Mar

29

You Can Build Your Own Pond

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You can build your own pond, or go with one already built for you. It all depends on the size and style you are looking for. You can use a shaped liner, or a large black flexible PVC lining, again depending on the size and shape of pond you want to create.
Dig your pond to your desired size and shape, or buy a small pond, or fountain that is pre-fabricated to set above ground, such as this Waterfall. Whether or not you will be able to dig your pond by hand, or if you will require machinery will also depend on the size.
There are several questions you should ask yourself before you start digging. Where is the best place to locate your pond? Do you want to be able to see it from the house? Do you have small children you don’t want to wander too near? What are you looking to create with your pond? A backyard habitat for animals, a garden showpiece, or a quiet place to get away from the world. You also need to consider what you have space, and time for.
Lay out an outline where you want your pond. Once you are happy with the size and shape, start digging. Before you set your liner, you may want to put a layer of sand down, to prevent any sharp rocks or jagged edges from puncturing your liner.
If you are digging a large pond, you may want to have shallower steps, or ledges around the edges to place plants on. Place gravel or rocks around the edge of the pond to hold down and cover the edges of your liner. This also makes an attractive edging for your pond.
Next up filters, plants, and fish.

Mar

26

Add a Water Feature To Your Garden

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Have you ever thought of adding a water feature or pond to your backyard? There are several ways you can go with this, from a small waterfall or basin water feature, to a larger dug pond, or anything in between. Ponds add a focal point, and they can be a very interesting part of your overall garden.

I am going to do several posts concerning ponds, since there is a ton of information I can share about them. From different sizes, and types of water features, to pond plants and fish. I will try to cover the basics of setting up your pond, and what to do when something goes wrong. Even with several posts I will not share all of the information necessary, there are whole books written on the subject. I will start with several of my favorite books on pond building and maintenance.

The Ponder’s Bible, by Gosta H. Lovgren, if you are a do it yourselfer and would like to know everything about building your own pond, this is a great book.

How to Build Ponds and Waterfalls: The Complete Guide, by Jeffrey Reid is another great comprehensive guide to building your own pond or waterfall.

Outdoor Water Features: 16 Easy-to-Build Projects For Your Yard and Garden, by Alan and Gill Bridgewater has beautiful illustrations, and great design ideas. All of the projects have a great set of instructions that are easy to follow.

Pond Life: Revised and Updated (A Golden Guide from St. Martin’s Press), by George K. Reid will tell you all you need to know about the plant and animal life in your pond. If you really want to learn about ponds in general, and the creatures that live there, this is a great book.

I will try to go into more detail on the different options available for water falls, and ponds in my next post.

Mar

23

My Unusual Taste in Houseplants

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My Hibiscus is blooming! Hibiscus is my favorite flower, and I love it when my plant decides it’s spring and it can start blooming again. They always hate me when I bring them in for the winter, and threaten to die on me. They come out of it after a month or two. After they resign themselves to the fact that no matter how many yellow leaves they produce, they cannot go back outside. They tend to collect bugs, so I give them regular baths with insecticidal soap throughout the winter months.
I also have several Scented Geraniums, one is chocolate mint (it smells yummm!), the other is citrus. I have 2 regular Geraniums, one is pink, the other is red. They reward me with blooms all winter long.
I have a pepper plant, and a couple Poinsettias. I planted the pepper plant in a pot last spring to extend the growing season. The plant has rewarded me with a few peppers through the winter. The Poinsettias are both from previous years Christmas’s. I haven’t had much luck with getting them to bloom again, but I keep trying. I did get a few red leaves last fall on one of them.
I also have a miniature lime tree, and a banana plant. Purchased two years ago when we went to Florida. Both plants are cute, but not producing much. The lime had some blooms on it last spring, we’ll see if it has any again this spring.
I also have Aloe Vera, several cactuses, some lucky bamboo, and the usual assortment of houseplants others have given me so they would not kill them. One of my cactuses is 15 years old (actually it is older, but I have had it for 15 years).
I love houseplants, and for me a houseplant is any plant that will survive the winter my house in a pot! If you have a favorite house plant share your story.

Mar

20

My Tranquil Garden

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Your garden should be a haven for you to retreat to when things get hectic. A great place to relax and unwind at the end of the day. Create a space in your garden, on your porch, or under a nice shade tree. Place a comfortable bench, chair or swing in the space to help you relax. (A hammock works even better for the relaxation part) Getting in touch with nature is a great way to get in touch with the forces around you. It is also a great way to calm your mind after a hectic day.

What a great feeling when you are connected to the earth. It is so calming to watch all the beautiful plants emerge, and blossom (unless they are weeds, but more on that later). My favorite spot is a bench in the center of my perennial garden, in the middle of summer. It is a great place to sit quietly, meditate, and reflect on life (until someone finds me).

Adding a water feature to your outdoor space can make it even more relaxing. Add a small fountain or pond to your garden. What more can you need than a tranquil spot in the center of your garden, and the soft sound of water trickling in your ears. Ahhhh. I’m there.

Mar

18

My Favorite Specialized Gardening Books

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I thought I would share some of my favorite gardening books with you. I have several favorites, so it is hard to narrow it down to a few. Tomorrow the list may be different. But here are some that I continually use as reference.

The Pleasure of Herbs: A Month-by-Month Guide to Growing, Using, and Enjoying Herbsand Herbal Treasures: Inspiring Month-By Month Projects for Gardening, Cooking, and Crafts, by Phyllis V. Shaudys, are my two all time favorite herb books. The Pleasure of Herbs has more information on planting and growing herbs. Herbal Treasures is packed full of ideas for using your herbs. Both of these books are stuffed with useful recipes.

Another favorite of mine is The Flower Farmer: An Organic Grower’s Guide to Raising and Selling Cut Flowers (Gardener’s Supply Books), by Lynn Byczynski. I am not exactly a flower farmer, but this book is loaded with information on flowers, and organic growing information. It gives the height, growing requirements, and other useful information for a wide variety of flowers. It also tells how to preserve your cut flowers, and which ones are going to last the longest once they are cut.

Gardening with Heirloom Seeds: Tried-and-True Flowers, Fruits, and Vegetables for a New Generation, by Lynn Coulter is another great book full of information about where some of our oldest heirloom seeds came from, and how to preserve their heritage. Her writing style makes the subject very interesting.

From Vines to Wines: The Complete Guide to Growing Grapes and Making Your Own Wine, by Jeff Cox, is a book I just discovered this winter. It is a complete guide for growing grapes. From finding the right vines, where to plant them, and how to make wine. This book is full of information if you are interested in growing grapes.

Lasagna Gardening: A New Layering System for Bountiful Gardens: No Digging, No Tilling, No Weeding, No Kidding!, by Patricia Lanza is my favorite book on Lasagna Gardening. I am new to this concept, I tried it last fall on a couple new beds. We’ll see how it goes this spring. The process is great for the soil.

These are my picks. Most of them are the specialized books I have found. There are millions of books out there on gardening. I wanted to share my special treasures with you. Books you may not find listed somewhere else. Let me know what your favorites are.

Mar

14

Spring Gardening

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The gardening season is almost here! I can smell it in the air. Are you ready to put on those gloves, and start digging in the dirt? I am. I included a couple photos I took the other day. My rhubarb is peeking out of the ground, and my tulips are starting to jump up. The really cold weather we had here in Ohio at the end of February, was hard on the early bloomers. It has some of my daffodils and tulips looking a little yellow on the tips. I am ready for the blooms. I moved some of my bulbs around last fall, to spread them out. I am interested to see how they will look this spring.
In the next couple weeks it is a great time to finish up any pruning you still have, and spray your fruit trees with dormant oil. My favorite is Gardens Alive! Oil-away, since it contains no petroleum, and is safe for people and the environment. It does get rid of pests, but doesn’t have a long-term effect on the beneficial insect population.
It is also a great time of year to, divide and move any perennials that are getting out of hand. Donate extra plants to friends, or your church garage sale. Extra starts sell great in a garage sale. Just dig them up and throw them in a plastic bag, or left over plastic container.

Mar

7

Participate in a Plant Swap

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Have you ever participated in a local plant swap? If you haven’t you are missing out on a wonderful opportunity to trade some of the flowers, herbs and plants that are taking over your garden (or at least you have an abundance of), for some new plants you have been dying to get a start from. Many garden clubs, or community groups, have plant swaps in April or May. These swaps allow gardeners in the community to come together, and trade extras. It is also a great way to get a good start, on a new garden, with little or no cash.

Here’s how it works. Everyone brings their extra plants, or seeds to share with others. Do you have a couple starts off of your Hostas, Mint, Lillies, Irises, or Raspberries you could share with others? Do you have a bunch of prize winning tomato, hollyhock, or pepper seeds you saved from last summers crop? Do you have an over abundance of young plants you started this spring that you would love to share with others? Find a plant swap in your area to share these garden treasures. While you are there you can pick up some items you may be missing in your own garden, such as a start of lemon thyme, or garlic chives. Maybe you will spot the double-blooming White Irises you have been ogling at the garden center but didn’t want to shell out the cash for.

Can’t locate a swap in your area? Set one up yourself. Check with your local library, community center, or park to see if they would be willing to host your plant swap. You could ask for a small donation from participants to give to the hosting location. Set a date and call your local newspaper to see if they would post the information under community news. Ask a couple gardening friends to help you set up a couple tables, and help with clean up afterward.

Ask everyone to bring at least one plant to share. Don’t forget to have everyone label their plants, and to indicate whether the plant prefers sun, or shade. Let them know that they may take home as many plants as they bring. You may want to start the swap by letting everyone who brings something pick one thing, and draw numbers to see who goes first. If it is a free for all some people may end up with slim pickings, while others have hoarded all the good stuff.

Participating in a plant swap is a fun and rewarding experience. You can get some great new additions for your garden, and find new homes for unwanted extras you may have. Someone may be very excited to have a start of your Variegated Zebra Grass, or Red Bee Balm. It will also give you a great feeling to share.

Mar

3

Hot Gardening Plants for Spring 2007

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Here are some of my favorite garden plants this Spring. Some of them are new this year, and some of them are old standbys.

1. You can give your yard a tropical look even in the North with Hardy Bananas. Check them out at Spring Hill Nurseries (link in side bar). They don’t produce edible bananas, but they do produce lush tropical leaves. They are hardy to –20`. They should be in an area with full sun, and some shelter from the wind.

2. Where do I begin with Seeds of Change? They have so many unique, and heirloom varieties, I just want to list the whole catalog here. If you are looking for the unusual check out their Tigerella, or Green Zebra Tomatoes. Try some Beetberries, Cascade Giant Green Beans, or Turkish Orange Eggplant.

3. Check out Simply Beautiful’s Double Impatiens, especially Fiesta Purple, a beautiful addition to any garden, or container.

4. If you are looking for beautiful color in your garden this year, check out Star Rose’s cover page. The Rainbow Knockout Rose is gorgeous. I love the pinks and yellows together, these roses would stand out in any garden.

5. Burpee has Peppermint Twist Geraniums. I think they will have to be a new addition to my garden this year. I love Geraniums, both the Scented variety, and traditional flowering Geraniums.

6. Check out the Batwing Pumpkins at Cooks Garden, for an unusual fall display.

7. The Jumbo Casablanca Lily from Gurney’s (link in sidebar) looks really interesting. Check out the 12-15″ blooms.

I hope you enjoyed my list of favorites. If you have some favorites, let me know and I’ll check them out.

Mar

1

Worms, Garbage, and the Organic Garden

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Organic gardening practices are becoming more prevalent, according to a recent CNN news story about a company that converts worms, and garbage into fertilizer. See the story here.
In recent years people have become increasingly aware of the chemicals used to produce our food, and many are finally starting to fight back by purchasing organic, and using organic production methods in their own gardens.

How can you grow your own garden organically? Here are three things you can do to get a good start on growing your garden without chemicals.

1. Start your own compost pile. Fresh compost is a must for organic gardening. To create good, rich soil you need plenty of organic matter. Use your garbage (leaves, kitchen scraps, cow manure, grass clippings) to create life. Rich soil is one of the key ingredients to organic gardening. Poor soil will lead to poor plant health, and poor plant health will lead to disease. A soil rich in organic matter also encourages worms, and other subterranean creatures to dig in the soil around your plants. This will loosen, and aerate the soil, improving the root health of your plants. I’ll discuss composting in more detail in a future post.

2. Find a great organic fertilizer. Sometimes, especially when you are starting your organic garden mission, you need a little extra fertilizer to keep your plants in top shape. Try a fish, worm castings, or manure based product on your garden. Alfalfa pellets (found in pet stores, in the small animal section), can also be crumbled up around the base of plants, or soaked in water to create an alfalfa tea for your nutrient thirsty plants.

3. Use natural pest control methods. As mentioned in an earlier post, Gardens Alive is an excellent source for both organic fertilizers, and pest control supplies. Common dish soap, mixed with water, and put in a spray bottle ,is an excellent and effective insecticide. Fels-Naptha soap (a bar soap found with the laundry products at your local grocer), is great for shaving off, adding to water and spraying on plants. It helps deter many unwanted pests including aphids, but it doesn’t harm beneficial insects such as Praying Mantis, or Ladybugs.

Happy organic gardening!