www.armandosgarsening.ca
Early Spring Lawn Care
Caring for your lawn depends on the climate. For cool-seasons, there is a technique gardeners can do in order for their lawn to maintain the lush and green characteristic. There is some tweaking here and there whenever the season changes, but the basic program indicated here is what most lawns in the United States need.
During growing season, you have to know your soil by conducting soil tests. Some of these come in pre-paid boxes that can be ordered online or bought in the store. The soil test indicates the amount of acidity (pH), the main nutrients such as phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium, present, the organic matter and the micronutrients. The test will also point out the deficiencies which can be corrected.
Healthy soil needs biological activity. Therefore, there is a need for microorganisms and earthworms. The biological activity entails enough organic matter in order for the lawn to flourish in its natural green state.
In early spring, there must be the cleaning up and aeration of the lawn. Here is how you can do it. Thaw and dry out the ground before winter comes. Aerate the lawn by using spiked clogs.
Aeration alleviates the compact thickness in between the ground’s density which results from gravity and winter snows. Through this cleaning up process, the soil gets injected by oxygen, making it easier for biological activity to take place. It also helps the penetration of fertilization in the roots.
It also helps to apply organic herbicides. The amount should be at least 20 lbs for every 1000 sq. ft. Choose organic herbicides that are made from corn gluten meal or have been proven to be a pre-emergent herbicides that are organic.
Afterwards, apply complete organic fertilizer. The amount is the same as that of the herbicide – 20 lbs for every 1000 square feet. You can alternately apply herbicides and fertilizers every six weeks. Choose a fertilizer that is made from the best blended organic materials.
Regarding mowing, you should do so at a cutting height of 3 inches at least. The exception to this rule is when they are the last cuts of the season by cutting low to an inch. Leave clippings on the lawn and you have to keep the blade of your mower sharp.
There are benefits to cutting the lawn as research shows. One of which is that the weeds are choked out, therefore making the roots develop and resistant to hardiness and drought.
Armando'sGardening
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Thursday, 26 April 2018
Monday, 15 January 2018
Laying Out And Planting Vegetable Gardens
www.armandosgardening.ca
Laying Out and Planting Vegetable Gardens
As you start planting vegetable gardens it’s important to know how the garden will be laid out. The layout of your own garden will depend on what vegetable you want to grow, the planting space and if you would like to opt for companion planting. Here are some helpful tips on how to layout your own garden and start planting vegetables.
Sit Down and Plan
Before choosing a layout you need to decide on what type of vegetable you would like to grow and where you would like to plant them. Here are other factors you need to consider for your garden layout:
* Garden Space * Amount of Light in the Space * Drainage System * Soil Amendments * Type of Vegetable * Additional Space (if needed)
You should also think about whether you want to grow one type of vegetables like lettuce and tomatoes or if vegetables one type of vegetable with different kinds. Researching about the amount of light a certain vegetable needs and the amount of space that each need to be planted are both helpful facts to find out.
Make a list of vegetables you want to plant and find out the plant requirements of each and compare it with the garden space you have. This should give you an idea of where you want to plant certain vegetables in your space.
Choose your Garden Layout
There are three basic vegetable garden layouts and they are: rows, beds and “potager” style.
The most popular rows style of layout requires planting seeds in a row which could either mean planting one type of seed in a row or different seeds in a row.
The bed type of layout is similar the rows style but in a smaller level. This layout allows access to the plant beds from the exterior of the garden or as you walk through the garden path instead of coming from inside of the plant bed. This is particularly convenient to avoid stepping on the beds which tends to pack in the soil and makes it difficult to dig and aerate in the spring or fall. Plant beds are great ways to maximize a garden space and you can even use raised beds for easy gardening.
The most decorative style of layout is the “potager” which means kitchen garden in French. This layout is described as geometric which allows you to layout your garden in circles or arrange plants by color or even food type.
Consider Companion Planting
The idea behind companion planting involves planting different kinds of plants together so that they help each other grow. A perfect example of this is planting beans, corn and squash together which were commonly done by Native Americans. While the corn gives the beans a place to climb, the beans gives its three companions nutrients in the soil and the squash serves as a shade to the roots of the plants beside it. This not only prevents weeds from growing, it also saves up on water.
Other great plants for companion planting are onions, which scares slugs and aphids away, tomatoes, which grow well with carrots and basil, which improves the taste of tomatoes. Another example is horseradish and potatoes which when planted together give your potatoes protection from disease.
In planting vegetable gardens, this concept is certainly worth considering and if you want to get more information about it, you can do some research online or in your local library.
Laying Out and Planting Vegetable Gardens
As you start planting vegetable gardens it’s important to know how the garden will be laid out. The layout of your own garden will depend on what vegetable you want to grow, the planting space and if you would like to opt for companion planting. Here are some helpful tips on how to layout your own garden and start planting vegetables.
Sit Down and Plan
Before choosing a layout you need to decide on what type of vegetable you would like to grow and where you would like to plant them. Here are other factors you need to consider for your garden layout:
* Garden Space * Amount of Light in the Space * Drainage System * Soil Amendments * Type of Vegetable * Additional Space (if needed)
You should also think about whether you want to grow one type of vegetables like lettuce and tomatoes or if vegetables one type of vegetable with different kinds. Researching about the amount of light a certain vegetable needs and the amount of space that each need to be planted are both helpful facts to find out.
Make a list of vegetables you want to plant and find out the plant requirements of each and compare it with the garden space you have. This should give you an idea of where you want to plant certain vegetables in your space.
Choose your Garden Layout
There are three basic vegetable garden layouts and they are: rows, beds and “potager” style.
The most popular rows style of layout requires planting seeds in a row which could either mean planting one type of seed in a row or different seeds in a row.
The bed type of layout is similar the rows style but in a smaller level. This layout allows access to the plant beds from the exterior of the garden or as you walk through the garden path instead of coming from inside of the plant bed. This is particularly convenient to avoid stepping on the beds which tends to pack in the soil and makes it difficult to dig and aerate in the spring or fall. Plant beds are great ways to maximize a garden space and you can even use raised beds for easy gardening.
The most decorative style of layout is the “potager” which means kitchen garden in French. This layout is described as geometric which allows you to layout your garden in circles or arrange plants by color or even food type.
Consider Companion Planting
The idea behind companion planting involves planting different kinds of plants together so that they help each other grow. A perfect example of this is planting beans, corn and squash together which were commonly done by Native Americans. While the corn gives the beans a place to climb, the beans gives its three companions nutrients in the soil and the squash serves as a shade to the roots of the plants beside it. This not only prevents weeds from growing, it also saves up on water.
Other great plants for companion planting are onions, which scares slugs and aphids away, tomatoes, which grow well with carrots and basil, which improves the taste of tomatoes. Another example is horseradish and potatoes which when planted together give your potatoes protection from disease.
In planting vegetable gardens, this concept is certainly worth considering and if you want to get more information about it, you can do some research online or in your local library.
Saturday, 4 February 2017
History of Gardening
armandosgardening.ca
Gardening is an integral part of the history of landscape
architecture. Without the knowledge of gardening, plants
would easily die out and there will be nothing for people
to admire in lawns and parks everywhere in the world.
This article takes a peek at the history of gardening
beginning from the ancient times to today's society.
People have appreciated having vast lawns and gardens in
their households for a long time. Even in ancient Egyptian
tombs, there are illustrations that show ponds surrounded
by different types of trees which are evidences of how
gardening flourished even at that time.
Then there's the fabled Hanging Gardens of Babylon which is
one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was said
to have been built by the Persian king Darius the Great for
his wife.
The civilizations that came after Egypt and Persia
continued with this tradition of having a vast expanse of
gardens. These include the Ancient Greeks and Romans.
Gardening is an integral part of the history of landscape
architecture. Without the knowledge of gardening, plants
would easily die out and there will be nothing for people
to admire in lawns and parks everywhere in the world.
This article takes a peek at the history of gardening
beginning from the ancient times to today's society.
People have appreciated having vast lawns and gardens in
their households for a long time. Even in ancient Egyptian
tombs, there are illustrations that show ponds surrounded
by different types of trees which are evidences of how
gardening flourished even at that time.
Then there's the fabled Hanging Gardens of Babylon which is
one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was said
to have been built by the Persian king Darius the Great for
his wife.
The civilizations that came after Egypt and Persia
continued with this tradition of having a vast expanse of
gardens. These include the Ancient Greeks and Romans.
Monday, 14 November 2016
Tips for Controlling Weeds and Keeping Your Garden Beautiful
www.armandosgardening.ca
The problem with weeds is that you never know your lawn has them until there's a vigorous overgrowth that threatens your turf and your plants. Most lawn owners just don’t pay attention to an innocent, scrawny stem with tiny leaves until it turns into a monster. And when it does, that's often the time when it's next to impossible to get rid of the weed. If you want to manage and maintain your lawn, learn the effective ways of controlling weeds.
What is a weed?
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a weed is a plant that people don't value and has a tendency to overpower other plants, specifically those we consider desirable. This is a tricky definition, considering that one man's weed is another man's wild flower. In order to decide whether or not to destroy a certain growth, it's best to ask yourself whether you want that plant in your garden or not. If the answer is no, then it's time to get rid of it.
Why you should control weeds
Weeds are notorious for being fast growers, able to outgrow other garden plants. Because they will overpower and probably destroy these plants, we find them annoying, especially since most of them don’t have any apparent use. Furthermore, most weeds don’t have the aesthetic appeal that other plants have.
Is there any reason why I should not be so harsh on weeds?
Weeds do have their advantage. They are the favorite residence of many pest and bug-killing insects such as ladybugs and bees. If you have these insects in your garden, you can even control the incidents of pest infestation in your turf. However, if pests aren't a problem, you probably have no use for weeds and should control their growth.
Controlling weeds the old way
There are three kinds of weeds – the perennials, biennials and the annuals. Perennial weeds are the type of weeds that recur over the seasons and often produce seeds every year. Weeds such as milkweed, dandelions and blackberries are considered perennial weeds.
Biennial weeds are the type that survive for two years. During the last year, these weeds flower and develop seeds. Annual weeds, such as thistles, chickweed and crabgrass, maintain a yearly life cycle. Unlike perennial weeds, they are easier to control.
If you don't want to use chemicals and if the weeds in your lawn are still manageable, try to control their growth by simply uprooting the weeds. The best way to do this is to cultivate the soil by breaking up the surface. This aerates the soil and makes it soft, so weeds are easier to pull out. Do this when the weeds are still young to ensure that no flower or seed is propagated or spread. Perform this task regularly to make sure that any growth within a season is controlled.
An old garden practice called mulching is also an effective way to keep weeds under control. This process helps control weeds by using a thick layer of materials such as leaves, bark, grass clippings and other organic matter and spreading the mixture over your lawn. Not only does this organic material keep your soil rich and healthy, it also prevents sunlight from reaching the seeds of the weeds. Since they can't grow and establish so the weeds die.
If you use these natural methods of controlling weeds, you will have to be vigilant and patient. Pulling out leaves and preventing seeds from growing doesn't guarantee they won't sprout again. However, you can keep controlling them until they are either minimized or eliminated.
Using herbicides
Weeds are tough and flexible. In fact, there is no all-in-one weed killing product on the market today that is capable of destroying all kinds of weeds. If you want an effective way of controlling them, first learn how to recognize them. If you know which weeds are found in your lawn, you'll be able to find the right product to use.
There are two kinds of herbicides – the systemic type and the contact type. The systemic herbicide is absorbed by the weeds through the leaves and the root system. These kill the weeds from the inside out. Contact herbicides, as their name implies, kill from the outside in. They prevent the weeds from using photosynthesis to survive.
Both these herbicides come as either selective or nonselective varieties. Selective herbicides are those that are chemically capable of killing only certain weeds without affecting other plants in your lawn. Nonselectives, however, will kill regardless of what they come in contact with.
The best way to use these chemicals for controlling weeds is to follow the manufacturer's directions. This is also the safest method, considering that much of the failure (and danger) associated with the use of herbicides is due to inaccurate or incorrect application. Use during early spring in order to attack weeds when they are at their weakest.
The problem with weeds is that you never know your lawn has them until there's a vigorous overgrowth that threatens your turf and your plants. Most lawn owners just don’t pay attention to an innocent, scrawny stem with tiny leaves until it turns into a monster. And when it does, that's often the time when it's next to impossible to get rid of the weed. If you want to manage and maintain your lawn, learn the effective ways of controlling weeds.
What is a weed?
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a weed is a plant that people don't value and has a tendency to overpower other plants, specifically those we consider desirable. This is a tricky definition, considering that one man's weed is another man's wild flower. In order to decide whether or not to destroy a certain growth, it's best to ask yourself whether you want that plant in your garden or not. If the answer is no, then it's time to get rid of it.
Why you should control weeds
Weeds are notorious for being fast growers, able to outgrow other garden plants. Because they will overpower and probably destroy these plants, we find them annoying, especially since most of them don’t have any apparent use. Furthermore, most weeds don’t have the aesthetic appeal that other plants have.
Is there any reason why I should not be so harsh on weeds?
Weeds do have their advantage. They are the favorite residence of many pest and bug-killing insects such as ladybugs and bees. If you have these insects in your garden, you can even control the incidents of pest infestation in your turf. However, if pests aren't a problem, you probably have no use for weeds and should control their growth.
Controlling weeds the old way
There are three kinds of weeds – the perennials, biennials and the annuals. Perennial weeds are the type of weeds that recur over the seasons and often produce seeds every year. Weeds such as milkweed, dandelions and blackberries are considered perennial weeds.
Biennial weeds are the type that survive for two years. During the last year, these weeds flower and develop seeds. Annual weeds, such as thistles, chickweed and crabgrass, maintain a yearly life cycle. Unlike perennial weeds, they are easier to control.
If you don't want to use chemicals and if the weeds in your lawn are still manageable, try to control their growth by simply uprooting the weeds. The best way to do this is to cultivate the soil by breaking up the surface. This aerates the soil and makes it soft, so weeds are easier to pull out. Do this when the weeds are still young to ensure that no flower or seed is propagated or spread. Perform this task regularly to make sure that any growth within a season is controlled.
An old garden practice called mulching is also an effective way to keep weeds under control. This process helps control weeds by using a thick layer of materials such as leaves, bark, grass clippings and other organic matter and spreading the mixture over your lawn. Not only does this organic material keep your soil rich and healthy, it also prevents sunlight from reaching the seeds of the weeds. Since they can't grow and establish so the weeds die.
If you use these natural methods of controlling weeds, you will have to be vigilant and patient. Pulling out leaves and preventing seeds from growing doesn't guarantee they won't sprout again. However, you can keep controlling them until they are either minimized or eliminated.
Using herbicides
Weeds are tough and flexible. In fact, there is no all-in-one weed killing product on the market today that is capable of destroying all kinds of weeds. If you want an effective way of controlling them, first learn how to recognize them. If you know which weeds are found in your lawn, you'll be able to find the right product to use.
There are two kinds of herbicides – the systemic type and the contact type. The systemic herbicide is absorbed by the weeds through the leaves and the root system. These kill the weeds from the inside out. Contact herbicides, as their name implies, kill from the outside in. They prevent the weeds from using photosynthesis to survive.
Both these herbicides come as either selective or nonselective varieties. Selective herbicides are those that are chemically capable of killing only certain weeds without affecting other plants in your lawn. Nonselectives, however, will kill regardless of what they come in contact with.
The best way to use these chemicals for controlling weeds is to follow the manufacturer's directions. This is also the safest method, considering that much of the failure (and danger) associated with the use of herbicides is due to inaccurate or incorrect application. Use during early spring in order to attack weeds when they are at their weakest.
Wednesday, 2 November 2016
GARDENING'S MOST VALUABLE ADVICE
armandosgardening.ca
Many people may not be aware that gardening can actually harm the environment. A large amount of carbon dioxide can be released through tilling the soil. This contributes to global warming. When you cultivating and compacting the soil, destroys good fungi. Fertilizers like nitrogen and manure often leach out of the soil and pollute the water you drink.
Global warming
Did you know that the earth's soil gives out carbon dioxide in the atmosphere 10 times more than all human activity? This comes from the pill bugs, microbes, fungi and worms when they breathe, digest food and then die. Although in the past plants have been capable of absorbing carbon dioxide caused by small-scale tillages, this isn't the case nowadays.
The increase of the globe's average temperature is because of the carbon dioxide the soil emits when tilled. The good news is that tilling can be minimized by mulching or sheet composting.
Good Fungi
In untilled soil, there is beneficial fungi known as the vesicular-arbuscular-mycorrhizae or VAM for short. VAM actually forms a symbiotic relationship with plants. Their filaments increase root hairs and provide nutrients to the plant. They give out zinc, copper, potassium and phosphorus. Plants provide carbohydrates for the fungi in return. It is possible to grow a garden without tilling the sooiil at all by mulching heavily until the soil is soft and friable.
Surplus Nitrogen
Many gardeners waste nitrogen and manures; farmers do otherwise. Farmers only need a quarter to a third of nitrogen to mix with an inch of compost, horse, or cow manure. Kate Burroughs of Sebastopol California, uses the same rule for her home-grown lettuce and sweet corns. When it comes to broccoli and pear trees, farmers only need a small amount. Notice that gardeners apply larger amounts of compost and manure than farmers. Obviously, they are not only wasting their fertilizer but also their money.
The best gardening advice that can be given to those concerned is to do all things with moderation. Keep in mind that too little and too much of something is not healthy. This is the most valuable advice one can have in gardening.
Many people may not be aware that gardening can actually harm the environment. A large amount of carbon dioxide can be released through tilling the soil. This contributes to global warming. When you cultivating and compacting the soil, destroys good fungi. Fertilizers like nitrogen and manure often leach out of the soil and pollute the water you drink.
Global warming
Did you know that the earth's soil gives out carbon dioxide in the atmosphere 10 times more than all human activity? This comes from the pill bugs, microbes, fungi and worms when they breathe, digest food and then die. Although in the past plants have been capable of absorbing carbon dioxide caused by small-scale tillages, this isn't the case nowadays.
The increase of the globe's average temperature is because of the carbon dioxide the soil emits when tilled. The good news is that tilling can be minimized by mulching or sheet composting.
Good Fungi
In untilled soil, there is beneficial fungi known as the vesicular-arbuscular-mycorrhizae or VAM for short. VAM actually forms a symbiotic relationship with plants. Their filaments increase root hairs and provide nutrients to the plant. They give out zinc, copper, potassium and phosphorus. Plants provide carbohydrates for the fungi in return. It is possible to grow a garden without tilling the sooiil at all by mulching heavily until the soil is soft and friable.
Surplus Nitrogen
Many gardeners waste nitrogen and manures; farmers do otherwise. Farmers only need a quarter to a third of nitrogen to mix with an inch of compost, horse, or cow manure. Kate Burroughs of Sebastopol California, uses the same rule for her home-grown lettuce and sweet corns. When it comes to broccoli and pear trees, farmers only need a small amount. Notice that gardeners apply larger amounts of compost and manure than farmers. Obviously, they are not only wasting their fertilizer but also their money.
The best gardening advice that can be given to those concerned is to do all things with moderation. Keep in mind that too little and too much of something is not healthy. This is the most valuable advice one can have in gardening.
Tuesday, 25 October 2016
Hydroponics Gardening
Hydroponics was derived from the Greek word hydro, which means "water" and ponos, which means "labor or water-working". Hydroponics gardening involves growing plants with their roots in other nutrient solutions and without soil.
Hydroponics gardening is as simple as ordinary gardening. Both of them necessitate sufficient light, water, temperature, light, and humidity. But with hydroponics, no soil is used. Instead a soil substitute holds the roots while nutrients are carried by the water. Indoor hydroponic gardening is not that hard and plants respond well to this method of growing.
This is one of the major considerations in hydroponics gardening since it sustains the plants. One has to make sure that this nutrient solution maintains a pH level of 5 to 6 after dilution. In hydroponics gardening, the plants should be watered more than three times a day. this is usually done using a pump and timer.
If your hydroponics garden is located indoors, the most suitable temperature is between 71 to 76 degrees Fahrenheit. Of course, this temperature may change depending on the different types of plant you are working on, e.g. tropical plants.
Place your plants somewhere they can receive ample amount of light. Otherwise artificial light must be used. High pressure Sodium lights or bulbs are a suitable substitute for natural light.
Humidity is good. When the room’s temperature rises, the air will be able to hold the sufficient amount of moisture your plants will need.
A hydroponics system can be fully automated. Since it is water-based, the gardener has no soil to dig or weeds to pull. Also, the water can be re-used to prevent wastage.
With hydroponics, an excellent yield of quality plants can be easily achieved. Home hydroponics systems and DIY kits are are readily available in most hardware stores.
Friday, 21 October 2016
A Few Tips For The Indoor Gardener
armandosgardening.ca
While all plants are quite apt to prosper indoors, they do need more or less the same conditions to grow as outdoor plants do. These conditions are a good supply of fresh air, proper sunlight, water and nutrients such as plant food commonly known as fertilizer .
We will include here a few tips that are sure to make your indoor plants grow healthier and add beauty to your surroundings.
Ever notice how plants will face the source of sunlight? This is because the sun is the main source of their nutrition. Plant leaves change water and nutrition from the soil to food through a process called photosynthesis .
A couple of hours of sunlight is a must for your indoor plants. If you do not have a place where you can have adequate sunlight, and cannot move the plants you should consider purchasing a couple of indoor gardening lights.
Ordinary lights will not do. Indoor gardening lights provide enough of ultraviolet light to nourish the plants.
Provide adequate water to your plants. Your indoor plants need room temperature water to survive. Do not over water the plants, most plants die due to a lack of water or a surplus of it than they do of any other reason.
Follow a rule of thumb, like you test a cake you should pierce a knitting needle into a plant container. If the needle goes in with ease the soil is just the right dampness, if not increase the quantity of water a bit.
Fertilizers are also important, once a fortnight add a scoop of indoor plant fertilizer to your plant pot. Used tealeaves are also a very good supply of nutrition to your plant.
Follow these simple tricks and you will see your indoor garden prospering very soon.
While all plants are quite apt to prosper indoors, they do need more or less the same conditions to grow as outdoor plants do. These conditions are a good supply of fresh air, proper sunlight, water and nutrients such as plant food commonly known as fertilizer .
We will include here a few tips that are sure to make your indoor plants grow healthier and add beauty to your surroundings.
Ever notice how plants will face the source of sunlight? This is because the sun is the main source of their nutrition. Plant leaves change water and nutrition from the soil to food through a process called photosynthesis .
A couple of hours of sunlight is a must for your indoor plants. If you do not have a place where you can have adequate sunlight, and cannot move the plants you should consider purchasing a couple of indoor gardening lights.
Ordinary lights will not do. Indoor gardening lights provide enough of ultraviolet light to nourish the plants.
Provide adequate water to your plants. Your indoor plants need room temperature water to survive. Do not over water the plants, most plants die due to a lack of water or a surplus of it than they do of any other reason.
Follow a rule of thumb, like you test a cake you should pierce a knitting needle into a plant container. If the needle goes in with ease the soil is just the right dampness, if not increase the quantity of water a bit.
Fertilizers are also important, once a fortnight add a scoop of indoor plant fertilizer to your plant pot. Used tealeaves are also a very good supply of nutrition to your plant.
Follow these simple tricks and you will see your indoor garden prospering very soon.
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