Dena Nancy asked:




Gardening tools can help make your favorite hobby even more enjoyable. With the correct tools even the hardest gardening jobs seem doable. Of course, you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on tools for gardening when you are first starting out. There are definite tools that every beginning gardener needs. As you work at learning gardening you will find that there are some tools out there that are important for specific types of projects. Start out with a few well known “staples” in your toolbox and then buy more tools as you find that you need them. Here are some things you should buy right now to help you with your first garden.

Gardening pruners and shears are something that every gardener, regardless of skill level, should have handy. There are lots of different sizes of shears and pruners. When you have dead leaves or other damaged parts of your garden plants, these tools can be used to remove those parts. Doing this type of cutting can help keep your plants healthy. If one of your goals is to be an extensive flower gardener keep the shears and pruners on hand so that you can make clippings of your flowers. Clippings are how many gardeners start new plants. You can also cut flowers to use as household decorations after the flowers have bloomed.

You should keep hoes around. If you are new to gardening you will probably be a little bit afraid of using a hoe. Most new gardeners think that using a hoe is optional and something they can avoid. If you have a big garden, however, hoeing is something that you are going to have to do regularly. Hoes are useful because they help the gardener create neat rows for planting. It is difficult to make garden rows when you are trying to do some from a crouching or sitting position. Another major use of the hoe is for row outlining at planting time. For this reason you will want to get a long handled hoe.

Believe it or not, hoes can be incredible time savers when you are working to put yourself together.

A hovel is very important. A hovel can either have a short handle or a long handle. Typically a hovel is a shovel that has a rounded point. Many gardeners prefer short handled hovels because they help a gardener balance while longer handled hovels do not.

The hovel’s main purpose is to dig holes. They move the soil and lift plants safely without your having to worry about pulling on rooting systems or damaging the root bulb. Hovels can also be used to tamp down dirt as you move your plants or do your seed planting.

Nobody knows which gardening tools they really need when they are just starting out. As a new gardener you are going to want to buy everything the sales person offers you. Instead of giving in to temptation, start with a few simple tools you know you will use and then branch out later on. This will save you time, money and space in your garage or gardening shed. Eventually you will understand exactly which gardening tools do what and you’ll know what to use for your various gardening tasks.

Wayne Rasku asked:




Organic fruits and vegetables are higher in vitamins and minerals than conventional farm produced foods, because the soil is healthy and has more diverse and healthy living organisms and trace minerals.

There are some important pieces to the organic gardening puzzle, but at the heart of all organic growing is the need for healthy soil, which comes from fertilizing organically. The organic gardener must understand the soil of his garden in order to sustain a healthy garden. (“Be one with the dirt.” “Be the Dirt!”) When our body lacks essential nutrients, we will not feel strong or well, and we will possibly get sick. The same is true of plants when they are deprived of the proper nutrition. A plant gains it’s strength and nutritional edge from the soil in which it is fed. When your plants don’t get the proper nutrition from the soil, you, the gardener, will not get nutritious food from your garden.

Building a nutrient rich organic soil is best done by amending the soil organically and naturally. Organic gardeners do not rely on chemicals as the commercial farmers do. Commercial growers usually depend upon chemical additives to give the plants what they need to grow. Although these chemicals produce more edible product, the product is not as healthy as the produce from naturally fertilized plants. Chemical additives are a source of environmental waste. They also leave chemical residues in your food, and these “toxins” tend to build up in your body leading to undesirable health problems. Adding these unnatural chemicals to your garden over and over will impair your vegetables and keep them from receiving the healthy nutrients they need to protect themselves from insect attacks and resist plant disease.

Healthy soil nurtures healthy plants which grow better, taste better, store longer and have increased resistance to the stresses caused by heat, cold, drought, pests, diseases, rapid growth, etc. Fertile soil is not only the first step for increasing yields and quality but also for natural pest control and season extending.

There is so much to know about organic gardening. It is worth the time and effort to find out how to create a healthy environment for your organic garden.

Francis Murphy asked:




Are you aware of how wasteful it is to leave your garden bare? If you do not take the effort and try to make something out of your garden, it will be nothing but a wasted piece of land. Gardening isn’t as hard or tough as one might think. Here are a few gardening tips to guide you through your gardening with a breeze.

Firstly, determine what kind of plants you would like your garden to have: vegetables, fruits, trees of just flowers? Before you make up your mind though, take a look at the size of your garden and see if it’s possible to accommodate what you have in mind. Also, getting the right pH value of your garden’s soil is vital in the growth process of your plants. This is because different plants require different pH valued soils. So, do your homework and check out what is the pH of soil which suits your plants most.

Besides, another important tip is to get the pest under control. You wouldn’t want your garden to be ruined in just a short while. Poison ivy, for example, should be eradicated from your garden; however, you should take extra precaution when doing so. You’d have to pull out the plants together with its roots and apply herbicide in the soil in order to get rid of it completely. Remember to cover every part of your body and even wearing a breathing mask as poison ivy oil can be inhaled.

Furthermore, you shouldn’t over-water your plants as if you do, the plant’s root system wouldn’t be able to develop well. It will then turn out to be unhealthy in the long run. If you have a vegetable garden, there are several ways of watering the vegetable plants which you should do some research on. This ranges from simple watering (using the watering can) to using sprinklers. Different types of vegetables require different methods for its optimum growth.

All in all, gardening wouldn’t be a problem if you were to follow the gardening tips mentioned above. You wouldn’t be spending too much and bear in mind that engaging yourself in gardening is a very rewarding experience.

Hillary J Templeton asked:




Gardening is a low maintenance hobby, which does not require anything more than your love and attention. Gardening can be of many forms, small or big, flower garden or vegetable garden, gardens with water bodies, landscaped garden, so on and so forth. If you have the space and time, the resources and money or simply an active imagination you can make even a drab piece of land come alive .However, not everyone can take to gardening with ease. Maintaining a garden is hard work as well and a little education on how to get started and how to maintain your interest can definitely help.

What Beginners Need To Do

Gardening may seem quite simple, when you are watching someone else do it. If you are venturing into gardening thinking that you will be able to take on the whole garden and convert it into a beautiful haven overnight for the local flora and fauna, then you may be way off the mark. Newcomers to gardening are always advised to take it easy at first and start with a small area, so that they get accustomed to the activity and other techniques involved. Taking on a large project, such as those in the Solihull Gardening Publication, you may find its difficult to handle, and be tempted to give up even before you get off to a good start. Once you have learnt the basics and individually managed to develop a small area, then you will be able to take on the rest of the garden with an educated approach and more confidence.

Make The Right Choice

Beginners often do not pay attention to details and tend to get carried away by the look of the plant or by the beauty of the flowers. However, it is important to know everything about the plant you are buying for your garden, including details such as what type of soil suits the plant, how much sun it needs and what fertilizer should be used. Read up about the plants you like and talk to the person at the nursery to get more details .

It’s Not All Hard Work

Working outdoors is hard work, but not always. Many people actually find gardening to be a good de-stressing activity. Nurturing and watching your plants grow and add color to your stressful life can be an exceptionally rewarding experience not to forget the exercise and the healthy dose of fresh air that you get alongside.

The Fine Gardening publication by Amy and Christopher Freville is a well presented piece of work. You have the plant guide which introduces you to the varied flora on this earth, informative articles on every aspect of gardening, information on how to manage your garden and even experiment with new ideas and interesting videos which are almost like receiving tutorials in a classroom.
Fine Gardening brings to you articles on every imaginable gardening topic and the advertiser’s directory is extremely useful. Once you have been through the articles you will not feel the need to visit any other website or gardening information resource. The Fine Gardening website also has various interactive sections such as surveys, photography contests and forums where you get to meet other gardening enthusiasts and share information and tips.

Mary Hanna asked:




You’ve decided to plant a garden but you need basic gardening tips for beginners, this is the place to be. Gardening has become a delightful hobby for people all over the world.

There are many rewards for the gardener, the visuals of his creation, the scent of the blooms, great fresh air and lots of exercise. Imagine a weekend spent in the yard with your feet up drinking in the spectacular gardens that you have created the fruits of your labor and love. If you are a beginner gardener, here are some basic gardening tips. No matter how much room you have, you can create a masterpiece garden.

The basic garden tips for beginners will help you create new gardens and make it a successful and joyful experience. In the beginning go slowly, start small but use your imagination. Choose a project that will not take a long time to complete. If it takes you weeks to finish a project you will get frustrated and start to hate the project you wanted to enjoy. Even if you have 75 or 100 square feet you will be amazed at how much you can plant.

If you are determined to have a larger project, then work in sections and turn your attention to one area at a time. This way as each section is finished you can enjoy that completed job. This will also build up your confidence as you go along making the next section not so daunting.

But for a beginner gardener a small scale garden is optimal. You are going to have to learn the basics of gardening, all about disease, the best way to control weeds and pests, the all important watering and when and how to fertilize. After your initial project you can enlarge the garden or plant one somewhere else in your yard with your new found confidence.

To cut down on the weeding of your garden, place mulch around the plants. This serves three purposes; it cuts down on weeding, as well as aiding in temperature control and water retention. Granted there are some gardeners that love to work the soil and weed the plants but it would be more rewarding to tending to the plants or just watching them grow. To maintain really healthy plants water for longer periods of time but less frequently. Do not let the plants dry out. Always water early in the morning so the plant leaves have time to dry out during the day which helps prevent fungal disease.

After planting, try to have your garden remain pesticide free. An especially good natural deterrent is as follows:

In a jar, combine 1 teaspoon dishwashing liquid and 1 cup vegetable oil. Shake vigorously. In an empty spray bottle, combine 2 teaspoons of this mixture and 1 cup water. Use at ten-day intervals (or more often if needed) to rid plants of whiteflies, mites, aphids, scales, and other pests.

These are the basic gardening tips for beginners. Remember, that you can create lovely gardens in containers which you can move around as you please. There are hundreds of different plant combinations and containers that you can use for a container garden. So, if you are an apartment or condo dweller, you can plant lovely gardens on your balcony or patio. The basic tip here is that container gardens will dry out much faster than the plants in the ground so be vigilant about checking them for moisture.

Happy Gardening And Good Luck!

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Paul Guzman asked:




Well it is now September, and the mornings are great aren’t they? It is now beginning to be the best time to plant trees and shrubs. It is a great time because the above ground temperatures are dropping and the below ground temps are still warm.

This helps plants get a jump on next spring because the roots still develope in the warm soil while the tops slow down in growth. Also, there are less winds and typically more moisture during this time of year, which of course reduces stress on newly planted shrubs and trees. You should be able to plant just about anything, including pansies, (which will last thru next May) mums, winter veggies (starts), most trees and shrubs.

There are a few exceptions: Palm trees might be better planted in the spring and summer, in order to get a good root establishment before the winter sets in.

Oleanders may experience some winter kill if planted too late in the season, especially the 1 gallon size. The larger sizes seem to suffer the least winter kill. This is usually for the the first winter, after that they will have even less winter or no winter kill as they age. Using a winterizer fertilizer with plenty of potash will help increase winter hardiness just about all shrubs and trees.

It is recommended for valuable plants that may suffer from winter damage. Use this product before October 30th. Don’t forget to use compost, peat moss, or soil builder and root stimulator on all plantings, and make sure plants have adequate water.

These tips are designed for the southwestern states and Chihuahuan desert.

Ricky Lim asked:




Flower gardening is a simple and rewarding hobby for many people. It does require hard work and dedication but the rewards are far better. Here are a few flower gardening tips that will keep your flower garden in tiptop condition and in the process enjoy yourself.

Flower Gardening Tip #1 : Planting

One of the most important steps in flower gardening is deciding where to do your planting. If you decide to plant it in a container, you can pretty much replicate the soil conditions you wanted. It is easier and much simpler to manage.

If you decide to plant it in your backyard, you should do a soil test first to determine the type of soil in your backyard. You can grab a test soil kit from your neighborhood gardening store which should be readily available.

Ideally, you want the soil to be composed of equal parts clay and sand. Too much of either clay or sand is not suitable for flower gardening. Clay does not drain well and roots cannot get hold easily in clay. Sand does not retain nutrients and elements well and does not hold together easily therefore it is impossible to grow flowers on sand.

Flower Gardening Tip #2 : Gardening Journal

A gardening journal can help you keep track of your flower garden progress and is recommended. With a gardening journal, you can keep track of the success and failure you have with the type of flowers you have grown in your pot or backyard. Doing so can reduce the amount of time you need to grow your next flower garden. You can use any notepad to keep track. There are even professional software available on the market that does this.

Flower Gardening Tip #3 : Organic Materials

All flowers require fertilizers to grow well. A suitable amount of organic matter or fertilizer in the soil makes it fertile and nutrient rich. It would be easier to grow flowers on such soil.

If your soil does not have much organic matter, it is still pretty easy to change the soil by adding compost to it. Compost is the remains of plants and animals and you can get it easily from your gardening supply store.

Compost provides nutrients and can help in drainage and hold moisture, conditions necessary for flower gardening.

There are other flower gardening tips as well but the above 3 flower gardening tips are in my opinion the most important to growing a flower garden.

Tracy Ballisager asked:




Are you looking out for ways to enhance the exteriors of your home? However, at the same time, do you feel a little lethargic? Well then, you are lucky. There are some basic gardening tips that can help you to add a decorative touch to any deck or patio area, plus add some greenery to it. Once you decide on decorating your garden and if you are a beginner at it, then you should understand some basic gardening tips, to make it a delightful pastime.

Gardener’s gain satisfaction when they see their creation, smell the blooms and sit in the fresh air. Just imagine spending a weekend in the yard that you have created with a lot of love. As a beginner, you need to understand and follow some basic gardening tips that can help you create a masterpiece. In the beginning, you have to go quite slow and start small, by using your imagination. Therefore, choose a task that does not take long to complete. Initially you have to start of by controlling the weeds and pests, but first enlarge the garden. There are some key considerations for successful gardening like-

Soil

Initially you should always start with good soil and you may have to purchase some testing tools from the local gardening shop to find out what your soil needs. If your present soil has clay or shale, then you need to treat the soil before planting. You might have to treat around 60% of the soil to make it fertile enough to start your gardening. You need to include peat moss, garden compost, planting mix, perlite and composted manure.

Water

The condition of the soil determines the amount of water it needs and if you treat the soil properly then you will need less frequent water. If you have decorated your garden with lawns, then you should water them every 2-3 days during the first week and then stop watering them every day during the next week, as too much water usually prevents oxygen from entering the soil space and this suffocates the roots. Shrubs and roots need frequent and deeper levels water ever 7-10 days. Once the plant settles into the ground, then it requires less watering. You should saturate the root thoroughly; water only after the soil dries up.

Fertilizers

Basic gardening tips suggest that you should not fertilize a dry plant. You should always mix the fertilizer with water and then gradually pour it over a plant. You should first water the plant before fertilizing as the fertilizer burns the roots of the dry plant. You should fertilize the plants every week or after every third watering session. Perennials should be fed late in April or through August.

Pesticide

After planting, you should keep the plant pesticide free. Good quality pesticide can be made in a jar, by combining 1-teaspoon dishwashing liquid and 1 cup vegetable oil. Shake vigorously. In an empty bottle that has a spray nozzle attached, combine 2 teaspoons of this mixture with 1 cup of water and then you can use this solution every ten-days to avoid whiteflies, aphids, mites, scales and other pests.

Rachel Spohn asked:




Organic gardening grows more and more popular each day, and for good reason. Organic gardeners avoid the use of synthetic chemicals to keep their yards healthy and hazard-free. The methods of keeping plants growing vigorously without the heavy reliance on environmentally unfriendly sprays are the true success of organic gardens. The most important aspect of organic gardening? Soil.

As the life force of the garden, soil enriched with organic matter becomes moist, airy, and fertile–ideal for healthy plants. It also nourishes beneficial organisms and bacteria and supports fungi that optimize growing conditions. Prevention is also the watchword of organic gardeners. Plants can thrive if they are given the right amount of sun, suitable soil, proper spacing, and ideal planting.

Here are a few tips that will help you keep your organic garden thriving and healthy.

1. Maintain a good compost pile. The nutrients derived from your composting provide everything your soil needs to sustain the garden. Start the compost pile on a bed of branched sticks that will allow air to rise. Add a perforated pipe (PVC works well) in the center and build layers of old leaves, grass clippings, and other garden leftovers around it. The air will flow through the pipe into the pile. If you cannot use the finished compost for a while, cover the pile with a tarp to trap the nutrients in the compost.

2. Be mindful of the length of the growing season. The longer the growing season, the more compost is needed in the soil. A longer growing season requires more nutrients and organic matter in the soil.

3. Try companion planting. Some plants replenish nutrients lost by another plant, and some combinations can effectively keep pests away. Consult your local garden center for advice pertinent to your area.

4. Water in the morning. Doing so will help you avoid powdery mildew and other fungal diseases that are often spread by high humidity.

5. Give new beds that extra kick with plenty of compost, soil amendments, and double digging.

6. Keep dirt off lettuce and cabbage leaves when growing by spreading a 1 to 2 inch layer of mulch (untreated by pesticides or fertilizers) around each plant. This also helps keep the weeds down.

7. Recycle your soda bottles, milk jugs, and other plastic containers as great mini-covers to place over your plants and protect them from frost.

8. A garden soil that has been well mulched and amended periodically requires only about a 1-inch layer of compost yearly to maintain its quality.

9. Diatomaceous earth is an abrasive white powder used to damage the cuticle, skin, and joints of insects, and it makes an excellent organic insecticide. It also makes an excellent slug barrier.

10. Rotate your crops each year to help reduce pest and disease problems, as well as to correct nutrient deficiencies and excesses.