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May 18, 2013

How To Fight A Devastating Disease Garden

The rust is a fungal disease that occurs primarily in the leaves of different plants species ranging from garden to fruit trees, which readily detectable symptoms and can be prevented and combated with a variety of chemical and natural resources.

Generally, and especially in the garden plants, the rust is usually manifested through small bumps clustered reddish spores, orange or brown on the back (bottom) of the leaf, but also often appear on stems as blistering yellow orange or dark brown.


How To Fight A Devastating Disease Garden


Once this disease appears, and if you do not take measures to stop its effects, the plant loses foliage weakens and dies.

Hence the importance of conducting a regular monitoring of the plants that adorn your garden, so early detection of the presence of these fungi, as well as take some prophylactic measures to prevent its growth.

Since the cure of leaves affected by rust is very difficult, it is best to reduce the risk of infection by excess moisture, hence it is advisable to place the plants well apart to allow better ventilation and avoid irrigation systems by spraying or fogging, since they moisten the leaves too much, creating optimal conditions for the growth of fungi.

It is also desirable to have good drainage to avoid creating a damp, warm and stagnant which may favor the onset of rust.
How To Fight A Devastating Disease Garden

This sunflower evidences the ravages of rust. (Photo: Howard F. Schwartz / Colorado State University)

Natural chemicals to fight disease

In the field of chemical resources against rust can be used as preventive spraying with fungicides such as Triforine or oxycarboxin, which also have curative action (in early stages) and can be sprayed in small quantities and with less precision as the plant itself is responsible for absorbing and distributing sap.

For products with oxycarboxin has to be careful not to overdo your application because leftovers can fall into the ground and be absorbed by the roots, causing the appearance of chlorotic (yellow) in the leaves of some species of flowers.

To prevent rust you may also resort to application of copper sulphate, either mixed with ammonium hydroxide as Bordeaux mixture and ammonium carbonate as Compound Nuez.

For those who prefer more natural methods to combat this disease, there is the option of "organic fungicides," such as horsetail tea or chamomile.

Decoction horsetail (Equisetum Arvense) is prepared by macerating one kilogram of fresh plant in 10 liters of water, allowed to settle and then applied to the soil and plants. As chamomile, it is advisable to soak 250 grams of flowers in a quart of water, let stand and apply.

To prevent the spread of rust, it is also necessary to burn the leaves, stems and branches infected.

Pond Water Lilies: Varieties And Care

The water lilies are aquatic plants that are characterized by their delicate appearance, the beauty of its large flowers and ease of cultivation. Another distinctive feature of these examples is the large number of species and varieties that presents (about 1700), of which at least seventy are the most used and recommended for growing in garden ponds.


Pond Water Lilies Varieties And Care


The first thing to clarify is that the term lily is used to cover the plants from at least three different families, although the most recognized them by that name is that of the Nymphaeaceae, which are the most used in gardening.

The lilies most recommended for cultivation in ponds are:

White water lily or Nymphaea alba: Also known as white lotus, or water lily white nymph, is one of the most popular species and is characterized by heart-shaped leaves and rounded, and because its white flowers with many stamens can reach a size large (up to 30cm).

Mexican or Mexican Nymphaea Water Lily: It has flowers of a strong yellow color and small leaves with different shades of green and tiny spots.

Pond Water Lilies Varieties And Care

Nymphaea Blue Beauty is a commercial tropical hybrid with huge, fragrant starry flowers of a dark blue petals and sepals pale blue. This plant is very sensitive to low temperatures.

Nymphaea Escarboucle: This lily is very resistant to frost and can reach a maximum height of 10 cm. Its foliage is green during most of the year and cups shaped flowers semi-double orange and red colors look dark in the summer.
Pond Water Lilies Varieties And Care

Nymphaea Pygmaea helvola:  It is a lily model with dark green rounded leaves with purple veins and flowers cup-shaped fragrant yellow and sulfur than 5 centimeters in diameter, with orange stamens. Although it has some resistance to cold, protection is recommended during winter.

Pond Water Lilies Varieties And Care

Other commercial species of water lilies that stand up well to the onslaught of frost are the James Brydon, Rose Arey, Sunrise, Pygmaea Rubra, Ambilis, Lucida, etc..

 Cultivation and Care

The lilies grow easily in calm water and full sun, but often require more care than other aquatic plants. It is advisable to grow water lilies in pots with small holes all over its surface and fertilized soil without elements that float easily and can get dirty pond water once the emplace in the water.

When placed in the pond, care must be taken not to damage the delicate roots because it can kill the plant.

Another thing to consider is that during the growing season should be fed every certain period of time with a fertilizer water, because the water lilies require large amounts of nutrients for their development.

To further stimulate blooms while avoiding contamination of the pond (which can be fatal to these plants), it is advisable to remove the dead flowers or are deteriorating, and prune the yellow leaves regularly.

Cultivation, Care And Maintenance Of The Bamboo

Humans have used and still use today bamboo with varied and numerous purpose and today in particular, have become popular as decorative plants inside or outside. There are more than 1,500 varieties of bamboo, so the first step is to find out which is the variety that best fits your needs and climate and soil type where you live.

Cultivation Care And Maintenance Of The Bamboo


Stores sell a variety known as lucky bamboo but we must warn you that this is not a bamboo, but a type of lily of the Dracaena family. The variety Bambusa vulgaris is the most widespread in the world for indoor and outdoor planting, due to its adaptability to different climates and requirement of low maintenance. But it takes a lot of light naturally, so if you plant indoors should be near large windows. In continental areas withstands temperatures of -18 ° C and the ocean refuses to -23 degree C. You can check in a nursery in your city if it is the best choice or variety but what is the best there is in your area.

Cultivation Care And Maintenance Of The Bamboo

The first thing to consider is that it is very easy to get seeds of these plants. This is because they are flowering grasses with long periods (many years) and as the flower is essential for seed, best alternative solution. Also, once planted the seeds can take up to seven years to sprout, so the best is to get suckers to plant.

The bamboo needs a moist soil, but relatively well drained. Particularly preferred acid tendency neutral grounds, but others resist in limestone terrain. The soil should, however, have some fertility novel. If not, we regularly provide manure. In the beginning, all bamboos appreciate shaded sites, but as they grow prefer more sunlight. That is why the bamboos tend to grow faster: to go towards the light.

During transplantation, add hood 25 cm diameter fertilizer granules for green plants. Spray the foliage twice a week.
Cultivation Care And Maintenance Of The Bamboo

In summer we water thoroughly. Young bamboo shoots finished their growth, but the plant needs water to ensure the rhizomes vegetation and accumulation of reserves to ensure the output of shoots the following year. A regular maintenance is recommended at least once a year, or even twice, once in September and again in February.

In winter clean species exceeding 3 m. Three types are cut stems must either ax or hacksaw: those that have declined over the course of the year, have been resected from the top to the bottom or are devoid of leaves, misshapen, unsightly or too rickety, and that can be exploited, for 3 or 4 years old, hard enough. In late winter you can reap the dwarf bamboo floor level.

Lavender: Cultivation, Irrigation And Care

The lavender is a subshrub possessing great strength, an attractive color and a delicious aroma, which is widely used to beautify gardens and planters as well as being known as a plant with numerous medicinal properties. 

lavender is widely used to beautify gardens and planters as well as being known as a plant with numerous medicinal properties


While lavender rustic belongs to a genre that fits well with any structure of soil, grows best in well loose substrates, calcareous, sandy, dry, with an average content of organic matter. There needs to be a good drainage to prevent puddles that can affect their growth and even rot the roots. Hence also recommend not grow it in places where heavy rains are recorded.

Lavender Cultivation

As for the ideal time to plant lavender, should be considered first if you want to work with multiplication by seeds or by cuttings (cuttings). In the first case, seed is usually planted in early spring, and transplanted in the fall or winter, once it has sprouted and grown a little.

When you decide to get a new plant lavender from a wedge, the ideal time to separate the desired branch is at the end of summer when the process has finished flowering.

Notably, it corresponds to a genre of warm and temperate climates, the different species of lavender will grow much better are exposed to a significant dose of sunlight.

The lavender is a subshrub possessing great strength, an attractive color and a delicious aroma

Irrigation of Lavender

In terms of irrigation, the plant does not need much water, but to take better advantage of this aromatic water it is usually recommended once a week. In the case of the specimens placed in flower pots, you should increase this share a little liquid element during the summer season.

Although lavender has a high resistance to environmental factors, it is desirable to avoid the presence of weeds that could interfere with normal crop growth.

Caring tips for Lavender

This can be achieved by plowing land surface once in early spring, removing the ground at least twice after the harvest of flowers, and one in winter. This task also allows aerate and fluff the soil, helping to prevent the onset of certain diseases affecting these plants, including roots and certain fungi called "sadness of lavender ".

Regarding pruning, usually recommended cut lavender about 20 cm after flowering to bring a new sound and to present a pleasantly compact appearance while growing in the winter season.

Aug 27, 2012

Garden Pests: How to Combat the Red Spider


The infestation of spider mites is perhaps one of the most difficult pests to control. There are many homemade tricks to eliminate spider mites but if we are not consistent in the application of these, most likely will not have the desired success.

Garden Pests: How to Combat the Red Spider


To combat the red spider is necessary preventive treatments and some more specific. Once we removed the red spider should continue as a preventative treatment may reappear.

If we talk about natural methods, the potassium soap is one of these. You can get at any drugstore or market with different levels of concentration. This product works by drying up the body of the spider mites and preventing reproduction.

But it is clear that the spider mite is a pest very difficult to combat. The homemade tricks sometimes have no effect because it requires perseverance, time and patience that sometimes we do not. In these cases, the best is a chemical pesticide to end them quickly and effectively.

What are some of the chemical pesticides to combat the red spider?

The chemical acaricides any brand are effective. Those containing chemicals like abamectin, Clofentazina, Propargite have proven very useful. Chemical is better than in powder because spiders are placed and played in places inaccessible to liquids.

Something that can strengthen the procedure is to use these chemicals with others of a more naturally as the slurry Ortigas, garlic with water or alcohol and more manual and remove affected leaves and spider mites.

After elimination of this scourge must start with a preventative treatment to keep coming back. For example, something that does not like red spider is moisture so spray the plant with water especially in the leaves that is where spider mites, this will not play.

Weeding is another effective method to eliminate spider mites. This should be done periodically, if necessary, every day to prevent the formation of colonies on these weeds.

Finally, prepare eats insects mites is another means used by many nurseries and greenhouses. One of these insects is the six-legged Tryps. These spider mites eat thus achieving the elimination of this.

In the war against pests anything goes. So here we gave you some ideas to go testing the best way to combat the red spider.

Garden Pests: How to Combat Slugs and Snails

As your garden is a special place, you want to keep it free of pests and insects that damage. One of these garden pests are slugs and snails. In virtually no time, slugs and snails can ruin a crop or crop.
That being the case then how can you combat slugs and snails? Is there an effective remedy for success? Here we have some methods.

Garden Pests: How to Combat Slugs and Snails


One of these methods to combat slugs and snails is to put a liquid bait. For example, you can fill a small container with water or beer. The beer is quite effective as the smell of this attract slugs and snails. When approaching these fall into the small bowl and drown.

Another method, a little more dangerous because of its toxicity, is making piles of active as metaldehyde throughout the garden. This will make the snails out and want to eat it approached, causing death within a few days. If there are children at home, we must take special care not to leave the garden because this ingredient can be lethal.

Using yeast is ideal for combating slugs and snails love this item as these. You have to prepare a bottle deep enough for snails (maybe one of jam) and place in warm water, sugar and yeast. Then they dig holes in the garden and buried the jars prepared with yeast. Slugs and snails will go directly to the trap. Every day should be reviewed and throw slugs and snails that have been trapped. Every so this preparation should be replaced as moisture, heat and other external agents can ruin it.

Finally you can put cabbage leaves around the plants with some poison for slugs and snails to go there that are eliminated.

There is also a method that does not require any money but more effort: remove snails and slugs by hand. To this must be checked each day as they tend to reproduce rapidly. The snails are edible, meaning they can be eaten and many say they are delicious and highly nutritious. If you dare, you can gather them and throw them in the pot.

Garden pests can cause damage to crops, flowers and any type of planting but these pests can be controlled. Slugs and snails are perhaps one of the easiest to combat pests but why not be trusted.

Jul 26, 2012

Five Tricks to Pamper your Plants


Plants are living things and as such also need pampering, i.e. special care and attention. All plants are indoor or outdoor need basic care but there are some plants that need a more personalized care. In this short article we will discuss five tricks to pamper your plants and they are beautiful and healthy forever.

Five Tricks to Pamper your Plants


The first point has to do with the care of the leaves. Although the land of your plants is well paid, it is inevitable that sometimes part of the leaves exhibit an impaired or even withered hand. In this case this part must be cut from the sheet and keep it away from the floor as it can attract various types of pests.

The second point relates to the use of nutrients. Do not settle only with water your plants regularly but every so often you fertilize the soil with at least three essential nutrients: nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. These nutrients will give your plants strength and endurance and will also provide the necessary energy to grow more green leaves and strong.

With the arrival of spring you have to take a walk at your plants. This is the third trick to pamper your plants. After having had inside all winter, spring must help them adapt to the outside. For this, you need them outside for two hours and then enter them each week and an hour increase the stay abroad. Thus, the plants can be tailored to the sun and spring air.

The fourth point is to take care of your plants from pests such as slugs, snails and aphids. For this, it is highly recommended that you review always well your plants as the stems and leaves and if you have the assurance that pests can attack your plants take preventive measures. It is best to use natural tricks to combat pests because chemicals can eliminate the pest but also harm your plants.

Finally, as a fifth point, many recommend talking to plants and even set them to music. Although not proven the effectiveness of these methods, it does not hurt to try. Many recommend even put together several plants because plants grow more and better if they are accompanied or group. An isolated plant does not grow in the same way as if the plant is with other plants. So instead of having a single plant begins to grow more.
If you want to enjoy a beautiful garden or have your beautiful houseplants never stop applying these five tricks to pamper your plants.

Jul 10, 2012

The Benefits of Using a Garden Calendar

If you have a beautiful garden or started a project, ideally things easier with a garden calendar. User can bring several benefits. What constitutes a calendar of garden? And what benefits we have to use one?

The garden calendars is a schedule of activities and care to develop in the garden according to time of year, i.e. spring, summer, autumn and winter. This schedule indicates what actions need to be developed, as pruning, planting, harvesting and more. Month to month, the garden calendar shows the basic actions that you must perform to your garden to transform in a beautiful place, care and pest free.

The Benefits of Using a Garden Calendar


The garden calendar has activities to do in a garden, flower garden, indoor plants and trees and shrubs. Each month, detailing the actions to be taken. For example, the garden calendar for May indicates that can grow dahlias, lilies and Calas, among others. They should be watered every day in the morning and once in a while you have to fertilize the soil with compost. Every fortnight, to be blunt flowers and some ideas to remove pests such as aphids, spider mites and other insects typical of the era. All this is perfectly described in the garden calendar.

So what benefits you can get from using a garden calendar? For starters, you will never be wrong in planting time or harvest, you know very well how to repel certain pests and when and how you prune.
If you have a garden or indoor plants it can also benefit from the garden calendar. Especially at the beginning, when you first started to dabble in the garden there are many things you do not know and learn from experience. That's where your garden calendar will serve as a guide for your plants to grow well.

What happens if you live in the hemisphere opposite the garden calendar? Just take as a parameter the seasons and follow the instructions. If the calendar says spring starts in March, you know that in the southern hemisphere begins in September.

Where can you get a schedule of garden? There are many websites where you can download and print. One of these sites is Garden Calendar where you can find the schedule for each month and download it to your computer to consult it whenever it takes until you know it by heart.

Jun 11, 2012

Lettuce: crop, soil and irrigation


The cultivation of the lettuce crop is perhaps the most storied in humanity. It is believed that the Egyptians were the first to cultivate more than 2500 years. Today, long time later it is still a favorite crop because the lettuce is one of the foods used daily.



Although lettuce can be cooked, you usually eat the lettuce fresh and raw. It is a fresh food that is used primarily in summer and is a crop very easy to make at home. What ideas and suggestions you have in mind when growing lettuce?

Being of short roots, the lettuce does not require a soil very deep. It grows in a wide variety of soils and need warm temperatures to develop successfully. Very high temperatures prevent germination. Lettuce needs to be marked differences in temperature between day and night, 15 to 20 degrees during the day and less than 10 degrees at night. This temperature difference helps the growing of lettuce to develop optimally.

The lettuce crop tolerant to low temperatures that high in the summer so be careful that they do not glean as if temperatures exceed 25 degrees can certainly glean, leading to very bitter leaves.

The lettuce does not tolerate drought, even though this last bit. Excessive moisture is also a problem. Ideally the moisture percentage is 50%. That is why it is more advisable to cultivate lettuce outdoors where there is less moisture in winter patio where humidity is very concentrated.

The irrigation is also important to keep the soil moist but remember not to be excessive. The best system of irrigation in this case is drip because it maintains the balanced moisture levels. The irrigation will do more damage to the crop of lettuce is the hose as the sun will burn the leaves of lettuce that are wet with water.

Ideally, the lettuce crop is developed in full light in the sun. Sunlight is highly recommended for this crop to develop normally.

Also planted in the ground, can be grown in pots also with the same care that a plantation on the floor. Always remove weeds that may grow around.

With these practical ideas in mind, it's time to grow lettuce, a food with many benefits.

Chicory crop, soil, irrigation and harvesting


The chicory is ideal for salads when you are on a diet or simply want to improve the quality of your food. It is more bitter than lettuce and cabbage but has incredible benefits for the body.
Whenever you can, it is best to grow your own food you eat and the chicory is no exception; so we give you some ideas and suggestions for the cultivation of chicory.


First, note that is not the same plant chicory for domestic use to industrial use. Care may vary although the requirements for the crop to grow are very similar.

Relative to the ground, there are not many specific requirements, however as the chicory root is a plant it is best that the soil is deep for the root garment well. The soil may be alkaline or slightly acid and chicory will tolerate, however can not withstand excessive moisture so that soils where puddles of water are not the most convenient.

This is a plant that withstands drought but of course not so excessive. You have to water it regularly and remove weeds that may form around. It is not necessary to fertilize the soil periodically as it is resistant to many types of soil provided they are deep.

The Chicory can live up to two years and if the care with diligence may last a little longer. This plant is cold care. During the summer he will be convenient to water it more regularly especially if what is sought is to harvest the leaves of this, which are used for salads.

If the objective of growing chicory is to use the root, so it is necessary to regulate mowing blades so that the leaf development is not so fast.

The chicory plant is very resistant to wind, low temperatures and drought. The best place to plant it where there is sun but can tolerate very well shaded areas. The best type of irrigation for the cultivation of chicory is because you need to drip water moderately and not resist moisture or ponding water.

When can be collected chicory plant? In autumn the whole plant can be harvested along with the root. If you want only the leaves, these should be collected in summer and allow to dry the leaves in a dry place, preferably in glass containers. Once dry, they are ready to eat.

Ideas for designing a Mediterranean garden


A Mediterranean garden is one that is adapted to soil and Mediterranean climate characterized by hot days, winters not as strong, some drought period and plants with a very strong aroma. It is not the same as a xeriscape which optimizes water use to a minimum, rather it is a garden adapted to the Mediterranean climate. Spain, Italy, Greece, Morocco are among the countries taking the lead in Mediterranean gardens because in these places this climate prevails.



It is true that this type of garden design is to live in a Mediterranean climate or at least a lot like this climate. What characterized the Mediterranean garden and What species can be planted in this kind of garden?

The most important elements of a Mediterranean garden are lush trees and flowers and plants brightly colored and very aromatic. It is also common to create some space where there are rock gardens herbs such as Lavender, Rosemary and Thyme. The aroma and color are two essential elements of a Mediterranean garden.

What kind of trees can be planted in a Mediterranean garden? The pines are ideal for this type of garden. They are also typical of such gardens Palms, olive and fig trees. Besides having a beautiful appearance with a delicious aroma. Ideally, leafy shade are to have a strictly Mediterranean style.

The species of plants can be grown in a Mediterranean garden are carnations, lilies, jasmine, oleander and others. These plants are summer, easy to maintain and do not need as much water as other species. Remember to plant species must be resistant to heat and direct sunlight, since that is the main characteristic of the Mediterranean climate.

Mediterranean gardens are colorful and attractive so it is good to include items such as brightly colored pots, mosaic paths with attractive designs. If you design a space with pebbles can paint the stones of different colors or with colors that blend with the rest of the garden or house such as doors, windows and even the tiles.

Given these two premises of the Mediterranean garden: colors and delicious aromas more suggestions on what to plant species may be, the rest is left to his ingenuity and imagination. Make every effort to design a Mediterranean garden and have the most original garden throughout the area.

How to design a xeriscape

A xeriscape gardening is a concept born in the 70s in United States. Gardens where it is not used much water and hence are planted species that do not require water. The prefix "Xero" meaning "dry" and said the United States is born as a result of severe drought that hit the area in the 70's.



This idea of ​​garden scattered around various parts of the world, especially in dry climates and desert and now has reached places where water is abundant but is presented as a kind of innovative and original garden.

The xeriscape needs a quarter of what you need a conventional garden so water conservation is widely significant. Furthermore, this type of garden has an ecological and advocating a reduced use of machinery, fuel and other typical processes of maintaining a garden.

What to consider in designing a xeriscape?

Most important is the design of the grouping of plants. Species should be grouped depending on the amount of water they need. You can not put a plant that needs plenty of water along with one that does not need much. Then divide your garden into three: the area of low water, where they would plant low water consumption, half the area of consumption and high consumption. Or to further reduce water consumption can be made ​​only two zones: the low power consumption and a half.

In the xeriscape plan should some types of trees that function as shadows for certain types of plant and thus to guard against just because of this direct action on the plants can dehydrate. Once you have your xeriscape design according to the size and surface of the need to start working the soil.

You should measure the pH and raise or lower according to measurement results. In addition, you must verify that the soil has the nutrients so that it may be necessary to use certain types of fertilizer. Also check the salinity of soil and plant species to withstand this type of soil. To improve soil xeriscape hidroretentores is useful to have products that are placed on the ground and absorb rain water leaving the wet ground longer.


What species can be used for planting in the xeriscape?

To cite just a few, Palms, Tamariscos, Ligustrines, climbing plants, Aloe Vera, Acacias in the case of trees, among others.
The xeriscape is a very interesting alternative and your home and it will be very original.

Cultivation of sage: ideas and care tips

Salvia belongs to the family of aromatic herbs, in fact you could say that is the Queen of the plant aromatic. The Romans called it sacred or holy grass. If you enjoy growing plants and plants used to flavor dishes, you should not ignore the culture of Salvia.



Here are some ideas and suggestions for successfully cultivate sage and will last you a long time. They can grow along with other herbs which will give a beautiful fragrance to your garden or patio. You can also grow them in pots, but these should be large and wide to take root. About 30 inches is sufficient.

If your goal is to plant and Salvia on the floor, this plant is very adaptable to any type of soil. However, being a Mediterranean plant usually live well on dry, calcareous, well exposed to nature.

You Salvia plant in rows 20 inches apart from a cutting or plant from another. And rows must be about 70 centimeters from each other. You can take care of the land where the sage is growing weed. You can use chemical weed control without vestments to ruin the planting of Salvia. The Dicamba or bentazon are some of these chemicals that can be used without fear. It is also important to fertilize the soil with manure to provide potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus in abundance for the Salvia grow better and stronger. If the winter is severe, while harvesting sage can add more nitrogen to relieve the earth of the scourge of the bad season.

Irrigation should not be too abundant, should be light but frequent and must be exposed to light but is better than just not give directly. If you put the pot inside better be near a window where between bright and if you place it on garden and patio or better which is under half shade so the sun does not harm the Salvia.

If the sage is grown inside and insects approach usually sufficient watering and water remove these bugs. However if this fails you can try passing a sponge or cotton soaked in alcohol. This will make the water the plant, water to remove insects from your sage.

Follow these tips and you can enjoy the excellent properties of Salvia.

May 18, 2012

Garden watering systems


Every garden needs a good watering for the plants, flowers and trees look beautiful, healthy and strong. Now what is the best irrigation system for your garden? There are many irrigation systems are efficient but when choosing one or more of a need to take into account the characteristics of the garden.



What are the most efficient irrigation systems? What to consider when choosing a method of irrigation for your garden?

Sprinkling: This type of irrigation is ideal for large gardens, ample surface as the water reaches up to 6 meters. It is a simple irrigation system it can be placed at the end of the hose and go moving on the place where you want to go. Irrigation method is economical, does not need many amenities and very effective.


Drip Irrigation:   This method is very effective especially if your garden is small and has few plants. It is also useful for people who are not much at home and need your garden in good condition. The drip irrigation system consists of water each plant droppers applying localized manner on each of the plants. The drippers are built cheaper and dropper auto compensates button. This method has the advantage that it saves water and soil moisture is maintained constant thereby avoiding puddles which damage crops.


Subsurface irrigation: The underground irrigation is a modern method being implemented in many parts of the world. These pipes installed below the ground from 10 to 50 centimeters. This is an innovative irrigation system has several advantages such as high durability of the pipes because they are not directly exposed to the sun, is a more aesthetic type of irrigation and prevents odors.


Irrigation distribution: This type of irrigation is similar to sprinkler irrigation but are smaller broadcasters. Is ideal for small gardens because, depending on the size of the diffuser and the water pressure to strip water 3 or 4 meters.


Irrigation hose: This is the most common irrigation system. Although it has some disadvantages such as uneven watering and excessive consumption of water, many people find it relaxing to be watering. It's like the time off throughout the day.




There are other more innovative irrigation systems that are being implemented recently in some European countries such as surface irrigation blanket consisting of polyethylene pipes and pressure compensating drippers are two blankets. The drippers are intended to saturate the water and blankets are to provide moisture to the roots. This blanket can be placed for irrigation on land or within it.

Now that you know of different irrigation systems, it is time to consider an effective one for your garden and crops so that they can save water while having your garden waterfall.

May 16, 2012

How to avoid a saline soil


The saline soils, especially those extremely saline soils are not good for cultivation. Too much salt can harm our crops and plantations. So the question is Can you avoid a saline soil? Let alone how to prevent saline soils?



The answers are simple: yes you can avoid a saline soil. It's about taking some preventive measures to gradually phase out the salt and the time of culture must also take some remedial measures.

The best way to prevent ground water is saline. It is known that in areas with abundant rainfall, soils are considerably less saline. If you do not live in rainy areas we constantly watering or create a constant risk system that does not depend solely on rainfall.

Another method is to plant species and fertilize the soil is to plant species as this keeps the soil hydrophysical conditions. The plants and crops, especially those who need plenty of water are ideal for reducing soil salinity. In fact, in those saline soils where no vegetation recovery is very difficult, almost impossible.

Use mulch or straw to cover the saline soil is another way to prevent soil moisture from evaporating and thus the increase in salinity.

It is good to improve the drainage in saline soils by continuous and deep tilling and fertilizing the time. This will allow the irrigation water or rainwater to penetrate deeper and thus wash the floor and drag the salts.

It's good to keep away from saline soils to prevent cattle and pastoraje. This can further soil salinity so it is always better to keep animals away from where we want to reduce soil salinity.

Note that not all salts are equal. Some are easier to wash as sodium chloride while others such as magnesium chloride and magnesium sulfate are more difficult and takes longer reducing their level. In the latter case, the best thing is that after adding calcium watered down in order to balance the soil and help prevent soil salinity to have more and better crops.

Avoid saline soils requires time, effort and ingenuity but hardly worth starting to see the results: lush vegetation, beautiful plants and crops that are the pride of the area.

Apr 26, 2012

Methods for cleaning up the lavender


During the off time of flowering of lavender that has some characteristics that must be corrected. One is that the lavender is dry the spine of the flower, therefore it is essential to restore, but how?



If lavender is planted along a hedge, it is important to prune the tips of this plant so that the entire hedge of Lavender is exactly the same height. It can be cut sides of the fence of lavender to make it more rounded shape. In fact, until the desired shape may be given to the hedge of Lavender: square, round, leaving the high or low hedge. There are no rules as to stabilize the Lavender. Most importantly, regardless of form is to remove the thorn from the flower and, at the end of the flowering season is very dry.

Creating a rain garden to save water

You have probably heard about a rain garden but do not know exactly what it is or how to create one. Rain gardens are excellent options to save water and leverage rainwater flows that target soils that are lower than normal level, as shown in the picture.



In this article you will know how to plan a rain garden and what type of plants you can plant there so that these do not die from excessive moisture.

A rain garden is like any other garden but with some caveats. First you must choose the place well. The place must be one whose soil has good drainage so that rainwater does not get stagnant. It must also be in a place where rain comes as a stream for example the side of a street, sidewalk, at the entrance of the house among others. So that the rainwater comes well to your garden this must be located downhill compared with a high surface. To begin the design of the rain garden you can choose a place in your yard. If not there maybe you can dig a little to achieve a lower floor and make a channel that reaches the rain garden area. Try to start in the garden is small, although a rain garden can be any size.

Apr 4, 2012

How to decorate an indoor terrarium


The terrariums are great ideas for decorating your home and give a natural tone. You may not have much space in your home for a garden but need to give a bit of green living environment. If that is the case, the best are the terrarium.



What are the terrarium? And how can we decorate it?

The terrariums are like little greenhouses with tropical ambient conditions: a warm temperature, high humidity, making it possible that inside they develop different types of plants.

How can you build a terrarium?

You can send to make a glass box in the style tank. The measures depend on the space you have, but a standard would be 50 x 25 x 30 (A capacity of approximately 5 listros) Place aquarium based records, land fertilized and some universal substrate to get around 5 to 7 centimeters. You can also put colored stones to give a more ornamental.

What species of plants can grow in the terrarium?

There are many and varied, but must take into account the type of soil you have. For example, if you want to put cactus, it is best to keep the terrarium sand and earth, but if you want to grow plants and herbs is the best dirt and gravel. Moss along with the land is also a good basis for lichens and small herbs. The species should be small and high resistance to moisture. Examples of species that can be used are: Ivy, Orchids, Begonias, Ferns, marantas among others.

The terrarium should be ventilated, must be illuminated but shall not be exposed to direct sunlight, as this can burn the plants. Maybe you can put a special lamp type Flora-glo or something similar. In order that excessive moisture does not rot the plants, especially because the cage has no drainage, charcoal can be placed.

To retain the moisture and not dry, it is best to spray with water the terrarium, but without wetting the plants is simply to add moisture which is the basis of the terrarium.

To maintain terarrio, it should be noted that every two weeks is necessary to check the level of moisture and the plants removed yellow and dry. It is also advisable to prune some plants do not grow too much.
All these ideas will help you have a beautiful and well decorated terrarium. Use your imagination for terrarium that reflects your personality. In addition to colored stones and species to plant, you can use other decorations such as ribbons or some ornamental design on one of the glass of the terrarium.

Thus, you can have a beautiful decorative terrarium at home.

How to build a rock garden


The rock gardens are more than putting two or three stones as decoration around a plant. It is about using rocks and stones in space to mimic nature, especially in areas where there is abundant growth of grass and plants and thus they grow among the rocks.



Steps you must take in order to build a beautiful rock garden:
The first step is choosing the right area where we will rock garden. It is important that guidance is adequate. Although the guidance will vary according to climate and geography, which usually gives good results is that the sun shine directly into our rock garden.


After choosing the area, you should clean the place of unwanted plants like shrubs and dead plants. You must also ensure that the drainage is good. To do this, you can make a composite layer of pebbles, slag and heavy elements. The layer should be about 50 centimeters.


The most important of your rock garden is to place the stones and rocks in a good way. It is important to begin by placing large stones are like the base of your rock garden and then the smaller stones. The stones should be buried in the middle so they are stable and do not leave and should not be all together as this would prevent the plants grow well in space. Rather, you must leave some space between stones and rocks and everything depends on your imagination. There is no specific rule to measure the distances between the rocks.

What species of plants and shrubs grow well in the rocks? There are many and varied. Some of them are dwarf Aster, pinks, Lobelias, Thyme, Violas, Lilies, Daffodils, Tulips and more. In addition, shrubs can be planted as Heather or palm.

To plant these species, you must wait until one month after the construction of the rock garden, to allow these rocks and stones are well established and the earth nods firmly.

At first maybe the rockery or rock garden seems empty and dull. But as the seasons pass gradually look like your rock garden fills with beautiful species.

Some suggestions that experts give is to build the rock garden and no staggered to give a better appearance. Another idea is to build small waterfalls that give a natural environment. Just look at his rock garden, you will experience a feeling of peace and tranquility, which will help you live better.

Mar 8, 2012

Laurel: cultivation, care, soil and needs

The Laurel is an aromatic plant widely used in different regions of the world but is also used as an ornamental plant especially in the Mediterranean. Its versatility in the forms of culture makes this plant ideal for growing in different environments is in the open or in pots. Grow as bushes and shrubs with leaves of dark green conifers with many glands that give the laurel that odor.


For the cultivation of Laurel specific techniques are not required as it grows in both sun and in shaded places. It can be planted in the garden of the house, a garden, in pots and are well suited to long road to compliance with some basic requirements.

The ideal temperature for Laurel is those of the Mediterranean, meaning warm. Low temperatures under zero degree Celcius are supported by a short space of time. Besides the strong air currents make the Laurel dies because it does not support them. As for water, does not need much watering, irrigation must be a shallow and moderate in spring and summer. Excess water can be another cause of death of Laurel.