Backyard Gardening Tips

The appearance of wilting leaves, and leaves that have a water logged look can be a sign that your plant is suffering from frost damage. We were hit very early this year but we were prepared, for the most part.

Another sign of frost damage can be the appearance of brown patches on the leaves.

Other signs are shown when the shoot tips on your plants start to die back.

If the flowers on the plant don’t open fully or they become discolored and then start to die off, then these are also signs that frost damage might have occurred.

Unfortunately prevention is necessary because there is no treatment for frost damage other than to remove the damaged portions of the plant in an effort to make it look a little healthier.

In the past we have been lucky enough that the damage didn’t destroy our backyard garden or flowers but it was just luck. Being prepared is the best option. Sometimes frost damage is not noticeable for a few days after a frost has occurred and this is particularly so if the frost was a very light one.

The best way to protect against frost damage, or to reduce the effect that frost might have on your backyard garden is to choose the best plants for your climate conditions. If you are living in an area that is susceptible to frosts then your best course of action is to choose plants that are frost-tolerant.

By planting in areas that are exposed or where frosts occur more frequently you will increase the chances of losing plants to frosts so it is wise to plant in sheltered spots or areas other than where there are frost pockets.

You can offer some protection to your plants by wrapping them in Hessian cloth or frost cloth until after the period of frost has passed.

There will be times in such climates where it is not possible to know when there will be a frost and these out of season frosts can kill a whole plant.

The best time to start feeding your backyard garden is in spring. At this time of the year the ground is still moist from the winter and early spring rains.

As the ground warms up with the hotter spring weather you get ideal growing conditions in your garden. This is a crucial time for growth in your backyard garden and you will need to ensure that your plants have the necessary nutrients to benefit from this period.

The small feeder roots that will be developing will seek the nutrients that you need to supply them.

By choosing the correct foods for your plants they will have better foliage, they will be stronger plants and will also have more abundant flowering.

There are three key factors that are needed in a balanced plant food and they are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

A plentiful supply of nitrogen will ensure that your plants have healthy foliage. Phosphorus improves the plants root health and potassium will encourage the plant to bloom and fruit.

As you can see they are all needed for the overall health of the plants and you should always check on the packaging of the fertilizer to see whether the chemical analysis is suitable.

These fertilizers usually come in three forms - controlled release, liquid and soluble.

Controlled release formulations have the nutrients inside a semi-permeable membrane that allows the nutrients to be released into the soil in a controlled manner once it reacts with the soil moisture and temperature. One application can last months and it is ideal for containers and indoor plants and established plants and trees.

Liquid formulations are similar to the soluble ones but they have been mixed with water and can be sprayed on the plants leaves for rapid response.

Soluble formulations and applied dry and dissolve once the area receives water, which will dissolve the salts and make the nutrients available for the roots of the plant.

All applications have their benefits and you need to decide which is best for the plants you are feeding.

Garden Lighting is a great way to make use of your garden at night and to add an impressive display for outdoor living.
Most garden lighting is very affordable these days and many of the products that are on the market can be installed quite easily by the home gardener.

You can light areas where you will be sitting, or outdoor dining areas, or you might just want the lighting for effect where you can shine the light on feature trees or plants in the garden.

Garden lighting can also add a degree of safety to your property by lighting steps and walking areas.

You can use this lighting to assist people to find entrances to your house and even use it for security purposes where the lights can come on automatically if there are intruders on the property.

The range of lighting equipment that is available these days will allow you to create almost any effect that you desire in your garden.

Before buying any lighting for your garden it is best to decide what the purpose of your lights will be.
You will need to create a plan that will determine which areas need lighting for safety and where you want lights for dramatic effect such as up lights on a specimen tree.

Once you have a plan for the lights you will be ready to choose and decide on what style suits the style of your house and garden.

You can get professional help or install the lighting yourself as most garden lighting runs on low voltage for safety and there are kits that make installation very easy.

If you want the lighting for ponds and pools then additional care will be needed as safety is a concern with water and electricity and in these situations it is wise to get a professional to do the installation.

Native to Peru and Brazil, this climbing vine has been used in South American medicine for many years to treat infections, arthritis, and gastrointestinal disorders.  However, more and more studies are underway to determine its efficacy in the treatment of HIV/AIDS and known cancers.  Thus, the health benefits derived from cat’s claw is the subject of this article.

Recent studies in Asia, Europe and North America indicate this herb may actually reduce inflammation, stimulate the immune system, kill viruses, and protect against heart disease.  This is exciting news and scientists are exploring it’s use in a number of treatments.  Claw is a root bark used as medicine that grows in the rain forest of the Andes Mountains.  Its so called was derived due to the woody vine that twines up trees and has two curved thorns that look like cat’s claws at the base of its leaves.

As an anti-inflammatory, cat’s claw stimulates white blood cells to fight infection. The compounds within it act as steroids in the body, which are used to treat arthritis.  Recent studies reveal it can reduce swelling by half. Acting as a detoxification agent, cat’s claw boots the immune system and aids in those who suffer from gastrointestinal disorders involving inflammation.  A study was conducted in which the use of cat’s claw inhibited the formation of plaque deposits in the arteries.

Research has also revealed that cat’s claw may be utilized as a treatment for cancerous tumors.  The National Cancer Institute did find evidence of its anti-tumor effects.  It allows for improving chemotherapy in cancer patients, and because of its antioxidant properties could help the body eliminate toxins which are initially caused by chemo and radiation therapy.  However, official studies and testing by the FDA has not been conducted or published.

The ingredients in Cat’s claw enhance the immune system by stimulating the immune response, and act as antioxidants to rid the body of free radicals, or bad cells. Compounds found in Cat’s Claw also work to kill viruses, bacteria, and other microorganisms that cause disease, and they work to inhibit healthy cells from becoming cancerous. This herb has anti-inflammatory properties that help to relieve arthritis, gout, and other inflammatory problems. In addition, cat’s claw promoted healing of wounds; helps in the treatment of ulcers; and may help in relieving chronic pain.  Also, many health practitioners have reported successes using the herb to treat Crohn’s disease. Moreover, used as a tea, a cat’s claw rinse clears up eye infections, and the powdered herb has been used between toes to clear up athlete’s foot.

As with any herb or supplement, it is strongly advised to check with your doctor before taking cat’s claw. While no reports of toxicity or adverse effects are known, it is always advisable to be cautious when adding any supplement to your diet regimen.

Disease can spread more readily in wet conditions so you need to be careful when working in your garden during the wet season not to transfer disease from one plant to the next.

If you find any diseased parts on your plants cut them out and discard them in the rubbish.

If the plant is too far-gone to recover then remove the whole plant but always be careful that in doing so the diseased portions don’t come into contact with the other plants, as this will cause it to spread.

You should never use diseased plants for compost. It is better to send it out in the trash or burn it to ensure it doesn’t spread any further.

Many diseases in the garden are spread by insects so keeping control of the insects in your garden will reduce or eliminate the incidence of disease.

There are suitable sprays that will help you to eliminate insects in the garden but even these sprays can cause problems.

It is essential that the spray dries and the foliage is not left damp because damp foliage can cause disease. Spraying should therefore be done early enough in the day to allow for the foliage to dry out before night.

Another area that can harbor disease is in pots that have been used with plants that have had some form of disease. By repotting other plants into these pots you run the risk of those plants also becoming infected. Simply wash out all pots before reusing them. Bleach will generally kill any fungus or bacteria and then rinse the residue out and all traces of the bleach.

Garden hygiene is essential if you want to have a healthy garden.

Many people assume that due to the fact that you are working with soil/dirt cleanliness is not important but it is this lack of care that is responsible for the transfer of diseases in the garden.