GARDEN CENTRES IN KENT

Posted on December 13, 2011 by gardenkent

Garden centres in Kent gives you all the information you need to find that plant or shrub for you garden or house.

Many Gardens in Kent incorporate an extensive outdoor plant area where you will find both annual and perannual plants ready for you to enhance your garden throughout the year.

There are many specialists garden centres in Kent where advice and information will be readily available from gardening experts Make full use of their knowledge and experience to ensure that your garden plants have the best oppertunity to flourish and give you the greatest pleasure.

GARDEN CENTRES IN KENT:-

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Encourage wildlife into your garden!

Posted on December 31, 2011 by gardenkent

Encourage wildlife into your garden!

Article by Toni Jux

Preserving the environment is an important element of gardening. One way gardeners can get to grips with the ecological as well as the aesthetic value of their plots is by catering to the needs of their local wildlife. Creating an eco friendly garden provides a refuge for many critically endangered insects and birds, whilst also offering families a valuable opportunity to spend time together.

A garden ecosystem requires diligence and ambition and it won’t flourish overnight. During the winter, however, it’s entirely plausible and now in autumn is the ideal time for planting those seeds to see results next year!Whether you’re an avid green thumb or just the occasional gardener, below is a basic guide on how you can attract wildlife into your garden, get the kids involved and provide shelter for bugs and animals.

Getting started

Hedera helix is a good starting point. The common English ivy is easy to grow and quickly lays a durable green foundation to flat surfaces, covering unsightly new, orange fences and softening dominating outbuildings. The evergreen ivy will attract and protect insects and a variety of plants that will bear fruit in the spring which will entice blackbirds and thrushes. The tiny Jenny Wren also likes to nest among the ivy’s network of branching stems. Natural hedgerows house and sustain a myriad of different insects as well. You can replicate them by providing boundaries to your garden- an early incentive for autumn starlings!

Here are a few plant suggestions to introduce into your garden:

* Hazel – if you’re lucky the squirrels will leave some nuts for you!

* Rosa rugosa, or Japanese Rose, is both hardy and gorgeous, giving pink-purple blooms in March with which to encourage early bumble bees, followed by large juicy hips for the birds

* Hawthorn – pretty blossom in the spring followed by red berries in summer

* Viburnum opulus – large flower heads in spring followed again by clusters of tasty red berries for the birds

Attracting wildlife

Most plants that produce edible berries will encourage birds into your garden, but you can also grow much more ornamental specimens such as Callicarpa, which has unusual, polished-looking purple berries. Another option is the evergreen Pyracantha, which can have yellow, orange or red berries and is also very prickly so can be good in protecting your garden boundaries.

Other forms of wildlife can be attracted in different ways. The shrub Hebe, or ‘Great Orme’, is also evergreen and has attractive pink flowers which release a scent in the evening attracting moths. Moths are also an important food source for bats, so you’re not just supporting the moth population, but the bats too. Verbena bonariensis has the same effect and both this and the Hebe are also a magnet for bees and butterflies during the day.

The aptly called ‘Butterfly Bush’, or Buddleia, is very easy to grow and very nectar rich. On a warm summer’s day it will be covered in butterflies.

The bumblebee is having a particularly hard time surviving at the moment so it is crucial that we do our bit to ensure its survival. When we think of the bees our main thought is honey, however bees effectively act as farm staff without wages! Alfalfa, one of the world’s essential cattle foods, is 90% dependant on the cross pollination by bees, not to mention many of our domestic produce like soft fruits, runner beans, carrots, cabbages and cauliflower. Bees love Lavender, Ceanothus and Cistus – all very simple to look after and make colourful additions to any sunny garden.

Get the kids involved

If you have children, they too can help you plant and maintain your garden. To manage their eagerness to see fast results, sow some plants they can see grow from seed to flower in a season.Nasturtiums grow really quickly from seed which are big enough for children to handle easily. They make a colourful and low maintenance addition to any temperate garden, as they are self sustaining and their petals make a spicy addition to summer salads. The Cabbage White Butterfly loves to lay its eggs on the undersides of the leaves and your children can watch the wriggly caterpillars hatch from them!Another speedy grower is the Sunflower, shooting up to dizzy heights in a single season. Leave the smiley seed heads on after the flower has faded to provide a feast for the local birds.

The Poached Egg Flower, or Limnanthes, is another easy one for children to grow and it will be covered in bees all summer.

Create homes for wildlife

There are also plenty of DIY tactics you can use to attract animals, birds and insects.

A bee box is a great start and requires only a pair of two by four planks cut to a rectangular frame and a dozen bamboo canes cut to half inch tubes. Cut another plank as the backing to the box and tilt the tray backward to pack the space with the bamboo tubes, discarding any that are malformed. It is best to use untreated timber and dot larger tubes among the smaller to accentuate the box’s aesthetic appeal.

A nesting box for small birds is a similarly easy project, but make sure you mount it on the shady side of a tree or structure so that the chicks don’t get too hot!

Arranging a log pile will attract the local stag beetles. It’s best to place these some distance from seating and play areas as they can also attract the Devil’s Coach Horse – a large beetle which emits a foul-smelling fluid from both ends when threatened and also capable of delivering a painful bite! The size and proximity of the individual logs is inconsequential so you can position them in whatever style suits your creative talents.

Hedgehogs will also be attracted to a log pile. Introducing earthworms to your garden will provide the hedgehogs with food, whilst also providing natural aeration of the soil. The hedgehogs also eat garden pests such as slugs and snails, so are very valuable guests to have. It may even be possible to adopt a family of hedgehogs- try contacting your local rescue centre for details. However, never feed hedgehogs with bread or milk- they can’t digest them and will make them ill. The presence of hedgehogs is very likely to attract foxes, completing your garden ecosystem- all at the price of a little green work!

The lazy gardener

If the above tactics are too time consuming, a simple way to encourage some wildlife into your garden is to just let a little part of it grow wild. Let the grass grow and see how many native reptiles start to appear, or let the stinging nettles grow and watch insects and butterflies flock into your garden to set up home. Even the lazy gardener can support local wildlife!

Most importantly, get yourself and your children outside and interested. It will feed the whole family’s curiosity and provide a fascination and love of all things green that will stay with you for the rest of your lives.

About the Author

Toni Jux is a regular contributor to Floral and Hardy’s gardening blog where you can learn about garden design, planting and gardening techniques.

Posted in Garden Pests | Tagged Encourage, Garden, Into, wildlife | Leave a comment

Encourage wildlife into your garden!

Posted on December 31, 2011 by gardenkent

Encourage wildlife into your garden!

Article by Toni Jux

Whether you’re an avid green thumb or just the occasional gardener, below is a basic guide on how you can attract wildlife into your garden, get the kids involved and provide shelter for bugs and animals.

Getting started

Natural hedgerows house and sustain a myriad of different insects as well. You can replicate them by providing boundaries to your garden- an early incentive for autumn starlings!

Here are a few plant suggestions to introduce into your garden:

* Hazel – if you’re lucky the squirrels will leave some nuts for you!* Rosa rugosa, or Japanese Rose, is both hardy and gorgeous, giving pink-purple blooms in March with which to encourage early bumble bees, followed by large juicy hips for the birds* Hawthorn – pretty blossom in the spring followed by red berries in summer* Viburnum opulus – large flower heads in spring followed again by clusters of tasty red berries for the birds

Attracting wildlife

The aptly called ‘Butterfly Bush’, or Buddleia, is very easy to grow and very nectar rich. On a warm summer’s day it will be covered in butterflies.

Get the kids involved

If you have children, they too can help you plant and maintain your garden. To manage their eagerness to see fast results, sow some plants they can see grow from seed to flower in a season.

Nasturtiums grow really quickly from seed which are big enough for children to handle easily. They make a colourful and low maintenance addition to any temperate garden, as they are self sustaining and their petals make a spicy addition to summer salads. The Cabbage White Butterfly loves to lay its eggs on the undersides of the leaves and your children can watch the wriggly caterpillars hatch from them!Another speedy grower is the Sunflower, shooting up to dizzy heights in a single season. Leave the smiley seed heads on after the flower has faded to provide a feast for the local birds.

The Poached Egg Flower, or Limnanthes, is another easy one for children to grow and it will be covered in bees all summer.

Create homes for wildlife

There are also plenty of DIY tactics you can use to attract animals, birds and insects.

A nesting box for small birds is a similarly easy project, but make sure you mount it on the shady side of a tree or structure so that the chicks don’t get too hot!

The lazy gardener

About the Author

Toni Jux is a regular contributor to Floral and Hardy’s gardening blog where you can learn about garden design, planting and gardening techniques.

Posted in Garden Pests | Tagged Encourage, Garden, Into, wildlife | Leave a comment

Raised Bed Gardening Considerations

Posted on December 31, 2011 by gardenkent

Raised Bed Gardening Considerations

Article by Ellen Bell

Raised bed gardens, or gardens that are planted in elevated or terraced areas, are very popular in many parts of the world, and have been a tried and true gardening method for centuries. Raised bed gardening systems solve problems like poor soil conditions, bad drainage, and a host of other issues that can make planting difficult. Because much of the world is not blessed with perfect, fertile soil, raised bed gardens are constructed out of necessity.

If you are preparing to construct a garden, and you think that raised beds might meet your needs, there are a number of considerations to take into account before you begin digging. In this article, we’ll explore some of the aspects of raised bed gardening that may play a role in your decision about whether this ancient gardening method is right for you.

Raised beds can be constructed of almost any strong type of material that is readily available in your area. In other parts of the world, raised bed gardens are reinforced with rocks, wood, bamboo, and other materials that are indigenous to various regions. If you decide to use wood, be sure to choose a wood that is not chemically treated, as those chemicals can leak out into the soil over time, poisoning and killing your plants.

Raised beds are ideal in hilly areas. If your planned garden site is on a slope, consider terracing into the hill to form planting areas that are flat on top. Furthermore, raised beds are an excellent solution if your garden is in a low spot or an area that does not drain well. During the construction of the raised bed, you can inlay tile to exit at the lowest point. Midwestern farmers learned generations ago that laying drainage tile in flat fields improves productivity because the soil drains better. Regardless of your elevation, in some raised bed applications, you may need to line the inside of the bed with a sheet of black plastic to prevent the plants from rooting too deeply. In these situations, laying drainage tile is also very important.

Soil type can also influence your decision to construct raised bed gardens. If you live in an area with poor soil, raised beds give gardeners an opportunity to grow plants that otherwise would not thrive in their local soil conditions. Once a raised bed is constructed, you can fill it with whatever soil type you think will be most beneficial to the plants you’ll be growing there. If your plants require a more acidic or alkaline soil, you can also make those adjustments from one elevated area to another.

Climate may be another important consideration. Raised beds do tend to dry out more quickly, and thus will require more frequent watering. However, with raised beds, you can also place your irrigation system in a strategic location to reduce the volume of water needed. If you are in a very rainy climate, the improved drainage provided by raised bed gardens will promote higher productivity and better opportunity for tending of the garden.

There are health benefits to raised bed gardens, too. Because you don’t have to bend and stoop all the way over to the ground, you’ll be putting much less stress and fatigue on your back and joints. Raised beds are also an excellent gardening solution for physically impaired individuals. The height of the raised beds can be designed to correspond to the height of a wheelchair. If you are building with handicap access in mind, be sure to allow enough distance between the raised beds so that a wheelchair can fit through. You also need to insure each elevated section is narrow enough so that the individual can reach all the way into the center of the bed, as necessary. Handicap accessible raised bed gardens can also benefit from brick or stone pathways, which are easier to navigate in a wheelchair.

Lastly, if you have problems with garden pests, such as squirrels, rabbits or deer, raised bed gardens may be a good gardening solution because they can be more difficult for these animals to access. Raised bed gardens can also be easily penned in with netting or fencing to keep unwanted animals out.

Constructing raised bed gardens is no small job. Before beginning, it’s important to take all considerations into account to be sure that this method of gardening is right for you. For many gardeners, raised beds are ideal. For some gardeners who already have good soil and drainage conditions, they are unnecessary. Either way, with a little research and forethought, you’ll make the decision that is best for you and your plants. And if you do decide to construct raised bed gardens in your yard, you will likely enjoy years of gardening success from your efforts.

About the Author

Ellen Bell works for Home Products ‘n’ More, a retail website offering free shipping on all raised gardening bed kits and garden edger kits! Visit us at http://www.homeproductsnmore.com/Landscape_Edging_s/140.htm

Posted in Garden Pests | Tagged Considerations, Gardening, Raised | Leave a comment

What Are The Benefits Of Raised Bed Gardening For You?

Posted on December 31, 2011 by gardenkent

What Are The Benefits Of Raised Bed Gardening For You?

Article by Jeffery Thompson

Making and planting a raised bed vegetable garden can be very beneficial to you and your vegetables. I will discuss building a raised garden bed and the pros and cons of raised bed gardening. After reading this article you should be able to decide if a raised vegetable garden bed is the right solution for you.

Why should you make a raised garden bed? There are several reasons, but two of the main reasons, are that there are poor soil conditions in your area or there is poor water drainage on your property. By making a raised bed for your garden, you are able to put the kind of soil you need for raising the plants you want. Also with a raised bed, the water will drain easily so that your plants will not die with too wet of soil.

When building your raised garden, you want to pick a location that gets full sun. Most vegetables require full sun to grow properly. It would be nice if the area is flat, but you can level your bed by digging in to the landscape on the high areas. You can make your bed out of almost any thing, such as wood, rocks, bricks or cement blocks. Wood is usually the product of choice, because it is easy to work with and less expensive than the other choices.

For best results, make your bed long and narrow, about 3 feet wide, then you can access all your vegetables without stepping on the soil and compacting it. The depth of the raised garden is up to you, but if you want carrot or parsnips, the deeper the better. Twelve inches deep is a great depth for all vegetables.

You can prepare your site in two ways for your raised bed gardening. The easiest way but probably not the best way, is to place several layers of news paper or cardboard down over the existing ground cover. You should mow the sod as low as you can first though.

The other way is to dig out the existing sod and loosen the soil below your garden to a depth of eight to twelve inches. Doing this gives your garden extra depth and good drainage. This is especially important if you are planning on growing the root vegetables such as carrots, parsnips and potatoes.

Construct the frame around your garden. You should now level your bed from all directions. This is very important, because if your bed is not level, the water will run off in some areas of your bed and will sit in other parts of your bed. To level the frame, remove some of the soil beneath the frame in the high areas. Once your frame is set, add your top soil and then you are ready to plant.

If you look at these instructions I have laid out, you will see that there is a lot of work involved. I?ve barely mentioned planting the garden, and the maintenance after planting. Is having a raised vegetable garden bed worth all this work?

Pros of raised bed gardening:

1. If you have poor soil or poor drainage. I have already mentioned this, but you are able to put good soil in the bed that will make your vegetable garden thrive.

2. Your garden areas are easier to access. They can be constructed at almost any height, so if you want very little bending over, construct a bed that is higher. This will reduce fatigue and injury to the back and knees. Also this is perfect for the elderly or disabled gardener that can not reach down to the ground.

4. Raised beds warm faster in the spring compared to ground soil. Your growing season can be prolonged. The soil will be warmer which will promote growth, but you still have to watch frost for the leaves of the plants. Another benefit, it is easy to place a tunnel of clear plastic over the garden bed, making a mini green house, thus prolonging the growing season.

5. Maintenance of a raised garden bed is a lot less. Each spring or fall, it is a good idea to top dress your garden with manure or compost, digging it in to the top two to three inches of the soil. This will help retain moisture and keep weeds down.

6. Fertilizer, compost and manure can be concentrated in the smaller growing area of a raised garden bed, making it possible to space your plants closer together. With plants being grown closer together, this allows the plants to crowd out weeds and shade the soil, reducing evaporation and keeping roots cooler.

7. It is easier to control weeds. Like previously mentioned, you can grow your plants closer together, but also it is easy to use plastic mulch because the width of the bed can be spanned by one roll.

8. Dead leaves and other garden debris is easier to clean up.

9. It is harder for rabbits, moles and other garden pests to access your plants.

10. Less chance of soil erosion.

11. As long as you make your beds deep enough, they are perfect for carrots and other root vegetables because the deeper soil is not compacted.

12. Elevated planting areas can be constructed on small decks or patio?s. You can grow vegetables, herbs, or flowers any where.

Cons of raised bed gardening:

1. Difficult to till, so the digging has to be done by hand. Though I have pointed out, there will be little traffic on your garden beds, so little digging is required.

2. The cost of construction is much more. Though that cost will be reduced in the maintenance of the bed, plus you will have a better vegetable harvest.

3. The edges or borders must be well reinforced during construction, or the beds will break down over time.

4. When constructing your raised garden bed, you want to remember that you should not use treated lumber or railroad ties. The chemicals will leak out and contaminate the soil. It is probably not enough to kill the plants, but may expose you to unnecessary chemicals.

I believe that raised bed gardening is an excellent way to garden. They are much easier to maintain and are excellent for herb and flower gardening also. Hope you enjoy all of your gardening experience.

About the Author

Are you new to gardening? Learn all you need to know about gardening at http://howtogrowagarden.info/

Posted in Garden Pests | Tagged benefits, Gardening, Raised | Leave a comment

How To Grow an Organic Garden

Posted on December 31, 2011 by gardenkent

How To Grow an Organic Garden

Article by ElmerFizz

The food we eat should be tasty, nutritious and healthy. The wayit is grown should help, not harm our environment. But can wereally be confident that the fruit and vegetables bought from asupermarket meet these two simple criteria? Are we sure thelevels of pesticides, insecticides and fungicides our food hasbeen treated with will do us no harm?

Organically grown foods are not sprayed with these chemicals.They may not look as colorful and well presented as shop produce,but they are nutritious and full of taste.

Growing your own fruit and vegetables is easy. You just need tolearn some general principles, familiarize yourself with theplants you intend to grow and get started. Nature does most ofthe work for you.

First, you need to think ahead. Plan which crops to grow, whereto grow them, and the type of fertilizer to use. Rotating the crop grown in an area is good for the soil. Notrotating means toxins can build up and may harm the crop if it isgrown in the same plot for successive years. One crop can evenprepare the soil for another. For example legumes replace some ofthe nitrogen that other crops can remove. If you intend to usemore than one plot a simple rotation can be set up by keeping thefamilies or types of vegetables in separate areas and moving themin rotation to a new plot each year. For example you could growthe cabbage family in one plot, legumes (peas and beans) inanother area, and root crops (carrots, potatoes, etc.)in a thirdplot.

In organic gardening pest control does not rely on a highly toxicchemical, but on a series of strategies. For example, pest’snatural predators like lacewings and wasps are encouraged intothe garden by planting suitable flowers. The insects areattracted by the nectar and pollen.

Weeds are another challenge to the organic gardener. Do not usechemical remedies. Organic mulches like manure, sawdust, and barkchips are one solution. Another is black plastic, but make surethere is enough moisture in the soil before you cover it up.

A good fertilizer will provide nitrogen, phosphorus and potassiumfor the soil. Well-rotted animal manure is recommended. Oncerotted it does not smell and is a rich, brown, crumbly texture.Cow and pig manures tend to decompose slowly and so are longerlasting. If you can collect manure from a farm let it rot forabout eight weeks in a covered container. You can add chickenmanure to increase the nitrogen content of the fertilizer.

Compost can be made using vegetable waste. You can also addtealeaves, coffee grounds, eggshells and banana skins. Do not addkitchen scraps as they can attract vermin, and do not use citruspeel, as it is too acidic for worms.

Growing your own fruit and vegetables is a great way of gettingcloser to nature. It is also an effective way of teaching ourchildren about the food on their plate and how to look after theworld around us. The independence and satisfaction that can comefrom growing your own food is as rewarding as the peace of mindyou have when you know exactly how the food was grown.

About the Author

This article may be reprinted on a website or blog if the content is unchanged and this resource box is included.For More Gardening Ideas see http://www.gardenjargon.com

Posted in Garden Pests | Tagged Garden, grow, Organic | Leave a comment

Organic Gardening in your backyard

Posted on December 31, 2011 by gardenkent

Organic Gardening in your backyard

Article by Chris Orser Landscaping, Inc.

Organic gardening has taken off in the past five years. Whole Foods Market is one of the fastest growing grocery changes and farmer?s markets have seen a remarkable resurgence in patronage. As the attention of the country shift towards safer foods, consumers are looking for ways that they can change their purchasing habits. Regardless of your lifestyle or location, you too can benefit from the bountiful supply of organically grown produce.

For those who enjoy gardening, growing organic veggies is the way to go. By supplementing the soil with natural products such as compost, earthworm castings, or manure; and ensuring that the garden has appropriate levels of all required nutrients; one can produce a more bountiful harvest than if they used artificial additives alone.

Garden pests can be controlled naturally as well. Insecticidal soaps (made from potassium salt and fatty acids) work very well against white flies, aphids, and small caterpillars. Ladybugs also serve as an excellent means of reducing aphid populations. A great place to find organic garden products is the site http://www.gardensalive.com.

If you are not able to grow your own organic fruits and vegetables, take advantage of Bucks County?s wonderful U-Pick farms. For prices comparable (and often lower) than those found at the grocer?s, you and your family can pick your own supply of apples, pears, strawberries, raspberries, peppers, corn, herbs, and more. An outing to a local farm allows kids to see where their food comes from, and provides adults with a pleasant afternoon outdoors.

If time is an issue, consider a visit to the local farmer?s market. These stands are established by local farmers and often yield the freshest, most healthy produce money can buy. Our favorite places to shop for produce:

Delaware Valley College Farm Store 2100 Lower State RoadDoylestown, PA 18901Open daily;All proceeds benefit the college.

Doylestown Farmers Market State & Hamilton StreetsDoylestown, PA 18901Open Saturday mornings.

The extensive benefits of choosing organic fruits and vegetables over those grown with fertilizers and pesticides are just beginning to emerge. Take advantage of the rich horticultural environment that we live in and consider purchasing from a local organic supplier.

Chris Orser Landscaping, Inc. has consistently been providing high quality services to the Doylestown, PA and Bucks County areas for over 15 years. We are a complete design & build company. Chris Orser Landscaping, Inc. specializes in all areas of landscaping: design, brick and paver patios, walkways, retaining walls, ponds, waterfalls, pondless waterfalls, and other water features, plantings, drainage, lawn mowing, spring clean-ups, fall clean-ups, pruning, tree removal, fertilization, lawn aeration, pest control, snow plowing, de-icing, gutter cleaning, and firewood delivery.

Contact us at (215) 249-1236We also carry a highly effective de-icing product called “Magic Salt”. Magic Salt has a working temperature of -35 degrees, whereas regular rock salt is ineffective below 18 degrees. Magic Salt is also bio-degradable and plant and pet friendly. To learn more, visit our website at {a href=”http://www.magicsaltpa.com”> http://www.magicsaltpa.com

About the Author

Chris Orser Landscaping, Inc. is located in Doylestown, PA. We are a full service landscape design & build company, dedicated to providing clients with excellent service in Bucks County. Our team of professionals design, build, and maintain landscapes with customized programs to meet the needs of all our clients.For all of your landscaping needs call (215) 249 – 1236 or visit us on the web at http://www.orserlandscaping.com

Posted in Garden Pests | Tagged Backyard, Gardening, Organic | Leave a comment

Plant Pests & Disease Control

Posted on December 31, 2011 by gardenkent

Plant Pests & Disease Control

Article by Ayush Kumar

Weeds are the ultimate garden pests. They can take over your plant population or your front lawn in a matter of days, and getting rid of them is not always easy. It’s important to know how to identify and control weeds in order to have a successful growing season.

Nobody wants to spray poisons all over or spend hours pulling weeds one by one. The key to eradicating a weed problem is knowing how to identify and remove weeds once and for all.

Caring for your lawn or garden can sometimes seem like a full-time job. In order to raise healthy plants, you’ll need to be on the lookout for insects, animals, and diseases thatcan cause problems. The most common problem in any garden, however, is the common weed. Weeds can take over a garden or lawn very quickly, choking out the plants and grass and taking over the growing space.

If you love to garden and take care of your lawn, and you’re looking for help with weed control, you’ve come to the right place. Our articles offer a wealth of valuable information on how to safely and easily remove weeds without hours of effort or harmful side effects.

As an example the Angular Leaf Spot:

Water-soaked lesions between the veins of leaves are a telltale symptom of this bacterial disease, which infects cucumbers, summer squash, and melons. Symptoms often first appear on the underside of leaves. As infected areas in the leaf die, the tissue becomes brittle and those leaf parts fall away, giving afflicted leaves a ragged appearance. Angular leaf spot lesions may exude a milky fluid that dries on leaf surfaces. In severe outbreaks, lesions may also develop on stems and fruit.

The bacterium overwinters in the soil on seeds and plant residues, and is spread by rain splash and wind. Angular leaf spot is especially prevalent in warm, humid climates.

Prevention and Control

1. Plant vegetable varieties that are well-suited to your particular climate, and when possible, choose varieties such as Olympian cucumber that are resistant to angular leaf spot.

2. Practice a two- or three-year crop rotation of cucumbers and other squash-family crops to break the disease cycle.

3. Prevent the spread of disease by destroying infected plants and any that are in close proximity to them.

4. Splashing water spreads bacteria. Avoid overhead watering and use drip irrigation or soaker hoses to keep foliage as dry as possible. Avoid working in garden when plants are wet.

5. Avoid over fertilizing; excess nitrogen produces tender growth that is more vulnerable to infection

About the Author

If you are fond of pets and want to have original breed then you can opt for decorazioni natalizie shop or mobili da giardino online and for best program regulated aquariums you can go for mobili da giardino teak which can be well regulated when you are not around.

Posted in Garden Pests | Tagged Control, Disease, Pests, Plant | Leave a comment

If You Are New To Gardening Try Planting A Celebrity Tomato

Posted on December 31, 2011 by gardenkent

If You Are New To Gardening Try Planting A Celebrity Tomato

Article by Mike Mazzaro

Most people have no idea how many tomato types there are, but have most likely heard other tomato gardeners speak of the celebrity tomato. It’s a disease resistant hybrid that grows easily, resists cracking, and best of all is considered one of the top all-around tomato varieties you can grow.

If you are new to gardening the Celebrity is probably one of the best tomatoes to plant because it is so easy to grow. It does not need to be pruned, and is best left alone. All you need is to keep the soil watered, and make sure the plant gets at least eight hours of sunshine every day. Of course, if your plants are prone to bugs, you may have to invest in an insecticide. Speaking of pests, the celebrity tomato is quite resistant to root knot nematodes, perhaps the most dreaded of all tomato garden pests!

Depending on your climate, these tomatoes can grow up to ten feet tall. They are classified as a Hybrid and determinate, which means that the vines are short and not as long as an indeterminate. Determinate types produce fruit pretty much all at once. Most determinate plants are usually compact and do not require staking, although they will still benefit from some type of support system.

Most seasoned growers recommend that you try at least four varieties of tomatoes. By doing this you will be able to see how they grow and see which ones taste the best. When you get to the nursery, talk to someone who knows how to plant, and take care of tomatoes. Let them know how much space you will be planting in, and how much growing experience you have. The more knowledge you have the better equipped you will be when it comes to planting. Be sure that you buy more than you need. Chances are one or two of the plants will not make it.

It is extremely important that you use good fertilizer and soil for your tomatoes. Water regularly as healthy plants are more resistant to disease. Weed your garden plot, as insects will breed in the weeds. After each season, it is important to rotate your plants. If you do this, you will avoid soil-borne pathogens. Cut diseased or unhealthy foliage, and be sure to get rid of weak or unhealthy plants. If you have a diseased plant, it can spread to your healthy ones. Remember to clean your tools, and do not use tobacco when you are around your garden. The tobacco mosaic virus is something that you do not want on your tomato plants. This brings up another great characteristic of the celebrity, most are resistant to verticillium wilt, fusarium, and yes, even tobacco mosaic virus.

With so many tomato types available, you will have a tough time deciding what to plant. Most new gardeners will choose the celebrity tomato because it is so easy to grow. Whatever tomato variety you choose, as long as you follow the tried and true guidelines of growing them, you are sure to enjoy a delicious and bountiful crop every year!

About the Author

For further info on celebrity tomatoes, visit www.TomatoGardeningSecrets.com.

Posted in Garden Pests | Tagged Celebrity, Gardening, Planting, Tomato | Leave a comment

How To Be Pest Free

Posted on December 31, 2011 by gardenkent

How To Be Pest Free

Article by Stewart Wrighter

The conference room is at its best. The wood floors are like mirrors, the glass table top on the board negotiating table is lined with carefully placed files and ads for your customers to peruse and drinks and food is available on the sideboard. Are you ready to hold that meeting? You look up see that spider web in the corner of the ceiling. Any chance one of those Daddy long leg spiders would get in your food or crawl across that board table? This may be a good time to contact a pest control company. You may not have termites in your conference room but you may want to schedule termite inspections at your home on a yearly basis.

Fact is, if you had secured the services of an exterminating company before this important business day, you would never see that sight again. Your business would be bug, spider and pest-free, and that is guaranteed. You can search online for a reputable exterminating business, and when you contact them, they not only hit the ground running but tailor a plan that is just right for you and your budget. A reputable company will not sell you the “Gold Plan” you get from so many other services and product salesmen these days. They realize that you have a limited set of needs for example; they know you are not worried about rats, probably, in your high-rise business office. They know you have certain office hours and do not need them on a daily basis.

So they will tailor their treatment plan to what you want or need! Exterminators can check every week, to eliminate those unwanted pests in your office building. Whether you need an exterminating service twice a month, or only once a month, it is not a problem. This guaranteed service they offer for your business is available for your home as well. Whether you problem is mice, rats, unwanted reptiles, weevils, garden pests, fleas on your pets, a good pest control business can take care of the problem.

Exterminators realize pests are seasonal; they are not going to spray an extensive wasp repellent in April or October but you might be really glad to have it in June. You might not have problems with interior raids from mice in your garage in the summer but when the thermometer drops in the fall and the mice arrive, so does your exterminator. They find out where pests live usually in your house’s exteriors BEFORE they breed or even move in, and lay down preventive measures. Or they can decimate and bring down a total infestation. A part of the guarantee: if you see one roach, rat, tick, flea or termite after they have serviced your home or business, they will be back to take care of it and in many cases, it is free!

If you encounter unwanted pests, give the pros a call to schedule an appointment to discuss your treatment options. Find a reputable company that is committed to its customer and to Mother Earth. Many of them use “green” products for all of their jobs.

About the Author

Stewart Wrighter has often scheduled Sacramento Termite inspections to check homes that are for sale for termite damage. He has often called on the expertise of a Sacramento Pest Control company to treat his large office facility.

Posted in Garden Pests | Tagged Free, Pest | Leave a comment

Organic Gardening

Posted on December 31, 2011 by gardenkent

Organic Gardening

Article by Scott Byers

After a hard week in the workplace, many people find gardening therapeutic. It’s good exercise and it gives a feeling of achievement when you see the fruits of your labor. Another consideration for a lot of people is the chance to eat organically. You know exactly what’s gone into your food. You’re in control, whether you’re growing fruit, vegetables, herbs or flowers. Also, there’s no transportation involved in your food reaching the table, and therefore, no pollution. It’s an opportunity to re-connect with nature, and to teach children the value of working to create your own food, instead of pulling another plastic bag off the supermarket shelf. After all, it’s the way it was for hundreds of years, before the human race began to manipulate Mother Nature.Many parents are concerned about their children’s diets, and are turning to growing their own food. Studies have shown children absorb four to five times more pesticides thought to be carcinogenic, from food than adults do. This can build up problems for their health, as they grow older.

So what are the benefits of organic gardening? Cost is always uppermost in people’s minds, particularly if you have to provide food on a budget. Growing organically means not using expensive pesticides, herbicides, artificial supplements and chemical fertilizers. Garden pests and diseases can be controlled naturally. For example, aphids can be removed from vegetables with the aid of the humble marigold growing nearby. There is no need to add anything artificial to the soil. No family member or any pets will be harmed from pesticides. Chemicals can do their harm, simply by a little being absorbed through the skin. Nothing poisonous will seep into the waterways, resulting in polluting fish and their habitat Instead of using pesticides or fertilizers; you can make your own compost, just as in years gone by, from kitchen and garden waste. It just takes a bit of time, but it can be fun, and it’s better than throwing everything away. Compost can even be made from coffee grounds, it doesn’t smell bad either. Vegetable and potato peelings, (organic of course!), need to be well drained, as compost does not like being wet. To get a good texture for the compost heap, you need a varied mix of different materials. Rose prunings are a good idea.

There are many practical tips for the organic gardener to use, which helps him to grow healthy plants, save the environment and they are inexpensive. A recipe for mulch, to remove weeds and keep the soil moist, is to mix together grass clippings and pine needles. A cheap option in the battle against garden pests is to make a spray by combining dishwashing soap, water and cooking oil. All it takes is a bit of ingenuity.

Organic methods also help to reduce erosion through the loss of topsoil.

Most people who’ve tasted their own organically grown produce, never want to go back to conventional food. Taste buds come alive, and you start to think of the garden as a holistic place, where the cycle of life can be observed. Plants grow strong and are colorful, as long as you give care and attention to the needs of the soil, making sure the nutrients are there, and use natural methods to control those pesky bugs, diseases and weeds.

It doesn’t matter if you have palatial grounds or a tiny back yard; the organic principle is the same. You’ll learn as you go, and have tasty food into the bargain.

About the Author

Scott Byers is the owner of All Organic Diet, an organic food blog all about the benefits of organic foods.

Posted in Garden Pests | Tagged Gardening, Organic | Leave a comment

GARDEN CENTRES IN KENT