Grow an Organic Vegetable Garden: Reap the Benefits

 

When you grow an organic vegetable garden, you can have the fun of growing your own food and protecting the environment at the same time. There is no greater feeling than that of placing your own veggies on the dinner table that you nurtured from a mere seed to this point. Organic gardening does tend to take a bit more research and preparation for success, but the rewards come when your family has safe, delicious produce to enjoy all season long. If you are not yet sold on the pros of organic gardening, take a look at some of the benefits listed here.

Grow an Organic Vegetable Garden: Environmentally Friendly

An organic garden is much more environmentally friendly than other methods of gardening today. Many of the chemical products that are used in gardens today can get into the air and soil, leaving a mark on the environment. These chemicals can make their way to bugs and animals in the area, harming the wildlife and polluting the surroundings. On the other hand, when you grow an organic vegetable garden, you use organic vegetable garden fertilizer and pesticide that will decompose on its own for a safer choice for the environment. 

Grow an Organic Vegetable Garden: Inexpensive

In most cases, when you grow an organic vegetable garden, you save money. First, you are saving money at the grocery store, by placing food on your table that was grown right in your own backyard. Second, those chemical fertilizers, composts and pesticides can cost a pretty penny to keep on hand. Most organic gardening methods can be put together right at home for much less money. For example, you can create your own compost bin for pennies, which will house your table scraps and grass clippings all year long. When that mixture is mixed into your garden soil, you have combined your soil preparation with nutrients that may last your plants all season long.

Grow an Organic Vegetable Garden: Better

Eating foods that have been coated in chemicals is never as healthy as eating foods that never saw the use of such substances. You can scrub those vegetables as clean as you can, but there is no way to tell just how much of the fertilizers and pesticides were actually able to penetrate into the core of the fruit. However, when you grow an organic vegetable garden, chemicals are never used during any part of the growing process. Instead, natural pests and substances are used to keep the plants healthy until harvest. You can rest assured that the only thing your family is eating is the nutritious goodness of the vegetables themselves.

 

You should built a fence around your garden to protect your plants from critters. You can consult with chainlinkfencesaskatoon.com and pick the right fence for your vegetable garden.

When you grow an organic vegetable garden, you do reap many rewards. From an environmentally safe crop to vegetables that are good for your clan, organic gardening is definitely the way to go.

The Root Vegetable Gardening Guide

Planting root crops in the garden is a very satisfying way to harvest fresh and organic vegetables. Root crops have different growing needs than the traditional plants found in most home gardens. If you follow the advice in this root vegetable growing guide, you will be serving your family gorgeous carrots, radishes and turnips in no time.

The Root Vegetable Growing Guide To Good Soil

One novice mistake many gardeners make when it comes to growing root vegetables is thinking that the soil they use for their tomatoes, zucchini and corn is the right kind of soil for beets and radishes. Root vegetables require a loose soil, so they have room to develop underground.

Closely follow this root vegetable growing guide when it comes to amending your soil, by adding nitrogen in the form of a commercial fertilizer or blood meal. Avoid fertilizers that promise weed control, because the weed killing agents found in those fertilizers will also kill your root crops.

Never put fresh fertilizer in a bed in which you plan to plant carrots, radishes, or other root vegetables. The nutrients found in fresh fertilizer cause your root crops to split and be malformed. You can also loosen your soil by tilling in sand before you plant your seeds.

The Root Vegetable Growing Guide To Seed Starting

Some garden plants do better when they are transplanted as young seedlings into the garden. Root vegetables do best when they are direct sown into the soil. The seeds of root crops are rather small, making it hard to plant without the seeds washing away if it rains before they germinate.

Plan your rows carefully, planting extra seed to make up for any that washes away. You can always thin your plants later to give them room. You can also purchase a device that allows you to sow seeds at exact intervals or buy root crop seed tape.

The Root Vegetable Growing Guide To Planting Times

Most root crops are cool season crops. This means that if you wait to plant and harvest them when it is too hot, they will bolt. When a root crop bolts it develops flowers. While the flowers can look pretty, they sap energy in the plant that should be working to develop the root you want to harvest. Plant root crops in the early spring so that you can harvest them before the hottest months of summer. You can also plant root crops in August for a fall harvest.

Creating a Functional Recycled Garden Space

The irony of a recycled garden is the idea that industrialization makes it harder for things to grow and be green. But it is possible to combine the results of industrialization, including man-made objects like plastic, aluminum, and rubber, into a garden setting and create something beautiful and thriving. By recycling these items and utilizing them in a garden, you will be assisting in reducing waste on the planet and will have an innovative space to show for it.

Tires

The rubber on tires are not easily disposed of. Sure, rubber tires wear down, but the rubber itself isn’t biodegradable. So what should we do with used tires that are no longer safe to use on cars and trucks? Put them in your garden and use them as a planter of course!

You can take a whole tire, place it on the ground, and plant a flower or vegetable plant right in the middle of it. You can leave the tire its natural black color, or paint the tire a bright, vibrant color. The plants will eventually grow right out of the top of the tire. You’ll be recycling the tire and creating a planter at the same time.

Read Also:Planning Your Garden Layout – The Basics & Garden Designs

Bottles

Plastic is also not biodegradable. Instead of letting plastic water or soda bottles end up in landfills, or worse, out in the open ocean, utilize their lasting power in your garden. You can use plastic bottles as small planters for herbs or flowers.

You can also use them as watering devices in the garden for other plants by cutting off the bottom end of a 2 liter soda bottle, flipping it upside down, placing a long cylinder stake through the opening, and driving it in the ground. Now you can pour water into the big opening and the stake will allow the water to drip into the soil when it needs it.

Glass Jars

Glass jars are beautiful elements to add to a garden. Whether they’re clear or colored glass, they make a great visual addition to the plants and flowers in your garden. You can use glass jars or bottles as vases, decorations, and watering devices, similar to the plastic bottles. Recycling glass in your garden is a great way to reduce waste and have an original-looking space.

Planning Your Garden Layout – The Basics & Garden Designs

While many people have a green thumb, there are still many who want to learn the beauty of horticulture and floriculture. Different people feel different things,  but people who have a passion for nature would agree that plants do make you relax. 

As beautiful as the nature can get, knowledge about garden designs is what you are looking for. There are many paths to choose, when designing the perfect garden for you and it all comes down to personal preferences.
 

Gardening Tips & Garden Designs

Know All The Items Location’s

The first thing you should do is to plan out the setting of your garden. Also, you would want to know where to put your items. By, locating specific areas for every item you have in mind. Knowing your location is very important, so your not crowding your plants. Also, giving you more room to be creative with paths and walls.

When you have finalized your location and determined the amount of space available or the size of your garden, you have to determine the type of soil for your plants to grow. Your garden will never look good when your plants do not grow as intended. Without a good soil to grow, plants will never last long.

Maximizing Space By Setting Boundaries

Optimizing your garden layout by maximizing the space available for you. By setting the boundaries of your garden. The internal boundaries which divides your garden to smaller areas, and external boundaries, which provides shelter and privacy to certain areas of you garden.

Setting up the boundaries allow you to limit access in specific areas and create an optimal pathway for you and anyone who wishes to walk around your garden. This includes different landscape surfaces that would create various feelings to the ground and make your garden more enjoyable.

Adding Lighting To Your Garden

The layout may have all the important details in your landscape already but it is also important to consider garden lighting during daytime and nighttime. The areas that do not have equal shade and exposure to the sun, so planning out your garden design is to include the natural conditions . Weather may occur and you should make sure that your plants grow and with the right amount of exposure to light, even during nighttime.

Furnishing Your Garden Won’t Hurt

Finally, your garden might need a little furnishing and a bit cozy background for a finishing touch. There are various ways you can do this from simple figurines and colorful lights to house furniture like chairs, shed, and tables. This is of course all optional but this might help with your layout.

Make Life Easier For You

Planning your layout is as tedious as planning where to put your furniture in your house. but, like any other tasks it is also affected by your budget. With the time and effort you put in your design, it will always be worth it in the end. You can also get help with designing you garden and you might like a few designs of your own.

What are the expected features to include in garden design?

This basically differs from one person to another. Keep in mind that these designs are from personal choices and each person has different preferences. Nevertheless, there are also common features that are included in every garden design.

Lighting Up Your Garden

Firstly, the lights really matter that much. Especially when the night starts to bite in your place and you have to attend to your plants in your garden. Many people choose lampposts to distribute light in a bigger area and there are also some who prefer portable lamps to be carried along while going around their garden.
 
Resting Areas

Then, there are those who prefer to have a resting place within the garden, a shed or simply as a bench will be included in the design to cater people within the area. This is not advisable, though, in small gardens since the space for plants and boundaries will not be optimized and will undermine the garden area.

Storage

As a hobbyist, you could include in your design a small shed to keep your tools and other equipment that are important in maintaining care to your garden. You could also use the area near your shed for your compost bin and mulch, for easy access whenever you need them. Water barrels can also be stored there for your water supply and a few storage’s of rocks and pebbles can be included in your list to put more art to your garden.

Keep In Mind

Concluding, there might be other many factors that are not mentioned in this article but these are just the basics into garden design. There are types of gardens you might want to consider and there are also types of plants you want to include in your garden. So, do not stop exploring and make your garden as unique as you can be!

Does soil affect garden design?

It may not seem noticeably to everyone since the soil is not directly visible and seen in your garden but it plays a vital role in the design. Many people often disregard the effect that soil can do on their plants. The soil is important to keep your plants healthy and beneficial to your garden.
Your garden will not reach its full potential when the right type of soil is not used. Good soil management is the key to make your garden great since your soil will do most of your work by itself once you get to know the basics.

Basically, there are four main types of soil to remember:

Clay

Clay soils have particles that are dense and tiny and theystore large amounts of moisture and nutrients. When clay soils become dry, they absorb water more slowly and would even sometimes become hard.

Sandy

Sandy soils contain large particles that allow water to easily pass through, reaching the roots quickly and providing nutrients.

Silts

Silts have particle sizes between sand and clay. These are hard soils that does not absorb water and air easily.
 
Loam soil

Loam soil is combination of sand and clay, which also contains humus. A fertile soil that greatly helps plants to grow.

Something To Consider

Like any living organism, plants need the proper environment for them to live long and help with the aesthetics of your garden. Proper soil preparation is to be put into consideration in garden design to ensure that plants receive ample supply of nutrients to thrive even in dry periods. It is your responsibility to determine the type of soils you have in your area before acting out the plan of your garden.

Little Known Facts About Affordable Outdoor Furniture

When looking to buy affordable outdoor furniture, it’s important to buy from a company that you can trust. In this article, we have listed our favorite items from Amazon. These items are of the same quality and style that can be found at some of the leading online and offline retailers such as Wayfair, world market, Ikea, cb2, pier one, Overstock, and JSYK. You can find many cheap modern and stunning pieces of furniture on Amazon.

Why Have Outdoor Furniture?

Having affordable outdoor furniture is the perfect addition to any home. Whether you live alone, with family or with friends, being able to enjoy fresh air in comfort is so essential to having a quality of life. Whether it’s sitting outdoors in the morning with a fresh cup of coffee or having a social evening with friends, outdoor furniture will improve the way that you live. Having outdoor furniture means that you can enjoy lunch or dinner on your balcony, patio or in your garden.

A home without outdoor furniture will never look complete. There is nothing better than seeing a beautiful set of table and chairs situated on the grass between the flowers and trees in the garden. Even when the furniture is placed on a balcony, it adds a very modern and cosmopolitan look to the space.

What Features Should Outdoor Furniture Have?

When looking for affordable outdoor furniture, it’s vital to get furniture that can withstand outdoor conditions, such as wind, snow, rain, sun, and dirt. Being able to maintain the outdoor furniture is important for it to look good and remain in prime condition for years.

This is why most people purchasing outdoor furniture prefer to go with wicker furniture. If the furniture is made from fabric, then having washable covers is also essential. Even if the furniture is made from wicker, it’s necessary that the furniture can be easily washed or sprayed down with a hose to remove the dirt and debris. Outdoor furniture needs to be comfortable for the whole family to enjoy. The material of the outdoor furniture will significantly determine the experience that the person has when using the outdoor furniture.

What Are The Pros and Cons Of Having Outdoor Furniture

Pros

• You can enjoy your favorite meal outside without having to stand outside uncomfortably. There’s nothing more bothersome than having to sit on the floor.
• You can enjoy social gatherings with friends and family, by having outdoor lunches, dinners, and barbeques, giving everyone a space to relax and enjoy conversation.
• You can allow your children to relax comfortably outside when they need a break from outdoor activity.
• You can have a chic and modern fully furnished home by adding outdoor furniture to complete the look of your home.
• Wooden furniture is long lasting and is fantastic for the outdoor as it adjusts to any weather temperature.
• You can watch your children play soccer, read a book and enjoy your garden.

Cons

 

• Outdoor furniture needs to be kept clean, and anything such as a windstorm can cause dirt to build upon the furniture.
• Unless the furniture is compact, then it’s impossible to fit outside. It’s vital to check the measurements and to look for furniture that is foldable or can be easily assembled.
• Outdoor furniture will experience wear and tear faster than indoor furniture, so it’s important to choose furniture that can withstand outdoor conditions, such as wind, sun, and rain.
• Wooden outdoor furniture can be prone to weather damage very quickly and therefore needs furniture oil in order to be well maintained.
• Plastic furniture can heat up with excessive sun and heat and can be unusable in places with very high temperatures.

Popular Affordable Outdoor Furniture

This rustic furniture set is a fantastic option for any relaxed and cozy home looking for a rustic look for an outdoor space. The brown two chairs and a table can be the perfect addition to any pool, balcony or outdoor area. The molded rattan design is durable and comfortable and is also rust proof so that it will withstand all weather conditions, especially for those living near the coast.
The polypropylene resin finish gives the set complete durability and is the perfect addition to any home. The sleek and modern metal frame is the perfect modern touch to any home.

The Nova Microdermabrasion Garden Double Hammock, would be a wicked addition to your backyard. Its easier to install then most hammocks cause there is no need to use trees. So, if you’re the type of home owner that already own outdoor furniture, but wants another place to relax that doesn’t require a lot of space to be used. This would be the perfect product for you.

The TANGKULA conversation patio set, is lovely cause it has a middle section table to set anything you want on it. It’s like having 3 pieces of furniture, but combined as one. Plus, who would be disappointed in this high quality built wicker which is resistant to sun, rain, and heat.

Conclusion

With so many stunning furniture options to choose from, there are so many varieties of affordable and stunning furniture that can be purchased for any outdoor space. Buying outdoor furniture can be a fun and exciting process, and when you know what you want, it doesn’t have to be stressful either. Enjoy your time outside with friends or family by purchasing a set of outdoor furniture.

Style Your Garden Using These Decoration Ideas

I never thought about decorating a garden, until my mother out of the blue decided to grow her own veggies. Which, gave me the inspiration for this article. 

So, if you’re looking for some garden decoration ideas you’ve come to the right place. Please, leave a comment at the end of this article if you enjoyed the garden ornaments mentioned below;

Let’s Get Started

There are garden fountains for just about all size gardens; small, medium and large. Also, with a huge selection of materials the fountain can be like; bamboo, metal, ceramic, wood, glass and many more. I personally like the fountains that mimic the sound of water tinkling and that are made of stone, its personal preference.

 Some Questions You May Have Below 

What are the benefits of Garden Fountains?

Comes To Personal Preference

Water fountains are not just for decoration it can help the animal life and people around it. Some people, buy one just from the sound it emits because it helps with stress. Others, like the way it looks which makes the owner happy because it’s something that is visually appealing.

Improving the Air Around

An important benefit that a garden fountain provides it cleaning the air around it. The flow of the water performs similar to an air humidifier, but naturally. The way it works is the flowing water produces negative ions and moisture in the air which in turn cleanses dry environments.

A Must If You’re A Bird Lover

If you’re a bird lover, then there is no question you need a water garden fountain. Having one in your garden acts as a natural attractant and surprisingly might attract bird species you haven’t seen in your garden before. If you were to pick a fountain solely based on this benefit, 100% recommenced running water fountains compared to bowl fountains.

How Do I Empty a Garden Fountain?

If your fountain has a pump you can pump the water out of the base using it, but leave about an 1-inch of water left and empty the rest by hand using a scoop. Doing so will prevent the pump from breaking and save you money. 

Add Some Garden Gnomes & Statues

Garden gnomes and statues are great decoration ideas. Some people, use them to scare off unwanted animals to protect their plants. Whilst others add them as a garden or yard decor piece. 

Now, you may be thinking” I hate those gnomes” and i don’t blame you as most people think they move on them. The good news is there are plenty of gnome designs and statues out their online. So, I’m sure you will find what you’re looking for.

Family Garden Projects

It would be horrible if i didn’t mention family projects. What better way to give your garden or yard a unique and special touch. Not only does this make you appreciated it more, but it also creates more of a bond with your family.

Will list some DIY garden/yard projects you and your family can work together on below. If you want more of a unique decor item then you my friend will have to come up with something no one else has created.

Turning Old Items into Decor for Your Garden/Yard

If you’re looking for that vintage vibe for your garden or yard. All you need to do is add old items like rusted wheel barrows, animal feed containers, and old wheels. So, keep an eye out at your local garage sale and antique stores. You might just stumble across something ancient that would look amazing.