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Hardening off is a process that begins in the springtime. By preparing plants that have been grown indoors to adapt to the outside enviroment, before being moved outside permently.

The seedlings are usually started off by being grown in a windowsill.  When you start the process of getting plants acclimated to the outside enviroment it is called hardening off.

If you were to move the plants outdoors without giving them time for proper hardening off it would end up having a negative impact on them when they are exposed to the sudden shock of the coolness at night or sunrays of the day.

The hardening off process should begin at least a week or two before you transplant them.  The plants should be at a healthy stage before it is warm outside.

Start by moving your plants to a shady area outside.  Something like a covered patio or porch.  Gradually increase the time and sun exposure until they are strong enough to take the sun on there own.  Be sure to bring them in if the weather turns cold, rainy or windy.

Be sure to water your seedlings good and transplant them on a overcast day.

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If you are not familiar with companion planting then you might want to be after I tell you what it can do for you and your landscaping. It has many benefits.

Companion planting is when you plant one plant in close proximity to another. The idea for doing this is that certain plants can benefit from others by having qualities for example as a insect repellant, thus by eliminating the need for a pesticide.

It is often praticied on small-scale gardening. The companion plants act as a insect repellant. If you were to use companion planting through out your landscaping it could become a integrate part of your pest management. By using companion planting it not only serves a purpose,but adds beauty.

It can be incorporated in your gardens, flowerbeds, walkways, borders or where ever you have specific needs. It is all up to your imagination.

It is often used in organic gardens.  Garlic has been used as a companion plant with roses for many years, because it repels rose pest.  Tansy can also be used as a companion plant with roses, raspberries and fruit trees.  Tansy also repels flying insects, ants, japanese beetles, squash bugs and the striped cucumber beetle.

As you can see from the examples above they act as  mother natures natural way to deter insects for other plants, thus protecting the plant.

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