Gardening do not over water

The garden idea for this month is not to over water your garden. It is hot outside! But do not over water the garden. We all see people just turning on the sprinkler and letting the water for hours. One this costs money and two it is not good for the plants. Check the plants in the morning and in the cooler evening hours. never water in the heat of the day!

Hand check
Before whipping out the watering can, check your garden's soil moisture with that handiest of tools, your finger. Push it into the ground around your plants. You want the top 2 or 3 inches of the soil to be dry, and the soil below that to be moist. Oh, and don't forget to check your local weather forecast to see what Mother Nature has planned before turning on the hose.
Timing is everything
In warm weather, water in the morning to give plants a chance to drink up before the hot sun or strong winds evaporate the moisture. This protects plants from wilting in the afternoon heat, too. In a prolonged drought, cover more sensitive plants with a shade cloth to limit midday transpiration, suggests Cado Daily of the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension. If you can't water in the morning, try for late afternoon—but not too late; the foliage should have time to dry before the sun goes down so it doesn't develop fungal diseases.
 Deep and infrequent
Seeds and seedlings demand moisture close to the soil's surface, but more established plants need deep watering to develop roots that will find water in the subsoil when drought strikes. Just be careful not to over water! You want soil that's damp but not soggy down to 5 to 6 inches below the surface. In waterlogged soil, roots are deprived of oxygen and may lose the ability to take up water. If your plants' foliage begins to brown at the edges and fall from the plant, you may be over watering.

One thing that people do it hand water their plants, use a water can, or a hose with a water nozzle. another thing you can do is recycle 2 liter bottles, and fill them up with water and punch in at an angle to the roots of the plants. The water will come down as needed for the plants. Just make sure when you punch them into the ground you make it gurgle to make sure there is no dirt soil cork in the bottle.  I personally use old wine bottles. they have a longer neck and blend in to the plants.

National Gardening Exercise Day

 Today is June 6th and that means it is National Gardening exercise day So this months Garden idea is Get out in the garden and exercise.

Everyone knows gardening is therapeutic.  It's good for the mind, body, and soul. Gardening Exercise Day gives us an opportunity to go out and burn off calories and have fun doing it. National Gardening Exercise Day is intended to recognize the important physical health benefits of gardening.
In reality, gardening is exercise. Experts say the various activities and tasks of gardening ultimately uses all of the major muscle groups. In addition, strenuous gardening activities such as raking, hoeing, and digging is both aerobic and muscle strengthening.
Take time today to celebrate one of America's favorite hobbies. Go out and exercise with, and among, your plants.

Garden Idea for May

This months Garden Idea is plan and grow one new vegetable in your garden this year. If all you can do is buy a plant and put it in a planter, then try it. Watch it grow and harvest the vegetable. We all have our favorites that we grow every year. Have you tried a new Tomato variety? How about a new herb?

Garden Idea Oct

This is a great time of year to clean up the yard and put away all summer items. This is also the time of year that you will want to clean up the last of the harvest and get the garden area ready for the winter.  

 Depending on your temperatures and your zones you may of already had your first frost. Now if you live in areas that have not had their first frost, keep your eye on the weather and stretch your growing season as long as you can. Root vegetables, last of the tomatoes and pumpkins and squashes will be going until the frost.

This is also fire prevention month and you will want to clear away all debris from around your house, rake up all leaves, pine needles, and dead bushes, tree limbs, etc. 

Garden Tip September 2011

 

Gardening idea for the month of September 2011

It is time to start planning to plant your spring flowering  bulbs. When you think of spring flowers you think of Crocus, hyacinth, and tulips, daffodils, just to name a few.

For best flowering, store them in a paper bag in the crisper section of your refrigerator (away from apples) for at least six weeks before planting.

As you select your flowering bulbs to plant this fall, keep in mind that larger caliber bulbs give big, showy displays, but cost more. Smaller caliber bulbs usually are less expensive, with a smaller show, but are great for brightening nooks and crannies in your yard.

As you plant your spring bulbs, remember that a mass planting of one flower type or color will produce a better effect than a mixture of many colors. Flowers of bulbs stand out more vividly if displayed against a contrasting background.

We all like to see the first signs of spring in the new year, that way we all know that long winter is over and the new season begins. Even if you can only plant a few bulbs for the next year, do so, you will not be sorry.

Of course flowers are not part of Food Storage, the the hope and seeing them can brighten anyones day. This is a good thing especially after a very long and cold winter.

Do check with your area zone maps to see when is the best time to plant the bulbs in your area.

Every flower is a soul blossoming in nature.  ~Gerard de Nerval

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
~William Wordsworth, "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud," 1804

Garden Tip July 2011

The Garden topic and tip of the Month for July 2011

Really is a simple one that every can use. When you are going out to your garden, grab an old laundry basket. take your gloves, tools, etc and put into the basket and carry out to the garden.

Then when you are weeding, you can put the weeds in the basket to easily carry to the compost or for disposal.

You then can also use the basket to carry your harvest of vegetables to the hose to be rinsed off before going to the house; less dirt in the house sink! Take the basket of vegetables to the house to cook, prepare, or to put up.The same goes for flowers and fresh herbs.