Gardening Tips: May 2012

Basic Gardening Tips

Are you looking out for ways to enhance the exteriors of your home? However, at the same time, do you feel a little lethargic? Well then, you are lucky. There are some basic gardening tips that can help you to add a decorative touch to any deck or patio area, plus add some greenery to it. Once you decide on decorating your garden and if you are a beginner at it, then you should understand some basic gardening tips, to make it a delightful pastime.

Gardener's gain satisfaction when they see their creation, smell the blooms and sit in the fresh air. Just imagine spending a weekend in the yard that you have created with a lot of love. As a beginner, you need to understand and follow some basic gardening tips that can help you create a masterpiece. In the beginning, you have to go quite slow and start small, by using your imagination. Therefore, choose a task that does not take long to complete. Initially you have to start of by controlling the weeds and pests, but first enlarge the garden. There are some key considerations for successful gardening like-

Soil
Initially you should always start with good soil and you may have to purchase some testing tools from the local gardening shop to find out what your soil needs. If your present soil has clay or shale, then you need to treat the soil before planting. You might have to treat around 60% of the soil to make it fertile enough to start your gardening. You need to include peat moss, garden compost, planting mix, perlite and composted manure.

Water
The condition of the soil determines the amount of water it needs and if you treat the soil properly then you will need less frequent water. If you have decorated your garden with lawns, then you should water them every 2-3 days during the first week and then stop watering them every day during the next week, as too much water usually prevents oxygen from entering the soil space and this suffocates the roots. Shrubs and roots need frequent and deeper levels water ever 7-10 days. Once the plant settles into the ground, then it requires less watering. You should saturate the root thoroughly; water only after the soil dries up.

Fertilizers
Basic gardening tips suggest that you should not fertilize a dry plant. You should always mix the fertilizer with water and then gradually pour it over a plant. You should first water the plant before fertilizing as the fertilizer burns the roots of the dry plant. You should fertilize the plants every week or after every third watering session. Perennials should be fed late in April or through August.

Pesticide
After planting, you should keep the plant pesticide free. Good quality pesticide can be made in a jar, by combining 1-teaspoon dishwashing liquid and 1 cup vegetable oil. Shake vigorously. In an empty bottle that has a spray nozzle attached, combine 2 teaspoons of this mixture with 1 cup of water and then you can use this solution every ten-days to avoid whiteflies, aphids, mites, scales and other pests.

Indoor Gardening Tips For Healthy Plants

Bring nature inside and start an indoor garden to make your home more colorful, but be careful to follow these indoor gardening tips. Plants are so soothing to look at and many indoor gardeners feel that they add that extra little spark to any room. An added benefit is that plants are nature's purifier, taking carbon dioxide out of our air and changing it into oxygen cleansing the air in your home. Mix up your plants; try a few exotics or tropical plants, anything you choose will make your room shine with their fresh beauty and their colorful blooms. To maintain their beauty here are some indoor gardening tips to keep your plants lush and healthy.

Light is the one thing you cannot skimp on. Without this essential ingredient your plants will wither and die. Each and every plant have different requirements so for one indoor gardening tips here is some things to look for when shopping for houseplants. Ask the person at the nursery center how much light the plants you are consider will need. Some plants need direct sunlight while others crave indirect sunlight. For a direct sun plant, place the container near a window that faces south. For indirect plants they can be placed near a window but keep them far enough away so their foliage will not burn. Plants that require little light, like philodendrons, African Violets or ferns, can be arranged anywhere in the room as long as a little natural light filters in.

Indoor gardening tips on watering your plants are always needed. If you over-water your plants you are subjecting them to insects and disease and you will eventually kill it. Over-watering will also rot the roots. Plants hate wet feet. Once you have discussed the watering needs with the nurseryman invest a small amount of money into a water gauge. The gauge will tell you the moisture level of the plants soil. They are extremely helpful in deciding whether to water or not and really only cost a little money, a very wise investment.

Another indoor gardening tip is to fertilize. At the nursery center they fertilized the plants to encourage them to grow so they can sell them to you. If you do not fertilize your plants they will droop and wither. Find out from the center or from the internet what each plants feeding schedule should be. The secret to keep happy, lush plants is to feed them on a regular basis.

You want to keep a close eye on each plant for any pests. If you find pests on one plant isolate it from the rest and treat it immediately. Try not to use pesticides on your plants especially if it is a plant you will eat, like herbs.

A very good pesticide free natural formula for eradication of pests is:

In a jar, combine 1 teaspoon dishwashing liquid and 1 cup vegetable oil. Shake vigorously. In an empty spray bottle, combine 2 teaspoons of this mixture and 1 cup water. Use at ten-day intervals (or more often if needed) to rid plants of whiteflies, mites, aphids, scales, and other pests.

If you follow these few indoor gardening tips you will have beautiful houseplants that enliven every room. Take time to enjoy your indoor garden. Let it relax and soothe you, after all that's why you planted an indoor garden.

Happy Gardening!

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Home Vegetable Gardening Tips For Beginners Is A Growing Experience

Home gardening is not just a hobby these days. The fact that the economy in most places isn't in a great position means we need to either make more money or find ways to save money and home gardening is one way.

Take the time to learn a home gardening tips for beginners like my wife and I have done over the past few years and you can not only save money on the grocery bills but you can also start saving seeds from your vegetable garden, even if your veggie garden is a container garden like our first few were.

Tomatoes are the perfect vegetable/fruit to grow for beginner gardeners. Especially if you happen to love tomatoes as much as our family does. We eat tomatoes with everything, pretty much. Even with breakfast if I have eggs and bacon. Not so much if I have cereal but definitely with lunch and dinner.

During the summer months we have a variety of tomatoes growing that we use however we grow enough to make preserves we can use all year long.

Some of the tomatoes we enjoy eating and growing are:

BeefStake Tomatoes for the dinner plate and hamburgers.
Cherry Tomatoes go well in salads and I love cutting them in half and sprinkling them through the salads.
Romana Tomatoes are perfect for Jenny's spaghetti sauce. We love spaghetti and eat it at least twice a week.

Those are just a few of the tomatoes we enjoy and grow. It seems that each year we are adding just one more type of tomato to our vegetable garden.

When we first started our home garden as beginners we didn't get everything right but that's why it's so great to have access to the Internet and an unlimited supply of home gardeners willing to share their gardening tips with beginners, like we still are in so many ways.

The important thing to remember when vegetable gardening, whether in containers or in-ground, is to start small and slow so you don't become overwhelmed with all the things you should know.

Home Vegetable Gardening Tips For Beginners

There are a few things about vegetable gardening you need to know and you will do a whole lot better than if you didn't know.

1. Prepare the soil.

The soil needs to be prepared to grow vegetables whether you're going to start with container gardening or right in your backyard.

This means you want soil that is healthy, something that wasn't in our yard. We had to add some compost but good top soil will work fine. We even added some peatmoss to loosen the clay type soil we have. Today, after a couple of years of growing and ammending the soil I can did up my vegetable garden with a table spoon. The first year our garden soil was like concrete and took all my energy to break it for a garden bed.

2. Give Your Garden Lots of Direct Sunlight

This is where I made my first mistake as a beginner gardener. I put the vegetable garden where I could see it from my home office which was great for me but not so good for the veggies. They just didn't get enough direct sun for long enough each day to produce really well. Glad I started with a very small garden.

We moved our garden the following year, to the south and sunniest side of our yard during the summer months. Our vegetable garden the follow year was twice the garden with no more work, just lots of direct sunlight.

3. Water Your Vegetable Garden

Your home vegetable garden is going to need water. The hotter it gets that more water your veggies will want and the better they will produce.

Note: If you are starting your vegetable garden as a container garden, using big pots, you need to watch how you water them. You can actually drown your plants if you don't have proper drainage. At the same time they can dry out really fast in pots so you may have to find a way to irrigate them if no one is home during the day.

Having a home vegetable garden is a great way for beginner gardeners to save money, gain a new hobby and even to eat healthier products, if you don't use pesticides. So be sure you go green. You body and taste buds will thank you.

Organic Gardening Tips You May Not Know

There are some obvious organic gardening tips that most gardeners know, such as using compost and organic fertilizers. These are pretty basic organic gardening tips. However, there are a lot of other tips that are just as easy to follow, but not as well-known. The beauty of organic gardening is that it offers you a safe and healthy way to grow the plants that you want to grow, whether they are vegetables or flowers.

You could try organic gardening tips like using a Toad House. Many people do not realize just how effective toads can be in the removal of insects. A toad can eat 50-100 insects in one night. Encouraging these harmless creatures to take up residence in your garden can severely cut down on your insect problems without the use of chemicals. If you have children, they will love watching the toads in the garden too.

Organic gardening tips like using BEE-Allure™ Honey Bee Attractant can also help to increase the yield from your vegetable or flower garden. These can be even more important additions to your garden since so many honey bee colonies have been dying off in recent years. Honey bees are some of the best pollinators you could have in your garden. Many people worry about bees stinging them, but honey bees will generally not sting people unless trapped. However, for those people who are allergic to bee stings, this option may not be a good idea.

One of the most aggravating problems in your garden is keeping down weeds. You could choose to use an organic weed killing product or you could try Weed Barrier Mat. These mats can prevent weeds from growing between your vegetable rows so you never have to break your back pulling weeds again. Even if a weed killer is organic there is always the chance that it may damage your other plants if used incorrectly. The mats remove this worry.

Organic gardening tips can cover a wide range of issues that you find in your garden. Everything from insects that can damage your plants to better ways of ensuring that your soil is full of the nutrients your plants need. Earthworms are a great organic addition to any garden. They are natural aerators and their castings add nutrients to the soil.

The main reason that so many people are changing over to organic gardening is for the safety of their families. Organically grown food does not have the possible danger of chemical residues that can either be left on the outside of vegetables and fruits or absorbed into them. Chemical products also have a chance of leeching into the ground water that your family drinks. Chemicals can either cause illness or death in wildlife and pets that are roaming where they have been used.

As you become used to organic gardening, you will probably find some organic gardening tips that were not covered here. Most organic gardeners have their own favorite methods of ensuring the safety of the foods they grow.

Water Garden Tips

The natural beauties are those that contribute to the tranquility in your home. These beauties are the water gardens and garden pond. They are what make your garden complete. They are the reasons why your garden turns more beautiful and serene. Keeping one is like having heaven beside your house. They originated from Japan. The gardens in Japan are usually the inspiration of homeowners in creating their own garden. The country's gardens are very striking and impressive. You would find that there are bridges above a small garden pond and you would also find different kinds of flowers and plants around it. You would also see that the place where water is usually situated becomes a place for perfect rest and relaxation.

Having this garden in your home should not be a problem. As a matter of fact it can be your ideal fun time to cultivate your land and plant some flowers then create a great landscape associated with ponds and water. What you should be worrying about is the maintenance of this garden. Here are some Water Garden Tips that you can apply in maintaining your garden:

You should be able to choose the best plants to go with your water garden. Make sure that these plants are suitable in the water. Most plants are destined to be on land alone while others like the water lilies are better off in the water. These flowers accentuate the beauty of your pond. The more there are, the better you r pond would look in your garden. There are actually many different colors of water lilies. Choose all those different colors to liven up your garden. However, if you want to be consistent with colors, then choose only one.

Another thing that you should do to maintain the beauty of your water garden is to strain off the floating dried leaves and flowers in the water. These things can damage the beauty and the preservation of your garden. You should be able to maintain the clean water so that you will also be able to prevent any possibilities of mosquitoes laying eggs on it.

It is always beautiful to see clear water in the garden. To maintain this one, it is advisable that you change your water after 3 to 4 months. This will avoid the spread of insects and the smell of decaying substances in the water. You will be able to attain that beautiful clear water garden in no time when you apply this tip.

Another thing that you ought to do is to place the water garden in a safe location where it is not prone to falling debris from the branches of the trees. These falling branches could break your water garden and could also depreciate the beauty of it.

So if you are motivated to have water gardens and ponds then you should also be driven to maintain it. Gain that calming and soothing outdoor atmosphere.

Fresh and Lively Gardening Tips For Beginners

Making your property look more lush and beautiful by gardening is something that has been done through the ages. Novice gardeners may take one look at a beautiful garden that was established years ago and think they want their yard to look exactly like that. Gardening takes a great deal of work and if the beginner is willing to put in the time and effort, their garden will be the envy of everyone in the neighborhood, in time. With these gardening tips for beginners you should have no problem getting up and started.

The first and most important tip for the beginning gardener is start small. This cannot be emphasized enough. Your garden is never going to look like a garden that was started ten or twenty years ago and if you were to ask the owner of the garden they will tell you it took that long to get it to look that way. If you don't start small you run the risk of being discouraged once you find out all you have to do to have that beautiful and lush garden. If you take it step by step and year by year, it is not half as scary. If you are flower gardening just plant close to the house and maybe down the walkway and driveway. If you are trying to make a vegetable garden make it at the most 100 square feet, no more than that.

The next important tip is to decide what kind of garden you are able to have in the space that is available. If you have a majority of shade you will have to plant plants that like to be in the shade. Do not expect a flower that needs full sun all day to grow in a yard that is shady, it just doesn't work. You may have just one area in your yard that does get sun daily. Most sun loving plants need 6 to 8 hours of sun per day, so watch that spot during the day and see how many hours the sun hits it. Vegetable gardens do need at least 6 hours of sun per day.

The spot in which you place your garden must be well drained. If you plant where water collects every time it rains your garden will rot and die. Pick a spot where you rarely see water gather when you have a storm. Too much water will rot the roots of your plants and they will not survive. This applies to flowers and vegetables.

Make sure to check the acidity of the soil. You can get a soil testing kit at any nursery or discount store and follow the directions. If there is too much acid in the soil or the soil is too alkaline you will need to add additives to the soil Just take your soil test to a nursery and ask them what you need. They will be happy to tell you what you need and how to add it to your soil before planting.

Don't start with seeds the first time you plant. This is a big mistake. Most flowers and vegetables take forever to grow from seed and if you don't put it in the right time the growing season will be over before you see flowers or vegetables. Most seeds need to be started indoors at the end of the winter in order to be ready to plant in the late spring. Do yourself a favor and purchase plants to put in your garden, both flowers and vegetables. Do a search online for each of the items you plan on planting so you can learn how deep to plant and other tips about planting that specific plant.

Your garden will have to be weeded, watered and you will have to feed the plants in it. Nurturing a garden is somewhat like taking care of a child although not quite as intense. You have to be vigilant against disease and bugs and other wildlife that will attach it. Daily walks in the garden to inspect any damage are necessary. Weeding has to be done on a regular basis and if you let that go your garden can become shabby and the flowers and vegetables can be choked out and die. Periodic feeding is also necessary.

Become friends with the people at the nursery during your first few years of gardening. They will be a valuable resource as is information online. Be sure to check information to see if it is for your area before you take any online information. Join a garden club as they will probably be one of the best resources you can find locally. The best tip that can be given to a beginning gardener is to have fun. You will have successes and failures. Learn from both and always ask for help.

10 Organic Gardening Tips

Are you interested in creating your own organic vegetable garden? Here are some green gardening tips that will lead you in the right direction:

10 Organic Gardening Tips

1. Test your soil:

If you are looking to have a successful outcome with an organic vegetable garden, you should first test your soil with a do-it-yourself home testing kit before you plant anything. These testing kits can be found at local garden centers and on the Internet at garden speciality stores. The kits use a number scale, 0 to 14, that helps you determine the acidity or alkalinity (also known as pH) levels of your soil. For most vegetables, an ideal number is about 6.5. If the results are too acidic (towards the low end of the scale) or too alkaline (towards the high end of the scale), your plants will not be able reap the benefits of the soil's nutrients. Once you know the results of your soil, you will be able to adjust the soil accordingly by balancing these levels with the nutrients it is lacking.

2. Make plans ahead of time and decide where and how you will grow your garden:

Before you begin digging up your lawn, take a look at your property and decide where you would like to plant a garden. Location is very important, as you will want to pay attention to the position of the sun throughout the day (your plants will need healthy doses of direct sunlight each day), the rockiness of the ground, the drainage quality of the soil, and the location's relation to your main water source.

If you have high quality soil in your yard and you have determined a location, you will want to take advantage of the benefits found in it. Healthy soils have upwards of 650 million microorganisms per one gram of soil. These organisms already present, such as earthworms and other forms of soil life are essential to the life of the soil and will help your garden prosper by providing your plants with valuable nutrients and minerals.

What to do if your soil is not healthy or if you do not have space for a garden at home:

Build a raised bed
Consider container gardening
Join a local community garden

http://www.communitygarden.org

3. Select authentic, high quality organic vegetable seeds to use in your garden:

Organic seeds can be found at local nurseries, garden stores, home centers, online seed stores, seed catalogs, and farm supply stores. Always make sure the seed company is "certified organic" and be sure to stay away from any seeds that are "genetically engineered." To save money, start growing the seeds indoors and transplant outdoors when ready.

4. Make your own compost:

Compost, also known as "gardeners gold," is a vital element in organic gardening that improves the soil structure of your garden. Compost provides a great source of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, and micro/macronutrients essential for plant growth. It also aids in stabilizing soil moisture and pH which helps keep the soil cooler during the summer months.

Other benefits of organic compost:

Great source of food for wildlife because it attracts insects and fungi that eat decaying matter. These small animals support larger animals like songbirds
Suppresses plant disease
Assists in controlling soil erosion
Acts as a mild herbicide
Reduces need to apply commercial fertilizers
Reduces amount of waste sent to landfills
Reduces gas emissions that would result from transporting kitchen waste to a landfill

How to compost:

Build or buy a compost bin. These can be found at home centers, garden centers, and online.
Place compost material in repeated layers. To give your compost the best result, alternate layers of green matter with brown matter. An example would be alternating kitchen scraps with straw/stalks or dead leaves with grass clippings.
Cover compost heap for optimal results. This will avoid moisture loss and keep in heat.
Keep the pile moist as a wrung-out sponge.
Aerate and turn compost pile over frequently.
When ready, pile will look like fresh fine soil.

Some ideas for good compostables:

Kitchen waste
Aquarium water, plants, and algae
Sawdust
Tea leaves/coffee grounds
Pet rabbit or hamster droppings
Eggshells
Old spices
Lawn clippings (thin layer)

Make leafmould:

Leafmould is a dark brown, rich and crumbly material that is created from naturally decomposed Autumn leaves that have fallen onto the ground. It is an excellent soil conditioner and mulch, a great earthworm meal, and is easy to make.

To make leafmould:

Collect fallen leaves (avoid evergreen leaves) and place in a container to rot Leafmould matures best in high moisture, so the best time to collect leaves is just after rain.
Wait 9 months to a year for the leafmould to mature.

5. Use water wisely:

Water conservation, harvesting, and recycling are great methods for organic gardening.

Recycle/harvest rain water
Use a soaker hose
Avoid grey water

Watering tips:

Water your garden when the air and soil are cool, typically in the early morning or evening hours. During these times, less water will be lost due to evaporation.
Water deeply but less often. Direct the water at the root systems at the base of the plant. This will encourage plants to grow deeper roots, causing them to need less watering. Shallow watering causes the roots to grow close to the surface, making them more vulnerable to drought.
Remember that plants and soil in containers will dry out much faster than in the ground and require frequent watering.
Avoid watering leaves. Excess water film on a plant makes it more susceptible to disease.
Shallow rooted vegetables such as beans and greens need to be watered more often with lighter applications than deep rooted plants like corn and tomatoes. These vegetables require more water but less often.
Use a milk jug. For a clever trick, take a 1 gallon milk jug and poke very small holes into the bottom. Bury most of the jug next to your plants when you plant your garden. If you leave it uncapped, you can place your water hose nozzle into the opening to fill. With this method, the water slowly drips into the ground and encourages deep plant roots. This self-irrigation system is great for whenever you need to travel and leave the garden unattended.

7. Weed Control:

Weeds can be a serious threat to gardens because they remove valuable moisture, nutrients, sunlight and growing space needed by crops.

Some ways to control weeds:

Select high quality vegetable seeds or transplants By planting high quality seeds, the chances of them containing weed seeds or seedlings is very low.
Rotate your vegetable crops As crops differ in their ability to compete with weeds, rotating crops between hardy competitors and weaker plants can reduce weeds.
Use ground cover The use of ground cover and organic mulches such as hay, straw, glass clippings, and manure in your garden is one of the most effective ways to control weeds. Spread the ground cover 2-3 inches thick as this will block sunlight and prevent weed germination and growth.
Transplant seeds Transplanting seeds instead of sowing them gives plants a healthy head start in defense against weeds.

Methods of removing weeds:

By hand This method is most effective after a recent rain because the soil is loosened.
Thermal A short blast of heat directly onto the weed causes it to wilt and die. This is most effective on driveways and paths and is not always ideal for gardens.
Hoeing This is effective for larger patches of newly cleared ground.

7. Make sure you have earthworms

Earthworms are essential to a successful garden. Vermicompost, the combination of organic matter and earthworms' castings is a high-octane form of compost that provides the soil with an immediate all-purpose fertilizer loaded with nutrients and nitrogen. By tunneling through the earth, earthworms aerate the soil which improves the soil's access to air and drainage so that water reaches the deep roots of plants more easily. They also encourage beneficial soil bacteria while discouraging disease and predators such as crop destroying insects.

Don't have earthworms in your soil? Here is how to get them:

Discontinue use of any toxins in your garden.
Spread 2-3 inch layers of organic matter on top of the soil each year - this will attract earthworms
Use leafmould - this is a great earthworm meal.
Order earthworm eggs online. Once you receive them, scatter them onto the ground and in about 3 months they will be adults and ready to reproduce.

8. Keep a gardening journal

By keeping track of your garden's progress, you will be more prepared next year to tackle issues that came up this year. You will also have a place where you can jot down experiments, experiences: the good and the bad.

9. Protect against predators and pests:

Make your garden friendly to the native wildlife in your region. This will attract and encourage natural wildlife pest controllers to your garden. Ladybugs, birds, frogs, toads, and bats all help to keep pests such as aphids, insects, and snails in check.

Other beneficial garden predators and the pests they feed on:

Centipedes: feed on slugs and eggs
Preying mantis: feed on all types of insects
Spiders: feed on insects and arthropods
Lizards: feed on insects/pests
Frog/toads: feed on all types
Ladybugs: feed on aphids

To protect against pests:

Plant nectar producing plants Tiny flowers on plants such as sweet alyssum will attract beneficial insects, such as predatory wasps. The alyssum's aroma will also scent your garden all summer. Herbs like parsley, dill, and fennel will attract ladybugs which will also eat intruding insects.
Choose native plant species over imported varieties whenever possible Native species have better "immune systems" and will be able to fight against insects in your area better than an exotic plant will.
Try companion planting Companion planting is growing two or more different types of species of plant together for the benefit of one or both. For example, by pairing a flower with a vegetable plant, many adult insects will visit flowers for pollen and nectar and in return are effective natural controllers of unwanted pests on the vegetable crops.

How does companion planting work?

Companions help each other grow: Tall plants provide shade for shorter plants sensitive to sun.
Companions use garden space efficiently: Vining plants cover the ground, upright plants grow up. Two plants in one patch.
Companions prevent pest problems: Plants like onions repel some pests. Other plants can lure pests away from more desirable plants.
Companions attract beneficial insects: Every successful garden needs plants that attract the predators of pests.

Examples of good companion plants:

Carrots and onions: Pests attracted to carrots' sweet smell can be confused by the pungent smell of onions.
Corn and beans: The beans attract beneficial insects that prey on corn pests such as leafhoppers and leaf beetles. In addition, the bean vines will climb up the corn stalks.
Cucumbers and nasturtiums: Nasturtiums are said to repel cucumber beetles and can create a habitat for insects such as spiders and ground beetles which help defend the garden from destructive pests.
Radishes and spinach: Radishes attract leafminers away from the spinach. The leafminers will damage the radish leaves, but since radishes grown underground, no damage is done to the radishes.
Cabbage and dill: Cabbage can help support the floppy dill plants, while the dill attracts the tiny beneficial wasps that control cabbageworms and other cabbage pests.
Tomatoes and cabbage: Tomatoes are repel diamondback moth larvae (caterpillars that chew large holes in cabbage leaves)
Cauliflower and dwarf zinnias: The nectar from the dwarf zinnias lures ladybugs that help protect cauliflower plants.
Collards and catnip: Planting catnip alongside collards can reduce flea-beetle damage on the collards.

Other ways to deter pests from your organic garden:

Create barriers and deterrents: Try hanging shiny silver objects in your garden. The reflection produced from the sun can confuse insects such as aphids which orient their flight patterns by sunlight.
Rotate your crops each year This will aid in keeping pest and disease problems at bay as well as correct nutritional deficiencies.

10. Last few tips on garden and soil care:

Avoid compacting soil by walking on it excessively This restricts air movement and makes it hard for roots to penetrate.
Do not over dig This will destroy vital soil structure.
Cover Keeping plants covered with things like mulch helps protect soil structure.
Avoid overfeeding and over or under watering Let the plants performance guide you.

I hope you will be able to share the same satisfaction and gratification I experience when I build, create, and tend to my own vegetable garden. Have patience, be willing to get dirty, and be ready to smile and reap the bountiful benefits of an organically grown vegetable and herb garden.

Enjoy!

In good health

Gardening Tips For Beginners - 8 Useful Tips For The Novice

As a hobby, gardening can be an absolute delight! While the task of creating an outdoor garden is rather an arduous one, the end result is enough to make you forget all your pain and labor! But if you are still skeptical about whether you are capable of taking up this activity or not, take heart from these gardening tips for beginners--

(1) Since it is the first time for you, plan a small garden at first, but envision a larger one in future. As a matter of fact, plenty of plants can be accommodated even in an area measuring just 80 to 100 square feet!

(2) As suggested in the gardening tips for beginners, it is easier to take care of a smaller garden, giving you enough time to get acquainted with the basics of gardening such as--how much water is required approximately, knowledge about fertilizers, keeping growth of weeds under control, keeping away pests and diseases.

(3) As a novice, you are eager to see how you have made out! So it just will not do for you to begin a long-term gardening project which could stretch over many weeks or many months. The waiting becomes intolerable!

(4) The small garden equips you with the necessary skills and creativity to create a better-designed and much larger garden the next time, since you are feeling much more confident by this time. Or you could think of ways to expand your present garden.

(5) But despite what gardening tips for beginners advises, if you still desire to start off with a large project, separate it into different segments. You can then work on one section at a time. Not only can you observe what you have achieved, but also improve on your efforts when proceeding to the next section.

(6) There are all sorts of gardeners. Some go after every weed, refusing to give it a place in their beautiful gardens! Some hate the thought of constant weeding and keep wishing that they could just spend time watching the plants grow and flower!

There is a way to prevent too many weeds from coming up, and that is by using mulch. Since weeding can be quite taxing on the hands and knees, put down a layer of regular mulch or organic mulch (2 to 3 inches thick) on the soil! The appearance is neat. Also, mulch helps in maintaining the soil temperature and moisture. Most important of all, weeds do not have the liberty to grow out of control!

(7) The soil should get enough water for the seeds to germinate and allow roots to go deeper. Plant roots (grasses generally) tend to remain nearer the surface if there is frequent watering because the actual amount of water taken is less. Gardening tips for beginners counsels that you take a larger quantity of water, but water less frequently.

(8) Plants should be watered in the early morning hours, as suggested by gardening tips for beginners. The leaves can dry off during the rest of the day. Thus, fungal diseases are kept away.

These are just a few gardening tips for beginners; there are many more! Follow the advice given, and observe how much beauty you can create even in a small piece of land! The magnificent vista that emerges from your labor of love can leave you with feelings of awe and wonder! Additionally, all that physical exercise in the fresh air contributes to a far healthier you and a great appearance!

Vegetable Gardening - 3 Organic Vegetable Gardening Tips For Newbies

Organic gardening has become very popular over the past several years and many people practice some form of organic gardening without even realizing it. Growing vegetables using only natural methods is known as organic vegetable gardening. Artificial chemicals are avoided when it comes to pest control, weed control and fertilization.

With organic gardening, the chances of your family members being exposed to harmful chemicals are being reduced drastically. No harm will be committed to the environment and you are actually helping to save planet Earth. Expenses such as the purchase of fertilizers and pests control products can be waived if you are into organic gardening.

The use of compost in place of much and fertilizer is a basic concept in organic gardening. You must also learn the basic techniques of how to protect your plants from diseases as organic fertilizers such as manure does not contain chemicals that will reinforce the immune system of your plants.

Organic Vegetable Gardening Tips #1 Soil

The soil used for your gardening efforts will determine your success because you will not be depending on chemical fertilizers. While you are planting your crops, you have to make sure first that you have a healthy soil of pH Value 6.8, however, pH values will differ for different types of vegetables.

Organic Vegetable Gardening Tips #2 Water and Sunlight

Water is essential to the growth of your plant. Sunlight is also another important element in organic gardening. However, it is hard to control the exposure of your vegetables to sunlight. Make sure that you choose a vegetable gardening spot that will receives at least 6 hours of sunlight everyday. Otherwise, it will not receive the maximum growth it should have.

Organic Vegetable Gardening Tips #3 Pests Control

The use of natural pest predators such as ladybugs, hornets and preying mantis is an effective alternative for pesticides or insecticides. If these predators cannot be found in your garden, you can always purchase them from nurseries or even online shopping sites like Amazon and eBay.

As for weeds control, pulling weeds by hand is more beneficial than killing them with weed killers as you will do no harm to the environment.

Sacrificing a small portion of the harvest to the bugs in order to provide their families with natural foods free of chemicals is definitely not a problem for organic vegetable gardeners. Composted kitchen scraps and weeds reduce the amount of waste that is deposited in landfills and sewers.

Gardening Tips For Beginners

If you want a rewarding hobby, gardening is a good choice. You can enjoy the benefits of fresh air and creating something beautiful, but when your garden is in bloom and your crops are on the table, you'll have the satisfaction of improving your landscape and lifestyle, too. Follow these gardening tips for beginners for the best results in your new garden.

You can plop a plant into the dirt and it probably will grow as long as you water it, but if you put a little more effort and planning into your garden, you'll be rewarded with long-lasting flowers, plants, and vegetables. Here are some quick gardening tips for beginners:

- Make a plan. Decide where in your landscape you'd like to plant your new garden. You need to figure out what kind of sunlight this area receives, because certain plants are suited to shade, partial sun, or full sun. The lighting your new garden receives each day will dictate what kind of plants you'll be able to grow there.

- Soil. This is one of the most important gardening tips for beginners, because soil is one of the most important aspects of your new garden. You'll need to know the chemical makeup of your soil (you can take a sample to your local Cooperative Extension office for analysis), and then, what you need to do to make your soil ready for planting. For example, is your soil rock-hard and clay-like? You'll need to add amendments like sand and peat to make your soil richer and well-draining. If your soil is loose and sandy, you may need to add compost, and even topsoil to get it ready for planting.

- Pick your plants. Visit a local garden center to find out what types of plants grow best in your area, and what they recommend for your growing season. If you live in a mild climate with a long growing season, just about anything may be open to you, but if you live in a cold climate with a short growing season, your options may be a bit more limited. Once you know your options, you can pick the plants right for your garden.

- Irrigation. Decide what kind of irrigation you want for your new garden. Will you hand water with a hose, use a single sprinkler on a hose, or install a drip system? A drip irrigation system is the most effective way to water, but it is the most expensive form of irrigation, too, so you need to decide what's right for your garden and budget. Another important gardening tip for beginners? Don't over water your new garden!

- Mulch. Once you've planted your garden according to your new plants' directions, it's time to finish up with good mulch over the entire garden. Many gardening tips for beginners ignore this step, but a good mulch can help conserve water in the garden, so you don't have to water so much and still get good results.

Organic Gardening Tips - 3 Tips to Prepare For Starters

The amount of organic gardens is growing rapidly. This simply means a more healthy and environment-friendly world. If you would like to have your own organic garden, here are some helpful organic gardening tips to prepare yourself:

Organic Gardening Tip #1: Choosing Your Crops

There are many crops available at markets and groceries stores. An advice would be not to pick any that you like but choose properly based on your climate and site condition. I can't emphasize in words the importance of this.

As a beginner, start with vegetables and beans then move onto other seeds.

Organic Gardening Tip #2: Preparing Proper Containers

Be on the look out for proper containers so that you can have a head start in planting your seeds for the season. After it grows to a decent length, then you transfer to your garden. If you do not want to plant yet, your job then would be to prepare the soil with clay and other organic matter.

Examples of proper containers would be old yogurt containers, milk cartons, tubes of potato chips (like Pringles), juice cans.

If you are unable to find any of those, approach the gardening centers and purchase them. Always ensure the container you buy is about 4 inches deep.

An additional tip would be to kill off all germs and bacteria off the container by cleaning with (lukewarm water + chlorine bleach). After which, leave it in the open sun to eliminate off all the residues.

Organic Gardening Tip #3: Purchase packets of planting mix for standby

Start preparing yourself by buying planting mix. They will help in the healthy growth of your plants.

Always keep extras when possible.

Here's an extra tip: Make sure your planting mixes are sterile as it's much safer for you and your plants.

Organic Gardening Tip #4: Labeling Your Containers.

Many beginners make this mistake by not labeling your containers. They forgot the fact that most plants that are in the sprouting stage look alike, making it hard to differentiate which plant is which.

Labeling would also prevent you from planting the same seeds again and again.

Organic Gardening Tip #5: Prepare Sufficient Light

Due to some high-rise buildings, sunlight for some areas might be blocked, causing natural sunlight to be unavailable.

If you are one of the unfortunate few, you should panic! Nah, kidding. What you should be doing is heading down to the nearest electronics store to purchase fluorescent light tubes.

All these organic gardening tips can be implemented and prepared the moment you intend to go organic, giving you an unfair advantage over other gardeners. You will save up a lot of trouble in the future, compared to the others which might complain that they can't get started or their plants are not growing well.

Four Essential Gardening Tips

There are a few gardening tips that have worked for me in the past that I am going to share with you because when starting your own garden there is no reason to head in with your eyes closed. There is plenty of information about gardening in your arsenal. The Internet, gardening clubs, books, magazines and the help of your local nursery are all great caches of gardening tips. The main thing that I have noticed is that planning your garden on paper is a must. You will then need to decide on the place and size to make it perfect for the amount of area available. You will also need to figure out how much sun this plot will be getting during the day. Then you will get tip on fertilizer, mulch and the type of soil. Also the tools necessary will have to be decided including what kind of tiller you need plus the type of watering system.

Tip1: Pull out the paper and start planning your garden. The time this will save will be huge. Grab a friend and head on out to the place you are thinking about and have a long look at the area. Having a friend there for advice and as a soundboard and then having the area in front of you will really get the brainstorm started. Make sure to take into consideration the views to the place, how far the hose is from it, if there and any sprinklers around, and anything else you can think of.

Tip 2: The preparation of the soil is a major piece of the garden puzzle and has huge effects on the success of your garden. Different types of plants prefer different types of soil so make sure you take that into consideration. Also make sure that if it is going to be a veggie or an herb garden you try and use organic fertilizer because it will not effect that flavor of the food. A good compost or even wood chip mulch is preferred over the ordinary fertilizer. I recommend using a good tiller to mix it all together it is much easier to do it that way then by hand.

You might think that having a backyard compost heap something of an impossibility but it will be worth its weight in gild once it start giving you the goods. Fresh home brew compost is an excellent source of nutrients for your veggie or herb garden but sometimes its totally unrealistic. Mulch is a good substitute for a home compost mixture. Make sure to use the softer woods like redwood or pine because the faster it breaks down the better. Whether you use mulch or compost or fertilizer make sure to mix it all up very thoroughly.

Tip 3: when you have the soil all prepared it is very smart to lay out the plants on top of the soil before planting them to get a good look at out its going to turn out just in case you need to make any last minute changes. I firmly believe it is wise to plant plants together that have similar characteristics. Large plants with a big radius for instance should all be grouped together. Also have the taller plants in the back and the shorter ones in the front to maximize space. This also makes it easy to see everything.

Tip 4: Watering your garden is very important. Keeping up with it can be a big job depending on how big your house is. I advise using an automatic watering system because that almost makes gardens grow themselves. These auto systems can be anything from big sprinkler systems to a timer on a hose sprinkler.

Gardening is one of the most rewarding hobbies you can have. It gives you shade beauty and more often then not food! As your skills increase so will the reward so with the tips above hopefully you have a great starting point you go a head and turn your thumb green!

Three More Gardening Tips For Flower Gardens

Here are three more gardening tips that can make your gardening experience more enjoyable and successful. The difference between pleasurable gardening and hassle gardening is often just a few simple steps and measures.

Birdseed mayhem

Here's a simple gardening tip that many are surprised at. Do you have a bird feeder? Does some of that seed spill to the ground and sprout. What a hassle! Then you get to spend a few sessions a week pulling up the sprouts. There are better ways to use your time.

Here's what you do. Put the birdseed on a cookie sheet and bake for about 7 to 8 minutes at 300 degrees. The birds will thank you for the toasted treats and the spilled birdseed will not sprout in your garden.

How clever is that?

Protect Your Birds

While we are on the subject of birds, let's discuss their safety. If you have a cat that spends time outdoors, then you have probably received the occasional gift on the front doorstep of your pet's most recent kill.

Don't have a cat, you say. What about your neighbor? Have they had any luck attacking birds at your feeder? If so, take some steps to protect the feeding birds from predators, cats and others.

Do not put your feeder near to any surface that cats can reach with a quick jump. Porches are often bad place for feeders because predators have easy access.

Compost in the Winter

I love this gardening tip! Do you stop composting in the winter because of the cold? There is no need to do that if you take a couple precautions. First, use a black container and place it in a spot that gets the most sun through out the day. The container can heat up in spite of the cold.

Another option is to find some way to insulate the container. Do you have some sort of greenhouse you could put it in that isn't used as a porch. Or, you could surround the bucket with leaves, cut grass or hay.

These simple measures, and even others that you may be able to come up with on your own, you will be able to compost through out the whole year.

These gardening tips are just the latest of this series on fun and successful gardening. Implementing these simple strategies can make your gardening hobby that much more enjoyable.

Three Great Gardening Tips For Your Flower Gardens

These gardening tips are a must for anyone who wants a beautiful and healthy garden. If you are not implementing them now, you many want to. You will no longer wonder why others gardens always seem to look better than yours.

Provide Structure for Beauty

Before you think this gardening tip is too structured, read on. The next time you see a garden that makes you stop and look, ask yourself why it attracts your attention so much. If you look closely, you will likely discover that the garden has well-defined structures, borders and outlines.

How can you do this with your garden if you haven't already? Are there any paths you can line with small stones? Is there some water you can put a bridge over? Is there some place you can build a small wall?

Think of beautiful gardens not so much as just flowers, but rather structures lined with flowers. I drive by a house everyday that has an old rowboat in their front yard they use to surround with flowers. They also put flowers in the boat. It looks great!

Use Structures That Already Exist

What natural structures already exist in your yard? Are there any trees or fences? How about some huge rocks or stones? Before you create manmade structures, first make sure you decorate the ones you have with flowers.

Has your neighbor put up a fence on the border of your property? Use your side of the fence as a structure to build around. Just make sure that you stay on your side of the fence.

How about the foundation of your house? Have you planted it yet? Before you do, just make sure your gutters are up-to-date. During the next rainfall, pay attention to how the water flows. You don't want to plant something only to have it washed away.

Don't Use Chemicals

This gardening tip is not only good for your garden's health, but for yours as well. Are you dealing with pesky bugs eating all your plants and flowers? If so, you may be tempted to use pesticides. Before you do, see what you can do on your own. Many pest species can be washed away with a garden hose.

Do some research on the predators of the bugs that are giving you trouble. If you can, introduce those predators into your garden. They will eat the bugs.

Use compost you make yourself instead of manmade chemical ones. It will be much better for your garden and much cheaper for you. If you are not composting, start right away. There is no better use for your biodegradable waste.

There are more gardening tips where these came from. In the meantime, first look around your yard and ask yourself what existing borders could use some flowers along them. If there are not any, then create some. Finally, ditch the chemicals and go natural.

Top Vegetable Gardening Tips For Tomato Growing

Vegetable gardening tips for tomato growing are readily available. Most gardeners are happy to share their tomato growing tips and even non-gardeners who attempt to grow tomatoes every spring will offer advice. The difficulty for the novice tomato grower comes in trying so sort the valuable vegetable gardening tips for tomato growing from the old wives' tales.

One of the best sources for vegetable gardening help is a local nursery. Buying plants at a supermarket or a chain store with garden center may allow you to purchase plants at a cheaper price, but it is unlikely that the staff in these stores know a great deal about gardening. For reliable vegetable gardening help, visit a local nursery. Many nurseries carry plants that they themselves have grown from seed, and they will be knowledgeable about each variety of plant and can advise on local conditions.

Local Garden Club

Most towns have a local garden club and meeting together with other gardeners is a great way to obtain vegetable gardening help and improve your knowledge. Other gardeners from your locality will have abundant information about the requirements of vegetables in your zone. When you enlist the aid of gardeners that are local to your area, you will get vegetable gardening help that you can use because these gardeners understand the unique needs of your particular zone.

Local garden clubs often run workshops or classes on topics ranging from composting, to growing a particular variety of heirloom vegetable, to pest control in the garden. Many often sponsor projects such as community gardens which can provide gardening space to those who live in apartments and have no garden space of their own. and taking part in an altruistic endeavor with your fellow garden club members is a fantastic way to learn all sorts of gardening secrets and tips.

Even if you don't join a garden club taking part in some workshops will provide you with an opportunity to meet fellow gardeners and form friendships with people with a common interest.

The County Extension Office

Another top resource for vegetable gardening advice is your local county extension office. They specialize in solving the gardening problems unique to your local environment. They can perform soil tests, identify plants and diseases and sometimes supply free seeds or plants

Once you've gained some gardening knowledge it's time to get your hands dirty.

Tomatoes and other vegetables are easy to grow if you start with good soil. Before you plant your garden, till the soil to about a depth of ten inches and dig in some well rotted compost or other organic material. Complete this step several weeks before you want to plant your tomatoes.

For a larger garden, you can rent a tiller, but for a small garden space you can use a gardening fork to dig in the compost.

When risk of frost has passed, drive a ¾ inch stake into your prepared garden bed. Dig a hole a little deeper and wider than the size of the tomato plant's pot next to the stake, gently place the plant into the hole and firm it in. A trellis or tomato cage can also be used for support in lieu of a stake. These are readily available at nurseries and hardware stores. Use soft twine or tomato ties to tie the plant's stem loosely to the stake or trellis. As the tomato plant grows, check the ties regularly and loosen them occasionally to prevent stem damage. The tomato seedlings should be planted 18 inches apart to allow the sun to reach the ripening fruit.

Feed Your Tomato Plants

Feed your tomato plants regularly using a potassium-based plant food or you can create your own organic fertilizer mix. Planting basil adjacent to your tomato plants will assist in keeping pests at bay.

Watering is as important as feeding. Water your tomatoes regularly with a hand-held hose. Direct the water at the base of the plant and avoid wetting the leaves which can lead to rot.

Never let your tomatoes dry out to the point that they wilt. Although you can usually save the wilted plant by watering it, the dry period will take its toll on the plant and affect the quality of the fruit. Extended dry spells may cause your tomatoes to crack.

Regularly nip out by hand any side shoots that develop between the leaf and the stem. This will help to channel the plant's energy into its fruit. When your tomatoes have ripened, pick them by bending back the fruit at the notch on the stem. Ripe tomatoes can be stored in the fridge for up to a week. Continue to water and feed the plant to help the remaining tomatoes to ripen and mature.

Basic Gardening Tips for Beginners

You've decided to plant a garden but you need basic gardening tips for beginners, this is the place to be. Gardening has become a delightful hobby for people all over the world.

There are many rewards for the gardener, the visuals of his creation, the scent of the blooms, great fresh air and lots of exercise. Imagine a weekend spent in the yard with your feet up drinking in the spectacular gardens that you have created the fruits of your labor and love. If you are a beginner gardener, here are some basic gardening tips. No matter how much room you have, you can create a masterpiece garden.

The basic garden tips for beginners will help you create new gardens and make it a successful and joyful experience. In the beginning go slowly, start small but use your imagination. Choose a project that will not take a long time to complete. If it takes you weeks to finish a project you will get frustrated and start to hate the project you wanted to enjoy. Even if you have 75 or 100 square feet you will be amazed at how much you can plant.

If you are determined to have a larger project, then work in sections and turn your attention to one area at a time. This way as each section is finished you can enjoy that completed job. This will also build up your confidence as you go along making the next section not so daunting.

But for a beginner gardener a small scale garden is optimal. You are going to have to learn the basics of gardening, all about disease, the best way to control weeds and pests, the all important watering and when and how to fertilize. After your initial project you can enlarge the garden or plant one somewhere else in your yard with your new found confidence.

To cut down on the weeding of your garden, place mulch around the plants. This serves three purposes; it cuts down on weeding, as well as aiding in temperature control and water retention. Granted there are some gardeners that love to work the soil and weed the plants but it would be more rewarding to tending to the plants or just watching them grow. To maintain really healthy plants water for longer periods of time but less frequently. Do not let the plants dry out. Always water early in the morning so the plant leaves have time to dry out during the day which helps prevent fungal disease.

After planting, try to have your garden remain pesticide free. An especially good natural deterrent is as follows:

These are the basic gardening tips for beginners. Remember, that you can create lovely gardens in containers which you can move around as you please. There are hundreds of different plant combinations and containers that you can use for a container garden. So, if you are an apartment or condo dweller, you can plant lovely gardens on your balcony or patio. The basic tip here is that container gardens will dry out much faster than the plants in the ground so be vigilant about checking them for moisture.

Happy Gardening And Good Luck!

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Organic Gardening Tips For Flowers And Herbs

The popularity of organic food and gardening has certainly increased over the last few years. Not only does it give you a sense of well being but people love the beauty of wonderful colored flowers and the taste of vegetables they helped create. Organic gardening tips on how to successfully start and care for an organic garden are becoming easier to find as this type of gardening continues to become more popular. Along with being relaxing, it is a very interesting hobby. Anyone can organically produce wonderful fruits, herbs and vegetables and know that they are healthy to eat and pesticide, herbicide and chemical free. There will always be garden pests but instead of using chemicals to deal with this problem, there are many organic gardening tips to get rid of them, similar to the way gardeners did many years ago before the use of pesticides and herbicides.

A good homemade pest deterrent to use in organic gardening is:

Following a few organic gardening tips, you will produce fruits, vegetables and herbs that are healthy, taste wonderful, are less expensive than buying produce at the grocery store and give you the peace of mind knowing exactly how they were grown and what was used on them. Aphids are annoying little insects that often cause a lot of damage in your garden. If you plant marigolds near your vegetable garden, the aphids will quit bothering your plants. If you already have an aphid problem, spray the infected plants with diluted soapy water and then spray them again with clear water. Organic gardening tips you should try are; instead of buying compost for your garden, which could contain chemicals, make your own while you cut down on garbage at the same time. Using your garden and kitchen waste is an excellent and very easy way to make your own compost. In your compost pile use peelings from carrots, potatoes and other vegetables, dead weeds, coffee grounds, egg shells and even the pruning from roses and other plants. The different textures help break down the compost quickly. Compost improves the soil texture, structure and aeration while enriching the soil, which stimulates root development. When choosing plants for your organic garden, make sure you choose ones that are well adapted for your area.

Here are a couple of great organic gardening tips that not only help keep your garden free of weeds but also keep the soil from drying out too quickly. Grass clippings and pine needles mixed or old newspapers make very good mulch, which keeps your garden weed free and the soil moist. Organic gardening tips help you grow healthy organic fruits and vegetable that you, your family and friends will love.

Most important of all, is to enjoy your organic garden and the fruits of your labor. Not only will you have the satisfaction of growing vegetables and herbs organically but you it will also inspire you in your culinary tasks.

Here's to a great organic garden and fabulous, healthy meals.

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Useful Home Gardening Tips For Beginners

When one finds himself looking for home gardening tips, it is important to think about the types of gardening such as indoor gardening, organic gardening, and vegetable gardening. These different "genres" of home gardening tips will only lead you into confusion so it is very important to take note that there general home gardening tips that are versatile and are fitting for your average gardener. But before anything else, one has to have an idea on how to go about gardening at home so one can fully grasp the very idea of general home gardening tips.

What is home gardening about? It is a type of gardening where home growers can sustain themselves with healthy tasting produce and flowers that seem to bloom with the essence of beauty. To earn the so-called tasty and beautiful products of gardening, one has to get the right set of gardening tips available.

When it comes to gardening at home, there are certain tips you should follow.

These home gardening tips are best for those who are about to start out as home gardeners. First off, when planning to set up a home garden, it is very important to pick a specific area in your lot. This area will depend on the type of plant or crop you are planning to cultivate, but almost all of the plants for gardening relatively share the same set of desired outdoor conditions which are full or near-full exposure to sunlight.

It is also vital to set up your patch of plants near a faucet so it would be easy to maintain since you wouldn't need to move around that much. Of all the home gardening tips out there, this is one of the most important to take note of.

Deciding which plant or vegetable to grow is one of the most crucial processes a gardener has to take since knowing which type is also going to give you an estimate of the size of the garden plot you should have. For example, vegetable plants take up small patches of land and are easy to grow while vine crops, such as cucumbers or watermelons require larger patches of land and are more difficult to handle compare to vegetable plants.

These home gardening tips are easy to master but the most important factor in home gardening comes from no book or from any tip out there. It will come from you. Each successful gardener has his or her own set of gardening tips. These tips will be nothing if you would not exert time and effort into gardening. After all the hard work, you will be able to see and even literally taste the fruits of your labor.

Flower Gardening Tips - 10 Worthwhile And Handy Flower Gardening Tips!

Anyone can sow seeds or plant seedlings, but to be able to create a breathtakingly beautiful flower garden is something different altogether! And this is where flower gardening tips will come in really useful, transforming something ordinary into something extraordinary! So the aesthetically-inclined gardener would benefit by keeping a sharp lookout for any hints that come his way!

The list of tips keep increasing as people make newer discoveries, but even the most avid gardener cannot keep track of all of them or apply all of them! Here are a few suggestions on what type of flower gardening tips one should basically look out for--

(1) Any garden starts with a designated area, and it is no different for a flower garden. The gardener has to decide on a focal point that captures a visitor's attention. The center of attraction could be some object or even a gate--it should stand out among the surrounding plants. Ornamental grasses can increase the height of the garden and even add a different texture.

(2) It would be wise to search for those flower gardening tips that give guidance on planning for a year-round garden. They will provide advice on creating a harmonious ecosystem, as well as the plants best suited to that particular environment.

(3) There are plenty of flower gardening tips concerning soil requirements. Soil is an odd mixture of rocks, silt, minerals, sand, loam, clay and organic matter. It can have different pH levels at varied locations. Checking out these levels beforehand is extremely essential as each species of flower plant and pH level should match.

(4) The pH level indicates nothing else but the quantity of hydrogen ions present in that particular soil. For instance, regions with heavy rainfall produce acidic soil. Addition of limestone neutralizes the effects. In arid or dry areas, sulphur can counteract the effects of acidic soil.

(5) In any kind of soil, addition of compost provides the proper nutrients required to balance the pH level.

(6) If fine gravel is placed under the soil, it facilitates proper drainage. Additionally, moisture retention and control of excessive weed growth is possible with the laying of mulch on top of the soil. Mulch is created from forest floor debris that is allowed to decompose (also called humus).

(7) Coming to the plants themselves, a variety of choices as well as flower gardening tips are available.

There are perennials that grow beyond a single growing season. They flower year after year.

Annual flowers are different. The plant does not last beyond one season--it germinates, grows buds and blossoms, then dies. Bulbs have to be re-planted before the next season, that is, around fall season.

The best flowers are those that survive all seasons. A garden with such flowers will never seem empty! How is this achieved? The gardener cannot have the entire garden covered with one species alone. So different all-season flowers of different species are chosen. Since each species blooms at alternative times, the garden gives the appearance of luxuriant growth!

(8) And that is what seasoned veterans advocate--to mix and match a variety of textures and colors of blossoms to the optimum level! The result is sheer magic!

(9) Sometimes, plants need to be transplanted from a container to the soil in an outside garden. According to flower gardening tips, careful attention has to be paid to the roots to ensure that the root system gets sufficient amount of space to expand as well as receive adequate water. The roots should be stimulated to grow in their new environment. The roots should go deep enough for the plant to remain resilient in all weather conditions.

(10) Furthermore, the time of day has to be taken into consideration while transplanting. The day had better be overcast or cool. And early morning or late afternoon is the best time, according to the experts providing flower gardening tips.

Gardening Tip - 3 Main Features Of A Gardening Tip!

A gardening tip is received with much eagerness by both, novices as well as experts. The best source to go looking for a gardening tip is the Internet. The information provided there is beyond anyone's imagination!

Sometimes, a favorite and extremely beneficial gardening tip circulates via word-of-mouth. Often, the tips are repetitions by several professional gardeners, indicating their popularity and usefulness! So the ones most benefited by these hints are the beginners.

What are the features of a gardening tip?

(1) A gardening tip is not meant for the ears of the novice alone--even seasoned experts cannot be expected to know everything about gardening! After all, something new is being discovered everyday and existing knowledge itself is too vast to digest at one go! So the most important feature of a hint is "how useful is it going to be". Yes, the tip may seem rather obscure when verbally expressed, but unless practically experienced cannot really reveal anything.

To illustrate with an example, the concepts of soil pH and soil testing seem very confusing to a beginner. He/She is therefore looking for a gardening tip concerning a "specific brand" of potting mix rather than details regarding essential nutrients for soil. If it is a professional, he/she would prefer to know about a "specific" potting mix. The gardener wants to confirm the truth of his own experiments, or change the brand if necessary.

(2) Another popular gardening tip centers round matching plants to locations. This means "right plants, right locations and right amount of sunlight".

Again taking an example, newcomers are more concerned with growing the plants that they love rather than discovering whether they suit that particular area or not! Not paying attention to tips related to soil and climatic conditions, is going to come in the way of their success where gardening is concerned. Plants and flowers cannot just be chosen at random! In contrast, experienced veterans do not feel inclined to quarrel with the environmental conditions; they would much rather prefer to do the adjusting themselves! Their plants are their babies, to be nurtured with care and love; so their needs are of primary importance! Ultimately, with consistence and persistence as well as with the appropriate suggestions, the enthusiast will ensure that all his plants survive and thrive!

(3) Every suggested hint cannot prove to be useful to every gardener, novice or expert. What may seem very useful to one, may be discarded by another knowledgeable gardener as not being so useful. However, the Internet with its vast world of web sites should prove extremely beneficial to the newcomers who have just started experimenting with this new-found hobby, by supplying one gardening tip after another.

Rose Gardening Tips - Learn 3 Simple Rose Gardening Tips

Rose gardening is a dreamy hobby because rose is a type of flower that carries a lot of meanings according to its color. If you want to become a proud gardener, one of the ways that you can do that is by having a garden full of blooming roses. One off-topic tip for male gardeners, if you are good with rose gardening, you might get the attention of romantic females out there.

Rose gardening basics is easy and have been covered almost everywhere. What we will look into with this rose gardening tips article are some essential tips for those who are getting into it. Keep in mind that it is not hard to plant roses in your garden. The hard part is to get them blooming healthily during the spring and early summer. Let's dive into the tips I have prepared for you.

Color of Roses to Plant

Color of roses are vibrant and may cause immediate visual effect once it blooms. With this in mind, you may want to properly plot the the color scheme of your garden so that roses with the color of your choice will fit in without becoming an eyesore. You may want to "highlight" the existence of your roses by planting those of bright colors such as red and yellow.

If you prefer a green and peaceful garden, you can always opt for roses with soft colors such as pink and white. The prices of roses with different colors will not have much difference. However, some colors may have a higher price due to the higher demand.

Indoor or Outdoor for Roses

Good question there. Roses prefer spots that are exposed to at least 4 hours of sunlight. They usually don't grow very well when placed under a shady spot. Different places may have different temperatures and sunlight exposure which may or may not be suitable for rose gardening.

You may want to test the suitability of spots that you have prepared for your roses by testing them out in containers. This will reduce your effort of trying to remove them if roses are not suitable for your garden.

Rose Caring Tips

No rose gardening tips will be complete unless they have included rose caring tips because roses are fragile plants. Pests can cause problems to your rose gardens and you must watch out for caterpillars, bugs and parasites that love roses. An organic gardening ways to counter this is to add a predator of these pests into the food chain of your garden.

Organic Gardening Tips - 5 Tips to Successful Organic Gardens

Unlike the popular theories that state that the space shuttle could miraculously appear if blown up enough times, an organic garden is usually not the result of an accident. People that have a successful garden have created one based upon their consistent upkeep, planning, and a desire to make their garden grow. Regardless of the therapeutic value the gardening has, relaxation has little to do with the steps that it takes to ensure the success of your gardening endeavor. Here are a few organic gardening tips on how to make sure that your organic garden goals are reached by looking at planning, soil preparation, fertilizers, irrigation, and insect and disease control.

Tip #1 - a plan is always needed. Not something that is thought of and reconsidered over time intermittently, but a specified plan of action that leads to a specified end result. When you decide to grow your garden, and you choose to do it in an organic matter, you will need to take a few things into consideration such as location, the environment that the plants will grow it, the time that it will take in order for you to properly take care of your garden, how much effort will be involved and are there any resources that you may or may not be able to acquire in order to reach your final goals.

Once you have a clear written outline of what it is you need to do and what you need to acquire to reach your garden goals, it is time to start the plan into action. Action is everything once the goals are defined. If you set your goals but neglect factors such as good seed, compost, or even a source of good water for your plants, you will fail in your attempt because any compromise will lead to an overall failure.

Tip #2 - prepare your soil. Soil preparation is the foundation of the growth of any and all plants that you have. From the soil, the plants will be able to get their nutrients. Soil that is hard or dense will be almost impossible to aerate and therefore the plants will not get enough oxygen through the root system in order to thrive and flourish. Likewise, if there is no way for the water to evenly percolate to the plants roots in your garden, some plants will make it while others will die without consistent moisture, and some will be oversaturated and get root rot.

Another organic gardening tip is that you must also consider the consistency of the soil in regard to the amount of compost and nutrients that will be accessible to the seeds that will grow into the plants in the garden that you desire. By adding natural compost or other fertilizers to enhance the nutrients within the soil such as nitrogen or potassium, you will need to prepare this ahead of time, specifically as you are preparing the soil and getting ready to plant your seeds.

Tip #3 - Add compost. With reference to fertilizer, if you are doing this in an organic matter, some of the best fertilizer that you can get can either come from your compost pile or from a worm bin that you have created through your vermicomposting efforts. This needs to be prepared several weeks in advance so that it is ready to use when you are ready to plant. Compost that has not had time to properly finish will be detrimental to your soil and therefore proper preparation is always mandatory before getting ready to add these nutrients to the soil that will bear the fruit of your labor.

Tip #4 - Consistently water your garden. The consideration of water is also paramount in your success. You must have a way for your organic garden to get enough water on a regular basis so that it can grow unimpeded by the periods of droughts that are self induced by someone to did not plan ahead of time and create an optimal situation for the gardens irrigation needs. This includes having enough access to water, easy access through an irrigation system or hose system, and potentially a sprinkler system on a timer which can ensure that the garden is receiving water on a regular basis.

Tip #5 - Beware of insects. One final organic gardening tip that you should consider is that when your plants begin to grow, insects will appear. Weeds will also appear as well as potential diseases that can kill off your crop. This will take some wisdom on your part knowing the types of plants you are growing and finding natural alternatives to pesticides that may inhibit or deter the natural growth processes of your plants. If you are an organic gardener, you will not want to use these anyway and therefore finding beneficial insects that attack bad insects or natural scents or plants that will deter weed growth or disease is paramount in ensuring the healthy growth of your garden.

When considering all of these things together in a big picture, you realize that gardening cannot possibly be the result of an accident. There must be proper preparation and access to all of the tools necessary in order to make a garden successful and to make your efforts worthwhile. Take some time and use these five organic gardening tips to your benefit and make your garden one of the best you have ever had.

Gardening Tips

Gardens come in different varieties like the plants you find in them. There are several gardening tips that can be used for all type of gardens.

1.Mulching protects your garden topsoil from being blown away. It also provides nutrients as it decomposes and improves the appearance of your gardens. Mulching has other benefits and is one of the most recommended gardening tips by gardeners and farmers alike.

2.Healthy plants are more disease resistant. Plants are like people, a person with a strong immune system can combat diseases. A healthy plant does the same.

3. Pests can be eradicated by cleaning the plant with a watery solution of soap. Just make sure to rinse after. This gardening tip is best heeded for fruit bearing trees or edible plants.

4. Using compost fertilizers are a great way to have healthy plants. It is also a great way to save money on expensive fertilizers. Non -organic fertilizers also tend to leave chemical residues that can accumulate in garden soils and harm not only the plants but the gardeners as well. They cause toxins to go to the water supplies. Another gardening tip recommended not just by farmers and gardeners but also by environmentalists.

5. There are several plants that are only suitable for a specified climate, a certain kind of soil or can only grow with certain plants. You have to know what plant grow in the conditions you have in your area this is for you to avoid unnecessary purchases. This is a money saving gardening tip.

6.Landscaping is a good investment which can double the value of your home. This is one gardening tip that can earn you money.

7. Growing grass on bare ground is an easy way to make your home look better and appreciate in value. This is one gardening tip that promotes earning money while growing grass legally.

8. Aside from looking great in your home, trees also provide some sort of protection from direct sunlight exposure and strong winds.

9. Vines on the walls, fences and overhead structures also would offer some protection and would also look great.

10.Flowers are beautiful, but they are also expensive. Get one that is resistant to many elements. Flowers from your local community already have developed resistance to conditions present in your area.

11.For most gardens plants, their roots go only as deep as 6 inches. Putting fertilizer deeper than that would be a waste of money. Put them shallower as they seep down when the plants are being watered.

12.Earthworms are important to plants. They till and aerate the soil for the roots to breathe. Non-organic fertilizers can kill them. This gardening tip dates back to the old days of gardening.

13. Having several kinds of insects that are beneficial to your garden would be good. These insects can be encouraged to stay by having diverse plants in your garden.

14. Spot spraying weeds with household vinegar, instead of using commercial weed-killers, can eradicate them. This is another environment friendly gardening tip.

15. Avoid putting too much mulch on tree trunks; this would encourage unwanted pests to reside on them.

16. Use plant varieties that are common to your area or have been taken from an area with similar conditions.

17. Be sure to know the plants that are poisonous. If you are intent on growing them, make sure to have the necessary cure available in your household. Take note of this gardening tip, it can save your life.

18. The best time to water plants is during mornings.

19. Before planting a new plant in your garden, you must consider its height and size when it matures. This garden tip can help you save money in the future.

20. Newly transplanted plants may require special attention during its first week. This is to reduce the stress and shock it got during transplantation.

And last but not the least of the gardening tips...

21.Plants are living entities. If you want them to grow in your garden you have to treat them as such. They need to be taken care of. They are like your pets, you look out for them. In return you get that feeling of contentment watching them thrive.

A good way to take care of them is to consider that plants might have some feelings too.

more gardening tips here

A Few Gardening Tips For You

Below are some gardening tips that I feel are worth mentioning, and may possibly get you on your way to earning your green thumb. There are never to many gardening tips and I will just brush up on a few to get you started. I am sure if you do a search in Google for "gardening tips", you will have more at your disposal than you can ever ask for.

You could also try garden magazines and books and even gardening clubs. There is plenty of knowledge to go around. The list below will sum up tips on planning your plot, soil preparation, mulch, compost and the watering of the plot.

Garden Tip Number 1

Always plan out your garden before you start digging away at your yard. A good way to start is to take a long look at your garden a try to picture your finished product. Take into account the hight the plants can grow to, the sun spectrum, and the proximity to a water source. Once you see a place you like take a seat and start your gardening plot plan on paper. This way you can get more detailed and include things that you may forget otherwise. Make sure to include in your plans the proximity of your garden hose or garden hose reel and fixture.

Garden Tip 2

Possibly the most important tip of all is correct soil preparation and mixture. It is extremely important to use the non toxic soil nutrients when you are growing anything that you plan on eventually consuming.If you are growing vegetables in your garden then a homemade compost is by far the best fertilizer for your garden. The results will speak for themselves. It is not as hard as you think. Do some research and you would be surprised. If compost is not available the next option is mulch. If you are going to go with this rout, it is best to look for soft woods such as redwood or spruce. Softer woods have an easier time breaking down and spreading the nutrients to the soil in the bed. If you are not growing vegetables there are loads of fertilizers that can fit your project. Just go to your local nursery and they will lead you in the right direction. When you decide on your fertilizer, make sure everything is mixed well and aerated properly. A garden tiller can make this part of the job a lot easier but is not necessary.

Garden Tip 3

Once your plant area is picked out and the soil in properly spread in your garden, you can then start laying your plants in the pattern you thought up in your plans. Laying the plants out can give you a better picture of your end results. It is also best to arrange the plants from the largest growing in the back and decreasing toward the fron of the garden. You can group the plants together according to characteristics. This way you can get the most out of your area with all the plants getting the full benefit of the suns rays. This alone can make a huge difference.

Garden Tip 4

It is always best to use gardening sprinklers but this is not always possible for your first garden. If you cannot afford garden sprinkler you can still automate the garden with a hose attachment sprinkler.You can use timers that attach to the hose fixture and place the sprinkler wherever needed and this can make the watering automated also. You might still need to use the garden hose here and there. If you don't mind watering than a garden hose and garden hose reel setup can work nice and fulfill all the necessary watering you need.Another option is the drip irrigation systems although this will also cost you a little more.

Though the above tips are very important for the basics of your garden you can get a lot more from doing your own research on the internet search engine, ordering a book, or joining a garden club. Ordering a magazine or joining a club can help a lot as you get new informative tips every month. I hope the tips are helpful and wish you good luck on your green thumb quest. You will be there before you know it.