Landscaping Garden Design With Succulents

If you live in a dry, hot climate, or if you live in a very sunny, but moderate climate, finding the top five plants to use in desert landscaping might be one of your best options. You might not be able to grow temperamental hybrid tea roses where you live, but there are many succulents, cacti and ornamental grasses that will allow you to create a stunning environment no matter how restrictive the growing conditions may be.

 

Watering restrictions and high maintenance costs are driving the trend towards low-water, low-maintenance gardens. In fact, many people are either doing away with lawns and flowerbeds or keeping these water guzzlers to a minimum. Succulents are a great choice for drought-resistant gardens because they can withstand infrequent watering and extended dry spells. There’s also no shortage of design possibilities since these plants come in all sorts of interesting forms, colors, and textures.

 

Sample Succulent Garden Plan

Succulents can be incorporated into any sunny garden as long as it is kept on the dry side, but designing the landscape around a desert theme brings out the best in these plants and provides a long lasting, plant-it-and-forget-it garden. Consider this sample succulent garden plan, which you can easily adapt to fit your available space.

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Before Installing Your Succulent Landscape

Before you begin creating your garden, there are a few things to consider.

Soil

Most succulents will do well in the same soil that other garden plants grow in as long as it drains well. Soil depth depends a lot on the size of the succulents you intend to plant, but a depth of 12 to 18 inches should be sufficient since these plants tend to have shallow root systems.

If your soil is compacted or full of clay, it is imperative to add plenty of organic material such as compost. If you aren’t sure how well your soil drains, you can check by digging a one-foot deep hole and filling it with water. If the water drains in thirty minutes or less, your soil is porous enough for growing succulents. If it’s not, you will need to add organic material and check for drainage using the same method in another spot.

 

Read more: https://www.landscapingnetwork.com/plants/succulents.html

Compost Tools for Added Help

Getting your hands on the appropriate compost tools in order to manage your own organic material can reduce the waste that we send out to the landfills and give your landscaping and gardens the benefit of organic compost. Listed below are some tools that you’ll need to start your own compost.

1. Compost needs to be turned and transferred from point A to point B. You may use manure fork for these particular tasks. Contrary to a hay fork, a manure fork has 4 to 5 tines arranged just like a shovel blade. They are narrow in contrast to a garden fork and are intended to get a good forkful of material which is a mix of hay and manure. Thus they do a superb job on a mix of partially composted and fully composted organic matter. Search for one in which the tines are close enough together so that the material will not quickly fall through yet wide enough to allow good penetration without blocking.

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2. A rake is great for leveling the soil after it has been turned. It also cleans the ground surface from any tough clods of earth or larger stones that can block the planting. Be sure you obtain a bow rake. The bow rake has short tines on one side mounted on a metal frame-the so-called “bow”. The flat side of the bow rake can be used in smoothing the soil before plants are sown.

3. To get those last crumbling bits of matter at the bottom of the pile and for spreading the finished compost around a stand of plants, a fantastic shovel is hard to beat. You will not want a digging spade here nor the normal narrow bladed garden shovel, but instead a wide bladed, fairly light but sturdy tool. Quickly you can develop the peculiar flick of the wrist that allows you to deposit a shovel full of compost between a few plants without disturbing either.

4. To enjoy a well prepared and separated compost, a garden sieve is absolutely appropriate. Many are made to fit the garden cart so the material could be sifted and separated, ready to move to the plot for use. A two inch mesh permits good sizing with easy fall through. When using the sieve it is easy to get the very best results with throwing unrotten material and living perennial roots to the gathering bin, partially rotted material to the working bin, and undesirable matter like bottle tops or plastic into a garbage bucket. Black gold goes into the cart.

These are simply some compost tools that will aid to achieve an effective compost pile. Enrich the earth and start composting today! Buy what you need to get going and also read more articles and tips on composting.

 

Aster Yellows

In gardens, there are certain problems that are beyond our control when it comes to plant diseases. Plant diseases can be bacterial, fungal or viral. All can enter your garden through a number of different ways.

 

 

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Aster yellows is a viral-like disease caused by a phytoplasma (formerly called a mycoplasma-like organism). Insects that suck the sap of plants, especially the aster leafhopper, vector the disease. Aster leafhoppers are insects that annually migrate northward from their winter home in areas along the Gulf of Mexico. Aster yellows is a disease that affects over 300 species of plants, including ornamentals such as aster, coneflower, zinnia, marigold, chrysanthemum, petunia, and snapdragon. Edibles affected include lettuce, carrot, tomato, and celery. Grasses and grains also are hosts. Weeds that may harbor the disease include plantain, dandelion, and other broad-leafed weeds.

Aster yellows is primarily transmitted by leafhoppers. When a leafhopper feeds on a plant infected with aster yellows it becomes “infected” with the phytoplasma and remains infected throughout its life. The phytoplasma cells multiply and cause infection of the insect’s salivary glands within one to three weeks. When the infected insects feed on healthy plants, they inject the phytoplasma cells into the plant phloem. Susceptible plants will be symptomatic in 10 to 40 days.

The spread of aster yellows is worse in cool, wet summers. Hot dry weather is not favorable for either the phytoplasma or the leafhopper. As with many disease and pest problems, diagnosis is perhaps the most important factor in controlling aster yellows.

A somewhat similar appearing problem on coneflowers is caused by an eriophyid mite. Experts are still sorting this problem out but the lower pictures on this page may be caused by this yet unnamed eriophyid mite. At present the common name used for this disorder is coneflower rosette mite. It may be a controllable problem through sanitation practices (disposal of all affected flowers as they appear and all foliage in the fall) unlike aster yellows for which there is no cure other than to destroy infected plants.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

Chlorosis, yellowing of the leaves while the veins remain green, is a major symptom of aster yellows. Growth slows down and leaves may be smaller and more narrow than usual. Foliage is sometimes curled. Flowers may be deformed and exhibit bizarre tufts of deformed leaves inside the flower or in place of the flower. Flowers may not produce seeds. The symptoms of the disease will often differ depending upon what species is infected. For instance, carrot roots may be bitter and hairy while lettuce may show pink or tan spots and have twisted inner leaves.

Integrated Pest Management Strategies

1. Remove diseased plants. Once a plant is infected with aster yellows, it is a lost cause since the disease is incurable. Early diagnosis and prompt removal of infected plants may help reduce the spread of the disease. Although the disease itself is not fatal to the plant, its presence makes it impossible for a plant to fulfill its intended role in the garden.

2. Plant less susceptible plant species. Controlling aster yellows is difficult. As long as infected leafhoppers are around, they can infect plants. A practical way to avoid having problems with this disease is to grow plants …

 

Read more: http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/pests-and-problems/diseases/viruses/aster-yellows.aspx

 

 

10 Great Gardening Websites You Must Read

Gardening is a fun task that you can do during your idle time. Not only will it give you beautiful results after your hard work but give you a solitary space where you can unwind when you need to.

 

The Internet is chock-full of websites about gardening that you can turn to if you’re looking for garden inspiration or a solution to a problem you’re having with your plants.

Unfortunately, the search engine results can be gamed and the best gardening websites aren’t always at the top of search results. Here are 10 great gardening websites, in no particular order, that you can turn to when looking for knowledgeable gardening information.

1. Kitchen Gardeners International

An online community for people who love food that’s seeking to empower them to practice self-reliance through the advancement of kitchen gardens, and sustainable food systems. Kitchen Gardeners International features forums, recipes, blogs and the ability for people to gather on a local level–either online or in person–for the exchange of information, networking, goods, tools, and coordinate events.

2 Chiot’s Run

Chiot’s Run, named after the family’s dog, is a garden journal of a small organic garden in north eastern Ohio. Big, beautiful pictures about everything the gardener grows, from succulents to vegetables and herbs.

3. Royal Horticultural Society

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity whose purpose is to promote horticulture and gardening. While aimed at gardeners in the UK the site offers blogs and forums, articles, and an amazing database of plants that any gardener can take advantage of.

4. You Grow Girl

Before garden blogs were even a thing author Gayla Trail blogged about her gardening pursuits. You Grow Girl recently downsized and removed the forums, but the blog the forums were built around is as strong as ever. You’ll find unusual plants, recipes, beautiful pictures, and gardening tips.

 

See more: http://www.treehugger.com/lawn-garden/10-great-gardening-websites.html

Backyard Greenhouse Gardening

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The principles of purchasing greenhouse plans you bear in mind, never put aside, is the Golden rules that apply. Like stars to guide us, they sparkle splendidly, keeping us on course and always going into a good direction. Once you determine your objectives, begin searching for the Golden Rules that connect with it. Monitor your course by these Golden Rules and allow them to teach you to good results and success.

Rule # 1, Determine your goal in regards to what your greenhouse is for. After that, you can decide on a type of greenhouse to purchase. You’ll be able to make your own greenhouse from scratch, though it might take you a lot of time and frustration. It usually is much easier to buy a greenhouse kit, which can be readily available for purchase online and through catalogs. A kit could make the method easier, and in certain cases, less expensive.

Rule # 2, Your selection of covering material must be considered because it relates to economic investment and appropriateness. It’s also crucial that you consider how much it’ll cost you to irrigate the greenhouse. How far the structure is from the home will dictate this since the further away it is the more involved it will be to setup the proper watering system.

Rule # 3, Find out the accessories you need in your greenhouse. Most greenhouses being used outdoors will need some type of shade cloth that could be added in the hottest summer season. Cooling fans are another option for cooling a larger greenhouse. Sometimes a fan system will come with a greenhouse kit, or may be added on later when necessary. Auto-venting systems are also available in some greenhouse units.

Rule # 4, In some cases, the area of the country you live in will have its own set of regulations and guidelines in relation to building a structure like this. Provide your plan for them to help and advice you on your project. You may need to acquire permits and show conformity with building guidelines, particularly if your greenhouse is to be categorized as a permanent structure.

Rule # 5, Its also wise to search for kits that come with some type of warranty that will cover the expense of damage to your greenhouse kit not less than up to one year. Some firms provide a warranty for about twenty years. You must get a warranty which includes any damage, breakage, and/or defects. This will put you at ease if you know that you’ll have somebody to call on to when something happens.

Prior to starting purchasing, make sure to do some online research, particularly for price and feature comparison reasons. Go through the tips above to find the best greenhouse for your home.

Home Garden: Water Conservation Tips

Regardless of whether we reside in a place with prosperous water or not, it’s always vital to conserve water. Water is undoubtedly a fundamental commodity and we could not live without it. When talking about water conservation, our gardens won’t be exempted to it. One of the greatest water wasters in every home is the garden. Thus in order to make watering a little bit more environment friendly, here are a few habits that you could try in your garden.

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A.    Using Mulch

Mulching is simply a mean in which a thicker layer of material is placed on top of the soil of beds and borders. Mulch prevents water-consuming weeds from growing, prevents water evaporation and in addition adds essential nutrients to the soil. Needless to say, mulches can be one of the best water conservation approaches for your garden. Mulch are usually made up of homemade compost, bark chips, manure or even stone aggregates.

B.    The Best Time to Water

It is essential that you water at the right time of day to take advantage of the use of the water for the garden. Most commonly it is wise to water your garden around sunset or about sunrise. This way it’s not necessary to be worried about water evaporation which makes watering less efficient for your garden.

C.    Drip Irrigation

Drip irrigation systems once designed and installed appropriately into your yard is the best irrigation treatment for conserve water. This technique consists of slowly dripping water straight on the plant’s root zone. It genuinely just thin tubes arranged together intended to transfer single droplets of water right to the roots of the plant that requires watering. This technique is reasonably priced and does not require a professional to have it fixed (however a professional could be a big helping hand).

D.    Using Hose Timer

A home timer is an economical strategy to manage your water utilization. Install the timer between the spigot and the hose. A few timers enable cyclical watering, such as 5 minutes on and 5 minutes off, that enables the water to go into the soil to create a healthier lawn with less water.

E.    Efficient Equipment

The same as in any equipment in your house, you will have to keep track of your water consumption. Chances are you’ll suddenly notice an increase in your usage without major changes in your activities or garden. This may be a sign of leaks. See whether your hose, sprinklers heads and any other watering systems are still in good condition.

Conserving water is just a preparation for our future needs. Without having water, there will be no life. For that reason, as early as possible we need to think more of the Mother Nature than everything else.