Is it true that certain foods, like carrots, can keep the eye doctor away? WSJ contributor Heidi Mitchell and Dr. Emily Chew discuss. Photo: AP
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VIDEO: 3 Tips To Make Flowers Last Longer
Extend the life of your blooms with these easy tricks
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VIDEO: Hordes of Ladybugs Invade Town
Homeowners in Lipova, Romania are having to deal with overwhelming swarms of ladybugs. Yes, ladybugs. An especially wet season caused a mass amount of aphids, which in turn has caused mass amounts of ladybugs, and no one in town is sure what to do. The mayor has even stated that they don’t have enough pesticide to deal with the sheer amount of ladybugs!
VIDEO: The Unbelievable Way Plants Can Grow Without Rain! – DNews
If you could add something to your food crops to make it live healthier and longer, would you do it? Trace is here to explain how adding a fungus to a plant can help it live through a drought!
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VIDEO: Using horticultural oil to control insects
Horticultural oil is a great way to control many insects on plants. The oil acts to smother the adults or egg stages of several different species of pests. Horticultural oils are refined petroleum oils combinedwith an emulsifying agent. Some plant-derived oils also are used.Depending on the weight of the oil, you can use them all year or just in winter. Be sure to read the labels carefully. Horticultural oils can damage some sensitive plants. If you use the oil that i…
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How To Choose The Perfect Pond Location
Ponds are a great addition to any garden and there is something ever so peaceful about looking out over the garden to your pond. Location, however, is one of the biggest factors when deciding whether to get a pond in the garden. Here is a short list of things to consider when placing that perfect pond.
Low and Wet
Ideally a pond does not want to be situated in the lowest point of your garden or in a location that is always wet. Placing a pond in the lowest point will encourage run off from the rest of the garden to head straight to the pond. This is turn can silt up the pond increasing the amount of maintenance that is needed to keep the pond healthy.
Under Trees
Whilst placing a pond under trees looks amazing, the trees reflected elegantly in the water, it is not usually a good idea. Trees, particularly deciduous trees, have a tendency to drop things into a pond such as pine needles, leaves, nuts and berries. Whilst this can be combatted with netting, it has to be cleared away nearly daily to prevent silting up. Placing a pond under trees will increase the amount of maintenance that needs to be performed.
Partial Sun
Ponds need sunlight for at least half of the day to encourage any plants to grow. Plants such as water lilies thrive in the sun. However too much sun can cause algae to grow, so it is always advisable to have plenty of pond cover with water lilies in the water and grasses around the edges.
Power Cords and Amenities
It is important to know the layout of the garden, and where electrical wires and other amenities run. The last thing anyone wants to do is put a spade through a power cord whilst digging the pond. In addition nobody wants to have to dig up all their wires and re-route them through the garden!
Level Ground
Whilst building a pond on level ground is not the biggest factor in pond location, it is fairly important if you do not want to have to create waterfalls and cascades which require extra work with pond pumps. These are readily available from aquatics shops and online such as at Swell UK. In addition to this non-level ponds end up with very deep and very shallow water, which have to be carefully planted.
Easily Seen
Of course one of the key things to consider is the fact that the pond needs to be seen from the house. Not only does this mean any potential problems can be spotted and acted on but looking out over the garden and seeing the pond is usually a key driving force for getting one in the first place, so make sure the view is not restricted and enjoyment can be had by all!
This article was written by David Wharton.
Taking Care of Your Fig Tree in the Winter
TheGardenLady received this question from Cheryl on the post “Buying a Fig Tree in New Jersey“.
I have a 15 year old turkey fig tree that I started from shoots. Last year I could not keep up with the amount of fruit growing on the tree. This May there are no leaves on the tips of the branches. The branches are red, turning to a deep gray almost black, which is different from the natural color of the tree bark. The branches snap in half and are not pliable. I cut a large branch. Inside the branch it is hard yellow in color with a white center. Has my tree died from the cold winter freezing? I have never covered it in the past. Was this winter too much for the tree? Help!
It was a really harsh winter through much of the US. This winter my fig tree froze and died. I was so disappointed. I understand your feelings. I lost a number of shrubs this winter.
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Mount Steward House and Garden
Himalayan blue poppy by Swamibu
When I visited Ireland recently, I did not rough it, but was lucky to find lovely hotels in both Belfast and Dublin. The choices of hotels, especially in Dublin, were enormous and the nicest part for me were some of the wonderful breakfasts and dinners served in those hotels I stayed in. I was especially pleased with the quality and quantify of food served in Ireland. To have a huge, delicious breakfast to start the day and a huge, delicious dinner in the hotel when I returned back after a long day of hiking around gardens is, to me, a special bonus. I like to plan on seeing at least two to three gardens each day.
Though I visited both large and small gardens while in Ireland, I am going to write more about the more intimate gardens we visited in Ireland where the owners/gardeners spent time talking to our group about their gardens.
But one large garden I want to mention is Mount Steward House and Garden in the Belfast area. Alas, when we arrived at this one estate garden, the heavens opened and it was the one time on our vacation when it poured when we were in am Irish garden. There is no good time to rain when one is on a garden tour, but I didn’t want to miss this magnificent garden. So we sloshed through the rain to look at the grounds after we visited the house which was having major work being done inside. In a few years, the house will be its magnificent old self.
One area of the garden was roped off because the owner still resides in the house and because of the work being done to the house. When I bemoaned the fact that we could not get into half the gardens, the sweet lady at the desk took our group through a side entrance to allow us to see one part of the gardens we missed. Of course, we didn’t get to see all 98 acres.
Ten Tips for Success with your Garden
Apricot rose and budding alliums by katewrightson
1. Be sure your vegetable garden is in a sunny location away from an area where there might be underlying roots of trees. And it is good to have a watering source nearby.
2. Be sure you have had your soil tested in the last 3 years and you have amended your soil with your extensions recommendations for the plants you want to grow. If you had it amended a few years ago, you can easily get a pH strip to see if the pH is still optimum.
3. Till in the ground cover that was on the soil where you want your plants to grow and work in good compost into the soil.
4. If it’s been more than a couple of weeks since you’ve turned the soil and prepared your beds, then they’ve probably crusted over from rain. Drag a rake over the area a couple of times to break up the crust (you’ll likely need to weed, too). (see here)
5. Make a diagram of your garden with the names of the plants you will grow. It doesn’t have to be fancy. But it will make you decide what you want and how much you need to buy and decide which plants are happy growing together. (see here)
The Benefits Of Wooden Garden Buildings
garden in the sun lepetitsaboteur
More and more people are discovering the benefits that a wooden garden building can bring. Not only is a well designed garden building an attractive environmentally friendly feature but it can be incredibly useful. In fact, once you’ve installed a garden building you’ll find yourself wondering how you ever managed without it.
Garden buildings can serve as additional room, solve your storage problems, and even add value to your property. So without further ado, let’s take a look at the many benefits of garden buildings, and why they make such a good investment.
Creating extra space
The house that once was the ideal size for you as a family may now seem rather cramped as your children grow and want to invite friends round, or need space to do their hobbies. A log cabin, summer house, or workshop can become a playroom for the youngsters, a den for teenagers, a home office or even a games and hobbies room. Alternatively, you may prefer to use it as your own personal retreat where you can sit and read a book or listen to some music. In short, it gives you, your partner, or your children, a safe place away from the house to disappear to.