文章
Selina
2017年03月13日
Want to know how to make a small garden looks bigger and better? Well, here are a few tips that’ll help you.
You can’t make a limited space garden looks bigger, but by some planning you can create an illusion. Let’s see, how?
1.
If there is a lack of space in your garden, use foldable furniture. Foldable furniture is space saving, light and compatible; plus they come in variety.
Reason: They don’t take much space and are easily movable, that’s why using foldable furniture is better.
2.
Use large planters of cool colors instead of small, although large planters take more space but you can grow more combination of plants in them.
Reason: Small planters litter up the space, they don’t hold much soil and you need to water them regularly.
3.
Grow plants that do not cover much space, if you still want to grow them— do regular pruning.
Reason: A bigger plant that is invasive or spread a lot looks bigger for the garden they are in.
4.
Use vertical space, obviously this will create more space. If you have a balcony or terrace garden, remember this rule– use 60% vertical space and 40% horizontal space.
Reason: By using vertical space, you can add up more space in your garden.
5
Tip number five is related to number four. Plant more vines and climbers than shrubs and bushes.
Reason: Climbers cover up more vertical space.
6.
Create a view point or a focal point in your garden that’ll attract eyes towards it.
Reason: A view point creates an enigma of wideness— use warm colors in its creation.
7.
Choose colors wisely whether it is about flowers or pots or furniture, always remember to use cool colors like blue, pink, green or white near the hedges, boundaries or walls of your garden and warm colors in the center.
Reason: Cool colors have the tendency to blend in each other; they create an illusion of enlarge space, whereas warm colors are highlight the space.
You can’t make a limited space garden looks bigger, but by some planning you can create an illusion. Let’s see, how?
1.
If there is a lack of space in your garden, use foldable furniture. Foldable furniture is space saving, light and compatible; plus they come in variety.
Reason: They don’t take much space and are easily movable, that’s why using foldable furniture is better.
2.
Use large planters of cool colors instead of small, although large planters take more space but you can grow more combination of plants in them.
Reason: Small planters litter up the space, they don’t hold much soil and you need to water them regularly.
3.
Grow plants that do not cover much space, if you still want to grow them— do regular pruning.
Reason: A bigger plant that is invasive or spread a lot looks bigger for the garden they are in.
4.
Use vertical space, obviously this will create more space. If you have a balcony or terrace garden, remember this rule– use 60% vertical space and 40% horizontal space.
Reason: By using vertical space, you can add up more space in your garden.
5
Tip number five is related to number four. Plant more vines and climbers than shrubs and bushes.
Reason: Climbers cover up more vertical space.
6.
Create a view point or a focal point in your garden that’ll attract eyes towards it.
Reason: A view point creates an enigma of wideness— use warm colors in its creation.
7.
Choose colors wisely whether it is about flowers or pots or furniture, always remember to use cool colors like blue, pink, green or white near the hedges, boundaries or walls of your garden and warm colors in the center.
Reason: Cool colors have the tendency to blend in each other; they create an illusion of enlarge space, whereas warm colors are highlight the space.
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文章
lenny
2017年02月24日
#Growing corn in containers is possible, however the yield is less than the corn grown in a #garden . Corn requires more #space than most small or medium sized containers provide. If you’re planting corn in containers, use large pots and reproduce optimum external conditions as close as possible.Choosing Containers to Grow Corn in Pots
Choose a large container that is at least 12 inches deep and wide. You can grow about four corn plants in this size of pot. Make sure your pot have enough drainage holes in the bottom.
Varieties for Growing Corn in Containers
As you grow corn in pots, choose a dwarf variety that does not exceed 4 or 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 m) height. Some good choices are short stemmed ‘Trinity’ and ‘Sweet Painted Mountain’.
Planting
Sow four to six seeds per pot about 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep and rake a bit of soil above them. Don’t worry if the corn is planted together closely in a pot. In fact, sowing seeds closely helps in pollination and allow the corn to fruit abundantly.
Requirements
Sweet corn needs full sun, plenty of water and fertile soil to thrive. It depends on the wind for pollination, which is best achieved when the corn is planted in a block of several short rows.
Mulch around the corn to hold in moisture. Use wood chips, newspapers or grass to help prevent moisture loss. Mulching also keeps weeds to a minimum.
Soil
Corn plants require soil that retains moisture without drying out quickly but drains well enough so it doesn’t become soggy or waterlogged. A peat based potting soil works best for them.
Water
Water the plant every other day, keeping the soil constantly moist. Water is important ingredient to get sweet and soft corns, especially at the time of fruiting you’ll need to water your potted corns more.
Fertilizer
Add fertilizer after 10 weeks from sowing. Dig a hole about 2 cm in depth and diameter around each plant. Pour 1/2 tablespoons of 5-10-10 or 10-20-20 fertilizer per plant, and incorporate the soil.
Harvesting
If you know how to grow corn in pots, you can grow your own corns without the need of lot of space, usually corns are ready to harvest between 60 to 100 days after planting, depending on the variety and weather conditions.
Choose a large container that is at least 12 inches deep and wide. You can grow about four corn plants in this size of pot. Make sure your pot have enough drainage holes in the bottom.
Varieties for Growing Corn in Containers
As you grow corn in pots, choose a dwarf variety that does not exceed 4 or 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 m) height. Some good choices are short stemmed ‘Trinity’ and ‘Sweet Painted Mountain’.
Planting
Sow four to six seeds per pot about 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep and rake a bit of soil above them. Don’t worry if the corn is planted together closely in a pot. In fact, sowing seeds closely helps in pollination and allow the corn to fruit abundantly.
Requirements
Sweet corn needs full sun, plenty of water and fertile soil to thrive. It depends on the wind for pollination, which is best achieved when the corn is planted in a block of several short rows.
Mulch around the corn to hold in moisture. Use wood chips, newspapers or grass to help prevent moisture loss. Mulching also keeps weeds to a minimum.
Soil
Corn plants require soil that retains moisture without drying out quickly but drains well enough so it doesn’t become soggy or waterlogged. A peat based potting soil works best for them.
Water
Water the plant every other day, keeping the soil constantly moist. Water is important ingredient to get sweet and soft corns, especially at the time of fruiting you’ll need to water your potted corns more.
Fertilizer
Add fertilizer after 10 weeks from sowing. Dig a hole about 2 cm in depth and diameter around each plant. Pour 1/2 tablespoons of 5-10-10 or 10-20-20 fertilizer per plant, and incorporate the soil.
Harvesting
If you know how to grow corn in pots, you can grow your own corns without the need of lot of space, usually corns are ready to harvest between 60 to 100 days after planting, depending on the variety and weather conditions.
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文章
Abigal
2017年02月23日
The garden gate is the quintessential “first impression” of any #garden , and making it special sets the tone for your outdoor #space . Why not use up-cycled materials to create a garden gate with charm, cleverness, creativity…and is a good thing for nature. (Recycling!)
We scoured Pinterest and the web for bloggers that have some great ideas for up-cycled garden gates, and anyone who is handy (or can lean on a handy loved one!) can accomplish these garden projects.
This old window makes a marvelous garden gate… Simply place posts a distance apart equal to the width of the window, add hinges and latches…
This garden gate was created from old tools. So creative! Montana Wildlife Gardener used all recycled tools for his project.
Dishfunctional Designs recently featured a great garden gate made from an old screen door… Check out your local Habitat for Humanity ReStore!
Finally, we found a bunch of great gates done out of old metal headboards… I think these might be my favorite!
What ideas have you run across for creative up-cycled garden gates? Share!
We scoured Pinterest and the web for bloggers that have some great ideas for up-cycled garden gates, and anyone who is handy (or can lean on a handy loved one!) can accomplish these garden projects.
This old window makes a marvelous garden gate… Simply place posts a distance apart equal to the width of the window, add hinges and latches…
This garden gate was created from old tools. So creative! Montana Wildlife Gardener used all recycled tools for his project.
Dishfunctional Designs recently featured a great garden gate made from an old screen door… Check out your local Habitat for Humanity ReStore!
Finally, we found a bunch of great gates done out of old metal headboards… I think these might be my favorite!
What ideas have you run across for creative up-cycled garden gates? Share!
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文章
Abigal
2017年02月23日
Part of having a #garden #space is also recognizing that curb appeal adds to the value of that #space … in other words, you want to show off your garden stuff to the world going by! One of the greatest ways to enhance your garden is to up the ante on the style factor for your home and garden curb appeal. Long story shorter, time to replace those outdated house numbers! We have a bunch of great tutorials on DIY house numbers for you. Making this a project instead of running down to the hardware store pays off in two ways… First you don’t spend $20 a number! Second, you get something that represents your family and it’s personality, not just some generic vinyl letters. (Ick!!!) So here are TGG’s top choices for DIY house numbers for you to try this weekend! (Our featured image above is from Curbly, and you can find the #DIY tutorial here.)
We love this more contemporary frosted glass looking house number set. You can find instructions here, and it’s pretty easy! Note: You can find the Lexan (acrylic sheet) at most home improvement stores, and they will cut it for you if necessary.
“Hit the nail on the head” with this easy project! Pick up a piece of wood of the right size from the scrap bin at the hardware store. Stain or paint if desired. Print out your house numbers in a bold font of the size you desire. Make sure to tape it to the house where it will be displayed, then step back and make sure it’s large enough to be seen from the street. Now tape the paper over the wood base. Starting in the center of each number and working your way out, tap nails into place within the printed number. The closer you can comfortably space the nails, the easier it will be to read. Use a needle nose pliers to hold each nail as you tap it into place. Try to get them straight! When finished, tear away the paper. This look would look great on both a more modern home, or if you are creating a more rustic feel.
My Wonderfully Made has a great tutorial for you more traditional gardeners, with these bucket house numbers. Simple and charming!
I had to include this as a project… This image is a purchased house number set, but how hard would it be to stencil and cut out the numbers from a grass entry mat? (Which are CHEAP, btw…) Use some Gorilla Glue to adhere to a painted board, and voila! Most creative house numbers on the block! And bonus… this screams “gardener lives here.”
This house number set made from scrap wood by Kojo Designs is a perfect example of great design with a small pocketbook. Here are the instructions.
Ending with a project perfect for all us gardeners… a flower pot house number tutorial by DIY Showoff.
Make sure you include curb appeal in your garden design, becasue it does contribute to your garden, and your home. DIY house numbers are an easy addition to that design that you can accomplish in an afternoon. While you’re at it, dress up those front doors as well! See our post at DYSS on what a difference a door makes!
We love this more contemporary frosted glass looking house number set. You can find instructions here, and it’s pretty easy! Note: You can find the Lexan (acrylic sheet) at most home improvement stores, and they will cut it for you if necessary.
“Hit the nail on the head” with this easy project! Pick up a piece of wood of the right size from the scrap bin at the hardware store. Stain or paint if desired. Print out your house numbers in a bold font of the size you desire. Make sure to tape it to the house where it will be displayed, then step back and make sure it’s large enough to be seen from the street. Now tape the paper over the wood base. Starting in the center of each number and working your way out, tap nails into place within the printed number. The closer you can comfortably space the nails, the easier it will be to read. Use a needle nose pliers to hold each nail as you tap it into place. Try to get them straight! When finished, tear away the paper. This look would look great on both a more modern home, or if you are creating a more rustic feel.
My Wonderfully Made has a great tutorial for you more traditional gardeners, with these bucket house numbers. Simple and charming!
I had to include this as a project… This image is a purchased house number set, but how hard would it be to stencil and cut out the numbers from a grass entry mat? (Which are CHEAP, btw…) Use some Gorilla Glue to adhere to a painted board, and voila! Most creative house numbers on the block! And bonus… this screams “gardener lives here.”
This house number set made from scrap wood by Kojo Designs is a perfect example of great design with a small pocketbook. Here are the instructions.
Ending with a project perfect for all us gardeners… a flower pot house number tutorial by DIY Showoff.
Make sure you include curb appeal in your garden design, becasue it does contribute to your garden, and your home. DIY house numbers are an easy addition to that design that you can accomplish in an afternoon. While you’re at it, dress up those front doors as well! See our post at DYSS on what a difference a door makes!
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文章
Abigal
2017年02月22日
No matter what time of year it is, there are times when we want to bring the beauty and gifts from the #garden indoors. Whether it’s to keep your “green thumb” warm during the winter months, because you live in a space with no outdoor gardening spot, or just because you love to have #plants indoors as well as out, here are some easy indoor gardening projects to keep you busy when you aren’t outdoors!
From ‘The Kitchn’, learn how to plant succulents in eggshells! Our feature project, above and below – This is a really organic project great for a kitchen, and especially for someone who loves to cook. Could you do the same thing with sprouts?
‘Holiday Sparkle’ shows us how to grow green onions indoors. These are great because the more you cut them, the more they grow!
Heres a project for more onions for a bigger household… make this vertical onion planter from a pop bottle! From ‘Auntie Dogmas Garden Spot‘…
From ‘Remove and Replace’, learn how to regrow romaine lettuce from that salad stump… Grow it once, never again!
‘Parents.com’ shows us how to plant an odds and ends garden, this with leftover celery. Kids love this kind of thing, fun family project.
Last, learn to grow a lemon tree indoors! From ‘The Kitchn’, this is a good tutorial on how to grow lemons indoors, and also some information on where, and what type, to buy! Find even more information on growing lemons from ‘Jim Hofman‘.
So no matter what your reason for keeping it indoors, here are a couple of projects to bring the garden to the window sill!
From ‘The Kitchn’, learn how to plant succulents in eggshells! Our feature project, above and below – This is a really organic project great for a kitchen, and especially for someone who loves to cook. Could you do the same thing with sprouts?
‘Holiday Sparkle’ shows us how to grow green onions indoors. These are great because the more you cut them, the more they grow!
Heres a project for more onions for a bigger household… make this vertical onion planter from a pop bottle! From ‘Auntie Dogmas Garden Spot‘…
From ‘Remove and Replace’, learn how to regrow romaine lettuce from that salad stump… Grow it once, never again!
‘Parents.com’ shows us how to plant an odds and ends garden, this with leftover celery. Kids love this kind of thing, fun family project.
Last, learn to grow a lemon tree indoors! From ‘The Kitchn’, this is a good tutorial on how to grow lemons indoors, and also some information on where, and what type, to buy! Find even more information on growing lemons from ‘Jim Hofman‘.
So no matter what your reason for keeping it indoors, here are a couple of projects to bring the garden to the window sill!
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文章
Carol
2017年02月21日
If you have a yard or garden that is small and there is a problem of lack of space, must see our 5 #garden design ideas that can make a small garden look amazing and bigger.
Even though you may long for a courtyard garden like the ones in magazines or on Pinterest, it can be quite daunting to actually design it, especially if you don’t know where to start.
Luckily there are many resources online to help you turn that neglected small yard into a beautifully designed courtyard garden.
Here are our five garden design ideas to get you started planning your dream courtyard.
1. Use Colours and Repetition to Add Depth
When choosing colours, you want to pick ones that will add depth to the garden. You want to choose cool colours like blues and purples for the border because they blend into each other and create an illusion of a bigger space. Pick warm colours like orange, red and yellow to highlight the space.
Repeating certain colours will also tie the space together and have an impact on your yard. When choosing plants for a garden, make sure you choose ones that will fulfil their purpose in your space.
Yes, choose #plants based on aesthetics. But consider what else space needs. Will you have time to look after high maintenance plants? Do you need shade? Make sure to get something that will have a lot of foliage.
2. Use Levels to Create Cosy Alcoves
You may be thinking, I want my yard to look bigger, not smaller! There are plenty of ways to make a small yard or garden look bigger (some of them listed here) but this should not be your only goal when designing your small garden.
Think about the purposes you want your small yard to fulfil. Do you want the space to be comfortable as well as being full of greenery and colour? Creating terraced areas will allow you to have the best of both worlds.
You can use raised garden beds as individual spaces to take advantage of vertical space and bring your garden closer to eye level (more on that later). Spiral garden beds made using bricks are a functional and efficient way to utilise space.
Also Read: How to make a spiral herb garden
3. Be Creative with Walkways
We’ve all heard about how stripes can hurt us or help us in fashion, but what about having them in the garden? Paving and installing decking diagonally will give the illusion of more space.
Using a diagonal path or an “S” curved path instead of a shorter, a straight walkway will elongate a path making the entire space feel bigger. Stepping stones can also be a good option for a smaller space.
Being creative with walkways can also be more attractive and make a bigger impact. There are some beautiful ways to make your own stepping stones using pre-mix cement.
4. Make Use of Multi-Purpose Features
If you want space for entertaining or enjoying your expertly designed garden, you should consider building structural components that can fulfil multiple uses.
A bench seat can be used as storage with a seat that folds open. Planters built on either side can house ornamental fruit trees which will add shade. You could even add built-in LED lighting.
This bench has five uses and can be built cheaply using pallets and a little bit of know-how. There are plenty of DIY instructions online that could help you put together the perfect piece of furniture for your space.
5. Vertical Gardening to Maximise SpaceYou may have more space than you realise. With a small area, it’s important to consider the often neglected vertical space.
You can take advantage of this space by using hanging planters which look especially pretty with cascading plants, or installing a trellis and training a creeper. Use window boxes to brighten up the outside as well as inside your home.
That’s not to mention the many DIY options. There is plenty of inspiration for how to use an old ladder. You can paint it and use it to hold potted plants.
Anchor a palette to the wall and use it as a planter, or check out all the ways you can use plastic bottles as vertical planters.
Once you begin planning your small yard design and using all the resources and ideas out there, you’ll find it’s not so intimidating. In fact, you’ll be more than ready to get stuck into creating a better space for your small garden!
Even though you may long for a courtyard garden like the ones in magazines or on Pinterest, it can be quite daunting to actually design it, especially if you don’t know where to start.
Luckily there are many resources online to help you turn that neglected small yard into a beautifully designed courtyard garden.
Here are our five garden design ideas to get you started planning your dream courtyard.
1. Use Colours and Repetition to Add Depth
When choosing colours, you want to pick ones that will add depth to the garden. You want to choose cool colours like blues and purples for the border because they blend into each other and create an illusion of a bigger space. Pick warm colours like orange, red and yellow to highlight the space.
Repeating certain colours will also tie the space together and have an impact on your yard. When choosing plants for a garden, make sure you choose ones that will fulfil their purpose in your space.
Yes, choose #plants based on aesthetics. But consider what else space needs. Will you have time to look after high maintenance plants? Do you need shade? Make sure to get something that will have a lot of foliage.
2. Use Levels to Create Cosy Alcoves
You may be thinking, I want my yard to look bigger, not smaller! There are plenty of ways to make a small yard or garden look bigger (some of them listed here) but this should not be your only goal when designing your small garden.
Think about the purposes you want your small yard to fulfil. Do you want the space to be comfortable as well as being full of greenery and colour? Creating terraced areas will allow you to have the best of both worlds.
You can use raised garden beds as individual spaces to take advantage of vertical space and bring your garden closer to eye level (more on that later). Spiral garden beds made using bricks are a functional and efficient way to utilise space.
Also Read: How to make a spiral herb garden
3. Be Creative with Walkways
We’ve all heard about how stripes can hurt us or help us in fashion, but what about having them in the garden? Paving and installing decking diagonally will give the illusion of more space.
Using a diagonal path or an “S” curved path instead of a shorter, a straight walkway will elongate a path making the entire space feel bigger. Stepping stones can also be a good option for a smaller space.
Being creative with walkways can also be more attractive and make a bigger impact. There are some beautiful ways to make your own stepping stones using pre-mix cement.
4. Make Use of Multi-Purpose Features
If you want space for entertaining or enjoying your expertly designed garden, you should consider building structural components that can fulfil multiple uses.
A bench seat can be used as storage with a seat that folds open. Planters built on either side can house ornamental fruit trees which will add shade. You could even add built-in LED lighting.
This bench has five uses and can be built cheaply using pallets and a little bit of know-how. There are plenty of DIY instructions online that could help you put together the perfect piece of furniture for your space.
5. Vertical Gardening to Maximise SpaceYou may have more space than you realise. With a small area, it’s important to consider the often neglected vertical space.
You can take advantage of this space by using hanging planters which look especially pretty with cascading plants, or installing a trellis and training a creeper. Use window boxes to brighten up the outside as well as inside your home.
That’s not to mention the many DIY options. There is plenty of inspiration for how to use an old ladder. You can paint it and use it to hold potted plants.
Anchor a palette to the wall and use it as a planter, or check out all the ways you can use plastic bottles as vertical planters.
Once you begin planning your small yard design and using all the resources and ideas out there, you’ll find it’s not so intimidating. In fact, you’ll be more than ready to get stuck into creating a better space for your small garden!
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文章
Abigal
2017年02月16日
Designing a DIY water feature can be a challenge if you are on a tight budget. It can be even more of a challenge if you are looking for a contemporary water feature to fit in with an updated garden space.
Here is a great solar powered water feature that combines the beauty of natural materials with a more modern design, and does it all for less that $30!
Supplies Needed:
Water tight container (Rubbermaid storage container was used here)
Fountain pump (we chose a solar powered pump)
Several flat concrete pavers, depending on the size of your container.
Rocks of different sizes
Plant tolerant of water, such as a water grass
Step one:
Decide where to place your water feature. If you don’t have power nearby, consider a solar powered fountain pump. Keep in mind, solar pumps ONLY work while the sun is shining! If the sun even goes behind a cloud, the pump will temporarily stop.
If you plan to add live plants, make sure to site your water feature in the sun.
Trace the shape of the container onto the dirt, then use a shovel to remove enough dirt to sink the container level with the ground.
Step Two:
Add large rocks to the bottom of the water feature, then use the rocks to anchor your pump in place.
Step Three:
Lay the pavers along the edge of the water feature to cover the container edge, and to help hide the power cord. You can dig a trench for the power cord to hide it, or simply wind it behind plants to camouflage it.
Step Four:
Use flat stones to fill in the corners where the pavers don’t meet. Use your creativity to put your own twist on your design.
Step Five:
If you are using a water plant, place the entire pot in the water feature so that the rim will sit just above the water line. A black pot will be nearly invisible in the water.
Use more rocks to fill your water feature, hide the container and hold the plant in place. Try to use a mix of different colors, shapes and sizes.
Step Six:
Fill with water, plug in the pump and adjust the spray until it makes the sound and effect you are looking for. You can choose a fountain spray, or a natural bubbling over stones.
Clean your water feature on a regular basis, and use an algae inhibitor available at your home improvement store where they sell pond supplies.
Easy DIY water feature project for a contemporary garden… that anyone can do, on even a tight budget!
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文章
Gina
2017年02月15日
When gardening in a small space, one of the largest budget busters is purchasing containers for your plantings. Even at the discount stores, buying containers for your garden can take a huge chunk out of your wallet, leaving nothing for the plants! There are ways to creatively create your own containers and save money on gardening in a small space.
Remake a Cheap Container
When you look at the reality of it, all a container has to do is hold soil and allow water to drain. Looking pretty isn’t necessary for function, but most of us want to dress up our yards with our gardens.
Here’s some ideas:
Cheap pots from the dollar store, kitty litter buckets, or plastic paint buckets
Spray paint made for plastics
Glue gun
Decorative pebbles or stone
If your container has no way for water to drain, drill a few holes in the bottom. If you don’t have access to a drill, use a hammer and nail.
Make sure you clean your container well, then follow the paint can directions for giving your container an attractive base color. Earth or natural tones are best to keep the container looking unobtrusive. Metal finishes are also an option, you may want to try one of the newer hammered metal finishes for a modern look. Allow to dry overnight.
Using your glue gun, attach your stones or pebbles in a decorative fashion. I like to lay the planter on its side and work around the pot using bands of stones to “paint” simple designs. Lines, waves, geometric shapes and banding effects are all easy enough for any beginner. Try to plan your design to hide the less attractive areas of the container, especially if you’re using something recycled.
Allow the glue to set 24 hours. If the containers will not be in a protected area such as a porch or deck, you might want to consider using an exterior grade glue instead.
Fill with soil, plant, enjoy!
Using Unusual Containers
If cheap garden containers are what you need, yard sale season is the perfect time to find them! Since we already know that all garden containers need to do is hold soil and provide drainage, this is a perfect way to make charming container gardens on a budget.
Scour yard sales, thrift shops and your own home for unique garden container ideas. Miniature gardens can be created and displayed inside everything from pretty teapots with a chipped rim to old suitcases or even purses! Wooden tool boxes, hanging colanders, mason jars and even old canoes!
Want something with a modern flair? Check out a pipe supply company for lengths of metal drainage pipe that can be used as trendy, urban looking containers.
Attach lengths of chain to old light fixtures to make funky hanging containers. Use your imagination… and it doesn’t hurt to say it again. If it can hold soil, it can be a container!
That having been said, make sure to use items within the style and theme of your home and gardens. Planting old work boots with trailing sedums would look great near an old barn in a country garden, but its going to look all wrong on the porch of a contemporary home.
Tips and Tricks
When using cheap or free containers in your garden, there are a couple of tips to help keep your garden looking less than “cheap”.
Use a common element to keep things pulled together. Use the same color family, same style of decorating the pots, or use an unusual shape for the pots to make it all look deliberate. You don’t want it to look like a hodgepodge.
Use trailing plants with abandon. Letting plants fall over the side of the pots moves them into the background, hides imperfections in your containers, and puts the focus on the plants which is where it belongs.
Bring the eye up. Plant some tall, dramatic plants in pots to keep the eye from examining the containers too closely. Cleome, hollyhocks, and cosmos are tall plants that can easily (and quickly) be grown from seed, saving money.
When planning small space gardens, making cheap containers can help you save money, while adding color and flexibility to your special outdoor space.
Remake a Cheap Container
When you look at the reality of it, all a container has to do is hold soil and allow water to drain. Looking pretty isn’t necessary for function, but most of us want to dress up our yards with our gardens.
Here’s some ideas:
Cheap pots from the dollar store, kitty litter buckets, or plastic paint buckets
Spray paint made for plastics
Glue gun
Decorative pebbles or stone
If your container has no way for water to drain, drill a few holes in the bottom. If you don’t have access to a drill, use a hammer and nail.
Make sure you clean your container well, then follow the paint can directions for giving your container an attractive base color. Earth or natural tones are best to keep the container looking unobtrusive. Metal finishes are also an option, you may want to try one of the newer hammered metal finishes for a modern look. Allow to dry overnight.
Using your glue gun, attach your stones or pebbles in a decorative fashion. I like to lay the planter on its side and work around the pot using bands of stones to “paint” simple designs. Lines, waves, geometric shapes and banding effects are all easy enough for any beginner. Try to plan your design to hide the less attractive areas of the container, especially if you’re using something recycled.
Allow the glue to set 24 hours. If the containers will not be in a protected area such as a porch or deck, you might want to consider using an exterior grade glue instead.
Fill with soil, plant, enjoy!
Using Unusual Containers
If cheap garden containers are what you need, yard sale season is the perfect time to find them! Since we already know that all garden containers need to do is hold soil and provide drainage, this is a perfect way to make charming container gardens on a budget.
Scour yard sales, thrift shops and your own home for unique garden container ideas. Miniature gardens can be created and displayed inside everything from pretty teapots with a chipped rim to old suitcases or even purses! Wooden tool boxes, hanging colanders, mason jars and even old canoes!
Want something with a modern flair? Check out a pipe supply company for lengths of metal drainage pipe that can be used as trendy, urban looking containers.
Attach lengths of chain to old light fixtures to make funky hanging containers. Use your imagination… and it doesn’t hurt to say it again. If it can hold soil, it can be a container!
That having been said, make sure to use items within the style and theme of your home and gardens. Planting old work boots with trailing sedums would look great near an old barn in a country garden, but its going to look all wrong on the porch of a contemporary home.
Tips and Tricks
When using cheap or free containers in your garden, there are a couple of tips to help keep your garden looking less than “cheap”.
Use a common element to keep things pulled together. Use the same color family, same style of decorating the pots, or use an unusual shape for the pots to make it all look deliberate. You don’t want it to look like a hodgepodge.
Use trailing plants with abandon. Letting plants fall over the side of the pots moves them into the background, hides imperfections in your containers, and puts the focus on the plants which is where it belongs.
Bring the eye up. Plant some tall, dramatic plants in pots to keep the eye from examining the containers too closely. Cleome, hollyhocks, and cosmos are tall plants that can easily (and quickly) be grown from seed, saving money.
When planning small space gardens, making cheap containers can help you save money, while adding color and flexibility to your special outdoor space.
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文章
Andy
2017年02月15日
Start apartment gardening if you live in a city and don’t have space for a regular garden with these 7 apartment herb garden tips.
We all try to be as healthy and natural as possible. We go to grocery stores, organic markets and spend money on superfoods. We purify our drinking water, pay attention to our body and try occasionally to enjoy nature to come out of our hectic schedules. A herb garden fits perfectly into this picture. Your home-grown herbs and perhaps vegetables too. Who does not want that? Freshest and tastiest. But of course, there is still a practical side to this story. How to create a herb garden? Did you have space for a garden in your urban house?
Maybe not, but you can create a small garden anywhere. In your apartment balcony, on a small terrace, patio or on a rooftop you can create a herb garden.
Apartment Herb Garden Tips
1. Choose herbs that you like and use most
Gardening with herbs is easiest. A good start is half the work. Carefully think about what you want exactly. A herb garden (or any kind of garden) takes time, money and energy so it’s good to know what you need before you start.
Do you eat a lot of basil, parsley, cilantro or even thyme or rosemary? If you’re not so sure what you’re using exactly and frequently wait for a couple of weeks and keep a small diary or save your observation in a message or email draft and see what often gets into your food, which herb is essential in your food culture and which one you would like to try. Once you get the answers, go ahead to buy herbs for a herb garden or start them from seeds.
2. Evaluate well the available space
Next, it is important that you choose a good place for your herb garden. That is of course entirely dependent on the available space. In a limited space like a windowsill you should probably do this with a few pots. It would be better if you have a balcony or roof terrace, you are all set and if you have a garden, the possibilities are quite endless. What you should think, especially if you need to work in a small space, is that how much sunlight you get there.
3. Go vertical to create space
Go vertical to create space. Use walls, railings and ceiling to hang planters. If you think smartly you can increase your space up to 3-4 times this way. You can hang shelves too where you can put small pots. Another attractive solution to make a pallet shelve or use a shoe rack. If you’re growing herbs indoors buying a herb garden set is also a good idea.
4. Grow more than just herbs
If there is space left grow more than just herbs. Beautiful annual flowers, foliage plants or long-lasting perennials. A lemon tree or a dwarf fruit tree. The possibilities are endless. You can also start to grow your ow vegetables.
5. Provide shade in the hottest months
Plants love sunlight. But as with everything in moderation is very important. If your place receives day long excessive sunshine provides a little afternoon shade, especially in warm climates. Too much sun can dry the herbs and die, herbs like cilantro bolts in warm temperature in the scorching sun.
6. Create a nice seating area in your herb garden
Your herb garden will also look very nice and the fragrance of aromatic herbs will make it a wonderful place to sit in. If you have grown some flowers and shrubs you can enjoy it more. So it’s a good idea to create a nice place to sit.
Also Read: How to Make a Balcony Herb Garden
7. Get enough place to store herbs
With these apartment herb garden tips and some dedication, the time will come when the herbs are ready to be picked. You can pick off fresh fragrant leaves to garnish on your dishes or you can store some for later use. Of course, it depends entirely on how much you have sown this will decide how much you will have to reap. It is nice to keep the dried herbs in the kitchen so that you can use them during cooking conveniently.
We all try to be as healthy and natural as possible. We go to grocery stores, organic markets and spend money on superfoods. We purify our drinking water, pay attention to our body and try occasionally to enjoy nature to come out of our hectic schedules. A herb garden fits perfectly into this picture. Your home-grown herbs and perhaps vegetables too. Who does not want that? Freshest and tastiest. But of course, there is still a practical side to this story. How to create a herb garden? Did you have space for a garden in your urban house?
Maybe not, but you can create a small garden anywhere. In your apartment balcony, on a small terrace, patio or on a rooftop you can create a herb garden.
Apartment Herb Garden Tips
1. Choose herbs that you like and use most
Gardening with herbs is easiest. A good start is half the work. Carefully think about what you want exactly. A herb garden (or any kind of garden) takes time, money and energy so it’s good to know what you need before you start.
Do you eat a lot of basil, parsley, cilantro or even thyme or rosemary? If you’re not so sure what you’re using exactly and frequently wait for a couple of weeks and keep a small diary or save your observation in a message or email draft and see what often gets into your food, which herb is essential in your food culture and which one you would like to try. Once you get the answers, go ahead to buy herbs for a herb garden or start them from seeds.
2. Evaluate well the available space
Next, it is important that you choose a good place for your herb garden. That is of course entirely dependent on the available space. In a limited space like a windowsill you should probably do this with a few pots. It would be better if you have a balcony or roof terrace, you are all set and if you have a garden, the possibilities are quite endless. What you should think, especially if you need to work in a small space, is that how much sunlight you get there.
3. Go vertical to create space
Go vertical to create space. Use walls, railings and ceiling to hang planters. If you think smartly you can increase your space up to 3-4 times this way. You can hang shelves too where you can put small pots. Another attractive solution to make a pallet shelve or use a shoe rack. If you’re growing herbs indoors buying a herb garden set is also a good idea.
4. Grow more than just herbs
If there is space left grow more than just herbs. Beautiful annual flowers, foliage plants or long-lasting perennials. A lemon tree or a dwarf fruit tree. The possibilities are endless. You can also start to grow your ow vegetables.
5. Provide shade in the hottest months
Plants love sunlight. But as with everything in moderation is very important. If your place receives day long excessive sunshine provides a little afternoon shade, especially in warm climates. Too much sun can dry the herbs and die, herbs like cilantro bolts in warm temperature in the scorching sun.
6. Create a nice seating area in your herb garden
Your herb garden will also look very nice and the fragrance of aromatic herbs will make it a wonderful place to sit in. If you have grown some flowers and shrubs you can enjoy it more. So it’s a good idea to create a nice place to sit.
Also Read: How to Make a Balcony Herb Garden
7. Get enough place to store herbs
With these apartment herb garden tips and some dedication, the time will come when the herbs are ready to be picked. You can pick off fresh fragrant leaves to garnish on your dishes or you can store some for later use. Of course, it depends entirely on how much you have sown this will decide how much you will have to reap. It is nice to keep the dried herbs in the kitchen so that you can use them during cooking conveniently.
1
0
文章
Andy
2017年02月15日
Want to grow an Indoor Herb Garden? Learn everything you need to know in these 7 INFOGRAPHICS that’ll teach you everything about growing herbs indoors.
Growing an indoor herb garden is the best way to grow your own herbs if you don’t have space outdoors.
1. Growing Herbs From Seeds
Starting herb seeds successfully either indoor or outdoor requires a number of things including ample light, quality growing medium, moisture, the right temperature, air circulation, and the MOST important thing– lots of patience. Save and use the infographic given above to learn how to start herb seeds.
2. Herb Planting Tips
Use this infographic to learn about a few basic herb planting tips.
3. How To Grow Your Own Indoor Herb Garden
Source: Chadwicks
If you live in an apartment the best way to always have fresh herbs is to make your very own indoor herb garden or if you have a balcony you can create a Balcony Herb Garden. Also, Chadwicks have put together this perfect infographic to help you successfully grow your own indoor herb garden.
4. Light Requirements Of Indoor Herbs
Source: The Growers Exchange
Check out this comprehensive infographic on light requirements of indoor herbs. This infographic will help you ensure that your indoor herbs are receiving proper amount of light so that you’ll get bountiful and flavourful harvest.
5. Easiest Herbs To Grow Indoors
Source: Desima
If you are just beginning with indoor herb gardening it is worth to grow easiest herbs first to ensure successful harvest. This great infographic will help you in choosing the easiest herbs to grow.
6. Guide To Flavoring With Herbs
Source: Cooksmarts
This infographic is about storing and using herbs in cooking. To help you get cooking with herbs and learn how to keep them fresh, take help of this infographic. It will tell you all about herbs and their flavors, when to use fresh herbs and dried herbs and how to properly store them so that they’ll last longer.
7. How To Create A Windowsill Herb Garden
Source: TheTruthAboutCancer
This inforgraphic is about the herbs you can grow on the windowsill, to learn more you can read our guide on Windowsill Herb Gardening.
Growing an indoor herb garden is the best way to grow your own herbs if you don’t have space outdoors.
1. Growing Herbs From Seeds
Starting herb seeds successfully either indoor or outdoor requires a number of things including ample light, quality growing medium, moisture, the right temperature, air circulation, and the MOST important thing– lots of patience. Save and use the infographic given above to learn how to start herb seeds.
2. Herb Planting Tips
Use this infographic to learn about a few basic herb planting tips.
3. How To Grow Your Own Indoor Herb Garden
Source: Chadwicks
If you live in an apartment the best way to always have fresh herbs is to make your very own indoor herb garden or if you have a balcony you can create a Balcony Herb Garden. Also, Chadwicks have put together this perfect infographic to help you successfully grow your own indoor herb garden.
4. Light Requirements Of Indoor Herbs
Source: The Growers Exchange
Check out this comprehensive infographic on light requirements of indoor herbs. This infographic will help you ensure that your indoor herbs are receiving proper amount of light so that you’ll get bountiful and flavourful harvest.
5. Easiest Herbs To Grow Indoors
Source: Desima
If you are just beginning with indoor herb gardening it is worth to grow easiest herbs first to ensure successful harvest. This great infographic will help you in choosing the easiest herbs to grow.
6. Guide To Flavoring With Herbs
Source: Cooksmarts
This infographic is about storing and using herbs in cooking. To help you get cooking with herbs and learn how to keep them fresh, take help of this infographic. It will tell you all about herbs and their flavors, when to use fresh herbs and dried herbs and how to properly store them so that they’ll last longer.
7. How To Create A Windowsill Herb Garden
Source: TheTruthAboutCancer
This inforgraphic is about the herbs you can grow on the windowsill, to learn more you can read our guide on Windowsill Herb Gardening.
2
1
文章
Andy
2017年02月14日
Learn how to build a herb spiral in this article. A spiral herb garden is used for growing different herbs in a small space. With it, you can make a perfect use of your vertical space in an arranged manner.The principle of spiral herb garden is simple but functional
A herb spiral is basically a small herb garden. It is three-dimensional and have beds in a confined, sloppy space of spiral shape, which can be used to grow various herbs. The top area of the spiral receives the full sun and has superior drainage, therefore, herbs that like exposure to the sun and good drainage are planted there. The bottom area of the spiral is suitable to grow herbs that require moist soil and less sun.
Herb spiral has spirally upward walls that are made of natural stones or bricks. The spiral shape is enlarged in contrast to the raised bed, the bed area has sufficient space to grow herbs and there are several zones with different soil characteristics and exposure to the sun.
The walls of herb spiral store solar heat and pass it at night back to the plant. Gabion walls look very attractive and are suitable for spiral herb gardens, too. At the foot of the herb spiral you can even make a mini pond, which will retain the moisture in the lower area, or if you want, you can create a wetland where you can grow plants that love saturated soil.
Making a herb spiral is relatively cheap or almost free. It utilizes vertical space, which means you can grow more plants in small space. It also provides microclimates to different plants that mean you can grow more variety of plants. You can also make it on a concrete floor in your urban space.
How to Build a Herb Spiral
Build a herb spiral in a spot that receives at least 5 hours of sunlight daily. A sunny spot is good, but if you live in tropics choose an area that receives shade in the afternoon. You can also make herb spiral on a rooftop garden or on a large balcony or terrace.
Materials Required for a Spiral herb Garden
• Limestone and limestone rubble
• Soil
• Compost or aged manure
• Geotextile, pond liner or large container
• Gravel, crushed stones or wood chips for the driveway around the spiral
• Plants
• Working Tools: Spade, shovel, wheelbarrow, a stick, a rope and a measurement tape.
An 80-100 cm (0.8-1 m) high herb spiral should have a minimum diameter of 1.5-2 m.How to Make a Herb Spiral
1. Decide where on the ground you’ll make a herb spiral. Plant a pole exactly at the center of that area and with the help of the measurement tape and rope, make a circle with a stick and then mark it with limestone.
2. Now erode the topsoil with the help of a shovel or spade to level the spot, also remove weeds and other debris.
3. If you want to create a pond or wetland at the foot of the spiral dig the soil more deeply at that point.
4. Before you lay the stones to make the wall, cover the excavation for the future pond with pond liner and around the spiral and its path with geotextile to prevent the weeds. If you don’t want to use geotextile, lay the cardboards. You can skip this step if you want.
5. Use the larger stones for the very bottom file of the spiral wall and smaller stones for the top. Keep the top layer of stones slightly inclined towards the interior.
6. Raise the row of layered stones and spiral up to a height of about 0.80 to 1 m. Always fill in the gaps with gravel or rubble. Also, at the center of the spiral, which is deepest, you can fill half of its depth with rubble or gravel.
7. Space for the plants to grow between the spirals should be, according to the amplitude of the spiral, ideally 30 to 50 cm.
8. Add a thin layer of crushed stone, gravel, wood chips or other materials in the base of your spiral bed where you’ll grow plants to cover the gap and improve drainage. At last, fill the spiral with soil and aged manure or compost. Once done, your spiral herb garden is ready for planting.
9. In the case of very large spirals, it could be difficult to collect herbs from the center without stepping on the bed so it is a good idea to lay the stones as footholds. For stability, it is important that the stones are placed with the smooth side down, and they are arranged staggered to avoid creating continuous joints.
Herb Spiral Plans for PlantingPlan 1
Here we have provided you a plan for a small Mediterranean spiral herb garden: For this, you will need a warm and sunny place. You can easily adjust your choice of herbs according to your climate and amount of sun your herb spiral may receive.
In a herb spiral, grow all the herbs you need for everyday cooking. The top of the herb spiral is a dry spot, which is ideal for the Mediterranean herbs such as lavender, sage, rosemary, or thyme. The middle circle of the spiral inhabits herbs that like slight moisture and requires the sun to thrive– cilantro, dill, lemon balm, lemon grass or chives. In the lower side, plant herbs that tolerate evenly moist soils and some shade such as mint, basil or parsley.
Plan 2
According to the plan 2, at the time of filling the soil in your spiral herb garden, bear in mind that this should be ideally divided into the four zones, each of which fades into the next without the continuity to give a different environment to your plants.
The area which is marked as A is on top of the spiral – Here you can grow Mediterranean or tropical herbs– Fill it with a light and loamy soil with the slight amount of sand.
In the second turn of the spiral, which is marked as B – Fill it with the soil that has some clay, also add a lot of compost to lighten it.
The lowest curve of the spiral, which is C– Fill it with rich potting soil and plenty of aged manure.
If you have not made a small water pond, then last is the swampy area D– Here add nutrient-rich soil so that you can grow here the plants that love wet soils.
Herb Spiral PlantsA
Rosemary (1), lavender (2), hyssop (3), Roman chamomile (4), sage (5), Oregano (6), savory (7), thyme (8), rui or (fake curry plant) helichrysum italicum (9).
B
Rocket (10), nasturtium (11), tarragon (or tarragon) (12), cilantro (13) Bishop’s weed (14), calendula (15), Marjoram (16 ), ginger (17).
C
Lemon balm (18), parsley (can not be close to chives), Bee balm (19) dill (20), garlic (21), chervil (22), chive (23), marshmallow (24), mint (25).
D
A herb spiral is basically a small herb garden. It is three-dimensional and have beds in a confined, sloppy space of spiral shape, which can be used to grow various herbs. The top area of the spiral receives the full sun and has superior drainage, therefore, herbs that like exposure to the sun and good drainage are planted there. The bottom area of the spiral is suitable to grow herbs that require moist soil and less sun.
Herb spiral has spirally upward walls that are made of natural stones or bricks. The spiral shape is enlarged in contrast to the raised bed, the bed area has sufficient space to grow herbs and there are several zones with different soil characteristics and exposure to the sun.
The walls of herb spiral store solar heat and pass it at night back to the plant. Gabion walls look very attractive and are suitable for spiral herb gardens, too. At the foot of the herb spiral you can even make a mini pond, which will retain the moisture in the lower area, or if you want, you can create a wetland where you can grow plants that love saturated soil.
Making a herb spiral is relatively cheap or almost free. It utilizes vertical space, which means you can grow more plants in small space. It also provides microclimates to different plants that mean you can grow more variety of plants. You can also make it on a concrete floor in your urban space.
How to Build a Herb Spiral
Build a herb spiral in a spot that receives at least 5 hours of sunlight daily. A sunny spot is good, but if you live in tropics choose an area that receives shade in the afternoon. You can also make herb spiral on a rooftop garden or on a large balcony or terrace.
Materials Required for a Spiral herb Garden
• Limestone and limestone rubble
• Soil
• Compost or aged manure
• Geotextile, pond liner or large container
• Gravel, crushed stones or wood chips for the driveway around the spiral
• Plants
• Working Tools: Spade, shovel, wheelbarrow, a stick, a rope and a measurement tape.
An 80-100 cm (0.8-1 m) high herb spiral should have a minimum diameter of 1.5-2 m.How to Make a Herb Spiral
1. Decide where on the ground you’ll make a herb spiral. Plant a pole exactly at the center of that area and with the help of the measurement tape and rope, make a circle with a stick and then mark it with limestone.
2. Now erode the topsoil with the help of a shovel or spade to level the spot, also remove weeds and other debris.
3. If you want to create a pond or wetland at the foot of the spiral dig the soil more deeply at that point.
4. Before you lay the stones to make the wall, cover the excavation for the future pond with pond liner and around the spiral and its path with geotextile to prevent the weeds. If you don’t want to use geotextile, lay the cardboards. You can skip this step if you want.
5. Use the larger stones for the very bottom file of the spiral wall and smaller stones for the top. Keep the top layer of stones slightly inclined towards the interior.
6. Raise the row of layered stones and spiral up to a height of about 0.80 to 1 m. Always fill in the gaps with gravel or rubble. Also, at the center of the spiral, which is deepest, you can fill half of its depth with rubble or gravel.
7. Space for the plants to grow between the spirals should be, according to the amplitude of the spiral, ideally 30 to 50 cm.
8. Add a thin layer of crushed stone, gravel, wood chips or other materials in the base of your spiral bed where you’ll grow plants to cover the gap and improve drainage. At last, fill the spiral with soil and aged manure or compost. Once done, your spiral herb garden is ready for planting.
9. In the case of very large spirals, it could be difficult to collect herbs from the center without stepping on the bed so it is a good idea to lay the stones as footholds. For stability, it is important that the stones are placed with the smooth side down, and they are arranged staggered to avoid creating continuous joints.
Herb Spiral Plans for PlantingPlan 1
Here we have provided you a plan for a small Mediterranean spiral herb garden: For this, you will need a warm and sunny place. You can easily adjust your choice of herbs according to your climate and amount of sun your herb spiral may receive.
In a herb spiral, grow all the herbs you need for everyday cooking. The top of the herb spiral is a dry spot, which is ideal for the Mediterranean herbs such as lavender, sage, rosemary, or thyme. The middle circle of the spiral inhabits herbs that like slight moisture and requires the sun to thrive– cilantro, dill, lemon balm, lemon grass or chives. In the lower side, plant herbs that tolerate evenly moist soils and some shade such as mint, basil or parsley.
Plan 2
According to the plan 2, at the time of filling the soil in your spiral herb garden, bear in mind that this should be ideally divided into the four zones, each of which fades into the next without the continuity to give a different environment to your plants.
The area which is marked as A is on top of the spiral – Here you can grow Mediterranean or tropical herbs– Fill it with a light and loamy soil with the slight amount of sand.
In the second turn of the spiral, which is marked as B – Fill it with the soil that has some clay, also add a lot of compost to lighten it.
The lowest curve of the spiral, which is C– Fill it with rich potting soil and plenty of aged manure.
If you have not made a small water pond, then last is the swampy area D– Here add nutrient-rich soil so that you can grow here the plants that love wet soils.
Herb Spiral PlantsA
Rosemary (1), lavender (2), hyssop (3), Roman chamomile (4), sage (5), Oregano (6), savory (7), thyme (8), rui or (fake curry plant) helichrysum italicum (9).
B
Rocket (10), nasturtium (11), tarragon (or tarragon) (12), cilantro (13) Bishop’s weed (14), calendula (15), Marjoram (16 ), ginger (17).
C
Lemon balm (18), parsley (can not be close to chives), Bee balm (19) dill (20), garlic (21), chervil (22), chive (23), marshmallow (24), mint (25).
D
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