigolds, chrysanthemum, marjoram, oregano

Most vegetables are friendly to one another.

Peas and beans make good companions for other plants because the roots fix the nitrogen supply for the other plants,

Onions and garlic and other plants from the alium family are beneficial to plants around them. These plants are known as good fungicides and insecticides. They accumulate sulfur very efficiently and the odor they emit repels many pest and other pesky four-legged critters. Plant with cabbage, tomatoes, peas, corn. Good for roses too.

Unfriendly neighbors: Avoid planting these together for they are unfriendly and definitely not good companions:

rue and basil
runner beans and potatoes
beets and beans
beans and onions or garlic
strawberries and cabbage
dill and carrots
cucumber and potato, no strong herbs
potato - no cucumber, pumpkin, raspberry, squash, sunflower, tomato

Fennel prefers to be by itself.

This is just a short list.

Herbs are good companions to most plants. The strong scent repels most pests. Some herbs are also known to bring out potassium, sulfur and calcium to the soil surface for the plants around it to benefit from. Chamomile is especially favored for these qualities.

This can be a topic by itself for herb gardeners.

Reference: Garden Folklore that Works by Charlie Ryrie

By Bonnie Moss

Bonnie Moss writes to inspire and to motivate her readers to explore the depths of their heart and soul and make a difference in this world. Develop your interests, your creativity and live life to its fullest.

Visit her website : http://goldencupcafe.tripod.com

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Garden Folklore - It Starts With the Soil

Gardening as we know today is not what it was in the centuries past. Planting food was essential for survival. Ornamental gardening evolved for modern times pleasure.

Farmers looked to the colors and tempers of the sky, animal behavior and to plants and trees to determine the best time to sow the seeds. The rhythms of the world and the seasons served as their guide. They devised techniques that served them well and passed it on to future generations Soil "Light enough to root, firm enough to stay." Success in the garden starts with the soil. Roots need plenty of room to get water and air. The soil should be able to store enough supply of nutrients for the roots.

A gardener must know the condition of the soil before planting. A poor patch of ground can be transformed to produce a lush garden with the proper soil treatment and amendment.

Soil categories:

Sandy: light masses of particles that don't hold together. Roots can easily get water and air, but not enough nutrients. It is good for alpine plants and some herbs like lavender, tarragon, thyme and root vegetables like carrots, onions etc.

Clay: mineral particles stick together with few spaces for roots to get air and water. It stores nutrients well but it's difficult for roots to get at them. This soil tends to get waterlogged and has hard cracks when it's dry. It is good for deep rooted plants like mints, comfrey, beans, potatoes. pears and the like.

Loam: Mix of small and large particles offer satisfactory drainage and stores nutrients well. Most garden plants grow well.

Simple ways of testing soil: Put a sample of soil in a screw-top jar. Add water, shake well and let settle. Sand settles at the bottom of the jar, clay soil will have a thin layer of water topped with thick soil.

Hand testing: Pick up a handful and roll it between your finger and roll it into a ball. If it won't stick together, it's probably sandy. If it feels gritty but forms to a ball, it's likely loam. If it's sticky, rub the surface to a shine as you rub your thumb; you have a handful of clay.

Soil Improvements: Poor soil and bad drainage: dig in compost in the fall and spring. Or use mulch on top of the ground to keep the moisture while nutrients seep slowly deeper. Dig in rotted manure into the ground for vegetables and among ornamental plants. Don't use manure on carrots or deep,long rooted plants as the roots will feed on the manure instead of going down the soil. Manure is a good fertilizer, use only well rotted manure.

Compost Lucky for those who are able to make their own compost. Grass cuttings, manure, young weeds, mixed with fruit and vegetable scraps, tea bags, old flowers, prunings and farmyard manure are good for the compost.

When to work the soil: "Till the soil on midsummer's day, not feast, aye famine will come your way. Till the soil in April showers, you will have not fruits nor flowers." Digging the soil when it's dry loosens the crumbs and can destroy its ability to hold water. When it's too wet, you compact the soil making it hard for water to drain. Farmers work the soil at dawn and finish by midday and return early in the evening. Working on wet soil, do not stand on the soil you are working on.

Planting Plant after 4PM, as the sun sets and its heat intensity decreases. This gives the plants a chance to settle in as the day cools. Bury hair around plant roots or in a trench around the plant. This deters pests that try to crawl over. Hair is rich in minerals and micronutrients. Bury banana skins just under the soil specially around roses and herbaceous plants. It supplies magnesium, calcium, phosphates, silica and sodium. Keep the fat after roasting meat or poultry. Plants love it and deters vermins. Bury the fat at least a foot deep, mix with crushed garlic and work into the soil.

Using junk pots: Containers, old pots and cans can be good for container gardening. Remember to make holes at the bottom for water to drain.

Line wicker containers with moss or plastic bags to keep the soil and moisture in.

Old barrels or tubs are good for potatoes or strawberries for limited space.

Metal containers conduct heat and cold so well that plants could fry in the heat and freeze when it's frigid. Line with plastic or bubble wrap to protect the roots. Tape the serrated tops of cans before planting to prevent cuts and scrapes. What's growing in your yard:

"Gold under thistle, silver under rushes, famine under heath."

STOP! Don't go merrily pulling out the weeds without identifying them. Weeds carry a message about the condition of the soil and the surrounding area. Take a closer look at your soil before you do anything. "Nettles today, fruits tomorrow." Nettles like a rich and damp soil, their roots go crawling deep to bring out the minerals. Pulling them out leaves the soil with a ready supply for your plants. If you leave some in, it stimulates growth of nearby plants and makes them resistant to diseases.

Weeds can help to identify poor drainage, acidic soil, low fertility or lack of iron. Clover and wild mustard add nitrogen and minerals and suppress weeds. They bring the minerals up to the surface, and also helps clear some pests. Don't let the mustard go into seed.

Dandelions, mustard and pigweed thrive in fertile and balanced soil.

Farmers used to add rusty nails in the planting hole to provide extra iron. Yellow leaves while the leaf vein is green shows lack of iron in the soil.

Moss and fungi indicate poorly drained soil. Dig out those buttercups. They rob the soil of potassium and other minerals, secretions from their roots poison nitrogen producing bacteria. This is a large family of plants and includes delphiniums, peonies and clematis. The beds for these ornamental plants need constant feeding and replenishing.

Practise good weeding- know how and when to get rid of those annoying weeds. "Pull wet and hoe dry." When it's wet, weeds are easier to pull out. But using a hoe in the wet encourages weeds to spread out as you cut the tops off. Cutting weeds in the early summer encourages growth. Wait till they go into seed, when their energy is on the seeds.

Do not use hay or straw as weed mulch, the weeds contain seeds that can create a whole new problem.

Happy gardening.

Reference: Garden Folklore that Works by Charlie Ryrie

By Bonnie Moss

Bonnie Moss writes to inspire and to motivate her readers to explore the depths of their heart and soul and make a difference in this world. She draws from personal experience and her interest in the New Age Visit her website: http://goldencupcafe.tripod.com

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Tomato Gardening - 5 Tomato Gardening Tips For Great Tomato Harvest

If you are planning to start out with vegetable gardening, you have made the right choice for choosing tomato gardening. Tomato gardening is one of the simplest form of vegetable gardening that a newbie gardener can get started with. In this article, I will show you 5 tomato gardening tips that you can use to grow red and juicy tomatoes over and over again.

Space Up When Planting

This is the basics of all gardening but many new gardeners still make the mistake of not giving enough space between tomato plants. Crowding them up will lead to intense competition for nutrients, sunlight and water. Such competition is not healthy as they are unable to get an adequate amount of the elements.

Soil Preheating for Early Harvest

This is one well kept secret that only a few tomato gardeners know. By preheating the soil, you can actually bring forward your harvest period way earlier than other tomato gardeners in town. How? Does that mean you should burn your soil prior to planting? NO! You can preheat the soil by placing it under the sun and cover it with a black plastic sheet to prevent heat from escaping.

Sunlight - Crucial for Tomato Plants Growth

Just like any other vegetables, tomato plants achieve optimum growth when exposed to at least 10 hours of sunlight everyday. If you want plant your tomatoes indoors, which is another popular way of planting tomatoes, you should get yourself a grow light that emits UV rays from nurseries or online gardening supplies stores, which normal fluorescent lights don't.

Watering Skills for Sweet Tomatoes

When your tomato plants are developing, be sure to provide adequate amount of water every single day. However, when inching closer to the harvest season, decrease the amount of water when you are watering. This will increase the density of sugar within the tomatoes, which will then give you sweeter tomatoes.

Apart from this, another reason of not watering too much during the harvest season is that the excessive watering will cause stress to the plants and tomatoes may drop to the ground before you pick them as a result of that.

Deep Burying Helps

Another tomato gardening tip that I would like to share here is that you should always bury your tomato plants deeper after getting them back from the nursery. This will allow the plants to develop stronger and better root system for better nutrients absorption. Roots can grow from the stems of tomato plants so you don't have to worry about them will die off just because you are planting them deeper than usual.

By Wendy Campbell

Enough with five great tomato gardening secrets? Want to get 5 more? Get 10 of them now for FREE by clicking on tomato gardening now.

Learn one more tip of how you can move your tomato harvest season a bit earlier compared to others in your tomato gardening efforts by clicking on http://www.gardenstuffs.com/10-tomato-gardening-tips/ today.

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Protecting Your Garden From Pests

If you could garden without facing any problems with pests that attack plants, then gardening would be a whole lot simpler. At all times, you need to watch out for bugs, though small in size, can wreak terrible havoc. A human illness can be prevented by staying healthy, and pests can be kept away by observing strict guidelines for garden cleanliness. Heaps of waste and junk are an invitation for insects to breed in.

If you do not realize that a compost heap can do harm, but unkempt spots invite trouble to occur. There are things that can be done to eliminate or ward off pests. Stirring soil constantly by earthworms is an effort to keep the soil open for water and air. Most birds feast on insects; sparrows, robins, larks and orioles are birds who help keep insect infestation down. Some types of birds feed on harmful insects and ladybugs also do this. The ichneumon-fly can help too, and frogs work wonders in the unlimited amounts of bugs they can ingest in one meal.

Frogs deserve to be treated nicely by everyone. Each gardener should make a place in the garden that will attract birds and frogs. A nice birdhouse, seeds sprinkled around and a watering spot are all invitations for birds and frogs. During the heat of a summer day, a frog likes to rest in the shade and by nighttime, he is ready to eat. How do you fix up an area for frogs? Well, one thing you can do is to make a nice, dark, damp retreat with a few stones underneath for shade and a shrub with damp leaves are all appealing to frogs.

There are two classes of bugs and they are known for the work they do. One type is a gnawing bug, and eats bits of plants. This kind of bug has a mouth designed for this type of job. Grasshoppers and caterpillars are just two examples. The other type of bug sucks juices from the plant. In some ways, this can be worse. Plant lice are an example of this kind of bug, and so is mosquitoes as they feast on humans. All of the scale bugs attach themselves onto plants, and suck out the life. Now the question is how do we fight them? The gnawing bugs may be killed by spraying with poison, which they consume as they eat the plant. The Bordeaux mixture is a poison designed for this purpose. In other cases, you need to directly attack the bugs directly. Certain insecticides, as they are known, can be sprayed on the plant and then fall on the bug. They work in a deadly way of attacking the body of the bug.

We can be much troubled by the work of underground insects. You have more than likely seen an ant hill. Here is a solution, but you have to be careful. The question is, how can you tell if the bug is doing destructive things? Well you can see some of the work being done by the bug itself and sometimes not so easily. One season I had cutworms and though I never saw one, I did witness the destruction. If you plants have tender stalks with the heads cut off, then chances are you are dealing with cutworms. If you do not know what one looks like, they appear like a grayish-striped caterpillar, these are cutworms. Because a cutworm has a habit of resting during the day, it can be difficult to catch a glimpse of one. The cutworm works first on the early spring flowers and then later on he heads for your pea plants. Homeowners gardens guide suggest that a good way to stop the cutworm is to put out paper or tin collars around the plants. The collars need to be about one inch away from the plant.

Plant lice are much more common. They are often green in color, but can also be red, yellow and brown. The are easy to find since they hang or cling to their host. As like the sucking insect they are, they cling to their host food and after that they hide. This makes them much harder to deal with. Rose slugs do extensive damage to rose bushes and eat the body of leaves, so that only the vein is left behind. They have a soft body and are green on the top and yellow on the bottom.

The striped beetle attacks young melons and squash leaves, it eats away leaf by leaf and riddles it with holes. This type of beetle is striped, like its name implies and the back is black with yellow striped running downward. Then we come to slugs, which are another garden pest. Slugs will eat almost any kind of plant, no matter if it is a flower or vegetable. Slugs lay their eggs in old garbage heaps and do more harm in the garden than any other kind of pest. You will find them by doing the following: you need to draw them to the surface during the daytime. They rest during the day underground and watering the soil where there slugs are living. Slugs hide near the plants the eat from, so water this ground with some nice clean lime water, this will bother them and they will come to the surface to investigate.

Besides the most popular pests, pests which feast on plants, there are special types for different plants. Bean plants have their own pests, so do potatoes and cabbage. The vegetable garden can have any number of different pests, in a flower garden lice can be very problematic, while cutworms and slugs also enjoy it here. Ants often get quite numerous as the season goes on but for very discouraging pest issues, the vegetable garden is tops. If you were going into fruit for example, perhaps the vegetable garden would have to take second place to the fruit garden.

By Kent Higgins

Now is the perfect time to encounter more about homeowners gardens pest control Beginners and experts alike refer to us as their source for information on plant-care.com.

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Vegetable Gardening - Seeds Or Plants?

Should you start your vegetable garden with seeds or plants? Well, it depends on the type of crop you want to grow.

Many vegetables - beans, peas, carrots, corn, lettuce and spinach - grow best if seeded directly into the soil. How deep you plant them depends on the size of the seed. A good general rule is to plant three times as deep as the diameter of the seed. Very fine seeds are barely covered, while large seeds, such as bean or peas, go deeper.

Seed packets have a wealth of information on the back, telling you how deep and how far apart to plant and how many days it will take for germination.

Tiny seeds such as carrots and lettuce are hard to plant a specific distance apart, so you have to remove excess seedlings, (called "thinning out"). It can be hard to make yourself to pull out tiny live plants, but if the seed packet recommends thinning, do it; otherwise your plants will be crowded and can't develop properly.

Garden centers sell young vegetable plants (called transplants) for popular vegetables including tomatoes, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and peppers. You could grow these from seed yourself, in a bright windowsill or under lights - but when you're starting out, it's easier to buy transplants.

The main reason for starting your own seedlings is to try varieties not readily available at garden centers. The easiest way to grow onions is to buy tiny bulb onions called onion sets, which you plant quite shallowly, so a bit of their neck still shows.

When to plant

When to plant your vegetable garden depends on what you're growing. You don't have to wait until the frost-free date in the spring to start planting vegetables: some like it cool and grow best before the heat of summer really gets going; others like it hot - these you plant later.

Cool season crops

The cool customers include greens (lettuce, spinach, arugula, mesclun salad mixes, Swiss chard), the cabbage clan (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower), peas (shelling, sugar snap and snow types). These veggie plants grow well in temperatures between 60ºF and the low 70s (15-22ºC), but go to seed and die off when temperatures soar into the high 80s or 90s (above 30ºC). Plant these crops when the daffodils are in bloom.

Warm Season Crops

Heat-loving crops - tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, corn, squash, zucchini, cucumbers and beans - are happiest when both the soil and air temperatures average 60ºF (15ºC) and above day and night. Plant these when the soil has warmed up and there is no more chance of frost, generally after May 24th or into early June, or whenever the frost-free date is in your region.

By Yvonne Cunnington

Yvonne Cunnington is an avid gardener, garden writer and photographer. She contributes regularly to gardening magazines and is the author of Clueless in the Garden: A Guide for the Horticulturally Helpless. For more gardening tips, visit her website at http://flower-gardening-made-easy.com | Sign up for her free gardening web-magazine here: http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/sign-up.html

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

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Making Hay While the Sun Shines

Every year at a certain time - usually July for me - I find myself running in several directions, attempting to capture all of the plants that may be needed in the coming year - at just the right time, preserving them in the most perfect manner, and trying all the while to expand the variety, learn a new plant this year, eat a new wild plant or a new recipe.

It can be a little overwhelming. When I first started out, more plants were missed than were hit. A few days of rain can throw off everything if you aren't prepared. So how do you prepare to harvest and utilize a number of different plants each year? I will happily share my method, and you may change and revise it to suit your needs.

First make a list of the herbs you'd like to find and harvest this year. It helps if you know where they are, or if they are already in your garden, but I always have a few that are always in the "if found" category.

Decide how you want to use them. Will they be preserved in oil, vinegar, alcohol, or dried? Gather the supplies that you plan on using. A nice supply of ½ pint, pint and/or quart mason jars (with lids) is good to have, but hopefully you've been saving jars during the year. In the spring, I purchase about a gallon of vodka. There is always lots of olive oil and jojoba here for Soapmaking, but I get good vinegar ready too.

Stake out your means of drying the herbs. Some small flowers like chamomile and elder do very well on a screen, as do calendula petals. Other plants are great to hang upside down in a dark, well ventilated space. I was just reading about the success some are having putting their herbs in paper bags, and leaving them in the car on a hot day - it dries them quickly with very little loss of color. I have a banister with brads along the one side to hang the bunches. Find a good, out-of-the-way spot, and prepare it for the harvest.

Now you're ready. Make hay while the sun shines. I try to do something every day. At the moment, my kitchen counter is lined with jars of vinegars and tinctures. Lavender bunches are hanging all over the place. The oils are infusing down at the soap shed.

Right now the chamomile is being infused in alcohol. I pick and add some new ones every day as they reach the right stage. The elderflowers are starting to drop from the plant, so I go out with a newspaper and hold it underneath while giving it a gentle shake.

Sage is soaking in vinegar, and jewelweed and plantain are going into oil and vinegar. The oil is frozen for use in soaps over the winter.

But you know, I'll still miss some. It never fails. Rain will come and make it difficult to harvest something that is precisely at the point of now or never. Vacations happen. In the long run, if you have some of them, you'll probably wind up having what you need. The important part is starting. If at first you find that 2 of your preserved herbs helped keep your family comfortable over the winter, you've had a successful year. Next year will be better, and so it will go until you know exactly what you need each year.

By Tina Sams

Tina Sams is the founding editor of The Essential Herbal Magazine and enjoys all aspects of herbalism. Currently living on a tree farm with lots of room for growing and experimenting with different plants, her current interests include soapmaking, distilling plant materials to obtain hydrosols and essential oils, and wildcrafting herbs for medicine and food.

Tina often gives lectures and classes, and has written several books on herb crafting.

Please visit http://www.EssentialHerbal.com to find more information on the magazine, books, products - and download a free back issue.

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

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Bamboo - Traits and Applications

When most people hear the word "bamboo" they think of a plant that is wood-based. But in all actuality bamboo is just grass. It varies in height from one foot dwarf plants to giant timber bamboos which may grow to over 100 feet. It can grow in many different climates, from mountainsides to jungles.

These plants are further classified by the types of roots they have. Some, called runners, spread exuberantly. Others are classified as clumpers, which slowly expand from the original planting. Generally, the tropical bamboos tend to be clumpers while those of temperate climates tend to be runners.

Bamboo is both decorative and useful. In many parts of the world it is food, fodder, and the primary construction material. It is used for making a great variety of useful objects from kitchen tools, to paper to dinnerware.

Many people enjoy having utilizing its various species in their flooring. An advantage of bamboo flooring is that it is easier to clean than carpet. Also, it often fits the décor of some homes better than tile or linoleum.

This valuable resource may also be used in the creation of rugs. They are perfect for use in dining areas which are carpeted. Placing one of these rugs below the kitchen table provides excellent protection from any food or drink spills onto the carpet below. The material is cleaned with ease.

This exotic grass type has been measured to grow 47.6 inches in a 24-hour period. However, many consider it more remarkable that eight-inch diameter, 60 to 80 foot tall bamboos have reached that height in one growing season, which might have been as short as two months.

When growing bamboo, most people have a place in mind as to where they want to plant their bamboo. One should take care to remember that most large bamboos grow quicker and do their best in full sun.

They must be given ample water, fertilizer, and protection from competitive weeds. They will benefit from a windscreen and light shade when first planted as well. This is especially true of smaller plants.

Make sure that each plant under a five gallon pot size gets at least a gallon of water. For plants over five gallon size, more than one gallon is advisable.

Once a bamboo has reached the desired size, it can survive with much less irrigation. But until then you must water and fertilize copiously to achieve optimum growth.

Lack of sufficient water, especially during hot or windy weather, is the leading cause of failure or poor growth of new bamboo plants. Watering newly planted bamboos every day, or for longer than a few minutes can cause excess leaf drop. Well established bamboos are rather tolerant of flooding, but newly planted bamboos can suffer from too much as well as too little water.

By Anne Clarke

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for Web sites on parenting, recreation, and home decor. Her background also includes teaching, gardening, and fashion. For more of her useful articles on bamboo, please visit Bamboo Flooring, supplier of useful information on the plant as well as its many types and uses.

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

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Organic Gardening - Repairing and Buying Garden Tools on a Budget

February is here and so is spring fever. This is the time that everyone is getting itchy to get outside and start working in the yard and garden or pull out the garden tools to get them ready, only to find out that there not in as good of shape as you thought they were.

This is the month that every department store or garden center you go in are displaying all there garden supplies and tools. This only makes things worse. The tools that you have start looking worse than they really are and all you want to do is buy new ones instead of fixing what you have. Then you look at the price of the new ones and start thinking of every alternative possible to keep your gardening needs into a budget that you can afford.

Discount stores, dollar stores and outlets are becoming more and more popular. They are a great place to go to compare prices and the tools they carry at times can have the same quality as the tools purchased at a brand name store. These discount stores usually carry overstock or discontinued items that the brand name store need to move off there inventory. There is nothing wrong with the tool itself and you can even find parts like handles and other miscellaneous items that you need to repair the tools that you have that need to be fix.

Garage sales and flea markets are other places that you can really find some great deals at. These tools may be used and a little dirty but can easy enough be cleaned and put right to work and save you the cost of a new tool. You never know what you can find in these place and can get some great deals.

By John Yazo

A environment friendly and healthy way of gardening. Organic Gardening is away of gardening in harmony with nature. Growing a healthy and productive crop in a way that is healthier for both you and the environment.

John Yazo

http://www.organicheirloomgardening.com

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

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Recipe For Tracking Growing Season Progress

This is the season to start plants for your garden, flowerbeds or even new houseplants. Since you have notes from last year; or do you? Those notes from last year are a valuable resource about what worked and what didn't.

If you didn't or if the notes were inadequate, resolve now to begin again with a new recipe box. Those 3x5 or 5x7 inch cards are ideal for making notes for each plant type, variety or bed location. Record the date and comments on the card. For seeds, note the seed source and other information from the seed packet. For plants, note the date purchased and any information from the little identification tag that came with the plant.

To display plants at a local fair or competition, the show rules may require entry of the purchase or planting dates. For planting or transplanting, the date gives clues to when to begin from seed or to transplant in your growing location.

When are your plants going to begin blooming? What are the care recommendations for the flower, vegetable or bloom uses? When did they bloom, how long did the blooms last, what unusual weather, temperature, moisture or soil conditions did your plants experience? All of these notes make the plant record more valuable as you progress from one season to the next,

Keep these records in a small recipe box or file. This will keep all of the information in one place and, when you progress to the next season or the next plant, you have the information on hand to improve potential plant needs.

At the end of the season, finalize the notes and record your thoughts about what seeds, plants or varieties you would like to order or obtain for the new season. Your success and knowledge base of plants will grow along with your improved ability to provide the best conditions for your plants, be they flowers, vegetables, ornamental or functional, indoors or out.

By Dennis Bries

Dennis Bries
http://briespix.com An ounce of prevention...or a recorded note can be your guide to success.

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

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How to Make Orchids Bloom

Most people will agree that orchids are beautiful flowers. Have you ever purchased an orchid and placed it in your home expecting repeat blooms that never come? Then you end up looking for advice on How to Make Orchids Bloom.

The main reason healthy-looking orchids do not bloom is insufficient light. If you have no blooms, you should check out the foliage. If the leaves are a beautiful dark green and the plant is healthy, but there are no flowers, this means your plant is not getting enough light. Under the correct lighting, the foliage should be a light, grassy green. The foliage should be showy and firm on phals, cattleyas and dendrobriums. Paphs should have mottled leaves with good color contrast.

In order to understand How to Make Orchids Bloom, you need to understand the different lighting exposures as they relate to orchids. If you have them in a spot where the light is from the north, that could be the problem. The northern exposure is just not enough light for orchids. Eastern light generally works well. You can also try the southern exposure; it gives you the most flexibility. If you use a western window, the orchid need to be slightly shaded during the hottest months.

Another consideration is if the window is shaded by trees or buildings, reducing light to your orchid. If you are trying to figure out How to Make Orchids Bloom, you may have to adjust the lighting. Phals and paphs will do well in bright, indirect light. Oncidiums do better in a slightly brighter light. Dendrobriums and Cattleyas require bright light. You would be well-advised to put them in a southern exposure. If you only have low light, the Maudiae-type slipper orchids will bloom in low light. Sometimes they will even bloom in an unobstructed, northern window even though brighter light is usually recommended.

Skylights usually do not provide enough light unless you live in Arizona, or your skylight is about five feet above your orchid. Of course, there is always the exception! The shade-loving orchids will probably do well here. Again, keep tabs on the foliage, and the plant will let you know what it needs.If you need to move your plants closer to the light source, do it very gradually. The leaves on your orchid can be burned from the sun. Even a foot can make a big difference.

Orchids usually need about a ten degree drop in temperature in the evening to encourage them to bloom. In order to accomplish this goal, you can move the plant near a window, open a window near your orchid or turn your thermostat down in the evening. The art of How to Make Orchids Bloom is one of patience and dedication.

By James R Connor

James Connor is an Orchid specialist who has a number of websites on the care and cultivation of Orchids. If you would like to know more check out OrchidGrowingTips.org for more information about Orchid Care and receive a free course on Tips for Orchid Care.

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

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Back Saving Tips While Landscaping Or Gardening

After suffering from chronic back pain for over 20 years, I still catch myself lifting, moving, or even bending, in ways that I shouldn't be while working in the yard or nursery, but because I am conscious of how I am treating my back, I immediately adjust how I am working to keep from damaging it even more. Here are a few tips to help reduce the likelihood of damaging your back.



  1. Purchase a wheelbarrow that has two tires. This eliminates the wobble associated with most wheelbarrows. The wobble makes you twist and torque your body to balance the load. These movements can strain and sprain back muscles, as well as shoulders and arms.

  2. Use pre-emergents for weed control. Pre-emergents keep seeds from sprouting and in essence that means NO WEEDS. Preen is readily available from Home Depot, Lowes, Walmart, and even local hardware stores. This will help eliminate the need to bend over and hand pick the weeds.

  3. The Garden Claw. It breaks up the soil beautifully with a minimum of effort because of the way it's shaped, and is small enough that you can work between individual plants. No bending to pull weeds! There are two models, one short handled, and one long handled, so be sure to purchase the one that feels right for you.

  4. Mantis type tiller. These small tillers usually weigh in at around 20 pounds, but are just as effective as the larger tillers. Another benefit is how they are small enough to get between rows in a garden or between plants in a flower garden. A large heavy tiller will break up sod much quicker, but in my experience, it is still a tug of war. The smaller tillers take a little more time to break up the sod, but if you are doing a fairly small area, scoring it with a spade will greatly speed up the process.

  5. The proper garden spade. I am not talking about those curved bladed shovels. I am talking about a straight bladed garden spade. As most gardeners do, I had about four of those curved spades around the house. Once I purchased my garden spade, I gave three away, and haven't used the remaining one since. Never again will I purchase a curved spade for gardening.

  6. Exercise Your Back. Keeping your back and abdominal muscles strong and flexible is one of the best ways to protect your back from injury. A regular routine of stretching and strengthening exercises will improve your back strength and flexibility.

  7. Lift items correctly. I know you have heard this one a thousand times, but we all forget. Keep your feet apart and flat on the floor for good balance. Lift by bending at the knees, not at the waist. As you lift, hold the load close to your body. Tighten your stomach muscles and tuck your chin into your chest. By tightening and tucking your pelvis, you'll help keep your back in alignment while you lift. Never twist while lifting. Instead, move one foot at a time in the direction you want to go, then turn with your leg muscles.

  8. When raking leaves or other debris, don't bend to pick it up unless you absolutely have to. A better alternative to using a rake to pick it up is a snow shovel. I personally have used one of those ergonomic shovels to pick up my leaves for years. If you are just moving the leaves from one part of your property to another (to the compost heap I hope!), use a tarp. Pile the leaves on it and drag it to where you will be leaving them.

One thing I have found that helps is warming up before doing any work in the yard. I know, I know, warming up is for athletes right? Well, what are you going to be doing in the yard? Moving, bending, walking, lifting, you get the idea. Before actually doing any work, stretch. get those muscles limbered up a bit before you just dig in and expect them to work hard. Start slow. Don't immediately start with the biggest and heaviest job; work your way up to it instead.

Taking care of your back should be the first thing on your list of things to do when working on your landscape or garden. Take it from me, the "joy in gardening" fades quickly if it causes your back to hurt. Keep the joy in your gardening!

By Dwayne Haskell

Dwayne Haskell owns and operates Mistkits.com where complete misting kits, individual components, and advice can be found. After building his own misting system for his nursery, he realized he could design and build systems for small nurseries or home gardeners who are interested in starting their own plants from cuttings.

He has written an E-book titled Build an Arbor in Just One Weekend, and another on gardening, landscaping and plant propagation tips. He also enjoys teaching others how to grow their own landscape plants and owns and moderates the Mistkits blog, where you can find more articles, polls, and quizzes on landscape and gardening related topics.

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

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Orchid For Sale

Orchids are indeed very beautiful plants. Not only are they exotic and attractive in their own right. However, they also know exactly how to make a statement and catch the attention of the human eye. So if you do want to wow someone with the presence of these very special plants. There are many of them that you can buy as a rule, as there is the big wide world of orchid for sale and so many to choose from overall for yourself or for someone you deem very special in your life. These little flowers have not only a beauty that is all their own specifically. Nevertheless, they also possess a regal and grand elegance that you will not find in any other type of flower.

The orchid like no other just has something about it that is able to win the favor of people over to become their favorite kind of plant overnight. What makes the orchid a wonderful addition to any bouquet or garden setting is versatility. Not only does it have the ability to adjust to practically any setting because it is tropical in nature. Nevertheless, they also come in different varieties to suit you and what you are looking for in a specific orchid plant to have per se.

So the kind of orchids that you choose to buy for yourself depend on two factors and these are what your specific hobby may be with regards to them or and are an overall need for them at a specific moment in time.

One of the very first places to look for orchids for sale is your local florist or any other florist that may handle the specific kind of orchid that you are seeking to buy for yourself or what not. Because florists generally do carry different kinds of orchids as a rule, the specific orchids that they do have in stock and are for sale would be a welcome addition to any floral bouquet or floral bouquets that you may have in mind.

Why buy the orchid? The answer is not to figure out. Orchids do come in numerous varieties and they offer a true beauty that is all their own beyond description. A singe orchid sitting in a glass vase alone seems to command one's attention more so than if it were filled up with a bunch of more common flowers making up a bouquet in the same said vase. There is just something very alluring about the orchid in general. Something that is able to speak volumes without even saying a word to those who are blessed enough to behold them.

Orchids for sale do indeed take on many forms. There are two varieties of orchids specifically. That are popular and are used in numerous floral arrangements. These two specific types of orchids are no other than Phalaenopsis and Paphiopedilum and they are each special orchids in their own right. However, there are numerous other varieties. That are used in floral arrangements and they can range from very large to miniature in size. No matter which classification of orchid you choose to add to your floral arrangement. You will be assured that your arrangement that they will give it a special beauty and elegance like no other.

The kind of orchid you buy can only be determined by what you specifically want them for in your life. If you plan to grow them as a hobby, need those for a specific floral arrangement or just want to have them on display temporarily in your home in a glass vase. Only you can decide which orchid you will purchase for yourself in the end.

What makes the orchid a versatile flower from entertaining to gardening to landscaping to what not is its overall versatility to adapt well to whatever you have planned for them? The orchid belongs to a family of plants that are tropical in description and parasitic in nature. Their very seeds need fungus to germinate and they grow on trees and can thrive off dead trees. They can adapt to different environments no matter if it is shady, warm and humid, or what not.

Some orchids for sale include:

  • Plants

  • Compots

By Cliff Hunter

Cliff Hunter is an enthusiast for Orchid Growing. He has devoted a lot of his resources to provide quality, professional information for Orchid growers and hobbyists. Learn more at his website: http://www.orchidflowerpot.com

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

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Advantages of Buying a Polycarbonate Greenhouse

When we think about greenhouses we tend to think of those made from glass and aluminum. However in the last few years the polycarbonate greenhouses are steadily becoming a type that most people are choosing to have in their gardens. As you go through this article you will soon discover what the advantages are of having this type of greenhouse rather than the traditional glass one.

1 - With this kind of greenhouse the temperature inside can be maintained better because of the insulating effect, so of course you are providing a better environment in which plants can grow. Also the polycarbonate better diffuses sunlight as it enters into the greenhouse so you will find that you don't need to provide as much shade for the plants inside.

2 - Of course glass is more susceptible to breaking than polycarbonate is and tests have been carried out that show the material is virtually unbreakable. It can withstand being hit by rocks, hailstones or baseballs.

3 - Polycarbonate weighs less than glass and has a special UV coating that ensures that the plants growing inside are protected against the sunlight and heat that it emits.

4 - Because these types of greenhouses are far better insulated you will find that the period in which you can grow things in your greenhouse is increased. Also being able to maintain the right kind of temperature within the greenhouse throughout the year proves a lot easier.

5 - As with glass greenhouses you will find that the polycarbonate types come in a number of different shapes and sizes. But these ones are actually much easier to assemble. Generally if you erect one yourself it should take only a few hours as long as the foundations on which it is being placed are even.

6 - Because polycarbonate greenhouses have better insulating properties then heating one in winter will prove more cost effective. Also as the temperature is better maintained inside the chances of condensation forming is greatly reduced.

In this article we have taken look at a few of the big advantages to be had from getting polycarbonate greenhouses rather than traditional glass and aluminum ones. As well as them being much safer because the chances of them breaking are reduced, they also cost a lot less to buy, maintain and heat.

By Spencer A Wilkins

So after reading the advantages of polycarbonate greenhouses, why not visit Walton Garden Buildings website for choice in polycarbonate greenhouses as well as traditional greenhouses available to buy online.

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

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Orchid Fertilizers

One of the keys to growing and producing a strong and thriving variety of potted orchid plant is by the correct use of the right kind of orchid fertilizer that will only enhance said flowers in question. Not only will the right kind of fertilizer do the job to keeping your potted orchid alive and kicking. However, it will also prove to be the very thing that keeps the potted orchid plant growing in the proper way that it should be from day one. Therefore, this only goes to show you that it is not about the overall size of your "green thumb" per se. Nevertheless, more importantly how well you pay attention and follow the guidelines that govern the overall care of a potted orchid plant.

Just like anything else such as water and sunlight and whatever else it may need. The potted orchid plant also requires the right kind of orchid fertilizer that will help it to grow and be strong in all the ways that it must be in order to survive and be a very beautiful exotic plant in its own right.

Growing and caring for orchids can prove to be a true challenge in itself. That is why it is paramount to follow all of the instructions that go along with the care and growth of these plants in every way. What you put into something is what you will get from it in the end. So put your very best into raising your potted orchid plant and you will indeed reap all the benefits that do go along with it.

So how do you go about choosing the right kind of orchid fertilizer for your potted orchid plant? The very first step is to look for orchid food that is formulated only for orchids and nothing else. It is a fact that the recommended usages for most orchid fertilizers are to be for only a period of once a month only. If you do not use it often enough it can cause your potted orchid plant from growing properly and may even inhibit it from flowering as it should. If you use the fertilizer, more times than the recommended amount. It can also stop flowering from occurring normally and burn the leaves and the roots of the plant itself. Therefore, it is very important to follow the instructions on the label, if you want your orchid potted orchid to be as healthy as possible in every respect.

Orchids that survive in the wilds of the rain forests gather their nutrients from whatever is around them. This literally means that they get nutrition from minerals that rainwater may have, also from decaying leaves and any droppings from birds or other animals.

Your orchids will grow in the right manner as expected of them by feeding them only the right kind of fertilizer. They will not only grow faster. Nevertheless, the blooms that they produce will also be first rate. Therefore, this makes the usage of the right kind of fertilizer all the more vital to them overall. Remember that a potted orchid is a delicate flower and it is not advisable to feed it too much. So make sure to use the fertilizer. That you give it sparingly and only when it is required to do so.

What kind of fertilizers is the right kind for your potted orchid plant? You should look for fertilizers that contain the following ingredients only. As they will prove to be, the best in making your orchid grow and bloom at its best. They are:

  • Nitrogen

  • Phosphorous

  • Potassium

  • Iron

These elements each do their job for a potted orchid plant in their own way. Nitrogen promotes vegetative growth and it is advisable to employ a fertilizer that has three times more nitrogen that is higher than the other chemical ingredients together.

Here are some other very important things to do before feeding your potted orchid plant. They are:

  • Make sure to water your orchid before you commence feeding.

  • If your orchid food is dry or granulated. Do not apply this fertilizer to the plant directly. Make sure that it is dissolved in water first. It can kill the orchid in pure form.

  • Before you use any orchid fertilizer on your orchid, make sure it is the right one designed for your species of orchid.

By Cliff Hunter

Cliff Hunter is an enthusiast for Orchid Growing. He has devoted a lot of his resources to provide quality, professional information for Orchid growers and hobbyists. Learn more at his website: http://www.orchidflowerpot.com

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

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Best Type of Composter

To restate a popular phrase: "compost happens" and indeed it does. Make a pile of shredded leaves and grass clippings, stir it up every now and then and as long as it gets rained on occasionally you will eventually get compost. Worms and microscopic creatures will do their thing. While this process is simple enough it does have drawbacks. Not everyone has a good location for this pile of compost wannabe. Another problem is that it is hard to control the moisture level of an open pile of composting material which you do not want to wet or too dry. With the open pile design you can not readily remove some compost when you are ready for it, you need to wait until the pile has finished composting. Therefore you may end up with multiple piles of compost that are at various stages of completion.

To help address some of these issues we have come up with ways to improve the process. Many people use upright bins to compost. These can be as simple as a frame of shipping pallets on their sides to form a box. This type of composter will certainly help to make your composting more than just a spreading pile. This type of composting will also allow more critical oxygen to reach all areas of the composting material. You will also find it still fairly easy to mix up the composting material. Two problems still remain. First this is still primarily a batch process and second, moisture control is difficult unless you tarp the container.

There are newer manufactured bins that come closer to getting it right, with the idea being that you add the material in the top and remove compost from some type of drawer in the bottom as you need it. The concept sounds good but with many of these composters it is difficult to properly mix up and add air (aerate) the compost. Even if you are able to do a good job stirring it up you are back to basically a batch process without the planned downward and out flow. Yet if you do not stir it up well and just keep adding material to the top, the lack of oxygen will greatly slow or halt the composting process with this type of composter.

The next big step in composter evolution was to move to a simple drum style compost tumbler. Basically, a barrel was attached to some type of stand that allowed it to be rotated. This was a real leap in composting technology because you now could monitor and control moisture content, thoroughly mix and aerate the composting material and the composting could take place on a tidy enclosed space. For all of the advantages, one big drawback still remained. This was the ongoing problem of the batch nature of almost all composters. How could a composter be designed so that the composting would continue as an ongoing process with finished compost removed as it is needed? The answer was the development of a composter with a drum inside of a drum. This double drum system allows material to be added through a door in the side of the outer drum and as it breaks down into compost it will exit out a discharge port in the end of the rotating drum. This development has solved the last of the major hurdles to effective backyard composting. No more batch composting! With this type of composter, a good mix of greens and browns, and a little water, you will get your first compost in a few weeks and keep producing throughout the warm part of the year or all year long in warm climates.

If you are looking for the fastest most practical backyard composter, you really need to consider a composter that incorporates the double drum technology. Another benefit we have found is that children love to see how the compost seems to magically appear from the output port even though it was grass and leaves etc. that was added to the feed port moments before rotating the drum. This has allowed these high tech composters to be an interesting educational tool to help us impress upon children how they can be involved in the stewardship of our fragile earth.

By Derrick Walters

Derrick Walters MBA has degrees in biology and chemistry. Derrick is a partner in a business that markets "green" products. To contact Derrick you can email him at derrick@midstateproducts.com or if you would like more information about the newest in high tech compost tumblers you can visit http://midstatecomposters.com where you will find top rated composters and lots of composting information and tips.

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

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Sunday 18 January 2009

Lawn Maintenance

One of the keys to having a great garden is to have a wonderful lawn. The great thing about maintaining your lawn is that it can be one of the easier parts of your garden to maintain. Here's a couple of gardening tips I have encountered over the years to maintain your lawn.

First off keep the mower high; you only want to cut off the top third of the grass each time you cut. This will keep the grass strong and will help prevent pests and weeds. And do water all the time. Most people love to over water their lawns. This is why in Florida every year we have to be put on drought restrictions it seams. Ok not really but I'm trying to make a point. Just water when you are getting dry spells, once a week is enough. Water thoroughly though so there is about an inch of water hits the ground. Use a rain gauge to monitor how much water has accumulated it'll make your life easier.

Now for a couple easier ways to maintain your lawn. Leave your grass clippings on the ground. There is no need to be raking up those pesky grass clippings. Just let them decompose in to the ground and they will help fertilize your lawn throughout the year. Speaking of fertilizer do not go crazy on it. Your lawn starts depending on higher amounts of fertilizer as you over feed it over the years. Get your favorite companies slow release fertilizer, make sure it is high in nitrogen and feed it twice a year. When I lived up north I would feed right before winter started and then again at the end of summer each year. Living in south Flora has be feeding in January and then in September. It varies from region. But two feedings a year is all that is necessary.

One pain for you northerners is going to be fall each year. I know it seems like an easier to wait for all your leaves to fall and rake them in one day. This is only going to hurt your lawn; your grass needs all the sunlight it can get. Your lawn is really getting to hibernate for the winter and it needs to store up its food for the spring. This will help make sure your lawn is greener earlier ever year. For another gardening tip look over my compost post from earlier this month.

By Peter B Moore



A quick an easy tip from http://www.southfloridagardening.co.cc/wordpress/.

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

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Opulent Spring Bloom Queen

The beauty of spring is enriched with these big, beautiful flowers.

Professional designers will often find a spot for the Snowball Viburnum (Viburnum opulus) in almost any landscape they work on. This large shrub has many points of interest. Beginning with the white ball-type flowers up to 5 inches across. Flowering so thickly, the plant will look like a late spring snow bank.

The foliage of the Snowball Bush offers good textural interest.

All plants are attractive in flower, but those that have outstanding leaves can heighten the any landscape design. The foliage of this Viburnum resembles three-lobed maple leaves. The coloring will be rich, attractive green over the summer months. As cooler weather arrives in fall, each leaf will turn to sun kissed gold.

For a long-lived shrub where height is needed, this is an excellent plant.

The Chinese Snowball Bush is not only attractive; you will find it very easy to grow. This Viburnum will adapt to a wide variety of soils and growing conditions. These shrubs are quite drought tolerant once established and mature to 8-10 feet tall and wide. You will get the best flowering results when planting this bush in full sun, though it tolerates quite a bit of shade. Viburnums grown in a mostly shady situation will not flower at all.

The Snowball Viburnum works well with many other plants in your landscaping.

To establish a really dazzling early season display, you can pair this beautiful shrub up with almost any other same time bloomer. Consider creating a planting that also features Encore Azaleas and some low growing purple leaved shrubs such as Crimson Pygmy Barberry. To really heighten the beauty of such a landscape planting, add a few perennials to extend the beauty through the season.

You will love the changing beauty of this deciduous shrub in your yard.

The hummingbirds will be most delighted with your choice in plants and feed on the blossoms. Once spent, the flowers of Snowball Bush produce brilliant red berries as a bonus color point. Birds are attracted to the berries as a source of food.
It's hard to find a landscape plant with so many benefits to offer your yard.

Now you can easily understand why a professional designer will seek out the right spot to include this shrub in almost every yard. The Snowball Bush Viburnum is wonderful as a tall specimen plant or planted as a hedge. It grows rapidly and will fill to offer warm season privacy where it many be needed.

By Justin French and null

Additional information and resources may be found at http://www.BrighterBlooms.com

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

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Choosing the Right Vase For Your Cut Flowers

After you have received a bouquet of cut flowers for a Valentines Day delivery, you should put them in water right away so that they will last longer. If you take care of your flowers, they can last for up to two weeks while you enjoy their beauty. One of the first things that you need to do is to choose the right vase for your cut flowers.

If you do not have a vase and you receive a bouquet of flowers as a gift, stick them in a glass of water and then head out to the store to get the perfect vase for your Valentines Day flower delivery.

You will want the vase to be big enough to keep all of the flowers comfortably, but snug enough to keep them together. It is not just the width of the flower vase that you have to be concerned with. You need to also consider the height of the vase.

The ideal height for a vase is half of the height of the flowers. If you have a flower delivery, you can take a tape measure and measure from the bottom of the stem to the top and then choose a vase accordingly. If you have a dozen long stemmed roses in your Valentines Day flower delivery, therefore, you need a larger vase than if you have short stemmed roses.

The width of the vase that you choose should comfortably fit the flowers. If you put a dozen long stemmed roses in a large vase that is made for a much bigger flower arrangement, the roses will scatter to the sides and the arrangement will not look right. You will want a tall but slender vase in the case of receiving a dozen long stemmed roses.

Bear in mind the amount of flowers that you have and how they will fit into the vase as well as the height of the flowers before you pick a vase for your cut flowers. After you receive a flower delivery, if the flowers come with a container, you should keep the container so that it can be used for future flower deliveries. Many people do not have to go out to the store to get a vase when they receive fresh flowers for Valentines Day because they have accumulated flower containers and vases from years gone by and can just use one of them. The right vase for your Valentines Day flowers depends on the size of the flowers and the bouquet.

By Bill Brennan

What you just learned about flowers is just the beginning. To get the full story and all the details, check us out at Los Angeles Flower Delivery.

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

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