Archive for the 'Gardening' Category
Lawn weeds can be a frustrating experience for any gardener, and how, in only summer, they can manage to invade any garden and conquer it with undeniable efficacy and dominance, that Rome’s invasion of Pompeii would seem like a minor accomplishment.
Weeds can literally start to grow under your nose, and everything can happen so quickly that you may not even have time to realize the gravity of the situation.
Taking hold of the lawn mower that had been neglected throughout the past winter, my be a quick fix to getting rid of the grass weeds. It may seem that the weeds were gone after one or two hours of mowing.
But slowly over the next two weeks, the lawn weeds were back, and as it they were announcing their victorious revenge; they grew more prominent then ever before.
This may prompt you into taking more action, and mowing the lawn all over again, in the hope that the second wave of attack would do the trick.
You guessed it, it didn’t work. After only a week or so, the lawn weeks were back with a vengeance, bigger and stronger than ever before. This terrible attempt to defeat the weeds seems to be ending in tragedy.
In order to completely eradiate the persistent weeds it is important to spend a few moment researching the matter, this will enable you to discover the vast selection of weed killing methods that are available.
Of all the strategies that are out there on the market, the two that seemed to stand with amazing results are cycling and mulching.
Cycling starts out be removing the topmost portions of the weeds, much like you would when originally mowing the lawn. But it doesn’t stop there. When the mowing stops, the ground needs to be cultivated, and the soil turned around to place the weed seeds together with the weed seedling at the top of the pile. Subsequently, after a week or so, when the weeks that to pop up again, the process should be repeated. It’s a constant pledge that will only stop once the weeds are entirely eradicated. And based on experience, this can often be accomplished on the fourth cycle.
Mulching involves the spreading of bark and other organic materials on top of the soil. This results in the immediate killing of existing weeds and thwarts the growth of budding ones. Further to that, mulching will make the soil health, which can only mean great things for your growing crops.
It may get frustrating at first with the weeds, but with persistence, it is possible to achieve a sense of fulfillment at being able to defeat the lawn weeds.
If you’re searching for something a little special to spice up your already flourishing garden, than a simple, yet, elegant water garden could well be the ideal option in order to establish a glamorous feel and make your family and neighbours envy you.
It’s not that difficult to establish your very own water garden provided that you follow some basic steps. Firstly, it will be necessary to decide on the location for the water feature. The ideal placement is typically near to your property, so that it may be viewed easily, but not too near to over hanging trees or bushes that may cause too many debris to drop onto the water.
A water feature will always look delightful when enclosed with trees, but then you would have the task of continually removing dropped dirt and leaves, so aim to keep it a sufficient space away from any foliage on your land.
Once you have mapped out the size of the water pond, and than outlined it shape, you will need to start digging down to the necessary distance based on the dimensions of the water pond. Lay a soft polyethylene underlayment sheet on the very bottom of the pond; this protects the pond liner from rock, roots, or debris.
It is important that the pond liner fits snugly over the underlayment mat. Now install all of the workings of the waterfall feature as detailed in the instructions contained with the kit.
Any of the water garden components that don’t require to be seen, and excess underlayment will need to be concealed, so place gravel and pebbles about the pond to prevent any of the hardware being noticed. It should now be possible to fill the water garden with water and any necessary nutrients to handle any chlorine in the pond.
Be sure that all the workings operate as required. Hopefully, the water ought to now recycle around and flow down your waterfall element. If you happy that everything appears to be functioning correctly, its time to include some water plants.
It can be ideal to include an assortment of aquatic plants that can be used for waste water treatment, such as anarcharis or caboma, as they have the ability to control the level of nutrients that may otherwise keep algae flourishing. One of the most popular pond plants are the water lilies as they help to give the illusion of a naturally constructed water garden.
The water garden should now be all set for your enjoyment. If you intend to establish an authentic oasis for your water pond, its now time to decide about adding some goldfish or koi to the pond. Only add a few to start with to ensure that they survive.
Include several plants around the edges of the water garden to aid in blending in with the surroundings. After it’s all in position, you will need to maintain your pond in order to keep in running for several years to come.
There are a variety of books and guides to glance through that will go into specific details on the optimum ways to establish your personal water garden.
Choosing the right plant soil can make all the difference when it comes to creating a garden or lawn. The various soils will have a higher Ph level than others. In order to accommodate different type of plants the soil is either thinner or thicker. There are planting soils, top soils, and other soils that are intended for different environments. To establish the right soil it will be necessary to research the type of soil that is currently in use, and investigate to see which type of plants will survive in that soil.
Many of the plants available will be able to survive better depending on the weather conditions. The soil that the plant is in cannot help these plants when they start to die. Knowing the kinds of plants that will remain healthy in your climate will help to save time and energy during the gardening process. The soil needs to full of nutrients that most plants require to survive. In most garden nurseries there is soil that will be specific for any particular type of plant life.
By provided the right type of soil will give the plants a much better change of survival. If any plants that have been placed in the recommended soil are not doing well, then there may be other problems relating to this, such as moisture levels, Ph levels, or other nearby plants. Some plants that grow thick roots are able to compete for all the nutrients in a local area, which will most likely suffocate the smaller plants. Doing some simply research on which plants can be planted next to each other will quickly help to solve this type of problem.
The nutrients in any given soil is likely to fade over time, so make a schedule to regularly change the soil may help with keeping the nutrients flowing. Most care will need to be given to those plants that are newly planted in the soil. It will be important to monitor these to ensure that they are not being attacked by insects, have sufficient water, and are receiving the nutrients from the soil that is necessary to grow. In order to maintain healthy and vibrant plant life, always make sure to use the right plant soil.
A water garden is simply a garden that features plants and water instead of the traditional plants and mud. Transforming your garden in this way will instantly set you home apart from everyone else in you street, or even the entire neighborhood. Water gardens are an excellent feature in any climate, but if you do live in an area that tends to remain dry, it may be wise to consider skipping out on this type of transformation and stick to something that more suits your local area.
If you want to going ahead with building a water garden for you property, it will be necessary to pop down to your local garden center (or visit one online) and decide if you are going to create one yourself from plans or hire a professional contractor to do the heavy duty work for you.
For anyone brave enough to go with the self build option, it is likely that you will be making several trip to you local garden center for supplies to pick up the necessary equipment and knick knacks that will ultimately make you water garden completely stand out amongst its peers. The two main pieces of equipment that will be needed during the construction of you very own large scale pond is, as with a pool, the water garden filter and water garden pump. The pump will be needed to keep the water from becoming stagnant and generating mold whilst the filter will allow your garden feature to maintain its clear look and remove and debris.
Once the entire project has been completed, you can add a variety of water garden fish, plants and even a water fountain or two if you really intend to go overboard.
If you really like the idea of transforming you garden but do not currently have sufficient space or money to construct a full scale pond water garden, you still may be able to opt for a container water garden. These are equivalent to the larger garden versions, with the exception that they are contained in a smaller space – which is tends to be a pot or a trough like structure.
Garden de’cor can instantly turn your home into the most desired in the neighborhood. All it takes is some work and a little time over one weekend to plant you garden, making sure to go outside thereafter a few times a week to water or trim your plants. Also remember to take care of any inanimate objects or statues that you decide to include in the yard. By simply adding several plants to you home will certainly make it look stunning in no time.
If this something that you plan to do, then head over to your nearest garden or nursery center to pick you all needed garden supplies. If you unfortunate to not to have a local garden center near you, then you can always find an online store to meet all of your gardening requirements.
When it comes to the time of looking at all the available garden de’cor items, there is a surprising amount of different products that can really make you home stand out and look classy. Garden lawn de’cor should be one of the things to think about when dressing up the property. Such lawn de’cor includes such items as fountains, miniature water gardens and statues.
Although, the lawn and garden de’cor are some of the most popular choices, it is also possible to purchase some wall garden de’cor and patio de’cor. Having any of these items will surely spruce up your property, without the hassles of lawn de’cor, such as mowing around the fountains and statues when you cut the grass. Also, you may want to consider buying a garden de’cor gift for any of your friends or family that enjoy gardening.
As a new house-owner, you have decided that a lawn sprinkler system may be a great benefit. With the variety of models available at the garden center, it is a good idea to have a basic understanding of the features included, and which ones will offer you the system that meets your requirements. To follow are a few things to keep in mind as you decide on which garden sprinkler method would be most adequate for your situation.
To start with, evaluate the number of sprinkler heads that will be necessary to sufficiently cover your lawn. Various systems come as standard with a minimum of six sprinklers. Taking into account the range of distribution covered by the particular grass sprinkler systems, you may want to opt for a system that accommodates easy addition of sprinkler heads. In order to understand the amount of heads that you would need, take a look at the specs on what distance each head would cover and match that figure with the number of square feet your garden encompasses.
Next step, what type of current will your sprinkler system need in order to operate at maximum levels? It is important that you do not add too heavy a load to your current power supply. If there is the possibility that the system will place unsuitable weight on your current electrical system, decide on a turf sprinkler system that may be controlled by a separate power source. If necessary, take advise from a qualified electrician on what is the best option for you, or if it would be more efficient to upgrade your existing power source.
Now, consider the advantage that may be gained from a lawn system that can be activated remotely rather than manually. An instant bonus of this style of system is that you can pre-schedule periods for the sprinklers to activate and also specify a time period. If you often work late or out of town, this will be a great asset for you to use as part of your garden maintenance.
Finally, make certain that whichever garden sprinkler system that you obtain can be upgraded and expanded as needs arise, without the hassle of installing a complete new system. While this option may turn out to cost you a little more on the front end, it will most surely save your some bucks in the long run.
Simply by making sure that you have everything necessary, and allow for expansion at a later date, you are certain to gain full benefit from the system that you choose. A lawn sprinkler system is a super way to conveniently care for your lawn.
The garden is an intrinsic part of your home, and if well designed, will give enormous interest and pleasure. As well as adding to the quality of your life it will add to the value of your property.
A first rate designer will draw on their practical experience and knowledge combined with artistic flair, to give a result which is tailored to the clients wishes and needs.
A garden should be an extension of your living area and like the inside of your home, must be beautiful and exciting as well as practical.
Good design is where function and mood have been correctly identified and reconciled in an aesthetically satisfying solution.
Impotence, or erectile dysfunction, is one of the most common and frustrating male disorders. It affects about 20 million American men over the age of 20. In other words, one in ten men suffers from inability of satisfactory sexual performance.
Impotence is often believed to have psychological causes. Recent statistics shows that around 30 percent of men are impotent because of psychological factors such as stress, depression, strains in the family, anxiety, hard lines at work, etc. But the majority of erectile dysfunction causes are physical. Among them are hormonal imbalance, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, neurological problems and many others.
Of course, the methods of treatment of impotence are vastly studied within urology. As a matter of fact, they are mostly about drugs and psychotherapy. But not so long ago the journal European Urology published the most original study claiming that gardening maintains erectile function and, consequently, can improve one’s sexual life. Scientists examined 700 men (aged 45 to 60) and found that even low but regular physical activity could lead to encouraging results. In fact, burning up 1,000 calories a week is enough to maintain erectile function. It means that one may work in the garden (weed, maw, dig, water, or prune) for just half an hour a day in order to always stay confident about his sexual performance. Literally speaking, one may combat impotence with a shovel!
It must be said that the study created quite a stir, as many famous gardening TV celebrities immediately spread the news that made gardening a significant part of millions of men all over the world. No doubt, gardening has never been more popular. Also there has been a great move towards organic food. Well, it must be amazing when one’s life becomes not only more organic but also more orgasmic at the same time.
When planting roses, you need to make sure that they are planted in a space that is conducive to their maximum growth potential. Rose planting is an art but you want to make sure that when you plant them that you put them in a spot where they can get the proper sunlight and the nutrients that they need. When rose planting, make sure that you choose a spot where the roses are going to get plenty of sunlight. Roses typically need around 6 hours of sunlight, so be sure to observe where you plan to do your rose planting. Your roses should also be in a place where any excess water can drain away from the bush. Your roses will need to get plenty of water, but they don’t need to be drenched.
The hole you plan to use to plant your rose should probably be about the size of a pot. You will want to be sure to mix up your soil before planting the bush in the selected spot. Those who are pros at rose planting will typically use an organic material called “bonemeal” as the fertilizer. This “bonemeal” is just what it sounds like; it is crushed bone that is mixed in with the soil in order to give the plant a rich soil bed. The best source you can use to enrich the soil is natural compost that has come from naturally decomposing leaves and foliage in the surrounding area. The organic sources tend to work best for the most beautiful roses.
You can place the rose bush into the hole, and once you have the bush covered up, be sure to shovel the rest of the soil up around the plant. If you’re planting the rose bush from a new bush then be sure that you plant the rose’s crown about an inch below the soil. Once you have the new bush planted, just water it and wait for this beauty to bloom.
When you get a plant that is a transplant and it’s just after winter, be sure to soak it in warm water for awhile. When these plants are being stored in a colder environment they tend to ice over a little, so soaking them in warm water will prepare them for planting.
Before putting the rose bush into its respective area, make sure that the hole has been dug deep enough and wide enough to accommodate the roots and the bush itself. When you drop the bush with its roots down into the hole, make sure that you have the soil mixed up so you can spread it evenly. The best soil to use as mentioned previously is a mixture of bonemeal, soil and natural compost. Phosphorus rich nutrients are best for your roses, and help them grow while giving them rich color.
Before you walk away from your new rose bush, go ahead and give it a little bit of water. Once you have the soil over top and a little bit of water, be sure to put a lot of mulch over top to protect the plant from the elements. Rose planting has to be done properly in order for you to reap the greatest benefits from it. Rose planting means a little bit of work, but it will be worth it when you do it right. Roses are generally planted for the love of their beauty and fragrance, so it’s no wonder that so many people want to have a rose garden.
Rose growers also have a bone of contention on how deep these roses should be planted, but that really is dependent upon the climate that they are being planted in. The rule of thumb with rose planting is that the colder the climate, the deeper the roses should be planted. It makes perfect sense that with the rose being such a delicate plant, that it would need a little better cover up in a cold area.
— ———————————————————————————————————————————- Jack Pollard is a rose gardening expert. For more great tips on rose planting ,visit www.rosecarecentral.com
The question ‘how often should tomato plants be watered’ is one that often leaves gardeners confused and clueless. The result is that they end up either providing too little water to the soil or over watering it. Both these situations are not good for your tomato plants. So, how can you determine whether it is time to water your plants or not? Keep in mind a few things and you will never ever make the mistake of over drying the soil or over watering the plant. The first thing that you need to understand is that too little water and over watering are both not good to keep your plants alive and productive. What is more, even uneven watering is not good for them since they make your plants prone to all kinds of diseases such as the blossom end rot.
Ideally, you should water thoroughly to make sure the roots can get the water and nutrients which are present deep in the soil. This will ensure when there is a dry spell, the plants to hold better and about 6-8 inches of the soil should be soaked for this purpose.
For the same reason, it is not a good idea to water your plants lightly on a daily basis. A deep soaking once or twice a week is better because when you water too often, the roots tend to stay at the surface and they become more prone to damage in the hot weather.
Tomatoes like to grow in a moist soil but they also need proper air circulation. So, if you over water, the roots will not be able to get the air that they require. Remember, wilting on a hot afternoon is perfectly normal because they will look fine once they are exposed to the night temperature. However, if the plants still look wilted in the morning, then it is time to water them again.
Over watering will also make your plants prone to diseases. So, if the soil is light and sandy, you need to soak it with water every 4-5 days and if the soil is heavy, soak it every 7-10 days.
Rain is also a factor that you need to consider. If it is raining, you do not need to water your plants too often. However, as mentioned earlier, too much water can damage your plants, so try and protect your plants from the rain water if it is raining continuously or too heavily.
The time of the day when you water the plants is also important. If you are watering the plants after 5 in the evening, then you are inviting trouble. The foliage of the plant should be dry during night fall or else it will become host to blights and diseases. Therefore, you should water your tomatoes early in the day to make sure that it dries out by nightfall. Watering early in the day also helps in cutting down evaporation losses. Midday watering is also not good since evaporation losses are highest during this part of the day.
You need your tomato garden to flourish and give you a good harvest and careful watering can help achieve exactly that. The best way to find out if it is time to water the soil is to stick your finger about one inch into the soil. If it is dry, then it is time to water the plants. Remember, a dry soil, over watering, and uneven watering are not good for your plants. So, make sure that you avoid doing any one of these things.
Jimmy Casperson is a tomato growing enthusiast. For more great tips and advice on tomato watering visit his Growing Tomatoes website