New Product: Liquid Fence Tank Pump Sprayer 5 Liter

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Capacity: 5lt


Features:
Made from recycled milk bottles!
Safety/pressure release valve
Locking on /off trigger
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Adjustable brass spray
1.5 meter heavy duty hose

Liquid Fence 5-Liter Tank Sprayer

Raising Chickens…Backyard Fun

Chickens, that’s right, chickens are becoming America’s newest pet. People all over are raising chickens of all sizes and varieties right in their backyards. As the Green movement surges forward, consumers have been looking for ways to increase their sustainability level in their daily lives. Chickens are great for a number of reasons.
Chickens eat bugs! Lots and lots of bugs! Never again worry about fleas, ticks or mosquitoes! Chickens are also great for eggs, organic of course. They are inexpensive to purchase, baby chicks average $3.00 -5.00 a piece. And the chicken poo! What a great fertilizer for the lawn and gardens! Chicken manure is some of the best fertilizer, organic gardeners love it.
There are literally hundreds of varieties of chickens you can purchase. The Bantams are a smaller version of their original counterpart. Great if you have a smaller yard. To keep them from flying (yes chickens fly) just clip the end feathers of their wings, they won’t be able to take off. Chickens do need a Coop, and nesting boxes for laying eggs. You can buy chicken coops inexpensively or make a homemade one. They need shelter from the elements and a soft place to lay their eggs. Otherwise you will find them all over the yard, hidden under bushes, etc.
We let our chickens have the run of the yard. Free Range they call them. Chickens are much happier when they can run. And no bugs! We decided to get some chicks after several visits to my brother’s house. He lives on the water of a creek. His house has fabulous views, but at first it also had tons and tons of mosquitoes. His neighbor got 4 chickens and a pair of ducks. Since then, he has not had to spray chemicals to get rid of the bugs, put flea and tick chemicals on his 175 lb. Mastiff or spray himself. The chickens and the dog even coexist peacefully! The chickens have free run of the 2 neighboring properties, as they have no fences.
So now we have our own feathered friends. We have 5 kids, a dog and we live in the North East, so we chose a variety of Bantam that is friendly and can withstand the cold. Chickens are fun to have, the eggs are great and the benefit of all natural bug control is the best! Our neighbors don’t mind at all, because we have no Rooster. The chickens are generally quiet, unless they are alarmed by something. Much quieter in fact than my German Sheppard.
Keeping chickens is a great way to live Green and reduce our carbon footprint. Try it!

Glorious Weekend

This year spring has been slow in arriving..at least here in the North East. Is been chilly and rainy for about a month now. Finally the sign of spring I've been waiting for! A warm, 75 degree, sunshine filled weekend!

Even the sesonal allergies that have me and everyone else in New Jersey sneezing and popping antihistamines can't bring me down.

I've had piles of organic leaf compost and shredded mulch in my driveway since mid-March...today is the day! I can get started on my vegetable garden, clean out my flower beds and make everything look fresh and new again, a much awaited, longed for task.

Indoor Gardening Basics

For many parts of the country, indoor gardening is about all we can do for the next several months. Indoor gardening can be fun and keeps your hands in the dirt.

Most of us think of the common houseplants such as Spiders, Pothos, and Philodendron. There are many, many types of beautiful and colorful plants for indoor gardens. For example, herbs can be grown indoors in the off season providing you have a sunny window to grow them in. Bromeliads also make great houseplants. Many Bromeliads are colorful, low maintenance and when they bloom, they bloom for a long period of time.

Ferns are a little more difficult to keep going indoors when the heat is on. Unless you have a good humidifier or mist them often, Ferns tend to dry and brown easily. A good spot in the house for a Fern is the bathroom. They love the extra moisture.

Whatever houseplants you do have in your home, they all need attention. A good water soluble organic fertilizer monthly will help to keep your indoor plants healthy and looking their best.

All plants have different watering needs. Plants can just as eaily be killed by over watering as under watering. Keeping a regular watering schedule is usually not a good idea. The best way to determine whether your plant needs watering is by checking the soil. If the first top 2 inches of soil is dry it needs to be watered. There are two basic ways to water your plants. If you water from the top, water until it drains out the bottom of the pot. You can also water from the bottom. Fill the saucer with water and allow the plant to absorb the water. The plant will have enough water when the surface of the soil is moist. Either way do not allow your plants to stand in a pot of water continuously. Don't wait for your plants to wilt between watering. This will put and keep the plant in a stressed condition and they will not perform well, not to mention look terrible.

A great way to keep your plants watered properly is to use plant minders. They are decorative or utilitarian stakes that push down into the soil that have a reservoir for water. This will release the water as the plant needs it. These plant minders are also great for when you are away from home for extended periods of time.

Pruning your houseplants from time to time may also be necessary. Any dead or dry, brown leaves should be removed. This will help to keep the plant healthy.

If you have an insect infestation on your plants, There are a few things you can do. Try a solution of soapy water sprayed on the foliage. This will control many pests. You may have to repeat if necessary. There are also chemical insect controls specifically for houseplants to eradicate those tough pests. There are sprays (I recommend you use them outside) and there are systemic granules you sprinkle on the soil and water in. The chemical is released into the soil and taken up by the roots. If your houseplants have been outside in the summer it is always good practice to treat them before you bring them in to their winter home.

Whatever type of houseplants you have, proper care is essential. If you are not sure how to care for a specific plant, the plant tag that came with the plant is a good place to start. For more detailed information or if you are not sure what type of plant you have, a good book or a search on the internet will give you all the information you need to be a successful Indoor Gardener.

Getting the Gardens Ready for Spring

September is the time of year I always start planning for spring. Even though we have a few good months of gardening left, I like to plan ahead.

Fall is the perfect time to get started on next year’s garden beds. I like to move the plants that didn’t perform very well in their current location. It is a great time to add to the landscape. I like re-designing or creating new beds and preparing the soil for the spring. A new landscape design is always a fun project for the fall. There is plenty of time to create a drawing and choose plants. Fall is also a great time to get a head start on next year’s plantings.

In late fall, pruning of the bushes is a must. This is the time to trim your flowering shrubs, such as Hydrangea, Hibiscus, Crepe Myrtle, etc. I would recommend trimming all your shrubs to keep them looking great. They will flush out fuller and bloom better next season if you prune in the fall.

As for the vegetable garden, once there is a frost that kills your summer garden, it is time to remove your crop and prepare the soil for spring. Turning the soil, (at least the top six inches) and adding compost is a good start. I like to have the soil tested by the local Agricultural extension to see what needs to be added. They test for everything and it’s not expensive.

Planting bulbs that will bloom in the spring is yet another way to add to the spring landscape. There are so many spring blooming bulbs, it is hard to choose. Planning and planting carefully can create a spectacular spring show.

Late Fall is also the time for raking leaves, over hauling the yard and weeding the beds to keep them looking great through the winter. Don’t put all the leaves in the compost pile or in the street for pick up. Fallen leaves are a great insulator for tender plants. They are great around roses, herbs, tender perennials, and can even be used to prevent wind damage. If you have a plant that is susceptible to winter wind damage (like a sapling), make a circle around the plant with chicken wire (leave plenty of room), stake it to the ground (a cut up wire hanger works great) and fill it with leaves. This will insulate the plant and protect it.

Enjoy the benefits of fall gardening and preparing for spring. The temperatures are cooler, the mosquitoes are dwindling, and watching the seasons change is amazing.

Fall Plantings

Soon it will be time for fall gardening. Removing the spent annuals, pulling the endless weeds, cultivating mulch and planting fall flowers.

Just because mums are available now (in August), does not necessarily mean you should start today. Growers push an early batch because the retailers have been sitting idle for most of July and August. There are early blooming varieties of Mums and Asters, but generally not this early.

Fall gardening is just that. It feels great to get outside when the temperatures are in the mid 70’s instead of the high 90’s. Fall is the best time to do many, many things in your garden.

Mulch - Fall is a great time to cultivate all the mulch in your beds. Over the season the mulch has a tendency to become compacted. The necessary water and air cannot get to the roots of the plants where it is needed. Use a 3 or 4 tined garden Hoe to turn the mulch.

Fertilizer and weed preventer - Once you have cultivated your mulch, a good organic fertilizer and a weed preventer, such as Cockadoodle-doo organic fertilizer and Cockadoodle-Doo corn gluten weed preventer is a great fertilizer for your plants and shrubs and a natural weed preventer to keep those winter weeds away.

Plantings - The fall season is the best time to plant trees and shrubs. As the temperatures are in a cooling pattern, trees and shrubs are less likely to go into shock after transplanting. They take root more easily, because the plant is not working so hard to keep the foliage from becoming stressed due to the heat. Many trees are dug in the fall. To get trees that have been freshly dug, go to your local nursery (not big box store) in October. Ask the nursery salesperson if they are getting any fresh trees for the fall. On the East Coast, trees normally get dug in October, depending on the weather. If all you can find are trees that were dug in the spring, ask for a discount if they are already not on sale. No Nursery wants to keep too much stock over the winter. There is too much loss. When you do plant shrubs and trees in the fall they still require water, mulch and TLC. Plant your fall flowers in mid to late September so the color lasts well into the fall. Plant your bulbs late in the fall, so they don’t start to grow. Tulips and Daffodils not to mention the dozens of other spring blooming bulbs will do best planted in early November once the temps are going to stay cold.

The Lawn - Fall is the absolute best time of year to overhaul the lawn. Get a soil test to check the Ph of the soil. Lime if necessary. Aerating and or thatching are best done in the fall. Aerating is the process of making holes in the lawn, about 2 inches deep, so water and air can get to the roots of the turf. Thatching is the process of getting rid of the “thatch” or dead build up that can choke out the good turf and prevent water and fertilizer from reaching the roots of the turf. Once you aerate or thatch the lawn, I would recommend over seeding and fertilizing. Thatching the lawn will leave bare or thin areas in the lawn, if you do not over seed, the weeds will just take over. Once you have over seeded and fertilized it is a good idea to get that seed covered, to keep it from drying out between watering and from becoming bird food. Straw is a good cover, except you need to pull it up. Peat moss is a good cover and you don’t have to pull it up. A reusable grass germinating mat is also great. The grass germinates faster because it generates warmth and allows water to flow through, yet still protecting it from critters. A good organic fertilizer will get the turf through the winter without becoming stressed.

Fall is also a great time to prune your trees and shrubs. Give them a good haircut so they keep their shape. When they flush out in the spring they will be nice and dense, not stringy.

Take time to enjoy your fall gardening. Working in the yard this time of year will ensure you of a beautiful and lush spring season.

Just How Dangerous are Pesticides?

Pesticide is a general term for Weed, Insect and Disease Controls. The following is a true story.

A good friend of mine, from my landscaping days is a Pesticide Applicator. He is licensed by the state. Last June, he was applying an Insecticide in granular form. He was wearing a respirator to keep the dust out of his lungs, short sleeves and pants, but it was hot. It was over 90 degrees that day and he was sweating. The dust stuck to his sweaty clothes and absorbed into his skin through his open pores. Before he knew it he was unconscious on a customer's front lawn and was rushed to the hospital. Thank goodness they were home. He spent the day in the hospital on IV, having fluids pumped into him to flush out the poison in his system.

This year, it was time to apply insect control again. He took the same precautions, and wore long sleeves to cover his skin. It was not quite so hot this year, in the low to mid 80's. It just happened to be time for his regular check up, and his Blood work came back irregular. High Blood Sugar. The doctor sent him for more tests. His pancreas was not processing insulin fast enough. This left him with periods of high blood sugar. He was of course very upset. This is a guy who is in generally good shape, a healthy weight and diabetes does not run in his family. At only 40 it was quite a shock.

The doctor just wanted to monitor him for a few weeks before putting him on any kind of medicine. He went for regular Blood Sugar Testing. After he had been done applying the insecticide for a few weeks, his blood sugars were back to normal. The insecticide had caused the problem. When the body is sick, whether it be from a virus or a toxin, the rest of the body slows down so it can eradicate the illness. This is what happened to my friend.

Think of all the chemicals we put on our lawn and plants, all the cleaning supplies we pour down the drains that ends up in our own bodies and our waterways. Overexposure to one chemical for a few weeks, almost poisoned my friend, just think what those chemicals constantly being applied all around us can do to fish and wildlife. Not to mention our children and pets.

How many of us have applicator's come apply 6 or 8 chemical treatments to our lawns annually? Usually a little flag is left on our front lawns. If we are not aware, it is easy to let the dog out after work, or tell our kids to go out and play, not realizing the potential danger that lurks in our own backyards.

Or maybe you apply your own chemicals. Most of us don't own respirators or even wear dust masks when applying fertilizers or control products.

Chemicals are generally not good. They cause disease in the body. Whether it is chemicals in our foods, cleaning products, or pesticides and fertilizers they can all cause problems with our health. A hundred years ago, people ate what they grew, there were no growth hormones for livestock and farmers used natural products like manure and compost to feed their plants. There were not nearly as many diseases as there are today. This is why living an organic lifestyle is so important. Get back to basics, simplify and teach your children to do the same. Our health, our planet and our future depend on it.

Spider mites

As the hot summer months are approaching so are troublesome Spider Mites. Spider Mites are very small, about the size of a grain of pepper. There are many varieties of Mites. Some attack Evergreens, while others will attack deciduous trees, shrubs, flowers and gardens. One of the most dreaded are the Spruce Spider Mite. They will attack over 40 species of conifers.

Spider Mites prefer the hot, dry weather of the summer months. They can grow from egg to adult very quickly and they lay many dozen eggs before their life cycle is over. This allows the Mites to do a lot of damage to a tree in a short amount of time. These eggs will winter over on the plant and emerge the following year. Spider Mites are an insect, that will pierce the tree with its mouth and literally suck the life out of the tree.

Spider Mites are hard to detect because of their size. There are two relatively easy ways to find them, however. Spider Mites create a webbing at the bottom of needles and branches. It is most easily detected in the morning when there is dew on the plant. The second way is to take a white piece of paper or paper plate, stick it under the branches and shake the branch. If there are Mites, they will appear as brown specks on the paper.

It is important to check susceptible plants during the summer months when Mites are most active. They are easiest to control when caught early. Spider Mites will often return to the same plant year after year. A good Preventative Maintenance Program is a good choice for controlling these insects.

The most effective and non-toxic way to control them is by spraying a Horticultural Oil on them. Horticultural Oil comes in two forms. A Dormant Oil is sprayed from late fall to the early spring months when the plant is dormant and kills any over wintering eggs. During the summer months an All Seasons Horticultural Oil can be sprayed to kill active Mites. Bonide has an Oil that works wonders on Mites and many other insects, is safe and pleasant to use. Bonide also has a Certified Organic product called Bio-Neem. This is great if you have an infestation in your garden, as it can be applied up to the day of harvest.

If you want to protect your plants, shrubs and trees, spray Dormant Oil every winter season to kill all sorts of over-wintering insects, especially the Spider Mite. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Caring For Your Roses

Roses are one of the most beautiful flowers in the garden. They can also be the most difficult to grow. Caring for roses may take some time, but the rewards are worth it. There are many, many different types of Roses. Tea, Grandiflora, Floribunda, Old English, Ramblers, Climbers, Miniature, etc. Many of the newer hybrid varieties will bloom off and on throughout the growing season, while others have one spectacular show, with intermittent flowers later on.

Roses have very particular needs. Roses need a minimum of 6 hours of sunlight per day. They also like light, well drained soil. The soil around their roots should be kept loose by cultivating often. This brings necessary oxygen to the roots of the plants. They also like to be fed a good organic fertilizer regularly and mulched around the base of the plant to help keep the roots cool in the heat of summer and warm in winter.

Roses also need regular care to keep insects and disease at bay. An insecticidal soap spray will keep away Aphids and Whiteflies. An organic fungicide spray will keep away Black spot, a disease very common to roses. Watering the soil around the Rose rather than the foliage is also a good prevention against Black Spot. If you keep a scheduled maintenance for insect and disease prevention, the care seems very easy. If one waits until there is an infestation of one sort or another, it is much more difficult to eradicate the problem. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure definitely applies.

When pruning your Roses, or simply clipping some for a vase, be sure to use good sharp pruning shears. Dull shears can tear the stems, leaving ugly dark marks. It also leaves a larger open wound for disease and insects to feast on. It can even inhibit new growth. When pruning a Rose, prune just above a leaf. This will encourage the plant to grow bushy and thick. Leaving long stems will make the plant lanky. It is also important to prune out any old dead canes. Depending on the type of Rose, how they are pruned and cut back for the winter will vary. Check the instructions that come with the plant.

Roses have been revered by many generations of gardeners and non-gardeners alike. The beauty of Roses will enhance the look of your home year after year.

Wiki, Wiki

We just started a Wiki at www.greennationgardens.org Now you can contribute to a forum about green living! Post articles, photos, videos. We would like to have your input. What green living means to you. How you green garden, what your favorite products are. Your input will help us spread the green living movement and help us grow our business.

Two of my favorite Fertilizers

When I come across a product I truly love and believe in I like to share it. Two of my favorite organic (that's all I use) fertilizers are Milorganite and Merrill's Compost Tea.

I love them because they are 100% Natural Organic Products. These companies each make a product that is organic and beneficial from waste.

Milorganite has been around for over 80 years and is a by-product of Milwaukee's water treatment system. It is safe to use in any climate at any time of the growing season...even drought.

Milorganite contains no salts (that can burn turf) so it doesn't even need to be watered in to work. It relies on natural microbes in the soil to break down the nutrients.

Milorganite not only contains Nitrogen and Phosphorous, it contains Calcium which is essential for nutrient uptake and Iron that makes everything a nice dark green. I use Milorganite on my lawn, trees, shrubs and perennials.

Merrill's Compost Tea is one of the most fantastic products I've ever used. They look like tea bags (don't drink them by mistake!). Keep an old gallon jug handy. Fill it up with tepid water and drop in one tea bag. Let it steep for an hour or so and then water your plants. I like to let my "tea" steep overnight. This is the best fertilizer for houseplants, annuals, roses and perennials. You can water as you normally would or foliar feed with a spray bottle. The first time I used this was in the middle of winter on my houseplants. The results were amazing! If they could have my plants would have jumped up and done a jig!

Both companies are committed to using natural resources and sustainable agriculture. These are truly earth friendly products. They are easy to use and inexpensive. The results will astound you!

How to keep Critters out of the Garden , and Flower Beds too!

This is a timeless struggle between the Gardener and Nature's creatures.

Rabbits, Deer, Chipmunks, Squirrels, Gophers, Moles, Voles and Ground Hogs are probably our biggest challenge in our Vegetable and Flower Gardens. Following are a few easy tips on how to get rid of these pests:

There are all natural repellents such as ShakeAway, Liquid Fence, Deer Away and Critter Ridder.
These all natural repellents all work well and all work in different ways.

Shake Away is a granular Predator Urine product. This is a fantastic product. It creates the scent of predators such as fox, coyote and bobcat. They will not wash away in the rain and do not evaporate. They are not messy or highly stinky, like their liquid counterparts. They even have one for cats.

Liquid Fence Products such as their Mole and Vole repellent are odor and taste based repellents. Mole and Vole is all natural liquid that is sprayed and gets down into the soil to coat the roots of plants and earthworms. Their tasty meal is no longer tasty. They simply go elsewhere to look for food. It is long lasting and won't harm vegetation.

Critter Ridder by Havahart comes as a granular or a liquid and is listed OMRI organic. It will repel skunks, ground hogs, squirrels, racoons, dogs and cats. They are both pepper and capsaicin based products.

Critter Ridder Deer and Rabbit repels by scent and it lasts up to 3 months. It is also listed OMRI organic.

These are all safe, natural products. There are a few other items that also work well. Human hair and dog fur will also work. Human hair works the best. Go to your local Barber Shop and ask for some hair. Yeah, they might look at you a little funny at first, but they will think you are a genius when you tell them what its for. Put it around the perimeter of your garden. This will decompose naturally. It may need to be applied once or twice. With all these products, once a Critter knows your garden or flower beds are not a safe or tasty place to go...they usually will not come back.

Happy Gardening!