tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35787275088949365812024-03-20T21:22:28.544-07:00GARDEN SIGHT SITEExperimental and specialty garden progressive updates,online product and informative tips and links.ONLINE PRODUCTShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041784763105492778noreply@blogger.comBlogger157125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578727508894936581.post-2805382200333354382009-01-14T14:25:00.000-08:002009-01-14T14:35:43.623-08:00Crop RotationCrop rotation or Crop sequencing is the practice of growing a series of dissimilar types of crops in the same area in sequential seasons for various benefits such as to avoid the build up of pathogens and pests that often occurs when one species is continuously cropped. Crop rotation also seeks to balance the fertility demands of various crops to avoid excessive depletion of soil nutrients. A traditional component of crop rotation is the replenishment of nitrogen through the use of green manure in sequence with cereals and other crops. It is one component of polyculture. Crop rotation can also improve soil structure and fertility by alternating deep-rooted and shallow-rooted plants.<br /><br /><br />1 Method and purpose <br />2 History <br />3 Effects on soil erosion <br />4 References <br /><br /><br /><em>Method and purpose</em><br />This article includes a list of references or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations where appropriate. <br /><br />Crop rotation avoids a decrease in soil fertility, as growing the same crop repeatedly in the same place eventually depletes the soil of various nutrients. A crop that leaches the soil of one kind of nutrient is followed during the next growing season by a dissimilar crop that returns that nutrient to the soil or draws a different ratio of nutrients, for example, rices followed by cottons. By crop rotation farmers can keep their fields under continuous production, without the need to let them lie fallow, and reducing the need for artificial fertilizers, both of which can be expensive. Rotating crops add nutrients to the soils.<br /><br />Legumes, plants of the family Fabaceae, for instance, have nodules on their roots which contain nitrogen-fixing bacteria. It therefore makes good sense agriculturally to alternate them with cereals (family Poaceae) and other plants that require nitrates. A common modern crop rotation is alternating soybeans and maize (corn). In subsistence farming, it also makes good nutritional sense to grow beans and grain at the same time in different fields.<br /><br />Crop rotation is a type of cultural control that is also used to control pests and diseases that can become established in the soil over time. The changing of crops in a sequence tends to decrease the popluation level of pests. Plants within the same taxonomic family tend to have similar pests and pathogens. By regularly changing the planting location, the pest cycles can be broken or limited. For example, root-knot nematode is a serious problem for some plants in warm climates and sandy soils, where it slowly builds up to high levels in the soil, and can severely damage plant productivity by cutting off circulation from the plant roots. Growing a crop that is not a host for root-knot nematode for one season greatly reduces the level of the nematode in the soil, thus making it possible to grow a susceptible crop the following season without needing soil fumigation.<br /><br />It is also difficult to control weeds similar to the crop which may contaminate the final produce. For instance, ergot in weed grasses is difficult to separate from harvested grain. A different crop allows the weeds to be eliminated, breaking the ergot cycle.<br /><br />This principle is of particular use in organic farming, where pest control may be achieved without synthetic pesticides.<br /><br />A general effect of crop rotation is that there is a geographic mixing of crops, which can slow the spread of pests and diseases during the growing season. The different crops can also reduce the effects of adverse weather for the individual farmer and, by requiring planting and harvest at different times, allow more land to be farmed with the same amount of machinery and labor.<br /><br />The choice and sequence of rotation crops depends on the nature of the soil, the climate, and precipitation which together determine the type of <a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2009/01/your-first-garden.html">plants </a> that may be cultivated. Other important aspects of farming such as crop marketing and economic variables must also be considered when choosing a crop rotation.<br /><br /><br /><em>History</em><br />Old crop rotation methods were mentioned in Roman literature, and referred to by several civilizations in Asia and Africa. During the Muslim Agricultural Revolution of the Islamic Golden Age, Muslim engineers and farmers introduced a new modern rotation system where land was cropped four times or more in a two-year period. Winter crops were followed by summer ones, and in some cases there was a crop in between. In areas where plants of shorter growing season were used, ie.spinach and eggplants, the land could be cropped three or more times a year. According to some sources, in parts of Yemen wheat yielded two harvests a year on the same land, as did rice in Iraq. Scholars such as Andrew Watson have written of a Muslim agricultural revolution as the Islamic world made significant progress in developing a more "scientific" approach based on three major elements: sophisticated systems of crop rotation, highly developed irrigation techniques and the introduction of a large variety of crops which were studied and catalogued according to the season, type of land and amount of water they require. Numerous farming encyclopaedias, with surprisingly great precision and details, were produced.<br /><br />From the end of the Middle Ages until the 20th century, the three-year rotation was practiced by farmers in Europe with a rotation of rye or winter wheat, followed by spring oats or barley, then letting the soil rest (leaving it fallow) during the third stage. The fact that suitable rotations made it possible to restore or to maintain a productive soil has long been recognized by planting spring crops for livestock in place of grains for human consumption.<br /><br />A four-field rotation was pioneered by farmers, namely in the region Waasland in the early 16th century and popularised by the British agriculturist Charles Townshend in the 18th century. The system (wheat, turnips, barley and clover), opened up a fodder crop and grazing crop allowing livestock to be bred year-round. The four-field crop rotation was a key development in the British Agricultural Revolution.<br /><br />George Washington Carver pioneered crop rotation methods in the United States by teaching southern farmers to rotate soil depleting crops like cotton with soil enriching crops like peanuts and peas.<br /><br />In the Green revolution, the traditional practice of crop rotation gave way in some parts of the world to the practice of supplementing the chemical inputs to the soil through top dressing with fertilizers, e.g., adding ammonium nitrate or urea and restoring soil pH with lime in the search for increased yields, preparing soil for specialist crops, and seeking to reduce waste and inefficiency by simplifying planting and harvesting. Some disadvantages of this type of monoculture have since become apparent, notably from the perspective of sustainable agriculture and the risk of catastrophic crop failure.<br /><br /><em>Effects on soil erosion</em><br />Crop rotation can greatly affect the amount of soil lost from erosion by water. In areas that are highly susceptible to erosion, farm management practices such as zero and reduced tillage can be supplemented with specific crop rotation methods to reduce raindrop impact, sediment detachment, sediment transport, surface runoff, and soil loss.<br /><br />Protection against soil loss is maximized with rotation methods that leave the greatest mass of crop stubble (plant residue left after harvest) on top of the soil. Stubble cover in contact with the soil minimizes erosion from water by reducing overland flow velocity, stream power, and thus the ability of the water to detach and transport sediment. For example, wheat stubble consistently leaves a significant mass of plant residue after harvest. Wheat production supplemented with no till or reduced till management systems can typically yield 90% post-harvest soil cover with up to 15 months of stubble retention.<br /><br />The amount of stubble mass retained over time governs whether a crop will be successful in controlling erosion. Crops with little stubble mass retained over time should not be planted following a plant production system with similar characteristics. Sunflowers for example typically produce less than 40% soil cover after harvest with very little stubble remaining after cultivation. This leaves a significant percentage of the soil susceptible to erosion. However, when sunflower crops are rotated with wheat crops in production, the soils are less prone to erosion because the high-stubble producing wheat crops are followed by the low-stubble producing sunflower crop. A corn – soybean crop rotation in a no till system works similarly. Corn plants leave substantial residue mass after harvest. Soybeans, a relatively low-residue producing plant, following corn will have sufficient cover from the previous crops corn residue to limit soil losses. It is important to avoid mono-cropping low-stubble producing plants when attempting to reduce soil loss.<br /><br />The additional crop residue added by rotation with crops with substantial biomass will also enhance soil structure. Stubble cover will prevent the disruption and detachment of soil aggregates that cause macrospores to block, infiltration to decline, and runoff to increase. This significantly improves the resilience of soils when subjected to periods of erosion and stress.<br /><br />The effect of crop rotation on erosion control varies by climate. In regions under relatively consistent climate conditions, where annual rainfall and temperature levels are assumed, rigid crop rotations can produce sufficient plant growth and soil cover. In regions where climate conditions are less predictable, and unexpected periods of rain and drought may occur, a more flexible approach for soil cover by crop rotation is necessary. An opportunity cropping system promotes adequate soil cover under these erratic climate conditions. In an opportunity cropping system, crops are grown when soil water is adequate and there is a reliable sowing window. This form of cropping system is likely to produce better soil cover than a rigid crop rotation because crops are only sewn optimal conditions, whereas rigid systems are sown in the best conditions available.<br /><br />Crop rotations also affect the timing and length of when a field is subject to fallow. This is very important because depending on a particular regions climate, a field could be the most vulnerable to erosion when it is under fallow. Efficient fallow management is an essential part of reducing erosion in a crop rotation system. Zero tillage is a fundamental management practice that promotes crop stubble retention under longer unplanned fallows when crops cannot be planted. Such management practices that succeed in retaining suitable soil cover in areas under fallow will ultimately reduce soil loss.<br /><br /><em>References</em><br />^ Andrew M. Watson (1974), The Arab Agricultural Revolution and Its Diffusion, 700-1100, The Journal of Economic History, Vol. 34, No.1, The Tasks of Economic History, pp. 8-35. <br />^ al-Hassani, Woodcock and Saoud (2007), Muslim heritage in Our World, FTSC publishing, 2nd Edition, pp.102-123. <br />^ Unger, P.W., and McCalla, T.M. “Conservation Tillage Systems.” Advances in Agronomy. Vol. 33. pg. 2-53. 1980. <br />^ Rose, C.W., and Freebairn, D.M. “A mathematical model of soil erosion and deposition processes with application to field data.” Soil Erosion and Conservation. Pg. 549-557. 1985. <br />^ a b Sallaway, M.M., Lawson, D., and Yule, D.F. “Ground cover during fallow from wheat, sorghum, and sunflower stubble under three tillage practices in central Queensland. Soil and Tillage Research. Vol. 12. pg. 347-364. 1988. <br />^ a b c Carroll, C., Halpin, M., Burger, P., Bell, K., Sallaway, M.M., and Yule, D.F. “The effect of crop type, crop rotation, and tillage practice on runoff and soil loss on a Vertisol in central Queensland.” Australian Journal of Soil Research. Vol. 35. pg. 925-939. 1997. <br />^ Loch, R.J., and Foley, J.L. “Measurement of Aggregate Breakdown under rain: comparison with tests of water stability and relationships with field measurements of infiltration.” Australian Journal of Soil Research. Vol. 32. pg. 701-720. 1994. <br />^ Littleboy, M., Silburn, D.M., Freebairn, D.M., Woodruff, D.R., and Hammer, G.L. “PERFECT. A computer simulation model of Productive Erosion Runoff Functions to Evaluate Conservation Techniques.” Queensland Department of Primary Industries. Bulletin QB89005. 1989. <br />^ Huang, M., Shao, M., Zhang, L., and Li, Y. “Water use efficiency and sustainability of different long-term crop rotation systems in the Loess Plateau of China.” Soil & Tillage Research. Vol. 72. pg. 95-104. 2003. <br /><br /><br />From Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaONLINE PRODUCTShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041784763105492778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578727508894936581.post-7082492907644365792009-01-13T15:42:00.000-08:002009-01-13T15:44:44.202-08:00Your First GardenAs you watch your garden grow,<br />even when you don't even know. <br />If it will produce or not<br />the <a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2009/01/snow-in-paradise-this-is-picture-taken.html">vegetables </a> you want a lot.<br /><br />Trial and error is the game<br />each year will be the same.<br />Learning more each passing year<br />listening to gardeners fears.<br /><br />Yet it's such a good feeling<br />down on your knees kneeling.<br />Digging and planting in the dirt,<br />sometimes till your body hurts.<br /><br />Fighting off the all the pests,<br />along with weeds and all the rest.<br />Weeds that you always have to hoe,<br />so we reap what we sow.<br /><br />Gardening help in many ways<br />relieves stress as many say.<br />Kids love to help weed,<br />thinking they are really needed.<br /><br />So start a garden this spring,<br />see all the joy it will bring.<br />Exercise, veggie, to list a few,<br />enjoying gardening as others do.<br /><br />RitaONLINE PRODUCTShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041784763105492778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578727508894936581.post-22484778355912978112009-01-03T09:37:00.000-08:002009-01-03T09:58:50.593-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheR-OwgBk9iDHfzEn_wZmZgxQbnRZ-Nz3ongtiqtq_D4tKEzTCMMTJsVC3sb7bFtlyro3TG6j-7tySSPLJMMIvhWsath5l7pCHeTHDL_YxUq_PFZNF-ByFeKUFg_MBYzdUmWGzLsbNkozs/s1600-h/DSCF1427.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheR-OwgBk9iDHfzEn_wZmZgxQbnRZ-Nz3ongtiqtq_D4tKEzTCMMTJsVC3sb7bFtlyro3TG6j-7tySSPLJMMIvhWsath5l7pCHeTHDL_YxUq_PFZNF-ByFeKUFg_MBYzdUmWGzLsbNkozs/s200/DSCF1427.JPG" border="0" alt="greenhouse,plants,vegetable"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287123891542245026" /></a><br /><br /><em><strong><br />SNOW IN PARADISE</strong></em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This is a picture taken of our greenhouse, it didn't weather the snow storm we had in Paradise(worst one in several years)and we forgot to go shake the snow off the top of it. Shame on us.<br /><br />Now we wait for the snow to melt and see if we can salvage the greenhouse and to see if any of the plants inside might have survived.<br /><br />I am just glad that I had already saved seeds from the tomato tree plants and had already dried some of the <a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/12/design-perfect-vegetable-garden-to-suit.html">bhut jolokia </a> peppers that we can harvest seed from.<br /><br />Next year we will know to be better prepared and not make the same mistakes twice.<br /><br />Happy Gardening!!!ONLINE PRODUCTShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041784763105492778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578727508894936581.post-91692765148189711032008-12-26T10:52:00.000-08:002008-12-26T10:56:25.872-08:00Design the Perfect Vegetable Garden to Suit Your Dinner TableWhen you are looking to start your own <a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/12/six-rose-diseases-and-how-to-treat-them.html">vegetable garden,</a> you have a few decisions to make. First of all, you have to decide what kind of vegetables you want to include. You have to decide how many of each plant type you want to include and you have to decide where to place your garden. <br /><br />The placement of your garden is the most important part. You want to choose a place that gets plenty of sunlight and you want to make sure that your garden is big enough for the one that you have in mind. Once you have your spot picked out and your seeds in hand, it''s time to design the perfect vegetable garden. <br /><br /><em>Pick Out A Spot</em> <br /><br />To choose a spot for your vegetable garden, pick a spot near your house or at least where you can keep an eye on it. You shouldn''t be worried too much about people coming into your garden and messing things up but you want to be especially worried about rodents, pests and other animals who might see your vegetable garden design as some help yourself buffet. Once you have your plot picked out, you might want to line it with chicken wire to keep it safe from those same pests. <br /><br />The size of your garden is important as you want to make sure that your plants have enough room to grow and flourish. When creating your vegetable garden design, you want to make sure that each seed is placed at least six inches apart. Any less than that and you risk overcrowding, which means that your vegetable garden may not produce as much as you hope. <br /><br />When you have the spot picked out and you deem it large enough for all the vegetables that you plan to sow, make lines in the soil with your finger or a garden tool. These lines should lead the long ways across the garden, at least six inches apart as stated above. Once you have the lines in the soil drawn, drop your seeds into the divots that you made, again about six inches apart. Cover the holes with soil and water thoroughly. If you wish, you can insert some plant food sticks that you can get at your local home and garden store to give them the extra nutrients they need to grow big and strong. <br /><br />Make sure you water your vegetable garden thoroughly every day and keep a close eye on it. The most important part of your vegetable garden design is proper maintenance. By paying attention to your plants, you will begin to notice when they are in need of certain things, such as water, certain nutrients and even sunlight. <br /><br />The perfect vegetable garden design is all about what you are looking for whenever you break ground to plant your seeds. There really is no wrong vegetable garden design. As long as your garden produces and you get the vegetables you set out to grow, you have the perfect vegetable garden design.<br />Ann Marier has written articles on house and garden topics providing helpful tips and advice. Read all about her latest articles on types of garden design offering a new insight into Garden design<br /><br />Copyright (c) 2007 Free Online Library<br />This article can be reproduced subject to these terms. Syndicate this article. More free articles for syndicationONLINE PRODUCTShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041784763105492778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578727508894936581.post-61478612535786619162008-12-16T16:58:00.000-08:002008-12-16T18:54:55.617-08:00Six Rose Diseases And How To Treat Them<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYKvWpCC5OUPVgg4gehj7zOuZp6jd5JDFQ8vSQIC9sgco4GAvWAXwJqysJoh5_coYhM0YmxzimltgS6njI93Wfgoh1UDhmI8_di9vk0xXqvDsq-zxp4Lis-VdMbIYUHPO18eZtXwecujEt/s1600-h/DSCF1164.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYKvWpCC5OUPVgg4gehj7zOuZp6jd5JDFQ8vSQIC9sgco4GAvWAXwJqysJoh5_coYhM0YmxzimltgS6njI93Wfgoh1UDhmI8_di9vk0xXqvDsq-zxp4Lis-VdMbIYUHPO18eZtXwecujEt/s200/DSCF1164.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280583352625008930" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><em>Beautiful Arrangement of Roses</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />By: Lee Dobbins<br /><br />Roses are beautiful but can be a bit challenging to grow. There are many insects and diseases that can chip away at the health of your roses. He are six symptoms of disease in your roses and how to treat them. <br /><br /><em><strong>1. Malformed young canes or canes that are stunted</strong></em> <br /><br />This is a fungal disease which is called powdery mildew. It covers stems bods and leaves with a white powder that spreads in the breeze. The leaves will turn purple and curl. To treat this, spray with Benomyl or Funginex. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnO7UR1Ck4oHDb4ENNnXJBNN_5pyDTK7IVsafYnOM2-UhScAUv9KX7zExAIngJaMtj1wlz7TyhKxEe7I4rUqykA1HpyIVBaBFr-TpJEI3CSlVAWM3pOg-i7k7HsA_ggZ4dqtvJ0Gi-SXqv/s1600-h/mildew.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnO7UR1Ck4oHDb4ENNnXJBNN_5pyDTK7IVsafYnOM2-UhScAUv9KX7zExAIngJaMtj1wlz7TyhKxEe7I4rUqykA1HpyIVBaBFr-TpJEI3CSlVAWM3pOg-i7k7HsA_ggZ4dqtvJ0Gi-SXqv/s200/mildew.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280580168687014882" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong><em>2. Black spots on leaves</em></strong> <br /><br />Aptly named, this disease is usually referred to as black spot. These spots are circular and have fringed edges causing the leaves to yellow. To treat this you want to remove infected leaves and pick up any that have fallen around the plant. You can also buy artificial sprays to treat and prevent black spot.<br /> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiTT7AJo78nfEw8-FYnnW2pKjvmM5gVb1SVhdXg8-mscYrTYh2PQAVqtMtJ9q7qapGJFI-DEIOqlDNK62_9R5WisI9i3Iit-t3-9F4rC3D3FjCs8wPilRCEv118sTE6FDOHq6ZRPP76JQU/s1600-h/pic+1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 128px; height: 88px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiTT7AJo78nfEw8-FYnnW2pKjvmM5gVb1SVhdXg8-mscYrTYh2PQAVqtMtJ9q7qapGJFI-DEIOqlDNK62_9R5WisI9i3Iit-t3-9F4rC3D3FjCs8wPilRCEv118sTE6FDOHq6ZRPP76JQU/s200/pic+1.jpg" border="0" alt="greenhouse,gardening,bulbs,plants"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280578788920727314" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><em><strong>3. Stunted or malformed flowers and leaves </strong></em><br /><br />Malformed leaves and <a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/12/fighting-plant-enemies.html">flowers </a> can be caused by spider mites. These little tiny mites can be green red or yellow and usually hang around on the underside of the leaves where they have a good old time sucking the juices. You can try applying Isotox or Orthene to help treat these little pests. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOxBmn5qlWq1gJ6bDRd_VNrD0-eOIXKgrvKeLCh1HOGK4BOWsFLuG3tCA_zrlzjTEjC2opMI7xB3CzOByiRTl5oWzRJKUADDE7yFPIRiFGh_h7i9RUFGiMflpvblxQOxU7_KOZr2TsfPvd/s1600-h/18carminespidermite-dam.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 159px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOxBmn5qlWq1gJ6bDRd_VNrD0-eOIXKgrvKeLCh1HOGK4BOWsFLuG3tCA_zrlzjTEjC2opMI7xB3CzOByiRTl5oWzRJKUADDE7yFPIRiFGh_h7i9RUFGiMflpvblxQOxU7_KOZr2TsfPvd/s200/18carminespidermite-dam.jpg" border="0" alt="plants,garden,gardening"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280579279484623202" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><em><strong>4. Blistered leaves </strong></em><br /><br />If you notice the underside of your roses leaves are blistered you may have the disease known as rust. Blisters are an orange red color in turn black in the fall. This disease can live throughout the winter and in spring when new sprouts formidable attack them. To treat this get rid of any leaves that are infected both on the plants and on the ground. Spray Funginex or Benomyl every seven to 10 days for treatment. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEG7ZRiD9hXILQNPumZcwBdiQ8mhWR0BiPULhjUx0AWcugPMhVm-HMhHSHphiwudMz1VXwxGhVMABAzpjXdPEa5Z4efTZ4GwgUMnaLK6NsTbs8gFd2Ip7jqqysIFJknAilkDzcAkSxhqKW/s1600-h/rust.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEG7ZRiD9hXILQNPumZcwBdiQ8mhWR0BiPULhjUx0AWcugPMhVm-HMhHSHphiwudMz1VXwxGhVMABAzpjXdPEa5Z4efTZ4GwgUMnaLK6NsTbs8gFd2Ip7jqqysIFJknAilkDzcAkSxhqKW/s200/rust.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280579920286894914" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><em><strong>5. Flowers which are malformed or do not open </strong></em><br /><br />this is another problem with roses that can be caused by bugs called Thrips. These are fain brownish yellow bugs that have fringed wings and damage your plant by sucking the juices from the flower buds. To get rid of them you'll have to cut off the infested flowers. Malathion and Orthene may also be used to treat this problem. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrtVQxvle2diPtKj0kZR-nRCGEw9WpqvGCZE0L8EkQedgY-3mqwkdKxvSKRRpqNndQdhYIETYCubVsoEMEMLlKPqH4fBirUtAmPS17u7MzPOKzqGztVRa79Fajjv8nFi_1WtaWizHjVgw/s1600-h/thrips.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 128px; height: 63px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrtVQxvle2diPtKj0kZR-nRCGEw9WpqvGCZE0L8EkQedgY-3mqwkdKxvSKRRpqNndQdhYIETYCubVsoEMEMLlKPqH4fBirUtAmPS17u7MzPOKzqGztVRa79Fajjv8nFi_1WtaWizHjVgw/s200/thrips.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280581693023315410" /></a><br /><em><strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />6. Leaves that are weak and mottled or show tiny white webs underneath</strong></em> <br /><br />Here you may have a problem with aphids. These tiny blogs can be green and brown or red and often hang around in clusters under the leaves and flower buds where they suck juices. Try spraying with diazinon or malathion in on to get rid of them.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPTClOyCLeq7_73_mZ1RWpfT8Qt9DhjsF2Vq341lmHbePo4e8txlZJzLSL8rvM1SdPkihyphenhyphenVD3hltqF8WEETmEh8Y7ZcrDLrQrEDhcuyNAZlg1X4P3P87uNZKwCkqptA-O-tnnHDntUJhG/s1600-h/aphids.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 128px; height: 102px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPTClOyCLeq7_73_mZ1RWpfT8Qt9DhjsF2Vq341lmHbePo4e8txlZJzLSL8rvM1SdPkihyphenhyphenVD3hltqF8WEETmEh8Y7ZcrDLrQrEDhcuyNAZlg1X4P3P87uNZKwCkqptA-O-tnnHDntUJhG/s200/aphids.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280582166081453778" /></a> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />If your roses to not have any of these pests or diseases but are still unhealthy looking you might want to look at the way you are fertilizing them. Roses are very hungry and do require fertilization. Talk to your local gardening store to find out what's best for your area.<br /><br />www.articlesnatch.com<br /><br /><em>About the Author:</em> Lee Dobbins writes for http://gardening.subjectmonster.com where you can learn more about all types of gardening including indoor gardening, container gardening and organic gardening. Get gardening tips to help improve your gardens today!ONLINE PRODUCTShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041784763105492778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578727508894936581.post-31944398021493946602008-12-12T17:59:00.000-08:002008-12-14T16:57:45.276-08:00FIGHTING PLANT ENEMIES.The devices and implements used for fighting <a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/12/landscaping-tips-for-water-conservation.html">plant </a>enemies are of two sorts:<br /><br />(1) those used to afford mechanical protection to the plants; <br /><br />(2) those used to apply insecticides and fungicides.<br /><br />Of the first the most useful is the covered frame. It consists usually of a wooden box, some eighteen inches to two feet square and about eight high, covered with glass, protecting cloth, mosquito netting or mosquito wire. The first two coverings have, of course, the additional advantage of retaining heat and protecting from cold, making it possible by their use to plant earlier than is otherwise safe. They are used extensively in getting an extra early and safe start with cucumbers, melons and the other vine vegetables. <br /><br />Simpler devices for protecting newly-set plants, such as tomatoes or cabbage, from the cut-worm, are stiff, tin, cardboard or tar paper collars, which are made several inches high and large enough to be put around the stem and penetrate an inch or so into the soil. <br /><br />For applying poison powders, the home gardener should supply himself with a powder gun. If one must be restricted to a single implement, however, it will be best to get one of the hand-power, compressed-air sprayers. These are used for applying wet sprays, and should be supplied with one of the several forms of mist-making nozzles, the non-cloggable automatic type being the best. For more extensive work a barrel pump, mounted on wheels, will be desirable, but one of the above will do a great deal of work in little time. Extension rods for use in spraying trees and vines may be obtained for either. For operations on a very small scale a good hand-syringe may be used, but as a general thing it will be best to invest a few dollars more and get a small tank sprayer, as this throws a continuous stream or spray and holds a much larger amount of the spraying solution. Whatever type is procured, get a brass machine it will out-wear three or four of those made of cheaper metal, which succumbs very quickly to the, corroding action of the strong poisons and chemicals used in them. <br /><br />Of implements for harvesting, beside the spade, prong-hoe and spading- fork, very few are used in the small garden, as most of them need not only long rows to be economically used, but horse- power also. The onion harvester attachment for the double wheel hoe, may be used with advantage in loosening onions, beets, turnips, etc., from the soil or for cutting spinach. Running the hand- plow close on either side of carrots, parsnips and other deep-growing vegetables will aid materially in getting them out. For fruit picking, with tall trees, the wire-fingered fruit-picker, secured to the end of a long handle, will be of great assistance, but with the modern method of using low-headed trees it will not be needed. <br /><br />Another class of garden implements are those used in pruning but where this is attended to properly from the start, a good sharp jack-knife and a pair of pruning shears will easily handle all the work of the kind necessary. <br /><br />Still another sort of garden device is that used for supporting the plants; such as stakes, trellises, wires, etc. Altogether too little attention usually is given these, as with proper care in storing over winter they will not only last for years, but add greatly to the convenience of cultivation and to the neat appearance of the garden. <br /><br />As a final word to the intending purchaser of garden tools, I would say: first thoroughly investigate the different sorts available, and when buying, do not forget that a good tool or a well-made machine will be giving you satisfactory use long, long after the price is forgotten, while a poor one is a constant source of discomfort. Get good tools, and take good care of them. And let me repeat that a few dollars a year, judiciously spent, for tools afterward well cared for, will soon give you a very complete set, and add to your garden profit and pleasure.<br /> <br />GARDEN PESTS. <br /><br />If we could garden without any interference from the pests which attack plants, then indeed gardening would be a simple matter. But all the time we must watch out for these little foes little in size, but tremendous in the havoc they make. <br /><br />As human illness may often be prevented by healthful conditions, so pests may be kept away by strict garden cleanliness. Heaps of waste are lodging places for the breeding of insects. I do not think a compost pile will do the harm, but unkempt, uncared-for spots seem to invite trouble. <br /><br />There are certain helps to keeping pests down. The constant stirring up of the soil by earthworms is an aid in keeping the soil open to air and water. Many of our common birds feed upon insects. The sparrows, robins, chickadees, meadow larks and orioles are all examples of birds who help in this way. Some insects feed on other and harmful insects. Some kinds of ladybugs do this good deed. The ichneumon-fly helps too. And toads are wonders in the number of insects they can consume at one meal. The toad deserves very kind treatment from all of us. <br /><br />Each gardener should try to make her or his garden into a place attractive to birds and toads. A good birdhouse, grain sprinkled about in early spring, a water-place, are invitations for birds to stay a while in your garden. If you wish toads, fix things up for them too. During a hot summer day a toad likes to rest in the shade. By night he is ready to go forth to eat but not to kill, since toads prefer live food. How can one "fix up" for toads? Well, one thing to do is to prepare a retreat, quiet, dark and damp. A few stones of some size underneath the shade of a shrub with perhaps a carpeting of damp leaves, would appear very fine to a toad. <br /><br />There are two general classes of insects known by the way they do their work. One kind gnaws at the plant really taking pieces of it into its system. This kind of insect has a mouth fitted to do this work. Grasshoppers and caterpillars are of this sort. The other kind sucks the juices from a plant. This, in some ways, is the worst sort. Plant lice belong here, as do mosquitoes, which prey on us. All the scale insects fasten themselves on plants, and suck out the life of the plants. <br /><br />Now can we fight these chaps? The gnawing fellows may be caught with poison sprayed upon plants, which they take into their bodies with the plant. The Bordeaux mixture which is a poison sprayed upon plants for this purpose. <br /><br />In the other case the only thing is to attack the insect direct. So certain insecticides, as they are called, are sprayed on the plant to fall upon the insect. They do a deadly work of attacking, in one way or another, the body of the insect. <br /><br />Sometimes we are much troubled with underground insects at work. You have seen a garden covered with ant hills. Here is a remedy, but one of which you must be careful. <br /><br />This question is constantly being asked, 'How can I tell what insect is doing the destructive work?' Well, you can tell partly by the work done, and partly by seeing the insect itself. This latter thing is not always so easy to accomplish. I had cutworms one season and never saw one. I saw only the work done. If stalks of tender plants are cut clean off be pretty sure the cutworm is abroad. What does he look like? Well, that is a hard question because his family is a large one. Should you see sometime a grayish striped caterpillar, you may know it is a cutworm. But because of its habit of resting in the ground during the day and working by night, it is difficult to catch sight of one. The cutworm is around early in the season ready to cut the flower stalks of the hyacinths. When the peas come on a bit later, he is ready for them. A very good way to block him off is to put paper collars, or tin ones, about the plants. These collars should be about an inch away from the plant. <br /><br />Of course, plant lice are more common. Those we see are often green in colour. But they may be red, yellow or brown. Lice are easy enough to find since they are always clinging to their host. As sucking insects they have to cling close to a plant for food, and one is pretty sure to find them. But the biting insects do their work, and then go hide. That makes them much more difficult to deal with. <br /><br />Rose slugs do great damage to the rose bushes. They eat out the body of the leaves, so that just the veining is left. They are soft-bodied, green above and yellow below. <br /><br />A beetle, the striped beetle, attacks young melons and squash leaves. It eats the leaf by riddling out holes in it. This beetle, as its name implies, is striped. The back is black with yellow stripes running lengthwise. <br /><br />Then there are the slugs, which are garden pests. The slug will devour almost any garden plant, whether it be a flower or a vegetable. They lay lots of eggs in old rubbish heaps. Do you see the good of cleaning up rubbish? The slugs do more harm in the garden than almost any other single insect pest. You can discover them in the following way. There is a trick for bringing them to the surface of the ground in the day time. You see they rest during the day below ground. So just water the soil in which the slugs are supposed to be. How are you to know where they are? They are quite likely to hide near the plants they are feeding on. So water the ground with some nice clean lime water. This will disturb them, and up they'll poke to see what the matter is. <br /><br />Beside these most common of pests, pests which attack many kinds of plants, there are special pests for special plants. Discouraging, is it not? Beans have pests of their own; so have potatoes and cabbages. In fact, the vegetable garden has many inhabitants. In the flower garden lice are very bothersome, the cutworm and the slug have a good time there, too, and ants often get very numerous as the season advances. But for real discouraging insect troubles the vegetable garden takes the prize. If we were going into fruit to any extent, perhaps the vegetable garden would have to resign in favour of the fruit garden. <br /><br />A common pest in the vegetable garden is the tomato worm. This is a large yellowish or greenish striped worm. Its work is to eat into the young fruit. <br /><br />A great, light green caterpillar is found on celery. This caterpillar may be told by the black bands, one on each ring or segment of its body. <br /><br />The squash bug may be told by its brown body, which is long and slender, and by the disagreeable odour from it when killed. The potato bug is another fellow to look out for. It is a beetle with yellow and black stripes down its crusty back. The little green cabbage worm is a perfect nuisance. It is a small caterpillar and smaller than the tomato worm. These are perhaps the most common of garden pests by name.ONLINE PRODUCTShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041784763105492778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578727508894936581.post-66926266119793802802008-12-07T10:03:00.000-08:002008-12-07T10:10:52.610-08:00Landscaping Tips for Water ConservationBy: Carol Stack <br />Word Count: 489<br /><br /><br />Many people think that <a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/11/greenhouse-advantage-for-seed-starting.html">landscaping </a> is a great way to preserve water. On the other hand, most critics challenge this fact by saying that landscaping is the number one water consumer. This is because they believe that the more colorful and organized the garden is, it just has to be consuming a larger amount of water.<br /><br />Over recent times research has shown that landscaping actually only uses up 2.9% of the overall national water consumption and this could be lowered still if people would just stop to consider the limitation of the water supply.<br /><br />So how are the excesses in water consumption accounted for? According to some experts, the major cause of unnecessary water consumption in landscaping is when it is not used properly and only the people who carry out improper use of the water can be held responsible for this.<br /><br />Poor landscaping plans and incorrect irrigation systems are just two of the common mistakes made by people using water when landscaping their gardens or yards.<br /><br />Many experts state that the natural resource of water can supply up to 67% of the total amount of water used in any given year, so taking this into account we are faced with an immense opportunity to preserve water.<br /><br />The fact remains however, that gardeners and landscapers are a mind to themselves and make their own decisions in choosing what to do, regardless of any guidance supplied by the experts on how best to preserve water when preparing their gardens.<br /><br />How can we make a difference? Well, the perfect example would be a water sprinkler set on an automatic timer providing the required use of water for a controlled amount of time. If the sprinkler is set to operate during hours of low temperature, immediate evaporation would not occur and the plants would receive more benefits of the water.<br /><br />Any reasonably experienced landscaper is aware that the life of his plants does not depend entirely on water alone. Pests need to be done away with in order to maintain the gardens landscaped appearance and to keep the plants healthy.<br /><br />There are many natural ways to destroy pests, such as encouraging pest-eating bugs to live in your yard. These include ladybugs, stink bugs, and assassin bugs. These various bugs eat anything from aphids and potato bugs to mealy bugs and spider mites.<br /><br />Another way to discourage pests is to alternate the planting of different species of plant. Pests like certain plants, and if a bunch of the plants are grouped together the pests will have a population explosion. By spacing out the plants, fewer pests are attracted and so there are fewer offspring.<br /><br />People should always keep in mind that it is not necessary to use a large amount of water to maintain a well landscaped garden or backyard. Water conservation and gardening should go hand in hand, concluding that the use of water should be both efficient and controlled.<br /><br />Grab more landscaping ideas and tips at http://www.freegardentips.info . You'll also find information on growing vegetables, flowers, and more.<br />Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.comONLINE PRODUCTShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041784763105492778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578727508894936581.post-49055977699092698892008-11-26T10:35:00.000-08:002008-11-26T10:44:34.501-08:00The Greenhouse Advantage for Seed StartingBy: Christopher Kline <br />Word Count: 438 <br /><br /> <br />With proper planning there are several advantages that greenhouse enthusiasts have for seed germinating and getting their plants off to a great start.<br /> <br /><em>Jump Start the Growing Season</em> - Just as <a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/11/garden-bugs.html">greenhouse </a>gardeners are able to extend the growing season they can get a head start as well. Many desirable plant varieties cannot be sowed until after the last freeze of the season and in some cases it takes even longer for the ground to warm to an appropriate temperature for optimum seed germination. <br />In the greenhouse, seed germination can start three to four weeks before the estimated last freeze of the season giving greenhouse gardeners a head start on their open air counterparts. This is particularly important for success with long season vegetables (those that require 70 or more days to produce) e.g., melons, tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, corn, carrots and parsnips among others.<br /><br /><em>Climate Control</em> - Most seeds germinate when the soil temperature is between 68 and 86°F. In some areas the greenhouse may be warm enough for good seed germination on its own, but if not, the sheltered environment of the greenhouse is a perfect place to use inexpensive soil heating cables or electric seed warming trays for starting seeds. An added advantage of the greenhouse for your new seedlings is protection from severe weather like strong wind, rain or unexpected cold that can be devastating to new sprouts. The increased humidity of the greenhouse also helps to provide an ideal germinating environment.<br /><br /><em>Pest Control</em> - Seeds and young plants are particularly vulnerable to garden pests and predators. Birds in particular love seeds and often times they will dig them up from the ground before your plants even get a chance to sprout. This even happens when using sprouting trays or containers outside. Once seeds are sprouted, young plants are still quite vulnerable to small rodents and insects until they are 8-10 inches tall. <br />The greenhouse gives plants protection from pests until they are strong enough to have a good chance of survival in the open air garden. An added benefit of the greenhouse is that it provides a wonderful environment for using biological pest control by releasing lady bugs into the greenhouse. Lady bugs will consume up to 1,000 aphids in their lifetimes in both their larvae and adult stages and work well in greenhouse settings.<br /><br /><em>Now is the Time!</em> - If you have a greenhouse and have not considered starting your plants from seeds you now have all the information and reasons you need to start using this low cost alternative to starting your gardens. Good luck and happy propagation!<br /> <br /><br />Dr. Christopher J. Kline is a master gardener and sunflower specialist living in Paradise Valley Arizona. He is also an editor for http://www.SunflowerOcity.com The Ultimate Sunflower Site has everything imaginable about sunflowers including great information, links to the best products, sites and discussion boards. You can reach Chris at Chris.Kline@sunflowerOcity.com.<br /><br />Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.comONLINE PRODUCTShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041784763105492778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578727508894936581.post-29925784290271578202008-11-25T12:53:00.000-08:002009-01-14T14:36:46.470-08:00Garden Site Map<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb4NHCHuIHYmxeZ3HJqkf1ScJQFuTMlT_-CYJfhM_Md9lFt1zPTHueddLXSLOmcJ9g3i8dgJlfWlwqpsBK0U764vhvwQWXHX3VkVsMvixvJX_sDUwTJ73LPZiT0wq59kpc3Rshc4nF07SA/s1600-h/Site+Map+for+popart.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb4NHCHuIHYmxeZ3HJqkf1ScJQFuTMlT_-CYJfhM_Md9lFt1zPTHueddLXSLOmcJ9g3i8dgJlfWlwqpsBK0U764vhvwQWXHX3VkVsMvixvJX_sDUwTJ73LPZiT0wq59kpc3Rshc4nF07SA/s400/Site+Map+for+popart.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202238719774338866" /></a><br /><a 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/><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/06/classy-hybrid-pickling-cucumbers-high.html">Classy Hybrid Pickling Cucumbers </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/05/cucumber-slicing-varieties.html">Cucumber Slicing Varieties </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/05/soaps-used-as-insecticides.html">Soaps used as insecticides </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/05/temperature-and-strawberries.html">Temperature and Strawberries </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/05/highlight-of-early-summer-strawberries.html">Summer Strawberries </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/05/cantaloupe.html">Cantaloupe </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/05/our-garden-updated.html">Our Garden Updated </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/05/bhut-jolokia-peppers-update.html">Bhut Jolokia peppers update </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/05/eggplants.html">Eggplants </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/05/growing-cucumbers-in-home-garden-hyg.html">Growing Cucumbers in home garden </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/05/squash-varieties-part-4-of-4.html"> Squash Varieties 4 </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/05/squash-varieties-part-3-of-4.html"> Squash Varieties 3 </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/05/squash-varieties-part-2-of-4.html"> Squash Varieties 2 </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/05/squash-varieties-part-1-of-4.html"> Squash Varieties 1 </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/05/squash.html"> Squash </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/05/artichoke-growing-guide.html"> Artichoke growing guide </a><br /><a 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href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/05/freezing-sweet-or-bell-and-hot-peppers.html"> Freezing Sweet, Bell and Hot Peppers </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/05/pickled-grilled-eggplant.html"> Pickled Grilled Eggplant </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/04/beans-fresh.html"> Beans, Fresh </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/04/cultural-practices-overview-watermelons.html"> Watermelon </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/04/hearts-of-romaine-with-blue-cheese-and.html"> Romaine Lettuce receipe </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-04-28T19%3A12%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=1"> For Whom the Bell (pepper) Tolls </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/04/tabbouleh-wrapped-in-romaine-leaves.html"> Tabbouleh Wrapped in Romaine Leaves </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-04-26T12%3A59%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=1"> Romaine Lettuce </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-04-25T18%3A05%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=1"> Mulch </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/04/which-tomatoe.html"> Which Tomato? </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/04/potatoes-well-plant-them-next.html"> Potatoes </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/04/six-steps-to-perfect-tomatoes.html"> Six Steps to Growing Tomatoes </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-04-21T16%3A05%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=1"> Our Garden Is Planted </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-04-20T20%3A05%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=1"> Pepper Plants for Sale on ebay </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-04-17T12%3A18%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=1"> Useful Tools We Used for our Irrigation System </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-04-15T20%3A10%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=1"> How to Choose Veg that Perform </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-04-14T11%3A43%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=1"> Country Taste Tomatoes </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/04/use-right-light-for-seed-starting.html"> Use the Right Light for Seed Starting Success </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-04-11T20%3A41%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=1"> Six Steps to a Successful Vegetable Bed </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-04-09T15%3A44%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=1"> The Story Buds Can Tell </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-04-08T16%3A56%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=1"> Reaction to Eating a Bhut Jolokia Pepper </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-04-07T10%3A48%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=1"> Return on your Investment </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-04-05T19%3A16%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=1"> How to Till a Garden </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-04-03T12%3A32%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=1"> Pruning a Bush Rose </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-02-28T08%3A18%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=1"> Hot Pepper House </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-02-23T0%3A46%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=1"> Easy to make Gourmet Sandwiches </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-02-21T12%3A18%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=1"> Seedling Progress </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-02-19T20%3A21%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=1"> Onion Trivia </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-02-17T17%3A49%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=1"> Bhut Jolokia </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-02-16T19%3A58%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=1"> What is Bhut Jolokia </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-02-16T19%3A45%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=1"> Interesting History of the Onion </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-02-15T20%3A44%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=1"> Garden Site 3 </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-02-14T20%3A05%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=1"> Ghost Pepper 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href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-03-06T19%3A49%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=1"> Landscaping the Garden </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-03-06T20%3A27%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=1"> How does a Greenhouse work </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-03-07T23%3A33%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=1"> Lettuce </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-03-09T19%3A32%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=1"> Nutrition-It's a matter of Fact </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-04-02T11%3A22%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=1"> Garden Inspired </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-04-01T17%3A25%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=1"> Early Spring Blubs </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-03-30T14%3A47%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=1"> Tulips Coming Alive </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-03-27T17%3A43%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=1"> As your Garden Grows </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-03-26T19%3A16%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=1"> Setting in Vegetable starts </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-03-25T14%3A36%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=1"> Sowing your Seeds </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-03-24T19%3A33%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=1"> Planting Vegetables </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-03-23T19%3A57%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=1"> Transplanting Begins </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-03-21T22%3A16%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=1"> Organic Alternatives to Pesticides </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-03-21T14%3A38%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=1"> Garden Update </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-03-20T16%3A56%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=1"> Cucumbers </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-03-15T13%3A43%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=1"> Hyacinthus </a><a target="_blank" href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=36676&u=271169&m=4742&urllink=&afftrack="><img src="http://www.shareasale.com/image/234x60_tulips.gif" border=0></a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-03-11T16%3A25%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=1"> Easter's Around the Corner </a> <br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-03-10T20%3A36%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=1"> Tomatoes- Diet Nutrition </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-04-14T11%3A43%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=1"> Country Taste Tomatoes </a><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-05-05T15%3A57%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=1"> Sunflowers </a>ONLINE PRODUCTShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041784763105492778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578727508894936581.post-54437766439779371472008-11-22T08:43:00.000-08:002008-11-22T08:51:25.435-08:00Garden Bugs<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh114wQxMZ2YrP_gOiZS47FvLkvumiy7z9C1ZbpT48zzpKKBuATH_lhu4dsoJGiMefXBHbcfLKpcDLT21RRw5khyDhcexkFEeMiU7A0ffNfcgFO5-Iwh3vyDhsVr5HaBKo24dJzNVJMoABt/s1600-h/GARDEN+PESTS.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 242px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh114wQxMZ2YrP_gOiZS47FvLkvumiy7z9C1ZbpT48zzpKKBuATH_lhu4dsoJGiMefXBHbcfLKpcDLT21RRw5khyDhcexkFEeMiU7A0ffNfcgFO5-Iwh3vyDhsVr5HaBKo24dJzNVJMoABt/s320/GARDEN+PESTS.jpg" border="0" alt="garden tips,vegetables,flowers,plants"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271524576506400802" /></a><br /><br />For as much as I like most bugs, they undoubtedly have a way of ruining a garden in a very timely fashion. As a child, I would run from the garden to the woods, transplanting as many garden bugs as possible before my mother came out to send them to their final resting cloud in the sky. I always thought it was rather unfair to kill garden bugs. After all, they were just bugs who were hungry and had landed in the garden to eat. How are <a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/11/winter-greenhouse.html">garden </a> bugs supposed to tell the difference between the regular plants and the garden? <br /><br />As an adult, however I now understand the vast amount of money that can go into a garden, and I understand that garden bugs have a critical mass population and wiping out a few hundred isn't something that is going to send my soul to hell, so down with the garden bugs. <br /><br />Fortunately there are some very effective methods of dealing with garden bugs that are inexpensive, non-toxic, and safe for everyone except the garden bug. Depending on the particular garden bug you find yourself plagued with you may very well be able to get rid of your pesky garden bugs without ever having to chemically treat your garden. <br /><br />I know that slugs are not a garden "bug" per se, except that they are in your garden and they definitely bug you as they slowly destroy all you plants. Personally, I like slugs and do make the effort to remove them before killing them. However, once I am outnumbered, my only option is to send them off to a happy garden bug heaven. <br /><br />Slugs are very attracted to beer. When killing garden bugs with beer, quality actually does matter. They seem to prefer the Corona or Killian''s type of beer, bug for a garden bug, they certainly like to swing it back. Tupperware containers that are no more than an inch high with about ¾ of an inch of beer on the bottom placed strategically around the garden will attract this sweet and lovable garden "bug" where he will merrily drink himself into a drunken stupor and fall fast into a permanent sleep. It is my belief that if we have to kill the garden bugs, we should do so with as much kindness and thoughtfulness as humanly possible. <br /><br />Japanese Beetles, the garden bug that loves to murder the rose bushes, quietly rest in perpetual silence in a small jar of olive oil. These garden bugs are simple to scoop into a small jar where they will ultimately fall into a peaceful permanent sleep. <br /><br />Of course, there are specific plants that will help minimize garden bugs in your garden. Planting Basil next to your ground cover for instance helps deter tiny gnats once the basil reaches maturity. The list is endless. Next time your garden bugs are snacking heavily, check out the vast array of alternative methods of deterring and destroying garden bugs without causing significant harm to plants, pets, children, or other helpful small creatures.<br />Lanny Hintz writes about Dutch gardens promo, Irises Discount Code and Flower gardens<br /><br />Copyright (c) 2007 Free Online Library<br />This article can be reproduced subject to these terms. Syndicate this article. More free articles for syndicationONLINE PRODUCTShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041784763105492778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578727508894936581.post-73992300895081219362008-11-18T10:00:00.000-08:002008-11-18T16:37:22.316-08:00Winter Greenhouse<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJwUo2R9dX_83rR27TmQfmT6VgCfibAmGMkz6wr4dEU0bAK0Ceo7QngNyeAZUdGFSh2mbnBT7j9sDnKDShjJY4qWZkftt3RGLTU2Sasf1eaMklnbzY7Q5EPO2HHBx7_zvvECQhs4_Q5nQ3/s1600-h/greenhouse-winter.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJwUo2R9dX_83rR27TmQfmT6VgCfibAmGMkz6wr4dEU0bAK0Ceo7QngNyeAZUdGFSh2mbnBT7j9sDnKDShjJY4qWZkftt3RGLTU2Sasf1eaMklnbzY7Q5EPO2HHBx7_zvvECQhs4_Q5nQ3/s320/greenhouse-winter.JPG" border="0" alt="vegetables,plants,tips,flowers"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270159224619833330" /></a> <br /><br /><br /><em>Winterizing our Greenhouse</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Today we put all of our bhut jolokia pepper plants into our greenhouse. They are late bloomers so we are trying to insulate our <a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/11/how-to-grow-herbs.html">greenhouse </a> in order to grow them through the winter. <br /><br />We also put our tomato trees in the greenhouse, it will sure be nice if we can have fresh garden tomatoes during the cold months. We do not buy tomatoes from the grocery store, they do not taste as good as ours do, not much flavor to them.<br /><br />Then we went and bought a bale of straw, some more fertilizer, and good soil. We transplanted a few plants that needed it, fertilized them all and insulated the greenhouse with the straw.<br /><br />Now we wait, we might have to put a grow light in our greenhouse if the weather gets to nasty and our plants need more light and heat.<br /><br />This is our first winter to try and grow in our greenhouse, just like ever thing else we will just have to learn from trial and error. <br /><br />Hopefully all will do well!<br /><br />RitaONLINE PRODUCTShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041784763105492778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578727508894936581.post-16159157295011803742008-11-15T17:48:00.000-08:002008-11-15T17:56:10.487-08:00How To Grow Herbs <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXnQlJEi2yvolM3POkfWEpfw1sFrBlpbCqJqduicAKgDEj1v8S69qtUoQXVcvFnLvzaLIx-5mbrcwCMGcfBVa-eakl0CdBGhrQaZlwKP7ViJkPNC-hNL3qlrj71XpoxLxuybrQ4p_pft6q/s1600-h/Herb+plants.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 280px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXnQlJEi2yvolM3POkfWEpfw1sFrBlpbCqJqduicAKgDEj1v8S69qtUoQXVcvFnLvzaLIx-5mbrcwCMGcfBVa-eakl0CdBGhrQaZlwKP7ViJkPNC-hNL3qlrj71XpoxLxuybrQ4p_pft6q/s320/Herb+plants.jpg" border="0" alt="tips,plants,greenhouse,garden"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269067976039196850" /></a><br />You can bring your herb garden indoors for the winter, by planting a windowsill garden. Many herb plants grow quite easily in containers and require only minimal care. You'll be snipping fresh herbs in your kitchen throughout the winter.<br /><br /><em>Here's How:</em><br /><br /><strong>1.</strong>Make sure you have a sunny windowsill where your herbs will survive. A south or southeast window would be perfect if it gets at least 5 hours of sun per day and is away from drafts.<br /><br /><strong>2.</strong>Purchase some of your favorite small herb <a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/11/growing-plants-indoors-using.html">plants </a>from your local nursery.<br /><br /><strong>3.</strong>Get a container that is at least 6-12 inches deep. You can plant multiple herbs in a wide or long container or use at least a 6" pot for individual plants.<br /><br /><strong>4.</strong>Use a soil less potting mix to avoid soil born diseases. Be sure the mix is light and will be well draining.<br /><br /><strong>5.</strong>Put a 2-3 inch layer of potting mix into the bottom of your container.<br /><br /><strong>6.</strong>Position your herb plants in the container.<br /><br /><strong>7.</strong>Finish filling in with the potting mix, firming gently around the plants. Leave about an inch at the top of the container for watering.<br /><br /><strong>8.</strong>Water sparingly. Herbs don't like to sit in wet soil.<br /><br /><strong>9.</strong>Feed once a month with a fertilizer labeled for use on edibles.<br /><br /><strong>10.</strong>Allow the plants some time to acclimate. Once you see new growth, you can start using your herbs.<br /><br /><strong>Tips:</strong><br /><strong>1.</strong>Choose herbs that don't grow too wide or tall. Chives, basil, lavender, parsley, mint and thyme are good choices.<br /><br /><strong>2.</strong>Fluorescent lights can be used if you don't have a sunny window. They will need to be placed close to the plants (18") and kept on for about 10 hours/day. <br /><strong>3.</strong>Snip and use your plants often to encourage them to grow full and bushy.<br /><br /><strong>4.</strong>Never trim more than 1/3 of the plants foliage.<br /><br /><strong>What You Need:</strong><br /><br /><em>Herb Plants <br />Pots or containers <br />Soil less Potting Mix <br />Fertilizer</em>ONLINE PRODUCTShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041784763105492778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578727508894936581.post-8933254141711212862008-11-12T09:32:00.000-08:002008-11-13T10:33:28.240-08:00Growing Plants Indoors Using HydroponicsBy: Anne Harvester<br /><br />The gardening method of growing of <a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/11/our-kittens-mole-and-squirrels.html">plants </a>without the use of soil is hydroponics. This process is commonly used to develop fertile, healthy indoor plants as well as good quality vegetables, fruits and herbs. The plants in hydroponics grow systems absorb the needed nutrients as ions in water or in the case of aeroponics through the air.<br />If a plant is getting the adequate amount of nutrients, then soil is no longer needed for it to thrive. This is the whole theory behind hydroponic kits.<br /><br />A complete controlled agriculture system, much like hydroponic grow systems, should use controlled grow lights, the correct temperature, water, CO2, oxygen, pH and nutrients. Using the proper nutrients and the right artificial LED grow lights, any indoor gardener can achieve stunning plants and tasty vegetables.<br />If you are planning on setting up a hydroponics or aeroponics garden, consider a few simple guidelines on how to be successful. Here are a few tips:<br />No soil is used but fertilization is still required - Just because aeroponics and hydroponics kits don’t require the use of soil, plants still need supplements. This is what they get from the water or their food. It is what sustains the plants. Make sure your nutrient solution maintains a pH level of 5 to 6 after dilution and that the plants are watered more than three times a day by using a pump and a timer.<br /><br />Steady temperatures required – The majority of hydroponics gardens are grown indoors so try to keep the best suitable temperature between 71 to 76 degrees Fahrenheit. These temperatures change depending on the different types of plant you are working on and the type of grow lights you are using.<br />Let there be light – You want to keep your plants somewhere they can receive ample amount of light. LED grow lights work the best. If your hydroponics garden is located where there is not enough light, your plants won’t grow. Invest in a good set of grow lights or LED grow lights. These grow lights emit artificial illumination which is perfect for the growing conditions of your plants.<br />Humidity is a must - In hydroponics gardening, all you need is a little bit of air. As the temperature rises, air holds the adequate amount of moisture plants need. Another benefit is that since hydroponics is water-based, you really don’t need to attend to the plants all that often since the water is reused.<br /><br />Starting a hydroponic garden doesn’t require that much time and commitment. It needs a little bit of time, water and the right grow lights to make sure your plants are in condition.<br /><br />Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com<br /><br />About the Author:<br />Anne Harvester has a great deal of experience with indoor gardening. Hydroponic gardening is the way of the future. Known to some as “soil less gardening”, hydroponics are proven to grow plants 20-30% faster than their soil grown counterparts.ONLINE PRODUCTShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041784763105492778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578727508894936581.post-45461819884006021042008-11-07T09:25:00.001-08:002008-11-07T09:28:47.544-08:00Our Kittens, the Mole and Squirrels<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuD64yDHNikjsIvx4OXxwEJCFhpH07UvD2HPUQcC3wM-R3nBrrv70v834F2dB8SlQGcSPU4wkhOfIiL9yuia5cpyu380fAZD3kJf-Q2u-YkC7-SXyLBEVSLxCJsPF5cNycv381hkXxR9Jh/s1600-h/DSCF0922.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuD64yDHNikjsIvx4OXxwEJCFhpH07UvD2HPUQcC3wM-R3nBrrv70v834F2dB8SlQGcSPU4wkhOfIiL9yuia5cpyu380fAZD3kJf-Q2u-YkC7-SXyLBEVSLxCJsPF5cNycv381hkXxR9Jh/s320/DSCF0922.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265968316388828530" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><em>Stanley and Stuart Little at younger age</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />We have two kittens that are four months old, one is pure white except with two light colored patches by each other and the other is pure black. Now we are letting them go outside more often as they are getting older.<br /><br />Yesterday we realized that they are going to be good hunters. Because we have a <a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/11/big-top-ten-organic-gardening-tips.html">vegetable garden </a> and there was a mole tunneling in it. Which caught the eye of our white kitten, who's name is Stanley. He crept up on it as closely as possible then went in for the kill, guess what, he caught it and killed it. Hurray for him, now we don't have the mole tunneling in our garden.<br /><br />Stanley and Stuart Little ( that's the black kitten's name) have also been chasing the squirrels out of our garden. We have also noticed that they seem to know the path in which each squirrel goes on they journey. They will wait in certain spots in the yard like they know where the best place is to attack they prey.<br /><br />Well today Stanley was just laying in wait for his target, he didn't kill the squirrel but he did take off a portion of his tail. I just wonder now if that individual squirrel will change his route and take a different path than he has so many times before or will he continue to stay on that same path as always.<br /><br />By Rita WimbsONLINE PRODUCTShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041784763105492778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578727508894936581.post-49233496355788249572008-11-06T09:29:00.000-08:002008-11-06T16:37:28.975-08:00The Big Top Ten Organic Gardening TipsBy: Vera Pappas<br />Word Count: 643 <br /> <br />By using only organic <a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/11/enjoy-life-of-gardening-relaxing-sense.html">gardening </a>supplies; your gardening tasks will be easier and more enjoyable.<br /><br />• Compost, an all natural soil amendment is made through the use of composters. Composters break down organic materials such as leaves, grass clippings, and food scraps to make a 100% organic, all natural soil additive. Composters come in varying shapes, sizes and designs. Research composters and choose one that meets your needs. Making your own natural compost is a great alternative to other organic gardening supplies you would ordinarily have to buy, and it’s free!<br /><br />• Rain Barrels collect water from your roof and store it until needed. Rain water is softer and chemical free. Rain Barrels are great for keeping your plants healthy and saving water. Many rain barrels are made from reused food drums and recycled plastic, keeping with the commitment to sustainable living. You can collect approximately 675 gallons of rain off your roof from a single rain storm. Stored rain water supplies much needed moisture to your gardens during extreme dry spells where rationing is necessary.<br /><br />• All Natural and organic fertilizers supplies much needed nutrients to plantings. Natural and organic fertilizers generally have a slow release so nutrients last over time. Natural and organic fertilizers such as liquefied worm poop and tea from composters, are among the top natural and organic fertilizers and an essential ingredient to your organic gardening supplies.<br /><br />• Push reel mowers are a great way to be green! Push reel mowers use no gas or electric, only your own energy. Push reel mowers are lightweight, easy to use and gives your lawn that golf course look. Owning a push reel mower is an important part of organic gardening.<br /><br />• Grow native plants. Native plants require less water. They are also naturally more insect and disease resistant than other plants. Healthy, lush gardens made from indigenous plants also make a natural home for birds.<br /><br />• Container gardening is good for planting your favorite flowers and vegetables when space is limited! Use large containers such as steel buckets and wooden barrels for creative container gardening. Container gardens do not require a lot of organic material due to being enclosed. Many gardening containers such as green pots are all natural, made from all natural elements such as rice hulls and coconut fiber.<br /><br />• Using only natural and organic gardening supplies such as Insecticidal Soap, Horticultural Oil or Organic Disease Control will keep your garden healthy, naturally. Organic gardening supplies leave no hazardous residue and break down naturally into the soil. Natural predators such as bats, praying mantis and ladybugs are great organic insect controls. Bat boxes are effective for keeping bats nearby and supplies shelter through the harsh winter months. Enjoying and benefiting from organic gardening is dependent upon the use of the highest quality organic gardening supplies.<br /> <br />Mulch your flowerbeds and vegetable garden to retain moisture around plants. Mulch supplies your plants with much needed moisture throughout hot, sunny days. Mulching also keeps weeds away. Apply all natural worm poop fertilizer around plantings when mulching. Your organic garden will love you for it. • Create a bird habitat by placing bird houses, birdbaths and bird feeders in your yard. Birds are fun to watch and will control the insect population in a natural way. Pick a quiet section of your yard to keep a variety of birding supplies to attract birds of your choice. Bird food such as sunflower hearts and suet are great treats.<br /><br />• Whether you are working on your lawn, flowerbed or vegetable garden, have fun. Remember, all natural supplies will make organic gardening easier and more enjoyable. The following is a list of recommended all natural and organic gardening supplies: composter, rain barrels, organic fertilizers, push reel mower, natural gardening containers, birding supplies, natural homemade compost, These are the best equipment, tools and supplies for keeping your plants, turf and environment healthy.<br /><br />Happy Gardening!<br /><br />Vera Pappas is owner of Green Nation Gardens, a web based Eco-friendly Garden Center. She also writes many articles for the purpose of educating people on sustainable living. Visit Green Nation Gardens at http://www.greennationgardens.com<br /><br />Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.comONLINE PRODUCTShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041784763105492778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578727508894936581.post-60582829520292081552008-11-05T09:18:00.000-08:002008-11-05T09:25:57.463-08:00Enjoy the Life of Gardening A Relaxing Sense of AccomplishmentEveryone in your family, including your children, will enjoy planting a<a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/11/fall-planting.html">vegetable </a>garden. Even when you include your children, you can still have a very delightful garden in which everyone can enjoy spending time together. Of course, you may want to add some pumpkins, watermelons or sunflowers to your garden since these are things that your children will really enjoy. <br /><br /><em>Grow A Pizza Garden</em> <br /><br />There are a lot of ways in which you can go about planting an organic garden, filled with wonderful tasting vegetables. One way that you can do this is by planting a theme garden. For instance, you can plant a pizza garden wherein you can grow all of the vegetables that you would need in order to make a great, homemade pizza. Some of the things that you could grow in such a garden include tomatoes for making the sauce; green peppers, jalapenos and onions for toppings; and various herbs and seasonings such as basil, thyme and oregano. <br /><br /><em>What You Need To Use In All Natural Gardening</em> <br /><br />There are some specific garden supplies that you will need to purchase in order to create an all natural garden. Since both rain water and compost are important to your all natural garden, you can easily purchase rain barrels and compost bins that are made out of recycled materials too, which makes these items even more eco-friendly. Of course, there are also natural things that you can use to get rid of insects, deer and other such animals that may be making a meal out of your garden. <br /><br />While you will need some special supplies in order to create this garden, this is actually a lot more healthy for you and your family. This is also a very inexpensive type of garden since you will not have to purchase expensive chemicals, fertilizers or pesticides that have been commercially produced. In the end you are also going to notice that your vegetables taste a lot better too because this is how nature intended for us to eat our vegetables. You might think that this would make growing your vegetables difficult while gardening, it really does not do so, instead it actually makes it easier for you. <br /><br />Of course, you might not believe this information at the moment, but after you spend some time growing vegetables in this manner, you will be able to taste the difference. You will also notice that these vegetables are much healthier for you since you will not be ingesting chemicals that your body is not meant to digest.<br />Jean Rigg loves to garden and is out in the yard from early spring till late fall. She has a very green thumb and and a beautiful garden to match. She shares her love of gardening and many years experience at organic gardening made easy or http://best-garden-now.info/<br /><br />Copyright (c) 2007 Free Online Library<br />This article can be reproduced subject to these terms. Syndicate this article. More free articles for syndicationONLINE PRODUCTShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041784763105492778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578727508894936581.post-57683888004177643412008-11-04T19:36:00.000-08:002008-11-04T19:58:53.159-08:00Fall PlantingBy: Veracan<br /><br /><br />Soon it will be time for fall <a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/11/how-to-deal-with-barren-trees.html">gardening</a>. Removing the spent annuals, pulling the endless weeds, cultivating mulch and planting fall flowers. <br /><br />Just because mums are available now (in August), does not necessarily mean you should start today. Growers push an early batch because the retailers have been sitting idle for most of July and August. There are early blooming varieties of Mums and Asters, but generally not this early. <br /><br />Fall gardening is just that. It feels great to get outside when the temperatures are in the mid 70’s instead of the high 90’s. Fall is the best time to do many, many things in your garden. <br /><br /><em>Mulch</em> - Fall is a great time to cultivate all the mulch in your beds. Over the season the mulch has a tendency to become compacted. The necessary water and air cannot get to the roots of the plants where it is needed. Use a 3 or 4 tined garden Hoe to turn the mulch. <br /><br />Fertilizer and weed preventer - Once you have cultivated your mulch, a good organic fertilizer and a weed preventer, such as Cockadoodle-doo organic fertilizer and Cockadoodle-Doo corn gluten weed preventer is a great fertilizer for your plants and shrubs and a natural weed preventer to keep those winter weeds away. <br /><br /><em>Plantings</em> - The fall season is the best time to plant trees and shrubs. As the temperatures are in a cooling pattern, trees and shrubs are less likely to go into shock after transplanting. They take root more easily, because the plant is not working so hard to keep the foliage from becoming stressed due to the heat. Many trees are dug in the fall. To get trees that have been freshly dug, go to your local nursery (not big box store) in October. Ask the nursery salesperson if they are getting any fresh trees for the fall. On the East Coast, trees normally get dug in October, depending on the weather. If all you can find are trees that were dug in the spring, ask for a discount if they are already not on sale. No Nursery wants to keep too much stock over the winter. There is too much loss. When you do plant shrubs and trees in the fall they still require water, mulch and TLC. Plant your fall flowers in mid to late September so the color lasts well into the fall. Plant your bulbs late in the fall, so they don’t start to grow. Tulips and Daffodils not to mention the dozens of other spring blooming bulbs will do best planted in early November once the temps are going to stay cold. <br /><br /><em>The Lawn</em> - Fall is the absolute best time of year to overhaul the lawn. Get a soil test to check the Ph of the soil. Lime if necessary. Aerating and or thatching are best done in the fall. Aerating is the process of making holes in the lawn, about 2 inches deep, so water and air can get to the roots of the turf. Thatching is the process of getting rid of the “thatch” or dead build up that can choke out the good turf and prevent water and fertilizer from reaching the roots of the turf. Once you aerate or thatch the lawn, I would recommend over seeding and fertilizing. Thatching the lawn will leave bare or thin areas in the lawn, if you do not over seed, the weeds will just take over. Once you have over seeded and fertilized it is a good idea to get that seed covered, to keep it from drying out between watering and from becoming bird food. Straw is a good cover, except you need to pull it up. Peat moss is a good cover and you don’t have to pull it up. A reusable grass germinating mat is also great. The grass germinates faster because it generates warmth and allows water to flow through, yet still protecting it from critters. A good organic fertilizer will get the turf through the winter without becoming stressed. <br /><br />Fall is also a great time to prune your trees and shrubs. Give them a good haircut so they keep their shape. When they flush out in the spring they will be nice and dense, not stringy. <br /><br />Take time to enjoy your fall gardening. Working in the yard this time of year will ensure you of a beautiful and lush spring season.<br /><br />Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com<br /><br />About the Author:<br />This article may be reproduced and/or distributed for the purpose of education only, and may not be changed in part or whole. This article was written by Vera Pappas, Owner of GreenNationGardens.com, suppliers of unique and eco-friendly garden supplies.ONLINE PRODUCTShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041784763105492778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578727508894936581.post-65435460676788113572008-11-03T09:03:00.000-08:002008-11-03T09:16:47.263-08:00How To Deal With Barren TreesBy: Jess Shaw Email Article <br />Word Count: 676 <br /> <br />One of the most frustrating things that can possibly happen to someone who has slaved for hours and hours in growing a fruit tree is the unexplainable barrenness that can sometimes occur when there should be a plethora of fresh fruit. I know this from experience. My neighbors all consider me the gardening guru because of my extensive knowledge. But this is only because gardening has been my passion for years and years, and like a sponge I have accumulated so much information in my mind. My learning has also come from past experiences with failure. For about 5 years after I started planting fruit trees, I did not see a single fruit for all my labor. I was nearly ready to give up, until I met who I think is truly the guru of gardening. <br /><br />I was in the <a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/11/tulip-bulbs.html">gardening </a> store, looking for some sort of new fertilizer to put my hope in for my quest to obtain fruit. I don't know if there was a look of desperation in my eyes, but a kindly old man came up and started speaking with me. He introduced himself as Ralph, and for some reason I opened up to him and told him about all of my difficulties. I've never been the type to spill all my problems on anyone who asks, but Ralph seemed like such a nice fellow that I just couldn't help it. And I'm glad I did, because what he taught me truly helped me to get my fruit trees in gear and start producing. <br /><br />I learned that generally, the inability to produce can be caused by a number of factors. Sometimes the tree is simply too young; If your tree is less than four years old, you shouldn't exactly expect it to be producing yet. If it has reached 4 years and you still have seen no sign of fruit, then you should start to consider other factors that might be causing the barrenness. <br /><br />If the tree is undergoing any type of water stress (this can be poor drainage, too much water, or too little water), then it will have trouble growing. If you suspect this is the case, you should evaluate your own watering techniques and compare them with the needs of the tree to see if you are causing water stress. Also always be on the lookout for any diseases or pest damages. If your tree is constantly being molested by all kinds of little creatures, then you can't expect it to be lively enough to produce fruit. <br /><br />If your tree blooms but still doesn't produce any fruit, this could be because of cold temperatures during the bloom. The coldness damaged the flower bud or damaged the baby fruit. Aesthetically the tree may look fine, but the inside could be damaged beyond any hope of ever seeing fruit. Unfortunately there isn't much you can do in this case except for wait until next year and hope that it doesn't happen again. If the tree's pollination process has not been fully completed, it could have troubles growing fruit. If you planted different varieties, you may find that the requirements are different than you had originally thought and they were incompatible. In this case you need to replant the correct combinations. <br /><br />Once I evaluated the conditions of my tree and everything that has occurred in its life, I realized that not only had I cross pollinated slightly incorrectly, but I was also giving my tree too much water. After I fixed these problems, I had learned my lesson and I have not had any trouble bearing fruit since then. <br /><br />So if you are struggling with a plant that is not being cooperative, you should consult an expert gardener. If you can find a gardening mentor like mine that is willing to teach you everything they know, then you should be able to get your garden on the right track with no problems.<br /> <br /><br />To learn about the oldest tree and the aspen tree, visit the Tree Facts website.<br /><br />Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.comONLINE PRODUCTShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041784763105492778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578727508894936581.post-76419318771309685472008-11-01T09:20:00.000-07:002008-11-01T09:28:46.341-07:00Tulip Bulbs<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEmRxG09T12WQpfH-WlByNDGWDaAOkZFCsiRZcC9xOac5E43qUhrbzJyVIl6dfOwt3BOmmpvGXQh9s2sdl0k5C3tEA6FBt6JuH35MOllVP64RCOMBMOKpBeISn9Jvf86HJLbeGZ3_Jl6uk/s1600-h/tulips.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 122px; height: 122px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEmRxG09T12WQpfH-WlByNDGWDaAOkZFCsiRZcC9xOac5E43qUhrbzJyVIl6dfOwt3BOmmpvGXQh9s2sdl0k5C3tEA6FBt6JuH35MOllVP64RCOMBMOKpBeISn9Jvf86HJLbeGZ3_Jl6uk/s320/tulips.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260390532087524962" /></a><br /><br /><br /><strong>TULIPS</strong><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br />By: Chris And Aliso Clarke <br />Word Count: 605 <br /><br /> <br />Tulip bulbs originate from Europe. Asia and the Middle East and there are over one hundred species.<br /><br />Genus; Tulipa (from the Turkish tulbend, a turban, in allusion to the shape of the flowers: or from the Persian thoulyban)<br /><br /><em>Family: Liliaceae</em><br /><br />The Tulip is one of the most brilliant blooms for the <a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/10/how-to-raise-strongest-most-beautiful.html">flower </a> garden during the spring and early summer months.<br /><br />They are mostly single-flowered, but it is not unusual to find individual plants in large collections sometimes with three to five flowers on one stem.<br /><br />They should be grown in as large quantities as space will allow. Tulip bulbs can be purchased by the hundred nowadays, without breaking your bank.<br /><br />The individual blooms last a long time in perfection, and make an ideal cut flower for indoor displays.<br /><br />They are always best cut either in the evening before dusk or early in the morning before the sun causes the petals to expand.<br /><br />Tulips flourish in any fertile and well-drained soil.<br /><br />You should plant the Tulip bulbs 10cm (4inches) to 15cm (6inches) deep and the same distance apart from each other.<br /><br />The best time for planting, in the UK, is from the end of August to November (late autumn to early winter).<br /><br />Make the holes with a blunt dibber or trowel, or dig out drills, plant the bulbs and recover with soil.<br /><br />Although a patch of mixed Tulips looks handsome enough, it is on the whole better to keep each variety by itself.<br /><br />Some varieties have long stems and some short, and if planted together the result will be uneven and definitely unsatisfactory.<br /><br />Two or even three kinds can be used in the same planting, but you will need to make sure the tallest are planted at the back.<br /><br />Warm open airy and sunny positions are ideal, but they must be sheltered from violent winds.<br /><br />Some varieties can be grown in partial shade. <br /><br />They should never be planted under trees or shrubs, near walls or in any deep shade.<br /><br />For dazzling spring and early summer displays grow them with spring flowering plants, such as Forget-me-nots, Polyanthus, Wallflowers, Double white Arabis, Yellow Alyssum, Aubrietias, Primroses, mossy Saxifrages, Pansies and Violas.<br /><br />Grown in patio pots and tubs they make an excellent spring display. They are also ideal in window boxes where they can be seen from the inside, especially kitchen windows or other windows of rooms you spend a lot of time in. They will brighten up any spring day! <br /><br />Tulip bulbs are easily propagated from offsets which are simply detached from the parent bulb and planted as soon as possible in to pots where they will be ready to plant out next season.<br /><br />Tulip bulbs that are planted in autumn are not the same bulbs which are lifted the following June or July.<br /><br />The original bulb vanishes in producing leaves, flowers, next year's bulb and offsets.<br /><br />The next year's bulb is usually fully formed, with roots of it's own, by the time its parent begins to flower. From its side is produced a smaller bulb or offset.<br /><br />Tulip bulbs can be left in the ground for two or more years and can be planted overhead with annuals such as China Asters, French and African Marigolds, Clarkias, Gaillardias and many others.<br /><br />But it is best to lift the bulbs every year after flowering. They should be cleaned and stored on dry shelves in cool places free from damp and frosts. They will be ready for planting next August/September.<br /><br />And don't forget to plant out the offsets you potted last year. More plants free for life!<br /><br /><br />Chris and Alison are successful and experienced gardeners specializing in plant propagation. For all the information you need on propagating and growing your favorite gardening plants successfully visit www.plants-free-for-life.com<br /><br />Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.comONLINE PRODUCTShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041784763105492778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578727508894936581.post-60201761856956432772008-10-30T00:36:00.000-07:002008-10-30T13:04:50.853-07:00How To Raise The Strongest Most Beautiful Bulbs<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmGYq8SDNn4OLulAY-xj2hPxRrf_ZNtuEsUt0IxyQDdivyagunoHzJtGYCiWpsyBka1hwxxfUEdAYi6xuDGygQFn1-GWIE1Zw7zvQnE6BPGI8OUCTWX4XpCWzxZOIE17oig7lmYeSOhRe/s1600-h/bulbs.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 137px; height: 97px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmGYq8SDNn4OLulAY-xj2hPxRrf_ZNtuEsUt0IxyQDdivyagunoHzJtGYCiWpsyBka1hwxxfUEdAYi6xuDGygQFn1-GWIE1Zw7zvQnE6BPGI8OUCTWX4XpCWzxZOIE17oig7lmYeSOhRe/s320/bulbs.jpg" border="0" alt="flowers,plants,garden tips"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260389751826305138" /></a><br /><br /><br /><em><strong>BULBS</strong></em><br /><br /><br />By: Louanne Baelde <br />Word Count: 615 <br /> <br />by Louanne Baelde<br /><br />Bulbs are your best bet for success. It's almost impossible to make a mistake because all the nutrients that the flower needs, are in the bulb. What you may find difficult, is actually choosing which <a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/10/tips-for-flower-gardening.html">bulbs </a>you want.<br /><br />This article will help you select healthy bulbs and will give you tips on how to get them ready, from preparing the soil, fertilizing, and planting.<br /><br /><em>Selecting Healthy Bulbs</em><br /><br />The secret to a fantastic flower garden is choosing high-quality bulbs. Make sure that you always buy your bulbs from a reliable source, whether you are shopping from a catalog, outlet or local store. Even if the bulbs are a little more costly, you will save money on the long run, if the source is a good one, than simply searching for the best bargain.<br /><br />Because the bulb stores the energy in the bulb (in the form of starch,) larger bulbs may produce larger flowers. This does not mean however, that you should buy only large bulbs. Don't hesitate to buy smaller ones as well from a reliable source. These smaller bulbs may just need a season or two to catch up to the larger ones. If you want to have spectacular blooms this year, then buy the larger bulbs.<br /><br />If you're buying your bulbs from a local store, inspect them carefully. They should be firm and not have any cuts, blemishes or spots on them. They should not feel dry or light, but more on the heavy side for their size. The basal plate (where the roots emerge) should be solid and firm. It's okay for the bulbs to have loose skin or little nicks. This would not affect their development in any way.<br /><br /><em>Getting Ready</em><br /><br />It's always important to choose the right spot for your bulbs, whether it be inside or outside. You probably know about the differences in planting in the garden; how certain plants will thrive better under certain conditions than others.<br /><br />When you select your location for your new bulbs, try to think about its needs and where it may do best. Don't forget that even a few feet can make a huge difference with levels of light. What may be suitable lighting at the edge of your shrubs may not be suitable over by the corner of your house, even if it's only a small jog away.<br /><br /><em>Preparing the Soil</em><br /><br />Except for Siberian irises, most bulbs prefer loose, porous soil because they need to have good drainage. If your soil does not drain well, improve it by adding nutrients, raising the beds, or installing drain lines.<br /><br />Almost any soil can benefit from organic materials, especially sandy and heavy clay soils.<br /><br /><em>Fertilizing</em><br /><br />Mix bone meal or superphosphate into the soil at the bottom of each planting hole. Because phosphorus does not move easily; it must be planted deep enough to allow the roots to reach it. <br /><em><br />Planting</em><br /><br />Try to plant your bulbs as soon as you can when the weather permits and is suitable for planting. If you can't plant them right away, store them in a cool place such as your refrigerator. Never store them in closed bags as they might rot. Bulbs need to breathe! Open the bags or place them instead in paper ones.<br /><br />Most bulbs are planted at a depth three times their diameter. It's easier if you dig up a larger area at the proper depth, set them inside the hole, and then cover them.<br /><br />For a large data base of extremely helpful gardening tips and gardening resources, please visit http://www.EZ-Gardening-Tips.com.<br /> <br /><br />Louanne welcomes you to visit http://www.EZ-Gardening-Tips.com for a large data base of extremely helpful gardening articles and gardening resources.<br /><br />Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.comONLINE PRODUCTShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041784763105492778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578727508894936581.post-19837435795504095402008-10-29T10:05:00.000-07:002008-10-29T14:48:53.547-07:00Tips For Flower Gardening<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF0Naky0t_MrI-v-Kxn2bDkVRCdIjYHEbH0RJKYYl8gscRL0saIdb-7wUrjvQW7ntGIilkjStgJbD4LB7Pv2J1qcCoGWwiIA5S83cwV2WSWgwGifmh6a7IGXZ5k5Dc1jtYol-xzhbgxqGc/s1600-h/flower+garden.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 130px; height: 119px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF0Naky0t_MrI-v-Kxn2bDkVRCdIjYHEbH0RJKYYl8gscRL0saIdb-7wUrjvQW7ntGIilkjStgJbD4LB7Pv2J1qcCoGWwiIA5S83cwV2WSWgwGifmh6a7IGXZ5k5Dc1jtYol-xzhbgxqGc/s320/flower+garden.jpg" border="0" alt="garden tips,flowers,landscaping,blubs"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260396983359048130" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />By: Tian Xiangyu <br />Word Count: 479 <br /> <br />Flower gardening can allow you to express your creativity, to get closer to nature, and to further enjoy being human. Here we present a few special flower gardening tips to help you be a more effective and creative flower gardener.<br /><br />Plant the best <a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/10/how-to-grow-amazing-wildflowers.html">flowers </a>for your space. It's important that you work with nature and not against it. Don't overwhelm a small space with a large number of plant species. Select just a few so your flower garden does not look cluttered. You should plant sun loving flowers in a sunny location, shade loving flowers in a shady location. By selecting plants that are well-suited to your growing zone, as well as the area of your flower garden, you'll have to do a lot less work and make your flower gardening much more rewarding. Space the plants to allow for their mature size.<br /><br />Prepare for the soil. Producing gorgeous flowers requires good soil, so make sure your soil is healthy and rich. Good soil means good roots. Your flowering plants need healthy roots to support and nourish the stems, foliage and flowers. Loosen the soil down about six inches for annuals, ten to twelve inches for perennials. Mix in organic matter such as compost. Check the pH to see if you need to add lime or sulfur to adjust the pH.<br /><br />Flower gardening requires the right tools. This means, not only, your trowels, shovels and hoes, but also fertilizer, soil amendments and watering aids. Having the right tools will make your flower gardening easier and more enjoyable.<br /><br />It's important to prune flowers for continued growth. This pruning includes dead-heading and cutting flowers back for inside arrangements. To deadhead a plant, you need to simply snip the dead or dying bloom off the mother plant. By removing the flower head, you keep the plant from focusing its attention on the creation of seeds, which will form in the dead flower head.<br /><br />Use best fertilizer for flowers. You can use a general purpose granular fertilizer or a slow release granular fertilizer with an analysis of 10-10-10 or similar. Read and follow the label directions for how much to use. Never use more than the amount on the label. Over-fertilized plants are more prone to pests and diseases; if in doubt, use less.<br /><br />Water Flowers Correctly. Watering flowers according to their specific needs is essential to successful flower gardening. Most flowers prefer soil that is evenly moist yet well drained. When you do water, apply it slowly and thoroughly. To be effective, the water must soak down to the deepest roots. It's best to water early in the day to prevent evaporation and leaf-burn.<br /><br />Follow the above tips to grow a healthy, beautiful flower garden overflowing with buds and blooms of all kinds all season long.<br /> <br />Leading eBooks Company<br /><br />Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.comONLINE PRODUCTShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041784763105492778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578727508894936581.post-23331254808617733482008-10-28T08:15:00.000-07:002008-10-28T08:20:04.984-07:00How To Grow Amazing Wildflowers<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi64njTVGIOGHM-pwbB7LXASyChcHbaDaizjZTtRMA85fPdaWX1HznjIpUSGgHm-x6kHoJHnGZqtAkOhPJ5YwyvqH3WKruufasxjkxHLtogT0fKc2ucxvtYPTzNVozxQK1jZ_IBRCjNuXkx/s1600-h/wildflowers1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 113px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi64njTVGIOGHM-pwbB7LXASyChcHbaDaizjZTtRMA85fPdaWX1HznjIpUSGgHm-x6kHoJHnGZqtAkOhPJ5YwyvqH3WKruufasxjkxHLtogT0fKc2ucxvtYPTzNVozxQK1jZ_IBRCjNuXkx/s320/wildflowers1.jpg" border="0" alt="garden,flowers,landscape,plant,tips"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260388566697179730" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br />By: Louanne Baelde <br /> <br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/10/benefits-of-gardening.html">Landscaping </a>with wildflowers is becoming increasingly popular. These wonderful displays of beauty are incredibly self-sufficient. Wildflowers dazzle your gardens with sprays of color with a powerful endurance not often noted in domesticated garden flowers. No need to worry about soils of low fertility; wildflowers adapt wonderfully in these types of soil. Meadow gardening is becoming quite popular with its native wildflowers and non-competitive grass. Combine these two to create a panoramic garden of beautiful colors and shapes. Natural habitat will love it too! Can you think of a better way to relax than to stroll amongst paths of endless color and natural beauty?<br /><br />Wildflowers are low in cost as they reseed themselves and bloom again the following year. They are also easy to maintain as they basically need no fertilizing or trimming, and require little water.<br /><br /><em>How To Plant Wildflowers</em><br /><br /><em>Site Selection</em><br /><br />For best results, choose a location where there is full sunlight.<br /><br /><em>Soil Preparation</em><br /><br />To prepare small areas for your wildflowers, start first by removing the weeds already in your garden. This should be followed with raking or roto-tilling the soil. <br /><br />For large areas, mow the plants or foliage as short as you can and then follow this step by using a flail mower or harrow. This will allow you to break up the top two inches of the soil.<br /><br />Make sure to water these areas several times during the first two or three weeks. This will encourage the weed seeds to germinate. After a few more weeks, spray the weeds with Clear-It and remove all of the dead plants. Wait at least one to two weeks before you plant the wildflower seeds.<br /><br />It's actually better not to fertilize the soil for your wildflowers, as they do best in low-fertility soil. High nitrogen soils increase the number of weeds in your wildflower garden and diminish the view of your flowers. <br /><br /><em>Planting Time</em><br /><br />The time to sow is in the Spring. You can plant your wildflowers in the summer if there is a lot of water available, but your planting will not continue the following year, unless it is planted about 8-10 weeks before the predicted frost.<br /><br />It is alright to plant later in the fall; wildflower seeds will begin to grow in the spring. The disadvantage of planting at this time is that the warmer weather conditions and rain could cause the seed to germinate and then may die during the winter from the freezing. There is also the possibility of the seeds being eaten by birds when they are sitting on the ground for longer periods of time.<br /><br /><em>Planting Methods</em><br /><br />Because of the huge difference in sizes of the seeds, blending fine sand and vermiculite (2:1 sand to seed) is recommended for wildflowers. This will allow more even distribution.<br /><br />Hand-scattering the seeds in small areas, works very well. Cover up the seed by raking it in to about a depth of 1/8-1/4 of an inch. Do not cover the seeds too deeply, or it will fail and your work will be all for nothing.<br /><br /><em>Post Planting Care</em><br /><br />You must keep the soil, where the seeds are planted, moist for at least 4-6 weeks and water if necessary to encourage germination. As the plants gradually begin to grow, you can water less. Many wildflowers need little water to coexist, but they still need a fairly adequate amount in order to germinate.<br /><br />Seedling should start to appear in 2-3 weeks and you should see your first flowers in about 6-10 weeks.<br /><br />Around the middle of October, when most of the flowers have finished blooming, you can mow the area to a height of about 4-6 inches. This will help to disperse the matured seeds for the following year.<br /><br />Add new seed the following spring, to discourage weed growth and to establish the planting.<br /><br />For a large data base of extremely helpful gardening articles and gardening resources, please visit http://www.EZ-Gardening-Tips.com.<br /><br />Louanne welcomes you to visit http://www.EZ-Gardening-Tips.com for a large data base of extremely helpful gardening articles and gardening resources.<br /><br />Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.comONLINE PRODUCTShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041784763105492778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578727508894936581.post-56704211587358058282008-10-27T09:00:00.000-07:002008-10-27T19:25:24.606-07:00Benefits of Gardening<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNg3hRp_JWOXNb3VuQ89gvFs7wNjpknEbOyw1XEvAaX43iUjvIv0F3IDutjqYW-bZe6t9kfmFy5vKCBBt05xD0EQ_4r8gj_j84SPspNnWCKMNq75PxiOJrZuuHChChfpDFfuzyXHVxrQRN/s1600-h/DSCF0941.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNg3hRp_JWOXNb3VuQ89gvFs7wNjpknEbOyw1XEvAaX43iUjvIv0F3IDutjqYW-bZe6t9kfmFy5vKCBBt05xD0EQ_4r8gj_j84SPspNnWCKMNq75PxiOJrZuuHChChfpDFfuzyXHVxrQRN/s320/DSCF0941.JPG" border="0" alt="garden tips,greenhouse,plants,vegetables"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260810711307349202" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><em><strong>MY OWN GARDEN</strong></em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />By: Tian Xiangyu <br />Word Count: 419 <br /> <br />If you have a garden in your home, spending a bit more time in it can do you good. And you don't need to have a large garden to enjoy the benefits of gardening.<br /><br /><a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/10/fall-gardening-tips-and-ideas.html">Gardening </a> provides the regular physical exercise. It's just as effective as going to a gym, but much cheaper. All that digging, shoveling, raking, composting, and other garden activities are extremely effective in burning fat and improving blood circulation.<br /><br />Gardening requires you to use your head and your creativity. The time spent planning the garden and researching different plants is a great brain workout. Gardening gives us a chance to be creative. You can let your personality shine through in your garden.<br /><br />Gardening is also a great stress-reliever. In the midst of your daily grind, meeting deadlines and the many other tasks that make up your day, try to sit out in your garden and enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. This can do wonders for your well being. The beautiful colors found in the flowers may also have calming effects on one's mood.<br /><br />Gardening connects you with nature and the rhythm of life. Gardening requires you to live in garden time. We all could use a lesson in slowing down. Studies have revealed just viewing a garden or nature has healthy psychological benefits.<br /><br />The relationships that develop, between plants, and people, and the basic human need of watching things grow, creates a sense of excitement. In many cases it becomes a source of therapy for people with emotional problems.<br /><br />Gardening also provides a chance for you to give yourself some "alone time" - time to pray, meditate, and simply clear out your mind. Take in the fresh air, get some sunshine, and commune with nature. Gardening gives you a sense of accomplishment and independence, as well as a closer relationship with nature that working with soil and its produce so often provide<br /><br />Growing your own produce is not only more cost-effective, but you are assured of a fresh harvest with something healthy and delicious for every meal. We can not ignore the fact that, in most cases, the produce you buy in most food stores is more expensive then what it would cost you to grow your own vegetables, which when harvested, is a much better product.<br /><br />As you can see, the benefits of gardening are not restricted to people of a certain age. Anyone from kids to the elderly can reap the benefits of gardening.<br /> <br /><br />Leading eBooks Company<br /><br />Click to find more about Gardening<br /><br />Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.comONLINE PRODUCTShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041784763105492778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578727508894936581.post-65996823983432499322008-10-26T19:24:00.000-07:002008-10-26T19:43:12.138-07:00Fall Gardening Tips and Ideas<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDTfPHe5jh8F0tFw20A9N7KT2E2muNg2ZN7QIsQI1OrOWW_EPBa2w9X0U5TBdZ8Y-O3sDsaxxJtCEpqGZsUyLzlP1dxsXNdk8sJxwA-D2bP-eYZMmZYMscCEGDg7wa_-qmCG3nyD4xUNQt/s1600-h/DSCF1123.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDTfPHe5jh8F0tFw20A9N7KT2E2muNg2ZN7QIsQI1OrOWW_EPBa2w9X0U5TBdZ8Y-O3sDsaxxJtCEpqGZsUyLzlP1dxsXNdk8sJxwA-D2bP-eYZMmZYMscCEGDg7wa_-qmCG3nyD4xUNQt/s320/DSCF1123.JPG" border="0" alt="plants,flowers,tips,landscaping"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261657404005381010" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><em><strong>OUR GRANDMOTHER'S GARDEN<br />IN SALEM,OREGON 2008</strong></em><br /><br /><br />By: Joanne Jones <br />Word Count: 686<br /><br /><br />Most people focus their attention on their gardens during late spring and summer. But fall is an important time for <a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/10/how-to-keep-butterflies-around-longer.html">gardening </a> as well. Not only is it a good time to prepare for winter, but you can still enjoy the plants in your garden and even add more plants if you wish to. Here are some things that you can do in your garden in the fall.<br /><br /><em>1: Add Some Plants</em><br /><br />Even though it is fall, you can still plant things in your garden and your yard. Icicle pansies love the fall weather. Even with the cooler weather, they will bloom late into the season. Best of all, if you leave them in the ground over the winter, they will start to bloom again in early spring.<br /><br />Trees and shrubs can still be planted in the fall. Evergreens should be planted about six weeks before the first frost of the season. Deciduous plants however, can be planted at anytime, as long as the ground isn't frozen. Be sure to read the labels on the trees and shrubs before you buy them and make note of how large the plant will grow. The plants may be small when you first buy them, but they will grow very quickly in just a few years. As well, the labels will often state what colour the leaves of deciduous plants will be during both the summer and the fall, giving you the perfect opportunity to add some colour during the fall months. <br /><br />Six to eight weeks before the first frost of the season is the perfect time to plant bulbs in the ground. They will lie dormant all winter long and bloom in early spring, providing a splash of colour that will be greatly appreciated after a long winter. Make sure to follow the directions on the packages for how deep and far apart to plant the bulbs, in order to ensure that all the bulbs will bloom in the spring.<br /><br /><em>2: Remember To Water</em><br /><br />Even though it's fall and the weather is cooler and possibly wetter, your plants still need water. The water will keep summer plants alive longer and nourish fall plants that keep your garden full of life during this season. As well, evergreen trees need water so that they can continue to grow during the fall, even if it is at a slower rate than they grew during the summer months.<br /><br />Before the weather drops below the freezing point, make sure to disconnect all hoses and drain them of water. Roll up the hoses and store them away for the winter. Next, turn off the water to outdoor taps and then drain them as well. This will prevent the water from freezing and the pipes from bursting. If that happens, you could be facing a large flood and a messy clean up.<br /><br /><em>3: Rake The Lawn</em><br /><br />It's important to rake up the leaves on your lawn because when the leaves become wet, they will mat and become very heavy. Leaves that have been raked up can be used as mulch, compost or as both. To use leaves as both mulch and compost, first harvest the food crops from your garden. Next, place the leaves on top of the garden. They will stay there all winter long and protect the soil from erosion and the harsh winter cold. In the spring, the leaves become compost when you till both the leaves and the dead plants into the ground.<br /><br /><em>4: Prepare For Winter</em><br /><br />Get ready for winter by bringing everything indoors. Take a careful look at your yard and determine what needs to be brought inside for the winter. Look at plants in containers, furniture, tools, statues and everything else in your yard. Stone statues are fine to leave outside, but fountains will need to be drained and wrapped in a protective tarp. Tools need to be cleaned, oiled and put away into storage.<br /><br />A lot of the work in the fall might seem tedious or even hard work, but it is well worth the rewards you will gain in the spring.<br /><br />Please visit The Gardener's Escape at http://www.thegardenersescape.com/Articles/Articles.htm for more gardening tips and tricks. While you are there, check out our shopping pages at http://www.thegardenersescape.com/Shopping/Gardening/GardeningTools.htm for the latest gardening tools that are sure to make your gardening tasks easier and quicker.<br /><br />Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.comONLINE PRODUCTShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041784763105492778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578727508894936581.post-22750203475551440502008-10-25T09:26:00.000-07:002008-10-26T19:32:08.637-07:00How To Keep Butterflies Around Longer In Your Gardens<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5F2pg3ocJLf0lcIopANnX8mFQnG1bPJreEoZwRue3N83sV3u4iO8_gs0BND_I_YulcUVWo0g_IKvq7-IIXEM7qqm_pYDj2xVbtLFpqtcf9rmXN3GCK1gfQjeYUlqqelSrdCsW5QM6v76/s1600-h/butterflies.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 119px; height: 122px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5F2pg3ocJLf0lcIopANnX8mFQnG1bPJreEoZwRue3N83sV3u4iO8_gs0BND_I_YulcUVWo0g_IKvq7-IIXEM7qqm_pYDj2xVbtLFpqtcf9rmXN3GCK1gfQjeYUlqqelSrdCsW5QM6v76/s320/butterflies.jpg" border="0" alt="flowers,garden,landscaping"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260387493889109138" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br />By: Louanne Baelde <br /> <br /> <br />In order to keep butterflies in your <a href="http://ritasonlineproducts.blogspot.com/2008/10/gardening-home-gardening.html">gardens </a> longer, you need to provide the right habitat for them to stay.<br /><br />Butterflies have different life stages which need certain foods to survive. For example, some eat carrot, dill and parsley, cabbage, sunflower, clover and alfalfa. Some shrubs such as lilacs and certain trees like birch, ash, oak, willow and elms also provide larval food.<br /><br />Nectar plants not only provide food for the butterflies, but also provide cover. Nectar plants include important vitamins needed from the plant food to grow and survive. Without the nectar from the plant food, they will most likely move elsewhere. Flowering plants not only provide important nectar and vitamins, but also supply cover. Butterflies also need a place to lay their eggs. Later fall flowers do not have the amount of nectar that earlier spring or summer flowers have, so by providing many more flowers at their convenience at this time of the year, will allow them to remain in your landscaping much longer. Keep in mind that this does not mean that double flowers will attract more butterflies. Double flowers often have less nectar than single flowers and access to the nectar is much deeper and more difficult for the smaller species.<br /><br />Flowers that have many flower clusters such as the phlox, black-eyed susans, blazing stars and zinnias not only provide nectar, but provide a great landing place for the larger butterflies. Larger butterflies live longer than smaller ones. Small butterflies live only about a week or two, while larger butterflies such as the Monarch may live for up to nine months!<br /><br />Remember, just like other things in life, it’s not the size that will determine the quantity or quality. Many herbs that are grown in the garden have tiny little flowers, but have really high amount of nectar. <br /><br />Butterflies will often sleep at night under large leafs or in rock crevices. So be sure to have other larger leaf foliage and rock gardens as well to keep them safe and comfortable.<br /><br />If you keep your garden well-fertilized, you are most likely to have healthy plants, which in turn will make much more pleasant surroundings for your beautiful flying friends. <br /><br />Don’t forget that butterflies are near-sighted, so have lots of larger bunches of flowers, even many groups of different colors of flowers, so that the butterflies may find them. Also, try cutting some of the stems back a little in the spring, to produce more flowers.<br /><br />There are around 20,000 different butterfly species in the world. Wouldn’t it be nice to keep a few for a longer period of time in your area?<br /> <br /><br />Louanne welcomes you to visit http://www.EZ-Gardening-Tips.com for a large data base of extremely helpful gardening articles, gardening videos and gardening resources.<br /><br />Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.comONLINE PRODUCTShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041784763105492778noreply@blogger.com