Backyard Gardening Tips

If you are growing plants in baskets there are a few things that you will need to take care of if the plants are to survive. Obviously you will need to start with the best and healthiest seeds or plants.

It is important that you choose good quality container mix too. There are proprietary hanging basket mixes that you really should use as they have been developed to provide the best growing conditions in these unique situations.

For aesthetics you will probably want to get the basket looking as ‘full’ as possible so you will be cramming the plants in. It is best to put the larger plants in the middle of the basket with smaller plants trailing out to the edges and the sides.

The larger the basket the better chance your plants will have to survive and they will also require less maintenance.

As with all plants no matter where they are growing water will be essential and with baskets more care is required than normal.

You can place a water trough between the plants and the liner to maintain a place to hold water that would normally seep through the liner.

In warmer weather you will need to water the plants more often and this is best handled with a long watering wand, which makes reaching the plants easier.

Occasionally, where you have baskets that are easily moved, you can soak the entire basket in a tub of water. If the basket has been quite dry you will need to soak it until the bubbles stop rising.

Always use quality liquid plant feed to ensure your plants are getting all the nutrients that they require.

To prevent the plants from drying out in the sun and the wind aim to get maximum foliage coverage.

If you take the time to give your basket plants the additional care that they need, you will be rewarded with a pleasant addition to any living area.

There is a great sense of satisfaction knowing that you will be able to wander down to your own garden and pick the vegetables that you have been growing and then cook them and eat them for your dinner.

You will never be able to get vegetables as fresh as that from the shops and you certainly will be able to taste the difference in the extra freshness that you will get with every bite.

Many vegetables taste just as good, if not better, eaten fresh from the garden without even cooking them.

Peas, beans, tomatoes and the like are all ready to be eaten and enjoyed as they are picked.

What makes garden fresh vegetables even more appealing is the fact that you will know everything that has gone into the soil and every spray that has been used to assist in the growing of those vegetables.
And that is something that you would never know about the produce that you buy from the shops.

You will need to use sprays on your garden to ensure you have a healthy crop so it is wise to look at all the instructions and the contents of any sprays that you might need to use.

By using the best sprays you can be satisfied that not only will your crops have had the best nutrition but you will also be safe from some of the chemicals that many commercial growers use.

You can often keep pests off your crops, or reduce the incidence of the damage they can create by planting companion plants around your crops to keep them away.

You can reduce the chance of getting disease by selecting resistant varieties of plants that are less susceptible to disease and by giving them more room to grow by spacing them out a little more.

In many climates growing plants in the winter months can become quite frustrating, and if you are finding that you are in that situation then it might be time to consider getting a greenhouse.

Greenhouses are available in many different sizes and there are some very compact versions that will suit most budgets. Having one of these greenhouses tucked away in a sunny corner of your garden will be a godsend when the weather dictates that you would normally have to stay inside rather than venture out into your garden.

With the added benefit of being able to control damage that might have been caused by birds, insects and the weather, greenhouses can also save you a lot of money in the long term.

They are excellent for growing seedlings and also for extending the season that you will be able to grow particular plants by controlling the climate.

You should always set your greenhouse in a position that gets the maximum amount of sunlight throughout the day while allowing easy access to water and electricity.

If you have a particularly windy property make sure that the door to the greenhouse is facing away from the prevailing wind.

When deciding on the size of greenhouse that you need always try to get the biggest one possible as once you see the benefits of having a greenhouse you might find that you will be wanting more and more room.

That way you will be able to spread out your plants giving them more room to breathe and reducing the risk of disease.

Most good greenhouses come with in-built ventilation systems, which are essential to reduce the temperature when it begins to rise. If you decide to build your own greenhouse, ventilation is one of the most important factors that you need to consider.

There are many different types of pests that can ruin your good work in the garden.
The most common are insects and they can destroy a garden in a very short time if left to their own devices.

Even the neighbor’s cat can be a pest if it is always using your garden as a toilet.
Birds can be another reason for concern if they are eating your plants and can become quite smelly if they are nesting in trees or hedges in abundance.

Pests will use your garden primarily for food and shelter. To reduce the amount of pests in your garden you need to create an environment that isn’t as inviting.

By clearing leaves and waste from the base of your plants you will reduce the amount of shelter. This will allow you to work the soil better and eliminate the incidence of in-ground insects that can suck the nutrients out of the soil.

You can stop cats, rats and mice from digging in the soil by using effective ground cover in the form of mesh where it becomes too difficult for them to get through to the soil.

By keeping your compost in the correct composting containers there won’t be any decaying matter lying around the yard that will attract rats and mice. Having a tidy garden and yard will not encourage them to make their home on your property. Traps might be needed as a final deterrent for rats and mice.

Spraying your plants with suitable insecticides will also reduce the unwanted insect population. There are some good natural applications on the market that will do the job of the commercial insecticides or you can make your own effective natural insecticide.

If you prune back trees and hedges you might make them less appealing to birds and this might help to reduce the population in your garden. Keep in mind that some insects do a good job of maintaining a balance in the garden by eating other insects and birds will also eat insects that could be causing damage to your plants.

Your first contact with the garden are your hands, unless of course you have invested wisely in garden tools, but even with tools there is no getting around the fact that you are going to need to get your hands dirty, and along with that you can expect the scratches, cuts and bruises that are inevitable.

You should consider investing in good gardening gloves to protect your hands against damage.

There are several different types of gloves on the market and they all have their benefits and downsides. The cheapest of these gloves are the cotton work type gloves that are comfortable but not quite as durable as other gloves. They will wear out faster than the more expensive gloves and can become heavy when wet, which can make your hands quite cold in the colder weather.

They also don’t offer much protection against thorns and other sharp objects that you might encounter. Alternatives to these are a combination of cotton and leather, as the leather portion of the glove will offer some protection against cuts. These gloves will still get water logged and have a limited lifespan.

The composite spandex/lycra gloves that are available are a better option as they will last longer and they won’t get water logged like the cotton gloves. They are also very comfortable to wear.

If you are working in wet conditions a lot of the time then you will need to consider getting some rubber gloves. Rubber gloves will ensure that your hands stay dry all the time.

If you work with roses quite often there are gloves that cover your hands and your arm right up to your elbow. These will allow you to work in comfort and safety while protecting your skin against damage.

And finally there are many people who don’t like wearing gloves at all but need some form of protection. You can get spray on gloves. These are a silicon spray that will seal your hands from grime and possible infection and will make cleaning your hands after you have finished gardening a breeze.

While these ‘gloves’ won’t offer you any protection from scratches and cuts they will help to keep your hands clean and that is a bonus.