Plant enthusiasts living in city areas find it hard to look for a space for their garden – but that was before! Today, window box container gardening offers a great solution for this dilemma.  Most apartment landlords are permitting their tenants to showcase their gardening skills by installing window boxes. Window container boxes are the best option for a limited-space-environment garden setup.

Get to Know Window Boxes Garden

Window boxes are narrow soiled boxes made from wood or steel attached to the window. Owners can directly plant their perennials or chosen vegetable seedling just like planting in a typical garden bed. Window box garden can add beauty and appeal to one’s simple abode. Also, it is easy to maintain unlike any other outdoor garden.

Window Box Size and Style

Since these window boxes are considered as the garden beds, it is important that its size is appropriate for the foliage to grow healthy. Usually, the box size is almost the same as the window where it is installed. Some of the window box styles are as follows:

• Hardwood window boxes – one of the most common style is hardwood window boxes because they easily blend in with any window, easy to paint and maintain.
• Terracotta window boxes – this is a modern window box style, usually attached with trays for good drainage system.
• Plastic window boxes – this type of window boxes seems to be increasing in demand because it is sturdy, light weight and retains moisture which is important for plants growth.

Right Choice of Plants

Unlike in garden beds, plants in window boxes have limited area and not all foliage is capable of growing in this kind of environment. In making window box container garden, appropriate species is vital to ensure that it will grow healthy.

• Annual flower plants – proper combination of short, medium and flowering plants need to work together for harmony and texture variation. Great examples are pansies, petunias, impatiens and bonfire begonia.
• Perennial plants – this type of plants usually grow longer and need less maintenance compared to the annuals. Some perennial foliage includes bells, English ivy, lobelia and sweet asylum.
• Vegetables – window boxes are perfect as well for vegetables. Usually, it is placed near kitchen windows for household consumption. Examples are radish, lettuces, dwarf carrots and spinach.
• Herbs – it is also possible to grow herbs in window boxes. These herbs include chervil, oregano, basil, tarragon, chives and mint.

Proper Placement of the Window Box

It is necessary that window boxes are placed appropriately to receive direct sunlight. Plants need enough sun exposure to grow healthy, though there are species that grow in partly shaded areas. In addition, some window boxes are rain protected, so it is better that these plants are well-watered.

Soil and Compost

This is another factor that you must give importance. Since the area is limited, these plants need fertile soil to grow properly. Organic fertilizers are advisable as this will ensure that your foliage will get enough needed nutrients – twice a month will do. Since window boxes are hanged, it is advisable to check if soil is not washed out when watered.

Attention for Window Boxes

Since these window boxes are placed outdoors, they are susceptible to the punishment of outside elements. It is important that they are well taken care of to maintain its longevity and appeal. These window boxes usually receive attention from passersby for their beauty can make a difference.

So, if you are planning to create your own window box container garden, always consider the tips mentioned above. For plant lovers, there is always a solution to create a lovely garden. You should never let the place in which you are staying hinder you from doing what you love.

Organic is trendy. It is important to use organic materials in all our ways. In gardening, organic fertilizer is the best option – free, practical and earth-friendly. Actually, for gardening life to be simple and easy, buying ready-made fertilizer is a good choice.

However, organic waste compost really has more advantages and plants are sure to flourish.

This article will mainly discuss how to create your own organic compost at home. The entire process is fascinating, and once you’ll get the hang of it you will be interested to keep doing it all over again.

Good Composting Waste Materials

The process behind composting is through nature. The secret behind composting is the good mixture of ingredients. Any biodegradable material when left alone will surely decompose on its own but with the right mixture, once moisten and aerated the process will happen faster.

• Brown Materials – to create a good mixture, brown materials are important. These include shredded cardboard, paper cartons, branches, clippings, twigs, leaves and newspapers.
• Green Materials – another element needed for the mixture are the green materials. Examples of which are manure, egg shells, rotten fruits, plants, flowers and vegetable wastes.
• Water – for the process to happen, it has to be moist. Ensure that the pile won’t dry up – the water should be enough but not too much to create sticky wastes.
• Activators – this is usually added to the mixture for the process to speed up also to add more nutrients to the compost. Previous compost or chicken manures are considered as activators. However, if you don’t have one ready, dog and cat foods are good activators as well.
• Active Organic Matter – dark crawlers or earthworms are perfect examples of this.

Learn the Proper Way of Mixing

For starters, learning is quite tough and sometimes you may feel frustrated while learning the entire process. But you have to remember that nature’s way of decomposition may take some time. Do your homework, research and read.

Hot or Cold Compost

People that manage their compost pile well are producing hot compost, it cooks as the pile decompose. It doesn’t matter how small or large your compost pile is, as long as the mixture is well-balanced, you will produce good result.

Turning is Optional

Some books will suggest that turning the heap regularly will spread the oxygen evenly, producing good compost. For bigger piles this might be true, but actually as long as the pile is kept moist it will just aerate as it shrinks. Better reason for piles to be turned is checking if materials are moisten enough and as the materials become sensitive, turning them will help crushed to full maturity.

Composting Indoors

It is possible to perform composting indoors through captive earthworms. The process is called vermicomposting. Vermicomposting containers can be kept indoors for easy decomposition of papers and food scraps. This is not messy, composting is actually hassle-free.

During harvest time, get handfuls of material from the bottom of the container. Place the compost in a cone-shaped bucket and place it in a bright area. Two hours later, worms will go down the cone bucket. Scoop the 2/3 of the material and make sure to return the worms for future use.

Composting Livestock Manure

When using this material, make sure that you are one hundred percent sure that it is safe. Be cautious because at some point animal manure contains E.coli bacteria. However, these bacteria are eliminated by microorganisms present in the compost. It is always safe to check if all materials are properly decomposed to inhibit spreading of diseases.

At home, there are lots of wastes that can be recycled and can be used as part of the compost mixture. Be aware and be practical.

Many people may have engaged to traditional gardening because it enhances your backyard in numerous ways and you can relax while enjoying the sight of your beautiful landscape. However, it needs a lot of work, time and money.

You need to fertilize a wide area of soil in order to make it healthy to support plant life. You need to check each plant regularly for plant diseases or pests, and you need to keep the weeds away.

In order to have a healthy and productive garden, you need to do a lot of work here and there, however with a patio garden; you can have a beautiful garden without having to spend all your day tending to your garden.

You can make use of flowering plants, greenness, small trees and ornamental plants in order to achieve the patio garden you want. You still have to use techniques and tools in gardening to make your patio garden, but this time in a smaller scale.

Plants in containers or garden pots are a common trend for many homeowners because they are convenient and you can easily relocate them. The right placement of the plants and enough water supplied to your plants can make your greenness blossom even in an enclosed area.

Benefits of Patio Garden

Here are several reasons why you should choose patio garden:

• It is inexpensive. Patio garden is a great investment and you can also save money.
• It requires little maintenance. Unlike the traditional garden, patio garden is not exposed to bare ground where parasites and pests lurk. You can protect it from diseases and it needs a little of your time. It can grow healthy without competition. Taking care of this type of garden is not time-consuming.
• It brings you closer to your garden. You don’t have to walk around your vast garden checking on each plant, watering and pulling out the weeds. In just a few steps, you have your patio garden so you don’t have to spend so much time under the heat of the sun.
• No plants will be drowned. If you do not have a proper drainage system, the water accumulates in your garden, drowning your plants after a heavy rain. This is one big dilemma for gardeners, especially during the rainy season. However with patio garden, excess water is not a problem. You can easily have a drainage system by creating holes at the bottom of your pot or container.
• You can grow different kinds of plants. Even in an enclosed area, you have unlimited choice of plants you can have in your patio garden.

Plant Selections

One advantage of patio garden is you can easily move your plants to another area. However, you might consider maintaining its position but it all depends on your preference. You can consider ornamental plants for your garden since they are functional and aesthetic at the same time.

If you are confused if you should use perennials or annuals, then you might want to consider the temperature in your area and the condition these flowering plants need. Do you also want to consider having trees and shrubs? Trees and shrubs are good selection for your garden but make sure to choose ones that can survive in pots since these types of greenness prefer the wide areas.

More about Patio Garden

By making dramatic changes to your patio using your plants, you can easily have a space at your home where you can relax and unwind. If you are living in an urban area, you can make use of your balcony or rooftop. Whether you live in an urban or rural area, it is very essential that you make sure that you plants receive their necessities – sunlight, water, soil and fertilizer.

One great thing about patio garden is you can choose from any design. You can ask the help of a pro or your can do it yourself with some tips you can find online.

You must consider the area and the surroundings if you are planning your patio garden design. Also take note of the safety of the uneven edges that may harm your children and visitors.

Patio garden is definitely a great choice especially if you have limited space and time. By having this small garden, you can have a green sanctuary of your own where you can escape when everything just seems too much to handle for you.

When deciding to create your own garden, it is important that you know what tools to use and what things to prepare before starting up. Right set of garden tools will make your garden experience easy, fun and rewarding. There are several tools that every gardener should have to be able to accomplish a garden of his own. If you have some working buddies with you, that would mean easier tasks to accomplish but if you are working on your own, then here are some tips to follow.

Get Ready With the Supplies

Starting is never easy, but once you begin with the project everything will follow smoothly. You need to prepare all the needed tools so you won’t go back and forth inside the house looking for that missing piece.

• Garden Fork and Steel Rake – These two are perfect combination to clean up the garden beds and to filter out unnecessary compacted rocks. You have to be careful when using these tools because the handles tend to break easily if you put too much pressure on them.

• Spade and Shovel – These tools are must-have when starting. These are usually used to dig and pick up loose material.

• Trowel – This hand tool is designed to dig holes, mix soils and easy transplanting. It is available in different sizes depending on the gardener’s need. So keep one that is comfortable in your hands.

• Garden Gloves – A good set of quality garden gloves is essential to ensure that your hands won’t get hurt from sticks, sharp stones, cuttings and thorns. There are varieties of gloves available to choose from, so it depends which one fits you.

• Stirrup Hoe – This is the perfect tool in tilling the soil and the easiest one to use in weeding the garden.

• Garden Pruners and Shears – There are actually different sizes and styles of pruners and shears. Gardeners collect them for easy cutting of shrubs, flowers and foliage.

• Kneeling Pads and Garden Kneeler – This tool may not be as important as the others but can help in doing gardening tasks a lot easier. This is to protect the knees as gloves protect the hands. This is used to make planting and weeding easier and it comes in different styles to provide comfort to the user.

Plan, Plan, Plan!

Before starting your garden, a concrete plan is important to give you a guide on what plants to use, what will be the division and where to plant them. A simple graph on a paper will do as long as it serves its purpose. A plan will also help you save time and money.

Choose the Right Seedlings

If you decided on creating a vegetable garden, you will feel the reward of your labor if you prefer to plant easy to grow vegetables. Consider a seedling that grows in any type of weather so you won’t have a hard time maintaining them. But if you choose to plant flowers, take time to grow them as they are more sensitive and susceptible to various plant diseases.

Ask and You Will Be Answered

Do not hesitate to ask farmers if there are some questions that boggle your mind. Read books, visit helpful websites and subscribe to gardening magazines to help you out in this task. Also, if you have time to visit a nursery, go and check one out since they always have the right plants for everyone.

Making your own garden can be a no-sweat job as long as you have the right tools and ideas. Do not be disheartened if some of your plants do not grow the way they should, you’ll learn and become a better gardener along the way.