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.

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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.


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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.

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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.

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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.

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Container Gardening- Tips on How To Choose Healthy Plants

One of the keys to a successful is the choice of healthy plants.
Healthy plants make for longer-lasting, lower-maintenance, and
more vibrant displays. Therefore, before you head off to your
local garden center, you need to know what types of plants
you're looking for, and you need to know how to distinguish
between the healthy and unhealthy plants. To follow are some
tips that can be followed on how to pick out healthy plants for
that perfect display.

1. GENERAL CONDITION OF PLANTS

Avoid plants that do not look healthy on first inspection. The
moss and weeds growing on the surface of the potting mis
indicate that the plant has been in its pot for too long. Spots
and speckles on the leaves may indicate damage from pests and
disease.

2. POT BOUND ROOTS

Ensure that the roots of the plant are not packed in a tight
mesh because buying it. Plants packed in a tight mesh will take
longer to establish itself in a container display. Check this by
lifting the plant out of the potted container.

Continue To Read The Full Article Here : Container Gardening- Tips on How To Choose Healthy Plants

Free Tips on Finding the Best Gardening Tools

Different kinds of gardens require different kinds of garden
tools. Hardware stores mostly cater for a wide range of tools,
but there are shops that specialize in the more expensive kind
of garden tool that shouts quality. Wherever you decide to shop,
here are a few pointers to advise you.

Do you have small garden or a large one? A small garden will not
require the same large equipment that would be of use in an
extensive one. A ride-on mower is unnecessary if you only have a
small strip of lawn. Another point to consider is who does most
of the gardening? Some tools are too heavy for use by women.

When you buy secateurs make sure the blade always stays sharp to
avoid damaging the plant. Look for models that have blades that
can be sharpened or replaced, models with tension control and
with sizes that best fit your hands. Secateurs usually cost
around $50 - $130.

Continue To Read The Full Article Here : Free Tips on Finding the Best Gardening Tools

Gardening Tips You Can Use

Bring up the topic of gardening in almost any social situation,
and you're bound to receive plenty of gardening advice. Everyone
from greenhorn to green thumb has plenty of gardening tips to
offer. Some homegrown ideas can produce bountiful results, so
ask around and see which ideas grow on you.

There are plenty of sources available when you're looking for
gardening tips. You can read gardening books, catalogues and
magazines. You can enquire at a garden center or check the
Internet. Of course, you can ask a more seasoned gardener for
his or her advice. Gardening methods, tricks and tips can vary
depending on the type of garden or variety of plant your
tending, but some gardening tips are universal and apply to any
type of plant.

Gardening tips for planting tend to by fairly universal. All
plants need room to grow, so space them so the roots can develop
and the plants won't overcrowd each other. It's important to
know the amount of sunlight required. Some plants, like hostas,
prefer a shady corner of the garden while others, like most
annual flowers and vegetables, thrive in open sunlight.
Ventilation is also important because like all living things,
plants need proper air circulation. Sources offering valuable
gardening tips will also tell you to add some type of nutrients
to the soil, such as mulch or compost, to help your plants grow
bigger and stronger. Every plant will benefit from these general
gardening tips.

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Getting the Best Price for your Home Includes Landscaping for Curb Appeal

If you own a home, then sooner or later you are going to be ready to sell that home. Maybe you've already sold a home or two. People tend to move more often than our parents did.

There are a lot of things that go into getting the best possible price for
your home, but the very first thing your home needs is curb appeal. When a prospective buyer, or a realtor for that matter, pulls up in front of your home, they immediately form an opinion about your house. Fair or not, that's what people do. You can have the most beautiful home in the city, but if prospective buyers don't get a super positive feeling about your house the minute they lay eyes on it, they are going to enter and view the rest of your house with a negative impression.

Fixing that problem is easy enough to do.

When people pull up in front of your house there are two things they see. A house, and the landscaping in front of that house. If the landscaping is unattractive, the house will appear to be unattractive. Landscaping for curb appeal does not cost a lot of money, it's simply a matter of making sure the landscaping is neat, with well defined edges, and colorful. But when landscaping for curb appeal, the most important thing you need to do is to raise the beds with topsoil. Of course you have to do this before you plant.

Plants do much better in raised beds, and the plants in the beds really
stand out. In order to raise the beds around your house you do not have to buy expensive stones and build retaining walls. Just establish the outline of the planting beds, cut an edge into the soil with a spade, and fill the planting beds with approximately ten inches of good rich topsoil. You'd be amazed at how much you can raise a planting bed without any type of retention.

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How To Grow Tomatoes In Your Vegetable Garden

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.

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Spring Planting Tips

Spring means that the garden centers are packed with people, and car trunks are packed with plants. Everybody has dirt on their knees, dirt under their nails, and are excited about gardening. To make certain that this excitement yields positive results, let's discuss the basics in this article of spring planting tips.

Installing new plants and having them grow successfully is not difficult, nor is it as complicated as some would have you think. Is it as easy as just digging a hole and setting the plant in? Yes, it certainly can be. I won't get into bed preparation, as I have covered that in other articles that are available at http://www.freeplants.com

Let's start with B&B plants. B&B is short for balled in burlap. Closely examine the ball on the plant that you have purchased. Did the diggers wrap twine around the ball to hold the plant secure? If they did, you should at least cut the twine and lay it in the bottom of the hole, or remove it completely. Pay close attention around the stem of the plant where it emerges from the root ball, as diggers often wrap the twine around the stem several times as they tie the ball. This is extremely important because if the string is nylon, it will not rot and will girdle and kill the plant two or three years from now.

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Container Gardening

Container gardens can create a natural sanctuary in a busy city street, along rooftops or on balconies. You can easily accentuate the welcoming look of a deck or patio with colorful pots of annuals, or fill your window boxes with beautiful shrub roses or any number of small perennials. Whether you arrange your pots in a group for a massed effect or highlight a smaller space with a single specimen, you'll be delighted with this simple way to create a garden.

Container gardening enables you to easily vary your color scheme, and as each plant finishes flowering, it can be replaced with another. Whether you choose to harmonize or contrast your colors, make sure there is variety in the height of each plant. Think also of the shape and texture of the leaves. Tall strap-like leaves will give a good vertical background to low-growing, wide-leafed plants. Choose plants with a long flowering season, or have others of a different type ready to replace them as they finish blooming.

Experiment with creative containers. You might have an old porcelain bowl or copper urn you can use, or perhaps you'd rather make something really modern with timber or tiles. If you decide to buy your containers ready-made, terracotta pots look wonderful, but tend to absorb water. You don't want your plants to dry out, so paint the interior of these pots with a special sealer available from hardware stores.

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Plus Points For Organic Gardening

Organic gardening is the way of growing vegetables and fruits
with the use of things only found in nature. Why would one want
to indulge in organic gardening?

1.One can easily make compost from garden and kitchen waste.
Though this is a bit more time-consuming than buying prepared
chemical pesticides and fertilizers, it certainly helps to put
garbage to good use and so saves the environment.

2. Organic farming does not use chemicals that may have an
adverse affect on your health. This is especially important when
growing vegetables. Chemical companies tell us that the
chemicals we use are safe if used according to direction, but
research shows that even tiny amounts of poisons absorbed
through the skin can cause such things as cancer, especially in
children.

On the average, a child ingests four to five times more
cancer-causing pesticides from foods than an adult. This can
lead to various diseases later on in the child's life. With
organic gardening, these incidents are lessened.

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Caring for and Planting a Balled in Burlap

Tis the season when lots of people drag a real tree into their house and decorate it. Some people buy live trees that are balled in burlap instead of a cut tree. A live tree is a great idea, but many people make serious mistakes when it comes to handling a live tree, and they end up losing their money. The information in this article also pertains to any live tree you are planting, be it now during the winter, or during the summer.

1. Before you even take the tree in the house, dig a hole for the tree where you expect to plant it after the holidays. Put the soil in a wheelbarrow and park it in the garage. You'll need loose soil to backfill the hole, and the ground might be frozen after the holidays.

2. Keep your live tree in the house for as short a time as is possible.

3. Keep the ball plenty moist while in the house, but not in a tub full of water. You don't want the ball to dry out completely, but by the same token it shouldn't be soggy all the time either. Just moist. You can wet it thoroughly, but then don't water again until the water is almost gone.

4. After Christmas move the tree outdoors as soon as possible and plant it immediately. If you were not able to dig the hole earlier, the ground is frozen, and the tree can not be planted, leave it outside and pack bags of leaves or bales of straw around the ball. Find a way to heel it in in such a way that the amount of sun and wind the root ball receives is minimal.

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Summer Gardening Tips

Don't be afraid to trim those flowering shrubs and trees that need it. Failure to prune is probably the biggest gardening mistake a person can make. I spent 20 years landscaping homes and businesses, and I watched people make the investment in my services, then they failed to prune when the plants needed it, and before you know it their landscape looks terrible.

If you make a mistake pruning, don't worry about it. It's like a bad haircut, it will grow out. Of course use common sense and read the previous articles that I've written on pruning.

Along with summer time comes high humidity. High humidity can cause a lot of problems with the plants in your garden and around your house. One of the simple things you can do is don't water just before dark. Make sure your plants are nice and dry when you tuck them in for the night and you can cut down of the chance fungus being a problem.

One of the more common fungi that I get asked about a lot is powdery mildew. This appears as a white film on the leaves of ornamental plants. Dogwoods and Purple Sandcherry are often the victim of powdery mildew. Powdery mildew isn't extremely harmful to the plants, it's just that the foliage is damaged, and little growing takes place once it sets in. Your local garden center will have a general fungicide you can spray if you'd like to try and control it. Usually once the plant defoliates in the fall the plant is back to normal.

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When Gardening What Are The Right Tools That Anybody Will Need

For different kinds of gardens you will need different kinds of tools. Most hardware and DIY stores now have a wide range of tools available in stock, but if you want there are shops that specialize in the more expensive ranges that shout quality to you. But wherever you decide to purchase your tools from here a few points to help you make an informed decision.

Firstly you need to look at the size of your garden, is it small or is it large? A small garden does not require the same large equipment that would be used in a bigger one. Why bother purchasing a ride-on lawn mower if you only have a small lawn. Also you need to look at who in your household does most of the gardening. If you say it is your wife that spends a vast amount of time gardening then you need to look for tools that will suit her, there are some out there that are too heavy for women to use.

You are looking to purchase a pair of secateurs and you should always ensure that the blade is kept sharp to avoid causing undue damage to your plants. If you can look for a pair where the blades can either be sharpened or they can be replaced, as well as a pair that have a tension control system and a pair that best fits your hand size. Normally a good quality pair of secateurs can cost from around $50 to £130.

If you have a hedge or considering growing one (to provide that all important privacy that you crave) then you need to look at purchasing a good quality hedge trimmer or a good quality pair of shears. You may find that some hedge trimmers have a curved blade which stops branches from sliding out when cut, and as with secateurs the shears you decide to purchase need to be suitable for the blades to be sharpened or replaced.

Essential items you should have in your gardening tool kit are a fork, shovel, rake, chipping hoe and a pruning saw (not essential unless you have trees or large shrubs in your garden).

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