The Content Composer Org

How Oxygen Keeps Your Plants Thriving!

Oxygen is used in large quantities by plants. If you were to analyse a dried plant you would find that about 45% consisted of Oxygen atoms. Just like humans, plants need fresh air and their cells use Oxygen in the same kind of quantities that ours do. In air conditions with a low concentration of Oxygen, or where the air is poor, plants do not thrive. Those that do manage to eke out an existence remain poor stunted specimens.

The leaves of a plant have easy access to Oxygen. They make it as a natural bi-product of the process of producing plant sugars
and breathe it out as waste during the process of photosynthesis.

The roots of the plant do not have the same amount of Oxygen available to them. They have to work a lot harder to find enough for their needs. Insufficient Oxygen at the roots will reduce the plants root respiration and result in the shutting down of photosynthesis.

A plant’s growth and its yield are governed by the size and health of its root system. It can only grow to its full potential if the roots have enough Oxygen for their needs. In plants grown hydroponically this essential ingredient is supplied dissolved in the nutrient solution.

Dissolved Oxygen in the nutrient solution can be measured by a DO meter. These are available from all good hydroponics equipment suppliers.

The amount of Oxygen dissolved in the solution will vary depending on both temperature and pressure. The warmer the water the lower the gaseous content will be. Really cold fresh water has a DO reading of up to 14 ppm or 14mg/litre, while water at 30 degrees centigrade can only hold about 5ppm or 5 mg/l DO.

This DO only amounts to a very small percentage of the roots needs. All water culture systems have to utilise some other form of oxygenation for the roots as well as DO in the nutrient. Root systems that have insufficient Oxygen available will soon turn brown and become very sick.

We aerate the nutrient in our systems in order to get the best saturation that we can, (from 5ppm to 8ppm) but the main function of this aeration is to kill off the anaerobic bacteria around the roots. Anaerobic bacteria are pathogens that cannot survive in an oxygenated environment; (Anaerobic meaning without air).

Because the dissolved Oxygen in the nutrient can only supply about 1% of the roots requirements, the balance must be made up by breathing air. This air is trapped within the soil in conventional gardening and in the growing medium in normal hydroponics systems. This Oxygen search uses up energy that the plant could better use to produce root growth.

The only type of system where this does not happen is the aeroponics system. The aerated water being sprayed directly onto the roots, allows the plant to take in free Oxygen from the surrounding air, while still keeping the roots moist and supplied with nutrient.

One of the functions of Oxygen is to facilitate the exchange of nutrients and gasses between the plant roots and the surrounding solution. It does this by changing the electrical charges within the water, so allowing the roots to absorb the available nutrients with the least expenditure of energy. For this reason, if no other, the roots need all the Oxygen they can get.

Copyright (C) 2004, 2005, 2006.

J R Haughton.

— All Rights Reserved —

A partner in a thriving retail hydroponics supply business,
Rickie Haughton is the owner of hydroponics-gardening-information.com which aims to cater for all levels of expertise in the field of hydroponics gardening. The website is packed with good content about all aspects off hydroponics gardening and offers a free hydroponics Club membership to all subscribers.

Winter has an effect not only pot plants outdoors, but also indoors. Find out what are the key factors that affect your plants in winter and what you can do to help
them stay healthy at this time of the year.

1. LIGHT is the very first element to consider. In winter, when the light is not so strong, you can place your plants closer to the windows, and rotate them regularly so all the leaves receive enough light.

Choose the most appropriate location taking into account the following window orientations:

-North: it doesn’t receive direct sunlight, but it is a good source of light for your plants. Most convenient in summer.

-South: it receives the most sunlight. Very convenient in winter.

-East: it allows early sunlight, which is very important for an excellent growing of your plants.

-West: it receives much sunlight, but its convenience depends on the amount of light the plant can receive.

2. TEMPERATURE is another key factor to consider because in winter we increase the temperature of the room via heaters, fireplaces and other heating devices. Plants suffer many times because of this, and we do not realize.

When the temperature of the room increases, the water of your plants evaporates quickly, and so it may be necessary to increase the amount of water they receive. As always, the exact amount of water will depend on the type of plant you have.

A solution to this is to place containers with water close to the plants. The leaves will absorb the water by transpiration, in a natural way.

And a quick reminder: although plants show beautifully when displayed on mantelpieces, remember to remove them before starting a fire, as the excess of heat could kill them.

3. WATERING your plants in winter is important for the reason told above. To water your plants properly, do so with abundant water fewer times, rather than with less water and very often.

The reason for this is because the water needs to reach all the roots of the plant, including the deepest ones. When you use abundant water, the plant does not need more water for a while, so you can space the watering.

If not watered properly, the plant may die, even though the surface of the soil may appear wet.

4. VENTILATION is a key factor since some indoor plants need air moving around them occasionally, so their stems and leaves can gain in strength.

Although they do not need a continuous flow of air, the truth is that they get exactly what they need under “friendly” weather conditions, that is early autumn, spring or summer, when we naturally open doors and windows and allow breeze to flow.

But in winter we keep windows closed for longer periods of time, therefore preventing air flows. Again you should ensure that your specific plant is receptive to air flows (not all indoor plants are).

5. Some plants may undergo a period of HIBERNATION during winter. Hibernation is just a natural mechanism of the plants to protect themselves of adverse weather conditions.

During this “sleeping period” the plant may stop growing or even appear weak and loose their leaves. Consequently, the owner believes (wrongly) that the plant is dying or dead and ends up throwing it away.

The thing is, while plants hibernate, they don’t need so much water nor fertilizer. If you doubt whether your plant is hibernating or actually dead, just leave it where it is and water it occasionally, and you might just see it alive again in spring.

Cristina Diaz Garcia is the Author and Founder of the “Beautiful Gardens Email Club”. Visit her page for an useful Pot Gardening free report at http://www.soapystuff.com/free-garden-reports.html

Do you remember when your child lost their first tooth? You probably took a picture to preserve the memory. You get a warm feeling just thinking about that cute smile. Hey, why not take a look at that photo right now?

What’s that? You can’t because you don’t know which box of photos you stored the picture in? That warm fuzzy feeling has quickly turned to frustration because you know that memorable smile is lost, buried in some drawer or box somewhere, possibly lost forever.

That scenario used to be the story of my life. That is until I decided to stop losing memories and start cherishing them with a scrapbook. What better way to relive memories– page by page, memory by memory.

Okay, I know what you’re saying; “I don’t have time for scrapbooking, that’s only for crafty people.” I know that’s what I used to say. Then I discovered some simple tips to make scrapbooking easy and yet still professional looking.

Basically, all you need to scrapbook is an album, some glue, a pair of scissors, and some photographs or newspaper clippings.

Any fabric, ribbon, or bits of leftovers from other projects can be used to embellish your scrapbook.

If you’re too busy to get those materials, you can even buy complete kits that include not only the album but also the background paper for your project. Some kits will even include embellishments like beads, flowers, feathers, and even paste on letters. Get one or more of these kits and you can create a beautiful keepsake in just a just a couple of hours.

Once you have you scrapbooking materials together, it’s time to pull out your photos. While going through your photos you’re going to start thinking about a “theme” for your scrapbook page.

Creating a theme is important if you want your scrapbook to look professional. It’ll also make the process of sorting through photos easier and that’s the effect we’re after; fast, easy and professional looking.

To create your theme, think about these questions;

- what is the overall purpose for my scrapbook? – Who is the scrapbook for? – Who is the scrapbook about?

Once you have your answers -you have the appropriate subject of your theme!

Now that you have your scrapbook theme, it’s time to start planning your pages. Another tip I found that made this process easy is planning a “Title” for my pages.

Titles can be as basic as the date of an event, the name of an individual, or a specific event. Or they can also be more interesting and exciting by including quotes, sayings, fillers, or simple phrases. Some great places to look for title inspiration; in greeting cards, advertisements, and commercials.

That’s it! You now have the basics to start creating great looking scrapbooks. I wish I had known it was so easy; my family photos have spent nearly all their memorable lives hidden in drawers until I discovered these simple tips.

So what are you waiting for?

Now that you know these simple tips, you can save and cherish memories forever in a professional looking scrapbook, in very little time. And believe me, your friends and family will say “wow” when they come over to take a look. Become an easy scrapbook maker today!

Did you know that you can still grow your own beautiful
flowers and vegetables, without having to spend many hours
every week looking after your garden?

One of the biggest problems many gardeners face is never
having enough time to maintain their garden. There’s always
weeds to remove, insects and other pests to take care of,
and steps to take to prevent plants becoming diseased. Even
watering the garden each day can be very time consuming,
unless there’s an automatic sprinkler system in place.

If you want a garden but only have limited time to look
after it, hydroponics is a great option. Hydroponics
gardening has many time-saving advantages over conventional
gardening methods.

Some of these advantages are:

1. No weeding required.

With hydroponics gardening, the plants are grown in a
solution of nutrients dissolved in water instead of soil.
You don’t have to worry about weeds sprouting amongst your
plants, because soil isn’t used.

2. Fewer problems with pests and diseases.

When growing hydroponically, you have less of the typical
problems with pests such as slugs, snails and caterpillars
attacking your plants.

Although the nutrient solution of your hydroponic garden
will have to be changed regularly, this only takes a
fraction of the time compared to conventional gardening
maintenance – eg. greenhouse gardening, where soil has to be
replaced between crops to prevent disease.

3. You don’t need to spend time watering your plants.

Plants grown in a hydroponic garden have an unlimited supply
of water. You never need to be concerned that your plants
are getting too much or too little water.

4. Say goodbye to digging your garden.

Preparation of a conventional garden involves loosening the
soil to add oxygen for the plant’s roots to extract. Once again, as soil isn’t used with hydroponics, this means
one less time consuming job for you to do.

Plants grown hydroponically extract oxygen from the nutrient
solution via their roots. The oxygen can quite quickly be used
up, so it’s important that it’s replaced. The way
it’s replaced depends on which system is used. The most
common hydroponic system is the passive system, which uses
an aquarium bubbler to put oxygen back into the solution.

Plants can be grown rapidly without all the concerns of
regular gardening. Although a hydroponics system can take
some time to set up, you’ll find it’s well worth the
effort.

For more information on hydroponics gardening visit: http://www.ultimate-hydroponics.info

Article by Stephen Provis, who has an interest in plants and home gardening.

Think about garden and patio decorations just as you would if you were designing a room in your home. We always hear of interior decorating, so now think about exterior decorating! A well-decorated patio can have sitting areas, dining areas, and center pieces. Because you’re outdoors, garden and patio decorations let you become creative in really fun ways.

The garden decor you select will give your outdoor “rooms” style and character… so go with what appeals to you. Are you formal and elegant, or informal and casual? Whatever approach you take, keep in mind that too many garden and patio decorations will give you a crowded look. Plants and flowers should play just as big a role in your decor as structures and furnishings… let them compliment each other.

Visualize Key Furnishings

First, envision your patio, deck or garden area. Plan out a few different layouts for the main, larger decor items that will need to fit within your space. These would be chairs, benches, tables, and grilling or cooking stations. If you work at home, you can even design an outdoor “work station” for your laptop and office work.

Weather-proofed wicker, wrought iron, cedar, or teak garden furniture are excellent choices for patio and garden furnishings. Functionality is important, but go for comfort and style, too!

There are some great designs in outdoor patio furniture, guaranteed to fit your personal style. Make sure what you buy is very durable and weatherproof, since your furniture will be exposed to sun, wind and rain. Be patient and shop for the most attractive furniture that meets these standards and you’ll save money in the end.

Outdoor Lighting Sets the Mood

Once you identify your main furniture pieces, add even more atmosphere to your garden and patio with outdoor lighting. Lighting arrangements can change the entire feel of your outdoor area. You can go for festive, subdued, ornamental, warm, or bright!

Outdoor patio lights are made to endure all the elements, and feature insulated and weather-resistant components. There are quite a few styles you can choose from. The possibilities include freestanding lamps, table lamps, shaded and globe lamps, lanterns, umbrella lights, BBQ lights, string lights, and ground lights. Shop around for what appeals to you, as well as what’s practical for your purpose.

Choose Your Accents

There are no rules to garden and patio decorations… and lots of choices! Here are some great accents that will add life and charm to any yard:

Garden Benches: Have you ever noticed a rustic bench placed “just right” in a garden? It’s a very inviting sight. It doesn’t need to be fancy… just a spot to sit down and relax.

Decorative Planters: To create a pleasing focal point, set out a few planters filled with beautiful flowers in different areas of your garden. You can move them around, and replant them with different flowers as the season goes by. These are perfect for the patio, too.

Don’t forget, an old container you have lying around can easily be tuned into a planter – perhaps an old watering can or a pickle barrel. All they need is some form of drainage. Try one or two planters and see the difference they make!

Garden Fountains: Fountains add a great deal of atmosphere to any garden setting. The varieties range from grand fountains made of stone or bronze, to modest and charming garden fountain kits. Garden fountains have such a pleasant, tranquil sound that their beautiful effect is immediate and captivating.

Garden Sculptures: Garden statuary is usually made of bronze, marble, stone, wood, or resin. Choose themes from cherubs and saints to deer, rabbits and frogs. Garden sculptures can really develop your garden theme, and are great fun to design with! Tuck them into a corner, or display them openly as a main focal point.

Sundials: This ancient device has brought beauty and charm to thousands of gardens. Sundials are terrific accent pieces and come in different designs, such as tabletop and pedestal. Some sundials double as birdbaths!

Garden and patio decorations can be as elaborate or quaint as you wish. Simply keep in mind it’s just like fixing up a room in your home – when you like what you see, you’ve added your own personal signature to your outdoor living place!

Copyright 2006 Robert Mosse

Robert Mosse is a gardening and lawn care specialist and author of the “Easy” Lawn and Gardening Book Series. Visit Robert at Lawn And Gardening Tips for great gardening info… and get the free Guide for 101 Gardening Tips.

Have you ever walked by someone’s front garden and thought – what were they thinking? The mixture and variety of plants seems to make no sense and are placed haphazardly all over the place. Although you most definitely need to choose a variety of plant types and colors for your own garden layout, how do you know when you’ve gone too far? How do you keep your garden design focused, yet interesting at the same time?

Create a Theme

Before you even place a plant in the ground you should decide on a theme. Take a good look at your home style and your planting terrain, while also keeping in mind the climate in your area. A tropical theme may be something you greatly desire, but if you live in a very dry, arid climate, that’s going to be a tough garden to maintain.

Choose a Color Scheme

Once you decide on a general theme for your garden, you should think about color preferences. Although there is no hard and fast rule as to mixing plant colors, you will certainly want to avoid planting anything that clashes (much like if you were decorating a room). Hot climates are suitable for bold, strong colors, whereas a cool climate will tend to lean toward more muted, serene colors. Pastel colors will bring a restful feeling to your garden.

Choose Contrasting Plants

Keep texture in mind when choosing plants. Texture provides visual interest and appeal. Look at various leaf colors, shapes and sizes. A few things to look for are plants that have soft, feathery leaves, while some are spiky. There are plants that grow small, leathery leaves while others produce large glossy leaves. And of course, there are many plants that have colored leaves – usually in the purple, deep red or yellow ranges. It’s not just the flowers that you should be focusing on, but also the texture and variety of leaves that will also add appeal to your garden.

Pick Different Plant Types

Don’t just plant flowers. While you want to maintain the overall harmony of your garden, you should still include a variety of plant types such as small trees, evergreens, shrubs, ground covers, spring bulbs, perennials and annuals – perhaps even some climbing vines. The spring bulbs will start your garden blooming early, while annuals will add color until your perennials begin to bloom.

Stick With Plants That Require The Same Maintenance and Care

Nothing can be more of a hassle than trying to grow healthy plants that have different plant care requirements within the same area. For example, don’t plant something that requires a lot of sun and water with other plants that are drought-tolerant and only need partial sun. You would be surprised at how many people do this without thinking. Then they either over-water the plants that require minimal water… or they don’t water often enough for thirsty plants. In either case, one type or the other will eventually wither and die.

Hopefully the above suggestions will help those who aren’t quite sure how to go about planning their garden area and picking out suitable plants. Be sure to read the plant care labels carefully so that you can choose plants that suit each other for easy care. Take the time to look over gardening books and websites that have pictures of gardens to get a better idea on how you can coordinate your garden so that it looks wonderful too. Happy planting!

Practical survival skills should be fifty percent of what we study in school! Languishing twelve to sixteen years in the bowels of our education system should not leave American citizens unprepared to cope with perpetually running toilets. A burned out taillight should not knock our world off its axis. This chasm of neglected wisdom is not simply filled with the obvious auto and home maintenance issues. All the little stupidities reflect on our society.

Years ago, I was sitting in an I-5 traffic jam with my sister, August. Innocently I remarket, “I hate trying to tune in that radio station while I’m driving.” Without provocation August reached down and yanked the unsuspecting radio button straight out of its place. Metallic skeletal parts were revealed. Grey whales migrating off the coast heard my gasp. Then, get this; she shoved the hapless button back in – all the way! Even if the traffic had been moving, I was in no condition to drive.

This blatant assault on my automotive electronics was uncalled for. Worse was learning at age 28, I was the only person in America uninformed as to how radios were set. My thoughts, if you can call them that, seem silly now. I believed pushing the buttons placed the dial in the vicinity of various stations. Only lucky drivers and folks who listened to Christian music had buttons that coincidently landed on the exact preferred position. This knowledge graced me just before digital. Lord, how I hate tuning in digital.

All society has an obligation to pick up where floundering education systems go astray. Teach children the little things. Change vacuum belts as a family. Award prizes to offspring who can find the level of power steering fluid and above all else, instill in them the skill to read a ballot.

In keeping with a heartfelt desire to better Planet Earth, I’d like to pass along ten things nobody ever told me about lawn mowing, the country way. When I moved to the hinterland I was naive to the tribulations of rural landscaping. My massive country lawn looked innocent enough. Then the escrow closed. The following was learned via trial and error – mostly error.

One: Always carry wire cutters when mowing – While the majority of rusty old wire shot through your leg can be extracted with a few good tugs, a surprisingly large proportion entwine around ankle bones in a manner no physician or physicist can explain. With a handy set of wire cutters excess can be trimmed. Overage tends to snag on the gas pedal when diving to the Emergency Room.

Two: Recycle -Be sure to have the hospital staff return wires once they rinse your Achilles Tendon away. You can reuse it (the wire or the tendon) for fencing projects. No doubt this convenience was the reasoning behind 130 years of country landowners discarding litter in what otherwise would appear to be a careless manner.

Three: Remember the Choke – When the mower keeps coughing and sputtering to a stop, or any other time you want to choke the dam thing, push this lever. It does nothing. To get the sadistic contraption running you’ll need gasoline.

Four: Beware Safety Features – Modern mowers posses a handle lever that shuts mowers down every time the operator looks to the left. This quadruples the number of pull starts needed. The American Academia of Carpal Tunnel Physicians sponsors safety levers. Mowers also come with what is called a Plastic Do-Hickie. A Do-Hickie’s only function is to display a sticker reminding people not to shove their hands or feet inside a running lawn mower. Gardeners only do this to remove grass clogs. Ironically Do-Hickies cause 99.96% of grass clogs.

Five: Stay Hydrated – In the country, heat stoke is as much a right of spring passage as bat guano in the kitchen pantry. The ecstasy of eighty-degree temps after nine months of winter collides head on with an obsessive desire to get every last flippin’ grass blade perfectly level. Before golf course precision is ever achieved, ‘Type A’ mowers will be face down on the carpet. With ice packs strategically perched on major arterial lines, you’ll wonder, “Could the shag rug be trimmed just a tad more evenly?”

Six: Budget – Country folks can purchase their fashionable shit-beat trucks for less than a thousand dollars. This elevates you to the social status of a Ferrari driver in the city. However your lawn mower will cost you three times as much. Tractor mowers are a must out here. The lawns are too massive. Mowing with a push mower during spring would keep property owners circling 24/7. Only idiots and starving authors use push mowers.

Seven: Remember General Maintenance – A Clanking serenade resulting from the first start up of the morning is not unusual. What happened is this: Overnight grass built up underneath your mower. Then, flakes have dried to the point where you could use tin snips to cut it into a disk and burn yourself a springtime fresh CD (Green Day?). To remove the offending mass grab an ice pick and go after the dehydrated flakes like Sharon Stone during mating season.

Eight: Electric Mowers: Don’t – Even if you could lug 300 yards of cord, it’s a spectacularly bad idea. When several dogs and a milk goat play ‘chase’ under the extension, all hell, and the cord, will break loose. Hopefully this will occur prior to overloading the freaky little round country fuses and setting your ancient electrical box ablaze. In a town like mine where there’s an all-volunteer Fire Department, the carnage could be unspeakable.

“Hey, Howard, I see that city gal’s home is ablaze over there. Got any marshmallows?”

“Sure Pap. Ya know I told her she should not buy that Rowski house just a few years after she did.”

The only saving grace is with all the unsoldered plumbing in this oasis of handyman dropouts, the houses themselves won’t burn below the second floor.

Nine: Use the Section Technique – The theory here is you divide your lawn into a section for each member of the household. Everyone contributes. Nobody gets overwhelmed by the workload. For example: assign your teenager to mow section 1 on Tuesdays – then you mow it. You assign your husband to mow section 2 on Wednesdays – then you mow it. Request your every-present brother-in-law mow section 3 on Thursday – and again, you do the work. Everyone takes a turn. Hell, if you have any other males around; people, bulls, aspen trees, give them a section. What do you have to loose?

Ten: Do Not Get Discouraged! – Never let grass win! During spring, folks can get discouraged. They wake up to note their freshly mowed lawn grew back while they slept. Fact is, by mowing barefoot you will feel the new grass poke up as you pass. It’s just the country way.

* Disclaimer: Computer hard drives vary. In the event you insert a lawn clipping diskette into your CD burner and your hard drive fails to function please do not file suit against the manufacturer or the author. We cannot be held accountable for the quality of your grass. Countersuits will request you promptly cease swimming in the gene pool.

Country Lawn Maintenance – 10 Tips to Know Before You Mow is a book excerpt from the satire Bitch Unleashed: The Harsh Realities of Goin’ Country by Nola L. Kelsey. A free e-book copy of Bitch Unleashed is available on Nola Kelsey’s web site at www.NolaKelsey.com.

While most buyers of double glazing are looking for replacement windows to help reduce their energy costs, or because their old windows are rattling in their frames, there’s a whole class of buyers who are ‘trading up’ – replacing perfectly good window frames for the sake of having the windows they want. They may be looking to replace all of their windows with a different style, or trying to restore their home to its architectural period.

And then there are the homes that were fitted with the first wave of double glazed windows in the 1960s and 1970s. The original windows that featured double glazing as an energy saving measure were aluminum framed and conformed to the best energy standards of their day. There have been enormous advances since then – in materials, techniques and styles. For many people, it’s time to upgrade to the new standards, even if the old windows are still holding firm.

There are other reasons that people turn to replacement windows as well. Last spring, for instance, my mother decided it was time to replace the mullioned casement windows in her kitchen. She’s always hated them, but they came with the house – and were brand new when she bought it. She shopped around for months until she finally found exactly what she wanted – a full three three-sided greenhouse window with shelving built into the window frames. Each pane is double glazed, and the entire effect is stunning. Her choice of replacement window transformed the entire kitchen.

Whatever your reason for seeking replacement windows, the following advice can help you choose the right ones.

Prioritize your needs

Think through your reasons for replacing your windows and place a priority on each. There are many choices of materials and styles of replacement windows available, and each has distinct advantages over the others. If you’re concerned with restoration, for example, and want authenticity, then wood framed double glazed windows will probably be at the top of your list. If your primary need in replacing windows is affordability, then PVCu framed windows are a far better choice.

Do your research

Research windows and styles, certainly, but also check into the companies that you choose to do business with. Ask around to friends who’ve replaced windows about their experience with particular suppliers and contractors.

Invite three to four companies to your home to get an estimate

Don’t make a choice based on one double glazing price quote. After you’ve checked around, choose three or four companies that have a good reputation and have been in business for some time and make an appointment for them to come to your home. They’ll need to see the scope of the job to give you a reasonable estimate of the price to do it.

Always have your windows measured by a professional

Don’t order based on your own measurements, no matter how reliable you think they are. Choose a company that will take the measurements themselves, if for no other reason that it then becomes THEIR responsibility if any of the windows ordered don’t fit the space for them.

Finally, don’t assume that you’re stuck with the same look you’ve got. Replacement windows can make a spectacular difference in your home’s appearance and value. Barring prohibition for historical or council reasons, you can have that picture or bay window you’ve always wanted. It’s all a matter of finding it.

About the Author

Matthew Anthony writes for many home improvement sites including double glazing and window treatments and blinds.

Growing beautiful garden is more than planting trees all over and then calling it a garden. A landscaped garden has a life of its own. But depending upon what YOU want it to be the final shape and form of the garden will drastically change. Let’s examine a few points that can directly affect a landscape garden design

1) Function of a garden.

By function I mean type of human activity that will take place in the garden. The type of human activity directly depends upon the age group that will be using this garden. Kids tend to be more active in the garden than adults.

So while designing a garden layout think about the function or “purpose” of this space.

2) Location of the garden around your home.

If your home is a standalone unit will empty space all around then you have a lot of creativity at your hand. You can use all four sides of your home building to build an identity to your home using landscaping elements.

But if you decide to only garden in your backyard which is a more private space then the same landscaping design will have a personnel touch.

3) Characteristics of the land..

These are the various aspects of the land that you will nee to consider. For example is the land plain or sloping? How is the soil? etc..

If the land is sloping then you will have to consider creating small terraces and convert the slope into definite plane surfaces at regular intervals.

4) Geographical location.

This is quite obvious, because this will directly affect which plants you will choose to plant in your garden. The geographical location mainly alters the amount of direct sunlight and annual rainfall in that region which are responsible for healthy growth of plants.

5) Environment that surrounds the garden plot.

this is very important from a long term point of view. Is your home garden adjacent to seashore/ busy road/railway line/ sports ground/etc.. All these will affect the type of activities you should be carrying out in your garden. All these “external” functions will finally affect the function or “purpose” of your home garden.

6) Finally “Your Personality”

Always put YOURSELF first while designing your home garden. Try to achieve a comfortable and pleasing atmosphere in your garden using various design ideas and materials. No matter what you design but see that it goes well with your home interior theme then only you can achieve a smooth transition between the interiors and the exteriors of the home.

I hope these words were helpful to you.

Copyright Shrinivas Vaidya

Shrinivas Vaidya is the webmaster on landscapingdatabse.com If you looking for various types of FREE residential landscaping ideas visit my website and learn a variety of aspects on home garden landscaping.

As westerners, we are often compelled to try to control and plan all design aspects of what we want when constructing something. We try to anticipate every little detail so we don’t make a mistake. Although you will still need to organize and draw out your Japanese garden design, plus determine the shape of your landscape and what you desire for your garden, you should also allow yourself to “go with the flow” and let it “speak to you” as your garden takes shape. In other words, allow for improvisation and ideas to emerge rather than being rigid in sticking to your original design plan.

Before any work begins within the yard itself, a basic garden plan should be drawn up to help you formulate your ideas and the placement of elements. There are several questions you need to address to help with this process:

1) Do you already have an existing garden in the area where you wish to incorporate a Japanese garden style? If so, what type of garden is it (flower garden, English garden, rustic wildflower garden, etc.)?

2) Will you be able to integrate your current garden into the new Japanese garden plan? What aspects and features will remain and what will have to be moved, replaced or removed entirely?

3) What style of Japanese garden are you most interested in – tea garden, courtyard garden, stroll garden, pond and island garden, Zen rock garden or a combination of two or more? For very small areas, you will most likely stick to only one style. For those that have a large landscape, you can have your choice of any of the styles to suit your desires and landscape area.

4) How large is the area of the site that you are considering using? Does it have natural hills and valleys? Are there any elements, such a stream, already present? Take a good visual view of your selected site and note down all the details on paper. Take measurements as well, so you know the exact area size you will be working with.

5) What elements and features are important to you? For example, do you wish to add a waterfall, water basin, or a rock arrangement? Would you like one small area to feature a Zen garden? Is a stepping-stone pathway that leads to a gate appealing?

6) Will you be building this garden by yourself or will you have help? The size, design and amount of work to create your Japanese garden will affect this answer. Obviously, building a very large stroll garden by yourself would take forever and be impractical.

7) If you plan to use large boulders or plant more mature trees (rather than saplings), how will you get them into your garden? Is there room and access for large machinery to help with placement? Keep in mind boulders and large trees are extremely heavy.

Will your garden be formal, semi-formal, or informal (rustic)?

9) Many Japanese gardens are actually built around a theme. Do you have a theme in mind for your garden? An example of a theme would be a miniaturized version of “The Bridge To Heaven”, which is a marble and stone bridge that spans the famous Dragon Beard Ditch in China. This bridge was built over 600 years ago to allow the Ming and Qing emperors to cross over on their way to the Temple of Heaven. Your theme could even revolve around a smaller replica or area of an original famous garden of Japan. Read books and view photographs of existing gardens to get some ideas.

10) What do you want to achieve with your garden? Will it be used primarily for meditation? Do you wish to incorporate a strolling pathway with new visual delights beyond each curve? Do you want the invigorating sounds of water, such as a waterfall or fast moving stream? Will it be a place to sit quietly and contemplate nature? Understanding the concept behind the garden design is important.

In conclusion, these types of questions should be contemplated carefully and answered thoroughly before you begin to put your design down on paper, otherwise you could end up with a garden that holds no meaning for you or your visitors. A Japanese garden should have a “reason for being.” What are your reasons?

About the Author:

(c)2005, Rose Smith owns Gardens From Japan, where you can learn more about Japanese garden styles and design. Visit http://www.gardensfromjapan.com for more information.