HPW Real Estate School

Planning, planting, growing and harvesting a vegetable garden can be great fun for the whole family. And while you are having fun, you will be growing your own food. Having your own vegetable garden can be a very satisfying undertaking and is an excellent way to teach your children about responsibility as well.

Vegetable Garden Benefits

There are many benefits to planting your own vegetable garden and one of the most obvious ones is the harvest.

When you plant a garden that grows well, you will be able to enjoy the vegetables when they are ripe and, along with pleasing your taste buds, this will also please your grocery bill as well. Growing your own vegetables is much cheaper than buying them, so gardening will leave you with some extra money each month.

Some other benefits of having your own vegetable garden are relieving excess stress and exploring your creativity with plants.

Gardening can be great fun for the whole family and you can give your children their own gardening tasks to keep track of, as well. This will also provide a great means of exercise for the entire family.

Where Do I Plant It?

If you want a quality vegetable garden that will produce well, you are going to have to choose your garden site carefully. Make sure that your garden site gets plenty of sun each day to help your plants grow as they should.

If you do not have enough sunlight hitting your vegetable garden, it will more than likely be a flop. You should also choose a garden spot that will get enough water.

Be sure that water will not just sit in certain areas, but that the water will be able to get to the entire garden. If you are short on rain, you may have to water the garden yourself. Also try to find a garden site that has rich, healthy soil to ensure that your plants grow well.

Choosing Which Vegetables to Grow

There are many vegetables to choose from for your vegetable garden but you need to keep in mind which vegetables you like and how easy they are to grow. If your family does not like beets, you should probably choose something else to grow in your garden.

If this is your first time having a vegetable garden, you may want to stick to vegetables that are easy to grow such as tomatoes, green beans, carrots, lettuce, peas, squash and corn.

Vegetable Gardening Tips

Once you have your vegetable garden planted, you want to make sure that you keep up with the garden to be sure you get the best growth possible. It is important that you keep the weeds out of your garden, since weeds can take away nutrients and water from your plants.

You should also be sure that you do not water your garden too much or you can kill your plants with too much water. When you plant your garden, you will want to leave adequate space in between your rows so that you can cultivate your plants to stimulate growth.

If you plant your garden in a great place and make sure that you take care of it faithfully, at the end of the season, you will reap the benefits of your hard work. When you sit around your table enjoying the wonderful fresh vegetables, it will be with the pleasure of knowing that your vegetable garden was a job well done.

Indoor herb garden kits allow you to experience the joy of nurturing, growing and harvesting your own beautiful organic herb garden, even if you do not have a garden. The kits are easy to grow indoors any time of the year. Some will come complete with growing medium, with others you have to supply your own. Some will have a growing medium in the form of pellets which when soaked in water will expand to form a little growing plug. All will have a selection of seeds, according to the category of herb that is offered.

The beauty of these indoor herb garden kits is they allow you to easily grow and maintain a delicious culinary garden on any sunny windowsill. The herbs when harvested can be used fresh or can even be dried or frozen, providing flavoring for your meals all year long.

Here is a selection of kits that are obtainable from any good garden supply shop or garden centre:

Indoor Italian Garden Kit

Have your own miniature Italian indoor herb garden with an Italy Herb Kit. Grow fresh herbs for cooking and enjoy your own culinary Herb Garden with the aromatic charm of the Italian countryside. It will contain Basil, Italian Parsley, Thyme, Oregano.

Indoor Culinary Herb Kit

Grow fresh herbs for cooking and enjoy your own culinary Herb Garden with the aromatic charm of the Italian countryside. Culinary Herbs: Basil, Parsley, Oregano, Thyme, Coriander, Rocket, Dill, Sweet Marjoram.

The Indoor Salsa Herb Kit

No matter what your preference in salsa this kit would allow you fulfill your dreams. Harvest your own authentic herbs from this.Salsa Herb Garden Kit which will usually contain. Coriander, Rocket, Red Chilli, Jalapeno Chilli, Parsley, and Dill.

Indoor Herbal Tea Herb Kit

Fragrant herbs in this type of herb kit will provide herbs from which to brew delicious herbal tea infusions. All you have to do is harvest the leaves, add to boiling water and create natural herbal teas with medicinal and well being properties. Herbal tea herbs in these kits will include a selection from: Chamomile, Lemon Balm, Feverfew, Peppermint, Catnip, Anise, or Rosemary, or depending on price – all of them. Some will even include a Tea Infuser.

Indoor Salad Garden Growing Kit

With this type of kit you could be eating fresh lettuce grown naturally in your own indoor salad garden. Easy to grow in pots on a sunny windowsill in pots you have all or a choice of the following herbs: Gourmet Mix of Red and Green Lettuce, Rocket, Gourmet Delight Dwarf Bean,, and even Grow in Pot Cherry Tomato.

International Herb Garden Kit

The so called International Herb Garden Kit is a collection of cooking herbs. You could be enjoying flavoursome fresh herbs and create an aromatic ambience in your home from a selection of these natural herbs: Basil, Parsley, Oregano, Mint, Rocket, Sweet Marjoram, Thyme, Pot Cherry Tomatoes, Coriander, Dill, Green Lettuce, Hot Red Chilli. Again the price will determine how many of this selection will be contained in the kit.

The temptation with an awkwardly shaped garden is either to do as little as possible to it — maybe a lawn surrounded with flowerbeds — or to add too many hidden corners and details, which might work well in an enormous plot, but won’t make the best of an average-sized garden. The ideal is to come up with a layout that’s simple but uses design tricks to correct the shape of the garden. Better still, a clever layout can make the awkward shape an advantage, using odd corners for hidden storage or raised levels to define areas of the garden.

We asked Katrina Wells of Earth Designs to come up with three solutions for three classic problems: a sloping site, an L-shaped garden and a tapering plot. Our advice is to simplify the look of the garden, where possible, by using similar shades to unify the different elements such as decking, paving and walls. As for budget, we’ve suggested where you can make savings. Now all you have to do is pick the plan that’s best for you.

Designs For A Sloping Garden

Make the most of a sloping garden by creating different levels, each with its own purpose. This design has an area right next to the house for outdoor dining and a barbecue. Then, wide steps lead down (or up, depending on which way your garden slopes) to an area with built-in seats (with lift-up lids for extra storage) and a water feature, or sandpit if you have children. The last level includes a play area and lawn, plus a shed and compost heap. Hardy plants that don’t need lots of water, such as osteospermum, are great for a low-maintenance garden. Will it take much looking after? The lawn will need cutting up to once a week in high summer, but if you choose raised borders planted with hardy perennials, such as hosta and astilbe, they won’t need much care or constant maintenance. Add splashes of colour with drought-resistant osteospermum and gazania. How can I cut costs? Shifting earth and shoring up the terraces can be quite costly. In a gently sloping garden, save money by just decking over the top of the old surface, and swap raised planters for pots (which you could always add later when you’ve saved up).

Designs For An L Shaped Garden

The trouble with L-shaped gardens is that the slimmest part of the ?L’ is often wasted space. Try and use it to tuck away things you don’t want to see from the patio, such as the bins and shed or a play area. Keep the rest of the garden simple and break up the straight lines with a curved patio, borders and lawn to make the most of the space and give it a relaxed feel.

Will it take much looking after? The lawn will need cutting in summer, but if you use bark chippings the kids’ play area will be maintenance-free. For borders, choose long-flowering, care-free perennials, such as yarrow, bleeding heart and black-eyed Susan. How can I cut costs? This garden shouldn’t be expensive to create or maintain, as long as you keep the borders quite narrow. You can make them seem deeper, though, by planting evergreen climbers, such as Clematis armandii.

Design For A Tapering Garden

The best design for a tapering garden uses strong diagonals to trick the eye. The main border comes into the middle of the garden, while the lawn widens as the garden narrows, balancing the tapered shape. The shed hides behind a water feature at the far end, making the narrowest part of the garden a useful spot.

Will it take much looking after? In the summer the lawn will need cutting once a week and the plants in the borders will need regular watering. Put down a weed-suppressing membrane (from garden centres) to cut down on the amount of weeding, then plant the border with ground cover plants, such as geraniums or catmint. Geraniums, in particular, provide good ground cover and colour through the summer. Use tall pots planted with grasses for an eye-catching display. How can I cut costs? Replace the pots with tall plants set into the ground — bamboo would be a good choice because it’s evergreen and makes a good screening plant. Making the lawn area larger and the border narrower will also save money.

After working so hard on your garden, it is very important tohave a way to sit back and enjoy it. A couple or more pieces ofgarden furniture are perfect for this. Besides providing a placeto relax, it can also look very nice and compliment the style ofyour landscaping.

You’ll have plenty of furniture styles, colors, and types offurniture to choose from to fit your specific needs. It can fitwhat you need to use it for, as well as match the colors of yourgarden.

In general, gardens have natural themes. Because of this,furniture made of wood such as teak is very common. Wicker isanother natural looking option that is lightweight. Another nicelooking choice of materials is iron. It can be heavier though,and can retain heat in hot climates. That can make ituncomfortable to sit on in the summer.

As far as the type of furniture goes, a bench is very popular fora garden. They look very elegant and provide a place formultiple people to sit and enjoy the plants. As mentioned abovefor garden furniture in general, wood and iron are greatmaterials for benches. They both last a very long time outsidein the elements, and provide great looks. The wood blends intothe natural environment, whereas the iron adds a romantic,antique look.

Some alternatives to simple benches are benches that swing orbenches that wrap around a tree or bush. A swing can add anextra soothing quality, and the wrap around bench can save spaceand add interest to that area of the garden.

If your garden is small and there isn’t adequate room for abench, a garden chair can work well. Wood, wicker, and iron areall possibilities for chairs as well. Also, you can simply usepatio chairs in the variety of styles and colors that they areoffered in.

If you are looking for more than just a place to sit, and youwant all of your furniture to match well, you should look intopurchasing a garden furniture set. You will get multiple chairs,a table, and an umbrella for shade. This won’t be necessary ifyou’ll be enjoying your garden alone, but it is very helpful ifyou will be entertaining others in the garden. If having anentertainment in your area is important to you, make sure thatyou have the table in an area that can handle the extra foottraffic. Placing it in a mulched area or an open grassy areatends to work well for this.

Garden Art Ideas — How to Make Your Planters Into Beautiful Garden Art

Garden stores have so many different types of garden art for your to choose from – there are beautiful water features like ponds and fountains, as well as statues, wind chimes, birdhouses, and so much more. But why not go ahead and make your own garden art? Why not make sure that your garden fully reflects your own personality, and nobody else’s?

When it comes to making your own garden art, there are so many different possibilities as to what you can do that it can almost be overwhelming. That is why I am going to focus on just one type of garden art in this article: planters. Check out these fun and unique ideas for your garden pots and planters:

The Spilt Planter

Add a little humor to your garden with a “spilt planter.” Find an ordinary pot or barrel and tip it on its side in your garden. Fill the planter part way with soil, and then spread the rest out in front of it as though it has spilled out. Choose a few of your favorite flowers and plant them in the spilled-out soil. Warning: this fun and whimsical idea is one that may have do-gooders coming up and trying to fix the spill… until they see that the plants are actually planted in the ground.

Bathtub Planter

Find a bathtub (a clawfoot tub, preferably) at a thrift store, garage store, or even from your remodeled bathroom. Fill her up with good soil and then plant a small garden! It can also be fun to use a bathtub as a pond. It is even possible to find a way to hook your garden hose up so that you can have water coming out of the bathtub waterspout.

Thrift Stores Gems

There are many other things that plants can be planted into (besides planters and pots… and bathtubs). Why not go to an antique shop or a thrift store and see what you can find! You can plant a pair of cacti in a pair of cowboy boots. Why not plat a snapdragon in a tea cup? You can use vases, pots and pans, tires, helmets, and so many other things as planters. You may not know what item can double as a perfect garden planter until you go out and find it.

Pottery By Your Own Hand

Why not sign up for a pottery class and make your very own planter! Granted, you may make a pot that is only large enough for one petunia, but it is so much fun to create your own shapes and to glaze your pot in whatever color you want. Homemade pots with a flower in each make excellent gifts, as well.

Pot makeovers

If you already have a pot that you like, why not just dress it up a bit? Go ahead and glue a ribbon around the rim or even add sequins, buttons, scrabble letters, or other items! You can also completely makeover a pot – you just need some Mod Podge (a wonderful, glue-like substance) and some magazines. Cut or rip out some favorite pictures from magazines (or use photographs, newspaper, brown paper bags, tissue paper, etc.) and Mod Podge them all over your pot. Use a weather-proofing finishing spray to top it off. (If you are using a terra cotta pot or another pot that breathes and is not glazed, be sure that you heavily coat the pot with Mod Podge before you add your pictures, and consider placing another planter inside the pot to keep the magazine pictures from puckering when you water your plant.

Decide Use of Garden Tractors Or Lawn Tractors

When you have a small garden the question of using the garden tractor seems like a waste of money. When a smaller lawn tractor will do your work equally well, why spend more money in buying the garden tractor? Well, there are some points in favor of both the ideas and we will take look at both sides of the coin.

Garden Tractor Vs Lawn Tractors

Lawn tractors: Smaller gardens with an area of less than 2 to 3 acres can make do with smaller tractors better known as lawn tractors. Essentially these are used for lawn mowing and no other work. If your garden is small and has only the lawn, you may continue to use the lawn tractor. Small lawn tractors have a capacity of about 4 to 6 HP.

However, if you do some gardening and have some agricultural produce, it makes sense to buy a garden tractor. The agricultural work involves loading and unloading of the agricultural inputs and outputs and it is difficult for lawn tractors to handle such loads. The attachments that can be attached to a lawn tractor are limited and it cannot definitely take the front end loader attachment that can be required for leveling the ground or flattening it.

The garden tractors are also useful to you in saving time for the other work. With lawn tractor, the time required for the same work will be much higher than the time required for equivalent work for a garden tractor. Since agricultural work is not the main business of a small landholder, it makes sense to have a tractor that can do the work quickly and get on with other jobs that you have in hand.

With a garden tractor, you can do many things that are impossible for the lawn mower to do with or without attachments. For example, you cannot use your lawn tractor for aerating the field, leveling the driveway, or hauling the firewood from far corners of your garden.

With a larger machine like a garden tractor, you can do many things that are unthinkable with small lawn tractors. The removal of stones in your garden or shifting of the stones for beautification of the garden are impossible to be done with small lawn tractor but it can be easily done with a small garden tractor and you can save lot of money in doing this.

Granted that the lawn tractor costs less money for purchase, but think of other jobs that you will be outsourcing in developing your garden and if you buy the garden tractor right at the start of your work, it will be economical to you in the longer run. If later you find it not being used completely, remember that it has saved you enough money to pay for itself and is still saving your time. Remember the wise old saying that ‘time is money’ and now you can save time and utilize it in higher yield business that you are in now.

The idle investment garden tractor can also make money for you if you rent it. If you are not the kind of person, who likes to rent his/her equipments, just remember that the garden tractor has done its work for you during the development stage of your garden and allow the garden tractor the well earned rest in your garden

So in the final analysis you will agree that using the tractor in a garden is a wise decision.

The Frugal Garden

Having a lovely garden full of flowering plants and shrubs can come at a cost. Visiting the garden centre and purchasing the things you need to keep your garden in pristine condition will take a large chunk of money in your wallet. But there are other ways to have a garden to be proud of, and one way is to be a frugal gardener.

Where to Look

Well for a start there are many places in which one can find things for the garden, and if one has an imagination then these ways can be fruitful to the frugal gardener.

Friends and Family

What better than to ask family members or friends if they have unwanted items for the garden. Even if the items are not meant for the garden like baskets or baby baths they can be utilised and made to hold plants like pansies and French marigold’s plus vegetables like tomatoes, radish and lettuce. Even an old bucket can be utilised in the garden and hold potatoes and carrots on the patio.

Asking friends, family and even neighbours for any leftover seeds can be a rewarding and frugal way to get free plants or vegetables. Maybe they can let you have cuttings from their already established garden? Whatever they have don’t be afraid of taking from them even if it’s only advice.

Advertise

Another great way of frugal gardening is to advertise either in the local newspaper, magazine or local store. Sure it might cost you a small amount to post the ad but the rewards could be huge. Ask for things gardeners no longer want in the garden and are giving them away. Ask if they have seeds they won’t use, even spare compost will be a bonus to you and your garden.

Recycling

An excellent way of being frugal in the garden is to recycle. Do you have to recycle where you live? Most people nowadays do recycle whether its law from the local government or because they want to do it, so it’s only right to look at what you are recycling. Recycling can be a rewarding way of finding things to use in the garden and you’ll be surprised at what you will have. From empty jars, spray bottles, even coffee to go plastic cups can be used in the garden so go and checkout what you are going to recycle.

Keeping Plants Healthy and Pest Free

Once the garden has started taking shape with the plants, trees and shrubs you have planted you will want to make sure they stay healthy and free from pests. Making your own fertiliser or pesticides is a great way of being frugal in the garden and also help keep the environment free from the harmful chemicals used in shop brought fertilisers and pesticides. Having a compost heap will make a huge difference to anything you plant in the garden, and using organic pesticides that include tobacco will go a long way in keeping pests like green-fly and sawfly larvae away from your plants.

Summary

The next time you want plants, trees or shrubs for the garden why not look at the frugal way instead of going to the garden centre and spending a fortune? You will be amazed at how many different ways there are to get anything from pots and containers to seeds and cuttings, all it needs is a little imagination and the confidence to be a frugal gardener.

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.