Preventing Gardening Injuries--Dig In!

Everybody likes to make their yard look beautiful. Taking just a
few steps to prevent gardening injuries after our winter
hibernation will make this even more enjoyable. Your goal this
year is to have beautiful gardens and grass like carpet, so
don't waste any time getting started.

Believe it or not you can burn an average of 300 calories per
hour, and gardening can be an effective form of resistance
training.

Think about every time you dig in and start pulling weeds. You
are working your upper body. When you use rotating equipment
like the "claw", you again get a major upper body workout. And
what about when you rake the leaves and use the hoe? You are
using your biceps, triceps, shoulders, and back muscles. When
you squat down and dig, you can target your butt (gluteus
maximus) and your legs (quads). You can even get your heart rate
up and get a cardio workout in while mowing the lawn. Before you
dig in and start your gardening, follow these simple tips to
reduce aches and pains commonly reported after gardening.

Continue To Read The Full Article Here : Preventing Gardening Injuries--Dig In!

Bonsai Tips

In my view bonsai gardening is the one hobby you can take up and
create something which can only be described as a stunning art
form, even if, like me, you were born with as much natural flair
for painting and drawing as Andre Agassi has for understanding
retirement speeches.

There is now doubt that a well kept Bonsai tree is a thing of
beauty; a miniature version of a full size tree that replicates
the full sized tree but is small enough to fit in a pot on a
table.

Genuine living art at its best.

So, how easy is it to grow one of these magnificent, miniature
plants? There is no doubt that it takes some skill, patience and
a little luck but it is not in fact as difficult as it seems.
Let's find out a little more about the fascinating hobby of
bonsai gardening.


Continue To Read The Full Article Here : Bonsai Tips

How to Prune and Grow Bonsai Trees

Trees are very refreshing to look at. That is why going outdoors
and enjoying the pretty sight of trees around surely would be a
perfect unwinding activity. But if you are living in the urban
jungle, looking at trees would be a luxury. But did you know
that you could actually grow trees at the comfort of your own
home or inside your office? You could take care and grow bonsai
trees so you could have trees right inside your comfortable room.

Growing bonsai is a very popular hobby nowadays. When you grow
bonsai trees, they are technically trees because all the
attributes of a real tree is present. However, a bonsai does not
grow sturdy and tall as any other tree. At most, if you grow
bonsai trees, they could grow about two feet and at the very
least, could be just as short as two inches.

If you grow bonsai trees, no matter the height and width, bonsai
is still a tree. What is more interesting about a bonsai is that
even if it does not grow very tall, it could develop and look
exactly like a normal but miniature tree.

Continue To Read The Full Article Here : How to Prune and Grow Bonsai Trees

What Is Hydroponics And Hydroponic Systems?

Hydroponics is crop production with mineral nutrient solutions
instead of soil containing silt and clay. Terrestrial plants may
be grown with their roots in the mineral nutrient solution only
or in an inert medium, such as perlite, gravel or rockwool. A
variety of techniques exist.

Perlite is a volcanic rock that has been superheated into very
lightweight expanded glass pebbles. It is used loose or in
plastic sleeves immersed in the water. It is also used in
potting soil mixes to decrease soil density. Perlite has similar
properties and uses to vermiculite but generally holds more air
and less water. If not contained, it can float if flood and
drain feeding is used.

Like perlite, vermiculite is another mineral that has been
superheated until it has expanded into light pebbles.
Vermiculite holds more water than perlite and has a natural
"wicking" property that can draw water and nutrients in a
passive hydroponic system. If too much water and not enough air
surrounds the plants roots, it's possible to gradually lower the
medium's water-retention capability by mixing in increasing
quantities of perlite.

Continue To Read The Full Article Here : What Is Hydroponics And Hydroponic Systems?

Container Gardening Ideas For Pots And Planting Herbs

For container gardening ideas, scan the internet, the library or
a bookstore. The challenge is to come up with a lovely container
garden plan. There are a widespread collection of containers
available for your container garden. These range in size from
small-scale house-plant pots to sizeable boxes and planters.
Equally varied are the materials from which they are made. These
include wood, glass, clay, aluminum, bamboo, straw, plastic,
fiberglass, terra cotta, tin, cast iron, zinc, copper, and
brass, each with select advantages and disadvantages. What you
choose will depend on availability, price, background, and
attraction not to mention the characteristics of the gardening
pots.

Here are some container gardening ideas. In addition to
run-of-the-mill circular pots and tubs, there are modern and
ultra-modern forms such as square, rectangular, triangular,
hexagonal, and octagonal. Also eligible are old iron kitchen
pots, kettles, pails, jugs, casks, vases, crocks, jam tubs,
barrels and nail kegs, Japanese fish tubs, aged sinks, bathtubs,
bamboo soy tubs. There are novelty containers such as driftwood,
wheelbarrows, donkey carts, spinning wheels and boxes attached
to a roadside mail container. There are also bird cages,
decorative well heads, animal figures, and Strawberry jars.
Woven baskets may be used to conceal unattractive containers.
Even tar paper pots, handled by garden centers and florists are
worthy if painted or veiled to upgrade their exterior. Any of
these can be used in your container gardening ideas.

Continue To Read The Full Article Here : Container Gardening Ideas For Pots And Planting Herbs

Some Organic Gardening Tips

Most synthetic fertilizers contain components and chemicals
which can be harmful to living organisms, and therefore organic
gardening usually is a wiser option. If you wish to apply
organic gardening techniques, you should start by avoiding all
synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, and use natural options
instead.

Once you have decided where you will plant, you should apply
natural compost and rock materials to it. If you have flower
beds, you should add about 3" of organic material to them; this
will add enough nutrients and humus as well as help conserving
water.

If you have acid-loving plants, a good idea is to place a layer
of pine needles over their bed every fall, since these needles
have a nourishing acid which will help the plants growing strong
and healthy. Try to avoid using any pesticide by making sure of
adding enough organic soil, since this component strengthens the
immune system of the plants and helps them growing strong.

Continue To Read The Full Article Here : Some Organic Gardening Tips

Jumpstart The Spring Garden - Gardening Tips For March & April

Snowdrops stand guard over tiny daffodil buds. Daylight is
lingering a bit longer. The snow is receding and the robins are
returning. The big thaw has begun. There's no denying the signs.
Spring is right around the corner.

If you're like me, you can't wait to get your hands into the
soil. While you're holding out for higher temperatures, there's
plenty you can do today to jumpstart the spring gardening
season.

Sow Seeds Indoors

Take a trip to your local nursery or home store and buy seeds to
start indoors. In March I like to start annual flowers for my
pots and containers. Currently, I have Coleus, Zinnias,
Impatiens, Petunias and Marigolds germinating. Follow the seed
packet instructions and you'll get excellent results. Some
plants will take longer than others to bloom or bear fruit, so
plan accordingly. This is also a great time for starting
culinary herbs and vegetables. If you're looking for something
new this year, try moonflower vine or cathedral bells to climb
your fence or trellis. Both can be started from seed. If you
have children, get them involved. Many children have a natural
affinity for gardening. It's a great quality to encourage and
nurture in them.

Dust Off The Birdhouses

I put my birdhouses out in early March. Small birds like
chickadees will be actively searching for appropriate homes to
raise their families. Mine were up for less than 24 hours before
the home tours began.

Continue To Read The Full Article Here : Jumpstart The Spring Garden - Gardening Tips For March & April

Overlooked Gardening Tips

Garden advice is not that hard to come by. In fact, you can get
gardening advice from another gardener, in a gardening
catalogue, gardening books, gardening magazines, and even on the
Internet. Although you will have variations with every plant,
there is some gardening advice that is universal and that goes
for any plant.

For example, the gardening advice given for planting is pretty
much uniform. You must place plants where they will have room to
grow so they don't overcrowd each other. Good air flow is a
plus, and plants must be in a position where they will receive
adequate amounts of sunlight. Advice will always tell you to add
some type of nutrients to the soil to lead to better plant
growth, such as mulch or compost.

Gardening advice on watering plants is a little more varied,
because every type of plant needs different amounts of water.
For example, you wouldn't want to water a cactus near as much as
you water a tomato plant. How much you water will obviously also
depend on where you live, the climate, and how much rain your
area receives.

Gardening advice from nearly every source will tell you that
your plants not only need fertilize when you first plant them,
they will also needed to be fertilized throughout their growing
season. What type of fertilize used will depend on the soil
content and pH balance, but fertilize will definitely be needed
on most all plants. Compost can be used instead and it is easy
to find advice on how to make a compost pile as well as when
fertilize and compost needs to be used.

Continue To Read The Full Article Here : Overlooked Gardening Tips

Organic Vegetable Gardening For Beginners

To be successful at organic vegetable gardening you must draw up
detailed plans. The soil is your first consideration; how to
make it rich and fertile, and how to prepare it so harmful pests
won't attack your vegetable garden. The two ways that organic
vegetable gardening differs from conventional gardens is the
usage of fertilizer and how to keep pests under control.
Phosphorous, nitrogen and potassium are the three components
essential to your organic garden.

For lush, green foliage you must have nitrogen. For strong roots
and stems phosphorus is needed. And for the important protection
from disease and brief cold snaps, potassium is a must. Let's
call them the big three. The big three are available in
commercial fertilizers however they are synthetic. In organic
vegetable gardening the big three are added in a much different
way.

The best way of enriching your soil is by compost. Dig some pits
in your back yard to start your compost from kitchen refuse. Use
things like pine needles, corn stalks, leaves, carrot tops,
fruits or vegetables that have spoiled, manure, egg shells and
coffee grinds. Some organic gardeners use weeds in their compost
but I do not recommend this for obvious reasons. As the compost
materials decompose they release bacteria and fungi into the
soil that you are preparing. The bacteria and fungi convert
nutrients like nitrogen to ammonia and nitrates that will be
usable for your vegetables.

Continue To Read The Full Article Here : Organic Vegetable Gardening For Beginners