Mid-way through the summer, garden soils can become hard, dry, and compacted. This short video demonstrates a really cool little hand tool that you can use to break up the soil and help water penetrate into the soil. Don't get too close to the existing plants, but this is a nice way to break soil up in in-between areas where you want to plant new seeds or plants, and will help water and fertilizer get to the roots of existing plants as well.
Much less expensive, and handier to use than a motorized tiller, this type of hand tiller is a really handy garden tool to keep on hand!
Similar Hand Tillers:
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Maintaining Your Summer Garden
There are many things that go into planning and planting a summer garden. Far too often would be gardeners do not consider the time and energy that should be spent maintaining a summer garden in order to keep it looking beautiful and healthy throughout the long dog days of summer and, hopefully, into the first frosts of fall. If prolonging the life and beauty of your summer garden is a priority then there are things that must be done in order to keep everything ship shape and in good working order.
1. Create a calendar of things to do in your garden for routine maintenance throughout the summer growing season and follow it as closely as time and the weather will allow. Make sure this list allows for upsets such as a week of rain or a week of no rain as well as time to adjust for these inconsistencies and an inability to work in the garden when temperatures are uncomfortably hot. Having a list of things to do written down in a place where it can be seen will be much more likely to be accomplished than if it were out of sight and out of mind.
2. Make sure you keep your garden weeded, watered, mulched, and fertilized according to the needs of the specific plants within your garden. Check for leaves that are turning yellow and any pruning that needs to occur on a weekly basis. Remove dead leaves and flowers, and remove all weeds whenever the opportunity or need arises. If weeds are becoming a prevalent theme you may want to increase the amount of mulch being used in your gardening efforts.
3. Trim the areas of your lawn that need trimming in order to create a more uniform appearance between lawn and garden. You do not want to diminish the beauty of your garden because your lawn is looking shaggy and unkempt. Devote a little time to lawn care in order to keep your lawn and garden on a consistent scale with one another throughout the summer gardening season.
4. Make sure that you carefully study each plant that you have in your garden and are aware of any special needs that exist for one plant over another. If your plants that need shade or extra water are either receiving too much sunlight or not enough water you need to make efforts to provide shade for them and get more water to them throughout the remaining months or you risk losing the investment of time and money you have already made in procuring and growing these plants.
Taking proper care of your garden during the summer months can make the fall harvesting process go a lot more smoothly, while also helping prepare for the planning that will occur in the winter months ahead. Learn from the maintenance of your garden and plan the next garden with the needs you became aware of this season in mind. Always take time to learn from both your successes and your summer gardening failures for the best possible results. Learning to maintain your summer garden properly is the best way to determine whether or not you want to attempt a more or less ambitious garden in future growing seasons.
1. Create a calendar of things to do in your garden for routine maintenance throughout the summer growing season and follow it as closely as time and the weather will allow. Make sure this list allows for upsets such as a week of rain or a week of no rain as well as time to adjust for these inconsistencies and an inability to work in the garden when temperatures are uncomfortably hot. Having a list of things to do written down in a place where it can be seen will be much more likely to be accomplished than if it were out of sight and out of mind.
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| (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
3. Trim the areas of your lawn that need trimming in order to create a more uniform appearance between lawn and garden. You do not want to diminish the beauty of your garden because your lawn is looking shaggy and unkempt. Devote a little time to lawn care in order to keep your lawn and garden on a consistent scale with one another throughout the summer gardening season.
4. Make sure that you carefully study each plant that you have in your garden and are aware of any special needs that exist for one plant over another. If your plants that need shade or extra water are either receiving too much sunlight or not enough water you need to make efforts to provide shade for them and get more water to them throughout the remaining months or you risk losing the investment of time and money you have already made in procuring and growing these plants.
Taking proper care of your garden during the summer months can make the fall harvesting process go a lot more smoothly, while also helping prepare for the planning that will occur in the winter months ahead. Learn from the maintenance of your garden and plan the next garden with the needs you became aware of this season in mind. Always take time to learn from both your successes and your summer gardening failures for the best possible results. Learning to maintain your summer garden properly is the best way to determine whether or not you want to attempt a more or less ambitious garden in future growing seasons.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Choosing Ground Cover Plants
Ground cover has many different uses in the garden. It can be used to help reduce the amount of weeds that will appear in the garden by covering over the space between plants where the weeds might grow and smothering tiny weed seedlings before they can grow.
Ground cover can also help to keep the moisture in the soil by stopping it from drying out from direct sunlight. And it can also add color and texture to the garden.
A lot of the ground cover plants that are available can supply a splash of color throughout the year where some will have color in their leaves and then additional color when they flower. Being so close to the ground they can stay in better condition in windy conditions where they aren't quite so exposed as other flowering plants.
Most ground cover plants are quite durable and are an excellent way to add color to gardens that are in conditions where other flowering plants might not survive.
Some ground cover plants grow very well and thrive in shaded areas where other plants might struggle to thrive and they generally require very little maintenance. They are also excellent for creating borders around gardens where there are larger plants or trees growing or where other plants won't be able to get sufficient nutrition to grow to their full potential. They are particularly good for covering areas that are not easily accessible and would normally be too hard to maintain if you were to attempt to grow other plants there.
Ground cover plants also make a nice display when grown in and around rocks and sculptures in the garden and can make a nice mat when grown at the foot of a garden seat, provided of course that you choose one that is durable enough to withstand light foot traffic.
Ground cover can also help to keep the moisture in the soil by stopping it from drying out from direct sunlight. And it can also add color and texture to the garden.
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| Shade Garden Groundcovers (Photo credit: patrick_standish) |
Most ground cover plants are quite durable and are an excellent way to add color to gardens that are in conditions where other flowering plants might not survive.
Some ground cover plants grow very well and thrive in shaded areas where other plants might struggle to thrive and they generally require very little maintenance. They are also excellent for creating borders around gardens where there are larger plants or trees growing or where other plants won't be able to get sufficient nutrition to grow to their full potential. They are particularly good for covering areas that are not easily accessible and would normally be too hard to maintain if you were to attempt to grow other plants there.
Ground cover plants also make a nice display when grown in and around rocks and sculptures in the garden and can make a nice mat when grown at the foot of a garden seat, provided of course that you choose one that is durable enough to withstand light foot traffic.
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Which Ones are the Weeds?
I have always wondered who ever determined exactly what was a weed? There are some delightful looking weeds that grow in the garden even when we don't want them to be there.
I guess the best explanation of what represents a weed is, a weed is a plant that is growing somewhere that it shouldn't be. I have known people who will happily leave weeds in the garden if they think their color and style will add to the variety of their garden. I don't mind a few weeds if they're not terribly invasive, but some plants become weeds just by invading other available spaces where we don't want them.
More often than not, we fight the never-ending battle to eradicate these unwanted residents from our gardens only to have them grow back faster than ever.
The problem with weeds is the fact that many of these plants are better
at seeking out the nutrients in the soil and by doing so they are using
the goodness that we want for the plants that we choose to have in the
garden. They can also suck up that all-important water that can be scarce during the hot season, and they can shade or crowd out our garden plants. Many weeds also attract insects to the garden that can affect the condition of other plants.
No matter how diligent we are at removing weeds from the garden they will always reappear as their seeds are transported by insects, the wind, and even on the clothing and shoes that we wear.
Replanting from one garden to another can easily introduce new weeds so it is always important to check the soil and the roots of the plants that you are moving to ensure you aren't transplanting weeds also.
Most of the time pulling weeds is the best way to remove them, although in some areas a hoe can also be of use. Once they are removed, adding a covering of mulch will help to reduce the return of weeds. Another method that helps is to lay a thick layer of dampened newspaper on the ground before covering it with mulch. This is very effective, and the newspaper will decompose easily into your soil and and even provide food for beneficial earthworms.
Once you get the weed population under control, usually it gets easier with each passing year, as long as you stay on top of it. Be sure to remove weeds before they go to seed, and you'll have fewer and fewer unwanted weeds in your garden area.
I guess the best explanation of what represents a weed is, a weed is a plant that is growing somewhere that it shouldn't be. I have known people who will happily leave weeds in the garden if they think their color and style will add to the variety of their garden. I don't mind a few weeds if they're not terribly invasive, but some plants become weeds just by invading other available spaces where we don't want them.
More often than not, we fight the never-ending battle to eradicate these unwanted residents from our gardens only to have them grow back faster than ever.
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| Weeds (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
No matter how diligent we are at removing weeds from the garden they will always reappear as their seeds are transported by insects, the wind, and even on the clothing and shoes that we wear.
Replanting from one garden to another can easily introduce new weeds so it is always important to check the soil and the roots of the plants that you are moving to ensure you aren't transplanting weeds also.
Most of the time pulling weeds is the best way to remove them, although in some areas a hoe can also be of use. Once they are removed, adding a covering of mulch will help to reduce the return of weeds. Another method that helps is to lay a thick layer of dampened newspaper on the ground before covering it with mulch. This is very effective, and the newspaper will decompose easily into your soil and and even provide food for beneficial earthworms.
Once you get the weed population under control, usually it gets easier with each passing year, as long as you stay on top of it. Be sure to remove weeds before they go to seed, and you'll have fewer and fewer unwanted weeds in your garden area.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Controlling Diseases in the Garden
Disease can spread more readily in wet conditions so you need to be careful when working in your garden - especially when it's wet out - not to transfer disease from one plant to the next. If possible, try to avoid working in your garden or touching any plants until the moisture dries.
If you find any diseased parts on your plants cut them out and discard them in the rubbish. If the plant is too far gone to recover then remove the whole plant but always be careful that in doing so the diseased portions don't come into contact with the other plants, as this will cause it to spread.
You should never use diseased plants for compost. It is better to send it out in the trash or burn it to ensure it doesn't spread any further.
Many diseases in the garden are spread by insects so keeping control of the insects in your garden will reduce or eliminate the incidence of disease. There are suitable sprays that will help you to eliminate insects in the garden but even these sprays can cause problems. It is essential that the spray dries and the foliage is not left damp because damp foliage can cause disease. Spraying should therefore be done early enough in the day to allow for the foliage to dry out before night - and be sure to only use natural sprays like oils or soaps to avoid introducing dangerous chemicals into your organic garden.
Another area that can harbor disease is in pots that have been used with plants that have had some form of disease. By repotting other plants into these pots you run the risk of those plants also becoming infected. Simply wash out all pots before reusing them. Bleach will generally kill any fungus or bacteria - be sure to rinse the residue out and all traces of the bleach.
Garden hygiene is essential if you want to have a healthy garden. Many people assume that due to the fact that you are working with soil/dirt cleanliness is not important but it is this lack of care that is responsible for the transfer of diseases in the garden.
If you find any diseased parts on your plants cut them out and discard them in the rubbish. If the plant is too far gone to recover then remove the whole plant but always be careful that in doing so the diseased portions don't come into contact with the other plants, as this will cause it to spread.
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| Diseased Super Bush Tomato (Photo credit: grevillea.) |
Many diseases in the garden are spread by insects so keeping control of the insects in your garden will reduce or eliminate the incidence of disease. There are suitable sprays that will help you to eliminate insects in the garden but even these sprays can cause problems. It is essential that the spray dries and the foliage is not left damp because damp foliage can cause disease. Spraying should therefore be done early enough in the day to allow for the foliage to dry out before night - and be sure to only use natural sprays like oils or soaps to avoid introducing dangerous chemicals into your organic garden.
Another area that can harbor disease is in pots that have been used with plants that have had some form of disease. By repotting other plants into these pots you run the risk of those plants also becoming infected. Simply wash out all pots before reusing them. Bleach will generally kill any fungus or bacteria - be sure to rinse the residue out and all traces of the bleach.
Garden hygiene is essential if you want to have a healthy garden. Many people assume that due to the fact that you are working with soil/dirt cleanliness is not important but it is this lack of care that is responsible for the transfer of diseases in the garden.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Pest Control Tips for Organic Gardeners
This time of year garden pests can start to drive you crazy. How dare those little destructive pests think that the plants you worked so hard to get into the ground and tend are theirs too? The good news is that there’s a way to control those little pests without upsetting the balance of nature or harming anything. Organic gardening pest control is a necessary part of maintaining a sustainable and healthy organic garden.
Organic gardening pest control begins before the plants even go into the soil. Preparing the soil properly will help repel pests and give your plants a good, healthy start so that they’re less susceptible to attacks from destroying insects and fungi.
Natural biological control consists of many items that you might already have around your house. Garlic, fish, rhubarb and tobacco are among the odoriferous things that you can use to repel pests. Others include oils such as vegetable and mineral oils, vegetable-based soaps and detergents and heat from chilies.
It’s good to remember that you should only use what you need to rid your plants of pests and infestations. Using sprays, even if they’re natural and environmentally safe, can sometimes harm the plants. Never spray your plants during sunny days. It might cause the leaves to burn and turn brown.
Your eyes are also good deterrents to keeping pests from harming your plants. If you see a caterpillar on a cabbage, simply pluck it off. Notice what’s around your plants. For example, if you see butterflies or moths flying around them, use an organic gardening pest control mixture that targets just those types of insects.
Insect pests love to find a wide swath of plants in one area of a garden, so practice diversity by inserting other types of plants in between. Your organic garden doesn’t have to be symmetrical and adhere to neat little “rows.” Crop rotation can also help confuse bugs by relocating their favorite plants to a different spot than they were last year, so hopefully they won't be able to find them.
Certain insects can also be your organic gardening friends. Use lacewings, bees, ladybugs and other friendly insects to keep detrimental pests out of your garden. It really works. Encourage tachanid wasps, which lay eggs on tomato horn worms. There are many friendly insects that can help you control pests naturally in your garden.
Experiment to see what works best for your organic garden. For example, if you mix a spray and use it only to find that the pests you were trying to target are returning, make it a bit stronger the next time.
Mildew, mold and fungus present a whole new set of problems than insects. Some plants are more prone to these conditions than others. For example, zucchini, cucumber and peas are very susceptible to mildew, but the problem can be eradicated with a cream milk spray - or choose varieties that are resistant to these problems.
Observe your organic garden carefully and don’t panic if you notice a problem with pests. Organic gardening pest control has come a long way and you can find many helpful suggestions online or from books and other resources.
Helpful Natural Pest Control Resources:
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| Cover via Amazon |
Natural biological control consists of many items that you might already have around your house. Garlic, fish, rhubarb and tobacco are among the odoriferous things that you can use to repel pests. Others include oils such as vegetable and mineral oils, vegetable-based soaps and detergents and heat from chilies.
It’s good to remember that you should only use what you need to rid your plants of pests and infestations. Using sprays, even if they’re natural and environmentally safe, can sometimes harm the plants. Never spray your plants during sunny days. It might cause the leaves to burn and turn brown.
Your eyes are also good deterrents to keeping pests from harming your plants. If you see a caterpillar on a cabbage, simply pluck it off. Notice what’s around your plants. For example, if you see butterflies or moths flying around them, use an organic gardening pest control mixture that targets just those types of insects.
Insect pests love to find a wide swath of plants in one area of a garden, so practice diversity by inserting other types of plants in between. Your organic garden doesn’t have to be symmetrical and adhere to neat little “rows.” Crop rotation can also help confuse bugs by relocating their favorite plants to a different spot than they were last year, so hopefully they won't be able to find them.
 |
| Green Lacewing (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Experiment to see what works best for your organic garden. For example, if you mix a spray and use it only to find that the pests you were trying to target are returning, make it a bit stronger the next time.
Mildew, mold and fungus present a whole new set of problems than insects. Some plants are more prone to these conditions than others. For example, zucchini, cucumber and peas are very susceptible to mildew, but the problem can be eradicated with a cream milk spray - or choose varieties that are resistant to these problems.
Observe your organic garden carefully and don’t panic if you notice a problem with pests. Organic gardening pest control has come a long way and you can find many helpful suggestions online or from books and other resources.
Helpful Natural Pest Control Resources:
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Installing an Irrigation System
For your garden to survive it is essential to have an effective watering plan and this can be made somewhat easier by installing an irrigation system.
There are many products on the market that allow just about anyone to install their own irrigation system.
The first thing you will need to do is set out a plan of where the irrigation needs to go, taking into account your water supply, the types of plants that you will be watering, and the flexibility in water management that you will need.
Flexibility in water management is particularly important, as this will allow you to supply varying contents of water to specific plants to ensure all the plants in your garden are getting their optimum requirements.
Another factor that you should consider is having a timed irrigation system where you can supply water to your plants on a regular basis even if you are away on holiday for an extended period of time. These timed watering systems are very cost effective and can save you a lot of money that could otherwise be lost in plants that die due to a lack of water, and they also reduce waste by delivering the water directly to where it is needed, instead of indiscriminately watering the whole area.
There are a wide variety of soaker and sprinkler type water systems and they all have their specific benefits for your garden.
If you are unsure what your garden requirements are, many of the home irrigation systems have information to help you make educated decisions but if that still leaves you in doubt then a consultation with a garden professional could save you a lot of time and money.
Before buying anything check out the prices from the online garden supply stores as you will generally get a better price than buying elsewhere and if you do find you need help from a professional, you can simply get their recommendations and buy the products elsewhere to save money.
You can find some helpful resources and watering supplies at good prices at http://www.newholisticliving.com/sustainablegardening.html.
There are many products on the market that allow just about anyone to install their own irrigation system.
The first thing you will need to do is set out a plan of where the irrigation needs to go, taking into account your water supply, the types of plants that you will be watering, and the flexibility in water management that you will need.
Flexibility in water management is particularly important, as this will allow you to supply varying contents of water to specific plants to ensure all the plants in your garden are getting their optimum requirements.
 |
| "The principle behind drip irrigation is to deliver water directly to the base of the plant, as opposed to indiscriminately watering the ground around the plants. This means that all the water being expended is being used to nourish the plant, while wasting less in the surrounding soil, and losing less to evaporation." (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
There are a wide variety of soaker and sprinkler type water systems and they all have their specific benefits for your garden.
If you are unsure what your garden requirements are, many of the home irrigation systems have information to help you make educated decisions but if that still leaves you in doubt then a consultation with a garden professional could save you a lot of time and money.
Before buying anything check out the prices from the online garden supply stores as you will generally get a better price than buying elsewhere and if you do find you need help from a professional, you can simply get their recommendations and buy the products elsewhere to save money.
You can find some helpful resources and watering supplies at good prices at http://www.newholisticliving.com/sustainablegardening.html.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Tips for Properly Watering Your Garden Plants
The summer has just started, and already it's watering time here in Central Ohio - this spring has been quite a bit drier than usual. As all gardeners know, watering is one of the most essential components of garden success. Plants are approximately 90% water and therefore it is essential that they get enough water to survive.
Gardening is all about balance and that applies to the amount of water your plants need to stay healthy. Over watering can be as harmful as not giving them enough water. Too much water can reduce the plants ability to draw oxygen and nutrients from the soil and this is as essential to their growth as the water.
The soil that the plants are growing in is a big factor in the amount of water that you should be giving them. If the soil is heavy and doesn't drain well you will need to give them less water or they could get water logged and the roots can rot. If the soil is a lot freer draining then you might need to water a little more often.
Gentle watering is better than heavy watering with a hose as the higher pressure of the hose can cause the soil to turn to mud, and can also compact it. Once the soil dries out again it will become solidified. This compacting of the soil after heavy watering makes it more difficult for the plants to grow.
Soakers (also called soaker hoses or drip irrigation) are a good method of watering provided the flow of water is not too great. Soakers are also excellent when using a timed irrigation system so that the plants get sufficient water when you are away and particularly in the hotter months of the year when the soil tends to dry out more often.
If you are using timed irrigation you will need to adjust the timing and the flow of water according to the seasons and always make changes when there have been unseasonal changes to the weather that will require extra care for the plants.
Once again, garden plants need the human touch to maintain that balance - and that's what only you, as a gardener, can provide.
Gardening is all about balance and that applies to the amount of water your plants need to stay healthy. Over watering can be as harmful as not giving them enough water. Too much water can reduce the plants ability to draw oxygen and nutrients from the soil and this is as essential to their growth as the water.
The soil that the plants are growing in is a big factor in the amount of water that you should be giving them. If the soil is heavy and doesn't drain well you will need to give them less water or they could get water logged and the roots can rot. If the soil is a lot freer draining then you might need to water a little more often.
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| Drip irrigation uses a series of pipes and tubes to deliver water to the base of each plant. Because little water is lost to evaporation and runoff, this method uses less water than sprinklers and trenches. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Soakers (also called soaker hoses or drip irrigation) are a good method of watering provided the flow of water is not too great. Soakers are also excellent when using a timed irrigation system so that the plants get sufficient water when you are away and particularly in the hotter months of the year when the soil tends to dry out more often.
If you are using timed irrigation you will need to adjust the timing and the flow of water according to the seasons and always make changes when there have been unseasonal changes to the weather that will require extra care for the plants.
Once again, garden plants need the human touch to maintain that balance - and that's what only you, as a gardener, can provide.
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