5 Ways to Get Children Excited About Gardening

By L.a. Buroker

If you're planting a vegetable garden this year, you probably wouldn't mind a little help from your children. But what do you do if they're just not into shoveling and pulling weeds? Here are a few ideas to entice kids to help:

1. Plant Fast-Growing Vegetables

Children aren't exactly known for long attention spans (and, okay, some of us grownups aren't either), so they can get tired of waiting for slow-growing veggies to look like something interesting. Why not plant something like radishes, which, depending on the variety, can grow to maturity in a few weeks? Or those little Parisian carrots (50 to 60 days to maturity)?

You also might "cheat" and pick up some vegetable starts from the nursery (or start some of your own). This way, you can put already-thriving plants into the garden, so the kids aren't just wandering out to stare at the dirt. Before long, they'll be picking those pea pods off the vines.

2. Plant Their Favorites

This one probably goes without saying, but most kids are more excited about munching from a strawberry patch than a broccoli plant. If your little ones enjoy carrots more than brussel sprouts, make sure plenty of their favorites go into the beds. It's a lot easier to get them to help harvest vegetables they'll enjoy eating raw right out of the garden than ones they'd prefer never showed up on the dinner table.

3. Plant Heirloom or "Fun" Varieties of Vegetables

Some kids may be skeptical of veggies that don't look like the ones they're used to (AKA store-bought varieties), but the adventurous sorts may be tickled to try yellow and green tomatoes with funky bumps and bulges. And why limit yourself to plain old orange carrots when you can have purple, red, and yellow ones? You could plant a mix and have fun guessing what color the carrot will be before the children dig them up.

4. Get Kid-Sized Gardening Tools

While your trowel and hand rake might suit you fine, your kids might be tickled to have their very own gardening tools. Several outfits make colorful tools that are perfect for kid-sized hands. They're usually not that expensive either so it's less of a big deal if the kids leave them out in the rain (your $60 Felco pruning sheers may be a different story!).

5. Release the Insects!

You've probably heard of beneficial insects, the little buggers that eat the pest bugs harassing your leafy greens. One of the more popular species (probably because they're the least weird looking!) is the good old lady bug. Did you know that you can buy them in bulk to release into your garden? (The jury is out on how helpful this actually is because a lot of them are likely to fly away, but they don't cost a lot and even kids squeamish about insects might enjoy this activity.)

Other predator insects, such as green lacewing and the infamous preying mantis can also be purchased for release. Not only can this be a fun event for the kids (you might even be able to make a science project out of it), but adding some of these guys to your yard may help naturally control pest insects.

There you go, five ways to make gardening more fun for your kids!

Once you've got your children helping with the veggie-growing chores, your time outside will be more entertaining and the weeding might just get done a little more quickly. As an added plus, the kids will learn to enjoy growing and eating fresh, natural vegetables that are better for them than the store-bought ones shipped from the other side of the planet.

The author writes children's stories and maintains the Off the Urban Grid blog, a site with suggestions on green and more self-reliant living for city-dwellers.

------------------------------------------------------------

For more on Getting Excited About Gardening, see www.bestguidetogardening.com

Pumpkin tips pay off for trio

HIGHFIELDS sisters Emili, Shayla and Alivia McGrath are continuing the family tradition of growing award-winning giant pumpkins.

The daughters of Clinton McGrath, who is the current record holder for growing the biggest pumpkin in Queensland, have won the national Junior Landcare Pumpkin Challenge. The trio won the school/ group category, which attracted more than 1000 entries, with a 175- kilogram Atlantic Giant pumpkin.

As a record holder Mr McGrath provided plenty of advice for his budding horticulturalists.

"I shared a few secret tips, namely cover the pumpkin from the sun and rain and prune the vine regularly," Mr McGrath said. "They like gardening, especially eating their cherry tomatoes and coloured carrots and chasing their chooks."

Last week, Mr McGrath stole national headlines for disputing state deputy opposition leader Lawrence Springborg's claim to have grown the Queensland's biggest pumpkin.

I shared a few secret tips, namely cover the pumpkin from the sun and rain...

-- Clinton McGrath

C Australian Provincial Newspapers 2010

Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.

------------------------------------------------------------------

For more on Growing Pumpkins, see www.bestguidetogardening.com.

• 
  
  
  

Organic Gardening Guide - Three Factors to Consider

By Clint Sidney

With the increasing popularity of organically grown fruits and vegetables, there is now also increased interest in ways to grow it. There are advantages and disadvantages in having an organic garden. However if three factors are borne in mind and followed as an organic garden guide,you will find that an organic garden is easy to grow.

Whilst, there are no laid down rules, it helps considerably if some basic attention is paid to soil, plants and plant protection. These three factors are the one which play a major role in having a good garden. The requirements of each garden may vary slightly, but these are only minor, if the principles are followed.

The roles that soil plays in a garden are many. Apart from being a support for the plant, it becomes one of the primary sources for supply of nutrients. The soil for organic farming must be free from chemicals. If the area has previously been used with chemical pesticides or fertilizers, than it may takes years for it to get back to normal level. You have your soil tested for this. Virgin soil is ideally suited for organic farming. The soil can be made richer by using organic compost or fertilizer. This will allow plants to grow better and healthier.

Any plant can be grown in an organic garden. Ensuring the use of good seeds, will allow for healthier and better plants. After germination under suitable conditions, seedlings can be transplanted. Flowering plants can be grown organically, but generally fruits and vegetables are the better ones to grow organically. The intention being to produce items for your food table that are free of any chemicals.

Plant protection is a very important aspect of gardening. Steps to protect your plants against weeds, insects and harmful diseases can be done by using pesticides. Today organic pesticides, such as neem extracts are as effective as chemical ones. Such products are commercially available and should be used as organic garden guide for pesticide control. It should be possible to find a suitable one from the nearest garden shop.

Clint Sidney is a gardening enthusiast and recommends this excellentOrganic Gardening Guide. You can learn more about gardening atGreatGardener.eHelpshome.com. --------------------------------------------------------- For more information on Organic Gardening, see www.bestguidetogardening.com.

How to Care For Roses to Increase Their Health and Beauty

By Russ Cooper

Sure you want to grow gorgeous beautiful roses but you are afraid you don't know how to care for roses properly. Well just remember roses have been around for a long time. Some say roses were here long before man walked the earth and they did just fine without our assistance. So the best advice on how to care for roses is just get out of their way and let them do their thing the way they know best.

However there are ways to taking this otherwise wild plant and taming it into an even more aesthetic form that produces an increased abundance of beautiful roses. And much of that comes down to proper pruning.

Pruning provides a number of benefits to your rose plant. It prevents is from getting wild and scraggly and gives it a nice shape. Fortunately you can be quite liberal with your pruning when it comes to shaping. It is suggested by most gardeners that you can prune your bush down a full third without any problems. And the fact is you can usually go even further then that without harming your rose plant so this gives you a lot of latitude when it comes to shaping your rose bush into a more pleasing form.

So proper pruning is a big element in caring for roses. Another big element on how to care for roses is proper soil care. People these days are getting away from the synthetic chemical fertilizers and for good reason. There are all kinds of helpful organisms in the soil that breakdown compounds into natural nutrients for your rose plants. The synthetic fertilizers can actually destroy some of these naturally occurring helpful organisms so that the rose plant will actually become dependent on the synthetic stuff as it can no longer get it from the good organisms. Not to mention that the synthetic stuff can be toxic to you, your family, your pets and the environment.

Now there are organic fertilizers that are very soil and environment friendly. They will work fine for any soil that seems to be deficient and will liven up your rose plant and keep it healthy. Even better then that and for no expense you can make your own compost with all your left over organic table scraps, some grass clippings and dried leaves. You can mix this in with your soil or use it as a top covering for adding excellent nutrition for your soil and rose plants. That's how to care for roses and your garden soil.

How to Care for Roses comes from a website that has secrets for healthy beautiful roses that are free for the taking at http://gracefulroses.com/go there and grab some secrets for healthy and beautiful roses. --------------------------------------------------------- For more on Caring for Roses, see www.bestguidetogardening.com.

Lovage Herb Info

By Tim Adam

A lot of people are now realizing the importance of living a healthier lifestyle and using the lovage herb is an excellent way to get started. If you are fond of using salt, you can use this herb as a substitute because of its superb flavor. Soups and vegetable stews will taste better if you use the herb in such dishes. The different parts of the lovage herb are edible and you can use them in potato and tomato dishes.

You must be aware that it will take about a year before you can start using the herb. One plant is enough for the needs of the family. The matured plant can grow as high as six feet and it does not require too much sunlight. In fact, you can plant it in the area where there is partial shade. Lovage herb will grow as long as you provide fairly fertilized soil and well drained soil. The germination usually takes 10 to 12 days and so you need t check during this time frame. Each pot can also have 4 seeds.

When the herb is already large enough for transplanting, you need to provide natural fertilizer and water frequently. Do this for a week and you can already transplant the lovage herb outdoors. When the herb is already 2 ft, you can now harvest little by little. You may use the stems for various recipes. Just chop the stems finely and you can already enjoy your favorite dishes.

Some people even eat the seeds or it can also be used when cooking. If you want a sweet flavor, you must use the seeds instead of the leaves of the herb. The lovage seeds are similar to celery seeds. Check the seeds during early summer and wait until it ripens or turns brown in color. Cut the stalk and you can start drying the seeds. By cutting the stalk, the herb will still reseed.

Every spring, you can dig up the roots and split them. The roots can be preserved and you can use it as well. Before storing the roots of the lovage herb, you must ensure that it is completely dry. The good thing about this great herb is that you can use fresh, dried, or preserved. You can give it as a gift to a friend who loves the herb.

It is also possible to freeze the leaves and stems. Blanch lovage leaves and place them in ice water. After several minutes, drain it, store inside a plastic bag and freeze. Lovage herb is also best for chicken soup and tomato soup. The minced lovage can also be used in biscuits, breads, meats, salad dressings, and pickles.

As you can see, the herb has many uses. Since every part can be used, it is worth planting this magnificent herb and it is also not difficult to grow. Just make sure to comply with the planting and growing requirements. Soon, you can have a flourishing lovage herb garden where you can harvest the leaves, seeds, roots, and stems with ease.

Tim is an experienced herb gardener and loves to grow herbs. To learn more about lovage herb as well as other great herb gardening, planting, growing and using techniques check out his dedicated herb growing and care website http://www.herbgardeningplace.com.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

For more on Planting Herbs, see www.bestguidetogardening.com.

How to Create an Art of Landscape Gardening That Will Please the Eye?

By Satya Narayan Das

Landscape gardening is liked to art as in painting a picture. If you are an artist your art teacher would have probably told you that painting a good picture should have a main point of interest, and that the rest of the points add to the picture to make it more beautiful and interesting. Therefore when landscaping gardening your need to create a picture with a central point and the rest an addition to the main feature.

1. Let's start with the lawn, this can be the central feature of your garden, a good lawn is not overcrowded with fussy bits of bedding and statuary or ornamentation. A lawn is best left as an open space to enhance the beauty of the bedding that surrounds it.

2. One or two additions in a large lawn space can break up a very large area; tasteful bedding at some point in a large lawn can create a point of interest.

3. If the lawn area is quite large you could place a gazebo with some bedding around the gazebo to make it easy to mow the lawn. Any structure directly on a lawn without a break such as flower bed will make mowing a lawn more difficult.

4. Large lawn can also handle a few trees, one or two depending on the size of the lawn, don't put too many trees else they will be in competition with each other for root space and air space, it will also create too much shade and the lawn around lots of trees will not do too well. Lawn requires a certain amount of sunlight and daylight to flourish.

5. Choosing trees for the garden don't place an over large tree that will overpower the garden, choose trees for their interesting features such as interesting foliage, unusual bark patterns, flowering trees, or fruit trees can have interesting features

6. A cluster of interesting shrubs in a flower bed can create extra points of interest to add to a flower bed, group the larger shrubs to the back and add smaller ones to the front; Shrubs also come in a variety of different foliage and colours which can give the painted effect.

7. The broad leaves of the Catalpa with its attractive flowers and seed pods that cling to the tree right into winter will give added interest through most of nature's seasons.

8. The Sugar Maple with its brilliant foliage, the interesting blossoms of a Tulip tree, the bright berries of an Ash, the bark of a White Birch, and the Copper beech leaves are all trees that can give your garden lots of colour and interest.

9. When placing your trees consider how they will look when fully grown. Take their height and spread into consideration when deciding where to place your trees, consider if the trees would look awkward next to each other. A long tall thin tree such as popular would look quite out of place next a Tulip tree for instance.

10. Some trees are evergreens and others shed leaves seasonally, these are factors to take into consideration the placing of the trees, for example placing a cluster of evergreens close to the dwelling will create a gloomy out look in the home. The home will never receive any sunlight. So be ware of placing trees near a house especially near the window areas, houses like gardens require sunlight to give it a feel of warmth and comfort.

Trees and lawn should be carefully chooses and placed to good effect. If you are not sure consult an expert who will help you in your choice.

Visit out blog http://www.landscape-idea-com for more interesting gardening ideas and tips.

How to create the art of landscape gardening for the beautification of your house and your lifestyle Tips on Landscape gardening

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

For more information on Landscape Gardening, see www.bestguidetogardening.com.

Gardening and Old Age

Old age is a fact. It excuses no one and persists through time. Yet, this fact need not hinder you from doing what you love the most-gardening. As more and more ergonomic tools are being produced, gardening is becoming an activity that doesn't stop with age.

Then again, ergonomic tools will not be always on the rescue. Despite the ease and comfort that these tools bring, your body still poses as your adversary. Still, although you may have limited strength and has trouble going around the garden, there are things that you can do to make gardening a whole lot easier.

You can start by carefully choosing the plants that are easy to care. There are a lot of perennials that require low maintenance and do not need constant division or watering. Choose shrubs for borders rather than hedges that would require regular trimming. If you want, you can opt for vines that grow up so you won't have to work on the ground.

Garden in raised beds and containers so you don't have to bend more often and you can even do your gardening tasks in standing or sitting position. If you're fond of hanging baskets, you can device a pulley system so you can make your watering chores easier.

Don't forget to exercise and stretch before you engage in any gardening activity. This will not force your muscles too much and prepare them for your more tedious activity. Do different tasks each time rather than focusing on one activity so all your body muscles will get to work.

Happy Gardening!

Having been writing for more than 8 years, John has a large number of articles his latest are on garden lights and how to clean garden lights, important information for any gardener. ---------------------------------------------------------- For more information and articles on Garden Home Lighting, see www.bestguidetogardening.com.

The Basics of Winter Vegetable Gardening

By Pauline Go

When it comes to winter vegetable gardening, remember that it involves more harvesting than growing. Basically you should be looking to grow vegetables in late summer so that you can harvest them in winter. Make sure that you protect the vegetables from the cold and do not water them. The water in the plant cells freezes during winter and ends up killing the plants. That is why stop watering your plants the moment the first frost falls.

However, the vegetables that you can harvest in winter should be hardy ones. That is why you should be looking to harvest kohlrabi, broccoli or cabbage. Vegetables like tomatoes, peppers and squash cannot grow in winter as they are summer vegetables.

Some hardy vegetables that can tolerate cold are leek, kale and vit, which is a salad green. Asian greens like Bok Choy can also tolerate the cold well. Other vegetables that can tolerate cold are lettuce, radishes, turnips, peas, Brussels sprouts and cabbage. In fact, lettuce can survive even at temperatures below freezing point.

When thinking about winter vegetable gardening, make sure that you protect your vegetables. What you require are row covers, unheated greenhouses, cloches and garden tunnels. Of course, if the winter is mild, you do not need them. However, if the winter is particularly severe, just double the covering. You can also use a cold frame with an extra plastic covering. But if you ware looking to work in your vegetable garden, you should opt for a greenhouse or hoop house.

The plastic covers that you use will not only protect the plants from the winter winds but will also help to capture sunlight to heat the area. Raised beds are not ideal for winter vegetable gardening as the heat from the beds will dissipate very easily and quickly into the surroundings.

Your aim in winter gardening should be to capture the natural heat from the ground and keep it trapped around the growing area using layers of clear plastic. That is why root vegetables or those that grow close to the ground are ideal vegetables to grow in winter.

About Author:
Pauline Go is an online leading expert in the gardening. She also offers top quality articles like:
Weeds in Flower Garden, Growing Organic Vegetables

For more information on Winter Vegetable Gardening, see www.bestguidetogardening.com.

Basic Necessities and Instructions For Herb Gardening For Beginners

By Lian Vaiphei

It is important you understand it is never too late to take up herb gardening. It is a terrific way to relax, have a good time and enjoy the herbs you create. To get you started on the right track here are some basic necessities and instructions for herb gardening for beginners.

To begin with you need to know what tools are essential to create your herb garden. This may depend on the type of garden you intend on creating, but for the most part the list of ingredients is the same. In all you will need soil, fertilizer, containers, a spade, and of course the seeds or herb plants you will be growing.

Herb gardening for beginners is going to start by placing soil inside of the container. From there you will place the fertilizer in with the soil. This may vary depending on the type of fertilizer you purchase making it all the more important you look at the instructions carefully.

If you have purchased seeds to plan, follow the instructions that are given for the types of herbs you are planting. If you purchased herb plants all you will need to do is follow the replanting instruction, which are given to you with the plant.

Based on the instructions given, make sure you water your herbs on a consistent basis and provide them with just enough light to grow properly. Outside of that, there really is not much to growing herbs inside or out. As long as you follow the directions carefully, herb gardening for beginners is a walk in the park.

Lian Vaiphei is a successful indoor herb gardener. He recommends herb gardening for beginners to get started and be on the right track on indoor herb gardening.

------------------------------------------------------

For more information and articles on Herb Gardening, see www.bestguidetogardening.com.

Beginner Organic Gardening

By Amy Cohen

There are many reasons to learn beginner organic gardening. Creating an organic garden is simple and easy and does not require as much work as you would think. A little know-how goes a long way.

As an Organic Gardener myself, I hope these tips will help you create your own organic garden.

The first thing is to choose a location for your vegetable garden. Choose a location that receives the most sun through out the day. Plants love the sun. Determine where the sun rises and sets so you can choose where to plant accordingly to size so that no plant shades another.

There are different types of beds you may want to create such as a raised bed or create a border. Till your soil with organic soil conditioner or organic soil to create the best possible soil for your vegetables to thrive.

After you decide on the location and size, it's time to choose what vegetables you want to plant now that you are learning beginner organic gardening. Depending on your location and size choose your plants accordingly and what you will consume.

I made the mistake of planting too many different plants for the space I had. I had cucumber and watermelon vines all over, even up my deck. Squash plants grow huge and produce lots of squash! Remember your plants will grow so plant your seedlings taking into consideration that they will get bigger. I had so many vegetables I was giving away tomatoes, eggplant and squash to my neighbors.

For smaller beds, you can plant taller plants such as tomatoes, string beans and eggplants. You can even use a planter for your tomatoes or even the new topsy turvy hangers.

After you have planted your seedlings, we are so excited to watch our organic vegetable grow. It's very rewarding to see the fruits of our labor flourish. I checked my garden every day with growing excitement and beamed with pride at each new flower that would eventually become a vegetable.

Water your organic garden every day. I water in the morning, works for me and prevents fungus. If your plants are in a planter, they tend to dry out quicker, so keep a sharp eye on them.

Every garden especially a vegetable garden tends to get some pests, such as slugs and beetles, use natural and organic pesticides for your garden.

Amy Cohen is an organic garden who loves to share her tips and tricks about organic gardening. "There is nothing better than getting your hands in the soil and watching your plants grow!!! Getting a fresh organic tomato off the vine, doesn't get any better than that!!!" Don't miss more tips and techniques...go Beginner Organic Gardening ------------------------------------------------------- For more articles and information on Organic Gardening, see www.bestguidetogardening.com. To purchase Gardens Decor, see www.kamsgifts.com.

Online Organic Gardening Tips

By Graham A. Vanderliden

Now that you know that you are going to begin your organic garden, you should search for a way to gather organic gardening tips. Organic gardening is harder than it appears, and if you think it's just a matter of sprinkling some seeds and water, you are wrong. You need some good organic gardening tips to make it happen.

We all know that eating healthy is important and organic food is one major step in the right direction. Yes, you can buy organic food at any grocery store, but the price can be prohibitive and quite honestly, how do you know that it is organic? Our government has set standards by which companies can label products organic, but no produce bought in any grocery store will ever be as organic as that which you can grow in your own backyard.

Even the most experienced gardener needs help, and by finding a guide online that can give you the experts' ideas, you will save a lot of time and energy. Imagine preparing your land, planting your seeds, feeding and water them, only to find out that the type of plant you are growing doesn't thrive in your part of the country? Or, that you are watering your plants to death? You need as much information as you can get to start seeing produce quickly.

Growing your own organic food can be rewarding - nothing beats watching a little sprout turn into a vegetable, which is later eaten on your dinner plate. But, growing organic food can also be frustrating. Imagine waking up in the morning to find your food eaten by an animal or killed by frost. Protecting against these kinds of incidents is important and is just the kind of information you need when looking for organic gardening tips. Don't leave your organic garden's success to chance - get all the help you can find.

Graham Vanderliden is an expert at providing organic gardening tips and the director of the popular website OrganicGardeningGuideForYou.Com. For free tips and advice on how to get started on organic gardening and more, check out the website for more info! --------------------------------------------- For more tips on Organic Gardening, see www.bestguidetogardening.com. To purchase all kinds of Garden Decor, see www.kamsgifts.com.

Getting Started With a Starter Greenhouse

By Sarah Duke

With portable greenhouses becoming cheaper and more easily available, there are many people who have become interested in owning one. Whether you are planning to build or buy a starter greenhouse, you should first consider your space requirements and your budget. These two important factors can help you make the right decision regarding the type of structure to be constructed or purchased. You will also need to think about heating and ventilation requirements, and make sure there's a handy supply of water. From there you can decide what your structure should be made of and what kinds of plants are to be grown inside it.

The next decision is whether to make the structure attached or free-standing. An attached building can be directly accessed from inside the house while a free standing one will require you to get out of the house before having access to it. Or you may opt for an indoor greenhouse if you have space constraints, or if it gets too cold in the wintertime in your region.

There are also different styles of greenhouses, with the classic barn-type being the most common. Portable, pre-fabricated starter greenhouses are very popular because they require very little in the way of setup and are easy to maintain. However, if you're serious about gardening, you should consider building a permanent structure as it will be more durable over the long term. The typical building made of glass as seen in movies and magazines is an expensive choice, but there are other cheaper alternatives. Many pre-fabricated models make use of aluminum framing enclosed with polycarbonate panels.

Most people who enjoy this form of indoor gardening would say that it is best to build the biggest structure your budget and available space can accommodate. Although some people are hesitant to do so, many of them end up expanding their starter greenhouse, which ends up being more costly. Often, people do not like the idea of having a large enclosure because they are not confident that they are going to be able to completely fill it. The truth is that once they get started, the more likely problem will be which plants they will have to give up when there is no more space for them.

An important consideration when it comes to these structures is that you make sure to choose the kinds of plants that match your level of experience in gardening. You have to make a commitment to caring for them, otherwise it will have been a wasted effort. You also have to remember to ask about permits, requirements and licensing in your neighborhood so that you do not have to worry about anything else other than tending to your growing plants in your starter greenhouse.

Greenhouses are easy to build and maintain, and are available in an assortment of sizes and materials to suit every home and budget. You can even get an indoor greenhouse if you don't have a backyard. Learn more at Garden Greenhouses. -------------------------------------------------------- For more information on Starter Greenhouses or Beginner Greenhouses, see www.bestguidetogardening.com.

Home Vegetable Gardening - Treating Plants For Powdery Mildew

By Michael C Podlesny

Powdery mildew affects such a wide range of plants but most notably those that are in the broadleaf category such as squash and different varieties of plants in the pea families.

If your plants currently have them, do not worry it is a very common occurrence and even better yet this pesky problem is easily treatable.

If left untreated by doing nothing however, your plants can become weak, look deformed and reduce yields of your harvest.

Here are some steps you can take today that could reduce and/or eliminate powdery mildew from your vegetable garden.

The first step is to avoid planting species of plants, such as phlox or bee balm, anywhere near your vegetable plants. This simply invites trouble into your garden, making it easier for it to infect and spread.

The second step is to use natural and safe sprays that reduces the problem without harming the plant itself or helpful insects within the garden. Neem oil is perfect but you can also make your own spray out of 1.5 tbsp baking soda, 1 tsp vegetable oil and 1.5 gallons of warm water mixed together thoroughly then sprayed on the affected plants.

Finally apply a chamomile tea spray mixture on your plants which act as not only a solution for existing powdery mildew but also a repellent to keep the mildew from coming back. Take 6 dried out chamomile tea leaves and boil them in 3 cups of water. Let the mixture cool, remove the tea leaves, place mixture in a spray bottle and apply to affected areas.

If your garden suffers from powdery mildew then you should be using all three of these methods. They are low cost and very affective. Put an end to your powdery mildew in your vegetable garden today.

About the Author
Mike is the author of the book Vegetable Gardening for the Average Person: A guide to vegetable gardening for the rest of us, available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and where ever gardening books are sold. He can be reached at his website: AveragePersonGardening.com where you can sign up for his free newsletter and he will send you a pack of vegetable seeds to get your home vegetable garden started.

----------------------------------------------------------

For more information on Vegetable Gardening, see www.bestguidetogardening.com.

Autumn Color Starts Now

By Keith Markensen

Garden color in the fall starts by planting some bulbs to brighten the landscape.

Bulbs and the Like

Plant autumn crocus (colchicum) now for additional fall color. They are very easy to grow, having no particular soil preference and will actually bloom out of the soil, drawing on their supply of stored food. It is time to lift and divide the spring flowering bulbs of daffodils, tulips and the like. These can be replanted now, Madonna lilies should be transplanted during August if needed, and new ones can be planted. A depth of covering to two inches is recommended and the soil must be well drained, Many lilies form tiny bulbils in the axils of the leaves during August. These are exactly like bulblets except for color. They should be saved and handled like bulblets for new plants.

Lawns

August is an important lawn month. New lawns can be started from seed now, Bermuda grass is still the old reliable for the South. When planting from seed use hulled Bermuda at the rate of two pounds per 1,000 square feet of area. The usual directions of soil preparation and after care should be followed. In established lawns brown patch, a fungus disease, may become prevalent during August.

The areas may vary from a few inches in size to several feet in diameter. The dead zoysia grass has a smoky ring at its outer edges and the grass leaves have a bluish cast to their color. Check with a lawn professional for best control options. Begin shortening the height of cut during August so that the grass will tighten for winter.

Before leaving on your vacation, secure your garden for maintenance. Soak everything thoroughly and put a mulch on the flower beds and vegetable garden. Lower the mower and cut very low for this one time. Your garden can weather your absence and lack of attention for about two weeks. On your return you will have some very concentrated work to do. It is annoying how tall weeds can grow during a two weeks' absence.

There is much more to explore on the subject of zoysia grass. Visit us at plant-care.com.

--------------------------------------------

For more information on Autumn Gardening, see www.bestguidetogardening.com

Pruning Grape Vines - 5 Professional Secrets For Growing Spectacular Grape Vines

By Malcolm Keigwin

Growing grapes is a very rewarding activity, if it is done with the right knowledge. Knowing what to do is the key to being successful. It is the secret to being able to grow spectacular healthy vines, time and time again.

Pruning is a very important part of getting fantastic vines and preventing grape diseases. These inside secrets to pruning grape vines are your keys to success.

5 professional secrets to pruning grape vines for spectacular results are;

1. 3 weeks before spring, remove all the unwanted canes and spurs. This will focus the energy on the vine into the remaining part of the vine. At this stage don't prune any canes and spurs that you will be using. Doing this, may encourage buds to sprout too early and be susceptible to frost.

2. After risk of any frost has passed, and the buds are starting to break, prune the spurs and canes you want. For cane pruning cut back to 8-12 buds. For spur pruning cut back to 3 buds.

3. Once shoots are 5-6 inches in length, remove excessive shooting so there is only 2 shoots per spur. This will help to prevent overcrowding, which is a very common reason for grape diseases, such as rot. It will also focus the energy into the remaining two shoots, where the grapes will grow from. Also remove excessive leaves which are causing crowding.

4. When the fruit clusters are small, remove all of the clusters except for one. This will cause the grapes to be larger on this bunch and will not over stress the vine. This will also help to reduce grape diseases.

5. Once you have picked the grapes, leave the leaves and canes on the vine until 3 weeks before spring next year. This will enable the vine to draw out the nutrients and the energy into the main part of the vine ready for next year's growth.

If you are interested in getting more free professional secrets on, pruning grape vines to get spectacular results click here.

--------------------------------------------------

For more information on Vine Gardening, see www.bestguidetogardening.com