Planting Rye Grass For Easy Green Winter Lawns

For many locations, the end of autumn and the approach of winter is time to start thinking about planting rye grass. Rye grass, which comes in both annual and perennial types, provides a beautiful green turf that grows quickly and can be lively when ordinary grasses are dormant for the winter. It also is one of the earliest spring grasses and is also used for temporary ground covers or to augment other grasses.

Many grass varieties are difficult and ornery to grow. However, rye grass is easy to plant and grow. Seed the soil and water it. That's about all there is to growing rye grass. It can be hand sown, applied using spreaders, or by broadcasting the seed, all with little trouble. Rye grass grows best the more contact it has with the soil, so for best results prepare ahead a little.

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Ground covering you no longer desire, should be cut closely, destroyed with herbicides or burned. Herbicides (week killers) require careful following of the directions. There will be a waiting period before you can plant after the use of herbicides. There are also plant species that must not be planted after the use of herbicides. When a drought occurs, burning may not be permitted, due to increased fire risks at this time, so you will have to check that before you decide to burn.

When planting rye grass, or anything else for that matter, you should first test the soil and correct pH and nutrient levels. In short, the steps to follow are; test, fertilize, water, then sow the seeds. Continue to water regularly for the best chance at germination. You'll be impressed with the lush green turf rye grass provides.

Rye grass is a great plant to use for preventing erosion as it takes hold fast, and the annual version of it will die off for crop time. It is also beneficial in controlling nematode infestation in any crops that are susceptible to it. Also, after it dies, it readily settles into the soil providing nourishment and bringing greater value to the land.

You can plant rye grass to boost the appearance and coverage of other grasses, but in some regions and applications may be used alone. If you are unsure whether an annual species of rye grass or one of the more hardy perennial types is best for your needs, talk with your seed and feed dealer, garden supply store, or contact your county agricultural agent for advice. Many of these will have free online reference guides to grass selection and the actual techniques for planting and care.

Planting rye grass in the fall is a great way to help ensure that you will have a beautiful green lawn in the spring. Growing rye grass is extremely easy, needing little more than contact with the earth and water. For best results, you should spend a little time preparing your current lawn by removing any undesirable areas, testing the soil for the proper pH balance and then adding the proper nutrients accordingly, fertilizing and watering.

Planting Rye Grass For Easy Green Winter Lawns

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Biodynamic Moon Planting Calendar

One of the most important parts of biodynamic gardening is using a planting calendar that is in conjunction with an astrological chart and the phases of the moon. This "technology" is as old as the sun, the moon and the stars.

Back in ancient times - before farmers had watches or smart phones to tell them what time it was - they used the cycles of the moon and the stars to guide them in planting and harvesting. Farmers and gardeners alike found that certain plants did better when planted during a specific phase of the moon. Also, the harvest went more smoothly when done with an eye toward the stars.

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Biodynamic gardening renews these age-old practices and puts them into use again. Does this mean that you'll be out in your jammies planting your garden? No, probably not. But it does mean that you'll want to be more aware of the different cycles of the moon and when plants need to go into the ground.

Moon Planting

Just as humans and animals are affected by lunar cycles - how many times have you heard nurses and doctors working in hospitals comment on how the behavior of people changes during a full moon? - plants and soil are also affected by lunar cycles.

There are three phases of the moon: fertile, semi-fertile, or barren. Naturally, these phases will be more important to you as a gardener when the weather is right for planting. Here are a couple of general rules you can follow in your garden:

• Flowering annuals (this includes annual vegetables as well) - Plant these just after the new moon when the light is increasing. These little seedlings will grow faster because of their shallow roots.

• Biennials, perennials and bulbs - These do best when planted when the light is decreasing because they don't rely on wide root systems and a slower, waning moon gives them more stability.

A way to refine your planting techniques is to combine the moon phase with the moon's current astrological sign. For instance, if you plant annual flowers or vegetables under a waxing Scorpio moon, the growth cycle will get an extra boost. If you need to pull some weeds out of your garden, wait for the last quarter moon under a barren sign like Aries.

Here is a terrific web site from Great Britain that not only shows you what to plant on the very day you're viewing the web site but also what to be ready to do in the next seven days. This web site is called The Gardener's Calendar and here's the URL: http://www.the-gardeners-calendar.co.uk/moonplanting.asp

Biodynamic Moon Planting Calendar

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Planting Avocado Seed - How to Grow the Perfect Avocado

Once you know how easy it is to go about planting avocado seed, you'll start growing your own indoor avocado plant that will bring you years of enjoyment, and some nice fruit, too! Just follow these simple steps, and soon, you'll see your avocado seed begin to sprout and turn into a beautiful plant.

Preparing the Seed

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First, cut open the avocado and remove the seed, being careful not to damage or cut the seed (it's usually called a pit, because it's pretty big). Rinse the pit under cold water to remove any fruit or residue that might be left on it, and then dry with a soft cloth or paper towel. You're just about ready to start planting avocado seed, now!

About midway through the roundest part of the pit (from top to bottom, with the pointy end on top), push three toothpicks around the middle of the avocado pit. Push them in enough so they are secure, and will hold the pit in place.

Fill a glass or jar with water, and suspend the pit on the edge of the jar, leaving about half the pit submerged in the water. The large end of the pit should be the end in the water.

What to do Next

Next in planting avocado seed is letting the pit do its thing! Place the jar in a sunny location where it won't spill or get knocked over, and just make sure to keep the water level filled up so the pit is always in water.

In about three weeks, you should see roots forming in the water, and the top of the pit beginning to split, where a green sprout will emerge. After the sprout gets about six-inches tall or so, and there are more than one set of leaves, pinch off the very top set of leaves. This will help the avocado branch out and become more like a tree. After another few weeks, you should have more roots and more leaves on the new tree.

Planting Time

You can plant your avocado outside if you live in a warm area where it won't freeze in the winter. However, if you live in a colder area, your avocado won't survive the winter, so you need to transplant it into a pot as a houseplant. When you plant it in a pot, use a good quality potting soil, and don't bury the top of the pit, leave about half of it sticking out of the ground, just make sure the roots are totally covered up. Water frequently, but don't keep the soil too moist, because your pit can rot if the soil is too wet.

Place the pot in a sunny location, it really needs sun to grow. Keep the soil moist but not too wet. Look for yellow leaves, if your avocado leaves turn yellow, it's getting too much water, if they wilt or turn brown, it's not getting enough. Every time the plant grows another half a foot or so, pinch out the very top leaves to keep it branching out and healthy.

In the wild, your tree could grow 20 to 40 feet tall, but in the house, if you prune it, you can keep it much smaller and more manageable. Sometimes, even planting avocado seed can result in trees that bear fruit indoors, but planting two or more trees increases your chances, since they can pollinate each other.

Planting Avocado Seed - How to Grow the Perfect Avocado

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Care Tips for Planting and Growing Orchids Inside Your House

Orchids are typically an outdoor plant, thus it can be difficult to flower indoors. However, you can buy orchids that can thrive indoors or in a greenhouse. You do need to be familiar with the characteristics and conditions that orchids need to thrive in to result in a healthy indoor living condition. Here are some tips to care for the wholesale orchids you have purchased.

Contrary to typical plants, orchids do not grow in soil. In fact, planting an orchid in soil will kill the plant. In the wild, orchids grow on the bark of trees. Orchids should be grown in a similar way. Pots should be filled with loosely packed material such as bark or stones. Water is capable of draining quickly and also exposes the orchid roots to air. If wholesale orchids are left in standing water, they will eventually die.

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Wholesale orchids also need to have the temperature variations of the plants that are grown in the wild. In nature, orchids go through a range of temperatures between night and day time hours. This can be achieved indoors by creating a drop in temperature at night by a minimum of ten degrees. This will encourage flower buds to set more readily. Wholesale orchids can survive without this change in temperature, but they will not necessarily thrive without it.

Depending on the color of the leaf on the orchid, this will demonstrate whether or night the orchid is getting the proper amount of light. If it is not getting enough light, the leaves will appear dark green. If the leaves have a grassy color, then the plant is getting the right amount of light for blooming. Too much light can result in a yellowish color on the orchid leaves.

Growing orchids can be a fun rewarding experience inside your home. Use the research above to help the orchid make the transition from the outside to the indoors without putting the life of the orchid at risk. Follow the proper care instructions for an indoor orchid and you will be able to provide a colorful look inside your home.

Care Tips for Planting and Growing Orchids Inside Your House

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