Power-Opinions.com » Gardening

What are the Advantages of Rain Gardens?

power-opinions — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 10:23:44 +0000

One of the attractive landscape ideas that has become popular these days is rain garden. A rain garden allows the growth of natural vegetation in a depression that allows to hold rain water run off from the driveways, lawn, or roofs. Rain gardens are beneficial in many ways. Have a look on the advantages of rain gardens.

Rain water runoff from roofs or lawns or driveways includes pollutant particles including dirt, fertilizers, oil, chemicals, garbage and bacteria. Such water flows through and enters nearby streams and ponds increasing pollution. Rain gardens help in capturing these pollutants.
As the water pollutants are filtered, rain gardens improve water quality.
They allow preservation of natural vegetation.
The rain gardens get drained within 12-48 hours. So, they avoid the breeding of mosquitoes.
It is aesthetically pleasing to look at the rain gardens. They enhance the sidewalk appeal and also increase garden enjoyment.
Beneficial and attractive butterflies, birds and insects get attracted to them.
Rain gardens help in enhancing the value and attractiveness of your home and neighborhood.
Native plants which do not require fertilizers are preferable for rain gardens. So, they also need less maintenance.
Even after establishment, it is very easy to maintain rain gardens.
They avoid unnecessary standing water in the yard and reduce the potential of home flooding.
They also help in reducing the garden maintenance.

As the rain gardens are associated with these benefits, it is better to create a rain garden in your home. It serves as an elegant landscape area apart from being functional.

Know About Different Landscaping Materials

power-opinions — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 10:23:57 +0000

A landscaping project can include different types of materials. They are generally classified as soft landscaping materials and hardscaping materials. You can add both of them to increase the appeal and elegance of the landscape area.

Soft landscaping includes addition of trees, plant layouts, top soil and mulches. Various types of flowers, plants and trees are there which accent any landscaping project. However, you should choose those which are suitable for your region. Also, choose the right type of soil for the right type of planting. Flowers of different colors add beauty to the flower beds and garden landscaping.

Hardscaping elements include use of wood, metal, glass, bricks, granites, stones, concrete and gravel. Different kinds of wood like cedar bark and redwood give a great appeal to the landscaping. Wooden materials are generally used for fencing and decking purposes. Materials like marbles and glass beads can be used as reflective surfaces in garden areas. Metal structures can be used for fencing and decorative purposes.

Landscaping materials like granites, stones, concrete and gravel add natural elegance to your landscape. They are mostly used for making pathways. Bricks are generally used for building pleasing edges to garden or lawn areas. Interesting paving designs can be made with different colors and sizes of gravel. The choice of materials, whether hardscape or softscape, depends on the application. It also depends on the area and style of applications. Make a note of the desired materials required for your landscaping project and get them in required amounts. You can use them in an innovative way to create new landscaping designs.

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Benefits Of Organic Garden Fertilizers

power-opinions — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 09:30:09 +0000

Organic fertilizers have many benefits compared to chemical fertilizers. The top five benefits of organic fertilizers are:

Slow Release of Nutrients: Organic fertilizers will not have nutrients in readily usable form. When they are incorporated into the soil, the microorganisms such as bacteria which are present in the soil, have to operate on the fertilizer, break it up and then discharge the nutrients. This will be a slow process, so there will be no danger that so many nutrients are absorbed by the plant. There will be no chance for a ‘plant burn’ when organic fertilizers are utilized.
Long-term Benefits to the Soil: Organic fertilizers require microbes to work on them in order to release the nutrients. This helps in promoting the growth of microorganisms, guaranteeing long-term fertility of the soil.
Long-term Benefits to the Environment: Chemical fertilizers generally releases several chemicals into the soil which contain nutrients beneficial to soil but may also include elements which are not quickly biodegradable. These may also pollute lands and water. Whereas organic fertilizers always consist of only biodegradable contents.
Cheap and Cost-Effective: Organic Fertilizers can be created at home or on farms by making use of a mix of cow, sheep and horse manure and also wastes such as leaves and dead plants. This is a best method to get rid of waste from garden or farm and moreover a cheaper substitute to purchasing chemical fertilizers.
Safety: When chemical fertilizers are sprayed in gardens, care must be taken that the family members, particularly kids and pets who generally play on lawns, do not inhale or swallow the harmful chemicals. Organic fertilizers will not have any such concerns and can be utilized safely.

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Types And Benefits Of Gardening

power-opinions — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 07:03:33 +0000

Gardening is the method of growing plants. Ornamental plants are generally cultivated for flowers, foliage, overall look, and for their colors. Beneficial plants are cultivated for consumption purpose like vegetables, fruits, herbs, and leaf vegetables or for medicinal use. Gardening requires patience and observation.

Types of Gardening:
There are indeed several distinct types of gardening, which consists of various styles, techniques, locations and types of plants. Five different types of gardening commonly used are:

Container gardening: It is process of growing plants in containers and is suitable for people staying in urban apartments as they can grow food, herbs, flowers and foliage in sunny windows or on balconies and rooftops. Containers plant can be cultivated in indoors, outdoors, in conservatories or greenhouses.
Raised bed gardening: Raised beds are suitable to grow different types of ornamental, edible and medicinal plants on top of barren surfaces ranging from rock-hard clay to concrete slabs. Raised beds are particularly suitable for disabled or elderly gardeners. As these gardens are built high, one can seat comfortably and do gardening without any pain in the joints and spine.
Indoor gardening: Many people grow houseplants for the visible benefits and to purify the air, which help in improving quality of air in new buildings, which are entirely airtight. Common houseplants which help in purifying the air are Chinese evergreen, English ivy, golden pothos, peace lily, bamboo or reed palm, spider plant, etc.
Water gardening: Water gardens generally consist of aquatic plants, fish and other aquatic life. Regular aquatic plants for water gardens are dwarf papyrus, water hyacinth, wild celery and water lettuce and aquatic animals are snails, goldfish, mollies, guppies and gambezi to eat algae, mosquitoes, waste and decaying organic matter.
Community gardening: Community gardens are developed in public spaces, where a particular plot is rented to grow edible, ornamental and medicinal plants. This garden provides access to fresh produce, enhance neighborhoods, and give a feel of community and acquaintance to the environment.

Health Benefits Of Gardening At Home:

Gardening plays a major role in improving health by promoting exercise, stress reduction, and relaxation. When viewed from medical perspective, researchers have shown that people who get associated with or communicate with plants are more capable to recover more from stress and mental lethargy or tiredness.
Families of reduced incomes, regard fresh fruits and vegetables as luxurious items as they cannot afford to buy them. Families with vegetable gardens at their home can eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, which are of high nutrition value.
Many people consider garden as a means to get release or escape from job pressures and family burden resulting in decreasing stress levels and related problems such as heart disease. Minnie Aumonier represented this in a remarkable way with, “When the world wearies and society ceases to satisfy, there is always the Garden.”
Gardening benefits children by providing knowledge on science, about necessities of plant life that can be interconnected with human necessities like water, shelter, air, food, and provides relaxation for abused children. A proper yard care and gardening pastime will have a continuous and beneficial effect on the neighborhood and colony environment.

The natural requirements for garden are soil, rocks, light (sunlight) conditions, wind, precipitation, air quality, and plant materials. Researchers observed that openness to nature is helpful in supplying immense pleasure to life. Yard care and gardening activities assist in developing individuals, strengthening families, and in building communities.

Tips For Home Gardening

power-opinions — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 07:24:30 +0000

Gardening is a one of the most popular physical activity. It gives satisfaction and fresh air. The following are the some of the helpful tips for home gardening.

Rules of thumb for water use on lawns and gardens: Water is the basic requirement for gardening. Lawn requires one inch depth of water about every three days. Watering to a depth of 4-6 inches helps in deeper and healthier root development.
Know your soil: Different type of soils requires different amount of water. Loose soil will quickly absorb the water. Water does not easily penetrate in to sandy and clay soil. Adding organic material such as compost and peat moss will increases the penetrability of water into clay and sandy soil. Loam soil is the best kind of soil. It can easily absorb the water and stores nutrients for the plants.
Water at the right time of the day: Early morning and nighttime is the right time for watering. At that time water will be evaporated less.
Proper fertilization use: Fertilizers contains nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. These compounds help for the root development, seed development, and disease resistance. Soil test helps to find out what nutrients are needed. It is better to apply the fertilizer properly.
Mow your lawn frequently: Mower at two inches will reduce the water use during the hot weather.