Thanks to all the hits this weekend. Brings the total for the week up nicely. Sorry for not posting yesterday or early today. We are in full production at the greenhouse so guess where I am spending my time. Plants are growing nice, and it looks like spring in there. Baby kittens are being born today so that will make for extra fun.
Here is an article about things to think about with home landscaping. Just food for thought.
Each garden has a distinct microclimate brought about by the topography of the land, the locations of buildings, the proximity of a body of water, wind patterns and similar factors. If you take this microclimate into account when planning your gardne, you'll be able to expose your plants to the site's advantages and protect them from its disadvantages. You'll also save time, money and energy by working with the microclimate instead of trying to combat it.
So here are some basic considerations to think about:
1. Divide by three: Think of your yard as having three distinct parts, public spaces, such as the front yard and driveway, private spaces including patio, swimming pools and children's play areas, and utility spaces for items like garbage cans and firewood. Public areas should appear neat and organized while private spaces allow for unlimited creative expression. Be practical when making plants for utility areas.
2. Make a plan. Take a pencil and paper outdoors and sketch out buildings, sun positions shade patterns, slopes and other feathers. Or take snapshots as a substitute for a hand drawn plant.
3. Match your style to your personal tastes. If you enjoy working in your yard and eating what you grow, a vegetable and herb garden should be a priority. IF you love flowers, a perennials bed to rock garden will provide hours of blissful distraction. Busy weekend gardeners often are most satisfied with containers plants, small beds or annuals and a well tended patch of lawn.
4. Take it slow. If you've just moved to a new or neglected property, don't plunge in right away. Instead, let the site grow on you. Take time to develop our plant and geta acquainted with your yard. IF it's an older yard, you may be surprise to find treasures already growing there. In new years, look at the plants that seem to be doing especially well in other neighborhood landscapes and envision how they might look if you used them in your own yard.
5. Tell tale signs. Analyzes you site to recognize subtle differences that may be big implications for plants. Observe which plants are blown about by wind and which stay still the latter may indicate protected spots for growing marginally hardy plants. Watch where snow melts first and where it lingers. Note how soils dries quickly and where it remains waterlogged. Variation in soil temperature and moisture mean the difference between a plant that merely survives and one that thrives.
taken from Readers digest Gardening Secrets Till next time this is Becky Litterer Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa
Here is an article about things to think about with home landscaping. Just food for thought.
Each garden has a distinct microclimate brought about by the topography of the land, the locations of buildings, the proximity of a body of water, wind patterns and similar factors. If you take this microclimate into account when planning your gardne, you'll be able to expose your plants to the site's advantages and protect them from its disadvantages. You'll also save time, money and energy by working with the microclimate instead of trying to combat it.
So here are some basic considerations to think about:
1. Divide by three: Think of your yard as having three distinct parts, public spaces, such as the front yard and driveway, private spaces including patio, swimming pools and children's play areas, and utility spaces for items like garbage cans and firewood. Public areas should appear neat and organized while private spaces allow for unlimited creative expression. Be practical when making plants for utility areas.
2. Make a plan. Take a pencil and paper outdoors and sketch out buildings, sun positions shade patterns, slopes and other feathers. Or take snapshots as a substitute for a hand drawn plant.
3. Match your style to your personal tastes. If you enjoy working in your yard and eating what you grow, a vegetable and herb garden should be a priority. IF you love flowers, a perennials bed to rock garden will provide hours of blissful distraction. Busy weekend gardeners often are most satisfied with containers plants, small beds or annuals and a well tended patch of lawn.
4. Take it slow. If you've just moved to a new or neglected property, don't plunge in right away. Instead, let the site grow on you. Take time to develop our plant and geta acquainted with your yard. IF it's an older yard, you may be surprise to find treasures already growing there. In new years, look at the plants that seem to be doing especially well in other neighborhood landscapes and envision how they might look if you used them in your own yard.
5. Tell tale signs. Analyzes you site to recognize subtle differences that may be big implications for plants. Observe which plants are blown about by wind and which stay still the latter may indicate protected spots for growing marginally hardy plants. Watch where snow melts first and where it lingers. Note how soils dries quickly and where it remains waterlogged. Variation in soil temperature and moisture mean the difference between a plant that merely survives and one that thrives.
taken from Readers digest Gardening Secrets Till next time this is Becky Litterer Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa
