If you are a passionate gardener who wants to grow beautiful, robust plants, then you should identify and purchase the best type of fertilizers for your soil. Fertilizers can be divided into 2 large categories: fast-release and slow-release plant food.

Keep reading to discover the particularities of each kind of fertilizer and find out which one is actually suitable for your beloved plants. In you need supplementary information, don’t hesitate to ask a landscaper who could help you make an informed decision.

What Are Slow Release Fertilizers

Slow release fertilizers are high-quality products based on nitrogen chains that break down over a relatively long period of time (3 to 12 months), feeding your plants and stimulating their growth. These days, you could find a wide range of slow-release fertilizers available in different packaging options, launched by respectable brands like Schultz, Vigoro, Micro-Gro, or Scotts.

How to Identify the Best Type of Slow Release Fertilizer for Your Garden

There are two main types of slow release fertilizers: organic ones, and soluble and coated ones.

Organic plant food is made from organic materials that are decomposed as a result of microbial activity over a long period of time. The main disadvantage is that plants may not receive the nutrients when they need them the most. In order to be effective, organic fertilizers should be applied on a soil with an ideal level of moisture and adequate temperatures.

The other type of slow release fertilizers (coated and soluble products) also depends on temperature and moisture levels to release the right amount of nutrients for your garden plants. Usually, nutrients are released for a long period of time (up to 12 months).

Ask an Expert

Giant brands have introduced numerous complex formulas, allowing you to maximize the growth and productivity of your plants. If you can’t pick the best slow release fertilizers on your own, discuss your options with a skilled landscaper to make a smart purchase. Find the best specialists in your area by simply relying on TalkLocal, your direct connection to the professionals near you.

There are many options when it comes to flower bed designs. To find the ones that you like best, look for inspiration and use your imagination. If you need suggestions, here are some flower bed designs that are simple to create and can make a special garden:

Fern Paths

Ferns are beautiful plants with feathery leaves. They don’t have flowers. To obtain an interesting pattern, you can combine ferns with some perennial flowering plants to balance out the varying colors and leaf patterns.

Group Several Types of Flowers Together

Planting several different kinds of flowers in a single flower bed can create a unique impression. By using various color schemes you can achieve surprising effects. A combination of red, purple, and pink flowers, for instance, is both classy and lively.

Verbena or Nemesia “Myrtille” Path

Verbena Tapien is a wonderful plant with clusters of violet flowers. Nemesia “Myrtille” is another beautiful flower that can fill a garden with violet hue, which can be particularly striking if you like this color.

Cyclamen “Miracle” Beds

Cyclamen is a miniature flower that makes beautifully colored flower beds. One of its advantages, especially in colder areas, is that it doesn’t succumb to harsh winter temperatures. However, you need to protect it from frost. This little miracle will enliven your garden.

Simple Grasses

You can combine various types of grasses with flowers for your garden beds. Don’t underestimate the effect that can be attained by introducing simple grasses in your flower bed designs. One example of a wonderful ornamental grass that you can use is the Japanese blood grass. Several types of grasses will create an even greater impact.

Need Help Designing Your Flower Bed?

These are only a few suggestions you can use to create your own flower bed designs. If you want to speak to local landscaping experts and get more ideas, TalkLocal can put you in touch with the right professionals. We will connect you directly with up to three professionals in your area, for free!

If you’re considering changing the appearance of your garden by creating some flower beds, you need to start by making a basic plan. Building flower beds is not difficult, but there are many options as far as the shape of the flower bed is concerned, and you need to decide beforehand what you want.

You can create small or large flower beds, curved or rectangular, flat or raised. It depends on your preference and available garden space. That’s the beauty of creating your own, home build flower bed.

You can use a piece of paper to make a sketch before actually starting to build a flower bed. This is the best way to define what you want by establishing the size of the flower bed and its shape, the kind of flowers you want to plant and, if you want a raised flower bed, the type of border you’d like. Once you’ve established these details, you can start building your flower beds. There are several steps to take.

1. Mark the Perimeter of the Flower Bed

Use a spray paint to draw the shape of your flower bed, then delineate the perimeter by cutting a line around it.

2. Remove the Grass and Weeds

You can dig out the grass with a shovel or kill it with herbicide. If you decide to dig the grass out, fix the perimeter of the flower bed and start digging. Make sure you remove all of the grass before moving to the next stage. Herbicide kills the grass, but it’s harmful for the soil, and you won’t be able to plant anything for a while.

3. Loosen the Soil

Loosen the soil by using a shovel and a rake or a tiller. A tiller is best, especially for large flower beds, because it allows you to break up soil clumps and mix in compost. Loosen the soil about ten inches deep, and then let the soil dry a little. For smaller beds you can also use a digging fork.

4. Prepare the Soil

Spread a thick layer of compost over the loosened flower bed. Use the tiller to combine the compost with the soil. Smooth out the surface with a rake.

5. Plant the Flowers

Your home build flower bed is now ready, so you can start planting the flowers to complete your gardening project!

Need Assistance with Your Landscaping Projects?

If you would rather find professional landscaping help for all of your yard projects, contact TalkLocal right away, and we’ll connect you with the professionals you need in just minutes, for free!

To keep your garden tidy, you may need to do some raking, especially during fall. At first sight, raking doesn’t seem to be a dangerous or strenuous activity, given the fact that rakes are simple tools — they have no blades and use no electricity. However, improper techniques can cause injury from raking.

What’s the Proper Technique to Prevent Injury from Raking?

To make sure you use a proper raking technique there are several golden rules to keep in mind:

1. Don’t use worn rakes.

2. Don’t forget to warm your body up.

3. Don’t underestimate bumps on your path.

4. Don’t bend your back, only your knees.

5. Alternate movements as you advance.

You should avoid using old or worn rakes because they can cause accidents and demand more effort. Also, it is important to warm up before actually starting the activity. Stretching can be dangerous if your muscles are not prepared for the different moves required by raking. Be very careful while advancing – a path which is uneven can hinder your efforts.

Don’t forget to alternate movements while raking to prevent muscle strain. Finally, when you need to bend in order to adjust your position, bear in mind that this move should be done with your legs. You should bend your knees only, not your back.

Which Are the Most Common Injuries Caused by Raking?

If you don’t follow these simple instructions, you might be at risk of several common injuries that could turn out to be more severe than you would think. The most frequent of these include back pain and muscle strain.

As you can see, raking is not as risk-free as it may seem. However, by using the proper tools and technique while doing this activity, you can avoid injury from raking.

If you decide that raking is not for you and that you would rather enlist the help of experts, TalkLocal can put you in contact with the right people. It only takes a few minutes, and it’s free.

Flower bedding is an important consideration when it comes to improving the appearance of your garden. Working in the garden to create the flower bedding you desire can be a rewarding activity if you follow several guidelines. The tips below will make your work easier, helping you design beautiful flower beds.

There are several things you should bear in mind when thinking about flower bedding. A little planning beforehand can go a long way, so remember the following:

– The depth of the flower bedding must be adequate.

– Use liquid fertilizer to prepare your flower bedding.

– Use snail bait.

How Do You Actually Bed the Flowers?

1. You should start by taking the plant out of its container. This operation should be performed gently, otherwise you might harm the flower before planting it. Don’t pull the plant by the leaves.

2. Flowers should be planted at soil level. If you plant flowers too deeply, the root and eventually your little plant will rot. If you don’t cover the root of the flower with enough soil, it will dry.

3. Once you’ve placed the plant, you should water it. You can use water or liquid fertilizer, whichever best suits your purpose.

4. Finally, don’t forget to protect your plants against snails. Snail bait should be spread on the soil immediately after flower planting, otherwise you may lose it in a short time.

Flower Bedding Types

When bedding flowers you also need to think about the type of flowers you want to have in your garden. For instance, one way to arrange the flowers is by creating a pattern using perennials and annuals. Another is to base your arrangement on a color scheme.

If gardening is not your thing or if you don’t think you can handle it successfully, TalkLocal can help. We can find local professionals to help you grow beautifully bedded flowers.

If you want to take pride in a beautiful garden, you have to start by identifying and assimilating useful information on some of the most important products launched on the market to guarantee your success.

How do you feed your plants, and how often? By now you should know that there are two main categories of fertilizers: slow release fertilizers and fast release plant food.

What is the main difference between these two products, and which one would be better for your garden? Below you will find the best answer to these questions and more; don’t forget to contact a landscaper if you need more useful details to make a final decision.

What Is the Main Difference between Slow Release and Fast Release Fertilizers?

Both products have their fair share of pros and cons. Fast release fertilizers have an immediate action, feed the plant in an effective manner, and release the nutrients in the soil when the plant needs it the most. However, they require frequent applications, and this forces people to invest a significant amount of time in their gardening project. Moreover, an elevated amount of fast release fertilizers can severely damage your plant, burning its roots and compromising its development.

On the other hand, slow release fertilizers break down over a significant period of time, gradually releasing the right amount of nitrogen in the soil. Slow release agents require less frequent applications; thus, they are considered a convenient option by many gardeners.

What Are the Benefits of Fast Release Plant Food?

Fast release plant food can be mixed with water and used to feed the plant’s roots on a daily basis. These substances are very useful due to their immediate action. They enable the plant to absorb the right amount of nutrients exactly when it needs to be fed, unlike slow release fertilizers that release nutrients gradually over a long period of time, ranging from 3 to 12 months.

Count on Expert Advice to Make the Best Decision

Undoubtedly, both slow release and fast release fertilizers have their notable advantages and disadvantages. If you are overwhelmed by the plentitude of appealing options introduced on the market by giant brands, discuss your options with a skilled landscaper.

Choose the best one by relying on TalkLocal, a free service introduced to help you meet experienced professionals who offer affordable, high-quality services in your area.