Growing Seedlings Carefully

Seedlings can be a great way to start your garden planting early, indoors, so that you are ready for the growing season. The right time to plant your seeds is approximately six to eight weeks before the last frost is expected in your area. That way, when the seedlings have sprouted and are ready to go outside, it should be warm enough to sustain them.

You will have healthier plants if you can provide them with more light. You don't need to buy special grow lights to do this. Regular fluorescent bulbs tubes work just fine. Use one tube that is warm/white and one tube that is cool/white.

A two-bulb shop light fixture with a reflective hood over the bulbs works well for this. Just remember that the height must be adjustable to keep the lights two inches or less above the plants.

The process of growing plants from seed to seedlings adds a satisfaction to the growing process that can be fulfilling. Watching a seed grow from a little kernel to a full-grown plant is very rewarding. The effort you put into your indoor seed starting will be returned to you with vegetables and/or flowers you will enjoy all summer long.

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New Planting Season For The Spring

With the warm days of spring comes an increase in traffic to and from local nurseries. People who have had cabin fever all winter are chomping at the bit the get outside and begin the new planting season.

Before you load up on plants or flower seeds, make sure your soil is prepped and ready to go. A rich, healthy soil is ideal for growing plants. Once your soil is taken care of, there are a few more steps in the process of garden planting.

When it comes to watering your new planting beds, a long soak is better than a light sprinkling of water. It is thought that roots stay on the surface of the soil to absorb water when you only give them a light spray.

To save some time and conserve water, there are sprinklers on the market that restrict water flow to certain areas. Watering is a very important step, as it ensures good root development and will help your plants to become established more quickly.

Fertilizer is, simply put, plant food. If you apply compost, mulch and fertilizer on a regular basis, then you will keep your new planting healthy. Diseases and pests can appear at different times of the year.

Watch out for any changes in your plants growth habits and act rapidly by applying weed control chemicals if you see the first signs of damage. Bigger problems can be prevented later on with quick action initially. Now all that is left to do is enjoy your garden, as you watch it flourish.

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Planting Trees Enriches The Landscape

Trees are not just a part of the natural ecosystem; they are an essential part of our life experiences. From majestic trees that have historic significance to a quiet stand of pines, planting trees helps to enrich life and landscape; not only for our generation, but for the generations that will come after us.

Trees are the largest and longest living plant forms on Earth. Trees have been thought of throughout recorded history as a symbol of power, fertility, wisdom and life. Planting flowers adds to the beauty and balance in nature, and so too does adding trees to your garden planting.

The tree has always been a cultural symbol and is used to represent nature and the environment. The downfall of the tree will precipitate the destruction of Mother Earth, according to ancient tribal legends.

Cultures around the world have been planting trees out of reverence and respect since ancient times. Often, trees were worshipped as the living embodiment of the culture's gods and were thought to have spiritual and medicinal applications, with healing qualities for the mind, body and spirit.

Trees act as a filter to clean both air and water. From factory and auto emissions in industrialized areas to pesticide and fertilizer runoff from farms; trees absorb these toxic pollutants and recharge ground water.

Trees help fight global warming, for as they grow, they remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is a major contributor to global warming. Planting trees is the kindest thing you can do for the environment. It's planting time! Grab a tree planting guide and a shovel, and get started today.

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