Create a fast raised bed garden

 backyard design  No Responses »
Apr 252010
 

I prefer my gardens to be more artistic but a rectangular raised bed garden will add color and use to you backyard.

This you tube show how to make a very easy raised bed garden.

The most important decision when making a raised bed garden is placement (6 to 8 hours of sun) and drainage and water. I like my watering source to be as close to the garden area as possible.

If you make the raised bed in the fall you can create most of your own soil by making compost and filling the raised bed area. If you are starting in the spring you will probably have to fill the new garden bed with soil you buy.

And with all gardens I recommend mulching the top of the soil with compost or chips to help hold in the moisture and cut down on weeding. Which mulch you select will depend on the plants you plan to grow. For perennials I usually use a chip or leaf mold. For annual plants and vegetable I use compost that I make.

Posted by Denise at 7:56 pm  Tagged with: , , , ,

Tips for successful new perennial plants

 Backyard Garden  No Responses »
Apr 072010
 

Spring is a time for adding new plants to your backyard and garden areas. By planting in the spring the plant will have time to adjust to its new home and start producing new roots before the blazing hot days cause the plants to dry and add additional stress to a new plant.

Peony or Paeony
Creative Commons License photo credit: Lights Out Photos

Many may not realize this but plant stress will cause the plant to be more susceptible to insects and disease.

Here are a few tips to consider before you buy a new plant

  • Read the plant tag before you bring it home to see if it will grow in your climate zone and will fit into your backyard growing area. There is no sense in buying a shade loving plant if your backyard is all sunshine.
  • Check the plant over well before you buy it. Are the soil and roots healthy? Is there a lot of stem or leaf damage? Are there any signs of insects or disease? If you see any of these problems, select another plant.
  • Check the size it will grow and if it says, “spreads easily” This is a nice phrase for “invasive plant that will take over your yard.”

Tips to acclimate your plant to its new home

  • Check the plant over when you get it home. Remove any damaged leaves.
  • Water the plant if it needs it and then set it in a quiet place to rest. Plants suffer from stress to and you don’t know how the plant was treated before you bought it.
  • Make sure your plants new home is ready by adding any soil and removing all the weeds.
  • I let a plant set apart form other plants for a few days to make sure it does not have an insect problem that you did not notice. You don’t want to infect all your other plants.
  • Slowly set the plant outdoors. The plant needs to adjust to sunshine so set out for a few hours then move into a shady place. I usually acclimate a perennial for about 5 days, then plant.
  • Plant your perennial in the morning or late at night so that the plant has less sun just after being planted.
  • I mulch the area around a new perennial plant to help hold in moisture and keep the roots cool.
  • You may want to place a mini fence or plastic around the plant until family and any pets are used to the plant being there. I have lost several plants due to them being stepped on, mowed over or played with by a happy pet.

Perennials will add years of color to your backyard so give them time to adjust to their new home.

Posted by Denise at 8:49 pm  Tagged with: , , , ,

Castor beans for mole control

 Backyard Garden  No Responses »
Apr 052010
 

If you don’t have small children or small pets and have a mole problem in your backyard area you may want to consider growing castor bean plants.

Mole
Creative Commons License photo credit: Link576

Living near a creek I tend to have a mole problem, especially if the previous season was rainy. Needless to say, this year the yard looks like a landmine hit it. I have mole hills everywhere. Besides creating more work for me it can prevent drainage in the yard. So the moles have to go.

You can get mole poison and set up traps but I have found growing castor beans works very well and they are beautiful. But they are poisonous. So you may want to consider growing them or just growing them in a fenced area.

Castor beans will help rid the yard of moles for a two-acre area and the effects will last for a few years. I am not sure of all the reasons it works but I have heard the roots put a taste in the soil that affects a very large area. All I know is when I grow them I have no moles.

Castor bean have a hard shell so soak the seeds first. I also plant them indoors so that I can give then a head start in a warm climate and move them outdoors later.

And although I do not have children I tend to plant the plants behind a fence.

Castor beans have a tropical look and there are several varieties to choose from. I usually grow several kinds just because I like the looks of the plant.

Posted by Denise at 10:22 pm  Tagged with: , , ,

Willow Arbors and Garden Trellises

 backyard design  No Responses »
Apr 032010
 

Arbors and arches will add to any garden or backyard area. They can be purchased or if you have available supplies they can be made rather easily.

An arbor can be made from willow, which is available in many backyards. There is the yellow or weeping willow and the more wild willow that grows along creeks and near swamps. Just make sure if you’re trimming willow off your property that you have permission of the property owner.

This you tube is about how to make an arbor from willow. In this you tube the creator talks about the willow growing later during the season, which it may do the first year depending on your climate.

The following season you may wish to treat the willow with a weather sealant to help the arbor last longer by protecting it from water.

The next you tube will show you how to create four different trellises for basic garden purposes. Most of the items are probably around your home or can be easily picked up from a hardware store, garage sales or an auction.

These trellises are more functional than artistic. But you could use the same ideas to create a trellis from willow or another bendable wood if you want a more rustic look.

Arbors and trellises make better use of space which is important in small space gardening, patio gardening or balcony gardening.

I also like to look of plants growing vertical plus I find I have less insect problems when plants are off the ground and exposed to better air circulation.

Posted by Denise at 10:50 pm  Tagged with: , , , , , ,
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