Weeds are a problem that plague every garden, and while weed killer will help once the weeds are above the surface we wanted to find a product that can help control and prevent. We came across a product that is created by DuPont called the General Purpose Landscape Fabric and quickly fell in love with it.
The easy to install fabric is a great way to block weeds from growing, but still allows for moisture and nutrients to get to your plants unlike plastic sheeting. Also the General Purpose Landscape Fabric comes backed up by a 5 year warranty, which is great news to hear for any product.
Installation is very easy and can be done in a matter of minutes. Roll out the fabric across your garden, and cut to fit your space. Use landscape anchor pins every 3-5 feet to fasten down the edges of the fabric, and then cut X's where you plan on putting you plants. Cover the fabric with 2-3 inches of mulch and you're done!
Ever since I made a visit to the Armstrong Garden Center a month ago I have been thinking about a vegetable garden of my own, especially since now is the time to plant. So I did my research and here is what I learned on how to plant your own vegetable garden.
Use the sunniest spot in your yard to do the planting, after all the two things your garden will need to grow are sun and water.
Clear and prepare the land that you are going to use for your garden by using a rototiller.
If you are going to plant the seeds directly into the ground, take the soil and plant the seeds in an egg carton until they take root and then transplant them. The other choice is to buy seedlings at a nursery and then plant them.
Orientate the rows of vegetables east to west, and make sure the tallest plants are on the north end of the garden. This will be keep the smaller plants from being shaded but the bigger ones and not receiving enough sunlight during the day.
Plants a few flowers throughout the vegetable garden, this will attract bees and help pollinate the garden.
If you use these easy tips your garden will be sure to flourish and enjoying your very own freshly grown vegetables in no time.
Water conservation is a big deal right now, and because there is a need to save water many people want to know, are drip irrigation systems a good way to go? With the laws being enforced on water consumption, you are going to make the most of what you use. With drip irrigation, you will be able to zero in on the areas you need watered and not waste it by spraying everywhere. The video below will get into some more details.
Drip irrigation systems focus the water used to go straight to the roots which causes less waste, this is best for potted plants and raised planters. Also when watering trees this is the best way to go, by adding a couple drip emitters around the tree you can do what is called "deep watering". This will help the roots to grow downward rather than coming up through the surface, and by having more control on the root growth you can save your hardscape from being cracked by large roots.
Rain Bird is a company we trust and have a wide variety of irrigation products including all the parts you need to make your own drip irrigation system. Head over to Rain Bird's website to get started on yours today.
I came across a company called Woolypocket recently, and their products are a great and easy way to create an instant lush living wall on any vertical surface, indoor and out. This means that you can turn any plain or unused space into a wall mounted hanging garden.
Woolypocket carry various sizes of their Wally units including Wallys with 1, 3, and 5 pockets and since it is a modular system, you can use as many you like to fit any size of space.
Also for all of the Do-it-Yourself readers out there, installation is easy enough for an at home install but is also durable enough for commercial use.
Another plus of Woolypockets products is that they are breathable containers which means it allows soil to aerate naturally, which reduces the need to drain the containers and when the roots sense air they do something called air pruning. This is a natural process of stopping their own growth when they sense they've reached the limits of their space.
Woolypockets are made of recycled plastic bottles that have been industrially felted, and are stitched together by hand with a UV-resistant nylon thread.
If you are interested into starting your very own vertical garden at home, apartment, or business then we suggest heading over to Woolypockets website and start building your own modular system.
One of my favorite nurseries has to be Armstrong Garden Center. With their wide selection of everything from plants to fountains, you will be able to find anything you need for your landscape. I went to my local store yesterday to see whats growing and whats popular with the do it yourself gardeners out there.
Instantly I noticed that the annuals were in full bloom, which is an inexpensive way to quickly beautify your yard and add tons of color at the same time. Also if your just looking to fill in some spots in your garden, these plants would be a good way to do it.
After talking to the staff at Armstrong they let me know that now is the time to plant your vegetable garden, and that it is one of their most popular items right now. Here you can find everything from Tomatoes to herbs such as cilantro and basil.
If your looking to go green and save water in your yard, the Armstrong Garden Center has you covered. They have a large selection of drought tolerant plants like the succulents shown here, and the staff will let you know what you should when planting and caring for these types of plants.
A couple outdoor living displays were also set up by Pacific Outdoor Living and Monrovia which gave me a couple good ideas on what can be done in the backyard. Both displays showed a good examples on how fountains and ponds can really change your yard.
In all, the Armstrong Garden Center really is a one stop shop for your landscaping needs. The knowledgeable staff are always willing to help you, and will go as far as being your personal shopper and where you can use their expertise to help you choose plants. Or if you would rather learn how to care for your yard, they also offer classes to teach you what to do. For info on classes, events, or the address to any of the 33 locations in California head to ArmstrongGarden.com.
Installation is very easy and can be done in a matter of minutes. Roll out the fabric across your garden, and cut to fit your space. Use landscape anchor pins every 3-5 feet to fasten down the edges of the fabric, and then cut X's where you plan on putting you plants. Cover the fabric with 2-3 inches of mulch and you're done! 
Rain Bird is a company we trust and have a wide variety of irrigation products including all the parts you need to make your own drip irrigation system. Head over to Rain Bird's website to get started on yours today.
Woolypocket carry various sizes of their Wally units including Wallys with 1, 3, and 5 pockets and since it is a modular system, you can use as many you like to fit any size of space. 
