Gardening Tools

What exactly is a gardening tool?  It is any tool made for working in gardens, and overlaps with use in horticulture and agriculture.  Some of the earliest tools used by man were the spade, the garden hoe, pitchfork, garden fork, rake and a plough.  Most of the tools in the earliest of agriculture times were made from wood, bone and flint.  

Later on, tools were made from copper, iron and steel, which enabled the farmers to have more durable tools.  With the emergence of industrial metal working came the manufacturing of cutting tools, like pruning shears and grass shears.  

Gardening

With the dawn of power tools a whole new line of items became available.  Tools such as cultivators, string trimmers, hedge trimmers, leaf blowers, leaf sweepers, lawn aerators, irrigation sprinklers, mini tractors and of course the lawn mower. 

Although lawn mowers are not necessarily considered a garden tool as most people look at it, it is something gardeners depend on to keep the grounds looking nice and trimmed.  

Depending on the type and size of your garden you could use a variety of these tools.  If you are taking care of a flower garden, you may need a hoe, rake, grass shears or even a spade for planting or moving things around.  Rose gardens, may require pruning shears for cutting back roses at the appropriate time, so that they bloom again.  For large vegetable gardens a tractor, with a plough and cultivator maybe necessary as well as a garden hoe and a rake.  

Other tools or things that might be considered as tools are the fertilizer and feeds or weed killers that you may have need of at any point in the life of the garden.  Lawn sprinklers or irrigation systems could also be considered as tools of the trade.  Granted you may not need the sprinklers that you see in fields where the power of the water turns the wheels and waters acres and acres at a time.  

No matter the size of the type of garden you have or are planning, you can locate most tools needed for the job at any hardware store, or any store that has a garden department.  Lowe’s, The Home Depot, Walmart, Ace Hardware and probably any local feed store if you live in the country can provide you not only with the tools to start or work your garden, but the seeds, seedlings and fertilizer you need to get it in the ground.

Even with tools gardening is hard back breaking, knee bending, and a lot of times hot work.  So why do people do it?  For stress relief, for the pure pleasure of making something grow and maybe even to feed their family.  

Container Gardening – Ideal During Winter

Green vegetation and colorful blossoms add color to the surroundings. However during the winter months, the landscape appears drab and depressing which is a grouse that most people have, besides complaints of freezing temperatures. Probably, any color appearing during November through February would be due to holiday displays. Winter container gardening is a beautiful way to spruce up the front of the house, the patio or deck with colorful displays of plants and flowers.

Container gardening in the ordinary sense is very easy and convenient, because any type of container will serve the purpose. Winter container gardening on the other hand needs to be approached differently. The container must be frost proof. Selection of the right type of container is of paramount importance. Ceramic or terracotta pots are not the best choice for winter gardening, as they tend to crumble in extremely cold climates. Metal, wood or resin containers with the customary drainage hole are ideal for winter container gardening.

Gardening

The next step is to add the soil into the container. Due to dry winter conditions, extra moisture is essential for the plant growth. A soil mix containing sphagnum moss and peat may be used in winter container gardening. Experts recommend mixing polymer granules to retain water in the soil. The container is ready for planting once it is filled with soil. Plant nurseries usually stock seasonal plants for sale. A visit to the local nursery may provide plants like ornamental cabbage that can be grown in winter. Variegated sage is a beautiful plant, so also ornamental chard. Pansies are sturdy plants and have the ability to bounce back after a freezing winter. Pansies can add more color and variety to the display. A little imagination can go a long way in getting a beautiful winter garden display. Ornamental cabbage can be the focal point of the display with ivy gracefully trailing over the sides of the container. Smaller plants may be planted around the ornamental cabbage with pansies to add a splash of color.

Winter container gardening is worth the effort for the pleasing effect it has on the landscape. Since the container is portable, it can be used as holiday table decorations or generally add color to an otherwise drab scene, reminding all that spring is not far away. Winter gardening is not a difficult task if one wishes to add the warmth of color to the cold winter months.

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Perennial Container Gardening

A Guide to Better Container Gardening

Container gardening is quickly becoming one of the more popular ways to garden. This increase in popularity of container gardening is directly related to the increase in the number of elderly gardeners, as these people want to maintain their gardening passion while managing their limited mobility. Also, container gardening is seeing an increase in popularity due to the number of people living in homes and in areas that have little to no space for even a modest garden. Regardless of why you are doing it, let’s look at how you can maximize your container gardening experience by planting a perennial container garden.

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If this is going to be your first container gardening experience, or you have had limited success with this type of gardening in the past, you would be wise to plant perennials. A perennial container garden is one that will come back year after year because these types of plants can grow in the same container with the same soil for up to six years in some cases. Not to mention that this is also a great gardening idea because perennials ad tremendous color to your landscape.

Selecting the right perennials for your container garden can be a challenge, as there are multiple varieties that are all attractive. A good rule of thumb is the three layer rule: select one perennial that will flower, one that will provide attractive foliage and one that will provide either an attractive flower or additional foliage. Remember to choose perennials that are long-flowering and tolerant to difficult conditions to ensure that your container garden not only has color all year round, but also that it survives through the winter months.

When it comes to planting your perennial container garden, be sure to place plants close enough together that there are few openings between them during full bloom. Also, be sure to allow adequate drainage for your container garden, as well as use a quality soil mixture.

Lastly, it is also important to ensure that when the winter does come, you are moving your container into an area that is somewhat sheltered. Perennials need exposure to the cold in order to have the dormant period which allows them to bloom the following season, therefore bringing the plants inside for the winter would not be in their best interests.

If you follow these simple guidelines you will be well on your way to having a great perennial container gardening experience.

Dontel Montelbaun contributes regularly to www.livetogarden.com, and is always sharing his planting and outdoor living knowledge with others.

Container Gardening Shrubs

Lack of space is no excuse for not having a garden – you can make a perfectly good garden on your patio, decking, balcony – or even on a window sill. Container gardening is very easy and can be extremely cheap. Ready to start?

Gardening has traditionally been seen as an activity exclusively for people with large gardens, but it doesn’t have to be. Whether you live in a small flat or a large house, you can start container gardening today! Container gardening is low maintainence – there’s no lawn to mow for a start! You can grow anything from shrubs to even small trees.

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Container gardening is seen as easier than traditional gardening, but it does require some planning. You will need to find the appropriate plants for your area of the world, as well as the right plants for the amount of daylight they will receive. Your local garden center will be able to advise you on this.

It is generally better to buy plants that you can transfer to your garden, rather than seeds, as they require less care to get started. Pay close attention to how they react to temperature and light at first, so you can keep them healthy.

There is a false notion that all the plants grow in the ground won’t grow in the container gardening. It’s not so. If you have any doubt, please do experiment on it. Moreover, any container with holes for drainage can be used for your container gardening.

Container gardening generally requires very little fertilizer and water, but always remember to check the specific requirements of your plants.

You may enjoy growing vegetables, as they can serve a useful purpose as well as looking good. Just provide them with a little sunlight and water and your family will enjoy cheap, home grown food for some time to come.

Don’t despair-if you’re not having balcony or deck? Get nod from your landlord for window boxes, a modern container gardening. It is highly possible to grow many bloomy annuals year-round and indoor vegetables in your sunny window. There is another type of garden called community gardens, which will satisfy the city dwellers.

There is no need to end your container gardening since you have entered autumn. But you can continue your container gardening by selecting the plants that are withholding the frost. The common plant varieties that stand up to the frost are Eulalia grasses, Mexican feather grass, Cornflowers, Lavender cottons, Jasmine, Million bells, Stonecrops, etc.,

In order to extend the life of your garden from early spring to fall, you can replant to match the conditions. Even you can contact some of the America’s best gardeners through online to get design for your container gardening. They offer suggestions such as caring and choosing for pots, how to grow tips for succulents, roses, and bulbs, in containers.

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