Benefits of Gardening for Kids

Apparently, we can see how nature is treated these days.  It is a sad thing to know that people do not pay attention so much anymore to the environmental problems.  What can we do about this?  It's as simple as starting with the children.  It is good to see the children's involvement with environment-friendly activities. One such nature-loving activity that children could easily get their hands on is gardening. Why should you consider gardening for your children?

Here are the benefits that gardening could easily provide the children with:

1.  Science

In planting, children are indirectly taught the wonders of science like the plant's life cycle and how human's intervention can break or make the environment.  They can have a first hand experience on the miracle of life through a seed.  This would definitely be a new and enjoyable experience for the kids.

2.  Life

Watching a seed grow into a tree is just as wondrous as the conception to birth and growth of a child.  In time, kids will learn to love their plants and appreciate the life in them. Gardening could actually help simulate how life should be treated -- it should be with care. The necessities to live will be emphasized to kids with the help of gardening - water, sunlight, air, soil. Those necessities could easily be corresponded to human necessities, i.e., water, shelter, air, food.  By simply weeding out, one could educate how bad influences should be avoided to be able to live life smoothly.

3.  Relaxation

Studies show that gardening can reduce stress because of its calming effect. This is applicable to any age group.  More so, it stimulates all the five senses.  Believe it or not, gardening may be used as therapy to children who have been abused or those who are members of broken homes.  It helps build one's self-esteem.


4.  Quality Time with the Family

You can forget about your stressful work life for a while be soothed by the lovely ambience in the garden.  You can play and spend quality time with your children.  You can talk while watering the plants or you can work quietly beside each other.  The bottom line is, always do what you have to do, together with your kids.  You might discover a lot of new things about your child while mingling with them in your garden.

Let kids become aware of their environment's needs. And one way to jumpstart that environmental education may be through gardening.  It's hitting two birds with one stone -- teach them to respect life while you bond with them.

In Search of the Best Gardening Tools

Different kinds of gardens require different kinds of garden tools. Hardware stores mostly cater for a wide range of tools, but there are shops that specialize in the more expensive kind of garden tool that shouts quality. Wherever you decide to shop, here are a few pointers to advise you.

Do you have small garden or a large one? A small garden will not require the same large equipment that would be of use in an extensive one. A ride-on mower is unnecessary if you only have a small strip of lawn. Another point to consider is who does most of the gardening? Some tools are too heavy for use by women.

When you buy secateurs make sure the blade always stays sharp to avoid damaging the plant. Look for models that have blades that can be sharpened or replaced, models with tension control and with sizes that best fit your hands. Secateurs usually cost around $50 - $130.

Hedge trimmers or shears are handy - but only if you have a hedge, or plan on growing one.  Some hedge trimmers have curved blades to stop branches from sliding out when cut.

Forks are used for turning and aerating compost and breaking up lumps of soil. The cheaper ones are often not strong enough for heavy soil, so go for sturdiness instead of price. Forks usually cost around $30 - $100.

A shovel has a scoop blade and is best used to move around dirt and garden soil. A spade has a flat blade great for cutting edges, digging and dividing plants. The edge of a spade should be kept sharpened for clean and efficient cutting will cause the least amount of damage to plants. These are a basic garden necessity and usually cost from $30 - $50.

A pruning saw is used for pruning trees and larger shrubs, while secateurs are for plants like roses. Pruning saws have a narrow curved blade that fits between stems or branches and easily and cuts them as you pull the saw backwards. They are approximately $27- $55.

A chipping hoe is a handy tool for getting rid of small weeds. The Dutch or push-hoe is slightly more user-friendly as the action required to use it does not jar the neck and shoulder quite so much.

A rake is also a basic requirement for the garden. The strong rake with the flat head and sharp metal prongs is used for smoothing a garden bed and getting out the last of the bumps and weeds. The plastic rake is used to gather leaves and grass clippings only.

Gardening tools don't have to be expensive. Flea markets and garage sales can be excellent places to pick up great tool bargain.

Choosing the Best Plants for your Garden

Many times we buy plants on impulse then find there is nowhere in the garden that really suits them. Before buying plants carefully examine your garden to see how much sun and shade it gets, whether the soil is well drained or waterlogged and whether your aspect is sheltered or windswept. You'll then be equipped to go and buy the best plants for your situation:
● Shade-loving plants for the sheltered areas
● Sun-lovers for the warm spots, drought-resistant plants for the parched areas which may be either sunny or shaded
● And swamp plants for the poorly-drained parts.

But wait! Test your soil first, to determine the pH level of your soil and what kind of nutrients you need to add, if any. Is the soil acid or alkaline? Most plants prefer soil that is slightly acidic, but there are some that must have alkaline soil to grow.  You can alter the soil's pH level, but it's much easier to simply plant for the soil you have.

Now you are ready to plant. Well - almost. Will you plant in groups or singly? If you buy 'one of everything' your garden may seem rather spotty. Group plantings are organised, harmonious and you can vary the color for interest.

Before planting out, place your chosen plants around the garden bed in their pots to see how they will look. Re-arrange them until you are satisfied. Grouping plants in sets of threes or fives usually looks better than planting in groups of even numbers. Be sure that you have an interesting combination of colors and textures of plants. Tall plants should go to the back, or the centre if your garden will be viewed equally from all sides. Try to keep your plants away from trees. The roots of trees are fiercely competitive and will steal all the nutrients and moisture meant for your flowers.

The right color scheme is one way to maintain the harmony in your garden. Imagine the color of the flowers when they are in bloom. Some colors may clash with others, but can still be planted side-by-side if they have a different blooming season. Foliage color is also important. Many flower plants have silver, grey or purplish foliage that is just as attractive as the flower. This means that they are still attractive well past the blooming season and so have added value.

5 Creative Indoor Garden Ideas to Your Home

Hey guys welcome back in my blog .

We know everybody love nature and greenery, but unfortunately we can't gaze at nature and on its greenery all time. As we have to work in our offices and have to cook food for ourselves and for families. And so on daily basis stuff.

But you can build an Indoor Garden in your home or office. Whereby you can enjoy the greenery all time and gain refreshing and pure air by the plants.

You could make your indoor garden in your bedroom, living room, kitchen, balcony, on a wall, even on your ceiling...typically anywhere you want.

If you don't have any idea about making indoor garden, then you can check below we have many idea's about indoor garden for you.

A simple & elegant way to grow at home via Bobedre. They brought some good looking houseplants on a shelf.

A nice example of hanging terrarium. You can get these terrarium pots from here. You just required a set of pots, thread string or fishing line, some decorative stones and small plants.

Wall gardening is one of my favourite Indoor Gardening idea. Because you can grow Fresh herb like basil, chives, mint, oregano and so on.. and use them in your meal.

This one you can use in your bedroom or living room with white interior, white pots and some refreshing green plants you will require. Or you can do experiments with your interiors.

A mesmerizing view is not it ? Bunch of cute and beautiful small plants on the shelf of bathroom near the bathtub with a candle, a must to try idea!!

5 Creative Outdoor Garden Ideas

Hey guys welcome back in my blog. This time i will tell you about Decorate Garden.

1. Second Life for Tools

Well-worn garden tools find new life when fastened together into a teepee for climbing plants. This inexpesive trellis instantly adds country charm to any garden.

2. Into the Looking Glass

Add an optical illusion to create depth to your garden room by nestling a mirror in between plants. Just fasten it on a fence and watch how your space seems to double.

3. Alter Your Angle

Look at everyday objects from new angles. Feed scoops turned upright, paired with candles in hurricane globes shed new light on garden illumination.

4. Frosty Luminaries

These wintry votive holders are easy to make and add light to a snow-covered landscape. Created with flexible plastic bottles, poinsettia leaves frozen in the form give holiday color and offer a welcoming glow to guests.

5. DIY Cold Frame

Salvaged windows become a charming cold frame with a little DIY-ingenuity. Use reclaimed wood to complete the sides and keep your costs down -- then protect tender sprouts with style.

Ok guys thanks for visit my blog, see you again.

How To Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Corn

Hey guys welcome in my blog, this time i will tell you about How To Plant A Corn. In a small garden, 15 plants set 1 foot apart can be grown in a 3×5-foot bed. After the first year you will probably want to increase the size of the planting to at least 4 rows 10 feet long.

Soil, Planting, And Care

Corn needs a spot with that gets full sun and has fertile, wel-drained soil a pH of 6.0 to 6.8. Space plants 8 to 12 inches apart.

In cold climates you can plant in a raised bed covered with black or IRT plastic (Infrared Transmitting plastic) that will warm the soil.

Plan to fertilize twice because corn is a hungry plant. Before setting out seedlings, amend the soil with compost and mix a balanced organic or timed-release fertilizer into the soil. About 6 weeks or so later, when the plants start to produce tassels, fertilize them again. (If you amend the soil with cottonseed meal or other highnitrogen amendment it may not be necessary to feed the second time.) Use a hoe or trowell to mix the fertilizer into the top inch of soil between the plants. After this booster feeding, water your corn once or twice weekly if the weather is hor an dry.

Corn grows fast and needs lots of water to grow properly. It also has shallow roots that make it susceptible to drought.

Harvest and Storage

Most corn plants will yield at least 2 ears per stalk. To see if an ear is ready for harvest, look at the silks. They should be brown and dry with just a little fresh green at the base. If you're still not sure if the ear seems ripe, check by peeling just enough of the husk back to expose a couple of inches of the ear. Poke a kernel with your fingernail.

Place harvested ears in the refrigerator right way. When kept chilled, they should hold much of their sweet flavor for up to a week.

Ok guys thank for visit my blog, see you again.