Video - Schools Offer Gardening for Kids

More and more schools are incorporating gardening into their curriculum for the kids. This short video shows the garden/learning center at a school in Dallas. Using gardening to teach kids about science is such a great way to get them outdoors and involved in their environment in an easy, fun, and meaningful ways. In the video, they also quickly touch upon what you could do to possible get a garden started at your school.

Check this out, and of course we'd love to hear your comments!

Gardening with Kids
Getting kids involved in gardening is important for their development. This Dallas school has created a curriculum around getting kids into the garden.

(Note: This one seems a bit slow even though it's short; if the video skips, hit Pause and let it load for a few seconds and then it should play more smoothly.)

The Benefits of Gardening for Kids

If you take a look around, you may notice how nature is treated these days.  It is a sad thing to know that people do not pay all that much attention to environmental problems, which basically means we are slowly but surely destroying this beautiful planet we live on.

What can we do about this?

Image by woodleywonderworks via FlickrOne of the best ways to make lasting change is to start with the children. Getting children involved early with environment-friendly activities helps them to learn how their actions can help or hurt the world they live in, and can give them a feeling of excitement at the things they can do to make positive changes. One such nature-loving activity that children can easily get into is gardening.

Here are some of the benefits that gardening offers children:

1.  An Intimate Knowledge of Science

In planting, children are indirectly taught the wonders of science like the plant's life cycle and how human intervention can break or make the environment.  They can have first-hand experience of the miracle of life through following a seed from germination all the way through harvest.

2.  A Deeper Understanding of Life

Watching a seed grow into a tree is just as wondrous as the conception to birth and growth of a child.  In time, kids will learn to love their plants and appreciate the life in them. Gardening could actually help simulate how life should be treated -- it should be with care. The necessities to live will be emphasized to kids with the help of gardening - water, sunlight, air, soil. Those necessities could easily be corresponded to human necessities, i.e., water, shelter, air, food.  And in the importance of weeding, one could educate children how bad influences should be avoided in order to live a healthy and thriving life.

Image by Rjabinnik and Rounien via Flickr3.  Relaxation

Studies show that gardening can reduce stress because of its calming effect. This is applicable to any age group.  More so, it stimulates all the five senses.  Believe it or not, gardening may even be used as therapy for children who have been abused or those who are members of broken homes.  Having a sense of creation and control over one's environment builds self-esteem, which is essential for a healthy child. 

4.  Quality Time with the Family

One reason adults love to garden is that it can help them forget about the stresses of work and everyday life.  You can take advantage of your time in the garden to spend quality time with your children.  You can talk while watering the plants or you can work quietly beside each other. You might even discover a lot of new things about your child while mingling with them in your garden. 

Help your kids become aware of their environment's needs. And one way to jumpstart that environmental education may be through gardening.  It's hitting two birds with one stone -- teach them to respect life while you bond with them - it's a win-win all around.

Infographic - The Benefits of Gardening

Here is a very cool "infographic" shared by one of our kind readers. It is pretty neat - check it out below for some of the many ways that gardening can benefit you and the world!





Source by Loch Ness Water Gardens

Video - High Density Fruit Growing

Here is a quick video on successfully growing fruit in high-density plantings. If you wish to grow fruit but are working with limited space, this is an interesting idea that can yield you some great fruit that is easily harvested as well.

If anyone has tried this, we'd love to hear about your experience below!

High Density Fruit Tree Growing
A visit to the Fair Oaks Horticulture Center's fruit tree orchard.

Planting and Caring for a New Tree

Back with another article on fruit trees! Fall is the ideal time to plant new trees, as they will have the winter to establish their root system, before they need to put their energy into making new leaves, dealing with a hot dry summer, and other challenges.

Image by wallygrom (back home!) via FlickrWhen you have decided on which kind of fruit tree you would like, and where you would like it, you can finally plant it. If you buy your tree from a nursery, be especially careful when you are taking it from the nursery to your house. I once had a friend who put the tree in the back of his truck, but clipped a sign on the way home. The entire tree snapped in half, and my friend was left a very sad man.

When you have gotten your tree safely back to your yard, look at the bottom of it and see how big the clump of roots is. It may seem like a lot of work now, but you want to dig a hole that is twice as wide as the clump, and just a little less deep. Making the hole slightly bigger than the clump of roots allows there to be room for the soil that you dug out to be put back in. Otherwise you would be stuck with a giant heap of unwanted dirt, and nowhere to put it. After you have dug the hole, line the hole with some compost or fertilizer so that the tree will grow better. After you have done this you should set your fruit tree into the hole, and spread the roots out evenly so that the tree will be strong and stable.

When all of this business is done, take the soil that you dug up and fill in the hole completely. Unless you want big piles of dirt everywhere, you should be sure you use all of the dirt even if it is a couple inches higher than the rest of your yard. This is because it will compress when watered. Before you firm up the soil, make sure that the tree is completely vertical and will not fall over. After you have checked that the tree is perfectly vertical you can gently firm up the soil.

If the tree's trunk is not yet completely sturdy and can be bent, you need to tie the tree to a stake with a bit of rope. Be sure not to tie the rope tightly to the tree, as you need to allow room for the trunk to grow. Once the tree is sturdy enough to withstand all types of weather, you can take the stakes off of it. When all of this is done you should mulch around the base of the tree. If you live in an area where wildlife can access your yard, then you should put a fence around your tree, because some animals will eat the bark off of young trees - I know several people who have had young fruit trees entirely killed by deer.

Image via WikipediaOnce you have successfully planted your fruit tree it will start to bear fruit after it is three to five years old (for most varieties). Once your tree starts to carry a lot of fruit you should periodically thin some of the fruit early in the season so that the branches aren't weighed down too much. If the fruit gets too thick and heavy as it ripens, the branches can break off. On some years your tree might not bear as much fruit as others, but this should not worry you. Healthy trees often take years on “vacation” where they produce little or no fruit.

After you've planted your tree you might start to have some problems with pests. To help keep these pests away, always rake away old leaves, brush, or any other decaying matter that could be holding bugs that could be harmful to your tree.

To make sure that your tree always stays healthy in the long run, you should prune it during winter or spring. Water your tree every two weeks during dry times, and be sure not to hit your tree with a lawn mower or a weed eater because it could severely damage the growth process. Also just make sure that your tree gets plenty of water and plenty of sun, and your growing experience should be just great.

Using Vines to Decorate your Garden

A great way to decorate your garden is the use of vines. They are very low maintenance and look good on almost anything. If you’ve got a fence or separator that really stands out in the field of green that is your garden, then growing a vine over it can be a quick and aesthetically pleasing solution. However, there are many types of vines for different situations, whether you are trying to grow it up the side of a house, along the ground, or up a tree.

Image via WikipediaMany different ground vines are available. These types grow fast and strong, and just inch their ways along the ground. They are very easy to direct, so they can make a border around your garden, or just weave in and out of the plants. I suggest using these as a hardy ground cover if you just want some green on your dirt or mulch. Usually you can find a variety that is resistant to being stepped on. It’s like a leafy, nice alternative to grass. Even if you have kids and a dog, it should have no problems staying alive.

Another type of vine that is available is a “twining” vine. This refers to their method of climbing. Twining vines require a lattice or equally porous surface to climb up, since they are not sticky at all. They just climb by sending out small tendrils to loop around whatever is nearby. I suggest using this type of vine for climbing up trees, or any type of mesh. Usually you have to guide them a lot more during their early stages, and after that they will go wherever you want them to.

Vines not only look good on the ground or on lattices, you can blend them in to the very architecture of your house. This is usually achieved through the use of vines with small tendrils that have adhesive tips. They extend from the vine and attach themselves to almost any surface. If your garden is adjacent to your house and you Image via Wikipediawant something to camouflage the big unsightly wall, it’s a great idea to start out a few vines near the base. If you have a vine like the Virginia Creeper growing, then your entire wall will be covered in a matter of months. However I have seen situations where the vine got out of control. After that, you have no choice but to watch the vine take over your entire house.

One of the vines that you would probably recognize is Ivy. You see it around a lot, generally because it is so adaptable. Out of the types I mentioned above (ground, twining, and sticky pads), Ivy can fill in for pretty much anything. It makes a great ground cover, and will grow up about any surface you put it on. Although it grows quick and strong, I wouldn’t suggest growing it up your house. This is because recently, buildings which have had ivy for many years have found that it has been deteriorating the building.

So no matter what you want to do with a vine, you should have no problem getting it to grow. You should always do your research beforehand and find out about any negative qualities the vine has (such as its ability to destroy buildings, in Ivy’s case.)

Video - How to Make Your Own Compost

Here is another great interview with our friend Scott Meyer, of Organic Gardening Magazine. Here he shows how simple composting can be. And if you don't want to build your own pile, or you live in an urban area or apartment, you can find some suggestions for composting containers below.

Check out this quick video for some great composting tips, and also how to use your compost once it is finished:

How to make compost - Making your own compost
www.howdini.com How to compost How to make compost How does your garden grow? A lot better if the soil is enriched with compost from your own compost pile. Scott Meyer, editor of Organic Gardening Magazine, shows how to make and use compost. Keywords...



Composting Containers and Tumblers:
   

5 Different Types of Apple Trees for Your Garden

We don't talk about trees on here that much, but a lovely tree can be a great addition to your garden, if you have enough space. Not only can many trees add attractive foliage and pleasing shapes to your garden, but they can also provide delicious fresh fruit for you and your family. Some maintenance is of course required, but the same is true for all garden plants. One of the most common types of trees for the garden is of course the good old apple.

Image via WikipediaIn the past, there may have been only a couple different kinds of apple trees that you could buy. But now, thanks to the wonders of genetic engineering, if you want to buy an apple tree you are able to choose between many different types of apples and flavors. Here I will outline five different popular types of apples that you can consider for your first apple tree.

First introduced in Japan, the Fuji apple has been around since 1962. The Fuji apple has yellow-green skin with red streaks down the side. The inside is delicious and sweet. It is white, firm, crunchy, and very flavorful. It becomes ripe in the middle of September, but tastes the best if it is left to fully mature until October or November. These apples will start growing early and grow in abundance. They are good for pollinating other apples. The Fuji tree can tolerate wet, dry, or poor soil, but the fruit quality will most likely reflect the quality of the soil. The apples always taste the best when they are fresh, and are also great for cooking.

Gala apples are a wonderful tasting import from New Zealand. The Gala apple has yellow skin with a slight hint of red, and it is medium sized. The insides are yellow, very juicy, firm, crisp, and smell excellent. When they are fresh they are one of the best tasting apples you can grow. They grow quickly, and the trees bear heavily. They become ripe in late July. They are generally not used for cooking, just because Fuji is a better alternative. The trees can grow in wet, dry, and poor soil as well.

The delicious Brae Burn apples' color varies from gold with red streaks to almost completely red. It was first popularized some time in the late 1940's. It was also originally from New Zealand along with the Fuji, and is now the best selling apple in Germany. The insides are white, crisp, aromatic, firm, and juicy. They are sweet, but also slightly tart. The size varies from medium to large. They were introduced to the United States around 1980, and met with great enthusiasm. They are some of the most popular apples in the world. They generally don't become brown too quickly after being cut. They become ripe around October or November.  

Image via WikipediaAs red as its name proclaims, the Red Delicious apple is generally very tall and on the large side. Their yellow insides are crisp, sweet, juicy, and delicious. They are grown across the country, and are great to put in salads. They are usually recognized by their distinct heart shape. They were first introduced in 1874 in Peru, Iowa. They become ripe in mid to late September. They are usually best when they are fresh off the tree.

Golden Delicious apples have great, juicy flavor. Their insides are firm, white, crisp and sweet. They are great for cooking because even when they are cooked or baked they keep their great taste and shape. The skin is thin and soft, making them great for salads. They range in size from medium to large. They are shaped much like the red delicious apple. The insides are crisp, juicy, sweet, and mild. Many people enjoy them, although they bruise rather easily. They become ripe in late September. They are good for many purposes, and they last a long time if not handled roughly.

Apple Trees for Sale:

   

Helping Nature by Composting

If you are still find it hard to understand the nature of composting, it can actually be simplified. It can easily be compared to recycling. Instead of throwing out all your waste and garbage, or at least what you consider as garbage, you can sort that out. In recycling, you need to pick the things that can still be transformed into other materials so that you can use them for different purposes.

Image via WikipediaWith the products of compost, you will not pick things out of the garbage pile to be able to come up with other things that will be useful to you on your everyday life.

Composting entails the recycling of the materials that can be found on nature. Common examples of this would be dried leaves, grass clippings, vegetable or fruit peelings, animal manure, and sawdust, among others.

This will be especially helpful if you are into organic gardening. This method requires the use of organic materials. That means that you cannot turn to synthetic products, especially for the purpose of fertilizers and pesticides. And it is quite possible. Your compost can make the soil for this type of gardening healthy and happy. As a result, it will produce healthy crops and chemical-free plants.

Image via WikipediaOrganic gardening may sound complicated to the novice ears. But if you put your heart into it, you will find  that all the hard work that you will spend doing this will all be worth it. But even if you don't have time to start a big organic garden, you can still try your hand in making compost. This can also apply with people living in urban zones. Even in such situations, you can still do a little gardening by having your plants in pots. No, you don't have to go organic all the way - "cold turkey," as they say. But using the products of your compost as a fertilizer can actually engage you with the project and may start your curiosity towards the real organic gardening thing.

Besides, everything nowadays seems to be marketed as organic. Look at the grocery aisles. There are organic food, organic soap, organic tissue, cloth and everything. This seems to be the trend. And nature is definitely not complaining.

By going out of your way to do composting, consider nature sending out her appreciation your way. And may this inspire you to do other things to help with the causes of Mother Earth.

Video - Bringing Plants Inside for the Winter

Here is a really quick video on when and how to bring potted plants inside for the winter (despite the title, it really doesn't tell you WHAT plants, other than tropical ones), with a few tips on getting them ready to come in, proper placement, etc. May be helpful for some folks who have a lot of pots out on the patio - now is the time!

Preparing Your Garden For Winter : What Plants to Bring Inside in Winter
Learn how to identify plants that should be brought inside during the winter months in this free video clip about winterizing your garden.

3 New Winterizing Tips for Your Organic Garden

Here are 3 great tips for winterizing your organic garden.Taking care of your garden, even when it is dormant for the winter, is a great way to ensure an even better growing season next year.

Image via Wikipedia1. Never leave your garden bare over the winter, because it will lose organic matter through oxidation. Plant oats at the end of the harvest and let them die over the winter, or cover the garden with leaves and straw. As soon as the ground freezes, mulch perennial herbs and flowers heavily to keep frost from heaving them out of the ground. Pull the mulch off in early spring to let the ground become warm and dry.

2. Once you have harvested all the fruit you can and your plants have gone dormant, till all the plants under with a tiller. This will provide the soil with organic material to nurture it for next year.

3. Apply a thick layer of your compost and till again. It’s a good idea to till one more time prior to planting when the ground isn’t frozen, of course. By doing this, you’ll gain control of any possible weed problems, plus you’ll be working in more compost to make the soil prime for planting next spring.

Preparing Your Garden for the Winter

Well, here we are again - frosty nights are already settling over some areas, and sadly enough for us gardeners, winter is on the way. But wait, don't put away those tools just yet! There is still some important work to be done to properly put your garden to rest for the year.

Image by slack12 via FlickrSome people believe that when the weather starts getting colder and the leaves start to fall, it is time to put away the gardening tools and wait until next spring to work on their garden again. Wrong. Winter is an important time to maintain your garden's health and assure yourself a good crop for next year. You may think that might take to long to prepare your garden, but the truth is that it takes less than one day to prepare your garden for the upcoming winter.

When the nighttime temperatures drop to less than forty-five degrees Fahrenheit for more than four days in a row, or frost is forecasted for your area (usually around late October or November) you know its time to begin preparing your garden. You should begin by evaluating your garden design, check which plants grew well in the past season, and which plants did not do well. Fall is a good time to decide which plants will remain in your garden next year, and which ones should go.

It is also a good time to decide which new plants you want to grow for the fall season. To make your garden more colorful and healthy, be sure only to plant the more hardy plants during the fall so that they can withstand the winter. Some plants that will do fine being planted in fall are: rudbeckia, Aster Novi-belgii, Anemone Japonica, panicle hyandea, endive, escarole, and Brussels sprouts. You can find all of these and more in gardening magazines or your local nursery.

After you have finished this you should begin cleaning up your garden. Begin by pulling out weeds that may have cropped up, and raking fallen leaves. Weeds and rotten leaves can carry insects and diseases that might be harmful to your garden. You should also rid your garden of spent annual plants, and harvest your vegetables and other plants that cannot withstand the winter weather. After fall has come and gone, the leaves will be off your trees and you can see any dead and rotten branches. Trimming off the unwanted branches from your trees isn't necessary to your garden's health, but may help later on by not dropping branches on your plants and not blocking too much of the sun.

Image via WikipediaIf you have younger trees you should consider wrapping them and supporting them with stakes to help them survive the winter wind and cold. Putting mulch over your garden for the winter can be a helpful way to protect plants from sudden temperature changes and heavy snow. For mulch you can use about five inches of shredded bark, pine needles, leaves, or a variety of other materials. However, be careful not to mulch too early, because some insects may still be alive and able to take shelter in it for the winter.

Once you are finished with your gardening tools you should clean them and make sure they are in a safe place where they won't rust and you know where they'll be for next year. Before winter comes you should always set out slug repellent, as slugs are one of the worst bugs to have in your garden. Sluggo is a great all-natural OMRI certified slug killer if you have an infestation you want to get rid of before the winter, so they won't make a quick snack of your spring greens! And of course, if you have a pool or fountain in your garden, be sure to take out any fish that you have in them and bring them inside. There’s nothing sadder than a fish frozen in a block of ice!

Video - How to Grow Garlic

Garlic is just about as universal an "herb" as you can get. Used in cuisine from Mexican to Thai, and of course let's not forget - Italian - garlic is pretty much an necessity in any cook's kitchen. However, many people don't think of growing garlic in the garden, even though it is quite easy. Even I - Italian that I am - am somewhat embarrassed to admit I've never tried it, but I will now!

This short video shows you how to do it - yes, it really is that simple!  I am planting some this fall, and will post pictures of the results in next summer's blog.  (Note: After a few seconds, you can click "Skip" to get past the commercial, which is quite long.)

Growing Herbs : How to Grow Garlic
When growing garlic, the best time to put out the plant is in the fall, and it should be planted like any other bulb. Grow garlic by planting them two to three inches deep with tips from an experienced gardener in this free video on gardening and gro...