Garden Gardening
Garden Gardening
Jumpstart the Spring Garden - Gardening Tips for March & April
Snowdrops stand guard over tiny daffodil buds. Daylight is lingering a bit longer. The snow is receding and the robins are returning. The big thaw has begun. There's no denying the signs. Spring is right around the corner.
If you're like me, you can't wait to get your hands into the soil. While you're holding out for higher temperatures, there's plenty you can do today to jumpstart the spring gardening season.
Sow Seeds Indoors
Take a trip to your local nursery or home store and buy seeds to start indoors. In March I like to start annual flowers for my pots and containers. Currently, I have Coleus, Zinnias, Impatiens, Petunias and Marigolds germinating. Follow the seed packet instructions and you'll get excellent results. Some plants will take longer than others to bloom or bear fruit, so plan accordingly. This is also a great time for starting culinary herbs and vegetables. If you're looking for something new this year, try moonflower vine or cathedral bells to climb your fence or trellis. Both can be started from seed. If you have children, get them involved. Many children have a natural affinity for gardening. It's a great quality to encourage and nurture in them.
Dust Off The Birdhouses
I put my birdhouses out in early March. Small birds like chickadees will be actively searching for appropriate homes to raise their families. Mine were up for less than 24 hours before the home tours began.
Give Your Garden Tools A Checkup
Take your pruning shears and other cutting tools to your local hardware store for cleaning, oiling and a good sharpening. On a warm day you may want to assess your lawnmower. Take it in for servicing or a tune up now-while you can. Many lawnmower repair centers are swamped shortly after the season starts. It's one tool you don't want to be without.
Get Inspired
Order your garden catalogs. Purchase your favorite garden magazines. Here in the northeast, there's nothing like winter time to remind me how valuable my summer garden space is. Create a wish list of new plants, design features and outdoor furniture. With a little planning, you won't be overwhelmed when May rolls around.
Seek Out Indoor Gardening Events
In March there are countless indoor garden, flower and landscaping expos. If you can't find anything in your local area, a day or weekend trip to a flower show might be just what you need. Look for a botanical garden or arboretum with indoor facilities. In my area we have Longwood Gardens. It has year round indoor gardens and the displays are fantastic.
Clean Out Your Beds
As soon as the snow has melted and the weather permits, you can clean out your beds. It's a good time to rake and clear your planting areas of dead branches, leaves and debris. I like to mulch as soon as possible in the spring, while there's still plenty of space between the emerging bedding plants.
Learn A Landscape Design Software Program
There are so many inexpensive landscaping software programs available today, many of them under $50.00US. During the winter months you'll have plenty of time to learn how to operate the system.
Create and sample new designs before digging. Take advantage of the overhead and 360 degree views. Many of the programs now offer a 3D walk through feature. It simulates the experience of walking through an actual garden. You can also advance the garden timeline into the future to see what it will look like when the plants and trees mature. It's a wonderful creative tool to beat the winter blues!
Call Your Landscaper Now
If you're planning to use a professional landscaper this year, make sure to schedule your work as far in advance as possible. When the ground is soft enough for digging, landscapers will be working overtime to keep up with the volume.
Book Your Garden Tours Now
Scour the internet for local and regional garden tours. Find out when tickets go on sale and plan ahead. I've often read announcement lists in the newspaper after I've already made other plans. There's nothing like visiting other people's gardens for encouragement and inspiration.
I hope these suggestions get you motivated to take action. The sooner you get started on your garden plans-the more time you'll have to enjoy the rest of the season. Happy Gardening!
© 2007 John Conti
About the Author
John Conti is a landscaper and publisher of Stellasyard.com | The Soulful Garden. Visit his web site for how to articles, advice and free design plans. Beginners are welcome.
http://stellasyard.com
gardening tips please starting a veggie garden?
i have sand where i live iam looking for some gardening tips to help with the process gonna get some good dirt but other then that haven't had a garden garden before iam growing carrots tomatoes asparagus and i don't know for the last one anyone have any ideas or helpful tips for a newbie please share thank you
Since you have so much sand where you live it would probably be best to create some raised beds for you vegetable garden. They don't need to be very high, but at least six inches. Fill the beds with a mixture of potting soil and organic compost, this mixture can be anywhere from 1/3 to 1/2 compost. You may also want to get some vegetable fertilizer or something called compost tea, ask at a local nursery which would be best for you.
Another tip is that wherever you are planting tomatoes you should also plant marigolds right alongside them to repel nematodes which will destroy your tomato plants roots. Also planting nasturtiums along the edges of a vegetable garden may help to deter whitefly.
Happy planting!
Garden Gardening
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Garden Decor To Increase The Beauty Of Your Garden!
Most of the people know the decorations in their living room or in the house. But, only few people connect the word decor with the gardens and yards. Yes, you can decor your garden in various ways to increase the beauty of it.
Types of garden decor: There are various things by which you can decor your garden like:
• Garden benches
• Bird bath
• Water pond or fountain
• Garden statues
• Garden Lights
Decorating your garden:
Garden benches:
• You have to select the right benches which suits for your garden.
• Try to place those benches in perfect or suitable place by which the garden look will be enhanced.
• Try to place those garden benches at the midst of your garden so that it will be the perfect place for you to sit, relax and to observe the growth of the garden.
• This garden decor is not only an inviting place to sit; it will also add a beautiful vision to your garden.
Bird bath:
• Many types of bird baths are available in these days.
• Some bird baths are suitable for the contemporary styles where as the others are suitable for more traditional styles.
• Bird baths will attract the birds to enter into the garden and birds can enjoy a lot in it.
• The bird bath is known as garden décor because various types of birds will be entering into your garden and your garden will look more attractive with birds.
Water pond and fountain:
• Many soothing qualities can be obtained with water. Even the look and sound of the water can be soothing.
• You can change your garden into a mini oasis by placing a small pond or fountain in it.
• Your mind will become fresh and you can enjoy by sitting near the water.
Garden statues:
• There are various types of garden statues available in the market with different varieties.
• You have to find the best among the various garden decor statues which add elegance, humor, whimsy and sophistication to your garden.
• You can select any type of statues according to your choice.
Garden Lights:
• You can arrange the lights in your garden in many ways as garden decor in order to make your garden look more beautiful.
• Try to arrange the lights on the way or path. Try to know about landscape lighting to arrange the lights in different ways in your garden.
• Don’t think that lighting your garden is the costly process. It will cost you less if you use low voltage lighting system.
Certainly your garden will look more beautiful with these garden decor items.
About the Author
Neelima Reddy, author of this article writes for TheGardenCentral.com Garden Central blog helps you learn everything you need to know about gardening. Know more about various important gardening tips for taking care of your vegetable garden, fruit garden, flower garden, landscaping, etc. Visit The Garden Central
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