Magnolia Tree Gardening Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Don’

When you are ready to mix ingredients for your container garden, be sure the soil is damp and workable. To determine this, take a handful, squeeze it and allow it to drop. If water comes out, it is too wet; if it breaks apart, it is too dry. But if the lump of soil retains its shape or cracks just a little when it is dropped, it is in good condition to work into your gardening pots.

Be certain your garden containers are clean when you start. Soak used or new clay gardening pots overnight so they will not draw moisture from the soil after planting. This is a very important step when you are beginning your plants life. If the pot draws off the moisture the new plant will be deprived. Clean dirty clay pots with a stiff brush and hot, soapy water.  Clean gardening pots will be much more attractive in your container garden.

Though redwood, cedar, and cypress gardening pots may be left natural, they may also be stained or painted. First clean the surfaces then apply one or two coats of stain or paint. Let dry completely before planting. Concrete, metal, plastic, fiberglass, and similar materials all need cleaning before planting your container garden.

Suiting plants to garden pots is very important in container garden design. Consider the shape of each container, its color, and texture in relation to the color of flowers and foliage, as well as the ultimate size of each plant in your container garden. Don’t choose material that is too small, and if you want a group of plants for a large container, select one tall specimen for the center to give height and scale.  Don’t forget that you can plant vegetables in container gardens; try to incorporate them into your container garden design.  And, for a tasty addition to your container garden plant herbs in garden containers or even hanging baskets, your recipes will become marvelous.

In low pots or bulb pans and in tubs, use low-growing plants like fancy-leaved caladiums, petunias, verbenas, Iantanas, ageratum and wax begonias. Hyacinths, tulips, and daffodils are also appropriate. In tall containers, plant specimens of geraniums, heliotropes, coleus, balsam, dwarf dahlias, fuchsias, and marguerites. Reserve the larger container pots and boxes for trees and shrubs or roses.

As a gardener, keep in mind the form of plants, particularly the evergreens which stand out boldly in winter. Rounded types, as clipped yews or globe arborvitae, look well in angular containers. Hollies or yews, sheared into squares or pyramids, look better in circular tubs. This contrast of the curving with the straight always gives interest to the garden and those guests that visit your container garden.

The first step in potting for a gardener is to place sufficient drainage material in the bottom of each garden container, allowing the water to pass through freely, but not so much as to interfere with the roots. An inch or two of flower pot pieces (rounded sides up), or chips of brick or flagstone, pebbles, gravel, small stones, or cinders can be used. The larger the container, the larger the pieces should be. Some gardeners spread a piece of coarse burlap and a layer of sand over large drainage pieces. A layer of Vermiculite or sphagnum moss over the drainage material is also fine to keep soil from clogging holes. If the holes clog the roots will drown in their gardening pot.

Above the drainage, spread a layer of soil, the amount depending on the size of the container and the root ball of the plant. Place the plant in position so that the surface of the soil will be an inch (more for big plants) below the rim of the container. This space is needed to hold water.

Fill soil in around the roots, firming gently with your fingers or a piece of wood so as to eliminate air pockets. Add more soil and firm, but do not make the soil too tight for fine feeding roots must be able to penetrate it with ease.

Finally, water your garden container plants well, let them drain. If water passes through the gardening pot very rapidly, press soil again to firm it; that means there are air pockets. If the soil holds water too long, loosen it a little.

Place the container garden in a sheltered spot out of sun and wind for the first week while they make new root growth and adjust to new conditions. This also helps to avoid shock.  Once your plants have settled in, you ready to arrange your container garden according to your original container gardening design.

Happy Container Gardening!

Homeschooling in the Garden
By Nancy Carter

Do you already find yourself dreaming of working in the soil this spring? Of getting your hands dirty and watching for those little green sprouts to magically appear? Why not use your garden planning time as the ultimate homeschool unit study? Don’t think of gardening as something that takes away from your academics time. Think of it as something that can enrich it.

Involve the children in your research. Gardening will provide wonderful hands-on activities that can truly bring learning to life for your children. It’s something that both boys and girls can enjoy. You don’t have to live out in the country to have a garden. You can start with just a small spot in your yard, containers on your porch, or even a small herb garden in your windowsill. When I was a little girl, I had a wonderful grandmotherly type babysitter who kept a garden in her backyard. My mother often commented about how when she’d pick me up at the end of the day Mama Linda would have all of us kids sitting under a shade tree snapping green beans. We thought it was a wonderful treat to “get” to work in her garden.

Create a garden notebook with all of your plans together in one spot. Start by working together to create a list of all the fruits and vegetables that you eat or enjoy. Don’t feel like you have to grow a patch of squash if your family won’t eat it. Spend your time on things that you all will actually use! Keep it simple. Assign different children to be in charge of certain plants. Narrowing their focus will help keep the tasks from seeming too overwhelming, while also helping your child to really research the best way to care for their plants. Children can find helpful growing information on the Internet, in books and magazines, and from experienced gardeners to put in their notebooks. Practical projects often help encourage even the most reluctant readers and writers. It gives learning purpose and brings satisfaction from a job well done. Watching those first little sprouts develop into an ear of corn, a watermelon, or giant sunflower can really make an impact on a child’s life.

Gardening helps mind, body, and spirit. Researching and planning for your garden involves reading, math, and science and encourages higher level thinking skills. You’ll also be able to use your notebook to journal when and where you plant things. Track the temperature and rain, fertilizing, how much you have to water them, and their growth.

Being outdoors in the sunshine is great for the body. Breathing in the fresh air and eating items straight from your garden can go a long way toward a healthier lifestyle for your family. Gardening provides nutritious food and exercise for growing bodies during those impressionable years. Likewise, the peace and quiet of working with your hands in the garden is good for the spirit, and gardening can help bring many Bible truths to life. The parables of the farmer in Matthew 13 truly come to life when children see how important preparing the soil is when they are trying to grow something.

Consider different types of gardens:

• Traditional Garden—Grow plants directly in the soil in your backyard. One big advantage is how economical this type of garden is. It can be as large or small as you want.

• Lasagna Garden—Grow plants without digging by planting in soil covered with a barrier layer (such as newspaper), compost, and mulch. The advantages are that there is no need to dig, it conserves water, there are fewer weeds to pull, it prevents erosion, and it improves the soil.

• Container Garden—Grow plants in containers rather than planting directly into the ground. Advantages are that there is no digging in your yard, your garden is portable and decorative, and it is susceptible to fewer weeds and soilborne diseases.

• Raised Bed/Square Foot Garden—Grow plants in raised beds enriched with compost about one foot deep and 3-4 feet wide. Advantages with this type of garden include that the close planting creates a microclimate that conserves moisture and reduces weeds; it is easier to maintain; the soil is not compacted by walking on it; and higher yields are obtained.

A subject within gardening that’s interesting to study with your children is companion planting. Companion planting is the method of planting certain pairs or groups of crops in closer proximity because they benefit each other. Native Americans planted the “Three Sisters” together—corn, pole beans, and squash—so that they could benefit from each other. The corn provides a structure for the beans to climb, eliminating the need for poles. The beans provide the nitrogen to the soil that the other plants need, and the squash spreads along the ground, monopolizing the sunlight and thereby preventing weeds. The squash leaves act as a “living mulch,” creating a microclimate that retains moisture in the soil. The squash also deters pests with its prickly vines. Companion plants can benefit each other by repelling pests, encouraging beneficial insects, providing shelter or structure for each other, improving flavor, and enriching the soil. Carrots Love Tomatoes, by Louise Riotte, is a wonderful handbook for learning more about this method.

Also do some research on succession planting. Succession planting helps maximize your garden season’s potential. You can either plant different varieties of the same crop so they’ll mature at different rates, stagger when you plant crops so that they’ll mature at different times, or plant one crop and then another in the same space. Succession planting is a great way to increase your harvest by maximizing your use of space and timing. Often you can start off with a cool season crop like lettuce, follow it up with tomatoes that thrive in the heat, and then finish off the season with a third crop that grows well into the fall, such as spinach.

Now is the time to start planning, though. Select your plants. Draw out a design of your garden. Gather the materials you’ll need. If you’re planning on a container garden, keep your eye out for containers that you can use. If you’re going to do a lasagna garden, start saving your newspapers and cardboard boxes. If you want to use compost in your garden, start your own worm bin or compost pile to discard your kitchen waste and improve your soil quality. Start building raised beds or gathering materials so you can start seeds indoors. You can also incorporate history into your studies in the garden. Study the Victory Gardens of World War II and discover how Americans grew 40 percent of their vegetables, allowing the War Department to purchase the mass-produced vegetables for the troops overseas. During that time, emphasis was placed on making gardening a family or community effort—not a drudgery but a pastime and a national duty. We can learn a lot from history. As Cicero once said, “If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.” Do a little gardening with your kids this year. No green thumb is required, just a love of learning and a willingness to get your hands dirty!

Copyright 2008. Originally appeared in The
Old Schoolhouse Magazine, Winter 07/8.

Used with permission. Visit them at
www.TheHomeschoolMagazine.com.
For all your homeschool curriculum needs visit the Schoolhouse Store.

Before planting new tree assess both your needs and the existing conditions of your site. Trees, like all garden plants, have specific light and soil requirements which can influence its health. Trees also have specific space requirements. Some trees spread wide and need a lot of space, such as the beech, while others, such as the birch, grow tall and narrow. Unlike other garden plants, however, trees tend to be permanent features in the landscape so proper placement is critical.

Assess your garden’s needs. Does your garden need shade or color? How much space do you have? Trees need a lot of room as they mature. Trees that are 10′ at the nursery can easily reach 20′ in a matter of years and may reach 50′ or more at maturity. Improperly sited trees and shrubs are a common mistake among gardeners. Trees planted to close to a house or garden path may require frequent pruning, resulting in awkwardly shaped trees. In many instances, transplanting becomes necessary resulting in more work than originally planned.

If you want to create a shady spot in the garden, figure out how much shade you want. Trees such as the thornless honey locust and the river birch provide dappled shade and create comfortable outdoor gathering spaces. For creating deeper shade, large trees with dense foliage such as the beech and maple are useful.

Deciduous trees, those which loose their leaves in the fall, create shade in the summer but allow sunlight through in the winter. These trees are effective when used to increas energy efficiency. Planted to shade a house from the summer sum, trees have a cooling effect, in the winter, trees without their leaves allow the sun to heat the home.

Trees can serve as wonderful focal points in the landscape. In a field, a sugar maple can stand alone in the landscape a have a stunning effect. Large trees with interesting form and year-round interest are suitable as a focal point or a specimen plant. Trees can also be effective when used to frame views, garden art and vistas.

Flowering ornamental trees, such as the flowering crabapple, cherry and magnolia, provide stunning blooms in the spring. These ornamental trees are generally smaller so they can be used in any size garden and closer to structures.

As an accent in the smaller garden, ornamental trees can provide the garden with some shade and add character to the landscape. For example, the dogwood begins the season with showy flowers and red fruit. After the dogwood’s colorful fall foliage falls to the ground its bark which flakes with age becomes exposed providing the garden with interest through the winter. A more exotic choice would be the Japanese maple. Its striking, sculptural form and red foliage make the Japanese maple a year-round joy. The birch tree’s beautiful form is a year-round feature but is most noticeable in the winter after it sheds its brilliant autumn foliage.

All deciduous trees change color in the fall; some, however, are treasured more than others for their autumn foliage. The sugar maple, red maple, tupelo and sumac all have brilliant fall color.

Don’t overlook features such as a plant’s form, colorful berries and interesting bark. It is these features which are treasured through the winter months. Berry producing plants also provide wildlife with food. Both the birch and aforementioned Japanese maple, have beautiful forms and are year-round features.

Choosing the appropriate tree for your garden requires some planning. Trees can be difficult to transplant so planting the right tree in the right location is critical. With some initial planning, trees which are appropriately located and planted, can last a lifetime with little or no maintenance.

Before planting new ranking assess both your wishes and the unfilled conditions of your position. Trees, like all patch plants, have precise light and soil requirements which can persuade its fitness. Trees also have limited legroom requirements. Some plants widen broad and must a lot of plot, such as the beech, while others, such as the birch, grow tall and narrow. Unlike other patch plants, however, grass tend to be enduring skin in the landscape so apposite position is dangerous.

Assess your plot’s wishes. Does your patch basic shade or blush? How much cosmos do you have? Trees command a lot of area as they mature. Trees that are 10′ at the nursery can certainly attain 20′ in a material of being and may range 50′ or more at ripeness. Improperly located grass and shrubs are an usual muddle among gardeners. Trees planted to close to a house or patch course may require common pruning, ensuing in gawkily shaped plants. In many instances, transplanting becomes needed resulting in more work than originally planned.

If you want to design a shady setting in the backyard, body out how much shade you want. Trees such as the thornless honey locust and the stream birch afford stippled shade and construct comfortable outdoor gathering places. For creating deeper shade, large leaves with dense foliage such as the beech and maple are practical.

Deciduous grass, those which freed their leaves in the plummet, start shade in the summer but allocate sunlight through in the frost. These leaves are effectual when worn to increas energy efficiency. Planting to shade a house from the summer sum, plants have a cooling achieve, in the chill, grass lacking their leaves allow the sun to reheat the home.

Trees can complete as amazing central points in the landscape. In a tackle, a darling maple can park solitary in the landscape a have a stunning effect. Large foliage with interesting form and year-rotund pastime are right as a main peak or a specimen bury. Trees can also be valuable when worn to casing views, patch art and vistas.

Flowering ornamental leaves, such as the flowering crabapple, crimson and magnolia, give stunning blooms in the skip. These ornamental trees are generally minor so they can be used in any amount patch and earlier to structures.

As an accent in the minor patch, ornamental trees can grant the garden with some shade and add appeal to the landscape. For example, the dogwood begins the flavor with flashy plants and red fruit. After the dogwood’s vivid collapse foliage spray to the ground its bark which flakes with age becomes exposed providing the garden with curiosity through the coldness. A more exotic option would be the Japanese maple. Its salient, sculptural form and red foliage make the Japanese maple a year-cycle joy. The birch hierarchy’s pleasing form is a year-circular star but is most noticeable in the frost after it sheds its brilliant autumn foliage.

All deciduous trees change paint in the drop; some, however, are beloved more than others for their autumn foliage. The honey maple, red maple, tupelo and sumac all have brilliant fall tint.

Don’t overlook skin such as a factory’s form, colorful berries and interesting bark. It is these skin which was loved through the winter months. Berry producing plants also provide animals with food. Both the birch and aforementioned Japanese maple, have exquisite forms and are year-around features.

Choosing the appropriate hierarchy for your garden requires some forecast. Trees can be fractious to transplant so planting the right tree in the right spot is judicious. With some original forecast, trees which are appropriately located and planted, can last a period with little or no maintenance.

How to grow beautiful culinary herbs

You don’t have to be a chef or have a green thumb to grow an herb garden. Culinary herbs are extremely easy to grow. Once they get going, they add fragrance, texture and color to just about any garden or space. Harvest your culinary herbs to make everything from herbal teas, vinegars and flavorful recipes.

Herbs don’t require much space to grow. You can plant them in beds in a garden or you can grow them in a small container. Combining herbs can create a beautiful effect. Your bed or container is your canvas – and what you plant there can grow into a beautiful masterpiece.

Plenty of sun
Herbs love plenty of sunlight. When choosing a location for your herbs, look for an outdoor area or window that gets 5-7 hours of direct sunlight each day.

Well-drained soil
Whether you are planting your herbs in containers or a garden, start by testing your soil for nutrients and pH. It may be necessary to adjust your soil pH to the near-neutral pH of 6-7 that herbs grow best in. You will also want to add a layer of organic compost and minerals to the soil prior to planting.

Adequate water
Herbs like well-drained soil, but well drained soil needs to be watered more frequently. Don’t just water on a whim. Stick your finger down into your soil approximately 1″ to 1-1/2″. There is no need to water unless your soil feels almost dry to the touch.

Three rules of thumb for fertilizing your herbs
Fertilizer is often referred to as “plant food.” The most important thing to remember when feeding your herbs – use products that are organic. Remember, you are going to be consuming what you grow. If you don’t want to consume chemicals, don’t use them on your herbs.

Second rule of thumb – feed your herbs a balanced diet.
Fertilizer or “plant food” provides your herbs with the major elements they need to grow and thrive – nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Your plants also need minor elements called micronutrients, which contain the minor elements required by your plants to grow.

Finally.
Feed your plants through their leaves (foliar feeding). Foliar feeding is 100-500% more effective than root feeding and offers quicker results. Look for organic foliar fertilizers and micronutrients. Spray all the leaves of your herbs every 1-4 weeks.

Harvesting and storage
Once your herbs are established it is important to cut them back on a regular basis. Never harvest more than 1/3 of each individual herb plant. The best time to harvest your herbs is in the morning, when the oils are still readily available in their leaves. Harvest your herbs before they flower. This will prevent them from putting forth seed and will encourage more vigorous green growth.

You can use your herbs right away, refrigerate them or put them in a plastic freezer bag and freeze them up to 6 months.

Whatever you do, enjoy growing your culinary herbs.
You will feel like a gourmet, each time you wander into your garden to clip a few herbs for your culinary productions. Even if you don’t cook much, snip a bit of fresh mint from your herb garden to transform a simple glass of ice tea into the most delectable treat. Or garnish a fruit plate, fresh vegetables and salads with your fresh herbs. Using them is as easy as growing them.

How to Start a Garden

Planting a garden can be easier and more enjoyable with these gardening tips

Planting a garden, whether it is a vegetable plot or a flower bed, is an adventure where your creativity and patience are put to the test! You are directly responsible for the beautiful rose blooms or the delicious tomatoes that develop in this section of the land. Therefore to have the most success you need to determine where you plant!

The location of the garden should be determined by several factors: sunlight, soil conditions, water and wind exposure. Take notes on when this area of the yard is exposed to sunshine. This can determine which plants will thrive there. Test your soil to see if conditioners are needed to bring it up to optimum growing conditions. Pay attention to whether water collects in this section of the lawn. Some plants do well in soggy locations, but most need well-drained soil. Strong winds can dry out soil and plants, so try to locate the plot out of direct winds. Once you have determined where you will create your garden masterpiece you are ready to select plants!

Choose plants that will grow in your zone. Although you might have your heart set on a certain flower or vegetable, if your climate or garden location won’t support this choice, you will inevitably be disappointed. To avoid this, choose plants that are meant for your growing zone (ideally native plants), and disease-resistant and drought tolerant plants. Ask the employee at the nursery for assistance in selecting these. Be aware of the future size of each plant. A tree planted near a house will eventually provide shade, but it could also be a hazard during storms.

Plan out what flowering plants you would like for the seasons. Most perennials only bloom for a short time, so by mixing in some annuals there will be constant color in your garden. By having seasonal color you can change the look of your garden and create excitement and personality!

Now that you have your garden location selected and your plants purchased, you are ready to start digging! What tools are required to get things started? These include:

Rake: for seasonal cleanups and spreading/leveling soil

Trowel: for transplanting and weeding

Shovel: for digging, scooping, spreading compost and planting 

Hoe: for chopping weeds and tilling soils

Pruners: for clipping flowers and pruning trees

Garden Gloves: for protecting your hands from blisters and dirt 

Garden Hose: invest in a top-of-the-line hose that will resist kinking, is flexible and coils easily. Invest in high quality tools. They will last longer and are more durable than their cheaper counterparts.

Have fun starting a garden. Don’t try to create a masterpiece your first year-build up to it. Select a few choice plants that are more expensive. The rest can be less expensive, smaller complementary plants to round out your garden. Gardening is our nation’s number one leisure activity so go out and have a good time in your own piece of earth!

Show them how much you enjoy gardening. Spend time in your garden. It is especially easy to stimulate a child’s interests when they see you having fun.

Make gardening easy. Don’t expect a perfect garden. Allow your family to work at their own pace and within their attention spans and age range, especially children.

Dig it! Kids love to dig. This is a great way to teach the basics while letting them play and just have fun. 

Let them play an active role in planning. Take your children to the local nursery and let them pick seeds or transplants to start their garden. Take your time and let them browse and enjoy all of the beautiful plants.

Grow a theme garden. This is a great way to let your children use their imagination and express their creativity. The sky is the limit. Some great ideas are gardens that coincide with the holidays, alphabet gardens, a garden themed in their favorite colors, a sensory garden where you can experience different smells, tastes, textures and sights, or a “Freedom Garden”.

Give children their own “kid sized” tools. They don’t have to be expensive. You can go with an old spoon and a bucket that you have around the house or you can venture down to the garden center and purchase garden tools made for children’s hands.

Give them a space to call their own. It doesn’t have to be big. This will teach them ownership and responsibility, and your children will be able to take credit for their own little space.

Get crafty! Press or dry flowers to make a beautiful arrangement, make potpourri, or make a pomander ball. Children love making things and will be amazed at the crafts and gifts that they can make from the garden.

Grow a vegetable garden. Your children will be amazed that they can grow their own food. Be sure to use organic pesticides.

Use gardening to brush up your children’s math and science skills. Let them count the seeds they are planting, or teach them how plants are living things. Not only will you capture their attention, you will be polishing their skills as you go.

Have a contest. Kids love to be rewarded. Be sure to give each child a reward; the biggest tomato, the prettiest flower, or perhaps the best tasting herbs (a little Spray-N-Grow will help!)

Don’t try to do it all! Pick a few of these tips that you know are best for your family and have fun with them. After all, gardening is meant to be fun and easy. And with a little help, something the whole family can enjoy.

Original Article

Tree frogs are entrancing creatures of this earth and can be fantastic pets if cared for correctly. Now there is not any resource on the easy way to correctly care for your tree frog at home. There are some processes in the midst of caring for your tree frog that can go bad and cause your frog to get unwell.

Come visit us right here for more Gardening and Gardener Info and get a bunch of great Gardening Ebooks Magnolia Tree Care. http://www.magnoliatreeearthcenter.org

This places even more stress on vivarium set up and your automated frog care solutions to be set up the best way the first time. Frogs do not like to be handled to much so continually going back and changing the vivarium all of the time can become nerve wracking for your tree frog.

As some frogs, known as exotic pets, can be pricey it is well suitable to invest in a resource that will teach you the precise steps needed in order to breed and care for your own colony of tree frogs. Whether or not you are dealing with the common garden frog or the much documented red eyed tree frog, this tree frog care manual is all you will need to become the envy of all tree frog fans. However in the end you have to be the one to decide for yourself Whether you actually need this manual or not. Some tree frog species can fetch a big price so if you can come up with an effective automated breeding plan, you can make an honest amount of cash.

You see I have ten years knowledge in the tree frog field an have had my ups and downs but I have come up with what I think is a pretty good system of caring for these fellows. I just hate to see so many stories of frogs dying around the planet and want to do my bit towards informing the public on Legitimate tree frog care. In the hope that less frogs die as a result.

many of us think that encouraging the art of caring for frogs at home as pets will only add the issue of spreading the virus.

Believe that global efforts towards informing the public on the problem on how to handle declining frog numbers is a step in the right way.

I would like to hear your perspective on this and I understand that not everybody sees eye to eye.

if you are not aware off this here is a paragraph explaining the issue

‘Chytridiomycosis is an infectious disease that has an effect on frog species all around the world. Don’t transfer frog populations in your area without contacting local authorities.

So join me in understanding what the effects of global temperature rises and homo sapiens has on the animals that share our world so we can better care and protect them in the future

Come visit us right here for more Gardening and Gardener Info and get a bunch of great Gardening Ebooks Magnolia Tree Care. http://www.magnoliatreeearthcenter.org

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