Tag Archives: Garden
Pruning your Garden
Pruning is one of those things that intimidates new gardeners — even some of us who’ve been doing it for a long time. True, you can do a lot of damage if you go about it in the wrong way. And if you want to take on complex pruning jobs — such as restoring fruit trees or shaping hedges — it makes sense to get a good book on the subject. I recommendThe Pruning Book by Lee Reich. But, with a few simple guidelines, even a beginner can prune ornamental shrubs successfully. In general, your goal with any ornamental shrub is to:
Remove dead or damaged wood
Open up the shrub for better air movement
Reduce height, if desired
Start in late winter, before the leaves come out. It’s much easier to see what you’re working with. Plus, you get to be in the garden — at last!
Make sure you have a set of quality tools. For most jobs, you can get by with a set of hand-held pruners and a pruning saw for bigger branches. For big jobs, it’s handy to have a loppers to take care of branches that are too thick for the hand pruners. Don’t skimp on quality. Good tools are more expensive, but they make the job easier and more efficient.
It’s important to identify each shrub before you prune. If you don’t know what it is, find a neighbor that can help you, or contact a Master Gardener via your county cooperative extension service.
What is your Garden Costing You?
It can be a scary exercise to sit down and work out exactly what is spent every year, on the average home gardens and lawns.
Try adding up the costs of plants, weedicides, pesticides, fungicides, fertilisers, petrol, mower and trimmer maintenance, weed eater cord, garden mulch and even water costs. Even the time and effort we go to in order to maintain a good-looking environment for our families and ourselves can amount to a substantial price.
So it is no wonder that many people are looking at ways to save money for more important causes.
One of the first things that you can do to save money, is to make use of as much of that organic matter that many people throw in the bin or wash down the sink.
For instance do you throw out your lawn clippings? Do you dutifully wrap up and throw out those old veggie scraps?
Are you one of those people who regularly get the trailer out and make trips down to the landfill with a pile of branch prunings?
]]>
What about those pile of leaves you threw in the bin last autumn?
Today?s Selection of Rattan Garden Furniture
The use of sleek, modern lines and sharp angles mixed with attractively crafted wicker usually creates the look of elegance and comfort. The finest selections of rattan garden furniture can add quite a bit of life to a no matter outside each piece is put.
Almost all individuals use rattan garden furniture to produce a warm and inviting atmosphere that can benefit you, your family, as well as your guests. This furniture, especially those that come with soft cushions are noted to be very comfortable.
Numerous people use this furniture to offer comfort for their guests. At the same time the most modern models are quite attractive. Consequently, many people (whether subconsciously or consciously) use this décor to “show off.”
Wicker garden furniture more often than not is used in outside areas. Still, certain up-to-date models of this type of furniture can easily be used to add life and flair to any interior space. For instance, sometimes people very thoughtfully set this type of furniture in a lounge area or sun room.
]]>
There is a rather lengthy assortment of models of wicker garden furniture that include items chairs, glass top coffee tables, and sofas. Although some of them may be of very low quality, some models are known to be far greater than others.
It is to your advantage if you take time to seek the ones that are created from the most durable materials obtainable. All the same, it helps if you seek the ones that are as lightweight as achievable so they are easier to move around and place in storage.
Herb Garden :: CHOOSING WHAT TYPE OF GARDEN IS RIGHT FOR YOU
Stop! Before you take the shovel, before you plant a single . Stop to consider why you want an herb garden. What are your intentions for planting these marvelous plants?
Are you planning on using them both fresh and dried for culinary purposes — to add to your meals to enhance the flavors? Are you planning on making flavored oils or vinegars to present to friends and family members as gifts (while keeping a couple stashed for yourself?)
Or have you discovered the many natural health benefits of herbs and would like to grow your own to brew teas, infusions, pastes to use to help your minor health conditions?
Oh, yes, it does matter! First, you may be planting totally different plants if your aim is to embolden your entrees than to empower your health.
]]>
Here are just a few of the different “classes” of herbs, each used for a different reason”
Culinary herbs — sometimes referred to as sweet herbs – are those plants, whether they be annual, biennial or perennial, that have tender roots or ripe seeds. They also possess an aromatic flavor (yes, they smell darned good!) and they have a great flavor.
Medicinal herbs are grown with the intent of eventual use to remedy specific health conditions, from serious heart related problems or the pain of arthritis to loss of energy or memory.
Ornamental herbs. Just as the name implies, these herbs are grown with the intent of pure enjoy. They’re cherished for their beauty.