Tips for a Successful Container Garden

Summer is here along with warmer temperatures and you're itching to get outside and start planting. But what if you don't have a lot of space in your yard?
Container gardening is an easy way to have fun gardening and add splashes of color to your back yard whether it’s on the patio, deck, balcony or even in the garden itself. Regardless of your gardening experience or ability, it's as easy as 1-2-3.

Here are some tips for having the best looking, and enjoyable flower pots around:

1. Plan
Begin by thinking about what you planted last year, what worked and what didn't. Find out what exciting new varieties are available. Check out gardening magazines for ideas on how you'd like your containers to look. You also need to think about how much sun your plants will get where you will be putting them. Shade lovers won’t do well in sun nor will sun lovers do well in shade. Think about bloom color, toy with interesting leaf textures and leaf colors as well, as variety adds depth to your garden. Herbs are also a popular trend for containers.

2. Plant
First, every pot needs a clear drain hole as pots with clogged drainage holes are plant killers. Some materials used to assist drainage are rocks, broken terra cotta pieces or a much lighter alternative is packing peanuts. These need to be placed over the drainage hole in the bottom of the container. Next fill the pot with potting soil, leaving four to five inches at the top for plants. It's imperative that you use quality potting soil if you want your plants to thrive. For a simple mix for making your own all you need to do is mix a bag of cheap potting soil with some finely ground bark mulch. Mix the two 50/50 and you'll be all set. There are other soil mix recipes that include sand, perlite, vermiculate and lime or you can buy bags already mixed at your garden center.

Next, set the plants in the pot. Start with the taller, wider plants and place them in the center. Then place smaller ones around the perimeter balancing them according to color and size. After arranging them, fill the pots with soil and water thoroughly. I personally love having mixed flower containers rather than containers all filled with the same flower. Though there are garden centers everywhere you look in the spring and early summer with different containers both hanging basket type and planter pots I love collecting my own unique containers for my garden. I have found that buying hanging baskets can save money as they usually contain larger plants than the individual pots and are cheaper by the plant as there are four in each. I then take them out of the hanging baskets, divide them up and replant them into my own containers. I save money and start with larger, stronger, healthier plants and dividing them allows me to mix my plants in the containers for the effect I am looking for. If you are using hanging containers make sure you include plants that hang or trail down as part of the mix.

3. Plant Maintenance
As your containers bloom and grow you will need to pluck off dead blooms and trim leggy growth to keep your containers looking good and blooming well all summer long. You will also need to keep your plants watered and fertilized regularly. Containers tend to dry out fairly quickly and so depending on the kind of containers you have and the weather you may have to water daily or at least every other day and fertilize once every week or two.
That’s it, the only other thing you need to do is enjoy your efforts and the wonder and variety of Gods creation. Enjoy your summer and the beauty surrounding you in your containers.

Container Gardening “by the yard”

Changing your backyard into a spa-like retreat

With today’s housing market slump, more and more homeowners are updating their current property. For many, this means creating a relaxation destination right in their own backyard. I bet you have been thinking about updating your property this summer?

Hot tubs are one of the leading trends as homeowners are changing their simple backyards into peaceful havens for family and friends to enjoy, and adding a hot tub is much easier than you think.

First of all you need a plan for where it will go. To help you decide where to put it, take a chair and sit on it in different locations see how it might feel.
You will want to consider:
-proximity to the back door: Most hot tubs are used year round and getting to it in the winter could be a bit chilly.
-privacy: How exposed is the spot to the neighborhood.
-view: What will you be looking at when you sitting in the tub.

Planning is critical to designing a successful backyard hot tub project.
-You will want it to be in an esthetically pleasing space not just stuck in some corner.
-It should be integrated well with the landscape elements already in your yard or you will need to do some redesigning of your yard to make them work well together. If you presently have a deck, often the tub is recessed through the deck rather than sitting on top of it. This provides easy access to the tub, integrates it well, and is safe as your present deck probably is not built to carry the weight. If your back yard is on a slope you could tuck the hot tub into the side of a slope, as this would also give it an integrated look. The possibilities are endless.
-Building a decorative fence or placing it beside a gazebo or strategically planting some shrubs near it can provide the privacy you want or need for your intimate hot tub experiences.
-Lighting is an attractive feature that keeps you safe and also sets the mood for your hot tub experience. Don't forget to consider providing adequate (not overpowering) lighting for the pathways to the hot tub for those late night rendezvous.
-Your backyard is unique and so are your likes and dislikes so sometime it is advantageous to hire a professional to help you design a successful hot tub project.

The installation of your hot tub may also require a professional unless you're experienced, in order to install the electrical and any gas lines required for the heater however you should be able to perform all other aspects of the installation on your own.

Hot tubs are perfect for soothing tired and aching muscles and relaxing after a hard and stressful day at work. Are you ready to get started changing your backyard into a spa-like retreat? Why wait? Start relaxing in your very own “relaxation destination” right in your own backyard.

Relaxing “by the yard”

Can Fertilizers be Green?

As we get increasingly environmentally aware we may decide that we don't want to use manufactured chemicals to give our plants a boost. Today most municipalities across Canada have recently banned chemical based herbicides, making natural and green alternatives the only way to go. Regulators have targeted lawn fertilizers as a source of water pollution and a hazard for people (especially kids) as they walk and play on their lawns. One of the reasons for the ban is Phosphorus from fertilizer can leach into lakes and streams, which causes excessive algae and water plant growth which harms the fish and creates problems for recreational use of these waters, but Phosphorus is essential to sustain life. It is central in how living creatures use energy from food to grow and reproduce and limiting it, limits growth and reproduction. Eliminating it, eliminates life.
Phosphorus is commonly found in the soil, and along with nitrogen and potassium, is one of the three major nutrients in fertilizer that make lawns healthy, lush and thick. It goes without saying that not all fertilizers are the same. Using an environmentally friendly, low phosphorus lawn fertilizer will help protect the Lakes and will not compromise your lawn’s appearance. Controlled released fertilizers release nutrients consistently over 6-8 weeks due to specialized manufacturing processes which prevent them from dissolving too quickly, eliminating the concerns of plant burn, leaching into ground water or runoff into our lakes and rivers that can occur with ordinary lawn fertilizers.
Organic fertilizers work the same way as chemical ones by giving plants the nutrients they need for strong and healthy growth. When plants become healthier, they are less susceptible to pests and you will need fewer, if any, pesticides, and that’s both better for you and better for the environment as well. Organic fertilizers include natural materials such as sewage-based products, animal by-products like manures and bone meals, and plant by-products like corn gluten meal. You can get other types of animal-based fertilizers, such as fish emulsion, but manure is by far the most common. Manure can come from bats, cows, chickens, horses, rabbits and other animals. Today all these fertilizers are processed in a way which controls or removes odors.

Three companies that are doing something about the need for good organic environmentally friendly products and fertilizers are “Milorganite” , “Amaizeingly Green” and “Converted Organics” .

Everyone can do something to help protect the environment. Using environmentally friendly fertilizers on our lawns may cost a little more, but is one way to help keep our lakes and rivers clean for future generations.

Still Going Green “By the Yard”

Another look at Thinking Green

Thinking Green is all about conserve reuse and renew. It is both thinking and doing something for our environment. By implementing some new practices in our yards we can save water and prevent pollutants from ending up in our air, water, and soil. Some may say why bother or what is my small part going to do?
Well absolutely nothing is likely to change until we correct the difference between what we think and what we do. The "why bother" question comes down to a moral imperative. Once we become convinced that being unfriendly to our environment is wrong we have to choose, we can go on as before and live with it the best we can or we can begin to change the way we live.
So you’ve made the decision you want to lower your environmental impact in your back yard. What changes do you have to make and how do you make those changes? This is not always an easy question to answer as sometimes it’s hard to get good advice on how to conserve reuse and renew given the way some manufacturers make claims.

So you decided it is an imperative anyway and start by changing the light bulbs, you’re recycling and composting your garden and lawn clippings, you’ve installed a low flow or timer to control your water usage, installed rain barrels to collect water, but you want to do more.

-Start by having a brain storming or "green-storming" session with your family and see if you can come up with 10 new ideas to save time and money while helping improve our environment. Reward yourself by planting a small tree or a shrub to remind you to keep thinking green.
-Try finding the best green products, practices and service providers to help you achieve your environmental goals.
-Look for solutions on the web like at the “Go-Green” Initiative which provides the resources you need to get going, including a planning guide, training, and even access to funding.
-Decide to challenge yourself: Spend each day, for the next month or (for an even bigger challenge) year, doing one thing that betters the environment. The idea is to keep doing what you start for the entire time (so if you turn down your thermostat, keep it down), so that by the end of the time, you'll be living as green a lifestyle as you can.

Over the next while I would like to come up with a list of simple and easy ways to Go Green. Want to help? Respond to this post with your ideas, thoughts, solutions, stores and manufacturers that can help us Go Green and let’s help each other make our environment a better place to live and even more for our kids.

I understand that we can think better when we are comfortable so while you’re thinking and planning on how to Go Green do it out in your yard on some of the most comfortable furniture from “Outdoor Cedars” the best place to find all your outdoor and patio furniture needs.

Still Going Green “By the Yard”

Think Green; save water

With more and more of us thinking Green these days that means we are thinking more about how we use our water. In our North American society we have pretty much a throw away attitude and over the years we have become callous about how we use just about everything. The trend is changing though. The more we see the effects of man on our environment, with climate change and all, the more we know we need to do something. But is it too late?
It is never too late to do something that we know is right to do. If each of us does a little it will add up to a whole lot, and that is what needs to happen “a whole lot” if we want this world to be around for our grand children. You can help by doing your part in thinking Green about the way you use water, right in your own back yard this summer.
(ARA) - "Think green; save blue" will likely be the motto of environmentally aware gardeners and lawn lovers across the country this summer as drought conditions are expected to persist in many regions.
It is possible to grow a thriving garden and nurture a lovely landscape while minimizing water consumption. A combination of native-friendly plants, smart agricultural practices, alternative water sources and efficient irrigation can help keep gardens and lawns growing healthy throughout dry summer months.

Here are some tips for conserving water in your corner of the great outdoors:
* Choose drought-resistant native plants for your landscaping needs. Your options won't be limited to cactus, either. From ornamental grasses to shrub roses, many drought-tolerant native species also offer bright color and visual appeal. Look for plants that do well in the driest conditions found in your geographic region.
* Groom soil for optimum water absorption and retention. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service recommends adding water-retaining organic material to your soil. You can also reduce evaporation by using mulch in landscaping beds.
* Look for alternative water sources other than the outdoor tap - such as collecting roof runoff in a rain barrel for use in flower beds and vegetable gardens.
* Irrigate efficiently with low-volume irrigation systems and smart watering practices. In summer 2007, restrictions on lawn watering were widespread throughout the country. New low-volume micro sprinklers and drip irrigation uses 80 to 90 percent less water than traditional irrigation systems. The key is to apply water only exactly when and where it is needed.
* Design your landscaping to minimize evaporation. Windbreaks and fences slow the movement of the wind over the ground and the evaporation it causes, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Courtesy of ARA content

There are many more ways I am sure you can think of that could help save our precious water. Why though? It seems like such a little thing and living right next to Lake Huron there really does seem like there is plenty. What is everyone worried about? Over the last number of years though the Great Lakes have been at record low levels and I know we have struggled with drought conditions. Thinking Green is thinking about not being so wasteful, reusing where possible, and renewing where we can. So let us all do our part in reusing and conserving our water “Think Green; save Blue”

Thinking Green “by the yard”