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 This week's Fix-It- Tip is how to plan your own
backyard garden.
 I always get excited this time of
year. I think about all the vegetable plants that I want in my garden, I run out to
the stores, spend a fortune, get home and then look around and shrug, "Now
what?"
In my enthusiasm I forget to look at my yard
first. I forget to make a plan, a simple one, but still some kind of plan about
where AM I going to put all those veggies.
Here are a few tips that I have found very helpful in choosing the right spots of your
garden:
- Choose a site with loamy or sandy loam soil
instead of clay, never possible. Try to take the pH of your soil by using
an inexpensive soil tester you can get at your local home store.
- Sunlight
Select a garden spot that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day (
8-10 hours is ideal). Vegetables should be planted away from buildings, tress, and
other objects that shade the garden. If part of your garden is in the shade make it
work for you- plant vegetables that do well in shade like lettuce, spinach and other
related veggies.
 Don't plant
your garden near trees
their roots can compete with the vegetables for food and nutrients.
Generally, the tree roots take food from the soil in a circle as far out as the tree's
widest-reaching branches; plants usually do poorly within that circle.- Place the garden on high ground
rather than in a depression at the base of the hill. Low spots warm up
slowly in the spring. High ground allows vegetables to escape borderline freezes.
- Avoid soggy areas
Locate the garden away from low or soggy areas where water stands in puddles
after rains.
- Use contour rows or terraces
on hillside gardens.
Rows run across a slope help catch the rain.
 Avoid windy locations.
Do not plant your gardens in windy locations.- Water supply
Your garden should be close to a water supply. This eliminates having to
drag a hose long distances. Also try to put the garden as near your tool storage as
possible.
- Locate your garden fairly near the back door.
This makes it easier to reach for weeds, watering, planting, picking vegetables
and other garden activities. Plus you get to see your beautiful plants and the
results of your hard work!
Spring Tote Bag
 This is an ideal craft for everyone
in your family. It is simple to do and is very practical. The kids will love the design
and can use it to carry around all their favorite things through- out summer. You'll like
it too for all your favorite things. Have fun!
Mosaic Flower Pots
  Mosaic
pots are just right for creating that springtime feeling ! They are so simple to do and
beauitful. This project can be done by kids who are 3 years old and older. To give the pot
a genuine mosaic look at least half of the area on the pot should be covered by the broken
tile pieces. The addition of "gems" gives the pots a glorious, sparkling look.
You can use other materials to decorate your pot suchas shells, smooth stones, and dried
beans. These are super for any gardener as a Mother's day or Easter gift. |
 
 more gardening
books
FREE Flower Crafts
Fixing Screen Windows
 As the weather is getting warmer in most of the United States it
time to startthinking about letting the warm air in : ). You probably have forgotten about
those holes in the screens and now is the time to get them patched up.
Fix-It Corner presents...
Cleaning the House
Safely
by Elizabeth Hughes
 FREE Natural Cleaning Ideas
These are some great ideas from Elizabeth who says, "I have been feverish
lately about getting people to use kid safe and environmentally safe cleaning solutions.
Anyway, here are some simple compounds that you can make in your home and other cleaning
tips that won't make you run out of the room for air."
Find out more. |
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