Getting Your Garden Ready for Winter

With the summer months receding into distant memory, now is the time for the astute gardener to turn her thoughts to the harsher winter months and prepare her garden accordingly. Forethought and action now can help your prized plot emerge from the wintry depths in a better condition than would otherwise be the case.

Lawns

A lawn can make or break the look of a garden, and proper pre-winter care is essential if it is to be at its best during the forthcoming year. In late autumn, give it its final mowing, making sure that the mower is set to its maximum cutting height. Also, keep raking off any leaves and debris that fall onto it from surrounding trees so that they don´t shade the grass, thereby excluding air, encouraging disease and inhibiting growth. Now is also the time to scarify the lawn with a spring-tined rake to remove dead grass, moss and other detritus, all obstacles to a healthy lawn. Then, the lawn should be aerated with a garden fork or a rotary aerator. This alleviates the soil compaction that has occurred during the year. The lawn will probably have sustained some damage after the wear and tear of the summer, so sow seed on any bare patches that have emerged, and make good any other repairs to edges and so on. Finally, a top-dressing should be applied to feed the grass and promote growth.

Flowerbeds and borders

In the flowerbeds, all the annuals, which will be dead or dying but certainly well past their best, should be dug up and put on the compost heap, while perennials should be cut back and, if required, divided to give more plants, which should then be planted in situ, or overwintered in a greenhouse. If you have any shrubs that you want to move, do it now, as it allows them time to get firmly anchored before the growing season. However, be sure to stake them, as they may need extra support while settling in. Soil loses a lot of nutrients during the summer, so dig in compost or fertilizer ahead of the next growing period. Roses should be dead-headed and cut back, so long as they are not winter-flowering, and trees and shrubs should be inspected for damage and disease, which can then be cut out. Any plants that have spent the summer outside in pots should now be returned to the confines of the house or the greenhouse before the first frosts.

Ponds

If you have a pond, cover it with some netting, which will prevent leaves etc. falling in and polluting the water. A good idea, if you have fish, is to float a small ball on the surface, so should it freeze over, you only have to lift the ball up to provide a ready-made hole for to allow the fish to breathe.

Building maintenance

Inspect walls and any other garden buildings, such as greenhouses and sheds, for wear and tear. Any weaknesses should be attended to before the inclement weather makes them worse and more costly to repair.

Garden furniture

If possible, garden furniture should be stored away somewhere safe and dry. However, if that is not possible, ensure that it is protected with weather-proof covers. And don´t forget that winter winds can be particularly harsh, so be sure that everything is weighted or tied down.

Tools

Finally, when all the jobs have been completed, it's time to turn your attention to your tools. They work hard and deserve to be treated with care, so clean and oil them well, and let them enjoy a well-deserved winter's rest in a nice, dry shed or garage.

Much of gardening in winter is the tidy up and then the prepartaion for a closed season. However there are of course things you can do for future growth, for example the drying out and storage of seeds or, as may people try, the winter treatment of seeds. Putting them into flats and then putting them outside over winter to see them germinate in spring. If you need ideas, get online and get inspired!

Graeme is writing on behalf of vegetable seeds supplier Kings Seeds

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7291942

Gardening and Health Benefits

Gardening is one of those hobbies which can be enjoyed by almost anybody. From the very young to the very old, from the very healthy to those with poor health or some form of disability, all types of person can enjoy various types of gardening. For those adults who are strong and healthy virtually any aspect of the hobby can be thoroughly enjoyed as often as they like but for those less fortunate strenuous gardening tasks, such as those involved in landscaping and building a new garden, may be beyond their capabilities. Such folk can still enjoy some of the lighter tasks, such as pruning and weeding, and they can certainly enjoy all of the many benefits.

One of the most obvious benefits of gardening are related to the elements of exercise. One of the beautiful things about gardening is that the hobby offers many different levels of exercise from the vigorous and strenuous to the light and easy going. At different ages we require different levels and different types of exercise. It is often a joke that when somebody is about to retire from full time employment they are likely to take up gardening in their spare time. It is true that a great many of us choose to take up the hobby late in life when we have much more spare time to enjoy such things but, for the elderly, regular and gentle exercise can help ensure that joints remain supple. For some elderly gardeners a simple task such as bending over to remove a weed can prove to be nearly impossible, or could lead to injury if done incorrectly. For this reason there are a number of garden implements available to help older folk. These include long handled tools which reduce the need for bending or a small platform with tall poles at each side to help the person lower themselves to a seated or kneeling position and then aide them in returning to the standing position.

Of course regular exercise is important to us all. Unfortunately it is often said that the increase in child obesity is due to lack of regular exercise and bad diet. Well gardening can cater for both these needs because as well as providing all sorts of opportunity for exercise we can also grow fresh fruit and vegetables in even the smallest of spaces. Young children, more often than not, find the whole process from planting the seeds to harvesting the produce, highly fascinating. Many schools now try to incorporate simple gardening into their science lessons and more and more are developing their own gardens, both flower and vegetable, for both educational and recreational use.

From the moment a fruit or vegetable is picked it begins to lose it's nutritional benefits most noticeable is the reduction in vitamin content. All produce now has a sell by date and a consume by date but, when it comes to fruit and vegetables they are best consumed as soon after harvesting as possible. Food should not be too processed, it should not be cooked for too long, as this further degrades the vitamins (steaming of fresh vegetables is increasing in popularity because it helps retain vitamins). Freezing the produce as soon after harvesting as possible can help greatly but nothing beats food which is picked and eaten on the same day.

By indulging in a little gardening you can ensure that at least some of your diet includes food which can be picked and eaten on the same day. Furthermore you can ensure that it is even healthier by avoiding the use of artificial chemicals. Organic fruit and vegetables are considered far healthier and organic gardening is not really that difficult. You will be amazed at how gorgeous a fresh organic new potato can taste and as for tomatoes, have you tasted a tomato recently? They are disgusting, they are often orange and rather tasteless. Compare the cheaper tomatoes with organic vine tomatoes and you can really taste the difference, and I really do mean that you will taste a massive difference. Sadly there is just a massive increase in the price but, happily, tomatoes are one of the most commonly grow vegetables or fruit grown in indoor gardening. I have often grown tomatoes on my kitchen window where they receive most sunlight and where they can be watched closely (as they do require a fair bit of attention). Homegrown tomatoes are simply the best and they remind me of my great grandfather who always grew a great many in his small greenhouse alongside one or two pot plants, a cacti or two and some seed trays full of annuals for his beautifully kept flower garden. He was an avid gardener all of his long life and credited his good health to his love of gardening.

There are numerous other health benefits to gardening, far to many to comprehensively list here, but, with a little research you will find sufficient ways in which to benefit from gardening to encourage almost anybody to take up the hobby. Even the disabled can benefit and can have a garden designed to compensate for their disabilities, such as raised beds which can enable them to weed, prune and plant. However the greatest benefit has to be the enjoyment of the garden itself. Time spent relaxing in a garden it truly priceless, especially if you have a hectic modern lifestyle. Just an hour or two a week spent taking in the sun surrounded by the sounds of birds and other wildlife can prove highly restorative. It is therefore little surprise that nearly every hospital, hospice, health spa or other such places, all have well kept gardens.

http://www.landscapinginfo4u.com/ is dedicated to providing quality information about all aspects of landscape gardening. The author, Andrew Kelly, has been a keen gardener since his childhood and, now retired, he spends most of his spare time enjoying the hobby and writing about it.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/949232

How to Make Your Garden Great for Kids

Nowadays kids spend way too much time indoors. To help get them off the couch and get outside and be active, create an enticing garden that they just won't be able to resist. Make your garden child friendly, with swing sets and other areas set aside just for them. Remember to provide play areas protected from the sun using canopies and other methods of creating shade.

Sandpit

A sandpit is a great play area for kids to get dirty and really use their imaginations. Boys in particular love sandpits and will spend hours with their toy trucks and cars playing in amongst the sand. You can easily create a sandpit by laying out four timber sleepers to create the border, then buy your sand and fill it in. It can be a good idea to buy a canopy for the pit, which you can pull over it when it is not in use. This stops dirt and other bits of rubbish ending up in it, and if you have pets you can avoid having them using the sandpit as a toilet.

Cubby House

Children love cubby houses and it is great for them to have a special place all of their own. It does not necessarily have to be fancy, and if you have a large and sturdy tree you may want to build them a tree house. You can buy ready made cubby houses, or kits that are easy to put together. Otherwise you can design one yourself. Get the kids to help you, they are sure to have lots of ideas as to what they think a cubby house needs. You can also be creative and build something other than a traditional cubby house, such as a pirate ship or space ship. Be as imaginative as you like.

Vegetable Garden

Put a vegetable garden in and give your kids their own plot. Let them help with the whole process, of preparing the soil, choosing what they want to plant, planting the seeds and taking care of the plant. Finally they will be rewarded with their own vegetables, and they can pick them and help prepare them to eat. Growing vegetables can teach children a lot about how our food is produced and can encourage them to eat healthy food.

Adventure Playground

If you have the space you may want to create an adventure playground of sorts, with a swing set, a slide and other play equipment. Put plenty of tan bark around underneath equipment to ensure a safe landing if someone falls and you may want to put up a canopy overhead to provide some shade.

Secret Garden

If you have the space, and can afford to do it, create a secret garden for your kids. Partition off a corner of your garden with a fast growing hedge and create a secret shady world of their own. Have the entry guarded by an archway or gate and let your kids use this space as their very own.

By the way, do you want to learn more about pest protection? If so, I suggest you check Canopies and Bird Netting.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6197843

9 Container Gardening Tips For City Dwellers.

Container gardening is an excellent alternative or addition to a real garden, but require special treatment.  For many years I really enjoyed planting container gardens in giant clay pots while living in rented apartments in Calgary.  Here are a few tips I learned from professional gardeners.

1.  If you live in an apartment and want to add a window box, check with the landlord to see if you're allowed to have one.  Certain landlords ban them and fear that they will damage the structure of their buildings.  Realistically, a well prepared window box won't cause any damage as long as it's anchored firmly in place. You can buy special brackets to do this and stores also have drip trays so that you can catch any excess water that drains out of it. Not only are they attractive, but window boxes make it difficult for intruders to climb in through windows. They have to tackle the plants first!

2. If you want to add a large container to your balcony or  if have access to a flat roof, check to see if there are any weight restrictions before installing it.  It's worth remembering that one cubic yard of compost weights one ton - and that's only its dry weight.  If you then add the weight of a container, plants and water, you could be placing an intolerable strain on the floor or roof which may not be able to support it.

3.  When planting a window box, remember that you are creating a miniature landscape. Consider including some dwarf or slow-growing plants, such as conifers, and one or two trailing vines to soften the edges.  Add splashes of color by introducing some summer bedding plants like petunias, pansies or tulips.

4.  Wooden half-barrels are among the cheapest forms of large containers. To prevent these barrels from rotting, they need to be lined with plastic sheets with some drainage holes punched into both the plastic sheets and the barrel.  Unless you are planting a tree, you won't need to fill the entire barrel with compost. Instead, fill the bottom half with a layer of broken shards of pot to provide drainage, and then add some ordinary garden soil before topping up the barrel with compost to an adequate rooting depth.

5.  To add an aged appearance to your garden ornaments and pots simply paint them with a little milk.  This will encourage moss to grow on them, and they'll soon look as though they've been there for years.

6.  Remember that a large pot filled with compost and plants will be very heavy, so save yourself the struggle of moving it by selecting your preferred location and positioning the pot there before filling it.

7.  For maximum impact group pots and containers of varying sizes together. Single pots can look a little lonely and plants like to have company.

8.  Please note that pots or containers that hold less compost than a conventional eight inch diameter pot will need frequent watering in summer.

9.  Every month or so, prick over the soil of any containers or tubs in which long-standing flowers are growing to prevent it from becoming compacted.  This allows the soil to absorb air, water and nutrients.

Container gardening is great for anyone who lacks space in apartments or condos. It's really nice especially for city dwellers to enjoy a little bit of greenery right on their balcony during the summer months. 

Looking for more gardening ideas like how to make your own Topsy Turvy Planter ? Wonder if Seed in a Blanket or Flower in a Blanket really work? I invite you to visit my blog at HonestInfomercialReviews.com to find the latest reviews and tips of infomercial products seen on TV



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2177516

4 Easy Steps to Grow Your Own Vegetable Garden

If you are a hobby gardener, you may be dreaming about fresh organic vegetables. It is easier than it seems with a few simple steps. I discovered that vegetable gardening requires good planning and proper preparation for a successful harvest.

Step 1 - Bed and border planning:

Whether squash, tomatoes or lettuce, healthy plants have needs. Since most vegetables need a sheltered and sunny spot, growing them in the shade will be a futile effort. The size of the vegetable garden patch depends on the total size of the garden, and what vegetables you want to grow. Radishes or carrots grow well in a confined space. Significantly more space is required for potatoes, squash and cabbage.

Draw a scaled plan of the bed and lay out which plants grow where. The single bed should be no wider than 130 inches to keep the center of the bed from both sides within easy reach. Enclosing the bed creates visual clarity and prevents rain from washing away the fertile topsoil. This can be done using weather resistant wood planks of larch, oak, frost-resistant bricks or natural stones. If you typically have a lot of snails in the garden, you may want to consider a special snail guard.

Step2 - Preparing the soil:

Before it goes to seeding or planting, you need to prepare the ground. Use a garden claw to loosen up soil or mix existing dirt with nutritious top soil. You can spread a few bags of flower and vegetable topsoil on the bed. This will provide proper nutrition and good plant growth. In order to improve the nutrient content of the soil, you can also incorporate fertilizer. When in doubt conduct a pH test of the soil to avoid over-fertilizing. You can get pH test strips or a soil tester at your local garden center.

Step 3 - Make sure you have good neighbors:

Not all vegetables get along. For example, onions should not be planted next to green beans or cabbage. Tomatoes will grow well next to cabbage, lettuce, spinach, parsley, and celery. You can buy seeds or small plants to start your own vegetable garden. Established plants are sometimes easier for gardening newcomers. Sow or plant the vegetables in rows spaced wide enough apart to facilitate later maintenance of the bed. Keep in mind that some vegetables like green beans or tomatoes require a trellis.

Step 4 - Cultivate and harvest:

If you plant early in the spring and the weather is still cool, cover the freshly planted and sown vegetables to protect them from frost damage. Otherwise, a vegetable is very easy to maintain. If there is no rain, just water once daily and remove the weeds in between.

With a little patience and depending on your region, your own fresh vegetables can be harvested in mid to late summer. When the season is over and you want to use your vegetable patch in the next year again, it is important to give the new soil nutrients. For example, old humus from the compost is ideal for mixing the existing soil.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7079801

Garden Pests - Fight the Pests the Natural Way

Every garden, at one point or another, encounters pests and bugs. Bugs are always found in a natural environment, and on plants and leaves. Though these bugs are not life-threatening, some of these bugs can cause significant damage to plants and, therefore, should be got rid off as early as possible. A proper plan of action must be in place to get rid of garden pests permanently or at least for a longer time period. First things first, understand the kinds of bugs and identify the 'bad bugs', such as Aphids, slugs, snails, Japanese beetles, Root Maggots, Army Worm, etc., that can ravage through a beautiful garden. The next step would be to appreciate the use of natural, chemical-free or organic pesticides and methods to keep the garden free of pests.

There are plenty of natural methods to fight garden pests.

• One of the coolest ways to get rid of pests is to resourcefully use the natural ecosystems and useful insects such as lady bugs, lace wings, spiders, praying mantis, etc. This is called fighting nature with nature.

• Lady bugs are easiest to find and voraciously feed on bugs such as aphids, chinch bugs, grape root worms, thrips, mites and whitefly, as well as most of the other soft-bodied eggs and insects. Make friends with lady bugs and maintain your garden the organic way.

• Praying Mantis has a huge appetite for most garden insects and their larvae. These insects grow fast and efficiently control garden pests. Their eggs can be mail ordered easily.

• Lacewings are perfect to get rid of aphids and quite a few other varieties of insects. They are usually found around flowers such as asters, yarrow and black-eyed Susan.

• Brachonids and Ichneumon Wasps are great for destroying leaf-eating caterpillars.

• Hover Flies are also beneficial insects that consume aphids larvae and other insect larvae. They are usually attracted to composite flowers such as asters, goldenrod and yarrow.

• Nematodes are also excellent to control pests in the garden. There are basically three major kinds of nematodes. One which is harmful to the roots of the plants, the second one which helps in organic decomposition, and the third one which is extremely useful against beetles, cutworms and root weevil larvae.

The nematode eggs are usually microscopic in nature and they hatch and grow in soil usually in millions. However, they are completely harmless to humans and pets.

• Marigolds offer natural pest control. Not only are they beautiful to look at, they also attract beneficial insects that help control pests. Many insects are repelled by the scent of these flowers.

There are also several organic pesticides to prevent garden pests.

• Ground coffee, vinegar and herbs such as tansy, thyme, lavender and catnip should be mixed with water and sprayed on plants to avoid bug infestation.

• A pesticide spray can be prepared by soaking garlic, ginger, onions, Indian lilac and mint in water overnight. This solution acts as a deterrent to soft body insects.

• Egg shells and salt are great to kill slugs and snails.

• Mixing mineral oils or canola oil with water and spraying on the underside of leaves kills insects.

• Mixing baking soda with water or milk with water and spraying on plants and leaves is also a completely natural and healthy way of eliminating bugs.

Extensive use of chemicals for pest control will create long lasting damage to the environment and may also have some adverse effects on the person who handles such chemicals. Therefore, many gardening experts recommend usage of organic chemicals. Besides the safety factor, it has its own set of unique benefits as well.

Written on behalf of the vegetable seeds specialists - KingSeeds.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Colin_McDonald

How to Make Your Garden Safe for Your Dogs

Great Britain is the home of dog owners; we have a worldwide reputation for our love of dogs, even the Queen Pampers her pups. Having a pet is fun but you will need to make sure your garden is pet proof for the summer months. Dogs love to play outside but it is important to make sure your garden is properly secure and safe before you let your dog run free.

Securing your garden is the best place to start, without a secure garden your pet could run away and get lost. A garden wall or fence is important; the right panel will not only keep your pet secure but will also help make your garden less stress free.

Having a fence which is solid is usually the best option; this gives your pet no room for escape and will prevent your dog from trying to escape if another dog walks past. Solid panels come in many different sizes so you will need to choose the right size of fence to suit your dog breed.

Smaller dogs should not be able to jump higher than 4 foot but having a 6 foot fence will make sure your dog cannot escape. Large breeds of dogs will need a taller fence; large breeds like Labrador's can easily jump a 6 or even 8 foot fence panel. Install a tall fence and training your dog should make sure they don't escape. You can also add plants or trellis to the top of your existing garden fence to prevent your dog for jumping.

Make sure there are no holes or gaps in your garden fencing; a dog can easily escape or get trapped in gaps. If you're dog gets trapped when you're not home they can seriously harm themselves.

Some dogs get very distressed or distracted by other dogs walking past the garden they live in or even cars. You can restrict your dog's vision by installing a solid fence preventing them from seeing the outside world and making them feel more relaxed.

Many dog owners worry about their dogs digging under their garden fence or wall. Dogs love to dig and even strong training can sometimes fail. Placing paving slabs around the edge of your garden fence will help prevent dogs from digging. You don't even need to lay concrete most slabs will stay put on their own. You can also place wire into the ground before your garden fence. This is always best done before you lay a lawn or fencing.

Getting rid of toxic plants is also very important if you want to make your garden safe for your pets. Dogs don't often eat poisonous plants but it is always worth making sure there is no risk. Tomato plants, foxgloves and daffodils are common garden plants which can be harmful.

If you have a garden pond or pool you will need to ensure it is covered at all times when your dogs are playing outside. Dogs can swim but ponds can still be hazardous; if they jump into a pond and get stuck on a weed or plant they can drown.

Many gardeners do not know what to do about digging dogs! It's only natural for a dog to want to dig up your prized flowers and make a mess of your lawn. If this is a problem for you think about adding a sand pit or mud pit to your garden. This will give your dog a dedicated area to dig saving your flower beds!

Making your garden safe for your dog is the best way to ensure your pets don't have any tragic accidents. It will also make your life more relaxing because you won't have to worry when your pet plays outside. All dogs deserve a nice outdoor life and transforming your garden will make your dog happy!

Yasmin is a keen DIY enthusiast and garden lover and often spends time writing helpful and simple content for advice and inspiration aboutFence Panels. Your garden is much more than a patch of grass around your property but it's a hobby, a lifestyle, and an extension of yourself outdoors

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7188723

5 Ways to Get Children Excited About Gardening

If you're planting a vegetable garden this year, you probably wouldn't mind a little help from your children. But what do you do if they're just not into shoveling and pulling weeds? Here are a few ideas to entice kids to help:

1. Plant Fast-Growing Vegetables

Children aren't exactly known for long attention spans (and, okay, some of us grownups aren't either), so they can get tired of waiting for slow-growing veggies to look like something interesting. Why not plant something like radishes, which, depending on the variety, can grow to maturity in a few weeks? Or those little Parisian carrots (50 to 60 days to maturity)?

You also might "cheat" and pick up some vegetable starts from the nursery (or start some of your own). This way, you can put already-thriving plants into the garden, so the kids aren't just wandering out to stare at the dirt. Before long, they'll be picking those pea pods off the vines.

2. Plant Their Favorites

This one probably goes without saying, but most kids are more excited about munching from a strawberry patch than a broccoli plant. If your little ones enjoy carrots more than brussel sprouts, make sure plenty of their favorites go into the beds. It's a lot easier to get them to help harvest vegetables they'll enjoy eating raw right out of the garden than ones they'd prefer never showed up on the dinner table.

3. Plant Heirloom or "Fun" Varieties of Vegetables

Some kids may be skeptical of veggies that don't look like the ones they're used to (AKA store-bought varieties), but the adventurous sorts may be tickled to try yellow and green tomatoes with funky bumps and bulges. And why limit yourself to plain old orange carrots when you can have purple, red, and yellow ones? You could plant a mix and have fun guessing what color the carrot will be before the children dig them up.

4. Get Kid-Sized Gardening Tools

While your trowel and hand rake might suit you fine, your kids might be tickled to have their very own gardening tools. Several outfits make colorful tools that are perfect for kid-sized hands. They're usually not that expensive either so it's less of a big deal if the kids leave them out in the rain (your $60 Felco pruning sheers may be a different story!).

5. Release the Insects!

You've probably heard of beneficial insects, the little buggers that eat the pest bugs harassing your leafy greens. One of the more popular species (probably because they're the least weird looking!) is the good old lady bug. Did you know that you can buy them in bulk to release into your garden? (The jury is out on how helpful this actually is because a lot of them are likely to fly away, but they don't cost a lot and even kids squeamish about insects might enjoy this activity.)

Other predator insects, such as green lacewing and the infamous preying mantis can also be purchased for release. Not only can this be a fun event for the kids (you might even be able to make a science project out of it), but adding some of these guys to your yard may help naturally control pest insects.

There you go, five ways to make gardening more fun for your kids!

Once you've got your children helping with the veggie-growing chores, your time outside will be more entertaining and the weeding might just get done a little more quickly. As an added plus, the kids will learn to enjoy growing and eating fresh, natural vegetables that are better for them than the store-bought ones shipped from the other side of the planet.

The author writes children's stories and maintains the Off the Urban Grid blog, a site with suggestions on green and more self-reliant living for city-dwellers.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4079716

How to Set Up a Perfect Garden

A beautiful garden is the result of time and energy invested in planning, planting, tending, enriching the soil, pruning and many other tasks. It does not come about magically, but through months and years of tender loving care and maintenance. However the journey to get there can be made easier with helpful tips and guide to setting you your ideal garden.

Think about the space you have in your garden. With that in mind, consider the size of plants when fully grown. This will help you gauge the room required to fit all the plants that you have chosen or plant plants that can accommodate the space that you have. In order for plants to grow into its full potential, it must have sufficient room for the roots to grow and the branches and leaves to sprout. Over-planting will cause your plants to fight for nutrients and your plants may not thrive well or grow fully. Furthermore, it makes the garden look very disorganized and gardening work tougher as you are not able to reach the inner recess of the garden to clean the weeds or apply fertilizers.

Consider what color plants you like. Too many colors create too big a contrast and clash with your plants and throw everything out of perspective, whereas monotone will results in a dull and unpleasant garden. Look for colors that compliment each other in order to bring out the spectrum of colors that will make your garden grand and stand out vividly. Multi-colors plants attract bees and butterflies that will make your garden lively. If you are not sure of the colors, use the color charts as a guide.

Take into consideration the weather and environmental condition of your area. Is it hot all the time with little rain or wet most of the year? How much sunshine you get throughout the year? Doing research and understanding these elements will help you pick the right choice of plants as different plants have dissimilar needs. An easy way is check out the plants in your neighborhood. Those thriving plants are the plants that you should consider.

Take into account the amount of time you can spare to tend to your plants and garden. Some plants needs more tending time with watering, fertilizing, pruning while those hardy plants need lesser tending time. Flowering plants adds vibrant to your garden but they more caring time to ensure they stay beautiful. Some plants need a lot of pruning work while others may require watering. Hardy plants require less gardening time. Therefore pick plants that suit your time schedule.

Bear in mind the watering needs of your plants. Choose plants that do not require much water to thrive on if water is not easily available. While planning your garden, you might want to consider installing a water sprinkle system. With this watering system your plants will not be deprived of water and in addition saves you the time to water your plants.

Mentally be prepared for pests. These are insects you cannot avoid and they can do untold damage to your plants. Try drawing birds to your garden as they feed on those bad and harmful insects and help to eradicate the bad insects from destroying your plants. Introduce good insects like ladybugs as they also feed on the bad insects. There are many pests control solution in the market. Find one that is not harmful to the plants and you. In addition, try plants that give out strong fragrant that may be repel insects.

Stop those weeds. When preparing the soil for planting, spread some corn meal to prevent the growth of weeds. Regularly weeding and weed killers help to stop the rapid growth of weeds. It is important to weed your garden regularly as they draw away the nutrients required by your plants.

No doubt gardening takes time and effort but the reward far outweighs all the hard work. Once you can see the results, the hard work means nothing and you will be a proud owner of a beautiful garden within your community.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7064767

Five Container Veggie Gardening Mistakes to Avoid

So you want to grow your own vegetables in containers? Good for you! This rewarding and beneficial hobby has so much to offer our bodies and minds. Whether you are just starting or have been container gardening for awhile, it's always good to remind yourself of best practices...And what better way to avoid common mistakes than to learn from the ones others have made?

Let's look at some of the most common container veggie gardening mistakes so we can be sure to avoid them!

Overwatering

Overwatering may very well be the top reason why container plants die. There are three common reasons behind this trend:

* Not knowing how often to water plants. For novices, just follow this simple rule of thumb: resist the urge to water your plant if its soil is not dry. Use a moisture meter to be more accurate about when you need to water your plants.

* Not watering plants the right way. Some plants need to be watered lightly on a frequent basis. Others need to have their soil dry out completely before being soaked with water. Knowing your plants' watering needs will go a long way to keeping them happy and healthy.

* Not making sure the pots have enough drainage holes. It is absolutely crucial that your vegetable gardening containers have enough drainage holes to let the water drain out easily. Either purchase pots that already have holes in them, or drill 2-3 holes on the bottom of the pot, yourself. It is also a good idea to mix some sand in with your potting soil, which makes the soil looser and easier for water to drain through.

Underwatering

On the flip side, underwatering is another usual suspect for unhealthy container veggies. Although you never want the soil to be soggy, keep in mind that in a container there is less soil and therefore moisture escapes more quickly.

The first defense is to know your plants' individual watering needs. Then group plants with the same watering requirements together. Lastly, make it a daily habit to check soil moisture. It should never feel extremely dry. There is a handy tool called a "moisture meter" than can take away the guesswork.

Not Ensuring Your Plants Get Enough Light

Every type of plant has its own light requirements. Make sure your plants get the minimum amount of light they need for growth. This is especially true with vegetable container gardening. Rotate your plants so they get their share of sunlight regularly and on all sides.

If you are growing your container vegetable garden indoors and you have less than 6 hours of direct sunlight, you may want to install an artificial lighting setup.

If you are only growing low light vegetables like radishes or lettuce indoors, simple fluorescent growing lights should be enough. If you want a full grown fruiting tomato plant, on the other hand, you might need HID growing lights, such as high pressure sodium or metal halide to provide the light requirements needed. Know your plants' foot-candle requirements and purchase a light meter if possible.

Using Outside Garden Soil for Container Veggie Gardening

No matter how rich your garden soil is you should not use it for indoor vegetable gardening or any kind of container gardening. Soil from outside may contain bacteria and can harbor diseases which may prove more difficult to control in a closed environment. You might also end up bringing pests and weeds into your home garden even before you even started planting.

Use special container gardening or potting soil. This will be more sterile than outdoor soil and contain a more appropriate pH balance. Try to get a high quality potting soil containing compost.

Forgetting About Companion Planting

Yes, even though they are in containers, plants should still be grouped together according to light, water and - if growing an indoor garden - temperature and humidity preferences.

And if you are growing several plants together in the same container, there is more to think about than how their foliages complement one another. You need to know if they are mutually beneficial or detrimental to one another.

With a little research you can learn which plants grow well together and which don't, to ensure a happy and harmonious indoor container veggie garden.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Five-Container-Veggie-Gardening-Mistakes-to-Avoid&id=6209250