A raised bed gardening is a gardening technique which is very popular in many areas across the globe. This technique looks very attractive for landscaping as well. Almost all kinds of plants can be grown in it from fruits, vegetables, flowers shrubs and trees.

So what exactly is the raised bed gardening technique? This bed gardening technique is a way of gardening in which the soil is raised to about 3 to 4 feet wide beds and these beds could be of any length as well as shape. The soil is almost raised about 6 inches to the waist height and is closed with a frame that could be made out of rock, wood or even with concrete blocks and can be filled up with fertilizer as well as compost. Benefits that this type of gardening offers are:

• It has a better drainage system

The raised beds let the plant roots develop in the soil which is more likely to be above compacted zone or water logged zone. This creates the best environment for the roots to grow in. As the beds are raised high it helps in improving the structure of the soil, drainage as well as the capacity to hold nutrients.

• It has a higher yield

As the roots growth in a bed it is much better as this leads to higher yield for a lusher growth for ornamental plants as well as for food crops. In this way no space can be wasted as more plants can grow in the area of the raised bed only, thus saving a lot of space.

• More season time to grow

As the drainage system of the bed is much better it helps keep the soil warm much faster therefore leading to early spring planting. While during the rainy season the soil would dry out much faster which helps the plants to grow even during the rains without any problem.

• The maintenance of the bed

As the plants are grown above a walkway level there is less requirement of stooping that is required for watering or weeding. As the beds provide quite dense foliage cover there is less chance for weeds to grow.

• Raised bed gardening in difficult locations

The beds make it possible to do gardening on areas where otherwise it may be  impossible to do so such as roof tops or on solid rock areas, hill sides as that also helps in the reduction of soil erosion.

Who isn’t interested in fresh growing some vegetables right at home? But what mostly happens is that when growing vegetables at home doesn’t always turn out to be as expected, possibly because of the harsh weather or even too much sunlight. Discussed in this article are some of the basics that everyone should know about while thinking of growing vegetables indoors. Our lawn care Etobicoke services include gardening help so please let us know if you need assistance.

• Choosing the right kind of plant

There are some crops and vegetables that can easily grow indoors such as lettuce or spinach if the proper environment is created.  Smaller vegetable plants can easily survive within the cooler temperature of a home such as different kinds of herbs. Vegetables such as tomatoes or peppers can also grow indoors but might need a lot of light and heat thus would need a much greater investment with the type of equipment as well as electricity that would be needed to grow such vegetables inside. And if you have decided to grow tomatoes you can also grow cucumbers or peppers within the same conditions that would be needed to grow tomatoes.

• Soils and containers needed to grow indoors vegetables

Vegetables that might be leafy or even herbs can both be grown in different type of pots which could be as small as 4 inches. But for vegetables such as tomatoes or peppers a 1 to 2 gallon container would be needed while for larger vegetable plants at least a 5 gallon container would be needed for the roots to properly grow. Soil such as fertilome or espoma would be recommended to use in the soil for better aeration and drainage.

• Starter plants or seeds needed to grow indoors

For many plants you would need to buy seeds to start growing vegetable but herbs can be an exception as for herbs you would most get starter plants especially for the winter season. The best option is to always read the proper instructions given on the packet before planting them but you can start planting them in almost anything such as egg cartons, paper cups, and nursery starter trays. All you have to keep in mind to fill the container with the soil-less mixture and plant them within the depth that would be recommended on the seed packet.

• Lighting needed to grow indoor vegetables

One of the most complicated parts of growing vegetables indoors is the amount of lighting they need as some plants hardly need any while other need a lot. When considering what type of light is needed you should keep in mind two main points; the color and the intensity, as different plant have a different type of response based on different colors.

Other basic components that each gardener should keep in mind while growing vegetables indoors are the amount and type of fertilizer that should be used as well as the amount of water to be used.

Who doesn’t like their house filled with plants and giving your house a nature filled appeal? There are a lot of different kinds of house plants that you can plant within your home, some of these popular plants are as follows:

• The Dracaena plant

This plant has a lot of resemblance to a small palm tree and is an ideal plant as one of the best advantage of having the Dracaena plant is that is can be placed anywhere you wish.  This plant can live in any kind of temperature as well as in the shadows but it is still recommended that the dracaena plant should be at least placed not far away from the window.

• The Aloe Vera plant

Also a great house plant it is a very soothing as well as a very beautiful plant to be kept in a home. But do keep in mind that this plant does not appreciate too much sunlight and during the summer season likes to be hung out in the balcony, also try not to keep this plant close to another type of plant. If you do prefer to have this plant in your home do keep in mind that it should be transplanted every year. If you need help with transplanting or gardening click here for more information.

• The Spathiphyllum

The Spathiphyllum is a great plant to be kept in a house as this plant blooms all year long. For plant lovers who prefer to keep the Spathiphyllum in their house, it should keep in mind that especially during the summer and spring season it should be watered quite often while during the winter season it should always be exposed to as much light as possible. Try planting the Spathiphyllum inside a pot as the plant can grow quite large.

• The Jade tree

Also known as the Krassula or more popularly known as the money tree to many people is an excellent example for a great plant. During the summer season the plant should get plenty of fresh air and water but during the winter season try to be more careful with it as the plant should only be watered whenever the soil in which the plant is planted dries up.

• The Schlumberger

Also known as the Decembrist is a plant whose flower blooms in the month of December from where it gets its name. The plant should never be kept in direct sunlight for it will not actively grow in it. And also it should be kept in mind that during the month of March to August i.e. that summer time always supply the plant with abundant of water by frequently spraying water on it.

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Planning to do some organic gardening right in your own backyard? Nowadays a lot of people who are into gardening are turning towards organic gardening as part of their gardening hobby. Considering the different ways and techniques that are not harmful to the nature, this method is extremely useful for both the nature as well as man.  Plants become much healthier with organic gardening as well as the ground where they are planted. There is far less pollution spread and the fruits and vegetables grown from organic gardening are good for the human body.

One of the reasons people may avoid organic gardening is because it involves a lot of hard work. To get a professional to do it for you read more about how we can help. For those who are more interested in organic gardening here are some of the most popular organic gardening supplies and methods available in the market.

• Organic fertilizer

One of the best and most effective sources of plant and vegetable food comes directly from within the earth itself and from the organisms roaming in it. This source of food for both plants and vegetables is also the friendliest. The best food for plants and vegetables comes directly from a balanced diet which consists of carbon as well as nitrogen which is produced from animal waste, plant refuse and rubbish heaps. You should know which plant emits more of carbon and which emits more of nitrogen to create the best compost heap. Try creating the compost pile close to or on the ground to give direct access to the different insects, worms and microorganism that are extremely important for decomposition.

• Natural form of pest control

The right type of knowledge about the right type of pest infecting your plants and vegetation helps you reduce the use of chemicals i.e. the habitat of the pest as well as the pest habits. Always try to find out where these pests are coming from and then try relocating their homes or even seal off their entry points. You should know what the source attracting these pests is. This will also help you understand how exactly you should stop them from infecting your vegetation.

Always rely on the different types of nontoxic repellents, organic baits and traps. The larger types of ruminants like the rabbit and deer can be kept away by putting up a fence.

The best option is to plant “native plants” only within your garden as such plants are more accustomed to both animals and climatic nuances within your area.

• Conversion of water

According of the studies of Colorado State University almost 50% of water used in residential areas is mostly used for landscaping, and most of the diseases on plants and deaths are caused by over watering.

For such purposes another popular organic garden supply is the rain barrel which is used for harvesting rain water for watering the plants.

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There are tons of branded lawns edging tools in the market for any gardener to choose from. But some of the popular lawns edging tool brands are as follows.

1. Kingfisher lawn edging and gardening tools
   One of the most popular lawn edging tool brands is the Kingfisher Company. 72% of the products produced by Kingfisher are gardening and edging tools from any hardware or gardening store. These products by Kingfisher can also be bought online from online store such as www.amazon.com, www.ebay.com or from different gardening or hardware tool websites such as www.thefind.com, www.dooyoo.com or by www.homebase.co.uk. If you’re not sure exactly what tool to buy, contact us at http://www.nlinc.ca/etobicoke-landscaping/ and we can surely help.

   The lawn edging tools produced by Kingfisher may also include:
   Ӣ The Kingfisher Stainless Steel Dutch Hoe which costs around $6.69
   Ӣ The Kingfisher Jumbo Garden Rake which is available at the price of $5.50
   Ӣ The Kingfisher Quality Lawn Edging Shear which is about $40.
   Ӣ The Pro Anvil Power Cutter Fiberglass Lopper by Kingfisher which is mainly used for general kind of cutting in the garden.
   Other kinds of tools produced by Kingfisher include spades, forks, digging tools, rakes, weeders, planting tools, pruning and cutting tools.

2. Spear and Jackson lawn edging and gardening tools.
   Another popular lawn edging tool brand is Spear and Jackson. Spear and Jackson are one of the oldest hand and garden tool manufacturers across the globe. The company started in 1760 with is first official name as John Love. Spear and Jackson gardening and edging tools like Kingfisher can be found at hardware and gardening stores as well as online on websites such as www.ebay.com, www.amazon.com, www.tooled-up.com. Lawn edging tools can also be found on many other various gardening and hardware websites as well.
   Their products include:
   Ӣ Spear and Jackson cultivators, grubber and tillers.
   Ӣ Spear and Jackson edging iron
   Ӣ Spear and Jackson garden fork
   Ӣ Spear and Jackson garden hoe
   Ӣ Spear and Jackson garden scissors and knifes
   Ӣ Spear and Jackson garden lawn aerator and lawn rakes.
   There are also many other gardening and lawn edging products produced by Spear and Jackson which include spades, weeders, digging tools, planting tools, pruning and cutting tools.

3. Hitachi gardening and lawn edging tools
   One other popular brand is Hitachi. The Hitachi gardening tools and equipment are produced across the globe in 5 different manufacturing plants. The main advantage for such a diverse manufacturing policy is due to the utilization of skilled labor, economy of scale, and very reliable components supply due to the geographical location.
   Hitachi gardening and lawn edging products are sold both online as well as at both hardware and gardening stores. Some of the lawns edging products Hitachi produces are:
   Ӣ Hitachi Double Sided Hedge Cutter
   Ӣ Hitachi chainsaws
   Ӣ Hitachi Bent Shaft Trimmer
   Ӣ Hitachi Blower
   Ӣ Hitachi Trimmer and Brush Cutter