Eight Herbs that Busy People Can Plant in Containers

Herbs are a great addition for every house and for every cook. Fresh herbs are fragrant, tasty and healthy. Fresh herbs hold many more essential nutrients than many vegetables and are also easy to grow. If you think that you might not have the time to grow herbs, think again.

The most commonly used herbs in cooking are also easy to grow. You can just plant them in a container, keep them in a sunny and warm spot and water them regularly and you will end up with fragrant lush green herbs. Growing herbs can be as easy as one-two-three and there are also a variety of easy set up kits that makes it even possible for busy people to grow herbs.

There are herbs that can be planted and used for cooking or just as an ornament by everybody. These herbs include parsley, chives, rosemary, basil, dill, thymes, lavender and sweet marjoram.

Many recipes call for these herbs and once they reach there full grown height you can harvest and prune these herbs all season long.

All of these herbs can be sprouted from seeds in either the pot you want to grow them in or in special peat pellets and starter soil. Garden centers also sell little plastic greenhouses to make your seed sprout faster and guarantee a young plant within a certain amount of time, as long as you water the seeds regularly. When planning on planting any of these eight herbs into containers, make sure that you use good soil. Besides a good soil, regular water and some feed here and there these herbs are very easy to grow and do not need much maintenance and are therefore perfect herbs even for busy people to grow.

These herbs can also be bought with a growing kit. The kit will generally hold everything you need to start the seeds and sprout the plants. This kit usually includes a small plastic greenhouse like container, peat pellets, the seeds for the different herbs included in the package as well as step-by-step directions. To follow the directions and grew herbs with these kits is so easy, that even your children can succeed.

Just as easy as the herb seed kit to grow is the garden in a bag. Gardens in a bag have everything you need already in the bag and the bag can be used as a container for the plants. The bag will have a soil and fertilizer mixture as well as the seeds already in the soil. Just add water and within a short amount of time your herbs will start growing. The herbs than can be kept in the bag and there is not need for buying pots or other containers to grow the herbs. These bags can sit on the counter or hung from certain spots almost like a hanging garden or basket.

If you do not have the time to wait for the seeds to sprout and the plants to grow, there is always the possibility for busy people to buy the fully grown plant at your local garden center. Even supermarkets nowadays offer certain herbs such as Parsley, Chives and basil as a fresh plant in their fresh produce section. Recently there actually appeared a hydroponics version of basil on the market that can be grown in water and does not need to be transferred into soil for weeks.

Therefore, it does not matter how busy you are, you should be able to grow one or more of these eight easy to grow herbs in containers for your everyday joy and cooking.

Easy Vegetable Garden Growing for Condo or Apartment Living

Are you living the city life, but sometimes wish you had room for a good old-fashioned vegetable garden? Take heart—there are many city dweller who appreciate the work and bounty of vegetable gardening. Who said that apartment living should automatically exclude you from the pleasures of vegetable gardening? Here are a few ideas for successful and easy vegetable garden growing for condo or apartment living.

Container Gardening – Discover the Joys of Growing Your Own Vegetables

Container gardening has opened up a new world of vegetable gardening. No matter what kind of space you are living in, chances are that you can grow your own vegetables. Begin by scouting out the perfect location in your apartment or condo for a vegetable garden. Do you have a sunny patio? How about a roomy (or not so roomy) deck? These are prime locations for your vegetable garden. Other viable locations include a sunny spot near a window, a front porch, a rooftop and a fire escape. The location you choose should get several hours of sun each day, and you should ideally have enough room to move around the perimeter of the garden. That is, you don’t want to plant where you won’t have easy access to all of the vegetables. Make it easy on yourself and choose a spot that makes for easy watering. If you choose a difficult to reach location and it becomes a pain or inconvenience to water the garden, there is a greater chance that you will abandon the project. The easier it is for you to garden, the more likely that you will have fun doing it and that you will lend your garden with enough attention to succeed even in the most trying environment.

Choosing the What to Grow in Your Container Vegetable Garden

One of the most difficult things about starting a container vegetable garden is that it can be confusing to decide what you will be growing. There are so many different varieties of fruits and vegetables, including an ever-growing assortment of tempting and charming-sounding heirloom seeds that it can send even the most determined gardener into a dizzy spell. First, decide what it is that you like to eat. Don’t grow tomatoes just because you’ve heard it’s easy. Grow tomatoes because you love to eat tomatoes and you can use them in a variety of dishes. Basically, you want to grow something that you want to eat, not what you think you should be growing. With care and determination, chances are that you will be able to grow whatever you truly enjoy eating. Also, of course, you want to keep in mind your climate and region. What grows best in your area? If you are not sure, visit your local nursery and ask about vegetables that thrive in containers. Pick a vegetable that is known to thrive in your conditions. If you know that your container will probably receive excessive sun, or perhaps less than average sun, keep these things in mind when you are choosing what to grow.

Start Small and Grow from There

Many first-time gardeners will tend to get overwhelmed by the selection and gardening accessories that are featured at local nurseries, and they tend to go overboard. Your best bet in establishing a successful apartment or condo container garden is to start small. Choose one or two favorite vegetables and start from there. If your initial enthusiasm for a homegrown apartment garden does not wane and you seem to be achieving good results in your location, add more vegetables to your growing repertoire. Also, only grow as much as you can eat. If you do end up with a bounty, give extra fruits and vegetables to friends, family and neighbors.

Easy Strawberry Pot Fountain Idea for your Patio Garden Area

This is an easy garden project that can lend your yard with charm and the soothing sound of water. A strawberry pot foundation is a wonderful way to liven up an otherwise drab patio garden area. Many long-time gardeners swear by the idea that a garden is simply not complete with some kind of water fixture to imbue your garden with a sense of peace and serenity. A strawberry pot fountain, besides providing your garden patio with the soothing sounds of trickling water, also doubles as a lovely birdbath.

Why a Strawberry Pot Fountain?

If you are trying to choose a weekend garden project, why should you opt for a strawberry pot fountain? Why not simply head out to your local nursery and purchase a readymade fountain? There is an undeniable sense of accomplishment in creating your very own water garden fountain. One of the reasons that the strawberry pot fountain has become so popular is that it adds life and motion to an otherwise dull garden. The steady trickling sound of water has been described as soothing and very melodious. With a quiet trickle, you don’t have to worry about splashing or damage to a wooden deck, as you would with more powerful fountains.

The Basic Design of the Strawberry Pot Fountain Garden

The basic design of the strawberry pot fountain garden is simple enough. Use a low terra-cotta bowl to form the base of the fountain. This base will be catching the falling water of the fountain. Use a terra cotta azalea pot that is wider than it is taller. You will invert the terra cotta azalea at the bottom of the bowl, and this will support the strawberry pot. This section will also hide the re-circulating pump. The water is pumped through clear tubing that is contained inside of the strawberry pump. Water will flow through the clear tubing and then pumped through the clear tubing inside of the strawberry pot. The water will gurgle out the top and into a saucer, which will then trickle down lightly over the rim of the saucer and into the low bowl.

The Practicalities of Building a Strawberry Fountain Pot

Here are some of the practicalities of building your very own strawberry fountain pot. This time estimate for completing this project is about four hours, but you will also need to let the fountain pot dry for at least two days. The cost of making a strawberry fountain pot is roughly $225. As for tools, you should have handy a paintbrush, a bucket, a sharp pair of shears, a round file and various-sized masonry and drill bits. The basic parts of a strawberry pot fountain are a tapered terra cotta bowl that is about 24 inches wide and 8 inches deep, a terra cotta strawberry pot that is 14 inches wide and about 13 inches in height, a terra cotta azalea pot that is 10 inches wide and 7 inches deep, a terra cotta saucer that is 9 inches wide so that it can sit comfortably on top of your strawberry pot, a plastic saucer, a pump with a flow that is adjustable to two feet, a bag of river rock, clear vinyl tubing, a brass pipe thread adapter, a female brass bell reducer, a brass close nipple, terra cotta vinyl sealer, a waterproof adhesive, silicone sealer and roughly six one-gallon water plants.

Basic Steps for Putting Together Your Strawberry Pot Fountain

Begin by sealing the terra cotta pots, allowing them to dry for at least 24 hours. Drill holes and file down the silt, and then install the brass fittings. Install the saucers and apply some waterproof adhesive to the bottom edge of the plastic saucer. Once you have put together the brass fittings, it is time to assemble all the pieces of your fountain, add the plants and the water.

Easy Money Saving Gardening Ideas for Pests and General Maintenance

Although you may be tempted to reach for that broad-spectrum insecticide in order to blow away every pest in sight, you should resist this urge. There are many easy and money saving gardening ideas that can help you control your pest population and provide general maintenance in a way that is safe and effective. Here are some easy ways to control garden pests while saving money by using regular household items and good overall common sense when providing your garden with general maintenance.

Why You Should Avoid Most Commercial Pesticides

Before you decide to start using commercial pesticides around your garden, take a moment to decide if your garden pests are hurting the plant. Why should you consider leaving a few insect populations intact? Insects and other pests are often necessary in order to create a healthy garden. Insects are often responsible for creating organic material, which means that many pests are actually helping enrich your soil matter. It is estimated that of the thousands of insect species in your area, only about three to five percent of these are actually causing the majority of the damage to your flowers, ornamentals or food crops. The crucial thing is to determine which insects are causing problems, and which are just helping to enrich your garden.

Identifying Your Pest Population

The first thing you have to do is identify your pest population. The last thing you want to do is spray away all of your beneficial insect population. This will only put your garden under more stress and possibly incite further damage. Many people who spot an insect in their garden will spray indiscriminately. In most cases, this is a mistake. Here are some tips on easy and safe ways to control specific insect populations that are making their home in your garden.

Controlling Ants – A Common Pest in Many Gardens

Here are some ideas for controlling ant populations in your garden. Vinegar has been known to keep ants away. Pour vinegar into the anthill in order to control the ant population. Another easy way to control anthills is to use boiling water to tame your ant population. There are certain plants that are also known to control ant populations, including mints, onions, Artemisia, tansy, catnip and lavender.

Beetles in Your Garden – Controlling Plant Damage

Beetles have been known to cause plant damage, and they are often known as leaf-chewing insects. There are many plants that you can use to repel beetles. Plant beans, catnip, tansy, calendula, rosemary, nasturtiums, radishes, parsley and petunias in order to keep beetle populations in check in your garden.

Caterpillars Got You Down? Easy Ways to Keep Them in Check

Caterpillars have been known to cause damage, especially larger caterpillars. If you love butterflies, you may not want to get rid of all caterpillars. However, if you find that they have caused significant damage to your plants, here are some ways to keep caterpillars in check. There are certain plants that are known to repel caterpillars, including mints, Artemisia, marigold, basil, calendula, bay leaves, borage, thyme, nasturtiums, onions, tansy, pennyroyal, sage and rosemary.

When Birds Become Pests

Most gardeners enjoy a healthy bird population in their yard, but there are instances when birds can become pests. Many birds are known to pick fruit trees clean. Here are some tips to keep birds from ruining your fruit harvest. Use reflective material like tinfoil or cassette tape across treetops and plants. Hang fake fruit or Christmas tree ornaments on your fruit trees to train birds that pecking is futile. Finally, there are several commercial nets available at nurseries that are designed specifically to keep birds off fruit.

Easy Gardening While Short on Space and Time

Do you wish you want to establish your own garden, but you simply do not have the space? If so, don’t give up. With a little creativity, you will find that there are many ways to establish a fine garden without the use of much space. When space is short, let your ingenuity take over. Here are some ideas for saving space and time while still being able to establish your own garden to enjoy and share.

Using Decorative Containers to Create Your Own Garden Oasis

Who said that a proper garden should always be big and expansive? The truth is that you can create your own garden oasis with just a few strategically placed gardening planters. If you are an apartment dweller with no yard to speak of, take heed. There are many easy ways to establish a garden oasis without a yard. If you have access to patio, fire escape or rooftop, you are well on your way to your own version of gardening paradise. Choose colorful (depending on your taste and environment) and decorative planters. Choose a variety of planter sizes, from very small herb-sized containers to large gallon planters. Choose hardy perennial plants that do not need to be cared for on a daily basis. Container gardening is a boon to gardeners that are short on space because you can move your garden around to your liking, and create a unique garden design.

Choosing the Best Plants if you are Short on Space and Time

One of the easiest ways to establish a space- and time-saving garden is to choose the right plants from the very start. What are the right plants for a space- and time-saving garden? Ideally, you will want small plants that do not require an excessive amount of water, sun, pruning or any kind of daily care. Consider a cactus garden made up of many different varieties, colors, textures and blooms. Many cacti do well in container gardens, and typically they do not need extended care. Simply make sure that they are well established in their respective containers and place in a sunny location. There is an incredible amount of diversity in cacti, and you will surely appreciate the color and texture that this kind of garden can provide your home with. Choose hardy perennials to accent your cactus garden.

Look Up – Hanging Planters Saves You Space

Look up—what do you see? One of the best ways to save space is to take advantage of hanging planters. Hanging planters are easy to install. You can choose from a variety of planter designs and sizes. No matter where you live—apartment, condo or small house—chances are that you can find space for a hanging planter. These add a lively decorative touch to your patio, backyard or even in a sunny indoor location. There are many hardy perennials that do well in this environment. Choose easy to care for plants so that you don’t have to worry about a daily watering schedule. Invest in a watering can designed for planter watering so that when it does come time to water, it is a quick and efficient process.

Raised Beds Give You Space to Grow Fruits and Flowers

If you are working with limited space or poor soil, consider building or installing a raised bed. Raised beds come in all sizes and it is an easy way to control the plant environment. You can build a raised bed to your space specifications, and plant a variety of plants and flowers in a single bed. With your own raised garden bed, you can even grow your very own vegetables!

Easy Garden Tool Maintenance Tips for Busy People

Do you love to garden, but simply don’t have the time for tool maintenance? Here are some tips that will help you keep your tools ready for gardening without taking up a lot of your time. These simple tips can help keep your tools viable for years to come.

For Larger Gardens, Keep Two Tools Handy

If you have a large yard or garden space, but not a lot of time to maintain your garden tools, the easiest way to ensure that you always have the tools you need at your disposal is to keep two of every major tool in your garden shed. Rather than relying on one favorite shovel, invest in a second shovel to keep in your tool shed. That way, if one shovel should go dull, you will always have a second one ready for use at a moments notice. Don’t let a dull shovel keep you from gardening when you have time. You may also want to keep several hand tools at your disposal.

Cover the Pipes in Cold Weather

This is an easy maintenance tip that can save your watering hose and pipes during cold weather. Keep thick protective covering on hand that you can use to wrap around your pipes during cold weather. This easy step can save you money and time on damaged pipes.

Schedule a Tool Sharpening Expedition

Many people find tool maintenance time-consuming because it seems like a tool goes dull at just the wrong moment. Sporadic repairs are time-consuming and annoying. Avoid this by scheduling a tool sharpening expedition. Take one afternoon to gather all of your tools and take them to your local tool repair or home repair shop for a thorough sharpening. Simply scheduling a tool sharpening expedition once or twice yearly will keep your tools in fine shape and ready for use at a moments notice. Gather your spade, hoe, shovel, pruning tools, garden scissors, hand tools and other gardening tools and drop them off at your local hardware store for a thorough tool sharpening.

Prevent Tool Damage By Taking a Few Easy Precautions

There are many small precautions that you can take that will prevent tool damage. These precautions should only take a few minutes out of your gardening schedule. First, protect garden tools from extreme temperature. Although this may not occur to you, exposure to excessive sunlight, rain or cold temperatures can drastically reduce the efficacy of your tools. This is where storage comes into play. If you have a tool shed, garden shed or other protective outdoor area, make sure that you gather your tools after a gardening session and store them away. This simple act can dramatically increase the longevity and efficacy of your tools. Get in the habit of putting things away, and your tools will suffer much less wear.

Keep Your Lawn Mower Properly Stored

If you are like most people who keep a green lawn, you probably have some kind of lawn mower stored away. Lawn mowers often represent the most expensive yard maintenance tools that you have. Avoid damaging your lawn mower by keeping it stored improperly. Improper storage can cut years off the life of your lawn mover. Protect your investment by keeping your lawn mower properly covered at all times. Invest in a strong, plastic lawn mower cover. Better yet, store the lawn mower in a shed or other covered location, whenever possible. Also, keeping your lawn mower cutters properly sharpened can also help increase its longevity and efficiency. Set a schedule for having the cutters sharpened at least once a year, depending on the size of your lawn and use.

Easy Exercise Tips to Avoid Garden Injuries

Gardening is a healthy and fun hobby that can help you stay in good shape. However, gardening can also be hard on the body, especially on the knees and lower back. Here are some easy exercise tips that can help you avoid garden injuries.

Stretch Before a Long Garden Session

If you are planning a long day in the garden, prepare your body by stretching properly. Just as you might stretch before a long walk or run, gardening often consists of several repeated movements, causing your muscles to become strained or even causing injury. Any experienced gardener knows that a long day in the garden is often followed by a few aches and muscle soreness the following day. Avoid this by making certain that you stretch your body, paying special attention to your legs and lower back. Make certain that your muscles are properly ‘warmed up’ before you hit the garden.

Stretches to Keep Your Body Flexible and Injury-Free

Here are some tips on stretching to keep your body flexible and injury-free during your gardening session. Do a sun stretch by interlocking your fingers and stretching your hands over your head in a long comfortable stretch. Warm up your knees for the gardening session ahead by sitting on the ground with your legs stretched out before you. Reach for your toes with your fingertips while keeping your legs straight. Hold the stretch for a few seconds time, and then repeat. Finally, stand up and reach for your toes while keeping your legs straight. Do not strain yourself. Hold the stretch for a few seconds.

Use the Right Kind of Gardening Tools

In recent years, research has brought to attention the importance of using ergonomic tools. Every tool you use should fit well in your hand. If the tool you pick up does not immediately feel comfortable in your grip, chances are that it can cause an injury. When buying garden hand tools, look for those with firm yet flexible rubber grips. Avoid oversized hand tools that do not fit comfortable in your hands. Choose gardening gloves that are thick enough to prevent cuts and pricks from thorns and needles. As for spades, shovels and other larger gardening tools, make sure that wooden handles are smooth and free from splinters. Even if you have a favorite spade, hoe or shovel, if it has a rough handle, put it aside until the handle can be replaced or smoothed down. Splinters are painful and can cause infection.

Avoid Knee Troubles By Using a Garden Cushion

Gardening accessories and tools are now being designed with the gardener’s comfort in mind. Many gardeners suffer from knee injuries from remaining kneeled on the hard ground for long stretches of time. Avoid this by using a handy garden knee cushion. If you plan on working on the same bed or space of land for an extended period of time, these inexpensive garden cushions can be a comfortable way to save your knees.

Vary Your Body Motions and Take Plenty of Breaks

One of the easiest ways to avoid knee and back problems while gardening is to make sure that you are varying your body movements and taking plenty of breaks. It may seem like common sense, but it can be very easy to become involved in a garden project and forget to take breaks and stretch. Do not ignore aches. As soon as you feel your legs, knees, back or other area begin to ache, take a break and change position. Instead of working on one long involved garden project, vary your tasks so that you are frequently moving.

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