tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43272022723053262792024-03-08T08:51:33.525-08:00Gardening For Fun & FoodGardening is good for the body, soul and spirit. Enjoy the outdoors away from the stressful things of your every day obligations. Work in tranqulity and armony with the nature, grow healthy fresh fruits and vegetables, for a better living. Freedom and liberty is a great gift from God, and no one has the right to take it away. You can't change the world, but you can make a difference in your own univers. Freedom, the Bell of Liberty, that's just about what's left of it. And even that is cracked!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114519741840046730noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327202272305326279.post-16563030299310005112011-12-15T14:07:00.000-08:002011-12-15T14:07:10.989-08:00Gardening For Fun & Food: Growing Indoor Herbs Gardening For Flavor, Aroma, ...<a href="http://gardening4betterliving.blogspot.com/2011/12/growing-indoor-herbs-gardening-for.html?spref=bl">Gardening For Fun & Food: Growing Indoor Herbs Gardening For Flavor, Aroma, ...</a>: Winter is approaching rapidly, soon we'll inter in the new year of 2012, and in many places is already showing its cold face, with fury. No...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114519741840046730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327202272305326279.post-89477614598232807932011-12-15T12:59:00.000-08:002011-12-15T13:01:48.519-08:00Growing Indoor Herbs Gardening For Flavor, Aroma, And Healthy Living<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Winter is approaching rapidly, soon we'll inter in the new year of 2012, and in many places is already showing its cold face, with fury. Not to worry too much about it, because as it comes so it goes! Winter has its charm and in many ways it can be pleasant at times, too. If it's not too cold. <br />
<br />
But sooner or later the winter nostalgia will hit us, and makes us think of the wonderful activities and time we spent, and the fun we had in our <a href="http://www.borlovansnursery.com/" target="_blank">gardens and backyards.</a><br />
<br />
Looking through the window while the snow flakes are falling down in bunches, is a unique experience to have from the warmth of your home in front of your fireplace.<br />
<br />
How about moving the garden (in a way) indoors for a while and grow some wonderful vibrant, fragrant, aromatic, tasty and health beneficial herbs. <br />
<br />
Herbs gardening in containers, is a lot of fun and it is not hard at all. There are so many choices, but you can choose the ones that you like the most. <br />
<br />
Some herbs that you would like to spice your favorite dishes and salads, and enjoy a wonderful difference in in the taste of your cooking.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.borlovansnursery.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Fresh-Herbs.jpg.jpg"><img alt=""The Basil Herb" " class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-357" height="225" src="http://www.borlovansnursery.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Fresh-Herbs.jpg-300x225.jpg" title="Fresh Herbs.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
<br />
A few herbs that comes to mind would be Sweet Basil, Parsley Plain Italian, Arugula, Cilantro, Dill, Lemon Balm, Peppermint, garlic chives, onion chives, and many others that you prefer. <br />
<br />
All these herbs can be started in some 4.5 to 6 inch plastic containers, square or round. They don't take much room and can be grown close to a window sill to get at least 8 hours of day light. The more light the better.<br />
<br />
For a successful batch of potted herbs indoors, you'll need some good fine potting soil preferable with some micro-nutrients blended in, and rich in peat-moss. <br />
<br />
Fill up the pots and leave about 1 to 1.5 inches from the top of the pot, and sow the seed throughout the surface of the soil in the container.<br />
<br />
Cover the seeds with a thin layer of the same fine potting soil, and water thoroughly with a fine mist. Set them close to the outside light in the window. Keep them watered but not soggy, until the seeds sprout out.<br />
<br />
Once the little herbs are sprouted, water carefully as not to bend them to the soil. Just keep the water flow in a corner of the pot and let it flow slowly until all the surface is wet.<br />
<br />
The little pots should be full of little herbs, and as they grow, start pinching as much as you'd like for fresh use. By harvesting the herbs as you need them, you'll encourage growth and thus enjoy them all winter long, and well into the Spring, until you can move them outside.<br />
<br />
It's such a wonderful feeling to be able to harvest at will whenever you want from your own kitchen window sill. Don't pinch no more then about one third of the tips of the herbs.<br />
<br />
If you prefer, you can plant different kinds of seeds of your choice, in a rectangular box that would fit just right in the limited space you might have.<br />
<br />
As long as they receive the adequate light, water and air circulation they will thrive. <br />
<br />
For a more abundant herb crop, you can use some organic fertilizers, preferable the slow released kind, that will not be too strong on the little tender herb plants, and thus avoiding to burn them.<br />
<br />
As I've explained above, I think that it is better to sow the seeds all over the surface of the potting soil in containers. I had a great deal of success whenever I planted herbs by using this method. If you sow just a few seeds they are not likely to do that well.<br />
<br />
Just try it once and you'll understand my theory. The little plants kind of hold each other up, and grow more robust by competing with each other. Not to worry, they'll get along just fine!<br />
<br />
So as you can see, indoor herbs growing is easy, and you'll have fine flavor, aroma, and healthy living too. Spice up your favorite dishes and salads and enjoy your food to the maximum.<br />
<br />
I hope that this little article about growing herbs indoors is helpful to you, and will give you some useful ideas.<br />
<br />
Until next time, Happy <a href="http://www.borlovansnursery.com/">indoor gardening</a>,<br />
<br />
Mike Borlovan <br />
<br />
<br />
<g:plusone annotation="inline"></g:plusone><br />
<br />
<br />
<script type="text/javascript">
<br> (function() {<br> var po = document.createElement('script'); po.type = 'text/javascript'; po.async = true;<br> po.src = 'https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js';<br> var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(po, s);<br> })();<br>
</script> <br />
<br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114519741840046730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327202272305326279.post-455707706945243352011-10-29T07:04:00.000-07:002011-10-29T07:04:05.720-07:00Gardening Helpful Ideas: Where And How To Sell Your Own Plant Material To C...<a href="http://baldeagle7-gardeninghelper.blogspot.com/2011/10/where-and-how-to-sell-your-own-plant.html?spref=bl">Gardening Helpful Ideas: Where And How To Sell Your Own Plant Material To C...</a>: As I was writing in the previous articles about how to propagate plants by rooted cuttings, and to grow your own plants for a profit in a sm...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114519741840046730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327202272305326279.post-57901831968351706072011-10-22T12:25:00.000-07:002011-10-22T12:25:43.049-07:00Gardening For Fun & Food: What Shrubs Do You Need To Collect Cuttings For Your Rooting?<a href="http://gardening4betterliving.blogspot.com/2011/10/what-shrubs-do-you-need-to-collect.html">Gardening For Fun & Food: What Shrubs Do You Need To Collect Cuttings For Your Rooting?</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114519741840046730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327202272305326279.post-69988231528657582382011-10-12T12:24:00.000-07:002011-10-12T12:24:52.061-07:00How And Where To Sell Your Own Plant Material To Make A Living?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">As I was writing in the previous articles about how to propagate plants by rooted cuttings, and to grow your own plants to make a good living from a small space, now you might want to know how and where to sell your own plant material and create that income to make a living.<br />
<br />
Some people believe that it is too much trouble and too much work to get started and to put your foot in the door, so to speak, to be successful in this business.<br />
<br />
Or that it takes too long and it's too complicated to achieve a level of success. And this gardening and landscaping industry requires a lot of expertise.<br />
<br />
Actually that's not really the case. There is not too much trouble and it is not that complicated as some folks want to make it. Considering the vast resources of information available at your finger tips on the web related to the gardening industry, you can access anything you need in a mater of minutes.<br />
<br />
If you like gardening and working with nature it is fun and easy. It is relaxing, peaceful, enjoyable, and very rewarding. <br />
<br />
So don't hang around with the naysayers that will just hold you back from achieving your dreams! Think positive, dream, and act upon it. That's right, take action and keep going! Believe in yourself and in what you are doing.<br />
<br />
If you are reading this article, it means that you are interested in growing plants for a hobby or for profit, so you are at the right place and at the right time. <br />
<br />
It is never too late to start. And once you've started to grow your plants, let's find out how and where to sell them. Even if you don't have a large variety as of yet, you can still sell what you already have.<br />
<br />
First, make a little home made sign on a piece of plywood or cardboard and write on both sides of it 'Plants For Sale' and nail it on a stake that you drive in the ground in front of your property, so that it can be visible from both directions of the traffic.<br />
<br />
Set a table and fill it up with some plant material you have for sale, to create interest from your neighbors and the people that pass by. Or you can set them right on the ground, as long as the plants are visible. You'll be surprised how many will stop! People loves plants!<br />
<br />
If you grow some blooming plants, that would be a fantastic way to draw the buyers to your little plant growing and selling operation.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.borlovansnursery.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Hydr3G.jpg.jpg"><img alt=""The Pink Hydrangea" " class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-341" height="225" src="http://www.borlovansnursery.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Hydr3G.jpg-300x225.jpg" title="Hydr3G.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
<br />
Another way to sell your plants is to find a spot at an intersection with heavy traffic, preferable at a 4 way stop, or at traffic lights. While people stop they will look, and even if they don't stop right then at your stand, they are likely to come back or tell others about you!<br />
<br />
If you can't set up every day, try to be there on certain days of the week, so people will expect to see you at those particular days.<br />
<br />
Flea Markets are a great place to sell your plant material, since there are people that go though with the intent to buy. Once you get established and known for the quality and variety of plants you offer, you will build a healthy repeat business, that is priceless!<br />
<br />
You can also look to EBay and see for yourself the vast possibilities that they offer to sell your plant material. Of course, you'll have to be prepared to pay some hefty fees, and have the shipping supplies and other requirements in place to operate your business.<br />
<br />
Another way to sell your plants is to approach some local business and ask permission to sell in front of their store. This could work well for benefiting both; you and the owner of the business, by attracting some extra traffic to their store, that otherwise would not stop, if they were not attracted to your plants stand.<br />
<br />
Now you can see that it is not that hard or too complicated to sell your plant material for a profit. It is okay to have some doubts, but now since you know that it can be done, there is nothing to stand in your way, except you! <br />
<br />
This is true. It is not something that I read or heard about. I tried and experimented it myself, and I'm speaking as one who have done it and achieved a great level of success. It requires commitment, determination, and action.<br />
<br />
The possibilities of making a serious and steady income from growing plants is incredible! If you want it or not, you will have to grow and expand. Provided that you are taking good care of your plants they are growing while you sleeping, and you must step them up in larger containers, and sell for a higher price.<br />
<br />
Now since you have a pretty good idea as how and where to sell your plant material, I will write some articles to give you some ideas about what to grow to be more successful and profitable. <br />
<br />
We will talk about growing blooming plants, and specifically bedding plants. It is good to dream, make plans, stay informed and take action!<br />
<br />
Until next time, <br />
<br />
Mike Borlovan </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114519741840046730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327202272305326279.post-21430204615527368122011-10-12T12:16:00.000-07:002011-10-12T12:16:47.146-07:00What Shrubs Do You Need To Collect Cuttings For Your Rooting?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The answer to the question of what shrubs do you need to collect your cuttings from, for your rooting, is not that complicated. <br />
<br />
As I've suggested in the previous <a href="http://www.borlovansnursery.com/">article</a> the way to have a good start is to make cuttings off of some woody shrubs, that are many times readily available around your property, or your neighbors' and your friends' properties. <br />
<br />
I recommend the woody shrubs for the simple fact that the finished product does not need too much heating, or any heating at all. But while you root the cuttings, they will need a warm and humid environment to grow roots.<br />
<br />
As the little branches that you cut off from the mature shrub does not have any roots to feed through, they must feed somehow in order to live and grow roots on their own.<br />
<br />
Well, how do they do it? Very simple: they feed through the leaves, and that's why the cuttings will need to be sprinkled with a fine mist of water, and kept in a humid confinement, the greenhouse. They need water, light and heat.<br />
<br />
Provided that you have the source to collect the cuttings from, let's start with the number of cuttings you want, and then we proceed to the way you'll make the cuttings.<br />
<br />
But first make sure you have your cell trays filled up with fine potting soil, and sprinkle them until the cells are wet all the way down. And then you can start cutting the little branches from the mature shrubs.<br />
<br />
Let's assume you want to make cuttings from a winter green Boxwood shrub, or Korean Boxwood, and you want to fill up 10 trays of 72 cells, to obtain about 700 rooted plugs to start your plant operation business to sell plants for a profit. This is going to be a first step to create a steady income.<br />
<a href="http://www.borlovansnursery.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/boxwood-plugs1.jpg"><img alt=""The Boxwood Plug"" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-331" height="225" src="http://www.borlovansnursery.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/boxwood-plugs1-300x225.jpg" title="boxwood plugs" width="300" /></a><br />
That's a pretty good start and 10 trays shouldn't take that much room. The next batch of cuttings can be a different kind of shrub, like Compacta holly, Burford holly, Azalea Formosa, Hilleri Holly, Crape Myrtles, Weeping Willows, Wigelia, Wisteria, or any other shrubs and trees that could sell well in your area. <br />
<br />
The possibilities are too vast to mention them all in this article. But let's now just concentrate on the first batch of boxwood cuttings.<br />
<br />
To make the cuttings in a proper way, and to obtain the greatest number of rooted plugs, you need a good sharp knife. Do not use any scissors to make cuttings. Use a sharp knife and cut the little branches in a slanted manner at about 45 degrees. <br />
<br />
You want to select the tips of the shrub branches that are not too hard nor too soft or too green. Kind of in between. You want to cut them just a little lower from the point where it turned green, in the brown portion of the branch. <br />
<br />
In other words they should not be too mature nor too tender green. You will get used to it as you go, and it will produce a greater and faster amount of rooted cuttings.<br />
<br />
Once you collected the desired number of cuttings, sit down in the shade, and pinch off the lower leaves at the portion that you'll stick in the dirt, and leave only the upper leaves above the soil. You should also cut off the tips to encourage branching. <br />
<br />
Now start sticking the lower part of the cuttings in the soil, and pack gently the dirt around them to eliminate any air pockets and for the steams to contact the soil.<br />
<br />
Set them in the shade or your greenhouse and mist the leaves every 1 to 2 hours for several days. Make sure they get enough light and some source of heating to keep them warm. <br />
<br />
After several weeks, you will notice the little roots coming out from the bottom of the trays. They are not ready yet! You don't have to water them that often now, but keep them wet, not soggy, and never let them dry out completely.<br />
<br />
At this point you can apply some light liquid Miracle growth fertilizer, or some granulated micro-nutrients on top of the soil, and the little plants will turn in a nice vibrant green. <br />
<br />
It's a good start! Once they developed a good root ball, they are ready to be stepped up in some 4 to 5 inch plastic round or square containers, and as they grow, when they become a little root bound, you step them up in 1 Gallon containers.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.borlovansnursery.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Boxwood2.5in.jpg"><img alt=""Boxwood In Container"" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-337" height="225" src="http://www.borlovansnursery.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Boxwood2.5in-300x225.jpg" title="Boxwood2.5in" width="300" /></a><br />
<br />
At this point they are ready for sale. In order to stimulate bushing and branching, you'll need to trim the tips off. The more you trim the bushier they get.<br />
<br />
Every time you step them up in a larger container, apply some slow release fertilizer, like osmocote or other fertilizers available at your local Garden Centers.<br />
<br />
That's how you should do with any other woody shrubs cuttings you want to start growing. It is a lot of fun and at the same time you can create a wonderful source of income.<br />
<br />
Another easy to start and grow plant that is in a pretty great demand on the market, is the weeping willow tree. These weeping willows love water, and their majestic weeping branches waving in the wind, are creating an awesome accent in any landscape.<br />
<br />
These can be rooted in some one gallon plastic containers filled with sand, and watered well and often. Just stick some short branches or switches in the sand and set them in the shade or greenhouse.<br />
<br />
If properly watered they are growing fast, and ready for sale in several months. <br />
<br />
As you become better on rooting cuttings, and you enjoy doing it, you can sell them by the trays to the gardening people to grow their own finished products. <br />
<br />
In the next article I will offer some suggestions as where to sell your finished <a href="http://www.borlovansnursery.com/">plant products</a>.<br />
<br />
Until next time, for your success, dare to take action!<br />
<br />
Mike Borlovan<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114519741840046730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327202272305326279.post-15344785053002169492011-10-12T12:12:00.000-07:002011-10-12T12:12:17.791-07:00How To Make Rooted Cuttings To Growing Plants To Sell For A Living<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The rooted cuttings to start growing your own plants and selling them to make a good living, is the most economical way to start, and it makes more sense.<br />
<br />
Of course for a faster start, if you don't have the time and the means to root the cuttings yourself, or you don't have the stock to harvest your cuttings from, you can purchase rooted cuttings readily available from Wholesale Nurseries locally or on the internet.<br />
<br />
That would be a faster process to achieve a finish product for sale to the public. The rooted cuttings usually are grown in cell trays of 36, 50, 72, or other sizes, that are also called plugs. <br />
<br />
The prices per tray or per plug varies as there are so many sources available where you have a chance to shop around and compare prices. <br />
<br />
This alternative is preferable if you want to save time, because the rooting process could take 6 to 8 weeks or even longer for some <a href="http://www.borlovansnursery.com/">varieties of plants</a>.<br />
<br />
Another alternative for plant propagation is by seeds, and the little plants obtained by sowing seeds are called seedlings.<br />
<br />
If you love blooming bedding plants, you might want to wait until late winter, very close to the spring season, to start them by seeds and have them readily available as a finished product for sale just in time for planting season.<br />
<br />
Since a lot of gardeners and nature loving people have been cooped up indoors in a long winter, they are itching to get out in the garden and plant those vibrant color spring bedding plants. Therefore, the bedding plants operations are very profitable and fun. <br />
<br />
I will tell you about it in a separate article about how to grow and sell bedding plants. It is going to be awesome!<br />
<br />
In any situation you've got to have the right environment to achieve the starter plants in order to have a reasonable number of plants to make any income. But no mater what you choose to do, to start the plant plugs or seedlings, you'll need a greenhouse.<br />
<br />
Nevertheless, if you are living in a warm climate, you probably don't even need a greenhouse, and you can start your rooting and sowing process in a shady location under some trees, as long as you have the water source close by.<br />
<br />
In other situations where the region you are living in has cold weather and freezing temperatures, the plants will need protection. You will need a good greenhouse to grow them and protect the young plants from the elements. <br />
<br />
But the rooting and sowing process should be started in the spring and early summer. You can root the cuttings even in the winter if you heat the greenhouse and create the proper temperature for the plants to catch roots. <br />
<br />
That is for the larger professional operations that can afford it and are aiming for large production of plant material. You can achieve that too, if you'll stick with this business long enough and grow as you go. <br />
<br />
Once you start it, you will expand, if you want to or not. If you want to increase your income you will have to expand. <br />
<br />
I've started with a small humble 10x30 greenhouse, and in about 3 years I've ended up with a 10 Acres vibrant Nursery operation with lots of greenhouses, irrigation systems, two deep commercial submersible pumps, plenty ground covers for the finished plant material, and then after another 3 years I expanded with a nice profitable Landscaping Division.<br />
<a href="http://www.borlovansnursery.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/sweet-olive-3g.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-318" height="225" src="http://www.borlovansnursery.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/sweet-olive-3g-300x225.jpg" title="sweet olive 3g" width="300" /></a><br />
With hard work and dedication you can become successful in this plant growing business in a relatively short period of time. <br />
<br />
As the time will permit I will continue to write these articles relevant to the plants growing and selling for profit business, I will suggest different methods of selling your finished plant material both, wholesale to Garden Centers, Landscapers, and retail to the general public. <br />
<br />
In a special article I will try to tell you my story, how I started, what kind of resources I've used, the obstacles I've encountered and how can you avoid them by learning from my mistakes.<br />
<br />
But for now lets talk about the subject of how to start with the rooted cuttings: to grow them yourself or to buy them from other sources.<br />
<br />
This depends on your possibilities and the time that you have available or if you want to wait until the little cuttings will grow roots.<br />
<br />
Once you have build your little greenhouse, and purchased a few cell trays, fine potting soil to fill the cell trays with, then you are ready to harvest some cuttings to start propagating by roots.<br />
<br />
For a greater success and a faster rooting process you will need some root hormone to deep the cuttings in, before you stick them in the cell trays. However, you can root the cuttings without the root hormones, so it's not really strictly necessary. Who knows, you might already have a "green thumb".<br />
<br />
We joke around here when we talk about my wife that if she sticks a dry stick in the ground it will catch roots. I tell you, does she have a "green thumb" or what!<br />
<br />
Before you do that you have to decide what kind of plants you want to propagate and sell. As I've suggested in the previous article, it would be a good idea to start with the woody evergreen shrubs that don't need heating in the winter.<br />
<br />
Just have everything ready and in the next article I'll talk about how and where to collect the cuttings from, and how to cut and make them ready to stick them in the rooting cells.<br />
<br />
In the meantime just make sure you are working on building your first greenhouse and have it ready. If you do it right, this thing will grow wings and there's no telling where and how far can it take you!<br />
<br />
Just stick with me and get your <a href="http://www.borlovansnursery.com/">hands dirty for a profit</a>, and a good one, too!<br />
<br />
Until the next article,<br />
<br />
Mike Borlovan<br />
<br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114519741840046730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327202272305326279.post-63718890010439024662011-10-12T12:07:00.000-07:002011-10-12T12:07:21.746-07:00How to Grow Plants In A Small Space To Make A Good Living?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">This article is about how to grow plants in a small space and make a good living. Even if you have a larger place it is still wise to start small and grow as you go.<br />
<br />
If you have fallen on some hard times, like we all do once in a while, loosing your job, trying hard to make ends meet and pay your bills that never seem to go away, then this could be your way out! You never know.<br />
<br />
In other words if you feel like you are in a crises, and you've exhausted all attempts to find a job to get on your feet, but no success, then you might want to consider this rather easy to start business, that require very little investment.<br />
<br />
That is if you look at the situation and conclude that it is hopeless, and you just ran out of ideas. <br />
<br />
But remember, there is always hope and opportunity even in crises, and in hard times. Sometimes we have no idea what resources we have inside of us, if we would just stop for a moment and look around in search for some way of getting ahead, we'll be surprised of what we could be capable of achieving, just by trying and not seating idle.<br />
<br />
Getting back to our article subject about how to grow plants for a profit in a small space, it could be easier than you've ever thought. With a strong will and determination you can do it!<br />
<br />
And believe me, I'm talking about my own experience, it is not something I've just read about. I have done it myself. So I know pretty much what it takes and I also know for a fact that it can be done!<br />
<br />
It is almost impossible to write everything about this vast subject in a single article, but if you stick with me for a while, I will explain the best I can in a series of articles related to this very subject.<br />
<br />
Please notice that I'm not trying to sell you anything! This article is simply to help you get some ideas of how to start this plants growing business, and where to begin. Growing and selling garden and landscaping plants for a profit, even from your own backyard, is easy.<br />
<br />
And let me tell you a little secret of mine. I've been involved in the sales business most of my life. And at times when nothing else seemed to sell, plant material always were selling! <br />
<br />
There is something about gardening, that many people find pleasurable and enjoyable just to get away in the tranquility of their little paradise! <br />
<br />
And another thing about growing plants is that they never talk back! He, he, he! They just grow while you sleep. Isn't that nice! <br />
<br />
But let's get to it orderly and in a step by step fashion to achieve this simple start up business of growing plants to make a good living, as much as the size of this article will permit.<br />
<br />
First you need some space, be it a small space or a larger one if you have available. If you have a back yard and a front yard, you'll need to start your growing operation in the back, and a small sales space in the front if you can.<br />
<br />
Or you can sell the shrubs and seedlings from the back yard as long as you let your friends and neighbors know that you have plants for sale. There are many other ways to sell plant material, that I'm going to explain in another article.<br />
<br />
Now let's get started by choosing a nice sunny spot in the back yard, where you want to place a small greenhouse. <br />
<br />
When you choose the spot, there are a few considerations to keep account of: <br />
<br />
1) A close source of water. That's a must. You can not grow anything without water. <br />
<br />
2) A plot that is level and not too sloppy. <br />
<br />
3) The plot should be clear of rocks, tree roots protruding from the ground, and free of grass and weeds. <br />
<br />
If you can get some gravel for the ground base that would be perfect. If not, a roll of ground cover from your hardware store would be great, to keep the weeds from growing in your greenhouse.<br />
<br />
4) Build a small greenhouse. This is not as hard as you might think. You can build it on the cheap, with very little investment. <br />
<br />
A) Mark the spot that you prepared for the greenhouse in the 4 corners with stakes. Let's say you have a small space of about 40 x 20, or 20 x 50, or 30 x 10. It doesn't matter.<br />
<br />
B) Measure from the extreme stakes in diagonal from one corner to the other: adjust the stake in the ground accordingly, to make sure the whole layout is a perfect rectangular shape. This will make it easier for you when you'll cover your greenhouse.<br />
<br />
C) Drive in the ground some treated 2 x 4's pieces of about 3' long, on the sides, front, and back of the greenhouse in a straight line, leaving 1 foot above the ground. The distance between the 2 x 4's depends on the size of your greenhouse. I would drive them in the ground at about 4 feet apart.<br />
<br />
D) Get some 1x4x10 and nail them against the 2x4 driven in the ground at the base level, all around the frame of the greenhouse, to have something to staple the plastic film cover. (After you covered the greenhouse, nail a strip of 1x2 alongside and on top of plastic film and the 1x4, to keep the plastic cover from being snapped up by the wind.) <br />
<br />
E) Get some 20' long PVC water pipes 1.5" or 2" diameter, with a schedule 20 or 30. They are more flexible and easier to work with to create several bows. Doesn't have to be schedule 40. <br />
<br />
F) Fasten the ends of the pipes to the 2 x 4 that you've driven in the ground, using nails or brackets from the hardware store. Make sure the end of the pipe bows are well fastened to the 2x4 that' driven in the ground.<br />
<br />
G) Get some scrap wood of 2x4 and 1x4 to build some kind of frame in the front and back of your greenhouse to enable you to fasten the plastic cover. Make sure you have doors in the back and front for access and air circulation. <br />
<br />
The doors can be made of light frames with 1x2's or 2x4's and covered with plastic film. And have a pair of hinges on each door. <br />
<br />
Once you've fastened the end of the pipes across on each pair of 2x4's making a bow, you are ready to cover your greenhouse.<br />
<br />
G) Buy a roll of clear plastic film, 3 or 4 mil is preferable, about the size of your greenhouse. Now you are ready to cover your new project to house your rooted cuttings and seedlings. <br />
<br />
Before you start rooting your own starter plants, it would be a good idea to just buy a few from an online or local Nursery source, just to get you started. <br />
<br />
You are going to need this Greenhouse to grow and protect your rooted cuttings and/or seedlings during the winter time. You want to buy and grow the kind of woody shrubs and tree plants that do not require heating in the winter, only some protection from the elements while they are still young.<br />
<br />
We'll talk about the rooted cuttings and the seedlings a little later. For now we are working on a little greenhouse made of cheap materials, many times available around the yard. The PVC water pipe system is inexpensive, is pretty flexible and it will withstand the wind.<br />
<br />
You need to put them to good use. It's so easy, and very achievable and profitable, too.<br />
<br />
If you really need to get to some money faster, you can locate some reasonable wholesalers of plant materials in your area, and start buying and selling for a profit.<br />
<br />
In the autumn and winter people buy shrubs and dormant trees to give the plants time to get established in the ground for the next growing season. So plants are selling anytime.<br />
<br />
Another thing you want to look for, is to find some source of used plastic pots and trays from some Nurseries around your area, or from some large department stores that have a Garden Center section. Many times they give them for free or very cheap. Just ask around. <br />
<br />
Get a feel of it, and in the meantime you can start to google all you can, to learn about plants and the Nursery business, as much as possible. Or just read our <a href="http://www.borlovansnursery.com/">nursery</a> related articles.<br />
<br />
In the following articles we'll be talking about how to collect and root your own starter plants, how to water and fertilize, and a lot more related to this growing plants business in a small space for profit.<br />
<br />
Until next time, keep your hands dirty, and <a href="http://www.borlovansnursery.com/">profit</a> from it!<br />
<br />
Mike Borlovan <br />
<br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114519741840046730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327202272305326279.post-69291119154029381932011-10-12T11:57:00.000-07:002011-10-12T11:57:01.628-07:00How To Compost With Red Worms For Organic Gardening<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Composting with Red Wrigglers Worms or European Night-crawlers, is the most effective way to obtain the most fertile nutrient naturally available for ages on earth for a truly fertile and highly productive garden soil.<br />
<br />
I was always a believer in composting for a successful gardening regardless of its size. Especially if you are an organic gardening minded person and you want to take advantage of the health benefits that the fruits and vegetables you are eating are grown in an all natural organic garden.<br />
<br />
In my past articles about composting I was writing mostly about composting with leaves, grass clippings and other vegetation available in abundance around the home. And I was also writing about the little invisible creatures that exist naturally and are making the composting possible.<br />
<br />
The little microbes and the good bacteria that are feeding on decomposing mater, along with the oxygen in the air that create the right environment for the process of decomposing to take place.<br />
<br />
But now is the time to write about a very essential part that the red wrigglers earthworms are playing in the composting of a lot of materials and food scraps that can be turned into a very rich and consistent organic fertilizer available of abundance, if done properly.<br />
<br />
The Red Wrigglers are considered the most effective of all the rest of the worms for composting, because they are known to eat 24 hours a day, they eat most any vegetable scraps from the kitchen, that otherwise would be thrown into the garbage can. Each red worm can eat its body weight of food every day.<br />
<br />
The Red Wrigglers reproduce fast, and in the right environment and a proper feeding they can double in number every 2 month.<br />
<br />
In some future articles I will try to go in more details about Red wrigglers and other beneficial earth worms for the process of composting. How to prepare a worm bin for a red worm farm, that can be kept in your kitchen under the sink, or a utility room.<br />
<br />
All this in an inexpensive and very affordable way with the Do It Yourself in mind, that can be accomplished rather easily by anyone interested in going green and composting for an organic gardening.<br />
<br />
Just imagine feeding the red worms with the garbage that you would otherwise dispose of, and the little worms will transform it in "black gold" for you!<br />
<br />
That "black gold" is called worm castings. It is a known fact that worm castings are one of natures finest plant nutrients: it is 7 times richer in phosphates, 5 times richer in nitrogen and 11 times richer in potash than the average lawn soil.<br />
<br />
Besides the food scraps from the kitchen, these red worms will eat old shredded newspaper, any computer shredded paper, card-boards, egg cartons, egg shells, grass clippings, rotten leaves, coffee filters, coffee grinds, fruits and vegetable peelings, and more.<br />
<br />
Now remember this; adding Red Wrigglers or European Night-crawlers to your garden, lawn, or compost pile is one of the smartest and most effective, environmentally friendly action you will ever take.<br />
<br />
Each worm produces its own weight in castings per day. The way they multiply it is not going to be long before you will have an abundance of the finest prime natural organic fertilizer you can get for your garden, your lawn, your ornamental plants, your herb garden or your house plants.<br />
<br />
In future articles I will explain how you can use the castings, and how to make the highly nutrient 'castings tea', to be applied and fed to your plants. There is going to be a lot of good information.<br />
<br />
Just make sure you come back often, and see how you can use these ideas for your gardening projects.<br />
<br />
Until next time,<br />
<br />
Happy Gardening (and composting of course), with Red Wrigglers.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Mike Borlovan<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114519741840046730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327202272305326279.post-77948516315704884702010-10-22T08:47:00.000-07:002010-10-22T08:47:36.638-07:00How to Make Money at Home Growing Small Landscape Plants on 1/20 Acre or Less<h2 align="center" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: #660033; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', 'Times New Roman', Times; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">How to Make Money at Home Growing Small Landscape Plants on 1/20 Acre or Less </span></h2><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br />
by Michael J. McGroarty </span></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br />
</span></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">You are welcome to use this article on your website or in your newsletter as long as you reprint it as is, including the contact information at the end. You must include an active link back to the author's website, as well as an active link back to </span><a href="http://gardening-articles.com/" style="color: #993300;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">http://gardening-articles.com<br />
</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Small town, big town, it doesn’t matter, if you have a small area in your backyard that you can use for planting, then you can make money growing small plants at home. Actually you can make pretty good money on 1/40 of one acre. That’s an area about 30 feet by 40 feet. </span></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br />
</span></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">You will be amazed at how many plants you can fit in an area that small, and at how much money you can make. Even apartment dwellers can do this! If you live in an apartment, just to get a feel for how fun and rewarding a tiny nursery can be, find somebody with a little piece of ground that they will either let you use, let you rent it, or do a joint venture with you. </span></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br />
</span></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Is there really a market for small plants? The market is huge, something like 4 billion dollars last year alone, and the demand is tremendous. As a small grower, you have a tremendous advantage over the larger nurseries, their overhead is very high. As a backyard grower yours will be almost nothing. </span></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br />
</span></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">You might be asking; "I live in a small town in a rural area, how many plants can I really sell?"</span></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', 'Times New Roman', Times;"><br />
</div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Tens of thousands if you want to. Most people don’t realize it, but large wholesale growers are the largest buyers of small plants in the country. They sell so many plants that they just can not produce them fast enough themselves, so they buy them from where ever they can find them. Just pack them up in a cardboard box and ship them anywhere you want. </span></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br />
</span></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">I routinely buy large quantities of small plants and have them shipped thousands of miles to my house. Why do I buy plants if I know how to grow them myself? There are a lot of reasons, but one is because I am impatient and don’t like to grow Japanese Maples from seed. I can buy Japanese Maple seedlings for as little as 75¢ and all I have to do is pot them up and watch them grow. </span></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br />
</span></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">I also buy large quantities of flowering shrubs that I would like to start propagating myself. I buy them for 50¢, pot them up, and often sell them the next year for $4.97. But in the mean time I take cuttings from them to propagate for next year’s crop. Then I never have to buy that variety again.<br />
<br />
Those are the same reasons that many wholesale nurseries are always looking for great deals on small plants. When they find someone like you, growing in their backyard they are delighted, because they know they can buy what they need for less money from a small backyard grower than they can if they buy from a large nursery. </span></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br />
</span></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">It only stands to reason, your overhead is almost nothing, you don’t have to raise the price of your plants to pay for buildings, hundreds of acres of land, trucks, tractors, and dozens of employees. </span></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><b><u>How much money do you need to get started? </u></b></span></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br />
</span></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Almost none. All you have to do is root some cuttings, and you’re on your way! There are dozens of easy plant propagation techniques that are so easy to learn that young children can do them, and with great success I might add.<br />
</span></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">This propagation information is available to you free of charge at</span><a href="http://www.freeplants.com/" style="color: #993300;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">www.freeplants.com</span></a></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">The size of the area you need to get started is really up to you, but an area about the size of a picnic table is a start. I’m serious. I root my cuttings in flats that are about 12” by 15”, and can get between 100 and 150 cuttings per flat. In an area about the size of a picnic table you should be able to root several thousand cuttings at a time.<br />
<br />
And guess what? As soon as they are well rooted, they have a value and can be sold immediately! Isn’t that cool? Typically a rooted cutting is worth about 50¢. Let’s see now, 1500 cuttings at 50¢ each, that’s $750.!!! <b>Wow</b>!!! The wheels should be turning now. </span></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br />
</span></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">But you don't have to sell 50¢ plants, you can grow them until they’re bigger and get more money for them. That’s what I do, I pot them up in small pots and they sell like crazy right from my driveway at $4.97 each. <br />
<br />
This spring we sold over $25,000. worth of $4.97 plants right from our driveway. One the people that bought my Backyard Nursery E-book held a sale this spring and sold $2,800. worth of plants her first weekend. She was ecstatic! Of course we also sold plants for much more than that. I used to grow Japanese </span></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br />
</span></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Red Maples and we sold those for $45. each, and they sold like hot cakes! </span></div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">This is one of the most fun and rewarding home businesses you could ever get involved in. My kids have learned work ethics, the value of a dollar, and skills that will last them a lifetime. Anytime they needed a little extra money all they had to do was step out the back door and earn the money they need. </span></div><div align="left" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br />
</span></div><div align="left" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">It costs very little to get started, and the rewards can be quite high.<br />
</span></div><div align="left" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">It’s certainly not a get rich quick plan (because there is no such thing!), but plenty of people have done very well in the nursery business. All it takes is determination and hard work. You can learn it as you go along. It’s much easier than you think.</span></div><div align="left" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br />
</span></div><div align="left" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Michael J. McGroarty is the author of this article. Visit his most interesting website, </span><a href="http://www.freeplants.com/" style="color: #993300;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">http://www.freeplants.com</span></a> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">and sign up for his excellent gardening newsletter. Article provided by, </span><a href="http://gardening-articles.com/" style="color: #993300;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">http://gardening-articles.com</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">. If you use this article the above two links must be active. <a href="http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?af=1255729">http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?af=1255729</a></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114519741840046730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327202272305326279.post-15671455892525550092010-08-14T09:03:00.000-07:002010-08-14T09:03:07.119-07:00How To Landscape The Front Of Your HomeThis article about <strong>How to Landscape</strong> the front of your home, is written with the "do-it-yourself" in mind, and is intended to show all that you basically need to apply, with simple principles and basic elements for accomplishing the best results possible in making your landscape, outstanding.<br />
<br />
<br />
After many years of experience in the Nursery and Landscaping field, you get to the point, maybe by intuition, when you are called out to give an estimate, you pretty much could tell how is it going to look when it is finished, and how much is it going to cost, just by looking at the house. It becomes such a routine, but still, each and every house has it's own characteristics, and I would adventure to say, personality. Every project is different, though, and that is why is more interesting.<br />
<br />
One reason the character and the personality of a home might be unique in many instances, because of the color and the position of the house on the rough landscape, and many other factors.<br />
<br />
Now, that was not always the case. When I'm thinking of my first projects, many years ago, I remember struggling a lot to do my utmost best to create and design the best landscaping plan possible to get the job, and to build my reputation as a landscaper. That was not an easy task, and it was always a challenge. There are several principles and elements in the landscaping design, that you have to keep in mind, and to apply in order to do a good job. <br />
<br />
The element of form, the shape of the "line", the size of the landscape relative to the size of the property, and many other principles and elements that you need to keep account of when designing a <em>landscape</em> project.<br />
<br />
The purpose of this article is not really to give any definition of the landscaping, or to complicate things in any way, but rather to help the home owners to create their own <strong>project</strong>, in this case, intended mostly for the front of the house.<br />
<br />
Concentrating on the very front of the house, is essential to pay attention to every little detail, since that is the part of your landscape that will decide the character of your real estate, and the first impression for the visitors. Just think of a painting, where the front yard is your canvas, you are the artist, and you must decide the "colors". That's another important element for your landscape project in order to be a success! The colors!<br />
<br />
Another important element in designing a landscaping project, is the "lines" in the shaping of the planting surfaces. I believe that for a nice aesthetic design, the lines play a significant role. For myself it always played a very significant role. I also believe that it played a very important part in the success of many of my landscaping projects, the using of curve lines in most of my landscape designs. No matter from what angle you are looking at a curved line design, it will always look beautiful! <br />
<br />
I personally, never liked to use too many straight lines when designing the planting space right next to the front of the house. Only if I did not have a choice, like when there was a walkway from the front door and turning to the left or to the right of the house at 90 degrees in a straight line, not too far from the wall of the house. It was always working better when the walkway was straight from the front door towards the street, to the Mail Box. Or if it turned anywhere farther away from the immediate vicinity of the home itself. <br />
<br />
Thus, I had plenty room to play with my preferred curve lines in my design.<br />
<br />
It always worked and looked much better when I was using curved lines, starting from the side of the house, where usually there is an AC unit, at the left side or the right side of the house. It doesn't really matter. I hope that you can envision the design as we go along in describing the shape of the planting space.<br />
<br />
Here we go!<br />
<br />
Drawing a curve line in such a way as to hide the AC unit with a few taller shrubs, coming with a fine curved line to the corner of the house, and expanding the line in a loop shape, to give you the chance to plant a little tree to kind of frame the house with some accent planting, on both extreme corners of the house. <br />
<br />
Then from that loop line at the corner, I was drawing a curve line allowing room for other shrubs and blooming perennials, bedding plants and some ornamental grasses, as accent planting, going towards the front door to the walkway. Right here, next to the walkway, on both sides of it, I planted another little tree, a topiary or any other tall shrub, for the purpose of framing the landscape, to give it some character and again, accent. The right front side of the house will perfectly mirror the left front side.<br />
<br />
Now in between the two corners and the taller trees or topiary plants next to the walkway, you can plant some low maintenance shrubs, about 16 to 24 inches from the wall, and about 2 to 3 feet apart, as foundation planting. These can be Compacta Hollies, Korean Boxwood, Indian Hawthorne, or any other low maintenance shrubs that you like.<br />
<br />
Right in front of this row of shrubs that is called the "foundation planting", you can plant in a staggered fashion, so that the back row next to the wall should be visible, some other low growing shrubs, like Yaupons, Helleri, Soft Touch, or any other shrubs that you like. Right in front of the second row of shrubs, as a border, plant some ornamental grass like green or variegated Liriope, Aztec grass, etc. for some nice color variations. <br />
<br />
For some nice colors, plant a few bedding plants of your choice, and as they are seasonal, you can always change the colors as you please. This should create a nice unique character to your home.<br />
<br />
But wait, I've got ahead of myself, jumping too fast to the planting faze! Assuming that you draw all this on a sheet of paper, you pretty much have the lay out of how your finish project is going to look like. At least you have a pretty good idea.<br />
<br />
Now let's mark our project on the ground, and see how is it going to work out. First let's start with the side of the house, where the AC unit is located, be it on the left or right side of the house. Or if the unit is on the back side, then you don't have to worry about it, for now. Only if, and when you will start working on your back yard landscaping.<br />
<br />
So, we going to take a flexible water hose, and lay it down in a nice curve line, from the back corner of the house coming towards the front corner, and forming the loop we were talking about. Make it large enough so the loop will accommodate one tree, and three low growing shrubs for a group planting right in front of the tree. I hope you get the picture.<br />
<br />
Continue to go with the hose, in a nice curve (again) expanding the line just a little away from the house, to have room to accommodate the shrubs and the rest of the plants described above. Go all the way to the walkway, and end the line a little towards the street, to make room for your next accent tree or topiary.<br />
<br />
Look at the lay out of this side of the house, from different angles, and adjust the line until you like what you see. It's not really much to see, yet, but you'll have a pretty good idea. Once you are satisfied with the lay out, mark the line with a landscape spray can, that you can find at the hardware store, and do exactly the same thing on the other side of the house.<br />
<br />
Now is the time to measure and see how many plants you going to need. Keep account of the distance you will need between the plants, and then figure out how many can you accommodate, not to make it too crowded, nor too bare. It should be a nice balance, pleasant to the beholder. Remember, this is your work of art, and it should make you very proud!<br />
<br />
The hardest part is over! Now let's get our hands dirty, and let the fun begin! <br />
<br />
So, the beautiful lay out of our plan is done, let's clean the ground of any rocks and debris and if necessary, let's add some amendments, like cow manure, several bags, some good fertilizer, and spread it on the top, and till it in the dirt. Rake it nicely, and now you can buy the plants, from your preferred Garden Center.<br />
<br />
Water the plants until you have time to start planting. The fun part is just about to start!<br />
<br />
Lay the plants in their position, and look at the entire picture once again, from different angles. Move the plants as many times as you like, while they are still in pots, until you are fully satisfied as how your landscape is going to look.<br />
<br />
Once you have them all in place, leave them right there, and just pull away just one at a time, and dig the hole, and plant your trees and shrubs one by one. Dig the hole large enough so that the roots have room to expand.<br />
<br />
Note: under no circumstance should you put any fertilizer in contact with the roots at planting time! This is very important! Sometimes in our eagerness to make the plants grow faster then they should, we put fertilizer to the roots, and that will burn the roots, and the plants will surely die! Best way to fertilize with, is what we call "top dress" with slow release fertilizers. Let mother nature do the job, and we should not force anything on it.<br />
<br />
Once you planted all the plants, is time to apply the mulch, about 2 to 3 inches deep, and this should ad a phenomenal beauty and neatness to your landscape project!<br />
<br />
Make a nice little flower bed around your mail box, mulch it as well, and plant strategically for even greater accent some nice ornamental trees, in the rest of your front yard.<br />
<br />
Once planting is done, water well and make sure that you water slowly so that the water penetrates down to the roots. Just a sprinkle on the top of the soil is not going to be enough. Remember, your new plants just moved in, and they need time to accommodate in their new location. So, please, make them feel right at Home!<br />
<br />
If you like this article, and it has helped you in any way, please leave a comment, and help me to improve my service, to you, the readers. Your following me on this blog, is highly appreciated!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://borlovans-nursery.blogspot.com/">http://borlovans-nursery.blogspot.com/</a><br />
<br />
Until next time, Happy Gardening!<br />
<br />
Mike BorlovanAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114519741840046730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327202272305326279.post-4019332172552350632010-08-12T09:32:00.000-07:002010-08-12T09:32:51.328-07:00How To Grow Herbs Inside In ContainersHow to grow herbs inside in containers, for year round use.<br />
<br />
<br />
If you like herbs and you want to spice up your cooking and salads, it is possible to have them year round whenever you want to use them. Just reach to your windowsill, and pinch off a few leaves of the herbs you grow, and enjoy the best and freshest flavor you can think of.<br />
<br />
There is a pretty vast list of how many herbs you can grow, but you can just choose the ones that you really like and use in your kitchen, whenever you like, when you have company over, and you are sure to impress them, as you will get a lot of compliments on your cooking. <br />
<br />
The herbs are grown from seeds, and there are annual, perennial, and biennial herbs. A few examples of annual herbs first, would be some that are most commonly used, but you can pick any you love the most.<br />
<br />
Arugula Astro, Arugula Rocket, Basil Caesar, Basil Picolino, Basil Pluto, Basil Sweet Dani, Basil Siam Queen, Cilantro Santo, Dill Bouquet, Dill Fernleaf, Sweet Marjoram, etc.<br />
<br />
Perennial herbs: Garlic Chives, Lemon Balm, Oregano, Peppermint, Rosemary, Green Sage, Winter Thyme, etc.<br />
<br />
Biennial herbs: Parsley Banquet, Parsley Forest Green, Parsley Plain Italian Dark Green, etc.<br />
<br />
These are just a few examples of the many herbs you can choose to grow.<br />
<br />
As I mentioned above that the herbs are grown from seeds, here is how to grow them.<br />
<br />
Like in any gardening, be it outdoors or indoors, the first and most important faze is the preparation of the soil. This is the base and the place where the seeds are buried, and germinate to spring to life, and the place to live. So some basic conditions are essential and they must be met. And the soil is very important to be of the best quality possible, if we want to succeed, and create the best environment for the the plants to live in.<br />
<br />
The soil must be of a good quality, nutritious, rich in minerals, for the plants to develop and grow healthy. Remember, these herbs are edible, not just some ornamental plants. You are going to use them in your food.<br />
<br />
For the herb seeds, it is necessary to have a fine peat-moss blend of soil with micro-nutrients for a good start, from your local Garden Center. If you are going to grow them in a windowsill, for the source of sun light, the preferred size of the plastic pots would be 4 to 6 inch wide, round or square.<br />
<br />
Once you have the soil, the pots and the seeds, that's all you need to start your indoor herb garden.<br />
<br />
Fill the containers with the soil all the way up to the lip of the pot, leaving about half inch from the very top of the pot. Take a pinch of herb seeds, and drop them evenly on the top of the soil. Cover the seeds very thinly with soil, and with a fine mist water the soil slowly, to make sure the water penetrates down in the soil. Set them on the windowsill, and you are done. Water and keep the soil moist. Do not let it dry out completely! In a few days, you will see the little herb plants sprouting out of the soil.<br />
<br />
Once the herbs have grown to a certain height, keep watering, but make sure that you water gently, by poring the water in a corner of the pot, so that only the soil gets wet. The herb plants are still tender, so be gentle with them.<br />
<br />
If you like spicy hot food, you can grow some hot peppers in a pot. But you need only one seed, and it would be better to start the pepper seeds in a cell pack, like a jumbo 6 pack. Once the seed sprouted and they have some real leaves, you can transplant the pepper plant in a 6 inch size pot or larger.<br />
<br />
Another solution for the indoor garden is a 'garden tub', if you prefer to have just one long tub with all the herbs in one confinement. so, once the herbs developed enough, you can move them in the garden tub (in size like the width of the windowsill), one by one.<br />
<br />
Fill up the tub with the same fine soil, and take each herb out of the original pot, with the soil intact, and plant it in the tub. Keep your little garden watered, and just keep it moist, not soggy, and do not let the herbs dry out completely. <br />
<br />
Now you have a beautiful aromatic, flavorous garden at your finger tips. Enjoy the freshest and most tasteful flavour that you ever have experienced in your salads, and your specialty cooking.<br />
<br />
Pinch some leaves whenever you like and live well and healthy. These herbs are very rich in vitamins and minerals, and that's a fact.<br />
<br />
Happy indoor gardening!<br />
<br />
Until next time,<br />
<br />
Grand-paw MikeAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114519741840046730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327202272305326279.post-22892346196453730982010-07-31T10:17:00.000-07:002010-07-31T10:17:37.012-07:00How To Start A Vegetable GardenHow To Start A Vegetable Garden?<br />
<br />
In these days when our economy is in shambles, with no hope in site of improving any time soon, we need to think of cutting our grocery bills, and at the same time to eat healthier and better.<br />
<br />
Just think about having your own vegetable garden where you can pluck them out with your own hand, fresh and full of <strong>vitamins</strong> and <strong>minerals</strong>, there is nothing really, to compare or even come close to it. They taste better and they are much more nutritious than the produce that is shipped and travels long distance. <br />
<br />
For convenience, you probably shop at the supermarket to buy your fruits and vegetables, but honestly, they just cannot compare with what you can grow and eat raw or cooked from your own garden. <br />
<br />
If you never had the experience to make your garden yet, and all you have eaten was the produce from your local supermarket, or from the roadside <em>fruit</em> stand, than you are missing out and you owe it to yourself, to think very seriously to start your own garden, if you really want to eat fresh and healthy, and at the same time save some mullah. It is not really that hard, and it sure is not complicated at all. And once you have it, you'll be glad you did.<br />
<br />
Just think of the benefits to be outdoors, in nature to enjoy the fresh air, and work in the tranquility of your little paradise. Not withstanding the free exercise you are getting in the process. That's good for your body, mind, and soul. Work with your family, have your children involved, they are going to love it. <br />
<br />
And you want to do it right. So it is a good idea to make a little plan, and stick to it.<br />
First, choose a good sunny spot, where you don't get too much shade or no shade at all if possible, and the plot should be free of rocks or debris. The vegetable plants take full sun. But it should be close enough to the house to be able to water with a hose hooked to a spigot, when you need to water if and when it's not raining.<br />
<br />
<strong>Preparing the soil</strong>:<br />
<br />
The preparation of the soil is very important, and your success will very much depend on how you prepare the site. If the soil is clay or sandy and lacks nutrients, it must be amended and enriched with composted material, like cow manure, organic fertilizer and minerals if needed. The darker the soil the better. for a garden to strive, the soil needs to have humus. To make it even cheaper for next season, collect the leaves and other vegetation, kitchen leftovers, and make your own compost. The soil will need nutrients to replace those used and depleted by the vegetables as they feed from the soil.<br />
<br />
Now think of what vegetables would you like to grow, something you enjoy eating the most. So, buy the seeds for the vegetables you choose, and go from there. This list would be endless, but a few examples would be; tomatoes, bell peppers, hot peppers, squash, radish, cucumbers, lettuce, cabbage, carrots, spinach, onions (sets). Maybe a few <strong>herbs</strong> to spice up your <em>cooking</em> with, like, dill, parsley, oregano, basil, arugula, rosemary, cilantro, etc. It all depends on how much space you have, and how large a garden you want to have. Herb plants don't take too much room, and they are fun to grow. Just think of that nice aroma they so freely give, in exchange of just a little LTC. Loving Tender Care. <br />
<br />
To have a good and early start with your garden, start your seeds indoors, and plant the transplants after the danger of late frost is past. It depends on where you live. One of the best methods would be to start the seeds in little peat pots, like the Jiffy-pots, so that when you plant the little plants outside you plant them with the Jiffy pot, thus not disturbing the tender roots of the transplants. If you prefer, you can plant the seeds directly in rows, according to the instructions on the <em>seed</em> packets. <br />
<br />
Plant the plants according to their size, and group them together. The low growing ones, should be separate from the tall growing ones, as to not block the sun light from reaching evenly on all the plants.<br />
Water well and keep the soil moist. Don't let the soil dry completely out between watering, nor keep it too soggy either.<br />
<br />
Once they started to grow, you can water them good, and then leave them alone and give them a chance to drink and feed. Water again before the soil dries out completely. <br />
<br />
Now it is time to sit back and relax on a bench, somewhere in the shade, or on your porch, and watch how the little seeds sprout out of the soil. It is very rewarding to see, as the hard part of gardening is pretty much over, except that now and then watch for them pesky weeds to pluck them out, and don't let them invade your little paradise. Wait patiently for the time when you take out of your garden, with your own hand, and enjoy those healthy, juicy vegetables. Eat them raw, in salads, or in cooking and enjoy the good old fashion living. It is good for you! And it is simply, wonderful. <br />
<br />
A lot more information is coming periodically, through related Gardening Articles. So please, leave a comment and help me improve the quality of service I'm providing to you, my fellow gardeners, freely. Your following me on this blog, as well as linking to it, is highly appreciated.<br />
<br />
Mike BorlovanAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114519741840046730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327202272305326279.post-7645254559890021642010-07-25T06:57:00.000-07:002010-07-25T07:32:48.884-07:00Gardening like a Professional with Modest MeansGardening like a professional with modest means.<br /><br />You might think it's a real challenge. But it's not. The modest means should be available for free, right around your house. <br /><br />You don't really have to be a professional gardener to grow quality, vibrant, healthy and full of life vegetables. You need a desire to learn, to experiment, and apply in practice what you've learned. <br /><br />It is so wonderful to work and relax outdoors, in the tranquility of your little paradise that you will create in the process of making your garden. <br /><br />This is one of the most rewarding exercise you can get, and very much to enjoy at the same time. <br /><br />Mother nature is so rich, and so freely giving, that we could never exhaust her of the never ending resources she has. The only thing we need to learn is how to receive and take from her, as long as we do not try to destroy her. <br /><br />And we need to give some of it back, by composting the leftovers, and help the soil get fertile again, through natural means. <br /><br />Sometimes the plot we intend to grow our vegetables in, is depleted of the best nutrients it used to offer. The first impulse would be to apply some chemically based fertilizer, but that's obviously not the best solution. <br /><br />The land is so over fertilized and treated with dangerous pesticides in the lands where the produce is grown, the produce that we purchase from the supermarket shelf, is hardly safe to eat anymore. You don't know what kind and how much fertilizer and pesticides and fungicides was used to increase their bottom line for their productivity! <br /><br />So what are we going to do? We have to eat fruits and vegetables, we've got to feed our families. Than what? Thanks be to God that created the Mother Nature, for there is an alternative to it: start your own Garden and grow your own fruits and vegetables, if you don't have one already. That's the smart thing to do. That's the safest way to eat fresh fruits, berries and vegetables. Especially today, when most of our produce is coming from imports, and we don't have a clue how were they grown!<br /><br />We don't need to poison our bodies with chemical fertilizers and pesticides, that we don't even have any idea how much was there applied. We don't know how was the produce handled. <br /><br />In my humble opinion, the best way to make the soil fertile is through natural means. Let's think of the forest, where the trees have grown and survived for hundreds of years. They even survived fires, and revived again stronger then before. Why? <br /><br />Because of it's ability to replenish the nutrients by its natural means, without the intervention of the humans. The trees are dropping the dead limbs, and the leaves that decompose, and turns back into the soil, with the help of rain, wind, sun, heat, and our little invisible friends, the micro organisms that feed on them, and thus turn the decaying leaves into humus. That's exactly what the plants need to continue the cycle of life. Humus.<br /><br />And that's exactly what we should do for the soil in our own garden. Collect the leaves from one year to another, have a pile in a corner of the garden, and let it decay. Just turn it now and then with a pitch fork, and you'll have the best natural fertilizer possible. For Free! <br /><br />A lot of people are burning the leaves. Well, if they don't have a garden it's OK, I guess. But if they do have a garden, and they burn the leaves, and then they go to the supply store to buy that expensive chemical fertilizer, in my opinion that is a mistake. But, hey, who knows, maybe they have money to burn!<br /><br />As for you folks, who are passionate about gardening and save the leaves, that's like money in your pocket, as well as prime quality fruits and vegetables, much safer to eat, than a lot of other people who maybe do not care. <br /><br />If you have also access to some cow manure, or chicken droppings,that's perfect. But the leaves are the cheapest and smart way to make your own compost. <br /><br />Now there are a lot of ways to make your own compost, of course, food leftovers, sea grass, seaweeds, ground oyster shells, peanut hulls, grass clippings, etc, etc, etc. I don't doubt that. But what I'm saying is that the leaves are the cheapest and the most readily available for almost anyone. And they cost you nothing! They are free.<br /><br />Spread your compost on top of the soil, till it in the ground and reap the benefits of an abundant crop of fresh, vibrant, healthy, and happy fruits and vegetables from your own garden. <br /><br />Create your own paradise and live smart, healthy, and well.<br /><br />Until next time,<br /><br />Happy Gardening!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114519741840046730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327202272305326279.post-25248553276449727282010-07-22T09:45:00.000-07:002010-07-22T21:31:19.243-07:00Grow Your Own Fruits & vegetables!If you have your little heaven, like your back yard or even front yard, you are a step closer to a healthier, more self sufficient living! <br />My, my, my! What a potential! With a little careful planing, you can create your own paradise, in no time. Take a look at your sunny spot, and make a simple plan on a sheet of paper, mark the spot to grow your vegetables.<br />Make a list of what would you like to grow. This could be endless, but you can limit it to what would you like best. Like, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, snap beans, peas, kohlrabi, lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, cantaloupes, etc. We could go on and on. These are just a few examples, but just use your imagination, and you'll find out how easy it is. <br /><br />It all depends on how much space you have, how passionate and how much time you want to spend and dedicate to your garden. and remember, this is one of the best exercise you can have, without paying any fees and dues like at the gim club. <br /><br />Look at where is the sun coming up, and where is it going down. This is pretty important, to know how to plan your layout of your little paradise.<br /><br />What are your preferred fruits? Think about it, and plan accordingly. How about some apple, peach, plum, cherry, apricot, and other fruit trees that you would like to have and pick them off the trees with your own hand? It can't be any fresher than that. <br /><br />All these fresh fruits and vegetables have tremendous health benefits! And what kind of garden would that be, without some berry fruits as well? How about some blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, and more. Rich in vitamins and minerals and antioxidants, very beneficial for your well being.<br /><br />To get some ideas about what seeds, berry plants and fruit trees to purchase, please visit one of my <a href="http://stores.shop.ebay.com/borlovansnursery">sources</a> at: http://stores.shop.ebay.com/borlovansnursery<br /><br />This is just the first article post in a series that will follow. Please visit us soon for more information and related articles. <br /><br />Your following me on my blog is highly appreciated. Please leave your coments, so I can improve my service to you.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114519741840046730noreply@blogger.com0