Using Japanese Garden Interior Design Outdoors

By Adam Peters

When it comes to a Japanese garden, you will notice that they are extremely well designed and they offer a sense of tranquility as well as fantastic style. All homes can incorporate a Japanese style garden and so if you are thinking of updating your garden with an interesting and peaceful design, the Japanese garden may just be for you.

Designing Your Own Japanese Garden

If you have decided to design your own Japanese garden, you will now need to know exactly what a Japanese garden entails. Basically every Japanese garden should have stones, water and plants and a bridge is also important. They are designed to be extremely pleasurable on the eye and so keep that in mind when it comes to designing where you want everything to go.

Whilst a Japanese garden mainly uses water, there is a variety which is known as ‘Karesansui’ and that does not use any water in its designs at all. So it would suit somebody who does not like the thought of incorporating water into their garden for whatever reason. However, despite the fact that it contains no actual water, the aim of this style of Japanese garden is to give it the atmosphere of water. This is done through the use of pebbles and patterns. Low shrubs also come in particularly handy too so keep that in mind.

Plant wise, things such as cherry trees, ferns, moss and evergreens as well as bamboo, all make excellent additions to any Japanese garden. They can also imitate water quite well too. In order to create the sense of relaxation, rocks are also used, especially unusual looking rocks.

As the emphasis is on nature within a Japanese garden, no two lines are the same. Surfaces are unevenly placed and that allows you to focus more on the small details of the garden. Bridges and walkways are a particularly strong part of Japanese gardens and stones are used to give the impression of mountains. Everything is linked back to nature and that is why Japanese gardens are so stunning and peaceful.

The final thing to remember about Japanese gardens is that the stones that you use should always be placed in unusual ways. Triangular shapes are also quite common and lanterns are often placed near them to provide a magical and mysterious appearance. To the Japanese they also represent the female and male parts of fire and water.

Adam Peters is the journalist of consumer websites, who has written more articles on sunrooms for http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com A focused website that offers the best articles on sunroom japanese style and decorating.

Garden Design and Landscaping

By William Brister

Turing your yard of grassland into a beautiful garden design through effective landscaping is challenging but not impossible. Although there is not one single magical formula that will transform a veritable blank space of mud and grass into a successful green landscape, you definitely have the freedom to select your plants and design a garden to make a lasting impression. In order to achieve the desired results, it is essential to plan every step of your gardening methodically.

Here are some essential landscaping tips that will help you to understand the basics of garden designing and landscaping with different flowers, trees and plants.

Planning your landscaping space
The first step would be planning your landscaping space. Planning of the desired space has to be done according to the size and shape of your garden plot. If you like your space and openness to be pronounced, then you could consider covering a major part of the area with a neat and thick lawn and encircling it with trees and flowering plants. Of course, if you have sufficient garden area, then you have the option of putting together several elements that could make an impressive garden design.

Planning your gardening design space
The next step would be to plan for gardening apparatus, its storage and access into the landscaping space. Since the lawn mower is an essential part of the gardening ensemble, plants should be carefully spaced for easy access to the lawn mower as well as to all parts of the lawn. Keep space for other equipment that may be required in the future when doing a landscape makeover or other major changes such as landscaping with trees.

Landscaping types – Hardscape and Softscape
Planning the hardscape and the softscape in landscaping is very essential to acquire optimum results in a good garden design. While the former has to do with masonry work such as construction of patios, barbecues and stonewalls for any water body in the garden, the softscape is planning the grassy turf within that area. The details for the hardscape may also include low lighting around the perimeter which again would require some careful planning. Since the hardscaping involves building of permanent structures, garden designing and planning have to be meticulous and in conjunction with the other elements used in the landscaping.

Planning the softscape is enjoyable but challenging. You need to first decide the type of lawn or turf that is going to cover the surface area of your garden. The next step would be to choose trees – flowering as well as fruit trees that will help to embellish the landscaping of the area. While colourful plants, green foliage and borders can encircle the perimeter, you could also design a recreational spot sheltered with tall trees. While designing your landscape, care should be taken to arrange plants wisely so as to avoid excessive pruning as well as prevent pest infestation.

Ornamentation and wildlife in your landscaping
You could incorporate garden statues among the greenery of your landscape; notwithstanding the style of landscaping you might have in your garden design. Ensure that you use materials that are appropriate to the mood you are setting and are able to withstand the vagaries of nature. If you are fond of birds, plant conifers and wood perennials to give them shelter. Shrubs and vines that bear edible berries are a natural attraction for birds. A simple birdbath or a fountain in a verdant landscaping is wonderfully alluring for birds and soothing for humans as well.

Once you have designed your garden, the next step would be to define your entryway. You can construct a grand entryway with arches and trellises. These can be adorned with vines and colourful flowering veils that make the landscaping inviting, intriguing and special.

Finally, the garden should look pretty, colourful and spacious. There are several plants you can choose from including birds of paradise, mauve verbena, red hibiscus, bougainvilleas etc. Bamboo and ornamental grasses will add life to your garden with their soft sounds.

Following these simple landscaping and garden designing tips, your special verdant space can turn into an oasis for fun, play and relaxation.

William Brister - http://www.beautifulgardens.tv - Essential Gardening Tips

Japanese Garden Design Is Quite Simple If You Do This

By Jonathan G Higgins

Japanese garden design is about as hard to understand to Westerners as the Japanese language is. The relationship to the rich and ancient eastern culture adds to this difficulty. The practice is not just a style of landscaping. Rather, it a statement that delivers a specific meaning. Adding further to its complexity is the influence of fengshui and its borrowings from Buddhism and Chinese culture.

The intention of Japanese garden design is to use nature to make a statement. The main element is symbology, most of which is influenced by Shintoism and Buddhism, which is where the gods inhabit nature. This adds even more its cultural complexity making hard for us to understand.

Since the garden is making a statement or telling a story, the first step is to determine what story you want to tell. What is it you want to communicate to the world with your garden? It might be a good idea to decide in broad terms what you want to say, and then through some research find out how Japanese would go about communicating that truth, concept or story with a garden.

Another outstanding feature of Japanese garden design is that the main point is not to be beautiful or showy. The appearance of the garden is not its purpose, but rather the message is the purpose. Beauty is the after thought, so to speak.

The careful observer will notice that flowering plants are scarce or nonexistent in Japanese garden design. Rather, dry gravel streambed or sand swept into patterns and large rocks and boulders are used to tell the tales. Remember that the heart of all Japanese garden design is symbolism and storytelling, the tradition is that this is done with plants and other elements of nature and not so much the use of colorful flowers.

Equally important to Japanese garden design are the use of water, and more specifically the use of running water, which symbolizes passing time or life.

What shouldn’t get lost in Japanese garden design, but often is by Westerners because they think it’s ‘complicated’, is its simplicity. Once you know the story you are trying tell, it’s as simple as composing the elements of nature to tell that story.

What one should refrain from doing is blindly copying someone else’s garden. Why would you do that? Perhaps because you think it “looks” good. But if the “good looks” are just the result of the telling of a story, then the copier certainly is missing the point. It would be like framing a poem you don’t understand and hanging it on the wall. First think of what you want to say, and then through the principles of Japanese garden design learn how to say and then say it. Don’t start from the beauty, but rather from the story.

Jonathan sends out gardening tips to his newsletter subscribers. Just send an email to garden-design@aweber.com And be sure to visit Elegant Garden Design

The Modern Japanese Garden

By Bill Doane

The modern Japanese garden will only contain things that occur in nature. Japanese gardens offer a tranquil setting for relaxation and meditation. Elements of Japanese gardens include stones, water, plants, ornaments, borrowed scenery, and architecture. Elements for the garden will be in the proper scale; there will be no huge boulders placed in a tiny garden area.

The first element placed in the garden will usually be the stones. The stones are the main element of the garden. They are usually positioned in odd numbers and are grouped together in triangular shapes or randomly. They can be used for stepping stones or for viewing. Stones can be arranged to emphasize a faraway mountain or a nearby tree. The pathways that the stepping stones form represent a person's journey through life. The stones can be placed so that the person will slow down as they travel through the garden. Stones can be used to represent mountains or islands and to express the human emotions of strength and endurance.

Water features are an important element of a Japanese garden. Water symbolizes purity. The water features in the garden will appear to flow naturally as in streams or waterfalls or will be in ponds but not in fountains. Raked gravel is sometimes used to represent water.

There are many different Japanese garden styles. These include a Zen garden or dry garden, Japanese tea garden, a stroll garden, courtyard garden, and pond and island style.

In Japanese gardens, stone lanterns are often placed near a pond or a stream to represent the female and male elements of water and fire. This is known as yin and yang in Japanese tradition.

Japanese gardens will have empty spaces, and there will be no crowded spaces. The gardens will usually be enclosed with natural fencing and a gate or gates. The Japanese garden is always a work in progress and will never be completed. Asymmetry is another element of these gardens. There will be no straight lines or rows.

Flowers and colorful foliage are sparingly used to signify changing seasons in the Japanese garden. The flowering plants used are usually cherry or plum trees, azaleas, peonies, and chrysanthemums. Other plants commonly used include bamboo, moss, Japanese maples, and evergreens, such as Japanese black pine. Some plants may be chosen not only for their flowers but perhaps because of the attractive way they look with snow on the branches, raindrops on the stems, or sun shining through the leaves. Nothing unsightly should be used in the garden.

Bill Doane is a regular contributor to modern-japanese-gardens.com and is currently landscaping his gardens. Visit Modern Japanese Gardens, Home Garden Designs, and Garden and Lawn Sprinklers where you can find information on creating a magnificent garden.

Italian Garden Design - Why Use A Garden Designer To Create An Italian Garden

By Jonathan Radford

Garden design is an art-form, specific to each country and Italian garden design is clearly of no exception. Italian gardens have evolved throughout history by following social changes and Italian garden design has been strongly influenced by many factors over the years, mainly by the control of the Aristocracy, agricultural practises and the availability of food etc. Therefore, to enable one to interpret the specific style and identity of the differing phases in Italian garden design/history, one would need an extremely good understanding of Italian culture and history. Mistakes are easily made regarding the interpretation of various Italian garden styles from Renaissance to contemporary or from formal to informal.

A professional garden designer can prevent the homebuyer in Italy from making some socially embarrassing and even expensive errors when designing his or her Italian garden and a good garden designer should compliment the existing architecture of the house with intelligent garden design. Good garden design is rather like the Italian fashion industry, for example, even the ugliest house can be rendered attractive with good garden design, in the same way that even the least attractive of humans can be transformed by dressing him/her in fine Italian clothing.

The Italian property market still harbours some great investments and an Italian garden designed in the correct manner will make a major difference to the value of any Italian property, rendering it automatically attractive and pleasant at first sight. Such harmony between the house and the land surrounding it is not easily achieved without professional advice and any money spent on a professional garden design will be retained (and possibly doubled!) in the value of that property in years to come. However, it has to be said that an over elaborate, high-maintenance garden can have the opposite effect and can, in actual fact, scare the potential buyer away.

A garden designer will choose plants that are perfectly adapted to the climate, altitude and soil type of your garden and will therefore save vast amounts of money on buying mistaken plants that would otherwise die in their first season. The garden designer will also provide consultation and general good advice for the aftercare of the garden, which will aid in establishing the garden.

Modern garden designers are now placing a much higher emphasis upon low-maintenance garden design that still manages to retain strong structure, form and overall harmony within the garden space yet increases property value. Low maintenance, cost and the environment are major factors in today’s property market and having the chance to create a garden that can address all of these factors surely explains why a garden designer is essential when designing an Italian, Mediterranean or any garden in this modern world.

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

Garden Statues Can Give Your Garden That Exclusive Look

By Peter Finch

Gardens have lawns, gardens have flowers, and gardens have exotic plants and complicated landscaping. They also have the one thing that gives it an identity of its own - garden statues. People believe that the garden is the first thing a visitor would see and first impressions are always lasting impressions.

The history of garden statues dates back to the Garden of Eden. Those that belonged to Renaissance Italy were actually classical sculptures found amongst the ruins of Rome and Greece and were displayed here. A good example is the statue of Venus De Milo belonging to the 2nd century BC. Post Restoration in the year 1660, the concept of garden statues had reached England where the Victorian bent towards exotic art and a thirst for knowledge inspired this art to reach great heights. Italy was in a way responsible for the spread of garden statues to European countries. Ideas were represented in the new sculpture of the late 19th century art world.

Garden statues give the garden its uniqueness and a distinct of character. They compliment the picture, so to speak. They emphasize the flowers, the plants and the landscaping that grace its surroundings. There are all types of statues to be found. There are statues that are religious or mythological in nature where some Gods are known as the defenders of evil. There are statues that are whimsical like fairies or cupid, pixies and little bird houses. There are people who have a very artistic bent of mind so they would like to have statues that depict some altruism or a deeper meaning of life and living in general. If your theme is nature then you can have animal statues. Waterfalls of many types, colors, shapes and sizes can be added to garden statues to give it a hint of the lyrical.

The materials that can be used for garden statues are generally those which can handle the wear and tear of weather well. Stone is most commonly used and resin is now gaining popularity. There are marble and bronze statues to be seen also but people are hesitant to leave these at the mercy of the Elements. Concrete and cement are cheap options but they are not long lasting options. Fiberglass loses its color when exposed to UV rays of the sun over a period of time and steel, unless galvanized or painted, will not last long. Ceramic, on the other hand, is very durable and so is stainless steel. Wood has a tendency to decay and change with time so if your garden statue can adapt itself to the new weather oriented design then you may have something unique on your hands.

If you are a garden lover and want to do something different for your garden then go in for a simple theme and put in garden statues to emphasize the idea. Keep your budget and durability of the material in mind. Let your imagination and your creative instincts rule, the sky is the limit and the possibilities endless.

Get all of the latest in garden statues know how from the one and only true gardening resource at http://www.organicgardeningexpert.com Be sure to check out our garden statues pages on our web site.

Garden Sculpture

By Kristy Annely

In the ancient world, the most common garden forms were the household gardens of nobles and the holy gardens associated with a place of worship. Sculpture of divines and kings were positioned in the compounds of places of worship. The Romans transported a large number of statues to Italy and placed them in gardens for decorative purposes. As the Roman Empire underwent a transformation and initiated Christian beliefs, these statues were regarded as non-religious, and removed. However, during the renaissance, these same statues were exhumed and placed once again in gardens. Sculpture became a acknowledged as art and gardens have always been a favored setting for exhibiting outdoor works of art.

Sculptures, whether in the shape of birdbaths or metal art forms are noticeable essentials to enhance a garden’s ambience. Mounting an appealing sculpture at waist or eye level can transform a garden into an exhilarating place. Including a garden sculpture helps set the mood or theme of a garden.

Even a modest garden is a work of art and installing a garden sculpture is a popular way to give a small garden, a bit of aura and mystery. A sculpture in a sunlit open space achieves the status of an exalted spot. It is delightful to find a large garden sculpture serving as the central point or to walk down a garden path and chance upon an unanticipated sculpture placed in a small recess. Many homeowners, while designing their homes, seek classically designed sculptures to be placed in their gardens.

While selecting a sculpture for a garden, a buyer must bear in mind that the artpiece should be able to withstand nature’s ravages during different seasons. The best choice of material for a sculpture with this factor in mind, are bronze and marble. When sculptures are placed in the open, they should be of a material that is durable and bronze fits in with this need.

Some art lovers choose a fairly large sculpture to make it the central piece of attraction in the garden. They place the sculpture in a prominent place so it will attract the attention of every visitor to the garden.

While designing a beautiful garden and the sculpture to go with it, one may enlist the services of specialized garden decorators. Most people who are not connoisseurs of art are inexperienced when it comes to selecting sculptures. A garden-decoration agency helps buyers pick a fine piece of art to match their gardens and at the right price range.

Sculptures provides detailed information on Sculpture, Garden Sculpture, Bronze Sculpture, Metal Sculpture and more. Sculptures is affiliated with Interior Painting.

Garden Fencing

By Garry John

I made my very first garden when I was six in a small corner at the end of my grandmother's garden. It was a small patch, not more than six rows by 10 plants long, but it was MINE, with the flowers I picked and the dirt that I dug. And I knew that it was mine when Nana helped me put up the sections of wire fencing that set it off from HER garden.

Garden fencing can serve many purposes, but one of the best is to accent and define areas of your garden. Whether you choose a six or twelve inch high border edging, or stand a section of post and rail garden fencing in the center of a sweep of lawn, garden fencing can add a beautiful accent to your landscaping. Take a look at some novel, unusual ways to use garden fencing to make your garden a showplace that will be the envy of the neighborhood.

Wood Garden Fencing

Wood lattice makes attractive garden fencing that affords some privacy while allowing glimpses of the garden. Lattice boards set into a wooden privacy fence add a whole new design dimension to the frontage of your garden. A single width of lattice fencing can provide a screen or windbreak, and support for any climbing vines. Set a lattice panel at the edge of the garden nearest the house and train morning glories to climb it to provide a scenery wall outside a kitchen or bedroom window, or create a simple arbor with two full height lattice panels set six to eight feet apart. Use thick garden twine to create a 'bridge' for vines to climb across and form a living 'roof'.

Border Edging Garden Fencing

Border edging is another extremely versatile garden fencing option. Think outside the perimeter. You can use wire garden fencing to create smaller accents within a garden plot, or outline one corner or end of a garden with cast iron border edging. Cedar shakes or redwood blocks can be used to create curved borders for slightly raised garden beds, or serve as a backdrop over which to spill indigo lobelia or white alyssum. Create a zigzag border of decorative low picket garden fencing and plant zinnias or marigolds in the V-shaped 'teeth' for a unique look.

Patio Wall of Garden Fencing

Garden fencing can be used to create a beautiful background for patio dining. Choose a metal trellis and install it just off the patio edge behind the table and dining set. Twine climbing roses up over it to create an accent that defines the edge of the patio and creates an elegant, tasteful accent to your patio and garden at the same time.

Garry John contributes to many home and garden sites including fencing and plants.

A Buyers Guide to Buying Garden Gates

By George Kerr

A garden can be your own piece of heaven. It surrounds you in beauty and life. It can be truly magical. It doesn't matter if you fill your garden with flowers, herbs or vegetables, simply having nature around you can give you that same feeling of tranquillity.

Of course first impressions people have of your garden is the gate. You will want it to reflect the personality of your garden and give visitors an idea of what awaits them.

Types of Garden Gates

The most obvious choices of gate materials have got to be wood and metal however bamboo is also becoming a more popular material in gardens.

Think of a garden gate and most people will think of one made from wood. They can be very traditional or very modern. Wood can be shaped and stained to take on the appearance you wish. You may want the gate to be solid so that people can't look in, or perhaps you have such a beautiful garden you want to show it off to all passers by.

For a slightly different look you can even combine wood with other materials such as iron.

Iron can be truly elegant and sleek or even rustic. The metal can be bent into almost any shape you desire. It can be free-flowing and organic or even geometrical.

Want a feeling of calm and Zen? Then bamboo is they way to go. It will give your garden a more exotic/Japanese look. Bamboo, like wood, can be put together to form a solid gate which is great for gardens that wish to be private.

Caring for a Garden Fence

Wood tends to be a high maintenance product but can have a very long life if it is cared for properly. As with other wood products in your garden you will need to do some sanding and staining every few years to keep it looking good.

Bamboo, like wood, will need regular maintenance. After installing bamboo, a coating of polyurethane should be applied to help protect it from the elements. Make sure that the polyurethane has UV protection.

For really low maintenance, wrought iron beats them all. It's generally rust-resistant however you can paint it if needed. Paint will also help protect it from rust.

Cost of Buying a Garden Gate

There is a difference in price between these materials. Wood will tend to be the least expensive out of the three natural products. The price will depend on what type of wood you want to use. Cedar is the most common type used outdoors because of its natural bug resistance.

You will have to pay more for iron and the price can depend greatly on how much detail goes into the design. The more complex the design the more man-hours required to make it become a reality.

George Kerr is a keen garden and DIY enthusiast who writes for website Finer Living which has further reading on heated floors, patio design ideas and other home and garden related topics.

Garden Hoses - 3 Tips To Choosing Your Best Garden Hose

By Terry Edwards

So, you have decided you need to buy a new garden hose? How do you know what to look for in a new hose? Before you make a purchase here are 3 tips to help you find the perfect garden hose for your home.

1. Construction - Obviously, the quality of the hose will determine its life, so look for garden hoses that have brass connectors. Why? Because brass fittings are the best in preventing water leaks and hold up well to everyday use in the yard or garden. It also will never rust or rot out.

Be sure that any water hose you buy has 6 inch kink guards. These guards are what helps prevent your hose from kinking when it's pulled out from the faucet.

2. Long Life - If you are going to spend $25 or more on a new garden hose, then get a good one. A high quality multi-layered rubber hose will give you 7 years of life. Yes, you can go to Wal-Mart and buy a $10 cheap garden hose. But don't expect to use it again next year.

3. Style Of Hose - This is an important area that is often overlooked. How you store your hose has an effect on what style to buy. For example, a coiled hose will work great will a nice hose reel. Just be wary of trying to use any kind of hose reel with a cheap coiled hose. If you have ever seen the tangled rats nest it can make, then you know what I mean.

Finding your best quality garden hose is the only way to go. Whether it is for watering your garden vegetables, plants or shrubs, it will give you years of trouble free use.

By the way, you can find out more tips to choose your best Garden Hose as well as much more information on all types of garden hoses and garden hose accessories at http://www.GardenHosesA-Z.com

Outdoor Decor Is Not Complete Without Patio Garden Lighting

By Mike Selvon

Patio garden lighting can help enhance the feel of one's outdoor living area. A person can just get away from their hectic lives with a patio garden, but decorating that area can prove to be a challenge. One way to accent it is to have the right lighting.

Outdoor lighting can help to lighten a pathway and even to accent a garden that a person has so lovingly made. However, this type of lighting can be found with just the click of a mouse.

One of the first places a person can look for the perfect patio garden lighting is at their local retail store such as Wal-Mart or Lowe's. Lowe's website has a variety of perfect lighting for anyone's patio. These home decor items can be found in lights that can light the path to the patio or lights that one can use to accent their patio furniture.

Very unique outdoor table lamps can be found for a very reasonable price at Lowe's. Wal-Mart has a very unique lighting of this type for one's outdoor space. The lights are luminaries that can project images such as a dragonfly or various contemporary shapes onto one's patio garden.

These affordable lights are definitely art home decor that can make the patio garden feel as if it is an oasis from the everyday hustle and bustle.

Another way that the patio garden can be enhanced with the perfect lightning is to use mounted lighting in the are that is to be enhanced. Kits can be bought that will allow a person to put lighted post caps on the tops of the deck patio fencing. This is something that can be personalized, and more than likely one will not be able to find these kits in a normal retail store.

However, if one does a quick search on the net, then they can find a kit to match what they are looking for. However, they are expensive, but the rewards are great. One of the shops online that offers are variety of these types of lights is HomeGardenAndPatio. This website provides several unique home decor items that can enhance anyone's outdoor living space.

This type of lighting is the perfect addition to any outdoor living space that one may have. A person can personalize their living area outdoors with just a few sell placed accents including lights.

A person can enjoy their space at any time during the day or night with the right type of lighting. This is also an easy find for people who are looking for the perfect way to add to their little piece of outdoor heaven.

Turn your decorating ideas into a reality by visiting Mike Selvon interior design portal, and learn more about patio garden lighting. Your feedback is much appreciated at our home decor ideas blog.

Garden-Fountains Can Be Provocative and Calming

By Elizabeth Jean

Garden-fountains are provocative. They can be as noisy as a cascading waterfall or as serene as a water lily sitting on its surface. It might be a playfully bubbling garden-fountain or a mysterious black pool reflecting the silver moon. Its moods are elusive as it ripples, rushes, gurgles, splashes, drips, leaps, babbles, trickles, roars or simply lies still and quiet.

Some admirers think water is as compelling as fire and a lot easier to control. Water can be introduced into the garden in a variety of ways, ranging from simple birdbaths and small fishponds to lavish garden-fountains and ambitious manmade waterfalls.

Getting Started Planning a Stunning Garden-Fountain

The quickest way to introduce the garden-fountain into the landscape is to set out a simple concrete birdbath. This immediately brings a bit of reflection to the landscape, and it adds action and life as birds begin splashing and flickering around their newly found source of fresh water. This is especially so during dry periods, when birds are desperately looking for a drink. A small pump may be added to create the garden-fountain effect.

The next step up might be a small, wall-hung fountain of manmade materials that mimic lead or stone, or the real thing at a considerably higher price. These might take the form of a lion's head or a gargoyle that spouts water out of its mouth into a basin below.

Small Pools Offer Charm as a Garden-Fountain

At some point, almost every gardener hankers for a small garden-fountain pool. There are several ways to go. Those with a limited budget or very small space can try a half whiskey barrel. Fill it with water and add one small water lily, one small bog plant, a bunch of submerged grasses to help keep the algae down so the water will remain clear, and a pair of fantail fish to keep the water moving and free of insects. A garden fountain can be installed to the pool for added drama.

Ideally a garden-fountain should be situated in the sun. Shade tends to lead to moss and algae on stone, cement, and bricks, and nearby trees drop their leaves into the pond every fall. Rocks and plants placed at random around the edge of a garden-fountain make a naturalistic coping for gardens that have a woodsy, informal look. Bricks or fieldstones laid in a pattern give a more formal effect.

Some people keep their small pools simple and unadorned. Others add motion with a small jet garden-fountain placed on the bottom to spurt water into the air anywhere from a few inches to many feet. A small "bubbler fountain" might take the form of a lead water lily with a hidden jet that bubbles the water over the leaf and into the basin or pool. Water lilies, some powerfully scented, others with huge fanciful leaves, add floral interest. Fish add color and keep the water clean, while statues and underwater lights increase the pool's beauty.

Installing a rock garden with a small garden fountain and waterfall or perhaps a small, trickling stream is a huge project. The most common mistake is to try to set the waterfall in the middle of a flat lawn. The result usually looks like a guard tower at the local prison. A two foot gradual slope is a much more natural solution.

It is also difficult to get a man-made stream to look natural. Rocks that create rivulets and hide any necessary pumps must be strategically but naturally placed, a tough balance to find and difficult to change once the heavy rocks are placed. In some instances contractors have to bring in rocks by crane.

Different Designs of Water Pools and Garden-Fountains

The design of any water feature should echo the general theme of the garden. Gardens with a Spanish or Middle Eastern look lend themselves to a long, straight tile-lined channel of water a few inches deep that ends in a small fountain jet or a piece of statuary. Informal gardens call for naturalistic features, such as an irregularly shaped pool in the middle of a fern glade or a water bog for plants that thrive in wetlands. Formal gardens look best with lead or concrete garden-fountains and symmetrical pools. Japanese gardens are a natural setting for streams, reflecting pools, small lakes (depending on the size of the property) and "dry water" features such as "streams" of river rocks or gravel raked in patterns to simulate waves.

Elizabeth Jean is an expert gardening writer and frequent contributor to Garden-Fountains.com, a highly sought after website with stylish water fountains and garden statuary for homes, yards, gardens, and patios.

Best Quality Gardening Equipment

By Percy Troughton

Quality gardening equipment is exactly what any dedicated gardener could use. However, it is not always possible to rush right out and spend hundreds, sometimes even thousands, of dollars on the latest and greatest gardening equipment. That is where improvisation comes in. A good gardener definitely knows how to improvise. The following paragraphs will discuss gardening equipment in general, as well as touch on the basic gardening equipment a good gardener will need.

As a gardener, there are some basic pieces of gardening equipment you will likely need at one time or another. This equipment includes, a hoe, a shovel, a rake, and maybe even a small hand shovel. It is not enough just to have these you must make sure they are good quality. If you have these basic pieces of equipment, you are good to go. However, if you have bushes, hedges, or vine style ground cover, a good pair of pruning scissors could prove extremely helpful. While only the basic gardening equipment is necessary, some garden equipment can make the hard work of gardening much easier. If you have been gardening for years, chances are you have accumulated so much garden equipment that your shed is overflowing with it.

In addition to theses basic pieces of gardening equipment it is is also useful to have a leaf blower, a spade and an electric trimmer is also a useful piece of gardening equipment. As mentioned before, as gardeners, we know how to improvise. It becomes necessary to improvise if you do not have the basic gardening equipment you need, or if you are unable to locate your basic gardening tools you already own. For example, one day I could not find my good pruning scissors, no matter how hard I tried to find them. Ultimately, I grabbed a kitchen knife, and used it to serve the same purpose as my good pruning shears. This is a very common practice among gardeners who can't find the gardening tool they need at the moment. Improvising can also be common among gardeners who cannot afford to rush out and purchase the latest gardening equipment on a whim.

Improvising, as opposed to using the proper gardening equipment, may seem like a sloppy way to get things accomplished. However, this is simply not true. Every dedicating gardener knows when you are in the middle of a task, you do not want to drop everything to search for a certain gardening tool. It is distracting, so as opposed to interrupting their work, gardeners tend to improvise.

With that said, it is true that some gardening jobs are done much better if the proper gardening equipment is used. In these cases it is best not to improvise, but to take time out to find the best tool for the job. The end results will be well worth the time you took out to find what you were looking for.

They main thing to remember about garden equipment is we may want it, but we don't always need it. As gardeners, if we have the basic gardening tools, we should be able to make do just fine. Even though we may be tempted to rush out and purchase the newest and greatest revolutions to the gardening world, however, it is not necessary to make these purchases in order to make your garden look great. In most cases, improvisation does work.

Percy Troughton's runs his own garden center as well as running several shopping based websites. His particular speciality is gardening equipment. Visit his website which is full of Gardening Equipment ideas. http://www.gardenresourcesworld.com/gardening_equipment.html

Garden Accessories

By Debbie Jensen

Garden Accessories can be functional; but most often, they are placed in gardens for their charm and whimsy. From cheap mechanical croaking frogs to expensive gazebos, we just can't get enough of them. For instance, a garden cart can hold a watering can, hand tools, and gloves; or it can be used as a garden end table, or placed in an outdoor setting for visual appeal only.

Garden accessories don't have to be functional. Statues give style to a garden, while fountains and waterfalls create mist and water sounds. Garden structures such as arches and gates create entry ways or exits. Windmills and water wheels add movement. Yet, tables, chairs, and umbrellas are functional and are physically inviting and add comfort.

The beauty about garden accessories is that they don't have to meet the same standards as home decor. What's good about this situation for artists is that artists and designers alike can drop their guard when stylizing and designing for their gardens. If you feel anxious about painting a design on an outdoor piece or putting together a mosaic table top, make it for outdoor use! If your artwork is not exactly as you want it, it’s not as intimidating as long as you know it is going to be outdoors. It seems that outdoor art is a bit more forgiving. For my garden, I placed a metal watering can inside an outdoor cart. I painted the watering can with white house paint. Then, I painted a horizontal line with green acrylic paint around the watering can. Next, I sprayed the can with a clear coat of matte lacquer and threw sand onto the lacquer before it had a chance to dry. Once again, I repeated the process. Finally, I sprayed a final coat of clear matte lacquer for the finishing touch.

Today, the watering can looks pretty close to how I originally painted it―and it's been outside in approximately the same spot for about four years now with plants growing in it. This may seem unimportant and insignificant to some, but it is a rewarding experience to the person who took the time to add that special, personal touch to a manufactured garden accent. So, don’t be afraid to get creative with your garden accents. You just might surprise yourself! (revised 2/12/2006)

Debbie Jensen, Graphic Designer and Photographer http://www.debjensendesigns.com

All About Gardening Tools

By Peter Finch

God made rainy days, so gardeners could get the housework done - Gardening can be that addictive and more so if you have the right tools! Selecting the right gardening tools is also important when taking up a gardening project. Opt for tools that are neither too heavy nor too light. Heavy equipments are difficult to use and quite tiresome while lighter ones are poorly made. Good gardening tools have handles made of high quality wood like ash.

Here are some popular gardening tools -

- Garden rake helps to soothe the soil after it is tilled. This tool is helpful in finishing work when making planting beds or a new lawn.

- Cultivators help in cutting the hard compacted soil. Some of them have broader edges while others have narrow ones. These are useful in making the annual beds for vegetable gardens.

- Edger is another gardening tool that helps the flower gardens and shrubs maintain their shape. Gardens lose their crisp lines over time when grass intrudes in the garden. Using the edger will prevent grass roots taking a firm hold in planting beds.

- Pitchfork is a tool used for aerating compacted soil and preparing garden beds. They are also used for dividing grasses and also to spread mulch in spring.

- Reel Mowers are used to cut grass. They give a cleaner cut as compared to other tools. They do not use gas and hence there is no pollution with reel mowers. These are great for small lawns. It is a lightweight and easy to use tool.

- Hand Pruners are gardening tools used for cutting branches. They give cleaner and precise cuts. They have bypass blades that help in cutting the branches neatly.

- Loppers are just like pruners but are provided with long handles and the ability to cut branches of around 2 inches thickness.

- Compact Pruning Saw is a tool useful for cutting branches. It is small enough to fit into the middle of a shrub to cut the branch.

Gardening tools are essential for maintaining your garden but it is not really necessary to spend a lot on buying garden tools. You need not have all the latest tools to give your garden that perfect look. You can just buy some basic tools to start with. With minimum tools, you too can make your garden attractive.

One of the basic gardening tools is a spading fork. This helps to dig down the soil and break the ground. This is very essential since at some point or the other you will need to open and improve the soil. Hoe is a gardening tool useful for weeding and cultivating the soil. This is done to allow the penetration of nutrients and water into the soil. For larger digging projects you will also require a round ended shovel.

A watering can is also one of the important gardening tools. It has long nozzles and allows water to flow gently. A good bow rake is essential to level the soil and also for removing large clods of earth or rocks from the soil. Having a pair of garden shears known as clippers are essential for cutting, shaping and removing foliage or branches.

Give your garden that perfect look just by using the right gardening tools without spending money on expensive professional gardeners!

Get all of the latest in gardening tools know how from the one and only true gardening resource at http://www.gardeningtoolsadvice.com/ Be sure to check out our gardening tools pages on our web site.

Garden Supplies Are Where Your Joy Of Gardening Begins

By Sam Butler

You finally managed to buy that dream house you always wanted, a house with a nice garden and lawn – but if you are looking forward to create a wonderful outdoor space and to develop your gardening skills, then there are some things you definitely need: garden supplies.

Besides the basic garden tolls, such as shovels, hoes, pruners and spading forks, which definitely have to be on your shopping list, garden supplies have the main role of protecting you and your plants. So, which are the most important garden supplies that should not miss from a gardener’s equipment?

First of all, your hands will be the ones which will do the job in your lawn and garden. Therefore, they need to be protected with the help of some garden gloves. After all, who wants to get blisters or even injuries from gardening? So, you should select a pair of durable, resistant and comfortable gloves that you should wear when gardening or when using lawn tools. Moreover, your gardening gloves should be made of a soft synthetic fabric, such as Lycra spandex and they should definitely be washable, since they will get dirty quite fast. And when you are shopping for garden gloves, you should also stop by the garden aprons section and get one, since it will prove to be very useful when gardening.

A garden tools organizer, also called garden tools holder is the one thing you need in case you are trying to keep your garden tools in order. You can find both light holders and heavy duty garden tools holders, holders on rolls, with removable canvas satchels and other such appealing features. What else do you need? We all know that we need seeds and pesticides in order to obtain the flower garden we desire. But which are the best pesticides out there? For example, a good choice is represented by the neem oil, the oil that can function as an excellent bio-pesticide and that can efficiently keep all the insects away from your garden.

All the above garden supplies are strictly essential and functional, they are the items you definitely need in order to proceed with your lawn care and gardening activities. But there are other ranges of garden supplies that have more decorative purposes and that can basically enhance the look of your lawn and garden. Which are these ornamental garden supplies? Well, from flower pots to concrete planters and garden urns, from torches and candles to outdoor tableware and from fountains to hanging flower baskets, you can find anything you desire in order to enhance the look of your lawn garden.

A nice looking garden is not simply limited to beautiful plants and colored flowers. If you are truly creative and in search of the perfect style for your outdoor space, including your lawn, garden and patio, then you can use decorative elements to create a welcoming ambient, a space where you can spend quiet and peaceful moments in the middle of the nature. You can create a perfect light and atmosphere using outdoor candles, you can coordinate the nuances of your flowers with the decorative garden planters or you can combine the rustic wood of the flower pots with your wooden garden shed. With the help of the right garden supplies, you will manage to create that outdoor space that you always wanted. Whether you’re gardening as a hobbyist, or professionally, garden supplies sourced correctly will make your success that much closer. Enjoy your gardening sessions and admire your results!

Sam Butler is an avid gardener always trying to do better in his lawn and garden pursuits. Lawn and Garden Challenge!

Garden Decor

By Jimmy Sturo

Garden decor refers to the decoration of a garden area using different accessories, bird feeders, ornaments, yard benches and chairs, artificial fountains and vases as well as plants that can help make gardens look beautiful and attractive. The more unusual and unique these knick knacks, the more appealing the garden turns out to be. Tasteful knick knacks arranged thoughtfully in a garden accentuate the beauty of the plants and flowers. As a result, there are many garden accessories that can bring out different decorating styles and provide a reflection of the owner’s personality. Just about any accessory can be added to give a garden a unique identity. Antique compotes, garden thermometers, table top urns, French wire decor, sun catchers, indoor plant holders, decorative weathervanes, unusual pottery, ethnic objects, and outdoor antiques--the choices available are endless. Whether using a professional gardener’s know-how or a beginner’s enthusiasm, accessories for the garden decor can result in an immensely pleasing garden.

While small plots can be do-it-yourself projects, larger gardens may call for more professional attention. Experienced gardeners can be hired professionals to administer to a larger plot that could use a little bit of landscaping. Landscaping adds levels to a garden making garden decor more interesting. Depending on the available space, choosing and planting certain plants is important so that the garden always has some blooms. Large garden decor need more physical labor in the form of soil additives for maintenance, lawn mowing, pruning of plants, spraying of pesticides, etc. Making use of professional services in such instances can ensure a healthy and neat garden all year.

Gardens provides detailed information on Gardens, Flower Gardens, Garden Decor, Garden Furniture and more. Gardens is affiliated with Flower Gardening.

Garden Sheds

By Marcus Peterson

Garden sheds, as their name suggests, are buildings constructed in gardens to stow various gardening tools and to do simple gardening jobs. Garden sheds need to look good themselves, or they will take away from the appearance of the garden in which they are built.

There are two kinds of gardening sheds. Apex-roof garden sheds have the traditional V-shape pointed roof, while pent-roof garden sheds have an inverted U-shape roof that slopes towards the sides. Apex-roof garden sheds have their doors at one of the ends, while pent-roof garden sheds usually have their doors at one of the side walls. Garden sheds made of metal have flat roofs.

Garden sheds are primarily used to store gardening equipment. Fertilizer packets, seeds, gardening hoes, and trimming scissors are the things that one may find in a garden shed. Garden sheds conceal material that is not eye-appeasing but is needed for garden work. Also, the garden shed can be used to do messy gardening jobs like removing rot of plants and grafting and trimming shrubs by uprooting the plant and transferring it into the shed for its treatment. However dirty the garden shed may inside, it is important that it looks pleasant on the outside since it is a part of the garden.

Wood is the most favored material for building garden sheds. Softwood is cheaper, but it is more prone to rotting when exposed to water. Cedar wood is more expensive and is more resistant to rotting. Wood can be painted in colors that may blend it with the garden. If wood is to be used, it must be recurrently treated with preservatives to protect it from pests and insects.

Poly vinyl garden sheds are a good option since they do not have any of the limitations wood has, but they are not that good in the aesthetic sense. Poly vinyl is a durable and cheap material that is easy to build. Do-it-yourself kits sell mostly sheds made of poly vinyl carbonate.

Garden sheds are also available in metals like steel and aluminum. It is important that these metals be treated for corrosion during manufacture.

Sheds provides detailed information about sheds, how to build a shed, metal sheds and more. Sheds is affiliated with Modular Home Plans.

The Eight Basic Principles of Garden Design

By Bill Doane

There are eight basic gardening principles that a gardener should follow to achieve a garden that is pleasing to the senses and provides a pleasant outdoor living space. These include balance, repetition, proportion, transition, simplicity, unity, rhythm, and focalization. Elements of art to keep in mind also are color, line, form, texture, and scale. These elements are used as tools to adjust the design principles.

There are two types of balance used in garden design. These are known as formal or symmetrical arrangements and informal or asymmetrical arrangements. With symmetrical arrangements, imagine a dividing line going through the center of the garden and the plantings and arrangements on each side are identical. With the asymmetrical or informal arrangements, the plantings or arrangements are not alike on either side.

Repetition is when plants with similar shapes, color, scent, and/or texture are repeated throughout the arrangement to achieve unity in the design. The repetition should not be overdone which could cause the arrangement to appear busy or crowded.

Proportion refers to using elements in the garden that agree in size. No oversized fountains or trees in a small garden or tiny trees next to a large building.

Transition is the gradual change of elements in the garden with no sudden changes in the height, color, texture, or theme.

Simplicity refers to keeping the design simple. Having a simple theme that does not have too many elements or colors will help to achieve a landscape design that is pleasing to the eye without being overdone or busy.

Using a consistent style to express a main idea is called unity. Mass planting and repetition can help to achieve unity in a landscape design. Repeating a particular color or theme throughout the landscape will help to achieve unity.

Rhythm is a sense of motion created by the elements in a landscape design which lead the viewer's eye through the garden area and beyond the design. This is achieved through the use of color schemes, line, and form which can be repeated to attain rhythm in the design.

Focalization is when a feature is used as a focal point to draw the visitor's attention or to direct them through the garden.

When planning a garden, the gardener doesn't have to use all eight of these principles but being aware of them will help to better achieve the kind of outdoor space that is desired.

Bill Doane is a regular contributor to modern-japanese-gardens.com and is currently landscaping his gardens. Visit Modern Japanese Gardens, Home Garden Designs, and Garden and Lawn Sprinklers where you can find information on creating a magnificent garden.