Are you thinking of moving to a larger house because you don’t have enough room where you live now? Maybe you’ve been trying to sell your house, with no luck. Wooden garden buildings create extra living or working space for you and your family without the upheaval of moving home.

There are many reasons why you may be looking for extra room. Perhaps you or your children need more space to work, play, or study. Maybe you have started working from home or running your own business and need a home office space. Perhaps you need extra space for storage so you can get rid of clutter. Whatever your needs for extra space at home, a wooden garden building can fulfil them.

Wooden Garden Buildings Offer Flexibility and Functionality

When you hear the phrase ‘wooden garden buildings’ you probably think of garden sheds. But a timber building gives you far more possibilities. They can be specially tailored to fit your requirements, and can be fully lined, insulated, and weatherproofed.

Wooden garden rooms and offices can be connected to plumbing, heating, electricity, telephone and Internet lines, making them just as functional as the rooms inside your house. Timber garden rooms also look much more picturesque in your garden than a bog-standard garden shed or garage. They can be fitted with large doors and windows, letting in plenty of sunlight and allowing you to add large items of furniture such as desks or sofas.

Increase Your Living Space In Your Exisiting Home

One of the main reasons for moving house is the need for more space. Buying and selling your home is an expensive and stressful business. Adding a wooden garden room to your house lets you expand the indoor space of your own home without the stresses and costs of moving house.

If you are thinking of selling your house to buy a larger one, consider the benefits of a wooden garden building - it could spare you a great deal of stress and inconvenience, and add an attractive and practical feature to the home you already have.

Here are 5 Half-Hardy annuals which are easily grown and an be started or sown outdoors during May.

Antirrhinum (Snapdragon)

Universal favorites for bedding display or for cutting. Gorgeous flowers are freely produced for several months. Be sure that you pinch out the growing point when the plants are about 3 inches high. This will encourage a bushy habit. Sow seed late in the summer in cold frames if you want blossoms when no one else has them. Winter them over in the frames and set into the garden as soon as the soil can be worked. Grow creeping varieties for the rockery, dwarf varieties (1 ft.) for bedding and tall varieties (3 ft.) for display. Set the tall ones in borders. Group them in clumps.

Aster

Asters commence to bloom about the middle of August. Grow them in beds and in borders and there let them flourish until the first frost. They are easily raised from seed. They can be started under glass or they can be sown in the open about the middle of May. Read about them online or in seed catalogs and thank the plant breeders for the many types now available. Be sure that you try a few Dwarf Asters and those with full crested blossoms. Asters prefer a rich soil. They must not be grown crowded. Dwarf sorts should be spaced at least 10 inches each way. Tall varieties (2 ft.) space 18″ inches apart.

PANSY

If early blossoms are required start the seed late in January under glass. Grow on in cold frames and set into the garden towards the end of March. Pansies do well in cool weather and like a little shade. Pick blossoms often. Do not let them run to seed. The more you pick the longer they will bloom.

Start seed also in a cold frame in August. Winter over in frames and set into the garden early in spring. Old plants should be cut back to within 1-1/2 inches of the crown. Do this at the end of the season. The plants will produce new growth from the crowns and flower another year.

PETUNIA

It actually is preferable to start Petunias under glass. Grow them for display in borders, in beds, in window boxes and in pots. For color throughout the summer in large rockeries, they are wonderfully well adapted. If you love butterfly bush plant you can actually induce the bushy habit. Just don’t forget to pinch out the growing point when the plants as in butterfly bushes.

Zinnia

Being native of Mexico Zinnias thrive on heat, Give them a rich deep soil and water as needed. Varieties are many and all are interesting and easy to grow. You can have compact dwarf double Zinnias with quilled and twisted petals, Zinnias with giant double flattened blossoms or with double deeply developed blossoms. Some kinds are two toned whilst others are tipped with color contrast. They all have a place in the garden from the giants down to the tiny double baby sorts. If you want to grow extra big blossoms feed the plants judiciously and remove all the blossoms but a few. Don’t forget that you can sow the seed in the open during late May or you can start seed under glass for earlier flowers.

The Window Sill Herb Garden

Having your own window sill herb garden can add color and fragrance to any home. There is an abundance of reasons why people might prefer to have a window sill herb garden as opposed to one that grows outside.  A big reason is comfort. With a garden on your windowsill, you won’t have to deal with the elements of the changing seasons and will have fresh herbs all year long.

Most common herbs will be very happy growing on a windowsill herb garden, but some happier than others. Plants like oregano are ideal because it is compact in size and has a truly wonderful flavor. Basil, as well as rosemary, are two additiional herbs which will do wonderfully in your windowsill herb garden. Some herbs will repel fungus, such as the rosemary, and others simply have a wonderful aroma that can fill your home any time of the year.

Plants need water, light and a good base, usually soil to grow. A window with good light is a great advantage. In the northern hemisphere that would mean a south or south-eastern exposure. Most plants prefer maximum sunlight for growth and health and herbal plants are no different. Herbal plants prefer at least five hours of sunlight per day. And don’t forget to keep your herbs out of cold drafts, especially in the winter.

You can grow from seed if you like, but many people find it advantageous to start by purchasing seedlings in pots which are 6-12″ deep. You also have the option to buy herb garden kits. These window sill herb garden kits come complete with the containers, the plants (usually already sprouting or with seed planted within the soil), and instructions on the different varieties of herbs and how to care for them.

While it’s fairly easy to care for these plants, you do need to be aware of their gestation periods as well as the ideal times to prune their leaves for drying, storing, or cooking. Plants can compete with each other and you need to be aware of when one is overcrowding another and will need to be cut back. Since wanting the windowsill herb garden to look as good as it can is one of your objectives (I assume), you can be sure it will need your presence mentally as well as physically.

Water with care! You must always keep a proper balance between wet and dry, not flooding and not parching. They don’t like soggy roots so don’t let the soil stay damp constantly If you purchase a kit that has the plants already in bloom, don’t rush to clip the leaves. Allow them time to acclimate to their new environment. Also, if you live in a location, such as an apartment complex in a city, and don’t have access to good sunlight in any window, you can purchase artificial light. Generally, your plants will thrive under this kind of light, but it’s always good to check with the nursery or kit maker to be sure.

A window sill herb garden is a great way to spend your free time and if you’re an avid cook, you understand that there is no substitute for having fresh spices and herbs at your disposal. Growing your own herb garden and having it right there where you can see and smell it’s wonders is a great thing, and it will reward you in many ways adding life and beauty to you and to your home.

It is quite surprising how the desirability of the blue dendrobium orchid is increasing at such a fast rate. Then again, perhaps it is not so surprising. It forms lovely and long-lasting flowers in bold shades of blue and is a striking supplement to any floral arrangement. It is also a favorite of most orchid growers, and it is interesting to note that this attractive flower is turning into a highly stylish domestic plant as well.

The blue dendrobium boasts a rich history. It is indigenous to the Philippines where it thrives as a natural species. It is quite similar in looks to certain moths that fly all around in the wilds of that land. But a transformation has taken place in the blue dendrobium that is available nowadays in comparison with the traditional plants that grow in their natural habitat. The present kind is a cross that is actually a good deal more brilliant in coloring than its long-established ancestor.

The blue dendrobium orchid is in fact relatively rare and there are a few sorts that are even dying out. This is mainly because their natural surroundings have been ruined. But you can grow this attractive orchid at home providing you have determination, diligence and the correct facts concerning how to grow these blooms.

When it comes to growing the blue dendrobium orchid, you will need to be sure to follow one easy rule. The hotter it is, the more water you need to give it; and the cooler the temperature, the less watering is necessary. This may seem obvious; however the fact is that you will need to alter your watering schedule in relation to the time of year. During the summer you will have to water these plants approximately every five days, or less, however in winter you can wait up to 12 days between waterings.

Of course, if you do not possess the time or persistence to cultivate the blue dendrobium orchid you can always buy them from countless florists, both online and off. You can find just-cut blue dendrobiums in a choice of colors. They make a fantastic supplement to a wedding bouquet, and additionally are a highly attractive centerpiece for the wedding reception, or even as a pretty floral display for your home.

There are many kinds of flowers you might choose to grow, however the orchid is a long standing favorite of many people. Once you know the ropes on caring for orchids, you’re sure to receive years of enjoyment from these beautiful blooms.

Having a great and beautifully manicured lawn generally means you have to spend a lot of time on it. That includes some mowing and doing some pruning and modifications on the hedges. But wouldn’t it be wonderful if you can cut the amount of mowing required?

Less mowing does not mean ugly lawns. Sure, the grass will grow a bit longer if you chose to mow your lawn at least one a week, around two inches instead of one. But there is no visible or any significant difference in height at all. And the good thing about less mowing is that you cut your mowing time in half.

Letting your grass grows is another way to keep your grass healthy and more beautiful. The roots also grow deeper in the process and helps the grass absorb the nutrients from the soil. In the process, you save a lot of maintenance costs because healthier grass and lawns are easier to maintain.

Another trick you can do to really trim your mowing time lies in the blades of your lawn mower. Sharper blades cut more efficiently in the first pass. That means you do not have to re-mow sections of your lawn the second time. Also, sharp mower blades decrease the instances where you have to pull out the grass, saving you your precious time and effort.

The type of grass that you pick for your lawn also affects your mowing performance in particular and gardening skills in general. Grass variants that thrive in your area are much easier to maintain. Grass types that are not suited to your geography will demand a bit of your attention if you want your grass to grow well.

Lastly, you must not overwater your lawn and remember to keep the soil ventilated. Overwatering delay the growth of the roots and lack of ventilation renders the soil unhealthy. As mentioned earlier, deeper roots mean healthy grass. Ventilation, on the other hand, keeps the moisture in the soil, which helps in keeping the grass healthy. Proper soil ventilation also decreases the need to water your lawn every now and then.

Unattractive lawns are not necessarily the byproduct of less mowing. You just need to follow the suggestions given in this article and you’ll be surprised of the huge amount of time you have in your hands. With more time you have, the more things you can do. In that respect, you’ll become a more productive individual.

Fall is a good time, before frost, to pot up a few chosen plants for continued bloom in the house long after freezing weather has brought an end to the garden season. Ageratum, lobelia, sweet alyssum, dwarf marigolds, and petunias or almost any annual having good, clean, compact foliage and sturdy stems with a promising crop of buds and young blooms can be potted and used for a house plant.

Specimens that had a late start in the garden and now are coming into maturity are good prospects. Use shallow pots that are just large enough to hold most of the root system. Do the potting only when the soil is quite moist so that the earth will hold the roots in a compact ball.

Very little soil other than that which is dug with the plant will be needed. but if additional earth is used it should be a screened, sandy loam. Before potting. be sure to put a few small pieces of broken pottery in the bottom of the pot for drainage and add a thin layer of sphagnum moss on top to prevent earth from getting through the drainage hole.

Water right after potting and place the plants out of direct sun for a few days until they are adjusted to the pot, then bring them indoors. If kept in a cool but bright place in the house, the browallias will bloom throughout the entire winter; ageratum and others will remain in good condition for many weeks.

Bulb Harvest

The harvesting of the tender garden bulbs and tubers such as gladiolus, dahlias, cannas, tuberous begonias, Peruvian daffodils, tuberoses and others will occupy the gardener’s time and attention after light frost nips their tops, but before hard frosts kill the foliage.

All of these bulbs should be dug with great care just like caring for spathoglottis so that they will not be cut or injured by the spade or fork. The tops of glads, dahlias and cannas should be cut off close to the ground before these plants are dug; the tops of the others should be kept intact to allow the food which is in the leaves and stems to be transported and stored in the bulbs and tubers. Additional comments regarding curing and care of all the tender tubers and bulbs will be discussed next month.

October is an ideal time to construct new garden beds that will be stocked with plants next spring. If the new flower bed is to be planted with annuals, the soil (a good loam topsoil) should be at least 12 inches deep. Eighteen to 24 inches is desirable for perennials. Also, when preparing these new beds, work a good layer of barnyard manure into the soil to increase the organic content and fertility.

October is a good time to be gardening and a good time to enjoy these last blooms of the season.

Daffodils

So that they will make a strong root system plant them outdoors early. Before planting dig fine peat into the soil and apply at the same time bone meal or any good complete fertilizer. If you use manure be sure that it is old, and be sure that you dig it in deep enough that only the roots will reach it. Set the bulbs 5 to 6 inches deep, 4 to 6 inches apart.

Grow Daffodils in “drifts” which simply means in irregular masses, either large or small. This can be done by scattering the bulbs broadcast and planting where they fall. Let them fall thickly in some places, lightly elsewhere. The result will be more natural-appearing.

Daffodils shine when planted in clumps in the mixed border, along walks and in combination with single early Tulips they are especially showy. Plant some Daffodils with tulips for an effect that is startlingly bright.

Daffodils are very satisfactory grown indoors in pots. During October pot up a number of varieties. Place them in a cool dark basement; remember it must be cool, about 40 to 50 degrees; and let them root about 12 to 14 weeks before bringing to light. When planted soak well, allow to drain, and water regularly once or twice a week thereafter. The easiest way is to plunge the pot in a bucket of water and leave it there until bubbles cease. Remove, drain, and set the pots, where you have chosen to root the bulbs. The best time to water is about mid-day. When the bulbs are brought to light the temperature should not be over 60 degrees. Do not try to flower them in a room where an incubator temperature prevails. Remember, root them in a cool dark place at least 12 to 14 weeks.

Hyacinth

Planted informally in “drifts” Hyacinths will scent the spring garden with a perfume, delicious, intoxicating, almost overpowering. They are especially valuable for bedding and for pot culture.

Plant the bulbs outdoors 4 to 6 inches deep, 6 inches apart in well-enriched loam. Sprinkle a little coarse sand at the base of each bulb for drainage. Protect during winter with a mulch of clean straw which is removed in the spring. The bulbs may be set in the garden from late September to early December. The best time however is throughout October.

Hyacinths grown in pots MUST be kept in the dark at least 12 to 14 weeks. So avoid using any outdoor lighting. Say NO to low voltage landscape lighting. It MUST be COOL where they are placed to root - cool and dark. A temperature about 50 degrees is ideal - not more. Do not let the potting soil dry out. Hyacinth roots are brittle. If they dry out the tips of the roots harden, so keep the soil nicely moist at all times. Bring the pots to light when the flower spikes have emerged above the foliage. Both the leaves and the flower bells will be almost white; they soon color up in the light. Hyacinths and other bulbs for that part, can be rooted outdoors. Plunge the pots deeply in the soil; cover with about 6 inches of light loam. In about 12 weeks bring indoors, first to a cool basement for a couple of days, then to a cool room where they will flower.

They may also be grown in special Hyacinth glasses. Fill the glass with water until the water is within 1/4 inch of the base of the bulb. Do not let the water touch the bulb. Add charcoal to the water to keep it sweet. Change the water from time to time and keep in a cool dark place at least 12 weeks.

Squatting in admiration before a particularly beautiful and promising rose seedling, I was startled by a friend walking up behind me. Naturally he was curious as to “what” I was so intently studying but his first question really jarred me.

Actually this man - who had almost no knowledge of roses, voiced the very question that had been running around and around in my mind. He said, “I see it is rose,” but what is it?

He expected me to say, a cutting started from Radiance, Crimson Glory, Supreme or etc., but I really confused him by stating it came from seed. After several minutes of explanation he finally said, “I didnt know roses came from seed.”

This led into a discussion of hybrid tea, grandiflora, hybrid perpetual and floribunda which completely mystified my visitor. Not being able to explain these terms to myself I could not clearly explain them to him.

The seedling in question is a good one to use for the purpose of a problem that eventually we are going to have to face and solve. For example, when Pernet-Ducher produced Soleil dOr some 100 years ago, the cross of tea roses with hybrid perpetuals was a fairly new thing.

To separate the “old” from the “new” the designation hybrid tea did very well. But what of today? Some recent introductions have hybrid perpetual ancestors in the immediate background.

It is generally realized that any change, no matter how good - is opposed because all people enjoy status quo to some extent. As an extreme example the Bible states (Ecclesiastes 7:1) “The day of death than the day of ones birth.” But how we resent that day, we want no change.

Here is this seedling, typical of thousands now flowering daily in seed flats all over the world and being introduced to our landscape and gardens in very rapidly increasing numbers in the immediate decade. Certainly it is not a floribunda notwithstanding its immediate floribunda ancestor for the plant is going to be large and tall.

The flower is simply tremendous in size with a very tall bud carrying in excess of 75 petals. It could not possibly be accurately called a hybrid tea, for like this plant has a gallica bloom, stem, plant and unlike the old hybrid called Peace, a gallica coloring and fragrance.

It has the complete everblooming of Rosa chinensis. It has no visible tea character at all and could not be accurately called hybrid perpetual for it sets a bloom on every new twig which sprouts as seen in many rose gardens. If you have been tending or planting a rose garden you will notice that its bud is tall and pointed - massive, yes, but tall massive somewhat like Burnaby for size and shape.

Besides just what would hybrid perpetual really mean? Taken literally this would mean “a hybrid of a perpetual” and there is no such thing as a Rosa perpetual. My dictionary defines perpetual as never ceasing” - examples of this would be: life, death, birth, sin and taxes. Thus strictly speaking a “hybrid perpetual” would be a hybrid of death or taxes, which to me is void of meaning.

Herbs can help life in many ways. Growing basil (or Ocimum basilicum) is an excellent addition to your flourishing herb garden. I am pleased to introduce, Basil, a sweet herb, member of the Mint Family. Sweet Basil is the most popular grown basil plant known but it grows in a host of other varieties. When it comes to old age herbal remedies, and flavoring meals, basil is the best.

Folklore-

Throughout history, growing basil has held significance to societies all over the world. The people of India swore their oaths in court on basil leaves. To signify love, Italian suitors wore a sprig of basil in their hair when they courted their ladies. A popular Mexican belief is that carrying basil would return a cheating lover.

Medical uses-

Growing basil provides major health benefits. The herb is a natural source of beta-carotene, which is packed with Vitamin A. Basil, is a cure-all herb that can treat many disorders and ailments from headaches to indigestion. In fact, the list of benefits from this herb proves it so powerful; Basil is considered the “King” of herbs.

How to Grow Basil-

Growing basil can be childs-play. The seed can be sown indoors, then transplanting outside at a later date. It can even be full grown indoors if preferred. If you decide to do this, remember the plant needs sunlight, so a man-made alternative should be used, like fluorescent growing lighting.

Sow the seed in a warm time of year, about an inch apart. When the seedlings have developed a few leaves, they can be replanted. Make certain you wait until a late frost is no longer a threat.

Add a some mulch of about three inches. Organic mulch is an excellent choice. Water about once a week, preferably in the morning. Do not over fertilize because this action diminishes the unique fragrance of the plant.

When re-planting, dig the herbs in at least 1 – 1 feet apart from each other, to ensure appropriate growing space. Growing basil has two main requirements: well draining soil, and a sunny, but damp area.

Prune at least every two weeks to increase the health of the plant. To do this, clip the leaves back, but stop ¼ inch above the node. This is to ensure enough foliage is left for growth to continue. Deadhead any flower stems to keep the plant in production.

It is a good idea when growing basil, to plant it near your tomato vines. Both of these plants require above average sunlight, and watering, so it is convenient to place them close to each other. Basil next to tomato – like bolognese sauce! Basil also acts as a natural insect repellent, either in the home kitchen, or to keep pests away from other plants.

After 6” of growth, the top leaves are ready to be removed. Basil plants can grow to approximately two feet tall. Growing basil not only adds to your culinary delights, but it is delightful addition in the garden.

Spring will be here before you know it, and do you have a landscape design ready to implement.Regardless of the location of your garden, you must plan the design before you begin the project.Some people enjoy a vegetable garden, while others relax in front of their flower garden; but if you want to be the talk of the town, choose a Japanese garden design.

There are certain elements that create a winning Japanese design with your home organic garden that must be considered before you start the project.  You must frame the view, include interesting textures, water, Asian looking plants, stone and gravel, and much more.  These are most important to include if you are going with the Japanese style. 

Let’s discuss for a minute the water to be included in your garden.  You will need to use the many moods of water for your garden to be complete.  One idea is to have a little pond with lily pads near your garden; another would be to include a waterfall that drops into a small pond that is inhabited with some Koi fish. 

Take the time to research all there is to know about the home organic garden design you are looking to create so that you have optimal success.  Take a few hours to research what it is you want to do, and you will be satisfied with your end result.   Once you have researched the information, next you need to get all the necessary supplies before starting any physical portion of the project.

Plan every detail of the design, so you are completely prepared, right down to the minute details of which plants will be placed adjacent to each other.  Some plants will flourish and compliment each other, while others will flop if placed next to each other.If you have trouble relaxing, and need a great hobby, gardening is perfect. 

If you are a beginner, you will want to start with a basic landscaping design to allow yourself to grow into your new gardening skills.  If you make it difficult, and the landscape design fails, you will most likely not attempt to create another design.  Take these simple suggestions to allow yourself and your home organic garden time to flourish.

Home Organic Gardening is a quickly growing trend with costs rising, and so many people losing their incomes.  You can have a beautiful Home Organic Garden that you can be proud of.