Backyard Garden Gifts

(ARA) - With warm temperatures spreading across the country, many people are beginning to venture out into their yards for the first time since the fall. After months of neglect, your yard is probably in need of some TLC. But don’t be overwhelmed, with a little help from the experts, you can have a lush lawn and garden in no time.

According to Lou Manfredini, Ace’s “Helpful Hardware Man,” there are three projects that every homeowner should do to spruce up your lawn and garden: Prune your shrubs and trees, grow new grass and plant brightly colored flowers. “The best part about these projects,” says Manfredini “is that anyone can do them, and once they are finished they make a big difference."

Pruning

Pruning works by cutting away the excess growth and dead weight that keeps your shrubs and trees from filling out. By trimming this away, more buds will be able to show, allowing you to cultivate a stronger, more vibrant plant.

“One thing to remember is not to over-prune,” says Manfredini. “Too much pruning will shock your plant and could inhibit growth.” To avoid this, hold out your first two fingers; if these were stems on a plant you would never want to cut below your first knuckle.

As with most home improvement projects, it’s very important to have the right tools on hand. Certain pruners, such as rose pruners, are made specifically for roses, while head shears can be used on most heavy-duty pruning projects. Make sure you purchase pruners that are sturdy enough to do the job and feel comfortable and manageable in your hand. If you already have pruners, consider having them sharpened at your local hardware store before you begin working. You’ll notice the difference immediately.

Grow New Grass

After lying dormant for a few months, your grass might need a little coaxing to get it to its pre-winter state. To prepare your lawn, thatch it by lightly running a rake across the top to pick up any sticks, leaves, debris or dead grass.

Next you will need to purchase grass seed that is indigenous to your area and that will grow with the amount of shade your lawn has. You’ll need to purchase between 2 to 4 pounds of seed for every 1,000 feet you are planting. Spread the seed either by hand or with a mechanical spreader that you can rent at your local hardware store, but be sure to keep it even.

Once your seed is down, it’s a good idea to lay fertilizer and water the entire lawn. In the weeks and months to come, be sure your lawn gets at least 1 or 2 inches of water a week, either naturally or from a sprinkler.

Plant Flowers

Flowers can spruce up any landscape design. Consider adding them around the base of a tree or on either side of your walkway.

“Consider purchasing established plants rather than seeds as they are easier to grow,” explains Manfredini. “And look for bright colored plants like impatiens or black-eyed Susans.”

Before planting, you’ll need to make sure your soil is prepared. Loosen the soil in the area where you plan on planting and add an organic matter like peat moss to help give the plant more nutrients.

Next, dig a small hole, just deep enough to fit the roots of your plant and place the plant inside. Once the plant is in the hole, fill it in with dirt and lightly pack it down. Don’t forget to water and fertilize the plant regularly and you’ll have gorgeous flowers for months to come.

For more lawn and garden tips and advice, visit www.acehardware.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Gardening organic is an ever-increasingly popular trend - and for good reason. Through gardening organic, you help improve your health as well as the health of the environment in general.

Perhaps the greatest benefit is the reduction of chemical exposure. In the process of normal farming, a number of pesticides are sprayed on plants in order to kill bugs that may destroy the crop. These pesticides, however, are not good for humans or for the environment. Eating foods that have been sprayed with these chemicals means you are ingesting these chemicals as well. In addition, the chemicals gets into the air and pollutes it. Similarly, it runs into the water and causes water pollution as well.

The same holds true with artificial fertilizers. While these fertilizers may help yield large crops, they are not healthy for humans to ingest. By gardening organic, you avoid using these unhealthy chemicals and find ways to help the plants grown healthy and strong while remaining bug free.

An area of organic gardening that many people overlook is the lack of hybridization. Genetic engineers have discovered methods for manipulating plants in ways to grow larger crops and to create plants that are more resistant to bad weather, to disease, and to pests. But, in order to accomplish this, they have altered the DNA of plants.

The potential long term effects of this form of hybridization is still unknown. One concern is that humans may have allergies to these altered plants or may otherwise become ill for them. And, if these plants are allowed to cross-pollinate with non-hybridized plants, we may ultimately be left with nothing but genetically altered plants - with no way of returning to the ones that nature provided. For this reason, many countries do not allow genetically altered plants to be shipped to their land.

Gardening organic is the only way to be sure you are growing fruits and vegetables in the way nature intended them to be grown. As such, your body is better able to digest the foods and you are less likely to become ill from the foods you consume. In addition, you can ensure you receive the full nutritional benefits from the foods.

By adding chemicals to crops, some of the nutrients are destroyed. Furthermore, the soil is depleted of nutrients for future crops, which further reduces the nutritional value of the crops that are to be grown. Therefore, by choosing organic gardening, you receive the fullest nutritional benefit from the foods you grow and consume.

While it's a lot a more time consuming method of farming, the results are far superior to other forms of gardening when it comes to your health. Therefore, it is in your best interest to choose organic if growing your own crops and to support the farmers who choose this method by purchasing foods from the supermarket that have been organically grown.

(NewsUSA) - No matter what the season, you can spice up your cooking with fresh herbs from your very own garden. Container gardening is easy, whether you're a novice gardener or a seasoned pro, and it's a fun way to add flavor to your dishes.

Thanks to their ease of planting, portability and low maintenance, container gardens are one of the fastest-growing trends in gardening. With a little help starting out, you can bring a little life into your kitchen in no time.

Here are five easy steps to fresh, healthy herbs:

1. Select the right container. The type and size of your container are important. The container options are endless, so feel free to be creative. Depending on how many plants you want to grow, it will need to be large enough so that root growth is not restricted. Just remember that adequate drainage is your key to success.

2. Start with seeds or existing plants. There are a few options to get your container garden started, and it's simpler than you may think to get your plants growing. You can either plant from seed or cut a portion of your outdoor plants. Seeds generally germinate within a week, and many outdoor plants will rebound quickly by simply removing two-thirds of their top growth.

3. Choose a good growing medium. Whether you choose to use a commercially prepared artificial mix or a potting soil mixture, it's important that the content is nutrient-rich. Growing plants require nutrients to reach their peak, and the correct balance may not be found in your local soil.

4. Give it adequate sunlight. Your container garden needs at least five hours of direct sunlight. If window lighting is not an option, fluorescent lighting can also work well.

5. Feed and water regularly to keep plants healthy and happy. Container plants can often run out of food quickly since their roots can't expand to find nutrients. At planting time, mix controlled-release fertilizer granules into the soil mixture, or apply a diluted liquid fertilizer with every other watering. But remember that nutrient needs vary with plants, so check each herb's requirement. And don't forget about water; if the soil feels dry, it's time to water.

By: Scott Fromherz

Most homeowners would love to gaze out at a beautifully landscaped lawn and yard. It is not as hard to achieve an attractive outdoor living area as you might think. With the proper maintenance and lawn care, your landscape can provide a lovely backdrop to your home.

Since your lawn will be one of the biggest focal points of your landscape, proper lawn care will keep that large area lush and green. If your lawn looks good, it won't be as difficult to make the rest of your yard look good as well. Proper lawn care to enhance your landscape is not that difficult, as long as you understand a few basic principles about how to keep your lawn healthy.

A Healthy Lawn Is A Happy Lawn

The first step in caring for your lawn and landscape is ensuring that you have a healthy soil for planting. All plants require certain nutrients in the soil they grow in, along with particular soil conditions. For example, some plants like a sandy soil, where others prefer dirt that is rich in nutrients and holds water well. Soil requirements for lawn can vary based on the type of grass you plant as well.

It is best to check with a local nursery or garden center to learn what your lawn specifically requires. You can also pick up a soil test to make sure that your ground is providing the best balance for your lawn. The healthier your soil, the lower maintenance your lawn and landscaping care will be.

Next, you want to provide irrigation for your lawn. Water is a vital element, and few climates will provide sufficient water without supplemental irrigation. Most lawns require about an inch of rain per week. If you are in doubt as to whether Mother Nature is providing enough rain, you can use a rain gauge, and water your grass when necessary.

If you do turn to irrigation, always try to water in the early morning hours, since this is the healthiest time of day for your lawn to take a drink. Keep in mind that healthy roots will require less water, so aeration is an important step in caring for your lawn and landscape. Aeration pokes holes into the ground to allow nutrients access to the roots of your plantings. It should be done every two or three years.

Lawn care is a key factor in a beautiful landscape. A lush, green lawn can be the focal point of your yard and offer space for playing and entertaining. With a little effort, you can keep your lawn healthy for a long, long time.

By: Stephanie Foster

Planting a vegetable garden is a real delight. You get fresh produce, fresh air and light exercise. And it doesn't require a huge back yard to do successfully. Even a small yard or deck is sufficient.

The first thing you need to do is figure out how much space you have for a vegetable garden. This will in part determine what you can grow. Some plants take more room or need more sunlight.

With your space considerations in mind you can start looking at the plants you want to grow. If you're focusing on containers, tomatoes are a popular choice. Some people even hang them in a planter with a hole in the bottom, with the tomato plant hanging upside down out from the hole.

If you are planting your garden in the ground, you will want to be prepared to battle weeds. Start out by clearing all the weeds out before you start your garden. Get as many of the roots out as possible.

On the other hand, if you are starting from containers your main concern will be choosing appropriately sized containers. Your garden center professionals should be able to help you choose these as well as the appropriate potting soils.

Depending on how early or late you start, you may have the option of starting from seeds or heading over to the garden center to pick out young plants for your garden. Picking already started plants is much easier in many ways, and some centers guarantee the plants, so if they die you can get a refund or replacement.

Some of the work you will do for your garden will depend on your situation and what you want to do. If you want to go organic, starting your own compost pile is a good idea, provided you have the room. If you want minimal effort, you won't want plants that need special attention. All plants need water, of course.

You will have to keep special watch on your plants when the hottest days of summer strike. A few hot days can cause your entire garden to wilt if you aren't paying enough attention to soil moisture levels.

One of the best things you can do is to get your family involved. Even very young children can quickly learn how to harvest some vegetables, or help to set up the hose for watering.

There are few pleasures like fresh vegetables from your own garden. Veggies from the grocery store simply cannot compare. There's also the simple pleasure of making plants grow. It's an activity you can enjoy alone or with your entire family.

By: Douglas Taylor

When starting a garden you have two choices when it comes to the garden plants and flowers you grow, you can raise them from seed or you can purchase your vegetables. Your gardening success will depend on the quality of these small starter plants. Knowing the difference between good plants and bad plants will go a long ways toward you having a bountiful harvest in the fall.

You need to choose the place you buy your garden plants and flowers carefully. Looks are important and healthy plants will usually appear green and strong. They need to be a good size, not too big and not too small. This article will look at a few essential things you need to know to pick out strong vigorous plants for your garden.

The place you decide to purchase your plants has everything to do with their success rate. It is your money you are spending so pick carefully the place you decide to buy your plants. You can go to a home improvement superstore or local hardware store to purchase your vegetables. Many people like to get in the car and drive outside the city a little ways and find a farmer or roadside stand that sells starter vegetables. It may be wise to watch how the employees take care of things. You can often learn a lot by standing back and simply watching what is going on. Wherever you decide to buy from make sure they look good.

For a garden that will thrive all summer long you need to pick out strong, healthy plants. Take a look at their overall appearance. Does the plant look healthy? Does the color appear to be normal? You want to pick something out that will survive. Make sure it is a healthy green before you load it into the car. Make sure your find is the right size to take home with you.

You want your future harvest to be just the right size. If it is too small it may take a long time to catch up and delay your harvest. Plants that are huge may have been hanging around the nursery too long. I like to pick out a nice medium size. This size plant seems to give a very good success rate. Look for any abnormalities or defects that may affect the way your plant will grow.

When you purchase your garden plants and flowers somewhere you need to remember their care up to that point has been in another persons hands. They may not have the love for green things that you have. A rough start can often be overcome with a little tender loving care. Treat your garden well and it will reward you many times over all year long.

By: Andrew Bicknell

Learning the art of perennial gardening is much like learning to do anything else. A certain amount of knowledge and skill is required to create a perennial garden but only by doing research into the types of perennial plants and actually making the attempt will this skill and knowledge grow blossom into that flower garden you always dreamed of. Learning the ins and outs of perennial gardening will take time but once you have the basics down your imagination is your only limit to creating a beautiful garden that blooms every year with a minimum amount of work.

The first thing to do before you even begin to dig in the dirt is do some research on perennial plants and gardening practices. Go to your local library or gardening center to find books related to this subject. You can also find a wealth of information on the internet about this type of gardening. When it comes time to start selecting the plants for your garden the idea is to take the vision that you have in you head and transfer that to an actual living garden. By doing your research up front and selecting the flowers and plants that fit your vision you will see that vision come to life much quicker and easier. As such it is important that you make a list of those plants that you find most desirable during your research. This will help you not only arrange your perennial garden in a design that is most pleasing to you but it will also make it easy to find and purchase them at your local garden store.

Once you have done your research and have your design and the plants to go with it picked out it's time to start moving some dirt. First make sure you have the proper tools to do the job. A shovel, rake, hoe, and a set of sharp garden shears will do the job. Lay out your garden using either a garden hose or you can outline the area using spray paint. Be sure to remove any and all weeds in your planting area. This will allow your new perennials to grow and thrive without competing against weeds which will overtake any newly planted area. You will also want to have a water supply close at hand to thoroughly water in your new plants.

When choosing your perennials you can purchase them in three main forms. As seeds, bulbs, or already started in pots. If you are patient and want to save some money then seeds or bulbs are the way to go. It will take longer to see the outcome of your work but it will be well worth it. If you are more of the instant gratification type then potted plants will let you see results much quicker, but at a slightly higher price. One of the nice things about potted plants is you can set them out and see how your design will look before planting, giving you the option of changing things before committing your plant to the soil.

When you begin planting your new plants be sure to follow the recommended guidelines for proper plant spacing and depth of hole. If you overcrowd your perennials chances are they will not grow to their full brilliance and will make your garden look overgrown. Once they are planted give them a good watering and before long you will have a beautiful garden of perennial plants and flowers.

By: Leilani Rolphe

One of the most popular hobbies around the world is gardening. Working in a garden can fill one with a great sense of pride and accomplishment. Digging into the warm moist earth is a pleasure unlike any other. And, seeing the beautiful results of your labor will inspire you to spend more time in your garden, both working in it, and enjoying it. Gardeners often describe a sense of fulfillment and peace that they experience as a result of working in their gardens.

In any situation, the proper tools can make the work more pleasant. Experienced gardeners have their favorite tools. Some remain faithful to traditional tools, while some opt for more modern power tools. Whatever your preference, it is challenging to garden with no tools at all. When choosing gardening tools, it is important to consider the size of your garden, the type of tools you will most enjoy working with, as well as your physical ability. Traditional tools require a little more elbow grease. The cost of the tools, as well as the time you have to devote to your hobby, as also important considerations in your decision making process.

In early spring, when it is time to prepare your garden for planting, there is a lot to be done. The soil must be turned, fertilizer should be added, and the area should be well watered. Having proper tools will make for easy work in the spring. Tillers are a popular tool for this time of year. The availability of a variety of cultivating tools should allow you to choose the tool just right for you.

Many gardeners prefer to use hand tools, so that they can really feel the soil and feel more a part of the garden. Hand tools are very useful. They include items such as rakes, spades, pitchforks, shovels, and trowels. You may find many of these already at home in your garage. You may also find yourself happy to have a wheel cultivator, a mattock, and a pickax.

There are also many useful power tools for use in the garden. They can be more expensive than traditional tools, however, they make gardening a breeze, reducing physical labor. A tiller goes a long way towards preparing a larger garden for planting. It will mix compost and fertilizer into the soil, help to break up the earth, and cut up leaves and plants left from last year's crop. If you're not interested in purchasing your own tiller, you can probably rent one from your local tool rental shop. Sharing tools with a neighbor can make gardening a more social experience. Ask someone with a nice garden in your neighborhood if he or she has the tools that you need. You may also find use in a shredder, chipper, or chainsaw.

Pruning tools are handy to have if you have hedges, shrubs, and small trees on your property. Pruning shears are fine to use for branches about 3/4 inches in diameter, while lopping shears can handle branches from a half inch up to about 2 inches. Taller trees and shrubs require pole pruners, which allow the gardener to extend their reach to branches as high as 15 feet from the ground. Heavy-duty hedge shears and pruning saws are also handy gardening tools to have on hand.

Your garden will not survive without water. When nature doesn't take of your garden's water needs, it is a good idea to have watering equipment on hand. A garden hose with a good quality spray nozzle, or a sprinkler is very useful for those with a bigger garden or a grassy lawn. A basic watering can will be enough for a container garden made up of pots and planters. More advanced gardens may have irrigation systems with timers. These provide more accurate watering. Some gardeners may choose to use drip hoses for more even watering.

Getting down and dirty with nature and creating a lush, healthy garden is a dream come true for many homeowners, but trying to create or tend that garden can be a nightmare without the proper tools. You don't have to invest a lot of money; purchasing the basics including a shovel, trowel, pitchfork, and leaf rake is often all you need. And be sure to pick up a good pair of gardening gloves, or you'll quickly have calluses on your hands along with that dirt under your nails.

By: Dionne Voughar

Do you recall childhood summer days spent running in the yard, with bare feet, feeling the earth in your toes, and the wind in your hair? Why not regain that feeling now that you are grown up? You can get reacquainted with the outdoors if you take the leap and get into gardening.

If you are just starting to get into gardening, it's best to start small. A tidy plant bed of 25 to 30 square feet is best, with room for about 30 plants. This will give you a chance to exercise your green thumb without facing a huge project that leaves you feeling overwhelmed. If, after your first season, you realize that you really love gardening, you can always increase your garden size and your plantings next year.

Choosing a good planting site is crucial. Where you live will be the biggest determining factor, but preferably you can plant in a spot that gets at least six hours of good light each day. Roots of large trees should be avoided, as they can steal your plants' nutrients and water. And try to keep your garden three feet or more away from any buildings or fences.

If you live in a hot climate, choose an area that will get some shade from the sun in the hot afternoon. You can grow a healthy garden with less or more direct sunlight, but depending on the amount you receive, you will have to tailor your plant selection to suit. Choose a place with good soil if you can, though soil quality can always be improved later. Avoid rocky soil, or areas with poor drainage or steep slopes.

After you've chosen the location, it's time for the real fun to begin: when you can dig in and really get into gardening. This is not a clean hobby, so prepare to get a little dirt under your nails. First, you're going to need to remove any rocks, debris, weeds and grass from your garden plot, and then use a spade or pitchfork to dig down about one foot deep. Mix in compost or minerals if required, and level the dirt. If your soil is too acidic, add lime; if it's too sandy, add peat moss. When you add in the proper fertilizer, your plants will thrive in either neutral or acidic soil.

The beds are ready and it's time to plant your garden. Deciding whether to start from seeds or plants is really a personal choice, although starting with plants can help you to determine the final growing pattern more clearly. Be sure to choose plants with healthy roots and green leaves and stems. Avoid "leggy" plants that have long stalks, or plants with yellowed leaves.

Take a bit of care in where you plant. For example, place larger plants at the rear, and smaller plants at the front of the bed. Something crucial is planting when the weather is correct. Be sure to plant after the risk of frost has ended, especially for tender plants. Read the seed package if you are using seeds, as they provide information about when to plant and how to properly position the seeds.

To thrive, your plants need regular attention and care from you. Watering is essential for their maintenance. With a small garden, such as on a balcony or a container garden on your patio, watering by hand with a watering can is easy enough. But a larger garden will need a hose to get enough water to the plants each week. Don't water every day, but when you do, make sure the roots are adequately soaked. Don't just sprinkle the surface lightly with a spray nozzle.

When the air is cool in the early morning, that is when you should water. The hot afternoon sun will evaporate much of the water, wasting this precious resource and costing you money. Evening water is to be avoided as well, because water can sit all night on plants, leading to mildew and several possible diseases. Depending how thirsty your particular plants are, and how hot your summer is, you will need to vary your watering schedule. In hot weather, you might need to let the roots drink three times a week.

Finally, use mulch or compost as natural protection and weed control for your garden. Adding just a few inches of organic mulch will keep the roots cool, greatly improve the fertility of your plants, and help the soil to retain moisture. Wood chips, grass clippings, manure, leaves, and pine needles can all be used as mulch.

Now that you are going to get into gardening, no doubt you will wonder what took you so long! You will discover the joy of harvesting your own vegetables and flowers, with the great taste and beauty they bring to your life. And you'll feel like a kid again, with the wind in your face and the soil in your hands.

Welcome to our blog! Each day we will post a gardening article on a subject we hope you will find useful or interesting. If you have a suggestion for an article, let us know. We'll do our best to post an article that contains the information you're interested in.

Check back often and happy gardening!