Finding A Decent Greenhouse Heater
By Fergus | June 18, 2007
In order to grow plants in a successful manner a temperature that is right for the plants must be maintained throughout the life of them. Specific plants require different temperatures. There are three main types of greenhouse heaters to choose from that can maintain temperatures, especially during winter months.
The best source of artificial heat for the plants and the least harmful to people and the environment can be found through the use of greenhouse heaters that are fueled by electricity. Electric heaters can be the most efficient way of maintaining temperatures that are specific for the plants temperature needs. The heat given to the plants through these is controlled by a thermostat. By using a thermostat it makes sure that heat is not wasted even if the temperature outside the greenhouse changes. By using the electric types of greenhouse heaters fumes are not produced which can be harmful to the plants grown and the environment as well. Therefore by using eclectic heaters there is no need for ventilation of the greenhouse. The use of fans for electric greenhouse heaters spreads the heat around the greenhouse. One thing that must be followed is do not use an eclectic extension from a source such as a home or another outbuilding.
Gas heaters are another type you may consider. They are not as productive as electric heaters and there is the production of fumes, in the form of combustion that is released into the atmosphere. A couple of ways in which gas greenhouse heaters differ than electric ones are that the thermostat control is less precise and ventilation is needed in the greenhouse. Also because gas is used it must be monitored and put in a safe place.
A third type to consider which is much less popular than the others is a paraffin heater. One drawback of these greenhouse heaters is the constant maintenance that comes with trimming the wick and the need to refill them constantly. Ventilation is needed in paraffin heaters as they produce fumes and release water vapors into the greenhouse. One main advantage of paraffin greenhouse heaters is that frost damage to the pants is reduced for greenhouses that are smaller. They can also be used as backups to other types of greenhouse heaters. These heaters can be used if the electricity off or the gas is shut off for whatever reason. This can be important as if the main source of heat is not working it can cause damage to the plants and result in the loss of them.
If you are unsure about which type is right for you consider talking to a professional at a gardening store. They have all the knowledge that you will need to make an informed decision that will keep your greenhouse in bloom.
Tags: heating a greenhouse, greenhouse heater
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Finding Good Garden Stores
By Fergus | June 18, 2007
There are many different types of garden stores from the ones that specialize in certain aspects of gardening to the small corner garden store to the large nationwide chains. Whatever you are looking for in terms of gardening there is store to fill your needs.
Many garden stores are more of the nursery variety as they sell plants, flowers, trees, and soils. If you are looking to add these things to your garden then this is the place to go. If you do not have the best green thumb and want to plant something in which the process of growth has already begun then this type of garden store is the variety for you. The garden stores of this type also generally sell different kinds of mulch and soils which can enhance any garden.
In the larger nationwide chains of garden stores there is not as much live already grown garden additions but they do have everything, and more, when it comes to home gardening such as tools, seeds, pest killer, and plant food. This is a great place for someone who wants to start their project with the planting of flower or vegetable seeds.
If you are looking to manicure your garden or for general upkeep these are the types of garden stores that you’ll want to go to. An advantage to the larger stores, besides the large quantity of gardening items, are generally they have some employees which are specialists in gardening and any questions posed to them will probably be answered.
Along the lines of the large nationwide garden stores there are also large nationwide home improvement centers which have a garden section in them in which to fill your needs. Many times these stores also have a better selection of tools as well. They will not be a specialized garden store but they will carry gardening equipment.
The smaller variety local garden stores do not carry as much merchandise as the larger stores but the workers will generally be more knowledgeable and have more time to cater to your individual gardening needs.
A good way to pick out a gardening store that is reputable is go to the source and talk to any gardener. What garden stores do they go to purchase their products? By talking to a professional about where they purchase their supplies you can get a good idea which garden store has a solid reputation as the professionals generally use the best products on the market.
Garden stores can come in many varieties you just need to find the one that fits your personal gardening needs whether it is buying a packet of seeds, a hoe, or one-hundred pounds of choice gardening soil.
Tags: garden stores, reputable garden stores, nationwide garden stores
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Could You Use Some Garden Design Software?
By Fergus | June 13, 2007
How are those tomatoes looking this season? Are your green peppers and radishes up to par? When it comes to our personal gardens, we like to work with a little concept called perfection. We can’t help it. It’s just an innate quality we’ve all been afflicted with since the beginning of time. Okay, so maybe I just made that up. Anyway, the point is we love our gardens, and that’s why we prefer to go to great lengths to keep them looking wonderful and producing perfect vegetables. After all, that’s why we have them in the first place. We don’t want that nasty, pesticide-coated produce from the local grocery store. However, not all of us know the absolute best and most efficient way to start a garden. Keeping these small patches of dirt in order can be a tad more difficult than it sounds. Fortunately now days you don’t have to be a landscaping expert or work in a greenhouse in order to acquire an ideal garden of your own. All you need in a personal computer and some garden design software. Now, who’s got the hoe?
Have you ever come across the concept of garden design software? Okay, okay; this is probably a new one for most folks. So many of us learn proper gardening skills from our parents. These tricks of the trade are passed down from generation to generation. Your mother carefully showed you exactly how to plant those carrots and prune those tomato vines. It’s a rather particular process. I can remember the first time I worked in a garden. I have to admit that I wasn’t interested to say the least. And there certainly wasn’t any garden design software around to offer me a hand. My father simply passed me some vegetable packets with seeds in them and said, “Okay, plant em.” Yeah, sure; that was easy for him to say. Regardless, I did the best I could at the time. In the end, I did produce some rather fine peas and tomatoes if I do say so myself.
Are you having trouble getting started in your back yard? Have you tilled that section of land yet in order to start your fresh garden? It may be a wise plan to pick up some garden design software first and give it a shot. Plan your entire garden scheme on your laptop. This will make things much easier. When you step into that backyard, you’ll know exactly where to begin. Hop online now and check out a variety of garden design software products.
Tags: garden design computer program, garden landscaping software, garden design software
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What’s So Good About A Plastic Flower Pot?
By Fergus | June 13, 2007
When you’re getting ready for the next growing season, you probably have your peat pots and seedling trays at the ready. You may also have a stash of plastic flower pots to receive your transplants. This is the ho-hum use of the lowly plastic flower pot. Here, we’re going to take a look at some outside the box uses of the humble plastic flower pot, for use as a gift to a gardening friend or even just for you.
A plastic pot is less expensive than its’ terracotta counterpart. After all, the plastic pot doesn’t have the same charisma as the clay “real thing”. That doesn’t mean it can’t be dressed up to the nines, giving Miss Terracotta a run for her money!
Whereas terracotta flower pots have that “earthy” feel, lending the English gardener ambiance to a display of petunias, the plastic flower pot can hold its own in a variety of situations. All it needs is a little “lipstick” and you’ve got a terrific and artistic gift item.
Terracotta flower pots “breathe” through the pores of the clay, which means that water is lost through evaporation, thus requiring more frequent watering. On the other hand, a plastic flower pot tends to retain the water, because it’s non-porous. The problem is, the plastic flower pot lacks the aesthetic looks, yet is more efficient to the care of the plant you’re growing. So what can be done to dress up the cold plastic look?
Here’s where you can get creative. If you’re planning a windowsill full of herbs, why not use acrylic paints to create a theme for your garden of kitchen herbs?
Each tiny plastic pot can be decorated with your own design and color scheme to make yet a prettier picture. With just a few colors, coordinating with your kitchen colors, each green herb can be glorified right within its container. You can paint a space on each plastic pot as a label, noting the name of each herb and surrounding the label with any design that strikes your fancy.
If you’re planting a single houseplant, why not make it stand out with a painted plastic pot? That fern hanging in the bathroom will look much more impressive in a hand-painted plastic flower pot of your own design.
A hand-painted, original design applied to a plain old plastic pot makes an original gift of an ordinary house plant. If your Mom loves African violets, a violet motif on the lowly plastic flower pot sets the plant apart from the run-of-the-mill florist’s offering.
So you can see, a new take on the plastic flower pot is just a brush stroke away. Start with a small project and see where it takes you. Painting the plastic pot can become a rewarding hobby!
Tags: flower pots, potting plants, plastic flower pots, plant pots
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Some More Backyard Landscaping Ideas
By Fergus | June 13, 2007
Your backyard can be your escape from the stresses of your day. For some people, sitting in a beautifully laid out yard is one of the most relaxing things they can do. For others, they find that planning, building, and planting their garden or yard is the relaxing part they look forward to. If you want have a breathtaking yard, but have no idea where to start, you need some backyard landscape ideas to get you going. Ideas are everywhere, and you may find inspiration in the least likely places.
You can find backyard landscape ideas by visiting other people’s homes. You don’t really want a carbon copy of someone else’s yard, but you can get inspiration by viewing what your friends, family, and neighbors have done with their yards. You might also find inspiration by visiting local parks or botanical gardens. A walk around your own neighborhood may be just the thing you need as well. Don’t forget about the businesses in your community. Many of them are landscaped by professionals, and you may find some great ideas there.
If this isn’t working for you, you can find backyard landscape ideas by watching HGTV. This station is devoted to home and garden improvements. You may find tricks and tips to help you along, as well as inspiration for your own yard. You can find ideas for small yards, gardens, and incorporating elements into your yard you may not have considered. You will also find shows to help with plant care, gardening tips, and advice for what plants work best in your climate.
Consider adding a new element to your yard to help you along. Having an outdoor fireplace, deck, or pool in your yard may help spark backyard landscape ideas. These items are not only useful; they can be the backdrops for your garden to be. You might consider a trellis around your pool for vine plants, or a unique sitting area around your outdoor fireplace.
As a last resort, look through magazines or ask for advice at your local home and garden store. You may find inspiration for backyard landscape ideas by just taking a stroll through the store. If that doesn’t help much, or you don’t know what to do with your ideas, ask a sales person for some advice. They may have ideas for you, or they may be able to tell you what has been popular with other customers.
Tags: backyard landscaping, landscaping ideas, where to get landscaping ideas
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Some Ideas For Landscaping Your Backyard
By Fergus | June 4, 2007
Some people just don’t have a knack for gardening. I am one of those people. When I first moved into my home one of my biggest concerns was what I was going to do with the bland scheme in my yard. I did a little research and there are some great ways to find backyard landscape ideas that you can use.
First of all I decided to make a list of what I wanted in my garden. This is the primary source for backyard landscape ideas for any homeowner. I considered what I envisioned to be my dream yard. I wrote down the backyard landscape ideas for future reference. When you make your list, start small with short term goals then work up to more extravagant, expensive endeavors for long term goals.
The next thing I did was take mental notes while walking around my neighborhood. You can find a lot of backyard landscape ideas when you take a nice, brisk walk. It may take some time to consider their layouts in relation to your own. I even started asking my neighbors questions about their projects. My neighbors loved sharing their backyard landscaping ideas with me.
After snooping around my neighborhood I decided to consult the professionals. I went to my local garden merchant for valuable information for my backyard landscape ideas. Some of my thoughts were perfect for the terrain while others just wouldn’t work in my particular yard. Good thing I asked plenty of questions. I would have wasted a lot of time and money on plants that would not be able to thrive in the conditions on my property.
Many merchants are more than happy to share backyard landscape ideas that they have encountered themselves. They can suggest the right layout for your area and they know what grows well in the conditions in your region. You can get some great recommendations from this source.
Two other sources I love to consult are print magazines and online websites that provide wonderful backyard landscape ideas. However, I tried to refrain from running out to buy items showcased in these venues. It is important to double-check to make sure that the layout and foliage are right for your yard.
The research paid off in the end. I am thrilled with the results of my labors. In fact, I often share my backyard landscape ideas with friends and neighbors passing by.
Tags: landscaping your backyard, garden landscaping
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Choosing A Style Of Patio Tile That Suits Your Garden
By Fergus | June 2, 2007
There are many things that a person can do to enhance the value of your property and also to increase your curb appeal. One inexpensive way of doing this is through the use of patio tile. This may take some sweat and patience but the results are well worth the time and energy. Properly installed patio tile gives a professional finish to any landscaping project.
You can find the patio tile in a variety of styles, sizes and colors at most home improvement stores and also at gardening centers. We have found that the workers at both locations are very good at giving pointers about the proper installation of the patio tile and also what tools to purchase to make the job as easy as possible.
We have used a variety of patio tile in our yard. We used what is called bullet nosed tiles to border our flower beds. The bullet nosed tiles fit into each other and are placed by digging a 2 inch trench along the flower beds to be bordered. This leaves a professional looking edging that is easy to mow next to. We also used this same type of tile around our gazebo in the yard. This edging holds the decorative rock that we placed around the gazebo area in place. This is a very cost effective edging that can be placed in a very short period of time.
We also used flat patio tile as stepping stones in a path along our flower garden area. We placed the tiles at varying distances from each other to create a whimsical feel to the garden path area. Once the grass grew up around the tiles they had the look of having been placed years ago. Our home is over a hundred years old so this is the effect that we wanted to create. The flat patio tile is available in round, square or rectangle shapes and also come in various thicknesses. This way you can decide how deep you want to place them in the ground.
We have also used patio tile to mark the area to place our fire ring. This helps to keep the grass looking nice in the fire ring area and also is easy to mow around. It is also safer for having children around the fire pit because we tell them that they need to stay on this side of the tiles. We have found many uses for the inexpensive patio tile around our yard.
Tags: garden patio, patio tile, building a patio
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What Gardening Tools Should You Buy?
By Fergus | June 2, 2007
The world of gardening can be somewhat confusing. There are so many different tasks to be done in the garden and you need to choose the correct gardening tools for the job. Take your time when deciding, you want your tools to last and to be user friendly. Particular care must be taken if you suffer from back problems, dodgy knees or have arthritis. You want the gardening tools that will help you to keep a good posture. Keep your tools clean and put them away when you’ve finished with them, and they could outlive the house!
Try out the tools in the shop, making sure nothing will prove too heavy or too uncomfortable to grip. Remember you could alter the width of a handle by adding a padding material. The wider the handle, the easier the grip. Choosing what type of material for your gardening tools depends on your priorities. The lightest materials are aluminum, plastic and carbon fiber. Stainless steel will keep its condition well and slice thru the soil easier but it’s not the sharpest of the range.
A lot of gardeners find that buying interchangeable tool heads gives them the flexibility they need to tackle any sort of job. You can also use the heads as hand tools, expanding your arsenal of gardening tools even further. For easy to use secateurs and shears, you need a spring action which is not too stiff. Make sure pruners have an easy cutting action too, especially if you’re going to be dealing with thick branches. If you’re buying a wheel barrow, you don’t want the sort that resembles a supermarket trolley, careering in the opposite direction to the one you’re going. The two wheeled variety is considered best, with stick out handles that can be steered with one hand.
Some jobs are a little ambitious for manual tools and call for power tools. For example, if you have a big hedge to cut. Once again, consider the weight of the gardening tools and whether you’ll be able to maneuver them. These gardening tools will need a power source, be gasoline driven or may be cordless. Choose according to the layout of your garden and its proximity to the nearest sockets.
It’s easy to fill up the garden shed with all the tools a gardener requires. Forks, spades, rakes, trowels and hoes are all lined up like soldiers waiting for orders. Not to mention seed sowers, leaf blowers and weed pullers. Then there is the watering system. Do you simply have a watering can or a fully automated sprinkler system? These decisions will be determined by your budget, your need for labor saving devices and the size of your garden. Above all, have good fun and exercise with your gardening tools. It’s got to be cheaper than joining a gym.
[tags]gardening tools, what gardening tools do you really need[/tags[
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Have You Thought About Putting A Buddha In Your Garden?
By Fergus | June 2, 2007
While planting my garden this year I decided to get rid of my assortment of gnomes and trolls and replace them with a garden Buddha. My gnomes are delightful and bring me great joy, but they are there to deter animals from snacking on my beautiful vegetables and plants. The animals seem to have missed the message I’ve been trying to send with my garden gnomes and I feel that maybe they will respond better to a garden Buddha.
I went shopping online for my garden guardian because I couldn’t think of a local retail store that would sell a garden Buddha. I spend a lot of time in nurseries and in the gardening sections of big chain stores, so I have some authority on this. I also couldn’t picture asking the manager at Home Depot where I could find a garden Buddha in his store.
I found exactly what I was looking for online, and with speedy shipping I had my garden Buddha set up in my garden four days later. While I initially bought him to scare away the squirrels and chipmunks and stray cats in the neighborhood who love to eat things like bulb flowers and herbs, I found that after a few days I really didn’t care if my garden Buddha did its job of protecting my garden. I didn’t care because I was in love with it, and the happiness I experienced every morning when I looked out at my garden and saw a pale gray Buddha sitting in the middle with the sun shining off his big round belly was reward enough for me.
After a couple of weeks I realized that my garden Buddha was not only not doing his job, but he was actually attracting the animals to his belly. More than once I found a neighborhood cat curled up against his bulging abdomen, fast asleep in the sun. I never would’ve thought a cat would be drawn to a stone Buddha figure. Maybe cats are more spiritual than I thought and maybe I underestimated their spirituality by assuming that the Buddha would have to be made out of pillows for them to be drawn to it. I guess the only logical thing to do is get my hands on some fox urine and sprinkle it around the perimeter of my garden to make it less attractive to the animals, because I’ve become so attached to the Buddha that I’ve decided he is there to stay.
Tags: garden ornaments, garden gnomes, stone buddha, garden buddha, buddha figure
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Have You Tried Cactus Gardening?
By Fergus | May 30, 2007
I have always loved plants, but they have never loved me. Some people have a green thumb, but I am just the opposite. My very touch can kill most plants. The only ones that I’m good with, in fact, are ones that require almost no care. Cacti have always survived my withering touch, and succulence do alright as well. Nonetheless, I despaired of ever having my own garden until one of my friends suggested a solution: cactus gardening.
I had never heard of cactus gardening, but my friend assured me that it was quite common. Although not very many people have a cactus garden around here, where she comes from they all over the place. Cactus gardens are extremely popular in the bay area around San Francisco. Between the sunlight and the moderate rain, anything will grow there – including cacti. I am pretty impulsive, and as soon as I decided on cactus gardening, I was ready to go out and make some purchases. Nonetheless, my friends stopped me. She told me that I should go to a botanical cactus garden before I decided what I wanted.
There was more to growing cacti than I had realized before. There are many different kinds of cactus, and each of them requires slightly different conditions. When I first heard about cactus gardening, I thought that I would have to renounce traditional gardening values. I figured that I would not be able to see any flowers – just plain, green cacti. To my surprise, however, many cacti flower regularly. Cactus gardening is actually every bit as dynamic as any other form of gardening. The cacti grow, bloom, and hibernate – at least to some degree. Although the cacti never whither for the season and drop their spikes, they do have slow periods where they are resting, like other perennial flowering plants.
I started cactus growing yesterday. My friend told me that, before I started the cactus garden, I needed to make sure all of my cacti had matured to some degree in their pots. Now I have several pots to tend to each day, and so far everything is going excellently well. Soon I’ll have a flawlessly working cactus garden – the only one on the block. I know that some of the neighbors will resent it – they resent anything that looks different on this black. Other ones, however, will probably think it is pretty cool. Personally, I always love a new look. Thank God for cactus gardening!
Tags: cacti, cactus gardening, succulents
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Do You Know About The Blanket Flower?
By Fergus | May 30, 2007
The story of the Blanket flower began with the generosity of a French judge of the 1700’s, by the name of Gaillard de Charentonneau. He was a benefactor of the study of botany, and as such received the honor of having a genus of plants named after him. That genus was Gaillardia, the common “blanket flower”.
Native to North America, this flower is easy to grow and drought tolerant. Blanket flower is perennial and grows well even in sandy soils by the sea. As its name implies,it has a tendency to blanket the landscape with profuse flowering.
There are dozens of varieties, in white, cream, yellow, orange, rust and maroon bi-color shades. You can plant a spectacular bed, choosing varieties of contrasting shades of blue and white suited to the same conditions. Yarrow, baby’s breath, cornflower and perovskia are good candidates for a striking bed of color.
Given a spot in a sunny location and good drainage, this plant will flourish. Blanket flower can be a staple in perennial borders, beds, and with some varieties, in containers. There are upright varieties growing from 18 to 24 inches tall, as well as compact, spreading varieties that don’t exceed 12 inches. If your garden is in a zone with harsh, hot summers and your soil is less than perfect, as long as you have good drainage, the blanket flower is a good choice for a low-maintenance perennial display. If you do not have good drainage, consider adding a good portion of sand to that clay soil and you’ll have what it takes to have the best display in the neighborhood.
Taller blanket flowers make excellent, long lasting cut flowers. Even the compact varieties may be used as cut flowers in shallow vases.
If you are, as most gardeners, already planning next summer’s flower beds, thinking ahead saves you a lot of money and provides a comforting “gardening fix” during the early months of spring. The blanket flower is relatively easy to propagate, provided you follow a few simple rules. If you’re planting from seed, start your seedlings two months to ten weeks before your last expected frost. Do not cover the seeds, as the blanket flower requires both light and warmth to germinate. Pick up a plastic germinating dome from your nursery supply, along with a heating pad. Direct seed, and keep them at a temperature between 65 and 72 degrees. If you don’t want to bother with the heating pad, the top of your refrigerator may do just fine. In two to three weeks, you’ll have seedlings. After planting in the garden when the weather has warmed, the blanket flower requires little care and minimal fertilizing.
To promote prolific blooms, deadhead spent blooms. You’ll extend the flowering season.
The blanket flower is the solution for gardeners desiring a beautiful garden display that comes back year after year and “toughs out” harsh conditions. Too good to be true? No, the blanket flower fills the bill when it comes to difficult landscaping.
Tags: cut flowers, blanket flower, flower gardening, flower gardens
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Is An Aquatic Garden The Right Choice For You?
By Fergus | May 29, 2007
Water features in gardens are a source of enjoyment to many gardeners. They add an interesting aspect and can be very restful. There are a lot of products and advice available for anyone wanting to start an aquatic garden. You don’t need a lot of space and a basic pond doesn’t have to be very expensive. Some gardeners like to go a bit further and put a fountain or a statue with the pond.
The pond will benefit from some water garden plants. In addition to assisting in keeping the pond in a healthy condition, they will be an attractive feature. Water Lillies are particularly popular for their delicate flowers that sit on the water’s surface. Most of the plant is submerged and they need to be placed 1-2 feet below the surface. They are put into containers sometimes. Another example of a submerged water plant is the Parrot Feather. These plants are an asset to the aquatic garden if there are fish in the pond because they stimulate oxygen.
There are other plants that are visible on the surface but their roots lie underwater. This type is called marginal plants and they are placed in a pot at just below the surface. Varieties include the iris, arrowhead, lotus, elephant ear or pickerelweed. The other sort of plants, suitable for an aquatic garden, are the ones that float on the surface. These are very useful as they decrease the presence of algae in the pond by providing shade. They need careful control however, as they grow and spread very quickly. Varieties include the water hyacinth, water spangle, water clover and mosquito fern.
Of course, a water garden is most appealing when it contains fish. Goldfish, such as shubunkin, common goldfish and wakin, are very popular. Koi are very attractive and some varieties are expensive. Other choices include minnows, golden orfe and golden tench. Most fish survive happily without heating but a heater may be needed in particularly cold places during winter, just to stop the water from freezing up. Pumps and filtration equipment is necessary, in order to maintain the oxygen levels that the fish require.
The reason that pond water appears green is because of the growth of algae. This must not be allowed to take over, as the blanket weed variety is apt to do if not removed. It is a particular problem during warm weather but there are various methods to keep algae under control in an aquatic garden.
Tags: aquatic garden, water garden, water features
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Garden Landscape Design Software
By Fergus | May 29, 2007
If you just have a small lawn or garden, you may not have too much trouble designing what you want to do with your landscape. It might be a simple matter of drawing a picture and laying out what you want to do. However, if you have a landscaping business, or have a very large property, you may want to invest in landscape design software. Though this type of software will not take all of the work off of your hands, but it will make it much easier for you to see what you are doing, and can also help you decide what you need to buy, and what your budget will be.
Those with a large property who wish to landscape often have the problem of envisioning the finished product. There is landscape design software out there that can help eliminate this problem for you. It works much like the programs you might use to set up blueprints to build your own home. As you add features, plants, sidewalks, pools, ponds, or anything else you may wish to add, the program can render a picture for you so you can get an idea of what it might look like when you are finished. Landscape design software can also be used if you are doing this for someone else.
When you are looking to buy landscape design software, make sure you get some that will help you estimate your budget. You should be able to choose the exact plants and accessories you wish to buy, and the program should be able to give you an estimate of how much your project will cost when you are finished. This can help you decide if you are on the right track, or if you are spending too much money. The landscape design software should also be able to tally the number of each item that you need to buy so that you may print out a list for easy shopping.
If you have a problem finding landscape design software, you may have to buy it online. Prices will vary, but remember that you will get what you pay for. If you have a very complicated project coming up, or if you’re running a landscaping business, you want to buy the very best you can get. If you are only doing a small project, or perhaps aren’t sure how many times you will need to use your software, you might be able to get away with buying one of the cheaper landscape design software packages on the market.
Tags: landscape design software, garden landscaping, landscaping
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Growing Hot Pepper Plants
By Fergus | May 29, 2007
Of all of the varied cult food items, hot sauce is definitely one of the most popular. People who get into spicy food almost never just get into it a little bit. It is true that there are many people in our society that only like a little bit of heat in a meal now and then, but the ratio of true connoisseurs to casual fans is really astounding. One day, you are trying out a new hot pepper sauce and the next day you are making your own. Pretty soon, your entire yard if filled up with planters sprouting your own hot pepper plants.
For me, it started purely by chance. I was at the Farmer’s market and found a stall that was selling hot pepper seed. I had always liked a little bit of spice, and I thought that it would be a valuable addition to my culinary pursuits. I had wanted to start an herb garden for a while, after all, and figured that there was definitely a place for hot pepper plants. At first, I grew a couple of habanero plants. I figured that they would be a great first hot pepper plant because they were only moderately spicy, and very flavorful besides.
I acquired what my girlfriend calls my “culinary death collection” one hot pepper plant at a time. Once I saw how easy it was to grow habanero plants, I wanted to get a jalapeño plant as well. I saved my hot pepper seeds, using the best ones to grow new plants and the other ones to cook with. Soon I was using hot pepper plants in everything. I would use them in chile, Mexican food, Indian food, and in cuisines where they had no business at all. I even made special concoctions of hot pepper plants to try to treat nasal allergies. That endeavor was mildly successful, but it was definitely not worth the pain!
The problem with growing hot pepper plants is that it uses up more space than you would think. The actual plants don’t take up that much space, and are easy to grow. To use them for food, however, requires more work. Once you harvest your hot peppers, you need to dry them. This takes literally racks upon racks to do. Eventually, you will want to get a hot pepper roaster as well. When I started growing hot pepper plants, I did not think of it as a serious hobby. This, however, is exactly what it has become.
Tags: growing plants for food, growing plants, growing hot pepper plants
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Creating A Bamboo Garden
By Fergus | May 28, 2007
When I first decided to make a bamboo garden, I thought it would be easy. You see, I have had lucky bamboo plants for years. I knew how easily bamboo grew. I figured that bamboo gardening would be a snap. You just let it grow and grow, and that is it. I was pretty ambitious. I even thought that I could use the plants that I grew in my garden to make bamboo floors for my house. I did not realize what I was up against.
You see, I was right and I was wrong. In some ways, bamboo gardens are very easy. Growing plants for a bamboo garden is quite simple. Bamboo grows like wildfire. You can not stop it from growing! That, however, is the problem. A proper bamboo garden is not the same as a stand of wild bamboo. To get a bamboo garden to look like something is actually a pretty difficult trick. You see the bamboo nurseries with their carefully crafted stands of bamboo, and you think it is easy. It is not! It requires a lot of work. Not only does bamboo grow quickly, but it is extremely tough.
The secret to bamboo gardening is to work at it every day or two. A bamboo garden is something that becomes exponentially more difficult the less frequently you tend to it. If you can pull out unwanted bamboo saplings when they are young, carefully shape the bamboo stems that you have as they grow, and be involved with every stage of planning your garden, it will not really take that much time. I would say that a moderately sized bamboo garden can take as little as 10 to 20 minutes a day on average. You have to stick with it, however, or else it can become overwhelming very quickly. The bamboo garden will become nothing but an overgrown stand the bamboo. It happened to me, and it can happen to you. The bamboo will starve out everything else in the garden!
One of the most important things to consider when you are planning bamboo gardens is what other plants to use and where to place them. The bamboo garden, after all, is not primarily about the bamboo. The bamboo is just a backdrop. It is about the few, sparse, other flowers you place around the garden. Each of these flowers must be a work of art in and of itself.
Tags: bamboo garden
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What Do You Know About Backyard Landscape Design?
By Fergus | May 28, 2007
I am a backyard landscape do it yourself hobbyist. As a matter of fact, one of the reasons that I first bought a house was because I wanted to be able to play with backyard landscape design. I have had so many backyard landscaping ideas since I was very small, but I have never gone on to do any of them. You see, when I was a kid I used to love to imagine what my dream house would be like. Of course back then, my backyard landscape ideas were not that well developed. Basically, most of my backyard landscape designs were pretty over the top. I wanted to have a giant backyard fountain that you could swim in, a backyard basketball court – you get the idea. When I was a kid, my backyard landscape design scheme centered around making the biggest, best playground that a child had ever had.
Since then, my backyard landscape designs have changed, but my passion for it hasn’t. Nowadays, I am into backyard gardening above all. I love to read, to write, and to enjoy the outdoors. Backyard landscape design allows me to create a space where I can do all three. I have downloaded some backyard landscaping software that helps me to plan out the spacing of the various components of my backyard garden. Although I do not have very much space, if I use it cleverly it is enough to create several secluded spots to enjoy my books.
Although I have yet to build most of my backyard landscape design plans, I am starting to. I have already laid the flagstones for my garden path, and next week I will start planting the plants. At one point, I considered hiring nursery contractors to some of the more difficult backyard landscape design work, but eventually I thought better of it. Backyard landscape design is a hobby. Of course I could make it easier by getting professionals to do the work, but that is hardly the point. If I give in, I will never learn how to be a backyard landscaper.
If you have ever thought about getting into backyard landscape design, I encourage you to do it. Don’t be put off by how difficult it is to build things when you have never had any experience. Once you get the hang of it, it can really be quite easy. You will have fun, get some exercise, and have a gorgeous backyard as a reward for your efforts. What could be better than that?
Tags: backyard landscape design, landscaping
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About An Indoor Herb Garden
By Fergus | May 28, 2007
Gardening is not something that comes easy to me. You see, I am much better at killing plants then at keeping them alive. If they ever start a business for plant assassins, I am the man. All I have to do is try to take care of a plant for a week, and it is dead within a day. Nonetheless, I have been trying to grow an indoor herb garden for the past several months, and have finally met with a bit of success. It was not natural to me, but I am so glad that I have done it. It is one of the most rewarding projects I have ever undertaken.
I would not have come up with the idea of indoor herb gardening except for a friend who is an amazing chef. I thought I was a decent cook, but my food tastes bland compared to hers. One night, she had me over for dinner. After a particularly excellent feast, I asked what her secret was. She told me that it was her indoor herb garden. She should be some of her herbs, and let me smell them. They had delicious fragrances. There is no comparison between them and the freeze dried herbs that I usually used.
Unfortunately, I had no idea how to grow garden. She gave me some advice, but it didn’t really help that much. I don’t know what it is. I followed all of her watering advice, I kept the plants that were supposed to be in the shade in the shade, and the plants that were supposed to be in the sun in the sun. Nevertheless, my indoor herb garden was not coming along. It took me months and months to figure it out, and by then anyone else would have given up.
I am more persistent than most, however. When I decided to have an indoor herb garden, I would have an indoor herb garden come hell or high water. Finally, my efforts paid off. I cooked my first meal with indoor garden herbs yesterday. It was Rosemary chicken, and it was absolutely delicious. I put a sprig of time in the potatoes, cooked the chicken with the rosemary, and even made a salad complete with sage and lavender. Indoor herb gardens are the most rewarding gardening project that there is. There are many plants that look beautiful, but how many plants also taste beautiful?
Tags: herb garden, house plants, indoor gardening
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Welcome to Gardening Info No1 Source
By Fergus | May 28, 2007
Hi my name’s Fergus Reilly and I’d like to welcome you to my gardening article and information site.
Over the coming weeks, months and years I’m going to be giving you lots of gardening information from my years of experience.
I do hope you’ll continue to check back regularly to find out all of the new gardening stuff that I’ve added since your last visit.
Anyway, I hope you find this site to be a useful addition to your gardening resources.
Fergus
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