First of all, when starting your container garden, whether it is from seed or from a young plant from your local garden center, the soil is essential. Many plants are very sensitive to the soil they are planted in. Unlike weeds, fruit and vegetable bearing plants do not grow everywhere and even if they grow on some minor soils, they might not bring they crop they would on a good soil. So get your pots clean and ready with a good soil recommended for gardening. Also keep in mind, that the container needs to be at least 5 gallons or more to properly support the growth of the plant.

Your second important choice is the plant itself. Tomatoes come in a great variety of sizes, colors and tastes. From cherry and olive tomatoes over plum tomatoes to big size sandwich tomatoes (such as fat boy), it is all available. Besides the size and taste of the tomato the size of the plant falls within this size. Some tomato plant get to a full grown height of only a few feet while others might grow up to 5 feet tall. If your space or height is limited where you are planning to cultivate your container garden, make sure that you pick one of the smaller varieties. A friendly employee at your local garden center should be able to direct you to a good variety such as the bushy types for container gardening.

Even in a container garden it is important to support tomatoes properly. The tomato fruit actually is very heavy for the weak branches of the plant; therefore it is necessary to attach the tomato plant to some kind of a support such as planting stakes, tomatoes cages or small trellises.

Tomatoes generally need 5-6 hours minimum of sun so pick your spot for the container garden appropriately. Do not pick the shade side of the house, too little sun will not ripen your tomatoes in time and also minimizes the chance of a good crop. The more sun the better will your tomato plants grow and most likely the more tomatoes you will harvest.

Tomatoes need to be watered on a daily bases in hot or dry climates. Generally it is better for tomatoes if they are not watered from above, but rather from below. This should be easier achievable in a container garden, since you will generally water fewer plants than in a big backyard vegetable garden. Also keep in mind containers, planting pots and hanging baskets dry out much faster than regular soil in a big garden.

Very important for container gardens besides the regular watering is fertilizing. Container gardens have a small amount of soil compared to the big surrounding of a vegetable garden in the back yard and therefore the amount of food for the plants contained within the container is much smaller. Regular fertilizing is necessary to provide the tomato plant with the essential nutrients to support a big crop and grow properly.

Tomato container gardening is a very possible undertaking for many different occasions. Tomatoes are such a versatile ingredient and can be used in salads, as snack, in soups, salsas, chili’s and much more.

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Why Xeriscaping Works for Amateurs for Gardeners with Limited Garden Time

The principles of xeriscaping are sustainable and earth-friendly, but they can also be a viable way to garden if you have a limited amount of time and resources. Xeriscaping can work for the amateur gardener because it involves hardy plants that survive (and in some cases, even thrive) with minimal care and attention. A properly maintained xeriscape garden does not require frequent watering, and it can withstand a certain amount of neglect. These are hardy, tough gardens that can withstand extreme temperatures, while still adding beauty and richness to the environment. Here are some key principles to keep in mind if you are considering starting your own xeriscape garden.

Avoid Impulse Buy at the Nursery and Choose Your Plants with Care

When it comes to establishing a healthy and viable xeriscape garden, plant selection is key above all else. Walking up and down the aisles at your local nursery store, it can be very tempting to pick the plants with the showiest blooms. But are they right for your garden? But you should resist the urge to pick out just any plant. For a xeriscape garden, you will want to select the right plant for the right place.

Where Will You Be Planting?

In order to select the right plant for the right place, you will want to determine exactly where you will be planting. What are the key characteristics of the planting site? Important factors to consider include sunlight, water needs, climate and soil type. Choose plants that are well suited to the planting location. Smart plant choices will save you a lot of grief in the long run.

For Your Xeriscape Garden, Choose Low Water Usage Plants

Drought-tolerant, low water usage plants are the backbone of any xeriscape garden. If you don’t know which plants are low water use plants in your area, ask your local nursery expert to direct you to hardy perennials that do not require frequent watering. Choosing hardy perennials is the best way to ensure that you are getting low water usage plants that will thrive in your xeriscape garden. Also, consider focusing on plants that are native to your area. Native plants are already adapted to your growing climate, and thus will almost always require less water than more exotic plants. Native plants have the benefit of thousands of years in one area, and thus are better suited for their specific region than exotic plants.

Liven Up Your Xeriscape Garden with Multipurpose Plants

Perhaps you think that a xeriscape garden will result in a dull display. This is not true, especially if you plant multipurpose plants. These are plants that fulfill more than one purpose at a time, especially if you would like to attract birds, butterflies or wildlife. Choose native plants that can provide you with natural year-round foliage, periodical blooms and that can attract local birds or butterflies. Native plants are often the primary source of food for native birds and other wildlife. If you are trying to attract certain birds or other animals into your garden, then this is another compelling reason to invite native plants into your xeriscape garden.

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Adding a mini patio to your home is good for you and it is good for your pocket book. You will get plenty of enjoyment from your patio, whether you use it as a place to sit out and bask in the glow of the sun in the summer, a quiet place to read away from the hustle and bustle of kids and family or a place to throw impromptu neighborhood barbeques. Along with all of that personal enjoyment, you will also see a nice increase to the property value of your home. A patio adds instant value to your home, and when it comes time to sell, you will be able to sell potential buyers of the benefits of all of the things you used the patio to do when you owned the home.

To add a patio to your home, the first thing you need to do is decide where you want to put it. Of course, the ideal place is directly outside a backdoor to your home, so you can step out of the home and onto the patio. If you don’t have a backdoor, or if it is not practical to put a patio outside of the door, fear not. You can still enjoy your patio even if you have to walk around the house to get to it.

If you are going to place the patio away from the backdoor, consider a few other factors when placing your patio. Do you have a nice, large tree in your backyard that offers tons of shade? Do you have swing set, garden, big flower bed, or water feature in your yard? Place you patio near the other amenities in your yard so you can enjoy them all together. Just be mindful to look for level ground – placing your patio on a slope will make laying the foundation difficult and make the patio less “user friendly”.

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What is Compost?

But maybe you are new to the world of compost, or need a little refresher. There is good reason why so many experienced gardeners swear by compost. Straight compost can easily take care of all your garden’s fertilizing needs, including fertilizing your lawn, flowers, shrubs, fruit trees and vegetables. Essentially, compost is what is created when organic material breaks down and decomposes in an enclosed area. For instance, in a composting bin, organic matter breaks down with help from the moisture in that enclosed area. Many chemical reactions take place that allow for the decomposition of the material. The combination of heat and moisture create a dark, earthy material called hummus. In essence, compost is nature’s way of recycling used organic material into rich new earth.

Why Your Garden Needs Compost

All good, healthy gardens need the ingredients that are contained in compost. Most notably, compost is composed of nitrogen, along with more than a dozen of other essential nutrients and micronutrients. Compost imbues soil with the micro biotic activity that it needs in order to begin producing. Thus, soil that has been mixed with compost will become more hospitable to plants, feeding the roots of all kinds of plants and creating the kind of environment that will allow your plants to thrive.

How to Make Your Very Own Compost

Start your own compost pile today and you will have good compost in about six months time. Here is an easy recipe for making your own compost. First, choose a spot for your compost. Ideally, you would like to have a bin, but a cleared off corner will do. In general, you want your compost to be composed of 40% browns, 40% greens and 20% steer manure or chicken. Browns refer to organic material that is naturally brown, including sawdust, dry leaves, twigs, straw and paper, including shredded newspaper and junk mail. Greens include such organic materials as overripe fruit, grass clippings, vegetables, landscape trimmings, spent blossoms and blooms, flower stems and others.

Easy Tips for Maintaining Your Compost Pile

Here are some easy tips for maintaining your compost pile. You will want to blend manure into your green and brown material. Try to layer your greens and browns in your composing area. Don’t let your compost pile go dry. Add water periodically and use a pitchfork to turn your pile on a regular basis. Ideally, you want your compost pile to be moist, but not too moist. Aim for it to be about as moist as a wrung out sponge. Every week, use your pitchfork to turn your pile. When you add new organic material to your compost pile, try to layer the browns over the greens.

No Fuss, No Muss Composting for Your Little Garden

There are a lot of easy way to compost with no fuss and no muss. If you don’t have enough room in your yard for a full-scale compost bin in your yard, you can start small. Keep a compost kitchen pail by your sink so that you have somewhere to throw out food scraps. Once the compost kitchen pail is full, you can empty outside in your garden. Let nature take over and do its work. The organic material will eventually break down and enrich your soil, creating food for your garden.

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The thing about the cold that damages plants is that it causes the water inside the plant to freeze, which ruptures cell walls and causes the plants to die. When this happens, it is already too late to save your plant. The trick is to stop the freezing of your plants before it starts, no matter what kind of plants you have. There are a few things you can do to give your plants the best chance of making it through a cold snap.

The first thing you can do is choose a fertilizer that is low in nitrogen. These soils encourage plants to produce sugary sap which freezes quickly in the cold. Next, think about where you are planting your plants. If you are going for a few tender plants, make sure you place them in the shade of the house or of a big tree, where they will have some protection from the elements. If your yard is sloped or rolling, place your most tender plants at the highest points. When your lawn frosts over, the coldest parts will be the lowest points, so keep these tender plants as high as possible. You can further protect your most delicate plants by planting them in special frost proof containers or planters instead of in the ground, to protect them during a hard freeze. Last but not least, in the event of snow, brush heavy snow off your branches and stems, but leave a small layer of snow in place. While too much snow can lead to breakage, a little bit of snow will act as an insulator for your plants.

Of course, all of this will be for naught if you do not choose the right kinds of plants for your garden. The best indicator is to visit your local garden center and find out what kinds of plants are known to thrive in your area. These professional gardeners will have experimented with many different plants and will know which ones can stand up to the strain of the cold in your area and which ones can’t. Another factor to consider is the amount of sunshine your garden will get, both in terms of placement in your yard and in terms of the sunshine your area gets on a regular basis. Cold and sunny climates call for different plants than do cold and wet climates.

There are a few basic rules you can follow when choosing cold weather plants, no matter where you live. First and foremost, skip variegated plants and gold plants for your cold weather garden. These plants are too tender for chilly temperatures. Of course, tropical plants and flowers, like orchids, some types of bamboos and lotus flowers will not thrive in the cold climates. Instead, the best plants to consider for cold weather are heather, heath, holly, witch hazels, crocuses, ivy, winter pansies, forget-me-nots, primrose, chrysanthemums, and poppies. These great plants will give you beautiful splashes of color in the garden during even the most dreary and gray winter days.

One word of caution – just because plants can grow in the cold weather doesn’t mean they will. Even plants hardy enough for cold climates require special care to make it through cold winter months.

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Of course, it is easy to see how growing plants and flowers can be a beneficial learning experience for children, but that does not mean that all plants and flowers are appropriate for children to grow. Some plants and flowers may be to difficult for little ones to tend, while other plants and flowers be able to be downright dangerous. For your children to get the most out of the experience of gardening, carefully selecting the right plants and flowers is the key.

When choosing plants and flowers for gardening with kids, there are a few factors you need to consider. First and foremost, consider safety. Plants and flowers can often be poisonous, and depending on the age of your child, this factor can be a serious issue. If your little one is still of the age in which they want to put everything in their mouth, shy away from poisonous plants. Next, consider the amount of work that goes into caring for the plant or flower. Choose one that requires an age appropriate amount of work for your child. You want to encourage their success in the garden, so err on the side of caution and don’t give them more than they can handle. In addition to these concerns, you of course also have to take into account all of the regular gardening considerations, like choosing plants and flowers that are appropriate for your area and the size and placement of your garden.

One great way to go with kids in the garden is choosing food plants. Tomato plants, green beans, squash, watermelon, strawberries – all of these food plants are relatively easy to grow, and your child will get a kick out of seeing the food go from seed to something they can eat. You might also find that your children are much more interested in eating their vegetables, if they’ve grown them.

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Time for a Hardy Perennial – the Four-o’clock Blooms Year After Year

One of the hardiest perennials around is the four o’clock, also known as Mirabilis jalapa. This perennial should be planted in full sun March to June, and loves the heat. It provides you with a pink and white bloom, and some varieties are pink and yellow. These are bushy plants that can grow up to three feet tall. The blooms release a strong fragrance in the late afternoon. The tops of the flowers will die back in cold weather, but these lovely plants will reseed in the garden on their own.

Beautiful Cosmos Provide Bright Blooms in Summer and Fall

Cosmos, a native flower of Mexico, provides bright beautiful blooms. You can acquire both annual and perennials. These beautiful flowers are drought-tolerant once established. They come in a wide variety of colors, ranging from pale pin to bright magenta. These plants are popular because they make excellent cut flowers. They are also non-stop bloomers that persevere throughout the summer and well into the fall. They will also readily reseed in the garden, so they can make a glorious comeback every year in your garden.

The Black-Eyed Susan Makes its Triumphant Return Each Year

Another popular perennial is the black-eyed susan, flower that makes its triumphant return to the garden year after year. These plant seeds should be planted from October to January. They are popular because they can thrive in the sun and require low water usage. The black-eyed susan is also known to attract beneficial pollinators. This plant also spreads easily by seed in the garden. Beware if you want to restrict this plant to one area of your garden, because it has been known to be invasive.

Begonias Provide Color and Warmth to Your Garden Year After Year

Begonias are popular perennials that can also be grown as annuals. These can be planted from September to May, and are often available as nursery stock. These will tend to do best if given filtered, rather than full, sun. Plant begonias in rich, composted soil material and then water and fertilize well with fish emulsion every two weeks.

Artemisia Provides Fragrance and Color Your Yard

This fragrant and aromatic shrub grows as a perennial. It is best to plant in full sun. They will provide your yard with lovely gray, silvery foliage, and are known to attract beneficial insects to gardens. The strong fragrance is also known to discourage insect pests, including moths, ants, caterpillars and aphids.

Gallardia Offers Year Round Wonders and a Long Growing Season

Gallardia, sometimes know as blanket flower, is a perennial that is easy to grow from seed. Plant it in full sun from mid-September to April. This plant is available as seeds or nursery stock and has been known to attract beneficial pollinators and other helpful insects. They are also know to be very hardy, and will continue to flower right up to the first frost if the blooms are removed.

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A garden in a bag can be the ultimate solution for the herb and flower lover that does not have the time or the space. Gardens in a bag come in a great variety of herbs, flowers and plants and can be used in several different ways. One of the easiest solutions available is the garden in the bag that also grows in a bag. When you buy or receive such a garden in a bag you can just add water to the bag and the plants will grow from the bag. The bag is in this case also a planter. The plants can be kept in the bag on the windowsill, a table or even on your patio.

A garden in a bag can be a great present this way for anybody. Young or old will have a successfully growing garden with gardens in a bag. No more getting your fingers dirty to have a few fresh herbs on your hand for cooking. The seeds are guarantied to sprout and grow if watered properly. These gardens in a bag can give you fragrant herbs, beautiful, stunning flowers or even houseplants in a nice arrangement. Stores offer these gardens in a wide variety of themes, anything from organic herbs, to good luck and congratulation gardens.

If a bag on a windowsill is not quite your cup of tea, gardens in a bag also come in other forms. There are gardens in a bag that can be planted in plain old planters by pouring the bag into a nice size planter or by pouring it over a planter filled with gardening soil. These bags include all the seed and feed you need for the first few weeks or even months. Therefore no more deciding and buying of seed packages, but rather get a kit that includes all your favorite herbs. A garden in a bag is just plain convenient.

A garden in a bag can also come in the form of backyard plants. If you have a big backyard and want to bring some bloom and fragrance to your backyard, but just do not have the time then maybe even the money to buy all the plants necessary to make a beautiful garden, try a garden in a bag. These are big bags full of seed and starter fertilizer and all that you have to do is spread the mixture over flowerbeds or chosen planting areas. If you have ever used or seen the usage of grass patching or the city apply the mixtures to grow new grass on their tree lawns, than you know what this is about. The technique used for the flowers is very similar. The seeds are combined with a fertilizer mixture and therefore the sprouting is almost guarantied. Apply the garden in a bag in spring just after frost has passed and within a couple of months you will have a fragrant and flowering garden that will impress anybody. Your friends will be jealous of your beautiful garden. These bags include, wild flower gardens, annuals and in some cases even bigger grasses.

Whatever the occasion is, there will be a garden in a bag for you. Just go to your local gardening center or look online to find the perfect combination of plants for you, a friend or family member.

Go Vertical – How this Idea Can Save You Space and Produce Results

Do you dream of a wide backyard that could accommodate a ‘real’ garden? Well, you don’t have to dream anymore. You can have your dream garden without having to budge an inch. What is a vertical garden, anyway? A vertical garden is one of the latest trends in space saving and innovative gardening. Vertical garden, as the name implies, refers to gardens that grow up and down, rather than side to side. How is this possible, you might be asking your self? Thanks to the ingenuity of some cutting edge garden designers, the vertical garden is becoming a reality in gardens around the world.

Standing Face to Face with Your Garden

Most traditional gardeners can expect to be on their knees for most of their gardening life. This is not so with a vertical garden. With a vertical garden, you will instead be standing face to face with your flowers and plants. Imagine standing face to face with your blood-red bougainvillea or climbing rose—no kneeling required for these plants. Vertical gardening is a fun and efficient way to grow many traditional plants.

What Type of Plants Can You Use in Your Vertical Garden?

There are many types of plants that will thrive in a vertical position. The aforementioned bougainvillea and climbing rose are prime examples of the beauty and possibility of vertical gardening. In general, you will want to focus on vines and climbing plants. There are several plants that grow as vines, and many of these can lend your garden with showy blooms as well as food. And since vines grow vertically, they are ideal plants for a garden that is lacking width. There are also many fine climbing plants that can provide you with seasonal blooms and evergreen beauty. Visit your local nursery for the best local selection of regional vines and climbing plants.

What You Can Expect from Your Vertical Garden

There are many noteworthy aspects attributed to vertical gardens. First, vertical gardening can provide you with the convenience that is not possible with traditional floor planting. Vertical gardening provides you with convenience by making it easy for you to reach your plants. You will have an easier time when it comes to pruning, inspecting your plants for pests and enjoying the aroma and beauty of your plants. If you are growing vegetables and fruits in your vertical garden, you can expect to find cleaner fruits and vegetables because they are not making direct contact with the ground and thus are less likely to experience rot and moisture. Vertical gardens are also less prone to disease, insect infestation, fungus and mildew, because they receive better air circulation and sunshine.

Special Considerations for the Vertical Garden

There are special considerations to keep in mind when you are constructing your own vertical garden. These include making sure that your plants are properly supported. This can be one of the greatest challenges of the vertical gardeners. Also, vertical gardening can become difficult when you cannot reach certain spots in your garden. Ideally, you will want to control the growth of your plants, and have some kind of system of elevation where you can inspect top growth periodically. Vertical gardens also produce shade, so make certain to protect underlying plants that may not be getting enough sunlight.

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If you are looking for a low maintenance garden, than there are six easy steps that you can follow to achieve your goal. First of all, think about what takes the most care and time for regular maintenance in most gardens. Yes, of course, the lawn. Lawns get fertilized once or twice a year, aerated, patched and most of all moved. During summer, lawns might be moved once a week and depending on the size of your lawn, this task might take half an hour or even longer. So when designing your low maintenance garden; keep the lawn off the list. Instead of the lawn there are many other materials that you can use to create open areas and sitting areas in your garden.

Steps number two and three include the following materials. Low Maintenance gardens use lots of gravel, rocks and mulch in the design. Rocks can enhance the garden in several ways. You can introduce walls, beds, stairs, rock benches and sculptures to your garden. There are many sources in books and online that can give you inspirations for your garden design or you can hire a landscape designer to give you your dream low maintenance garden. Any bigger open areas can be made into play, walk or sitting areas by simply adding gravel or mulch. Gravel and mulch come in different sizes and colors and can make a great statement or contrast to the plants chosen for your design.

Low maintenance gardens also should include low maintenance plants. Therefore as step four include slow growing plants that do not have to be pruned and cut regularly, plants that grow in shaded areas as well as plants that are drought resistant. Drought resistant plants do not need to be watered daily or every other day. Generally in a normal climate you might not have to water these plants at all. These plants will be able to grow with the water provided through rain.

Low maintenance gardens can be luscious and green or flowery and fragrant if you choose the proper plants, but they need only minimal care. A low maintenance garden does not need to be designed by a landscape designer; you can design your own garden. Low maintenance gardens are often times easy layered garden due to the choice of materials. Therefore when creating your garden make sure that as step five you include material and plant layering.

Lastly, when creating a low maintenance garden, get advice from your local garden center and garden experts. They will be able to guide in your choice of materials and plants. A good garden expert will be able to find the colors you are looking for while he or she will also be able to tell you about the ease of care of these plants.

Therefore if you are considering a low maintenance garden, go ahead and dig in. Creating a beautiful low maintenance garden is actually easy, even for persons who do not exactly have a green thumb.

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