When spring is in the air, we are chomping at the bit ready to jump into our gardens and begin turning that soil and cleaning those beds.

For the first time gardener that patch of green is a blank canvas and though ready to embark on this new hobby, the lack of experience can be overwhelming. The first step is getting the right advice.

But before you head out and begin digging, here are the most important tips to consider if you are a first time gardener.

Your Climate

There are specific climate zones for your area so the first step is to become familiar with what can grow and when can you plant it? Some species are hardy and others more delicate.

For instance you can’t grow a palm tree in a northern climate that has winter snowfall so find your zone by talking to a professional in the landscape area of a local nursery.

Locate the Sun

Walk your gardens for several weeks and see where the sun travels. You will need a sunny location for a vegetable patch so plan it accordingly. If shade is prevalent, source out the plants that thrive in the shade. Ferns and Hostas are beautiful long lasting plants that do best in cool shady areas.

Watering Plans

Watering plants is a science. The balance between over watering and under-watering is a fine line and must be taken seriously. Most plants require roughly one inch of water a week so track your rainfall and plan your watering schedule. A few empty tuna cans around your gardens will tell you if you need to take out the hose and sprinklers.

Soil Content

Before you start planning what you will grow, you have to know what your soil content is. This is not difficult, you can purchase soil testing kits that will help you determine the different levels of acid, alkaline and nitrogen and so on. Once you have an idea you can then begin to enrich your soil with whatever nutrient it is missing. Talk to your local nursery professionals, they will be happy to help.

Pests

Many insect are necessary for a well functioning garden. Earthworms help aerate the soil and add nutrients. Ladybugs dine on aphids so include them into your insect arsenal.

Attract bees with brightly colored flowers around your vegetable garden to help with pollination. Research to see which insects you can add to your gardens for the best eco friendly defenders.

When it comes to your first garden trial and error are the name of the game. In time you will learn what works for your own gardens and what makes you happy. A little bit of knowledge can go a long way towards creating your own little oasis.

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To some, a rectangular patch of grass is solely an out door chore and worthy of a few containers of flowers to soften the square, water once a week and prune as needed. Uninspiring but easy.

And some of us straddle both worlds, have a keen idea of what we want but are not quite sure how to implement it in a professional yet subtle way.

If you are tackling a project that is worth a considerable amount of time and money, it may be time to call in a professional landscaping company to help you with your vision in a financially practical way.

When to Call

A professional landscaper’s job is to ensure the architectural elements of your home blends with the landscape that surrounds it. This is done with an initial consultation where the professionals offer their advice and design plans incorporating your wish list into the practical applications of the landscape.

An individual who owns a larger property may require a design with garden paths, lighting arrangements, terraces, courtyards, and even fountains. There can be retaining walls, needed and masonry work that require profession installations.

Trees may need to be added or removed and various plantings in strategic places can offer sophistication and privacy.

If there are children in the family then play areas, need to be factored in. Grass for playing, trees for climbing. If there are animals then their needs must be considered as well. There are many beautiful plants that are highly toxic and should not be considered if small children or animals will be using the outdoor spaces routinely.

Professional landscapers are not just for large projects either. They are also used to create backyard sanctuaries in smaller spaces. By using design symmetry, balance and harmonizing various plants and colours a more modest area can be transformed into family friendly outdoor entertainment area or a luxurious magical retreat.

Making it Work

You can also arrange a joint effort project. By meeting with a professional you can begin incorporating their recommendations and tackle many of the design aspects on your own.

When more skill is required you can bring in the team for their expertise. It can be the best of both worlds, by keeping your vision in mind and your budget on track.

Whether you are an avid gardener or just starting out there are dozens of ideas that can be achieved to personalize your landscaping to match your home and your lifestyle. By getting familiar with the professionals in your community you can learn about the proper zoning and appropriate climates for the best results.

Investing in the advice of a profession can provide you with a beautiful landscaped garden, the maintenance for the best upkeep and the ability to keep it growing for years to come. It is definately money well spent.

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There is room size to consider, lighting, humidity and temperature. Of course there is also your time, and how much of it are you willing to spend caring for your plants. It needn’t be a huge commitment, but a bit of knowledge before hand is invaluable when choosing the right plants for your lifestyle.

Where to Start

There are many different varieties of indoor plants to choose from and it’s all about preferences. If you are a beginner then looking for something that is hardy and easy to care for based on your own routines. Succulents such as Cactus and Aloe Vera require very little maintenance other than good lighting and are very forgiving while you are settling into a new routine of plant care.

If you want a flowering plant, African Violets are another easy alternative that are available in almost any colour; however they do they require a bit more consistent care. They can grow both in natural and artificial plant lights and prefer to stay put in the same location once placed. Philodendrons are a favorite with both large and small leaf varieties and can be placed or hung in corners that do not have as much direct light. English Ivy love a quiet corner out of the sun,they grows quickly and as with most vines, are easy to transplant.

Shamrocks are great indoor plants which have pretty while blossoms and are one of the easiest house plants to care for if you have a nice sunny spot for them to enjoy. The Peace lily is also an eye catcher, quite sturdy and is comfortable in either sun or indirect sun.

Aside from being beautiful, plants are natural air-purifiers. Areca Palms, Spider plants and many Ferns are all beneficially to our environment by cleaning our air from many pollutants such paints, gases and pesticides that we are exposed to daily.

When you purchase your plants, ensure that they are free from any pests by checking the undersides of the leaves for any possible signs of disease or insects. Make sure to select plants that look clean, well-potted, and with healthy foliage and new growth.

When transporting your plants, be wary of extreme temperatures and wrap them accordingly. Keep them away from drafts and open windows when possible. Never leave them in your car for any length of time and be sure to allow them to acclimatize to your home temperatures before you begin any re-potting.

Routines

Believe it or not, plants love routine. By establishing a regular routine when watering, they will learn to adapt to your schedule. If they are not doing well in a specific location, move them slightly and allow them to re-adjust. They will quickly show you if they are unhappy. If you travel, there are many self watering containers on the market to keep your plants healthy while away. Take note, most people tend to over water their plants, so once you get your watering regime in place, keep it consistent.

Keep in mind your lifestyle when choosing your plants. Will there be children in the home or pets? Do your research on the plants you are interested in. There are many plants that are poisonous when ingested and gathering information will minimize any potential hazardous that can arise.

Having house plants is like having an indoor garden; it adds peacefulness to your home. Once started, you may in fact tap into your inner green thumb. Before long, you will be swapping clippings with friends and find yourself with new additions to your gardens both inside and out.

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Organic gardening utilizes nature itself for balance by using micro-organisms, insects, and plants to maintain a healthy environment naturally. By adopting this approach you are producing healthier and more nutrient-rich vegetables, herbs and other garden plants and flowers.

It’s not difficult to start your own organic garden but it does takes a bit of planning.

The Space

Space, or the lack of it, shouldn’t stop you from growing an organic garden. For those who live in cramped spaces and don’t have the luxury of square footage to work with, pots are the perfect solution. There are a plethora of containers available in a variety of styles that can be adapted in just about any way to create your own designs in limited spaces.

Wooden containers are probably the best as they allow for better airflow. Ceramic pots are a good choice as well but must have holes to allow for draining and air circulation. You should however avoid clay pots as they are too porous, and have a tendency dry out faster.

For people who do have the ground area to work with, start your planning with research. Find the plants you would like to grow and see if they are suitably zoned for your area? When should you plant and how far should they be spaced apart? Learn which plants complement each other and will work together effectively to deter pests.

The Tools

Basic garden tools remain the same for organic gardening. Its always a good idea to purchase the best quality you can afford and maintain them religiously.

• For digging and compost turning – spade,shovel, pitchfork.
• For weeding – hoe, trowel, rake.
• For cutting and pruning – secateurs (pruning clippers), pruning saw.
• For loading and carting soils and mulches – a wheel barrel.
• For watering – several hoses and watering cans.
• If possible rain barrels strategically placed to minimize water consumption.

The Soil

Going organic primarily means that there is no use of synthetic chemicals in the gardening process of any kind. It’s vital to maintain a healthy soil level in order to grow plants which are less susceptible to pest damage. The best way to achieve this is to include compost in your garden bed. Anything from dead leaves and cut grasses to kitchen wastes like coffee grounds and vegetable peelings. These are readily available and costs very little when you have your own compost station set up.

The Bugs

Not all insects are harmful and in organic gardening, you will need to incorporate them into your beds. Earthworms help mulch and enrich the soil continuously and Ladybugs love aphids. Again, knowledge is your best friend when you are introducing new critters to your gardens. Frogs love to eat flying insects so, if your garden is near a pond, you’re in luck.

Place a birdbath near one of your gardens. Attracting birds is a great natural defense. You can also create physical barriers, such as sheer netting which can prevent insects from getting through. You will, however need to be diligent with pest control and a bucket of soapy water will do the deed when necessary on caterpillars and other unwanted pests.

The Plants and Seeds

The type and size of your garden partly dictates the kinds of plants you should grow. You want to choose seeds that can adapt to your soil type, available sunlight, and humidity of your garden. Don’t be afraid to mix and match plant selections that grow healthy together and may actually need each other to survive. If you do chose starter plants you need to make sure they come from strictly organic sources, or you would be defeating the purpose.

You might want to start with vegetables that grow into small shrubs, like tomatoes or peppers, or root crops, like yams and potatoes. Since you are still a beginner in organic gardening, smaller plants will give you good practice.

Add A Little Garden Love

Plants much like people, do best if they are well cared for and loved. Growing your own organic garden is taking it one step further by removing the unhealthy chemicals that surround gardening and using Mother Nature to keep it simple. By going back to basics, some practical know-how and a good solid effort you are well on the way to living a healthier life by growing your gardens naturally.

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Flowers will add color, beauty and inspiration to your home. Whether you buy them from your local florist, a grocery store or a farmers market, fresh cut flowers are an easy display that can transform any room. Their simple beauty has the ability add elegance to any occasion.

By taking the time to choose healthy flowers and arrange them properly, with care, you may be able to extend their life and enjoy them for much longer.

Here are a few helpful tips to get the most from your fresh cut flowers:

• As soon as possible, remove any cellophane or any other wrapping from the flowers and separate them.
• Remove any excess foliage or greenery at the bottom of the flower stem to avoid the leaves rotting below the water line.
• Choose a vase about half the height of your flowers and its important to use vases that are clean.
• Add plant food to the bottom of the vase. If there is no plant food included with the flowers you can use one teaspoon of sugar to a gallon of water and add an aspirin to help keep the water clean.
• Add water to the vase and swirl a few times to mix with the plant food. Do not fill the vase more than half full.
• Take one flower at a time and cut the stem on an angle, not straight across. This will permit better water absorption.
• Use garden shears for cutting flowers as scissors and knives can tear or damage the stem.
• Place the green foliage into the vase first when you begin your arrangement. This helps to stabilize the flower arrangement.
• When arranging your flowers, place the larger flowers in the center of your vase.
• You want your stronger, bolder colors in the center of the vase with the lighter colors on the outside. You can choose different types of flowers online but try to keep them in the same family of colors or have colors that are complimentary opposites to one another in the arrangement.
• Change the water in the vase every two to three days. Trim the stems again when you change the water to increase longevity.
• Add fresh plant food when you change the water as well. You can purchase little packets of plant food at most nurseries inexpensively. Keep a few on hand.

Flowers actually keep better in indirect light as opposed to direct bright light. And, it is best not to place flowers near heaters, vents, drafts, or on top of fridges or televisions. If the flowers appear limp, you may be able to refresh them by taking them out of the vase and place them in cold water for one hour. Remove, and gently shake off any excess water, re trim then re arrange back into your vase.

Flower arranging is an art. Let your creativity emerge and experiment using different colours, styles and containers. Ask your florist for their advise, they may be happy to give you some of their favorite tricks on presentation. Don’t forget to check out the style magazines as they will be full of design ideas.

Appreciate the beauty in your flowers with a just a little extra TLC, and it will go a long way towards your enjoyment and longevity of your arrangements.

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Native garden soils usually have some kind of underlying issue: nutritional deficiency, excessive clay or sand, poor drainage quality, inadequate soil structure, poor aeration, and/or pH imbalances. Fortunately, there is a simple solution, requiring just an easy commitment on your part. It involves collecting your organic material.

The organic decomposition creates the best soil conditioner, fertilizer and mulch that money can buy. When you periodically add the resulting compost into your soil you enhance the structure of the soil and add fertility to your garden. Composting also reduces home and garden waste by over 50%. Its a win-win.

Variety Of Materials

To provide the greatest range of nutrients, add coffee grounds, egg shells, fruit and vegetable scraps, grass clippings, shredded paper, shredded leaves, plant clippings, sawdust, and fireplace ashes. Absolutely exclude any diseased or pest infested plant matter, meat scraps, dairy, weed roots, and oils and fats. Apart from the obvious quality issues, you want to keep “critters” away from the bin.

Regular Rotation

The key to effective composting is to nurture the micro-organisms like fungi, bacteria, and also the worms and insects that accumulate in the soil. Their job is to “treat” the debris you’ve stock piled. As these micro-organisms digest the debris, your “pile” will begin to produce an odor and even steam. This tells you the process is working well. You just need to toss the mixture around to aerate it, which easily eliminates the odor. You can use a shovel or rake every few days to a week, depending on the weather. This just takes a few minutes to do.

Consistently turning the decomposing material, will break it down into a high quality soil additive that your plants will thrive on. The complete composting process usually takes several weeks. Before long, you will ready-made material at the bottom of your compost pile that you can add to your soil as needed.

Help Your Compost Break Down

Composting requires heat so keep the bin in as sunny a spot as possible. It must be accessible to water (hose) as you may need to add moisture to the pile, if too dry. However you can continue to add food wastes to the pile all year round. When the weather warms and it thaws out, decomposition is accelerated.

Do not pile the compost higher than five feet, as the sheer weight of the material will make it difficult to toss and turn adequately. The ideal size of a compost bin is about a four-by-four square foot area, and two to three feet high. Put gravel on the bottom of the pile to help with drainage.

Your compost should have the consistency of a squeezed wet sponge. Another good idea is to shred materials like leaves and small branches before adding them to your compost. This will speed up the process.

Adding Your Compost To The Garden

The general rule of thumb when applying your compost is to add four to six inches to your garden about four months before planting, two to three inches about two months before planting and just one inch if you plant any sooner.

The decayed material takes time to fully integrate into the planting bed but the more decayed the matter, the quicker you will see the results. Also, when incorporating into your soil, make sure to avoid large chunks that can cause air pockets to form.

Types Of Composting Containers

Composting bins can be store-bought or home-made. When going with the factory-made variety, consider the barrel-shaped types that can be rotated by turning a crank. This turning action can increase the rate of decay substantially. If going the home made route, simple fencing materials or cinder blocks can be used to form a relatively large composting area.

Composting is likely the best ongoing practice that a gardener can undertake. It nurtures the soil better than anything store bought, giving you rich and bountiful vegetables and blooming flowers for just a small investment of your time.

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