Category: Our Blog

Organic food has become very popular these days. We own a catering company in Australia called Finger Food in Perth, we see a lot of people practicing organic diet to achieve good fitness and health, organic goods have become in demand in the market however it is a lot more expensive than the usual goods that aren’t organic that we buy in the market. If you want to go on a vegan diet, why not grow your own organic garden at home?

For many of us, the idea of having a vegetable garden right in our garden seems like a pretty good idea and seems practical. Imagine picking your vegetables from your garden. However, if you insist on being an organic eater, an organic farm can become somewhat like a fantasy. Truth be told, it is challenging to grow organic plants. Since they are grown without chemicals for pest control and commercial fertilizers, it is challenging to grow them the organic way.

Sure that we’d like to enjoy healthy vegetables freshly picked from our own garden, but with all the things you need to consider and know such as soil, compost, maintenance and the planting itself, it seems intimidating and impossible to pull it all off. But it isn’t really impossible. All you need is patience and the willingness to get your hands dirty to weed and water. Here are some steps that you can follow if you want to start your very own organic garden:

Prepare your Soil.

Before getting too excited about planting your organic garden, you need to make sure first and foremost if the soil that you have is properly conditioned for planting. Healthy soil helps build healthy, productive plants. Since you want to go organic, make sure that your soils are not in anyway added with chemical soil treatments. Remember that they can seep into your food. Instead of chemicals, treat your soil with humus and prepare a good compost to go together with your planting. It’s easy to prepare plus it’s organic.

Choose the Right Plants

If you are a newbie in organic planting, you don’t wanna be choosing a plant that is difficult to grow especially that growing requires more effort than the normal planting. Choose plants that will be well adjusted to the light source, moisture, drainage and soil quality.

If you are planning to plant using plant seedlings, make sure that they are not treated with any chemicals and fertilizers as well. It is actually best to grow plants from seeds.

Controlling Pests

Controlling pests is what makes it more challenging. First of all, grow healthy plants. Pests usually target weak or unhealthy plants so choose the right plants that can easily adapt to the conditions they are put in. Use natural fertilizers to boost health and always keep them hydrated but not soaked and shaded.

If it can’t be helped that insects and other pests will go to your plants, the best way you can do is to rely on the food chain. You can plant herbs and flowers near you vegetable garden to lure ladybugs and other pests that feed on nectar. If ever your plant is already fruiting, you can cover the fruit until it is ready to be harvested, it serves as a barrier that will keep the pests away.

As homeowners, you must know that at some point your house is going to need some attention. Your home will not be forever in good condition so it is important to have some of its areas checked before any part of your home gets too broken to fix. Sure you can do some minor fixing by yourself however when it comes to major repairs, renovations and even some minor fixings that need expertise, it can be a large undertaking all on your own. That means you need people who know how to do the job.

There are a lot of home services contractors out there who can do the job for you however you need to make sure that the contractors you choose can make sure that the job does not just get done, but will get done properly. So how can you possibly find the best home service provider? Here are some tips on how you can find the best contractor in your area:

1. Ask for recommendations.

One of the best ways to start your contractor hunt is to ask around. Ask for recommendations from your friends or neighbors who have done home improvements on who they hired to find the best home service contractors to hire. Ask for their experience on working with the contractor and decide if you can include them in your choices. It’s also practical to ask past clients for reviews on the service that way you will be confident that the work that the contractor you hired is proven good by their clients.

2. Get a quote.

When you have already decided who to hire for your home improvement, have them come to your home and ask for a quote. The home services contractor that you should hire should be able to conduct a visual inspection of your home prior giving you a quote. If the contractor doesn’t offer this as part of their service, then maybe you should look for other contractors. If you are someone whose project is under a limited budget, getting a quote prior to working on your home is a practical approach, that way the price of the service is already set. You will also know how long the execution may take and how many people will work on your home.

3. Ask for a Plan.

After the home inspection, the contractor would be able to visualize what can be done to your home. Ask for the plan from the contractor and be involved as well in the planning. This way you will be able to let the contractor know the improvements you want for your home.

Your home is your fortress so it’s not a question why you want it to be in good condition as possible. This can be achieved by hiring the best home service contractors. For all your landscaping plans and home renovation concerns, visit elzohornursery.com for insights on how you can transform your home into a more livable space by improving your home.

Growth by definition means “ the act of process”, “ development” or“gradual increase”. Most of us know that, but it seems that we tend to forget what it really means – truthfully. With how modern life has us living today, we are offered instant gratification with all the tools and technology that surrounds us. We tend to rush things and we like everything instant. We all have to understand that growth does not happen overnight. It happens gradually in a process with your becoming someone better in time while reaching your full potential and experiencing many things. That is real growth.

 

If some time in your life you realize that you need to work on your personal growth, try growing a garden and see from your very eyes how it works. You’ll be very surprised at how tending to a garden can help you see and realize things in your life that would help you grow as an individual.

 

Growing a plant from a seed is quite humbling and it’s a perfect reminder that growth takes time. A plant does not grow over night and so are you. Nothing is really instantaneous in this lifetime. Like plants, it takes patience, care, nurturing, challenges that you should strive to overcome, experiences, strength, knowledge, purpose, and determination to transform into a better plant, to bloom and be useful. All these you can ever have, experience and will happen at a span of time that only you will know. You need to have faith and just trust the process.

 

During the process of growing a garden, as a gardener, you will feel a lot of excitement because you know when the planting succeeds, you’ll get an amazing garden. But before you see the flowers bloom, you need to work hard to get there. When you bury a seed in the soil, it takes several days for the seed to sprout from the ground. During that time of waiting, gardeners may doubt, wondering if their plant will ever sprout. However, faith must be planted as well. Without knowing for sure if it will, a gardener must have faith and keep nurturing it until it sprouts. When you made that happen and you see a change from your efforts, that’s the most beautiful thing to witness. It is empowering and rewarding at the same time and it inspires you to help yourself grow more.

 

A person grows just like a blooming flower. It takes patience, perseverance, hard-work, and faith. You need to trust yourself and trust the process even when it takes longer than expected. To experience true growth, you must not give up.

 

If you do not have any idea where to start to grow your garden, ask some experts to help you. When you are planning on having your home landscape done, ask your contractor to dedicate some space for your own personal garden and ask them what to do. Check out elhozornursery.com and talk to us about your desire to grow your own garden and we’ll help you with it.

The secret to making the beauty of your home last long is to take time maintaining it. However, when work or taking care of your kids get the most of your time in a day, who has time to do home maintenance or improvements like for example –gardening? Your life is just too hectic to even maintain the garden that you love. Fortunately, assistance is readily available especially for those who are planning on adding life to their houses. Garden maintenance is a bit challenging especially for people who have a stressful and busy lifestyle as well as for those who have no interest in gardening. Talking to one of our Long Beach rental agencies we discovered the following:

Even without making severe transformations, having a well-maintained garden can make your home more livable and inviting. Having a nice garden can add so much life and beauty to the overall look of your exteriors. Not every house has a space for gardening, however, for homeowners who are lucky enough to have space to own one, gardening services are quite useful to do proper maintenance.

When you don’t have the time in the world to do proper maintenance to your garden, you can always leave the job to the experts. Gardening services are generally low-priced but may vary on what kind of service you want to avail also you can have it done on a regular basis. The good thing about hiring gardeners is that they remove the hassle of having to try and maintain a garden with what little time or passion you have for gardening.

Gardeners make everything easier for your garden needs. If you are someone who really is interested in gardening and makes it as a way of stress relief or a hobby, but has no time or does not have the tools to keep up with major maintenance, garden services can do that for you.  Gardener offer services such as hedge trimming, lawn-mowing, clearing up weeds, adding bug repellents or land supplement for better plant growth, of course planting plants for your garden, and many other gardening services. They can take care of the major maintenance while you can just visit your garden for fresh air while taking care of your plants at the same time by keeping them hydrated.

Garden services can also help you improve the layout of your backyard. Gardening services are the best to call when you want to style it. It is very astonishing to see how much your garden can change once it is done by professionals. Imagine how they can foresee how your future garden would look like once all the flowers bloom or when your plants start to fruit, they can easily map out the location as to where plants are supposed to be planted so they look nice in your garden.

By simply trimming trees, lawn- mowing the yard, as well as adding good looking plants, your backyard can absolutely look stunning especially when it is properly maintained. You don’t really need to go as far as investing so much on major backyard renovation to make your yard amazing, just by making everything cleaned up and maintained, your home can become just as beautiful as you want it to be. For more Yard Care Hacks please visit Yard Masterz, we keep your garden beautiful and organized.

Finding a reputable and skilled home improvement contractor for any type of home project be it a single or minor such as painting, roofing, flooring or setting tiles, or a contractor for major house remodeling, landscaping and etc. is generally the most important factor to the success of any home improvement projects. With a lot of home improvement services to choose from offering various services for your home, finding the right one to do the job for you seems like a challenge. It is the first and most important task that any homeowners face when planning on having their home improved. You have to be able to find a good one if you want to get what you paid for your home improvement project.

 

Dealing with home renovation is a big deal for every homeowner. It requires proper planning, effort and of course, may cost a lot depending on the improvement they wish to achieve. For you to be able to get the most of what you pay for the home improvement service, you need to be somewhat hands on all throughout the process. No matter the type or size of your project, knowing how to define what you want for the project, financing and evaluating the appropriate products and most especially the contractors is a must. Here are some of the things that you should know when hiring home improvement services:

 

1. Do a company/ worker background check.

First of all, even before contacting your prospect contractor for your project, you need to make sure that the company or the contractor is legit. Make sure the contractor carries a valid builder’s license and insurance policy. Do a background check on the company’s profile, past works and even reviews from past clients if you can. You can also ask for a referral from people you know who also did the same home project for you to have confidence that you can trust the contractor.

 

2. Ask the contractor to provide you references.

As homeowners, it is your right to check their past works just to make sure they do a good job. Along with the planning, it is also a good way to find additional ideas apart from what you initially have in mind for your home improvement project.

 

3. Know about their services.

As a client, it is your right to know the services covered by the company. Choose a company that offers you the complete service you need for your home improvement project.

 

4. Seal the Deal in Writing.

Be sure that the contractor you hired provides a written contract listing the terms and conditions of the service. It must also contain a detailed description of the work, materials to be used, cost and payment terms, contractor’s responsibilities, and the starting and completion dates. This should also include all guarantees and warranties for the project.

 

5. Keep an Eye on the Work.

Be hands on the project. Keep an eye on the work to make sure that the job is done right. Do not be an absentee homeowner and regularly check on the work so that if you have any minor revisions for the project, it can be done right away.

A landscaped front yard or garden adds beauty to any home and when you have an idle space outdoors, landscaping it would transform it from idle to functional. When we think of home makeover, we often focus on how we are able to transform our interiors however the exteriors of a home should also be as good as the inside as it serves as a preview of what your home looks like. Considering this, wouldn’t it be nice to have a beautiful landscape where blooming trees and flowers are arranged to welcome your guests when they come to your home?

 

In landscaping, plants play a significant role in the overall look of your landscape or garden. They do not only just add beauty to your garden but will also be helpful in making your home a fresh and healthy environment to live in. Having said its role to your home, it is important that before you start with your landscaping or gardening, make sure that your choice of plants is right for it. Here are some tips that can help you in choosing the right plants to grow in the landscape that you want:

 

1. Know where to place the plants.

First things first, you need to decide where plants will be placed. If you decide to plant them in the front yard, choose plants that would accentuate your neighbor’s yards. Make sure that the plants you choose will add appeal to your home and must not cover your house’s front even when they grow. You don’t wanna be choosing plants that hide your home. If it is in the backyard, since it is more private, you are free to choose which plants to grow for you and your guest to appreciate.

 

2. Know the plant’s appearance when it’s grown.

Pick plants with their appearance in mind. Know what they look like when they grow mature. Some plants may grow really big or really tall once full grown. They may look awesome while they’re still young but once mature they may occupy your entire garden or even cover your house.

 

Decide what you want for your garden. Do you want it colorful? Green? Or have a little pop of color? Know what you want and choose the flowers that you want with their appearance in mind.

 

4. Know your Soil, Weather, and Sunlight.

These are important factors to consider when deciding on the plants to be planted in your home. You need to make sure that the plants will grow in the soil you planted will thrive given proper maintenance and the condition you are in.

 

5. Get Natural Plants.

If you are someone who is busy and has no time for plant maintenance or someone who has no interest in gardening but would want to have a great landscape, natural plants are best to grow since they only require low maintenance. Just make sure to keep them hydrated every day.

A small yard space doesn’t mean you can’t create a nice garden or chic outdoor spot for your home. Even a small space can go a long way when it comes to landscaping. Creativity has no limit and ideas on how you can create your garden or outdoor space are endless. Whether you do it yourself or have it done by professional home improvement services, there are always ways to transform that small space into something you desired it to be. Here are some tips and ideas on how you can maximize your small yard and transform it into a sanctuary for you and for your family to enjoy:

 

1. Create a tree slump planter.

Do you have an old tree slump? Do not throw it out they make good planters for your small flowers and adds a rustic design to your garden.

 

2. Hanging Planters

If you do not have enough space to put your pots and plants try hanging them. Old pale of paints, old baskets, a coriander or even used plastics that you can DIY and recycle make good hanging planters. They make use of the little space you have while providing more plants to surround your space.

 

3. Vertical Herb Garden

Instead of planting horizontally like we normally do, plant herbs vertically by placing them on plant hangers and install it near the wall or even make the hanger as a space divider.

 

4. Add some depth.

Well, we all know this trick. If you want your space to make it seem larger than it is, simply adds some mirrors. This neat trick also works really well in the outdoors. Hang a few vintage mirrors so they reflect the surrounding greenery of your home.

 

5. Make a small water feature.

Even with the little space you have, you can still have some added feature to your outdoor space like a small pond for small fishes or a small fountain. This can be a nice highlight for that space. You can install one on your own using tiles or anything that can hold water and a pump system.

 

There are a lot of ways to utilize your small space and transform it into a nice outdoor sanctuary. Play around some elements and any objects you can find and make use of them to decorate your outdoors. You can also call for professionals to help you with your space. At Elzohor Nursery, no space is too little for a major transformation. We make your home beautiful that exceeds expectations.

Home improvements do not always mean major expenses. There are many cheap landscaping ideas that you can do on your own that can make a high impact on your home exterior without the burden of having to pay so much. Creating a modern, beautiful and functional yard doesn’t have to cost a lot. In fact, there a re a lot of wonderful contemporary gardens out there that use materials that are more eco and budget friendly without compromising design and style. Most creative designers today are into utilizing materials that are easily sourced and are more environmentally sensitive. With creativity and passion to make beautiful things out of the ordinary, a lot of things can be created using simple and cheap materials.

 

Materials can be cheap or can be even free. You can get creative to come up with your own cheap landscaping ideas. Here are some cheap backyard ideas for better homes and gardens:

 

1. If you have an unused ground space or bare earth that you’d like to cover up, use broken tiles or pavers and place them in a mosaic pattern of your choice. You can also plant moss between the seams to show contrast. Combining two materials means you need less of each which saves you money for the materials.

 

2. Create a pathway through your yard using stones.

 

3. Ask friends for cuttings. There are some plants that grow from a small cutting from other plants. If you have friends that you know owns beautiful flowers on their garden, ask for some cuttings instead of buying.

 

4. Use plants that do not require too much maintenance to thrive. One good plant to use is the creeping sedum, a light green perennial with yellow flowers that spreads on its own and thrives in full sunshine. It also does not require a lot of water and maintenance to survive. You can also plant herb lemon thyme to your pathway to create an aromatic path. It also requires minimal maintenance and is fragrant when stepped on.

 

5. Use a combination of grasses to add texture, color and modern look to your garden. They are relatively cheap and also low- maintenance plant that helps make your landscape look expensive.

 

6. Use gravel as a cheap and chic garden accent. Place it on areas where you do not plan on placing plants or where they do not thrive. You can also place them on where you want to add a modern touch to your garden.

 

7. Add unexpected materials to your outdoors. Play around some elements and any objects you can find and make use of them to decorate your outdoors. For example, some old tins can be made used as hanging planters, some old pots that you can use as decorations, or perhaps some old windows that you can transform as an outdoor table for a rustic effect in your garden.

 

There are a lot of ways that you can do to make your outdoor space beautiful. This may look like a major renovation or home improvement project, but it doesn’t mean that you have to spend lots of money to get things done. Even if you are on a budget, invest in your creativity.

Your landscape will not stay perfect like how they are when they are first made. Sooner or later the trees from your yard will be needing some pruning, weeds are taken out and even plants be replaced in order to keep your landscape clean and presentable. One part of your landscape that you should always do maintenance is your lawn. Your yard would absolutely look unhealthy and ugly if your lawn is.

 

Taking care of your lawn usually requires a lot of effort however it isn’t a difficult process to do. Lawn maintenance is ultimately a combination of knowledge, experience, and consistent hard work. It is also time consuming and unpredictable which is why most homeowners leave the job to professionals.

 

Prepare Your Soil

Planting a new lawn is easy however it needs thorough preparation and planning. Your area where your lawn should be must be prepared thoroughly to banish unwanted plants and make sure that the soil is in good condition so it won’t crust over. If you can, test the pH of your soil. This is one thing that most gardeners skip when planting a new lawn. It might seem like extra work but testing your soil’s pH will save you costs from constant maintenance just because your lawn keeps dying or is unhealthy.

 

Watering Your Lawn

For the full grown lawn, water once a week but water deep. Soaking your lawn weekly helps roots to extend deeper into the soil. This also helps prevent the soil from totally drying out which kills the lawn. Watering deeply also prevents chinch bugs that tend to attach dried lawns. For you to know how much water your lawn needs, know your soil type. Sandy soil dries faster so they need frequent watering, while clay soils hold moisture longer so it does not require constant watering.

 

For lawns that are newly seeded, make sure not to over water them. Your goal is to dampen the seed without causing the seeds to run off. Watering every day for 5 to 10 minutes is enough for it to sprout. And when the seeds sprout, increase the watering time to up to 15-20 minutes.

 

Take the weeds out

Herbicides are essential to a healthy lawn as it significantly banishes weeds and pests for your lawn. However, the true secret to banishing these unwanted elements from your lawn is to grow a healthy lawn that it chokes out the invaders naturally which is why many experts avoid using herbicides. Weeds should be taken out since they affect the health of other plants. Apart from using herbicides to kill invaders, mowing also helps in eliminating them.

 

Do not over trim your lawn

One mistake most homeowners do to their lawn is cutting it way too short. It is a misunderstanding to cut the lawn short so that they don’t have to lawn more often. Sharing your grass too short stresses your grass. It is better to cut only the top third of the grass so the soil does not dry out fast. Taller grass promotes better root development which keeps grass rooted well to the soil.

Installing an underground sprinkler system requires a lot of work but is a good investment as it makes watering the yard simpler. You can do it on your own or can hire a professional to install it. Here’s how to install a sprinkler system on your lawn:

 

Plan the System

Basically, mark the location as to where to bury the sprinklers. Calculate the size of the yard, measure the water pressure and determine the coverage of the sprinklers. Sketch the locations of the sprinkler heads and put markings on the yard to know where to place the sprinklers.

 

One thing to make sure in planning the sprinklers’ location is that it is important to have the spray from one sprinkler hits the other sprinkler head to ensure that there will be no dry spots in the yard.

 

Access the Water Supply

This step involves tapping into the main water-service line which requires the installation of an anti- siphon valve that prevents brackish water and other unwanted chemical from contaminating the main water supply for the irrigation system.

 

Dig the trench

Dig a trench that is 6” to 8” deep with sides that slope at a 45-degree angle. Place the sod to one side and soil to other to make the filling and patching the trench easier when digging. A vibratory plow (a trenching device) can make this step go much faster and easier.

 

Valve Manifold Installation

Dig a hole that fits the valve manifold box perfectly. Place it on the ground and attach one end of the valve manifold to the main water supply and tighten the clamps to secure it.

 

Connect the PVC Pipe

Connect the PVC pipe to the open end of the valve. Lay the pipe along the main trench and use tee connectors for pipes running off the main line. Attach risers using 90-degree connectors on the location of the markings. Apply the adhesive thinly and smoothly when gluing sections together.

 

Install the Sprinkler Heads

Choose the appropriate sprinkler heads according to the irrigation needs of the lawn. Flush firs the water through the system to clean out any debris before attaching the sprinklers. When installing the sprinkler heads to the risers, make sure that the head is at the same level as the soil.

 

The Controller

The controller includes a timer system that controls length and frequency of the watering. Connect the wires and make sure it is connected to the main water-service control. Make sure everything is working and fine tune the sprinkler heads to make sure that all spots can be covered by the sprinkler.

 

Elzohor Nursery offers all types of landscaping and gardening services including lawn maintenance. We also install a sprinkler system that is beneficial to your garden. Talk to us and we’ll help you with your garden needs.