American Nettings

Tomatoes Green Tomato Chutney Recipe

admin — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 13:30:43 +0000

I’m not by any means a gardener, but I do love my grandchildren and when they clamoured to buy some seeds, I let them pick one packet each. Chloe the eldest picked a packet of mixed flowers, and I reckoned I could cope with them. But the youngest Bethany was going through one of those phases that children go through. She had taken to eating tomatoes, as if they were apples, she couldn’t get enough of them.

Yes, that’s Right. You’ve guessed it. She picked a packet of tomato seeds. Glory be, what was I to do now, as far as I was aware you needed a greenhouse in these northern climes, to grow tomatoes. I tried to talk her out of it, but she was having none of it.

‘You said I could pick my own seeds, Grandad,’ she cried.

‘Yes, but I don’t think you can grow them without a greenhouse.’ I said.

‘Why?’

‘Because, they don’t like the cold.’

‘But it’s not cold, Grandad, it’s nice and warm.’

‘I don’t mean just today, I mean in general.’

‘What’s in general?’

‘It means…em… it’s cold most days.’

‘That’s alright then, we’ll plant them today while it’s warm.’

I gave in then, thinking, we’ll plant the seeds today and she’ll eventually forget all about them.

I paid for the seeds, a pack of plant pots, a bag of compost, and lugged them home on the bus. After getting off the bus the girls ran ahead, leaving me to hump the compost and plant pots. Reaching the house and since my hands were full, I pushed the door open with my foot and was just in time to hear the little one say, ‘And, Grandma, Grandad’s coming with the pots and the compy stuff and we’re going to plant the seeds straight away.’

‘Hold it, hold it,’ I said as I staggered through the door, ‘before Grandad does anything, he’s going to have a nice cup of tea.’

‘Aw, Grandad,’ she said.

But she waited, after a fashion, humming a hawing, until I had a cup of tea, and then she dragged me out into the garden.

Opening the bag of compost I filled six pots for Chloe and let her plant her own flower seeds, then help Bethany with her tomato seeds. Now all we could do was wait.

The weather was mild so it should have been, since it was May and we were far too late for planting tomato seeds. Two weeks went by and the flowers started to show, but there was no sign of the tomatoes. Another two week went by and just when I’d given up. Bethany came racing indoors, all excited.

‘Come and look Grandad, they are growing.’

And sure enough the tomatoes were showing, but I didn’t hold out much hope for the crop. Anyway as soon as the plants were big enough I transplanted them into a couple of grow bags and they took off, like Jack’s magic beanstalk.

It’s now the 30th of September, the plants are 5ft high, filled with tomatoes, and are still flowering. Bethany is over the moon and is looking forward to picking her first fruit, or should I say vegetable? But as we slide into October, no way on earth are they going to ripen and to save her disappointment I decided after consultation with the Grand Dame, my mother in-law, to turn them into chutney. See the recipe below. By the way, Chloe’s flowers bloomed, though they are nearly finished now.

Green Tomato Chutney.

Will make 5- 6lb.

Ingredients

4lb green tomatoes

1lb apples

1lb of onions

8oz of raisins

2lb of soft brown sugar

1/2oz of salt

1/2oz of root ginger

1oz of mustard seeds

11/2 pints of malt vinegar

Method

Cut up tomatoes, peel, core, and cut up apples, cut up onions and chop raisins.

Bruise ginger and tie in muslin bag.

Place all ingredients into pan, bring to boil and simmer until vinegar has been absorbed. (Approx 2 hours) At this point you should be able to draw a wooden spoon across the mixture and it will leave an impression.

Remove the bag of ginger, pour chutney into hot dry screw-top jars and place waxed discs on top of each one.

Cover jars with a clean cloth until cold.

Screw on lids (Make sure they are vinegar proof first) label and store in a cool cupboard.

Mmm, I can taste it now.

Fred Watson published his first book, a fantasy adventure novel aimed at the 8-12 age group, in November 2006. A grandfather of four, he loves to write for all age groups, has an abiding interest in history and continues on a regular basis to add new stories etc to his website.http://www.footprintpublishing.co.uk/storiesformums.html

Have The Garden Of Your Dreams This Year

admin — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 13:28:47 +0000

Do you love the idea of having a garden but find that your yard falls far short of your Spring dreams? I used to plant a beautiful garden that turned into a weedy mess by the middle of Summer. You know how it is. Between the summer heat and vacation time away from home, the rain causes everything to explode with growth. When you finally get back to it you are lucky to find anything to harvest. If that sounds like your annual battle, you can do what I did to simplify your garden maintenance and keep it looking neat.

Cleanliness is next to godliness - It is imperative that you start the season with a clean slate. Remove old weeds and dead branches. Clean your patios and walkways and if they need it, seal them. It will not only preserve their life, but also keep them cleaner. If your lawn has dead patches where it gets foot traffic, replace it with a patio material that can take the traffic. Your garden department has forms that can make a cement path look like stonework or you could choose gravel, mulch or patio tiles. The idea is to replace your struggling grass with something that will look great with little on going effort.

Mulch, mulch, mulch - I can’t stress the value of mulch enough. With my last vegetable garden, I raked all of my oak leaves onto the beds. Now I have heard that Oak is too acid to be used without composting it first but by adding a little garden lime, I had superb results. The leaves kept my garden soil cooler and moister. It really cut my watering time and my veggies loved it. You can bet I added it to all my other garden beds the next year. PLEASE NOTE:The secret to boosting the benefit of your mulch is to lay landscape fabric under it. Some people use strips of plastic but unless you poke holes in it, the rain can’t penetrate. Other people use newspapers, whatever you choose, putting mulch on top of a weed barrier keeps weeds from taking over your garden. If any do sprout, you will find that they have shallow root systems and pull out easily. Along with this, add your permanent edging. It not only defines the edges of your flower beds, but also helps to keep grass from creeping into them.

Plant permanent greenery - It will become the backdrop for seasonal additions. This is one of the secrets to avoid starting from scratch each year. Once a permanent bush is planted, you can easily add flowering annuals in front of it and change them with the season. It keeps your garden looking fresh even though you are only actively working the front 1 or 2 feet of space..

Plan to water - Even if you can’t afford timers this year, you can simplify your watering task. If possible, set up a pvc sprinkler system that can be manually operated. Doing so will easily give you better water coverage. Timers can be added when your budget allows. If that is beyond your means and you have to rely on a hose and sprinkler system, consider adding separate hoses for each area that you have to water. A simple shutoff splitter will direct the water where it’s needed without having to reposition the hose each time. You are more likely to stay up with needed watering if all you have to do is turn a valve on or off.

Pick durable tables and chairs - Garden furniture must be weatherproof and easy to clean. If you are in an area that gets a lot of rain, add a garden chest where chair cushions can be kept clean until you need them. Who wants to be wiping down cushions when company is coming?

Finally, choose outdoor garden statues over a fountain - I have both in my landscape and I really love my fountain; but if you want to make your life easier, the fountain needs weekly cleaning. You can provide a soothing sound like a fountain does but without the work by hanging big brass garden bells or large wind chimes that have a low tone. Either one will add interest to your garden without increasing your work load.

A little preplanning will help you enjoy your garden all Summer and into the Fall. If you have enjoyed these tips, please visit the Outdoor Garden Statues blog. Gardening is our passion and we want you to love it as much as we do!

Encourage Visitors to Your Garden

admin — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 13:27:12 +0000

Is your garden your oasis? If so then how can you encourage others to join you? Frogs, birds and insects all need a home and with minimal effort you can invite them into your garden and watch them help you maintain it.
Birds, frogs and insects are all vital for a balanced ecosystem in your garden. They can help keep pests at bay and your flowers and plants to flourish. All that these creatures need, like the rest of us, are food and shelter.
Birds respond well to feeding throughout the year but particularly in the winter, when natural foods are scarce. Foods with a high fat content, as well as the usual bird seeds are welcome in the colder months. You can buy special bird feeding fat blocks, or just melt lard into a mould. Nuts have a high fat content too and the more varied your offerings, the more diverse the birdlife you are likely to attract.
The only difficulty with offering food to birds is that squirrels may come along too. They are greedy and incredibly adept at leaping off trees and fences onto bird tables so hang your bird feeder from a special pole. And if the squirrels master that, you may have to regularly cover the pole with oil or WD40 to make it too slippery for them to climb.
Birds will also enjoy foods that occur naturally in your garden. Worms are of course a favourite, but also berries and fruits go down well. If you are growing fruits for your own enjoyment, these may need to be protected from both birds and insects with netting or shiny hanging objects.
Amphibians that are native to the UK include frogs, toads and newts. These can be very useful in cutting down on pests and their lifecycle from spawn to tadpoles to adult is fascinating to witness. If you want to attract them then you’ll need to provide a source of still water for breeding - a small pond is ideal. It’s a good idea to have a gentle slope rising out of the water so that young frogs can set foot on dry land easily. Birds love to eat these young creatures so some shelter in nearby shrubbery will help keep the numbers up.
Amphibians hibernate during the winter so again they will need shelter to do this safely. A compost heap, pile of logs or stones are popular. Other good hibernation spots include spaces under shrubs and hedges. It’s best to avoid cleaning out your pond if you can, as sometimes amphibians like to hibernate at the bottom!
A pond will not only attract amphibians, but some interesting insects too. Water skaters, snails, dragonflies and water beetles are all common pond inhabitants and will help to create some healthy biodiversity in your garden.
A whole range of insects live in our gardens at any one time but probably the most popular are butterflies. Butterflies like to get nectar from clumps of flowers grown in sunny, sheltered places. Some butterflies such as small tortoiseshells, peacocks and cabbage whites are relatively easy to attract. Others are migratory and tend to come from early Spring to late Summer to breed, but then leave the UK for the winter. These include painted lady and red admiral.
Even with the right planting it’s very difficult to get butterflies to lay eggs and breed in gardens. Suitable conditions for larva to feed are notoriously difficult to recreate so it’s best to concentrate on attracting visiting butterflies rather than trying to establish a breeding ground.
There are a very large number of flowers that butterflies like. Some of the most common include buttercups, clovers, dandelions, thistles, marigolds, wallflowers and sweet williams. Herbaceous plants that they favour include dahlias, elephant’s ears and globe thistles. And if you want to plants shrubs then choose blackberry, lavender, thyme and heather.
With a combination of a pond and some well thought out planting, together with a birdfeeder and plenty of shelter your garden can become a haven for wildlife.

Expert gardener India Cooper reveals that frogs, birds and insects are the secret weapon for every budding gardener. To find out more please visit http://www.ratedpeople.com/find/gardener

Growing Tomatoes - How to Avoid Common Problems

admin — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 01:46:21 +0000

Flower Set and Blossom Drop.One of the most exciting moments in tomato growing is when flowers begin to fade and the first little pea-like fruits appear. Each day they grow a little bigger until they reach their mature size when they start to change colour and become ripe tomatoes. They look almost too good to eat! However, temperatures and humidity have to be right for flowers to set fruit. If flowers fail to set, blossom drop is the result and those pretty little blooms wither and break off at the knuckle. To avoid blossom drop, mist and tap plants daily to help release pollen. If the weather is particularly hot and dry, also water around the base of plants to increase humidity.

Watering and Blossom End Rot.Watering can be a tricky business when it comes to tomatoes especially if they are grown in containers. However, correct watering can help avoid blossom end rot, which is caused by a lack of calcium when the fruits are swelling and leaves a dark leathery patch on the underside of the tomatoes. The first aim should be to keep the entire root area moist by giving them a thorough watering once a week (especially when the fruits are swelling) and water moderately in between. The reason is that roots are only able to feed and absorb nutrients (including calcium) from areas of soil that are moist. If half of the soil that your plant is growing in is dry, calcium uptake may also be reduced by half. Increase Aeration.One way to keep tomato plants healthy, especially when grown in a confined space such as a greenhouse or where they may be planted close together, is to increase aeration. This may be done by removing old, lower leaves below the first truss to improve air circulation. Deleafing.Opinion about deleafing varies considerably. Some gardeners will leave most leaves on their plants which helps shield tomatoes from direct sunlight. Too much direct sunlight and heat can cause sun scald, greenback and blotchy ripening. Some growers, especially those who grow in greenhouses, remove all leaves below the truss that is producing ripe fruit. This enables plants resourses to be directed into the fruit rather than having to support lots of leaves. Plants grown in greenhouses do not usually have their fruit in direct sunlight for long periods, so avoid the problems of sun scald etc.Watering and Disease.When watering, avoid splashing soil up onto the lowest leaves which may transfer soil infections into a plant through the leaves. Splashing water up onto growing fruit may also create ghost spot which is caused by grey mould soil spores and displays small transparent water-like rings. It’s also a good idea to pull off suckers, side shoots and leaf branches by hand rather than cut them because the blades of knives and scissors can spread disease from one plant to another.

Nick Chenhall has been a keen tomato grower for many years and runs his own tomato growing website. If you would like to find out more about growing tomatoes, please visit: http://www.tomatogrowing.co.uk

How to Grow Apple Trees From Seed

admin — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 01:45:33 +0000

How To Grow Apple Trees From Seed

Have you ever tried to grow apple trees from seeds collected from an apple? It certainly makes good sense that they would germinate. They are seeds and seeds are supposed to grow, right?

I’ve heard people say apples seeds collected from apples are hybridized and therefore can’t grow because hybrids are sterile.

They are correct in that most commercially grown apples hold hybridized seeds inside. They are probably incorrect that this is the reason why your apple seeds don’t germinate.

Bees bring pollen from one tree to the next. If the bee recently visited a delicious apple tree then visits a granny smith apple tree the resulting apples would produce delicious x granny smith seeds.

You might come up with the next award winning apple variety but don’t count on it.

These seeds are not going to produce a granny smith or a delicious apple tree. They would produce a tree with mixed genetics.

Granny smith and delicious are hybrids themselves, this means the new seeds would be ploy-hybrid. This doesn’t have much to do with viability; the seeds can still be fertile. The myth that seeds collected from hybridized apples are sterile might be caused by the fact that apple seeds need to be stratified before they will germinate. Stratification means the seeds have to be treated with cool temperatures for a certain length of time before they will germinate. Most people probably don’t think to stratify their apple seeds. The seeds never germinate hence the idea that they are sterile or infertile.

If you collect seeds from an apple and put them in soil or a terrarium, your apple seeds likely won’t germinate for 2 reasons. The seeds need a dry out period followed by a stratification period. If you skip these 2 steps you probably won’t have success germinating your apple seeds.

If you want to germinate apple seeds collected from an apple first let the seeds dry out for 3-4 weeks. Set the seeds on a piece of wax paper etc and roll them over every day or 2. After a month or so the seeds lose that dark shine and get a lighter dryer look. This is a good indication the seeds have dried well.

Once the seeds are dry put them in a container or zip lock bag. You can also add soil if you wish. Place the container or bag in your refrigerator for about 3 months.

If you chose to add soil you can moisten the soil after about 10 or 11 weeks. Keep a good watch on the bag and let fresh air in often. You should start to see leaves popping out of the soil in a few weeks if everything went right.If you didn’t choose to add soil you can try to plant the seeds directly into pots or in the ground. If you time it out you can let the seeds dry over the winter and put them into the refrigerator 3 months before the frost usually leaves. Cool weather seems to help apple seeds sprout as well. Commercially grown apple varieties are usually grafted to a wild variety rootstock. The wild variety will be hearty and adapted to the local climate. This method not only produces more apples, without grafting, certain varieties wouldn’t be able to grow in certain climates. Grafting allows commercial farmers to produce more varieties in limited opportunity type climates.

This brings another complication into the whole idea of growing cross pollinated apple seeds. You don’t know it the new variety you get will be tolerant to you local climate. The tree might simply die off after a winter or 2.

If you do manage to succeed in starting apple trees from seed don’t forget to protect them from critters. Rabbits and deer like to eat fruit trees, especially young tender ones. Put up some kind of fence for rabbits and use other defenses against deer etc.

Deer, rabbits and other herbivores have also very likely been the culprits of that mystical apple tree that appeared in your field or at your cabin and in those areas that don’t usually get mowed. Animals eat apples and the seeds that pass through these animals can still be viable. I’ve seen many apple trees spring up in my aunt’s horse pasture when I was growing up. We would collect apples from wild trees growing in the woods and feed the scabby ones to her horses in the autumn. The following summer new apple trees would sprout up around the pasture.

A Good time to collect apple seeds is when mom is making an apple pie. Sometimes I eat an apple I think is exceptional and save the seeds. Who knows I might get lucky or I might just have a little fun.

Growing apple trees from commercially grown seeds isn’t really a bad thing. It would make a great project if you are interested in seeing what kind of apples you will get. I suggest starting this project at a young age if you want to see the results though.

Another reason to start apples from seed would be for a science fair project. You could try germinating apple seeds that have been stratified for different periods of time, some that were frozen, some that were never stratified and see which method produced the best results.

Good luck with your apple seeds!

Collecting and growing seeds is one of my many hobbies. Visit my website from more information. Seeds

Eight Steps to a Bountiful Vegetable Garden

admin — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:03:47 +0000

You’ve decided that you want a vegetable garden to lower your grocery bills. But, where do you start? There are eight essential steps to successful vegetable gardening.
Step 1. Pick an appropriate area for your garden. When you choose your site, consider these important factors:
- Sunlight. Most vegetables grow best in full sunlight. Choose an area that gets at least six hours of sunlight a day.
- Soil. The best soil for growing vegetables is a dark soil, rich in nutrients, that has good drainage but will still hold sufficient moisture for the plants. Don’t plant your garden too close to trees and shrubs whose roots will steal nutrients and water from the vegetables.
- Water. Place your garden near your water supply — faucets that can be reached by no more than two hose lengths.
Step 2. Create your site plan. Make a plan before you purchase your seeds or plants. It will help you decide how many you need to buy to best fit the available space. Base your plan on the vegetables that your family likes, how much work you want to do on the garden and how much room there is in the garden. Create a quick sketch to follow while you are planting.
Step 3. Buy your plants and/or seeds. Be sure that the plants you get will grow well in the area where you live. Buy young, healthy plants that are not limp or straggly or that have been over-crowded in pots. On seeds, look at the date stamp on the package to make sure they are not too old.
Step 4. Prepare your soil for planting. This is one of the most important things to do for a successful garden. To prepare the soil, add a layer of compost or fertilizer over the top of the soil. Then till (or spade) this layer into the existing soil. Rake the soil into rows or mounds, depending on the type of vegetables you’ll be planting.
Step 5. Sow your seeds. If some of your vegetables will be planted from seeds, plant them first. Sometimes seeds are started indoors or in a greenouse to give them a good start. When seedlings appear, thin them to the distances recommended on the seed packets.
Step 6. Plant your plants. Plant young plants following the directions given by the plant nursery where you purchased them. Planting times can be tricky. You want to plant early, but not so early as to stunt their growth in cooler weather. Some plants will require netting or wire forms for best results.
Step 7. Care for your growing plants. Once your vegetables are all planted, you need to care for them by watering, weeding, pruning, and protecting them from insects.
Step 8. Harvest your garden. Different vegetables are harvested at different times. Vegetables should be carefully watched and picked at their peak. You may eat them immediately after harvesting or you can freeze or can them for later use.

Jude Wright is an author and avid gardener. Find out how you can have a beautiful and successful garden by going to http://GuideForGardeners.com.

Best Tips On Growing Tomatoes In Cold Waether

admin — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 02:33:35 +0000

One of the biggest enemy of a tomato plant is cold weather. That’s why growing tomatoes in cold climates forces us to choose between the two: greenhouse or indoor garden with fluorescent lights. Either way we need to remember both about the light and the temperature. We will discuss all these issues in this article.

If we live in a colder climate and we are fixated on growing tomatoes in cold weather, then we have to do one of 2 things. We either have to fix up a nice place indoors for them with plenty of light, and the proper temperatures, or we have to install a green house outdoors.

Now, when we talk about greenhouses, we don’t have to be talking about the big expensive kind you see at the local garden centers. Because most of us do not have enough resources or space to install one, we should consider smaller alternatives. Small versions however can be built or even kits found on places such as eBay for less than a hundred dollars, complete.

Among the most important benefits of using a greenhouse is the fact that it protects the plants from both wind and low temperatures. This is probably the best scenario as the plants will be able to take advantage of natural light which is best for them. If that’s not possible however, then perhaps you have some extra space inside the house or even the garage where you can set up your tomato garden.

Just make sure that where ever you put them, they have access to plenty of light. Where sunshine is lacking, fluorescent lights can be used in place of it. The longer the lights can stay on, the better off your plants will be. Then once you have your area set up, simply carry on with your gardening the same way you would normally care for your plants.

Further care of your plants should include feeding them and pruning them back. When the leaves have plenty of room to grow and they aren’t all bunched together, they will produce far more fruits than if left to their own devices. Taking good care of your plant regardless whether it’s growing indoors or outdoors will always help it in producing better quality fruits. You need to make sure that your tomato garden will drain well and your plants will not experience floods or droughts. Water them every day and remember that they like to be moist.

Pawel Kalkus is an internet writer and gardener with 15 years of experience in organic vegetable gardening. If you liked this article on growing tomatoes in cold weather go get your free copy of his “7 Best Tomato Growing Tips” ebook here.

Creating a Garden - It’s All in the Planning

admin — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 02:31:54 +0000

The hardest part about planning a garden is deciding where to begin. Looking out over the vast mound of overgrown shrubs, weeds and cracked concrete, it’s difficult to imagine your yard can be the garden paradise you’ve always dreamed of. It’s as though you’re beginning with a blank canvas, and someone hands you a shovel and says “create”. Before you drop the shovel and walk away in frustration, gather your thoughts, and take yourself through this step-by-step process for planning your garden.Goals & ObjectivesBefore the first seed is planted, you need to think long and hard about your goals for this garden. How do you plan on using it? Will it be for meditation, entertaining, or just a quiet getaway to enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. Take lots of notes; getting your thoughts on paper is the first step towards making them reality. FeaturesWhat features or qualities will your perfect garden have? Perhaps you’d like a casual sitting area, a trellis or pergola, or maybe even a pond. Will it be enclosed? Does it require stairs or stepping stones? Maybe you’ve picked out different plants or looks that you’ve seen in magazines; be sure to keep a running file of these samples. Do you want a particular color scheme, or theme such as a scented garden, herb garden or perennials?Is this a garden you want to enjoy in the winter months? If so, make sure to plant shrubs that look attractive during the colder months and add interest by using bird feeders to attract wildlife. Focal PointDo you have a focal point such as a large tree, gazebo, fountain or other large object that the garden will surround? If so, build around it by finding plants and accessories that complement your focal point. HazardsDetermine what planting zone you live in and what your temperature high’s and low’s are. Do you have deer, rabbits or other wildlife to contend with? Do you have dry or rocky soil that will need to be topped up with additional top soil? Are there any areas that are particularly shady or sunny? I’ve added this next point under Hazards because it is something that can make or break a garden. What type of gardener are you? Do you have a true green thumb, and sincerely enjoy spending hours pulling weeds and tending to your plants? ORDo you initially get excited about planning the garden, scour the stores for just the right plants, and then once the job is complete, lose interest? If you are among this group, you won’t be growing rare orchids. You’ll want to make this new garden as low maintenance as possible, with plenty of hardy drought-resistant varieties and extra layers of landscape fabric. Professional HelpOnce you have the groundwork settled, and recorded on paper, decide whether you’ll be tackling your garden project on your own, or enlisting the help of a landscape architect. Even if you plan on doing the physical work yourself, you may save yourself considerable expense and frustration by getting a designer to give you a consultation. Book a couple of hours of their time and show them around the property, while you record their suggestions for garden design and plantings. For an extra fee they will also draw up a plan listing suggested plants, and locations of new gardens or structures. I can’t emphasize the importance of getting professional input, especially for a large garden or landscaping project. If you have the budget, your designer will draw up an approved plan, purchase the plants and do all the physical work involved in getting the soil ready and planting. If you decide to do it all on your own, do yourself a favor and get some good books on landscaping, and attend a course or two at your local community college or garden centre.

Look for the perfect Austin real estate at NewHomesMarketCenter.com. Explore the various Austin markets to find the area meant for you.

Why Gardening

admin — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 02:19:03 +0000

Gardening is very important due to many factors but few of the things that make it stand out are that it helps you in learning patience and positive thinking. Gardening makes you learn that there are always cases in which you might not able to succeed as you expect. When starting this hobby it is always recommended that you start it from the simplest level and then move further up the advance level simply for the reason that you can not climb a ladder by skipping the steps.

There are many benefits related with this hobby which include health benefits, understand and tend to the needs of nature, contribute to green earth and most of all having fun.

Sometimes life takes so much out of you that at one point it becomes unbearable and you want to find a way out of it. Gardening can be the answer to your prayers. It not only helps you in relaxing but also the absence of stress results in controlling of blood pressure. As a result you will soon feel a major change in yourself. For this reason, many scientists and doctors recommend gardening to their patient as a tonic to their stressful life.

Another aspect of gardening is that you finally come to understand nature. Over the past few decades humans have been steadily ignoring nature and its need. This has resulted in the loss of many rain forests, rare plants and herbs. Those who study nature know this from a fact that nature provides us with cure to almost all diseases in this world. For every sickness there is a plant that has a cure hidden deep inside it. However, due to our negligence we are steadily losing these plants and herbs and thus cure to our many diseases. Being involved in gardening helps us in understanding the plants better and tending to their needs ensure that we will not lose them.

Another importance of gardening can be deducted from the fact that it helps in contributing to keeping the earth green. This is an issue that has become one of the hottest topics of discussion. The main reason behind this is that with the loss of plant earth is facing an increasing threat of pollution, natural disasters, earth quakes, floods etc. Thus gardening helps in spreading awareness among the masses regarding this problem.

In short, gardening is one of the most easiest and relaxing activities. This hobby comes with an added advantage of making you realize your responsibility towards earth as a human being. And being such a low cost activity, anyone can adopt it and play their role in saving earth.

For more information regarding gardening please visit our gardening web site at http://www.gardening-site.net/ .

Why Your Home and Garden Need Bird Control

admin — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 02:15:50 +0000

Why Your Home and Garden Need Bird Control

by Arlene Connolly

Not everyone is aware that more than 60 human diseases are related to birds and their droppings, and some of them can even be fatal to humans. When birds cause damage to your home, they leave ugly stains, cause the structure to deteriorate, and may also lessen the value of your property. In addition, experienced home owners can tell you that the repairs, maintenance and clean-up from their invasions can be quite expensive, and humane bird control provided by Bird-B-Gone is a preventive measure you can take to keep expenses down.

Some reasons for using bird control around your home

Woodpeckers can severely damage wood homes, siding and shingles, and Canada geese can ruin your lawn. (They can also make quite a mess of your property if they are not controlled.) Blackbirds and starlings can eat the fruit and vegetables you cultivate so carefully in order to economize and feed your family well, and the great blue heron will go after the fish in your pond, if you have one.

Pigeons are generally considered to be “the number one bird pest” in America, their numbers are increasing, and their nesting instincts are strong. They usually mate for life, live in communal flocks that travel together, and tend to seek locations where adequate food and shelter can be found. To deter them, try installing a post-and-wire system that also makes a potential landing unstable for seagulls and larger birds.

Taking control of the situation

As you plan your strategy, remember that pest birds can be very determined in finding what they want and need. Since they seek out roosts and nesting places where they will feel comfortable and content, you want to make your home and garden unappealing and unwelcoming to them without causing them any harm. . You should also know that Bird-B-Gone, Inc. sets the standard for modern bird control, their products are humane and easy to install, and they require no maintenance. If pest birds have been returning to your home and garden for many years or the problem you face is especially severe, you will probably want to use a combination of their fine products to solve it and keep the pest birds away.

You can choose from many options for complete bird control

Sound deterrents are often used to ward off starlings, blackbirds, pigeons, woodpeckers and other pest birds. Eventually, they will become used to hearing one repetitious sound, and you will want to select a device that features the sounds of predators and birds in distress with variations. Bird Chase Supersonic uses state-of-the art technology to provide easy volume adjustment, and it is also an inexpensive way to protect your home and garden. The system’s rigid construction makes it resistant to sun and weather, and you can adapt this device to suit your particular needs. It provides the distress calls of 22 types of birds and comes with an internal speaker, you can also connect four external speakers to the system to increase your coverage area up to 6-acres. The Bird Chase Supersonic can be used in your garden to keep pest birds from destroying your precious plants.

Visual Bird Control devices can help do the job

Visual devices are used to repel many types of pest birds, and they must involve movement in order to be effective. For example, The Bird-B-Gone Balloon is an “inflatable scare device” that confuses and deters birds with its lifelike predator markings and eyes they will automatically tend to avoid as they move on to a more favorable location.

The Bird-B-Gone Diverter has an iridescent foil eye to protect your home from birds during the day and a glow-in-the-dark back to keep them away when the sun goes down. You can also use flash tape, made from iridescent red foil, to create what bird control experts call “an optical distraction zone” to do the job. Use the diverter on the sides of your home to scare pest woodpeckers away. They are also ideal to use in trees to keep the pest birds out.

Some devices make it difficult for pest birds to land

Roost inhibitors, which are quite effective in keeping birds away from roofs, beams, ledges and other surfaces, are probably the best-known methods of bird control, and they include spikes and netting. Bird spikes are available from Bird-B- Gone in two varieties and various colors and sizes to suit every need and situation. Made from unbreakable polycarbonate, the plastic bird spikes are extra strong and rigid; also available are marine-grade stainless steel bird spikes. The polyethylene knotted netting in Bird-B-Gone’s product line is a favorite with architects because of its durability in all kinds of weather conditions. It keeps out all species of birds; ideal for use protecting fruit trees and eaves of homes.

The solar bird repeller sweeps birds away with its 5-foot radius rotating “arms”. Birds see the rotating “arms” and go elsewhere to land. It comes with two 2.5-foot telescopic rods, a solar panel that powers the motor, and three AA rechargeable batteries for extended operation during dark periods. The solar bird repeller is great for patios, on patio furniture and boats.

For more information, visit www.birdbgone.com.

Bird-B-Gone Inc. is the leading manufacturer of affordable and effective bird control products.