April 2010

Now is the time to go over some of the basics regarding our tomato planting. Some of these basics can help us achieve success in producing a plentiful tomato crop.

One of the basics for tomato planting is to choose a sunny area of our garden that will receive at least seven hours a day of the sun unless you live in a hot climate zone. In these zones you may want to limit your plants to only a half-day of sun. We want to work abundant quantities of an organic material into the soil; if the soil tends to have alkaline, a valuable organic addition would be to add pre-moistened peat moss. While working the soil we should add a time-release or general vegetable fertilizer but always follow the instructions on the label as to the amount used. Thoroughly water the soil and give it at least 2 days for settling before planting. This is one good way to grow great tomato plants.

There are numerous landscape design ideas for the backyard that you can gather from many different sources. You want your backyard landscape design to be unique to the way you live with one specific design or to have many unusual settings.

You should not make your backyard landscape designs a difficult job. There are many designs available for you to have a low maintenance backyard. There are options that will afford you a little privacy in any portion of your yard for meditation or reading a book. If you have a pool it is a good idea to install a fence around the swim areas or you may like to fence off an area for yard games. There are landscape decorations that you can install or plants to grow for bird watching or butterfly gardens. Your backyard landscape design does not have to be one design; it can be several to incorporate a multi-purpose yard.

Now that spring has finally arrived outside we also want to bring it inside our homes. During spring we have a lot more sunshine, the flowers and trees are now budding, and there are beautiful vivid colors around us. We want to bring all the newness to the inside of our homes.

Nature has already put us in into the spring mood and how better to brighten our indoor living than to bring in some of the season's plants and flowers. If you do not have the herbs growing in the garden as yet you can always get them started in the kitchen. You can start them by buying seeds or already potted seedlings. Bring out some of the pots that you have stored away in the basement or garage and give them a fresh coat of paint to brighten up your kitchen windowsill or dinning room table.

When choosing gardening seeds from the racks at your home and garden centers always read the fine print. No matter how decorative the gardening seeds packets are you want to check to see how much information they offer regarding the freshness, planting instructions, quantity, and the ability to survive.

As far as the freshness is concerned there needs to be a 'packed for' date on the vegetable gardening seeds packet. It will usually be a stamp placed in the area where you will probably tear open the envelope because you can not get the flap opened. Before you open the packet write the 'packed for' date in another area. The more detailed the planting instructions are the better off you will be and you will probably use that company again for other seeds. See if they tell you the quantity or do they make you feel the envelope instead? The ability to survive or viability can vary; Seeds from Europe or good mail order companies will give you a germination percentage and a testing date. Having this information implies that the company tested the seeds before hand and that is a good sign.

Having a little weed control for your lawn as the summer approaches can provide visions of your family, friends, and neighbors coming to your backyard for a gathering. With some weed control you will enjoy playing ball with your children, having friends and neighbors in for a barbecue, or just relaxing with your family on a weed free lawn.

Some weeds such as knotweed, goosegrass, and path rush can be caused by soil compaction. Poor drainage of the soil can bring invasions of rushes, sedges, or Virginia buttonweed. Saturated soils put a lot of stress on turf grass because the roots need oxygen and a soil that is constantly wet oxygen is just not available. White clover is very often caused by low levels of nitrogen. These problems should be corrected before you start using an herbicide. The first thing we need to do is test the pH level of our soil; a slightly acidic soil that reads between 6.5 and 7.0 is good for growing a lawn. If the soil is too acidic a sprinkling of lime will help and sulfur can be added if the soil is not acidic enough. Most lawns will grow best in soils that are loamy and have a mix of sand, silt, and clay. If there is too much clay in the mix it can cause soil compaction which prevents the flow of nutrients and air. Organic matter such as compost will greatly benefit any kind of soil.

Your garden outdoor furniture is an important asset to your patio living. The garden outdoor furniture maintenance, if done properly, can prolong your comfort, it keeps its good looks, and will warrant compliments for many years to come. Garden outdoor and patio furniture is constructed of varieties of different materials.

It does not matter what material your furniture is constructed of, the primary step in maximizing your furniture is a good cleaning. Dust, dirt, and leaves have a habit of settling in and around the furniture, so brushing away the loose debris with a cloth or soft bristle broom will help. A garden hose can then be used to wash away any stains and residue. For the stubborn dirt you can use a sponge that is saturated with water and a mild soap. It is a good idea to do this washing at the start of every outdoor season. Check to make sure all the bolts, nuts, and screws are tightened; the broken, missing, or rusted hardware needs to be replaced with rustproof ones that are made of stainless steel, aluminum, or galvanized steel. Next, if your furniture is equipped with hinges or wheels, you will need to lubricate them with a silicone lubricant. Lubricating with oil has a tendency to cake up and it will attract dirt.

Patio gardening is ideal if you do not have space for an in ground vegetable garden. What is patio gardening? Well it consists of a patio, balcony, windowsill, or a back doorstep that has enough space for a container vegetable garden. You can overcome problems of poor soil, soil-borne diseases, or nematodes just by changing over to a container garden.

For the best use of containers, we can grow vegetables that take up a small amount of space. Carrots, lettuce, radishes, peppers, and tomatoes are some of these crops. Miniature or dwarf will usually mature and bear fruit earlier that the regular size but will not produce as well. There has been an increased interest in patio vegetable gardening which has seed companies and plant breeders working on crops that will be bred specifically for container gardening. They are working on patio vegetable seeds and plants to get them to produce as well as the regular standard varieties if they are cared for in the right manner.