Fabulous Foliage Winners of the July 2010 Garden Photo Challenge

Congratulations to the winners of last month's Garden Photo Challenge - Fabulous Foliage. I was so impressed, not just by the diversity of foliage, but by how healthy it all looked. Nice job!

We always judge on two criteria: the photo itself and the love of gardening behind it. Foliage makes you pay close attention in the garden. It's way to easy to be distracted by the flowers. These photos give us a chance to look and ponder.

Thank you to everyone who shared their wonderful photos with us. Take a look at the winning photo gallery, as well as all the submissions in the Foliage Challenge thread, on the Forum. You can also get in on the fun this month, with the Vegetable Garden Photo Challenge. If your garden is spilling over with glossy tomatoes or zucchini the size of bats, give us a look.

Photo 1st Place Winner, 'Spanish Moss' Submitted by DanGwrite.

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Gardening Question of the Week: What's 8-1-1 Day?

We all know we're supposed to call our utility companies before we start turning up new soil, but it has always seemed like such a hassle figuring out who to contact. And then there's all that time wasted while being on hold.

Now U.S. residents have no excuse not to check for underground utility lines. 811 is the new federally-mandated national "Call Before You Dig" number. Everyone in the U.S. calls the same One Call Center - 811 - and operators will route your call to the appropriate utility companies. They'll send a pro out to your property within a couple of days and you can start planting trees or mailboxes or whatever your imagination conjures, knowing you, your family and your home are safe.

Here are all the details about the 811 - "Call Before You Dig" number.

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What's Happening to the Cucumber Leaves?

Several of you have written to ask me what's wrong with your cucumber and squash vines. They have a white cast to them and you're worried it's a sign of a disease. Actually, many plants in the squash family have a natural white shading on the leaves from the fuzzy, scratchy hairs. If it's been there most of the season and the plants look healthy and happy, don't worry about it.

If the white is blotchy and powdery, like the spots on the squash leaf here, and if it's spreading, it could easily be powdery mildew. Some varieties of squash and cucs are resistant, but a lot of the old favorites still succumb in humid weather. Powdery mildew doesn't kill the plant, but it does weaken it and it makes it difficult for the plant to photosynthesize and make food. Once powdery mildew takes hold, it's hard to stop it by organic means, but the old stand-by baking soda recipe can help to keep it from spreading.

Photo: � Marie Iannotti

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Featured Plant of the Week: Helenium

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Fall for Planting

II know fall is a great time for planting trees and shrubs, seeding lawns and planting spring bulbs, but I've never really bought into the "Fall is the best time for planting perennials" line of reasoning. I'm not talking about hot climates, where fall is the main growing season. I mean for those of us with four seasons. I think the nurseries all got together and decided a "Fall is for Planting" campaign was a good way to get rid of inventory, so they could bring out the Christmas decorations.

Planting in the fall takes a certain amount of faith. If winter comes early and hard, those newly planted roots aren't going to have a lot of time to spread out in the ground. And I'm just going to have to be patient and wait until the spring thaw, to see if they survived. On the other hand, if summer drags on, I'll have to water the new plants every day, to get them established. I guess there's just no pleasing me.

In an ideal world, fall planting makes sense. Root growth resumes, after a summer of flowering and seed setting. According to David Salman, at High Country Gardens, "80% of a plant's root growth occurs in late summer and fall, so plants establish better." That means fall planted perennials will have a head start, in spring. There is usually plenty of rain, in the fall, and less humidity. And the leave eaters have moved on.

So I'm re-thinking fall planting. Maybe the problem I have is that I should be planting in late summer, so hedge my bets. That means I have some work to do this week. Salman suggests that gardeners in cold climates, like me, "...stick with the most cold hardy types such as Oriental Poppies (Papaver), Beebalm (Monarda), Beardtongues (Penstemon), Sages (Salvia nemerosa types), and Yarrow (Achillea)." For gardeners in mild climates, the nursery is your oyster.

If your nursery has already made the switch to holiday decorations, don't be afraid to order from catalogs or online. They are less busy at this time of year and should get your order out quickly.

Photo: � Marie Iannotti

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Gardening Question of the Week: What Do You Think of Garden Shows?

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Organic Rose Care

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Featured Plant: Agastache

Most gardeners are familiar with the spiky blue anise hyssop. Lovely as it is, there are a lot more Agastache out there, in a variety of colors and scents, like this incredible 'Licorice Mint Hyssop'. What they all share is a hardy disposition, drought tolerance and a long season of bloom. If you've been having a summer like mine, you can use of the heat lovers you can plant.

Freda Cameron celebrated this months Garden Bloggers Bloom Day with photos of the glorious agastache in her North Carolina garden. And over at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Bob Hyland gives us his Agastache A List. Take a peek at Agastache and then keep an eye out for the different varieties available in your local nurseries. They're beautiful additions to almost any garden.

By the way, it's pronounced ag-ah-STAK-ee.

Photo: � Marie Iannotti (2008) licensed to About.com, Inc..

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Have You Noticed an Increase in Swallowtails?

I just assumed it was my superior gardening skills (yes, that's sarcasm) that were responsible for so many Eastern Tiger Swallowtails flitting about my flowers, this year. Apparently they've been visiting more than just my garden. Carole Brown, over at Ecosystem Gardening, was asked this question enough to bring it to the butterfly experts. They are still pondering. It could be that the cold winter of 2009/2010 knocked down the numbers of parasitoids that prey on swallowtails. Or, it could be something else. We may never know for sure, but it sure is a pretty sight.

Quick Butterfly Quiz:

Which state claims the Eastern Tent Butterfly has its official state butterfly? What happens when you touch a butterflies wings?

Photo: primpwatch / stock.xchng

http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1050130

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The Benefits of a Plastic Greenhouse

Once decided to buy a greenhouse, you will undoubtedly reach a crossroad, where you must decide whether you want a plastic or a glass greenhouse. Whilst a glass greenhouse may be something from your childhood memories, and you may even think that any greenhouse that is not made of glass isn't "the real thing", you should not overlook the wonderful world and selection of plastic greenhouses.

You should remember that the sole function of a greenhouse is to let the sun's warming rays in and to isolate the plants growing inside from the potential cold weather, rain or wind outside. When it comes to greenhouses, however, both glass and plastic serve this purpose more or less the same. In fact, there are no conclusive scientific studies that suggest that either one works better as a greenhouse cladding material. Most greenhouses are structurally very similar, the only variable being the cladding material. Therefore, let's observe some benefits that plastic cladding has over glass.

Firstly, plastic greenhouses are far more cheaper than glass greenhouses. Once you realize that there is no big difference between plastic and glass in practice, the price should become the decisive factor in anyone's eyes. In fact, glass greenhouses can be up to 40 percent more expensive than their glass counterparts.

Also, a study suggests, that a properly sealed and constructed plastic greenhouse offers less uncontrolled energy loss. The study claims that a plastic greenhouse is up to 30% more energy efficient compared to a glass greenhouse. In terms of expenses on the integrated energy system, you can find massive savings here when using a plastic greenhouse.

Plastic cladding is also much more easier to fit, saving you time and frustration once you start setting your greenhouse up. Setting up a glass greenhouse can be tedious work, as every glass panel needs to be carefully attached individually.

Finally, consider the physical properties of glass versus plastic. Glass is brittle and can break under strain. For example, glass is likely to shatter when hit by falling trees, dangerously large hail or other projectiles, whilst plastic is likely to cushion the impact or bend. Glass is also quite sensitive to temperature changes. For example, if it is very cold outside and very warm inside, glass can shatter because of the temperature differences (This is why it is not recommended to drink tea or coffee from a glass).

All in all, both plastic and glass greenhouses have their ups and downs, however the significantly lower cost of plastic greenhouses should be enough of an argument for anyone on a budget.

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Two Common Types of Orchids and Their Well-Known Species

Orchids fall into two common classes or types: terrestrial or epiphyte. Terrestrial means the species grows in the ground. Epiphyte means that the plant grows on another object as on a tree, on a rock or on a pole.

A terrestrial orchid is generally planted in the ground. Similar to common ground plants, some terrestrial orchids can have roots that are beneath the surface of the soil. Some orchids are considered semi-terrestrial, where they have roots both in the ground and roots aerially. The Cymbidium orchid, a terrestrial orchid, has 52 species plus many hybrids. It was probably one of the first orchids to have been cultivated. These orchids are robust in the sense that they can not only grow in the ground, but also on trees and rocks. They do well in decayed leaves or in the loose humus of rotted wood. In their natural habitat they can be found in the range from Southeast Asia to Japan. They can also be found in Australia. They are easy to grow and have become very popular; they are the perfect choice for beginning orchid growers. Given the correct care, they will provide flowers annually.

An epiphytic plant is a plant that grows on another object such as on a tree. Dendrobiums are the best known epiphyte orchids. Although they are generally easy to grow, they need a bit more care than Cymbidiums and do not flower on a regular basis easily. Their natural tropical habitat includes Northern India, Southeast Asia, Australia and Polynesia. Dendrobiums will thrive best in warm, moist and humid conditions because they require tropical conditions. Another well-known epiphyte type is the Phalaenopsis. These orchids are usually easy to grow and can have flowers that last long. They are usually present at weddings and can be found in varying colors including yellows, pinks, and even stripes.

Although epiphytic orchids live on a tree, they do not steal the nutrients and moisture that the tree depends upon. They absorb the nutrients and moisture that surround them in their immediate environment. They grab onto the branches of the bark of the tree with their fleshy roots. The collection of organic matter that forms between their roots and the branches is what they use for nutrients. These roots help to sustain the epiphytic orchids in dry and wet periods. A spongy off-white color covering surrounds their tough, stringy core roots that can easily absorb moisture. When water is available, this covering will absorb the water that it needs. The root will become dark green when it is completely saturated. The roots will hold the water until the plant needs it. When it does, the roots will release it gradually to the plant tissues as needed. Other types of epiphytic orchids grow on rocks. These orchids thrive in locations where the light is filtered and usually where it is airy and open.

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Herb Growing at Its Best

Why do you plan to join other gardeners for the herb growing experience? It is important that you know and understand your reasons for herb gardening, because if you don't then you won't become passionate towards your new hobby and you won't turn out to be successful at it. Believe me - the excitement you'll feel is amazing once you start planting your first herbs and harvest it. If you want to grow a herb garden to add more pizzazz and flavor to your home cooking, then you are in for a great experience.

The following are some reasons why many garden enthusiasts start growing herbs. These might also ignite your passion to become a herb gardener too.

1.Herb plants are best for medicinal purposes - This is one of the best reasons why many people plant herbs in the backyard. Not only can natural, organic herb gardening help relieve your stress; it can also fatten your wallet! Think about all the scrumptious medicines that would be available to you once you start gardening. Herbs can help cure simple pains as well as prevent some risky ailments such as cancer and other illnesses brought about by living an unhealthy lifestyle. Herbs are great for your health. Many boast of anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties. How good is that? Growing herbs is a great way to ensure that your foods are nutrient rich and not chemically induced.

2.Herb plants are also best for culinary purposes -The best and most expensive recipes in Italy, China and other countries of the world are made up of culinary herbs. In fact, five star and seven star hotels use food preparations using the best culinary herbs available in their countries. So when you have herbs at home, you can make your family feel as if they are dining in a luxurious hotel or restaurant.
As soon as you learn how to garnish your food with herbs, you'll discover how wonderful your food will taste compared to dishes without it. Zesty and fresh herbs are a must in any kitchen. Cooking with herbs is very much like icing on a cake - it makes any dish complete!

3.Herb plants are easy to find - Herb growing is easy because herbs are simple to find. Herbs are located all over the world and they can grow anywhere. You can even ask some seeds and plants from your neighbors.

4.Space is not a problem - Many people said they cannot plant herbs at home because they don't have a space or are only living in a condo unit. Well, that reason cannot be accepted because space is never really a problem when you really want to plant your herbs. You can use even a very small space in the backyard, your windowsill or even in pots and containers. In Japan, many Japanese and immigrants are maximizing their roofs to plant herbs and other plants.

5.Herb kits are ready for beginners - Herbs kits can give you step-by-step instructions on how and what to do when herb growing. So all you have to do is follow instructions. There are a lot of herb kits available and they are not costly. All you need to do is to choose the best kit available.
So are you to ready to start your herb garden?

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Beginner Hydroponics Gardening Tips

Hydroponics gardening methods involve growing plants without soil and growing them in gravel, sand, water or air, instead. When you are concerned about nutrients for your plants, hydroponics gardening includes using plant foods, nutrients and fertilizer which is added to the water and dissolved before it is fed directly to the roots. Even though the plants will grow smaller roots, they focus more of their energy to plant growth and this is great for growing more vegetables in smaller spaces.

You don't have to worry about the soil space you will need for growing vegetable plants because hydroponics gardening only takes 20% of the space needed for the same amount of vegetables in a soil planted garden. You can use hydroponics gardening without worrying about whether you are over-watering or giving your plants too little water. You also don't have to worry about plant spacing because of proper lighting since plants aren't competing and you can easily rearrange them to get enough light.

When it comes to hydroponics gardening, the type of nutrients you provide the plants is an important part of the success. When you want to grow a vegetable garden using hydroponics gardening, you might find that you can have healthy and vigorous growing plants that yield plenty of vegetables, as long as you are providing sufficient nutrition to the root systems. Because they aren't competing for space with other plants or spending their energy growing large root systems to get necessary moisture and nutrients, you are able to grow larger plants with smaller root systems, leaving them more nutrients to grow vegetables proficiently.

For those that are looking to jump into hydroponic gardens, there are a few things to consider, like if you are going to buy or build your own system. Building a hydroponics growing system is not extremely difficult, but may take some patience. For those that are not interested in building their own, buying a system could cost anywhere from fifty to two thousand dollars.

If you enjoy gardening, you don't have to stop just because it is winter. You can still enjoy your plants during the winter - you will just want to do it indoors. One option that is available is known as forcing bulbs. Basically this is all about making the bulb think that the winter has gone and it's time to start blooming. It doesn't take a lot of time or money to do this type of gardening.

If you want to do this winter indoor gardening with bulbs, there are some great bulb choices to consider. This can include narcissuses, tulips, amaryllis, and hyacinths. Not only will you enjoy growing these bulbs, but during the holiday seasons, they make wonderful decorations as well.

Of course, you can use hydroponics gardening for all types of plants. You can grow houseplants, and fruit vines or just about any kind of plants, including flowering plants and bushes. Growing plants using hydroponics gardening can allow beginners to grow productive plants easily with a lot less space than comparable soil gardens.

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The Benefits of an Automatic Watering System

Right from the top, water conservation, saving money, and convenience are three of the key factors that prompt many people to install a timed irrigation system in their lawns. Aside from these main advantages, there is of course the added benefit of keeping your lawn healthy and green through the spring and summer months.

Watering a lawn or garden is so simple, yet many people get it wrong partly because it is so easy. There are numerous times when you might turn your sprinkler, and intend to come back several minutes later to shut it off or move it to another area, but minutes turn into hours and you suddenly remember after large amounts of water have been wasted at your own expense. Another scenario could be that you forgot which areas of your lawn have already been watered, or which days you watered previously. We're all human, and distractions happen, but with an automated watering system it's one less thing you have to stay on top of aside your busy schedule.

So, is an automatic lawn irrigation system worth the cost? It may be on the expensive side, but it frees you from one of the most aggravating and time-consuming outdoor chores, and can save you a lot of water if you are prone to forgetting your sprinkler when it's running. Clearly one of the key benefits here is water conservation, which translates into savings for you that add up over time. You can manage your irrigation system's timetable, so you can always be sure that the right amount of water is going to the right areas, exactly when you want it. Sprinklers are placed and spaced in a way that will guarantee thorough, even coverage at the right precipitation level. This methodical, exacting automation is what you are paying for. With an automated irrigation system you can fully adjust your water levels. Also, some systems are equipped with rain detectors that will suspend the watering system during rainfall.

An automatic lawn irrigation system consists of multiple sprinkler heads interconnected with tubing, and can be separated into multiple zones. Each zone has its own sprinkler heads and a control valve which regulates the water flow, and these valves are all connected to a central control mechanism, normally placed in the garage, basement, or other protected area of your home. The control panel serves as the brains of the entire system. When the central control panel activates a specific zone, a control valve opens, the system becomes charged and the sprinklers start ticking away. There are many different types of sprinkler heads, each suited to a particular type and size of area requiring watering. There are sprayers which deliver a fine mist uniformly out in all directions, rotary heads which blast water out in a wide circle, and drip type heads for more specific landscape areas. Sprayer heads are normally used when accuracy of coverage is essential, while rotary heads deliver water to a large area and require fewer units. Many sprinkler heads are available in pop-up versions, rising several inches above the ground when water pressure is applied so as not to be obstructed by small plants and shrubs.

Let's review. There are likely only a couple reasons why you are considering an automatic lawn sprinkler system - Simplicity and Savings. These systems may be costly initially, but the water savings, and more importantly the time you will save, are worth every penny. No more grabbing the hose and spraying the lawn while you get wet and cold, no more forgetting the sprinkler was turned on, and no more remembering which areas you have watered and how often. All of these things are removed from your schedule when you operate an automatic watering system.

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Why Use Raised Beds

Raised beds are elevated structures usually made of wood, rock walls, stone, or even short lengths of logs in which the gardener can effectively provide a plant’s basic requirement. This idea of planting above the level of the ground has existed for centuries but seems to be getting more and more popular. Nine of the thirteen advantages to using these elevated designs are as follows:

1. In raised beds (whether for vegetables, herbs, succulents, or flowers), you can more efficiently amend the soil in such a way that a certain plant’s requirements are fully satisfied. For example, if a given plant requires an acidic soil, you can make sure your soil is acidic by first testing your soil’s pH and then, if needed, lowering your pH by adding sulfur. (Always check the directions first).

2. Even if you get cool, wet springs, the soil in raised beds will warm up at least two weeks faster than the soil in a regular garden. This early start gives the gardener the advantage of being able to begin working and amending the soil and planting that much earlier.

3. If you’ve experienced the resulting flooding and even lingering water in your garden after a heavy rain, you’ll appreciate the fact that when the soil is raised above the ground, drainage is possible. Therefore, unless the soil around the bed is flooded quite high, no matter how much rain you get, your plants in the raised beds will not get bogged down in puddles of water.

4. Because your plants are set up in containers which are not easily destroyed, it does not matter if the structure gets bumped by children’s toys or garden furniture. Your plants will not be affected.

5. One main factor is that you can organize your garden beds in whatever order you wish. You can create an orderly interesting panorama which will keep changing as the different vegetables and flowers in the raised beds go through various growth and color from month to month. Thus you can create interest and variety in spring, summer, fall, and even winter.

7. Your beds can be built any height or size. For the person in a wheel chair or a person who cannot bend for one reason or another, such as one with a knee or hip replacement, a a raised garden bed is the answer.

8. This one is a winner especially if you have problems with small animals! To stop gophers from tunneling up to your precious plants, you can encase the bottom of your container with close-meshed galvanized screenings before you add your soil. If you have squirrels, you can protect your bulbs by laying a layer of chicken wire across the top of your container as soon as you plant your bulbs. The wire can remain there forever. You needn’t worry! The growing plant will find its way through the wire. You can protect your berries from birds by using a nylon or wire netting. In other words, the wooden structure allows you to use whatever is necessary to enclose your plants to save them from “unwanted varmints”.

9. It is important to have air circulating in your soil. I remember my grandmother always making sure that the soil around her plants were loosened up “to allow air flow”. When you use raised garden beds, there is no need to walk on the soil or to use equipment. The result is that your soil will not get compacted; thus both air and water will more reach the roots more easily.

Regardless of shape and size, when raised beds are filled with nutrient-filled soil, the results are the same – lush plants and/or delicious, nutrition-filled vegetables.

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10 Power Tools Every Handyman Should Own

Every handyman knows you need the right tool to do the right job, but with so many tools to choose from how do you know that you're prepared for almost anything? Here's our list of the top .

The power drill.
From hanging pictures to building a treehouse or even building a real house a power drill on your hip means you're ready to do business. Make sure that your power drill is ready for any job by having a set of variable size and use bits. Even the most basic set of drill bits should have concrete, metal and wood bits which should cover almost any job. A drill with a "hammer" setting can be extremely useful when dealing with missionary, concrete, or stone.

Circular saw.
A circular saw can be extremely helpful in doing most of the cutting your average handyman needs doing. Modern blades with carbonized tips can chew through almost any job and seemingly lasts forever.

Reciprocating saw.
For those jobs where your handy circular saw just don't cut it the insatiable reciprocating saw is ready to step up to bat. Most useful as a demolition device the reciprocating saw is good for standing up or over your head jobs and is your best choice for cutting holes in existing walls.

Jigsaw.
Rounding out your power saw collection the ever useful and oh so precise jigsaw cuts a fine line between the flexibility of the reciprocating saw and the precision of the circular saw. The small fine blade of your jigsaw is perfect for tight cuts and finish work. If you are planning on doing any elaborate woodworking a jigsaw in your tool collection is a must.

Router.
When you need to get into the middle of something a router will get you there. For fine woodworking router can't be beat as it allows you to make smooth cuts in the center of the piece of wood leaving the surrounding sides intact. It is also a good tool for cutting grooves along the edge of the wood.

Power hand plane.
Essential for smoothing and thinning wood a power hand plane trims miniscule layers off of wood in a flat and even amount. This can be particularly useful in hanging doors and fitting windows. Even in simple projects like a worktable or outdoor deck, a planed surface can make a real professional impression.

Orbital hand sander.
If you are interested in saving hours of backbreaking work an orbital hand sander should be in your toolbox. Using spinning round discs of sandpaper this infinitely useful tool can put a fine smooth finish on almost any piece of woodworking. It is probably one the most time saving tool on the list as anyone who has ever done hours and hours of tedious sanding will tell you.

Table saw.
If you want to get really serious about your woodworking then you need one more saw in your workshop and that is the mighty table saw. A bit intimidating to the weekend warrior but once you learn your way around your table saw and begin to explore the multiplicity of uses it provides you will never be without one again. The only real tool for handling large cutting jobs the table saw is the heart of any serious woodworkers tool shop. Just make sure you get http://www.woodworking.about.com/od/gettingstarted/u/WoodworkingBasics.htm : lessons on how to use it while you still have 10 fingers!

Angle grinder.
If you are going to be working with metal, and what serious handy man is not, then you will need something more than an orbital hand sander to get those welds and edges smoothed. An angle grinder is to metal as sandpaper is to wood, without it your metal working jobs will always be plagued by sharp and jagged edges.

Wet dry shop vac.
A serious handyman always makes a serious mess with a wet dry shop vac you'll be able to clean up all the sawdust your mighty table saw generates while retaining the ability to suck up all the drips and drops from your plumbing repairs. http://www.onlinepowertools.co.uk/ : Power Tools Online sales and rental companies offer wet dry power vacs in a variety of sizes so there's no excuse not to have one of your own!

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How to Choose a Lawn Mower

We all know that a lawn mower is an instrument or machine that has revolving blades which cut lawn grass at an even length. A lawn mower is a big investment, and you should be extra cautious and doubly certain before making the final purchase. You should realize that every lawn is different in shape and size, so opting for one just because you saw a particular model in your neighbor’s garden or grabbing the latest mower that has hit the market just for the sake of owning the grandest, is not a viable idea at all.

Steps to take before Buying a Land Mower:

1. Take a walk around and have a good look at your yard. Check out its size; whether it is big or small? Is it flat or sloppy in certain areas or it has obstacles like trees, shrubs, bushes, walls, etc?

2. Next important thing is checking whether the grass sprouting on your lawn is thick or thin?

3. Courtesy is a virtue. So, if you are staying in a neighborhood, noisy lawn mowers can create quite a nuisance. Also, check out the zoning laws about air and noise pollution.

4. If you are in California, then you need to consider the California Air Resources Board (CARB) legislation on non-road small engine (lawnmowers and weed trimmers among others) pollution control.
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5. Check out the storage space for your lawn mower in your garage or shed.

6. Make sure that the handle adjustment of mower you wish to buy it ideal according to your height.

7. Finally, it all boils down to your budget. You can get a mower for $200 or $1000 or more. Making a best buy is very important. You should make sure that the mower you buy is designed to last for years.

Now, let’s see the different types of mowers available at your disposal and which ones suit you the best.

1. If you own a small yard, then a push reel mower could be a wise choice. These are environment friendly, and a best buy if you have a small budget. You will also get quite a good workout with a push reel mower.

2. Self propelled rotary lawn mowers are always an option for those having big and sloppy lawns. They come cheap, are low in maintenance and are also very easy to use.

3. Electric mowers are not only easy to use but are environment friendly as well. They also do not fall under the CARB compliant legislation. You can choose from cord and cordless models.

4. If you want to avoid clippings, then choose mulching mower as it cuts clippings very small so that they disappear into the lawn.

5. It is viable to opt for a gas-powered reel mower if you have a large lawn made of thick grass that you need to be cut shorter than 2 inches high.

6. If you are the proud owner of a big lawn, then choosing a riding lawn mower would seem appropriate.

But all said and done, a lot still depends upon your interest in the job. It doesn’t matter if you mow your lawn, or hire a gardener; you should make sure that the lawn mower that you own is well maintained.

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Growing Plants In Containers

is a lot of fun. It is not complicated and by following a few common sense rules, satisfaction is guaranteed. For a small starter plant, be it a shrub or any ornamental plant, a small container of 3 or 4 inch is sufficient, at first. Of course, until these little babies grow bigger, then you will need to step them up in a larger container, like 1 gallon size for example.

First you need the little plants, but how to get them? Well, you can start some of them from seeds, or rooted cuttings. Or you can purchase the little plants, called liners or plugs, from your local Garden Center, or you can root them yourself. It is a lot of fun in doing it.

It is not really that complicated, and it is not hard at all. Let's assume that you need some shrubs for a foundation planting in front and on the sides of your house, something that does not grow too tall, and you will be able to control by trimming and pruning. Let's start with a Compacta Holly, a nice evergreen that is easy to grow, and as they grow you can shape them any way you like. They are used also for topiary, and hedges, borders, group planting and in many other ways.

Now you are going to need a mature shrub as a source to make your cuttings. If you don't have any already on your property, see if your neighbour or a friend might have some, and ask for permission to take a few cuttings. Another solution would be to buy just one Compacta Holly (or it could be any shrub for that matter), that is bushy enough, and that has some semi-tender new growth on it. The cuttings from these woody shrubs, should not be too mature nor too tender. Just cut bellow the portion that is brown turning to green upward. Cut them about 4 to 6 inches long.

Get some good quality peat-moss blend potting soil with micro-nutrients blended in it, and some cell packs. The 6 cell jumbo packs works good. Fill up the cells with the potting soil and wet it with a fine sprinkle of water. With a sharp knife (do not use scissors) cut the lower end of the cutting in a slanted cut, and trim the tips with a scissors this time, to encourage growth.

Now stick the cuttings in the soil, one in each cell, and press the soil around it. Once you put them all in, set the cells in a shady place, and with a hand held bottle spray mist the cuttings every now and then, to keep the leaves wet. Remember, these plants do not have roots yet, so they feed through the leaves. Make sure that the soil itself stays wet too, to encourage the cuttings to reach down for water, thus growing the roots.

Once you see some roots sticking out the holes on the bottom of the cell pack, it is a good sign that they are growing roots. Just wait a little while longer, until you get a root ball, before you transplant them in a 4 inch container. This should take about 6 to 8 weeks, if all goes well.

These Compacta Hollies on the left, (you will see the pictures in my blog)are planted in 4 inch containers, and they had their first 'haircut' already. These shrubs are pretty fast growing, and soon they'll need to be stepped up in 1 or even 2 gallon size pots.

This rooting procedures from cuttings can be applied to almost any woody shrubs like Boxwood, Youpon, Helleri, Soft Touch, Azaleas, Ligustrum, Loropetalum, Pitosporum, and many others.

The Compacta Hollies can be planted in a straight line, staggered, as accent planting, group planting, hedges, etc. You just use your imagination, or get inspired from a specialty landscaping magazine. Just figure out how many you need for your own project, and root as many as you need.

In this picture (on my blog), you can see a mature Compacta Holly planted as a hedge, and on the left is a Loropetalum. This hedge is about 5 years old, but they were trimmed many times, to keep them low. Very easy to grow. You can have yours and be happy to watch them grow. Now sit on your bench, in the company of birds, butterflies and the little busy bees, sip your cup of coffee, in the tranquility of your little heaven and enjoy!

In this picture above are some Youpon shrubs in the front, and some Compactas behind them, that can be shaped round, oval, or any shape you want. All these shrubs are low maintenance, unlike other blooming perennials.

I really do appreciate you visiting my blog! Leaving a comment and following me in this blog, is highly appreciated!

Until next time, happy Gardening! And get your hands dirty, it's good for you!

Mike Borlovan

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How To Plant Your Own Vegetable Garden

If you think about having your own vegetable garden where you can pluck them out with your own hand, fresh and full of vitamins and minerals, there is nothing really, to compare or even come close to it. They taste better and they are much more nutritious than the produce that is shipped and travels long distance.

For convenience, you probably used to go to the supermarket to buy your fruits and vegetables, but honestly, they just cannot compare with what you can grow and eat raw or cooked from your own garden.

If you never had the experience to create your garden yet, and all you have eaten was the produce from your local supermarket, or from the roadside fruit stand, than you are missing out, and you owe it to yourself to think very seriously to start your garden, if you really want to eat fresh and healthy. It is not really that hard, and it sure is not complicated at all. And once you have it, you will be glad you did.

Just think of the benefits to be outdoors, in nature, and work in the tranquility of your little paradise. Not withstanding the free exercise you are getting in the process. That's good for your body, mind, and soul.

And of course you want to do it right. So it is a pretty good idea to make a little plan, draw it on a sheet of paper and stick to it.

First, choose a good sunny spot, where you don't get too much shade or no shade at all if possible, and the plot should be free of rocks or debris. But it should be close enough to the house to be able to water with a hose hooked to a spigot, when you need to water if and when it's not raining.

Prepare the soil. This is very important, and your success will very much depend on how well you prepare the site for your garden. If the soil is clay or sandy and lacks nutrients, it must be amended and enriched with composted material, like cow manure, organic fertilizer and minerals if needed. To make it even cheaper for next season, collect the leaves and other vegetation, kitchen leftovers, grass clippings, and make your own compost. The soil will need nutrients to replace those used and depleted by the vegetables as they feed from the soil.

The best thing is to spread the compost all over your garden site, and till it in the soil, in the fall, so it will have enough time to decay and blend in the garden. This way the ground is resting over the winter, and will be more nutritious in the spring for the planting time.

Now think of what vegetables would you like to grow, something you enjoy eating the most. So, buy the seeds for the vegetables you choose, and go from there. A few examples just to get an idea, would be; tomatoes, bell peppers, hot peppers, squash, radish, cucumbers, lettuce, onions (sets).

Maybe a few herbs to spice up your cooking with, like, dill, parsley, oregano, basil, arugula, rosemary, cilantro, etc. It all depends on how much space you have, and how large a garden you want to have. Herb plants don't take too much room, and they are fun to grow. Just think of that nice aroma, flavour and fragrance they so freely give, in exchange of just a little LTC. Loving Tender Care.

To have a good and early start with your garden, start your seeds indoors, and plant the transplants after the danger of late frost is past. It depends on where you live.

One of the best methods would be to start the seeds in little peat pots, like the Jiffy-pots, so that when you plant the little plants outside plant them with the Jiffy pots, thus not disturbing the tender roots of the transplants. If you prefer, you can plant the seeds directly in rows, according to the instructions on the seed packets.

Plant the plants according to their size, and group them together. The low growing ones, should be separate from the tall growing ones, as to not block the sun light from reaching evenly on all the plants.

Water well and keep the soil moist. Don't let the soil dry completely out between watering, nor keep it too soggy either.

Once they started to grow, you can water them good, and then leave them alone and give them a chance to drink and feed. Water again before the soil dries out completely. Just kind of feel the soil to see if it is still wet, by sticking your finger in the dirt about 2 inches, and if it is still moist, leave them alone for a while. Once you get familiar with your garden, sometimes the plants will let you know when it is time to water. They will start to wilt a little, and as soon as you water them, they perk right up. But do not let them wilt beyond hope!

Now sit and relax on a bench, somewhere in the shade, and watch how the little seeds sprout out of the soil. It is very rewarding to see, as the hard part of gardening is pretty much over, except that now and then watch for them pesky weeds to pluck them out, and don't let them invade your little paradise. Wait patiently for the time when you take out of your garden, with your own hand, and enjoy those healthy, juicy vegetables. It is simply wonderful.

Happy Gardening!

Mike Borlovan

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Gardening Like A Professional With Modest Means

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It is easy and very possible, indeed. It is not hard at all!

You don't really have to be a professional gardener to grow and achieve quality, vibrant, healthy and full of life vegetables. All you need is a desire to learn, to experiment, and apply in practice what you've learned.

There is so much information available at your finger tips!

Mother nature is so rich, and so freely giving, that we could never exhaust her of the never ending resources she has. The only thing we need to learn is how to receive and take from her, as long as we do not try to destroy her.

And we need to give some of it back, too, by composting the leftovers, and helping the soil to get fertile again, through natural means.

Sometimes the plot we intend to grow our vegetables in, is depleted of the best nutrients it used to offer, or the soil clay, or too sandy, and it is not as we would like. The soil needs to be darker, with composted matter. The first impulse would be to apply some chemically based fertilizer, but that's obviously not the best solution.

Since the land is so over fertilized in the lands where the produce is grown, and we buy it from the supermarket shelf at the produce section, they are hardly safe to eat anymore. You don't know what kind and how much fertilizer and pesticides and fungicides was used to increase their bottom line for their productivity!

So what are we going to do? We have to eat fruits and vegetables, we've got to feed our families. But thank God there is an alternative to it: start your own Garden and grow your own fresh fruits and vegetables, if you don't have one already. That's the smart thing to do. Especially today, when most of our produce is coming from imports, traveling long distance and we don't have a clue how were they grown!

You don't know how old they are, if they have any nutrition value, as most of them are picked green and forced riped, to look good by the time they are delivered to the stores.

We certainly don't need to poison our bodies with chemical fertilizers and pesticides, that we don't even have any idea how much was there applied. And besides that we don't know how was the produce handled.

So the solution again, is to create and grow your own vegetable garden. Make it fertile, first, if it's not fertile already.

In my humble opinion, the best way to make the soil fertile is through natural means if we want to stay healthy. Let's think of the forest, where the trees have grown and survived for hundreds of years. They even survived fires, and revived again stronger then before. Why?

Because of it's ability to replenish the nutrients by its natural means, without the intervention of the humans. The trees are dropping the dead limbs, and the leaves that decompose, and turns back into the soil, with the help of rain, wind, sun, heat, earth worms, and our little invisible friends, the micro organisms that feed on them, and thus turn the decaying leaves into humus. That's exactly what the plants need to help them continue the cycle of life. Humus, fertile soil.

And that's exactly what we should do for the soil in our own garden. Collect the leaves from one year to another, have a pile in a corner of the garden, and give it time to decay. Just turn it now and then with a pitch fork, and you'll have the best natural fertilizer possible. For Free!

A lot of people are burning the leaves. Well, if they don't have a garden it's OK, I guess. But if they do have a garden, and they burn the leaves, and then they go to the supply store to buy that expensive chemical fertilizer, in my opinion that is a mistake. But, hey, who knows, maybe they have money to burn!

As for you folks, who are passionate about gardening and are willing to save the leaves, that's like money in your pocket, as well as prime quality fruits and vegetables, much safer to eat, than a lot of other people do, who maybe do not care.

If you have also access to some cow manure, that's perfect. But the leaves are the cheapest and smart way to make your own compost free.

Now there are a lot of ways to make your own compost, of course, food leftovers, sea grass, seaweeds, ground oyster shells, peanut hulls, grass clippings, etc. Absolutely, I don't doubt that. But what I'm saying is that the leaves are the cheapest and the most readily available for almost anyone.

Spread your compost on top of the soil in your selected sunny spot, till it in, and plan for your planting. Choose the vegetables that you like the most. A good time to prepare your garden is in the fall, so during the winter time, the compost will have extra time to decay, and make the soil fertile and ready for the spring planting.

Once you know what kind of vegetables you want to plant, search in your prefered seed Catalogs, and buy your seeds, start them indoors early enough to have the little plans ready to be planted in your garden, right after the danger of late frost is over.

Then it is time to get your hands dirty, but it is worth it! You will be glad you did.

Now relax and sit on a bench, watching the birds singing, and the little butterflies dancing happily in the air, and your vegies growing bigger and full of vitamins and minerals! Reap the benefits of an abundant crop of fresh, vibrant, healthy, and happy fruits and vegetables of your own garden.

Create your own paradise and live smart, healthy, and well.

Until next time,

Happy Gardening!

Mike Borlovan

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