Posts Tagged ‘Garden’

For those immediately planning to lay out a container garden it is vital to budget beforehand the entire project. Since urn gardens involve some expenses one should prudently chalk out the expenses. A few guidelines might be of help for making the exercise affordable. Seeds should be given the top priority aE” purchasing either plants or seedlings could be rather costly. Thus it is comparatively less expensive to opt for buying seeds till one becomes an expert in container gardening. Then one is prepared to make more generous investments without taking risks. Secondly the focus should be on smaller varieties of plants as these are relatively cheaper. Check that the seedlings are stout and healthy and then start off the jug garden with small varieties. Apart from watering, these do not need much attention. Soon the pots will overflow with mature luscious green. Thirdly starting off with herb plants would be a money saver as these are cheaper and comes of use in the cooking pot. Just pluck the herbs from the container and pop into the brewing stew. Fourthly preparing one’s own compost can lead to a lot of saving.

However one must have the space required for it. There is always aE�kitchen waste’ available and this can be used for preparing the best compost for the container garden. Fifthly another way of saving money is to be on the look out containers at sales. Sometimes there are generous offers and one can pick up lovely containers at half price. Sixthly another tip is to use junk lying forgotten in the attic for the container garden. It could be anything aE” bottles, tins, pails and crates. These will look distinctive and save money in the bargain. For instance pick up a transparent bottle that has been lying around for years, fill it with soil, plant the seed and bingo! It is of great importance not to overreach while setting up the container garden. One should chalk out a budget and not deviate from it. It is pointless to invest in costly pots, jars, seeds and plant. Improvise with whatever is lying around the house aE” nearly everything will come in handy. All that is required is good doses of imagination and the will to be encircled by green right through the year.

There are scores of advantages in growing container plants. Firstly, due to easy mobility of the plants; and as per their requirement they can be shifted to any area which has exposure to adequate sunlight, temperature and moisture. Secondly, they avert the growth of undesirable weeds in the garden and also eradicate diseases which are borne by the soil. If you love nature and wish to beautify your surroundings with lush green plants, you can opt for container gardens. Growing plants in urn gardens do not entail much expenditure and you can set up one with the available space, and with minimum expense. There are numerous varieties of plants and containers sold in the market and you can exercise your discretion in making the right choice by using your imagination. The greatest advantage of a pot garden is that there is no necessity to spend much on buying pots. You can use any type of urn that can retain mud and water e.g. mug, bucket, shoes, sinks and barrels. You can use your own idea and skill in decorating them. But make sure to drill a hole at the bottom of the pot to prevent accumulation of moisture. Next, your focus should be on coloring the pots by using different shades. You can either paint them with striking contrast colors like pink and orange or blue and yellow; or you can use soothing colors like varied shades of green, blue or pink.

The next step is to select the appropriate soil and plants. Make sure to choose the right type of soil for the particular plant. Since fertilizers may be expensive, you can use cheap composts for your plants in the container garden. You can get information about different composting programs from your city as well as Government websites. You may be aware of the fact that a container garden comparatively requires more water than a soil garden because the water tends to dry up fast in containers, particularly in the summer season. You can possess a beautiful container garden which can be used constructively for growing different types of herbs. They not only look appealing but are also very useful for your kitchen. You can enhance the appearance of your jug garden by growing lovely bonsais. You need to regularly water the plants and annually cut and trim them to present a neat look. You can grow different types of plants, creepers and shrubs in bottle gardens. Presently, the concept of container gardening is gaining ground. Now the latest trend is towards adopting jug gardening as a favorite pastime. So why not use this hobby to your advantage if it can bring you pleasure and at the same time keep you engaged in growing and maintaining lovely green plants in your urn garden.

Container gardening has become lately very popular with its use of various types of containers. For the urban dweller this is an ideal way to bring the outdoor green right into the apartments and limited space. The first thing is to map out the best places to keep these containers keeping in view the variety and size of the plants. There are innumerable pots available in the market and thus the space limit is no constraint. With imagination and a pinch of innovation these urns can fit in practically anywhere in the home. For instance the entry can be made welcome and attractive with two pots hanging from either side of the door. In concrete jungles the urn garden seems to be the only alternative to savor the green of Nature. Moreover caring for this garden containing vegetables, flowers and herbs can be a soothing and relaxing exercise. The rewards from the trouble taken can be satisfying and comforting. In relatively bigger houses the best places for keeping the containers would be porticos, driveways and balconies. Kept in the proper niches these containers would add freshness and color to the scenario. Middle sized shrubs in pots can be made to form a border for driveways. The steps leading up to the main entry can be changed into a clam-shell green wonder with rustic looking ferns in bunches and pots topped with moss against an undulating backdrop scenario. There are many kinds of pots made from a variety of materials aE” wood, ceramic, plastic, mosaic, terracotta as well as metals. Window boxes are gaining in popularity especially for apartment dwellers constrained by space. The sills of windows can become small gardens by using crates or even small fruit boxes. The one condition is that there must be lots of sunshine.

Lighting arrangement can enhance the beauty of the container gardens. The plants could be made to match the wall colors. For instance the total effect could be heightened with vibrant colored plants placed against walls with pale shades. The plants however have to lovingly cared for and placed so that these are exposed to the maximum amount of sunlight. A reflector can be used to improvise for the lack of natural sunshine. One should bear in mind the hazards of the weather while placing the plants so that they are protected from the vagaries of rough winds. Of prime importance is the watering of plants. It would be handy to have the water supply source nearby. All this scheduling has to be done before actually getting down to the work of laying out a container garden.


Learn how and when to pick beans and tomatoes in your garden in this free video on low maintenance gardening. Expert: Doug Smiddy Bio: Doug Smiddy has had an active interest in gardening as long has he can remember. Filmmaker: Dale Fitzgerald

Viola’s Flower Garden blooms in Flagstaff
A flower stand that started with a few plants is now in its 10th year.


■ ◘ ■ ◘ ■ ◘ ■ ◘ ■ ◘ ■ ◘ ■ ◘ ■ ◘ ■ ◘ ■ ◘ ■ www.getyoursfreetoday.com ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲ Click link above to get your FREE $500 Dollar Home Depot Gift Card! You can use it to buy supplies! ;) ■ ◘ ■ ◘ ■ ◘ ■ ◘ ■ ◘ ■ ◘ ■ ◘ ■ ◘ ■ ◘ ■ ◘ ■ Planting Warm season vegetables, such as tomatoes, squashes and peppers, are best bought from a local nursery (at least until you become more skilled at sowing seeds and creating indoor growing space). These are best planted in late May and early June. Other vegetables can also be purchased from the nursery and planted earlier. In the early stages of gardening I recommend this to help with the success of your garden. Another time of year for planting is August. This is when your winter vegetables would go in. Unfortunately, nurseries don’t seem to carry vegetables at this time of year, so you would have to sow your own in July or purchase plants earlier and plant then. Garden Maintenance Weeding * Weeds rob moisture and nutrients from vegetable plants, therefore you are helping to increase harvests by eliminating competition. Weeds also block sunlight. * Have a positive attitude toward the task. It provides exercise, helps make compost and produces better veggies. * Hoe regularly, even when you don’t see a lot of weeds. This helps to kill germinating seeds and cultivates the soil. * Avoid walking on newly cultivated beds. The soil compaction helps weeds to germinate and


Learn why square foot gardens require less weeding with expert gardening tips in this free video clip on growing grid gardens. Expert: Yolanda Vanveen Contact: www.vanveenbulbs.com Bio: Yolanda Vanveen is sustainable gardener who lives in Kalama, Wash. Filmmaker: Daron Stetner

Clovis garden swap joins a growing trend
Avid Valley gardeners no longer have to lug their melons to work or sneak anonymous tomato baskets on to a neighbor’s front porch.They can join a growing food trend by swapping produce at a new kind of market that has sprung up in Clovis.


Small container gardening is easy, does not require soil or bark dust and can contain different plants in the same pot for different blooming times. Although small container gardening is easy, small containers can’t hold a lot of water, so learn when to water container gardens with tips from agardening specialist in this free video on plant and flower care. Expert: Yolanda Vanveen Contact: www.vanveenbulbs.com Bio: Yolanda Vanveen is sustainable gardener who lives in Kalama, Wash. Filmmaker: Daron Stetner


Tips on growing tomatoes and gardening from Dave’s Garden.