Paolo E.

dela Cruz June 24, 2014

ABTh CE 2
nd
Year Mrs. Ruth Del Rosario

GARDENING

Gardening is the practice of growing and cultivating plants as part of horticulture. In
gardens, ornamental plants are often grown for their flowers, foliage, or overall appearance;
useful plants, such as root vegetables, leaf vegetables, fruits, and herbs, are grown for
consumption, for use as dyes, or for medicinal or cosmetic use. Gardening is considered to be
a relaxing activity for many people.

BRIEF HISTORY
Forest gardening, a forest-based food production system, is the world's oldest form of
gardening. Forest gardens originated in prehistoric times along jungle-clad river banks and in
the wet foothills of monsoon regions. In the gradual process of families improving their
immediate environment, useful tree and vine species were identified, protected and improved
whilst undesirable species were eliminated. Eventually foreign species were also selected and
incorporated into the gardens.

After the emergence of the first civilizations, wealthy individuals began to create
gardens for aesthetic purposes. Egyptian tomb paintings from around 1500 BC provide some
of the earliest physical evidence of ornamental horticulture and landscape design; they depict
lotus ponds surrounded by symmetrical rows of acacias and palms. A notable example of
ancient ornamental gardens were the Hanging Gardens of Babylonone of the Seven
Wonders of the Ancient World and now a World Heritage Sitewhile ancient Rome had
dozens of gardens.

Wealthy ancient Egyptians used gardens for providing shade. Egyptians associated
trees and gardens with gods as they believed that their deities were pleased by gardens.
Gardens in ancient Egypt were often surrounded by walls with trees planted in rows. Among
the most popular species planted were date palms, sycamores, fir trees, nut trees, and willows.

The Assyrians were also renowned for their beautiful gardens. These tended to be wide
and large, some of them used for hunting gamerather like a game reserve todayand
others as leisure gardens. Cypresses and palms were some of the most frequently planted
types of trees.

Ancient Roman gardens were laid out with hedges and vines and contained a wide
variety of flowersacanthus, cornflowers, crocus, cyclamen, hyacinth, iris, ivy, lavender, lilies,
myrtle, narcissus, poppy, rosemary and violetsas well as statues and sculptures. Flower
beds were popular in the courtyards of rich Romans.




TYPES OF GARDENING

Indoor gardening is concerned with the growing of houseplants within a residence or building,
in a conservatory, or in a greenhouse. Indoor gardens are sometimes incorporated as
part of air conditioning or heating systems. Indoor gardening extends the growing
season in the fall and spring and can be used for winter gardening.

Native plant gardening is concerned with the use of native plants with or without the intent of
creating wildlife habitat. The goal is to create a garden in harmony with, and adapted to
a given area. This type of gardening typically reduces water usage, maintenance, and
fertilization costs, while increasing native faunal interest.

Water gardening is concerned with growing plants adapted to pools and ponds. Bog gardens
are also considered a type of water garden. These all require special conditions and
considerations. A simple water garden may consist solely of a tub containing the water
and plant(s). In aquascaping, a garden is created within an aquarium tank.

Container gardening is concerned with growing plants in any type of container either indoors or
outdoors. Common containers are pots,hanging baskets, and planters. Container
gardening is usually used in atriums and on balconies, patios, and roof tops.

Hgelkultur is concerned with growing plants on piles of rotting wood, as a form of raised bed
gardening and composting in situ. An Englishloanword from German, it means "mound
garden." Toby Hemenway, noted Permaculture author and teacher, considers wood
buried in trenches to also be a form of hugelkultur referred to as a dead
wood swale.
[12]
Hugelkultur is practiced by Sepp Holzer as a method of forest
gardening and agroforestry, and by Geoff Lawton as a method of dryland
farming and desert greening.
[13]
When used as a method of disposing of large volumes
of waste wood and woody debris, hugelkultur accomplishes carbon sequestration.
[11]
It
is also a form of xeriscaping.

Community gardening is a social activity in which an area of land is gardened by a group of
people, providing access to fresh produce and plants as well as access to satisfying
labor, neighborhood improvement, sense of community and connection to the
environment.
[14][15]
Community gardens are typically owned in trust by local
governments or nonprofits.
[16]


Garden sharing partners landowners with gardeners in need of land. These shared gardens,
typically front or back yards, are usually used to produce food that is divided between
the two parties.


Organic gardening uses natural, sustainable methods, fertilizers and pesticides to grow non-
genetically modified crops.

HOW TO START A GARDEN

1. Starting a Garden
Where to begin? First you need to choose a good site. The amount of sun exposure and
access to water will play a big part in what plants you'll be able to grow.
Another good place to begin a new garden is with the soil. This may not be the most fun
part of gardening, but as the saying goes: "Feed the soil and the plants will take care of
themselves. You'll need to access what type of soil you have and what, if anything it
needs. You can get your soil tested for a nominal fee at your local Cooperative
Extension office and sometimes at a good nursery.

Vegetable gardening is a little different from flower gardening and here are some
questions to ask yourself and steps to take to start a vegetable garden.

2. Choosing Plants
Selecting plants is one of the toughest gardening tasks, simply because there are so
many from which to choose. Key things to keep in mind are your hardiness zone and
your soil type. But when push comes to trowel, what it really comes down to is what
plants do you like and how much time can you put into caring for them.

3. Garden Design
Designing a garden is an ongoing process and half the fun of gardening. While there
are so called design rules, like always planting in odd numbers, there are no garden
police to enforce them. Make your garden whatever you envision. Most gardens are a
mix of plants - annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs - that are always growing and
changing. Even the best thought out design will eventually need editing. Even so, there
are some basic principles that will get you started off right.

Choosing some type of theme, whether it's a color scheme, a style or a group of plants,
will not only help give your garden a sense of cohesion, it will help make your design
choices easier. You can always expand from there.

4. Garden Tools
There are all kinds of tools and gadgets designed to make gardening easier and more
enjoyable. There are a few that should be in every gardener's shed, like good pruners,
but most are optional and as you gain experience you will find yourself reaching for the
same favorite tools again and again. So don't go overboard buying tools right away. But
when you know what you like, it's worth it to invest in the best you can afford. Good
tools are more comfortable to use and last a long time.



5. Maintenance - Caring for Your Garden
There is always something to do in the garden: planting, staking, dividing, cutting back
and weeding. Some plants are more demanding than others, but garden maintenance is
a given. It can also be the most enjoyable part of gardening, because you get to
observe the changes your garden goes through. By regularly working in your garden,
you'll stay ahead of problems and learn the seasonal rhythms of your plants. You will
also learn which plants do well in your garden, which you love and which you'd just as
soon dig out and give away. Maintenance is the real essence of gardening.