Sunday, 7 March 2010

Cheap Garden Tools For the Frugal Gardener

The main reasons that people garden are growing food for home use and distribution to family, friends, and neighbors; taking pride in a hobby that can be easily seen and admired, and lastly, to save money. Gardening saves money and that's just a fact. Fresh veggies that are tasty and good for you are certainly proof.

However, one of the drawbacks of gardening is that some aspects of it can be a bit expensive. The most expensive part of gardening is the tools that are required to do a good job, and make the hobby more enjoyable. The good news is, there are some ways that can make it less expensive. One has to be just a little enterprising.

Most of the garden tools needed can be purchased at dollar stores. The small hand tools, gloves and aprons are plentiful at the dollar store and are, well, a dollar. Buy several at a time and then buy a container that will house as well. A buck apiece. This is a good start.

The next place for good inexpensive garden tools is the flea markets and rummage sales. There are many items that are available that sellers will reduce their prices just to get rid of. A recent purchase of a tiller for ten dollars that needed blade sharpening proves this. Seeds, potting soil, and even pots can be found. The last day of rummage sales are the best times to go and get the best harvest of deals. It is the same with estate sales. They too offer large supplies of items that can be purchased at a good price.

Another way to get the tools and equipment for gardening that you need is to simply ask. Gardening tools and equipment are wonderful gifts for Christmas and birthdays. They are a no brainer, and easy to find. Though many people would overlook this option, the gardener can request the stuff they want and really get it. After all, garden tools are generally one-stop shopping in most stores and has a wide range of prices. So what if you have three hand shovels?

The last proven way to secure the equipment and tools that are needed for gardening is to shop for these items off-season. January and February are the best months to buy lawn and garden equipment at good prices and seeds are readily available. At times, the new trends in gardening are available for the next season, and also in time for new garden additions.

You can learn more about electric garden tools, and get much more information about garden tools at lawn garden tools

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Derek_Farley

Choosing the Best Tools For Gardening

Best Gardening Tools

Strictly speaking, gardening can be done with the most rudimentary tools. After all, all over the world, especially in remote Third Word countries, people still use extremely primitive tools for farming and do gardening and they still end up producing a crop albeit of a lower quantity. Even though a pair of willing hands and some gloves can do some excellent gardening all by themselves, working with tools can maximize one's effectiveness and ensure better results.

Tools for gardening can be found in gardening stores and also in large supermarkets. Depending on what task one wants to perform, there is a large variety of tools available at very affordable prices. Actually, good gardening does not have to require state-of-the-art tools. A pair of good leather gloves, some leather boots, a pair of secatuers and a rake can serve you well and perform a whole range of simple tasks. A secatuer costs around $60.00 for a good one but one can sometimes find good ones for less than that. Secatuers can come in different types. There are those whose blade can be sharpened or even replaced meaning if one becomes worn out there is no need to purchase a new one altogether.

Purchasing gardening tools also depends on a variety of factors. One of them is the size of the garden. For instance, if you have a small garden, there would be no need for a ride-no mower. A regular trimmer would suffice just fine.

Hedge trimmers are also come in handy where there is hedges around the garden which tend to overgrow. In many houses especially in the United States, there is a deed agreement that tells the owner of the home his actual boundaries as far as being able to make modifications. That is why hedge trimmers are important because they ensure that your garden does not grow and spill over into the neighbor's property. Hedge trimmers also come in different styles, some which have curved blades which ensure that the plants do not slide out when being trimmed.

Forks are also ideal when dealing with compost and breaking up lumps of soil. When purchasing a fork, it is good not to go for the very cheap ones because they do not perform well especially if the soil is hard. While a good fork can cost up to $100.00, every gardener should have one or two.

Shovels are also extremely important to gardening. Costing somewhere in the $50.00 dollar range they are almost indispensable. Among them are a pruning saw and a chipping hoe.

Jackie Winn is the owner of http://gardentipsandsecrets.com a website which aims to provide help and information to the budding gardener.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jackie_Winn

How to Grow Lettuce

Let us face it growing lettuce is one of the favorite crops in the garden because it is relatively easy to grow, it grows fast and saves you lots of money compared to buying it in the shops! It is one of the first salad vegetables of the year that can be planted, and so it is one of the first to be harvested in the spring.

It takes well to most soils and you can squeeze it into a small space, also as it has shallow roots it is also suited to growing in containers as well. Planting it.You can plant it as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the last frost as it tolerates temperature changes such as frost very well, although it is not suited to ongoing freezing temperatures, and can run wild bolting in higher temperatures.

So ideally it is suited to growing in the Autumn or Fall seasons. Lettuce can make do with as little as five hours of sunshine per day, and whilst okay in full sunshine is better suited to a shadier area of your plot to stop it bolting, accordingly it is better when picked early rather than late. It will respond well to a small application of fertilizer.

Note whilst it has shallow roots if you are planting in a container then aim for a soil depth of around 6. If you are planting seeds directly in the garden plant them 3/8 to 1/2 inch deep, cover with a fine layer of compost. Whilst the space between rows varies with the variety, ideally they should be thinned to around 8 inches part.

Often the lettuce are started inside and transplanted outside, however this does not apply to all varieties as some must be sown directly in the soil as they do not transplant well. So always read the seed packet. They need light but consistent watering.

Harvest the whole plant when of a suitable size or for a longer harvest use a sharp knife to cut the leaves off when around 4 inches long.

If you found this article of interest and would like to know more then visit the author's site on growing your own vegetables for more great tips and free advice on growing vegetables.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Allen

How to Grow Lettuce

Let us face it growing lettuce is one of the favorite crops in the garden because it is relatively easy to grow, it grows fast and saves you lots of money compared to buying it in the shops! It is one of the first salad vegetables of the year that can be planted, and so it is one of the first to be harvested in the spring.

It takes well to most soils and you can squeeze it into a small space, also as it has shallow roots it is also suited to growing in containers as well. Planting it.You can plant it as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the last frost as it tolerates temperature changes such as frost very well, although it is not suited to ongoing freezing temperatures, and can run wild bolting in higher temperatures.

So ideally it is suited to growing in the Autumn or Fall seasons. Lettuce can make do with as little as five hours of sunshine per day, and whilst okay in full sunshine is better suited to a shadier area of your plot to stop it bolting, accordingly it is better when picked early rather than late. It will respond well to a small application of fertilizer.

Note whilst it has shallow roots if you are planting in a container then aim for a soil depth of around 6. If you are planting seeds directly in the garden plant them 3/8 to 1/2 inch deep, cover with a fine layer of compost. Whilst the space between rows varies with the variety, ideally they should be thinned to around 8 inches part.

Often the lettuce are started inside and transplanted outside, however this does not apply to all varieties as some must be sown directly in the soil as they do not transplant well. So always read the seed packet. They need light but consistent watering.

Harvest the whole plant when of a suitable size or for a longer harvest use a sharp knife to cut the leaves off when around 4 inches long.

If you found this article of interest and would like to know more then visit the author's site on growing your own vegetables for more great tips and free advice on growing vegetables.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Allen

Pruning Climbing Roses Like a Professional Can Be Easy - Learn How

Pruning roses is never an easy task. In fact, it is one of the tasks least liked by old and young gardeners alike. Nobody likes dipping their bare arms into a bush of roses and getting pricked by a stubborn thorn every now and then. But pruning is one of the most vital parts in the proper care of roses. Letting go of this task will surely result in a rose plant too big it will eventually kill itself. The different kinds of rose plants require different kinds of care. We will focus more on pruning climbing roses more than anything else.

Again, there are different kinds of climbing roses. The first kind is the ramblers, or vigorously growing roses that can produce up to 20 feet of canes if left to their own devices. Ramblers produce small flowers and they bloom only once every year, but they bloom gloriously and brilliantly because they produce a lot of small flowers that grow in huge clusters that burst forth from the bud. Ramblers are different from large climbers, often also called true climbers, because they take more time to grow as high as ramblers. Large climbers bloom repeatedly each year and they produce big flowers that can leave any passer-by in awe. To quickly distinguish ramblers from climbers without waiting for the blooming season, simply take a look at their branches. More flexible twigs that allow the roses to climb up to 20 feet will surely tell you that you have a rambler at hand, and you know you have a true climber if you have more rigid stems.

What makes the difference between ramblers and climbers so significant? There is a right time for pruning your roses-that is, when they are dormant so the plant does not go through a lot of shock while being cut back. In single-bloomers like rambling roses, you should take out your pruning tools during the late winter or early spring and after each blooming season. Repeat bloomers do well with once-a-year pruning at the end of the year. But before you start clipping away those old leaves and branches, take a look at how the professionals do it.

Step 1: Clean your tools first to make sure that no fungus, bacteria, or virus gets in touch with their rose plants. Spraying with a disinfectant made of 25% bleach solution is a great way to kill all microorganisms that have attached to the metal. Also, make sure to disinfect the tools after pruning one plant and before moving on to the next just to be certain that no disease spores from the first plant are transferred to the next.

Step 2: The first thing to do is to prune away the old leaves, twigs, and branches. Removing dead, old, and diseased foliage leaves a lot of room for new growth that is more productive when it comes to producing blooms and less susceptible to fungal diseases such as blackspot, rust, and botrytis blight. Your main focus here should be, "Out with the old, in with the new."

Step 3: Step back and set a framework for yourself to follow. Which way would you like your climbing roses to grow? The answer to that is sideways. Growing horizontal climbers is the key to vigorous and vibrant blooms every year. This is because the buds of shoots grown upwards release certain natural chemicals that inhibit the development of lower buds. If all the buds are found at the same level, you can leave this problem out and look forward to a rich blooming season.

Step 4: Individually take off the strings that bind your climbers to their support. This may be a trellis, a wall, or an arch. Whatever its support may be, start pruning climbing roses from below and cut away all canes, leaving only two to five buds per shoot. Remove as much dead wood as possible, but leave ¼ of an inch to support the bud's development. When you're done with this, fasten the cane back to its support using a soft twine or a thin wire. Make sure you do not fasten it too tightly so that the plants have enough room to breathe in. Start working on the other canes.

Step 5: Clean up your area from all dead leaves, twigs, and branches. This lessens the chance of your plants catching fungal diseases whose strains may still be left in the dead foliage.

When you have followed all of these steps, you have successfully pruned your climbing roses the way the professionals do it. It's not an easy task, we admit, but it is one of the most rewarding parts in the proper care of roses. Learn to master pruning and you will learn to like the task itself, as much as you like seeing your roses grow healthy, bright, and beautiful.

Catherine Martin comes from a long line of passionate rose lovers, growers and enthusiasts. As an author, she is committed to demystifying the common rose, so that all who wish to can grow them easily. For more great information on growing climbing roses, visit http://www.rosegardeningexpert.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Catherine_Martin

How to Prune Your Rose Bush

Rose bush pruning is a vital part in caring for your rose bush. Pruning can be tricky and intimidating especially for a newbie. There are many ways suggested by experts to help you in proper pruning and this will be discussed below. First, you may wonder why you need to prune? This is done to encourage healthy growth of your plants. By removing dead wood and leaves, also called deadheading, you will be channeling the energy of your rose bush where it's needed the most. This will promote growth of new shoots, and this will result in larger and more blooms. Your garden will look better and more appealing.

Below are things to remember to get the most from rose bush pruning:
o You'll need thick gloves, long-handled loppers, and bypass pruners which are preferred in rose bush pruning compared to the anvil pruners. Make sure that your bypass pruner is sharp so you can make a clean-cut, as ragged cuts can leave your branches exposed to pests and diseases. Also, remember to clean your tools with rubbing alcohol after pruning each bush, so you will not transfer any disease or pest to other plants in your garden.
o The best time for rose bush pruning is early spring when the roses are dormant. The ideal time in doing this is when leaf buds start to swell. This is done at this time to allow growth of new shoots, as rose bushes flower best during this period. Of course, you can do this anytime of the year if your plant is diseased.
o Start at the base of your rose bush. Pruning is done primarily to remove broken, dead as well as dying parts of the plant. This should include weak or thin stems, so you can make way for healthier stems to grow. How can you determine if a stem is dead? If they're healthy, the color of the stem is green. But, if their color is brown or gray, then you'll need to cut these parts of the rose bush. Pruning is done as close to the base as possible to make sure that you'll get all of the diseased parts. If you leave them alone, they can spread and you can have a tall plant with very few flowers or you can have a dying plant, throughout.
o When you make the cut, do it at a 45 degree angle, about ¼ inch above a bud that's facing outward. Direct growth outward, you can do this by cutting buds that are facing inward to keep the center of the bush open. This will allow better air circulation.
o Do not paint or dab on the cuts made because they can heal on their own, except, if the cuts are significant. If the cut is like the diameter of a pencil, consider sealing it with white glue or paint to allow faster healing.
o Remove branches that are criss-crossing or rubbing against one another to prevent congestion and allow better breathing space. Leave about 3 to 6 canes as keepers.
o Remove suckers or wayward canes at the base of the plant, these suckers compete with them for nutrients.
o After doing all these, look at your rose bush. Prune to shape them better to your liking.
o Pick up all the stems or wastes that have fallen off after your careful time - rose bush pruning.

Danielle Hastings is an avid gardener and a lover of roses. She has searched far and wide to bring in the best possible information on growing roses. To learn more about rose bush care, click the link below to visit her site. There are plenty of free articles, and a free email course on roses. http://www.secretbookofroses.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Danielle_Hastings