If you have the time and the inclination to create an organic summer garden there are few better ways to go when it comes to the potential impact on the planet. A summer garden is a thing of beauty to be enjoyed by all you invite into your garden. That being said, there are certain pests we’d all like to keep out of our gardens as well. The problem is that the pesticides of the past have undetermined side effects that have the potential to cause lasting harm. If we can avoid introducing those chemicals to our own gardens we are protecting our kids from dangers we may not even be aware of yet and protecting the other animals that may innocently come in contact with our gardens such as birds and butterflies from being harmed by the chemicals present in most common pesticides. (photo courtesy: motherearthbeats.com)

What does this mean to gardeners when it comes to efforts directed towards keeping out potential pests? Quite honestly, it means we are going to have to get a little bit creative in those efforts turning to natural solutions rather than chemicals. One way in which this can quite easily be accomplished is by encouraging animals that prey upon the pests to make your garden their home. Of course, this could potentially bring about its own set of problems but from a gardening perspective it is often very sound reasoning.

Use organic mulch. While this isn’t necessarily a means of pest control it is a wise move when it comes to organic gardening. Not only does the mulch provide the very useful mulching properties throughout the growing season but once the growing season has ended can be turned over and used in order to boost the organic material within the soil. This in turns provides nutrients that are important to keeping the soil fit for sustaining plant life in future growing seasons. For great information on going green in the garden with compost visit The Gardener’s Rake site.

Attract birds to your garden. This has a two-fold benefit for the organic gardener. First of all the birds are often natural predators for many of the bugs that make a nuisance of themselves in the average summer garden. Second, birds leave behind their own little fertilizing additions to the landscape of your garden. Don’t you wish all solutions were this simple?

Keep your garden healthy, well fertilized, water regularly and appropriately, and free of weeds. A good offense is the best defense. A good immune system and constant hand washing are the best defense the human body has against catching colds and viruses. The same holds true for gardens and their ability to fight pests. Keep your garden strong and healthy and it will repel many of the pests that may cripple other gardens on its own. It certainly doesn’t hurt to keep this philosophy in mind and you may be amazed at how well it works.

Organic gardening is more than a plan for your garden it is a return to the ways of old in the world of gardening. For centuries before pesticides were created people managed to live off the abundance of their gardens. It makes sense that by returning to those ideals we can also enjoy great food and a bountiful harvest in the modern world. Make the choice today to make your summer garden an organic garden and reap the benefit in better health and greater enjoyment of the gardening experience. To learn more about going green at home visit Our Green Planet Earth site.

If you’re thinking about starting a garden, the first thing you need to consider is what type of garden you will have. There are many different choices and often it can be hard to pick just one, but hopefully you can narrow it down. And by narrowing it down, you’ll make the gardening experience easier on yourself and the plants. If all your plants are similar, then it shouldn’t be very hard to care for them all. So here are some of the main garden ideas for you to choose from. (photo courtesy: Breck’s)

If you’re just looking for something to look nice in your yard, you’ll want a flower garden. You can easily design a flower garden with perennials and those gorgeous colorful annuals that show up in the spring. Perennial flowers are flowers which stay healthy year-round and are basically called weeds because of their hardiness, only nice looking. Different areas and climates have different flowers which are considered perennials. If you do a quick internet search for your area, you can probably find a list of flowers that will bring your flower garden to life. Breck’s has a great selection of perennials that are of the best quality so be sure to check them out. Perennials usually only require work in the planting stage – after that, you can relax and enjoy them.

Another choice for your garden is to have a vegetable garden which requires a little more work and research than a flower garden, but can be much more rewarding. No matter what time of the year it is, you can usually find one vegetable that is still prospering. You can design your vegetable garden to give you produce almost every day of the year! When starting a vegetable garden, you should build it with the thought in mind that you will be adding more types of veggies in later. This will help your expandability. Once all your current crops are out of season, you won’t be stuck with almost nowhere to put the new crops. A vegetable garden is ideal for someone who wants some produce, but doesn’t want to devote every waking hour to perfecting their garden.

One of the more difficult types of gardens to manage is a fruit garden. It’s definitely the most high-maintenance because when growing fruits, many more pests will be attracted to their sweetness. You not only have to deal with having just the right dirt and fertilizer, you have to deal with choosing a pesticide that won’t kill whoever eats the fruits and hopefully you will consider getting an echo-friendly pesticide. Your fruit garden will probably not produce year-round. The soil needs to be just right for the plants to grow, and putting in another crop during its off-season could be disastrous to its growth process. If you’re willing to put lots of work into maintaining a garden, then a fruit garden could be a good choice for you.

So now that I’ve outlined some of the main garden types that people choose, I hope you can make a good decision. Basically, the garden type comes down to what kind of product you want, and how much work you want to put into it. If you’re looking for no product with less work, go with a flower garden. If you want lots of delicious product, and you are willing to spend hours in your garden each day, then go for a fruit garden. Just make sure you don’t get into something you can’t handle!

Did you know that Peonies are a one-time investment for a lifetime of beauty? And since Peonies roots can be divided again and again, a single planting can provide beauty for many generations to come. As a little girl, I remember that my mother always had Peonies in her garden and so did all the neighbors. That is because mother always shared them with anyone who came to visit so every garden near our home had gorgeous Peonies. (photo courtesy: Breck’s)

Did you also know that if you order your Peonies now you can save over 60% off the regular price? Peonies are planted in the fall for spring flowering and if you get them now, you can enjoy them right in you garden or yard at very special money saving prices. Very reputable companies like Breck’s are offering special prices for anyone who wants to place orders now for fall shipping of Peonies. So the time to buy Peonies for fall planting is now.

Peonies are long lived perennials that produce large flowers in the spring that actually look like roses and are absolutely beautiful. It comes in many colors but some of my favorites are cream, coral, pink, white, rose, scarlet and yellow. Peonies require winter cold to flower and it is best to plant them in a northern exposure and do not mulch in the winter. They grow best in full sun but can tolerate light shade. Be sure to plant them in well drained soil and preferably in a raised bed for proper drainage. (photo courtesy: Breck’s)

Ideally Peonies should be planted around September or October. Dig a hole about 12 to 18 inches deep and about 18 inches wide. Be sure to space them at least 3 to 4 feet apart. Add some compost to the hole and about a half a cup of fertilizer. Be sure the fertilizer is at the bottom of the hole and not on the soil that will surround the roots. Peonies are deep rooted plants so be sure to prepare the soil properly before planting. Add some regular soil to the hole, about half full, then place the Peonies root with the eyes facing upward and work the soil in around the fleshy roots.

In the spring, you can mulch the Peonies with a 3 inch layer of organic matter to control weeds and conserve moisture. In the fall, remove the old mulch and leave the plants without mulch during the winter months. Remember, Peonies need cold weather to promote flowering and growth. Peonies flowers are very large so it is recommended that you stake the plant to prevent them from breaking or bending over. Select stakes that are at least 12 inches shorter than the plants and sink them in the soil behind the plant. Using a soft cloth or plastic covered wire, tie the stems to the stakes carefully. (photo courtesy: Breck’s)

There you have it! Follow these simple guidelines and you too can have gorgeous Peonies in your flower garden. The best part is that you will have them for many years to come. Remember to order them from a good company like Breck’s that offers the best quality and will provide planting instructions. And, as I mentioned before, you can save lots of money by purchasing your Peonies now for fall planting.

There are many species of this beautiful flower and history tells us that Irises actually go back to the 11th century. Iris actually means a rainbow and it is said to be the flower of the Greek Goddess Iris, the messenger of love. A much loved flower by most gardeners, Irises come in various shapes, forms sizes and colors. Most gardeners agree that even when the plant is not in bloom, the sword like foliage of Irises is quite attractive in any garden. Irises grow from bulbs and are considered herbaceous perennials so once you plant you them, you will have them for years to come. (photo courtesy: Breck’s)

According to the American Iris Society, Irises can be classified in two groups, rhizomes and bulbous. There are countless varieties and species of Irises within these groups but the most commonly found in most gardens is the bearded German Iris. Other types of hybrids have come along which are crosses between tall and dwarf varieties. Irises with rhizomes are the ones used in many perfumes even today and in medicine during ancient times.

Did you know that some Iris bulbs are shipped in the fall and some in the spring? Before you start planning your Iris garden, figure out if you want the iris bulbs in the spring or fall. Assuming that you ordered the bulbs in the spring plant them in the fall in well drained soil and 4 inches deep. Make sure the bulb is near the surface and firm the soil tightly. Take a look and be sure the bulb is just beneath the surface of the soil. Irises like a sunny bright location but will also do well in partial shade. To give you an idea of the Irises that ship in the spring and fall, here are a few of my favorites.

Spicy Cajun Louisiana Iris – ships in the spring
A beautiful Iris that blooms mid-summer with two toned flowers to add beauty to your landscape! The flowers are sunny yellow and have violet or lavender petals and the plants have long stems and grass like foliage. It is hardy and deer resistant so it can be planted anywhere in your garden, backyard or even near ponds. Spicy Cajun thrives in zones 4-9 and grows 38″ high. (photo courtesy: Breck’s)

Siberian Iris Blue King – ships in the spring
Blue King has brilliant blue flowers that are a bit smaller than those of the bearded Iris. It is easy to grow and blooms in late spring and returns every year with lots more gorgeous blooms. After its blooming season, this Iris will add beauty to your garden as it remains in the garden with its attractive grass like foliage all summer long. It thrives in zones 4-9 and grows to 40″ tall. (photo courtesy: Breck’s)

Beverly Sills re-blooming Bearded Iris – ships in the fall
Bearded Irises come in different colors and most of them bloom in the spring and again in the fall. It is the most popular Iris by most gardeners and used extensively in bouquets and many other flower arrangements by florists. Beverly Sills described here comes in a pink color that is just beautiful. It blooms mid to late spring and then again in the fall. It grows from 30 to 36″ tall and thrives in zones 4-9. (photo courtesy: Breck’s)

Lion King Dutch Iris – ships in the fall
Gorgeous Iris created by one of Holland’s premier bulb growers and first offered by Breck’s which is a reputable bulb company. Lion King is very unique in that the flowers have purple and bronze falls with tiger yellow stripes. It is very different than most Irises with this color combination that will add a very dramatic and exotic look to any garden or landscape. Lion King blooms early to late summer and grows 20 to 24″ tall. According to Breck’s, these tall stemmed plants will thrive under most conditions and do well in zones 5-9. (photo courtesy: Breck’s)