The Benefits of Using an Auto Watering System

The Benefits of Using an Auto Watering System

Having a garden can be a great thrill, it’s therapeutic and it can also give you a great sense of accomplishment. Many people are opting to grow their own gardens rather than rely on the grocery stores for their produce. Why is this? Because they will then know what is going into their bodies. It allows you to have control over the types of chemicals, or not, that you are putting on your garden vegetables and fruits.

While there are so many benefits that you can get with gardening, there is also a lot of hard work that goes into making a garden flourish. Not only do you have to worry about weeds, diseases, and the actual planting part, but you must also consider the fact that when the weather is not ideal, you may have to water your garden. The problem that many people have is that they do not want to resort to carrying buckets of water to their garden or having to stand outside with a water hose to water this garden every night. An Auto Watering System is the answer to this dilemma.

What is an Auto Watering System?

An Auto Watering System is just what it sounds like. This is a watering system that does this automatically, so you don’t have to stand at your garden watering by hand or hauling water in buckets. This system allows you to lay down the hose and simply sit back and let the automatic system handle everything else. And you will find that certain models like the Auto-Water System from OLT allows you to use a programmable timer to ensure that the garden gets the right amount of water each day for the best results.

The Benefits of an Auto Watering System

Aside from saving you from a backache of having to carry water to the garden, there are other benefits to using this type of system. There are several benefits that often convince gardeners to install one of these systems into their gardens. It is a simple installation, making it an even better decision.

Save on your water bill

When you turn on a hose or haul water to your garden, are you getting each plant just as you should or are you wasting a lot of water? In many cases, when a person relies on a sprinkler system they are watering areas of their land that doesn’t need it such as the walkway. With an auto watering system you can rest assure that the water is going to the garden in the areas that it needs, without wasting the water, thus saving you on your water bill.

Better watering for your garden

One of the biggest problems that you will find when you water your garden by hand is that you do not get the coverage even. This means that some plants may get too much water, while others not enough. This can lead to huge problems later as you will have plants that are not producing as much crops as they should if they had been properly watered. Also consider that you can put this to water when you may not be home, but it is prime time to water so that the ground and plant benefits the most from this watering.

Save yourself some time

While you may have tons of time to pay to your garden during the planting process, once everything starts growing, you are going to have other issues to contend with like removing weeds and eliminating pests. You can devote your time to these tasks rather than worrying about making sure each plant gets the water that it needs. What can you do with this extra time?

Cut down on weeds in the garden

What most people don’t realize is that an automatic watering system can actually help with lowering the number of weeds that come up in the garden. How is this? Since the water is being directed at the root of the plant, it is not watering the surrounding ground like rain does, which ensures that weeds are not encouraged to grow in this area. You can help with weed infestation even more with a raised garden bed that helps to give you more control of what is going into the soil. And it also makes it harder for grass clippings and the like to get into this soil, causing weeds to sprout.

Ensures ground stays nutrient rich

When too much water gets into the ground, it can easily wash away the nutrients that make the ground so great for your plants. Heavy watering in one area could result in the nutrients leaving. Thus, an automatic watering system is going to control the water flow, helping to keep the nutrients in your garden, right where they belong.

Can give you greater flexibility

When it comes to gardening, most people realize that it takes some time and effort to get a great yield of fruits and vegetables. However, when you have some portion of the gardening upkeep being taken care of with an automatic watering system, you are going to have great flexibility of what you are doing in the garden. While a portion is being watered, you can harvest crops on the other side or vice versa. This flexibility is something that people love as they are no longer at the mercy of when they need to water this garden.

If you love to garden, then you want to see success from all of your efforts. Through using an auto watering system, you are one step closer to becoming a master gardener that sees results. If you consider all the benefits that this offers, you are going to find that this is a no brainer when it comes to your gardening. What is even better is that the auto watering system is for professionals or those beginner gardeners, as it offers the same benefits to everyone, no matter your skill level.

Backyard Inspirations, gardening, How to

How to Clean and Prepare Your Yard for Spring

With winter gone, it’s the perfect time to get your gardening touch back. The best way to do that is by sprucing up your yard. From the waning lawn grass, shrubs, and even yard trees you can give your yard a new breadth of life after months of heavy blanket of snow and ice. Follow these awesome tips to help you get your yard looking lovely and pumping with beauty once again.

Have a Landscape Plan

The lawn’s beauty will easily add onto the value of your home. Having the perfect landscape plan before you start is the best way to get what matches your lawn needs and also leaves you with a cool finish.

If you don’t have any exterior design skills it will do you so much good to hire an expert to help you out before you start working on your lawn. Remember, if you can imagine it you can easily achieve it too.

Clean Up a Little

Start simply. That has always been what I tell my readers. With the winter killing most trees and keeping the yard under heavy snow for months, chances are you will have so much damage outside there.

The dullness of the trees, fallen leaves, debris, and twigs gather massive amounts of dirt. Having a cleaning session first before thinking of anything else will be ideal. Use rakes, gloves, and blowers for an easy experience.

Here are some of the most vital things that you can keep in mind during the cleanup process for your lawn.

Remove any forms of refuse
Prepare your flower beds by weeding and removing dirt
Apply pest and weed control options
Prune the shrubs

NOTE: Debris isn’t your best friend when left on the yard. They can easily stick up the mower or block fertilizers from being absorbed by your new lawn.

Prepare the Soil

The best way to do this is to apply fertilizer on your lawn. You should also use a pre-emergent and a weed killer and if possible amend the soil at this stage. If you don’t have fertilizer you can opt for green manure.

If you do this at the very beginning of the spring it will be awesome. It fights any dormant weed seeds that you might have had on your lawn and allows you the perfect timeline for reapplication.

This is a great way to prevent crabgrass. Most lawn care brands will offer the best pre-emergent combination with weed killer so that you have a single application. This is good at minimizing costs and time of application.

Mow Pretty Early

The biggest mistake most homeowners make is to mow late into the spring and mow once a week during the spring time. This is bad for business especially if you wanted healthy grass. Mowing early and often is a great way to keep the grass roots reproducing pretty easily and quite properly.

Once you mow you can build up cool some of the best relaxation set ups for your family and friends too. You can take a choice from any of these tips.

These are some great ideas that will bring your family closer as they work together. Simply give them a slight lesson on how to use a screw gun, safety when building outdoor kits in the backyard, and types of screws and tools typical for working in the backyard.

NOTE: It is advisable to mow every five days of the spring and also depending on the type of weather that you experience. This will be a great way to ensure that you get a thicker and fuller lawn.

Mulch It Too

Picking good and heavy mulch will be a great decision once your yard is cared for. All you will do is to edge out the lawn and also trim dead branches on the shrubs that could be lying around. This helps to preserve the soil’s moisture and keep the grass looking healthy and green.

A good mulch to go with is hardwood tree back mulches instead of the dyed brown wooden chips. They usually look great and will last longer too.

Give Trees a Trim

You will never know if the tree on your yard has dead branches unless you move in up close. Dead branches that haven’t been trimmed will easily fall off and leave your lawn looking really bad.

The best way to stop this from happening is to get a trimmer and prune your trees once after every three years. Just remember to do this at the beginning of the spring time rather than the winter.

Wait Until the Fall to Seed

If you are still re-applying your pre-emergent or even the weed killer your grass seeds won’t also germinate. While the pre-emergent kills the weed seeds it, it will also kill the grass seeds too. The best thing is to apply fertilizer to the lawn and allow it a few more weeks for the shoots to grow over brown spots.

Even better, you can also use sod – chunks of lawn mounds with grass to hide the patches. Sod is a better option to the seeds.

Additional Tips

Technically, what we have looked at are good enough if you want to have the yard ready for entertaining guests, simple gardening, playing with your loved ones and enjoying with your family. Nonetheless, you can also add the following.

Have a routine cleanup
Use a tiller to break new lawn ground
Building raised beds
Make use of landscape berms
Planting rabbit proof grass

These are some of the simplest tips that you can go with once spring comes around. Don’t over think. Keep it simple always.

Conclusion

Giving your yard a breadth of life after the snowy winter isn’t always impossible especially if you have the right tips. The best thing to do is to start an early preparation and to make the right choice of plants.

Most things around here are easy DIY programs and you won’t have to hire an expert to help. That’s why caring for your yard is the best thing if you wanted to get your aesthetic or gardening touch back with a heartbeat after winter.

Finally make sure you go through a few more posts, tips, and blogs before you start out. It will help you to gather enough tips, borrow new ideas to try out, and maximize your imagination. This is super cool if you want the best yard for the spring.

gardening

Best Types of Insoles for Your Gardening Work Boots

An insole is the chunk of material located right under the foot, providing it with an extra degree of comfort and cushioning. While many types of footwear already come with a stock insole, typically, it is not quite enough to cover the needs of workers. This fact becomes even more obvious if your job or activity (gardening, for example) requires you to be constantly on your feet. As a result, you will need an additional layer of material to protect you from any potential injuries and keep your feet warm. Since there are many types of insoles on the market, the purpose of this article is to inform construction workers, day laborers and gardeners what specific perks and features they should seek before buying a pair of insoles. Here is what you should know.

Why are Insoles Important?

Insoles can influence the health and state of your feet as much as a pair of boots. Apart from providing comfort and safety, a pair of top quality insoles will make your overall work experience much more pleasant. Gardening, while being a relaxing and fulfilling activity, can be very taxing to the body, especially the feet. This is why many online sources, like this article about best insoles, are stressing the importance of insoles and how they can reduce the risk of injuries and developing feet specific conditions.

Here are a few brief reasons why gardeners should equip their work boots with insoles:

As a gardener, besides being constantly exposed to the elements of nature, you will be working in hot, humid conditions. Insoles can counteract their effects (feet fungus, swollen feet, etc.) by providing an extra layer of material between your feet and shoes.
Constantly bending over, digging, hoeing, sowing and weeding puts high amounts of pressure on the feet and ankles. Fortunately, insoles will correct the foot and overall body posture and alleviate most of the negative effects.
Insoles make the process of finding the perfect gardening shoes much more easier. Because finding a perfect fit is hard for many people, they usually compromise and buy shoes that are either slightly bigger or slightly smaller, exposing themselves to blisters, calluses, and other gardening-related inconveniences. Insoles have the potential of solving these issues by providing an additional layer between your feet and the shoes. Furthermore, since most insoles are quite thick, you will never have to worry about getting water in your shoes!

General Types of Insoles

If you are in the market for a pair of insoles but can’t decide what exactly to buy, you can give these general types a trial run before switching to specialized insoles:

Support insoles are made from a sturdier material and offer an extra degree of comfort and stability. The best starter insoles for gardeners of all skill levels.
Comfort insoles are designed to provide adequate cushioning. While they are not great for doing heavy work on the construction site, they are more than capable of handling gardening work.

Height Increasing Insoles

As you might have surely guessed from the name, the purpose of these insoles is to increase the height of the feet. While they are usually recommended and prescribed by doctors to people with chronic foot injuries, they can also be used to prevent a variety of conditions. By decreasing the pressure on the Achilles heel – a perk that gardeners who stay on their feet for the entirety of the day will surely appreciate – height increasing insoles can cut down the risk of developing pains in the knees, back and pelvis area. Here are a few additional perks:

Great shock absorption Some gardening tools (like rakes, forks and the like) can be quite heavy, and a good pair of insoles will protect you from any serious injuries caused by them.
Height increasing insoles are especially advantageous for people with flat feet or high, low and collapsed arches, who are typically more predisposed to fatigue and sores after spending a whole day standing on uneven terrain. These types of insoles will prevent the load from affecting a single area and spread it equally throughout the foot.
Foot wounds and ulcers are less likely to occur.
Height increasing insoles provide the gardener with a greater dynamical freedom and increased flexibility.

Memory Foam Insoles

Besides height increasing insoles, passionate and dedicated gardeners who are concerned about their feet should also consider insoles with memory foam. This technology, first developed in 1966 by NASA, will provide adequate protection against gardening related injuries and conditions. Here are a few benefits:

Insoles with memory foam have great moisture absorption capabilities because they are made out of a material that captures humidity and dissolves it in a timely fashion. As a result, your feet will feel dry and comfortable even after an entire day of watering plants.
Because you will be spending a lot of time in hot, humid conditions, your feet need to be properly ventilated. This is another area in which foam insoles excel, as they allow to breathe, preventing various foot infections from occurring.
Walking on uneven terrain, a hallmark of gardening can be very taxing to the feet, and foam insoles can counteract any potential negative effects associated with this activity.

Conclusion

Every single person who does physically intensive work on a daily basis should equip their work boots or shoes with a pair of quality insoles. They will not only make your job more enjoyable, but you will not have to worry about calluses, blisters, and other feet related injuries. If you are in the market for this product but can’t decide what to choose, make sure to read through this article, and you will get all the information that you need.

gardening

Drought Resistant Plants for an Eco-Friendly Garden

Drought Resistant Plants for an Eco-Friendly Garden A lush and green garden is a welcome sight, but with many parts of the country suffering from water shortage, choosing to plant drought resistant plants that require less water will reduce your water bills and make your garden more eco-friendly. Drought resistant plants do not mean only cacti. There are many flowering plants, shrubs, and perennials that have been developed to be drought resistant. These plants will survive on rainfall after they have become established. However, the first year or first month you will have to ensure that they are watered adequately. After that the drought resistant plants might not bloom when there is no rainfall or watering, but will survive and add color to your garden after you water them or there is adequate rainfall. Watering Tips Whether you have planted only drought resistant plants or some sections of your garden have plants that require regular watering, you need to follow the rule of occasional deep watering rather than frequent shallow watering. A general rule of thumb is to water the plants once a week so that the soil receives an inch of water. Avoid watering the leaves since this can lead to the growth of fungi. Covering the soil with mulch will also help prevent water evaporation from the soil, helping to delay watering sessions. Drought Resistant Plants Yarrow ‘Coronation Gold’: These are golden yellow flowers that bloom among tall silvery gray leaves. The flowers bloom from mid-summer to early autumn. The plants grow up to three feet in height and require plenty of direct sunlight and soil that handles moisture well with the proper drainage capabilities. Silver Artemisias: you can add fragrance to your garden with this silvery gray leafy plant. The aromatic leaves grow from between one and a half feet to four feet in height depending on the variety you choose. These plants thrive in direct sunlight and when they growing in well-drained soil. They can be invasive and you need to divide them often to limit their spread.

Purple Coneflower: Another plant that prefers direct sunlight and well-drained soil is the purple coneflower. The plant grows to be between .6 to 1.3 meters or two and four feet in height. Tall Bearded Iris: This hardy plant also requires direct exposure to sunlight and well-drained soil. It blooms in spring and is a great ornamental plant with blade like leaves and purple flowers with six petals. The plant grows to be more than .6 meters or two feet in height. Rosemary: Another hardy plant that produces both flowers and aromatic leaves. The pine like leaves add a distinct aroma to the garden while the sun loving plant will thrive on well-drained soil and less water. Common Thyme: This is a garden plant that blooms in late spring and early summer. The bush-like plants grow to a maximum of one foot in height and the flowers are white or light purple in color. The plant can be grown in either direct sunlight or lightly shaded areas. Lavender: These mounding plants flower in the summer. The silvery gray leaves are spiky and the plant grows to between two and three feet in height. The flowers can be lavender, purple, or white depending on the variety you choose. Common Sage: The woolly gray green leaves of this plant make them attractive throughout the growing season. The plant prefers direct sunlight and a soil that is not too saturated and that allows the water to drain away appropriately. It can grow to between .6 to 1 meter or two to three feet in height. Hens and Chicks: This is a succulent plant with blue green leaves that are tipped with red or purple highlights in the summer. The plants should be placed in direct sunlight or lightly shaded locations and the soil should not be flooded. Snow-in-Summer: This plant is very short, only six to ten centimetres or two to three inches in height. The leaves are silvery and the flowers are star shaped and white. The plant thrives in direct sunlight and in soil that does not hold water for extended periods of time.

Creeping Phlox: This is a hardy plant that grows in fertile soil that is well drained. The flowers bloom in late spring or early summer. The plant is only six to 21 centimeters or two to six inches tall and the leaves are bright green and form a majestic background for the white, pink, or violet flowers. These plants can make attractive borders. Sedum: This plant has fleshy evergreen leaves and grows well in average or fertile soil. The plant requires direct sunlight. It flowers in summer and produces loose clusters of purple or white flowers. The short plant attains a maximum height of about 14 centimeters or four inches. An eco-friendly garden should make every effort to conserve water, using drought resistant plants, storing rain water in barrels, and using mulch to help the soil retain moisture for a longer period of time. These steps will ensure that your garden is lush and enticing without consuming a lot of precious water during the dry months.

garden bed, gardening

Introducing Gardening to your Children

Introducing Gardening to your Children If you are an avid gardener, you probably would like to introduce your children to the joys of gardening. Gardening can teach your children many valuable skills such as patience, discipline, persistence, and a love for nature. Children will also be able to learn basic skills and the joys of manual labor when they help in the garden even as they enjoy seeing seeds sprout and buds flower. Another advantage of involving children in the garden is that even picky eaters are likely to eat cherry tomatoes and kale that they have helped to grow. Keep the Age of the Child in Mind When introducing children to gardening, keep the age of the child in mind. Children are impatient and expect quick results, so get them to plant quick growing plants such as sunflowers and tomatoes. Similarly, sunflowers have large seeds that are easier for very young children to handle. Hand over Ownership One of the best ways to encourage your children to take an interest in gardening is to give them individual plots. The ownership of the plot will inculcate a better sense of responsibility and ensure that they remember to water their garden and weed it. The size of the plot should depend on the age of the child. You could start off very young children with a container garden that they can easily water. Locate the child’s plot in a sunny spot that has easy access to a water source. Depending on the age of the child, you can help by weeding, removing bugs, or watering. Gradually Involve them in All Gardening Activities While very young children are likely to only be interested in some aspects of gardening such as planting the seeds or watering, you can gradually involve the child in all gardening activities. Teach your child how to compost organic material, weed, remove pests, and harvest. As the child grows older, you can ask them to take part in mulching and fertilizing, pruning, and harvesting. You can also increase the area of the garden your child manages and let them choose which plants to plant each year. Safety Measures When introducing gardening to your children, you need to ensure that adequate steps are in place to ensure their safety. First, you need to make sure that the plot allotted to your child is close to the house and visible from the home for better monitoring. While even very young children should be given proper gardening tools, these should be the right size for them to use safely. Some garden tools and implements should only be used by children under supervision.

Apart from this, you also need to make sure that your children are not exposed to chemical fertilizers and pesticides. This is best achieved by keeping your entire garden organic. If that is not possible, keep pesticides out of the reach of children and explain that certain products are not to be used by them. Planning Garden Beds When planning garden beds for children, make sure that they are not very wide so that children can reach the center of the beds with ease. This means that the garden beds should not be more than four feet in width. Additionally, you need to leave adequate space between the beds for children to move around with ease. With very small children who may not be the most coordinated or have that attention to detail that adults have, you need to leave around two feet between the beds to ensure that they do not trample on the plants.

Using the Garden as a Teaching Tool To be most effective, the garden should be used as a fun teaching tool. This can be done by letting children get muddy and dirty as they explore all aspects of the garden. Introduce your children not only to the plants in the garden, but the insects, small animals, and birds that are part of it. Installing a bird feeder and bird bath can help add color and interest to the garden. Help your children identify the birds and insects in your garden even as you teach them the names of the various plants. Be Flexible In order to ensure that your children enjoy gardening and spending time outdoors, you need to be flexible. Let the children choose what they want to plant and allow them to make a few mistakes. This is how children learn – they learn from their mistakes. No different than adults really though. Very young children are likely to pull up plants along with the weeds, trample on seedlings, over water the plant beds, and so on. While this can result in a less than perfect garden, your children are likely to find the process enjoyable and take pride in productive work. While children need to be supervised to ensure that they do not injure themselves when using garden implements, they should be allowed to experiment and make mistakes so that they learn to appreciate the joys of gardening as well as other life lessons. And certainly they can enjoy some of the fruits of their labor as well.

Introducing Gardening to your Children

gardening

Backyard Decorating Ideas on a Budget

The great outdoors beckons you and in this article you will find backyard decorating ideas on a budget! Even if we are strapped for money, most of us try to transform our backyards into a paradise where we can rest, relax, and rejuvenate in the company of our loved ones and friends. The yearning to transform the outdoor living spaces into something lush and beautiful is very strong in homeowners, but money always poses an obstacle. The best way to save money on doing up your outdoor living space is laboring in the backyard yourself. Even if you are new to the world of gardening, don’t worry. You can easily decorate your garden without burning a hole in your pocket. Whether you have a sprawling backyard or a tiny one, these budget-friendly backyard decorating ideas will help you transform the space into an oasis within no time. Listen to the Music of the Fountains There is something magical about hearing water fall. The musical sound of water is soothing and relaxing. Why spend money on custom made fountains when you can purchase small fountain kits online or in garden supply stores? If you want to add that water element in your garden, a fountain kit is the best option. It is not expensive and the hardware with easy-to-follow instructions is part and parcel of the kit. To create a focal point, position the fountain in the center of your garden. You also can place it in an area that is surrounded by vibrantly colored flowers. Upcycle Old Car Tires Most homes will have a few car tires lying around in their garage. Instead of letting the tires occupy valuable space in your garage and making it look untidy and disorganized, use the tires to create unique and beautiful planters.

Position the tires on top of the other. Stop at two tires. Now fill the center with potting soil and plant inexpensive flowers, such as geraniums and marigold. You can paint the tires in vibrant colors and if you or any other family member is artistically inclined, let them go berserk with the tires. Make sure you place the tire planters strategically to showcase the unique planters and also enhance the look of your garden. Rock Your World with a Rock Garden Traditionally, rock gardens are inspired by Zen gardens, but you don’t have to follow this trend if you don’t want to. Select a shaded area in the garden to create your unique rock garden. Buy plenty of gravel bags from the local garden store and cover the selected spot with gravel. Look around your yard for large rocks. If you can’t find any, ask friends and family for rocks. Use the rocks to create a pattern around the gravel and place a few smaller rocks strategically on the gravel. All the succulent plants you have, the ones in small pots, place them in a decorative manner on the gravel. And, your budget rock garden is done! Light Up Your Backyard There is nothing more soothing and relaxing than lounging in your backyard in the evening. But the darkness may prevent you. You can instantly create a magical fairyland with your pots and planters. Here’s how to do it. Paint the pots and planters with glow-in-the-dark paint and before you know it these will softly illuminate your backyard without causing your electricity bill to skyrocket! Create an Entertainment Space You don’t have to spend a lot of money to create a space in your backyard for family and friends. Invest in an affordable DIY pergola kit and you have a space to host barbecues, birthday parties, and cocktail evenings for family and friends. It also creates a focal point in the garden that you can decorate with flowering potted plants and outdoor furniture.

Make sure you opt for 100 percent Western Red Cedar pergola kit, as it is renowned for its durability, natural resistance to pests, beauty, and strength. The kit comes with the necessary hardware and illustrated instructions that are easy to follow. Above all, the cedar pieces are precut, so you just need to follow the instructions to erect your very own pergola. Bottle Up the Flower Beds Forget about using bricks to create borders for your flowerbeds. Keep those colored bottles until you have a whole stack of them. You will need them to make a creative and colorful border for your flowerbeds. Plant the bottles upside down around the flowerbed to create a unique border. Not only will it demarcate the flowerbeds, the colors will make your garden stand out. Truly ingenious and creative! These are some budget-friendly ways to decorate your garden and extend your living space. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to create a beautiful and unique garden. Look for things in your home that you can re-purpose and use in the garden. It is a fantastic way to let your personality shine through your garden and also reduce the burden on landfills by up-cycling items from your home that you no longer use or want.

Backyard Decorating Ideas on a Budget

gardening

Essential Steps to Prepare Your Garden for Autumn

While spring is the time to plant new plants and seedlings and summer the right time to watch them grow, your garden needs care during fall as well. Here are some Essential Steps to Prepare Your Garden for Autumn. As the weather cools the plants mature and move towards hibernating during winter. However, preparing your garden during the fall will make your spring garden much better. Examine the Garden To prepare your garden for fall, first walk around it and examine it with care. Look for bald patches of soil that require soil amendments, over grown plants that need to be divided, note down which bulbs need to be removed before winter, and which herbs need to be moved indoors. Add Soil Amendments Fall is the best time to add soil amendments as the slow releasing fertilizer will enhance soil quality throughout the winter months. During spring and summer, the nutrients in the soil are depleted by the growing plants. Add soil amendments and turn them into the soil using a gardening fork. Ensure that you cover all areas where there are no plants either because you have removed spring and summer flowers, or bulbs, or because some plants did not thrive during the growing season. While chemical fertilizers work for feeding the plant directly, organic fertilizer works by enriching the soil. Mulch, manure, and compost are all organic fertilizers that release nutrients slowly into the soil. By working them into the soil in fall, you will reduce the number of gardening chores you have to perform in spring. When it comes to a large patch of ground such as a kitchen garden, you should begin by first tilling and soil and removing roots and weeds. Next add the mulch or soil amendment to the soil and till it again, working the nutrients into the soil. This step is easier to perform in fall before the ground becomes hard during winter frost or soggy after the spring thaw. The soil is also warmer, letting the microorganisms thrive. By tilling the soil in fall, you will be introducing oxygen into the soil when it is still warm, ensuring a healthier soil for spring planting. Remove Herbs Indoors Remove potted herbs indoors before the weather becomes cooler and you will be able to enjoy fresh herbs for a longer period of time. Simply move the pots to a warm corner of the porch that gets some sunlight and is not exposed to the snow or frost. Apply Weed Killer on the Lawn Most gardeners recommend that weed killer be applied twice on the lawn each year. In fall you need to apply weed killer to get rid of the seeds that have landed in the summer. This will mean the emergence of fewer weeds in the spring when the lawn revives. If you have pets be careful how you distribute the poison. You may want to keep your dog(s) inside your home for a couple or hours to allow the poison to penetrate the weeds before you allow your dog to run around in your backyard. If you are only worried about weeds in your front lawn then you should not have too much to worry about. While the poison is being absorbed by the weeds, you can walk your dog during this time so they are not too restless inside your home waiting for the poison to seep inside the plant. Collect Seeds If you have been growing heirloom plants from seeds, fall is the time to collect seeds from both flowering and kitchen garden plants. For this you need to avoid harvesting a few fruits and flowers and instead let them ripen or dry out on the plant. Fruits that over ripen on the plant will have mature seeds that can be collected by soaking the fruit in water and removing the pulp. The weaker seeds will float to the top and can be discarded and the heavier seeds collected and dried before being labeled and stored in a clean, cool, and dry environment. Empty the Rain Water Barrel If you have been collecting rain water in a barrel for your gardening needs, you need to drain it completely before the onset of the first frost. Drain the barrel and clean it after removing pipes and tubes. This will reduce the chances of damaging it by frozen water. Remove Mulch from Stems and Trunks As you go around your garden in fall, remove mulch from stems and trunks of trees and perennial shrubs. This will help prevent the formation of mold or mildew as there is no moisture trap on the shrubs. Examine Perennials You should also examine all the perennials in your garden for signs of disease. Look for spotted leaves or rotting stems and either apply treatment, prune the branch, or remove the plant before the disease spreads to healthy plants in the vicinity.

Check Trees for Damaged Branches To make sure that people and property are not damaged by rotting branches, check all of them for signs of damaged branches. This is easier in fall when some of the trees shed their leaves, leaving the branches bare and easier to inspect. If you spot signs of danger, get the branches removed.

These essential steps to prepare your garden for Autumn can help you have a better garden in spring and summer. Many of the fall garden chores will ensure that the soil is healthy and ready for spring planting. By doing this you will be able to plant your spring crops after minimal soil preparation, getting a head start on your fantastic and enlightening garden.

Essential Steps to Prepare Your Garden for Autumn

gardening

Get Your Garden Shed Ready for Winter and other Seasons

Get your garden shed ready for winter! A garden shed is no longer a luxury. It is a necessity that allows you to enjoy more storage space for your gardening tools and implements rather than using your garage for storage. You can easily invest in a panelized garden shed that you can erect yourself. Not only is such a shed aesthetically pleasing, it also is quite functional. DIY panelized garden sheds come with pre-cut panels that already have Western Red Cedar shingles attached to the roof panels. Each panel comes in a manageable size, so that it is quick and easy to assemble the shed. You also have the flexibility to choose a window and door panel placement.

However, once you have your garden shed in place, it is very easy to let it turn into a huge mess. You may end up just throwing everything into the shed and forgetting about it until the need arises. Then it is one big clutter that you have to weed through to find what you need. Don’t let your garden shed fall into this state. Work on it now to prepare your shed for winter and beyond. Clean and Sweep Take out everything from the shed and keep it outside. Then sweep the shed to catch all the dirt and debris. Wash and rinse pots, wheelbarrow, shovels and other gardening tools and implements. Use a wire brush to get rid of stubborn soil stuck to the surface. Let the tools, air dry. Once they are thoroughly dry, store them away until you need them again. You can spray the metal parts of the tools with a lubricant to prevent rust formation. Spruce Up the Shed If you install a garden shed made from pre-cut Western Red Cedar, you don’t really need to paint it. This wood looks beautiful naturally and has its own charm. However, you can stain the floor of your shed, if it is made from wood. Use a weatherproof stain to keep the floor looking gorgeous all year long. Also, check for holes and cracks in the panels. If you find them, use caulk to fill them up. You also can fill the seams with caulk to keep the cold wind out and prevent your shed from smelling musty when you don’t open it for days in winter. Keep Pests at Bay Garden sheds seem to attract pests very easily. Bugs and rodents love to make homes in garden sheds. These critters can create a mess and stink up your shed. So set traps throughout the year to deter these pests and ensure your garden shed lasts for decades and also remains in a magnificent shape. Organize and Store Check all the items that you store in your garden shed. Discard anything that is broken and you no longer need. Garden sheds can accumulate a lot of clutter every season and you may not even realize it until you are trying to find that one tool or implement that is hidden under the chaos. Once you have got rid of unwanted and broken items, it is time to focus on the storage. The best way to optimize storage in your garden shed is with shelves and hooks. Fix large hooks on the inside wall to hang large tools and implements, such as shovels, trowels, and rakes. You can even roll up the garden hose and hang it on the wall, thereby using the space vertically inside the shed. It is important to use shelf space prudently. Anything that is small and organic, such as mulch or dirt should first go into waterproof packaging and then onto the shelf. This will prevent the shed’s floor from damage. Similarly, pots, watering cans, fertilizer, and herbicides should also go onto a shelf. Make sure you label the shelf, so that you know what goes where. Place other small items in transparent plastic boxes with lids. Label the boxes on all sides, so that you know what they are for.

Place these in a systematic manner on the shelves. Boxes that hold items you need regularly for your garden maintenance and upkeep should be placed on lower shelves, while those you use sparingly or rarely should be placed on higher shelves. Your wheelbarrow should be propped up against the wall, so that it is not in the way when you enter the shed. The things that you own can be a nuisance if they are constantly getting in the way and so on. Neaten the Outside Clear grass, shrubs, and other plants growing along the garden shed. They can damage lower half of the shed. You should be looking to keep about 3 to 5 (7.62 to 12.7 cm) inches of space between the garden shed and your plants to prevent damage to the lower part of the shed and its base. A garden is a green oasis in a concrete jungle and a garden shed allows you to keep that oasis beautiful and well-landscaped. So, organize and clean up your shed to store all the valuable gardening implements and tools that you need to make your garden into a haven. It is worth the effort and time!

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Best Vegetables to Grow in the Winter

Now that you are going to stow away your mower in the shed for winter, this is a good time to pick the best vegetables to grow and pack your vegetable beds so that you have a nice little harvest in the winter months. When you keep your garden going through the chilly months, you get to spend time outside in the fresh air, exercise and can give you some miraculous home-grown produce. Up until October end, you can sow a good range as a supplement for the sprouts, parsnips, and leeks that should already be settled in. Here is a look at the top 10 best vegetables to grow in the winter:

Broad Beans: Autumn is always a great time to sow broad beans. This veggie keeps nutrients from leaching through what is otherwise fallow soil, causing its structure to deteriorate. These beans are ready a month earlier than the ones you sow in April, and they also do not get black fly. Good broad bean varieties for autumn are Super Aquadulce and Aquadulce Claudia (AGM). And this is much healthier eating compared to Skittles and potato chips.
Asparagus: Nowadays, you will find asparagus varieties that you can plant in autumn, which is fantastic as it helps them establish much quicker. Although many people think that asparagus beds take a lot of hard work, if you can get the bed free of weeds, they take a lot less work than annual vegetables. It will take you two years before they can be cut, but this is a small price to pay for a gourmet wonder. It is much healthier than loading up on fried chicken all winter and swallowing cans of soda which is also terrible for your teeth. It is easy to gain weight in the winter, if you play it smart that will not happen to you and you will even save yourself a trip to the dentist.
Peas and Pea Shoots: If you want a late spring crop, it is a fabulous idea to start sowing seeds now, especially if you live in a mild area. If you sow direct into the ground, make sure that you plant them one inch deep and relatively closely, roughly one inch apart. This will help in making up for a higher rate of loss. With peas, keep in mind that pea shoots taste amazing – all you need to do is pick the tips off and add them to salads and stir fries. Now you are cooking (pun intended)!
Garlic: If you are looking for the easiest crop to grow, garlic is it. Plant the cloves individually 2.5 inches deep if the soil is light, and a whole lot less deep if the soil is heavy, but make sure that it is a minimum of one inch below the surface. Plant them at a distance of about one foot apart. You can choose from different varieties, like Solent Wight and Province. You can also keep the vampires away which is always a benefit!

Onions, Shallots and Spring Onions: You will find many different onion varieties from sets that you can plant in now. This is actually the easiest way to grow onions, and you can harvest them earlier on in the year. For red sets, electric is good while radar is a good yellow and Shakespeare is top when it comes to white sets. Springs onions like White Lisbon Winter Hardy are an excellent choice. Shallots like Jermor are always available during this time.
Lambs Lettuce: Lambs Lettuce is a good filler – it does not demand much, grows easily and useful when you need more ingredients to add to your salads. This lettuce grows well even in low temperatures, and you can sow it up until October outside. You can pick it until December or into the New Year with milder weather or with some fleece. If you have a shortage of space in your garden, you could plant a few in between your spring cabbages.
Winter Lettuce: You can sow incredible varieties that are hardy, like Meraviglia d’Inverno San Martino and plant it out under a perforated polythene sheet or under fleece. In milder winters, you can leave it unprotected as soon as it establishes. An astute new variety is Winter Gem, which you can sow in a cold frame right through the winter till January.
Sugarsnap Peas: Although it is not known for sowing now, choosing a variety like Snow Pea Gigante Svizzero, or Seeds of Italy, will give you slow growth over winter. This will produce a crop of small-sized edible pods earlier in the next year. Sugarsnap peas are a great choice because they taste really good, giving you that fresh pea flavor than the flavor you get when you use just the pea. Plus, they are highly versatile.
Spinach: This is another popular vegetable nowadays. Pick it when it is still young and wilt the leaves instead of ruining it by overcooking it. This is a superb veggie for salads. You will find a range of useful varieties that can tolerate being sown during this time until the end of October, like Merlo Nero and Riccio d’Asti. The advantage you get from sowing in autumn is that there is no tendency to bolt.
Spring Cabbage: If you look around the garden centers in your area, you may be able to find some spring cabbage plants. Plant this veggie 12 inches apart each way, while earthing up the soil around the stems so that they are protected against the cold. If you live in a place where it gets icy, cloches, or fleece will help a lot. This is a delicious vegetable that is tremendous for planting before winter actually sets in.

As you can see, there are many best vegetables to grow in winter. This means that you can still make use of your garden during the cold months and reap a fantastic harvest. There is nothing like home-grown veggies, so consider growing the ones mentioned above before winter hits home.

Best Vegetables to Grow

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Water Feature Ideas for Your Garden – Creative and Beautiful

Looking for water feature ideas in your garden? The sound of running water has a relaxing and tranquil effect that calms anyone when they hear it. That is why you see artificial waterfalls in restaurants, hotel lobbies, and so on. No one really knows why it has that soothing effect, but everyone wants to feel it. And you can, by installing a premade fountain or building one on your own. No matter which you press the button for, you will find an array of beautiful water feature ideas to create these gorgeous features in your yard and make a focal point in your outdoor space that highlights one of the most important elements of nature. Urn Fountain: A simple urn can make a beautiful, attention-grabbing feature in your garden. It is not overbearingly fancy, so if you want something that is elegant and understated, this is the perfect fountain for you. All you need to do is make sure that the urn or pot that you choose is designed to withstand the elements and last in the outdoors so that it makes it through the year despite whatever Mother Nature has up her sleeves. Wall Waterfall: If you want decorative water feature ideas, there is nothing quite as stunning as a water wall. It is more modern than a conventional water fountain, so if you are looking something a little more contemporary, this is the one for you. You can get it professionally done, or if you are good with your hands, you can make it a DIY project for your garden and get a striking water fall for your outdoor space. Stone Pond and Fountain: You can create a lovely water feature in your garden by building a water pond that comes with a little fountain. This is not a difficult DIY project, and you can definitely finish it over a weekend. A pond will make a sweet addition to your garden and add to its visual appeal. Tiered Pot Fountain: Simply, easy and amazing-looking, a tired pot fountain is a wonderful water feature for your garden. The salient thing about this garden water feature is that you do not need too many materials and tools to build it. You can use two or three pots depending on the size of your garden. Make sure that you take your time looking through gardening stores to find the perfect pots for this project.

Teapot Fountain: Are you wondering how you can use a teapot to make a fountain? It is really easy and looks adorable. Get a rustic vintage teapot and a wine or whisky barrel and you can create an eye-catching water feature for your outdoor space. The result will be a rustic, charming look that will make your garden look even better, especially when your flowers are in full bloom. Pond and Waterfall: If you want water feature ideas in your outdoor space but want to save money, you can build a pond with a fountain without spending thousands of dollars. This is an easy DIY project and you will easily find the materials and tools you need at your local stores. Place plants around this feature to enhance its looks and get a stunning water feature in your garden.

Container Water Garden: Do you want a water feature but do not have the space for it? Well, then this is the perfect one for you. If you do not have the money, space, or time to build a pond for your garden, no worries – you can make a simple mini pond with a container and some water lilies and lettuce. With just a little imaginative effort, you can have something in your backyard that is much more impressive than the 2015 Jurassic World movie which was tired and dull but that is another topic! Get a large container and fill it with water and a few pretty stones and then add your plants. There you have it – your very own mini pond that beautifies your garden or porch! Flower Pot Fountain: This feature is all about the pots, so you need to make sure that you find some stunning ones. Forget about regular terra cotta pots if you want something that really catches the eye. Nowadays, you will find a wide array of pots so take your time in picking a couple for this fountain. You can also add some decorative stones in varying sizes to enhance its appeal. Canoe Water Pond: Do you have an old canoe lying around? Great! You can use it to make a stunning water feature for your garden. Fill it with water and add plants and add other decorative items. You can also have a small submersible filter so you can add some goldfish in it too if you like! This is a fantastic DIY water feature project that you can have loads of fun with. If you are looking for ways to add a little something extra to your garden or backyard, fabulous water feature ideas will do the trick. In most projects, you will not have to spend too much money and still get a beautiful feature. All you need is a little imagination and creativity and you can create a beautiful pond or fountain for your outdoor space.

Installation Directory

Have a Landscape Plan

Clean Up a Little

Prepare the Soil

Mow Pretty Early

Mulch It Too

Give Trees a Trim

Wait Until the Fall to Seed

Additional Tips

Conclusion

Why are Insoles Important?

General Types of Insoles

Height Increasing Insoles

Memory Foam Insoles

Conclusion

Introducing Gardening to your Children

Backyard Decorating Ideas on a Budget

Essential Steps to Prepare Your Garden for Autumn

Best Vegetables to Grow