Gardening with Containers is for Everyone

Container gardening is fun, fabulous and festive. A terracotta pot on its own is just a container and summer bedding plants are just colorful plants. However, by planting the summer bedding plants in a container, you can create miniature garden-scapes of all shapes and colors. Each container is effectively a miniature garden all of its own. If you put a number of them together you can create a garden that will impress even the most avid gardener. Some people refer to this as container design planting, I just say WOW.

The exciting thing is that the planting of containers allows people who may just have a balcony to enjoy a chance to get their fingers dirty and enjoy a bit of God’s creation up close and personal. Container planting also brings the garden within the reach of a disabled person and is a size that even the youngest child can manage. So it is a type of gardening that everyone can do and enjoy.

Here are a few things that will help you have a successful garden.

Start by cleaning your containers:

If you intend on replanting any containers you used last year and why not, you should get rid of all traces of the soil from the previous year. Wash them thoroughly as particles of previous year’s compost can contain pests, diseases and mould spores. Use a hose to get the bulk off then wash them in water containing a garden disinfectant, scrubbing off any stubborn soil with a scrubbing brush, using this same disinfectant water. Then you need to rinse the containers well under running water and leave them to dry. Use this method on any container you plan to use no mater what they are made of. Not taking care of this properly can cause your planting to finish flowering far too early.

Check your containers’ drainage:

Check to make sure your containers drainage holes are adequate or have not become plugged. Having too few or no drainage holes causes your plants to suffer from oxygen starvation due to excess water. To prevent drainage points becoming blocked with potting soil, use some broken terracotta or polystyrene bedding plant trays over the drainage holes. Broken polystyrene or bedding plant trays crumpled up can also be used to fill the bottom of larger containers therefore reducing the amount of potting soil needed to fill the container.

Don’t overfill your containers with potting soil:

You should fill your container with quality container potting soil which you should be able to find at any garden center then firm it lightly. Your soil should stop about 1 inch below the lip of the container; so there will be room for watering. Some people with more experience have their own or have acquired a good formula for mixing the right amounts of peat and loam-based soil and if you have such a formula that is great but my suggestion if you’re just starting is go for the bought mix. It often comes with some fertilizer mixed in as well.

Getting them in the ground:

Before planting make sure your plants have been thoroughly watered. A good way of doing this is by soaking them in a bucket of water. Watering like this will prevent shock when they are replanted and it will also help merge the plants existing soil with the new soil. To help get a sense of what the container will look like try positioning the plants on top of the container before actually planting them. If you need to make an adjustment now is the time before you get them in the dirt. Plant them from the centre of the container outwards. Create a hole big enough for the root ball of the central plant (It should be the tallest plant). After removing it from its pot place the plant into the hole firming the soil around it. Then, insert the rest of the plants similarly around the edges. You should make sure all the plants end up at the same depth as they were in their original containers.

Watering:

After the complete container is potted water it thoroughly until water starts to flow from the containers base. If after an hour the soil has settled a bit, you top it up. Typically containers need a lot of water Wooden and unglazed terracotta containers usually require much more water due to their porous and absorbent nature. I suggest you apply a mulch of mini-chip bark or gravel to the composts surface, as well as being decorative this will lessen the containers loss of water through evaporation.

Gardening with Containers “by the yard”

Tips For Keeping Your Teak Furniture Looking Its Best

Outdoor furniture has to be tough to survive wind, rain and sun and no material is as desired for its rugged beauty and durability then teak. Teak wood patio furniture is known to last for decades with absolutely no maintenance. Upkeep is more a matter of personal preference than a requirement. While some people prefer the golden color of new teak, others prefer the distinguished silver-grey that teak becomes as it weathers.

Regardless of your preference, here are a few steps that will help you make sure your teak furniture stays in tip-top shape for decades.

1: The first and most important step is to make sure you have a top quality product to begin with. Pay attention to the wood quality and construction techniques used in the furniture, as this can affect furniture's longevity. The fittings are also important. They need to be solid brass fittings if you want them to hold up outdoors.

2: When you are looking for teak products, make sure they really are teak, not a "teak-like" or "as good as teak product." If you are buying over the internet this may be hard to figure out. Look at the content and see where it is from and/or where it is made. Finally only buy from reputable companies and companies that have stood the test of time.

3: The grade of teak is also very important. We see every day similar products at quite different prices and we wonder why. Well sometimes the reason is the quality of materials they are using. First European Quality (FEQ) is the top grade without knots, cracks or pits and certainly can be trusted.

4: If you prefer the silver-gray color, natural look of weathered teak, you can look forward to virtually no maintenance. If you leave your teak patio furniture outside though, you will want to clean it at least annually of any mildew, sap and pollen that has accumulated or stuck to it. One product that is really good for helping to do this is Olympic® Deck Wash. Just scrub them down with it and you’re all set for another year.

5: On the other hand if you prefer the original rich honey color of teak, there are several steps you can take to preserve its golden color. After you have thoroughly washed the teak you can treat it with specialized teak cleaners and restoration products. Using these products however can be very time-intensive. I usually suggest that people either allow the teak to age naturally clean it with a deck wash or hire a professional teak maintenance service to apply the more specialized products.

6: However if you are going to be using your patio furniture indoors, you may want to consider finishing it to protect it from stains with some sealer or varnish.

7: Finally, if you're going to be using it outside (which most of us will be doing) DON”T use teak oil, varnishes or sealers on your furniture, since this may cause it to turn black with mildew.

Keeping Your Teak Furniture Looking Its Best “by the yard”

Backyard Landscaping is Important

While the front yard is important because it’s more visible to neighbors and others who drive by, the backyard is no less important. For homeowners around the world, a big part of owning a home is getting the yard just the way they want it. The backyard is important because that is where family and friends gather for barbeques, birthday parties and a place for the family to have fun and play. Special consideration should be given to the placement of the flower beds and the different species of flowers that beautify a backyard as well as the position of the patio or deck and any decorative features in the yard.

The theme of your yard will depend on your hobbies, interests and goals. Flowers, stones and grass are just some of the ways to landscape a backyard. Large shade trees, waterfalls and herbal gardens are some other ways. Whatever your preference, you should make your backyard landscaping fun for the whole family. Actually working on your backyard landscape can be a lot of fun too, especially when you make it personal.

Your yard should reflect your personality and the personality of your home.
1: If you and your family like to entertain, add a bar to your back patio. Clean up the barbeque grill and don’t forget adding some way to keep the bugs away like citronella candles.
2: If you want more fun then maybe you want to build a croquet course, mini golf course, put in a sand lot for some sand volleyball or the favorite of a lot of people a pool.
3: If you are the type who would rather keep your backyard to yourself, then maybe you don’t need to worry about the huge, green lawn. Perhaps you’d rather have a quaint yard with basic backyard landscaping. You can put in some grass, strategically place some shade trees and plant some of your favorite flowers. You may want to include some bigger bushes, if space allows as they will add some gorgeous green to your colorful backyard.

When it comes time to maintain the backyard landscaping then taking care of the yard can be a nice family activity. Large yards will require a lot more maintenance and grooming. There is mowing the lawn, pulling weeds and the kids can help even if they are young. They love water so get them involved in watering the plants. If you have a fruit tree in your backyard, then they can spend some time picking up the fallen apples or cherries. You’ll also need to reserve some time to tend to your garden. It can be surprisingly rewarding growing your own vegetables and herbs and then using them in special recipes that you cook when you’re entertaining friends and neighbors. A smaller more intimate backyard may require as much maintenance as a large backyard, but because of scale not nearly the time commitment.

No matter what your personality says about your backyard landscaping. One thing’s for sure don’t let people tell you how to create your backyard, do it just the way you want to and have fun both creating it and enjoying it.

Backyard Landscaping “by the yard”

A Beautiful Garden is a Work of the Heart

The satisfaction in creating your own garden plan is immense. You get the satisfaction that comes from a job well done as well as being able to relax or entertain in your garden. Planning and developing a design unique to you, will add to the enjoyment your garden provides for years to come.

But where do you begin in creating the garden of your dreams and one that is unique to you?

Here are some easy steps that will help you work your way through the process.

1. Identify the reason for your garden.
Who will enjoy the garden? How will you use it? Getting input from the whole family on how they would like to use your outdoor space is a great place to start.

2. Don’t forget to do a little dreaming.
Let your imagination have fun with all the possible features in your special space now that you understand why you want it and how you intend to use it. This will help you put your personal touches on the garden. Also decide whether you want a formal or an informal garden. Formal gardens are divided by a strong central axis and cross axes while informal gardens have a more natural look with wonderful flowing curves.

3. Evaluate your yard.
What is the climate? How large is your space? What type of soil do you have? The lay of the land, is it flat or sloping? What are the predominate views and where are your quiet spots? It helps to know your starting point in order to get where you want to go.

4. What are your non-negotiables?
Listing your essentials up front helps ensure important things won't be forgotten. Then walk around your property and take note of everything that is essential. Your final design should balance between dream features and "must haves". Do children need a place to play? What about pets? What about a privacy fence or retaining wall? Where will you need a path?

5. Identify your focal points.
Every garden needs an eye-catching spot that causes you to pause a moment. Understand that when you choose a focal point, you are choosing the direction you want visitors to look and move when they enter your garden. If your list of "wants" included a waterfall or fountain, an arbor or even a special tree then you’re well on your way to identifying your focal point.

6. Choose your plants and hardscape.
What you choose to put in your garden will create the character of your garden, adding interest, movement and visual appeal. Mixing different colors and materials and textures will give your garden a strong sense of space. You may want harmonious colors or strong contrasting colors and different hues, warm or cool.

Though plants comprise a significant part of your garden, hardscape materials contribute variety and texture -- wood arbors, brick borders, gravel paths, bronze statuary, and outdoor benches. Keep in mind that each element needs to fit with and compliment the whole.

7. Draw you plan to scale.
Thus far, you have created a list of your needs and wants and of the trees, shrubs and plants you want in your garden. Now you need to create a scale drawing that shows exactly where each feature will go so you can use this drawing to help lay out the walkways, plant the trees, shrubs and flowers and set the arbors and trellises in place.
You will need a basic map of property lines and your house as well as an overlay sheet that shows focal points, "rooms" and pathways. Using a pad of graph paper will really help you with this and let each square equal one foot.

8. Create a budget.
Once you know what you want and what you need, it's time to consider what you are willing to spend. This dollar figure will influence what features you are able to include in the final garden plan -- trees, plants, hardscape materials and architectural elements such as arbors, fountains, ponds and benches.

Budgets comprise two elements: money and time. In terms of time, can you create your garden over time or does it need to be finished by a certain date? As you develop and refine your plan, you may need to balance time and cash costs. If you can’t afford your wants you may need to spend more time to balance things off.

9. Execute your plan.
With your scale drawing as a blueprint, use a tape measure to position all structures, walkways and plants. Be sure to measure accurately so each element in your design fits its assigned space. Be aware that structures such as decks, patios and retaining walls may require a permit from the local city authority.

You CAN do this. It may sound a bit intimidating but if you follow these steps and let your space unfold you will end up with a space that is right for you.

Arbors Add Beauty to Your Yard

Garden Arbors are a great way to create a welcoming entry to the home or garden. These simple wooden structures can also be both functional and decorative. They can be used to provide an excellent place to sit and enjoy a pleasant garden view on a garden bench or a couple of chairs underneath the shaded canopy of the garden arbor.

Garden arbors are often set up as shaded places in home gardens or public parks where you can relax and rest. The open frameworks are typically made of latticework or rustic work, functioning also as a trellis for climbing or creeping plants like climbing vines, roses or wisteria. In this way you can blend a useful garden accent into your landscaping plan. As has already been said numerous trailing plants such as morning glory, honeysuckle and grape vines will make use of a cleverly placed garden accent such as an arbor. They can be also used near or on decks or patios to expand your entertainment space.

Arbor designs can also be built using different types of materials but I prefer the wooden garden arbors which give you that stately feel and yet blend well with most garden decor. By using woods like western red Cedar that stands up well to our climates harshness because of its natural oils, you can have an arbor that really lasts a long time. You can choose to leave them as is and let them weather to a faded gray or opt to paint or stain it in the color of your choice.

You might want to create your own unique, eye-catching conversation piece that will be the envy of all your neighbors! You can add a unique and personal touch to your garden that you can admire and enjoy for years to come and save a little money.

Creating a small garden arbor is a fairly easy task. The costs can also be reduced if you are patient enough to shop around and compare prices on the materials you use (The wood, deck screws, crushed stone or gravel, washers, bolts and nuts etc.). No Matter which size you plan the same principles apply, although as the size increases so will the scale and the cost. As an example, using two posts for a small arbor may mean using four posts for a large one, as a bigger arbor would need greater support for strength and stability. The scale or size of materials may also need to increase so that it has proper balance.

Whether you make it yourself or buy one make sure it’s made with wood that will stand up well outdoors like western Red cedar as mentioned before or other cedars or Teak.

Make sure also that you strategically place your wood arbor in your yard so as to accentuate your yard's appearance. You can accomplish this by buying a beautiful one that harmonizes with both your outdoor furniture and your outdoor living space.

Garden arbors are not only lovely to look at, they promise to give you a lifetime of enjoyment. Just picture that upcoming wedding underneath your arbor, with the lovely bride and groom holding hands and smiling.

Arbors “by the yard”