The Tulip Bulbs are in Bloom

Every spring greets us with a kaleidoscope display of color and natural beauty where tulip bulbs, planted in the fall, come out and perform a spectacular show. It is an unexpected pleasure that even novice gardeners can be blessed with because tulips are known to be one of the easiest flowers to grow successfully.

Tulips are classified as a perennial flower, however they are a special category of perennial. By definition, perennials should be expected to return and bloom year after year. Because tulips are native to Eastern Turkey and the foothills of the Himalayas, they will behave best in conditions that match the cold winters and hot, dry summers of their native region. Tulips are planted in the fall and they immediately start to root. During the winter months they root slowly receiving cold temperatures that stimulate them to sprout in early spring. As the temperatures get warmer, the tulips start to grow more rapidly and eventually they bloom. At this blooming time, the bulb that was planted is totally used up and actually starts to disintegrate as new bulblets form and begin to grow. This period between blooming and the plant dying is referred to as the grand period of growth when professional growers manipulate the circumstances to create larger bulbs, which, in turn, create larger blooms. The grand period of growth is when the energy flow reverses, in that it concentrates its efforts downward building new bulbs instead of upward to form flowers.

Treatments developed over hundreds of years help professional growers in places like Holland and the Skagit Valley expand their stocks and grow larger bulbs successfully. Tulip bulbs there are dug up every year and given controlled temperature treatments in the summer months that manipulate the tulips and somewhat replicate what they would be receiving in their native region. These special treatments are still being modified today as new varieties are being developed. The home gardener may have less success with using similar method of growing.

Wet soil promotes fungus and disease and can even rot bulbs, especially tulip bulbs, so always plant tulips in a well-drained and airy soil. Wet soil can also cause bulbs to drown out or suffocate. Suffocation can also be caused by tight, hard soils that do not hold much oxygen. If this is the case, adding compost and a bit of sand to a soil to make it more airy. A general rule of thumb is planting bulbs in 10-inch deep loose, airy soil. A raised bed might have to be created. Proper soil drainage is very important when planting bulbs.

Fertilize and water bulbs when planting. Sufficient water at the time of planting is necessary to get them growing and to ensure the start of a strong root system. Fertilizing in the fall with a special bulb fertilizer is a good idea, especially if you do not dig up your bulbs and are trying to get them to perennialize.

After the tulips have passed their peak, top off the old blooms and let the stems and leaves die down normally. This will help the new bulblets grow bigger under ground.

Dayelle Swensson is an avid writer for the web on a number of topics. Having gardened herself for many years, she is able to advise others about a variety of things including gardening tips, lawn and tree care, watering, hose reel and keeping your home garden looking attractive and healthy.

Crop Rotation in your Home Garden

Moving your garden to different spots in your yard from year to year can be beneficial. You can prevent disease, help your crops to produce and even help prevent insect infestation in your garden. Learn how to rotate your vegetables so that your soil continues to help you grow great vegetables every year.

Using peat moss in your garden is one way to help the soil stay healthy. If you do not have the space to move your garden each year, then using peat moss can really help you extend the life of the soil. Also, remember not to plant your vegetables in the same spot as the year before. Keep a chart of where you planted each thing so that you can be sure you do not use the same spot for the same plant twice in a row.

Different vegetables use up different nutrients in the soil. For example, parsley, potatoes, spinach and corn can pull a lot of magnesium from the soil. In order for these plants to properly produce, they should be rotated to a new place in the garden each year. Tomatoes are especially important to rotate. They pull more nutrients from the soil than just about any other commonly grown vegetable. If the same soil is used over and over, your tomatoes will begin to contract diseases or simply not produce.

Planting and rotating your crops in a certain order can also help to naturally repel insects. Most insects do not like the stronger smelling vegetables. Plant onions, garlic, dill and rosemary between your other crops. The smell will help keep insects away and these plants are small and will not shade your larger vegetables. If you are not interested in growing these vegetables, consider boiling garlic cloves and using the water to spray on the leaves of your plants. This method has been found to be very effective in repelling almost all kinds of common garden insects.

If you do not want to move your garden every year, consider a raised box garden. You can add bagged soil, cow manure and peat moss each year to maintain nutrients and the acidity necessary for abundant vegetable growth. Remember that a box garden, or container garden, may need more water than a garden planted directly in the ground. Keep a garden hose reel handy so that you can easily and quickly water your garden in the summer heat. With a plan in mind, you can produce healthy, nutrient-packed vegetables year after year.

About the Author: Stacy Pessoney is an award winning author and writer of web content for many different web sites. She is well versed in many different areas, including gardening, hose reel, lawn care and landscaping.

Home Composting DIY

The amount of trash that we generate is a big concern among Americans today. One solution that seems to be catching on is composting at home. Some people report reducing the amount of trash that they produce to less than half of what it was before. The biggest reduction in trash is seen when yard clippings and leaves are composted instead of disposed of in plastic yard bags.

You can easily start composting in your own yard without very much effort or cost. Most people choose to build their own composting container as opposed to spending a lot of money on a manufactured one. There are a few basic things to keep in mind when you are building your compost container.

First, there needs to be circulation. Air needs to be able to reach all levels of the compost heap in order for decomposition to take place. Some people drill holes in the sides of a bottomless trash can to create a quick and easy compost container. Wooden slats are popular as well. Space boards about an inch apart to allow air to enter. This helps control fungus and other problems. Chicken wire can also be used.

The second thing to think about is humidity and moisture. The compost needs to stay moist to decompose. Making you compost heap tall is one way to ensure that it does not completely dry out. Five or six feet tall is about right for a home compost bin. As food scraps, yard clippings and other organics decompose, they will create heat. The ventilation will help keep the heap a little cooler. If you put your compost bin in a shady location, that will help keep the temperature down as well.

You do not want your compost bin to create odors, attract insects or other pests. So, keep a few things in mind as you compost. Do not put meat or fats into your compost heap as they can attract rodents, raccoons and possums. When you put grass clippings in, mix them around with other layers or leaves because moisture is easily trapped in wet grass and it can smell. If you are adding food, like vegetables, egg shells, coffee grounds and bread, bury them under a layer of yard waste to keep insects from being attracted to the pile. Only add manure from farm animals, not dogs or cats.

Adding manure helps keep the nitrogen content of the pile high enough to encourage decomposition. Do not put in a lot of acidic waste at once, like pine needles, or the nitrogen content will be affected. Basically, you need a balance of green and brown waste to maintain a healthy compost bin. Greens include grass, vegetables, fruits, coffee and tea grounds. Browns consist of egg shells, cardboard (shredded), dry leaves, fireplace ashes and dryer lint.

The moisture balance in your compost bin is very important. If it dries out, nothing will happen. If it gets too wet, it will create odors, molds and fungi. Keep a hose reel close by for occasional watering and keep a lid on top to avoid the bin becoming too saturated by rain. Your compost will help you create a cleaner environment and give you plenty of healthy compost to use in your garden and landscaping.

About the Author: Stacy Pessoney is an award winning author and writer of web content for many different web sites. She is well versed in many different areas, including gardening, hose reel, lawn care and landscaping.

Lawn Care Tips

-Aeration: Aerating your lawn can help oxygen reach the roots of your grass. Normally, soil has tiny air pockets that provide this oxygen, but your yard can become compact due to sports, kids, mowing and animals. You can aerate with spikes, but they can actually contribute to compaction. The recommended method is core aeration, which takes small plugs of soil from your yard.

-Fertilize: Fertilizing may not be necessary if you mow your yard often. Providing the lawn with too much fertilizer can actually give your grass a shallow root system and cause more problems. If you do use a fertilizer, use it sparingly and only if you need to tackle a major weed problem. One of the best things you can do to fertilize your yard is to leave grass clippings when you mow.

-Mow: Mowing on a regular schedule can help keep your lawn healthy. Do not let the grass get so tall that you will need to cut more than half of the blade height. Cutting off too much of the grass can damage it, causing it to turn brown or even die. Make sure your mower blades are sharpened every season to avoid ugly, brown, jagged tops. Do not mow in the heat of the day because grass will be sensitive to heat for a couple of hours after being cut.

-Compost: Compost dry leaves and yard clippings along with other organic waste to create your own fertilizer. Compost is great for your flower beds, tree growth and makes good filler for holes in your lawn. Not only will you save money, but you will save quite a few lawn bags and the environment.

-Problem Areas: Sloping areas in your yard can be a big problem. Some people try for years to grow grass on slopes, but it just keeps washing downhill. Talk to a nursery or landscaper in your area about native plants that have deep roots. They will anchor themselves to the slope better than grass and usually require very little maintenance.

-Water: You may not have to water your lawn often unless you live in a very hot or arid climate. Water your grass in the morning so that water has time to soak in before the sun can evaporate it. Watering mid-day is just about useless. Watering in the evening can over-saturate the lawn, causing root rot and other problems. Water your grass deeply and less often for optimal lawn health. Keep a hose reel handy for easy watering so that watering does not become a chore that you want to avoid.

About the Author: Stacy Pessoney is an award winning author and writer of web content for many different web sites. She is well versed in many different areas, including gardening, hose reel, lawn care and landscaping.

Planting New Trees

Planting trees in your yard can add shade, reduce noise, and add value to your home. Taking care when planting and growing a new tree is essential to its survival. The first few years are crucial. Caring for your trees, pruning when necessary and adequate watering will help them thrive.

Decide what types of trees grow well in your growing zone. Take photos or draw pictures of what you hope the trees will look like in your yard at maturity. Choose the right shape of tree, not only for the aesthetic value, but also to fit a mature tree into your available space. The shapes you will be considering include round, oval, pyramidal, columnar and v-shaped. Select trees according to canopy size, not just height.

No tree should be planted closer than eight feet from your home or other structures. Only small trees should be planted this close. Fifteen feet is recommended for medium sized trees while twenty feet is a good minimum distance for large trees.

Check with authorities about rules concerning tree planting. You do not want to plant a tree near an intersection where it could hinder drivers from seeing on-coming traffic. Sewer lines, underground cable and gas lines should be avoided. Make sure that the roots of your new trees will not interfere with your septic system, driveway or water lines. Keep the eight to twenty foot rule in mind when avoiding structures that could be damaged by an expanding root system. If you plant in an inappropriate area, your tree could be removed by city workers.

Plant your tree just deep enough to cover all of the roots and very little of the trunk. Dig a hole much bigger across than you will need. Turning all of the soil for a few feet away from the tree will help the roots take hold and spread. Using this turning technique can help your tree grow twice as fast and live twice as long. Use a tiller for optimal results.

Once planted, you will need to mulch the area around the bottom of the tree. This is essential because newly planted trees are very delicate and can easily dry out and die. Mulch acts as a good insulator, holds in plenty of moisture and prevents the soil from becoming compacted.

Watering is of great importance for the first few years of a trees life. After planting, saturate the soil with water, letting it soak down past the rootball. Water, to this depth, once a week unless you have been getting heavy rains. If you live in a very dry or hot area, water only in the morning and up to three times per week. Keep a garden hose reel handy so that you will remember to water your new trees.

About the Author: Stacy Pessoney is an award winning author and writer of web content for many different web sites. She is well versed in many different areas, including gardening, hose reel, lawn care and landscaping.

Some Cacti Choices

There are so many different types, shapes, and sizes of cactus and succulent plants. The cactus family extends to thousands of varieties and species. Most people when they think of cactus think they need a dry, hot environment. But actually cacti thrive indoors in various amounts of light and humidity and conditions. Succulents are ideal plants for the busy person who forgets to water for long periods of time. Cactus plants need less humidity and water than most indoor plants and are very tolerant with variations in the temperature.

Basically, cacti from desert areas are plump and spiny while cacti that originally grew in jungle areas are spineless and are usually flat or thin. Most cacti have needles. Some have leaves and bloom. The Cactus Pereskia, when full grown, looks like an orange or a grapefruit tree. At maturity, the Melocactus grows a cap on top that sprouts beautiful rosy-pink flowers.
What makes cactus plants different is that they feature thick, fleshy leaves that remarkably store water. They have qualities (like needle growth) to expose the least amount of surface to the heat of the sun and the winds. Many people find succulents to be of great beauty. The longer they grow, the more magnificent they become. Listed below are some of these beauties to add to your garden or houseplant display.

A succulent that is just great to have around the house all the time is Aloe Vera. This plant has natural antibiotic properties and is medically recognized to help heal burns and soothe skin irritations. It is the perfect thing to rub on your skin after summer sun exposure. Just cut one of the heavy, stiff Agave leaves and take its sticky sap and rub it on a cut or sunburn to make it heal.

The Yucca plant originating from Mexico and Guatemala features sword-shaped, grass green leaves. Over time, the plant will start to lose its lower leaves and the trunk will grow more tall and thicker. Some grow up to forty feet tall when grown outside. If the Yucca is grown indoors, the plant can grow as tall as nine feet high as long as the ceiling permits this.
Native to the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean region of North Africa, Aeoniums are flowering cacti. The flowers, which are usually yellow, come out of the growing points in the center of the rosette. In most cases, the plant dies after flowering when the seed matures.

Crassula have thick, glossy, fleshy, jade-green leaves. Because they prefer bright light and reproduce very easily from leaf and stem cuttings, these succulent plants adjust well to growing indoors.

Euphorbia Tirucalli Pencil Cactus is a unique plant with pencil-shaped stems and very small deciduous leaves. Use caution when handling the stems that contain a milky corrosive sap that can burn the skin. Sticks on Fire is another striking form of Tirucalli makes a unique container plant that can reach up to eight feet tall. The branches on this plant are as thin as pencils and a reddish-golden color that fades closer to yellow in the summer.

The Orchid Cactus or Night Blooming Cereus is a bizarre and enchanting plant. Surprisingly easy-to-grow, this plant loves direct sunlight and dry conditions. The sword-shaped, flattened leaves have nasty thorns along the edges. In the peak blooming time (around mid-March), some leaves can get up to two feet in length and the cactus becomes quite showy completely covered with flowers. The beautiful open-faced, seven inch blooms make the Orchid Cactus very appealing. When grown in the landscape, plant this succulent in partial shade. Orchid Cactus makes a great container plant for patios.

The Ferocactus is a barrel-shaped cactus with prominent ribs. It gets its name from the long, heavy, hooked spines. The skin and spines of this cactus are peeled off and the flesh is diced and eaten raw or candied.

From Mexico, the Holiday Cactus gets its common name from the time of year they flower (on the holidays— Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter). Their flowers can range in color from white to rose, red, lavender, and purple.

Perfect for rock gardens since they will grow for years in spots where others will not are sedum plants. The name sedum comes from the Latin ‘sedeo: I sit’ suggesting that these cacti will sit or grow just about anywhere. They are also very easy to propagate.

Looking nothing like a spider, the Spider Cactus from Southern Brazil is a fat, globular plant that gets its common name from its spine arrangement. In very bright light, this cactus takes on a brownish cast.

Dayelle Swensson is an avid writer for the web on a number of topics. Having gardened herself for many years, she is able to advise others about a variety of things including gardening tips, lawn and tree care, watering, hose reel and keeping your home garden looking attractive and healthy.

Cacti Propagation

Most cacti will do best at temperatures similar to that of most other houseplants. The many different varieties can tolerate a wide range of growing temperatures. In the winter, the ideal placement for a cactus is on a windowsill or in a sunny cool room. During the summer, the best place for cacti is outdoors on the deck or anywhere they can receive bright light. They will do best with cool breezes during the day and cool humid conditions at the night. A bit of caution must take place when moving an interior plant to the outdoors. Make sure it gets partial shade in the beginning of this transition, and then let it slowly be moved into a sunnier position. This will save your plant from being shocked or scorched if you put it immediately into the hot, intense full sun.

A nice thing about cacti is that they are easily propagated from branches or offshoots. After removing an offshoot, it should be allowed to dry for two weeks. Use a clean, sharp knife when taking a cutting from a stem section. Plant the broken or cut edge after it has healed in dry medium at a shallow depth. When taking several sections from one long stem, remember which is the top and the bottom of each piece. If you mistakenly plant a stem piece upside down, it will not grow. A simple way of keeping track of this is to cut the bottom of each segment on a slight angle, and the top straight across.

Branching cacti are ones that form pads and make ideal specimens for cutting to propagate. The cuttings should be taken at the joints so that the mother plant is not significantly disfigured. A single oval pad from a branching cactus makes an ideal sized cutting.

Fungal soft rot is the primary problem that can develop with cactus cuttings. A simple thing to keep in mind when doing cacti cuttings is to work with dry material. A fungal rot condition begins at the cut surface eventually reducing the entire cutting to a slimy, undesirable mass. If water has gotten to the cut mark during transplanting, it can be bad. There are two techniques recommended for avoiding fungal soft rot. The first is to simply allow all fresh cuttings to sit in a warm dry place from one day to up to even two weeks before they are placed in the rooting medium. The general rule of thumb to gauge this is the larger the cut surface is, the longer they should be allowed to dry. This is important because during this time, the cut, moist surface will form a dry callus that is far less prone to soft rot.

Remember that the nature of a cactus is to be able to survive periods of drought. Leaving a new cutting out in the open air, exposed for several days would be a bit harsh for most plants. If you see that the cutting is starting to shrivel up, then, of course, it is time to place it in your planting medium that is usually sandy. Another way to avoid the onset of soft rot is to dip your newly cut stem segments in garden sulphur before planting. And unlike other plants, do not water the cactus cutting for a week. When you do start to water it, do sparingly.

Dayelle Swensson is an avid writer for the web on a number of topics. Having gardened herself for many years, she is able to advise others about a variety of things including gardening tips, lawn and tree care, watering, hose reel and keeping your home garden looking attractive and healthy.

Cactus Care

Although this seems pretty obvious it is worth mentioning as the first step to successfully growing a healthy cactus plant: first, purchase one that is already in good health. Look to see if there are any damaged spines, obvious signs of bruising, or uneven, lopsided growth; then, avoid choosing these. Some cacti grow spindly growth during their time in the store under dim lights and unfavorable conditions. Know that the damaged or disfigurement will never really correct itself once brought into your ideal care. It is best to buy a cactus plant in the greenhouse where it was grown, or as soon as possible after it has been shipped to the retail outlet.

A good rule to go by when choosing plants for your garden is to select ones that already have a proven successful track record for the particular climate where you live. The care a cactus requires is largely dictated by the climatic conditions where that cactus would be found growing naturally.

For the most part, cactus plants can be separated into two major groups: sun-loving and shade-loving. Cactus need at the least, very bright light to maintain good color and shape. The smooth, soft, leafy types generally require less sun than the spiny, fuzzy or hairy varieties.

The potting medium suitable to grow most cacti is composed of equal volumes of coarse sand, peat and perlite. The container used for vertical cactus plants should have a diameter half the height of the plant. Plant round cacti in containers that have a diameter two inches greater than that of the plant. Take care to prevent rot, a common problem with growing cacti. One preventive way is to be sure the pot is dry before transplanting, and transplant into dry soil, not wet like other plants prefer. Wait a week before watering to allow for the roots damaged in transplanting to repair.

As indicated above, the watering of a cactus plant is one of the biggest dilemmas to cactus owners. Since a cactus does not wilt at the first sign of drought stress, the plant offers few cues that it needs water. A good rule of thumb is to water when the top two inches of soil is dry adjusting with the season. Cacti will require more water during the period of summertime growth than they will during the slowed, or halted growth of winter. In fact, in the winter some cacti may require water only once a month.

The most important consideration in watering a cactus is to never let the pots stand in water. Waterlogged soil can quickly lead to rotting with disastrous consequences for the plant. Cacti do not need to be watered and fertilized as frequently as other plants. Water only when they dry out. When temperatures are either too hot or too cold, a cactus will often simply go dormant, and some varieties have dormant periods when watering can be very harmful. Because of the absorbent quality, unglazed clay pots require more frequent watering than glazed clay or plastic pots, and small pots require more frequent watering than large pots.

Dayelle Swensson is an avid writer for the web on a number of topics. Having gardened herself for many years, she is able to advise others about a variety of things including gardening tips, lawn and tree care, watering, hose reel and keeping your home garden looking attractive and healthy.

Cactus, the Amazing Succulent

If you live in a hot and dry climate, the amount of plants that survive requiring low maintenance is slim, especially during the dog days of June through September. The ease of growing cactus in this climate is something to consider. Really the only thing you can do wrong is to over water a cactus. How easy is that?

Cactus grows in all kinds of shapes, forms, color, and designs (even stripes). It is truly amazing what nature will produce as cacti. Including about 2,000 species, all perennial and succulent, the cactus family (Cactaceae) is one of the most striking, distinctive, diversified and specialized groups in the plant kingdom.

Because they require so little maintenance they make excellent houseplants. Many hardy varieties may be grown outside. A popular way to grow cacti is in groups. Place many different kinds together in one container. You select which ones and make your own little landscape. Small specimens are ideal for this. You can combine them with rocks to offset the focal point.

The succulent type of cactus does well as pot plants. These include Aloe Vera, crassulas, Echeverias, peperomias and kalanchoe. And some cactus and succulent plants grow from three feet high to as high as ten feet or more. These larger ones make dramatic floor plants or can be set outside if the climate is appropriate. These include Cereus peruvianus, Yucca elephantipes, Euphorbias, ponytail palm or bottle palm.

Succulents are plants that have organs such as leaves, stems or roots that are capable of storing water during the rainy or wet season in order to survive during the extended periods of drought. Cacti are considered stem succulents. During periods of moisture, the stem swells. Then during droughts, the stem slowly contracts. You can actually note this on the cacti that have ribs. The ribs will fill in and contract like an accordion according to when they are storing water and when they are have used up their stored supply.

The orchid cactus, Epiphyllum is a cactus that flowers. Its fragrant blooms grow up to eight inches across. The distinctiveness of the cactus family shows itself not only in the flower structure, but also in one characteristic only present in cacti and absent in all species of all other plant families: the spine cushion or areole. Whether or not spines are present, all cacti have areoles. Areoles differ in structure on different kinds of cacti. In this way you can distinguish one cactus plant from another.

Dayelle Swensson is an avid writer for the web on a number of topics. Having gardened herself for many years, she is able to advise others about a variety of things including gardening tips, lawn and tree care, watering, hose reel and keeping your home garden looking attractive and healthy.

Flower Gardening is Rapidly Becoming a Popular Hobby

More and more homeowners are getting into flower gardening. With so many resources available now, it is easier for those who are just beginning to know what to do or get advice on what choices to make, as well as for those who have some background in this field wanting to check on innovations and receive more knowledge.

If you a beginner at this it is best to start small. You can always expand once you get a better feel about what is involved. You don not want to start off with too much to handle. It can become overwhelming and take the joy out of he hobby. A suggested initiation to flower gardening is building a small flowerbed, and once you get the hang of things, begin to understand and appreciate the concept of growing, you can add on appropriately.

There are ways to approach gardening. The most common is with chemical fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides. The other method is gaining a revival as of late with more people realizing its benefits, and that is the organic way. Organic gardening is for the conscientious and considers your garden as a living ecosystem. It works to create a natural balance in your flower garden, and strives to keep it healthy without harsh and harmful chemicals.

First, choose your site. Know the amount of sun that will fall on this area of your landscape. Sunlight is one of the key essentials to a garden growing healthily. Use an average of six hours of sunlight a day as a start and then select plants for full sun or shade accordingly. Another point to consider is how your spot will receive water. Is it close to the watering hose or will you have to use a watering can? Will it receive good natural drainage when it rains?

If the area you have selected gets a lot of sunlight, you should choose flowers that love full exposure to the sun. Read the instructions on the plants when you purchase them at a garden center or if you purchase them online make sure this information is specified. They will tell you how much sun is preferred. There are many plants that do not survive in the heat of the sun so save these for a shaded area. A garden plan is a good thing to do, but remember it may have to be altered with what it available at the time to you.

Once your area has been determined, mark it out with something such as a water hose. Within this boundary remove any sod, grass, and weeds. Dig your flowerbed at least ten inches deep, removing rocks and odd debris in the way. Prepare the soil by adding in a good appropriate topsoil mix.

Once this is completed, you are ready to plant. Watch your plantings grow into a beautiful flower garden. With just a little effort, your bulbs will immerse colorful blooms. Choose from iris, tulips, gladiolus, hyacinth, and daylilies, just to name only a few.

Dayelle Swensson is an avid writer for the web on a number of topics. Having gardened herself for many years, she is able to advise others about a variety of things including gardening tips, lawn and tree care, watering, hose reel and keeping your home garden looking attractive and healthy.

Make Gardening Fun with Unusual Accessories

One of the most fun things to do with your landscape is to utilize unusual and recycled items (as in giving the pieces another purpose or a new life) for garden accessories. These one-of-a-kind gardening pieces become part of your unique statement and they also will make interesting conversation topics. Using a little imagination and ingenuity, an ordinary landscape can be given a makeover simply by incorporating a few gardening accessories. Your garden is a place for everything, especially the unusual. You can turn nearly anything into useful gardening accessories. The few examples below illustrate how easy and practical it can be to do this.

Vines need support to climb along and around. Consider adding to your landscape ladders, gates, or bed frames for this purpose. Some very common things such as plastic jugs, old pots and pans, baskets, tires, aluminum pails, a pair of outgrown old boots, as well as old wash tubs and sinks can make great containers for a colorful display of flowers. It is important that these odd containers provide sufficient drainage. If there aren’t any, then just cut out some holes. Small ponds, fountains or other water displays can also be created from old objects like a tub, barrel, tire, or basin.

You may want to include clever lighting to your landscaping to enjoy evenings outside. Line walkways, patios, or garden areas with candles dropped into canning jars or large-mouthed bottles. Old coffee, soup, or paint cans can be used for this and create a subtle light while protecting the candle from wind. Punch holes in decorative designs and add some paint to make them pretty.

Stones, weathered stumps, logs, or railroad ties can be placed in strategic locations to provide interest to a particular area or provide edgings for borders, walkways, and flower beds.

Old garden tools that have worn out their use as garden tools can regain new life as garden accessories. Both wheelbarrows and old mowers are good for this. With a little imagination, an old rake or pitchfork can become an eye-catching focal point in your vegetable garden, for instance. Old shovels and hoes can be turned into amusing creatures policing your garden from pests. Old pieces of junk, old metal chairs and beds, or unused bicycles can be pulled apart and reassembled into creative sculptures, gates, or fences.

Let your imagination extend the life of many old, no longer wanted items by adding interest and a unique, personal touch to your garden.

Dayelle Swensson is an avid writer for the web on a number of topics. Having gardened herself for many years, she is able to advise others about a variety of things including gardening tips, lawn and tree care, watering, hose reel and keeping your home garden looking attractive and healthy.

Butterfly Garden Basics

You can design a garden that will attract butterflies. The flowering plants and peaceful butterflies will help ensure a beautiful and relaxing atmosphere in your garden. Put your butterfly garden in a place where you can sit and enjoy it. Many people like to place them around a gazebo, beside a walking path or near their porches where they can spend some time adoring these mysterious creatures.

Butterflies love the sun and require the heat from the sun to move. You may want to place dark colored stones around the area so that the butterflies can absorb the warmth whenever they need it. Concrete benches make nice warm landing areas and offer a great place to sit observe the butterflies up close. Choose a sunny location for your butterfly garden. Thankfully, the plants that attract butterflies also thrive in direct sun.

The types of plants you will need will depend on where you live. Find out which butterflies are native to your area, then find out which types of plants they are attracted to. You will need to plant the ones that provide nectar for the adult butterflies and the correct types of leaves for the offspring to eat. Remember not to use pesticides near your butterfly garden or you will kill the butterflies, defeating the purpose.

Butterflies are very lightweight and have very large wings when compared to their body mass. Therefore, they do not like the wind very much and have difficulty getting around when it is windy. This is why you should choose an area protected from the wind when you select a location for your butterfly garden. If you do not have a good place, simply build small fence or place prefabricated fence sections near your butterfly garden. They should provide enough protection to keep the butterflies happy.

Butterflies need a moist area to survive. They cannot drink from standing water, so they need dew and moist soil to collect moisture. The plants that attract butterflies will make some shade on the ground which will help keep the soil moist.

Some people choose to place a large shallow container filled with dirt or sand underneath their butterfly attracting bushes. The container should not drain and will hold more moisture than the ground. You can even mix in some table salt to provide extra minerals for your butterflies. Water it two or three times a week to ensure that it stays fairly wet, but do not leave standing water on the top. If the weather is particularly hot or dry, you may want to water more often. Keep a garden hose reel nearby for easy access and watering. Relax and enjoy the butterflies as they live their lives in your beautiful butterfly garden.

About the Author: Stacy Pessoney is an award winning author and writer of web content for many different web sites. She is well versed in many different areas, including gardening, hose reel, lawn care and landscaping.

How to Adjust Your Soil pH

Soil pH could mean the difference in life or death for your plants. Have you ever planted a tree or shrub only to watch it slowly decline? It could be the pH of your soil. Different plants require different levels of acidity. By testing your soil and adjusting the pH, you can grow a garden full of the plants that you love.

In general, arid climates have alkaline soil and humid areas have acidic soil. Acidity levels can vary depending on what plants and trees you already have growing. Bring a sample of your soil to your local nursery or hardware store. Most will just test the pH of your soil for you. You can also buy your own testing kit, which is generally an inexpensive investment. If you discover that you will need to adjust the pH of your soil to grow the plants that you want to grow, then it may be worth it to go ahead and purchase the kit.

Lowering your soil pH will make it more acidic. Acidic soil is generally preferred for many common landscaping plants. Many people choose to naturally lower the pH of their soil by working in coffee grounds, pine needles or pine mulch over the course of several months or even years. If you need faster results, you may decide to use acidic fertilizers or sulfur, available at your nursery or hardware store. Peat moss is another great way to lower your soil pH, but it will only last for about one season.

Raising your soil pH makes it more alkaline. If you are planting things that need a more alkaline soil, it may be as easy as watering an area by hand over a period of time. Test your water to see if it is alkaline before using this method. Adding lime to the soil is a quick and easy way to raise the pH levels. Follow directions exactly so that you do not over do it. Soils that drain well may require more lime than soils that are hard or sandy.

In general, plants that require alkaline soils will need to have a pH of higher than 7.0, which is neutral. Be careful about going too high, because most plants will not grow in soil that has a pH of higher than 7.5. Plants that require acidic soil will require a pH of below 7.0. Usually you will not want your soil to be lower than about 6.2.

Gardening and landscaping can be an enjoyable experience when you know what to plant where. Adjusting the soil can make growing your favorite plants pleasurable. Keep your garden hose reel handy for easy watering, prune when necessary and your plants in their proper soil will need little else.

About the Author: Stacy Pessoney is an award winning author and writer of web content for many different web sites. She is well versed in many different areas, including gardening, hose reel, lawn care and landscaping.

Growing Camellias

Camellias are beautiful garden evergreens that provide blooms throughout the winter months in southern areas. Camellias have a lot of fragrance and the dark green foliage provides a sustainable background for your landscaping needs.

In southern states where temperatures rarely drop below freezing, camellias keep their blooms all winter. They love to grow in shady areas and thrive in humidity. They can withstand winter weather down to fifteen degrees Fahrenheit without cover. Simply covering them with a sheet or plastic on nights when it may drop below fifteen degrees will keep your winter camellias looking fabulous.

Camellias come in almost every color, and they stay around from about October to March. This has made camellias legendary in the south, adorning famous gardens throughout the southern states. Some varieties are better suited for northern areas, so even if you are not in the south you can enjoy these beautiful fragrant flowers.

Caring for camellias is rather easy. Prune the shrubs after the blooms fall off in the spring. They can grow up to eight feet tall and require very little care unless you want to keep them small. They love humidity and damp soil. Do not over-water or your camellias could develop root rot. Mulch the area around the base of the shrub to keep moisture in the soil. Drying out for a long time can kill a camellia.

Camellias grow best in acidic soil, which is another reason they are well suited to the south. Pine needles, pine mulch and coffee grounds can be worked into the soil to lower the pH of alkaline or neutral soil down to an acidic state. Use acidic sulfur or fertilizer if your soil is resistant to acidity or if the water you use is alkaline. Do not fertilize in the fall when it is time for the camellias to bloom or it may not make blooms.

Camellias have a shallow root system, so avoid planting them near other trees or plants that may compete with the camellia for water. Because of their evergreen quality, they are perfect for landscaping or providing greenery in your yard. They grow great underneath southern pines which acidify the soil and have a deep root system.

Another reason to use camellias in landscaping is how fast they can grow. They grow about a foot a year, so in as little as five years you can have a substantially sized shrub, even if you start with a baby camellia. Remember that you will need at least partial shade for camellias to flourish. Water often and not too much at a time to help your camellias succeed. Keep the garden hose handy on a garden hose reel, which can easily be kept out of site behind your camellia.

About the Author: Stacy Pessoney is an award winning author and writer of web content for many different web sites. She is well versed in many different areas, including gardening, hose reel, lawn care and landscaping.

Beautiful Gardenias

Gardenias are very popular but are often an overlooked option by landscapers. You can plant gardenias yourself and enjoy the large ornamental blooms that can last even through the winter months.

Gardenias are most popular in the southern states but are also frequently seen in northern areas. Gardenias have dark green leaves with contrasting bright blooms. They really stand out in the crowd. The gardenia shrub is an evergreen. The dark green leaves are glossy, full and sturdy. So the gardenia makes a great shrubbery or small tree to have in your landscaping.

The blooms are very fragrant and are sometimes desired solely for their aroma. The blooms are white or light yellow and contrast nicely against their deep green background. Gardenias bloom in late spring or summer. The blooms can last for months, even through the winter months in milder southern climates.

Many people choose gardenias as the background in their landscaping plans and have various bulb flowers that pop up at different times throughout the year to keep flowers almost year round. This is another thing that makes gardenias so popular with hotels and antebellum homes where landscaping is part of the allure or even the main attraction.

Gardenias love full sun in cooler climates and partial shade in the southernmost states. Extreme heat can kill a gardenia or cause it not to bloom. Gardenias grow best and fullest in humid environments or indoors. Keep gardenias watered, just be careful not to overwater them. The soil should be kept acidic, so use an acidic fertilizer in the spring and summer months. Gardenias can be very temperamental, especially if you attempt to relocate them.

Another way to keep the soil acidic is to work pine needles or pine mulch into the soil before you plant. Allowing these materials to partially decompose in the soil will help the acidity. Coffee grounds are also helpful. If you have time to prepare the area for several weeks, you can work in pine products, coffee grounds and water liberally to accelerate decomposition. If you do not want to work with the soil for an extended period of time, you can purchase sulfur or sulfates at your local nursery to lower the pH of your soil. If you use your water hose to water your gardenia and the water is alkaline, you may want to use acidic fertilizers and sulfur about once a year to keep soil acidic.

If you get the soil just right or if you are lucky enough to have acidic soil to begin with, your gardenias should thrive for many years with little care. Keep your garden hose easily accessible and hidden on a garden hose reel for easy watering. Enjoy the beautiful blooms and incredible fragrance of your gardenias for many months out of the year.

About the Author: Stacy Pessoney is an award winning author and writer of web content for many different web sites. She is well versed in many different areas, including gardening, hose reel, lawn care and landscaping.

Controlling Plant Disease Organically

A diseased plant has an infection caused by fungi, bacteria, and viruses.

The fungal spores that tend to start the problem become prevalent usually in the wet weather season. These fungal spores grow when there is inadequate circulation of air in a greenhouse, for instance, poor water drainage, exorbitant irrigation, and/or too much dampness due to rainfall.

Since your goal is healthy plants you can take preventive measures by utilizing proper cultural practices such as variety in selections, proper irrigation and humidity management, adding plant and soil nutrition, regular pruning, and adequate row spacing.

The organic solution to fungal problems is to use copper and sulfur products, natural fungicides. Spores are prevented from growing when the plants have been coated with the appropriate physical barrier. To maximize success, it is important to make the applications prior to rainfall.

In order to survive, fungi must derive their food from other organisms because they are unable to produce nutrients on their own. Under hospitable conditions, fungi attack all parts of a plant and can damage plant translocation tissues; killing a plant in a relatively short period of time. Some of the most common fungal diseases are leaf spot, anthracnose and rust.

Bacterial infection is not as prevalent as the plant diseases caused by fungi. Bacterial infection results primarily in damaging the plant as rotten tissue.

Sucking insects such as aphids and whiteflies are the culprits when it comes to viruses in plants transmitting the viruses from one plant to the other. Viral diseases typically cause less damage than those vectored by fungi and bacteria and infected plants are usually partially damaged and weakened, however they seldom die.

A healthy plant naturally resists diseases. A healthy regimen that provides optimum health for your plants is the organic way to prevent disease. Take a proactive approach to combating and controlling fungal diseases and eradicating bacteria along with viruses. Plant diseases can spread easily and rapidly.

In addition to this precaution, it makes common sense to only choose healthy seedlings, water your garden properly using organic fertilizers as directed, and make sure it is kept clean and well ventilated. Avoid excessive moisture, where pathogens tend to breed, remove rotting leaves and trash, maintain a weeding program to reduce breeding sites for insects and disease, and remove and burn infected plant parts to stop any spread of the problem.

Dayelle Swensson is an avid writer for the web on a number of topics. Having gardened herself for many years, she is able to advise others about a variety of things including gardening tips, lawn and tree care, watering, hose reel and keeping your home garden looking attractive and healthy.

Soil Care for the Organic Garden

More gardeners are discovering the benefits of growing without noxious chemicals. The products needed to do this are easy to use and apply, and will provide the results you desire. You can use 100% organic solutions to grow not only beautiful flower gardens, but also to achieve lush lawns and bountiful orchards and farms.

To create healthy, living soil, use the highest quality organic fertilizers, soil amendments, micronutrients, and foliar spraying materials when you garden. These will enhance the growing power of your plants and improve the quality making them healthier.

As stewards of the land it is important for gardeners to realize that the soil is alive. Living organisms in soil represent the key to plant health and to human health. Soil microorganisms are the essential link between mineral reserves and plant growth. Ecological soil management aims at assisting all soil organisms instead of substituting them with a simplified chemical system. When synthetic chemical fertilizers are applied to the soil, essential microorganisms become eliminated. Nature’s delicate balance becomes interrupted and the result is soil compaction and weeds become prevalent.

As spring approaches, it is good to get your soil tested. A soil analysis will provide you with information regarding its health. A soil test kit will give you information about the pH, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium levels in your soil. This analysis will let you know what to add to your soil to give it balance or a more compatible condition for growing. You want to ensure that your plants or vegetables will be as healthy as possible.

Encourage microbial growth by adding microorganisms to the soil safely restoring the ecological balance to your garden or lawn. Support your soil by using green manures that will provide organic matter and nitrogen to your soil.

It is important to keep high levels of polysaccharides and other beneficial enzymes and organic acids in your soil that help build stable structure, reducing soil erosion and run-off. Soil that is able to absorb and retain moisture will cycle nutrients promoting healthy growth. Completely safe for humans and animals and certified organic, there are prepared solutions available to apply regularly to your garden and lawn. Applying these will ultimately save you time and money. You can use a watering can, hose-end sprayer, backpack sprayer or inject them through an irrigation system. When applied to compost piles, the breakdown of organic matter is accelerated resulting in less breeding sites for flies and other insects.

When the soil is cared for, it provides food for a healthier plant, which makes it possible for plants to naturally resist insect and disease pest problems.

Dayelle Swensson is an avid writer for the web on a number of topics. Having gardened herself for many years, she is able to advise others about a variety of things including gardening tips, lawn and tree care, watering, hose reel and keeping your home garden looking attractive and healthy.

The Gardening Shovel

The most essential gardening tool of the many pieces of equipment you will need is a shovel. Just think of it: you won’t be able to do much of anything without being able to dig a hole and plant something, dig something up to move or remove, backfilling or placing mulch around your plants and shrubs, or even prepare an area for vegetables. So the first purchase you should make above all is a shovel.

There are a number of different types of shovels. The standard basic garden shovel has a round-point and a blade that is usually about 8 inches wide and 12 long. This shovel will be used for the majority of work in the garden so it should be your first tool investment. There are also floral shovels specifically used for flowerbeds and designed to move more delicately than the average gardening shovel. You can also use the flower shovel for digging in tight spaces and transplanting small plants and shrubs.

Square-pointed shovels edged with a flat bottom are used for tasks such as the collecting and lifting of loosened material. They can be dragged along the surface to combine the already loosen pieces of material together. They usually have a poly handle grip, for better control. This type of shovel can also be useful when cutting edging.

When selecting a shovel, the most important thing to remember is saving your back to not be used under unnecessary extra exertion. Match the proper shovel to the job. Shovels are made in a variety of shapes and sizes so pick one that is suited to its purpose and at the right height for the user.

An example of a task could be digging a uniform trench. A combination of tools would be necessary. First the trench would be roughly dug with a round-point shovel, next, a flat spade would be used to trim and carve the sides of the trench. And the square-point shovel would also remove the loose dirt and debris from the bottom of the trench.

There are many special shovels too that aren’t for multi-tasking. Among these are a duckbill shovel and a trenching shovel. These are both great shovels with narrow blades, only 5 or 6 inches wide; and because of the snout on these shovels, they will cut deeply into the soil as you work, making the process more easy and efficient.

Whether it’s the basic standard shovel or specialty shovels, this tool is essential for gardening. The first gardening tip you should follow is knowing that the shovel is the absolute essential gardening hand tool to make your gardening work a lot easier and more fun.

Dayelle Swensson is an avid writer for the web on a number of topics. Having gardened herself for many years, she is able to advise others about a variety of things including gardening tips, lawn and tree care, watering, hose reel and keeping your home garden looking attractive and healthy.

Garden Tools and Techniques

The one gardening tip that must be considered by all whether you are a beginner or are a seasoned professional, is choosing and maintaining the proper tool for the particular task. Having the correct tool can make huge difference. By using this tool you can save time, make the chore easier, save wear and tear on your yard, and prevent unnecessary exertion on your body.

Among the several necessary tools vital for gardening is a good pair of hand clippers generally used for trimming rose bushes and shrubs and a good shovel that can be used in various different methods. One of the more versatile gardening tools is a pair of Loppers, a long-handled cutting tool. Because of its long handles it can reach further than hand clippers for trimming bushes and cutting through branches. Additions to this list of essential gardening tools are a rake, a pair of hedge shears, a tank sprayer, a wheelbarrow, a spreader, a push broom and a garden hose. Even with the right tools you can still misuse them; so knowing how to properly use and maintain your tools is also pretty important. The possibility of injury or unnecessary strain on your body can happen with the misuse of tools.

The technique in which you garden is as crucial as having the right tools. It plays a big part in the success of your gardening. Gardening techniques come from experience or experimenting and finding out what not to do. One particularly important and basic skill to be mastered is the knowledge of moving plants. Although some might think that the process is quite simple, for success to be guaranteed, knowing the actual basics is a must. Start by transporting on a mild cloudy day, and the tree should be heavily watered and drained deeply before transporting it, perhaps the day before the transplanting will be done. Dig down on each side, severing the roots as you go, slip heavy duty plastic under the root ball, and tip the tree gently to the side, pulling the plastic through under the root ball. After this, pull the plastic up and tie it around the trunk. Now the specimen is ready to be wherever you would like it to be. When the new hole has been prepared it is most important to get the tree into this new environment without delay. The amount of time for the bare roots to be exposed to the elements (sun and wind) should be kept at a minimum. Be sure to lift the plant by the root ball, and check to see that the tree is perpendicular to the ground once it is in the hole. Back fill the soil over the area and around the tree trunk. Then water, water, water the tree for the next few days. Even build a little moat around its base to keep the area constantly moist. The tree will slowly acclimate itself to its new space. Just make sure to pamper it in the beginning, like if you feel staking is necessary then do this to help the tree stand up straight.

Techniques in gardening take a few years to develop. People with a ‘green thumb’ will find adjustments more readily than others. The rewards of gardening are quite wonderful though and well worth all the efforts.

Dayelle Swensson is an avid writer for the web on a number of topics. Having gardened herself for many years, she is able to advise others about a variety of things including gardening tips, lawn and tree care, watering, hose reel and keeping your home garden looking good and healthy.