Denise

Semi-retired professional photographer and freelance writer, Denise now creates art from salvaged items. Gardening and any outdoor activity is a great way to spend spare time Current plans are enlarging a perennial and cutting garden business and developing property to be an environmentally fun place to spend time for the community. Future plans include more travel and adding to my own photography and art collection.

Ideas for setting up a Hydroponic Garden

 backyard projects  No Responses »
Oct 182010
 

The last few weeks I have been spent moving and dividing perennials and deciding how to grow more vegetables and plants indoors this fall and winter by learning and using Hydroponic gardening.

With the cost of food and the overall economy I decided its best to try and grow as much of your own food and plants as possible. It’s friendlier to the environment and by growing your own produce you take pressure of the food supply so that it can be sent where it’s needed.

So hydroponics is an area I am experimenting with. I think it will work better with my climate.

This you tube gives a great breakdown on how to set up a hydroponic garden. And hydroponic growing makes better use of space, which is a plus if you have a small backyard or life in a city or suburb.

The you tube set up is basic and made to be moved and created with cheap materials. This may give you ideas for your own set up.

Gardening indoors in the winter months also makes the cold days pass by quicker and gives you a garden feel to your home. If you give hydroponics a try drop me a message and let me know how it worked for you.

Posted by Denise at 7:33 pm  Tagged with: , , , ,

Pine Straw Mulch – Pine Needle for Winterizing Your Garden

 backyard design, guest writer  No Responses »
Oct 162010
 

Pine needles have a natural look that will add to any yard and landscaping design. And no matter where you may live, you can usually find someone who has a pine tree on his or her property but needs to remove the fallen needles. In my area I wait until fall clean up and knock on doors to remove their pine needle and other fall leaves.

Pine trees drop a percentage of their needles in the fall. The needles will add acidity to the area they cover, which will kill the grass and make holes in your yard. In a pine forest or around certain trees this doesn’t matter, but in your yard it may create a problem.

But using pine needles in select areas of your yard as a mulch can be beneficial. Choose areas where your acid loving plants will appreciate the nutrients added to the soil as the needles decay. Azaleas, rhododendron, chrysanthemum and roses benefit from acidic soil.

Onions, garlic, mint and tomatoes are a few of the plants in your vegetable and herb garden, which would also enjoy the acid boost. I must admit I have not used pine needle in a garden area.

A mulch using pine needles or pine straw adds a rich brown surface and a fine texture to the area that they cover. This looks particularly attractive with azaleas, and areas that you want a naturalized look, such as a wooded area or terraced hillside.

Another benefit of pine needles is that they shade the soil in the summertime. This prevents moisture from evaporating as quickly cutting back on water usage and watering time in the landscape. In the colder months, a layer of pine needles acts as a blanket to protect the roots of the plant. Pine needles are perfect for winterizing plants, trees and shrubs in your landscape design.

Pine needle mulch also cuts back on weeding. The few weeds that manage to survive and surface are small and incredibly easy to pull out.

It’s recommended that you start with a 3-inch layer of needles. Pine needles break down slowly, so this first layer should last 3 to 5 months in most climates.  I often lay down a few layers of newspaper and apply the pine needle on top of that. The pine mulch  cover will last 3 times as long. Using this method I have no weeds and add new pine needles to even out the mulch layer and add a fresh look to the landscape.

Posted by Denise at 5:28 am  Tagged with: , , , ,

Backyard Hydroponic Gardening

 Small Space Garden  No Responses »
Oct 142010
 

There is a move towards growing hydroponic gardens.  And I myself find this is an area I want to explore and to add to my gardening experiences.

Hydroponically grown foods taste better and are high in nutrients. I have found hydroponic tomatoes are superior tomatoes particularly in the winter months. You can also grow more plants in a small space than with regular gardening so this style of gardening in perfect for apartment cities and limited space.

There are two types of indoor hydroponic gardens: an active hydroponic area and a passive one.

Active hydroponic systems pass a nutrient solution over the plant roots. To set up such a garden you will need a large sized planting medium like vermiculite, perlite and pea gravel. To make a passive indoor hydroponic system passively you will be providing a system that uses a wick or capillary system to feed your plants. The wick, which works like a kerosene lamp, sucks your nutrient solution via its reservoir, to the root system of the plant. Sand, peat moss or sawdust is the usual medium used passive hydroponics.

Hydroponic gardening is quite easy to begin. You need a lot of natural light for the best results. A sunroom or greenhouse is ideal. And if you use solar heating you will establish an econ friendly and cheap growing environment.

Easy Hydroponics

The first thing to do when learning how to make an indoor hydroponic garden is to decide exactly what you want to grow. Ask yourself these questions.
How many of each plant you want.
How much area will you need to grow your desired quantity of plants? Use the Internet or a hydroponic garden book to determine spacing.

You will need plastic piping and 4 inch diameter pots. Shade cloth is helpful for the first month, particularly if the growing climate is very warm. Mix fertilizer and water to a strength of 20 to 24 CF. If this is your first attempt at hydroponics have a reliable source of information available for plant mixes. The resulting pH should be between 5.5 and 6.5 for your plants.

Rinse the seedlings to remove any dirt before planting them. And don’t be too generous with nutrients. Hydroponic plants can cope with a low supply of nutrients but can die if you give them too much. My rule of thumb when beginning is to err on the low side.

Cubed chopped rockwool or fired clay are recommended as growing mediums but you can use chopped rockwool, rockwool slabs, rockwool blocks or cubes or fired clay and rockwool and expect good results form your hydroponic garden.

I look for the supplies I need from friends and as salvaged products. This would include pots, piping, cloth and growing materials. It cuts down of the expense of setting up your first garden.

Planting your hydroponic plants

  • Plant the seedlings in the hydroponic solution.
  • Check the water daily if you want to successfully learn how to make an indoor hydroponic system. This ensures the nutrient to water ratio is right.
  • Remember that Water evaporates which is why you have to keep an eye on it. Hydroponic gardening is not for you if you can’t check your water ratio frequently.
  • Your hydroponic plants will grow for 3 to 5 months. Overall you will not have many problems if you set the garden up correctly but you will have to watch out for root rot and pests.
  • You will know when you plants are ready to harvest. This part of gardening remains the same.

It can be expensive to set up an indoor hydroponic system the first time but the results are well worth it. You have fresh healthy vegetables and plants available all year long. You may even want to share or sell the extra crops and plants to friends and neighbors

Posted by Denise at 8:46 pm  Tagged with: , , , ,

Don’t Let Your Koi Die in the Winter – Koi fishpond Winterizing Points

 guest writer  No Responses »
Oct 122010
 
by guest writer Frank Froggatt

Winter is on the way, and if you have just built your Koi pond this will be the first time that your Koi have had to make it through those long winter months.

Think of Winter as a down period for your fishpond, as less events happen during Winter than any other time. If you wish to make certain that your pond and your fish survive through the winter, you are going to need to take some special precautions though.

Koi Pond Clean Up.

Take about a weekend to go over your fishpond. If it has any unwanted bulk material in it or around it, you need to clean it up. Inside your fishpond, clean up all leaves, silt, and other material from the bottom. Also, remove any plants or flowers that will not make it through the winter.

If there is any rubbish around your fishpond that could blow into it, clean that up as well as you are not likely to notice any of this stuff until spring arrives. Taking the time to make sure that as much debris is removed as possible will prevent potentially harmful bacteria and parasites in the future.

Stop Feeding your pond fish.

This is a very vital thing, then do not forget that you must not give food to your Koi during the winter. When your water temperatures get around 55 or sixtyF, you should only give your Koi food one time daily. When the outside air temperature reaches the 50 mark, you need to wholly stop feeding your Koi.

You might think that it’s okay to feed your fish when the temperature rises above 50 again, but don’t. Koi in general, take about four days to entirely digest their food at temperatures above fifty mark. If you mistakenly give food to your fish to late the food will not digest and will end up killing your fish.

You also need to realize that when a Koi is opening its mouth to you it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is hungry. This is just something that they do out of habit and reflex more than hunger. If you are worried about not feeding them, remember that fish eat other things besides the food you provide them, in particular if your fishpond contains a large amount of natural plant life. Your Koi will fill up on this other stuff if they get hungry and you’re not feeding them.

Check on your pond regularly.

Doing a regular check up on your pond equipment is vital.This includes everything from your filtration system to your store of preventable medications. During those extensive winter months it can be a little more difficult to come up with these pond supplies as a lot of carriers don’t keep them on their shelves during this time.

You also need to make sure that you have an crisis kit ready and up-to-date. This kit needs to include your water testing kits, bags, nets, and any of the medications required.

Get Ready for Cold Weather.

You need to make sure that you are ready for the cold weather, by investing in the required items while it is still summer. Koi have been known to withstand constant temperatures as low 39 degrees, and temperatures slightly lower then 39 degrees, for short periods of time.

If the area that you living gets extremely cold, it is going to be required for you to buy a pond heater. If you do not your pond can freeze over which will potentially trap dangerous amounts of gas inside the water. If the area that you have drops into the extremely low temperatures, you might really want to think about having an crisis tank available inside your home.

Turn Off All Water Sources.

When temperatures get really low, your heater is going to have to toil extra hard in order to keep the water temperature at a point that will allow your fish to remain alive.

If you have water features such as waterfalls, streams, or constant moving fountains, make sure to turn them off during Winter. The circulating action will only labor to thwart your pains at maintaining a warm temperature your pond. With these switched off, the only water that your heater will be responsible for is the standing water in your fishpond.

About the Author:
With this information now on hand, I hope that you can understand how vital it is that you make preparations for your small garden pond now before winter hits. Read more information on Koi Pond Care by visiting gardenpondtips.com.
Posted by Denise at 12:49 pm  Tagged with: , , , , , , , ,

Ideas for Fall Backyard decorating and Parties

 backyard oasis  No Responses »
Oct 102010
 

Pumpkins add that fall festive feeling to your home, gardens and family gatherings or parties.  Pumpkins grow in every shape and size. They even grow in a white luminous color. By decorating them, arranging them or adding other fall produce and decorations with them you can create a fresh new look for any occasion or backyard party.

Here are twelve ideas that you may use or may inspire other decorating ideas.

  1. Create a fall centerpiece for indoor parties. You can use pie pumpkins or mini pumpkins to save room on a table.  Create a small centerpiece of each room, the patio, porch or balcony area.
  2. Small mini pumpkins make great candlestick holders. Add fall leaves and acorns around the pumpkin for more of a fall feel.
  3. A pie pumpkin hollowed out will hold flowers. Fall mums would look natural and very festive.
  4. Paint your pumpkins to match your décor. This is a great idea if your children want a pumpkin in their room. They can decorate it in their favorite colors or relating to a hobby.
  5. Use decorative ribbon and hot glue it around your pumpkins. A spray of fresh flowers or artificial flowers will also add to the arrangement.
  6. Use small mini pumpkins as a nametag for dinner parties. Use a marker and add the name and a few leaves and flowers near the pumpkin.
  7. Use a cookie cutter and cut out shapes in your pumpkin. Then you can illuminate these cutouts with votive candles.
  8. If you can find a corer to cut out the same size hole or an exacto knife, cut in a pattern around the girth of the pumpkin. A swirl design, simple wave around the pumpkin or a pattern created by holes the same size will create an interesting and easy luminary design.  For a mass amount of light to be let out, put holes randomly all over the outside of the pumpkin.
  9. Spray some glue on your pumpkin and cover it in glitter! This adds a festive look to any party, particularly if you have added a pattern or holes for a lighted luminary.
  10. Paint your pumpkin in a color that will serve as your base color. I find red and yellow to have a striking look. Then find some fall leaves, place it up against your pumpkin and spray different color on top. If you add shading to the leaves you will create a 3-d look.
  11. Get a start on winter decor, paint your pumpkin white, the crown and stem of the pumpkin black and decorate it like the head of a snowman! Stack 2 different sized pumpkins on top of each other for a true snowman look.
  12. Use any other gourd or squash to create a fall harvest look. This is particularly nice on a porch or in the front yard. The addition of a bale of hay or corn stalks will add to the display.

Pumpkins lend themselves to fall and holiday decorating. By using pumpkins, natural objects, flowers or paint you can create any feeling or match any décor or easily create a party theme.

Posted by Denise at 11:41 am  Tagged with: , , , , ,
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