Greying tigers, the generation of over 65s who are becoming a more powerful generation in the market place. This is the generation that has seen all the changes take place and are reminiscent of the good old days.

They remember when the wallflowers were sold wrapped in newspaper and they remember the price. This is a generation looking for nostalgia and is very price aware.

This is still a generation that are loyal to many garden centres and dare one say it, but because of their loyalty they may be putting young people off visiting the same establishments.

This is a generation that we cannot ignore, but have to fit them into a marketing scenario that meets all generation needs.

Many garden centers have realized there is an opportunity, especially where they can get involved in celebrating the Red Hat Society as an event in the garden center. If you are not aware of this society, I recommend you check them out on the web. This is a growing group and a great way of introducing fun into our garden center with this generation.

Greying Tigers are the most adventurous retired generation that has ever been and as a result will experiment in there gardens. They are the nostalgia market and this is a huge opportunity for any garden centre who wishes to develop nostalgic promotional opportunities. Why not have a corner in the garden center for nostalgic products and plants.

Garden centers who are looking to attract this market need to be less abled friendly and have plenty of seating located around the center. The coffee shop needs to be price aware; many price decisions are made by judging the price of a cup of tea.

Many centers are allocating special days for this generation; I have one client who has built their traffic on a quiet day by promoting to this group. My local shopping center actually takes a mini bus around the local retirement homes on a Thursday. They invite people to the shopping center, provide them with a complimentary cup of tea and let them shop. This has proved to be very successful, not only to the target market, but has also grown community support for the center. The same concept could be applied to a garden center.

They may be lower spenders, but on quieter days that can make a difference. The Greying Tigers are also often collectors and this is also an opportunity to provide them with collection pieces, the gift market especially has developed this market, but the same could be applied to cacti and other plant products.

Dos

Ensure your garden center is less abled friendly. Have parking for the less abled in a prime location in your car park

Have a wheel chair available, but more important encourage your team to get in it and go around the garden center, this will give them an opportunity to experience it and make appropriate changes to the customer flow

Have plenty of seating located at locations around the garden centre

Promote nostalgia plants at key locations around the garden center and use words like remember and Nostalgia on the signage

Make sure signs are bold and simple; eyes fail as we get older

Ensure your cash point team are greying tiger friendly and are prepared to help .have a help service to the car for the less abled

Donts

Place delicate products in locations where frail hands may drop them

Talk down, this generation has a lot of background knowledge, especially on gardening self and will not consider the container as such an important element as, for example generation X

Put all your container plants in expensive containers, this generation will purchase plants for the plants it

Gardening without using soil is called hydroponic gardening. Most often water is utilized in hydroponics, consequently the name. No doubt you could find a more technical explanation of the process. But the ordinary gardener doesn’t really need more knowledge than that.

Maybe you’ve questioned how you can raise plants hydroponically with no soil. It is generally supposed that plants must have soil. It provides nutrition, physical support, energy and water. These are all necessary if you want the plant to thrive. However these elements are also available from other sources.

Water is an absolute necessity for any plant. However they don’t have to obtain it from soil. You’ll discover that many plants grow naturally in unwelcoming surroundings such as sand and gravel, or even floating on top of the water.

The energy given by the sun’s rays and its heat are likewise essential to a plant. But sun warmed earth isn’t the only source of energy. The sun’s rays have the same effect on a plant’s leaves no matter whether it’s in the ground or not. Photosynthesis, essential to a plant’s wellbeing, will occur just as long as the upper region of the plant gets enough sunlight. Some plants grow even with no light at all. However they still have need of energy to fuel their natural growth phases.

Lots of of the plants that appeal to the home gardener require some material support. Most frequently, this is achieved by planting them in the ground. That’s why the roots of a plant spread, and its stem is able to withstand strong winds. However there are other possibilities for supporting your plants. Try weaving string through a fence-like structure, or affix some craft sticks to the top of a pot. There are other ideas that can likewise do the job.

Nutrients are another of the vital components for a thriving plant. This includes nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and various trace elements. In a natural setting, the plant will absorb these nutrients from the earth surrounding it. However they can also acquire these necessary nutrients in other ways.

A universal way of doing this is to keep the plant’s roots covered in a water-based liquid nutrient solution. Some hydroponic systems feature a grow tent that can hold in wetness. A nutrient solution is misted onto the roots on a regular basis in order to keep them saturated. This method has similarities to aeroponics, another system of soil-less gardening.

Lovely and thriving plants can result from hydroponic gardening. There are various types of plants that can thrive above ground. Just make sure you take care of their requirements.

Variety is the centerpiece of the joy of a beautiful landscape. You can make your landscape more captivating by using dwarf weeping willow trees to emphasize scale and form of your yard.

A dwarf weeping willow tree or Kilmarnock is a perfect ornamental tree especially for small gardens. The tree grows up to 5-6 feet tall.

Due to its magnificent appearance and size, dwarf weeping willow trees make magnificent focal points in gardens and frame front entrances. They also look great near a pond or water feature because their weeping form is evocative of falling water. The tree derives its attractiveness and beauty from the canopy that tends to drop and sweep gracefully on a neatly balanced set of branches. The overall symmetry of the tree gives it a dramatic look that is bound to win the heart of every garden adventurer.

Planting and managing a weeping dwarf willow tree

Begin by selecting a healthy willow to make your cutting from. The spot on the branch where you make the cutting should be two inches in diameter and up to six feet in length. You will need to use a handsaw for a cutting of this size.

Place the cutting, bottom end down, in a bucket of clear water and leave it until you are ready to put it in the ground.

Select a moist site with adequate drainage for your tree. Avoid selecting sites that are too close to buried pipes or side walks as the weeping willow’s roots grow quickly pushing up against them.

Dig a square hole about 18 inches by 18 inches wide on all four sides.

Fill the hole with up to two inches of water and allow it to drain into the ground.

Place the branch cutting into the center of the hole, with the bottom touching the bottom soil. Fill the soil back into the hole while tapping it down to ensure that the soil securely grips the cutting. Fill the hole until the top of it levels with the ground.

Water your willow every two days until it shows signs of growth. You might want to water it daily if your area is experiencing a dry spell. The appearance of new growth on the cutting is a sure sign that it is developing a healthy root system.

Pruning a weeping dwarf willow tree

Prune and trim weeping willow trees annually to keep them in peak health and form. Prune dead branches at any time of the year as they use up nutrients and water that are better put to use in new growth.

Remove branches that cross each other using pruning shears. Thin the weaker upper branches in order to allow sun light to penetrate inner areas of the tree. Trim the branches that touch the ground at around a third of the tree’s height to create a visually well balanced look.

If you plan to grow a garden in an urban area you should be aware of the challenges coming your way and plan accordingly so you will get to see healthy and green plants and not withered leaves and flowers. According to Windowbox.com, some of the most common issues of urban gardening are as follows:

1. Urban areas usually have limited residential spaces. It means that you have to be pretty creative on how you want to put up your garden. Basically, you have to decide what plants or flowers you want or need to grow within minimal areas. A good research is required to make the most out of your garden.

2. There are lots of industrial buildings nearby and sometimes chemicals and other harmful pollutants can affect the health of plants. Plant soil can be easily contaminated depending on what buildings are nearby. You can use Google Map or a local business listing to know if there are any source of pollutants around.

3. Tall buildings can increase the effect of dry wind and can cause plants to wither faster than normal. Aside from this, tall buildings also block the sunlight needed for your plants like taller trees in a thriving forest.

4. Lastly, if your living on a leased space, there may actually be legal restrictions on what you can do with urban lands. Meaning, gardening may also be restricted. You better check with your landlord and get permission if you plan to grow a garden.

It’s true that gardening is not only for people who are located in less industrialized places. Even if you are living in the city or within any urban areas, you also deserve to grow fresh vegetables and magnificent flowering plants.

A beautiful garden is not only meant for those who live in rural areas. If you are an urban person, you also deserve to see some colorful and fresh plants. With the help of window boxes, urban gardening is not much of an issue.

Window boxes are originally made to resolve the problem of growing a garden in public places. Today, whether your living within a rural or an urban area, window boxes can be used for container gardening or as a part of home decor. Window and flower boxes can ultimately accentuate your home or apartment in magnificent ways.
There are dozens of flower boxes types available in the market today. However, one that catches my attention is the Composite Flower Box. This type is made with a revolutionary new product called Cellular PVC (AZEK) that will not rot or mildew. These flower boxes are “just like wood” and understate the architectural grade quality of the material. These composite window boxes (rot proof PVC) are planters made to give you a lifetime of maintenance free flower box enjoyment that looks and feels like its made from real wood.

Aside from Composite Window Boxes, there are also other types like Fiberglass Window Boxes, Wrought Iron Window Boxes, Vinyl Window Boxes, Metal Window Boxes, Aluminum Window Boxes, Wood Window Boxes, Copper & Bronze Window Boxes, and Galvanized Tapered Window Boxes.

Each type has its own unique features and specific use depending on some particular factors to consider like the materials used, color and its decorative harmony in your home. Browsing the internet could also help you find great deals. It will help you save time, and you can also compare the prices and designs of different window and flower boxes around your area.

Have fun!

Do you want to learn how to grow the biggest strawberries ever

How I discovered how to grow the biggest strawberries ever

I have been growing strawberries for a number of years now, along with a few other fruits and vegetable. Anyway about 6 months ago I was talking with one of my friends about a pest problem I had with a few of my strawberries plants.

Anyway my find told me about this TV program he had been watching about how farmers can now grow all kinds of plants in water without soil (hydroponics), which helps to stop pests from affecting the crop.

The growing of platys with hydroponics is very big in Holland where it is used indoors and also outdoors or in green houses. As my friend described more of what he had learnt form the TV program he had seen I become more and more interested in it.

There seems to be a lot of complicated science to understand abbot how a plant can grow in just water, well after my convocation with my friend about the TV show he had seen I had a lot of ideas and question about how I could do it myself to grow hydrophoic strawberries myself. So I set out on a little research project to find out more.

I decided to give hydroponic strawberries a try

After learning about hydroponic strawberries from my fined, I decided to get online and learn more about it and whats involved. So I want on line and I had a look around online for some information and very quirkily become very confuted by all the different information out there on the subject of hydroponics grading.

Well after a day or so of online research I worked out the basics I needed to start growing my strawberries plans with hydroponics. My first crop were grown with some strawberries plants I bought from the garden center, and I was surprised at how fast they grew, the final crop was well over twice what I would normally get when I grew my strawberries in soil, and also there was no issues with insects and pests on the plants also. And most amazingly of all was that the strawberries I grew hydroponically were massive almost twice as big as when I grow them in soil.

When I was looking for help to get started with growing strawberries with hydroponics I was confused with all the complicated information out on the internet about whats involved. Well after hours of research online I finally broke it down to three key areas to work out to get a hydrophobic system up and running.

The three key areas to sort out to start growing the biggest strawberries ever

1)The first key area you need to work out is which a hydroponics system you will use.

2)The second thing you need to work out is what hydroponics nutrients you will use

3)And the final thing you need to work out if you are growing your strawberries indoors is a plant lighting system or hydroponics lighting system.

If you would like to double your strawberries crop and double the sizes of your strawberries I seriously recommend that you have a go at growing your strawberries with hydroponics and see the differences for yourself its amazing the results you can achieve.