Welcome to Gardening Tips & Guides
Pc Hydroponic Grow Boxes Article
This is a selection made from among articles on Pc Hydroponic Grow Boxes. For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for future reading, click here.
Jumpstart The Spring Garden - Gardening Tips For March & April
from: John ContiSnowdrops stand guard over tiny daffodil buds. Daylight is
lingering a bit longer. The snow is receding and the robins are
returning. The big thaw has begun. There's no denying the signs.
Spring is right around the corner.
If you're like me, you can't wait to get your hands into the
soil. While you're holding out for higher temperatures, there's
plenty you can do today to jumpstart the spring gardening
season.
Sow Seeds Indoors
Take a trip to your local nursery or home store and buy seeds to
start indoors. In March I like to start annual flowers for my
pots and containers. Currently, I have Coleus, Zinnias,
Impatiens, Petunias and Marigolds germinating. Follow the seed
packet instructions and you'll get excellent results. Some
plants will take longer than others to bloom or bear fruit, so
plan accordingly. This is also a great time for starting
culinary herbs and vegetables. If you're looking for something
new this year, try moonflower vine or cathedral bells to climb
your fence or trellis. Both can be started from seed. If you
have children, get them involved. Many children have a natural
affinity for gardening. It's a great quality to encourage and
nurture in them.
Dust Off The Birdhouses
I put my birdhouses out in early March. Small birds like
chickadees will be actively searching for appropriate homes to
raise their families. Mine were up for less than 24 hours before
the home tours began.
Give Your Garden Tools A Checkup
Take your pruning shears and other cutting tools to your local
hardware store for cleaning, oiling and a good sharpening. On a
warm day you may want to assess your lawnmower. Take it in for
servicing or a tune up now-while you can. Many lawnmower repair
centers are swamped shortly after the season starts. It's one
tool you don't want to be without.
Get Inspired
Order your garden catalogs. Purchase your favorite garden
magazines. Here in the northeast, there's nothing like winter
time to remind me how valuable my summer garden space is. Create
a wish list of new plants, design features and outdoor
furniture. With a little planning, you won't be overwhelmed when
May rolls around.
Seek Out Indoor Gardening Events
In March there are countless indoor garden, flower and
landscaping expos. If you can't find anything in your local
area, a day or weekend trip to a flower show might be just what
you need. Look for a botanical garden or arboretum with indoor
facilities. In my area we have Longwood Gardens. It has year
round indoor gardens and the displays are fantastic.
Clean Out Your Beds
As soon as the snow has melted and the weather permits, you can
clean out your beds. It's a good time to rake and clear your
planting areas of dead branches, leaves and debris. I like to
mulch as soon as possible in the spring, while there's still
plenty of space between the emerging bedding plants.
Learn A Landscape Design Software Program
There are so many inexpensive landscaping software programs
available today, many of them under $50.00US. During the winter
months you'll have plenty of time to learn how to operate the
system. Create and sample new designs before digging. Take
advantage of the overhead and 360 degree views. Many of the
programs now offer a 3D walk through feature. It simulates the
experience of walking through an actual garden. You can also
advance the garden timeline into the future to see what it will
look like when the plants and trees mature. It's a wonderful
creative tool to beat the winter blues!
Call Your Landscaper Now
If you're planning to use a professional landscaper this year,
make sure to schedule your work as far in advance as possible.
When the ground is soft enough for digging, landscapers will be
working overtime to keep up with the volume.
Book Your Garden Tours Now
Scour the internet for local and regional garden tours. Find out
when tickets go on sale and plan ahead. I've often read
announcement lists in the newspaper after I've already made
other plans. There's nothing like visiting other people's
gardens for encouragement and inspiration.
I hope these suggestions get you motivated to take action. The
sooner you get started on your garden plans-the more time you'll
have to enjoy the rest of the season. Happy Gardening!
� 2007 John Conti
About the author:
John Conti is a landscaper and publisher of
http://Stellasyard.com | The Soulful Garden. Visit his web site
for how to articles, advice and free design plans. Beginners are
welcome. http://stellasyard.com
 |
 |
Pc Hydroponic Grow Boxes News
No relevant info was found on this topic.