By judicious selection of flowering plants, it is possible to contrive that there shall be few failures in this area. Succession is the very keynote of good gardening, for you cannot afford to shorten the period during which flowers are possible, nor can you tolerate empty spaces in your borders, unless you plan on filling them with a water wall fountain, patio statuary, or outdoor waterfalls.
By consulting a seedsman's list you can select your plants and dispose of them so that as the spring blooming plants start to fail, others will succeed them for the summer months, and still others will take their place in autumn. This system of succession, when well arranged, will give you flowers from February to mid-November, thus covering the maximum period during which you are likely to be able to enjoy your garden.
It demands having a method to your choice of flowers, especially when the borders are laid out for a broad color effect, implying that each separate color group must contain plants of which some will always be in flower. In other words, the distribution of early, middle, and late-flowering plants must be over the whole space and in intimate association. Hardy plants alone come within the purview of the garden designer. The effects you can obtain from annuals and bedding out plants belong to the routine of garden management. But the same principles apply with regard to color, habit, period, and succession.
Art should be as much in evidence in the minor details of the garden as in the more important and more obvious ones (garden statuary, large fountains, outdoor water features). Carelessness in small matters may go a long way to undo the results of thought and skill devoted to the main features. Along with understanding the rules of guidance to which you should adhere when planning a garden, you must also understand the "how" and the "why" of these principles.
Although the construction of a garden plan on paper is a necessary preliminary to the practical operations on the site, it will only carry you a certain way toward the desired result. Much of the detail will have to be filled in on the ground. It is in the finishing touches that he may add distinction to the picture, and you should, therefore, study your work as it proceeds, looking for opportunities for minor embellishments and effects in detail.
This does not mean you should look for an over elaborated result, but you should be open to possibilities and not neglect any of the opportunities that may present themselves for an artistic style for your garden. In addition to beds and borders, there are other places where you can introduce charming effects such as large statuary, a wall water fountain, garden waterfalls, or ivy plants. A Virginia creeper, for example, planted at the foot of a clump of small firs can produce one of the most gorgeous pieces of color in a garden, with country residence in the foreground.
In only a short time, you will see that it will clamber up amongst the green foliage and festoon it with graceful sprays. In summer, the foliage will be light green against dark green, but when the leaves start to turn red in autumn, it will be indescribably beautiful. You can obtain a similar effect in a Scottish garden, in which a flame nasturtium (Tropaeolum speciosum) had taken possession of a large straggling elder tree, and wreathed it about with masses of scarlet. Even if the colors you create are by accident, you will take note of them and try to replicate them in other parts of the garden.
By: Allison Ryan
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Garden Environmental Sensors
These products promise to take the guess work out of gardening. A sensor placed in the ground near your plants proceeds to analyze the soil and growing conditions, and providing results such as the amount of moisture in the soil, sunlight, temperature, humidity and drainage. Hook up the sensor to your computer using a USB port and receive a list of recommendations to enhance your garden and create ideal growing conditions. Many of these products such as EasyBloom, have huge product databases that you can search by various plant characteristics, such as desired bloom, color, season, plant height, and drought tolerance.
With the press of a button, the home gardener can receive the type of growing advice they might expect from their local botanist for the mere cost of $60. A more complex version, the Botanicalls runs for $100 and will send text alerts to your phone whenever your plants are in distress or getting thirsty.
Irrigation & Watering Systems
Watering the garden is probably my biggest challenge. I begin the season with the best of intentions, but by mid summer, if I've missed a few days the hot weather takes its toll on my plants. The weaker strains inevitably die and the others remain in a limp, "just kill me and get it over with", sort of state. My neighbor, however, who I teased for installing a watering system, has gorgeous blooms on thriving plants right through to late fall.
There are a myriad of drip irrigation and watering systems available on the market to automate this task. Some are as simple as planting round clay containers next your plants, attached to larger water-filled vessels. Others involve small lines hooked up to your hose and running to your gardens or hanging plants. Whether manual or automated, the function of these systems are basically the same – they both deliver water to your plants, gradually, via an underground delivery system so as to avoid as little evaporation as possible.
Running from about $50 to 150 a digital timer will start watering exactly when you specify. For about $600 a digital monitor will connect wirelessly with nearby weather stations or garden sensors and measure temperature, solar radiation, wind speeds and humidity. Take it one step further and connect to an alarm that will alert you when it's time to cover your delicate plants or when soil is getting dry.
Auto Mowers
The Robomower from LawnBott eliminates the need to ever push or ride a mower again. After installing a perimeter wire around your yard (to keep your mower within your property), assemble your Robomower, pour a cool drink and watch it tirelessly mow up to 4,000 square feet of lawn. The unit is not totally maintenance free, as it will occasionally get stuck in ruts or holes, or require some simple programming. They make the climb up steep hills, run for four hours at a time and the solar-electric hybrid version uses the energy of a lightbulb.
If you're sick of pushing a mower and paying for the gas to run it, the Robomower has models ranging from $1,000 to $3,500.
About The Author:
Discover the great investment opportunities available in the Wilmington NC real estate market. Search the latest property listings to find Hampstead homes, waterfront real estate, vacant lots, condos and more at BuddyBlake.com.
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How To Grow Heavenly Bamboo Or Nandina Unique Colorful Garden Screen Shrubs For Dry Shade
0 comments Posted by ariya at 6/14/2009Nandina can be grown as a low screen in the landscape. It is a slow grower, but well worth the wait. The plant sends out tall stalks from the base on which the delicate leaves unfurl. It will eventually reach heights of 6 to 8 feet tall. Single plants usually measure two feet across, but they slowly form clumps, spreading by underground runners. But Nandina is not considered invasive.
Heavenly Bamboo plants are fairly drought tolerant and can survive on little extra water once they are established in the ground. They can also tolerate regular garden watering too. Another valuable trait is that Nandina can be grown from sun to shade. In areas with very hot summers it will grow best with part shade.
In spring or early summer Nandina blooms with creamy white flowers at the ends of their branches. The flowers bracts measure from 6 to 12 inches, with large whitish flowers with bright yellow centers. If the flowers are pollinated they will produce clusters of bright red berries in the fall.
Heavenly Bamboo isn't a true bamboo at all, but is a member of the barberry family. It is native to China and Japan. It grows best in USDA Zones 7 - 9 or Sunset Zones 4 - 24 with stem damage occurring about 5 degrees. When grown in alkaline soils, Nandina can develop chlorosis, or iron deficiency. This disease shows up as light green or white veins and pale, sickly leaves but it can be easily cured with an iron mixture from your local nursery.
In pots Nandina shrubs require large, deep containers. Try starting them in 12-16 inch pots or larger. Nandina would make a striking focal point on a patio, with the ever-changing leaf color giving it the appearance of an exotic bronze sculpture. Or grow one into a difficult-to-plant dry shade corner of the garden. Either way you are sure to be enchanted by the beauty of Heavenly Bamboo. Good luck and happy gardening!
By: Laura Zinkan
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How Garden Design Software Can Help You Plan Your New Garden
0 comments Posted by ariya at 6/11/2009There are a lot of great garden design software packages on the market today. They can help you design and visualize your garden. To add to this, you can also create such things as your house, deck, patio, fence and ground cover. Most of the garden design software is actually quite easy to use and you will not need to have any architectural or landscaping experience in order to use it.
Advantages of 3D Graphics
Most of this software is available with 3D graphics so that you can walk around your property in photo realistic 3D. This will allow you to experience your garden design even before you actually create them. Some software will even allow you to see what the different types of lighting will do to your garden; it is like you are really there.
Once you are sure that you have something that you would like, you can show your friends and family what your ideas are. This will also come in handy if you are hiring anyone to do this work for you because you can show them exactly what you want with accurate dimensions, scale and placement that are relative to your house and landscaping.
Use the Helpful Wizard
While all of this may sound as though it is difficult to do, most garden design software comes with a wizard that can help you get started. The wizard will help you to quickly add houses, decks, ponds and everything else that you will need in order to complete your garden.
Usually there is also a large selection of plants and tress available in this wizard for you to choose from. These are in the form of highly detailed 3D models instead of as a regular picture. This makes them look very lifelike, even if you view them close-up. You can mix and match different foliage and experiment with various placements before coming to a final decision – all with just a click of your mouse.
Regardless of what type of garden design software program you choose to use, it should offer free technical support and a 30 day money back guarantee. The really good garden design software programs will have a complete user's guide integrated in the program but it is still very useful to be able to email or call technical support toll free.
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Get Your Garden Growing With The Help Of An Organic Garden Center
0 comments Posted by ariya at 6/08/2009In the quest to get healthy, more and more people are turning to organic food. Free of chemical additives and pesticides, organic produce offers only pure and natural nutrients. But for those people who do not have ready access to organic produce at their local markets, or do not wish to pay the high prices associated with organic produce, starting their own organic garden allows them access at any time to fresh, wholesome produce at a fraction of the price it would cost to buy at the store. For those interested in beginning such a garden, an organic garden center can give you all the tools and education you need to start off right.
An organic garden is defined by produce that is grown without the addition of chemicals and pesticides normally used to ward off bugs and weeds, as well as stimulate growth in a traditional growing environment. In order to truly grow organically it is necessary to fully commit to using only products that are 100% certified organic. And in order to get those products you are best to visit an organic garden center.
As its name suggests, an organic garden center offers products for sale that are only certified organic. From soil to fertilizer, the organic garden center will ensure that you have all that you need to grow a delicious and beautiful organic garden. Best of all, most centers have knowledgeable employees on hand who are just as committed to organic gardening. They can be enormously helpful in showing you how to begin, as well as pointing out those products that will work best in your particular space.
Begin with the proper fertilizer and choose those sees that you want to plant in your garden. The organic garden center should be able to help you find those products that will thrive in your particular climate, as well as in the type of sun that your garden receives on a daily basis.
Be sure to do your research regarding the type of maintenance that your seeds will require. The organic garden center can also offer literature and other information about helping your garden grow successfully. Taking the time beforehand to determine what factors will most contribute to your success will help you realize your gardening dreams.
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There is no doubt that garden ornaments are quite popular, and have been growing in popularity over the last few years. And, these are not simply the lawn and garden ornaments that our parents and grandparents had in their yards. More modern lawn and garden ornaments are very beautiful, even classy; you don’t have to go for the cheesy garden gnome look, if you don’t want to. Instead, you can choose to decorate your garden with glass, crystal, and simply beautiful ornaments. If you like butterflies, fairies, frogs, gazing balls, decorative thermometers, or just about anything else you’ll find that there are great ornaments that will dress your lawn and garden up a bit more and make it a place that you will love to be as well as a place that your friends and neighbors admire.
It doesn’t matter whether you are looking for garden ornaments UK, or in the United States, because anywhere you go you’ll find that there are plenty of lawn ornaments to go around! If you want something a bit bigger you’ll find that there are also water garden ornaments that are just as beautiful as the smaller ornaments. You can choose from small waterfalls, fountains, birdbaths, ponds, and more. Water features such as this can act as a great focal point for the lawn or garden, and make a great addition to a lawn or garden that already is decorated nicely with garden ornaments. Garden ornaments are a fun way to dress up the outside of your home as beautifully as you decorate the inside of your home.
Grand Illusions was created by Nick Ronald and David Roberts in December 1987, initially with just one small store in St Margaret's, Twickenham. The mission was to promote gifts, cards and accessories of good design and taste at an affordable price - still very much the core business ethic to this day.
Shortly afterwards, they discovered and developed a paint range that was to transform their lives. In those days, painted furniture was something of a rarity, and a twenty two drawer chest painted in one of the new paints caught the eye of 'Homes & Gardens' magazine - the small feature resulted in over a thousand telephone calls and the seeds of the highly acclaimed furniture collection were sewn.
This also led to the publication of three Grand Illusions books on decorating techniques and design inspiration, published in five countries by Ebury Press and accompanied by guest appearances on BBC2's Home Front and various local BBC radio stations.
They published their first mail-order catalogue in 1990 which was immediately voted as one of the top 200 catalogues in a new worldwide review and several issues later, they were awarded the contract to operate 'Country Living by Post' on behalf of the magazine, in addition to their own unique programme.
Today, the company's activities are currently concentrated on their two stores in St Margarets and Shaftesbury, with mail-order, paint studio, trade-sales and distribution also located in Dorset. The team regularly exhibit at quality retail and trade fairs like Country Living, Top Drawer and the RHS Flower Shows at Chelsea, Hampton Court and Tatton Park. Their products are now available at quality retail outlets across the UK and some stores in Japan, USA and Germany.
The publication of this web-site sees the return to mainstream mail-order for the accessory collection, which is just one of the exciting developments planned for the near future - so watch this space.
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Start with small pots, window planter or plant directly in your garden. Planting in small containers can give you a little bit more control over your herbs’ sun and weather exposure. Make sure that the containers you choose allow for plenty of drainage. Most herbs have delicate root systems that can easily rot if they are kept too wet. You can add rocks, moss or sand to the bottom of each container to encourage drainage.
The next step is to prepare the soil for your herb garden. You can just use potting soil, but a little extra effort can go a long way. Ideally, twenty-five percent of your mix should be compost material. Manure, humus and peat make good compost if you do not have your own compost bin. If your soil has a lot of clay, you may need to work in a little sand. Clay soil is usually orange or reddish in appearance. It is hard and does not drain well. If your soil has too much sand, it may drain too much. In this case, add more potting soil or compost.
Once your soil is prepared, you will be ready to plant. Sprouting from seeds will help you avoid soil borne diseases that may be lurking in nursery potted plants. Soak new seeds in water overnight if you have time. Another method is to place the seeds on a wet paper towel inside of a plastic sandwich bag for a few days. Make sure that you keep it sealed. When sprouts are about an inch long, very carefully transport them to their permanent location. If you want, you can plant seeds directly in their containers. Make sure that you cover them with plastic wrap to protect them while they are so little. Soil should be moist when you plant.
When plants are about two inches tall, remove the plastic and let them get some sun. Be careful about temperatures over eighty degrees at this stage. Baby plants can easily get too hot or too dry and die. Bring indoors at night if you are in an area that is still experiencing any colder weather. Most people choose to keep their herb garden inside until plants are more mature. A window sill is a great place to ensure that you are letting your herbs get enough light.
Watering is very important. Since you want your planters to drain well, you will also have to watch for dryness. Ideally, the soil should be moist, not wet. Water your herb garden about daily. Watch for wilting, yellowing, crusting or extra dry soil. If your herb garden is outside, use a hose reel to keep your water hose close at hand for easy watering. Enjoy harvesting your herbs for months to come!
By: Stacy Pessoney
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Commercial companies that deal with water actually have high-tech equipment set up to fine tune their irrigation systems to supply only the water that is needed. This is because to these companies, every wasted dollar spent takes out a chunk of profit. You should adopt a similar viewpoint when it comes to water bills and sprinkler systems. Weathermatic Smartline controllers actually take in weather data, site information and sprinkler system information, combine all factors, and then calculate the precise amount of water you need to irrigate your landscape. Now you are saving money rather than spending it on excessive watering. You might say that having such a device is comparable to having a living scientist in your garage!
The goal of Weathermatic Smartline controllers is to save water and help create healthier landscapes. According to statistics, using Weathermatic Smartline controllers, water savings from homeowners or businesses have averages 20-50%. Additionally, run-off (a major problem with traditional irrigation) has been practically eliminated. Another factor that sets Weathermatic Smartline controllers apart from the competition is that they have an extra feature: an SLW Series On-Site Weather Station.
This is a system that monitors readings and controller inputs for plant types and sprinkler types. Using this data, the system can automatically decide the right amount of water each zone of your yard requires. The system can also gather input for soil type and slope, so that it can create run and soak cycles. This can also help prevent wasteful runoff. Lastly, the weather monitor has integrated rain and freeze sensing ability. This will prevent you have to rain in rainy or freezing conditions and adjust the flow of water accordingly. This is also a big help in staying legal with local regulations regarding freezing or rain sensors.
These are all state of the art features of Weathermatic Smartline controllers that help to make maintenance simple and your readings very accurate. With this system you can ensure that your landscape gets exactly the right amount of water it needs, where it needs it (as in what section you want to water) and precisely when it needs it.
Remember that though you only buy Weathermatic Smartline controllers once, you will wind up paying for your water every month. Is it really so expensive to buy this product when you could wasting hundreds of dollars in excessive water bills every year? Weathermatic Smartline controllers could save you a lot of money and time.
About The Author:
Richard Gilliland is VP of GreenMarkIrrigation.com one of the largest online wholesale dealers and distributors for Weathermatic and sprinklers
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