Organic Gardening Tips

How to garden organically


You are here: Home / Archives for 2009

Archives for 2009

The Bonsai Tree – A True Work Of Art

by

Bonsai trees are truly spectacular. They are unique, different looking than all other trees and plants in the world, and this is one of the most loved features of all. Bonsai trees are normal plants, propagated like any other, but trained using sophisticated techniques to keep them small. This training includes basics like regular pruning and wiring, but also more advanced techniques such as creating Jin and Shari on trees. Bonsai trees are not small trees by nature. By placing any tree in a small container and root pruning you can have a Bonsai tree.

The art of Bonsai gardening evolves and develops as long as you want it to. Bonsai growing is a timeless art that has no end as you continue to nurture on a daily basis which makes it a rewarding experience. Although the bonsai word is of a Japanese origin it is believed to have started 17 hundred years ago by the chinese. Bon means “tray” in Japanese and sai means “to plant.”.Therefore literally translated it means to plant in a tray. The art of bonsai involves the bringing together of tree and pot in visual harmony.

Bonsai trees are not dwarf versions of regular trees. By using wire you control their growth along with pruning and shaping to achieve the correct size and shape. Bonsai trees are also said to bring peace and serenity to any open space, they can also make the air a little clearer around your gardening space. Bonsai trees are small and their height is typically around 2-3 feet. Grown in decorative containers, bonsai trees are kept small and in any desired shape by pruning the roots and branches.

Bonsai gardening is not an expensive hobby with few tools being required and they are a true living sculpture that anyone would be proud to display. Growing a bonsai is a combination of art and gardening. Bonsai are often described as living sculptures because you are not just letting it grow you are shaping it as it grows. growing a bonsai tree properely leads to a true work of art while being very relaxing and a feeling of achievement.

Growing and creating an Indoor Bonsai tree is container gardening at its best and makes a nice addition to your home or workplace. There is a great sense of achievement and pleasure nurturing and creating a bonsai tree, the end result being an easy to care for work of art and a joy to behold.







Raised Bed Gardens – Some Advantages

by

Gardening by means of a raised bed garden can be a great deal more comfortable than conventional gardening and can resolve various common problems. In a raised bed a support is used to hold earth above the ground at a convenient height so this kind of gardening is perfect for anyone in a wheelchair or who has trouble kneeling down to tend a conventional garden. You can easily grow all kinds of plants including vegetables, herbs and flowers. Drainage is a great deal better in this style of garden and vegetables and flowers that grow better in well drained soil will flourish.

Raised bed gardens aren’t hard to make but if you are not talented at woodwork you can purchase raised garden kits that are straightforward to install and will last for many decades. They are obtainable in lots of shapes and sizes so you can be certain to find one appropriate for your plot. They also look very eye-catching and several are made from cedar which is guaranteed to continue to look good for many years.

Some Advantages of Raised Bed Gardening

* Earth in a raised bed warms up more rapidly than the soil in your garden in the early months of the year and will keep warmer longer in the Autumn. This allows you an extended growing season, consequently you can sow or transplant seedlings earlier and give your plants more time to grow.

* If you have poor earth in your garden which is deficient in nutrients or possibly is very heavy clay then the use of a raised bed can answer your problem. You can supply good quality soil with all the right nutrients so that your plants will grow well.

* If you have physical or medical problems so that it is painful to kneel for long or this type of effort makes worse your back pain then using a raised bed can make gardening more enjoyable. Making a bed at an appropriate height will prevent pressure on your back and knees and allow you to garden for much longer. For those who have to make use of a wheelchair this form of gardening will let them get pleasure from growing vegetables and flowers which they cannot do in a standard garden.

* In a raised bed which is properly made, drainage is better than in a standard garden and you won’t have waterlogged soil that can harm your plants and lead to inadequate growth.

* In a raised bed you may sow closer together which you to grow additional plants in the same area and also helps in preventing weeds from growing and also conserves water.

* Soil doesn’t become flattened from being walked on in this style of garden which permits water and air to get through to the roots more easily ensuring they grow well.

* Although you could blend earth from your garden with soil bought from a garden store it is better to use all newly prepared soil. This will ensure that there are no weed seeds or pests in the soil which will give a much better start to your garden and your plants. It will also decrease weeding. If insects or other pests do infest your raised bed they are easy to take care of in a small area or, in extreme cases, you can get rid of all of the soil and replenish with fresh, uncontaminated soil.

Conclusion

Raised gardens can solve many of your gardening troubles, are especially nice-looking and will last for very many. Cedar raised garden kits are particularly popular as they are water resistant and exceptionally long lasting. Whether you opt to build your own raised garden or purchase a raised garden kit you will discover that you will like your gardening more and will raise many more nourishing vegetables and attractive flower beds.

Selecting Tomato Cultivars For Container Gardening

by

Given a large enough pot, nearly all varieties of tomatoes are suitable for container gardening; however, some will yield better results than others. 

What Size Tomato is Best for Container Gardening?

The large beefsteak tomatoes like Mortgage Lifter, Brandywine and Celebrity may not yield the super-sized fruits when confined to a container, although properly watered and fertilized, the flavor can be every bit as good as the 1-2 pound fruits the plants might produce planted in the ground.

Cherry and grape varieties suffer least from the dwarfing effects of container gardening tomatoes.  The smaller fruits are naturally more adapted to the limited water and nutrient environment of a container.Tomatoes bred include Tumbler, Window Box Roma, Florida Basket, Tiny Tim and Patio for container gardening.  The largest of these produce 2- to 3-ounce tomatoes.  Tumbling Tom, a newer tomato hybridized for container gardening, grows only 6 inches wide, making it a perfect focal point plant in a container herb garden.

Between the two size extremes, mid-sized slicing tomatoes like Early Girl and paste tomatoes like Romas will often yield satisfactory results grown in containers.  These naturally yield tomatoes in the range of four to eight ounces.  While they may not grow quite as large confined to a container, with proper care, the difference is minimal.

Determinant or Indeterminant Tomatoes for Container Gardening
Tomatoes are classified into two main growth habits: determinant and indeterminant.  Seed packets or transplant nursery tags will note this information.  Each tomato has advantages in container gardening, and disadvantages.Determinant or indeterminant varieties of tomatoes is decided by desired purpose and aesthetics of the tomato container garden.

Indeterminant tomatoes keep growing throughout the summer and set clusters of tomatoes consistently throughout the growing season.  Indeterminant tomatoes make better hanging baskets than patio specimens, as the vines can cascade over the sides of the basket and keep growing.  A consistent supply of blossoms and fruits adds visual interest, but even with container gardening, tomato vines can grow to 6 feet or more on indeterminant cultivars, making them difficult to support without a large tomato cage, which may not be attractive while the plant is growing into it.  The size also requires a large pot, with at least a five gallon capacity.

Determinant tomatoes grow to a set size and tend to set all the fruit at once, or in two to three flushes over a few weeks.  The limited size makes these easier to manage in containers with stakes, smaller tomato cages or ornamental supports, and container gardening with determinant tomatoes does not require quite as large a pot as with indeterminants.  However, the determinant tomatoes have a shorter period of being attractive plants for display.

A Garden Pond Can Transform Your Yard

by

Many of us would have enjoyed the peace and serenity of sitting by a pond in a garden occasionallyt. A garden pond is more than just a landscape feature – it can create a warm, welcoming and relaxing environment. Backyard ponds are a wonderful addition to any home and can provide enjoyment for your family and friends. However, are you aware that a garden pond can provide a benefit to local fauna?

Depending on where you live, there are many fauna species that may benefit from your pond. Butterflies and birds, frogs and fish, snails, turtles and insects will all benefit from having access to a pond. By attacting the native fauna you will enhance the enjoymnet that your pond gives you.

Humans Love Ponds Too

When you widen the term “local wildlife” to include your friends and family, you’ll see that there are many benefits to making a pond in your garden. There are proven health benefits associated with practicing relaxation techniques, and spending time by a garden pond is certainly a relaxing endeavor. When you feel stressed take a stroll to your garden pond and listen to the sound of the water and your mood will lift.

A pond in the backyard can do so much for your life. They can be almost anything you want them to be: an exciting science experiment, a place for relaxation and reflection, a way to educate your children about an ecosystem, or a unique garden feature.

Pond Pets

Backyard ponds can even provide an environment for special pets. Koi make interesting pets that will adapt to life in a back yard pond. Koi are a member of the carp family and can grow up to three feet long. They have been known to live from 30 to 50 years, so keeping koi is not exactly a short-term or casual hobby.

However, if you can make the commitment to care for your koi, they can add to the relaxation and tranquility of your pond. You’ll enjoy watching these elegant and colorful fish interact with each other.

How To Start With Garden Pond Design

Due to the popularity of ponds, you will find pond kits in most nurseries or garden centers that will include easy instructions on how to build a garden pond. Would prefer to have a professional handle the installation? Many landscaping firms will be able to construct a garden pond for you and by grabbing your copy of “How To Build A Pond” you’ll be better equipped to discuss your requirements and have an understanding of garden pond design.

DesigningYour New Garden

by

So you’ve settled into your new home and it is time to think about the garden. It’s a mess. The grass has been taken care of, but everything else is an overgrown mess. Full of weeds and plain unsightly. If it is a new build, it’s also full of builders rubble.Don’t Panic! Before you really start to work on your garden, you need to decide what you want to use it for.
Perhaps you need some of these:-

  • Decorative flower beds
  • Somewhere to entertain
  • A vegetable plot
  • A greenhouse to raise plants
  • A garden pond
  • A playground for the kids

It is always a good idea to make a shortlist of your needs. The last thing you want is a patch of grass bordered with narrow flowerd beds.

Provided you have a reasonable size patch, with some planning it is fairly easy to combine two or more of the above uses. You might want use some landscape design software to make this process easier. You should always start by drawing an outline of the plot together with an indication of where the sun is. You will then know which areas are shady and which are in full sunshine. You will also want to place seating to catch the last of the evening sun when you are entertaining. There are also plants which will only survive in the sun – and those which will wither given to much sun.

You now need to clear the worst of the builders rubble before you do anything else. Next test your soil PH. You need to know whether you have an acid soil or if it is alkiline. Test several different places, since the PH may vary across the garden.

Right, so now you have the shape, size, aspect and soil type of your garden. Time to get to work. Clear all those weeds and dig the garden over. There are no reliable shortcuts. You can try weed-killer, but the deep rooted and pernicious weeds will only come back. Whatever you decide to grow, it will do much better and save a lot of time and effort in the long run if you do this preparation thoroughly. Its boring, its tedious, its hard work, with very little to show for it. But its necessary.

Now for the hard landscaping. Deciding where to put paths, garden ponds,a patio or seating area, and if you want them a potting shed and a greenhouse. A garden shed may seem unnecessary at first, but you will find it immensely useful to store all your tools (thus freeing room in your garage or utility room). If organised, it will make it much easier to find everything and can also be used to sow seeds in pots or put plants in pots. The use of sheds in the garden is something books have been written about so I shan’t go into detail here.  However, you will want the shed to be attractive if it can be seen from the house. So be sure that you leave enough room to grow plants over it if wished, or have other ways to screen it.

Now start to draw the general plan of your garden – this is where the fun starts. Just a general outline is enough for now, you don’t need too much detail. If you want a pond or other water feature, plan what you will do with the soil you dig out. What will you do with dead plants, grass cuttings etc. You need a compost heap, again plan where it will go and how you will screen it from the house. If you intend to raise hens, then think about building your own chicken house.

When you start to build your garden, begin with any large excavations you want. Don’t forget any excavations you will need for the garden pond pump and pipes. Next comes paths and hard standings, then any grass. Finally you have the planting.

This all takes time and hard work, but you will eventually be fully rewarded with a garden which will be exactly as you want it, meeting all your requirements and will take much less work to manage than if you had not spent time on the preparation.

Meta

Connect With Us