Selecting The Perfect Garden Tools For Your Yard

As winter days grow longer, the gardener in all of us longs to be out digging in the dirt. After many cold months of sitting in warm kitchens and happily dreaming of flower and vegetable gardens, it is a wonderful feeling to finally get outside in the sun and feel the earth beneath your fingertips. If you have never before known the satisfaction of working the soil and nurturing plants, there is no time like the present to start enjoying everything that gardening has to offer. You will need a few simple tools to start on your way. Many of the tools available are extraneous and easily done without, but there are a few basics that no gardener should be without. Use this handy checklist to take stock of the tools in your garden shed.

Spading Fork: This tool is usually the first tool that you will use when spring rolls around. A spading fork is an important tool for breaking up hard, winter packed soil and combing additives such as compost or manure into your dirt. A spading tool looks like a smaller version of the pitchfork farmers have used for years. Unlike the pitchfork, a spading fork has wider tines and a smaller handle.

Hoe: This tool is very helpful for tearing weeds out of your soil. A hoe is also a great device for cultivating the surface of the soil so that water and feed can penetrate to your plants roots. If your hoe is dull, get a new one or have the blade sharpened, because there is nothing worse that slaving over weeds with a dull hoe that is ineffective.

Shovel: A sturdy round ended shovel will come in very handy for all sorts of gardening projects. You can use it to break up soil, dig up grass or weeds, and dig deep holes form planting your vegetable and flower plants, shrubs, and even trees. Choose a shovel with a smooth and sturdy handle that fits well in your hand. You should also make sure that the height of the handle is comfortable for you.

Rake: When you go shopping for a rake for your garden it is important to bypass the rakes that you are used to using to rake leaves off your lawn every fall. In the garden, you use a bow rake which is much different than the fan rakes that sweep up debris. A bow rake has short tines on one side attached to a metal frame, traditionally called a bow, and where the name bow rake originates from. A bow rake is used for removing large clots or rocks from the soil. The sturdy tines are great for sinking down beneath the surface of your soil and pulling out the things you don’t want in your garden. A bow rake is also a great tool for leveling your garden after you have hoed and dug it up, to prepare it for planting. The flat side of a hoe rake can be run along the soil (tines up) to flatten and pack your dirt into a smooth pattern. The tines can also be traced lightly against the flattened soil to prepare planting trenches for seeds such as radishes, carrots or onions.

Shears: Having a good pair of garden shears or clippers is essential for the care of your plants. Make sure that you get a sturdy pair that feels comfortable in your hand. This tool is used for pruning, shaping, and clipping away old foliage so new growth can flourish. Shears come in all price ranges and the cost usually reflects the quality. If you invest in a good pair of shears, they will pay for themselves many times over with years of solid, dependable use. If you skimp when it comes to buying this tool, chances are you will be frustrated by the low quality of the work they do, and it is very possible that you will have to replace them before the season is even over.

If you arm yourself with the tools on this simple garden tool checklist, you should find yourself ready to meet the spring. There are a lot more garden tools available, and many of them are innovative and useful, but if you have all of the tools mentioned above, you will find you have everything you need to do some spring gardening!

Using Popular Rose Varieties In Your Garden

When many people think of gardening, their thoughts turn first to roses, and there is no wonder. Roses are among the most popular, and certainly most beautiful, types of flowers there are. In addition, roses are a huge part of both the gardening hobby and the professional flower business. There are even rose and flowers shows were master gardeners proudly show off their lovely creations to an awestruck crowd.

Whether your ultimate goal is to take the big prize at the next rose show or just enjoy a few roses in your garden, it is important to get a feel for the many varieties of roses on the market. Roses are among the most varied flowers on the market; they come in virtually every color of the rainbow and in blooms ranging in size from a fraction of an inch to almost a foot in width. This article focuses on a few of the most commonly seen rose varieties.

impinellifolia Roses
Pimpinellifolia roses are renowned for their hardiness, and their attractive foliage and lovely blooms make them a great choice for the beginning rose enthusiast or the experienced gardener. These roses come in pink, red, yellow and white blossoms, and they grow on attractive and very compact bushes.

Boursault Roses
Boursault roses are of the climbing variety, and they are said to be the result of a cross between an early variety of China rose and the R. Pendulina rose. This cross is thought to have occurred during the reign of Napoleon, who was a well known rose enthusiast. The blossoms of this rose are somewhat large, and they grow in either small or large clusters depending on the variety. The blooms come in various shades of pink and red. Many varieties can reblossom later in the season.

Sempervirens Roses
The Sempevirens is similar to the Boursault, in that it is also a climbing rose. The Sempervirens originated in the Mediterranean region of the world, and it has large leaves accented by small white flowers which grow in large clusters. This variety of rose was studied extensively by rose enthusiasts as far back as 1820, and it continues to be one of the most popular varieties of climbing rose on the market today. This variety of rose is seen in various shades of pink and white.

Setigera Roses
The Setigera variety of rose, known to the scientific community as R. setigera, has a reputation for being a hardy and tough plant. That hardiness may be due to the fact that R. setigera comes from the prairie region of the United States, a difficult environment to say the least. The setigera rose has been used in breeding programs to create many very hardy varieties of climbing roses, most notably the crosses with the Noisettes and Gallicas varieties.

Wichuraiana Roses
The Wichuraiana rose, also known as R. wichuraiana, is a frequently seen wide spreading cluster rose. It is used both as a climbing rose and as an attractive ground cover.

Garden Flowers: Tulip Trees

The Tulip Tree has got its name from its tulip shaped flowers. The flowers of a Tulip Tree are located at great heights and typically reach a size of 2.5 inches. The Tulip Tree produces monoecious flowers with yellow-green petals. The corolla has a beautiful vivid orange shade. Some people find the leaves of the Tulip Tree similar to tulips too, at least with a little imagination. The leaves are four lobed and have a notch at the tip. A Tulip Tree leaf will typically reach a length of 4-6 inches in diameter. The leaf colour is bright green and will turn yellow in autumn.

The Tulip Tree is sometimes called “The King of the Magnolias”. It is called Liriodendron tulipifera in Latin, and it belongs to the Family Magnoliaceae. The Tulip Tree is related to the Chinese Tulip Tree (Liriodendron Chinese).

The Tulip Tree is utilized as timber and is very appreciated among carpenters since the wood is easy to work with. Tulip Tree wood has a pale yellow color and is particularly popular in furniture, wood carvings, cabinetry, veneer, jewelry boxes and musical instruments. Earlier, the Tulip Tree was frequently used in canoes created by Native Americans. The Tulip Tree bark has been used as a substitute for cinchona in traditional remedies.

The popular Tulip Tree is known by many names in English, including Canoewood, Saddletree, Tulipwood, Whitewood, Canary Whitewood and American Whitewood. The Tulip Tree is not a poplar, but it is still commonly referred to as Tulip poplar, Hickory poplar, White poplar and Yellow poplar.

Apart from being an appreciated timber tree, the Tulip tree is also planted as a shade tree and ornamental tree. It is a remarkably fast growing tree and can grow 50 feet tall in eleven years.
During spring and early summer it will blossom with beautiful flowers. The twigs of a Tulip Tree will turn red and become shiny during the winter, which will add colour to the garden.
The fruits of the Tulip Tree are also very beautiful. Immature fruits are green and will gradually turn brown as they mature. In fall, they will be ripe and have the shape of small cones. Tulip Tree fruits are popular among squirrels, rodents, rabbits, birds and other wild animals. Bees and butterflies will instead eat the nectar from the flowers, and the deer will happily browse the new twigs.

The Tulip Tree is though, adaptable and will withstand most tree diseases and pests. Plant your Tulip Tree in moist and nutritious soil, ideally close to water. Tulip Trees are very found of moist soil and will often grow near marshlands, streams and rivers. Acid soil should be avoided. The Tulip Tree requires direct sunlight, but this is usually not a problem since the Tulip Tree grows fast and becomes very tall. The oldest known Tulip Trees are older than 15 years.

In North America, Tulip Trees are found from the Great Lakes to Florida in the south. Forest growing Tulip Trees will typically reach a height of 100 feet and form a tall limb-free bole. If a Tulip Tree is planted in a more open area, it will instead grow a pyramid shaped crown that eventually turns oval with age.

How To Set Up A Backyard Garden

Introduction

For every home, a garden is not just an extension of one's home, but a place to relax, unwind and soak up the nature. A beautifully contoured landscape, blooming flowers and just spending restful hours in the midst of beauty is what every homeowner yearns for. Gardening can definitely become a passion; when you get to pick your very own fresh vegetables and fruits. Although there are landscaping firms who can take care of your backyard just as well; but you could end up paying thousands of dollars just to recarpet a lawn and perhaps a little more to maintain it. It is especially important for the beginner gardener to choose the right types of plants, determine the spot in the backyard where the garden needs to be designed; select the right garden space, adopt appropriate techniques to take care of one’s plants in the backyard and much more. Pre-plan each and every step before setting up your backyard garden, so it becomes a fun filed adventure rather than a nightmarish ritual.

Research and Analyze

The first step is to evaluate the maintenance needs of your garden and pre-determine the space that needs to be allocated to the garden in your backyard. Design your garden with a practical approach and pre-set a budget for yourself. If you face a paucity of time; try and find solutions to high-maintenance issues. A systematic approach will lead you to decide on the right tools required for the development and maintenance of your backyard garden. Alternatively; opt for a weekend backyard garden that needs little to moderate maintenance. Also, take into consideration the current condition of your backyard. In case your backyard has a few existing plants; you would need to decide on which plants you require and the ones that you need to get rid of.

Keep it simple and uncluttered

The focus should be on having a breathable garden rather than a cluttered one. Make sure that your garden is not overcrowded with plants; or it will lend it a cluttered look. Besides that; having too many plants will just attract insects and mosquitoes. Best approach is to draw a rough sketch of the garden lay-out and take into account every minute detail.

Selecting the Right Kinds of Plants

If the homeowner wants that their garden should attract butterflies; they should opt for plants that butterflies are strongly attracted to. These plants include aspen, dill, aster, lilac, pansy, milkweed, marigold, clover, chokecherry, aster and dill among others.

Identifying the right spot

The direction of the sun in your backyard is the deciding factor when identifying the right spot for your garden. North corners are ideal for ferns. The southern direction gives constant sun exposure all day long and each side gets balanced warmth from the sun. The rows should be aligned north and south; so the plants get the sun rays during morning and afternoon hours. If the garden is facing towards the southeast; it may be subjected to little or moderate western sun. In this case; run the rows northwest and southeast for an even sunlight distribution. The northern exposure is definitely not a very good idea; as it would not receive any sunlight. For north-eastern and south-western directions; the plants may be subjected to an uneven distribution of sunlight. The idea therefore; is to plan it in a way that the garden plants receive an evenly distributed sunlight for the longest time period.

The Garden Soil

A new garden spot is most likely covered either with turf or rubbish. For a larger garden area; the ploughing of the ground is done whereas with smaller gardens; the sod is removed. In order to remove the sod; stake out the garden path. The line will help you with an accurate course to be followed. Then you would need to cut the edges along the marked line with the help of a spade. The sod can be put to good use as it makes a good fertilizer. Here you have two options to choose from:

1. You could turn the sod over after having dug holes in your garden. The sod can then be put in the hole and then cover it with soil.

2. Identify a spot where the sod grass can be packed together. Leave it to rot. Over a period of time; it can be used as fertilizer.

Make sure that the ground where the planting needs to take place is fine so that the seeds get finely packed into the soil particles. Avoid large lumps as these create larger spaces and the tiny hair root of the plant will not be able to penetrate though.

Make sure that you do a fair amount of research beforehand and lap up on as much gardening tips and information as possible.

Preserving your food from the Garden

There is something about going to your cupboard and getting a jar of canned vegetables that you personally grew and preserved before winter set in.

Growing a garden may take a lot of work but it is something that you can enjoy all year long.

Canning and preserving everything you grow is not only safe but it can be very enjoyable and rewarding.

When you successfully hear all of the jars seal after they are done canning can give you a sense of accomplishment and can make you feel great about what your family eats.

Canning is a process that has been passed down from generation to generation. The only problem today is that commercially canned foods have since then taken over and become so affordable that it is actually cheaper sometimes to buy vegetables and fruits from the market instead of growing them yourself.

There are other ways to preserve your food. You may want to consider freezing or dehydrating. When you freeze your food, some of the food needs to be blanched before you can freeze it.

You may also be able to wash the food off and place it in freezer bags, jars or freezer containers made just for the freezer.

Dehydration is another method that is being used to preserve food. This process stops the progress of the food where it is at and dries it at a steady temperature until all moisture is gone from the food.

Then the food can be stored in a cool dry place for several months.

Water Gardens That Upset The Neighbours

Before going ahead with any plans on your water garden be sure to double check on all the safety measures. We all know the dangers that lurk where ponds and children are concerned but if all the standards of safety are adhered to then there should be no problem. Whatever precautions have been taken just remember that young children should not be left unattended or unsupervised around water at any time.

Ponds make a beautiful water garden feature just like the flowing fountain. Water gardens are a pleasurable experience to become involved with and also beautiful as eye candy to a lot of nature`s creatures. If tastefully designed - these garden ornamentations can create an atmosphere where a deep sense of tranquillity fills the air just by sound alone.
Depending on the individuals own personal preference you can have water features that are specially designed to give you a tropical world or an imitation of a mini Niagara Falls display. The options are endless as to what can go into your garden. Before putting into force any plans make sure to measure the space to be used - a cluttered water garden can spoil the beauty of it all.

Once you have made your mind up on what water feature it is you are having then it is time to choose the right accessories to enhance the dish so as to speak. Flowers- shrubs and lilies for the pond along with the fish have to be carefully thought through to make your mission complete and your dream come true of having a wonderful garden.
Water features are a unique way of putting a finishing touch to a well maintained garden thus upsetting the neighbours leaving them green with envy.

Architects when drawing up plans for local landscape projects will nearly always include a water feature. If DIY is your forte and you are going to take on the task your self in designing your own water garden then have a handy man at your side in the way of a do it yourself manual. Books and videos illustrate in great detail how to do the job right. Fabulous ideas for your creation can also be found from these. A master of any trade always uses the right tools - so make sure you have everything you need before starting the work.

Maintaining a water garden is important especially ponds which need cleaning on a regular basis especially if home to fish.
When installing your fountain or pond you must remember all the other bits and bobs that you may already have located in certain areas of the garden. Things like access in and out of your garden shed or where the seating area is going to be for your patio table and chairs should not be hampered. Do not cut corners in trying to save the pennies because this can cost you dearly if the right tools are not used.

Remember water features attract creatures.

If our aquatic friends like toads - frogs and newts are not to your liking then consider plant pots around the garden over flowing with cascading fragrant flowers then leave the kitchen tap running - just a suggestion so you don`t miss out on a water garden feature.

Flowering Trees - How to Make Your Garden Shady and Beautiful at the Same Time

The most important components in a landscape are probably trees. Their prominent shape and size gives the necessary depth to any garden or lawn. Such a large and tall plant can be impossible to ignore in any scenery and they can add a sense of permanence with their remarkable longevity, making it possible for them to be enjoyed through generations. Additionally, trees attract life as they have the ability to support whole ecosystems being a possible home to birds, bees, butterflies, squirrels, small plants, and other creatures. Moreover, trees can also become aesthetic, flowering trees can add beauty and grace apart from a sense of strength and prominence.

There are many kinds of flowering trees, each being valued for their distinct qualities. Here are some of the popular flowering trees in the landscaping scene:

Dogwoods – these are among the most popular and well-loved flowering trees that blossom in the spring. The soft white or pink flowers are indeed pleasing for to the eyes. Additionally, dogwoods also look good in the autumn as their leaves turn to a rich and bright red tinge. Having a dogwood in one’s backyard can definitely light up one’s surroundings for much of the year.

Rose of Sharon – while the rose of Sharon is technically a shrub, most people think that it is a tree because it can grow tall and be trimmed down to a single tree-like trunk. Its lilac-tinted flower is very attractive. The blooms come relatively late which makes it good to be planted with early blooming trees to enjoy flowers throughout the season.

Cherry, Mulberry, and Crab Apple – these flowering trees are generally grouped as weeping trees because of their teardrop-like buds. The elegant white to pastel pink flowers create a cozy ambience that is quite calming. These ornamental flowering trees add color and excitement to any panorama.

Washington Hawthorn Flowering Trees – this trees are very much valued because of the distinct time when they bloom. They usually flower from the latter portion of the spring to the early part of summer which makes them ideal in the transition period between the two periods, when most spring trees have shed they blooms and most summer trees have just started budding.

Magnolias – these are sometimes called saucers obviously for their big flowers that are very noticeable to anyone nearby. This type of flowering tree makes a big impression on anyone who beholds its beauty.

Crape Myrtles – this tree is considered as the queen of the flowering trees in the south as it is a very popular choice for Southerners. They bloom for long periods starting from the middle of summer to autumn. The flowers bloom in clusters that can be white, red, pink or lilac, which are attached to the tips of new wood. In temperate regions, these flowering trees can die in the winter, but come back in springtime.

Harry Lauder’s walking stick – this unique tree with an odd name is indeed a distinct flowering tree as it becomes beautiful only when it sheds its leaves. This is also technically a shrub that looks at a tree because it can go over four feet high. Harry Lauder’s walking street is ideal for those who have winter planting in mind.

There are several other kinds of flowering trees and each could add beauty as well as strength to any landscape. Planting trees can be such a worthwhile endeavor to beautify any piece of land.