This guy
has done a comparison on 3 leaf blowers.
You can see why Toro 51609 wins hands down.
Enjoy!
Click here to buy < -----
Friday 31 May 2013
Monday 27 May 2013
Growing bedding plants
Easy to
grow and care for, annual bedding plants can be grown in hanging baskets and
pots or borders. Change your displays every year, and use our guide for getting
the best results.
About bedding plants
Packs of
ready-grown bedding plants can be bought from garden centres. Look out for
ready-made combinations, or buy trays of one colour to plant together and make
a big impact.
Buying bedding plants
Seedlings
If you
have a big bedding scheme you can buy tiny seedlings from mail-order companies.
Between 100 and 400 seeds are sown in trays filled with compost and because
they're so crammed in, the baby plants need to be potted into little pots or
spaced out in separate seed trays to give them space to grow.
Plugs
Plug
plants are bigger than seedlings and are grown in trays containing lots of
v-shaped cells. They're available in many sizes, including mini-plugs, which
will need to be potted into bigger containers before planting outside or more
expensive jumbo plugs, which can be planted directly into containers or the
soil. Good quality plugs should arrive damp, have green, healthy leaves and
roots that are just appearing through the bottom of each cell.
Pots and trays
The most
common way of buying bedding plants from a garden centre is in individual pots,
trays or in tear-apart packs. Buying in pots is expensive, while trays containing
lots of plants is cheap. However, as these plants are growing together in the
same compost, roots can be damaged when separating to put into individual pots.
With bedding grown in packs each plant has its own growing cell, and this makes
them easy to plant without damage to the roots.
Growing bedding plants from seed
If you
have time, most bedding plants are easy to grow from seed. All you need to do
is fill a 7.5cm (3in) pot with cuttings compost, firm and follow the sowing
instructions for the variety you're growing - some plants will need covering
with compost, while others are left on the surface.
To
germinate, put in a heated propagator or cover with a clear plastic bag held in
place with an elastic band. Place on a windowsill and seedlings will quickly
appear.
Some
smaller seeds, such as begonia, are trickier to grow from seed and are better
bought as young plants.
Planting out
Most
bedding plants, whether bought or homegrown, will have been started in warm
conditions and like to be acclimatised before being planted outside.
To do
this, put plants in a cold frame or unheated porch for a few weeks before
planting out.
Dig out
a hole in a container or in the soil that's large enough for the rootball to
fit comfortably.
Separate
out plants, gently removing individual rootballs. Place in hole, so the compost
is just beneath the level of the surface of the soil and fill in the gaps
around the plant with soil. Firm and water.
Aftercare
Water
plants daily in the summer - plants in containers and hanging baskets may need
watering twice a day during dry weather.
Add
liquid feed in your watering can and apply once a week.
Remove
dead flowers from winter and summer bedding plants as they fade to keep them
tidy and encourage new blooms.
Sunday 26 May 2013
10 Tips for Spring Gardening on the Cheap
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A scrawny daffodil dared to bloom in my garden today – and thank
heavens. It’s about time the yellows and greens of spring burst through the
dreary winter.
If you’re as eager for gardening season as me, and equally conscious of
your budget, these 10 garden money savers will lift the pressure off your
wallet.
DIY
planters.
Instead of paying for pricey glazed planters at your local garden store,
up-cycle other materials and containers you have on hand to create unique,
stylish planters.
Got extra building materials crowding your garage? Turn a cinder block into a planter.
This single serving container is perfect for voracious plants like mint
and strawberries, and also portable! Scrap wood can be fashioned into a window
box or raised bed with a few nails.
Even an old suitcase can find new life as a funky home to succulents or
other greens. If you must have terra cotta pots, head to a dollar store.
Score
free plants and seeds.
Search Freecycle.org and the free section of Craigslist for free plants.
If you ask for extras, many gardeners consider it a huge compliment to be able
to spare plants–it’s a sign that their garden is THAT healthy!
Most gardeners are happy to swap plants and seeds, or you can post a
seed swap listing for free on the National Gardening Association website.
Free
weed killer.
Store bought weed killer is not only expensive, it often contains harsh
chemicals that leach into the soil and eventually find their way into the water
supply. But there are equally effective alternatives that are cheap and
toxin-free!
Pour boiling water on weeds to kill them (really tough weeds will need a
second pour). You can also use vinegar, newpaper, and black plastic bags to kill weeds.
DIY
seedling trays.
Do not let me catch you buying those ridiculously overpriced soft
cardboard trays with mini-pockets for delicate seedlings. (Eyes rolling.) All
you need to make your own individual seedling starters is newspaper, duct tape,
and a tray.
Rip a few sheets of newspaper into three to four inch strips. Roll up
each piece so the opening diameter is about two inches wide and tape closed.
Place upright in tray. Repeat until you have as many seedling starters as your
green thumb desires!
Fill with moist soil, then plant your seeds and spritz with water as you
would normally. I like to cover my new seeds loosely with plastic wrap to keep
in moisture.
You can even use egg cartons.
Make
a composter.
Forget about paying hundreds of dollars for a composter. (Yes, some
really cost that much!)
You can make a composter for very cheap – about
$4 – by drilling a dozen holes in the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket. If you start
now, you may have compost ready for a late summer or fall garden.
Grow
money makers.
Not all plants were created equal. At least, not all plants you can grow
cost the same amount at the grocery store. Why not grow the plants and herbs
that will cost you the most money to buy?
By square foot, here are the 10 most valuable plants: cilantro, arugula,
green salad mix, chives, dill, lettuce, cherry tomatoes, turnips, large
tomatoes, and winter squash.
Save
seeds.
Set a reminder in your calendar a few months away to save seeds for next year.
Remember, once you have prepared them for storage to keep them in a
Ziplock envelope in the fridge.
This way, the seeds go into hibernation mode until you pull them out for
planting.
Harvest
and preserve.
Harvest edible plants regularly, even if you don’t plan to eat them
immediately.
It’s easy to dry herbs by hanging them in a sunny window, or melt fresh
herbs into a butter/oil sauce that you can freeze in ice cube trays and use to
season dishes later.
Eat
the weeds.
As long as you know what you’re serving, look out for these eight weeds you can eat.
Some are considered delicacies!
Enjoy
your garden.
Get into the mindset that gardening is a fun way to relax and get fresh
air! Turn on your favorite tunes, plop on a special gardening hat, and dig in!
Doing this hard work, errr, fun hobby, yourself will save
you hundreds of dollars in the long run over hiring someone else.
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