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Tips & Guides, Gardening basics gardening, vegetables

Select The Perfect Location For The Vegetable Plots

by CoolGarden October 21, 2012 No Comments

You need to give quite a lot of consideration to the location of your main vegetable plots. Many poor soil conditions can be corrected over time, but your number one priority should be how much sun the area receives – especially if you are lucky enough to be able to grow winter veggies.

You want to aim for an area that gets at least six hours sunlight each day. You should choose to position the garden so that the maximum sunlight is from the morning. You don’t mind too much if there’s some afternoon shade through summer as summers are very hot (35°C – 45°C, that’s 95°F – 114°F) and dry.

Plants, Outdoor garden, outdoor, plants

Insectivorous Plants

by CoolGarden October 14, 2012 No Comments

Some plants live in situations where their roots cannot obtain sufficient nutrients, and so they have evolved mechanisms to trao insects and then digest the contests of their bodies. There are three groups of these insectivorous plants – The Fly Traps with spiny-edged leaves which are hinged in the middle, the Sticky-leaved Plants with hairs which secrete insect-catching fluid, and the Pitcher Plants with leaves which are water-filled funnels.

These plants are very difficult to grow indoors – water with rainwater, keep the compost constantly moist and the surrounding air humid, and feed very occasionally with tiny bits of meat or dead flies.

Tips & Guides, Projects gardening, projects

Pet Friendly, Green Garden Designs

by CoolGarden October 13, 2012 1 Comment

Green garden designs are popular today because of an ever increasing public awareness about the importance of sustainability. There are a variety of simple ways to make a garden environmentally friendly. Many people who care about this increased level of sustainability want their garden design to be pet friendly as well. Many methods exist that can help gardeners create a greener garden that is also a safe and enjoyable place for pets.

One way to create a pet friendly green garden is to use thick mulch throughout the garden. Mulch helps the ground withhold its moisture for longer than regular dirt or rock surfaces would. This helps to greatly conserve water over time. Mulch is also very soft and will not harm the sometimes delicate feet of pets when they roam the garden area.

Plants, Vegetables gardening, plants, vegetables

Chicory

by CoolGarden October 11, 2012 No Comments

A number of chicories (Cichorium intybus) are hardy and make good crops in the winter months, given some protection. Chicory leaves are stalked, hairy, lanceolate and large, coarsely toothed, growing in clustered formation from plant base in spreading rosette while the upper leaves are small. Their pale yellow and red leaves add colors to salads and they can also be braised. Three main types are grown: Witloof or Belgian chicory, sugar loaf chicory and red chicory, often called ‘radicchio’.

Withloof chicory is grown in two stages. The seed is sown in late spring and the plants are left to grow until late fall. The leaves are bitter and not usually eaten. In the fall the heads can either be cut off the plants 1 in above the ground or the roots can be lifted, trimmed and replanted for forcing indoors.

Seasonal jobs fall flowers, gardening, plants

Fall Flowers Arrangements For Good Mood

by CoolGarden October 9, 2012 No Comments

It’s fall and the mood is relatively darker, but with flashes of yellow, orange, and golden patches of flowers and plants come into full bloom, in turn the weather shifts from a relative dry spell of summer and welcomes the oncoming rush of the winter time.

With the changing weather and geographic conditions, it is but likely that the some flowers and plants will unfortunately be unavailable for use in certain celebrations. However, this is actually a chance to lavishly step out of the trite flower arrangements, and have the opportunity to add more than just a splash of warm tones for your party.

Plants, Outdoor fall plants, garden, outdoor, plants

Fall Garden Plants: Bulbs

by CoolGarden October 5, 2012 No Comments

There is a small select group of highly desirable bulbs for the end of the year. They provide a beautiful contrast to the more brazen shows of color on the trees and shrubs, and help keep the eye moving around the fall garden. Most require well-drained soil and plenty of sun in order to thrive, though there are some that prefer shady, moist conditions. Do not remove the foliage until it has turned brown, or next year’s display will suffer.

Canna. Commonly known as Indian shot plants, or Indian reed flowers, these are exotic plants for the fall garden. Even if they did not flower, they would be worth growing for their large, smooth leaves. Use them with grasses and brilliant dahlias to bring the season to a close with a flourish. Stictly speaking they are rhizomatous perennials, but they are planted like bulbs. They are excellent in large containers.

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