Great Reasons Why Any Serious Gardener Should Make Compost

January 25th, 2012 by admin No comments »

You may pause at the thought of getting your own compost bin because of the perception that it is a dirty and messy endeavor to undertake. This is why a quick trip to the local garden centre is so popular as it’s a no hassle way to go but there are many reasons why it’s a great idea to start your own compost pile.

Anyway to start with, yes there is some work involved but the pros far outweigh the cons in this situation.

One of the most obvious advantages to having a compost bin is that you can fill it with food and garden waste which is only getting thrown away anyway so in effect it’s free. This is in contrast to going out and getting the synthetic equivalents from a garden store. Even if you manage to buy the best homemade organic compost on the market can you imagine just how much it’ll cost if you have to cover a large area.

Another good reason for having your own compost is that it can very often contain many more nutrients and minerals compared with the commercial synthetic made products you can buy. Compost also has a longer life to it which adds to the effectiveness of its use. With that being said it makes perfect sense to put in some effort in making compost. yourself.

What many people don’t realize is that fertilizer is basically a food for plants where as compost is a food for the soil. It’s very good for making the soil more erosion proof while improving the retention of water. I can also help to stop soil sticking together too much which can be a problem for plants.

You may still not be swayed by the benefits so far or making your own compost verses buying a synthetic version but as a gardener you should know that apart from the obvious cost saving and improved nutrients you can also tailor your own compost to suit your exact needs. Different plants thrive best with different types on nutrients so it would be very easy with a little research to find out exactly which combination of waste can produce top quality compost that fit your needs exactly.

You can also account for other variables like the type of soil you have and what weeds and pests tend to popup. The right compost can cure all these ailments and make your life a lot easier.

Other benefits to using compost is that it have proven to reduce the likely hood of diseases which can really plague certain types of plants in specific conditions. Compost is very green in terms of the environment because it’s also great at adding carbon to the soil which over time can help to eradicate the excess carbon dioxide in the air which has been connected with global warming. It is also really good at dropping the PH levels in soil and ridding the toxins left by synthetic chemicals which is the reason why farmers use it so much.

As you can see, compost provides no end of benefits to the soil a gardener uses to grow plants and it really is a must with anything to do with gardening. I’ve also pointed out several reasons for making your own compost with a secure compost bin in the backyard or garden. It’s now up to you as to whether you’re up for the challenge.

By the way it’s pretty easy to make compost but you can always get some advice from a local gardener to give you some pointers. That’s exactly what I did when I went looking online and entered gardner St Albans into the search engine to find a long list of gardener’s websites. I then just went ahead and gave one a call and they were very helpful.

Growing and Using Scented Plants

January 24th, 2012 by admin No comments »

Our sense of smell is probably one of the most important of all our senses for wellbeing. Scents can be very evocative, provoking emotions and memories, but more importantly, they make us feel good. Gardening provides many benefits to our health but one which sometimes gets overlooked is the power of scent in a garden. Growing plants that look beautiful is a joy in itself, but combine that with plants and herbs which are scented and you have something magical.

The importance of scent in a garden has become more popular in recent years with the growing popularity of aromatherapy and more awareness of how gardens can help those who have physical and mental impairments. I know of a garden designer who was recently involved in designing a garden for children whose sight was impaired. Not only were plants and structures which felt different and nice to touch important, but the garden was also filled with fragrant plants to stimulate their sense of smell and so enhance their experience of what was around them.

The aromatherapy herb garden

Many of the essential oils used in aromatherapy are derived from herbs which have been used for their fragrant healing properties since ancient times. Although you may not want to create your own oils from the plants you grow, you can make a herb garden that is filled with those aromas that help us in our everyday lives, as well as being useful in other ways such as for cooking and making an attractive garden. Herbs you might like to use in an aromatherapy garden which have the properties of an essential oil include sweet basil, whose oil promotes concentration, Roman chamomile well known for its relaxing properties, lemon balm which is an anti-depressant, sweet marjoram whose fragrance has a calming effect, bergamot or bee balm which has an uplifting scent, rosemary whose smell is invigorating, and of course, lavender whose scent is not only wonderful on a warm evening, but has a soothing effect on all our senses. Many of these herbs also have culinary uses, particularly the rosemary, marjoram and basil. The effects of chamomile can also be enjoyed by making it into a tea, as can those of lemon balm.

A perfumed border

Herbaceous borders are the perfect place in the garden to combine both beauty and fragrance. A border filled with scented plants will fill a summer evening with evocative fragrance and will fill your senses when particular plants are brushed by. Some plants you might like to consider include achillea or yarrow. This plant comes in a variety of colours from bright yellow to soft pinks and peach. It has a fresh, sweet herb-like scent and is known for its revitalising properties. Angelica not only makes a great architectural statement in a border, but also has a rich, earthy and spicy scent. Calendula or marigolds are a lovely bright flash of orange and have a sharp, herby aroma. Made into a cream it is used to treat a number of skin complaints. It will also keep pests such as greenfly away from other plants. Carnations and pinks have an exotic floral fragrance and are used for their uplifting properties. Gardenia is a beautiful plant with a heady, slightly spicy scent and is said to be an aphrodisiac. Rose geranium has the most gorgeous rose, floral aroma and is known for its balancing, harmonising effects. There are many more plants you could choose for your border such as honeysuckle, common jasmine, and lavender. But probably the plant with the most varied but always uplifting array of scents is the rose. Old roses are still bred today and there are a huge variety of colours and fragrances to suit all tastes, from sweet, delicate floral scents, to rich exotic and spicy. The scent of roses is uplifting, warming and euphoric which makes them a must for any truly scented garden.

Fragrant container plants

Whether you have a conservatory or want to grow scented plants outside in garden planters, there is a large variety to choose from. Balm of Gilead is a particular favourite of mine. Treat it as an annual, so it is best grown in a container. The flowers are small, pink and a little insignificant but the scent is heady and eucalyptus-like. Sweet peas are a classic to grow in a planter, whether on your vegetable patch, patio or in the middle of a border. Their sweet scent is fresh and reviving. The common primrose is an early reminder of spring with its sweet mossy scent and looks great when combined with other early flowering plants. Statuesque and fragrant lilies are probably the most versatile of container plants and their corms can be lifted and stored for following years. Many herbs can also be happily grown in containers. Move pots of lavender around to catch the warmth of the sun and release that wonderful, familiar scent. In a conservatory grow orchids and sweet, spicy scented citrus trees.

The list of fragrant plants is really endless. So when you are next planning a change to a border or wondering what to plant in an unusual container, consider the scent of a plant just as importantly as its appearance.

Garden Planters source unusual outdoor and indoor planters, and other garden related gifts – whatever your taste, be it traditional, modern or just a bit quirky, we will have something for you. Run by two qualified and creative gardeners, Garden Planters will also plant up your chosen planter with an arrangement of your choice. We believe garden planters are an integral part of any garden – they enhance the overall design and say a little something about the person to whom the garden belongs.