Thinking of adding a fountain or another water feature to your garden space? Treasure Pott’s garden center has a selection of fountains to choose from. Just ask Charles for help! In the meantime, here is another helpful article from Treasure Pott’s garden center.

The Benefits of Garden Fountains

By Sarah Martin

Remodeling and landscaping have become more popular projects than ever before, as people want to create a living space inside and out that is unique and complementary to their personalities– but it is also a pricey endeavor.

As the economy continues to affect pocketbooks, people have had to be even more creative with their patio and backyard revamping by choosing key pieces to make their space more inviting. Often times even a simple garden fountain (http://www.garden-fountains.com/Detail.bok?no=1070) can change the mood.

Garden fountains and waterfalls are made from a variety of materials such as stone, fiber glass, wood, copper, porcelain, ceramic and concrete.

Water fountains were first used in the Middle East as hieroglyphics on ancient Egyptian tombs have shown researchers. These pictures showed the use of garden fountains in home courtyards. The Mesopotamians used many fountains to decorate their formal gardens.

Romans made use of many outdoor fountains as they were religious about their bathing rituals and enjoyed water features in the gardens mingled with public baths. Fountains have been a place for wishing and have helped people relax as the sound of running water calms the senses.

When landscaping or revamping a yard or patio, there are many options to use depending on the size of the space and the budget available. Flowers, paths, new grass, wood chips, pebbles, sculptures, decorative lanterns and outdoor fireplaces all create a more inviting atmosphere.

Patio water features (http://www.garden-fountains.com/Detail.bok?no=3252) can be placed anywhere around the home and come in a wide range of styles and prices. The sound of moving water is inviting for guests and provides a place to relax after a long day.

Besides the relaxation and beauty, having a garden fountain inside or outside has been found to improve health. The holistic living approach discusses the existence of positive and negative ions in the air.

Positive ions come from things such as T.V.s, computers and microwaves which pollute the air and cause us to become tired and more susceptible to health issues. But water fountains or garden waterfalls release negative ions into the air which naturally purifies and increases energy as well as can help relieve stress and depression.

To care for a garden fountain, you must protect it from the elements. During winter the pump should be brought inside to protect from freezing. All concrete, including cast stone is porous and cold weather can often crack these surfaces.

If a fountain is completely dry in freezing conditions, it will most likely be protected, but if there is any moisture, it is susceptible to cracking. Fiberglass fountains are easier to protect because they are light enough to bring inside.

If possible, place the fountain in an open area so that debris isn’t constantly falling into it. To keep the fountain clean and working well, it is wise to spray it down (including the pump) with a hose every couple months. These simple steps are all you need to preserve your garden fountain for years.

About the Author: Sarah Martin is a freelance marketing writer based out of San Diego, CA. She specializes in gardening, home improvement, and collecting patio water features. For an amazing garden fountain or a selection of garden waterfalls, please visit http://www.garden-fountains.com/.

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=319019&ca=Gardening

Summer’s here! Are you out in your garden? Come to Treasure Potts for more gardening advice from our master gardener, Charles!

In the meantime, here are a few more quick ideas!

Summer Gardening Tips

By Michael McGroarty

Don’t be afraid to trim those flowering shrubs and trees that need it. Failure to prune is probably the biggest gardening mistake a person can make. I spent 20 years landscaping homes and businesses, and I watched people make the investment in my services, then they failed to prune when the plants needed it, and before you know it their landscape looked terrible.

If you make a mistake pruning, don’t worry about it. It’s like a bad haircut, it will grow out. Of course use common sense and read the previous articles that I’ve written on pruning.

Along with summertime comes high humidity. High humidity can cause a lot of problems with the plants in your garden and around your house. One of the simple things you can do is don’t water just before dark. Make sure your plants are nice and dry when you tuck them in for the night and you can cut down on the chance of fungus being a problem.

One of the more common fungi that I get asked about a lot is powdery mildew. This appears as a white film on the leaves of ornamental plants. Dogwoods and Purple Sandcherry are often the victim of powdery mildew. Powdery mildew isn’t extremely harmful to the plants, it’s just that the foliage is damaged, and little growing takes place once it sets in. Your local garden center will have a general fungicide you can spray if you’d like to try and control it. Usually once the plant defoliates in the fall the plant is back to normal.

If you have Perennial Rye Grass in your lawn, and you probably do if you’re in the north, you must be careful not to leave your grass wet at night. There is a fungus known as Pythium Blight that appears in very humid conditions. This fungus attacks and kills perennial rye grasses. Here in the north most of our lawns are a blend of fescues, perennial ryes, and Kentucky Blue Grass.

If you have problems with Pythium blight you will lose the perennial rye grass in large areas of your lawn, and even though the other grasses will still be there and fill in, your lawn will have areas that are much darker green than the rest of the lawn because you will then have concentrations of Kentucky Blue Grass.

You can see this fungus in the early morning. It looks like white cotton candy laying on top of your lawn. It usually appears along walks and driveways where the soil is wet if you have been watering. To prevent Pythium blight water as early in the day as possible.

Another nasty little blight that likes summertime is Fire Blight. Fire Blight attacks ornamentals, especially Apple trees, Crabapple trees, Cotoneasters, and Pyracantha. You know you have Fire Blight when a branch on one of your plants dies and turns almost red. The leaves usually hang on but turn reddish brown. The damage usually starts out near the end of the branch and works its way toward the main stem of the plant. There is little you can do except prune out the affected branch, cutting it as far back as possible.

Fire Blight is very contagious to plants so you should burn the branches you prune out. You should also dip or wash your pruning shears in rubbing alcohol after each cut to keep from spreading this deadly fungus.

Unfortunately, I’ve got one more summertime culprit to warn you about. It’s a handy little fungus that grows in mulch. Actually there are all kinds of fungi that tend to grow in mulches, and most of them are really disgusting looking. But this little gem is unique in the fact that as it grows it tends to swell. Then somehow it manages to explode, and it will spatter your house with tiny brown specks. The experts have appropriately named this one “Shotgun Fungus”. Isn’t that a cute name?

These tiny little brown specks will fly as high as eight feet into the air, and once they stick to your house or windows, they stick like glue. I know that right now there are people hollering across the house at their spouse, “Hey, remember those brown specks all over the house? I know what they are. It’s from the mulch!” Tell me I’m wrong, but I know I’m not.

A lot of people are victims of this nasty little fungus, but they don’t know it. All they know is that there are tiny brown specks on the house that look like paint. So far they have blamed everything from spiders to aliens.

There’s not a lot you can do to prevent this fungus. I have found that if you keep the mulch loose so air can circulate it is less likely to grow fungi. Don’t just keep adding layer after layer to the mulch around your house. You should skip at least every other year and just loosen the mulch you already have down. If you loosen it and then rake it flat it will look like you’ve just mulched. Mulch is great, just don’t let it get packed down hard. Loosen it up at least once a year.

About the Author: Michael J. McGroarty is the author of this article. Visit his most interesting website, http://www.freeplants.com and sign up for his excellent gardening newsletter.

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=17093&ca=Gardening

Greetings Fellow Gardener! Here are just a few tips from Landscape Artist and Owner of Treasure Potts, Charles:

• If you haven’t already done so, it is time to complete your pruning for the season!
• It is now time to add slow release fertilizer to all your perennials, trees and shrubs!

And of course, Treasure Pott’s Garden Center has all your gardening supplies and plant needs, so stop by Fancy Gap and see Charles soon.

For more gardening tips, here’s an interesting article:

Jumpstart The Spring Garden – Gardening Tips For March & April

By John Conti

Snowdrops stand guard over tiny daffodil buds. Daylight is lingering a bit longer. The snow is receding and the robins are returning. The big thaw has begun. There’s no denying the signs. Spring is right around the corner.

If you’re like me, you can’t wait to get your hands into the soil. While you’re holding out for higher temperatures, there’s plenty you can do today to jumpstart the spring gardening season.

Sow Seeds Indoors

Take a trip to your local nursery or home store and buy seeds to start indoors.

In March I like to start annual flowers for my pots and containers. Currently, I have Coleus, Zinnias,

Impatiens, Petunias and Marigolds germinating. Follow the seed packet instructions and you’ll get excellent

results. Some plants will take longer than others to bloom or bear fruit, so plan accordingly. This is also a great time for starting culinary herbs and vegetables. If you’re looking for something new this year, try moonflower vine or cathedral bells to climb your fence or trellis. Both can be started from seed. If you have children, get them involved. Many children have a natural affinity for gardening. It’s a great quality to encourage and nurture in them.

Dust Off The Birdhouses

I put my birdhouses out in early March. Small birds like chickadees will be actively searching for appropriate homes to raise their families. Mine were up for less than 24 hours before the home tours began.

Give Your Garden Tools A Checkup

Take your pruning shears and other cutting tools to your local hardware store for cleaning, oiling and a good sharpening. On a warm day you may want to assess your lawnmower. Take it in for servicing or a tune up now-while you can. Many lawnmower repair centers are swamped shortly after the season starts. It’s one tool you don’t want to be without.

Get Inspired

Order your garden catalogs. Purchase your favorite garden magazines. Here in the northeast, there’s nothing like winter time to remind me how valuable my summer garden space is. Create a wish list of new plants, design features and outdoor furniture. With a little planning, you won’t be overwhelmed when May rolls around.

Seek Out Indoor Gardening Events

In March there are countless indoor garden, flower and landscaping expos. If you can’t find anything in your local area, a day or weekend trip to a flower show might be just what you need. Look for a botanical garden or arboretum with indoor facilities. In my area we have Longwood Gardens. It has year round indoor gardens and the displays are fantastic.

Clean Out Your Beds

As soon as the snow has melted and the weather permits, you can clean out your beds. It’s a good time to rake and clear your planting areas of dead branches, leaves and debris. I like to mulch as soon as possible in the spring, while there’s still plenty of space between the emerging bedding plants.

Learn A Landscape Design Software Program

There are so many inexpensive landscaping software programs available today, many of them under $50.00US. During the winter months you’ll have plenty of time to learn how to operate the system.

Create and sample new designs before digging. Take advantage of the overhead and 360 degree views. Many of the programs now offer a 3D walk through feature. It simulates the experience of walking through an actual garden. You can also advance the garden timeline into the future to see what it will look like when the plants and trees mature. It’s a wonderful creative tool to beat the winter blues!

Call Your Landscaper Now

If you’re planning to use a professional landscaper this year, make sure to schedule your work as far in advance as possible. When the ground is soft enough for digging, landscapers will be working overtime to keep up with the volume.

Book Your Garden Tours Now

Scour the internet for local and regional garden tours. Find out when tickets go on sale and plan ahead.

I’ve often read announcement lists in the newspaper after I’ve already made other plans. There’s nothing like

visiting other people’s gardens for encouragement and inspiration.

I hope these suggestions get you motivated to take action. The sooner you get started on your garden plans-the more time you’ll have to enjoy the rest of the season. Happy Gardening!

© 2007 John Conti

About the Author: John Conti is a landscaper and publisher of http://Stellasyard.com | The Soulful Garden. Visit his web
site for how to articles, advice and free design plans. Beginners are welcome.
http://stellasyard.com

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=134584&ca=Gardening

Winter official begins in less than a week! Is your garden ready for it’s winter look?

How to Create a Winter Garden

By John Schofield

Winter-flowering plants are invaluable for brightening the so-called dull season of the year. Winter-brightening shrubs and trees with colorful barks and stems look superb on their own, but when other plants are positioned around them, their season is extended and the display improved. Here are a few combinations of plants that will bring added cheer to your garden.

Associations for early winter

With the richly-colored leaves of autumn a blurred memory, color in a winter garden is always welcome. For an unusual combination of white and purple – which is especially attractive in the low and fading light of a winter afternoon – plant the deciduous tree Satixdaphnoides (violet willow) near a group of silver birches. Prune young shoots of the willow hard back in early spring to encourage the growth of colorful stems for the following winter.

Try a combination of Hamamelis mollis ‘Pallida’ (Chinese witch hazel), with pale yellow flowers faintly flushed claret-red at their centres, with a grouping of Erica carnea ‘King George’ planted in front. The rose-pink flowers of the erica associate well with the outstandingly beautiful flowers of the hamamelis, which are borne on leafless branches. Train Jasminum nudiflorum (winter-flowering jasmine) against a north-facing wall and plant Erica carnea ‘King George’ in front.

Plan a winter-flowering border

Easy access and direct viewing are most desirable when planning a winter-flowering garden. Borders are best positioned beside a patio or in a secluded but accessible corner, and if a garden seat is placed near the plants it makes them an even greater asset to the garden.

Associations for mid-winter

Once Christmas has passed and the days begin to lengthen once more, the garden becomes a place of increasing cheer. Plant the evergreen Helleborus niger (Christmas rose), bearing saucer-shaped white flowers, with white- or pink-flowered winter-flowering ericas (Ericd carnea) in front of it. Use varieties such as ‘Springwood Pink’ (rich pink), ‘Springwood White’ (white) or ‘Winter Beauty’ (rich pink). Grow the yellow-flowered Jasminum nudiflorum (winter-flowering jasmine) on a north-facing wall with a rose-pink form of the evergreen shrub Camellia sasanqua in front.

Plant the bulbous and purple-flowering Crocus imperati beneath Hamamelis mollis (Chinese witch hazel). It creates an attractive combination of purple and golden-yellow. This crocus naturalizes well in grass, but a large number of them are needed to create a dominant display.

Associations for late winter

With winter’s worst weather fading and spring waiting to break, this is an exciting and bright time in the garden. In some areas, however, the perfidious nature of weather slows things up, and some of these combinations of plants will appear in early spring, rather than late winter.

- The tuberous-rooted Eranthis hyemalis (winter aconite), with its lemon-yellow flowers, is ideal for planting under silver birches.

- Naturalize the bulbous Crocus chrysanthus in large drifts under silver birches.

- Plant Primula ‘Wanda’, with dark red-purple flowers, around Rhododendron x praecox, which reveals rose-purple flowers.

- Plant the bulbous, bright royal-blue Iris histrioides in front of the late winter or early spring-flowering Forsythia suspensa, which reveals bright yellow, pendulous flowers. The forsythia is ideal for planting against a sunny wall, which encourages earlier flowering.

- For a plant combination in a woodland garden, try a white-flowered form of the bulbous Erythronium dens-canis (dog’s-tooth violet) with the deep-blue and bulbous Scilla bifolia. Plant each in dominant clumps.

The winter-flowering jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum) offers a colorful background to other plants throughout much of winter, and none is more deserving than the well-known Rhododendron ‘Christmas Cheer’, which we are now instructed to call ‘Ima-shojo’. It has blush-pink flowers that last longer in cool, partial shade than strong sunlight, and combine perfectly with the yellow of the jasmine.

About the Author: Folding doors

Folding patio doors

Sliding folding doors

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=918630&ca=Advice