Do you love eating vegetables and enjoy healthy living? Then perhaps it is time for you to create your very own organic garden. Going organic is the trend of society these days – and for good reason. Organic plants have higher nutrient levels, they taste better, they contain no chemicals and they are antibiotic free.

There are many perks to having your own organic garden. And before you think “Oh, that’s too much work” let me convince you otherwise.  Here are the top 3 benefits of having your own organic vegetable garden.

• First, gardening is a relaxing activity. I have found much joy in digging around my own backyard. Whenever I feel stressed or that I have so much to do I drop everything, put on my oldest pair of jeans, grab my work gloves and rush outside.  Gardening helps me refocus and gives me a new perspective.  Relaxing in a hammock after all the hard gardening work is truly one of the best feelings ever.
• Second, organic vegetables are healthier. Most vegetables sold in the market these days are pumped full of chemicals which are toxic to our bodies. We don’t know what fertilizers were used in those vegetable and whether or not they are safe. Pesticides found in food can predispose you to cancer. You wouldn’t want to put your children at risk, would you? Growing your own vegetables will let your mind at ease. At least you know that they are definitely safe. Plus they taste better and are more nutritious.
• Third, you get to work out. Yes. Gardening burns calories too. Trimming shrubs manually burns 183 calories. Digging around burns 214 calories. I could go on and on. If you dislike regular cardio workouts like jogging or swimming…If you absolutely hate going to gym….Then you can exercise through gardening.

Organic gardening is a healthy way to live life. You’ll not only get to exercise, eat healthy food and relax; you’ll also get to save money as well! As a result, you’ll feel at peace with yourself knowing that you have made the right choice.

So what are you waiting for? Gardening is not really as hard as it seems. Try it and you just might enjoy it.

Alex invites you to check out our newest selection of bamboo fountains and garden planters to learn more about how to enhance the beauty of your organic garden.

Water Lillies

There are three types of plants that grow in the ponds. The first type of plant is called floater plants and their leaves float on the surface of the water. They have very short roots. The other variety has roots deep inside the water and leaves both inside and on the surface of the water. The last type of plant has only underwater foliage. Many people like to use water lilies as they look pretty. However water lilies need to be selected carefully depending on the size and the depth of the pond. In fact most under water plants grow very fast and need pruning.

Gord Nickel has been a professional horticulturalist for almost 30 years. Taken from his popular TV show, Gord, who has been working in gardens since he was 15 years old, teaches easy, fun gardening skills.

Planting the floaters and the underwater oxygenates is not at all difficult. They have to be just tossed into the water. The plants with roots need to be planted properly. First the roots must be cleaned of all the dead foliage and the algae. Then the roots should be planted in plastic buckets filled with aquatic compost. Then these baskets can be topped up with bricks and suspended under water. The bricks will help to anchor the roots.

Choice of Plants

Marginal plants grow well in shallow water or around the edges of ponds. Marginal plants grow equally well when their roots are under water or in the soil around the edge of the ponds. However the ideal condition is to grow the roots in shallow water. Bog plants are also suitable for such areas. Care should be taken while planting these as the roots of some plants may even pierce their baskets.

Planting scheme

The plants should be planted as per a predetermined scheme to ensure that they have a good visual affect when they grow up. Depth of the water will vary from 12 inches to quarter of an inch. The edges should be used to plant the specie with less foliage. As you go further into the pond the mud surface can be used to plant the variety with more foliage. A bit of experimentation will also help.

Moisture loving plants

Some plants thrive in a moist environment. They require high humidity and damp earth. These types of plants are ideally placed in areas that connect your pond with the rest of the garden. Bog plants are those that will survive in boggy soil. Moisture loving plants may tolerate the boggy soil but the ideal condition for them to survive and thrive is damp soil and moist conditions.

Planting

The beds of the plants should be prepared carefully by adding organic material. If the soil is very sandy soil granules should be added. Always check out the root depth and the foliage height of the plants you are buying and see if it will be suitable for your site. The height of the foliage should be so planned that the moisture plants have maximum height. It is a good practice to obtain a sample of the plants you wish to use. Use them to see if the plants adopt to your local conditions. Visit as many gardens as you can so that you get a fair idea of what you require before ordering it.