Category Archives: Gardening

A Comprehensive Guide to Get Started With Garden Care

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Many people have not yet discovered the joys of garden care. They may not realize the value of plants, flowers, shrubs, trees, and other landscaping elements that give a home its beauty and charm. However, these elements will pay off in time and money.

It may sound strange, but the quality of water that a homeowner uses can have a profound effect on the health of his or her plants. The water temperature, too, can be a contributing factor. Hot water can burn plants, which can lead to death. On the other hand, cold water is great for watering plants. The temperature is less than it is in a refrigerator, so plants do not freeze.

Agarden pond needs to be maintained in order to provide a habitat for fish and other wildlife. Likewise, the layout of a garden may depend on how it will be used. If it is a wind-swept area, for example, then some designing may be necessary.

Another important element in the maintenance of a garden is the use of mulch. This keeps a gardener’s plants from getting soggy and prevents them from being affected by frost. It also prevents weeds from growing and can reduce or eliminate a garden’s need for fertilizers.

Garden mulch is available in a variety of types and textures. It comes in strips, stones, gravel, pebbles, and even seeds. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

The type of mulch, a gardener chooses depends on the type of soil he or she has, as well as on the kinds of plants that will grow there. For instance, if the soil is sandy or rocky, a smooth rock would be more appropriate than gravel. If it is not, a smoother type of mulch would be preferable.

Like all garden care, garden mulch maintenance is simple and inexpensive. Not only does the material itself need little upkeep, but mulch is also reusable. People who collect the mulch often put it in their flower beds and in their front yard.

Because plants and flowers require such a good deal of water, gardeners must be mindful of their water use when deciding what kind of mulch to use. Leaf mulch, for example, is suitable for use with perennials and other plants that do not require constant water. It can help to save space in flowerbeds and other areas where plants are grown.

Solid mulch is especially useful for people who have lawns and gardens with large areas of water that need more than sprinkler head time to dry out. This type of mulch works well for homeowners who have lawns and a variety of plants in the garden. The continuous spray of water keeps the area drier for longer periods.

Benefits Of Good Garden Tools

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Garden tools come in a variety of shapes and sizes. People who are keen on gardening will need to procure some of these implements before they can begin the process. A good set of tools can be found at most home improvement stores. Amateur gardeners who have not grown vegetables before can use this as an opportunity to ask the clerks some questions. Usually, the clerks can help them select a set of instruments for taking the first step toward fresh garden delights.

Shovels come in handy throughout any gardening project. Early on, they will be needed to turn over the soil and aerate it. Men and women who have access to older, drier soil can deal with the problem by mixing in new organic soil from the local store. A shovel will mix everything together, while a rake will even out the soil after it has been tilled. Rakes can be made out of plastic or metal. As long as they hold together and are reliable performers, they should be useful tools. Broken rakes can sometimes be repaired by advanced gardeners who are also skilled in handiwork.

There are certain brands that may be better than others. Durability will be important, and prospective gardeners should try hard to buy quality tools. Very cheap tools will fall apart and will have to be purchased again. Gardeners who are unsure of which tools are the best can always go online and read some informal reviews of certain products. User reviews are the best, as these are written by people who have used the tools and can provide some direct feedback. Certain brands will likely finish consistently ahead of other brands. If a pattern like this is noticed, then people will have a pretty good idea of which tools to buy.

When not being used, most tools should be kept out of uncovered areas. Inclement weather can slowly degrade most materials over time, so storing the tools in a shed or a garage is the best bet. They can then be removed and used during active gardening times. If a family does not have access to a shed or garage, then the tools should be left under an awning and covered up with a tarp if at all possible. Tarps can be bought relatively cheaply at any local big-box store in the region.

Amateur gardeners may even enroll themselves in a local gardening class. Here, they can learn which plants will grow well in their particular climate. With regards to the tools, they can receive some tricks of the trade, which should help work the soil more efficiently. Different kinds of soil, of course, will be richer than others. The very best soil should be procured so that the vegetable plants have every chance in the world to thrive.

Men and women who have finally decided to buy some garden tools should look through some catalogues before they begin. They can view photographs of different tools and get a general idea of what is available for purchasing. They may even want to make a list of the tools that will be most important for their own gardening success. With some clues as to what they want, they can then head out and buy some great new instruments with which to start their gardens.

Harvest Fruits and Vegetables From Your Own Garden

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Why not harvest Fruits and vegetables from your own garden? This would be a great way to change the place you live in, from your house to your Home!

Yes indeed, you can create your own garden with very little investment, and with modest inexpensive means. You do not have to spend a fortune, to grow and eat fresh healthy fruits, berries, and vegetables in your backyard.

The best part of it is that you can grow them organic, without using the dangerous chemical fertilizers and pesticides, to poison your body. There are so many simple ways to make the soil of your garden fertile, and rich in minerals. Make your own composted material, from things that otherwise will waste away.

Composting, for example does not require any special skills whatsoever, just a little common sense. Let us think of the woods for a moment, and see how Mother Nature fertilizes the soil, and the environment in which the trees are living, in a perpetual mode.

The trees are dropping the dead or broken limbs, and the leaves, that decompose, naturally, with the help of the water, wind, sun, and the micro organisms, the bacteria that feed on decaying vegetation and turn them into rich nutritious humus.

Like in any successful and fruitful garden, the first important thing to do is preparation of the soil. Make it fertile. The cheapest way to accumulate the amount of natural fertilizer necessary in your garden, according to its size, are the leaves. They are readily available almost anywhere. And you do not even need a complicated composting drum, if you can not afford one. Just make a pile of leaves in one of the corners of your property, and turn the leaves with a pitch fork, now and then, and you will have a nice amount of good rich compost to fertilize your garden plot, naturally!

Once the compost is nice black, and full of nutrient, spread it on top of the soil in your garden plot and till it in, by a tiller or by a spade. And by-the-way, you will find out that using the spade is the best physical exercise you can have for free. It is good for your body, your mind and your soul. Work and live in peace, in the tranquility of your little Paradise that you are creating: your own garden.

Make a list of what fruits and vegetable you would like to grow. For the fruit trees, it depends on what part of the country you live in. But think of, apple, plum, peach, pear, cherry, or any other trees that you like, and plant them in a little orchard, if you have the space. Or plant the fruit trees strategically to improve the landscape of your property. This should also help to raise tremendously the value of your home.

For vegetables, there is an endless list of possibilities, but you can choose what you like the best. A few ideas would be, tomatoes, sweet and hot peppers, cucumbers, snap beans, peas, lettuce, carrots, cabbage, and also herbs, like dill, parsley, arugula, cilantro, basil, rosemary, celery, lemon balm, lavender, etc.

By having your own garden you can save a lot on your grocery bill, and the most important thing would be that you eat healthy, vibrant, and full of life fruits and vegetables. The saying goes, ‘you are what you eat.’ Why spent all that hard earned money on some old and tasteless fruits and veggies from the supermarket shelf, that traveled long distance to get there.

You can start any time. Why not right now? Take a stroll through you yard, and choose that nice sunny spot, that is just wasted space, maybe with overgrown weeds. It is not too late to think of a fall crop. Or start planning for the next season. Rake the leaves and do not burn them! It is like burning some of your cash. Time is going fast, and time is of essence. Procrastination is not going to take us anywhere. So, lets get busy and get our hands dirty. You will be glad you did.

Buy your seeds early, and start them indoors in the winter. Prepare your garden and if you plan on starting in the spring, plant when the danger of late frost is over.

Please come back for more useful information, as I will be posting regularly, new ideas and ways to have a successful garden of fruits and vegetables with modest means, and cheap, with very little cost.

Happy gardening!
Mike Borlovan