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Archive for the ‘Gardening’ Category

While most people would pay a lot of attention towards protecting their home from outside threat, few would think of protecting the perimeter of the house- i.e outside the house that includes the garden and porch area.  Protecting the garden is a very important consideration too. If the garden and outside space provides easy access to a burglar, they can quite easily break in into the home, thus compromising its safety and probably your own safety as well.

 

A garden or shed that provides easy access to an outsider could mean that the burglar could easily rob your garden accessories, any plants or even tools! So, what could you do to make sure you protect your garden as well? Here are some points to remember:

1. Ensure that you have a garden fence and a garden gate that is locked or at least kept closed at all times.
2. Install surveillance equipment like a CCTV camera if you have valuable possessions in your garden
3. Install good lighting around your garden- a lighted area can be a big deterrent for potential burglary attempts
4. Consider keeping expensive gardening equipment like the mower, ladder etc in a garden shed if they are kept in the open.
   1. If your garden has any external doors going into the house, make sure that you it is locked at all times when you are not in the house. Also secure all opening windows with key locks, or a wire mesh.

This post has been sponsored by Darfen Durafencing, a security fencing company specialising in the b2b industry.

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Roses can be grown in containers or in the ground and gardens look all the more beautiful because of their presence. Many people seem unsure as how best to grow them especially as there are so many different varieties. With the proper care however they can grow perfectly and can be enjoyed for years. Roses need sunshine, correct drainage and plenty of fertiliser. Roses are hungry feeders and will need a lot of water as well as manure. Ideally the plants should be offered protection from a wind such as a fence or a natural barrier such as a bush.

A gardener needs to think about what type of rose is required. A climber can be used to climb up over an old wall and a shrub rose will give pleasure if planted in a large container near the house. These lovely plants can be used in various situations in the garden such as climbing up an old tree stump or to cover an unsightly building. If planted near to the house, sweet scented varieties are ideal. Many varieties have little or no scent but give pleasure with their colour and long flowering season and gardeners need to take all these factors into account when selecting roses for their gardens. The flowers are useful as well as beautiful and can be used as mothers day flowers or in a vase in the home. For someone considering flower deliveries, most UK companies will include a rose or two in their arrangements.

Soil needs to have good drainage as the plants will die if their roots stay wet for too long. If soil is waterlogged it is advisable to add grit or sand to help water to run through. An easy way to check soil is to dig a hole and fill it with water. After a couple of hours if there is still water in the hole then drainage needs to be improved before roses are planted.

A hole needs to be able to accommodate the root system of the rose which should be firmly planted. The end of the roots can be clipped to stimulate root growth. For perfect growth, the plants need to have an application of fertiliser in spring and summer. Anyone involved in flower deliveries will know the best way to treat them and will be glad to advise.

At the end of the flowering season the plants can be pruned. Dead wood, dead leaves and old flower heads can be cut off. In February roses can be pruned back again to ensure good growth. It is often said that roses do not like to be moved so it is advisable to plan carefully the position of the plant in the garden. Also gardeners should not plant a rose in a hole where another rose has been as this may cause root disease. Treated properly roses should give many years of pleasure and are ideal when used as mothers day flowers or as gifts for other occasions. Flower deliveries invariably use roses amongst their bouquets.

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We have almost made it through.  Soon the sun will be shining, the birds will be singing and it will be spring again.  There is something magical about birds calling our yard their home, but if we really want to enjoy them and our garden we need to create a living space for these creatures so they are welcome guests rather then welcome pests.

The first thing we would do with any company is make sure we feed them.  When looking at a bird feeder we need to spend a little time finding out what birds are local to our area.  Although the design of many bird feeders is similar the way these flying friends eat and what they eat is as diverse as the possible cuisine in your neighborhood.  There is nothing more disappointing then buying a bird feeder and looking forward to seeing a certain type of bird only to find out that particular bird never comes around our house, would never eat out of that type of feeder or doesn’t eat the food we served.  Just like being sure we are aware of the dietary needs of our children’s friend when they come over we need to make sure first we understand the bird feeder needs of our feather visitors.

Once we start feeding the birds and word gets out we have the food they are looking for the birds will flock (pun intended) to our house.  If we want them to do more then just stop buy for a bite we need to provide the birds a nice bird house to live.  Since we now know what kind of birds we will have we can use that information to also determine what kind of bird house they need.  We can get birdhouses in sizes, shapes, colors, and styles so that the house will make the birds want to nest there as well as become a compliment to décor of our yard and garden.

What bird sanctuary back yard would be complete without a bird bath.  As you can imagine a refreshing break from flying around is a nice clean bath to splash in and relax in.  Besides pedestal style bird baths we all think of there are bird baths that can be mounted to a deck railing, ones that can be integrated into our garden pond and many other styles to choose from.  There are even bird baths that come with heaters and de-icers so that your back yard tenants can use them all year round to get a nice drink and keep themselves clean.

If you are lucky enough to life in an area where the are my favorite is the hummingbird.  As we know these speedy little creatures never stop flapping, even to eat.  Of course there is a special hummingbird feeder  just to meet their needs.  If hummingbirds live in your area I would encourage you to get some feeders for them.  It is an exciting treat to watch this beautiful little creature flit around our yard and drink from the feeder.  You won’t regret it.

No matter what kind of birds you end up with in your yard this year make them feel welcome with these few special things you can do to make your world inviting to our avian friends.

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Whether you live in an apartment or a house, whether you have a huge backyard or your yard is the sidewalk out front window boxes can allow you to have the garden you crave. Let your inner gardener out all year long with these wonderful little gardens in a box. Now is the perfect time of year to not only think about what type of window box you might want, but also to get started planting and growing your little garden in a box indoors.

Garden Window Boxes are a fantastic way for you to have a garden in your house or just outside you window. Simple to use, flexible for any space, and the best part there are planters for any size window and even window box planter stands that you can use indoors or out.

There are, of course, the standard wooden window boxes which can be painted to match the trim or color of you house, but there are so many more options. Vinyl window boxes that go with your vinyl siding and have the same durable qualities that the siding on your house has. Most people have seen the basket style indoor or patio window box and even the window plant boxes at ground level decorating walkways, decks and sidewalks. But did you know you can also get window plant boxes in a number of different types of metal as well? There are aluminum window boxes, copper window boxes, steel, wrought iron and so on to compliment your home and garden and give it that extra special flair you are looking for this year.

All too often we find ourselves discovering a beautiful plant or flower that would go perfect with our house in the middle of summer and are saddened by the short amount of time we get enjoy them before the season is over and winter hits again. This year lets resolve to be prepared. Find your window box planters now and enjoy them all year long.

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With 2010 behind us and January rapidly slipping away now is the time to shop and prep our planters for spring. Today we would like to take a look at some planters that are not only a wonderful addition to the inside of your house, but could also transition outdoors in the spring to make your deck or patio blossom with color.

There are a number of counter top planters to choose from. There is an assortment of gorgeous traditional terracotta planters ranging from the basic to the ornate. Then of course there is the widely popular basket planter which is flexible and works with so many different decors. As well as so many new and modern types of counter top planters that include stainless steel, artistic and even a planter that has the look of brushed chrome. These counter top planters can of course go outside but they are so beautiful they may just find a permanent place in both your heart and your home.

You may find you lean more toward a more ornate decorative planter and if so you are in luck. You can find decorative planters in all sorts of shapes and sizes. There are so many types to choose from:
- Ornate bowls
- Urns from small to large, basic to fancy
- Hanging baskets
- Square decorative planters
- Free Standing Window Box style planters
And SO much more

One thing for sure NOW is the time to buy while the selection is HOT and the inventory is high. Don’t let this season spring up on you. Get the jump on your planter planning now.

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People who own garden sheds or garden furniture should be looking to treat their products as the winter months could potentially cause a lot of damage.

Simple products like Ronseal have a positive impact on the length of time a wooden product lasts, so a lick of ronseal on your Garden Shed will have a positive impact.

A lick of Ronseal will also make your garden shed look good too.

This article has been supplied by garden shed company Lidget http://www.lidget.co.uk

 

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Welcome to the December 24, 2008 edition of a gardening carnival.

Erika Collin presents Back to Nature: Top 100 Herbal Medicine Blogs posted at NursingDegree.net.

flowers

makingthishome presents Shopping for Locally Grown Poinsettias posted at Making This Home, saying, “Thank you for hosting. Hope you enjoy our greenhouse discovery.”

gardening

Susan Morris presents Bonsai – An Exercise In Patience posted at Bonsai Tree, saying, “Some tips for people caring for their plant.”

Giorgina Devereaux presents Garden Party Decorations posted at Home Decor Blog.

Sarah presents How to Properly Mow Your Lawn | Winter Lawn Care – Lawn Care Tips posted at Lawn Care Tips, saying, “Many people mow their lawn too short and effectively kill it in the process.”

Susan Morris presents A Quick Introduction To The World Of Grow Lights posted at Bonsai Tree, saying, “An intro to hydroponics for our bonsai trees”

M.D. Creekmore presents Tire Garden posted at Survivalist Blog.

organic gardening

Julian Pollock presents Compost to Reduce Trash Bill and Turn Garbage into Garden Soil | Organic Family Circle posted at Organic Family Circle, saying, “Here’s an other view on organic recycling and composting to share and perhaps inspire new methods and techniques.”

Tomato Lady presents Fall Garden Tour posted at Little House in the Suburbs.

vegetables

Hortois presents Grow Early Potatoes posted at The Compost Heap.

Nora Dunn presents Gardening Down Under posted at The Professional Hobo, saying, “learning to Garden in another country always presents some challenges and opportunities. Here is a personal and humorous recount of my own (foreign) veggie garden.”

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of a gardening carnival using our carnival submission form.

The next issue will be hosted at my new gardening blog, My Gardening Patch, on January 28, 2009.

Technorati tags: a gardening carnival, blog carnival.

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Today’s post is courtesy of my husband, Gary Emmett.  This piece ran as a column in our local paper on December 4, 2008.  For those who don’t know, Gary has a degree in Horticulture and has worked in the field, both retail and for a Gardening Chemical Manufacturer for the past 15 years.  He is MY secret source for information.  (The recipe is mine.)

It has been exciting to be back in Lovell and especially for the Thanksgiving Holiday. It was a time to see family and friends and also a time to reflect on how we are blessed in our lives and what we are truly thankful for.

It is also a time for the tradition of getting a family Christmas tree. It actually would be the first time I took my family to the mountains to cut our own Christmas tree from the forest. Having worked in a greenhouse/nursery, all we had to do was walk into the greenhouse and pick out the best looking, flawless trees that we could find, that had just arrived from Oregon. Oh the ease of shopping for a tree.

Moving back to Lovell has definitely brought changes and adjustments to our lives with the way we used to do things. Some adjustments I just shake my head at and have to say this is Lovell. However, I was looking forward to going to the Big Horns and cutting our family Christmas tree: a first for my son.

When I got the permits from the Forest Service office, I received an informational guide about what trees were able to be cut, how to cut the tree and also where they could be and couldn’t be harvested from. No problem!

As the day came and the holiday turkey and pies were all taken care of, we as a family, along with my brother, Alvin and his family, headed up the mountains to cut a tree. Having a saw in hand and the right permits too, we were on the prowl for the perfect mountain grown tree.

Trekking through the snow didn’t detour my desire to find the perfect tree. But I just wasn’t finding it, however, I did find next year’s tree. I know that sounds funny but I did: Now to get everyone to leave it alone. Thank goodness for my niece, Marianne, she found our tree: The perfect sub-alpine fir tree that would fit in our new house.

I prefer the characteristics of the sub-alpine fir tree to that of some of the other native evergreen trees. But my likings might not be the same as yours, because I am sure your family has the perfect tree too.

There are some very important tasks that should be followed to help ensure a fresh cut Christmas tree stays just that: FRESH. The most important is water. Make sure that your tree has plenty of water and that you put it in water as quickly as you can. My tree drank a gallon of water in the first 24 hours. Check the water availability daily. A tree will seal itself off, if not given enough water, thus the tree will then dry out prematurely. Also leave the aspirin in the medicine bottle, the soda drinks in the fridge and the Vodka in the liquor cabinet; these are all “home remedies” that don’t work. Water is still the best solution. Don’t add anything to the water.

If there is a ceiling fan overhead, or a heat register near by, reduce the air movement around the tree. This will help prevent premature drying out of the needles.

And don’t place your tree close to a wood burning stove, open fireplace, or near your entertainment systems. Excess heat will dry your tree out very quickly.

For the last couple of years, we got away from a fresh Christmas tree in the house and went with an artificial tree. They really aren’t the same. What fun and joy and memories we have missed out by not having a real tree for Christmas.

I am writing this passage while sitting in the front room, under the influence or the spell cast by the mesmerizing lights and sounds of the season. Yes I am fortunate to be back here in Lovell. Family, friends, and even the changes that life can bring, should always be a part of what we are thankful for no matter what time of year it is.

Party Sausage Dip

2 lbs Jimmy Dean sausage

16 oz Sour Cream

16 oz Cream Cheese

1- 4 oz can of Green Chilies

2 Lrg Tomatoes

In a large skillet, brown sausage and drain grease off. Reduce heat; add cream cheese and sour cream. Stir until blended together. Add Green Chilies.

It is best to allow the mixture to blend and mellow together in a slow cooker for a couple of hours. Just before serving, dice the tomatoes and stir into the dip.

Serve with tortilla chips. Enjoy

I like to use a combination of plain and spicy sausage (1 lb chub ea). If you like black olives you can add those too.

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Welcome to the November 26, 2008 edition of a gardening carnival.

Condo Blues presents Three Easy, Natural, and Free Fall Centerpieces posted at Condo Blues.

Madeleine Begun Kane presents Yard Yarns (Limerick and Haiku Prompt) posted at Mad Kane’s Humor Blog.

flowers

GrrlScientist presents Lotus Blossom posted at Living the Scientific Life, saying, “Lotus blossom. Photographed at Attwater, Texas.”

Laurie Bluedorn presents Trivium Pursuit » Blog Archive » Flowers posted at Laurie Bluedorn, saying, “Here is a tour of our garden as it was in August.”

gardening

Sarah presents Guide to Buying Sprinklers | Winter Lawn Care – Lawn Care Tips posted at Lawn Care Tips, saying, “A guide to buying the right sprinklers for your lawn.”

Machione presents GREEN ACRES Is The Place To Be… posted at Fear And Loathing – The Gonzo Papers, saying, “This summer a vegetable garden popped up in The Writer’s Refuge.”

Kilroy_60 presents I Took Time For Myself… posted at The Lives and Times… of Anthony McCune, saying, “Yesterday I made a point of taking time for myself. I shot photos of the lamb’s ear my mate planted in the garden.”

Hortois presents What Ornamental Grasses to Grow posted at The Compost Heap, saying, “Top grasses and bamboos”

Rachel Kayne presents An RKayne Garden: Northwest Garden Show posted at An RKayne Garden, saying, “organics, water gardening, indoors and out, container, I do it all (oh, and bonsai!).”

Wilfrid presents Time Saving Gardening Techniques posted at Gardening Tips For Beginners, saying, “A few techniques that can go a long way when it comes to making your gardening more efficient”

house plants

Hortoris presents Conservatory Plants posted at The Compost Heap, saying, “Indoor plants see also http://gardenerstips.co.uk/blog/flowers/hibiscus-senensis/”

Dereck presents Gardening in the Winter posted at I Will Not Die.

landscape

GrrlScientist presents Manhattan in Autumn at the Anne Loftus Playground posted at Living the Scientific Life, saying, “The Anne Loftus playground, which is located in the northeast corner of Fort Tryon Park in Inwood (Manhattan), was named in honor of Anne Loftus (1925-1989), who was a businesswoman and a neighborhood administrator. The park itself, which covers 67 acres, was named for Sir William Tryon, who was a Major General and the last British governor of colonial New York.”

Lauren Rose presents Choosing the Best Plants for your Garden posted at Own Home Style .com, saying, “How to choose the best plants for your garden”

organic gardening

Karen Shanley presents Author Mom with Dogs » Blog Archive » Zucchinis or Squashes Setting Small Fruit? Absence of Bees May Require Hand Pollinating posted at Karen Shanley.

vegetables

Woman Tribune presents Top 10 Produce You Should Buy Organic posted at Woman Tribune.

Kathy Hester (GeekyPoet) presents Grow Your Own Lettuce posted at Walk a Greener Path.

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of a gardening carnival using our carnival submission form. The next edition will be posted on December 24, 2008.

Technorati tags: a gardening carnival, blog carnival.

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Welcome to the October 29, 2008 edition of a gardening carnival.

Sharontpc presents Who Knew? My Clematis turned into Morning Glories. posted at Psychic Cottage, saying, “Not sure if you do funny gardening stuff.”

Lauren Rose presents THE CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES | Own Home Style .com posted at Own Home Style .com, saying, “Nowadays due to the introduction of new hybrid varieties in vegetables, which are susceptible to pest and diseases, there is demand for more plant protection, usually with toxic chemicals.”

GrrlScientist presents Honeycomb posted at Living the Scientific Life, saying, “A picture of a honeybee honeycomb, photographed at Russ Pittman Park, Texas.”

flowers

GrrlScientist presents Seattle Visit: University of Washington’s GreenHouse, Part One posted at Living the Scientific Life, saying, “Part one of my two-part photoessay about my visit to the biology department’s greenhouse on Seattle’s University of Washington campus. lots of gorgeous images!”

Condo Blues presents Condo Blues: Drying Fresh Lavender posted at Condo Blues.

gardening

Kristen McCarthy presents Community Gardens: Transform Urban Spaces posted at this-sustainable-life.com, saying, “Traditionally, community gardens emerge in the most unlikely spaces: from dispossessed parking lots and abandoned railway lines, to hubcap strewn parks and needle plagued back alleys, to the sagging rooftops that overlook laundry lines stretched out across the cityscape in multifarious patterns. In these areas rejected and wasted from human-made decay, urban gardens are birthed.”

Sarah presents Ridding Your Lawn of Gophers, Moles and Other Rodents | Spring Lawn Care – Lawn Care Tips posted at Lawn Care Tips, saying, “How to get rid of pesky lawn creatures.”

Bobbie Whitehead presents Garlic Onion Time posted at Bobbie Whitehead.

nichole halsey presents Growing Garlic at Home – Planting it? posted at Bad Human! Don’t take chemicals from strangers!, saying, “Easy fall planting”

house plants

Annette Berlin presents How To Grow Hydroponic Herbs posted at Craft Stew, saying, “I’m not much of a gardener. I’m too afraid of snakes and spiders to enjoy playing in the mud. The one exception to my purple thumb is hydroponic herbs. Growing hydroponic herbs is so easy, even I can do it. It’s a no-brainer.”

Sarah presents Why Is Proper Lawn Clipping Height So Important? | Spring Lawn Care – Lawn Care Tips posted at Lawn Care Tips, saying, “Some reasons why it’s really important to clip your lawn correctly.”

John Rhodes presents Lawn Care Success or Failure, ProGardenBiz Magazine V1 Issue 3 posted at Lawn Care, saying, “Some things that will determine whether your lawn business is successful or not”

landscape

Giorgina Devereaux presents Outdoor Decorating Ideas posted at Home Decor Blog.

organic gardening

Jamie McIntosh presents Save Money with Organic Gardening posted at Jamie’s Blog, saying, “Everyone knows that green living techniques can save money by saving energy in the household. Earth-friendly organic gardens can also help you save money.”

GrrlScientist presents Seattle Visit: The Montlake Fill (UBNA) posted at Living the Scientific Life, saying, “This photoessay describes my visit to one of the finest small- to medium-sized urban birding areas on the west coast of North America, the Montlake Fill. This is a reclaimed wetland that was formerly a city dump.”

vegetables

Bobbie Whitehead presents Cole Crops Ready posted at Bobbie Whitehead.

KimberlyKA presents Vegatable Garden Planting Guide posted at Food Talk 101.

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of a gardening carnival using our carnival submission form. The next edition will be posted on November 26, 2008.

Technorati tags: a gardening carnival, blog carnival.

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