Start Your Plants From Seeds
By admin | November 17, 2008
Propagating your own plants from seeds is much more rewarding and less expensive than buying seedlings from the garden supply shop. One of the first things you will need is a box or tray approximately 3 to 4 inches deep, 12 to 14 inches wide, and 20 to 24 inches long.
Once you have your planting box, fill it with a suitable seed raising mix. A good medium would be 80-85% washed river sand and 15-20% peat moss. If you prefer to buy a bag of seed raising mix, visit your local garden supply store. One you have your medium, fill the box almost to the top, and then pat down the medium firmly.
Prepare the medium for planting your seeds by making rows across the box. They should be one quarter to half inch deep and 2 inches apart.
The seed should be distributed 8 or 10 to the inch in the rows and then be covered. Move the box to a warm shaded place.
It is important to water regularly during germination, however the soil should be kept moist not wet. If the water starts running out the bottom of the box you are over doing it and the soil will become waterlogged. If this happens, the seeds could rot and fail to germinate.
If you can cover the box with a piece of glass or even saran wrap, this will hold the moisture, creating a microclimate, which will hasten germination. Once the seedlings germinate the lid can be removed and the seedlings can gradually be introduced to stronger light - next to a window would be ideal.
When the plants are one inch to an inch and a half high they should be thinned to one or two inches apart in the row, to give them space enough to make a strong stocky growth. If you wish to keep the plants that have been thinned, they must be planted two inches apart each way in boxes similar to the seed box.
When the weather becomes mild, the box of plants should be set out of doors part of the time so that the plants will harden in preparation for transplanting to the garden later. Give the seedlings a good watering just before transplanting so that a ball of earth will stick to the roots.
By raising seedlings in this controlled climate of germination, they will be hardier and flourish. You will also have the added satisfaction of having done all the work yourself.
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Tags: Garden, Garden supply, gardening, plantingIn The Garden Planning Before Planting Is Key
By admin | November 9, 2008
How many times have you gone to the garden store and bought some plants that you absolutely loved only to get home and not be able to find a suitable place in the garden?
Getting the right look in you garden takes a lot of planning. You simply can’t go to the garden store and randomly choose plants as there are many things to consider such as light conditions, soil conditions and surrounding plants. A well planned garden will have plants that thrive and compliment each other but a randomly chosen garden will look haphazard and may even be bad for the health of your plants.
Before you purchase your plants evaluate your garden for how much sun and shade it gets and in what areas. Consider whether the soil is well drained or has standing water and whether it is sheltered or windy. Then when you go to the garden store, buy only plants that will thrive in your garden; shade-loving plants for the shady areas, sun-lovers for those sunny spots, swamp plants for areas with poor drainage and drought-resistant plants for those areas that don’t stay wet enough.
Another thing that many gardeners fail to consider is the PH of the soil. Is your soil acidic or alkaline? Most plants prefer soil that is a bit on the acidic side, but there are some that need alkaline soil to grow. You ca change the PH level of your soil, but it’s just easier to buy plants that like the PH of the soil you already have.
Another thing to consider is how and where to plant your plants. Do you want a lot of greenery or a splashy show of colors? Narrow down your choices of plants to just a few and buy many of each kind. If you plant ‘one of everything’ your garden may seem rather spotty. Planting in groups is much more aesthetically pleasing as well as harmonious.
One thing you might try is to draw out your garden on a piece of paper. This doesn’t have to be a masterpiece painting just a simple sketch. Get some colored pencils or even crayons and add the colors of the flowers you want to plant. Are the colors pleasing together? If so you have a plan, if not it’s back to the drawing board.
Before planting, you can put the plants around the garden bed in their pots to see how they will look. This will allow you to move them around and rearrange until you get the look just right. Grouping of plants in odd numbers look best so try putting groups of 3 or 5 of the same plant together. Combine colors and textures to add interest and always put the taller plants in the back and shorter ones in the front. If your garden can be viewed from all sides as opposed to being up against a fence or house then put the taller plants in the center.
One final consideration is the blooming season. Many plants only bloom for a short period of time so if you want continual color all season you will have to grow plants that flower during the different periods of the season. Plant flowers with different bloom times next to each other and you will always have a flower blooming in that spot in the garden. Also, don’t forget the foliage. Many flower plants have silver, grey or purplish foliage that is just as attractive as the flower. This means that they are still attractive well past the blooming season!
Lee Dobbins writes for Backyard Garden And Patio where you can get more great gardening and landscaping tips.
Tags: flowers, Garden, gardening, planting, plantsUnderstand Your Soil Healthy Soil Grows Healthy Plants
By admin | August 2, 2008
A basic understanding of soils allows the gardener to work with natural processes to enhance plant root growth and overall vigor.
Soil is an amazingly complex, living ecosystem requiring a balance of organic, inorganic, living and nonliving components. Recent soil science research has demonstrated that the most productive soils are loaded with a variety of microbial life; beneficial fungi, bacteria, yeasts and other microorganisms work to decompose organic matter into humus. Humus directly influences both the assimilation of nutrients and plant resistance to disease, insects, drought and other stresses.
Physically, soil should be composed of fifty percent solids and twenty five percent each of liquid and air, with an organic matter content of three to five percent. This side of Iowa, the “ideal” soil is seldom found in the native habitat. In many regions of the country, we are required to amend the soil to provide the optimal growth environment.
The various fine-particle clays and silts of benefit greatly from the addition of organic matter. Alkaline clays (high pH) should also be amended with gypsum. The addition of organic matter to sandy and gravely soils is also beneficial, increasing water retention and providing essential nutrients. Initial expense for organic matter and other amendments pays for the continued beauty and health of the planting.
New lawn installations should start with basic soil considerations; physical and chemical soil analyses may be desired. Marginal soil conditions in existing lawns can be improved with cultural programs designed for the specific site. Regular aeration, vertical mowing, top dressing with compost or rich soil, proper fertility management and applications of foliar and soil biostimulants are all proven techniques for rejuvenating a poor lawn.
A properly balanced soil will support deep, extensive root systems, allowing plants to assimilate all available food and moisture. The result is a thick turf which resists drought, weeds and disease.
For basic physical soil analysis, use a soil probe or large, strong knife to cut samples at least six inches deep. Examine for thatch layer thickness, particle size and distribution, compaction and topsoil depth. A minimum of six inches of properly balanced soil is required to grow a healthy lawn. A thatch layer thicker than one-half inch will act like a sponge to limit the penetration of water and nutrients to the root system.
If necessary, consult with a qualified landscape professional for help with soil testing. Basic chemical soil tests (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and pH) can be handled through the county extension service. For very thorough soil analysis with written interpretation and recommendations, contact Integrated Fertility Management at (800) 332-3179.
What occurs below ground, unseen, largely determines what we see above ground. The knowledge of basic soil conditions is essential to proper cultural decisions and practices. Again, healthy soil grows healthy plants.
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Tags: garden soil, gardening, landscape design, landscaping, planting