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Growing vegetables at home is becoming more and more popular, because it’s cheap, home-grown veggies are fresher and tastier, and you know exactly what’s gone into growing them so no more worrying about pesticides. But you don’t need to have an allotment to grow your own. Quite a few vegetables can be grown at home – even on your kitchen windowsill. (more…)

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House plants are a great décor accessory. They add a touch of green (and whatever other colour you choose if they flower), they help clean the air, and they’re good feng shui – plants are said to encourage prosperity. All it takes to grow most plants indoors is water, sunshine, and a little bit of TLC. One thing that people need to be really careful about, however, is over-watering.  In fact, more often than not, house plants are killed by it. It’s key to find a balance between too much and too little. Make sure the soil is soft and moist, and only re-water when the compost is dry. (more…)

“Garden Bones” is the term used to describe the architectural structure of a garden. It can be either natural or artificial. If natural, plants are used to create the garden designs. If it is artificial, then materials can be used to create structures like an arbour or obelisk. When people prefer to go green, they use an evergreen shrub or tree to create an architectural structure in the garden that really is unique. For centuries, evergreens have been used in large gardens to create designs. (more…)

The French bean, which is quite common in all our meals, is originally from the United States and not France as its name indicates. Beans are easy to grow and when the seeds are planted into warm earth between the months of April and middle of May, the bean plants bring forth lovely long tender beans. After the planting, you will be surprised at how fast the new plants have sprouted. (more…)

Outdoor fountains in your garden add aesthetic value. They not only enhance the looks of your garden but also add value to your property. When it comes to outdoor garden fountains, most people have a rigid outlook and think of installing large and bulky looking centrepieces for their gardens. However, this need not be so any more. Outdoor garden fountains can be installed in any part of your garden like a drab corner, a walkway, the centre of the garden or even the deck. (more…)

Garden lovers have a wrong notion that it is much easier to grow plants in containers than in a garden. Well, they are wrong. It is more difficult growing them in containers than in the garden. In places, which feature extremely hot summers, the pots tend to heat up and this can cause the soil inside to absorb the heat and be very warm thereby causing considerable damage to the roots. When you grow plants in pots, water fed to them is not retained in the soil as it is drained out. In summers, when you want the water to remain longer in the soil to cool the plant, it becomes impossible. (more…)

Evergreen shrubs require little or no pruning once they have been planted. However to maintain their vigour and to promote healthy shrubs a small amount of pruning is required especially towards the middle or late spring. Mid spring and late spring are the periods chosen for pruning ever green shrubs as the weather conditions are most ideal for this job. Some shrubs may be overgrown and may therefore require pruning to help them rejuvenate. After the pruning job is completed, it is necessary to feed the shrubs with a multipurpose fertilizer. A rose fertilizer would be ideal for evergreen shrubs. (more…)

At times, we become overzealous and think our plants require a lot of water especially during the hot summer months. We tend to flood the plants and soil with too much water, which can cause water logging. When water logging takes place, the roots are starved of oxygen and it results in poor functioning, eventually leading to root disease and even root death. This ultimately results in the death of the plant. At times, even heavy rains can be a cause of water logging in our gardens. (more…)

Succulents and Cacti survive in the harshest of climates including the dry arid regions of Canada, Chile and in many parts of Africa. There is very little moisture in these regions and these plants adapt themselves to the climate and lack of water by growing thick succulent leaves and large stems. During periods of drought, they are able to store water. Cacti and succulents are excellent as houseplants. They are placed in pots in patios, garden and also used in landscape projects. Caring for cacti is relatively simple: they require simple soil, which consists of coarse sand and screened compost. (more…)

Do you have a garden in your home? Then in all probability, you will also have pests. Pests are common to gardens as they thrive on soil and plants. You may have potted plants and decide to bring them into your living area to beautify it. Caution is the watchword when you plan on bringing in potted plants, as they are likely to contain pests and diseases. Pests which are likely to infest your indoor plants include the mites, slugs, snails, scale, mealy bugs and aphids. (more…)