Gardening with bees

A garden is not only a part of your home, but is also a home and visiting place for a wide variety of other creatures. In fact, many species depend on gardens for their survival, and provide benefits for the plants themselves in return. Bees are one type of creature that fits well into this category, and have a symbiotic relationship with almost all types of flowering plants. This is why understanding the way in which bees can affect your garden (and vice-versa) is highly important knowledge for the gardening enthusiast.

Many people consider bees to be pests, and many feel threatened by their painful stings and sometimes-aggressive nature. This perception of bees is particularly unfortunate, as many plants depend on these insects for pollination. In this process, pollen from one plant is transferred to another by the bees, as the tiny pollen grains cling to the bees’ legs while they are extracting nectar from the flowers themselves.

Without pollination by bees, many plants would be unable to reproduce, and a lot of the food we grow and eat would not flourish as it does with their help. Due to a not fully understood phenomenon known as Colony Collapse Syndrome, bees are dying in large numbers all over the world, having a highly detrimental effect on the many plants that rely on them for pollination.

Fortunately, home gardens are the ideal environments to encourage and support bee life. The best way this can be done is to plant a lot of flowers, which provide nectar to the bees all year round and will continue to attract them to your garden. Eliminating the use of pesticides and other chemicals or poisons can also help to make sure that bees that do visit your garden do not suffer any ill effects from the toxins as a result.

Of course, attracting bees to your garden means you need to be aware of their presence and make sure that you do not get stung yourself. Avoid wearing perfumes or bright colours when working near bees, and be sure to move slowly to avoid disturbing them.

Pruning in spring

Most plants tend to grow quite erratically and can get out of control if not pruned at the appropriate times to guide their growth. Regular, well-timed, and careful pruning can not only help to keep your plants in shape, but also improve their overall health by encouraging growth in the right places and enticing blooms to ever larger and more prominent quality. Pruning requires only one kind of specialised tool and is a relatively simple process when following a few basic guidelines, and should be well within the capabilities of most gardeners, even novice ones.

A general rule with pruning is to time it according to the point at which different plants usually bloom. For instance, in the case of plants such as azaleas or hydrangeas, which bloom in the spring or early summer, these plants should be pruned after blooming for optimal results. However, where late-blooming plants such as wisteria or honeysuckle are concerned, these are best pruned while still in their dormant stage, from late winter to early spring, in order to give them the best impetus for growth.

When pruning all plants, and especially trees and shrubbery, it can be best to choose your pruning time according the when the plant is most barren of leaves, as this allows you to see the structure of the plant quite clearly, making for more accurate pruning. In the pruning process, broken, dead, and diseased branches should be removed, as well as any parasitic plants such as sucker sprouts that can be identified.

While most large tree pruning jobs are often best left to the professionals, it is possible with the proper tools for even a home gardener to perform this task. A curved tree saw is one of the most important pieces of equipment for large-scale tree pruning jobs. When pruning trees, it is best to cut lower down, as top pruning should be avoided to prevent trees from taking on a somewhat ratty appearance.

Planning a garden

Starting a new garden from scratch can be a daunting task, particularly for novice gardeners whose thumbs are not as green as they might like them to be. When moving into a new home, or simply looking for a change, revamping your entire garden can be a great way to inject new life into your outdoors space that everyone can enjoy. As with most things in life, a bit of careful planning and following a few simple guidelines can help to make the process a simple and effective one.

As planning a garden is all about managing the available space, the first step in laying out your new garden is to take stock of the available space you have. A simple plan drawing of your house and the surrounding landscape is a great way to start, as it enables you to get a simple view of the space available to you. It can also be a good idea to make notes on the amount of sunlight and rainfall each area receives, the type and quality of the soil, as well as any existing vegetation, as these can all guide your decisions further on.

Most soils need a little help in order to become fertile for plant life. The easiest way to provide the necessary nutrients is to buy some topsoil from your local gardening store, as well as organic compost, and mix it in with the existing soil in your garden. You can even buy testing kits that help you determine what kind of fertilizers are needed for different soil and plant types.

Once you have a good idea of available space and soil, you can begin to plan the various plants that you want to include in your garden. A good idea is to think in terms of two categories: permanent installations, such as shrubs and trees, and perennials/annuals such as flowering plants. Once you have your selection down, planning out a planting guide that takes into account the time of year is the final step.

How to properly over seed lawn

When your lawn is in need of drastic help, or just to give it a pre-summer growth boost, sometimes the best method of giving it a kick-start can be over seeding, By planting new grass over existing plant growth, the entire lawn area can be thickened and rejuvenated into a lush, green bed of grass that is healthy and appealing. While care must be taken to avoid overdoing it, over seeding is a relatively simple process.

The first step is to remove all debris, including dead plant matter such as fallen leaves, from the lawn to open it up as much as possible and allow seeds to fall directly onto fresh soil. Weeds and other unwanted plants should also be removed to assist in this process.

Mowing the lawn also opens up a bit of space for new growth. Taking away a fair amount of the blade length (leaving up to two inches) will encourage the grass to grow back stronger and healthier, especially when done in the autumn months.

The final step in clearing the lawn area is to de-thatch. Thatch is the dead grass that remains on the lawn itself, and can be removed by means of a dedicated de-thatching machine, a lawnmower with a de-thatching attachment or a de-thatching rake.

In the final step before actually scattering seed, the lawn should be top dressed with soil additive in order to provide the new grass with the nutrients it needs for the best possible growing start. Once this is done, the lawn can be over seeded by scattering quality grass seed evenly over the area you wish to target. Different types of grass may also be desirable for shady versus sunny areas.

Finally, the entire area should be raked out again to ensure an even spread and get the seeds into the soil. Adding some fertilizer can help to give the grass an initial growth boost and get it off to a good start.

Side effects of chemical weed-killers

Weeds can be the bane of any gardener’s existence, and usually the most instinctive and simplest way to rid your garden of weeds is by using a chemical herbicide to kill all the weeds in your garden as quickly as possible. While these widely available chemical formulations are very good at what they do, it’s not all good news unfortunately. Many chemical weed killers cause nasty side effects that can be quite harmful to the plants that you actually want in your garden.

Chemical herbicides come in broad-spectrum varieties (these are designed and formulated to kill a wide range of plants, making it easy to wipe out almost any kind of weed), as well as more species-specific types. No matter how specific however, most weed killers have the unwanted side effect of killing other plants in your garden as well. Grass is particularly susceptible to these chemicals. Too much use of them and your lawn may actually end up less healthy and looking worse than when overgrown by weeds in the first place!

The harmful effects of chemical herbicides don’t stop in the garden, either. Many of the chemicals can seep down through the soil as they are washed off the surface by water. Over time, they can contaminate the soil to quite a depth, and can even join the water table of the area, leading to infertile topsoil, poisoned animals, and even a water supply that is unsafe to drink. This effect is of particular concern where home gardens are located near to rivers or the coast, as this provides chemicals with easy access to nearby water sources.

As an alternative to these harmful and poisonous chemicals, many gardeners have turned to more organic methods that do not contain as many chemicals (if any at all). While these may be slightly less effective and, in some cases, take a little more effort to implement, their safety for use on all desirable plants makes them a more effective and beneficial solution in the long run.

Lawnmowers are extremely useful machines that perform a simple function efficiently, but can have consequences that are disastrous for your lawn (and even potentially dangerous to the user) if they are not properly maintained. While not as complex as some other types of machines, lawnmowers need the same kind of attention and regular maintenance to ensure a long and reliable working life. A little basic knowledge of the different aspects of most lawnmowers that require this kind of upkeep can go a long way in this regard.
For novice lawnmower owners, a common mistake is putting the wrong type of fuel into the machine. Most lawnmowers come with either two- or four-cycle engines. Each type of machine requires a different grade of fuel, one of which is richer than the other and contains more oil. Putting the wrong type of fuel in is generally not fatal to the machine if spotted quickly, but attention should be paid to the indications given on the machine itself or in its manual to ensure this problem does not occur.
Oil is essential to the smooth running of any lawnmower, but the oil itself will become contaminated over the course of use. It is generally best to replace the oil in a machine once every fifty hours of operation. Consult the manual for each specific machine to obtain recommendations on the type of oil needed.
Regular replacement of spark plugs is also essential from an operation and safety standpoint. Spark plugs should be replaced once every hundred operating hours or so with the specific variety noted in the lawnmower’s manual.
Lawnmower engines, like many other types of engine, draw in a constant stream of air to facilitate combustion. This air is filtered before entering the engine to prevent contamination, but the air filter can become clogged with dirt particles over time reducing performance and efficiency and potentially causing damage to the machine. It is necessary to replace the filter approximately once every 25 operating hours, or once each season.
For a healthy lawn as well as a healthy lawnmower, blades should be kept as sharp as possible. Sharpening should be done using appropriate tools, such as a file or grinding wheel, with particular care to ensure that the blade remains balanced.

In addition to plenty of water and sunlight, plants need a whole range of minerals and other nutrients to grow and remain healthy, which they draw from the soil in which they are planted through their root systems. Although many natural processes replenish soil fertility over time, most gardens require extra fertilization to ensure that they remain at peak health throughout the course of the year. Lawns are no exception, and require a specific combination of nutrients to promote optimum growth. A little basic is knowledge is all that is needed to ensure that your lawn remains as lush and green as possible.
Nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium are some of the essential minerals needed by most plants. Most fertilizer bags have the combination of nutrients listed on the side by percentage of composition, often in the order given above. A 20-5-10 mixture, for instance, indicates a fertilizer that is comprised of 20% nitrogen, 5% phosphorous and 10% potassium. The rest of the fertilizer is made up of a mixture of filler material. Many different types of fertilizers are generally available, each formulated for use on different plant groups and in different seasons.
Slow-release and granulized fertilizers tend to be best for lawn applications, as they release their nutrients over an extended period of time and make it easy to get an even coverage of the entire lawn. Lawns are best fed at the beginning of spring (when flowers begin to blossom and growth restarts after the winter). Feedings should then be repeated approximately once every four to six weeks until late autumn, when the grass will slowly stop growing until the following season.
Of course, regular watering is essential for a healthy lawn. This is especially true directly before and after fertilization, as many fertilizers require moisture to dissolve into the soil. Without this crucial help, many fail to be as effective. More frequent watering also increases the growth rate of most lawns, which in turn increases their nutritional need. Lawns with a high water intake therefore need more fertilizer on average. Care must be taken, however, not to over fertilize as this can upset the mineral balance in the soil.

Despite their simple function, lawnmowers come in a variety of different models, and the variation in their component parts can result in different cutting action and a distinctive look for the cut lawn. Lawnmower blades are, of course, the most important part of any mower, and a range of different blades are available that are designed to achieve specific types of cutting effects. Due to their heavy-duty work, lawnmower blades are generally made of very sturdy metals to increase their durability and lifespan, but their thickness, length, and specific design vary according to their manufacturer and precise function.
Generally speaking, the standard lawnmower blade with most home-use lawnmowers is the medium-lift blade. These blades can be easily identified by the slight upward curve on the back edge. This design allows for optimum airflow that results in cut grass being distributed to the sides of the lawnmower itself. These blades, being standard issue, are suited to all types of casual mowing, and are ideal for most gardens with varying topography and even different types of grass. They are, however, not the most precise, and can leave small clumps of uncut grass in their wake as a result. The lack of lift they impart to the grass can also result in a lot of off cast cuttings that do not make it into the collection chute or bag, which can result in clogging.
High lift lawnmower blades can help to solve the above problem by creating an airflow pattern that imparts a stronger lift to the cut blades of grass. The design feature of a more exaggerated backward curve creates this effect, which is much more successful at driving the clippings backward through the chute and into the collection bag, eliminating a lot of clogging and unnecessary mess.
A third type of lawnmower blade that is sometimes used is the mulching blade. These are characterized by their very sharp and elongated edges, which result in the grass being cut into much finer pieces. The mulch created in this way, being a natural fertilizer, is actually very good for the grass itself.

Every gardener’s worst nightmare is to see their plants fall victim to diseases after a lot of hard work keeping them alive and growing. Grass, unfortunately, is susceptible to a lot of diseases that affect other plants, as well as some that are specific to grass itself. The first step in dealing with lawn diseases is recognizing the symptoms. Early detection and identifications of diseases can be one of the most important factors in successful treatment and prevention of disease, with beneficial results for the whole garden. As most diseases present some fairly obvious symptoms, knowing what to look for can be half the battle in this regard.
One common disease affecting lawn to look out for is anthracnose, which can be recognized by the reddish-brown patches that appear on the grass in areas that can range from a few inches to ten feet. This disease is common to warmer, wetter climates, and where soil drainage problems exist. ‘Brown patch’ is a disease that has been named precisely for its main symptom, which appears in circular patches in hot, humid areas and causes the death of grass blades. Another eponymous disease is known as ‘copper spot’, which causes rust-coloured spots to appear on the grass that grow in size, becoming redder as they do and killing the grass within the spots. It is generally found under somewhat warm, humid conditions.
Certain powdery mildews are also common afflictions for many lawns, which present as light-coloured, powdery mould on the blades themselves. It is particularly prevalent in damp weather on areas of the lawn that receive relatively little sunlight. An orange-coloured powder, known informally as ‘rust’, is the result of many tiny spores that collect on the grass blades. While these will generally not hurt the grass, they can become a nuisance as the condition is certainly unsightly.
‘Red thread’ is a condition that affects grass in humid, often misty areas, causing the grass to die and shrivel from the tips, resulting in dead patches. ‘Stripe smut’, on the other hand, is another condition caused by spores that causes grass to turn pale green, curl, and eventually die in clumps.

The first stages of gardening in a new home or green area can be some of the most difficult, messy, and initially unrewarding. As a result, many people tend to opt for the quickest and lowest-effort methods when starting a new garden in order to get this bothersome beginning phase out of the way. Where lawns, the main feature of most gardens, are concerned, the easiest and quickest option for most amateur gardeners is a roll-on lawn, also known as sod or turf. This type of lawn is pre-grown and/or cut in slices from the ground and then rolled up for ease of transport and planting, as it can just as easily be unrolled onto open soil where it will quickly begin to take root. This is contrasted with the more traditional method of sowing the soil with grass seeds to encourage natural growth from the start.

Both seeded and roll-on lawns have their own distinct advantages and disadvantages. Seeded lawns tend to include the largest selection of different grass types – particularly important for those who want a specific style of lawn, and where lawns need to be suited to a particular soil type, climate, or sun to shade ratio. The initial cost of seeded lawns are also generally lower than their roll-on counterparts, while seeding allows for grass to put down roots in its home soil, allowing for slightly healthier grass in general. Disadvantages of seeded lawns include a crucial timing factor. Seeds germinate best just before winter, when they have fewer weed seeds to compete with, and the initial watering period is also of critical importance. Seeded lawns do also take longer to develop into dense coverage, and may require reseeding over time.

Roll-on lawns are generally more expensive by area, mainly due to the fact that they are pre-grown. This also limits the selection by type of grass, and means that a high amount of water is needed directly after planting to ensure bonding with the existing soil. However, this already-growing lawn takes root quickly and can be walked on within hours of being laid out. It is also predominantly weed-free, and can be installed at almost any time of the year.

There are many different techniques that can be used by amateur and expert gardeners alike to improve the health and look of any lawn. Aeration is one such technique that is considered highly important by those in the know, and can have a large impact on the growth of grass of all types.

As a basic process, aeration involves the making of holes in the lawn surface to allow an exchange between the air above and below the soil line. This allows for carbon dioxide to be released from the ground, and for fresh oxygen to permeate the soil, encouraging root growth and stimulating the grass itself. Lawn aeration has many other beneficial effects as well, including improved nutrient uptake, soil drainage, water filtration rate, and healthy microbial activity, while also reducing surface compaction that can make it difficult for grass to grow outwards. Aeration is best performed once a year to maximize its positive effects.

Prior to the aeration itself, a process known as scarification should be carried out. This involves raking the lawn with a special tool (either hand-used or mechanical) that cut vertically into the lawn, bringing up unwanted thatch and debris and raising the blades to an angle that promotes upward growth and makes the lawn easier to trim and aerate. Once the scarification is done, the aeration itself can begin.

The process of aeration is best performed on moist grass, as grass that is too dry or too wet may respond badly to the treatment or be damaged in the process. Starting at the lawn center, holes should be made in straight rows in two directions (i.e. at right angles) that overlap with each other to ensure maximum aeration.

Tools for lawn aeration range from simple garden forks to mechanical devices, all of which should create holes of approximately 125mm in the soil. Different types of tines can also be used, including solid, slitting and hollow varieties. The main differences between these types are in the amount of grass and soil they remove (in the case of hollow tines) or the dimensions of the hole made. These factors can have an effect on the extent of the aeration.

Maintaining a well-kept lawn is one thing, but planting a whole new carpet of grass is another entirely. Giving a lawn the best possible start can make the difference between a mediocre patch of grass that is always suffering from overgrowth and other ailments, and a well-manicured garden centrepiece that is a great example of your gardening abilities. There are many guidelines to be followed when seeding a new lawn, all of which begin with proper preparation. Taking the time to ensure that your new lawn is well planted will undoubtedly lead to far healthier grass in the future, as ell as easier and more successful lawn care for many years to come.
New grass needs fresh, well-aerated soil that has the right chemical composition to kick-start plant growth. Removing the roots of any existing grass or other plants is an important first step, freeing up the soil for its new inhabitants. A sod cutter can be a useful tool to employ for this task. Thereafter, it is always a good idea to turn the soil, using a rotary tiller or similar device. Sand, compost and soil should be laid down in successive levels to achieve the most fertile soil composition. Once this process is complete, the soil’s pH should be tested. Lime can be added to soil that is too acidic, while peat moss is a good way to raise the pH of the soil. Adding a little organic fertilizer is also a good way to give plants an immediate growth boost.
Once the soil is prepared, seeds should be scattered evenly and thoroughly over the lawn area. A device known as a broadcast spreader makes this kind of job much easier, as it disperses the seeds quickly over a wide area. It is particularly important to ensure an even spread of seeds, as too much or too little seed in one area will result in grass that is clumpy instead of uniform. Using the back of rake, the seeds should then be gently worked into the soil, avoiding too much redistribution and the creation of holes which can collect too much water and drown the seeds. If done properly, the seeding process will ensure the fast growth of a healthy and luxurious lawn.

Weeds are every gardener’s worst enemy, robbing your plants of nutrients and looking unsightly at the same time. An almost uncountable number of different weed varieties exist, including those that grow among the grass of your lawn. For dedicated gardeners, this kind of weed can be one of the most frustrating. Various methods can be used to prevent weeds from growing on your lawn, as well as removing those that are already there without damaging your well-kept grass. A few basic guidelines should be followed in waging the war on weeds.
First and foremost, maintaining the correct cutting height for the season and the specific type of grass in question in an important consideration to keep in mind. A healthy lawn has far fewer weeds than an unhealthy one, after all. Gardening specialists as well as online databases will be able to tell you the optimum height at which your particular type of grass should be cut – adjust your lawnmower accordingly. Cutting the grass at the right time (when it is one-third above its ideal cutting height) is also helpful in this regard.
Identification of the specific type of weed attacking your lawn is also important, as different types require different removal strategies. These generally include some type of herbicide to kill the weeds completely, although as little of this should be used as possible to avoid it having an adverse effect on the grass. Individual weeds, weed patches, and widespread weed growth should be treated with spot sprayers, tank sprayers, and dial sprayers respectively. Some more grass-like weeds require manual removal from the soil by pulling the roots out of the ground. Although it requires more labour, this technique can generally be used on all weeds as well, and is a good way to avoid using herbicides on your lawn.
Some types of weeds, particularly crab grass, can be controlled by spreading a growth inhibitor at the time when the seeds are germinating. This time period can vary according to the region and the type of weed, so consult local experts in order to determine the proper time to implement this strategy. By following some of the above tips, you can ensure a healthy, weed-free lawn year round.