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12 Jul 2013

The Perfect Compost: Dos and Don’ts

 

Compost is a key component in many organic gardening plans. The wise gardener can minimize his or her effort by composting in small batches directly adjacent to the planting beds that will require compost. This saves the time that would otherwise be required to cart compost out of a single, centralized pile.

Composting: Dos and Don’ts

Clean up your garden at the end of the growing season. If you clean up your garden when the growing season is over, it will improve the appearance and make less work for you the following year. Remove dead or damaged branches on trees and shrubs, get rid of weeds before they go to seed, and rake any leaves from the lawn. Remove old annual plants and cut perennials to the ground if they normally die back in the winter. Any plant material that isn’t diseased can be put in the compost pile.

Try using coffee grounds on the soil. Coffee grounds have nitrogen that plants will utilize. Generally, nitrogen is the limiting nutrient with any plant and having a good nitrogen source either by coffee grounds, compost, or even diluted urea, will make your plants bloom faster and grow taller.

How to use an organic compost pile?

Use a nicely finished compost pile as fertilizer for your garden. Organic means that you don’t use artificial fertilizers or herbicides to grow your plants, yet sometimes the soil isn’t necessarily full of the proper nutrients for growth. Utilizing a compost pile can provide you with a rich, dark earthy soil that can provide your plants with plenty of nutrients. Use equal parts dried and green plant material for your own compost. Green plant material includes grass clippings, spent flowers, vegetable and fruit waste, weeds and leaves. Dried plant material consists of sawdust, shredded paper, cardboard, straw, and cut-up and dried wood material. Your compost pile should never contain meat, ashes or charcoal.

Avoid chemical fertilizers when gardening, replace them with natural, organic mixtures like compost. Chemical fertilizers will deposit toxins into the soil, which can build up over time and even affect your drinking water. Natural and organic mixtures are safe and won’t cause this toxic buildup.

If you still need more gardening or landscaping assistance, contact us today! Or call us at 805-773-5395.

 

17 May 2013

Improve The Look Of Your Lovely Garden With This Useful Information

 

Does it always seem like the grass look greener when you look to the other side? You might think your neighbor has got a secret formula to a lovely garden. The truth is there’s no secret to a lovely garden. All it takes is knowledge on how you can care of your garden in the right way. You can get started on your gardening knowledge today by reading the information below.

How to improve your lovely garden:

  • Your plants need to adapt and must be gradually introduced to changes of environment. Put them out in the sun for a couple of hours the very first day. Over one week, increase the time outside slowly. By weeks end, your plants will be ready for their big move and should have no problems!
  • Select plant types that will bring a relatively high yield.
  • Plant perennials that are resistant to slug and snails won’t be interested in eating. Slugs and snails are voracious eaters. They can kill a plant literally overnight. These pests are particularly fond of young perennials. Those varieties with leaves that are tender, herbaceous stems and leaves, particularly seedlings and young plants.
  • Perennials with hairy, furry leaves and unpleasant tastes are less likely to attract slugs and snails. Some of examples of these are achillea, heuchera, euphorbia, hellaborus, and euphorbia.
  • Transfer your favorite plants inside so they survive the winter frosts. You may be able to save the ones you spent the most resistant or expensive plants. Dig carefully around their roots and place it a big enough pot.
  • Be diligent in your garden. Weeds can kill a good garden. White vinegar can be used as a pesticide-free way to battle weeds. White vinegar will definitely kill those pesky weeds. If you are too busy to pull weeds by hand, douse them with a white vinegar solution.
  • Pre-soak your seeds through the night in a dark place. This will keep seeds to be hydrated and facilitate growth. This improves the seeds a better chance of successful plant development.
  • If you learn that your soil has a high amount of alkaline, try mixing some coffee grounds into your garden’s soil.
  • Using coffee grounds is a less expensive way to increase the acidity of the soil. This will allow your vegetables you grow healthier and more flavorful.
  • A great garden starts from seeds and not plants. The most “green” way to start a new garden is to start with seeds.
  • The plastics used in nurseries are rarely recycled and ends up in landfills, that is why it is advised to use seeds or purchase from nurseries that make use of organic materials when packaging their plants.
  • You can prevent pests from invading your garden with certain plants and natural materials. Slugs can be kept at bay with either onions or pungent vegetables. These methods you can use to get rid of the need for harsh chemical pesticides.
  • If you are planning on growing peas, start them indoors before putting them in the ground outside. The seeds will have a better chance if you start them indoors. The seedling may also be hardier, which means they can resist pests and diseases better. You could transplant the seedlings outside after they are able to survive and thrive.
  • You may want to think about planting evergreens that will produce berries in your yard. Some plants provide color during the winter like the Winterberry, and American Holly, the Winterberry and the Common Snowberry.

As you can tell, most of these ideas don’t require a major expenditure of effort or funds. Just apply the lessons outlined here and assess their effectiveness in your own lovely garden. Pay heed to the response of the plants as you work with them. If one thing doesn’t work, try another. Be patient and your lovely garden will eventually be envied by your neighbors.

Need more gardening assistance for your lovely garden? Contact us today!

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15 Apr 2013

Tips And Tricks On Using Organic Products In Your Landscaping

organic products

Landscaping makes your yard look their best. It should also be adaptable and provide needed space for the homeowner. This may seem complicated, so continue reading for some helpful tips to help you design a landscape using organic products.

Using Organic Products In Your Landscaping

If you’re landscaping with limited monetary resources, remember that you can complete a project in stages. There is nothing harmful about dividing your project in different phases. It becomes easier to perform financially. Make plans for each project you want to complete and select which can be tackled first. Those looking to undergo a large landscaping would be smart to select plants with differing textures. Do not overlook the havoc that certain kinds of landscaping could have on your home and yard. If you are careless, you might affect the underground piping system thanks to your landscaping. Take these sorts of the possibilities into consideration as you carefully plan your landscaping plan.

Incorporate water in your landscape design. Fountains and small pools are easily incorporated with little setup for pumps and water. If you are able to afford one, many professional landscapers can install a pond or waterfall. Adding water structure to your landscape gives your yard a focal point. Weeping cherries are among the most popular of this type available.

To create a landscaping design that is visually appealing and easy to take care of, choose native plants. Plant species that have adapted naturally thrive in your area and its climate are a lot more simple to take care of when compared to foreign transplants. Local plants don’t need as much supplemental irrigation and this can save you money when it comes to the water bill.

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Get professional guidance before you launch a serious landscaping project. It may cost you a little bit of money, but talking to a landscape architect can save you a lot of time, time and headaches in the process. A quick one hour discussion should be sufficient to glean some great advice and help you begin. A water garden is a popular special feature can really improve the look of your yard.

It is a good idea to spend the extra money on your supplies and materials for this project by purchasing them from a specialty stores. You will find the employees at these stores very helpful. Complete your lawn or yard in segments. You could make the choice to work on different sections or start with different types of plantings. If you are going to use any large plants in your design, remember that they are likely to cast a shadow. This can be used to cool your patio and house from the sun during hot summer months. Be certain to not to put smaller plants in shadows.

Many areas of the country have water restrictions due to shortages, so you want to make sure that your plants are going to get the right amount of water. Learn how to use the spaces of your property when designing your landscape. For example, if your yard is susceptible to noise from traffic, you can muffle those sounds with hedges.

Make a play area for your kids. You could also make a space for grilling or entertaining guests that you might have. Use ground-cover plants to fill in areas between your larger plants. These plants add visual depth, color and depth to your yard. A successful landscaping design using organic products is one that incorporates everything from curb appeal to functional use. You want to budget wisely yet give your yard a beautiful look.

Want to know more tips and tricks on using organic products, Call 805-773-5395 or

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