Best For The Garden

Which plants would be best for my garden?

I have a flower garden in front of my house and it is enclosed with rocks. It holds a lot of water when it rains and I planted some flowers and they are dieing due to too much water. What would be a good solution to this? and or what is a plant that can survive in a lot of water. {Something pretty} any suggestions?
I live in houston texas

You don’t say where you live, but that is not a problem for you.
1
Check out the aspect of your garden ie:- (NSEW) so you know where the sun rise/falls; which direction the wind mainly blows etc. Then check out with your neighbours what type of plants do well with them. Most gardeners will tell you and even share some of their plants with you. Its one way of getting to know your neighbours and making and meeting new friends. You can also call into a local plant nursery and ask them for info on plants that do well in your area.
I wish you well for the future.

What is the best gardening catalog to order from??

I like to look at all the catalogs (Michigan Bulb, Nature Hills, Park Seed). I have never ordered from one though. I don’t want to waste money on junky plants. Any suggestions for a catalog that has plants that are worth it?

I wasn’t pleased with Michigan Bulb, won’t order from them again.

I have been very happy with:
Plant Delights
Top Tropicals
Jung
Seymoure Seeds
Gurney’s
Burpee
Park Seed
Richters
Pinetree
Wayside Garden

How To Make An Organic Garden

Every spring, whether northern or southern hemisphere, many people begin to think about gardening. Some have been gardening every year since they were old enough to help in the family garden back of the house. Others have begun gardening only recently. Most have questions, though.

How to make an organic garden is a question that arises more frequently these days, as people become more concerned about health issues. They want to know that the produce they are eating is good for their health and safe for their families to eat. They want to begin an organic garden.

Many books have been written about how to make an organic garden, and we cannot compete with them in one article, but we offer here 7 basic steps for beginners.

How to Make an Organic Garden - Step #1

Begin your organic garden by learning your plant hardiness zone. You will need to know your climate, and what organic produce will grow best there. If you live in the United States, you can access the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map on many gardening sites or seed websites. Planting directions on seed packets are based on the average last frost date. The last frost date for your area will be the last spring day when you might have a killing frost.

How to Make an Organic Garden - Step #2

After you have determined your local climate, it is time to choose a location on your property for your organic garden. The area most convenient to your back door may not be the best for an organic garden. Look for a location that never has standing water. Your plants need good soil drainage. Check to see if the plants will be protected from the wind. Will your organic garden be close to water so you can easily care for it?

How to Make an Organic Garden - Step #3

Next, you will need to test the soil for your organic garden. In the U.S., check online for your county or state Home/Agricultural Extension Service. They will guide you in taking soil samples from different areas of the location you chose for your organic garden. Be sure you label each sample of soil as to part of the garden, and send it to be analyzed. This analysis will help you know what to add to the soil for a great harvest. Remember, one of the basic things you will do in your organic garden is to feed the soil so the soil can feed the plants.

How to Make an Organic Garden - Step #4

Order seeds, using information about your climate and soil. Be sure you order certified organic seed so that you can have an authentic organic garden. A good online seed supply source is Main Street Seed and Supply. You can buy as little as a teaspoon of seed for a small organic garden, or pounds of organic seed for farming. While ordering seeds, be sure to include onions, garlic, and marigold flowers. These plants can be a first line of defense in an organic garden’s pest control program.

How to Make an Organic Garden - Step #5

While you wait for your seeds to arrive, you need to prepare the organic garden bed. If there is grass growing in the location, removed it first. Use a sharp, flat-edged spade to slice out the sod. Shake off as much soil as you can, and remove the grass from the area. Till the soil to a depth of about 12″, and work in organic fertilizer, checking your soil analysis to know what amendments are needed.

How to Make an Organic Garden - Step #6

If you have organic seedlings to plant, water them well the day before you intend to plant them in the organic garden. The best time to set them in the garden is a still, overcast day. If you must plant on a sunny day, take care not to stress the plants more than necessary. Use the seedlings’ pots to determine how deeply to plant them.

If you are planting seeds in your organic garden, follow instructions that come with each type of seed.

How to Make an Organic Garden - Step #7

Apply organic mulch soon after planting. Mulch conserves water, cools soil, and keeps weeds at bay. If you use compost, chipped bark, shredded bark, shredded, shredded leaves, or straw, your mulch will also improve soil quality in your organic garden. Apply 2 to 4 inches of mulch, being careful not to get it too close to the plant stems. Mulch can rot the stems. It can also become a hideout for nibbling little garden mice.

Organic Garden Tip:

Label your plant rows and keep a record of your garden’s progress. Save seed information for everything in your organic garden. A garden journal, with photos throughout the gardening season, will help you know what you want to repeat or change in next year’s organic garden.

Anna Hart
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/how-to-make-an-organic-garden-134179.html

I never promised you a rose garden: (best answer 10 pts)Publisher and Publication info?

Can someone tell me the publisher of this book and the place and date of publication of it?
maybe someone who owns the book can look in the front for me and tell me the place and year and the publisher please?
thanksss
best answer 10pts

Here’s an online copy with all the info you need.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0451160312/ref=sib_fs_top?ie=UTF8&p=S00A&checkSum=vhXjZvqoESdqIWfTY78XoOxy98leEhb8WbtcZPHAAlc%3D#reader-link

——————————————————————————–
Product Details
Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Signet (November 7, 1989)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0451160312
ISBN-13: 978-0451160317
Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 0.6 inches

Best garden tractor for the money?

I’m a new homeowner, and for the first time in my life have enough yard (about 2 acres) to justify a riding lawn mower. I’d prefer something a little more heavy-duty– a so-called "garden tractor"– because I’m likely to use it for more than just mowing. Aerating, seeding, hauling around mulch and setting out a garden are among the activities in which I’d employ the tractor.

I looked at a new gasoline-powered Kubota today with a 46-inch mowing deck and an 18 horsepower Kohler V-twin engine, but the dealer wanted something like $3,800 for it!

For obvious reasons, then, I’m also entertaining used garden tractors. Later today, I’m going to check out an old Ford LGT garden tractor– the local New Holland (former Ford tractor) dealer says parts are plentiful, though I would have to order most of them and wait a couple days for them to come in if something on this late ’70s-early ’80s tractor happened to break. If the asking price isn’t more than $500 or $600, I’ll be sorely tempted to buy it, despite its age. My family has a history of restoring old mowers like this one, for what it’s worth.

Anyway, I’m interested in hearing your opinions on this: New or used, what’s the best garden tractor out there for a not-too-ridiculous price? I’m talking under $1,500 used– preferably under $1,000 used to be honest– and under $2,500 if new.

Don’t waste your time of a smaller ones from Lowe’s, home depot, etc.. Those are overpriced lawnmowers. Kubota has great, reliable and nice tractors / mowers. They may not be the cheapest, but me and my family have two of them. We will never need another one. We have a zero turn with a huge deck and a G1800 or something around that design it has 4 wheel steering( its over 10 years old, has been take care of, and has shown no problems ). My family and I live on 4 acres. The zero turn can mow all of it within two hours. We have never done any major repairs on them. Simple routine maintenance can keep them running strong for a long time (changing oil, filters, and sharpening blades).
There are many good mowers out there, but you get what you pay for. Kubota has treat me well and I will never get anything other than them. I believe you could probably find a good well maintained used one at a cheaper price ( look into the G series ).

Eight Steps to a Bountiful Vegetable Garden

You’ve decided that you want a vegetable garden to lower your grocery bills. But, where do you start? There are eight essential steps to successful vegetable gardening.

Step 1. Pick an appropriate area for your garden. When you choose your site, consider these important factors:

- Sunlight. Most vegetables grow best in full sunlight. Choose an area that gets at least six hours of sunlight a day.

- Soil. The best soil for growing vegetables is a dark soil, rich in nutrients, that has good drainage but will still hold sufficient moisture for the plants. Don’t plant your garden too close to trees and shrubs whose roots will steal nutrients and water from the vegetables.

- Water. Place your garden near your water supply — faucets that can be reached by no more than two hose lengths.

Step 2. Create your site plan. Make a plan before you purchase your seeds or plants. It will help you decide how many you need to buy to best fit the available space. Base your plan on the vegetables that your family likes, how much work you want to do on the garden and how much room there is in the garden. Create a quick sketch to follow while you are planting.

Step 3. Buy your plants and/or seeds. Be sure that the plants you get will grow well in the area where you live. Buy young, healthy plants that are not limp or straggly or that have been over-crowded in pots. On seeds, look at the date stamp on the package to make sure they are not too old.

Step 4. Prepare your soil for planting. This is one of the most important things to do for a successful garden. To prepare the soil, add a layer of compost or fertilizer over the top of the soil. Then till (or spade) this layer into the existing soil. Rake the soil into rows or mounds, depending on the type of vegetables you’ll be planting.

Step 5. Sow your seeds. If some of your vegetables will be planted from seeds, plant them first. Sometimes seeds are started indoors or in a greenouse to give them a good start. When seedlings appear, thin them to the distances recommended on the seed packets.

Step 6. Plant your plants. Plant young plants following the directions given by the plant nursery where you purchased them. Planting times can be tricky. You want to plant early, but not so early as to stunt their growth in cooler weather. Some plants will require netting or wire forms for best results.

Step 7. Care for your growing plants. Once your vegetables are all planted, you need to care for them by watering, weeding, pruning, and protecting them from insects.

Step 8. Harvest your garden. Different vegetables are harvested at different times. Vegetables should be carefully watched and picked at their peak. You may eat them immediately after harvesting or you can freeze or can them for later use.

Jude Wright
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/eight-steps-to-a-bountiful-vegetable-garden-110141.html

I want the best Garden Hose Timer?

I had a MELNOR garden hose timer which runs on one 9-volt battery that lasted 2 years. It handles one hose and can water up to three times a day for up to 180 minutes each time.

It stayed outside all winter and got frozen too many times. I want to replace it with something similar. I am not at all happy with the offerings I see at Walmart and Home Depot.

If you have *first hand experience* with a hose timer that runs forever and never lets you down and it affordable, let me know.

Of course I could just go buy another Melnor, but I’m open to ideas!

I have a few of these I bought at Home Depot made by Toro. Similar in design to what you have. It looks like a gray box with two knobs on it. One sets the frequency of watering and the other sets the duration. About $30 if I remember right. The oldest one I have is about 5 years old. I use them to control irrigation in my greenhouse, so they get a good workout all year long. The only time I had a problem with on was when a spider got into one and made a nest that clogged up the valve. Other than that, no problems.

Found a link from Toro -
http://www.toro.com/sprinklers/bsd/sourcefittings/53746.html

what is the best garden hose?

I’m looking for a simple garden hose, and I’m considering one of those flat hoses. However, I’ve heard some bad stuff about them blowing apart, and that you have to run them to their full length to use them. I’ve heard bad things about coiled hoses, too.
I’ve also bought medium duty hoses (I think nylon), that kink even on the first use. I wonder if it’s worth the money to buy a good rubber hose. And, if so, which one to buy?
Thanks, I know about the kink-free hoses. My point is that the ones the say "won’t kink" , do anyway (and right out of the box so it’s not about how I store them). I keep spending in the $25-$35 range for a 75 foot hose, and I just want to know if going up to the $40-$70 range is gonna make a difference. If so, what specific hose should I buy?

the coil hoses they sling back when your done

Indoor Herb Garden - 8 Wonderful Tips For A Wonderful Indoor Herb Garden!

Can you imagine any meal being cooked without spices or rather, herbs? You would probably comment, “It tastes like sawdust!” At the same time, it feels rather tiresome to keep making umpteen trips to the market just because you have run out of some herb or the other! Therefore, the best thing to do is to cultivate your own indoor herb garden.

The advantage to having herbs within your reach is that all your meals get that added spice and color. And if you collect some tips on how to take care of them, you could grow them in containers or pots the whole year round. So they are always within your reach!

Here are some suggestions on getting started with your indoor herb garden:

(1) Ensure that the soil is of very good quality. Since it is to be kept in a pot or container, the soil should have the capacity to retain water. In fact, if the purchased soil has organic matter added to it, so much the better; the herbs will grow faster. If you feel that soil quality does not matter, then you should not worry about the quality of your herbs either!

(2) Your indoor herb garden does not require all that much water - if they are watered once or twice every week without fail, it should do. This keeps the moisture at the correct level - the soil is always damp, but no water is left standing at the bottom. Too much of water will cause the roots to begin rotting.

(3) Indoors or outdoors, no plant can live without sunlight. Most of the herbs need to be under direct sunlight; so placing them near windows is best. Herbs such as chives, rosemary, basil, thyme and oregano require more than six hours of direct sunlight each day. In case it is not possible to provide direct sunlight, grow lamps or specialized natural light bulbs are available.

(4) Though the indoor herb garden requires direct sunlight, it would be wise to keep the plants a few inches away from the window and not in direct contact with the window glass or window sill. The sills become very hot in the summer months and affect the plants. During winter months, the temperature near the window is much cooler than the temperature a little inside the room.

(5) To ensure faster growth, dried or dead leaves should be removed. So also dead blossoms from plants that produce flowers

(6) The biggest leaves are found at the ends of branches or shoots. Pluck them first for the growth stays in control.

(7) The plants in your indoor herb garden need trimming from time to time. Otherwise, they may become too big for the containers or pots. Trimming should be done with a pair of sharp scissors, never with a knife. A knife can damage the plants because a pulling motion is used.

(8) For additional information, you could become a member of a gardening club or organization. Otherwise, turn to the Internet for advice. Experience is of course the best teacher to guide you regarding your indoor herb garden!

Abhishek Agarwal
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/indoor-herb-garden-8-wonderful-tips-for-a-wonderful-indoor-herb-garden-308379.html

Best Garden Design Software.?

Hi, I am looking for Garden design software to start a large garden project.
It will need to be easy to use, have the ability to stage a large garden. I would also prefer for it to have its own database of commonly used plants, eg: If I want to have a rose bed I would like to be able to place rose plants not just see the writing. It would be ideally around the $50 mark and no more. Any one know of anything like that. Many thanks in advance for your answers.

Here is a free trial with limitations.

Trial Limitations
The trial contains a small number of plants and other objects, but is otherwise fully functional. A watermark appears on movies and printouts. The full version of the software comes with over 12,000 objects and a printed Quick Start guide.

http://www.ideaspectrum.com/arch_trial.php