Gardening - Keeping Fit

Early Spring is a great time for getting out in the garden and doing a lot of groundwork. There are still leaves to be swept, borders to clear and trees to prune. Laying the ground work for this year's planting such as digging new beds and borders, re-laying turf, spreading and digging in manure and laying paving are all good jobs for this time of year.

Most of these tasks will make you break into a sweat and at this time of the year when we're trying to catch up with our resolutions to loose a few pounds that's no bad thing. Gardening can help supplement the gym and a bit of fresh air after a cold wet winter will do us all a bit of good.

In fact there's even some good advice from fitness experts showing us that regular gardening can help reduce the risk of heart disease and suffering a stroke. It can reduce high blood pressure, keep muscles, joints and heart in good working order and reduce the risk of both osteoporosis and diabetes in middle age. Did you know that for an average person 30 minutes of digging can burn off about 250 calories and even light weeding can melt off 140. But for me the real benefit of gardening is probably just that when you're out there digging a border all the stress of the working week just melts away.

But there's another side to working in the garden that we need to remember if these positive benefits are going to work on us and that's gardening in the right way. Why? Well don't get too carried away with your enthusiasm, you need to garden safely as well! In 2003 lawn mowers were responsible for 7133 accidents which is a fair indicator that not everyone is doing the gardening in a sensible way. So what can we do to make sure that we do reap the benefits from digging and weeding?

- Warm up first - and you can do this quite easily. Take a walk around the garden, gently stretch muscles especially in the back and arms and start with some light work such as pruning to get started. And at the end of the day do the same again, warm down and stretch muscles especially those that feel overworked.

- Don't try to last a whole day in the garden without food, eat little and often to keep your energy going.

- Take regular breaks and make sure you drink regularly - water to keep you hydrated is essential but you can also reward yourself with a cuppa and a Belgium bun!

- Use tools that are the right size for you. You'll be amazed how much easier it is to plant with a smaller spade even if you are 6 foot tall.

- Needless to say you'll have some lifting and digging to do so make sure you lift safely. Always bend your knees and not your back.

- Dress appropriately - wear gloves to protect hands, use sunscreen if you're lucky to get a hot sunny day and protect your feet (the lawnmower remember?).

- Make sure tools are in good working order. Get frayed cable replaced professionally, keep petrol cans safe and out of reach of small hands.

This might all seem a bit obvious but if the A&E statistics are anything to go by then I'm pretty sure that most of us are not too thoughtful when we head out into the garden. Just take it slowly, warm up to it and have a good hot bath to unwind at the end of a calorie busting day.

Garden designer Andrew Fisher Tomlin designs and constructs London gardens, UK and overseas projects. For a chat about your garden project call Andrew on 020 8542 0683.

How To Build A Greenhouse

The most successful modern greenhouses are built upon well-drained land near a good water supply. Some of the smaller structures are 12 to 15 feet wide, with a framework of wood. For commercial purposes, greenhouses about 40 feet in width, supported by semi-iron or pipe-post frames are found most practical.

The first and foremost consideration in picking a spot for your greenhouse is the position of the winter sun. Tall trees that block the rays of the sun should not surround the site.

Make the base using h4-sawn timber between 2.4 m and 3 m in length. Use galvanized nails and nail plates to join the timber strips to make an oblong. Do not forget to check if the base is level. Once this is done, reinforce the base with pegs around its perimeter. Construct the frame using h3-sawn timber. These timber strips shouldn?t be more than 4.8 m in length. Construct two sidewalls, make the diagonal measurements equal and if the walls are square, cut and fix the bracing timbers in place.

Cut the roof frame pieces using h-3 sawn timber. Then cut 5 rafters, each of 1.9 m, 5 rafters, each of 1.31m, 5 uprights 0.5m in length and 5 triangular gussets measuring 0.5m x 0.5m x 0.5m using 7 mm plywood.

Construct the five rood frames on the ground. Pick two points 2.4 m apart and nail the triangular gussets. Attach the 5 roof frames to the sidewalls. Reinforce with two vertical end roof frames plumb. Then nail the fascia board (150 mm x 50 mm, made out of h3-sawn timber) to the top of the roof frames. Fix the window support plate (75 mm x 50 mm) next and brace the roof on the side that has no windows. Next, work on the windows. Use 50 x 50 h3-sawn timber for the top and bottom frames and 75 x 50 h3-sawn timber for the side and middle. Bevel cut the bottom window frame 30 degrees, which is the same pitch as the roof. Add a latch. Make two such windows and fix them.

You'll need to build two doors using 50 x 50 h3-sawn timber for the frames. Cut the gussets from 7 mm plywood. Check if frames are square before nailing the gussets. Attach the doors using hinges. The cover should be made with ultra- violet resistant polythene using thin battens over the polythene to hold it.

Greenhouses provides detailed information on Commercial Greenhouses, Greenhouse Gardening, Greenhouse Kits, Greenhouse Windows and more. Greenhouses is affiliated with Bonsai Pots.

Growing Your Own Herb Garden

Tired of buying bunches of herbs from the supermarket? Wouldn't it be great if you could grow your own herbs instead? Well, you can. Herb growing is quick, simple, fun and saves you money on your grocery bill. Every garden should have provision for a herb garden!

Find a spot in your garden that you can dedicate entirely to your herbs. Signs of the perfect herb garden would be the areas where the soil is well drained. Herbs do not grow well in very wet gardens, so you will need to first ensure that you find the right spot.

Most supermarkets these days sell already seeded herbs that are great to use, as they will grow faster and you don't have to wait for them to flower. At first, choosing the types of herbs you want to include may be overwhelming, so it's a good idea to start with the essentials first. These include: parsley, mint, thyme and oregano. If you have more space, other great options include basil/sweet basil, rosemary, chives, lavender, dill and coriander.

When laying out your herb garden try to ensure that you provide enough space between herbs. Some of these can flower into relatively large shrubs, so you need to make provision for this in order to ensure that your plants don't kill each other off in order to survive.

Creating little nametags for each herb bush is also a good idea, as remembering where each one was planted may not always be easy. Anything that is made out of wood or steel is ideal, as it will last despite the weather conditions. Write the name with paint instead of using an ordinary pen or pencil.

Happy gardening.

Visit Susan's website A 2 Z of Health and Beauty for more information on health, nutrition, longevity, beauty, fashion and fitness. *** This article can be freely used as long as a link to "A 2 Z of Health, Beauty and Fitness" http://health.learninginfo.org is provided.

Mental Benefits of Gardening

Most people are aware of the physical benefits of gardening but they don't always think about the mental benefits of gardening. Gardening can provide some very significant and much needed mental benefits in addition to physical exercise.

1) Stress Relief - Stress is one of the most common health complaints that people have. Stress from work, from family, from just daily living can build up and lead to all sorts of serious health problems. Many people who suffer from chronic health conditions are advised by doctors and experts to reduce their stress levels in order to stay healthy and fight off more chronic problems. High stress levels can also lead to insomnia and other problems that bleed over into daily life, making it hard to function.

Gardening is a proven stress reliever. There is just something about being outside, in nature, digging in the dirt and helping plants to grow that is soothing and relieves stress. Gardening is a great excuse to get out into the fresh air and sunshine and relax.

2) Anxiety Relief - People who suffer from chronic anxiety and even some people who are being treated for severe anxiety find comfort in gardening. The relaxation of gardening can be a very effective way to combat anxiety. When you're outside gardening, it's easy to sit and meditate, or sit and daydream, or just enjoy being outside in the fresh air, all of which can help you relax and calm down.

In fact, there is a particular form of therapy that is being developed that uses gardening as a therapeutic tool to combat depression and anxiety. For people who don't respond well to the drugs that are usually prescribed to combat those disorders, gardening can be a safe and very effective treatment. Participating in gardening clubs or other gardening social activities can also be a good way to combat social anxiety disorders and other fears associated with being around people.

Participants in gardening therapy also feel a sense of accomplishment, increased self-esteem, and a feeling of purpose because they are creating something special for others to enjoy and use. Researchers still don't know all of the benefits associated with gardening therapy, but the ones that have already been documented are enough to make gardening a highly worthwhile activity for both physical and mental health.

There are also lots of tips and tricks that you'll find on http://EasyGardening.BestOfResults.com that can help cut down on the time it takes to create and tend to a garden.

Hydroponic Gardening For Everyone

One of the best ways to grow the best vegetables as well as healthy full house plants is by hydroponic gardening. Many people seem to think that this is a difficult process but it really is rather simple and can be done right in your own home. Believe it or not, Hydroponics has been around as long as the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Imagine having your own garden, in your own home, full of hearty vegetables, fruits and herbs as well as lush indoor plants.

Regular gardening leaves everything up to Mother Nature. How much water and light a plant normally gets is based on rain fall and natural sunlight. Scientists have spent years in determining what minerals and what kid of light a plant needs to flourish to its fullest potential. By using a hydroponics system, you can control everything your plant needs which means you will control how fast your plant grows.

By using a controlled environment, scientists found that you can grow heartier plants and that you can increase the amount of plants produced. Many people are amazed at the results that they can get in their own home with the use of the right artificial light and the right mineral supplements. Holland is number one where these types of hydroponic gardens are with Canada coming in second. Canada has been using it for commercial use.

Another name for hydroponics is called controlled environmental agriculture. In these types of environments, you can completely control everything such as, amount of water, oxygen level, temperature, and light, CO2 as well as the nutrients and the pH.

When you decide you want to start your own garden, there are plenty of options for you to choose from where hydroponics systems are concerned. The first thing you would need to do it pick out the light source and what type of garden you want. Remember that this is extremely low maintenance and it is very efficient so you can do this with little effort. Depending on what hydroponic system that you get, it can check the pH for you every other day as well as make sure the water level is where it needs to be. It can also change the nutrients every week to a week and a half. You can also have a timer sit on it to turn on the lights as well as the garden itself, automatically at a certain time of day, everyday.

Whether you're new to hydroponic gardening or an experienced gardener you can learn more about hydroponic gardening and hydropomic systems at: http://www.ultimatehydroponics.com

Italian Gardens - Rosemary in Italian Gardens

Useful information on growing rosemary and it's link with Italian gardening

Rosemary, that great Italian culinary herb that is listed in every Italian recipe, an aromatic herb that is used in almost every dish from Scotland to Rome. How though, does one grow the stuff?

If you have ever created small herb garden, with the aim of using those herbs in Italian style cuisine, then you may have run in to some problems. "Why do my lavender, rosemary and Italian herbs always die on me?" is a phrase stated by many a frustrated housewife but lifeinitaly.com is here to help!

Rosemary is one of the oldest and finest of all Italian culinary herbs. This wonderful herb dates back to the origins of Mediterranean culture itself. Athenaeus, the ancient Greek philosopher, was writing about rosemary along with other herbs in the 2nd century A.D.

The Etruscans, that fascinating race that forms the origins of modern day Tuscany, were already using rosemary as a stuffing for fish in around 300 B.C.

The Etruscans believed that rosemary was capable of warding off evil spirits and they would also use masses of the plant in their necropolis (communal tombs), when they buried their deceased.

Greek students in ancient Greece wore garlands made from rosemary branches to assist their memory. Greeks would also burn rosemary branches at funerals. In fact rosemary contains several physiological and mental stimulants. The 1-2.5% of essential oil present in the rosemary plant can also be used as a cure for respiratory ailments, renal colic, anxiety, depression and it can even stimulate hair growth in men!

The plant is as much a part of the Mediterranean as the people that have admired and utilized it's properties and the relationship between the two is extremely ancient and complex.

In a garden context the rosemary offers the gardener and designer a wonderful plant that resists poor, dry alkaline soils and revels in both bright sunshine and dappled shade. It provides an evergreen structure that will remain full and healthy for many years, if pruned correctly!

PRUNING ROSEMARY BUSHES

Like many other Mediterranean plants, the rosemary has it's own specific pruning time. Immediately after the first flowering in late May it's branches can be reduced as far as the last sign of green on the stem. However a general trim with garden shears will maintain a healthy shape and pruning after flowering will ensure the production of flowers for the following year. The younger stems tend to contain far less essential oil than stems of 1 year old or more, therefore the best stems for cooking are those that are slightly more mature. A rosemary plant that never receives a good prune will slowly become woody and less productive, so try to trim it each year.

Rosemary is also very useful in the ecological Italian garden as it is one of the best flowers for honey production. Honey made from the flowers of rosemary is of a superior quality to most other flowers- and the bees just love it!

Given the ease of cultivation, it's wonderful history and the ancient link that rosemary has with the way that human's have seasoned their food- a plant of rosemary can always find a place in any Italian garden design.

By Jonathan Radford

Jonathan Radford is an English landscape designer, dedicated to creating ecological, Italian-style gardens from his base in Siena, Tuscany.

Contact him at info@web-ecologica.com

Topsy Turvy Tips on Space-Saving Gardening

There is nothing better than fresh vegetables and fruits right out of your own homegrown garden.But not everyone has the space in their yards to grow an adequate amount, especially if you live in an apartment or condominium complex where you may not even have your own backyard.Just because you don't have the luxury of a large yard area doesn't mean you need to limit yourself.Here are some tips to still enjoy the advantages of growing your own vegetables and fruits in smaller areas:

The most important thing you need to have is an area that gets a good amount of light, specifically on a back porch, deck or a balcony.You don't necessarily need to have the ground space either to get a good garden to grow.Many plants such as tomatoes, cucumbers, and even peppers will grow in pots or containers that you can hang in brackets directly on the wall in your porch area or just set around in different areas to give your outdoor area a little bit of color.You may also want to consider mounting shelves on the walls if it allows.This way you have the advantage to have pots of all different sizes and you can set them up to your own liking.If you have a balcony, you may want to think about window boxes or planters which can hang directly on the rail.

Another great alternative would be the Upside Down Tomato.With the Upside Down Tomato, there is no digging, weeding or worrying about pests and other critters involved with growing your tomatoes this way.The tomato plant grows upside down and the only maintenance required is to water it and then wait for your delicious tomatoes to grow.All you need is some good topsoil and your favorite tomato plants.You may be surprised to find the abundance of tomatoes you'll be rewarded with and the little time and effort that is required! If you don't mind playing in the soil and want to dig the holes and plant, you may want to also consider building your own little garden box that you can set on your porch.This will require a bit more work, but it will save on space yet still give you the same joys of having your own little mini-garden.

These are just a few ideas for alternative ways to garden, specifically for when you don't have the yard area.You can still enjoy your own delicious, homegrown fruits and vegetables with only half of the work required.

The author, AnnMarie Drennen is a freelance writer and new mother who loves the freedom of writing from her own home and on her own terms so that she can spend more time with her new daughter. Her family loves fresh vegetables and she's looking forward to using her Upside Down Tomato she purchased through Esbendshade's Garden Center this summer.