Posts Tagged ‘Soil’

4 Tips for an Amazing Summer Garden

Thursday, June 10th, 2010

Summer is a wonderful time in the garden. Green, lush foliage provides a relaxing and cooling respite even during the heat of the day. Have an amazing garden this summer by following these four tips.

Ensure Adequate Water
Provide adequate water based on plant type, soil condition and weather. When dealing with plants with varying moisture needs, supplement general watering with a drip system or individual irrigation rather than over-watering some plants to ensure adequate water for others. Water early in the day to guard against excess moisture loss through evaporation.

Summer Garden

[credit: Memotions]

Encourage Optimal Plant Growth
Hoe weeds on a regular basis, thin seedlings, apply liquid manure to crops and pick peas and flowers to encourage new blossoms. Thoroughly check for signs of pests and parasites at least weekly and treat promptly, as needed. Drape netting over all kinds of berries to prevent damage from birds. (more…)

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Gardener’s Calendar for March

Thursday, March 11th, 2010
Tomato

Image via Wikipedia

March is when things start getting busy in the garden. The hard, cold days of winter are gone and the weather is warming. It’s time to put the plans and dreams of February into action.

You Shall Reap What You Sow

An abundance of fresh produce is the gardener’s reward and now is the time to begin planting some of the early crops. Start garden favourites, like tomatoes, peppers and tubers on a sunny windowsill or in the greenhouse. Early vegetables may be sown under cloches, which will warm the soil to allow germination and protect tender seedlings from cold night-time temperatures.

Examine existing fruit trees to ensure that grease bands are in place and in good condition. Work manure into the ground around all trees and evaluate where grafting may be desired. Put container grown fruit trees, canes and bushes into the ground and mulch well. Tend to the strawberry patch and prune raspberries, if needed. (more…)

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Gardener’s Calendar for February

Sunday, February 7th, 2010
February Snow
Image by Getty Images via Daylife

The main tasks on a gardener’s calendar in February revolve around planning and preparation. The days are getting longer and hold the promise of spring, but winter weather is still very much a concern. Although the warm sun shines brightly at times, another hard frost may be just hours away.

Time to Dream

This is the time to dream and plan. Spend time browsing through seed catalogues. Consider which fresh vegetables are desired for the upcoming season and order the seeds. Plan to rotate edible crops and decide whether to let certain areas rest this year. Remember that even small scale food production may eventually deplete the soil of key nutrients. (more…)

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Healthy Houseplant Tips

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010
Plants
Image via Wikipedia

Keeping houseplants healthy is not difficult. In fact, houseplants are more likely to suffer from too much kindness than from neglect. To ensure that your houseplants live a long and healthy life, follow these simple care guidelines.

Optimal Growing Conditions

For each plant, try to mimic the natural environment as closely as possible. For instance, place plants that come from a tropical environment in a humid area such as the bathroom. Conversely, a cactus will thrive in low humidity.

Proper Watering

Over-watering of houseplants is a common problem. Each plant variety has specific watering needs. Avoid watering all plants on the same schedule. As a general rule, water plants thoroughly once the top of the soil is dry and never let pots sit in standing water. (more…)

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Starting Seeds Indoors

Sunday, January 24th, 2010
Sunflower seedlings
Image via Wikipedia

Spring is approaching and it’s time to begin thinking about the garden. When planning the garden this year, consider giving plants an advantage by starting the seeds indoors. This will ensure that plants are ready to be placed outside and will also reduce the amount of time required before flowers bloom or produce is ready to harvest.

Choosing Seeds

When selecting seeds to start indoors, consider which plants require the longest growing season. There is no sense wasting valuable indoor growing space on plants with an early maturity. Choose those that require extra time. Once seeds are selected, make sure to provide ample light, proper soil, and adequate water and nutrients. (more…)

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Burn Off Calories in the Garden

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009
Agriculture
Image via Wikipedia

For people who love to stay fit and active, the garden offers a way to trim the foliage, as well as the waist. By digging up the soil or tending to vegetables, gardeners are also giving their bodies a great workout. Using the major muscle groups, gardening exercises the legs, arms, neck, back and stomach. The 2009 National Trust’s survey, A Space to Grow, states that the same number of calories is burned by either 30 minutes of weeding or 30 minutes of walking.

Considering the various movements needed while gardening, it is not surprising that outdoor work provides excellent fitness opportunities. A 150-pound adult burns close to 280 calories with only 60 minutes of active digging, weeding and tilling. For 60 minutes of planting, this same adult can burn approximately 238 calories. Moderate garden chores, such as water plants or pruning, burn close to 200 calories. With increased activity levels, the more calories are burned. In addition, people who weight more burn more calories than their thinner peers. (more…)

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