There are many advantages to participating in the practice of edible landscaping. As one might imagine, edible landscape elements are those that can be used for food, as well as for ornamental beauty. Vegetables, herbs, and fruits can add variety and color to the landscape, and if well maintained, they can also look very attractive and even elegant in many cases. Most people prefer to keep the edible elements of their landscape to the back portions of their property. While this may be reasonable for a more conventional garden plot, a well placed squash patch in the front yard or beautiful raspberry bushes against a fence can look very attractive anywhere on a piece of property, and fruit trees are always welcome. Strawberries and herbs make excellent ground cover, and peppers and tomato plants make excellent accents in flower gardens. Here are some of the advantages of incorporating edible landscape elements into your environment.

Less effort on the lawn. If trying to keep a manicured lawn is a daunting task, you can reduce the amount of lawn that you do have by adding more edible elements. If you pay someone to keep your lawn for you, it can become quite expensive. Edible elements are excellent ways to reduce you’re the area of your lawn, making the upkeep easier, without having to spend a great deal of money.

Increased quality of life. You can experience a better quality of life as taking care of these edible elements in your landscape leads you to more exercise and more time in the fresh air. Inside of offices and homes the air does not circulate as well. Sick building syndrome is an actual condition that results in respiratory problems associated with being indoors too much. Sometimes, with all of the dust, and other small particles constantly floating through the house, the air inside a home can be more polluted than the air outside the home. Being outside can help alleviate much of the problems of this nature.

Experts agree that exercise is important, and tending your edibles can be an enjoyable way to get some physical activity. You feel better when you exercise, and your body is healthier. Increased physical wellness also results from the fact that you can choose not to use pesticides and thus grow food that is better for you. There are also mental health benefits associated with tending plants. Additionally, the satisfaction one feels from growing something for one’s consumption adds to feelings of self worth.

Quality family time. Taking care of an edible landscape makes a great family activity. A family can spend time together, and children can learn the value of hard work as well as learning to respect and enjoy nature. These days, with so many distractions tempting the family in all different directions (or even to just sit in separate rooms watching TV or playing on the computer), working together for a common goal can really help family members discover each other.

Environmental benefits. You can help the environment by growing edible elements in your landscape. When you eat what you grow, you decrease demand for factory farming and processed foods, which in turn helps the environment. Additionally, if you choose to shun harmful chemicals like pesticides, you are decreasing dependence upon harmful products. Additionally, you are also helping reduce the demand for transporting produce to stores, thus affecting truck emissions.

Financial benefits. And one cannot forget the pocketbook. Edible landscaping provides food for your family, allowing you to save money at the grocery store. If you have enough room, it is even possible to grow enough food to freeze or can some of your food for winter. This can result in great savings. With berries, apples, and crabapples, it is also possible for you to rather inexpensively make your own jellies and jams. During summer months, it is possible to purchase almost none of your produce at the store if you have properly planned your edible elements. Although items like citrus fruits and melons may not grow in your climate, most vegetables and berries grow almost anywhere. This means that you can buy a very few items of desire, and grow most of the rest of your produce.

The great thing about edible landscaping is that you do not need everything in the same area. There is no reason to put all of your vegetables in the same place, like a traditional block garden. You can spread a great many of them throughout the landscape for more dramatic and aesthetic effect.

Having a water feature installed can be a very expensive proposition. But, if you would like a pond for your property, it is actually possible to build your own pond. While you can build it by buying needed supplies individually and then assembling a proper pond, it can be difficult to make sure that you get all of the right supplies and it can be frustrating to figure out what you should do, and how to do it. Luckily, however, the do-it-yourselfer can actually build a pond using a kit. This makes the whole process easier and it makes it possible for you to have a water feature on your property without paying all the money for professional installation and without the frustration of trying to do it from scratch on your own.

Putting in a pond requires a great deal of physical labor to complete, even if you are using a kit. A hole still needs to be dug, and the proper components need to be placed. There is no easy way to put in a water feature. But, if you get a kit with step-by-step instructions, and you enlist the help of family and friends, it is possible for you to install your pond with relative ease and at a reasonable cost. There are even some companies that offer different customized solutions. These solutions include things like creating a cascading stream into your pond, or having a waterfall that is shorter or taller than the kit specifies. If you know that you have some specific needs, make sure you visit a specialty shop or buy your kit from a company that specializes in water features and can help you modify your kit appropriately.

There are a few components that your kit should have for proper installation of a water feature. These components include items such as skimmers, liners, pumps, filters, filter support tubes, liners, underlayments, check valves, PVC pipes, PVC glues and primers, rocks, bulkhead fittings, silicone, and bacteria to maintain the balance of your pond. Other things that many kits come with, and that are good to check for, are things like patch tape, waterfall stone, and skimmer bags. Many kits make use of expanding foam as well. Make sure that your kit has all of the items you need before you begin, or make sure that you know where to get items that do not come in the kit.

You kit should come with an owner’s manual and instructions. There are many kits that come with architectural drawings, and these can be very useful. If you have a kit with good illustrations, it can help you more effectively build your pond by allowing you to not only read about what you need to do, but to also see what you need to do. Make sure you read the instructions in their entirety before you begin. Also, make sure that you understand the directions. If there is something that you do not understand, contact the store that you bought the kit from, or contact the company that produces the kit. You should be able to get help from either of those sources. Make sure that your kit comes with a warranty and with support. It is worth it to pay a little more money for a kit that comes with expert advice and everything you need. Costs relating to redoing things, buying extra components, and getting replacement parts if you break something by putting it together wrong can really add up. Making sure that you have access to the manufacturer of the kit, or someone who gives explanations for free can save money, time, and headache further down the road.

A well-placed water feature can be a very pleasing part of your landscape. The running water makes a soothing noise, and it can be very relaxing to look at water. Water is one of those things that provide comfort and interest in many settings. Additionally, a water feature can attract birds and other wildlife to your yard and provide you with beautiful music and fascinating creatures to listen to and look at. Children love water features, and if properly supervised can learn to appreciate the water and find amusement for hours.

For your Rose Garden

Deciding where to plant your rose garden is one of the most important decisions you can make regarding your future rose bed. Conditions can determine whether or not you have well formed, admirable roses or wilting, weepy ones. If you want gorgeous roses that keep you and others in awe, don’t take the location of your rose grade lightly.

Choosing a location for your rose garden may take some thought. Where is the best place to plant your future prize winning roses? You may have a huge yard stretched out before you, or a little nook in the corner of a big city. Whatever your space situation is, you can find a suitable location for your rose garden.

The first vital step in choosing the location for your rose garden involves pinning down a bright, open area of your yard. Most roses need a ton of sunlight. Choose an area that will receive many hours of sunshine. Do not plant roses in a spot that will be shaded for most of the day. You want to plant where there will be five or more hours of sunlight a day. With that in mind, also be aware of areas where the roses will bake. Find a happy medium. You want ample sunlight but your roses don’t need to fry.

Once you have chosen a suitable spot to plant your roses, get rid of any turf. Extract a few oil samples to determine the grade of soil you have. Soil that has a high level of acidity will be drained of nitrogen quickly making it unsuitable for growing roses.

You won’t need a biologist to help you determine the pH balance of you soil. Testing the level of acidity is simple. Dig 3-4 inches into the soil and gather a few small samples. You can buy a soil evaluation kit from a gardening store or nursery. If you do not understand the results, have a knowledgeable Rosarian translate them.

Once you know the pH balance of your soil you will know if you need to add dolomite lime or not. A pH balance of 6.0 to 6.5 is excellent for growing roses. Check another area if the first chosen one is less than favorable. You could end up having a thriving rose bed in the most unlikely of places.

Roses are not big on sharing. They need room to grow and thrive in their own private space. Besides, you want your beautiful rose bed separate from your other plants. When you step into your garden you will be able to admire the breathtaking cluster of roses you have. Steer clear of tall buildings and shrubs.

Black spot and other diseases occur when there is not any proper air circulation through the rose plants. The amount of space needed between each plant depends on the rose. Hybrids will need about 5 feet while miniatures will need, 6 to 12 inches and Floribunda’s will need about 2 to 3 feet.

Remember, your roses will be growing so you need to take into account what their mature size will be. What height and width will your roses reach? Have you chosen small roses that will not take up much more room than they do now? Or have you planted larger roses that will burst out of their space?

Climbing roses work well with other plants but most roses do not. Roses thrive with other roses but they must be planted simultaneously. Don’t plant a new rose in the same soil your old roses are using. Begin fresh and start growing a new rose bed.

Another mistake that new gardeners often make is planting too many rose bushes. If you are new to gardening, take it easy. No need to become a master gardener over night. Take your time and get acquainted with your rose bed first. Start out small and learn all of the responsibilities of caring for roses.

Remember, the spot you plant in should be open and easily accessible. You will need to water the bed deeply; 2-3 times a week and proper drainage is necessary. Make sure other plants will not be in the way of you maneuvering easily around your rose bed.

While many types of insects, birds and animals seen in the home are unwanted intruders, others play a vital role in pollinating plants and moving seeds from one place to another.  In fact, without these animal and insect helpers, most plants would be unable to reproduce.

Even though most gardeners understand how important this cycle of pollination and seed disbursal is, few fully understand why it occurs, or how it benefits both the plants and the animals. 

The rewards of pollination and seed disbursal to the plants are easy to determine – they get to spread their seeds far and wide, and start new plants in far off locations.  The rewards the insects, birds and mammals derive are many as well, and they include:
Nectar – nectar is actually a sugary solution, and therefore it is highly prized by all kinds of animals both for its good taste and for the ample energy it provides.  Getting at this nectar is what prompts most pollinating insects, birds and animals to do such a good job.  Nature has provided plants with various ways to attract pollinating insects, birds and animals.  Many types of flowers store their nectar in special glands called nectaries.  These nectar glands are most frequently found in flowers, but they are also sometimes contained in leaves or other parts of the plant as well.  Most plants are designed to protect their nectar stores from non-pollinating insects and animals, through the use of special storage locations that only pollinating insects can reach, for instance.  
The use of nectar and the plants, insects, birds and animals that depend on it is a fascinating study in co-evolution.  The sugar concentrations of many plant nectars have evolved to match the energy requirements of the types of animals, birds and insects that pollinate them.  For instance, bees require a 30-35% concentration of sugar in order to make the honey needed by their larvae in the winter.  Therefore, bees will not visit flowers whose nectar contains less than 30% sugar.  Therefore, the flowers and plants that depend on bees for pollination have evolved high concentrations of sugar in their nectar to attract these pollinators.
Pollen – Pollen is also used by flowers and plants to attract the insects, birds and animals they need.  Pollen is eaten by bees, and it is also used to make a substance called bee bread, which is a high protein combination of pollen and nectar.  This bee bread is used to feed the larvae, which require a high concentration of protein to grow and thrive.  Some plants, such as peonies, poppies and roses, use only pollen as a reward and produce no nectar at all.  Other types of plants produce two types of pollen – their normal pollen and a sterile pollen with is attractive to pollinating insects.  This evolutionary strategy ensures that the good tasting pollen will be eaten while the reproductive pollen will be spread to other areas by the insects, birds and animals that visit the plant.
Of course, this pollen and nectar does the plants no good if the birds, insects and animals cannot find it, and plants and flowers use their bright colors and strong scents to attract these animals and let them know that pollen, nectar, or both await them. 
Some pollinating species rely primarily on their sense of sight, and the bright flowers are used to attract their attention.  Other species, particularly nocturnal ones, rely primarily on smell.  It is the scent of the flowers that attracts these scent oriented pollinators.

You’ve probably heard the phrase: every rose has its thorn.  Too many, thorns symbolize the danger that lurks behind the beauty of the roses, and all sorts of myths try to explain the presence of these dangerous little daggers on rose stems.  Greek myth suggests that Cupid shot arrows into the roses accidentally after being stung by a bee and it was the sting from his arrow that caused the thorns to take root.

Don’t despair if these little daggers are a thorn in your side.  With a little care and some patience, you can remove those pesky thorns for a nice smooth stem on your rose.

Thorns do actually help the plant drink water, so it is important that you remove them properly and do not inflict excessive damage on the stem.  You need to take your time and practice a proper dethorning technique – otherwise you and the rose will be injured in the process.

Carelessly removing thorns will damage your roses in the long run.  They will not last as long as they should and any peeled or torn skin will hinder the amount of water that makes its way up to the petals.  Proper dethorning takes practice and patience.

You can remove thorns right on the plant, or you can wait until the stem is cut and do it then.  It is best to try and remove thorns on the cane when it is quite young and before the rose blooms if you know that the stem will be cut at some point in the future for display or for the creation of a bouquet.  You can remove thorns by applying slight pressure to the sides to simply push them off the stem.  You can use this same procedure with cut stems.

Removing thorns by hand is a tedious task, and with some roses, the thorns grow so close together that it is almost impossible to push one off without stabbing yourself on another one.  That’s where a dethorning tool can come in handy.

You can purchase a specialty product like a thorn stripper.  This type of tool strips the stem of leaves and thorns. You can also fashion your own with some metal strapping from your local hardware store.  If you do make your own, be sure to file the edges that touch the flower so the stem is not torn excessively in the dethorning process.

To use a dethroning tool, you simply hold it just below the flower and close the jaws together around the stem. Be sure that you don’t use too much pressure when closing the jaws of the stripper because you could damage or even severe the stem.  Lightly drag the dethorner down the stem.  The thorns should pop right off.  It may take a bit of practice to get the hand of a thorn stripper, but after a few tries you should have a good idea of how much pressure is needed to remove the thorns.

You can also remove thorns with a knife.  All you need to do is scrape the stem of the rose with a sharp floral or small pairing knife.  If you are removing thorns from the cut stem, then you might consider only removing the thorns and leaves that lie below the water level.

You want to think carefully about whether or not you need to remove all the thorns from your roses.  It is important to remove rose thorns when the flowers will be in a hand held bouquet or worn on the lapel.  When placing cut stems in a vase for display, you should remove the thorns that will be below the surface of the water, but you don’t need to take off those that will be above water level.  Removing thorns can shorten the life of your roses so be sure that you aren’t over dethorning your blooms.

An important time to do some dethorning, though, is when you are preparing plant litter for your compost pile.  After pruning off any dead or decaying canes from your rose bush, you should consider removing the thorns before tossing the old stems into your compost pile.  Removing the thorns will make it safer for you to work and exposing the stem in this way will also help sped up the decomposition process.