How to Choose the Best Gardening Gift
The process of choosing the best gardening gift comes down to common sense more than anything else.
After all, choosing the best gifts for gardeners is just like choosing the best gifts for any other hobbyists.
It all comes down to what is appropriate, and it all comes down to what can help a gardener at his hobby.
To find out how to choose the best gardening gift and also be exact in your choice, you might have to shadow around a gardener for a certain period of time, or you could try the direct approach and just ask him what his garden requires.
- Gardeners have a basic need of the fundamentals that they require for what they are working on in their garden.
- Being gardeners, they are going to be pulling up weeds to make sure they do not ruin their precious flowers and plants, watering their flowers and plants to make sure that they grow and dealing with a variety of garden pests and problems that continually threaten the successful growth of their precious garden.
- If you are truly devoted to getting the best gift for the gardener in your life, you have to make sure that your gift addresses one of the three, aforementioned issues.
You can always accompany your gardener to his favorite gardening store so that you can get an idea of the items that he uses on a regular basis.
For example, if you notice that his favorite pair of garden shears is rusty or even broken because he is looking for a new pair at said store, that is obviously something that speaks to the need of the gardener.
In this case, you can surprise your gardener with a new pair, but just make sure you beat him to the purchase!
If you make a trip to a gardening store yourself, you can see for yourself what kinds of things a gardener might enjoy.
Just browse the aisles of the store and make certain to keep your eyes open for all sorts of things.
If you need gift ideas, just talk to a store employee and explain to him what your situation is and how you need help in coming up with a gift idea for a gardener.
Getting the best gardening gifts is also a matter of doing your own research.
A promising place to consult is a home and gardening magazine.
Just pick one up and flip through its many pages to get a real, good sense of what is appealing to a gardener.
Read the columns in the magazine, and look at the different projects and activities that gardeners might find appealing to do in their own gardens at home.
- Another way of doing research on just what is a good gardening gift to buy is basically talking to other gardeners.
- Ask them what tools they like the most and why.
- They will likely mention something practical, but you never know what you will find out this way.
- Ask them what they look forward to doing in their garden every time the season changes.
- If you have run out of good questions to ask, then simply sit back and watch what a gardener does in his garden.
If you follow the above suggestions, you are going to drastically increase your chances of finding a gift that the gardener in your life will appreciate.
The best gardening gifts do not necessarily have to be the most expensive or fanciest ones, yet they do have to be quite practical and somehow make a gardener’s life easier.
You’re going to have to put some thought into this.
February 2, 2012
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Vastila · 
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Tags: Bulb Garden Gifts, Garden Art, Garden Deco, Garden Gift Ideas, Garden Gifts, Garden Gnomes, Garden Statues, Garden Tools, Herb Garden Gifts · Posted in: Going Green Today
6 Types and Styles of Compost Bins
Compost bins are obviously used to turn biodegradable materials like food scraps, leaves and even paper into natural fertilizer-slash-insecticide.
Although it remains essentially the same, the process of composting can be done inside a wide variety of composting holders of which the following 6 are the most common types.
Enclosed Bins
Enclosed bins can be made from many materials including wood, metal and plastic, which may be bought from stores or recycled from old materials like trash cans.
These compost bins are the most basic bins – requires little maintenance since there is no turning involved, saves space for gardeners, and maintains a neat appearance in the garden.
Add in the fact that enclosed bins are very affordable and you have a great option in your first compost bin.
However, enclosed bins means slower composting.
It can take anywhere from 6-24 months to make compost since there is very little aeration introduced into the composting materials.
Rolling Bins
Rolling bins are larger in size and easy to roll into any desired space in the garden – until it is full to the seams, that is.
Composting is faster, too, since a quick tumble every couple of days will aerate the materials insider the bins.
No more aerating using a pitchfork or a compost aerator.
These compost bins also keeps the rain off and wards animals away, thanks to the tight lid. Just remember to always keep the lid on so as to enjoy these benefits.
Compost Tumblers
If turning the compost by manual means is too inconvenient for your tastes, we suggest compost tumblers.
These compost bins are designed for their contents to be turned easily, thus, supplying the decomposing materials with the essential bacteria and oxygen for rapid composting.
The lids also keep the rain and animals away from contaminating the composting materials, so to speak.
However, you cannot add more materials to the heap when the compost tumblers are full and said materials are already composting. You have to wait until all the old materials have composted.
Worm Bins
As the name implies, worm bins are used for vermicomposting, a process whereby redworms speed up the composting process.
Kitchen scraps are the best materials for worm bins, the results of which will be worm casting – a rich, organic soil.
These composting bins can be located virtually anywhere even under the kitchen sink and can be used the whole year-round, not to mention that it requires very little maintenance.
You must, however, maintain the ideal temperature of 40-80 degrees Fahrenheit. Unpleasant odors may also come from the worm bins although these can be remedied by ceasing to add more materials.
Turning Bins
Obviously, turning bins are designed to introduce oxygen and bacteria into the composting materials quickly and easily.
This result in faster decomposition with less unpleasant odors associated with poor aeration.
You can easily access the finished compost, too.
These compost bins are relatively expensive and requires frequent turning for best results.
You may want to look into other options considering these disadvantages – or maybe not.
Wire Bins
Wire bins are one of a few examples of the so-called holding units made from recycled materials.
You can also use scrap wood, brick and concrete although wire is the most practical choice.
The main advantage with wire bins is that oxygen and bacteria can be introduced into the composting heap with little effort since the container is already open on all sides.
February 2, 2012
· Vastila · No Comments
Tags: Compost Bins, Compost Tumblers, Rolling Bins, Turning Bins, Wire Bins, Worm Composting · Posted in: Compost Gardening
How to Build Hanging Basket Planters
Hanging basket planters mainly consist of a container and a hanging attachment so you can come up with creative ways to display some of your most attractive plants.
Finding a suitable container for hanging is rather easy because many gardening stores sell them.
But you are only limited to the available selection and certain types of plants may have special container requirements.
Building your own hanging basket planter means that you can come up with something that perfectly meets the requirements of your plants.
At the same time, the process is easy to do and getting the materials may actually lower the overall cost necessary to have these hanging planters.
Setting up the Wood
It is good to use wood as a material because it matches well with most plants. Combine that with a weatherproof wood preserver and you can have a hanging basket planter that looks good and lasts long. A water-based preserver is also good because it is less toxic to the plants.
- If you have a large piece of timber, you have to properly prepare the wood before assembling the container.
- Some drilling will be necessary to make the wood in the proper shape so prepare an electric drill with 1/8-inch and 3/8-inch wood drill bits.
- Use a pencil and tape measure to mark the ¾-inch by ¾-inch timber in such a way that you get 14 pieces that are each 10 inches long.
- To ensure a straight edge, get a panel saw and miter box and cut the lengths.
Each of these 10-inch pieces of timber should be marked for drilling.
It should be centered and a half inch from each end.
Use the 1/8-inch drill bit to drill these holes on an off-cut of wood.
You also need a 10-inch square plywood base board for the next drilling step.
Mark the drilling holes on this board the same way you did with the timber but at each corner of the square.
Switch to the 3/8-inch drill bit so you can drill drainage on the plywood square. Mark eight points that are evenly spaced to properly set up the base board.
Assembling the Hanging Planter
Take a plastic coated wire and use a pair of wire cutters to cut it into two separate lengths each measuring 12 inches long or more depending on the height of your plant.
Let the wire pass through the two holes you drilled on the top of the base board.
Let the other wire pass through the bottom two holes of the same board.
The end result should be four pieces of the plastic coated wire standing upright once you put the plywood square flat. Make sure the four pieces are alike.
Work on the sides of the planter by taking the side pieces and let the wires through the drilled holes alternatively to form gaps on the sides.
Create a loop by twisting each of the wire ends around a pencil after you are done threading.
This will be used for attaching a cord or chain to hang the planter. Don’t forget to cut off any excess wire.
From there, you can start painting the planter and polishing it with natural wood finish to make it very attractive.
If you have problems with the planter, you can always buy one yourself and use it as a reference model for making your own.
February 1, 2012
· Vastila · No Comments
Tags: Discount Hanging Planters, Hanging Planters Outdoor, Indoor Hanging Basket Planters, Plastic Hanging Planters, Small Hanging Planters · Posted in: Summer Gardening
How to Setup a Portable Greenhouse Kit
Any form of greenhouse can be very helpful to grow crops without worrying about factors that can affect the growth like extreme temperatures and pests.
Basically, greenhouses allow you to grow plants in locations that are normally impossible for plants to grow properly.
However, it can be costly to set up your own greenhouse and you need to have lots of space allocated for your greenhouse.
This may not be needed if you have a small assortment of plants that need the greenhouse benefit.
Fortunately, you can resort to a portable greenhouse kit instead because they are easier to setup and inexpensive compared to the permanent greenhouses.
Portable greenhouse kits can come in various shapes and sizes so a good way to get started with your portable greenhouse kit is to read the instructions or watch any tutorial videos online so you can see exactly how a greenhouse kit is unpacked and set up so you can start putting your plants and prepare for the winter season or other occasions.
Generally, you need to find a nice open area so you can easily approach your greenhouse when you need to check on your plants.
The actual steps of deploying the greenhouse kit can vary but to make things easier, bring a relative or friend with you in case you need any assistance in setting up the kit quickly.
When it comes to timing, it is a good idea to set up your portable greenhouse kit around two months prior to the last frost date. Prepare some trays for any seeds that you plan to grow and plant them. After around 6 to 8 weeks, you can place the plants out in the garden.
- These greenhouse kits are all about portability and bringing them from one location to another on the right time can really maximize their potential.
- Portable greenhouses can be quite effective within the home as well and should be considered during the winter months if your greenhouse has some unheated space.
- Try to put the portable greenhouse into a porch or any vacant corner of a three-season room so you can grow plants that would normally die out in the cold.
- This type of setup is also useful if you have any senior or disabled people that want to assist with the gardening.
Standard gardening techniques still apply so you can basically treat the portable greenhouse as a mini garden.
Just make sure you have your watering and fertilizing habits in order so you can properly extend the growing season for herbs and other types of plants.
Once you nailed the routine down, you will find these greenhouses highly convenient and flexible.
It is recommended to go for a portable greenhouse kit if you want to experience the basics of gardening but don’t have the available space or lack the resources to get started.
Portable greenhouses can come in various sizes so you can always start small and save some money as well.
February 1, 2012
· Vastila · No Comments
Tags: Indoor Greenhouse, Mini Greenhouse, Portable Greenhouse, Small Greenhouse · Posted in: Greenhouse Gardening
8 Types of Compost Bins and Tumblers
With so many types of composts bins and tumblers to choose from in both gardening stores and online sites, there’s simply no excuse not to compost your household and garden wastes.
Here are 8 types that you can choose from today.
#1 Worm Bins
Redworms are used for vermicomposting in worm bins.
The resulting compost is known as worm castings, which is an excellent soil conditioner and fertilizer.
Worm bins can be placed indoors and outdoors such that homeowners with limited space can use these compost bins the whole year-round.
Be sure, however, to keep the ideal temperatures in the compost bin – approximately 40 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
#2 Wire/Plastic Mesh Composter
Wire and plastic mesh composting bins are the simplest ones to make, not to mention the most affordable, too.
You just add the composting ingredients – both brown and green – into the bin and then regularly mix it by hand.
Take note that using wire and plastic mesh composting bins make for slower decomposition.
You have to be patient when making compost from these bins.
#3 Computerized Indoor Composter
If you are still in doubt about your composting abilities, we suggest getting the computerized indoor composter.
It will do almost all of the composting – calculating organic waste, adding water, turning the materials and keeping the ideal temperature – for you so much so that you only need to add the green and brown ingredients.
This is expensive but it is well worth the price especially for apartment dwellers.
#4 Stand-Up Plastic Composters with Features
Plastic composters are popular among gardeners because of the durability of the material.
Add in full-sized features to make composting easier and stand-up plastic composters are highly-valued, indeed.
Features include a crank that turns the stiles, mixes the compost and then sends the finished product to the screened bottom.
You can then easily get the finished compost.
#5 Crank-operated Drums
One of the first types of composting tumblers is the crank-operated drum.
It is a horizontal drum attached to a stationary frame and raised off the ground by a few feet to facilitate turning.
You turn the hand-crank to aerate the compost ingredients within the drum.
Take note that crank-operated drums are more expensive than other types of composting tumblers.
Their ease of use, convenience and size, fortunately, more than make up for the high price.
#6 Center-axle Mounted Drums
Think of oversized plastic pill capsules and you have a general idea of how the center-axle mounted drums look like.
These composting bins work by flipping the drums end-over-end such that the materials inside can be mixed and aerated.
The solid axle running through the drum’s center makes it easy to do the task.
#7 Base-mounted Rolling Drums
In this case, the horizontal drum is placed on top of rollers.
You add the composting materials to the bin, rotate the drums using your hands or feet, and the ingredients are mixed and aerated.
It’s great fun, when you come to think of it.
The good thing about base-mounted rolling drums is that these are more affordable than the other types of compost tumblers.
It still gets the done though so you enjoy value for your money.
#8 Rolling Spheres
In comparison with the other compost tumblers, rolling spheres have the simplest design.
You just fill the large plastic bin with the appropriate compost ingredients and let it do the rest of the decomposition, so to speak.
You must also aerate the ingredients, of course.
Which of these compost bins and tumblers is right for you? We suggest looking at examples of each before making your decision.
February 1, 2012
· Vastila · No Comments
Tags: Base-mounted Rolling Drums, Center-axle Mounted Drums, Computerized Indoor Composter, Crank-operated Drums, Mesh Composter, Worm Bins · Posted in: Compost Gardening
10 Methods to Maximize Greenhouse Efficiency
When you have your own greenhouse, efficiency should be one of your main concerns. After all, what is the point in having a greenhouse if you are not going to run it as efficiently as possible?
The main reason to run your greenhouse as efficiently as you possibly can has a lot to do with saving money by way of cutting down on the ever-present energy costs.
In order to make sure you cut down on your energy costs, you should look at conserving some of that energy and putting a heavy emphasis on efficiency.
Here are 10 ways that you can have a greater shot at achieving maximum greenhouse efficiency.
1. Doors
Doors are one of the major ways through which you can lose energy efficiency.
Hence, dealing with them properly is one of the major ways that you can also work towards maximizing your greenhouse efficiency.
Simply keeping the doors closed by way of springs or a door closer can help a lot.
2. Holes
Again, anything in your greenhouse that allows heat to escape is a problem with regard to maximizing your energy efficiency.
If you see broken glass or even holes in the plastic covering of your greenhouse, then be sure to repair either one of them immediately.
3. Double Covering
Double covering is an effective way of maximizing your greenhouse efficiency.
It involves lining the endwalls as well as the sidewalls on the inside with either bubble wrap or poly.
This will result in the thermopane effect, which is very helpful in conserving some energy.
4. Energy Conservation Blanket
You should install a thermal blanket, which will have the effect of increasing your energy savings by between 20 percent and 50 percent.
For a cost of solely $1 to $2.50 for every square foot, the payback of this conservation is actually 1 to 2 years!
5. Insulation
Insulating the foundation involves putting a 1- or 2-inch polyurethane board some 18 inches beneath the ground for the purpose of cutting down on heat loss.
Doing this might even raise the soil temperature by the sidewalls by as much as approximately 10 degrees in the wintertime.
6. Windbreaks
Installing windbreaks can also help to maximize the efficiency of your greenhouse. Be sure to install said windbreaks on the northwest and the north sides of your greenhouse.
Windbreaks may be even something as basic as a plastic snow fence or a double-row of conifer trees.
7. Space Utilization
You can increase the space utilization in your greenhouse to maximize its efficiency.
Just use either movable or peninsular benches on the inside in order to increase said space utilization to about 80 percent to 90 percent.
8. Efficient Heating System
An efficient heating system means that you have to do something as simple as just cleaning your heating pipes out frequently.
Also clean out your other radiation surfaces a good amount of the time in order to maximize the efficiency of your greenhouse.
9. Efficient Cooling System
Having an efficient cooling system means that you have to do something as simple as just being smart about how you use shade.
This can cut down on the amount of time that you have to rely on mechanical cooling, which helps to maximize the efficiency of your greenhouse.
10. Electricity Conservation
Conserving electricity means that you have to have the wiring system within your greenhouse inspected every so often for faulty insulation, corroded pieces or just plain, old overloading.
All of this contributes to maximizing the efficiency of your greenhouse, which helps you to save money in the long-run, too.
January 31, 2012
· Vastila · No Comments
Tags: Energy Conservation Blanket, Greenhouse Doors, Greenhouse Efficiency, Greenhouse Heater, Greenhouse Insulation, Greenhouse Performance, Greenhouse Ventilation · Posted in: Greenhouse Gardening
7 Reasons for Using Lean to Greenhouses
There are various articles that explain why greenhouses are so useful to people that want to set up a garden without the heavy maintenance.
However, there are various types of greenhouses that each has their pros and cons and there is no perfect greenhouse solution since the type of house and size of the lot can affect the best choice for a greenhouse.
But if you look at lean-to greenhouses, they provide a number of reasons that most homes can consider as a worthy option over other types of greenhouses.
Space-saving Design
- Lean-to greenhouses have limited space compared to traditional greenhouses but that can be a good thing if you really do not have available space in your lot to set up a standard size greenhouse.
- These types of greenhouses are constructed right next to your house or other structure so no space is really wasted as a result.
- If you put some thought into the design, your house may end up being more attractive once the greenhouse is all set up.
Highly Accessible
Because most of these lean-to greenhouses are attached to your home, getting to your greenhouse to perform maintenance operations or check on your plants is virtually effortless.
This may not seem like a big deal at first, but think of the cold winter seasons where you need to get items.
You won’t have to endure the cold weather as much and transferring fruits and vegetables won’t take as much effort.
Minimizing the distance between your kitchen and lean-to greenhouse also makes food preparations more convenient.
Better Build Quality
- When it comes to standard greenhouses, the durability really depends on your choice of materials for the greenhouse.
- If you want to have a greenhouse that can withstand harsher elements over prolonged periods of time, you need to invest more on a sturdier build.
- However, the durability of lean-to greenhouses isn’t fully dependent on the materials.
- The fact that the greenhouse is attached to your home gives it a significant durability advantage.
Lower Setup Costs and Effort
When constructing a standard greenhouse, you have to cover all sides along with the roof.
A lean-to greenhouse already uses your home or existing structure as a wall so fewer materials are required to build the greenhouse.
Since you are technically not making this greenhouse from scratch, it also takes less time and effort to set one up.
Excellent Solar Solution
- Lean-to greenhouses are a popular choice for any hobbyists that want to practice solar greenhouse gardening for the benefit of their plants.
- Once again, the fact that the greenhouse “leans” on a wall is the source of the advantage.
- This wall can act as a thermal mass for solar heat so the greenhouse can effectively absorb all the heat generated from the past few days and keep it there even if the outdoor temperature suddenly drops.
- The insulation of a lean-to greenhouse is much greater than other greenhouses.
Reasonable Price
Lean-to greenhouses are small in general and require few materials to construct.
This is good news if you want to maintain a smaller garden because you can save a lot of money.
If you do not need as much temperature control or ventilation, a lean-to greenhouse is a good inexpensive solution compared to other types of greenhouses.
Still a Greenhouse
Although lean-to greenhouses are limited in space and light, the lean-to greenhouse still falls under the greenhouse category and your plants will still gain the benefits of being placed in a greenhouse. Plants can continue to grow during the winter seasons and the extra insulation can increase the overall effectiveness of these greenhouses.
January 30, 2012
· Vastila · No Comments
Tags: Compare Lean-To Greenhouses, DIY Lean-To Greenhouse, Lean-To Greenhouse Plans, Lean-To Greenhouse Prices, Mini Lean-To Greenhouse · Posted in: Greenhouse Gardening
What is Hydroponic Seedling Germination Equipment?
Starting your own garden can be a fun practice because there are so many fun approaches to stimulate your interests.
Plants in general require soil so the plant roots can absorb the nutrients once the soil is dissolved in water.
But botanists have found some interesting alternatives to take soil out of the equation.
After all, the main requirement is the mineral nutrients found within the soil.
If those mineral nutrients make their way into the plant’s water supply, plants can technically be grown without soil.
This method is known as hydroponics and hydroponic seedling germination equipment plays an important role for soilless plant growing.
- Hydroponic seedling germination equipment is basically a compact machine that helps you dive right into the world of hydroponics.
- Once you have some seeds to grow, you can literally start growing your plants from scratch.
- This kind of system is ideal for starters that want to get started quickly while being efficient in the process.
Efficiency happens to be one of the greatest strengths of hydroponic seedling germination equipment as opposed to using soil. You can even reuse any water involved in the system so you can significantly lower water costs. Nutrition costs can be lowered as well since you have greater control of the nutrition levels.
Hydroponic seedling germination equipment is designed to be compact making the containers highly mobile.
This is a great way to get rid of pests and diseases without resorting to pesticides that can potentially damage your plants.
Combined with the facts that the plants are easy to harvest and have high yields, hydroponics offers a lot of advantages that make hydroponic seedling germination equipment worth learning about.
- Temperature plays an important role in making your plants grow and it should be taken as high priority to counter the disadvantages of hydroponic seedling germination equipment.
- Since soil is never used for these types of equipment, it is very easy for plants to die if the hydroponic system fails.
- The exact temperature level depends on the seeds you are attempting to germinate because different seeds have different moisture content requirements so you still have to do some research in that area.
Although the amount of research may be overwhelming, the variety of seeds that you can use with hydroponic seedling germination equipment is a good thing.
You have the option of growing a wide assortment of plants and even flowers once you get used to the equipment.
Once these plants are grown, they simply look nice and presentable in the container so you can easily show off your newly discovered way of growing plants effectively and efficiently.
The advantages of hydroponic seedling germination equipment clearly outweigh the disadvantages and as long as you follow the instructions, you shouldn’t really run into any serious issues.
You can even use these systems to reproduce plants that you have previously grown through traditional methods. Then you can really get an idea how nice it is to use hydroponic seedling germination equipment as an alternative.
January 30, 2012
· Vastila · No Comments
Tags: Germinating Seeds for Hydroponics, Hydroponic Seedling Pictures, Hydroponic Seedlings, Hydroponics, Hydroponics Equipment, Hydroponics Gardening, Seedling Germination Equipment · Posted in: Hydroponics Gardening
What are you growing this Summer?
We are very interested in what our customers, friends, and visitors are growing in their gardens, especially this Summer as we are looking for special and exotic plants to go into our new gardening magazine. The next issue comes out on August 1st, 2010, so show your support and pick that up.
Green House Manager Planting Seed Gardens in Greenhouse
July 25, 2010
· admin · No Comments
Tags: Gardening Magazine News · Posted in: Summer Gardening
Going green is the new black!
Go Green or Get Forced to Go Home!
Everyone knows that going green is become all of the rage today and slowly people are being outcast-ed and discriminated against for not getting involved in the efforts.
- What do you think about this?
Should those people suffer, because they simply choose not to do something?
- This is a somewhat tricky thing, because half of the green activities are actually not cost productive and a complete waste of time.
Do you know which activities are a waste of time?
- Recycling paper
- Recycling
Do you know which activities are NOT a waste of time?
- Recycling aluminum
- Recycling printer cartridges
July 25, 2010
· admin · No Comments
Tags: Green Lifestyle and Living Tips, Rewarding Recycling Activities, Wasteful Recycling Activities · Posted in: Going Green Today