Garden and Beyond

Trellis Structure

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:51:00 +0000

Again we have come with another innovative planting tip which is very important for every home gardeners who always strives for a healthy blooming fruitful garden.

Steps before positioning the trellis
There are different designs of trellis that can be ideal for your home garden. But selecting the ideal type of trellis depends on what type of plants will be climbing on it. While choosing the right design of trellis for your garden it is a better option to choose a strong trellis, which is also beautiful enough to embellish your garden. Trellises can be metallic wooden or of plastic like PVC pipe. Metallic posts are better than the wooden ones as they last long and doesn't get damaged easily. If you insist on wooden post it is better to layer it with a preservative. On top of the posts you can spread plastic or string net or chicken wire net. But chicken wire net has a disadvantage. Removing dead plants form chicken wire net can be a troublesome job. Long Bamboo poles can be used to climb pole beans

Some information on trellis structure

Plants should be trained to climb on trellises while they are small. Attach string on the plants and make them climb the trellis
Trellis structures should be located on the north side of the garden so that the other plants are not overshadowed.
It is better to use vertical trellis if there is a space problem.

Advantages and disadvantages of the trellis structure

Vegetables grown with the support of trellis are easier to pluck and don't get rot easily. It is because it has less contact with the soil.
Air is circulated more and it results in the healthy growth of the vegetables.
Trellises can also take care of your privacy by providing you a sort of screen from unwanted attention.
Also it can be a cool shade during the summer and give a relief from the scorching sun.

Growing plants on trellises are not without disadvantages.

Trellises should be strong enough for the windy places.
Plant that are not naturally climbers you need to train them so that they can climb the trellises.
Heavy fruit and vegetables will require more support while grown on trellises.
Thorough -watering is required for trellis-plants, as water is been absorbed quickly in this growth technique.
As trellis plants are more open to wind so it prevents pollination. So it affects the flower plants especially.

Shrub In Container

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:51:00 +0000

Growing shrubs in container will give a variety and unique design to your garden. Container with shrub trees can decorate both your outdoor and indoor also. Here is some information on container, which are required for shrub trees, and also some plant that can be grown in container.

Steps for growing shrubs in container

Selecting container for shrubs
Choose a container large enough to give your shrub's roots room to grow and weighty enough to balance the top-heavy growth. If you intend to leave the shrub outside all year round, make sure the container is fully frost-proof.

Wooden half-barrels are the ideal container for large shrubs but the wood should be of good quality otherwise the wood will fall apart and the pot will break as the shrub grows.

Compost
Peat based multipurpose compost are not suitable for the growth of shrubs. Loam-based compost is the ideal ones as they are more capable of taking care of the nutrients.

Drainage

First check that your container has several draining holes. You can make the holes large or drill new holes in wooden and plastic pots.
Layer 3 inches of broken terracotta pieces or polystyrene plant trays at the base of the container before filling it with compost. Polystyrene plant trays pieces decrease the weight of the pots.
Well-drained soil helps in the development of the roots and too much water in the root of the plant are more intended for frost damage.
You can also make the pot stand on the terracotta stand or on wooden pieces. If the pot is kept elevated from the ground level then the drainage facility works undisturbed.

Alpine Plants In Container

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:51:00 +0000

If there is a scarcity of space then you can simply bring your garden to your room. It will of course fancy your pastime. And the best option among houseplants is the alpine plants. You must be surprised that how a rock garden can be made in room but growing an indoor alpine garden is very easy. They grow slowly and so it is best to be grown in a living room in containers like troughs or sinks.

Here are the names of some common alpine plants that can be grown in containers. It will give a colorful green picture to your room.

Juniperus communis 'Compressa - is an ever-growing conifer
Thymus x citriodorus 'Archer's Gold - It has delicate fragrant golden leaves and blooms with pink-white flowers in June and July.
Saxifraga 'Mossy Pink' - It is a heap of greenery blooming filled up with pink flowers.
Sempervivum tomentosum - It forms a small mound with its silver leaves which gives the garden a glittering effect.
Sedum 'Coral Carpet' - Serene white flowers bloom and bronze colored leaves peep out of it in June and July.

There are also some other flowers like Ajuga reptans 'Braunherz, Violas, Saxifraga 'Silver Cushion', Sedum 'Cape Blanco' which will help you to do rock gardening in containers.

Some decorative ideas

You can place many types of alpines in a shallow oval bowl.
You can also plant alpine plants in narrow pots and keep them in windowsill for decoration.
You can also make a rock garden in strawberry pots.

Step for growing alpine plants in containers

Layer your container with broken crockery so that the water is drained out and the roots are not waterlogged.
Fill up the container till the rim with compost.
Sow the alpine trees from one end to the other in the container. And the gap between the plants should be filled tightly with soil and compost mixture.
After that give a layer of horticulture grit. This will improve the water drainage of your soil and stop the roots from being rotten it will also prevent the infection produced by slugs, growth of algae etc.

Growing Plant for Screening

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:51:00 +0000

Privacy is some thing that everyone wants. No matter whether you are in the living room, bedroom or loitering in the garden you will surely want to avoid the unwanted attention and disturbances. In garden you grow plant for screening from the outsiders which not only gives comfort to your eyes but it also acts as a sound barrier. Plant screen are meant for privacy from the outsiders and also it prevents the neighbor's pets to come and make a mess in your landscape.

Plant screens are also useful to hide the garbage can, clothesline and other service area, which generally we don't prefer to be visible to any outsider. Be careful while growing trees on the roadside. They can certainly be ideal screens to protect your privacy but sometime the branches may spread to the road, which might cause some traffic inconvenience.

Tall trees can also be sound barrier. They will break the sound wave and make them change direction. Even if it reaches to your ears it looses it intensity to some extent. So these trees can become a barrier to the loud sounds of vehicles if your house is near the highway.

You can also use plants to decorate your fences. Vines and shrubs grown to cover the fence not only deck the garden but it also protects by being a cover to the bare fence. But for little space artificial screens or fence are more advisable than the natural ones. You can get all the details on fences in our other sections.

Plants used for screening
Her are some of the plants that can be planted for screening your garden

Abelia
Azalea
Butterfly-bush
Camellia
Ixora
Jasmines
Plumbago
Oleander
Feijoa

Interplanting Vegetables

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:51:00 +0000

Now that you have a garden you will surely like to increase the production of your garden to bring some utility out of it. You can do this by implementing an innovative technique of planting trees by using this useful planting technique which though old one have been quite updated to the present requirements. Interplanting means planting the crops suited to the growing area i.e. growing crops that are quite friendly to the available soil, light and nutrient of that particular place.

Tips on Interplanting vegetables

Select the number and variety of vegetables to be sown according to your creative interest.
For a fruitful interplanting vegetable garden sow some longtime vegetables like tomatoes or winter squash. And between them plant the short time vegetables. Example-: plant caged tomatoes with scallions, melons with sweet corn, lettuce with pole beans etc.
Inter planting garden is not a common garden with straight rows. But it has path around the interplanted areas. This design also gives an aesthetic value to the eyes.
There is a disadvantage in the technique of inter planting. There are more chances of plants getting infected. As in this technique the plants are sometimes over stuffed. Don't grow radishes or lettuce with tomatoes.
The inter plant area should have enough space as when the vegetables grow they doesn't fruit on each other. They can surely touch each other. Also the area has to be quite brief so that you can go from one vegetable area to another by just going across it easily.
A successful method of interplanting is sowing plant in squared sections. The area of your garden in divided into square foot inches. In each section you can plan and sow seeds like you can grow 16 radishes, nine beets in one section and some radishes and one cabbage in the other section.
Another advantage of interplanting technique is that it prevents the growth of weeds. But still you have to take care and prevent it by pulling the weeds by hand or by using onion hoes. You can also apply mulch, which will prevent the weed growth and also fulfill the water requirement.

Gardening Of Fragrant Flowers

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:51:00 +0000

Some times there are so many things to be taken care of while designing a garden that we just overlook it. Just as the lushly greenery is quite rejuvenating to the mind and body similarly a heavenly scented garden is a solace to the heart after the struggling turmoil of the day.

Flowers are not the only source of fragrance though they are the most common one. Fragrance can also be found in roots, oils, leaves, stalks and even seeds. It is seen in general that fragrant flowers are not bright-colored. For a fragrant flower garden always select flowers that are having thick petals as their texture. Flowers like citrus, magnolia and gardenia are the best examples.

There is a wide variety in the degree of fragrance of the same flower. It differs due to the changes in temperature, moisture content in the atmosphere. The degree of the fragrance of the flowers also depends on the time of the day and the time period of the flower blooming. For example roses smell sweet in mild damp morning and the scent reaches at it ultimate height during the afternoon and by the night the fragrance of the roses ends up. The jasmine flower can be planted in terrace or below the window of your bedroom so that the sweet smell can soothe your soul.

The fragrance of the flowers is sometimes destroyed by the climatic conditions. Less water and scorching heat can hamper the sweet smell of the flowers. Scented garden are at its height when the air is gentle and the moisture content is high in the air. Frost and rain helps to bring out the suppressed fragrance of your garden.

While gardening fragrant flowers you can also sow other type of plants like trees, shrubs, vines and perennials. Here is a list of the fragrant flowers that can make your garden heavenly. The banana shrub, Japanese privet, fortune osmanthus, sweet osmanthus, gardenia, rose, confederate jasmine, and sweet viburnum, jessamine, citrus, gardenia, rose, sweet viburnum, confederate jasmine, butterfly bush, angel's trumpet, Japanese privet and orange jasmine frangipani, Arabian jasmine, lady of the night, gardenia, Japanese privet, crape jasmine, angel's trumpet, orange jasmine, citrus, rose and sweet viburnum.

You should always smell the flowers while buying so that you can get the fragrance of your desire.

Dwarf Plants

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:51:00 +0000

If maintaining a garden has become quite hectic for you then we have a tip for you. Small outdoor plants will not only design your garden, but as they are naturally trimmed you don't have the trouble of pruning.

Dwarf plants generally spreads to a height and breadth of six to eight feet giving enough space to the gardener. It also provides a perfect shape to your garden without any hassles. You can plant little plants in your small garden in the gateway of your house or below the low-heightened windows. You can also use them for box plantings. Don't plant it to mark the boundary or plant them at distance, as they are small plants and can't be visible from distance.

These little plants are quite friendly to the shaded areas. They even grow easily under the direct sunlight. It grows well in pot or tubs and or as ground covers. As they are small in height they can make a good combination with other plant. If desired they can be planted singly.

Some of the famous little plants are dwarf junipers, pyracantha, nandina, pittosporum, gardenia, bamboo, barberry, sasanqua, crape myrtle, pomegranate, yucca and holly. Some dwarf plants like full shaded area. They are holly fern, fatsia, aucuba, dwarf azalea, mahonia, holly malpighia and vinca.

Others dwarf plants require adequate sunlight. They are junipers, hollies, barberry, pomegranate, crape myrtle, pyracantha, and dwarf natal plum. There are some dwarf plants that require partial sunlight and partial shade. Dwarf yaupon holly, many hollies, nandina, japanese black pine, japanese purple honeysuckle, Indian hawthorne, boxwood, pittosporum, coontie and dwarf sasanqua falls under this category.

Dwarfs that are suitable for pots or tubs are holly fern, fatsia, dwarf yaupon, dwarf nandina, aucuba, japanese black pine, dwarf yucca, and dwarf bamboo. These dwarf plants are tough enough to survive in the chill weather.

Some dwarf plants blooms with seasonal flowers like dwarf azalea, cuphea, dwarf sasanqua, dwarf gardenia, dwarf crape myrtle, pomegranate, lantana, japanese purple honeysuckle and Indian hawthorne. While others are reserved for fruits like dwarf hollies, mahonia, and pyracantha. Those who don't bloom with flowers or grow fresh fruits provide green leaves like aucuba, senecio, dwarf nandina, and some of the dwarf junipers.

Growing Chrysanthemum Flowers

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:51:00 +0000

Chrysanthemum is among the most vibrant colored fall perennial plants. It can be of varied color type or size like white, pink, yellow, lavender, bronze, salmon, orange, or red. These petals of the flower can be either single or in daisy form.

Tips on growing Chrysanthemum flowers

While buying chrysanthemums select plants having plenty flower buds. It is better not to choose a fully bloomed plant, as their span of blooming is shorter than the partially blooming chrysanthemums.
Separate the branches from one another and sow the stems of perennial flowers, which are having healthy roots.
The adequate soil of this fall flower is well-drained soil. You need to add compost to the soil once a year.
Apply one-pound fertilizer per 100 square feet of chrysanthemum bed during the growing time to have a full blooming garden of chrysanthemums. The fertilizer should be mixed within 6 inches of the soil to have a healthy growth.
The flowers should be sowed 18 to 24 inches apart form each other. The specific variety of chrysanthemum needs 30 inches of spacing from one another.
After these fall perennial flowers are six inches long strip off one or two inches of the stem. The practice of stripping off an inch of the stem should be continued till the beginning days of August. This is done to have bushy low plants. Don't do the stripping very late because then the stem will not be long enough for the blooming of fall chrysanthemums.
Do thorough watering so that the roots evenly absorb the fertilizer.

Cactus Plant Care

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:51:00 +0000

Another perennial plant type that is quite famous all over the world is cactus. Cacti are also known as low maintenance plants. It is the best indoor plant type, as they require little attention for their healthy growth. There is a wide variety of shapes, sizes and color of cactus. Cacti are called as perennial plants because they will be growing year after year.

Cactus plant care

Potting

Cactus should be placed under adequate sunlight.
They should be sowed in pots having a good drainage system.
Remove one inch of soil form the top. Replace it with gravel.
The soil should be a mixture of sand, peat and perlite.
Cactus growing vertically should be sowed in container whose diameter is half the height of the plant.
Cacti that are growing breadth wise should be grown on containers, which are having 2 inches of diameter extra than the plant.
Recently sowed or repotted plants have more chances of getting rot.
The soil should be dry enough while the sowing or repotting is been done. Watering should be done after a week so that the roots are healed within the time.

Cactus grows very slowly. Some cactus takes a year to germinate and to know how they look like it takes again some years. They can breed through branches or from a part of the plant. The part of the plant is removed from the main plant and dried for 2 weeks. After the cut portion is healed then it is planted in shallow soil.

Watering
Cactus needs less watering so water them when they dry out. It is better to use clay pots without any glaze, as it needs less water than glazed or plastic pots.

Most of the cactus plant type requires a period for rest so that they can flower the rest of the year. The exact time required for cactus plant keeps varying but in general it is within three months. They are quite friendly to the chill weather and during the winter they should be watered less with no fertilizer application.

Outdoor Gardening Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:51:00 +0000

Home gardeners prefer small garden, as it needs less maintenance, low-cost and also less time and energy. Garden whether small or big to make it forever blooming you need to take special care. Not only it gives a pictorial value to your property but also if you can grow vegetables then it is a valuable thing in these mechanical days. You can even store some and use it in the off-season time.

Here in different sections we have given plenty of information of the different gardening tips that should be adopted on different situations like in distinct climatic conditions, in different zones and in various surroundings. We have provided tips on both outdoor gardening and also about indoor home gardening.

Small garden is very popular among home gardeners especially in outdoor gardening but small garden is not without hassles. The space is quite less in small garden so it is quite natural that the place becomes minutely filled up with the desired plants of gardener's choice. As they are grown close to each other in small garden these houseplant needs care and extra attention from pests, as there are more chances of being infected.

Even an experienced gardener needs to know about the updated tips and techniques of gardening in order to expand his knowledge. And this knowledge will help him in the field though he will have his own experiences and observations, on indoor or outdoor gardening, which will in the course of time, strengthen his knowledge on house plants.

Garden With Bird Bath

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:51:00 +0000

Imagine you are waking up from your morning sleep by the sweet twittering of the hustling and lively birds. As you open your window you are able to see the luscious green revolution with vibrant colored butterflies moving here and there. The wildlife in your garden will not only provide you the aesthetic beauty but by giving them their desired atmosphere you can prevent the disappearance of the rare species.

To create the required atmosphere for wildlife you need to plan in your garden a birdbath. From aesthetic point of view you can color your garden with vibrant colored butterflies. Even these different bird types and butterflies will also protect your garden from pests and insects.

Steps for attracting the birds

Garden birdbath with water - For constructing a birdbath in a garden a water source is very important to attract the birds. The water should be dripping, as they like to bath in dripping water. The birdbath should be near the ground but away from the cats reach.

Dust Birdbath in your garden - Birds have dust bath to keep the parasites away form themselves.

Border a small area of 3 square feet with decorative rocks and bricks.
Fill the bordered area with loose soil. It can be a mixture of sand, ash and loam.

Birds like native sparrows, thrashers, and other birds living on the ground mostly take dust baths.

Garden birdhouse - Bird need open places for relaxing. Fill the net bag with strings and it can be a safe and comfortable home for the birds. Orioles, robins, and chickadees will prefer these nests In winter to protect them from being starving offer alternative food such as seeds, suet, and fruits. And plant trees accordingly to shelter the birds from wind and cold. Sow the taller trees at the back and then the small ones and the shrubs in the front of the house.

Indoor Water Garden

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:51:00 +0000

Information on gardening can never be complete without the mention of water garden. You can add individuality to your already decided gardening project by taking up water gardening. Water garden can be grown in both the ways indoor and outdoor. Indoor water garden has less-maintenance hassles compared to the outdoor one.

Indoor Pond Culture
No one can imagine to shrinking a pond that too in a pot. But it is really possible and it will give a vibrant colored look to your room. The only care these colorful aqua plants need is fresh water. This small water garden is quite flexible enough to be decked anywhere ranging form indoor to outdoor. Not only it appeals soothing to your eyes but also it offers refuge to birds, butterflies, dragonflies and even small fish. Here are few tips of constructing a pond in a pot.

Selecting pot
There is a wide range of pots beginning from ceramic, plastic, sealed cement, porcelain or metal. You can use your creativity and choose washtubs, crocks etc. If using wooden pots wrap with thick plastic bag though it is advisable not to use it because of bacterial damage. There is no formula about the standard size of pot. According to your artistry you can sow the plants. It can be a single one or more than that to you choice.

List of aqua plants

Floaters
To keep your garden healthy the prevention of algae is must. Water lettuce or water hyacinth is the best option. They grow rapidly so often you need to take them out but don't throw them on the pond.

Oxygenating grasses
They maintain the pH balance of water. They move on the top or sit at the floor of the pot. Examples: anacharis (Egeria densa), fanwort (Cabomba caroliniana), feather grass and blood grass.

Bog plants
The bog plants are kept on top of rocks and the water should only cover the soil of the plant. They grow in shallow water.

Deep-water plants
Plants like water-lilies needs large space like bathtub or whisky barrel. Water lilies specially needs one-foot of water so that the water stays above their roots. Also they need some space to spread. The advantages of this plant are it prevents growth of algae and keeps the water cool.

Gurgling fountains
These fountains can make your aqua-art more enthralling. The process of installation is very easy and the sound of water makes it heavenly.

Tips for healthy growth

Be careful about the lighting conditions. Lights of the early morning or mild light all over the day are the best ones. Scorching heat of the afternoon can burn and also kill fish.
Don't overload the pond-pot with many plants. Keep it simple with few plants
In a pot make an intelligent blend of horizontal and vertical plants. It makes the view more interesting.
Shelter it form the extreme cold.
Use fertilizer rarely as it gets the major ones form water and soil where they sit. Be sure that the fertilser is quite friendly to the fish if they are there. The fertilizer comes in tablet form and it can be half-buried in the soil. The quantity is specified in the package.
Scrub the pot whenever necessary, You can check it out by putting your hand on the bottom and see if any matter is gathered in the bottom. You can also scrub it by brush.
It is a retreat for birds, fish and mosquitoes. You can float the doughnuts of Bacillus thuringiensis to prevent the multiplication of mosquitoes. One doughnut is prescribed for every 1/100 square foot of water. It is totally harmless for children and wildlife. As a precautionary measure you can keep a bubbler so that the water doesn't stand still.

Terrace Gardening

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:51:00 +0000

At the end of the day your brain might be dead after struggling with daily affairs. At this tiring phase the only solace that you can get from is Nature. Again your legs have revolted not to work any more. So you are not able to take a walk at the nearby park. But you can bring the park to you. In this chapter we are giving you some information on terrace gardening. Terrace gardening is a type of indoor gardening where you take care of your indoor plants.

Important features before gardening

The roof on which the gardening is to be done should be strong enough to carry the weight of the garden
The terrace should be sloppy with an effective drainage system.
Lastly there should not be any leakage of water in your roof garden.

Structuring Terrace Garden

Unlike any type of gardening this terrace garden also needs a detailed plan. It should be proportionate with lawns, shrubs, ground covers and small trees. If desired you can also assimilate the concept of water garden or rock garden or create a shady structure on your roof garden.
The next step is the choosing of plants. Fiber-rooted plants are preferred to tap root system. Tap-rooted plants have the tendency to grow through the building causing harm to it.
The soil that should be used must not exert pressure on the building. The adequate soil for this purpose is soil rite or peat moss. As it is a costly material you can blend it with garden earth, manure.
To prepare your drainage system you need to do the roof garden construction. Lay only burnt bricks approx. 2" - 4" uniformly on the terrace. Burnt bricks are the best because normal ones turn into mud and collapse the drainage system. Corrugated sheets are another option and should be placed at 3' distance to make the water flow to the drain.
In top of the bricks lay a net lawn. This will prevent the soil (prepared by you) to get inside the bricks.
You have to construct drain at several places of the roof if it is quite large (say more than 500sq. ft.). Place pipes at several places leading to main holes. But be careful while laying pipes it should not be visible and gets covered by lawn when complete.
Put the mixture of the soil prepared beforehand to the pot according to a level you choose. Then sow the selected indoor plants.

Rock Garden Designing

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:51:00 +0000

There is useful information for people staying in a mountainous area or those who want to live in a rustic atmosphere. You can certainly bring out the inner beauty of these hard tough-looking rocks. It is possible by alpine gardening, which is nothing but designing garden with rocks. Rock gardens are very cooperative with their owners because the planting of alpine plants and also the maintenance of these rocky plants are very easy, So if you have decided for alpine garden designing then here are some guidelines for you.

Before you begin anything be sure that the rocks to be used are of same size and can be adjusted to your area when laid down. Otherwise the area will either be too empty or too crowded.

Steps to design rock garden.

Making Path - Start your alpine garden from the garden-path. Outline the path by spraying water-based spray adjusted to the environment. It is better to choose bright color so that is visible against the soil. If you don't find the paint accurate then put some dirt on it and then re-spray. Then spread stones sequentially but unlike each other in a balanced fashion. While doing this, have a view of the picture at small intervals so that it gives you an idea whether it is giving a natural look or reforms are yet to be done. When you accommodate large stone anywhere dig a hole and then keep one edge buried to give an assumption that it has been buried for long.

List of plants

Here is a list of easy to manage alpine plants

Peruvian lily (Alstroemeria)- zones 7-10, will give your garden a cheerful look.
Yarrow (Achillea 'Fireland') -zones 4-8, without any effort, it will give you variety.
(Pennisetum)-zones 8-10 gives your garden dynamism by its height.
Dietes (Dietes vegeta) - zones 9-10, keeps glowing all the year around.
Peruvian lily (Alstroemeria) - zones 7-10, gives a colorful view though not all-pervading.
Dietes (Dietes vegeta) - zones 9-10, brings bliss in scorching plants

Plant the alpine plants next to the stones so that it will remain short and make the rock visible and give you a mountainous vision. You can also sprinkle some color with foliage.

Building the Path - After placing the plants you can make the marginal line of the garden path by digging the soil and implanting the flagstone. You need to bury into the soil only half of the rock. The best method is to first lay the stones see the view from different angles and then dig it. As a finishing touch you can spread two-inch gravel over the soil and plants to prevent the growth of weeds. Be careful not to spread too much gravel, as it will be difficult for you to move and can sink on the stones.
By now your garden is on the rocks and enjoy the lofty feeling roaming on it.

Parma-Gardening

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:51:00 +0000

One Hundred Pounds a Year earned from zero investment. This brow-raising news was published appeared during the 20th century by a pamphlet in Gloucester shire by Blanche Lee Godfrey. Parma violets could have been luscious business opportunity for the less fortunate British. But none paid a heed to the predicament and within a few years Parma violets obliterated from the picture.

An Introduction to Parma violets
The Parma was invented by Isaac Oldacre, a gardener to Tsar Alexander I of Russia during the beginning of 19th century. Parma violets traveled worldwide from Italy to France and then to Britain. The French believe that Parma is a hybrid of Viola odorata and V. suavis. The viola odorata is quite similar to Parma violet having a sweet fragrance. The difference with Parma is its strong fragrance and it is not as double as Parma.

Utilities of Parma
Parma had an overpowering sweet smell, which can force a passerby to stop and admire, be curious of it, ask about it, know about it and then buy it. In addition of Parma being sold all over Europe as embellished bouquets during the late winter its aroma is also used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and eatables

Facts of Parma
Here we will be giving some facts on Parma home garden. In Parma violets the male and the female reproductive system is present but still it is unknown whether it is natural or man-created. Parma is a very soft plant and needs shelter form winter and summer. To be precise, it can't survive the heat.

Some gardening tips of Parma
If you are planning of Parma gardening here are some useful tips. The sowing and nurturing of Parma goes all over the year.

During the month of September stolons are taken out from the mother plants and preserved in cold frame for the outcome of new plants.
They are planted during the Month of April in fertile well-drained elevated beds.
Their branches are trimmed and covered with shade cloth to protect from the sun.
They bloom in the chill weather from October to March.

Investigations all over the world are going on for Parma violets and their cultivators who had withered from our sight during the crucial crux of time. Once the research is successful it will surely create an upheaval in the world of flower-wooer.

Growing Indoor Herb Garden

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:51:00 +0000

Staying with nature has become the buzz of the day and if you are a nature-lover then it becomes your passion. If you want to enjoy the natural beauty at every moment then you can easily bring nature to your living room. Indoor garden becomes a great option for you. Growing an indoor herb garden will give you the scope to enjoy it at any time of the day no matter whatever the climatic conditions are. So here are some tips for growing herbs in your home garden and you will make nature your all-time buddy.

Constructing Indoor garden

Place - Choose a place having large space for your indoor garden. Keep in mind that there can be a little mess by soiling.

Lighting - Install a skylight in your chosen place, as it will work as an artificial sunlight for your indoor garden.

Planting - for planting sow plants that are suitable for indoors.

Examining soil - At regular intervals keep on checking the soil for your indoor garden so that it has all the required nutrients.

Some tips on homemade indoor herb garden

For indoor garden lighting is most important. So before planting make a brief study of your desired plants and the amount of light they need. Plants that need medium to low light are Boston fern, Philodendrons, etc.

During the summer time keep the plants out in sunlight to boost them up.
Rotate the plant after keeping it under light for a healthy growth.
If your indoor herb garden is not getting enough light then the leaves will grow small and lighter in color than the normal, with thin stems.
You can also use artificial lights with a fluorescent lamp if your house has limited lights.
When you buy plants condition them because the place from where you buy mostly will have more light than in your house. The plant will get a sudden shock due to the change. So at first give them the maximum light available in your house and then gradually reduce it to the desired degree.

Another point important for growing an indoor herb garden is watering the plants. The process of watering varies from plant to plant.

Make sure that the water is drained out of the bottom of the pot. The quantity and the intervals of watering vary. So before buying collect all the necessary information about its routine care.
Over watering is dangerous as it destroys most of the plants roots. You can see that the leaves will be yellowish in color, as the soil is not getting proper oxygen.
The water that would be given to the plants should be same as that of the room temperature. Otherwise sudden change in the temperature of water can affect the plants.

Container Gardening Design

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:51:00 +0000

Generally we throw all the unwanted things like faded urns, water cans, milk cans tins, barrels or dump them at the corner of the room. It makes the room looks disorganized and also the mountains of waste create chaos in your daily chores. But by blending your creative instinct with these disposables you can deck your both indoor or outdoor. These wasteful things can become excellent containers where you can sow a number of desired plants and decorate it according to your imagination. Here we have given you some ideas on container garden designing. For growing plants in containers you need to choose the right pot so that after the plant is sown the additional plant care given to the container plants proves useful to them.

Selecting container types

Don't choose container with narrow opening.
If you are choosing plastic pots then be careful as the scorching sunlight destroys it. Terracotta pots are liable to dry out quickly. Glazed ceramic pots are the excellent choices but you have to dig too many holes to drain out the water. The pot should have drainage holes at a length of ½ inches.
The containers made of wood are more likely to rot. But if you prefer wooden containers redwood and cedar wood containers are the best option. You can use them without painting them from inside. The benefit of using wooden pots for container gardening is that it can be given any size and shape you desire
The size of container depends on the number of plants that you will be growing. If you are growing deep-rooted vegetables small pots are not very useful as it restrict the spreading of the root and dry out quickly.
In summer use light-colored pots as they will not absorb heat and help the roots to grow evenly.
Put the containers on bricks so that the water is drained out easily.
Keep the container away form the sunlight in the afternoon.
Clay pots are full of holes and so the water is dripped off from the sides of the pot. So keep a careful watch and see if the plant is getting adequate moisture.

Flowers For Butterfly Garden

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:51:00 +0000

Butterfly gardening is indeed a colorful job. For creating a butterfly garden you need to plant some bright - colored flowers.

Though butterflies are attracted to the flowers for honey they take rest on flat flowers. While choosing butterfly garden plant pick up those plants that can provide fruits and flowers all through the year. Here are names of some flowers adequate for butterfly gardening.

Hibiscus
Lavender
Lilac
Marigold
Butterfly Bush
Oxeye Daisies
Phlox
Pink Azalea
Purple Coneflower

The dragonflies rest on the bamboo poles that are standing inserted to the ground. Birds search on fallen leaves and ground cover for insects. Ground cover gives the shape of natural slope. You can also create artificial slope and create the opportunity for birds to hunt for food. You can plant Rosemary, Lantana, and creeping juniper for creating artificial slope. These bright colored flowering plants provide the food to the butterflies and also it becomes their hiding place from their enemies.

Indoor Bonsai Garden

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:51:00 +0000

Rewind your memory some ten to fifteen years back and you can easily get a picture of grandmothers and mothers making a sort of garden in front of the house to grow daily-required vegetables. Also they would grow the often-needed flower for worship. Here the 'sort of' word is used, as the concept was not refined to the degree as it is today. Though such a view is quite common in smaller towns even today but in metro cities it have lessened up. It is mainly due to the lack of space and also the appeal is changing in the eyes of the people. Here indoor gardening fills the gap.

Indoor gardening is becoming a popular concept as it acts as a medicine to person addicted to it and also helps in decoration. When the word indoor garden comes to our mind the most common indoor garden type inevitably is bonsai. We have also given a care guide of bonsai. Though bonsai can be grown both outside and also indoor bonsai garden is quite a common one.

Indoor bonsai plant

Carmona Macrophylle (Fukien Tea Tree)
Ficus Retusa (Fig Tree)
Ligustrum Nitida (Chinese Privet)
Nandina Domestica (Sacred Bamboo)
Podocarpus Chinese Yew (Buddhist Pine)
Sageretia Theezans (Chinese Bird Plum)
Serissa Foetida (Tree of a Thousand Stars)
Ulmus Parvifolia (Chinese Elm)
Chinese Pepper Tree.

Care guide of Bonsai

Molding Bonsai
You can give your desirous size and shape to bonsai by growing them in small container. This will control the growth of roots. Also trim them often, as it will keep them healthy because extensive growth is not quite favorable in small root ball. But the trimming of bonsai has a specific method. In deciduous trees you can see a minor bud at the beginning of the leaf. Find out the direction where the bud is facing and you have to trim in that direction because the new shoot will grow from there. In small trees the only thing needed in shaping is trimming but in bigger trees you will have to bend the branches and trunk to give it a shape. There are many ways to do it but the most common form is by tying a wire. Remember to do these shaping and structuring of bonsai in the growing season only.

Nurturing Bonsai
After your bonsai has been brought it is quite normal that till 2 weeks some leaves will turn yellow. It requires some time to adjust to the atmosphere. Don't pluck them, as they will grow repetitively causing harm to new buds.

WATERING
Fill a bowl with tepid water. Dip the tree into so that the water comes up to the brim and the soil is covered with water. Keep for 5 minutes and then place it on a draining board to drain the extra water. Then take it out from water. Don't keep it in water after draining. Bonsai requires a large amount of water but it should be proportionate. During the peak of summer water bonsai at every alternate days. So the best-recommended thing for watering bonsai is a humidity tray. You can also spray mist twice a day.

Placing
Place your bonsai in a bright place but not under the scorching heat. If you don't accurately place the bonsai then it will have no leaves or large leaves on thin shoots. The best place for bonsai is semi-shaded outdoors compared to windowsills, as the temperature is flexible in the sills of window.

Nutrition
Unlike any other indoor or outdoor plant bonsai needs nutrition. You can sprinkle Phostrogen tomato feed or other special fertilizer especially for bonsai. During summer once a week and in winter once a month the fertilizer should be given.

One thing that should always be the foremost for a bonsai-fancier is that excess water and fertilizer can burn the roots and kill the bonsai.

Outdoor Gardening

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:51:00 +0000

Gardening is not good pastime for only your leisure days. It is generally believed that sowing plants and looking after them, watering them is a hobby, which can only be practiced during the last leisure days of ones life. But one can easily do it if he practices it like his any other day - to day habits of brushing, taking meals etc. It not only allures your surroundings but also gives you a natural healthy environment to live in.

Nowadays it is quite common habit to workout physically before starting our day. Sometimes we complain that we don't have time. But you can blend them into one practice gardening early in the morning, which will serve all your purposes. Not only the greenery of the garden soothes your mind but also you can inhale the fresh breath sitting right in the lap of nature. As you pick the pots and move it around your garden or dig the ground it helps you to shed some of your calories. Needless to say the fresh breathe of the early morning is a wonderful stress relaxation after a sound sleep.

It is said nature opens up its inherent beauty in the early dawn. And it provides you a good opportunity to enjoy its soothing beauty. If you are a lonely person or in a frustrated state of mind you can make your garden a friend and she will surely prove to be a patient listener who can provide solace in your dark and dim times.

So it is the best idea in these hi-tech days to make nature a tranquil friend and a cordial neighbor. Here we have given some tips on outdoor gardening. You can also find some tips on the different garden types like rock garden, water garden, bonsai garden, terrace garden, wildlife garden. You can easily choose one among the indoor-outdoor garden types and design the greenery around you.

Winter Gardening

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:51:00 +0000

When gardening is your hobby why not try out something adventurous in gardening. Here by adventurous gardening we mean to say winter gardening. It is really interesting to see fresh green leaves or tiny leaves coming out of stalks that too when the surrounding is loaded with snow.

Tips on plant care in winter

Time of plantation
The ideal time for planting the winter plants is late summer. As they get enough time to become strong to bear the merciless pangs of winter.

Plants grown in cold weather
If you have a warm greenhouse you can grow summer vegetables like tomato or squash in chill climate. For winter you can grow Broccoli, Cabbage, Kale, Collards, Brussel Sprouts and Cauliflower. You can both plant them in July and get the crops by late fall or if you want to grow them in winter sow them in September and see the results in winter or early spring. Similarly Garlic, Leeks also called as carefree crops that can be grown in the cold weather. In you are looking for the ingredients for your salad dish then you can grow Lettuce, Spinach, Mustard, Chard, Kale, Collards Beets and Carrots.

If you want to improve the soil or keep the weeds out of your garden you can plant cover crops. Some cover crops are planted in spring and others are in fall. Fava bean is the most common natural cover suitable for this cold weather.

Vegetables like Kale will survive without protection from the cold weather. Plants that need protection form the cold can be given by making a cold frame. You can buy a cold frame or make it yourself

Some vegetables such as Kale will survive in winter without any protection; others are more likely to survive if they are covered. You can make or buy a cold frame to protect crops. To make a cold frame, which is, a bell-shaped cover you have to

Bend some pipes of ½ or ¾ inch and put it on the top of a raised bed.
Cover the top of the pipes with clean plastic.

It can provide some protection to the plants from cold weather but it may not work in extreme cold.

The best winter garden fertilizer is compost and mulch. Compost provides minerals to the plant and mulch prevents the soil to freeze easily. You can also mix compost with the soil and sow your cold weather plants and seeds. Don't put too much artificial nitrogen fertilizer, as it will increase the plant growth. This new growth is very much affected when the temperature goes down. You can find the preparation of mulch in our other section. There is also a disadvantage on the application of mulch. It creates a warm moist environment that helps the slugs to grow.

Tropical Gardening

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:51:00 +0000

Gardening in a hot and humid climate is really a tough task but people addicted to it take it sportingly as an adventure or experimentation. People living in zonal area experiences this hot and humid climate. Tropical gardening can be done both outdoors and indoor though here we have stressed in this section on outdoor plant care in tropical weather.

Some outdoor plants in tropical weather

Hibiscus
Miscanthus cabaret
New Zealand flax
Cardinal lobelia
Canary reed-grass (ground-cover)
Kalanchoe (annual plant)
Agave (for sandy well-drained soil)

Tips on tropical plant care

Plants grown on tropics require well-drained soil.
Choose plants with good roots and loosen the root from the soil when you take off the plant.
Make a big hole at the ground level of the pot. The roots should be placed well enough and place the plant at the base of the pot.
In case of the application of fertilizers don't put too much of nitrogen especially on flowering plants. It increases the growth of leaves and decreases the flower blooms.
Manure should be given to the plants on small quantity and less often. When the temperature is higher the organic manure is easily decomposed. It is done so quickly that the plants are not able to take it so quickly and it goes waste.
Cow, Horse or Sheep Manure - are the common organic minerals. You can mix these manures with soil or added with the compost if they are the dried ones. If they are fresh they can also be mixed with water and made a solution of manure tea. They are not much nutritious so they have to be applied frequently.
Urine - It contains high minerals whether it is of human being or animals. The nitrogen content is high is these type of minerals. It should not be given fresh but has to be given after been stored for sometime. You can make a solution of it with water. You can also apply it directly to the soil.
Among inorganic fertilizer the most important among them are Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potash. Nitrogen helps in the growth of the leaves and stems of the plants. Phosphorus and potash helps in developing the roots protects them from disease and helps in the production of flowers and fruits.

Humid Weather Gardening

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:51:00 +0000

Hot summer climate is a terror to everyone from human beings, animals to plants. For the plants it is a more distaste as they cant avoid staying under the scorching sun. In some areas it is not only hot and sweating during daytime but also in the night. In this humid weather gardening needs special care. On noticing this trouble of home gardeners we have given some simple tips how to do fruitful gardening in heat.

Plant Care In Hot Humid Climate
To have a healthy greenery of plants in hot climate you should choose the hard plants such as the Red Bird of Paradise (Caesalpinia pulcherrima) southern pea, okra, sweet potato, amaranth, malabar spinach, and watermelon. You should be careful when the seeds are sown, because they can be the food to the caterpillars and beetles.

General tips on humid weather gardening

The plants should be mulched from time to time in this humid climate. The mulch should be kept under sunlight so that it becomes more nourishing.
To prevent the growth of weeds here is an easy way.

Mow the soil if there are any tall leaves.
Water the soil thoroughly.
Spread a thick layer of newspaper consisting of 4 sheets together.
Wet the newspaper so that it doesn't move.
Cover the newspaper with leaves or hay.
Then sow seeds making holes form the top of the newspaper.
Scatter a handful of soil and compost over the newspaper among the sown seeds and water them.

3. If you are growing vegetables only and the soil is without any crops now then add fertilizer and other organic matter so it becomes fertile and nourished for the fall crops. Southern peas such as Blackeye, Purplehull, Cream and Crowders are ideal cover crops that make the soil fertile and full of minerals.
Leaving the soil empty after tilling under the scorching heat. It will kill nematodes and also weeds. After two weeks till the soil again so that more weeds and nematodes can come up to the surface

4. Water the soil deeply after some days. Apply 1-foot deep water to a sandy soil and 6 to 8 inches deep watering is required when it is a clay soil. You should be very careful about watering because deep watering is required and not over-watering. Deep watering is very harmful to the plants if the drainage facility is poor.

5. Some blooming plants and trees such as azalea, dogwood, redbud, spirea, forsythia, flowering quince, wisteria, and some species of roses shouldnot be trimmed heavily. If their heavy trimming is done between midsummer to fall then the flowering decreases heavily. You can trim them slightly and give them a decent shape.

Desert Gardening

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:51:00 +0000

It is not compulsory that people loving gardening have to live in plains. It is quite natural that people living in desert area would also like to boast of their beautiful gardens. It is true that growing garden in desert is a challenging task, as you have to face all the contradictory conditions of farming like very little rainfall, unfertile rocky soil, extreme temperature etc.

The advantage of desert gardening is that they get long seasons for production throughout the year, which is not quite possible in the plain fertile soil. For desert gardening it is better to select plants that are quite friendly to the harsh desert atmosphere. Otherwise you have to take extra care by making raised bed, making the soil fertile, building shades, protecting the plants form wind and animals etc.

Procedure for the plants that are grown in desert
The first step in desert gardening is testing the soil. Desert plants are best gown nearby any river. Every soil needs nitrogen for the growth of the plants. But if you have cemented rocks between six to twenty inches below the soil then you have to break it manually or sow your plants on raised beds.

Needless to say desert gardening needs deep watering so that the plants grow healthy. The watering was to be done in drops, which is called drip irrigation system. This drip irrigation system will allow the water to enter into the soil. If the soil is loose enough it also allows oxygen to penetrate easily. Drip watering is very much necessary for the healthy growth of the roots of the desert plants.

Compost and mulch are very much suitable to the drip irrigation system. You can either make it yourself or buy them. It is mixed in the soil to give nutrient to the plants. It acts like a sponge to store the minerals in the soil and slowly give the nutrients to the plants roots. Mulch placed on the soil helps to retain the moisture and prevents the growth of weeds. You can make mulch manually from old newspapers, wood chips, dry lawn leftover, old straw and pine needles. These materials decompose and add to the organic matter, which is a helpful nutrient for desert plants.

Regional Gardening

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:51:00 +0000

Gardening is a favorite pastime for people all over the world. No matter he is situated in which part of the world and whatever the climatic conditions are everyone wants to decorate their surrounding. There are many reasons for the concept of regional gardening to evolve. In our other sections we have given some tips on gardening in different climates. Plant care in various regions is distinct from the other. So the required steps, the adequate plants for that region are all been discussed specifically.

We also wanted the home gardeners to come out form the world of roses, tomatoes and green beans, zucchini and cabbages. We want them to feel the adventure of planting rare plants, foods, fragrances and herbs. We also have a humble reason for writing on the tips of regional gardening. We also wanted to help the world and bring a solution to the grim problem of hunger, malnutrition and starvation.

We also want to introduce some rare species of plants of different regions to the global gardeners. And also to make the people all over the world know about the more improved and scientific ways of gardening and in this process increase the depth of knowledge in gardening in unfavorable climatic conditions. In addition to it through this method we want to rediscover the forgotten tips and techniques used by our ancestors in gardening.

We are sure that even if gardening is not your addiction but after reading our section you will surely want to explore the distinct varieties of gardening keeping an eye on the climate. After reading our information of gardening you can choose any type of garden that suits to your climatic conditions and can take the adequate plant care specific to your regions, decorate your surrounding and make your both outdoors and indoors an admirable asset.