Archive for July 29th, 2010
All of us, at one time or another, has seen a display of container gardens with flowers or vegetables at a friend’s home or in a nursery center. Many mistakenly think that it took a lot of effort or was done by professionals. That is far from the truth. Container gardens are just as simple as outside gardens and in some way s even easier to maintain. Anyone that adores to garden can plant and raise a container garden even those with limited space, even apartment dwellers. You can create a beautiful garden with just a few container gardening tips.
Start out with a plan. You need to know what you are going to plant, a container garden flower or a container garden vegetable. You might want to concentrate on an herb container garden. It is important to know this so you can select the right size container for the plants. The number one container gardening tip is to select a pot that has sufficient space for soil and the plants. Vine type plants will need a large, deep pot to grow over. If you are planning on a massive plant you will need a wide passed container for balance. Keep reading, there are more container gardening tips to come. One thing to keep in mind is that you must have sufficient drainage in the container that you use. No plant likes to have “wet feet”.
The type of soil you use in your container garden is an issue too. Most experts on container gardening tips state that you should use potting soil. While some gardeners have had success using the soil from their outside gardens, it is not recommended. Potting soil is preferred mainly because it will not compact letting more water to the root system over the growing season. Here it is important to do some research and plant like minded plants together. Your plant groupings should think about water needs, sun needs and fertilization needs.
An essential container gardening tip is to pay attention to the plants watering needs. If you get a very hot streak and your container garden is outdoors on your patio you will need to water daily. If this is your first venture into container gardening, select drought resistant plants. Plants in container gardens can’t reach out for other avenues of water supplies so it is up to you to make sure they don’t get thirsty.
You will come to love your container garden but plants only last so long. If the plants you are growing in your container garden become less productive change them out. With container gardening you are the one to decide how your gardens will be in bloom. It is true that you can manipulate your plants by moving them around or taking them from the inside to the outside, or vice versa.
There is one thing that you must be diligent about and that is pests. If you find a container that has an infestation, isolate and treat it immediately. Do not use harsh chemicals on the plants. If it is an indoor container garden the chemicals could harm pets or children. Here is a natural pesticide that will keep the bugs in check:
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.
Search online or at your local library for additional container gardening tips so that your beautiful container garden is a wild success. Once you have planted one container garden you will be anxious to begin more.
Happy Container Gardening!
Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.
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These gardens are beautiful and tranquil and give the visitor a sense of inner peace, that is one of the reasons that they are so popular. In Nihon you will find them at the site of the most unnameable and holy places. The temple of Buddha, historical landmarks, Shinto shrines and the medieval castles Feudal Nihon are just a few of the many places you will find beautiful public Asian gardens.
Below you will find five steps and advice on how to incorporate the traditional Asian style Garden into your outdoor living space. There are several types of traditional Asian Garden designs and it would do well to look them all over before deciding on the one for your space. Some might not translate as well as others in the same amount of garden space.
Karesansui gardens: This is a garden that does not use water as its central focus, instead the creative use of rocks and moss represent islands, ponds, boats, mountains, rivers and oceans in this picturesque landscape. One such famous Karensansui Garden is to be found in the temple in Kyoto, Ryoan-ji. The Daisen-in was created in the 1500″s and is still as lovely as ever.
Tsukiyama Gardens: This technique is great when you have a small garden. The premise is to use the surrounding scenery as a backdrop to enlarge the view of your garden. The intent is to use shrubbery to block out hideous areas and draw the attention to a massive copse of trees or hills in the background. Ponds, garden fountains and streams, hills and all of the other traditional accouterments are used in this style of garden. Some of these gardens are themed with Asian Decor items.
Kaiy-Shiki: A favorite style of western landscape artists is the strolling gardens. This design grants the landscape to change each few hundred feet and circumnavigates the entire garden. You can photo’s representative of this style all over the Internet.
Now here are five steps to take to get the most out of your space and to create a lovely rendition of a traditional Asian garden.
1.) Asian gardens should have a pond or stream with bridges and miniature trees and immaculately manicured shrubs.
2.) Research some famous gardens and then pick a theme for your garden. It is important that the theme flow throughout the garden. If you start a meditation Garden that is what is should be throughout. Be consistent in your design.
3.) Use the traditional elements as required for a Asian style Garden. These are stone, water, and gravel as well as the alignment of the plants. All of these are essential items for a Asian Garden.
4.) Asian Gardens have a Sculptured look and you have to stay true to this form. Pavilions, pagodas, stepping stones all should have a certain amount of Feng Shui about their set up.
5.) Decide on the plants and other decorations from the start and map out the area to ideal fit the items you intend to incorporate into the garden. If your space does not grant for water to be used alternative raked colored gravel to simulate the flow of water in and around your plants.
Now you have a working intent of how ideal to start your Asian Garden.
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