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As I walked into my local garden center with my two-year-old in the basket, we were presented with a beautiful sight.  The place was alive with color, as the fresh spring flowers were on display from front to back of the greenhouse. Not only that, but the place was buzzing with excitement, and it wasn’t the bees. The employees were cleaning and prepping and helping customers pick out the plants that they wanted and find things that were hidden behind huge racks of potted perennials.

I suppose spring is like a garden lover’s Christmas time.  The color, the scent of fresh mulch and deep dark soil could definitely be acquainted to the scent of cinnamon or fresh holly. My daughter loved it so much that she even took some pictures of the flowers with my iPod. 

We are a little spoiled here in Florida, where spring comes early.  I know that half the country is still on the chilly side, but there are many happenings to welcome in spring, including garden shows dotting the country. So, if you are looking to fit a little spring into the tail end of your winter, look one up.  I know I am looking forward to a few.

If you happen to be looking for a way to water all those plants you are going to buy at the garden shows, we recommend Drip Irrigation & Micro Irrigation, of course. It is the best way to save water in your new garden - and give you more time to enjoy it.

Watering roses is more than just turning on the hose and giving them a good dousing for a few minutes. Frequent watering in such a manner can cause black spots and mildew to form on those beautiful petals. Watering frequently on the petals can spread disease, too.

When it comes to roses, the key to good watering is to water deep and infrequently.

Have you heard about community gardens? That’s right…community.

According to the American Community Garden Association (ACGA), a community garden is simply a piece of land that is gardened by a group of people. It can be for flowers or vegetables or simply to spend time with others who love gardening.

Here’s a sampling of community gardens making headlines across the country.

• In South Florida, there are various community gardens on city-owned land. These gardens help needy folks learn to grow their own food. Many are in areas that need beautification or are undergoing revitalization. Others are in urban areas. 
• In Greer, South Carolina, the local hospital started the project. Soon, sponsors donated tools and irrigation equipment - even seeds - to get gardeners started. 
• Portland has 39 community gardens, many with open spots waiting to be rented.  Each 100-square-foot area rents for $21. Volunteers have “work parties” to tend to area gardens. Some plant beds are handicapped-accessible. And they also offer scholarships for low-income families and individuals. 
• In Kalamazoo, Michigan, the success of one community garden has sparked interested in starting other gardens around that area. Plans also include compost heaps, a greenhouse for year-round gardening, and classes for those needing a little extra help getting started. 

These are just a few of the community gardens making news around the country.

As springtime approaches, think about joining a community garden in your area. You can search for existing gardens. Better yet, start one!

Join the discussion:

Are you interested in community gardening? If so, tell us about it. If you’re already participating in a community garden, share some information with us. Who participates? What do you grow? How do you maintain it?

In the past month alone in areas throughout Florida, droughts have had an impact on:

• Fires, 
• Relief, response, and restrictions, 
• Tourism, and 
• Water supply and quality. 

• Plant more shrubs than annuals. Shrubs grow deeper roots than annuals and can withstand drier weather. Annuals do not develop deep roots as easily and are more susceptible to changes in weather.
• Plant strategically. Evaluate your house and the natural flow of water surrounding your property to identify areas that naturally get more water than others. Position plants that require more water in high water traffic areas (for example, below the gutters). Those that don’t need as much water can be placed in drier areas of your yard.
• Install drip irrigation. Products such as Mister Landscaper’s 50 ft. Micro Sprinkler Starter Kit keep the ground moist and provide continuous water supply to plants, shrubs, trees, gardens, and flowers.
• Finally, don’t forget the mulch. It serves a greater purpose than just being visually appealing - it also maintains moisture in the soil. 

The "Season of Giving" is upon us once again. Trees are going up, Thanksgiving is being planned, and shops are decking the halls and walls with all sorts of sparkling goodies.  With this in mind, we here at Mister Landscaper thought we would do a little holiday shopping and check out some of the best garden and landscape products on the market.  That way, you don't necessarily have to do all of the legwork, and you can bless the green thumb that is in your life with something that will thrill them and make their garden grow.

Let's start with tools: 

Every gardener and landscaper alike needs to have the right equipment to achieve the best results. 

We went to Corona Tools www.coronatoolsusa.com/

They sell quality tools for everything from pruning trees to wheeling around all of that mulch and dirt. Even rakes to clean up the mess left behind. It definitely beats trying to to it all with your bare hands.

A place for your garden to call home: 

Raised Bed Garden Kits by Greenland Gardener

http://www.greenlandgardener.com/

Many people we talk to online are getting into building their own garden bed and creating a raised area to grow their plants.  If you are like me, then using a tape measure, saw, hammer and nails is not going to happen. A Raised Bed Garden Kit is the way to go. We stumbled onto these kits at a local retailer, and they look fantastic.  Simple to set up, all of the cutting and measuring has already been done. So no saws required.  There are many benefits to using these kits to start your garden venture.  Also, the materials used to make the kits themselves are recycled, which makes it a green product all around.  Oh, and they are also manufactured in the United States, which makes them a hit with us for sure.

Watering your garden:

I know you would think we would only mention our products here, but we know of another company that creates excellent ways to use resources wisely when concerning water for landscapes and gardens. 

That company is Aquabarrels, which has developed several systems to harvest and use rainwater to water gardens and landscapes.  Most of those barrels can be used with drip irrigation and micro irrigation products, so not only can you recycle the water used, you can also conserve how you use that water so it lasts a long time.

www.aquabarrel.com/

They have numerous products to choose from, which are also made in the U.S.A. 

Last, but certainly not least, is - that's right - Mister Landscaper:

Why do we make such a great Christmas gift for the green thumb in your life.  Because we rock!  Besides that, Mister Landscaper has been in the irrigation business for over 20 years, and its parent company over 100.  We know water, and we know what plants need to grow to their healthiest.  Our Drip Irrigation and Micro Irrigation products are developed specifically to be easy to install, so easy in fact that even young children can help put the system together.  They can be moved around to fit the the landscape's design and to water some plants more then others.  They are extremely durable, tested in all climates, and standing up to everything from the cold of the Northeast to the heat of the Florida sun. They are also manufactured in the United States, making them a product that helps support jobs and growth right here at home.  We also save time - no digging required to set up our Drip Irrigation or our Micro Irrigation products.

Cost is - of course - important, too.  Save money by purchasing one of our high quality kits that range from just $17.99 to $61.44.  These kits include everything needed to set up irrigation in landscapes and gardens.

Check them out and see what you think.

There are literally tons of great garden and landscape products out there.  These are just a handful that we found to be of great and consistent quality and value for those who are into growing beautiful gardens or landscapes. 

Here is to finding the perfect gift, the one that keeps on growing!

Most people who work in the landscape or gardening industry know about Drip Irrigation and Micro Irrigation.  It's been used in some agricultural areas for over 40 years and is increasingly being used by larger and larger farms and groves for everything from grapes to oranges.  This has proven to be a vast improvement on the goals of saving water and wise use of water by the industries that depend on it to survive.

In recent years, large landscape companies have also adopted Micro and Drip Irrigation as a way to water a variety of landscapes, keeping the plants well-nourished and saving 50% or more on water usage.  Everywhere you look you can see it, little black stakes in the ground with Micro Sprays hidden behind bushes, Drip Irrigation tubing stretching through landscaped flower beds. With ever-increasing awareness of conservation of water, and the importance of being wise with resources, this trend will continue to improve as time goes on.

All of these things are incredible on their own, but they are just the beginning.  Where Drip Irrigation is heading now is into the garden and landscape of the average homeowner.  Most homeowners shy away from trying to mess with installing irrigation, for fear that it is too complicated or that they will not do it right and create a disaster that will kill all of their plants. But with droughts at a record high, and the desire of many to establish home gardens, that mentality is quickly changing. 

The benefits of using Drip Irrigation and Micro Irrigation are tremendous.  It's not just about not wasting water.  The plants get what they need rather than too much water, which can lead to fungus growth and premature rot in the root systems.  Also, many areas in the country that are under drought conditions will allow home owners to use low-flow irrigation products in their landscapes and gardens, rather than sprinklers.

Right now, homeowners across the country are realizing the need to use water wisely and are looking to install their own Micro and Drip Irrigation systems .  We applaud that - and encourage others to do the same.  A difference can be made, one garden and landscape at a time!

Micro Spray benefits: See the spray pattern, easy to maintain, pre-assembled stakes, easy to install. Just snap a hole into 1/2" Poly, insert Flow Controller, thread in mister spray pattern of choice.  Use on all types of soil - and water just about any plant or tree you can think of. Very low water use of 10gph with great coverage of root zone.

Dripper benefits:  Better for clay soil types, very slow watering, hidden in most landscapes, no wind deflection.
(Little more effort to install, not pre-assembled, need to install several to cover the root zone.)

Using soil type to help in choosing Drip or Micro Sprinklers to water plants, shrubs, trees,  landscapes and gardens.  Use this checklist below to help you decide which to use for these soil types:

Easy jar test to find your soil type:
1. Fill a large jar 1/2 with soil, then fill rest with clean water.
2. Shake well, then let sit 24 hours or so. Take look at what type of soil you have.

 **General suggestion.  For best watering duration cycle information, contact local county extension agents.

Drip Irrigaiton Is?

Many people have heard of Drip Irrigation, but not everyone knows what it means, where it came from, or how easy it is to implement into your landscapes and gardens. I wanted to write a quick bit about it and share how awesome this method of irrigation can be for your plants.

What is Drip Irrigation?

Drip irrigation is an irrigation method that saves water and fertilizer by allowing water to drip slowly to the roots of plants, either onto the soil surface or directly onto the root zone,  Basically, it means that you can control where the water goes - being extremely efficient, effective and environmentally cautious in your plant development. 

Where did it come from?

Drip methods of watering plants where water was scarce have been around for centuries - from ancient times where clay pots were filled with water and allowed to seep into the soil to modern methods that involve poly and vinyl tubing and pressure compensated drippers for a specific flow rate for plants.  The more modern version of drip was developed after World War II, and it was used in arid climates to grow crops.  That method of drip irrigation is very similar to what is used today. With technology leading the way in water conservation, Drip Irrigation is improving constantly, allowing for more water saving and better irrigation of plants then ever.  Electronic water timers and soil moisture sensors can be added to drip systems to make them extremely effective at using water with little or no waste, making Drip Irrigation the most environmentally friendly way to irrigate, outside of natural rain storms.

Installing Drip Irrigation?

When most people think of installing irrigation, pictures of long hot hours in the sun, digging ditches, laying pipes in the ground, and using tools to cut, manipulate and arrange them, come to mind. All of that is how underground irrigation is installed. Installing drip irrigation is actually really easy by comparison. For home garden and landscape use, many times all that is required is a faucet hook-up somewhere near where the irrigation is to be laid.  This makes installation really fast and efficient for homeowners to set up.  The most simple of Mister Landscaper's Drip Irrigation Kits is set up by attaching it to an outdoor faucet like a hose and running a line of poly to the location where the irrigation is needed.  The only tool really needed is a pair of scissors, and maybe a small hammer if you have hard ground. 

If a homeowner has underground irrigation, it is even easier to install Drip or Micro Irrigation.  For instance, one can easily attach adapters to PVC pipes for existing irrigation and then run lines to the areas where they would like to have drip.  Most set up of Drip or Micro Irrigation can take less then an hour to do and can save over 50% of the water used in traditional irrigation methods.

So, if you want to save time, save money, water your plants the best way possible, and most importantly save water for generations to come, Drip Irrigation and Micro Irrigation is the way to go.

Does Mister Landcaper have the best Drip Irrigation on the planet, Well, we think we do. 

Have an awesome day!