garden fountain

If you have not yet considered an outdoor fountain for your garden, you are missing out on an extremely versatile and aesthetically pleasing addition. Many people have a rigid and out-of-date conception of garden fountains. They do not have to be large and bulky or be the centerpiece of the yard; although that is an option, if you so desire. But there are many more places for them. Outdoor fountains can fill a drab corner, enliven a walkway, accessorize your deck, or elegantly grace the center of your garden.

Why would you want to spend money a garden fountain? There are a wide variety of reasons. If you are interested in creating an aesthetically pleasing garden, nothing will round out your masterpiece like an outdoor fountain. Flowing water contributes to the serenity of a garden, bringing calm and tranquility. Even if you don’t have a beautiful yard, and aren’t interested in doing the work to design one, garden fountains are an easy, effective alternative. They can be centrally placed to draw immediate attention, or located on the periphery to softly enliven the surroundings.

The incredible array of styles and materials makes outdoor fountains even more customizable. Firstly, you will want to consider the size of your garden. If you have a rather large yard, you will want to compliment it with a somewhat larger fountain. However, if you have a small or medium sized yard, you will not want to make it appear even smaller by dwarfing it with an oversized garden fountain. If your yard is extremely small, you may even want to consider a wall fountain, which will take up less space.

Next, you will want to consider the style of the fountain. You should either choose your outdoor fountain based on your furniture, or vice versa, but definitely ensure that all elements of the garden are compatible with the overall décor. This is especially true for smaller spaces, which are much less forgiving than larger ones. You will also want to consider the plants you choose to surround your fountain; generally, the taller the better.

Then you will want to select a material. Garden fountains are generally made from fiberglass, wood, copper, porcelain or concrete. If you are going for quality, and price is not a huge consideration, you will want an outdoor fountain made out of concrete or ceramic, which are considered the best.

Finally, you must consider placement. Hopefully, the material above helped you in deciding which type of fountain you wish to have in your garden. However, if you choose to put your garden fountain on the ground, there is one very important thing to keep in mind. Uneven water flow is one of the most common problems with outdoor fountains when placed on the ground. You can avoid this by placing the fountain on level ground which is completely solid, to avoid sinking.

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Water Fountains, Wall Fountains

Hanging wall fountains originated in ancient Rome, where they were actually used to bring fresh drinking water to the citizens of that great city. Modern plumbing has made them unnecessary for this use, but a water fountain can still be a visually stunning addition to your home. Adding the calming sound of flowing water to your home can be just the thing you need to bring relaxation and tranquility after a long day.

A wall fountain can be placed indoors or outdoors, adding to the diverse possibilities of this already very flexible fixture. These types of fountains might also be ideal for families with small children or pets, who would rather have a fountain on the wall than a floor fountain or one of the other types of water fountains. The ability to place them on the wall adds an incredible amount of options when choosing the location of your fountain.

But we are getting ahead of ourselves. Before you decide where to place your water fountain, you have to choose the style that is right for your needs and desires. You have a wide array of options when choosing your material. Wall fountains are made from slate, copper, stone, stainless steel, glass, among others. Which material you chose will depend on your particular tastes, the existing décor of your home, your budget and how heavy you want your fountain to be. Water fountains also come in a variety of styles such as Asian, Italian, and modern. Your choice will once again probably be dictated by monetary concerns and the style of your house.

Remember that the weight of your fountain is something you are really going to need to consider. If you can lift heavy objects, have people who can who are willing to help you, or are able to pay for your wall fountain to be moved, than this might not be such a huge consideration. But if you don’t, definitely consider the weight of your new fountain and whether or not you will be able to handle it. The weight of water fountains is dependant on their size and material. A slate fountain is going to weigh considerably more than one made out of copper or acrylic.

Surrounding your water fountain with plants can create a luscious, living garden environment in your backyard or patio area. Experiment with different colored flowers, which can really augment the beauty of your garden. Wall fountains are extremely versatile. Mix and match styles and materials until you create the perfect ambiance, straight out of your imagination. Be sure to shop around for the fountain that will complement your existing decor.

Wherever you choose to put your wall fountain, you will not be disappointed. It will immediately improve its surroundings, as well as your feeling of peace and serenity. Water fountains can also enhance your sleep by emanating the deeply relaxing sound of trickling water throughout your bedroom. No other amenity can add these benefits together with the beautiful aesthetics of a fountain.

If you have a small backyard, you may be wondering just what you can do with it to make it seem more impressive and open. You would be amazed at how much of a difference an outdoor garden fountain can make.

The Sound

The first thing that a garden water fountain can do for you is give you the sound of being out in the wilderness. When people hear running water from a home garden fountain, they are often transported somewhere else. They feel as if they are out exploring nature and far away from city life.

The Look

Another benefit to a garden fountain is the beauty of watching flowing water. Garden water fountains will draw the attention of those who visit your home. From a young age almost all people are drawn to watching flowing water. Perhaps it is the constant motion of the liquid or the metaphysical thoughts about water and consciousness combining that get attention. No matter what it is, you will find that once you install outdoor garden fountains your guests will be making their way to your garden’s fountains to appreciate them.

Fountain Options

There are plenty of types of fountains you can choose for your garden. Some are free standing structures, usually a sculpture that has water flowing out of it into a pool at the bottom. There are also fountain gardens that are one or more small fountains that are incorporated with plants and other aspects of your garden to create one cohesive look. Another option, especially if you are limited in yard space, is garden wall fountains. These are literally fountains that can be attached to your wall and flow down the side of the wall seemingly opening the space.

Eco Friendly Fountains

Many people like the idea of fountains, but don’t want to leave a larger carbon footprint by needing to use electricity to run the garden fountain pumps. You don’t have to. Thankfully there is another option. These days there are solar garden fountain offerings that can do more and more. Some light up, others also run the pump and lights off of solar power. This lets you have your fountain and power it too without feeling guilty.

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It amazes me how few home gardeners actually grow strawberries. After all, how many people do you know who don’t just love to eat them? Strawberries are one of the top favorite fruits of most people. Perhaps it is because many think that the strawberry plant requires a lot of space, are very difficult to grow, or that they are not promoted that much locally. Actually, growing strawberries is not difficult once you learn a few vital tips. They are about as easy as growing tomatoes, not that you can’t have problems, but success is almost guaranteed if you follow general guidelines.

Strawberries are labeled as bare root, June-bearing or short-day cultivars, ever bearing and day-neutral. Strawberries are planted 18 to 30 inches apart in rows 3 to 4 feet apart. Strawberries want moist soil, but fast drainage, a tricky combination for some gardeners to achieve. Strawberry plants will not produce flower buds when night time temperatures remain above 60F. So if you live in the South and have very high heat nights in the spring and early summer, then Strawberries won’t work for you. Most other areas should be fine though. Unlike commercial growers, home gardeners do not get a wide variety of strawberry plants to choose from unless they order from a catalog or online. If you require a larger selection, the gardening section of Got-eats will provide you with some great sources.

Plan to plant 20 to 25 plants for two people in your household. Planted two inches apart, you can squeeze 15 to 20 strawberry plants into one large 16-inch pot if space is a problem in your garden. Within a month or so, strawberry plants will start producing runners that produce the new daughter plants. These new daughter plants are allowed to grow into a matted row up to about 2 feet wide. For the first season, remove flowers as they appear on strawberry plants. Thin out some of the smaller plants so that the remaining plants are at least 6 inches apart each way. When all the weeds and extra plants have been removed, spread a 1 inch layer of compost over the entire bed. By picking the blooms the first year, one won’t get any fruit, however it allows them to get stronger roots and greatly multiplies the new plants. The second year ones strawberry production will be huge! By the third year your plants will quadruple and you may be over run with strawberries.

Affected leaves or rotting fruit should be removed immediately to prevent spread of any disease or fungus. Slow-release fertilizers, such as Osmocote for fruits and vegetables, work well for strawberries because they provide a constant supply of food. Avoid high-nitrogen formulas, because they cause growth at the expense of fruit. Hanging baskets filled with strawberries not only look good, but allow the fruit to stay well clear of the ground. A mature strawberry plant will yield about one quart of fruit each season.

Soil for strawberry beds should be rich and well draining. When planting strawberries keep their crowns above the soil line otherwise they are susceptible to crown rot. Do not place crowns too high above the soil line, because they will dry out. Build a 5 inch high cone of soil and compost in the center of the hole. Drape the roots over the cone and fill the hole in with soil. Take special care to set each plant so that its crown is just half covered with soil. Then give each plant a pint of compost tea to settle the soil and get growth off to a good start. To cultivate a whole strawberry patch, keep a few things in mind: a sloping spot often works best for perfect drainage, the soil should not be alkaline, and rich organic matter added to the soil gives rise to a plentiful crop.

Diseases that effect strawberries are botrytis, red stele, yellows, or verticillium wilt. To reduce the risk of strawberries acquiring diseases replant every few years. Red stele and verticillium wilt are major diseases caused by fungi which live in the soil. Spring bearing varieties with resistance to these diseases and featuring high quality fruit include Earliglow, Allstar, and Delmarvel. The advantages of spring - summer plantings are that they are more tolerant of soil salinity and tend to have less leaf spot diseases than winter plantings.

The biggest benefit of growing your own strawberries is allowing them to sun-ripen, so they are sweet and so much better tasting than store bought. If one merely plants strawberries and lets them grow, a fair amount of success will be seen. On the other hand, if one follow the recommendations above the results will be fantastic. Growing strawberries is one of the more rewarding gardening endeavors, because not only are they easy to grow and harvest, they are wonderful to eat. And, look at all those wonderful strawberry drinks and desserts that await you!

Deer Resistant Plants

Current info about Deer Resistant Plants is not always the easiest thing to locate. Fortunately, this report includes the latest Deer Resistant Plants info available.

Sometimes the most important aspects of a subject are not immediately obvious. Keep reading to get the complete picture.

Deer are a major landscape menace — both rural and sometimes urban — in the Hill Country and other areas overpopulated with deer. Deer-proof landscape plants are much in demand. Deer resistant plants are often thorny, poisonous or just taste bad. Do be careful of children. Few plants are fully deer-proof, but a number of species are impalatable enough to be left alone as long as other food is available. Droughts and other situations that create a serious food shortage can cause deer to lose their inhibitions and eat otherwise impalatibe plants — including most of those listed below.With this disclaimer in mind the below list that follows was prepared.

But first, one of my vistors sent in this idea:
I have noticed that if I pay attention to where the deer usually travel it is best not to plant anything there. I had planted daylillies on one side of my property where there are woods behind and woods across the street. The deer always follow that path. I never got to see any flowers. So I replanted lillies on the other side where there are no woods and it is closer to my house and the neighbors house is directly across the street. Since this is not in their usual traffic pattern I have lots of flowers now. You are right about deer eating ANYTHING if conditions warrant it. Three years ago we had a drought and a big ole buck commenced to jump right into the pond and eat the water lillies just 20 feet from the house! In broad daylight! I didn’t mind because the lillies in the pond were getting a little overrun not to mention I got some great pictures of him. Sometimes a little sacrifice of some plants is worth the chance of seeing some wildlife up close.

LARGE TREES

None have been observed to be resistant enough to leave unprotected. Fortunately trees can be caged until they grow taller than the deer.
SMALL TREES OR LARGE SHRUBS

Texas Buckeye Acsuculus agruta 2 3
Golden Ball Lead Tree Leucana retusa 2
Texas Persimmon diospyros texana 2
Fig Ficus spp. Flameleaf Sumac Rhus lanceolata 2
Desert Willow Chilopsis linearis 2
Mountain Laurel Sophora secundiflora 2
Roughleaf Dogwood Cornus drummondii 2 3
SHRUBS Ceniza/Texas sage Leucophyllum spp 1 2
Jerusalem Cherry Solanum pseudocapsicum
Oleander Nerium oleander
Red-leaf or Japanese Baberry Berberis thunbergii
Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis
Mexican Buckeye Ungnadia speciosa 2
Mexican Oregano Pliomintha longifolia
Boxwood Buxus microphylla
Cotoneaster Coral Beauty Cotoneaster dammeri 1
Dwarf Yaupon Ilex vomitoria 2
Fragrant mimosa Mimosa borealis 2
Pyracantha Pyracantha coccinea 1
Autumn Sage Salvia greggii 2 3
Mexican Silktassle Garrya lindheimeri 2
Jumiper Juniperus spp. 1 2

Agarita Berberis trifloriolata 2
Blackberry Rubus spp. thorny only 1 2
Evergreen sumac Rhus virens 2
Nandina Nandina spp. 1 3
Autum Aster Aster spp. 1
Turks cap Malvaviscus arboreus 2 3
Elaegnus Elaegnus spp.
Dwarf Chinese Holly Ilex cornuta
Japanese aralia Aralia sieboldii Acuba Acuba japonica 3
Abelia Abelia spp.
Wax myrtle Myrica cerifera 1 2
Pampas Grass Cortaderia spp
Lantana Lantana horida natives resistant, hybirds not 1 2
PERENNIAL SUCCULENTS AND LILIES

Catus Opuntia Hen and chickens Sempervivum spp spiny varieties
Yucca Yucca spp 2
Red Yucca Hesperalve pavriflora flowers eaten 2
Sotol Dasylirion spp 1 2
Sacahuista/Bear Grass/Nolina Nolina spp 2
Lily of the Nile Agapanthus spp.
Cast-iron Plant Aspidistra lurida 3
VINES

Carolina Jessamine Gelsemium sempervirens
Star Jasmine Trachelospermum jasminoides 1
GROUND COVERS

Asiatic Jasmine Trachelospermum asiaticum 1
Santolina Santolina spp 2
Aarons Beard Hypericum calycinum
Spearmint Menta spicata 3
Myrtle Vinca major 3
Carpet Bugle Ajuga reptans 1 3
FLOWERS, FERNS, HERBS

Mexican Mint Marigold Tagetes spp.
Bluebonnet Lupinus texensis 2
Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta2
Mealy Blue Sage Salvia farinacea 2
Cedar Sage Salvia roemeriana 2 3
Vebena Verbena spp. 2 3
Zexmenia Zexmenia hispida 2
Iris Iris spp. 1 Begonia Begonia spp. 1
Indigo Spires Salvia spp.
Mexican Bush Sage Salvia leucanthis 1
Periwinkle Vinca rosea
Dusty Miller Senecio cineraria
Ageratum Ageratum spp.
Coreopsis Coreopsis spp. 2
Yarrow Achillea filipendulina 2
Cosmos Cosmos bipinnatus
Foxglove Digitalis spp. 2
Purple Cone Flower Echinacea angustifolia 1 2
Flame Acanthus Anisacanthus wrightii
Zinna Zinna spp. 1
Blackfoot Daisy Melampodium lecanthum 2
Chrysanthemum Chrysantheum spp. flowers eaten
Sword Fern Nephrolepis spp. 3
Wood Fern Dryopteris spp 2 3
(1) Observed heavily eaten under pressure
(2) Texas Native
(3) Shade tolerant

So now you know a little bit about Deer Resistant Plants. Even if you don’t know everything, you’ve done something worthwhile: you’ve expanded your knowledge.

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