Archive for March, 2008
Getting Some Fun through Backyard Landscaping
Backyard landscaping is an essential art as your backyard is a place where you can relax and which needs to remain safe and beautiful. One of the best landscaping ideas to try out includes designing the yard into a style of your own. You should think of the things which are essential to you and your family and you should make these things part of your landscaping ideas. People interested in fishing or outdoor sports may want to incorporate this into their design plan. A backyard should be something that you like and a place where your family feels free to relax.
Make it Fun
Backyard landscaping isn’t about dull ideas that no one finds attractive. When doing your landscaping you should try and make it as exciting for everyone as you can. You should allow yourself and your family room to play. You can do this with sandboxes, hammocks, and a back porch for entertaining guests and a number of other things.
Regardless of where you live, you’re likely to spend some amount of time in your backyard. Because of this reason you should endeavor to make it a place that you’d love to be in, you should have a number of things included in your backyard which other family members will love too. You should try and make it a place that will satisfy the interests of each family member.
Get everyone’s Input
The art of backyard landscaping doesn’t just stop with placing plants in the backyard. Backyard landscaping ideas includes asking other people in your family for help with their own input. By letting you know what they’d love to see in it, your whole family can help design your backyard. If you’d love their participation but fewer ideas, you can simply come up with some ideas of your own and ask them what they would love best.
People should always think in terms of what sort of backyard landscaping is perfect for their homes. Even smaller children can have their own say in this affair. A mosaic stepping-stone competition amongst family members can give you material for a unique walk way into your backyard. If you build a tree house you can also get your whole family more involved in outdoor affairs.
If everyone in the family is allowed to participate in your landscaping ideas, everyone tends to feel that they are playing a part. They are usually more likely to help with maintaining the backyard when you need some help as well.
Use the Internet
Searching from backyard landscaping ideas on the Internet, will give you and your family members some bright ideas so you can see what other people are doing all over the country. Just pick a list of ideas that everyone else is comfortable with and you can easily get started. Backyard landscaping is really fun and all you have to do to enjoy the whole process is to immerse yourself in it and look for help from the necessary reference sources when you feel stuck or in need of advice.
Plant Website recommends MiniGarden.com, SiteKing.NET, and Williger.com.
How to Take Care of Your Rose Plants
Though you might have heard it otherwise, but rose gardens are not just simple to start but simpler to maintain also. Strong and perennial, rose plants can survive with little human intervention and can thrive well in the wild. A good and healthy start is the primary step for keeping your rose garden safe from various dangers which bring damage to a rose garden.
The first step to start on the right foot is to choose only such types of roses which are suited to your climate zone and the specific soil type. While your local garden store will stock lots of varieties of roses during the planting season, you must carefully examine the plants before purchase. Any rot on the roots or dead canes signify that these are unhealthy plants or have been mishandled. These are not likely to survive and should be rejected.
New plants can only survive if they are planted on firm and well-prepared soil. Roses are no exception to this rule. A well prepared, conditioned and primed soil is critical for successful growth of the plant. This means that whatever hard works that you put in, before planting the plant, will pay in the long run, when you see healthy blooms blossoming in your rose garden. Start by digging the soil about a foot deep. In stead of destroying this soil, keep it for later use. Your next job is to add compost, peat moss or even cultured manure to this layer. Dig the second time, mixing the soil with these additives. Put this mixture inside the first foot of the soil and start planting. Remember the first enemy of a rose plant is inadequate conditioning of the soil.
Do you know what a rose plant goes through during winter? The regular cycle of freezing and thawing makes the underground roots shift which ultimately damages the root system and kills the plant. To prevent this from happening, use mulch for winter protection.
Incidentally, mulch is beneficial for the soil during summer too. It wards off weeds and retains the moisture level of the soil. Thus, mulch must be part of your regular plant care schedule just before the first bloom shows up. Strengthen the plant by putting several inches of soil and cover that soil with mulch to protect the root system during harsh winter months and you will be rewarded with healthy flowers which show up during early spring.
Wet plants and unkempt flower beds are thriving grounds for many fungal diseases like black spot and powdery mildew. To keep your plants healthy, regularly remove all fallen and dead leaves along with other garden debris from near the roots of the plants. This way you can water the plants directly and keep fungal infections away. Remember, watering should be done at the base of the plant and not the leaves, stems or flowers. This will ward off mold and rust, both of which are harmful for rose plants.
Your rose plants can also attract many types of garden insects including aphids, thrips, beetles and caterpillars who love to eat into the plants. Prevention from insect infestation can be done by spraying dormant season oil just before spring. If your garden is still infested with insects, they can be removed by a combination of using hand and treating with some mild insecticidal soap solution.
Rose plants can be kept free of disease, pests and hazardous weather conditions if you are a bit alert and take timely care of your garden.
Rose Maven recommends MiniGarden.com, PlantWebsite.com, and Williger.com.
Simply Plant Yourself a Container Garden.
Container gardening may sound harder than it is, but really it is very simple and relaxing. Any space you have can be used to create a garden for yourself. That is why container gardening works so well, it does not take a lot of space and people with very little can still create beautiful flowers and arrangements, while using very little room. The name explains what you are doing; you will be using pots or buckets to grow fruits, vegetables, and flowers.
A major benefit to containers gardening is that it uses very little space and less soil and water. It works very well when you are living in an apartment or condo and do not have a yard to grow plants in. There is also less growing time with container gardening and you do not have to know as much about gardening to do it, since it takes less time too.
There are a few basic ideas you need to know to begin your container garden. Once you learn these then creating beautiful arrangements with color and texture will become much easier and you can turn a plain balcony into an eye catching space.
1. Decide which types of plants you want to grow. Picking plants that are best suited for container gardening will make maintaining your garden a little easier. Also, experiment will color and size. But, always choose what you like best and what will grow best in the area you have chosen for them.
2. Now you know what size containers you will need. There are many containers and pots available to choose from. Picking the right size will depend on the type and size of plants you plan on growing. Also, picking containers that will bring out the color in the plants and add to the entire design of the space you have chosen. However, since you have already picked the plants you want to use, choosing which pots and containers will be very easy. Except for maybe all the choices you will have.
3. Lastly, get the soil that your plants grow best in. Picking a high grade composite soil will work best since you are container gardening and there will be very little natural soil you will be using. Make sure you read the plant instructions too, there will be recommendations for which type of soil to use, how much, and any other nutrients your plant will need. So, read through these instructions as well and pick the soils that are suggested.
You’re done! You can begin planting following the simple steps that will come with each plant you have chosen and the directions on the soil bags. Now it is just a matter or watering and maintaining the plants you are growing.
Having a container garden can be a full filling and fun experience, especially when living in an apartment or condo where you have limited space. The plants you have chosen can add color and dimension to any space. Or even living in a home with a smaller front or backyard can add beauty and texture to your home. Once you get good at it, it will be a simple and fun project to do regularly.
Darren Williger is an over-caffeinated, low carbohydrate eating, winemaking enthusiast who writes for PlantWebsite.com, MiniGarden.com, and ContainerGardening.Net.
From Seed to Flower: How to Grow a Rose Garden
Though most people start their rose garden by planting plants which are about two years old and nearly ready to bloom, it is also possible to start a rose garden right from the seed stage. This is a very popular method, especially when people want to cultivate heirloom or antique type of roses. You could even create your own hybrid variety of roses if you have the time and inclination to do so.
To start with the seeding you would require a soil which is made up of equal quantities of potting soil and vermiculite. Proper seedlings can show up only with plenty of sunlight and watering. When seedlings finally show up, transplant them on to a pot and let it remain there for a year before you transplant it outdoors. According to many experts, potted rose plants should be kept under controlled conditions for almost five years before you take them out in the open and plant it on the ground.
Before you finally plant the rose plant outdoors, it is imperative that the soil is primed and conditioned well. Begin by digging a hole on the ground which is about a foot deep and then add compost or peat moss immediately before planting. You could even add a layer of bone meal as you replace your first layer of soil and then start with your planting routine.
After you have readied the soil for planting your rose plant, follow the directions which are specific for each type of rose. Most however need a hole which is about 6 inches deeper and wider than the plant you are planning to insert underground. While you pick up the tiny plant from its wrapping or container, be very gentle as not to destroy the roots during transplantation. Insert the dug up soil gently around the plant and water thoroughly. During this growth phase, you could get very good results if you add a layer of mulch around the base of the plant, as this retains the soil moisture and prevents the root system from any damage.
Though your newly planted rose plant would not need any pruning till the next growing season, any existing rose plant would need it. The best time for pruning is during early spring when the buds are just beginning to swell.
During rose gardening, it is one of your primary responsibilities to keep your rose garden free of pests, fungus and rust. These, along with extreme weather conditions can spell doom for your rose garden. Pest control can be done by using recommended pesticides and you can keep your plants free of fungal and rust attack, if you water your plants carefully only at the roots and never on the stem, leaves or flowers. All weather related damages can be warded off if your use mulch both during summer as well as winter.
All it requires is a bit of patience and a little hard work and you can grow your rose garden from the seed level with ease. There is nothing more pleasurable to see the fruits of your labor in the form of healthy and beautiful blooms which cover your garden and heart.
Rose Maven recommends MiniGarden.com, PlantWebsite.com, and Williger.com.
The Essentials of Flower Gardening
The planting of flowers around your house and in your yard can make for a very colorful and beautiful display which enhances any dwelling. It isn’t simply about purchasing flowers and then putting them into the ground. It’s about having the right gardening plan and planting and paying the necessary attention to your flowers while you care for them. By doing this you will achieve some lovely landscaping without necessarily having to take ever spare moment that is available to you. However you should note that it will probably take you some amount of time.
Before you decide on the kind of flowers to plant, you have to decide on how long you want your plants and flowers to last. Annuals tend to bloom for the season and then die. Perennials bloom for a month or two but return year after year. They tend to cost more but they save you more in the long run. You must do some research and determine which environment your flowers grow in. You also need to know which flowers will withstand the weather conditions of your own climate.
After this you will need to examine the areas where you want to plant. Take some time and study the shade and sun that they receive; this will also determine which plants that you have to put where. Plants that need shade shouldn’t be put directly into the sunlight and plants that need lots of sunlight shouldn’t be placed in the shade. Slowly you see a garden design coming into place.
Your flower garden design should have you mixing different colored flowers. You should maintain certain colors in some sections or stick to one color. You should plant according to the bloom time of your flowers as well. Make sure that each bed has flowers that appear when others are fading, this helps to provide a scene that is continuously changing.
Now that your design is complete, its time to start the buying, seeds can either be bought from catalogs or bought in stores. These can also be planted directly into the ground of started in a pot in the house before transplanting. Before you start the planting it is important that you lay them out and ensure proper spacing between the plants in an arrangement that you like. You should then proceed with your master piece by planting.
As the season proceeds you should ensure that your flowers are watered thoroughly and that the soil remains moist. You should also make sure that faded blossoms are pinched back in order to encourage new growths. Also remember to get rid of any nasty weeds that show up to spoil the look. When the season is over after the first frost make sure that all the annual stems and roots and out. For perennials leave the roots but remove the stems. The soil should be cleaned up and mixed with some peat moss or compost in it. That way you replenish the nutrients that are being used by your flowerbed and they will be in perfect shape for the next year.
Darren Williger is an over-caffeinated, low carbohydrate eating, winemaking enthusiast who writes for PlantWebsite.com, MiniGarden.com, and ContainerGardening.Net.


