| Flowers | | | | and block out weeds if you cover it with organic |
| Here is a gardening tip or two to help you save | | | | mulch compost or bark chips. |
| time and still enjoy your beautiful flowers. Dwarf, | | | | Choosing a decorative sprinkler gives you the |
| coreopsis, euphorbia, and hellebore flowers will | | | | ability to leave it in your garden, making it easy to |
| give you more return on your energy investment | | | | water every day. You can, also, choose |
| because they have long bloom seasons. You | | | | drip-irrigations and soaker hoses which are the |
| won't have to dead-head or remove faded | | | | most efficient ways to water. Or you may |
| flowers to keep these Annuals, like lobelia, | | | | choose to deep soak your plants once a week, |
| impatiens, and fibrous begonias blooming. | | | | encouraging the deep roots and resulting in |
| Also, placing bulky plants in front of tall, floppy | | | | watering much less during those hot summer |
| ones will keep you from having to stake them. | | | | days. |
| When your summer annuals are done blooming, | | | | Lawns |
| Setting the bulbs in plastic pots and rotating them | | | | Your garden guide shouldn't forget about your |
| in and out of larger ones will make replacing them | | | | lawn. The healthy soil of your lawn can help the |
| a quick and easy job. And, instead of digging up | | | | soil of your garden be richer. Working on |
| your tender bulbs of dahlias, glads, and cannas, try | | | | improving your soil by aerating and using |
| covering them with a tarp and a 6-inch mulch of | | | | organic-based fertilizers will make you water, |
| leaves. This will insulate them, keeping the | | | | fertile, and mow your luxurious lawn less often by |
| moisture and cold from rotting and freezing your | | | | making the grasses roots dig deep to find their |
| precious bulbs. Then in spring comes around again, | | | | nutrients. To save time of gathering and dumping |
| you just roll back the tarp and watch them grow! | | | | bags of cut grass, use a mulch mower that will |
| Vegetables | | | | aid in the return of precious nitrogen to your soil |
| How about another gardening tip just for your | | | | and leaving you fertilizing less often. |
| vegetables! Mixing your vegetables into the | | | | If you will like to water, feed and more your lawn |
| flowerbeds is a more convenient and easy way | | | | less, then how high you cut your grass will make |
| to tend your yummy plants. And if you grow | | | | all the difference. The longer your grass is, the |
| rhubarb, asparagus, and perennial herbs then you | | | | more it shades the roots, giving more leaf |
| won't have to replant them each year! | | | | surface for making food. Depending on the type |
| Remember that your garden maintenance is | | | | of grass you have will determine how high to set |
| important. Lower your labor and bring more sun | | | | your mower, but most lawns should be allowed to |
| to your plants by raising your garden beds, which | | | | grow two to three inches tall before cutting the |
| will offer you a chance to sit at the edge of your | | | | top one-third of the blades. |
| plants and work away with ease. You will also get | | | | Other Useful Tips |
| more vegetables in less space if you compact | | | | Grouping all thirsty plants together near your |
| your vegetable garden. And don't forget that | | | | water source will conserve you time and water; |
| gardening is an excellent activity for the entire | | | | now that's a great gardening tip! Use large pots |
| family. | | | | for all your container gardens, because they give |
| Feeding, Watering, and Weeding | | | | more food and water to your plants than small |
| Having impeccable soil will cut back on your | | | | pots. |
| garden maintenance, so adding compost and other | | | | Do you have old furniture lying around? Why not |
| forms of organic matter will improve the nutrient | | | | convert an old nightstand or chest of drawers |
| content of your soil. Discovering the secret of | | | | into a handy garden-supply closet! Not only will |
| independent plants will give you the knowledge of | | | | you be able to store it easily on your covered |
| knowing that organic soil holds more water and | | | | porch or patio, but you will have quick access to |
| nutrients, supports healthier plants, and fights | | | | seeds, fertilizer, gloves, and hand tools. You may |
| against weed problems. | | | | also enjoy displaying your crafty side, by spray |
| Also, your soil will release nutrients all season long | | | | painting or stenciling your old furniture. So go |
| by mixing pelleted fertilizers into it. Your soil will | | | | transform your junk to wonderfully useful art. |
| seal in moisture, feed your plants more nutrients, | | | | |