Yard-Supplies - Pool and Patio - Garden and Yard
Pool and Patio - Garden and Yard Supplies:
Gardening by definition is the cultivation of plants. Gardening has become increasingly popular since the late 1940 s. Gardening is a hobby for millions of people in the United States. Improving the outdoor and indoor environment of a persons home is the main reason for this increasing popularity. A home garden can be as simple as a pot with a few plants or small plot of ground with flowers or vegetable growing in the area. At the other end of the spectrum are large decorative gardens with fountains, pools, garden art, pathways with benches or gazeboes. People grow gardens for many reasons. Among these are growing ornamental plants or flowers for home beautification. Another is for vegetables, fruits and herbs because they are usually cheaper, fresher and tastier than the mass produced items. Gardening is also a great source of exercise, relaxation and the satisfaction of being close to mother nature. Gardening information is available to help successfully grow plants from many sources. The Federal Governments gardening advise web link http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome and your State Governments offer free or inexpensive booklets and internet sights on all aspects of gardening for the amateur gardener. Companies that produce and sell seed, plants, and garden store suppliers also provide free literature on garden design and how to use their products. Many radio and TV stations feature gardening programs. Newspapers, books, a fine gardening magazine, a garden catalog or an internet garden web forum have a growing number of articles to help gardeners. When gathering information you must be aware that national or general information can be correct for a particular location but totally wrong for your garden location. You must be aware that your soil, land slope, shaded areas or if fencing is used, all effect the kinds of plants that will do well for your garden. Nationally the Gardening Zones in the United States can be divided into four sections. Divide the United States at the 100th meridian, from the Dakota s in the North to Texas in the South. Then divide the United States again at the 37th parallel East to West, roughly the Mason Dixon Line or at the southern boundary of Kansas adjacent to Oklahoma. There are North and South Desert lands and North to South humid areas in these divisions. Even this division is much too general for any gardening decisions. The most important lesson for a gardener is to understand that all gardens are different. The best information a gardener can obtain is through local experts who are familiar with the local problems. Most area (County or Parish) have Agriculture Agents. They are part of the Extension Service, a part of the State Agricultural College and the United States Department of Agriculture. These Agents can give you the best help or direct you to other helpful local sources. In many large urban areas the Extension Service and the area (County or Parish) agents have trained a group of interested people as Master Gardeners . These Master Gardeners are volunteers who work out of their own experience and the goodness of their hearts. They supplement the work of the Extension Service and the area (County or Parish) Agents. Master Gardeners are a great source for information in establishing vegetable gardens, flower gardens, landscaping, garden design and many other topics related to gardening. For more established gardens they can help with soils and soil amendments. Also with plant varieties, insects, diseases, watering, fertilizer and many other garden problems as they arise. A Horticulturist or any knowledgeable gardener who gardens in your local area can provide mush better help than some person 100 to 200 miles away. Local problems are usually well known to local gardeners or local gardening consultants.index - Page 1 index - Page 2 index - Page 3 index - Page 4 index - Page 5 index - Page 6 index - Page 7 index - Page 8 index - Page 9 index - Page 10 index - Page 11 index - Page 12 index - Page 13 index - Page 14 index - Page 15 index - Page 16 index - Page 17 index - Page 18 index - Page 19 index - Page 20 index - Page 21 index - Page 22 index - Page 23 index - Page 24