A greenhouse can be the avid gardener’s best friend during the fall and winter months.  Greenhouses make it possible for us to extend the lifespan of our valuable plants, and sometimes even overwinter them so they can enjoy yet another growing season next year.  If you already own a greenhouse or are thinking of buying one, there are several important things to consider when it comes to prepping your greenhouse for winter use.

The primary consideration in winter use of any greenhouse is your local climate.  How cold does it get in your area?  If you experience harsh winters full of snow and ice, using your greenhouse all year long will be very difficult and possibly quite costly.  If your region experiences milder winters, with nighttime temperatures sometimes dipping near the freezing range, extended winter use of your greenhouse will be easier.

It’s also important to ask yourself, what types of plants will you keep in your greenhouse during the winter months?  What range of temperature do those plants require?  In general, you want to overwinter plants that can tolerate some fairly cool weather.  Warm weather tropical plants that are very sensitive to the cold will not do well in an outdoor greenhouse during cold winter months.

Once you’ve determined the type of plants you’ll be growing and the lowest possible temperatures of your local area, you’re ready to consider alternate heat sources for your greenhouse.  Remember, daytime temps in a greenhouse will usually reach 20 to 40 degrees warmer than the outside air.  At night, however, the air inside the greenhouse will fall to about the same temperature as the cool night air outside.  This is the time when you have to protect your plants from possible freezing in your greenhouse.

If the nighttime temps will only dip to the 50 or 60 degree range, and you have fairly hardy plants in your greenhouse, you may not have to provide any alternate heat source at all.  A very easy and inexpensive way to provide a little additional heat is to place several very large rocks or buckets of water inside the greenhouse.  During the day, the rocks and water will absorb the heat from the ambient air.  At night, they will then radiate that heat back out into the greenhouse.

If you’re dealing with much colder nighttime temperatures, such as into the freezing range, you’ll likely have to bring in some small electric tankless gas water heaters.  Look for a portable tankless gas water heater that is specifically designed for use in greenhouses.  Such tankless gas water heaters will usually feature thermostats and auto on-off switches that are programmable.  A greenhouse tankless gas water heater is also designed to run for quite a few hours at a time, if needed, without overheating.

Last but not least, if you do have some snow accumulation in your area, be sure you remove the snow from your greenhouse as quickly as possible.  Snow on the roof or sides of your greenhouse will reduce or completely eliminate any possible solar gain during the daytime.  Furthermore, if you get too much snow on top of a greenhouse, even one that isn’t in use in the winter, you have to worry about snow load on the roof and possible damage to the structure.  In any case, it’s always a good idea to keep snow brushed off the roof on a regular basis.

As you can see, greenhouse gardening during the colder winter months isn’t impossible, particularly if you live in a mild climate.  With a few simple steps and some pre-planning, you’ll be well on your way to raising beautiful plants the year around.

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best gardeners' friend in the autumn and winter. Greenhouse allows us to extend the life of valuable plants, and sometimes spend the winter in order to be able to enjoy even one growing season next year. If you have gas or thinking about buying one , there are some important things to consider when it comes to prepping their gas for use in winter. parent in the use of greenhouse in winter, the local climate. How does a cold in your area? In the case of a severe winter full of snow and ice, with gas per year will be very difficult and probably quite expensive. If the region experiences milder winters, with temperatures sometimes dipping into the night near the area of freezing in the winter to extend the use of its emissions will be easier. This

' s also important to ask what types of plants will be gas in the winter? What temperature range of this plant need? In general, you want to winter crops, which can result in quite cool weather. warm weather, tropical

For the flower puritans, not many give silk flowers a second thought. But truth be told, silk flowers can serve the aesthetic value served by real flowers just as well if not better. Compared to real flowers, silk flowers have a multitude of benefits. One of the places that you can comfortably place silk flowers is the window sill. But there are factors that you need to keep in mind because on the window sill the flowers might be exposed to vagaries of the weather. And this is where the benefits come in comparison to real flowers.

To start with, exposing the flower to the weather on the window sill does not bring about withering and eventual dying out as with a real flower. With time, the flower might fade or lose color but this is after sometime, by then the real flower would already die out and be replaced many times over. This saves on money spent on real flowers which are normally quite expensive. What most people will likely not tell you, is that silk flowers can last a very long time – at least a few years. This is very important to keep in mind if you’re thinking of buying some silk flowers or silk plants.

The other benefit is that a silk flower on your window sill takes little of your time in terms of looking after it every now and then. The silk flowers need no watering, pruning and constant moving to shield from vagaries of the weather. You also need not worry about falling leaves making the place untidy.

Whenever flowers are mentioned to most of us, the first thing that comes to mind is the comforting scent that is derived from their lovely colored and beautiful petals. They are used to convey powerful messages and other than their unrivaled aesthetic value. The thought of silk flowers in your garden sounds brilliant bearing in mind the color and cost effective maintenance measures associated with them. They have their negative side though, which involves them first and foremost not being in a position to smell like the real flowers. Given that they are synthetic, the only smell you will have from them is that of something not even close to a concoction of water and honey.

Silk flowers are also easy to move around without damaging them. Unlike the real flowers, you do not have to worry about falling and breaking in which case you would need to replace with a new one. Likewise, while moving houses, you can comfortably move with your flower and give it a new home in a new window sill without having caused any damage to it.

However, in buying silk flowers for your window sill, you have to keep some factors in mind. You need to consider whether you are buying for aesthetic value or for any other reason. Carefully choose the colors so as to blend with the immediate surroundings. The good thing is that they come in a variety of colors so matching them with your room or window curtains should not be too hard.

Robert Adler is the Founder of The Silk Gardener – an eCommerce store for silk plants and silk flowers.

Bamboo is a ubiquitous tropical plant with thousands of uses, ranging from the building of tiki huts to the making of musical instruments and even acupuncture needles. For many cultures around the globe, bamboo represents strength and long life. In many areas of the world, bamboo poles are a traditional building material. Although most varieties of bamboo are native to Asia, perhaps bamboo’s most famous role is in tropical tiki bar construction. A tiki bar just isn’t a tiki bar without the characteristic bamboo poles and thatched roof. If you love the tiki-hut look and want to extend this ambiance to the rest of your backyard, or even bring the tiki mood indoors, consider planting bamboo.

Some varieties of bamboo can grow more than a foot each day, reaching a top height of over 130 feet. Bamboo has a reputation for growing quickly to overtake any space. Of course, you don’t have to plant this variety in your yard! The smallest varieties of bamboo grow to be just a few inches tall, and can easily be grown in a container indoors. There are more than a thousand different species of bamboo, so you’re sure to find at least a few that will fit into your plans for your backyard or your living room. Even invasive species can be planted as long as you plan for barriers to keep the bamboo from spreading throughout your yard. Other bamboo species will stay nicely in a clump and are easily tended.

Growing bamboo successfully requires plenty of light and humidity, along with well-drained soils. Bamboo plants are grasses, and will not grow well in saturated ground. You should not water the plant every day. Instead, check your bamboo’s soil to determine when to water it. If the leaves start to curl, it’s a sign that your bamboo plant needs more water, while drooping leaves are a sign of too much water in the soil. Because they are used to tropical and temperate zones, they need plenty of light and air circulation if you want them to thrive. Traditional growers of bamboo often raise the pots of new plants on chopsticks so that air can circulate under the plant.

If you are growing bamboo plants indoors, mist them with a spray bottle to mimic their naturally humid environment. You can also place the potted bamboo on a tray of pebbles and water. The evaporating water will create humidity around your bamboo plants. Over time, bamboo will acclimate to your indoor conditions.

Indoors or out, bamboo is a beautiful addition to any home. If you are looking for an attractive, “natural” look, whether you are a tiki culture aficionado or simply love the idea of sitting on a tropical island, consider growing your own bamboo. The unmistakable look of bamboo is immediately associated with islands of the South Pacific, creating a calming and exotic effect. Of course, once you’ve added bamboo, why not add a few tiki torches, tiki masks, or other tropical pieces to truly complete your home’s island-style transformation?

Royal Tiki has a wide range of Tiki, hand-carved on Hawaii. Also check for current specials on our Tiki hut decor

Bonsai trees (miniature replicas of larger trees) have been a source of beauty and awe in private gardens and public arboretums for decades. There was always such variety in sizes and styles that the miniature trees had me hooked by the age of ten. But creating my own trees seemed unattainable until I started looking for information and learning what it takes to create a Bonsai tree. Computers and the Internet make access to information on Bonsai trees easy to locate, but talking to someone (in online forums or locally) who has done it before is the best way to learn. Before, creating or starting your own Bonsai, you should read and obtain more information about the following.

History

Although the term Bonsai tree is used as a broad sweeping term for all miniature trees, several other cultures have similar traditions. China has a similar tradition in penjing and Vietnam has the tradition of miniature living landscapes known as h

Recycling bins make it easier for people to recycle products at home as well as at work. If you are concerned with the environment and want to recycle then recycling bins are ideal to help make it easier for you. There are many different types of recycling bin and a good example is the compost bin. A compost bin will not only recycle products, but help to keep your garden healthy.

A healthy garden needs good soil to keep it in top condition. That is why a compost bin is the ideal solution to help keep your garden healthy.

When it comes to food waste why throw it out? Kitchen waste can be recycled to make compost that will not only benefit you, but your garden as well. There is too much waste thrown out that could otherwise be put to good use. When using a compost bin you are helping to reduce the amount of waste that ends up on landfill sites. An outdoor compost bin helps to keep odours in the home to a minimum.

A compost bin needs to be kept on an area of the garden that has good drainage and doesn’t come into contact by direct sunlight. Over a period of time the material in the compost bin will turn brown and it can then be used as compost. Rubbish doesn’t begin to turn into compost for about a year, but at least it is getting used rather than ending up on a landfill.

When you are forced to take out the rubbish it can smell bad, but you can combat this by using a compost bin. Compost bins are convenient and attractive. There is no need to purchase an ugly looking compost bin when modern designs are available. Once a week or twice a week when the gardening is done cuttings should be placed inside the compost bin to compost down. These recycling bins are by no means a new idea, but it is definitely a practical.

The great thing about compost bins is that your efforts are rewarded and you never have to worry about buying compost ever again. When gardening, anything that is cut down or any waste from strimming and mowing is thrown in the compost bin for use in the future. Over time this produces a lot of compost that can be used in the garden to help plants and other seeds grow.

Many gardeners find that they have too many cuttings they don’t know what to do with so the compost bin or council collected green recycling bins are the solution. Grass is often a substance that grows too fast and can quickly make a garden look a mess if it is not trimmed down and maintained. However with the compost bin or other suitable recycling bins there is a place to throw the excess grass from a garden.

Recycling bins are very popular and come in a range of designs. They make sure that kitchen waste is never thrown away. Owning a compost bin means that your efforts are rewarded and whenever your garden needs compost it will be available. A compost bin will help keep the garden healthy and reduce the amount of waste that is thrown away.

To explore our range of recycling bins, please visit our website at http://www.slingsby.com.

Would you like to build a path in your garden, but don’t want to rent a compactor or fuss too much with levels? Are you looking for a walkway that’s attractive and durable? Why not try a pea gravel walkway with stepping-stones? It’s quick, relatively easy to install, and looks great.

Another advantage of this type of path is that it’s quick and easy to change as well. If you want to change the way the stones are laid out or install new stones to change the look completely, it can be done in an afternoon.

The first thing you will need to do is lay out the shape of your path–garden hose works great for this. Tip: gently curved lines are usually more visually appealing than angular or straight lines. Once you have decided the shape and length of your path, use the sod cutter to cut along the edges of your path to define the outer lines.

If there is sod to remove from your path area, use the sod cutter to cut a checkerboard pattern inside the borders of the path, dividing the sod into approximately 1′ squares (for easy removal). Next, remove the sod and soil to a depth of about 4″.

Now that you have your path excavated, its time for the pea gravel–this can be purchased at your local landscape firm or at a crushed rock supplier. Pea gravel is a product made up of small rounded stones, which is easy to spread and easy on the body, if you fall.

Before you install the gravel, it is a good idea to put down a weed barrier of some sort–old newspaper works great for this–just put it over the whole path area in a layer two or three sheets thick. Next, evenly distribute the pea gravel over the entire area of your path and rake it out smooth, filling the path back up to ground level.

With your gravel now in place, its time to start placing your stepping stones. There are many choices for stepping-stones. You can choose from a variety of man-made products or use natural flagstone. Place the stones the length of your path so that they are a comfortable stepping-distance apart, and then start setting them into the gravel.

Pea gravel is easy to dig, so you can simply use your hands to scoop out a hole for each stone–then push down on the stone with both hands and wiggle it downward into the gravel until it is stable. Remember to wear work gloves and steel toed shoes, when handling these heavy stones–lift with your legs, not your back.

That’s pretty much it. You now have an attractive, durable, weed resistant path, which you can enjoy for many years to come.

Materials, tools and equipment needed: stepping-stones, wheelbarrow, pea gravel, sod cutter, shovel, rake, steel-toed shoes, work gloves.

Work safe: Always wear work gloves and/or safety glasses when you should. When handling heavy materials, lift with your legs, not your back, and remember to wear steel-toed shoes.

For more great gardening tips and tutorials, visit the Shades of Green website at: www.shadesofgreengardencentre.ca

Companies that manufacture garden sheds have come to the realization that people want a lot more these days than the common old wooden shed used for storage and gardening. In attempting to meet customers’ expectations they have come up with some unique and modern designs that appeal to all kinds of people. Whether you are searching for additional storage space, a workshop for your hobby, or a base for your gardening project, then look online for a wide variety of outdoor buildings.

Garden sheds are popular as they have a lot of advantages to offer. As well as being an economical way of acquiring more space, if you want to splash out they can even sometimes add value to a property, and they often provide a quiet place to escape to away from a noisy household. Dangerous power tools and hazardous liquids and chemicals can be locked away from inquisitive youngsters, and theft of bicycles, lawnmowers, barbecues and garden furniture avoided.

A garden shed is a great addition to every back garden or yard, possessions normally kept in the house or garage can be moved into the shed, thus freeing up more space. Children’s larger playtoys and camping equipment all take up valuable space and can be conveniently stored here for easy access.

You can easily get electricity and water added to your basic garden shed and then you are able to operate as a darkroom if someone in the family is a budding photographer, or a woodworking area where power tools can be used out of the way of children and pets. When considering why you need a space in the garden then first you need to identify what space is required for storage, the size of the working area, and if you need windows, the size of the door, etc. Once you know exactly what you want then start searching and find out what materials and are available and how much it is likely to cost you.

There are all kinds of shapes and sizes and dimensions of garden sheds, the most affordable to purchase are the basic sheds that can be constructed from wood, plastic or metal and cost just a few hundred pounds. If your garden is only small and you want to keep as much open space as possible, then you should consider a corner or upright shed for your needs. A corner shed saves a lot of space as it can be tucked away tidily, whilst an upright shed, although taller, has a limited base area. Shelves can always be added to create more storage space.

Other alternatives that you can consider are a small wooden Sentry Store with internal shelves, manufactured from pressure treated and supplied with stainless steel fixings throughout, or a small metal shed constructed from hot dipped galvanised steel, and maintenance free.

If you need a lot of storage space or a large workshop for a messy craft hobby then you are looking at more expensive products. Large garden sheds can be found upwards of £300 and give you a lot more space. Priced at just over £500 is the Dutch Style Shed measuring 2.4m x 2.4m with huge internal space and large double doors making it ideal to store large or tall equipment. Or a metal shed measuring 3m x 4m can be found for under £400, constructed from hot dipped galvanised steel and maintenance free.

Most garden sheds will not need a building permit. In most areas, buildings that are 100-110 square feet will not require any sort of building permit. To be sure, you should give your local municipality office a call.

Your garden shed can be as basic or fancy as you like, it all depends on your needs and how much money you have available. There are all kinds of http://landscaping.about.com/od/landscapedesignideas/a/outdoor_living.htm : outdoor living options these days, from the traditional wooden http://www.gardens4living.co.uk/index.php?act=psrh&term=Garden Sheds : garden sheds and metal sheds to summer houses and garden offices. Whatever your reason for needing additional outdoor space, you are spoilt for choice.

Michiel Van Kets writes for a store selling cheap garden sheds; http://www.gardens4living.co.uk/index.php?act=psrh&term=Large Garden Shedshttp://www.gardens4living.co.uk/index.php?act=psrh&term=Garden Sheds explore large garden sheds for sale.

If you are looking for the perfect gift for any occasion, you may want to consider the money tree plant. It is a wonderful gift for such occasions as celebrating a new home, graduation, marriage or new business. It is the perfect thing to get for someone who is setting off in a new direction or experiencing a new beginning. It would even make a thoughtful gift for someone who is going through a divorce and going through the emotional process of beginning to live on their own.

Why is the money tree plant perfect for these occasions? Because it is believed that the money tree brings good fortune, prosperity and success to it’s owner. How great is that? Imagine you are nervous and excited about a new chapter in your life and someone gives you a gift that is meant to help you be successful. It is even supposed to bring you prosperity in your new venture. You would surely feel that this is a wonderful and thoughtful gift.

You may be curious about why people believe that the money tree brings such wonderful things. The short version of the story goes something like this:

There was a farmer whose crops were not doing very well. He was in desperate need of money. So, he prayed for help one night. The next morning he went out to his fields to find a new type of plant growing that he had never seen before. He thought that maybe this was the answer to his prayers so he carefully removed the plant and brought it home. Once home, he took very good care of the plant. He was able to produce new plants from this one began to make money. He also sold the nuts that grew from the plant. He no longer had the money worries he had before he had discovered the plant. This is why, to this day, people believe the money plant is such a lucky plant.

Another great thing about this plant is that it is often used by those who practice feng shui. There are five elements that need to be in a room when adhering to the rules of feng shui. They are wood, fire, earth, metal and water. It is believed that when a room is missing one of these elements, it can be balanced out by the addition of a money tree. Why? Because it usually has five leaves.

What if it has more than five leaves? If your plant has six leaves, it is supposed to be extra lucky! Some have had seven leaves, which are the luckiest of all.

Lastly, the money tree plant is fairly easy to grow once you are aware of the basics. It does not take much water and the proper lighting is essential.

As you can see, the money tree plant is a great gift that just about anyone would love to receive. It is wonderful to give the tree to someone who needs a boost of confidence and tell them the story behind it. They are sure to love it.

For more information about the money plant, visit Money Plant Tree.

The terms “water garden” and “garden pond” are often used to mean the same thing. A garden pond normally contains plants and fish like goldfish, while a water garden will contain a variety of aquatic plants and may contain fish typically like gold fish. The term Koi pond differs entirely, from both a water garden and a garden pond because a koi pond will have a limited amount, if any plants in it, basically because the koi will eat most of them. In general, a pond is a small area of still fresh water. A pond differs from a river or stream as it does not have moving water. Some man-made ponds do have elaborate mechanism for water movement like fountains and waterfall but none of these are natural. A natural pond differs from a lake as they are typically smaller and much shallower, and normally filled by rainwater or by underwater springs. These natural ponds are commonly known as dew ponds.

Another less known fact is the history of ponds. For centuries every village and farm would have a pond. The water would be used by both animals and humans. When water supplies and drainage became readily available to the masses, many ponds were neglected and forgotten about. The animals would no longer trample down plants growing on the edges, and soon a combination of fallen debris like leaves and overgrowing plants would begin to starve the pond of its most vital ingredient, oxygen. Many ponds either became bogs, destroyed by pollution, or drained and used for other purposes especially on farms. As an example, sixty to seventy years ago Great Britain had many more natural ponds than today, so sadly they are becoming less common to see. Today however the popularity of man made water gardens and garden ponds is steadily increasing. They bring immense pleasure to many people who find that it’s a relaxing and fulfilling hobby. Depending on where you live, a garden pond can enhance your home and garden by attracting a vast array of wildlife. It’s been estimated that over nine hundred species of animals can live in a natural pond environment. This figure is somewhat reduced for a man-made garden pond. A natural pond will attract mammals like voles and shrews, birds like ducks, herons and kingfishers. A garden pond may be frequented by some of the mentioned animals but will not be large enough to sustain them. In a typical garden pond you will find amphibians (newts, toads and frogs), herbivores (water fleas and snails). If you are unlucky you may also attract raccoons or other such varmints who think your pond was specifically built for their culinary needs!

As land is becoming scarce and with the ever increasing effects of pollution on natural ponds, the burden may fall on peoples backyard garden ponds to help species like frogs and newts survive. Why not consider building your own pond? One word of warning though. Just as with swimming pool hazards and concerns, please be very careful if you have young children. Please ensure that your children are constantly supervised.

If you do decide to create your own garden pond, you will be astonished at how quickly it will attract wildlife. You will also enjoy seeing how your pond changes throughout the months, and seasons. The pond will require your attention all year round, but it’s especially rewarding to see your efforts flourish in the summer, as you watch the tadpoles mature into frogs, your plants become strong and established, and your fish flourish in a well balanced mini eco-system.

On Garden Pond Staff

Steven Sannan is currently a member of the http://www.ongardenpond.com staff, with 35+ years of fishkeeping experience. Experience that includes extensive freshwater, saltwater and pond keeping knowledge.

The Quantum Generator Technology is a newly emerging applied science in the area of quantum physics, communication, information storage & retrieval and quantum intelligence. Way back in 1905 Einstein’s theories rocked the world. Zero point became understood as something mysterious to talk about while sitting down at the dinner table eating your favorite vegetables picked from your garden.

Now, in present day conventional gardening, for many people from toddlers to centenarians all around the world, has become a popular way to pass the time. The complexities of conventional gardening has, to say the least, become somewhat toxic in its approach to supporting plants to grow well and produce health promoting fruits and vegetables. A more appropriate, and certainly less toxic, approach is organic gardening!

Organic gardening, as far as I am concerned is a labor of love! Conventional gardening has the idiom of “Garbage in, garbage out” attached to it, which is quit frankly all so very true. The nutritional value of organically grown fruits and vegetables is vastly superior, not to mention the unhealthiness to that of conventional gardening. Utilizing the applied science of Quantum Generator Technology to organically grown food is an innovative approach and has zero toxic-ness attached to it, “Great stuff in, great stuff out”.

The applied science of Quantum Generator Technology has provided a simple and easy solution to producing great tasting, and highly beneficial health promoting food. So, just what is this technology and how does it work to produce great tasting vegetables? Having some basic knowledge of what the term “quantum physics” means, will give us clues to help in our understanding.

The word “quantum” can have distinctive differences to its meaning, for example; 1) “The smallest amount of a physical quantity that can exist independently…” Or 2) “The smallest quantity of some physical property, such as energy, that a system can possess…” The first meaning is referring to a small quantity of something that exists by itself, and the second is referring to a small something, such as energy, and a system. A subtle difference yet pertinent to this discussion.

As to the word “physics” is to mean, “The branch of science concerned with the properties of matter and energy and the relationships between them.” Bringing the words together, quantum physics, we come up with, “The branch of science that administers with discrete, indivisible units of energy called quanta, according to quantum theory.” OK. In the simplest terms what does all this boil down to? When it comes to the atomic world, it is not like the world we live in, or is it?

A Danish Physicist, Niels Bohr said, “Anyone who is not shocked by quantum theory has not understood it.” What do you suppose he meant by that statement? Yes, quantum physics is not for your average ‘bear’. It does take many hours of study to grasp its concepts and theories. But it does describe the nature of the universe as being quit different than what we ‘see’. Hang in here. We are getting very close to what it is we see, and don’t see, and what this has to do with Quantum Generator Technology and organic gardening.

The Quantum Generators used in this technology is permanently placing certain frequencies, directly into the stones’ atomic structure in such a way, that now the stones’ surrounding environment can benefit from those frequencies! The implications of this are enormous! Most of us on the planet really are not able to see frequencies unless we use an instrument or tool that can ‘see’ a frequency. But for sure many people on the planet can ‘feel’ a frequency. Science has proven that plants have no problem ‘feeling’ frequencies, and that certain frequencies are beneficial and some are not. One such frequency that is a benefit to plants is the frequency range of the sound of birds!

The amount of research done in this area of the sound of birds and the affects on plants is huge. What was discovered is that plants thrive in all ways, meaning they grow better, faster with more resistant to everything they need to have resistance towards, especially if organic nutrients are applied. These frequencies, plus the NASA frequency of the Sound of the Sun, Harmonic Codes, Tachyon Energies and the frequencies of Sacred Tree of Life collectively enhance the growth and well being of plants.

Gary Hunsicker loves growing vegetables using only organic methods. The Quantum Generator Technology is an organic gardener