Amending Soil Naturally: Organic Soil Preparation for Spring or Fall
Written by admin on September 7, 2009 – 12:58 am -By Ellen Russell Adding general organic soil amendments, such as compost and other organic matter, to your gardens and flower beds in the fall or spring prevents soil compaction and replenishes nutrients used by the previous year’s plantings. What’s more, Fall and Spring cleanup projects, lawn mowing and leaf raking, provide an abundance of free organic material that is ideal for use in organic soil improvements. Your gardens will thrive with a boost from organic amendments at either time of year (or both!). Periodic organic soil improvements are needed to continuously meet your garden’s demands for nutrients. Without adequate soil nutrition, the health and yield of blooms, vegetables and fruits will suffer. Additionally, organic soil... more
Tags: gardening, Lawn Care
Posted in Gardening tips, Lawn Care | No Comments »
Vegetable Gardening: Start Planning Now
Written by admin on August 25, 2009 – 3:55 am -Planting a vegetable garden is a very “green” thing to do these days. Today, our food is ground, dehydrated, steamed, colored, refined, formed, added to, and subtracted from, until the final product bears little natural qualities. Even so-called “organic” food has been processed to some degree. Fast-food joints and restaurants are now offering a variety of low-fat, no-carb alternatives that still contain loads of sugar, artificial color, and preservatives that cannot be good for us. In the beginning, God did not place Adam and Eve in a grocery store; he placed them in a garden. And in the middle of the garden, he did not plant “golden arches,” but trees of all kinds, trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food (Genesis... more
Tags: gardening, gardening tools
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Garden shortcuts that save time and energy
Written by admin on August 18, 2009 – 4:51 am -Yard and garden shortcuts can deliver the fastest route to that hammock Jeff Bredenberg, author of several books on saving time and energy gardening, shares some garden cheating gems: 1. If he had to pick one favorite that captures the spirit of the book, this is it: When planting a tree, you need to "face" it, meaning that its best side is facing forward. But it's hard work to keep moving it around until the designated director approves. The solution: Before dropping the tree into the planting hole, fill the hole two-thirds with water. The combination of buoyancy and lubrication from mud makes it easy to spin the tree until the right position is found. Plus, you give the tree a nice start with a big drink of water. 2. Make sure your garden... more
Tags: gardening
Posted in Gardening tips | No Comments »
How to Get Rid of Weeds
Written by admin on August 5, 2009 – 6:38 pm -By Lynn Ocone, This Old House Weed-free lawns are the stuff of dreams and championship golf courses. In fact, when you consider the tenacity of weeds, it's a wonder any of us win the pitched battles we wage with these pesky invaders. Just one dandelion plant makes up to 15,000 seeds, each of which can survive six years in the soil—creating 15,000 more seeds when it sprouts and matures. Synthetic herbicides are the usual response to chronic weed problems. But used unwisely, these chemical weed killers can be dangerous to people, pets and turf. And unless you get at the underlying problems that weaken lawns and favor weeds, you might have to apply herbicides frequently. The best way to control dandelions and other weeds in your yard is to... more
Tags: gardening, Lawn Care
Posted in Landscaping Tips, Lawn Care | No Comments »
USDA Master Gardeners Available to Help Americans Grow Safe, Healthy Food
Written by admin on July 13, 2009 – 10:12 pm -USDA Offers Free On-the-Ground Resources for First-Time Growers Washington, D.C. - infoZine - Looking for some free gardening advice? Has your well-intentioned 'green thumb' resulted in your garden looking a little brown? USDA has a cadre of volunteers who provide free gardening tips and have a wealth of science-based research to answer your questions. Trained by USDA's Cooperative Extension Service, Master Gardeners provide information in all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia. To find a local Master Gardeners, visit www.extension.org/pages/Extension_Master_Gardener "Master Gardeners are a valuable resource for people who want to get some tips on gardening and growing their own food from a real expert," said Agriculture Secretary Tom... more
Tags: gardening, gardening tools, Landscaping
Posted in Gardening tips, Tiller | No Comments »
Secrets of tomatoes supergrowers
Written by admin on July 8, 2009 – 1:24 pm ---Don't overwater. Triton College horticulture instructor Ken Benson says that if the ground is wet 3 inches down, you shouldn't water. Another supergrower waters her plants thoroughly every three days. --If you want to prune your plants -- and not all supergrowers do -- Benson suggests leaving only two to three flowering stalks per stem. (Pruners contend that fewer tomatoes mean better tomatoes.) --If you're expecting torrential rains around harvest time, which can cause tomatoes to split on the vine, pick your tomatoes early and allow them to ripen inside. --Want tomatoes on your patio or balcony? Consider containers. Barbara Peterson grows full-size plants in 20-gallon Smart Pot tubs (smartpots.com), which are made of rigid fabric. Read More →
Tags: gardening
Posted in Gardening tips | No Comments »
Beginner’s Guide to Building a Garden
Written by admin on May 24, 2009 – 10:12 pm -Where to begin? First, before you spend all that money on garden gloves and funky hats, it's important to realize that although gardening is one of the biggest pastimes amongst the population, it is more than just a hobby - it is a passion. Most hobbies are for relaxation, requiring minimal effort, but this is a hobby that can require a lot of investment - not only of time and money, but labor. This is a hobby that will have you on your hands and knees and could give you an aching back after an afternoon of pulling weeds. However, the tradeoff is not only being able to commune with nature and develop a personal relationship with the earth, it's seeing the beautiful results you've created with time and effort that is all your very own. So, if... more
Tags: gardening
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
