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Hi everyone

Welcome to this edition of your Gardening Weekly, today's edition is entitled:

Seaweed for the Garden

QUOTE: I have found, through years of practice, that people garden in order to make something grow; to interact with nature; to share, to find sanctuary, to heal, to honor the earth, to leave a mark.  Through gardening, we feel whole as we make our personal work of art upon our land.
- Julie Moir Messervy

One of the best soil conditioners you can get for your garden is seaweed.  What makes seaweed even better for the garden is the fact that it doesn't need to cost you anything if you are prepared to collect it when it gets washed up on the beach, or alternatively from the surface of the water when you are out in a boat.

If you don't live near a beach then you can still get the benefits of seaweed in your garden by buying dried seaweed in very affordable packs from garden centers.

This is the most convenient way to use seaweed on the garden, as it has already been prepared in a state that allows you to spread it evenly throughout the garden.  There is the added benefit that the seaweed sold in the stores doesn't smell as much as the seaweed that you would collect from the beach.

Website Of Interest. Check out the following:
http://blog.mygardeninghome.com/soil.html

Seaweed is also very good as a plant stimulant.  It is particularly good for people who are reluctant to use any types of chemicals on the garden, as seaweed is completely safe for the plants, people and also for pets.

Many people are unaware that seaweed is also used commercially as it has proven to be a very powerful soil conditioner and in many tests has worked better than some of the manufactured soil conditioners that are commonly sold on the market.

By buying dried seaweed from garden centers you can be assured of the quality and consistency of the product and you can expect results while having the convenience of it being readily available when needed by being able to store it until required.

Seaweed has been used for centuries in gardens around the world and is becoming more popular as people are looking for alternative natural products in preference to chemicals based products.

Website Of Interest. Check out the following:
http://blog.mygardeninghome.com/soil.html

Thanks,
Annie
http://blog.mygardeninghome.com

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Hi all

With the ever increasing number of people choosing to live in apartments and condos, many believe the chance of growing beautiful and useful plants has finished.  Thankfully this really doesn’t have to be the case at all. The growing trend among those yard-less people is the option of container gardening.  There are five key elements that yo should keep in mind when growing your own container garden.  The type of containers used, what kind of growing mixture, exposure to sunlight, fertilizer, and watering habits are all aspects that need to be considered before starting your container paradise.

The container type is an important aspect of this style of gardening.  You will want your containers to enhance and match your outdoor patio, yard or  balcony area.   At the same time that environment should be healthy for the plants you want to grow.  Wood pots can be prone to rotting.  Cedar or redwood are rot resistant and can be used without staining.  If using wood pots, be sure that it is untreated wood to avoid any harmful chemicals polluting your plants.  Plastic pots deteriorate quickly in the sun and won’t last very long.  While they are pretty, terra cotta pots dry out fast making them prone to cracking and breaking.  Glazed ceramic pots are a good option for container gardening.  Just be sure there are sufficient drainage holes in the bottom.

Your growing mixture will mainly depend on the type of plants you decide to grow.  Due to the small space the plants have to thrive in, be sure to the mixture will allow proper drainage.  You want the soil to retain moisture, but also drain off to avoid over watering.  Check into the growing requirements of your plants to see if any sand should be added to the growing mixture.  The right mixture of soil and other components is extremely important in container gardening.

Once again, when trying to determine the amount of sunlight your container garden will need, check the requirements for the plants. This is especially true with flowers.  Vegetables tend to need an average of five hours of sunlight daily.

In container gardening, fertilizer is a vital element.  Since the plants only have a limited amount of soil to draw nutrients from it is necessary to help them along.  The recommended interval for fertilizing plants is every other time you water.  Liquid seaweed is an excellent plant booster, just be sure to provide the plants with a wide variety of nutrients for the best results.

You will discover with your container garden that watering is critically important.  It may take a little while to determine exactly how much and when to water.  All plants are different so it is very important to know what your plants need.  Especially when in very hot weather as you will find that plants may need to be watered daily. 

Container gardening is a very rewarding hobby that allows even apartment and city dwellers to enjoy a piece of the great outdoors.  Decide what types of plants you want to grow, have your materials ready, and be prepared to reap the rewards of your labor.