Month: November 2019

Holly Tree

by Komang Arya

Identifiying a Holly

A full grown tree can reach a height of 15m and can live for over 250 years. It has smooth, thin bark which has many small warts that are brown in colour, with darker brown stems.

The dark green leaves are oval shaped and glossy. Young trees have very spikey leaves. As the leaves mature they lose their spikiness and become smoother. They are also much more likely to be smooth in the upmost parts of the tree.

Holly trees have a dioecious reproductive system; this means that the male and the female flowers are found on separate trees. The white flowers have four petals and develop into scarlet berries once they have been pollinated; these can stay and remain on the tree during winter and throughout.

Interesting fact: the holly berries are guarded by mistle thrush … Read the rest

Hot Tub Landscaping

by Komang Arya

Hot tub landscaping does not only make your yard appear more pleasing, it can also add to your privacy. The appropriate vegetation, for example bamboo, can provide a natural screen that blocks neighbors from having a view on your relaxation time in the hot tub. It also helps you to forget your own surroundings. A lattice fence allows vines to grow and provide you with much wanted privacy, or even dense shrubs can provide the same. What you need to do is find options for your hot tub landscaping and you will soon enjoy the benefits of extra privacy.

Different aromas drifting through your garden will definitely enhance your surroundings and your life. That is the reason why there is a huge market these days for aromatherapy candles, essential oils, perfumes and sprays of assorted varieties in order to help … Read the rest

Preparing Flower Beds for Winter

by Komang Arya

Plant Debris

One of the essential tasks of winter preparation is to remove dead heads and plant debris from the flower beds. Not only does this make the flower beds look better but it removes many of the winter hiding places for insects. This debris should be thrown away, not thrown in the compost pile.

Organic Material

Once the annuals are removed, you’re ready to add organic material to the soil. This can be manure or compost. If you chose to use manure, you can find bags at your local gardening center, or you can check with nearby farmers. Just be sure it is “aged” manure–not fresh.

Compost is easily made from kitchen scraps and soil. You can have a compost pile, use a compost barrel, or simply work the material directly into the flower bed.

You’ll want to use … Read the rest

Unique Look With Desert Landscaping

by Komang Arya

To start with you will need to do quite a bit of planning. Because the land is not the best and the climate may be difficult, it does need a lot of thought. You need to have some idea on what look you want to achieve too and then see if it is at all possible to achieve this.

To get some inspiration and ideas try searching around on the internet and look in magazines. The hardest thing you will be faced with is coming up with a design that will suit your landscape. However, because the land is more awkward you should not let it stop you from finding a great design to transform your garden completely. You will need to bear in mind about what space is available and also you need to consider your budget too.

Your … Read the rest

Planning Vegetable Garden Plot

by Komang Arya

There’s never only one style of garden that works for everyone when it comes to vegetable garden planning because every gardener and their gardening wants and needs are unique. The type of soil you’ll be using, whether you’ll be sowing directly in the ground or using raised beds, how much sun and shade your garden area will get in a day, what types of fertilizers and supplements you’ll be using and what types of foods you’re looking to grow will all play a part in how your garden plan and your garden location is set up.

Settling on the best part of your yard for a garden is the first step. You want to look for an area that gets at least 6-8 hours of sunshine a day at a minimum, and has good drainage. The majority of plants will … Read the rest

Choose Heirloom Tomato Seeds

by Komang Arya
  • Many gardeners do so for the flavour of the crop. This applies specially to tomatoes. Heirloom vegetables have been saved for decades and even centuries because they are the best performers in home and market gardens.
  • Heirloom vegetables are likely to be more nutritious than newer varieties. However, opinions differ on this point. Certainly it is claimed that some of the orange and black or purple tomato varieties are higher in antioxidants then modern varieties. In the past vegetables were grown organically and today a growing voice of opinion favours organic methods to produce nutritionally dense food crops.
  • Most varieties of Heirloom tomatoes don’t ripen all at once. The plant continues to produce fruit throughout the season until stopped by frosts. Hybrids produce their crop over a shorter span of time, an advantage for commercial growers.
  • Unlike modern hybrid varieties,
… Read the rest

Creating a Successful Hydroponic Garden

by Komang Arya

The first tip is to make sure you are fully equipped with the knowledge of how hydroponic systems work. A lot of people fail because they simply do not understand how plants grow in a water-based environment. For example, one primary reason for failing is due to the incorrect input of water. It is extremely important that you get the right balance of nutrient and water. It is also important to select the right plants. One should note that a hydroponic gardening system is not suitable for every type of plant. Some plants grow faster than others when placed in aquatic environment.

The second tip to creating a successful hydroponic garden is to make sure that environment variables are set at optimal levels. One way of doing this is by making use of specialized garden tents. These tents can help … Read the rest

Hot Tub Gazebo Plan

by Komang Arya

A hot tub gazebo plan will add a stylish shelter to enjoy using your hot tub all year round no matter what the weather. You can choose a hot tub gazebo plan that is open all around with just a roof for minimum protection, you can have a hot tub gazebo plan that includes screening, or you can have a fully enclosed hot tub gazebo plan for maximum protection against wind, rain, and snow. Whatever you decide, you will never be sorry you decided to add a hot tub gazebo plan to your backyard.

You can have your hot tub gazebo plan made out of many different types of material. You may opt for a hot tub gazebo plan that is made of metal. You may decide on a vinyl hot tub gazebo plan for easy care and maintenance. Most … Read the rest

Backyard Landscape Plan

by Komang Arya

For instance, if you put a flowerbed or shrub in the middle of your backyard, will that hinder your children from playing various games? You want to encourage your kids to play at home and to invite their friends to join them, so it’s important not to do anything that will adversely affect the space where they usually play.

Another example would be planting a shrub along a route that someone in the family likes to walk on a regular basis. It can be something as simple as the route to the mailbox, or something as elaborate as a path that someone likes to walk every afternoon to commune with nature. Either way, planting something that alters their enjoyment of that simple routine wouldn’t be a good idea.

You may also want to consider what adding a particular landscaping element … Read the rest

Landscape Drains

by Komang Arya

The first thing that you want to remember when it comes to landscape drains is that you should have them put in as soon as possible, hopefully as you are installing whatever items you decide on. The biggest mistake that many homeowners make is that they wait until after they get the landscaping in to even start thinking of the drainage system that will be needed. By doing this, you may notice that after a long rain your yard has become completely saturated with water. You must remember that lawns can sometimes act like a sponge. This basically means that after your yard absorbs a certain amount of water, it will not be able to handle anymore until the “sponge” is dried out.

Having the right drain in place before you have to deal with this situation is obviously the … Read the rest