Gardening Tips

There are hundreds of varieties of minature trees to choose from when cultivating a bonsai garden. The gray-barked elm (Japanese zelkova) can be trained to form miniatures of the naturally grown forest trees, and will make beautiful bonsai. These bonsai elm are much sought after.

Unwanted sprouts. At budding time in the spring and after leaf thinning, sprouts appear at unexpected places on the trunk and branches, and these should be rubbed off or cut off. Autumn. After the leaves have fallen, any disproportionate and undesirable twigs and shoots are removed, so as to enhance the symmetrical and delicate beauty of fine twigs and shoots which produce the atmosphere and image of a great tree throughout the winter.

Branches in a circle and a branch parallel to trunk should both be avoided. Then the renewing and rewarding beauty of the young leaves is awaited.

General Care For Bonsai Elm

Soil for growing bonsai should be selected to match the variety of plant. For potting soil for zelkova bonsai I use loamy soil from cultivated land or sandy loam from the mountains. The soil is sifted through a sieve (â…›-inch mesh), and used only after it has been well and thoroughly dried. The tree should be planted in the dry soil in the pan, and the pan shaken several times after planting. The surface of the soil is then leveled and immediately watered gently and thoroughly with a watering can. The soil should never be pressed.

Surface roots. When a zelkova bonsai becomes older, several roots become thick and appear at the surface of the soil. Such a “root-surfaced-on-the-soil” tree is much sought after and very ornamental. However, if the roots are surfaced when the tree is young, they never thicken; only roots in the soil will do so. After learning by bitter experience, I cover surfaced roots slightly with soil, and on this place moss.

As the roots develop, the moss becomes scanty and the roots gradually appear on the surface. I have several trees of the same age that do show surfaced roots. Bonsai merchants often show surface-root formations in young trees for commercial reasons, but this is not good for nice root formation on the soil later on.

Shading. In the hottest weather, July and August, the trees are shaded; I use marsh-reed screens.

Watering. Over watering is not good for the trees. Learning how to grow bonsai and watching them evolve over time is a beautiful way to appreciate plants and gain hours of enjoyment.

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Originally posted 2009-07-26 12:12:08. Republished by Old Post Promoter

A growing number of the grape grower and home winemakers are searching for information on quality grape varieties to grow in the backyard. Selection of the right varieties is important and several can be found in trade literature, university publications, nursery sales catalogues and over the Internet.

Wine grape vines can grow from any grape of the Vitis Vinifera family but some varieties are better suited for winemaking than others in terms of their acid, sugar, flavour and aromatic components. Varietal wine came from red French hybrids (e.g., Chambourcin, Leon Millot, Foch, DeChaunac, Baco Noir) will have robust aromatic flavors and full-body expression of tannins. White French hybrids (e.g., Seyval, Vidal, Vignoles, Traminette) tend to have a fruitier taste than do reds. You may pick up a peach, apple, apricot or even banana flavors and have floral aroma as you swirl and sniff the wine. The tannin flavors usually found in red wines are due to phenolic compounds extracted from grape pips, skins and stalks during the crush and fermentation. They provide a strong, distinct taste in the mouth. Some may describe it as bitter or pungent taste and others may view it as a full-bodied character found in dry to semi-dry wines produced from French hybrids.

The Europeans are the one who developed French hybrid grapes through very successful plant breeding programs. The intent ion was to improve insect and disease resistance in grapes, using American rootstock, without losing wine quality. This required very careful selection for taste, aroma and resistance genes.

Grape growing guide suggested Vinifera varieties are the best for wine grapes. Gardeners who would like to grow high quality wine grapes can rely on Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, or Pinot Gris vines to plant in their backyards. Resistance to diseases and insects is a determining factor to consider when planting out your first few hectares of vines. Advice – sign up in a local support group and listen carefully to all the advice that you can get.

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Originally posted 2009-07-20 13:07:15. Republished by Old Post Promoter

If you live in a region that has sparse rainfall and long hot periods you might like to consider starting your lawn with drought resistant grass seed. There are a range of types of grass seeds offered that can succeed in dry surroundings and even stay green all through the year. We’ve gathered information on some of them so that you to find the best drought resistant grass seed for you to start a new lawn.

Bermuda Grass

Bermuda grass seed is considered one of the best drought resistance seeds that is available to buy. It will flourish in regions that are hot and dry through the year although it also does well in tropical regions with a lot of rain. It is a very good all round grass seed for seeding a lawn. Bermuda grass thrives in full sunlight but also needs a well drained soil. It can survive times of severe drought as it has especially deep roots. It is best mowed to about 1 inch for drought resistance and tolerance to traffic.

Zoysia Grass

Zoysia grass has a attractive medium green color although in dry situations it will look yellower. It is a fine drought resistant grass as it’s deep roots allow it to locate water at great depths. During the winter it will become dormant and turns brown. Zoysia grass seed produces a somewhat slowly growing grass that’s reasonably undemanding to care for.

Tall Fescue Grass Seed

Though tall fescue thrives best in humid conditions it is exceedingly drought resistant and grows well in several different types of soils as well as clay soil that is inadequately drained. Tall fescue grass seed is perfect for regions that experience long, hot humid summers and bitterly cold winters however if you mow it to about three and a half inches through the hottest season it is able to endure drought conditions satisfactorily. It is an excellent idea to over seed tall fescue in the Autumn to ensure even coverage of your lawn.

In Conclusion

Drought resistant grass seed is a good option for sowing a new lawn, not only if you reside in a very dry area, but if you would like a healthy lawn that is easy to take care of. In many districts bans on the use of hose pipes means that lawns become brown and might die but if you seed your lawn with the right seed combination you can maintain a lovely healthy lawn for the period of any water shortage.

Overall then drought resistant grasses are perfect for anybody who doesn’t want to spend too long on upkeep but nevertheless wishes for a beautiful green lawn!

Originally posted 2009-06-13 05:01:40. Republished by Old Post Promoter