Gardening Guides

Are you new to planting a garden? If so, make sure you have the right tools ahead of time before any plants go into the ground. While gardening stores often have several tools, some geared toward professional gardeners or landscapers, the average person with an interest in growing some plants just needs the basics: tools for digging, cultivating, cutting, and watering.

When it comes to digging tools, make sure you have those that accommodate the types of plants being put into the ground. If you’re planning to add a few potted flowers into the soil, make sure you go with a hand trowel or shovel. But if you’re planning to add a bush or similarly large plant, such garden tools are too small, and a larger shovel is necessary.

In some cases, soil may not be ready for planting: the dirt has too many rocks, it’s too dense, or it needs some fertilizer.

In order for the ground to be ready for planting, have a cultivating tool. Although a shovel or trowel can sometimes be used to break apart dense or rocky soil, neither is helpful when it comes to adding fertilizer. As you prepare to plant, make sure you have a cultivating tool of an appropriate size.

Once the plants are in the ground, they will need to be watered on occasion. Otherwise, the soil will dry up – and so will your flowers and bushes. In most cases, a hose is acceptable for watering plants, but for smaller plots, a watering can may suffice.

Plants, especially larger bushes, need maintenance over time. Leaves or branches may need to be cut, and in order for your plants to stay in good condition, have the appropriate cutting tools available. Pruners, loppers, and shears are the most common but vary with the plants being cut. For flowers or smaller leafing plants, stick with shears. If smaller branches need to be trimmed or cut off, make sure a pair of pruners is available. If larger branches – those measuring an inch or greater in diameter – need to be cut, have a pair of loppers on hand.

Garden edging serves more than one purpose. The typical reason that it is used is to create a boundary between the lawn and the garden. This greatly enhances the appearance of the area and makes it look neat and tidy. Another reason that edging is practical is to keep the grass from spreading into the garden and keep mulch or bedding in the garden.

Garden edging is usually one of the last things to be done after building a garden or remodeling a landscape. It gives the area a feeling of being finished rather than a work-in-progress.

Before you begin to, actually, install your garden edging you need to decide exactly where you want it to go. If your border is going to have straight lines you can use a string line to keep it straight. Although, if you want your border to be curved a string line doesnt work the best. For a curved border, a garden hose works well to lay out your design before you start placing your edging. Bend the hose until you have the pattern you desire.

Next, take a can of spray paint and run a stripe just inside the hose so you can remove the hose from your work area. If you are going to dig up the whole area you can use the painted line as a guide to know where to start and stop digging. If you are just going to use garden edging around an existing area you now have a template to use.

If you are just going to use garden edging that is vertical and stands in the ground you can now take a shovel and dig a small trench around the edge of your painted line. This is where you will place your garden edging before putting dirt back in on both sides.

If you are going to use concrete or a block style garden edging you will need to make your trench slightly wider than the width of the edging you are using. It is good practice to add an inch or two of sand to the bottom of your hole to set your pavers on. Dont forget that they will settle over time so it is ok if it sticks up above ground level.

Creating a beautiful garden and adding curb appeal to your home can be done in many ways. One of these ways is to use garden edging. This edging comes in many shapes, sizes, and prices so use your imagination and have fun.

If you are an avid gardener you may have found yourself replacing your tools year after year; and if you are a novice gardener you may want to know how you should store your tools to ensure that they are protected and last you for years to come. By properly cleaning and storing your garden tools after each use you will ensure that the tools retain their usefulness and beauty.

After a day of gardening the first thing that you will want to do is wipe any excess dirt off of each tool with a dry cloth to make the cleansing process simpler. Next you can let the tools soak in water to remove any caked on dirt, it is important to dry the tools immediately after soaking and wiping them off to ensure that they do not rust. After the tools are completely dry you can rub each tool with a light coat of oil to prevent rust. If you are unsure of what type of oil to use to coat your garden tools you should consult with your gardening retailer.

If you know that you have been working on diseased plants or plants with garden pests then you will want to take a different cleaning route before moving on to the next healthy plant.

Instead of simply soaking the tools in water you should mix three parts water and one part household bleach to ensure that all of the disease is eradicated. After these tools are done soaking in your water and bleach mixture it is important to dry them and oil them as you would with any other gardening tool.

And finally at the end of the day you can store them in your garage, gardening shed, or any other covered area. It is important not to leave your gardening tools out in the open in case it rains which could ultimately lead to rust. It is a good idea that each of your gardening tools has its own place in your garage or shed; this is not required but it will make your gardening a great deal easier as you won’t have to spend time searching for your tools.

By properly cleaning and storing your garden tools you are ensuring that your tools will last you for years to come and bring you a happy and healthy garden.

If you have already achieved success in growing lavenders then you can continue retaining their health and bloom by timely lavender pruning. Moreover, you can enjoy the fruit of your yield if you know when and how to harvest lavender.

Benefits of lavender pruning

Lavender pruning is important if you wish to retain the haealth and growth of your lavender. Once the branches get slashed during pruning the internal energy produced within the plant gets solely transferred to the stronger branches. Thus, they are able to absorb nutrients better and produce better blooms and foliage as a consequence. Regular lavender pruning is also vital to prevent unruly growth of the stems. Moreover, when you prune your plant you ensure that each of its parts gets sufficient sunlight.

This is because the new stems do not remain clustered over the older ones.

When to prune lavender

It is always better to start lavender pruning when the plant is tender as they respond better by means of faster growth. Pruning tender plant is recommended even if you wish to prevent your lavender from becoming woody. Regular lavender pruning is best right after it has blossomed. It is best to continue lavender pruning at regular intervals all through the summer until it is mid spring. This way you will also protect your plant from accumulation of frost on its boughs. Air circulation throughout the pruned plant will be the greatest obstacle for front deposition. But stay away from hard pruning unless it is spring or else your lavender will flower late.

Method of pruning

The technique of lavender pruning is based on the type of the plant you have.

For instance, Stoechas, Angustifolia and Intermedia are varieties that demand pruning of 1/3rd to ½” only. Likewise, Dentate Dentate and Dentate Candicans require pruning only when the plants get too clumsy. Generally, lavender pruning should be done only when the plant becomes matured and its stems start getting woody. But always remember to slash back from the part where new growth is visible. Cutting the stems from the woody section can even kill your lavender.

Tools needed for pruning lavender

You can use sharp gardening scissors to trim the thin branches of lavender. But if your plant has become quite big and you need to reshape it then you can also go for electric or battery operated hedge trimming device too.

Cutting lavender for harvesting

Before harvesting you need to decide first what will be its end use. In case if you want fresh lavender bouquet then harvest your plant when half of the buds of each branch have blossomed and the remaining half is yet to bloom. But for dry floral arrangement insist upon slashing the branches when one third of the buds have bloomed.

Taking care of lavender after harvesting

If you love your lavender then taking care of its health after harvesting is also important. So, choose a dry sunny day for harvesting lavender. Never choose a wet and dewy climate for your work as it can make the flowers turn brown and fall off the stems. But extremely hot and sunny day is not ideal either. Your flowers will yield less of essential oil as strong sunrays dry up the oil for that day.

Harvesting lavender is extremely easy. It does not require any skill at all. Rather, you can follow DIY tricks and master the job. Once you properly learn how to harvest lavender you can use the dried flowers for various purposes. You can use them for pot pourri arrangements, herbal tea infusion or as condiments in culinary items too.

The main benefits of using garden tool storage buildings include the fact that you can keep your lawnmowers, hedge trimmers and gardening tools away from the elements, secure from theft and out of reach from children and pets. Depending upon the type of garden machinery and tools you want storage for you will need to work out what size and type of garden building you will need in order to cover and secure it.

Wooden Sheds, Tool Storage & Larger Solutions

For the average home-owner who may only have a small collection of garden tools such as forks, spades, hoes and maybe some weed-killer and other garden chemicals, a small wooden shed is an ideal storage solution. If however you have a large garden or you are responsible for the maintenance of a large garden for stately home and need to store much large items of garden machinery you will need a larger garden tool storage solution.

There are a number of large storage buildings available on the market from metal sheds to buildings the size of small garages, although if you are particular about how a building sits within your garden and want something which will blend in, a bespoke garden shed is more than likely your best option.

You can custom build a shed to your exacting requirements with a certain number of windows which are positioned in certain walls as to gain the most natural light and choose whether to have single or double doors which is an important option when you consider what you may need to get through it such as a lawn-mower, etc.

Water-proof Garden Storage

The great benefit of a sturdy garden tool storage building to house your tools is the fact that it keeps your tools dry and away from the elements as there is nothing worse than loosing tools to rust and mould. In addition a garden storage building or shed gives you a perfect working space if you have a hobby such as model making or motor-bicycle restoration then having a water-proof building in your garden is the ideal place for you to concentrate and escape good old British weather.

Garden Storage Security

There are a number of garden tool storage security options available on the market today, ranging from low budget padlocks, and simple security systems up to security alarms with motion sensors and halogen bulbs which flick on to alert the house-holder. Of course having motion sensors with external lighting is useful for the home-owner who uses the storage building in the evenings and early morning anyway, but being lit up can deter burglars from trying to break-in even if the house-holder is out.