The Benefits of Organic Gardening

Looking to do something a little different in your Back Yard this spring? This idea will not only be fun but will be beneficial as well. More and more people are getting into natural means of growing crops because of the benefits that organic gardening brings. Experts agree that the most basic premise that people who are planning to do organic gardening need to understand about the process is how it replenishes the use of natural resources. Meaning, when one does organic gardening, he or she should understand how important it is to use natural components such as composting plants and other fruits peels to feed the soil where the crop will be planted.

How can organic gardening improve lives?

Thankfully today the common perception is that crops from organic gardens are good and that there are many benefits of organic gardening because this is true. Although it can be a tedious task to get started, all you need to do is to set your mind on doing something enjoyable and healthy, and then you can start reaping the benefits of organic gardening.

The following are just some of the benefits of organic gardening:

1. It leads you back to basics. Nature always provides the feeling of health and calmness. The trees, the plants, the flowers, and other elements of nature exude the air of serenity and relaxation. But, due to the dawning of modern age, many people neglected to discover how nature can give ultimate satisfaction and tranquility. But if you want to get back to the basics, you can always create your own organic garden in the comforts of your own space.

2. Healthier food. Creating an organic garden might mean that you have to work a little bit to grow your fruits and vegetables. But the energy spent on these tasks, allows you to harvest fresh produce that most people cannot find in their local stores. You will also realize you’re investing in something that can provide you with a supply of fresh, healthy and sumptuous food.

3. An amazing alternative to save money. One of the great benefits of organic gardening is that it can be a great way to save money. As well as saving money, organic gardening can also help you save by giving you the best quality crops money can buy for free and at the same time contribute to a healthier environment.

4. It serves as a great hobby or past time. For older people one of the amazing benefits of organic gardening is that it can give people who want less stress in life something to do. Since it gets us back to nature, organic gardening can be a leisure activity not just for the elderly but for the younger ones as well.

Before starting your hobby of organic gardening, you should develop a plan. The first thing to consider is the right location for your garden. For instance for a vegetable garden you need to make sure that the location provides enough exposure to the sun and has access to sufficient water for your crop to grow well.

Organic Gardening “by the yard”

Beautifying Your Back Yard With A Bench

Most homes have back yards. Some of these can be pretty small; others can be as big as those in mansions. Despite the beauty of the flowers, trees and grass that make up your back yard, the one thing that people take for granted is not being able to enjoy watching it longer. When one frequents public places such as parks, campsites, playgrounds, the zoo, one will notice that there are benches for people to stop and view what is there. It also provides a break from walking and allows a person to catch their breath. Often the advice given on making your yard look better would suggest you buy some new plants or make something unique using ceramics. Just like everything else, a Garden bench is an accessory that should also be considered. You can’t really appreciate the beauty of a garden and the surroundings if you’re not able to sit there and appreciate it. That is where the importance of the bench comes in.

1. Know The Areas of Your Yard

Our back yards, as mentioned earlier, vary according to the size of the home. By identifying the places where one can best appreciate your garden or yard, you will be able to decide the right bench to buy for that particular location. The size of the area where the bench will be placed is very important since this will also determine the number of benches you may want to put in that particular area.

2. Find Out What Styles Of Benches are Available

Parks usually have benches made out of wood or maybe marble. I personally prefer wood for its style and comfort. A lot of places seem to prefer wood like Rest areas along the Highway or even in the zoo. After identifying the locations, you can easily check out what is available in the market then see which models are suitable for your yard. Some benches have armrests and others have a table that go with it so you can enjoy a family barbecue in your back yard. Here are some examples of what is available in the market online. Once you find what you’re looking for, just order it then wait a few days for the delivery to arrive.

3. What about Maintenance?

Benches, like almost anything that is for the out of doors, require some maintenance. Benches made out of stone or marble don’t require much maintenance, while those made out of steel or aluminum do. They chip and rust and need to be regularly painted. Benches made out of wood on the other hand, depending on the wood they are made of, may require little or a lot of maintenance. Woods like Western Red Cedar or Teak have natural chemicals in them that allow them to stand up outside with little maintenance and they will last for years. Pines, spruce and most other soft woods and a lot of hard wood just won’t stand up outside and require regular paint and or stain to stand up to the elements. If your bench is made of plastic and it gets dirty, you can simply wash off the dirt and wipe it making it good as new. Though often the cheaper priced ones brake down under UV rays and crack and break.

4. Perhaps the Most Important Factor! How will you be using it?

- To read a book
- Chat with the other members of the family or friends
- Enjoy the view of the yard
- Watch a sunset
- Eating or entertaining outdoors
- Barbecue in style

5. The Ideal Bench - Not Just Any Bench

The best of way of buying the right bench for the yard or garden is to figure out the best possible bench money can buy. This does not mean the most expensive but the one that is there for a purpose and not just for aesthetic purposes, though aesthetic purposes are also important. The other way if getting the ideal bench would be to build one. If you are handy, it’s no problem to build one but you must buy the right materials. You should be careful though with the price of materials today you may not save much money though you will have the fun of building it and the pride to say that you did.

Benches “by the yard”

Five Gardening Tips to Save You Money

It’s easy to spend a fortune every year creating a beautiful yard. These five tips can help save you money in both this and future gardening seasons.

1. Use perennials in your flower beds rather than annuals. They grow each year so you don’t have to buy new ones every year. (though I still find myself shopping, cause I never seem to have enough but that’s just me) They are a little more expensive to start out with but they multiply so all you have to do is cut them back or thin them out and exchange with your friends. That way you both have lovely gardens and save money at the same time.

2. Compost your kitchen scraps, as well as your coffee grounds. This time of year you can’t get in the garden but you can still work towards having a beautiful one. The end result of composting is much better than any potting soil you can ever buy from a nursery or hardware store. The price is right, and this is definitely recycling!

3. Spend some money now on purchasing better quality gardening tools and you will save in the long run. They will last for years, saving you dollars because you don’t need to replace them every planting season. Same goes for gardening gloves, make sure you buy the best you can afford so they last all season. Now is a great time to look for sales and specials on quality tools at your local gardening center.

4. Instead of using mulch, try pebbles or small rocks over some landscaping fabric as a ground cover in your garden. This will save you lots of cash since you won’t need to buy mulch in the spring and fall of every year. This will also save on how much watering you will have to do in the heat of the summer.

5. If you are planning a vegetable garden, plan yours according to what your neighbors are planting so you can share your vegetables when they’re ready for eating. Often people have too many of one kind of vegetable. If you grow different vegetables than your neighbor of friend then you can give them away and get something different back in return. You can also share them with your local food bank and help out the needy in your area. They are always looking for good fresh vegetables.

Happy Gardening! Well when the weather gets right.

Gardening “by the yard”

Make this a Garden Season to Enjoy

I came across this article and I thought that is exactly what I wanted to say so here it is:

(ARA) - The catalogues are starting to pile up and the list of landscape improvements grows longer each day. Don’t let this overwhelm or discourage you. Instead spend a bit of time planning now for better results in your garden. You will be amazed how much fun you can have while achieving your landscape goals under budget and within your schedule.

Take some time to look through those catalogues. It is a great way to gather ideas and get some feedback from everyone who uses or enjoys the landscape. You might find if they are invited to help with the planning they might just help with weeding. And no one is too young.

Break out the crayons, paper, pencils, ruler, old catalogues and make garden planning a family event,” says nationally known gardening expert and author Melinda Myers. “Younger children can glue pictures of their favorite plants on a piece of paper while older ones can do the measuring, sketch the garden and help with the planting diagram." And if you are the sole gardener and caretaker, don’t worry. The same process works and you get to make all the decisions.

Once the family has had their input or you created your wish list of plants it is time to make sure your plan is realistic. Check to see if the plants selected will grow in the heat and cold of your region. Make sure they can also tolerate the soil, wind and moisture conditions. Matching the plant to the growing conditions means an attractive landscape and productive gardens with less work. Catalogues, your local Extension service and the Internet are great sources of information. This is great way to fight the winter blues.

Now it’s time to focus on the foundation of the garden, the soil under your feet. Preparing the soil with proper fertilization helps the plants you select grow and thrive. Start with a soil test to find out what type and how much fertilizer and soil amendments you need to add. The soil test results can save you time, money and insure you do the best for your plants and the environment. Over fertilizing wastes money, damages plants and can harm the environment.

While waiting for the results you can keep everyone involved with garden planning. Gather a cup of soil from your garden. Remove any sticks and stones and place it in a clean quart straight sided jar. Fill the jar 3/4 full and add a teaspoon of non-foaming detergent and shake. This is a great way to burn calories or use excess energy our young gardeners often have. Then allow the soil to settle.

You will begin to see layers of the different particles. Check the jar again in two days. The bottom layer is the heavier sand particles, followed by the medium sized silt and last the clay. This exercise will give you an idea of your soil structure. Compare what you found to the university lab results. "I have used this with young gardeners and it is amazing how excited they get about the soil in their garden. Even the more seasoned gardeners seem to enjoy this activity," says Myers.

Now select a fertilizer suited to your plants. "I prefer low-nitrogen slow-release fertilizers like Milorganite," says Melinda. "It is goof proof and safe for gardeners of all ages and experience to use. The organic source of nitrogen does not promote excess growth at the expense of flowers and helps to build stress tolerant plants. The non-leaching phosphorous is good for the environment and non-staining iron encourages a deep green color. Plus one product is good for all your gardening needs."

Incorporate Milorganite into the soil before planting your flower and vegetable gardens as well as landscape plants. The slow release nitrogen won’t burn the developing roots or interfere with flowering.

Give flower and vegetable plants a mid season boost. The organic source of nitrogen in Milorganite will not burn heat and drought stressed plants. And be sure to water thoroughly and only as needed to keep your plants looking good throughout the season.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Hope you enjoyed the article I sure did.

Gardening “by the yard”