How To Get Garden Landscaping Ideas Free

There are many different sources where you can find landscaping ideas free. The first and most obvious is the internet. Thousands of websites exist where you can find gardening and landscaping ideas. Free information is easy to locate simply by searching on Google for 'free landscaping ideas' or similar. You could also try landscaping blogs and forums where authors are always adding new ideas.
You can also find free landscaping ideas in books which you may already have at home or that you can borrow from friends or family. They don't necessarily need to be landscaping or gardening books, but any that have pictures that inspire you. You can also look in magazines for ideas. Many newspapers also have a gardening section which may prove useful.Another simple way to get new landscaping ideas is to explore your local area. Look in friend's gardens, local parks and buildings for garden design ideas. It's amazing what you can pick up on a morning walk.


Another great place to go for landscaping ideas free is your local garden centre. Many garden centres have landscaped areas showing off the plants and materials that they sell. Before you think about installing a new landscaping feature, make sure you check that it will fit and also look right in your garden! Make a list of your ideas and then carefully consider which will work best. You should start by taking a walk around your garden in order to get a good sense of what can be achieved. Check how good the drainage is and also check out the slopes and levels of your garden. Finally draw a plan to check that everything will fit.
If you are new to garden landscaping, before you start work take a little extra time to learn the basics in order to implement your landscaping ideas. Free advice is often available from friends and family. This is imperative if you have never done any work like this before.

Chris Rudolph is a keen gardener and blogger. Obtain a free landscaping ideas ebook when you visit his landscaping ideas blog.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Rudolph

Gardening: Well-landscaped yard no easy task

In Southwest Florida, most homeowners seem to fall into one of four landscape categories.

Some folks moved into a new home with no landscaping except some turf. Others, like our family, purchased a much-used house with a yard full of overgrown, old, uncared-for shrubbery and trees.

Some of the luckier homeowners bought new homes with minimal landscaping that will serve as a suitable basis. The real fortunate families, of which there are very few, moved into homes surrounded by beautiful, tastefully placed, luxurious landscaping.
So, most of the rest of us have monumental, expensive tasks to perform, if we ever aspire to have a beautiful yard.

In times past, most new Southwest Florida homes came with a Queen palm (Syagrus romanzoffiana), a small bottle brush tree (Callistemon viminalis), and sometimes a citrus tree of some sort. In the older yards, these trees are now mature, and if they were cultivated properly, are now very stately in appearance.

The bottle brush tree makes a pleasing specimen tree in the Florida landscape. I’ve seen many with hanging pots of tropical ferns and a few orchids. The hanging plants may be protected from the blazing sun by the tree’s massive limbs and leaf cover.
Properly tended citrus trees are pleasing to the eye, taste buds, and nose, especially during their blossoming and fruiting seasons.

Citrus trees range in size from the 25-foot-tall grapefruit down to the bush-sized kumquat.

Landscaping artists will tell us to plant palms in odd numbers, with three or more being the ideal.

Palms range in height from 18 inches to more than a hundred feet. There are many varieties suitable for our climate.

There are several fine books available at bookstores and libraries. My Florida landscape bible is “Florida Landscape Plants” by John V. Hopkins and Thomas J. Sheehan. I also have “The Trees of Florida — A Reference and Field Guide,” by Gil Nelson, and “Florida, My Eden,” by Frederic B. Stresau.

These books are all well-illustrated and fascinating reading for the hobbyist or professional horticulturist. They are readily available from Internet booksellers.

Careful planning is of utmost essence when dealing with landscaping. It is a fact of life down here that you spend your first year planting trees, and the rest of your life cutting them back to keep them in bounds. We have close to a year-round growing season, and you must keep in mind that the tiny tree in a 1-gallon pot may be capable of growing to a 50-foot behemoth within a decade or so.

Trees and shrubs must be planted the proper distance from buildings, septic systems and roadways. The shade provided by large trees must be taken into consideration, as well as their cultural requirements.

Residents should be aware that Florida is in the tropical hurricane and foul weather zone. There are many species of trees and palms that are beautiful, hardy, and as a result, do very nicely in Southwest Florida.

However, some of these species weather tropical storms very poorly, and are susceptible to severe storm damage. These species include: older laurel oak, queen palm, jacaranda, poinciana, Australian pine, slash pine, melaleuca, orchid tree, gumbo limbo, bischofia, acacia, tabebuia species, cassia, ficus, mimosa and avocado.

So, buy or check out some books and read up on landscaping. Sharpen that pencil and make some plans. Sharpen your shovel, too. There’s lots of work to be done.
http://www.news-press.com/article/20081220/LIFESTYLES/81219063/1005/ACC

Landscaping and Gardening Plants

Landscaping plants are incredibly important; in fact, they are truly the basis of any form of landscaping altogether. Proper plant selection is the most important secret of all in regards to successful landscaping, and landscaping plants are also elements which can be used with purpose, say for instance for screening, shade, erosion control, and focal points for instance.

However many people make mistakes when they are choosing landscaping plants, and so it is important to understand a few basics before you make your decision. For instance, you should always remember not to plan your landscaping design while you are making your purchase; the better idea is to prepare yourself fully in advance, and take the time and consideration to decide exactly what you want to do before you even consider making any purchases.

As well, there are often mistakes make in regards to the areas where the landscaping plants are then set in regards to zoning; it is extremely important to know which planting zone you live in and then thus plant accordingly. Basically for the most part it is okay to go by those plant tags that come with the plants themselves, but a lot of the time you can't, and this is why it is so important to arm yourself with as much information before you get too deep into the matter of landscaping.

Where can I Find Landscaping Plants?

There are a number of different locations where you can find landscaping plants to purchase, and the best idea would be to go to your local gardening or landscaping center, and even if you can't find what you want here, they can help to direct you to a place that would be more useful. Do not be surprised if you have to make a couple of stops in order to find what you need; it will be worth it in the end if you are fully satisfied.

Another good idea is to use the Internet, as the speed and efficiency of the Internet allows you to be able to quickly and easily browse through the multitude of available information in order to find exactly what you are looking for. Most websites will offer an extended listing of what they have to offer, and the best ones will also offer areas where you can take note of their contact information, so that if you have any wonders or questions you can ask them and they will typically respond within a day's time.

Jerry Cahill Author, Publisher of landscaping and gardening articles.

http://gardenlandscapedesigns.com/

http://gardenlandscapedesigns.com/spring-time-gardening/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jerry_Cahill

Georgina Garden Centre earns landscape awards

Georgina Garden Centre has been chosen from a select group of garden centres to receive three 2008 Landscape Ontario Awards of Excellence.

The winners of the 2008 Landscape Ontario Awards were announced at a special ceremony during the Garden Centre Symposium held in Toronto last month.

During the ceremony Georgina Garden Centre was recognized for their Endless Summer display, their Harvest Setting display and the Outstanding Web Site Development Award, which recognized Georgina Garden Centre’s use of their website as a merchandising technique.

“These awards speak highly of the hard work and long hours everyone at the garden centre has put in over the years,” said Mike Johnson of Georgina Garden Centre.

“It is an honour to be recognized by Landscape Ontario and by our peers. We are proud that our quality work on displays and the website are among the best in the industry.”

The Landscape Ontario Awards of Excellence are presented each year to recognize the best businesses in the Ontario horticulture industry.

Landscape Ontario is a collection of businesses who supply and work in the horticultural industry.

The goal of the organization is to support, promote and educate everything horticultural, including gardening, landscape design, landscaping, and property maintenance.

To view the Georgina Garden Centre’s website and to view pictures of both the Endless Summer and Harvest Setting displays visit www.georginagardencentre.com/awards

Earlier, Georgina Garden Centre also won the 2008 Georgina Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Award for large business.

The Business Excellence Award, presented by Mark Skelton of the Georgina Advocate, recognized Georgina Garden Centre for providing the community of Georgina with an exceptional retail garden centre and landscaping service.

The award also praises the Garden Centre for their Steward of the Earth program, which supplies and educates local students about the benefits of trees to our environment.
http://www.georginaadvocate.com/News/Georgina/article/85074

Want to Know a Few Common and Scientific Plant Names?

Knowing common plant names is key if you intend on establishing a good indoor or outdoor garden. As many botanical shops deal with their seeds, seedlings and full grown plants by their common plant name, it is vital that you can match common names with scientific names.

There are several ways to match common plant names with their scientific names. Databases and plant encyclopedias are favored, as many of these will supply images of the plants along with a list of all of their names. If you keep the seed packets when you purchase your plants, they tend to name the scientific name with the local common plant name.

In most situations, the common plant name is the english translation of the latin version of the name. The latin is also known as scientific, as many scientific names are derived from ancient language.

Some common plant names for herbs include Ammania, Bedstraw, Beggarticks, Buckwheat, Bursage, annual, Buttercup, Catnip, Cocklebur, Conzya, Crimson Monkeyflower, Cudweed, Dove Weed and Duckweed.

If you are interested in common plant names for flowering plants, a few include african corn lily, african lily, alpine thistle, amaryllis, amazon lily, arum, baby's breath, balloon flower, barberton daisy, bee balm, bell flower, bells of Ireland, roses, tulips, .clover, gerber daisy and sunflower.

For those of you interested in trees, some common names include popular, oak, birch, coffee trees, rubber trees, lemon trees, orange trees, pear trees, apple, Japanese maple, juniper and ash. If you are researching trees in order to grow in your home or outside, you should be aware that trees have a much longer grow cycle than flowering plants. Some trees, such as fruit trees, are especially sensitive to climate. Research should be done before you import any tree that has not already been introduced to the region.

If you live in a region that has poisonous plants, knowing their common plant names can prevent confusion if you or a loved one are exposed to them. Some common poisonous plants include poison ivy, poison oak, belladonna, night shade, alder buckthorn, yew, english ivy, foxglove, monk's hood, poison hemlock, poison sumac and pokeweed. If you suspect that you have been poisoned by any type of plant, you should seek medical attention immediately. Poisonous plants should not be kept as indoor plants unless precautions are taken to prevent injury. Some herbs can be poisonous if used improperly, so many references will list useful herbs, such as chives, garlic and cinnamon as poisons, due to improper usage.

Knowing the common names of plants isn't enough to ensure that you will be able to keep them in your indoor or outdoor garden. Researching the plants and ensuring that you live in the proper climate for the plants you desire is vital if you want to make sure your plants have longevity.

Steve Habib is a lawn care and landscaping expert and owner of Landscape Problem Solver found in St. Petersburg, Florida. Free tips, advice, articles and more visit: http://www.stpetersburglawnlandscape.com/news

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Charles_Habib

Gardening Courses - Open Learning

Some people are lucky enough to be naturally gifted (or "green fingered") when it comes to gardening, seemingly born with a trowel in their hands. Others do not share this gift - however, gardening is certainly a skill that can be learned...

There are now many open learning gardening courses that you can take from the comfort of your home.

These may take the form of an online course, where everything is sent to you by email, or an offline course, where the course details will be posted to you. If you are taking the course with your local college, you may have the option to attend lessons in the college on certain days.

When selecting a gardening course, there are many things to consider:

1) The reputation of the organizers of the course. An organization such as the Open University would generally be expected to deliver higher quality than "Big Joe's Diplomas"

2) The type of learning you prefer. Are you happy to work at your own pace? Would you prefer to have some deadlines to work towards?

3) Your garden type. There's no point in taking a flower gardening course if you only want to grow vegetables in your garden!

4) Cost. As with all open learning, the cost of gardening courses can vary. If you're only doing it as a hobby, you may not need an expensive course. If you're planning to do gardening professionally, get the best you can afford.
Read MOre

Gardening: Trees can bring many benefits to your home landscaping

September and October are the best time of year to plant trees and other woody plants in most of Utah. The soil is still warm enough to encourage root development, and daytime highs are lower so plants are not stressed. Look at your landscape this fall. Are there any gaps you can fill by planting a tree? Consider what trees can add to your landscape and surrounding environment; cooling shade, windbreak, visual screen, aesthetic appeal. In 10 to 20 years, you and future homeowners will appreciate your forward thinking.
"Take a look at our older neighborhoods," says Janet Simonich, vice president of Progressive Plants, a wholesale nursery in Copperton.
"Someone planted a lot of trees. The biggest mistake new homeowners
Learn more about choosing trees is underplanting." New homeowners often delay tree planting, possibly because they cost more than annuals and perennials and don't give immediate gratification with color. Larger homes on smaller lots might discourage some people from planting trees, but more and more tree varieties are available that fit small spaces.
"With columnar trees, you can get plants much closer to the home," Simonich notes. Columnar English oak, for example, is a very good choice for smaller landscapes, providing they won't grow up into power or phone lines. The main drive at Progressive Plants is lined with English oak, creating a formal promenade look. Because it eventually grows quite tall, English oak might be a good choice to plant
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in narrow spaces between homes. Dense dark green foliage provides a good screen for privacy through summer. After winter's first freeze, English oak turns brown. Leaves persist until late winter or early spring so the tree continues to provide windbreak and visual screen. English oak is well adapted to Utah's soil and climate; its leathery leaves withstand drying winds and stay dark green even in high pH soil.
If environmentally conscious homeowners are concerned that trees use too much water, Simonich points out that trees often save landscape water after growing large enough to cast shade on nearby plants. Plus, trees help save energy by shading homes in summer and decreasing wind effects in winter. "You have to consider the trade-offs," Simonich says. Once tree roots are well established, a deep watering every 3 or 4 weeks in summer will keep most trees vigorous and healthy.
The most recently touted benefit of trees is their function of sequestering carbon. Through photosynthesis, trees convert atmospheric carbon into leaves, limbs and trunks. The larger the tree, the more carbon it has stored. Less carbon dioxide in our atmosphere may reduce global warming.
Progressive Plants moved from the east side of the Salt Lake Valley to the far west side in 2005. As the largest wholesale nursery in Utah, they supplied landscaping companies with more than 15,000 plants last year. Many trees for sale at your local garden center were supplied by Progressive Plants.
http://www.sltrib.com/technology/ci_10480615

Landscape gardens in essence

The publication in facsimile of F.M. Piper's 1811-12 manuscript on the design of English landscape parks is a major event for garden historians. In the first of an occasional series of review articles, Todd Longstaffe-Gowan assesses the book, and discusses the challenging questions it raises about our understanding of eighteenth century English landscape design.

In Sweden, the name of Fredrik Magnus Piper is synonymous with the English landscape garden. Indeed, until recently there was hardly an eighteenth-century 'English' landscape garden of any consequence in Sweden that was not ascribed to the country's much-vaunted, first professionally trained, landscape gardener.

Piper (1746-1824) is no stranger to landscape historians outside Sweden, who know his work through the catalogue of the Piper exhibition at the Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts, Stockholm (1981), John Phibbs's essay 'Pleasure Grounds in Sweden and their English models' published in Garden History (1993, vol. XXI, no. 1, pp. 60-90) and Magnus Olausson's book Den Engelska parken I Sverige under gustaviask tid ('The English Landscape Garden in Sweden during the Gustavian Era', Stockholm, 1993). Few, however, will be acquainted with Piper's Description of 1811-12. The architect has been subjected to another round of rigorous scrutiny, with the not so surprising result that the number of gardens now attributed to him has been significantly reduced. This assessment does not detract from the legacy of the talented Swede--a man whose works, in Olausson's words, 'merit comparison with those of the greatest of his contemporaries in Europe'. His oeuvre, although small, was very influential.

Born the same year as King Gustav Ill, Piper had, by virtue of his father's position as Surveyor to the Royal Household, easy access to those in power. However, throughout his life, he remained somewhat of an outsider. This might in part be attributed to his parvenu noble status in class-ridden Sweden (his father was not ennobled until 1776), but a more plausible explanation is that his professional development and recognition were tainted by his 'less than gracious manner'. What little we know about the personal character of 'petit Piper' (as he was described by C.F. Sundvall) suggests that he was, in John Harris's words, 'a little full of himself'--or, in Olausson's less charitable appraisal--devoid of personal charm and capable of being 'unforgiving, peevish and pedantic'. These faults, combined with his 'sullen and morose manner', doubtless played into the hands of his detractors. That Piper achieved the degree of success he did during his lifetime is all the more remarkable because he made no secret of the fact that he deplored the 'conceited Ideas and whims' of the king and his fawning retinue of 'Ladies and Cavaliers' that frustrated his efforts to secure important royal commissions.

By dint of hard work and determination Piper used his natural artistic talent and practical skills to great effect. He read mathematics and hydrostatics at Uppsala University between 1764 and 1766, and subsequently studied engineering at the Trollhattan locks and the naval dockyards at Karlskrona. After a spell at the Academy of Fine Arts and an apprenticeship to the civil engineer Carl Fredrik Adelcrantz, he was encouraged and sponsored by the Francophile King Gustav Ill--himself a talented amateur architect--to continue his studies abroad. He travelled to England in 1773 to acquire 'an understanding of garden architecture, in the hope that he will eventually do our nation such service as nobody hitherto seeking perfection in the genre has accomplished'.

In London, Piper was taken on by the architect Sir William Chambers--the 'special protector of Swedes in London'--who employed him for roughly a year, until Piper departed, unannounced, for France and Italy. There he continued his studies, acquiring new insights into landscape gardening by meticulously recording the Villa Lante in Bagnaia, the Villa Doria Pamphili in Rome, and the Villas Conti and Aldobrandini in Frascati. In France he acquainted himself with the baroque gardens at Versailles and Marly-le-Roi and their celebrated waterworks.

It was, however, Piper's field studies conducted during his second English excursion, in 1779-80, that were perhaps to be the most decisive in his career. During this period he visited and recorded his observations at several celebrated amateur gardens, including the Leasowes, Painshill and Mulgrave Castle, and undertook systematic studies of some larger landscape parks, such as Stowe, Hagley and Stourhead. He encapsulated these observations in a scheme that he developed for an imaginary royal park. This large 'general plan' was exhibited at the Royal Society of Arts in 1780--a scheme which formed the basis for two subsequent exercises, the last being his Description of the Idea and General-Plan for an English Garden of 1811-12.

Piper returned to Sweden in 1780, and within months of his arrival he was appointed court surveyor and charged with the responsibility 'to supervise the Parks of Our Royal Castles, with regards to their design and decoration'. Much was expected of him--not least by Gustav Ill, who was in the throes of laying out his gardens at Drottningholm and was eager to exchange ideas with his young charge. Piper threw himself into this work with great enthusiasm; however, his proposed revision of the scheme by Gustav III and C.F. Adelcrantz did not please the king. As Olausson remarks: 'in his arrogance, Piper does not seem to have considered the fact that the extensive changes which he proposed could be indirectly interpreted as a criticism of his royal client'.
http://findarticles.com

Home and garden events

Home and garden events

SOUTH BAY

Clara B. Rees Iris Society. Rhizome sale includes hard-to-find bearded varieties in a multitude of colors. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Aug. 2. Almaden Valley Nursery, 15800 Almaden Expressway, San Jose. (408) 997-1234, www.almadenvalley nursery.com.

Introduction to Beekeeping. Class includes equipment and supplies. 7-9:30 p.m. Aug. 4. Campbell Community Center, 1 W. Campbell Ave. (408) 358-2571, www.beeguild.org.

Santa Clara Valley Orchid Society. Monthly meeting features Doug Pulley, a breeder of Stanhopea orchids. 7:15 p.m. Aug. 6. American Legion Hall, 1504 Minnesota Ave., San Jose. (408) 399-3123, www.santaclaravalleyorchidsociety.org.

Santa Clara County Master Gardener. Information meeting includes news about the Master Gardener Training Program that begins in January. 1-3 p.m. Aug. 7. Santa Clara County Offices, 1555 Berger Drive, San Jose. (408) 282-3105, www.mastergardeners.org.

Ladies Night at SummerWinds Nursery. Shop among experts, authors and growers. 5-8 p.m. Aug. 7. SummerWinds Nursery, 4606 Almaden Expressway, San Jose. (408) 266-4440, www.summerwinds ca.com.

Garden Railroads. Tour 10 gardens in Gilroy, Morgan Hill and Hollister. 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Aug. 9. Drop off food donation and pick up guide at All Aboard Junction, 8355 Monterey St., Gilroy. (408) 846-8841.

PENINSULA

Cool Season Gardening Tips. Get easy growing tips for fall and winter. 10-11 a.m. Aug. 2. Master Gardeners Palo Alto Demonstration Garden, 851 Center Drive. (408) 282-3105, www.mastergardeners.org/scc.html.

Edible Landscaping. Tour features vegetables, fruit and chickens, tips on landscaping design and talks by host gardeners. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 2. Common Ground Organic Garden Supply and Education Center, 559 College Ave., Palo Alto. $35. (650) 493-6072, extension 11, (650) 493-6072, www.conexions.org/vhd/. gardentour.

Plant Clinic. Bring plant problems and questions to this San Mateo Master Gardeners' event. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Aug. 3. San Mateo Arboretum Society, 101 Ninth Ave. (650) 579-0536, www.sanmateo arboretum.org.

Sustainable Gardening Practices. Join Allison Czerniak, Bay Area horticulturist and estate garden manager. 1-3 p.m. Aug. 3. San Mateo Arboretum Society, 101 Ninth Ave. (650) 579-0536, www.sanmateo arboretum.org.

Fall Planting Inspiration: Native Plant Gardens. Get ideas in time for fall planting during a slide show. 7-9 p.m. Aug. 7. Peninsula Conservation Center, 3921 E. Bayshore Road, Palo Alto. (408) 715-7020, www.cnps-scv.org.

SANTA CRUZ/MONTEREY

Winter gardening. Learn how to start and tend a winter vegetable garden. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Aug. 9. Love Apple Farm, 9299 Glen Arbor Road, Ben Lomond. $65. (831) 588-3801, www.growbetterveggies.com.

Broken Plate Mosaic Class. Learn the art in one day. Noon-5 p.m. Aug. 9. The Painted Chair Studio, 421 Gharkey St, Santa Cruz. $80. (831) 425-1602, www.paintedchairstudio.com.

Publicize your home and garden events at: mercurynews.zvents.com."š. All submissions appear instantly online and select events will be featured Saturdays in the Mercury News.
http://www.mercurynews.com/lifeandstyleheadlines/ci_10069188

Thinking of Outdoor Landscaping Ideas

Landscaping is one of the best things a person can do for their yard or for any piece of property. A well landscaped piece of land can do so many different things not for only yourself but for those who see it.

Some of these benefits include; making you feel good, attracting people to look at your property, and it also can add countless dollars onto the equity of your home. Before you can landscape any piece of property, you must first think up some great outdoor landscaping ideas.

When you are pondering different outdoor landscaping ideas, there are a few things you must do. In the area you are trying to landscape, make sure that it is properly edged and free of any gross weeds. Before doing any thing to drastic, think about consulting a professional landscaper to throw your outdoor landscaping ideas at. This person should let you know the best way to properly do whatever you maybe thinking. Hopefully they can give you some suggestions as well to further enhance your ideas. Some people´s outdoor landscaping ideas are going to bit a little more outrageous than others so it is in your best interest to do as much research about the type of things you want to do.

When it comes to outdoor landscaping, there are a variety of things that you can do. It is basically wide open to your budget and your own creativity. A good place to look for outdoor landscaping ideas is by going online. The Internet should provide plenty of information on a huge scale of different landscape ideas. If that doesn't work. There are several magazines that talk about good outdoor landscaping ideas. So if you want to make your yard look as beautiful as possible, landscape it and benefit from all the advantages of having a well landscaped piece of land.

Written by Fred Geraldsten. Find the latest information on Outdoor Landscaping Ideas as well as Backyard Landscaping

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Fred_Geraldsten

Japanese Magnolias--magnificent trees for garden landscaping

GARDENING: Container plants need extra care in summer

Container plants are much more vulnerable to the devastation of summer heat and sun than those planted in the ground. Therefore, you need to provide special care to help them survive -- and more importantly thrive -- during the dog days of summer.

Location: Where you place container plants is very important. Provide some protection from afternoon sun for those grown on patios or entryways. Protection may be shade from house walls or overhangs, from privacy walls or fences, or from shade trees. Most plants thrive where shifting shade provides protection for the afternoon hours. Also, think about moving pots to temporary locations during the heat and then move them back in the fall.

Morning sun is best for flowers and vegetables planted in pots. Most general references for these plants call for a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight. However, our sunlight is so intense that bright indirect light usually is sufficient to encourage good flowering and fruiting.

Irrigation: In addition to the appropriate location, the amount of water that container plants need also is critical. This is because air circulates around and the sun shines on container sides, so the inside soil dries out rapidly, especially with temperatures exceeding 90 degrees. You may need to water twice daily if plants are in full sun with temperatures now more than 100 degrees.

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It is a must to water small- and medium-sized containers with such a small volume of soil daily, because they can't hold enough moisture during dry weather. Larger, barrel-sized containers may go a day or two between waterings. You'll know how often to water by the appearance of your plants; if they wilt between waterings, water more often.

Always water enough to thoroughly moisten the soil from top to bottom. Let the water running out the drainage holes be your signal to stop watering.

Easier watering: Invest in an automatic watering system, especially if you have several potted plants; it's easy to forget to hand water. You'll find battery-operated timers at garden supply stores. They easily connect to a water faucet and irrigation tubing.

Select drip emitters in pots based on pot size. Use higher volume drip emitters on large containers and lower volume ones on small pots. This will allow for more consistent watering when all the pots are run off of a single irrigation line.

Water time: Remember to water at night or in the early morning. Water coming through a very hot hose during the middle of the day can damage plants.

Hydrophobic: Sometimes container soils become hydrophobic. That's when potting soils dry out and actually repel water. When this occurs, you may think your pot is accepting water, but it is simply running around and down the edges of the soil and out the bottom of the container.

To correct this condition, add a few drops of liquid dishwashing detergent to a gallon of water and irrigate slowly. The soap breaks the barrier so your soil can absorb the water. You don't need to do this again, unless the pots dry out.

Saucers: You don't want pots sitting in saucers. Drainage water collects in them and salts concentrate, allowing them to reabsorb back into plants, causing damage. You'll also find saucers can be a haven for ants to nest. Elevate your containers with bricks or the like to prevent these problems.

Lining pots: Here's a way to keep moisture from seeping out of clay pots: Line them with plastic before planting. These liners will drastically reduce moisture loss from potted plants as compared to unlined clay pots. Trash bags, whether they are black, white or brown, make ideal liners because they come in a variety of sizes. Just be sure that after you've placed the bag in the pot, you poke holes in it to line up with drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. After filling the pot with soil and planting, trim off the bag top to conform to the rim of the pot.

Another advantage for using plastic liners is that they'll prevent salt stains from forming on the outside of the pot. Salts in water build up, causing a white staining on the outside of clay pots.

Mulch: To conserve moisture in pots, cover the soil with mulch. The best mulch for containers is a fine bark. Blanket the soil with an inch of mulch, which reduces evaporation, moderates soil temperatures and reduces moisture fluctuations. Whenever you're potting plants, always leave room at the top for mulch.

Feeding: Finally, to keep container plants healthy, fertilize regularly. For best results, fertilize flowering and fruiting plants with a liquid solution such as Miracle-Gro every two weeks and leafy plants monthly. Las Vegans have to fertilize more because we have to water so much that it leaches the nutrients away.

One of the best ways to fertilize container plants is by using a timed-release product such as Osmocote. These products come in various release times for as long as a year. These kind of products can really save you time. Gear the product to what you are growing. For flowers and vegetables, use a three- or four-month release fertilizer. For long-term plants, such as perennials, herbs or shrubs, use longer lasting formulations.

Plants will need the full complement of macro and micronutrients. If you are fertilizing leafy plants, select a fertilizer high in nitrogen. For flowering plants, choose one high in phosphorous.

IRIS SALE

This is your last chance to get award-winning irises and lots of new varieties with many unique colors to add new dimensions to your landscape. The Southern Nevada Iris Society is having its annual iris sale from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or until supplies run out, today at Star Nursery, 8725 S. Eastern Ave. Society members will be on hand to help you be successful in growing your new irises.

TROUBLESHOOTING PLANT PROBLEMS

What are some flowers we can add to our landscape that will take the summer heat? Why are the leaves on my olives turning yellow and dropping? Why won't my figs get any bigger than a marble? We are following the guidelines in watering our lawn, so why is it still drying up? These are just a few of the questions I will attempt to answer at 8:30 a.m. Saturday as we tour the gardens at the Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd. Call 822-7786 for reservations. Bring a hat and water.

The Springs Preserve's eight-acre botanical garden and gardening exhibits through the site will inspire you. All educational classes highlight water-smart landscaping, gardening for small spaces, organic gardening and cultivating your own farmer's market. Come get your hands dirty, along with ideas to improve your landscape.

Linn Mills writes a gardening column each Sunday. You can reach him at linn.mills@springspreserve.org or call him at 822-7754.

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Gardening With Containers

Gardening is the practice of growing flowering plants, vegetables, and fruits. Gardening is an excellent means of diverting the mind from work, family conflicts, or other issues, hence relieving stress and providing mental relaxation. Gardening is a relaxing activity, great for unwinding after a difficult day at work, especially when gardening on a small, personal scale. Gardening is fun, even sounds fun doesn't it. Gardening is good for the soul too.

Gardening

Gardening is as good for you or better than traditional exercises. Gardening is now a multi-billion-dollar industry, and what the industry creates and sells is products, ninety percent of which you don't need. Gardening is more difficult than surfing and scuba diving, and ranks about even with fly-fishing. Gardening involves a number of different kinds of exercises, including stretching, weightlifting, and a moderate cardiovascular workout. Gardening therapy, as vocational horticulture curriculum, can be a tool to improve social bonding in addition to developing improved attitudes about personal success and a new awareness of personal job preparedness.

Container

Container gardening is usually used in atriums and on balconies, patios, and roof tops. Container gardening is a great way to garden, no matter how much space you have. Containers that are used for container gardening can be anything from gallon milk jugs with the tops cut off to terracotta pots, plastic window boxes to half barrels. Containers can be custom-made for an individual, giving everyone an opportunity to exercise their green thumb.

Gardening is a great way to get kids outside, active, and interested in the natural world, no matter whether your garden is a few deck planters or a backyard or community plot. In respect to its food producing purpose, gardening is distinguished from farming chiefly by scale and intent. One of the most attractive features of container gardening is the versatility. The key to container gardening is in knowing the characteristics of the container.

Gina has been writing articles for some time now. She writes on many different topics. Be sure to View her most current articles:
Container Gardening
The Importance of Good Nutrition At Any Age

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Landscaping Ideas For A Sloped Yard

A Landscaping Class Will Teach You All About Landscaping

If you have always been interested in the topic of landscaping you should learn about it from the experts. While you can read various gardening magazines, the best way for you to learn about landscaping is to take a landscaping class.

You might be surprised to know that landscaping classes are an excellent option. These classes are usually something that people who are interested in botany like to take, as it is a way to implement their love of plants.

You’ll learn about:

* Plant health, soil, and fertilizers

* Servicing garden tractors and other tools used in landscaping

* Creating landscaping designs using shrubs and ground covers

* Specialty landscaping, starting and operating your own landscaping business

* And you may be able to learn it right at home

With the right credentials, you can:

* Work for an established landscaping firm or start your own business.

* Complete your training in as little as six months from today, or take longer if you wish.

If you have a basic knowledge of flowers and plants, that basic knowledge will help you when it comes to learning about the basics of landscaping. If, however, you really do not know much about either, that is not a problem, because a landscaping class will teach you all of the basic knowledge plus more.

There are usually several levels of landscaping classes that you can choose from, in accordance with your current knowledge. The basic landscaping classes will most likely have to do with being able to identify certain kinds of plants, and how they can be implemented into various landscaping designs.

One important thing that you should know about landscaping is that you will need to pay attention to the kinds of plants that work well in your climate. For example, if you like a certain kind of plant, but that plant is only right in warmer climates, and you live in a colder climate, you will need to find a plant that can work with your climate.

Another important thing to learn about landscaping is the quality of soil that you have, because it varies with the climate. The kind of soil that you have should have sufficient nutrients, so you might need to get soil that has all the nutrients that your plants need. If you decide to take a class about landscaping, that should be one of the topics.

One thing that people often want to know about landscaping classes is whether they are expensive to take. The price of landscaping classes will have to do with how advanced the class is, as well as how long the class will last. It will also have to do with the materials that you might need to purchase for the class.

If you really want to learn about landscaping, check out the programs that are available at your local community college, as community college's often offer landscaping classes. You can also ask local landscaping companies where they would suggest. With the proper research, you are sure to find the right landscaping class.

Professional Landscaper training should include:

* All the books, lessons, and learning aids you need

* “Landscape Tools Use and Safety” videos

* Tree and shrub identification books

* 3D Home Design Suite Deluxe Software

* Instructional support and

* Some Access to InformationalWebsites

Landscaping Is A Great Career; You Will Always Be In Demand!

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Software designs gardens and landscapes

Dosch 3D: Garden Designer v2 offers 3D-object library with all required elements for design and planning of garden or landscape. It provides 250 3D models of hedges, shrubs/bushes, fences, and walkways, as well as decorative design elements and potted plants. Models are provided in 3DS, 3ds max, OBJ, LWO, Maya, VRML, and Cinema 4D formats. Product is suited for visualization of parks, private gardens, public spaces in city planning, and hotel/resort development.

250 detailed 3D-models for architectural visualization.

The realistic depiction and visualization of gardens and ornamental landscapes constitutes an important part of architectural planning and marketing.

Dosch 3D: Garden Designer V2 is a comprehensive 3D-object library with all the important elements for the design and planning of a garden, or a particular landscape. The product provides the user with 250 3D-models of hedges, shrubs/bushes, fences, walkways as well as a large number of decorative design elements and potted plants.

Use the product for the visualization of historic and modern parks, private gardens, public spaces in city planning, hotel/resort development, corporate headquarters landscaping, golf course design and amusement parks / theme parks.

The 3D-models are provided in the widely-used formats 3DS, 3ds max (version 4 and higer), OBJ, LWO (Lighwave version 6 and higher), Maya (V4 and higher), VRML and Cinema 4D (version 7 and higher). They can therefore be used in most 3D-applications.

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Free Publicity For Your Landscaping Business

Regardless of whether you are just venturing out into the business world or already have a successful company, budgeting your expenses will help to improve profits and the overall health of the business. The largest expenses that a landscaping business has are advertising and the cost of equipment. The prices associated with a print advertisement can be significant, which is why a growing number of business owners are turning toward an alternative way of spreading the word about their landscaping business. With a company that provides local services, such as landscaping, it is more important to reach a local audience as opposed to a national one.

The most common way to generate free publicity for a landscaping business is through a press release, which is distributed to local newspapers, magazines and trade publications. Whether the landscaping business has an actual storefront present, is home or web-based, this option may have a positive success rate. In order for a press release to be worthy of publication, it must feature some type of news. A terrific example would be a grand opening, the launch of a new website, a free landscaping project contest or similar newsworthy event. A photograph of the business owner would make a nice accompaniment to any press release and may even grab the editor’s attention. Press releases can be submitted via mail, e-mail or fax and should be directed to the editor’s attention.

Many businesses, including those that provide landscaping services, often choose to have a website. Although the internet does provide for national exposure, many local customers may surf the web for landscaping information. A website should be professionally designed, regularly updated and feature plenty of landscaping example photos to showcase your ability. With a website, the free promotional opportunities are unlimited. From press release submission websites to article marketing and search engines, there are plenty of ways to get the word out about your new web presence.

Just as there are a number of ways to generate paid advertising, there are even more ways to obtain free publicity for your landscaping business. Most local companies will find paid advertising works most effectively in the telephone book’s yellow pages, but may also find limited success with newspaper and/or radio advertising. The main problem with the latter is that newspapers are often discarded quickly and most people do not have a pen handy when listening to the radio in order to write down a contact number. When you reduce the advertising costs and increase profits, your company’s bank account will begin to glimmer just as much as the dew on a beautifully landscaped lawn.

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Why Landscaping Tools Are Important

If you are thinking of taking on the big task of landscaping your garden, you will need the appropriate tools before you can begin. It is just not possible to design and rearrange your whole garden without using any tools whatsoever, so just which tools do you need?

The Various Landscaping Tools Which You Will Need

If you do have a garden you may already have various landscaping tools. It simply would not be possible to keep up with the garden if you didn’t have the right tools available, so before you begin landscaping you really do need to ensure that you have the right tools that you will need.

All in all you will need:

• Shears
• A shovel and spade
• A rake
• A wheelbarrow

All of the above are essential as they all do different jobs. Shears help to cut down any overgrown brush that you might have within the garden and they also help to trim any hedges that you may have. A wheelbarrow will be needed if you are to move all of the rubbish from one area to another as there should be quite a lot of rubbish there if you have not previously done anything to the garden.

The rake will be needed to get rid of any leaves lying around on the lawn. You should notice that as soon as you move the leaves it will make quite a big difference to how the garden looks. Then you will need shovels and spades. A spade is generally better for planting and removing weeds from any flower beds or on the lawn. They have short handles which makes them easy to manage. Shovels on the other hand have long handles and they can be used to even up the lawn. If you have bumps all around the garden, the shovel can be used to remove them and then new grass can be laid in its place.

Another tool you will need includes a hose which will help to water plants and perhaps fill up a pond if you are placing one within the garden. Water features do make great additions and they are really nice to look at too.

Overall you will need various tools in order to landscape the garden properly and the above mentioned are some of the most important ones. It is a good idea to wear gardening gloves to protect your hands whilst you are landscaping otherwise they tend to get sore.

The Art Of Landscaping Your Garden

Landscaping is the one gardening endeavor that can consume lots and lots of your time and energy. If you are thinking of tackling it on a grand scale, you will need some major preparation. If you were to consider hiring a professional landscaper, you would most probably find that the costs would be quite horrendous.

Now that's fine if money is no object, but I personally get great pleasure from my own endeavors, gardening is after all my great passion in life.

I would strongly suggest however, that you have a clear idea in your mind about how you would like your garden to look, rather than simply starting off without a clear plan in mind.

Having said all that,here are simple but indispensable tips to guide you in making your landscaping activities extremely rewarding.

Draw Your Landscape Plan.

However not just any plan. It needs to be a well thought out landscape plan, or you are certainly doomed to lose money as well as time and energy. You really need to take account of the style and function of your landscape, and a good idea of the plants that you also want to include. Focus on that area where you spend most of your time, because this is where your landscaping labors should all be directed.

Investigate A Free Planning Service.

Hiring an independent designer would probly cost you hundreds of dollars, but you might well discover that many nurseries offer a free planning service, particularly if you are likely to be spending some money with them.

Take Account Of The Style Of Your Home.

When planning your landscape, the style should complement the design of your house and your personality as well. There are various landscape styles which you can choose for your garden:-

1. Formal - This style uses lots of straight lines and perfect geometrical shapes. Orderly arrangement of plants instead of random positioning is employed, and close arrangement and pruning is used on many landscaped gardens with this style.

2. Informal - This kind of landscaping goes well with houses which have a cozy look to them. Beds with curved edges instead of straight lines and random placement of plants suit this landscape style.

3. English Garden - This style emphasizes on the harmony between the house’s architecture and the garden.

4. Formal/Informal Garden - This style often comes with a brick walkway that exudes formality. This walkway leads to the rear with a circle of plants. The arrangement of plants resembles the English garden style, but it has no formal borders.

5. Oriental - It is often the kind of garden found in houses with small backyards. It uses rocks, evergreens and water, and a wide variety of plants to create several angles with this style.

6. Woodland - This landscaping suits a house that has a wooded backyard and an inclined terrain.

Keeping those tips in mind will not only make your landscaping a very fruitful activity, but will save you considerable expense as well as time.

Don,t be frightened to use your imagination and flair for color in this project, after all it is primarily to please yourself and your family. I suggest that the satisfaction that you will gain from creating and designing your own personal landscaped garden, will make you feel like a true artist.

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3 Flower Gardening Tips

Flower gardening is a simple and rewarding hobby for many people. It does require hard work and dedication but the rewards are far better. Here are a few flower gardening tips that will keep your flower garden in tiptop condition and in the process enjoy yourself.

Flower Gardening Tip #1 : Planting

One of the most important steps in flower gardening is deciding where to do your planting. If you decide to plant it in a container, you can pretty much replicate the soil conditions you wanted. It is easier and much simpler to manage.

If you decide to plant it in your backyard, you should do a soil test first to determine the type of soil in your backyard. You can grab a test soil kit from your neighborhood gardening store which should be readily available.

Ideally, you want the soil to be composed of equal parts clay and sand. Too much of either clay or sand is not suitable for flower gardening. Clay does not drain well and roots cannot get hold easily in clay. Sand does not retain nutrients and elements well and does not hold together easily therefore it is impossible to grow flowers on sand.

Flower Gardening Tip #2 : Gardening Journal

A gardening journal can help you keep track of your flower garden progress and is recommended. With a gardening journal, you can keep track of the success and failure you have with the type of flowers you have grown in your pot or backyard. Doing so can reduce the amount of time you need to grow your next flower garden. You can use any notepad to keep track. There are even professional software available on the market that does this.

Flower Gardening Tip #3 : Organic Materials

All flowers require fertilizers to grow well. A suitable amount of organic matter or fertilizer in the soil makes it fertile and nutrient rich. It would be easier to grow flowers on such soil.

If your soil does not have much organic matter, it is still pretty easy to change the soil by adding compost to it. Compost is the remains of plants and animals and you can get it easily from your gardening supply store.

Compost provides nutrients and can help in drainage and hold moisture, conditions necessary for flower gardening.

Landscaping Can Improve Your Quality of Life

Landscaping is one of the most cost effective tools for improving your garden and sustaining the quality of life, whether in the city, the suburbs, or the country, a pleasing backyard or garden is always a pleasure to come home to. Landscaping is often also more sophisticated as it makes use of living elements - flora and fauna, also natural elements, such as landforms, or bodies of water are used. If carried out by specialists can be costly, but many undertake the project themselves which can rewarding and very cost effective. A thoroughly prepared plan before commencement is very important to guarantee a success. Study and research what type of landscaping plants will be happy with your soil. Take note of fully grown sizes with the tallest at the back to the shortest at the front. Research and study landscape ideas pictures to help you with your design.

Landscape

They like to use man-made elements such as fences, fountains and other structures in addition to numerous plants. Landscape software programs help you design and plan your project, all in the virtual world. Landscape lighting serves as an excellent visual guide, as it highlights the beauty of specific aspects of your garden or landscape. There is nothing better than relaxing outdoors on a warm summer night watching your ideas come to life.

Plants

Plants native to the area are a good choice for the landscape as they have naturally adapted to local conditions and look "at home" in the landscape. Plants placed closer than this distance to the street can block the driver's view of the street from the car. Summer shade is best provided by strategically located plants along the sunny borders of the home. Plan for Sunny Perennial Beds With Drought-Tolerant Plants.

Natural Landscaping

Natural landscaping is an opportunity to re-establish diverse native plants, thereby inviting the birds and butterflies back home. Natural landscaping does not pose the hazards that the weed laws are intended to address (e.g. it applies to a wide array of landscaping techniques that help retain features, including wetlands, woodlands and natural drainage features. Natural landscaping costs less to install than traditional landscaping and, after the initial few years, reduces maintenance costs, combats erosion, and accommodates storm and flood waters better.

Maintenance

Maintenance of natural landscapes is quite simple, involving annual mowing or burning, and some weed removal (mostly in the few years after installation). Landscaping Maintenance carried out at regular intervals will keep your garden in good condition.

Butterfly Garden Landscaping Ideas: Free Online Gardening Tips

Landscaping Design Made Easy

Landscaping design can be made much easier by using landscaping software. If your creativity is running low concerning your lawn, then landscaping software can help you to get some ideas on how to design your landscaping plan. This is a great tool to help you design your landscaping plan because you can input your dimensions, determine your plan, and then print it off so that you can go buy the materials needed.

Help With Your Landscaping Design If you are looking for some ideas for landscaping, then you will want to consider getting some landscaping software. By using this software, you will be able to get a firsthand look at how your landscape will look after you complete your work. It will be displayed on the screen just as if you were watching a television show.

Landscaping Instructions Most of the landscape software packages will also give you step-by-step directions on how to complete your project. This will give you clear direction from start to finish. This is the right choice for you if you are someone who needs detailed directions to complete a project completely. It will also help you with determining what materials that you need to complete your project. What could be better than that?

Creating Software For Your Ideas Creating your own landscaping software is a great way to show other people your effort and work. This is also the best way to sell your imagination and creativity. You can even sell your own software if you want to. Building software can be done in the privacy and comfort of your own home and you can find directions on how to do this online or at your local computer store.

Find the Software Needed You can find landscaping software in many different places. The most common sources are an electronics outlet or computer store, but other sources for landscaping software is catalogs or even online. There is a big price range in landscaping software, but in this case, the more expensive ones may be easier to use and better for your landscaping planning.