Isn’t it amazing that all that waste food that we can’t or don’t want in the kitchen is such a good food source for the plants in our garden.? What makes it better is the fact that we can grow vegetables in our gardens, cook and eat them, and whatever we don’t use goes back into the garden to make the next lot of vegetables grow better and healthier than ever.

Compost not only helps to feed your plants by improving the quality of the soil but it can also control diseases in the garden.

You can create compost simply by throwing all your waste on a pile and waiting for it to rot, however this can take quite a long time if the compost pile is quite large.? The rotting process is aided by keeping the heap moist and this might require watering in hot climates.

Having the compost in an enclosed container can help to retain the heat, which will speed up the process.

It is possible to buy specific containers that are made for fast composting and apart from the fact that they will keep your yard looking a lot tidier, you will get the benefits of using the compost sooner and there will be less ‘bad smells’ in your garden.

Contained composts are also a lot better at keeping vermin out which can become quite a problem with uncovered waste on your property.? Some of the premium compost containers can be rotated, thereby giving you access to the compost at the bottom of the container, which is ready for use without having to dig through the fresh waste at the top.

This convenience will ensure you have quality compost that you can use as soon as it is ready rather than waiting months for the contents to rot.

Tagged with: compost • compost container • Composter

Filed under: Gardener • Organic Gardening

In many climates growing plants in the winter months can become quite frustrating, and if you are finding that you are in that situation then it might be time to consider getting a greenhouse.

Greenhouses are available in many different sizes and there are some very compact versions that will suit most budgets.? Having one of these greenhouses tucked away in a sunny corner of your garden will be a godsend when the weather dictates that you would normally have to stay inside rather than venture out into your garden.

With the added benefit of being able to control damage that might have been caused by birds, insects and the weather, greenhouses can also save you a lot of money in the long term.? They are excellent for growing seedlings and also for extending the season that you will be able to grow particular plants by controlling the climate.

You should always set your greenhouse in a position that gets the maximum amount of sunlight throughout the day while allowing easy access to water and electricity.

If you have a particularly windy property make sure that the door to the greenhouse is facing away from the prevailing wind.? When deciding on the size of greenhouse that you need always try to get the biggest one possible as once you see the benefits of having a greenhouse you might find that you will be wanting more and more room.? That way you will be able to spread out your plants giving them more room to breathe and reducing the risk of disease.

Most good greenhouses come with in-built ventilation systems, which are essential to reduce the temperature when it begins to rise.? If you decide to build your own greenhouse, ventilation is one of the most important factors that you need to consider.

Filed under: Greenhouses

There are many different types of pests that can ruin your good work in the garden.? The most common are insects and they can destroy a garden in a very short time if left to their own devices.? Even the neighbor’s cat can be a pest if it is always using your garden as a toilet.

Birds can be another reason for concern if they are eating your plants and can become quite smelly if they are nesting in trees or hedges in abundance.? Pests will use your garden primarily for food and shelter.? To reduce the amount of pests in your garden you need to create an environment that isn’t as inviting.

By clearing leaves and waste from the base of your plants you will reduce the amount of shelter.
This will allow you to work the soil better and eliminate the incidence of in-ground insects that can suck the nutrients out of the soil.

You can stop cats, rats and mice from digging in the soil by using effective ground cover in the form of mesh where it becomes too difficult for them to get through to the soil.

By keeping your compost in the correct composting containers there won’t be any decaying matter lying around the yard that will attract rats and mice.? Having a tidy garden and yard will not encourage them to make their home on your property.? Traps might be needed as a final deterrent for rats and mice.

Spraying your plants with suitable insecticides will also reduce the unwanted insect population.? There are some good natural applications on the market that will do the job of the commercial insecticides or you can make your own effective natural insecticide.? If you prune back trees and hedges you might make them less appealing to birds and this might help to reduce the population in your garden.

Keep in mind that some insects do a good job of maintaining a balance in the garden by eating other insects and birds will also eat insects that could be causing damage to your plants.

Filed under: Gardener

When you are buying or receiving plants from someone there are a few things that you need to look at before deciding to plant them in your garden.??Generally, you will?get a better quality plant from a garden center and it will be less likely to have disease or other problems that could spread to other plants in your garden.

There is still the possibility that the garden center plant might not be the healthy specimen that you might expect so you should still check it out before parting with your money.

The first thing you need to do is look at the plant and see whether it looks healthy.? This might seem very obvious but we often assume that buying from a garden center will assure us of a healthy plant when in actual fact even garden centers can have problem plants and you don’t want to be the new owner of their problems.

Plants are very good at showing any signs of distress so a plant that doesn’t look healthy, generally isn’t.? Check the conditions of the leaves, stems and roots of the plant where possible.? You should also look at the condition of the soil that it has been growing in, as this will have had an effect on its health.

If you are buying flowering plants it is always best to buy the ones that have yet to flower, as they will withstand the trauma of transport and transplanting better than those that already have flowers.? If there is no alternative but to buy or receive plants that already have flowers then many people suggest that you should remove all the flowers to give the plant a better chance of survival.? While you might be reluctant to do so, you will probably have a better plant that will produce more flowers in the future.

If there is anything on the plant that concerns you seek advice or decide against having that plant in your garden

Filed under: Gardener

The hay-scented fern (Dennstaedtia punctilobula, 2-3 ft.) is found in sunny openings in rocky woods where its light green lacy fronds grow in dense masses. It spreads madly, and even when transplanted produces new fronds from underground runners all season. The fronds taper gradually at the tip. When cut, crushed, or dried, the foliage gives off a wonderful sun-on-the-meadow scent.

Interrupted-fern (Osmunda claytoniana, 4 ft.) is very like the cinnamon fern but the identifying feature is its freedom from tuft at the base of the pinnae. On the sporophyll the orderly march of pinnae up the stem is interrupted by a section of twisted curled dark brown spore cases?a most interesting feature and, of course, the reason for its name. Very hardy, very easy, very beautiful.

The Lady Fern (Athyrium filisfemina, or Asplenium filis-femina, 3 ft.) though delicate to look upon, is tough, and a rank grower. By fall it becomes raggedy and loses its color, but all summer its soft green fronds and feathery look make it a must. The curved fruit dots are one of its identifying features;
also, the pinnae increase in length sharply from the tip of the frond to the base, giving it a triangular look.

Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum pedatum, 1-3 ft.) is a delicate, lovely species that grows in rich moist leafy soil. It will be content in a rocky, well-drained location, especially on a steep bank. In the spring the fronds uncurl in small wiry button?hook designs of a deep magenta color. These fronds open into a sort of semi-circle pattern. The whole effect of the plant suggests, in color and texture, wild columbine, or meadow rue. This is the fern that dances. The fluttering delicate pinnae are ever in motion, so susceptible are they to every breeze. New fronds constantly emerging from the running rootstock produce fresh green foliage from April to September. This is one of the most beautiful of all ferns in its swirling patterns, its rhythms, and dancing grace.

The marsh fern (Dryopteris thelypteris, 2 ft.) grows under the speckled alders, or perhaps you’ll find some plants in a sunny bog among the cattails, facing their fronds helter skelter in any old direction. This is a rampant grower. Its lower pinnate are very long, and the pinnules of the sporophyll appear pointed because of reflexed edges.

The New York fern (Dryopteris noveboracensis, 1-2 ft.), though related to the marsh fern, is different in that the fronds taper at both ends. New Yorkers are said to burn their candles at both ends, hence its name! The fronds, thin in texture, grow erect and are arranged in parallel ranks facing the light. Stems are smooth and scale-free. What a pleasant odor the fern emits when crushed, and what a fine ground-cover it creates, multiplying and spreading rapidly. Look for the fruit dots on the margins of the pinnules.

The Oak Fern (Dryopteris disjuncto, 1 ft.) is a delicate and beautiful triangular-shaped fern whose very pointed pinnae grow opposite each other on the stem. It thrives in the company of hemlocks and cedars and must have constant dampness and perfect drainage.

The Ostrich Fern (Pteretis nodulosa, or P. struthioteris, 4-7 ft.), a lovely plumy variety, reproduces from its underground runners one new plant every second year. It spreads most rapidly in rich wet woods. In July the short bronze sporophyll, resembling curled fronds, rises up in the center of the plant.

Tagged with: Ferns • Meadow Ferns

Filed under: Gardener