Garden Topiary Frames

Topiary is the delightful art of creating sculptures in trees and shrubs. This much loved European art form date back to ancient Rome.

While it doesn't take an Edward Scissorhands to create the stunning, lush creations of topiary, it does take talent and years to perfect the craft unless you use frames!

Regardless of your skill level, topiary frames will make you look like a pro gardener

Topiary Frames How To's

• For years of carefree enjoyment look from frames made of sturdy and galvanized wire with spot welded construction.

• Soak sphagnum moss or green moss in water with a weak solution of fertiizer until it is pliable.

• Stuff the moss in the frame until it is fully packed.

• Secure the moss with clear craft or fishing line.

• Moss-only topiary are beautiful and require no care other than infrequent touch ups but if you want the wow effect, add plants, ivy or other vines.

• Chose your plants and make individual hole in the moss to receive the roots. Leave as much of the soil on the roots as possible. Add moss as necessary.

• Secure the plants to the frame with flower wire.

• Provide the nutrients, water, light and pest control applicable to the vegetation you selected.

• Have fun with training.  Use flower wires to train the plants' growth direction and don't forget to add some sculpting to your design.

• Plants can be easily replaced if they fail to thrive or changed with the season. Don't be afraid to add blooming flowers in the spring.

• Placement is everything.  Put a giraffe next to a trellis, a mermaid beside the pool, a sleepy cat on the patio or a boxer to watch over your roses.

Best Plants for Topiary Frames

• Baby's tears
• Begonia
• Boxwood
• Climbing Hydrangea
• Creeping fig
• Cypress Vine
• English Ivy
• Fleece vine
• Hemlock
• Lavender
• Myrtle
• Pine
• Rosemary
• Yew.

Don't limit yourself to the above list. Use your sense of color and whimsy to explore the wonderful world of topiary.

Lion topiary credit
Bunny topiary credit
Epcot topiary credit

Wind Chimes: The Chi in Your Garden

Scientist might not agree but wind chimes can powerfully influence your health, happiness, love life and your all around good fortune. Not only do wind chimes add artistic flare and acoustic serenity to your garden, they move Chi to bring positive energy to your surroundings.

Chi, also known as Qi, Ki and Prana, is the Chinese term for universal energy. Chi is everywhere; it's the life force that permeates our world.

The quality of the Chi you keep company with
determines the quality of your own energy and life force.

Think of how you feel in your beautiful garden, at church or in the company of a loved one. Now compare that to how you feel at a funeral or around angry people or frightening strangers. You have just experienced, in your mind, two very different qualities of Chi.

Naturally, we strive to be around life enhancing energy and avoid depressing or damaging elements, but sometimes the Chi in our environment just gets stuck. Use your imagination again and recall how stifling it feels in a basement or a room that has been closed off for awhile. Instinctively, we just want to fling open the windows and let the light and air in.

While a garden is hardly a place that needs light or air, areas can become stagnant and evoke a heavy feeling where even the hardiest of plants won't grow.

Feng shui, is the ancient Chinese practice of the proper placement of elements to enhance and increase a positive flow of energy. Proper placement in or outside the home is critical to keeping the Chi moving effectively.

Block the path for a smooth flow of Chi and you have blocked your and your plants' energy quality. According to the principles of feng shui, physical blocks can create energy blocks in your garden and eventually in your body if not corrected.

If you have an area with large plants or hedges, you have a disruption in the energy flow. Likewise if you have an area where plants have taken their last breath of carbon dioxide or where there is unpleasant noise such as traffic or barking dogs, you have tumultuous energy.

If your garden is uneven, Chi will settle and become stagnant in the lower areas. Try to hang a wind chime above the lowest point to lift the energy.

Wind chimes have been used for centuries to add a spiritual experience to the environment. They move stagnant air and increase energy with their physical movement, musical resonance and meditative vibrations. Wind chimes will restore balance and harmony to your garden and to your soul.

Winter Care for Garden Tools

It's that time again:  Tool Time. Time to clean oil and store garden tools for the next growing season. Taking care of your garden tool will greatly diminish the high costs of replacements and make you a much happier gardener when springs roll around again.

What You'll Need

1. Soap
2. Water (hot if you're lucky)
3. Large bucket
4. Clean cloths
5. Wire brush
6. Fine grade stainless steel wool pads
7. Fine grade sandpaper
8. Sharpening file
9. WD-40 lubricate
10. Linseed oil
11. Eye protection for sharpening blades

• Start out giving everything a good cleaning. Dirt left on your tools is a breeding ground for rust and rot.
• Fill your bucket with hot water and dish soap.
• Brush off dirt with the wire brush and remove damaged edges and rust with the stainless steel pads.
• Place your garden tools as space allows for a good 15-20 minute soaking.
• Rinse thoroughly.
• Dry thoroughly with the cloths and leave out until completely dry.
• Tighten nuts, bolts and screws.
• Smooth dull cutting edges with your sharpening file. A few long strokes is all you need. You're only removing roughness, not creating a new blade.
• Use sand paper to smooth wood handles.
• Coat wood handles and metal with oil using dry, clean cloths. Wipe away excess.
• Use WD-40 to lubricate hinges and other moving parts.

Other Tasks

• Sterilize pots and clean garden ornaments (unless you are going for that weathering effect with the latter). Pots need to be free of bacteria, mold and fungus before any replanting occurs so don't skip this final garden chore.
  • Rinse with the garden hose and remove debris with your wire brush.
  • Using your large bucket, prepare a solution of 10 percent bleach and dish soap.
  • Soak your ceramics in the solution for 10-15 minutes.
  • Rinse complete and let dry before put on storage shelves.

• Drain garden hoses, wipe clean with an oily cloth, roll and hand in a dry location.

• If rust is extensive apply a rust-proofing primer and spray paint.

• If you're a novice sharpener, mark your blades with a black felt pen and in long, smooth strokes in one direction file until the blades are free of the black marks. Be sure to lift your file between strokes; no back and forth movements.  If in doubt of your abilities, have your tools professional sharpened.

• Lawn mowers can prove to be in a job within themselves so give yourself plenty of time (or help) to clean out grass, sharpen blades and oil metal and wood parts. It's a good idea to have a professional do the sharpening unless you are well versed in the craft. If a power mower, check the spark plugs and replace the oil in the crankcase to keep the engine protected from winter cold and ready for that spring startup.

• You can store larger metal tools in buckets filled with dry sand and enough oil to create a thoroughly moist environment. At winter's end just brush off the sand and oil.You can save the sand/oil mixture, or prepare a new, clean mixture if necessary, to use throughout the year. Just dunk the tools in the mixture a few times to remove debris, wipe the excess and hang the tool. This wintering and maintenance process will protect rust and corrosion when the elements would have otherwise.

Now put those clean and oiled tools in a protected, dry location preferably on a rack elevated from the floor. Smaller hand tools can be stored in a basket as long as air circulation is possible.

Gardening is so much more rewarding with the right tools in the right condition. Proper care will ensure your tools last for years and do the jobs intended.

Solar Lights Up Your Garden

If you can't get enough of your garden during the day or just love the romance of midnight and roses, solar landscape lighting is for you.

Modern solar lighting is durable and comes in charming, elegance, sculptured and whimsical designs that light not only your roses but your patio, deck and pool while adding safety and security to driveways and walkways.

NO electricity means no fear of weather damage or risk of electrical shock even in water.  Solar lights have panels that absorb sunlight and recharge their NiCad battery during the day. Automatic sensors activate the light at dust and produce a beautiful soft white/blue LED light so you, your love ones and guests are never left out in the dark.

NO wiring, minimal installation effort and made of durable materials such as  stainless steel, polyresin, plastic and copper; solar lights are fast, easy and made to last.  The lights will run for eight to ten hours on one charge.

So What Are You Waiting For. Solar Light up that Garden Now

Solar Light Buying Tips

• To get it right, first scope out your property at sunset. No need to add lights next to a street light or a neighbor's porch light, which you may not even notice during the day!  Look for dark areas, line pathways and highlight your best work in the garden. Mark your spots and sleep on it.

• Next, check out your solar light markers during early, mid and late afternoon. Remember, solar lights need sunlight to charge. So that perfect spot may not be so perfect if it never sees the light of day.

• If you live in an area not so blessed with sunlight, buy solar lights with extra solar panels, more LED lights and longer battery life. Also check recharging time; some are as low as 2 hours while other lights require 6 hours of sunlight.

• Now, stake your solar lights and be patient. It may take several days for the panels to fully charge.  Wait for the brightest light then make any necessary adjustments. So easy, just unstake the light and restake in its new location until you get it just right. Do loosen the soil a bit if the stake doesn't go in easily.

• Solar lights look best when they aren't competing for attention and have something to show off! Don't put them near other artificial light sources or you will be robbed of their true beauty.

• How many do you need? That's a tough one with so many variables so you'll have to try a few and add more as desired. Don't go crazy and get more than you need - you can always get more. Lights usually come in packs  so pick up one or a few packs to get started.

Solar lights are so easy, lovely and inexpensive.
If they're not using solar lights, you're missing half the fun of your garden.

Gargoyles to Protect & Enchant

Who doesn't love a gargoyle. These little grotesque creatures  add character and intrigue to any garden.  If your garden is lacking one (or several) of these mystical friends, pick one up today.

Gargoyles stir our imagination. Where did the concept of these strange looking creatures come from and why were they cherished by so many different cultures. Their legend has been lost over time keeping their mystery alive forever. You can find gargoyles all over the world and while each is a product of artist liberty, over the centuries and across the globe, gargoyles remain unmistakingly gargoylic in makeup.

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Originally, gargoyles were artistic sculptures that served as waterspouts to project rainfall from roofs. The word gargoyle is derived from the French word for throat: gargouille. It's also where the word gargle originated. Gargoyles were used until the early eighteenth century when their adoring faces were replaced with functional and quite blasé looking downpipes.

The Egyptians used gargoyle water streams for washing their sacred vessels. The Greeks decorated their building with lion faces. East Indians called their gargoyles Yali and made them a welcome addition to their temples.

The creatures have also been discovered keeping watch in Japan, the Czech Republic, France, the U.S., Canada, Italy, England and South American. Their diligent eyes are likely keeping watch throughout the world, if not the universe.

Far from the demonic association that their reputation has fallen victim to over the years, the sole purpose of the gargoyles' villainy looks was meant as protection to its owners from evil spirits. As a testament to their gentle and benevolent nature, gargoyles stand watch as guardians on many churches and cathedrals.

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There are just a few caveats for owning a gargoyle:

• Due to their unique personalities and infused mystical spirit you would be wise to let your creature pick you.

• Make eye contact, gargoyles have no fear but to fully protect you, they will need to see through all of yours.

• Listen and through your own throat you will hear the intelligence of your new friend.

• Keep them in areas that need protection, they like to work for a living.

• Not all gargoyles like the great outdoors so if yours is an indoor creature, by all means let his protection be an inside job.

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If gargoyles aren't watching over you and your love ones, better get your protector today.

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How to Garden in Containers

Just because you don't have chunk of land doesn't mean you can't have a great garden; just put it in a pot!

Whether your plants need mobility due to living in an apartment or living in your office or you just like the aesthetics of container gardening, pots have come a long way in design and functionality.

But don't rely on what you can buy; using your imagination almost anything is fair game as long as it has a drain hole or two. Before you toss that old chair, wheel barrel, kitchen sink or boot think: what could I plant in that.

Container gardens aren't just for city dwellers. They make a great artist addition to any garden. Don't forget hanging baskets and windowsill gardens to add some good old Southern charm to your home.

There aren't many rules to container gardening but be aware of a few:

• Remember your contained plants can't go searching (with their roots) for water or food. They will need more time and attention than yard plants so before you set a single plant in the pot, commit to its care.If you select a large barrel-type pot, use a long stick to check for over or under watering. The stick will also help aerate the soil, just don't poke too much and upset your roots.

• You will want to replace the container soil, or at least the top portion of it, yearly. If you grow annuals, start afresh every year, otherwise you can remove all the loose soil and replace around the perennials.

• A slow release fertilizer works best in containers. Use the correct soil for the plant. Some plants are acid lovers, other demand an alkaline soil. Add some organic materials occasionally but don't over fertilizer; there's nowhere for excess to go.

• Don't mix edible with non-edible plants. Some plants are poisonous, other just change the taste of your edible bounty. Don't take a chance on gastric upset.

The Art of Container Gardening

Container gardening is art so let it bring out the Picasso in you.

• Give it a trial run - lay out your plants before taking them out of their little containers to get the best design possible.

• Color it pretty - contrast colored plants make a more drama statement. Likewise, a single color in a variety of species and shades will capture the attention.

• Keep it balanced - big pots need big plants and vice versa. Rule of thumb is the plants should be 1 ½ times the height of the container. Balance the tall plants with shorter and trailing plants.

• Find a superstar - one plant should be a total knockout and the focal point of your creation. Find that plant first and find complementary ones to work around it.

• Pick potmates - when your sharing a pot, you better get along with your potmates. Choice plants with similar light, soil and watering requirements. Otherwise, one will be drooping while the other is thriving. Planting cactus and iris together will never work.

Now go get your container and start planting!