Monday, January 31, 2011

How To Build a Green Garden In 5 Easy Steps

Author:

Jeremy Austin

A project of any significant size is most probably going to need more than a single step to complete. Anything the least bit complicated requires preparation, know-how and perseverance through several steps during a period of time. All that is also true about anything like choosing to build a green garden. Building a green garden just isn\'t a single step project either. But here\'s how to reach that goal in five simple steps.

Step 1. Prepare the site. This is important because without a properly prepared site, you will have a much harder time killing weeds that grow from underneath. In the event you skip or ignore this step, weeds can get a foot hold on your garden, and you will have a constant uphill battle with them.

Step 2. Compost everything. This step can be skipped, but I wouldn\'t recommend it. You will save a lot of money using a compost pile as your fertilizer instead of going and getting chemicals from the nearest super market.

Step 3. Know your growing seasons. What you need to know is specifically when you should plant your produce. Furthermore, it\'s to know when it will need to be harvested.

Step 4. Water per guide. To elaborate on that a little bit, 90of seed packets (vegetables, fruits, flowers, etc) will come with a growing guide that helps you properly care for your produce. While you don\'t have to be scientific, approximately correct measurements are key. Too much water, and like us, your plants will drown; too little, and they die of thirst. Step

5. Harvest Time. Within 5-10 weeks most small fruits and vegetables will ripen and ready themselves for picking. In the end, when you have stuck with the above tips all the way, you should have succeeded and now can settle-back and enjoy the benefits of your green garden.

For those who didn\'t keep to the 5 step tips above, shame on you! You must have decided that building a green garden just wasn\'t worth the effort.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/how-to-build-a-green-garden-in-5-easy-steps-2977956.html

About the Author

Uncover how you can grow better gardens and live a healthier, greener life at my Healthy, Green Living blog at hgliving.blogspot.com.

A Green Garden In Fall - Learn How To Keep Your Garden Green Always

Author:

Abhishek Agarwal

Most gardeners work hard to maintain attractive colorful gardens throughout the summer, but many of us forget to do what\'s necessary to maintain that beauty into the fall and winter. Here is some advice that will help you prolong the life and looks of your garden by taking just a few extra steps during the summer.

Let\'s face it, every season, your garden will begin to wilt and fade. But you don\'t have to give in to the coming winter. You can keep your garden fresh and green longer than you might think.

At the first sign of that yellowish brown tone, take action. Pinch back the yellowing foliage and wilting flowers as quickly as you notice them. This will have instant results, as this action will immediately restore your green garden\'s freshness. Removing the dying parts of your plants will direct nutrients to the remaining healthy portions and add to the plant\'s life. Give your garden a little more water in the late summer and early fall to compensate for depleted nutrients and lower humidity.

In August, you should probably add a light dose of locally-produced fertilizer to boost your green garden just a bit. Locally-produced fertilizer is recommended because it\'s less likely to shock your plants. And watch the amount carefully. Over-doses kill plants too! Organic fertilizer blends are good because they provide a diverse formula of nutrients and minerals to support a variety of plants.

Weed! Weed! Weed! Nothing is more important to maintaining your attractive green garden than removing weeds as soon as they begin to appear. This begins before you even plant your new seeds. You must consistently hoe and cultivate between plants, getting as close to the base stem as possible, to protect the desired plants\' root systems. Removing the weeds will also help maintain a healthy balance of moisture that prevents healthy plant dehydration and browning. Using plenty of mulch will also help prevent weeds and maintain moisture, in addition to making your garden appear neat and clean.

Mind the gaps! Thinning, weeding, and pinching back dead growth will like create a few small gaps in your green garden. Browse your local plant stores for late-season sales and markdowns, and use those plants to both fill in the gaps and add a little color to your green garden. They may not last long, but they\'ll add immensely to your garden\'s beauty.

For a green garden, be sure you\'ve done your homework on the plants that thrive in your climate. Know what zone you live in, and plan your garden accordingly. Using the appropriate plants is an easy way to maintain a green garden longer through the season. These plants most likely grow wild in many areas of your zone, so they\'ll be more hardy and less susceptible to overly moist or overly dry conditions should they occur. Though you may want to use other plants that are not natural or native to your zone, you\'ll pay for it with early browning and quickly-dying greenery. It\'s not worth the gamble.

After all the work of creating a green garden, it\'s well worth the marginal addition of time and effort to given your garden the best care and keep it green weeks beyond what you\'d expect without that extra care. Keeping your green garden healthy and vibrant weeks to months longer allows you and your neighbors to enjoy it more. And keeping a green garden past the normal growing season fights off those cold-weather doldrums.

Taking these few simple actions will keep your green garden green and productive longer than it has ever been before. And your satisfaction will carry you further into the winter than you might expect. Truly enjoy your outdoor living! Take the time to pinch, pull, and mulch your green garden throughout the summer and into the fall.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/a-green-garden-in-fall-learn-how-to-keep-your-garden-green-always-753680.html
About the Author
Abhishek is an avid Gardening enthusiast and he has got some great Gardening Secrets up his sleeves! Download his FREE 57 Pages Ebook, 'Your Garden - Neighbor\'s Envy, Owner\'s Pride!' from his website http://www.Gardening-Master.com/762/index.htm . Only limited Free Copies available.