Gardening For Beginners - What Are Perennials?

Perennials are the backbone of many flower gardens. They are the plants that return year after year. To many it's like seeing old friends reappear, surviving the winter's freezing cold and gracing the garden again with their familiar flowers and scents.

It would seem that perennials would be the easy answer for a flower garden - just plant once and for years the garden is complete. The gardener can just sit back and enjoy. This is far from the truth however. Perennials take a little research and planning to be used for full effect. Some bloom very early as Lilies of the Valley and Bleeding Hearts. By the time the early summer flowers of Salvia and Coneflowers emerge the late spring varieties have all but finished for the year. Other varieties like Brown Eyed Susans don't appear at all until late summer. Perennials for the most part don't bloom for the whole season. Using these plants, your gardens will be continually changing throughout the summer. That is why good planning is essential. If only early blooming plants are set that flowerbed will be flowerless by mid summer. Many gardeners try to plant a mixture so they have color throughout the growing season. Others supplement their perennials with splashes of color from annuals.

It is a challenge to create a perennial garden that can be enjoyed throughout the summer. It must be planned carefully taking note of plant heights for optimal placement and plant blooming times for continuous blooming flowers. But, it's very satisfying to have a flowerbed full of lovely perennials. They are a background to build upon. They change throughout the season bringing a new look every month or so to appreciate and enjoy.

Besides planning and careful plant choices, regular light maintenance will help your perennials stay healthy. Dividing, pruning, staking and fertilizing - some or all of these tasks may be necessary. A little care goes a long way with these garden stars.

There are many good sites on the Internet to research perennials and mail order sources for plants and seeds are abundant. Get some catalogs this winter and spend some great time investigating these plants. Local nurseries are also beginning to carry more and more perennial plants as their popularity grows. Try some in your garden and enjoy welcoming back your old friends each summer for years to come.

10 Organic Gardening Tips

1. Test your soil:

If you are looking to have a successful outcome with an organic vegetable garden, you should first test your soil with a do-it-yourself home testing kit before you plant anything. These testing kits can be found at local garden centers and on the Internet at garden speciality stores. The kits use a number scale, 0 to 14, that helps you determine the acidity or alkalinity (also known as pH) levels of your soil. For most vegetables, an ideal number is about 6.5. If the results are too acidic (towards the low end of the scale) or too alkaline (towards the high end of the scale), your plants will not be able reap the benefits of the soil's nutrients. Once you know the results of your soil, you will be able to adjust the soil accordingly by balancing these levels with the nutrients it is lacking.

2. Make plans ahead of time and decide where and how you will grow your garden:

Before you begin digging up your lawn, take a look at your property and decide where you would like to plant a garden. Location is very important, as you will want to pay attention to the position of the sun throughout the day (your plants will need healthy doses of direct sunlight each day), the rockiness of the ground, the drainage quality of the soil, and the location's relation to your main water source.

If you have high quality soil in your yard and you have determined a location, you will want to take advantage of the benefits found in it. Healthy soils have upwards of 650 million microorganisms per one gram of soil. These organisms already present, such as earthworms and other forms of soil life are essential to the life of the soil and will help your garden prosper by providing your plants with valuable nutrients and minerals.

What to do if your soil is not healthy or if you do not have space for a garden at home:

Build a raised bed

By making a raised bed, you will have control over the garden's soil quality. When building your bed, use untreated wood, stones, or brick as a side border and be sure to make the border at least 16 inches high as the depth is important. The plants' roots will need room to stretch and grow.

Consider container gardening

If you are a city dweller, you do not have to miss out on the benefits of growing your own produce. Plant in containers that are large enough to accommodate root growth. Be sure they also have drainage holes. If you are planting organic herbs, pots that are at least 6 inches across are ideal. Another helpful hint is to use plastic pots instead of terra cotta pots. Plastic may not be as aesthetically pleasing, but they will hold moisture longer and will not dry out as quickly as terra cotta pots.

Join a local community garden

Another option is to join a community garden in your area. This is a great way to reap the benefits of growing your own organic food if you do not have land at home. Community gardens are vacant lots or fields that have been turned into mini-farms so that members of the community can plant small gardens of their own. To find out if there are community gardens near you, contact your local parks and recreation department, visit the website http://www.communitygarden.org, or take a stroll in your neighborhood and see if any gardens exist. If you stumble across one, step inside and ask a member what you need to do to join.

3. Select authentic, high quality organic vegetable seeds to use in your garden:

Organic seeds can be found at local nurseries, garden stores, home centers, online seed stores, seed catalogs, and farm supply stores. Always make sure the seed company is "certified organic" and be sure to stay away from any seeds that are "genetically engineered." To save money, start growing the seeds indoors and transplant outdoors when ready.

4. Make your own compost:

Compost, also known as "gardeners gold," is a vital element in organic gardening that improves the soil structure of your garden. Compost provides a great source of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, and micro/macronutrients essential for plant growth. It also aids in stabilizing soil moisture and pH which helps keep the soil cooler during the summer months.

Other benefits of organic compost:

Great source of food for wildlife because it attracts insects and fungi that eat decaying matter. These small animals support larger animals like songbirds

Suppresses plant disease

Assists in controlling soil erosion

Acts as a mild herbicide

Reduces need to apply commercial fertilizers

Reduces amount of waste sent to landfills

Reduces gas emissions that would result from transporting kitchen waste to a landfill

How to compost:

Build or buy a compost bin. These can be found at home centers, garden centers, and online.

Place compost material in repeated layers. To give your compost the best result, alternate layers of green matter with brown matter. An example would be alternating kitchen scraps with straw/stalks or dead leaves with grass clippings.

Cover compost heap for optimal results. This will avoid moisture loss and keep in heat.

Keep the pile moist as a wrung-out sponge.

Aerate and turn compost pile over frequently.

When ready, pile will look like fresh fine soil.

Some ideas for good compostables:

Kitchen waste

Aquarium water, plants, and algae

Sawdust

Tea leaves/coffee grounds

Pet rabbit or hamster droppings

Eggshells

Old spices

Lawn clippings (thin layer)

Make leafmould:

Leafmould is a dark brown, rich and crumbly material that is created from naturally decomposed Autumn leaves that have fallen onto the ground. It is an excellent soil conditioner and mulch, a great earthworm meal, and is easy to make.

To make leafmould:

Collect fallen leaves (avoid evergreen leaves) and place in a container to rot Leafmould matures best in high moisture, so the best time to collect leaves is just after rain.

Wait 9 months to a year for the leafmould to mature.

5. Use water wisely:

Water conservation, harvesting, and recycling are great methods for organic gardening.

Recycle/harvest rain water

Not only is rainwater is a great way to hydrate your plants, but it is also an excellent way to lower your monthly water bills, reduce storm-water runoff, and prevent flooding and erosion. It is generally clean, free of containments and byproducts such as minerals, fluoride and chlorine and has a low pH which plants and soils like. Rainwater can be collected and stored using gutters, downspouts, rain barrels and/or cisterns and can be used whenever needed, even later in the season during dry weather.

Use a soaker hose

A soaker hose is a great and easy way to save time and money in your garden. Water seeps out of soaker hoses and delivers water directly to your plants' roots while keeping the leaves dry, which helps prevent disease. Hand watering is time consuming and tedious, sprinklers can be wasteful due to evaporation and runoff, and drip irrigation is expensive.

Avoid grey water

When recycling water, avoid use of grey water (household waste water that comes from sources such as sinks, washer machines, and showers) on any plants used for consumption. Grey water may contain phosphates, nitrogen, and pathogens that can be harmful to your health.

Watering tips:

Water your garden when the air and soil are cool, typically in the early morning or evening hours. During these times, less water will be lost due to evaporation.

Water deeply but less often. Direct the water at the root systems at the base of the plant. This will encourage plants to grow deeper roots, causing them to need less watering. Shallow watering causes the roots to grow close to the surface, making them more vulnerable to drought.

Remember that plants and soil in containers will dry out much faster than in the ground and require frequent watering.

Avoid watering leaves. Excess water film on a plant makes it more susceptible to disease.

Shallow rooted vegetables such as beans and greens need to be watered more often with lighter applications than deep rooted plants like corn and tomatoes. These vegetables require more water but less often.

Use a milk jug. For a clever trick, take a 1 gallon milk jug and poke very small holes into the bottom. Bury most of the jug next to your plants when you plant your garden. If you leave it uncapped, you can place your water hose nozzle into the opening to fill. With this method, the water slowly drips into the ground and encourages deep plant roots. This self-irrigation system is great for whenever you need to travel and leave the garden unattended.

7. Weed Control:

Weeds can be a serious threat to gardens because they remove valuable moisture, nutrients, sunlight and growing space needed by crops.

Some ways to control weeds:

Select high quality vegetable seeds or transplants By planting high quality seeds, the chances of them containing weed seeds or seedlings is very low.

Rotate your vegetable crops As crops differ in their ability to compete with weeds, rotating crops between hardy competitors and weaker plants can reduce weeds.

Use ground cover The use of ground cover and organic mulches such as hay, straw, glass clippings, and manure in your garden is one of the most effective ways to control weeds. Spread the ground cover 2-3 inches thick as this will block sunlight and prevent weed germination and growth.

Transplant seeds Transplanting seeds instead of sowing them gives plants a healthy head start in defense against weeds.

Methods of removing weeds:

By hand This method is most effective after a recent rain because the soil is loosened.

Thermal A short blast of heat directly onto the weed causes it to wilt and die. This is most effective on driveways and paths and is not always ideal for gardens.

Hoeing This is effective for larger patches of newly cleared ground.

7. Make sure you have earthworms

Earthworms are essential to a successful garden. Vermicompost, the combination of organic matter and earthworms' castings is a high-octane form of compost that provides the soil with an immediate all-purpose fertilizer loaded with nutrients and nitrogen. By tunneling through the earth, earthworms aerate the soil which improves the soil's access to air and drainage so that water reaches the deep roots of plants more easily. They also encourage beneficial soil bacteria while discouraging disease and predators such as crop destroying insects.

Don't have earthworms in your soil? Here is how to get them:

Discontinue use of any toxins in your garden.

Spread 2-3 inch layers of organic matter on top of the soil each year - this will attract earthworms

Use leafmould - this is a great earthworm meal.

Order earthworm eggs online. Once you receive them, scatter them onto the ground and in about 3 months they will be adults and ready to reproduce.

8. Keep a gardening journal

By keeping track of your garden's progress, you will be more prepared next year to tackle issues that came up this year. You will also have a place where you can jot down experiments, experiences: the good and the bad.

9. Protect against predators and pests:

Make your garden friendly to the native wildlife in your region. This will attract and encourage natural wildlife pest controllers to your garden. Ladybugs, birds, frogs, toads, and bats all help to keep pests such as aphids, insects, and snails in check.

Other beneficial garden predators and the pests they feed on:

Centipedes: feed on slugs and eggs

Preying mantis: feed on all types of insects

Spiders: feed on insects and arthropods

Lizards: feed on insects/pests

Frog/toads: feed on all types

Ladybugs: feed on aphids

To protect against pests:

Plant nectar producing plants Tiny flowers on plants such as sweet alyssum will attract beneficial insects, such as predatory wasps. The alyssum's aroma will also scent your garden all summer. Herbs like parsley, dill, and fennel will attract ladybugs which will also eat intruding insects.

Choose native plant species over imported varieties whenever possible Native species have better "immune systems" and will be able to fight against insects in your area better than an exotic plant will.

Try companion planting Companion planting is growing two or more different types of species of plant together for the benefit of one or both. For example, by pairing a flower with a vegetable plant, many adult insects will visit flowers for pollen and nectar and in return are effective natural controllers of unwanted pests on the vegetable crops.

How does companion planting work?

Companions help each other grow: Tall plants provide shade for shorter plants sensitive to sun.

Companions use garden space efficiently: Vining plants cover the ground, upright plants grow up. Two plants in one patch.

Companions prevent pest problems: Plants like onions repel some pests. Other plants can lure pests away from more desirable plants.

Companions attract beneficial insects: Every successful garden needs plants that attract the predators of pests.

Examples of good companion plants:

Carrots and onions: Pests attracted to carrots' sweet smell can be confused by the pungent smell of onions.

Corn and beans: The beans attract beneficial insects that prey on corn pests such as leafhoppers and leaf beetles. In addition, the bean vines will climb up the corn stalks.

Cucumbers and nasturtiums: Nasturtiums are said to repel cucumber beetles and can create a habitat for insects such as spiders and ground beetles which help defend the garden from destructive pests.

Radishes and spinach: Radishes attract leafminers away from the spinach. The leafminers will damage the radish leaves, but since radishes grown underground, no damage is done to the radishes.

Cabbage and dill: Cabbage can help support the floppy dill plants, while the dill attracts the tiny beneficial wasps that control cabbageworms and other cabbage pests.

Tomatoes and cabbage: Tomatoes are repel diamondback moth larvae (caterpillars that chew large holes in cabbage leaves)

Cauliflower and dwarf zinnias: The nectar from the dwarf zinnias lures ladybugs that help protect cauliflower plants.

Collards and catnip: Planting catnip alongside collards can reduce flea-beetle damage on the collards.

Other ways to deter pests from your organic garden:

Create barriers and deterrents: Try hanging shiny silver objects in your garden. The reflection produced from the sun can confuse insects such as aphids which orient their flight patterns by sunlight.

Rotate your crops each year This will aid in keeping pest and disease problems at bay as well as correct nutritional deficiencies.

10. Last few tips on garden and soil care:

Avoid compacting soil by walking on it excessively This restricts air movement and makes it hard for roots to penetrate.

Do not over dig This will destroy vital soil structure.

Cover Keeping plants covered with things like mulch helps protect soil structure.

Avoid overfeeding and over or under watering Let the plants performance guide you.

I hope you will be able to share the same satisfaction and gratification I experience when I build, create, and tend to my own vegetable garden. Have patience, be willing to get dirty, and be ready to smile and reap the bountiful benefits of an organically grown vegetable and herb garden.

Ensuring a Healthy Garden With the Right Gardening Supplies

If you've decided to create a garden for your home, then you have made a wise decision. Whether it's to add to the appeal of your home or to grow vegetables, this is a great hobby to take up and you will benefit immensely from each choice. But to get started with your task of gardening, you first need the right gardening supplies, and this is what this article will touch on today.

In this article, you will learn how to select the right gardening supplies for your garden, and how your choices will help you to grow the garden that you desire.

Gardening is an art form, and it requires a lot of care and work in order to grow the beautiful plants and vegetables that you want from it. So it's important to choose the right tools in order to maintain your beautiful garden so that you can have it for a long time. Knowing how to choose the right tools will go along way in sustaining the look of your garden.

When selecting the right gardening tools for the job, you should know that alot of tools come in packages. These packages will vary based upon the type of garden that you want to grow. So the first step in selecting your gardening tools depends on the type of garden that you want to create. Do you want a rose garden? A vegetable garden? A fruit garden? Or a general garden with beautiful plants and flowers that can add life to your home?

Once you've made your decision, it's time to start looking for the right tools. You should have to spend more than you have to on the right tools, since most tools will do the job even if your garden is large or small.

To get help, you should go by your nearest gardening supply store and ask for some advice. Simply tell them your agenda and the type of garden that you're looking to build, and they will point in the right direction in the form of a certain product or a gardening specialist. But no matter what solution they recommend, make sure that it doesn't exceed your budget and the most you're willing to spend on tools.

Another tip is to consider the type of gardening store that you're going to. Depending on the type of garden that you want to grow, you should visit the local store that specializes in the kind of garden that you want. There are indoor gardens, rooftop gardens, outdoor gardens, vegetable gardens, and more. So know which type of garden you want to make and select the store that mostly resembles it.

If you don't have the time to visit a local gardening shop, then you should go online for help. There is an abundance of information available to you online about gardening tools and you should take advantage of this help. Simply go to Google and type in the kind of garden that you want, and all kinds of search results will show up for you. You should also go into gardening forums for help also because there are tons of people who have built the kind of garden that you are looking for.

When it comes to gardening, having the right supplies make all the difference. Be sure to select the right supplies for your garden so that you can have the masterpiece garden you've always dreamed of.

Gardening for Beginners - You Must Look At This

So you want to be a gardener. Well, a hobbyist or a professional, whatever you choose to be, the gardening for beginners is all the way along to give your desire an eagle soar. You will find here the relevant information to begin your gardening dreams.

So gardening for beginners starts from the very basics to let you know what gardening is. First you should understand that gardening is not simply planting some trees or flowers and nurturing them. It has two basic approaches as your passion or hobby and as your profession. Gardening for beginners will first talk about the hobby. To adopt the gardening as passion you must fully think about continuing it dedicatedly from the very first day. You have to first think about your monthly budget and time available for your dream garden. Here is the advice from gardening for beginners for the hobbyist that they should look for the suitable plants and seeds according to the climate. If you are planning for indoor gardening just calculate the spaces available in rooms so that your freedom of movement is not restricted.

Gardening for beginners has some suggestions for you. You must buy some books related to gardening, visit government agriculture department, find some professional nurseries for better guidance, and be open to some experimentation. Gardening for beginners has one strong suggestion that as a hobby the gardening is to relax you and your premises. So never overload with unnecessary imagination of developing a dream garden and get tensed.

For professional ventures, as suggested in gardening for beginners, the preliminary requirements are same like choosing the budget and time. But it has some deviations on the grounds that the plants are chosen according to the consumer demands and profitability. In commercial venture you could have advance stages help and support from government organizations for success. This is an important suggestion in gardening for beginners.

The suggestive list in gardening for beginners includes the soil check, soil preparation, seed sowing, planting, fertilizers applications and security checks to avoid damages done to the plants by disease, weeds, and large animals(like birds, cattle etc.). The others function that gardening for beginners give support to, is the environment friendliness approach. As to this trend the support is overwhelming from various organizations including the government.

You could adopt the above tips in general to seek more help form other sources also. Further a last advice in gardening for beginners is that you have to multiply your success, means if you find your venture, a hobby or a profit making concern, successful then talk openly about it to expand beyond you.

Helpful Hints for Beginner Gardening

If you've ever felt that you aren't quite experienced enough to have your own lush garden, remember, as the saying goes, practice really does make perfect, and gardening is certainly no different. If growing your own vegetables and plants is something that interests you but you've always been afraid to try, you'll want to start out right with the following simple tips for beginner gardening.

A novice gardener is like a kid with a box of eight crayons. You can still draw a lot of things with eight crayons but marigolds end up the same color as sunflowers and forget about coloring a winter sunset. Although it may be tempting to plant many different types of plants and vegetables, an important hint to remember about beginner gardening is to start out with a smaller, more manageable garden at first. Many people make this common mistake, enthused about their very first garden they end up planting more than they can handle, and then are not able to tend to it properly. As skills and confidence grow, gradually increase the garden's size to fit your time and energy commitments. However, one variation that has caught on with even the most novice gardener is referred to as "mini gardening". It involves growing plants in containers, utilizing either a prepared mixture of a soil substitute and fertilizer, or aggregate culture.

While tending to your own garden is a lot of work, the rewards are plentiful. Whether it's a new adventure in beginner gardening, or the experienced gardener who has grown their own vegetables before, gardening is supposed to be a fun, relaxing task, rather than a dreaded chore that is avoided. What is interesting to me (as a novice gardener) is that what is produced in Spring (especially flowers and flowering shrubs and trees) are the results of planning and preparation that was completed in the Fall and Winter. You can't plant tulips or a dogwood tree in March and expect them to flower this Spring.

Another helpful hint for beginner gardening is to sow early on in the planting season. If you are growing vegetables rather than flowers, remember to only plant as much as you and your family will need to avoid wasting any of your efforts. Once your gardening skills improve, you may even want to consider growing vegetables for a profit, if of course you have the interest and the time required to begin such a venture.

Yet another common mistake made by beginner gardening enthusiasts is not learning the basics about the plants and vegetables they put into their garden. It's a smart idea to do plenty of research on the various growing requirements of the individual vegetables you'll be planting. Not all plants and veggies are equal, as some will need more care and maintenance than others. When starting out, stick with the easiest plants to grow, adding more complex varieties as your gardening experience grows along with your crops.

Vegetables that flourish and grow during the warm, summer months, such as squash, and different varieties of peppers and tomatoes, may be purchased as young plants from nurseries rather than starting from seeds. This way the plants are already started to ensure the best growth until you're more confident in your gardening skills. These types of vegetables should always be planted after the danger of the last frost is over, usually late in the month of May, or early in June. Late August is yet another prime time for planting before autumn arrives.

Basic Garden Supplies for Planting, Watering, and Maintenance

We may be in the midst of winter, but you can never start too early in planning a garden. With time to plan, you can think about the amount of area to use and the types of plants to add. If this is your first time creating a garden, also think about the tools needed. In general, garden supplies not only include the plants and mulch needed but also tools for digging, watering, and maintaining your plants. Do you have garden supplies that cover all of these areas? With a few months before spring, you can start preparing for a garden of any kind.

Before any plants are added, the soil needs to be prepared and holes dug. Garden supplies for preparing the soil include a tool for cultivation, which breaks up the lumps of dirt, and a shovel or similar digging tools. For smaller plants, such as flowers, have a hand shovel or trowel available. A larger shovel is necessary if you are planning to add bushes or other bigger plants and trees.

All plants need water, and you should have the appropriate tools available to water your plants on a regular basis. Typically, a hose is a standard garden supply for watering, but the nozzle should have variable settings. If part of your garden includes potted plants, however, consider a smaller watering tool, such as a watering can. If a part of your garden needs water constantly, think about adding a sprinkler.

Plants need assistance while in your garden. Often, leaves or flowers needs to be trimmed, and weeds pulled from the ground. Having a few cutting tools to manicure your plants or shrubs and to remove weeds and doing regular maintenance keep your garden in good shape.

In addition to planting, watering, and maintenance, garden supplies are helpful for cleaning up the area. Maintenance for your garden may be small - a few leaves or branches cut - but, depending upon the size of the area, it can end up being a large-scale project. If leaves and grass clippings are all over the area, have a rake and leaf bag available.

How to Grow a Successful Organic Garden

On the face of it learning how to grow an organic garden is actually quite easy. The basic rule is to make sure you use 100% organic products. These are products that are chemical and pesticide free.

Most of us have tried growing a garden at one point or another and you've probably had mixed success. If it's m=now working out you many want to first test the soil to determine how healthy it is and what it's balance is. You should take a sample of the soil where you intend planting your organic garden. You'll want to find the best soil possible to plant your organic garden.

Everyone has different reasons for growing a garden, especially an organic garden. Perhaps you want to supplement your family with food that you grow yourself because organic food from the store is quite expensive. Or, perhaps you live in a place that is remote and difficult to get access to good produce so it is easier for you to grow an organic garden. Or perhaps it's just for fun of it! It can be really satisfying to grow and eat your own organic vegetables.

Whatever your reason might be, an organic garden is the best way for you to go. But, you might be wondering, how do you grow an organic garden and get the best out of it? Of course the type of garden you choose to plant is entirely up to you, but you should plan for your garden just the same.

Making Your Organic Garden a Success

There are actually many ways to grow an organic garden. The only thing that makes it an organic garden is that absolutely no chemicals can be used when it comes to growing the food. You have to use only natural products and this includes fertilizers and bug repellent as well. With the growing popularity of organic produce, it's easy to find organic fertilizers and bug repellent at your local nursery or plant store.

One of the best things that you can before growing an organic garden is to make sure that you have done your research. First, you should determine the kind of environment that you live in and what things you are going to have to protect your garden against. Then, you will need to know what products you can use to grow an organic garden and the difference in the variety and availability of all-natural products. Finally you should find out what products grow best for your climate and especially in your soil. If you have poor soil, you can still grow good produce in planter boxes, where you have more control over the growing environment.

Time to Plant your Organic Garden

Once you have determined the things you need to be aware of and you've figured out what you can do to prevent your garden from having any problems, you are ready to begin. Simply choose the foods that you want to grow and be sure that you are planting them correctly. Follow all of the directions that came with the plant, including it's sunlight exposure, how deep it should be planted and how much space it needs to grow.

You should choose a place to plant where you have never used chemicals, as chemicals stay in the soil for a long time. It might be necessary for you to bring in top soil to use, especially in poor soil or clay soil areas.

Caring For Your Organic Garden

Regular maintenance is necessary for the best results. Following the directions for your plants and finding out how to look after them are good things to do. Learning how to care for an organic garden is very important. There are many resources available on the internet as well as your local store to help you.

You should weed your garden whenever weeds appear. This will keep the weed down, reduce, (or eliminate), the need for weed killer and help the plants to grow at their best. Regular watering is also needed and regular organic fertilization will help your plants grow big and strong.

Also you should protect the organic garden from run offs and from other chemicals that might be used nearby. Once you have done this, you can feel secure in the fact that you are doing your part to help not only the environment, but your health as well.

Learning how to grow an organic garden is easy, with a few tips your garden will blossom in no time!

Home and Garden Supply - The Basics to Begin Your Container Garden

Container gardening is fun, easy to begin, inexpensive (you may even SAVE money growing plants or vegetables you would otherwise purchase) and really great for folks who don't have much yard space for ground-bed gardens. There are few things you want to consider before you set off to the Home and Garden Supply store. Here are five.

1. What Type of Containers to Use. If you are simply thinking functional, then any plastic pot or even plastic bucket or other appropriately sized container will do. If you can re-use pots you already have, even better!

If you are thinking decorative you can use wood (a plastic liner is highly recommended), ceramic (can be beautiful but is fragile), terra cotta (they are porous and dry out quickly so you will need to water frequently) or standard clay pots (but be careful of staining on surfaces).

2. What Type of Soil to Use. For container gardening, you do not want to use regular garden soil, because it does not break apart well and usually does not drain well.

Use potting soil, especially in shallow containers, allows the plant's roots to spread out easily and allows for proper drainage. If you choose to use a deep pot, still use potting soil but you can mix in a little garden soil, too. Any Home and Garden Supply will have the potting soil you need.

3. What Seeds to Use. Simply put, hybrid seeds are fine. The basic difference between hybrid seeds and heirloom seeds is that plants grown from hybrid seeds do not produce fertile seeds of their own. So, for most, buying new seeds each year at your local Home and Garden Supply store is very easy, but for those who don't have this option available, choose heirloom seeds and harvest the seeds from the plants they produce.

4. What Location to Use. If you are one of the rare and fortunate souls that live in an area that is warm year-round, putting your containers on your deck or patio or yard is fine. Make sure you have good sunlight exposure (usually South or Southwest is best). If you need to keep your containers indoors, you can put them in a foyer, enclosed patio, sun room, or anywhere you get the best sunlight exposure. Make sure you are careful of wood floors or any other surface you don't want stained.

5. What About Watering. The amount of watering depends on the plants you are growing. Watering frequency also depends on the porous nature of the container you are using. Material like wood or terra cotta, are quite porous and will dry out more quickly than glazed ceramic or plastic.

Your first watering should be a good one. If you have soil that is really dried out, even watering it well may leave air pockets. A quick trick is to submerge the plant and the soil under water briefly and gently press out the air bubbles. Only do this for a few moments so the soil doesn't break down and dissolve. This helps remove the air pockets in the soil.

Container gardening is a fun way to grow beautiful flowers and plants, and it's a great way to have lovely fresh vegetables during winter months. If you are new to container gardening, ask for help at the Home and Garden Supply store, and start out small. You will soon find container gardening a satisfying and healthy past time you can enjoy all year through.

Indoor Gardening Supplies Overcome Weather and Soil Conditions

Indoor gardening supplies make it possible to garden no matter the weather or soil in your locale!

Whether you garden indoors professionally or as a fun hobby,indoor gardening supplies such as grow light kits with the appropriate digital ballast and LED grow lights can be used with soil based or soil-less indoor gardening systems. Gardening without using soil is a practice known as hydroponics. Because typically no soil is involved, this style of indoor gardening with a controlled growing environment can be practiced virtually anywhere--in a high-rise apartment, in the cold North where temperatures dip well below freezing, in the desert with its accompanying sweltering heat, and it even has been tested by astronauts in outer space.

There are some basic indoor gardening supplies common to every style of indoor gardening, including hydroponic systems, that you might wish to pursue. All plants need light in order to survive, so you will want to provide your indoor plants with appropriate grow lights.

What indoor gardening supplies do I need to get started?

One major component of any hydroponics gardening system is the lighting you will use. The appropriate lighting depends on several factors, including the types of plants you are growing indoors and in which stage of their life cycle the plants are.

Young seedlings require light that falls within the blue color spectrum in order to grow and reach maturity. Mature plants, such as flowers or fruiting plants like tomatoes or strawberries, need a light spectrum in the red to orange range in order to get the plants to set fruit or flower. You can find grow lights that offer specific light spectrums, so that you can provide your plants with exactly the correct light that they need to respond in the way you want.

Grow lamps are also used in conjunction with a suitable digital ballast. The ballast is the device that controls the amount of electrical current flowing to the light bulb in order to get it to not only spark, but once lit, to keep a steady light emerging from the bulb. Each ballast is specifically designed to work with its own specialized grow lamp, so it is important to know whether your grow lamp is an LED (light-emitting diode),or is one of the HID (high-intensity discharge) lamps, which can include mercury vapor, low-pressure sodium, zenon short-arc, metal halide and high-pressure sodium.

There are a wide variety of indoor gardening supplies suitable for any type of indoor gardening you practice, whether a traditional greenhouse, hydroponics, or others.

Master gardener Susan Slobac shares her experience with indoor gardening and hydroponics. Get the details on how a few basic indoor gardening supplies can overcome the poor weather or soil conditions of any area.

How to Make an Organic Garden

Every spring, whether northern or southern hemisphere, many people begin to think about gardening. Some have been gardening every year since they were old enough to help in the family garden back of the house. Others have begun gardening only recently. Most have questions, though.

How to make an organic garden is a question that arises more frequently these days, as people become more concerned about health issues. They want to know that the produce they are eating is good for their health and safe for their families to eat. They want to begin an organic garden.

Many books have been written about how to make an organic garden, and we cannot compete with them in one article, but we offer here 7 basic steps for beginners.

How to Make an Organic Garden - Step #1

Begin your organic garden by learning your plant hardiness zone. You will need to know your climate, and what organic produce will grow best there. If you live in the United States, you can access the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map on many gardening sites or seed websites. Planting directions on seed packets are based on the average last frost date. The last frost date for your area will be the last spring day when you might have a killing frost.

How to Make an Organic Garden - Step #2

After you have determined your local climate, it is time to choose a location on your property for your organic garden. The area most convenient to your back door may not be the best for an organic garden. Look for a location that never has standing water. Your plants need good soil drainage. Check to see if the plants will be protected from the wind. Will your organic garden be close to water so you can easily care for it?

How to Make an Organic Garden - Step #3

Next, you will need to test the soil for your organic garden. In the U.S., check online for your county or state Home/Agricultural Extension Service. They will guide you in taking soil samples from different areas of the location you chose for your organic garden. Be sure you label each sample of soil as to part of the garden, and send it to be analyzed. This analysis will help you know what to add to the soil for a great harvest. Remember, one of the basic things you will do in your organic garden is to feed the soil so the soil can feed the plants.

How to Make an Organic Garden - Step #4

Order seeds, using information about your climate and soil. Be sure you order certified organic seed so that you can have an authentic organic garden. A good online seed supply source is Main Street Seed and Supply. You can buy as little as a teaspoon of seed for a small organic garden, or pounds of organic seed for farming. While ordering seeds, be sure to include onions, garlic, and marigold flowers. These plants can be a first line of defense in an organic garden's pest control program.

How to Make an Organic Garden - Step #5

While you wait for your seeds to arrive, you need to prepare the organic garden bed. If there is grass growing in the location, removed it first. Use a sharp, flat-edged spade to slice out the sod. Shake off as much soil as you can, and remove the grass from the area. Till the soil to a depth of about 12", and work in organic fertilizer, checking your soil analysis to know what amendments are needed.

How to Make an Organic Garden - Step #6

If you have organic seedlings to plant, water them well the day before you intend to plant them in the organic garden. The best time to set them in the garden is a still, overcast day. If you must plant on a sunny day, take care not to stress the plants more than necessary. Use the seedlings' pots to determine how deeply to plant them.

If you are planting seeds in your organic garden, follow instructions that come with each type of seed.

How to Make an Organic Garden - Step #7

Apply organic mulch soon after planting. Mulch conserves water, cools soil, and keeps weeds at bay. If you use compost, chipped bark, shredded bark, shredded, shredded leaves, or straw, your mulch will also improve soil quality in your organic garden. Apply 2 to 4 inches of mulch, being careful not to get it too close to the plant stems. Mulch can rot the stems. It can also become a hideout for nibbling little garden mice.

Organic Garden Tip:

Label your plant rows and keep a record of your garden's progress. Save seed information for everything in your organic garden. A garden journal, with photos throughout the gardening season, will help you know what you want to repeat or change in next year's organic garden.

Organic Gardening Gifts Online

Organic gardening gifts online are plentiful and, with a bit of imagination, can be found in highly unlikely places. You can, of course, give organically grown flowers - a bunch of roses or a wildflower bouquet. You can give an organic live plant, nicely displayed in a natural basket. You might even give a gift of organic tea.

Organic gardening gifts online don't stop there, though. As the popularity of organic gardening grows, the number of gifts for the gardener also grows.

Organic Gardening Tools

Organic gardening calls for tools that chemical gardening does not. Anyone doing organic gardening will enjoy receiving unique tools. For example:

1. Compost Container: Small-scale organic gardening does not require a large compost pile. A compost container, made from recycled plastic, can recycle kitchen waste into organic compost without a compost pit or pile.

2. Worm Factory: This organic gardening gift is another efficient way to compost. Just put worms, their bedding, and some scraps of food in the worm factory's bottom bin. Stack other bins on top, with more food scraps in each. As the worms finish their meal on the first floor, they move upward to get more food. Their castings in the bottom tray, an excellent organic fertilizer, can be harvested. A handy spigot on the bottom tray drains off compost tea.

3. Compost Crank: If your gardener does use a compost pile or pit, a compost crank makes a good organic gardening gift. He or she will simply have to crank the corkscrew tip into the pile and pull out to aerate the pile.

Earth-Friendly Organic Gardening Tools

Organic gardening gifts online also include some regular tools that are earth-friendly. Think of mowing the lawn with a push mower to reduce pollution. While pushing, wear lawn aerator shoes to keep the lawn aerated so that nutrition and water get down where the roots can use them. Someone who is "into" organic gardening will also appreciate a tree and shrub root irrigator kit. It saves water while being sure organic fruit trees and shrubs receive deep watering.

Ergonomic Organic Gardening Tools

Organic gardening requires more work than chemical gardening. Ergonomic tools will be appreciated by an organic gardener. Sets of ergonomic tools with a convenient canvas bag can be found at many online gardening supply stores.

We found a unique organic gardening gift online - an ergonomic gardening tool called a detachable ergonomic gardening tool set. One handle can be used with every tool in the set.

A wearable gardening stool lets your organic gardening friend rest feet and back while gardening. Even with hands full, the stool is always available.

Organic Gardening Seeds or Seedlings

Organic gardening gifts online include organic seeds or seedlings, too. A home window garden kit set we saw would be a great gift for an organic gardener. Each set has four window garden cans, with everything you need to grow organic seedlings on a window sill. You add water and sunlight, and transplant the plants when they are big enough.

Any organic seeds or seedlings would be a good organic gardening gift. Herbs are always nice - fragrant and useful.

Organic Gardening Books

A book or two on organic gardening is a good idea, especially for the beginner. Find a beautiful and informative book, and your organic gardener will spend happy hours reading.

Organic Vegetables Mail Order

An ongoing gift of organic vegetables by mail order is also good. Find one of the online organic sites that ship via next day in the U.S.

Just for Love

One organic gardening gift we found online would be fun to give, especially to someone you love. The "Amazing Message Plant" comes in its own planter, ready to grow. The recipient pops the lid, waters the plant, and places it in a sunny location. As it grows, the plant reveals the message "I love you" on its leaves.

Can't Decide What to Buy

It can be hard to choose just the right organic gardening gift. Everyone has their own likes and dislikes. If you can't decide what to buy, check online gardening supply retailers for gift certificates. You can often get them in denominations of $25 or $50. Order one or more, and place them in a nice organic gardener's greeting card.

Organic Garden - Helpful Ideas and Tips

Organic gardening is growing in popularity as people increasingly see the need to avoid chemicals and synthetic products. Organic gardens also provide protection form genetically modified organisms (GMO) in the garden.

Those who take up organic gardening often are at a loss as to where to buy supplies. They don't know what products they need for soil nourishment or pest control. They may not know how much water to supply, or how to go about composting kitchen scraps for their gardens. They need more than a few organic garden tips and ideas.

Organic garden helpful ideas and tips are widely available, if you know where to find them. Here are a few places to begin your search.

Organic Garden Helpful Ideas

One of my favorite organic garden tips is this one. The most important thing you can do to control pests in the organic garden is to keep the soil healthy. Healthy soil produces healthy plants. Healthy plants, like healthy humans, are better able to withstand disease.

A second helpful organic garden idea I like is to control pests with ladybirds (ladybugs). These beautiful little red insects with shiny black spots control aphids naturally and totally. You can order them from several organic garden places on the Internet. Until they arrive, spray every part of aphid-infested plants with well diluted soapy water. Rinse with clear water.

My third favorite organic gardening idea is to plant guardian plants around and among tender vegetables. Marigolds make the organic garden border colorful, and ward off many pests. Onions and garlic are also great deterrents to pests that would like to break in and steal organic produce.

Sources for More Organic Garden Helpful Ideas

We do not give specific websites here, but most of these groups or products can readily be located on the Internet. Simply use key words from any one of these categories in your search engine to find more organic garden ideas.

* Cooperative Extension Office: The Cooperative Extension System is a nationwide network. Every U.S. state and territory has a state office at its land-grant university. They also have a network of local or regional offices. The staff at these offices includes at least one expert who can give you useful, practical, and research-based organic garden helpful ideas.

* Park and Recreation Departments: If you live in a large neighborhood, your local park and recreation department will be a good source of helpful ideas for your organic garden. Classes may be available on topics such as organic garden plans, planting seed, and how to compost.

* YMCA / YWCA: In some areas, these organizations provide workshops on organic garden topics, with plenty of helpful ideas and tips. These are led by local organic garden experts. They may include vegetable organic gardens and organic gardening of flowers.

* Gardening Stores: An increasing number of gardening stores are beginning to offer organic garden products, seeds, and supplies. Many try to have at least one person on staff who can give organic garden helpful ideas.

* Nurseries: Local nurseries may have helpful ideas and tips for your organic garden. As the demand becomes greater, they are learning that they must provide not only organic fertilizer and seedlings, but advice also.

* Magazines: Organic gardening magazines have been around for many years now, and are filled with organic gardeners' helpful ideas and tips. Visit your public library and browse the magazines. Some are aimed at small farming size organic gardens. Others focus on organic gardening of vegetables for family or farmers' market. Choose one that has the most helpful tips for you, and subscribe for ongoing organic garden help.

* Seed Catalogs (catalogues): Many times, seed catalogs have not only organic seeds, but also ideas and tips for the organic garden. Look for major seed companies' catalogs.

* Books: If you are new to organic gardening, you will want to invest in at least one good book on organic gardens. Books can explain how seeds and produce are certified organic. They can provide organic gardening advice from ants to weed control.

* Family and Friends: They say we all have a circle of 250 acquaintances. Within that circle, you will likely find at least one person who is experienced in organic gardening and has ideas or tips that will help you. Their own organic garden may be only a container, or it could be 50 containers. Anyone who does any organic gardening will be eager to share the tips and helpful ideas they have received.

* Internet: The Internet excels in providing information. It is a wonderful source of organic garden helpful ideas and tips. Become a member of an organic gardening forum and share ideas. Read organic gardeners' blogs. Finally, visit Cornell University's organic garden website. They offer an online class in organic gardening. The professor is sure to have helpful organic gardening ideas and tips.

Preparing an Organic Gardening Supply on Your Own

Organic farming has started to gain popularity of late and there are for certain a lot of takers for this trend. However, you need to possess some knowledge about making organic gardening supply on your own as it is not a good thing to shell out money for something that you can do on your own with the resources present with you.

Compost is a very important component of an organic garden and you can prepare it just with the leaves that fall from trees. Not just leaves, any sort of vegetative waste in your garden can act as the main ingredient for making compost. You just need to collect them in an organized manner so that they form a significant part of your organic gardening supply.

You can prepare compost in two ways: either by using a garden bin or by digging a hole in the ground to contain the fallen leaves. All you need to do is to collect the fallen leaves in the pit and water them regularly so that they gain some moisture. You should cover the pit with earth once it becomes full. Leave it untouched for a period of 3 months during which the waste item would get transformed to the much needed compost. The end product is what would serve as the ideal fertilizer for your organic farm.

Digging multiple pits is a good practice as you can collect more compost for your garden as the pits get filled one by one. Only be sure to dig them at an obscure part of the garden such that it doesn't spoil the beauty of a well-maintained garden.

Comfrey is one of the most important and most popular organic fertilizing plants. It is a good idea to grow comfrey along with the other plants, in your garden.

Necessary Garden Supplies for a Beginner

If your grass yard is starting to seem bare and boring, consider planting a garden. While plants, and knowledge of the lighting each needs, are essential, part of having a garden is using the right supplies. Once the plants are in the ground, regular maintenance is needed, from regular watering to occasional trimming. Instead of letting your flowers or bushes become overgrown, trim and water them regularly to keep up the appearance of your garden.

In order to begin your garden, have several digging and tilling tools available. Such garden supplies allow you to bring up the soil and make it fit for planting. Tilling tools let you break up any packed clumps of dirt, and shovels let you put a hole in the ground for the plant. If you are planting flowers or bushes of varying sizes, have shovels in multiple sizes as well. For adding a tree or bush, use a larger shovel, while hand shovels or trowels are better for smaller plants and flowers.

Watering is a key aspect to owning a garden, and if you do not water enough, the plants will dry out. Too much water, however, is not good for the plants, either. Before you plant, research the amount of water each flower or bush will need. A hose is an important and versatile watering tool, but if you have potted plants, a watering can may be better-suited for the job.

All plants need regular maintenance, and have a few of these tools available. For cutting, however, a tool designed to snip off dead branches on a bush is too large and cumbersome for trimming flower leaves and buds. For a garden with a variety of plants, few cutting tools should be available. Pruners are best for mid-size branches, loppers for one-inch diameter branches, and shears for leaves and buds.

Another aspect of gardening is keeping the area clear. Once you are done cutting or mowing a lawn nearby, have the right garden supplies for cleanup. Such tools range from ordinary rakes and leaf blowers to bags for collecting leaves and garden clippings.

Organic Gardening - A Speech for Teachers

Organic gardening has increasingly become an important part of the curriculum in schools around the world. Teachers at every grade level find themselves teaching it to students, and sometimes being called on to give a speech to a group of parents. As a career educator and principal, I know the difficulty of opening up time for speech preparation, and offer this organic gardening speech for your use. Feel free to edit it to fit your needs.

Organic Gardening Speech

How selfish are you? On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the highest, how selfish would you rate yourself? If you are the least bit selfish, you might be interested in organic gardening.

An organic gardening speech might seem more appropriate coming from a Home Economics teacher, but I am just selfish enough that I love organic gardening. I want to share that love with you and with your children.

Imagine

I want you to come with me, in imagination, to a time and place before the Industrial Revolution. The year is 1707. It is late summer. We find ourselves walking the streets of a small town. Houses are spaced well apart for privacy. Land stretches out behind each house. As we look, we notice that much of that land is taken up by gardens. Here and there, we see both adults and children actively engaged in gardening. The plants are beautiful.

You call to one of the adults and ask what they use to make the garden so lush. A broad smile breaks, and through the smile come the words, "Feed the soil, and the soil will feed the plants."

You shake your head. Poor people. Too bad they don't know about that miracle combination of chemicals you saw advertised on TV last week. That's the easy way to grow spectacular plants!

Dinner

The organic gardener invites us to join them for the evening meal, and we accept. At dinner, we join in the prayer of thanks, and then watch in amazement as the children, one after another, begin eating fresh vegetables.

You yourself are not that fond of vegetables, but you politely take a small serving of each. You bite into a leaf of steamed cabbage, and your eyes open wide in amazement. It is sweet - twice as sweet as the cabbage you buy at your local market! You watch a small child fill his mouth with dark green kale, and shudder. There's a small spoonful of the nasty vegetable on your own plate, and you pick at it, putting a single small leaf in your mouth. Amazing! It, too, is twice as sweet as any kale you ever ate. The same seems true of every vegetable on the table. You decide that if your supermarket vegetables were this good, you would eat a lot more of them.

Our imaginary trip ends at that dinner table, and we return to the present.

Organic Gardening's Benefits

Organic gardening has many benefits. If you are completely selfish, you will want those benefits for yourself. If you are unselfish, you will want those benefits for your family. Let me give you just three of organic gardening's benefits.

1. Taste: Organic gardening has been proven to produce tastier fruits and vegetables. A Hong Kong study measured Brix levels, the percentage of sugar in plant juices, using produce from organic gardening and from non-organic gardening. The results showed that organic gardening produced produce that was 2 to 4 times as sweet as that produced by non-organic gardening. Sweeter fruits and vegetables are tastier, and easier to eat, whether you are a young person or an adult. Organic gardening helps us eat better by providing tastier fruits and vegetables.

2. Nutrition: Organic gardening has also been found to provide nutritionally superior produce. Virginia Worthington, of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, compared the composition of vegetables grown simultaneously under different farming conditions. Her work included 41 studies with 1,240 comparisons of 35 vitamins and minerals. Worthington found that organic gardening produced vegetables and fruits that were higher in most minerals and vitamins than those from non-organic gardening. Not only that, organic gardening produce was lower in potentially harmful nitrates, which result from nitrogen fertilizers. Dr. Worthington concluded that produce from organic gardening is nutritionally superior. You and your family will enjoy better health with fruits and vegetables from organic gardening. (Effect of Agricultural Methods on Nutritional Quality: A Comparison of Organic with Conventional Crops, Virginia Worthington MS, ScD, CNS, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, 1998, Alternative Therapies, Volume 4, 1998, pages 58-69)

3. Exercise: Finally, organic gardening offers you and your children regular daily exercise in the outdoors. Organic gardening helps you build muscles, especially important core muscles. Organic gardening gets you into the sunlight where you can absorb essential vitamin D. Organic gardening is a great stress management tool. Organic gardening gives you an outlet for creativity. It provides satisfaction as you see your work produce useful fruits, herbs, and vegetables.

We could talk about the aesthetic pleasures of organic gardening - how beautiful that garden might become. We could talk about how you can save money with organic gardening - growing your produce instead of purchasing.

Finally, we could talk about how important it is for our children to learn about organic gardening, to embrace it as the way to better health, and to practice it with school, home, and community gardens.

An organic gardening speech could go on for hours, but I'm going to stop here, hoping that I have whetted your appetite enough that you will seek out more information on organic gardening.

Helpful Tip for Speech-givers

A few large bowls of beautiful organic produce can be set on the platform or around the room to help visual learners picture organic gardening.

Vegetable Gardening For Beginners

If you are interested and very much excited to have a new garden of your own with your favorite vegetables in the garden, you have to follow a sequence of steps to create a beautiful and colorful garden with all your favorite vegetables which also has vegetable gardens for beginners, vegetable gardening for beginners. It is not a tough job to have a garden at the back yard of your home. It is pretty simple and easy to maintain too.

It is most important of your life to have a wonderful garden at the back of your home; it also brings wonderful experience to you by rewarding a beautiful vegetable garden. If you are interested to create a new garden with out any chemicals, pesticides for the vegetables which you are intended to develop one at the back yard of your home which also has vegetable gardens for beginners, vegetable gardening for beginners. It is the best place for developing a garden were the environment is free from pollution and completely optimized by the people to there best. You can also easily predict the circumstances of vegetables growing under those environment and there merits, demerits. It could a great experience for your kids, can also be great activity for your kids. Also they also love to help you while you pursue. We can see some of the basic tips for the beginners to learn easily in how to there best gardening with out any experience or very little experience for vegetable gardens for beginners, vegetable gardening for beginners.

We can start with easy ways of growing vegetables in your garden

It could be a bit little tough task for newbie's. At this kind of situations the experts advice people to start with easy growing vegetable at first and then move to the hardest one later. The vegetables which require very less efforts for the people to grow are radish, pea, and tomato, pepper which comes in to people mind and off course that's not wrong. When compared to these four vegetables tomatoes are easy to grow which also has vegetable gardens for beginners, vegetable gardening for beginners, people can plant these tomatoes in the small pot. Newbie's can also take a special interest in developing vegetables like pepper, peas which can also be little changeling. It is better for the newbie's to forgive those vegetables. It is not good for the gardeners who are capable of spending more time in gardening. It is best for the kids to practice radish, they are ready to grow in a month and also eat those radish with in a month.

People can also there own best vegetables which they love to eat a lot

It can be the best for the newbie's. You should be intimated by others. It can also provide more fun to the newbie's, provided if you choose the best vegetable that you like the most. People have to do small search in Google to get a better idea for growing vegetables which you can't grow.

It is better for newbie's to have a small garden at the beginning

Newbie's have to prepare a lot of things for developing a new garden behind your home; it can also provide you with a lot of fun. If it is first time you are going to develop a new garden it is better for you to have a small one at first and then you can expand it in the later season which also consists of vegetable gardens for beginners, vegetable gardening for beginners.

The main reasons which should be remembered while picking up the garden

Sunny location for the plants

You must be capable of raising the planting bed. It is very important for the people with bad back yard. People can also use 2 * 12 to achieve there best.

People must be capable of choosing the top best soil which is easier to weed.

Herb Gardening For Beginners

Herb gardening is easy even for beginners since most herbs are relatively easy to grow. I started out with just one artimesia herb plant twenty years ago and now have over an acre of herbs that I use mainly for crafting wreaths and making dried floral arrangements. I have learned a lot about growing herbs in those years and have five tips listed below that will help any beginner herb gardener get off to a great start. These tips might also teach the pros a thing or two. Lets start with the basics.

Basically, herbs may be divided into two groups. They are either annuals or perennials. Annual herbs need to be planted each year since they only grow for one season. Perennial herbs come back each year. One definition of a perennial that I love is: "A perennial is a plant that comes back year after year... if it lives!" Now, lets take a closer look at these two categories of herbs.

First, lets talk about annual herbs. The cheapest way to have a lot of these types of herbs is to start them from seed. Sowing either directly outside after the last frost date, or inside four to six weeks before the last frost date is recommended on the packets. The other options are to buy your herbs as small plants each year at garden center, or you may find more unusual varieties online. If you are really blessed, you may even be able to get a free plant from a fellow herb gardener who is dividing some of their herbs. Some of the easiest annuals to grow are sweet basil, anise, borage, chervil, coriander, dill, fennel, and summer savory.

Next, lets talk about perennial herbs. Herbs like mint, rosemary, lemon balm, chives and oregano are a good choice for your first herb garden. Other perennials herbs that do well are lovage, hyssop, lavender, sage, sweet marjoram, sweet woodruff, tarragon, and thyme. One of my absolute favorite perennial herbs to grow and dry for crafting is yarrow.

Now that you know the basics, following the tips below will make you a real pro in no time.

Herb Gardening For Beginners - Five Tips To Success

Choose a site with at least six hours of sunlight.

Choose an area with good drainage and moderate temperatures.

Avoid sites where the soil is too wet or too dry which indicates too much clay or sand.

Amend soils with organic matter after having your soil tested.

Use only hand-picking and insecticidal soaps to control occasional insect problems.

Herb gardening for beginners is easy with these tips. Go ahead and give it a try and you might just find yourself on a wonderful life long journey into the world of herbs.

Italian Herb Garden - The Perfect Herb Garden for Beginners

Whether you are new to herb gardening or have just become part of an Italian family, an Italian Herb Garden is the perfect Herb Garden for beginners. Why is an Italian Herb Garden perfect - because it contains the four main classes of herbs: Aromatic, Culinary, Medicinal, and Ornamental herbs. Plus it has annual herbs, perennial herbs, shrub herbs, and evergreen herbs.

Here are the most common herbs found in an Italian herb garden: basil, bay, fennel, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme, and garlic. They are used in a variety of Italian recipes as well as other cuisines. These herbs are easy to grow, which makes it the herb garden for beginners and will give you a great sense of fulfillment when you use your herbs.

Basil: refers to sweet Basil and all of the different varieties of Basil, and is used frequently because of its strong flavor. Its fragrance is a main stay of any Italian herb Garden. Basil is also a good companion plant and insect repellent. This herb can be over powering, start off by adding a little at a time to your dishes. This is an annual herb, which will need to be planted every year. In warm climates it will self-seed.

Bay Leaves: Bay is easy to grow in an Italian herb garden; however there are many poisonous plants that look like Bay. You'll want to check with your local county extension office or the nursery expert to find out what the correct specie is for your area. The essential oils are in the leaves and the flavor is best after the leaves have been dried. When used in cooking the leaves are put in whole and then removed when the dish is finished.

Fennel: No Italian herb garden should be without this herb, and it can be used in so many different ways. Almost every part of the plant can be used; the bulbs, seeds, and the leaves are used in a variety of different dishes. Fennel seeds are a common ingredient in Italian sausage. Sweet Fennel is often used for its seeds and fronds, the Florence variety for the stalks and bulbs. It has a licorice flavor, and can be eaten raw, with some olive oil, lemon wedges and a little salt, as well as put into antipastos. While it is a perennial evergreen plant, it does need some protection in the winter, and it should be replanted ever few years, because it will start to lose its flavor. If you have some dill planted, it should be well away from Sweet Fennel, because it will cross-pollinate.

Oregano: This is another common and popular herb that is included in every Italian herb garden. Oregano is used mainly in culinary dishes, but is also used for decoration, as well as medicinal purposes. There are two different kinds of Oregano: Mexican, and Greek. Oregano and Basil often are combined in many different sauces including pizza sauce, and marinades. It adds a special flavor to Italian cooking.

Parsley: there are many different varieties of parsley; you'll want Italian Parsley for your herb garden. It differs from the garnish variety due to its broad leaf. It is quite easy to grow in your Italian herb garden, and will re-seed itself it you let it go to seed. Parsley is another herb that can be added to just about every dish. Unfortunately slugs also love Parsley so take precautions against them.

Rosemary: Make room for Rosemary in your Italian herb garden. It can be used in just about any dish, and has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years as well as ornamental. Rosemary can be used fresh or dried; it has a very distinctive flavor. It is an evergreen shrub, is quite aromatic, and will attract bees to your garden. It is a perennial evergreen and can be harmed by frost; caution should be taken to protect it when the weather is extremely cold. Cut it back every spring to promote new growth.

Sage: This is an evergreen bush that grows wild in many areas, and can be grown in your garden easily. In order to prevent Sage from getting unruly, you should keep it pruned back. It provides Italian food with a distinct flavor, including pork, and antipastos, as well as poultry. Sage wasn't as popular for a while, however it is still an important part of Italian cooking and with the new varieties its regaining its popularity in the kitchen.

Thyme: This herb has been used for centuries, not only as an additive in culinary dishes, but also in the bath water, and other medicinal purposes. Thyme is the herb to use in a dish when you are uncertain of what to use. If you are growing this versatile herb to cook with, make sure you are using Thymus Vulgaris, or common Thyme. It is quite easy to grow in your Italian herb garden, but this perennial tends to get quite woody after a few years and should be replaced about every two or three years.

Garlic: last, but certainly not least, herb gardening for beginners should always include Garlic, especially if you don't want to get smacked by your Italian relatives. Even though it may be called the 'stinking rose' by some, it is a very important herb, not only in cooking, but for its medicinal qualities. Eating a lot of garlic will keep you system detoxified. If you want your relatives to love you forever, use garlic in your dishes. It really doesn't matter what variety of garlic you grow, and it is easy to add to your garden.

If you have limited space, all of these herbs will do well as container plants, including the garlic. Planting an Italian Herb Garden in the actual soil or in containers is easy and you'll be off to a great start with herbs for all uses, making herb gardening for beginners enjoyable and a success! There are different varieties of each herb. Check with your local county extension office or nursery to see which variety does best in your area.

It's an Italian Herb Garden

From Sicily to Lombardy, (Via Campagna, Umbria, Tuscany and Emilio-Romagna) the variety, by region, of Italian cuisine is astounding. In fact one of the only unifying factors in all this is the typical Italian herb garden, with it's primary quintet of garlic, oregano, basil, parsley and rosemary. The supporting chorus of rocket, fennel, capsicum, marjoram, thyme, chives, sage and bay are freely used in a multitude of Italian dishes and march in close company with the principal players.

And guess what. They are all easy to grow. Many, many villas sport a herb garden section as an essential part of their kitchen plant beds.

The Greeks can probably prove priority usage of rosemary, bay, basil and parsley, but the Italians have long since made these their own. Italian cuisine may be famous worldwide, but only the tip of the herb utilisation iceberg is visible.

Some of the regions I mentioned in the first paragraph, in spite of sharing borders hundreds of miles long, differ vastly in the style and preferences of their cuisine. Each region defends the integrity and superiority of their region with true Italian passion. The result is that an Italian garden in one region can differ greatly from one in another region.

That said, let us hie back to paragraph one. Our primary quintet of garlic, oregano, basil, parsley and rosemary will serve anyone well as the initial residents in their Italian herb garden.

Rosemary makes a lovely hedge and is available for lots of harvesting in the form of a hedge.

Basil should be grown in a series of plantings to have fresh leaves all through summer. No Italian herb garden should be without basil.

Some supposedly hard-to-grow parsley seeds were scattered by a windy day and my garden is now full of parsley plants. It look wonderful to see their lovely green foliage scattered all over.

Garlic grows easily - ask your nurseryman which are the best varieties for local planting.

Oregano seems to enjoy growing on a steep slope where it hangs down a little. Try this with yours.

Consider growing a bay tree, both for its beauty and utility, but also as a partial shade-giver to its companion herbs. Just be careful to plant away from any foundations.

The rest of the Italian herb garden residents mentioned can be added later if desired, but this is largely a matter of choice and preferences that have more to do with cuisine bias than anything else. The above-mentioned plants will kick start your herb garden and greatly contribute to your culinary efforts.

Pete Steel has grown herbs for 25 years in several different climates and soils. Learn about an italian herb garden, herb garden plants and herb usage.