Posts Tagged ‘garden’

Guest Post by Rich Brinkley

It’s no secret that a garden takes a lot of time and effort. At the end of the day you want to sit back and look at how beautiful your garden is and look at how your hard work paid off, not laying in bed sore and reaching for the pain killers. The best option for longevity and safety while gardening is using ergonomically designed garden tools.

Ergonomically designed tools are specifically designed to distribute pressure in natural patterns which reduces the amount of pressure applied to one specific area. Not only does an ergonomic tool design distribute pressures, but many designs aim at keeping the hands and feet in the most natural position and form as possible. Up to this point, the idea of ergonomic tools sounds great, but why don’t more people have them?

The fact is many stores, even the ones that have designated home and garden sections, simply do not carry ergonomic gardening tools. Sure they may sell a small hand shovel with a “sponge” grip, but that’s the most basic form of ergonomics and they really aren’t that durable.

I can’t quite tell you the reason why many stores sell the “basic” ergonomic designs or the standard non-ergo designs and not the tools that have made a name for themselves and are proven to enhance your gardening pleasure. Perhaps profits are the bottom line. In any event, your best bet at finding the top of the line ergo designs that have millions of dollars of research into them is online.

Ergonomics For Specific Conditions

There has been an influx of ergonomically designed tools as of late for people who have specific health concerns such as a bad back, arthritis, bad knees and other ailments. The truth is, these tools may cost a bit more (we aren’t talking big bucks here), but they really are worth the investment.

Tools For Gardeners With Arthritis

Gardeners who have severe arthritis can actually get tools that are designed to fit into a special holder that allows the user to use their whole arm and shoulder to move the tool, rather than just the wrist alone.

An automatic hose reel is by far one of the best options for gardeners with arthritis. Winding up a hose can be quite hard on the hands and arms, especially when you have to deal with kinking and coiling the garden hose up to but back into storage. Automatic hose reels are either water or electricity powered. Many of the electric models feature a foot pedal in which you simply press down on with your foot and the hose automatically rewinds.

One product I had seen on the internet just a few days ago was a pair of garden sheers. The main change on them from standard grass sheers is that the handles are extra long. This is great for people who may have knee or back problems and can’t really bend down. The handles are long enough so that you can actually stay in the upright position and do all of your sheering work!

If you have chronic pain or another type of ailment such as arthritis, back pain or knee pain, you should really look into getting the tools that will help you garden without pain. It is a lot easier to find these specialized ergonomic tools on the internet rather than in the corner home department store.

Give your flowers the right amounts of water and sunshine and you stand to have gorgeous blossoms, all summer long. However to make them even more vibrant they require some fertilizer.

When I first started using fertilizers I had no idea how to use them for specific plants. It was quite a challenge as I have multiple varieties of plants growing in our home garden areas. It turns out that one kind of fertilizer isn’t always what your plants need.

Hopefully you have a concern about our environment and the future of our children and have made the choice to go green with organic gardening, like we have chosen to do and will go with all natural fertilizers. Natural fertilizers are made using all-natural components like fish emulsion or even chicken droppings. Wish they were around collecting that chicken poop when I was kid as it was sure hard on the nose and eyes.

As a guy I don’t always read instructions, it’s not always gone well. It’s no different when using fertilizers, you have to get the right stuff for the task at hand. I kind of over did it a few times and my plants suffered for it. So pay close attention to what it says on the package, even if it’s natural too much isn’t a good thing.

What you’re looking for in fertilizer is usually nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. Each provides specific requirement for your flowers and plants. But how much to use, well that’s on the package as well and is why it’s important to read them. What does each provide for the plant?

1. Potassium assists the plant grow a wholesome root growth.
2. Nitrogen assists in the growth of healthy leaves and stalk and is good for young plants.
3. Phosphorous will promote gorgeous, large blossoms. You can use fertilizer higher in phosphorous just before the plant begins to bloom and all during the blooming season.

Fertilizers come in liquid form or granular form based on the needs or requirements you have.

Usually the liquid fertilizer needs to be used every couple of weeks. This is because the liquid will tend to dissipate quickly and won’t last as long as the granular fertilizer will. It will dissolve over time and may only be needed once a month.

There is a lot of competition in the garden fertilizer industry so your likely to find a lot to choose from so I would suggest you hit your local nursery where you will be able to ask questions before making a purchase.

If you don’t have a local nursery you may have to go further or do what I do and that’s to check online. Also if I can’t find anything locally I head to Amazon, so take a few minutes and head over to check out Garden Fertilizers on Amazon.

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Jenny and I were more than a bit intimidated when we first started gardening but at the same time so stoked  as beginner gardeners.

I can remember worry that I was planting my plants in our veggie garden like dad use to do and he’s not around to ask question to any more.

A few starter plants didn’t make it into the garden in the best of shape, after trying to extract them from their starter post, our first time around. Well the good things is I didn’t kill anything in the process and eventually my thumb started turning green.

I wasn’t actually sure how deep to plant each plant and remember re-digging holes more than once before accepting the depth and planting the poor things. Maybe we got them a little too deep or shallow but they survived and we learned as we went.

Even though we learned a lot by trial and error we also had help from online readers and friends. I have listed a few things that will help you get past those initial fears of planting plants correctly in your gardens.

1. Now Where Should I Put These Plants

Our first blunder has to be digging our vegetable garden where it was going to be shaded until about noon every day. Where the heck was my brain. I think I remember enjoying the shade while I was digging it up. DUH!!

Fortunately the trees along our east property fence are our trees. We plan to remove the trees that are blocking the garden. We would move the garden but really it’s the only place in our backyard that has the space for our garden. So glad we have control over those trees, as they are getting bigger every year.

To make it even tougher that section of our backyard is also the lowest in the yard and hold water enough we get ducks landing in our yard come spring. I have put a lot of work into drainage for our veggie garden but any new gardens are going to be raised bed gardens because my back hurts.

2. How Deep And Wide For Starter Plant Planting

Even though Jenny and I both had gardens while we were growing up we didn’t actually create or maintain them. Yeah we had to do some weeding but that wasn’t our issue when we first started vegetable gardening. We were just a bit intimidated but not enough to give up.

I work from home here in Moncton and use the Internet to make money online so when I’m stumped I head to my office and check online for answers.

I seemed to worry a bit about digging holes to transplant potted starter plants. Was the hole to small, too wide, too deep, was it not round enough. Okay that last one was an exaggeration but you get my point.

The thing is it was pretty simple to just plant it to the same depth as the container but I figured it had to be tougher than that, but it wasn’t. Gotta stop second guessing myself.

I have learned that when transplanting tomatoes I can plant them a little deeper and put dirt up the stalk a bit to help grow bigger root systems for healthier tomatoes.

3. From The Container And Into The Ground

Okay this one was pretty simple but of course I had to be in a rush to get my garden in so I could start watching it grow. This led to a few starter plants being partly destroyed getting them out of those little containers.

Once I learned I could just squeeze the size a little to loosen the roots a bit and then I turned them upside down with the stalk between two finger for support and slowly pulled them out of the container.

4. Getting Your Plants Finally Planted

Once I have the plant root ball safely out of the container I gently spread the roots out without breaking them if at all possible. This will help them to spread out through the earth easier after being balled up in a tiny pot.

I like dig the hole a little deeper and put a small pile of dirt in the middle to drape the roots over to keep them spread out as I fill in the dirt around the plant. I also try to push the dirt into all the spaces so there are no air pockets.

6. Caring For Your Plant After Planting

Excellent, now you can transplant plants with confidence but you’re not quite finished yet. Your plant may go into shock before the roots can get established so you need to give your plant a good watering, allow it to drain well and repeat.

Happy home gardening and do share your experiences with our reader through commenting below.

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• Basic Steps To Planting A Container Garden (backyardgardeningtips.com)
• Avoid These Gardening Blunders (backyardgardeningtips.com)
• Gardening Tips During Winter (backyardgardeningtips.com)
• 5 Must Haves to Make your Garden Italian! (backyardgardeningtips.com)

Guest Post by: Liz

One certainly doesn’t have to be in Italy to enjoy fresh Italian herbs and vegetables during the summer months. The secret to much of Italian cooking is the strong emphasis on fresh ingredients. Sure we can get fresh produce at the market – but even that doesn’t compare to dashing out the back door right before dinner to grab some new born fresh basil or parsley for that special chicken dish you’ve been raving about.

Anytime I write about what to put in an Italian garden, I always stress to only include items which you already know you will use. For example, it’s one thing to use flat Italian parsley, but unless you like the slightly bitter taste, you might be better off sticking to regular curly parsley.

Therefore, don’t think about what an Italian garden "should" have, but what you "want" your Italian garden to have. Here are five key ingredients to get you started on creating your Italian garden.

Parsley

Parsley is a staple in any garden and rightly so. Even if never used in a recipe, it makes a perfect garnish and breath freshener! Surely you didn’t think restaurants used it just because it was pretty next to that garlic and onion laden steak?

Parsley comes in two popular varieties – flat or curly. The flat is also called Italian Parsley and is frequently used in many Italian dishes and sauces. However, the flavour is more bitter than it’s cousin the curly variety and is more frequently used as an ingredient rather than a garnish or raw ingredient, such as in a salad.

Parsley enjoys cooler weather and does well in partial shade. Just this past week (and it is currently winter) I was surprised to see I had a bunch of parsley growing right outside in one of my pots!

Oregano

Although the most popular oregano is Greek oregano, it can still find its way comfortably into an Italian garden. Oregano became most popular in the US after WWII when soldiers stationed in Italy came home raving of the "special" ingredient used in their pizza sauce overseas. The key ingredient which was previously lacking in the American version was… oregano.

Oregano plants can grow up to 20 inches wide and do not do well in rich soils, therefore be careful not to over fertilize this herb. It enjoys moderate water as it is not a thirsty plant and perks up quickly with a good watering if it goes too long without it.

Rosemary

Rosemary is an excellent Italian herb used in many meat dishes such as roast chicken or lamb. Rosemary also acts as a natural bug repellent and I have planted them closer to the house for this very reason. However, these fragrant plants can be used as bushes to outline your garden, whether as a hedge or as a decorative corner. The choice is up to you!

If started by seed, rosemary can take just less than half a year to grow into a mature plant. Plant the seedlings during April and by the summer months you should be enjoying the benefits of its aromatic fragrance not only as the wind gently blows, but for any cooking as well. Once it has reached maturity, it will become one of your easiest herbs to maintain as you only have to water it during very dry periods.

Rosemary can be frozen or dried for future use. To freeze it, cut the sprigs in 3 inch lengths and gently wash away any dirt then pat them dry. Freeze on a tray in the freezer then once frozen, place in freezer bags, seal well and don’t forget to label them.

Basil

Basil is an easy herb to grow and in this case "should" always be in an Italian garden. It grows well when planted next to tomato plants and is therefore called a companion plant of tomatoes. I tested this theory this past summer and planted basil on one side of my garden as well as between my tomato plants.

To my enjoyment, the basil did exceptionally well near my tomatoes. It seemed as if it they did not go to seed as quickly as the ones on the other side. Could this have been due to another reason such as I may have happened to simply water these better – or was it due to some moderate shade the tomatoes provided? Could be a combination of all three – but I can tell you this year I’ll be putting them next to the tomatoes again without a doubt.

Basil if planted from seed can take 2 months, so planting from a seedling is much easier. The problem is finding "organic" seedlings. It is extremely important that basil never be planted when it is still cold and when the possible slight overnight frost can occur. Basil is a fragile herb and this caution cannot be expressed enough.

Basil is a great herb that can be frozen and used for future use during the winter months. Simply wash the leaves and let them air dry after you pick them. Once dry, lay flat in some plastic storage bags and remove any air and place in the freezer. Some people recommend freezing the leaves on a tray first, then place in a plastic bag – this is a good method too as it prevents the leaves from sticking to each other.

As an interesting note, basil can be used in a variety of ways, from scrambled eggs with tomatoes and basil for breakfast to being added as an ingredient into an ice cream gelato maker to make basil gelato or sorbet for dessert. Who knew basil was so versatile?

Tomatoes

We frequently think of tomatoes as a vegetable, but technically it is a fruit. No matter how you classify them, they make definitely make their way on our list of the Top 5 for an Italian garden.

Since tomatoes come in so many varieties, if you truly want an Italian garden, you have to think of Italian foods. Tomatoes are most commonly used for sauces therefore you want tomatoes that are meaty and juicy at the same time. Roma tomatoes are a good option, however there are other "Italian" tomatoes which are similar to Roma tomatoes but on a larger scale. You may have to look online for a source that sells these by the plant or seed.

My husband and I grow a variety which comes directly from his Aunt in Sicily. She shipped the seeds a few years ago and now we save the seeds and grow them each year. We don’t know the official name of the variety so we creatively call them Sicilian Tomatoes.

Italian tomatoes tend to produce later in the summer months, so if you are craving tomatoes for earlier months you will be better off planting a variety of tomatoes and enjoy them all summer long!

When all is said and done, growing an Italian garden is not difficult. In fact, odds are most of the plants you already grow are listed in this article. For more unusual Italian plants look for items like fennel, or Italian varieties of zucchini.

The options are many, but remember to always choose foods that you will actually use with your cooking. If you know you do not like it – don’t grow it… no matter how Italian it may be!

This article was contributed by Liz who enjoys gardening and has strong memories of helping her mother in the backyard garden as a child. Only until recently has she picked it back up again and was happy to experience the same excitement and joy she had as a child when gathering vegetables and herbs for the dinner meal.

Today she owns and operates an Italian cooking website where she stresses simple recipes and ingredients. She also writes reviews of various kitchenware products used in Italian kitchens such as a stainless steel meat grinder for making Italian sausage and gelato machines for making the perfect Italian dessert. She enjoys sharing her experiences with others and encourages others to use simple and fresh ingredients whenever possible!

What a timely guest blog post by Robert Loyst.

“Our garden hose has seen better days and over the years we’ve had it. It had been run over many times but the last time my son’s girlfriend drove over the nozzle and almost flatten it and I couldn’t get it un-flattened so it needs to be replaced.” – James Mann

It is understandable that garden hose maintenance might not be on the top of your high priority list, but if you want to consider yourself a great gardener, you need to have quality, dependable equipment.

One of the most important parts of any garden setup is the garden hose and with a couple of tips and methods, you can increase the life and performance of your hose.

Protecting the Garden Hose Nozzle

I can’t tell you how many times I have been at a friends house and been just appalled at the condition of their garden hose nozzle. The first signs that the hose isn’t being stored correctly is the presence of scratches or deep gouges on the nozzle. These marks are typically from someone dropping the hose on the ground after they are done using it.

Dropping your nozzle on the ground in such a manner will not only destroy the nozzle tip, it will also loosen the handle that you press to spray. A loose handle may simply break off or be limited in its travel, which will not let the right amount of water out(decreased water pressure).

Not only does the handle area get damaged when a hose nozzle is dropped or dragged on the ground, the actual connection where the hose nozzle and the hose meet will become loose, worn and will most likely develop a leak.

A perfect example of this is the hose that we have at work. If you simply turn the water pressure all the way up, the whole nozzle simply pops right off. You cannot have this in a real gardening situation.

Hose Reel and Hose Placement

A very common thing I see in many garden situations is the wrong location of a hose reel or hose storage area. Hoses are made of rubber, which is extremely vulnerable to sun and heat exposure.

You should always locate your hose in an area that is going to get a lot of shade. Obviously if your hose connections are in the sunlight you will need to cover your hose with a cloth or some other type of shelter or look into getting a hose reel cart that will allow you to move your hose out of the sun for storage.

NOTE: Just because your hose may not show that much sign of heat/sun exposure, you have to know that hoses are made of several layers of rubber and other materials. The outside layer may be slightly dry, but you will never know truly the condition of the inner materials.

My recommendation is that you purchase a hose reel cart that will kill many birds with one stone. They enable you to easily wind the hose up after each use which will protect against internal hose fractures, they allow you to store your hose in the shade, which will protect against heat damage and can be unwound in an orderly fashion, again which will relieve stress on the hose.

A trend that has become popular for the home gardener is upside down tomato growing. This growing method is different to the traditional tomato growing. The growing container is suspended and the tomato plant hangs down from the bottom of the container towards the ground. There are several benefits to this type of growing.

Upside down tomato growing is ideal for those with limited space, such as those living in an apartment. You can easily hang the container on a sunny balcony, or patio, and grow wonderful tomatoes. Additionally, when growing with this type of technique there is no need to stake the tomato plants. Pests are also greatly reduced when growing tomatoes upside down. There will be no need to worry about ground fungus, or cut worms, destroying your delicious crop.

Upside down tomato growing is a trend that is become very popular as well as productive. The benefits are great, especially when one takes into account that it opens up gardening to those with no space for a traditional garden. Those with a traditional garden should try the upside down method at least once, because you may find being able to hang these plants near the kitchen is so handy. What you do need to be aware of though is to fertilize the plants at the right time.

Although tomatoes easily grow without so much pampering, fertilizer for tomatoes has to be maintained if excellent plant and fruiting is to be considered. However, adding fertilizer depends on the nutrient of the soil.

Observation though has it that organic composts are the best fertilizer for tomatoes.When planting the upside down tomato it is a good idea to use some organic compost in the potting soil and then as the plant starts to fruit add tomato fertilizer once a week.

If you want to make your own organic compost mix you can infuse organic compost in water, drain off the water and use that to water your upside down tomato.  Another good tip is to spread broken egg shells on the soil because tomatoes need calcium for good growth and this is found in egg shells.

Don’t fertilize your upside down tomato plant too early as the goodness will be taken up by the leaves rather than go into producing large sweet tomatoes

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• Planting Tomatoes Home Gardening Tips (hbb2obm.com)

You can grow a garden of veggies or a garden of flowers on your porch or patio easily. All you need are some hanging baskets, giant flower pots, planter boxes or flower pots to get the task finished. The possibilities are endless. Ensure you avoid containers with small openings. Remember that what you grow needs room to grow. A good pot to use for your container garden is a ceramic pot.

Ensure your ceramic pot has lots of drainage holes and steer clear of the inexpensive style plastic pots. Cheap plastic pots have a tendency to get brittle in the sun over time. Terracotta pots are O.K but they do appear to dry out fast. Wooden containers should be avoided also as they tend to rot fast.

Try and use containers that are 15 to 120 quarts, anything smaller in comparison to 15 quarts can inhibit your plant growth and restrict the roots ability to flourish. If you live in a hot climate it’s sensible to make sure that your containers are light in color and that the drainage holes are at minimum a half in. apart. Be sure to make the effort to put some paper or paper of some type in the bottom of the container to stop any loss of soil.

If you are new to gardening be sure to visit a nursery or plant store and take notice of where the plants are located. If one of the plants you want is located in a place where the sun will shine on it all day, that is why it’s there. Paying attention now will save you asking questions or making mistakes once you get home.

Remember that your container garden will do best with at least 5 hours of good sunlight each day. A word to the sensible is that fruits and veggies will need the most sun in order to thrive. If you are growing flowers then the amount of sunlight will vary to some level. Don’t forget to water your garden everyday especially during those hot or damp summer months.

You will will also find many container garden ideas, ideas & tips online, as well as videos of how to line up your working area. If you or someone you like has been wanting to have a garden, but did not think they had sufficient room, think again. Container gardening is a great way to go and you’ll find it extraordinarily rewarding.

Small Organic Gardens helps people like you discover the joys of growing your own container garden. Simple, informative and easy to follow videos and tutorials including great tips and advice on how to plant a container garden. Please visit Small Organic Gardens at http://www.smallorganicgardens.com NOW.

Why do I love having raised bed gardens in our yard? Well if you ever tried digging in our yard you immediately find one big reason, the dense clay soil we have.

But that’s not all. They yard, well anywhere we’ve dug so far, is full of tree roots that make it so hard to dig a flower bed or a hole to plant a shrub.

At the time I am writing this post we have two raised garden beds in our backyard. It’s so cool that I can see them from my home office window.

Those raised beds have been here for many years and have seen better days. It’s time to replace the two we have but I would also like to build two more on the opposite side of the garage where they will be seen from the street so others can enjoy them as well.

Learning How To Build A Raised Bed Garden

Last spring I tried to dig up and amend the soil in one of the raised beds and it actually fell apart. I wasn’t sure how to fix it as it was getting pretty rotted so I just patched it up for the summer and  decided to look online to find raised bed garden plans that would teach me how to build raised bed gardens. The plans also had to be easy enough for me to follow as I don’t do well with instructions, at times.

Hey, I’m a guy and usually throw those instructions away.

I’d like to have a raised bed for our strawberries and another for our rhubarb, as a way to contain them. Plus on that side of the garage they will get about 3 maybe 4 extra hours of sunlight.

Raised Bed Gardens Save My Back

I think good looking raised beds makes our home even more beautiful but raised beds do so much more. The big thing for us is saving our backs as we are hitting sixty in another year.

Raised bed gardens not only save my back working the garden they also save our back due to the dense heavy soil we have here that grows little more than weeds. The raised beds allowed us to fill them with clean healthy tops soil, compost and peat moss without digging into that concrete we call our backyard.

A raised bed really just means that your garden as well as the required soil will be constructed above the ground level. So much easier than digging in our yard, so take a few minutes and checkout How To Build Raised Bed Gardens.

Guest Post by: Karen Ho Fatt

Winter is a great time to light a fire out on the backyard patio. But care must be taken to ensure your garden oasis doesn’t catch fire.

During the fall and winter months, deciduous trees (trees that lose their leaves), ground cover, shrubs and grasses dry out and can be an unwanted source of fuels. The last thing you want is a stray ember to ignite your garden or home. Follow these home gardening tips to help you prevent an accidental fire and be able to enjoy your garden come next spring.

Tip #1: Clear and remove any foliage accumulated from the autumn season such as leaves from trees, dead plants and dried up weeds. Prune plants, trim shrubbery and mow the lawn. The idea is to remove or reduce anything that could potentially catch fire from even a simple spark.

Tip #2: Pack away any combustible fuel storage tanks such as portable propane tanks, gas cans, chemicals and even old oil, which can be disposed at a Household Hazardous Waste Depot (in Canada) or a local parts store (in the US). Tanks, fuels and chemicals can be stored in a vented utility shed as far away as possible from any fire source.

Tip #3: Store firewood at least 30 feet away from your home or garden location. Firewood can be extremely dry and can catch fire easily. Keeping firewood away from your home also helps to prevent insects in and on the wood from entering your home.

Tip #4: Avoid any clutter in your garden or patio such as cardboard boxes, old newspapers or any other flammable materials. Maintain a clean area at least 20 feet in diameter where you will have your fire.

Tip #5: When clearing away debris and foliage, use care when using equipment like trimmers, lawnmowers and chainsaws. These types of equipment can ignite a fire, especially around dry grasses and vegetation. Have a water source nearby such as a garden hose or bucket of water. A fire extinguisher is always a good idea to have on hand as well.

Once you have everything cleared and cleaned up, it’s time to start the fire. Having a safely operating and properly located (such as on concrete – never on a deck) LP gas fire pit is the best way to avoid sparking a fire in your backyard. Wood burning fire pit tables are great for an outdoor winter get-together but they require constant attention to stray embers. You can use a fire pit screen to minimize embers.

Image via Wikipedia

Backyard activities during the wintertime can be greatly extended using fire pits, outdoor fireplaces and heaters. However, using them around improperly tended garden and backyard areas can result in an unexpected fire that could possibly cause a lot of damage. Use these heat sources wisely. Accidents can and do happen but you will be well prepared by following these five fire safe home gardening tips.

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If you are planning a new garden, the first thing you need to do is figure out what will grow well in your area.

Selecting plants that are suited to your climate is an important step to getting the garden you want. It will also save you time, money and the frustration that sometimes comes with trial-and-error gardening.

The History of Gardening Zones

In 1960, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) mapped out the country’s gardening climate zones in the Plant Hardiness Zone Map. “Hardiness” describes a plant’s ability to grow in climatic conditions, such as cold weather, that are not ideal.

The garden climate zones are based on average minimum temperatures. In order for a plant to survive year-round, it needs to be able to withstand the lowest temperature that is likely to occur in a given area. Plants are placed into the gardening zones according to how well they tolerate cold weather.

While you’re shopping, check labels for zone recommendations and make sure you’re selecting plants that are appropriate for your garden climate. Often, plants are tagged for a range of gardening zones – not just one.

Finding Your Garden Climate Zone

There are 11 gardening zones in North America. The higher the zone number, the warmer the average winter is in that zone. The lower the zone number, the colder and farther north the zone is.

Zone one is the coldest, with average minimum temperatures below minus 50 degrees. Zone 11 is the warmest, with average minimum temperatures between 30 and 40 degrees. Neither of these extremes occurs in the United States. The map of the United States is color-coded for zones two through 10. Each zone represents a 10-degree range of average minimum temperatures.

To determine which zone you live in, locate your area on the map and use the key to match its color to a zone. Or, use your zip code to quickly look up your zone online. Here are the zones and their average minimum temperature ranges:

• Zone 2: -50 to -40 degrees (Prudhoe Bay, Alaska)
• Zone 3: -40 to -30 degrees (International Falls, Minnesota)
• Zone 4: -30 to -20 degrees (Minneapolis)
• Zone 5: -20 to -10 degrees (Anchorage, Alaska)
• Zone 6: -10 to 0 degrees (Chicago)
• Zone 7: 0 to 10 degrees (Oklahoma City)
• Zone 8: 10 to 20 degrees (Atlanta)
• Zone 9: 20 to 30 degrees (San Antonio)
• Zone 10: 30 to 40 degrees (Miami)

If you live on the border of a garden climate zone, you may be able to grow plants that are tagged for the neighbouring zone. To be safe, it’s best to choose plants with higher cold tolerance.

If there is a plant that you would like to grow, you can use the gardening zones to compare your climate to the climate in which it is known to thrive. However, it is important to keep in mind that the map is a guide and does not guarantee that a plant tagged for your zone will grow well where you live.

In addition to the gardening climate zones, there are other factors you should take into account when you are selecting plants, including the heat, humidity and rainfall in your area.

Preparing For Your New Garden

After you’ve chosen plants and seeds, you’ll need to prepare your soil for planting. Maintaining your garden tiller parts will make it easier for you to turn over your soil beds. New garden tiller tines will help you generate the fresh soil you need to create the garden you want.

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