Weedless Gardening

This article will give you a few good ideas for dealing with weeds in your garden. One of the most frustrating things about gardening is the appearance of weeds. If your flowers and plants are thriving, chances are the weeds are too. So what do you do to get rid of these pesky problems?

The first steep in getting a weed free garden is to get rid of any existing weeds by pulling them out by the roots. Do this as early in the season as possible. It is easier to pull up seedlings than to pull full grown weeds. Watering the ground first may make the process easier. Once the weed is pulled, dispose of it. Do not leave it laying on the ground to release seeds that will cause more weeds to grow. If the weed seems to have a long root, dig it with a spade or gardening knife. Weeds that are growing amidst plants may be loosened by inserting a screwdriver into the ground and loosening the soil around the weed and then just pull it out.

Once the weeds are removed from your garden, cover it with mulch. This will provide ground cover and discourage weeds from growing. A good mulch can be a combination of wood chips, garden compost or straw.

Another method to discourage weed growth is the newspaper method. Lay newspapers on your garden as a ground cover and then you can spread mulch or topsoil on top of it. The good thing about newspaper is that it is cheap and completely biodegradable. Newspaper is also easier to plant in. It rips easily, so it is easy to form small holes to place your flowers in. You can also buy landscape cover at any nursery or major department store. The landscape cover works well also, but it can be a bit of a pain to cut holes in which to plant your flowers. If you have a big area to cover, landscaping cover can become quite expensive.

There are also weed killers on the market that you can use to kill the weeds in your garden. Make sure that you read all instructions carefully and that the weed killer will not harm your existing plants or the neighbor's cat. There are different types of weed killer on the market. Some will kill only the top growth of the weeds and others are designed to kill the weed down to the root.

The best way to get ahead of your weed problem is to thoroughly weed your garden early in the season. Cover it with a few layers of mulch and then keep the weeds under control by weeding at least once a week. Face it, weeds are always going to be around, but you can show them who's the boss!

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Soil Bacteria's Role in Soil Conditioning

Bacteria are the unsung heroes of gardening. Without bacteria, gardeners would not have the rich, loamy soil in which plants grow without bounds. Bacteria are single-celled organisms that chemically digest organic matter in soils into smaller nutrient components in forms available to plants. There are hundreds of thousands of different kinds of bacteria, and many types of bacteria can digest hundreds of different forms of organic matter into humus. The bacteria are able to do this because they can produce many different types of enzymes to digest different compounds. Bacteria in Soil vs. Bacteria in Compost
Each type of bacteria works best under certain conditions. In a cool compost pile, or in garden soil, bacteria that thrive in cool conditions will form the bulk of the bacterial population. In hot compost, other bacteria that can survive the high temperatures dominate. When considering a bacterial soil conditioner, keep in mind the way in which you plan to use the conditioner. Understand the bacteria you are adding, if you are adding bacteria as soil conditioners, so that you add the right kind of bacteria. Once conditions change drastically, bacteria that cannot function in those conditions will perish. (Bacteria are not very mobile, unless they have water to float along in or wind to carry them.) The upside of bacterial immobility is that they will stay and multiply in place as long as conditions are favorable.

Bacteria for Soil Structure Improvement

Using a bacterial soil conditioning program not only helps with nutrient availability, it also helps to improve soil structure. Soils with poor structure benefit as bacteria breaks down soil compounds and the soil re-aggregates. Spaces for air and water will open up, and the structure of the soil will become more uniform.

Add Beneficial Bacteria for Oxygenation

Well structured soils provide plants with necessary oxygen in the root zone. Plants use carbon dioxide for photosynthesis, but they use oxygen for respiration, which is the process whereby plants break down stored sugars and starches to use as energy for growth. They get their oxygen by absorbing it in the root zone. Soils with good structure have plenty of spaces for oxygen. Soils without structure or organic matter generally do not have enough oxygen. When the plant cannot successfully undergo respiration, it cannot grow well.

Not all Bacteria is Good Bacteria

There are beneficial bacteria and there are bacteria that spread diseases. For bacteria to aid in soil conditioning, they need to be beneficial. Not just any bacteria will do. You can’t really open your refrigerator, grab something old and throw it in the garden! You need the type of bacteria that will function well in your soil, in your climate, to decompose organic matter. Good bacteria does something other than break down organic matter. Good bacteria in soil is instrumental in keeping harmful fungi and viruses at bay. Be careful about your source for garden bacteria. Many will sing the praises of compost tea for adding bacteria to your soil, but these teas can also add pathogens that will harm your plants. If adding bacteria to your soil, it is best to go with a reputable source that can provide beneficial bacteria that will produce results.


Casey Coke is a Marketing Manager for Natural Environmental Systems, LLC. The company is a global supplier of humic acid and other organic soil conditioners

Fruit Tree Care Tips

If you have just planted a new fruit ranking, I think it is anodyne to think you are not yet an authority on the subject. More fruit leaves die in their beginning days due to destitute treatment habits than any disease or pestilence. Therefore it is essential that you understand how to fear for plants in a way that will guarantee their abrupt star as well as upcoming good strength.
During the first stages of the ranking's life, the roots, coffer, and twigs have not yet totally urbanized to an identity supporting asset. Therefore, if your ranking is budding fruits, occasionally the mutual influence is enough to instant off a full sphere. If this is the instance, you should supply outdoor stanchion for your kindling - sustain them up with boards, or tie them to something at a superior altitude. While you can impart your ranking the provision it desires in these early living, it should grow to be independent in no time at all.

Proper diet is not only crucial for the production of healthful fruits, but is also required for the hierarchy to outlive longer than one spell. The thorough specifications contrast with the vicinity, climate, and kind of ranking, but I've found that there is no better well than a nursery worker. Maybe they're just eager to vend you the right style of fertilizer, but in my experience they are almost never mistaken. Just notify them about the conditions your ranking is living in and how well it is looking, and they should be able to help you find something to upgrade the majestic of your ranking.

Much people think that the only way to ensure a hierarchy's healthiness is to grant it insane amounts of water. This is not the issue at all. As a count of fact, bountiful too much water to a hierarchy can be more unsafe than making it go thirsting. At the best it will have a damaging provoke on the choice of the fruit. Nevertheless at nastiest, your intact hierarchy could die and foil you from ever mounting fruit in the potential. So do not ever try to elucidate your problems by bountiful it masses of water! Solve your tree's health problems at the ransack, so to speak. Go to where the puzzle originates from, and fix that.

If it is too behind and you're already initial to see unhealthy kindling that look whichever unwell or smashed, you should always subtract them. If the tree slaughter nutrients by sending them out to the side that cannot be saved, it is practically throwing away all the nutrients that it could use on the other, recovered branches. When you advantage to see a separate that is deteriorating or becoming unhealthy, chop it off right away. At the very least, edge down the unhealthy part but permit all the segments that still look like they could prolong growing.

Once your tree has happening to write the option juncture, never delay any of the fruit on the ground that touch to accident. Also, be delicate to get every part off the tree. Even if it is an obnoxious looking fruit that you don't want to keep, you should still choice it and baffle it away. Once these fruits begin to rot, they bestow a textbook home for uninvited insects or diseases that can transport to the tree itself. So always memorize to gather up these fallen fruits, and foil manually a lot of eminent grief.

Getting a fruit tree and caring for it throughout its life can be a scary brief. It may even look impossible sometimes to keep footstep of all the factors that make a tree vigorous. Nevertheless if you just pay thought to the nutrients that your tree needs, you should be on a good conduit. Besides nutrients, notable out the accurate amount of watering that you should be burdened to keep your tree's thirst quenched without drowning it. Just do all these gear, and you will have a great tree that produces delicious fruits.

Grow Lights will help you Grow Award Winning Tomatoes

Not every tomato enthusiast lives in Oklahoma with perfect tomato growing soil and beautiful sunlight able to grow tomatoes weighing in at seven pounds and twelve ounces (the current world record holder) so it’s important to set yourself for success if you wish to try your hand at in-door growing! Whether you plan on growing enough tomatoes to supply you through the winter months or you are in need of adequate lighting in a mid sized green house, many urbanites are turning to artificial light sources designed specifically for growing plant life.


The days of trying to position your plant racks on a windowsill in a futile attempt to catch light between the twenty-story buildings that have been strategically positioned to block all viable sunlight from your window are gone. With a small investment you’ll be set up to grow tomatoes in any room in your home. And you’ll be successful at it!

Lighting that’s suited for professional results usually comes in several pieces that require a small amount of assembly and it’s done that way so a grower can fit the right pieces together to suit their needs. First you need a lighting fixture. They come in a large array of sizes ranging from 2’ up to and surpassing 5’. Once you find a size that fits your needs you can tackle the ballast, which have an equally large amount of options for that custom growing experience. You can then cap everything off with a nice reflector to direct all that new light where it is needed the most; on your tomatoes.

If you are starting to feel a bit overwhelmed fear not: you can simply order up a kit that fits your needs. These kits are offered mainly for those people who have less demanding needs and you’ll find them to be professionally built and more than adequate for the needs of the average grower. As with the individual parts that can be purchased, the kits have a very wide range of sizes and wattage to fit any application that you could possibly dream up!

With the lighting possibilities that exist today just about any produce or plant that requires large amounts of sunlight to grow can be successfully grown in-doors and with great success. After all, the largest tomato plant in the world currently grows in doors at Epcot Center In Disney World and has produced a record-breaking harvest of over 32,000 tomatoes.

Planting And Care Of Shrubs

In general, trees and shrubs are planted and cared for in the same way, the difference between them being chiefly one of height. One definition of the difference, however, is that while a tree has only one trunk, a shrub has several stems or trunks.

Not so long ago the number of reliable shrubs was quite limited, but today the many new hybrids have lengthened the list and the gardener's choice is almost endless. No matter the region, it is now possible to plant shrubs that will satisfy color needs, bloom at various seasons, cover bare spots where grass won't grow, or grow in such profusion and depth that screening purposes are served.


Shrubs are valuable to the gardener because they bridge the gap between trees and flowers. As do trees, they serve as boundary markers, soften the lines of buildings, act as a decorative background for flower beds and hide unsightly views.


Like flowers, they add character and shape to the garden, blooming forth with colorful blossoms and attracting birds with their berries. One big item in their favor is that they mature rapidly, yet remain as hardy and long-lived as trees.

Planting of shrubs is tittle different from planting of trees. Early spring is the most favorable time since it gives the plant a long spell of good growing weather to get reestablished. In the milder sections of the country, however, transplanting may be done through the winter months. In New England, evergreens may be planted in September and May, and deciduous shrubs in October and May.

Dry roots are the chief cause of planting failures, and steps should be taken to prevent this�i.e., balling and burlapping, and heeling in. After receiving shrubs from a nursery, water as soon as possible; shade them from sunshine at first, mulch the ground around them, and prune back severely.

The older the plant you get, the more severely it will have to be cut back, so that in the long run, you come out just as well buying the less expensive, smaller shrubs. Forsythia and azalea may be moved while in flower, but most plants should not.

Watering in the fall, before the ground freezes, is important for box, azalea, rhododendron, mountain laurel and broadleaf evergreens, whose leaves lose moisture in winter.

Pruning of shrubs helps to keep them young and vigorous. Rather than cutting all branches off to an even length, prune out the older branches, even though they may be sound. With lilacs, for example, use a keyhole saw, and cut as close to the ground as possible, cutting out the oldest stems.

Some shrubs need pruning every year, especially those which have dead branches as a result of winterkill. (These include some deutzias, hydrangeas, buddleia, spireas and privets.) Other shrubs such as rhododendron, azaleas, magnolia and buddleia should have the flower heads pruned off after blooming.


About the author: Paul Curran is CEO of Cuzcom Internet Publishing Group and webmaster at Trees-and-Bushes.com, providing access to their nursery supplier for a range of quality plants, trees, bushes, shrubs, seeds and garden products.Visit their trees section to find a great selection of shrubs for your garden

Gardening And Landscaping Careers

If you have ever enjoyed a lush garden, fresh vegetables, a nice park, or a grassy golf course, you may have thought of a career in gardening and landscaping. There are a lot of different kinds of opportunities in this field, from actually digging in the dirt outside to planning, buying, and selling in an office or store. There are also many places to learn the trade.

Digging In The Dirt

Working outside in a natural environment is an absolute job requirement for some people. Enjoying both the sun and the rain seems better than a desk any day. Many of these people get into the gardening and landscaping fields.

The easiest job to get, but also the most backbreaking, is planting and maintenance for a landscaping company. These are the folks who are outside every season planting new flowers around office parks, stores, and parks. This work does not pay as much as more specialize work, but it is a good way to get acquainted with this kind of gardening and landscaping task.

With some training in botany and plant care, it’s possible to get a job with a little more independence – and pay. Places like botanical gardens, city parks, and college campuses need managers for their grounds departments that plan, grow, and plant each season’s display. Part of the year you may be running a greenhouse, and part you may spend mostly outside.

Perhaps the most demanding job for an individual gardener is raising a truck garden – growing food to sell to individual customers and restaurants. You must have great skills in all aspects of gardening and landscaping, and management too, to keep a garden producing enough food in every season to supply regular customers. High-end restaurants often like to serve fresh, local, organic food. But they will not buy from a gardener that has an erratic harvest schedule or that produces poor vegetables.

Places To Learn

There are many places to learn the gardening and landscaping trade. The first is just to take an entry-level job with a company or city and just learn on the job. But it is hard to move up to a position of more responsibility without some education – and not just in how to grow plants.

Many community and vocational colleges give gardening and landscaping degrees. Expect to study for two to four years, but also expect to learn all about planting, and how to run a business too. Gardening and landscaping is a great field for people who want to be self-employed.


Jerry Cahill Master gardener and author of gardening related articles. http://gardenlandscapedesigns.com/http://gardenlandscapedesigns.com/dewitt-prospun-6x300-non-woven-landscape-fabric/

Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com

Lovely Swings for your Lovely Gardens

By: Travis Olague

What else but a swing can make your garden look so lovely and cozy? It can make your yard or garden a perfect place for relaxation in any time of the year. These outdoors types of swings can suit all ages from babies to senior people, because both children and adults love garden swings. They can enjoy swinging all year round breathing fresh air and admiring the nature around. On hot summer days swinging can cool you off. There are many types and designs of garden swings. Some of them are designed for only one person; the other swings can suit the entire family. Swings with covered tops can keep you from the sun or even rain, so you can enjoy swinging whenever you want. You will show real hospitability to your guests inviting them for a cup of nice tea or coffee in your garden, where a decorative swing can serve a perfect seat for all of you. You can sit hours talking about old good days, the weather and your children. Fresh air, friendly conversations and a soothing and relaxing effect of swinging will create the atmosphere of unity of nature and people. The negative part of it is that your guests will not wish to go home.

Garden swings are still very popular
Garden swings were and still very popular nowadays, they are used in many outdoor places, such as terraces, bars and others. You can also put them on a porch, by your garden, on a patio, in the middle of your yard. Adults can enjoy themselves while their children are busy merrily swinging back and forth. Even some of them like using swings to rock with their children or grandchildren. Swinging sets come in different shapes and sizes, and their well-constructed forms are made to be out in different types of weather. Moreover you can order a special designed swinging set, which construction can hold more than four people if you wish. The materials, used for making windup swinging sets on cranks are such as wood and metal, that is why windup swings can serve you for a pretty long time, because they are 926durable and last for years. Thanks to various styles and sizes of garden swinging sets you can choose one for your local home to make your garden or yard the most fantastic and comfortable place to relax.

Purchasing a garden swing
Purchasing a garden swing for your home is a crucial and important moment. You can buy them in specialized stores and they are also available online. The Internet gives us a great possibility to make a choice sitting home and looking through a large selection of many swings of different styles and sizes. You can find a great deal of such companies which offer you their products. Some of the less expensive garden swings can be found for less then one hundred dollars. But larger swings may cost a lot more. And it is up to you to decide which one will be the most suitable for you to decorate your place.

Author Resource:-> Our company offers a huge choice of many outdoor baby swings of several styles and sizes at excellent prices, and their well-designed forms are made to be out in several types of weather. Moreover you can request a special designed baby swings, which construction can hold more than four people if you want. Go ahead, make your selection.

Article From Free Article Publishing

Beefsteak tomatoes gardening

There is absolutely nothing better than a fresh tomato out of your garden. You start by planting a beefsteak tomato plant and nurture it daily with fertilizer, water and weeding. Finally, you notice the hint of a small fruit on the plant. The days seem endless as you check the plants daily for signs of red, finally after the long wait; there it is the ripe, red delicious beefsteak. Even after the first ten tomatoes, each one is still a marvel.

The growing season of the beefsteak tomato is about 85 days to the first harvest. These hefty delicious globes continue to produce from late summer until the first heavy frost. Covering the tomatoes with thick amounts of leaves in the fall allow you to extend the growing season.

You can grow your own seedlings or purchase them at the store. If your garden is large, a makeshift greenhouse in the basement of your home is far more economical. Purchase an inexpensive shop light and put a grow light instead of florescent bulb into the light. Follow the directions on the package for planting. It’s best to use a small plastic starter container for large numbers of plants. Use a good planting soil created for starting seed. Make sure you have adequate drainage.

Before you plant the tomatoes, make sure that the soil has adequate fertilizer. Add a good nitrogen rich fertilizer after you till the ground and then lightly turn the soil once more. Adding compost to the soil is a good idea if the soil is hard clay or sandy.

Plant the seedlings outside after the danger of frost is past. Plant them four to six feet apart. If they are too close, there is a potential for water borne fungal diseases like fusarium and verticillim wilt, that turn the leaves yellow and brown. You’ll need to plant the beefsteak tomato seedlings an inch or two deeper than they were in the container. Remove any lower leaves if necessary. This encourages a healthier root system. If your soil is low in calcium, add some before planting beefsteak tomatoes. This deters blossom end rot, those black spots at the bottom of the tomato.

Several types of pests attack tomatoes at different points and do different types of damage. Some pests attack the leaves or bore into either the fruit or buds. Tomato fruitworm, tobacco budworm, tomato pinworm and vegetable leafminer are these types of pests. Pests that chew both holes in leaves and fruits are blister beetles, cabbage loopers, Colorado potato beetles, flea beetles and hornworms. Sapsuckers, which cause fruit to deform, and defoliation are aphids, thrips and greenhouse whiteflies. Cutworms and Southern potato wireworms feed on the lower stems and roots.

When you have planted beefsteak tomatoes, expect the tomatoes to start ripening all at once. you can’t use them all, you can freeze them whole. Simply wash, core the center and put into a freezer bag. When you’re ready to use them, rinse them under warm water and pull off the outer skin. These tomatoes aren’t good for salads but great in cooked dishes. If you expect a frost before the end of harvest, bring the green tomatoes indoors and wrap them in newspaper. Store these in a cool area and allow them to slowly ripen.


Tracy Ballisager provide info on gardening. See her website for tips on tomato growing Tomato Plant Diseases.html


To read more on gardening tips go to gardening help

Author:
Tracy Ballisager provide info on gardening. See her website for tips on tomato growing Tomato Plant Diseases.html


To read more on gardening tips go to gardening help

Terms: Articles may be reprinted provided content is not edited and links are kept live

Source: www.articledepot.co.uk

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Your Garden Must Be Safe For Your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Do you think your garden is safe for your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel? Some people consider their garden as their little sanctuary - a place where they can relax and enjoy the serenity and beauty the nature brings. However, as much as it is relaxing for humans, the garden may not be a safe place for our furry friends after all.

Based on studies, there are 700 plants that can possibly harm our pets because of enough toxic in them. Also, while a plant may not be toxic to pets, it can cause allergic reactions and cause discomfort to your dogs. As a responsible dog owner and a plant lover as well, it is important that you learn how to identify what plants are dangerous to your dog's well-being.

First in line is dieffenbachia. Named after a German physicist, Ernst Dieffenbach, the plant is considered one of the deadliest plants on earth. The plant will cause serious reaction when come in contact with an animal's mouth, tongue or throat. If chewed, swelling can occur along with a temporary inability to speak, mouth irritation, upset stomach, asphyxiation, tremors, seizures and eventually death.

Other plants dangerous to pets include:

Amaryllis. Symptoms of toxicity include diarrhea, excessive salivation, depression, tremors and vomiting.

Asparagus fern. Clinical signs include allergic dermatitis with repeated dermal exposure, vomiting, abdominal pain or diarrhea.

Azalea. Signs include vomiting, diarrhea, excessive salivation, weakness, coma, hypotension, CNS depression, cardiovascular collapse and death.

Christmas rose. Signs of toxicity include abdominal pain, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, convulsions and delirium.

Daffodil. Belongs to amaryllidaceae family, toxicity of daffodil causes severe gastrointestinal disorders, convulsions, shivering, hypotension, dermatitis, muscular tremors and cardiac arrhythmias.

Gladiolas. Clinical signs include vomiting (sometimes with blood), depression, diarrhea (sometimes with blood), excessive salivation and abdominal pain.

yacinth. Clinical signs include intense vomiting, diarrhea (sometimes with blood), depression and tremors.Hydrangea. The rootstock causes vomiting, depression, anorexia, diarrhea, increase in heart rate and increase in body temperature.

Morning glory. Signs of toxicity include diarrhea, frequent urination, hallucination and nausea.

Other common plants dangerous to pets are cactus, chrysanthemums, daphne, jasmine, nettles, sweet peas and wandering Jew.

Plants are good to look at. A pot of your favorite flower adds beauty and color inside the house. But you must remember that this beauty could be your dog's way to danger, to death even. So learn to choose what's safe and not. Your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is at stake.

About the author:
Richard Cussons writes information articles on different breeds of dog such as the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Find out Cavalier King Charles Spaniel information here... Article Source: http://www.free-articles-zone.com/author/1718

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A few great landscaping tips

Landscaping has become an art with many companies offering to transform the inside and outside of a home from the kitchen to the garden patio. Along with interior decorating, many professionals will also change the look of your garden along with the rooms by using garden design software, paving slabs and plants to make your garden patio spectacular. The courtyard or veranda is an extension of the home and the living space is extended to the outdoors.

Decorating, landscaping and paving will not only improve pride in your home, but it will increase the resale value. The first impression that potential house buyers will have is the outside of your home and it could guarantee the sale when they see the well maintained yard. The impression of care and time taken to maintain the outside of a property impresses many people. Paving slabs can now be custom made to make your garden patio a living space to be proud of. Faced with choices such as cobblestones, concrete and other flooring materials to line the patio, various factors must be taken into account such as the weather conditions, traffic through the area, children, animals and affordability. Function should be weighed against aesthetics and decisions should be made about the main use of the area. If it is to be a playing area for the children, grass and carpeting would be a softer surface to fall on, but if the area is used for outdoor cooking, a non-stick and non-slip surface would be ideal to wipe stains. Paving slabs can be installed by the home owner if they are cut to the correct measurements. Paving professionals develop paving products, layout patterns and installation services to suit budgets. Redecorating the patio could be a family affair and everybody could get involved in transforming the garden patio. This project can become a nightmare and research and preparation such as reading gardening books, studying design software and consulting an expert is recommended before taking the veranda apart. Time lines should be set as adhered to just as it would be managed if done by a professional to prevent your garden becoming overgrown or a storage area for gardening equipment instead of the entertainment haven it was planned to be. Garden design software that is easily comprehended can be successfully used for private garden designing and the 3d feature can help to visualize the end product. Pre-designed objects, material textures, plant encyclopedias and photo editors allows you to design houses, decks, fencing, yards, gardens, swimming pools, water features and other patio features. The final touches can be put into the garden electronically before the manual labor begins. It is up to the home owner to decide who will do the work to make the 3d tour come to life in the garden.

Landscaping is quite simply the ability of sculpting a garden or backyard that the home owner will be proud of. When one is attempting to grow a picturesque garden, the preparation is a vital aspect, so that problems can be avoided in the future. The art of landscaping is a way of painting the world around one beautiful and livable. We can influence nature in a manner that is more practical and pleasing, enlarging our territory beyond the brick and mortar of the home.

About the author:

If you are loking for more information on Garden patio or Paving slabs please visit this links and you will find great Garden design software Article Source: http://www.free-articles-zone.com/author/233

Fine Gardening Secrets Revealed

I hope you don't think I'm a bad person for admitting this to you. I was feeling a little bit jealous of my sister. Let me explain...

Every year, I visit my sister Joan in Houston -- and every year, her garden just keeps getting even more beautiful. On my last visit, she had a dazzling display of fabulous cutting flowers that absolutely took my breath away.

When she saw how impressed I was -- and how inquisitive I was about how she had created such a magnificent garden -- Joan finally let me in on her secret. It's a secret that just a small number of avid gardeners had kept to themselves for years.But the secret isn't a secret anymore.It's Fine Gardening magazine!

Fine Gardening is the magazine dedicated to gardening enthusiasts like you and me who want to surround ourselves with beauty, but need some guidance to achieve our dream gardens! With the inspiration and information found only in Fine Gardening, your garden will thrive like never before with colorful, abundant spreads of your favorite flowers!

I want to share the secret and also tell you about Fine Gardening because it's the perfect companion for every gardener -- no matter where you live, no matter if your available gardening space is a window box or an acre of fertile ground!

Here's why: The expert advice and techniques you get exclusively in Fine Gardening are brought to you by botanists, entomologists, nursery specialists, commercial growers, curators, landscape architects and groundskeepers, so you can be assured that you're getting accurate, tested, reliable information that you can use to cultivate everything from the simple to the spectacular.As you can see, Fine Gardening knows what's important to gardeners like you and me!With well wishes for your own fabulous flowers,

About the Author
Sally Summers is Editorial Director at www.BlueDolphin-Magazines.com and www.Magazine-Supermarket.com. You can read her weekly blog at http://sallysummers.blogspot.com where she talks about today's most popular magazines and how they can enrich your daily life.

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Artificial Grass For Easy Lawn

Maintaining a lawn can be really time and efforts taking as you have to spend much time on mowing, trimming, spraying, and fertilizing the grass. You pay bills for watering and electricity. When you are going on holidays you ask your neighbors to take care of your lawn. And when you finally have the ideal lawn of your dream you are afraid that kids or pets can disturb or damage it.

Is there a way for having easy lawn without extra maintenance efforts and problems?

Yes, if you use artificial grass. Artificial grass (artificial turf) is a pioneering product made of polymer fibers that offers the opportunity to own a healthy lush looking, practically no maintenance lawn all year round. With artificial lawn never again you will have to look at ugly scorched grass in the summer, you will never have to water the grass and it stays green and lush all year round. Artificial lawn is child friendly that makes it perfect for playing and rolling on as well as for picnics and inflatable swimming pools, and such lawn is pets-friendly and proof as well.

Artificial turf may be applied to any size or shaped garden including roof terraces and patios and it is the perfect answer to muddy patches that arise in shaded areas, and moss does not easily occur. Thanks to the very strong back on which the grass is attached, roots have no chance as they cannot grow through. This applies also for moles. They will stay underneath the grass.

Artificial grass is the best choice for a natural looking lawn at your vacation residence. The advantages for installation of the grass at your vacation residence are:- Cost savings in maintenance; you won't need time of your gardener to cut, maintain and water your lawn. - Cost savings in water use; you will drastically decrease your water bill! On average you can save up to 50% of your water use. Especially when your bill is scaled pro-rated on your water use, this can have a tremendous impact on your monthly water bill.- Tranquility; during your stay at your vacation residence, you will be less bothered by maintenance people in your garden since artificial grass needs no mowing or watering or other weekly maintenance.

Always green, your lawn at your vacation residence will always look perfectly green and well maintained with artificial grass. Water sprinkler systems could fail during your absence, or even your water flow could be stopped for any reason. Natural grass would rapidly become yellow and die. With artificial one, you won't need to worry about this any more.

Is it fire safe?High quality artificial turf must comply with the most severe norms for fire safety. Artificial grass is also used in the aviation industry next to runways. Of course elaborate tests with flammable liquids have been done and the results of these tests were satisfying. Just like on carpet, when for instance coals fall unexpected on artificial grass, the coals will leave scorch marks, but hot coals will not set the grass on fire.

Does it need any maintenance?

Like almost anything, artificial grass needs maintenance as well. Though, the maintenance will be minimal. The special coated quartz sand, especially when the grass is used intensively, will compact after course of time. Therefore, it is advised to fill up the grass again with the quartz sand once a year. Furthermore, it is required that all natural debris, like leaves and seeds, are removed when necessary from the grass to prevent weeds coming up. If weeds however do come up, they can be removed by using a rank. The roots of the weeds can never grow deeper than 2 centimeters since the grass is manufactured on an anti-weed fabric.

To clean artificial lawn a blower can be used without any problems. Due to the fact that the grass is very even, the leaves will be blown away easily by use of a blower. When a leave plunger is used, it is very important to use it carefully to prevent plunging the infill sand.

Artificial grass is not damaging for the environment. Even better, it helps the environment as it does not need any water, pesticides, fertilizing or mowing. That makes a great difference, especially with the hot summers, and in dry and water restricted areas in countries around the Mediterranean sea, artificial grass can save tremendous amounts of scarce water that is being used for watering natural grass. Of course, artificial grass needs to be recycled in an appropriate way after its use.How to choose artificial grass for easy lawn?

Choose high quality product that will ensure beautiful color in all weathers, season after season, year after year. To ensure lasting color of the lawn, the artificial grass must have no fade guarantee. For safe usage it must be made of non-toxic materials. Ask about installation as only specialists can properly install artificial turf taking care of the optimal drainage and surface preparation, after which the grass will be installed and with an eye for detail it is finished on the site.

Source: Free Articles

About the Author
Julia Ramyalg EasyPlants & EasyLawns is sells online Artificial Grass Royal Grass? - safe, child and pets friendly and proof product with 10-years of No Fade Guarantee. View and buy it online at http://www.easyplants.co.uk

Amazing Robotic Lawn Mower

The days of the Lawn Mower tasks on Sunday are long gone, no more family arguments about chores and duties and work in the hot sun... the robotic lawn mower operating rights is something your kids will have fights on for some time. This futuristic invention was something you could only dream about twenty years ago, when lawn mower designs were constantly trying to impress the public, when you will have one of those circular disks that shoot across your yard, gently humming and leaving grass clippings in its wake you will feel like your in a robotic dream.

Did you think you were dreaming? Well, you are not. Welcome to the twenty-first century and the advent of the robotic lawn mower. This is no space invaded robot, the robotic lawn mower is self-propelled, battery powered mower that can be programmed to cut your grass all on its own. All you need to do is to set the parameters and the time of day that you would like the lawn to be cut and wait for the robot to go do its thing. Some of the robots can run up to an hour on their powered batteries and when they are done, they return to their docking station to begin charging for its next session, as a obedient worker should do.

Another great feature is that you can program robotic lawn mower to mow in several ways, thus it can follow your mowing plan. You can tell it to begin on the perimeter and work its way to the interior, or it can begin in a spot in the center and work its way outward. Some people like to have the robotic lawn mower to move in a crisscross pattern, creating your own little backyard fairway pattern, maybe even encourage you to work on your approach golf game. Doesn't the idea of having a small private golf course in the backyard sound nice?.

A robotic lawn mower has several advantages over its noisy, manual, gas-powered classic designed lawn mower cousins. The prime advantage here is naturally the fact that you do not have to do anything other than watch the amazing technology as it winds its way through the yard. The other, more mundane advantage is that robotic lawn mowers are quieter, their gas or oil use are nothing and would not cost you anything, and they are as "green" as you can possibly be, they will not harm the environment m and would not pollute your backyard.

What about those flowers bordering the walk or the maple tree in the middle of the yard? Do not worry. Robotic mowers are equipped with sensors that can detect an object in its path. The flowers, the trees, and even your pets are safe from the wrath of the modern robotic lawn mower. They can operate on just about any slope and most are fully guarded from the elements. So, if a shower breaks out on your mower, it will live to fight those dandelions another day.

Source: Free Articles

About the Author

Daniel Roshard is a designer that has been enchanted by outdoors and garden design, he is currently writing Lawn Mower articles for http://lawnmower.zupatips.com/

Killing Crabgrass

Once Crabgrass gets foothold in your lawn it can be
difficult to fend off (even with the best pre-emergent control products!)
However it can be done! Here
is what we recommend!

The first step is to purchase our Crabgrass
Killer! This chemical is formulated to specifically attack
the roots of crabgrass! It is a
Post-emergence control for grassy weeds in Bermuda, zoysia and bluegrass lawns.
It kills crabgrass, sandbur, dallisgrass, johnsongrass, goosegrass,
barnyardgrass and more.

This concentrate and will cover up to 4,000 square feet!
For Blue Grass mix 2 oz (4 tablespoons) in 1 gallon of water to cover 200
sq. ft. Spot treat the areas that are infested with crabgrass.

The second step is critical for optimal application --
always mix a "Spreader Sticker" with the weed killing chemical.

The "spreader sticker" we recommend is called Wilt
Pruf. Mixing a spreader sticker (1 oz. per gallon) with a weed
killer will ensure the chemical spreads over the entire foliage area and then
sticks! As an added benefit, it
will keep an application from washing off during an unexpected spring rain
storm!

The weed should begin to wilt and brown within 5 days --
spot treat as needed every two weeks until you have killed off that nasty
crabgrass! It should not take more than 2-3 applications to wipe out event he
most mature crabgrass.

A couple of other notes: For best results, apply Crabgrass
Killer to the lawn in the morning (after dew has dried) on a sunny, calm day to
allow maximum absorption of the weed killer.
Higher temperatures result in a quicker uptake of this product for faster
control. However, do not apply
Crabgrass Killer if temperatures exceed 90 degrees. If daytime temperatures are
expected to exceed 90 degrees, apply the product in early morning when it is
cooler.

The combination of these two products will take care of
your weed problem!

Click
Here to Learn More about Crabgrass Killer

Click
Here to Learn More About Wilt Pruf.

Proper Pruning techniques

Pruning is a vital part of plant and tree care. This task can be confusing so we developed the following guide to help you prune properly.

Three basic tools suffice for most pruning jobs: shears, loppers, and a pruning
saw. Keep them sharp for clean cuts; disinfect after pruning diseased material.

1. When Do Roses Need To Be Pruned?

Prune in winter or early spring when plants are still dormant. Prune plants to maintain symmetrical
bushes and to encourage strong new growth. Cut back all
previous years growth as much as one-third its length. Remove branches that cross through center and remove plants understock.
Also prune weak and dead stems as needed. This will also encourage strong new growth.

2. When Do Crepe Myrtles Need To Be Pruned?

The best time to prune crepe myrtles is in February. Prune out twiggy stems and any dead wood. Thin out
crossing or crowding branches in the plants center. If tree form,
prune lower branches. Prune top to maintain symmetry. Each year
after flowering, cut 12 to 18 inches off the tips of branches that have bloomed.

3. When Do Hollies Need To Be Pruned?

Prune in winter or early spring mostly to shape plants. Cut back wayward branches and prune
out weak unproductive dead stems as needed.

4. When Do Butterfly Bushes Need To Be Pruned?

Butterfly bushes bloom in summer on new
spring growth. They can be pruned in late winter or early spring. By
pruning old blooms you will encourage new flowers. Also prune out old dead
and unproductive branches.

5. When Do Hydrangeas Need To Be Pruned?

Hydrangeas fall into two groups.
Some you prune in early spring and others after the flowers fade.

1. Early Spring Pruning
   
   Hydrangeas bloom on new growth. These plants are Climbing
   Hydrangea, Annabelle, Grandiflora, and PeeGees.
   
2. After-Bloom Pruning
   
   Hydrangeas bloom on last years stems. These include Bigleaf
   Hydrangeas, Oakleaf Hydrangeas, Lacecaps, SummerBeauty, and Nikko
   Blue. Pruning should be done when the flower has faded. Cut back the flowering stems to the strongest pair of new shoots. As plants mature, begin to thin out the oldest woody stems. Remove crowded crossing, broken, or dead branches.

6. When Do Clematis Need To Be Pruned?

Clematis can be put in three
categories: Spring-flowering, summer-flowering , and twice-flowering.

1. Spring-blooming
   
   Clematis produce flowers on stems that grew during the previous year.
   Prune when flowers are done blooming. Cut back the flowers that are
   now dead. Prune out any old dead stems as well.
   
2. Summer-blooming
   
   Plants bloom on new growth produced in the spring. Cut back stems before new growth begins. Late autumn or early spring is a good time to prune. Cut back about 12 inches of old growth. Each year the vine will grow larger and stronger.
   
3. Twice-blooming
   
   Plants first bloom in spring on stems produced the previous year.
   Late summer or fall will be the next bloom time. In late fall or very early spring, prune lightly to thin the stems. After the spring bloom, prune more heavily for more healthy stems to develop for the next bloom. After a second bloom, prune old flowers away.

7. When Do Fruit Trees Need To Be Pruned?

The most common fruit trees are apple, peach, pear and cherry.

1. Apple Trees
   
   Apple trees should be pruned in late winter or early spring before new growth starts. Always remove all suckers (summer is a great time).
   Also remove dead and other unproductive branches as needed.
   
2. Peach Trees
   
   Peach trees are fast growing and need to be pruned in winter.
   Without pruning the peaches will grow farther away from the tree's center.
   This will put great strain on the branches, causing them to break. In winter, thin out upward-growing branches that cross in tree's center.
   
3. Pear Trees
   
   Prune back in early spring. Always prune dead and unproductive
   branches as needed.
   
4. Cherry Trees
   
   Prune in winter. Prune out branches that cross in center and dead unproductive branches as needed.

8. When Do Azaleas and Rhododendrons Need To Be Pruned?

They can be pruned in winter or early spring.
However pruning at this time will prevent plants from producing many blooms. The best time to prune azaleas and rhododendrons is just after their blooming period in spring. If you prune
at this time , no additional pruning will be necessary.

9 When Do Junipers Need To Be Pruned?

Junipers need very minimal pruning. They should be pruned to correct their shape, to accent their form, or to limit their size. This should be done during the juniper's growing stages
in mid-summer.

10. When Do Flowering Trees Need To Be Pruned?

Flowering trees should be pruned after they have finished blooming. Prune as little as possible. Dead branches, branches that cross in the center, and branches that are unproductive should be pruned out.

Three basic tools suffice for most pruning jobs: shears, loppers, and a pruning
saw. Keep them sharp for clean cuts; disinfect after pruning diseased material.

Gardening: Growing Great Tomatoes

For many people, growing big juicy tomatoes is part of what makes vegetable gardening so enjoyable. Whether purchasing plants from your local nursery or starting tomatoes from seed, there are a few basic steps to follow to ensure that you harvest an abundant crop at the end of the growing season. There are many different varieties of tomatoes to choose from, depending on whether you will be cooking, canning, slicing, or eating miniature or grape-like varieties right off the vine. Sweet 100's are very abundant, and are good for salads as well as eating fresh from the garden. Roma tomatoes are good for making salsa, because the peels are not as tough as others so you don't need to peel the skins off. Romas are also known as the classic paste and sauce tomato. There are Early Girls, Early Boys, Big Boys, Big Mamas, Sweet Baby Girls, Beefsteaks, French Rose hybrids, Big Rainbow, specialty tomatoes and many more. So start by choosing the kind of tomato you would like to grow.

Planting Tomatoes from Seeds

Tomatoes grown from seed will require six to eight weeks before they can be planted in the garden. Purchase individual containers or flats, starter soil or mixture, and the seeds of your choice. Fill each container with soil, pressing it tightly to remove air and to avoid settling problems after watering. Typically, seed companies print instructions for planting right on the tomato seed package. Each variety is a little different so follow instructions carefully.
Prepare a label identifying the type of tomato and the date started. You can make your own from Popsicle sticks or purchase them at the store or garden center.
Insert your label in the pot and mist with water. Place containers in a sunny window and keep seeds moist by placing a plastic bag over them. Small greenhouse containers are also available at your local nursery. Watch for seeds to germinate and remove plastic when plants emerge. Wean out weaker looking seedlings to give strong ones more room to grow. Keep moist by misting or watering tomatoes when needed. When plants have a second pair of leaves it is time to transplant these seedlings to your garden or a large pot in which they are to grow.
It is a good idea to harden off or acclimatize a plant to outdoor conditions before planting by setting it out in direct sun during the day and bringing it in at night. After a few days, the tomato plant will have adapted to the new surroundings and can be transplanted in the desired location. Place plants directly outdoors after the threat of frost in a shady location, out of the wind and protected from heavy rains.

Purchasing Started Plants

If you prefer to purchase plants from your garden center or greenhouse, select dark green plants that are stocky in size and that do not have any fruit. The fruit will stunt the plant growth and the total yield will be reduced. Tomatoes are one of the few plants that will tolerate being planted deeper than they sit in the pot. So a taller plant can be placed a little deeper if preferred. As mentioned, harden off the plant before moving it to a final location.
Preparing Garden Soil For Tomato Plants The soil should be deep, loamy, and well-drained for the best harvest. Tomatoes prefer a slightly acidic soil with a pH of 6.2 to 6.8. The term pH balance refers to acidity or the alkalinity of your soil from a numerical scale of 1.0 to 14.0. The neutral point on the pH scale is 7.0. Higher than 6.5 indicates alkaline soil, lower than that indicates acidic soil.
Test kits are available at garden centers or through local horticultural organizations. To raise the soil's pH, work agriculture lime into the soil. Use sulfur to lower the pH of alkaline soil. Using fertilizers and compost amendments will also change the soil's pH over time. Adding decomposed organic compost will improve any soil structure. You can purchase or make your own compost. Once you have cultivated your garden area and prepared the soil, it is ready for the plantings.

Planting The Tomatoes

Inspect all of the transplants, looking for insects, wilting or blight. Plant only healthy plants. Tomatoes prefer full sun, so choose an area with at least six to eight hours of sun per day. Practice crop rotation in your vegetable gardening by planting tomatoes and other vegetables in a different spot every year. Tomatoes prefer to be planted by chives, parsley, marigolds, nasturtiums, garlic bulbs, and carrots. Avoid planting tomatoes by potatoes or members of the cabbage family.
For large healthy tomatoes, give them plenty of room to grow. Space plants twenty-four inches between rows and leave twenty-four inches between plants. With your shovel or spade, make holes slightly larger than the plants. Tap gently on the bottom of the individual container, loosening the soil and gently removing from the pot. Tomatoes are susceptible to cutworms, but placing a 3-4 inch nail next to each stem before planting or wrapping strips of newspaper around the bottom of the stems will help prevent these pests. A paper cup surrounding the stem also works well.
Place tomato plant in hole and back fill with soil until it is well compacted. Place a rack or cage around each individual plant to help support future growth. Water around the base of the plant, avoiding the foliage. Do not over water or soak the seedlings as this can promote disease and rot.

Water early in the day to discourage blight.

Using a rake, spread organic mulch, such as weed-free straw, over plants at least two inches deep. These is an effective way to prevent weeds, preserve water and keep the soil warm, thus reducing the maintenance required for vegetable gardening. Fertilize the plants throughout the growing season with compost or organic matter. Water when needed and inspect leaves periodically for the signs of tomato blight and insects. If blight is discovered, remove any infected leaves and destroy them.

Treat plant with a fungicide.

Be sure to remove all debris from your garden in the fall, as blight can survive on the dried tomatoes over the winter.
Most tomatoes take 100-days to bear fruit, so follow these easy directions and get ready to harvest the fruits of your labors and enjoy that first BLT of the season.

Items Needed For Growing Tomatoes:
- Tomato seeds or plants - Containers or flats - A small greenhouse kit or plastic bags - Starter soil or mixture - Marking pen - Popsicle sticks or labels - Rake - Spade and shovel - Water, sun, adequate soil and patience

About the author: Karen Gross is a professional gardener and design consultant. She writes for www.vegetable-gardening-4u.com, providing valuable tips and advice about s eed companies, greenhouse kits and other vegetable gardening topics.

Square Cast Iron Plant Trolley

Square Cast Iron Plant Trolley Square Cast Iron Plant Trolley

Picking a Healthy Plant

When it comes to getting started with your garden, you have two choices; planting seeds, or buying entire plants. Both have their own benefits. If you plant seeds and care for them every day, you will find it is a much more rewarding experience when you have a full, healthy plant.

However, this method is a lot more risky. I can't tell you how many seeds I've planted and never seen any trace of whatsoever.
If you choose to buy the plant from a nursery and install it in your garden, it reduces a lot of the work involved in making it healthy. However, I have found in the past that many incompetent nursery workers will absolutely ruin the future of the plant by putting certain chemicals or fertilizers in. I have adapted to this incompetence by learning to choose the healthiest plant of the bunch. Here I will discuss some of the techniques I use in my screening process for plants.

It may sound superficial, but the one thing you need to check for on your prospective plants is how nice they look. As far as plants go, you can truly judge a book by its cover. If a plant has been treated healthily and has no diseases or pests, you can almost always tell by how nice it looks. If a plant has grown up in improper soil, or has harmful bugs living in it, you can tell from the holey leaves and wilted stems.
If you're browsing the nursery shelves looking for your dream plant, you want to exclude anything that currently has flowers. Plants are less traumatized by the transplant if they do not currently have any flowers. It's best to find ones that just consist of buds. However if all you have to choose from are flowering plants, then you should do the unthinkable and sever all of them. It will be worth it for the future health of the plant. I've found that transplanting a plant while it is blooming results in having a dead plant ninety percent of the time.
Always check the roots before you plop down the money to purchase the plant. Of course if the roots are in absolutely terrible condition you will be able to tell by looking at the rest of the plant.

But if the roots are just slightly out of shape, then you probably won't be able to tell just by looking at it. Inspect the roots very closely for any signs of brownness, rottenness, or softness.

The roots should always be a firm, perfectly well formed infrastructure that holds all the soil together. One can easily tell if the roots are before or past their prime, depending on the root to soil ratio. If there are a ridiculous amount of roots with little soil, or a bunch of soil with few roots, you should not buy that plant.
If you find any abnormalities with the plant, whether it be the shape of the roots or any irregular features with the leaves, you should ask the nursery employees. While usually these things can be the sign of an unhealthy plant, occasionally there will be a logical explanation for it.

Always give the nursery a chance before writing them off as horrendous. After all, they are (usually) professionals who have been dealing with plants for years.
So if you decide to take the easy route and get a plant from a nursery, you just have to remember that the health of the plants has been left up to someone you don't know.

Usually they do a good job, but you should always check for yourself. Also take every precaution you can to avoid transplant shock in the plant (when it has trouble adjusting to its new location, and therefore has health problems in the future). Usually the process goes smoothly, but you can never be too sure.

About the Author
For more useful information about your garden visit us at Flowers Box

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Lawn Sweeper

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Picking a Healthy Plant

When it comes to getting started with your garden, you have two choices; planting seeds, or buying entire plants. Both have their own benefits. If you plant seeds and care for them every day, you will find it is a much more rewarding experience when you have a full, healthy plant.

However, this method is a lot more risky. I can't tell you how many seeds I've planted and never seen any trace of whatsoever.
If you choose to buy the plant from a nursery and install it in your garden, it reduces a lot of the work involved in making it healthy. However, I have found in the past that many incompetent nursery workers will absolutely ruin the future of the plant by putting certain chemicals or fertilizers in. I have adapted to this incompetence by learning to choose the healthiest plant of the bunch. Here I will discuss some of the techniques I use in my screening process for plants.

It may sound superficial, but the one thing you need to check for on your prospective plants is how nice they look. As far as plants go, you can truly judge a book by its cover. If a plant has been treated healthily and has no diseases or pests, you can almost always tell by how nice it looks. If a plant has grown up in improper soil, or has harmful bugs living in it, you can tell from the holey leaves and wilted stems.
If you're browsing the nursery shelves looking for your dream plant, you want to exclude anything that currently has flowers. Plants are less traumatized by the transplant if they do not currently have any flowers. It's best to find ones that just consist of buds. However if all you have to choose from are flowering plants, then you should do the unthinkable and sever all of them. It will be worth it for the future health of the plant. I've found that transplanting a plant while it is blooming results in having a dead plant ninety percent of the time.
Always check the roots before you plop down the money to purchase the plant. Of course if the roots are in absolutely terrible condition you will be able to tell by looking at the rest of the plant.

But if the roots are just slightly out of shape, then you probably won't be able to tell just by looking at it. Inspect the roots very closely for any signs of brownness, rottenness, or softness. The roots should always be a firm, perfectly well formed infrastructure that holds all the soil together. One can easily tell if the roots are before or past their prime, depending on the root to soil ratio. If there are a ridiculous amount of roots with little soil, or a bunch of soil with few roots, you should not buy that plant.
If you find any abnormalities with the plant, whether it be the shape of the roots or any irregular features with the leaves, you should ask the nursery employees. While usually these things can be the sign of an unhealthy plant, occasionally there will be a logical explanation for it. Always give the nursery a chance before writing them off as horrendous. After all, they are (usually) professionals who have been dealing with plants for years.
So if you decide to take the easy route and get a plant from a nursery, you just have to remember that the health of the plants has been left up to someone you don't know. Usually they do a good job, but you should always check for yourself. Also take every precaution you can to avoid transplant shock in the plant (when it has trouble adjusting to its new location, and therefore has health problems in the future). Usually the process goes smoothly, but you can never be too sure.

About the Author
For more useful information about your garden visit us at Flowers Box