Ok, it's official... Fall is here and it's time to start getting the garden ready for winter. After you've cleared out the old tomato vines, okra plants, squash vines, chard, etc., you are ready to either plant the winter veggies or  just close down the garden for winter. And nothing is more important to the garden than the soil. Some of the best conditioners are your raked-up leaves and grass clippings. Actually, we mow up the leaves, when possible, along with the grass and it chops them up quite nicely for a ready-made mulch. Empty the mower bags into the flower beds and vegetable patch and it will give you a humus-rich soil for the next growing season. 

Also, as you get your garden ready for winter, be sure to add lime. Lime not only sweetens the soil, it adds minerals like calcium and magnesium. Applying it before winter allows the ground enough time to let the lime soak and provide a sweet treat for your plants come the spring.

And then there's one last treat for the fall...since gardeners are usually a little teary-eyed over parting ways with garden tasks, here's something to look forward to.  For a little late season hoo-ha run to the nearest garden section and buy seeds for California poppy, candytuft, cornflower, dianthus, phlox, cosmos, soapwort, spinach, larkspur, pansies, some marigolds, snapdragons, garlic, and/or sweet peas. To make things even sweeter, they should be half off at this time of year, and these hardy annuals can actually be planted in the fall to bloom in the spring and summer!      

...from our collection of 'inexpensive solutions'

In order to help your lawn stay healthy, pick up a pair of golf shoes or aerating sandals.  Then in the morning, walk all across your lawn in them, covering the entire surface area.  The spikes will not harm the lawn, but will help air get down to the roots to keep them healthy.  As an added benefit, the spikes will also help kill Japanese beetle grubs.

As you continue mulching your garden during the growing season, there are many inexpensive sources of mulch to consider that are readily on hand.  Consider trying coffee grounds, peanut shells, corn husks, shredded wood, bark chunks, seaweed, rice hulls, or ground oyster shells.  Many kinds of mulches deplete the nitrogen content as they decompose, so be sure to include nitrogen (like corn husks or wood ashes) or an inexpensive nitrogen supplement from your local nursery or feed store. This extra nitrogen boost will help the soil and plants. 

Be sure to save your kitchen scraps for the compost pile.  Excellent compost material for the garden includes egg shells, coffee grounds, herbs, grains, vegetable peels and tea bags.  An unlikely material for the compost heap is lint -- add it to the heap or till it into the soil to help plants retain moisture.

Fish tank water is another wonderful way to nourish your garden plants.  Next time you clean the aquarium, save the water for your garden because it's full of rich nutrients your plants will love.  Scummy pond water is also a welcome treat for garden plants.  (If you don't have an aquarium or pond, this is available at your nursery supply store and known as 'fish emulsion').

In the last blog, I mentioned how coffee grounds are a wonderful treat for your camellias and azaleas.  African violets prefer tea!  Don't know if they have any preference, but you might start off with a gentle chamomile!

Humans are not the only ones to get a boost from espresso -- plants do too! Caffeine and theophylline, two ingredients of coffee, are excellent fertilizer for plants that like an acid environment -- like camellias and azaleas. Save your own coffee grounds or you can get them by the big bagful and for free by contacting your local coffee shop. Just mix the grounds in with your existing soil every few months and watch your plants grow.

My mom was a "coffee hound" [she had a pot of coffee going all day long] and saved her old coffee grounds, spreading them around on her plants. She had some of the most beautiful camellias and azaleas in town!

A Serenity Garden For Your Home

Most people think about their backyard garden as a place to provide them peace and quiet, a place to relax after a busy day, or maybe a place to draw closer to God. Whether you rise early, to enjoy your garden before heading off to work, or come home from work and retreat to your garden to unwind, a serenity garden can help to induce a state of calmness.

A serenity garden does take some planning, and some care. There is no real format in how this type of garden should be structured. You need to think about what serenity means to you. The design of the garden should reflect your ideas on peace and tranquility. It can include your favorite colors, and comforting landscapes. You may want to jot your ideas on paper, to get an idea of what you want before you start planting the garden. Some common themes for a serenity garden are relaxation, spiritual themes, and memorial themes. You'll want to locate the garden away from loud noises and strong odors. It should be in a location that will help promote tranquility.

When you start creating the garden, you should add features that reflect the theme. If you want a memorial theme, for example, you may want to add items that reflect a loved one who has passed on. If you want relaxation, a gazebo and/or furniture for lounging would be appropriate. Consider also the plants that you want in the garden. Varying shades of green fit in well with a relaxation garden, with touches of color from various flowers. Just be sure to provide a place to sit and relax, and enjoy your garden.

Rocks are another element that can be incorporated into a serenity garden. Rocks of varying sizes can be used to build walls or footpaths in the garden, as well as edging for a footpath. Or large rocks can be placed here and there throughout the garden to provide accents, and a contrast to the plants.

Wind chimes can add a gentle, relaxing sound to your garden. A waterfall or fountain will also add to the ambience of the garden. If you desire, you can also add speakers and an outdoor sound system to play music while you relax.

If you plan on using your garden after dark, you'll want to think about illumination. Tiki torches or candles provide a gentle, flickering light. Just be sure the flames are a safe distance from any tree branches or anything flammable. Low voltage or solar lights can also be used to light a pathway, or to highlight certain features of the garden at night.

A garden is ever changing. Season to season, year to year, you'll see the garden growing and changing. Your garden will continue to grow with you as you make changes to the garden, and as the garden makes changes to you. Whatever the size of the garden, from a small apartment balcony to a large backyard, you can create your own personal retreat, where you can relax, and find your peace and serenity.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - A Serenity Garden For Your Home

Welcome to our blog at Jewels for the Garden!  This is our place to feature new garden products and update you on all kinds of things in the world of Jewels for the Garden.

Spring  is one of the most exciting times of the year!  On a personal note -- here in Sacramento the weather is just beautiful and spring has really sprung! Fruit trees are blooming, daffodils and tulips have brightened up the flowerbeds, and we have started cleaning out the winter flotsum that inevitably collects in the garden. We have begun to bring out the furniture and other garden decor to assess its condition and see what needs to be refurbished for our outdoor and garden entertaining. And that brings to mind our wonderful stock of garden accessories and accents.

This is the perfect time to check out our latest garden decor additions. With our Spring Sale going on, you can really get a lot more 'jewels' for your buck! Here are just a few of our newest additions:

Wizard of the Forest Statue - a fairy-tale figure with a weathered appearance of centuries-old alabaster. It makes a great conversation starter and adds a delightfully unique accent for special place in the garden or home.

Country Kitchen Birdfeeder - a bright sunflower shelters a plump pair of poultry and their tender young brood, while its bloom forms a holder for bird seed . This country charmer adds a light-hearted touch of sunny fun to your garden!

Country Apple Plant Stand - a new line of country-style decor to put your favorite plants on proud display in your garden or home.

We look forward to inter-acting with you and invite comments!

Margaret