Home And Garden

  G ardening is a much-loved activity but unfortunately, due to our busy lifestyles, we don't all have the time to beautify our outdoor spaces. So how exactly can we give our gardens the attention it deserves? To get the nation gardening smarter, we suggested 10 tips across watering, lawn maintenance and weeding to help you see greater rewards from your own garden. Watering 1.  Keep flowering beds evenly moist. Water just 1-2 times per week. 2.  It's better to water plants in the evening or early in the morning, when the soil is cooler, as less will evaporate than during the heat of the day. 3.  Avoid watering leaves or plant heads to avoid mould formation, and water gently to avoid damage. 4.  Try an automatic irrigation system if you are away a lot. With a water control they can regulate the amount of moisture in the soil so can let more or less through depending on how the soil feels. Lawn 5.  Protect your lawn from hot weather – temperatures o...

 

  No other part of fruit growing creates more uncertainty and confusion than pruning. Terminology such as renewal pruning, replacement pruning, tip bearers, spur bearers, fruit buds and growth buds abound and cause confusion and trepidation. And that’s before the question of winter or summer pruning has been raised. So, as it’s freezing out there, let’s deal with winter pruning hints. Get yourself a good sharp pair of secateurs and a modern pruning saw with a very sharp blade. Both will last you all your life with care. Stand back from the tree and take a good look around it first. Then, decide how you would like it to look when you have finished and what you are trying to achieve. Pruning in the garden is often as much about the shape of the tree and how it fits with the available space, as it is about getting maximum fruit crop. Always ensure that you try to maximise the amount of sunlight that can enter the tree. Remember that in the summer there will be a full crop of leaves, w...

  This is the common dilemma faced by most farmers and gardeners today. It’s essentially the decision to choose between the tried and true but slow-working fertilizer; one that promises faster growth. Let’s understand about this issue Fertilizers are the protein supplements for your plants. They are used to enrich the soil with nutrients that it does not inherently have. They should be used strictly as a deficiency-buster. Inordinate use of different types of fertilizers kills the naturally present soil ingredients too. So, it is important to use them carefully and only as per need. Understanding the Two Types Organic fertilizers are made from naturally occurring substances, and include by-products or waste remains of the animals. Dead plants and animal remains are also often used as fertilizers in organic farming. They are naturally chemical-rich and contain high amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK). The main difference between a chemical and an organic fertilizer ...