Random Gardening Articles http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us Unique Garden Planters – Outdoor Decorating w/Container Gardening & Garden Planters http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/gardening/unique-garden-planters-a%80-outdoor-decorating-w-container-gardening-and-garden-planters.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/gardening/unique-garden-planters-a%80-outdoor-decorating-w-container-gardening-and-garden-planters.html Wed, 10 Dec 2008 15:47:13 -0600
With more and more people spending time indoors working, the desire to return to the outdoors has really hit big. Even if you live in the city, you can bring the outdoors to your home with garden planters or may be a nice trellis or a set of wind chimes! Yesterday's plastic industrial flower pots have given way to the beautiful and practical decorative planters of today. So thinking big, is not out of line when you think outdoor decorating. You can have style and functionality in something as practical as outdoor flower, plants, herb and vegetable pots!

CONTAINER GARDENING: More and more people are enjoying the benefits and joys of container gardening. You can have the pleasure of growing your own herbs or food in vegetable planters. There is no doubt in where your food came from or how it was grown when you produce it yourself in garden planters. Control of soil and soil type is one of the first realized benefits. Plants can be rearranged for optimal sun exposure. Lightweight vegetable planters can be easily moved indoors or under cover during sudden rainstorms. Garden planters give the added benefit of your organic gardening when you arrange them to repel insects or cross pollinate.

AESTHETIC APPEAL: Garden planters can add aesthetic appeal to your patio or poolside area. When you use decorative planters to grow your vegetables, plants and flowers, you can mix and match the potted plants for beauty as well as functionality. Tomato plants look exotic in outdoor urns; red peppers are almost whimsical in decorative planters. Your guests will probably not even notice that your outdoor garden decor is so practical. The lightweight nature of some outdoor planter pots makes it easy to avoid a late frost by bringing your potted plants under cover. Tho the plastic pots of yesterday are still available: beautifying your garden using decorative wooden vegetable planters gives it more of natural look!

CONTAINER INVADERS: When you grow your produce in wooden planters, weed control is much easier. By starting out with container soil, you eliminate unwanted seeds from the beginning. Some travel in the air or by birds, but pulling those unwanted weeds out of outdoor planter pots is much easier than pulling weeds out of beds, and your back will love it too. If one of your vegetable planters has some weeds in it, chances are your other vegetable planters won't since it is harder for weeds to travel across outdoor planter pots. Mint and rosemary are examples of herbs that will easily take over a garden plot, but can be controlled and managed if grown in vegetable planters


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Glenn Mast, owner of a couple online specialty shops, shares his insight on how to spruce up your living space outside your home by using decorative, amish pine planters, and charming Wind Chimes Outdoor Decor

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> Grow Exotic Flowers http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/gardening/grow-exotic-flowers.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/gardening/grow-exotic-flowers.html Tue, 05 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0500 Using indoor artificial light allows the home gardener to extend the gardening zone to a much higher one than might be possible in their particular outdoor growing situation. There has been a big trend in gardening circles to push the envelope of gardening zones by introducing tropical plants into outdoor gardening situations. It is also easy to grow exotic flowers indoors, when you have the help of great lighting that is available through the use of grow lights using a hydroponic digital ballast.


One type of exotic flower that is readily available for purchase is the orchid. This is a plant that loves the warm weather that is typically found in its native Philippines, India and southeast Asia. Orchids do not like direct sun, but instead prefer bright and indirect lighting. It performs well under fluorescent light. Consistent watering and appropriate air circulation, along with proper lighting, is needed to succeed with indoor orchids.


Another beautiful tropical plant you might wish to try growing indoors is the tropical hibiscus. This plant will get fairly tall, around five feet, and will have lovely three to six-inch diameter blooms. However, the only way this plant is going to thrive indoors is with a proper grow light. The light should be placed at five feet above the floor, and then you set your plants underneath. Fluorescent grow lamps work very well and provide the correct light spectrums required by indoor hibiscus.


Ginger is a super plant to try growing indoors. If given good lighting and protection from the cold it will thrive very nicely indoors. The spiky, vibrant flowers come in pink and red.


A Hawaiian plant that is lovely when grown indoors in a container is the Zebra Costus. The zebra' name comes from the striped black and white two to four-foot canes that the plant produces, and it has a beautiful orange-hued flower.


You might want to try a flowering vine indoors. A Passion Flower could be just the plant you were looking for. It likes indoor temperatures ranging from the mid-fifties to the mid-sixties, and it enjoys a good quantity of indirect light. It also needs good air circulation to thrive indoors. The flowers are a purple/blue shade, and the vine also produces edible fruit after it flowers.


If you are looking for a bright spot of floral color indoors, then you might enjoy growing a bromeliad. Because they do not have an extensive root system, they can thrive in a fairly small pot, and prefer plenty of water but good drainage so the roots don't sit in water.


All of these plants require appropriate lighting, such as would be found with HID lights used with either electronic ballasts or digital ballasts of the galaxy digital ballast variety .



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Susan Slobac is an expert in indoor gardening topics such as hydroponic gardening, digital ballasts and full spectrum grow lights

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> The art of the knot: designing an herb knot garden for beginners. http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/gardening/the-art-of-the-knot-designing-an-herb-knot-garden-for-beginners.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/gardening/the-art-of-the-knot-designing-an-herb-knot-garden-for-beginners.html Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500
Before you drive to the local nursery, you may want to set out your garden on paper. Graph paper works well. Knot gardens are traditionally confined within a square or rectangle. Consult Celtic knot information on the Internet or in books for ideas. If you are just starting out, the Irish trinity knot makes a good first knot garden. Make sure you measure your space carefully so that you can work in scale.

Once you have your design mapped out, your next step is to figure out which herbs to include in the garden. You may already have your favorites, but consider whether they can withstand your area's climate and grow happily in the soil. Consider designing your knot garden to accommodate herb pots that can be taken inside when the weather is too harsh. You can use the pots to form the border, leaving hardier plants to form the lines of the knot.

Since some areas will be bigger than others, it's a good idea to decide which plants you will use the most. You can use these to form the loops of the knot and along the sides. See http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesArticle/Designing-an-Herb-Garden.id-1838.html for a good picture of a triquetra, or trinity knot, garden. Keep the garden under 5 feet across or you won't be able to get at some of your carefully planted herbs!

Most herbs grow contentedly in knot gardens. Borage, sage, rosemary, fennel, thyme, parsley, oregano, hyssop, catnip, chives, cilantro/coriander, lavender and peppermint are all herbs touted as “hardy” which will likely thrive in well drained soil with plenty of sun.

Keep an eye on some of the more enthusiastic growers, as they might try to take over neighboring herbs. Some judicious trimming can keep the lines of your knot clean and distinct. You can also pot the entire garden, if you want to, or put decorative tiles/gravel in thin lines around each herb bed.

Knot gardens aren't just for herbs; you can also plant flowers or vegetables in the same way. Keep in mind that some plants do better together than others and plan your garden accordingly. Some plants may require that you allow for pathways inside the knot to access each bed conveniently.

Happy knotwork!


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PorchLight Real Estate Group is proud of its professional Denver CO real estate agents and their expert services. For more information on Cory Merrill real estate or to search Denver homes for sale, visit us online at PorchLightGroup.com.




Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> Bharatbook.com : Domestic & International market of Nursery and Garden stores in US http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/gardening/bharatbook.com--domestic-and-international-market-of-nursery-and-garden-stores-in-us.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/gardening/bharatbook.com--domestic-and-international-market-of-nursery-and-garden-stores-in-us.html Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:46:03 -0500
The low concentrated nature of this mature environment, along with low barriers, has grown this industry into quite the competitive bulb. With trends of growth following the demise of fertilizers, lime and chemicals, it's certainly greener on the other side, but you won't escape the labor intensity caring for your stock and customers. Innovation and differentiation will bear fruit in the long run, as trends evolve to suit emerging new lifestyles.

Industry Definition

Nursery and Garden Stores stock a broad range of nursery and garden merchandise including trees, shrubs, bulbs, fertilizers, lime, chemicals, farm supplies, etc. A large proportion of nursery stock is provided by nursery plants and flower production facilities, while farm supplies are wholesaled from the Farm Supplies Wholesaling industry. This retail industry not only serves everyday households but also satisfies the needs of the farming community.

Report Contents

The Key Statistics chapter provides the key indicators for the industry for at least the last three years. The statistics included are industry revenue, industry gross product, employment, establishments, exports, imports, domestic demand and total wages.

The Market Characteristics chapter covers the following: Market Size, Linkages, Demand Determinants, Domestic and International Markets, Basis of Competition and Life Cycle. The Market Size section gives the size of the domestic market as well as the size of the export market. The Linkages section lists the industry's major supplier and major customer industries. The Demand Determinants section lists the key factors which are likely to cause demand to rise or fall. The Domestic and International Markets section defines the market for the products and services of the industry. This section provides the size of the domestic market and the proportion accounted for by imports and exports and trends in the levels of imports and exports. The Basis of Competition section outlines the key types of competition between firms within the industry as well as highlighting competition from substitute products in alternative industries. The Life Cycle section provides an analysis of which stage of development the industry is at.

The Segmentation chapter covers the following: Products and Service Segmentation, Major Market Segments, Industry Concentration and Geographic Spread. The Products and Service Segmentation section details the key products and/or services provided by this industry, highlighting the most important where possible to demonstrate which have a more significant influence over industry results as a whole. The Major Market Segments section details the key client industries and/or groups as well as giving an indication as to which of these are the most important to the industry. The Industry Concentration section provides an indicator of how much industry revenue is accounted for by the top four players. The Geographic Spread section provides a guide to the regional share of industry revenue/gross product.

The Industry Conditions chapter covers the following: Barriers to Entry, Taxation, Industry Assistance, Regulation and Deregulation, Cost Structure, Capital and Labor Intensity, Technology and Systems, Industry Volatility and Globalization. The Barriers to Entry section outlines factors that can prevent a new company from entering this industry and also gives an indication of the extent to which this occurs. The Taxation section details all kinds of taxation that are specific or are particularly important to this industry, including taxation concessions. The Industry Assistance section refers to any government and/or other measures designed to improve the performance of this industry. The Regulation and Deregulation section details any applicable regulation and/or deregulation to this industry. The Cost Structure section details the average costs for a company operating in this industry as a percentage of total revenue. The Capital and Labor Intensity section provides a guide to the amount of capital used in production/providing a service compared to the amount of labor in the total mix of inputs. The Technology and Systems section acknowledges the latest technology and/or systems available to this industry within the country. Technology refers to machinery and equipment and systems refers to methods of production that enable better and more efficient production. The Industry Volatility section refers to the year on year fluctuations which occur in industry output. The Globalization section gives an indication of the extent to which the industry is global based on factors such as the level of foreign ownership, the proportion of demand accounted for by foreign operators and the volume of production conducted in other countries.

The Performance chapter provides an analysis of both the industry's Current Performance and Historical Performance. The Current Performance section provides the key analysis for the industry over the past five years with key performance indicators discussed. The Historical Performance section details previously important events in the development of the industry.

The Key Competitors chapter lists the major players in the industry as well as an analysis of each major player's activities in the industry. Market share information is included where possible.

The Key Factors chapter covers the industry's Key Sensitivities and Key Success Factors. The Key Sensitivities section outlines the key factors that are outside the control of an operator in the industry, but are likely to have significant impact on a business. The Key Success Factors section details the factors within the control of an industry operator and which should be followed in order to be successful in the industry. Often this will include behavior that will help to minimize the effects of the Key Sensitivities.

The Outlook chapter is a key analysis section of the report and outlines expectations for the key industry indicators over the next five year period, including forecasts.

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Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> Choose Right Fencing and Decking for Swimming Pool Landscaping http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/gardening/choose-right-fencing-and-decking-for-swimming-pool-landscaping.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/gardening/choose-right-fencing-and-decking-for-swimming-pool-landscaping.html Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500
A list of the most essential factors associated with pool landscaping include: factors to resurrect privacy, safety, beauty and convenience. The article briefly discusses important ideas that may help you to beautify your pool surroundings.

Swimming Pool Landscaping Ideas:

If you are looking for ways that can add beauty to your home and lead to over all value addition to your pool and your home altogether, here are some ideas that can help. Start with selecting the right fence and decking.

Right fencing ensures safety and security for the pool owner and his/her family. A fence around your swimming pool hinders unwanted entry of domestic animals to the pool. A right fence may also work as a supporting structure for several aquatic plants to entwine and grow.

In many cities, creating adequate fences is an important criterion for getting a swimming pool permit. Select a stylish fence that adds to your swimming pool landscaping.

Decking of swimming pool depends upon the type of the pool you have. While above ground pools would require wooden decks. in-ground pools, in comparison are required to covered with cement sidewalks of flagstones.

To get the desired swimming pool landscaping, you need to choose decking that fully covers the shape of the pool and type of fence that provides maximize security to the pool.

Adequate Landscaping Increases Fun:

By making slight changes into the swimming pool landscaping, you can enhance the look of your swimming pool at your backyard. A well-developed recreational area gives you a perfect ambience to throw amazing pool parties and neighborhood get-togethers that will increase your fun quotient.



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The article is contributed by a professional content writer, having experiences of working in different industries. For further information on garden pool designs and swimming pool landscaping please visit at http://www.rinrobyn.com/

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> Fall Bulbs For Warm Climates http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/gardening/fall-bulbs-for-warm-climates.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/gardening/fall-bulbs-for-warm-climates.html Fri, 17 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0500 Well, of course fall is on the way. And though some parts of the U.S. are already enjoying moderating temperatures, we in the Deep South are not. So it's difficult for us to get into the mood to think about planting fall bulbs. In fact, one customer recently wondered whether there are any fall bulbs that perform reliably in our heat. For some of us, average minimum winter temperature is only 40 degrees Fahrenheit. So I decided to put together a quick list of fall bulbs that do well in warm climates.




As you scan the list below, you'll notice that a number and, usually, a letter follows each plant name. That is the warmest USDA climate zone where that plant is reported to succeed. If the plant does well in much colder zones, I feel it's unnecessary to state the climate range. However, there are some bulbs that are only successful in the warmest zones, so I noted their range, e.g. "9-11."




Each plant name is linked to its appropriate page in the goGardenNow.com catalog, where you'll find a more thorough description of it. To return to the Blog, click the "Back" button on your browser.




* Allium aflatunense 9b


* Allium giganteum 9b


* Allium sphaerocephalum 'Hair' 9b


* Allium moly 9b


* Allium 'Mount Everest' 9b


* Allium neapolitanum 9b


* Allium oreophilum syn. ostrowskianum 10b


* Allium schubertii 9b


* Allium siculum syn. bulgaricum) 9b


* Allium sphaerocephalum 10b


* Anemone blanda 10b


* Anemone coronaria (De Caen) 10b


* Camassia cusickii 9b


* Camassia leichtlinii 9b


* Chionodoxa forbesii 9b


* Chionodoxa luciliae 9b


* Colchicum spp. 11


* Crocus sativus 9b


* Crocus speciosus 10b


* Crocus vernus 11


* Crocus zonatus 10b


* Erythronium revolutum 9b


* Freesia 8-11


* Fritillaria persica 10a


* Fritillaria uva-vulpis 9b


* Hippeastrum papilio (Butterfly Amaryllis) 8 - 10


* Hippeastrum hybrids ( Dutch and South African Amaryllis) 8 - 11


* Ipheion uniflorum 9b


* Iris danfordiae 9b


* Iris x hollandica 9b


* Iris reticulata 9b


* Lycoris aurea 10b


* Lycoris radiata 9b


* Lycoris squamigera 11


* Muscari latifolium 9b


* Muscari macrocarpum 9-11


* Puschkinia scilloides var. libanotica 9b


* Ranunculus asiaticus 8a - 11


* Scilla hyacinthoides (syn. campanulata) 10b




The following narcissus are known to do well into zone 10b:




* Narcissus Accent


* Narcissus Actaea


* Narcissus Barrett Browning


* Narcissus Bell Song


* Narcissus Carlton


* Narcissus Chinese Sacred Lily


* Narcissus Dutch Master


* Narcissus February Gold


* Narcissus Fortissimo


* Narcissus Golden Bells


* Narcissus Grand Soleil d'Or


* Narcissus Hawera


* Narcissus Ice Follies


* Narcissus Jetfire


* Narcissus Mount Hood


* Narcissus Pheasant Eye


* Narcissus Pipit


* Narcissus Replete


* Narcissus Rijnveld's Early Sensation


* Narcissus Rip Van Winkle


* Narcissus Tahiti


* Narcissus Sir Winston Churchill


* Narcissus Tete-a-Tete


* Narcissus Thalia


* Narcissus Yellow Cheerfulness



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John is the owner of goGardenNow.com, an online shop for gardeners and "yardeners". Read his bio and enjoy his blog at http://gogardennow.blogspot.com/



Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> Fleur-De-Lis Jewelry | King Cakes | Fleur-De-Lis Bath Décor http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/gardening/fleur-de-lis-jewelry-%7C-king-cakes-%7C-fleur-de-lis-bath-d%C3%A9cor.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/gardening/fleur-de-lis-jewelry-%7C-king-cakes-%7C-fleur-de-lis-bath-d%C3%A9cor.html Sun, 21 Jun 2009 02:24:08 -0500
It is quite shameful to admit this, but it wasn't until recently that people are doing the necessary research to discover the actual meaning behind the Fleur de Lis, and get astounded at their findings. Apparently the literal meaning of the Fleur de Lis (or fleur-de-lys) is "flower of lily", which explains why its shape is largely reminiscent of either an iris or a lily. Although today, the Fleur de Lis is generally used simply because it "looks pretty," it also can be an indication of political, dynastic, artistic, emblematic or symbolic beliefs.

Here is a list of the different meanings behind the Fleur de Lis: The Fleur de Lis once appeared on European coats of arms and flags. Originally it was a symbol that was equated with the French monarchy, and is now considered an "enduring symbol of France."

The rule of King Juan Carlos I, an old member of the original French dynasty, is marked by this symbol and Fleur de Lis is associated with old French colonies, such as Quebec and Louisiana. It is an emblem of the Swiss Municipality of Schlieren, Zürich. It represents the Holy Trinity and the Virgin Mary and is considered an iconographic attribute of the archangel Gabriel, notably in representations of The Annunciation.

Also, due to a tradition started by Flavio Gioja, the symbol is often used on a compass rose to mark north. In modern times, this symbol is an omnipresent force! You can find it used in wallpaper, in architecture, in company logos, Fleur de Lis office décor, in Fleur de Lis home décor and, of course, Fleur de Lis jewellery.

Overall, many believe that the greatest part about the Fleur de Lis is how such an old symbol has, over the years, increased in popularity and become stylized to fit the needs of nearly every culture in some way, shape, or form. Alexandra is the Head of Marketing and Sales for Mademoiselle Fleur de Lis jewellery - a company that was founded on the principal that Fleur de Lis jewellery is art. Mademoiselle Fleur de Lis jewellery specializes in unique Fleur de Lis jewellery, sterling silver Fleur de Lis jewellery, and designer Fleur de Lis jewellery.

Each piece of Fleur de Lis jewellery is hand selected for quality, uniqueness, and creativity. Mademoiselle Fleur de Lis jewellery also carries silver Fleur de Lis jewellery lines specifically designed for men and children. One of the greatest reasons that this Fleur de Lis jewellery has become so popular is because it combines such a rich historical symbol with fashion. Many new shapes and sizes of king cakes have been hitting stores in recent months. As ladies love the vast amounts of variety found in Fleur de Lis jewellery they find it easy to change up the look and style of each piece.

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We have Fleur-de-lis Store where you can buying Online retail fleur-de-lis office décor, fleur-de-lis Home Décor, fleur-de-lis jewelry, fleur-de-lis Kitchen Décor, fleur-de-lis Bath Décor and fleur-de-lis gifts.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> The effect of soil pH upon your garden http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/gardening/the-effect-of-soil-ph-upon-your-garden.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/gardening/the-effect-of-soil-ph-upon-your-garden.html Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0500
What is Soil pH?
----------------
Let's get all scientific for a moment and learn what pH is. In chemistry pH is a measure of how acidic or alkaline a solution is. Okay, chemistry lesson over. Basically soil pH is a measure of how acidic or alkaline your soil is. Soil pH is measured on a scale of 1 to 14. If your soil has a pH value of less than 7 then you have acidic soil. On the other hand if your soil has a pH value of greater than 7 then you have alkaline soil. A pH value of 7 is neutral, meaning you have neither acidic or alkaline soil.

The Effect of Soil pH on Plants
Knowing the pH value of your soil before planting is very important as it has a direct influence on the health of the plant. Each plant has its own recommended soil pH value range. The reason for this is that soil pH effects the availability of nutrients within the soil and plants have different nutrient needs. For example the nutrient nitrogen, a very important plant nutrient, is readily available in soil when the pH value is upon above 5.5. Similarily the nutrient phosphorous is available when the pH value is between 6 and 7. If a plant is placed into the wrong kind of soil it will be lacking in nutrients that it needs which will promote disease. In general the best pH value range for soil is approximately 6 or 7 as this is the range in which most nutrients can be readily available.

Finding Out pH of Soil
----------------------
Finding out the pH of soil is usually a trivial matter and the kits to do so should be available at most good garden centres. Usually a pH testing kit will include a small container / test tube, testing solution and a color chart. A sample of soil is taken from your garden, placed into the container / test tube and a few drops of testing solution are added. The container is then shaken and left for a certain period of time. The color of the sample in the container is then compared against the color chart to determine the pH value of the soil. Note that if you want to determine the soil pH of an large area it may be a good idea to take soil samples from many different locations, combine the samples and then perform the test on the combined sample.

A quick way to find out the pH of an area is to look to see if there are any house hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) already growing in the area. If so observe the color of its flowers. A soil pH of 6 or below will produce blue flowers while a soil pH of 6.8 or higher will produce pink flowers.

How to Make Soil More Alkaline (Increase pH)
--------------------------------------------
If your soil is acidic or slightly acidic you can take steps to make it more alkaline to accommodate the plants you want to put there. You can make your soil more alkaline (increase its pH value) by adding a form of lime. Lime is a compound of calcium or calcium and magnesium. It is usually applied in the form of ground agricultural limestone, burnt lime or hydrated lime (slaked lime). The smaller the limestone particles then the quicker your soil will become more alkaline. For this reason hydrated lime will offer the quickest performance because it is slightly soluble in water so it can permeate the soil quicker and reduce acidity faster.

Increasing the pH of your soil is not an overnight process and it is best to allow 2-3 months to allow the lime to neutralize the acidity of the soil acidity.

How to Make Soil More Acidic (Decrease pH)
------------------------------------------
Some ornamental plants and fruit plants like blueberries require an acidic soil. To make your soil more acidic (decrease its pH value) you can use either aluminium sulphate or sulphur. Aluminium sulphate is the quickest acting as it will increase the acidity as soon as it disolves into the soil. The downsides are though that its effects can be short term and it is possible to over-apply it.

The more recommended but slower way to increase your soil pH is to use sulphur. Sulphur converts to sulphuric acid with the help of bacteria in the soil but this takes time depending on factors like the presence of bacteria, texture of the soil and moisture levels. This could take months if conditions are not ideal.

Conclusion
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Remember to always take into account soil pH when deciding what to plant in your soil. If you do not know what the pH of your soil is then test your soil and if needs be take steps mentioned earlier to change the pH value over time. Best of luck!




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Did you find this article useful? For more useful tips and hints, points to ponder and keep in mind, techniques, and insights pertaining to gardening and gardening implements, do please browse for more information at our websites.
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www.gardening .infozabout.com


Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> Community Gardens - Watering and Weed Control In Your Garden http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/gardening/community-gardens-a%80-watering-and-weed-control-in-your-garden.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/gardening/community-gardens-a%80-watering-and-weed-control-in-your-garden.html Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:28:50 -0500
When it comes to watering your garden, to get the best saturation in the ground, one should water early morning or late in the evening. Watering during the day could lead to a lot of water that just evaporates and doesn't go into the ground. If you live in an area where water is costly or you are cautious of how much water you use do to its scarcity, you can also consider using a drip line (a hose or tape with holes in it). Using drip lines will help you minimize water loss and deliver the water exactly to where it is needed, at the roots.

Keeping the water on the ground, rather than spraying your plants, will help keep water off of leaves, fruits and flowers. This is important when it is hot as it will do little to benefit the plant and may lead to scorching.

Other water conservation tactics include:

• Plant only plants that are well-adapted to your area and the average rainfall in your region
• Place mulch over the soil. This will help hold in the ground's moisture
• Weed regularly, because weeds will pull moisture from your plants
• Install a rain catchments system to make the most of rainfall
• Use drip irrigation to minimize evaporation
• Avoid planting or transplanting during dry spells
• Enhance sandy soils with organic mater, to improve moisture retention

When it comes to watering, each type of plant has its own moisture needs. You can do some research and find out which plants require more or less amounts of water. It would be most efficient for you to give your garden a good soaking once a week, which will penetrate deep into the soil, rather than watering just a little bit each day.

Now for weed control, which will also help you conserve water.

Weeds are problematic for every gardener, not only do they rob the ground of water but also the surrounding plants of nutrients and sunlight. To keep your weeds at bay, try to remove this as soon as they come up, typically they begin in early spring and summer. This will keep them from going to seed and replanting themselves. You may want to make sure to remove the entire weed - including its root - because some plants are able to re-grow from just a small piece of root.

If possible, weed during hot, dry periods, because the weeds will be easy to remove and will wither on the surface. When using a hoe, try to dig as shallowly as possible, to avoid disturbing the roots of your garden plants.

If you are going to use weed killer or chemicals on your weeds, follow some basic rules such as apply weed killer in the spring, when it will kill newly emerging weeds and prevent re-growth of new ones for a few months; do not apply weed killer on a windy day, when chemicals can be carried onto other plants, or cover plants with plastic sheeting during application; if you apply weed killer in the vicinity of edibles, only eat fruits and vegetables once they have been thoroughly cleansed with a produce wash.

Putting chemicals on your weeds should be your last resort as it can be harmful to your vegetables and the groundwater.

Between watering your garden properly and weeding it by the suggestions outlined above, your garden should be quite healthy and resilient whereupon you will produce large yummy vegetables to eat.


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About the Author: Pamela Ravenwood is a freelance writer, journalist, and writing coach who lives in the desert. In addition to spending her days writing, she also loves to tend to her organic garden where she grows as much of her own food as possible. In this, she counts on her cord reel to keep her hoses from drying out from the desert heat.


Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> Maintaining Your Residential Or Commercial Retention Pond http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/gardening/maintaining-your-residential-or-commercial-retention-pond.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/gardening/maintaining-your-residential-or-commercial-retention-pond.html Thu, 21 May 2009 09:07:59 -0500
The direct result of all the changes is that rainwater that used to be soaked up by the natural land will now flow off the developed land at a much faster rate. The amount of water flowing out of gutters, down driveways, streets and parking lots is much larger then the land can handle. In order to handle the rapid rate of water runoff, both residential and commercial properties are required to establish and maintain retention or detention ponds.

In the State of Georgia and many other states, the Homeowners Associations (HOA's) and property management companies are required to maintain the retention and detention ponds to ensure that all rainwater on any given property is collected in a manner that does not disturb the surrounding land.

All retention ponds are subject to annual or biannual city or county inspections. The inspector will want to see the retention pond is capable of running at full capacity and that the retention or detention pond meets most of the requirements that we discuss below.

Retention and detention ponds need periodic maintenance. If you are a property manager or part of a homeowners association, you will want to ensure that your retention or detention pond is cleaned out on a regular basis to ensure compliance with city and county codes.

Retention Pond or Detention Pond Maintenance Checklist

• Keep the earth and dam around your retention pond in good order. The vegetation around your retention pond will reduce the pollutants in the storm water; however, the vegetation should be well maintained and any overgrowth should be reduced. It is also a good idea to remove any new trees that may cause future problems.

• On a periodic basis remove any debris and any silt buildup from your retention pond.

• Communicate with the homeowners in your neighborhood or the tenants in your commercial space and make sure everyone understands the importance of reducing the chemicals, pollutants and waste products that make their way down the storm drains in the neighborhood or office park.

• Inspect the headwall, the weir, the exhaust and other key components of the retention pond on a regular basis to ensure the pond is operating as intended.

• Remove any silt or sediment that may have accumulated at the basin forebay on a regular basis.

• Inspect the storm water drains that are delivering water to the retention or detention pond and make sure they are free of debris and in good working order.


Items like grass clippings, pet waste and other various organic materials that find their way down the storm drains causes algae to grow at much faster rates in the pond and increases the maintenance needed to keep the pond in working order.

Taking great care of your retention and detention ponds ensures that the water we are returning to our streams and rivers is cleaner then it would have been had it just passed over a greasy pavement? If we educate people on the roll the retention or detention pond is playing in their neighborhood or office park; people will be more careful the next time they are going to blow their grass clippings or send their pet waste down the closest storm drain.

Most reputable landscaping companies are well equipped to work with the HOA or property management group to come up with a reasonable maintenance plan that will keep the retention or detention pond working as intended. A properly maintained retention or detention pond helps all of us.

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Joe Archer is the owner of Mobile Joe's Landscaping. Mobile Joe's Landscaping is a full service landscaping and landscape design company based in Atlanta, GA. Joe's company can help any HOA or property management group maintain their retention or detention pond.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>