HOW TO PROMOTE YOUR GARDENING TIPS

Are you thinking of promoting your gardening website online? This could actually pose a little bit of a problem to you. Let's face it. On the internet, searching for gardening websites could yield hundreds, or even thousands of results in just one click. Therefore, the possibility of people visiting your website is one in a thousand. Here are six techniques on how to promote your gardening website.

1. Free directories

One very effective tip on how to promote your gardening website is to get listed on free directories online. Visit www.dmoz.com. There are a couple of websites that copy their directory. If you have your site listed, you can get yourself linked on to a lot more websites online.

2. Competitor's popularity

You always need to check your competitor's popularity. You need to know where you stand in the market. Having a new gardening website does not have to mean lower online visits or hits than other gardening websites around. It is just a matter of knowing your competitors by simply searching them out on Google. Also try checking www.linkpopularity.com. This website can help you determine how popular your website is compared to others. Aside from that, it can also help you get hooked up on many different sites you can find.

3. Quality and Reliable Links

One-tenth of your visitors may have possibly found your gardening website out through the use of a search engine. The key here is to find quality links. You could opt for websites with a great number of customers. You could ace your gardening website promotion in no time at all. Related gardening websites could be best for you for a better rank in search engines for the reason that you have a targeted audience.

4. Competitors Visitors

Obviously, this is a very big factor in promoting your gardening website. In www.alexa.com, you may see a lot of information regarding your competitors' websites specifically their visitors and where they live, how many times they visit and the other gardening websites they go to.

5. Signature

Why not get your own signature for your email? Most people often ignore this idea. But if users come across your signature file, it could boost your "visit" or "hit probability". It can also show users that you are a website owner who is serious in publishing your site.

Strategy is the key in promoting your gardening website. Do not be content on being just one of those gardening websites scattered around. You can always strive to be one of the most visited sites on the internet.

GARDENING`S MOST VALUABLE TIPS

The more seeds you plant, the more you love the earth. There are certainly a lot of people who may not be aware that gardening can even do harm to the environment. A large amount of carbon dioxide can be released through tilling the soil. This contributes to global warming. When you cultivate and compact the soil, you are destroying good fungi in the soil. Fertilizers like nitrogen and manure obviously contaminate the water you drink.

Global warming

Did you know that the earth's soil give out carbon dioxide in the atmosphere 10 times more than all human activity? This comes from the pill bugs, microbes, fungi and worms when they breathe, digest food and then die although in the past, plants have been capable of absorbing carbon dioxide caused by small-scale tillages. Sadly, this already isn't the case nowadays. Actually, the increase of the globe's average temperature is because of the carbon dioxide the soil emits. Even if the global carbon cycle is capable of absorbing it, soil cultivation can lead to a warmer climate. The good news is that tilling can be minimized by mulching or sheet composting.

Good Fungi

In untilled soil, there is a presence of a beneficial fungus known as the vesicular-arbuscular-mycorrhizae or VAM for short. This can be seen through fruiting bodies above ground. VAM actually forms a symbiotic relationship with plants. Their filaments increase root hairs and provide nutrients to the plant. They give out zinc, copper, potassium and phosphorus. They get carbohydrates for the fungus in return. You can leave the soil undisturbed by not tilling it. Repeatedly, mulching or sheet composing can reduce soil tillage.

Surplus Nitrogen

Gardeners waste nitrogen and manures while farmers do otherwise. When it comes to farming, the farmer only needs a quarter to a third of nitrogen to mix with an inch with compost, horse manure or steer. According to Kate Burroughs of Sebastopol California, she uses the same rule for her home-grown lettuce and sweet corns. When it comes to broccoli and pear trees, farmers only need a little amount. Notice that gardeners apply larger amounts of compost and manure than farmers. Obviously, they are not only wasting their fertilizers but also their money.

The best gardening advice that can be given to those concerned is to do all things with moderation. We should thank the Ancient Greeks for that. Keep in mind that too little and too much of something is not healthy. This is the most valuable advice one can have in gardening.

BENEFITS OF GARDENING FOR KIDS

Apparently, we can see how nature is treated these days. It is a sad thing to know that people do not pay attention so much anymore to the environmental problems. What can we do about this? It's as simple as starting with the children. It is good to see the children's involvement with environment-friendly activities. One such nature-loving activity that children could easily get their hands on is gardening. Why should you consider gardening for your children?

Here are the benefits that gardening could easily provide the children with:

1. Science
In planting, children are indirectly taught the wonders of science like the plant's life cycle and how human's intervention can break or make the environment. They can have a first hand experience on the miracle of life through a seed. This would definitely be a new and enjoyable experience for the kids.

2. Life
Watching a seed grow into a tree is just as wondrous as the conception to birth and growth of a child. In time, kids will learn to love their plants and appreciate the life in them. Gardening could actually help simulate how life should be treated -- it should be with care. The necessities to live will be emphasized to kids with the help of gardening - water, sunlight, air, soil. Those necessities could easily be corresponded to human necessities, i.e., water, shelter, air, food. By simply weeding out, one could educate how bad influences should be avoided to be able to live life smoothly.

3. Relaxation
Studies show that gardening can reduce stress because of its calming effect. This is applicable to any age group. More so, it stimulates all the five senses. Believe it or not, gardening may be used as therapy to children who have been abused or those who are members of broken homes. It helps build one's self-esteem.

4. Quality Time with the Family
You can forget about your stressful work life for a while be soothed by the lovely ambience in the garden. You can play and spend quality time with your children. You can talk while watering the plants or you can work quietly beside each other. The bottom line is, always do what you have to do, together with your kids. You might discover a lot of new things about your child while mingling with them in your garden.

Let kids become aware of their environment's needs. And one way to jumpstart that environmental education may be through gardening. It's hitting two birds with one stone -- teach them to respect life while you bond with them.

HOW TO DO INDOOR GARDENING

Plants are just as popular as furniture when one is deciding on what to place in his or her home as interiors. This is what spiked the market for plastic plants. However, artificial plants are known to collect dust and could sometimes be subjects for the homeowner's ridicule.

Why not opt for the real thing? Do indoor gardening. Aside from the aesthetic value plants could provide your home with, think of the health benefits - grade school science class has it that plants cleanse the air through utilizing the carbon dioxide and producing more oxygen.

Are you clueless with this kind of gardening? Here is some indispensable information on how to be successful at having a garden that is situated right inside the comforts of your home.

Lighting

One thing you must consider is how the plants will be provided with the necessary light. You have to decide which part of the house you will place your indoor garden. This would help you in deciding which kind of plant you would take care on you indoor garden.

Here are the varieties of plants (usually those that only require medium to low light) that are known to be suitable for indoor gardening:
a. Philodendrons
b. Boston ferns
c. African violets
d. Cyclamens
e. Creeping Fig

Watering

A common mistake most people make in indoor gardening is they tend to over-water the plants, which may lead to harming the roots. Make sure to research on the type of plant you have, because each kind of plant varies on their watering needs.

Potting

Most indoor plants require the use of pots and containers. Make sure that the pot is clean before placing your new plant into it to prevent infection and for a healthy growth of the plant.

Humidity

In indoor gardening, humidity is a big issue. The amount of moisture in the air has effect on the growth of the plants. During mornings, you could spray the plants with water for their much needed moisture.

Fertilization

Just like watering, it depends on the type of indoor plants whether they require constant fertilization or not. If you have achieved to supply your indoor garden with the appropriate amount of light, water and humidity, fertilization may not need much attention.

With these tips in mind, you don't have to settle for plastic decorative plants in your house. Anyone can maintain an indoor paradise with an indoor garden.

INDOOR HERB GARDENING

Many people live in an area where it may be impossible to plant a garden. They may live in an apartment or townhouse and only have a small deck or patio. But this does not mean that they can't enjoy gardening. They can plant their own indoor herb garden and have fresh seasonings for their gourmet dishes and save money by growing their own herbs.

The first thing you should do is to pick a good location for your little garden. Since herbs are used mainly in cooking, an area in the kitchen would be ideal. Try to pick a spot that provides enough sun and is easy access. You can either grow your herbs from seeds or you can go to your local nursery and purchase plant seedlings. The herbs that are most commonly used in indoor herb gardens are oregano, mint, rosemary, chives and thyme. These can be used in a variety of popular recipes.

Oregano is used in almost every common Italian recipe. Chives may be used to season salads and vegetables. Rosemary is a good meat seasoning. Mint can be brewed to make tea or it can be used to garish soups. Thyme is used to flavor fish and poultry. So as you can see, these popular herbs can be used for a lot of different dishes.

An important thing to remember in choosing pots to plant your herbs in, is that they must have good drainage. If your herbs do not have good drainage they will rot.

The containers should have drainage holes in the bottom. Water them only as recommended and be careful not to over water them. Check your soil before watering. If the soil is still moist, hold off on watering and check it again the next day. The main cause of an unsuccessful indoor herb garden is too much watering which leads to root rot. Another big advantage of an indoor herb garden is that the whole family can get involved. The kids may want to paint the planting pots with designs or their names. It can be very exciting and educational for a child to watch as a plant goes from a tiny seed to a huge plant that is used in cooking.

You can also dry your herbs for later use. Simply place the cut herbs on a cake cooling rack. Once dried, the herbs will last up to one year in a well sealed container. Metal containers are not recommended though, because the metal will react with the oils in the herbs. This will cause the herb to lose it's flavor.

Do your research and choose your favorite herbs for your indoor herb garden. There is nothing like the flavor that a fresh herb can provide to your favorite dishes!

WEEDLESS GARDENING

One of the most frustrating things about gardening is the appearance of weeds. If your flowers and plants are thriving, chances are the weeds are too. So what do you do to get rid of these pesky problems?

The first steep in getting a weed free garden is to get rid of any existing weeds by pulling them out by the roots. Do this as early in the season as possible. It is easier to pull up seedlings than to pull full grown weeds. Watering the ground first may make the process easier. Once the weed is pulled, dispose of it. Do not leave it laying on the ground to release seeds that will cause more weeds to grow. If the weed seems to have a long root, dig it with a spade or gardening knife. Weeds that are growing amidst plants may be loosened by inserting a screwdriver into the ground and loosening the soil around the weed and then just pull it out.

Once the weeds are removed from your garden, cover it with mulch. This will provide ground cover and discourage weeds from growing. A good mulch can be a combination of wood chips, garden compost or straw.

Another method to discourage weed growth is the newspaper method. Lay newspapers on your garden as a ground cover and then you can spread mulch or topsoil on top of it. The good thing about newspaper is that it is cheap and completely biodegradable. Newspaper is also easier to plant in. It rips easily, so it is easy to form small holes to place your flowers in. You can also buy landscape cover at any nursery or major department store. The landscape cover works well also, but it can be a bit of a pain to cut holes in which to plant your flowers. If you have a big area to cover, landscaping cover can become quite expensive.

There are also weed killers on the market that you can use to kill the weeds in your garden. Make sure that you read all instructions carefully and that the weed killer will not harm your existing plants or the neighbor's cat. There are different types of weed killer on the market. Some will kill only the top growth of the weeds and others are designed to kill the weed down to the root.

The best way to get ahead of your weed problem is to thoroughly weed your garden early in the season. Cover it with a few layers of mulch and then keep the weeds under control by weeding at least once a week. Face it, weeds are always going to be around, but you can show them who's the boss!

HERB GARDENING

Herbs have been around since time immemorial. Ever since, herbs have served different kinds of purposes. Herbs have been used to treat illness and also in cooking. They were even believed to have magical charms. Do you want to have your own herb garden? Here are a few ideas on how to establish an herb garden.

Plan you garden.
Consider the herbs you want to plant. Think about their types. Would you like annuals, biennials or perennials?
How much space will they occupy in your garden? If you want, you can purchase a book that can give you the right information on what specific plants you are planning to grow.
List or draw your garden on paper first. Separate the annuals from the perennials so when the time comes that you have to pull out the annuals, you won't be disturbing the perennials. Perennials can be planted on the edge of your garden so when it is time to till your garden; you won't have a hard time.
Another thing to remember is that you have to plant the tall ones at the back and the shorter ones in front. Also, provide your plants with enough space to grow. Proper position shall help you in this area.

Some Design Ideas
You can consider having a square herb bed. You can have your square bed divided into four by two paths crossing at mid point measuring 3 feet. You can border it with stone or brick. A wooden ladder may also do the trick. You can lay it down on your garden and plant your herbs between its rungs. You can also choose to have a wagon wheel bed. Planting here is like planting with the wooden ladders. Plant your herbs in between the wagon wheel's wedges.

Get Your Plants Growing
Of course, different plants have different needs. This is the reason why you have to determine the herbs you want to plant in the planning stage. This can more or less help you find out how you should care for your plants. With starting seeds, remember its germination and soil temperature rules. If you see the seedlings sprouting, check the plants' air circulation, humidity and sunlight. When you see some leaves appear, allow proper spacing.
One of the plants that are easy to grow are herbs. You just have to provide them with an effective drainage, sunlight, enough humidity or moisture and fertile soil. Even with just minimally meeting these requirements they will be bound produce a good harvest.

3 TIPS IN LANDSCAPING YOUR GARDEN

Landscaping is one gardening endeavor that could consume lots of your time and energy. If you are thinking of doing it at a grand scale, you will need major preparation. So, how about going over a few pointers on how to do your landscaping before considering hiring a professional landscaper that will most probably charge you more than how much you think you can afford.

Here are simple but indispensable tips to guide you in making your landscaping activity one rewarding feat.

1. Draw your landscape plan.
Not just any plan. It needs to be a GOOD landscape plan. Or, you are doomed to lose money, time and energy. You need to take account of the style and function of your landscape. An idea of the plants you want to be there will also help. Focus on an area where you spend most of your time. That’s where your landscaping power must all be directed.

2. Take a double-take in hiring a pro.
Hiring an independent designer might cost you hundreds of dollars as opposed to the small amount of money you will spend if you ask for a free plan from nurseries where you will buy your plants.

3. You and your home’s style must be taken account of
.In planning your landscape, its style must complement the design of your house and your personality as well.

Here are the various landscape styles you can choose for your own garden:

a. Formal.
This style uses lots of straight lines and perfect geometrical shapes. Orderly arrangement of plants instead of random positioning is employed. Close arrangement and pruning is seen on many landscaped gardens with this style.

b. Informal.
This kind of landscaping goes well with houses with cozy looks to them. Beds with curved edges instead of straight lines and random placement of plants suit this landscape style.

c. English Garden.
This style emphasizes on the harmony between the house’s architecture and the garden.

d. Formal/Informal Garden.
This style often comes with a brick walkway that exudes formality. This walkway leads to the rear with a circle of plants. The arrangement of plants resembles the English garden style but it has no formal borders.

e. Oriental.
It is often the kind of garden found in houses with small backyards. It uses rocks, evergreens and water. A wide variety of plants create several angles with this style.

f. Woodland.
This landscaping suits a house that has a wooded backyard and an inclined terrain.

Keeping those tips in mind will not only make your landscaping a very fruitful activity but a money-saving one too.

CHARACTERISTICS OF ROSE

Like most plants, the flowers of a rose plant are sexual beings. The petals surround the sexual parts of the plant, which include both male and female organs. Roses have both male and female parts, all in one lovely flower, making them able to self-pollinate.

Maybe the flowers are so pretty that they fall in love with themselves! The stamens, so lovely in many varieties of roses, are the male parts of the rose. The anthers, at the top of the stamens, produce the pollen that fertilizes the ovules, or eggs, located at the bottom of the pistil, the female part of the flower, inside the hip of the flower.

Rose flowers can self-pollinate, but the resulting plant is rarely as good as the original. The sepals are leaf-like structures that cover the rose buds before they open, protecting them. Sepals slowly separate to reveal the color of the developing flower and finally pull away entirely, allowing the petals of the bud to unfurl.

The sepals are often a very attractive part of the flower, particularly if their feathery ends extend above the top of the bud. When they drop, allowing the petals to open, they are often a very decorative underpinning to a beautiful flower.

You can find much beauty in all the parts of a rose flower, but what most people consider perfection in a rose bloom is the petals; their color, their substance, their arrangement, and their fragrance.A rose may have no petals at all, like the famous green rose, Rosa chinensis viridiflora. What appear to be the petals of the flower are actually lots of sepals.

Many people consider the green rose ugly, but others find a strange beauty in its greenness. The green rose is of the China family of old garden roses and, as with all Chinas, this plant is tender in cold winter climates and must be brought inside during the chilliest months.

Unlike most other old garden roses, however, the Chinas, including the green rose, bloom all season long.A rose can also have so many petals that it will not open in anything but the hottest weather. Sometimes these many-petaled roses are so fabulous that they are worth growing, even if you see only a few blooms a year during a heat wave.

The most notorious rose for having so many petals that many of the flowers end up as squishy rotten balls at the top of a strong cane is the hybrid tea 'Uncle Joe'. The plant is a large one, often reaching 6 or 7 feet tall, with wonderful, deep green foliage. In hot weather, when the flowers do open, they are among the most beautiful of the red hybrid teas.

The most common petal formations fall into three categories:Single: Many beautiful roses have only a single row of petals (usually 5). Like the wonderful 'Dainty Bess', a single hybrid tea with five large, pale pink petals surrounding bright red stamens, single-petaled roses can be very lovely.

'Eyepaint' is another beautiful single rose. Semi-double: Roses considered semi-double may have only two or three rows of 12 to 16 petals. The pink floribunda 'Simplicity', which Jackson & Perkins sells as a hedge rose, has semi-double flowers.Double or fully double; These roses have lots of petals. A rose is considered double if it has more than 17 petals.

Sometimes roses with 26 to 40 petals are called fully double and those with over 40 petals are called very double. Double roses are generally larger and showier than singles or semi-doubles. The red hybrid tea 'Mister Lincoln' has double flowers.

HISTORY OF ROSE

To appreciate the significance of roses as garden plants, it helps to know a little of their extensive history. The early Romans were true lovers of roses. They carpeted their floors and showered their guests with rose petals, bathed in rose oils, drank rose wine, decorated warriors with rose garlands and treated their sick with medications made from rose petals and hips.

When the supply of roses was not sufficient to meet demands, they built heated greenhouses so they could have flowers 12 months a year.Evidence of the devotion given to the rose by early Christians is seen in stained glass windows in hundreds of medieval churches throughout the world. This tradition continues in modern churches today.

Even the word rosary, a series of prayers reliving the life of Christ, originally meant rose garden. Throughout history, from writings by Confucius several hundred years before the birth of Christ to England's War of the Roses in the 15th century, roses have been a part of world events. However, the roses that held such fascination long ago did not look much like the modern hybrid teas and grandifloras most of us grow today.

The rose garden of Josephine, first wife of Napoleon, at Malmaison, their home in France, is still in existence. This garden contained almost 250 different roses, mostly rose species and natural hybrids. Quite a number of these roses are still in existence today, although they are not widely distributed through commercial outlets.The large collection of roses gathered by Josephine at Malmaison was an important step in the development of today's modern roses.

For the first time, horticulturists could observe in one location the tremendous diversity of the rose family. From the Orient came ever-blooming China roses such as 'Parson's Pink China'. From Reunion, an island country in the Indian Ocean, came the semi- double, pink Bourbon roses, which were also ever-blooming. These were stunning in contrast to Europe's Gallica roses, which, although extremely fragrant, bloomed only in early summer.

Even though rose breeding had been going on for centuries, many of the roses displayed at Malmaison were natural hybrids and species found in nature. Consequently, the true lineage of many roses is uncertain and often confusing. Even still, horticulturists found the possibilities at Malmaison exciting.

They began creating their own crosses, changing rose gardening forever. Hybrids between ever-blooming China roses and Rosa moschata led to the Noisette roses. At the same time, the Hybrid Perpetual was developed from mixed parentage. These were crossed with Tea roses from China, resulting in the first hybrid tea rose. Soon, the era of modern roses was in full swing. In North America, roses were also making an impact.

There are about 35 species of roses that are native to the United States. As far back as the early 1600s, American Indians in the Northeast were planting roses to add flower color to their villages. Many native American roses, including Rosa californica, Rosa setigera and Rosa palustris, are rugged plants that are supremely adapted to the climates of their origins.

In this current age of conservation when plants are required to thrive and look attractive with a minimum of care, as well as reduced amounts of water and fertilizer, these native American roses are ideal subjects.In addition to native species, early settlers in North America also introduced many roses originating from other parts of the world. In the late 16th century, William Penn, founder of Pennsylvania, brought 18 rose plants from England to the new world.

He later wrote a book for pioneers about the value of roses as medicinal plants.Today, roses are big business. The rose is the world's most popular flower, and the national flower of the United States. Each year commercial rose growers produce millions of plants that are sold throughout the world. To meet the demand for new varieties, rose hybridizing and variety testing continue as important parts of the rose-growing process.

MODERN GARDENING EQUIPMENT

You keep on following the rules that in order for your plants to grow healthy, sufficient water, soil quality, and sunlight must be provided. But little do you know that the types and quality of equipment you use in taking care of your plants also have an effect on your plants' health or good growing conditions.

Defective tools might just cause damaging "wounds" on your plants or even totally destroy or cut your plants. To avoid this, it is a must to look for the best gardening equipment that will assist you in giving that tender loving care for your plants. When you say the best gardening equipment, it means a tool that will allow energy efficiency and that permits labor saving methods.

Here are some of the best gardening devices reviewed by who else but the gardening aficionados themselves.

1. Garden Shredders

JCB SS2400 received five stars out of five from the gardening equipment reviewers from recommendedbuys.co.uk. It has a 2400 watts motor and comes with a silent gear crushing system. It is one promising tool to improve and hasten your shredding activity and.Ryobi ESR - 2240 Electric Shredder is an easy to assemble garden shredder that aids in making healthy hedges and tree prunings with a maximum of 40 mm. It comes with built-in wheels and a plunger for increased portability.

2. Edge Trimmer

Bosch AHS42-16 Electric Hedge Trimmer also received five stars out of five rating from the gardening equipment reviewers from recommendedbuys.co.uk. It has 420 watts output.

3. Cultivators

Mantis Tiller Cultivator comes with patented tines to aid in cutting smoothly through hard compacted soil. It is perfect to use in preparing vegetable plots, flower beds, etc. It also helps in thatching, aerating and cleaning the moss. It also comes with a free border edger

.4. Lawnmowers

Brill 78370 Luxus Push Reel Mower rated 4.5 out of 5 stars Tools-hills.com customers. It has a large top cover that protects shrubs and overhanging flowers.American Lawnmower Deluxe Light Reel Mower 1815-16 received 4.5 stars out of 5 from Epinions.com buyers. It is commended for its being able to operate on elbow grease alone, thus, does not cause pollution. It is not for too tall grasses.

5. Leaf Sweeper

Agri-fab 26 Push Leaf Sweeper is for smaller lawns and is available with 200 litre collector. It also comes with an infinite height adjustment feature.

GARDENING FOR KIDS

Gardening with your kids can serve three purposes. First, you get to spend time with your kids. Second, it is great exercise for you and your kids and third, it can be a very valuable teaching tool.

Your children can learn about the importance of plants, the different types of plants and flowers and why we need plants and flowers to maintain the cycle of life. When planting a garden with your kids, there are some things that you should take into consideration to make it successful.

The first thing you should consider is the type of garden that you want. Do you want strictly flowers or would your child be interested in growing vegetables. How about both? There is no hard and fast rule that says that a garden can't be flowers and vegetables combined. Just make sure that all plants are compatible and need the same basic nutrition.Another thing to take into consideration is the size of your garden.

If the garden is too big, it will easily overwhelm you and your child, but if it is too small, it won't be productive. A great alternative would be to plant flowers and vegetables in different types of containers. This will prevent the child from becoming too overwhelmed. The advantage of container gardens is that the containers may be moved from one location to another.

The shape of the garden can be very important also. You want your children to maintain an interest in gardening so it should be as appealing to a child as possible. Experiment with different shapes and plants. Maybe you child likes waterfalls. Try designing a flower garden and use a small pond insert with a waterfall for the centerpiece.

The more interested you can get your kids, the more they will want to garden with you. You could pretend that the waterfall garden is a magical wishing garden where all of their wishes can come true.Before the spring planting season starts, have your child look through seed packets. Let him pick out his favorites. Plant the seeds in small containers in the house. Make your child responsible for caring for his "garden" each day.

Once the seeds start to sprout, they should become big enough to transplant in the garden. It may be fun to let your child name each plant and have him check their growth process each day.Planting a garden can be hard work. But if you plant a garden with your kids, it can be a great learning experience for both of you. Use your imagination and most importantly, use your child's imagination to design a beautiful garden that you both can enjoy all summer.

VEGETABLE GARDENING TIPS

If you have ever tasted vegetables fresh from the garden you know it doesn't compare to the vegetables that you buy in the grocery store.

Tomatoes are the perfect example. A fresh tomato straight from the garden has a fresh taste that is ten times more succulent than a grocery store tomato. Imagine what fresh tomatoes would do for your homemade pizza sauce or pasta recipes.

Anyone can grow a least a few vegetables. If you don't have a lot of room, some vegetables can be grown in containers. As with any other plant, you need to determine the climate that you live in and research what types of vegetables would thrive in this climate. Peas, cabbage and broccoli tend to favor cooler climates, while melons, okra and sweet potatoes, love the hotter climates.Tomatoes grow well in full sun and warm weather.

The great thing about tomatoes is that they grow well in containers. So if you have no area for a garden, you can still grow fresh tomatoes in a container on your patio or deck.If you have a flower garden, you don't have to have a separate area for a vegetable garden. You can plant vegetables in your flower beds as long neither one is the type to vine or spread out a lot.

Vegetables and flowers require the same basic care, so they are very compatible.The most important aspect of having a successful vegetable garden is plenty of sunlight. You should choose a site that gets at least six hours of sun a day. Vegetables grow poorly in too much shade. Also consider convenience. You want to plant your vegetables near the house to make harvesting and maintenance much easier. Make sure you have a water source close by.

It is no fun to lug buckets of water across the yard on a hot summer day.Loose, rich, soil is important for good vegetable growth. When preparing the garden bed, dig or till up at least eight inches of the top soil and work in plenty of compost or other organic material of your choosing. This will give you a good, healthy, soil in which your plants will thrive.

The great thing about growing your own vegetables is that you know they are not exposed to dangerous pesticides or other preservatives. Growing your own vegetables gives the term organic a new meaning. You also won't have to pay a huge price for organic vegetables and they are guaranteed to taste better.

If you can plant a flowerbed, then you can plant a vegetable garden. The basics are the same. Once you taste freshly grown vegetables from your garden, you will never want to eat grocery store vegetables again!

SIX FASHION TIPS 4 GARDENERS

Clothes and skin cream are far removed from potting out your begonias, or digging a trench for a line of potatoes. But the clothes you wear are important for your protection in the garden.

Here are six simple but effective solutions to various gardening hazards...

1. Starting from the top, you need to protect your head. Body heat escapes through the head and in the cold weather a warm hat should be worn. Knit yourself a 'gardening crazy' hat or buy a simple woollen hat on the high street. And in the summer, even more attention should be paid to the head.
The sun's rays are not only hot but they actually burn you. We all know this but how easy it is to forget when you want to soak up the sun after months of grey or cold weather. Invest in a cool sunhat.
Not only will it help protect you from sunstroke, it will also protect against the drying out of your hair and skin.

2. Keep one old comfortable jacket or short coat, preferably with fairly large pockets, especially for the garden. When you're working, you won't need to worry about dirty marks. Leave them there, it's all part of the gardener's designer uniform!

3. Suitable trousers.. again keep a couple of old pairs especially for gardening. Wear heavy duty jeans for heavy duty work. A good waterproof pair are handy in damp climates. In fact, in damp climates, a whole waterproof gardening suit is invaluable. There is always planting to do in the rain, and a waterproof hat, jacket and trousers tucked in a pair of boots will keep you nice and dry!

4. Protect your hands. For light work, potting on or pinching out tomato plants, a disposable plastic pair of gloves or a pair of kitchen rubber gloves will be enough. For heavier work - pruning roses, weeding thistles and nettles, wear heavy duty gardening gloves, or your hands will suffer.

5. Watch those toes! Invest in a pair of steel toe capped boots and wear them! If you're pottering in the greenhouse or doing a little weeding, a simple pair of wellington boots will do, or even sandals if the weather allows. But as soon as you pick up a large tool, your steel toe-caps should be worn.
If you're not used to them, these boots can feel heavy and cumbersome at first, but stick with it. If you're doing heavy work, you need heavy boots.

6. And last but certainly not least, you must protect your skin. Moisturise all exposed body parts whenever you are woking in the garden, rain or shine. Working outside will give you a nice healthy glow, but the wind and sun will dry your skin given half a chance.So there we have it, not a fashion designer's dream, but these 6 garden fashion tips will make life a lot more comfortable, and safer, for the average home gardener. Happy gardening!