The first step is to loosen and aerate the soil so that the roots can grow and the good creatures, IE earthworms, can get through the [...]]]> Time to review some tips on fertilizing your garden. We’ll try and go over some cheap and cost efficient ways to do this to save you time and money.

The first step is to loosen and aerate the soil so that the roots can grow and the good creatures, IE earthworms, can get through the soil. This can be done by hand with common tools or if you have access to a rototiller that can be an invaluable time saver. However be careful with any tools so that you do not damage any roots or local wildlife which can be helpful to a garden, such as the toads mentioned in another article. If you have back problems I’d recommend a pitchfork style tool, just be gentle when lifting and turning the soil as to not damage the roots again.
One of the highest rated rototillers which works great for me:Sun Joe TJ600E Tiller Joe Garden 14-Inch 6.5 amp Electric Tiller/Cultivator

There are several different fertilizers that can be used. Depending on your situation we can should be able to come up with a free option for fertilizer!   If you have kids you may have small animals such as a Rabbit.  Rabbit droppings work well, make sure they are dried however and not fresh. If you live near a ranch or know of a horse field nearby you could ask the owner for some of the horse manure.   If you live in a colder area and have a wood burning stove or fireplace, collect some of the ashes and spread them in the garden in a thin layer. Do not over use ash or it will cause more harm than good, which is true with all fertilizing agents.

Create a compost heap with old grass clippings. A compost heap can contain some or all of the above as well as eggshells, some coffee grounds, and any other natural clippings such as leaves and branches which are mulched up of course. There are also many different containers you can use for this. One of the cheapest being a large trash can. The large “rubbermaid” kind you will find at any local store. Drill holes in it however for the air to permeate it, several on the bottom would be good. And of course do not leave it sitting on your concrete patio or you can expect to find some nice stains at some point. Some also use circular chicken wire cages out in a corner of their yard. This can be easily built with some posts and chicken wire and is relatively cheap as well. Or if you have the resources you can build a wooden storage bin which may mesh better with the look of your garden area. Many are just visual preferences and do not have much bearing on the compost itself.

With all the natural and home waste options available for fertilizer you should be able to come up with something on a very small budget! Enjoy and get that garden started!

Promote “good” healthy creatures to help clean the area out.  There are many good critters such as ladybugs that will help destroy the bad bugs.  Plant [...]]]> Arg the pain of laboring and toiling over your garden only to have tiny creatures invade it and ruin everything!  Let’s look over some ways to avoid garden pests!

Promote “good” healthy creatures to help clean the area out.  There are many good critters such as ladybugs that will help destroy the bad bugs.  Plant a few flowers throughout your garden, as the pollen will entice the good bugs to move in.

Amphibians!  Create a hospitable environment for a toad or other amphibian to move in and devour some insects!  You can create little shelters from old pots that you no longer need or even pots that have broken!  Keep the ground moist as well to keep it a healthy environment for the toads to move in.  Just remember to be careful when you are working in your garden and not harm any of your new found friends!

If you are having a problem with rodents or even larger animals like deer, you can try some natural deterrents.  Many people use organic ones such as hot pepper based sprays, even coyote urine!  Castor oil is an easily accessible one to try as well.
As crazy as it may sound the animals also dislike the smell of humans and all the perfumes we wear.  You can try hanging a fragrant soap or other air freshener around head height of the deer.
To prevent smaller creatures from invading a short simple fence made of chicken wire may assist as well.

For slugs try diatomaceous earth, it cuts into their tender skin and helps deter them.  Copper strips work as well but copper nowadays is a bit too expensive.

For resisting diseases you can use cultivars made to resist certain times of diseases.  There are many many variations out there and all are relatively cheap.  We’ll go over some of those in a future article!

1.  Seasonal!  Make sure you will not have a frost or temperatures dipping near freezing for at LEAST 2 months.

2.  If the weather is still [...]]]> Tomatoes!  One of the most widely used vegetables available and easily grown at home!
Lets go over some of the basics and garden tips to planting your own tomatoes.

1.  Seasonal!  Make sure you will not have a frost or temperatures dipping near freezing for at LEAST 2 months.

2.  If the weather is still somewhat chilly at night you can bring your seedlings indoors and then place them outside during the daylight.  Once the temperatures are stable and above ~45 throughout the night, leave them outside.

3.  Prepare the soil and the garden they will grow in.  Ensure sunlight hits it the majority of the day and that the soil has a PH level of no more than 7 and no less than 6.
You can also add fertilizer to the soil to assist the growth.

4.  Space the tomato plants 12 to 16 inches from each other.  If you have a different variety of tomato be sure to check the packaging for spacing instructions.

5.  When your tomato plants begin to sprout flowers it is time to place them in their permanent homes.  Dig a large hole similar to a softball or soccer ball and place the plant gently into the hole and fill with soil and fertilizer mix.  You can slightly pack the soil but do not get too aggressive in compressing the soil.  Some branches can be below the soil, make sure the roots are deep to ensure proper growth.

6.  Set up any pest deterrents, whether it be a fence for rodents or paper shields to protect from worms.

7.  Mark each plant location with a stake or some sort of marking spike.  This can be used to tie the plant to and assist with its straight growth.

8.  Water the plants regularly and watch them grown!  Enjoy the fruits of your labor as soon as they ripen.

It has many advantages such as less costs in water, more control [...]]]> When people first hear the term they may think, what the heck is hydroponics?  Well as the name somewhat implies, it is basically using water based nutrients as your plants main source of food.  Hydroponic deriving from Greek origins for labor and water.

It has many advantages such as less costs in water, more control over nutrients, lowers ground pollutants since the environment is controlled, and allows easier methods of resisting pests and diseases as there is no soil to cultivate mold or insects.
Due to the high usage of water however, a danger is salmonella growth.  Although this can be prevented with knowledge and preparation.

There are a couple different methods to hydroponic gardening.  Some you may have performed in a small variation as a child.  Have you ever put a potato into a glass of water, held in place by toothpicks?  That is a form of Static solution culture.
Continuous flow solution cultures are just as they sound, a continuous flow of water.  Think of an irrigation system but instead its a cycle, with plants held in place with roots submerged.

A new spin on hydroponics has been growing lately as well, known as Aeroponics.  In which a plant is saturated with mist or drops of nutrient solutions instead of being fully submerged.

Hydroponics can use many mediums instead of dirt.  Clay, coir, pumice, rock wool, sand, gravel, brick shards, even packing peanuts!

The nutrient solution is the largest part of this method and requires the most attention.  It should have calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphates, nitrates, sulfates and several others.  There are however many recipes and variations of these mixtures and vary depending on the plant being grown.

If you are interested in creating a hydroponic garden we encourage you to research it and give it a try!  It isnt as difficult as it may sound and it can be a new adventure in home gardening as well as indoor gardening.

An indoor garden can be a great addition to any home, and it makes a beautiful scene to relax in and still have some shelter from the elements. It is important to have good ventilation and a good source of lighting, whether it be [...]]]> Let’s go over another great garden tip and idea, indoor gardening!

An indoor garden can be a great addition to any home, and it makes a beautiful scene to relax in and still have some shelter from the elements.
It is important to have good ventilation and a good source of lighting, whether it be natural light similar to a sunroom or artificial light from a fluorescent bulb.
Another necessity would be an oscillating fan or an overhead fan, with no outside air the plants will need the assistance from the air circulation.  A good exhaust method will be required if the temperature fluctuates greatly, so keep this in mind as well.
Note:  If you plan on growing vegetables or fruit you will need a more powerful light, such as a sodium light or the newer LED-lamps which will save your electric bill.
Before you even begin planting, use a thermometer and monitor various areas of the garden for several days to ensure they do not fluctuate greatly.
Research your watering methods before planting as well.   You can use many different methods including hydroponics and aereponics
Tips:
Plants in an indoor garden cannot pollinate themselves, you will need to use a brush and manually pollinate them.

Fruit flies!  Keep a few fly traps(sticky tape) around to catch them before they get out of hand.

Keep the size of your garden realistic.  You may have the desire to pack every square inch of room with plants, but this will only cause greater complications.

If you notice a plant with disease or mold on it remove it immediately.  This will possibly help prevent the spread and save many other plants.

Summary of items you will need:
Fertilizer, high grade compost, good flower pots and possibly peat moss pots to start, watering method(IE: Jug), lighting, ventilation system(fan, vents), thermometer, seeds or seedlings.   You can also prepare yourself for pesticides in case they will be needed, better to be prepared.

A great resource for more information is wikihow.com.

First and foremost, choose what you wish to grow.  Pick something that you enjoy, something you’d take greater pride in seeing fully [...]]]> In today’s world of pesticides and genetically modified foods, it feels good to grow something on your own and enjoy the natural results!
We’ll discuss some of the beginning steps in this article.

First and foremost, choose what you wish to grow.  Pick something that you enjoy, something you’d take greater pride in seeing fully grown.

Choose the location!  Very important!  This location must be in sunlight a large portion of the day.  Also be sure that no rainwater floods the area.

Figure out the spacing for each plant.  Certain plants require more room between each other for their roots to spread.  Some require a great deal of space between each plant, such as pumpkins!  Be sure you research the plant or plants you are growing and choose the appropriate growth spacing.
If you have a very small garden grow plants that take little room, such as lettuce or carrots.

If you are having trouble getting seeds to sprout, you can also purchase flats of already sprouted plants from a local vegetable dealer.  Some online companies also are able to ship harder to find seedlings.  Common ones are eggplant, cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower as well as many more.

If you want to get a jump start on spring you can begin the plants indoors during the end of winter.  Peat moss pots and many other pots are great for this.  Peat moss pots are able to be transplanted directly into the garden.

Get your family involved!  Kids would love to watch a flower grow or to finally see some vegetables or fruit pop out.  It may even be an easy way to get your kids to eat their vegetables. 

When you are ready to plant in the ground, it is a good [...]]]> If you’re beginning a new garden a good beginning is to start your seedlings in a peat pot.  They are cheap and very effective!  When your seedling or baby plant is ready for the garden you can simply plant the entire pot!

When you are ready to plant in the ground, it is a good practice to poke a few holes in the pot to assist with the roots punching through.

Also be sure to tear off the top part of the peat pot, this part will soak up all the water and dry it out quickly if it’s left too high!  Tear it off to dirt level.  Keep them even!

So what are you waiting for go out and grab some peat moss pots!  Anyone can do it and its quite rewarding!