Gardening
'The elder brethren of our profession, who can look back, for instance, to
the introduction of the Dahlia, give us but a poor idea of flower-gardening as it was
practised in the first decades of the century.'
In its purest form, gardening is about connecting with the earth and resetting our
clocks to the simple, natural rhythms of life.
Bad backs and accidents can spoil the pleasure of gardening. Taking an ergonomic approach to gardening can help
ensure that it is a safe and enjoyable hobby.
Gertrude Jekyll (1843-1932) aimed for 'beautiful effect' and had a lasting
effect on gardening.
Seeds
Alphabetical catalogue of seeds for the UK
With proper storage, gardeners can save seeds for next year
Reading fine print on seed packages is good gardening advice
Damping off is the single term used to describe
underground, soil line, or crown rots of seedlings due to unknown causes.
Most Japanese Maple seeds ripen in the fall. Watch the tree and wait for the seeds to turn brown.
Pest Control
It is virtually impossible to keep your indoor garden - conservatory,
greenhouse, window sill or potted plants - entirely free from pests. The goal should be
to keep the level of infestation down as much as possible.
If you have a garden, you are guaranteed to have slugs and snails.
Growing Plants
What are bulbs and how do you distinguish them from corms, tubers
and rhizomes?
How deep should bulbs be planted? According to a study published in the Journal of the American
Society for Horticultural Science it may not matter because bulbs can move themselves deeper into the ground,
seemingly in search of better, moister growing conditions.
Ferns were hugely popular in Victorian times. This is how their care
and propagation were described.
Very pretty ornaments for the Victorian parlour were
produced by setting acorns to germinate in hyacinth glasses
Here are some tips on how to grow your own bountiful crop of tomatoes.
Tomatoes are the most popular home garden vegetable grown for good reason.
Water Features
A water feature can enliven a garden, providing a focus for a sitting or planting area.
Pumps are available in both submersible and external (out-of-pond) models.
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Effective Gardening
In his bestselling Square Foot Gardening Mel Bartholomew advocates
limiting the amount of space - and therefore time - devoted to 'each vegetable, chore,
and step in the garden'.
Garden History
The garden featured long stretches of water, avenues of elms, limes and horse chestnuts, cedar trees,
an elliptical bowling green and the Great Hedge. This yew hedge was over 600 metres long,
3 metres thick and 2-8 metres high.
Are they fruit or vegetables? Tomatoes are popular today but their introduction was slow.
By the early 1900s the gardens were hoplessly overgrown and a massive
clearance was required. Yew trees and herbaceous borders were planted and the ivy
stripped from the balustrades to be replaced by climbing roses.
'A man cannot be a good gardener unless he be thoughtful, steady,
and industrious; possessing a superior degree of sobriety and moral excellence, as well
as genius, and knowledge adapted to his business.'
'As every person who is his own gardener is naturally anxious that the care
and attention he bestows on his little plot of ground should be crowned with success, and
that it should at all times present that appearance of neatness and order so pleasing to
the eye, attention to the following general directions will go far to secure these
advantages.'
From 'Manure from Garden Rubbish' - a World War II Dig for Victory Leaflet
Lawns
How often you mow your lawn will depend on a number of factors.
A beautiful lawn does not come without some effort
Organic Gardening
Organic gardening is fashionable and many people try to garden without
using chemical pesticides and fertilisers. But what exactly is 'organic gardening'? And
what are the principles of organic gardening?
Vegetarian Society approves range of organic fertilisers
Plant Problems
They breed like rabbits and grow like weeds - and they can be very hard to kill.
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