Category: gardening

Your Garden - Start With The Basics

By Michael Russell   

What started out of a basic need, many ages ago, developed into what was possibly the first recreational activity known to man, gardening. Today it has many forms, such as a hobby in the form of recreational gardening; science, in the form of botany and horticulture; and the commercial enterprises of farming. These various forms have in turn resulted in the many industries necessary to maintain the 'garden'. Industries such as factories to manufacture everything from the most basic garden trowel, to the mammoth harvesting and processing machines used in commercial farming. So, although this article could try and cover all of those aspects, I will limit it to the most generally recognized aspect of gardening as a hobby. Here too, I will only cover the basic introductory aspects and in later articles, broaden out into more specific areas.

Probably, the most common goal of the hobbyist gardener is to create something of beauty that will bring pleasure to themselves and to others. Although it is not absolutely necessary to be an expert, some basic knowledge must be acquired to produce a good end result. You will for instance need to know what plants are suitable for your particular climatic conditions, as well as the type of soil and the terrain that is found in your garden area. You will need to know as well which plants are suitable for shady areas, partially shaded, or full sun areas. This knowledge is easily found in the many books and magazines that are available today from your local bookstores or library. The Internet too is a valuable source of knowledge for the home gardener.

Although it might seem like a lot of extra work, it is always best to prepare a basic plan before actually commencing planting. The objective in drawing up your plan is to have an end result that is both attractive and functional. The functionality will determine how easy it is to maintain your garden once it is completed. It's necessary too, in your planning to try and visualize the end result. Will the chosen colors blend? Will the eventual size of a particular variety overshadow the neighbouring plants? Will the eventual size be a problem to buildings, power lines or telephone lines? If you are planting trees or large shrubs, you will need to take into account the spread of the root system, so as not to cause problems with water and sewerage pipes and building foundations.

Some other things to be taken into consideration when planning your garden is the position of the plants and trees which are already on the land, as well as paths, driveways, a swimming pool, walls or fences. Consider also the direction of prevailing winds. Will they have adverse effects on particular varieties of plant? If you live in a built up area, you should also consider the neighbouring properties, to see if your plans will blend with them.

The planning of a garden is obviously affected by one's personal taste. Some may prefer a more formal style of garden, using plants that are not indigenous to the area, as well as elaborate features such as statues, fountains, seats etc. These gardens are usually 'geometric' in their design, with obvious straight lines, regular curves and symmetrical balance. Others may prefer a more natural look and feel for their garden, using a lot more indigenous plants and materials such as the rocks and stone naturally found in the area. Depending on the size of your property, you could even combine the two styles. This could be achieved by incorporating the formal style close to the house and gradually transitioning to the informal style further away. It all boils down to personal taste. Just remember though, that 'nature' had the first say. The famous English poet from the 18th century, Alexander Pope, who at one time studied horticulture and landscape gardening, penned the following words in his poem 'On Garden Design'. "To swell the terrace, or to sink the grot; In all, let nature never be forgot".

Well then, get out your graph paper and pencil and start drawing up your basic plan. In later articles we can look more at the specific aspects to incorporate into your garden.

How To Fertilize Your Vegetable Garden

By Dave Truman

Fertilizer is an important part of a successful garden, but using the wrong one or using the right one the wrong way can cause problems. Overuse is one of the most common problems, especially in the case of slow-release fertilizers.

Slow release fertilizers are designed to release their nutrients over a period of time and if you apply them too often, you may wind up overlapping the new with the old that has not fully released yet.

Always make sure you read the directions for the fertilizers you're using in your garden. In most cases, they will say how often they should be applied.

There are 3 components to fertilizer: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. They're rated by the amount of each of these ingredients. They will have a number, such as 20-20-20, which indicates how much of each is included. The first number is the nitrogen content, the second is the phosphorus and the third is the potassium.

Each of the three components of fertilizer promotes different types of growth. Nitrogen promotes leaf and stem growth, phosphorus helps with fruits and strong root systems and potassium helps to strengthen the plants.

Initially, a complete fertilizer will help to get your plants started properly. After growth has begun, be careful not to over-fertilize with nitrogen, which can make the plant put too much energy into growing leaves and stems, making the fruit growth suffer in turn.

There are many types of fertilizer available, some chemical based and others organic. Consider where you will be using them when choosing which type to use. If you're growing vegetables that you will be eating, you might want to think twice before using chemical fertilizers - after all, would you want to put that stuff in your body?

5 Vegetable Garden Ideas

Everyone knows there are many benefits from having your own garden. Feeling a sense of pride as you watch the fruits (or vegetables, as the case may be) of your labor begin to flourish is just one of them. And your garden doesn’t ever have to be boring or the same year after year. Discover five vegetable garden ideas that will give you something creative to try for your next planting.

Plant a pizza garden Vegetable gardening with a theme can be great fun for all ages. A theme garden is the perfect way to get the kids outside enjoying nature. Involving them will provide a sense of responsibility as well as accomplishment as harvest time draws near. Plus, it’s a great way to get them to eat more veggies! For a pizza garden, plant foods such as tomatoes, green peppers, jalapenos, onions and a host of herbs and seasonings like basil, oregano and thyme. Other theme ideas to try are stir-fry or salsa gardens.

Ornamental vegetable gardening Many people use vibrant flowers and shrubs to brighten and beautify their outdoor spaces. By using vegetables for this same purpose, you’ll not only have the curb appeal, you’ll reap the rewards of having your own supply of produce! Using a variety of delicious veggies, you can achieve colorful patterns and designs, line walkways and driveways and plant them just as you would flowers.

Rainbow garden Vegetable gardening is also ideal for artistically expressing yourself in a unique way. If you have a favorite, signature color or perhaps even three or four, consider planting based on these colors. This is an easy way to try new things while creating an appealing garden retreat. Mix hues that you might never use when decorating indoors and experiment with an array of color combinations. Why grow ordinary green peppers when you can choose from crimsons, oranges, yellows or even violet? You may be surprised at the assortment of colors produced by some of the most common vegetables. Eggplant, tomatoes, beans, even beets all can be wonderful additions to your rainbow garden since they all can be grown in several shades and hues. Planting purple beans and white carrots surrounded by pink tomatoes create a lovely display that’s as pleasing to the eye as it is the palate.

Organic gardening can be healthier as well as cheaper Avoiding the use of chemicals and commercially produced fertilizers and pesticides are a way to achieve better tasting vegetables. Without these unsavory additions, you’ll notice the freshness and enjoy food the way nature intended. Organic gardening isn’t as difficult as some may think. In fact, it’s relatively simple to grow a healthy, bountiful crop. There are several reasonably priced products available today as well as a plethora of homemade concoctions to try without spending a fortune.

A garden of green Perhaps colors and themes are of no interest to you, maybe it’s profiting from your garden that’s more important. In that case, decide on what would thrive best based on the amount of space, soil, lighting and drainage conditions of your garden. You could offer the usual fare of vegetables or you could specialize in certain types, ones that may be harder to find in the grocery stores.

The size or type of your crop doesn’t matter quite as much as the care and dedication it needs to make it plentiful. So, decide on a plan and use one of these ideas to liven up your outdoor space and make it truly your own.