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Sunday, 16 March 2008 |
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Once the buzz of Christmas has passed, the task of paying off bills can leave many gardeners on a strict budget. Gardeners who need to make frugal decisions at this time of the year can take heart in a number of alternatives that will not only lower the cost of gardening, but will also enhance the pleasure! Here are five steps every budget gardener should follow: Plan ahead Make a list of what you'd really like to see in your garden and stick to it. There's no use growing winter cabbage, regardless of how lovely it looks in the frost, if no one in your family eats cabbage. A list will also keep you under control when you see the end-of-season sales and are tempted to purchase something on a whim. In addition, if you plan exactly where plants are going to go, you won't make last minute mistakes such as placing sun loving plants in the shade Start a compost pile It's surprising to see how many gardeners haven't constructed their own compost pile and still pay to have their grass clippings and leaves hauled away and then, in turn, purchase fertilizers every year. Compost is free food for the garden! It helps break up heavy clay soils, absorbs water in sandy soils, and encourages microbial life, thereby decreasing that chances of any one disease becoming rampant in the garden. Compost piles don't require anything fancy. The walls can be made of recycled 2 x 4s, chicken wire, or even hay bales. All that you need is access to the pile and enough space to turn it every now and again. What can you put in the pile for free? Grass clippings and leaves are a great choice since you probably have your own source as well as your neighbors'. Check with local tree care companies to see if they have any wood chips to give away. Coffee grinds from the local café make excellent compost, as does shredded newspaper. Don't forget to include your vegetable scraps and egg shells. Once you get hooked on composting, you'll even start going after the local barber for hair, and even saving dryer lint!
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 29 June 2008 )
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Saturday, 15 March 2008 |
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Walks and drives help guide the flow of foot traffic. When lined with borders, hedges, or other plant materials, they may become too formal and prominent in the landscape. Use enough plant materials to lessen the impact of large areas of pavement, but still allow grass to meet the pavement in areas.  - Early spring is the right time for two special turf treatments, if needed: vertical cutting or thinning to remove thatch and aerification or coring to reduce soil compaction. Special equipment is available for each operation. Consult a lawn-care specialist, or rent the equipment and do-it-yourself.
- Reposition stepping stones that have heaved or sunk below grass level. Lift them up, spread sand in the low areas, and replace the rocks. A bed of sand under the stones will aid drainage and decrease heaving next year.
- Take care to keep off soft and soggy lawns. Lime spreaders, wheelbarrows and other equipment will leave compaction marks. Seed new lawns and do repairs after the land has drained.
- When a blanket of snow insulates the lawn, temperatures at ground level may rise to above freezing. Snow mold fungi (a white, cottony growth on grass blades) thrives at temperatures between 32 and 65 degrees F. To reduce possible snow mold damage, remove heavy snow accumulations in shady areas. If you cannot physically remove the snow, spread ashes or dry peat moss on the snow. The dark-colored material will absorb solar radiation and melt the snow faster.
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 29 June 2008 )
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Saturday, 15 March 2008 |
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Cleaning and Pinching Back
Like all plants, indoors or out, our "Any Season" plants need to be kept clean and pinched back. If you have chosen flowering plants, once flowers turn brown or have finished flowering, remove them. If you have chosen foliage plants, remove any dead or yellowing leaves.
If plants start to get too big, or if a plant with a trailing habit like Bacopa or Ivy start to get too long, pinch them back to keep bushy and healthy.
Foliage plants like to have their leaves cleaned, so if your "Any Season Garden" is in an area where dust or dirt blows in, or in the bathroom or laundry room where humidity can cause dust and lint to stick to leaves, take a damp rag and wipe the leaves clean once a month. Turning
You'll be surprised how fast and how much new growth your plants will produce. To keep the plants growing evenly, give each pot a ¼ turn once a week. If your plants aren't growing that quickly, you can turn them ¼ turn every 2 weeks instead. Monitor the growth, and it will give you a good idea when is the best timing for your particular situation.
This is another great thing about keeping the plants in their pots, you can move them around, and if some plants are growing more vigorously on one end than another, move them around for best lighting and even growth potential.
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 29 June 2008 )
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Tuesday, 19 February 2008 |
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Besides being rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, tomatoes go well in everything from salads to sauces. Those who have tried them say that homegrown tomatoes taste far better than ones that come from the store. And wouldn't it be great when you're out grilling some burgers to be able to reach over and pluck a juicy tomato to slice on the bun, right out of your own garden? Here are some tips for growing your own terrific tomatoes. With hundreds of exciting varieties to choose from, there's no shortage of choices between canning, cherry, grape, beefsteak, heirloom, and more. They come in a myriad of colors, shapes, sizes, and growing times. Whether you grow them from seed or purchase already sprouted seedlings, select varieties with characteristics suited to your climate and needs.The more sun tomatoes get, the better they taste. Plant them in an area that receives six or more hours of sunlight a day.Speaking of fertilizing, about once a week should do. Use plant food that is high in potassium, indicated by the third number in the fertilizer's formula.
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 29 June 2008 )
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Tuesday, 19 February 2008 |
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Planning your garden is a way to avoid the classic dilemma: wandering around with the plantsyou've just bought, wondering where the heck to put them. No, you don't have to draw out a plan, showing where every single perennial plant goes.I was trained in landscape design, and most of the time I don't have the patience for that!the pros do it to figure out the exact number of plants to order, but home gardeners usually don't work that way. When I make a drawing for myself, it's generally a simple one to show the layout of a bed, and a basic planting plan that shows the most important plants only |
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 29 June 2008 )
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