Grow Vegetables in the Balcony

Brief: As reported, presently about 50% of foreign residents eat vegetables rely on the gardening in their own balcony, which is convenient, and grow vegetables yourself not only can make you feel more rest assured on your diet, but also can beautify the balcony in your home.

Miss Hu lives in Dongguan, Guangdong Province. Her balcony is comparatively large and she uses it to grow vegetables. She is happy with her harvest.

"The tomatoes I grow on my balcony are delicious. They taste very different! I've compared them with tomatoes bought from the wet market. The ones I grow by myself have a stronger flavor. What's more, you don't need to spend too much time tending to the balcony vegetable patch. It's convenient. I often invite friends to come over and eat together. There are only 3 people in my family, so we can't eat all the vegetables on our own."

Growing your own vegetables, as Miss Hu does, is not only an attractive option for families, a number of enterprises have also started experimenting with balcony farming. Some enterprises are planning to use the roofs of their factory buildings to grow vegetables and flowers.

Market demand has effectively boosted balcony farming and gardening. Feng Yanquan, an individual who engages in the balcony farming business, says the market potential is huge.

"The factory building occupies one Chinese Mu, or one fifteenth of a hectare. The company can use the roof of the building, which is a big area to plant vegetables, fruits and flowers. This is a big business opportunity in China. The market for using roofs in this way has not been explored. I would say that 99 percent of rooftops haven't been explored."

In some foreign countries, balcony farming and roof gardening enjoy certain subsidies. In Germany, roof gardening and balcony farming is practiced on more than 80 percent of the country's buildings. In America and Japan, the practice is also very popular.

Feng Yanquan adds that China should look to the experiences of these countries.

"In some European countries, as well as many other countries, the roof is a perfect place for gardening. However, in China, most rooftops in the cities are empty. We hope that our products, the flowers and vegetables, will not only reduce the urban heat-island effect which results in major cities, but also lead to better air quality by reducing air pollution and carbon emissions."

However, unlike growing vegetables on arable farm land, efficient watering methods and soil hardening remain unsolved problems for this new urban industry.

* Original post: Grow Vegetables in the Balcony

4 Useful Hand Tools Help You Take Care of The Garden (down)

3. Loosing Soil / Scarification



There are many benefits of loosing soil for flowers and plants: One is to avoid surface hardening of potted earth; Second is benefits breathing of plants; Third is can removing or blending pollutions on the pot surface.

In general, before loosing soil, you need to take a watering to the plant enough, take a throughout watering, and wait the surface of potted soil turn to dry by 70-80 percent, then do the job of loosing soil.

As for plants with short roots the loosing should be carried rather shallowly, while for long roots and ordinary roots the loosing should be carried more deeper, usually to 3 cm is appropriate. Not enough watering will cause earth hardening easily, at this time you may add some fermented sawdust, coal ash etc. when loosing.

During cold days in winter, it is not good to break ground, it is best to wait until spring comes, otherwise the roots will be damaged in cold weather. When you want to loose the soil of potted flowers, you may use a bamboo or wood slice or a small rake and wait the soil become half-dry after watering, the depth is subject to seeing the root. At the same time you may cut off some roots of the surface, thus to facilitate the germination of new roots.

Flower shovels and rakes can both used for loosing soil, you may choose different size tools subject to different objects(potted plants or ground training plants). For ground training plant with rather bigger size, you may use a hoe or rake, while for small potted plants you may choose a small flower shovel or a small rake.

You may buy some mini garden tool sets from Beijing Laitai Flowers Store and Shanghai Yike Home Gardening Store, you can found some rakes with very small bodies, even mini-pot is also applicable.

4. Clean Up Dead Leaves


Dead leaves fallen on the ground in autumn and winter, will inevitably undermine the overall impression of the garden, you need to remove them timely. The dead leaves you collected together can be made compost, use it as manure for the next year.

In addition, some fallen leaves were caused by pests, it they had not been cleaned up timely, it may cause germs infection on other plants or other parts of the plant, it is necessary to be removed timely.

Tools for cleaning up dead leaves is very simple, a piece of 9 teeth rake is enough.

(Finished)

* Original post: The Garden of Eden for Gardeners (Garden Tools World)

4 Useful Hand Tools Help You Take Care of The Garden (up)

1. Pruning


Adult woody plants need pruning before the sprouts come out soon, because once the eruption of new shoots, nutrients will focus on the new shoots, so you should to remove those unnecessary branches in advance, and leaving those healthy branches and shoots, thus lead nutrients concentrated on branches and avoid wasting. So if you want the branches can grow healthy, it is necessary to do some necessary pruning.
　　
Generally a system pruning work should be carried out twice per year, and should be finished in the summer and winter respectively. The pruning focus in winter is lies on: leaving new branches (new branches issued last year) and branches flowering most in last spring, abandon aging branches; Such action will enable the plant more young, and the same time clear out some mixed branches, which will help plants maintain a good condition of ventilation and sunlight, but also organize the overall plant shape, make the plant figure more beautiful - the general principle is to prune branches to the full.
　　
Pruning tools with different pruning objects have different types, for example, living branches shears (to cut off living branches), dead branches shears (to cut off dead branches), rose shears (to remove the thorns on rose stems) , high-branch shears (to cut off high branches on the tree), lawn shears (to shave lawns), hedge shears (to cut off hedges and other shrubs required high level of tidiness), etc., there are some special garden tools such as saws, which is to deal with branches rather thick.


2. Weeding

Plants need careful cultivation by the host to grow healthy. For weeds, they need no more special care, by dint of nutrients and water stored aside flowers and plants, they can grow freely and happily. In order to take care of our beloved plants and flowers, weeding is necessary.

In general, if the species of flowers and plants in your garden is somewhat complex, or the garden area is rather small, both of which are suitable for physical weeding way, such as using weeding shovel and weeding machine. If your garden has a large area or there are many flowers and plants in your garden in a single species, you can use herbicides.

Herbicides according to their chemical composition can be divided into two groups of organic and inorganic herbicides. Commonly inorganic herbicides there are arsenides and chlorates, now they have been obsolete gradually. Today the majority of herbicides has low toxicity on human and animals, however, to people with sensitive physique, for more security it’s best to take physical weeding with tools.

There are many tools used for weeding, including wide weeding fork, small weeding fork, weeding blade, short-handled cutting knife, for household using, a small weeding fork is enough.

(not finished to be continue...)

* Original post: The Garden of Eden for Gardeners (Garden Tools World)

Basic Knowledge of Gardening I - What is Garden Container?

-->In Asia areas, a large size pot or basin is called flower container generally, but in western countries, flower pots or basins, regardless of the size of container, they called all containers used to plant and grow plants as garden container or flower container. However, frames of flower pots and basins are not used for plants cultivation directly, they are different from garden containers.
The cultivation way of utilizing garden containers is known as "garden container cultivation", while the way of using garden contianers, with which to plant and grow a variety of flowers, grass, garden trees or foliage plants, to beautify residence and the surrounding environment is known as the "container gardening".

** Original post: The Garden of Eden for Gardeners (Garden Tools World)

Most Usual Garden Tools for Housewives

Grow several plants in the house and decorate the environment in everyday life, which could make the whole family live together become more vivid in mentally and physically, while to be a good housewife who is skilled at gardening, you need several essential garden tools.

Flower Shovel
Flower shovel is small, lightweight, and simple to use, which can be used to do jobs such as transplanting, earthing up, cultivation, weeding and so on. For example, when to use planters or flower pots to grow plants, the flower shovel can replace hoe, rake and shovel, and other large tools.

This is a garden tool with wide range of uses, you must to purchase one. But when using you should pay more attention, because the size of a flower shovel is small, the joint part connecting the handle and the body of the shovel should be broken most easily, so you taken more care when using it.

There are different patterns shovels available in the market for you to choose, among which a shovel with a whole handle and body, which was been casted in a whole is a more durable shovel.


Lopping Shears
Lopping shears can be used to prune branches, as well as suitable for harvesting crops of melons and legumes. The thing you should consider is the spring lies in the middle of the shears is very easy to lose.

Lopping shears available in the market with many styles and patterns, the same time the price variation is also very large, in general, the more expensive the price is the more sharp the shears, but for general gardening, an pair of ordinary shears can be competent. If you have children at home, a pair of round-ended shears is more suitable.

Watering Can
Watering can can be used to watering and Shi liquid fertilizer, metal texture and more durable than the plastic texture. It is need to be reminded that the most vulnerable also the most been lost part of a plastic flower pot is the spout, so each time when you finished the fertilization, you should clean the spout carefully and store it in time.






Handle Trigger Sprayer
Handle trigger sprayers are mainly used for spraying water and natural pesticides, which can emit water out with mist, and sprinkled on plants more evenly, judge the quality of a sprayer is to see whether the water mist sprayed out from the sprayer is enough tiny and equal or not.

Remember to clean the sprayer carefully after using, so to avoid the water hole of the trigger sprayer be plugged by contaminations.

Handle trigger sprayer is also can be replaced by water sprayer, although a water sprayer is not competent enough to finish the watering job as a trigger sprayer, it is still a good choice with inexpensive price.** Original post: The Garden of Eden for Gardeners (Garden Tools World)

Usual Sharpening Tools for Garden Tools

Keeping your garden tools such as lawn mowers, pruning shears and loppers is often suggested to be a very important function in every gardening book. However, keeping garden tools sharp is very difficult for most gardeners. Beware of using a powered grinding wheel. If you are not skilled with such a device, you can take too much metal off your garden tool in a few seconds of not paying attention.

Here are a few sharpening tools that usual and useful we have found, and if you interested with them, you may search more info about them on the Internet.

Lansky Sharpener for Garden Tool and Lawn Mower

This Lawn and Garden Tool sharpener offers flat and curved surfaces to make it easy to restore like new performance to lawn mower blades, shovels and spades, hoes, sickles and scythes, machetes and other cutting and digging tools. The special design of this sharpener minimizes fatigue and enhances user comfort. Quickly removes dents and nicks that result from hitting rocks, stones and concrete.

Lansky “The Puck” Dual-Grit Multi-Functional Sharpener



This pocket-size Lansky Dual-Grit Multi-Functional Sharpener is ideal for sharpening lawn mower blades, machetes, hatchets, axe blades, shovels and spades plus a variety of other cutting and chopping tools. The Puck's easy-to-grip contoured shape provides safe and simple tool sharpening. Dual-Grit design provides a coarse side for quick cutting and shaping, and a medium side for final sharpening and finishing of your edge.

DMT Two-in-One Diafold Diamond Sharpener


If you’ve invested in good quality pruners and loppers, it is important to maintain it with a sharp cutting edge. Sharp pruning and cutting tools produce cleaner cuts that are easier to perform and are better for the health of the plant. DMT sharpener (9½”/24 cm open, 5”/12.5 cm closed. Made in USA.) is made with monocrystalline diamonds, a strong single crystal structure that doesn’t break apart with use, bonded in nickel to steel with recessed dots for chip clearance.

Diamond is the hardest material and is the most efficient sharpening abrasive requiring just a light pressure to produce a sharp edge with just a few strokes. The two-in-one Diafold has two grits, fine and coarse, on reverse sides for added versatility and convenience. By using the coarser side first, and then moving to the finer surface, a razor sharp edge can be achieved. Use the coarse side to restore a dull edge and then fine surface to maintain an edge. The folding plastic handle will protect the diamond Sharpener when not in use.

** Original post: The Garden of Eden for Gardeners (Garden Tools World)

Bosch Electric Garden Tools -- High-Speed Rotary Lawn Mower

Bosch Electric Garden Tools -- High-Speed Rotary Lawn Mower

Specifications:
Motor power: 1000W
Torque: 13 Nm
Width of cut: 32 cm
Height-of-cut: 20-60 mm
Height-of-cut positions: 3-way, axle-wise
Grass box capacity: 28 l
Motor overload protection: Yes
All-round on-off switch: No
Grass box full indicator: No
Weight: 7 kg
Warranty time(offered by the manufacturer): 2 year

Recommend Reasons:

1. High-speed Bosch powerdrive motor
2. High torque up to 13Nm
3. 32 cm blade width
4. Lightweight for easy lifting
5. Practical design for improved manoeuvrability
6. Tool-free 3-stage height-of-cut adjustment
7. Two-stage adjustable handle height
8. Integrated carry handles for easy transportation

Price for buy online: only £57.49!

* The above recommended garden tool: Bosch Electric Garden Tools --- High-Speed Rotary Lawn Mower is just advertising for sale online on London Power Tools (an online shopping site aimed to offering its customers the best price and value on the full range of branded power tools, garden tools and associated accessories), if you interested in this Bosch Electric Garden Tools -- High-Speed Rotary Lawn Mower and want more shopping details about this garden tool, you may visit the mentioned online shopping site of garden tools freely.

** Original address of this garden tools post: Garden Tools World

Garden Handle Tool --- Useful Rotary Cultivator

Useful Rotary Cultivator

Features:

- Easier to cultivate between and around rows;

- Quickly loosens soil and removes weeds at the same time;

- Removable teeth let you custom configure the Rotary Cultivator for precision cultivating;

- Adjustable handle lets you customize the Rotary Cultivator's reach;

- Extra durable, all steel construction

The Garden Handle Tool --- Useful Rotary Cultivator can help you to loosen the soil and weeds in your garden faster and with less effort. Specially-designed, bladed wheels rotate to create a scissors-like action that breaks up soil and uproots weeds while automatically cleaning themselves. The detachable blades can be removed for custom configuration so you can till between wide or narrow rows and around plants. The adjustable handle lets you customize the extension to your preference and prevents bending and back strain.

Price for sale online from the Factory directly: $32.78

* The above recommended garden tool: Garden Handle Tool --- Useful Rotary Cultivator is just advertising for sale online on The Yard Butler Online Store (an online shopping store that was established in 2006, and aimed to provide an alternative retail outlet for the Yard Butler tools manufactured by Lewis Tools), if you interested in this Garden Handle Tool --- Useful Rotary Cultivator and want more details about this tool, you may visit the mentioned garden tools online store freely.

** Original address of this garden tools post: Garden Tools World

Wholesale Garden Tools --- Electric Chain Saw

Wholesale Garden Tool --- Electric Chain Saw

Specification:

Rate Voltage: 230v~50Hz
Input Power: 1600/1800/2000w
Bar Length: 405/355mm
Chain Speed: 12.1 m/s
Brake Time: <0 .12s="">Trade Details:

Model: GAECS0107
Origin: China
Trademark: SUPER CRAFT
Packing: 1056cs/20'f container

* The above recommended garden tool: Wholesale Garden Tool -- Electric Chain Saw is just advertising for wholesale online on Made-in-China.com and supplied by Ningbo Jiangdong Goagia Imp.&Exp. Co., Ltd.(a qualified trade company in China who specialized in manufacturing & exporting varieties of GARDEN TOOL, POWER TOOL, GASOLINE TOOL, AIR TOOL and so on. ), if you interested in this Wholesale Garden Tool --- Electric Chain Saw and want more trade details about it, you may visit the mentioned online trading showroom of garden tools freely.

** Original address of this garden tools post: Garden Tools World

How to Start a Garden with Basic Garden Tools

You don't need to spend much to start a garden, but you do need some basic garden tools. Anyway, if you are lucky enough to get these basic garden tools from a flea market or buy secondhand tools though online shopping, you can do it with no more than $100 …

Actually I will give you some useful tips on how to select basic tools for your garden…

First Tip. Spading Fork

The first basic tool you need is a spading fork. Before you plant anything, you will need to cultivate and improve the soil. A spading fork looks like a pitchfork but has a shorter handle and wider cusps. It is necessary to dig down into hard soil and break up the ground.

Second Tip. Hoe

The next garden tool you need is a hoe. A hoe is useful and helpful for weeding weeds and cultivating the surface of the soil to allow a smooth penetration of water and nutrients.

Third Tip. Spray Can
Thirdly a spray can is needed. Select a spray can that has a detachable spray head, as well as has long nozzles that allow the water to come out at a very gentle flow rate and are useful for reaching across long distances, and this type of spray can is also a best garden tool for watering young saplings and seedlings.

Fourth Tip. Shovel

A digging shovel is also one of basic garden tools that must listed in your purchasing list, and you may select a round-ended shovel for larger digging projects, such as get a good ready for planting shrubs and trees.

Fifth Tip. Garden Rake
A good garden rake is needed basically, too. And pay more attention to select a good garden rake, best a bow rake, which has short cusps on one side attached to a metal frame. You will use it to level the soil after it has been turned and prior to planting, as well as to remove large clods of earth or rocks from the soil. You will find a bow rake is helpful when you want to smooth the garden soil in preparation for planting, only thing you should do is to turn the bow rake over and use its flat side…

Sixth Tip. Garden Shear

Shears, sometimes people called it clippers, are used for pruning, shaping and removing foliage or branches. A pair of garden shears will useful in the process of the garden construction, and you’d better remind to select a pair of universal shears that fits comfortably in your hand, and an expensive garden shears are not always the best one suited you…

* Friendly Warning:

Generally a expensive garden tool means higher quality or multi functions, but for a garden beginner, it not a good choice, because at the beginning you are not sure which kind of garden tools you need mostly, maybe you are still not sure you are like gardening truly, so in order to avoid a large amount of money consumption, it is not necessary to buy a expensive garden tool until you make a firm decide to start gardening… 

* Original address of this garden tools post: The Garden of Eden for Gardeners

Garden Handle Tools --- Felco Hand Pruner

Garden Handle Tools --- Felco Hand Pruner

Brand: Felco

Category: Hand Tools

Model No.: Felco #2

Classical garden tools, imitated but never duplicated. 

The Felco #2 hand pruner is a original FELCO design that has remained unchanged for over 40 years.

Features:

1. Solid forged metal alloy handles
2. Limited Lifetime Warranty
3. A single hardened cutting blade which is replaceable
4. An anvil blade with a sap groove
5. Precision alignment of cutting and anvil blades due to adjustable locking segment
6. A rubber cushion and shock absorber prevents wrist fatigue
7. Wire cutting notch
8. Non-corroding spring mechanism
9. Adjustment key included for precise alignments
10. Plastic storage case included for when pruner not in use.
11. All parts are replaceable and we stock them

* The above recommended garden tool: Garden Handle Tools --- Felco Hand Pruner is just advertising for sale online and supplied by FGS., Inc. (a wonderful world of growing ideas...), if you interested in this Garden Handle Tools --- Felco Hand Pruner and want more shopping details about it, you may contact the mentioned garden tools supplier freely.

** Original address of this garden tools post: Garden Tools World

Delux Garden Tools --- Back-Saving Tractor Scoot

Delux Garden Tools --- Back-Saving Tractor Scoot

Highpoints:

1. 360 swivel seat with improved height adjustment

2. 3-position extending handle

3.400lb weight capacity

4. With tool tray and storage bin

5. Steerable front wheels

6. Pneumatic tires

Features:

- Go easy on your back and knees

- Accessory tray and basket mount easily under and behind the seat;

- Great to hold tools, seeds and gloves

- Pneumatic tires roll smoothly for a stable ride

- Seat swivels a full 360 degrees and is height adjustable

Our back-saving Tractor Scoot lets you work from a seated position virtually anywhere in your yard or garden. Thanks to your input, we’ve made this customer favorite even more comfortable and easier to use. First, we added a longer handle so you can pull the Scoot behind you like a wagon. When retracted, the handle now serves as a sturdy handhold.

We also lowered the swiveling, tractor-style seat by 3-1/2" to give you better access when planting and harvesting. It now adjusts from 16" to 19" high, to suit you and the task at hand. Hefty, pneumatic tires still ensure a smooth, stable ride.

* The above recommended garden tool: Delux Garden Tools --- Back-Saving Tractor Scoot is just advertising for sale online and supplied by Gardener's Supply (a company in business to spread the joys and rewards of gardening), if you interested in this Delux Garden Tools --- Back-Saving Tractor Scoot and want more shopping details about it, you may contact the mentioned garden tools supplier freely.

** Original address of this garden tools post: Garden Tools World

Garden Weeding Tool --- Quality Grass Trimmer

Garden Weeding Tool --- Quality Grass Trimmer

Specification:

Battery Pack Voltage: DC 18V

No Load Speed: 8000rpm

Cutting Path: 230mm

Telescopic Handle: Aluminum (850-1140mm)

Spool: 6.5m, Oslash: 1.6mm

Charging Time: 4hrs

Packing Details:

Package: 4pcs/carton

Carton Size: 87*25*48.5cm

G.W./N.W.: 13/12kgs

20'Loading Qty: 1000pcs

40'Loading Qty: 2070pcs

40'HQ Loading Qty: 2440pcs

* The above recommended garden tool: Garden Weeding Tool --- Quality Grass Trimmer is just advertising for wholesale online on Made-in-China.com and supplied by Zhejiang Multistay Industry Co., Ltd.(a qualified company in China who specialized in producing power tools and garden tools which has professional technology and advanced equipment), if you interested in this Garden Weeding Tool --- Quality Grass Trimmer and want more trade details about it, you may contact the mentioned garden tools manufacturer & wholesaler freely.

** Original address of this garden tools post: Garden Tools World

Imported Garden Tool --- Portable Pressure Sprayer

Imported Garden Tool --- Portable Pressure Sprayer

Garden Tools: Portable Pressure Sprayer

Brand: GARDENA　

Model: 864

Origin: Made in Germany

Specification: 1.25L
Performance:

- A useful pressure sprayer suitable for both home and garden.
- With safety valve. - Spray-type adjustable - you can choose from a single jet to fine mist.
- A filter set in the inlet tube to prevent nozzle block.
- The trigger on the handle can be operated by one hand.
- Packing: Four-color display box

Price for sale online: RMB229

* The above recommended garden tool: Imported Garden Tool --- Portable Pressure Sprayer is advertising online for sale on YuanYiba.com.(a Chinese online shopping site mainly deal in retail business) ,if you interested in this Imported Garden Tool --- Portable Pressure Sprayer, you may visit the mentioned garden tools online store freely.

** Original address of this garden tools post: Garden Tools World

New Designed Garden Tools --- Four-Wheeled Hose Truck

New Designed Garden Tools --- Four-Wheeled Hose Truck

Specification:

1. Snap-On Handle, Only Minor Assembly Required
2. Holds up to 300 feet of hose.
3. All steel with an anti-rust finish.
4. Guaranteed forever!

The new designed 4 wheeled Hose Truck has all the same heavy duty features as the original design with added value and quick assembly. Simply attach the bolt-on wheels, reel crank, and snap-on frame handle. The compact size reduces freight costs and the smaller footprint makes this unit easy to handle.

* The above recommended piece of garden tools: New Designed Garden Tools --- Four-Wheeled Hose Truck is sold online now on Yard Butler Store, if you interested in this New Designed Garden Tools --- Four-Wheeled Hose Truck or have any questions on it, you may visit the mentioned garden tools online store freely.

** Original address of this garden tools post: Garden Tools World

Wholesale Garden Tools Recommend --- 410mm Hedge Trimmer

Wholesale Garden Tools --- 410mm Hedge Trimmer

Garden Tool Standard: 410mm Hedge Trimmer

Specifications:

- 230V/50Hz, 400w, 1600rpm

- 410mm cutting length

- Double blade action

- Safety- switch

- Max cutting dia: 12mm,

- Cable: 0.35m,

Approvals: CE/GS/EMC/RoHS

Trademark: SUPER CRAFT

* The above recommended piece of garden tools: Wholesale Garden Tools --- 410mm Hedge Trimmer is now trade for wholesale and supplied by Ningbo Jiangdong Goagia Imp. & Exp. Co., Ltd

., if you interested in this 410mm Hedge Trimmer, you may contact the mentioned online garden tools manufacturer freely.

** Original address of this garden tools post: Garden Tools World