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Vegetable Reward #1

One of the best rewards of a backyard vegetable garden concerns the savings you will receive at the grocery store when you don’t have to pay their exorbitant pricing on their fresh vegetables. Your vegetables will be so fresh and tasty that you could pull them up or pluck them from the vine as you need them. This element is not something you will come close to in a grocery store retail chain as those vegetables are sometimes picked a few days before they are ready due to the ripening process during shipping.

Vegetable Reward #2

The second reason why a backyard vegetable garden works is it could become an entire family affair, a project everyone could work on for some quality time together. Jobs could be split up between the adults and children and the children could learn about the growing process and how to tell when the vegetables are ready to be picked.  In addition, children who would normally scoff and turn their noses up on vegetables may actually eat what they grow – and with enthusiasm too! Therefore, the health of your family will get a great boost from the vitamins and minerals cultivated in your backyard vegetable garden.

Vegetable Reward #3

One of the best things about a backyard vegetable garden is the fact that sometimes, it produces more than you can eat. You could share the excess with your friends or learn how to can or freeze them for future consumption. If you choose to freeze or can your excess vegetables, you could essentially end up with “fresh” vegetables virtually all year long! Most people prefer eating their own bounty from their backyard vegetable garden even frozen or canned in comparison with the paler fresh vegetables you may find off-season in the grocery stores.

When fresh and healthy is the name of the game in your family, a backyard vegetable garden is the best scenario for your family. Cruise your garden center’s vegetable seed and plant aisles and start planning your garden today so you’ll have fresh vegetables in the future.

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Constantly watering your lawn this way is not possible. This is where having a DIY lawn irrigation system in place can help you out. With such a system in place you don’t have to worry about taking out the old hose and can be assured of having the best lawn in the neighborhood.

Economics

Using a DIY lawn irrigation system saves you the money that would otherwise be spent on hiring a contractor. In the long term an irrigation system will also help you to conserve water and better irrigate your plants.

Simple Installation

Typically a sprinkler system needs professional installation that involves excavation. With a DIY lawn irrigation system you can install the system on your own. The ease of installation is a big plus as it cuts down on the cost of having an irrigation system installed. Too much of the cost of an irrigation system comes from the labor and installation when in fact the actual system does not cost all that much.

You shouldn’t need any experience to install a DIY lawn irrigation system. You want a system that will be installed quickly and easily, look for one that you can manage to install in an afternoon or day at most. Something that hooks up to a spigot in your yard is what you’re looking for.

You should be able to customize your DIY lawn irrigation system otherwise you will be stuck with a system that only covers a small part of your lawn or neglects hard to reach places. Check that the DIY lawn irrigation kit you buy can be set up to fit your lawn properly.

The kit that you buy should come with extensive instructions to help you along and if possible look for a product that comes with ‘tech support’. This could be a website that answers questions or a hotline number that you can use to talk to someone about your kit. Have someone help you out; even though you should be able to do it on your own it’s always good to have an extra pair of hands helping you out.

Whether you have a backyard vegetable garden or a flower garden they need watering.

Plants are approximately 90% water and therefore it is essential that they get enough water to survive. Backyard gardening is all about balance and that applies to the amount of water your plants need to stay healthy.

Over watering can be as harmful as not giving them enough water.
The soil that the plants are growing in is a big factor in the amount of water that you should be giving them.

If the soil is heavy and doesn’t drain well you will need to give them less water or they could get water logged and the roots can rot.
If the soil is a lot freer draining then you might need to water a little more often.

Too much water can reduce the plants ability to draw oxygen and nutrients from the soil and this is as essential to their growth as the water.

Gentle watering is better than heavy watering with a hose as the higher pressure of the hose can cause the soil to turn to mud. Once the soil dries out again it will become solidified. This compacting of the soil after heavy watering makes it more difficult for the plants to grow.

Soakers are a good method of watering provided the flow of water is not too great.

Soakers are also excellent when using a timed irrigation system so that the plants get sufficient water when you are away and particularly in the hotter months of the year when the soil tends to dry out more often.

If you are using timed irrigation you will need to adjust the timing and the flow of water according to the seasons and always make changes when there have been unseasonal changes to the weather that will require extra care for the plants.

Once again, plants need the human touch to maintain that balance.

When one thinks of an antique, a rose might not immediately come to mind. But antique roses have been around for centuries. Shakespeare used the word ‘eglantine’ when speaking of the rose in his sonnets and plays. Eglantine is described in the dictionary as a European rose with sweet-scented leaves and pink flowers.

If you aren’t familiar with the word ‘emporium’, it means a large store with a wide variety of things for sale. There are antique rose emporiums to delight rose growers. You can buy an antique rose already rooted from a rose emporium.

How does one prepare to grow an antique? First choose an area that allows for several hours of morning sunlight. It is best to give the plant room for healthy air movement as the bush will grow and develop. Break the soil well; a tiller is helpful should you desire to plant many plants in one area. It’s better to have rich soil in which to grow your antique. The antique will do better if you add good quality organic material and if the soil has proper drainage.

When does one prepare the area for planting the antique? It’s best to prepare in the spring or summer if you live in a southern climate. When you are new to planting, it is an easy assumption that all planting should be done in the spring. But it depends on the climate of the area where you live. If you are buying seeds, there are usually helpful maps on the back of the seed packets to use as a guide. If you are buying from a nursery, be sure to ask there. Of course, you could always try looking it up online or going to the local library or enlisting the advice of an established gardener.

How long can you keep an antique in a container before planting outdoors? If needed, you can keep an antique in a container for several months. You’ll want to give them more attention than once you get them established outdoors. Remember to fertilize and water frequently—and don’t forget proper drainage and air flow around the plants!

Should you add mulch to your antique roses? A true-blue gardener would gasp at the neglect to add mulch! It cuts down on weeds. This may seem strange since it aids the growth of one type of plant and inhibits the growth of another. Mulching also means less stress to your roots from the heat.

How often would one water an antique? It helps to deep-soak your antique once a week—that means saturating the ground in which you have planted your rose. Several hours or overnight should do the trick. This is where it is extremely helpful to have a soaker hose for soaking more than one plant at once.

An antique rose is not disease free, but it is disease resistant. It’s still important to watch for insect or other damage. Should you spray, it is preferable to use a mild fungicide. If in doubt, read the labels on the product carefully. Prune your antique lightly and respectfully. It won’t bloom well if the new growth has to endure damage from heat or frost.

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Karen, desperate to save her flowers asks how to deal with hungry rabbits that find her flowers quite tasty.

Nothing is more disheartening that to look at how well your flowers are doing just before you go to bed and then wake up to find that rabbits have chewed up everything and stripped the bark from most of your shrubs before leaving.

We haven’t run into to this yet as we live in the middle of our city, but if we see deer here every once in a while it won’t surprise me to see a few bunnies around.

I will give you a couple of cheap alternatives to rabbit repellents which tend to be expensive.

1. Ammonia sprayed around the perimeter at dusk will keep them away.

2. Make a pepper spray using cayenne pepper and water. I used the same thing to get my son’s dog to stop digging up the yard.

You may have to do this periodically as the old rabbits may learn to stay away but the newest once still need to be taught a lesson.

If you want to get rid of pests in your garden or home, you can always get an insecticide at your local store. It may be a harsh chemical that you don’t want in your home, though. You might prefer to use natural insecticide. If you do, you can prepare your own.

If you get some boric acid powder, you can mix up all kinds of natural insecticide. For ants, you can put together a tablespoon of boric acid, a teaspoon of sugar, and some water. Put it on a cotton ball and set it out where ants go. Getting rid of ants will also decrease the possibility of having aphids.

For roaches, it’s simple. Just set out the powder where the roaches run. Boric acid can be mixed with a non-toxic version of anti-freeze called propylene glycol to kill termites. A natural insecticide can be made that is safe for use around children and pets just by using boric acid and household ingredients. You can mix the acid with water in a 10% solution for use on surfaces.

You can make a natural insecticide for use on small pests that you get on plants. You can make a garlic spray. Take a good amount of garlic and chop it up finely. Add paraffin oil and soak it for a full day.

Next, dissolve some soap in water and slowly add that. After you stir it up, strain it in cheese cloth. Only store it in a container that is made of glass. Your natural insecticide is ready to use.

For aphids, you can make a natural insecticide that is a stinging nettle spray. Just take some nettles and soak them in water for about three weeks. After this is finished fermenting, dilute it with water. It is ready to spray.

There are several methods for killing the Colorado potato beetle. You can make a natural insecticide tea by soaking cedar chips. Then make it into a spray to apply to leaves.

Another foliage spray used as a natural insecticide against this destructive pest is tansy spray. Dry out the tansy and grind it up. You can do this with a mortar and pestle if you have one. Then, mix it with water to make the spray.

For cutworms, you can make another natural insecticide spray by using pineapple weed and water mixed together as a natural insecticide. Or, you can use sagebrush extract with water. If you just want to immobilize them, you can mix molasses with bran and sawdust. Put this on plants in the evening.

Tomato hornworms destroy tomatoes and other crops. For a natural insecticide, you can lightly cover the area around the plants with cornmeal they will try to eat it. Their digestive systems can’t handle it and they will pop.

A spray can be made as a natural insecticide for many small soft-bodied bugs. You use a spoonful of canola oil and a few drops of liquid soap. This gets rid of mealy bugs, aphids, and mites.

There are many other kinds of natural insecticide that can be used to get rid of pests. You can’t concoct them all in your own kitchen, either. However, when you can, it makes using natural insecticide that much easier.

If you want to get rid of pests in your garden or home, you can always get an insecticide at your local store. It may be a harsh chemical that you don’t want in your home, though. You might prefer to use natural insecticide. If you do, you can prepare your own.

If you get some boric acid powder, you can mix up all kinds of natural insecticide. For ants, you can put together a tablespoon of boric acid, a teaspoon of sugar, and some water. Put it on a cotton ball and set it out where ants go. Getting rid of ants will also decrease the possibility of having aphids.

For roaches, it’s simple. Just set out the powder where the roaches run. Boric acid can be mixed with a non-toxic version of anti-freeze called propylene glycol to kill termites. A natural insecticide can be made that is safe for use around children and pets just by using boric acid and household ingredients. You can mix the acid with water in a 10% solution for use on surfaces.

You can make a natural insecticide for use on small pests that you get on plants. You can make a garlic spray. Take a good amount of garlic and chop it up finely. Add paraffin oil and soak it for a full day.

Next, dissolve some soap in water and slowly add that. After you stir it up, strain it in cheese cloth. Only store it in a container that is made of glass. Your natural insecticide is ready to use.

For aphids, you can make a natural insecticide that is a stinging nettle spray. Just take some nettles and soak them in water for about three weeks. After this is finished fermenting, dilute it with water. It is ready to spray.

There are several methods for killing the Colorado potato beetle. You can make a natural insecticide tea by soaking cedar chips. Then make it into a spray to apply to leaves.

Another foliage spray used as a natural insecticide against this destructive pest is tansy spray. Dry out the tansy and grind it up. You can do this with a mortar and pestle if you have one. Then, mix it with water to make the spray.

For cutworms, you can make another natural insecticide spray by using pineapple weed and water mixed together as a natural insecticide. Or, you can use sagebrush extract with water. If you just want to immobilize them, you can mix molasses with bran and sawdust. Put this on plants in the evening.

Tomato hornworms destroy tomatoes and other crops. For a natural insecticide, you can lightly cover the area around the plants with cornmeal they will try to eat it. Their digestive systems can’t handle it and they will pop.

A spray can be made as a natural insecticide for many small soft-bodied bugs. You use a spoonful of canola oil and a few drops of liquid soap. This gets rid of mealy bugs, aphids, and mites.

There are many other kinds of natural insecticide that can be used to get rid of pests. You can’t concoct them all in your own kitchen, either. However, when you can, it makes using natural insecticide that much easier.

Image by ThrasherDave via Flickr

Suppose I give you an image flower lovers can appreciate? Imagine a field such as seen under the warm California sunshine. It’s a grapevine field, with rows and rows to fill. Now substitute the grapevines with climbing roses! What a vision that would be to behold.

However, you must choose your climber with care, for some are only able to tolerate small amounts of sunshine and will bloom only with the proper amount of sunlight. You’ll need to keep it properly pruned for the better health of the plant. It will need plenty of room to spread its spectacular beauty. Some climbers grow taller and larger depending upon their climate. You’ll need access to the taller parts of the plant. You may decide to shape it.

Some questions to consider are: ‘how often will you want the climber to bloom’, ‘will you want a certain color theme among your climbers’, ‘would you need to treat it for bugs native to your area’.

A climber and a rambler are different types of rose plants. Climbers need to be tied to a structure to maintain stability. They have heavier vines, or canes if you will, than the rambler. The rambler’s vines are more flexible and must be trained to grow over an object.

As with many flowers, the best time to plant a climber is at least 6 weeks before the first hard frost or in the spring or fall when the weather is cooler, but not wintry. You could start the plant indoors and then move it to the garden. Build a teepee of wooden poles; make sure the height of the legs will suit your container; wind nylon wire or string in a criss-cross fashion around the poles to give the plant places to grab as it works its way up the poles.
An easy idea for use with climbers is a trellis, which is made with either lumber or plastic. Although, personally, I would think the plastic surface would be harder for the plant to grab and hold. You could substitute nylon netting in place of the string or wire.

If you have little ones who want to help garden, you could buy popsicle sticks for them to glue together in lattice fashion for use with your climber. If you are comfortable with the art work of a child, you could have he or she paint the container and put their own pictures and letting on it. One idea that may be of interest to moms or grandmothers is to allow the child their own climbing garden area. It would teach them the wonders of the rose on a level they could accept more readily.

Image by …Tim via Flickr

Sometimes while we are spraying elsewhere a wind can carry the spray to other plants and it won’t be until sometime later that the damage from this appears.

This damage will appear as leaves that have become smaller, narrowed and twisted.

Once this damage is seen there is nothing that can be done other than to remove the damaged portions of the plant and hope that more damage will not occur over the following days. Often a plant will recover if it has only received a light residual amount of weed killer that has blown over from a breeze.

It really depends on how much weed killer it was exposed to and how big, or how durable the plant it.
Some plants are a lot more susceptible to weed killer than others and only a small amount of exposure to this will be enough to kill the plant.

You really need to take care when using weed killer to ensure that none of it drifts to areas where it shouldn’t be.
Only use weed killer when there is no wind and hold the sprayer close to the weeds so it will only go on them and nowhere else.

It is also wise to have dedicated containers for weed killer and other sprays in the garden as residual weed killer left in a container that you would use for other things in the garden could ruin your plants. f it is not possible to have more than one container for poison and another for other garden sprays then you should always ensure that you clean it thoroughly after use to remove all the poison.

My wife has a good friend that has been gardening for more than 10 years and you can be sure we will be picking her brain for backyard gardening tips and tricks that will make our learning curve a bit shorter.

What we have done so far is to remove some of the bushes that the previous owners let run wild. I spent the better part of yesterday cutting them off at the ground so they are out of our face. We will remove the roots another day but for now our backyard garden area is starting to look a little better.

Backyard gardening is becoming more of a reality every day. These past few days of warm weather, above freezing, is awesome. New Brunswick seems to be a bit behind everyone else when it comes to getting rid of this snow though.

I think this year is going to be more focused on getting rid of the things we don’t want to keep. We have some shrubs that are across the front of our yard and they are way out of control plus it’s not something we care to look at. I would rather have flowers with a shrub here and there but not a big shrubby mess.

We will see if we can find anyone who would like the shrubs and let them have them. All they have to do is dig them up and take them. We don’t even care if they fill in the holes, we can handle that.