Gardening Info For You

Horticulturers Just Got Organized!

2009-04-06T16:43:00.000-07:00

How To Develop a Strategic Marketing Plan for a Horticultural Firm is an article that gives horticulturists the digging tools to make it big in business. Check it out!

2009-01-27T13:31:00.001-08:00

Outdoor Living with K-Designers

2009-01-15T15:52:00.000-08:00

All gardens and outdoor living spaces look better if the house they belong to is kept up and looks good. Outdoor living includes taking care of the look of windows, as well as doors. It means adding accessories to help add a special touch of class, elegance, or tradition to your home. K-Designers is a great place to get those accessories to make your outdoor living experience complete.

K-Designers helps bring a beautiful design dimension to your home. They have complementary or contrasting colors for shutters, headers, and decorative accessories. K-Designers also carries Mid-America Siding Components siding accessories and decorative exterior building products. These products are available in a wide range of color, style and size options to complement any home. Check them out this spring and make your outdoor living space one you'll enjoy all year long.

Swimming Pools Surrounded by Gorgeous Gardens

2008-12-17T17:15:00.001-08:00

Truly, what can be more pleasant and relaxing than having a swimming pool built into your own backyard, surrounded by beautiful flowers, shrubs, tropical trees, and rocks? For those of you who are looking to have a pool designed to fit your particular landscape and home, Shasta Pools is a reliable, full service swimming pool company with an excellent and helpful staff, ready to answer your questions.

A gorgeous backyard is fantastic, but what could add more ambiance and pleasure to your summers than a new swimming pool? Shasta Pools helps families design and build quality pools at a competitive price. Dreams are great, but dreams come true are even better. With summer being a few months away, now is the time to plan that dream pool once and for all.

Do you need help growing grapes?

2008-12-08T12:07:00.000-08:00

The Complete Grape Growing System is an excellent source for gardeners. Learn everything from A to Z and watch your grape vines produce successfully.

Who doesn't love the taste of fresh grapes off the vine? They're sweet, fresh and delicious, that is, if your grape vines are producing. With the Grape Growing System , your grape vines will produce. The step-by-step program is easy, and filled with excellent tips for even beginners. Try it today!

Three Important Gardening Articles

2008-12-07T04:14:00.000-08:00

Container Gardening 101 for Non-Gardeners
Container gardening helps you save on groceries, too. Just plant the types of fresh vegetables you like to eat, and you'll see your grocery bills decrease.

Organic Gardening Supply
With organic gardening supply products, weeding can be easy and hassle free. A garden that's planted in good soil with proper sunlight can thrive well. Using organic fertilizer will help your plants be properly nourished.

Gardening Tips: Building a Rock Garden
No matter what type of rock garden you want to put in, remember to have fun doing it. It shouldn't be a task you're not looking forward to. On the contrary, make it an experience you long to engage in with results thatwill pay off for years to come.

Creating an Indoor Greenhouse

2008-11-04T08:48:00.000-08:00

Finding a Way to Store Plants During the Winter

As the summer season slowly draws to an end, many of us will be bringing our outdoor plants indoors for the winter. If you're like me, having pets (especially cats) can be a hassle around house plants. This challenges most pet owners to come up with creative solutions for storing plants during the colder months. This year, I've decided to create my own indoor miniature greenhouse. Actually, it's more like a creative storage unit for plants, utilizing my basement space for this indoor sanctuary. Read more here.

How to Create a Year-round Bird Sanctuary with Flowering Trees

2008-02-09T05:53:00.000-08:00

Bird lovers enjoy finding ways to attract a variety of birds to their backyards. One way to do this is to create a year-round bird sanctuary with a variety of flowering trees. As winter slowly melts into spring, soon trees begin budding. Finally, they blossom into full, attractive flowering tree with scent and beauty. With proper planning and knowledge, bird lovers can create a gorgeous springtime showplace that not only provides a home for birds in the spring months, but also a year-round sanctuary for a wide variety of native bird species.

The key to creating a year-round bird sanctuary is to select an assortment of trees and shrubs that offer a consistent supply of food over the whole year. The next step is to group these trees together into an attractive habitat that birds will be unable to resist. To provide a sufficient amount of food for the variety of birds that will be attracted, be sure to include enough flowering trees of each variety. The final touch is adding a bird bath or some other water source for drinking and bathing. Water gardens add a great touch. Following are a few plants and trees that provide a dependable food source for a variety of birds.

The ornamental dogwoods are a favorite among many. Their bright and vibrant colors add stunning beauty to any landscape, and they are also excellent spring and summer food source for approximately forty species of birds. Dogwoods produce a dark, berry-like fruit at maturity that provides one of the best food sources for birds in spring and late into the summer.

When considering caring for your bird sanctuary into the fall months, choose Viburnum Roseum. This shrub produces a good supply of mature berries that will provide food for your birds throughout the fall and early winter.

Larger birds like turkeys and pheasants feed on oak trees. They provide an excellent source of food for the autumn months. Keep in mind that blue jays and several species of woodpeckers find them appealing as well.

When it comes to the winter months, one of the best sources of flowering trees is the crabapple. Though the fruit from crabapple trees can be tough and marble-like, after several good freezes and thaws, the fruit becomes edible to birds. Crabapple trees are a very reliable source of food and nutrition for a wide variety of birds during the winter months.

As you can see, with careful planning and design using flowering trees, creating an attractive bird sanctuary is easy and manageable for just about anyone. Knowing you’ve created shelter for a variety of species of birds year round is quite rewarding as well.

Should You Start Plants from Seeds in the Winter?

2008-01-31T07:30:00.000-08:00

Sure, why not? Planting a few seeds or some plant starteres like basil and other herbs is a good idea anytime of the year. I keep a large pot of basil near the kitchen for cooking purposes. It also smells really good, too and there's nothing like fresh basil in a homemade tomato sauce!

As spring approaches, I'll be starting lettuce indoors, maybe even spinach and a few herbs like rosemary, thyme, oregano and parsley. These can easily be started in small containers and then transferred during the spring into bigger pots outdoors.

Secrets of the Organic Gardener - How to Fight Garden Insects Naturally

2008-01-16T12:51:00.000-08:00

With so many people applying chemicals to kill those garden pests, the organic gardener knows that to fight the enemy, natural methods are the only way to go. Growing garlic around the garden and in between plants and vegetables is a known trade secret of many an organic gardener. Also, keeping a spray bottle around with garlic juice to spray around your plant's base can do wonders to repel those little buggers.

Garlic repels aphids, Japanese Beetles, and weevils. Onions and chives can help repel pests, too, but it's advised not to plant onions too close to cabbage plants as they stunt growth.

Other natural repellants

There are companies out there that have created products that are organic and natural and can help you fight those garden pests without the guilt of destroying the environment or the fear of using something that might harm your health.

Here are some of the names of those organic products:

Cobweb eliminator
Bora Care
Eco Exempt
Timbor Professional
Whole Control
Borid Dust
DiaSource Insect Dust
Whitmire Mother Earth D
Catchmaster Glue Boards
FlyWeb Glue Pads
Pherotech Kitchen Fruit Fly Traps
Roach Pheromone Traps
Mosquito Dunks
Bio Mop Floor Clean

Though products can be organic in nature, it doesn't mean they're not toxic to humans on some level. Always read the instructions carefully.

Making Organic Pest Control Products at Home

Sometimes garden centers, garden radio programs and/or community colleges offer classes and seminars on how to make your own homemade organic garden pest control products. These courses teach you how to create recipes for sprays and products that work especially well against grubs, mites, aphids, mealybugs, slugs, fungi and molds, etc.

Products to keep on hand include: hot pepper sauce, cayenne pepper, ivory soap, lime and baking soda. A great site for recipes and ideas is: Earth Easy.com
Other things to remember while organic gardening is to purchase organic soils that have been treated as much as possible against molds, insects and other nuisances. Also, be careful to plant away from areas in the yard where you know insects have been especially prevalent.

Preventing pests from your garden include maintaining a healthy environment. Purchase only healthy plants. Avoid any plants with sign of disease and insect infestation. Keep all your tools clean and dry. If a plant is diseased, take it away from other healthy plants. Weeds and extra debris need to be pulled and cleaned away from healthy plants often as both attract bugs. Water in the early mornings and avoid watering at night as it can cause disease and mold.

You don't have to fight garden pests alone

The great thing is you can hire help in the form of healthy garden insects. They include: ladybugs, praying mantis, lacewings, nematodes, and even ichneumon wasps. Many can be purchased or you can plant to attract them.

Careful care, proper fertilizing, watering and weeding can all contribute to maintaining a healthy garden. The organic gardener is the happiest at the end of his day as he has avoided the use of all chemicals and is using nature itself to help nature in his backyard.

Gardening Secrets: The Secret to Planting Between Stepping-Stones

2008-01-16T12:50:00.000-08:00

Stepping-stones add a beautiful touch to any garden or yard. By planning well, a gardener can have a magnificent garden and stone pathway awaiting him or her after work or a long day. The path can lead to a nice oasis in the shade, as gazebo or a patio with tables and chairs.

When looking for plants to grow between stepping-stones, it's important to consider a hardy plant that doesn't need a whole lot of room. Even though the spaces between stones is usually plentiful for most ground plants, be sure to do your research for specific plants that grow best in your area.

Foot Traffic

When considering plants to grow in between stepping-stones, you need to choose hardy plants that can withstand foot traffic. They need to be compact enough not to trip you when you walk through.

Fragrant Path

If you want your stepping-stone path to be fragrantly friendly, be sure to look for plants that release sweet-smelling oils when the leaves are crushed.

Tough Plants

The best plants to grow around stepping-stones must be tough. They need to thrive and endure. Many such plants might be so strong that they'll grow where you don't want them. Be sure to learn which plants are natural pests in your area, and avoid them.

General Plants to grow Around Stepping-stones

Blue star creeper. They look like little purple flowers and can grow in the sun or shade. They grow to 2-3 inches. They are starlike and their flowers appear in late spring and summer.

Carpet bugle. These thrive in part partial shade and sun. They can handle light foot travel and they have shiny, oval leaves that sprout flowers in the spring. Most of the flowers are blue.

Chamomile. This herb has bright green leaves and creates a soft mat 3 to 12 inches tall. It's best to mow after bloom.

English Daisy. A hardy plant that needs moderate to lots of water. The flowers group on stems up to six inches tall and may be pink, rose, red or white. It's a daisy like plants and self seeds.

Korean Grass. This plant can withstand heavy foot traffic and has a mossy look. At maturity, it will be about 9 to 10 inches, creating a bumpy look.

New Zealand Brass Buttons. This plant can withstand moderate foot traffic and has feathery leaves that form a mat 3 to 6 inches tall. They spread very quickly and have yellowish green flowers that look like buttons.

There are many other plants that grow well between stepping-stones. They include: pussy toes, silver carpet, speedwell, and woolly yarrow. The secret to planting between stepping-stones is basically selecting types of plants that work best. The above are all good choices depending on your taste and the plants need for sun or shade.

Container Gardening 101 for Non-Gardeners

2008-01-16T12:48:00.000-08:00

Many people love the idea of having a garden, but hate the thought of working outside. The thought of spending hot summer days pulling weeds, tilling, getting dirty and dealing with bugs isn't fun for most non-gardeners. So, how does one balance the idea of a love for a garden with a dislike for outdoor work? The answer is container gardening. No tilling necessary. Most weeds are tiny and contained within a small space, if you even get any weeds, and container gardening is compact, clean and easy to maintain.

I first started container gardening a few years ago. After several years of maintaining a very large vegetable garden and realizing I just didn't have the time or energy to devote to pulling weeds, watering and being a devoted gardener, I switched to container gardening.

I bought some strawberry plants and put them in the largest container of all - an old wheel barrow. I filled it with top soil and went to town with some hardy strawberry plants. I then got some nice containers and started planting tomatoes, lettuce, spinach and all types of herbs. Every single thing I planted produced a nice little harvest. Plus, I wasn't stuck with too many tomatoes or etc. like I had been the previous years of running a larger garden.

To give you an idea of what I started with, when we first moved into our house, the previous owners had over 80 tomato plants! We had a huge strawberry patch and all types of other vegetables like peppers, zucchini, corn and etc. It was way too much for us to eat, let alone maintain. After giving away as much as possible, I ended up selling a bunch to local health food stores. It was an organic gardening.

Finally, years later, container gardening was the way we decided to garden. There's little effort or knowledge needed. You plant the seeds, water them daily and the next thing you know, you have a harvest of delicious vegetables, fruits and herbs. It was nice to run to our back porch, grab some chives and cut them up into our baked potatoes. When I needed to make fresh spaghetti sauce, I'd cut some basil and oregano from the garden and create a wonderful tomato sauce. For a salad, I'd cut some leaf lettuce, spinach and tomatoes and voila!

Container gardening helps you save on groceries, too. Just plant the types of fresh vegetables you like to eat, and you'll see your grocery bills decrease.

Although this year I did plant a small in-ground garden, I still have containers with a variety of seeds in them. One of my very favorite things to plant in the ground is zucchini. It always grows very well and the harvest is great! One year I had so many zucchini's that I ended up creating my own person zucchini recipe files.

As for the container gardening method, it's truly the fastest, easiest and cleanest way to garden. I've never had to deal with squirrels bothering my containers, either. Sometimes you get brave little birds that swoop down and try to steal a cherry tomato, but for the most part, no bugs and no animals disturb the containers.

Gardening Tips: Building a Rock Garden

2008-01-16T12:45:00.000-08:00

People who love a natural look enjoy building with rocks. Rocks are easy to incorporate into any backyard setting, adding a very natural look to a garden without compromising plants and flowers.

The rich tapestry of flowers and rocks create a living garden that builds ambiance and beauty. Rock gardens mimic natural scenery around a certain region. Xeriscape, or low-water gardens often use lots of rocks with certain types of plants that require little care and maintenance.

There are alpine rock gardens and southwestern rock gardens, as well as other types of rock gardens that people put in to reflect their region or other regions they love, but don't happen to live near. The main challenge with this sort of rock garden is making sure your region can contribute to the health and well-being of plants you choose to grow around your rocks.

Alpine Gardens

The main challenge with alpine gardens is the flowers you choose. Most of the plants that work best with alpine rocks usually rot in standard garden beds. Often these plants require soil that drains quickly, yet the plants usually still require moisture.

Four key elements are needed to deal with this conflict. You need a slope, soil that drains fast with good organic matter, gravel mulch and rocks spaced in such a way that allows you to place plants in these gaps where moisture still lingers.

A nice location that receives sun is important, as well as breezes. If you happen to be in a region that gets lots of rain, be sure to plant your alpine rock garden in an area that has good drainage.

Alpine boulders should be naturally placed to accent your backyard. They should look like a natural outcropping, not a man-made garden. Plan out your garden on paper or take a look at photos online or in books. Try to vary your stones to include various sizes, shapes and textures. Vary the space between them, just as it would be in a natural setting.

Before you put your plants in the ground, see what they look like around the various boulders while they're still in their pots.

Plants that work well in a rock garden
Alpine columbine, coral bells, dwarf daffodil, dwarf Alberta spruce, garland daphne, lewisia, rockcress, saxifrage, stonecrop, sunrose and trailing phlox.

Japanese rock gardens

These types of gardens create an atmosphere of tranquility. These serene gardens usually have gravel in place of water, and to give it a wave or ripple effect, gravel is placed in patterns, looping around large rocks and boulders.

No matter what type of rock garden you want to put in, remember to have fun doing it. It shouldn't be a task you're not looking forward to. On the contrary, make it an experience you long to engage in with results that will pay off for years to come.