A backyard retreat means something different for each of us. It could be a quiet corner in the shade with a comfortable chair for reading, or a chaise longue in the sun. Perhaps it's a table for two for quiet dining or a large table seating 6-8 with an outdoor kitchen--perfect for large dinner parties. Whatever your needs and desires, it helps to include other features such as a bubbling fountain, koi pond, or trees and flowers in a container arrangement.

Most of these ideas can be incorporated in part, no matter what the special area is for this special retreat. It could be a balcony, tiny patio garden or large backyard. Everyone can have a private customized retreat.

When designing a garden retreat, first take time to envision your dream retreat. A multitude of ideas should come pouring into your mind as you begin to envision your future garden retreat. If you are coming up blank, consider what your answers are to these questions.

1. Do you want a retreat for serenity after hectic days at work; do you want a space designed for entertaining?
2. How much space do you have? Is this a patio transformation, a small grotto along the side of your house, or the entire backyard?
3. Whatever your desire, next consider what "look" you would like--be it tropical, formal, informal cottage garden, or Asian.
4. Color and texture choices: Color and textures can be added in many different ways: through the plant foliage, fabrics, walls and flooring (you could paint them!), pottery, statuary, garden art and more.
5. Sound: Quiet water, bubbling water, splashing water, birds singing and/or leaves rustling in the breeze?
6. Water feature: Do you want a fountain, pool, pond, pond with waterfall?

There is much to consider when planning your very own backyard retreat. Join us at here at the garden center. Wander through our fountains, pottery and plants--and you'll be sure to have your own backyard retreat in short order.

When the weather is hot and dry and there is no measurable rain, even rookie gardeners are aware that most plants will not survive without regular watering. Unfortunately, just giving them a squirt with the water hose isn't going to do much to relieve their stress. Wise gardeners give their plants the amount of water each one needs in ways that save time, effort and water.

It is important to use the right equipment. Much water can be saved in the summer by watering each part of the garden by a method appropriately suited for it. Briefly, hand sprinkling is fine for sprouting seeds, but all other watering should be done with conventional irrigation systems or drip systems. Reserve watering by hose for filling furrows and basins around trees and bushes, when these are not equipped with bubblers. (When you water this way, put the hose right down on the ground, and let the water sink in slowly.)

In summer (or anytime for that matter), it is best to irrigate deeply but less frequently to encourage plants to send down deeper roots that are protected from the summer heat. Vegetables and annual flowers, though, will have to be watered more frequently since they don't produce deep root systems. For most grass lawns, watering to the point of runoff every 2-3 days is sufficient. Always water your garden in the early morning hours between 4:00 AM and 8:00 AM to reduce water evaporation.

One note: try not to water if it is raining. More plants die from over-watering than from under-watering. Plus, even if it doesn't harm your plants, you are simply wasting the water.

Be sure to give special care to plants in containers. Plants in containers often suffer at this time of the year. Water them frequently, especially plants in terra cotta pots. These porous containers “breathe” allowing water to evaporate faster than plastic or glazed ceramic pots. If you take good care of your plants in summer, you will be rewarded throughout the rest of the year.

Gardening can be a great form of healthful exercise. Depending on the intensity of your garden work, you can get quite a good workout. All that bending, stretching and lifting will keep your body limber and muscles toned. But when done incorrectly it can lead to injury.

Before starting any gardening activity, consider stretching for a few minutes to warm up your muscles and prepare them for the work ahead. And if you take any extended break, do a few more stretches before returning to the task at hand. Also, don't double-dig a whole garden if you've not been exercising regularly.

It's also important to remember to replenish your body fluids while working outside. It's easy to get dehydrated on a hot day while enjoying the sunlight if you don't make a point of replenishing the fluids your body is burning off.

Speaking of that sunlight, make sure to apply plenty of sunblock to exposed and unprotected parts of your body before starting your gardening activity. While sun visors will help shade the front of your face, a wider brimmed sunhat hat will also shade the sides and, more important, your ears.

Don't forget that garden safety is another important aspect of healthy gardening. Wear appropriate clothing, safety goggles and ear protection if you plan on using power equipment. Using tools with padded and/or spring loaded handles will reduce stiffness in your arms and hands. Wear knee pads or use a knee cushion or kneeler seat if you plan on spending a lot of time on your knees, and wear gloves to protect your hands.

When using a stepladder, be sure its height is appropriate for the type of job you are doing so you aren't tempted to stand beyond the safety step. Finally, avoid spraying or dusting plants on windy days to reduce the chance of absorbing or exposing your body to harmful chemicals. Keeping these things in mind will help you enjoy a safe and healthy time in your garden. So be safe and have fun!

In the summertime, when the weather is hot, heat-loving annuals will dazzle your gardens with vibrant colors. They are the sun-bathing beauties of any garden. With so many different flower forms, colors, sizes and foliage shapes, every gardener will have a dozen or two favorite annuals blooming in the garden to brag about.

Versatility is their name; garden pizzazz is your gain. Annuals can make themselves at home in your garden beds, around your trees and shrubs, and in containers of all kinds. Some annuals are groundcovers, some are midsized and perfect for borders, and some will stand tall in the rear of the garden bed or as a focal point.

For a huge colorful impact, plant in swaths or waves. Or plant in patterns and create a colorful design. Use your imagination and don't be afraid to try new arrangements. Unlike perennials, annuals don't hang around for years. So experiment! If you don't like one effect, you can always try something else the next time you plant. You can do the same with potted annuals, of course--and those are even easier to rearrange.

If you plant your annuals in the ground, we recommend using a good planting mix like LGM Planting Mix. Most annuals need regular water, as they don't have the time to develop extensive root systems.

Fertilize with Master Nursery Master Bloom to encourage continuous blooms. Also, to keep your annuals blooming all season long, "deadhead" (which means to pluck off the spent flowers). This will keep the plants from thinking that it's time to spend all of their energy developing seeds for the next season. Remember that annuals are plants that grow and bloom within one season.

Whatever your garden style or colors, we have annuals for you! Come in and pick out your favorites. Arrange them in your gardens for a spectacular summer flower show!

Gardening can give you a great workout, especially when you incorporate all the weight lifting that comes from schlepping plants, packaged soil, mulch and wheelbarrow loads of garden clippings. It can also lead to injury or muscle soreness if done incorrectly, so it's very important to lift smart when gardening.

When lifting heavy items, squat down, get a firm grip and lift using your legs, not your back! By lifting with your leg muscles you'll gain more lifting power and save you a trip to the chiropractor. Don't be afraid to ask for help if something looks too heavy, it's a smart way to save yourself from injury.

Use a wheelbarrow as much as possible when hauling bags of mulch, rocks or large plants from your car to your garden. With packaged soils, either empty bags from your car directly into the wheelbarrow and shovel it out where needed, or haul the bags to the work site, cut the bags open lengthwise and then dump them where they are needed.

Lifting or carrying heavy rocks or plants can place a real strain on the back and shoulders. Try tipping your wheelbarrow forward as close to the plant container or root ball as possible. Gently roll or rotate the plant into the wheelbarrow and then bring the wheelbarrow to a standing position. Then simply bring it to the planting site and reverse the process.

Remember to prepare the hole first. Then all you have to do is remove the container and slip the plant into the hole. With ball and burlap plants, you can roll them directly into the hole and then cut the rope and excess burlap. This will help protect the plant roots as well as minimize the stress on your body.

Remember to pace yourself and listen to your body. It will tell when you when it has had enough and it's time to quit. Doing one project at a time will help to keep you from overworking. Don't forget to stretch when you are done to help reduce muscle soreness. Then go treat yourself to a nice bath or shower and a great meal. After all, gardening should have its rewards!

One of the most versatile herbs one can use in cooking is basil. Most cooks agree that it is definitively a must-have herb. Basil is used to add flavor to salads, soups, sauces, marinades, and dressings. When combined with olive oil and pine nuts, it becomes the key ingredient for making pesto sauce.

Basil is a tender herb that is originally native to India and other tropical regions of Asia, having been cultivated there for more than 5,000 years. It is a prominent part of cuisines throughout the world, including Italian, Thai, Vietnamese and Laotian. The leaves taste somewhat like anise, with a strong, fragrant, sweet smell, but the flavors vary and are distinct between varieties.

Basil is very sensitive to cold, but can be grown successfully as a warm season annual in just about any climate. It prefers a warm, sunny location and, while it will do just fine in the garden, performs exceptionally well in containers where the heat from the side of the pot keeps the roots warm and happy.

In fact, it's very easy to plant three or four different varieties in the same pot for a colorful patio container and a diverse set of flavors for your cooking. You can even plant a number of pots in combinations of distinct flavor categories or colors. It's completely up to you; the key is to have fun and let your taste buds run wild!

The leaves on some of my plants are starting to turn brown. How can I tell if the cause is lack of water, or salt or chemical damage?

Answer:

That's fairly simple.

• If a plant is too dry, the tips of the leaves will turn brown. The longer without water, the farther down the leaf the burn will extend.
• If a plant is suffering from salt damage, the entire leaf edge will appear brown or dry.
• If it's chemical damage, the foliage will generally have burn spots all over the leaf surface.

And here are the usual causes:

• If a plant is too dry, it needs deeper or more frequent watering.
• Salt burn is most often caused by excessive fertilization.
• Chemical damage results from weed killer drifting onto a plant, a chemical solution being mixed stronger than label recommendations, or a spray being applied to (or to near to) a plant that is sensitive to that spray.

Please note that all three scenarios have man-made causes.