Garden Shed Maintenance Tips: To Maintain Your Shed in Pristine Condition!
Sometimes, maintaining garden sheds may seem like a lot of work, when you think of the amount of time and effort that you need just to clean it out and treat any damaged areas.
By following this simple routine once a year, you can easily maintain your shed in pristine condition inside and out. Choosing a pressure treated shed will reduce the amount of time you have to spend on regular maintenance, as the shed will be protected from rot and insect damage.
Empty everything out – When you get inside your garden shed and you see all the things are scattered everywhere, tackle the job head on and start by emptying the shed completely. This will allow you to see any parts of your garden shed that may need repairing and treating.
General cleaning inside the shed- When everything has been brought out from your garden shed, and then you can start the cleaning. Sweeping, getting rid of the cobwebs and dust, and cleaning the windows. Oil the hinges and locks.
Treat it to protect it – The best way to start the treatment of your wooden garden shed is varnish it, or use a good quality wood preservative treatment. With any shed requiring regular maintenance this treatment is essential. Pressure treated sheds do not usually need preservative treatment to protect them from rot and insect damage. However, wood stain and varnish can be used to protect the wood from any splitting or fading caused by exposure to the sun. Ensure all corners and openings of the wood are covered with treatment to avoid the moisture from seeping in.
Don’t forget the roof – The roof is one of the most important things that need to be check in garden sheds. Shed roofs are easily affected by weather changes. Check the felt or onduline covering, and repair promptly if damaged. Small tears can easily become big holes if they are caught by the wind.
Sort it out all the stuff - While waiting for the shed to dry, you can tackle the stuff that you took out of the shed in the first place. Choose the things that you need to keep and the things that need to go. It is very easy to allow stuff to accumulate, and the instinct to hang on to stuff that “may” come in useful some day is difficult to overcome. Be realistic and sensible. This will create more space inside your garden shed plus it will be easier for you to find the things you want. Examine the tools you have stored, and if they are no longer useful, or even dangerous, then this is a good time to get rid of them and think about replacing them if necessary.
Nearly done – When the shed is dry enough, you can start restocking the shed, sorting and storing the contents according to its purpose, eg. The garden tools on one side, and the decorating tools on the other. Using shelves, hooks and cabinets can increase the amount of storage in garden sheds and make it much easier to find the things you are looking for when you want them.
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Mago Garden: An Environment That Fosters Introspection & Reflection
Mago Garden is a Sedona, Arizona retreat center for students of Sun Tao, a Korean Taoist tradition developed over 10,000 years ago. The tranquil desert environment fosters inner reflection, prayer, and meditation, making it an excellent place for those looking to enrich their spiritual awareness.
Retreats held at the Mago Garden Center are intended as introductions to Sun Tao. Those looking for a more comprehensive, in-depth experience should consider enrolling in Tao Fellowship’s training courses. Mago Garden is not, however, a vacation center. Those visiting the center should focus on attaining highly levels of spiritual awareness.
In keeping with Sun Tao’s basic teachings, Mago Garden strives to operate in harmony with nature. It has received the highest rating from the Northern Arizona Green Checklist. The center places a heavy emphasis on recycling and using recycled products. It also aims to become completely energy self-sufficient within the next few years.
Tao Services
Mago Garden is a retreat center operated by Tao Fellowship in Sedona, Arizona. The center provides groups and individuals with services that can help them better understand the teachings of Sun Tao, an ancient form of Taoism that originated in Korea more than 10,000 years ago. The center also opens its retreat facilities to members of other faiths.
Mago Garden Sunday Tao Service
Mago Garden hosts a weekly Sunday Tao Service led by Sun Tao masters. The service includes teachings and lectures as well as ceremonies, prayers, and meditation.
An open house is held immediately after the Sunday Tao Service. The open house provides a fellowship opportunity for practitioners of Sun Tao. It also gives interested parties an opportunity to learn more about the three major principles of Sun Tao (meditation, ki-gong, and Tao healing). Those who wish to do so may join Tao Fellowship. A complimentary vegetarian lunch is served at the open house.
All are welcome at the Sunday Tao Service and open house.
Retreats at Mago Garden
Mago Garden holds retreats that are intended as intensive introductions to the lessons of Sun Tao. The retreats allow interested individuals and groups to spend a few days learning about the benefits of Sun Tao in a quiet, relaxing environment that fosters peacefulness.
Those who practice other faiths are also welcome to use the Mago Garden Retreat Center. Mago Garden offers Sun Tao courses on request, but they are not required. Tao Fellowship wishes to use Mago Garden to create an interfaith community built on respect and understanding.
Greetings! Sorry for the long wait, busy, busy, busy. Things are now starting to get “Growin” in my garden and wanted to give you all a peek. Lots of Tomatoes and Peppers, Corn is getting high and the melons are climbing. Squash is deciding what it wants to do and the Cukes are better than I thought they would ever be. There is no sign of the dreaded pickleworm yet and we are all happy. I made this video on the 4th of July. I have a special message at the end. I hope that this finds all of you well and that you have a good week! Thanks for watching. Noreen
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Organic gardening – General Notes on Pest Control Approaches in horticulture
Pest Control Approaches
Chemical horticulture fights off invasive pests with specific insecticides. They may be effective and fast-working at the beginning, but their long-term use may result in the raise of the insects resistant to the used insecticide. To kill those, more efforts will be needed, and the use of the different and stronger chemicals may be necessary. Moreover, killing enemies in the garden, any insecticide will inevitably eliminate predator insects (natural control bugs). And their lack will cause multiplying of the harmful pests. Consequently, a gardener will have to search for some other options to defeat the invasive populations.
Organic horticulture, on the other hand, offers pests control through the studying and understanding their life cycles and peculiarities, as well as through the combined use of such methods as:
- plants selection (pests and disease resistant plants are chosen for a garden);
- companion plants growth (planting those crops that fight off pests and insects);
- annual changing of the plants location to disrupt the reproduction cycles of the invasive species;
- the use of row covers during the periods of pests migration;
- employing insects traps to reduce the population of the pests;
- increasing the number of predator insects and beneficial organisms.
In addition, organic gardeners usually allow some pests to live in the garden, carefully controlling their level though.
All of the mentioned methods have also additional benefits in the organic garden, as fertilization, soil protection, pollination, season extension and water conservation, despite of the fact that their influence and results usually take some time to become obvious. To sum it up it is possible to say that biological and organic pest control can be constituents of the integrated pest management (IPM). Nevertheless, the latter can also utilize chemical pesticides to eliminate harmful insects, although these do not belong to the biological or organic means.
Soil
Soil control and management are the important things in gardening. They offer the possibility to keep the garden healthy and strong, which is the key factor in the prevention of diseases and pests invasion onto the plants. One of the ways to success is providing the garden with humus and organic matter.
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Approaches, Control, Gardening, General, horticulture, Notes, Organic, PestHow to Identify and Manage the Basic Types of Garden Insects
Garden insects: know your friends & foes
Learn to identify and manage three basic types of garden pests
Why is it when 97% of the world’s insects are considered to be either beneficial or harmless, your garden attracts only the remaining 3% that are considered PESTS? Although it may seem this way, there are both “good” and “bad” insects in your yard.
There is a constant battle going on to maintain a balance between these two groups. Toleration of some pests should be allowed as they provide a food source for the beneficial insects, allowing them to thrive in your yard and keep the pests in check. However, even in the best of gardens, uncontrolled outbreaks do occur. Preventing an infestation of bugs is an important part of gardening. By taking several precautions and putting forth a little bit of effort in the beginning, you will hopefully be rewarded with (almost) pest-free veggies and flowers.
Why are some bugs in your yard a good thing? A vast majority of the insects in your yard provide many services that improve your garden and lawn. Insects help pollinate the blossoms, which lead to more fruit, vegetables, flowers, and seeds. Insects improve the soil condition by crawling through the surface layer. Droppings and dead bugs increase the fertility of the soil. Earthworms and centipedes also help aerate the soil during their travels. Insects keep the numbers of bugs in line by capturing and eating other types of insects
Learn to identify and manage three basic types of garden pests:
Soil Insects: This type of pest feeds on the seed in the ground or small tender vegetation. They will also attack larger, established root crops (such as potatoes and carrots). Examples of soil insects include cutworms, white grubs, slugs, and mole crickets.
Sucking Insects: These insects have a mouth type to pierce the skin and to suck the sap from the plant. Sometimes the hole made by these critters is so small that it is unable to be seen without a magnifying glass. Severe injury or even death can occur once your plant has fallen victim to these sucking insects. A badly infested plant will become yellowed, wilted, stunted or deformed. Examples of sucking insects include aphids, leafhoppers, stinkbugs, spider mites, and squash bugs.
Chewing Insects: This group causes the greatest amount of damage to gardens and yards. They chew off all parts of the plant including leaves, fruits, vegetables and flowers. Chewing insects include Colorado potato beetles, tomato hornworm, cabbage looper, webworms, leaf miners and various caterpillars
There are even parasitic insects that live off “bad” bugs, eventually killing them! The braconid wasp larvae infests the tomato hornworm and uses it as a food source. Insects act as janitors for your yard. They search out any dead plants or animals and feast on them, which provides a cleaning service for you. Most important of all is the insect population control created through fighting among themselves.
Surveillance of your garden
Plant your garden in a location so you can constantly see it. If an insect attack occurs you can take care of it early.
Choose resistant plants
Your local nursery or Extension Office can help you select some plants that are less tempting to the pests in your area. Other information sources are seed catalogs and plant reference books at the library.
Proper conditions
Plowing and cultivating you garden brings soil insects to the surface. Birds and other predators can then feast on them as a snack.
Fertilize
Follow an organic fertilizing program and provide the proper amount of water. Strong and healthy plants will be less likely to come under attack by pests.
Practice “clean culture”
Remove debris, including old or dead fruit and veggies, before planting the next season’s crops. By either burning, burying or removing the debris, you will rid the area of insect infestation or disease. Keep surrounding weeds under control.
Encourage beneficial bugs
Do not use an indiscriminate insecticide. Try to use target-specific sprays.
Rotate crops
By moving your plants around yearly, any bugs specific to certain crops will be forced to relocate. Garden pests can be placed into three separate groups: soil insects, sucking insects, and chewing insects.
Be sure to check out Spray-N-Grow’s organic and environmentally friendly insecticides
Bonide Bon-Neem Insecticidal Soap Concentrate
Bonide Rotenone-Pyrethrins Concentrate
Sluggo Snail and Slug Killer
This is the VOA Special English Health Report, from voaspecialenglish.com Some people’s ears produce wax like busy little bees. This can be a problem even though earwax appears to serve an important purpose. Experts say it protects and cleans the ear. It traps dirt and other matter and keeps insects out. Doctors think it might also help protect against infections. And the waxy oil keeps ears from getting too dry. So earwax is good. It even has a medical name cerumen. And there are two kinds. Most people of European or African ancestry have the “wet” kind: thick and sticky. East Asians commonly have “dry” earwax. But you can have too much of a good thing. The glands in the ear canal that produce the wax make too much in some people. Earwax is normally expelled; it falls out of the ear or gets washed away. But extra wax can harden and form a blockage that interferes with sound waves and reduces hearing. People can also cause a blockage when they try to clean out their ears, but only push the wax deeper inside. Earwax removal is sometimes necessary. But you have to use a safe method or you could do a lot of damage. Experts at NIH, the National Institutes of Health, suggest some ways to treat excessive earwax yourself. They say the wax can be softened with mineral oil, glycerin or ear drops. They say hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide may also help. Another way to remove wax is known as irrigation. With the head upright, take hold of the outer part of the ear. Gently …
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Grow a Beautiful Garden the Water Wise Way
Grow a beautiful garden the water wise way
Saving water and enjoying the beauty and environmental benefits of plants are not only possible, but easy says the American Association of Nurserymen (AAN). “Water Wise” gardening is built on some basic, commonsense principles:
Planning
Planning a water wise garden or landscape is as easy and fun-as planning any type of garden. Talk to the professionals at your local center/landscape firm to see which plants will do well in your area. You may be surprised to find that some very beautiful, colorful plants are low on water consumption-and they may fit into your landscape perfectly.
Group together plants that require the same amount of water. Plant trees and shrubs to provide shade to cool buildings, air conditioning units, patios, decks, and other landscape features. Shelter container plants by moving them to shady areas. Spike or aerate lawns to insure maximum water penetration. Control weeds which compete with useful plants for water.
Soil Improvement
Soil improvement is another easy and beneficial step in building a water wise garden. Soil that is well prepared at the time of planting influences the plant’s initial development and yields the best results. And plants placed in the proper soil will be healthier, often needing less water.
Soil characteristics include texture, structure, depth, and nutrients. To find out more about your soil content, test your soil with the following garden products: Accugrow Soil Test Kit or the Sunleaves Three-Way Meter.
Wise Irrigation
Efficient irrigation is a critical part of water wise gardening. Your irrigation system can be simple, such as a hand-held hose, or elaborate, such as an in-ground sprinkler system. Consider a drip water conservation system, which can save up to 60% of water used by sprinkler irrigation. Whatever you choose, make sure you plan your watering to get best results.
Deep, infrequent watering, promotes root growth and is the wisest use of water and encourages strong rooting. This provides greater tolerance to dry spells. Water early in the day, and on less windy days, to reduce evaporation loss. The ideal time is from dawn to 9:00 a.m. Turn off sprinklers before water is wasted as runoff into gutters and streets.
Mulching
Mulching is always a benefit to your garden and can help prevent soil erosion and evaporation, conserving the water that is available and keeping your plants healthy and strong.
Maintenance
Maintaining your water wise garden means learning how to water all over again. You may find that watering less means having more time to sit back and enjoy your garden. Generally, plants should be watered less often and for a long period of time. Drip, soaker, or deep root watering promotes healthy plants and less water use.
Water Wise Gardening Tips
Follow these handy watering tips from AAN, and you’ll soon be started on your own environmentally sound garden or landscape. For garden products mentioned in this article, please visit http://www.spray-n-growgardening.com
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How to Plant a Cutting Garden
Grow a cutting garden and enjoy flowers indoors and out
If you feel guilty when you cut flowers in your garden, worrying that you’re destroying nature or leaving gaps in your flowerbeds, it may be time for you to plant a cutting garden, says the American Association of Nurserymen (AAN). A cutting garden is designed to provide flowers for indoor arrangements, and it will give you a new perspective on removing flowers from your garden.
Choosing the Right Flowers and Plants
As with any garden, the first step in planning your cutting garden is to select plants that grow well in your part of the country. Ask the experts at your local garden center for their suggestions, and keep in mind your soil conditions, the amount of sun or shade your garden receives and how much it rains.
Selecting a Color Scheme
After you’ve decided which plants will thrive at your site, choose a color scheme, whether bright and vivid primary colors, soft and muted pastel shades or dusty earth tones. Since the purpose of a cutting garden is to grow flowers to use indoors, think about how flowers of certain colors will look when you place them in main rooms of your house.
Finally, plant flowers and plants in such a way that no one will notice that you frequently forage for new material for your indoor bouquets. One way to achieve a continuously balanced look in your cutting garden is to group your plantings by color, so that when you clip several blue flowers one day and several yellow flowers another, the overall appearance of the garden is still one of continuity and growth.
You can also fill in around your flowers with shrubs and larger, bushy plants that can easily spare a few leaves or berries, as well as plant a mix of perennials, annuals and bulbs so your garden will bloom all year ’round.
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Indoor Hydroponic Garden : Use Clones for a Quick Start
Cloning, or taking cuttings of, your favourite plants is the very best way to perpetuate their existence. It’s also the best way to get them started for an indoor hydroponic garden. For instance, I had a very successful Rosemary plant growing on my kitchen window-sill. However, it was in dirt and I really don’t like dirt in the house. I took cuttings from it and ended up with three new healthy clones that I planted in a LECA (small, clay pellets) medium in my indoor hydroponic garden.
With an indoor hydroponic garden, you can keep it constantly fresh with new clones. You never need to be without a special herb, flower or vegetable you really like ever again. Here are a few lighting tips to get perfect clones for your indoor hydroponic garden.
Unlike when you start seedlings, clones need light from day one after rooting. It’s a good idea to start with lower and diffused light intensities from sources such as T-5 or T-8 fluorescent lighting. During the first few days, the cuttings will do best with just one or two 24 watt strips over the top of a standard 10″ x 20″ propagation tray in your indoor hydroponic garden. You can gradually increase the light intensity after a few days by lowering the light fixtures closer to the propagation dome. However, make certain the temperature doesn’t rise in your indoor hydroponic garden above 85o F/29o C inside the dome after making this adjustment.
Once the roots develop, you can switch to HID lights that provide mostly red and blue growth stimulating spectrums. Metal halide grow lights should be used for the vegetative stage of plant growth in your indoor hydroponic garden. Metal halide grow lights will produce strong light in the blue and white spectrum which effectively mimics a typical summer day. High pressure sodium grow lights will produce strong light in the red spectrum which mimics the angle of the sun during fall. When your plants are ready to start flowering you should switch from your metal halide grow lights to your high pressure sodium grow lights in your indoor hydroponic garden.
Condition your plants to this more intense light in your indoor hydroponic garden by gradually decreasing the distance between the plants and light fixtures. After a couple of weeks, your plants should be able to handle very bright levels of light which will encourage healthy, robust and fast-growing plants in your indoor hydroponic garden.
An indoor hydroponic garden will be a source of great joy and wonderment once you’ve got it started and the fastest way is with clones or cuttings. As the summer comes to an end, take cuttings from the garden and start new plants for your indoor hydroponic garden. Show the children what you’re doing and they can share in the magic of starting new plants for your indoor hydroponic garden.
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Emaar MGF Palm Gardens Gurgaon : Emaar MGF Palm Gardens : Palm Gardens Gurgaon : Palm Gardens Sector 83 Gurgaon : Residential Apartment : Emaar MGF
Emaar MGF Palm Gardens Gurgaon : Palm Gardens Gurgaon : Residential Apartment
Emaar MGF Palm is launching soon its much awaited project “Emaar MGF Palm Gardens” adjacent to NH-8, 22 Acres premium development with 8 acres of Sprawling Central Greens. Emaar MGF Palm Gardens is a 3 bedrooms premium apartment with lounge & servant room. Spread into 22 acres area with all modern amenities and features. Premium 3 Bedrooms apartments with Lounge & S. Room. Efficient Floor Plans.- High Efficiency. Modern amenities with multiple sports facilities. Emaar Palm Garden sample apartment to be ready in early December with high efficiency floor plans.
Emaar MGF Palm Gardens Key Highlights:
1. Consolidated central Green (approx. 8 acres)
2. All apartments facing Greens / Sports Facilities
3. Efficient floor plans
4. Premium 3 bedroom, Lounge and S. Room
5. Evenly spread recreational zones – tennis, badminton and basketball courts
6. Modern amenities and convenient shopping
7. Duplex units at Ground floor, Penthouse level
8. Basement for covered parking
Emaar MGF Palm Gardens Floors:
1. Type – 1A, Typical Floor Plan, 1900 sq.ft.
2. Type – 1C, Typical Floor Plan, 1850 sq.ft.
3. Type – 2, Terrace Floor Plan, 1720 sq.ft.
4. Duplex, 3750 sq.ft.
5. Penthouse, 3750 sq.ft.
Facilities ofEmaar MGF Palm Gardens:
1. Club House
2. Swimming Pool
3. Jogging Track
4. Sport Facilities
5. 100% Power Backup
6. Located in sector-83, adjacent to NH8 & Dwarka Expressway
7. 22 acres of site with 8 acres of Central Greens
8. 3 BHK Premium apartments with Lounge & S. Room
9. Premium specifications with efficient floor plans
10. Sample Apartment to be ready early December
11. Modern amenities with multiple sports facilities
12. Tentative Pricing – Rs 4500/sq. ft
Customer Services:+91-956 019 6011/12/13/14
E-mail: amstoria@sanaassociates.com
Website: http://sanaassociates.com/EmaarMGF_Palmgardens.aspx
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Hydroponic Gardening: What makes it Different from In-Ground Gardening?
What makes hydroponic gardening different from traditional in-ground gardening is a soilless growing medium. No dirt! All plants require support, to be held up. This basic requirement is dealt with by soilless growing mediums which are inert, mostly non-organic materials. Non-organic refers to the medium not being derived from living organisms, unlike soil, which is. There are a perplexing jumble of growing mediums available for hydroponic gardening. Generally speaking, these mediums are porous, light and coarse, allowing oxygen and nutrients to be easy accessible to the plants roots.
Some of the most common used in hydroponic gardening are:
Coconut Coir ~ This is produced from the husk that surrounds the coconut shell. Made up of millions of tiny micro-sponges, it can absorb and hold up to eight times its weight in water, perfect for hydroponic gardening. It lasting three times as long as peat moss so is fairly sturdy. It is also called palm peat, coco, or just coir. Some of the advantagesof this medium for hydroponic gardening are better water retention and aeration. The disadvantages of coconut coir are its breakdown after several uses and some drainage issues. It is often mixed with other media to improve drainage for hydroponic gardening.
L.E.C.A / Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate ~ This is clay which has been heated under high temperatures until it puffs up. It makes a very coarse medium as the clay balls are about 1/4″ across. Superb drainage, holds moisture, stays put and is reusable after sterilization to continue with your hydroponic gardening. These are just some of the advantages of this medium. On the downside, it doesn’t hold moisture as well as mediums like coconut coir and can be more costly.
Perlite ~ Glass flakes (Silica) are heated until it expands producing what we know as perlite. These tiny nodules hold water well and provide drainage. A common medium for hydroponic gardening due to its low density and somewhat lower cost. Its advantage is its re-usability. That being said, it cannot be used alone for ebb & flow hydroponic gardening because it will float away or move during flooding cycles.
Rockwool ~ These cubes are made of fibers spun from melted Basaltic rock. The density of this growing medium for hydroponic gardening can be adjusted by changes in the amount of pressure during production. Large slabs are cut into smaller slabs and propagation blocks for easy handling in hydroponic gardening. Advantages of this medium are the ease of handling, convenience, better control over nutrition, being able to plant seeds in it and allow the plants to be very stable.
So you see, soil is not necessary for growing plants and you have plenty of other choices for your hydroponic gardening. There are many other ways to germinate a seed and support a plant. What is vital is water, food, light, warm and oxygen. As long as you provide these things, plus the support, your plants will grow and flourish. Visit http://www.hydroponicgarden.net to find all these choices and supplies for successful hydroponic gardening.
This video shows you how to make a laminated placemat and silverware holder using recycled materials. All you’ll need is a plain brown bag, some magazine pages, raffia, packing tape, and garden stakes. Music: “Mambo Italiano” by Rosemary Clooney
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Plant Presents From your Own Garden
If you are looking for ways for you or your children to provide cheap presents for the extended family, or just like to give gifts that have a personal element to them, then here is a suggestion or two for you.
If you are looking to make a present for the gardener in the family or someone who has recently moved into their own home, someone in a flat or unit, or a person who can’t manage a full sized yard, or a family member who loves to cook with fresh ingredients, etc. Then why not consider giving them something from your own garden? Here I am talking about plants that you have divided off from your own garden plants.
There are many plants growing in the average garden that can be divided, or that have naturally self layered themselves. Where you could go along and take a rooted section, pot them up and with a bit of dressing up of the planting container, you could produce a really nice gift for someone you care about.
These plants include many herbs as well as perennials or shrubs and even some trees which manage to send out self-layering branches or suckers from the root system. Some perennials or bulbs will increase their size or number of bulbs over time. Chance seedlings coming up in the wrong place for you, can easily also be used. All of these provide you with an opportunity to cheaply create a wonderful present for someone else.
First things first you will need to obtain a number of pots either plastic ones left over from additions to the garden population, or from someone you know, or you can go out and purchase a pot plastic/ceramic/terracotta etc., to suit your needs. If the person you are giving the plant to is not a real gardener, then you might consider getting a pot with a waterwell in the base to increase the plants’ chances of surviving.
Next, you need to begin looking for your plant material, so take a careful look around your garden at the soil level. Check out which plants are showing multiple stalks growing out of the ground. Or those sprawling plants where a branch has leaned over on to the ground and taken root along the branch, maybe one where a branch has become buried under the mulch.
Or one where there is a sucker growing from the soil a short distance from the parent plant. Another possibility is seedlings growing in the garden a distance from the parent plant material. Maybe there is a clump of plants or a big patch of bulbs where you can do some dividing.
Many of these plants benefit from being divided up or being allowed some more growing room in the particular area where you have taken away some material.
Different parts of Australia will have a differing range of plant species, which lend themselves to this form of self-propagation. If you can’t find any plants that are doing this in your own garden, why not look at a friends or neighbours garden. Or you could maybe join forces and give a joint present using plants from another family member’s garden. Or another possibility is to buy a plant in a pot that has several plants already established in it.
Divide that up before you use half in your own garden, and still have half to repot and give away. Even if you are not confident about your gardening skills you can still pick up cheap plants at the local market, school/church fair, garage sale etc. Repot them into a bigger or nicer pot for a fairly cheap present.
Another possibility is to multiplant a few different plants into a long or large round tub. This will create an instant garden on the move. Some themes you might consider here is herbs, indoor foliage, bulbs, annuals, alpine/rock, cacti/succulent or even patio gardens mixing annuals and perennials.
It is best to moisten the ground around the plant that you are going to work on well before you do the dividing, as this allows you to remove the maximum amount of root mass during the dividing process.
The first step is to divide the clump or cut away the joining branch to make the separate plant available. Then using a spade, fork or gardening trowel, dig as far out from the potential plant as practicable, because this will give you the biggest root mass possible.
Go down as far you believe you need to, (this will depend on such circumstances as size of new plant, species of original plant material, type of soil, other plant or landscaping material around the area, etc.). As gently as you can dig out the new plant. Shake off any excess soil and refill the resulting hole in the ground if necessary.
Prune back the foliage of the new plant to roughly equal size of the root mass, trying to protect some of the new foliage growth. Repot as soon as practicable, so that the roots do not dry out and die.
Another thing to consider is what sort of pot you are gong to plant into; if it is only a plastic pot then you do not need to prepare it beforehand. However if you are looking at painting it, then do this before you get digging.
When painting up pots, you will need to do some preparation work for the paint to stick properly. Plastic pots should have their surface roughened up with a bit of sandpaper. While some terracotta pots should have a primer applied to the outer surface before you paint them. Try not to get primer or paint onto the inside of the planter, because while most wont, there are still some paints which contain chemicals that may affect or contaminate the soil and plant over time.
Other possibilities for decorating up pots include simply gluing on bits and pieces including stones, tiles, buttons, sticks, shells, ornaments, ribbon, stickers and decals, etc. Other ways of decorating up a pot for the initial presentation is to wrap up just the pot (not the actual plant), using either wrapping paper, cellophane, material, a cheap teatowel or even hessian. Hold these wrappers in place with string, ribbon, bandana, scarf, etc.
Other possibilities for adding value to the potplant is to provide some growing information and name tags for the plant/s included. Other little quirks you might add include a personalised name tag, (Hi, my name is David the Diffenbachia . . . ), or a little watering indicator, miniature hand tools, small amounts of fertiliser, pot ornaments, watering can etc.
So as you can see, creating a very personal gift for just about anyone can easily be within the grasp of anyone. Why not go out into your garden and start thinking about what presents you can be preparing for Christmas this weekend.
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