From the very young to the very old, from the very healthy to those with poor health or some form of disability, all types of person can enjoy various types of gardening. Gardening is a hobby which is enjoyed by almost anybody.

Green:

When we Go for Green, we improve our own health, through active living and the health of the planet, by being good environmental citizens. Gardens are sensual places, engaging all our senses in a variety of ways, encouraging us to be more in touch with ourselves and in tune with nature’s slower, gentler rhythms. Simply spending time in a garden, enjoying the sights, sounds and smells around us, can invoke a powerful sense of belonging and spiritual peace. When we nurture a garden, we increase our connection and our sense of wellbeing.

Space:

Grow your own healthy food. Turn your garden into a source of delight, good health and create your own backyard fitness centre. You don’t need a lot of space – your edible garden can grow in pots, an old wheelbarrow or a couple of fruit boxes. Find planting tips and information on the health benefits of gardening.

Metaphors for life:

Our first parents knew from experience that the work of nurturing a seedling to maturity had many spiritual lessons worth learning for them. The weeds that invaded the garden were a constant reminder of the folly of sin. But the miracle of the promised resurrection was also apparent in the burial of each seed and the subsequent springing of the seedling “in newness of life”. Gardening provides a number of metaphors for life.

Diet:

Eating fresh fruits and vegetables every day is one of the most important things you can do for your health. Research continues to show that there are many essential nutrients in fresh fruits and vegetables that may protect you from cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Eating a diet with lots of fresh produce also gives you more energy; helps reduce weight gain, and may even reduce the effects of aging.

Exercise:

Weight bearing activities (like carrying water to plants, pushing a wheelbarrow, or moving large potted plants) not only strengthen the heart and other muscles, but also strengthen our bones, by increasing bone density. This is important for gardeners of all ages, but especially for women in their early twenties (when most bone mass is acquired) and for elderly people who are concerned about osteoporosis (loss of bone density or bone thinning).

The body obtains antioxidants from two sources. Those that are present in the diet and those that it makes. In evolutionary terms diet can not be guaranteed, and so the most important group of antioxidants are those we make. These are proteins that can be made from any diet able to sustain life and ensure we have a high chance of surviving long enough to reproduce – the driving force behind evolution. As a consequence people often have few health problems well into their 40’s despite the quality of their diet.

Home-grown fruit and vegetables may also hold an advantage in terms of conferred health benefits. Commercial growers are skilled at maximizing yields and quality by reducing the stress load on their crops. Gardeners however, often refrain from using pesticides and artificial fertilizers with the aim of producing a more ‘natural’ product.

Gardening is a breathtaking and relaxing hobby enjoyed by many all over the world. People who enjoy gardening often feel a deep-rooted sense of calm and harmony, and they also establish a stronger connection with nature. Many people find it fun, enriching and rewarding. It provides us an opportunity to express our imagination and creativity. A good gardening gives good pleasant look to our eyes and mind. Relives our stress.

Basically there are two types of gardening widely known.

1. Organic gardening

2. Container gardening

Let me give you brief idea what is all about.

Organic gardening is bonded with nature that is growing fruits and vegetables using only what nature provides.

Containers gardening are an alternative way who doesn’t have enough space. Plant containers such as clay urns, metal pans, wine tubs, wood boxes, bath tubs, glass bowls, wire baskets, sisal rope planters, cement hollows etc. This gives opportunity to people to enjoy gardening using pots and containers.

Moss looks wonderful in the garden, especially on rocks and rock walls. It gives any garden a sense of age and weight. Getting moss to grow on rocks or on the ground in your garden simply requires you give the moss the growing conditions it needs and have some patience while it gets established.

What Does Moss Like?

Mosses like moisture, shade and generally prefer an acidic soil (5.0 – 6.0). Partial to full shade is essential. Hot afternoon sun will destroy a patch of moss in no time. Did you know that moss has no roots? It has little filaments that allow it to take up nutrients, but no true roots, so it will dry out even faster than groundcover plants.

How to Get Moss to Grow on Soil?

The easiest way to get a patch of moss started is to take a piece from somewhere else and move it. Rake and scratch the surface of the soil you’re going to be putting it on, so that the filaments make good contacts. Wet the are and lay the moss on top of it. Press is well into the soil. It even helps if you pin it in place or put some light rocks on it to anchor it. Newly transplanted moss will need to be kept moist for the first few weeks. You can tell you moss as taken when it doesn’t lift with a light tug.

I’ve heard that certain mosses will only grow on soil and others only on hard surfaces. I haven’t found a definitive answer on this, but it’s probably wise to take your transplant moss from a similar surface to minimize transplant problems.

How to Get Moss to Grow on Rocks, Bricks or Pots?

It’s a little harder to start moss on a rock by simply lifting it and moving it. To grow moss on rocks, bricks or pots, many people have luck cultivating moss by mixing it with buttermilk and painting it on the new surface.

Moss Making Recipe:

• 2 cups buttermilk or plain yogurt
• 1 – 1 1/2 cups of chopped-up moss (Fresh or Dried)

Mix until creamy and spreadable. If the mixture is too thick, add a small amount of water. If it’s too thin, add more moss.

Paint the mixture onto the new surface. You can allow the mixture to sit for a day or two, to start the process. You may get mold first, but by about week 6 you should see signs of moss.

Maintaining Moss

To keep your moss growing well, you need to maintain ideal moss conditions: shade, moisture and a low soil pH. You’ll also need to keep the weeds out. Moss can’t compete for moisture with the roots of weeds.

Be sure to remove fallen leaves in the fall.

A Final Moss Growing Tip

I wanted moss to grow around the edges of my raised water garden. To do this, I lined the top edge of my garden with landscape fabric and laid a small piece of moss on it. Since the fabric soaked up water and stayed moist, the moss took hold and spread quickly.

So now when I want to start a new patch of moss, I put it on a scrap of landscape fabric and set it in on the side of my water garden, although a suspect a shallow tray of water would work as well.

Once the moss filaments are attached to the landscape fabric, I can move the whole piece to the soil I’ve raked and prepared for transplanting. You’ll still need to keep it moist for several weeks, but it seems to make a stronger start.

You’re aware of the health benefits of eating fresh vegetables; you have the space for a small garden, but just don’t know where to start? Look no further. Here’s all you need to know to put fresh, crisp vegetables on your dinner table.

First, think small. Don’t bite off more than you can chew, or hoe. It’s like starting out an exercise program by running five miles the first day. You get tired, sore and you quit. Likewise, if you plant a huge garden the first year, you’ll curse, cuss and turn your sore back on gardening for good. So, if you’re new to gardening, start off with a garden no larger than 8′ X 10.’ You can always expand later if you can’t get enough of those fresh, crispy vegetables.

Choose a location that receives as much sun as possible throughout the day. Northern gardeners should insist on full sun. Now you’re ready to work up the soil. You can rent a rear tine tiller or borrow one from a friend or neighbor for this task. Work the soil up sod and all–in other words don’t remove the sod. Removing the sod creates a recess in the soil, resulting in poor drainage.

Next, examine the soil. Is it predominantly clay, sand or a sandy loam? The latter is the best. You can distinguish a sandy loam from the other two by giving it the squeeze test. If you can take a handful of dirt and squeeze it in a ball then watch it crumble when you let go, you’ve got a sandy loam soil type. If you’re not sure, take a sample down to your local extension office. While you’re there ask them about having your soil tested for proper pH levels and major nutrients like nitrogen, potassium and potash.

Read more of this tip…

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If you’re stuck with a predominantly sandy or clay soil it will be worth bringing in some topsoil to get you off on the right foot. If you can’t afford topsoil, you can amend the soil with compost. Compost includes any biodegradable material which can be broken down into a fine, dark humus. Well rotted livestock manure is the best choice for getting a clay or sandy soil into shape. Whatever you use for compost apply it often, like once in the spring and once in the fall. It will take a few seasons to improve a poor soil type.

Another thing you can do is use topsoil to make a raised bed. Landscape timbers or treated 2 X 12’s work best for this. You can stack these about five high. Besides enclosing your garden and making a good growing medium, the raised bed will make it easy to plant and weed your garden, particularly if you’ve got back trouble or have difficulty bending over.

Hey, I think we’re ready to plant! Here’s the fun part. You can purchase seeds from the store or order them through the many catalogs on the market (see below). Whatever you do, buy quality seeds. I hate to see people spend hours preparing a garden and then go out and purchase 10/$1.00 seeds. It would be like buying a new car and replacing the engine oil with a cheap brand of oil. Look for brand name seeds just like you would anything else. What we’re trying to do is maximize our chances of success at this endeavor, not pinch pennies.

In a small garden you may want to avoid some of the space hogs, like corn, squash and pumpkin. However, there are bush type varieties of pumpkin, such as Hybrid Spirit Bush and Autumn Gold that don’t take up much room. Also, summer squashes take up less room then do the winter squash. If you do plant corn, remember to grow this one along the north side of your garden so it doesn’t shade the rest of your crops.

Easy to grow crops include onions, peas, beets, rutabaga and zucchini squash. These can also be planted early. Tomatoes and peppers need to be started from seed indoors about 8 weeks prior to planting time or purchased as transplants. Be sure to space things in your small garden according to the instructions on the packets. And make sure you plant your tender crops (tomatoes, squash, beans and watermelon) after all danger of frost has passed. Ask the old timers in the area when this date is. One common mistake people make, especially in the northern climates, is to plant everything when the weather turns nice only to succumb to a frost a week or two later, thus wiping out all their hard work. Plant by the expected last frost dates, not the weather.

Unfortunately, critters (and children) may take a shine to your new garden. Rabbits, geese and deer can be a problem. For the small garden, a wire mesh surrounds works well. This will discourage most critters and some people. I’ve seen people take chicken wire and staple it to the top of their landscaping timbers on a raised bed to keep out geese and the like.

Vandals can also attack gardens, especially in conspicuous areas of a city, such as in a community garden. Since things like watermelon and squash are the vandal’s favorite, some folks plant heirlooms that don’t look like common vegetables. You can also cover ready to ripen fruit with straw to conceal the vegetable. Another method in a community garden is to display your name boldly near your garden plot. A conscientious person may think twice before robbing your garden!

Watch for insect infestation. If things are properly spaced in your small garden, insects shouldn’t be a big problem. If you do see evidence of chewing on plants, especially things like cabbage don’t wait to fight back. Identify the insect causing the damage and choose an insecticide that will control that specific insect or Soap-Shield. Proper spacing, weeding and fertilizing is a good way to prevent disease and insect infestation without having to resort to harmful insecticides.

Speaking of fertilizer, you can use a granular or water soluble fertilizer to feed your hungry plants. A 15-15-15 or 20-20-20 fertilizer is a good all purpose fertilizer which will provide equal parts nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium and some of the minor nutrients that plants need. Apply granular fertilizers a few days before you plant, working it into the top six inches of topsoil. You can side dress after the plants come up and at two or three week intervals by using a water soluble fertilizer such as that sold by the Miracle Grow or Shultz companies.

Soon, it will be time to harvest your garden fare. To get the full health benefits of your veggies, harvest when ripe and don’t over cook your vegetables. More importantly, enjoy the experience of eating fresh, crisp vegetables you grew yourself!

Rumford Gardener RK1016 Round Point Shovel
Price: $16.6
little hands will appreciate the grown-up heft and feel of solid wooden handles and metal heads that make up our kids’ tools. comes in hunter green.

Although there are many pieces of tools you will need when setting up on doing some gardening, the first purchase you should make above all is a shovel, as it literally the essential gardening hand tool. A shovel is more than just your usual gardening hand tool. You will be using a shovel for such things as digging, checking moisture depth, moving material, removing plants, replanting plants, backfilling, mulching, and more. So if you’re looking to invest in any gardening hand tool, invest in a Rumford Gardener Shovel.

Brand: Rumford Gardener

Many people discover gardening an extremely soothing hobby. A hobby that allows them to get in touch with the earth and themselves. Likewise, gardening is not an expensive hobby to start, although the hobby may become luxurious as you progress in the art of planting. Needless to say, thousands of people enjoy gardening each year and if you are fond of the outdoors, you may find yourself involved in gardening too.

You won`t need much to start gardening. Some basic tools like a shovel, a rake, and hoe may do you well in the garden. You will need either seeds or starter plants, whichever you prefer. But, before you start working on the garden there are a few essentials that you need to learn to become a master at gardening and such skills need to be obtained before you lay the first seed.

Read up on the art of creating a garden, don`t just wing it. Why? Well, quite frankly, there are certain plants that fare better under certain conditions. Likewise, there are plants that do not do well next to other plants. Moreover, you will need to know what plants to plant and when, as plants may grow according to certain seasons. Visiting the library or the local bookstore can help you learn everything you need to know about gardening. If you don`t have the transportation then visit websites that talk about the garden and different plants and how to care for them.

Likewise, while browsing websites, read up on the various techniques that other gardeners use. Find out what they feel makes their garden successful. Hints and advice abound on the Internet and the wealth of information available can help you make a success of your garden. Once you have done your homework, you may want to speak to others who own gardens and discuss techniques with them as well. It never hurts to ask for advice when you are planning a garden.

You can also pay a visit to the local florist. Florists are often versed in plant care and the techniques used for growing various flowers and vegetables. You can even buy your starter plants and seeds from a florist. You can also visit the local home and garden center near you and get advice from the staff working there about fertilizers, pest control and other issues that may concern you when you are creating a garden. The essential thing to remember is that when you are creating a garden you do not have to do so on a whim. The help is available if you are willing to take the time to ask questions and research your garden project before you begin.

Once you have versed yourself on all of the plant varieties and techniques used for growing you can select the right spot for your garden and begin your adventure. Follow the advice you have found about fertilizing soil, water levels, and planting. In no time you will be blessed with gorgeous blooms in your garden.

Even with water restrictions in place, it is still possible to create an attractive garden without using copious amounts of water.

Soil preparation and mulch are essential in a water wise garden. Good mulch has many advantages, including

* Adding valuable nutrients and humus to the soil as it breaks down,
* Keeping the soil temperature uniform,
* Reducing surface evaporation by 70-80 per cent,
* Allowing for deep and infrequent watering,
* Encouraging earthworm activity, which creates channels for the passage of water and roots, and
* Eliminating stress in shallow rooted plants and suppressing weeds.

Compost and horse, sheep and cow manures are excellent for improving soil quality. Pea straw, lucerne, compost, leaf litter and chopped bark all make superb mulches.

Gardening – Watering Methods
The method used to deliver water to plants is very important in getting the most benefit out of the water used. Conventional sprinklers deliver large amounts of water to large areas and can be extremely wasteful if not positioned thoughtfully. The most effective waterwise watering systems use in-line drippers, weeping hoses and drip tubes. These products are designed for placing under mulch and work best at low pressure, where water is delivered over a period of several hours, directly to the plant’s roots. In-line drippers are also suitable for lawns.

Grouping plants with similar water requirements will assist in preventing over and under watering. Computerised watering systems allow for the delivery of a set amount of water at specified times, to various sections of the garden. Tap timers are a useful and cheap alternative. Using phosphate and petrochemical free, biodegradable laundry powders allows you to safely reuse the laundry water on the garden.

Gardening – Choosing Suitable Plants
There are 100s of water wise plants. You can select from Australian natives or exotic plants that come from areas of the world with Mediterranean climate conditions (these are areas that experience hot, dry summers with the majority of rain falling in winter). Plant labels often state how much water a plant needs. If you are not sure, look for plant characteristics such as thick leathery, hairy, wax-coated, succulent, silvery grey or fine needle-like leaves. Other sources of information for suitable water wise plant material are old neglected gardens, holiday homes and streetscapes.

Gardening – Top Summer Performers
Ceratostigma plumbaginoides, Correa alba, Escallonia varieties, Hardenbergia violacea, Hibiscus (evergreen) & H. syriacus (deciduous), Lagerstroemia indica hybrids, Lomandra longifolia, Plectranthus argentatus, Santolina varieties, Westringia fruticosa & varieties.

With a bit of planning and some basic knowledge you too can have a water wise garden.

The various plants which grow near path add an element of beauty. . While a path leads us through the garden and keeps us from treading on sensitive plants, it can also lead us to a special area of contemplation. There you might find a sculptured garden bench on which to rest. As you take a seat and look out over the garden your eyes may pause upon a bird bath enjoyed by our wildlife friends. A garden sign carved and intricately embossed with soothing words, triggers thought and remembrance. A polished gazing globe gives a different perspective of your surroundings. A water garden, rippling and musical, holds scented sculptured blossoms. Art is supposed to move you.

Art can also tell a story such as a statue of a young girl holding a basket of flowers in her arms while a rabbit pauses at her feet. A garage wall, though straight and tall, adds a background for your plantings and an added stone carving on its surface makes you smile. You reach and pluck a fig off the tree and as your taste buds awake to that sweet taste; your eye catches the stone Pan seated under the tree. There is nothing two dimensional about a garden.

Even at night, as you pass under a beautiful wooden trellis, you are intoxicated by the scent of the moonflowers that grow there and only open at night. The low lights that flank the path reflect off the gazing ball and your imagination sees a space ship with circling lights hovering in your garden. The moon is reflected in the pond’s surface and reminds you of the tides that ebb and flow through your life. The moon light also falls on the stone path that leads you back to your starting place. This is why gardeners are so passionate about their art.

Imagine providing your family with food that you know is healthy, because you grew it yourself without the help of chemicals. With organic gardening this is possible. Organic gardening involves using natural pest control and fertilizers to grow flowers, vegetables, and fruits, rather than commercially produced and environmentally hazardous pesticides and fertilizers. If you are interested in organic gardening, consider these ten tips.

Tip 1 – Use Natural Pest Control

Your garden is going to have pests. Once you have identified them, research natural controllers you could add to the garden. These natural controllers could be other insects, such as ladybugs to control an aphid population, or plants, such as garlic to prevent armyworms or apple maggots.

Tip 2 – Rotate Plants Regularly

Rotating your plant sites will keep them healthy and also help control some pest populations. When you rotate your plants, the soil has a chance to recoup. Each plant takes different nutrients from the soil, and some even return nutrients to the soil. Properly rotating your plants each year will keep your entire garden healthy.

Tip 3 – Prune Plants Carefully

Remove any dead parts you find on your plants. They are not going to heal, and they will cause the plant to become diseased. Do not leave them on the ground near the plant, either. Remove them from the garden and destroy them right away.

Tip 4 – Make Good Compost

Compost is the best way to feed your organic garden. Compost is not difficult to make. Simply layer leaves, lawn clippings, and organic kitchen waste in your compost heap. If you need to get the compost started quickly, you can add a compost starter to the mix. Keep in mind that the good compose is at the bottom of the pile, so you will need to have a way to turn it or access the pile from the bottom. Once you have a nice amount of compost, work it into your soil to create rich organic soil.

Tip 5 – Air Your Compost Pile

Compost needs air to properly decompose. You can add air by turning the compost pile regularly. You can also provide the pile with air by putting a PVC pipe into it in the center of the pile. Also, build the pile on a layer of branches and sticks to provide some air from the bottom.

Tip 6 – Choose Organic Fertilizers

Organic fertilizer will help your plants grow bigger and healthier. This is particularly important if you are growing food. Choose a low-dose fertilizer, however, because they will not burn the roots of your plants or provide too much of any particular nutrient.

Tip 7 – Purchase Organic Seeds

Since seeds come from plants, the only way to have a truly organic garden is to buy organic seeds. You cannot sell your produce as USDA certified organic if you do not use organic seeds. Organic seeds must come from open pollinated or hybrid plants. Seeds from non-organic plants have been exposed to pesticides and other chemicals, so they may not grow properly.

Tip 8 – Test Your Soil

Your soil is not going to contain all of the nutrients your plants need. Test it to determine what nutrients are missing. Then, alter your fertilizer and compost materials to provide the missing nutrients to the soil.

Tip 9 – Water Carefully

The soil in your garden needs to feel moist, but over-watering can lead to disease and strip nutrients out of the soil. Typically, plants need an inch of water per week. You can keep a rain gauge in the garden to help you determine how much water it needs.

Tip 10 – Intercrop

Intercropping, which refers to growing one crop in between rows of another crop, is an important organic gardening technique. Planting herbs and flowers, such as mint or marigolds, in between your vegetables will keep some pests away. Also, intercropping improves the soil nutrient levels.

Herb gardening is a truly fantastic hobby because herbs are quite easy to grow and there are many options as to how you may choose your herb garden design.  There are many reasons that you may wish to grow herbs.  From culinary to everyday medicinal and supplemental purposes, herbs are very useful plants to have around.

You can grow them in an outdoor garden if your choose but then you have to consider the extra needs they will require such as weeding and protection from sudden cold snaps depending on your local climate.  It is far easier to grow herbs in pots that can be brought inside in the winter or during bad weather such as early frosts or heavy storms.

If you don’t have room outside your home for a garden or you simply don’t like the idea of gardening outside, you always have the option of growing a simple indoor herb garden.  You may also want to consider growing your herbs outside in pots or planters.

On this website you will find a wide variety of ideas and helpful tips for making the absolute most of you herb gardening experience.  Whether you are wanting to grow a large herb garden in your own back yard or are simply wishing to grow a few useful herbs in your kitchen for seasoning dishes, you will find the information that you need to begin and maintain a healthy herb garden.