This year I am suffering from way too much rain but I remember years when we had drought. Over the last few years I have set up many of my garden areas and landscaping to conserve on watering.
photo credit: dlisbona

When the garden season begins you never know what Mother Nature has planned so my motto is “be prepared!”

Setting your garden up for drought conditions can be done by using mulch or planting in containers so that they can be moved into shade or closer to water. You can also landscape your yard and gardens for drought by using perennials, using plants and trees that require less water, or by planting re-seeding annuals, herbs and native plants.

I also water in the morning, use deep watering methods and rain barrels for catching rain. You will find a few more ideas at my sister site Backyard Oasis,  How to choose drought resistant plants.

One idea I have used for many years is watering by milk jug (or a small plastic pop bottle for containers)

Fill the cleaned empty milk or plastic pop bottle with hot water. This will clean the bottle and also help remove the label.
I let my bottles and jugs sit overnight to make sure they are clean.

Use a sharp nail to make a hole or two in the milk jug. You can also use a cordless drill with a tiny bit to make the holes. Just remember the larger the holes are on the bottom the faster your water will run out.

Hint: if you use jugs with holes and without, mark the jug. It’s not fun to fill a jug and have the water run out and into your shoes while placing it in the yard.

Place the jug by the plant that needs water. Using this method you get a slow watering what will soak in the ground near the plant where it’s needed,

Pop bottles

I tent to use small pop bottles in containers. Cut off the bottom of the pop bottle. Remove the cap and place the bottle in the center of a container. I submerge the bottle halfway into the soil. This will act as a funnel and take water directly to the roots. This works well for vegetable plants that require a lot of water. And as the plant grows the bottle is hidden from site.

Tips:

If you have a fish tank or pond you can use that water to water your plants and then top off what water is removed. You will help clean the tank or pond and have nutrient rich water for your plants.

When not using the milk jugs you can run a string through the handles and store them by hanging them on a wall out of the way

Here are two sites for ideas on hardy plants. I enjoy Hibiscus plants and Best Flower gardening has an excellent article, Hibiscus-a-must-have-perennial.

Home and Garden Online has a nice write-up on native plants, Native Plants: flower-garden-guide. Native plants add so much to your garden landscape.

Whether you have too much rain or too little with planning and preparation you can still have a beautiful yard and successful garden. It just may be a bit more challenging!

Technorati Tags: backyard garden, Creative Organic Gardening, garden planning, native plants

A vegetable garden doesn’t have to be huge and hold tons of plants. Not everyone has the space for a garden like that, but they can grow thriving plants in a small area as long as there’s access to sunlight.
photo credit: thunderf10wer

People develop gardens in various small areas – it could be a tiny bit of land outside a house, or pots in planters kept indoors or outdoors. How well you treat your plants and how skillful you are at gardening are issues that are far more important than the amount of space you have.

Even a little garden can compete with a large one, if the gardener’s expertise is applied well to growing the plants.

Take the time to plan out your vegetable garden design to maximize the amount of space that you have. You’ll want to research the plants you intend to grow within your garden. Find out what plants can be planted near each other, which ones need the most sunlight and any care instructions needed to grow a particular type of plant.

Once you have a plan, it will help you place the plants in your garden, whether you are using planters or a small area of your backyard. You’ll also need to research when you should plant each plant as well. There are some plants that need planted earlier than others.

You’ll need to buy the seeds or plants that you are going to plant as well. Be sure that you have planters that are big enough if you are going to go with a pot garden. Some plants will need a bit more space for growing, so be sure that they are not too crowded.

The soil you use in your pots should be of the best quality. This should give your plants the nutrition they need to grow large and healthy. You can ask for advice on soil from the experts at your garden center.
photo credit: *Susie*

Small gardens are not immune to ravages by insects. You can deal with this problem, though.

The first thing you can do is entice creatures that prey on insects into your garden. Frogs, birds, ladybugs and lizards will come to your garden if there is a pond or other body of water, as well plants that they will find attractive.

You can also use other methods instead of chemical repellents. Try insecticidal soap, spicy peppers or garlic to keep insects away.

There are certain kinds of soil available that come with pest-repelling ingredients,  try these out. Pesticides are one option, but go easy on these and only use what is strictly necessary; after all, they are injurious chemicals, with detrimental effects on the health not only of the plants, but of animals and children too.

No matter how large or small your garden may be, you need to make sure you nurture it. Get rid of any weeks and make sure that soil is aerated from time to time and watered regularly. Without the right care from you, your garden will never thrive.

Even the small gardens can thrive and do well. So, if you just don’t have enough room for a large garden, you can use the area you have to have a great garden, even in a small area.

If you take care of the garden, you can get the healthy and beautiful plants you want.

Technorati Tags: backyard garden, container gardening, creative gardening, garden planning, gardening, small space garden, vegetable gardening

I like my garden beds to have a different shape than square or rectangular. They are often round or even boomerang in shape. I find a different shaped garden with rounded edges is easier to mow and it’s just more fun to plant and enjoy.
photo credit: zenera

Another part of my garden planning is that the gardens are never just a flower, vegetable or herb garden; they are always a mix of all. All the plants compliment each other and often have insect control benefits when planted side by side.

Geraniums and marigolds help control insects and some small animals so I often use them in garden borders. Okra controls Japanese Beetles so they are grown in pots and moved around the yard. I myself don’t like Okra as a vegetable but it makes a great insect control, has a beautiful flower and works well as a dried crafting material.

The herb, Borage controls insects and tomatoes also like the plant.

In small backyard design spaces and on patios I will plants cucumbers, small melons or climbing beans against the walls or a trellis. Plants lettuce below the vines to save on space, keep the soil cool and add a lush full look to your plantings.

Use lettuce leaf lettuce and Swiss chard as a flowerbed edging. And with all the colors or leaf lettuce now you will be able to add a variety of color to the garden for all seasons. Head lettuce and flowering cabbage looks good behind the lettuce.

I use cabbage and kale as a show of vegetable mixed in flowers and herbs.

Root crops are easier to harvest in containers. I will find nice accent pots or unique planters and add the root crops as garden décor to the gardens and plant a new root crop every two to three weeks to keep a fresh supply of small root vegetables growing the entire season.

Corn and Indian corn make an interesting look mixed in with taller flowers. If you plants corn, a medium height flower and low vegetables of sprawling flowers you can make a great mini garden for the end of the driveway or an accent mini garden. I also do the same with gourds and mix them in with flowering vines and a lower height flower or herbs.

Strawberries, tomatoes, cherry tomatoes and peppers also make great accent plants with their bright fruit. There are many ornamental peppers that have variegated leaves that also add more beauty and color to a garden area.

When it comes to garden planning there are only a few planning basics like spacing, light and water that need to be followed and all the other garden rules are fun to bend and break.

If garden planning seems to be a task you don’t like try out GrowVeg.com to see how easy planning a garden can be.

Gardening can be work but it also can be fun and that’s the part of gardening I always make sure is well planned, fun!

Technorati Tags: Creative Organic Gardening, flowers, garden planning, gardens can be fun, herbs, vegetables