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Archive for June, 2007

Landscaping is a delightful combination of art and practicality. Following proper design principles you can create a scene that is both beautiful to look at and serves your purposes well. Read the rest of this entry »

One of the great things about landscape design is the flexibility it offers. You can make it very simple and get your feet wet so to speak. Later, you can re-do the area, or do another area in a more complex design as you gain more knowledge. Read the rest of this entry »

“You can’t control the weather” is a common enough gardening phrase. But you can control, to a degree, the amount of shade or sun your plants receive. Even though you can’t move the clouds or redesign your house, you can still select which plants you’ll put in a certain area. Read the rest of this entry »

There is no end of possible tools to acquire for pursuing this practical hobby of landscaping. But there are some that are a must if you’re to achieve worthwhile results. Read the rest of this entry »

Perennials are plants, usually flowering types, that come back year after year. They differ in when they blossom, but once planted they will burst forth with color every year if treated well. Biennials are similar, but only bloom every other year. Read the rest of this entry »

Landscapers often consider the color provided by flowers, the convenience and beauty of stone walking paths, the shade and fruit of a nice apple tree and other elements. But no landscaping effort is complete without the proper selection and placement of some great shrubs. Read the rest of this entry »

One of the most beautiful landscape designs incorporates plants and structures to attract hummingbirds and butterflies. These colorful creatures add a wonderful natural touch to a garden and landscape. Read the rest of this entry »

Most flowers, and some non-flowering plants, can be divided into annuals, perennials and biennials. Biennials bloom only every other year. Perennials will lose their flowers, but then come right back the following year – often for many, many years. Annuals, by contrast, bloom one year and never again, typically dying out entirely. Read the rest of this entry »

Transplanting is always tricky, but sometimes the health of your plants requires it. Different plants are best transplanted at different times of year, so no ‘one-size-fits-all’ strategy is possible. But there are some general guidelines to go along with specific recommendations. Read the rest of this entry »

Your zone and geography will affect the selection of trees for landscape design. But you’ll still find plenty of choices. Read the rest of this entry »

There are as many reasons to prune a tree as there are individual species and circumstances. Read the rest of this entry »

Like any problem, weeds can often be brought down to manageable proportions. The first step is to start with as free a plot as possible. Read the rest of this entry »

Keeping destructive insects to a minimum is now easier than ever. Thanks to innovative biologists and chemists, there are a dozen safe ways to control damaging insects. Read the rest of this entry »

Taking care of a yard is a year round job for some. For those who get a brief break due to snow on the ground, there are still some things you might want to study up on before Spring. Read the rest of this entry »

The two most basic chemicals your lawn needs are water and fertilizer. These two work together to give your lawn everything it needs from you. The rest it gets for itself. Even these, of course, may be supplied in other forms or from other sources, depending on the soil and climate. Read the rest of this entry »

Your trees, shrubs and flowers often look like a free lunch to wildlife. Rabbits love to munch on clover and other grasses, as well as certain kinds of flowers. Deer love fruit and certain kinds of shrubbery. Moose will feed on the large and small branches of apple and other trees. And, of course, there are the ever-present gophers that populate large areas of the U.S. Read the rest of this entry »

The Zone System is indispensable for gardeners who want to optimize their efforts and results. The Zone System was created by the USDA (U.S. Dept of Agriculture) and divides the country into eleven zones. Read the rest of this entry »

Because so many plants don’t thrive well in ice and snow, most gardeners who live in cold climates just pack up for winter and head inside to watch the landscape through a window. They see stretches of snow covered ground, dead stalks and a few hardy evergreens. It’s not a bad view, actually. Read the rest of this entry »

Before you buy or build a greenhouse, there are a number of considerations worth thinking about. You’ll save time and hassle by planning ahead. Remember, all the factors discussed below will need to be evaluated in light of what kind of plants you intend to have. Read the rest of this entry »

Greenhouses, or as they were known in the 19th century Conservatories, are freestanding structures that house plants and admit light to ‘feed’ them. Read the rest of this entry »

Building a foundation for your greenhouse offers you many choices. Some people, especially if they buy a pre-made greenhouse, will simply lay it on top of whatever ground exists at the location they choose which may be gravel, or dirt or even grass. Some pre-made greenhouses come complete not only with roof and walls, but a floor, as well. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s obvious to say that greenhouse plants need water. But how they get it – and how much they need – will have a big influence on your level of effort in maintaining them. Read the rest of this entry »

It is possible to have a good greenhouse with no electricity. But your results will be improved and come easier if you install several systems and devices to help you. Read the rest of this entry »

Choosing what materials to use in constructing your greenhouse will have multiple effects on its usefulness. The same holds true for those considering purchasing a pre-made greenhouse. Read the rest of this entry »

Many people interested in having a greenhouse enjoy the prospect not only of using it, but of building it, too. Unless you purchase both the house and all its contents, you’ll have to have some carpentry skills. Read the rest of this entry »

Greenhouses are not just static structures that stand empty. They have moving parts and are filled with benches, tools and many other accessories that help support and care for the plants housed there. Read the rest of this entry »

So, you’ve put a lot of effort into planning and building (or installing) your greenhouse. You’ve got tabletops, benches, pots, shelves, cabinets, watering systems and a dozen tools to help. Now, you get to really enjoy what greenhouses are all about – plants! Read the rest of this entry »

Like anything around the home, greenhouses will require maintenance and, from time to time, some repairs. Read the rest of this entry »

Having potted plants around the home provides lovely decoration and a healthy atmosphere. Not only do many indoor plants help ‘scrub’ the air, but the sight of healthy growing things provides a nice mental lift as well. Read the rest of this entry »

Tropical plants are among the most popular indoor gardening choices. They’re often drought tolerant and easy to care for and there are many beautiful species. Read the rest of this entry »

How you prepare the soil for planting seeds or cuttings, or for repotting, depends on the type of plant involved. There are considerations that are generally true for almost all houseplants, and specific items and measurements that are unique to a species. Read the rest of this entry »

Adding houseplants to your home’s interior provides color and life. Many species help ‘scrub’ the air while adding the benefit of a living thing to the home. The sight of a healthy, growing plant gives a lift that can be provided in no other way. Read the rest of this entry »

Choosing a pot is one of the most important decisions anyone interested in indoor gardening has to consider. Even when plants are bought already in the container, making it seem as if the choice has been made for you, you need to consider whether that plant will thrive in that pot. Read the rest of this entry »

Most houseplants require some care year round. But exactly what you do is heavily influenced by the season. Most houseplant species have an active growing season in the Spring and early Summer, followed by a tapering off in the Fall. Many become dormant in Winter, even though the temperature in the house remains relatively warm. Read the rest of this entry »

One of the most enjoyable aspects of having houseplants is the opportunity they provide for doing interior design. A home can be lovely with good furniture, fine table-top items and beautiful paintings but adding indoor plants can expand the choices enormously while moving the decoration into a whole new dimension. Read the rest of this entry »

Outdoor plants are relatively self-regulating. They get most of what they need from the surrounding air and soil and often require no feeding aid. Indoor plants are much more reliant on the gardener’s tender ministrations. But it’s possible to overdo it. Read the rest of this entry »

There are about 60 different species of the Genus Sansevieria, variously known as Snake Plant, Mother-In-Law’s Tongue and many other names. Many are natives of Africa, but it can be found in Australia, China, Japan or Hawaii as well as other areas. These beautiful plants make for an excellent addition to the indoor garden and they’re very easy to grow and care for properly. Read the rest of this entry »

The overwhelming majority of houseplants get most of what they need by their own efforts, from decent soil and adequate sunlight. But, unlike their outdoor cousins, houseplants are very much at the mercy of their owners for proper watering. Read the rest of this entry »

The Braided Money Tree (Pachira Aquatica) is a beautiful and unusual plant that makes for an excellent addition to any home. The tree is composed of several trunks that wind around one another, reaching anywhere from a foot to several feet in height. The bonsai version is around a foot, while full sized trees reach up to seven feet. Read the rest of this entry »

The easiest way to add houseplants to your home is to buy mature plants. You bypass the time it takes to grow them from seed and you can enjoy them immediately instead of waiting for them to develop. But, there’s something to be said about watching a seed sprout or a cutting develop into a mature plant. Read the rest of this entry »

The Spider Plant (Chlorophytum Comosum) makes for an excellent houseplant. They’re attractive and easy to care for. Though, as with any houseplant, it’s possible to over or under water, they’re much more tolerant than most, and they live practically forever. Read the rest of this entry »

Jade Plants provide a great option for indoor gardening, since they’re hardy and easy to grow. They thrive in containers and enjoy warm, dry conditions. As succulents, they tolerate low-water conditions well and require very little fertilizer. Read the rest of this entry »

Houseplants are living organisms and get attacked by other living things that produce diseases. Here are some common symptoms and tips on how to treat the diseases they indicate. Read the rest of this entry »

There are millions of species that feed on houseplants. But there are a few that are found in almost every area. Read the rest of this entry »

Many plants will do equally well indoor or out. But some thrive best in the protected environment of the house, while others won’t flourish unless they are in the elements. Anyone considering a bit of indoor gardening and decoration with houseplants will want to do a little research to find out which falls into which category. Read the rest of this entry »

Bamboo is one of the more interesting choices for a houseplant. It’s decorative, hardy, and can spread like wildfire, so it can be a beautiful but challenging plant. Read the rest of this entry »

Palm trees are often associated with the tropics with images of banana bearing trees coming readily to mind, swaying in the breeze under a hot sun. But there are many palms that tolerate cold very well and that adaptability, along with their attractive appearance and easy care, make palm trees an excellent houseplant. Read the rest of this entry »

Most plants receive their nutrients solely from the soil and air, taking up nitrogen, water and other needed materials by capillary action. They soak it up through the roots and distribute it through the stem and leaves. Read the rest of this entry »

Unfortunately, the Internet can’t be fully explained at all, since there’s no central authority that designs or implements the highly distributed entity called “The Internet.” Read the rest of this entry »

The web sites you visit are all hosted on servers somewhere on the Internet. Web hosts are companies that offer Internet-connected servers that provide space and bandwidth for a domain, for one or more web sites. Read the rest of this entry »