If you’re an avid gardener, it’s likely a potting table is on your wish list. If you’re a beginning gardener, you may wonder, “What’s a potting table?”.  Your potting table is a simple work bench, allowing you the space to arrange your pots, mix your soil, store supplies and plant your seeds or plants.

A potting table is the gardener’s dream come true. When you’re planning next year’s garden, you need a space to make those dreams come true. During the rainy months, there’s not much you can do to till the ground or set up beds. This table gives you a space to plan for tomorrow, or at least for spring. A potting table serves you well in mid-season, starting seeds and potting up your next generation of plants. The potting table is a nourishing refuge for plants to come.  For indoor gardeners, a potting table in the garage or basement helps save a mess in the house and makes a handy place for storing potting soil, fertilizers, spray bottles and the like.

All that’s required for a potting table is a space about four feet long and two feet wide. You can purchase one or it can be a DIY project if you’re handy with tools. It’s not a difficult project. Your potting table can be as simple or elaborate as you please.  Plans for building these tables abound on the net, from simple workbench style tables to potting tables with all the bells and whistles.

Some have a shelf below for storing pots, bags of soil, fertilizers, rooting mediums and the like. The lower shelf is handy because it keeps these supplies off the ground and away from insects, who may otherwise take up residence in your supplies.  Table designs may also include a shelf above, handy for gardeners who do a lot of potting. This allows the upper shelf to be used for bottles, boxes and jars of fertilizers, rooting mediums and other such gardeners’ “condiments”, leaving the lower shelf for soil bags and pots.

Yet another available feature is a strip of wood across the upper shelf which is equipped with hooks from which tools, like hand held spades, pruners and bulb planters may be hung.  The surface of the table may also be used as an “incubating” table for spring seedlings. Just put a heating pad, especially designed for seedlings available at the nursery, on the table and set your seedling trays on top. You can set the temperature that’s right for the particular plants you’re growing.

Whether you buy or make your own potting table, this gardener’s tool will keep you organized with many a happy plant to boot! For those of you with gardening friends, this type of table makes a terrific gift at any time of year.

In today’s backyard, we see more and more garden sheds made of metal popping up every day. You might wonder why anyone would choose something so bland and plain looking as metal for gardening sheds. After all, wood is much more appealing. So what exactly are the wonderful benefits that come with a metal garden shed?  Aesthetically they’re nothing to look at, so no wonder it’s impossible to figure out where the appeal lies.

Anyone who’s ever owned one can testify as to how much better they are compared to wooden sheds. More than anything, a hefty, well built metal garden shed is worth their weight in gold. If you’ve ever looked at a wood shed closely, you’ll see evidence all over the structure of blistering and cracking. This doesn’t bode well for the smooth look wood is allegedly supposed to provide. With a metal garden shed you’ll never have to worry about that unsightly image.

Another reason one made of metal is a better buy than a wooden one is the fact that during the winter months, wood sheds experience serious problems. Once the warmer months hit you’ll notice the horrible splitting within the wood panels. Frost and extreme cold temperatures can play havoc on your wooden building. With a metal garden shed, there will never be any splitting or tearing on any of the walls or roof. You can be sure that when those cold months hit that your metal garden shed will be able to withstand the cold winter weather.

If you’ve bought a wooden shed, you’ll soon notice that after any hard storm with high winds, the first thing to suffer is the shingling. No matter how many nails that you force in, wind always seems to rip one or two off. A metal garden shed will come with a metal roof. And while it’s true that extreme high winds could potentially destroy even this heavy structure, you won’t have to worry that a little thunderstorm is going to destroy your building.

Unlike other structures and buildings, it also has a natural benefit. When you pick up one of these gardening buddies, you’ll be able to store fertilizer, grass seed and mulch without having to worry about vermin chewing through the walls of your metal garden shed. This protects you from having to constantly spend even more money in the home improvement stores than you already do. Aside from protecting the inside materials, a metal garden shed will ensure that because mice can’t chew through metal, your structure will be sound.

With just about every wooden shed, you have to always spray and treat for termites. These wood eaters can destroy a wonderful shed in a matter of months leaving you high and dry. With a metal garden shed, your treatments are unnecessary, leaving you time for other, more important things. No broken glass, no warping of wood and no swelling leaves you content and a very happy gardener!

If you have a home that looks amazingly unique on the inside, but horribly plain on the outside, you know what frustration really is. You’re desperately wanting to give the outside of your lovely home a beautiful and welcoming feel, but have no idea of how to go about it.  You probably haven’t considered metal window boxes as a suitable option. It’s really never too late to do something different, so starting with your windows is a great step.

Everyone loves flowers, but if you’re living somewhere that doesn’t give you the option of having a beautiful garden.  You can try to spice the outside appearance up with metal window boxes. These mounted flower gardens are very diverse and you can find them in almost any color you could ever think of. From pale whites to luscious blues, the color themes are endless when it comes to metal window boxes.

Aside from the amazing colors you can find, they also vary in design. In general, there are three main styles of metal window boxes available on the market today. The first is the French wrought iron window boxes. These are classically stunning and can add a great aesthetic touch to your window frame as well as your home. The second style is the lattice wrought iron metal window boxes. These are more modern, but can add a very homey feel as well. Finally, the solid planter metal window boxes are very attractive. While these are rather simple in design, they are great for adding an elegant splash to a modern styled home.

In general, they are great for your outer home décor, no matter your budget. Depending on the type of metal and brand you choose, these simple but beautiful flower paradises can be inexpensive or pricey. No matter what type of metal window boxes, it’s nice to know that you don’t have to be rich in order to have an appealing home. They are widely available in home improvement stores as well as online..

Another great benefit they provide is easy maintenance. If you’re a person who’s got a busy schedule, you don’t have time to waste on something that’s going to eat up a lot of your time cleaning and caring for. With metal window boxes, there really isn’t that much involved. Aside from the occasional wiping down, these eye pleasing blessings practically take care of themselves.  The last, but obviously not the least, benefit is how weather resistant they truly are. You’ll never have to worry about rot, warping, or cracking. Above all, this makes metal window boxes a must have.

I have always loved plants, but they have never loved me. Some people have a green thumb, but I am just the opposite. My very touch can kill most plants. The only ones that I’m good with are ones that require almost no care. Cacti have always survived my withering touch and succulence do alright as well. Nonetheless, I despaired of ever having my own garden until one of my friends suggested a solution, a cactus garden.

I had never heard of cactus gardening, but my friend assured me that it was quite common. Although not very many people have a cactus garden around here, where she comes from they all over the place. Cactus gardens are extremely popular in the bay area around San Francisco. Between the sunlight and the moderate rain, anything will grow there, including cacti. I am pretty impulsive and as soon as I decided on cactus gardening, I was ready to go out and make some purchases. But my friends stopped me. She told me that I should go to a botanical cactus garden before I decided what I wanted.

There was more to growing cacti than I had realized before. There are many different kinds of cactus and each of them requires slightly different conditions. When I first heard about cactus gardening, I thought that I would have to renounce traditional gardening values. I figured that I would not be able to see any flowers – just plain, green cacti. To my surprise many cacti flower regularly. Cactus gardening is actually every bit as dynamic as any other form of gardening. The cacti grow, bloom and hibernate, at least to some degree. Although the cacti never whither for the season and drop their spikes, they do have slow periods where they are resting, like other perennial flowering plants.

I started cactus growing yesterday. My friend told me that before I started the cactus garden, I needed to make sure all of my cacti had matured to some degree in their pots. Now I have several pots to tend to each day and everything is going excellently well. Soon I’ll have a flawlessly working cactus garden, the only one on the block. I know that some of the neighbors will resent it, they resent anything that looks different on this black. Other ones will probably think it is pretty cool. Personally, I always love a new look. Thank God for cactus gardening!

My sister and her husband recently built a home in the country. They bought 20 acres of land. The building project went smoothly. Their drive way is quite long, so this creates a large area of grass to mow. The first couple of years they were content to plant a few trees in the yard as well as adding shrubs around the home. This year my sister wanted to add to the landscaping.

She asked me to help her come up with some design ideas and to make a trip to the local nursery. When I arrived at her home she was measuring different areas of the yard space and trying to decide what she wanted to add to her plans. She wanted to place large barrels of flowers at intervals along the long driveway. She said that the barrels would need to be removed each fall so that they would not be damaged during snow removal in the winter. She also wanted to add some pots of flowers amongst the shrubs by the house to add color.

We went to a local nursery and looked at the whiskey barrels to line the driveway. The barrels are very heavy and the clerk told us that once they are filled with dirt they are almost impossible to move. The clerk suggested using bushel baskets instead. There are bushel baskets that are lined with plastic to keep the dirt in place and also to keep the wood from rotting. The clerk showed us the bushel baskets that they had in stock. I told my sister that she would be able to purchase bushel baskets much cheaper through a farm dealer.

We went to a dealer that supplies local vegetable farmers. We were able to purchase several bushel baskets in various sizes. The baskets were half the cost of those at the nursery and were made out of higher quality materials. We lined the baskets ourselves using landscaping plastic that my sister had left over from other projects. We filled the bushel baskets with dirt and planted an assortment of colorful annuals. Around the house we tipped the baskets on their sides to create the effect of flowers spilling out of the baskets. The color added greatly to the look of the landscaping. The bushel baskets are much lighter weight to move and they stack for compact storage during the winter months.

We were able to add to the beauty of their yard at a very minimal cost. Next year she will only have to invest in new plants. By using annuals they can create a different look each spring and summer through the plants they choose.

In order to grow plants in a successful manner a temperature that is right for the plants must be maintained throughout the life of them. Specific plants require different temperatures. There are three main types of greenhouse heaters to choose from that can maintain temperatures, especially during winter months.

The best source of artificial heat for the plants and the least harmful to people and the environment can be found through the use of greenhouse heaters that are fueled by electricity. Electric heaters can be the most efficient way of maintaining temperatures that are specific for the plants temperature needs. The heat given to the plants through these is controlled by a thermostat. By using a thermostat it, makes sure that heat is not wasted even if the temperature outside the greenhouse changes.

Using the electric types of greenhouse heaters, fumes are not produced which can be harmful to the plants grown and the environment as well. Therefore by using this type of heaters there is no need for ventilation of the greenhouse. The use of fans for electric greenhouse heaters spreads the heat around the greenhouse. One thing that must be followed is do not use an eclectic extension from a source such as a home or another outbuilding.

Gas heaters are another type you may consider. They are not as productive as electric heaters and there is the production of fumes, in the form of combustion that is released into the atmosphere. A couple of ways in which gas greenhouse heaters differ than electric ones are that the thermostat control is less precise and ventilation is needed in the greenhouse. Also because gas is used it must be monitored and put in a safe place.

A third type to consider which is much less popular than the others is a paraffin heater. One drawback of these greenhouse heaters is the constant maintenance that comes with trimming the wick and the need to refill them constantly. Ventilation is needed in paraffin heaters as they produce fumes and release water vapors into the greenhouse. One main advantage of paraffin greenhouse heaters is that frost damage to the plants is reduced for greenhouses that are smaller. They can also be used as backups to other types of greenhouse heaters. It can also help if the electricity is off or the gas is shut off for whatever reason. This can be important cause damage to the plants can result in the loss of them without heat.

If you are unsure about which type is right for you consider talking to a professional at a gardening store. They have all the knowledge that you will need to make an informed decision that will keep your greenhouse in bloom.

There are many things that bring my mother peace and some a of these things are her hummingbird feeders. She has a few of them hanging in various places in her yard, and she can spend quite a bit of time watching the hummingbirds coming in for a quick drink. There are only a couple different hummingbirds in her area, and she and my grandfather often joke that they are fighting over the same birds. They are quite fun to watch and I have even been able to take pictures of them while they were feeding.

My grandfather has his hummingbird feeders hanging near his plants, and he and my grandmother often sit and watch them out the big picture window they have. My mom does not have this luxury, so she has put one of her hummingbird feeders right next to her kitchen window. This is the best place because she spends a lot of her time in her kitchen. She can see them when they fly up for a drink and she can then watch them without spooking them. I’m not sure if they can see her or not, but she can walk right up to the window and they don’t budge. They didn’t spook when I took photos either.

The funniest part about the hummingbird feeders has to do with one of my mom’s cats. She has a large, orange cat named Otis who you might confuse with Garfield. He is a huge loveable guy, but still has his natural hunting instincts. Otis sits on her sink and watches the hummingbird feeder for hours on end. He has his ears back most of the time and his tail is twitching. The funny part is that even though he is right there through the glass, the hummingbirds come anyway and they don’t seem to think a thing of him. Perhaps they are not even aware that he is there.

If you want to have bird feeders in your yard, but you aren’t sure what you want, you might want to consider having hummingbird feeders instead. They are different from other feeders because they fill up with a sweet liquid rather than bird seed. Hummingbirds usually swoop in, take a quick drink and then fly off, but I have seen some hover around the feeders for quite a long time. We don’t know where they nest or where they go when they fly away, but we can always count on seeing them almost every day.

Many people take gardening very seriously. Though I am not one of those people, I do have a genuine appreciation for a beautifully landscaped yard. One of the most attractive designs I have seen in today’s gardening designs is the waterfall feature that many avid gardeners add to their landscapes.

Part of what makes the waterfall feature so appealing is the tranquil sounds that emanate from the scene. I have the urge to lie back and close my eyes and just listen to the soft sounds of the water as it cascades through the fountain. It is one of the most relaxing sounds on earth and I could spend a whole afternoon unwinding to the natural music. I am even thinking about making a recording of the sound to play when I need to relax.

The beautiful sounds that are produced by the water appeals to one’s senses, but the sense of sight is necessary for the entire scene to be truly appreciated. The waterfall feature can create a magnificent scene for anyone’s garden. The movement of the water creates a visual flow that extends the beauty of the plants and flowers gracing the garden. A waterfall feature pulls everything together, immersing the viewer in magical sights and sounds.

Some may choose to install a pond in their garden, but this does not have the same effect as the waterfall feature. The stagnant water in the pond clouds quickly and the scene becomes entangled with insects and algae. Even though insects and algae are natural, they are not always welcome in gardens, especially if some of the visitors tend to get bitten frequently.

This is not to suggest that ponds should be banned from all gardens. Simply adding a waterfall feature to a pond will keep the water from becoming stagnant and it will keep the unwanted visitors like insects and algae from congregating there. The waterfall feature helps to keep the pond clear by filtering the water through pumps which can be turned on and off.

One word of caution when it comes to water gardens, make sure to keep small children a safe distance away from the attractive scene. My sister’s magnificent waterfall feature in her backyard is a magnet for a toddler. My niece and my daughter are drawn to the cascading water and the beautiful flowers surrounding the garden.

Adding a nice fence around the garden is a good idea for parents who have small children. This added detail is one that will increase the garden’s beauty while giving parents the peace of mind in knowing that everyone can enjoy the waterfall feature from a safe distance.

Most homeowners want a beautiful yard but few homeowners have the time or energy to put into maintaining their landscapes. Hiring a professional landscaper may not be the most reasonable approach for those who don’t want to spend a lot of money on outdoor projects and some of us simply do not have a green thumb. The secret to a beautiful yet low maintenance yard may lie in finding the right groundcover.

Groundcover consists of plants that grow very close to the ground. They cover the area like grass but the do not require cutting like grass does. These plant need very little or no maintenance. They also compete with weeds for light and water and they usually win. Groundcover also improves the soil by serving as mulch.

There are many different kinds of groundcover from which to choose. Some of the plants are flowering and provide an attractive assortment of colors for your yard. Some of the groundcover is edible. Strawberries are a good example of a fruit bearing plant that grows low to the ground. Spices like oregano and thyme can work but only in certain areas.

Most of the low growing plants are perennials. This means that they will come up year after year without replanting and many of these perennials are evergreen so your yard has rich color all year long. There are excellent annuals to pick from as well but they need to be replanted each year.

This is not to suggest that perennials require no work. The first year requires weeding, mulching and planting. Once that is finished there is little maintenance for the plants. Also, you have to create a barrier for the groundcover to keep it from getting out of control. Using brick borders or wood edging will do the trick.

Before running out to your local lawn and garden center, take the wildlife in your area into consideration. Finding your newly planted groundcover eaten away by deer can be very discouraging. It is important to find groundcover that deer won’t eat if you live in an area with a high deer population. Some plants are deer deterrents.

The other thing to consider is whether your landscape is sunny or shady. Usually the same plants that deter deer also tolerant of shade and can grow very well with little sunlight. The aromas sent by these plants have the opposite effect on us as they do on the deer. We are quite attracted to their aroma.