Month: August 2019

Choose a sunny location

Tomatoes require at least 6 hours of sun, so choose a warm location like a sunny balcony or a wall which receives plenty of sunlight. As many small urban spaces are often overshadowed by surrounding buildings, the first thing you need to check is that you have enough sun.

Grow tomatoes in a hanging pot or wall mounted pocket

Choose containers

The basic rule of thumb is the larger the pot, the larger the tomato variety you can plant. If you’re going to planting a cherry tomato variety, you can use smaller hanging pots, window boxes or fabric pockets for a vertical wall mounted structure. If the container does not have drainage holes, drill small holes on the bottom of the container before filling it with soil.

To help satiate the tomato’s desire for food and … Read the rest

During the sixteenth century the initiative passed to Rome, where the architect Bramante designed a papal garden within the Vatican. This was forerunner of the High Renaissance style, with a magnificent arrangement of steps and terraces, which became a prototype for everything which became followed. From then on gardens became even more ostentatious in design, with terraces at different levels retained by walls and interconnected by grand staircases. Water again became a major feature, as it was in Islamic gardens. It was pressurized and used spectacularly, progressing down an incline or displayed in an elaborate fountain. While these Renaissance gardens were still places for cool retreat, with shade and water of great importance, they were also showplaces where the site and its vegetation were deliberately manipulated. The Italians were really the first to make decorative use of plants, with hedges, … Read the rest

Eggshells are primarily made up of calcium carbonate, the same calcium carbonate the makes up the agricultural lime that many farmers add to their soil. Calcium carbonate helps plants develop healthy structures and is required for normal cell growth. It is often recommended for blossom-end rot or BER. BER develops when there is insufficient calcium in developing cells of the plants. If your soil needs calcium, then the eggshells a normal household produces will not be enough. In this situation, go ahead and buy lime or calcium carbonate to improve your soil composition. For those of us that are maintaining already balanced soil, the amount of calcium carbonate you will be adding is helpful over the long haul.

While calcium carbonate the primary gardening benefit of eggshells, it is not the only mineral they provide. Eggshells also contain phosphorus, nitrogen, … Read the rest

• Phalaenopsis Orchids (Moth Orchids)

These are the most commonly found Orchids used as household plants. They are extremely common because they are easy to grow and re-bloom in average household conditions. These are the perfect Orchids for beginners because they are forgiving of mistakes as well. The flowers of a Phalaenopsis Orchid are said to look like moths in flight, hence the name. This is one of the types of Orchid that you can find in any color, making them the perfect gift for anyone and any occasion.

• Cymbidium Orchids

Cymbidium Orchids are another popular orchid best known for their use in corsages. The flowers from this species last for a long time after they are cut and placed in water. The flowers have been known to last a few months if placed in a vase with water. This type … Read the rest

Enhanced value

The most obvious advantage of a roof garden is as a valuable amenity that enhances the worth of the structure it occupies for a relatively modest expenditure. A roof garden substantially enhances re-sale or rental values. It raises property values. It is additional or reclaimed usable space. A bonus is the ability to gain promotion and marketing benefits via a green roof.

Increased Life Expectancy of the Roof

One of the great benefits of roof gardens and green roofs is that, by protecting the underlying roof covering, they extend the life of the existing roof fabric by up to 200%. A green roof protects the roof membrane from climatic extremes and physical abuse, thereby greatly increasing the life expectancy of the roof.

Property Tax Credit Incentives

New York City recently passed a city bylaw that rewards building-owners who … Read the rest

Finding the Perfect Growing Conditions

It is imperative that your herbs grow in the right environment and you need to know what growing conditions will allow for the growth of the herbs easily and without much loss. Different herbs will obviously have a difference in the perfect conditions that they need for their growth. Despite this fact, there are ideal conditions that all herbs require in order to grow without a lot of problems. The ideal conditions for the growth of herbs include sunny and sheltered locations with well drain soil as well as the availability of adequate water. it is however not common that all of these conditions will be exactly where you need them and sometimes you can have good quality soil and too much sunlight, or enough sunlight and not so good quality soil. In this case, … Read the rest

• Build a shed around your heating oil tank. The shed will need to have large doors so that the entire tank can fit through, in case the tank needs replacing, and preferably not be of a wood construction in the event of a fire. The tank also needs to be well lit and easily accessible for filling, including sufficient roof height. Making the shed bigger than required for the tank will also ensure there is enough ventilation around the tank.

• Put a trellis fence around your oil tank. Trellis is a great way to disguise a tank and can be incorporated with your garden theme and colours. Make sure you have a gate or entrance on one side so that the tank is easily accessible for filling and maintenance. You could even cover the trellis with hanging vines to create