Some people are lucky and have this innate gift of knowing how to design space, making it a pleasing place to be in. Others don't have this gene and find it very difficult to visualise how the space will work. To create a good design it is important you understand that design is about managing space and people moving around it. The core of good garden design centres round patterns and the space within these patterns. By using geometrical shapes, circles, triangles, rectangles etc. you can achieve a unified feel to your garden. So you need to think about ground patterns and movement around your garden. Where would you like people to go? Ground patterns can be achieved with the use of bricks, paving and plant material such as cut grass etc.
Formal gardens are symmetrical and geometrical and are strict in terms of repeating patterns and plant materials on either side. It is very controlled, plants are clipped, shaped, manipulated regularly and today is often suitable for small gardens like court yards. Urns, balustrades, stone, gravel paths, parterres, formal pools and framed views are all part of the formal garden. There are no surprises, you know what to expect.
Informal designs are asymmetrical and not as regimented. Plant material is allowed to spill over the structural elements such as walls, steps and paths. Plant material is allowed to self-seed and wander around the garden. Informal garden design is softer, full of surprises thus you don't know what to expect.
And semi formal is the combination of the above two. Usually it is the built structures such as retaining walls, paths and steps that are formal and the informal element is the plant material which is allowed to spill over them, softening their hard outlines.
Within these three types, there are many different styles of gardens to choose from such as contemporary, Japanese, Mediterranean, cottage, courtyard, kitchen garden or secret garden.
Contemporary is a modern style that likes to reflect the surrounding but also use a wide range of plant material. Form and texture of foliage are as important as flowers. Hard landscaping is woven into geometrical shaped buildings; all of which flow into the wider landscape. Plants are used as focal points to highlight the architectural forms.
Cottage was a late nineteenth-century ideal to return to the simple cottages of the country. They were planted with hardy bulbs, flowers, fruit bushes and herbs and vegetables. They were geometric, colours were harmonised and luxurious as plants grew well as they were heavily manured regularly.
Mediterranean is not limited to one particular area but are defined according to hot summers and low rainfall. They encompass entertaining areas, shade, good views and dramatic shadows. Hot colourful plants are used and lots of lush green foliage plants to create a cool atmosphere. Plants need to be drought tolerant. Evergreen plants are popular because they cast shade on hot days. Walls are white washed to reflect the sun, pergolas built to create shade and use terracotta pots. There is often a water feature and water provides cooling vibes.
Japanese gardens encompasses religion and Japan's cultural history. Japanese gardens are very symbolic often the symbols relate to nature. Plants are 'tamed' and there is an emphasis on evergreen trees and shrubs. They are very controlled and often minimalist. True Japanese gardens are contemplative a place of meditation and great calm.
Planning
If you feel overwhelmed and don't know where to start when designing your garden, I suggest you break it up into areas called rooms thus dividing one big space into several smaller spaces. For example: there is the front garden, the side garden and the back garden. Once you have decided where they begin and end you can then divide each of those areas up again. For example in the back garden you could have the entertaining area, the grass/children's area, the utilities area (includes the compost heap and shed), the pool area and the vegetable/orchard area. Once you have defined the areas/rooms you can tackle one at a time, thus making a huge project into several smaller projects.
The Three Planning Stages
To create an interesting and exciting garden there are 3 sets of plans (may be four if you need an engineer's structural plans) you need to devise:- Site Analysis Plan, Concept Plan and Planting Plan, usually all drawn to scale.
The First Steps
To design a garden that works there are several things you need to do before buying plants and planting them. If you follow these steps you are more likely to have a successful garden.
Site Analysis
It is important to make an inventory of the area you are designing. Things to include are:
Levels - steep/flat
Aspect - North/south
Sun/shade
Sun Summer/Winter
Shadows
Existing trees and buildings
Wind
Views - good and bad
Soil conditions
Entrances - Front/back doors
Power lines
Underground cables and pipes
Clothes line
Fences
Sheds and garages
Paved and unpaved areas
Patio/BBQ
Lighting
Drainage - runoff of storm watered
Once you have noted the above, it is time to draw up the space. You can draw it roughly (not to scale) but eventually you will have to draw it to scale. Start by measuring the area you are designing, draw it to scale ie. 1:100 and put all the above points onto your drawn plan. All these influences need to be drawn on paper, so that you can gauge any trends. For example there might be a paved path from the back door to the garage, but everyone takes a short cut across the lawn, creating a desire line. No - one uses the paved path. So perhaps pave the desire line and make it the official path.
The next step is the concept plan and this is the plan where you put down you ideas. It can be as wild and as adventurous as you like. Forget cost, enjoy your creativity. This is the stage where you put down your dreams of what you have always wanted. Later on, you hip pocket will decide for you whether you can have them. Anything is possible, so don't be shy, dream away. Again this can be roughly drawn or to scale, it is up to you.
The third and final plan is the planting plan and it is preferable that it is drawn to scale as this allows you to know exactly how many plants you will need. It incorporates all the ideas you have decided upon and shows you how the finished garden is going to look. It is the road map which will guide you to building your new garden.
There may be a fourth plan if your site is steep or you are having major elements built, as you may need the advice of an engineer.
Points to Consider
Think about your soil conditions, is it heavy clay or light and sandy? What plants will grow in these conditions? Are some areas boggy and some always dry?
Sun conditions
The sun is higher in the sky during spring and summer and shadows are shorter. Whereas in winter, the sun is lower in the sky and casts longer shadows. So a plant might be in full sun in summer and complete shade in winter. Can it tolerate this? Also think about the conditions the plants require. Are they full sun plants like roses or shade loving plants like azaleas?
Wind
You also need to think about wind direction. Which way does the prevailing wind come from? Screens and hedges are one way of managing this problem but what problems are they going to cause? Making the block feel narrow, casting shadows etc? It is important to know because some plants don't like wind and it is no good putting the BBQ/entertainment area in an uncomfortable spot.
Views
Views out your window or from your garden are very important. Some are intrusive while others are desired. If you wish to block out flats/neighbours etc. you may need to put in a higher fence or a hedging screen of some kind. Or you may want to design your garden to enhance the view of the mountain, ocean etc.
Utilities and Service Lines
You also need to be aware where your services and utilities are; things like clothesline, overhead power lines etc. If you damage the gas, telephone or electricity lines, you are liable to pay for their repair.
Principles of garden design
To create a well designed garden, it is important to put the right plant in the right position. This means considering the cultural requirements of the plant. For example putting a full sun plant such as rose into a shady position isn't going to work, because the rose won't be receiving the right amount of sunlight for it to grow. The idea of good garden design is to follow this philosophy, using the placement of plants to create mystery, tension and surprise by using tricks of the eye, colours and textures.
Tension, mystery and surprise make a garden interesting. One way to create these is to use hedges, low walls, screens, paths, steps to make individual 'garden rooms' with tension points that captures your attention on the way. For example a narrow oblong garden can be made more interesting if you can't see the back fence - that there is a feature (plant or statue etc.) that obscures the fence. It also becomes more interesting if the path way is narrow then opens up into another room. A winding path adds mystery to the garden if you can't see what is around the corner. Surprise comes when you go around the corner and discover a focal point.
A focal point is something like a seat/statue/water feature that leads your eye directly to it. For example - a pergola that has a statue at the end of it. The statue is the feature and is the reason why you look/walk to see it. Another example of a focal point is a pathway leading through a door that is open and shows a vista of the wider landscape.
The success of the focal point can depend on the how successfully the ground patterns lead you there. If the paving encourages you along this path thus creating some tension and mystery, you are more likely to follow the path to see what's there because you have become inquisitive. Narrow paths encourage you to walk quickly and not to dilly dally along the way, where as wide paths say stroll, take you time, look at the surrounding vegetation. A gentle curve can be negotiated at speed, but a tight curve can't be so people slow down as there is risk involved. Paving is used as a directional tool says don't walk that way, but walk this way. Edging bricks say don't step over this - this is a boundary. Paving can also be used to reflect the ground plane of the house or other shapes in the garden.
Long narrow gardens have a strong directional emphasis that needs to be broken up. Square plots are static. To solve these problems the space's shape needs to be changed. A circular design distracts the eye from the straight lines of the boundary fence. You could also use a series of rectangles using the boundaries as part of the design.
Another method is to turn the garden onto a 45 degree angle. A long diagonal line will immediately create a feeling of space. The paving near the house could be done on an angle and high light the diagonal line of the entire garden.
gardens with a dog-leg in them can utilise the bend by using tension, mystery and surprise to lead you around the corner to a focal point of some kind.
Unified space is created by controlling the movement around the garden. It is the way areas are linked together by paths, bridges, pergolas, steps and terraces that determine whether a garden is successful. Careless placing can ruin the flow of the garden. If you wish to direct someone's attention to a particular point then there must be a clear reason in the design for following this pathway.
Ground levels are very important when designing a garden. If a slope is too steep to walk down safely, steps may be needed and if the entire block is on a slope, the whole area may need to be terraced. What material you use is also important. Steps should not be of slippery materials and gravel may wash away. The surfaces need to be flat otherwise they could be dangerous and people will not want to walk along them and instead they may create a desire lines.
Levels help to create interest and 'rooms' in a garden because you move from one place to another by steps/paths/etc. Allow your levels to gently flow into one another and keep them simple. Don't over decorate them. A slope up from the house will appear foreshortened whereas a slope down from the house will appear larger.
Choosing Plant Materials
There are 3 types of gardens:- the plants man, the garden designer and the gardener's (mix of the first two). The plants man gardens consist of lots of singular plantings, unconnected and often rare and difficult to source. The garden designer's garden consists of plants that are tried and tested - they use plants that they know and how they perform. The gardener's garden has learned that their favourite plants can be more effective if planted in a scheme.
When choosing plants you must consider what the conditions are of your garden. There is no point putting alkaline tolerant plants in acid soil or vise versa. It won't work! You need to think about what your plants you have chosen require moist soils, dry soils, shade, sun, well drained, boggy soils. If you do your research correctly and place your plants in the right position, you are well on the way to a successful garden.
The height and spread of your plants also needs to be considered. Tall growing plants are placed at the back of the garden bed, graduating down to the low plants. Remember some plants send up flower spikes that may be much larger than the plant itself, so they need to be positioned according to their flower spike height. Some plants are bushy so don't forget to leave sufficient room for them to spread. They may need annual pruning to keep them in check.
Colour
Another trick in the designing tool bag is using colour. Colour is the sensation of illumination which is light. The way colours inter-react with each other depends on their position in colour wheel. Manipulating colour is great fun and can create all sorts of illusions. Colours are divided into 2 groups primary red, yellow, blue and secondary green, violet, orange. Secondary colours are made of combining two primary such as mixing blue and yellow together to create green. You can make a space look cold or create distance by using pale and brown colours. You can also make a space looker bigger than it really is by using warm colours such as oranges, reds or yellows. If you want to make a space look closer to you, again use warm colours. As reds, oranges or yellow are very busy colours to the eye, it is a good idea to intersperse white flowers or grey foliage plants to calm the visual scene down. White and grey also intensify blue and pale colours.
One thing to remember about the Australia sun is that the best time to look at our gardens is in the late afternoon when the sunlight is not as strong. Our hot sun tends to fade our flowers colours and the glare at mid-day tends to wash the colour out.
If you are feeling overwhelmed about designing your garden, divide your space up and take it slowly, completing one section at a time. Don't start another part until you have finished the section you are working on and very soon you will have a beautiful garden. Remember gardens are ephemeral, it is a process that is for ever evolving. You never really finish.
Labels: Design, Garden, Garden Designing, Good Garden
Are you considering making a vegetable garden? If so, you should check into some vegetable garden plans. Garden plans inspire new, creative ideas even as they allow you to plan things out in advance before you do the "real" work of moving things around and planting and transplanting. It's always best to have a plan on paper first before you do the harder-to-correct work of actually putting things in order and planting things. Having garden plans in advance will save you time, money, and frustration.
Vegetable garden plans should be designed around factors such as personal taste, where you live geographically, and how much space you have for planting. Let's consider some garden plans that you may want to implement.
- Patio vegetable garden. Make a compact and easily tended garden on your deck or patio. Use two small soil beds and have a dense, synergistic mixture of herbs, vegetables, and flowers in each one.
- Colorful vegetable gardens. Use harmonious but contrasting colors in your choice of things you plant. These are interesting gardens. They also tend to be very healthy for you, since it's recommended that you get a "mixture of colors" in your veggies and fruits for optimal health.
- Heritage vegetable garden. Now, what's this mean? It means make it full of heirloom varieties of veggies. Again, this is diverse to the end of good health while at once being interesting and artistically inspired to create.
- The Asian vegetable garden. You might have to look online for some (or most) of the veggies you would grow in this garden. But it would yield different tastes than what you may be used to. Furthermore, Asian vegetables tend to need less space for growing than what could be found in Farmer MacGregor's garden.
- The Italian garden. We all know that the Italians make incredibly tasty food. Imagine having the tomatoes and herbs and other ingredients you need to make your own spaghetti or pizza sauce among other Mediterranean dishes.
- The All-American veggie garden. Hey, who says Americans just make hot dogs, burgers, fries, and take-out pizza? Research American veggie varieties and put together a garden that you'd be proud to "drag" a Chicago-style hot dog through.
- Autumn yield garden. What's better than still harvesting fresh produce on crisp mornings or evenings, just before the Winter sets in? Lay up your stores for the months of plant dormancy.
Tag : garden,garden plans,vegetable garden,vegetable
Discover How To Plan A Backyard Garden: 7 Golden Rules That Will Transform Your Back Yard To An Envious Garden!
0 comments Posted by ariya at 5/02/2009Now that spring is here, it's time begin selecting the best plants and flowers for your garden. But before you do, have you ever been guilty of buying plants on impulse only to discover after planting them they look like the forgotten step child, making your garden look ackward? The goal of this article is to teach you how to plan a backyard garden...right now.
Step 1 - Starting with a Solid Plan
Take the time to assess your garden environment. Determine how much sun and shade your garden gets. What type of soil do you have? Is it the well draining type or does it get waterlogged easily? Take note whether your garden is sheltered or exposed to the sun and wind. Now that you have completed your homework, it's time to buy the best plants for your situation.
- Tips at the nursery:
Remember shade-loving plants need a sheltered area, plants that love the sun thrive in warm spots, drought-resistant plants can should be located either in sunny or shaded areas and don't forget that swamp plants are terrific for the poorly-drained areas of your garden.
- Soil Testing
I recommend testing your soil first, to determine the pH level of your soil and what type of nutrients you need to add is a good idea. You want to find out if the soil is acid or alkaline. There are inexpensive testing kits available and it's not very difficult to do. Most plants prefer soil that is slightly acidic, but there are some that must have alkaline soil to grow. You can alter the soil's pH level, but it's much easier to simply plant for the soil you have.
- Design your layout
As you are planning your new garden how will you organize your plants and flowers? Will you group them or will they be random? Grouping your plants create a sense of organization and can be pleasing to the eye especially with vivid colors. On the otherhand, random planting if done with a natural look can also make your garden look quite beautiful.
- Experiment with your design
Now that you are ready to begin planting, put your chosen plants around the garden bed and step back to see how they will look. Experiment and move them around until you are satisfied. By grouping plants in small sets of threes or fives can visually look better than groups of even numbers. Place tall plants towards the back or put them in the center if you have a walk way around your garden.
- Picking Your Colors
Select interesting combinations of color and texture of plants. To avoid color clashes, you can still plant your flowers side-by-side but be sure they have a different blooming season. Another important aspect regarding color is that foliage have colors ranging from silver, grey or purplish and are just as attractive as the flower. Plan ahead as you will still have attractive plants past the blooming season.
Finally keep your plants away from trees as their roots will steal the necessary nutrients and moisture your flowers need. So with a little planning, plus choosing the best plants and skillfully selecting the right color scheme you will create your beautiful garden for all to enjoy. Now that's how to plan a backyard garden,
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Garden Benches - Sit Relax And Enjoy Your Patio And Garden Decor
0 comments Posted by ariya at 4/27/2009After you have finished you outdoor garden, it is time to admire your hard work and effort. Why would you want to do that from afar? To truly admire all of your work, you can only do it from a close up view of your work. Many consumers have no idea the wide array of garden benches that are currently available.
For instance, the park style garden bench is among the only options consumers think of when they think of a garden bench. Although, this style is beautiful and comfortable it is not the only option out there today. The park style garden bench serves its purpose, but, can you feel confident with buying the first bench you see. Be sure to explore all of the options prior to the purchase of a new garden bench.
Among the more expensive of garden benches is the stone garden bench. This particular style adds a wonderful look to your yard as well as giving you the ideal spot to place your bottom for admiration purposes. Although, if you plan on being in your garden for a longer span of time, this may not be the bench that will best meet your criteria for comfort. Stone garden benches will last for years in the elements of nature, so this is a great purchase for a garden area.
Another of the nicer options available in garden benches is the wrought iron with or without wooden slats for the seating area. The wrought iron can add a one of a kind style to your garden, and be a great addition, as not to take away from the gardens overall look, usually the wrought iron garden bench greatly compliments any garden. With or without armrests will be among the hardest part of your deciding when it comes to the purchase of the wrought iron garden bench. This will have to depend solely on your personal preference of garden bench.
Teak garden benches are another one of the top rated garden benches that are available today. They tend to be a little higher in price, due to the fact that they can usually outlive all other patio and garden furniture. Teak garden benches are designed to beat Mother Nature at her own game. Not only to the hold up against the elements of weather, but will remain beautiful and comfortable. For a more detailed design in teak garden benches, you can easily find one with engraved back, with and without armrest, and if you have a preference in the style of the back of your bench, you can get a varying style. A high back garden bench seems to be among the most popular among the teak garden benches. But, if that is not to your liking, rest assured as you can get a mid back or low back design as well.
These garden benches are just a few, hopefully giving you a taste of what is available today in garden benches. For the perfect garden bench, you must try not to get a bench that can take away from the beauty of your garden. A garden bench should only compliment the garden and be comfortable to sit in.
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Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=148391&ca=Gardening
Do you have a garden with full of flowers in the backyard of your house? Or are you just planning to create one? If you have plans to create a water garden in your front yard then you have made an excellent decision. Garden with water attracts the interest of many. It gives a pleasing effect to your garden. Moreover, not only front yard but water garden at the backyard is enough to attract the eye-catch of your relatives and visitors.
You must be aware of the fact that there are several types of gardens you can endorse at your home. You can create even a small raised bed garden or an elegant garden with a fountain. There are varieties of water gardens and some of them include waterfalls, small fountains and ponds. And it is easy to maintain too. However, it is vital that you choose the perfect spot to install a raised garden or water garden. Some fish and plants require sunlight and so you need to make sure that you create your pond or a water garden where there is plenty of sun warmth.
Several Factors That Need to Consider
When you plan to start your water gardening there are certain things you should consider:
o Size of the Water Garden: The size of the water garden or the raised bed garden plays a great role in portraying the beauty of your raised gardens. Don't make it neither too big nor too small; just makes it proportionate to your area.
o Budget for the Water Garden: Depending upon your budget and requirements you can set your water garden with rocks, fountains, and other styles to make it look prettier. Be careful in choosing the best useful plants for your garden that suits your budget.
o Plants & Fish selection: Fish cannot alone be a beautiful attraction to your water garden they can keep the pool free from debris. There are various types of plants that you can choose, if you want the one that floats freely you can get them or you can plants that will be submerged too. Get some plants for your garden that provides oxygen, which helps to keep the pool healthy forever.
Apart from building a water garden in your area, you can also build a raised bed garden. These raised gardens enhance the look of your home and you can be comfortable working in raised beds. Building and maintaining a raised bed gardens are easy when compared to the normal gardens. These gardens not only save your time but it will ideally save your lots of money. If you don't have the adequate drainage facility then these raised bed gardens can be the ideal solution.
Raised bed garden is sufficient to offer you better soil conditions, and you can have varied soils from bed to bed. Whether you are interested in growing a vegetable garden or a flower garden, then raised gardens are your preferred choice. This type of gardens can easily drain the excess moisture. Your plants look incredible with these neatly arranged raised gardens. The raised bed gardens provide you with better yields. And the pest control is made easy in the raised gardens. In other words, these raised gardens definitely give your home and garden an appealing look just like water gardens.
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The correct landscape design and the right materials are imperative, but what is also crucial is the placement of each stone and planting to produce the desired effect. The art of creating beautiful water falls landscapes involves the ability to artistically place the natural boulders and plantings in such a way that it looks as if Nature had done the work instead of a human. Garden Pond designs may vary from small bird bath types to large garden ponds. The information on this page will make it easy for you to install a pond in your garden. Even the birds will think they are in paradise. Garden Pond Design Aspects The sound of running water relaxes the mind It's a good idea to have some form of water running into your pond Running water blends in with the noise of traffic, it's like music to the ears and it calms the soul. A garden pond will create a peaceful welcoming atmosphere. Before you begin, decide on what type of garden pond design you want Integrate the pond design into your over all garden design. The pond design must fit in harmoniously with the rest of the garden design.
The size and location of your pond is not just dependent on the design principles. An often overlooked item is the natural flow of water on the garden site To look natural, you need to adapt your design to this. In a very formal garden design this aspect becomes less important. Remember that you must not fight against nature. If you are thinking of having a river or a waterfall into your pond, Remember, this simple rule: Downhill. This also means taking the natural slope of your garden into account. Different types of ponds influence the garden pond design. The size, purpose and durability required often determine the type of construction. There are different types of ponds: Concrete Ponds made with an inside plastic liner Pre formed ponds: Include fish in your garden pond design. Provide adequate shelter for the fish against birds. One way of doing this is by placing some broken pots in the pond. Their curved surfaces make an excellent hideaway. You must never be able to see the source of the water comes. For example, a large leaf plant could be placed in the area where the river comes from. The start of the river may also be hidden in some other way, for example a large pot or by another focal point. Provide this through plants close to the pond, and water plants that spread across the surface of the water.
Garden Pond Plants: Choose plants for your pond that will fit into your overall garden design. Water plants are dramatically different to normal plants. Introduce the water plants by choosing garden plants that blend in with your marginal plants. Soil nutrients constantly leached into pond water could result in green water. To overcome this, retain the media (soil) by placing gravel on top of the soil in the pot. Terra cotta pots work well in ponds. The sun can also cause the water to go green. Water lilies grow at the base of the pond. The valuable cover of the lily leaves shade the algae out in summer. Try and cover a third to a half of your pond with water lilies. You need one lily for every one and a half to three square meters of pond surface. Grow marginal plants along the edges of your pond. Fill a third of the circumference of your pond with marginal plants. Marginal plants include: Iris laevigate, lobelia fulgens, Mentha aquatica, Pontederia Cordata. Oxygenating plants (submerged plants), provide underwater foliage. These plants use up the waste nutrients in the pond, and starves the algae of nutrients. Use five bunches of oxygenating plants for every square meter.
You can get these plants from pet shops that sell fish and aquarium supplies. Oxygenating plants include: Elodea densa, and Ranunculus peltatus. Floating plants can be attached to two empty plastic cool drink bottles. You can also get floating pots from your local nursery. Introduce one for every one to one and a half square meters of surface area A good floating plant is Azolla spp/Lemna. Plant bog plants (moisture-loving plants) in damp soil near the edge of the pond or a constructed bog garden. Most bog plants prefer to have only their roots in the water. Consider a bog garden as part of your garden pond design. Treating the Dreaded Algae Problem Algae are single celled plants. Spores are present in the air and will colonize any new body of water. They are rarely harmful to water-life, but are unsightly. In severe cases they may cause problems with the health of the fish. There are a variety of different algae that will colonize a pond, from thin long strands to floating clumps.
Algae control can be done by obtaining a natural balance using a pond filter, an ultraviolet light purifier and as a last resort an algaecide. The natural balance consists of starving the algae of light and nutrients. Best form of algae control is a correctly balanced pond with enough plant material to screen out the sunlight and prevent the growth of algae. A mesh bag filled with barley straw can assist in algae control. The silicates in the straw bind nutrients, such as phosphates. The straw seems to promote as organism that feeds off the algae. Straw needs to be replaced on a regular basis as it will start to decompose and pollute the water. I suggest you replace the straw every six months. You can buy barley wheat from your local health shop. Enjoy your Pond Doing a garden pond design for your garden is really worth the effort. I have sat on my patio on many occasions and just marveled at the dragonflies, butterflies and birds visiting and enjoying the water. It is so therapeutic and a special meditation retreat for me. It's easy to give your garden statuary value.
Integrate the pond design into your over all garden design. Terra cotta pots work well in ponds. Try and cover a third to a half of your pond with water lilies. Grow marginal plants along the edges of your pond. These plants use up the waste nutrients in the pond, and starves the algae of nutrients. Consider a bog garden as part of your garden pond design. There are a variety of different algae that will colonize a pond, from thin long strands to floating clumps. Algae control can be done by obtaining a natural balance using a pond filter, an ultraviolet light purifier and as a last resort an algaecide. Best form of algae control is a correctly balanced pond with enough plant material to screen out the sunlight and prevent the growth of algae. [SUBTOPIC=4] Great Gardening Tips helps you to find multiple resources available on the web for water garden pond plan. [SUBTOPIC=5] It has been described as "Nature's Song," that relaxing sound of a mountain stream that leads us to a quiet place of balance and serenity. The art of creating beautiful water falls landscapes involves the ability to artistically place the natural boulders and plantings in such a way that it looks as if Nature had done the work. The correct landscape design and the right materials are imperative, but what is also crucial is the placement of each stone and planting to produce the desired effect. Garden Pond Design for Tranquility and Peace A good garden pond design wows just about any garden.
Garden Pond designs may vary from small bird bath types to large garden ponds Water seems to make a garden look bigger. The reflective qualities in a pond attract us, and nature. If your garden pond is designed correctly, it can add a new dimension to your garden. Even the birds will think they are in paradise. Garden Pond Design Aspects The sound of running water relaxes the mind. Its a good idea to have some form of water running into your pond Running water blends in with the noise of traffic, its like music to the ears and it calms the soul. A garden pond will create a peaceful welcoming atmosphere. Before you begin, decide on what type of garden pond design you want Integrate the pond design into your over all garden design The pond design must fit in harmoniously with the rest of the garden design The size and location of your pond is not just dependent on the design principles. An often overlooked item is the natural flow of water on the garden site To look natural, you need to adapt your design to this.
In a very formal garden design this aspect becomes less important. Remember that you must not fight against nature. If you are thinking of having a river or a waterfall into your pond, remember this simple rule: Downhill. This also means taking the natural slope of your garden into account Different types of ponds influence the garden pond design. The size, purpose and durability required often determine the type of construction. There are different types of ponds: Concrete Ponds made with an inside plastic liner Pre formed ponds. Include fish in your garden pond design. Provide adequate shelter for the fish against birds. One way of doing this is by placing some broken pots in the pond. Their curved surfaces make an excellent hideaway. You must never be able to see the source of the water comes. For example, a large leaf plant could be placed in the area where the river comes from. The start of the river may also be hidden in some other way, for example a large pot or by another focal point. Provide this through plants close to the pond, and water plants that spread across the surface of the water.
Garden Pond Plants Choose plants for your pond that will fit into your overall garden design. Water plants are dramatically different to normal plants. Introduce the water plants by choosing garden plants that blend in with your marginal plants Soil nutrients constantly leached into pond water could result in green water. To overcome this, retain the media (soil) by placing gravel on top of the soil in the pot. Terra cotta pots work well in ponds. The sun can also cause the water to go green. Water lilies grow at the base of the pond. The valuable cover of the lily leaves shade the algae out in summer. Try and cover a third to a half of your pond with water lilies. You need one lily for every one and a half to three square metres of pond surface. Grow marginal plants along the edges of your pond. Fill a third of the circumference of your pond with marginal plants Marginal plants include: Iris laevigate, lobelia fulgens, Mentha aquatica, Pontederia Cordata. Oxygenating plants (submerged plants), provide underwater foliage.
These plants use up the waste nutrients in the pond, and starves the algae of nutrients. Use five bunches of oxygenating plants for every square metre You can get these plants from pet shops that sell fish and aquarium supplies Oxygenating plants include: Elodea densa, and Ranunculus peltatus. Floating plants can be attached to two empty plastic cool drink bottles You can also get floating pots from your local nursery. Introduce one for every one to one and a half square metres of surface area A good floating plant is Azolla spp/Lemna. Plant bog plants (moisture-loving plants) in damp soil near the edge of the pond or a constructed bog garden. Most bog plants prefer to have only their roots in the water, Consider a bog garden as part of your garden pond design. See our page on how to build a pond for an easy way to build and integrate a bog garden into your garden pond design. Treating the Dreaded Algae Problem Algae are single celled plants. Spores are present in the air and will colonize any new body of water They are rarely harmful to water-life, but are unsightly. In severe cases they may cause problems with the health of the fish.
There are a variety of different algae that will colonize a pond, from thin long strands to floating clumps. Algae control can be done by obtaining a natural balance using a pond filter, an ultraviolet light purifier and as a last resort an algaecide. The natural balance consists of starving the algae of light and nutrients. Best form of algae control is a correctly balanced pond with enough plant material to screen out the sunlight and prevent the growth of algae A mesh bag filled with barley straw can assist in algae control. The silicates in the straw bind nutrients, such as phosphates. The straw seems to promote as organism that feeds off the algae. Straw needs to be replaced on a regular basis as it will start to decompose and pollute the water. I suggest you replace the straw every six months. You can buy barley wheat from your local health shop. Enjoy your Pond Doing a garden pond design for your garden is really worth the effort. I have sat on my patio on many occasions and just marveled at the dragonflies, butterflies and birds visiting and enjoying the water. It is so therapeutic and a special meditation retreat for me.
Do not overlook safety
Garden Pond Safety Do not overlook safety in your design. Water is always a hazard especially for small children Design your pond with child safety in mind A sturdy stainless steel grid a few inches under the water surface should provide protection on a deep pond A safer bet would be to have a shallow pond where small children will be able to crawl out of the pond Whatever design you decide on should adequately address this issue No matter how beautiful a design, it can never warrant the loss of a child or a pets life.
Garden Path Design
Garden paths can be as simple as a line of stones marking an established dirt trail or as elegant as granite slabs intricately laid together, acting as much as a work of art as it is a functional part of your garden. No matter the complexity of the trail's design, it is best to work with the natural terrain of your garden. Take into consideration the slope (if it is steep, incorporate more turns and switchbacks), the wetness of the soil (in boggy areas, consider building boardwalks), and the surrounding plants. Also take advantage of the contours of your garden. Straight paths are quick and efficient but offer no surprises. Look for unique areas that you can highlight. If there is an unusual tree or rock, circle around it. If you have a bed of interesting plants, be sure to pass by them. Winding paths invite the guests to slow down and appreciate your garden's personality.
When constructing your path, make the main sections large enough to allow two people to walk side by side. Side paths and paths in areas of thick vegetation can be much skinnier but should allow for one person to pass comfortably. Remember that the plants near the trails will take advantage of the room to grow so plan to leave enough room to be able to pass by or expect to maintain the plants so the path remains clear.
Garden Path Materials
There are a variety of materials to create your garden path from. Which one you choose depends on several factors, including the location of the path, how much traffic it will sustain, how much maintenance you want to provide, and how much you want it to cost. Whatever garden path, garden pathways, garden walkway materials you choose, they should complement the surrounding areas. For help deciding what is best for you, contact a pavestone contractor.
Shredded bark and wood chips are less expensive and resist weeds but they can wash away and usually need to be replaced or supplemented annually. Small stones and pea gravel work well and drain efficiently but leaves and "helicopter-type" seeds get lodged easily and are more difficult to remove. There is also cedar slabs, concrete pavers, and granite, slate, or flagstone stepping stones. The stepping stones add an elegant touch but be aware of placing them in an area where they could create a slipping hazard. If the path is in an area that you want lighted, there are even stepping stones that incorporate solar lights so that you can still see your way when it gets dark.
You can also amend your path with an arbor design, low lying plants to ease the transition from the path to the garden, or borders that help keep your guests out of areas where you do not want visitors. For path ideas for your own oasis, see the Paths and Walkways photo gallery from EnhanceScape.
About the Author
EnhanceScape is the trusted resource for designing, financing, and creating your pathways and walkways . View the EnhanceScape pathways and walkways pictures. Learn more at EnhanceScape.com.
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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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If your garden is not attacked by the pests, the gardening is easy. In fact, the gardening is not easy. There are a lot of factors that will harmful your garden. The most important factor is the pests.
The pests may be prevented by the garden cleanliness. Like the human, they will protect the illness by the healthful conditions.
You should to plan about “How to keeping the pests down?”. The earthworms will stir up the soil. This makes the soil to contact the water and air for all times. The insect is the best feed of the bird. Some insects will harmful the other insects, too. The toads are the wonderful insect hunter. They will eat a lot of small insects all day. They are the best friend of your garden.
You should try to change your garden to the attractive garden for the birds and toads. You must have the bird house, the water place and the sprinkle in your garden especially in spring. The bird will stay in your garden. In the hot summer, the toads will rest in the cool shadow in day time and they will ready to hunt in the night time. You need to help the toads by set up the suitable place for them. Putting the vary size of stones under the shade or in the cool and damp area is the good idea. The toads like in live in the dark, cool, quiet and damp area.
If we classified the insect class by the working of them, there are 2 kinds of the insects.
The first kind is the insect who gnaw at the plant. They will use the fit mouth like the grasshoppers and caterpillars.
The second kind is the insect who suck the juice from the plant like the plant lice. Their work is similar to the mosquito work. The mosquito will prey on the people. If there is a lot of this insect type on the plant, the plant will die by the sucking.
The certain insecticide is directly attacking the insects. It is sprayed on the plants. It will fall upon the insects. So they will die by the absorption of the poison into the body.
If your garden is attacked by the underground insects, the ant hills will covered your garden. This is the good idea. But you should be careful about the undesired problems.
The plant lice are the most common insect. The colors of the plant lice are red, yellow, green or brown. But most of them are green. They will suck the plant by cling close to the part of the plant. It is not too hard to find them.
The rose bushes are attacked by the rose slugs. Their characteristics are the soft bodies; the body’s color is green and yellow. They eat all the leaves of the rose.
The melons and squash leaves are damaged by the beetles. They eat the leaves by left the holes in it. The color of the beetle’s back is black with yellow stripes. The tomato worm is the common pest in the vegetable garden. It will eat the young fruits. It is the yellow and green worm.
Tag : garden,garden pests,garden decor,garden plants,home and garden
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Many fine gardens evolve gradually through the loving attention of their owners with little or no outside help. But when it comes to creating a new garden, or taking over an existing one that has fallen on hard times or that does not suit your taste or needs, it is well worth seeking advice from a professional garden designer.
The issues involved can be surprisingly complex, from drainage and construction through to siting trees and planting a border. How to deal with slopes and levels? How to forge a harmonious relationship between house, garden and surrounding landscape? What materials to use? How large to make a patio or pergola, how to site a water feature, pond or lake? How and where to incorporate outdoor lighting? Might planning permission be needed for any of this, and what order of costs might be involved?
Some of these questions might be answered by a knowledgeable gardener, others by a landscaper or builder, but for professional advice covering the whole process of planning and making a garden it is best to consult a qualified garden designer. Of course, before engaging any professional advisor you should first check their credentials and satisfy yourself that they are someone you can trust to interpret your brief in a sympathetic manner. The Society of Garden Designers, now celebrating its 25th year, is the only professional body in the UK devoted solely to garden design. Registered members have had their work individually assessed and must adhere to a code of professional practice. In the United States the equivalent body is the APLD (Association of Professional Landscape Designers).
A professional garden designer will listen carefully to your wishes before making any detailed proposals; time spent discussing practical needs and your likes and dislikes will help achieve a result that both you and the designer can be excited by. The hoped-for reaction from a client when they see that first presentation plan is “I never imagined anything quite like that, but it's exactly what I want”.
Beautifully drawn plans are all very well, but can they be put into practice? A garden designer will have thought through the practical implications of his proposals, including cost. He will be able to provide detailed working drawings and to source materials and plants, giving you a much wider choice than could be found at your local garden centre or builder's merchant. He will be able to find or recommend contractors to carry out the work, with costs and specifications agreed beforehand.
There is no denying that creating a garden can be expensive: expect to spend about the same on a new garden as on a complete new kitchen. Having detailed plans puts you in control and reduces the risk of unforeseen extra costs. A well designed garden makes good use of space that might have been wasted, making a small plot seem bigger and a large uninteresting space more intimate. The benefits of a new garden go on improving over time - planting typically takes three to five years to mature, for a larger garden ten years or more. Research shows that patients who have access to a garden, even if they can only look at it from a hospital bed, recover more quickly than those who do not, confirming what gardeners have known all along: gardens are good for you.
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Be sure you plan things carefully and do not just get some seeds or plants and start digging up your yard. That piece of advice will probably be repeated in this e-book because that is usually the mistake most beginner gardeners make. In order to have a successful organic garden you need to take your time and plan everything out careful.
1. Space
Before you can start growing your organic vegetables you will need a place to plant them. This choice is going to be based largely on your living situation. If you are in a townhouse or apartment or even a house without a suitable yard then you will want to consider using pots. It is possible to grow many small vegetables in pots or containers that come in a wide variety of sizes.
If you do not already have pots or containers that are suitable for growing plants you can order them online for surprisingly low prices or pick them up from your nursery. Make sure you look around your house before you spend your money. You might be surprised to find that you have several suitable items or old plant pots that you have forgotten about.
If you are someone with a home that has a large yard then you have more options. You can start your organic garden in any location that you feel will be suitable for growing plants. One thing to remember when picking out an area of your yard for growing organic vegetables is to choose a location that will get a good amount of sunlight during the entire day.
Finding out the best spot based on lighting will require a few days of careful observation but it will be worth it if you can find a good spot in which to start your organic vegetable garden.
The size of your organic vegetable garden is entirely up to you and based on the amount of available space that you have at your disposal. Do not be afraid to start a small garden and build up to a large one and do not be discouraged if you feel you do not have as much space as you would like for your new garden. You are just starting out and working with the resources that are currently available.
2. Soil
Good soil is the second thing that you need to get your organic vegetable garden going and this is probably the most important part of your new garden. The soil you choose must be rich and fertile if you want your vegetables to grow healthy and strong. If the soil in your garden seems thin or unsuitable do not give up hope yet. There are ways to make the available soil more fertile and perfect for gardening that will be explained in a minute.
Remember, you must NOT use any chemical fertilizer in your new organic vegetable garden!
Most new organic vegetable growers are first tempted to use chemicals when they are inspecting the quality of their available soil. It is tempting to go purchase a bag of soil that is packed with chemical fertilizers if your own soil does not seem rich enough. This is a big step in the wrong direction and must be avoided at all costs. There are ways to make your soil rich and suitable for growing that does not involve using expensive, and sometimes hazard, outside chemicals.
If you are growing your plants in pots or organic containers on a back patio or window sill getting soil might take a bit more effort. Soil can be obtained from willing neighbors or family members that have their own yards. Simply ask for some soil and shovel it into your waiting container.
When that is not an option consider purchasing organic soil from a garden supply shop. There are places that sell soil with no chemical fertilizers. This might be an additional start cost not incurred by those with their own back yards but it will be worth it.
By having your own purchased organic soil you will be able to fill your pots and containers then plant your seeds when it suits you. Another benefit of using pots and containers is that your soil temperature will not be at the mercy of the ground temperature.
3. Compost
Compost is something that you will need to help your garden thrive especially if your soil is not as fertile as you would have hoped. Rich compost will give your soil the minerals necessary to help your vegetables grow and thrive during the growing seasons. It is easy to make compost using materials that you have on hand especially if you have your own backyard or access to an outdoor area.
In order to create your own organic compost you will need to first dig a pit or two (depending on the size of your garden) in your back yard.
Once your pit has been dug fill it with the following refuse from your kitchen:
Vegetable Peels
Fruit Peals
Leaves
Bark
Needles
Egg Shells
Coffee Grinds
Corn Stalks
By: Juliet Spalding
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What’s in a Garden Bridge: The Stuff That Makes Your Garden Bridge Resist the Weather
0 comments Posted by ariya at 7/14/2009So after weighing all the options, plans, and ideas, you’ve decided that the next thing you need to complete your garden is the good old fashioned garden bridge. You’ve built your entire landscaping method around adding a bridge to your backyard, and only fate will keep you from incorporating this into your outdoor paradise. The only problem is you have no idea what your garden bridge needs to be made of. And with so many options out there, who knows what is best for your needs. How can you be sure that you’re getting the best investment for your money?
With the variations in construction of garden bridges out there, the best investment starts with doing the correct homework. Knowing what to expect, combined with where you live and the environmental hazards that go with your new decoration will ensure you’re getting the right thing at the right price.
One of the biggest things to remember is that garden bridges are not as easy to bring in during the winter months as the rest of your outdoor furniture. In some cases, once placed, your decorum becomes one with the land. This is something to consider when debating which one to purchase: not all materials handle the heat, rain, snow, dirt and debris as well as others. Furthermore, some materials are best to handle one situation or climate than others. Think very carefully before moving forward with a plan of action on how this will affect your bridge.
Now that you have debated the elemental problems that will plague your garden bridge, its time to consider the attack from below – how bugs will affect the use and life of your garden bridge. That’s right – bugs. Unlike the rest of your patio furniture, garden bridges spend their life attached directly to the ground, offering a home for pests of all seasons. Be careful of termites and other pests making a nice nest out of your garden bridge, as it will eventually be a health and safety hazard to your friends and family, and destroying the long life of a decoration you thought you would cherish for years to come.
With the weather and indigenous pests in mind, it is now time to consider what you want your garden bridge to be made out of. Three of the most popular choices of materials include cypress, cedar, and plastics. Cypress and cedar bridges give the charm and warmth that only wooden bridges can – they bring back memories of a simpler time, when trains and carriages crossed covered wooden bridges. These are excellent choices as well because of their density, the hardness of the woods, and their natural resistance to pests. Both cypress and cedar can withstand the harsh elements, and bring you joy throughout the year. Meanwhile, bridges made of plastics can last just as long, and guarantee you will not be dealing with a pest problem anytime soon. Made of recycled and synthetic materials, plastics will make sure you will be getting the best of your investment for years to come.
While getting a garden bridge seems like one of the hardest investments you will make, knowing what goes in them, and why they are a good choice for your home does not. A little homework on the right stuff will make your investment go a long way.
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Flower Garden: 4 Fundamental Tips on Starting a Flower Garden
0 comments Posted by ariya at 7/23/2009Are you thinking to start garden ing as a hobby? Or maybe you're planning to create your very own flower garden? That’s fantastic! There is much to be said about how gardening can be spiritually satisfying. And you'll have so much fun experimenting with flowers and the beauty and splendor they can give to your lawn or to your backyard. Here are 4 fundamental tips on how you can create a wonderfully ideal flower garden.
1. Flowers are all about colors. These colors and their hues are all about harmony and coordination. And just like your wardrobe, a careless combination of colors could turn out to be quite unattractive. Truly unsightly. You really must coordinate the colors of your flowers. In such cases then, whatever you decide to grow and cultivate will require some planning and organization. One of the first decisions you’ll need to make is about the color scheme that you’d like to have for your garden or backyard. After that, select your flowering plants according to this plan.
2. Flowers can be used to brighten and liven up the shady areas and the dim locations of your garden or backyard. Have you got a spot or an area that isn't being touched by sunlight? It just can’t be reached by the sun? You can readily enhance theses locations using better lighting to produce an explosion of colors. If flowering plants are to be used for this purpose, it’s best to select bright and vibrant colored blooms. It would be good to stay away from dark and gloomy colored flowers. They do nothing to help shady or dim areas.
3. Flower gardens often have a focal point. It may be a statue or a sculpture, a fountain or a water garden, or any type of monument or memorial. Still, if your flower garden doesn't have such a focal point, you can make use of the plants themselves as the centerpiece. Aim to decide on a specific color, and choose flowering plants that provide blooms of such a shade. Then arrange your flower garden to direct attention and interest towards a cluster of these flowers.
4. Select carefully and intelligently between annuals and perennials for your flower garden.
Annuals come into flowers and bloom only once during their lifetime—which normally lasts for a year or less. Even with this, their flowers are far more colorful and vibrant, far more fragrant and sweet-smelling, and far more grand than other varieties of flowers.
Perennials, on the other hand, bloom many times during their lifespan. This usually takes many years. Their flowers may not be as splendid as those of an annuals' blooms, but perennials are definitely easier and more convenient to grow and cultivate. This makes them a much more practical choice.
There are many more tips and guidelines to help you in starting a flower garden. Take your time. This is something that you shouldn’t rush. You’ll enjoy the process so much more.
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Many vegetable seeds will grow well and give you a good crop if you can plant them straight into tilled soil in hills or rows. The supplies that you are going to need for a vegetable garden include a garden hose, garden rake, garden trowel, vegetable seeds, shovel, and a watering can. First be sure your outdoor temperatures will not be dropping to the freezing level; if the seeds freeze they will not survive. The vegetable seed packets will give you the information regarding when you can start planting in your area, how deep the seeds need to be place, how far apart the seeds should be and the best method for producing great results.
If you plan on planting the seeds in rows you need to make several channels with the use of a garden hoe. Each of the channels needs to be as deep as recommended by the seed packet for that vegetable. Generally speaking the larger the seed the deeper it gets planted in the soil. The small carrot seeds only need to be about 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep while the larger seeds, such as beans, will need to be planted a good two inches deep. Place the seeds in the channel at the recommended distance apart, then cover loosely with the back of a rake or with your hands. Tamp that row of seeds with the back side of your rake enough so the wind will not blow the soil away. Water thoroughly but use a garden hose or watering can that is equipped with a fine-spray.
For hill planting gather your soil to form a mound to a 3 to 4" height and 12 to 18" width. Your seed packet will probably let you know high and wide the hills need to be for planting. You can use your finger or a stick to make a hole into the center of the mound as deep as recommended. Insert 2 or 3 seeds into the hole, cover them with the soil and press down just enough to make sure the soil contacts the seeds well. Thoroughly water the hills the same way as if you planted in rows.
Often times it can be better to plant varieties of flower seed indoors and then transplant them to the flower garden after the last frost. The time needed before transplanting outdoors depends on the flowers you choose. All this information can be found on the individual seed packet or in a seed catalog. Some packets tell you to plant indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost. Some seeds such as zinnias or cosmos can be planted directly outdoors but in order to get an early start you can plant them inside first to transplant later. Geraniums and licorice plants may need as long as twelve weeks before they start sprouting.
The main reason for starting seeds indoors is to help germination by use of heat and water and seed growth with the help of grow lights. You can help prevent "damping-off" with proper drainage and air circulation; this air circulation can be done with an electric fan blowing across the soil surface gently during the daytime. You want to start "hardening off" your tender seedlings a week to 10 days before planting outdoors. Stop fertilizing, cut watering down to half the amount, keep then in a cooler inside space, start letting them receive some direct sunlight and introduce them to outdoor temperatures. You can start by placing the trays outside for about an hour during mid day and increase gradually the time spent outdoors. You do not want them out when it is cold, in heavy rain, strong winds and bring them inside during the night.
Before you purchase any garden seeds pick up some garden seed catalogs and do some browsing to see the different varieties of flower seed and vegetable seed packets that might interest you. You may even want to try some that you have never heard of before and it might turn out to your liking. Just remember to use reliable sources when you purchase your garden seed.
Labels: Garden, Garden Seed
