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Aeroponics allows more control of the environment around the root zone, as, unlike other plant growth systems, the plant roots are not constantly surrounded by some medium (as, for example, with hydroponics, where the roots are …

Source: Fine

Hi everyone

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

Moving Plants

QUOTE: Show me your garden and I shall tell you what you are
- Alfred Austin

While winter is the ideal time to move plants they can be successfully moved at any time throughout the year provided care is taken.

Smaller plants, under three feet high, are the easiest to move.  The first step is to trim the plant by about one third.
The next step is to dig the plant out ensuring that the root ball is approximately the same diameter as the plant.
The plant can then be transplanted in the new position in the garden and the soil around it firmed.

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

The procedure with bigger plants in the 3-foot to 5-foot range is much the same but will take a little more time.
Once you have dug around the plant to a depth of approximately 1 to 1 1/2 feet, you should leave it for a week before finishing the removal.  After a week ease the plant out by digging under the roots and trim off long or damaged roots before transplanting.

For bigger plants and trees the procedure gets a little more involved.  The first step is to dig down deeply on two sides of the plant, through the roots at the drip line.  The plant should then be left for a week or two before the same procedure is repeated on the other two sides of the plant.  As with the smaller plants you will need to trim the plant back by about one third before starting.  After having dug around all sides of the plant you should wait another couple of weeks before digging under the roots.  Again, you will need to trim off long or damaged roots in preparation for the transplant.

Let another week or two pass before removing the plant and wrapping the root ball with Hessian to protect the roots.

You should have already prepared a new hole that will be slightly bigger than the root ball of the plant you are replacing.  Add compost, mix and slow release fertilizer before transplanting the plant.  Top up the soil and water it well.  Provided you have taken good care along the way the plant should settle in to its new location without any problems.

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

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

Question: Something has been gnawing on my beautiful beet roots. Any idea what's causing the damage?

Source: unknown

Hi everyone

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

Water Logging Your Plants

QUOTE: In joy or sadness, flowers are our constant friends.
- Kozuko Okakura

If you give your plants excess water or have poor drainage you will run the risk of water logging them

This will cause the leaves to go a yellow or brown color and they will usually drop off.  When plants start getting waterlogged the leaves at the bottom of the plant will be affected first.

By the time the upper leaves of the plant start turning yellow and brown you have a real problem.

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

The problem arises because of the fact that plants need air as well as water around their roots to survive and with excessive watering the air pockets in the soil are filled with water.  Without this air the roots of the plant will begin to die and as the roots are needed to supply the plant with the necessary nutrients to survive, the plant begins to die from the bottom up.  That is why you see the lower leaves getting affected first.

To remedy the situation you will need to allow the soil to dry out to reduce the water content.  If the plant is in a container you will need to check to see whether there are sufficient drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.

If the soil has become compacted from all the water it is best to remove the plant and give it some new soil.

Often when plants begin to wilt they can appear to be lacking water when the opposite is the case so it is best to check the moisture content of the soil before assuming the plant needs more water.

When watering the plants allow the soil to dry out completely, or partially between watering to reduce the chance of them getting waterlogged.  Try to improve the drainage of the soil for plants in the garden and even consider raising the garden for better water control.

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

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

And I think the main thing is that it will be more organic, with an emphasis on city and neighborhood-based gardening, where block clubs get together to beautify empty lots, help neighbors who can't garden, and fight urban blight. …

Source: EAL

Hi everyone

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

Potting Big Plants

QUOTE: One of the most important resources that a garden makes available for use, is the gardener's own body.
A garden gives the body the dignity of working in its own support.
It is a way of rejoining the human race
- Wendell Berry

Big pots can make an impressive statement in any garden, particularly if they have big healthy plants in them.
Many trees will grow well in big pots provided they have sufficient room for their roots.

To ensure their good health you should always buy the best quality outdoor potting mix.

The bigger the pot you buy the better, within reason for the size of the plant you intend having in the pot and also provided your budget can stretch that far.  This will ensure your plant won't out grow the pot too soon or at all.

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

If you will need to remove the plant/tree as it grows bigger, you should take special care in selecting a pot that is shaped in such a manner that the contents will be able to be removed without having to break the pot.

Tapered pots will make this easier whereas pots that are wider in the middle than the top can present problems if the roots have spread out.

Don't fill the pot to the top with potting mix, as this won't leave any room for effective watering.

You should also feed your potted tree with some slow release fertilizer two or three times a year to ensure it is getting good nutrition.

Plants in pots can dry out and not get enough moisture so it is also a wise move to give them some water storage crystals and a wetting agent.  This will help to maintain the moisture content in the soil.

If the pot is in the sun it will need more water, depending on the type of plant you have in the pot.

Darker colored pots will also attract more heat and this can affect the growth of your plant so you need to consider where the pot will be to ensure there is sufficient sun light and also enough water for it to survive.

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

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

Hi everyone

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

House Plant Basics

QUOTE: Gardening is a way of showing that you believe in tomorrow
- Anonymous

As houseplants are living in an unnatural environment we need to give them extra care to get the best results.

They will require all the elements of outdoor plants in their need for good nutrients, water, ventilation, light and a suitable climate.

Without this balance they will soon wither and die.  It is vitally important that they have the best quality soil.  As with outdoor plants they will need soil that is light enough for their roots and to hold water and air but not so light as to allow the nutrients to wash through and not be made available for their roots.

One thing that will not be as much of a concern as outdoor plants is their need for support against winds.  This can allow you to use lighter soil however you will still need to ensure the plant is getting the nutrients.  This might require additional feeding that is over and above what you would give an outdoor plant.

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

The environment can also affect plants, and anyone who is smoking in the house will affect the plant growth and result in poor health just as it does to the person smoking.

Potting mix is readily available and in different varieties to suit the requirements of various indoor plants.

You can buy inexpensive moisture monitoring kits and also some small units that will release water into the soil when it detects that the moisture is getting too low.

Getting good potting mix for your indoor plants can make a noticeable difference to their condition as the soil that we get from outside can sometimes have diseases or insects in it.

If there is an opportunity to do so, it is a good policy to put the plants outside in the sun for a few hours and also to get some fresh air.  Plants will also benefit from having their leaves cleaned, as there can be a buildup of dust when growing indoors and not having the rainfall to wash them clean.

It is also good to catch rainwater in containers to use for watering your indoor plants.

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

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

Gardening: Going back to its rootsGreeley Tribune, CO - 34 minutes agoThere’s something familiar, yet fresh, pure and gratifying when it comes to gardening. And this year, it’s all about going back to the roots, …

Source: "gardening" - Google News

Hi everyone

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

Choosing Plants That Are Healthy

QUOTE: Green fingers are the extension of a verdant heart.
- Russell Page

When you are buying or receiving plants from someone there are a few things that you need to look at before deciding to plant them in your garden.

You will generally get a better quality plant from a garden center and it will be less likely to have disease or other problems that could spread to other plants in your garden.

There is still the possibility that the garden center plant might not be the healthy specimen that you might expect so you should still check it out before parting with your money.

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

The first thing you need to do is look at the plant and see whether it looks healthy.  This might seem very obvious but we often assume that buying from a garden center will assure us of a healthy plant when in actual fact even garden centers can have problem plants and you don't want to be the new owner of their problems.

Plants are very good at showing any signs of distress so a plant that doesn't look healthy, generally isn't.

Check the conditions of the leaves, stems and roots of the plant where possible.  You should also look at the condition of the soil that it has been growing in, as this will have had an effect on its health.

If you are buying flowering plants it is always best to buy the ones that have yet to flower, as they will withstand the trauma of transport and transplanting better than those that already have flowers.  If there is no alternative but to buy or receive plants that already have flowers then many people suggest that you should remove all the flowers to give the plant a better chance of survival.  While you might be reluctant to do so, you will probably have a better plant that will produce more flowers in the future.

If there is anything on the plant that concerns you seek advice or decide against having that plant in your garden.

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

Thanks,
Annie
My Gardening Home Blog

Source: "gardening" - Google News