Xeriscape (pronounced "zera-scape") gardening is a water efficient method of gardening. While the term Xeriscape gardening can sound intimidating to some, it is actually a simple method of gardening that can be used for many different types of gardening. Rather than replacing the way you currently do your gardening, think of Xeriscape gardening as an additional technique that will make your water usage more "green" by using less to grow more.
Using the principles of Xeriscape gardening will allow you to plant and maintain your annuals, perennials, vegetables and trees in the most water-wise manner possible. Now, you will not have to use as much water for the same numbers of plants that you would like to grow in you garden or lawn area.
With as much as 25% of our water supply being used to maintain lawns and gardens, it is becoming increasingly important to learn to plant wisely, taking into account the type of soil you have, the sun exposure needs of your plants and the water needs of your plants.
There is no need to simply go without a plant that uses water heavily however, planting heavy water users all together will help save water and will also make the low water users in your garden happier. This method is one of the key elements to Xeriscape gardening.
You should also become familiar with the hydroponic method of gardening, which uses no soil.
With hydroponic gardening, nutrients are introduced directly to the root systems of the plants without having to be fed through the soil. This allows the plants to put less growth energy into the root system and more energy into producing foliage and fruit. Foliage plants will be bigger and fuller, and vegetable plants will produce more and larger vegetables.
Hydroponic gardens do not require large amounts of land or yard space. A balcony, deck or even an inside room can be used to grow large amounts of foliage and vegetable plants.
While the cost of setting up a hydroponic garden may be higher than planting a traditional garden, the results will more than make up for the initial investment.
Source: http://www.postarticles.com/Article/What-are-Xeriscape-and-Hydroponic-Gardening-/43468
Friday, February 29, 2008
Garden Insects - Not All Are Pests
There are gardeners who think that every insect they see is a pest and needs to be destroyed as quickly as possible, when in reality there are some insects that actually help your garden. They catch and eat any number of their harmful cousins. To know which ones are beneficial will help you decide which insects to eliminate and which ones to welcome.
It is important to realize that there will always be some harmful insects in your garden, the key is to keep them under control. Three insects that can help you to do this are praying mantis, ladybugs and lacewings.They are ferocious hunters and most beneficial to have around.
Lacewing larvae can eat up to 60 aphids in an hour. They also eat whiteflies, mites, the eggs of caterpillars and a variety of other small pests.
Ladybugs and their larvae consume up to 40 aphids per hour. They also devour spider mites, beetle grubs, whiteflies and other soft bodied insects.
Praying mantis are fierce predators that will eat a wide variety of pests.
Apart from these three, there are other beneficial insects which are common and can help destroy garden pests.
A variety of predator mites feed on harmful spider mites and thrips without harming plants themselves.
Parasitic nematodes are microscopic worms in the soil that eat their way into numerous soil dwelling pests including grubs, sod webworms, carpenter worms, weevils and destroy them.
Different kinds of wasps are very effective when it comes to insect control. The Trichogramma wasps deposit their larvae into the eggs of caterpillars, from where they eat their way out, destroying the eggs. The Aphytis melinus, another tiny parasitic wasp attacks and kills red scale and Metaphycus helvolus attacks black scale.
Several species of small wasps attack whiteflies in their immature stages. Many other tiny wasps help to control flies when they lay their eggs in the pupae of several types of them, including houseflies.
Most of these beneficial insects can be bought from nurseries and garden supply stores for a few dollars. It is best to release them in the evening because daylight encourages flight. Be aware that without access to prey, water and shelter they will fly away. It is necessary to provide the right environment by growing many kinds of plants in your garden. In return these 'good' insects will help your garden to stay healthy and reduce the need to use chemical pesticides.
Source: http://www.postarticles.com/Article/Garden-Insects---Not-All-Are-Pests/43946
It is important to realize that there will always be some harmful insects in your garden, the key is to keep them under control. Three insects that can help you to do this are praying mantis, ladybugs and lacewings.They are ferocious hunters and most beneficial to have around.
Lacewing larvae can eat up to 60 aphids in an hour. They also eat whiteflies, mites, the eggs of caterpillars and a variety of other small pests.
Ladybugs and their larvae consume up to 40 aphids per hour. They also devour spider mites, beetle grubs, whiteflies and other soft bodied insects.
Praying mantis are fierce predators that will eat a wide variety of pests.
Apart from these three, there are other beneficial insects which are common and can help destroy garden pests.
A variety of predator mites feed on harmful spider mites and thrips without harming plants themselves.
Parasitic nematodes are microscopic worms in the soil that eat their way into numerous soil dwelling pests including grubs, sod webworms, carpenter worms, weevils and destroy them.
Different kinds of wasps are very effective when it comes to insect control. The Trichogramma wasps deposit their larvae into the eggs of caterpillars, from where they eat their way out, destroying the eggs. The Aphytis melinus, another tiny parasitic wasp attacks and kills red scale and Metaphycus helvolus attacks black scale.
Several species of small wasps attack whiteflies in their immature stages. Many other tiny wasps help to control flies when they lay their eggs in the pupae of several types of them, including houseflies.
Most of these beneficial insects can be bought from nurseries and garden supply stores for a few dollars. It is best to release them in the evening because daylight encourages flight. Be aware that without access to prey, water and shelter they will fly away. It is necessary to provide the right environment by growing many kinds of plants in your garden. In return these 'good' insects will help your garden to stay healthy and reduce the need to use chemical pesticides.
Source: http://www.postarticles.com/Article/Garden-Insects---Not-All-Are-Pests/43946
Water Gardening Supplies - Water Gardening Supplies For The DIY Enthusiast!
Go about hiring someone to spruce up your water garden and in all likelihood you'll end up emptying up your pockets. Try to Do-It-Yourself (DIY) with the help of a few gardening supplies and you'll discover that it's a much cheaper option due to the low cost of the supplies. There is plethora of information available for the seeking gardeners who like to take on the challenges. So whether it's about that heavenly pond project in the backyard or that perfect water container garden, if you can dream breathtaking waterfalls, you have all the water gardening supplies available to make that dream a reality.
Container Water Gardens
Creating one's own water garden is always a very satisfying experience as it allows a person to explore his/her creative abilities and watch his/her personality get manifested in the form of the final design. Many people prefer the oriental themed water gardens that range from lotus gardens with calm still water to the multi-level ones with waterfalls from large sculptures.
Your selection of water gardening supplies will largely depend on the scale of project that you are undertaking. While the simplest container water garden can be made by rooting plant cuttings in the water accumulated in your windowsill, the largest types can take shape of lined containers that carry pond plants like bog plants or hyacinths. Introduce a small motor into the picture and you can also enjoy a mini waterfall in your water garden container.
Large Water Gardens
Larger Water Gardens or ponds normally require gardening supplies that are little more complex in nature. They also need much more time and effort to construct as compared to container water gardens. However, where there is demand, how can the supply be too far behind! Many companies have special DIY kits available to guide you through this process as well. You can consider picking up one of these DIY kits and build your water garden in phases every weekend. It may take long time, but it's the best way to go about it in case you're a working person.
Water gardening supplies available for such type of gardens include plastic tubing, filters, skimmers, liners and other pond and water treatment materials.
Water Garden Maintenance
Once your basic water garden container is ready, you can consider introducing flora and fauna to complete the ecosystem. However, make sure that you don't go overboard with fishes in the water garden as excess of them will result in lots of waste and more burden on filters. Having too many of them also encourages algae growth.
Algae are almost inevitable in any type of pond. While buying water gardening supplies to get rid of algae, you must take care that you pick only those that help you remove the undesirable algae and not the kind that is beneficial to the pond. Sometimes Barley straws are also employed to reduce algae levels in the water garden.
No matter what size of water garden are you planning to build, the gardening supplies are easily accessible nowadays on internet. What more, nowadays most of them are Do-it-yourself. If you follow the water gardening instructions well, it'll take no time for you to turn into an avid water gardener.
Source: http://www.pcwriters.com/Article/Water-Gardening-Supplies---Water-Gardening-Supplies-For-The-DIY-Enthusiast-/102743
Container Water Gardens
Creating one's own water garden is always a very satisfying experience as it allows a person to explore his/her creative abilities and watch his/her personality get manifested in the form of the final design. Many people prefer the oriental themed water gardens that range from lotus gardens with calm still water to the multi-level ones with waterfalls from large sculptures.
Your selection of water gardening supplies will largely depend on the scale of project that you are undertaking. While the simplest container water garden can be made by rooting plant cuttings in the water accumulated in your windowsill, the largest types can take shape of lined containers that carry pond plants like bog plants or hyacinths. Introduce a small motor into the picture and you can also enjoy a mini waterfall in your water garden container.
Large Water Gardens
Larger Water Gardens or ponds normally require gardening supplies that are little more complex in nature. They also need much more time and effort to construct as compared to container water gardens. However, where there is demand, how can the supply be too far behind! Many companies have special DIY kits available to guide you through this process as well. You can consider picking up one of these DIY kits and build your water garden in phases every weekend. It may take long time, but it's the best way to go about it in case you're a working person.
Water gardening supplies available for such type of gardens include plastic tubing, filters, skimmers, liners and other pond and water treatment materials.
Water Garden Maintenance
Once your basic water garden container is ready, you can consider introducing flora and fauna to complete the ecosystem. However, make sure that you don't go overboard with fishes in the water garden as excess of them will result in lots of waste and more burden on filters. Having too many of them also encourages algae growth.
Algae are almost inevitable in any type of pond. While buying water gardening supplies to get rid of algae, you must take care that you pick only those that help you remove the undesirable algae and not the kind that is beneficial to the pond. Sometimes Barley straws are also employed to reduce algae levels in the water garden.
No matter what size of water garden are you planning to build, the gardening supplies are easily accessible nowadays on internet. What more, nowadays most of them are Do-it-yourself. If you follow the water gardening instructions well, it'll take no time for you to turn into an avid water gardener.
Abhishek is a self-confessed Gardening addict! Visit his website http://www. Gardening-Master.com and download his FREE Gardening Report "Indoor Gardening Secrets" and learn some amazing Gardening tips for FREE! Create the perfect Garden on a shoe-string budget. And yes, you get to keep all the accolades! But hurry, only limited Free copies available!. http://www. Gardening-Master.com
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Source: http://www.pcwriters.com/Article/Water-Gardening-Supplies---Water-Gardening-Supplies-For-The-DIY-Enthusiast-/102743
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Communicating with Plants
Plants' experience of being in the world is very different from the experience of us animals. Because plants cannot move about, they exist in a state of profound acceptance and peace within themselves. Emotions such as fear, hate, jealousy, possessiveness, etc. are wholly unknown to plants and would serve no useful purpose. On the other hand, plants are capable of experiencing a wide range of higher emotions the like of which we animals could scarcely conceive.
At the same time, there are feelings which plants share with us animals, such as love, pain, joy, thirst, etc. It is the feelings we share with plants which provide the basis of our ability to communicate with them.
Feeling with plants is not so different from feeling with people. For example, when we are about to have sex with someone who really turns us on, we feel a palpable surge of sexual energy connecting us to that person. Similarly, when we walk into a room to face someone who is madder than hell at us, we feel connected to that person by a palpable wave of anger and fear. When a baby smiles at us, we feel a rush of joy that has us automatically smile back. However, most of our interactions with other people do not have this feeling of connectedness and emotional immediacy. Most of the time we don't even look the people we are addressing in the eye, let alone feel with them. Because of our social training, we tend to regard sharing feelings with other people as threatening. We are taught to close up and defend ourselves, and to keep our interactions as sterile and devoid of feeling as possible.
In order to communicate with plants (or people), you have to be able to regard them as your equals. If you are afraid (ashamed) to talk with homeless people, beggars, crazy people, etc. then you'll also find it difficult to talk with plants. However, it's actually easier to communicate with plants than it is to communicate with people because plants don't have defenses and self-importance agendas in place which engage our own defenses and self-importance agendas. To feel with plants (or people) doesn't mean to gush all over them; all it means is to recognize them as beings whose feelings are as important to them as your feelings are to you.
When first learning to communicate with plants, it helps to be in contact with the same individual plants on a daily basis. Ideally you should go out, preferably alone, to the same tree or meadow for at least a few minutes every day. If you can't do this, cultivating garden or house plants will work just as well, although it's easiest to communicate with large trees. This is because from a feeling (light fiber) point of view, humans and trees are very much alike - the light fiber (auric glow) configurations of both humans and trees are quite similar, whereas that of insects, for example, is very different from either. It is easier for humans and trees to communicate with each other than it is for either to communicate with insects.
Now even the least psychic person, going up to a large tree, should be able to pick up something of the personality (mood) of that tree. How does the tree make you feel - happy, sad, loving, jolly, heavy? Can you pick up its sex: sense a male or female presence - or its age: young and vigorous or old and mellow?
This isn't all that hard to do - you can call upon your senses to buttress your feelings, as in the exercise of seeing pictures in the clouds, except that you do it by feeling rather than thinking - by relaxing into the process rather than controlling it. It's exactly what a rationalist would term "anthropomorphism."
For example, spiky trees (like palmettos and Joshua trees) have a sassy, masculine energy. Cedar trees tend to be clowns or wise guys. Banana trees are joyous and loving. Weeping trees really do have a doleful air about them. Tall, erect trees have proud and regal personalities. Trees that seem to be reaching longingly for the heavens are reaching longingly for the heavens.
A good time to learn to connect emotionally with trees is when they're dying. The next time you see a tree being felled, pause and quiet down your thoughts and watch it attentively. You should easily be able to feel the tree's agony just before it falls, since trees (and all beings) are filled with power at the moment of their deaths and profoundly affect the beings around them. Loggers triumphantly yell "Timber!" when a tree falls to cover their sense of shame and disconnectedness - to block communication with the tree at the moment of its death.
Another good time to pick up on plants' feelings is when they are in motion. Plants are happiest when they are moving - blown by the wind and the rain. Wave back to them when they wave at you (it's only polite). Watch how they dance in the breeze. See how the trees which overhang roads and walkways cast down blessings on all who pass beneath them. See how the young growing tips are more alert, vigorous, and naively impetuous than the older and mellower lower leaves. Be aware of the awareness of plants: when you walk through a wood or meadow, feel as though you were walking through a crowd of people, all of whom are watching you.
Some people pick up on the feelings of plants by seeing faces in the bark or foliage. They impose that thought form (of a face with a giggly, dour, saucy, etc. expression) over the feeling of the tree, since that's how most people are conditioned to interpret feelings - by associating them with facial expressions.
What we're tying to get at are feelings, which can be apprehended directly, without any need for sensory cues. However, the senses can provide a useful point of reference and serve as a bridge between imagination and pure feeling, which is how they function in dreams. When you see with your feelings rather than your mind, your visual attention isn't focused on any one thing, but rather everything within your field of vision strikes your attention with equal impact (vividness), as it does in dreams. To see this way you have to have your mind quiet, and you have to be in a joyous and abandoned mood. If you're bummed out or grumpy, you won't be able to see what plants are feeling any more than you'd be able to see a baby smile at you.
Much of our social training entails learning to stifle our senses - to not see what is right before our eyes, to not listen to what our ears are hearing, to be offended by smells, discomfited by touch. Cutting off our senses leaves us feeling apathetic and disconnected from our world. Therefore, if we want to renew our feeling of connectedness which we had as infants, we have to start plugging our senses into our feelings again. And because they are so nonthreatening, feeling with plants is a good place to start.
Not only do different species of plants have different feelings associated with them, but also there is considerable individual variation in personalities between different plants of the same species, between different branches on the same plant, and even between different leaves on the same branch. By lightly holding a leaf for a moment between your thumb and forefinger, you can feel which leaves want to be picked for medicine or food purposes and which ones want to be left alone. The leaves that want to be picked have a high, vibrant feel to them, whereas leaves that don't want to be picked feel dead in your hand.
Even if you can't seem to tune in to the feelings of plants, you can still telepathically "talk" with them. Plants can talk to you in thoughts, and these (at first) seem indistinguishable from your own thoughts. That is, it will seem to you that you are the one who is thinking these thoughts, when in fact it is the plants which are sending you messages. That's why it's important to have your own mind as quiet as possible - to be in a relaxed mood - if you expect plants to talk to you; if your own mind is buzzing, there's no way the plants can get a word in edgewise. Any thoughts or feelings you have while sitting under a tree or working with plants are probably messages from the plants.
So how do you know if you are actually communicating with a plant, and not just imagining it? The answer is: you don't. You just go with your intuition rather than going with your concepts, what you've been taught. Instead of hypnotizing yourself into believing that the world of concepts is reality, you hypnotize yourself into believing that the world of feelings - of magic - is reality. The only difference between these two equally valid points of view is that from one of them plants talk to you, and from the other they don't.
If you feel self-conscious talking to plants, just remember that what you have been programmed to call the "real" world is merely a figment of your imagination also. And if you start calling something else the real world, then that something else becomes the real world; it becomes as real as this one.
If you're dubious, just ask the plant over and over, "Is this you, Mr. or Ms. Plant talking to me, or am I just imagining it?" And if you keep getting the same answer over and over, "It's me, the plant! It's me, the plant!" - then just assume that it is indeed the plant talking to you, and listen to what it has to say. You can ask questions and get answers, both questions and answers coming as though you were holding a conversation in your own mind.
It's easy to learn to talk with house and garden plants, since these are particularly eager to discuss matters such as fertilization, watering, shade, grafting and transplanting techniques, etc. But in addition to such mundane affairs, plants (particularly large trees) can give you helpful advice on all sorts of matters. Take them your problems; ask them what they think you should do. Some of my best friends and most trusted advisors are trees.
Whether you are consciously aware of it or not, you are already communicating with plants all the time. The soothing, healing, tranquilizing feeling that comes when you are gardening or are out in nature is in fact your psychic attunement to the joyous vibrations of the plants around you. To follow this feeling one step further - to its source - is to put yourself into direct communication with the plants. It's as easy as smiling at a baby.
(excerpted from Bob Makransky's book Magical Living)
Source: http://www.postarticles.com/Article/Communicating-with-Plants/48219
At the same time, there are feelings which plants share with us animals, such as love, pain, joy, thirst, etc. It is the feelings we share with plants which provide the basis of our ability to communicate with them.
Feeling with plants is not so different from feeling with people. For example, when we are about to have sex with someone who really turns us on, we feel a palpable surge of sexual energy connecting us to that person. Similarly, when we walk into a room to face someone who is madder than hell at us, we feel connected to that person by a palpable wave of anger and fear. When a baby smiles at us, we feel a rush of joy that has us automatically smile back. However, most of our interactions with other people do not have this feeling of connectedness and emotional immediacy. Most of the time we don't even look the people we are addressing in the eye, let alone feel with them. Because of our social training, we tend to regard sharing feelings with other people as threatening. We are taught to close up and defend ourselves, and to keep our interactions as sterile and devoid of feeling as possible.
In order to communicate with plants (or people), you have to be able to regard them as your equals. If you are afraid (ashamed) to talk with homeless people, beggars, crazy people, etc. then you'll also find it difficult to talk with plants. However, it's actually easier to communicate with plants than it is to communicate with people because plants don't have defenses and self-importance agendas in place which engage our own defenses and self-importance agendas. To feel with plants (or people) doesn't mean to gush all over them; all it means is to recognize them as beings whose feelings are as important to them as your feelings are to you.
When first learning to communicate with plants, it helps to be in contact with the same individual plants on a daily basis. Ideally you should go out, preferably alone, to the same tree or meadow for at least a few minutes every day. If you can't do this, cultivating garden or house plants will work just as well, although it's easiest to communicate with large trees. This is because from a feeling (light fiber) point of view, humans and trees are very much alike - the light fiber (auric glow) configurations of both humans and trees are quite similar, whereas that of insects, for example, is very different from either. It is easier for humans and trees to communicate with each other than it is for either to communicate with insects.
Now even the least psychic person, going up to a large tree, should be able to pick up something of the personality (mood) of that tree. How does the tree make you feel - happy, sad, loving, jolly, heavy? Can you pick up its sex: sense a male or female presence - or its age: young and vigorous or old and mellow?
This isn't all that hard to do - you can call upon your senses to buttress your feelings, as in the exercise of seeing pictures in the clouds, except that you do it by feeling rather than thinking - by relaxing into the process rather than controlling it. It's exactly what a rationalist would term "anthropomorphism."
For example, spiky trees (like palmettos and Joshua trees) have a sassy, masculine energy. Cedar trees tend to be clowns or wise guys. Banana trees are joyous and loving. Weeping trees really do have a doleful air about them. Tall, erect trees have proud and regal personalities. Trees that seem to be reaching longingly for the heavens are reaching longingly for the heavens.
A good time to learn to connect emotionally with trees is when they're dying. The next time you see a tree being felled, pause and quiet down your thoughts and watch it attentively. You should easily be able to feel the tree's agony just before it falls, since trees (and all beings) are filled with power at the moment of their deaths and profoundly affect the beings around them. Loggers triumphantly yell "Timber!" when a tree falls to cover their sense of shame and disconnectedness - to block communication with the tree at the moment of its death.
Another good time to pick up on plants' feelings is when they are in motion. Plants are happiest when they are moving - blown by the wind and the rain. Wave back to them when they wave at you (it's only polite). Watch how they dance in the breeze. See how the trees which overhang roads and walkways cast down blessings on all who pass beneath them. See how the young growing tips are more alert, vigorous, and naively impetuous than the older and mellower lower leaves. Be aware of the awareness of plants: when you walk through a wood or meadow, feel as though you were walking through a crowd of people, all of whom are watching you.
Some people pick up on the feelings of plants by seeing faces in the bark or foliage. They impose that thought form (of a face with a giggly, dour, saucy, etc. expression) over the feeling of the tree, since that's how most people are conditioned to interpret feelings - by associating them with facial expressions.
What we're tying to get at are feelings, which can be apprehended directly, without any need for sensory cues. However, the senses can provide a useful point of reference and serve as a bridge between imagination and pure feeling, which is how they function in dreams. When you see with your feelings rather than your mind, your visual attention isn't focused on any one thing, but rather everything within your field of vision strikes your attention with equal impact (vividness), as it does in dreams. To see this way you have to have your mind quiet, and you have to be in a joyous and abandoned mood. If you're bummed out or grumpy, you won't be able to see what plants are feeling any more than you'd be able to see a baby smile at you.
Much of our social training entails learning to stifle our senses - to not see what is right before our eyes, to not listen to what our ears are hearing, to be offended by smells, discomfited by touch. Cutting off our senses leaves us feeling apathetic and disconnected from our world. Therefore, if we want to renew our feeling of connectedness which we had as infants, we have to start plugging our senses into our feelings again. And because they are so nonthreatening, feeling with plants is a good place to start.
Not only do different species of plants have different feelings associated with them, but also there is considerable individual variation in personalities between different plants of the same species, between different branches on the same plant, and even between different leaves on the same branch. By lightly holding a leaf for a moment between your thumb and forefinger, you can feel which leaves want to be picked for medicine or food purposes and which ones want to be left alone. The leaves that want to be picked have a high, vibrant feel to them, whereas leaves that don't want to be picked feel dead in your hand.
Even if you can't seem to tune in to the feelings of plants, you can still telepathically "talk" with them. Plants can talk to you in thoughts, and these (at first) seem indistinguishable from your own thoughts. That is, it will seem to you that you are the one who is thinking these thoughts, when in fact it is the plants which are sending you messages. That's why it's important to have your own mind as quiet as possible - to be in a relaxed mood - if you expect plants to talk to you; if your own mind is buzzing, there's no way the plants can get a word in edgewise. Any thoughts or feelings you have while sitting under a tree or working with plants are probably messages from the plants.
So how do you know if you are actually communicating with a plant, and not just imagining it? The answer is: you don't. You just go with your intuition rather than going with your concepts, what you've been taught. Instead of hypnotizing yourself into believing that the world of concepts is reality, you hypnotize yourself into believing that the world of feelings - of magic - is reality. The only difference between these two equally valid points of view is that from one of them plants talk to you, and from the other they don't.
If you feel self-conscious talking to plants, just remember that what you have been programmed to call the "real" world is merely a figment of your imagination also. And if you start calling something else the real world, then that something else becomes the real world; it becomes as real as this one.
If you're dubious, just ask the plant over and over, "Is this you, Mr. or Ms. Plant talking to me, or am I just imagining it?" And if you keep getting the same answer over and over, "It's me, the plant! It's me, the plant!" - then just assume that it is indeed the plant talking to you, and listen to what it has to say. You can ask questions and get answers, both questions and answers coming as though you were holding a conversation in your own mind.
It's easy to learn to talk with house and garden plants, since these are particularly eager to discuss matters such as fertilization, watering, shade, grafting and transplanting techniques, etc. But in addition to such mundane affairs, plants (particularly large trees) can give you helpful advice on all sorts of matters. Take them your problems; ask them what they think you should do. Some of my best friends and most trusted advisors are trees.
Whether you are consciously aware of it or not, you are already communicating with plants all the time. The soothing, healing, tranquilizing feeling that comes when you are gardening or are out in nature is in fact your psychic attunement to the joyous vibrations of the plants around you. To follow this feeling one step further - to its source - is to put yourself into direct communication with the plants. It's as easy as smiling at a baby.
(excerpted from Bob Makransky's book Magical Living)
Bob Makransky is a systems analyst, programmer, and professional astrologer. For the past 30 years he has lived on a farm in highland Guatemala where he is a Mayan priest and is head of the local blueberry growers association. His website is: www.dearbrutus.com. To subscribe to Bob's free monthly Astro-Magical e-zine, send an e-mail to: MagicalAlmanac-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Source: http://www.postarticles.com/Article/Communicating-with-Plants/48219
What is the Right Plant and Where Do I Put It?
Know if your plants are disease-susceptible. Your choice of plants used in your garden is as important as the soil that you put those plants in. Select plants that are disease resistant and they will be much more easy to maintain and will give you the look you are wanting. Food for thought is use plants that are native to your area.
The experience you get will tell you which are the troublesome plants. Obtain your plants from reliable sources and ask those people for their suggestions. They should be happy to help you because of return sales. The local cooperative extension service should provide much needed info for you. Some catalogs
will list disease resistance plants.
Experience will eventually tell you which plant diseases are most troublesome in your region. Your local nursery and cooperative extension service are also good sources for information on local diseases and disease-resistant plants. Seed and nursery catalogs often list disease resistance in plant descriptions.
There are resistant varieties that exist for such diseases as apple scab, armillaria root rot, bean mosaic virus, blueberry mummyberry, cherry viruses, juniper tips and twig blights, lilac bacterial blight, powdery mildew, pea enation mosaic virus, potato scab, black spot, rust, tomato fusarium and root-knot nematode, fireblight, verticillium wilt, and other diseases.
What does the wrong exposure do to your plants? Take a long look at the conditions you have in your garden and choose your plants accordingly. Plants are usually clearly marked whether they prefer sun, partial shade or complete shade.
Shade plants grown in sun turn yellowish and grow poorly. They will get a sunburn which will develope dead spots on their leaves. Avoid south or west exposure.
The sun lovers are often stunted and spindly when grown in the shade. If they grow at all, they are usually weak looking and have few leaves. Reduced flowering on many plants may result from shade placement.
Use water conservation landscaping whenever you can. Most gardeners in drought climates have come to realize the importance of water conservation.But in areas where water is plentiful, however, waste in the garden is way too common. We take our water supply for granted by wasting more than we ever need and in many areas, more groundwater is pumped than nature can replace through precipitation and runoff.
Why not use drought-tolerant plants. These plants grow well with little water once they are established.
Mulch every plant you have.
Some grass species need less water than others, but lawns generally need a large amount of water to stay green and growing. If you replace the grass with drought-tolerant ground covers or flowers you'll save a large amount of water and even - money.
Probably your favorite plants will have high water requirements. By grouping and mulching these plants allows you to irrigate them together, thus reducing water waste.
What about fruit-pollination requirements! Many beginning gardeners are confused when their fruit trees fail to bear fruit. Could be a pollination problem.
Certain types of trees produce bigger and more abundant fruit with cross-pollination between different cultivars. The others, cross-pollinating is mandatory to get any fruit at all.
Learn a fruit's pollination requirements before planting. If your space is limited, pick a self-pollinating fruit, such as European-type plums or almost any of the peach cultivars.
Pollination will not happen without insects, butterflies or hummingbirds. When chemical pesticides are routinely used by a neighbor or yourself, the honeybees and other pollinating insects can be reduced so that fruit production suffers. Go organic.
Source: http://www.postarticles.com/Article/What-is-the-Right-Plant-and-Where-Do-I-Put-It-/51998
The experience you get will tell you which are the troublesome plants. Obtain your plants from reliable sources and ask those people for their suggestions. They should be happy to help you because of return sales. The local cooperative extension service should provide much needed info for you. Some catalogs
will list disease resistance plants.
Experience will eventually tell you which plant diseases are most troublesome in your region. Your local nursery and cooperative extension service are also good sources for information on local diseases and disease-resistant plants. Seed and nursery catalogs often list disease resistance in plant descriptions.
There are resistant varieties that exist for such diseases as apple scab, armillaria root rot, bean mosaic virus, blueberry mummyberry, cherry viruses, juniper tips and twig blights, lilac bacterial blight, powdery mildew, pea enation mosaic virus, potato scab, black spot, rust, tomato fusarium and root-knot nematode, fireblight, verticillium wilt, and other diseases.
What does the wrong exposure do to your plants? Take a long look at the conditions you have in your garden and choose your plants accordingly. Plants are usually clearly marked whether they prefer sun, partial shade or complete shade.
Shade plants grown in sun turn yellowish and grow poorly. They will get a sunburn which will develope dead spots on their leaves. Avoid south or west exposure.
The sun lovers are often stunted and spindly when grown in the shade. If they grow at all, they are usually weak looking and have few leaves. Reduced flowering on many plants may result from shade placement.
Use water conservation landscaping whenever you can. Most gardeners in drought climates have come to realize the importance of water conservation.But in areas where water is plentiful, however, waste in the garden is way too common. We take our water supply for granted by wasting more than we ever need and in many areas, more groundwater is pumped than nature can replace through precipitation and runoff.
Why not use drought-tolerant plants. These plants grow well with little water once they are established.
Mulch every plant you have.
Some grass species need less water than others, but lawns generally need a large amount of water to stay green and growing. If you replace the grass with drought-tolerant ground covers or flowers you'll save a large amount of water and even - money.
Probably your favorite plants will have high water requirements. By grouping and mulching these plants allows you to irrigate them together, thus reducing water waste.
What about fruit-pollination requirements! Many beginning gardeners are confused when their fruit trees fail to bear fruit. Could be a pollination problem.
Certain types of trees produce bigger and more abundant fruit with cross-pollination between different cultivars. The others, cross-pollinating is mandatory to get any fruit at all.
Learn a fruit's pollination requirements before planting. If your space is limited, pick a self-pollinating fruit, such as European-type plums or almost any of the peach cultivars.
Pollination will not happen without insects, butterflies or hummingbirds. When chemical pesticides are routinely used by a neighbor or yourself, the honeybees and other pollinating insects can be reduced so that fruit production suffers. Go organic.
Source: http://www.postarticles.com/Article/What-is-the-Right-Plant-and-Where-Do-I-Put-It-/51998
Crystal Gardening Water - The Challenges And How To Overcome Them!
Keeping the water crystal clear, literally, is the major challenge faced by most of the water gardeners. Generally, what looks like crystal clear water, is not so pure. It normally consists of numerous chemicals and mineral pollutants that are harmful for the water garden. The ideal color of water should either be green or little brown.
On the first occasion that you will fill up your pond, you will see maximum clarity in water. However, as mentioned earlier, it's only a visual illusion and you must call up your local municipal supply authorities to find out which all chemicals and minerals have been added to the water.
The most commonly added chemical to the tap water is chlorine. Allowing the water to stand for a couple of days will let this chlorine dissipate easily, however, you may still require certain chemicals to get rid of the chloramines and chlorine dioxide. There are different types of kits available with most of the garden stores, pet stores and pond supply dealers which help in conducting tests on the crystal gardening water to determine the presence of such undesired substances.
The dealers normally have good knowledge and can advise you well on treatments. In most cases, you must avoid the use of chemicals as much as possible. You must also ensure that your crystal gardening water is absolutely free of chloramines before you put the plants and fishes into it.
Once cleared of the unwanted chemicals, you can introduce plants to the water. They will produce the essential food and oxygen for the survival of fish and other aquatic species and will also prevent the growth of algae. The water may turn green for a few days but will clear up gradually within weeks as the plants get settled. It is then you will start seeing crystal clear unadulterated gardening water. It will be time then to add snails, fishes and whichever water dwellers you may want.
Algae growth in a water garden is a pretty natural phenomenon and such mossy algae on the sides of the pond are actually beneficial to the garden as they filter out harmful toxins from the crystal gardening water. However, some balance needs to be maintained as excess of algae is also bad for the water garden. It will deprive the plants of essential nutrients and further cause death of fish and other aquatic species that are dependent on the plants for their survival. Algae presence can also take the sheen off your water garden as it looks pretty ugly.
Algae growth can be checked by putting water lilies and a few floating plants in the water. They deprive the algae of the essential nutrients and also block the sunlight essential for algae growth. Even snails and some specific kinds of fish can be employed to eat up algae.
Whatever means you choose to get rid of algae, you must ensure they are natural and non-harmful to the water garden. You can also simply skim off the algae from the water surface by using a mesh net, rake or a brush. Filters may also be installed to remove the algae.
Source: http://www.pcwriters.com/Article/Crystal-Gardening-Water---The-Challenges-And-How-To-Overcome-Them-/102746
On the first occasion that you will fill up your pond, you will see maximum clarity in water. However, as mentioned earlier, it's only a visual illusion and you must call up your local municipal supply authorities to find out which all chemicals and minerals have been added to the water.
The most commonly added chemical to the tap water is chlorine. Allowing the water to stand for a couple of days will let this chlorine dissipate easily, however, you may still require certain chemicals to get rid of the chloramines and chlorine dioxide. There are different types of kits available with most of the garden stores, pet stores and pond supply dealers which help in conducting tests on the crystal gardening water to determine the presence of such undesired substances.
The dealers normally have good knowledge and can advise you well on treatments. In most cases, you must avoid the use of chemicals as much as possible. You must also ensure that your crystal gardening water is absolutely free of chloramines before you put the plants and fishes into it.
Once cleared of the unwanted chemicals, you can introduce plants to the water. They will produce the essential food and oxygen for the survival of fish and other aquatic species and will also prevent the growth of algae. The water may turn green for a few days but will clear up gradually within weeks as the plants get settled. It is then you will start seeing crystal clear unadulterated gardening water. It will be time then to add snails, fishes and whichever water dwellers you may want.
Algae growth in a water garden is a pretty natural phenomenon and such mossy algae on the sides of the pond are actually beneficial to the garden as they filter out harmful toxins from the crystal gardening water. However, some balance needs to be maintained as excess of algae is also bad for the water garden. It will deprive the plants of essential nutrients and further cause death of fish and other aquatic species that are dependent on the plants for their survival. Algae presence can also take the sheen off your water garden as it looks pretty ugly.
Algae growth can be checked by putting water lilies and a few floating plants in the water. They deprive the algae of the essential nutrients and also block the sunlight essential for algae growth. Even snails and some specific kinds of fish can be employed to eat up algae.
Whatever means you choose to get rid of algae, you must ensure they are natural and non-harmful to the water garden. You can also simply skim off the algae from the water surface by using a mesh net, rake or a brush. Filters may also be installed to remove the algae.
Abhishek is a self-confessed Gardening addict! Visit his website http://www. Gardening-Master.com and download his FREE Gardening Report "Indoor Gardening Secrets" and learn some amazing Gardening tips for FREE! Create the perfect Garden on a shoe-string budget. And yes, you get to keep all the accolades! But hurry, only limited Free copies available!. http://www. Gardening-Master.com
Please Rate this Article
Source: http://www.pcwriters.com/Article/Crystal-Gardening-Water---The-Challenges-And-How-To-Overcome-Them-/102746
Spiritual Gardening
The time when humankind decided to move from silent knowledge to reason was the same time it moved from hunting and gathering to agriculture. Agriculture was not undertaken because big game had died off, or any such reason, but rather because humanity wanted to experiment with thinking, social organization, etc. The human and grain gods made a deal at that point to help each other out. A similar deal was struck with e.g. the bovine god. Cows, in return for the loss of a certain measure of freedom (reduction to the status of property, having their children taken away from them, etc.), received in return freedom from random predators and the condition of something to be protected and defended by some pretty intense little monkey-like creatures.
Similarly, the way back to silent knowledge is through hunting. However it is possible to apply much silent knowledge to the practice of agriculture - hence these lessons.
Q: How should I control insects and diseases in my garden?
A: Put three pieces of copal (or any acrid incense, such as patchouli) in your censer, and waft the smoke towards each infected plant as you walk down the row. At the same time, ask the afflicting agent to please leave your plants alone because you need them. You should feel as though the incense smoke is carrying your thought towards the plants. It's a good idea to leave a plant or two (maybe the one or ones at the end of each row, so you remember) for the insects or disease. Don't waft incense at these plants. Tell the insects or disease that these plants are for them. Be nice about it. Be sincere. Mean what you say. Say it out loud.
Frankincense (or any light, happy incense such as sandalwood) is used to prevent disease and insect infestations (where copal is used to cure infected plants). Waft the incense towards each plant in turn, sending that plant the wish that it will grow well and be fruitful. It is best to be naked when you do this (or any gardening), simply because that is the most joyous way of doing it. This means gardening at night, in the moonlight, so the neighbors won't see you.
Q: Will this method work for anyone?
A: It will work for anyone who believes in it and means what they are telling the animals or plants. Actually, the incense is completely unnecessary. That's just for you, to help you pay attention to what you're doing and give you the sense that you're doing something "magical". It's the thoughts and desires that you have and express that are the gist of the matter.
Q: What do I do about gophers?
A: Dig out the gophers' burrow and put a trap in it, to trap one gopher. It must be a trap which catches the gopher alive and unhurt. Take the captured gopher to a cage in a dark, protected place, and give it food and water every day. Talk to it gently when you bring its food and water. Tell it you won't hurt it - in fact, you'll let it go - but it must take a message back to its brothers.
Keep this up (talking gently to the gopher when you feed it) until you have gained its trust. This doesn't mean friendship or petting it, but rather until it knows it has nothing to fear from you. How long this takes will depend upon you and the gopher. When you sense that it is calm (unthreatened) in your presence, tell it that it and all its brother gophers must leave your garden and orchard. Appoint some other place on your land where you don't care if there are gophers, and tell the captured gopher that it and its fellows must move to this other place. If you want to sweeten the deal, promise that you'll plant sweet potatoes or beets at this other place just for them. If you do make a promise like this, you must keep it.
Then, after repeating this message to the captured gopher for some days (until you feel it has "understood"), release the gopher back into its tunnel, bidding it to take this message to its fellows.
This same method will work for cutter ants. Stand over their trail while they are working (it won't work if they can't hear you), and ask them to please find food in some other direction, as you need these trees yourself. Be polite. One such treatment should be enough. If it isn't, repeat the next day, but ask them why they didn't obey you the first time. Write down their answer as you are writing this (by automatic writing). You may have to work out some sort of compromise or make a deal with them.
Q: What about planting our own bananas?
A: Bananas are your angels. Anything coming from them is love - love - love, from the tenderness of young leaves to happy, humorous browning splotched leaves, to the spongey, thick, soggy stems. And the tall, older leaves. They all fully participate in love. Of all plants, these will give and receive love more than any other. Their blessings come down with a gentle, steady flow of love droplets.
This is why you must always have bananas growing close to wherever you live (preferably fruiting, not ornamental, varieties). If you ever go North at least grow one as a pot plant. There is no greater gift you can give to those in the North than these plants.
Q: What about Biodynamic techniques?
A: Yes. Steiner's techniques as enunciated in his lectures on agriculture are excellent. He was a genius, and in touch with the spirit keepers of agricultural knowledge (as were also the founders of Findhorn). However, Steiner's techniques are no more valid than the ones we are channeling to you; they are merely more detailed, more specific, and more complex. A professional farmer would do well following Steiner. And anyone who elects to use Steiner's methods would do better making the formulations themselves rather than buying them ready-made. The important thing is to put one's own, personal vibration into the soil and plants. Stirring plain water - joyously - for hours and then spraying it on the soil or plants is better than using store-bought formulations and not stirring long enough, or stirring without a joyous heart. Everything you do in agriculture should be done with joy, or else you are better off not doing it at all. Fortunately agriculture is innately a joyous occupation, so this isn't hard to do.
Q: Steiner had a lot of wacky techniques for dealing with weeds, insects, and disease; but even Pfeiffer and his other followers admit they don't work. Why not?
A: Because they doubt they'd work. It is your (and Pfeiffer's) doubt that keeps these techniques from working. If you had no doubt whatsoever that they'd work, they'd work.
That's the only reason your rationalist / materialistic world "works" - that when you turn on a TV, it turns on - is because you believe it. If you believed in these techniques with the same certainty that you believe turning a key in an ignition will start a car, then they would work.
Q: How should I graft?
A: As usual. However, fill the censer with frankincense (or sandalwood). Cense the tree from which the scions are to be taken. Tell it that you are sorry to hurt it, but that the twigs you are taking will become new little trees. Ask if this is okay.
Cense the scions with the wish that they take and prosper. Cense the rootstocks and apologize for hurting them, and tell them they will be getting new "heads" which are more productive, and that they will soon be living in the actual earth. If you feel that a particular scion or rootstock objects, then don't graft that one. It wouldn't take anyway. Then graft as usual, but as you do each graft talk to the stock and scion and wish them well, that they may join and prosper and be fruitful.
After grafting, run your hand gently up the rootstock and scion, and as you do so visualize in your mind's eye the graft taking and healing, the tree growing from a sapling to a young tree to a mature tree; and as your hand passes above the top of the scion, look up and see the mature tree full of fruit.
Then bend down and kiss the graft, with the wish that it will take and the tree prosper. Do this with true love and good feeling. And then commend the tree to the earth.
(excerpted from Bob Makransky's book Magical Living)
Source: http://www.postarticles.com/Article/Spiritual-Gardening/48220
Similarly, the way back to silent knowledge is through hunting. However it is possible to apply much silent knowledge to the practice of agriculture - hence these lessons.
Q: How should I control insects and diseases in my garden?
A: Put three pieces of copal (or any acrid incense, such as patchouli) in your censer, and waft the smoke towards each infected plant as you walk down the row. At the same time, ask the afflicting agent to please leave your plants alone because you need them. You should feel as though the incense smoke is carrying your thought towards the plants. It's a good idea to leave a plant or two (maybe the one or ones at the end of each row, so you remember) for the insects or disease. Don't waft incense at these plants. Tell the insects or disease that these plants are for them. Be nice about it. Be sincere. Mean what you say. Say it out loud.
Frankincense (or any light, happy incense such as sandalwood) is used to prevent disease and insect infestations (where copal is used to cure infected plants). Waft the incense towards each plant in turn, sending that plant the wish that it will grow well and be fruitful. It is best to be naked when you do this (or any gardening), simply because that is the most joyous way of doing it. This means gardening at night, in the moonlight, so the neighbors won't see you.
Q: Will this method work for anyone?
A: It will work for anyone who believes in it and means what they are telling the animals or plants. Actually, the incense is completely unnecessary. That's just for you, to help you pay attention to what you're doing and give you the sense that you're doing something "magical". It's the thoughts and desires that you have and express that are the gist of the matter.
Q: What do I do about gophers?
A: Dig out the gophers' burrow and put a trap in it, to trap one gopher. It must be a trap which catches the gopher alive and unhurt. Take the captured gopher to a cage in a dark, protected place, and give it food and water every day. Talk to it gently when you bring its food and water. Tell it you won't hurt it - in fact, you'll let it go - but it must take a message back to its brothers.
Keep this up (talking gently to the gopher when you feed it) until you have gained its trust. This doesn't mean friendship or petting it, but rather until it knows it has nothing to fear from you. How long this takes will depend upon you and the gopher. When you sense that it is calm (unthreatened) in your presence, tell it that it and all its brother gophers must leave your garden and orchard. Appoint some other place on your land where you don't care if there are gophers, and tell the captured gopher that it and its fellows must move to this other place. If you want to sweeten the deal, promise that you'll plant sweet potatoes or beets at this other place just for them. If you do make a promise like this, you must keep it.
Then, after repeating this message to the captured gopher for some days (until you feel it has "understood"), release the gopher back into its tunnel, bidding it to take this message to its fellows.
This same method will work for cutter ants. Stand over their trail while they are working (it won't work if they can't hear you), and ask them to please find food in some other direction, as you need these trees yourself. Be polite. One such treatment should be enough. If it isn't, repeat the next day, but ask them why they didn't obey you the first time. Write down their answer as you are writing this (by automatic writing). You may have to work out some sort of compromise or make a deal with them.
Q: What about planting our own bananas?
A: Bananas are your angels. Anything coming from them is love - love - love, from the tenderness of young leaves to happy, humorous browning splotched leaves, to the spongey, thick, soggy stems. And the tall, older leaves. They all fully participate in love. Of all plants, these will give and receive love more than any other. Their blessings come down with a gentle, steady flow of love droplets.
This is why you must always have bananas growing close to wherever you live (preferably fruiting, not ornamental, varieties). If you ever go North at least grow one as a pot plant. There is no greater gift you can give to those in the North than these plants.
Q: What about Biodynamic techniques?
A: Yes. Steiner's techniques as enunciated in his lectures on agriculture are excellent. He was a genius, and in touch with the spirit keepers of agricultural knowledge (as were also the founders of Findhorn). However, Steiner's techniques are no more valid than the ones we are channeling to you; they are merely more detailed, more specific, and more complex. A professional farmer would do well following Steiner. And anyone who elects to use Steiner's methods would do better making the formulations themselves rather than buying them ready-made. The important thing is to put one's own, personal vibration into the soil and plants. Stirring plain water - joyously - for hours and then spraying it on the soil or plants is better than using store-bought formulations and not stirring long enough, or stirring without a joyous heart. Everything you do in agriculture should be done with joy, or else you are better off not doing it at all. Fortunately agriculture is innately a joyous occupation, so this isn't hard to do.
Q: Steiner had a lot of wacky techniques for dealing with weeds, insects, and disease; but even Pfeiffer and his other followers admit they don't work. Why not?
A: Because they doubt they'd work. It is your (and Pfeiffer's) doubt that keeps these techniques from working. If you had no doubt whatsoever that they'd work, they'd work.
That's the only reason your rationalist / materialistic world "works" - that when you turn on a TV, it turns on - is because you believe it. If you believed in these techniques with the same certainty that you believe turning a key in an ignition will start a car, then they would work.
Q: How should I graft?
A: As usual. However, fill the censer with frankincense (or sandalwood). Cense the tree from which the scions are to be taken. Tell it that you are sorry to hurt it, but that the twigs you are taking will become new little trees. Ask if this is okay.
Cense the scions with the wish that they take and prosper. Cense the rootstocks and apologize for hurting them, and tell them they will be getting new "heads" which are more productive, and that they will soon be living in the actual earth. If you feel that a particular scion or rootstock objects, then don't graft that one. It wouldn't take anyway. Then graft as usual, but as you do each graft talk to the stock and scion and wish them well, that they may join and prosper and be fruitful.
After grafting, run your hand gently up the rootstock and scion, and as you do so visualize in your mind's eye the graft taking and healing, the tree growing from a sapling to a young tree to a mature tree; and as your hand passes above the top of the scion, look up and see the mature tree full of fruit.
Then bend down and kiss the graft, with the wish that it will take and the tree prosper. Do this with true love and good feeling. And then commend the tree to the earth.
(excerpted from Bob Makransky's book Magical Living)
Bob Makransky is a systems analyst, programmer, and professional astrologer. For the past 30 years he has lived on a farm in highland Guatemala where he is a Mayan priest and is head of the local blueberry growers association. His website is: www.dearbrutus.com. To subscribe to Bob's free monthly Astro-Magical e-zine, send an e-mail to: MagicalAlmanac-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Source: http://www.postarticles.com/Article/Spiritual-Gardening/48220
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
All You Wanted To Know About Cordless Saws
What it takes to find out a perfect cordless saw. Read this article and discover new things about the cordless saw. Cordless saws are available in different types to suit various purposes.
It completes the circle; both while cutting through the wood and in your must required self tool set. A cordless saw is easy to operate, powerful as its corded counterpart and less noisy as well. The need of cordless tools has now taken a shape of a revolution with lot many products coming up as cordless tools and a saw is no exception to it.
What you get now is a well balanced saw (with its batteries transferred to the machine housing as opposed to the handle) with a strong grip and ergonomic design with no longer entangled wires while reaching to the corners.
Moving to the technicals, the cordless saw comes with different diameter blades to choose from. It comes with a rechargeable battery pack of 12-18v (which can last for as good as 1 hour if fully charged). It can rip through wood or through any other material with ease as powered by a strong motor which delivers the right power at 3000-4000 rpm. Most of the cordless saws are available with variable speed to deliver the right amount of power required for a particular job.
These cordless tools are available in different types to suit various purposes. They are chiefly:
Cordless Circular Saw: Its best when all you have to do is to cut straight an in even lines. Most perfect for this kind of job.
Cordless Jig Saw: It is used for thin material like for ex. Plywood, plastic etc.
Cordless Miter Saw: Use the miter saw when you have to make the angular cuts in the wood. It delivers the most complex angular cuts with ease.
Cordless Reciprocating Saw: The cordless reciprocating saw is well for its capacity to really cut through anything. Its powerful motor allows it to be capable to cut even the thickest material.
Try a cordless saw before you make a decision to purchase it. A cordless saw should be judged on the sturdiness of the body shell, battery capacity, balance in hand and blade. It is highly recommended that you use all the required safety gears while working with this tool. Strictly avoid children to use this tool. Charge the batteries before use for a consistent working.
The recommended brands to help you choose from the variety of cordless saws are Makita cordless circular saw, the Bosch cordless jigsaw, the Ryobi Cordless Miter Saw and the DeWALT cordless reciprocating saw.
Please Rate this Article
Source: http://www.rightarticle.com/Article/All-You-Wanted-To-Know-About-Cordless-Saws/97378
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Aerated Compost Tea, The New Organic Fertilizer
Organic gardeners all know compost is fantastic stuff. But now, there's something even better and that's compost tea. If you start with a good compost you'll have a versatile elixir for all your garden needs.
Compost tea helps prevent foliage diseases and at the same time increase the nutrients to the plant and shutdown the toxins hurting the plants. It will improve the taste/flavor of your vegetables. So why not give this tea a try either by buying it or brewing it yourself. You won't believe the results!
Four ways that good bacteria work:
Help compete for the nutrients
Dine on the bad varmits
Help produce antibiotics to use against the varmits.
They shove the bad varmits out.
Compost tea that is correctly brewed has a wealth of microorganisms that will benefit your plants' growth and health as well as the soil that they live in. Compost tea can be considered yogurt for the soil. The microorganisms living there are both good and bad. What the tea does is make sure the good guys win by introducing helpful bacteria, fungi, protozoa and beneficial nematodes.
Harmful bacteria lives best in soil that does not have good air circulation. Good bacteria lives best and will thrive in soil that is well ventilated with oxygen. This is where a good compost tea, made the right way, comes in. When you have well oxygenated compost you automatically get rid of 3/4 of the bad varmits. Also by using harmful insecticides or chemical fertilizers we reduce the number of beneficial microorganisms in the soil.
Plants produce their own energy and food and half of that goes to the roots and some of that goes into the surrounding soil and guess who gets that? Correct, the good guys, and then it turns into a beneficial cycle.
The following is taken from the internet and shows compost tea is becoming a force in gardening.
National Organic Standards Board Compost Tea Task Force Report April 6, 2004 Introduction In 2003, the National Organic Standards Board convened a Compost Tea Task Force to review the relevant scientific data and report their recommendations on 'What constitutes a reasonable use of compost tea?' The Task Force was composed of 13 individuals with knowledge and expertise in organic farming practices, organic certification, EPA pathogen regulations, compost, compost tea production and analysis, plant pathology, food safety and environmental microbiology.
Throughout their discussions, members consistently acknowledged the growing interest among certified organic and conventional growers to use compost teas, and the need to develop effective biologically-based tools to manage plant fertility, pests, and diseases.
A primary reason for producing compost tea is to transfer microbial biomass, fine particulate organic matter, and soluble chemical components of compost into an aqueous phase that can be applied to plant surfaces and soils in ways not possible or economically feasible with solid compost.
Source: http://www.postarticles.com/Article/Aerated-Compost-Tea--The-New-Organic-Fertilizer/52000
Compost tea helps prevent foliage diseases and at the same time increase the nutrients to the plant and shutdown the toxins hurting the plants. It will improve the taste/flavor of your vegetables. So why not give this tea a try either by buying it or brewing it yourself. You won't believe the results!
Four ways that good bacteria work:
Help compete for the nutrients
Dine on the bad varmits
Help produce antibiotics to use against the varmits.
They shove the bad varmits out.
Compost tea that is correctly brewed has a wealth of microorganisms that will benefit your plants' growth and health as well as the soil that they live in. Compost tea can be considered yogurt for the soil. The microorganisms living there are both good and bad. What the tea does is make sure the good guys win by introducing helpful bacteria, fungi, protozoa and beneficial nematodes.
Harmful bacteria lives best in soil that does not have good air circulation. Good bacteria lives best and will thrive in soil that is well ventilated with oxygen. This is where a good compost tea, made the right way, comes in. When you have well oxygenated compost you automatically get rid of 3/4 of the bad varmits. Also by using harmful insecticides or chemical fertilizers we reduce the number of beneficial microorganisms in the soil.
Plants produce their own energy and food and half of that goes to the roots and some of that goes into the surrounding soil and guess who gets that? Correct, the good guys, and then it turns into a beneficial cycle.
The following is taken from the internet and shows compost tea is becoming a force in gardening.
National Organic Standards Board Compost Tea Task Force Report April 6, 2004 Introduction In 2003, the National Organic Standards Board convened a Compost Tea Task Force to review the relevant scientific data and report their recommendations on 'What constitutes a reasonable use of compost tea?' The Task Force was composed of 13 individuals with knowledge and expertise in organic farming practices, organic certification, EPA pathogen regulations, compost, compost tea production and analysis, plant pathology, food safety and environmental microbiology.
Throughout their discussions, members consistently acknowledged the growing interest among certified organic and conventional growers to use compost teas, and the need to develop effective biologically-based tools to manage plant fertility, pests, and diseases.
A primary reason for producing compost tea is to transfer microbial biomass, fine particulate organic matter, and soluble chemical components of compost into an aqueous phase that can be applied to plant surfaces and soils in ways not possible or economically feasible with solid compost.
Source: http://www.postarticles.com/Article/Aerated-Compost-Tea--The-New-Organic-Fertilizer/52000
Lady Bugs Are Your #1 Natural Pest Control
First, this bug has many names. Some of it's names are:
lady bugs
ladybugs
lady beetle
asiatic lady beetle
Asian Lady Beetle
Asian Lady Bugs
Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle
The Ladybird Beetle is the correct name for a Lady bug and are not bugs but are beetles. Worldwide there are nearly 5,000 different kinds of ladybugs of which 400 are found in North America. The Convergent Lady Beetle is the most common beneficial species of Ladybird beetle in North America.
The life cycle of all Lady Bugs are mainly the same. The eggs are laid in the spring. When they hatch the larvae will feed for a couple of weeks and then pupate into adults. During the winter they will hibernate or will have died in the fall. Springtime they awake to feed and lay more eggs again.
As a form of biological pest control Lady Bugs are widely used and are the best known. Besides eating their favorite food aphids they also eat mites, scales, whitefly, mealybugs and most other soft insects. They are known to eat cabbage moths, bollworms, tomato hornworms and broccoli worms. These bugs will eat up to 1,000 aphids in it's lifetime in both their larvae and adult stages.
The most common complaint against the Lady Bug is that when they are released they will fly off and let the aphids have their feast with your roses and tomato plants. But really only a part of your release will venture off, the rest will eat all the aphids they can find and then maybe fly off.
-There are a couple of tricks you can do to keep your Ladybugs-
1. Only release the ladybugs in the evening since they are not known to fly at night when it is cooler.
2. Take a can of soda and mix it with equal amounts of water and spray on the Lady Bugs just before you release them. The sugar will make the wings sticky for just a couple days so they will hang around at least for awhile and eat the pests. Since Lady Beetles claim certain areas home they will stay in your yard and make it their home and the females will start laying eggs in and around your garden.
-What about Lady Beetles in the house-
We are glad to have these beetles hang around and control the pests just like mother nature intended.If they stay at your place over winter they will look for a nice cozy place to stay and that is where your home comes into the picture.
These bugs don't seem to have any logic to picking a house they just have found yours and they like it there. In the yard and garden they were welcome guests, in your home not so welcome. What we want to do is ask the lady bugs to leave. They don't speak our language.
-So a few suggestions to try-
1. Get out your vacuum cleaner and find the hose attachment.
2. Get a nylon stocking and place it inside the hose with the top of the stocking overlapping the end of the hose and place the hose attachment end nozzle on this to keep the stocking on.
3. Start the vacuum and get the bugs cleaned up. This will keep the bugs alive and then you can take them outside and release in another area away from your home. Refrigerate for next spring or give them to a friend with a green house.
The ladybugs may be a problem outside the house also, help them relocate by:
1. Spray water at them with the garden hose.
2. Use your leaf blower and blow them away.
3. Upset the lady bugs and eventually they will move on to another location.
Needless to say they are a very beneficial bug, but for some people bugs are not their favorite. They can be helpful and at the same time create a problem. What we need to do is learn to live with our tiny friends and make sure they stay around.
Source: http://www.postarticles.com/Article/Lady-Bugs-Are-Your--1-Natural-Pest-Control/52002
lady bugs
ladybugs
lady beetle
asiatic lady beetle
Asian Lady Beetle
Asian Lady Bugs
Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle
The Ladybird Beetle is the correct name for a Lady bug and are not bugs but are beetles. Worldwide there are nearly 5,000 different kinds of ladybugs of which 400 are found in North America. The Convergent Lady Beetle is the most common beneficial species of Ladybird beetle in North America.
The life cycle of all Lady Bugs are mainly the same. The eggs are laid in the spring. When they hatch the larvae will feed for a couple of weeks and then pupate into adults. During the winter they will hibernate or will have died in the fall. Springtime they awake to feed and lay more eggs again.
As a form of biological pest control Lady Bugs are widely used and are the best known. Besides eating their favorite food aphids they also eat mites, scales, whitefly, mealybugs and most other soft insects. They are known to eat cabbage moths, bollworms, tomato hornworms and broccoli worms. These bugs will eat up to 1,000 aphids in it's lifetime in both their larvae and adult stages.
The most common complaint against the Lady Bug is that when they are released they will fly off and let the aphids have their feast with your roses and tomato plants. But really only a part of your release will venture off, the rest will eat all the aphids they can find and then maybe fly off.
-There are a couple of tricks you can do to keep your Ladybugs-
1. Only release the ladybugs in the evening since they are not known to fly at night when it is cooler.
2. Take a can of soda and mix it with equal amounts of water and spray on the Lady Bugs just before you release them. The sugar will make the wings sticky for just a couple days so they will hang around at least for awhile and eat the pests. Since Lady Beetles claim certain areas home they will stay in your yard and make it their home and the females will start laying eggs in and around your garden.
-What about Lady Beetles in the house-
We are glad to have these beetles hang around and control the pests just like mother nature intended.If they stay at your place over winter they will look for a nice cozy place to stay and that is where your home comes into the picture.
These bugs don't seem to have any logic to picking a house they just have found yours and they like it there. In the yard and garden they were welcome guests, in your home not so welcome. What we want to do is ask the lady bugs to leave. They don't speak our language.
-So a few suggestions to try-
1. Get out your vacuum cleaner and find the hose attachment.
2. Get a nylon stocking and place it inside the hose with the top of the stocking overlapping the end of the hose and place the hose attachment end nozzle on this to keep the stocking on.
3. Start the vacuum and get the bugs cleaned up. This will keep the bugs alive and then you can take them outside and release in another area away from your home. Refrigerate for next spring or give them to a friend with a green house.
The ladybugs may be a problem outside the house also, help them relocate by:
1. Spray water at them with the garden hose.
2. Use your leaf blower and blow them away.
3. Upset the lady bugs and eventually they will move on to another location.
Needless to say they are a very beneficial bug, but for some people bugs are not their favorite. They can be helpful and at the same time create a problem. What we need to do is learn to live with our tiny friends and make sure they stay around.
Source: http://www.postarticles.com/Article/Lady-Bugs-Are-Your--1-Natural-Pest-Control/52002
Organic Gardening - Essential Basics You Should Know!
Ever since its inception, Organic gardening has taken the world of planting and cultivation by storm. Organic gardening works on the natural principles and is aimed at reducing the usage of harmful chemicals and pesticides, replacing them with highly nutritional, synthetic fertilizers. This revolutionary method of gardening encourages better understanding of nature and channeling its true values in better forms of cultivation. As it helps maintaining the biological balance by discouraging the use of chemicals, it obtains the resulting benefits from the environment as well, in the form of favorable climate changes.
The essential chemistry behind the development of the plants is as follows. Water and mineral supplies are absorbed by the roots of the plants that further pass them onto the leaves and stems, thus facilitating the photosynthesis process. By way of photosynthesis, the sunlight energy and the water content in plants are used to convert the carbon dioxide into carbohydrates. The produced carbohydrates remain stored in the plants branches and stems, enabling its further growth. Such carbohydrates are also utilized to heal the plant in case of a broken stem or during an insect attack and are also responsible for generation of fresh leaves and stems.
Earth is a natural source of all types of organic substances. Several soil enriching bacteria, fungi and earthworms breed under the ground and effectively break down dead stems and leaves, thus producing a soil benefiting substance called humus. Various such organisms breeding inside Humus are very effective in helping plants with the absorption of essential minerals. The plants roots also release substances that lure the beneficial bacteria and other kinds of organisms that keep harmful fungi at bay. Another useful method to enrich the soil is by way of adding compost to it on a yearly basis. Such compost can be produced in an organic fashion in your own backyard with the kitchen and garden garbage.
The logic behind organic gardening states that harmful insects only attack the plants that are weak. Thus, if the plants are made stronger than ever by adding natural beneficial elements, there will be zero possibility of a pathogenic attack. It is not a hidden fact that the common fertilizers and chemicals besides killing harmful insects, also destroy the good organisms in the soil. This results in further weakening of the plants making them vulnerable to another possible attack.
It is widely known that over zealous gardeners often indulge in excessive pruning of the plants. Doing so, they disturb the natural balance of the plants by reducing the carbohydrate content considerably. This results in weakening of the plants due to high vulnerability to insect attack by way of hybridization. Weeding the plants regularly is a common habit of all the gardeners. However, one must be aware that nettles give invitation to ladybirds and thistle benefit many plant-loving insects.
A garden blooming with organic plants is a sight to behold. Organic gardening is the most natural way to grow beneficial plants and breed beneficial organisms for the further growth of your garden.
Source: http://www.pcwriters.com/Article/Organic-Gardening---Essential-Basics-You-Should-Know-/102748
The essential chemistry behind the development of the plants is as follows. Water and mineral supplies are absorbed by the roots of the plants that further pass them onto the leaves and stems, thus facilitating the photosynthesis process. By way of photosynthesis, the sunlight energy and the water content in plants are used to convert the carbon dioxide into carbohydrates. The produced carbohydrates remain stored in the plants branches and stems, enabling its further growth. Such carbohydrates are also utilized to heal the plant in case of a broken stem or during an insect attack and are also responsible for generation of fresh leaves and stems.
Earth is a natural source of all types of organic substances. Several soil enriching bacteria, fungi and earthworms breed under the ground and effectively break down dead stems and leaves, thus producing a soil benefiting substance called humus. Various such organisms breeding inside Humus are very effective in helping plants with the absorption of essential minerals. The plants roots also release substances that lure the beneficial bacteria and other kinds of organisms that keep harmful fungi at bay. Another useful method to enrich the soil is by way of adding compost to it on a yearly basis. Such compost can be produced in an organic fashion in your own backyard with the kitchen and garden garbage.
The logic behind organic gardening states that harmful insects only attack the plants that are weak. Thus, if the plants are made stronger than ever by adding natural beneficial elements, there will be zero possibility of a pathogenic attack. It is not a hidden fact that the common fertilizers and chemicals besides killing harmful insects, also destroy the good organisms in the soil. This results in further weakening of the plants making them vulnerable to another possible attack.
It is widely known that over zealous gardeners often indulge in excessive pruning of the plants. Doing so, they disturb the natural balance of the plants by reducing the carbohydrate content considerably. This results in weakening of the plants due to high vulnerability to insect attack by way of hybridization. Weeding the plants regularly is a common habit of all the gardeners. However, one must be aware that nettles give invitation to ladybirds and thistle benefit many plant-loving insects.
A garden blooming with organic plants is a sight to behold. Organic gardening is the most natural way to grow beneficial plants and breed beneficial organisms for the further growth of your garden.
Abhishek is a self-confessed Gardening addict! Visit his website http://www. Gardening-Master.com and download his FREE Gardening Report "Indoor Gardening Secrets" and learn some amazing Gardening tips for FREE! Create the perfect Garden on a shoe-string budget. And yes, you get to keep all the accolades! But hurry, only limited Free copies available!. http://www. Gardening-Master.com
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Source: http://www.pcwriters.com/Article/Organic-Gardening---Essential-Basics-You-Should-Know-/102748
5 Vegetable Garden Designs Posted By : Dave Truman..
Everyone knows there are many benefits from having your own garden. Feeling a sense of pride as you watch the fruits (or vegetables, as the case may be) of your labor begin to flourish is just one of them. And your garden doesnt ever have to be boring or the same year after year. Discover five vegetable garden ideas that will give you something creative to try for your next planting.
Plant a pizza garden
Vegetable gardening with a theme can be great fun for all ages. A theme garden is the perfect way to get the kids outside enjoying nature. Involving them will provide a sense of responsibility as well as accomplishment as harvest time draws near. Plus, its a great way to get them to eat more veggies! For a pizza garden, plant foods such as tomatoes, green peppers, jalapenos, onions and a host of herbs and seasonings like basil, oregano and thyme. Other theme ideas to try are stir-fry or salsa gardens.
Ornamental vegetable gardening
Many people use vibrant flowers and shrubs to brighten and beautify their outdoor spaces. By using vegetables for this same purpose, youll not only have the curb appeal, youll reap the rewards of having your own supply of produce! Using a variety of delicious veggies, you can achieve colorful patterns and designs, line walkways and driveways and plant them just as you would flowers.
Rainbow garden
Vegetable gardening is also ideal for artistically expressing yourself in a unique way. If you have a favorite, signature color or perhaps even three or four, consider planting based on these colors. This is an easy way to try new things while creating an appealing garden retreat. Mix hues that you might never use when decorating indoors and experiment with an array of color combinations. Why grow ordinary green peppers when you can choose from crimsons, oranges, yellows or even violet? You may be surprised at the assortment of colors produced by some of the most common vegetables. Eggplant, tomatoes, beans, even beets all can be wonderful additions to your rainbow garden since they all can be grown in several shades and hues. Planting purple beans and white carrots surrounded by pink tomatoes create a lovely display thats as pleasing to the eye as it is the palate.
Organic gardening can be healthier as well as cheaper Avoiding the use of chemicals and commercially produced fertilizers and pesticides are a way to achieve better tasting vegetables. Without these unsavory additions, youll notice the freshness and enjoy food the way nature intended. Organic gardening isnt as difficult as some may think. In fact, its relatively simple to grow a healthy, bountiful crop. There are several reasonably priced products available today as well as a plethora of homemade concoctions to try without spending a fortune.
A garden of green
Perhaps colors and themes are of no interest to you, maybe its profiting from your garden thats more important. In that case, decide on what would thrive best based on the amount of space, soil, lighting and drainage conditions of your garden. You could offer the usual fare of vegetables or you could specialize in certain types, ones that may be harder to find in the grocery stores.
The size or type of your crop doesnt matter quite as much as the care and dedication it needs to make it plentiful. So, decide on a plan and use one of these ideas to liven up your outdoor space and make it truly your own.
Source: http://www.reprint-content.com/Article/5-Vegetable-Garden-Designs/160558
Friday, February 22, 2008
7 Factors Needed for a Compost Pile
Compost, made from decomposed grass clippings, leaves, twigs, and branches, becomes a dark, crumbly mixture of organic matter.
Learn how composting works. Even a newbie to composting can make good quality compost. It can be compared to cooking as art or part science. The following 7 factors will help you master the art of composting.
1. Materials
After a time anything that was once alive will naturally decompose. But, not all organic items should be composted for the home. To prepare compost, organic material, microorganisms, air, water, and a small amount of nitrogen are needed.
These items are safe to compost at home:
* grass clippings
* trimmings from hedges
* vegetable scraps
* leaves
* potting soil that has grown old
* twigs
* coffee filters with coffee grounds
* tea bags
* weeds that have not went to seed
* plant stalks
These items are Not safe to compost at home:
* weeds that have went to seed
* dead animals
* pet feces
* bread and grains
* meat
* grease
* cooking oil
* oily foods
*diseased plants
2. What To Do To Make It Work
There are small forms of plant and animal life which break down the organic material. This life is called microorganisms. From a minute amount of garden soil or manure comes plenty of microorganisms.
Nitrogen, air, and water will provide a favorable environment for the microorganisms to make the compost. Air circulation and water will keep the microorganisms healthy and working. The nitrogen feeds the tiny organisms. You may have to add a small amount of nitrogen to the pile.
Putting on too much nitrogen can kill microbes and too much water causes insufficient air in the pile. You just cannot add too much air.
3. Beneficial Microorganisms
Bacteria are the most effective compost makers in your compost pile. They are the first to break down plant tissue. Then comes the fungi and protozoans to help with the process. The arthropodes, like centipedes, beetles, millipedes and worms, bring in the finishing touches to complete the composting.
4. Smaller is Better
The materials will break down faster if the microorganisms have more surface area to eat. Chopping your garden materials with a chipper, shredder, or lawnmower will help them decompose faster.
5. Size of The Pile
The activity of millions of microorganisms generates heat in the compost pile but a minimum size 3-foot by 3-foot by 3-foot is needed for a hot, fast composting pile. Piles that are any larger may hamper the air supply needed in the pile for the microorganisms.
6. Moisture and Aeration
If you can imagine a wet squeezed out sponge with its many air pockets, then this would be the ideal enviroment for the microorganisms in the pile to function at their best. Pay attention while your pile is composting, to the amount of rain or a drought you may have. Water in a drought and maybe turn the pile in a lot of rainy days. The extremes of these two may upset the balance of the pile. The use of a pitchfork would come in handy at this time.
7. Temperature and Time
Keep your pile between 110F and 160F and the beneficial bacteria will love it. Not too cool nor too hot.
The temperature will rise over several days if you keep a good ratio of carbon and nitrogen, maintain lots of surface area within a large volume of material, and maintain adequate moisture and aeration.
-Importance of Compost-
+Compost has nutrients, but it is not a complete fertilizer.
+Compost provides nutrients in the soil until plants need to use them.
+ It loosens and aerates clay soils
+ Retains water in sandy soils.
-Using the Compost-
+ A soil amendment, mix 2 to 5 inches of compost into gardens each year before planting.
+ A potting mixture, add one part compost to two parts potting soil.
+ Make your own potting mixture by using equal parts of compost and sand or perlite.
+ A mulch, prodcast 2 to 4 inches of compost around annual flowers and vegetables, and up to 5 inches around your trees and shrubs.
+ A top dressing, mix finely sifted compost with sand and sprinkle evenly over lawns.
The final thing I would suggest once you have mastered the art of composting is to look very seriously at making your very own aerated compost tea. This elixir will give you results that are hard to believe.
Source: http://www.postarticles.com/Article/7-Factors-Needed-for-a-Compost-Pile/53592
Learn how composting works. Even a newbie to composting can make good quality compost. It can be compared to cooking as art or part science. The following 7 factors will help you master the art of composting.
1. Materials
After a time anything that was once alive will naturally decompose. But, not all organic items should be composted for the home. To prepare compost, organic material, microorganisms, air, water, and a small amount of nitrogen are needed.
These items are safe to compost at home:
* grass clippings
* trimmings from hedges
* vegetable scraps
* leaves
* potting soil that has grown old
* twigs
* coffee filters with coffee grounds
* tea bags
* weeds that have not went to seed
* plant stalks
These items are Not safe to compost at home:
* weeds that have went to seed
* dead animals
* pet feces
* bread and grains
* meat
* grease
* cooking oil
* oily foods
*diseased plants
2. What To Do To Make It Work
There are small forms of plant and animal life which break down the organic material. This life is called microorganisms. From a minute amount of garden soil or manure comes plenty of microorganisms.
Nitrogen, air, and water will provide a favorable environment for the microorganisms to make the compost. Air circulation and water will keep the microorganisms healthy and working. The nitrogen feeds the tiny organisms. You may have to add a small amount of nitrogen to the pile.
Putting on too much nitrogen can kill microbes and too much water causes insufficient air in the pile. You just cannot add too much air.
3. Beneficial Microorganisms
Bacteria are the most effective compost makers in your compost pile. They are the first to break down plant tissue. Then comes the fungi and protozoans to help with the process. The arthropodes, like centipedes, beetles, millipedes and worms, bring in the finishing touches to complete the composting.
4. Smaller is Better
The materials will break down faster if the microorganisms have more surface area to eat. Chopping your garden materials with a chipper, shredder, or lawnmower will help them decompose faster.
5. Size of The Pile
The activity of millions of microorganisms generates heat in the compost pile but a minimum size 3-foot by 3-foot by 3-foot is needed for a hot, fast composting pile. Piles that are any larger may hamper the air supply needed in the pile for the microorganisms.
6. Moisture and Aeration
If you can imagine a wet squeezed out sponge with its many air pockets, then this would be the ideal enviroment for the microorganisms in the pile to function at their best. Pay attention while your pile is composting, to the amount of rain or a drought you may have. Water in a drought and maybe turn the pile in a lot of rainy days. The extremes of these two may upset the balance of the pile. The use of a pitchfork would come in handy at this time.
7. Temperature and Time
Keep your pile between 110F and 160F and the beneficial bacteria will love it. Not too cool nor too hot.
The temperature will rise over several days if you keep a good ratio of carbon and nitrogen, maintain lots of surface area within a large volume of material, and maintain adequate moisture and aeration.
-Importance of Compost-
+Compost has nutrients, but it is not a complete fertilizer.
+Compost provides nutrients in the soil until plants need to use them.
+ It loosens and aerates clay soils
+ Retains water in sandy soils.
-Using the Compost-
+ A soil amendment, mix 2 to 5 inches of compost into gardens each year before planting.
+ A potting mixture, add one part compost to two parts potting soil.
+ Make your own potting mixture by using equal parts of compost and sand or perlite.
+ A mulch, prodcast 2 to 4 inches of compost around annual flowers and vegetables, and up to 5 inches around your trees and shrubs.
+ A top dressing, mix finely sifted compost with sand and sprinkle evenly over lawns.
The final thing I would suggest once you have mastered the art of composting is to look very seriously at making your very own aerated compost tea. This elixir will give you results that are hard to believe.
Source: http://www.postarticles.com/Article/7-Factors-Needed-for-a-Compost-Pile/53592
5 Vegetable Garden Designs Posted By : Dave Truman..
Everyone knows there are many benefits from having your own garden. Feeling a sense of pride as you watch the fruits (or vegetables, as the case may be) of your labor begin to flourish is just one of them. And your garden doesnt ever have to be boring or the same year after year. Discover five vegetable garden ideas that will give you something creative to try for your next planting.
Plant a pizza garden
Vegetable gardening with a theme can be great fun for all ages. A theme garden is the perfect way to get the kids outside enjoying nature. Involving them will provide a sense of responsibility as well as accomplishment as harvest time draws near. Plus, its a great way to get them to eat more veggies! For a pizza garden, plant foods such as tomatoes, green peppers, jalapenos, onions and a host of herbs and seasonings like basil, oregano and thyme. Other theme ideas to try are stir-fry or salsa gardens.
Ornamental vegetable gardening
Many people use vibrant flowers and shrubs to brighten and beautify their outdoor spaces. By using vegetables for this same purpose, youll not only have the curb appeal, youll reap the rewards of having your own supply of produce! Using a variety of delicious veggies, you can achieve colorful patterns and designs, line walkways and driveways and plant them just as you would flowers.
Rainbow garden
Vegetable gardening is also ideal for artistically expressing yourself in a unique way. If you have a favorite, signature color or perhaps even three or four, consider planting based on these colors. This is an easy way to try new things while creating an appealing garden retreat. Mix hues that you might never use when decorating indoors and experiment with an array of color combinations. Why grow ordinary green peppers when you can choose from crimsons, oranges, yellows or even violet? You may be surprised at the assortment of colors produced by some of the most common vegetables. Eggplant, tomatoes, beans, even beets all can be wonderful additions to your rainbow garden since they all can be grown in several shades and hues. Planting purple beans and white carrots surrounded by pink tomatoes create a lovely display thats as pleasing to the eye as it is the palate.
Organic gardening can be healthier as well as cheaper Avoiding the use of chemicals and commercially produced fertilizers and pesticides are a way to achieve better tasting vegetables. Without these unsavory additions, youll notice the freshness and enjoy food the way nature intended. Organic gardening isnt as difficult as some may think. In fact, its relatively simple to grow a healthy, bountiful crop. There are several reasonably priced products available today as well as a plethora of homemade concoctions to try without spending a fortune.
A garden of green
Perhaps colors and themes are of no interest to you, maybe its profiting from your garden thats more important. In that case, decide on what would thrive best based on the amount of space, soil, lighting and drainage conditions of your garden. You could offer the usual fare of vegetables or you could specialize in certain types, ones that may be harder to find in the grocery stores.
The size or type of your crop doesnt matter quite as much as the care and dedication it needs to make it plentiful. So, decide on a plan and use one of these ideas to liven up your outdoor space and make it truly your own.
Source: http://www.reprint-content.com/Article/5-Vegetable-Garden-Designs/160558
All About the Bonsai Tree
When people think of the bonsai tree, they usually think of China and Japan first. While these two countries are most famous for growing and training bonsai, the growing of miniature trees can be traced as far back as ancient Egypt. It's believed that the growing of miniature trees was pioneered by healers as a way to easily transport trees with healing powers for medicinal purposes. However, it soon evolved into an art form and pastime for the wealthy.
The bonsai is not a genetically modified plant or a hybrid tree. Many different trees found in nature can be made into bonsai, and master growers are always looking for new specimens. The bonsai tree is kept miniature by pruning its roots and keeping it in a small pot. The size of the tree is just one aspect of the bonsai. It's shape and style is the real way to tell the difference between a bonsai and just a small potted tree. The bonsai's trunk and branches are shaped sometimes over many years to get the perfect style.
Although you can find lots of different types of bonsai trees, the Juniper in windswept style is probably the most popular. This is where the tree looks like its blowing in the wind. The limbs spread out from the trunk in one direction as opposed to being symmetrical. You'll also see bonsai in the cascade style, where one branch flows down below the pot. Again, the trees don't grow that way by accident. It takes years of patient training and pruning, to achieve the shape.
Many connoisseurs of the bonsai aren't content with a single tree. You might see a group of bonsai trees growing in a single pot. This is called the forest style of display. But it doesn't stop there. Many growers take great pride in designing intricate miniature landscapes with their trees. It could be an indoor display or even a much larger outdoor display in a garden. However a bonsai is displayed, it requires a great deal of care to keep your tree healthy and properly groomed.
If you own a bonsai, you know how hard they are to care for. They need just the right amount of water. A little too much or too little could be fatal. Your best bet is to use a moisture meter when watering. You also need to repot your tree periodically. This is a great time to inspect and prune your trees root system. One thing that kills bonsai faster than anything else is getting root bound. You need to care for your tree above ground and below.
If you don't already have a bonsai tree, but want one, my best advice is to find a nursery specializing in bonsai. This can be hard to do, but take to the Internet, and look for one around your area. There you'll be able to talk to a bonsai master who can give you plenty of advice on caring for your tree. He can also help you select the tree that's right for you and the amount of time you have to devote to caring for it. Its good to develop a relationship with a bonsai master just like you would with a car mechanic if you want your tree to last for years to come.
Copyright 2007 Fred Snow
Source: http://www.postarticles.com/Article/All-About-the-Bonsai-Tree/55763
The bonsai is not a genetically modified plant or a hybrid tree. Many different trees found in nature can be made into bonsai, and master growers are always looking for new specimens. The bonsai tree is kept miniature by pruning its roots and keeping it in a small pot. The size of the tree is just one aspect of the bonsai. It's shape and style is the real way to tell the difference between a bonsai and just a small potted tree. The bonsai's trunk and branches are shaped sometimes over many years to get the perfect style.
Although you can find lots of different types of bonsai trees, the Juniper in windswept style is probably the most popular. This is where the tree looks like its blowing in the wind. The limbs spread out from the trunk in one direction as opposed to being symmetrical. You'll also see bonsai in the cascade style, where one branch flows down below the pot. Again, the trees don't grow that way by accident. It takes years of patient training and pruning, to achieve the shape.
Many connoisseurs of the bonsai aren't content with a single tree. You might see a group of bonsai trees growing in a single pot. This is called the forest style of display. But it doesn't stop there. Many growers take great pride in designing intricate miniature landscapes with their trees. It could be an indoor display or even a much larger outdoor display in a garden. However a bonsai is displayed, it requires a great deal of care to keep your tree healthy and properly groomed.
If you own a bonsai, you know how hard they are to care for. They need just the right amount of water. A little too much or too little could be fatal. Your best bet is to use a moisture meter when watering. You also need to repot your tree periodically. This is a great time to inspect and prune your trees root system. One thing that kills bonsai faster than anything else is getting root bound. You need to care for your tree above ground and below.
If you don't already have a bonsai tree, but want one, my best advice is to find a nursery specializing in bonsai. This can be hard to do, but take to the Internet, and look for one around your area. There you'll be able to talk to a bonsai master who can give you plenty of advice on caring for your tree. He can also help you select the tree that's right for you and the amount of time you have to devote to caring for it. Its good to develop a relationship with a bonsai master just like you would with a car mechanic if you want your tree to last for years to come.
Copyright 2007 Fred Snow
Source: http://www.postarticles.com/Article/All-About-the-Bonsai-Tree/55763
The Craft of Picking a Gazebo is Not a Very Easy One
A gazebo is an attractive addition to any yard or property. They serve a variety of purposes as a place to sit and relax or even a place to enjoy a drink with some friends while playing some cards.
When picking the gazebo that is right for you, there are a variety of things to keep in mind. Where should the gazebo be placed? Which gazebo should I pick? Why is this gazebo right for me? All these and even more questions may run through your mind. Let this quick guide help you pick the right gazebo for you and your property.
When picking a gazebo there are a variety of factors to take into account. Some quick questions that come to mind are 'where should I place the gazebo,' 'how big should the gazebo be,' and 'what should my gazebo look like?' The biggest choice that one must make is where the gazebo is to be placed. Answering this question will give you the ability to answer the any further questions you have. The size of the gazebo and how the landscaping should be shaped around it will all be answered with this question.
The placement of the gazebo should be centered on the most scenic part of the yard. Not only should it be placed in the most scenic part of the yard, it should be placed there so that anyone sitting inside the gazebo has the ability to see a 360 degree view of the most scenic part of your property. This gives you the chance to enjoy the scenery from any angle and does not allow anyone sitting inside the gazebo to feel as though they have been left out or need to sit a certain way to enjoy the surroundings.
By answering where you want the gazebo to be placed, you have given yourself the ability to answer how big the gazebo will be and what it should look like. The size of the gazebo should be done in comparison with the surrounding foliage. You do not want the gazebo to be so large that everything around it will feel as though it is dwarfed. You can get away with this by letting the foliage accent the gazebo. You could let a vine or two climb on the gazebo, which in effect makes the gazebo feel smaller and more apart of the scenery.
When picking the color and type of gazebo, the choice you make must look at the surrounding scenery. You don't want to pick a gazebo that stands out and brings all the attention to itself. You should pick one that accents the foliage and scenery around it. By letting it accent rather than draw attention, it will allow it to look much more natural.
There are a variety of things you could do to accent your gazebo. You may want to plant some flowers or shrubs around the outside. If you are a bird lover, you may want to place a birdhouse, birdbath, or some bird feeders right outside. If you love the tranquil sound of running water, you may want to accent it with small pond with a running fountain. The possibilities of what you could do are endless with a gazebo.
The choice of where to place the gazebo and which gazebo to pick is a tough one. There is no true answer as to which one is right for everyone or for every scenic property. The choice must be made on a case by case basis. This article has, hopefully, helped make your decision ma much easier one and given you much more time to do something you like, like tennis, softball, or Warhammer Online.
Source: http://www.postarticles.com/Article/The-Craft-of-Picking-a-Gazebo-is-Not-a-Very-Easy-One/56379
When picking the gazebo that is right for you, there are a variety of things to keep in mind. Where should the gazebo be placed? Which gazebo should I pick? Why is this gazebo right for me? All these and even more questions may run through your mind. Let this quick guide help you pick the right gazebo for you and your property.
When picking a gazebo there are a variety of factors to take into account. Some quick questions that come to mind are 'where should I place the gazebo,' 'how big should the gazebo be,' and 'what should my gazebo look like?' The biggest choice that one must make is where the gazebo is to be placed. Answering this question will give you the ability to answer the any further questions you have. The size of the gazebo and how the landscaping should be shaped around it will all be answered with this question.
The placement of the gazebo should be centered on the most scenic part of the yard. Not only should it be placed in the most scenic part of the yard, it should be placed there so that anyone sitting inside the gazebo has the ability to see a 360 degree view of the most scenic part of your property. This gives you the chance to enjoy the scenery from any angle and does not allow anyone sitting inside the gazebo to feel as though they have been left out or need to sit a certain way to enjoy the surroundings.
By answering where you want the gazebo to be placed, you have given yourself the ability to answer how big the gazebo will be and what it should look like. The size of the gazebo should be done in comparison with the surrounding foliage. You do not want the gazebo to be so large that everything around it will feel as though it is dwarfed. You can get away with this by letting the foliage accent the gazebo. You could let a vine or two climb on the gazebo, which in effect makes the gazebo feel smaller and more apart of the scenery.
When picking the color and type of gazebo, the choice you make must look at the surrounding scenery. You don't want to pick a gazebo that stands out and brings all the attention to itself. You should pick one that accents the foliage and scenery around it. By letting it accent rather than draw attention, it will allow it to look much more natural.
There are a variety of things you could do to accent your gazebo. You may want to plant some flowers or shrubs around the outside. If you are a bird lover, you may want to place a birdhouse, birdbath, or some bird feeders right outside. If you love the tranquil sound of running water, you may want to accent it with small pond with a running fountain. The possibilities of what you could do are endless with a gazebo.
The choice of where to place the gazebo and which gazebo to pick is a tough one. There is no true answer as to which one is right for everyone or for every scenic property. The choice must be made on a case by case basis. This article has, hopefully, helped make your decision ma much easier one and given you much more time to do something you like, like tennis, softball, or Warhammer Online.
Source: http://www.postarticles.com/Article/The-Craft-of-Picking-a-Gazebo-is-Not-a-Very-Easy-One/56379
Water Gardening - Essential Basics You Should Know
A minimum availability of six hours of sunlight, enough space to accommodate few plants and maybe a few fish too will qualify any kind of container to be utilized for water gardening purpose.
Earlier, this hobby used to be limited to only small ponds or considerably large water bodies. However, with time and with advent of many innovative concepts, water gardening can now even be enjoyed in the comfort of ones apartment. As with soil gardening, water gardening also has some specific requirements that need to be adhered to.
Primarily, you will need a big container that can hold minimum 15-20 gallons water. This will be sufficient to cultivate a mini water garden. Plants will then be planted inside the container with the soil type varying from plant to plant. The plant may also be settled on a certain level inside the container depending on its depth requirements. All this information can be accessed either online or at your nearest garden center.
It is advisable that you don't make use of the tap for water gardening purposes. Many cities have special water treatment plants that mix chemicals in water to make it drinkable. Chlorine is one such chemical that is commonly added to water. Such chemicals can be devastating for your water garden plants and thus you should first get rid of them to make the water usable for water gardening. Chlorine normally burns out in 24-48 hours and hence you must wait until then to put any plants in the container.
The containers meant for water gardening can fit anywhere from one to three varieties of basic plants. They are classified according to their behavior while in water. While some of them may grow out of the water line and would want to reach skies, the others may remain grounded inside the water. There is a third type as well which keeps floating in the water, and hence is called, "floater". What all varieties of plants and how many of them should you cultivate will depend on the container size and the attention they will require.
Now coming to the marine life, you can have fishes and snails in your water garden. Mini water gardens can even accommodate guppies that normally can endure any temperature. They can also feast on the mosquitoes that may try to test the waters. If you have opted for a large container then you can even flash couple of goldfishes to your friends. Snails can also be kept as they play an important role in clean up operation by eating away the decaying plants and the fish waste.
Creating and maintaining a water garden is not as easy as taking a container, filling it up with water and plants and then adding a little marine livestock. You will need to maintain your water garden well by providing it with regular fresh water supply. A method will need to be devised to periodically drain out stale water and add fresh water without harming the inhabitants of the water garden.
Source: http://www.pcwriters.com/Article/Water-Gardening---Essential-Basics-You-Should-Know/102751
Earlier, this hobby used to be limited to only small ponds or considerably large water bodies. However, with time and with advent of many innovative concepts, water gardening can now even be enjoyed in the comfort of ones apartment. As with soil gardening, water gardening also has some specific requirements that need to be adhered to.
Primarily, you will need a big container that can hold minimum 15-20 gallons water. This will be sufficient to cultivate a mini water garden. Plants will then be planted inside the container with the soil type varying from plant to plant. The plant may also be settled on a certain level inside the container depending on its depth requirements. All this information can be accessed either online or at your nearest garden center.
It is advisable that you don't make use of the tap for water gardening purposes. Many cities have special water treatment plants that mix chemicals in water to make it drinkable. Chlorine is one such chemical that is commonly added to water. Such chemicals can be devastating for your water garden plants and thus you should first get rid of them to make the water usable for water gardening. Chlorine normally burns out in 24-48 hours and hence you must wait until then to put any plants in the container.
The containers meant for water gardening can fit anywhere from one to three varieties of basic plants. They are classified according to their behavior while in water. While some of them may grow out of the water line and would want to reach skies, the others may remain grounded inside the water. There is a third type as well which keeps floating in the water, and hence is called, "floater". What all varieties of plants and how many of them should you cultivate will depend on the container size and the attention they will require.
Now coming to the marine life, you can have fishes and snails in your water garden. Mini water gardens can even accommodate guppies that normally can endure any temperature. They can also feast on the mosquitoes that may try to test the waters. If you have opted for a large container then you can even flash couple of goldfishes to your friends. Snails can also be kept as they play an important role in clean up operation by eating away the decaying plants and the fish waste.
Creating and maintaining a water garden is not as easy as taking a container, filling it up with water and plants and then adding a little marine livestock. You will need to maintain your water garden well by providing it with regular fresh water supply. A method will need to be devised to periodically drain out stale water and add fresh water without harming the inhabitants of the water garden.
Abhishek is a self-confessed Gardening addict! Visit his website http://www. Gardening-Master.com and download his FREE Gardening Report "Indoor Gardening Secrets" and learn some amazing Gardening tips for FREE! Create the perfect Garden on a shoe-string budget. And yes, you get to keep all the accolades! But hurry, only limited Free copies available!. http://www. Gardening-Master.com
Please Rate this Article
Source: http://www.pcwriters.com/Article/Water-Gardening---Essential-Basics-You-Should-Know/102751
Thursday, February 21, 2008
4 Things You Need To Know When Installing Garden Waterfalls
Garden waterfalls are one of the newest and most popular trends in landscaping today. Waterfalls, lovely fountains, and picturesque ponds are brought together to make a wonderful sight. You can also include some beautiful fish, lovely water plants, and even some lighting as well to complete the way it looks as a whole. Before you start building a waterfall, make sure to plan ahead, keeping the following items in mind...
There are various designs that you can pick from for your garden waterfall. If you check on the internet you will be able to find them in various sizes and shapes. Also you will find that each design has features and styles that are unique. No doubt you can use your imagination as well to create the perfect one to suite your fancy.
There are a variety of things that you should consider if you are going to build your own waterfall for your garden.
The first is where it should be located. You can start by looking around you. Single out the area that is exposed to sunlight as much as possible. It should also be away from bushes or trees that have falling leaves or branches.
These things should be considered because the plants and animals in your garden waterfall will need all the sunlight that they can get. Furthermore, dried leaves and other particles can cause damage to the waterfall system if they have somehow gotten inside it and can also harm the plants and animals that you have in the pond.
The second factor to be considered is your budget which will determine the size of the garden waterfall you want to build. It is best if you keep within your budget, so that you don't end up spending more than you should. If there are materials that are not as important as the rest, you can always purchase them later. The only limit to the garden waterfall that you can create is your imagination. Summon all your creative juices so that you can come up with something wonderful even if you have limited resources and supplies.
The third factor is the kind of plants and animals you want to place in your waterfall. It is best to opt for aquatic plants so that maintenance will be easy. Do not cover the whole water with plants however, half of it is enough.
You may also want to plant some flowers around your water garden as well. The plants not only look beautiful, but they also produce oxygen, which is an added bonus.
Consider having fish in your pond. Make sure that you are aware of how large the fish may get. Some fish may grow to be too big for your pond, so be sure you get fish that will fit even in a year or two. If you do have fish in your pond, be sure that you check on them to keep them healthy.
Lastly, to be sure that your garden waterfall is always fresh and oxygenated, you will need to have a filter and pump installed. Continuous flow of water from the pump will drive away insects who want to breed in that area. The filter will help to prevent algae problems that might surface later on.
Now, have you taken the time to consider all these factors? If so, you are probably already well on your way to planning and designing your own garden waterfall.
Source: http://www.postarticles.com/Article/4-Things-You-Need-To-Know-When-Installing-Garden-Waterfalls/58810
There are various designs that you can pick from for your garden waterfall. If you check on the internet you will be able to find them in various sizes and shapes. Also you will find that each design has features and styles that are unique. No doubt you can use your imagination as well to create the perfect one to suite your fancy.
There are a variety of things that you should consider if you are going to build your own waterfall for your garden.
The first is where it should be located. You can start by looking around you. Single out the area that is exposed to sunlight as much as possible. It should also be away from bushes or trees that have falling leaves or branches.
These things should be considered because the plants and animals in your garden waterfall will need all the sunlight that they can get. Furthermore, dried leaves and other particles can cause damage to the waterfall system if they have somehow gotten inside it and can also harm the plants and animals that you have in the pond.
The second factor to be considered is your budget which will determine the size of the garden waterfall you want to build. It is best if you keep within your budget, so that you don't end up spending more than you should. If there are materials that are not as important as the rest, you can always purchase them later. The only limit to the garden waterfall that you can create is your imagination. Summon all your creative juices so that you can come up with something wonderful even if you have limited resources and supplies.
The third factor is the kind of plants and animals you want to place in your waterfall. It is best to opt for aquatic plants so that maintenance will be easy. Do not cover the whole water with plants however, half of it is enough.
You may also want to plant some flowers around your water garden as well. The plants not only look beautiful, but they also produce oxygen, which is an added bonus.
Consider having fish in your pond. Make sure that you are aware of how large the fish may get. Some fish may grow to be too big for your pond, so be sure you get fish that will fit even in a year or two. If you do have fish in your pond, be sure that you check on them to keep them healthy.
Lastly, to be sure that your garden waterfall is always fresh and oxygenated, you will need to have a filter and pump installed. Continuous flow of water from the pump will drive away insects who want to breed in that area. The filter will help to prevent algae problems that might surface later on.
Now, have you taken the time to consider all these factors? If so, you are probably already well on your way to planning and designing your own garden waterfall.
Source: http://www.postarticles.com/Article/4-Things-You-Need-To-Know-When-Installing-Garden-Waterfalls/58810
Bulbs, Tools, Supplies - Gardening Is Impossible Without Them!
Fall is normally the time for harvest as well as planning for the following year. While keeping busy with the fall season, gardeners make it a point to buy tools, bulbs, supplies, gardening stock etc. to prepare for the next season.
Tools : Tools are essential equipments that are required for leaf cleanup process in the fall season. One can also employ leaf blowers to ease things up. However, if you find the noise produced intolerable then you can initiate the kids into a raking party to clean things up amicably. The fall leaves make wonderful compost if put into a compost bin and allowed to rot during the winter season. In case you are not in possession of a compost bin, fall is the most appropriate time to go shopping or it. There are many types of compost bins like round barrels and wooden boxes available in the market.
Bulbs : It may be necessary to pluck out few tender bulbs that may not be able to withstand the winter frost. Other kinds can be planted during the fall to give them ample time throughout the winter to go dormant. So, both digging up and planting of bulbs essentially happens during the fall. You should ideally start with picking out whichever bulbs you may feel necessary and then follow that procedure up with planting the others with the help of special tools designed to make the task easier and quicker.
General Supplies : Fall is also the right time to get the lawn ready for the next season. It is quite common to subject the lawns to fertilizer sprays with weed killers that can assist the lawn to put up with the winter cold and curb the weed growth as well. Many gardeners seed the following years lawn in the fall season itself. To get on with this process, general supplies like tool, bulbs, supplies, gardening plants etc. are required along with some lawn care goods as well.
Garden Maintenance : Once the necessary tools, bulbs, supplies, gardening materials have been purchased, it is imperative to go around he garden and trim the dead plants. If neglected, it can result in deadly plant diseases. Mulches also need to be purchased along with the fall gardening products to get the beds for following spring ready and help the plants to retain their moisture levels during winter. After getting through with all these processes, one should clean, sand and oil the tools prior to taking them away for safekeeping.
Making purchases of the essential items like tools, bulbs, supplies, gardening materials etc. can be a tiresome process due to many other simultaneous activities in the fall season. However, if planned properly, one can do justice to all of them in a satisfying manner.
Source: http://www.pcwriters.com/Article/Bulbs--Tools--Supplies---Gardening-Is-Impossible-Without-Them-/102754
Tools : Tools are essential equipments that are required for leaf cleanup process in the fall season. One can also employ leaf blowers to ease things up. However, if you find the noise produced intolerable then you can initiate the kids into a raking party to clean things up amicably. The fall leaves make wonderful compost if put into a compost bin and allowed to rot during the winter season. In case you are not in possession of a compost bin, fall is the most appropriate time to go shopping or it. There are many types of compost bins like round barrels and wooden boxes available in the market.
Bulbs : It may be necessary to pluck out few tender bulbs that may not be able to withstand the winter frost. Other kinds can be planted during the fall to give them ample time throughout the winter to go dormant. So, both digging up and planting of bulbs essentially happens during the fall. You should ideally start with picking out whichever bulbs you may feel necessary and then follow that procedure up with planting the others with the help of special tools designed to make the task easier and quicker.
General Supplies : Fall is also the right time to get the lawn ready for the next season. It is quite common to subject the lawns to fertilizer sprays with weed killers that can assist the lawn to put up with the winter cold and curb the weed growth as well. Many gardeners seed the following years lawn in the fall season itself. To get on with this process, general supplies like tool, bulbs, supplies, gardening plants etc. are required along with some lawn care goods as well.
Garden Maintenance : Once the necessary tools, bulbs, supplies, gardening materials have been purchased, it is imperative to go around he garden and trim the dead plants. If neglected, it can result in deadly plant diseases. Mulches also need to be purchased along with the fall gardening products to get the beds for following spring ready and help the plants to retain their moisture levels during winter. After getting through with all these processes, one should clean, sand and oil the tools prior to taking them away for safekeeping.
Making purchases of the essential items like tools, bulbs, supplies, gardening materials etc. can be a tiresome process due to many other simultaneous activities in the fall season. However, if planned properly, one can do justice to all of them in a satisfying manner.
Abhishek is a self-confessed Gardening addict! Visit his website http://www. Gardening-Master.com and download his FREE Gardening Report "Indoor Gardening Secrets" and learn some amazing Gardening tips for FREE! Create the perfect Garden on a shoe-string budget. And yes, you get to keep all the accolades! But hurry, only limited Free copies available!. http://www. Gardening-Master.com
Please Rate this Article
Source: http://www.pcwriters.com/Article/Bulbs--Tools--Supplies---Gardening-Is-Impossible-Without-Them-/102754
6 Of The Top Organic Fertilizers
Organic Fertilizers
Organic fertilizer is actually an animal or plant creation or a by-product used as a fertilizer, such as manure, blood meal, alfalfa meal, seaweed, or compost. In practical applications, usually contains mineral based fertilizers also, like greensand or rock phosphate. Organic fertilizers are now subjected to a special process or treatment into a assortment of granular and liquid varieties. These products differ greatly in the quantity and balance of nutrients contained, and in the speed at which the nutrients are discharged into the soil.
Some of the most important organic fertilizers are fish emulsion, seaweed, earthworm castings, bone meal, kelp meal, and rock phosphates. These natural fertilizers will improve your plants, especially yield plants, and are great for the soil. Not only do they nourish your plants but the soil as well so that it is healthy enough to support whatever you decide to plant. It is quite easy to match the organic fertilizer to the plant you need it for thus improving the plants and making them healthier. They also tell you how often to use them so that you don't overdo. Some fertilizers are longer lasting and do not have to be applied as often.
Fish Emulsion and Seaweed
This combination of organic fertilizer is just about as good as one can get. They are high in trace minerals that plants need and help to establish root growth. The joining of the two makes the best complete fertilizer so there is no need to add anything else. Fish emulsions made from fish or fish by-products along with seaweed, a saltwater plant can give you a very healthy plant or plants.
Earthworm Castings
Earthworms are burrowers. While burrowing in the soil they swallow the soil that contains organic matter. It is then ground up in the gizzard and expelled as castings. These castings aerate the soil and have over 60 trace minerals that are needed by plants. Do not use chemical fertilizers near earthworms as it is toxic to them.
Bone Meal
Due to the slow release of this organic fertilizer it is safer when transplanting new plants and lowers transplant shock. It promotes a healthy root system. It contains calcium, nitrogen, and phosphorus and is one of the best plant foods.
Kelp Meal
This fertilizer is made from dried seaweed and is used as an additive with other organic fertilizers. It is high in plant food growth hormones which will help your plants to grow bigger and stronger. It is also thought that plants that this is used on develop a resistance to pests and disease.
Rock Phosphates
It is not only a natural source of calcium, phosphates, and trace minerals but it improves the soil and is one of the best fertilizers for transplanting young plants since it does not burn roots. It is also a slow dissolver in water which makes it last a lot longer than most others.
Organic fertilizers are the best for your garden, flowers, and your lawn. They provide natural elements to the soil and plants which is very beneficial to the environment. Today when everything we eat and use is chemically altered in one way or another it is refreshing to know that we can get back to the basics and perhaps be healthier in the future. After all most of these elements have been around for centuries.
Source: http://www.postarticles.com/Article/6-Of-The-Top-Organic-Fertilizers/67178
Organic fertilizer is actually an animal or plant creation or a by-product used as a fertilizer, such as manure, blood meal, alfalfa meal, seaweed, or compost. In practical applications, usually contains mineral based fertilizers also, like greensand or rock phosphate. Organic fertilizers are now subjected to a special process or treatment into a assortment of granular and liquid varieties. These products differ greatly in the quantity and balance of nutrients contained, and in the speed at which the nutrients are discharged into the soil.
Some of the most important organic fertilizers are fish emulsion, seaweed, earthworm castings, bone meal, kelp meal, and rock phosphates. These natural fertilizers will improve your plants, especially yield plants, and are great for the soil. Not only do they nourish your plants but the soil as well so that it is healthy enough to support whatever you decide to plant. It is quite easy to match the organic fertilizer to the plant you need it for thus improving the plants and making them healthier. They also tell you how often to use them so that you don't overdo. Some fertilizers are longer lasting and do not have to be applied as often.
Fish Emulsion and Seaweed
This combination of organic fertilizer is just about as good as one can get. They are high in trace minerals that plants need and help to establish root growth. The joining of the two makes the best complete fertilizer so there is no need to add anything else. Fish emulsions made from fish or fish by-products along with seaweed, a saltwater plant can give you a very healthy plant or plants.
Earthworm Castings
Earthworms are burrowers. While burrowing in the soil they swallow the soil that contains organic matter. It is then ground up in the gizzard and expelled as castings. These castings aerate the soil and have over 60 trace minerals that are needed by plants. Do not use chemical fertilizers near earthworms as it is toxic to them.
Bone Meal
Due to the slow release of this organic fertilizer it is safer when transplanting new plants and lowers transplant shock. It promotes a healthy root system. It contains calcium, nitrogen, and phosphorus and is one of the best plant foods.
Kelp Meal
This fertilizer is made from dried seaweed and is used as an additive with other organic fertilizers. It is high in plant food growth hormones which will help your plants to grow bigger and stronger. It is also thought that plants that this is used on develop a resistance to pests and disease.
Rock Phosphates
It is not only a natural source of calcium, phosphates, and trace minerals but it improves the soil and is one of the best fertilizers for transplanting young plants since it does not burn roots. It is also a slow dissolver in water which makes it last a lot longer than most others.
Organic fertilizers are the best for your garden, flowers, and your lawn. They provide natural elements to the soil and plants which is very beneficial to the environment. Today when everything we eat and use is chemically altered in one way or another it is refreshing to know that we can get back to the basics and perhaps be healthier in the future. After all most of these elements have been around for centuries.
Jim's articles are from extensive research on each of his topics. You can learn more of organic and natural fertilizers by visiting: Organic Fertilizers
Source: http://www.postarticles.com/Article/6-Of-The-Top-Organic-Fertilizers/67178
The Japanese Art of Growing the Indoor Bonsai Tree Posted By : Roberto Bell
Growing the indoor Bonsai Tree is actually the Japanese art form of cultivating miniature trees. These trees are very similar to their larger counterparts with the exception that they are grown in pots and the constant pruning does not allow them to reach full size, making it an indoor Bonsai Tree.
The art of growing these trees is thought to have originated in ancient China, where men who were healers would grow plants for medicinal purposes. In early times the main purpose was to display trunks in the shape of animals and mystic figures. Somewhere between the 7th and 9th century, this art form was introduced to the Japanese culture.
There are many types of Bonsai Trees, including formal and informal upright, cascade, raft, literati, semi-cascade and forest. The indoor Bonsai Tree is available at a range of nurseries in various stages of growth, from seedlings to the fully mature indoor Bonsai Tree.
As an alternative, you can choose to grow your indoor Bonsai Tree from seeds. Generally you can purchase kits to grow Bonsai Trees; these kits usually include, a particular kind of seed, a small pot, a little bag of fertilizer and soil, a drainage sheet as well as information to help you get started. The different kits will provide you with different instructions, depending on the type of indoor Bonsai Tree you are trying to grow. It is important to follow these instructions for the best possible growth.
Watering them correctly is essential to successfully growing the indoor Bonsai Tree. Watch the moisture in the soil carefully to ensure that it does not get too wet, or too dry. If you live in a warm climate, it is even more important that you keep a close eye on the soil's moisture. It is also vital to pay attention to the temperature of the room and the correct amount of sunlight. You do not want your indoor Bonsai Tree to be in a room that is too hot or cold. You also want to ensure that it has plenty of sunlight.
Once your tree has sprouted, you can start shaping and dwarfing it through an assortment of techniques. In addition to pruning, giving your Bonsai Tree a lot of love will help you work wonders with growing these beautiful trees.
Take some time to learn exactly how this is done and you will be rewarded with a beautiful indoor Bonsai Tree. Creating your own Japanese garden in your home is a great way to enhance the beauty of your surroundings and bring nature into your life.
Source: http://www.reprint-content.com/Article/The-Japanese-Art-of-Growing-the-Indoor-Bonsai-Tree/158621
The Elegant Japanese Maple Bonsai Posted By : Roberto Bell
If you are creative, growing the Japanese Maple Bonsai is a great way to make use of your creativity. When growing the Bonsai Tree, you have a variety of choices. The best choice for those who are just beginning to get into this hobby is the Japanese Maple Bonsai.
The Japanese Maple Bonsai Tree is one of the most beautiful and elegant of the Bonsai Trees, and it is easy to grow and hardy. The official name for the beautiful Japanese Maple is Acer Palmatum. This species really is a great first choice for a Bonsai Tree.
The typical outdoor maple grows to be very tall, but when pruned properly they make a great Bonsai Tree.
If you are going to buy a Japanese Maple Bonsai Tree, it is best to purchase one that has a trunk of at least four inches in diameter. With this starter, you can train the tree in a variety of different styles. You may also want to go with the Apex or Taper styles. If this were the case, you would need a Japanese Maple Bonsai that has one to two trunk chops.
Some great advantages to the Japanese Maple Bonsai Tree is that it is one of the more affordable Bonsai Trees, and this tree displays a magnificent array of red and purple foliage during the spring. This type of Bonsai Tree can either be grown from a seed, or you may also choose to buy a starter that is around 4 - 6 inches in height.
In addition to the indoor Japanese Maple Bonsai Tree, there is also a larger variety that may be used for an outdoor garden. One of the best things about this type of Bonsai Tree is that the color of the leaves change frequently providing colorful and elegant beauty to your garden, indoors or out.
In the spring, the Japanese Maple Bonsai Tree has leaves that are bright red in color, but as they mature, they turn pink. During the summer the leaves take on a green color with pink tinges, and in the fall months the edges of the leaves turn a dark pink-red color that soon spreads to the whole leaf. When all the leaves have changed, the Japanese Maple Bonsai Tree is solid scarlet, a really superb tree.
The Japanese Maple Bonsai Tree is a great way to start your Bonsai tree collection; its not only one of the easiest, but one of the most beautiful as well.
Source: http://www.reprint-content.com/Article/The-Elegant-Japanese-Maple-Bonsai/158619
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
What do you get when you cross a greenhouse with a shed?
The answer is a potting shed! Combining the structural strength of a timber shed with the large glazed expanse of a greenhouse, the latest potting sheds offer gardeners the best of both worlds.
Greener Gardening offers a well-designed potting shed from Halls, a specially built version of which is currently featuring on an Irish gardening programme. It is sturdily constructed with a tongue and groove floor and roof, the latter being neatly covered by green mineral felt.
Garden security is of paramount importance these days so a solid lock is essential to safeguard your gardening tools and equipment. Toughened glass is an essential prerequisite for both the glass-sided front and side window. This window is a good way of ensuring ventilation for both you and your seedlings. During the winter, or unseasonably cold spells, invest in a paraffin heater which will provide constant heat at a low running cost.
A pitched glazed frontage not only allows you a bright, spacious area in which to work, it also serves to capture every possible ray of sunshine so that your seed trays and young plants are bathed in warmth and sunlight to give you the best results. The solid timber walls are ideal for shelving to store terracotta pots, seeds and tools and there is ample storage space under the potting bench for larger items. Hook it up to an electricity supply and you can even find a home for the kettle!
The image of the traditional potting shed has radically changed with the recent emphasis on healthy eating and media-driven interest in growing your own produce. It's now a must-have garden accessory, no longer relegated to the bottom of the garden. With a wide choice of sizes and styles, it could be a focal point in your garden and the latest designs mean that you can even colour co-ordinate your potting shed to match the rest of your outdoor furniture.
Gone are the days when the potting shed was the sole domain of the mature gardener. Today more and more young families are discovering what an enjoyable and rewarding hobby gardening is. The potting shed has become so much more than a garden store or functional, but somewhat uninspiring, propagating area. Instead it's a place to potter in as much as pot up in.
Source: http://www.postarticles.com/Article/What-do-you-get-when-you-cross-a-greenhouse-with-a-shed-/91484
Greener Gardening offers a well-designed potting shed from Halls, a specially built version of which is currently featuring on an Irish gardening programme. It is sturdily constructed with a tongue and groove floor and roof, the latter being neatly covered by green mineral felt.
Garden security is of paramount importance these days so a solid lock is essential to safeguard your gardening tools and equipment. Toughened glass is an essential prerequisite for both the glass-sided front and side window. This window is a good way of ensuring ventilation for both you and your seedlings. During the winter, or unseasonably cold spells, invest in a paraffin heater which will provide constant heat at a low running cost.
A pitched glazed frontage not only allows you a bright, spacious area in which to work, it also serves to capture every possible ray of sunshine so that your seed trays and young plants are bathed in warmth and sunlight to give you the best results. The solid timber walls are ideal for shelving to store terracotta pots, seeds and tools and there is ample storage space under the potting bench for larger items. Hook it up to an electricity supply and you can even find a home for the kettle!
The image of the traditional potting shed has radically changed with the recent emphasis on healthy eating and media-driven interest in growing your own produce. It's now a must-have garden accessory, no longer relegated to the bottom of the garden. With a wide choice of sizes and styles, it could be a focal point in your garden and the latest designs mean that you can even colour co-ordinate your potting shed to match the rest of your outdoor furniture.
Gone are the days when the potting shed was the sole domain of the mature gardener. Today more and more young families are discovering what an enjoyable and rewarding hobby gardening is. The potting shed has become so much more than a garden store or functional, but somewhat uninspiring, propagating area. Instead it's a place to potter in as much as pot up in.
Neil MacLeod writes for Greener Gardening. For more information on getting the most from your garden shed visit the Greener Gardening website at www.greenergardening.com
Source: http://www.postarticles.com/Article/What-do-you-get-when-you-cross-a-greenhouse-with-a-shed-/91484
Organic Gardening Tips: How to Keep Your Flowers Healthy All Year Long
It's time we started showing some respect and gratitude for the underappreciated earthworm and his boy back-up band, fungi & bacteria. They are the true humble heroes and workhorses who do the necessary dirty work to keep your soil full of nutrients.
Yet, in our home gardens, we're constantly killing earthworms with synthetic fertilizers. We're baking them to a crisp with unnatural, high-levels of nitrogen and salts. Worms don't want to see any neon colored manmade crystals.
Remember, earthworms are garden superstars, but they don't insist on the center-stage spotlight! They thrive in moisture and dark. All they require is some good old fungi, bacteria, a banana peel or two and yesterday's sports page to create nature's best fertilizer in their castings, for free!
5 Dirt Diva Reasons Why Gardeners Should Love Earthworms (Eisenia foetida)
1. Worms help air and water enter and circulate through soil. As they crawl underground they loosen the soil so plant roots have plenty of oxygen and room to spread.
2. They break down organic matter, such as leaves, into nutrients plants can use. Earthworms transport minerals from the subsoil to the topsoil, and they keep the soil's pH level and organic matter content just right.
3. Worms secrete slime, which contains nitrogen, one of the most important elements for healthy plants. Nitrogen gives the dark green color to plants and increases the growth of leaves and stems.
4. They eat and dump, and leave behind those precious worm castings or pure fertilizer. Their castings are rich in trace minerals, plant nutrients and plant growth enhancers. In fact, a recent study by the Rodale Institute showed that worm castings have growth benefits that exceed even those of plain compost.
5. Castings have a NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorous, potassium) ratio of 3.2-1.1-1.5. These nutrients are readily available to the plants and will never ever burn your plants.
These five dirty diva reasons are exactly why you should build a worm bin for your garden.
How to Create a Worm Bin So Your Flowers Stay Beautiful All Year Long:
1. Get yourself an opaque 10-14 gallon plastic storage bin at least 12 to 16 inches deep, with a tight fitting lid. Drill a dozen pencil sized holes in the top and sides for ventilation.
2. Tear your newspapers into 1inch strips lengthwise for bedding or use your shredded documents that you neglected to show the IRS. No color or glossy paper. Wet the bedding with a garden hose and wring it out like a moist sponge.
3. Buy some red wigglers! You can find it at Suburbanhabitat.com, or check with your local plant nursery. Start with 1 pound. (Eight adult red worms can produce 1500 babies in 6 months!)
4. Fill your bin with the wet newspaper and 2 big handfuls of garden soil. Mix it up and gently add the worms in, covering them in the paper. Add a handful of food scraps under the newspaper. Cover the bin and keep it sheltered from heat or cold. You could keep the bin under your sink or in the garage shed.
5. Feed them fruit, vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, tea bags, eggshells, leaves, grass clippings, yard waste. No meat or dairy. Chop up food items into smaller pieces.
6. Check on your earthworms once a week to make sure the bedding is still damp. Don't feed them more food till they finish everything on their plate! They will eventually eat the bedding so add more as needed.
7. In 3 months you will have rich crumbly soil-like material. These are worm castings! To harvest, move all of the bedding and castings to one side of the bin. Put fresh bedding and food on the empty side of the bin. Give the worms a few days to move on over to the new side. You can then harvest the old side of the bin. Dig the castings into garden beds or sprinkle them on top of your soil.
For those organic gardeners and divas who don't have the time, space or guts to build and maintain your own worm bin, products like TerraCycle Worm Poop can become your new best friend. It's all natural, eco-friendly plant food made from organic garbage.
Fertilize your yard with worm poop each season and I guarantee your flowers will stay healthy all year long. Try it! It's fun.
Source: http://www.postarticles.com/Article/Organic-Gardening-Tips--How-to-Keep-Your-Flowers-Healthy-All-Year-Long/108667
Yet, in our home gardens, we're constantly killing earthworms with synthetic fertilizers. We're baking them to a crisp with unnatural, high-levels of nitrogen and salts. Worms don't want to see any neon colored manmade crystals.
Remember, earthworms are garden superstars, but they don't insist on the center-stage spotlight! They thrive in moisture and dark. All they require is some good old fungi, bacteria, a banana peel or two and yesterday's sports page to create nature's best fertilizer in their castings, for free!
5 Dirt Diva Reasons Why Gardeners Should Love Earthworms (Eisenia foetida)
1. Worms help air and water enter and circulate through soil. As they crawl underground they loosen the soil so plant roots have plenty of oxygen and room to spread.
2. They break down organic matter, such as leaves, into nutrients plants can use. Earthworms transport minerals from the subsoil to the topsoil, and they keep the soil's pH level and organic matter content just right.
3. Worms secrete slime, which contains nitrogen, one of the most important elements for healthy plants. Nitrogen gives the dark green color to plants and increases the growth of leaves and stems.
4. They eat and dump, and leave behind those precious worm castings or pure fertilizer. Their castings are rich in trace minerals, plant nutrients and plant growth enhancers. In fact, a recent study by the Rodale Institute showed that worm castings have growth benefits that exceed even those of plain compost.
5. Castings have a NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorous, potassium) ratio of 3.2-1.1-1.5. These nutrients are readily available to the plants and will never ever burn your plants.
These five dirty diva reasons are exactly why you should build a worm bin for your garden.
How to Create a Worm Bin So Your Flowers Stay Beautiful All Year Long:
1. Get yourself an opaque 10-14 gallon plastic storage bin at least 12 to 16 inches deep, with a tight fitting lid. Drill a dozen pencil sized holes in the top and sides for ventilation.
2. Tear your newspapers into 1inch strips lengthwise for bedding or use your shredded documents that you neglected to show the IRS. No color or glossy paper. Wet the bedding with a garden hose and wring it out like a moist sponge.
3. Buy some red wigglers! You can find it at Suburbanhabitat.com, or check with your local plant nursery. Start with 1 pound. (Eight adult red worms can produce 1500 babies in 6 months!)
4. Fill your bin with the wet newspaper and 2 big handfuls of garden soil. Mix it up and gently add the worms in, covering them in the paper. Add a handful of food scraps under the newspaper. Cover the bin and keep it sheltered from heat or cold. You could keep the bin under your sink or in the garage shed.
5. Feed them fruit, vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, tea bags, eggshells, leaves, grass clippings, yard waste. No meat or dairy. Chop up food items into smaller pieces.
6. Check on your earthworms once a week to make sure the bedding is still damp. Don't feed them more food till they finish everything on their plate! They will eventually eat the bedding so add more as needed.
7. In 3 months you will have rich crumbly soil-like material. These are worm castings! To harvest, move all of the bedding and castings to one side of the bin. Put fresh bedding and food on the empty side of the bin. Give the worms a few days to move on over to the new side. You can then harvest the old side of the bin. Dig the castings into garden beds or sprinkle them on top of your soil.
For those organic gardeners and divas who don't have the time, space or guts to build and maintain your own worm bin, products like TerraCycle Worm Poop can become your new best friend. It's all natural, eco-friendly plant food made from organic garbage.
Fertilize your yard with worm poop each season and I guarantee your flowers will stay healthy all year long. Try it! It's fun.
About the Author:
Master gardener and author Annie Spiegelman, attracts a whole new generation of women, girlfriends & moms to the joy of working in nature. With a spirited tone mixed with effervescence, The Dirt Diva will influence you to make an ethical commitment to the environment in your own backyard. For more tips on how you can keep your flowers healthy all year long while building a better future, go to www.dirtdiva.com
Source: http://www.postarticles.com/Article/Organic-Gardening-Tips--How-to-Keep-Your-Flowers-Healthy-All-Year-Long/108667
Discount Patio Furniture - 3 Tips on Where to Find It
Maybe you have a beautiful patio you'd love to take the time to enjoy, but you don't have a place to sit. It may be high time to consider getting some patio furniture back there. On the other hand, you probably want to save money too. It's only natural to want to get a good deal and save money when you buy furniture.
One option to consider is discount patio furniture, and the following are a few places where you may be able to find patio furniture at great discounted prices.
Online Auction Sites
An online auction site as eBay (yup, the big one) is a great place to start if you're looking to buy patio furniture at a discount. If you keep on eye on these sites, you will most likely find the patio furniture you're looking for at a bargain price. Sometimes the bidding competition can drive the price up, but there will be plenty of opportunities to win some furniture for the price you want.
End of Summer Clearance
Another place to check for discount patio furniture is the end of summer clearance sales that many department stores have at the end of the summer. Most stores are trying to get rid of their summer merchandise, including patio furniture, so you may get a great deal on the furniture you want and need.
Online Stores
Apart from online auctions, you can also find lots of online stores offering great deals on patio furniture. Know what the best thing is about buying your patio furniture online? Easy price comparisons! With just a few clicks of the mouse, you can easily compare prices. You'll be able to find the best deals possible on patio furniture with just a little time and research.
You can tell just from this list that there are plenty of ways to find discount patio furniture. Want the best deal? Take the time to look at all these different options to find the best possible deal.
Source: http://www.pcwriters.com/Article/Discount-Patio-Furniture---3-Tips-on-Where-to-Find-It/102972
One option to consider is discount patio furniture, and the following are a few places where you may be able to find patio furniture at great discounted prices.
Online Auction Sites
An online auction site as eBay (yup, the big one) is a great place to start if you're looking to buy patio furniture at a discount. If you keep on eye on these sites, you will most likely find the patio furniture you're looking for at a bargain price. Sometimes the bidding competition can drive the price up, but there will be plenty of opportunities to win some furniture for the price you want.
End of Summer Clearance
Another place to check for discount patio furniture is the end of summer clearance sales that many department stores have at the end of the summer. Most stores are trying to get rid of their summer merchandise, including patio furniture, so you may get a great deal on the furniture you want and need.
Online Stores
Apart from online auctions, you can also find lots of online stores offering great deals on patio furniture. Know what the best thing is about buying your patio furniture online? Easy price comparisons! With just a few clicks of the mouse, you can easily compare prices. You'll be able to find the best deals possible on patio furniture with just a little time and research.
You can tell just from this list that there are plenty of ways to find discount patio furniture. Want the best deal? Take the time to look at all these different options to find the best possible deal.
Please Rate this Article
Source: http://www.pcwriters.com/Article/Discount-Patio-Furniture---3-Tips-on-Where-to-Find-It/102972
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Would You Buy A Dozen Roses For Your Date?
There are a lot of flowers that can be considered beautiful and romantic of course but roses always had and still have something special in the heart of most people.
Many types of flowers and especially roses have a romantic history, with their sweet perfume, smooth and soft textures and cheerful look.
Roses can represent a lot of emotions, and even generate or renew the ones that have faded from awareness to lift a person outlook; it is in nature's bounty for all of us to see the inherent beauty in existence.
You wouldn't believe how many times that I've sold a dozen roses to somebody with stars in their eyes. It always looks like buying a dozen roses represent only times when you are the most in love. A dozen roses is a big and bold statement. It may even be called a proclamation. I know that the times I received a dozen roses in my life were rare and dear.
A man came by my flower shop one day last month wanting to buy a dozen roses. He was so excited and anxious to explain to me why he was ordering a dozen roses.
The man proceeded to explain to me that he was buying his loving wife a dozen roses because they had just found out they were expecting with their third child. He was so glad that he was about to dance. We had the dozen roses prepared and sent to her house and I was the lucky one that got to deliver the flowers. They lived in a pretty beautiful house in an affluent district. They had flowers in the courtyard and it looked pleasant.
The lady looked a little weary when she opened the door to get the dozen roses. She told me that she had been experiencing morning sickness. She really looked better after the dozen roses were delivered.
The busiest time of year around my shop is mother's day. We sell a lot of vases containing a dozen roses to men that decide to honor the mother of their children.
My dad has always bought a dozen roses for my mom on Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, her birthday and their wedding anniversary. He always kept up the purchasing of four dozen roses each year for as long as I could remember. As soon as I find a man that will offer me a dozen roses four times a year like my dad does for my mother I'll know I have found the right guy for me. I'm still waiting quietly.
Please Rate this Article
Source: http://www.rightarticle.com/Article/Would-You-Buy-A-Dozen-Roses-For-Your-Date-/97797
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