What is the type of gardening/farming when you put different plants near each other to help protect from pests?

Sunday, January 18th, 2009
gardening
Wynell asks:


I am trying to find more information about the type of gardening or farming where you maybe plant a blueberry bush underneath an apple tree. This is supposed to allow natural type pesticides as well as keep soil rich.

Growing A Plant From Seed

Saturday, December 6th, 2008
Germinating sunflower seedlings.

Image via Wikipedia

One of the joys of working with plants comes from creating your very own varieties. Your indoor garden can be made up of plants from the florist or local plant nursery, but at the same time, you are only being a care giver. When you want to start new plants from seedlings or cuttings, you are starting at the very bottom and the success of your endeavor is entirely in your hands.

There are two methods by which a gardener can increase stock; seedlings and cuttings. In the following article, we will discuss both methods in great detail. There are ways you cam really make the most out of your hobby, which results in a beautiful selection of plants. Starting a plant from a seed takes more time, dedication and devotion than simply buying a full grown plant from the store. It is more rewarding and is much cheaper than the alternative. This cost is especially greater in terms of a flowering plant versus a foliage plant.

You can find plant seeds that sell for considerably less than a single, mature plant. The seeds will also yield more plants and not just one. The time involvement is a factor that must be given serious consideration. Plants will vary in growth speed and if you are starting from scratch with a seed, you must plan your time accordingly so that you have a full grown flowering plant when you want it.

It is not that difficult to grow a plant from a seed and you can plant your home garden in a single day. But it does require a certain amount of time and care. All plants multiply by seed germination, but there are many which refuse to do so in a home garden, so it is best to take cuttings and grow from that stage. Here is some information regarding seed propagation.

There is no professional equipment needed other than a pot and some soil You want to take care not to over nutrient the soil, because this can burn the plants and any seeds you are attempting to plant in that soil. Until recently, the home gardener used a soil-sand mixture and peat moss for seed starters. This is still a very popular propagating method, but does have some drawbacks.

The main issue is surrounding the fact that it is difficult to sterilize this type of mixture. It may contain fungus, which can kill plants. In recent times however, a mixture called vermiculite has been added to sterilized soil mixtures. It makes a great growing medium for seeds. It is a sterile, mice-like mineral which replaces dirty sand. Seeds planted in this mixture, will germinate well and be disease free.

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Organic Solution : New Lawn Care Tips

Tuesday, November 18th, 2008

You are starting a lawn or reseeding the one you already have. Planting new seed needs some reliable information to guide you in this task and have a successful outcome.

When you plant grass in an area which has a hostile climate to the new grass, all the advice and tips received are welcomed. Learn here valuable advice.

You are starting a lawn or reseeding the one you already have. Planting new seed needs some reliable information to guide you in this task and have a successful outcome.

When you plant grass in an area which has a hostile climate to the new grass, all the advice and tips received are welcomed. Learn here valuable advice..

Tilling And Cleaning The Soil

Clean the soil of any debris, organic matter, stones and other objects that can obstruct the growing of your seeds. Seeds need the best available conditions to grow and you are supposed to give them in an efficient way. Clean and till the soil as the first step to make it more hospitable for the seeds, they need to find a comfortable and rich environment and it begins with a clean soil that cover their requirements. Condition the soil before seeding. You can find many commercial soil conditioners, there are organic varieties, too. Engaged in the organic lawn care program, you can choose an organic soil conditioner. The objection made to organic product is cost, but the benefits are greater, they help to balance environment actors, like bacteria classified as good and avoid the destruction of beneficial forms of life. Beneficial bacteria and insects are respected by organic products. Organic care given to the seed will boast improved results when the bouncing, green turf will be spreading over your lawn. Strong, healthy and lively, the grass will endure any climatic adversity.

Soften the soil to provide a suitable bed for seeds. If you wonder how to soften it, the reply is : by tilling. This condition will produce a quick development of the seed. After that, apply the soil conditioner you have selected

Watering Your Lawn

Watering is a crucial point in growing any type of grass. Many people excess in watering using a daily watering routine for mature grass that can damage grass and roots by drowning. Water with moderation making sure your seed won’t be hurt by losing too much of the soil.

Water enough to maintain moisture when the grass is growing and still small. Once a day you can wet the soil with water without exceeding. If your area supports heavy rainfall, reduce watering to the minimal. Don’t water after a rain.

Weed Control

Use organic weed control products and pull out weeds by hand. Avoid the chemical herbicides, that can be dangerous to your new grass

Organic Solution : New Lawn Care Tips

Organic solution will ease the management of lawn care problems. Adopt the organic solution and reduce the problem before they start.

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How do I start a flower garden?

Sunday, November 9th, 2008
garden
Muriel asks:


I live in NC and I’d like to start a small flower garden in front of my home. It’s in an area that gets sunlight periodically during the day. I believe there used to be flowers there because there’s a decorative brick border around the area but it’s overrun with weeds and there are no flowers there now. The soil is pretty good I’d say…not too dry or hard. How do I start a flower garden? I’m interested in some periennials and some annuals…can those be grown together?

When beginning a Vegetable Garden, what are good vegetable to begin with?

Thursday, November 6th, 2008
garden
Ernestine asks:


I am getting ready to start on my first vegetable garden. This season I am just preparing the soil for planting season next year and planning my garden. I was wondering what vegetables are easiest for beginners, or what vegetables grow well together. I am trying to start in on this slowly and deliberatly so that I am not in over my head.

Thanks in advance for you help!

will my garden grow where there used to be a pine tree?

Saturday, November 1st, 2008
garden
Kum asks:


i recently moved into my house. in the backyard there was a stump tree. i decided to grow a garden around it. After digging up most of the soil my neighbor came by and said i would have trouble growing anything because that stump was a old pine tree. i didnt remove the stump but removed tons of its roots(electric saw:-) that would interfere with planting.
My question would the acidity affect my future veggie garden?

Making a Garden

Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008
by Kim and Charles Petty

The first thing in garden making is the selection of a spot. Without a choice, it means simply doing the best one can with conditions. With space limited it resolves itself into no garden, or a box garden. Surely a box garden is better than nothing at all.

But we will now suppose that it is possible to really choose just the right site for the garden. What shall be chosen? The greatest determining factor is the sun. No one would have a north corner, unless it were absolutely forced upon him; because, while north corners do for ferns, certain wild flowers, and begonias, they are of little use as spots for a general garden.

If possible, choose the ideal spot a southern exposure. Here the sun lies warm all day long. When the garden is thus located the rows of vegetables and flowers should run north and south. Thus placed, the plants receive the sun’s rays all the morning on the eastern side, and all the afternoon on the western side. One ought not to have any lopsided plants with such an arrangement.

Suppose the garden faces southeast. In this case the western sun is out of the problem. In order to get the best distribution of sunlight run the rows northwest and southeast.

The idea is to get the most sunlight as evenly distributed as possible for the longest period of time. From the lopsided growth of window plants it is easy enough to see the effect on plants of poorly distributed light. So if you use a little diagram remembering that you wish the sun to shine part of the day on one side of the plants and part on the other, you can juggle out any situation. The southern exposure gives the ideal case because the sun gives half time nearly to each side. A northern exposure may mean an almost entire cut-off from sunlight; while northeastern and southwestern places always get uneven distribution of sun’s rays, no matter how carefully this is planned.

The garden, if possible, should be planned out on paper. The plan is a great help when the real planting time comes. It saves time and unnecessary buying of seed.

New garden spots are likely to be found in two conditions: they are covered either with turf or with rubbish. In large garden areas the ground is ploughed and the sod turned under; but in small gardens remove the sod. How to take off the sod in the best manner is the next question. Stake and line off the garden spot. The line gives an accurate and straight course to follow. Cut the edges with the spade all along the line. If the area is a small one, say four feet by eighteen or twenty, this is an easy matter. Such a narrow strip may be marked off like a checkerboard, the sod cut through with the spade, and easily removed. This could be done in two long strips cut lengthwise of the strip. When the turf is cut through, roll it right up like a roll of carpet.

But suppose the garden plot is large. Then divide this up into strips a foot wide and take off the sod as before. What shall be done with the sod? Do not throw it away for it is full of richness, although not quite in available form. So pack the sod grass side down one square on another. Leave it to rot and to weather. When rotted it makes a fine fertilizer. Such a pile of rotting vegetable matter is called a compost pile. All through the summer add any old green vegetable matter to this. In the fall put the autumn leaves on. A fine lot of goodness is being fixed for another season.

Even when the garden is large enough to plough, I would pick out the largest pieces of sod rather than have them turned under. Go over the ploughed space, pick out the pieces of sod, shake them well and pack them up in a compost heap.

Mere spading of the ground is not sufficient. The soil is still left in lumps. Always as one spades one should break up the big lumps. But even so the ground is in no shape for planting. Ground must be very fine indeed to plant in, because seeds can get very close indeed to fine particles of soil. But the large lumps leave large spaces which no tiny root hair can penetrate. A seed is left stranded in a perfect waste when planted in chunks of soil. A baby surrounded with great pieces of beefsteak would starve. A seed among large lumps of soil is in a similar situation. The spade never can do this work of pulverizing soil. But the rake can. That’s the value of the rake. It is a great lump breaker, but will not do for large lumps. If the soil still has large lumps in it take the hoe.

Many people handle the hoe awkwardly. The chief work of this implement is to rid the soil of weeds and stir up the top surface. It is used in summer to form that mulch of dust so valuable in retaining moisture in the soil. I often see people as if they were going to chop into atoms everything around. Hoeing should never be such vigorous exercise as that. Spading is vigorous, hard work, but not hoeing and raking.

After lumps are broken use the rake to make the bed fine and smooth. Now the great piece of work is done.

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