The Green Ninja

Evergreen Plants for Winter

admin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:47:35 +0000

Gardening and landscaping are a terrific hobby for many people, but it can sometimes get very technical. Whole careers can be built on knowing how to choose just the right tree or shrub for every climate and situation. Therefore, to simplify things, evergreen trees and shrubs can be a wonderful addition to any yard in winter.
They survive well in cold climates and provide plenty of shade for the warmer seasons. Choosing the right evergreen for your particular yard is a matter of size and space. Since landscaping can involve plenty of time and money, learning about the varieties of plants available to you can definitely make a difference to your wallet.

Evergreen trees like the fir, arborvitae and the spruce are a good choice for yards with plenty of space. These hardy trees begin their life in a triangular shape. They tend to grow quickly and can reach heights of over 50 feet. As they grow, most evergreen trees shed their lower limbs. This creates space below the tree that is nicely shaded.
The majority of these trees produce cones to contain their seeds and these cones make wonderful decorative pieces for the holiday season. Evergreen trees have large root areas, so planting beneath the tree can be quite difficult. Using a fir or spruce tree as cover for your picnic table is an excellent way to utilize the shade.
The trees tolerate very cold winters and warm summers.

Evergreen shrubs like the Japanese Yew or the Juniper shrub can be used for planting near driveways and doors. These shrubs cover ground quickly and can be trimmed to almost any shape.
Juniper shrubs spread to five or six feet in width in just a few years. They make the perfect shrub for a green doorway or entrance to your home. Japanese Yew shrubs are often trimmed to a round or pyramid shape as decoration for a yard. The female plants of the Yew produce bright red berries that make excellent color contrast for a landscape.

When the soil around your home is not suitable for delicate plants, evergreen trees can be the perfect choice to cover the ground. Australian pines and white fir trees grow well in even the sandiest location. They reach 10 feet in height in just a few years and, when planted close together, can provide a nice wind-break for your yard.
Canada hemlock and Canada Yew can grow in almost complete shade and are very well-suited for extreme temperatures. They also can be used to create warmth in a yard by blocking heavy winds.
Whether you live in northern climates or more southern areas, evergreen plants and trees make a wonderful addition to any landscape. They are inexpensive to purchase and provide color all year long. Evergreen trees are an excellent choice for novice landscapers.

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Trellis Structures for your Garden

admin — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 15:56:44 +0000

Gardening is one of most favorite activities of many around the world. Gardening is a great exercise altogether, but the trick is to know gardening tools and do it perfectly. However, there is one thing that can make your garden look fabulous and that is trellises. If you incorporate various trellis structures in to you garden, your garden will not only look glamorous but it would also provide support to your plants as well. Now you must be curious to know what trellises exactly are. Well, a trellis is a typical architectural design, which is created to support your vines so that they can grow by means of the rungs.

There can be various types of trellises that you can use to enhance the look of your garden, most common being the metal and wooden ones. As far as the structures are concerned there are plenty to choose from. You can go for pergolas, arbors; grape vine trellis styles anything you like according to your garden plan. However, some of the most basic structures include pyramid, wigwam etc., as they are good for the climbing crops. Some other examples of trellis structures include, latticework frames and trellis designs affixed to the walls. As far as the materials are concerned you can take your pick from coppers, wrought iron or wood.

A trellis can serve as many purposes as you want, they can wither be an archway to your garden, or cover your patio. It can also serve as divider between your backyard and your favorite garden as well. The best thing is you can always design your trellises according to gardening plan and your taste and in the end, you will not get a marvelous view of your garden but it wound eventually enhance the look of your home as well.

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Growing Vegetables in Pots

admin — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 17:50:57 +0000

Even if all the room you have for a garden is only a patio or deck which gets at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight a day, you can grow a very bountiful garden. Nearly every vegetable includes a variety that can be a good candidate for growing vegetables in pots, but smaller varieties generally do better since they typically have smaller root systems.

What Varieties of Vegetables Do Well in Pots?
Since growing vegetables in containers has become so popular, there are more varieties than ever to grow in containers. When looking for varieties to grow, the seed packet or plant tag will often will have descriptions such as “patio,” “bush,” “dwarf,” etc., or will say how tall the variety gets. Varieties under 4 feet will generally do well. It is possible to grow larger varieties, but they may become top heavy and subject to being knocked over by wind, and will need some kind of support, such as a trellis.

What Kind of Soil is Best for Growing Vegetables in Pots?
Soil is the most important investment for growing vegetables in containers or in the ground. The soil you choose must have the proper nutrients so that the food you grow will be the most nutritious possible. Because organic gardening has become so popular, there are now many organic mixes available at your local nursery, or even at big box stores.

What Kind of Fertilizer is Best for Growing Vegetables in Pots?
Since your plants are confined to the soil in containers, and will need to be watered frequently, your plants will need to be fertilized every two weeks. Fish emulsion and sea kelp provide a wide range of nutrients and, when properly diluted, will not burn your plants. You can also provide foliar feedings on the weeks that you do not fertilize the soil. Simply spray all surfaces of your plants’ leaves every two weeks with diluted fertilizer.

How to Choose Seeds to Grow
You will have the best selection of varieties to choose from by shopping at local nurseries or online. Local nurseries will know what varieties typically do well in your area. Heirloom and an open pollinated varieties will make it possible for you to save seed from year to year.

Choose varieties that are described as having the traits you want. For example, if you like peas with sweet pods rather than peas which are best shelled, reputable seed companies will have accurate descriptions of the mature fruit and when to harvest. To extend your gardening season, choose varieties with different maturation dates, or plant a few seeds every few weeks.

Once you start growing your own food, you will become fascinated with watching your plants during the growing seasons. You will start looking forward to receiving seed catalogs in January and February, and will be excited to try new vegetables. Your food will not only be more nutritious, but it will taste better than anything you can buy at the grocery store.

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A Post for my Fellow Bloggers

admin — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 19:31:12 +0000

I’ve been continuing my blogging and have recently begun to dip my toes into new waters. It has been fun, but it has also been an incredible learning experience. Not only have I learned how to add a forum to my website, but I have also learned how to use a web survey tool to do online surveys! This can be incredibly helpful to know what it is that your readers need from you. You can take surveys about what your readers what to know and then you can help them out by writing more relevant content for your website.

The best website survey tool that I have found is at PollDaddy. It is just so darn flexible and easy to use! If you are into blogging or if you have your own website for a business, then you should probably take a little time to learn how to use online surveys to your benefit.

In addition to adding online surveys, you will also need to be using an autoresponder so that you can communicate with your readers through an email list. This can make things incredibly easy and you can automate the process to send out emails any time you like. I’m learning more and more every day and I hope to be able to continue sharing these lessons with you.

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The Garden Center Guide

admin — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 15:21:59 +0000

The Garden Center Guide is a very useful guide which lists over 15.000 garden centers and plant nurseries in the US. Many garden centers have opening times, directions and special offers on their page. Are you a regular garden center visitor? Write a review about your own local garden center at www.gardencenterguide.us and enter the $25 prize draw!

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Landscape Photography can Encompass Two Areas

admin — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 00:50:34 +0000

In the field of landscape photography two or more fields can be covered. Since pictures of landscaping show the results of the landscapers’ work it can also be used for advertising, which would fall into the category of advertising as well as commercial photography.

Using landscape photography as art is common practice among many businesses that want to depict their feelings about the environment, showing their appreciation for nature. In order to achieve success taking pictures of landscaping, the photographer needs to have an eye on composition as well as what their intended audience is wanting to see. Natural light is about the only available lighting for photographing the landscape and, depending on the ambience being sought will be determined by the weather.

Commercial uses of landscape photography can be to present a business environment that shows how a company’s headquarters building fits into the natural environment and presents a model of tranquility. Many companies use photographs of their building’s exterior to depict the personality of the company, especially if it is attempting to lure business from those involved in environmental protection or from those interested in the environment.

Those in the business of landscaping, whether it is simply for lawn cutting and care services or for full-blown makeovers, landscape photography can be a big selling point to attract new business. However, with modern digital photography and electronic enhancements available, the photographs can be taken even when the natural lighting is not conducive for perfect outcomes. Depending on the intended purpose of the picture, areas can be shaded or brightened to highlight or hide specific details. The photographer may want to bring out defects in a certain area for a company looking to increase their landscape business or hide them in a photo showing their work upon completion.

A big advantage to digital manipulation when considering landscape photography is the ability to show how different designs can affect the overall appearance of a building or the land on which it sits. By adding or subtracting different elements the entire vision can be changed, enabling owners to determine what, if any changes, they wish to make in their landscape before turning the first shovel of dirt.

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Six Essential Tips for Growing Delicious Tomatoes

admin — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 15:03:27 +0000

Growing your own juicy tomatoes can be a very rewarding experience. Not only will you be able to pick fresh fruits anytime you like from the garden, but you will also have the satisfaction knowing that your tomatoes are clean and safe from harmful chemicals.

Tomatoes are among the most popular fruits to grow and eat since they are simple to care for and very nutritious. A single tomato is an excellent source of Vitamin C, calcium, iron, potassium, folic acid and it even holds traces of Vitamin A and K. Having your own crop is a great way to have delicious fruits that are filled with great nutrients every single day of the season.

In order to get the most out of the tomato plants and have an abundant supply of tomatoes all season long, it’s important to follow a few simple tips that all experienced gardeners know.

Soil

Tomato plants require fertile organic soil that has very good drainage. Since the plants are very sensitive to frost, it’s a good idea to prepare the ground just after the last frost of the season.

Before planting seeds or seedlings, make sure to mix in good organic matter and cover the ground with a dark plastic sheet at least one week prior. This will increase the ground temperature and moisture, which is ideal for early growth and a good way to prevent disease.

Spacing

When planting seeds or transferring seedlings to the garden, make sure there is adequate spacing for optimum growth and development. If you are planning to cover the plants with a cage, each plant should be spaced approximately 14 inches apart. For free growing plants, there should be a minimum spacing of 25 inches between plants.

Sun

Tomatoes love the sun and should get at least 5-8 hours of it a day. When choosing the best place for tomatoes to grow, plant them in the sunniest area of the garden or facing the sunniest window of your home. If the plants do not get enough sunlight, the leaves will look withered and yellow. Also, the plants will not produce healthy edible fruits.

If you are planning to grow the plants indoors under grow lights, make sure to keep them lit approximately 12 hours a day with the plants close to the light source.

Water

Water tomato plants regularly. If they are growing in a hot climate, make sure to water them deeply to ensure enough moisture in the soil for those hot days in the sun. Slightly cooler climates can water the plants every other day. It’s important to keep the soil moisture even without leaving the plants soggy or too dry since it will greatly affect the size and taste of the tomatoes.

When watering tomato plants, make sure to water close to the base without splashing soil back up to the plant since this is the most common method of spreading disease from the organisms and parasites on the surface of the soil.

Wind

To grow healthy and strong tomato plants, they require regular movement in the wind or a fan, if grown indoors. The wind helps the stems grow thick and strong to help keep the large developing fruits off the ground. Plant the tomatoes in a fairly free space in the garden where the wind will catch them. For indoor plants, place a fan in front of the plants for approximately 3 to 4 hours every day.

Pruning

When the tomato plants are over two feet tall, prune the bottom leaves that are closest to the soil. This will help prevent fungus from forming on the leaves and spreading to the rest of the plant.

Another pruning technique many gardeners debate about is whether or not to prune the “suckers” when fruits are maturing. The suckers are the new leaves that spring up between the forks of two stems. Many gardeners prune the suckers to help the maturing fruit to grow larger and faster while other gardeners choose to leave the suckers alone, so they can grow even more fruits.

No matter which type of tomato you choose to grow for the season, follow these handy tips and enjoy a season filled with healthy and nutritious delights.

Mario Leal writes about being self sufficient through gardening with the best vegetables.

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Finding Great Garden Equipment

admin — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 16:32:45 +0000

If you are looking for a gardening cart or garden trolley then www.maplesupplies.co.uk is a great company to buy one from. They well a wide range of garden equipment including garden carts, garden trolleys and other garden equipment. The site is well designed and they have a secure shop to purchase your garden products from. Maple Supplies are based in Shefford, England and ship throughout the United Kingdom. Worldwide delivery is also available at additional cost.

Maple are set in the countryside in Bedfordshire so are ideally suited to test all garden equipment before they start selling it. The most popular product is the multipurpose garden cart which they sell via their garden equipment shop.

The garden carts they sell are different to wheelbarrows in that they have four wheels instead of two and are more stable than a wheelbarrow, they are easy to use in all garden conditions and make easy work of long grass or rough ground. They also easily fit bags supplied for garden waste in the UK.

In summary Maple are a really professional and high quality company who sell garden equipment to both the trade and general public, at exceptionally low prices. Why not check out their website at www.maplesupplies.co.uk.

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What to Look for in a Garden Tiller

admin — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 16:35:05 +0000

Summer season might have just passed us, but it won’t be for long until it’s that time of the year again. For those who plan to plant a vegetable garden of their own, it’s never too early to get prepared. One of the main task for preparing a garden, is tilling the land. If you do this task manually, it will take longer, you will get tired, and most probably back ache. That’s where a small lightweight tiller comes into place. You would want your garden tiller to be easy to use, reliable and robust so that it will last you for a while.

A small rototiller will most likely meet the needs of most hobbyist gardeners. Nowadays there is a wide range of types and brands you can choose from. But like most of the people, you also want the most of the machine, for the least of the money. Therefore, read below for 4 tips that will guide on identifying the best tiller for your budget and garden.

4 Tips when buying a small garden tiller

The following tips should help you make the right choice when thinking about which tiller you should choose:

Sellers with good customer reviews – Always buy from a company that has a good rating among its buyers. If other people who bought the tiller before you are satisfied with the product then you can rest assured that the tool is of good quality.
Length and type of warranty - The longer the warranty, the lower the risk you take when you purchase the product. Also look for the type of guarantees: does it offer money-back guaranty, full refund, product voucher, etc. This just shows the confidence of the company in the quality of the products it makes.
Size and weight - This factor may not seem very crucial to you at first, but trust me it will as soon as you start tilling. Operating a heavy tiller requires more strength and is harder to maneuver. Therefore picking a lightweight rototiller will save you a lot of hassle and back pain when preparing your garden.
Look for discounts – If you are about to go and buy a tool that will set you off in the $300-500 range, then a small price drop of even 10% makes for a significant saving which you could use to buy seeds or other complementary tools. Therefore, always look for rototillers for sale.

There you go, if you use these 4 tips mentioned above on how to go on when shopping for a rototiller, then it should provide you with peace of mind after making your decision and you will be guaranteed the benefits that the machine has to offer you.

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What are you Reading?

admin — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 20:14:03 +0000

I have been on a crazy journey lately of reading motivational/entrepreneurial books. What started off all this insanity is the book that you see to the left here. The Four Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss.

If you have not read this book, then I suggest that you immediately stop reading this and log onto Amazon to buy it. I have finished it, but I am now reading it a second time through because I am so overwhelmed.

I have the book on my Kindle, but I am about to purchase a hard cover version so that my husband can read it, too. No way am I giving up the Kindle!

Anyway, if you are one of those people who has way more intelligence than they are being paid for and does not want to settle for a few years of retirement way down the road, then get this book.

I’ve also been listening to some great podcasts lately, such as the Smart Passive Income podcast and Internet Business Mastery. If you are interesting in making the most of your time and your business, then I recommend that you get this book right now and start listening to these podcasts. My motivation (and productivity) levels have gone through the roof!

What are you reading and listening to right now?

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