Laying Grass in the Autumn in a Dry, Mediterranean Climate

The grass types grown for lawns in hot dry climates, are generally perennial species and varieties, suitable unsurprisingly, for hot dry summers. These species such as Bermuda, Zoysia or St Augustine grass, are often dormant during the winter, and if laid as turf too close to the onset of winter, will fail to root in time.

Grow A Rainbow Of Heirloom Tomatoes

Heirloom tomatoes, summer’s finest bounty, will add variety to your meals, and biodiversity to your garden. This article details the rainbow of colors available in heirloom tomatoes. Part one of a series on heirloom vegetables.

Hydroponics Myths & Reality

Though, hydroponics is now an established method of plant cultivation certain misconceptions about it have worked against its wider acceptance among laypeople as well as gardening enthusiasts. Though associations and bodies representing concerned professionals, enthusiasts etc.

Garden Compost Worms – Little Critters That Make Rich Compost

Worm compost is great stuff! Compost worms eat the scraps you give them and in turn create worm castings (another name for dung!) that provide nutrient rich compost. Here’s some information about the specifics of making worm compost.

Hyacinth Plant Problems And Moving Peonies

If something is chewing holes in your Hyacinth bean leaves it’s probably bean leaf beetles. They are thick this fall, making Hyacinth bean leaves look like they were the target of a shotgun.

Traditional Japanese Garden Styles

Traditional styles of Japanese gardens include the pond and island style, the dry landscape Zen garden, the Japanese tea garden, a stroll garden, and a courtyard garden. A pond and island style garden is where a pond is created that is large enough for a boat or where a visitor can walk around the border of the pond.

Japanese Tea Garden

Japanese tea gardens are a type of garden where a tea ceremony can be performed. These gardens consist of an outer and inner garden. This is one of the more popular gardens to create. The outer garden has an entry gate and a stone path which leads to the inner garden and it is more informal in its plantings. Guests pass through a second gate where there is a water basin which is used in the ceremony. There is another stone path that goes through the inner garden where the plants are not flowered in order to prevent any distractions along the journey. This path leads to the small building where the tea ceremony will be performed. This type of garden is good for average-sized yards or can be incorporated within a larger Japanese garden.

Home Garden Themes

There are many home garden themes to choose from. Some of these include formal, natural, cottage, sanctuary, Japanese, and Mediterranean. When choosing a theme for your home garden, consider the style of your home. Brick walls would fit in well with a formal theme. Wood would work well with a Japanese theme, and stone with a Mediterranean theme. If you have a small home, you might want to consider a cottage garden theme. If you only have a small patio or balcony, you can create a small patio garden.

The Eight Basic Principles of Garden Design

There are eight basic gardening principles that a gardener should follow to achieve a garden that is pleasing to the senses and provides a pleasant outdoor living space. These include balance, repetition, proportion, transition, simplicity, unity, rhythm, and focalization. Elements of art to keep in mind also are color, line, form, texture, and scale. These elements are used as tools to adjust the design principles.

Flower Gardening For Beginners – Weird Poppy Flowers

People tell me how easy poppies are to grow. I saw a smattering of them in the neighbors vegetable garden last week. What! I exclaimed, are those poppies? Oh yes, she said, I tossed some seeds in there that were stuck in a corner of the bag of seeds I planted out front.

Japanese Garden Elements

There are several Japanese garden elements, such as water, rocks, an island or islands, a bridge to an island, a lantern made of stone, plants, a teahouse or pavilion, and borrowed scenery.

Growing Herbs

Herbs are valued for their culinary, medical, decorative and aromatic properties. Herbs can be grown in a range of settings, such as custom-designed herb gardens and ornamental borders. The majority of herbs originate from dry sunny environments and need sunshine to help them develop their essential oils.

Yard Landscaping Pointers For Beginners

The key in doing landscapes for the first time is to customize it according to your pleasure. Yard landscaping is a depiction of scenery you want to have in your own property. In doing so, it requires proper planning, designing and managing.

Gardening For Beginners – How to Divide Irises

A couple of years ago, I divided the irises in one of the gardens. It sounds like an easy task. Basically all you do is take a sharp knife and cut the rhizome into smaller pieces. These irises had not been divided for a while so it was a real challenge. I learned a great deal during the process.

When is a Bulb Not a Bulb?

Good question. Let’s look at the bulb first and figure out what it is. A bulb is thick and fleshy and grows underground. Think of an onion. It’s a bulb. A bulb can have layers as the onion does or it can have dry scales or a papery skin. Plants that have bulbs are tulips, daffodils, narcissus, and lilies.