Window gardening ideas, techniques, and tips

Today, we are into the learning of window gardening ideas. A window gardening is a particular type of window that juts out into a yard or other exterior area. It contains several shelves & is typically installed in kitchens over the sink or really, any room in the home. Window garden means the increasing of ornamentals in receptacles placed in the windows of the home. Window gardening is a great way to cultivate fresh fruits and vegetables, grow flowers year round and add beauty to your home.

Garden windows are great additions to any home. Window gardens, or windowsill gardens, can be placed indoors or outdoors in the home. Garden window boxes are popularly grown by residents who don’t have access to a garden or a roof to grow plants. Do you use fertilizers or any enhancers for soils or plants when window gardening?  Flowering plants must be fertilized every 2 to 3 weeks in order to keep the blooms coming. Most other green plants & herbs can be fertilized 1-2 times per season. Earthworm castings, compost, and fish emulsion or kelp are all good organic fertilizers. One must be aware of window gardening ideas for better window garden design. So, let us start learning some window gardening ideas and techniques.

Plants suitable for window gardening:

Flowers suitable for window garden are;

Geraniums, lavender, impatiens, salvia, petunias, daisies, begonias, cacti, zinnias, fuschias, nasturtiums (you can also do all kinds of bulbs).

Herbs grown in the window gardening are;

Lavender, sage, thyme, rosemary, basils, parsley, marjoram, dill, hops, sorrel, lemon balm, bay, sweet basil, lemon verbena, peppermint, spearmint, and jasmine.

Vegetable Plants grown in window gardening are;

Lettuce, onions, carrots, garlic, cabbage, tomatoes, bush and pole beans, peas, scallions, kale, and peppers.

Containers used for your window garden:

The Containers used for window gardening are of all sizes, shapes, whether of plastic, ceramic, metal, mud or clay pots to wood boxes, hanging baskets, crocks, and washtubs.

A window box placed on the window-sill is one thing; a table located next to the window is another. There is actually no limit here, but you will want your container to have the ability to drain off excess water. This is very important as you don’t want plants to be sitting in water, rotting.

Transplanted Window Container Garden:

The design is to transplant a familiar sight the window container garden to the actual garden, bringing the window with. The glass set against an exterior wall makes for a novel sight, while the hanging containers do the work they were always meant for.

Read: Herb Garden Design, Techniques.

Free Standing Window Hanging Garden:

We love this idea because virtually any window frame can be used to generate it. With a bit of work & some ingenuity, you can convert each cell of the frame into a small pocket for container gardening, and then hang the entire thing against a wall, fence, or make a standing frame.

Basket Case:

Option for a basket instead of a box beneath your window for a unique look.

Vertical Garden:

Produce twice plants the visual impact by doubling up on your rows of plants in the window.

Small Window Greenhouse:

Garden windows make a perfect little greenhouse. This idea might take a bit of elbow grease but it’s moderately simple to accomplish, so long as you have a few spare windows sitting around.

Tree Hung Picture Window:

One of the most fascinating ways to reuse a window is to provide its new life with a new context. There’s nothing more interesting than removing the context completely from the window, letting it float in space beneath the branches of a tree. And, adding a few microscopic container gardens to the frame.

Light in your window garden:

In the window gardening plants need light. Consider that, north-facing window you will want to choose plants that require less sun such as ferns, violets, begonias, impatiens, mints, and philodendron.

If you have a south-facing window, your plants will get sunlight for most of the day so you will want to go with sun-loving plants like tomatoes, which need about seven hours of sunlight a day to thrive, (most vegetables & herbs will go into this sun-loving category), geraniums, nasturtiums, dahlias, petunias, cacti (and other succulents). 

Top garden windows decorating ideas:

Decorate your garden window with fresh plants:

One of the best ways to decorate a garden window is with plants. With the added light garden windows make, it’s the perfect spot for your indoor plants to thrive.

Add some items to give your garden window style:

Use the shelving that comes with these window gardens. Keep in mind; if kitchen counters already have a considerable amount of décor, less is more when styling any window.

Dress up your garden window with easy window treatments:

A simple window treatment or curtains can instantly dress up your window garden view.

Read: Organic Gardening Fertilizers.

Tips for window gardening:

Here are some tips for window gardening:

About Face:

Determine the amount of sunlight that comes into the garden window & what time of the day you get that sunlight. Choose plants that do well with the amount of light you will get from your garden window. Basil, for instance, likes a lot of sun & warmth that comes from a south-facing garden window. Bay needs air circulation to remain healthy & likes an east or west-facing garden window.

Hire a Contractor:

Although it may be tempting to try & install a garden window on your own, doing so is a risky endeavor. Garden windows are fairly complicated to install correctly; even a small mistake can create the frame too snug or too loose, cause the window to open & close improperly, and may put undue stress on the glass panes. Contractors are experienced in installing garden windows & are aware of the several variables involved in the installation process. Proper installation can help your plants thrive & ensure that you don’t have to pay more down the road for repairs and modifications.

Clean it up:

A garden window is a perfect location to display flowering plants that get a little of the outdoors inside. Or, put garden window to work with plants that have some muscle behind their roots, acting as air purifiers.

Use High-Quality Materials:

The key to the success of a window garden is using the correct materials. On wall side windows, our garden windows are completed from the highest-quality materials to ensure that you get the most out of your garden window. For example, we use high-quality plywood & durable Pionite to ensure that your window lasts. Furthermore, we install casement windows on either side to ensure appropriate ventilation.

Sniff it out:

Use your window garden as an air freshener. Herbs like rosemary will provide off a fresh pungent scent.

Take Advantage of Special Features:

The best part of a garden window is that it offers a glimpse of the outdoors while you’re working away in the kitchen. To boost its appeal, even more, insert cheery window coverings or flowers to the sill. Furthermore, because a window allows you to take advantage of sunlight & grow your favorite herbs all year.

Adds Light to Your Home:

Garden windows allow more light into the room, which is a great quality if your kitchen is small or dark; they offer more depth making your room look bigger & brighter. Garden windows allow you to cultivate plants & from the comfort of your own home. That is why a garden window is a perfect window for nature lovers.

Great in the winter:

Cold winters shouldn’t stop gardeners from growing their favorite plants, & they don’t have to with the garden window. These windows allow for the sun to reach your plants & you don’t have to step out into the cold of the winter. Its shelves are a perfect place to put potted veggies & flowers.

Perfect in Any Room:

A garden window is great in just about any style home. Though they are generally found in kitchens, they look good in bedrooms and living rooms as well.  Having a garden window in the kitchen makes it easier to maintain your plants watered and healthy.

Add beauty and value to the home:

Garden windows are designed for beauty. They have about four glass panes one on each side, one in the front, and a slanted pane on top. Depending on the size, the window can have one shelf or multiple shelves. Any adding to the home, such as this, adds value to the property.

Watering the seeds or plants:

Water new plants & seeds frequently. Water from the bottom to prevent rotting the crown & the fruit. The best time to water plants is in the evening or early morning when it is cooler so the water doesn’t dissolve in the heat.

That’s all guys for today about Window Gardening Ideas.

Read: Grafting Methods of Hibiscus.

Herb Gardening Design Techniques:

Let us discuss today the herb gardening design, techniques, ideas, and tips. Winters or summers, morning or evening every day we use herbs in one or other forms. Whether you are sitting at dominos sprinkling oregano on your favorite pizza or you are sipping your chilled lemonade with mint on summer days.

A lot has been written on herbs since ancient time be it in Vedas or granny’s instant remedies. While some folks believe that some herbs are exceptional and sacred, others use herbs for cosmetics or medication or for culinary purposes. Culinary herbs in small amounts provide delicious flavor to food. In terms of medicinal herbs, some herbs, such as mint leaves have a cooling effect, the leaves and extracts of cannabis and cocoa plants contain psychoactive property that has been used for religious/ceremonial and also recreational purposes. Various herbs are used in many religions for different spiritual purposes such as cleansing, smudging, exercises for rites of passages, and so on. As for herbal cosmetics, mixtures and pastes were often used to brighten the face. Now, however, herbal-based cosmetics come in several forms, such as face creams, scrubs, lipsticks, natural fragrances, and essential oils.

So when we know how important herbs are then why not grow herbs at our own home! What better way to get healthy by growing your own herb garden?

Herbs do not have to take up a lot of space and labor. Herb can be moved indoors or out depending on the season and of course space available.

What are herbs? How to grow herbs at home? 

Name of useful herbs?  How to start a herbal garden?

Answering your questions is always our foremost priority. Here we will discuss some tips on getting started with your own backyard herb garden. So without wasting much time let’s start our own herbal garden and for this, first you need to understand which type plants are called herbs.

Read: Vertical Gardening Ideas for Beginners.

What are herbs?

Word “herb” is referred to any green or leafy part of a plant or any plant utilized for seasoning and flavoring a recipe, but not used as the main ingredient. We can also call herbs those plants with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, medicinal purposes. The culinary uses of herbs are what differentiate them from spices.

How herbs differ from spices?

The fundamental difference between herbs and spices lies with what part of the plant they are derived from. A herb is a leafy or other green parts of the plant. While Any other component of the plant would be considered a spice—including dried bark, the roots, a berry, seeds, twigs, or other plant matter that is used for seasoning or enriching flavor a dish. For example, cinnamon is the bark of a tree. Cardamom is a seed pod. Cloves are dried flower buds and bright fragrant saffron is the stigma of a flower. These are all examples of spices. So we can conclude that spices are used in dried form while herbs can be used either fresh or dried.

Steps for herb gardening:

Starting a herb garden is one of the easiest things you can do without putting many efforts. Growing herbs is an easy way to start gardening. So just keep reading to learn about the steps for making a herb garden in your yard.

A necessary thing to Grow Herbs is to put them in The Right Place

The prime requirement for growing Herbs is growing them in the proper location. First, you should decide the location for growing herbs. Most of the herbs that you can grow easily at home need two things proper sunlight and well-drained soil. This means that when considering places in your yard for planting a herbal garden, you need to look for a location that gets at least six or more hours of sunlight per day and soil that is well drained.

Read: Organic Fertilizers for Home Garden.

Herbs can be grown in a variety of places such as containers, pots; however, the herbs always prefer to be grown in the ground where they can spread out. Some herbs grow quite large (4-6 feet), and when they are placed in pots they can become stunted and can get stressed. But If you are short on garden space, put your herbs in pots. That way, you can always bring them indoors when it starts getting hotter. People usually prefer their convenience when selecting a place to start growing a herb garden. Planting near your kitchen makes it easier to harvest herbs from the herb garden.

Pick desired herbs that work the best for your purposes.

Which herbs you grow in your garden depends mainly on what you would like to grow and why. Almost all herbs will grow for at least one season means they are annual rarely they grow year after year. Most herbs are easy to grow but pick ones you will actually use or ones that work well as companion plants to other plants that you are already growing.

Some common herbs that people grow when first starting a herb garden as starter herbs are:

• Mint
• Basil
• Oregano
• Thyme
• Rosemary
• Sage
• Cilantro
• Parsley
• Coriander (leaves)
• Garlic (leaves)

Preparing the Soil:

Shortcuts here are terrible for your little plants. Once you have chosen the location for growing a herb garden, you will need to prepare the soil beds. For preparing the herb garden soil, dig with a large garden fork so that it loosens soil that has become compacted over the years. This permits water to drain and creates space for plant roots to reach down into the soil. If soil is sandy or clay heavy, add plenty of compost. Adding compost to your soil, about an inch or so on top and then mixing it into the soil, helps prevent drainage problems and provide nutrients to the herbs while they are growing. Even if your soil is in quite a good condition, adding some compost into the soil will help. You don’t need to add anything extra when growing herbs, do not use composted manures in the herb garden. These are bulky and normally high in nitrogen, which will make the herbs grow quickly but will reduce their flavor.

Harvesting herbs

Mainly herbs are useful for their leaves rather than their flowers, stem or root, so pinching them off and harvesting them simultaneously can be a good way to keep the focus on vegetative growth over flowers. Frequently harvesting herbs will result in more production and more foliage, which ultimately increases the amount you are able to harvest. For harvesting, you can simply cut off about 1/3 of the branches when your herb reaches at least 6-8″ of height. By cutting closer to a leaf intersection, your plants re-grow very quickly. Some herbs, such as parsley, growth of new leaves occurs from their center. In this case, the older branches need to be totally removed, leaving the new tiny branches growing from the center.

After harvest, you can also preserve some of your herbs for later use. Drying herb is one popular method of preparing herbs for storage. Some herbs, such as parsley and chives, should only be used fresh, as they do not retain their flavor well when they are dried. Freezing herbs is also one of an innovative way to store herb for later use. One fun way to freeze herbs is to create little flavored ice cubes with them that can be simply added to cold water, soups, stews or other dishes. They either melt into the water for a tasty and healthy drink or cook into the dish being prepared and enrich their flavor.

That’s all folks about herb gardening design techniques. Keep gardening!.

Read: Sericulture Training in India.

Home Gardening Requirements for Beginners

Today, we discuss the topic of Home Gardening Requirements.

The home garden or kitchen garden can be defined as a farming method which combines different physical, economic & social functions on the area of land around the family home. It is a place for people to live in but it also produces a variety of foods and other things for both home use & income.

The main part of a home garden concentrates on three important aspects – the home garden as:

• The most direct approach of providing daily food;
• It is a source of income for the purchase of other foods;
• That means to produce non-food items such as medicinal herbs, spices, and building materials.

The main purpose of the home garden or kitchen vegetable gardening is to provide the family daily with fresh vegetables rich in nutrients & energy. There has been a more or less continuous supply of vegetables throughout the year according to the season. In the kitchen, the gardening emphasis is generally placed on a great variety of crops according to season.

Plant in a sunny location:

Most of the plants need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. The more sunlight they receive, the greater the harvest, the bigger the veggies, & the better the taste.

Planting is a major part of home gardening requirements.

Plant in good soil:

Plant roots penetrate the soft soil more easily, so you require nice loamy soil. Enriching your soil with compost provides required nutrients. Good drainage will ensure that water neither collects on top nor drains away too quickly. What to know about pH level, it’s very important that garden soil has the proper soil pH. A very high or very low soil pH may effect in plant toxicity or nutrient deficiency. A pH value of 7 is neutral; microbial activity is greatest & plant roots absorb or access nutrients best when the pH is in the 5.5 to 7 range.

Some common sources of organic matter include:

• Compost, homemade or purchased
• Earthworm castings
• Manure (should be aged before using in the garden to avoid pathogen spread & risk of burning plants)
• Fall leaves (use as mulch or till in)
• Straw & wood chips (best used as mulch on the soil surface)

Plant in a stable environment:

Don’t want to plant in a place that’s prone to flooding through heavy rains, or in a place that tends to dry out a lot. You also don’t want to plant somewhere where strong winds can knock over your young plants or keep pollinators from doing their job.

Time for plantation:

Plants, in general, are divided into two groups based on season, i.e. warm season and cool season. Cool-season crops can stand lower temperatures so you can plant them before the soil gets warm in the spring. They can be planted in late summer to yield after the first frost in the fall. Whereas, warm-season crops cannot bear frostiness. It will not produce when the soil temperature is cool so it must be planted after the last frost in the spring & early enough to mature before frost in the fall.

Provide plenty of water:

Watering is key to garden success, especially in warm, dry regions. During the first few weeks after seeds germinate or seedlings are transplanted, watering keeps plants more strong. Deep watering encourages roots to produce deeper in the soil, where they’re better protected.

Weather conditions and the composition of your soil determine when you must water. Clay soil dries out more gradually than sandy soil.  In the sunny, windy conditions dry out soil more quickly than cool, cloudy weather.

Providing frequent water to keep the soil moist and to avoid the plants from drying out, water is a major part of home gardening requirements.

Basic gardening tools

The right tools create works in your garden a pleasure instead of a chore. You don’t use a butter knife to chop up raw carrots, & you shouldn’t use dull or flimsy tools to work in your garden. Basic home gardening equipment includes:

Garden hoe, Scuffle hoe, a Dirt rake, Leaf Rake, Garden Shovel or D handle Shovel and Hand tools.

Read: Complete Gardening Tools Guide.

Suggested plants for a beginner’s home vegetable garden:

The vegetables recommended below are common, producing plants that are relatively easy to grow in home gardens:

Top Vegetables

Tomatoes, Zucchini squash, Peppers, Cabbage, Bush beans, Lettuce, Beets, Carrots, Chard, and Radishes.

Nutrients require for home gardens:

Just like people, plants need nutrients in order to grow healthy & strong (and those nutrients are passed on to us when we eat plants for food). In particular, plants require nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). These nutrients can either be derived from the soil (more on that below!) or will want to be manually added.

In-home gardening, one should understand that plant nutrient are a major part of home gardening requirements.

Germinating Seeds:

Germination is affected by 4 environmental factors: water, oxygen, light, and temperature. Manage them correctly & your seeds are sure to sprout. Read your seed packets to recognize the requirements of each crop.

Water requirement:

It’s important to know how much water to provide your seedlings; they will remain dormant if they are too dry & can rot if too wet. Adequate & consistent moisture is ideal. A gentle daily misting with a spray bottle must do the trick. Covering the seeds with a thin coating of vermiculite or peat moss helps.

Oxygen requirement:

From seeds to obtain enough oxygen, your soilless growing medium needs to drain well. Heavy, wet media cause the anaerobic situation, which inhibits germination.

Light requirement:

Plants light requirements vary from crop to crop; where you place your seeds will determine how much light they receive per day.

Temperature requirement:

Temperature affects the number of seeds that germinate & how quickly they germinate. Some seeds have a very specific temperature vary for germination, while others will germinate over a broad range of temperatures. A temperature range 65° to 75°F is typical for most seeds.

Planting seeds and seedlings:

The gardening season is to plant seeds and seedlings out into your garden. For your first garden, I recommend growing everything outside once it’s warm enough, rather than trying to develop your own seedlings indoors prior to the start of the outdoor season. Learning how to start a home garden is busy enough as it is without the added work of indoor seed starting.

Although most types of plants are available as seedlings, some plants are more generally “direct-seeded”, meaning that the seeds are sown directly in the garden once the soil is warm enough. Many gardeners will develop their leafy greens, carrots, and sunflowers from seed directly in the garden, and buy seedlings for their tomatoes & peppers. Sowing seeds, Each seed packet that you purchase for your garden must have specific instructions on it for that crop.

Give attention to the depth of each seed while planting. In general, seeds are planted about three times as deep as they are wide. So, a large pumpkin seed can be planted much deeper than a small carrot seed. Each plant is different though, with some requiring light to germinate & others requiring darkness.

Some of these crops are best grown by setting out started seedlings, but most are easy to develop from a packet of seeds.

Radishes: Radishes do well even in the not-so-great garden soil & are prepared to harvest in only a few weeks. Plant the seeds in spring & fall.

Green beans: Green beans are easy to grow and prolific. If you get a big crop, they freeze well, & they’re also delicious when pickled as dilly beans. Start with green bean seeds after all danger of frost has passed.

Onions: Start with small plants, and if they do well, can harvest bulb onions. If not, can always eat the greens.

Tomatoes: There’s just no substitute for a perfectly ripe homegrown tomato, & it’s hard to go wrong when you start with strong plants. If you obtain a big crop, consider canning or freezing.

Basil: Many herbs are easy to develop, but basil is a good choice because it’s a nice complement to tomatoes. Basil is easy to develop from seeds or from transplants.

Potatoes: Potatoes are an easy-to-grow staple that stores well when kept cool. A simple & low-maintenance approach is to plant potatoes in straw rather than soil. ‘Seeds’ are whole or cut part of potatoes, sold in early spring.

Fertilizing:

The three main nutrients plants need are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). These are available in chemical or synthetic (nonorganic) fertilizers. The numbers of each nutrient show the percentage of net weight contained.

Nitrogen promotes strong leaf & stem growth and dark green colors, such as desired in broccoli, cabbage, lettuce, and herbs. Add aged manure to the soil & apply alfalfa meal or fish or blood meal to increase available nitrogen.

Phosphorus promotes root & plant growth, including setting blossoms and developing fruit, and seed formation. It’s important for cucumbers, peppers, squash, & tomatoes any edible that extend after a flower has been pollinated. Add (fast-acting) bone meal or rock phosphate to increase phosphorus.

Potassium promotes plant root vigor U disease and stress resistance and enhances flavor; it’s vital for carrots, radishes, turnips, and onions & garlic. Add green sand, wood ashes, gypsum, or kelp to raise potassium.

Harvest season:

The final phase of learning how to start a home garden is enjoying harvest season. This is the phase where you get to enjoy the results of all of your hard work learning how to start a garden.

Harvest your plants in the morning if possible, after the morning dew has dried. The veggies will be fresh & plump with moisture, having not yet been dried out by the hot afternoon sun. They’ll be at the peak of their flavor & perfect for enjoying.

Read: Soil pH Scale, Soil pH Importance.

Gardening Soil Types and Role of Soil

Today we are into a discussion of Gardening Soil Types. Most brilliants minds on earth spend millions of money and risk their lives in search of slightest possibilities for the life-supporting environment all around the universe. Solar missions are taken seriously and have become measure on one country’s strength and development. Hundreds of high-resolution camera’s and satellites are constantly revolving and being sent as far as they can gaze with those high-resolution telescopes to look for the possibility of life.

But how do we conclude which planet supports life?

They say when this universe was made Lord Brahma (according to Indian mythology) gave three components as life support: water, air, and soil.

So all this hard work and capital are being spent to find water, air, and soil all over the universe, ever wondered!!!.

So coming to mainstream we need to know why soil is important for gardening.

Soil is the most wondrous gift of nature to mankind. Development of soil from the earth and the evolution of the human race have gone hand in hand. Soil is a dynamic three-dimensional substance that covers major world’s land surface after water. It differs from place to place, in response to the five factors that form it: climate, topography, organisms, the parent rock below surface, and time. Soil genesis is a slow process, taking nature between 80-750 years to generate one cm of soil.

Soil performs different functions:

• Biomass production
• Storing, filtering and transformation of nutrients, minerals, organic substance
• Holding water and moisture
• Biodiversity sustenance
• Physical and cultural environment regulation
• Anchorage
• Archive of geological and cultural heritage
• It provides a home for fungi, bacteria, insects, burrowing mammals, and other organisms
• It is a medium for plant growth. Further reading focuses on this last but not the least function.

What does soil do for plants?

This section will enrich you about the importance of gardening soil. Soil is a dynamic body which renders a number of environmental services, especially to the growing plants.

Anchorage: soil works like a support system for the plant roots extending outward and/or downward through the soil, thereby stabilizing plants.

Oxygen: the spaces among soil particles contain air that provides oxygen and often called air pockets, which living cells (including root cells) use to break down sugars and release the energy needed to live and grow.

Water: the spaces present among soil particles also contain water, which moves upward through plants. This water cools plants as it evaporates off the leaves and other tissues; works as a carrier of nutrients absorbed by plant roots;  also helps to maintain cell size so that plants don’t wilt; and serves as a raw material for photosynthesis, the process by which plants prepare their food.

Read: How To Grow Herbs In Your Backyard.

Temperature regulation: soil insulates roots from drastic fluctuations in temperature. This is especially important during the excessively hot or cold season of the year.

Nutrients: soil supplies essential nutrients, and also holds the nutrients that we add in the form of fertilizer.

Habitat for soil organisms: it helps the survival of numerous microorganisms and macro microorganisms through physical and nutritional support which on return increases soil fertility and makes the soil a living body. 

Properties of soil:

Now let’s discuss varies properties which make it so important for the existence of life, it is well-known fact that if plants live, we will live as they are the producers we rely on for breath and food. For the convenience of study soil properties are divided as physical and chemical properties

Physical properties: they play an important role in determining soil’s suitability for gardening. The physical property of soil affects:

• Supporting capability
• Movement, retention, and accessibility of water and nutrients
• Ease in penetration of roots
• The flow of heat and air

1. Soil texture: Soil is composed of both an organic matter (from decomposing plants and animals). The mineral portion of soil is recognized by its texture. Texture refers to the relative amounts of sand, silt, and clay present in the soil.
2. Soil structure: the arrangement of primary and secondary soil particles. Soil structure usually is described by terms such as blocky, platy, prismatic and angular. This arrangement affects soil properties like soil pores which in return influence almost all the plant growth factors such as water supply, aeration, availability of plant nutrients, root penetration, application of fertilizer, etc.
3. Pore space: Soil particles rarely fit together tightly; they are separated by spaces called pores. Pores are filled with water and/or air these pores are discontinuous. A well-structured soil has both large pores (macropores) and tiny pores (micropores); for providing a balance of the air and water that plants need. Macropores provide good drainage, and micropores hold water that plants can obtain. This helps to clarify how you can achieve a “well-drained but moist soil”. Air pockets are important because they carry soil air which is as essential as a nutrient, water, and temperature are for plant growth.

Types of garden soil:

After going through varies literature and Google search a gardener often comes across the suggestion that plant should be grown in suitable type of soil, so how does one know what is suitable garden soil?

For this, we are here to help you out let’s see what different types of soil are and how do different garden soils affect the plant growth?

Different types of soil based on their texture:

1. Sandy soil:

It consists of more than 70% sand and less than 15% clay. It is divided into two classes.

• Sandy soil
• Loamy Sand

Sandy or coarse-textured soils are loose, absorbs water rapidly and drain it quickly, it has lower water and nutrient holding capacity, lower organic content and it is also called light soil.

2. Loamy soils:

Loamy soil is the mixture of sand, silt and clay particles that exhibit properties of these separates in equal proportions. This doesn’t mean that sand, silt, and clay particles are present in equal quantities.

Loamy soil is the most preferred type of soil for the cultivation of plants because of its capacity to retain water and nutrients is better than sandy while its drainage, aeration properties are more favorable than clayey soils.

Loamy soils are subdivided into seven textural classes depending upon which constituent is in high proportion:

• Sandy Loam
• Loam
• Silt Loam
• Silt sandy clay loam
• Clay Loam
• Silty clay loam

3. Clayey soils:

Also known as fine-textured or heavy textured soil. This type of soil contains at least 35% of the clay fraction. Clayey soil tends to absorb or retain more water, become plastic and sticky when wet, hard and cohesive when dry and difficult to cultivate.

Read: How to Design a Flower Garden.

Clayey soil has, high water and nutrient holding capacity, poor aeration, very slow drainage unless cracked, high to medium organic matter content.

It is subdivided into three textural classes.

• Sandy clay
• Silty clay
• Clay

Different types of soil based on soil structure:

Single grained structured: particles are completely unattached to each other as in case of loose sand.

Massive structured: particles are bonded in large cohesive, non-structural mass as in case of surface crust, plough pan, and clay pan.

Blocky soil: promotes good drainage, aeration, and penetration.

Prismatic soil: commonly occurs in subsurface soil in arid and semi-arid regions and in poorly drained soil of the humid region.

Platy soil: Restricted percolation and aeration in the soil.

Spherical soil: formed by biotic activities in the surface horizon and promotes percolation, infiltration, aeration and root penetration in soil.

Other types of soil:

1. Alluvial soil: rich in plant nutrients but deficient in organic carbon and nitrogen.
2. Black soil: also called black-cotton soil it is very dark, cracking clay dominated soil. its characteristic black color is due to the clay-humus complex.
3. Red soil: it is well-drained soil found in semi-arid to warm humid tropical climates. It is slightly acidic to slightly alkaline and has poor organic carbon and P.
4. Salt-affected soil: these type of soil occurs in arid and semi-arid climates( less than 850mm rainfall).salinity in these soil is due to chlorides, sulfates, and salt developed from weathering from groundwater, irrigation water, and sea. A variety of salt-tolerant crops such as rice, wheat, sugarcane, barley, oats, cotton, karnal grass, Bermuda grass are grown in such soils.

Soil is the epicenter of life on planet earth .its sustainable use; management and conservation are the onerous responsibility of all inhabitants of the earth, it takes around 1,000 years to form 1 cm soil and soil erosion washes it away in less than a year. Hence, sustainable and better soil management is critical for crop productivity. Good management must consist of maintaining the soil’s integrity over time. Poor management can cause soil erosion, loss of soil fertility, deterioration of soil structure hence poor crop yields.

That’s all folks for today about Gardening Soil Types and their facts.

Read: Rainwater Harvesting Methods.

Flower gardening design, ideas, and tips

Introduction:

What is a flower garden? A flower garden or floral garden is any garden where flowers are grown & displayed. Planting flowers add color & visual interest to any landscape. A splash of color among trees increases the appeal of outdoor spaces. Additionally, throughout the blooming season, planted flowers provide gardeners with flowers suitable for cutting & bringing indoors saving money that would otherwise be spent at a florist. Flowers planting have environmental benefits. Plants help to remove pollutants from the air. During the process of photosynthesis, the flower’s leaves absorb carbon dioxide & release oxygen. Additionally, planting flowers can help to hold soil in its proper place, reducing erosion & flooding. Growing a flower garden is a beautiful way to explore the world of gardening & create a beautiful landscape for your home. So setting up a flower gardening at home is not that tough.

Flower garden design:

What is the purpose of a flower garden? While the reason for having a flower garden can be nothing more than for enjoyment & enhancing the landscape, having a focus or theme can create the design process easier. Some possibilities include cut flower, butterfly, moonlight, oriental, water, fragrance, and woodland, a collection of one type of plant or a particular season such as autumn.

Steps for flower garden design:

Select a location:

The best site will be one that gets a lot of sunlight, has rich soil & drains well. Other considerations for sites contain sunny spots along the back boundary, in a corner that hasn’t been planted or behind or beside the garage. Small spaces can hold a set of plants. The basic kinds of flowering plants are Annuals and perennials; As far as gardens are concerned, these are the two basic types of flowering plants. Annuals go through their total life cycle in one growing season. Sprouting from a seed, increasing leaves and roots, producing flowers, creating the seeds and then dying. They are popular with gardeners since, with reasonable care, they bloom their heads off all season. Perennials are plants whose root structures stay alive underground for several years or even decades. The part above the soil may go dormant & die back in winter, but the plant is still alive and will sprout again in spring.

Soil quality for flower gardening:

Annuals can develop in poorly prepared soil (while a healthy soil contributes to optimum growth), but perennials seldom survive more than one year if the soil is not properly prepared. A rich, black loam high in organic matter is chosen. In the fall prior to planting, incorporate compost, leaf mold, or peat moss to develop soil quality. Spread 4 to 6 inches of the material on the garden & spade it in. In the spring season, before planting, spade the soil again.

Soil fertility and pH requirements:

Generally, flowering plants require a complete nutrient supplement containing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to grow well. The source can be an organic or rock powder produce or a synthetic fertilizer. Some annuals, perennials, and wildflowers will bloom mainly prolifically in rather poor soil. A soil pH range of 6.0 to 6.5 is desirable for most plants.

Bed design:

Using graph paper to design the bed lines & plant placement is the most efficient way to plan the garden. Flower beds can be created by laying flexible garden hose or twine on the ground until the suitable form is obtained or by using a dribble of limestone. Bed lines can be straight or rounded, but curved lines are further interesting. Planning the design with the correct spacing between plants will assure that there is the right number of plants for the design. Stay taller plants to the back of the border, and those that are low in the front. The color choice is personal preference. There are many vibrant primary & soft pastel colors available, so many combinations are possible. Warm reds, pinks, and yellows make a garden appear larger and closer.

Read: Ideas for Urban Gardening.

Propagation:

Flowering plant propagation through from seed, cuttings, or division depending on species. Consult a dependable reference for information on individual plants.

Planting:

When should you plant flowers? You can start seeds for these and other cool-season plants indoors through early February. Seedlings should be ready for transplant outdoors in March month, depending on the variety. Beginning your year by starting seeds for cool season flowers can effect in a colorful spring garden.

Seed:

Follow seed packet instructions for distance apart, correct depth of planting & proper timing. Timing important because some seeds are not frost or cold tolerant & must be sown when the soil is warm. Seeds sown in the fall or early spring may need freezes to break seed dormancy. Cover the seeds with fine soil & water thoroughly. Biennials & many perennials will not bloom the first year from seed. The fastest-growing flower seeds are those that germinate in 14 days or less & flower within 70 days. These include marigold, nasturtium, annual phlox & sunflowers.

Bulb Planting:

Plant as soon as the bulbs are received from the supplier to prevent drying out, or plant as soon as conditions permit. The ideal time for spring blooming bulbs in September and October month, but bulbs can be planted until the ground freezes. Bulbs found in a forgotten bag can be kept in cold storage, and then planted through a midwinter thaw. Spring-blooming bulbs are planted in the fall so they will have time to form a strong root structure before the ground freezes. Summer blooming bulbs are normally planted on or after the frost-free date in spring.

Depth of planting is generally 2 1/2 to 3 times the diameter of the bulb measured to the bulb’s shoulder. A small deeper in sandy soil, shallower in heavy soils. Individual recommendations for tubers, tuberous roots, & rhizomes do not follow this rule.

Water requirement for flower garden:

All plants require water to grow. For most flowers, one inch on clay soils to 1 1/2″ on sandy soils is enough water for garden beds each week. Use a rain gauge to verify how much rain has fallen, and reduce irrigation by that much. Ideally, water must be applied in the early morning. Water thoroughly so the soil is moistened to at least eight inches deep. Frequent, shallow sprinkling encourages shallow root systems & disease development. Some plants are tolerant to very tolerant of dry rising conditions once established.

Read: Compost Making From Kitchen Waste.

Mulching:

Organic mulches such as grass clippings or inorganic mulches such as black polyethylene weed barrier with slits cut from plants, help maintain even soil moisture and temperature & deter weeds. A small extra fertilizer when using wood mulches offsets the nitrogen used up in the decomposition of the mulch. Sometimes organic mulches harbor pests, such as earwigs and slugs, but this disadvantage is generally offset by the advantages of using organics. Mulch depth must not exceed two inches.

Growing methods:

Lightly scratch the soil surface to check to the crust. Remove weeds to reduce competition for water & nutrients. Take care not to damage the rising roots of desirable plants.

Flower gardening ideas:

Flower bed with clay pots:

When it comes to convenience, nothing beats flowers planted in clay pots half-buried in a flower bed of gravel. Bulbs do fantastically well with this scheme, with these party-colored tulips.

Flower shaped floral garden layout:

Why not have a flowerbed shaped like a flower? Plant pink begonias for the petals, blue forget-me-nots for the center & a prostrate green plant such as Hacquetia for the curving stems. Make sure to maintain everything trimmed and tidy.

Tile deck with built-in flower beds:

A homeowner who is thinking of adding a deck must think about one with built-in planters. In this case, the deck has a tile floor, but planters can be built into decks made of wood. These beds delight the eye with pure white roses contrasted with purple, lavender & butter yellow sun drops.

Raised block flower and plant bed:

A raised bed made of pre-cut blocks & pavers makes tending to the plants easier, especially if the gardener is getting on in years. Plant some ornamental grasses, turf lily, chrysanthemums, asters, thrift & perhaps a small, ornamental tree.

Perennial flower bed for summer-long blooms:

A flower bed filled with perennials is now the thing for blooms that last the entire summer then returns year after year. Try a flower bed with a serpentine border dominated by pink begonias edged with smaller white begonias. Break up the pink & add height with discreet plantings of boxwood, barberries, daylilies and tall, orange canna lilies.

Gravel yard with plant bed:

A bed in a gravel yard lets the gardener indulge in all kinds of colors, heights & textures provided by aloe and agave plants, ornamental grasses, sedges & a rosemary plant allowed to grow to shrub-size. Blue gravel used both to separate the bed from the yard & as mulch brightens the colors of the plants.

Flower gardening design tips:

Some of flower garden design tips are given below;

• Most plants are best kept outdoors where they can obtain the most direct sunlight.
• Flower bed size: Make your flower beds wide enough to include flowering shrubs such as hydrangeas or rhododendrons, and even small flowering trees. Try not to maroon woody plants in a sea of lawn they look better incorporated into the planting beds.
• Wider beds that are at least five to six feet wide are more attractive & give more planting opportunities for that lush, layered look you’re after.
• Give individual plants enough space; Place plants about as far apart as each plant’s final spread. For example, a perennial that grows 24 inches wide must be about 20 to 24 inches from its neighbors.
• Choose a potting soil that includes an organic nutrient source whenever possible. This provides plants with a slow-release source of nutrients throughout the gardening season & skips the synthetic chemical fertilizers that can burn tender roots or lead to leaf tip burn.
• Add fresh mulch to flower gardens every year. A two to three-inch layer of mulch keeps weeds from sprouting and helps the soil retain water, so you’ll be weeding and watering less often.
• To keep container gardens from looking too busy, stick with just one or two main focal points per container & surround those featured plants with simpler textures, colors, & forms.
• The potting soil and compost mixture you used to fill the pots contains nutrients, should still add supplemental fertilizer every 3 to 4 weeks throughout the growing season.

That’s all folks about beautiful flower gardening at your home, keep gardening!.

Read: How To Grow Lettuce In Pots.

Growing Mosquito Repellent Plants in Home Garden

Today, we are into growing mosquito repellent plants in your home garden. My apologies to almighty, our creator but certainly mosquitoes are the most irritating livings ever existed, especially in summers when you wish to open your windows to fetch some fresh air but these annoying uninvited guests’ bumps in. During that one-minute advertisement break, you will definitely come across 2-3 advertisements about mosquito repellents sprays and coils as the summer and springs arrive they start gaining more popularity. But there are concerns about the potential toxic effect of these, especially when used by children.

They say where everything fails nature comes at rescue.

So there are biological, natural ways to ward off mosquitoes away besides inhaling poisonous gases of mosquito-killing coils and drowning yourself in mosquito sprays. Few plants help to repel mosquitoes and other insects and they are easy to grow too.  Welcome these plants into your garden for not only their colorful display and fragrance but also their ability to keep those uninvited mosquitoes out.

As we are constantly working to deliver facts about miracles of nature for your use. Today we will discuss plants which are easy to cultivate and having mosquito repelling properties.

Growing mosquito repellent plants in the home garden is not rocket science and a novice gardener can easily do this.

1. Marigold :

Gardener’s favorite and commonly available plant which is often seen in almost all gardens as an ornamental border plant. These are the hardy annual plants with bright orange to yellow flowers. Marigolds have a distinctive smell that deters mosquitoes. This has a scientific reason behind it; researchers found that marigold plants have several compounds with insecticidal properties, including volatile chemicals called thiophenes. These killed the larvae and adults of both Aedes aegyptii the mosquito that carries the malaria disease, and Anopheles stephensi, the mosquito responsible for carrying yellow fever. Marigolds can be easily grown in containers, pots and you can also place them near your terrace, balcony or entrance to your home to keep nasty mosquitoes away.  Many Asian countries use marigold wall hangings and garlands for decorations.

Marigolds prefer full sunlight and reasonably fertile soil you can raise marigold plants using seeds or seedling which are easily available in gardening stores and for next season you save your own seeds simply from mature marigold flowers. Besides being mosquito repellent it also wards off preys of tomato plants such as tomato hornworms, whiteflies, aphids, and thrips. Its beauty, easy cultivation, and mosquito repelling quality make it a perfect garden flower.

2. Lemmon grass and Citronella:

Cymbopogon citrates work as a great mosquito repellent. It contains citronella; a natural oil that repels the mosquito or insect. This compound found in long needle leave leaves of the plant gives strong citrusy scent. Lemmon grass has gain popularity fir enriching flavor of different dishes and drinks because of its refreshing lemony scent. Often lemongrass and citronella are more cousins. They almost look the same, they grow the same way, and as essential oils, they are processed the same manner.

But they differ in their botany; Citronella has pseudostems that are reddish in color. Lemongrass, on the other hand, is green. If you are planting both kinds of grass in your gardens, you should know these so that if you’re picking Lemongrass for tea time, you won’t mistake Citronella for it.

Read: Ideas and Tips for Urban Gardening.

Citronella is the most common ingredient used for the formulation of the range of mosquito repellents you can see variety of advertisements of flashcards or incense sticks claiming mosquito killing ability, are being sold as “citronella incense sticks”  because citronella aroma is strong and it masks other attractants to mosquitoes and this scent fulfills the consumer preferences.

Lemmon grass and citronella can be grown directly in the ground for better spread or in a large pot with proper cutting because this grass grows long up to a height of 5-6 feet. You can grow it in your garden, backyard, and balcony and even in your rooms in small planters but with proper arrangement of sunlight. You can propagate it simply by growing stalks of the grass to a different location with full sun and well-drained soil.

3. Basil:

Basil is a warm-weather; fragrant herb that is especially known as a culinary herb as it adds tastes in Italian dishes—and let’s not forgets homemade pesto! Along with this basil is dual purpose. Plant some basil.  Not only can you have delicious fresh herb on hand to add to all of your favorite recipes you can also have you will have a quick and easy mosquito repellent. Many expert gardeners recommend trying lemon basil or cinnamon basil to ward off mosquitoes. The pungent smell of the basil leaves is warding off the mosquitoes. Basil is one of the easiest herbs to cultivate due to its fast spreading habit. For growing basil, you can simply plant seeds or transplants and it will yield an abundant harvest within weeks. Basil requires well-drained warm soil and lots of sunlight to thrive. You can easily grow basil in containers, or in the garden, alone or with other flowers.

4. Rosemary:

   

Rosemary is a perennial evergreen shrub well known for its essential oil. Rosemary is an easy maintenance crop and can grow all over the world but it performs well in colder regions because it has excellent ability to withstand frost. Rosemary has a woody stem and linear leaves which are highly aromatic, its typical woody scent is exactly what keeps mosquitoes and other pests away. You can enjoy its scent without letting the mosquitoes disturbing in containers or in the garden by pruning it into all sorts of shapes and sizes and it also makes a great border plant. For its propagation use of seeds is less preferred because of low germination, cuttings are best-suited propagation practice.

5. Lavender:

One of the important commercial plants. Lavender is a perennial aromatic herb with silvery-green foliage, upright beautiful flower spikes. Lavender is best known for its aromatic and several medicinal properties. Lavender can be grown in garden beds or in pots it can also beautify your garden when used as an informal hedge. Expert gardeners prefer lavender for its mosquito repelling properties because of the presence of camphor content in the plant and even it is argued that lavender oil hinders a mosquito’s ability to smell!. They are various lavender-based products available in the market so cultivating lavender may fetch you good bucks. Lavender is a temperate plant and it can tolerate drought and frost conditions though plat requires good sunlight as it is directly correlated with its yield and oil content. Propagation of the plant can be done by seed, rooted cuttings, and layering.

These were the different plants that can be grown for repelling mosquitoes but only planting do not completely stop these fellows to enter your space.

Some additional points to keep in mind:

• Plucking the leaves of these plants and rubbing their oils directly onto your skin can amplify their positive effects on repelling mosquitoes. Plus, the scent that leaves behind is another add on.
• Mosquitoes did not come alone they gate crash with family. For preventing mosquitoes from reproducing in your yard the best way is to get rid of all standing water. Everything that can hold even the smallest amount of rain or any sort of water must be removed or turned over.

So, we have learned of growing mosquito repellent plants, happy gardening!.

Read: Plant Tissue Culture Techniques.

Home Gardening Tools and Their Uses

Today, we talk about home gardening tools and their primary uses. Beautiful landscape, trailing vines, beautiful flowers with delicious fresh fruits all together is no less than a dream. But have you wondered how it can turn into reality!!. Some say, purchase some seeds drop it on soil, water it and that’s it, rest nature does the wonders itself. But that’s not the complete story. I would rather say gardening is an art which needs hard work and nature’s touch both.

When our ancestors “the cavemen” started growing their own food very first they invented their tools to culture plants on the soil. They understood the dynamics of gardening and hence they made it clear that for successful gardening you not only require land, water, and seeds but also reliable tools and this was the rise of agriculture and gardening.

So, Gardener’s recipe is, one part soil two parts water, a handful of seed and lot field pampering

For pampering your soil you need the right tools because they are the gardener’s weapon. Gardening tools have evolved a lot with time according to our convenience and with creativity. From ploughing the land to sowing seeds to harvesting fruits and flowers we have a variety of tools.

What are the basic tools for home gardening?  How to use gardening tools?

If you are a budding gardener and figuring out the nuts and bolts, there are many gardening tools available that you should consider adding to your basket and might get overwhelmed by the range of tools offered at your local gardening supply store. All of the gardening tools have their uses, but certain tools are more necessary than others. The best way is to familiarize yourself with some of the most basic tools so you have everything that you require to grow an attractive garden.

So we have answers to all your questions we have figured out we’ve zero down some of the must have gardening tools and their uses especially for the home gardening purpose

List of basic gardening tools for home gardening:

Garden Gloves

Technically it is not a gardening tool but I believe gloves to be an indispensable item used in gardening. Gloves not only shield your hands from getting muddy but also protect you from injury. Especially when you have to deal with thorny branches or prickly plants, gloves protect your hands and wrists from scratches, scrapes, and splinters. For people with sensitive skin gardening gloves aren’t optional.  Gloves are essential in the garden to avoid rashes and allergic reactions from plants, fertilizers, and other chemicals. Gone are the days when only options were sticky opaque gloves nowadays even garden gloves have enough variety and shades. Even if you are fond of listening to music while gardening touch screen gloves are also available in various online gardening goods site.

Read: How To Grow Bell Pepper in the Backyard.

Hand Trowel:

A trowel is a must tool whether you are gardening in containers, raised beds, or directly in your yard. It is easy to handle and works well for weeding, mixing, digging, turning up the soil. When choosing a trowel, go for a cast or forged style because it resists bending if you encounter rocks in your soil. Hand trowels are perfect for transferring soil into pots or planting seedlings and bulbs. The trowel is scooped shaped so it allows you to lift the plant itself from the soil for transplanting. A hand trowel comes in trendy bright shades of color making it appealing and an easy to spot in your green garden if lost.

Spade:

A spade is one of the must-have gardening tools since it utilized to dig and move soil when planting plantlets. If you need to transplant a plant, a spade is handy as it is perfect to “cut out” the plant from the dirt and then dig a new place for it. It usually has a flat, rectangular blade that allows you to dig with carefully and with accuracy especially in established gardens where you don’t want to disturb already existing plants. It can also be used to rogue out weeds that have deep root systems especially those stubborn unwanted plants that can’t pull out by hand. A spade can also be used for breaking up roots, sod and weeds because its tip is usually pointed. You should opt for a spade with a smooth metal surface so soil and other materials slide off with ease. The terms spade and shovel are usually used interchangeably, but a shovel characteristically has a curved blade that works best for scooping soil, not digging.

Garden Rake:

My little sisters call it garden broom. Well, a bow rake or lawn rake is used to clear fallen leaves or spread mulch. It’s also perfect for levelling soil in a new or existing bed or breaking up soil clumps for levelled and porous soil surface. Fancy rakes are available with plastic or wooden body but a metal style always standouts as a better option because it is sturdy, durable and is usually more effective in smoothing and breaking up the soil.

Pruning Shears:

There is a variety of pruning shears available in the market with different names such as garden shears or garden scissors. It is another useful and unavoidable asset used in gardening no matter how you garden. A lot of stem cutting and trimming has to be done when maintaining a garden so it can be handled with a good pair of pruning shears. It is essential for harvesting herbs, fruits, and vegetables and also great for cutting thick stems and small branches for new transplanting. Experienced gardeners also utilize this tool for grafting operations.

Loppers:

These are the bigger sister of pruning shears having the same action but loppers are used for cutting and trimming hard stems of trees or shrubs. Loppers are perfect for keeping the growth of your hedge under control or removing diseased branches. While shopping for loppers, make sure you pay attention to the maximum thickness the loppers will cut according to your need.

Weeder:

Also known as a dandelion digger. As we know weeds can quickly take over a garden or yard if they are not removed so there weeder comes at rescue. It is a basic gardening tool which eases your pain of uprooting obnoxious weeds with a taproot. A hand weeder is small, about the size of a regular garden trowel and has a similar handle in size and shape. Its handle is attached to a long, thin metal pole that ends in two forking tines. Simply use your other hand to hold the top of the weed and push the hand weeder to handle down like a lever toward the soil to pull the root of the weed up. Like this, it pulls up the entire weed out of the ground without leaving behind any roots that will resprout.

Dibbler:

Commonly known as bulb planter which is solid, stainless steel construction with ash wood handles. It is a simple T shaped tool used by gardeners to poke and create holes in the ground. It is useful for creating holes and furrows for sowing seeds or seedlings into the soil. A dibbler is used for planting bulbs, tubers, small plants, and sometimes seeds. It comes in many different shapes and sizes. A dibbler is used by pushing the tapered end into the soil to the depth required by plant seedling and twisting it to loosen the soil.

Read: How To Grow Vegetables In Balcony.