Sunday 7 March 2010
Spring Bulbs
Hi everyone just a quick update, with spring coming up get those spring bulbs planted!
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The green shoots of spring bulbs forcing their way through the garden soil in February are a welcome sight. For not only do they foretell the arrival of spring, but their colourful flowers brighten the garden and lift our spirits.
Experienced gardeners know how to create a succession of bulbs flowering from January right through to early summer by planting a variety of different types. It's not a complicated skill to learn and simply relies on considering the normal flowering time of the bulbs and arranging them as you plant them, to create bursts of colour throughout the season.
Among the earliest flowers to appear in early spring will be the snowdrops, followed on by dwarf irises, crocus, early daffodils and grape hyacinths, until the crescendo of spring is reached with wonderful, late flowering tulips dancing flamboyantly in the breeze.
Most spring flowering bulbs are planted in the autumn for the best results, but that doesn't mean that you have missed out. Take a trip to your local nursery and garden centre in spring, where you will find pots of flowering bulbs for sale. No doubt these will have been molly coddled a little to bring them into flower a little earlier than normal but that doesn't stop you buying a few to create instant colour and interest around the garden. Plant them into the bare patches of the garden or into pots and containers that may be moved around the garden for the best effect. A pot of spring bulbs viewed from the kitchen window may be enough to brighten the garden and gladden the heart. Add them to hanging baskets, window boxes and other pots and containers and place them where you can see them so you get the very best from every flower. Bring pots of scented flowers indoors for a day or so to enjoy their fragrance and then place them back out in the cool conditions outdoors. The great thing about spring flowering bulbs is that they live for many years. In the right conditions they will also multiply to increase the display. A small clump of crocus or snowdrops will quite quickly spread to become a generous display year after year.
To get the best from your bulbs, whether they are bought in pots this spring or existing in your garden borders, you need to help them to build up their food reserves. Healthy plump bulbs will create a much better flower display the following year.
When they have finished flowering cut off the dead flowers removing about 2.5cm of the flower stem. Don't cut off the leaves until they die back naturally, as they will continue to feed the bulb while they are still green. Instead feed the bulbs with a long-term fertiliser such as Growmore or a controlled release fertiliser, which will feed them over the coming months and replenish their energy to ensure that they flower again next season.
For a dwarf daffodil that will perform brilliantly in pots, containers, beds and borders look no further than 'Tete a Tete', you'll find pots and pots of them in the garden centre for planting now, or make a mental note to buy some bulbs to plant this autumn. It's got an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society, which means it is a great garden variety. Plant it into hanging baskets and bedding displays so that it brightens the early spring. The deep golden flowers, with two or three to a stem, are simply divine. For a scented narcissus consider Daffodil 'Minnow'. It bears two or three pale, lemon yellow flowers on each stem. The elegant, small flowers have a short trumpet and look fantastic with bluebells, forget-me-nots, Scilla or other blue spring flowers.
To know more about greenhouses and shoots of spring bulbs forcing their way through the garden soil in February visit http://www.growhouse-greenhouses.co.uk/greenhouses.php
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marks_Spencer
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The green shoots of spring bulbs forcing their way through the garden soil in February are a welcome sight. For not only do they foretell the arrival of spring, but their colourful flowers brighten the garden and lift our spirits.
Experienced gardeners know how to create a succession of bulbs flowering from January right through to early summer by planting a variety of different types. It's not a complicated skill to learn and simply relies on considering the normal flowering time of the bulbs and arranging them as you plant them, to create bursts of colour throughout the season.
Among the earliest flowers to appear in early spring will be the snowdrops, followed on by dwarf irises, crocus, early daffodils and grape hyacinths, until the crescendo of spring is reached with wonderful, late flowering tulips dancing flamboyantly in the breeze.
Most spring flowering bulbs are planted in the autumn for the best results, but that doesn't mean that you have missed out. Take a trip to your local nursery and garden centre in spring, where you will find pots of flowering bulbs for sale. No doubt these will have been molly coddled a little to bring them into flower a little earlier than normal but that doesn't stop you buying a few to create instant colour and interest around the garden. Plant them into the bare patches of the garden or into pots and containers that may be moved around the garden for the best effect. A pot of spring bulbs viewed from the kitchen window may be enough to brighten the garden and gladden the heart. Add them to hanging baskets, window boxes and other pots and containers and place them where you can see them so you get the very best from every flower. Bring pots of scented flowers indoors for a day or so to enjoy their fragrance and then place them back out in the cool conditions outdoors. The great thing about spring flowering bulbs is that they live for many years. In the right conditions they will also multiply to increase the display. A small clump of crocus or snowdrops will quite quickly spread to become a generous display year after year.
To get the best from your bulbs, whether they are bought in pots this spring or existing in your garden borders, you need to help them to build up their food reserves. Healthy plump bulbs will create a much better flower display the following year.
When they have finished flowering cut off the dead flowers removing about 2.5cm of the flower stem. Don't cut off the leaves until they die back naturally, as they will continue to feed the bulb while they are still green. Instead feed the bulbs with a long-term fertiliser such as Growmore or a controlled release fertiliser, which will feed them over the coming months and replenish their energy to ensure that they flower again next season.
For a dwarf daffodil that will perform brilliantly in pots, containers, beds and borders look no further than 'Tete a Tete', you'll find pots and pots of them in the garden centre for planting now, or make a mental note to buy some bulbs to plant this autumn. It's got an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society, which means it is a great garden variety. Plant it into hanging baskets and bedding displays so that it brightens the early spring. The deep golden flowers, with two or three to a stem, are simply divine. For a scented narcissus consider Daffodil 'Minnow'. It bears two or three pale, lemon yellow flowers on each stem. The elegant, small flowers have a short trumpet and look fantastic with bluebells, forget-me-nots, Scilla or other blue spring flowers.
To know more about greenhouses and shoots of spring bulbs forcing their way through the garden soil in February visit http://www.growhouse-greenhouses.co.uk/greenhouses.php
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marks_Spencer
Spring Garden Ideas
Spring is on its way and for many of us and that means getting our green thumbs ready for the spring season of gardening. This is the time of blooming and new growth so it's also a great time to begin treating your plants and flowers to help them get a healthy start in the new season. It can also be a good time to plant new flowers although it's important to check and be sure it is the right season for the ones you are choosing.
What are some great flowers and plants to consider for your spring garden?
1. Chrysanthemums
2. Pansies
3. Azaleas
4. Holly
5. Rhododendrons
What are some other ways you can care for your garden and lawn with spring approaching? Try Treetone of Planttone on your flowering trees, trees and similar plants. Now is the time to compost your perennial beds and maybe add some Flowertone to them as well. Do the weeding, raking, sowing and tilling if need be and get your spring garden looking fresh and rejuvenated.
You can also add compost to your annual beds and get started on weeding. Even if you use herbicide, you may still want to go through by hand, especially the first time and remove weeds as much as you can. Clean up the beds that may have gotten overgrown or in disarray during the cooler months.
You can also prevent bugs and pests from harming your garden by starting prevention early. You won't usually need to use harsh or strong pesticides if you tackle the problem early and keep it under control. Try horticultural soaps and oils first to see if these products help remove the pests without having to use harsher chemicals in your gardens.
This is also a fabulous time to spruce up your garden with great spring décor items such as:
o Garden signs
o Decorative fencing
o Garden statues
o Decorative rocks
o Birdhouses
o Patio and garden benches or furniture
o Ponds and fountains
What you do with your garden is totally up to you but spring is a great time to renovate and clean out the clutter- inside and out. Why not make your garden a great place to start?
Lisa Mason is a freelance writer with a specialty in Internet content and SEO articles. She has written thousands of articles, hundreds of ebooks and thousands of website pages and related content. She has also authored her own books and works as a consultant to other writers, Internet marketers and Internet businesses.
Lisa Mason, Professional wordsmith for hire: gamer, wife, mother, entrepreneur, published poet, co-owner of game guides company, public speaker and Internet business consultant. You can learn more or follow Lisa's blog from her website: http://www.freelancewriter4hire.com
You can see more articles like this at: http://giftsanddecor.wordpress.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lisa_A_Mason
What are some great flowers and plants to consider for your spring garden?
1. Chrysanthemums
2. Pansies
3. Azaleas
4. Holly
5. Rhododendrons
What are some other ways you can care for your garden and lawn with spring approaching? Try Treetone of Planttone on your flowering trees, trees and similar plants. Now is the time to compost your perennial beds and maybe add some Flowertone to them as well. Do the weeding, raking, sowing and tilling if need be and get your spring garden looking fresh and rejuvenated.
You can also add compost to your annual beds and get started on weeding. Even if you use herbicide, you may still want to go through by hand, especially the first time and remove weeds as much as you can. Clean up the beds that may have gotten overgrown or in disarray during the cooler months.
You can also prevent bugs and pests from harming your garden by starting prevention early. You won't usually need to use harsh or strong pesticides if you tackle the problem early and keep it under control. Try horticultural soaps and oils first to see if these products help remove the pests without having to use harsher chemicals in your gardens.
This is also a fabulous time to spruce up your garden with great spring décor items such as:
o Garden signs
o Decorative fencing
o Garden statues
o Decorative rocks
o Birdhouses
o Patio and garden benches or furniture
o Ponds and fountains
What you do with your garden is totally up to you but spring is a great time to renovate and clean out the clutter- inside and out. Why not make your garden a great place to start?
Lisa Mason is a freelance writer with a specialty in Internet content and SEO articles. She has written thousands of articles, hundreds of ebooks and thousands of website pages and related content. She has also authored her own books and works as a consultant to other writers, Internet marketers and Internet businesses.
Lisa Mason, Professional wordsmith for hire: gamer, wife, mother, entrepreneur, published poet, co-owner of game guides company, public speaker and Internet business consultant. You can learn more or follow Lisa's blog from her website: http://www.freelancewriter4hire.com
You can see more articles like this at: http://giftsanddecor.wordpress.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lisa_A_Mason
Sunday 28 February 2010
Vermicomposting - What is Vermicomposting?
One of the most amazing sources of compost is through a process called vermicomposting. Requiring the use of red wiggler earth worms called Eisenia foetida, these little creatures are able to produce some of the richest compost in the world by doing what they do best: eating and processing organic waste. Here are a few ways you can start your own very simple vermicomposting system.
Vermicomposting is actually a very easy thing to set up. It requires that you have a bin that you can place dirt, water, some newspaper, coffee grounds, organic waste such as fruits, and red worms. This can be stored outside if you live in a warm climate, or in your garage or barn if you live in a cooler area.
The first thing you should do is to bury your scraps of food in the soil. Not too deep. It should only be about 1/4 inch under the soil itself. Worms do not like light and will not go where the light is shining. Therefore, by placing it just beneath the surface level, you are allowing them to have access to the scraps that you have provided.
Once the processing has begun, it will end up as what is called worm castings. This is the result of their processing of the food. This can be used immediately in your garden to enrich the soil. If you're worm bin has a tap at the bottom, you can drain the water at the bottom of the bin and use what is called worm tea.
Worm tea is an organically rich liquid that results from compost the worms have been making with your food. One of the best ways to use this is as a topical spray. You simply put it into a spray bottle and mist your plants on their leaves. The nutrients in the worm tea will be absorbed into the leaves and into the plant causing exponential growth.
Remember that worms will multiply over time and so you need to continually increase the size of the area that they live in or harvest your worms from time to time to make sure the population does not grow too large. What can happen is they will run out of room to maneuver and be unable to process the food causing it to rot and decay which can kill your worm population.
Unlike regular composting, you are dealing with real creatures that need a stable habitat to live. By taking the time to create such an environment for them, they will reward you month after month with the best fertilizer you will ever use. Vermicomposting is a wonderful way to enrich your garden and also give back to the environment by recycling organic waste.
If you would like more information on vermicomposting, go to: http://www.vermicomposting.org.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Kohler
Vermicomposting is actually a very easy thing to set up. It requires that you have a bin that you can place dirt, water, some newspaper, coffee grounds, organic waste such as fruits, and red worms. This can be stored outside if you live in a warm climate, or in your garage or barn if you live in a cooler area.
The first thing you should do is to bury your scraps of food in the soil. Not too deep. It should only be about 1/4 inch under the soil itself. Worms do not like light and will not go where the light is shining. Therefore, by placing it just beneath the surface level, you are allowing them to have access to the scraps that you have provided.
Once the processing has begun, it will end up as what is called worm castings. This is the result of their processing of the food. This can be used immediately in your garden to enrich the soil. If you're worm bin has a tap at the bottom, you can drain the water at the bottom of the bin and use what is called worm tea.
Worm tea is an organically rich liquid that results from compost the worms have been making with your food. One of the best ways to use this is as a topical spray. You simply put it into a spray bottle and mist your plants on their leaves. The nutrients in the worm tea will be absorbed into the leaves and into the plant causing exponential growth.
Remember that worms will multiply over time and so you need to continually increase the size of the area that they live in or harvest your worms from time to time to make sure the population does not grow too large. What can happen is they will run out of room to maneuver and be unable to process the food causing it to rot and decay which can kill your worm population.
Unlike regular composting, you are dealing with real creatures that need a stable habitat to live. By taking the time to create such an environment for them, they will reward you month after month with the best fertilizer you will ever use. Vermicomposting is a wonderful way to enrich your garden and also give back to the environment by recycling organic waste.
If you would like more information on vermicomposting, go to: http://www.vermicomposting.org.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Kohler
Garden Slug Control: The Ultimate Guide To Get Rid Of Slugs
Garden Slug Control: The Ultimate Guide To Get Rid Of Slugs Contains Step-by-step Information For How To Get Rid Of Garden Slugs.
Click Here!
Click Here!
Survival Gardening Indoors During the Winter
If you have "wised-up" and have begun a survival garden in your back yard, then you are definitely on the right track. But, the only problem with gardening outdoors, is that most of us live in climates not suitable to year-round gardening. Solution: bring the garden inside when it gets cold outside!
What Can I Grow?
There are many fruits and vegetables that can be grown in your home with a descent amount of success during the Winter months. Here are a few that do very well indoors:
Peppers
Tomatoes
Carrots
Cabbage
Lettuce
Cucumbers
Herbs
Cantaloupe
Pineapple
Blueberries
Raspberries
Depending on how much space you have and have much time you have to devote to tending them, all of the above listed fruits and vegetables, and many more, can be grown successfully indoors. Each specific plant require its own specific care directions, but following you will find general "how to" instructions on where to get started.
General Steps for Growing Indoors During Winterr:
Use porous, non-glazed pots for planting. Match the pot size to the expected size of the full grown plant. Make sure the pot has an opening at the bottom for proper water drainage.
Water pretty frequently. Because our homes are heated during the Winter, the air can be dry, causes water to evaporate quicker. Water your plants on a regular, steady basis.
Because the plants are potted, their roots cannot reach for nutrients--they hit a wall! So, it is important to fertilize your plants on a regular basis. Because the plants are contained, it is recommended to use half the concentration you would use outdoors. A fertilizer I would Highly suggest for indoor container gardening is Protogrow, http://www.growlikecrazy.com/
Re-pot when needed. If you find that your plant is becoming too big for its container, it is time to transplant it to a new home. Use the original soil and new, nutrient rich soil. Re-potting can be traumatic to any plant, so be careful and patient.
Be sure to provide enough sunlight for your plant. Place them so that they can get at least 4-5 hours of sun a day (this will vary per plant), and it applicable, use fluorescent light to supplement the sunlight.
As stated, disaster can strike at any time, and it is important to be prepared. The more you know about survival gardening in any conditions NOW, they better off you will be LATER!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jerry_Greenfield
What Can I Grow?
There are many fruits and vegetables that can be grown in your home with a descent amount of success during the Winter months. Here are a few that do very well indoors:
Peppers
Tomatoes
Carrots
Cabbage
Lettuce
Cucumbers
Herbs
Cantaloupe
Pineapple
Blueberries
Raspberries
Depending on how much space you have and have much time you have to devote to tending them, all of the above listed fruits and vegetables, and many more, can be grown successfully indoors. Each specific plant require its own specific care directions, but following you will find general "how to" instructions on where to get started.
General Steps for Growing Indoors During Winterr:
Use porous, non-glazed pots for planting. Match the pot size to the expected size of the full grown plant. Make sure the pot has an opening at the bottom for proper water drainage.
Water pretty frequently. Because our homes are heated during the Winter, the air can be dry, causes water to evaporate quicker. Water your plants on a regular, steady basis.
Because the plants are potted, their roots cannot reach for nutrients--they hit a wall! So, it is important to fertilize your plants on a regular basis. Because the plants are contained, it is recommended to use half the concentration you would use outdoors. A fertilizer I would Highly suggest for indoor container gardening is Protogrow, http://www.growlikecrazy.com/
Re-pot when needed. If you find that your plant is becoming too big for its container, it is time to transplant it to a new home. Use the original soil and new, nutrient rich soil. Re-potting can be traumatic to any plant, so be careful and patient.
Be sure to provide enough sunlight for your plant. Place them so that they can get at least 4-5 hours of sun a day (this will vary per plant), and it applicable, use fluorescent light to supplement the sunlight.
As stated, disaster can strike at any time, and it is important to be prepared. The more you know about survival gardening in any conditions NOW, they better off you will be LATER!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jerry_Greenfield
How To Garden In A Dry Climate
The Private Home Gardener, Primarily In A Dry Climate, Hungry For Hands-on Information From A Seasoned Professional Of Nearly 25 Years Experience, Gardening In Israel A Hot And Thirsty Country.
Click Here!
Click Here!
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