How to compare two dates in php

How to compare two dates in php?

<?php

 $date1 ="2014-04-20";

 $date2 ="2014-04-25";

$timestam1=strtotime($date1);

$timestam2=strtotime($date2);

if($timestam1 == $timestam2)

                {

                                echo "Date 1  and Date 2 Are Equale";

                }

else

                {

                                if($timestam1 > $timestam2)

                                                {

                                                                echo "Date 1 Is After Date 2";

                                                }

                                else

                                                {

                                                                echo "Date 1 Is Before Date 2";

                                                }             

                }

 ?>