Category: Gardening

How to Plan a Garden Layout

Posted on By Willy Green 1 Comment on How to Plan a Garden Layout



How to Plan a Garden Layout

In some areas of the world, the snow is starting to fall while in another Spring has sprung. Still, no matter what time of year it is in your backyard, it’s never too early to start figuring out how to plan a garden layout. There are certain things you need to figure out before you just start planting vegetation willy-nilly. Here are some tips on how to plan the perfect garden layout for your backyard.

What You Want vs What You Can Grow

We would all love to have an acre or so to play with where we had rows of every vegetable we’ve ever loved but the reality is, where you live greatly dictates what you are going to be able to plant in your garden. You may want corn, but if you have a small backyard, you might have to skip it for space availability and not to mention the shade it will generate from other sun-loving plants.

19' 11" x 9' 11" Garden plan

Know what you want and make sure you have the space, the weather, and the sun availability for that kind of vegetable, herb, or flower. Don’t forget to find out the way your choices interact with each other. This helps when you decide where to place each plant or seedling.

Sketch It

You don’t have to be a professional artist with a Copic marker sketchbook to do this part. However, if you are adept with this, your sketch can be as detailed as you want it to be and maybe sell it to a collector someday. But if you are an average artist like the rest of us, grab some paper and a pen and draw out your space.

Get the measurements and write it down on that paper. When you start assigning spaces for your choices, be sure to leave enough space around them to grow. Most plants require a specific amount of space to grow into so make sure to take that into consideration when you are sketching out your garden. When in doubt, leave a little more room.

Get What You Need

Now that you know what you want, and you made a map of your garden area, it’s time to get supplies. If you are a beginner, then you might need to pick up some tools like a hand shovel, gardening gloves, tiller, hand saw and Sprayer. Your knees can become very sore when bent over a backyard garden so consider investing in a nice cushion meant to be knelt upon.

Plant Your Garden

Now you can start. You have your plants, soil, tools, old clothes, space, and time to put your garden into place. Be sure to plant all your purchases soon after you bring them home. Plants can become damaged if left out of the ground or a container with new soil for too long.

Things to Consider Before Starting

There are some more things that are important to think about before you decide what you will be putting in your garden. Here are some we think are essential.

Size

As we mentioned earlier, what space you have available is probably the most important factor when it comes planning a garden. We used corn as an example earlier, but let’s consider another vegetable, the potato. This hearty tuber is a staple in a lot of households and would be nice if we could just pop out to the backyard and dig some up.

But they need a foot of space on each side of the plant and nearly three feet between rows. So, this wouldn’t be a great choice if your space is limited. Plants that work well in small spaces include lettuce, tomatoes, herbs, pole beans, chard, eggplant, and zucchini.

Shade

Some plants, like tomatoes, require a lot of sunlight. Other plants, like spinach and chard, need shade. Consider this when planning. If you are using a spot that has full sunlight but a lot of space, then growing some larger plants like the corn or sunflowers could provide shade to other vegetables for a part of the day.

Water

Your vegetation will not do well if they don’t have access to water daily. Unless you are a fan of hauling buckets, make sure you plant close to your water source and somewhere near your kitchen. This way you always have water access.

Ideally, you will have a hose and a sprinkling system, but if not, there are some DIY ways to create a simple irrigation system for your garden.

Seeds or Seedlings?

You can either get a packet of seeds and start them out in your home, but this requires at least two weeks and additional planning. Or you can go to the nearest nursery and purchase starter plants that go directly into your garden. If you wonder why anyone would want to start seeds if seedlings are less work, just keep reading.

Also Read: Best Front Tine Tiller

Organic or Not Organic?

Answers to your question. Do you want to go through all the trouble of planting a food source for yourself and your family only to fill it with chemicals that will eventually go into your body? There are natural ways to repel pests like insects, rabbits, deer, opossums, raccoons, and any other animal that might find their way to your garden.

But, organic doesn’t start there. It starts when you purchase your plants. If you purchase seedlings, then you need to be sure they are coming from an organic farmer. Or you can get organic seeds and start the process yourself.

Conclusion

The reasons why everyone should have a garden goes much deeper than just having a sustainable food source at your disposal. Planting and working in a garden relieves stress, helps with depression and anxiety, burn those unwanted calories, and just makes you feel good. Reconnecting with the Earth is an amazing experience that everyone should have access to.

Gardening, Gardening How to

12 Ways to Prepare Your Garden for Winter

Posted on By Willy Green No Comments on 12 Ways to Prepare Your Garden for Winter

12 Ways to Prepare Your Garden for Winter

The cold conditions associated winter months can devastate your garden plants. Shrubs and perennials can suffer and diseases may spread to annihilate your garden. Besides, you cannot give your best to the garden due to the chills and rains common during winter. Only by preparing adequately can you get your garden through winter so that it blossoms and looks better during spring. Here are 12 ways to prepare your garden for winter.

1. Leave Your Plants Alone

Leave the vegetables and flowers in your garden in place to die back on their own just like it happens in nature.  The leaves and stems of the dead plants cover the soil. As plants decompose, nutrients will return to the soil and their root systems. The improved soil fertility makes the garden ready for spring. Do this only if you do not care about aesthetics during the off season.

2. Clean Paving and Paths 

There will be lots of dry leaves and debris once the trees are bare. Get rid of them while everything is still crisp and dry. Also, clean your pavement thoroughly with hot water and scrub with stiff brush before the frost sets in. This will reduce slipperiness of the paving and make it safer during the wet months. A good alternative to scrubbing is to give your pavement and paths a blast of pressurized water.

3. Tend To Your Trees and Shrubs 

Prune any misshapen limbs and branches on your shrubs to improve their shape. You can also give your hedges trim if necessary just before the frost arrives. Get rid of diseased, dead, and destroyed branches to your trees. This prevents stems from rubbing against one another and forming deformities or wounds. You can look for trees with brightly colored barks to give your garden a facelift during the winter months.

4. Take Care of Your Borders

If you have herbaceous perennials in your border, cut them back as close to the ground as possible as they start to die down. Also get rid annuals that have completed their growth cycle. Clean your borders by getting rid of any dead leaves, foliage and weeds.

Clip the edges of your lawn and used items from your perennials. However, spare anything with beautiful and attractive seed heads. The latter will look breathtaking in frosted state. Also spare deciduous grasses. You can leave them till February since their dead leaves protect the crown of such grasses.

Empty your compost bins of their rotten contents. Spread the contents over the fresh soil to make it ready for the spring. The compost will also make the soil more attractive during the deficient winter months. In all you do, ensure you broaden your borders by using an edging iron.

5. Repairs Structures In The Garden 

You probably will not be able to do any repairs on your garden structures during the colder months. Therefore, do it before the frost sets in. Cutting down your structural shrubs, trees and borders will give you access to your garden structures. Perform the maintenance required on your fencing, farmhouse, ponds, water features, and greenhouse. Pay more attention on any pest infestations or decaying timber. Initiate appropriate corrective measures immediately.

6. Clean Your Pond And Other Water Features 

Use a net to temporarily cover your pond and other water features during the fall. This will prevent the pond or water feature from clogging up with foliage.  In case you have not cleaned such establishment for a while and it begins to look murky, late autumn is the best time to tidy it as many creatures begin to go dormant. If fish resides in the pond, ensure the water surface does not freeze over completely. A good way to ensure this does not happen is to place a floating object such as a pneumatic ball.

7. Cushion Your Plants 

Tender species such as palms, agapanthus, or cannas are more susceptible to the negative effects of frost. Move the pots and containers planted with these species into your greenhouse or conservatory for the winter months. If the tender species are planted on the ground, wrap horizontal fleece around their trunks. Spread a thick mulch of tree bark around the base of the delicate plants to cushion them from frost.

Lift bare-foot the deciduous shrubs, trees and roses and replant them just before mid-March.  Similarly, lift by root balling the rest of your garden plants especially the coniferous and evergreens. You need to do these appropriately if your plants are to survive the harsh winter months.

8. Prepare Your Lawn

Use a scarifying rake to remove moss and thatch from your lawn. This will allow it to breathe and grow freely. Having large moss on your green space is evidence of poor drainage. If that’s the case, improve the drainage with lawn spike aerator. Without an aerator, a standard garden fork will also do a decent job. Combining aeration with a commercial autumn lawn feed and moss killer products will completely eliminate moss infestation.

9. Grow Spring-Flowering Bulbs

Grow your favorite spring-flowering bulbs just before it freezes. These plants require well-drained and well-fed soil. Therefore, dig in huge quantities of sharp sand and a little of bone meal for slow release of nutrients to feed the bulbs over extended periods.

Use the correct spacing when planting the bulbs. Experts say you should plant bulbs at 2-3 times the depth of the variety of the bulb. Spacing should also be 2-3 times the width of the variety of the bulb you plant. Planting a single variety of bulbs in a drift will guarantee you more magical and dramatic effect.

10. Mulch As Much As You Can

If you cannot put a cover crop for any reason, it would be a good idea to mulch as much as possible to protect your plants from frost. Doing this will possibly protect some pests. That’s fine because mulching will also protect the predators of such pests as well as some other organisms vital to the quality of the soil.

The best mulch to use is plant leaves which are readily available during the autumn. Use a standard garden rake to collect the dried leaves from your green space or elsewhere. Leaves from native plants are better suited because they are not moisture-retaining. If you only have moisture-retaining leaves, make leaf-mold or compost them.

11. Pay Attention To Snow 

It is hard to imagine the devastation extended periods of heavy snow can do to the plants in your garden. The best thing you can do to your plants to ensure they survive the cold winter weather is to knock off the snow from their leaves. This simple act can help prevent severe damage and even the possible fatalities that might befall the plants. Remain vigil when snow begins to form.

12. Create winter color and greenery 

Everything may appear white during winter, but your garden does not have to be the same. You garden can still be exciting and interesting and protected at the same time. A good way is to incorporate a few architectural green shrubs such as Phormium tenax. This will add some structure together with your deciduous shrubs such as midwinter fire (Cornus sanguine). It will also enlighten winter border with picturesque stems that are flame-colored.

Additionally, you can fill your garden containers with winter polyanthus, pansies and violas. Fill each pot with a single species. For even better results, partner these plants with perennials, evergreen grasses, bulbs and shrubs.

Conclusion

Your garden does not have to be dormant during winter. You can keep it attractive and alive by using the above ways to prepare your garden for winter. Without proper preparation, the extreme temperatures in winter can devastate your garden forcing you to start a new with the beginning of spring. With proper preparation, your garden will look great and blossom during spring. Now you have 12 Ways to Prepare Your Garden for Winter.

Other articles you may enjoy!

Best Plants for Beginning Growers

Basic Hydroponics

Why Does My Grass Have Different Shades Of Green?

How Much Land Does It Take To Feed One Person?

Best Commercial Weed Eaters



Gardening, Gardening How to

Using a brush cutter to maintain a garden

Posted on By Willy Green No Comments on Using a brush cutter to maintain a garden



Using a brush cutter to maintain a garden

A brush cutter is a very important tool for use in the garden or backyard. The role of a brush cutter is very important to the survival of your garden. It also helps to keep the landscape looking well kept. It is used to cut weeds, small trees and other plant overgrowth’s that are not so easy to reach or get rid of.

A Brush cutter machine has more power and can handle tougher plant growth than a Weed string trimmer. Brush cutters normally contain a metal blade which cuts though unwanted or harmful vegetation.

Types of brush cutters

The Hand operated Brush Cutter

The design of the hand operated brush cutter allows for comfortable use. Its length allows for better access to get rid of weeds and other unwanted plants that are hard to reach. Its light weight makes it easy to move around.

The Push operated Brush cutter

These can handle larger areas of growth that the hand-held cutters. They are larger in weight and resemble the lawn mower. They can cover a bit more ground in a shorter time and with more ease.

The towed Brush cutter

These are attached to farm machines such as tractors and are used to complete the largest tasks.

The different types of brush cutters are equipped with different kinds of blades. There are chisel, knife, brush destructor, smasher and mulching blades. The most effective of these is the brush destructor blade which can handle the toughest tasks. Your choice depends on the type of work to be done.

Benefits of brush cutters 

Brush cutters have many benefits. The most important benefit of brush cutters is that they help to maintain a beautiful yard or garden. They are effective in clearing and destroying all unwanted thickets or bushes. They are portable which makes them ideal for cutting in difficult, hard to reach terrain. You can also use the machine for longer because of its design. The design allows ease of use so that users can work for a while without causing physical strain. Some brands are also quiet, so you can work without disturbing others. They are easy to store due to their compact sizes. In addition, they are also easy to maintain. Storage and maintenance are two important factors that affect the durability of the brush cutter.

Factors to consider when purchasing a brush cutter

There are several factors to consider when purchasing a brush cutter. One important factor is the type and the thickness of the vegetation to be cut down. The difficulty of the task will determine the type of brush cutter you purchase.

Another important factor is the terrain you will be using the brush cutter on. The layout of the landscape can cause some plants to be hard to reach. There are brush cutters designed for the hard to reach areas.

It is also important to check for the durability of the product. You are making an investment in an equipment that you hope will last for a while. Check the materials the cutter is made from, the design and overall sturdiness. You need a machine that can withstand the tough outdoors.

The price of the equipment might be an important factor if you are on a budget. However, do not substitute quality for price. Choose the best available brush cutter that is within your budget.

When using a brush cutter, exercise caution and wear protective gear. While using the brush cutter, protect yourself from flying debris. Be sure to protect your eyes. Use brush cutters with a harness and handle bar. These will protect your hands and lessen the impact of accidents. Also remember not to use too close to others since it can cause physical harm. Also look out for those straying animals that may wander into your path.

Purchasing a brush cutter is very important to maintain your garden. It ensures that your garden is properly cleared for new growth. The role of a brush cutter cannot be over stated. Take proper care of the brush cutter for a durable and effective machine. Pay special attention to the blade which needs to be kept sharp and clean. The brush cutter is a useful equipment that must be handled with care. Read the manual before use to ensure you understand how to care for and operate the equipment.

​

You May Also Like to Read


Gardening How to, Gardening Tools, Lawn Tools

Pressure Washing – Step by Step User Guide

Posted on By Willy Green No Comments on Pressure Washing – Step by Step User Guide



Pressure Washing – Step by Step User Guide

A pressure washer is an essential tool in cleaning whether for commercial or home use. Pressure washing is a hit because it does wonder in keeping everything clean, including driveways, patios, lawn furniture, and even hard-to-reach areas in your property.

Pressure washers are powered either by a gas engine or electric motor. Pressure washing with a garden hose makes use of a high-pressure jet to knock off dirt away. And since it only makes use of water, it doesn’t cause serious damage on surfaces.

No matter which style of pressure washer you use, always wear proper safety gear like gloves, goggles, and of course hearing protection. Also, read the manual before using so you really have a good understanding of how to use the equipment in a safe manner so you don’t hurt yourself or anyone around. An ounce of prevention always beats a pound of “cure!”

Pressure washers vary depending on its cleaning power. They can be categorized as follows:

Light-Duty Pressure Washer

This type is used for cleaning outdoor furniture, small patios and decks, and for car washing. It has uses 1300 to 1900 PSI.

Medium-Duty Pressure Washer

Thinking of what is the best pressure washer for driveways? This type of pressure washer will work for you. Its cleaning power ranges from 2000 to 3100 PSI. On most 2000 PSI pressure washer reviews, this type is recommended for both home and business use.

Heavy-Duty Pressure Washer

This type is considered the best electric high-pressure washer in the market today, and it is highly recommended for commercial use due to its maximum cleaning power. The pressure range of this is 3200 PSI to 4200 PSI or more.

To be able to get its maximum benefit, the pressure washer should be used and handled properly. Each pressure washer machine differs from one another, but it follows the same instructions on how to use them.

Take a look at our quick guidelines and learn how to use the machine properly and efficiently.

How to Set Up and Use a Pressure Washer with Garden Hose

  • Assemble the pressure washer according to the manufacturer’s instructions. For electric pressure washers, connect the high-pressure side of the hose to the pump and the other side to the water supply. Attach the spray gun on the high-pressure side of the hose and add spray nozzle on top of the spray gun. For gas pressure washers, fill the tank with the proper gasoline and engine oil.

  • Make sure you are wearing all of your safety gear including Gloves, Goggles, and Hearing Protection! ​

  • Turn on the water source. Make sure that you open the water source first before turning on the machine to avoid damaging the pump. Also, before you connect the power, pull the trigger on the spray nozzle to purge the system of air. You should have a nice continuous supply of water going through it before you turn on the machine. This goes for both electric and gas powered pressure washers.

  • Connect the power cord to an electric outlet. Switch on the power switch, then pull the string to start the engine. Again, keep in mind that water should always be continuously flowing through the machine.

If at first, you do not get enough water from the water source, do not be confused. This happens because the pump does not contain water yet. When you reached the desired water level of the machine, pull the trigger and start spraying on dirty surfaces.

Pressure washing the fence once in a while will make a huge difference.

  • If you wish to change the nozzle, stop the spray gun, remove the old nozzle, and attach a new one.

  • When spraying, always keep the spray gun at least ten to twelve inches above the surface at a 45-degree angle. Hold it firmly to avoid slippage from your hand.

  • To effectively clean the surface, move the spray from one side to the other until you have fully covered the entire area. To clean dirty corners, you can use the 0-degree nozzle.

  • Once you are finished, unplug the cord and disconnect the garden hose from the water supply. Spray it one more time. This is to empty the remaining water from the pump.

  • Dry the machine properly and keep in the storage area for future use. For gasoline-powered pressure washer, you can empty the fuel tank if you will not use the machine for a long time.

The green spray nozzle is commonly used for general cleaning.

Safety Tips in Using the Pressure Washer

Pressure washers are a great tool for cleaning if used properly. Just like any other types of equipment, you need to take safety precautions in operating the machine.

  • Always read, understand, and follow the manufacturer’s guidelines.

  • Wear protective equipment like goggles, hearing protection, gloves, and closed-toe footwear to avoid the accidental direct spray.

  • Place the pressure washer on a flat surface before using.

  • Never point the spray gun at people as the pressurized water stream can cause serious cuts on skin.

  • Move out any breakable objects from the area you are about to clean.

  • Never allow children to play with the pressure washer.

  • Avoid spraying on areas with an electrical socket or power lines.

  • Use the trigger lock when the spray is not in use.

  • Do not use the gasoline pressure washer in an enclosed area.

  • Allow the engine to cool down before storing.

Conclusion

Pressure washing with a garden hose is indeed a great way to aid in cleaning dirty area of your home properly and effectively. Having a good knowledge on the proper use of the pressure washer keeps you from damaging surfaces and risking yourself to injury. Always remember, safety first. Thank you for reading Pressure Washing – Step by Step User Guide

Related Review & Buyer’s Guides:

​Best Chainsaw Chain​​​

​The 7 Best Table Saw under $1000 Reviews

Best Rear Tine Tiller Reviews

​Best Gas Can For Lawn Mower Reviews

Gardening How to, Gardening Tools

How to Get Rid of Ants

Posted on By Willy Green 1 Comment on How to Get Rid of Ants



How to Get Rid of Ants

Just like almost everyone else in the world, at one point or another, we have had to deal with ants. And the first thing I think is what do I have to do to get rid of them asap?  They are one of the hardest working and strongest creatures in the world. They are self-disciplined, systematic and persistent. That is why ants invading your beautiful garden are such a nuisance! Behaving like intelligent brutes, these ants live in colonized societies. They live in nests, under cracks, and pavement, or in this case, they form their nests under trees and plants.

United We Stand . . .The organized behavior of ants is what makes them so hard to conquer. Where there is one ant, there are bound to be a thousand lurking somewhere near inside their nest.

Ants Are Beneficial!

Now don’t get me wrong. Ants can be somewhat beneficial to your garden in two ways:

  • Ants are predators. They can take care of many lurking insects in your garden. They also eat up dead insects such caterpillars. Overall, they’re a huge help in cleaning up the ecosystem.

  • Ants aid in pollination by carrying pollen from one place to another.

But, They Are Also Damaging Your Garden!

The deal with ants is this, there are many different species (over 12,000), some of which can be pretty harmful and hurtful. Take the example of bullet ants; as the name suggests, bullet ants’ bite is quite unbearable in terms of pain. So much, that it has been compared with being hit by a bullet! ouch!

These ants are bigger in size too.

These ants are quite larger in size too. Such ants can come in the way of gardening, picking flowers, plowing for fruits and vegetables and doing daily gardening tasks like watering the plants.

Humid gardens are the perfect habitat for bullet ants.  For people having trouble with this pest, we recommend reading about treatments of bullet ant venom for a detailed solution.

Methods to De-Ant Your Garden

There is no need to kill ants unless they impose a threat to your:

  • Garden

  • Family

  • Home

As already discussed above, harmless ants can be pretty useful. However, when in dire need of getting rid of ants from your garden, we recommend following these approaches;

  • Home Remedies

  • Professional Help

Let’s discuss each one in detail!

Home Remedies

So basically, anyone’s first call when facing an army of ants would be either to try out dear old grandma’s home remedies or seek help from the internet. In the very beginning, we recommend you try out the non-toxic methods. Natural methods that won’t harm you, your pets, or your children should always be a first choice. Luckily we have compiled a list of solutions for you precisely so that you can protect yourself from the invasion of ants!

Boiled Water; you’re Ultimate Solution

The most common solution when dealing with these tiny beasts is to locate their hills, nests, and mounds wherever they are in your garden and pour boiling water directly over them. This really is a good method and you know for sure that it’s safe and natural.  The best way to find these mounds can be by following the queue of ants and they will lead you to their secret safe house themselves!

In some cases this solution may need to be repeated for a few days consistently in order to achieve one hundred percent results, but it will work and the price is right!

Pipe Tobacco

Another suitable solution that most gardeners’ find helpful is eliminating ants by the use of Pipe Tobacco. First, you soak tobacco overnight and make a tea with it. Then, just like putting boiled water in these nests and hills, you need to soak the hills with this tea.

This is a sure way of getting rid of ants in the garden if done repeatedly and consistently after locating all the mounds in your garden.

Boric Acid to the Rescue

Now, this is when you trick the ants into eating poison disguised in sweet! Just like Snow White. A bit dramatic isn’t it?

All you need to do is make a paste by mixing together sugar and boric acid. Now place little amounts of this paste near the ants’ mounds. Ants love sugary sweet things! They will not eat some, but also carry it back into their mound for the royal queen. Shortly after eating this paste, the ants will begin to die because of the boric acid in this paste.

Evil, I know but works like a pro!

Vinegar

Pouring white vinegar directly into the nest of ants can kill them instantly. It’s not harmful for your garden either and delivers instant results. 1 liter of white vinegar is enough for one hill.

Plants vs. Insects

If it is difficult for you to locate the ants’ hill, you can still target them individually by placing plants that are natural repellents of ants such as scented marigolds, catnip’s, tansy, garlic, and peppermint/spearmint.

Ants’ Arch Nemesis

Beneficial nematodes are the ants’ arch nemesis. This makes them one of the amazing solutions to get rid of ants. How do these microscopic creatures work, you ask? They enter the digestive tract of insects like ants, fleas, beetles, and moths, and secrete and excrete bacteria. This proves to be deadly for the insects, making them die in one to two days.

However, for this remedy to work, the temperature of your garden must be around 45 ℉. The temperature of the soil must also be regulated to lie between 40 to 90 ℉. So this method can be perfect for indoor gardens or nurseries where the temperature can be regulated.

Diatomaceous Earth

By sprinkling diatomaceous soil on a dry surface (the wetter it is, the more difficult it is to work) around the ant’s path or ants’ nest can work wonders. It is not harmful to vegetables and plants. It works by drying out and killing the insects by absorbing the fats from the exoskeleton of the ants or any other insects.

Professional Help

When home remedies don’t work, you can try out different toxic methods or seek professional help.

Ants Killing Sprays, Gels, and Poison

Ant killing sprays, gels, and poison are easily available at different nurseries or home stores. The gel works exactly like the mixture of boric acid and sugar where the ants are attracted to the sweetness of gel.

Some poisons come in powder form, and some in the form of tablets. Orange guard is another liquid spray that contains orange peel extract to drive away the ants.

Caution must be observed to keep away children and pets from an area where you’ve exercised the poison. Sometimes ants can develop resistance towards these killings sprays or poison.

Pest Exterminators

If you have exhausted all your possibilities but ants seem to face off all your methods, you can contact professional exterminators to take care of this ants’ invasion at your home.

We hope you will find these tips and strategies useful in your war against these pests of nature! Remember to take necessary precautions and avoid going overboard with the toxic methods. Persistence is the key.

Related Review & Buyer’s Guides:

​​​

 

Garden Pests, Gardening How to, Plant Problems
Verified by MonsterInsights

Privacy Policy