Different Types Of Gardening
Water Gardens, Indoor Gardening & More
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Water Gardens
There are many new trends surfacing in
gardening, and water gardening is one of the main new interests. Water
gardening can be in the form of waterfalls, ponds, fountains, all of
which can be enhanced by rock work combinations and lighting, plants,
and fish. Water gardening doesnt have to be a pond or natural water
source either, it can consist of just a plastic tub, basically anything
that can hold water.
The most important thing to consider in water gardening is probably the
spot chosen. Since plants and fish both need plenty of sunlight, places
in direct light away from trees and bushes is the best place. This will
also help prevent leaves and debris from collecting in the water.
When planning for a water garden first decide the size you want. This
will depend on how much money you are willing to spend because water
gardening can get expensive if you opt for a large garden full of
plants, rocks, fish, and lights. Also consider the size of our property,
and the amount of time you want to spend with maintaining your water
garden.
When you choose what type of aquatic plants you wish to have, remember
that the plants should only cover about half of the water. Plants can be
free floating, submerged, or marginal. Which you choose is all a matter
of personal preference. Some plants are good for their scent, some
provide more oxygen than others and will keep the pool health, and some
are just beautiful. Fish are not only nice to look at but they are also
very beneficial. Fish help keep debris at a minimum and help in
controlling larva and other insects.
One of the main difficulties in water gardening is keeping water clear
of algae. Algae problems are usually caused from too many nutrients in
the water from feeding fish too often or from over fertilizing plants.
If ponds are made correctly and are maintained properly algae problems
and control will be kept at a minimum.
All garden pools regardless of size will need maintenance throughout the
year. With proper planning you can ensure a healthy balance between
living and decorative features of a water garden that can almost care
for itself with simple maintenance inputs from you.
You can get rid of algae by reducing on the nutrients that cause the
algae by cutting back on feeding and fertilizing, planting more plants,
installing a filter system, or replacing existing water with fresh
water. There are some chemicals that can be used, like copper compounds,
but overuse can kill plant life and fish.
Water gardening doesnt take anymore time than regular gardening, but
obviously isnt near the same thing. You may be the type person who
couldnt grow a flower if you tried but would be excellent at water
gardening. If you are looking for a way to occupy some time or to
beautify your yard, water gardening is an excellent way.
Japanese Gardening
Japanese gardening is a cultural form of gardening that is meant to
produce a scene that mimics nature as much as possible by using trees,
shrubs, rocks, sand, artificial hills, ponds, and flowing water as
art-forms. The Zen and Shinto traditions are both a large part of
Japanese gardening and, because of this; the gardens have a
contemplative and reflective state of mind. Japanese gardening is much
different than the Western style and most would say it is far more
meditational and soul soothing.
In Japanese gardening there are three basic methods for scenery. The
first of these is reduced scale. Reduced scale is the art of taking an
actual scene from nature, mountains, rivers, trees, and all, and
reproducing it on a smaller scale. Symbolization involves generalization
and abstraction. An example of this would be using white sand to suggest
the ocean. Borrowed views refers to artists that would use something
like an ocean a forest as a background, but it would end up becoming an
important part of the scene.
There are essentially two types of Japanese gardening: tsukiyami, which
is a hill garden and mainly composed of hills and ponds. The other is
hiraniwa, which is basically the exact opposite of tsukiyami: a flat
garden without any hills or ponds.
The basic elements used in Japanese gardening include rocks, gravel,
water, moss, stones, fences, and hedges. Rocks are most often used as
centerpieces and bring a presence of spirituality to the garden.
According to the Shinto tradition rocks embody the spirits of nature.
Gravel is used as a sort of defining surface and is used to imitate the
flow of water when arranged properly. Stones are used to create a
boundary and are sculpted into the form of lanterns. Water, whether it
be in the form of a pond, stream, or waterfall, is an essential part of
a Japanese garden. It can be in the actual form of water or portrayed by
gravel, but no matter what form water is in, it is crucial to a Japanese
gardens balance.
There are several forms and types of plants that are signature of
Japanese gardening, the main one being Bonsai. Bonsai is the art of
training everyday, average plants, such as Pine, Cypress, Holly, Cedar,
Cherry, Maple, and Beech, to look like large, old trees just in
miniature form. These trees range from five centimeters to one meter and
are kept small by pruning, re-potting, pinching of growth, and wiring
the branches.
Japanese gardening is a tradition that has crossed the Muso Soseki,
poet, said Gardens are a root of transformation. A Japanese garden is
sure to bring about many different feelings and is definitely a
transforming experience.
Indoor Gardening
A lot of people stick a fake tree in a corner, dust the leaves off every
week, and call it indoor gardening, but indoor gardening has grown into
much more than that lately. There are also a lot of people that thinks
plants belong and should stay inside, but there are many reasons for
starting an indoor garden. For instance, plants dont only remove carbon
dioxide from the air, they also remove many poisonous toxins and
pollutants as well. Indoor gardening will result in beautiful decoration
in your house as well as cleaner air.
When picking out plants for indoor gardening, make sure the plants are
adaptable and will be able to thrive in the conditions and setting in
your house. Consider how much time you will be able to spend caring for
the plants, how much light your house offers, and also how much money
you want to spend on your indoor garden. If you are on a low budget,
start with seeds or cuttings. If you have a little more money to dish
out you can buy a plant that is already grown. Another thing to consider
is if you want a plant that can be displayed all year or just for a
season. Herb gardens are a good thing for indoor gardening; they are
both attractive and edible. They will grow pretty quick and you wont
have to wait a long time to see results. Some popular herbs, especially
for cooking, are chives, dill, sage, thyme, and oregano.
When indoor gardening, consider the amount of experience you have before
choosing a plant. There are some plants that are stronger and harder to
kill and therefore better for a novice gardener. Examples are Fatsia,
Cyperus, Scandens, Popular Succulents, Coleus, and Bromeliads.
Some things, such as the basic rules of maintaining plants, are
different in indoor gardening that in a regular outdoor setting. Since
plants wont get the sunlight they do outdoors, lighting is essential.
You need to know exactly how much light your plants need and pick plants
that only need medium to low light, such as ferns or Philodendrons,
unless you plan to supply artificial lighting. If you buy a plant
already grown, wherever you get it probably has better lighting than
your house so you will need to condition your plant and gradually reduce
the light it receives. Once you get the plant inside, make sure and
rotate the plant to encourage upright growth.
Just because you are indoor gardening, dont think the plants dont have
to have water; they still do. How often you water, once again, depends
on what type of plant you have. Make sure the water can drain out of the
bottom of the pot and try to use water that is about the same as the
temperature of the room. Also pay attention to temperature in your house
in order to ensure healthy plants. A 10-15 degree range wont hurt any
plants, but rapid changes could cause damage.
Indoor gardening is not all that difficult; in fact, it is pretty much
the same as outdoor. There are even some advantages to indoor gardening.
For example, you wont have to worry as much about bugs and insects
bothering your plants. You also wont have to worry about wind or frost
reeking havoc on your garden.
Hydroponics Gardening
Many gardeners are beginning to switch to Hydroponics gardening for many
different reasons. These types of gardens are small and can easily be
grown inside and are perfect for most vegetables, especially the red
tomato. Also the equipment required for Hydroponics gardening is not
expensive and they are relatively easy to manage.
Hydroponics gardening is the growing of plants without soil, in other
words, dirtless gardening. There are many methods of Hydroponics
gardening, most of which work better than regular soil gardening because
it is easier to give the plant exactly what it needs when it needs it.
Plants will only receive what you give them; therefore you will be able
to regulate the pH, nutrients, nutrient strength, water amount, and
light amount. This makes it imperative that you research the kind of
plants you will be growing so you know what they need to survive.
Hydroponics gardening is only as difficult as you make it. It can be
complicated if computers with sensors are used to control water cycles,
nutrients, and light for the plants. However, it can also be as simple
as a hand watered bucket with a single plant. The normal home
Hydroponics system is usually made up of a few basic things: a growing
tray, light (natural or artificial), a reservoir, a water controlled
pump for watering (or some type of watering equipment), and some form of
air pump to give oxygen to the nutrients.
The growing medium used in Hydroponics gardening can be any number of
things, such as Rockwool, perlite, coconut fiber, gravel, sand,
vermiculite, or even air. You can get instructions from a gardening
store or online or buy separate parts and build your own. There are also
kits already assembled for sale in gardening supply stores.
There are certain micro-nutrients that are necessary for healthy plant
growth including magnesium, sulfur, calcium, cobalt, boron, iron,
copper, manganese, and zinc. These nutrients are absolutely essential to
plants and if missing could cause the food to not be as healthy and in
some cases even cause health problems for those who eat it. It is very
important that you use a quality fertilizer when Hydroponics gardening.
Another important aspect of Hydroponics gardening that must be closely
regulated is the pH balance. When the pH balance varies the plants will
lose the ability to absorb nutrients that it needs. The ease with which
the pH in Hydroponics gardening is tested and controlled give it a huge
advantage over regular dirt gardening.
Even though there are hundreds of different variations, Wick, Water
Culture, Ebb and Flow, Drip, N.F.T., and Aeroponic are the six most
basic types of Hydroponics gardening systems. Hydroponics gardening is
easy, affordable, and you can have fresh produce, flowers, herbs &
spices all year long!
Rose Gardening
Roses have gotten a bad wrap over the years for being difficult to grow
and maintain. If you are thinking of rose gardening dont let this rumor
stop you. While rose gardening can prove to be challenging, once you get
the hang of it, it really isnt that bad.
When you first start rose gardening, you will have to choose what type
of rose you wish to plant, and no, Im not talking about the color. You
will have to choose between bare-root, pre-packaged, and container-grown
roses. Bare-root roses are sold in the winter and early spring. They
should be planted as soon as frosts are over and the ground is warm and
workable. Pre-packaged roses are bare-root plants that are sold in a bad
or box with something around the roots to retain moisture, such as
sawdust. Container-grown roses are grown; you guessed it, in containers.
They will be either budding or already in bloom when they become
available in the early spring.
Planting in rose gardening is not that much different than any other
type of plant. The most important thing, as always, is good, healthy
soil and a prime planting area. It doesnt matter whether your roses are
bare-root or container-grown, the planting methods are the same as any
other shrub. Make sure the spot you choose has good drainage, gets
plenty of sunlight, and will not overcrowd your roses. Before planting,
any dead leaves and thin or decayed shoots need to be cut off. Any
damaged or very long roots also need to be trimmed. Soak bare-root roses
in water about 10-12 hours to restore moisture in the roots before
planting and water the soil before planting as well. Make sure the hole
you have dug is large enough for the root growth of the rose. Also it is
a good idea to use compost or mulch. After all, roses like extra
nutrients just like any other plant.
Roses need the same things as other plants; they are just a bit needier.
One of the most important things to remember in rose gardening is that
roses are heavy feeders and will need several fertilizer applications.
Fertilizing should be started in early spring and discontinued in early
fall. Make sure not to over-fertilize (fertilize should come with
instructions) and water after each feeding. Roses require large amounts
of water; a thorough watering twice a week should be enough.
Pruning is an essential part to flower gardening. It increases blooms
and encourages healthy plant growth. Different varieties of roses have
different instructions for pruning, so you might want to read up on your
rose types and see what is suggested.
The main thing to remember in rose gardening is to water, water, and
water some more. One other thing about rose gardening is the amount of
fertilizer and nutrients you will need to use, and the pruning that
needs to be done to keep your roses under control and healthy. Even
though rose gardening takes a little more time and roses are more work,
they are one of the most unique and beautiful plants, and definitely
worth the extra work.
Understanding Container Gardening
If you are a garden lover, but have no space for your gardening
appetite, dont worry gardening is not necessarily out of your reach. In
the available space of your house say balcony, patio, deck, or sunny
window, you can create a container gardening, which will not only bring
you joy but also vegetables. So, are you ready to start container
gardening yourself
In the past, gardening is an exclusive realm of the landowner. Nowadays
even the flat dweller can grow his dream garden without having any fuss.
Ones dream can be fulfilled by container gardening, which means the
gardening in a special container. Container gardening gives delights of
landscape without weekly mowing. In the container, you can raise some
perennials, annuals, and even shrubs and small trees.
Dont think container gardening can be achieved very easily. Container
gardening also requires proper planning just like that of traditional
gardening. Planning consists of finding your USDA zone (this will help
to identify the suitable plant variety of your zone), amount of daylight
you are receiving in your apartment, and finally choose your beloved
plant variety.
It is always advisable to buy the plants from nearest nursery unless you
have right conditions to go for indoor seedlings. You should not keep
the tender plants of container gardening outside below 45 F temperature
or in soaring winds. Moreover you should not leave the new plants
through out the night in the outside to get frost it out.
There is a false notion that all the plants grow in the ground wont grow
in the container gardening. Its not so. If you have any doubt, please do
experiment on it. Moreover, any container with holes for drainage can be
used for your container gardening.
Container gardening requires little budget in the initial stage. But it
is having low maintenance with good satisfaction. Container gardening
requires little fertilizer and water according to the specific needs of
the plants.
There is numerous pot growing vegetable varieties as container
gardening. In this type, the vegetable plant requires only sunlight and
water. Providing these two things can easily help you get fresh
vegetables for your ratatouille or salad. You can get more satisfaction
by serving these varieties nurtured by your own hands to your beloved
pals.
Dont despair-if youre not having balcony or deck? Get nod from your
landlord for window boxes, a modern container gardening. It is highly
possible to grow many bloomy annuals year-round and indoor vegetables in
your sunny window. There is another type of garden called community
gardens, which will satisfy the city dwellers.
There is no need to end your container gardening since you have entered
autumn. But you can continue your container gardening by selecting the
plants that are withholding the frost. The common plant varieties that
stand up to the frost are Eulalia grasses, Mexican feather grass,
Cornflowers, Lavender cottons, Jasmine, Million bells, Stonecrops, etc.,
In order to extend the life of your garden from early spring to fall,
you can replant to match the conditions. Even you can contact some of
the Americas best gardeners through online to get design for your
container gardening. They offer suggestions such as caring and choosing
for pots, how to grow tips for succulents, roses, and bulbs, in
containers.
