Sunday, January 30, 2011

Herb Garden :: CHOOSING WHAT TYPE OF GARDEN IS RIGHT FOR YOU

Author: How toHerb Garden Team

Stop! Before you take the shovel, before you plant a single herb. Stop to consider why you want an herb garden. What are your intentions for planting these marvelous plants?
Are you planning on using them both fresh and dried for culinary purposes -- to add to your meals to enhance the flavors? Are you planning on making flavored oils or vinegars to present to friends and family members as gifts (while keeping a couple stashed for yourself?)  Or have you discovered the many natural health benefits of herbs and would like to grow your own to brew teas, infusions, pastes to use to help your minor health conditions?
Oh, yes, it does matter! First, you may be planting totally different plants if your aim is to embolden your entrees than to empower your health.
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Here are just a few of the different "classes" of herbs, each used for a different reason"

Culinary herbs -- sometimes referred to as sweet herbs - are those plants, whether they be annual, biennial or perennial, that have tender roots or ripe seeds. They also possess an aromatic flavor (yes, they smell darned good!) and they have a great flavor.
Medicinal herbs are grown with the intent of eventual use to remedy specific health conditions, from serious heart related problems or the pain of arthritis to loss of energy or memory.
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Ornamental herbs. Just as the name implies, these herbs are grown with the intent of pure enjoy. They're cherished for their beauty.
Then there are the herbs that are grown in order to enjoy a great cup of tea. And believe it or not, there are gorgeous, imaginatively designed gardens, grown for this express purpose.
The herbs you ultimately grow depend on large part, which class of herbs you want.

How to Herb Garden team http://howtoherbgarden.bytinet.com Information for Successful Herb Gardening


About the Author
"How To Herb Garden" Team

Friday, January 28, 2011

Planting Vegetable Gardens For Peace and Relaxation - Feel The Enjoyment

Author: Bill Murphy

As spring rolls around, there's nothing better than seeing the Earth awaken and plants begin to grow, you can take advantage of the peace and relaxation you receive by watching plants grow by planting vegetable gardens.

Stress is a major factor in most people's lives, but many have found that planting vegetable gardens can give them a slice of peace and relaxation while reaping the rewards of having fresh grown vegetables.
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No matter how small a place you have, you can plant a vegetable garden, even if you need to do indoors to enjoy the effects of growing things. In other words, take a look around at the space you have, think about planting a small garden if it's your first, and then enjoy the yield of the garden as well as enjoy the peace and relaxation of working in the garden on a regular basis.

Even if you only have a few hours a week, you can enjoy growing vegetable gardens. Just make sure that your first vegetable garden isn't too large, as you don't want more stress about taking care of your garden. Plan to have several hours a week to care of your gardens through watering, weeding, tying up plans, and of course, harvesting.
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Make sure that your garden is easily accessible for you, there's no sense in planting it at the bottom of the backyard if it's not easily accessible for the watering system and your perusal for pests and weeds, after all, the idea is to be able to work the garden and watch the garden grow.

Also, for optimum soil efficiency, if you're not familiar with gardening, you may want to speak to someone who is gardening nearby. Your soil may need additives such as fertilizers, nitrogen, or perhaps be PH tested. Taking care of the soil before you begin to plant your garden allows you to get the best yield, and watch your garden grow lushly.
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Also, choose those vegetables that you enjoy, are easy to grow, and produce a high yield. If you're a new gardener you want those vegetables such as carrots, radishes, and perhaps maybe a bit of corn. Make sure that your corn plants or other tall growing plants do not shade those that need full-size, and make sure that you understand the harvesting and growing season for each individual type of vegetable. Planting at the right time of year for your area will allow your plants to grow effectively.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/planting-vegetable-gardens-for-peace-and-relaxation-feel-the-enjoyment-2429486.html

About the Author
Remember, the whole point is to find peace and relaxation by planting vegetable gardens.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Annual Flowers for your Garden from A (Alyssum) to Z (Zinnia)

Author: Larry Truett

A is for Alyssum, which makes a carpet of tiny blooms in whites, reds, and pinks.
B is for Begonia, which have dainty pink, red, or white flowers.
C is for Celosia, which have velvety red and orange plumes.
D is for Dahlia, which produce huge flowers in purple, red, pink, orange, or yellow.
E is for Everlasting, which annuals are not - they only bloom for one year.
F is for Four O' Clock, or Mirabilis jalapa, which as the name implies will open their blooms mid-afternoon.
G is for Geranium, with the classic red pink or white clusters of petals.
H is for Hollyhock, which has spires of flowers in purples and white, often with a different color in the center.
I is for Impatiens, with the delicate little white, pink, and red flowers that are some of the first to bloom in spring.
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J is for Just, as in I am going to just skip the letter J.
K is for Kale, which can have bright white or red leaves to brighten the garden all season.
L is for Lobelia, with their tiny and prolific cascading blue flowers.
M is for Marigold, with the brilliant yellow or orange flowers that are said to deter pests from the garden.
N is for Nasturtium, which are lovely vines with orange or red flowers that are both beautiful and edible.
O is for Osteospermum, an unusual daisy like flower that blooms in a rainbow of colors.
P is for Petunia, an old garden favorite with droopy petals in reds, pinks, whites, and even striped.
Q is for Quandry, as Q usually is for these lists.
R is for Rudbeckia, with bright yellow or orange daisy-like flowers.
S is for Snapdragons, the cheerful stalks of blooms that if you squeeze just right will look like they are snapping.
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T is for Thunbergia, which has red or pink flowers with a distinctive dark "eye".
U is for Underground, which is where you plant most seeds.
V is for Viola, with delicate purple and yellow flowers which are often the very first annuals to bloom in spring.
W is for Water, as most annual flowers will need regular watering to look their best.
X is for Xeranthemum, an unusual flower in bright pink or white.
Y is for You, as in you should try some annual flowers in your garden.
Z is for Zinnia, with the dependable big blooms in red, pink, yellow, or white.
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See more resources for buying and growing Annual Flower Seeds with listings of local garden centers and specialty mail order nurseries at http://www.GardeningWithLarry.com.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/annual-flowers-for-your-garden-from-a-alyssum-to-z-zinnia-1397948.html

About the Author

I'm a freelance PHP and MySQL programmer living in the San Carlos neighborhood of San Diego with my wife and our 3 cats. I enjoy hiking, reading, gardening, watching too much television, and other nerdy activities.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

How To Plant Herb Garden Tips

Author: Mack

Growing herbs is rapidly gaining favor with gardeners today. Both the experienced and beginners are discovering the rewards of growing fresh herbs. They are joining an age old pursuit of seeking to enjoy the delightful products offered by herbs. This pursuit has touched all societies and ages. These how to plant herb garden tips will help the beginning herb gardener get off to a good start on the path to fresh herb enjoyment.
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Herbs are easy to grow and starting out they don't necessarily have to be grown in their own garden. They can be planted in an existing flower bed or garden as long as it drains well and it will receive plenty of sunshine. They can also be grown in pots that can be placed either indoors or outside. If culinary herbs are being cultivated it is a good idea to plant them near the kitchen so they will be immediately available for cooking.

An enjoyable challenge to the beginning herb gardener is picking which herbs to raise. In addition to culinary herbs other types include medicinal, aromatic, ornamental, beverage, pesticidal and industrial. It is recommended for the beginner to start with familiar culinary herbs and expand with other type herbs as the confidence and experience levels grow.
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Here are a few suggestions with comments for the new gardener's considersation.

SWEET MARJORAM - This is a good plant for growing in pots because it only grows to twelve inches and needs only six inches of space. In warmer areas it can be a perennial but in cooler climes with frequent frosts it is an annual. Its reward is the delicate flavor it adds to soups, salads, fish and lamb.

THYME - This herb is used to flavor poultry dressing and soups. It grows to twelve inches and needs eight inches of space. It is a hardy perennial that becomes a shrub that produces leaves for flavoring. It also needs rich soil.

SUMMER SAVORY - Excellent when used to create mouth-watering fish specialties and to flavor soups and beans. This is a delicate little annual that germinates in only seven to ten days and grows up to twelve inched and requires five inches of space.

BORAGE - This plant's leaves are a great addition to a tossed salad with its subtle flavor. It does not like to be moved so it should be planted directly in the garden where it will reach a height of two feet and need twelve inches of space. It is an annual.
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LAVENDER - Here is an aromatic that a new herb gardener might like to try. It is a hardy perennial with gray leaves and spikes of fragrant lavender flowers. The leaves can be dried by hanging them in a cool dry space like and attic or garage. The pleasant scented dried leaves can be used for a variety of purposes including freshening up a linen closet.

Armed with this information you are now ready to start your adventure in herb gardening so go for the gusto.


Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/how-to-plant-herb-garden-tips-1334596.html

About the Author

SONNY CHENOWETH is a herb expert. For more information on how to plant herb garden tips, visit http://www.herbgardenreport.com

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Creating Your Personal Idyll with Garden Art

"Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time." Thomas Merton quotes.

Gardening is of course commonly regarded as a hobby. A hobby which is no doubt, engaging, rewarding and soothing. But can one really go beyond the ordinary process of just taking care of and maintaining a garden and make it look like a work of art with garden art, alone? Why not? All that is needed is a few insightful tips to give it an artistic touch and the desire to see life blooming at your doorstep.

Just by adding garden art here and there, your garden will become the very personal heaven you so wanted. Employing garden art doesn't mean using all expensive materials or going beyond your means, after all, we don't want to beautify the garden at the cost of the house! What are required are just the right touches such as appropriate garden art objects. Just little additions or modifications can turn a mere garden into an idyll which boasts of symphony between flora and garden art.
Here is how you bring "garden art" in your garden.

Theme - this is the first step to make your garden special. A garden art theme is what makes a garden stand apart from a traditional garden. You can have an all-green garden, a bright colorful garden, a desert themed garden or a Japanese garden. There are endless possibilities and promises - but all use garden art. You could even come up with some unique garden art theme which complements the overall schema.

Colors - just like everything else in life, correct combination gives out the accurate effect. Have a good look at your garden and assess the need for adding the right combination or stone or metallic garden art. Combine bright orchids with pastel plants or arrange your pots and plants in around your garden art so that the overall picture that comes up is that of a beautifully arranged flower vase - but remember you first have to have the vase, i. e. - the garden art.

Light - you will be surprised at how much of a difference the amount of light makes. Under the sun, all the flowers will look colorful and bright; it is only when you put on the lights after the sun sets that they show their hidden colors. It is as if plants have a separate nocturnal life of their own. Lighting should be arranged, as well, to highlight your garden art. Explore shades of light available and choose the one that best suits your collection in the garden.

Water - cooling, soothing and colorless. Water is something which effortlessly blends in any background yet holds out on its own. Make space for a "wet" garden art such as a small pond and let the water gently flow down a delicate sculpture. This small addition of garden art in your garden will bring out the best of beauty around it.

Accessories and art - the very meaning of accessorize is "to decorate or to beautify." A garden these days is so much more than pots and plants, there is this whole market or garden art objects available to adorn it. Hanging lamps, wind chimes, painted pots, shades and lights, corner paintings, veils, sculptures, sand and stones; the variety of garden art is exhausting. Choose the garden art objects that fit within your budget and theme and change the way the world looks at your garden.

The aim of all this effort is beyond mere beauty. The calming effect of joining nature and garden art has been known since forever but has now been proved, too. Being close to nature and beautiful garden art relieves us of everyday stress, adds an element of freshness and brightens to our day and approach to life. A healthy mindset resides in a healthy body. The impact of mental health on our body is far too much too ignore.

In this fast paced life that we live, it may not be possible to take a break and go away for a breath of fresh air near nature and garden art at the slightest hint of stress, why not make it easier? Go home to a garden boasting Grande flora and bountiful garden art.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Indoor Gardening

Author: Master Gardener

Indoor gardening is becoming more popular as technology improves and costs decrease for supplies and equipment. Growing indoors can be very rewarding and the results are absolutely fantastic when done correctly, that said they can also be devastating when things go wrong.
In this article I would like to dispel some myths about indoor gardening as well as give some tips for simple ways to improve your harvest.

Myth #1: You can grow in any room indoors.
Growing indoors even in the best circumstances is more difficult than you would think at first, and depends a lot on "what" you are trying to grow. For this article I will focus on food bearing plants such as tomatoes and cucumbers, and other succulent garden plants, as well as herbs and fresh flowers and orchids. Plants such as garlic and carrots that create bulbs are even more challenging and will not be discussed at this time.
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Tip #1: No matter what plants you decide to grow indoors, you will still need to meet its basic requirements for growth.

Mainly, good ventilation from the outside, Light, and fertilizer as well as a exhaust for the heat from the lights and built up oxygen that the plants cannot eat. Plants Breath CO2, but with global warming and all there is plenty of that in regular air, so just make sure your ventilation is good into and throughout the room. Light and fertilizer depend more on what you are trying to grow. Be sure that water is nearby unless you like to carry heavy things a lot. Even long hoses only go so far.
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Myth #2: Indoor gardening doesn't involve getting down and dirty.
Cleanliness is close to godliness. Growing indoors can be a messy job. Weather you decide to use hydroponics or soil, there is usually some sort of spills involved.

Tip#2: Plan for the worst! Enclose the growing area in a cheap and easy home-made reserve reservoir to prevent run-off and spills from damaging your home.
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Create a wooden frame of 2x4s that sits flat on the ground and lay a giant plastic sheet (available at home depot) that tucks over the board on all sides. Be sure to measure before hand, but often you can get 12 x 30 ft or more. The idea is to create a giant tub below the plants in case of emergency. This is especially important for hydroponic systems that are not on the ground floor.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/crafts-articles/indoor-gardening-2427522.html

About the Author

Master Gardener is a hobby grower and herb garden enthusiast. Recently the inventor of a new Herb Garden Gift, Now you too can grow fresh herbs in your kitchen with Stem Garden from Quirky.com