Fine Gardening

Archive for September, 2009

More and more devoted gardeners are now veering away from conventional fine gardening techniques and switching to organic gardening to care for their gardens. The reason is simple: organic gardening works in a wonderful manner as the gardeners eschew the synthetic chemicals and their yards free from potential hazards. This form of fine gardening aims at the core of the very word – soil. As we know that soil is the most essential component to give life to a garden; if enriched with organic matter, it becomes fertile, airy and produces healthy crop.

Despite the popularity and the growing trend in the shift towards organic gardening over the past few years, this is actually not something new. Organic gardening and organic farming has long been the method used by farmers and gardeners throughout the centuries to keep their crops and gardens healthy and beautiful which acts like a sanctuary for them to collect their thoughts and hold parties in. Organic gardening helps the plants to absorb the different nutrients found in the soil and in the air through different techniques such the regular loosening up of the soil to allow the roots to absorb air and the incorporation of compost made from organic products such as manure and dried leaves into the soil to further increase the amount of nutrients that the plants absorb to help them bloom and bear crops.

With the onset of the Industrial Revolution, societies have a penchant for fast and instant results. Not only did this apply to the production of crops, but also in the tending of their gardens in order for them to have more time to do many more things. The introduction of chemical pesticides and fertilizers caused organic gardening and farming to temporarily take a back seat. The chemicals utilized in these fertilizers and pesticides have been found not only to keep the plants more healthy but allow them to produce higher quantities of crops as compared to organic gardening and farming.

There are a number of reasons why organic gardening has now gotten back into the limelight. First is the quality of the produce. Although conventional gardening does yield more crops for gardeners to sell and make some extra profit out of it, the quality of the products is far inferior. Many of those that have sampled the produce resulting from organic gardening and farming find the crops have more flavor, further heightening the quality of the dishes that are made using the produce coming from organic gardening and farming.

Another reason involves the health of the gardener and their families. While chemical pesticides and fertilizers do enhance the health and growth on the plants, the reverse is actually seen in the health of people. Many of these chemical pesticides and fertilizers have been recently linked to a variety of different cancers and other ailments. Although this is absorbed by the body in extremely small quantities, over time inhaling these chemicals and ingesting them through food can affect one’s health in the long run.

A great-looking garden always begins with a great garden design conceptualized by the gardener. There are a number of different garden designs to choose from to fit both large and small garden spaces. A popular garden design choice is the Japanese garden design. One reason why this is extremely popular is because there are actually two different Japanese garden designs to choose from. The first is the Zen garden design, which is ideal for people who are living in arid, dry and desert places since this particular design does not require that much water. In fact, the Zen garden design is mostly comprised of rocks and sand. The second, and more popular, type is the conventional Japanese garden design that you would often find in magazines and famous landmarks not just in Japan, but in most parts of the world.

Regardless of the type of Japanese garden design that you would choose for your home, there are a number of things that you would need to first take into consideration before undertaking the entire project. So, primarily you need to take a walk around your garden and measure out the area. Many people who are trying to design their gardens for the very first time would often have a great garden design in their minds, only to find themselves being so frustrated about the fact that there is just not enough space to allow them to create it. By measuring out your garden space, you can then create a small scale drawing in order to help you design your Japanese garden to make sure that the end result is exactly what you had envisaged.

One of the main points is the element of time and space or “emptiness” that is seen in the garden based on this theme. This element called as “ma” denotes the fact that without nothing you cannot have anything. Yet another element of time and space is the concept of wabi and sabi.

To get a better idea and understanding on Japanese garden designs, you can also check gardening magazines and different articles on the Internet for more information. These articles would often have pictures of how a typical Japanese garden design should look like. It would also provide you additional pointers such as the types of plants that are usually included in this particular garden design and how to position this in different parts of your garden. The patterns of the gardens are based on philosophies and principles that have been prized by the Japanese for many centuries. Each particular element that goes into the garden design has a specific significance so that it evokes a sense of balance, tranquility and harmony, for which Japanese gardens are known for.

You can also check the Internet for different Japanese gardens within your city. Most of the major cities in the across the world have parks that have been styled following the classic garden designs of Japan origin.

One of the best things about planting a container garden is that you not only get to pick the type of flowers and plants you will be growing, but you can decorate the container as well. This gives you a chance to really show off your artistic side and put your distinctive touch on your container garden.

As you think about the types of containers you want in your container garden, you have to first acknowledge a few practical concerns. Make sure your container is large enough to hold the plants you want to put in it. Think about how often you intend to move your container and judge its weight accordingly. Also, make sure the plants in your container garden have adequate drainage. If your containers don’t come with pre-drilled holes, put down a layer of gravel before your potting soil.

The pots in your container garden can come in a wide variety of materials. Terracotta, a red clay with a Mediterranean feel, is very popular and comes in wide variety of shapes and sizes. Stone, marble, or cast iron are classic options, but they are both heavy and expensive. You can mimic these looks with cast stone or even high quality fiberglass or polyurethane pieces. Some people opt for a simple plastic container but then cover it in a bamboo or other natural fiber casing.

Once you have chosen the size, shape, and material for the pots in your container garden, it’s time to get creative. The best way to jazz up your containers is with paint. It is durable and won’t damage your plants. Depending on the location of your container garden, your paint job could be as simple as a single bright-colored stripe along the rim of the pot. This creates a nice effect if your container garden consists of multiple terracotta pots that each sports a different color of stripe. Simple geometric shapes can also be an effective decoration.

If want to invest the time, consider treating your pots with a patina finish. Using patina can make a new pot look like an antique, or disguise a simple plastic container as an aging copper showpiece. At its most basic level, patina finishing is accomplished by sponging or brushing layers of paint over your container. Different color combination’s create different finishing. However, if you are thinking of going the patina route for your container garden, you should do some more research into the technique.

Though not as long-lasting as paint, you can also decorate your containers by attaching additional materials. You might tie on a bow, but know that it will only last for one season. You can also consider gluing on bas-relief carvings and then painting over the entire pot to create a stunning Victorian look for your container garden.