Hands up all those who have visited a Garden Centre or DIY Store looking for something to add that touch of ‘wow’ to the garden. Let’s face it, what’s on offer is not exactly going to be unique is it? So instead of running with the crowd, why not go for something different!

Go Green

Have fun and be creative. Salvaging and recycling can be so much more than just composting green waste. Think of all the other items that are cast aside in the throes of so many re-vamps and make-overs: brick, stone, redundant furniture, old sinks, cast iron bathtubs, the list goes on.

Real Rubbish Garden!

At Chelsea a few years ago, the RSPB’s Real Rubbish garden designed by Claire Whitehouse demonstrated how reclaimed and re-usable materials could be incorporated in a contemporary garden.

Use some imagination

Salvaging is all about using your imagination. Rather than throwing out items without a second thought, stop a minute and apply a bit of lateral thinking.

Could it be recycled or re-used in other ways? We all make regular visits to our local tip to dispose of rubbish. How often do you stop and look at items others have thrown out?

What treasures could you have missed? Plastic coleslaw and salad pots make excellent seed storage containers. Old toilet-roll centres are perfect for starting off broad bean seeds whose deep roots wont be disturbed when it comes to planting them out in their own bio-degradable cells. Old wooden pallets can be turned into the perfect compost bin (who says ‘five into one, wont go!).

Even the most unlikely items can be reborn; an old lavatory pan becomes a witty planter; a discarded bath becomes a herb garden. It’s not really a new idea either. We all remember the ubiquitous white-washed split tyre planters that appeared everywhere in the seventies but it’s not so easy to do the whole cut-and-turn thing since the advent of steel belting but a couple of worn-out tyres makes a useful container for any plant that’s a bit thuggish and likes to muscle in on its neighbours. I use mine to corral an unruly spread of mint whereas at CAT (The Centre for Alternative Technology at Macynlleth in Wales) they use a tyre stack as a composter. Small but nonetheless efficient.

Create something different

It’s surprising how many old wheelbarrows you will come across on a visit to your local Council Tip

A wheelbarrow provides plenty of scope for decorative planting and can usually be picked up for around a fiver. It’ll be well-used and showing signs of age, which is perfect for the purpose. If you’re feeling really industrious, you could give it a coat of ‘Hammerite’ to make it look pretty, otherwise just drill or punch some drainage holes, plant up and enjoy. And an added bonus with a wheeled planter is if you fancy a change of scenery, it’s easy enough to move it around.

Need a piece of ‘art’ to create a focal point? An old push mower or lawn roller takes on a sculptural quality when set against a dry-stone wall and glimpsed through a blossom-clad arch. The same may be said for an old-fashioned horse-drawn ploughshare - make sure you have the space though.

Don’t overlook old furniture either. You could pick up an old chest for a few pounds and with a lick of paint it can be used to store hands tools, riddles, dibbers and the like and - with a bit of weather-proofing – even turned into a tiered display area.

When it comes to re-using and recycling we are only limited by our imagination.

Discover that elusive bargain

Having recently moved home and inherited a garden that beckons contemplation, I decided it was necessary to procure some seating that befitted the task. Disappointed at the sameness of the choices on offer I decided to search for an alternative that I found in the shape of a rather handsome bent-wood rocker. All it needs is some slight attention to a loose splat and a bit of refinishing in order to withstand the elements. I’m looking forward to sitting it on the side lawn beneath the boughs of a knarled apple tree and shall inset some bricks (reclaimed of course) in the grass to avoid the rockers becoming entrenched. For £5.00 I’ve bought my own little oasis of calm and tranquillity.

Council Tips are not the only places to look of course. If you are looking for something with a bit of age and different Auction Houses and Salvage/Reclamation yards are a good place to start you could find You’ll only find new ones in shops.

There are reclamation and salvage yards, second-hand stores and even auction houses all of which are comparable to the fabled Aladdin’s cave. Salvage and reclamation is pretty big business these days and it pays to shop around. If you have a project in mind, particularly if you live in a period property, there is no better place to scout around to find authentic and original every-day objects and architectural features to breathe new life into your garden. Keep an eye out for weathered statuary and chimney pots that look terrific planted up or can be used as rhubarb forcers or celery blanchers.

Fancy a bog garden? A cast iron bath – and I’m not suggesting some exotic £400 French jobbie, cheap an’ cheerful is the order of the day here - sunken into the ground (plug removed of course) is the perfect container. Most towns have an Auction house but be aware that there will be few bargains to be found on Antique or Collectable days. Sometimes you may find Specialist sales with a horticultural or agricultural bent and you may a find a bargain here but broadly speaking, a General Sale is your best bet.

General sale days are great fun because the range of goods on offer is so wide, everything from ceramics to furniture and everything in between. Take advantage of the viewing opportunities and don’t be afraid to ask the Saleroom Staff how much they think something might fetch and if they think it will be popular. With a bit of homework you may pick up a really bargain.

Whether it’s an old wheelbarrow, planter, pot, chair or statue; reclaimed and recycled items add a touch of individuality and character to a garden and that’s something you wont find on the shelves at any out-of-town mall.

What’s in your garden?

When it comes to recycling in the garden, don’t forget the plants themselves. That Rose of Sharon may be the bane of your herbaceous border but to someone else, it represents a brilliant bit of instant ground cover so dig it out, pot it up and pass it on or even sell it at the Car Boot!

Recycling is all about sustainability, all about making the very most out of what we have. So get involved. Visit your local tip, look for items to recycle and re-use in the garden. Go round reclamation yards, auction houses and even have another look in your own back yard. At worst, you’ll save some money and who knows, you may find a hidden gem. Whatever you do, have fun and rejoice in the fact that what you’re doing is literally not ‘costing the earth’.

Tim Taylor is a freelance writer and keen gardener.

Adding edging around your garden or landscape is as important as the garden itself. The edging frames your garden much like a picture frame. A picture can be interesting and beautiful but it needs a frame to enhance its appearance, so it is with your garden.

There are various types of garden edgings. Many people prefer to use something heavy and permanent, like a low brick wall, or rocks set together with mortar. However, not everyone is physically capable of creating such a structure.

Bricks set freely can be just as effective. They can be placed in a simple line, end to end, or stacked in a double row, with gaps in between. They can also be set diagonally, leaning against each other for support.

Another attractive alternative is to decorate short lengths of board with old tiles. Tiles can often be purchased very cheaply from re-recycling places. Glue your choice of tile along the board using outdoor glue. On each end of the board, tack a peg with one end pointed. This will be used to push into the soil to support your board and keep it off the ground.

Bush rocks can also be used to give your garden that finished look. They need not be too big, unless you have plenty of muscle or help. You may be able to gather rocks from a friend’s farm, or from the bush if that is legal in your area. Otherwise, garden suppliers usually have plenty to choose from.

How about flowering plants or shrubbery to create a living border. Choose a plant that will be suitable for your climate and conditions. The pretty pink of alpine phlox is an attractive border and the plants can be divided and planted again and again. Many other plants can be propagated in this way, thus reducing the initial costs. Of course, your border will take a little more time to get established than if you bought all the necessary plants at once.

Gazanias are another hardy border plant that can be divided many times. Bulbs might seem like a good choice too, but remember that they will die down and leave your borders looking messy for ages. In addition, they remain dormant for at least six months, so if you plant anything else there you risk damaging the bulbs. Of course, you can dig them up and replace them with something else, but you may prefer a more permanent border edge to save on the workload.

If you have a larger garden, comfrey is a plant to consider using for an edging plant. Its thick growth habit will prevent any grasses intruding into the garden, and the leaves can be pulled for excellent mulch around roses or other plants. It has delightful, dainty flowers in season too. However, a small garden could be overwhelmed by more than one comfrey plant.

In a small garden attractive annuals like sweet alice, pansies, violas or petunias make great borders. For something a bit different, try an herb border. Then you can go out and pick your herbs any time you want. Chives have a crisp green color that would make your garden sparkle while strawberries will entice the kids out into the fresh air to have a healthy snack.

Some people prefer to simply bevel an edge around their garden with the shovel. This is a good option if your lawn has the sort of grass with runners, like kikuyu. Those runners can be kept under control by chopping them off every so often with the edge of the shovel.

Whatever option you choose, it will enhance your garden to have a beautiful edging. For more ideas on creating a border for your garden, visit the links at the bottom of the page.

For more information, visit these sites: The Garden Info Center and The Garden Design Guide

David Chandler, The Stock Market Genie

For your FREE Stock Market Trading Mini Course: "What The Wall Street Hot Shots Won’t Tell You!" go to: The Stock Market Genie

My rose is not blooming?

The rose is not getting enough sun. Roses need a minimum 6 hours of direct sun a day to do well. The rose plant needs more water. Roses like as a minimum 1 inch of water per week during the growing season. The rose has been given too much fertilizer especially Nitrogen. Too much fertilizer can either damage the rose or cause it to grow additional leaves and stems at the expense of blooms. The rose is a new plant. Do not expect too much from a plant during its first year.

Rose is a once blooming variety. This means it will bloom once a year in the late spring or early summer. Soil pH is too low or too high. If the pH is not within the range of 6.0 to 6.8 then nutrient uptake will be less, and the plant won’t be getting the food it must have to produce flowers. Not enough foliage. If the bush does not have enough foliage, it can not make the food it needs to make new flowers. Inadequate foliage can be result from disease or too little fertilizer.

How much water do roses need?

Roses welcome lots of water. Water kindly, at least 1 inch/week, if possible 2 inches/week during growing season. You should water every 4-7 days during the summer. A rose bush needs about 4-5 gallons/week during the hot summer.

Roses get their food either through the leaves (foliar feeding) or through the roots. The only medium for transporting food is water. Infrequent deep watering is better than frequent light watering. This will help to promote a deep root system. Deep root systems help the rose to survive droughts and winter freezes. Light and frequent watering causes roots to form very near the soil surface, and that is not good. When watering late in the day, you should try to avoid getting the leaves wet, because it promotes disease. But on a hot day wetting the foliage can reduce transpiration and relieve heat stress on the rose.

How much sun does a rose need?

Roses prefer a full day of sun. Give roses at least 6 hours of direct sun a day. Morning sun is especially important because it dries the leaves which helps prevent disease.

Can roses be grown in shade?

Generally roses do poorly in shady conditions. They bloom less, are leggy, and get diseases more easy. But Hybrid Musk’s and some Alba’s can tolerate partial shade. The Floribunda "Gruss An Aachen" can be grown in shade. Some other roses that may grow in partial shade are the Iceberg(FB), Rugosas, Zephirine Drouhin (Bourbon), Madame Plantier and Souvenir du Docteur Jamain(HP)

Much more information about Rose Gardening on this site - check out your self.

Can we develop a lighting system for the average garden tractor to save energy, one which would not draw juice from the battery or alternator? We all know how bumpy it is to ride on a ride-on lawnmower. I propose that we use the bumpy-ness of the ride while mowing to power up the headlights of all garden tractors, this will help in fuel savings, meaning fewer trips to the gas station.

Gasoline and Diesel fuel have seen sharp increases, in the last few years in our nation and it is costs our economy billions. Everything we can do to save fuel makes sense now, even in a garden tractor. And we know if we cannot take as many road trips we will be spending more time at home and thus be more cognizant of the needs to maintain our homesteads. The bumps while driving your garden tractor along with the rumble of the engine and spinning blades can power up the headlights using electromagnetic induction technology to charge a capacitor instead of the headlights working off a battery or alternator.

Currently there are some nifty micro-flashlights being used which you can buy which use a similar technique and are available thanks to the Everlite Flashlight technology research lab. These smaller flashlights work by shaking them for about thirty seconds and shine for about 6 minutes and they shine quite bright since they use a very bright LED light. Here is a link to this home use flashlight:

http://www.modernoutpost.com/gear/details/ee_shakelight.html

Here is a quick movie you can watch online to see how this technology works.

http://www.modernoutpost.com/gear/movies/ee_forever.MPG

I propose we use the engine rumble to light the dashboard lights and tractor lights. Generally you have to wait thirty seconds for the engine’s oil pressure to come up anyway. This does not mean that the headlights would not be hooked up to a battery, only that you would not be asking for any juice, thus the alternator does not have as much drag on the engine and saves fuel consumption. Once the engine comes up to oil pressure the tractor can then drive and each bump in the grass keeps the lights running. If they get too dim from driving on the driveway where it is too smooth and the PTO is off, then the system would revert back to the battery. Perhaps this is a good way to save fuel? Think on this.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

Most plant buyers pay little mind to the fine print on plant tags. Believe it or not, even plants come with fine print these days. What is said is that the plant with the tag is property of the patent holder, and the purchaser is buying the right to grow that plant until it is dead. It is true: you can do just about anything you want with the plant, except propagate it. In the ornamental industry we feel that we have gained by this explosion of patented plants available. Twenty years ago lantana and verbena were considered exotics; now hundreds of new varieties are introduced each year. All these new plants have certainly been fun for us gardeners.

For those looking for a down side; there are certain factors that could be viewed as disturbing. In the ornamental horticulture industry, large corporations have come to dominate a once mom and pop industry. Starting a small plant business is not easy, as most plants are now sold at big box retailers and grocery stores. So the neighborhood plant store is a thing of the past; not exactly the end of the world, just a little more homogenized.

The corporate take over of agriculture is as complete as that of ornamental horticulture. Our nursery is part of a working farm, so we deal with farm issues also. Discussion of America’s farms and food is a topic unto itself. To tell you the truth I do not know where to begin a story of corporate take over of just about everything America eats. Every one likes to eat so it should be of interest to everyone. But it is also true that no one seems to care to hear about farm issues. For sure, one day we will care. For the best information about sustainable farming contact: AcresUSA.com, the voice for eco-agriculture.

In 1985, Briscoe White opened The Growers Exchange in an abandoned Texaco station on a busy urban street corner in Richmond, Virginia. The facility has grown over the years, and is now 5 distinct growing environments with 5 acres under cover. Briscoe has over 25 years of gardening experience. For further information on gardening products or gardening tips please contact Briscoe White at bwhite@thegrowersexchange.com.

Clothes and skin cream are far removed from potting out your begonias, or digging a trench for a line of potatoes. But the clothes you wear are important for your protection in the garden. Here are six simple but effective solutions to various gardening hazards…

1. Starting from the top, you need to protect your head. Body heat escapes through the head and in the cold weather a warm hat should be worn. Knit yourself a ‘gardening crazy’ hat or buy a simple woollen hat on the high street.

And in the summer, even more attention should be paid to the head. The sun’s rays are not only hot but they actually burn you. We all know this but how easy it is to forget when you want to soak up the sun after months of grey or cold weather. Invest in a cool sunhat. Not only will it help protect you from sunstroke, it will also protect against the drying out of your hair and skin.

2. Keep one old comfortable jacket or short coat, preferably with fairly large pockets, especially for the garden. When you’re working, you won’t need to worry about dirty marks. Leave them there, it’s all part of the gardener’s designer uniform!

3. Suitable trousers.. again keep a couple of old pairs especially for gardening. Wear heavy duty jeans for heavy duty work. A good waterproof pair are handy in damp climates. In fact, in damp climates, a whole waterproof gardening suit is invaluable. There is always planting to do in the rain, and a waterproof hat, jacket and trousers tucked in a pair of boots will keep you nice and dry!

4. Protect your hands. For light work, potting on or pinching out tomato plants, a disposable plastic pair of gloves or a pair of kitchen rubber gloves will be enough. For heavier work - pruning roses, weeding thistles and nettles, wear heavy duty gardening gloves, or your hands will suffer.

5. Watch those toes! Invest in a pair of steel toe capped boots and wear them! If you’re pottering in the greenhouse or doing a little weeding, a simple pair of wellington boots will do, or even sandals if the weather allows. But as soon as you pick up a large tool, your steel toe-caps should be worn. If you’re not used to them, these boots can feel heavy and cumbersome at first, but stick with it. If you’re doing heavy work, you need heavy boots.

6. And last but certainly not least, you must protect your skin. Moisturise all exposed body parts whenever you are woking in the garden, rain or shine. Working outside will give you a nice healthy glow, but the wind and sun will dry your skin given half a chance.

So there we have it, not a fashion designer’s dream, but these 6 garden fashion tips will make life a lot more comfortable, and safer, for the average home gardener. Happy gardening!

Linda Gray is a freelance writer and has spent more than ten years creating an organic family garden from an acre of neglected land. Linda shares her experience and expertise at http://www.flower-and-garden-tips.com

Temperatures are still too cold for setting out spring plants in Virginia, but spring is here and the nursery staff is busy. Seeds need to be sown, cuttings taken, and plugs planted. The new ellepots are living up to their claims; the greenhouse staff loves them because the plants are doing great in them and growing faster than they ever have.

Now is a good time to start seeds inside, to be set outside later. Timing is everything as you do not want to start too early. Seedlings become stretched and thin when grown inside too long. During cool and cloudy days; fungus will grow on the seedlings; causing them to fall over, looking pinched at soil level. This is called damping off, and can be prevented by lightly covering the soil surface with spagnum moss. Just shake the spagnum over the soil, leaving a thin layer. This changes the soil surface Ph, eliminating fungus.

This nursery had a retail outlet for 20 years; always I was amazed at how unwilling people are to grow their plants from seed. Space is no excuse, as I have germinated in a Coke bottle, and in a bathroom window, grew my little salad crop. So if you are reading this article, I recommend you grow at least one type of plant from seed this spring and grow it throughout the summer coming soon.

Seed catalogs have all the information on how to germinate and grow each plant they offer. Choose an easy to grow plant and plan out its whole life cycle in your space; be it apartment or yard. Don’t be afraid of killing anything, some of your plants may die, treat this as no big deal; it would have died sooner or later without your help. What is important is that you learn from mistakes, and try again. This is what gardening is all about and how any good gardener grows a beautiful garden. Only over time can you develop an understanding or feel for plants and how they grow.

In 1985, Briscoe White opened The Growers Exchange in an abandoned Texaco station on a busy urban street corner in Richmond, Virginia. The facility has grown over the years, and is now 5 distinct growing environments with 5 acres under cover. Briscoe has over 25 years of gardening experience. For further information on gardening products or gardening tips please contact Briscoe White at bwhite@thegrowersexchange.com.

While you’re enjoying playing games in the garden, give a thought to decorating your outside space. There are lots of fun and interesting things you can do without spending tons of cash…

1. Wind-Chimes - There are some beautiful wind chimes on the market, and you should be able to find some that suit your style and budget. However, you could go one step further and make your own. Study how they are made, and get the kids to join in! Wind chimes are soothing and very compatible with gardening, so position your chimes well.

They must be in at least a slight draught, which you should be able to find outside with ease. Also, they can scare the birds away from your fruit bushes. Hang them on the patio and in the vegetable garden.

2. Lights and Lanterns - For those smooth hot summer nights. Choose candles for calm nights and opt for lanterns if there’s a breeze about. Solar powered lights are a good choice as there aren’t any cables, batteries or plugs to worry about. They must be in sunlight during the day to re-charge though. Large garden candles will burn for many hours and are available in all sorts of aroma-therapeutic scents.

3. Garden Furniture - Invest in some comfy chairs for the garden. We don’t spend half as much time as we should outside, simply because we don’t feel comfortable. Look at unique ways of furnishing your garden. Do you have a couple of trees a hammock could be strung between? Or how about a park-type bench with comfy cushions set under the shade of the apple tree? Whatever the style or size of your garden, look for relaxing furniture so you can fully enjoy your outside space.

4. Fake Flowers - Well, hey, we don’t all have mature gardens and fresh flowers blooming all year round! If you have to resort to a little ‘deception’ who cares if it looks good? Hang some pretty silk flowers on a wall, or low roof or even in a tree! If nothing else, you’ll keep your visitors guessing

5. Colour it up - If you still need a bit of colour around the place, get the kids involved. No, I don’t mean let them loose with a tin of paint and brushes… what they could do is draw some great pictures of trees, flowers, animals etc, and you can pin them around the patio area or ‘blu-tak’ them to a tree or two. Remember to rescue them if it rains!

6. Cut down on Big Toys - Children’s outdoor toys, such as swings, slides etc; can take up loads of room in the garden, and they’re not always very attractive. Look for something a little less permanent. Maybe separate items you can load away in the shed at night, or go for something completely different and build a giant chess set. Or if you really feel creative, what about a tree-house? They can always go to the park for the swings!

7. Containers - Collect large pots and grow plants you can move around the garden, every day if you like! Grow herbs and flowers and position sweet smelling plants on the patio or round your seating area. Strawberries grow very well in containers as do other useful plants. Make sure the pots aren’t too heavy for you to move, or invest in a garden trolley if they are. If you grow colour co-ordinated flowers, a wonderful display can be created by positioning your pots well.

8. Wild Corner - I know this may be hard if you like a neat and tidy garden, but leaving a wild patch can be very entertaining and visually very pleasing. Nettles and other wildflowers attract butterflies and bees, and it’s often suprising how delicate and colourful wildflowers can be when allowed to grow in their own space. If you’re still unsure, how about building a little fence around the area and making a wooden plaque declaring it a wildlife zone…well, it was just an idea!

9. Water Features - are becoming more and more popular and also more affordable. Create a water feature that will suit your garden. Try not to be persuaded by an over-enthusiastic sales assistant trying to sell you a system that will be far too big or even too small for your outside space. Do some research before you start. There could be a fair amount of physical work involved and you should arrange some strong arm help. You could go for a full waterfall and pond or perhaps a simple water feature on your patio.

10. Rock Gardens - Rock gardens can take on different themes and colour schemes throughout the year with a little careful planning. There is again some heavy physical work involved when you’re putting together your rock garden but well worth it in the end. Make sure you can get to all areas for weeding, watering etc; Try out different rock plants and flowers until you feel happy with the overall view, and even then you can change it. Nothing’s set in stone!

These are just a few ideas. Let your imagination free and decorate your outside space with love. Read through the Garden Decor and Garden Ideas pages on the website for more ideas and resources.

Linda Gray is a freelance writer and has spent more than ten years creating an organic family garden from an acre of neglected land. Linda shares her experience and expertise at http://www.flower-and-garden-tips.com

Bulb flowers are known to be the easiest way to grow a plant. Famous flowers such as tulips, daffodils, crocuses, daylilies, daisies, dahlias and snowdrops are all grown out of bulbs. Bulb flowers were extremely popular in Holland in the 17th century. There was a whole financial affair about the tulip flower bulbs, because tulips contained the greatest part of Dutch economy. Most flower bulbs are so plain to grow that many gardeners adore them. Flower bulbs have another advantage over others: they are extremely easy to find. There are several types of popular bulb flowers, take a look at the following list:

The True Bulb.

It is the most popular bulb flower. Tulips, daffodils and lilies are grown from true bulbs. Basically, it is an underground stem containing embryonic plant. This plant contains in modified look everything that the future plant will need: the stem, the roots, the leaves, the flower buds. When the growing conditions are at their top, this embryonic plant sets forth and starts to grow.

The embryonic plant is surrounded by scales, which encompass it. These scales are modified leaves, and look like the husks or scales of fish or mammals. At the bottom of the bulb is placed the basal plate: it is the starting point of the roots and it holds the scales together. True bulbs are extremely endurable: they can live through long periods of dryness. If they are carefully looked after, true bulbs can live long without having to be replaced once they were planted.

The Corm.

This bulb flower type is popular with gladiolas and crocuses. Unlike the true bulbs, each individual corm can last only one season. But you needn’t plant another corm the next season: the old ones give birth to their new generation, so that corms can last several seasons, if they are properly taken care of. Small bulbs, called cormels, are also produced from the maternal corm. They can also turn into flowers. The other difference with true flower bulbs is that corms lack scales. They also contain a stem base, but the tissue of the base is solid. The roots of the flower bulb plant grow from the bottom of the corm, and the growth point is located at the top.

The Tuber

Tubers are also underground stem bases. But unlike the two above mentioned flower bulb types, tubers lack the basal plate. The roots of a tuber grow from both the base as well as from the sides. That’s why a tuber has multiple growing points and springs out from different places on the surface.

The Rhizome.

It is actually a thickened stem and it grows partly underneath the ground, until it springs out. The largest growing point of a rhizome is located at one end of the stem, and the additional growing points are located alongside the two sides of the stem. The bearded iris is the most popular flower bulb grown from a rhizome.

Tuberous Roots.

The tuberous roots are not exactly roots. They are fibrous roots that grow from one basic root. They are designed to absorb nutrients and water and sustain the main root. Tuberous roots usually grow together in clumps. The growth points of tuberous roots can be intertwined and found on various places of the main root, as well as on additional root offshoots. Dahlias and daylilies are the bulb flowers grown in that way.

Find Flower Shop - the easiest way to locate a flower shop in your area Article by Robbie Darmona - an article writer who writes on a wide variety of subjects.

Don’t force yourself out of the most profitable hobby in the universe because you think it’s too hard to learn …It isn’t! Gardening is fast becoming the world’s number one hobby, and with all the latest ‘alternative’ information we have to hand, gardening as a natural science is fun to learn about and rewarding in the extreme…

Produce your own fruit and veg - cut the shopping trips.

Keep it organic!- be nice to the planet, and your body.

Stay fit and healthy with exercise and fresh air.

Spend quality family time in the outdoors.

Turbo boost your creative spirit

And if that isn’t enough to be going on with, learn about plant-kind in all it’s glory. From trees through to fungi, there are millions of plants to research, grow and eat- no chance of getting bored!

First you have to take your first step.

Start gardening, be a gardener, enjoy your garden.

Starting from scratch? Let your imagination run wild. Stand in the centre (-ish) of your garden and imagine..close your eyes if you like.

Don’t hold back. Let your creative thoughts flow. How much can you do with your space? Don’t imagine for one minute that a simple lawn will let you off the hook here. A lawn needs maintaining, and mowing regularly - for EVER..and it can get kind of boring to look at as well! How about creating

a butterfly patch

a wildflowers corner

a vegetable plot

a herb garden

a water feature

Then you will need a shed to store your tools. Where would that be best placed in your garden? Don’t waste a sunny position with a garden structure. Sheds don’t need to be in full sun to survive!

Is there enough space to place garden furniture? Rather than going for the table-and-four-chairs-on-patio style, can you place benches and small tables in semi-shady spots near the honeysuckle or round the herbs?

When you think you have a reasonable idea of all you want from your garden, take some notes and think about it for a while. Don’t leap in too soon-more often than not you’ll land up doing the same job twice. Browse through garden catalogs, take a little time and do a little planning.

But not for too long! Don’t let the ideas wither into another was-gonna-do-one-day file.

If you have enough of a budget to buy your garden structures and furniture, do this first, and position them in your garden. Then create your flower beds, vegetable plots and wildlife patches around these structures.

If you don’t have cash up front, don’t worry. The things you need will come to you. For now, prepare the space as if you DID have the shed, or bench or whatever, and work around these areas.

Start all the patches and work on them as and when you can, or start one patch and get it finished before moving on to the next. How you work in your garden depends on a number of things…

size of land and budget

helping hands available

seasons and the weather

time slots and energy levels!

Treat gardening as an ongoing hobby rather than a project to be started and finished. Plants are growing life forms and will always be changing the shape and feel of your garden. Go with it where you can, and prune heavily where you have to!

Get the kids involved with quick-germinating seeds, and fast-growing plants. Many retailers offer special seed mixtures for kids. Pumpkins are great for getting the kids interested in gardening.

Learn about edible flowers and teach the children what can and can’t be eaten - and why.

Don’t let the grass grow under your feet. Get in on the action now. Turn off the TV, put your wellies on and leap into nature!

Linda Gray is a freelance writer and, with her partner. has spent ten years renovating a neglected acre of woodland. Find heaps of straight gardening advice and pots of inspiration at http://www.flower-and-garden-tips.com