Archive for the ‘How To Care For Plants’ Category

All Purpose Liquid Plant Food

Tuesday, June 7th, 2011

Whenever you think about gardening, your heart starts to melt down. You’re probably one of those passionate gardeners who love to look over their fence and peek at competition. And you always feel content whenever you notice your own garden looks way better than everybody else’s. All Purpose Liquid Plant Food is definitely one of your secrets, which, combined with your infinite love for gardening can turn pretty much any soil into the most fertile soil in the world.

Even though you might find it quite hard to pick your plants, flowers or seeds at the market, it’s best to take things slow. Think really hard about your favorite flowers you like to admire or veggies and fruits you love to taste and go from there. Whether you are the owner of a petite garden or you have your own kingdom of plants inside your backyard, you can rest assured that with the help of the All Purpose Liquid Plant Food by Watch Us Grow, you will be able to provide your neighbors with quite a sight and your eyes and stomach with a genuine feast.

You need to think about your exact budget limitations, namely how much are you willing to spend in order to see your dream come true, and check out which are your options that relate to this budget. If you’ve got your mind set on some specific specimen plants which tend to be quite expensive, you should think of some clever ways of putting some money aside and making that crazy purchase that will definitely make you real happy.

Don’t forget about your special friend, the All Purpose Liquid Plant Food, and you’ll be one step ahead of your plans.

Think about the trees your backyard is probably displaying and decide the exact location of your newly formed garden. Should you choose to do some planting juts beneath those trees, you should check and see which are the exact plants that are able to survive under the shade. Once you manage to make this important decision, it’s time to go even further with your analysis and decide on the exact plants or flowers you are willing to plant.

You probably already have your own gardening style or a style you are willing to give a shot to, so you should put it into practice. Whether you love to see certain themes every time you look out the window and admire your garden, or you are more of a fragrance type if gardener, you need to do a little research and buy all the right tools, seeds and, of course, your special secret – the All Purpose Liquid Plant Food.

It might be a wise idea to limit your flower choices to 2 or three types or maybe colors; the All Purpose Liquid Plant Food can help you fool everyone into thinking you’re some kind of a gardening guru; your roses will get all the right nutrients they need and they will be able grow into some of the most beautiful flowers you’ve ever seen.

Garden Pesticides

Monday, May 23rd, 2011

If you have a garden, you’re going to have to take steps to keep it free of the different types of pests that may find your garden as appealing as you do. To keep your garden healthy and pest –free, you’ll need to choose the pesticide that’s right for you.

A pesticide is any product that controls plant pests. Pesticides can be chemical or organic and serve to block weeds (unwanted plants), insects or stop fungi from growing on your plants. Let’s take a closer look at some common pesticides.

There are three main types of chemical pesticides available to purchase on the market – organophosphates, carbamates and pyrethroids. Organophosphate pesticides are insecticides that attack insects’ nervous systems. They’re highly toxic, but break down in the environment more quickly than many other pesticides.

Carbamate pesticides are made with carbamic acid, and also attack insects’ nervous systems. In addition to being insecticides, they’re also used as herbicides (weed repellants) and fungicides (fungi fighters).

Pyrethroid pesticides are a synthetic version of a naturally occurring chemical called pyrethin which is found in chrysanthemums. These pesticides work similarly to the other chemicals by attacking the nervous systems of insects. Pyrethroid pesticides don’t break down quickly in sunlight.

Organic pesticides can be purchased or some can be made at home. Insecticidal soap is a combination of sodium or potassium salts and fatty acids. The soap must come in direct contact with the insects before it dries. The fatty acids in the soap seep into the insects’ outer body and collapse the cells. It’s non-toxic for humans and animals, and can be used on vegetables up to harvesting time.

Neem is an organic pesticide that gets sprayed directly onto plant leaves, and upsets the hormonal system of insects and stops their development. It’s non-toxic for humans, but animals should be kept away until the plants dry. Neem washes away in rain, and breaks down easily in sunlight. It’s acceptable any insect.

Horticultural Oil is highly refined petroleum oil. It gets mixed with water and sprayed onto foliage. It coats and suffocates insects making them unable to eat. Horticultural oil has low toxicity to humans, animals or birds, and leaves no toxic residue. A con with its use, though, is that it can burn plan leaves. Also, there are several grades, and you have to be sure to choose the right grade for the season in which you’re spraying.

Thank You to all of our gardener friends and we really appreciate your support. Please contact us anytime with any questions,
The Watch Us Grow Team

What kind of Gardening Supplies?

Tuesday, May 17th, 2011

If you’re thinking about starting a garden it’s a good idea to make a list of all the supplies you’ll need to get going. First and foremost, you’ll want to decide what size of garden you want, and what types of produce or flowers you want to grow. After making those decisions, you’ll need a few tools and other things to make your gardening experience a great one.

Tools

The basic tools you need for gardening are handheld a couple shovels, a trowel, shears and a cultivator. These tools are crafted especially for the work you’ll do on your knees digging, planting, pruning and weeding. You’ll also need a pair of gloves to protect your hands from the soil and other things needed to prepare, plant and maintain your garden.
You might also consider buying a knee cushion since most gardening is done down on your knees.

Seeds

When buying seeds for your garden it’s crucial that you do some research and learn which types of plants grow best in your climate and location. Some seeds need direct sunlight to grow, while others grow best in shaded areas. You’ll also need to determine how much water your garden will require. In some places with stricter water policies, lists of low-water plants and trees were compiled to keep water usage within limits.

The purpose of growing a garden is to produce plants, flowers or vegetables and so you want them to be able to survive. Consider buying buds of plants that you want to grow. A baby plant is often more successful than trying to grow plants from seeds alone.

Irrigation

Your garden will need to be watered regularly. You’ll definitely need at least one watering can, and depending on the size of your garden you’ll have to decide if you’ll invest in a hose, drip or sprinkler system. Watering cans are great for spot watering or if your garden is fairly small. Whichever system you choose, you want to be sure to give your garden as much water as needs.

Fertilizers and Pesticides

Gardens need to be fed with fertilizers. Fertilizers promote growth and help plants to grow lush and green. There are store bought inorganic and organic fertilizers to choose from, We recommend a natural product made in Wisconsin ( Folletts Watch Us Grow all purpose liquid plant food concentrate ) for results you thought could only be obtained by professionals.
Pesticides keep weeds, insects and fungi out of your garden. Similar to fertilizers, they can be organic, inorganic, purchased or made at home.

Thank You to all of our gardener friends and we really appreciate your support. Please contact us anytime with any questions,
The Watch Us Grow Team

Gardening Gift Guide

Thursday, May 12th, 2011

Gift giving can be fun, and when you know the person you’re shopping for loves everything about gardening, that makes it easy, too. Wonderful gardening gifts can be given on any budget. Whether a novice or seasoned gardener, receiving one of these gifts is sure to put a spring in their step.

1. Give the gardener in your life a starter plant, tree or bush they don’t already have. You’ll have to do a little research to be sure the plant you give will survive in the climate they live in, and to note any special instructions about its care.
Tie a colorful ribbon around the pot and attach a gift tag that reads ‘Happy Gardening’ on one side, and lists the name of the plant and any special instructions or facts on the reverse side. Price range: $1-$100 depending on rarity of plant or tree.

2. Give the gardener a new pair of gloves. Gardening is tough on your hands so most people wear gloves. It’s not uncommon for a gardener to go through three pair of gloves in year, and having an extra pair available comes in handy. Price range: $1-$50 depending on quality and specialty function.

3. A knee pad is a great gift for a gardener who does any gardening outside instead of in a greenhouse. The cushion gets placed on the ground to comfort and protect their knees while working away. Price range: $3-$25.

4. Gardening totes are canvas bags made with the gardener in mind. There are pockets that hold tools, seeds, gloves, gardening magazines and anything else they toss in. The totes come in a few sizes and a variety of designs. Some online companies even include free name embroidery. Price range: $15-$60.

5. A new hat or visor makes for a thoughtful gardening gift. Hats and visors work much better for working outdoors than sunglasses do. Keep your gardener’s head cool and eyes protected by selecting a special shade for them. Price range: $10-$40.

6. Get them a specialty gardening tool. There are tons of tools available specifically for gardening. Find out if there’s a special pair of pruning shears or other tool they’ve been wanting, and surprise them with it. Price range: $10-$100.

Buying gifts for someone who loves gardening is easy because there are so many gifts available that meet all of their gardening needs – and their wants, too. ###

Thank You to all of our gardener friends and we really appreciate your support. Please contact us anytime with any questions,
The Watch Us Grow Team

Advantages and Disadvantages of Foliar Feeding

Thursday, April 14th, 2011

Foliar feeding is a method of fertilizing plants directly. It involves directly spraying nutrients onto the plants leaves and stem where they are absorbed and used. It is considered an almost immediate way to feed your plants. It is becoming very common especially among small gardeners and lawn owners. It has a number of advantages and disadvantages which include the following.

Advantages

Foliar feeding produces an almost immediate effect on the plants. For example, if used on green leafy plants like kales, they will have larger and fleshier leaves within a shorter period of time compared when other fertilizing methods are used. The reason for this is that the nutrients provided are already in the form that the plant needs. After absorption, all the plant has to do is utilize these nutrients.

Foliar feeding is the best way to grow plants in places where there isn’t enough water. This is because the plant will absorb water through its roots. Were fertilizing through the soil is to be used, the nutrients in the soil will most likely leach resulting in a nutrient deficient plant. It is however recommended that you use it alongside other fertilizing methods to get the best results. Many of these are environmentally friendly.

Disadvantages

It can be an expensive method of fertilizing your plants in the long run. As the plants will almost immediately absorb all the nutrients applied, you will have to apply more fertilizers frequently if you want the best yields. If you want to cut down on these costs, then using this method alongside soil fertilizing will be necessary.

If you don’t apply the fertilizer appropriately, you might end up damaging the plant. There are times when you concentrate so much on one part that it ends up burnt. This is especially the case for chemical based liquid fertilizers. To avoid this, read all the instructions given with regards to use of the fertilizer and follow them.
They can only be applied during the morning and evening hours. This is because it is during these times that the plant stomata are open. If you apply them during the day, especially when its hot, then it is likely that it wont be absorbed into the plant.

Thank You to all of our gardener friends and we really appreciate your support. Please contact us anytime with any questions,
The Watch Us Grow Team

Getting a Greener Thicker Lawn

Saturday, April 2nd, 2011

Getting a green and thicker lawn is the target of many home owners who have a lawn. It makes the compound look attractive and actually makes a great place to sit out and enjoy the sun.

There are many elements which go into getting a greener and thicker lawn. One of the most important if the soil type and the nutrients provided to your grass. While grass is capable of getting nutrients it needs from the soil, you should remember that these nutrients can be depleted resulting in malnourished grass.

The lawn looks dull and you start noticing thin areas with patches of soil. So what can you do?

The answer lies in applying fertilizer or compost to your grass regularly. One very effective way is to apply liquid lawn fertilizer. This method has many advantages over the other fertilizing methods and they include the following.

Firstly, the liquid lawn fertilizer is absorbed and utilized by the grass almost immediately. You might apply it today evening and notice a change in the morning when you wake up. This fertilizer is absorbed through the leaves as well as roots. This way, nothing is lost.

Secondly, you will apply the fertilizer as you water your lawn. This type of fertilizer is applied by attaching the garden hose and nozzle to the fertilizer spray bottle. This way, you won’t have to apply the fertilizer first and then water your lawn later.

Thirdly, it is an easy method to use. You simply read the instructions of use and you are good to go. However, reading the instructions is an important part of using this type of lawn fertilizer. Incorrect applications can damage your lawn.

Fourth, liquid lawn fertilizer supplies the main nutrients that grass needs, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK). Besides NPK, micro nutrients are essential to a well balanced feeding. These micro nutrients are also provided by the lawn fertilizer.

Although this type of fertilizer has many advantages, it does have disadvantages of its own. They include being expensive as well as the need to fertilize the lawn regularly since liquid lawn fertilizers are taken up by the grass almost immediately.

Thank You to all of our gardener friends and we really appreciate your support. Please contact us anytime with any questions,
The Watch Us Grow Team

Modern Methods to Get the Best Yields Out Of Your Gardening

Monday, March 28th, 2011

The advances in science have enabled the growing of higher amounts of yields within a short period of time. This has mainly been through the production of hybrid plants and fertilizers. One type of fertilizer that is gaining popularity is the liquid plant food. It is simply a solution of the essential nutrients that a plant will need to grow and produce yields.

This type of fertilizer can be composed of artificial nutrients or organic nutrients. the fertilizer that is composed of artificial nutrients usually works faster but has a downside of being harmful to the environment and can also harm the plants if not applied effectively. It is therefore recommended that you read and follow the directions on the packaging carefully.

These fertilizers can be divided into two main categories. First, there are those which are applied directly to the plants leaves and stem and secondly, those that are applied on the soil.

Applying plant food on the leaves and stem of plants is called foliar feeding. It works by directly providing the necessary nutrients to the plant through the small openings called stomata. This method has an almost immediate effect on the plant since the nutrients don’t have to be delivered through certain medium such as the soil.

If you intend to use foliar feeding on your plants, it is recommended that you spray them either in the early morning or late evening when the sun isn’t hot. This is because the stomata close during the day to prevent excessive water loss from the plant. This method is suitable for leafy plants or plants grown particularly for their fruit.

Applying liquid plant food to the soil occurs in the same way as applying granular fertilizers is done. However, the plant food will find its way into the plant faster than the ordinary fertilizer. However, in many cases, it doesn’t last that long in the soil (especially chemical type) and therefore regular fertilizing is needed. Some important aspects of these types of fertilizers include the following.

They are the most expensive type of plant food available today. Therefore, before going for them, you will need to consider if they are an affordable way to grow your plants. If they are too expensive, you can go for the other types of fertilizers. They will give you the best yields available since they give the plant
exactly what it needs and when it needs it. If you spray your plants regularly, you are
sure to get larger and better yields.

Thank You to all of our gardener friends and we really appreciate your support. Please contact us anytime with any questions,
The Watch Us Grow Team

Tips on Growing Tomatoes & Large Healthy Tomatoes

Thursday, March 24th, 2011

Buying tomatoes from your grocers can be hectic since they are used in many meals. Many of those sold are picked when green and ripen while they are at the grocers. During this time, they lose most of their quality and taste.

Many people are now turning to planting their own tomatoes. Even if you have little space at your home, you can also plant a few for your daily use. This way, you will have control over what goes into growing them, pick them when ripe and enjoy.

If you want to grow tomatoes in your compound, here are some tips on getting large and healthy ones.

Some tips on growing tomatoes are: The first thing you will have to consider is the soil type. Tomatoes are some of the plants that require large amounts of nutrients. These have to be supplied through the soil or spraying them with liquid fertilizer. The main nutrients which tomatoes will need are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. However, other trace nutrients are needed.

The soil you plant your tomatoes in should be rich in these nutrients. it is recommended you fertilize the tomatoes once every two weeks. The soil should also be able to drain off water since tomatoes need regular watering. Good drainage is important to prevent rotting of the roots and prevent diseases. As a rule you shouldn’t plant tomatoes in the same soil for two consecutive seasons.

Secondly, tomatoes are considered vines. That is, they don’t develop strong stems and therefore need some support. Vertical gardening tomatoes is the method used to support the growing tomatoes. It involves using different techniques such as planting stakes beside the tomatoes and tying the tomatoes to them.

The tomatoes will then use the stakes as their support and grow upwards. The main advantages of using vertical gardening tomatoes methods is that it helps prevent splitting and infection to the tomatoes. Also, it eases pruning of the tomato plants.

Thirdly, you will have to consider the two contrasting elements that are good for healthy tomatoes, sunlight and water. Tomatoes will grow well under sufficient amounts of sunlight. However, strong sunlight means a lot of water loss from the soil. The best thing to do is to apply mulch on the soil surface. Mulch can be in the form of plastic sheets to dry plant material.

To conclude, to get large healthy tomatoes from your home garden you will need, sufficient sunlight, water, practice vertical gardening techniques and a good well balanced liquid fertilizer feeding program.

Thank You to all of our gardener friends and we really appreciate your support. Please contact us anytime with any questions,
The Watch Us Grow Team

How To Start An Organic Garden

Wednesday, February 16th, 2011

When you want to start an organic garden, contained raised beds tend to be the most favored type of raised beds, and they’re perfect for vegetable and vegetable gardens, in addition to flower gardens. Many fruits, like blueberries, raspberries, grapes and strawberries likewise prosper in a raised vegetable garden bed.

You are able to select from a range of materials to build the elevated bed for your organic garden. Wood is an extremely popular option, as it is easy to use and it’s also affordable. As most contained elevated boxes are made out of wood, listed below are guidelines for constructing ones own wood raised bed vegetable garden.

Once you know that you will be cultivating herbs or vegetables, or flowers which love the sun in your brand new backyard garden, pick a location which receives no less than 8 hours of sunlight daily. A flat area is necessary, and you ought to additionally ensure that the location will have quick access to water in addition to space so that you can work.

Ensure that you can easily get to all sections in the garden without having to step into the bed. One of the primary benefits of an elevated bed is the fact that soil does not get compressed the way it can in a traditional bed as they are designed for ease of access. It is a wise course of action to keep the vegetable garden to about four feet, so that you are able to get to the center of the bed from each side.

As soon as you are aware of the dimensions and design of the bed be it to start an organic garden or any type of raised bed garden, you can begin to prepare the area. Just how much preparation you will need to carry out will depend on the depth of the bed you’re planning, and also the crops you intend to cultivate there. Should you be considering an herb or vegetable garden, a six-inch deep bed is ideal.

Make use of rot-resistant wood like cedar or one of the newer types of lumber, to build your bed. Cut the wood to the preferred dimensions, and then connect them to create a basic framework.

Ensure the frame is level everywhere to stop water from draining off of one section of the garden and not the other.
The entire aim of a raised bed vegetable garden is that it affords you the chance to do some gardening in perfect soil. Take this opportunity to fill up your organic garden bed with an excellent blend of high quality topsoil, fertilizer, and rotted manure. As soon as it is packed and raked level, it is time to sow or plant the seeds.

Thank You to all of our gardener friends and we really appreciate your support. Please contact us anytime with any questions,
The Watch Us Grow Team

How To Successfully Setup Organic Container Vegetable Gardening

Monday, February 14th, 2011

It requires quite a bit of effort as well as time to succeed in container vegetable gardening. To be a success you will have to understand some information and facts about the basics of organic container vegetable gardening so that you will have the ability to correctly setup your organic container vegetable garden correctly and effortlessly.
Home gardeners will have the opportunity to take pleasure in the fantastic flavor of homegrown vegetables with organic container vegetable gardening and make it better for the ecosystem at the same time, and this may be accomplished without having a sizable backyard. There are a number of products you can utilize to plant your veggies like old bottles, cans or any reused container. These can very easily be put on the porch, window sills or balcony.

Starting up your container vegetable gardening mission will call for you to acquire some seeds. While seeds can be purchased all over the place, you ought to make sure that you purchase organic seeds and not the seeds from the main stores which may be genetically altered, so that you will really possess an actual organic garden.
It’s also wise to seek information by reading your plant guide or browsing the web to become conscious of when you need to be seeding. In a number of instances the ideal place to begin is indoors, nevertheless you ought to additionally make sure that your plants are given sufficient sunlight, about five hours exposure on a daily basis would be effective. For your fertilizing, purchase some slow-release organic fertilizer so that the crops will be nurtured through the entire growing season. In organic container vegetable gardening, soil can be used however more desirable outcomes may be accomplished with a peat mix. Bear in mind that plants in containers have to be watered more often in comparison to plants in your yard, and don’t forget that as the plants mature, their water demands will also increase so you need to examine them a lot more as this occurs.

What makes organic container vegetable gardening distinctively amazing is that you can cultivate them in almost any house. It will require a great deal of time and energy to effectively carry out container gardening however it becomes much simpler and is definitely more handy than the typical practice of gardening in a section of your backyard. Starting off can also be quite inexpensive since the main requirement is to have suitable containers and a good soil mix, and we all know you can recycle old items for the containers.

Thank You to all of our gardener friends and we really appreciate your support. Please contact us anytime with any questions,
The Watch Us Grow Team