Flower Garden

A garden is a space set aside, usually in the outdoors for display of plants, flowers or vegetables. A garden can also be for relaxation and enjoyment especially if it has well manicured grass and bushes. The design depends on the desired needs and the landscape shape. This may be done by the owner or professionally by garden designers. The art of gardening dates back to renaissance period with people like the French, English and the Japanese having different designs corresponding to their culture. Most of the renaissance gardens were developed in ruling families such as queens or kings and rich families.

Garden can support different purposes and thus will have different names. A vegetable garden just like the name suggests is used to grow vegetables for home use or for sale. Vegetable gardens are also known as kitchen gardens. Vegetable gardens often are also used to grow fruits, herbs and flowers.

An exclusive flower garden is one where flowers are grown for decorative purposes. A rock garden is a type of garden that features use of rocks and stones extensively. It is also known as an alpine garden. The plants grown on rock garden are those native to rocky areas. These are normally small species plants that cover or creep on the rocks.

Garden furniture

Gardens can often contain furniture especially if they are used for relaxation and enjoyment. Garden furniture may be made from natural material or plastic that depicts the natural look. These can be garden chairs, tables, benches, beds, sinks and garden shed. The garden shed is a structure used to store garden tools. The garden furniture should be of durable material and one that is easy to clean.

Other accessories are also found in the garden such as swings and umbrellas.

Garden plants

Garden plants can be perennial, annual, climbers or those that live for a few months then wither off. Care is required for these plants because they can be attacked by diseases and parasites. Plants chosen to be planted in the garden should be selected carefully to make sure poisonous varieties are not selected. Toxic plants may be dangerous especially if children and pets will be using the gardens. Some of the garden plants may have useful properties such as medicinal value, cosmetic or even as food products. Some of the garden plants are flowers such as; camellia, lavender, azalea, hibiscus, peony, the weigelia and the cyads. These flowers can be used as Christmas decorations. Garden trees examples include; olive tree, laurel, mimosa, cedar of Lebanon, hackberry, maple, the plum, silver fir, lime, cypress and the poplar tree. These trees can be used as ornamental or as hedges of the garden. They vary depending on the climate of the region therefore one needs to know which tree will best thrive in a specificclimate.

To keep the garden top-notch, frequent pruning is required. Various gardening tools will help perform this duty. There are tools for digging up the soil, mowing, for pruning and sweeping any dirt from the garden. Maintaining the garden may also need constant irrigation to keep the plants alive.

Home Herb Garden Tips and Advice

Using Herbs from a Home Herb Garden

Once your herbs are planted, you can watch them grow and flourish. Herbs are so useful, not only for cooking, adding to oils, but also for medicinal uses. However, your home herb garden requires just a bit of work.

Herbs can become a part of your daily life. You will get so used to adding an extra special flavor that can only come from your home-grown herb garden. You most likely will be harvesting (picking) your herbs daily. Harvesting is very important. Timing is everything. If you are using the herbs for an immediate use, obviously the best time to pick them is when you need them. But, if you are planning on drying or freezing the herbs, it is extremely important to harvest them when their flavor is at their peak. It is better to pick the young leaves several times a season rather than waiting until the entire plant is mature.

Pick the herb flowers either right before they are ready to bloom or when they first open their petal. It does not matter if you are using the herbs immediately, drying or freezing, the morning is the best time to harvest the herb flower or leaves. This is when the concentration of rich oils that give the herbs their aromas and flavors is strongest.

Many people that have their own home herb gardens harvest by the phases of the moon.

They say that herbs that have been harvested around a moon calendar retain more nutrients and flavor. Pick your herbs in the morning as usual, but check a moon calendar to find the best phase of the moon.

One of the big pleasures of having your own home herb garden is that you can eat your foods without having to wash it. There are no pesticides or chemical to rinse off.

If you plan to store your herbs for a few days, hold off washing them. When you do wash the herbs and if there is a large quantity, you can use the sink and place 2 tablespoons of salt in the water. This will get rid of insects without damaging the plant. After removing the herb, dry them in a salad spinner. The exception is parsley. This is one herb that stays longer and fresher if you seep it in cool water as soon as you pick it. This herb will not wilt by following this procedure.

Although different types of herbs have their own list of instructions, typically there are three ways that people preserve their herbs for later use: drying, freezing or preserving.

Drying is one of the simplest and most convenient ways to preserve your herbs' leaves and flowers. Hang drying is an especially great way to preserve large quantities of herbs. You will need a well ventilated, dark, dry location. Your attic or a small dark room would be ideal. Don't bother to wash them. Tie small bunches of herbs with twist ties, rubber bands or elastic threads and hang them so that air can circulate freely. Hang them one foot from the wall and leave at least 6 inches between bunches. Most herbs dry within two weeks. They will feel crackly to touch. These herbs are much more concentrated than fresh herbs. Store in tightly closed jars/bottles and store in dark part of your kitchen cabinet.

Freezing captures the full flavor of herb leaves. Cut the herbs into ¼ inch pieces and place on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Once frozen, place in a bag for more efficient storage. A neat trick for using your herbs in soups/stews is to place your chopped up herbs in an ice tray and cover with water and freeze. These cubes are handy to add to a simmering pot of soup or sauce.

The third way is using a medium. You can use either vinegar or salt.One great example is to use chopped mint, basil or tarragon with vinegar. It will stay preserved for months. If you'd like to make flavored salt, just alternate layers of fresh herbs between salt. When completely dry, separate the brown herb from the flavored salt and store in an airtight container.

Herbs transform ordinary meals into magical delights. Even if you already cook with herbs, having your own herb garden will inspire you to experiment and discover new ways of making an old recipe new.

Indoor Gardening Challenges for Gardeners

If you do not have a lawn that can allow you to make your own outdoor garden, or live in nation where improving external is not possible, indoor gardening is an amazing alternative. You can experience all the advantages of improving your own clean vegetables or flower gardening while doing away with the need for a large outside make place, or in the case of hydroponic improving, doing away with floor entirely. Indoor gardening can even provide you with larger makes, amazing clean vegetables, and better crops than what you might get in a more conventional garden. But improving inside the house is in many ways an entirely different beast than external, and it comes with its own set of issues and interferences.

Lighting - Indoor gardening indicates that your crops will not come in contact with the organic natural lighting design that generally helps crops make.

Therefore you will need to provide your own, artificial lighting design. But not just any lighting design or table lamp will do. The common house light only provides white lighting design, while organic lighting design contains the wide range of lighting design colors. To better duplicate organic lighting design, you need to purchase high-density remove and precious metal halide make lighting design. These provide lighting design on the lilac and red end of the range, which is designed to completely stimulate photosynthesis during the vegetative and blossoming, levels of development, respectively.


Watering - In outside floor house home gardens, there is a lot for place for error in water. Ground preserves water very well, which indicates if you provide too little water; it can store water and generate it to the roots over time. But floor also features as its own waterflow and waterflow and drainage system, so any excess water is less likely to cause main rot. At house crops, which are either created in hydroponic systems or small containers packed with floor, allow for a lot less side for error. You need to make sure you are not either over water or underwatering, and look out for signs and the signs of each.

Nutrients - Top quality floor has all the healthy value that a plant needs to succeed. If you are improving hydroponically indoor gardening, you will need to provide the plant healthy value yourself. Therefore planning a proper nutrient solutions and paying close attention to the health of your crops so you can get any insufficiencies that may happen.

Environment - One of the primary advantages of indoor gardening is that it can be done anywhere, even if the earth in your nation does not provide improving crops very well. But this also indicates that you are responsible for creating the ideal atmosphere for growth in your make place. You may need to take regular size of the heat range and wetness, and make necessary upgrades.

Odors - This issue may not considerably affect the performance of your crops, but it can be upsetting. In an outside garden, scents are quickly dissipated in the open air. But they usually obtain in a turn off make place. Ensure that to keep everything your make place as clean and cleansed as possible and remove any useless organic content that may boost the germs that can cause these scents.

Home and Garden Tips

Planning and planting a garden is easier than you may think, and fresh grown vegetables, herbs, and flowers are great rewards that are worth a couple weekends of getting your garden underway. Below are a few basic tips to use around your home and garden.

1. Before you begin to dig up a place in your yard for your garden, decide how much work you want to put into gardening and how big of yield you hope to harvest. If you just start tearing up yard, you may end up with too much garden and wasted space.

2. Many will till their garden twice before planting. The first till is to break up and loosen hard soil to about 12 to 14 inches of depth. The second should till compost and fertilizer into the soil.

3. Depending on your soil type, mix in compost material and possibly peat moss to add nutrients and to aid in water absorption and drainage.

4. Keep soil around the base of plants loose to aid in water and nutrient absorption.

5. Watering more deeply allows longer periods of time between watering. If it is sunny and hot, water in early morning or at night. There is less water evaporation at these times which allows water to soak into the soil.

6. For lawn care, one deep watering is better than watering lightly several times. In normal summer conditions, lawns need about one inch of rain per week.

7. To help keep water from evaporating from lawns, keep lawns cut at about two inches, or so. Not gathering grass clippings will allow for natural compost to develop which adds nutrients to the soil of your lawn.

8. To slow evaporation from your garden, put a couple of inches of mulch on the surface of the soil.

These are basic home and garden tips that can be used in most climates and regions of the country. Your local home and garden professional can also give you helpful tips, especially those that may particularly apply to the local area in which you live.

Herbs and Herb Gardening Information

Herbs can be traced back to ancient times, when Egyptians and Chinese used them for their culinary and medicinal qualities. The Bible and documents from medieval times refer to the use of them in most households. They can be used for many purposes, and gardeners get many benefits from growing them. Herbs are widely used as food flavoring, in potpourri, with tea, for medicinal reasons, and even as a form of garden pest control. You can customize your herb garden for any of these single purposes, or mix many different herbs to meet all of your herbal needs. Herbs are versatile: they can be grown outdoors alongside other types of plants or in containers indoors.

You can even grow your herb garden in the kitchen, or in a special section of your garden. You can grow enough of them to satisfy the needs of a small family in a garden plot four feet by six feet. Herbs used in cooking, known as culinary herbs, are some of the most popular types. Other herbs are favored for their aromatic foliage, and still others for their beautiful flowers and leaves. Another useful feature of herbs is that they can be used fresh or dried. Restaurants use herbs as a garnish on plates or in salads, while culinary herbs can add zest to a meal.

Herbs, like other plants, are available in annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees. Well-drained soil should be used for planting herbs. Organic matter should be added to soil that is thick or dense. It is not necessary to use fertilizer in herb soil. Most herbs grow best in sunlight, though there are a few that require full shade. Many herbs flourish in afternoon shade. Unlike other plants, herbs are not prone to disease or insects. Occasionally red spider mites turn up on low-growing plants in dry, hot weather, and dill, caraway, anise and fennel sometimes get aphids. Interestingly, mint plants can be damaged by rust.

You can buy full-grown herbs and transplant them into your garden, or grow your own from seeds. It is truly rewarding to watch an herb plant grow from a seed. When this happens, you can experience every step of its growth -- from birth to death. The experience of growing an herb from a seed is especially satisfying because herbs have so many uses. Nearly all varieties of herbs can be grown from seeds. Herb seeds should be planted in late winter, in a shallow pot or box. Lightweight, well-drained soil is best for planting herb seeds. Herbs do not grow deep roots, so be sure not to cover the seeds with too much soil. Plant them just under the soil surface. Here is an herb planting rule of thumb: the finer the seed, the shallower it must be sown. Herb seedlings can be transplanted outside in the spring. Some herbs can not be transplanted successfully, but most can grow well from seeds. A number of seeds can be planted straight into the garden, such as dill, fennel, anise, and coriander.

Growing herbs in a home garden is quite easy and gratifying, but there is a lot you need to know about them before you get started. Now that you have read some basic guidelines on how grow them, you should be inspired to continue your journey. All of the information you need is right here! Have fun with your herbs and good luck!

Rosemarie Jones, is an herb expert and an enthusiast lover of plants.

Home and Garden Decor

Installing home and garden decor is a great way to make your home and garden attractive, appealing and a relaxing place to stay. Before you enter your home, you see the garden. By creating a welcoming and pleasantly inviting atmosphere in your garden, you are creating a welcoming introduction to your home. Not only that - there are times when you just want to spend time entertaining or relaxing in your garden, so it's fun to keep it pleasing to everyone's eyes

In choosing home and garden décor, first you have to know what you want and what style you are looking for. One way of determining which décor to buy is by setting a theme to your garden. Thin about what you would like your garden to look like - what accessories you would like to see, and what plants and trees you'd like to add. Here are some of the theme ideas that you can incorporate with your home and garden décor: butterfly, temple, sundial, Japanese, water, winter, and jungle.

After you choose your theme, you can now make a list of products that are wonderful items to compliment your home garden. Some of these items can be flowers and flowerpots, planter pots, birdhouses, fountains, wind chimes, garden shelves, incense, garden angels, plant stands, flower vases, and statues.

Decorating your home and garden can be very challenging and you have to use your aesthetic ability to come up with a truly pleasing home garden. But before you make any purchase, see to it that your home and garden décor items will be good together so that you will not waste money, time, and effort

Garden Accessories

Garden accessories do not necessarily mean furniture. There are many garden accessories that are used in both winder and summer such as barbecues, fountains and planters. When it comes to the garden, there is never enough comfort, and garden accessories are accessories that not only enhance the appearance of the garden but make the garden truly comfortable. For most of us, our gardens are our place of relaxation. Our solitude. Our entertaining room. The garden serves many purposes and a well planned garden with the right accessories is obviously a creation that each of us enjoys.

Planters

Planters are popular in balconies and terraces and gardens. In fact, when we consider a garden, the planter is most commonly associated with the garden. There are many reasons why. Planters and flower boxes are space for the flowers to thrive and a means to beautify the flowers and plants. Planters and flower boxes are practical and durable and provide the personal touch that makes a garden area so inviting. There are different materials that the planters and flower boxes are made of such as plastic, stone or terracotta, and wood. There are many different styles in planters and flower boxes such as ones that hang or hook directly to a balcony railing. Grids can also be used for climbing plants. Planter and flower boxes give the garden character and personality and a welcoming "home" feeling.

Barbecues

For the garden, gas barbecues are the most popular. The barbecue is fueled by gas, heats up quickly and provides for a professional, even cook. The lava rock in the gas barbecue retains the heat in the barbecue and cooks at even temperatures. The gas barbecues come in many different design and offer many different features such as side burners and counter space.

Fountains

Fountains are works of art and are hydraulically engineered. There are drinking fountains and water fountains that are ornamental and provide the character and charm that a garden possesses. Garden fountains are made most often of stone. The fountains are characterized by a base, a tank that collects water and a top from which the water flows. They are a peaceful accessory for a garden and one that provide us hours of relaxing enjoyment.

Gazebos

Gazebos are an extraordinarily powerful piece of garden furniture that allows garden users shelter from the hot summer sun. They also allow garden users to enjoy the garden year round protecting them from weather conditions. Often times, gazebos are the focal point of a garden. They are the meeting place that provides comfort to garden users. There are various shapes, sizes and styles of the gazebo. The classic shape is hexagonal, although they come in many other shapes, as well. Gazebos are an attractive addition to the garden which gives the garden appeal.

Garden accessories can be anything from ordinary to elegant. Each provides the garden with additional beauty and sophistication. From simple planters to gazebos, each contributes a personal touch to the garden, and each is something that makes a garden truly unique.

Home and Garden Pest Control Information

Home and garden pest control is generally an ongoing task that gardeners and homeowners must address. As the seasons change, so do the pests. Gardeners may have different pest problems depending on where they live and what they are growing. Some pests are more common to arid, hot climates, while others thrive in moist, shady areas.

Before pest control can begin, a person will need to consider several things. Climate is an important factor because some control systems may only work if it is dry or cool out. Pets and children in the area are another consideration. Chemical pest control products can be dangerous and should not be applied in an area that children or pets can get into. The type of pests is another deciding factor when it comes to choosing the best control solution. Certain chemicals are designed to eliminate specific pests. The type of plants the chemicals will be used on should also be considered.

Those who do not wish to put toxic chemicals around their home or garden area can opt for natural pest control. There are some products that perform the same as the chemical based agents but contain no harmful chemicals and are designed to be safe for the environment. These products are generally difficult to find and can be a bit more expensive.

There are a number of plants and concoctions that can be added to the garden or placed around the foundation of a home to repel certain pests. Most of the concoctions are made from things that are found in the kitchen. Garlic water, lemon or citrus juices and a host of other things can be used. Certain herbs and flowers are natural pest repellant but should be researched thoroughly because they may attract other critters that were not a problem before. It is also helpful if the home or nests are removed before attempting to eliminate the pests from the area. Once a favorite spot has been identified, it should be made as uninviting as possible.

Lastly, a pest control company can handle all the numerous pests who may be plaguing the home or garden. Professional exterminators know what pest control will work for a particular setting. They can schedule routine visits to ensure the unwanted guests are not allowed to overtake a home and/or garden. Pests often times invade the home structure as well. An infestation will most likely require the expertise of a professional.

Better Homes and Gardens Magazine

Today, "Better Homes and Gardens" magazine is one of the most popular home magazines sold. For years it has been showing people everything from how to get clutter out of a house to which plants can be grown in doors. It also has shown countless recipes and quick-fix meals. Various crafts have also been show cased.

History

This magazine actually started off under the title of "Fruit, Garden and Home" in 1922, and was published by the Meredith Corporation. This was a family and home service magazine. Then in 1924 the name was changed to "Better Homes and Gardens". When it first hit the newsstands one could buy it for $.10 a copy. The price for a subscription for a year was only $.35

Several years later in 1930 to be exact, a cookbook under the same name of the magazine was published. Building Ideas was published as a special interest publication under "Better Homes and Gardens" in 1937.

Then in 1978 a real estate service was launched under the Better Homes and Gardens name. Also the Australian version of the magazine was published. A quilting magazine under the Better Homes and Gardens name came out in 1993 offering even more information for people on home activities.

Circulation

The latest circulation figure for this magazine is a whopping 7,688,000 people. Now that is quite a following!

Content

Since early in the publication of the magazine the content has been based on the home and its garden areas. Included in the topics for the home have even been craft ideas people can make on their own. Also various ideas on home décor have been included to help one decorate their house. Tips on planting seeds and taking care of plants are even included in one current issue of this magazine.

From a 1940's information on how easy ironing was then to January 2010 article on how to cut down the clutter in the house among other things, this magazine strives to be of help to people. This magazine has had recipes on various items from cookies to bread puddings.

The recipes are all kitchen tested to make sure they work. This magazine has offered even a food guide in the past. It is quite a job to plan meals for a family and magazines like this one make the job much easier.

In the July 1963 issue had an article "How to Stay Young and Look Great". It seems like the public does not change in what they need to read since many articles are written today on that same subject. In 1965 an issue came out showcasing which campers were the latest on the market.

Where to Buy

The Better Homes and Garden magazines are sold in most bookstores that carry magazines, grocery stores, drugstores, and on a home subscription basis. The subscription price today is $5.99 a year with 12 issues. That is only $.50 a piece. In stores the price is $3.99 an issue in the USA. You can also order a Better Homes And Gardens magazine subscription online.

Graeme Olsen is a senior contributor at Magazine Central, specialising in magazine subscription circulation and orders.

Organic Home Gardening

In todays Morden lifestyle people dont know how the Vegetables and fruits are grown, some of the fruits and vegetables come for far distant lands Mexico to Africa, where the climate is ideal to have good yielding in the farms, bright sunny days with lots of fresh water allows trees to grow faster and produce high quality of organic produce which we use daily in our life.

Lot of people are cultivating small Vegetable Garden to pick fresh produce grown by hand without using any Morden farm machinery and there is no use of Chemicals and Fertilizers, this type of farming is picking up in Netherlands a lot, people like to grow basic fresh herbs and vegetables which can be used in daily cooking. You can also get tuinlease to cultivate vegetables.

In contrast to colourful flower garden that exists for aesthetic purpose, a vegetable garden typically includes a compost heap of several small plots where you can grow one or two types of plant variety, this family garden concept is from world war II era, where people had small garden at back yards of each home which were called as Victory Garden which provided vegetables to families and freed up resources for the army.

With the increased interest in organic food and sustainable green living, many families are turning to organic vegetable gardening or tuinbeheer as alternative to their family diet, home grown vegetables and fruits uses up little resources compared to modern farming where the farm machinery uses lot of fuel. And the best thing is you save on shipping cost, as you just have to go and pick fresh for daily consumption.

Sustainable living is picking up in several parts of the world, people avoid foods which are shipped from far of countries as the fuel to ship these produces add lot of pollution to our atmosphere, another advantage of home gardening is you dont use any power machinery and you have to do the gardening traditional way using hand tools, this is an exercise which will help you to be fit and healthy. There are also consultants available who help you to setup your home garden and give you advice as well.

Facts and Information About Gardening Gloves

The gardener's equipment will be unfinished without gardening gloves. You may enjoy a faster work and also far better results once you learn how to select the correct gardening gloves. Very common gloves are generally low-priced; they are usually made from light materials which includes water resistance finish. These gardening gloves are perfect to handle seedlings or for potting and also re-potting your plants. It is possible to carry out a lot of other duties too, depending on the circumstance. Gloves hold dirt aside, shield skin from injuries and also make you comfortable!

There are a lot more special gardening gloves, and also they're often used for rose bushes, for landscaping and also for all duties. Injury because of thorns or even heavy underlay with your hands are routine. If you need to keep working in the garden, you must shield your hands throughout strenuous work.

The type of material useful for making such gloves are more tolerant even though still light. Furthermore, for landscaping reasons, gloves also have to possess some special finish to help excellent gripping of moist and also mossy rocks.

Some people choose to have extra group of gardening gloves for spreading pesticide sprays, although there are usually home gardeners who believe that the overall glove design may typically do for the topic. Whatever you choose, it is very important shield your hands not merely against injuries but also against chemical burns. Clean your gardening gloves regularly and also each and every time a person apply pesticides over the these plants. In order to make supplies stay longer, you must dry them well before saving so they really never get mold.

Pay attention to the idea that your glove will need replacing quicker in your hand that you're using more. This happens doesn't really matter if you might be right-handed or even left-handed. It is possible to at times change your gloves between the hands if can be done, although not all models allow for this. Do not use gardening gloves that are within an superior state of decay because they no longer will protect you for the hands. You might want to deal with a number of tasks with uncovered hands. Which is great too, if it is the way you prefer issues!

Yet, never wait until you have blisters and also callouses to secure a pair of gardening gloves, simply because gardening turns from delight in to discomfort in these events. Those who like working in your garden merely at times, to keep their property stunning must not overlook the practical nature of gardening equipment simply because they'd create a huge blunder. It's therefore unpleasant to master this hard approach...

Flower Garden Information

Any garden can be made to look lively as well as colorful with the help of flowers. In this guide, we are going to give you some basic garden information related to how to keep and maintain it.

Gardening is a relaxing activity to enjoy the sunny days and beautify the landscape at the same time. It is also a way to awake the artist within, giving the garden a decorative as well as a personal touch. Garden and outdoors have different ways ranging from choosing plants to adopt garden equipment, along with the appropriate gardening weather.

Although sowing and planting flowers look easy, the fact is that a custom garden is always nice. Before planting the flowers, however knowing about the types of plants available is also important. Such information can be obtained from different gardening news as there are different species available and the gardening weather conditions for doing so also changes.

The pond equipment used is the rake, watering can, a spade, hoe, transplantador and sprayer, among others.

The choice of flowers to plant

You can choose from four types of flowers for the garden. First are the annual flowers, which grow in a cycle that follow the growth, flowering and wilting within a year. The wallflowers, petunias, snapdragons and sunflowers are in this category. The biennial plant varieties best known are the impatiens and digital (Digitalis spp.). The perennials are the one which requires less maintenance because of the fact that these are highly resistant to heat and frost and are also made a part of garden bargains.

 The location of the flowers

The question of where and when can I plant is very essential.

After choosing the seeds you want to grow, the immediate step now is to select the location. Land for planting, the first step is to prepare the ground from the fall. This should enrich the soil with peat and manure, and then stir. Next is to sow seeds and cover before watering. Once the young shoots begin to be visible, do not hesitate to dispose of surplus through garden equipment to give more space to the other and help them grow. During flowering you should enrich the soil with fertilizers, weeds and dead leaves should be removed. Finally, it is necessary to water regularly with the help of a pond equipment so as to keep them hydrated.

Planting flowers to define the aesthetics of a garden

The ways of planting to create an aesthetic plant are various. First, the planting line, consisting alienate seed, leaving a distance of 3 to 5 cm between them. Outbreaks will then form a line in the flowering is a method used for both on land or in a greenhouse. You can also diversify this method of sowing seeds in the form of a spiral or curved shape with the help of pond equipment, but it should always be one after another. A second method involves seeding, i.e. scattering seeds at random, this methodology provides a natural touch, allows massive settlements and gives volume to your plants, plus it hides small flaws in the garden, such as holes or mounds. Just be careful that the seeds do not pile up at planting. The last type of planting is the planting hole, which is to put two or three seeds in the holes to get the best feet. It is ideal for climbing flowers, to conceal and to beautify fences and fences around the garden and outdoors.

Related Home And Garden Information Articles

Garden Paving

A great way to pave your garden is with interlocking blocks. This will give you a lot of freedom to make unique designs. These blocks come in many different styles and colors which are great for complimenting the exterior of your home. Interlocking paving blocks also last for a long time. They can even be used to make steps in your garden.

When planning a garden paving project you will think of the end result first. Begin by drawing a plan of what you would like your garden to look like after you are done. This plan should be as detailed as possible and will have to include all the things you want so you can get all the materials you need for the job. This initial plan is also very helpful when calculating your budget. While getting a professional design done with the help of a landscape designer is the best way, a simple sketch will often be enough to get started.

Paving a garden is a job that will usually require at least some experience.

Having a professional do it for you is the best option. By contacting several professional installers you will be able to get an idea of the cost. Often the contractor will supply the paving materials and install them for you as well. If you want to do the paving yourself they will also be able to give you advice on how to do it. If you are serious about paving your own garden you can also get a stone laying machine to make the task easier.

Herb Garden Information - How to Succeed With Herb Gardening

Have you ever noticed that cooking shows don't use the herbs and spices that they buy from grocery stores? Everything they use is freshly picked right from their own, personal mini herb garden. Truly, if you want to cook exceptional meals - having your own herbs is something you should definitely be looking into.

The fact of the matter is growing your own herb garden isn't that difficult! It takes a bit of knowledge, some discipline and a good location to plant your seeds.

There are all sorts of different ways to grow herb gardens. There's the indoor kind, such as the ones you see in a cook's kitchen. These are nice for people who live in apartments or crowded condo's.

Then, there is the outdoor herb gardens (which may be what you're more familiar with). These are usually grown on a small plot of land outside.

Either way, the herbs can be used for cooking, medicine, or to make your home smell good! The latter kind is my personal favorite.

Like any other kind of plant, there are herbs that thrive as annuals or perennials and can either be bought and planted or raised from seeds.

The seeds you plant yourself are the most difficult, but it doesn't really require a green thumb. It just takes a bit of time and patience.

Seeds should be placed in a shallow pot or box in the late winter. The finer the seed - the shallower it should be sown. If you place it too deep in the soil, there is no hope that it will grow.

In fact, my grandma taught me to start growing the seeds early in the house. Just put them in soil and keep them watered, put them on a windowsill where your cat can't get to them, and transplant them in the spring.

Growing herbs at home is really, really easy - but there's lots of stuff you need to know before you venture out and start your herb garden.

Make sure you research up before you make your purchases!

Spring Gardening Information

We are now at the beginning of spring. There should be more than just thoughts regarding your landscaping. It's that time to get moving. I thought I would share a few tidbits of information to make your gardening a little easier and bountiful.

1. February is the perfect month for applying pre emergent on your existing landscaping. Pre Emergents do not kill existing weeds, but will control many of the seeded weeds that will soon sprout. Depending on what type, you purchase, they can be used on landscape beds and your  lawn. Be warned however that some pre emergants don't get along with some landscape plants.

2. Think about liming your lawn and gardening area. The PH factor is highly acidic in the Pacific Northwest. Liming is always a good thing. Just make sure you don't lime your acid loving plants like, Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Camellias or Roses.

3.

If you haven't cleaned out your beds this winter, do it now. A cleaned planter bed, will have less insects and diseases.

4. Fresh top dress on the beds always makes your landscape look better. We like to use black compost or aged hemlock bark. Figure 2″ over the entire planter bed. We figure 7 yards of material for every 1,000 square feet.

5. Adjust, repair and fine tune your irrigation system. It won't be long and you will be used regularily.

Spring is almost here and time is quickly running out to plan your beautiful summer garden!  This is the perfect time of the year to implement your dream landscape.  Plants (softscape) that are put in the ground in early spring will have a chance to get established before the summer heat kicks in.  Could you imagine a gorgeous bed of purple flowered Echinacea or bright white colored Shasta Daisies in your own backyard? While you are planting have you thought about the new patio you wanted or the paver path to your shed? If so, this is the best time of the year for that installation, especially since you will have all summer to enjoy your new hardscape and gain the envy of your friends and neighbors.

Below is a picture of a job we completed in the Ridgefield/Vancouver area, exemplifying the bed of beautiful flowers that will brighten up anybody's day.

Could you imagine hosting a party with your friends on the patio below on a beautiful sunny day in the Pacific Northwest?

Woody's Custom Landscaping has certified landscapers on staff and are eager to exceed your spring landscaping goals.

Click on our services to see what Woody's  Custom Landscaping can do for you.




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Useful Roses Gardening Information

'LEONARDO DA VINCI'

FLORIBUNDA / Synonym: 'Leonard de Vinci'

This rose has exerted a special fascination ever since it first appeared in public. First, its strong yet soft pink shade, together with its densely double, rosette-like blooms, lend it a special charm; and second, it is very frost hardy, so that it can be grown even in harsher zones. A word of warning, though: it is very susceptible to black spot. However, despite that, its popularity has not diminished, and it makes a lovely half-standard or standard rose in small gardens, a great container plant placed either side of the front door, or a very pretty display above strawberry or salad beds. Plant the roses 40 cm (16 in) apart in borders, or use six to seven plants per square metre (square yard) when planting in masses.

• The carmine-red Kordes rose, 'Neon' (synonym; 'Sweet Vigorosa'), is very healthy and displays dazzling full blooms.

This 60 cm (24 in) high ADR rose is robust and has spreading growth, making it suitable for hedging and ground cover.

FLOWERING: Repeat bloomer; very double; 0 5-6 cm (2-21/2 in); dark, 'old-fashioned' pink; no scent

GROWTH: 40-100 cm (16-39 in) high; upright; bushy

FEATURES: Very abundant bloomer; heat and partial shade tolerant; suitable for containers; very hardy

PLANTING: For beds, borders and hedges; gorgeous standard and half standard

INTRODUCED: MeiHand, 1983, France

 

‘BOTTICELLI'

FLORIBUNDA

The densely double, uniformly round blooms of Totticelli', with its ruffle-edged petals, are reminiscent of gossamer-fine powder puffs.

Until they have fully opened to a saucer shape, a dark salmon-pink shade dominates in the still inwardly curved centre petals, which seems to fade from the outer petals to the centre to a very delicate ivory-pink hue. Fully open blooms reveal masses of stamens and display a hint of light yellow at the base of the petals. `Botticelli' is a delightful garden gem that flowers abundantly in large, dense clusters. Plant this broad, spreading beauty 40-45 cm (16-18 in) apart in borders; for mass plantings use four to five per square metre (square yard).

'Pomponella' is charming, with pretty little cherry-red pompom blooms that resemble Old roses. This broad- growing Kordes breed grows to 80 cm (32 in) high and has proved to have very healthy foliage.

 

FLOWERING: Repeat bloomer; densely double; 0 6-7 cm (21/2-3 in); salmon-pink; scented

GROWTH: 60-70 cm (24-28 in) high; upright; broad bushy

FEATURES: Healthy; heat tolerant; suitable for containers; hardy

PLANTING: For flowerbeds, borders, hedges and ground cover; lovely standard or half standard

INTRODUCED: Meilland, 2004, France

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Some Information for Your Perennial Garden

Most homeowners not only beautify the interior and exterior of their homes; they also grow gardens to enhance their properties. They plant trees and flowers, install water features, and build outdoor living areas. With all these, they can enjoy nature without having to go very far.

Cultivating a garden is both a science and an art. You grow a garden to add beauty to your home, so you should pick attractive flora. However, you should also know which plants are appropriate for your local climate, or the type of soil your region has. You must know how to care for these plants to maintain their beauty.

If you want to grow a garden, one of the things you have to do is decide which plants you want. You can choose among flowering plants, trees, bushes, and climbing plants.

The types of plants that you choose can affect what structures need to be built in your garden. If you want climbing plants, you can build trellises to support them.

One kind of plant you can use for your future garden is perennial plants. A perennial can live for more than two years. This plant usually grows and blooms during the spring and summer, and then die every autumn and winter; it then returns in the spring from its root-stock. For a beautiful garden, you can get fragrant, flowering perennials. For you to get some perennial flower garden design ideas, you have to know some varieties of the plant.

The Woodland Phlox usually blooms in the early spring.

Its flowers are blue, and it can spread easily to cover the ground. The Woodland Phlox usually thrives in shady spots. Another plant you can use for your perennial flower garden design ideas is the lavender. Lavenders can bloom for weeks, and they can attract butterflies to your garden. Another perennial is the Dianthus. Its flowers can come in different shades like pink, red, lilac, pale yellow, and cream.

You can also use Lemon Thyme for your perennial garden. It is a ground cover that has a smell similar to lemons. Its flowers come in pink or purple, and they usually bloom in early to late summer. To help you maintain your garden, you can ask experts on how to care for perennials, like how much light and water they need. This can help you make your perennial container gardening ideas a success.  

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Information On Gardening Franchise

The yard space of the average homeowner is considered an extension of their home. This valuable living space is now the family's favourite place to relax, play, and entertain. These spaces are now adorned with lavish greenery, colourful flowers and plants. Now more than ever homeowners are discovering the significance in having an elegant and aesthetically beautiful garden that creates just the right outdoor ambiance. For all these reasons, it would make sense to take out a Gardening Franchise.

The pleasure and satisfaction that comes with working outdoors, being your own boss, and helping people to improve their surroundings, is the perfect combination for creating a successful lawn care or landscaping business. Dynamic gardening franchise opportunities are available that provide an assortment of products and services. If you have done your research as an entrepreneur, you already know that it is common to pay between £60-£100,000 for a only one service.

Imagine having the ability to provide 2 or more services to your clients.

There are franchisors that will offer you comprehensive training, support and the expertise that you need to get your career going. The cost of tools and machinery are often included in the purchase price of your gardening franchise. The structure and framework is already mapped out, which will make your day-to-day business operations easier. Other tools and services offered to you are inclusive of an owner's manual, marketing materials, first year blueprint of activities, connections to national vendors, your private label product line, and a guide to help you plan marketing programs.

Online services may consist of those items that provide you with a presence on the internet. Tools to develop your local website, your corporate website listing, and partnering with area-specific lead generation programs are available with your start-up package. The ability to offer customer financing could be considered an extra perk for you as well as your clients.

This entrepreneurial career choice carries with it certain advantages. It is a recession-proof industry that provides freedom through a high margin of opportunity. The growth potential is unlimited as you impact your community in a positive light, while gaining personal fulfilment. Your market is unrestricted and the professional training and learning that you receive is priceless. Learn from those who are already operating a successful franchise in the field of gardening. Gardening Franchise is a great idea and you should have a look!




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