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Planter Box Ideas: Granite Planters Enhance Canterbury Council’s Belfield Village

2017-06-12T07:45:42Z

Winter7parent: Створена сторінка: he City of Canterbury gets a hint of greenery with IOTA’s range of stylish granite planters. This is one of our modern planter box ideas. An attractive makeov...

he City of Canterbury gets a hint of greenery with IOTA’s range of stylish granite planters. This is one of our modern planter box ideas. An attractive makeover was provided with Granite Trough 1000 planters when the Canterbury City Council was looking for a planting solution that will help enhance the look of the city streets.

Read the original article about[http://iotagarden.com.au/granite-planters-enhance-canterbury-councils-belfield-village/ gardening and landscaping at iotagarden.com.au]

The planters didn’t just add greenery to the hard-paved shopping streets. They also serve as a barrier between pedestrians and oncoming traffic. Granite planters are suitable for use in public places because they are very durable. Unlike other less durable planters, granite planters can withstand hits from shopping carts and trolleys without sustaining damage. This makes them the ideal planting solution for busy city streets and other commercial areas.

The added greenery will help control pollution coming from the exhaust of oncoming traffic and add a nice atmosphere for the people dining at the local restaurants and cafes.

Greening an Urban Jungle with IOTA Granite Planters

2017-06-12T07:38:23Z

Winter7parent: Створена сторінка: In an area dominated by asphalt and concrete, IOTA’s range of granite planters allowed for just a little bit of foliage. A dull landscape such as this parking...

In an area dominated by asphalt and concrete, IOTA’s range of granite planters allowed for just a little bit of foliage. A dull landscape such as this parking lot in Bankstown in Sydney has been softened significantly with the added greenery.

Read the original article about[http://iotagarden.com.au/greening-an-urban-jungle-with-iota-granite-planters/ gardening and landscaping at iotagarden.com.au]

The steel railings were complemented with these plants donning green and red foliage and the results speak for themselves.

Granite Trough 1000s were positioned along the rails so as to guide vehicles on their paths. Trough planters are suitable for lining up along walls and railings to help direct traffic. On the other hand, the Granite Taper 800s were positioned at specific junctures to emphasize a turn.

Granite, being a naturally tough stone, makes the granite planters a good fit for such landscapes. While granite is not strong enough to sustain an actual collision with a vehicle, it can certainly handle a few kicks and the usual bumps from trolleys and shopping carts that frequent the parking lots.

Container Planting Helps Green the Greenway Supa Centre

2017-06-12T07:36:04Z

Winter7parent: Створена сторінка: IOTA’s Granite Trough 1000 and Granite Cube 600 planters took care of the greenification of Greenway Supa Centre at Wetherill Park. What was once a space fill...

IOTA’s Granite Trough 1000 and Granite Cube 600 planters took care of the greenification of Greenway Supa Centre at Wetherill Park. What was once a space filled with concrete and steel railings now has a bit more life. All thanks to container planting, Greenway Supa Centre has become greener.

Read the original article about[http://iotagarden.com.au/container-planting-helps-to-green-the-greenway-supa-centre/ gardening and landscaping at iotagarden.com.au]

The planters not only added some nice foliage, they also serve as a means of guiding pedestrians where they should walk.

The people dining at the adjacent pizza place are sure to feel more relaxed. Instead of having to look at concrete, steel, and glass all the time, they also get a relaxing view of some foliage.

Customers of the adjacent Westpac Bank and other nearby establishments will also be delighted with the addition of the planters as the area becomes a much more pleasant sight.

Container planting helps to add a hint of greenery to urban areas. Are there any areas that you know could benefit from some container planting?

IOTA Fiberglass Planter Boxes Add Extra Dimension to Garden of St. John of God Burwood Hospital

2017-06-12T07:33:20Z

Winter7parent: Створена сторінка: St. John of God Burwood Hospital wanted to add some impact to their front garden. IOTA’s range of Manhattan Fiberglass Planters, with its satin smooth finish...

St. John of God Burwood Hospital wanted to add some impact to their front garden. IOTA’s range of Manhattan Fiberglass Planters, with its satin smooth finish was chosen for the job. The fiberglass planter boxes graced its front garden. The end result added some dimension with lively green foliage and a splash of colour.

Read the original article about[http://iotagarden.com.au/iota-fiberglass-planters-add-extra-dimension-to-garden-of-st-john-of-god-burwood-hospital/ gardening and landscaping at iotagarden.com.au]

The fiberglass planter boxes helped control the growth of these small flowering plants which can be a handful to maintain if left by themselves to grow directly into the soil. Without the planters, the planting space could easily become overwhelmed with vigorous plant growth.

Founded in 1958, the hospital with 95 beds has been providing mental health care services to residents of Sydney and the rest of NSW. The hospital caters to cases of anxiety and depression and other mental health disorders. St. John of God Burwood Hospital is also the only hospital in NSW that provides specialized inpatient care for mothers that go through perinatal depression.

Plants, especially those with flowers bring benefits to mental health and general well-being. As such, a hospital with plants becomes a better environment for healing.

BBC Gardener of the Decade: Katherine Crouch

2017-06-12T07:29:52Z

Winter7parent: Створена сторінка: We have had an opportunity to interview one of the greatest gardeners of this decade – Katherine Crouch. Katherine was hailed as BBC Gardener of the Decade in...

We have had an opportunity to interview one of the greatest gardeners of this decade – Katherine Crouch. Katherine was hailed as BBC Gardener of the Decade in 2008 and BBC Gardener of the Year back in 1999.

Read the original article about[http://iotagarden.com.au/interview-with-a-garden-designer-katherine-crouch/ gardening and landscaping at iotagarden.com.au]

Get to know this award-winning gardener and her story below.

1. How did you get started in designing gardens? What sparked your interest in garden design?
I have been gardening since I was 10 and studied Product Design at Glasgow School of Art, gardening qualifications were not available as degree courses back in the Dark Ages. I turned professional in 2000 after winning BBC Gardener of the Year in 1999

2. What do you think are the current trends in garden design?
I am not a great fan of what I call Modern London Rectilinear. Some are very boring. The sort of gardens I cannot imagine having a riotous party in, involving lots of beer. Down in the West Country most people prefer traditional romantic gardens. Good structure, local stone and fab plants never goes out of style.

3. What are some of your favourite gardens?
Snowshill Manor in the Cotswolds, East Lambrook Manor in Somerset and my Mum’s garden. Almost any garden on Madeira. And I had serious plant envy in Melbourne Botanic Gardens!

4. What do you love most about the career that you have chosen?
I will never have to wear a suit ever again! And every job is different. I still have to work out how to earn loads of money – horticulture is generally not well paid. I should probably charge more. I am perhaps not sufficiently fashionable.

5. What do you find most challenging about designing gardens?
Squeezing as much garden out of the budget as possible. Very few clients have wallets to match their dreams – just like me.

6. If there was one piece of advice you could give to anyone about making the most of their garden, what would it be?
Buy some really good quality expensive frostproof pots and furniture to last a lifetime. Ask for them as wedding presents. People here move on average every 8 years here – take the best of your garden with you.

7. Are there any particular garden designers that you admire or look up to?
I love Dan Pearson’s planting and Ian Kitson’s gardens. Bernard Trainor in Monterey, very in tune with the landscape.

8. Can you tell us about your own garden? What are you trying to do with it?
Actually I now live in a rented house with a really rubbish garden and the back yard is now covered in pots after breaking down my show garden (Taunton Flower Show – Gold!). So it’s a right mess. Hoping to get an allotment society started in the village to grow veggies and cut flowers.

9. Do you have favorite plant combinations that you use again and again?
Stipa tenuissima and Salvia Caradonna. Pennesetum villosum and Sedum Herbsfreude. Snowdrops and Cyclamen coum. Hostas and ferns. Phormium Alison Blackman underplanted with Ophiopogon planiscapus nigresens (why do tiny plants have the longest names?) Curled parsley and Tagetes Paprika. Narcussus Jenny and primroses. Agapanthus Navy Blue and Crocosmia Pauls Best Yellow. Buttercups and dandelions.

I could go on and on…..

10. Do you have mentors that helped become what you are today?
It’s a bit lonely sometimes. Actually I mentored a Landscape Design student, Stuart Hendrich, 4 years ago and we are now firm friends and he project managed our Chelsea garden, and was a superstar helping me with my Taunton garden all last week. It’s great to bounce ideas around with someone who is design savvy, and now he mentors me!

Horticulturalist Janna Schreier: Why She Left the Corporate World to Pursue Her Love of Gardening

2017-06-12T07:27:04Z

Winter7parent: Створена сторінка: This time around we interview horticulturalist Janna Schreier. Janna left the corporate world to pursue her love of gardening and her life partner. Read the or...

This time around we interview horticulturalist Janna Schreier. Janna left the corporate world to pursue her love of gardening and her life partner.

Read the original article about[http://iotagarden.com.au/janna-schreier-why-she-left-the-corporate-world-to-pursue-her-love-of-gardening/ gardening and landscaping at iotagarden.com.au]

janna-schreierShe is a recipient of Most Promising Garden Design Graduate award in 2011. She passed both RHS Cert 2 and the RHS cert 3 exams with commendation. Soon after, she flew to the UK to further improve on her craft and when she got back in Canberra, Australia to set up her garden design business, the projects started pouring in.

I clearly remember sitting in a meeting the first day back after a wonderful holiday with him and thinking ‘what is all this rubbish all about?’. I wanted to follow my passion, not the commercial aspirations of a bunch of shareholders.

1. Tell me a little about yourself and your gardening experience.
My mum always gardened but I didn’t get the bug until I bought a ‘garden flat’ in my mid twenties. Instantly, I was hooked. I did a basic course with the Royal Horticultural Society, then another and I’m still studying today; currently for a Master of Horticulture. There is a huge range of activities that horticulturists carry out; for me, I particularly love to use plants to create beautiful places.

2. Why did you pick being a horticulturalist/garden designer over the corporate world?
I was managing a team of 150 in the corporate world within a year of leaving university, then that grew to 400; I was ultra ambitious when I was younger. But then I fell in love with my future husband and my whole perspective of the world changed. I clearly remember sitting in a meeting the first day back after a wonderful holiday with him and thinking ‘what is all this rubbish all about?’. I wanted to follow my passion, not the commercial aspirations of a bunch of shareholders.

Janna at Work — She narrates: “This is a photo of me selecting plants at the wholesale nursery. Not a particularly nice one of me but it’s one of the only ones I have of me actually at work.”
3. What is gardening to you?
Gardening is so much. It has challenged me intellectually more than any other activity in my life. It relaxes me and brings me joy. It provides a medium for me to give back to the world in my own small way.

4. How important is it to have a garden in your home?
I definitely need gardening space at home, for my well being and to trial new plants ahead of recommendations to clients, but I don’t need a huge space; that would actually stress me out as I’m always filling my life to the brim!

Janna has a bird bath in her home garden in Mosman which attracts a variety of birds.

Here you can see some lorikeets enjoying the bird bath. How often do you see colourful birds in your garden?
5. How did you first get into garden design and where do you get your design inspiration from?
After I completed my first horticulture course, it became clear that I had a particular interest in beauty and ways of combining of plants. I love to travel and visit at least one outstanding garden per week; writing it up on my blog ensures I capture the learning to the full. This keeps my inspiration very fresh.

6. What is your most memorable achievement as a gardener?
I’d struggle to pick one, but it’s the little things in life that are most memorable to me. My first home-grown strawberry as a child, a bottle of wine from a delighted client, my Daphne that I grew from a cutting. Different things feel like significant achievements at different times in your life, but it’s great to remember that special feeling you experienced at the time.

7. Do you have a signature design? What is the most common design request you receive from clients looking to create a paradise in their backyards?
I don’t have a signature design. I like to really listen to my clients and to the property and I find that a clear way forward always quickly appears. Design requests go in phases. At the moment everyone wants a deciduous Magnolia (because they are currently in flower) and pink and blue combinations seem to be making a comeback. But every project is so very different; it’s what keeps it all so interesting.

Ever wondered what a horticulturalist’s home would look like? Here is a view of the front of her house which obviously has a wonderful garden, because why not? She loves plants.
8. What type(s) of plants do you grow in your garden? If climate allows, what would you love to grow in your garden? Are you an experimental gardener?
I’ve gardened in five cities across three different continents and each time I move I just want to grow everything that has previously been unobtainable. This is absolutely the experimental phase. After about two years I’m done with that and want to have something beautiful that suits the location. Generally, I think plants that suit the local climate also look most fitting, so once I’ve had my ‘play’, I’m quite happy to stick with things that grow well and thrive.

Janna says she never tires of Agapanthus especially the dark blue variety pictured above.
9. What is your major challenge as a garden designer/ horticulturalist?
No question. Finding reliable, skilled landscapers at a price that clients are happy to pay.

10. If you could give some advice to people who want to start a garden or design their own garden, what would be your top tips? What are the biggest mistakes people should avoid?
Before you start, make sure you are clear about the broad concept or style that you are after. Formal contemporary or wild natives? Next, get your structure fixed. Pathways, trees, screening. Then fill in the rest, keeping your concept at the very front of you mind. And above all else, be BOLD! One of the biggest mistakes is to go too small, on pots, on path widths, on ornaments and on planting clumps. Scaling up turns your garden from amateur to professional. Oh, and don’t forget to have fun whilst you are at it; gardens are not supposed to be taken too seriously!

A Guide to Aromatic and Medicinal Plants

2017-06-12T07:23:49Z

Winter7parent: Створена сторінка: Medicinal Plants at Present The medicines that we see today, including the heavy antibiotics and the normal syrups, didn’t exist a century ago. Read the orig...

Medicinal Plants at Present
The medicines that we see today, including the heavy antibiotics and the normal syrups, didn’t exist a century ago.

Read the original article about[http://iotagarden.com.au/a-guide-to-medicinal-and-aromatic-plants/ gardening and landscaping at iotagarden.com.au]

In the past, people depended exclusively on herbal remedies or traditional medicine. Plants have been used in treating human diseases for thousands of years. Even cosmetics and perfumery were from extracted plant oils.

Present time, nothing has really changed.

Medicinal plants are still considered a primary health source for the pharmaceutical industry. American botanist James A. Duke cites that 25% of all modern prescription drugs are derived from plants, or at least one phytochemical.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reveals that 80% of the world population still rely on raw herbs and unrefined extracts in the treatment of diseases. This rate is much higher in African countries.

Medicinal Plant Properties
The first modern botanical gardens, which were founded in 16th century Italy, in Pisa, Padova and Florence, were medicinal plant gardens attached to medical faculties or schools.

The term ‘medicinal plant’ is used to determine the plants or plant products used by human beings in the protection against, or treatment of, illnesses.

A plant is considered to have medicinal use if there are chemical components within its structure that can elicit a response in humans. This clarifies that not every plant is a medicinal plant. Further research is needed to identify other plants with useful medicinal properties.

Medicinal qualities of plants are due to biologically active substances, which include:

Alkaloids
Antibiotics
Glycosides
Flavonoids
Coumarins
Tannins
Bitter compounds
Saponins
Terpenes
Essential oils
Citric and tartaric acids
Mucilages
Aromatic Medicinal Herbs

The term ‘herbal drug’ is used to determine the part/parts of a plant used for preparing medicines. Botanists describe an herb as a small, seed bearing plant with fleshy, rather than woody, parts.

Herbs also refer to a far wider range of plants. Apart from herbaceous perennials, herbs also include trees, shrubs, annuals, vines, and more primitive plants, such as ferns, mosses, algae, lichens, and fungi.

These plants are valued for their flavor, fragrance, medicinal and healthful qualities.

Herbs with a strong fragrance often have a remarkably powerful effect on the body. Also called aromatics, these plants are generally said to have a spicy, pungent, or acrid taste. Peppermint is one of the best known aromatics.

Herbal Preparation
Most herbal medications are easy to prepare.

Infusion or tea: involves pouring boiling water over leaves, stems, and/or flowers. The usual proportion recommended by experts is one ounce or one-half ounce of herb to a pint of water, allowing it to steep for around 10 minutes or so.

Decoction: refers to extracting the volatile principles from hard or woody parts, such as bark or roots. It involves boiling for 3 to 4 minutes, then allowing it to steep for an additional 2 to 10 minutes.

Cold extracts: requires double the amount of herb. Leaves, stems, and/or flowers are steeped in cold water for up to 12 hours.

Tincture: produced by steeping a dried, powdered herb in a one-to-one solution of alcohol and water for about two weeks. The bottle is shaken daily, and at the end of the period the herb is strained away.

Poultices: involves crushing or bruising the medicinal parts of a plant, heating the resulting pulp, and then applying it directly to the affected area.

Meanwhile, essential oils from herbs are obtained through four methods, namely distillation, extraction, enfleurage, and maceration.

Growing a Medicinal Garden

Medicinal plants are finding a new, expanding market as herbal components of health foods and preventative medicines.

To save time and money, you can stock your backyard or windowsill with some of the basic medicinal plants, known to treat common ailments, such as inflammation, minor cuts, colds and flu, poor digestion and insomnia.

Planning Phase
Most herbs are not very difficult to grow. Some even have lovely flowers and interesting foliage that can easily be integrated into your perennial beds.

A lot of herbs can also grow well in pots, either indoors or outdoors. They are very adaptable to climates and types of soil. What’s more, herbs are naturally pest resistant plants, making maintenance easier.

The best rule to follow for new gardeners is – aim small.

When starting a medicinal herb garden for the first time, keep things simple and manageable. Dig up a small area in the yard, or fill a few pots on the patio. If you do this, and experience success, you’ll more than likely be inspired and energized to continue!

Here’s a helpful blog for more information on planning your medicinal garden.

What medicinal plants to use?
Think about the herbs you use all the time. Are you always out of Echinacea, ginger, garlic, licorice root? You also need to do a little research for the condition that each plant will need in order to grow.

Pay special attention to how many hours of sun your medicinal plant needs a day, the type of soil it needs, and the temperatures it can take.

Here’s an A-Z medicinal herb chart by common name.

These five basic herbs are also recommended:

Purple Coneflower

It’s one of the top-selling herbs in health-food stores. It does well in any well-drained garden soil, and can tolerate up to half shade. It’s often used during the cold and flu season in order to alleviate the common cold.

Yarrow
The poultice of the plant was used to stop the bleeding of soldiers during ancient wars.

According to research, it contains more than 120 other chemical components that may be used to ease digestion, calm anxiety and reduce inflammation. They require no care, remain pest-free, and are winter-hardy.

Lemon Balm

Traditionally, lemon balm has been used to reduce fevers, treat colds, and calm the digestive tract. It is a great medicinal herb to grow yourself because it is more effective when used fresh or freshly dried.

Peppermint

Mint has been mentioned in the world’s oldest surviving medical text dated 16th century B.C., used as a stomach aid. It’s ideal to grow them in pots or containers, as they can be quite invasive. Peppermint tea is delicious and refreshing.

Chamomile

People have used chamomile tea for centuries as a gentle sleep aid. It’s perfect for beginners as it can be easily grown from seed. The daisy-like flowers usually appear within six weeks of planting.

Where do I find medicinal herb plants?

You can always order some catalog from a quality seed house in your area.

The good thing is, they provide helpful descriptions as a reference and to answer any questions you have. The seeds are always viable, and the packets have great information as well.

For those who don’t want to take the time to grow from seeds, you can start with potted seedlings or root cuttings. You can also purchase from online vendors who sell medicinal herb plants.

You might find this list of seed companies helpful.

How to Plant Herbs?
how-to-plant-medicinal-herbs

In most cases, herbs are grown in pots, or window boxes. Most herbs prefer full sun, as long as regular summer temperatures don’t rise above 90 degrees.

Materials needed include the following:

Planter or container
Potting mix (not garden soil)
Watering can
Slow-release fertilizer
Try using larger containers for herbs because the soil would absorb enough water for them to grow properly. You need approximately 1 to 4 feet in diameter for each plant.
Fill your plant pot with potting mix, leaving 25cm. of space from the top. Potting mixes are recommended instead of regular potting soil. They have an ideal combination of balanced pH and nutrients for optimum growth of plants.
Release the plants from their starter containers and begin placing them into your pot. Gently press soil around the edges to fill.
Sprinkle some slow-release fertilizer into the pot. Go for fertilizer designed for culinary herbs as you want the leaves to reach their maximum growth limit.
When you’ve finished planting, water the container. Wait several days to water again. Do not overwater. More water is not better and can lead to diseases or just poor growing conditions for your herbs.
For more tips on container gardening, here’s a guide on how to plant garden pots.

References
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. (2013, July 11). Introduction to Medicinal Plants. Retrieved from http://www.agr.gc.ca/eng/science-and-innovation/science-publications-and-resources/resources/canadian-medicinal-crops/introduction-to-medicinal-plants/?id=1300832855227

Duke, J. (1997, May 16). Medicinal Plants and the Pharmaceutical Industry. Retrieved from https://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1993/V2-664.html

Homestead Lady. (2013, March 2). How to plan and plant a Medicinal Herb Garden. Retrieved from http://www.homesteadlady.com/how-to-plan-and-plant-a-medicinal-herb-garden/

Annie’s Remedy. (2015). A-Z Medicinal Herb Chart By Common Name. Retrieved from http://www.anniesremedy.com/chart.php

Ehrlich, S. (2013, September 23). Herbal Medicine. Retrieved from https://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/treatment/herbal-medicine

Vile, S. (2013, May) Create a Healing Garden and Grow Your Own Medicinal Plants. Retrieved from http://www.motherearthnews.com/natural-health/healing-garden-zmaz84mjzloeck.aspx

Foster, S. (2014, March). Growing a Medicinal Herb Garden. Retrieved from http://www.motherearthliving.com/gardening/herbs-anyone-can-grow.aspx

IOTA Australia. (2015, July) Container Gardening: How to Plant Garden Pots and Planter Boxes Guide. Retrieved from http://iotagarden.com.au/how-to-plant-garden-pots/

Grant, A. (2015, January 8). What Are Medicinal Plants: Gardening With Medicinal Herb Plants. Retrieved from http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/hgen/medicinal-herb-plants.htm

Simon, J. Garrett, P. Petterson, S. (2015, September 10). Aromatic and Medicinal Plants Index. Retrieved from https://web.archive.org/web/20130624034722/http:/www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/med-aro/toc.html

Ahsan, F. (2013, October 13). 15 most effective medicinal herbs to grow in your garden.
Retrieved from http://theselfsufficientliving.com/list-of-medicinal-plants-to-grow-in-your-garden/

Vile, S. (2015). Create a Healing Garden and Grow Your Own Medicinal Plants. Retrieved from http://www.motherearthnews.com/natural-health/healing-garden-zmaz84mjzloeck.aspx?PageId=1

Simon, J. Garrett, P. Petterson, S. (2015, September 10). Guide to Herb Varieties As Listed in Selected Seed and Herb Plant Catalogs. Retrieved from https://web.archive.org/web/20130517234659/http:/www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/med-aro/herbguide1.html

Companion Planting Guide: Good

2017-06-12T07:21:17Z

Winter7parent: Створена сторінка: Like people, plants compete for resources, and relationships among them are varied. In plant communities, certain plants support each other while others, well,...

Like people, plants compete for resources, and relationships among them are varied. In plant communities, certain plants support each other while others, well, just don’t get along.

Read the original article about[http://iotagarden.com.au/companion-planting-good-bad-companions-for-vegetables/ gardening and landscaping at iotagarden.com.au]

Through science, gardeners have discovered that some plants may exude toxins that may retard the growth of their neighboring plant. Some may take more than their fair share of water, sun and nutrients. To prevent this from happening, gardeners are applying a much-needed gardening concept.

It’s called Companion Planting.

Companion planting is an age-old practice. It is defined as the selection of certain crop combinations to achieve specific benefits like pest control and enhanced growth. It’s simply planting different garden plant species next to each other.

Scientists base it on the theory that certain plants can either enhance, or in some cases inhibit, the growth of others. As it turns out, certain vegetables will do better or worse depending on what plants are growing around it.

The Three Sisters
One of the most popular companion planting methods is called the ‘Three Sisters’, which was used by Native Americans. It groups pole beans, corn, and pumpkins or squash.

The pole beans produce nitrogen that the corn consumes. In return, it uses the cornstalks for support. While the corn provides shade to the squash, the latter’s prickly vines smother weeds and deter animal predators from feasting on its companions.

How does it Work?
Successfully incorporating companion planting can expand the diversity of your garden. It helps you avoid monoculture, and minimize pest and disease problems.

Basil is a great companion for tomatoes and peppers, as they help improve growth and enhance flavor. Planting radishes near your cucumbers is beneficial because they help repel cucumber beetles.

Enriching the Soil
Some plants actually return more nutrients than they consume. Legumes are the best examples. Around 20 percent of the sugar they produce will be absorbed by Rhizobium bacteria, to convert it into nitrogen compounds that plants can use.

Repelling Pest Insects
Some plants produce repellent or toxic compounds that chase pests away or stop them from feeding. In other cases, the aromatic compounds released by plants can mask the scent of companion crops.

Luring Pests from Crops
Plants that have an irresistible appeal for certain pests are called ‘attractant plants’. They are often used as decoys to lure pests away from your main crop. Once the pests are concentrated on the attractant, they are easily controlled.

Shelter Beneficial Insects
Beneficial insects eat or parasite plant pests. For example, growing dill can attract pest-eating spiders and parasitic wasps, which will help control caterpillars on cabbage, beetles on cucumbers, and aphids on lettuce.

Benefits of Companion Planting
Companion planting can maximize the use of garden beds. What’s more, your garden will look more aesthetically pleasing with different plants growing on your veggie bed. It will promote a diverse healthy environment for your crops to flourish.

Here are the benefits of Companion Planting:

The companion plant may improve the health, or flavor of the target plant. This is because they don’t compete for root space, light and nutrients.
The companion plant can assist the growth and life cycle of its partner. Some plants release substances through their root systems that improve the wellbeing of other plants.
The plants may repel or trap an undesirable critter or attract beneficial insects. Some plants make pest management simpler. Pests normally attack only one species of plant, making it harder for pests to wipe out your entire crop.
Types of Neighbors
Companion planting is about choosing the best possible neighbors for your crops. A good neighbor may enhance the growth and quality of nearby crops. It may provide maximum ground cover, improve the soil, or any combination of the three.
The best companions often include plants with contrasting properties:

A. Fast-growing and slow-growing

Fast-growing plants are ideal companion plantings with slow-growing plants. Get the most benefit through intercropping, or planting cool-season veggies with longer-season, heat-loving vegetables. Plant radish or lettuce around cabbages. By the time the cabbage grows big, the former will have been long eaten.

B. Tall and short

The best example for this would be corn and squash, which make for great companions. Remember the ‘three sisters’ practice? Since corn grows upwards, it goes out of the squash’s way. Meanwhile, the latter covers the ground, preventing it from drying too quickly.

C. Heavy-feeders and soil improvers

Do not let your plants fight for their food. To keep them in check, it’s best to plant heavy-feeders with light-feeders. Corn and squash belong in the heavy-feeders list. Examples of light-feeders include root crops, such as carrots, radishes, beets, etc.

D. Sun-loving and shade-loving

Some plants don’t mind a little protection from the sun. Lettuce are somewhat shade-loving. That’s why it’s a great companion for taller plants, like beans and corn.

E. Aromatic and non-aromatic

Basil and tomatoes are a classic Mediterranean culinary duo. Both do well together in the same bed because they enjoy the same growing conditions. With full sun, well-draining soil, and a healthy dose of fertilizer, your basil can improve the taste of the tomato. They are ready to harvest at the same time too.

Getting Started
There are so many possible plant combinations that it can be hard for beginners to know which plants to combine. Increase your chances of success by trying a companion planting scheme that’s already found effective in scientific studies, or approved by gardeners from varying climates.

What types of garden do you wish to have? Understand that each plant has a specific requirement in which it will survive. There should be a balance between what is going to be planted and what’s already there.

Take the following into consideration:

Existing structures and plants
Soil’s pH or the amount of alkalinity and acidity
Microclimate and the hours of sunlight per day
Caring for companion plantings may be very different from how you normally care for your garden. Observe the performance of your garden throughout the season. It’s recommended to try a combination at least twice.

Companion Planting Guide
Here’s a companion planting guide that contains recommendations for allies, as well as compatible companions. You may start with your favorite crop!

Asparagus
Companions: basil, coriander, dill, parsley, carrots, tomatoes, marigolds

Keep away from: garlic, potatoes, and onions

** Marigolds, parsley, tomato protect from asparagus beetles

Basil
Companions: most garden crops

Keep away from: rue

**Improves the flavor and growth of garden crops, especially tomatoes and lettuce. Repels mosquitoes.

Beans, Bush
Companions: beets, cabbage, carrots, catnip, cauliflower, corn, cucumbers, marigolds, potatoes, savory, strawberries

Keep away from: fennel, garlic, leeks, onions, shallots

**Potatoes and marigolds repel Mexican bean beetles. Catnip repels flea beetles.

Beans, Pole
Companions: corn, marigolds, potatoes, radishes

Keep away from: beets, garlic, kohlrabi, leeks, onions, shallots

Beets
Companions: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, bush beans, cabbage, cauliflower, chard, kohlrabi, onions

Keep away from: charlock, field mustard, pole beans

**Corn is a natural trellis, and provides shelter for beans. Beans provide nitrogen to soil.

Borage
Companions: squash, strawberries, tomatoes

**Repels tomato worms. Improves flavor and growth of companions.

Broccoli and Brussels sprouts
Companions: beets, buckwheat, calendula, carrots, chamomile, dill, hyssop, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, rosemary, sage, thyme, wormwood.

Keep away from: strawberries, grapes, mustard, oregano, strawberry, tomato

**Marigolds repel cabbage moths. Nasturtiums repel aphids. Rosemary repels cabbage fly. Dill attracts wasps for pest control.

Cabbage and Cauliflower
Companions: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, celery, chard, spinach, tomatoes.

Keep away from: strawberries, beans, mustards, peppers, strawberry, and tomato

**Celery, onion and herbs keep pests away. Rosemary repels cabbage fly.

Carrots
Companions: cabbage, chives, early potatoes, leeks, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, rosemary, sage, salsify, wormwood.

Keep away from : dill, parsnip

** Beans provide nitrogen in soil which carrots need. Onion, parsley and rosemary repel the carrot fly.

Chives
Companions: apples, berries, carrots, grapes, peas, roses, tomatoes.

Keep away from: beans

**Improves flavor and growth of companions. Deters aphids and Japanese beetles.

Corn
Companions: beans, cucumbers, marjoram, parsnip, peas, potatoes, pumpkin, squash, and zucchini

Keep away from: tomato

**Soybeans deter chinch bugs. Tomato worm and corn earworm like both plants. Beans and peas supply nitrogen.

Cucumbers
Companions: beans, cabbage, corn, early potatoes, radishes, and sunflowers.

Keep away from: potato, sage, strong aromatic herbs, and tomato

** Cucumbers grow poorly around potatoes and sage. Radishes deter cucumber beetles. Cucumbers encourage blight in late potatoes.

Dill
Companions: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber, lettuce, onions

Keep away from: carrots, cilantro, and tomato

**Improves flavor and growth of cabbage family plants. Cross-pollinates with cilantro, ruining both. One of only a few plants that grows well with Fennel.

Garlic
Companions: cabbage, cane fruits, fruit trees, roses, tomatoes

Keep away from: peas, beans

**Deters Japanese beetles and aphids. A garlic oil spray deters onion flies, aphids, and ermine moths. A garlic tea helps repel late potato blight.

Onions
Companions: beets, cabbage family, carrots, chamomile, lettuce, parsnips

Keep away from: beans, peas

**Deters most pests, such as maggots, aphids, the carrot fly, and other pests.

Potatoes
Companions: basil, beans, cabbage family, corn, eggplant, flax, hemp, marigolds, peas, and squash

Keep away from: apples, birch, cherries, cucumbers, pumpkins, raspberries, sunflowers, tomatoes, walnuts

** Cucumber, tomato and raspberry attract harmful pests to potatoes. Horseradish increases disease resistance. Hemp deters phytophthora infestans. Basil deters potato beetles. Marigolds (dug into crop soil) deter nematodes.

Radishes
Plant near: chervil, cucumbers, lettuce, melons, peas, nasturtiums, root crops

Keep away from: hyssop

** Radish is often used as a trap crop against some beetles (flea and cucumber). Chervil makes radishes hot. Lettuce helps make radishes tender. Nasturtiums improve radishes’ flavor.

Tomatoes
Companions: asparagus, basil, cabbage family, carrots, gooseberries, mustard, parsley, onions, rosemary, sage, stinging nettles

Keep away from: fennel, kohlrabi, potatoes, walnuts, brassicas, beets, corn, dill, peas, potatoes, and rosemary

**Growing basil about 10 inches from tomatoes increases the yield of the tomato plants.

You can also click on this vegetable and herb companion planting chart if your choice of plant is not mentioned above.

Use of Containers

Did you know that you can also use containers for your vegetables? It’s the most forgiving style of planting for garden plans. Let’s say the plants are not growing well in its current location. With container gardening, you can simple relocate it.

According to Dale Meyer’s book, ‘The Complete Guide to Companion Planting’, you can grow the following herbs and vegetables in 5-gallon sized containers, or window boxes:

-Snap beans -Broccoli -Basil -Parsley

-Onion -Pepper -Catmint -Thyme

-Spinach -Squash -Chives -Nasturtium

-Tomatoes -Cilantro -Lemon balm

Make sure any pot that you purchase has holes in the bottom, at least ½-inch wide to facilitate good drainage.

For more help on how to start container gardening, you can read this great guide.

Have you tried companion planting before? What plant combinations did you use? Do you have a friend that could use some help with companion? Share this post with them.

References
Sweetser, R. (2015, May 16). Companion Planting. Retrieved from http://www.almanac.com/blog/gardening-blog/companion-planting

Formiga, A. (2012). Celebrate the Three Sisters: Corn, Beans and Squash. Retrieved from http://www.reneesgarden.com/articles/3sisters.html

Ziga. (2015, September 15). Does Your Vegetable Bed Look Like a Parking Lot? Retrieved from http://www.permablogger.net/companion-planting-examples/

Meyer, D. (2010, November 12). The Complete Guide to Companion Planting: Everything You Need to Know to Make Your Garden and Ornamental Plants Thrive. Retrieved from https://books.google.com.ph/books?id=32xpkvpXyvIC&pg=PA16&lpg=PA16&dq=companion+planting+with+contrasting+properties&source#v

Francis, M. (2010). Veggie BFFs: Companion Planting for a Healthier Garden. Retrieved from http://www.hgtvgardens.com/garden-basics/veggie-bffs-companion-planting-for-a-healthier-garden

Garden Simply. (2015). Common Garden Vegetables: Their Companions and Their Antagonists. Retrieved from http://www.gardensimply.com/gardening-methods/companion-planting-chart.php

Garden Simply. (2015). Companion Planting Chart for Herbs. Retrieved from http://www.gardensimply.com/gardening-methods/companion-planting-chart-herbs.php

Vegetable Garden Life. (2014). Companion Planting Charts for Vegetables. Retrieved from http://www.vegetablegardeninglife.com/companion-planting-charts.html

Golden Harvest Organics. (2015, February 21). Companion Planting. Retrieved from https://www.ghorganics.com/page2.html

IOTA Australia. (2015, July) Container Gardening: How to Plant Garden Pots and Planter Boxes Guide. Retrieved from http://iotagarden.com.au/how-to-plant-garden-pots/

Anne Wareham: On Designing a Garden but Hating Gardening

2017-06-12T07:18:47Z

Winter7parent: Створена сторінка: Anne Wareham and her husband has been working and designing a garden in the UK for 25 years. They are the couple behind Veddw House Garden — now one of the mo...

Anne Wareham and her husband has been working and designing a garden in the UK for 25 years. They are the couple behind Veddw House Garden — now one of the most awe-inspiring gardens in the UK.

Read the original article about[http://iotagarden.com.au/anne-wareham-wanting-garden-hating-gardening/ gardening and landscaping at iotagarden.com.au]

I made the garden because I wanted a garden, not because I wanted to garden in it. My preference is to be sitting in it with a drink in my hand with friends or my husband, admiring the view.

A gardener and a writer, she wrote The Bad Tempered Gardener and Outwitting Squirrels. Hardly bad tempered she is. In this interview, she gives it all to us straight.

What a garden is for…
What sparked your interest in gardening?
Being given some herb seeds – which I had to germinate on the floor in the bathroom and then grow on the windowsill of my London flat.

What inspired you to write The Bad Tempered Gardener?
All the bad, controversial and personal things I wanted to say – I think you can get away with much more in a book than in magazine articles.

What’s your favorite part in your book Outwitting Squirrels? And why?
The chapter on garden experts. Always thinking of more work for us to do in the garden. Offering dubious advice. Generally being smug. Don’t they just drive us all mad?

Do you love gardening? And what’s the secret to your success both as a gardener and as a writer?
I don’t love gardening. It’s basically outdoor housework. At most I tolerate gardening.

I made the garden because I wanted a garden, not because I wanted to garden in it. My preference is to be sitting in it with a drink in my hand with friends or my husband, admiring the view.

That might be the secret of my success – because I love writing much more than gardening. It may be easier to create a good garden if you don’t much want to play at gardening in it. You can keep it simple, easy to maintain, avoid growing the relatively unattractive vegetables and generally not take it too seriously. And then you can write about how to make gardening easier, and people will love you for it.

And I try to be honest, to give the good and the bad, the best and poorest, to identify what works and what just doesn’t. That has cost me, but there are a lot of gardeners out there who seem to appreciate it.

Love Your Weeds – Wild garden at Veddw
How do you think you can you inspire the next generation of gardeners?
I’d rather not. They’ll find their own way without my help. They may have other things to do.

What are the top three tips you can offer to a gardening novice to help them shape up their garden?
Cut your perennials, annuals and vegetable remnants down in situ in the autumn and leave them there to mulch the soil.

Learn to love your weeds. Incorporate them into your colour schemes – this will either disguise them, or make you appreciate their merits.

Don’t grow vegetables – they are the hard work of gardening.

What advice would you offer to someone aiming for a successful career in the garden design industry?
I know and understand very little about professional garden designing. It’s a bit of a mystery to me, since I see garden making as a perpetual, ongoing process, not something that happens all at once and is done.

Can you ever imagine not being a gardener? What career path do you think you would you have taken if you weren’t a gardener today?
I could happily write about a lot of other things. But I couldn’t do without the garden at Veddw. We will be buried here.

What would you like to do more of in the future? Are you aiming for certain milestones?
Giving myself more time with my feet up and a good book.

How would you describe the past 25 years that you spent building the Veddw House with your husband?
Exhausting.

A Guide to Weed Identification

2017-06-12T07:15:59Z

Winter7parent: Створена сторінка: What are Weeds? These are some of the accepted definitions of a weed: Read the original article about[http://iotagarden.com.au/a-guide-to-weed-identification/...

What are Weeds?
These are some of the accepted definitions of a weed:

Read the original article about[http://iotagarden.com.au/a-guide-to-weed-identification/ gardening and landscaping at iotagarden.com.au]

A plant growing where it is not wanted
A plant out of place and not intentionally sown
A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered. (R.W.Emerson)
Plants that are competitive, persistent, pernicious, and interfere negatively with human activity (Ross, et. Al.)
Another better definition is:

“Plants that originated under a natural environment and, in response to imposed and natural environments, evolved and continue to do so as an interfering associate with our desired plants and activities” (Aldrich and Kremer, 1997).

No matter what the definition used, weeds are invasive plants. They are competitive, fighting your garden plants or lawn grass for water, light, nutrients and space.

Their undesirable qualities outweigh their good points. There are approximately 250,000 species of plants around the world, and about 3% or 8000 species of those behave as weeds.

Plant ecologists suggest that specific plants have specific characteristics that make them likely to become weeds.

They possess one or more of the following:

Abundant seed production
Rapid population establishment
Seed dormancy
Long-term survival of buried seed
Adaptation for spread
Presence of vegetative reproductive structures
Ability to occupy sites disturbed by human activities
Weeds in Agriculture
Around 30,000 weed species worldwide are reducing the quality and volume of crop yields. This is according to Bayer CropScience. Weeds can destroy native habitats, threaten native plants and animals, and even choke rivers and forests.

Weeds are the most costly category of agricultural pests in organic farming. Since principles don’t allow the use of most herbicides, organic farmers consider weeds a barrier to successful production.

Major weed invasions can change the natural diversity, and balance of ecological communities. The alarming figures for 2014: 238 of the 1,000 worst and most commonly found weed species have developed resistance, in 84 crops and 66 countries.

It is estimated that weeds cost Australian farmers around $1.5 billion a year in weed control activities, and a further $2.5 billion a year in lost agricultural production.

Another source estimates that U.S. farmers annually spend $3.6 billion on chemical weed control and $2.6 billion for cultural and other methods of control. Weeds reduce farm and forest productivity, they invade crops, smother pastures and in some cases can harm livestock.

Other problems associated with weeds in agriculture include:

Reduced crop quality by contaminating the commodity;
Interference with harvest;
Serve as hosts for crop diseases or provide shelter for insects to overwinter;
Limit the choice of crop rotation sequences and cultural practices
Production of chemical substances which are toxic to crop plants, animals, or humans.
Weeds in the Garden
Part of growing your own garden means that you will also be growing weeds at some point. Weed Identification is one of the most important keys to becoming a successful gardener.

Guide to Weed Identification

The problem with weeds is that they are able to spread rapidly. Something gardeners seek to manage and control. However, weeds still play a key role in the ecosystem.

Weeds are a constant fact of life in vegetable crops. With a little diligence and timely weeding, the home gardener can turn most weeds into beneficial organic matter.

Having an ecological understanding of weeds is the foundation of an effective organic weed management program that can make the difference between success and failure.

Guide to Weed Identification
Knowing what type of weed you are dealing with will help you choose the best method of control. There are generally three types of common weed plants based on their growth characteristics.

Annual types

These germinate and spread by seed, having an average lifespan of one year. They can rapidly colonize a garden with their large numbers of seeds. In the garden, they are weeds of cultivated ground. They take advantage of the soil being broken up for crop plants.

Examples of annual weeds include:

Barnyardgrass
Crabgrass
Foxtail (giant, yellow, green)
Wild oat
Fall panicum
Perennial Types
weeds-perennials

These are more of a problem because they can live for several years. Most have extensive root systems, making them hard to eradicate. Even if you remove the entire root, any pieces left in the ground will regrow. They also survive the winter by storing food in their roots.

Examples of perennial weeds include:

Quackgrass
Artichoke
Bindweed (field and hedge)
Sowthistle
Nutsedge
Biennial types
weeds-biennials

Biennial weeds complete their life cycle in two years, germinating and forming rosettes in their first year, and producing flowers and seeds in their second year.

Examples of biennial weeds include:

Bull thistle
Garlic mustard
Ragwort
Two Groups of Weeds
In addition to their growing type, most weeds in turf and landscapes fall into two major groups. The first we call broadleaf weeds, or, as scientists refer to them, dicots. The second major group is the monocots, which includes the grasses.

Broadleaf Weeds
Broadleaf weeds are usually very easy to identify. As the name implies, these plants have relatively wide leaf blades compared to grasses. The leaves may be simple (having one leaflet, like dandelion) or compound (having more than one leaflet, like clover). Veins within the leaf give a netted appearance in most cases.

Dandelion
A tap rooted perennial weed, the plant features a deep, fleshy taproot which often branches. Leaves branching from the taproot form into rosettes and can remain green throughout the year.

Proper mowing and watering can help Dandelion control by creating dense turf, which inhibits the weed’s ability to grow.

Ground Ivy
Another perennial often found in moist, well shaded areas, ground ivy can be identified by its long, creeping, square stems that root at the nodes.

Ground Ivy is a considerably aggressive weed. Mowing and manual removal can limit its growth, but these practices are likely to eliminate the weed completely.

Black Medic
An annual weed that features a taproot, black medic’s stems are hairy, growing upright and somewhat square. The weed also features small, yellow flowers that are clustered on the end of the stalk.

Maintaining proper levels in your lawn’s soil can also help discourage this annual weed. Proper mowing and watering practices can also keep black medic at bay.

Broadleaf Plantain
This plant is mostly found in gardens, orchards, and other undisturbed locations. It is a rosette-forming perennial of high or low maintenance turf. Its leaves are smooth or inconspicuously hairy and prominent veins run parallel with the margins.

Hand-pulling is only an effective short-term method for removing this weed. It can disrupt the seeds from their pods, spreading them in your lawn.

Narrow Leaf Weeds
These are plants with a single cotyledon or seed leaf. Their leaf blades usually have parallel venation, and fibrous roots systems. Monocots may be grouped as grasses, sedges, or lilies.

Giant Foxtail
Being warm-season annual grasses, giant foxtails have short hairs on the top surface and margins of the leaf blade. Mostly found in corn and soybean fields, in lawns, gardens and turf.

Yellow Nutsedge
A known perennial, this plant spreads easily since it reproduces by rhizomes, tubers, and seeds. One key in the identification of yellow nutsedge is the simple, triangular-shaped stem of the plant.

Wild Garlic
A cool-season perennial, it is difficult to eliminate this weed in small grain field. It can contaminate the crop, thus lowering its value. Wild garlic propagates itself by developing underground bulbs that grow into new wild garlic plants.

Large Crabgrass
A warm-season annual, it appears in many crops as well as in gardens and lawns. Stems are erect or spreading, smooth, often rooting at the nodes. Large crabgrass seeds germinate in late spring and grow well in dry, hot weather.

Goosegrass
Often appear in corn and soybean fields, it’s a warm-season annual weed that can be identified by its flat stems and seedheads.

There are several tools to help you identify weeds on your property. This Identification Tool lets you easily identify a weed based on the features of a particular plant.

Weed Control
If you ask gardeners to track every hour spent in the garden, they would probably tell that they do an inordinate amount of weeding.

There are a number of weed control methods, depending on the weed and the gardener. Here are your options:

Cultural Weed Control
It’s one of the easiest ways to control weeds. It involves close planting to reduce weed growth by eliminating open space.

Cover crops can also be effective. It means using a plant in order to literally ‘cover’ a piece of land that is not in use.

Mechanical Weed Control
Mechanical weed control refers to any technique that involves the use of farm equipment to control weeds.

The two mechanical control techniques most often used are tillage and mowing.

Chemical Weed Control
There are weeds which can become aggressive to the point of taking over.

In cases like these, chemical control is sometimes necessary to control the germination or growth of the weed species. Herbicides like glyphosate, bromoxynil, and paraquat are used.

Biological Weed Control
Refers to any technique that involves the use of natural enemies of weed plants to control the germination of weed seeds.

Examples of biological weed control include sheep to control tansy ragwort or leafy spurge.

Of course, which weed goes and which weed stays depends on the individual gardener. Some weeds can actually be quite attractive in the garden, and don’t really bring harm to plants or soil.

What types of weeds are common in your yard or garden and what methods do you use to control them?

References:
Phipps, N. (2014, December, 18). What Is a Weed: Weed Info and Control Methods in the Garden. Retrieved from http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/weeds/what-is-a-weed.htm

Pleasant, B. (2013, May). Six Tips for Effective Weed Control. Retrieved from http://www.finegardening.com/six-tips-effective-weed-control

Bayer CropScience. (2015, August 18). Why is controlling weeds a global challenge? Retrieved from http://www.cropscience.bayer.com/en/Commitment/Integrated-Weed-Management/Weed-basics.aspx

Ligenfelter, D. (2015). Introduction to Weeds: What are weeds and why do we care? Retrieved from http://extension.psu.edu/pests/ipm/schools-childcare/schools/educators/curriculum/weeds/introweeds

Schonbeck, M. (2013, August 20). An Ecological Understanding of Weeds. Retrieved from http://www.extension.org/pages/18529/an-ecological-understanding-of-weeds#.VfCodRGqqko

Quinian, J. (2014). Identifying Weeds: Pictures of Weeds. Retrieved from http://www.growinganything.com/identifying-weeds-pictures-of-weeds.html

Kindersley, D. (2012). Three Types of Weeds. Retrieved from http://www.hgtv.com/design/outdoor-design/landscaping-and-hardscaping/three-types-of-weeds

Mr. Grass (2014, July 7). Summer Lawn Tips. Retrieved from http://www.mrgrassblog.net/category/broadleaf-weeds/

Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. (2013, October 14). Photo guide to weeds. Retrieved from https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/plants/weeds-pest-animals-ants/weeds/a-z-listing-of-weeds/photo-guide-to-weeds

Dillon, P. (2015). An Introduction to Grasses and Broadleaf Weeds. Retrieved from http://www.uky.edu/Ag/IPM/scoutinfo/weeds/wdintro.htm

IOWA State University. (2015). Concepts of Plants as Weeds. Retrieved from http://masters.agron.iastate.edu/classes/514/lesson12/12.1.html

Pleasant, B. (2014, November). Six Tips for Effective Weed Control. Retrieved from http://www.finegardening.com/six-tips-effective-weed-control

How to Create a Container Garden with Limited Space

2017-06-12T07:13:11Z

Winter7parent: Створена сторінка: Want to have a garden, but short on space? Use containers! City dwellers with very limited space can be an intimidating prospect. But not having access to a ya...

Want to have a garden, but short on space? Use containers!

City dwellers with very limited space can be an intimidating prospect. But not having access to a yard full of rich soil, and abundant sunlight, doesn’t exempt you from enjoying homegrown flowers, vegetables, or herbs.

Read the original article about[http://iotagarden.com.au/how-to-create-a-container-garden-with-limited-space/ gardening and landscaping at iotagarden.com.au]

One popular option? Container gardens, or growing plants in individual pots.

Garden expert Monty Don says, “However small your garden and whatever its style, there’s always room for some pots.”

Containers are portable, affordable, and can be placed even in some awkward parts of your home. Planting a container garden with limited space couldn’t be easier. With some technique, and ingenuity, you can create your container garden at home using your limited space.

Step 1: Planning Your Container Garden with Limited Space
How much space do you really have?

Look around your home. Is there a particular area you wish to cover up or conceal? A simple and tidy plant grouping can fill that space with a sunny disposition. There may be a nearby tree, view, or other surrounding landscape you wish to preserve or incorporate.

UK permaculture designer and educator, Hedvig Murray, shares that a great way to fill empty spaces is to map it out first.

Take photos at different times of day to discover how the sun varies across your space. Observing and interacting and can lead to a great outcome.

Potted plants can add depth to any room or outdoor area if you create and demarcate levels. Use a few, small potted plants to line the porch railing, adorn the top of your refrigerator, or even use in the place of candles on a wall sconce.

You can grow a few sprouts, like alfalfa, lentils, or garbanzo beans, which can thrive in smaller pots. Try hanging pots by the windows for stemmy vegetables like tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers. The cascading plants will double as beautiful décor.

Step 2: Preparing Your Planters
Make sure that your pot can provide the appropriate drainage needed to let excess water drain away. Drainage is an important factor on whether your plants live or die.

Don’t go for garden pots sold in stores that have one tiny hole in the bottom. These will not let enough water escape. For metal pots, you can poke additional holes by using a hammer with either a large nail or screw driver.

Know where the container will be located so that you purchase the proper size, shape, style and material. Pots range in many sizes, but for most houseplants, sufficient pot sizes are 6cm, 8cm, 13cm and 18cm. Floor-standing plants may need planters 25cm in size to accommodate them.

You can even make use of old teapots, jars, storage tins, buckets, and more. You need to be careful though, since these containers may not provide the right kind of drainage.

Step 3: Prepare Your Soil
To ensure that your plants will have healthy roots, choose a potting mix made specifically for container gardening. It’s important to use potting mix because potting mix is lightweight and has ingredients to promote water retention and drainage.

Fill your containers with a quality commercial potting soil. Never use soil directly from your garden because, when dry, it will harden into a solid mass. Quality potting soil should include generous helpings of peat moss, compost, perlite, vermiculite, and/or rotted manure. Read the label before you buy. – Doug Jimerson – Better Homes and Gardens

You cannot use garden soil for indoor plants because the quality is unreliable. It drains badly and may contain weed seeds, bugs and even diseases.

Only the special indoor composts should be used with your houseplants. The compost is what anchors the plants and provides them with moisture, food and air for the roots.

Step 4: Choose Your Plants
You can order organically-grown seeds or small plants from garden centers, nurseries, natural food stores, many hardware stores, and mail-order growers. To know if a plant is specifically designed to grow in smaller spaces, look at their labels of description.

Make a list before buying plants. List down the plants you want for your containers before going to the nursery. If you’re completely overwhelmed by the choices, you may either buy too much, or buy nothing at all because you can’t make a decision. -Kerry Michaels – Growing the Northeast Garden

Most gardeners would suggest to start with herbs, because most of them require minimal maintenance. Parsley, thyme, oregano, sage, mint, and rosemary can flourish year-round indoors. These herbs are also far superior in taste to their dried, store-bought counterparts.

If you see words such as bush, compact, space saver, or patio, then their good to plant indoors. Peppers, tomatoes, and eggplants also grow particularly well in containers, as well as lettuce, spinach, and some fruits.

Plants designed to grow upward, such as pole or runner beans, are also perfect for indoor gardening. Generally, the horizontal space is what’s limited. You can build a vertical garden by training a climber up a wall or fence. For instance, cucumbers can be trained to grow up trellises.

Step 5: Begin with the Planting

As mentioned earlier, make sure that with your container can facilitate good drainage. Badly drained pot water can cause problems, preventing air from circulating in the root zone, and promotes soil-borne diseases.

Follow these steps to start planting:

Fill your plant pot with potting mix, leaving 25cm of space from the top.
Begin placing your plants or seeds at the depth recommended on the packaging.
Push the soil at the edge of the container down.
The soil should be at least 3cm below the edge of the pot.
Sprinkle some slow-release fertilizer into the pot.
Add it around the edges and on top of the soil, not on top of the plants.
When you’ve finished planting, water the container. Give it a good soaking and let the water run out the bottom of the container. Then, wait several days to water again.

Step 6: Caring for Your Plants
Timing of watering changes as plants grow. When plants are small, water a couple of times a week. When plants are larger, they need more water.

Remember the good rule of thumb: If the soil is dry down to your second knuckle of your index finger when you stick your finger in the soil, the container needs water.

You can grow almost anything in a pot, but the key thing to remember is that it won’t survive on its own. Putting a plant in a container makes it totally dependent on you for water and food. -Louise Hampden – Gardeners’ World

Pests will find and attack your plants whether you are in an urban or rural setting. Check under leaves and stems every now and then and look for signs of insects or their eggs. If they are not recovering from some disease or pest attack, take a practical approach and cut them off before they start damaging other plants.

Place the pots in the best position to make the most of sunlight and rain. If your containers are inside, place them near windows for sunlight.

Step 7: Be Inspired with These Ideas
Go for smaller versions

Dwarf variety citrus trees are not only beautiful. If you take care of them properly, they can grow bountiful. Fill terra cotta pots with dwarf trees of lemon, lime, or orange to give your outdoor space a sunny vibe.

Vertical garden

Don’t let cramped quarters stop you from creating your indoor garden. Make the most of the space you have by thinking vertically. You can even make use of a shoe organizer. Fill each of the shoe spaces with potting soil or compost and then add your plants.

Into the patio

Some urban-dwellers are lucky enough to have access to a patio or rooftop. You can always set up your container garden with limited space in your patio. Try planting mini or dwarf roses to provide colorful blooms all summer long.

Get a windowbox

If you don’t have access to any outdoor space, no worries. A sunny windowsill is all you need. Strawberries are a popular choice for windowbox gardens. You can use your harvest to top salads, yogurt, or pies.

Group your containers

Grouping containers together is not only visually appealing, but also helps to create a more humid micro climate for the plants. This can help reduce moisture loss from both leaves and potting mix.

Planters in a bench

Turn your old wooden bench into a beautiful plant holder. The type that you really can’t sit on any longer. Use the seat to hold your planters, or get creative and form raised garden from the seat area.

Hanging tin cans

If you just don’t have the space to have all of the flowers, herbs or veggies that you want to plant, you can recycle old tin cans and use them as pots. They hang nicely from fences and decks. They are portable so you can move them about as needed.

Green up the pathway

If you don’t have a lot of space, you can still have a nice pathway. Alongside that pathway is the perfect place for gardening. Small shrubs, hostas and other leafy plants look beautiful outlining a garden path.

Conclusion
For those who only have a balcony, flat roof or windowsill, you can always rely on containers to become your garden. The process can give you just as much pleasure as any border. The secret is choosing the best planter to fit your needs – and your plants.

Jim Fogarty: On Learning, Being Passionate, and Keeping Up with Technology

2017-06-12T07:10:15Z

Winter7parent: Створена сторінка: Jim Fogarty is an award-winning garden designer from Melbourne. He has been all around the world designing gardens here and there as he strives to learn and imp...

Jim Fogarty is an award-winning garden designer from Melbourne. He has been all around the world designing gardens here and there as he strives to learn and improve on his craft. Jim is driven by passion and we all know passionate people are destined for greatness.

Read the original article about[http://iotagarden.com.au/jim-fogarty-learning-being-passionate-keeping-up-with-technology/ gardening and landscaping at iotagarden.com.au]

I also quite like modernism and exploring Australia’s identity and culture where possible. There is so much history in our indigenous culture and I don’t think we have really embraced this. This is something that I am currently very passionate about.

We got the rare opportunity of interviewing Jim Fogarty. Budding landscape designers will certainly learn a thing or two from this interview so here we go.

What do you love about gardening and designing landscapes?
I enjoy the process of design and then watching the build process come together. It is literally a process of creation and I always have the greatest respect for contractors but also for nature, as nature plays a huge part in the development of gardens. Seeing clients and their families get enjoyment out of a garden is extremely rewarding. I have also had clients make good money out of auction results that they attribute to the garden which is always nice.

What sorts of things do you need to know to be a great landscape designer?
For me the greatest skill base was being a landscaper and spending the years getting hands on landscape experience when I was younger. Understanding how things are built is critical when designing but also you need a good grasp of how materials work and the associated build costs of what you are designing. There is no point designing the Taj Mahal if your client only has the budget for a compost bin. Also it is very important to have adequate horticultural training and qualification. Plant knowledge is a huge asset but also understanding how site soils, aspect and geography impact a site and specified plants is extremely important. Garden design is more than just having a marketing background. And finally I think it is important to have good technology. I am a fully licensed Archicad user and I am proud that I keep up with software technology that keeps me current and professional.

What separates your designs from other designers?
Hard for me to say really. I like to think that I use a lot of plants in my designs and I try not to be impacted by trends or fads. I like to design for longevity. I also quite like modernism and exploring Australia’s identity and culture where possible. There is so much history in our indigenous culture and I don’t think we have really embraced this. This is something that I am currently very passionate about.

Which is more challenging to work on – a residential garden or a show garden? Why?
Both come with challenges so it is hard to compare. And I think both are uniquely different disciplines. There are heaps of world class garden designers that for whatever reason have never done a show garden, and there is nothing wrong with that. Some people just haven’t had the opportunity or they don’t like the pressure of doing show gardens. For me, I really enjoy working together on site with contractors and tradesmen and women, all working together toward one common goal. This never happens with residential gardens as trades tend to work independently on site. I love seeing young landscapers rise to the challenge. Some people just really fall for the adrenaline rush of a deadline. But it isn’t for everybody.

A Residential Garden in South Yarra
A Residential Garden in South Yarra
What does it take to become a multi-awarded landscape designer and photographer?
I certainly don’t see myself as a professional photographer but I have great admiration for photographers. I have great respect for the natural environment. Photography allows you to capture stills of the natural world that often form the basis of inspiration for landscape design. Noticing some of the finer detail like the lichen colour on the bark of a tree. Nature is always the best inspiration I find. Along with travel.

Do you have a favourite project that you worked on? Which one is it and why do you like it?
Always hard to pick favourites as I have worked for many fantastic clients that have become good friends. As far as shows I have been lucky to have enjoyable experiences in many countries so it is hard to pick a single favourite. Working with Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria at both the RHS Chelsea Flower Show & RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show would be a couple of highlights. Working with a team of professionals always brings out the best in everyone and I have made some lifelong friends and contacts from these experiences in particular.

Can you tell us more about your Chelsea Flower Show experience in London?
The first garden I designed at RHS Chelsea was in 2004 and it was a partnership with Semken Landscaping & Flemings Nurseries. It was the first time a team had travelled from Australia to do a Show Garden at Chelsea and it was awarded a Silver-Gilt medal on a very tight budget. It took many product sponsors and a lot of unpaid hours to make that first garden happen. In 2011 I designed the first Australian Show Garden on the Main Avenue at Chelsea for Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. The garden was awarded a Gold Medal. Chelsea is a brilliant life experience but it is not worth doing unless there is a business purpose. No show is worth doing just for personal PR or ego. Since 2005, every show I have done has been a professional engagement.

We’re always curious of the garden designer’s home garden. Do you have a garden at home? Can you tell us more about it?
My wife and I have a small garden at home with our two daughters. It is quite contemporary and as I was doing quite a bit of work in Asia at the time I think the garden reflects this. It was during the peak of Melbourne’s drought and water restriction’s and I wanted to design a garden that was really green and lush. There is an emphasis on plant shape and foliage texture rather than flower colour. Our daughters are 7 & 5 now so the garden is mostly overrun by girls dolls, bikes and prams!

Do you have any tips for photographing plants?
My photographic advice is probably really bad so avoid reading any further. But I have learnt that it is best to take photos on cloudy days or really early or late in the day when light is more emotive and less harsh. Working in media you are often required to take close up portraits of plants that show both flower and foliar attributes which can be difficult at times.

You’ve been all over the world. What are some of the best gardens you’ve seen? Do you still have any countries that you’d like to visit?
I had never visited the USA when I was approached to design at the Philadelphia Flower Show in 2015. It was really tough as they sent me to source plants in Florida and I stayed in Miami. That was my first trip to the states. The Show trip was a different ball game. It was minus 17 degrees and snowing and I had never seen so much snow. The two trips were in complete contrast but thoroughly enjoyable. The more I travel the more I yearn for Australia’s rich and diverse landscape. That is what I am really focussed in now; learning about our own backyard here in Australia. That said I would quite like to work in Russia one day.

You are good at what you do. Do you have any tips for new landscape designers that want to be successful?
Subject to opinion of course. I am always learning and that is the greatest tip for new landscape designers is that it is a career of learning. I don’t think you ever know everything which I quite like. Although there are plenty of people that will tell you otherwise. The best bit of advice is to get plenty of hands on experience, get horticultural qualifications, get licensed design software so you are legitimate, and make sure all your insurances are in place. Plenty of CAD training is good and learn how to properly document design’s that are suitable for construction issue. There is much more to designing gardens than just drawing pretty pictures. Not forgetting too that the most important thing is a love & appreciation for plants.

Top 10 Most Influential and Famous Landscape Designers in Australia

2017-06-12T07:02:58Z

Winter7parent: Створена сторінка: Landscape design is a process of developing practical and pleasing outdoor living space. The design of the landscape in conjunction with the overall site planni...

Landscape design is a process of developing practical and pleasing outdoor living space. The design of the landscape in conjunction with the overall site planning and architectural design can create a place where people want to spend time, socialize, or work.

Read the original article about[http://iotagarden.com.au/top-10-influential-landscape-designers-australia/ gardening and landscaping at iotagarden.com.au]

Investing in professional landscape design lets you take advantage of your home’s surrounding environment. A visually-appealing landscape benefits home and business owners in many ways. It gives the property value a boost, enriches the community, and provide environmental advantages.

In no particular order, here are the most influential and famous landscape designers in Australia.

1. Jim Fogarty

Jim Fogarty is a landscape designer and gardening media personality based in Melbourne. He graduated from Burnley Horticultural College in 1992, with a passion for designing gardens. One of the highlights of Jim’s career has been his experiences at the Chelsea Flower Show in London.

He holds over twenty internationally-recognised design awards. He has won ‘Best in Show’, ‘Horticultural Excellence’, and more from prestigious award-giving bodies such as the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show, and the Royal Horticultural Society of Victoria Comeadow.
In 2006, Jim was invited by the Singapore National Parks Board to compete in the inaugural Singapore Garden Festival. Amongst top international designers, he won a gold medal, and the RHS (UK) Award for Horticultural Excellence.

Jim is the current president of the Horticultural Media Association of Victoria. He now designs gardens for private and commercial clients as well as designing show gardens. Part of his international projects include designing gardens to judging at garden shows, and even providing design master classes.

2. Paal Grant

Paal Grant is an award-winning Melbourne-based landscape designer known for his innovative approach to creating extraordinary gardens. According to him, the natural world became his inspiration. A lot of this has to do with growing up in the regional Victorian town of Ballarat.

Paal believes that balance is key and achieves this through the use of different textures, colours and shapes in each of his gardens, demonstrating that strong design principles enhance a functional space.

His 2009, 2010 and 2012 show gardens were awarded Gold at The Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show. He also won the prestigious Royal Horticultural Comeadow Award for his 2010 submission ‘The Wave Garden’.

From designing and constructing luxury rooftop and balcony gardens, Paal’s scope of achievements is vast. He enjoys regular covers and features in Australia’s top landscaping and lifestyle magazines.

Paal will represent Australia at the 2015 Japan Garden & Flower Show. There, he will be competing against green thumbs from 30 countries at the Gardening World Cup in Japan.

3. Phillip Johnson

Phillip has won many awards, most notably at the 2013 Chelsea Flower Show, when his ‘Trailfinders’ Australian Garden was awarded a ‘Best in Show’ medal. He has helped create a number of successful show gardens around the world.

Phillip has won the Ford Sustainability Award for three out of four years, at the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show. He also won a ‘Best in Show – International Design’ at the China Flower show in Wujin, China.

Phillip believes that we need to create healing habitats not just for ourselves, but to repair what we’ve done to the environment. And it all starts in your own backyard. He mentioned this in his new book, ‘Connected, The Sustainable Landscapes of Phillip Johnson’.

Phillip attended the recent Australian Landscape Conference 2015 as speaker. He is passionate and committed to greening our cities and addressing water management through innovative andsustainable design. He believes that moving water brings excitement, energy, birds, fish, insects and local flora to provide life and variety.

3. Daniel Tyrrell

Daniel is currently the director and owner of his own company, Daniel Tyrrell Landscapes. He is an award-winning Melbourne landscape designer with a reputation for creating gardens and outdoor rooms that arouse the senses and suit today’s lifestyle.

Daniel has won Silver Medals at the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show in 2009, 2011, and 2013, as well as the Honda Sustainability Award.

Daniel takes on a whole approach to each garden design, seeking to create an ambiance between home and outdoor space. He believes that a garden can be many things, including a place to relax, to soothe the soul and stimulate the emotions.

Together with his team, he aims to bring balance back to their clients’ outdoor spaces. It involves showing restraint with hard surfaces, while taking advantage of the ability to grow plants. This can change the way they see their garden for years to come.

Today, he still designs and constructs gardens and landscapes, and tailors each one to its surroundings. Most importantly, he creates it for the people who use and enjoy it.

5. Ian Barker

Ian has over 25 years in the industry and has already won awards at the world-renowned Chelsea Flower Show in London. His 2011 Silver-Gilt medal cemented his place as an award-winning garden designer on the international garden design and horticultural stage.

Ian’s most recent achievements include winning a gold medal at the 2015 Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show, and the Horticultural & Media Association’s Best Use of Plant Life Award for the show garden, ‘Cross Roads’.

Ian began his landscape design, construction and maintenance business in 1996 after completing two apprenticeships, several horticultural courses, plus extensive work experience abroad.Ian Barker Gardens is one of the most sought-after landscape design and construction companies in Australia.

6. Alison Douglas

Having completed a post graduate certificate in Garden design at Melbourne University, Alison is now satisfying her love of landscape design, sustainability, and plants. She took the first place at ‘The Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show’ 2015 in the Boutique Gardens category with her creation ‘Pipe Dream’.

According to Alison, she thrives on challenging sites and smaller spaces and is passionate about the finer details. She also has a degree in Industrial Design, working in various fields such as exhibition design, toy design, and fashion design.

7. Charlie Albone

Known for his role as a presenter on the TV show ‘Selling Houses Australia’, Charlie is a Silver-Gilt medal winner at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2015. Passionate about the design of his surroundings, Charlie has been designing and building gardens for almost 12 years.

His award-winning design was a display called ‘The Time in Between’. The garden was created as a space where Albone would like to reunite with his late father, who passed away when the designer was 17.

He considers it ‘a celebration of life’, rather than a memorial. The display contains pillars that represent all the important people in his life today.

Now, his TV show is on its 8th series, wherein Albone continues making-over gardens so they look their best for sale. He also writes a monthly blog about gardening.

8. Paul Bangay
Paul has been regarded as one of the foremost garden designers in Australia today. His clients include a roster of the most prominent figures in business and culture. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Horticulture) from the University of Melbourne.

Being in the industry for over 25 years, Paul has already won numerous awards, including the Mobil Pegasus Award and the Centenary Medal. He has displayed countless exhibitions in Australia. His distinctive approach has been featured in countless publications.

His personal insights have informed a successful series of lavish and widely anticipated books, beginning with The Defined Garden (1996) and most recent, ‘The Garden at Stonefields’ (2013).

9. Jamie Durie

Jamie is a qualified horticulturalist and multi-award-winning international landscape designer that shares his time in Australia and the United States. He has hosted and produced multiple TV shows, with his core series, ‘The Outdoor Room’. He also hosts Top Design, Australia’s Best Backyards, and Backyard Blitz.

James Durie has been designing landscapes and water features, both in Australia and overseas since 1996. He has already garnered dozens of medals worldwide, and major commendations and prizes from different bodies including the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show, Singapore Garden Festival, and more.

His firm, Durie Designs, is a multi-award winning international landscape architecture and design firm with offices in Sydney and Los Angeles.

10. Karen Johnson

Karen has worked in the green industry for over 20 years. She trained at Burnley College, Melbourne University, with additional studies in landscape design. She is also an accredited member of the Australian Institute of Landscape Designers and Managers.

She founded her company ‘Karen Johnson Landscape Design’ in 1991. They focus on sustainability and water efficiency in Tasmanian-appropriate plantings. She is passionate about outdoor living, plants and landscapes for a sustainable future.

A Guide to Starting an Organic Garden

2017-06-12T06:59:34Z

Winter7parent: Створена сторінка: More and more research are linking chemical pesticides, herbicides, and even fertilizers to diseases, such as certain types of cancers and birth defects. This i...

More and more research are linking chemical pesticides, herbicides, and even fertilizers to diseases, such as certain types of cancers and birth defects. This is the reason why more people are directing their attention towards healthier options – organic food.

Read the original article about[http://iotagarden.com.au/a-guide-to-starting-an-organic-garden/ gardening and landscaping at iotagarden.com.au]

What is Organic Gardening?
The term ‘organic’ in farming means employing agricultural practices that avoid the use of chemicals in favor of naturally occurring pesticides, fertilizers and other growing aids.

It was once seen as something practiced only by health nuts. Now, it’s definitely no longer a fad. We want the food we serve to our families to be safe and healthy. Starting an organic garden is a way of taking control. It’s serving our loved ones the good things, and free of the things they don’t need.

Some may argue that it’s impractical and expensive, but the benefits are endless. Years before the invention of chemical pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, organic gardening is the way our great grandparents gardened, the way food was raised.

This year, the IFOAM (International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements) announced that the global organic market has reached 72 billion USD. What’s more, organic agricultural land has increased to 43 million hectares worldwide.

The United States is the leading market for organic products since 2013, with 24.3 billion euros, followed by Germany (7.6 billion euros) and France (4.4 billion euros). Meanwhile, Australia has the largest organic agricultural area with 17.2 million hectares.

Benefits of Organic Gardening
Organic fruits and vegetables have come into the mainstream diet with a bang. So what exactly are the benefits of growing an organic garden?

Healthier
Starting an organic garden is being free from toxic chemicals. This means your produce won’t have any chemical residue. Organically grown food has also been shown to have a higher vitamin and mineral content.

You also have the added benefit of exercise. Working in your garden will help tone your body and work off extra calories.

Taste
Food scientist Harold McGee explains, since organic plants aren’t protected by pesticides, they ramp up the production of their natural, chemical defenses. These ‘defenses’ translate directly into flavor and aroma, hence the superior taste.

Savings
Instead of buying organic produce from the supermarket, growing your own will save you money. Buying at farmers markets and health food stores can cost up to 50% or more. More so, you won’t have to make as many trips for the perishables.

Environment
Since starting an organic garden requires no chemical pesticides and fertilizers, none of these toxins can run off into the water supply.

Small animals, birds, and beneficial insects are not harmed by chemical use. You’re building up the soil with organic matter, so there is less erosion of topsoil.

Is It Really More Expensive?
Starting an organic garden doesn’t have to mean more expensive.

First, chemical fertilizers tend to cost the same or more as natural ones. With organic gardening, your typical gardening expenses have cheaper, alternative solutions.

For instance, you can eliminate the need for store-bought compost by composting kitchen scraps, which in turn, also helps the environment. Pesticides and herbicides can be eliminated with a more natural method called companion planting.

Companion planting is defined as the selection of certain crop combinations to achieve specific benefits like pest control and enhanced growth. It’s simply planting different garden plant species next to each other.

One of the most popular companion planting methods is called the ‘Three Sisters’, which groups pole beans, corn, and pumpkins or squash.

The pole beans produce nitrogen that the corn consumes. In return, it uses the cornstalks for support. While the corn provides shade to the squash, the latter’s prickly vines smother weeds and deter animal predators from feasting on its companions.

There are a multitude of organic growing techniques out there.

In the long run, as you upgrade your soil quality, apply compost you’ve made yourself, and utilize practical, sustainable gardening practices, your costs will go down.

And the peace of mind you’ll gain as you remove known carcinogens, endocrine disrupters, and other dangerous inert ingredients from your garden? Priceless.

Three Fundamental Practices
Organic gardening doesn’t require a great deal of training, expensive equipment, or huge amounts of time. It doesn’t mean that your produce will be ‘inferior’ to chemically grown ones. Gardeners work with nature to create an ideal environment for the plants.

Here are three fundamental practices necessary for organic gardening:

Building Organic-Healthy Soil

Considered the heart of organic gardening methods. There is no need for synthetic fertilizers because the continuous cycle of growth, death, and decay replenishes the soil. A healthy, balanced and living soil is the basis of organic growing.

The organic gardener supplements with organic matter in the form of compost and mulch in order to maintain the soil-building organisms.

Avoiding Synthetic Chemicals

Chemicals kill the beneficial micro-organisms, upset the natural balance, and create weak plants. That’s when insects and disease move in. The development and spread of insects and diseases can be controlled through good basic cultural practices.

Employing Plant-Insect Relationship
Learn which insects are helping you and which are helping themselves to your plants. In starting an organic garden, praying mantis, ladybugs, wasps, lacewings, and bees are very efficient allies. Protect and encourage these helpers in your yard.

Birds can also help as they eat many harmful insects. Attract them by providing nesting boxes, nesting material, birdbaths, shrubs and trees for cover. Other beneficial species include toads, skunks, snakes and shrews.

Starting an Organic Garden of Your Own
If you’ve been trying to eat more organic foods, why not grow your own delicious, fresh produce? You’ll have fun and learn at the same time. Roll up your sleeves and start your own organic garden!

For beginners, it’s recommended to start with a smaller garden at first to practice your technique. Try starting an organic garden with plants which are considered to be the easiest to grow. These include:

Tomatoes
Beetroot
Lettuce
Mint
Onions
Dwarf French Beans
Prepare the Soil
To get the best results, make sure the soil is properly conditioned. To gauge the quality of soil, get it tested. There are home testing kits available, or you can send it to your local agricultural office.

If you don’t have time to conduct tests, just fill your soil with plenty of humus, or organic matter. You can mix in compost, leaf and grass, clippings, and manure. Get manure from local livestock that have been humanely or organically raised.

Choose a Good Location
If it’s an herb or vegetable garden you’ve got in mind, you’ll need a site that gets at least six hours of sun per day. It is also important to make sure that the location can offer sufficient draining abilities. Herbs and vegetables prefer well-drained soil.

Seed Starting
Starting your own seedlings can help you save money. You can also be sure that your plants are raised without pesticides or chemical fertilizers.

You will need:

Seeds
Containers
Potting soil mix
Water
Sunny area or artificial light source
Potting mixes. Homemade potting mixes are composed of one part finished compost, and two parts growing medium, such as coconut fiber or peat. Commercial potting mixes are available at gardening centers.

Containers. You can start seeds in a wide variety of containers. Just be sure to allow holes for good drainage. Fill your containers with potting soil or seed-starting mix up to about 1 cm from the top.

Water. Before planting your seeds, thoroughly wet the soil with warm water. When planting, the spacing between seeds should be as follows:

Small seeds — 3 mm (e.g. lettuce)
Medium seeds — 1 to 1.5 cm (e.g. beets)
Large seeds — 2.5 cm (e.g. beans)
Cover. Following seeding, your containers should be covered to keep moisture in. You can use plastic, damp newspaper, aluminum foil, etc. Once the containers are covered, they can be set in a warm place for germination.

Sunny area. As soon as the new seedlings emerge they must be given light, either from the sun or by using artificial grow lights.

Transplant. When the plants have developed their first true leaves, you can transfer them into a deeper container, or a garden bed.

Garden Maintenance
Avoiding the use of chemicals does not have to mean a garden full of pests. You can use companion gardening principles.

When it comes to watering, the best time is usually in the morning. Mornings tend to be cool, so the amount of water lost to evaporation is reduced. Pulling weeds may sound like hard work, but it can be a good exercise. You can reduce the number of weeds by applying mulch.

Time for Harvesting
Harvesting the fruits of your labor can bring the best feeling. Aside from enjoying them on the table, fresh organic produce can be great gifts to your neighbors and co-workers. It can be a start of you educating your friends about healthier options.

Have you tried organic gardening? Maybe you have some tips you’d like to share?

References:
Bonn. Frick. Nürnberg. (2015, February 10) Growth continues: Global organic market at 72 billion US Dollars with 43 million hectares of organic agricultural land worldwide. Retrieved from http://www.fibl.org/en/media/media-archive/media-release/article/growth-continues-global-organic-market-at-72-billion-us-dollars-with-43-million-hectares-of-organic.html

Briggs, M. (2012, April 13). Top 10 organic seed suppliers. Retrieved from http://www.theecologist.org/green_green_living/gardening/1310048/top_10_organic_seed_suppliers.html

Christensen, E. (2012, February). It’s True! Organic Fruits and Vegetables Taste Better. Retrieved from http://www.thekitchn.com/its-true-organic-fruits-and-vegetables-taste-better-171698

FoodShare. (2015). Brief Guide to Organic Gardening. Retrieved from http://www.foodshare.net/files/www/Roots_to_Rooftops/2-4-4_Organic_Gardening_Supporting_Materials.pdf

Gucciardi, A. (2011, December 11) Organic Gardening 101: How to Start an Organic Garden. Retrieved from http://naturalsociety.com/organic-gardening-101-how-to-start-an-organic-garden/

Organic gardening Guru. (2015). The Dirt on Growing Organically. Retrieved from http://www.planetnatural.com/organic-gardening-guru/

Rodale. (2011, June 23). What is Organic Gardening? Retrieved from http://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/garden/what-organic-gardening

Yares, K. (2015, February 11). Five Benefits of Growing an Organic Garden. Retrieved from http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/organic/five-benefits-of-growing-an-organic-garden.htm

Ziga. (2011, September 15). Does Your Vegetable Bed Look Like a Parking Lot? Retrieved from http://www.permablogger.net/companion-planting-examples/

Drip Irrigation System for Garden Pots and Planters

2017-06-12T06:55:21Z

Winter7parent: Створена сторінка: Drip irrigation system for planters is the best choice if you are looking for an irrigation system for your planter garden. They are more efficient, do not wast...

Drip irrigation system for planters is the best choice if you are looking for an irrigation system for your planter garden. They are more efficient, do not waste water, and keep moisture levels at ideal values for plants. This article teaches you all about them and how to get set up irrigating your planter garden with drip irrigation.

Read the original article about[http://iotagarden.com.au/drip-irrigation-systems-for-garden-pots-and-planters/ gardening and landscaping at iotagarden.com.au]

Advantages of Drip Irrigation System for Planters
drip irrigation system for plantersA drip irrigation system for planters basically consist of hoses with small holes drilled into them, through which water is poured slowly so that plants can receive just the right amount of precious liquid. Unlike other watering systems, drip irrigation systems are a green choice, great water savers, as well as time and effort savers. They are now favored by many gardeners because they can turn any garden into a beautiful one, with minimal effort, time spent and water consumption.

Conserving Supplies of Clean Water
Clean, healthy water is a precious resource in the world we are living in today. Water shortages become more frequent as the world population grows. Under the circumstances, the wise choice is to use systems that are not wasteful of this natural resource.

The main advantage offered by drip irrigation for planters is the ability to water each potted plant with just the right amount of water, without overflowing the pot or starving the plant. The best part is that each drop of water goes directly in the soil, and it is not lost through evaporation or surface runoff. This means that you can offer your plants ideal watering conditions, without wasting water.

Combat Fungal Diseases
plant fungal infectionThere are many fungal diseases that affect plant leaves, when water stays for too long on the foliage, without drying. This is the main disadvantage of sprinkling systems. As they spread water over a large surface, it is inevitable that some of it will end up on the leaves of all the plants in that area.

This does not happen when using a drip irrigation system. Because the water ends up slowly infiltrating the soil, and feeding the roots, but without being sprinkled from above, it is obvious why drip irrigation system is preferred, especially when you want to combat fungal diseases in your plants.

Convenience
Drip irrigation system for planters has a major advantage over other types of systems: convenience. By setting a timer, you can automate the system to water each of your potted plants regularly, without having to lift as much as a finger, something that cannot be said about other watering systems.

drip irrigation system for potted plantsAn Ideal Solution for Gardens and Potted Plants
At first glance, it would look like drip irrigation system must be conducted over a large patch of land, but this is not always the case. These systems can be adapted for small gardens and especially for potted plants.

As long as the system is designed so that the dripping holes are positioned next to each plant, ideal conditions for watering can be achieved. Potted plants can benefit greatly from this type of watering system as it also greatly reduces the appearance of weeds in each garden pot. Weeds can be an issue when growing plants in large planters, since it can become very difficult to pluck all the weeds regularly from the pots.

drip irrigation system for succulentsWater Slowly Seeps Into the Soil
When plants are grown in containers or well delimited gardens, watering cannot be left to the care of weather, even if the pots they grow in are left outside. Sprinkling systems and drip trays represent a waste of water, and they are not very efficient either.

A drip irrigation system allows the water to slowly seep into the soil. This way, plants receive just the right amount of moisture, and they are never suffocated by too much water, as it can happen when other types of watering systems are used.

What is equally important, the soil gets to maintain all the nutrients, as they are not washed away by water pouring quickly through it. This way, plants get the best care they can possibly have access to, while gardeners do not have to waste time and effort.

drip irrigation system for potted plant gardenThey Do Not Encourage Weed Growth
Weeds represent an important problem for many gardeners, as they are unsightly, and they tend to suffocate other plants inside the pots. When using drip trays, for instance, the first to benefit from the excess of water in the pots are these unwanted guests. They begin sprouting and before you even notice it, they have already started taking over your garden. Removing them is hard work, and it may never really end.

With drip irrigation systems, these enemies are kept at bay. Since the system only feeds water to the roots of the plants you grow, there is not much left for other sprouts waiting to hatch in the soil. In dry soil, they cannot live for too long, and your potted garden is easily maintained weed free.

They Combat Wet Foliage Diseases
Sprinkling may be considered, by many, a convenient solution to any watering needs for a garden. However, there is one big disadvantage that must be taken into consideration. Water sprinkled through the garden partially remains on leaves, promoting the appearance of various wet foliage diseases.

As drip irrigation systems only pour water at the root of the plants, they actually combat such diseases.

How to Purchase the Best Drip Irrigation System for Planters
Drip irrigation system for planters designs are considered the best option for watering a potted garden without wasting precious water. Because of the many benefits of these systems, many gardeners prefer to use them as they are efficient, non-intrusive, and the best choice for many plants. Putting together the best drip irrigation system for planters is fairly easy, but you will need to purchase the best components if you want it to function flawlessly. Here are some pointers on the main components that will help you with your shopping.

pressure regulator for drip irrigation systemThe Qualities of a Backflow Preventer
Since the drip irrigation will be connected to the source of water, in case of overflowing, your plumbing can get damaged. What you need is a backflow preventer, a component that will ensure your plumbing will be kept in good shape. When you design the layout for the best drip irrigation system for your planters, establish the areas where you will need to install backflow preventers.

Buying a Pressure Regulator
A drip irrigation system is called this way, because the water slowly drips on the soil, nurturing the roots of the potted plants. The water that is normally running through the pipelines has quite a high pressure, compared to what is needed for these systems. Therefore, you will need what is called a pressure regulator to go with your device.

Different Tubing Sizes
Tubing is the most visible part of your drip irrigation system for planters. This comes in various sizes, and you need to decide which ones you will use for your garden or potted plants. Black polyethylene is the common material used for making these tubes and even microtubes are available, if you need to insert them in particularly cramped places.

What to Look for in Emitters
Now that you have all the major components of the best drip irrigation system for planters, you will need to purchase some emitters, as well. The great part about these components is that they come with different flow rates, so you can adjust the system based on what your plants need. Since not all the plants have the same watering requirements, emitters come very handy, as you will be basically micro-managing your garden. There are three types of emitters that are more common: bubblers, which are used mainly for trees and shrubs, and they deliver a higher amount of water; drippers are ideal for nurturing roots with the exact amount of water needed; and misters which are made for maintaining moisture.

Drip Irrigation system materialsDo Not Forget About Fittings
You cannot simply create your drip irrigation system for planters by using tubing alone. You will also need a wide variety of fittings, depending on your garden layout. Straight fittings serve for connecting one tube to another, while elbow fittings allow the system to take right angle turns. Do not forget about tee splitters and figure eight fittings, needed for the end of the line.

Other Components
To put the entire system together, you will also need other components, such as a timer (for automating the system), stakes and risers, a hole punch and a barbed adapter for connecting the emitters to the tubing.

drip irrigation system for gardensDrip Irrigation System Installation in Your Garden Planters
Drip irrigation system designs represent, at the moment, the best option for watering garden planters, even one of larger dimensions. These systems are water-efficient, time-efficient and, if they are automated, they take much of the work off the shoulders of any gardener. The single issue with drip irrigation is that you need to install it in the beginning, so that all your plants receive the much needed water. Here are the steps to follow for a drip irrigation system installation project.

Draw Boundaries
It is important to keep in mind that you need to measure the area that is going to be watered in this manner, so you can calculate all the needed materials for the drip irrigation system installation for your planters. Any type of garden can be watered like this, even one that is composed of large planters, without plants growing from the ground.

Establish a Water Source
The drip irrigation system installation must have access to a water source. Install a hose-pipe connector in shape of the letter Y, to ensure that water is distributed evenly to your garden and other watering needs. Attach the connector to a nozzle (for the water source) at one side and the system of hoses for irrigation on the other.

drip irrigation system fenceFirst Design the Layout
The best thing about drip irrigation system for planters is that they can water only the roots of your plants, without wasting one drop. However, you need to design a layout first, so that the dripping holes do not end up pouring water over areas where there are no plants whatsoever. Even if this stage requires some time and effort, it is very important for obtaining the best results later on.

Additional Materials
Besides the hoses that will be installed throughout your container garden , you will also need some additional materials. First of all, you will need a timer, so you can automate watering. You will also need a back-flow valve, to avoid accidents that can lead to damage to your plumbing pipes. Install filters, as well, to prevent rust and dirt from accumulating in the drip lines.

drip irrigation system holeConnecting the System
Use drip lines and connectors to put together the entire ensemble. If the layout you have designed earlier is accurate, you will do this with very little effort. After the ensemble of drip lines is ready, connect it to the Y shape connector, so that it can start receiving water.

Last Checks
Once your drip irrigation system is ready, it is time to put it to the test. Let the water run more powerfully at first, to see if it comes out through all the dripping holes. Use the nozzle from the water source to adjust the flow, so that your plants do not get too much water.

At this point, it is very important to check for possible leaks. In case you discover problems, you can apply some tape to correct them.

Set the timer to automate your garden watering system. Now, you can sit back and enjoy watching your garden grow!

Australian Landscape Designers: Brent Reid on Loving His Craft and Building Good Relationships

2017-06-12T06:51:59Z

Winter7parent: Створена сторінка: With 14 years of experience in the industry, Brent Reid is one of the most accomplished Australian landscape designers. In 2006, he started his own firm Candeo...

With 14 years of experience in the industry, Brent Reid is one of the most accomplished Australian landscape designers. In 2006, he started his own firm Candeo Design, after eight years of working with Semken Landscaping, and Jim Fogarty for three years.

Read the original article about[http://iotagarden.com.au/brent-reid-on-loving-his-craft-and-building-good-relationships-in-an-industry-filled-with-amazing-people/ gardening and landscaping at iotagarden.com.au]

He is a recipient of numerous awards for his show gardens at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, Australian Garden Show, and Sydney and Malaysia Garden Festival.

1. What was the most important lesson you learned in your 14 years of experience in the landscape design industry?
I love learning, looking, investigating in Landscape Design and in life so I certainly hope I still have a lot of important lessons left to experience. There are certainly a few important lessons I have learned over the journey so far. I can’t put a finger on the most important one but some of them are; When in doubt leave it out. Listen… Your gut instinct is usually right. No matter how much you think you know there is always someone else who knows more. Treat everyone with respect. Most important, have fun. We have a great horticultural industry here in Australia with some brilliant people in their chosen fields why not make friends and learn.

2. You worked with Jim Fogarty for 3 years. How would you describe the experience of working with him? Did he impart some invaluable lessons and tips that you follow up to this day?
Working with Jim was my start in design after 8 years working for Semken Landscaping building and maintaining gardens. I was itching to get into design after being exposed to it through building Show Gardens at Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show and the creativity in me was bursting to get to the other end of the Landscape process. Turning up to work at JFD was a huge learning curve; I’d never worked in an office before. I, to this day appreciate the opportunity Jim offered me, I was amazingly fortunate to be able to work with Jim and Amanda Greer at that time. We were all involved in the gardens in terms of measuring and taking levels then it was handed back to Jim to put his ideas on paper ready for Amanda and/or I to draft. We often sat in presentation meetings with client and took notes for the meetings. All of this was a very broad exposure to the whole process of designing a garden.

There are still many things I learned from Jim (and Amanda) about designing gardens, running a business, dealing with clients but most of all, the biggest thing I learned from that office was a LOVE OF PLANTS. Until that point I never understood walking through gardens on weekends, investigating plants, testing and trialling plants and photographing plants. It is now a passion that I thoroughly enjoy.

3. We’re always interested in seeing a garden designer’s home garden. Do you have a garden at your home? What’s it like?
My garden at home is a “Work In Process”. I go through stages of bursting to get work done on it. I even drew a concept for the garden so I couldn’t change my mind half way through. That’s a good idea for anyone out there contemplating landscaping, get someone to design it before you start… 😉 Set yourself a finish line. My friends pick on me about being a Landscape Design and having a half finished back garden. The truth is, I spend a lot more of my time designing and helping other people do their gardens than I get to do mine. It is coming together. I extended the decking area, I have built retaining walls which are ready to be clad, I just keep changing my mind about the stone I want to use on them, poured slabs for paving, put a lawn in and after a lot of back and forth made a decision on 2 feature trees; Parrotia persica and Pyrus nivalis. I really want to plant, however I need to get the cladding and capping on the walls first.

Writing this publicly is actually motivating me to do it. I also want the trees to put a bit of canopy on so I can plant what I really want under them. I did make one beautiful mistake during the process of building a garden, 6 months ago we got a puppy, the arch nemesis of great gardens. Yesterday I came home to a Viburnum that was actually planted on the weekend transplanted into the middle of my garage. Lucky she is cute…

4. Do you still have goals that you want to achieve? What’s the next big thing for Brent Reid?
Of course I have goals. It’s really funny, I still feel like I am the new kid on the block. I still get an amazing feeling when I go and see a project that has just been built. The rush of “WOW… this is better than I hoped”. I genuinely love seeing the skill of the landscapers go into creating a garden that was a vision of mine. I love seeing my gardens being used in the way they were intended. I love getting random photos of my gardens sent to me at obscure times of day with a note from the client “The garden just looked good, thought I would send you a photo”.

The most immediate next thing for me is a Show Garden for Northern Territory Tourism at Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (MIFGS). We worked with NT Tourism last year at MIFGS and I am very excited to be doing a second garden for them this year. It is going to be extremely different from last year’s garden. There are some really interesting opportunities starting to present themselves to me so I am very excited about whatever may lie ahead in my future and the future of Candeo Design.

The biggest thing I am starting to look for is building a rural garden with my fiancé. It’s been a dream of mine for a long time and we are now starting to look for a suitable property to build a house and garden on. This is the “Life Project” but it excites me.

5. Out of all the designs you created, which one is your favourite?
That is a super tough question. I have a few gardens I adore. As a general rule, the gardens I love the most have a couple of things in common. A beautiful house, awesome clients and a great design brief.

I have a garden in Balwyn I designed in 2006, the house is untreated besser blocks, mission brown timber and slate floors, True 1970’s architecture. The clients are the most beautiful people and their garden matches their house and their own character. I have made this client promise if they ever decide to sell the house that I get first option on it.

I designed a garden last year for one of the owners of Globewest Furniture. The renovation was done by Bower Architects and is stunning!! The clients are great people, awesome to work with and really open to investigating interest through plants.

I worked in Dubai for 3 years designing gardens and pools. I designed a garden where I used only tones for the hard landscape. White, soft grey, charcoal and black were used. In a country where everything is painted, rendered, tiled or finished in a shade of “sand” this was a little out of the ordinary and created a bit of attention throughout the Middle East Homes and Garden magazine and media.

MIFGS-2012-Surge
“Surge” - A collaboration between Candeo Design, Semken Landscaping and Bay Road Nursery for the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show 2012
6. Why landscape design? What sparked your interest in landscape design? Was it your dream from the start?
My dream was to ‘Draw for a Living’ but landscaping and garden design was never on the radar until I lost my job in graphics at a printing company. My best mate’s Dad asked his brother to help me out with some work. Martin Semken offered me 2 weeks work in November 1996. I did the first day and went home and told my Mum I wasn’t going back. She said I had to finish the week and then tell them face to face I wasn’t coming back out of respect for my friends dad who got me the job. I finished the week and decided I’d finish the two weeks. Somewhere in that 2 weeks I feel in love with the industry, the work, the lifestyle and 8 years later after studying at Burnley College and Holmesglen College I moved into landscape design. My dream was to always get back to drawing/designing and the creative end. I just needed to work out how to do that in this industry that I had fallen in love with. Meeting Carolyn and Jobe Blackman of Vivid Design while working on their first show garden at MIFGS showed me that designing gardens was even possible as a career and have been friends and mentors ever since.

7. Do you have any success tips you can share with budding landscape designers?
I have been very blessed and privileged along my journey so far. Meeting amazing people and learning from some of the best in our business. I have worked very hard to do what I wanted to do and the rewards have followed that hard work. I cannot comprehend people who finish their studies and immediately start their own Landscape Design business. I am not saying it is a bad thing; it is just so far removed from the journey I took I get nervous for them. I learned how to build gardens and maintain gardens from one of the best landscape contractors in Melbourne and then worked for a high level landscape designer. I got to learn and make mistakes in a very safe environment. Even now, running my own business I am learning and making mistakes but I did my apprenticeship learning first. The flip side to that coin is there are not a lot of designers out there offering to employ people and train people so maybe we need to try and change that in our industry also.

Build relationships with good people and quality companies in our industry. Never stop working on those relationships treat people with respect and you will get it in return. Once you have respect and good relationships with people and companies it is easy to ask questions and ask for help when you need it. Our industry is AMAZING and full of people who have been down the same road we are traveling and happy to share their wisdom if you ask the right way.

8. What are your favourite plants/plant combinations when designing?
There are a few plants that get a good run in gardens I design. Usually these plants have an ability to do a few different things, or grow in some different areas/conditions or have a great ability to cover issues that may have arisen during construction or were known about prior to construction. Some of these plants are; Liriope muscari ‘Evergreen Giant’, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Hydrangea quercifolia. I love things with interesting foliage texture and colour. I often work with flower colour as a bonus rather than a focus which can create some really interesting combinations. My landscapers often get stuck into me about my “Nana” plants.

9. What do you consider your best achievement as a garden designer?
I hope some of my best achievements are still ahead of me. I have been very fortunate with opportunities that have presented themselves and I have a lot of fond memories and stories. Probably my greatest achievement is that I met my fiancé through designing gardens. She is so passionate about horticulture it keeps me inspired.

Living overseas while still working in my chosen field was very good for me, my career and my personal growth. Awards are nice. I have almost the full collection from Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show. The two awards that elude me are the ‘Best Construction’ award and the City of Melbourne ‘Best in Show’ award. Winning the ‘Best Use of Plant Life’ was an award that I feel was important to me. It is something we certainly take very seriously in everyday garden design as well as show garden design.

My proudest moment for Candeo Design was not even my achievement. It came at the Australian Garden Show - Sydney when Kim Earl (who works for Candeo) won a gold medal and “Best Balcony Garden” award for her garden ‘Revelation’. She had left no stone unturned in designing that Balcony Garden and she earned every ounce of that achievement. I got to sit in the back ground and mentor. The success or failure of that garden was entirely on her and it cleaned up. A great moment in the business history.

10. If I was a home gardener designing my own garden, what’s the most important tip you can give me?
I touched on it earlier. Have a plan or an idea before you start. Create a finish line so you know where you are headed. No finish line?.. How do you ever finish that project?

Soil preparation is key. Never underestimate what your plants need to grow. Continue to try and improve your soil even after the garden is planted. Once you start to maintain, you are going backwards. Always improve!

A good planting scheme can save a bad landscape. A bad planting scheme can ruin a good landscape.

The most important tip is; Have Fun! Gardens are beautiful living things. Building them is just the start of the enjoyment and the start of the gardens life. Things will fail. Things will over perform and the garden will evolve. Enjoy the evolution of your garden remember the history of your garden. Share the stories from your garden. Enjoy learning what happens in your own garden throughout the year. You can be an expert in your own back yard with a little research, bravery, some work and dedication.

10 Design Tips and Ideas for Using Planters in Interior Design

2017-06-12T06:48:53Z

Winter7parent: Створена сторінка: Using planters in interior design is more of a challenge. The design trends nowadays seems to demand clean lines and simplicity, while nature tends to be wild a...

Using planters in interior design is more of a challenge. The design trends nowadays seems to demand clean lines and simplicity, while nature tends to be wild and chaotic. But, that doesn’t mean interior designs need to avoid greenery. Bringing plants into the design as a creative layer is as important as the other accessories in the room. We’ve compiled 10 design tips and ideas to help you with your interior designs using planters.

Read the original article about[http://iotagarden.com.au/10-design-tips-and-ideas-for-interiors-using-planters/ gardening and landscaping at iotagarden.com.au]

1. Frame a Doorway.Frame a Doorway Using Planters in Interior Design
To lead people to your interior, highlight a doorway to enhance its visibility. And did you know that placing plants on either side of your doorway can entice people to come inside? It can work wonders for shops and offices. In fact, Feng Shui experts recommend placing tall plants on either side of your door to attract good energy.

2. Frame a Focal Point with Plants in Planters
If you want to divert attention to a focal point, in the case below, a painting, you can place some tall potted plants at both sides. This will naturally lead the eye to the focal point.

3. Make Boring Workplaces Livelier
Can you imagine the office pictured below without plants? It would probably be boring. The addition of the taper and trough planters added a soft touch to make it more pleasing to the eye.

4. People Control
Planters are not only good for improving the look of an interior. Planters also work wonders for controlling people. Below you can see IOTA Venice Planters in Wimbledon 2008. The planters aren’t only there for its aesthetic value. The planters also keep people away from the edge.

5. Use Planters to Define Borders
Using planters in interior design to define borders between two different areas is a great touch. In the case below, the common area is defined and separated by planters.

6. Accentuate Glass Doors and Prevent Accidents Using Planters in Interior Design
Using planters to emphasize those glass doors can help direct people’s eyes towards it. This can help prevent accidents such as people banging their faces on the glass door.Accentuate Glass Doors and Prevent Accidents Using Planters in Interior Design

7. Use Large Planters for Large Rooms
If you have a large room, don’t use tiny planters. That won’t add anything to your design and will hardly ever get noticed. Instead go big.

8. Line ‘Em Up
If you’ve got a blank wall in a hallway, you can spruce it up with a few planter boxes. We recommend going with a few square planters lined up adjacent to a wall. And did you know that indoor plants come with a lot of benefits such as better indoor air quality, reduced risk of illnesses, and boosted healing.

9. Prevent Watering Mess with Planter Trays
Potted plants require drainage. And while it is generally recommended to seal the drain holes when planting indoors, you can keep the drain holes. Instead use planter trays to catch any spillage when watering.

10. Using Planters in Interior Design to Emphasize Stairwells
You’ve seen above how planters can be used to highlight doors. Below you’ll see us using planters in interior design to highlight stairwells. This is especially good when people need to turn a corner to reach the stairs. Place the planters just below the stairs but keep a sufficient distance so that it doesn’t block the way.

Top 10 Most Influential and Famous Landscape Architects in Australia

2017-06-07T07:15:36Z

Winter7parent: Створена сторінка: Landscape architecture is defined as the design of outdoor public areas, landmarks, and structures to achieve environmental, social-behavioral, or aesthetic out...

Landscape architecture is defined as the design of outdoor public areas, landmarks, and structures to achieve environmental, social-behavioral, or aesthetic outcomes.

Read the original article about[http://iotagarden.com.au/top-10-influential-landscape-architects-australia/ gardening and landscaping at iotagarden.com.au]

People enjoy being in nature for multiple reasons like trying to to escape from the stress of everyday life. Most of the time people have to head to the mountains or the woods to spend time in the great outdoors.

Thanks to landscape architects, more and more public spaces are being transformed into nature-like destinations. Restoring endangered wetlands, reducing hospital stays, removing toxins from rainwater – these are just a few examples of what landscape architects are designing right now.

In no particular order, here are some of the most influential and famous landscape architects in Australia.

1. Nathan Burkett

Nathan is a multi-award winning landscape architect based in Melbourne. Just this year, he was awarded a Show Garden Gold Medal at the recent Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show for his installation ‘Equilibrium’.

Nathan is noted for his innovative use of space, custom built installations, and subtle integration with existing structures. He is able to move from classic, subtle designs right through to the eclectic and cutting edge designs.

Recently, it was also announced that Nathan will be working on developing a garden for the 2016 Singapore Garden Show. The Singapore showcase has an attendance rate of almost three times the size of the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show.

2. Richard Weller

Richard is an Australian landscape architect and academic. He now holds the Martin and Margy Meyerson Chair of Urbanism at the University of Pennsylvania. He has won over 30 prizes in international design competitions, written four books and published over 90 academic papers.

Richard is also a board member of the Landscape Architecture Foundation in Washington and a judge of the 2015 American Society of Landscape Architects awards. Recently, he has been appointed creative director of the 2016 International Festival of Landscape Architecture.

A devoted teacher, he was honored with an Australian National Teaching Award in 2012 “for sustained commitment to inspiring and enabling students to engage creatively and critically with complex design problems”.

3. Ruth Czermakruth-czermak

Ruth founded the company ‘Botanical Traditions’ in 1996, while she was completing a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture at Burnley. In 2006, she completed a Masters in Landscape Architecture. Before, she has taught topics on Plants and Planting Design and Landscape Materials at Melbourne University.

Ruth has extensive experience with raingardens and playspaces on elevated levels. She has designed landscapes throughout Victoria including public parks, community gardens, and historic gardens. She was recently awarded a Fellow of the Australian institute of Landscape designers and Managers (AILDM) for services to the association and industry as a whole.

Botanical Traditions specialised in the design of residential gardens in the inner eastern suburbs of Melbourne, then evolved into the retail nursery industry and the design of larger residential gardens.

4.leon-lange Leon Lange

Leon is an Australian landscape architect who delivers professional and reliable services for landscape master planning and conceptual design, detailed design documentation, and contract administration. He has been working in the industry for over 25 years.

Leon’s hands-on experience in the horticultural and landscape construction fields began in 1987. He has established the company ‘Lange Design’ in 2003, which offers the uniqueness of a one-point contact, enabling an accurate and quick response of any landscape enquiry at any stage of a project.

He has a strong desire to provide a sincere and honest landscape architectural service for the public and private sector. Leon continues to be involved in a diverse array of projects including master planning, urban design, commercial, industrial estate design and more.

5. Catriona Glanvillecatriona-glanville

Some of Catriona’s credentials include a bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture, and a Certificate in Horticulture. She has developed extensive experience for projects ranging from gardens to large commercial developments. Her projects include office parks and shopping malls.

Her credentials include a bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture, and a Certificate in Horticulture. She has developed extensive experience for projects ranging from gardens to large commercial developments. Her projects include office parks and shopping malls.

She opened ‘Outscape’ in 1992, after studying landscape and garden design history overseas. Her company offers a decade of established work in sustainable, low-maintenance landscaping suited to site, climate, water, and soil.

6. Matt Cantwell

Matt Cantwell is a well-known landscape architect in the Sydney landscape industry. He is the founder and director of Secret Gardens, one of Sydney’s most highly regarded landscape design and construction firms.

Matt holds a Diploma in Applied Science (Landscaping Construction and Design), and is an active member of industry associations, including AILA, AILDM and the LNA. He regularly conducts talks and lectures on gardening, and even interviewed for editorial pieces. For Matt, his greatest professional achievement is winning the Allan Correy Award.

His design aesthetic, according to him, is all about the client. He believes that the plot of land, the style of architecture, and of course, the client vary dramatically. Matt has always been passionate about plants and considers it the element of a garden design that excites him the most.

“Eclectic best describes it. If you look at our portfolio of work we are really proud that it is so varied”, he adds.

7. Paul Stein

Paul founded his company, SEED Landscape Design, in 2005 to bring his design aesthetic to contemporary landscape architecture in the Brisbane, QLD area. He aims to bring innovative solutions and extensive experience to improve the value and aesthetic appeal of homes or commercial projects.

SEED Landscape Design offers landscape architectural services to South East Queensland, providing sustainable designs that support environmentally responsive concepts. He publishes weekly tips and advice for Brisbane gardens on his blog.

Paul believes that gardens are an extension of its owners, and good design improves the way people interact with this area. One of Stein’s innovations is Corten steel in his modern or traditional landscapes.

8. Scott Brown
Scott Brown has been designing and consulting on residential outdoor environments since 1993. He has done more than 600 projects in metropolitan Melbourne, regional Victoria, Sydney, regional NSW, Tasmania and Queensland.

Scott was awarded a first class Honours degree in Earth and Horticultural Sciences at the University of Melbourne. Several of his designs have won gold medals at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show. He continues to write for a wide range of national magazines on gardening and lifestyle.

Because of his experience, he has been an invited judge at the Landscape Industries of Victoria Awards for Excellence. His company ‘Scott Brown Landscape Design’ offers consultancy for clients whose budgetary considerations may not extend to a full design service.

9. Adrian McGregor

Adrian is a Landscape Architect based in Sydney, Australia. He founded the company ‘McGregor Coxall’ in 1998, and is also the current Managing Director. He has over 26 years of international experience working and teaching about urban design, as well as landscape architecture.

Adrian has been nominated as one of Sydney’s 100 most creative people. His expertise lies in combining development feasibility, politics, culture and ecology with a passion for design. He aims to create sustainable places in the built and natural environments.

He studied landscape architecture at Canberra University in the mid 1980’s. His fellow director Philip Coxall joined the company in 2000. McGregor Coxall has completed over 300 projects with the aim of pursuing design excellence.

10.Chris Razzell

Chris is one of the most sought-after Landscape Architects in Australia. He is the current founder and corporate director of ASPECT Studios, which he established in 1993. His reputation for creativity and innovation is equaled by his rigorous discipline and focus on delivery.

According to his website, Chris is driven by a commitment to deliver the highest quality design outcomes across the breadth of landscape architecture and urban design. He’s an expert in large scale urban and commercial development.

ASPECT Studios offers innovative landscape architecture, urban planning and design, with offices in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, and Shanghai. Once or twice a year, the company incorporates pro bono work, collaborating with people wanting to positively impact their community.

Raymon Basha: What It Takes to be a Successful Landscaper

2017-06-07T07:10:33Z

Winter7parent: Створена сторінка: Last year we did some interviews with well-known landscape designers. One of our long-term clients sent us an email to say “I love your newsletters/blogs. Ver...

Last year we did some interviews with well-known landscape designers. One of our long-term clients sent us an email to say “I love your newsletters/blogs. Very informative and interesting. I was just thinking could we have a top ten gardeners. They are the ones who actually keep it all looking good for years. It would be nice to recognise them as well. Just a thought”.

Read the original article about[http://iotagarden.com.au/raymon-basha-what-it-takes-to-be-a-successful-landscaper/ gardening and landscaping at iotagarden.com.au]

He had a good point, so we thought we would start with him and invited him to an interview and to give his thoughts.

Raymon Basha, the director of RB Kanangra Landscapes, has been in the landscaping business for more than 20 years. He has grown RB Kanangra Landscapes into a solid business he is proud of. But how did he do it? What is the secret to his success?

Keys to Success
Ray’s dedication to his craft is clearly seen through the success of his company. He believes managing a successful landscaping business is based on three things: being reliable and consistent in quality of service, choosing the right marketplace, and understanding the changes in the economy to our way of living such as smaller backyards.

Ray was inspired to start a career in landscaping largely because of his mentor Merv Dunn. He describes his mentor as a highly intelligent person who is unafraid to experience and try new ways. Merv Dunn created award-winning gardens at Annangrove in the early ‘80s. He taught Ray all he knows about landscaping and in looking after plants and gardens. Merv Dunn also taught Ray his ‘special brew of chicken manure and sawdust’ for fertilizing and conditioning soil. The garden never needed pesticides or fertilizers.

Motivating Staff
When it comes to managing his staff, Ray believes in the concept of mutual respect.

“My basic philosophy is based on mutual respect. I try to motivate them by setting goals and feeding ‘the good things’ and not the bad. I try to get staff to reflect on their work and behaviours. We have a program for apprentices that hopefully develops their skills and abilities to deal with people.”

A Typical Day in the Life of a Landscaper
A typical day for this landscaper starts early. He grabs coffee in Darlinghurst, talks to his supervisors and checks on clients. His day won’t be complete without ‘real work’, but he still finds time to ring his team and reconcile the day.

A Long List of Satisfied Clients
When asked about his favorite project, Ray mentioned Kincoppal at Elizabeth Bay, an exclusive waterfront apartment complex in Sydney. He’s been working with Kincoppal for 18 years as a designer, landscaper and gardener.

“It’s an incredible garden, large in scale and complex in its many different environments. We have a sub-tropical garden, a Japanese themed garden with large ponds, a rainforest then a coastal garden on the waterfront. I was allowed to redesign this garden in the late nineties when it was just azaleas and conifers. Of course we had many trials and successes over the years however the owners have always kept a faith in me and what I was doing so long as it looked good and improved values. I’ve worked very hard at establishing this trust and never take it for granted,” he said.

Kincoppal--Elizabeth-Bay-Plants
A close look at some of the plants used in the Kincoppal complex at Elizabeth Bay in Sydney.
RB Kanangra Landscapes has a long list of satisfied clients. This is a testament to Ray’s diligence and skills in listening to and following through for his clients. He has faced many challenges as a landscaper, but these did not stop him from providing quality work.

Landscapers and Landscape Designers?
Ray believes that the roles of a landscaper and landscape designer are equally important but sadly landscapers aren’t recognized as much as landscape designers.

“I’m not sure landscapers get the recognition they deserve, whenever I’ve gone on garden tours, it’s usually the designers that get the claps not the person who constructed it or nurtured it. I just think the roles of a landscaper and gardener are equally important in the success of a garden.”

Tips for Aspiring Landscapers
With his experience in the industry, Ray could offer some advice to aspiring landscapers.

Get to know your plants and growing conditions as well as your retaining walls and paving.
Keep improving your skills and knowledge.
Read a lot of books, not just picture books.
If you are going to own a business, treat it as a business not as self-employed. This way it will grow.
Longwood-Tower_Darling-Point_Garden
RB Kanangra Landscapes project at Longwood Tower in Darling Point.
If you are interested in working with Ray and RB Kanangra Landscapes on a project, you can reach them at their website.

IOTA Lightweight Concrete Planters – Grand Entrance at Cotton Beach Resort in Tweed Coast

2017-06-07T07:05:34Z

Winter7parent: Створена сторінка: IOTA Venice Lightweight Concrete planters have enhanced the entrance at Cotton Beach Resort on the Tweed Coast. Read the original article about[http://iotagard...

IOTA Venice Lightweight Concrete planters have enhanced the entrance at Cotton Beach Resort on the Tweed Coast.

Read the original article about[http://iotagarden.com.au/iota-lightweight-concrete-planters-enhancing-security-at-cotton-beach-resort-in-tweed-coast/ gardening and landscaping at iotagarden.com.au]

Cube lightweight concrete planters were strategically positioned to create a soft boundary and stop vehicles from being driven onto the travertine tiled foyer.

Trough planters on the other side were used to soften the bike rack area servicing the Black Oak Cafe.

The IOTA range of Venice planters are made of concrete reinforced with natural plant fibers. The resulting material is durable and lightweight with a classic look.

Cotton Beach Resort is located in the coastline regions of Kingscliff NSW, a one-minute walk from the Casuarina beachfront. A part of Tweed Coast Holidays, the resort is a 20 minute drive from Gold Coast Airport and is a 45-minute drive from Surfers Paradise. To the east, the beach stretches for miles. To the west, the Central Eastern Rainforest, a world heritage site, is interrupted only by the majestic silhouette of Mount Warning.

Scott Brown: Reflecting on 19 Years of His Landscape Design Career

2017-06-07T07:00:19Z

Winter7parent: Створена сторінка: Scott Brown retired from his landscape design career and is now pursuing other interests. But one thing is certain, his legacy and influence in the landscape de...

Scott Brown retired from his landscape design career and is now pursuing other interests. But one thing is certain, his legacy and influence in the landscape design industry will not be forgotten. Despite hanging up his boots back in 2012, Scott continues to receive project requests from all over the world. Literally a celebrity in the landscape design industry, he has been interviewed and featured in more than a hundred articles and books. His work is being used by educational institutions that teach landscape design. And today we got the rare chance of interviewing Scott Brown. So without further ado…

Read the original article about[http://iotagarden.com.au/scott-brown-reflecting-on-19-years-of-his-landscape-design-career/ gardening and landscaping at iotagarden.com.au]

To be recognised as one of Australia’s 25 Most Influential Landscape Designers is very humbling. But more important to me than this, are the long-lasting relationships and trust that have been established and continue today […] These relationships […] are relevant to me as a person regardless of what I or they happen to be doing now and in the future. That connection, that true rapport and respect is not something that can be bought or artificially created.

1. You’ve certainly made your mark in the landscape design industry in Australia. What do you think was your biggest contribution to the landscape design industry in Australia?
I managed to change the way in which people (home owners) think of their domestic outdoor environment. Instead of their backyard/front yard/courtyard being thought of as a separate entity to their home interior (i.e. an after-thought), I promoted the idea of their outdoor environment being ‘part’ of their home, an extension of their interior environment… the outdoor room(s) of their home. As this new way of thinking took hold, the motivation to incorporate the planning of their outdoor environment within the planning of their actual home was increased… and the importance of landscape/garden design being incorporated with the planning of the home was launched for the first time on a broad scale in the early 1990’s in Australia. Now of course, this way of thinking is more prevalent – but my contribution was to envisage the concept, initiate this, advocate and influence others such that it then became more prevalent in Australian home owner’s awareness.

2. Of the more than 600 projects you have worked on, which one would you consider your favourite or pet project?
Great question, but a very difficult one to answer. My design legacy is one in which each and every project created a ‘sense of place’ in which all elements look and feel as if they truly belong together (House and garden). As a result, a wide range of styles, sizes, and ‘feel’ is represented in my body of work – almost as if the designer is anonymous, as opposed to imposing a signature style on every project. I have many favourites for very individual and different reasons.

3. You mentioned that you are pursuing another career. Can you tell us more about this career change? What’s the next big thing for Scott Brown?
Prior to Landscape design, I had a career in the Resources Industry – as an exploration geologist and then a Mining executive. Since exiting SBLD, I have discovered a real passion for business. I have also recognised my natural ability to operate in commercial environments of almost any sector – applying my personal and professional attributes to lead, influence and have great impact, be accountable, be strategic, develop relationships that matter, improve and empower others to be part of the team. These ‘transferable’ skills and attributes played a major role in my success in building a professional practice in landscape/garden design… but at the time I attributed my success solely to my ability/talent as a designer. My journey since then to that of an entrepreneur, business leader and business builder in multiple businesses has enabled me to see a bigger picture.

The clients Joe and Silvana were delighted with this project. They said: “I still remember Scott drew our dog into the first design. I think Scott understood what we wanted from our first meeting and didn’t take too long at all to have it drawn out for us. What we imagined our backyard was going to look like was exactly how it turned out in the end.”

4. What led you to decide to leave the landscape design industry?
I observed changes in the market whereby quality was increasingly being devalued in the face of price. Whilst I developed strategies to manage this trend – and these strategies were proving successful in terms of revenue and business growth, the fun and emotional engagement I had experienced from the beginning started to dissipate. I believe life is too short to devote your heart beats to something you are not totally drawn to do. “Do something you love and you’ll never work another day in your life” (Can’t remember who this quote this belongs to, but it’s a good one). So, as this became true for me, I decided to explore alternative directions.

5. Can you tell us more about your medals at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show? What designs did you create to achieve these medals?
The journey started at the inaugural MIFGS in 1996. I designed and project managed an exhibit for a major upmarket paver manufacturer (Urban stone) – new to Melbourne. They had proposed a ‘display stand’ with boards displaying all of their products. I convinced them to allow me to design an inner-city courtyard – using only three of their products and one of their colours – which showcased in the minds of the public how their product could be used to create an entire outdoor room that people could really identify with and envisage in their own home. The stand won two medals, but perhaps more importantly for the paver company, directly contributed to 300% growth in sales over the next 12 months.

Later that year, I entered an international competition to secure an exhibit site for the 1997 show, as well as grant money for construction costs. I won the worldwide competition with a design proposal for a semi-formal, rural cottage garden when the universal trend at the time was standard roses and box hedging. At the show, this entry won five medals and awards – including one which was awarded on countback- after the show was over! The international judge – Julian Dowe – approached me and asked if I would be interested in bringing this garden display to the Chelsea Flower Show the following year. This was more than 8 years before any other Australian entry to Chelsea. Jane Edmondson was conducting ‘show tours’ that year- and each day she started her tour at my stand and we talked at great length about the difference in style of my stand.

I also designed another courtyard for the same paver company (96) for the 97 show – which also won awards. Two stands at the same show (97) was a daunting and draining experience – but a thoroughly rewarding one as well. I did not feel compelled nor motivated to exhibit again as I had learnt a great deal about myself as a person as well as a designer, and my brand was sufficiently established to grow and develop independently of the show – i.e. completely on my terms.

6. You’ve been in the industry for 19 years. How would you describe those 19 years?
I have seen significant change across this time. Initially, the concept of garden design (as opposed to just landscaping), was a largely foreign concept to most Australians. It took a lot of time and energy to educate the public through magazine articles, radio appearances, and public speaking engagements (prior to the internet) to create a market and an appetite for garden design. Initially, there was a predominant philosophy that associated design almost exclusively with the hard landscape only, and that plant selection (soft Landscape) was merely about plant knowledge- and so plant selection was more about selecting plants according to their cultural requirements (full sun, dry shade etc.) as opposed to selecting plants from an aesthetic design perspective – and also ensuring their cultural synergy. This gradually changed as a result of increasing awareness brought about by exposure, education, advocacy and increased awareness of the public motivated in creating a fulfilling home outdoor environment.

Many trends came and went – in terms of design styles – traditional, Mediterranean, Asian, modern minimalist and through this an appreciation for timelessness design emerged – motivated by the fact that the investment in a garden was more protected as the garden style would be less likely to ‘date’. Bringing the indoors outside, and the outside in became a big theme – where the benefits of linking the inside and outdoor environments became gained recognition. Then outdoor entertaining became more prevalent. The Australian market for barbeques, for example went from 20 choices to more than 600. Then came the era of reality TV makeover shows. This raised the profile of Landscape/garden design massively. But it also artificially raised the public’s expectations in terms of the real costs and the time involved. It has also lead to the importance of and time needed for planning to be underestimated by the general population. This lead to a common gap between people’s budget and their expectations in terms of eventual project outcomes. But this occurs in most aspirational aspects of our lives in general.

7. What’s the best advice you can give someone looking to start a career in landscape design?
It has been a while since I left this world and although I am still approached regularly to design and consult here in Australia and oversees – I am not across all the options open to someone embarking on this journey today. I am aware that the pathways available now are far more obvious and prepared than in my day. I had no pathway… I had to invent and create my own from scratch.

One thing I would emphasise is that to truly be a good designer, one should have a good understanding of what it takes to actually build a landscape/garden. Too many designers tend to have an academic knowledge without really understanding what is involved in making it actually happen. So access to construction by gaining work experience on site is very valuable – so that a designer knows the implications of what they put on paper – both in terms of logistics and costs. Not everyone will be as dedicated (or insane) as I was – and actually go and complete an entire landscape apprenticeship to learn construction in order to be a better designer – but any level of construction understanding will be of benefit. I am proud to say that I won apprentice of the year in each and every year of my apprenticeship. And that led to better relationships with contractors who built my designs and it also led to better relationships with my clients because I was able to ensure realistic expectations were actualised in terms of budgets and aspirations from the initial conversations right through to delivery of the finished project, and through the following years a garden would take to fully grow and develop.

8. We’re always interested in seeing a landscape designer’s yard. Did you design your own yard when you were still a practicing landscape designer? Do you still do it now?
scott's-courtyard-1This is really funny. For many years my wife would refer to an infamous TV ad where a wife sitting amongst an unfinished house with dripping taps etc. laments that she is actually married to an architect! My wife was actually referring to the complete lack of interest I showed in our home outdoor environment for many years. But, when we moved into a new town house, I unexpectedly became enthused about the rear courtyard and its’ potential to add to the living experience and extend the home and our enjoyment of it. So I designed our courtyard for entertaining and also to enhance our indoor living by virtue of the views during the day and night all rear round. This courtyard has received publication exposure and recognition around the world. Universities in Europe and Asia have studied it as part of their course curriculum. And yet it is a very simple project – or at least it looks very simple… and that is the magic. I have continued to design our outdoor environments ever since. I can’t help myself.

9. What was your biggest accomplishment for Scott Brown Landscape Design?
To be recognised as one of Australia’s 25 Most Influential Landscape Designers is very humbling. But more important to me than this, are the long-lasting relationships and trust that have been established and continue today between myself, and my clients and also stakeholders such as magazine editors, technical experts and product manufacturers. These relationships have surpassed my career in Landscape Design and are relevant to me as a person regardless of what I or they happen to be doing now and in the future. That connection, that true rapport and respect is not something that can be bought or artificially created.

10. What were your favourite materials and plants to work with when you were still designing landscapes? Are you in favour of using exotic plants or do you always go with native plants?
The last drought in Australia had a significant impact on the industry at large. It also offered an opportunity for learning. I learnt that we can combine native and exotic planting if we are careful and understand their differing cultural requirements. I also learnt that we tended to over water anyway – as a matter of insurance for our financial investment in our gardens. I learnt how hardy some exotic plants actually are (such as the crepe myrtle for example – Lagerstroemia Indica). I learnt the importance of soil and garden bed preparation in terms of moisture conservation. I also learnt that lawns are not always necessary for the sake of it – or at least large lawns. Our parents had lawn without thinking about why or how much lawn they needed. But now we start to get into detail… and I better get off my soap box.

IOTA Manhattan Trough and Cube Planters Used for Taringa Residential Complex

2017-06-07T06:56:16Z

Winter7parent: Створена сторінка: IOTA’s Manhattan fiberglass planters enhanced this residential complex in Taringa in QLD. The clean white colour added a nice contrast to the green foliage ma...

IOTA’s Manhattan fiberglass planters enhanced this residential complex in Taringa in QLD. The clean white colour added a nice contrast to the green foliage making the view more appealing to the complex’s residents.

Read the original article about[http://iotagarden.com.au/iota-manhattan-trough-cube-planters-used-taringa-residential-complex/ gardening and landscaping at iotagarden.com.au]

The trough and cube planters helped to add form to the courtyard which also allowed for an assortment of colourful feature plantings. Previously the courtyard was plain. It had green grass, a few plants and steel bars but not much else. The addition of the cube and trough planters added both style and function.

In terms of functionality, the planters became a means of guiding people along the path from the parking lot to the building entrance. The planters also help keep people from walking on the grass. This helped keep the grass green and healthy.

The fiberglass planters are painted with a matte finish. It makes use of class A industrial UV-resistant polyurethane paint. This means that the colour will last longer when exposed to harsh sunlight and weathering. To keep the planters in their best condition, an annual coating of wax is recommended.

IOTA Fiberglass Cube Planters at King George Square

2017-06-07T06:51:52Z

Winter7parent: Створена сторінка: IOTA’s fiberglass cube planters were recently specified for King George Square, a historical landmark in Brisbane, to help add some greenery. The square is lo...

IOTA’s fiberglass cube planters were recently specified for King George Square, a historical landmark in Brisbane, to help add some greenery. The square is located between Adelaide St. and Ann St., next to Brisbane City Hall.

Read the original article about[http://iotagarden.com.au/iota-fiberglass-cube-planters-king-george-sq/ gardening and landscaping at iotagarden.com.au]

The square was last redeveloped in 2009. It became controversial as the designer removed the grass which made the concrete too hot and the summer heat intolerable. Despite calls to bring back the grass, the designer stood his ground that he would not change anything on the design.

Though the grass was removed, King George Square had a lot of large trees on its sides in front of City Hall. And now with the addition of the fiberglass planters from IOTA, designers were able to add a bit more greenery to the roadside. These planters also served as a barrier separating the square from the road and sidewalk.

People who pass by the area are pleased with the addition of the planters saying that the area became livelier and more pleasing to the eye.

Grand Entrance: IOTA Lightweight Concrete Planter Residential Landscape

2017-06-07T06:47:07Z

Winter7parent: Створена сторінка: IOTA’s Venice Tall Round and Venice Taper planters helped add emphasis to this residential home by gracing its entrance. Venice is a lightweight concrete plan...

IOTA’s Venice Tall Round and Venice Taper planters helped add emphasis to this residential home by gracing its entrance. Venice is a lightweight concrete planter.

Read the original article about[http://iotagarden.com.au/grand-entrance-iota-lightweight-concrete-planters-residential-landscape/ gardening and landscaping at iotagarden.com.au]

These Venice planters are named for there distinctive look inspired by Italian polished plaster. Since these planters are made from cement reinforced with natural plant fibers, they are built to be lightweight while also strong.

The overall design on this doorway follows a few simple rules. First, adopting a simple palette that works with the overall design of the house makes it pleasing to the eye. And second, sticking to simple shapes on the Venice Taper and Round planters reinforce the theme.

The Venice Taper planters on the porch emphasize height to draw the eye to the furniture. Flanking the porch design with greeneries that adds texture will be the final touch to the view – a simple but elegant design.

And did you know that green, leafy plants are hardier in comparison to colorful flowery plants? Since they don’t need as much day to day maintenance, they are very well suited to the busy modern homeowners.

125 Container Garden Ideas and Tips For Garden Pots and Planter Design

2017-06-07T06:42:05Z

Winter7parent: Створена сторінка: Looking for some inspiration for your container gardening project? Or maybe you’re looking for some design tips? We’ve gathered 125 container garden ideas...

Looking for some inspiration for your container gardening project? Or maybe you’re looking for some design tips? We’ve gathered 125 container garden ideas and tips so read on and treat yourself to these awesome ideas.

Read the original article about[http://iotagarden.com.au/120-container-gardening-ideas-and-tips/ gardening and landscaping at iotagarden.com.au]

1. Highlighting Doorways with Container Planting
Put emphasis on a doorway through container gardening planted with tall topiary. The plants will also make your home or office more inviting.

2. Prevent Structural Damage by Putting Small Trees in Strong Pots
The vigorous root growth of small trees can easily cause structural damage to paving or a swimming pool. Plan ahead and place these trees on large durable containers that can withstand root growth.

3. Consider the Plant’s Mature Size When Planting
When choosing plants for your container garden, make sure you consider the plants mature size. You wouldn’t want it covering the other visual elements in your design.

4. Linear Repetition Using Same Size Pots
Get a few plant pots of the same size planted with colourful foliage and position them in a linear pattern. This is an attractive way of creating a barrier or a gorgeous alternative to traditional fencing. Or you can also just use it for embellishment.

5. Use Thrillers, Fillers and Spillers in a Container
Thrillers are the main plants that stand out. Fillers are used to fill the blank spots and spillers trail down the pot.

6. Use Rectangular Pots to Guide Pedestrian
Use rectangular plant containers to help guide pedestrians in a public space. We recommend going with granite pots as they are very durable and thus suitable for commercial areas.

7. Liven Up Boring Corners with Container Garden Ideas
A section of a design looking dull? Just add a few tall pots and you can’t go wrong. It will eliminate the boring but not enough to overwhelm.

8. Workplace Container Planting Comes with Many Benefits
Adding some container planting in the workplace can help lighten the mood and increase productivity. Remember to use plants that don’t require a lot of sun.

9. Indoor Container Planting – Seal Those Drain Holes
When planting indoors, don’t forget to seal the container’s drain holes for no-mess watering. You can also use planter trays if you decide not to seal the drain holes.

10. Use High Quality Frost-Resistant Containers
According to BBC Gardener of the Decade Katherine Crouch, high-quality frost-resistant pots are the best investments for a great garden.

11. Succulents Require Drainage
It’s easy to overwater succulents so don’t skip the drain holes. If drain holes are not an option, put a layer of pebbles at the bottom of the pot to help drain the soil/potting mix.

12. Be Generous with Succulents
Why plant just one succulent in a pot when you can plant a bunch of them?

13. Fishbowl Succulents
Whoever said fishbowls are just for fish? Plant a variety of succulents in there and watch them thrive with very little maintenance on your end. This makes for a good table-top plant.

14. Not Enough Space? Hang Your Plants
No more space on your patio for more plants? You can always hang them.

15. Create a Vertical Garden using an Old Pallet
An old pallet can make for an instant vertical garden if you run out space for your plant pots.

16. Mosquito Problems? Plant Lavender
Lavender doesn’t only smell nice, it also deters mosquitoes. Next time you got mosquito problems, plant some lavender on your patio. Those afternoon naps on your patio will become a better experience.

17. Rooftop Container Gardening
Love lounging away at your rooftop? Make it better by bringing up some potted plants.

18. Don’t Fill Big Pots with Soil Where They Won’t Stay
Ever tried lifting a large pot filled with soil and plants? It’s heavy right? Save yourself from a world of trouble by putting the pot where you plan to put it before filling it with soil and planting.

19. Water Fountain Turned Planter
If you got a water fountain that’s no longer working, turn it into a planter. You don’t have to worry about adding drain holes anymore as it will drain naturally.

20. Tree Stump Planters
Turn any old tree stumps into a beautiful planter. Carve out the insides using a chisel and fill in a good amount of soil and plant your favorite thriller, filler and spiller combination.

21. Boat Planters
Fill an old boat with potting mix and fill it with beautiful summer blooms. It’ll make for a nice centrepiece in your garden.

22. Ornamental Grass
Ornamental grass will give depth to your plant containers. The added height, texture, and colour will add greater impact in the overall look.

23. Highlighting Small Plants
In having small plants, use equally small containers and place them around eye level. This way they are easily noticeable. Just remember to avoid using small pots and plants in large spaces.

24. Add Dimension by Going High
Give your garden added dimension by elevating some of your more colourful plants.

25. Match Plants Under the Same Sun
When planting a container garden, remember to plant together plants that have the same sun requirements. Go the extra mile by making sure they also have the same water and nutrients requirements. Your plants will be happier that way.

26. Use Native Plants
In container designs, you don’t have to use exotic plants. Mix and match different colourful native plants if you want an easy gardening life. Plants native to your region will be easier to maintain and won’t suddenly die on you.

27. Grouping Different Sized Containers
Grouping containers of different shapes and sizes makes for a great design theme.

28. Use Deep Dark Colours
Using dark colours like deep purple and burgundy gives richness and adds warmth to any colour scheme on your garden design.

29. Vertical Wall Gardens
Not enough space? No problem. Vertical garden systems are for you. And it’s actually not as difficult to make as it looks.

30. Make a Living Breathing Succulent Picture
Gardening is art. And in this piece, the art is literally your garden. Plant your succulents in a wide square container and this will stand as the frame for your garden art.

31. Place Woody Plants in Containers for More Design Options
Planting woody plants in containers allows for more design choices for patio gardens. When using containers this way, gardeners are able to use plants outside their hardiness zones.

32. Bamboo in Containers
Give your garden an oriental feel using bamboos. It gives height and depth to your garden. Bamboo can be invasive so keeping them in containers keeps them in check.

33. Overflow Bloom Effect
Tilt your container and plant your flowers in such a way that it is flowing out from the container and get this dramatic effect on your garden.

34. Spiral Garden
Create your own spiral garden using wire and a few metal rods. This makes for an attractive focal point in your garden.

35. Glowing Flower Planters
Coat planters with glow-in-the-dark paint for instant night lighting.

36. Vegetable Container Garden
Using your portable planter to grow vegetables is a fantastic and economical idea. Container gardening needn’t be limited to flowers and foliage.

37. Jewelled Planter
Got some broken accessories? Adorn your planters with semi-valuable beads and crystals or any other sparkling accessories for a beautiful jeweled planter.

38. Tower Planters
Great space saving solution for you: make vertical gardens! If you cant go horizontal, go vertical! This one will take some wood crafting skill but the end result is definitely worth it.

39. Seashell Planters
These hanging seashells were being used to grow small plants. Succulents are great candidates.

40. Spoons for Hanging Planters
Add personality and charm to your garden. You don’t have to look far. Upcycle some items around like using old spoons to hang planters.

41. Natural Shade
To get a unique touch on your garden, plant flowering vines on an umbrella shaped-wire mesh. The result is classy way of getting shade on your garden.

42. Rocks as Garden Markers
You could use paint, nail polish or even chalk to label rocks and place them around your garden to help identify plants.

43. Mini Garden in a Container
Add scenery onto your planters using miniature benches, garden tables, fences and etc. You can even put your creativity to work to recreate scenes.

44. Design Your Kitchen with Herbs
It’s not just for aesthetic value. You can actually grow fresh herbs for cooking right there on your own kitchen. Need some mint or a sprig of thyme? They’re within arm’s reach. Did I mention they smell good too?

45. Add a Relaxing Scent, Use Lavenders
Most people want a garden as a place for relaxation. Reduce stress levels better by planting aromatic plants such as lavender.

46. Help Planters Drain Properly
When preparing planters, you don’t fill it entirely with potting soil. You first need to add a layer of loose material like broken terra cotta pots, polystyrene chips, pebbles, wood chips/bark, or like in the case below, peanuts. After that, add a layer of fabric before the potting mix. This helps the potting mix drain properly and also prevent dirt from blocking the drain holes.

47. Tiered Plant Stand
If you don’t have different sized planters, you can make a tiered plant stand to give height to your planters. This way you can layer the composition of your different plants.

48. Terrarium
Take a glass container with an opening wide enough for your hand. Add a layer of fine gravel and then potting soil. You can now add your plants to make a scenery. Good choices include ferns, succulents, mosses, and miniature moth orchids. You can even add some figurines to create a scene.

49. Broken Pots Turned Into Beautiful Fairy Gardens
A broken clay flower pot doesn’t have to be thrown away. With a little bit of imagination give it new life as a landscaped miniature garden scene.

50. Vertical Clay Pot Garden
Stack each pot using ropes. You can use these not just on small areas as a space saver but also around large spaces to separate areas around your garden. You can also do this for small lightweight fiberglass pots. Since they are more durable than terra cotta pots, they will last longer.

51. Toy Car Planters
Honor your favorite toys as a child by turning them into stunning succulent planters.

52. Easy Way to Create a Two-Tiered Pot
Use a smaller pot and get it upside down inside the larger pot. This will now serve as the stand for the third pot which will be placed on the top. Viola! An elegant two-tiered pot.

53. Use Dried Twigs to Spruce up Planters
You can use dried twigs to spruce up your planters. Stick them in the soil or bind them together. You can even paint them. Make it a part of your thriller, filler, spiller design. The only limit is your imagination.

54. Plant Citrus in Pots
Citrus like lemon and lime have dwarf varieties that you can easily grow in pots. They look good in your garden too especially when they start to bear fruit. Lemonade anyone?

55. Clinging Vines and Wood Structures: A No Go
Do not place vines near wood structures like posts and fences. As plants tend to keep moisture, they will cause rotting in the wood.

56. Grow Vegetables between Your Ornamental Combinations
You can plant your vegetables in the same pot as your ornamentals. Good candidates are peppers and tomatoes. The fruit will even add to aesthetic appeal not to mention you get fresh produce.

57. If You Do Container Gardening, Work On Site
Remember that a fully filled planter may be quite heavy. So set it where it’s supposed to be before you start filling it up. To move to the actual site you want it to be.

58. Combine Similar Colours with Different Shapes
A guaranteed combination is to use a simple colour theme and use different shapes and shades around your arrangement.

59. Contrasting Shapes and Complimentary Colours
The key to this arrangement is the contrasting purple-yellow combination and the reds-green compliments. The contrast in colours brings in focus to the main flowers and ties the overall harmony of the combination.

60. Ensure Proper Drainage
Cover the drainage holes with a mesh screen to prevent them from clogging and to keep soil from washing through onto your patio or deck.

61. Plant from the Inside Towards the Edge
When starting an arrangement, start from the inside with a tall plant as a thriller. Then work on the sides towards the edge with a lush plant as filler. Lastly, bring in the spillers near the edge and make them flow.

62. Keep the Colour Scheme Simple
Avoid a cluttered look on your container arrangements. As a rule of thumb, either use different shades of the same colour or use a complimentary colour scheme in your combinations.

63. Make a List Before You Go to Buy Plants
Before you go visit a nursery, make a list of plants that you need. Making a list ensures that you only buy what you need. You can also try listing down alternatives in case the plant you’re looking for is not in stock.

64. Sometimes Plants Die; Deal with It
Plants die all the time. Even the most experienced gardener will kill a few plants. Sometimes it might be best to just give up on a plant rather keeping it there wilted and dry hoping it would spring back to life.

65. Learn How to Tell if Your Plants Need Water
Many gardeners kill their plants by overwatering more than underwatering. Stick your finger in the soil, if it’s moist underneath, no need to water yet. If it’s dry, you know what to do.

66. Avoid Awkward Plant to Pot Ratio
The overall height of your arrangement should be as tall as your container. This is a basic rule of thumb but don’t be bound by it. There is always an exception to the rule.

67. Accent Stairwells with Colourful Potted Plants
Accentuate outdoor stairwells with colourful potted plants. The plants actually soften the design full of corners and hard geometry and make it more pleasing to the eye.

68. Grasses as Container Plants
Grasses, hedges and rushes most of the time are used around the garden to fill up the ground with foliage. But because of their texture and height, garden designers are starting to use them in container combinations as one of the main players.

69. Use Container Planters on Your Guard Railings
This will not only aesthetically serve the area but also it will keep you at a safe distance from the rails.

70. Know Your Plants
You know those tags that came with the plants when you got them from the nursery? Keep them as they contain important information about your plants. If you lost them, use Google to keep yourself knowledgeable about your plants.

71. Know Your Plant’s Growth Habits
There are plants that grow tall towards the sun. There are some that spread to get more sunlight. Some are crawlers. Some are shade lovers and stay low. Learn the growth habit of your plants lest the end result could be a chaotic one.

72. Contrast Containers with the Plant Qualities
You can change the personality of the plant by its container. Match a simple container to an eye-catching plant or put a simple plant in a dramatic container.

73. Soil-Free Potting Mix
Do not use soil for container gardens. Use potting mix. They have more nutrients, they retain moisture and aerate better. Use a layer of rocks at the bottom of the plant to aid in drainage and prevent blockage of drain holes.

74. Clay Pots vs Plastic Pots
Plastic pots keep the moisture in the soil better but clay pots are aesthetically better. Clay pots are like fine wine that gets better with age. If you want to have the benefits of both, try planting in a smaller plastic pot then placing it on a larger clay pot. Cover everything with soil up to the rim.

75. Start with the Greens
It’s better to start with green leafy plants if you’re a newbie gardener. They thrive better than flowering or fruit-bearing plants. There’s more room for error when you are just starting out gardening.

76. Get a Book on Gardening
Knowledge is power and that holds true for gardening. Get lessons from the experts and read a book on anything gardening.

77. Orchids on Planters
Orchids are one of the most beautiful flowers in the plant kingdom. Their exotic look combined with their elegant structure is a knockout combination. They may be a challenge to take care of but getting a bloom out of them is truly rewarding. And yes, you can grow them on planters too.

78. Garden for All the Senses
Wind chimes are as important as nice fragrances. If you have some small trees, hang a few wind chimes. Believe me, those afternoon breaks in your garden will be that much better.

79. Have Something in Bloom Every Season
Use plants that bloom on different seasons so your garden will look good any time of the year. There will never be a dull moment in your garden.

80. Design Your Landscape for People-Comfort
Include all-weather seating, dry paving, shade in summer, and wind protection in winter.

81. Change Your Plants Easily by Setting up a Buried Pot Garden
This makes landscaping easier especially during change of seasons, as you won’t need to dig up an old plant to replace it. This also keeps everything in its right place.

82. Create a Yard Environment that Welcomes Wildlife
Put out a bird bath. Install a birdhouse or have a pan high up with some birdseed. Take out your camera and take pictures of the different varieties of birds that visit your yard.

83. Keep a Garden Journal
Include photographs. Take note of the dynamics of your garden. Gardening is a continuous journey so keep track of where you have been with your yard and where you are now.

84. Keep Yourself Updated on Design Trends
From new tips to seasonal changes to new design trends, you might want subscribe to newsletters from garden design blogs to keep yourself updated.

85. Enrich the Soil
Remember you feed the plants by feeding the soil. You can use commercial fertilizer or make your own compost.

86. Consider Fruit Bearing Plants
Berries are good candidates for container gardens be it for ornamental purposes or for the berries themselves. Blueberry pancakes anyone?

87. Recycle an Old Bird Cage
Got an old bird cage but no birds? Turn it into a planter. Plant some succulents and make them overflow. A layer of mesh on the sides will prevent the potting mix from being washed away when watering.

Greens are always easy to the eyes. To make it work, play with different textures of greens to give depth and guide the eyes towards the centrepiece.

89. Add a Butterfly Feeder
Attract more butterflies to your garden with do-it-yourself butterfly feeders. Mix one part sugar in 10 parts water for the food. Pour this mixture over a sponge and saturate it.

90. Old Tub Planter
Remodelling your bathroom and don’t know what to do with the old tub? Drag it to your yard. Drill some drain holes. Add a layer of sand and then some potting mix. Then plant away.

91. If Space is a Problem, Plant in Tall Pots
If there’s not a lot of space to accommodate plants, use tall planters. They won’t take as much space and you get to have plants.

92. Colander Planters
Because they’ve already got the holes for drainage, they’re perfect for potting plants. You can even paint the colander before you start planting.

93. Cinder Blocks Planters
Stacked cinder blocks have readymade compartments that are ideal for a variety of plants. You can stack and build them to create a wall or fit a custom space. It’s like playing Lego with plants.

94. Tool Box Planters
If you’re aching to get a shiny new tool box, just go ahead and do it. The old one can be an ideal planter. Just don’t skip on the drain holes.

95. Flowers are Just One Part of the Design
While flowers in bloom are very attractive, most only last for a few days. There are plants that offer more than just their blooms. Consider foliage, fruits, and barks for a lasting colour and texture all year round.

96. Tire Planters
We love the new tire trends. They’re being upcycled in so many unique ways! With a little bit of creativity, you can add them to your yard, too.

97. Light Bulb Planters
This is a great way to upcycle old light bulbs. They look good but are very fragile so handle with care.

98. Teacup Planters
Need a good pot for planting herbs in your kitchen? You may not need to look too far. Get some old teacups from your cupboard and carefully drill some drain holes. Not only will it look good, it will also be a good fit for your kitchen design.

99. Chandelier Planter Holder
Now you won’t need to throw out that old chandelier. This will require a bit of work so just follow the instructions here.

100. Sitting Pretty
The lush yellows highlight the red calibrochoa. Aside from being a rail guard for the porch, the striking colour scheme in this wonderful arrangement will draw everyone’s attention.

101. Bigger Pots are Better.
Large containers hold more soil so they retain moisture better. More room also means bigger root systems. Bigger root systems mean healthier and happier plants. Also, small pots are especially not recommended for large spaces so don’t be afraid to go big.

102. Choose the Right Container for the Job
Terra cotta looks great but they break easily. Granite pots are durable but very heavy. Fiberglass pots are lightweight and look great in modern designs. To know more about different planter types, check out this blog post.

103. Greening Your Patio through Container Gardening
To many people, their patio is a place for some R&R. For some, it is a place for receiving guests and holding parties. When greening your patio, container gardening is the perfect solution.

104. Give Hand Pollination a Try
For gardens at higher elevations like in a high rise building, pollination might be a problem due to lack of insect traffic. To free up enough pollen to be effective, you can use a brush, cotton buds or just give your plants a good shake.

105. Bring Ceramic and Terra Cotta Pots Indoors During Winter
Ceramic and terra cotta pots that have soil in them can crack or break when left outside during winter. Keep them indoors in your tool shed or garage so you can use them again.

106. Love Salsa? Grow It in Containers
If you love salsa, then you must know that you can easily grow salsa in containers. Well, not salsa in the literal sense but the ingredients you need for salsa. Check out this link for more information. And bring out the chips please.

107. Clear Container Water Garden
Container gardening is also for aquatic plants such as the lotus plant. A transparent container will look good. The fish in the container is not just for aesthetic purposes though. It can prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs on the stagnant water.

108. Keep the Mints Within Reach
Mint can be invasive so keeping them in pots is ideal. Fresh mint leaves make a refreshing garnish for drinks on a hot summer day so keeping potted mint plants within arm’s reach is a real treat.

109. The Hanging Ball of Lush Succulents
Succulents are beautiful in their own right. However they grow so low that they are most of the time underappreciated. Bringing them within eye level like this arrangement captures the viewer’s interest easily.

110. Feed Your Roses with Slow Release Fertilizer
If you are fond of roses, you should know that in order to continue blooming they need a constant supply of nutrients in the soil. Put in some slow release fertilizer to keep them in bloom.

111. Use Eggshells as Fertilizer
Eggshells are high in calcium which is good for plants too. When you crush eggshells, its jagged edges become good deterrents to pests like slugs and caterpillars.

112. Plants Don’t Always Have to Start With Seeds
Many plants grow from cuttings like roses for example. If you see a plant that you like whether it’s from the neighbour’s garden or a park, you can simply ask for a cutting. Just don’t go cutting without asking for permission first. Stick it in a pot and it will grow roots. It’s like magic.

113. Choose Drought-Resistant Plants for Drought-Prone Areas
If you live in an area that gets the occasional dry spell, choose plants that are resistant to droughts. Your local nursery should be able to provide you with all the information you need.

114. Winter Season Gardening
Roots of potted plants are sensitive to freezing temperatures. This is because the roots are above the ground. You can place them inside a shed to mitigate the freezing temperatures or you can invest in frost-resistant pots.

115. Use Drip Irrigation for Stress-Free Watering
The amount of water your plants needs depends on many variables. We suggest a drip irrigation system to automate your watering without wasting water. You can read more about drip irrigation in this post.

116. Reuse Bottles as Watering Globes
Before you go on a somewhat long vacation, inserting a watering globe will ensure your plants are well watered for a longer period. Note that this is only convenient for container plants that like to be watered regularly. You can use any bottle for this one.

117. Deadheading
Cut off the wilted blooms to encourage new flowers. This process is known as deadheading.

118. How to Deal with Garden Pests
Ideally, you should have taken measures to ward off pests. When they do get in your garden, you should actively bury infected leaves, remove the pest habitat, and plant pest resistant plants.

119. When Using Pesticides Always Read the Label
Reading the labels on pesticides and following them ensures that you don’t accidentally kill off your plants and other beneficial bugs.

120. Use Trough Planters as Barriers for Pedestrians
Trough planters are effective barriers for separating spaces. In the image below, IOTA’s granite trough planters are being used to separate the parking area from the walkway.

121. Pinch Top of New Stems for a Bushier Plant
If you don’t want a leggy plant, pinch out the growing tip of each stem back to a node using your thumb and forefinger. This encourages side shoots to grow on other leaf nodes. You can do this a couple of times to encourage more growth, and later on, more flowers.

122. Prune Regularly
Aside from aesthetics reasons, pruning also helps promote growth of new branches. So prune regularly and use a proper pruner. You run the risk of having plant disease if you don’t prune properly. GardenWare stocks some really high-quality pruners.

123. Avoid Moving Your Plants Too Much
Plants need time to adjust to their surroundings so avoid moving them too much. Moving your plants too much can cause them to get stressed and eventually die out.

124. Bring Out the Artist in You; Paint Those Planters
If you’re feeling some artistic inspiration, try painting those pots. You can dull paint plastic pots and turn them into something eye-catching. You can even paint terra cotta pots but this will require some prep work. You have to make sure the terra cotta pots are clean before painting them. For an extra smooth finish, we would recommend sanding them first.

125. Enjoy Gardening
All these tips will be for naught if you don’t really enjoy gardening. Gardening should be a fun activity so enjoy and have fun. Garden with a smile on your face.

Fiberglass Trough Planters Used as Dividers in Worongary Shopping Centre Restaurants

2017-06-07T06:34:40Z

Winter7parent: Створена сторінка: IOTA’s fiberglass trough planters are being used in the restaurants at Worongary Shopping Centre at the Gold Coast. The planters serve as partitions between t...

IOTA’s fiberglass trough planters are being used in the restaurants at Worongary Shopping Centre at the Gold Coast. The planters serve as partitions between the different restaurants in the establishment.

Read the original article about[http://iotagarden.com.au/fiberglass-trough-planters-used-as-dividers-in-worongary-shopping-centre-restaurants/ gardening and landscaping at iotagarden.com.au]

One of the best ways of using trough planters indoors is for creating division. In residential houses, trough planters can be used to create a subtle division between different areas of the house. Outdoors, it can also be used to direct traffic and create division. It can even be used as fencing material.

In Worongary, trough planters are used to separate the dining areas of the various restaurants such as Uncle’s Burgers, Thai Restaurant and Subway.

The plants also provide an ambience and a soft touch to the hard structure. In the hospitality industry, plants have been known to have a calming effect that benefits both employees and customers.

The planters are durable enough for light commercial use. They will last for many years with an annual polishing of wax to keep the painted finish maintained.

Container Gardening: How to Plant Garden Pots and Planter Boxes Guide

2017-06-07T06:30:40Z

Winter7parent: Створена сторінка: Step 1. Choosing the Right Garden Pot Material The pots and planters you select for your garden depends on where it will be used, whether it will be exposed to...

Step 1. Choosing the Right Garden Pot Material

The pots and planters you select for your garden depends on where it will be used, whether it will be exposed to the elements, and if it will need to be moved frequently. Design considerations such as colour, texture, and the rest of the architectural elements are also important.

Read the original article about[http://iotagarden.com.au/how-to-plant-garden-pots/ gardening and landscaping at iotagarden.com.au]

According to BBC ‘Gardener of the Decade’, Katherine Crouch, “a good pot is a good investment.” So, choose quality pots that complement your theme.

Stone Planters
These planters are made of natural stone, which tend to be very expensive and heavy. But, they have a natural beauty, giving them a load of character.

Unlike wood or plastic, stone planters are strong and durable. They won’t rot or become brittle over time. Because they’re made of heavy material, they’re less likely to blow over in the wind or get knocked down by children or pets.

Many stone planters come in large sizes. These are strong enough that large roots won’t break the pot. The thickness of these planters also help protect the soil from temperature fluctuations.

Types of Stone Planters:
Granite Planters

Tough, strong, and durable. Granite Planters are the densest and most impact-resistant of all. They’re ideal for displays and planting areas in public environments. Even if you leave them in areas with a lot of traffic, nobody will be able to take them.

Slate Planters

The beautiful natural stone of slate planters is the finishing touch to any landscape environment. They’re durable and heavy, so they can withstand wear and tear of commercial use.

Slate is a natural stone made of sedimentary layers, the soft colours of the slate planters make them fun to plant and design with, as they match a wide palette of plants.

Lightweight Planters
Stone planters are recognized for being durable, but they can be very difficult to move around. If you are designing a space, which requires the regular moving of planters, lightweight planters are the perfect alternatives.

Lightweight planters are not necessarily delicate. They can still protect your plants from harsh weather conditions, and they look just as elegant as your stone planters.

They are made from materials such as glass reinforced plastic, or a combination of fibreglass and cement. These pots are suitable for both outdoor and indoor use.

Types of Lightweight Planters:
Fiberglass Planters

These GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic) planters are durable, but extremely lightweight. They’re ideal for situations where the planters would have to be moved, but not suitable for use as heavy physical barriers.

Lightweight Concrete Planters

Cement-based composite material that is internally reinforced with natural plant fibres. Well-suited for patio and poolside use, lightweight concrete planters can be easily moved for a party or gathering.

Terrazzo Planters
Terrazzo is a physically strong material that stands up to heavy use. However, weather conditions may cause them to fade and dry, so don’t leave them outside unprotected. Sealers are often used to prevent stains and fading.

Consisting of a variety of materials, most terrazzo pots are now polished and sealed to create a smooth finish. They usually come in a black or white finish, which goes with all colour schemes.

Ash Lennon of M. Lennon Pots and Planters, one of the leading suppliers of export-quality garden pots, has this to share:

Terrazzo, which is basically concrete with pebble ground back to leave a speckled finish is in fashion. It’s everywhere – bench tops, pavers it’s a clean cut gloss look everyone likes. They have straight edges, straight lines. They match so much with the contemporary style of housing these days.

Glazed Planters
Glazed pots are available in a wide variety of colours, patterns and sizes. Because of their low porosity, these planters have excellent water retention. It can also provide good insulation for the protection of root systems.

For Ash Lennon, glazed pots will make any garden sparkle. More so, the colours and patterns for these containers are limitless – blue, green, black, white, cream and reds.

He also adds…

To make a glaze pot we mix water and powdery chemical together, tip in on an uncooked pot and cook in a kiln to 1200 degrees. In the kiln, the chemicals react to leave a bright shiny glaze embedded into the clay.

Step 2. Select Plants for Container Gardening
selecting-plants

When selecting plants for your planters, there are a number of factors to consider:

Where will the container be sited?
What is the function of the container?
How much maintenance will the planters get?
Is there a drip irrigation system or will the plants have to be hand-watered?
Are there a lot of people around the area where you’re specifying the pots?
Will someone be changing the container plantings for the seasons, or should they be planted to last the entire year?
Design and Colour in Plant Selection
Make the plants “talk to each other.”

Follow this trick and you’ll be able to create container gardens that look like they were designed by a professional.

Planters are great places to try new plants and interesting colour combinations. Select a group of plants in which each plant has at least one colour in its leaves or flowers from another plant in the grouping.

The overall effect is much more harmonious:

design-and-colour

Gardening expert Matt Biggs, from Gardeners World UK, shares how it’s essential to put the right plant in the right place to get the combination right, and achieve harmony.

It’s no good planting a shade lover next to a sun worshiper, or adding a plant that overpowers the rest. To look right, a pot should be about 1/3 of the height of the tallest plants.

Thrillers, Fillers, and Spillers
For BBC ‘Gardener of the Decade’, Katherine Crouch, every mixed container needs a thriller, a filler and a spiller.

For color combinations, use two or three closely associated colors from one side of the color wheel, and a small amount of complementary color from the other side.

For instance, you can have a pot with a thriller red/brown cordyline, three fillers of deep purple (one) and flame red (two) osteospermums and a spiller of lime green helichrysum.

Container gardens need these three types of plants. Thrillers are the stand-out plants – bright, big flowers, or interesting berries. You only choose one thriller. It may be a topiary or standard rose, lavender plant, or evergreen.

Plant choices for every type of container:
1. Plants for Privacy
One of the most frequent uses for pots and planters in public spaces is to create outdoor rooms, screened by plants. If you’re looking for plants to create privacy, here are some good choices:

Pittosporum ‘Golden Sheen’
White abelia
Teucrium fruticans
Conifer smaragd
Viburnum tinus
Boxwood
Camellia
camellia

2. Plants for Ornamental Value
Some are more interesting and better-suited to containers than others. Here are some hardy plants that look lovely in garden planters:

Lavender
Viburnum
Ornamental grasses
Salvia and sages
Shrub roses and rose standards
3. Drought-Tolerant Plants
If there’s no drip irrigation where the containers will be situated, you’ll need to specify drought-tolerant plants for the pots. It doesn’t mean they need no water at all, but they’ll survive more readily with sporadic watering.

Rosemary
Sedum
Agapanthus
Plant Selection Ideas for Interiorscaping
Interiorscaping not only improves the appearance of an interior space by adding plants. It can also improve the indoor air quality, design, and mood.

When choosing plants, take note of the following:

Consider Light. A pretty plant placed in an area with too much or not enough light will decline rapidly. Before specifying plants for interior containers, consult with the architects to learn the light conditions.

Chris Beardshaw is an award-winning British gardener, shares that high traffic areas and those adjacent to main pathways and terraces should allow sufficient light for easy access.

Consider the features you have already, and how you could use these to enhance the garden when lit – specimen plants, elegant planters and water features should all be enlivened when individually spotlighted.

Water Needs. Will someone water and groom the plants on a routine basis? Some plants need less maintenance than others.

Based on Location. Some plants provide a strong vertical accent, while others are trailing and well-suited for overhangs. Palms are ideal for adding height to interior gardens.

Selecting Plants for Public Spaces
Many IOTA planters are placed in public spaces to add a touch of class, divide space, or provide scale to large public areas.

There are two primary considerations when selecting plants for containers in public spaces: safety and maintenance.

1. Plants to Avoid: Safety Risks
Agaves: These majestic plants look great in any containers. However, unless you clip the large thorns off the ends of these plants, they pose a danger to pedestrians at eye-level.

Castor bean: These large herbaceous perennials are highly poisonous. Instead of the castor bean, try planting a hardy banana instead. They have similarly large leaves, and reddish coloring.

Oleander: Another poisonous plant, oleander should only be used in areas that see little foot traffic. Dwarf oleander would be well-suited to planters situated on rooftops or large walls, where people can’t get to their leaves and twigs.

Euphorbias: Some euphorbias are spiny, but all have poisonous milky sap. If someone who isn’t wearing gloves breaks off a piece of the plants and the sap gets on their skin, they can instantly develop a rash.

2. Plants to Avoid: Mess
Fruit trees: These include ornamental fruit trees that do produce fruit. While they’re lovely and produce a nice crop to harvest, they’re also messy for public spaces.

Lilly Pilly: Although very hardy, the Lilly Pilly does produce fruits that can become messy and slippery when dropped on walkways.

Canna Lilies: These enormous perennials have large flowers that become unsightly as they turn brown, and will drop off of the plant and stain the sidewalk.

3. Plants to Avoid: Fragility
The most fragile plant that is, unfortunately, used often in containers is the jade plant. Their leaves are easy to break off thus, it’s not recommended to use these plants where lots of young children can mess about with them.

Step 3. Let’s Plant Your Container Garden
After selecting your plants, and preparing your harmonious arrangement, it’s time to plant!

Materials needed include the following:

Planter or container
Potting mix (not garden soil)
Watering can
Slow-release fertilizer
Follow these steps to start planting:

Make sure that with your container can facilitate good drainage. Badly drained pot water can cause problems, preventing air from circulating in the root zone, and promotes soil-borne diseases.
Fill your plant pot with potting mix, leaving 25 cm of space from the top. It’s important to use potting mix rather than garden soil because potting mix is lightweight and has ingredients to promote water retention and drainage.
Begin placing your plants. Some plants will have larger root balls than others, so you might be able to place one plant, then add additional soil and place other plants. Place larger plants first. It’s important that the plant stems aren’t buried in soil, because they’ll rot.
Push the soil at the edge of the container down so that it is at least 3cm below the edge of the pot. This leaves room for water to sit and soak in when you water the plant.
Sprinkle some slow-release fertilizer into the pot. Add it around the edges and on top of the soil—don’t sprinkle it on top of the plants.
When you’ve finished planting, water the container. Give it a good soaking and let the water run out the bottom of the container. Then, wait several days to water again.
A good rule of thumb is to water your container garden when the soil down to the second knuckle on your index finger (if you stick your finger in the pot) is dry.
To Crock or Not to Crock?
crockThere’s an old advice on gardening that encourage gardeners to line the bottom of their pots with a coarse layer, such as gravel, stones or old broken china – to promote good drainage.

Many people still do it, but according to scientists, crocking doesn’t help drainage at all. In fact, it can hinder it.

Guy Barter, chief horticultural adviser at the Royal Horticultural Society, says a crock is actually likely to worsen drainage by creating a block. It’s better to have a layer of sand underneath soil that will allow water to drain into it and later be sucked up by roots if needed.

Associate Professor and urban horticulturist Linda Chalker-Scott, from Washington State University, states that crocking can lead to waterlogging.

The coarser the underlying material, the more difficult it is for water to move down across the interface and out through the drainage hole.

Basically it’s like having a smaller pot, and you’ll be wasting valuable pot space. You’ll just end up with crowded plants sitting in ‘too wet’ soil.

Step 4. Grow and Maintain Garden Pot Plants
container-gardening-3

Taking care of plants in containers is a bit different from maintaining traditional “in ground” gardens.

Watering
Timing of watering changes as plants grow.

When plants are small, water a couple of times a week. When plants are larger, they need more water. Remember the good rule of thumb: If the soil is dry down to your second knuckle of your index finger when you stick your finger in the soil, the container needs water.

Container gardens in public places need drip irrigation systems. It makes caring for the container garden easier, as you won’t have to check them to water them as often.

If the weather is extremely hot, one trick to keeping planters watered is to water the container until water runs out the bottom. Fill the saucer upon which the container is sitting with water so it is available during the day.

Fertilizing
Plant your container garden with potting mix that has slow-release fertilizer in it, you won’t have to fertilize for a couple of months.

If you’re planting container gardens for a public space, adding slow-release fertilizer is a must. If you don’t use slow-release fertilizer, you’ll have to water with liquid fertilizer.

When fertilizing resist the urge to use more than the directions indicate. More is not better.

Deadheading
Deadheading is done to keep your plants in containers looking clean.

It means removing the deadheads, or faded flowers. Some plant stems are soft enough that you can pinch off the dead flowers with your fingers. Others require pruning shears.

For plants flowering at the top of long stems, cut the stem all the way back to the leaves at the base of the stem. Look for a leaf with a tiny swelling or bud between the leaf and the stem, and remove the flower and part of the stem by cutting back to the bud.

Take a container from summer to winter by planting a small tree or shrub with evergreen leaves or interesting branch structure and color. Replace smaller surrounding plants with the seasons.

You can add:

Pansies for autumn, winter and spring.
Perennials for summer and winter.
Bulbs for spring.

English garden designer, Joe Swift, also adds that:

Pots are a fantastic way of adding seasonal interest and getting more plants in where you have paved areas. And don’t scrimp on the size of the pot. Two or three really big ones is a better option than five or six small ones.

He recommends planting strongly scented plants in your front garden such as Christmas box, a really tough evergreen, which you will notice as you enter or leave your front garden every day.

Keep Pests under Control
Pests will find and attack your plants whether you are in an urban or rural setting. Check under leaves and stems every now and then and look for signs of insects or their eggs.

Keep your plants strong and healthy. Water and fertilize them regularly to help them combat against pests. You may also cover the soil or place barriers around your plants so mice and squirrels can be kept at bay.

If they are not recovering from some disease or pest attack, take a practical approach and cut them off before they start damaging other plants.

Step 5. How to Grow Herbs in a Container Garden
plant-potsWait…what about Herbs?

To add to your container gardening experience, you can also grow herbs in your pots or planters. Keep them close to your kitchen to add the aroma of fresh herbs.

Follow the procedures on how to grow herbs in a container garden right from your own garden pots and planters:

Choice of Herbs. Your first reason to consider any herb has to be its taste. Grow herbs that compliment other vegetables you have planted in your garden.

Containers. Try using larger containers for herbs because the soil would absorb enough water for them to grow properly. You can also grow more herbs in one container instead of using smaller pots. Just make sure they’re compatible.

Placing your Container Garden. Consider the right location for your planter. An ideal location would be your patio, as most herbs are adapted to bear heavy sunlight.

plant-pots-2English organic gardening expert and author, Jekka McVicar, says that when planning your garden, you can divide your plants into two sections.

Thyme, sage, rosemary, French tarragon and oregano that like full sun; and those that like partial shade, such as rocket, sorrel, mizuna, mustard, parsley and chervil.

Seeds or Seedlings. Seeds will give you a wider variety of herbs, and they are very easily accessible. Seedlings on the other hand are hassle-free as germination and transplanting will not be required.

Drainage. Make sure that your containers have large holes in the bottom to drain water properly. Herbs can rot in a lot of water.

Using Potting Mix. Potting mixes are recommended instead of regular potting soil. They have an ideal combination of balanced pH and nutrients for optimum growth of plants.

Use Special Fertilizer. For herbs, you should go for fertilizer designed for culinary herbs as you want the leaves to reach their maximum growth limit.

Summary
Whether you have a small garden, and whatever its style, there’s always room for some pots and planters. For those who only have a balcony, flat roof or windowsill, you can always rely on containers to become your garden. The process can give you just as much pleasure as any in-ground garden.

The secret is choosing the best planter to fit your needs – and your plants’. IOTA can provide you a wide selection of containers for whatever plants you plan on using for your garden.

Monty Don, UK writer and speaker on horticulture, points out that a collection of small pots, each filled with just one jewel-like flower, can be as entrancing as an avenue of huge and expensive ones.

On the other hand a large container can become the centerpiece of an entire garden and transform it simply by its presence, as well as providing an opportunity to grow something magnificent in it.

There are a wide variety of containers available in the market, you can design your garden in a way that both fits your needs and complements your unique personality. However you choose to create your container garden, make it your own.

Garden pots and planters are a wonderful addition to any room’s interior design or to an outdoor space. You can grow plants under different conditions, using the container of your choice.

Garden Pots and Planter Boxes Landscape Design Ideas Guide

2017-06-05T09:20:08Z

Winter7parent: Створена сторінка: Container gardening has given a new meaning to the entire concept of gardening. It’s the perfect solution to manage your landscaping needs. Garden pots and pl...

Container gardening has given a new meaning to the entire concept of gardening. It’s the perfect solution to manage your landscaping needs. Garden pots and planters offer an enormous amount of visual interest in both residential and business spaces. Landscape design ideas are usually hard to come by when you do container gardening.

Read the original article about[http://iotagarden.com.au/garden-pots-design/ gardening and landscaping at iotagarden.com.au]

For Monty Don of the BBC television series Gardeners’ World:

Anything that can be grown in soil can be raised in a container, and as long as it has some drainage and is wider at the top than at the bottom, any vessel that will hold compost and take regular watering can be pressed into service.

Gardening in containers is a convenient way to add splashes of color and natural beauty to your environment. To get you started, here are popular landscape design ideas just for you!

Tip #1 Fill Empty Spaces with Planters
In public buildings, there are often small areas that constantly fill up with trash, even though a trash receptacle is steps away. Why is this so? Because these areas don’t have any purpose. These little spaces are everywhere.

However, designing these spaces with gardening containers tells the public that the space is valuable and contributes to the building’s friendly demeanor.

Whether it’s in a small reception area, or a hospital waiting room, a simple and tidy plant grouping welcomes the visitor and fills the space with a sunny disposition. With a landscape architect’s sensitive eye for detail, a variety of design concepts with planting pots can be implemented.

Hedvig Murray, UK permaculture designer and educator, shares that a great way to fill empty spaces is to map it out first.

Take photos at different times of day to discover how the sun varies across your space. Observing and interacting and can lead to a great outcome.

It would even be a nice surprise to find plants in a public rest room. It might help to alleviate the smell of disinfectant or possibly diminish the overbearing aroma of an air freshener.

Tip #2 Use Planters for the Modern Office
Many companies have chosen to take on a near futuristic look in their office décor. Pots and planters need to be able to fit right in. When using planters to create the modern office, these characteristics should help you choose for that environment.

Geometric Shapes
This rule goes for exterior planters as well as indoor planters. Choosing planters that have unique but simple shapes rooted in geometry can help to advance the image of the modern office.

The idea is to convey a focused, streamlined, and sleek look. By getting a little creative, you can create an interesting and unique design through shape alone. Matt Biggs of Gardeners World UK says “To look right, a pot should be about 1/3 of the height of the tallest plants.”

Colour Scheme
container-gardening-4Most offices have some sort of colour scheme throughout. Usually, it’s mainly white or black with splashes of vibrant colour. It’s up to you whether you want the planter to blend in with the colour scheme, accent it, or make it pop out.

When utilising planters as the bright colour, keep the shape very simple and geometric, without any frills, and keep the plants inside of them plain. Ferns are a good option for bright coloured planters.

Material and Texture
The material of the planter depends entirely upon the office environment to which it belongs. Keep the material either natural in tone, metallic, or sleek.

Many modern offices have wood as a decorative accent. Being able to use those natural properties to the overall design, is a great way to ensure that the planters fit their environment aesthetically.

The modern office is not built for overly embellished appearances, so keeping the material and texture sleek and simple is the best way to go.

When choosing your pot, as a rule it’s better to stick to just one or two different materials. Gardeners’ World UK recommends to take your cue from the style of the surrounding.

Red brick buildings are enhanced by terracotta containers, while a modern plot is the best backdrop for galvanised metal pots.

Tip #3 Arrange Potted Plants
Just because the potted plant is small does not mean that the pot itself can’t be artistic. The arrangement of these pots can be the main attraction. You just have to do the right style of arrangement to create the desired effect.

“An eclectic group of small containers to create a quirky, ever-changing corner. Repetition can be effective, and garden designers will often use three or more identical containers planted with the same plants for maximum impact,” according to Gardeners’ World.

Create and Demarcate Levels
Potted plants can add depth to any room or outdoor area if you create and demarcate levels. Use a few, small potted plants to line the porch railing, adorn the top of your refrigerator, or even use in the place of candles on a wall sconce.

It should not look as though a row of jars or pots were set up; instead, it should be artistic, preferably with plants that flow over the edge and almost hide most of the pot itself.

Utilise Old instruments
Many old instruments can be repurposed as planters. If you have an antique fiddle or an old trumpet, might as well put them to new use. It can add class and charm as well as a unique appearance to the room or outdoor area.

Hang the fiddle on the wall, fill the center, or hollow, part with soil, and insert a small potted plant, guiding the vines and leaves through the strings for artistic effect.

Make Them Your Centerpiece
Granite Tall Taper 12Using potted plants as centerpieces is a great way to add some design and style to the outside or inside of a home.

The dining area should not be overly burdened with large pots and plants that take over the entire table. However, a few, small, well-appointed plants can provide an attractive location for visitors to sit, eat, and chat.

Courtney Olander, a professional Horticulturalist, adds “A pot can be used as a point of interest at the end of a path, at the center of a courtyard or to help spruce up a secret seating nook.”

Don’t Line them Up
When arranging with potted plants, one of the biggest mistakes people make is to line them all up. It’s a recipe for a cluttered appearance and a rather boring aesthetic. Instead, try clustering a few plants here and there in a triangular form.

You can place either two slightly taller ones at the back, or a small one in front, or vice versa. An arrangement that consists of various sizes of pots, types of plants, and location, in other words not in a straight line, will provide the best results.

Tip #4 Set Mood for Outdoor Dining
Outdoor dining is one of the most pleasurable dining experiences one can have. Planters play a large role in this environment as outdoor dining areas frequently utilise planters as design additions.

Australian garden designer, Janna Schreier, shares that:

Different garden types affect our emotions in very different ways. Colour, shape, fragrance, layout, repetition and maintenance all influence the mood of a garden and impact the way we feel as we spend time in them.

If you’re trying to match planters to the outdoor aesthetic of a restaurant, or are creating your own outdoor dining experience at home, the following suggestions can help you create the mood.

Festive and Fun
For a festive and fun outdoor dining area, light coloured, nature-inspired tones are perfect. White, green, and blue are all attractive choices depending on the surrounding colours and themes.

Pine and oak make inviting wood choices for outdoor entertainment, as they are both light and crisp. Think of a cabana, a day at the beach, or a tiki hut. Keep the focus on nature and the daylight aspects of it.

Candlelit Romance
Soft, warm tones such as champagne and sand colours are great for the romantic outdoor setting. The shape of the planters should be elegant, inviting, and smooth. Stucco, clay, and wrought iron materials, are great choices to convey the mood.

Ruth Rogers Clausen, a horticulturist trained in England, suggests filling your planter with shades of pink. Godetia, Verbena ‘Babylon Purple’, and Snapdragon are great options. For a more elegant look, combine a soft pink color scheme and petal-filled flowers of a tree rose.

Mediterranean Bliss
large-planters
Greek and Italian restaurants have exquisite taste when it comes to putting together an outdoor environment. They use taller, water jug-like planters in distressed stone and clay, to compliment this theme.

Whitewashed stone, with ornate designs and symmetrical, detailed pieces will blend beautifully. Try faux paint techniques or go for the distressed look, which creates an elegantly-aged appearance for effect.

If the appearance is that of something found in an ancient relic, you’re on the right track for creating the Mediterranean look.

Tip #5 Make Your Container Garden Stand Out
When you have had enough experience with handling simple container planting arrangements, start aiming for more complex designs. Mix and match colours and textures to create elegant combinations of plants to make your planters stand out.

Consider the following factors to make your garden pots catchy and enjoy being praised by friends and family:

Structure and Height
Plants usually grow broad, trailing or upright. An exotic container garden should be planned with all the three types of plants. Consider the plants’ optimum growth and habits before deciding upon a combination.

Plant a couple of varieties from each category, and your final product will be extremely artistic. Remember the trick ‘thrillers, fillers, spillers’. Thrillers are the stand-out plants. Fillers are used to fill in the container, and spillers are the trailing plants.

BBC Garden writer Martyn Cox shares some tips from her book, Grow Plants in Pots.

Tall and slender plant containers will fit nicely into tight or small spaces. Use upright plants to add height and shorter colorful annuals around the edges to spill over making a skirt around the container.

Conditions for Each Plant
Keeping in mind the ideal conditions for each plant is very important. If you place heat-loving plants in a shady area of your house, their growth will not be optimum, so their effect will not be as you planned it to be.

When you group different varieties in a pot, make sure they thrive in similar conditions. If you end up grouping plants of contrasting nature together, some of them will bloom while others will wilt and die.

“Check the labels. It’s no good planting a shade lover next to a sun worshiper, or adding a plant that overpowers the rest. Put the right plant in the right place,” explains container gardener, Matt Biggs.

Burst of Colours
Make your pots speak volumes about your personal style. Combine bold colours to have an out-of-the-box look for your container garden. Create a stunning looking blend of various shades of a colour or mix colours that complement each other.

Contrasting Textures
Textures of leaves range from waxy to prickly; you can also find some which are nice and shiny as silk or others that are velvety. Bring together your choice of textures to create an amazing look for your pots and planters.

Combine fine and coarse textured leaves and flowers to create an extraordinary blend. Careful selection and arrangement of all these textures can create a dramatic look for your garden pot.

Tip #6 Use Planters to Create a Walkway
Be it a home, a hotel, or a restaurant, no building is complete without a walkway. The walkway is what guides the visitor in, and welcomes them to the building. It provides the impression of what the establishment represents, and the overall atmosphere.

More so, the result isn’t just aesthetic, for it can also benefit the health. Joe Swift, one of many gardening experts in the UK, says “If you put plants very close to the traffic then they have a greater chance of soaking up the pollution and making a significant reduction, perhaps as much as 10 or 20%.”

Using planters to create a walkway or to embellish it is often the perfect choice. Here are different ways to use garden planters as a welcoming way to lead people into home or business.

This technique believes that however you would find plants arranged in nature, is how you should lay out the planter design. Natural materials like clay, stone, rock, and wood are the best options.

Because of their neutral theme, they will blend into the background, allowing the flowers to be the main attraction. However, they will still add to the overall ambiance instead of being a drawback.

Artistic Approach
The artistic approach treats each planter as a work of art, and the planter should reflect this. A balance between overbearing planters and invisible planters must be struck. The aim is to make guests notice the planters and think “how interesting”.

Simple, but unique shapes can provide this look. You can also have a few planters in an accent colour that matches the rest of the building in tone and theme. The layout itself can be artistic as well, or shaped into elaborate patterns with intertwining walkways.

Symmetry and Uniformity
elegant-plantersOne of the most classic and effective ways to create a walkway with planters is to use a uniform design on either side. It’s creating the perfect symmetry. Larger planters are likely the best choice, as several, small planters can become cluttered in many instances.

Round planters are always a good option, particularly if you choose to use larger planters. The round shape is softer and more inviting than harsh, geometrical shapes and corners.

Tip #7 Add Ambiance to the Pool Area
Pools are, in and of themselves, some of the most relaxing places on Earth. Keeping this in mind, the landscape designer looking to add planters to the pool area has to aim for a few main goals.

Container gardening expert, Kerry Michaels, reminds to make sure you know how much sun an area gets before you buy your plants. Poolside landscape designs need plants that will thrive in container gardens in full sun.

With the right container, you can make common, sun-loving plants look spectacular around your pool area. Some of the most popular picks include calibrachoa, verbena, bush violets, cape daisies, pentas, and petunias.

Here are three of the main things a landscape artist must keep in mind when using planters to add ambiance to the pool area.

Safety Comes First
granite-plantersA poolside without plants would be rather boring, but safety is still your top priority. Before choosing planters, survey the pool first.

Is there a diving board? If so, where would someone likely fall after jumping off of the diving board? Where will kids likely be running? Answer these questions and you’ll have a better idea of how to design for the functional aspects of the pool area.

Children run, and adults slip, so anywhere there is a path from one location to another in the pool area, there should not be large, abrasive, sharp objects, planters included.

Cohesive Design
Once you’ve ensured the safety of all pool guests, consider the cohesiveness of that design. If the pool is done entirely in blue tile, for instance, black slate might be an odd choice for material.

Make sure that the material and design of your planter or planters blends in perfectly to the existing aesthetic of the pool area. It’s okay to have the planter stand out in its own right, but it should not stand out as being completely different from everything else.

Aesthetic Effect
Make sure that your choice of planters contributes to the positive and seamless aesthetic of the pool and surrounding area. It has more to do with the pure look of the planters themselves instead of how they fit into the environment.

You could have planters that match the surroundings perfectly, but if they’re oversized for the pool area, it can throw off the aesthetics.

Start your Container Garden Landscape!
Container planting is an amazing creative experience; make it more dramatic by mixing your own style to the conventional ways. There are many ways to use potted plants as decor, and many things that can be repurposed to be pots for those plants.

You can start out with keeping the combinations of colours and textures simple. As you grow in experience you can start adding your signature style to your pots and plants. Look around to find small invitations for design. The results are well worth the effort.