How To Make A Bog Or Marsh Garden

An unusual and beautiful garden can be planted where there is a bog or marsh. A pond is not an essential feature of the bog garden, although its presence is to be desired, for the overflow can be used to feed the marsh. It is essential, however, that the soil of the marsh garden shall be kept in a moist, swampy state through the whole year.

Situation
The site of the bog garden must, naturally, be low-lying and where the surface drainage will naturally collect. If the subsoil is of sticky clay, a mere trickle of water will keep the ground in a sufficiently moist condition. Should the subsoil be light and well drained, a certain amount of excavation will be necessary before the bog garden can be made.

Constructing The Bog Garden
Dig out about two feet of the top soil and introduce a little clay to form a basis, over this spread a five-inch bed of rubble or large stones, and then a layer of coarse soil. Now fill the hollow, almost to the level of the surrounding land, with a compost of half loam and half leaf-mould or peat. Unless a natural flow of water is available, an artificial trickle, just sufficient to keep the bog swampy, must be introduced. Because bog plants should never suffer from drought, the marsh garden should be kept quite moist, but on the other hand must not become stagnant, and it is for this reason that slight bottom drainage is introduced. The bog should never be more than two feet in depth; its extent, of course, will depend on the space available and upon taste.

Paths
Paths of rough stones or bricks should be made through the bog, and over these should be placed flat stepping-stones, in order to make every part of the bog accessible. If these paths are made at varying heights, they may be used to divide the bog into shelving beds, the higher and better-drained of which will accommodate plants not requiring overmuch moisture, while in the lower-lying sites can be grown the real moisture-lovers.

Almost any moisture-loving plant may be used, so may all the subjects that are usually to be found at the margins of streams and ponds, even some of those which at times have six or more inches of water over their crowns; in fact, all plants growing freely in shallow water may also be grown in the bog garden.

Be careful not to overcrowd the plants, rather group together three to five plants of the same kind, leave a space, and again plant a clump of subjects of different colour, type, and height. This irregularity and variety will please the eye, which would otherwise tend to become surfeited by a mass of the same colour, size, and form.

The actual marsh plants selected will, of course, depend upon the lay-out and size of the garden; the natural surroundings must also be very carefully considered. If the area is restricted, greater variety and beauty can be obtained by the use of small-growing species; while among extensive surroundings full rein may be given to the freer-growing plants, many of which are invaluable as a background where space permits. It is always necessary, however, to bear in mind the size to which the plants will grow in from two to three years' time, and to arrange them accordingly.

Only a sound knowledge of the habits and rate of growth of the plants introduced and a clear visualization of the picture one is endeavouring to produce can ensure success in this exceedingly difficult matter of planting for future effect. The novice will certainly find it no easy matter, but he will soon learn by experience.

The most usual fault is over-crowding, and he will be wise if he will make up his mind to avoid this at any cost. Let him study the plants in their native haunts, and then, when planting them, endeavour to give them as natural a site as possible. If he will "follow Nature" as closely as circumstances permit, he will stand a good chance of making a charming and realistic marsh garden.Build A Stunning Rock Garden With Our Rock Garden Designs

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Keep the Gift of Flowers From Dying

Someone has taken the time to buy you a beautiful bouquet of flowers, but the minute you get them home, they die on you. How can you make these lovely flowers last longer? Flowers can be difficult to keep alive, especially after their stems have been cut, so what can you do to at least get some joy out of their sight for a few weeks at least?

Ice water

One popular belief is that if you take flowers and put them in ice water, they will last longer than if you put them in luke-warm water. Don't make it too cold, though, you could damage the stem. Mix the ice with some warm water to achieve the correct temperature.

Refrigeration

Many times, florists will keep flowers in a refrigerator because the cool air helps them to last longer. You can do the same during periods of time when nobody is home, or nobody is there to look at the flowers.

Sunlight

The flowers, of course, need sunlight, so make sure you put them in a window that will give them a lot of sunlight. Many types of flowers need direct sunlight and this is hard to find inside the house, so usually the more sun you can give them, the better. If they are in a corner, with no sunlight, then they will die very quickly. Alternately, you can move them outside to a sunny spot during the day, and then move them back inside again after a few hours.

Plant food

You can buy plant food now that will act as soil for flowers, and it provides more than enough nutrients to keep flowers alive for weeks on end. Products like Miracle Grow are plentiful and not too expensive. If you want flowers to be around for awhile, then this is a plus. Some flower arrangements will come with small packets of flower food attached. Read the directions and add this to water when you transfer them into a vase.

Sugar

If you don't want to buy plant food, then you can take a teaspoon of sugar and put it in the flower's water. Florists will often do this to keep flowers alive longer.

Trim the ends

As soon as you get home, trim the ends of the flowers by a quarter to half an inch while they are underwater. Immediately after this, put them in a vase of cool water to which you have added sugar. Often, this will keep flowers alive even longer.

If someone is going to take the time to find you flowers to say Thank You or I Love You, then you should take the time to make sure the flowers live as long as possible. Follow the above suggestions, and see what works for you. Through trial and error you will find the right solution for the flowers that you have.

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Vegetable Gardening Tips

With the costs of living rising all the time, it may be possible to save money and increase your family's health at the same time by growing vegetables in your backyard.

It's a good idea to choose your favourite vegetables to grow and plan beds for early, middle of the season and late varieties.

Most vegetables require at least 6 hours of sunlight per day, some need 8. Some quick growers like lettuce and radish can be grown between the rows of plants that take longer to mature, like beet or corn, thus making full use of the area available.

Throughout dry periods, vegetable gardens need extra watering. Most vegetables benefit from an inch or more of water each week, especially when they are fruiting.

During the growing season watch for insect pests. If you discover a bug problem early it will be much easier, but be careful to not use pesticides once the vegetable are close to being picked unless it becomes an absolute necessity. Organic gardening is one healthy and environment-friendly option. Once you have reaped your crop, put the vegetable waste into your compost pile so that it can be recycled for next spring.

It is important to protect your vegetable garden from wild animals looking for a tasty treat. Make sure your garden is surrounded by a fence that will keep out dogs, rabbits, and other animals. The harm done by wandering animals during one season can equal the cost of a fence. A fence also can serve as a frame for peas, beans, tomatoes, and other crops that need support.

Protection is needed in order for your vegetable garden to yield a bountiful harvest. Hard work will pay dividends if necessary precautions have been made.