We all know that we should eat more fruits and vegetables for our health. More good news … you can really save a lot of money if you grow it yourself!

How to Save Money by Growing More of Your Own Food
Grow highly productive vegetables – lots of yield for the space allocated - that you enjoy eating and that you can harvest from spring through fall.

Since you’re limited to the surface area that you have on the ground, “go vertical” to get the most production from the space that you have.

Waste nothing. Eat it, share it with someone in the community, or compost it.

Money-saving Vegetables

Pole beans – they’re delicious, good for you, can be harvested over a long period of time, and the seeds are easy to plant. A single 20 foot row of pole beans on a homemade twine trellis will provide dozens of fresh servings and some extra beans to freeze for later.

Growing beans on a trellis also makes them easier to pick than bush beans … there’s little bending or stooping required.

Greens packed with Nutrients – spinach, Swiss chard, and mesclun mixes are more interesting and more nutritious than lettuce. Bright lights Swiss chard is also extremely attractive in the garden.

Tomatoes – are America’s #1 home garden vegetable … and for good reasons. Entire books have been dedicated to the tomato! There are many gardening benefits to growing tomatoes – they’re good for you, they’re tasty, they add delightful color to the garden, and the dollar value of the yield can be very significant.


Peas are another high-yield crop. They’re not as easy, and not quite as productive as pole beans, but, if you have the space, Sugar Snap or Sugar Ann peas are wonderful because you can eat the entire pod.

Leaf lettuce is extremely easy to grow from seed and will yield plenty of produce over a long period of time. Multiple plantings will extend your harvest. You can save a lot of money by growing your own.

Less Obvious Money-Saving Gardening Ideas

Composting – making your own compost is, by far, the best long-term investment you can make for your garden. There’s just nothing better than natural compost for your garden’s soil. It will help your plants defend themselves from diseases, too!

Grow Your Own Tomato Plants from Seeds - it’s fun and it’s easier than you might think. All you need is a container (egg carton, yogurt cups, etc), a little soil, and a sunny windowsill.


An Apple a Day – well, not immediately. How about planting an apple tree? Apple trees are great dual purpose trees – obviously they provide good fruit; but, they’re also an attractive shade tree.

Garden Grown Gifts – home grown vegetables and flowers make wonderful hostess gifts. All you need is a little basket or vase, and you can create a gift that is inexpensive and attractive at the same time.

How to Deal With Pests in Your Organic Garden

Author: Janet Ashby

Instead of automatically reaching for chemical pesticides when you see evidence of pests in your garden and on your plants think organic! Chemical pesticides will kill all the insects in your garden, even the beneficial ones and will contaminate the ground water. Find other ways to prevent pests from getting out of hand and reducing their number if they do.



Why should you use organic methods to combat pests rather than easily available pesticides? These chemical pesticides have been linked to many health problems and diseases including birth defects, cancer, infertility and many more. One of the problems is that pesticides sold for use at home are not tested as thoroughly as those used by commercial food growers as this is not a requirement of the law. As well as harming humans they also contaminate the soil in your garden and can be harmful to the beneficial visitors to your garden including honey bees, ladybugs, and butterflies which all eat pests.



One of the best defences against pests is to grow healthy plants in the first place. Weak and sickly plants are targeted by pests so make sure the conditions are right for the plants you are growing and keep them healthy by watering and fertilising adequately. Use natural composts and mulches rather than fertilisers high in nitrogen and do not let the plants sit in water or become too dry. Go into the garden regularly and remove weeds with a spade, hoe or your hands. Get close to the plants so you can spot any that are diseased early and can remove the infected parts before the disease spreads. Prune away the infected parts right to the main stem to prevent leaving a stub for the pests to re-enter.



Keep pests from having an easy time finding the plants they prefer by mixing different varieties of flowers, vegetables and other plants together. It is a good idea to plants some flowers among your vegetables to attract beneficial insects which feed on nectar. The larvae of insects such as lacewings and ladybugs feed on pests so it is a good idea to encourage them. Another good idea is to encourage wild birds that eat insects into your garden with a birdbath. A pond can lure toads and lizards to your garden where they may feast on any pests around.



If preventative measures have failed it is time to identify the pest and choose the best natural method to eradicate it. Find out which methods is best and use pepper sprays, soap sprays or Bacillus thuringiensis, which is a bacteria that can deal with leaf eaters such as caterpillars by interfering with their digestion. If possible remove any weak plants as these are the ones that pests will target.



As you can see it is not necessary to resort to chemical means to deal with pests in the garden although it is a little more work! Aim for a healthy garden with visiting wild life that will be able to resist pests and deal with any outbreaks quickly with methods that are safe for your garden, wildlife and your family.

About the Author:
For more information on all aspects of gardening visit Lawns and Gardens or read Planting a Vegetable Garden

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/how-to-deal-with-pests-in-your-organic-garden-857362.html

So Many Gnomes So Little Time

Author: James1984 Thompson

A popular saying for garden gnome enthusiasts is that so many gnomes so little time. The phrase mainly refers to the large collection of garden gnomes available on the market today. The gnome statues that you may view on gift shops, garden accessory shops and designing outlets have a wide variety. You may find different types that would surely suit your preferences such as funny garden gnomes, collectible gnomes, vintage garden gnomes and even gnomes which represent your local sports or festivities.




So many gnomes so little time. A garden ornament collector can experience something like this when it comes to collecting every possible design of garden gnomes available on the market. There are several garden gnome designs that are related to fictional stories written by popular authors such as The Secret Book of Gnomes and The Gnomes. Most garden gnome manufacturers get some ideas from these fiction novels in order to get suitable designs for garden gnomes. Some notable designs for garden gnomes include those which are adopted from the storybooks such as Randell gnome, Morty gnome, George gnome, Mervin gnome and many more gnome characters from Rien Poortvliet's children's book.



There are several gnome designers that insert humor on the gnomes that they create. You may find some funny garden gnomes that stick their bare buttocks to the garden visitors. You may even find some which show their personal body parts as a part of the humor that the designer wants to implement. Some innovative garden gnome designs are incorporated with sensors for additional entertainment purposes. These garden gnomes automatically fart when a person passes near the statue. Some even have recorded speeches to delight the passersby. Thus when collecting garden gnomes you even want to say that there are so many gnomes so little time.



There are even more types of gnomes based on their postures. You may find some garden gnomes that look like they are resting on the shade of the trees. Some creative designs even resemble that they are working on the plants. Other postures of garden gnomes are based on the day to day activities such as mowing the lawn, harvesting fruits, hammering stones and even those which resemble traveling with a lantern on one hand. These types of garden gnomes create a livelier look on your garden. You may notice that so many gnomes so little time thus you may want to consider doing the collection as early as possible. You may want to have a unique theme for you to have a guide on which garden gnomes you are to collect.




As with those people who already collected several types of garden gnomes, they may still say the there are so many gnomes so little time. This is because there are also other types of garden gnomes which are based on their sizes. You may find large sized gnomes which may reach up to 3 feet in height. If you are into collecting miniature gnome models, there are 1 foot high garden gnomes available on the market today. These small types of garden gnomes are much suitable for collection purposes.

About the Author:
We have Antique Gnomes, Baseball Gnomes, Ceramic Gnomes and many more more gnomes available. For a deeper look into the history of garden gnomes please visit.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/so-many-gnomes-so-little-time-857372.html

How a Contemporary Garden Was Designed Around a Central Koi Pond and Lite Fountain

Author: Jeff Halper

A River Oaks couple contracted Exterior Worlds to design a contemporary garden behind the gym in their two-story home. The original garden was very traditional in both style and function, and was used exclusively as an area to plant foliage and various species of flowers. Its only ornamentation was a three-tiered fountain, which looked outdated and made noise throughout the night due to failing pumps. Our clients asked us to convert a portion of this space into something more functional, and to create a more contemporary garden design throughout the remainder of the property. They also requested we replace the fountain with a more contemporary water feature.




Because the garden had previously been designed in the shape of a near-perfect rectangle, we already had the basic geometry necessary for the development of a new, more contemporary style. We developed our landscaping plan by breaking this area up into proportional quadrilateral sections of varying size. Some of these would later be used as patio space, others as garden space, and the last and largest section would be converted into a far more sophisticated water feature and fountain.




We began the project by building a red brick patio over the first section just outside the window of the home gym. Rather than placing the bricks in a standard, linear fashion, we took a more eclectic approach. We laid the bricks in alternating diagonal rows that created a sense of immediate movement the moment you stepped onto the patio. This had the effect of drawing both the feet and the eyes toward the center of the property, and it also served to immediately establish the garden's new, contemporary design.




In the large central section of the property, we created a rectangular koi pond the size of a small swimming pool. We deliberately built it to be the central, dominating feature of the landscape that would anchor all other garden elements. We built a two-inch coping around the pond, stocked it with koi, and installed lighting in the fountain's corners at the end closest to the home. Our clients particularly liked this new water feature when it was finished. Neither of them were swimmers, but they had always enjoyed sitting by pools at the homes of friends. Now, they could sit by their own pond, and watch the koi fish swim around the lighted fountain.




To further develop the contemporary design of the garden, we added several more important landscaping features and physical structures. We built another patio, identical to the first, at the opposite end of the pond. This framed the water, bringing a sense of balance and refined containment to the landscape. We also built a sculpture garden near one side of the pond to add an artistic element to the water, masonry, and surrounding greenery. To do all this, of course, we had to significantly narrow the perimeters of the garden itself, so by the time we finished our construction, there was no room left to install a walkway. Working with what we had, as opposed to what we did not have, we built the walkway across the water. Large pedestals were placed in the pond, capped by large limestone pads that mimicked the effect of floating on water. These pads were large enough to support the weight of an adult, and provided both a means of transit across the pond, and varying points of observation from within the pond itself.




Contemporary garden designs like the one in this case study are typically a blend of geometry, natural features, and creative use of sculpture, masonry, or other man-made forms. The exact dimensions and layout of such a garden varies widely on a case-by-case basis. This is partly due to the fact that "contemporary" can refer to any number of progressive or eclectic concepts, rather than something definitive that can be identified as a specific artistic style or history period. Gardens designed in this manner often prove to be the most effective means of unifying a home with Nature itself, because forms that are both organic and inorganic are combined in new, innovative ways that blur the assumed boundaries between the natural and man-made, and create a new aesthetic based on natural tranquility combined with a passion for the eclectic and the progressive.

About the Author:
Jeff Halper is passionate for Landscaping and wants to share infomation about that passion. At Exterior Worlds you can read more about Contemporary Gardens or Landscape Design

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/how-a-contemporary-garden-was-designed-around-a-central-koi-pond-and-lite-fountain-807530.html

Pergola Plans - Building Garden Structures

Author: Dan Lazaj

Building your own pergola is a project many do-it-yourselfers can do themselves. This project can be built without plans. But to eliminate all the guess work, trying to design it yourself, you should look for step by step plans with illustrations, and a material list. There are many sites that offer free plans. If you can't find what you need with free ones, consider buying some, most are very affordable and they will eliminate a lot of work.




Plans will come with a material list, and this is a great way to estimate what the project will cost before you build. Of course, building it yourself will save you money, but is it possible to do it yourself? If you are capable of using a jigsaw, more than likely, yes. It is not a complicated structure. Square and rectangle designs are the easiest to build. This project can be done in one or two weekends. With the help of some friends this can be a fun weekend project.



Where do you begin? The first thing to do is to find out of any requirements by visiting or calling the building department. If digging will be involved, call the utility department to find out if there is any power, water, or electrical lines that might get damaged while digging. Once you have found the spot to build, measure and find the appropriate plans. Study the plans, and material list, make sure you understand the process of building it. Study the material list and all the cuts you will be making. Once you get familiar with the design, and the building steps, you are ready to begin.



If you feel this project is beyond your carpentry skills, consider hiring a contractor. Once you have the plans you like, and the material, you can show them to different contractors to get some bids for the project



Every city has different laws when building new structures. Make sure you check with your local building department before beginning any constructions. You might need a permit, you might not, check your zoning regulations for any requirements.



Do your research when choosing the lumber. Pressure treated wood is great to prevent rot and decay. Cedar and redwood is another good choice, it is more expensive, but it is nicer and it will last for many years.



If any digging is required, make sure to take caution with any water, telephone, or electrical lines that might be underground. Find out the locations of these lines to avoid any problems, or injury.



Save money by building it yourself. If you are thinking of building just a basic design, such as a square or rectangle shape, you should consider building it yourself. This design is very basic and simple to build. The best way to do this is getting some plans. You can search for free plans, or you can buy some.



If one of the main reasons to having a pergola is to entertain, make sure you build it big enough to accommodate people comfortably.



Adding a pergola will not only make a great focal point, it will add value to your property, making this project a great investment.

About the Author:
Building your own pergola can be done by most do-it-yourselfers. Before you begin take a look at my website for a list of free pergola plans and pergola designs www.MyBackyardPlans.com

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/pergola-plans-building-garden-structures-779372.html

Tips for Buying Sheds

Author: Jenny Austin

If you are frustrated with your garage being cluttered up with tools and gardening equipment you may well be considering purchasing a garden shed. It is surprising how widely the prices can vary and requires some thought and planning on your part. You might be in need of some outside workspace, for which a shed is an ideal solution and will allow you the space to become an enthusiastic tool collector.

If you are looking to buy a shed recognise the uses for the shed, if this is not thought through well you may well end up purchasing a shed that is far too small. For example if you forget that you need to store the families bicycles in the shed, these items take up quite a bit of storage room and you could end up with difficulties if you haven’t taken them into account. If you plan to work in your shed think about the sizes of work benches and other equipment you might use and remember to allow yourself room to work you don’t want to be sawing and banging your elbow! Most people store lawn mowers, hedge trimmers, basic gardening tools, garden furniture and children’s outdoor toys in their shed. Sometimes it is necessary to buy a shed to slot into a space; if this is the case it is important to allow enough spare room for any overhang from the roof. It is vital that measurements are correct otherwise the shed simply won’t fit (a expensive mistake), if the shed needs to slot into a specific space it will require good planning to ensure you can store as much as possible in the shed and still have access to everything.

Many people fail to realise how much room is needed in the shed doorway, for bulky items it may be worthwhile purchasing a shed with an extra-wide or double door which allows total flexibility. Remember to allow enough room in the shed height for you to stand up comfortably, especially if you will be working in the shed for long periods of time.

The two most common types of shed are apex roofed or pent style sheds, apex sheds are the most common choice due to their sturdy construction and attractive triangular sloping roof. Pent style sheds have a single sloping roof which is higher at the front than at the back to allow the rain to run off. This style of shed is ideal for those looking for extra head height and is ideally located against your house or a wall.

Think about where to position your shed, bear in mind that shade can be useful as sheds can get incredibly hot inside during the summer months. It may be important to have the shed situated close to your property, especially if you will be using power tool and need access to electricity. You might choose to have a separate power supply to your shed especially if you wish to work in the shed during the evenings; enquiries and plans for power should be made before purchasing your shed.

About the Author:

Jenny Austin is an expert in Sheds , for further information on how to choose your Wooden Shed , or which Garden Shed service to choose please visit beastsheds.co.uk.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/tips-for-buying-sheds-764096.html

Tallest Trees

Trees are in various shapes, sizes, and forms. There are some species of trees that can only grow as tall as a street lamp posts while others can grow as tall as the skyscrapers in Dubai or New York. That is why there are various records about the tallest trees that can be found in different parts of the world.

In order to include a particular tree in this record, the height of the tree must be measured. The past few decades some of the measurements were given much exaggeration that is why the previous world records are not too reliable. But thanks to the modern gadgets as well as the perseverance of the tree climbers, they found out that the previous measurements were more than 5 up to 15 percent higher than the real size of these tallest trees.

One of which is the Sequoia sempervirens better known as the Coast Redwood. Some people also call this tree as the California Redwood as well. It is part of the cypress family which can live for more than two thousand years. This is one of the tree species that is considered as the tallest in the world. The height of the tallest Sequoia sempervirens measured up to 379.1 feet or 115.5 meters. On the other hand, the diameter of the Coast Redwood's trunk measures up to 26 feet or 8 meters. You can see more of this neck-breaking tree at the Redwood National Park in California.

From the same family comes another one of the tallest trees in the world. The Sequoiadendron giganteum or simply called as the Giant sequoia is indeed a fascinating wonder of nature. Also found in California, the Giant sequoia can reach 311.4 feet or 94.9 meters. But this particular giant tree is not only seen in United States but in other regions as well such as Europe, Canada, New Zealand, as well as Australia.

Still in California, is the Picea sitchensis or the Sitka Spruce. You can find a lot of it at the Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park located at the state. It is also as tall as the Giant sequoia since it measures 317.3 feet or 96.7 meters high. This is considered as the tallest coniferous tree that has a trunk diameter of 5 to 7 meters.

But not all of the tallest trees in the world can be seen in California. There are also gigantic trees located in Oregon as well including the Pseudotsuga menziesii or what others call as the Coast Douglas-fir. Although it is not as tall as the Coast Redwood, the Coast Douglas-fir is considered as the second tallest tree in the conifer family. This tree can reach be as high as 326.1 feet or 99.4 meters.


Last on the list is at the other part of the globe ? in Australia. In this country, it is not only the kangaroos that are popular but also the tallest tree in the country named Eucalyptus regnans or the Australian Mountain-ash. This can grow as big as 326.8 feet or 99.6 meters.