Get prepare for Summer Flower Garden

Get prepare for Summer Flower Garden

Get prepare for Summer Flower Garden

Flower gardening can add excitement and happiness to your life. You would feel extremely delightful walking through you own flower garden. Go ahead, if you are still thinking of flower gardening but haven’t taken steps towards planting a garden. The colorful and aromatic flowers can add essence in your life and keep your surrounding clean and fresh. It is important to follow the flower gardening tips or you may end up in the ugly look of your garden. The article discusses some gardening tips that will be beneficial to you in your attempt.

Flower gardens may include variety of flowers. Some may be for decorative purpose and some may be for professional purpose. You can also plant herb gardens in any corner of your flower garden. The herb gardening is the small area in your garden assigned for growing different types of useful herbs. These herbs can be used for medicinal purpose or adding flavor to your food.

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Summer Gardening:

Summer is the time for the gardener to take special care of the plants in the garden. Here are some of the important tips that the gardener should follow in summer to take care of the flower plants.

Choose the flower plants that are best suitable for growing in summer. The flower plants that have less water requirement are ideal for growing in summer.
Choose the plants that grow well in full light conditions. The light intensity is higher in summer and plants those not able to tolerate the sunlight will die if not supplied with enormous quantity of water and nutrients.
Water the plants daily in summer season. Mulch is the material such as decaying leaves, barks, or compost that can be spread around or spread over the plants to enrich and insulate the soil. It can retain the soil moisture and maintain wetness in the soil.
Supply the soil with sufficient amount of nutrients necessary for proper growth. It is important to give plenty of water to plants whenever you add some fertilizer to increase the soil nutrient content.
Remove off the dead branches from the plant. Make sure that you pluck the flowers on time after they are fully grown. This will help in proper growth of the plant.
Some of the summer flowering bulbs are achimenes, acidenthera, agapanthus, babiana, begonia, amaryllis, calla lilies, carnassia, crocosmia, dahlia, eremurus, gladiolas, galtonia candicans, freesia, etc. These flowering plants are best suited for growing in summer.
Make sure that you have proper drainage system and water supply for your garden. All your efforts may go in vain if you don’t have sufficient water for your garden.

It is important for you to take proper care of your flower garden in summer. Follow all the gardening tips to make your garden bloom and beautiful.

Logmaking, Composting and Other Summer Garden Tips

Logmaking, Composting and Other Summer Garden Tips

Many eco friendly gardening ideas are not just about helping the environment or returning to natural methods; many of them can save money too. There are a great many eco friendly and natural ideas for gardening as there are many eco gardening products, many of which , will benefit the environment, your garden – and your pocket.

Composting

Composting is a great method of not only feeding your garden with highly nutritious plant feed that will see your shrubs and lawn flourish, but also composting is a great way to recycle; getting rid of all sorts of waste from kitchen scraps to waste paper.

There are hardly any disadvantages to composting either, other that the fact that it can be a little messy but a composter will help ensure your garden is kept tidy – and many composters make great ornamental features too.

Log Making

If you have an open fire or log burning stove; a log maker is a must. These clever little devices allow you to compress waste paper and cardboard into compacted, burnable firewood. Because they compress the paper they burn slowly producing more heat and generating less smoke. They come in all shapes and sizes from large logmakers to briquette makers and even kindling makers.

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Push lawn mowers can be easy to use

Push Mowers

Nobody enjoys mowing the lawn and while we think modern powered lawn mowers and hover mowers are saving us time and energy, the truth is they probably aren’t. Because electrical and petrol powered lawn mowers require motors, there is less space for catching the mowed grass. Also the motors are incredibly heavy meaning that with modern precision engineering, push mowers are now just as easy to use as the heavier powered variety.

Vegetable Planting

No matter if you only have a tiny patch of grass, a window box or acres of fields, you should really give vegetable planting a go. Not only will it save you money; there is no tastier or healthier alternative to homegrown vegetables. For novices, vegetable planting kits will make things easier and as tucking into some homegrown vegetables is about a satisfying feeling you can get – you should give it a try.

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Gardening tips to survive the summer hosepipe ban

Gardening tips to survive the summer hosepipe ban

If you ask the average British person what they feel the UK never gets enough of weather-wise, it’s unlikely their answer would be ‘rain’. However, it seems that global warming has been at work in recent years, with falling dam levels and a risk of drought last year spurring a ban on the use of hosepipes in the North West of England. Indeed, January through to April in 2010 were the driest months in North West England and Wales since the 1970s.

It’s likely that, despite predictions from meteorology offices that this summer will experience a wet start, parts of the UK will experience a hosepipe ban again this year. For dedicated gardeners, this could spell disaster, as their lovingly tended gardens fall prey to dehydration for months at a time.

Fortunately, there are a few simple strategies that you can use to keep your garden looking its best throughout the summer. Why not take your lead from the drought-prone expanses of Australia and install a water tank? For a small investment you can install a plastic water tank that will hold up to 3000 litres of water, which should be more than enough to see you through a few months of a hosepipe ban.

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Alternatively, for the more dedicated, you can employ some intensive drought-battling tactics, such as washing your vegetables in a bucket, and placing a bucket in the shower with you, to catch and keep any excess water wherever possible for re-use in your garden.

If catching and storing your own water supply seems unfeasible, you could always stock your garden with drought-tolerant plants – also known as ‘xeriscaping’. While the words may bring to mind mental images of cactuses and other spiky, dusty vegetation of low aesthetic value, the fact is that there are plenty of beautiful plants which require very little water that can survive and even thrive locally.

Shrubs such as Manzanita, agaves and sagebrushes, evergreen and deciduous trees, perennials such as Maximilian sunflower and red valerian, and flowering annuals such as Owl’s clover, Cosmos flowers and Amaranth, all need very little water to survive. Introducing these plants to your garden will not only help to keep it thriving throughout the seasons, but will also give your plot a point of interest beyond the average English garden.

Alternatively, one very clever way of getting around the issue of not being able to water your lovingly tended lawn is to fake it. Investing in fake grass is a nifty cosmetic solution to your water-related gardening woes – it requires no tending, remains green and luscious whatever the season, and best of all, never needs mowing.

A lack of water doesn’t necessarily have to mean an enforced gardening sabbatical, and however you choose to beat the hosepipe ban this summer, one thing is for certain – you’ll have plenty of reasons to potter about in your plot. Isla Campbell writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

How to start out gardening, wanting to try new things this summer?

asks: How to start out gardening, wanting to try new things this summer?
This summer I want to do some new things, like crochet, baking, and possibly some gardening. But I have never really had any experience with gardening… If any of you guys could give me some pointers or tell me how to start, please do. Also I live in South Carolina, if that helps anyone.

The answer voted best is:

Answer by Bud Vet
Till the earth and put some seeds down. Take the weeds out and water it daily. Its easy and you will enjoy!

Disagree? Give your answer to this question below!

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How to protect your garden furniture and outdoor accessories from summer thieves

How to protect your garden furniture and outdoor accessories from summer thieves

he beginning of spring/summer will always see homeowners heading to their outdoor space to relax on their new Lazy Susan (I hope) garden furniture set. However, with the lighter nights being ushered in and some of this great summer weather we’ve seen over the Easter weekend, recent study by insurance company Aviva has highlighted a stark warning. They’ve found that thefts from such property locations as garages, gardens and garden sheds soars by up to 25% once British Summer Time starts. The research also found that garden tools such as electric drills, jigsaws, sanders etc were among the most popular items for thieves during 2010. As a result, those with elegant garden furniture might want to follow some of Lazy Susan’s tips to keep their prized possessions safe. We would urge all homeowners to make sure their sheds and summerhouses are properly secured and remember to clear up the garden every evening so there’s nothing left lying around that could tempt opportunist thieves.

The price comparison site, Confused.com, have recently warned green-fingered homeowners that they should ensure their home insurance is covering valuable outdoor items such as garden furniture and accessories, anything left in garden sheds etc. Simon Lamble, the website’s product director, said garden shed burglaries increase significantly during the summer months due to outhouses not being properly secured. ”It is imperative that, when taking out home insurance policies, homeowners consider the contents of their sheds, garages and any other outbuildings, and insure them accordingly,” he added. According to the firm, the average garden equipment costs £800 and it pays to have ”significant cover”. Gardens offer rich pickings these days, with bikes, lawnmowers, garden tools, garden furniture and children’s toys all targeted by thieves, and the average haul totalling around £900, according to insurance company Aviva. So follow Lazy Susan’s advice and this summer we can beat the thieves at their own game and help protect our properties…

Improve garden security
There are some simple steps you can take to protect your garden, such as putting away your garden tools, paddling pool and trampoline at the end of the day, locking your sheds and out-buildings, and replacing any old rusty padlocks. You should also always close gates and repair any damaged fencing, and if you have bulky items which cannot be locked away, such as a large gas BBQ or garden furniture, then do what you can to hide or cover them. Invest in some ground anchors to secure your garden furniture and ornaments to the ground and consider taking photographs of expensive items such as potted plans, ornaments and furniture so you can identify them if stolen. Its also a good idea to write your postcode on these items with an ultra-violet pen.
Beat the thieves
Loose items such as ladders and wheelie bins are perfect ‘tool’ for opportunist thieves to use in order to gain access into your home, so always make sure you shut them away and place them out of sight if you can. Plant prickly plants such as holly and roses under window sills, install strong security lighting, and remember that a gravel path can make for a good thief deterrent because of the ‘crunchy’ noise it makes when walked on.
Check your insurance cover
It’s easy to splash the cash on your garden (a recent trip to a local garden centre just left the Lazy Susan coffers £400 lighter!), but if you’ve spent a lot of money, then you really need to check your home insurance to ensure you have adequate cover in place. Patios, outbuildings, sheds, fences, walls and gates are normally covered for damage under your buildings policy, as they’re classified as fixtures and fittings. However, moveable objects such as garden furniture and equipment count under your contents insurance. Given that gardens are more prone to theft and damage during the summer, now is a good time to review your cover and ensure you’ve not undervalued your contents.
Insurance policies vary
Insurance policies will provide cover for theft of contents from outbuildings, garages and garden sheds, and this could be up to a limit of around £2,500. Contents in your garden will also be covered, and this could be up to a limit of around the £500 mark. However, the level of garden cover offered by contents policies tend to vary considerably from insurance company to insurance company. You need to make sure that you check this, as some have very different exclusions and limits. Policies will generally only cover you if items are locked securely in a shed, and some insurers will require you to inform them in advance of any particularly valuable items. Also note that bikes may not be included, and that you may have to pay an additional premium for cycle cover. Finally, if you treat your shed as a second home, make sure you check your policy details to ensure your mini television, playstation and beer fridge don’t push you over your policy its limit.

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The need to secure your garden furniture is becoming more evident to Lazy Susan every day. Our love of the outdoors leads us to the purchase of comfortable garden furniture, often at significant cost and therefore, you need to know that it will be in the garden when you want to use it. A few simple precautions will prevent or at least deter the thieves:

Take precautions
The most effective way of keeping thieves out of your garden is to make life as difficult as possible for them. Reduce the number of places they can hide by keeping hedges and shrubs low at the front of the house, and install security lighting in areas that are cast deep into shadow at night. Gravel is an excellent deterrent as it’s noisy when walked on, so the ‘crunching’ will alert you to any intruders, and it goes without saying that ladders and tools should never be left lying around, as not only do they make rich pickings for opportunist thieves, but can be used to break into your home, garage or shed. Construct as much fencing and lockable gates as possible around your garden and that way you’ll at least make it more difficult for thieves to gain access and to remove any large pieces of garden furniture. Plant a living barrier around the garden, such as thorny shrubs. This will not only give you something beautiful to look at but also restrict access to your garden.
Lights and alarms
As well as alerting you to the presence of unwelcome visitors, security lights and alarms are good deterrents, as thieves prefer to operate in darkness and silence. There are two types of outdoor security lights – those which come on automatically when it gets dark and stay on all night, and passive infra-red (PIR) or motion sensor lamps, which are activated by any movement in your garden and will fade to off after a set time. Up to you what will work best in your garden, but installing lighting is the greatest deterrent to crime. The lights can be either spotlights or floodlights and they need to illuminate the dark areas behind walls, trees, and other obstructions. The lights should be mounted high enough to prevent the thief from easily unscrewing them. Installing battery operated alarms is also an inexpensive stumbling block for the would-be thieves and you can install so that an alarm sounds when your gate or shed/garage door is opened. And if you’ve had things stolen from your garden in the past, then a closed circuit television camera overlooking the garden could provide a little additional security, with domestic systems now on the market that are quick to install and can now be found at DIY stores for under £80.
Property marking
It also makes sense to visibly mark your outdoor property with your postcode as such items are then harder for thieves to sell on, and easily identifiable as stolen. They can be etched or marked in ink, UV marker or with self-laminated stickers, which can wrap around any legs or handles. These are usually available from Crime Prevention officers, who should also be able to supply stickers advertising that property has been marked. Finally, write down any serial numbers, and take photos to aid with recovery and insurance claims if, despite your precautions, anything is stolen.
Gates
Gates at the back and side of the house should be the same height as the fence or wall, and secured with at least two good quality padlocks and bolts. Make solid wooden gates more tricky to climb by adding insets so there’s isn’t an obvious foothold, and check that the hinges are secure so that the gate can’t be easily removed from the frame and you should really weld the screws onto the hinge or at least screw them in as tightly as possible.
Garden sheds
Your average garden shed will usually contain hundreds of pounds worth of tools and other garden equipment, but they’re often overlooked when considering home security and insurance. And for that reason they’re an easy target for thieves. Ensure that yours is in good condition, and replace any rotten sections of timber and window frames if necessary. If you’re buying a new one, position it so that it faces your house and isn’t too close to a wall or gate, offering easy access to thieves. Fit key operated window locks on all windows that open, or if you never use them, screw them permanently shut. Add wire mesh or a grille on the insides of the frames, then hang an old curtain or piece of fabric so a casual observer can’t get a good look at what’s inside. Shed doors are often weak points, so secure with two closed shackle padlocks on strong hasps, one positioned a third of the way up the door, and the other one third of the way down, and reinforce the hinges with threaded coach bolts with backing plates or large backing washers which prevent the bolt being easily pulled through the wood. Property inside the shed should be locked, so that anyone breaking in can’t just walk off with it. Store smaller items such as tools in a lockable metal box or cage, and chain bicycles, lawnmowers, ladders and furniture to a floor anchor fixed into the floor, or link everything together with a lockable chain or metal cables.
Garages
Although garages are usually built from bricks and mortar and so are therefore significantly stronger than your average garden shed, windows and doors can be weak points, so they do require some sturdy locks. Secure up and over garage doors with locks fitted to the garage base or with mortice bolts fitted to each side, and double doors with heavy-duty coach bolts and a closed shackle padlock. Access doors, leading into the garage or directly into the house really need a five-lever mortice or deadlock, and mortice bolts top and bottom. As in a shed, you should lock small items inside a metal box or cage, and thread larger ones together with lockable cables, possibly anchored into the ground, a wall or fixed post.
Lock away garden furniture and ornaments
And finally, get into the habit of locking toys, tools and your garden furniture in the shed, garage or other outbuildings at night. You should only leave things outside which are too cumbersome or heavy to be moved easily. However, heavy items are still a potential target for thieves, so make sure you fix furniture and barbeques to the ground with anchoring devices, and use security brackets to prevent hanging baskets being whisked away. You may also need to anchor statues and expensive plants, and place stones or bricks in the bottom of large containers to increase their weight. Chain the furniture together – it’s effective as long as you use a large enough chain, one that is not easily cut and the furniture to the ground or the floor of the patio is another solution.

About Lazy Susan

Lazy Susan is a small family business that specialise exclusively in wicker, rattan and metal garden furniture, specifically cast aluminium. Visit www.lazysusanfurniture.co.uk to find out more and view our complete product range.

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Related Gardening Articles

Late Summer Gardening Tips

Late Summer Gardening Tips

For those who get a second wind during the later half of the summer, there are many garden tasks that can be accomplished during the late summer.

The ground is soft enough, after so much rain, to weed easily and quickly. Annual seed, which may not have sprouted earlier in the season, may do so now. Reduced priced annuals can be dotted into the beds and spring annuals should be fertilized in preparation for the second half of the summer.

My zucchini were attacked and devastated by the squash borer, as I took no precautions against them. I’ve yanked the wilted plants, set the groundhog-size zucchini in the sun to dry as gourds, and weeded the area where the two plants died. I fertilized heavily and tomorrow I will set up two bamboo tepees, and find a summer annual vine to plant at their base. I may even plant the potatoes, paper bag and all, that have sprouted by the back door.

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Tomato plants may by this time be overgrown and unproductive. Tomato plants should be pruned now to create more compact growth. Diseased or insect infested areas can be removed and the plant reconfigured to give you space to refertilize. Tending to the tomatoes now will insure a good crop of tomatoes into the fall.

There are two perennials in particular that may be divided and replanted during the last, hottest months of the summer. German iris may be lifted now. I say lifted because the clumps of rhizomes run horizontally across the ground, and a space should be used to cut around them to about 6 inches and then raise the shallow disc of roots. They can be worked apart, the leaves cut to 4-5 inches and replanted.

Oriental poppies can be moved and divided now, and this is the only time when they can be done successfully. Dig up the clump, tease apart the divisions, and replant the crowns 2-3 inches below the soil surface.

As the weather begins to cool, prepare your garden for a more temperate and colorful fall.

Summer Gardening Tips

Summer Gardening Tips

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.

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.  Article provided by http://gardening-articles.com/

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Gardening Tips To Avoid Fungus In The Summer 

Helpfull Gardening Tips You Need To Avoid Fungus In The Summer  

Article by Rob Cunningham

Virtually all of us are prepared to spend a large amount of money for landscape gardening to create a face lift for our garden. Only we failed to prune whilst the plant life required it, so your highly invested landscape garden appears dreadful. Therefore this is a high time you learnt about the horticulture tips for more practised maintenance of your lawn. Follow the following gardening tips for a more pleasing life of your garden.Gardening tips for pruningAs we talked about in the introduction, pruning acts as a crucial purpose in the garden maintenance. If you make any errors whilst pruning, do not lose your heart since it is similar to a bad haircut, it’s going to grow once again. Never water in the night timeDuring summertime, you might experience high humidity, which could lead to a lot of troubles in your garden. To make your plantings nice and dry, tuck them in for nighttime. Likewise your watering in the night time could be avoided to prevent harm to the crops.Remove Powdery mildewPowdery mildew is the most common fungus that generally marches on your decorative plant life. This will produce a snowy film upon the leaves of the plantings in your garden. Even out additional decorative plants such as sand cherry and Dogwoods wich are also becoming affected with these fungus. Competent horticulture is essential to restrict the development of this fungus. You’ll be able to easily prevent this by crop-dusting general-purpose fungicide which can be bourt in the garden center.

Prevention of Pythium BlightWhenever you’re in the north and likewise having English ryegrass, then you should to be really careful not to leave your grass wet at dark. A dreaded fungus called Pythium Blight could strike its upper hand, whenever you leave your lawn damp in the nighttime because these fungus enjoy growing in high-level humid condition generally, in the nighttime.

About the Author

Ross has been writing articles online for nearly 4 years now. Not only does this author specialize in gardening and horticulture, you can also check out his latest website on Andy Warhol Rugs or the latest Sphinx Andy Warhol rugs

Gardening tips to avoid fungus during summer

Gardening tips to avoid fungus during summer  

Article by DeAndre Gregg

Most of us are ready to invest huge amount for landscaping and gardening to give face lift for our home. But we failed to prune when the plants needed it, and then your highly invested landscape looks terrible than ever. So this is a high time to know about the gardening tips for better maintenance of your lawn. Do follow the following gardening tips for better life of your garden: -

Late Summer Garden: Easy and Cheap Gardening Tips

Late Summer Garden: Easy and Cheap Gardening Tips  

Article by Kathy Wilson

Has your late summer garden seen better days? If your outdoor paradise is getting a little ragged, and you would like some easy and cheap gardening tips to get it back into shape in time for fall, keep reading!

Most gardens, no matter how well they are designed will have periods without a lot of bloom. But a late summer garden is more than just lack of bloom; it’s overgrown plants, ratty leaves, spindly annuals and brown spots in the lawn. Here’s how to fix these garden problems.

Cut back your blooming perennials by half. This will stimulate new growth, and create need for another flush of flowers in the fall for many varieties. It will also clean up the overgrown look of your flower beds.

If you still have brown foliage from spring bulbs showing, it is safe to cut them to the ground now. They have already stored all the energy they need for spring bloom, and the dead plant matter isn’t doing anything for the look of your garden.

If you have a pest problem, you should be addressing it. You can use commercially available Sevin dust for many of the most common predators, or seek out an organic alternative. One good way to identify what is eating your plants is place a piece of white paper under the leaves of the plant being attached and give the plant a good tap or shake. Whatever pest is the culprit should fall onto the paper for easy identification. If you’re stumped, pop it in a jar and take it to your local nursery for identification and advice on how to eradicate it while doing the least damage to beneficial bugs. Remember, we need those bees! Don’t’ poison them.

If you have annuals planted in containers or beds that have seen better days, cut them back hard. Apply a good dose of water soluble fertilizer and they will bounce back and start re-blooming for you. Petunias, alyssum and geraniums all need a good rejuvenation this time of year, but will bloom well into fall if you try this trick.

If your lawn has developed some dry spots, try raking in an organic compost or fine bark to protect the soil and hold in moisture. Water frequently during the day for a week or two until you start to see new green growth. Cut back on the watering gradually, but be consistent until the lawn is once again green in the spot.

A late summer garden may seem to have gone to sleep, but its pretty easy to throw a big basket of water on it and wake it back up. (Both literally, and figuratively!) Use these easy and cheap gardening tips to renew your garden, and have a beautiful spot to spend those quiet autumn afternoons.

Want free gardening tips and ideas? Kathy Wilson is a home and garden writer, author and consultant and is the home decorating expert for LifetimeTV.com. Visit her for more home and garden ideas at http://www.TheGardenGlove.com and http://www.TheBudgetDecorator.com. Also visit her at http://www.Women-on-the-Net.com where any woman can learn to make money on the internet!

About the Author

For free budget gardening ideas visit her at http://www.TheGardenGlove.com

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