Gardening Services Guide

Posts Tagged ‘organic gardening’

Can the cold improve your favourite gardening vegetable? Winter is approaching and maybe you think you’d better get all of your vegetables in before the first frost. Actually, you don’t have to do that with every gardening vegetable. Winter cold will not spoil all of your root crops, and will even enhance the flavour of some of them.

Of course, you have to protect even the hardiest gardening vegetable. Winter freezes the ground solid in some places, and harvesting those root crops would be difficult if the ground was like iron. First, cover the tops (shoulders) of the root crops with soil. Then cover the garden with a thick layer of mulch. This is good protection for the root gardening vegetable. Winter will be kept at bay. The mulch should be shredded dry leaves, salt hay or straw, and should be one or two feet deep. Pull the mulch close around the stems of the plants. Use pine boughs or boards to hold the mulch in place. Mark the crops with tall stakes so you can find them under the snow. This form of outdoor storage is a great way to keep this kind of gardening vegetable. Winter actually keeps the root crops better than they would keep indoors in refrigeration. You can leave carrots, leeks, parsnips and turnips in the ground all winter in most places, harvesting them as you need them. In regions where the winters are not too severe, this method also works for beets, celeriac and another gardening vegetable, winter radishes. It saves on your indoor storage space. Even better, your vegetables will stay firm and in good condition. Some, like carrots, even taste better after a frost.

Gardeners in cold climates can also grow vegetables through the winter in a cold frame. This is a special box in which you can grow leafy vegetables. Gardening centres can provide instructions on how to build and insulate your cold frame. Build your cold frame against the south side of your house in a place where it will get maximum exposure to the sun. This will also protect it from the cold north winds. The soil in your cold frame should be well drained. It should also be rich in organic matter. Mix in plenty of compost or leaf mold and composted manure before planting. You can plant your leafy vegetables directly in the cold frame, or start them in the ground in early autumn and then transfer them before the weather turns cool. When you harvest, just pick a few outside leaves from each plant. The vegetables should continue to grow all winter.

This article will discuss the purpose for completing an apprenticeship in
landscape gardening. It will review what is required to become a
professional landscaper.

Completing An
Many landscapers only work on residential or small commercial landscaping
jobs. They are professionals but not certified as a landscape architect.
A landscape architect is usually also a degreed engineer and licensed to
work on large public or commercial projects. In either case, completing an
apprenticeship in landscape gardening can lead to professional
certification.

Hard Work

Completing an apprenticeship in landscape gardening requires a lot of hard
work. A landscape apprentice is a working landscaper. In fact, an
apprentice is frequently assigned some of the hardest, dirtiest work
involved so they learn to understand a project from every perspective and
from beginning to end. It is the apprentice you will often see digging the
holes on a job. An apprenticeship in landscape gardening requires the
ability to do physical labor, lift heavy loads, work in all types of weather
and handle chemicals. A landscaper must be able to do math calculations,
have good eyesight and able to operate landscaping equipment.

Details

An apprenticeship in landscape gardening involves gaining experience and
knowledge in many landscaping areas.

? Apprentices learn the differences between residential, business and public
landscaping projects

? Interior and exterior garden design and planning is learned

? Apprentices gain knowledge about the various landscaping materials
available and their uses in projects

? Apprentices learn about soil types

? Apprentices learn about plants and trees and their different
characteristics, including how they grow, their texture, their full size

? Apprentices learn about pruning methods, sod varieties and plant thinning
methods

? Apprentices also learn about environmental laws and license requirements

? Apprentices planning on becoming landscape architects learn to read
engineering site surveys and site analysis

? Apprentices learn how to use landscape software and how to draw plans by
hand

? Apprentices study the artistic presentation of plants in a landscape

? Apprentices also study the view perspectives

The Program

It can take up to four years to complete an apprenticeship in landscape
gardening. There are schools around the world that offer programs.
Landscape architects are the highest level of landscape professional. They
work on large public jobs such as zoos, parks and public gardens. Landscape
architects design large commercial building landscapes projects.
Professional landscapers have completed an apprenticeship and work on the
smaller jobs. When deciding to hire a professional to complete a home
landscaping job, ask to see the certification as proof they are
knowledgeable in the landscaping field. Knowing the person you hire has
completed an apprenticeship in landscape gardening provides assurance that
you will get qualified assistance.