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Hi everyone

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

Where To Put Your Garden

QUOTE: All good work is done the way ants do things:
Little by little.
- Lafcadio Hearn

Generally the location of your garden will be determined by many factors that cannot be changed such as the location of any buildings on the property.  Aside from the obvious constraints that you will need to work with, you will also need to take other factors into consideration.

These factors will include the lie of the land, where the land is shaded or how much sun it gets during the day, the view from the rooms of the house, privacy factors and more.

Before the first plant goes into the garden you need to have a plan of what you want and what you want the garden to do for you in terms of display, privacy, shade etc.

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

Without a plan the garden won't have a cohesive flow and that will show when the plants have matured.

You will also need to consider irrigation and drainage as these will determine how well you will be able to manage the soil and whether you will be able to supply the plants with the necessary nutrients over time.

Your decisions might even determine whether your plants will survive and as some plants can be quite expensive, you need to get your research right from the start.

You might even need to consider the proximity of the plants on your neighbors side of the fence as these can also affect the growth of your garden if they are shading your property from the sun, or their roots are taking the nutrition from your soil.

When buying plants, also consider their height when mature as a large tree blocking the view can actually devalue your property.

Once you have a good plan that is well thought out for the long term of your garden you will be ready to start digging, and that's when the fun starts.

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

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

Hi everyone

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

Watering Your Plants

QUOTE: Don't count the days, make the days count
- Anonymous

Plants are approximately 90% water and therefore it is essential that they get enough water to survive.  Gardening is all about balance and that applies to the amount of water your plants need to stay healthy.

Over watering can be as harmful as not giving them enough water.  The soil that the plants are growing in is a big factor in the amount of water that you should be giving them.  If the soil is heavy and doesn't drain well you will need to give them less water or they could get water logged and the roots can rot.  If the soil is a lot freer draining then you might need to water a little more often.

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

Too much water can reduce the plants ability to draw oxygen and nutrients from the soil and this is as essential to their growth as the water.

Gentle watering is better than heavy watering with a hose as the higher pressure of the hose can cause the soil to turn to mud.  Once the soil dries out again it will become solidified.  This compacting of the soil after heavy watering makes it more difficult for the plants to grow.

Soakers are a good method of watering provided the flow of water is not too great.

Soakers are also excellent when using a timed irrigation system so that the plants get sufficient water when you are away and particularly in the hotter months of the year when the soil tends to dry out more often.

If you are using timed irrigation you will need to adjust the timing and the flow of water according to the seasons and always make changes when there have been unseasonal changes to the weather that will require extra care for the plants.

Once again, plants need the human touch to maintain that balance.

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

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

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

Hi everyone

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

Themes in Your Garden

QUOTE: Who would have thought it possible that a tiny little flower could preoccupy a person so completely that there simply wasn't room for any other thought….
- Sophie Scholl

It is good to have a theme that you can follow throughout your garden and work on a plan and a selection of plants that will go along with that theme.

By having a theme to follow this will dictate, not only the types of plants that you will be buying, but also anything else that you put in the garden.  This will include everything from sculptures and garden furniture, to the colors of the pots that you will choose.

While some people might think this is restricting their freedom of creation, it does in fact allow you to create a garden that has more freedom of flow rather than being disjointed with a variety of different themes that never quite gel together.

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

Sometimes the theme of your garden will be determined by the style of the house that you have on the property, and other times it will be determined by the geographical location that you are living in.

If for instance you are living near a beach, you will probably want the theme to tie in with the beach setting.  By doing this you are likely to get plants for your garden that are more appropriate and will endure the conditions that they will be growing in.

Plants that are suitable for growing in coastal areas will be able to withstand the winds and the salt of the sea air that could quickly damage other plants that aren't suitable for those conditions.

Likewise it wouldn't look quite as appropriate to have a tropical garden with palms where a cottage garden would compliment the style of the house.

And tropical plants are not going to flourish as well in cold harsh climates so there are many factors that need to be taken into account when deciding on your garden theme.

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

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

Hi everyone

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

Testing the pH of your soil

QUOTE: The rose has thorns only for those who would gather it.
- Chinese Proverb

It is easy to test the pH of the soil in your garden with the use of a simple and inexpensive test kit.  All you need to do with the test kit is take a sample of the soil and mix it with water and then compare the results in the sample to the colors on the chart.  This will tell you whether the soil is acidic or alkaline.

If the soil is too acidic you can add lime to bring it back into balance.  If on the other hand there is too much lime and the pH reading is high you can add more compost to reduce the levels of the lime in the soil.

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

Soil that is slightly acidic tends to be more fertile.

Old gardeners used to use a simple taste test to determine the condition of the soil.  This method isn't recommended but it can be quite accurate.

If the soil tastes sour then it is likely to be acid. This is also represented by a sour smell.

Vinegar is another way to test whether there is enough lime in the soil, as lime will cause the vinegar to bubble.
Drop some soil into a cup of vinegar and if it starts to bubble then you know there is enough lime in the soil.

For the low cost of a pH tester, you will get a lot more accurate reading and this will allow you to easily monitor the condition of your soils and adjust the nutrients accordingly rather than guessing what is needed and not having optimum nutrition.

You should also take samples at different points throughout your garden, as there can be changes in the soil from one area to the next depending on what has been added over the years and what has been growing in the various sections of the garden.

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

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

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

Ok, here are a few things that could help keep you busy if you are in the middle of a cold winter.  If you are in the middle of your summer (you lucky people) enjoy! 

1. Give your grass a high cut every now and then. If you can, choose a dry, windy day when the dew has lifted so the clippings are removed.  Where I am, finding a windy day is not so much of a problem, finding a dry one… now that is a different matter altogether.  But if you are like me, hang in there, one will turn up soon.

2. Check the ties of shrubs grown against walls (Ceanothus, Pyracantha, Moroccan broom, etc) - those sudden gusts of wind that are all too frequent this time of year can throw them forward and crack roots.

3. Take old honeysuckles back to a strong, well-spaced framework of not-too-old stems, keeping a few young ones around the edges.

4. Clear away and burn the dead leaves from under roses to reduce the chance of any disease lingering.

5. Do not forget that central heating, as nice as it is this time of year, will play havoc with tropical houseplants. Increase the humidity by simply standing the pots on saucers or trays of damp gravel and keep them away from radiators (which is easy) and draughts (perhaps not so easy this time of year!)

6. If you have ever dreamt of scooping a prize at the local summer gardening show, start planning for it now. Have you ever thought about onions?  Exhibition ones are fairly easy to grow.  The biggest bulbs come from varieties such as Mammoth, which are sown any time now.

7. Try to remember where you have bulbs growing in grass. The new leaves should be well through by now and it is all too easy to walk on them unawares.  I am thinking of things like snowdrops, narcissi, crocus, fritillary, etc.

8. Have you worked out what you want to plant this season?  Well, if you still have to then why not fish out last years seed packets and you can work out what you want to buy for this season.  Great excuse to get down to the local garden centre, as if you needed one!

9. If you are lucky enough to be a gardener with a warm greenhouses (and do not forget your minimum winter temperature in there should be 55F), why not start growing indoor tomatoes such as Sparta, Shirley and Big Boy.  Now, early to mid January, is the perfect time.

10. Now wisteria has dropped its leaves, you can prune it. Just take back the long stems you pruned last summer to two or three buds. Also, cut out stray stems wrapped around gutters and slithering along walls. Be careful though: do not forget those buds can be thorny.

11. Why not treat your much-abused and maligned garden shears to a professional sharpening?  Afterall, they are not really needed at the moment and you will notice a big difference. You will not regret it!

12. In those long spells of freezing weather we can unfortunately experience this time of year, winter-flowering pansies can sometimes receive a knock to their growth. If this happens, wait until the weather warms up a little, then deadhead any spent flower stems. This should induce a mass of new flowers to emerge for you to enjoy.

Well, that little lot should keep you busy for a while and enjoy your gardening.  It can be just as much fun in the winter!

Take care for now.

The Gardener 

Hi everyone

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

Growing Your Own Vegetables

QUOTE: You can bury a lot of troubles digging in the dirt
- Anonymous

There is a great sense of satisfaction knowing that you will be able to wander down to your own garden and pick the vegetables that you have been growing and then cook them and eat them for your dinner.

You will never be able to get vegetables as fresh as that from the shops and you certainly will be able to taste the difference in the extra freshness that you will get with every bite.

Many vegetables taste just as good, if not better, eaten fresh from the garden without even cooking them.

Peas, beans, tomatoes and the like are all ready to be eaten and enjoyed as they are picked.

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

What makes garden fresh vegetables even more appealing is the fact that you will know everything that has gone into the soil and every spray that has been used to assist in the growing of those vegetables.  And that is something that you would never know about the produce that you buy from the shops.

You will need to use sprays on your garden to ensure you have a healthy crop so it is wise to look at all the instructions and the contents of any sprays that you might need to use.

By using the best sprays you can be satisfied that not only will your crops have had the best nutrition but you will also be safe from some of the chemicals that many commercial growers use.

You can often keep pests off your crops, or reduce the incidence of the damage they can create by planting companion plants around your crops to keep them away.

You can reduce the chance of getting disease by selecting resistant varieties of plants that are less susceptible to disease and by giving them more room to grow by spacing them out a little more.

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

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

Hi everyone

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

Greenhouse for All Seasons

QUOTE: We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.
- Abraham Lincoln

In many climates growing plants in the winter months can become quite frustrating, and if you are finding that you are in that situation then it might be time to consider getting a greenhouse.

Greenhouses are available in many different sizes and there are some very compact versions that will suit most budgets.  Having one of these greenhouses tucked away in a sunny corner of your garden will be a godsend when the weather dictates that you would normally have to stay inside rather than venture out into your garden.

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

With the added benefit of being able to control damage that might have been caused by birds, insects and the weather, greenhouses can also save you a lot of money in the long term.

They are excellent for growing seedlings and also for extending the season that you will be able to grow particular plants by controlling the climate.

You should always set your greenhouse in a position that gets the maximum amount of sunlight throughout the day while allowing easy access to water and electricity.

If you have a particularly windy property make sure that the door to the greenhouse is facing away from the prevailing wind.

When deciding on the size of greenhouse that you need always try to get the biggest one possible as once you see the benefits of having a greenhouse you might find that you will be wanting more and more room.

That way you will be able to spread out your plants giving them more room to breathe and reducing the risk of disease.

Most good greenhouses come with in-built ventilation systems, which are essential to reduce the temperature when it begins to rise.  If you decide to build your own greenhouse, ventilation is one of the most important factors that you need to consider.

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

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

Hi everyone

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

Gardening Can Improve Your Health

QUOTE: I'd rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck.
- Emma Goldman

While we are attending to the health of our plants, we too are improving our health both physically and mentally.

Even the relatively light work of weeding the garden is good exercise and particularly with elderly people it is an opportunity to get outside, breath the fresh air and improve their well-being.

As we bend down to pull out weeds or pick up plants and pots we are exercising and stretching our muscles and keeping our joints active.

This helps to circulate the blood through the body and help maintain a healthy heart.
It is also good for the mind as gardening can relax the mind and reduce stress.

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

Working outside in the garden also exposes us to sunlight and that is essential for Vitamin D, which helps the body to absorb calcium, and this is particularly important for women.

Gardening is one of the most popular hobbies in the country and also ranks as one of the most popular forms of exercise for many people.

Along with any form of exercise precautions need to be taken. Lifting heavy pots and plants can also do damage to the lower back and knees so we need to be sensible when gardening to ensure we can continue to enjoy this wonderful pastime.

Like the lower back, our knees are susceptible to damage from gardening if we tend to kneel down while working but fortunately there are various gardeners' aids that can be worn or used to help protect our knees.

There are also belts that can be worn to support our back when lifting heavy items in the garden.

If you take a sensible approach to your gardening and don't over extend yourself you can reap the rewards of improved health and happiness while enjoying the fun of creating your own piece of paradise.

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

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