Organic Gardening is helping the Environment

In many ways organic gardening helps the environment. It starts with the soil and affects the entire cycle of life. There is no part of the environment that organic gardening does not affect.

There is a hidden ecology below the surface of the ground that helps plants grow naturally. Bacteria, earthworms, and decomposed plant debris all work together to form a nutritious growing media for your plants.

It all begins with the soil: when chemical fertilizers and pesticides are used for farming and gardening, the chemicals seep into the ground. This destroys the natural life cycle in the soil. By doing this, bacteria in the soil, which makes nitrogen, are destroyed. Nitrogen is one of the key nutrients for healthy plants to grow. Added to this earthworms are also destroyed. They are the natural ‘tillers’ of the soil. In that these small creatures will help to aerate the soil. All plants need oxygen in the soil for healthy root systems. Earthworms will also help break down the nutrients in the soil so that plants can easily use them.

With the seepage of these chemicals our water gets polluted. These chemicals can be harmful to us and have been proven to be contributors to the rise in cancer. There are also many other latent problems that polluted water will cause. Added to this there is a build up chemicals in the produce we eat, which also affects our health. Water is the very key to our existence and if it is polluted with these chemicals we are setting ourselves up for serious health problems when we drink it. It is also contributing to the death and deterioration of our fish, which is a vital source of food to many.

The plants may look healthy from the outside but in fact they are not. The nutrition quality is less in plants grown with chemicals. The substances from the artificial fertilizers and pesticides accumulate in the produce and we in turn end up ingesting them. Birds and animals in turn eat these plants and will also be absorbing all these chemicals. In fact there is no creature on earth that cannot be affected by this pollution. It is not only artificial fertilizers but also herbicides, and pesticides.

Many of these chemicals are sprayed from the air for quicker application and this ends up polluting the air we breathe. Oxygen is another vital key to life and when this becomes adulterated with all these substances it is another serious threat to our health.

With all these factors polluting the environment it is small wonder that we have so many underlying diseases and are facing so many health problems today. When you use organic gardening methods you will help the world become a better place.

With organic gardening you can enjoy a beautiful garden and delicious organic fruits and vegetables from your very own garden.

To make your enthusiasm for your garden blossom, take a tour and

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Good Garden Design Starts With Thinking before Digging

Garden design takes time. It is too late to plan your garden when you are standing in the nursery eying every new plant that tempts you. Spent some time looking at your garden site, either during the off season, when you can really view it objectively or during the growing season, when your successes and failures make themselves known.

Once you have an idea of how you are going to use your garden, come back to reality and take an objective look at the site before you come up with your garden design. This is of utmost importance in determining which plants and trees you use to achieve the desired effect. 

Monitor it during different times of the day and year 

-      How many hours of sun does the site receive?

-      What times of day is it sunny?

-      Does sun exposure change with the seasons?

-      Do trees allow sun in the spring and shade during summer?

-      How about the soil as far as pH and texture?

-      Are there structures or large trees that will affect plant growth and selection?

-      Are there structures nearby that you would like to camouflage?

-      What plants are already growing there? 

You know what you want to use your garden for, what you are working with and what resources you can devote to it.

Now, what do you want it to look like?

-      Formal or informal?

-      Wild?

-      Should it complement your house?

-      Do you want it to flow with the natural landscape?

-      Do you favour soft pastels or bold tropicals?

All these things might seem overwhelming, but you will be saving yourself a lot of time and a considerable amount of money if you take this advice and you will find that each step gets easier and more fun.

Plant selection should be one of the last things you consider, or you may be overwhelmed trying to create a garden design to accommodate the dozens or even hundreds of plants you crave.

Get to know your planting zone

Before you buy that first plant, you have to know what your planting zone is. Without that knowledge, you can end up ordering all sorts of wonderful looking plants and shrubs only to find that they are not suitable for your planting zone and they will die. You will have spent time and money needlessly.

You can contact your local garden clubs with your questions regarding the suitability and care of plants for your particular area. This knowledge is of critical importance, particularly if you have moved from one zone to another. Not only will you save money, but you will avoid countless hours of frustrating work in your garden.

Keep in mind what your garden will be used for and when. This is important in your plant consideration. If you plan to entertain a lot and don’t want to spend all summer on chores, look for lower maintenance plants that don’t require constant deadheading and staking to look good and, if you are planting for small children, choose plants that will bloom at their eye level, with interesting textures and scents and non-poisonous flowers and seeds.

Make a list of the plants you like and group them by colour, texture and form – design triumvirate of the garden. Also chart them by season of bloom and/or interest. Consider both flowers and foliage. There are more and more plants being bred with colourful foliage that will provide interest in the garden all season.

Be sure to include some large anchor plants that will look good all year. These are usually shrubs and often evergreens. Most small to average gardens can only accommodate one or two trees or shrubs, but they are important for providing the good bones of the garden and you want to choose wisely at the beginning. Trees and shrubs can be very difficult and heavy to move around.

Plant bulbs to add beauty

 

A wonderful way to use bulbs effectively is to naturalize daffodils in a wooded area or group them for colourful accent around evergreen shrubs.

Plan ahead when planting bulbs; i.e., for spring flowering you plant in autumn. Follow directions accompanying your bulbs regarding depth (usually six inches) and fertilizer (there are special bulb fertilizers that should be put in the planting holes). An important reminder: again, know your planting zone before ordering any bulbs. They all look so beautiful on pictures and packages, but what grows well in one zone, might not grow so well in another zone.

There are also special tools available for planting bulbs that make digging holes so much easier than using a simple trowel.

I hope you get a vision for your special garden design and wishing you happy planning and planting!

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Home, Garden and Lawn (Mind, Body and Spirit)

There are many ways to make your house (your mind) and lawn turn into a home. Every bit of careful touch you add will help your space feel more personal and inviting for your friends and family. One of the favourite ways to improve the look and feel of a home is through garden plants. 

I love to encourage my friends to invest in some great garden plants when they are at work creating a lawn or renovating their lawn. I love garden plants for so many reasons, but the obvious reason is that they are beautiful. There is nothing better than spending time in a home and a yard that is filled with uniqueness and beauty. Planting a wide variety of garden plants is a great way to add much needed beauty to the outside of a home. Even the most beautiful homes can look mediocre when there isn’t a great lawn and garden to accompany them. 

Another reason I encourage my friends to invest in garden plants for their home is that they will have a reason to get outside and work the land with their hands. I believe that people take much more pride in land that they have to work to cultivate. Our culture has lost something dear and precious since we stopped being a farming culture, and planting even the most simple arrangement of garden plants can be a great way to feel the pride of working the land again.

Having to spend time working with garden plants is also an easy and fun way to get outside and get some exercise. Far too many people are stuck in their homes watching television or reading, and just getting outside to tend garden plants can be a great way for them to get more active. 

If you’re looking to add garden plants to your lawn, then you grab a couple of easy to understand books on the topic and soak up all the knowledge you can about how to properly plant garden plants in your lawn. There is much to be learned about gardening, and taking time to get even the most basic knowledge will help you considerably when you are trying to plant the best garden plants for you. 

To see what garden plants will go great in your lawn and climate go to your local gardening shop. Get the appropriate books and then begin the fun work of planting and tending to the plants growth. 

To get the needed information visit “Garden Lover’s Paradise” at 

http://www.gardeningtoolsandmore.com 

There should be nothing to interrupt your intension to get your garden, your body and your mind into the best lively state you can ever imagine.

Landscaping Includes Also Herb and Vegetable Gardens

Most people think of landscaping as rocks carefully placed, manicured lawns, and large trees scattered about a property. A garden can make a very attractive addition to any landscape. Whether it is an herb garden or whether it is a vegetable garden, these features can be just as beautiful as any other landscape element, and provide added benefits as well. Well maintained vegetable and herb gardens also provide other benefits: They are a source of food and can be a source of very pleasing smells. 

An herb garden is one of the most common types of edible landscape. This is because they are very easy to grow, very tolerant of a variety of climates and conditions, and because they grow rapidly. Additionally, herbs are more than just tasty. Many of them look very nice, with attractively shaped leaves and different shades of green that can add a subtle beauty to the landscape. But not only that, herbs often smell nice. They can surround your home with a pleasing perfume that exudes a true sense of ‘home’.

Many people plant parsley, rosemary, and thyme in their herb gardens, but there are other herbs that can be planted as well. Cilantro is a little milder than parsley, and it has a different look. Mint is another herb that many people do not think to plant, as is lavender. Both of these herbs look different, and they both give off very nice scents. Another herb with a very attractive smell is chamomile.

Even though some of these herbs may be less frequently used, it is possible to find plenty of recipes that use them, and lavender and chamomile are noted for their usefulness in providing an atmosphere of calm. Even the scents can be of use. Simply bring them into the house and enjoy the feelings that accompany the smell. 

Vegetable gardens are other edible landscaping devices that can look very attractive. They can be planted in a variety of climates, and can be grown in a variety of soils. There are some plants that grow only in certain regions, but your basic garden fare can be grown almost anywhere.

Just the look of green plants has been shown to be soothing, and when you grow your own food, it adds another dimension of satisfied feelings associated with self-confidence and accomplishment. Every vegetable has its own look to it, and so it is possible to enjoy a variety of different looks by carefully choosing the plants that you grow. However, you should choose, first and foremost, plants that you will eat. If you are not going to eat much squash, avoid planting it.

But there are plenty of vegetables that have very attractive looking plants and even flowers.

Peas have cute little flowers and send up beautiful curly vines. And there are many species of pepper that look beautiful after the fruit has arrived, with their yellows, greens and reds. 

When you use herb and vegetable gardens as part of the landscape, there is no need to plant them all together in one place. Spread them around the yard. Use tomato plants and squash plants can be used as accents (including pumpkins). 

Herbs make excellent ground cover. Most vegetables and herbs can be grown very successfully in containers. You can make a very attractive landscape design if you use flower boxes for your herbs, and if you use quaint old antique washtubs for things like beans. Pretty sticks can be decorated to emerge from decorative tins for your peas.

The great thing about growing vegetables and herb gardens as part of your landscape is the fact that they are edible. They do not cost very much to plant, and they can save you even more money down the road when you buy less produce at the grocery store. Additionally, if you have too much you can always bottle or freeze it for later.

Many people use the excess plants from their gardens as gifts to their neighbours or family members. There is no reason to relegate herb and vegetable gardens to some hidden corner of the property, or even to garden in a conventional way, with large plots. You can add distinction to your yard by using the unique and inexpensive method of landscaping with herbs and vegetables.

Garden work requires body work and to make this much easier take a look at “Garden Lover’s Paradise” for handy tools, seeds, and ideas to make your dream of your garden come true.

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Gardening Gifts – Wrap Them in Love

Are you looking for ways to make your gardening gifts really unique? Try to wrap them in love and show your loved one you really care. 

You can gift wrap gardening gifts the traditional way, or you can get just a little bit more creative with your gift wrapping to give it a personal touch.

For large gardening gifts such as full-size garden statues, birdbaths, arbours, a garden trellis, garden fountains, or patio furniture, use creative party decorations instead of gift wrap. You can tie big ribbons and balloons along with a card attached to decorate the gift. 

Another way is to decorate the garden statue or fountain in plant or vegetable seed packs. Simply use a hole-puncher to punch small holes in the very corner of each seed pack. Make sure not to puncture the pack where the seeds could spill. Thread ribbon through each of the holes and tie them around the statue, birdbath, or patio furniture with excess curly ribbon hanging for extra decoration. 

Bird houses and bird feeders are smaller items so you can easily place them in a gardening gift basket along with other gardening items such as bird seeds, vegetable or flower seed packs, unique garden tools, and other small garden decoration items. Fill the empty spaces in the basket with colourful cut shreds and fillers. Wrap the basket in a clear or coloured shrink dome bag, and finish with a beautiful bow assortment and a gift card. 

Gift wrapping small garden sculptures and other lawn decorations is a cinch with themed gift boxes. There are garden-themed gift boxes that give your loved one just a ‘hint’ of what is inside. Fill the box with several of their favourite gardening decor items – a small garden sculpture, a wind chime, a sun catcher, along with some seeds, a small bag of soil, and a decorative planter. This is sure to fill their heart as well! 

Gardening gifts can also be complemented by other items that are not particularly for gardening or lawn decoration. This could be a new coffee mug with a special-blend coffee, gourmet chocolate treats (could you resist?), baking mixes, or pampering products for women such as lotions and bath oils. And the male gardener might enjoy some new household tools, tickets to a ball game, or some new work shoes. Items such as these make great ‘Extras’ along with gardening gifts during the holidays or for any occasion. 

Use decorative garden-themed gift bags instead of wrapping paper for a quick, easy gift wrap alternative. There are tie-up gift bags that are coloured or decorated for convenience. 

Wood crate baskets are also popular for gardening gifts. These are small, decorative crates made of wood that are great for giving jars of jams or preserves, small potted plants or flowers, and other small gardening items. 

Using some of these gardening gift wrapping techniques, and of course there is no limit for your own ideas, might make a great impression when you present your gifts to your friends and loved ones. 

Take a walk through ‘Garden Lover’s Paradise’ and you will certainly find one or another item, worth to be looked at and wrapped as a unique present to a special friend. 

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