DIY Sunflower Tower Bird-Feeder

Birds really gave more life in the garden. Their chirping sound is indeed a music in the ears for many gardeners. But that is not the sole reason why gardeners try to attract them in the gardens. Birds actually plays a great role in pollination, pest control and seed dispersal. To attract these birds in your garden you must provide their needs such as shelter, food and water (Read my previous post on attracting the bird in your garden: How To Make Your Garden Attractive To Birds.). Thus, having a bird feeder brings this winged creatures in your garden.

Posted in Garden Roof Coop by Rebecca is a DIY Sunflower tower bird feeder made from recycled materials and re purposed items that you will really love to try. You can visit the site for instructions here.

Make Hypertufa Pots

One of the most important things in your garden is the pot or planter. If your pots look unappealing, there is also a tendency that the entire garden will look the same. But no matter if your pots are just one of your DIY projects, they will look great as long as you are creative enough to make them. From lowes.com, here is another project how to make your own Hypertufa Pots. The materials as well as the overall instructions are also listed. For your reference, you may see the video below:

How To Make Your Garden Attractive To Birds

Don’t you just love hearing the chirping of birds in the morning? These little creatures flying around your garden will surely add life in your garden. Birds also plays a great role in pollination, keeping pest under control and dispersing seeds so attracting them in your garden will definitely benefit you. After all  a garden will not be complete without them so learn to attract them.

How To Attract The Birds?

In order to attract the birds in your garden your garden must have their basic needs: shelter, food and fresh water.

Step 1: Provide them Shelter

Birds needed shelter for them to breed and take a rest. Planting some trees and shrub in your garden will provide them a place to rest thus they will surely visit your garden. You can also add nest boxes in your garden for added shelter for birds.

Step 2: Provide them Food

Before planning on attracting these garden helpers, you must get to know them closer according to the food they eat so you will know how to attract them. Although they have different diets, they are generally subdivided into four main groups, the nectar feeding; insect feeding; fruit and seed feeding and carnivorous. Knowing this, you will know what plants you need to grow to attract them.

Planting native plants is recommended for they suited well on the native birds in your area. Be sure to observe what birds present in your area to be able to attract them as well. You can put some bird feeders too. The key is variety to attract different birds in your garden. Be sure not to put too much bird feeders in the garden. Your aim is to attract them not for them to depend on you.

Step 3: Provide them fresh water

Birds need water to drink and to bathe in. By providing water in your garden, you will definitely attract these garden helpers. Put your bird bath in an area where it would be free from the reach of cats and other animals. The water must be 3 to 8 centimeters deep for it to accommodate different bird species. Add some flat stones in to bath for the birds to step on. Be sure to always keep the water fresh and clean.

Surely, it is relaxing to watch the birds flying around your garden. Adding some plants and improving your garden to attract them will help not only your garden but the environment too. Keep in mind that birds need to feel safe in your garden for you to attract them. So keep them visiting your garden!

In the Garden with Urban Harvest: Train Fruit Trees For Strength

I love fruit trees in my garden for the gave me food, shade, and height in the garden. But did you know that you needed to train your fruit trees so that it will hold a lot of fruits. Bob Randal, Ph. D., a home correspondent of Chron explains on his article the importance of training your fruit trees.

Pruning trees is important for it to be live long and a productive tree. Although, you must have enough knowledge to this. Pruning trees can be different from every location due to the climate and your tree. By not considering this, your effort might lead to failure.

In training your fruit trees to establish your strong tree, you must develop a scaffold of branches around the tree with enough space between branches for the sunlight to hit all of them for long hours. Although this might sound so must work to do, you will surely reap all the benefits at the end.

Learn to train fruits trees by reading the full article of Bob on the link: http://www.chron.com/homes/article/In-the-Garden-with-Urban-Harvest-Train-fruit-4260941.php

Gardening Tips for April

Here are some handy tips to best maintain and improve your garden during the month of April!

 

Trees, shrubs, climbers:
• Plant new trees, shrubs and climbing plants.
• Plant a fast-growing vine on a hot pergola. Use ornamental grapevine to provide autumn colour and summer shade.
• Spray foliage of frost-sensitive plants with an anti-transpirant spray.
• Deadhead summer- and early autumn flowering shrubs.
• Water camellias in bud and flower.
• Take cuttings from succulents, geraniums and fuchsias.