Solar Garden Lights For Inexpensive Lighting

By Barbara Volkov
Using solar garden lights in remote areas of your backyard garden is a wonderful way to shed light to those areas without the use of electricity. Solar garden lights are inexpensive and simple to install; they just need to be placed in areas that receive ample sunlight during the day. Solar lighting can be used in many different ways such as accent lighting, path lighting and spotlighting.
Solar yard lights need to be accessible to the sun during day-time hours to absorb the energy from the sun in order to light-up during the evening hours. Before you actually install the solar lights place them in the areas you would like to have lit up and place them equal distance apart but make sure those areas get enough sunlight during the day. Most solar lights will need approximately 8 hours of sun; some may need more in order to give off light during the night.
There are a number of motives for utilizing solar-powered lights in the garden: because they do not use electricity but the sun's energy they are considered environmentally friendly; they are simple to install since you will not need to dig ruts for wiring because they do have any; they are easily moved from one spot to another; they are less expensive than any other type of lighting; the upkeep is almost non-existent except to replace a rechargeable battery every so often; the LED bulbs rarely burn out; they add beauty and highlights to your garden during the evening hours; and they you have more of an opportunity to spend time in your garden during spring and summer.
Installing solar patio lights is one way to change the appearance of your landscape, yard, or garden. Because they are inexpensive and easy to install they can give you an array of ways to use them. These garden lights are available in numerous shapes and sizes and some have the ability to change light colors. These lights give you a way to highlight outdoor decorations, lounge areas, or dining areas. When solar lights first emerged on the scene they came mounted on stakes and most people used them for path lighting. Now you can find them for hanging on tall poles that look like lanterns to light up a pathway, they can also be mounted on walls, railings, or inserted into a deck for safety. The lights on tall poles will lead your guests across a grassy area of your garden without stumbling into something on their way to an outdoor living area.
Solar spotlights are much brighter than accent lights or pathway lights. They are mostly used to highlight an outdoor decoration, an unusual landscape or a prize-winning flower garden. Many spotlights are available with the solar panel attached to the light with a wire; this allows you to place the spotlight on a particular area to highlight and place the solar panel where it will receive the direct sunlight. There are other types of spotlights that are specifically designed to be security lights; these are classified as motion sensor lights, they only light up if movement is detected.
The holidays are coming and Halloween is the first. Solar lighting is so popular now that solar string lighting and solar tube lighting is now available for holiday decorating. Some stand along outdoor displays for the yard have gone to solar power. Since these lights are now solar-powered your electricity bill will be a lot lower during the holidays. Many of us have tube lighting and string lighting in the backyard all year but they use electricity and now since they have gone solar we do not need to worry about wasting electricity because we will not be using it.
Solar lights are made of the same materials as most traditional fixtures which make them quite durable; some consist of resistant plastic and others are made of aluminum, copper, or bronze. They come in many different sizes and shapes, are quick to install and easy to move around. Solar garden lights do not cost a penny to operate since they get their power from the sun.

Barbara is using solar garden lights in her backyard garden and finds her garden enchanting. Her website Gardeners Garden Supplies has several articles regarding garden decorations and outdoor lighting.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Barbara_Volkov

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6522635

The Garden Design Process

By Duncan Heather
I would like to put together an argument that demonstrates more can be made of the preliminary research documents, when it comes to winning design contracts and selling schemes to clients.
When first being taught to allocate space, the landscape student is guided through several different processes before they reach a final design solution.
It all starts with an accurate topographical land survey. A plan of the site is then drawn up to scale, to include boundary walls, existing buildings, trees, services and existing levels.
Having gathered this information on a local scale, the student should then expand their area of study to the surrounding landscape. Topographical, historical cultural and architectural information can be gathered from maps and the internet, which helps put the site into context and may suggest a theme on which to hang their eventual design.
Shadow plans are then calculated to assess the impact of spring and summer shade patterns and a sight Analysis plan developed to note the influencing factors of the site such as existing features, wind direction good and bad views etc.
Once all this information has been compiled, the student can start to experiment with space allocation in the form of bubble or functional diagrams.
All this work is a prerequisite to the creation of the presentation or master plan.
But what happens to all this research once the presentation plans are completed?
What many student fail to appreciate, is the difficulty many clients have in understanding the 2D plan drawings.
While we take it for granted that the 'house' is the big black rectangle in the middle of the drawing, it's surprising how few clients realise this. You can be waxing lyrical about how great their new garden is going to be, while showing them the plan and they simply can't make head nor tail of it!
There are 4 preliminary design stages and these can either be presented on separate sheets, or combined into one or 2 presentation drawings. These allow the designer to start their presentation, by going through the site survey and point out the house and the important features of the garden. This allows the client time to digest the plan and to familiarise themselves with the graphical nature of the drawings.
Next you can start to explain how they started to develop their ideas, by running through the site analysis plan and the bubble/functional diagrams.
Explaining the thought process to your clients helps you justify why you have arrive at a particular design solution, but also it help the client to understand how much work goes into the preparation of a landscape plan.
When you are charging several $1000 for an outline proposal arriving with just one sheet of paper can give the client the impression that they are not getting value for money.
Remember! you only get one crack of the whip at presenting your ideas, so you need to make that 'sale' in no more than about 60 minutes, otherwise you won't get the rest of your design fee and more importantly the garden will never be built.
Arriving with 2-3 sheets of research drawings plus the garden plan, plus any coloured perspective and a mood board, suddenly starts to look like a lot of work and thought has gone into the design.
So if you want to improve your sales and get more of your gardens build spend a little extra time 'prettying-up' your research drawings and use them as part of your presentation.

Duncan Heather is one of Europe's foremost garden designers, to-date having won five gold, one silver & one bronze medal and three best of show awards for his design work. He lives in Oxfordshire where he both lectures and works. Born in Britain, he travels extensively and undertakes a very wide range of projects around the world, from tiny courtyard gardens to large country estates.
Duncan Heather is director of the Oxford College of Garden Design and MygardenSchool.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Duncan_Heather

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6533578

Home Garden Fountains(home and garden)

Fountains can make a great addition to any outdoor space and with the many styles, sizes available to choose from, you are sure to find one that will meet your individual tastes and preferences.
(home and garden)
Garden fountains can be free standing structures, placed on a wall or custom built in to the landscape.

Wall fountains can be placed in a garden with limited space to achieve the same soothing sounds of a larger fountain.

Choosing An Outdoor Fountain For Your Garden

Important things that you need to think about is whether you want a stone or masonry or a plastic fountain.
(home and garden)
If your looking for a fountain that will last a long time consider choosing a stone or masonry fountain as opposed to a plastic one. The masonry fountains will last for many years but they will also be more expensive.

Once you have selected the material you want your fountain to be made of, you need to consider the size. Be aware that masonry garden fountains are very heavy, so if weight is an issue in installing your fountain choose the lighter plastic.

On larger fountain you may need to consider the cost of a plumber to install the pipes needed to circulate the water through the fountain. Electricity will also be needed to power the circulating pump for your fountain.

Many fountains have the option of using solar energy to power the pump. One disadvantage of going solar is that on cloudy days and at night the pump will not work.

Be sure that the type of fountain you choose compliments the flowers, plants and landscaping you have in your garden.
(home and garden)
For more information on home garden fountains please visit Garden Pros For the latest information on home garden products and ideas.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

What You Need to Know About Planting Roses

What You Need to Know About Planting Roses
When spring arrives, and the ground is thawed, it is time to start planting your rose garden. Roses date back to biblical times and have been a considered a cherished aphrodisiac then and still are today. Roses hold particular mystery and fascination, not to mention the fact that they just look and smell good!

Roses require 4 to 6 hours of sunlight everyday. It is preferable not to plant too many trees or other plants around the rose bush because most of these are likely to either mix with the rose or stifle its growth. If you are replacing an old rose bush, approximately 1 1/2 cubic feet of old soil should be removed and fresh soil added to replace it.

When positioning your rose in the garden or landscape, consider the growth habit of the rose. For example, place climbers and ramblers along fences, trellises, or next to arches or pergolas. This location offers them free range of growth, and optimal potential for the biggest and showiest blooms.

Roses also look beautiful in island beds mixed with perennials. Miniature roses make great edging plants in front of their taller cousins. Planted singly, shrub roses make excellent specimen plants or they can be clustered to make a flowering hedge. You can also use them to camouflage unsightly garden objects.

Dig a hole large enough for the root mass and loosen the bottom of the hole. You should add bone meal, which is a slow acting source of phosphorus that leads to healthy root growth in the rose plant. Special care should be taken with the planting depth. It varies according to the climate you live in. If you live in a colder area, plant a bit deeper and consult with the people growing roses in your area. If you are buying potted roses, you should plant them about 1 inch deeper than their potted level.

The plant should be placed in the hole carefully, and the hole refilled with soil, covering the roots completely. Before making the final covering, water the rose plant and let it absorb the water. After this, water the plant more and mound the soil about 6 inches high. The dome will keep the stems from drying out until the plant is rooted. Gradually remove the excess soil as the leaves open.

The best time to plant roses varies depending on the winter temperature. Where temperatures do not drop below -10 degrees F; either fall or spring planting is satisfactory. If you live in an area where winter temperatures go below -10 degrees F, spring planting is preferred. Plants should be planted in a dormant condition if purchased bare root, but container-grown plants may be planted throughout the growing season.

Spacing of the rose plant is highly influenced by the temperature. In regions where winters are severe, the rose plant does not grow as large as in mild climates. Taking this into consideration, hybrid tea roses should be spaced 1 1/2 to 3 feet apart. Large vigorous growers, such as hybrid perpetual need 3 to 5 feet of space, and the climbers need from 8 to 10 feet of space.

If the winter temperature is below 10 degrees F, roses can grow healthy if proper care is taken. The gardener must prepare for that cold, wet reality as he revels in the summer air conditioning.

In zones 7 and colder, the roses enjoy their last fertilization of the season by August 15 to limit the emergence of new rose canes, which will almost certainly not survive the winter.

For more information about roses, visit http://www.rosegardenanswers.com or http://www.gardencenterinfoguide.com



Article source : www.articleworld.net

Gardening Herb Indoor

by: Tracy Ballisager



As winter sets in, you usually start getting worried about the plants that you have in your garden because they might not be able to fight the frost or resist the chilly winds. This holds true especially for herbs because they are delicate. Indoor herb gardening is the answer to all your worries regarding your garden. And you don't even have to renovate your home to start growing herbs indoors. A widow that faces the South or West direction and allows sunlight for 5 hours in a day will suffice your need for indoor herb gardening. If you are staying in a high-rise apartment and the only greenery that you get to see is the distant park, then indoor herb gardening is good for you and your apartment too.

Thyme, rosemary and mint are good options as starters for your indoor herb garden. You can grow them from cuttings or buy them from a florist. You can get these plants from a supermarket as well. If you want to start your indoor herb garden this way then you need to initially grow the herbs in a soil-less mix of perlite, peat and vermiculite. You get the directions for use on the package or the greenhouse from where you bought the mix.

If you prefer staying away from all that shopping, then you can start your indoor herb gardening with the seeds. To start, you need to get some pots in which you can grow your herbs. A pot with good drainage, especially terracotta or a clay pot is preferable. Small pots of 6" diameter are perfect for indoor gardening as they are small enough to grow compact plants and allow enough growth as well.

You should have pots of same material, shape and size to bring symmetry in your indoor herb garden. The contrast that you desire can come from the colors and shapes of herbs. Also you should plant different herbs in different pots, rather than 2/3 in the same one so that mint and basil do not taste the same. Herbs that can be directly grown from seeds are basil and Greek Oregano. You need to be careful while choosing the seeds. Buy the ones that are specified as 'compact' as the regular ones are difficult to grow indoors because of their size.

To grow your herbs indoors from seeds you need to fill the pots with potting soil that you can get from any florist or greenhouse. Then tuck the seeds in soil to a certain depth as specified on the packet and spray them with water. These pots should be kept on the window shelf facing the southern or western direction to soak up enough sunlight. You should also keep the soil damp, especially if you live in a dry or overheated apartment. You should not over-water your herbs once you see the sprouts, as the roots may rot.

If you have started your indoor herb gardening with cuttings or via transplant, you should allow the soil to dry out a slightly. Your indoor herb garden should get plenty of light but should not be exposed to extreme heat.

Source : www.articlecity.com

A Bridal Flowering of your Own

Author: Krissy Lanni

Weddings; the day many women dream about since the time they are little girls. Location, setting, decorations, colors, the wedding and bridal dresses, flowers, tuxedos and of course the bridal bouquet; weddings are the day dreams are meant to come true. After the date, one of the biggest, and usually the next decision to be made, is the wedding location and setting. Once this decision is made, the formidable task of looking at the tremendous amount of accessory alternatives available can begin. Matching the accessories with the setting is a remembrance all present will remember. Bridal bouquets are no exception. Selecting the proper mixture of flowers that will create and become the bridal bouquet can be matched in gorgeous and stunning ways to compliment not only the bride, but the wedding setting choice as well.
Since the setting has been chosen, when choosing the bridal bouquet, the colors, shapes and textures can be considered accordingly. Not only all the flowers, but the bridal bouquet in particular, has tremendous meaning and importance in a wedding. It not only is an extremely personal accessory to the bride but is something that will be captured in the vast majority of the wedding pictures. Additionally, in many traditions and wedding reception settings, bridal bouquets are "thrown over the brides shoulder" to some lucky single woman; signifying upon her lucky catch of the bridal bouquet, she is next in line to stand at the altar and become married.
Let's look at a few tips and variations of flowers composing bridal bouquets in different types of wedding settings:
Modern Setting Bridal Bouquet Ideas: Selected, assorted mixture of: prince garden roses, black beauty roses, some sort of dark flower, such as chocolate cosmos, mixed with zinnias, ash berries and perhaps some type of geraniums, such as peppermint.
Elegant Setting Bridal Bouquet Ideas: Selected, assorted mixture of: garden roses, miniature calla lilies, gomphrena, zinnias, baby tears, gloriosa lilies, hydrangeas, nerine lilies, bittersweet, cymbidium orchids and perhaps acorns.
Including rhinestone crystals in any bridal bouquet will make it more elegant.
Urban/Downtown Bridal Bouquet Ideas: Ask the floral designer for unusual blooms, bold shapes and graphic, embellished ribbons.
Garden Setting Bridal Bouquet Ideas: Selected, assorted mixture of: cabiosa, lace-cap hydrangeas, nerine lilies, snowberries and classic soft colored roses, viburnum, berries, belladonna and amaryliss are ideal for garden wedding settings. Ask the floral designer for lush and romantic, loose bouquets in soft pastel colors that are natural and feminine. This is an ideal bridal bouquet for a couple that is marrying among the greenery of a garden or outside area.
Uptown/Residential Setting District Bridal Bouquet Ideas: Selected, assorted mixture of: monochromatic clusters or blooms with strong colors arranged tightly. What this does is create striking bouquets, ideal for this type of setting.
Beach Setting Bridal Bouquet Ideas: If you are marrying by the sea, pick a free-flowing, whimsical design with a mix of textures in flowers and grasses.
Other Setting Bridal Bouquet Ideas: Other popular flowers often found in bouquets are: tweedia, nigella and dusty miller, colored roses, oregano, wild grasses and seed pods.
The bridal bouquet is the most important accessory a bride carries. She has to feel comfortable and beautiful carrying the bouquet. It is the finishing touch, like wearing a diamond necklace to complete the look of a gown. It is therefore critical and important that the bouquet is designed to accentuate the bride as well as to bring out her personality on one of the most important days of her life.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

Flowers that go with our Roses

By Carole Nixon

There are many flowers that go with our roses. To start with the dwarfs, for spring we can have Snowdrops, Muscari or Grape Hyacinths, winter Aconite, small Narcissus, and Scilla, or the dainty blue and white Chionodoxa. All do well underneath the branches of the rose trees.
Flowers such as Forget-me-nots, spring Anemones, young Wallflowers, Aubrietia,and Violets can be used for planting between the trees. Make sure the Violets and Wallflowers are taken up as soon as they have finished flowering, as they tend to tangle with the roots of the roses. Don't throw them away, separate them or cuttings may be taken. Put out in a shaded place until autumn comes round, then return them to their beds.
Summer friends
More subdued colors must be used for summer. The brown Wood-Sorrel, Oxalis, which is only about two inches high, looks very pretty. The leaves are shaped like a shamrock, but a rich brown, and it displays tiny yellow flowers which only come out when the sun shines on them. It is brought up from seed, and if it is sown one spring there will be no further trouble, as it comes up every year. Don't allow it to get too big, or reach too close to the stems of the roses.
There are a few lowly Campanulas also suited for carpets. If the soft shades are used, Violas and Pansies look happy amongst the roses. They like the same soil, and both, particularly Pansies, do not like a blaze of sun, and for that reason will do very well with the roses.
Saxifrages make a nice carpet, and are great for edgings. S.Caespitosa, S.Hypnoides, and others of the mossy tribe, are very lovely if not allowed to grow too thick. Thrift is another good edging for rose beds. Where the beds or borders abut on a gravel path edging is needed and turf makes the best frame of all.
Annuals
Annuals Shirley and Iceland Poppies, Leptosiphon, Whitlavia, and Godetia are good plants for associating with roses. Care must be taken to see that the color of the annual blends in with that of the roses. The Poppies, shades of yellow and orange, should only be planted amongst cream roses or yellow roses,and the Leptosiphon, being rose pink, only amongst white roses, or those of a similar shade of pink.
Round the standards
The taller Salpiglossis look stunning grouped around the stem of a rose, and are such stylish annuals that they enhance the beauty of flowers overhead.
Coreopsis Tinctoria, which has yellow flowers with brown centers is also very good for this purpose. The Salpiglossis give blooms of several shades if a mixed packet of seed is sown, purple, tawny, terracotta, and many other standard shades. It is a very good idea to buy the seedlings when a few inches high and the outcome is more certain.
Japanese Pinks are pretty, and so easy to grow. Their fringed crimson and white flowers can be cut in quantities without detracting from the appearance of the rose beds, and they keep on blooming right up to the frosts. Statices are much used rather than grasses, their endless tiny flowers are so light and airy, and are produced very abundantly. They grow from eighteen inches to two feet high, and take away from the bare effect of the rose stems very well indeed. Celosias, too, are feathery annuals to be had in different colors. The golden colored variety is the most distinct and has a good effect grouped round some cream standard roses.
These annuals should be treated as half hard. If an early show is desired, frames must be brought into use or the young plants can be bought.
Plants with a greater quantity of foliage and deeper roots can be used, when rose trees are far apart. Columbines are well adapted for grouping with roses, especially when these are growing in shady places. They do not flower for such lengthy periods as the annuals, but their leaves are very fresh, and plants which flower later can be mixed with them.

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

Orchid Tips - The Fall Season is Here by Rob Roy

The fall season for orchids is an important one. It is one where a great number of the orchid plants need care as well as the change in the basic requirements. Most orchids use this season as a "rest period" to get ready to produce blooms in the winter or spring.

From the summer season to the fall there is a less a requirement for water as the temperature decreases. You will need to monitor this closely. Don't forget it you see wrinkling on the leaves this means that you need more H2O.

As a general rule this time of the year requires the use of an orchid fertilizer richer in phosphorous is needed to boost the bloom potential. This means that there is higher percentage in nitrogen-phosphorous-potassium in the fertilizer mixture. As you use fertilizer on the orchid plants use it as half strength and generally once a week.

I like to fertilizer after I have watered the plant. Once again be sure that you allow the water and fertilizer to run out of the pot. Leaving water and fertilizer in the pot allows root rot to destroy the orchid - very quickly.

The temperature is also getting cooler in most parts of the country during the fall. So if you have plants outdoors you may start to think about getting them indoors. Most orchids can do well in with temps in the 50's and few do ok into the forties. I like to suggest that your plants come inside when the night temps are in the mid fifties.

Now let's get to some specifics for some of the different genera. For cattleyas there growth rate will tend to slow as the fall progresses. The sheaths on the catts will show some changes indicative of blooming over the next six months. Don't forget the fertilizer and watering. These plants do well in bright lighting.

Also, if you are bringing your orchid indoors from being outside check carefully for any pests that may be clinging to the plant. Cymbidiums may start blooming in the fall and they need to be in shaded cool areas. Cyms have a genetically based warmth tolerance but for the best blooms they need an area that is shaded and somewhat cooler. The spikes with the flowers, called inflorescence, needs to be staked to prevent the heavy flowers from weighting down the spike.

Phalaenopsis are just starting to go through the next stage to ready for blooms in the late winter and spring. They need the cool difference in daytime and nighttime temps. It is recommended that there be about a 10 - 15 degree Fahrenheit difference. Phalaenopsis also need to be watered and fertilized less often during this first few months of fall. They are resting. It would helpful to give them a fertilizer with a higher phosphorous percentage to help boost the blossom potential. This fertilizer is also called "blossom booster".

Dendrobiums also need a "blossom booster" as well at this time of the year. Remember their flowers are usually plentiful and grow toward the top of the spike making them top heavy. Use a stake to help hold them erect and be sure that the pot is heavy enough to keep itself upright.

The green leaved Paphs are also getting ready to have flowers. The shafts are displaying the spikes. Be careful with these orchids as a sudden heat spell will prove disasterous to the new blooms. Keep them in a cooler area and with good air circulation.

Paphs don't like to get dry so be careful with watering. If you were watering twice a week try cutting down to once. But while doing this test your medium with the dry tip of a pencil. Stick it down about an inch or two into the pot, if the tip comes out wet your fine.

This should help you to have great orchids both in the fall season and beyond.

Resource:

Get the Guide to Growing Great Orchids, Mastering Orchids, a 70 page guide for half price ($9.95) Just subscribe to our monthly free orchid newsletter, Orchidaceae. http:www.orchids-plus-more.com/orchid-newsletter.html

Bio:

This site http://www.orchids-plus-more.com is devoted to these wonderful orchid plants. Did you know they are the second in popularity only to the poinsettia plants? You will find a good deal of information on how easy orchid care really is. They are wonderful to have around your home or for that special gift. Orchid flowers are beautiful and can last for years. Your plant will be appreciated for years and years.

About the Author

This site http://www.orchids-plus-more.com is devoted to these wonderful orchid plants. Did you know they are the second in popularity only to the poinsettia plants? You will find a good deal of information on how easy orchid care really is. They are wonderful to have around your home or for that special gift. Orchid flowers are beautiful and can last for years. Your plant will be appreciated for years and years.

Article source : www.goarticles.com/

Benefits of Receiving Flowers by flowers to go

Have you been in a rut lately? Do you feel like the world is scheming against you, that the rest of the human race is conspiring a grand prank to pull out the rug from under you and knock you out senseless?

Well, that could be possible and quite discomforting, isn't it? It's not that abnormal to be in a funk, since these days this crazy, mixed up world always has surprises, both good and bad, to throw us out in a spin. But the great thing about life is, there's always a way to make it all better, even just temporarily.

One quick fix to put you in a quite splendid state is to be in the presence of flowers, and no, that's not just an opinion, it has actually been proven by a number of researchers and scientists.

Just imagine, after getting off from work all riled and ready to explode you pass a lush orchard of roses and various blooming plants. That single sight of beauty, comforts your senses and in some way calms your nerves.

From the experts scientists, a 10 month research was done that put participants into a series of behavioral and emotional responsive tests upon receiving flowers. It has concluded three key points:

Flowers have an immediate impact on happiness It was found out that after a few months of subjecting them to an environment filled with flowers, the participants almost always expressed instantaneous positive delight upon receiving flowers.

Flowers have a long-term positive effect on moods The test showed that the participants lost their feelings of depression and anxiousness upon receiving flowers.

Flowers make intimate connections The scientific experiment concluded that the test had shown progress and increase in contact with familial relations.

Did it finally convince you? If you're near the Washington area, why not swing by your local Tacoma florist, and purchase a couple of flowers and blooming plants on your way, it might just keep your sanity.

About the Author

Flowers To Go is a premiere flower retailer in and around the Washington area. Their services include creating gifts for special occasions, providing decor for events, providing business gifts, wedding bouquet arrangements.

Article source : www.goarticles.com/

How to Plant a Flower Garden

By Esmee McCornall

This is done in layers of activity. It depends on when you read this but ideally the best time to begin your flower garden is in the fall. That way you can use nature as your assistant. If it is fall, you dig your bed, toss in compost, cover the bed with grass cutting, fallen leaves, or whatever you like. My neighbor empties her potato and apple peelings and pumpkin rinds into her bed.

But this is about planting a garden, not preparing it so let’s focus on planting. Your bed is ready. You’ve hoed it and raked it and fed it. Now is the time to begin. Speaking of time, plant in the late afternoon or evening so the plants have time to settle into the ground before the hot sun hits them.

Check to make sure that you can reach the center of your garden from the side. You don’t want to be stepping into your garden to tend to it. If you have created a big garden and cannot reach the center without stepping into it, then incorporate the need to step on the garden bed into the garden bed. Get a flat stone or two and place them as decorative elements right into your garden.

There. That is taken care of. Now it is time to plant. Lay out your tools. Use those little garden tools and have a little spade ready. Get your bucket of water and a can or something to dip out the water. Line up your plants. Begin in the middle of the garden with the plants that will be the biggest. Dig a hole deep enough to accommodate the roots, pour in water, and place the plant in the hole. Use your hands. Steady the plant with one hand and pack the soil around the roots with the other. Mound the soil up a little bit because it will settle down once the plant begins to spread out its roots.

Space out the rest of the plants, working from the middle out to the sides. Leave room for expansion. It is a classic mistake to put the plants close together because they look good but the fact is what you are planting is just the beginning of the gardening. The little plant you just placed in the garden might be a foot wide in a few weeks time. When you get the plants, make sure you follow the instructions on how far apart to plant them. If it says plant 6 inches apart, then plant them 6 inches apart (on all sides).

There. That’s all there is to it. Your flower garden is planted.

Esmee McCornall is a 'Gardoholic' publisher and writer. She recently published a guide called "Tips and Tricks to Create the Garden You Always Wanted". You can download a free copy at http://www.gardensandflowers.net

Article Source: ezinearticles.com

5 Most Popular Flowers for Your Garden

When planting a garden there are many questions which you must ask yourself before you begin. Where are you going to plant it, do you have the garden equipment to do so and how big do you want your garden to be? When do flowers bloom and what are their heights? These are all very important questions, however they mean very little if you have not yet decided which types of flowers you want to plant. There are many to choose from and don’t le anybody tell you which ones you can and can’t plant. Gardens are unique and fascinating to look at because each one is unique it its own way.



There are endless possibilities of flowers to choose from but if you are unsure of which types of flowers are known to look best in gardens, keep reading and you will find out. The following is a list of the five most popular types of garden flowers chosen by gardeners from all over the United States:



1. Cosmos - These flowers have the ability to grow anywhere from 12 inches to 4 feet tall. Cosmos are perfect for cutting gardens and are often picked out of gardens and used in flower arrangements.



2. Marigold – Marigolds can be found in yellow, orange, red or a combination of all colors. This type of flower blooms in 45 to 50 days from sowing and very rarely requires additional water than what the rain provides.



3. Morning Glory – Morning glories have heart shaped leaves and are available in a variety of colors including white, blue, red, pink and lavender. This type of flower has the capability to become more than ten feet high.



4. Zinnia – Zinnias are traditional, old fashioned flowers which are constantly blooming all season. If there is not a lot of rain, this type of flower will require watering on a consistent basis but try to get water on the foliage (leaves) as this can cause mold which can potentially cause the plant to die.



5. Sunflowers – There’s no better flower for your garden than the sunflower. Sunflowers have yellowish-orange petal with a black circle in the middle. These flowers can grow to be as tall as 6 feet or possibly even higher depending on the flower itself.



In order for your garden to flourish successfully, you will have to maintain it and keep it healthy on a daily basis. Watering cans, pruning shears, gloves and spades are all types of gardening equipment which will assist you in keeping your garden in good condition. These pieces of equipment are very important and are relatively inexpensive.



The types of flowers you choose will have a large impact on the overall outcome of your garden. The list above was provided as a guideline for novice gardeners who area unsure of which flowers may be most adaptable to a garden atmosphere.



Which flowers you choose will ultimately be your choice and regardless of the kinds or colors of your flowers, your garden will be a wonderful piece of work for everyone to admire.
Colin Smith is a freelance write for http://www.gardenequipment101.com – a site that features information about patio furniture, wrought iron patio furniture, lawn mowers and more.

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All About the Bonsai Tree by Marge Snow

When people think of the bonsai tree, they usually think of China and Japan first. While these two countries are most famous for growing and training bonsai, the growing of miniature trees can be traced as far back as ancient Egypt. It's believed that the growing of miniature trees was pioneered by healers as a way to easily transport trees with healing powers for medicinal purposes. However, it soon evolved into an art form and pastime for the wealthy.
The bonsai is not a genetically modified plant or a hybrid tree. Many different trees found in nature can be made into bonsai, and master growers are always looking for new specimens. The bonsai tree is kept miniature by pruning its roots and keeping it in a small pot. The size of the tree is just one aspect of the bonsai. It's shape and style is the real way to tell the difference between a bonsai and just a small potted tree. The bonsai's trunk and branches are shaped sometimes over many years to get the perfect style.
Although you can find lots of different types of bonsai trees, the Juniper in windswept style is probably the most popular. This is where the tree looks like its blowing in the wind. The limbs spread out from the trunk in one direction as opposed to being symmetrical. You'll also see bonsai in the cascade style, where one branch flows down below the pot. Again, the trees don't grow that way by accident. It takes years of patient training and pruning, to achieve the shape.
Many connoisseurs of the bonsai aren't content with a single tree. You might see a group of bonsai trees growing in a single pot. This is called the forest style of display. But it doesn't stop there. Many growers take great pride in designing intricate miniature landscapes with their trees. It could be an indoor display or even a much larger outdoor display in a garden. However a bonsai is displayed, it requires a great deal of care to keep your tree healthy and properly groomed.
If you own a bonsai, you know how hard they are to care for. They need just the right amount of water. A little too much or too little could be fatal. Your best bet is to use a moisture meter when watering. You also need to repot your tree periodically. This is a great time to inspect and prune your trees root system. One thing that kills bonsai faster than anything else is getting root bound. You need to care for your tree above ground and below.
If you don't already have a bonsai tree, but want one, my best advice is to find a nursery specializing in bonsai. This can be hard to do, but take to the Internet, and look for one around your area. There you'll be able to talk to a bonsai master who can give you plenty of advice on caring for your tree. He can also help you select the tree that's right for you and the amount of time you have to devote to caring for it. Its good to develop a relationship with a bonsai master just like you would with a car mechanic if you want your tree to last for years to come. Copyright 2007 Marge Snow
About the Author
About the Author: Marge is a crafter of many years. Along with crafting, she enjoys working in her garden. In her spare time she's an active contributor to Her Arts & Crafts Website ( http://www.myartsandcrafts.com ).