Beat the Weeds and Save Time in the Garden
by: Fran Barnwell
So often new gardeners are put off the idea of gardening by thinking about the time it might take, and the hard work involved. The popular idea of a low-maintenance garden is one of covering the space with decking and gravel, planted with a few grasses and pots of evergreens.
However, I have discovered an ideal way to help thwart one of the most time-consuming chores in the garden - that of weeding.
This came about almost by accident, as I have a cat who thinks that any uncovered ground is a glorious litter tray! I quickly had to find a way to cover up as much of the soil as possible, but soon realised that ground cover plants gave me the even greater benefit of vastly reducing the number of weeds.
Of course, there are many gardeners who enjoy the time spent weeding, and I admire them tremendously - there are great physical and mental benefits to spending time outdoors among your plants.
But for those of us whose time spent in the garden must be limited because of work commitments or perhaps physical limitations, there is a way to enjoy our plants with a minimum of fuss. Of course, time has to be spent on the initial ground preparation and planting, however, this would probably take far less time than laying decking and gravel!
Weeds are great survivors and they very quickly take over any bare patch of soil. Once they take hold they can very easily smother existing plants and become notoriously difficult to get rid of.
So the idea is to find plants that form dense clumps or spread via their roots to cover the ground. As with most plants, there are ground cover plants for each season when they are at their best, and some that look good all year round.
One word of caution. Because some of these plants spread quickly - which is of course what we want - they also don't actually know when to stop! So you may need to cut them back occasionally to keep them within their allotted space.
What to plant?
I have discovered that plants such as bugle (ajuga) - you can get plants with purple, bronze or variegated foliage; euphorbia - with stunning acid-green flowers in early to late spring; lesser periwinkle (vinca minor); bergenias - commonly known as elephant's ears; as well as small-leaved variegated ivies, all provide year round ground cover. Another advantage of these particular plants is that they are also slug and snail resistant!
In spring and summer, you can use aubretia, arabis, alyssum and candytuft (iberis), which all hug the ground. And particularly useful, and providing some height to a border, is aquilegia - the old-fashioned cottage garden variety - which after flowering retains its foliage in attractive clumps. They also self-seed prolifically, giving you extra plants each year.
Another favourite plant of mine is the hardy geranium. Some varieties do die down in the winter - weeds don't grow much then anyway - but the plants soon romp away in spring and provide ground cover and masses of flowers all summer.
Other useful plants to use for ground cover are herbs. Among a wide variety to choose from are comfrey, feverfew, catmint, golden marjoram and mallow.
So there you have it! Once your ground cover plants are established, you?ll no longer have to spend hours on your knees, but can spend quality time in your garden.
About The Author
Fran Barnwell is a self-taught gardener, learning through experience in her own garden. Fran understands the difficulties that face new gardeners, and has
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Introduction to Flower Bulbs - Summer and Spring-Flowering Bulb
Introduction to Flower Bulbs - Summer and Spring-Flowering Bulb
by: Kirk Gordon
Bulb flowers are popular in the Dutch culture (Netherlands), however, they are native to central Asia. Dahlias are said to be native to Mexico, Hippeastrum is from South America, Freesias and calla lilies are native to South Africa.
Although bulbs are not native to the Netherlands, the professional Dutch horticulturalists are the primary reason why bulbs are as popular as they are. They also get credit for being pioneers in breeding specialized bulbs with distinctive, vibrant shades of colors. The Netherlands cultivate some of the finest bulb flowers available. Because the Netherlands have an ideal climate for bulb production, they grow a lot of bulbs and are pretty good at it, too. Certain parts of the Netherlands is even known as the "bulb region."
In general, bulbs are categorized into two categories - the "spring-flowering bulbs" and the "summer-flowering...
Introduction to Flower Bulbs - Summer and Spring-Flowering Bulb
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It's Spring - Time for a Compensation Program Tune Up
It's Spring - Time for a Compensation Program Tune Up
by: Michael Maciekowich
It's Spring - Time for a Compensation Program Tune Up
Now that winter has passed, the annual ritual of spring cleaning is in full swing. Spring cleaning is more than cleaning the windows and clearing the cobwebs that hid in the corners during the winter. ?Spring is a time to take a serious look at your compensation program and begin planning for the next budget cycle. Depending on your organization's fiscal year, it may also be time to determine appropriate market adjustments and pay increases for the coming year,? said Michael Maciekowich, National Director, Astron Solutions.
Compensation program spring cleaning is more than looking at the market and determining adjustments. It is a time to step back and determine if the system remained in alignment with organizational and employee needs. Most organizations have long-term strategic plans with short-term objectives...
It's Spring - Time for a Compensation Program Tune Up
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New, No Break Polyproyplene Stadium And Theatre Seating-Bleacher Chair
New, No Break Polyproyplene Stadium And Theatre Seating-Bleacher Chair
by: Frank Sumner
Preferred Seating is leading the way into the next generation of stadium and theatre seating. Seating is now available that is made out of the same no break polypropylene that automobiles components are made of. Stadium seat technology has advanced from the heavy steel seats of yesterday to the industry's newest state-of-the-art standard: no-break, lightweight, high-impact polypropylene seats. Champion Stadium Seating is available exclusively at Preferred Seating, America's leading stadium and theatre seating innovator, www.preferred-seating.com.
Arena owners have been waiting for a stadium seat that resists fading, does not rust or crack. These stadium seats are easily mounted on existing bleachers, risers, and floors, either permanently or temporarily, making them an ideal way to upgrade a stadium...
New, No Break Polyproyplene Stadium And Theatre Seating-Bleacher Chair
Spring break > New, No Break Polyproyplene Stadium And Theatre Seating-Bleacher Chair
Excuses Can Make or Break You!
Excuses Can Make or Break You!
by: Mark Machaalani
?He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else? said Benjamin Franklin. There is a lot of truth in this quote. Those, whom tend to be successful in life, do not get there by making negative excuses to themselves about how they can?t get there. In fact they do the opposite.
If you want to do something in life, there is no doubt that you will find a way. If on the other hand you don?t want to do something, you will always find an excuse. At times you want to achieve something in life, but are cluttered by your own negative excuses telling you why you cannot achieve what you are after.
I have two rules concerning excuses that I use to help me gain what I look for in life. First rule is:
1. Instead of making excuses why you cannot do something, make excuses telling yourself why and how you can do something.
This is a very important guideline or law if you...
Excuses Can Make or Break You!
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Spring Cleaning For Today's Mom
Spring Cleaning For Today's Mom
by: Amy Allen Clark
With spring comes all of the beauty of the changing season. We finally began to see our grass; we enjoy seeing the new buds on our trees, and the sweet smell of a good April shower. What also comes along is the dreaded ritual of spring cleaning. Maybe you went through this awful experience as a child. Your mother would be pulling all the linens, washing the drapes, deep cleaning every nook and cranny of your home and then collapse after a full day of cleaning. I don?t remember this as being a fun ritual for our family and have decided to try a different method of cleaning in our own home.
Spring cleaning ironically is not as necessary as it once was. Back in the olden days, spring cleaning was a much different concept then it is today. This cleaning was a necessary routine because of how they had to heat their homes and keep them lit. Using kerosene, wood, gas, oil, and candles caused the house...
Spring Cleaning For Today's Mom
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Spring break
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