Automatic sprinkler systems are by far the best way to go when planning your garden's watering needs. But in most cases, unless you enjoy navigating a shovel around tree roots, planning your garden irrigation once your yard is established is much like closing the proverbial gate after the horse has bolted.

Most automatic water systems need to be dug under the ground - which also has its benefits (ie. all the pipes remain out of sight) - but really only works on a blank, dirt canvas. Once you've added some garden beds, trees, pathways and landscaping the effort required to get pipes underground can become bigger than Ben Hur - and he was big, apparently!

Fortunately, Jason Fitzpatrick from LifeHacker.com spent his weekend creating his own automatic sprinkler system that was all above ground. Not only, that it worked straight off his mains tap - which isn't the best solution for an eco-conscious gardener (try digging a bore or pumping water from your rain tanks) but it can give some temporary relief until you get another source started.

Fitzpatrick bought all the items needed from his local big-box for $100 and would have had the whole system operating within 15 minutes. Here's his costs;

• $30 (1) Gilmour 4-cycle electronic sprinkler timer
• $15 (2) 50ft hoses
• $10 (1) brass 2 way hose flow valve
• $15 (2) all metal impulse sprinklers
• ______________________________________________
• $100 Total Cost

I decided to cost similar items from Amazon.com to see if any savings could be made on his already very cheap shopping list. Here's Amazon's offerings;

• $31.99 - (1) Gilmour Electronic Water Timer, Teal/Black #9100
• $9.99 - (2) 50-Ft x 5/8" 2-Ply Reinforced Garden Water Hose - LIFETIME WARRANTY!
• $ 9.99 - (1) Brass Y Two Tap Hose Shut-off Valve
• $14.33 - (2) Gilmour Polymer Impulse Sprinkler on Zinc Spike, #993ZS, Teal
• ______________________________________________
• $90.62 Total Cost

I'm not sure what the shipping charges would be for Amazon's purchases but considering the price of fuel it might even be cheaper to have it delivered than take time out to source them from the local store. Plus, you could spend that time in the garden instead of queuing in aisles.

Jason's post has all the details of how he put it together and the settings needed to make it automatically water your garden.

Posted by Stuart | Permalink | Comments (1)

Repotting container plants, in many gardener's minds, seems to be one of the biggest barriers to growing plants in pots. Attempts at trying to do this have either failed or it just seems like far too much effort. Yet in reality, this should be one of the most basic things that gardeners can do.

Why? Because if you break down the activity of repotting you will notice that it resembles transplanting new plants into the soil. The only difference is that instead of going into the ground your plant is going to be repotted instead - into a bigger pot.

The dilemma occurs because, for most gardeners, positioning a plant in the soil is usually a set and forget activity. Plants, once placed in the soil, don't usually need moving again while container plants will often need a repot every few years or so.

How can you tell if your plant needs a repot?

As your plant nears the time when it requires repotting it will start to give you signs of its fight for life.

1. Leaves turn colour - it doesn't matter which plant you have they will all exhibit signs of distress via their leaves. Some, like gardenias will turn yellow while others start displaying brown tips or leaves that just start to drop off altogether.
2. Potting soil becomes compact - you will begin to notice that the soil in the pot is becoming water repellant because the roots have taken up every inch of space. If you can't drive a finger easily into the soil then its most likely time to repot.
3. Roots show from the base of the pot - this is a common problem especially with vigorous root growers such as agapanthus and clivias.

The Benefits of Repotting

Apart from the obvious survival benefits, repotting gives a number of other advantages for your plant and your garden.

• Changing a pot can be like repainting a wall. It allows you to be creative in new ways.
• A repotted plant now has more room to grow.
• Your plant is more likely to bloom, and in abundance, when it has enough 'legroom' to source the nutrients it requires.
• Repotting also gives you the chance to freshen up your plant by removing any dead roots and also giving your plant a much needed prune.

How to Repot a Plant

Repotting a plant isn't as difficult as many assume. As in most gardening activities there are basics that are fundamental to success but these aren't hard to grasp.

Step 1

Remove the plant from its original pot. If it's a large pot and this container will again be used to house this plant then try removing the root ball in a similar fashion to transplanting a garden plant.

At this point it's possible to assess the plant for any root damage and to break the ball up if it's become too rootbound. Don't be too eager to remove these roots keeping in mind that they are the transit lines for the plants nutrient source. Instead, gently ease the most congested ones apart to give the roots more freedom to grow.

Step 2

Prepare the container that you will repot into. It's always a good rule of thumb to increase the size of the pot by at least 50% over the original pot's size. If the original container was large enough and the plant hadn't yet completely grown into it then you can re-use the same one but in most cases you will require a larger pot.

Fill the new container 2/3 full will some quality potting mix and begin steeping the sides to allow room for the plant's root ball. Position the plant in the middle of the pot and begin adding more potting mix to fill the container.

The trick here is to ensure that there are no air pockets forming around the root ball and that you don't compact the soil too much that it will create similar problems to the ones you're trying to overcome. If your plant needs staking then this is a good time to do that instead of when the roots have regrown and chances of lancing one have increased.

One more thing to keep in mind is that the base of the plant's main stem and the top of the rootball should remain level with the final height of the potting mix.

Step 3

Now that you've repotted your plant, the final step is to water it in and provide some initial nourishment so that it copes with the transplant shock. The best cure for this is either a liquid fertiliser and/or some bonemeal. I always like to add some slow-release fertiliser as well.

You will need to keep watering your repotted plant over the next week or so until it shows signs of a successful repot.

And that's it. Piece of cake really, isn't it.

Posted by Stuart | Permalink | Comments (1)

Using human hair in the garden is not a new concept and it's already had many bloggers discussing its merits. Julie from The Human Flower Project, Dave from Alberta Home Gardening and Elizabeth at GardenRant had all written about it before this article came to my attention.

What strikes me as completely odd, even after reading through these articles, is the lack of excitement for a commodity that is currently wasted by the bucket-load. Unless you're classed within the masculine form of the human species and suffer from Male-Patterned Baldness we all get our hair cut regularly. This vain activity results in a resource that is completely undervalued and in most cases destined for the trash can.

My mother would cut our hair when we were growing up and swore that it was always good for the roses. Rather than discarding this clump of human waste she would dress her rose bushes in it as though it had some magical properties and was originally created for such a task. As a rose grower she was very successful - which was the opposite of her hairdressing skills - so I wasn't about to argue with her.

Three decades later it seems that my wise mum might have known a thing or two.

Why is human hair good for the garden?

1. Mulch - the main benefit for this resource is using it as a mulch. It's natural interweaving effect allows water in but reduces evaporating out. It also acts as a warm blanket keeping the soil warm in winter and cool in summer much like its purpose upon our dome-shaped heads.
2. Weed-suppressant - as it is so beneficial as a mulch it is equally as useful to suppress the weeds. Trials have shown that weeds have to grow around it because they aren't successful in growing through it.
3. Fertiliser Trap - many of the articles have discussed human hair as a fertiliser of which I'm extremely doubtful - unless, of course, you haven't been washing your hair and it now contains all manner of organisms. For most of us though, our hair is devoid of nutritional benefits. However, as a fertiliser trap, human hair is proving to be quite successful.

   In sandy soils one of the biggest problems that gardeners face is nutrient leeching. Therefore they are continually bulking up the soil with composts and manures to properly feed their plants. The idea of human hair as a trap is to position it beneath your plants where it will hold nutrient run-off - especially nitrogen - for later use.

4. Deer Repellant - I've never seen a deer in my garden here in Oz, so maybe there's something in it after all!

Probably the greatest benefit of human hair as a gardening resource is its availability. While SmartGrow only access their hair from China and India I'm almost certain that people in the US, UK, Canada and Australia also get their hair cut from time to time. Perhaps it's a regulated commodity in these countries but there's nothing stopping you from asking your local hairdresser for their weekly discards.

And before you start to cringe about touching other people's hair consider momentarily that you probably have no issue with building your veggie patch up with animal manures - I know what I would rather handle! Plus, you could always wear gloves if its that disconcerting - just think of all the trees you've just saved from being pulverized into wood chips.

Posted by Stuart | Permalink | Comments (7)

As rain barrels become an important part of the garden landscape it can only be expected that they will become magnets for water-loving mosquitoes. In fact, with the phenomenal growth of rain barrels it should signal a disturbing trend that the mosquito population is set to explode.

Mosquitoes love any body of water that remains still long enough for them to release their larvae. Therefore it can only be expected that rain barrels will become a soft target for these pests to multiply. The water collects from your roof via downpipes and is then stored in these water drums to be used at a time that is most probably not regular. This source of water then becomes the best possible breeding ground a mosquito could wish for.

While I've discussed some mosquito control methods before here on GTNI, when it comes to rain barrels there needs to be different solutions - tipping the water out regularly kind of defeats the purpose. So, how can rain barrels and water storage exist without creating a habitat for man's most deadly insect? Easy...here's some gardening tips that should keep them out of your water storage drums forever.

1. Add a goldfish - small goldfish love mosquito larvae almost as much as we love chocolate. So why not add one, perhaps two, to each rain barrel. Provided they still have enough air - in other words don't lock off the top of the barrel - keeping a goldfish in your drums should be quite a simple task.

   The benefit is twofold; 1). the fish will devour the larvae as soon as they are laid reducing your fish feeding bill, and 2). the ammonia excreted from the fish will produce beneficial nitrogen for your soil.

2. Produce an oil slick - we all saw how effective the Exxon Valdez spill was at killing wildlife, well the same principle applies here. Providing the water level in your rain barrels can be kept above the output spouts you can pour a layer of oil (preferably food-grade) on top of the water. This acts as a shield for insects getting into your barrels and laying their eggs plus if any eggs do survive they will soon die once they begin to develop into the larvae stage.

   One important note, don't combine this method of mosquito control with the one above. The oil slick will stop the water being aerated and the fish will eventually die.

3. Cover the intake with a filter - if the other two methods seem a little too bizarre for your liking then covering the intake is possibly the next best thing. A pair of nylon pantyhose should do the trick as they are fine enough to stop mosquito infestations but will still allow the water to seep through and collect in the barrels.

   The downside of this method is that the filter will need to be checked often to ensure that they aren't breaking down or that holes aren't being produced. Even the smallest hole in these can become an access point for mosquitoes and their larvae.

4. Chemical larvicides - microbial larvicides are a chemical solution to the problem. If the three options listed above don't seem to deal with your problem, or if you're looking for an easy fix, then larvicides may be your next best option. Granular forms are most likely to be available at your local hardware or garden store and should be added as per the directions at times when mosquito activity is at its peak.

   As with most chemical solutions it is only a matter of time until mosquitoes build up an immunity to these and they become ineffective or stronger. My advice would be to only use these if you can't find any resolution with the other ideas.

5. Mosquito Dunks - these are just a glorified form of larvicide making insertion easier for the user. They perform the same result as the method listed above but are more convenient in their packaging.

Hopefully one of these methods will work for your situation and help control mosquitoes breeding in your yard.

Posted by Stuart | Permalink | Comments (7)

Oh, it makes perfect sense, really!

The thought of storing your excess onions is one that can make any gardener a quivering mess. Why? Because you know that even after storing them in a cool, dry and dark pantry they're sure to still sprout or rot in a week or two. Keeping them for months or even a whole year is ludicrous.

But then one smart cookie read the storage directions on a bag they bought at the markets. And the tip? Store them in pantyhose. Of course!

It may seem a little absurd but the fashion accessory that women share a love/hate relationship with could just be the onion hanger of the century.

The idea is to start with a fresh pair of pantyhose that have been washed without chemicals. Once dried, each onion is placed into a leg pushing it right down into the bottom toes. Then a knot secures it in place and allows another to continue. Once the leg is full of onions, it's hung in the same pantry suspended from the roof space.

The benefits of doing this are numerous. First, the hose allow the air to circulate over the onions keeping molds and bacterias from starting their ravaging feast. Plus, the pantyhose can easily be suspended keeping them off limited shelf space and because a knot is tied between each onion, one can be readily chopped from the leg without disturbing the others.

Ingenious - wouldn't you agree?

Found via Lifehacker

Posted by Stuart | Permalink | Comments (7)

If there's one thing I loathe about gardening - dirty fingernails are IT. And I get them because (a) I spot a weed that's rising up against my garden which immediately needs to be pulled out (even if I'm in my Sunday best), or (b) the kids have nicked off with my gloves - again, or (c) if I wait another 20 minutes to plant these damn ranunculi they may not flower in time.

But really, dirty fingernails are a hallmark of a gardener - a trophy, if you like. They tell the world that I'm okay with getting them dirty and I'm no sissy who needs a manicure every Thursday afternoon.

Which is okay if you're not an habitual fingernail biter remembering that you previously waded through the compost as you crunch down on something that tastes sweeter than normal.

Mmmm....

Still, I'm not averse to letting my hands soak in the soil and be stained from the enjoyment - much like a child sporting a scarlet blemish after chowing down a large stake of berry pie. It's just that there seems to be very few options to getting them clean again. Or is there?

Here's a few tips from around the garden blogosphere;

• Marcy from My Quilts 'N Stuff uses high pressure water aimed right under her fingernails. The pressure dislodges any dirt and the nails are cleaned almost immediately.
• While still visiting Marcy's blog, one of her readers commented on another tip that some gardeners use by rubbing soap under the fingernails before gardening. I agree with the conversation - which is better soap or dirt? Sorry, the jury's still out on that one...
• The Gardenweb forums have all manner of answers from using Borax powder, LavaPro soap, disposable gloves under your normal gardening gloves while others reverse this and wear cotton gloves underneath a pair of latex.
• What about a nailbrush? It seems these are fairly effective and quite cheap. Some people complain that they're harsh on their hands and nails, and admittedly they have been known to rip skin from flesh. Maybe, you could create your own Luffa sponge instead. They're organic and if you grow the cucumbers yourself are dirt cheap and environmentally-friendly when disposed of.
• Some gardeners find that shielding lotions are another protection that can taken - at least for their skin's benefit. These lotions can help retain moisture and shield the dirt from our skin's lines and wrinkles. They don't do a lot for your fingernails but your hands will remain supple.
• And finally, one great tip I read recently (but can't for the life of me now find) was sewing a small shade cloth bag that allowed a bar of soap to be inserted and then hung under a garden tap. The coarseness of the shade cloth acted in much the same way as the luffa sponge but was far more durable with the added soap bonus.

If you find yourself gouging large pieces of dirt from beneath your fingernails, try one of the tips 'n ideas above. They may not be the prettiest nails in the world, but they certainly won't be the ugliest.

Posted by Stuart | Permalink | Comments (4)

Each week, as I step out in the garden blogosphere I'm always met with some of the finest garden stories, pictures of awesome flowering plants and projects that have just commenced. But, I'm mostly attracted to those bloggers who offer us some helpful advice. How to grow this plant; an easier way to compost; or ways to combat weeds in an ever sprawling garden.

There's never a dull moment so here's another dose of some great gardening tips and hints from garden bloggers.

• Pianna Nanna from Thyme for Herbs shares how she cured her headache using herbs - feverfew, to be precise. It always fascinates me how different herbs can alleviate some of our ailments and usually much better and faster than their chemical counterparts.
• Kasmira from Cincinatti Cape Cod explodes the myth that Sweet William will only flower in it's second year by doing it in her first. She is also planning to deadhead her plants this season to try and entice a second flush of blooms. Stay tuned...
• Maureen Gilmer from Gardening with Mo Gilmer: The MoZone has a great post on how to offer support for a vine growing up your wall without losing your wall completely.
• While it isn't truly a gardening tip per se I have been following with interest Deviant Deziner's Napa Pool Project. Garden Porn is turning it on this time demonstrating how landscapers move from the design to actually making it happen. Not everyone's cup of tea, I'm sure, but fascinating none the less.
• Last year Melissa from the Empress of Dirt showed off her Tipsy Pots and gave instructions on how to make them. This year Genie from the Inadvertent Gardener gave it a shot with not as much as success as what Melissa had enjoyed. To Genie's credit though, and our benefit, she shared what went wrong and how she will do it differently next time.
• Finally, Marc from the Garden Desk shares how to grow sweet potato. This was one of the vegetables to grow on his to-do list so it's great to see him getting them going.

And thus ends another week in the garden blogosphere. If you're looking for more garden blogs to read then head over to the Garden Blog Directory and meet some great bloggers.

Posted by Stuart | Permalink | Comments (2)

As it's coming to the end of another month I thought I'd take a step back in time an review what was being talked about on this blog 12 months ago. Some of the gardening tips that were given then are still very much applicable today and while the race is always on to share something new, it's also good to take stock of the past.

So, here are some of the tips that were given in May 2006,

• Planting and transplanting tulip bulbs growing tulips is an enviable passion because they have such beautiful blooms. If you take the time to look after them they will continue to reward you year after year.
• A review of compost tumblers composters are a great tool in the garden but it depends on how you plan to use one that determines which tumbler is best for your specific lifestyle.
• Caring for African Violets one of the most popular indoor plants have their own requirements and needs to grow them well.
• Are you a green thumb gardener? this was a humorous look at whether you could claim to be a dinky-di green thumb gardener. Those who struggled to to know if a lettuce was a weed or not - possibly should take up another hobby.
• How to grow Lobelia from seed these annuals are always present in nurseries and garden centres as seedlings but how can you grow them straight from the packet? Easy.
• Honey Beekeeping for the Beginner if you've ever wanted to keep bees on your property then it's not a formidable task. Sure, it's not a walk in the park either but there are some great tips to help you get started.

I hope you enjoyed that little trot through the archives and I look forward to hearing your comments.

Posted by Stuart | Permalink | Comments (0)

Could there be anything worse for a gardener to find their favourite blooms having succumbed to plant wilt? Maybe. Perhaps finding a deer (or a kangaroo) eating your prized peonies could be a little distressing. Or, just looking up as your 3-year old snips the single bud off your chrysanthemum that was destined for glory at the local show.

These things could certainly test your patience but unlike these scenarios plant wilt can be avoided in most cases. For many beginner gardeners our desire to succeed and see our plants do well can actually be the reason they die. Too much TLC and love and attention is harmful, and can be fatal.

So, why do plants wilt and what can be done to minimise the risk.

1. Overwatering - this is a common mistake with growing indoor plants. We often water them the same as we would those growing outdoors but forget that evaporation is much lower inside. So plants end up sitting in very moist soil and their roots begin to struggle.

   Overwatering is also a common mistake early in Spring as gardeners adjust to their plant's requirements. We're eager to see them grow that we begin watering a little too early.



2. Lack of water - the flip side of the first problem is not watering them enough. If your plants are wilting because the soil has become too dry then the obvious solution is to begin watering them and keep this constant until the plant picks up again.

   Container plants have a knack of drying out quicker than those growing in the ground. So, the best way to resuscitate your pot plants is to plunge them into a bucket of water and hold until all the air bubbles have subsided. Note: this is only for extreme cases.



3. Too much sun - plant wilt often happens when you're growing them in the wrong position or if indoors, the plant is too close to a window. Too much sun for a shade loving plant is like too much social activity for an introvert.

   If outdoors, try moving your plant to another garden bed where it is less likely to be scorched by the sun's rays. Indoor plants may need to be moved away from the window but still where it can receive some indirect sunlight.



4. Not enough sun - and this ties in with the overwatering idea. Plants wilt sometimes because they're not receiving enough sunlight. Picture an extrovert confined to a cubicle office space every day and you'll understand the problem. The answer, again, is to move them.


5. Rootbound plants - often plants can outgrow their containers if they're not transplanted very year or two. Once a plant gets too large for its pot it struggles to draw nutrients and moisture from the soil - if there is any left, that is.

   The answer is to repot your plant into a larger container and use some quality potting mix as its growing medium.



6. Too much fertiliser - overzealous gardeners can cause plant wilt just by feeding it too much. When adding fertiliser to a plant's growing medium, whether it be soil or potting mix, take into account the size of the plant and when you last fed it. Plants don't usually become obese, they just die.

   Try using slow release fertilisers where possible and usually they should only be added at the start of the growing season and again during flowering times.



7. Disease - plants can often wilt as a result of an infection as well. There are a few main types of plant wilt related to disease, namely - Fusarium wilt which is a fungal disease common to cotton, tomatoes and palms. This type of wilt can be controlled via a fungicide which should be used as per the directions. Other forms are Bacterial wilt and Verticillium wilt.
   

So, finding your favourite plant wilt doesn't mean it's the end of it. There are some things you can do to try and save all your effort and hopefully turn your plant around so that it blooms another day.

Posted by Stuart | Permalink | Comments (1)

The Northern Hemisphere is beginning to enjoy a little warmth in the form of Spring while us Southerner's are quietly buckling down for another winter. Yet, regardless of the season, there is always something to do in the garden and what better way to get out there than with a few handy gardening tips to inspire you.

Here's this week's round up;

• Marie from Daily Weeder has a step-by-step post on how to grow clematis in cold climates. Clematis is a beautiful climber to screen a wall or ugly area in your garden, so if you've never planted one before or you've had limited success, give Marie's tips a trial.
• Treehugger has pointed out the National Wildlife Federation's Gardener's Guide to Global Warming. The map shows US states where the State Flower or Tree will become affected by global warming. Interesting stuff.
• Yolanda from Bliss has a great project underway and also steps through a way for gardeners to turn their rusty wheelbarrows into a planter. The final effect of her shed-makeover looks fantastic.
• In My Kitchen Garden has shared a post of their greenhouse construction. It gives another great alternative to the greenhouses I posted about earlier.
• Kasmira from Cincinnati Cape Cod shares how she installed her arbour. After learning that concrete is possibly the best anchor for keeping an arbour in its place, Kasmira installed it by herself and kept it level. You go girl...
• Finally, Katina from Katina's Little Gardeners has a great post on how to garden with kids on rainy days. Some interesting tips and ones that I'll store away for our next rainy day - which looks like tomorrow according to the forecast.

I hope you found some good articles and helpful posts in the gardening blogosphere this week. If you come across any that I've missed or would like me to link to helpful gardening post that you wrote, feel free to drop me an email.

Posted by Stuart | Permalink | Comments (1)

I've been a tad slack the past few weeks missing this weekly roundup of the gardening blogosphere. This post helps encapsulate and summarise some of the great tips that have been offered by experienced gardeners who share their knowledge via their garden blogs.

While I'm still catching up on some great reading and useful tips, I thought I would showcase what I've found so far;

• Marc from Garden Desk wrote a very informative post to answer his friends question Why are there so many different tomatoes? To the non-gardener a 'tomato' is a tomato while we enjoy the intricacies of the abundance of varietals and how to grow them. Marc answers the question very well.
• Garden Porn (definitely SFW - Safe For Work) may have a name that scares a few readers away but after recently discovering this great blog courtesy of Rick Anderson's blogroll, I must say I'm hooked. This blog features some incredible landscape design images and posts and has this week written a helpful post on placing and integrating a spa into your garden design.

  For those who don't have, or ever intend to have a spa, it's still a useful read for how to incorporate any design elements into the backyard.

• In My Kitchen Garden has written a helpful review on a book titled Astrological Gardening which discusses tips and ideas for gardening by the moon and stars.
• I've not seen Wall-O-Water's before but Molly Day from All the Dirt on Gardening has them growing in her vegetable patch. Well...not literally growing, but she hopes to grow some garlic between them as they have helped warm up the ground. Sounds like an interesting gardening idea and I look forward to seeing how these progress.
• Rob from Sustainable Garden tries to explain why chickens get grumpy. I'm not sure he's found the answer but I can only extend the hand of empathy on this one. Chickens are fickle creatures and I find the best way to get them laying is to hit the problem HEAD on - if you get my gist.
• And finally, Gayla from You Grow Girl has written 12 reasons why I don't grow edibles in my street garden. Trust me when I say that one reason is probably enough but Gayla goes all the way and explains every possible reason for not doing this.

And there you have it. Another week and hopefully another list of helpful posts that might aid your gardening.

Posted by Stuart | Permalink | Comments (0)

The gardening blogosphere is such a dynamic concept. Blink, and you could miss the most amazing post or a photo of the most beautiful flower goes begging.

Even more tragic is when a garden blogger with amazing experience posts a gardening tip for us to use and it doesn't get read. Therefore, the "Gardening blog's helpful posts of the week" is aimed at making sure this knowledge doesn't get lost.

Take a look at this week's offerings;

• Nancy from My Garden Spot offers some good advice to those who find their way to her blog but may not get then answers they were looking for. If only we could reach into our reader's worlds when they coming knocking!
• Garden-Helper posts a great article on learning from your weeds. As disgruntled as we get from having to weed our gardens, they may actually be telling us something that we need to know about our garden's health.
• And, what about 'vegan' gardeners? Trey from The Golden Gecko was confronted with a customer seeking organic fertilisers that don't consist of pulped fish or animal manures. What does he recommend? Check it out.
• Ilona, star of the Ilona's Garden Journal shares a few pointers when it comes time to prune some of your plants. Why we need to prune and what tools to use are just some of the great advice that she's offering.
• Carol from May Dreams Gardens has been formulating some good potting soil recipes and even challenging her own concepts of what should and shouldn't be part of the mix.
• And finally, it seems that GardenRant has pulled out of the deal with GardenWeb. Great news for us garden bloggers who love to have a rant or at least read one. Freedom of speech remains - I hope you all had fun with the April 1 thingy

And, in the immortal words of Peter Cundall, a great gardening guru, "That's your bloomin' lot for the week."

Posted by Stuart | Permalink | Comments (2)

The seasons are changing. The northern hemisphere is warming up (and it's not in relation to global warming) while us southerners are cooling down.

But that's not stopping the global garden and here are a few helpful posts from around the world that should help , or at least inspire, you in your garden.

• It seems that moving compost or mulch is high on the agenda for a few gardeners at the moment. Both Nada from Grandiflora and M. Sinclair Stevens from Zanthan Gardens are getting into the swing of the action at the moment.

  I suggested that they throw 'compost parties' where they invite a group of friends to give them a hand and reward them with a scrummy afternoon tea.

  BTW - if either of you decide that you will provide the scrummy arvo tea, I'll book the next flight.

• If you're looking for new plants to grow, Nelumbo has a great post on the Easter Tree, Easterii decoratis. They only flower in the lead up to easter and children desire their fruiting blooms.

  I'm guessing these are native to the Easter Islands? Or, do they only grow in South Carolina?

• Melanie from Bean Sprouts has a great post on 10 Movies that illustrate self-sufficient gardening. It takes a keen gardener to pick up on these things.
• Tobi from Garden Gremlin shares his seed starting set-up which is has become more sophisticated as the season's have come and gone. I'm yet to get my seed raising apparatus together so I'm always insanely jealous when I come across another gardener who's got it happening.
• Yolanda Elizabet's Bliss garden blog is sporting some new frilly and frivolously flirty voilets. She even documents the equipment she uses to plant them and to weed her garden beds.
• And finally, if you've ever need convincing that grow lights are essential for indoor plants Malin from Indoor Gardener has photographic proof. Her mini sage and mint garden took off almost immediately.

And so concludes another awesome week in the Gardening blogosphere.

Posted by Stuart | Permalink | Comments (0)

Each week it amazes me at the helpfulness of many gardening bloggers as they share their knowledge or things they've found out with the rest of the world via their blog. And it's all free of charge!

Here's this weeks roundup;

• Seems like every second week I'm linking to Andrea's Heavy Petal but it's always for good reason. This week she shares how to make your own seedballs (and they're important, how?). Seedballs are the new ammunition for guerrilla gardeners and are so easy to make. Read Andrea's great post on how to make them.


• If you're into butterflies then Angela from Angela's NorCal Garden Blog has a few links to some great butterfly photos and resources about them.


• Nelumbo from The Garden Blog (of a gal growing Southern) shares how not to grow plants in an indoor terrarium.


• If you've ever been wondering what to do with all that left over urine at your place, Peter from Backyard Organic Farming has a ready made solution.


• The Greenhouse Girl writes an interesting post on some of the myths and legends surrounding sunflowers. Did you know that it's been designated the symbol of a world free from nuclear weapons?


• And, finally, Katina from Katina's Little Gardeners links to a great article on starting seeds by Better Homes and Gardens. Katina also shares some insights from her own experiences.

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Another incredible week has passed in the gardening world but we haven't missed a second of it - well apart from the few catchup days after arriving back from Tassie. If you found yourself playing catchup as well, here are some of this weeks most helpful gardening tips that other bloggers have been posting;

• Molly Day from All the Dirt on Gardening wrote about growing tomatoes from seed and then followed up with a post on what to plant once your soil starts to warm up. Her tomato post linked to a very helpful article from Renee's Garden as she goes step-by-step through planting tomatoes from seed to harvesting them.
• If you're thinking of putting some peas in the ground this season then Steven Wilson from Granny Grunners Garden is your man.
• A little off topic, but nonetheless helpful is a series of posts from Rob of Sustainable Garden who discusses with his local MEP the seriousness of GM foods. Interesting read...
• Mary Ann, Idaho Gardener's author links to a helpful post by Marianne Binetti from Seattle who discusses how to prune mophead hydrangeas. Useful and timely advice for both sides of the hemisphere.
• After Val's great post here about harvesting rainwater, I noticed LadyLuz from Costa de la Luz Gardening has also put in some rainwater tanks. They are such a great way to tap into a very limited resource.
• And finally, it's that time of the month again when everyone posts what's blooming in their garden. Carol from May Dreams Gardens encourages bloggers to share their flowers with the blogosphere on the 15th day of every month. March is an interesting time of the year on both sides of the equator but it is still interesting to see what others are growing.

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