Anybody who has attempted to grow something in their garden will be all too aware that
pests have a way of rearing their ugly little heads very quickly indeed! Sadly, the first
response for many gardeners is to head to their garden shed and reach for the pesticides in
order to get rid of their problem as quickly as possible. While this may be the quickest way
to solve the problem, it is most certainly not the greenest! Pesticides can have an adverse
effect on the environment, meaning that a quick-fix is not always the best remedy.
This is now finally being understood by those who make their living from the land; with
nature in mind, many farmers are now employing integrated pest management techniques
in order to protect their livelihood for the long-term – in essence, people are now making
much more of an effort to strike a balance between protecting their crops and protecting
the environment!
Fortunately, there are plenty of natural and organic methods that gardeners can employ
when attempting to rid themselves of would-be garden invaders! Below are some of the
methods of saving both crops and the planet:
Smells like trouble – many common garden nuisances (such as foxes) can be deterred with
the employment of strong smelling substances. The most commonly used substances that
can be turned into a stinky “keep out” sign are garlic, fish, rhubarb and tobacco.
Hot hot heat – would-be garden invaders can be sent packing with the use of a little heat;
this can include chillies, kerosene, methylated spirits and even table salt!
Odour eaters – many readily available garden plants give off natural odours that can be
extremely uninviting to bugs and other pests. This is nature’s way of informing the bug that
the plant probably carries some form of natural insecticide; it also lets it know to keep well
away!
Get slick – commonly found oils can be a great way of controlling certain kinds of garden
pests. Some tried and tested oils include mineral oil, vegetable oils and proprietary oils.
These can kill soft-bodied invaders by clinging to them and eventually causing suffocation.
Clean up your act – a little-known pest controller comes in the form of soap. Ensuring that
the soap is natural and vegetable-based is the best way to make sure that it will not harm
the plants as opposed to the pests!
Back in 2009 I wrote the article about growing garlic. One quy sent me a question about growing bigger garlic cloves.
If you want to grow bigger garlic cloves you need to do the following:
Be sure you are starting with the biggest cloves in the bulb only. Remember, in this case the size DOES matter!
Garlic loves sun. So plant it in the sunny areas.
Make sure the soil is well drained. Otherwise garlic will root.
Fertilize it. Garlic loves manure. Some people say that chicken manure giver great results but I didn’t try it yet.
Don’t forget to weed garlic.
Remove scapes or garlic false seedheads. Otherwise they will take energy and power from your garlic cloves. By the way, garlic seedheads are delicious when young! You can cook them in oil and enjoy their great taste!
Harvest garlic in the right time! The right time to harvest garlic is when the bottom three leaves are brown.
Do you want to enjoy the beauty of colours and scent from fresh flowers in your garden? Of course you do. Thus for healthy growth of your lawns and backyards you need water. So this article is dedicated to making a water supply in a garden.
Tap water supply
The most simple and comfortable way for irrigation is to use tap water. All you need is just to fix a hose pipe to a tap. But you should realize that chlorinated water is not so good as an irrigation source. At least you must settle it down before use.
Bore hole
A borehole is another option that has many advantages. First, it gives suitable water for irrigation; second, the water supply will be constant. However, this is most expensive way. Sometimes it may cost a fortune if water runs deep under the ground in your area. Used drill pipe for sale will make this option less expensive.
Rainwater supply for your garden
You can also use rain water to pour your garden. Facts show that rainwater is healthier and better for plants in comparison with tap water. How do you collect rainwater? Well, it’s very simple, just by placing water butt right under your roof’s gutter or ditch during rains.
Water butt can really work wonders in terms of water conservation and usage. It’s up to you to make it looking as a part of the garden design covered, for example, by plant creepers. You are free to create original ideas of your own that can even become a trend for others to follow.
Back in March 2009 I had a wonderful idea of creating free organic fertiliser by using rainwater and some fish. You can read this article here: Free Organic Fertiliser.
Garden design has a lot in common with art. The same as art it helps us to express ourselves, our styles and even our cultures. As a nice dress can add charm to an ugly person, in the same way a simple house looks absolutely new and great if it has a garden.
If you are lucky enough to own a huge cottage with a vast land area, then you possibly won’t do without professional advice to achieve harmony between your house and the surrounding landscape. But with a small garden you can definitely cope yourself.
First of all, remember that you plan your garden for you and your family, so make your design practical and functional. A front garden undoubtedly should be easy to keep looking tidy. Choose appropriate plants and materials for it.
To create an eye-catching pattern, combine lawn and hillside landscaping.
Take a look at picture 1.
The land is flat that affords making a nice path, lawn and rockbed. To make such a wonderful garden it is necessary to level the ground. And it wouldn’t be enough a couple of wheelbarrows of land to do that. You will definitely need heavy machinery. There are firms that rent articulated trucks out. You can call them.
Take a look at picture 2.
A nice set of natural stone steps. The slope is nicely mixed with small trees, shrubs and rocks.
Combine these patterns in your garden design, compliment it with effective lighting and enjoy yourself with you family in your dream yard.
Hello, my fellow gardeners! Like a promised on Saturday, I wrote a post of how to grow parsley for you. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to write a comment, I will gladly try to help you!
How To Grow Parsley
No doubt, parsley is a popular herb in every kitchen. It has a nice flavor and adds attractiveness to our table. Moreover, it is a rich source of minerals, Vitamin A and Vitamin C. So, if you want to relish this tasty and healthy herb, you must know how to grow it. Growing parsley is not so difficult as it may seem. Just stick to our tips and you will receive a high yield.
Remember, parsley likes:
Sun
Moisture
Rich soil
Steps:
Soak parsley seeds in hot water for at least a couple of hours to speed up germination.
Sow the seeds in warm ground (early spring) at 3-inch intervals.
Make sure a spot you’ve chosen receives enough sunlight and moisture.
Water the plants deeply once a week.
Mulch around the plants to retain moisture and prevent weed growth.
Use general purpose fertilizer once a month.
Harvest parsley from late spring throughout the season by cutting stalks just above the ground.
It is better to use parsley while it is fresh, however, frozen it also tastes good. Besides, if you like to eat garlic or curry, a spring of parsley after dinner will freshen your breath better than any chewing gum. Enjoy it!
If you like this article, please twit it! Or share on Facebook with others!
After a long break I’ve decided to start blogging about gardening again. I am still very busy with my main job. I run my own small web design studio and it takes a lot of time. After a day of work I am normally very tired and don’t have a mood to blog. I’ve abandoned even my personal blog and normally have a power to post to my facebook account and that’s it.
But I will still try to post here at least one per month. I have a lot to share with you, my fellow gardeners
Thank you to those who subscribed to my RSS and still with me!
Next post is going to be posted on Monday-Tuesday and will give you a tips of how to grow Sage.
Modern variants of window decorationnowadays are able to satisfy even the most demanding taste. Let’s consider the most widespread alternatives.
Classic blinds are suitable for interiors with “imperial” elements of recent epochs. They can be combined with soft or hard lambrequins and decorative accessories like fringe, tassels, cords, etc.
French window blinds are always in gathered condition: both when lifted and pulled down. Long and wide linen allows making posh gathers. These blinds are perfect for theatres, banquet rooms, gorgeous restaurants and casinos.
Both Roman and Japanese blindsare flat linens. Japan blind is composed of separate solid panel linens shifting horizontally. It is applied in minimal art style interiors. Roman blind is flat linen divided into separate equal sections with embedded hard horizontal laths. It is practical and simple in operation.
Austrian window blindsare lifted blinds without horizontal transversal pins. While lifting they are folded in magnificent puffs. They look extremely romantic.
The most laconic variant of window decoration is faux wood blinds. They are suitable for home interiors made in natural colors. Such blinds are also perfect for offices. This design decision will give the interior features of restrained luxury and nobleness.
I hope this article will help you to make a right decision.
Stinging nettle has a lot of vitamins and minerals: С, К, В2, carotene, calcium, pantothenic acid, chlorophyll, potassium, sulphur and many others. It increases blood coagulation, the level of haemoglobin, platelets, red blood cells, decreases the sugar level. Stringing nettle also has diuretic and wound healing properties.
It has also been used in folk medicine to treat asthma, cough, and digestive spasms.
The stringing nettle can be used for food as well, but at the spring time only as a chemical change occurs in nettles around midsummer which makes them particularly bitter.
Also it helps to get rid of dandruff.
Stinging nettles are an important habitat for rare butterflies species so please leave some nettles in your garden.
If you don’t have a time to collect it, you may want to buy different kinds of stinging nettle’s extracts in your local pharmacy or on the Amazon just below.
Spring is coming and a lot of us are thinking about adding some unique look to our lawns or gardens. I decided to publish some photos for your inspiration. Enjoy!
My wife, Jenny and I haven’t been gardening for long but the desire has been there for many years. We have been married for 27 years and now we finally have our very own backyard big enough for both flowers, trees, shrubs and as of 2009, a vegetable garden as well.
It’s about -27 here today and the wind is pretty strong making it bitter cold so I am staying in my office and planning my garden season for 2010. Nice and toasty in here with my coffee and music.
We started gardening here the year we purchased the property. We even purchased the lot next door so we could have room for a vegetable garden. We didn’t start with a vegetable garden because my health was pretty poor when we bought this home. So we started with a few flowers and then moved on to a few containers for strawberries and tomatoes.
After that we were hooked and I managed to dig up a vegetable garden plot, 4×16 feet and started square foot gardening in 2009. We had a great experience, learned a bunch of things NOT to repeat and some things that will help us do better in 2010.
You are very welcome on my blog! Here I try to cover all the questions about gardening, garden seeds etc. You can find videos, useful tutorials, my photos and buy related products from Amazon without spending time on searching. I hope you'll find the information you need! Also you can subscribe via RSS or email below as blog is being updated on a regular basis.
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