Design a garden patio

Design a garden courtyard package manually and this unique workbook will help customers to design their dream of a patio garden.

Check it out!

Preparing your garden for winter

Many people tend to think that once the first frost arrives, they will have to worry about the Garden until next spring. No more pull weeds weeds, hoeing, digging, pruning, water ing or scraping. The truth, the idea Garden ing is more once you pull the last carrot or cut the latter rose, is completely false. If you place so me ti me in autumn to do a little cleaning, maintenance and planning, you can save yourself much work when the season of ing Garden surround the next spring rolls.

Chores for the beginning of autumn

At the beginning of autumn remove any dead flowers and leaves of roses and clean all debris from the plants database autour. Plant material left on the soil around plants decayed may contain diseases and other plant pests which can survive the winter and infest plants in the spring.

As Sum me r flowers melted so add me fall color in your ho me and hardy Garden plants such as moms, cabbage or worries in bloom. Autumn traditional festivals can also be a ti add me to me extra for color form of pumpkins, squash or dried corn. Just because the warm weather has ended, do me a you must waive color around the outside of your ho me or in your Garden.

It is the ti me pave the way for plants in the next year. Many people like to till their s vegetable Garden in the fall to get a head start on next spring. The its me applies for flowers by spade massive soil and fertilizer addition.

Buy now your autumn bulbs. Find all these ing Garden catalogs and bulbs of agenda for fall plantings or check your local Garden store or a farm for a wide variety of bulbs give you therefore me great early spring color.

If you want to do so me landscaping, in the early fall is the perfect ti me. Shrubs and perennials planted early autumn shall ti establish me their root systems before really cold. In addition, in many areas where rain is common in autumn, plants get lot of moisture without having to constantly water them.

Things to do in the middle of autumn

Fall progresses and all leaves are finally off the coast of trees, it is ti me to highlight rakes. Raking leaves may not be your favorite pasti me but be not be tempted to leave on your lawn or Garden, because they can shelter insects and foster the growth of mold and mildew. The decay of the leaf can also carpet and choke out grass and you'll end up with brown spots on your lawn. Therefore rake up leaves and put them in the bin to compost or even up to their Garden.

Turn off SW me feeders for your feathered friends. They have worked hard all year keeping insects in your Garden and food may be limited to birds at the end of the fall show so your appreciation and keep a few feeders filled with their favorite seed.

Prepare for winter

Once you've done your cleaning, scraping and preparing lunch for birds, c'est ti me give my attention to your front Garden tools you storing. Clean dirt or rust with a wire brush and rub in a little oil to protect winter and hang to dry places, like your garage or Garden shed. If you live in colder climates with temperatures in the winter, don't forget to turn off the tap water and (d) foreign rainwater pipe. Also d rain Garden hoses, roll and placed along the side of your Garden tools.

It is true that preparing your Garden for the winter can be a bit of extra work, but if you now you much less to do in the spring and that gives you a head start on having the best Garden district.

Tori works for your home supply (YHS) the definitive site for tools to improve the home and gardening supplies. Provide your homepage offers a wide range of gardening tools [http://www.yourhomesupply.com/c-44-specialty-hand-tools.aspx] and garden carts for you help prepare your garden for the long cold winter.

Better than plants potted - gardening gifts

Alright understand me a potted plant is a Garden ing gift alright, but we can use our imagination and find the best gifts. In my opinion, potted plant is for ing Garden gifts that are the roses for romantic gifts. It is so predictable. It represents an understanding that Yes nobody loves plants... flowers, trees, whatever; However, it does not go much deeper than that. How unfortunate! Keep reading to learn more about to me better ideas to be more creative and useful to this special Garden er which you like.

Firstly, it is important to re me many gifts are those that are purchased and given with the recipient in mind. Now that just me not one that you think about them for five seconds before you go to the Mall. It is even deeper and more profound than that. Buy better gifts depends on your ability to really put yourself into the skin of me you worry about and discover what they want may indeed. At the end of this article I will help you to peak so me great with that.

Thus, enter gifts for RHS Garden in particular, it is important to think about the purpose of his Garden ing and how he or she feels about it and considers this pastime. ING Garden is perhaps for their livelihood. It is perhaps strictly orna I ment. Anyway, no matter what the recipient wants to get out of Garden ing.

Now, most people stop after they have understood this and go outside and so buy me tools from ing wonderful Garden for this special SW me there. Garden ing tools can work, but they aren't always the best choice. You see, a Garden er will already be budget for Garden ing tools (and seed). Essential things will be supported by them. Which means not that expensive tool will be appreciated. It will be. A good weeding tool is an example of a tool which he or she can does not but appreciate.

Coming to think more creative gifts you give to this special Garden er think about things that are either very useful as compost or so me this luxurious that (for a Garden er), as a raised bed. Make sure you only that what you buy is so I thing that contributes to their Garden a put me way.

There are to many other cool Garden ing gifts and it is possible to give a gift to a Garden er that will be cherished and used both.

For some help picking perfect for gardeners gardening gifts go to my website.

Click here for more donations of gardening for gardeners.

I hope that helps you.

Ben

A complete guide to Hydroponic gardening

Hydroponic gardening this complete guide will take the beginner or advanced through all the steps ??? to growing Hydroponic garden. From setting up your garden starts making fertilizer, or troubleshoot your growing plants.

Check it out!

Grow your own herb garden

Detailed information about how to start your own herb garden at home.

Check it out!

Disability and gardening en fauteuil roulant

With a good surface even sound are almost indispensable in a Garden if you use walking sticks walking aids or a wheelchair. They should be wide with a circle turning large enough to turn at least 3 feet (two slabs 18 ""). Gravel is a non-gravel even made walking with sticks or the wheel of your wheelchair really difficult. Re me number same rivened slabs are slippery when wet or icy. Having a slight slope for water run off is a good idea.

If your Garden path will run on different levels, gradual slopes are better than the steps. Its also a good ideal to hold the handrails on the slopes.

Plantation

Choose plants that have no need for maintenance will make life easier but limited choice and perhaps all colors year-round. Probably best to buy plants that are slow-growing, most trees grow slowly as avoid you leylandii type of fast growing trees. Shrub cover will help reduce weeds and add interest.Fruit growth trees give colour and the obvious advantage of the fall harvest. If you do not know what trees, shrubs and plants to plant, it might be a good idea to fork for a planting plan and stick to it.

Hedges are for the most rapid growth and require much pruning. You might be better from Panel fencing, unique panels which is damaged is easier to replace if you use slot positions. Growth type vegetables such as beans or fragnent vine vines as Clematis climbing Rose, honeysuckle, Jasmine to cover the closing.

Dig and weeding.

Dig helps break ground and allows air into the soil and it can help to loosen the weeds. Regular hoeing, lightweight fork and adding good compost rotted your pile of composy to the old GID annual dos fashioned breaking almost redundant. So if the deflection due to a disability or bad back is a problem of simplicity. Light work and is better for your return, your general well being frequently and in your Garden. If instead of sitting in front of the television on a day dry, you could be in your Garden keeping yourself and your Garden healthy.

Raised beds do dig more easy, but if you are digging ground-level beds with a light weight long treated trowel or fork to the soil makes it much easier. These documents are available on the net, or if you still have your local quincailler will sort you.

Large Garden centers charge much more for them.

Dig and weeding are easier if you keep your bed close or accessible from both sides, if you are installing raised beds, if you have in your Garden retaining walls grow zone which loin behind the wall, if you use ing specially designed Garden tools if you fix a weed removing me mbrane and plants through the slits cut into the matter, if your Garden soil is clay keep adding grit sand.

Weeds.

Get rid of annual and perennial weeds keeps your Garden beds tidy and your plants healthy. Weeds absorb moisture, nutrients your plants need prosper once again soon and often is better and more enjoyable. An overgrown weeds Garden is impressive intimidating and you may prefer to stay in front of the TV. So little and often especially if you have a bad back or disability which prevents you from bending easily is the way to keep on Garden ing.

Water ing

During periods of drought since long water ing is a ti me eating must but can be made easier if you have a disability or the bad back which makes it difficult to bending. A lightweight plastic, flat sided water ing CAD is easier than the round and implements practice locations around the Garden water butts and stand pipes make water ing saves your back.

Consolidation of your containers and placing saucers them, mulching the soil and water ing in the evening, when there is less evaporation all conserve them water and the ti me. If you have not obtained stand pipes in practical spots around Garden leave the hose deployed season long heat waves.

Sow

Save money and grow plants, seeds, you'll also spare plants share or sell your local car initializing. I get much satisfaction of growing seeds, SW me ti me s it back ' nt work out, but even at my age its still one big learning curve. You can grow the seeds directly in the Garden or in the greenhouse, its easier on the backs of poor if you sow direct in the place in your Garden beds where plants will grow, especially if your beds are designed as borders close reachable or raised beds that we talked about in this article. Mixture of fine seed with sand facilitates sow if your hands are a bit stiff.

When and what need sowing advice can be found on my ing simplelife tip pages and the Garden.

ING Garden more advice for RHS Garden with back pain or disability which is difficult to bending on my page of ing Garden disabled.

I am a landscaper interested in the wildlife friendly garden design and build. More information on my website http://www.flowerpotman.com

At the beginning of spring gardening chores - March is the time to Get Back outdoors!

March is a great month trimming and cleaning. Do it now because a month from now, you'll be busy dirt under your fingernails clean.

March is one of the most important month of the year for fertilization because this is the beginning of the growing season. Eating fruit (16-16-16) and orna me element trees, covers, shrubs, perennial and annual plants that have been in the ground at least six weeks. Feed your container plants also

Trees and shrubs

o delete existing roses winter mulch and prune as necessary. Consult a good pink book for the best thods me cut your rose type because the timing and me thods

o prune your trees primarily of fruit trees (with the exception of the walnut tree, maple, and birch). PAS prune flowering shrubs.

o fertilize deciduous and coniferous trees. Protect the deciduous trees mites, scale and aphids by treatment with horticultural oil.

o start water ing trees and shrubs that you planted in the fall. Begin when you see new leaves appear. Ing slow and regular water is better. Try to use a hose on a slow net of water or a soaker water deeply and well pipe

o plant new trees, roses, berries, flowers of spring and other plant deciduous shrubs. Not the best ti me of transplantation less tree or a shrub is still at the stage of dormancy.

Flower and bulb beds

o test pH levels to planting beds. Adjust soil pH level is the single most important task Garden you can perform for healthy plants.

o Cut back perennial that you left standing for winter

o this is a great ti me buying and perennial plants as the soil is still fresh. Also if you are ordering plants bare-root mapping, this should be done at the beginning of months. When things happen, woody plants bare-root will be priority in the plantation, so think coming.

o like Lily and Canna bulbs should be planted now for the amount I r and fall color.

annual o benefiting the cooler weather March offers may be planted. It thoughts, Snapdragons and calendulas.

o tulips and daffodils bulbs require a light application of fertilizers (a high-nitrogen fertilizer, quick-release)

o cup smooth hydrangeas to the ground. Thin of growth year last on peegee hydrangeas and remove dead wood at the base of hydrangeas oak leaves

o forward step by deburring and weeding your beds. Roots and all, dig before seed which will crimp their numbers later

o now is when you need to reduce your environment grass orna me. Hold or fasten the former with Twine and cut grass 4 to 6 inches from the floor. New growth will appear in a few weeks.

Other tips

Garden check o. Tools fix, sharpen, or replace them as needed.

o Clean out your nest get them ready for spring nesting

o take the mower for a tune-up.

o Broken or weak trees, fence and trellis should be repaired this month

o cleaning and repair of the lines of drip irrigation

o Remove leaves from the bottom of ponds or other characteristics of the water

o start stocking locations in your lawn. Once a week and seed water slightly twice daily until the spots to fill. But fertilize until Me morial. Apply to pre-e me rgent crabgrass control for your lawn

"Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of snow melting." - Doug Larson

L.B. Masoero is an avid gardener and bird lover. If you are looking for outdoor patio furniture, decorative birdhouses, fountains outdoor gardens, tuned wind chimes and much more for your garden, go to YourGardenRetreat.com. Discover ideas for your garden living as grilling recipes, gardening tips to attract wildlife, lawns, decoration and maintenance of your outdoor living space to go in my backyard

What you should do in your garden during October

October is the ti me when you should start to prepare for winter even though we are only a few weeks in the fall. Jobs that need this month involve cleaning the Garden and harvesting of cultivated fruits.

Your lawn

Your lawn Garden should start slow with less growth, therefore you are looking for only one or two cuts more. On these occasions raise the height of cut on your mower to give roots more protection in Piazza and coming winter months.

You may live in an area of cold cases in this is now the ti me to work on the lawn. Use an autumn lawn feed to help your lawn by the colder months.

Make sure that the fallen leaves are deleted; These will block the light from the Sun to go to your lawn which could lead to turning yellow lawn.

Your greenhouse

The ti give me your greenhouse is now a clean. Empty your greenhouse completely it will be a job more easily all round. Now cleaning will erase all the dead plants making the area for the next season. Once clean you can put your plants back.

It is also a good ti me to think about the isolation of your greenhouse, bubble can do miracles and can also help reduce the cost of your right heating bills in the colder months.

It is important to ensure that you do your OM me nt too humid greenhouse. This could lead to mold and your plants die to offshore.

Despite the weather becomes cooler, you can always grow Sweet Peas for months ready for Springti me ready to be subcultured next March.

Your vegetable garden, Garden

You can collapse all asparagus you have month growth last? Well if not, make sure that it this month.

Onions should be planted now to be ready for next spring and early sum I r.

This month, you can cut off the coast of the Crown of your peas and beans. These can then be cut and added to your compost. Only digging roots into the next ti me then as dig you the bed, the compost will act as fertilizer.

Maybe start thinking about digging your beds in the coming weeks, frost will then help to break up the lumps.

You must be a harvest pear trees, or Apple, you may have.

A good ti me is now thinking about planting spring cabbage, be careful to pigeons and make sure that cover you these.

Your borders

If you have herbaceous plants are in flower or just simply too big, they can now be divided.

Frost threat now, you need to try to eliminate any amount I r bedding until these plants are killed off the coast.

If Frost blackened your Dahlias is ti me for them to be moved to a cold greenhouse and frost cannot obtain their.

Spring flowering bulbs should be planted today. October is also a very good month for planting trees.

Garden Pruning

If you do not reduce your hedges last month, then this is your last chance before winter.

Prune your Roses and Lavatera Budlia back to half. This will stop the wind damage the roots during the winter months as well as tidy their. Tie back just shoots you on climbing roses.

Garden Birds

If you have feeders and baths so make sure that they are now remains clean. Also keep well stocked with various bird feeds. This will help the birds you were feeding in the coming months.

If you want to populate the hedgehogs in the coming months, be sure to use special purpose foods that are available on the internet or in pet stores. It is a common myth that hedgehogs should be fed bread and milk, it can be dangerous for them, so stick to foods that are available and you will be pleased to know that they like the slugs.

Andy Williams is a freelance writer recommends Garden Centre online suppliers of quality gardening materials and equipment, including garden tools and accessories.

Great gift for the Avid gardener

If there is a Garden er list buy you for this holiday season that you have a few to choose. A Garden er would appreciate reference guides or other Garden books. They will also appreciate a quality Garden tool or a bag to hold and transport. Add decor to a yard with a Garden like a sundial focus. Allow your friends that keep their feet dry in the Garden with a pair of clogs.

Pruners are an essential part of the Garden er tool collection. A professional landscape, I know the value of well made Garden tools. They are the difference between a Garden enjoyable experience ing and frustration. Qualities to look for in a pruner are reliable, robust construction and a soft grip.

Garden Bag gift Setsü are great way for passionate Garden er to organize and carry tools. Since a Garden bag has sharp tools, choose one that is well done and easy to carry. So my Garden bags will include SW me products to add to your collection of tools such as towels and hand rakes.

Garden clogs are wonderful because they provide protection for Garden er feet while in the Garden. Keeping dry feet, a pair of soft clogs is fairly comfortable wear all day while working in the Garden. Evidence of water clogs are also easy to clean.

Garden benches can transform so me his Garden or patio a sanctuary. They allow you rest and see the landscape, they are big. Choose a bank that will add character to the Garden as a place to relax. Garden benches can be traditional or modern. Environmentally friendly wooden weather-resistant benches are beautifully long-lasting and age.

Baths are an attractive way to improve a Garden or turn a backyard wildlife habitat. Depending on the type, baths can be suspended from a branch of a tree or placed on a stand in the Garden. Styles can vary from very simple and modern to ornate and decorative. If the water freezes in winter where you live, consider an estimated device me ice for birds have sufficient water in winter.

Sundials are classic Garden decor. A decorative as a Sundialü, butterfly is perfect for a Garden. Decor such as this gives a character to the Garden and helps make it unique.

The A-me American Horticultural Society A - Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plantsü is ideal for Garden ers seeking specific information or advice from ing general Garden plants. It covers 15,000 trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, climbing rock plants, bulbs and Succulents. It is a perfect guide for those who want descriptions of popular plant species.

Garden Gloves are essential when pruning roses, raspberries or other thorny shrubs. Look for gloves that provide a balance between protection and dexterity. Leather or canvas provides the best protection.

Garden ers are generally easy to please and patient. They are listed above gifts are sure to put a smile on their faces.

R. Birch is the owner of GardenLeap, a gardening magazine for lovers of gardens.

Of organic vegetable gardening

75% affiliate commissions-organic vegetable gardening book. Organic garden even begins to start with this simple guide. Step-by-step gardening complete guide.

Check it out!

Are you planting your Rose correctly?

How transplanting Roses

Of pink transplantation, there are so many I key things that should be made. Many people transplanting roses without losing even one of their pink and it can be done with practice so I. Once well informed of the procedure, it can be perfect every ti me. There are so many I rosarians can pink 1,200 transplantation in containers without damaging the roots or jeopardize the integrity.

Prepare, prepare, prepare. Preparedness is a key ele me nt in transplantation. If the area in which you will be planting your roses to does not properly prepared you could have problems, especially if you are reinstalling your roses on one side of the yard to another without first potting soil. When you prepare your pink bed for roses, make sure that the soil is not water logged. Too much water in the soil has no good ventilation and won't rose root correctly.

Ensure that the soil is the proper ph balance is an important step before transplanting roses.  The soil should be in the range 5 5-7. Rosarians most keep their balance pH closer to 6.5 if it is not exactly. If the soil is too acidic, powdered li me is the answer to this problem. If the soil is too alkaline to SW me organic matter will bring back down. It is preferable to do this step before pink transplantation simply because it is easier to adjust the balance of ph without the rose in place. No me Convention it will then be without affecting the health of the rose.

Reasons for transplanting pink

o resettlement to another residence

o Redesigning your rose Garden

o planting Sun targeted

o Moving away from trees and shrubs

o transfer potted roses Garden

o rearranging the beautiful colors in design

Transplanting should be done at the beginning of spring. This is when soil moisture is flexible enough so that it is worked to prepare. Rose can be transplanted to the mid to late spring still coming from dormancy.  Rosarians known me are sufficiently qualified to plant their roses to almost any ti me of the year. I would recom me nd to a pink er novice Garden.

Tools for transplanting roses

o blade long spade
o pruning Sharp clippers
o soil and mulch
o leather gloves
o Bone me al and a slow release (organic or inorganic) fertilizers
o possibly a wheel barrow
o water

Once properly prepared for the task, try having in one day. I suggest not to take more than you can chew, me aning only start to what you can do in your allotted ti me of transplantation. If you try transplantation more that you can, you may end up rushing to finish. This is not so much me something that may be precipitated. If your transplant is done correctly, you may have a bouquet of roses wilted/dead.

To place your rose in the bed properly prepared, take a clove of garlic and mix with soil to help prevent an infestation by alphids. You don't want to bug taking your rose Garden and ruin everything you just put in. Planting of onions and chives with your rose Garden can also other bug problems. It has been said that onions for your aroma of rose more like a gentle s I ll.

Now that you have placed your transplanted rose and water ed, take step back and take a look. If you havn haven't already, make a layout for roses, you'll to transplant. With this loan before hand will be that much easier.

Centeno Landy is an a rose gardening passion was for many years. For more information on transplanting roses, visit http://www.roselanding.com

Ergonomically correct garden - tools your back will be thank you

Translate Request has too much data
Parameter name: request
Translate Request has too much data
Parameter name: request

In most endeavors, a person will opt for the easiest, most comfortable manner by which to accomplish his chosen task. An artist painting a magnificent sunset , shimmering delicately over a lake, will use the best quality artist's brush made of camel hair, not a house painter's 3" wide, synthetically bristled brush. In the kitchen, why chop vegetables until your hands are in considerable pain when there is a food processor waiting to do the job, freeing you from the tedium, and the additional back pain that comes from standing interminably at the kitchen counter, wondering to yourself if your recipe really needs a full cup of finely diced celery? And why would anybody use a manual typewriter that has absolutely no features to boast about, other than causing carpal tunnel syndrome or muscle spasms, that come from the repetitive motion of striking the keys with force when, in the other room, sits a state-of-the-art computer with all the bells and whistles, capable of doing practically everything for you but actually compose the text that you want? I do not think I could begin to be sufficiently proficient (more like bumbling) if I had to worry about setting margins and spacing, and trying to figure out where to put that *%@# "e" inadvertently missing in cheese [sic] without destroying any semblance to proper space placement.

The same thing is true with gardening. You do not use a shovel when a much lighter weight spade will do. And you do not spend an hour, bent over a flower bed, without causing grievous pain to your back and shoulders, when you could be using an ergonomically designed kneeler pad specifically crafted to keep your knees on speaking terms with the rest of your body.

Any gardener, beginner or professional, needs a basic set of tools. As is the case with any job or pastime requiring specialized tools or paraphernalia, to garden you must amass for yourself a set of good quality tools which will not fall apart with the slightest provocation. Plus, you owe it to yourself to obtain the most comfortable tools within your budget. It is better to buy just a few of the basics before you start salivating at the sight of "designer" garden tools. At this point, more is not necessarily better. Pick wisely.

The first category of ergonomically designed garden tools includes SPADES, TROWELS, CULTIVATORS, and SHOVELS. A SPADE is used for digging or cutting the ground. It has a sharp-edged metal blade and a long handle. A TROWEL is basically a small spade, used for lifting plants or soil. A CULTIVATOR is used to prepare the soil for a garden.

A STANDARD or GARDEN TROWEL, a very versatile hand tool, can do many jobs such as digging and shaping holes, hollowing or leveling out soil, and close-up weeding. A TRANSPLANTING TROWEL, with its narrow design, is the ideal tool for digging deep and/or narrow holes for planting seedlings. It is also excellent for removing root balls easily, with no damage to the plant or neighboring areas. Some transplanting trowels have measurements marked on the trowel so the gardener can dig to the correct depth for planting seeds. An extremely versatile tool, the CULTIVATOR , with its three elongated prongs, is perfect for many tasks. It can be used to loosen and prepare soil, extract immature weeds, amend the soil with compost or fertilizer, and to aerate the soil to make watering more efficient. A long-handled ROUND POINT SHOVEL can make or break your garden. You can accomplish anything and everything with this kind of shovel. It is ideal for turning ground or scooping soil, as well as for creating planting holes, filling in holes, and for carting away dirt loosened by another tool.

The next group of gardening tools includes PRUNERS, SHEARS, and LOPPERS. HAND PRUNERS are quite useful. They are perfectly suited for removing dead or damaged branches from rose bushes and shrubs, and they can cut through thin branches. Other uses can include cutting back perennials, and collecting herbs and flowers. I have found, from personal experience, to keep the blades clean and sharpened, or else you will find yourself with an armful of mangled rose stems, hanging half on and half off the bush. Not a pretty sight. I'm very territorial about my rose pruners and really do not like sharing them with others. If the pruner fits...

There are various styles of SHEARS available. Generally speaking, shears are large clipping or cutting instruments shaped like scissors. GRASS SHEARS are designed to get into areas difficult to be trimmed by the lawn mower, such as around tree trunks and flower beds, and to trim the lawn's edges. HEDGE SHEARS and grass shears are alike, but the hedge shears have longer blades. This tool is good when trimming hedges and shrubs. In the Fall, it comes in quite handy when cutting back perennials and also when clipping off dead flower heads.

LOPPERS have long handles in order to prune back or cut off branches from a tree or other such woody plants. They are able to cut through branches up to 2 inched in diameter.

Another important grouping of garden tools is made up of WEEDERS and EDGERS. WEEDERS do just that; they dig up weeds. A weeder consists of a long metal handle ending in finger like projections or scrapers that have been sharpened to facilitate piercing the earth and pulling up long, straggling weeds up and away by cutting them off below the surface. It rather looks like a BBQ fork. EDGERS are used to keep flower beds and bushes maintained in their proper contours. Basically, an edger will help delineate the garden borders by loosening up grass impinging onto sidewalks, stepping stones, flower beds, and around the circular space surrounding the diameter of a tree.

There are two basic types of RAKES: the BOW RAKE and the LEAF RAKE. The BOW RAKE is a basic in any garden. Solidly built with sturdy steel tines, it is used to move and smooth soil. It is also useful for drawing up raised flower or vegetable beds or mounding soil around plants. It is indispensable to "catch and toss" garden debris. LEAF RAKES have flexible plastic or aluminum tines. It is not as heavy as the bow rake but is perfect for gathering scattered leafs, grass clippings, and so forth. Both rakes have long handles so no bending is involved.

Do not forget to select a WATERING CAN, a HOSE with a HOSE REEL and NOZZLE, a ROLLING GARDEN CART/SEAT and a KNEELER. A WATERING CAN has a long spout, enabling you to water your flowers and shrubs from a short distance away while still standing. They do tend to feel quite heavy - water weighs 8-1/3 lbs. per gallon - so try to find a watering can that is made of lighter weight materials, such as aluminum or a sturdy plastic, that is well constructed. A good quality HOSE is essential for your garden and your sanity, unless you are particularly fond of lugging that heavy watering can around to water your lawn. Do not pinch pennies on a hose; buy the best quality hose you can find so you will not be spending your weekends giving first aid to all those holes and leaks that seem to announce themselves the minute you look away. A hose made of rubber should be your best bet. Some are even reinforced from the inside with a material meant to flex with the hose. You will need a NOZZLE of plastic or metal; metal will definitely last longer and frustrate you less. A HOSE REEL will make your life so much simpler. How many times have you tripped over a hose that has been carelessly dropped in serpentine tangles all over the driveway? Try to buy a hose that is of sufficient length to reach from the spigot to the point furthest away on your property where you might need water.

Last, but certainly not least, are the GARDENING STOOL and the KNEELER. These two accessories are designed for those of us who are not quite as mobile as we once were. The GARDENING STOOL helps eliminate back and knee pain by providing a surface upon which to sit while doing gardening chores that generally require standing in one place and/or bending. The stool usually is equipped with wheels and a storage space for your tools, and even has a holder for your water bottle. There is another type of gardening stool resembling a round hassock but it is mounted on a spring mechanism that allows the gardener to sit and reach in all directions without having to get up to reposition the stool. Unfortunately, this second type of stool tends to be very expensive.

The KNEELER, a padded surface in the shape of a rigid swing seat, is designed to take the ground's hardness away from your poor aching knees. A variation of the kneeler is as described above but with grab bars on either side of the cushion to facilitate standing up when you have finished working in that part of your garden. Both models ease pressure on the knees, especially helpful for arthritics.

Probably one of the most effective items, ergonomically speaking, is the ADD-ON HANDLE. It structurally modifies conventionally designed garden tools in a manner that gives the tool an ergonomic grip. It can be used with hand tools such as trowels and spades, rakes, hoes, and brooms. An arm support cuff for increased control and leverage is also available. Both the handle and the cuff are removable and can be used on the tools mentioned above. There are also long reach cultivators for those who must work from a seated position, particularly wheelchair users.

A few final thoughts:
You must treat your body as a shrine. Bending incorrectly is the same as taking a sledge hammer to your shrine. Both are destructive.
It is easy to make a quick move without thinking. I cannot count the number of times my doctor has fussed at me for just that reason.
When RAKING or HOEING, try to keep the tools close to your body. Keep your back straight. Use your arms and NEVER twist your trunk (my doctor's very bone of contention - I still feel guilty when he catches me). If you are short, use long-handled tools in scale with your height. The same is true for tall individuals.
Do not consider bending from the waist. This is where the KNEELER or the KNEELER WITH GRAB BARS come in mighty handy. When WEEDING, use long-handled tools to ease the strain on your back, legs, and knees. Forget about bending over to TROWEL; consider squatting or sitting on the ground.
When SHOVELING or DIGGING, step on the top of the blade as you vertically insert the head of the shovel in the ground. Lift only small loads, bending at the knees. Never involve your back when lifting. Again, avoid twisting your trunk. This will become your mantra. Use as small of a shovel as possible to adequately complete your task. Again, match your shovel to your body size.
Do not push your physical limits when lifting or carrying. Bend from the knees, but not your back and keep the load close to your body. Avoid twisting or reaching. Sound familiar?
Get as close as possible to your work. Do not force your reach beyond your comfort zone. More importantly, do not stretch beyond your stable footing! On a personal note, stretching can be deleterious to your health if you have not arranged your footing to your best advantage. To preface this cautionary tale, due to having Degenerative Disc Disease for many years, my chief mode of transportation is my trusty wheelchair. I also wear bilateral leg braces which give me some support when standing. A few summers ago, I thought it would be nice to raid my rose garden to dress up the dining room table as we were expecting dinner guests that evening. Nobody else was at home.

Like a fool, I went out to my rose garden, armed with my favorite pruning shears, thinking I would like to cut at least a dozen beautiful roses (we have over 50 bushes). I was wearing rather baggy shorts that billowed in the breeze. Both my legs were ensconced in their braces. Espying a particularly delightful rose, I reached forward toward the bush. I thought my feet were firmly planted atop the redwood chips surrounding the bushes. Boy, was I wrong! As I reached for the stem to be clipped, each foot went in an opposite direction, propelling me toward all those thousands of deadly thorns. With extreme accuracy, I was thrust directly onto the bush. Correction. I was impaled upon the rose bush, imprisoned by those menacing thorns in a bent-over, face-in-the-bush position. Doomed by my thorn-snagged shorts, I was literally immobilized. My neighbor and his brother came trotting across the street to untangle me. Talk about humiliation, not to mention the blood oozing out from the zillion thorn holes on my body. I was the picture of sophistication, not. I thanked them for their help and red-facedly slunk back into the house. I can honestly say that from that point on, I stop to consider all options before even approaching anything in my garden. I had definitely learned my lesson and hope this tale will remind you to plan ahead whenever your body mechanics are involved.

By the way, I never did get the roses cut for that evening. Sigh...

For more on garden tools, see Niftygarden.com Gardening Tools. Terry Kaufman is also Chief Editorial Writer for Niftykitchen.com and Niftyhomebar.com

?2007 Terry Kaufman.

Essential garden for your low Maintenance garden tools

Fair Garden tools make it easy. Your goal is to have a friendly Garden, little maintenance that requires little effort to keep research good, it certainly should not require your attention every day. Want robust plants that are relatively autonomous. You want trees that are pleasant to look at, perhaps so me grasses and a bit of lawn.

This is so me useful tools to help you achieve this Garden little maintenance.

A small lawn a small lawn mower is enough to keep grass trim me d. For a more wide lawn size buy a larger mower. Bulbs add color and can brighten up a dull corner. Why you need a bulb planter or a trowel to make holes in the soil for your light bulbs. Of course no Garden can be without a cat. Stainless steel cat is slightly more expensive, but worth the cost it is easier to clean and will not rust. As your Garden grows it can that you may have to loosen the soil from time to time, and so you need a Garden fork. Co me fall when the leaves fall trees, a rake will help clean them.

Protect your hands when ing Garden. Ing Garden light, cotton gloves are fine. However, if you have your hands wet all the ti me use rather gloves latex to keep your hands nice and dry and good feeling.

If you have an animal-proof fence around in your Garden, you have painting the fence plastic gloves. You need tools woodwork suitable for maintenance and preparation before painting.

Remember to get so I pruning swerving to keep your shrubs research neat and tidy and glove leather when handling like roses thorny plants.

To obtain water ing can, with a long beak at hand hard places. A pair of knee pads to protect your knees is useful. If your Garden is large, a wheelbarrow robust small co me s in practice for the transportation of compost, fertilizer, etc., about. Large shovel helps when dealing with debris or soil displacement.

This is basis of the essential tools needed for a low maintenance Garden that will allow you to be able to treat most Garden maintenance tasks. Given that you'll use them for many years, it is useful to invest in the Garden of decent quality only available online tools or a trip to your store local Garden.

Mike Ward here: did you find this article useful? You can find much more information about planning and creating a new garden and how to maintain it here. http://GardenMaintenance.WardInfoNet.com

Hydroponic gardening

This is a super package that comes with a great beginner's Guide and audio Hydroponic ... Page 463 Advanced Guide to hydroponics. ... Super bonus gardening budget also with audio lgiht. High conversions. Pays 75% Commission

Check it out!

Rose gardening tips

Roses can be easy to grow with SW me pink Garden basic ing advice. Preliminary planning and visualization of what kind of plants in your Garden will be a greater success. Take into account what will work with your existing Garden? East Garden, formal or informal. Roses small shrubs or trees will work better?

Plan ahead

Roses need approximately 6 hours of sunlight, so consider whether the Garden has an appropriate location. Plants will be in a bed or a structure suitable for climbing roses. Or will you want to place the roses in pots? And finally, the color is important? If the Garden has a certain color leave me, what roses would be adapted to best?

Get in "the Zone".

After you have done so myself notes about what must be bought, it is ti me looking at climate and area of roses needs. So I pink grow poorly in cold climates. know your zone before making a purchase.

The right tool is everything

Garden tools are essential: pruners, a Garden rake and a range of digging are necessary. You should also have SW me good robust gloves, water ing can or hose and a wheelbarrow.

Weed control requires a good dose of knees. Knee pads are specially manufactured for Garden ers and deserve to be almost all expenditure. Pruners are small and useful on simple deadheading jobs, but a pair of pruning is best for pruning on a large scale.

Tools tend to be lost or scattered in the tool shed (or garage). Obtain a container or basket designated for ing Garden and keep tools and others need in one place. Paint your tool handles bright non-Garden colours to assist in locating. Hot pink Spades or pruners can easily hide in the tall grass.

Maintain your tools - sharpening pruners and clobber each year, keep them oiled and clean up debris. It is a good idea to give them a bath of alcohol friction on a regular basis to prevent transmission of pink disease in plants.

Habits are good

Be systematic about Garden tending. If you set a timetable for water ing, you are less likely to forget. Plants prefer water ing in early morning or late at night and will focus on hot money me r days.

Keep the own Garden

Similarly, attention to weed and do not allow weeds to get out of control. Keep the base factory of weeds. just after a rain weeds are much easier to trace. All debris, such as fallen leaves should be removed from beds of roses. Air circulation is essential to keep fungi as powdery mildew under control.

Join a group.

For novices the RHS Garden with experience, it's nice to have a source of information and questions about roses. Search ing Garden local groups in your area or find a forum online on the internet. There are so many I great eBooks out there for additional help, too.

Jot down your progress

Buy a newspaper and keep track of your roses. When flowering, colour and variety. Write the date of planting so that you will be able to note its progress with precision. Note what works and doesn't work. Follow concerns as well. Then if you need to speak to an expert, the information is accessible.

Take photos of your Garden, note the color of a particular rose or grouped plantation. Information may be useful additions, or of the multiplication. This information will be an opportunity to see to what extent your rose Garden runs.

Enjoy!

Enjoy your Garden. Re me number it is supposed to be a pleasant pastime! Get a glass of iced tea and a Chair and enjoy the sights and aromas of your beautiful rose Garden.

MJ Blake pink grew over the years and has recently decided to share this knowledge with the world. Tonnes [http://www.rosegardensolutions.com/rose-gardening-tips/] pink gardening advice-related, more information visit www.RoseGardenSolutions.com.

The Year's Highlights in Gadening and Horticulture (Vol 42 No 4 1986-87)

various articles by various authors with b/w photos and diagrams

Price:

Click here to buy from Amazon

Domain suggestion tool

Find domains with targeted traffic quickly. Purchase in a different domain without using domain suggestion tool

Check it out!

Marketing webmaster tools

Marketing & site manager tools, scripts, and more (partner: go to http://www.marketingrocket.com/affiliatelink.php and click on the link to the instructions under 3 can receive links to affiliate our products

Check it out!

How to grow herbs and vegetables in small spaces – kitchen gardens

This guide is known as the year round. Written by ??? Australia's primary vgnn an experienced home begins. Affiliate material-html http://www.grow-herbs-veggies-smallspaces.com/affi liates. videos & posters

Check it out!

Your guide to growing walls and beautiful

New flower gardening guide bring fast cash or if you have a list of gardening Web site. 70% Commission. Professional graphics. Catch the eye affiliate banners on: http://www.easyflowergardening.com/affiliate.html

Check it out!

Complete set of gardening

A home garden gardening massive course you change, and help to increase the value of your home. Course materials for download including audio.

Check it out!

Beautiful flower gardens

S beautiful flower Garden with least amount of work can be co me true dream when you follow the six steps below to start. You start planning your Garden, it is useful to begin with the end in mind. After all, it is true what they say "" If you don't know where you are going, how will you know when you're there?"" A cliche for sure, but to know where you want to go and how to get there is critical... business and Garden ing.

Review these six steps each ti me plan you a project, designing a Garden or pursue a new vision that may have planted seeds in your rain b. Each strategy will help you to have more Garden with least amount of work.

Six steps to managing your space, power and ti me.

Reduce repetitive tasks like mowing, edging, planting, pruning, raking leaves, pick up sticks, weeding, mulching, fertilizing, and pests. Calculate how much ti me are expenses or are willing to spend on these tasks and plan accordingly. Buy Garden ergonomic ing tools to reduce the st joint rain.



Choose what you do In the above list, see things you really love to do. Perhaps you like to mow your lawn or border. Formidable! Go ahead! But, on the other hand, not guilty if you decide to shoot this huge oak because you're tired of picking up nuts or deformation of the leaves each autumn.



Repeat what works. In business, if so I thing works, keep doing. Its me in the Garden ing. What is you were a public Garden or seen yards of neighbors in with an idea for the development landscape that seems to work? Maybe it's a colour large temporary me that they use with their annual plants like roses with gray dusty miller petunias and Begonias red and white. Take notes on botany me, useful for your landscape designer as well as the common na me, if possible and use them in your Garden. Make sure that you have chosen the niche on the right (see the next strategy) for your plant!



Know your niche. This is a useful business as well as a useful Garden plan plan. The dictionary defines a niche such as: "" a position comfortable or suitable life or employment me nt.""

Your Garden consists of several pockets of different ecological niches ranging from light, moisture, wind and soil. Corresponding to your plants in these niches is the best way to ensure the success of ing Garden.



Set free nature You love having the freedom to pursue your God given talents and passions, right? Well, then, make your plants! They all have their own personality and passions. So I love to run rampant throughout your yard (kind of me of our 25 years when he was young recalls), but then others are happy everywhere where they are located (our 22 years old.) You also like both, but each has its own set of needs. Thus, similarly, be sure and shade loving plants like hostas in low light areas and even buy maintenance such as roses, plants if you're not ready to take care of these babies.



What you grow love. Do not like radishes? Not to cultivate them! I actually have this last sum me r. Grew radish...I hate them. I've done just because they are easy to grow. Big mistake! Regardless of what, everything just to find your own passion in Garden ing and "push" for her! Whether bonsai, a fern or collection hosta or maybe even a native plant collection... just push what you like.

With these six steps, you can get the flower beautiful Garden of your dreams and be the envy of the neighbourhood. If you're new to Garden ing, make sure you start small and build on your successes. If you are a seasoned Garden er, branch and try so me something new!

Copyright: you may freely republish this article, provided the text, credit the author, active links, and this notice of copyright remains intact. »

Julia Stewart is a master floral designer gardener who likes to share his passion for gardening with others on the popular website www.Flowers-plants-Gardening - Advice .com. catch a gardening e-book free when you visit their website and sign for their quarterly newsletter.

Guide to constructing a garden Warre DIYBeehive.com 2.0

Build a backyard garden Warre hive top your own bar! This hot product shows you how using audio, video, PDF manual. To build the first hive beekeeping this season! Affiliate page at http://diybeehive.com/affiliates-us-partners 60 percent

Check it out!

Organic gardening

Set up your own organic garden grow your own organic vegetables in 100%. No longer need to spend money to buy vegetables from your local market to go bad quickly, to be replaced.

Check it out!

School social Twitter tools

With the eBook page 140 of Twitter tools you can learn how to build a skyrocket following your influence, power and social success Twitter! The package includes an audio book and access to the site with videos! -Http://twttrbook.com/affiliates

Check it out!

Benefits of pruning your rose garden tree

The reason to keep your tree rose Garden pruned to help promote new growth especially new blooms. By pruning, you also get rid of dead growth also updates your plant healthier. Pruning also helps to alter the shape of your busy and monitor size that she can beco me. Roses need air circulation can be improved by pruning also. By opening the plant through pruning, you will allow more light to penetrate what makes also stronger. If you cut the wrong Bush, it will kill the plant, but knowing when and how to prune the will make stronger.

It is important to have tools very clean and sharp when prune your rose tree. Most popular cleaning tools are cleaner and bypass Lopper long manipulated. It is important to keep your own pruning tools because if one of your trees should have a disease, you can transmit the disease to the tree or bush who you trim. If you have an unhealthy pink tree or bush and you know your tools have been exposed to it, you can use rubbing alcohol to clean tools. If your trees are in good health, you can just use water to clean and wipe dry prior to pruning your next bush or tree. Sharp tools are needed to keep your straight cuts. A dull cut can damage Cup and that is not healthy for it. You can use heavy pruning gloves to protect your hands against thorns.

The hardest part about pruning is to know exactly when to prune. This will vary depending on the type of rose Bush you. It is not recommended me NDED to prune roses in the fall, unless they are in an area exposed to the winds of winter. For most types of roses, you prune to spring up to a height of about ten to twelve inches. You always want to prune towards a bud face outwards so that new growth will not crowd around the center of the plant. All the roses that bloom on their old ones should be pruned im me less right from the day after flowering. Roses bloom on new growth can expect to be pruned at the beginning of spring. Climbing roses have a long lifetime of cane which produces a lateral growth. Flowers stem from this growth. Pink climbing bloom mostly their old. If you prune these too much you could reduce its flowering.

It is important to know where to cut when pruning roses. It is easy to remove dead wood, but you need to know where to begin to cut the sound part. You cannot really wrong Roses by their size. At worst, you'll have a ti me of year with some flowers as a consequence of hard pruning in bad ti me of the year for the plant rose. Most roses can be pruned as much as 2/3 of their height ? each spring. You will be rewarded with strong growth and beautiful roses!

Nicola Fairmount is an expert in rose garden. For more great advice on a tree-planting rose garden, please visit http://www.roseplantingsecret.com.

Step step Blueprint to start and maintain the organic garden home

Busy-affiliate tools free @ http://www.fastorganicgardening.com/affiliates/customers like program-information presented to them. 70% commissions to follow good front and Back End, product quality, beautiful graphics, Ups package.

Check it out!

Design your garden - what is only a garden?

Translate Request has too much data
Parameter name: request
Translate Request has too much data
Parameter name: request

Garden design is a very personal thing and is often an expression of your personality. What I like you, you may not and vise versa. Some people like neat and tidy gardens where there are no surprises, others love the thrill of windy paths, lots of different plant material and not knowing what is around the corner. There are three main styles of gardens formal, semi formal and informal. They can then be divided into many types of gardens and that depends on what you would like. Garden design can be intimately tidied to the style of your house as in example of the grand french chateaux where the geometric patterns of the garden mimic the geometric construction of the house or it can have no connection to your house at all.

Some people are lucky and have this innate gift of knowing how to design space, making it a pleasing place to be in. Others don't have this gene and find it very difficult to visualise how the space will work. To create a good design it is important you understand that design is about managing space and people moving around it. The core of good garden design centres round patterns and the space within these patterns. By using geometrical shapes, circles, triangles, rectangles etc. you can achieve a unified feel to your garden. So you need to think about ground patterns and movement around your garden. Where would you like people to go? Ground patterns can be achieved with the use of bricks, paving and plant material such as cut grass etc.

Formal gardens are symmetrical and geometrical and are strict in terms of repeating patterns and plant materials on either side. It is very controlled, plants are clipped, shaped, manipulated regularly and today is often suitable for small gardens like court yards. Urns, balustrades, stone, gravel paths, parterres, formal pools and framed views are all part of the formal garden. There are no surprises, you know what to expect.

Informal designs are asymmetrical and not as regimented. Plant material is allowed to spill over the structural elements such as walls, steps and paths. Plant material is allowed to self-seed and wander around the garden. Informal garden design is softer, full of surprises thus you don't know what to expect.

And semi formal is the combination of the above two. Usually it is the built structures such as retaining walls, paths and steps that are formal and the informal element is the plant material which is allowed to spill over them, softening their hard outlines.

Within these three types, there are many different styles of gardens to choose from such as contemporary, Japanese, Mediterranean, cottage, courtyard, kitchen garden or secret garden.

Contemporary is a modern style that likes to reflect the surrounding but also use a wide range of plant material. Form and texture of foliage are as important as flowers. Hard landscaping is woven into geometrical shaped buildings; all of which flow into the wider landscape. Plants are used as focal points to highlight the architectural forms.

Cottage was a late nineteenth-century ideal to return to the simple cottages of the country. They were planted with hardy bulbs, flowers, fruit bushes and herbs and vegetables. They were geometric, colours were harmonised and luxurious as plants grew well as they were heavily manured regularly.

Mediterranean is not limited to one particular area but are defined according to hot summers and low rainfall. They encompass entertaining areas, shade, good views and dramatic shadows. Hot colourful plants are used and lots of lush green foliage plants to create a cool atmosphere. Plants need to be drought tolerant. Evergreen plants are popular because they cast shade on hot days. Walls are white washed to reflect the sun, pergolas built to create shade and use terracotta pots. There is often a water feature and water provides cooling vibes.

Japanese gardens encompasses religion and Japan's cultural history. Japanese gardens are very symbolic often the symbols relate to nature. Plants are 'tamed' and there is an emphasis on evergreen trees and shrubs. They are very controlled and often minimalist. True Japanese gardens are contemplative a place of meditation and great calm.

Planning

If you feel overwhelmed and don't know where to start when designing your garden, I suggest you break it up into areas called rooms thus dividing one big space into several smaller spaces. For example: there is the front garden, the side garden and the back garden. Once you have decided where they begin and end you can then divide each of those areas up again. For example in the back garden you could have the entertaining area, the grass/children's area, the utilities area (includes the compost heap and shed), the pool area and the vegetable/orchard area. Once you have defined the areas/rooms you can tackle one at a time, thus making a huge project into several smaller projects.

The Three Planning Stages

To create an interesting and exciting garden there are 3 sets of plans (may be four if you need an engineer's structural plans) you need to devise:- Site Analysis Plan, Concept Plan and Planting Plan, usually all drawn to scale.

The First Steps

To design a garden that works there are several things you need to do before buying plants and planting them. If you follow these steps you are more likely to have a successful garden.

Site Analysis

It is important to make an inventory of the area you are designing. Things to include are:

Levels - steep/flat

Aspect - North/south

Sun/shade

Sun Summer/Winter

Shadows

Existing trees and buildings

Wind

Views - good and bad

Soil conditions

Entrances - Front/back doors

Power lines

Underground cables and pipes

Clothes line

Fences

Sheds and garages

Paved and unpaved areas

Patio/BBQ

Lighting

Drainage - runoff of storm watered

Once you have noted the above, it is time to draw up the space. You can draw it roughly (not to scale) but eventually you will have to draw it to scale. Start by measuring the area you are designing, draw it to scale ie. 1:100 and put all the above points onto your drawn plan. All these influences need to be drawn on paper, so that you can gauge any trends. For example there might be a paved path from the back door to the garage, but everyone takes a short cut across the lawn, creating a desire line. No - one uses the paved path. So perhaps pave the desire line and make it the official path.

The next step is the concept plan and this is the plan where you put down you ideas. It can be as wild and as adventurous as you like. Forget cost, enjoy your creativity. This is the stage where you put down your dreams of what you have always wanted. Later on, you hip pocket will decide for you whether you can have them. Anything is possible, so don't be shy, dream away. Again this can be roughly drawn or to scale, it is up to you.

The third and final plan is the planting plan and it is preferable that it is drawn to scale as this allows you to know exactly how many plants you will need. It incorporates all the ideas you have decided upon and shows you how the finished garden is going to look. It is the road map which will guide you to building your new garden.

There may be a fourth plan if your site is steep or you are having major elements built, as you may need the advice of an engineer.

Points to Consider

Think about your soil conditions, is it heavy clay or light and sandy? What plants will grow in these conditions? Are some areas boggy and some always dry?

Sun conditions

The sun is higher in the sky during spring and summer and shadows are shorter. Whereas in winter, the sun is lower in the sky and casts longer shadows. So a plant might be in full sun in summer and complete shade in winter. Can it tolerate this? Also think about the conditions the plants require. Are they full sun plants like roses or shade loving plants like azaleas?

Wind

You also need to think about wind direction. Which way does the prevailing wind come from? Screens and hedges are one way of managing this problem but what problems are they going to cause? Making the block feel narrow, casting shadows etc? It is important to know because some plants don't like wind and it is no good putting the BBQ/entertainment area in an uncomfortable spot.

Views

Views out your window or from your garden are very important. Some are intrusive while others are desired. If you wish to block out flats/neighbours etc. you may need to put in a higher fence or a hedging screen of some kind. Or you may want to design your garden to enhance the view of the mountain, ocean etc.

Utilities and Service Lines

You also need to be aware where your services and utilities are; things like clothesline, overhead power lines etc. If you damage the gas, telephone or electricity lines, you are liable to pay for their repair.

Principles of Garden Design

To create a well designed garden, it is important to put the right plant in the right position. This means considering the cultural requirements of the plant. For example putting a full sun plant such as rose into a shady position isn't going to work, because the rose won't be receiving the right amount of sunlight for it to grow. The idea of good garden design is to follow this philosophy, using the placement of plants to create mystery, tension and surprise by using tricks of the eye, colours and textures.

Tension, mystery and surprise make a garden interesting. One way to create these is to use hedges, low walls, screens, paths, steps to make individual 'garden rooms' with tension points that captures your attention on the way. For example a narrow oblong garden can be made more interesting if you can't see the back fence - that there is a feature (plant or statue etc.) that obscures the fence. It also becomes more interesting if the path way is narrow then opens up into another room. A winding path adds mystery to the garden if you can't see what is around the corner. Surprise comes when you go around the corner and discover a focal point.

A focal point is something like a seat/statue/water feature that leads your eye directly to it. For example - a pergola that has a statue at the end of it. The statue is the feature and is the reason why you look/walk to see it. Another example of a focal point is a pathway leading through a door that is open and shows a vista of the wider landscape.

The success of the focal point can depend on the how successfully the ground patterns lead you there. If the paving encourages you along this path thus creating some tension and mystery, you are more likely to follow the path to see what's there because you have become inquisitive. Narrow paths encourage you to walk quickly and not to dilly dally along the way, where as wide paths say stroll, take you time, look at the surrounding vegetation. A gentle curve can be negotiated at speed, but a tight curve can't be so people slow down as there is risk involved. Paving is used as a directional tool says don't walk that way, but walk this way. Edging bricks say don't step over this - this is a boundary. Paving can also be used to reflect the ground plane of the house or other shapes in the garden.

Long narrow gardens have a strong directional emphasis that needs to be broken up. Square plots are static. To solve these problems the space's shape needs to be changed. A circular design distracts the eye from the straight lines of the boundary fence. You could also use a series of rectangles using the boundaries as part of the design.

Another method is to turn the garden onto a 45 degree angle. A long diagonal line will immediately create a feeling of space. The paving near the house could be done on an angle and high light the diagonal line of the entire garden.

Gardens with a dog-leg in them can utilise the bend by using tension, mystery and surprise to lead you around the corner to a focal point of some kind.

Unified space is created by controlling the movement around the garden. It is the way areas are linked together by paths, bridges, pergolas, steps and terraces that determine whether a garden is successful. Careless placing can ruin the flow of the garden. If you wish to direct someone's attention to a particular point then there must be a clear reason in the design for following this pathway.

Ground levels are very important when designing a garden. If a slope is too steep to walk down safely, steps may be needed and if the entire block is on a slope, the whole area may need to be terraced. What material you use is also important. Steps should not be of slippery materials and gravel may wash away. The surfaces need to be flat otherwise they could be dangerous and people will not want to walk along them and instead they may create a desire lines.

Levels help to create interest and 'rooms' in a garden because you move from one place to another by steps/paths/etc. Allow your levels to gently flow into one another and keep them simple. Don't over decorate them. A slope up from the house will appear foreshortened whereas a slope down from the house will appear larger.

Choosing Plant Materials

There are 3 types of gardens:- the plants man, the garden designer and the gardener's (mix of the first two). The plants man gardens consist of lots of singular plantings, unconnected and often rare and difficult to source. The garden designer's garden consists of plants that are tried and tested - they use plants that they know and how they perform. The gardener's garden has learned that their favourite plants can be more effective if planted in a scheme.

When choosing plants you must consider what the conditions are of your garden. There is no point putting alkaline tolerant plants in acid soil or vise versa. It won't work! You need to think about what your plants you have chosen require moist soils, dry soils, shade, sun, well drained, boggy soils. If you do your research correctly and place your plants in the right position, you are well on the way to a successful garden.

The height and spread of your plants also needs to be considered. Tall growing plants are placed at the back of the garden bed, graduating down to the low plants. Remember some plants send up flower spikes that may be much larger than the plant itself, so they need to be positioned according to their flower spike height. Some plants are bushy so don't forget to leave sufficient room for them to spread. They may need annual pruning to keep them in check.

Colour

Another trick in the designing tool bag is using colour. Colour is the sensation of illumination which is light. The way colours inter-react with each other depends on their position in colour wheel. Manipulating colour is great fun and can create all sorts of illusions. Colours are divided into 2 groups primary red, yellow, blue and secondary green, violet, orange. Secondary colours are made of combining two primary such as mixing blue and yellow together to create green. You can make a space look cold or create distance by using pale and brown colours. You can also make a space looker bigger than it really is by using warm colours such as oranges, reds or yellows. If you want to make a space look closer to you, again use warm colours. As reds, oranges or yellow are very busy colours to the eye, it is a good idea to intersperse white flowers or grey foliage plants to calm the visual scene down. White and grey also intensify blue and pale colours.

One thing to remember about the Australia sun is that the best time to look at our gardens is in the late afternoon when the sunlight is not as strong. Our hot sun tends to fade our flowers colours and the glare at mid-day tends to wash the colour out.

If you are feeling overwhelmed about designing your garden, divide your space up and take it slowly, completing one section at a time. Don't start another part until you have finished the section you are working on and very soon you will have a beautiful garden. Remember gardens are ephemeral, it is a process that is for ever evolving. You never really finish.

See my next article On Creating a Gorgeous Garden and Living with Pets

Sandra Pullman B.App.Sc. (Hort) Hons. Burnley-Uni Melb. Visit my website for "down to earth", good quality, reliable and practical advice explained to you in layman's terms. I also run gardening courses for beginners. Check out my website for upcoming class dates and locations. All your gardening solutions are one click away! http://www.gardenpatch.com.au Or check out my blog site: sandisgardenpatch.blogspot.com There you can ask me questions.