Gardening tools are extremely important for everyone who wants to make his own garden. But some people often get stuck when choosing the most appropriate tools to fit their needs. Upon deciding to work on your garden, you need to take to your attention the list of basic gardening tools that are going to be presented below.

1) The hoe. A hoe is absolutely essential as a gardening tool. It is used when weeding and cultivating the soil. Digging with a hoe allows nutrients and water to penetrate easier in the soil.

2) The spading fork. That is another tool for digging the soil. It is perfect for improving of hard soil and it is basically used for breaking up the ground. Spading fork is similar to pitchforks in appearance, the difference being in its shorter handle and larger tines.

3) The shovel. If you buy a shovel, choose a round-ended. This gardening tool serves for digging the soil and for forming the beds before the plants are sown. Shrubs and trees can also be planted using a shovel.

4) The rake. A rake is useful for leveling the soil after it has been turned. It also cleans the ground surface from any tough clods of earth or larger stones that can obstruct the planting. Make sure you buy a bow rake. The bow rake has short tines on one side attached to a metal frame-the so-called ”bow”. The flat side of the bow rake can be used for smoothing the soil before plants are sown.

5) The shears. A pair of garden shears is irreplaceable. Choose the pair that best fits to your hand and don’t rush to the most expensive one, if you haven’t tried pruning before. Shears are also called clippers. This gardening tool is used for pruning the plants and trees, for shaping the hedge and for removing unnecessary foliage.

6) The watering can. It is a gardening tool for watering all kind of smaller plants. For trees and larger shrubs you need to use a watering system. The length of the nozzle determines how far-reaching the water flow will be. The longer the nozzle, the more gentle and far-reaching the water flow. Another tip upon buying a watering can is to buy one with a detachable spray head- so that after removing it, you can water young seedlings.

This list can protect you from spending your money on something completely unnecessary, or on tools too specialized for your needs. Most of the gardening tools offered on stores are utterly useless for the new beginner, and some of them are too expensive. Most gardeners consider a shovel or spade, a trowel, a rake and a hoe the minimum equipment necessary for taking care of your garden. Of course, the specificity of the gardening tools which you may need depends on the effects you want to achieve, also on the size of your garden and on your abilities as a gardener. If you are a novice, you should follow the list and supply your outhouse with these basic gardening tools first. These gardening tools are sold in a large variety of shape and colors, suitable for any aesthetic preference.

If you have a flair for bargaining, you may buy the basic gardening tools at the overall price of less than 100$. You’d better wait for the end of the gardening season when the prices are lower. Look in every gardening store, flea markets and yard sales as well, before spending your money on a given tool. Remember that your gardening tools are to last for many years and be careful what you choose.

Article by Robbie Darmona - an article writer who writes on a wide variety of subjects.

For more information click ==>Gardening Tools

Whether you call them Hydrangea Macrophylla, House Hydrangea, French Hydrangea,, or Mopheads, growing Hydrangeas in the home garden can be an enjoyable experience. They are lovely, whether used as single plants or in mass, such as in a hedge, or border.

Growing Conditions:

Hydrangeas grow best in partial shade to full sun. They prefer morning sun and afternoon shade, especially in hot areas

Hydrangeas need a lot of water. In fact the word “Hydrangea” comes from the Greek for “water tub”!

They grow best in rich soil, so dig in a lot of compost, and other organic matter, when you plant them, and mulch well.

Fertilization:

Fertilize liberally in the spring, in May in the South, and again in August. Wait until June to fertilize in northern areas. Use a good balanced, slow-release, fertilizer and apply ¼ cup around the base of a very small plant, and 1-2 cups around a very large plant. Spread out to drip line, but don’t get it next to the trunk. Mulch with homemade compost to cover roots.

Never fertilize a plant that looks sick or wilted, it will just stress it more.

Propagation:

You can propagate from softwood cuttings in June. Take a 6”-8” tip cutting, strip off the bottom leaves, dip end in rooting hormone, then stick about one inch deep in sterile moist sand, vermiculite or sphagnum moss. Create a mini green house over plants with plastic and place in bright light, not full sun, until roots form.

Or, you can just root them in water. Again, place in bright light away from full sun until the roots form.

Planting:

1. Dig a hole 2 times as deep and wide as the root ball. Break up soil in the hole and mix in 1 inch compost.

2. Remove from container and loosen soil around outside of root ball.

3. Set in hole so plant is at same level it was in the pot, you may need to add dirt back into the hole to raise it up.

4. Fill in hole, around plant, with the soil and pack gently. Water well to remove air pockets. Mulch well with compost.

5. Early fall is the best time to plant new Hydrangeas.

Pruning:

In Spring, prune back old or damaged growth, and old flower stems. Don’t cut new shoots, they are where the new blooms will be.

In late summer, after blooming, prune to just above the next outward facing bud.

For larger flower clusters, thin plant down to half the number of stems.

Problems:

Powdery Mildew—evidenced by white powder on leaves, which then turn yellow and wilt. Treat by removing infected parts and spraying with a fungicide.

If the plants aren’t blooming well, it could be due to: 1. Winter kill. The buds form on the previous years growth, and can be killed off if temps drop below 25 degrees Fahrenheit. Protect when harsh weather is expected. 2. Too much shade. They prefer partial to full sun, preferably morning sun, with shade during the hot afternoons. 3. Poor Fertilization.

Fun Fact:

You can change the color of the blossoms, by changing the acidity of the soil.

Add Aluminum Sulfate to make the soil acid for Blue flowers. Or, add Lime to make the soil alkaline for Pink flowers. You will need to repeat the process 2 or 3 times over the growing season and continue it as long as you want the change to continue. It may take a year or two to see the results you want. This doesn’t usually work on the white varieties on Hydrangeas.

You are free to publish this article on your website or in your Ezine as long as you publish it in it’s entirety, including the resource box at the end of the article, with active (clickable) links back to the authors website. You can publish this article in a print publication as long as you reference the author and publish the URL of the authors website. A Courtesy copy of the Ezine or the URL of a website would be appreciated. E-mail Charlotte Harris @ charlotte@thethomasinsight.com.

Charlotte Harris is the owner of Charlotte’s Garden A monthly gardening calendar with lots of helpful gardening hints and articles.

Trees and shrubs can have many different forms, for example many conifers are conical, pyramidal, or powerfully vertical. Some are prostrate and spreading. To some degree these are scented and everyone is familiar with the scent of pine, but it is only if you rub or brush against the tree, which can be a prickly experience! Weeping trees have a very attractive romantic form and scented varieties include weeping Cercidiphyllum (Katsura Tree) Pendulum, which is quite spectacular. It has thrilling color in the fall and is scented like caramel. Also the weeping Silver Lime is an attractive choice for scented gardening. A shrub that looks like a small tree is Buddleja Alternifolia, and it has lovely flowers with the scent of honey in early summer.

Trees can affect the character of a garden and all gardens, however small, should have at least one. They make such a strong outline against the background and the sky. A number of conifers have scented needles, such as juniper and cypresses. Some of them have slender columnar forms which are used in gardening to create a formal or contemporary feel. The more spreading, horizontal conifers like Cedar of Lebanon, (scented of blackcurrant in summer weather), Blue Atlas Cedar or Scots Pine, create a less formal look for a gardening design, but still have a distinct aura of grandeur about them.

Primarily we tend to choose trees and shrubs as gardening subjects because they fit architecturally into a given space. Scent is often the last criterion we would use to select a large feature such as this. Trees and shrubs are such significant gardening features that eventual size and the shade cast may be of more importance than scent. Shade is desirable to some degree, but if trees and shrubs are so big and planted on the southern side of a garden they may cast everything into gloom! Scented blossoms may be considered a bonus in gardening terms once the other considerations have been met.

For low, formal hedging you really can’t beat the neatness of Box. It is not as fast growing as privet. If your idea of gardening is about clipped topiary, Box is ideal for designs such as Box Balls or Pyramids on the simpler level up to Elephant, Peacock and Teddy Bear shapes for the more experienced topiarist. Low box hedging can bring a formal look to your gardening, even if other areas are less so: it can bring the garden “into line” so to speak, by creating straight lines of dense green. Of course you can make a curved hedge from it too. One of its less attractive features is its smell, but that is a matter of personal taste. For me it smells too strongly of cat’s urine! I experience this pungent odour every time I walk by it, but many people learn to live with or even love it simply by associating it with happy summer days pottering around gardening. If you really can’t handle the smell then consider using Lonicera Nitida instead. This shrubby honeysuckle has sweet, fruity cream-colored flowers.

Trees and shrubs can of course be used to make a windbreak screen. In order to create the still, sheltered micro climate in which other scented plants can thrive, this may be essential, depending on the situation of your plot. Trees and shrubs can make better windbreaks than walls, as they don’t offer the wind a “full stop” barrier which the wind can then leap over and cause problems due to eddying on the other side. If your region is reasonably mild for gardening, Eucalyptus can grow very fast to create an instant hedge or tree in a selected spot. They have beautifully minty-scented foliage, flowers with the scent of honey, and are fast growers. They can be hard pruned if you don’t mind a modicum of gardening, especially if you don’t want them to grow so big and if you want to keep the prettier, juvenile blue leaves coming back year on year.

A number of gardening writers seem to ignore trees and shrubs when they write about scented gardening; perhaps small and pretty annuals spring to mind or of course roses. In fact a huge amount of scent can be generated from gardening with trees and shrubs. Trees and shrubs can give such a variety of powerful scents that it is a shame that most of us don’t have the space to use more of them in our gardens. The architectural effect of trees and shrubs is undeniable.

Dianne Davies is a keen gardener who likes to share her knowledge. She runs her own half acre garden in Norfolk as well as websites which include - http://www.gardening-world.com and http://www.gardening-notebook.blogspot.com

A focal point is an important design element; it is a place where the eye naturally comes to rest. In a well-designed patio there is always a planned focal point, such as a large dining set, perhaps with a well-selected umbrella. But a patio’s focal point could also be another interesting object or landscape feature.

Examples of landscape features that can be a patio’s focal point are an interesting pathway leading from the patio to an area beyond, a flower garden, a mature tree, or a dramatic view of the back lawn.

However, an outdoor dining table with chairs is often a natural focal point because of its size. If you intend to have a large outdoor dining set, there are several things to keep in mind.

Be conscious of the style of the table and chairs and try to keep styles the same. If you have a very rustic patio, then a contemporary table and chairs may not go well together. It is usually a good idea to maintain the same decor style.

Select the colors of the furniture and cushions with care. Visualize the furniture in the location where they will be used. The colors should be similar or complimentary to the surrounding area.

An umbrella is a good addition if it is appropriate. An umbrella in an area already covered may look odd. However, umbrellas usually work well in screened-in areas that are still exposed to direct sunlight. If you buy an umbrella separately from the table and chairs, make very sure the colors and patterns go well with each other as well as the surroundings.

A pair of chaise lounges with an umbrella could also be an interesting focal point. The umbrella would have its own stand. Of course, the cushions on the chaise lounges and the umbrella material would have to either match or be complimentary with each other.

A statue, fountain, or other ornament can be used as a focal point. However several things should be kept in mind. If using a statue, the statue and its size must be in keeping with its surroundings, the style of the house, and the decor of the patio. A large statue of the god Jupiter would probably not look well on a patio with, for example, western decor. But a statue of Venus in a traditional English garden setting would be a pleasing addition. A graceful statue would bring an air of serenity.

Size is important as you would not want to overpower the surrounding garden features with a statue that is too large. One of the most agreeable placements for a nicely sized statue within a garden setting is placement by a wall, such as a red brick wall, especially where there are plants, including climbing plants. Never place a statue in isolation, but in an area where it can become part of its surroundings.

These are but a few examples of possible focal points in a patio or garden setting. There are many other possibilities. The important thing is to include the focal point naturally within the patio or garden environment so that it blends in and be in harmony with its surroundings.

Aleister Holmes is a contributing writer to Better Patio Furniture website at http://www.better-patio-furniture.com/.

When most people think of a holly, the traditional Christmas holly comes to mind. However, there are far more options now available to gardeners that can add much welcomed color throughout the winter months. This week we are featuring one of our favorite hollies, the ‘Winter Red.’

Liven Your Winter Landscape
Winterberry ‘Winter Red’ is a multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub that will mature into a lovely rounded shape. The vibrant green foliage will cover your ‘Winter Red’ from spring until fall when it will then turn a glimmering bronze, then yellow and then fall to the ground. The falling leaves make way for a show of clusters of brilliant red berries clinging to every stem, bringing delightful color to normally dreary winter landscapes and providing food for neighborhood birds. The stems can also be cut and kept in a vase with no water for months - imagine how beautiful that will look on your mantel or as a centerpiece!

Hollies are normally associated with moist areas, but the ‘Winter Red’ is very hardy and will thrive in normal soil. Choose an area that receives full sun to part shade and watch it thrive. You can expect your ‘Winter Red’ to mature to a height of 6 to 7 feet tall. ‘Winter Red’ is deciduous, so a male holly is needed for pollination. The most reliable pollinator that we have found is Ilex verticillata ‘Southern Gentleman’, another choice holly. Plant at least one male for each three or four females.

Planting and Care

Click here to view ‘Winter Red’ on the Carroll Gardens website.

Potatoes are so easy to grow in the no dig, organic way. They are one of the top three in vegetable growing due to their popularity and versatility. Boil ‘em, mash ‘em, fry ‘em, bake ‘em. It’s hard to go wrong with this staple in the diet.

They’re also a great source of vitamins, minerals and iron. Most of the goodness lies just beneath the surface of the skin though, so try to keep at least some of the skin intact when preparing for cooking.

To the growing!

Purchase some seed potatoes from a nursery. You can use potatoes from the supermarket, but seed potatoes will bring better yields. You can ‘chit’ them first (allowing them to start to grow) before planting, simply by placing them in a sunny spot.

There are many different types of potatoes you can grow and it’s important that you grow one you like! So start at the end…how do you like to eat them? See the description of potato types below to choose.

Once you decide what type to grow, place your seed potatoes directly on the ground about 30cm (12-14 inches) apart. Cover them with a 50/50 blend of straw with old manure, blood and bone and compost. Water generously.

In a couple of weeks, the tops will emerge through the straw. As they grow, keep topping them up with the enriched straw blend, making sure the tubers don’t get exposed to sunlight. This can turn them green and make them toxic.

Potatoes take 14-16 weeks to mature. When they flower, they are getting close to maturity. When the plants begin to die back and yellow, the crop is ready for harvest.

The beauty with growing them under a straw mat is that you take the guess work out of the growing. You can actually lift the corner of the straw and see your potatoes developing. When you are close to harvest, you simply pull out some of the bigger ones for early eating, without killing off the plant.

On the ground, in your no dig garden bed or inside an old tire (for containment) these things will grow anywhere given the right conditions.

Whack some in. Very satisfying gardening!

Potato Types

There are dozens of types of potatoes you can grow. Some are small with waxy flesh, others are large with floury white flesh, and there is everything in between. What you grow will depend largely on how you like to eat them. Not all potatoes are created equal. Some are better for boiling and some for baking.

Baking Potatoes

Baking potatoes are those higher in starch than others. They generally have a course skin and a firm flesh. These are best for baking, mashing and frying. They are light and fluffy inside once cooked and are just brilliant.

It’s impossible to name all of the types, but some examples of good baking varieties are Russet, Goldrush, Idaho, Bintje and Norgold.

Boiling Potatoes

Boiling potatoes typically have less starch and higher sugar content. This means they will hold together when boiled or used in soups, casseroles and salads.

Some good examples of boiling varieties include Red Potato, La Soda, Bismark, King Edward, Sequoia, Bronwell and Pontiac.

Those that fall in the middle, the all-rounders, include Kennebec, Yukon Gold and Sebago.

Judy Williams (http://www.no-dig-vegetablegarden.com) aspires to become a fulltime earth mother goddess. This site acts as a primer for all vegetable gardening aspects covering topics like how to build a garden, nurture seedlings, container gardening and composting.

The latter part of last summer was hot and droughty in Westminster. I went to look at a garden, locally, on top of a windy hill that is quite exposed to the worst of winter’s harshness. Included was a small rose garden. Due to the weather and some neglect, all of the roses looked poor, except one. This was a yellow hybrid tea, fully foliated and loaded with buds about to unfurl, still bearing the remnants of what was obviously a heavy spring and early summer bloom. It had about eight husky canes and stood every bit of 5 feet tall. As a class, yellow hybrid teas tend to be the most difficult of all. In general they don’t have a strong constitution. They seem particularly prone to winter kill. For years I have been searching for a good yellow hybrid tea and to stumble across one so serendipitously is truly amazing. The homeowner said the rose was about three or four years old and that this was her best rose; so easy to grow and so reliable. With some investigating the rose turned out to be Aperitif, not budded but growing on its own root. Aperitif is a recent introduction from New Zealand. We checked further and found that in just a few years, Aperitif has developed quite a worldwide reputation for vigor and reliability.

Aperitif has glowing, well-formed, yellow blooms on long, strong stems. The four and a half inch blooms are exquisite, with up to 30 petals and a light fragrance. The long stems, which will reach 18 to 22 inches, make Aperitif an exceptional addition to floral arrangements. The bush is very vigorous and will grow easily in the garden, reaching a height of 60 inches. The glossy, medium dark foliage is quite disease resistant.

Planting and Care

Click here to view Aperitif Hybrid Tea Rose on the Carroll Gardens website.

A really great tool for searching for florists is the ‘local’ search frame in Google. By searching here you can find an enormous amount of information about local florists. For Washington CD flower delivery, a recent search yielded over 200 sources. Find the florist that can meet your pricing and quality needs.

One lovely website, Green Works Florist, has an abundance of information about this particular florist. The floral artists showcases his designs and the format is easy to use and navigate. You can find out information on pricing and delivery terms by reviewing the ‘about us’ page.

Friendship Flower Shop is also a popular for Washington D.C. flower delivery. On their website, you can view all of the important information you need to make a purchase. They have photographs of different arrangements, pricing and terms of service; you know exactly what you are getting when you order. Friendship Flower Shop specializes in large orders of flowers, tropicals, European gardens, high-style arrangements, weddings and much more. Check their website frequently as they add discounts and specials throughout the year.

If you have any contacts in the Washington D.C. area you may also want to ask for recommendations. Nearly everyone has a referral for a favorite florist and will be happy to share that information with you. If you are looking for Washington D.C. flower delivery you will certainly have a number of florists to choose from. You can also utilize national flower delivery services for your needs. It is very important, no matter where you are getting your flowers from, to understand their policies. Most florists will offer a guarantee on their products. Some may charge delivery fees or processing fees. Some florists will ship the same or next day, while others prefer having a few days notice before sending the flowers. Do your homework so that you can make a well-informed decision.

Flower Delivery Info provides information on same day, next day, international, and online flower delivery in various regions Flower Delivery Info is the sister site of Flower Bulbs Web.

Sometimes, there is nothing better than just relaxing in the patio or the deck at the time of the year when the bugs are not yet very active. Good evenings can be spent outside of the door just lazing around looking at the clear evening sky, having a silent time to yourself or have a conversation going. But evenings like these can be ended shortly when the chill sends you indoors.

An outdoor person who wants to extend his sitting season must have invented patio heaters. He must have intended to enjoy peaceful evenings and a year of summers. In many areas this cannot be possible but still it will prevent people who want to spend evenings out not to be sent in by the first blow of the cold.

Whatever the case, patio heaters can let you enjoy your outdoor nights by keeping you comfortably warm. They can come in a variety of designs, sizes and fuel sources. Patio heaters that works by radiant heat systems can be very comfortable as they are designed to give warmth to the people and not the air.

Gas, propane, wood and wood substitutes, electricity or Alco-gels can fuel patio heaters. Depending on the sizes and settings, it could warm a few feet of spaces or an entire party yard.

Just like any other heating units, patio heaters perform best when it is located near a combination of walls and fences. An overhang can optimize its heating capability as overhangs can help shield the area from winds that will be blowing directly into the heated spaces. Walls and fences likewise can help bounce the heat back instead of having the warmed air escape easily.

Patio heaters can come in the following varieties. The umbrella type patio heaters, so called because of its shape, are good for heating larger spaces. The umbrella type patio heaters are powered by propane, which is located at the bottom of the unit and radiates its heat through the top cylinder. This type of patio heater is sensitive to elements and it is important to tuck it away when not in use. Effective heating area is from 12 to 20 feet in diameter.

Wood burning patio heaters are the cheapest to maintain and operate as they use wood and wood derivatives. These patio burners however are limited to areas that do not have ordinances against burning wood in the property. Other areas will allow wood burning provided a chimney is installed to limit the scattering of sparks that could cause damage. When opting for this kind of patio burners, children have to be taught regarding its handling. Wood burning patio heaters are available in portable and collapsible units that could easily be installed. It can also come with optional cooking grills.

Patio burners that come in the gas variety and propane powered patio burners are economical to operate. Patio burners can also be powered by electricity. The limitations though is that electric powered heaters are the most expensive to maintain.

Before you decide to warm up your patios and decks, consider first whether you would want a permanent patio heater or not, or if you prefer easy installation or the fixed variety. You might also want to consider if you want your patio heaters to be connected to your gas supply or the homey feel of burning wood.

Patio heaters can be found in the shop where you bought patio furniture while gas and propane powered patio heaters can be found in specialty shops.

Robert Thatcher is a freelance publisher based in Cupertino, California. He publishes articles and reports in various ezines and provides patio heater resources on http://www.about-patio-heaters.info

Philadelphia is a large city and a recent search of florists in the area yielded over 300 results. Ask friends or family for recommendations or speak to the florist directly about their specialties and experience. If you are unable to find a florist to meet your needs, try a Google search for Philadelphia flower delivery. You can also use the services of national flower delivery companies.

Food & Flowers by Axelrod & Bennett is a well-established and popular florist in the Philadelphia area. The designers at Axelrod & Bennett have over 75 years of combined experience in the floral industry. They pride themselves on their personal touch given to each Philadelphia flower delivery. They deliver locally, nationally and internationally.

Several other top quality florists are available and ready for your flower delivery needs. Using the search feature at Yellow Pages is an excellent tool for locating florists in the area. Many of these florists have websites where you can view product details, terms of service and place orders. Be sure that you read the fine print and look for any hidden charges.

Flower Delivery Info provides information on same day, next day, international, and online flower delivery in various regions Flower Delivery Info is the sister site of Flower Bulbs Web.