HPW Real Estate School

Your Garden Location – Eight Tips on Picking the Best Spot For Your Organic Garden

Choosing the right garden location is one of the most important steps of organic gardening. You will either have pleasure and a bountiful harvest or years of headaches depending on the location. In her book, Organic Food Gardening Beginner’s Manual, Julie Villani says considering a few points now will make your organic gardening easier and fun. Here are eight tips on picking the perfect spot for your organic garden:

Let In The Sunlight

This is especially crucial if you plan to grow vegetables over the winter. You will want a spot that gets at least six hours of sunlight each day. If you live in an area where the temperatures are milder, then you will want a garden that gets its maximum sunlight in the morning. If the summers are hot where you live, look for an area that gets some afternoon shade.

Steer clear of trees

Avoid planting by large trees as they provide too much shade and will compete with your garden for nutrients and water.

Keep It Close to Water

If you want your garden to produce in bountiful supply, it will need lots of water, so make sure your plot is close to a reliable water source. The last thing you want to do is to carry heavy buckets of water to your garden every day.

Consider Collecting Your Water

Keep a cistern near your garden plot to collect rainwater. That way you’ll save on water costs if you live in town and fuel costs if you live in the country. (It takes electricity or gas to run a pump if you are on a well system). Get the water out of the cistern either through a pump or by using good old fashioned gravity.

You can also use recycled household water on your lawn, ornamental shrubs, fruit and nut trees, but don’t use it on your vegetables, herbs or soft fruits – in other words fruit that is not grown on trees – unless you have tested it to make certain it is safe.

Think About The Wind

If you live on the plains like I do, then you know the wind can wreak havoc with a lot of things, including your tender garden plants. A wind-break can help reduce the wind and give your plants a chance to thrive. You don’t want to completely block the wind, as that will create turbulence, so instead use layers of trees and shrubs, or put trellises nearby that are strong enough to support vine-type vegetables, such as squash. These will reduce the wind without creating troublesome turbulence.

Is There Sufficient Drainage?

We live on a wooded lot, and sunny spots are few and far between. Unfortunately, the only available spot for our garden was at the bottom of a hill. Every time it rains, the area is covered with six inches of water. We dealt with this problem by building raised beds that were at least 18 inches high. Your plants hate standing in water, so the next time it rains, look at the ground you are considering planting in, and build raised beds if needed.

What About the Soil?

This is the least important issue when considering a plot of land, because the soil can always be improved. Start composting now, or consider putting in easier raised beds that do not require digging. Over time, even the worst of soils can be improved with rich soil you make yourself.

Keep It Close

A garden close to your front steps is easier to keep weed-free. That way, you can pull out two or three of the unwelcome plants each time you walk to and from your car. Harvesting vegetables and herbs for meals will also be easier if your garden is close to the kitchen.

So there you have it. Follow these tips and your next garden will be easier, more bountiful and downright fun!

Adding a water feature to your garden is one of the easiest ways to give it a new look and add some extra movement and visual interest. Garden water fountains are available to fit into even the smallest outdoor spaces and are a great way to make your garden more relaxing, even if it is just a tiny space on a city rooftop. The sound of running water is soothing and calming and really increases the natural feeling, however big or small your garden.

Water features can be as simple as a small bird bath or fish pond or can be an elaborate ornate fountain. Running water displays are easy to install, usually requiring just a small pump which is plugged into the mains electricity supply. You can buy ready-made water features or you can create your own by using a pump to guide water through a collection of stones or any other material.

Water features can either look very natural or can be sleek and modern for a more dramatic effect. Stainless steel features are now becoming very popular and these work particularly well in small minimalist gardens as a great focal point.

For large gardens, fountains work really well. These can either be ornamental or made to look like a natural waterfall or stream. Combine a running water fountain with a pond containing ornamental gold fish for an attractive and relaxing effect.

Adding a pond to your garden will also give you the opportunity to grow aquatic plants and these will attract frogs, butterflies and other wildlife. This is a fun and easy way to create a realistic nature corner in your garden which is attractive and children will love.

If you don’t have even a small outdoor space then you may want to consider an indoor water feature. These are especially designed to be used within the home and the sound and movement of the water is very relaxing. You may want to use one in your bathroom or in the hallway as an impressive entrance for visitors.

Planning a Summer Tomato Garden

Preparation for a bountiful harvest of tomatoes begins while snow still covers the ground. Before you can plant a beautiful row of seedlings, you must take several planning steps. Consulting a comprehensive cultivation guide on growing tomatoes will aid your planning process and help ensure you end up with a bountiful disease free crop.

Choose Your Tomato Varieties

Hundreds of choice tomato varieties abound–enough to confuse gardeners. Tomatoes come in every shape, size and color. Huge tomatoes that take two hands to carry are related to tiny grape tomatoes no larger than the top of a thumb. Purple, yellow, orange and red tomatoes all spring from the same gene pool. Perfect round tomatoes, oblong tomatoes, little marble-sized tomatoes, and huge scrunchy looking tomatoes grow around the world. Tomatoes that grow as a never-ending vine share space with tomato plants that grow in a compact, shrub form. For your summer tomato garden, choose several tomato varieties, as each variety is best suited for its own culinary responsibility, and each takes specific care and tending.

For summer-long harvesting, choose tomato plants that are “indeterminate,” or keep growing and growing and growing. These tomatoes will continue to set new fruit throughout the entire summer. These varieties are best for small cherry or grape sized tomatoes, as getting large fruit from these types of plants requires more work.

For shorter harvesting periods and larger tomatoes, choose “determinate” varieties, which grow to a certain size and stop. These plants put more energy into producing each fruit, resulting in larger, juicier fruit.

Pre-Order Seedlings or Sow Seeds

Tomatoes are fragile in the beginning. Growing a tomato from a seed and harvesting fruit in the same growing season takes advance preparation. If you prefer not to gamble with starting your own seeds, many companies offer mail-order seedlings of endless varieties. Plan for your seedlings to arrive for planting once the danger of frost is completely past. Tomato plants are tropical in origin and have little tolerance for cold.

For adventurous gardeners, harvesting a tomato grown from seed to fruit is a rewarding experience. Start seeds at least eight weeks before you wish to plant. Sow seeds thinly on a bed of light potting mix inside. Keep the seeds moist, but not overly wet. Misting daily does the trick. Once the seedlings have their second set of leaves, “prick out” the seedlings (gently remove seedlings one at a time, while holding the leaves) and plant into small pots of their own. Once frost danger has passed, “harden off” your plants by putting them outside during the day, and bringing them in at night. After a week or two of “hardening off,” you may plant outside.

Prepare the Garden Soil

While your tomato seeds are germinating on their warm and comfy windowsill, use the time to prep the garden soil. Tomatoes need an organically rich, yet well-draining soil. If you have extremely wet and heavy soil, avoid walking on it during the winter, as excessive walking with compact the soil. Add organic matter on top of the soil to help prevent winter erosion. Once the soil warms enough to be workable, double-dig the soil (Dig all of the soil out, mix in some organic matter, and put soil back in) to break up hardened areas and allow for good root penetration.

Plant the Garden

Once the soil is prepared, seedlings are hardened-off, and temperatures are warm (or warming), plant your tomato garden, and prepare for a summer of delicious harvests.

Whether you’re planning a garden or you already have a year round vegetable garden, there’s a lot of advice that will help you maximize the benefits of your investment. A vegetable garden is supposed to be fun. It’s supposed to be rewarding, and it is definitely suppose to provide fresh, organic vegetables. And it certainly can. Embrace as much knowledge as can about it, and you’ll reap the benefits of your creation.

Benefits of a year round vegetable garden

No more worrying about the possible existence of toxic pesticides used on many store brand vegetables. Significant savings even over farmer markets’ pricesThe possibility of growing many more kinds of vegetables than you’d find elsewhereAn amateur vegetable garden is a lot of fun and is quite rewarding in more than one way

Valuable tips on perennial vegetable gardens

A year round vegetable garden will obviously take more effort for those living in harsher climates (i.e. the frigid North or the generally arid Southwest). However, even those gardeners can grow vegetables in greenhouses. Nonetheless, popular homemade vegetables include: beets, zucchini squash, tomatoes, peas and beans.

Is the soil where you’re planning to establish your year round vegetable garden (or already working garden) the best for growing good crops? It’s really essential that it is. Soil that contains too much sand or clay won’t work very well. Soil which has too many underlying roots (perhaps from nearby trees or shrubs) may also make for a formidable place to grow crops. Sandy loam is generally the best type of soil to grow crops with; it’s the type that crumbles like cake when you fist up a sample (about the size of a baseball) in your hand.

Make sure that your garden is protected and gets what it needs to sustain itself

Don’t forget about other variables that can adversely affect your year round vegetable garden. Make sure it has at least some protection against various vulnerabilities. Wildlife-like insects, rabbits, mice, deer, etc-are notorious for helping themselves to vegetable gardens. The weather can also affect it; make you implement at least some protection against things like excess rain, drought, too much wind and so forth. You can easily mitigate excess water by digging a few small canals to channel it away (if the land is so low that pools of water build up on it).

Many gardeners fall into the trap of buying cheap, bargain-basement seeds. This isn’t to say that good seeds are expensive-no, not by far. Spending say-1.99 per seed instead of 1.20-increases the chances that you’re getting a better quality seed. Vegetable seeds are sold practically everywhere: online, from a gardening shop, Lowe’s or the Home Depot and so forth.

Furthermore, learn how to adjust your plants and eliminate liabilities so that you have a successful year round vegetable garden. Give your plants “room to breathe”; don’t plant different types of crops too close together. Also, try to use organic fertilizer but if you can’t, use one of the higher-quality fertilizers sold in many stores. If you’re just getting started on your garden, it’s very wise to (in addition to having a good quality soil) give the plot a good aerating.

Garden Tools Sets – Which Tools to Include in a Garden Tool Set?

Garden tool sets are a popular gift for the gardener in you life. They are also a quick and easy way to get started gardening on your own. You can find garden tool sets that cover the whole range of options for garden hand tools. Which tools do you want to make sure are in your tool set, and what are some things to look for when buying those tools.

The number of tools can vary a bit. Some sets only have 3 or so tools, while others have 15 or more tools in the set. Of course the price varies with the number of tools, so set a budget to start with and that will help narrow the field somewhat.

Look at the handles of the tools. This will give you a good idea of the overall quality of the set. Plastic handles tend to be cheaper, and often the other construction of the tools will be cheaper as well (for example, stamped tool bodies instead of cast). A good wooden handle will last a long time and is a good choice. There are also some with high tech ergonomic handles, which may be a good choice if you think you will be using these a lot, or if you have arthritis or some other discomfort in your hands.

The tools that come with a garden set vary, but there are a few included in almost all sets. One is the garden trowel. Looking like a small shovel, this is a versatile tool that can be used for working a small bed, or digging up a hole for a transplant for the garden, or digging up root crops like onions, beets, or garlic. Check that this in not made from thin stamped steel, as it will easily bend and break if used under a decent amount of pressure.

A bulb planter looks like a narrow trowel, and is used in much the same way as a trowel, but is used to plant items that are smaller but still need a deep hole like flower bulbs.

A garden fork, sometimes known as a cultivator, has hooked tines on it and is used to work the surface of the soil. Handy for weeding a small area, it can also be used to prepare a garden bed for smaller seeds like radishes or carrots.

Pruners are popular in garden tool sets. Usually they will include a bypass pruner, as these are smaller and handy for making clean cuts on flowers or vegetables like tomatoes or cucumber vines.

A garden tool set will come with a variety of holders. Some are simple plastic holders, others included a leather holster, and some included a carrying case. Cases sometimes have plastic molded inserts for the tools, or the very high end cases will be made of wood themselves.

Keeping ground squirrels and chipmunks out of the yard doesn’t seem like something that most people would see a need for. But when they’re eating your vegetables and their burrows are uprooting some of your plants they can become an annoyance real quick.

Keeping ground squirrels and chipmunks out of the garden

1. Traps. Traps can be baited with peanut butter, oats or nuts. I would personally avoid this one if possible. Trapping them seems like a waste when there’s other ways of dealing with them.

2. Plant a groundcover. These small rodents like to scout for enemies from the entrance of their burrow. A tall groundcover can block their view, making them decide to move elsewhere.

3. Hardware cloth cages. Cages can be made out of hardware cloth to protect some of your plants. This one doesn’t look good and it would be hard to do in the vegetable garden, unless you want to put your garden in a giant cage.

4. Repellants. You could try repellants, but their effectiveness is always questionable. If you go with repellants be ready to try several different ones to find the one that’s effective, even then it may stop working sometime in the future.

5. Predators. Domestic dogs and cats can and will chase them or kill them whenever they see potential prey. Small rodents will likely find a new home real quick when they’re always being hunted by a pet.

That was 5 ways of keeping ground squirrels and chipmunks out of the garden. One might work well for you by itself or it might take a couple of them together, but the pest animals will stay away from your garden.

Garden fountains have been made for many years and people have been enjoying the benefits in their gardens ever since. If you have not yet discovered the beauty of garden fountains then you really have been missing out. They have the ability to bring a space to life with the gentle sounds of the running water and the additional wildlife which they attract. If you live in a noisy area they can also mask any external noise and distract you from the unwanted sounds. Visually they are attractive in any season, whether it is in the winter and you want something stunning to look at or in the summer you want to enjoy the sounds of the water falling over the fountain, they are perfect all year round.

Manufacturers of garden fountains are very highly skilled and different providers will produce unique pieces, so it depends on your tastes as to what you may like. There are often masses of choice of colours, designs, styles and materials used. Some of the materials include slate, stone, copper, glass and steel to name just a few, any design and type will look amazing when it is positioned in your garden and often they become even more attractive when they age over time. If you are buying from a specialist garden fountains manufacturer then your purchase will be supplied ready to use, all you need to do is find a suitable place for it to go and then add the water to the fountain. The pumps inside the fountains generate the flow of water over the garden fountains and these are self contained so you will not see any ugly components.

If you have concerns about the installation of the fountains then you need not worry. Garden fountains like any of the other fountain types are always self contained and there is absolutely no need for you to dig holes, water channels or do any form of technical DIY. There is no need for any form of water supply for the fountains, during the dry months you may need to add water to the fountain by use of a watering can or water bottle and during the winter months there may be no need depending on the rain levels. For many the main attraction of the garden fountains is they are easy to install, easy to maintain and above all will impress your family and friends. A beautiful piece of modern garden art which is crafted superbly and will provide hours of relaxation is what the best garden fountains can give to you and your outside space.

Would you like to see more beautiful butterflies fluttering around your yard? This can be achieved by providing the plants that both caterpillars like to eat and plants the adult butterflies enjoy as well. Here are some tips to help you get started.

Picking Your Plants

Your garden should include host plants and plants that contain flowers filled with nectar. You will want to research plants that will attract the types of butterflies local to your area. Butterfly Weed, also known as Butterfly Plant is a type of milk weed that is a potential host for Monarch caterpillars. The plant also has flowers that are a nectar source for other butterfly species including the tiger swallowtail. Some other host plants include herbs like parsley, dill, fennel and oregano. Other host plants include hollyhock, sunflowers, lupine, milkweed and violets, just to name a few. There are numerous nectar bearing plants for those adults you want to attract such as: daylilies, peonies, delphiniums, echinacea, salvias, marigolds, morning glorys, petunias, zinnias, and allysum.

Garden

Butterfly gardens can be grown in beds or containers. The garden should be open and sunny as butterflies need sunlight to keep warm since they are cold blooded. Flat rocks are also a nice addition since the butterflies like to be able to have a spot to rest and sun themselves. Since they can also get too hot, a damp area is nice, so that they can take a break from the heat if they need to. By supplying an area with moist sand or mud, you will give the butterflies a place to rest and take a drink. The garden should also be in an area that is sheltered from the wind. This can be either a fence or wall, or row of shrubs. If you want to attract butterflies you will want to avoid using pesticides in your garden as they are lethal to caterpillars as well as adult butterflies. Once the plants are established is shouldn’t be too long before you start to see butterflies more often, as they can detect food from miles away.

Butterfly gardens aren’t too complicated and can be truly rewarding. You can transform your entire yard or just a small section with ease. If they’re provided with a source of nectar and a place to lay their eggs there’s a good chance that they’ll stick around.

Sometimes the house of your dreams just can’t be found on the market. No problem, luckily you can build your own home. If your plans are well thought out and you carefully go through each step of the process, you could be living in an outstanding home you never thought was possible!

The most important aspect of building your own home is deciding on a budget. This will dictate each step of the process all the way through completion and beyond. Don’t forget to add land cost to the budget of the entire project. It is also important to not forget Murphy’s Law when doing a project this big, building estimates are just that, an estimate. There are numerous reasons that construction costs can increase slightly; be sure to leave a little extra room in your budget for changes to the plan.

The next step is deciding what kind of home you would like to build. Browsing through home and real estate magazines is a good start. The internet is also a great resource to get great ideas about your homes style and function. Once you have a general idea of the type of home you like, you should try to see some similar ones in your area. They don’t need to be identical, but you can go down to a model home and see if you like or dislike certain features. Taking pictures of things you like is also a good idea; it can only help your designer draw up a plan exactly like you imagine it.

Purchasing the land is the next big step. You should, of course, have a general idea of what kind of land you want, but don’t automatically filter out properties that don’t exactly fit your search criteria. Keep in mind how much backyard space you would like, how big the house is you are planning on building, and what you are going to use the land for. For example, do you plan on putting in a swimming pool? How about having animals on your property? Would you like a little privacy from the neighbors, or just a good view?

As soon as you have purchased the land that fits your dream home, the next step is hiring a general contractor to oversee and manage the building of your house. It is a very good idea to call at least a handful of contractors and to have each of them give you an estimate. Make sure you ask their price per square foot, inquire about specifics that you would like on your house that may cost extra, and definitely ask for some references from each builder. Most contractors will be more than happy to show you homes they have built before and the homeowners will often answer any questions or concerns you have about the contractor. This is also a good time to check your budget. Is the home you have imagined going to fit into your budget?

The biggest determining factor of your budget is going to be securing financing. Contacting lenders is the next step towards building your home. Make sure to shop around for the best rates and situation that fits your finances best. By securing a loan you will get the money to go forward and will also have a better idea about how big your budget for the rest of the project will be.

The hard part is now over and the exhilarating part begins. Choosing paint colors, carpeting, and cabinets are just a few of the many exciting options you have when building your own home. You also get to observe the building process in action and see your new home being erected each and everyday. For many people this is fun, because they have put a lot of work into their project and are excited to see it come into fruition.

Building your own home is certainly a lot of work, but the benefits can not be overlooked. Careful planning and patience will go a long way into making sure everything works out just as expected. Believe me, once you move in to your new home you will be thrilled!

A work from home business allows you many freedoms but maintaining a healthy life style often becomes an issue as a result. The majority of home businesses today rely upon the internet as their ‘base’ of operations. These online entrepreneurs are therefore seated quite a bit and this coupled with the internet access in front of them can lead to a decline in their overall health.

So what is it that online marketers can do to maintain a healthy life style while still remaining productive with their business?

Here are 5 ‘survival tips’ all online marketers can use if their overall health is of any value to them, and it should be.

Don’t Dine at Your Desk

There is no doubt that a home based business can consume a lot of your time but when it comes to eating your meals leave your desk behind. Sure it may make sense from a time management standpoint to ‘multi-task’ by eating while you work but avoid this temptation. Your productivity will suffer and you will also miss out on a much needed break from work for both the body and the mind.

Don’t Wine at Your Desk

It may be tempting to ‘reward’ yourself with an occasional alcoholic beverage for a job well done but do this away from your desk. Over indulging first of all is harmful to your overall health. However drinking even in moderation while you work will only decrease your productivity resulting in you spending more time in trying to complete tasks. Get your work done and reward yourself elsewhere!

Don’t Live at Your Desk

Having the internet at your finger tips can lead to you using it as a substitute for socializing with family and friends. It is also easy to rely upon this source for all your news as well. Take periodic breaks away from your desk for the sake of sanity, socializing and circulation. Find both your news and friends elsewhere especially since this is where you spend all your working hours!

Remember Why You Are at Your Desk

Do you work to live or live to work? Hopefully it is the former and that you remember why you work online is to allow you a ‘richer’ and ‘fuller’ life! That life is NOT found at your desk so get out and do what you enjoy.

Set a Cut-Off Time

Allow yourself only so much time each day to complete what it is you need to do. By doing this you will find yourself working more efficiently and enjoying life more fully as well. Remember your work is NOT your life!

A work from home business is a great way to take control of your life and escape the dreaded 9 to 5. However sometimes entrepreneurial opportunities that involve a lot of computer work can come at a cost to our health. Many online entrepreneurs find themselves spending the majority of the day and night sitting in front of a computer. It is therefore necessary that certain disciplines are brought into play to help many break certain ‘habits’ they developed. The 5 ‘survival tips’ mentioned above are labeled as such because if people do not take care of their health what is the sense in having a successful home based business? By following these tips and giving yourself the necessary breaks you need it will boost not only your overall health but your productivity as well!