The Basics Of Pruning

Writen by Bambi Coker

The technique of pruning varies with the type of rose and the landscape purpose for which it was planted, whether it's growing in the ground or in a container. Pruning can range from removing unwanted buds to severely excising canes. Proper pruning stimulates growth at the buds closest to the cut, which produces new flowering stems.

The first step in pruning any type of rose is to remove any dead, damaged, diseased, or weak and thin canes, cutting them off flush with the bud union or, in the case of own-root plants, flush with the crown. Look for any canes that are broken or wounded, or that have cankers (dark, sunken lesions caused by a fungus), and prune below the injury, at the highest point where the pith (the central portion of the cane) is healthy and white. Make the cut exactly 1/4 inch above a growth bud. If the injury extends below that point, cut to a lower growth bud.

Next, remove canes that are growing into the center of the plant or those that cross each other. Canes that grow inward keep light and air from the center of the plant and will eventually cross, chafing one another. These abrasions can become entry points for insects and diseases. Using shears cut these canes down to their origin, whether that is another cane, the bud union, or the crown. It is important to keep the center of the plant open to let in sunshine and allow air to circulate freely.

Always prune to an outward-facing bud so that canes do not grow into the center of the plant. Prune at a distance close enough to the bud that no stub remains to die off and harbor insects or diseases but far enough away that the bud will not die. A good distance is about 1/4 inch above the growth bud. Equally important, cut at the proper angle so that water runoff won't drip on the bud or collect in the cut and retard healing. The ideal angle is 45 degrees, slanted parallel to the direction of bud growth.

Pruning in Warm and Cold Climates

In warm climates where rose plants grow quite large, pruning to the recommended height is not desirable because it will remove too much of the plant. Instead, prune away about one half to two thirds of the plant each winter or early spring by removing the older canes and shortening the remaining canes. In cold climates where there is a great deal of winter damage, pruning heights may be determined for you by the amount of winterkill. Prune canes down to where there is no more winter damage, even if it is almost to the ground.

The higher a plant is pruned, the earlier it will flower. But don't jeopardize the health and vigor of the plant by pruning too high just to have blooms a few clays earlier. There is little advantage to pruning your roses lower than the heights prescribed above; unlike disbudding (which we'll discuss later); it will probably not make the plants produce larger flowers.

Preventing Disease

Although black spot and other fungal diseases manifest themselves on leaves, their spores can over-winter on rose canes. If these diseases plagued your roses during the previous summer, you should prune them lower than recommended, cutting away and discarding much of the source of the problem. Although you won't be able to see the spores on the canes, you can be assured that cutting off a few extra inches during spring pruning will reduce the number of spores to some degree. Never leave rose cuttings on the ground. They look unsightly and harbor diseases and pests that may potentially re-infect the plant or spread to others.

When to Seal Cuts

Pruning cuts more than inch in diameter can be sealed with pruning compound, orange shellac, or grafting wax (available at garden centers or hardware stores) if boring insects are a problem in your area. Pruning compound and orange shellac are the easiest to use because they can be painted on. Otherwise, sealing is not necessary. Some types of white glue, which is sometimes used as a sealant, are water soluble and will wash away with the first rain or watering; they should therefore not be used.

Inspect After Pruning

Several weeks after you have pruned, take a second trip through the garden with your paining shears. If you pruned early in the year, a late frost may have caused minor dieback on some of the canes. This dieback should be removed. Cankers that were not apparent at pruning time may be visible and should also be pruned away.

Don't be too harsh when pruning young plants. Until plants are well established and have been growing robustly for two to three years, remove only weak, damaged, or dead wood. Shape and shorten the plants as recommended above without cutting away any of the older canes. In the following years, old canes can be removed as new ones develop.

Bambi Coker © All Rights Reserved
http://www.RosesSecretsRevealed.com
http://www.aaaroses.blogspot.com

5 Things You Should Know Before Mowing Your Lawn

Writen by Jack Greenwood

Cutting your lawn properly can lead to a healthy growing lawn. Although it seems like a chore, lawn mowing can give you a great workout and be relaxing. The smell of fresh-cut grass gives you a wonderful sense of accomplishment. Before you mow, here are a few things about mowing that you should take note first.

1. Never mow a wet lawn

You should avoid mowing when the lawn is wet. The grasses will settle in big globs and cause clumping of the lawn. It will help to spread lawn fungus quickly too. Schedule your mowing task to the evening as the weather is cooler and your lawn has ample time to dry from the morning watering.

2. Adapt your mowing schedule to the grass growth

Different type of grass flourish in different seasons. Warm-season grasses will grow quickly in summer and thus you may need to mow once every three to four days during the summer period. You can reduce the mowing to once a month during a drought period. Observe how your lawn grass is growing and adapt your mowing schedule accordingly.

3. Check your mowing height

A good practice is to cut off top one third of the grasses at any one time. If your lawn grasses have grown to six inches and you like to bring it back to two inches, do not cut off four inches in one mowing session. Cut off the first two inches and let the lawn rest for a couple of days. This will allow your lawn to recover and adapt to the new height before mowing the next two inches.

4. Change Your Mowing Patterns

If you often mow your lawn in the same pattern and direction, streaks or stripped lines can develop and make your lawn look horrible. Try to alternate the mowing direction each time you mow. Mow side to mow during the first pass and then top to bottom for the next pass. This ensures your lawn will not be matted or trampled in the same place each time you mow.

5. Mulch your lawn

You should try to get a mulching mower that can cut and re-cut the grasses to drop back into your lawn. Clippings are actually a form of natural, slow-release fertilizer and they can help you reduce your fertilizer requirement by half. You have to keep the mower blades sharp so that the mowing action will cut the grass blades and not tear them. Tearing the grass blades can lead to development of thatches, which are harmful to your lawn.

Mulching your lawn is good practice during a drought season and after fertilization. It can provide cover to help the soil retain the water it received. In addition, the clippings contain water and small amount of nitrogen (plus a host of other nutrients in small quantities) which will provide the fertilization that your lawn need. In the long run, the cost saving from a reduction of fertilizer purchases can really add up.

Proper mowing is one of the most important practices in your keeping your lawn healthy. Keeping these five points in mind and integrating them into your mowing session will ensure your lawn stays green and healthy for many years to come.

Jack Greenwood is the webmaster of GreenLawnCareTips.com which provide information on lawn care and lawn maintenance tips. Sign up for your free 7-part Green Lawn Care mini course at greenlawncaretips.com today.

Light Up Your Garden And Brighten Your Life

Writen by Carolyn James

Extending Your Living Space

The garden is fast being considered to be an extension to your living space and homeowners are putting as much effort into creating a harmonious environment outside as they are inside. A beautiful garden is also considered to be one of the biggest selling features of a home and can certainly help to add value and appeal.

As the short days of winter recede, many of us will be starting to think about our gardens and dreaming up projects and schemes that we plan to undertake when the days become longer and the weather warmer. For many traditionalists this will mean planting borders, manicuring the lawn and cultivating a myriad of blooms that will add colour and life to their gardens throughout the summer, whilst others will view their garden purely as an area in which to relax.

Garden centres are already stocked with outdoor furniture, ubiquitous decking and the eclectic range of artefacts that are designed to help you enjoy your garden to the full. However, garden lighting is one of the most effective ways that you can improve the look and functionality of your outdoor living space and increases the time that you can appreciate this natural extension to your home. Garden lighting has moved beyond the occasional wall lantern or halogen floodlight illuminating the patio or garden path, blending functionality with creativity. Strategic outdoor lighting enables you to enjoy aspects of your garden at all times of the day or evening, all year 'round, whether for entertainment purposes or your own pleasure.

The garden at night should be considered to be a blank canvas on which one's own creation can evolve. Properly placed lighting can create the most wonderful ambience by silhouetting trees, highlighting favourite shrubs, accenting flowerbeds or reflecting the diamond like sparkle of droplets cascading from a water feature.

The Key to Successful Creative Lighting

The key to successful lighting is to focus in on specific architectural features:

• Uplight pergolas, archways or façades for a dramatic effect

• "Wash" sides of buildings with a subtle light

• Focus a gentle light across fences and walls

• Highlight water features with submersible lights

• Silhouette trees by placing lights below and behind them.

Bring your garden alive after dark by illuminating it with a range of carefully chosen coloured lights:

• Add warmth with tones of yellow or red

• Add a green light beneath foliage to make leaves appear greener

• Create a fresher, Nordic atmosphere with white or blue light. This is particularly effective if you have a lot of pine trees.

Subtlety is the key, since a blend of too many colours can give a gaudy appearance, unless of course you have a penchant for theme park styles.

Functional Lighting

If you are seeking more functional lighting, then low voltage fittings are the best option. Uplighters fitted into decking or patios can add that subtle but necessary source of light when the sun goes down, whether you are entertaining or just relaxing. But there are always more creative possibilities. Recessed lighting can be built into steps and fixed seating or under handrails. Each source of light becomes a feature in itself and creates the individuality and atmosphere that reflects your own needs and personality.

If you are an active barbecuer and you need more direct light, then spotlights that are discretely located but focused on your cooking area are ideal. If safety and security are your concern then there is a wide range of functional but aesthetic lighting available to illuminate steps, paths and driveways and help to prevent accidents after dark. Motion detectors that activate lighting when someone passes by have proved to be a boon for added security and safety. Another way of improving security is to have certain strategically placed lighting linked to photo electric cells that automatically turn on at dusk and off at dawn.

Lighting Tips

When creating a lighting scheme for your garden you should adopt the less is more approach. The objective must always be to see the landscape and not the lights, with the right balance between aesthetic and functional lighting.

It is important always to use lights that have the correct IP rating and are therefore suitable for outdoor lighting. Although the installation of these types of light is not difficult, it is recommended that you employ a qualified electrician for their installation.

There is a wide range of products on the market from which to choose, but the most cost-effective solution is to buy the best quality you can. By choosing quality products and having them professionally fitted you'll have something that will not only last for years, but also maintains its good looks.

Don't forget that you are starting with a blank canvas. Like art, there are a few basic rules that you should follow, but in the end beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Be creative. Make your garden an extension to your home. A 'room' under the stars!

www.thelightcompanydirect.co.uk

About The Author

Carolyn and Laurence James own The Light Company Direct Ltd, an independent, family run business, based in the heart of the Cotswolds. The company offers a superb range of distinctive and stylish lighting for homes and commercial establishments via mail order and the Internet. Carolyn and Laurence have selected lighting that represents the very best in design and craftsmanship. They have developed close links with key manufacturers throughout Europe and are able to offer customers many designs that are rarely seen in the UK.

carolyn@thelightcompanydirect.co.uk

Daylily When My Sweetheart Returns

Writen by Alan Summers

By now most of us have heard of everblooming daylilies or at least the most popular one - Stella De'Oro. New daylilies are always being introduced, but many of the new and old daylilies bloom only once a season. There are a handful of new daylilies that are truly repeat bloomers, with several cycles of blooms, allowing you to enjoy their beauty from late spring until well into autumn. This week we are featuring another one of these everblooming beauties - 'When My Sweetheart Returns.' It is one of the newest creations of master breeder Dr. Darrel Apps, who is also known for other popular repeat-blooming daylilies including 'Rosy Returns', 'Happy Returns' and 'Big Time Happy.'

Enjoy This Unique Color Combination until Late Fall!

'When My Sweetheart Returns' combines colors that are not common amongst daylilies - yellow, pink and green. The five inch blooms are lemon creme and have bold rose eyes and bright lemon throats, grass green tonsils and white midribs - a striking combination that will brighten your garden from June until fall! This daylily has a neat, compact habit, reaching just 16 inches high with deep green foliage that will clump quickly. Each stem will have about 2 dozen buds for a continuous show of gorgeous blooms; and you can expect literally dozens and dozens of stems, throughout the season, from a mature clump. It's compact habit makes 'When My Sweetheart Returns' ideal for smaller gardens, containers, planted along the edge of a border, walkway or patio or planted in mass. 'When My Sweetheart Returns' is ideal for colorscaping the foreground of a sunny foundation planting. Everyone can find a spot for this lovely daylily! For additional color this autumn interplant your daylilies with spring-blooming flower bulbs.

Planting and Care

'When My Sweetheart Returns' is very low-maintenance, requiring just well-drained soil in a sunny location to give you years of beauty!

• For best results plant in spring or fall.
• Performs best in full sun, but will tolerate partial shade.
• Plant 24 inches apart in well-drained soil.
• Fertilize in early spring and late fall with Flower-Tone and Kelp Meal.
• Hardy in Zones 4-9.

Click here to view 'When My Sweetheart Returns' pn the Carroll Gardens website.

Alan Summers, president of Carroll Gardens, Inc., has over 30 years experience in gardening and landscape design. He has made Carroll Gardens one of America's preeminent nurseries, having introduced more than 20 new perennials and woody shrubs over the years and reintroduced numerous "lost" cultivars back to American gardeners.

Carroll Gardens publishes a weekly online newsletter written by Alan. It contains valuable gardening advice and tips and answers to customer questions. http://www.carrollgardens.com/emailsignup.asp">Click here to sign up for the Carroll Gardens weekly enewsletter.

Every Saturday, Alan hosts a call-in gardening forum on WCBM radio - 680 AM. For those outside of the WCBM listening area, they can listen to radio show via the internet.

Visit CarrollGardens.com to learn more.

Choosing The Right Sprinkler System

Writen by Paul Burke

Sprinklers come in 4 basic designs. Each of these sprinkler types has their advantages and disadvantages. Lawn size, frequency of watering and soil types are all important factors when choosing which type of sprinkler is best for you.

Of the 4 basic designs a stationary or fixed sprinkler is probably the worst type you can purchase. These types of sprinklers work best for spot watering or used in conjunction with another sprinkler system. Varying flow rates are this type of sprinkler's greatest disadvantage. At the outside edge of the spray pattern the grass can receive upwards of 6-8 inches of water while at the base it may only receive 2 inches of water per hour. This is due to the water being directed through the fixed pattern of small holes in the base.

Oscillating sprinklers use a curved piece of metal or plastic with small holes that move back and forth to deliver the water in a rectangular pattern. By pausing when the spray is furthest away this sprinkler does a better job of delivering the water in a more effective pattern. More up to date models will allow you to adjust this pattern as well as adjusting the width of the spray. Revolving sprinklers use one or more arms to throw the water in a circular pattern. This type of sprinkler has a fairly decent radius but suffers in the uniformity of the water being delivered to the lawn. Generally speaking the majority of the water is delivered to an area 4-9 feet out.

For a large area an impulse or impact sprinkler is a good choice. By using a combination of a jet internally and a hammer externally this sprinkler can shoot jets of water in a circular pattern. On many models the head is adjustable from a fine mist to a strong pulse or anything in between. Coverage is good with this type of sprinkler.

One of the more odd sprinkler systems is what is known as a traveling sprinkler. I haven't come across too many of these which is too bad. This system while looking a little bizarre gives good thorough coverage and excellent rates of moisture. The sprinkler follows the hose or track laid out by the homeowner. By varying the hose pattern you get excellent coverage. The pressure of the water exiting the rotating arms propels the unit along.

For most homeowners the choice for a sprinkler system would be an in-ground system. By installing the sprinkler heads at key locations you ensure uniform coverage and excellent water delivery. Most units come with a timer to make watering your lawn even more convenient. Some models also incorporate a sensor to let the system know if it has been raining to curb the cost of your watering bill. The spray heads pop up from the lawn when activated and return to their almost hidden position when finished.

When having your lawn aerated ensure the heads are clearly marked to avoid damage to them while the lawn is being aerated.

Paul is a Certified Pesticide Applicator in the province of Alberta, Canada. He has over 15 years experience in the lawn care industry.

For more lawn care information, please visit http://www.fairyring.ca

Farming Basics And Why You Should Buy Flax Seed

Writen by Chadder McD.

There was a time when farming was the way of life in almost every country around the world. The animals and crops that are raised on farms provide us with the food we eat, we cannot live on without it. We also get other materials from farms like cotton, wool, etc. Farming is still the most substantial occupation in the world even though the number of families who farm for a living is steadily decreasing.

By the beginning of scientific farming methods and labor saving machinery, farming has become a lot more productive than it used to be before. There's an large leap in the yields of some major crops because of the advancement of better plant varieties and fertilizers. Animal waste has also risen largely because of caring for them and breeding them in larger quantities. The use of tractors and other modern farm implements has, however, lessened the need for farm labor.

The single most notable factor that affects the grade of the grain, hay and silage on a farm is moisture, according to professionals in farming. Because of this, moisture management is a continuous process. This is done by hay moisture testers, which quickly and accurately measure the moisture in the field, bin or storage.

Killing the bad crop Without killing the crop!

To get a great harvest your crop has to be protected from weeds and bugs. Many herbicides and pesticides are within reach to do this. Among these, the Crossbow herbicide is an excellent product that kills woody brush like blackberry plants; scotch brook and the poison oak. It is the triclopyr ingredient in the herbicide that makes it so outstanding.

The grass remains unhurt and only the blackberry plants are killed by the Crossbow herbicide. Nonetheless, it is a good idea to keep the blackberry plants and spray the herbicide because there will be enough leaf area for herbicide absorption. This will take in enough to kill the root. The best time to spray this chemical is late spring since this is when the plant stems show up fully extended.

Crossbow herbicide is oil based which could be undesirable, particularly during warm weather, which causes the herbicide to vaporize and settle on the neighboring plants. One way to get around this is to apply it on a cloudy day to prevent the sensitive plants in the vicinity from overspray.

Buy flax seed, they are good for you.

It is a great idea to buy flax seeds from a farm so they are fresh. From a health point of view, flax seeds and oil of the flax plant are largely recommended. They are rich in Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA) belonging to the group of substances called Omega-3 fatty acids, which are important to protect from heart disease. Flaxseed oil is wonderful for the heart because it is the richest source of ALA. It can also protect against certain cancers in the ground or whole form because of the lignans available in it.

Thanks for reading this article today; I trust it has been informing to you in one way or another.

The above article with information relating too hay tester and hay moisture tester has been submitted by Chad McDonald from: http://www.hay-moisture-tester.info

The Flower Garden In August

Writen by Sandra Wilson

Our flower garden in August can be brimming with activities we can do at this time of year, as we can for most of the year. We have some flower gardening tips to give you and some experiments to try. Feel free to send us your own flower gardening tips for any time of the year.

If it is much too hot for you this August to work in your flower garden during the day, make the most of the early morning hours before it gets too warm. Watching the world wake up can be quite exhilirating. Course morning here comes a little later than other places. ;-) This works well in July too.

This month is important in the flower gardening year as its most important work can be taking cuttings. If you have a sunny window ledge within your home or you are lucky enough to have a heated greenhouse, consider taking cuttings of geraniums you planted out in the spring. Not only can you take up and overwinter the older plants from your flower garden, but you can have some newer, younger plants next spring that you start from the cuttings you take now.

As with taking cuttings from many other plants, fuchsias, scented verbena, etc., simply make the cut which severs the cutting just below a joint and trim off the lower leaves. Today it is best if you can use rooting powder first, but simply place the cutting in some light potting soil in a pot. Tamp down the soil firmly. Don't fill the pot to the top as you do need some room for watering. However, the first time you water the soil around your cutting, you may find you need to add more soil. Just do so and tamp that down firmly. Water this added soil as well. However, do not overwater your cutting keeping the soil damp at all times. This will end up decaying your cutting and causing all sorts of unsavory growths on your soil.

You can still do some sowing in your flower garden at this time of year. If you have some vacant spots within your flower garden, try sowing a little pansy seed of some of the more hardy varieties.

You might even try sowing some blue cornflower seed some time before the end of the month. Be sure to thin them out even if you only end up with a half dozen plants left. These August sown plants should end up twice the size of spring-sown ones. Why? Because you are going to pinch out the top of the growth when they are about four inches high. Do this carefully. You should end up with three growths in the place of the one. What happens? You will have a bushier plant. If you wait till spring and do this again to those three growths, you end up with a bushier plant still with many more flowers.

Our last of the flower gardening tips is simply to enjoy your flower garden. We should probably include this advice in everyone of our articles. Sometimes we get too busy with all the doing that a garden needs to keep looking nice and forget to relax and enjoy what we achieve. Even if your major achievement was to plant one pot of flowers for your patio or balcony and that is the extent of your flower garden, pat yourself on the back and enjoy it.

© 2005, Sandra Dinkins-Wilson.

Find more articles with Flower Gardening Tipsat our informative website, Flower Garden Lovers.

Storage Sheds The Unclutter Solution

Writen by Tyson J Stevenson

A storage shed is a light structure (generally made of wood) in a back garden used for storage of tools, vehicles, or useful items and is very often used to pursue hobbies like gardening and light engineering. Storage sheds are available in a variety of designs and materials in the market.

Types of Storage Sheds Based on Material. The materials used for storage sheds are wood, plywood, vinyl, metal, steel and Rubbermaid. The materials have various advantages and disadvantages. Wood is the preferred material as it gives an aesthetic appeal. However wood needs to be treated for ultraviolet protection every year and sometimes treatment is also given for protection against pests and borers. Cedar wood is preferred material. Particle wood and plywood are very popular for storage shed sidings. However they are least resistant to water as they get out of shape after repeated wetting and drying. Hence plywood should be avoided in places where it rains frequently.

Vinyl has the advantage of being maintenance free. However vinyl is lower on the visual attractiveness scale. Metal sidings include aluminum, which is light and when anodized gives a good look and lasts a long time. Steel sidings, though cheap, should be avoided as they rust easily. Metal sidings have the least appealing look. Vinyl coated steel has a long life and gives good strength. Rubbermaid and poly vinyl chloride sidings are maintenance free ,requiring no painting, no rust treatment and no rot or pest treatment. One thing that should be looked into while selecting siding material is that the siding material should match with the main building siding material. A different siding material may give a contrasting look to the storage shed.

Do It Yourself Kits Vs Professional Installation. Storage sheds can be professionally installed as well as self assembled. Usually for easy assembly, the parts are numbered in self-assembly type storage shed kits. Also assembly instructions are provided with storage-shed kits. Self-assembly may save money and can be a satisfying though difficult experience.

Sizes & Accessories. The usual sizes of storage sheds are, 12' X 24', 12' X 30', 12' X 10', 10' X 14', 10' X 8', 8' X 6' etc. It is better to opt for a double door. For those who want to keep light engineering machines, a good foundation is necessary. Other accessories that come with storage sheds are windows, shutters, weathervanes etc. Hooks and shelves increase the capacity of the storage shed by utilizing vertical space. The windows should be so designed that they match with the main building.

Building Codes and Laws. In various states there are laws on sheds like zoning ordinance, building codes, deed restrictions, building permits, siding materials etc. It is prudent to go through these before installing a storage shed.

Storage sheds are available in various shapes, colors, patterns and sizes. They can be customized to suit an individual's taste. Smaller sheds are called tool sheds. Larger sheds called barns are used to house vehicles, boats and other large items. The prices range from $300 to $4000 depending upon size, material and accessories in the storage shed.

Tyson J Stevenson writes on a wide variety of "every day" subjects, always with valuable news & reviews. Expect to see his name often.

A related resource is Sturdy Storage Sheds

Further information can be found at HubbuH

Patio And Garden Furniture

Writen by Thomas Morva

Patio and garden furniture comes in a range of designs, and also a range of prices. Confused about what to get? Read on to find out what your few hundred dollars can get you.

If you just need a simple bistro table and two chairs, one hundred dollars may be enough. Cheap but very durable sets like these are usually made of quality cast aluminum, and are typically enforced with rust-resistant coating. You can either buy them assembled, or assemble them yourself. Assembly will take about half an hour, and can be fun of you are good with your hands.

Sets like these can go for $150 during peak seasons (spring and summer), so be sure to order during off-season months. You can even get this for less than a hundred dollars, if you are lucky.

If you have a bigger budget and a bigger space, then invest in patio sets that are made of stylish all-weather woven wicker resin and heavy-duty steel frame with protective finish. Most of the sets in this price range include two lounge chairs (typically cushioned), a love seat, and a coffee table (usually tempered glass-top that is resistant to scratches). The cushion is usually covered with easy-care fabric, and is easily replaceable.

Add a few more hundreds of dollars and you can buy patio sets complete with an umbrella and an umbrella base. Most sets in this price range are made of heavy-duty steel frame construction (usually coated with protective power finish) and have at least six sling-swiveling bar stools and a fashionable glass-top table. The chairs usually come with easy-care cushions and fabric covers, though some furniture stores sell these separately. Sets like these are built for serious entertaining.

Garden Furniture provides detailed information on Garden Furniture, Teak Garden Furniture, Outdoor Garden Furniture, Patio and Garden Furniture and more. Garden Furniture is affiliated with Stone Garden Bench.

Tips For Feeding Your Lawn Nitrogen

Writen by Robin Reckard

Nitrogen is vital to your lawn and is one of the most popular fertilizers. You need nitrogen because chlorophyll depends on it as do other proteins and amino acids. These in turn are what makes your lawn green and causes it to grow well.

Some things to look for to see if your grass has a nitrogen deficiency are; if it turns yellow despite watering, the grass doesn't grow quickly, diseases are present in your lawn, or if the grass turf starts getting thinner.

Depending on the time of year, your budget, and the climate there are three basic types of nitrogen used in fertilizers that are popular to apply.

1. You will find isobutyledenedinurea (IBDU) which decomposes slowly and will feed your grass over a longer period of time. It will often take a couple of weeks to decompose enough for you to see it's effects on your lawn.

This is the most expensive form of nitrogen fertilizer because of the way it is manufactures and it's uniformity. It's uniformity also makes it very easy to apply.

2. There is also sulfur-coated urea. It depends on how thick the sulfur coating is to determine how quickly it will dissolve and feed your plants.

S.C.U. will release quicker when the temperature is hotter, the lawn is wetter, or if the grass is healthier.

3. The last one I am going to mention is urea, a fairly inexpensive nitrogen. It is the cheapest nitrogen to produce as well as the fastest acting.

You can often see results over night, it is that fast. But it gets depleted quickly and if you over apply it you can easily burn your yard up and kill your grass.

So the next time you go shopping for fertilizers with nitrogen check the labels and ask lots of questions.

Robin Reckard, co-founder of Jorbins.com Lifestyle Magazine, keeps busy producing, writing, and editing for the magazine as well as raising and enjoying her six year old daughter. Visit Jorbins Gardening and Landscaping section for more great articles.

Copyright 2006, Jorbins Inc.

5 Most Popular Flowers For Your Garden

Writen by Colins Smith

When planting a garden there are many questions which you must ask yourself before you begin. Where are you going to plant it, do you have the garden equipment to do so and how big do you want your garden to be? When do flowers bloom and what are their heights? These are all very important questions, however they mean very little if you have not yet decided which types of flowers you want to plant. There are many to choose from and don't le anybody tell you which ones you can and can't plant. Gardens are unique and fascinating to look at because each one is unique it its own way.

There are endless possibilities of flowers to choose from but if you are unsure of which types of flowers are known to look best in gardens, keep reading and you will find out. The following is a list of the five most popular types of garden flowers chosen by gardeners from all over the United States:

1. Cosmos - These flowers have the ability to grow anywhere from 12 inches to 4 feet tall. Cosmos are perfect for cutting gardens and are often picked out of gardens and used in flower arrangements.

2. Marigold – Marigolds can be found in yellow, orange, red or a combination of all colors. This type of flower blooms in 45 to 50 days from sowing and very rarely requires additional water than what the rain provides.

3. Morning Glory – Morning glories have heart shaped leaves and are available in a variety of colors including white, blue, red, pink and lavender. This type of flower has the capability to become more than ten feet high.

4. Zinnia – Zinnias are traditional, old fashioned flowers which are constantly blooming all season. If there is not a lot of rain, this type of flower will require watering on a consistent basis but try to get water on the foliage (leaves) as this can cause mold which can potentially cause the plant to die.

5. Sunflowers – There's no better flower for your garden than the sunflower. Sunflowers have yellowish-orange petal with a black circle in the middle. These flowers can grow to be as tall as 6 feet or possibly even higher depending on the flower itself.

In order for your garden to flourish successfully, you will have to maintain it and keep it healthy on a daily basis. Watering cans, pruning shears, gloves and spades are all types of gardening equipment which will assist you in keeping your garden in good condition. These pieces of equipment are very important and are relatively inexpensive.

The types of flowers you choose will have a large impact on the overall outcome of your garden. The list above was provided as a guideline for novice gardeners who area unsure of which flowers may be most adaptable to a garden atmosphere.

Which flowers you choose will ultimately be your choice and regardless of the kinds or colors of your flowers, your garden will be a wonderful piece of work for everyone to admire.

Colin Smith is a freelance write for http://www.gardenequipment101.com – a site that features information about patio furniture, wrought iron patio furniture, lawn mowers and more.

Black Walnut Trees Produce A Natural Insecticide

Writen by Marilyn Pokorney

The black walnut tree manufactures a substance that is a natural insecticide according to experts at the Texas State University in Austin.

American black walnut tress contain a tannic acid chemists call juglone. The reddish yellow substance leaches from leaves, and some believe exudes from roots, or transfers from branches and foliage to the roots. Tree physiologists agree that roots of other plants that come in contact with those black walnut tree roots die--even other black walnut seedlings.

Juglone is sometimes washed out of the still green walnuts during late summer or even autumn rains. The growth of plants 60 to 80 feet away are inhibited by the juglone. The substance affects plants of various families. Studies have found that tomatoes, alfalfa, potatoes, apples, blackberries, rhododendron, mountain laurel and pine trees are all affected.

According to a professor and extension forester at Iowa State University, juglone is known to repel various garden insects. Just by placing branches of the tree around the house and under furniture dog and cat owners are amazed to find that their pets have fewer fleas.

For more information on natural flea control:

http://www.apluswriting.net/onlynaturalpetstore/fleacontrol.htm

For more information on natural garden products:

http://www.apluswriting.net/garden/gardensalive.htm

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You may retrieve this article by:

Autoresponder: juglone@getresponse.com

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Copyright: 2005 Marilyn Pokorney

Please leave the resource box intact with an active link, and send a courtesy copy of the publication in which the article appears to: marilynp@nctc.net

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Author: Marilyn Pokorney Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the environment. Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading. Website: http://www.apluswriting.net

Gardening An Expression

Writen by Bonnie Moss

Give the same plants to several people, you will see several arrangements. Each one distinct and different, yet, using the same plants.

This is the ultimate reward of gardening- a means to express, to create with the help and inspiration from the gifts of Nature.

Gardening is not just physically and aesthetically

rewarding.It enriches the spirit. It awakens one's creativity that lies dormant from neglect, or lack of motivation, or a popular excuse, not enough time.

Gardening is fast becoming a popular hobby of the times. From the tropics, to the frigid climes, gardening centers are offering more choices to tantalize even the most conservative taste.

Each year, gardeners look forward with excitement to their gardening; a hobby they take passionately. What new plants are being introduced? What variety of surprises awaits them? The ornamental gardener will be glorious with the new plants or hybrids for the present growing season. The vegetable/herb gardener looks forward with anticipation at harvest time.

With so much variety to choose from, what factors determine which plants to buy? After considering the soil, weather, sun/shade location factors, the choice is all about self- expression.

No two gardens are alike, given the same set of plants.

Colors are as revealing as the plants. A conservative gardener will opt for traditional plants. At times, you see the same plants, the same arrangements year after year. Aha!! Perhaps the gardener does not adapt to change too quickly. It may be lack of time, or change

of physical health.

Vibrant colors in the garden reflect a vibrant gardener. A garden bursting with colors is very attractive and pleasing to look at. It is inviting.

What about passion? They say red is a color of passion, of energy and courage. Add white to the reds, and the garden beckons the passer-by to take a look. Someone said this combination looks like a candy cane.

My garden is overcome by burst of yellow and orange, not really by choice. Somehow, it gives out a golden glow as the blooms bask in the sun. It reflects my enthusiasm for life. Many of my plants are gifts from friends, treasures for my garden. Yellow flowers remind me of my mother.

Purples and blues in the garden are colors of reflection, of peace and calm. Add white flowers to this and it invites a meditative mood.

After colors, the arrangements of the plants reveal something of the person. I have a friend whose flowerbeds are symmetrical, weedless, picture- perfect, right out of a magazine. Indeed, this expresses her organized way of thinking and living.

A gardener who loves to re-arrange the plants and adds new plants and ornaments every year shows an enthusiastic and energetic spirit, ready to welcome change, eager to experiment.

What about an overgrown garden? Perhaps it reflects someone with scattered energies,or, at times, a full plate, or one who does not have the time or energy to tend the garden. It may well show one who starts with a burst of enthusiasm that wanes quickly after the planting is done.

No matter how you plan your garden, it is a creative tool that allows you to express yourself. Gardening is therapeutic, physically, mentally and spiritually.

Happy gardening and don't forget to talk to your plants.

Bonnie Moss writes about new age related topics for her website. Her writing also covers a wide range of subjects to include writing and inspirationals and self-development. She is the Executive Secretary of Tarot Canada International. Her articles are published on high end e-zines.

Visit her website: http://goldencupcafe.tripod.com

The Ingenuity Of Fire Pits Tips On Buying Use And Safety Precautions

Writen by Desmona Fratere

I know you've already felt it: a cool settling into the summer night and the dimming of our trusty blue sky coming earlier and earlier. With summer too quickly reaching a close and cool Autumn on its way, it's time to spark up the fireplace, and brace ourselves for chilly and chillier temps. But don't start batting down the hatches yet! With the ever-increasing popularity of outdoor fire pits, you can stretch the summer and fall nights out in comfort, and enjoy the beauty of nature a little longer, and a lot warmer!

Now…how do you know what kind of fire pit is best suited to needs and lifestyle? Should you use wood or gas? What shape or design should you look for? And most importantly, how can you ensure that your new toasty outdoor fire is maintained and used safely? A fire pit is not quite a fireplace and not quite a campfire: it's a completely different animal. That's why we've included important tips on differentiating between kinds, shapes, functions, and costs, as well as including crucial safety tips for your fire pit.

· Permanent or Portable?

Before you even start researching outdoor fire pits, you must first check the city or zone ordinance to make sure they allow fire pits, what type of fire pits, and what the safety parameters are. Once this is done, your first step is deciding whether you could most benefit from a portable fire pit or one that is permanent. Portable fire pits are typically fashioned out of lightweight metal (Mexican chimneas are made of clay or cast-iron) and have a round design. These come with wheels for easy on-the-go activity as well as patio or backyard use. With this versatility, you can move your fire pit to the deck, patio, different areas of the backyard, or the garage with ease. Another priceless bonus, is that you don't have to leave the toasty warmth at home. Pack it into the truck or suv for the annual camping trip or take it on the road to a tailgating party. Because portables are made of lighter materials and require no-installation for use, they are the most cost-effective, no-hassle way to fight the post-summer chill: both on the road and in your backyard.

The permanent fire pit (or specifically-engineered backyard or patio fire pit), otherwise known as a custom-built or stationary fire pit unit, is made from stone, brick, rock, or concrete; and to most, are the more asthetically-pleasing addition to a patio or backyard. Custom-built fire pits should rise 1-2 feet off the ground and have a middle-of-the-road diameter of approximately 36 inches for ample use and safety. Like portables, you can choose between wood or gas to heat the desired area, but most products are energy-specific, so be sure to double-check before buying. All in all, custom-built fire pits are much more expensive, due to professional installation, the attention to design, and the heavy-duty long-lasting materials needed; but will last you lifetimes (with proper and regular maintenance), and undoubtedly provide an equity boost in your home's value.

· Design and Shape?

The design and shape of your outdoor fire pit typically depends on whether you opt for portable or stationary outside fire pits. More often than not, the portables will be made of metal or copper, have a large round bowl design, and sit in a metal stand. Wood will be placed in this bowl-or if you're opting for a gas hook-up, ceramic logs or fake-burning coals-and the removable protective screen placed on top. As mentioned before, portables are more function than design, so their options are somewhat limited. Chimneas also fall under the category of portables, boasting the antique wood-burning stove look, but because they are smaller and allow a lot less heat to radiate out, are less practical. Custom-built or permanent fire pits, on the other hand, come in a host of shapes and designs, due to the fact that you are having the unit professionally-installed. Typically, you can find these devices in round, square, or rectangular configurations incumbent upon your material of choice (brick, stone, wood, or concrete), and they come equipped with a built-in steel screen siding and metal enclosure doors for enhanced protection when not in use.

· Wood or Gas?

Both portable and permanent fire pits will require either wood, gas, or both. If the fire pit you have your eye on prefers wood exclusively, it is most important to find out what type of wood. Some fire pits will burn regular firewood logs exclusively (aged wood is always the best choice rather than new or green wood), and so you will just buy the same type of cords you would for a fireplace. To avoid safety hazards and general maintenance of your fire pit, you should never try to burn a pressed wood or fire log (paper-enclosed quick-light). The reason being; that because firelogs are made from sawdust materials, they will burn hotter than a fire pit crafted for cord wood can handle. Some fire pits, however, will offer the versatility of burning cordwood, pressed wood, and firelogs; in its safety specifications. Just remember that, unlike regular wood, only one firelog should be burnt at a time. Also note that if a fire pit's specs allows for pressed wood, it will be able to burn the somewhat comparable firelogs. The alternative to wood-fire is a gas hook-up. Gas will burn cleaner than wood, uses ceramic logs and fake burning coals, and can provide you with an almost-real look and warmth for your trip or patio. The only catch with gas-powered outdoor heat is that it requires more close and constant attention, due to its limitless supply of flammable energy.

· Costs?

Cost is always a significant factor to look into when scouting for an outdoor fire pit. Portable fire pit units are the simplest, cost-effective solution to your outdoor heating. Depending upon the varying features and supplies the portable comes with, it will typically range anywhere from $150-$500. This is due to the fact that your portable fire pit is built of lighter and subsequently, less durable materials for easy transportation; and doesn't require the costly installation that a permanent or custom-built fire pit does. Portables are the perfect investment for people who want an outdoor, low-maintenance fire; but either can't afford the solid structure of a custom-built, or have yet to find a relatively-permanent home to properly reap the long-term benefits. Custom-built or permanent fire pits will call upon heavy-duty, all-weather materials such as stone, brick, concrete, or wood; and typically necessitate a space in your backyard of 15-20ft wide. Because of their lifetime permanence and varying backyard landscaping needed, professional installation is quite labor-intensive and can run you thousands. It all comes down to your particular situation, though. For most homeowners, the lifetime durability and projected use usually outweighs the cost. But if cost is an issue, portables are the easy, cost-effective quick-fix to your outdoor heating whims.

· Dangers and Safety Precautions

We all love a good fire, but it is crucial to remember that it is a fire; and if we don't take the proper safety precautions and adhere to specific fire hazards, your fire pit could rage out of control, leading to property damage, sickness, and possibly death.

Always follows the manufacturer's and professional installation expert's specifications and direction for which energy source to use.

Fire pits should not be used on apartment building or multi-unit home decks due to clearance issues.

Ensure your permanent is installed a good distance from your home and anything combustible (typically your installer will automatically enlist this common sense issue, but if not, ensure that it has a good ten feet clearance).

Ensure you place your portable fire pit at least ten feet from the house, backyard miscellaneous, and trees i.e anything combustible. Also, with portable fire pits, it is necessary that you gauge the placement according to wind patterns and where the smoke will, therefore, be blowing.

Don't overfill your firepit with wood or wood substitute; or conversely, over-gas. Keep the fire small, contained and manageable.

Always use a screen cover to keep sparks and embers at bay.

It is necessary to note how close your fire pit sits to the ground. Lifted 1-2 feet from a non-flammable surface will keep a small to medium fire at a safe clearance, but remember that is the perfect height of unsuspecting and curious children and pets, so close supervision is crucial.

Always ensure that your fire is completely extinguished before leaving it unmonitored. Even with proper safety clearance, a spark can become a raging fire in a split second, and reach all corners of your deck and backyard in no time.

It is also a must to get a fire extinguisher, because you are playing with fire, otherwise.

Desmona Fratere has written many articles on subjects of the home and home maintenance to help consumers find the best and safest products for their homes. For more information on and examples of outdoor fire pits, please visit: Northline Express Outdoor Fire Pit

Low Maintenance Teak Furniture

Writen by Virginia Bryson

In all likelihood you have heard of teak furniture and have wanted to know why it's such a big deal. This article contains some simple info regarding the building material that seems a little mysterious, even has a weird sound to it, but dominates the market of outdoor furniture.

Teakwood furniture is especially suited to use outside the home because of its super high oil content and resistance to insects and warping. Teak is a hardwood tree indigenous to the east and south of Southern Asia and much of Southeast Asia. Teak is nowadays frequently planted in tropical environments and is exported around the world to furnish gardens and patios as well as for shipbuilding materials. Teakwood furniture ages in the weather and gains a silvery color without requiring any shelter or care at all. Just leave your teak furniture on the patio during all four seasons and you will end up with furniture that looks elegant in a natural environment and also affords comfort and durability. Look for teak furniture built with mortise and tenon joints for the utmost quality build.

Teak furniture typically has a distinctively simple style of design. Clean lines take advantage of the beautiful texture of the wood. When you start looking for outdoor furniture, you'll discover a very large selection of teak chairs, tables, and accessories to choose from. Because teakwood furniture can be left outside without being sheltered or cared for 365 days a year, the majority of teak tables and chairs are heavy, causing them to be super durable. Teakwood furniture is commonly made to increase comfort and style since there is no need for storing it away!

The focal point of your collection will be your table. Teak tables typically come in a slat style, offering texture and interest to the eating surface. Pick from round, square, rectangular and expandable teak tables to fit your outdoor dining setup.

What could be more critical than a comfortable chair when you're looking for furniture to purchase? Teak chairs come in a wide variety of styles, some folding, some armchairs, and lots of attractively simple side chairs to accommodate a crowd. Go all out and try a teak steamer or Adirondack chair. You will not want to get up!

If your style is a more upbeat outdoor party, bar-height teak table and chairs are the best selection. Add proportion to your teak furniture collection by owning these bar height teak tables and chairs and get your guests mingling. In the garden or by the pool, teak bar furniture is compact and practical no matter how many people you have invited over.

The simple truth is, teak furniture is the best choice for your garden, deck or patio. It will last a lifetime. You will be happy in your teak bar chair and dozing in your steamer chair with no fears about care.

Virginia Bryson writes for Belle Abode about home furnishings and design, and consults on interior design in the Atlanta, GA area. For more information about teak furniture and patio furniture, visit http://www.belleabode.com/

Choosing The Right Water Feature For Your Garden

Writen by Steve Snedeker

Choosing the right water feature for your garden can be a real challenge. There are as many types of water features as there are techniques for installing and servicing. This article will deal with a few examples of water features, per se, to acquaint us with the wide and surprising array of possibilities for installing water in our gardens and landscapes.

The Waterfall

Waterfalls delight the senses in so many ways. The motion itself tends to lead to fascination as we admire the coursing of water over a falls, catching sunlight and looking so fresh and natural. The sounds of the splashing water as it drops delights by soothing, a somehow powerful sound which overcomes and demands attention. Waterfalls seem to close off the outer world, fascinating humans since time immemorial. These water features remain focal points in many of the most exotic gardens and cityscapes in the world, providing places of congregation and repose. And, hey, if kids love them, they have to be cool. An underestimated benefit, as well, of waterfalls is their night time possibilities. Modern lighting techniques can spotlight cascades of water by illuminating from under the falls themselves as well as from outside them.

Creeks

Many waterfalls lead into small creeks, coursing through some property most enjoyably, a construct of Nature and man providing more liquid motion to delight the eye and senses. There is no accident that perhaps the most famous residence in the world, Frank Lloyd Wright's "Falling Water" is built over a stream, intimately connected with running and falling water and the sounds and sights therein. The same attributes supplied by waterfalls and listed above pertain to this unique water feature. The sound is effective and can be induced to course through areas to change the sound environment. Water's piercing sound qualities are quite amazing, really. Water's sound is penetrating and a little can go a long way. Thus creeks themselves, if long enough, can literally change the audial environment substantially.

Bubble Rocks

Bubble rocks are rocks which have been bored through, length-wise, providing a channel for a small pump to allow water to bubble out from the top and thus coat the rock in water. These also provide the sound of tricking water and can be used in incredibly small spaces. They also take lighting most admirably. The range of rocks one can do this with is literally limitless. There are places one can get any rock bored, usually costing about $50 a linear, bored foot, depending on the size of the hole. Their virtue is in the fact that they do not need a lot of room. Enough for a small basin to hold water and a pump.

Ponds

Ponds can be from 8 feet across to lake size. Ponds offer yet another marvelous quality in a landscape or garden: absolute serene water. Inside the pond, there is a range of possibillity that boggles the mind, from fishes to plants, from decorative bottoms to decks built to shimmer an inch or two above the water. Ponds need space, naturally, thus they are not really an urban choice. Generally, ponds have algae issues much more severe than those encounted by rapidly-moving water features and it is always something to consider. Many folks aerate their water by using any number of fountaining gizmos to send the water skyward. This really helps a pond's ecology, especially inasmuch as the aeration provides excellent amounts of oxygen for what lies below.

Formal Features

These are constructions of cement and more formal style. They can be hard-lined, sparsely severe-looking edifices which supply the smoothest of cascades, virtual "sheets" of water, falling into almost endless types of basins and pools. These are every bit as satisfying as the more naturalistic waterfalls, creeks and ponds and are also subject to astounding lighting effects. As well, formal water features include those cool little basins mounted on walls, a particular delight at an entryway or even inside a home. The art applied here can be amazing, using items like stone, copper, brass, steel to form illusions and literal artworks. There is, as one can see, no limit in the ability to transform something as simple as the use of water itself into some awe-inspiring human construct.

Need help with your water feature? Get FREE direct advice from Steve by joining Verdant Gardening and Landscaping Forums - http://www.verdantforums.com Steve Snedeker is a professional landscaper. Steve has planned and installed award winning gardens across the US and Canada. Visit Steve's blog and see his work at SteveSnedeker.com

6 Steps To A Greener Healthier Lawn

Writen by Jim Reinhardt

It is important to understand that a lawn that is easy to care for and gives you the health and beauty you desire is dependant on several steps including those that occur before you make your first application of fertilizer.

St. Augustinegrass, the type of grass in most Florida homes, comes in many subtypes called varieties and have different characteristics that make them more or less suited for various conditions like shade tolerance and others. The term lawn or turfgrass as found below will be used interchangeably to refer to St. Augustinegrass.

1. Turfgrass Establishment:
Successful turfgrass establishment is important because without it lawns perform poorly and become infested with weeds that later can be difficult or impossible to selectively control. Proper soil preparation followed by the selection of quality sod that is of the appropriate variety (cultivar) for your general shade conditions, combined with properly installed irrigation all contribute to the success of turfgrass establishment.

Neglecting any of these important steps can lead to necessary corrective action in order to maintain a healthy desired lawn. This action can include removing sod from an area that is too shady for grass to grow and replacing it with a more shade tolerant plant material, pruning a tree to allow more sunlight, adding or moving sprinklers, or removing the existing weed infested areas and re-sodding with the appropriate variety following proper soil preparation.

2. Mowing:
St. Augustine grass should be mowed frequently enough to never remove more that one third of the grass blade and always with a sharp mower blade.Mowers should be set on the highest setting for all varieties other than semi-dwarf varieties such as Seville and Delmar, which should be mowed at about two and one half inches high. When mowing once per week, this practice can be easily followed during the slower growing cooler months but becomes more difficult during the fast growing rainy summer months.

A dull mower blade will split and tear the grass blades that will eventually die from their wounds. Split and torn grass blades can thin the grass, encourage weed growth, cause an entry point for fungus and detract from the overall appearance of the lawns color by combining dead grass blades with green healthy ones. Grass clippings should be mulched and returned to the grass to be used as an additional source of nutrients.

3. Irrigation:
Proper irrigation conserves both water and fertilizer and contributes to a healthy lawn by encouraging healthy root growth while discouraging weeds that thrive during constant wet conditions. Irrigation should be performed as needed by recognizing temporary wilt symptoms and then applying three-quarters of an inch of water. If a regular frequency is desired and you are in the St. Johns Water Management District, you must follow the irrigation requirements that allow watering only two times per week and only on specified days that correspond with your street address.You should then apply only three-quarters of an inch of water. Ask your Dr. Jack's horticulturist for a free irrigation gauge to help you determine how long you need to water each area (irrigation zone) and set your timer (controller) up accordingly.

4. Fertilizing:
Fertilizer is a lot like vitamins. There are many different opinions on what fertilizer is the best and what the frequency and rate should be.

Turfgrass experts will all agree that St. Augustinegrass must receive additional fertilizer other than grass clippings in order to be healthy and have a good green appearance. Most turfgrass experts will also tell you that St. Augustinegrass in Central Florida requires 4 to 6 pounds of nitrogen per 1000 square feet per year. Most will also agree that nitrogen should be applied at 1 pound per 1000 square feet, and that formulations should contain some slow-release fertilizer. We recommend that as much as 50% of the nitrogen applied should be a slow-release form.

Do not be fooled by the term organic! Organic can be an expensive slow release synthetic or natural long feeding product, or it can be a cheap quick release synthetic or natural slow feeding product. The important key word again is slow-release.

Since our soils in Central Florida usually contain adequate amounts of Phosphorus, and because Phosphorus is detrimental to the health of our lakes, it should be applied in smaller amounts than Nitrogen and Potassium or eliminated from the fertilizer completely. Potassium is important for root growth and should be included at rates close to those of Nitrogen. Micronutrients such as Iron and Manganese help with turf color but can cause staining if applied to paved surfaces.

Generally, you get what you pay for when it comes to fertilizer. The cheaper the fertilizer the more you will need to buy and the shorter time it will last. This will ultimately cost you more than if you buy a more expensive fertilizer that requires you to use less but feeds your turf far longer.

Good quality broadcast spreader types are the easiest to use and achieve the best results. Avoid getting any fertilizer on paved surfaces and if you do, blow or sweep the pellets back into the lawn area to avoid potentially staining paved surfaces. It is also important to apply fertilizer in a manner that can be utilized by the grass and not wasted or cause pollution to our lakes. Many of our paved surfaces drain into lakes and can carry misapplied fertilizers into our waterways during rainfall. All fertilizers are harmful to our lakes so you should always follow Florida's Best Management Practices (BMP) when making fertilizer applications. You can learn more about fertilizing and other Best Management Practices by visiting:
http://tinyurl.com/eypua
In conclusion, you need to determine several things before you apply fertilizer. Have you purchased the desired blend? Are you going to apply the right rate evenly so that you achieve an even, rich color that you desire while avoiding damage to the lawn from applying too much fertilizer? And most importantly, are you avoiding any detrimental environmental impact?

5. Pest Control:
A certain level of expertise is required to properly identify the different pests that can harm our St. Augustinegrass turf before you decide to use a pesticide. You can view pests that damage St. Augustinegrass by visiting: http://www.pestweb.com
Proper identification of insects, diseases and weeds will help you decide if a pesticide is required and if so which one should be used.

You need to read and understand the label before making any application of pesticides. There are several things you can do to reduce the need for pesticides on your site. These include proper watering, mowing, fertilizing, reducing traffic where possible, and avoiding any other stress to the grass. If you are unsure about what you are attempting to control, you should consult or hire a professional.

Any pesticides that are unused in an application should be stored safely away from children, always kept in their original container with the label attached, and never disposed improperly by pouring them into a sink drain or body of water.


6.Change Your View and Perspective:
If you think your lawn doesn't look as good as you think it should, or it is not as green as your neighbors across the street, try walking across the street to view your lawn.

There is no such thing as the perfect lawn and sometimes we see things up close that aren't apparent from further away. You will probably find several things wrong with your neighbor's lawn up close that were not apparent from your home across the street. Having a residential St. Augustinegrass lawn that looks like a closely mowed Bermudagrass hybrid that you play golf on is an unrealistic goal. Remember, the grass is always greener on the other side of the street!

For more information, please visit www.greengrassnow.com

Dr. Jack's, a Central Florida Plant Care & Pest Control company, was founded in 1972 by Dr. Jack Reinhardt (Plant Pathology). The family owned and operated company provides high quality lawn & ornamental lawn care, termite protection, and pest prevention by degreed horticulturists. Jim Reinhardt, Jack's son, earned a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Florida. Jim's brother, Rick Reinhardt, president of Dr. Jack's, obtained a degree in Horticulture. Jim has been a licensed Florida Pest Control Operator since 1985. He has served on the Orange County Agricultural Advisory Board and many tasks committees with the Bureau of Entomology an Pest Control (division of DACS).

Introducting Koicam

Writen by Brett Fogle

This is a project I've had on the back burner for many months now, but now it's finally ready!

We rigged up a wireless camera and aimed it at the KOI pond here, directly where my KOI get their daily feedings. To check it out right now, visit www.koi-cam.com.

Right now, it's just a snapshot that can be updated by hitting your 'refresh' button on your browser - but soon we'll have it available as a streaming video feed.

The KOI get regular feedings at the times listed on the website. check out my new auto-feeder called 'Koi-Cafe' also shows at www.koi-cam.com. This feeder is run by battery, and also comes with a solar panel for re-charging the battery! It's not hooked up yet, but it's still pretty amazing.

The feeder makes sure that my hungry little underwater pigs get all the food they need to grow large and healthy. Plus, we've just added some new fish recently, right out of Charles Lewis' (President of The Tropical Koi Club of South Florida) personal collection. We'll be having a photo tour of Charles' pond very soon - he's got some beautiful show koi in his 10,000 gallon pond.

Charles has also written a couple interesting articles on Water Quality and how to avoid 'New Pond Syndrome' which you can read at the KOI FLA website here: www.koifla.com

Or you can access the article direcly here: http://www.geocities.com/koifla/New_Pond.htm

We also welcome your comments about KOI Cam! Feel free to email us at newsletter@macarthurwatergardens.com with your thoughts and feedback.

Stay tuned for more KOI-cam announcements...

**************************************************
Brett Fogle is the owner of MacArthur Water Gardens and several
other pond-related websites including MacArthurWatergardens.com
and Pond-Filters-Online.com. He also publishes a free monthly
newsletter called PondStuff! with a reader circulation of over
9,000. To sign up for the free newsletter and receive our FREE
'New Pond Owners Guide' visit MacArthur Water Gardens today!
**************************************************

Enhance The Beauty Of Your Outdoor Space With Patio Awnings

Writen by Clayton P. Agustino

Having a patio space at home is a great way to enjoy the beauty of the great outdoors, but patios can have their drawbacks as well as their benefits. For many homeowners one of the chief disadvantages of a patio concerns the weather conditions. When it is raining, or when it is too hot, a patio can be too uncomfortable to be of any use, but choosing the right patio awnings means you are free to use your great patio no matter what the weather outside may have in store.

There are of course many patio awnings on the market, made by a number of different manufacturers, and it is important to shop around for the best deal and the best quality patio awnings. Finding a great price is of course important, but making sure you have gotten a high quality awning for your patio is just as important.

There are several different kinds of patio awnings, and it is also important to consider just what you are looking for in an awning. There are some patio awnings that are fully automatic, and they can often be operated with just the touch of a button. Some of these automatic awnings for patios even come with a handy remote control for easy operation.

In addition to the automatic patio awning units there are many different hand crank and manual models. These awnings may not be as convenient as the automatic and remote controlled models, but they can be a more cost effective choice.

No matter what type of patio awning you decide on, it is important to carefully measure the area where it is to be installed. Measuring the patio properly will ensure you of getting the most accurate cost estimate possible, and it will help you better choose the awning that best suits your needs.

It is also important to consider the weather conditions when installing the patio awning. It is a good idea to live with the patio as is for a month or two, and decide which problems are most troublesome. Knowing exactly what you hope to get out of your patio awning will help you a great deal when it comes time to shop.

It is always a good idea, of course, to be on the lookout for special discounts that may apply to patio awnings for sale. The companies that make and sell awnings and other patio accessories often run specials, especially in the springtime, and these specials may help you get an exceptional deal on an otherwise unaffordable awning for the patio.

In addition, the companies that sell awnings and other patio accessories often set up booths at home shows, so if such a traveling show is coming to your area it may be well worth your while to attend. The beauty of the home show is that you get to see many different kinds of patio accessories, and talk to many different manufacturers, all under one roof.

No matter what type of patio awning you choose, however, it is vital to sp around for the best price and the best value. A low price is important, but a good value is even more so, whether you are buying an awning or any other type of patio accessory.

Clayton has been a freelance architecture writer since 2000 and enjoys writing articles to give new home owners tips and advice for their home projects. He has written a book on patios giving readers detailed instructions and information on choosing and installing the right patio. Visit the patio ideas website to learn more.

Want To Know More About Gas Patio Heaters

Writen by Anne Clarke

Some wonderful about gas patio heaters have been created specifically for outdoor use in places such as coffee shops, restaurants, private clubs, and more. The about gas patio heaters you will find can be very luxurious, rustic, simplistic, and everything in between.

Examples:

- Environment:

You can purchase about gas patio heaters for your workplace that will simply do wonders for you. Many people enjoy being outdoors during his or her breaks from their work—and there are countless office facilities, call centers, etc. Because of these about gas patio heaters, many employees and employers can still relax and unwind outside—even in the cold weather.

- Smokers in the cold:

- You want the very best about gas patio heaters possible on the market today they will be like a gift this season: a wonderful surprise that emits warmth and comfort for you. In addition, a company usually prefers that its employees and patrons do not smoke in or near the building, making it virtually freezing to smoke in the winter. However, if simple gas heaters are set up away from the building—everyone can be happy.

- Public dining and other businesses:

Many public dining and other business places have nice patios set up for the warmer season—but it won't have to be just a warm-weather patio if you choose. About gas patio heaters will provide you with high quality dependability and effectiveness.

- YOUR HOME!

It is amazing what about gas patio heaters can do! It is wonderful to have impressive, beautiful and pleasing to the eye about gas patio heatersfor outdoor happy times through the entire year.

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, recreation, education and décor. Her background includes teaching and gardening. For more of her articles about outdoor heaters, please visit Outdoor Gas Patio Heaters.

911 Changed Everything For The Garden Tractor Business

Writen by Lance Winslow

While traveling the US and occasionally taking the back highways one might have seen an interesting trend. That is the proliferation of the Lawn Garden tractors. They are everywhere and on any weekend you can see their owners mowing the grass. Previously fewer people had garden tractors but right after 9-11 everyone decided to stay home more and so they invested in things they wanted around the house, like BBQs and garden tractors. The manager of the Wal-Mart Super Center in Witchita Falls, TX said we have about 50 garden tractors out side for sale at any one time and they turn over quickly. We checked the prices and they are very affordable. You can peruse Wal-Mart's online catalog at Walmart.com and see the selection.

Now we took some back roads and highways on our last trip from coast to coast to see America and Home Town Americana and what did we see? We counted in TN, AL, VA, NJ, LA, MS, TX 143 people riding garden tractors, actually on them as we passed mowing the tall grass. Now these garden tractors are not free even though they are a good bargain. With the Spring bringing rain and lawns growing fast, there are many lawns which have grown tall, and they must be mowed to prevent tall grass growing and dying. If you have cattle or goats, then they can eat it down to where it needs to be, but if you want it have a manicured lawn then you must get one of these killer little units, most are made here in America. As well as many of the parts, which is good for manufacturing jobs stateside. Sales for garden tractors are strong and top out the profit margin for categories at Wal-Mart. This is an incredible plus for little towns like Statesboro, GA where Briggs and Stratton has a plant, which produces small engines. It is good for our steel industry and automotive sector parts makers, which can also build tractor parts rather than laying off people.

Why is this good for America? Why is it not? Well it is good because it prevents grass from getting too tall and becoming fire hazard. It is good because it uplifts Americans and gives them a sense of pride in their property, helps with an ownership society buy-in attitude and perhaps will help them decide to finally get rid of those average of 5 non-running cars in the backyards rusting and polluting ground and well water of our small towns. It helps people care for their homes and their families by doing something positive at home. Homes and BBQs and family has become a greater priority since the mass media hysteria striking unnecessary fear in the American Public post 9-11.

Why is it not good for America? Well we have lots of mulch and grass clippings which if set aside produces methane gas, tons of it is released into our atmosphere. If it is covered, which normally it is not, the methane gas from the dead grass could be recovered and used for biomass fuel. It is not good because push mowers are better for your health, because it gets you out and about and helps you stay fit; although with the high humidity in the Midwest and East Coast States perhaps that might cause problems with heat stroke. Either way a ride on lawn mower is not a luxury anymore, America has made it a necessity and that means jobs, that means more beautiful homesteads and happier family life and time to watch the ball game because the "Honey Do's" just got that much easier while sitting back and driving on the grass. It saves a lot of money too, because if you think you want to cruise into town in you pickup or SUV it is going to cost you $3.00 per gallon and $20.00 round trip minimum. From the back roads of America, that is our report. Drive safe; drive a garden tractor. Think about it.

Lance Winslow

Creating Wildlife Gardens

Writen by Tim Hallinan

Creating a wildlife garden allows you take part in your larger surrounding environment. Often gardens are completely shut out from the natural landscape around it and aren't welcoming to birds and other wildlife. Adding a few well placed and well chosen shrubs or trees can make all the difference when trying to attract birds to your garden.

Map out and observe your surroundings to see what natural habitats are close by. Are there any ponds, rivers, or streams? Are parks, golf courses or nature reserves nearby? Remember, your garden is part of the larger environment. Knowing what the local ecosystems are will better enable you to plan your garden.

In order to attract birds, gardens must supply them with food, water, shelter and nesting areas. Provide for different bird species by making available a variety of seed and berry producing trees and shrubs, such as Washington hawthorn, mountain ash, cherry and viburnum. Flowers such as hollyhock, nasturtium, and sunflower produce seed which attract birds as well. Indigenous plants, those which grow naturally in a specific area, are very effective at attracting local bird species. Try to incorporate some of these into your garden.

Also, be sure to provide food throughout the year. For example, in the spring have a few different berry producing shrubs available, such as blueberries and raspberries. In the summer, perennials provide seed and in the fall trees such as dogwood and serviceberry bear fruit which birds will seek out. Birds which over winter in your area will need sustenance provided by winterberry and other fruit bearing shrubs.

Different birds need different foods and different environments in which to live. Robins, for example, eat at ground level where they forage for insects and worms while many other birds prefer to be off the ground a bit in the midst of a perennials garden where they eat the seeds of the flowers. Some birds, like grosbeaks, prefer the height of shrubs and others still, such as the woodpecker, prefer to be in the canopy of taller trees where their able to find insects in the tree's bark.

Plants, while providing food, also supply birds with shelter. Evergreens and other dense shrubs provide nesting areas and protection from cold winter winds and create shade in the heat of the summer. While it may be impossible to incorporate all these habitats into your garden, plan at least a couple. The more habitats you can provide the more birds will flock to your garden.

Along with food, birds require water for both drinking and bathing. If there aren't any natural water sources near your garden, be sure to place a birdbath or water dish in the area. Keep the water fresh by filling it daily. In the winter when the water freezes knock out the ice and replace with fresh water. Most home and garden stores that stock birdbaths sell small water heaters which will prevent freezing. If you are considering using one of these consult an electrician to help with the installation. If their aren't any natural water systems in your area, consider planning a water garden, just remember bird prefer shallow water to deep water. Waterfalls and bubbling fountains will attract a number of birds since most species are drawn to the sound of running water.

If you're contemplating using a bird feeder, maintain it and be sure to keep it stocked as birds often come to depend on these feeders, especially during the lean, harsh months of winter. Since birds are attracted to a variety of different foods, supply them with seeds, berries, fats, breads and nuts. Avoid salty foods. Using a birdhouse for your seed provides shelter as well as a place for food.

Creating a garden which attracts birds has positive effect on the environment; you're providing a new habitat for birds and well as beneficial insects and other wildlife. While birds will thrive and will benefit the most from your efforts, you're also providing years of enjoyment for both yourself and visitors to your garden.

T Hallinan is a landscape designer and builder in Massachusetts. Visit his garden resource website http://www.gardenlistings.com for all kind of helpful information. For more garden guides visit http://www.gardenlistings.com/resources.htm

Patio Design And Patio Furniture The Use Of Focal Points

Writen by Aleister Holmes

A focal point is an important design element; it is a place where the eye naturally comes to rest. In a well-designed patio there is always a planned focal point, such as a large dining set, perhaps with a well-selected umbrella. But a patio's focal point could also be another interesting object or landscape feature.

Examples of landscape features that can be a patio's focal point are an interesting pathway leading from the patio to an area beyond, a flower garden, a mature tree, or a dramatic view of the back lawn.

However, an outdoor dining table with chairs is often a natural focal point because of its size. If you intend to have a large outdoor dining set, there are several things to keep in mind.

Be conscious of the style of the table and chairs and try to keep styles the same. If you have a very rustic patio, then a contemporary table and chairs may not go well together. It is usually a good idea to maintain the same decor style.

Select the colors of the furniture and cushions with care. Visualize the furniture in the location where they will be used. The colors should be similar or complimentary to the surrounding area.

An umbrella is a good addition if it is appropriate. An umbrella in an area already covered may look odd. However, umbrellas usually work well in screened-in areas that are still exposed to direct sunlight. If you buy an umbrella separately from the table and chairs, make very sure the colors and patterns go well with each other as well as the surroundings.

A pair of chaise lounges with an umbrella could also be an interesting focal point. The umbrella would have its own stand. Of course, the cushions on the chaise lounges and the umbrella material would have to either match or be complimentary with each other.

A statue, fountain, or other ornament can be used as a focal point. However several things should be kept in mind. If using a statue, the statue and its size must be in keeping with its surroundings, the style of the house, and the decor of the patio. A large statue of the god Jupiter would probably not look well on a patio with, for example, western decor. But a statue of Venus in a traditional English garden setting would be a pleasing addition. A graceful statue would bring an air of serenity.

Size is important as you would not want to overpower the surrounding garden features with a statue that is too large. One of the most agreeable placements for a nicely sized statue within a garden setting is placement by a wall, such as a red brick wall, especially where there are plants, including climbing plants. Never place a statue in isolation, but in an area where it can become part of its surroundings.

These are but a few examples of possible focal points in a patio or garden setting. There are many other possibilities. The important thing is to include the focal point naturally within the patio or garden environment so that it blends in and be in harmony with its surroundings.

Aleister Holmes is a contributing writer to Better Patio Furniture website at http://www.better-patio-furniture.com/.

Teak Furniture For Your Garden Add A Touch Of Something Spectacular

Writen by Anne Clarke

Teak furniture seems to be an increasingly popular style of outdoor decor. There are teak garden benches of many other sorts, of course, but teak garden benches can add a touch of elegance that will impress you and your guests. Make your garden beautiful this season, and buy teak garden benches that will last so long you can pass them on to your children, and that are virtually maintenance free!

Let a teak bench dress up your yard or garden. Choose the right style for you and enjoy the look you are going for, with garden decor that will last you a lifetime.

·In the flower garden:

Some teak garden benches are made just for sitting down and admiring the flowers.

·In the yard:

Under the shade of your maple tree, far enough away from the pool or the volley ball net to just sit back and watch and relax, your teak bench might just be perfect for "sitting the next one out" or resting in the shade of your garden as you watch the children play.

·Teatime teak garden benches:

Many teak garden benches are designed especially for sitting in your yard or garden or on that patio or porch and eating and drinking. These teak garden benches often come in sets, using extra chairs and teak tables as well. These teak garden benches are perfect for a get together, a card game, teatime, or just for relaxing at home.

·Multi purposed:

There are teak benches made for watching the birds and the flowers in your garden, which can also double as seating for dining outdoors.

With more than a dozen teak wood bench styles to choose from, create an outdoor focal point for your yard or garden. Complement your existing indoor or outdoor teak furniture by choosing the perfect style.

There are teak garden benches with full backs and armrests for just sitting back and relaxing in, sometimes these come in sets with tables. Some of them come in straight designs, and some come in more arched or elegant designs.

The typical backless teak benches are a beautiful touch to any garden or yard. Some are more stylish but a little more plain, and others have a unique, luxurious design just by adding a few extra decorative touches.

When you choose a more streamlined look, if that is the look you are going for, by purchasing a backless teak garden bench you can sit facing any direction for the perfect view. Watch the sunrise and watch the sunset all from the same picturesque backless teak garden bench. Some of these teak garden benches are offered with curling armrests on either side, and some have no armrests at all.

And believe it or not, the garden benches you choose will be among the most essential parts of your yard or garden. Your teak garden benches will definitely be a big part of what gives your yard or garden that picturesque overall look to it. Teak garden benches will even add a graceful touch to the view of your garden from the kitchen, living room, bedroom, dining room, or whatever window that faces it.

Teak furniture will never require finishing or maintenance, and will weather to a lovely shade of soft gray. Good teak garden benches will remain splinter free and smooth for decades. Such benches are so long lasting you can pass them on to the next generation of your family.

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background includes teaching and gardening. For more of her articles on garden furniture please visit Garden Furniture.

Getting Up To Speed With Landscape Lighting

Writen by Nicole Martins

If you want to bring out the very best in your garden this summer consider your outdoor lighting. While it's important that exterior areas such as those areas directly outside the home in both front and backyard have fixtures to provide lighting for visibility and security (homeowners can choose from a wide range of exterior fixtures such as wall mounts, post lights); it is also a great idea to incorporate lighting into the garden. If you are thinking about doing so, remember that there are a number of options to consider.

Choices in Landscape Lighting:

Basically, there are three ways to add lighting to your garden: line voltage, low voltage and solar. And, for most homeowners, especially the do-it-yourself kind, the final 2, low voltage and solar, are, in most cases the best choices. Why? Both can be installed quickly and safely, without risk of electric shock. These lighting types are also low or no energy consumers. As far as lighting options go, with a low voltage system you can accent or create visibility lights to decks, pathways, stairs, and garden beds. You can do the same with solar fixtures; however, there may be less choice.

Garden Lighting Tip:

Keep in mind that you're not lighting up a ball park at night and that excessive lighting can disturb your neighbor. Design your garden with lighting in a careful manner. Use fixtures to provide safety and visibility along paths and in areas of circulation and add other lights to gently highlight a small area, focal point, beautiful tree or shrub.

Results:

Imagine enjoying views of the garden at night during any season. When warmer weather arrives, a carefully lit garden can be as inviting for evening pleasures as any spot within your home. Fixtures such as pathway lights and lanterns can mark a strolling path and along the way, a beautiful tree is lit from below, casting interesting shadowing. There is so much that can be done to enhance and highlight the garden at night. Take a look at the selection of fixtures available and determine which form of lighting (solar, low voltage) you prefer.

Nicole Martins is a contributing writer and researcher to Chandeliers and Home Lighting, providing you information and reviews of popular selling lighting fixtures. You can visit this site at http://www.chandeliers-and-home-lighting.com

Spring Flowers

Writen by Marcus Peterson

Spring is a wonderful and exciting season, with fresh and delightful flowers everywhere. A season boosting the spirit with new signs of life everywhere, spring is welcomed with wholehearted joy.

The first spring flowers are symbolic of new beginnings after a long winter season. These flowers usually spring from the ground that is still frozen and may even bloom before the snow melts. Such flowers welcome the spring season and are considered special. Daffodils, the narcissus with white and yellow flowers and the hyacinths with small blue-colored flowers are among the early spring flowers. Other flowers of the season include the long-lasting tulips and irises, cherry blossoms, poppies, roses, violets, forsythia, amaryllis, cyclamens, freesias, lilies, chrysanthemums, sunflowers, and asters.

Spring flowers enhance the beauty of the landscape with their different shades, shapes, and attractive colors, which vary from white to violet. Most spring flowers have a pleasant smell. Many spring flowers are grown from bulbs. These bulbs are placed in holes with the pointed ends upwards and then covered and watered. If the climate is too cold, the bulbs can be protected using mulch, which is kept over the bulbs.

Spring flowers are refreshing as they brighten one's day with colors and hopes. They are messengers of warmth, pleasure, love, and care. Spring flowers are well suited as gifts for anniversaries, graduations, birthdays, Mother's Day celebrations, Easter, and bridal events.

Spring flowers make attractive centerpieces for tables and rooms. Bridal bouquets can be prepared with them. There are a number of online florists and flower shops that provide fresh spring flowers and spring flower baskets.

Spring Flowers provides detailed information on Spring Flowers, Spring Wedding Flowers, Names Of Spring Flowers, Spring Wild Flowers and more. Spring Flowers is affiliated with Fresh Flower Arrangements.

Growing And Caring For Your Bamboo

Writen by Michael Russell

Bamboos are some of the most versatile and resilient grasses. They are easy to grow and maintain because these plants demand little care and fuss. They grow up fast like lawn grass and they benefit from simple watering and fertilizer applications. Once the bamboo has achieved its top mature size, which takes about ten years, it then becomes even easier to grow.

Bamboos do not require much fertilizer and watering when mature enough. Some species are even drought tolerant. They also benefit from a wind screen and some light shade when first planted as well. This is especially true of the smaller variety, though some species like the Fargesias, Thamnocalamus and Sasas can grow well with a lot more sun. In fact, the Fargesias and most Thamnocalamus are grown better with some shade during the middle of the day when it is hottest.

Aside from watering and fertilizer, bamboos greatly benefit from pruning, which most owners forget to do. Bamboo plants grow by producing new canes every year, usually in the spring. Some tropical species of clumping bamboos produce new canes later in the summer. These canes grow very fast in just a month or two. On the third month, the canes will start branching and leafing out like asparagus shoots. Each cane grows as much as it can in a short period of time and then the growth abruptly stops. In the next few years, each cane will only continue to branch and leaf out at a slower rate. As the canes grow even bigger, they can now begin to produce new and larger canes each year, after which the "mother" cane will age and finally die.

Placement is also important when determining where to position your bamboo shoots. You should always remember that most large bamboos grow faster and healthier in full sun. Fargesia and Thamnocalamus are the hardiest kinds and can be planted without the fear of uncontrollable spreading. Other bamboos spread by their underground rhizomes, so barriers need to be set up to limit their growth. A barrier 40 mil in thickness by 30 inches deep of HDPE (high density polyethylene) to control their spread usually does the trick.

Most bamboos grow extremely well in a moderately loamy soil that is slightly acidic. If your soil is quite heavy, you will have to add some organic materials. These materials can be dug well into the soil where the bamboo is to be planted. It is also recommended that you mulch the area well and let some earthworms do the work for you before you plant your bamboo. You don't need to spend for mulch. Any organic material makes good mulch and grass preferred because of its high nitrogen and silica content. Hay is good also but it is often a source of weed seeds, which can be a future problem. Any kind of manure is good as long as it's not hot. Limit the use of chicken manure for bamboos. Chipped trees are also good for bamboo growth.

Bamboo is a forest plant and it grows better if mulch is maintained over the roots and rhizomes. Do not rake or sweep up bamboo leaves that fall off the plant. These can keep the soil soft and moist. The leaves also recycle silica and other natural chemicals that are necessary for bamboo growth.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Bamboo.

Creating A Balcony Garden Oasis

Writen by Lee Dobbins

Having a garden is one of the highlights of summer for many people but not everyone has a yard in which to plant flowers. Luckily, there are a few ways that even apartment dwellers can enjoy gardening.

If you are fortunate enough to have a balcony or deck off your main living area, you can use containers to turn it into a mini garden. Today, you can purchase containers that hang right on the railing without any invasive installation and large pots can be used on the decking. If you have a roof above your balcony, you may even be able to install hanging plants. Just be sure that you review the rules of your apartment complex before you add anything to your outdoor area.

When choosing flowers or plants for your outdoor area, you want to be sure to buy plants that will thrive in that environment. If your apartment balcony is shady then you want to get plants that like the shade. If it has blazing sun all day, buy ones that can take the hot sun, or be sure to move them into the shade during the noon heat if they specify that they are for partial shade. Buying annuals is probably a best bet as they will flower all season and you won't have to deal with them in the winter.

When selecting your containers, be sure to get ones that have good drainage. You may even want to add some small rocks on the bottom to provide additional places for water to go. If you will be putting the containers on your decking, be sure to buy saucers for them so the water doesn't seep onto the deck and stain it - if you don't you might find yourself forfeiting your security deposit or re-staining the deck when you move out. Before drilling holes for hanging plants, be sure to check with your landlord or apartment caretaker.

Be sure to use a good potting soil for your plants and water thoroughly. Plants in containers can dry out rapidly and you may have to water them every day. Be sure that you don't over water, you want the soil to be moist with no standing water. Container plants do well when fertilized about once a month with a general fertilizer or one made specifically for your type of plant.

In addition to planting flowers outdoors, you can also enhance your balcony area with interesting potted palms and other tree like plants that can be moved into the apartment when cold weather comes and enjoyed all winter long. When arranging the plants, be sure to use pots and plants of varying heights - all plants of the same height will look boring, but if you put together containers of different sizes and heights in groups this will add a lot of interest.

Be sure to check your plants every day and pinch off any dead flowers and leaves to keep your balcony garden oasis vibrant and fresh.

Lee Dobbins writes for Apartment Rental Guides where you can leaarn more about apartment rentals and apartment living.

A Look At Metal Gazebos

Writen by Alison Cole

If you're looking for the strength, stability, sturdiness, and longevity of a metal gazebo, you have plenty of options to fit your needs. They come as 4-sided structures, all the way to 12-sided structures, as well as irregular structures like rectangles, ovals, and multi-sectioned shapes. They often boast many flourishes, such as swirling, plant-like shapes. Despite their not being made of wood, they have a very graceful feel to them capable of complimenting any outdoor setting.

Most metal gazebos come in aluminum, or steel and wrought iron. Aluminum is the less expensive and more lightweight material. It will do just fine under most circumstances. But if you're looking for a much more permanent structure, steel or wrought iron is your best bet. These metals are much heavier than aluminum and therefore stand up better to hard winds.

Another consideration for some consumers is that steel and iron are not likely to be damaged by vandalism. So while steel and iron are more expensive than aluminum, you might save money in the long run, because they will last.

Most metal gazebos don't have a contiguous roof to keep off rain or snow. You can either leave your metal gazebo that way and appreciate it for its aesthetic value, or you can add a fitted canopy. These are often made out of a heavy canvass or polymers. This open design means metal gazebos are great for displaying plants that hang in pots from the roof or climb like vines up the sides. Adding plants to a metal gazebo will bring more shade and beauty to the area.

The best part about any metal gazebo is its ability to withstand everything that a wood gazebo is prone to. Rot, termites, fading, warping, twisting, chipping, checking, discoloring – these elements are nothing to a metal gazebo.

Gazebos Info provides detailed information about spa, garden, patio, canopy, screened, metal, and vinyl gazebos, as well as gazebo plans and kits. Gazebos Info is the sister site of Awnings Web.

Hibiscus Tropical Beauty

Writen by William Berg

The Hibiscus genus comprises more than 200 different species. Hibiscus species are found in tropical and subtropical regions, as well as in temperate climates. It is a broad genus that contains herbaceous plants, shrubs and even small trees.

Hibiscus plants are popular in gardens and flower arrangements, since the plants produce astonishingly beautiful flowers on a tall stem. You can choose between wide range of different Hibiscus colours, including the popular red, pink, orange, violet, lavender, yellow and white variants. A Hibiscus flower can reach a size of 4-15 centimetres across and is equipped with five petals. Hibiscus leaves are toothed or lobed and have a deep green shade.

Hibiscus plants will require quite a lot of light, and a majority of the Hibiscus species origins from warm regions of the world. Most Hibiscus species will prefer to be planted where the temperature ranges from 60 to 90 degrees F during most parts of the day. These plants are tougher than many other tropical and subtropical species and will usually survive quite low temperatures as long as they are not prolonged. A cold night can for instance make the plant shed its leaves and buds, but it will survive and eventually begin to form new leaves and buds. You can keep a Hibiscus plant in areas where the temperatures drop below 50 degrees F, but these Hibiscuses will rarely flower. When it does flower, the blossoms will typically be very small and sometimes look a little weird. In a cold climate, you should not give your Hibiscus too much water since this will increase the risk of fungal infections. Temperatures below the freezing point should always be avoided.

If you take care of your Hibiscus, it will begin to produce buds. Hibiscus buds are typically big and tight. Unfortunately, Hibiscus buds are often attacked by worms and insects that can kill the entire bud. When the buds open up and begin to blossom, you can protect them from parasite attacks by regularly spraying them with water.

You can make the Hibiscus flowers last longer by providing them with water and protect them from severe heat. Heavy downpour can harm Hibiscus flowers. If the Hibiscus plant is exposed to temperatures above 95 degrees F, it can begin to drop its buds. This can sometimes be prevented by giving your Hibiscus plant a lot of water and creating some type of shade for it. The plant itself will have no problem surviving temperatures above 100 degrees F as long as it does not become dehydrated.

Pruning your Hibiscus is recommended since Hibiscus plants tend to produce flowers on their new shoots. You can cut off shoots and use in flower arrangements, but they will usually last no longer than 24 hours. If you cut off an almost opened bud you can protect it in the refrigerator until its time to use it.

Hibiscus plants needs a lot of minerals to do well, including manganese, iron and copper. Giving them some form of flower nutrition or fertilizer is therefore a good idea. Ask your florist for more specified instructions regarding your particular soil and Hibiscus species.

Read more about different types of Hibiscus flower such as the Hawaiian Hibiscus flowers

The 2 Most Common Weed Problems Faced By Lawn Owners

Writen by Jack Greenwood

If you think your lawn is weed-free, look closely again. Weeds grow in every lawn and some of them are hidden from view. Regardless you see them or not, they exist and are unlikely to disappear totally. Here are two common weed problems faced by many lawn owners.

The first problem is the growing and spreading of weeds. Weeds reproduced very quickly. Once a new weed found a place in your lawn, other weeds with spring up in no time. Even if you pull out the roots of the weeds, their seeds may be lying around and will grow again in the near future.

The second problem is hidden weeds. You can't see them but they are there competing for nutrients and water with your lawn grasses. By the time you discover them, they may have already spread to a significant portion of your lawn. Thus it is advisable to spend some time seeking out these hidden weeds and eliminate them before they grow into a nuisance.

The simplest way to get rid of weeds is to pull them out with your hands. You have to make sure that the roots of the weeds are removed to prevent them from growing again. Try to do this before they flower and set seeds. You can also get a weed puller to help you with the task.

You should also learn to identify the different types of weeds your lawn have and study their characteristics. Find out what methods are effective in controlling or eliminating them. Based on what you learn, you can easily formulate a plan and implement effective measure to control or eliminate weeds.

A significant growth in weeds is usually the result of poor or improper lawn maintenance. A few changes in your lawn maintenance practice can sometimes yield significant result in weed control. Do not be afraid to experiment. With proper lawn maintenance, you can easily keep the weeds under control without any extra effort.

Jack Greenwood makes it easy to maintain your lawn quickly & easily. His website offers numerous tips on lawn care and easy weed control. Sign up for a free 7-part Green Lawn Care mini-course at http://greenlawncaretips.com today.

Starting Your Own Landscape Service

Writen by David Dunlap

If viewing and making landscape more beautiful is a passion for you, rather than a hobby, then you may want to consider starting your own landscape service. There are many people out there who want a beautiful lawn but don't have the time, energy, or the artistic ability to do it on their own. Just like people need interior designers, they also need exterior designers.

Having beautiful landscape grace their home is a priority for many because it beautifies the community along with raising property values. They want to hire a team that can get the job done right and make their yard look magnificent.

You may want to consider hiring a team to help you. This might not be all that important until you get a few regular clients, however, if your good you will need help before you know it. Having a great reputation and getting word of mouth referrals is the best way to expand your landscape business quickly.

There are other methods of advertising your landscape service. You can create flyers to post around your city, you can place an ad in your towns largest newspaper, you can hand out business cards to potential contacts, or you can try to merge with an already established local landscape service and build a clientele that way. If you have a large vehicle, or buy one specifically for your business, you will want to be sure to put an advertisement on the side of it. More people will learn about your business that way than any other.

Other things you will have to consider are: applying for a business license, whether you will run your company from home or from a small office, and getting a loan for a building, tools, and company transportation.

Remember, starting a business is hard work but, if landscape is truly your passion, then it will all be worth it in the end. Think about waking up everyday and being excited about going to work! If you need help with any landscape ideas check out your local home improvement store or simply do some searching on the internet. Your sure to find some great ideas.

David Dunlap is the founder of The Landscaping Pro and Pure Landscaping, two online resource directories designed to help with any sized landscaping project. For more information on landscape lighting or landscaping equipment , visit http://thelandscapingpro.com or http://purelandscaping.com

Sunflowers

Writen by Johnathan Sanders

Hi there,

I am Jhon Saunders and recently took up gardening as a hobby. i have managed to buy cheap gardening equipment and also items such as blubs, lights etc. I have submitted various articles on mow I did this. To view this articles, please search under my name.

Sunflowers, what are they and why am I writing about them?

Well to put it frankly, sumflowers really do liven up any garden and they are so easy to cultivate. Literally, all you need to do is plant a sunflower seed ( you are not going to ask me where to get hold of these are you!) and then just add water.

The advantages of growning flowers like sunflowers is they also attract bees. Due to there size, they also add a focal point to the garden. For this reason, most houses here in the UK, tend to plan them in their front yard.

Just out of interest, if you goto the South Of France, you can drive through fields and fields of sunflowers- a very beautiful se.

On average mu sunflowers grow to 5 foot in hight, but I have seen neighbours grown to 7 foot- what a sight. Isn't nature amazing, that fromsuch a small seed can grow such a beautiful flower?

I highly recommend growing sunflowers, as they are easy, just add water and a bit of sunlight and they definately bring sunshine to your garden.

Go on give it a try

John

Recently took up gardening as a hobby.

http://www.lawn-mower-parts.info

John Sanders

Viburnum

Writen by Geoff Bryant

Viburnums are related to the honeysuckles, so it should come as no surprise that many of them have fragrant flowers. But that's not all they have in their favour. No, this genus includes plants for all seasons and all reasons; foliage, flower, autumn colour, scent, groundcover, shrub or small tree, evergreen or deciduous, it's all there among the 120-odd species and the many hybrids and cultivars. Indeed, they're so variable that it would be quite possible to have an interesting garden of viburnums alone.

Although viburnums can be found over much of the temperate northern hemisphere and even South America, most of the common plants in our gardens, with the exceptions of the Laurustinus (Viburnum tinus) and the Guelder Rose (Viburnum opulus), occur naturally in temperate Asia or are derived from the species of that area.

About the only drawback with viburnums is that because they are so adaptable and easy to grow, they seem to have suffered from the 'familiarity breeds contempt' syndrome that sees common plants, however attractive and useful, relegated to the lower divisions of the garden league in favour of something more 'exciting'. Well, don't fall into that trap - every garden needs at least one viburnum.

Foliage

While the obvious division in the genus is between the evergreen and deciduous types, it's not quite that clear-cut. Some of the more popular plants are hybrids between evergreen and deciduous species and are semi-evergreen. This can actually be an advantage because they retain enough foliage to not look bare over winter while also developing vivid autumn tones in the leaves that fall. The very popular Viburnum × burkwoodii is the best example of this behaviour.

The foliage varies, but is in most cases a pointed elliptical shape and deeply veined. Some of the deciduous species, such as Viburnum opulus and Viburnum dentata, have lobed, somewhat maple-leaf-like foliage. Variegated foliage is not common, but where it does occur, the patterns and colours can be striking. The variegated form of Viburnum tinus is very popular.

Flowers

Viburnum flowers are nearly always white or pale pink, but within that limited colour range is found a huge variety of blooms. Although the individual flowers are small, they're massed in heads that in some types are very large indeed. Most often the flowers are all fertile, but some species have hydrangea-like flower heads in which small clusters of fertile flowers are surrounded by large sterile ray florets. Cultivars have been raised with flowerheads entirely composed of sterile flowers. A sterile Guelder Rose (Viburnum opulus 'Roseum' [syn. 'Sterile']) in full flower often droops under the weight of its huge flower heads.

Although spring is the main flowering season, many of the most fragrant viburnums start to bloom in winter, or even late autumn. Because their flowers aren't brightly coloured and insects are fewer in winter, they presumably use scent as a means to attract from a greater distance those pollinators that are around. Some, such as Viburnum × burkwoodii are rarely without a few flowers.

Fruit

In all cases, except for the sterile cultivars, the flowers are followed by berry-like drupes. While usually interestingly coloured, the drupes aren't always show, though when they are, they can be a real feature. The steel-blue fruits of Viburnum davidii are very distinctive and the black drupes of Viburnum grandiflorum are particularly large, but my favourite is the so-called High-bush Cranberry (Viburnum trilobum), which covers itself with bright red fruit in late summer and autumn. It seems that just about any plant with showy red berries gets called a cranberry, but although the fruit is edible and can be used as a substitute for cranberry, it isn't the real thing. For the record, the real cranberry, the one of jelly fame, is Vaccinium macrocarpon, a plant more closely related to rhododendrons than viburnums.

Cultivation

There isn't much to say here; viburnums are easy. Except for all but a few in the very coldest of New Zealand gardens, hardiness isn't a problem; they're not fussy about soil type; most will grow perfectly well in sun or part shade and some will grow in very dark corners. Good drainage helps but they will tolerate soil that's damp for a while.

Success with viburnums is not so much a matter of getting them to grow but directing and managing the growth they make. Although viburnums are plants with an in-built resistance to formal shaping, try to establish a good framework of main branches when the plants are young or they may develop into a mass tangled twigs rather than neat bushes.

As soon as possible after flowering, thin out any congested or weak stems and shorten back the main branches. There's nothing complicated here, it's just matter of letting more light and air into the centre of the bush and directing the plant's energy into productive wood rather than spindly growth. If this is done for the first five years or so, you should have well-shaped, heavy flowering plants.

What's available

There are many viburnums out there but garden centres tend to be rather uninspired in their selection, sticking pretty much to the tried and true. However, pester your local garden centre enough and they should be able to get hold of any of the following.

Viburnum bitchiuense

Found in southern Japan and Korea, this 3m tall deciduous shrub is beautiful in its own right while also being a parent of several attractive hybrids. It has large, strongly fragrant pink flowers that fade to white. They open in spring and are followed by black drupes.

Viburnum × bodnantense (Viburnum farreri × Viburnum grandiflorum)

A hybrid between two Chinese deciduous species, this 2.5m tall bush has rounded bright green leaves and small clusters of white flowers with a faint pink tint. The flowers are very fragrant and appear from late winter to early spring, very fragrant.

Viburnum × burkwoodii (Viburnum carlesii × Viburnum utile)

Viburnum carlesii is deciduous and Viburnum utile is evergreen, so in the spirit of compromise, their 3m tall offspring is semi-evergreen. Its rounded, bright green leaves have greyish undersides and in autumn those that fall develop intense yellow, orange and red tones before dropping. In mild areas the flowers open from late winter, elsewhere they appear in spring. They are white, opening from pink buds and are carried in ball-shaped clusters in spring. Their fragrance can scent the entirety of a small garden. Several cultivars are grown, of which the compact 'Anne Russell' is probably the most popular.

Viburnum × carlcephalum (Viburnum carlesii × Viburnum macrocephalum forma keteleeri)

Sometimes called the Korean Spice Viburnum, this deciduous hybrid grows to around 2.5m tall and its flowers really do have a spicy fragrance. They open in spring, the first blooms being pink while the later flowers tend towards white-flushed-pink. The flower heads are up to 15cm across and complement the large, rather glossy leaves.

Viburnum carlesii

At first sight this native of Korea and Japan resembles the more common Viburnum × burkwoodii, which is not surprising as it one of that hybrid's parents. However, it is fully deciduous and a more compact plant, rarely exceeding 1.8m tall. Its flowers, in ball-shaped clusters, pink in bud opening to white in spring, are very fragrant. There are quite a few cultivars of which 'Aurora' (flowers in various shades of red pink and white) and 'Cayuga' (orange autumn foliage) are the most popular. Others, such as the widely grown 'Chesapeake' are hybrids with Viburnum utile.

Viburnum davidii

While capable of growing to 1.5m tall, this western Chinese evergreen species is more commonly seen as a mounding groundcover. It has bright mid green, glossy, heavily veined leathery leaves up to 15cm long that overlap to form a dense foliage cover. Small clusters of white flowers open from late winter to mid-spring and are followed by steel blue drupes.

Viburnum dentatum

Known as Arrowwood because of its use for that purpose by native Americans, this large deciduous shrub or small tree has rather unexciting greenish white flowers and is often rather an untidy grower. However, this eastern North American species comes into its own in autumn as the black drupes ripen and the foliage develops vivid red tones.

Viburnum erubescens

This early summer-flowering, deciduous or semi-evergreen shrub is native to the Himalayas and found in mountainous areas as far south as Sri Lanka. The flowers are white flushed with pale pink and are followed by red fruits that blacken when ripe.

Viburnum farreri

Although less common than the hybrids raised from it, this 3m tall, northern Chinese, deciduous species is well worth growing for its very fragrant pink-tinted white flowers that open from mid-winter. If pollinated the flowers develop into red fruit that blackens when ripe.

Viburnum japonica

Like V. davidii, this evergreen shrub is most often seen used as a large-scale groundcover, though it's capable of growing well over 1m tall. A native of Japan, it has deep green, glossy leaves and bronze new growth. Loose clusters of white flowers in late spring are followed by red drupes. Regular trimming after flowering will keep it compact.

Viburnum lantana

The Wayfaring Tree, a species widespread in Eurasia, is a deciduous, sometimes tree-like shrub with heads of rather dull creamy-white flowers in spring. It is grown more for its fruit, which is red ageing to black, and its foliage. The leaves are attractive at all stages, starting out deep green and velvety, aging to dark green fine hairs coating their undersides, then developing gold and russet tones in autumn before falling.

Viburnum opulus

Found from Europe and North Africa to Central Asia, the Guelder Rose is a large deciduous shrub with mid green, deeply lobed, maple-like leaves that redden in autumn. Rounded heads of white flowers in spring are followed in late summer by red fruit. The bark contains a glucoside, viburnine, that has uses in herbal medicine, particularly in the control of spasms and cramps. 'Roseum' (syn. 'Sterile') is a cultivar with large heads of all-sterile flowers. It is known as the snowball tree because of the size and colour of its flowerheads and is far more widely grown than the species.

Viburnum plicatum

From China and Japan, this deciduous shrub grows to around 3m tall and has rounded, mid green, hazel-like leaves with serrated edges. Flattened clusters of white flowers in open in spring and may be followed by red fruit that blackens when ripe. The tiered branches are tiered make this species very distinctive and are a feature that is particularly apparent in the cultivar 'Mariesii'. 'Rosacea' is a cultivar with bronze young foliage and pink-tinted, all-sterile flowers in large heads.

Viburnum rhytidophyllum

While this late spring- and summer-flowering Chinese species has reasonably attractive heads of creamy-white blooms, it's really a foliage plant. The leaves are up to 20cm long and very heavily textured. The upper surfaces are slightly glossy and the undersurfaces are heavily coated in a grey to tan felt. 'Variegatum' is a cultivar with gold-splashed foliage. If the flowers interest you, look for 'Roseum', which has pinkish red blooms.

Viburnum tinus

Once one of the most popular hedging plants, though not so common now, the Laurustinus is a 3m tall, evergreen shrub from southern Europe and North Africa. It has leathery, bark olive green and in late winter and spring puts on a good display white flowers that often develop pink tints. Variegated foliage cultivars often have brighter pink flowers.

Viburnum trilobum

As described earlier, the High-bush Cranberry is a 2.5m tall, deciduous North American shrub. It has lobed, maple-like leaves that often turn bright red in autumn. Flat heads of white flowers open in spring and large clusters of very bright red berries in late summer to autumn. It is one of the best hardy shrubs for colour and quantity of fruit.

******

A little searching, especially through mail order catalogues, will yield quite a few more species, hybrids and cultivars. Or you could try propagating your own. The species may be raised from seed, which is usually best stratified, but hybrids and cultivars must be propagated vegetatively, most commonly by semi-ripe cuttings.

I am a garden book author and horticultural photographer based in Christchurch, New Zealand. I run a stock photo library called Country, Farm and Garden (http://www.cfgphoto.com). This article may be re-published provided this information is published with it and is clearly visible.

Fall Flowering Bulbs

Writen by Linda Jenkinson

Deciduous trees dazzle us with the brilliance of the golds, oranges and reds they display before dropping their leaves in the autumn. However, you don't have to be satisfied with autumn leaf color alone. Consider planting fall flower bulbs.

Spring-flowering bulbs are universal symbols of spring. Many of us wait to see the cheerful little crocus as it pops through the last of the winter snows. The delicate narcissus, the colorful tulip, and the sunny daffodil are all spring flowering bulbs that bring out smiles after long, colorless winters. Just as spring-flowering bulbs bring a welcome burst of color as they usher in the season, fall flower bulbs offer you a last blast of vibrancy to keep in memory through a long, colorless winter.

There are two main differences between spring flower bulbs and fall flower bulbs. Spring flower bulbs are planted in the fall and need a cold period of winter dormancy to flower. Fall flower bulbs are typically planted in the spring or summer. Most fall flower bulbs aren't winter hardy and need to be lifted in the autumn and stored until time for the next spring planting.

When selecting fall flower bulbs, always choose those that are firm and blemish-free. A good rule of thumb to remember is "the larger the bulb, the larger the bloom." The bulb is actually a tiny womb for a flower. In fact, if you split a bulb in half, you frequently can see the bud and in some cases, even see the flower. Everything the flower needs to grow, except water, is contained inside a bulb. Although the differences between them are slight, many of these flower storehouses that we commonly call bulbs are actually rhizomes, corms and tubers. Look for these labels in addition to "bulbs" when purchasing fall-flower bulbs.

The dahlia, which grows from a tuber, is a beautiful late-summer flower that blooms until the first frost. Blooms can range from button to dinner-plate size in virtually every color except solid blue. As all fall flower bulbs, they are easy to plant and easy to care for, requiring only that you lift them in the fall for winter storage.

Colchicums are perhaps the best known but least planted fall flower bulbs. They are unique in that they only need sunlight to grow and will bloom sitting on your potting bench or even on your kitchen table! Large flowers, resembling the crocus, are typically pink. Although they need soil to make roots and foliage, because the bulb must be planted partly exposed, colchicums are a target for snails and slugs, which will peel the bulbs like an onion.

The saffron crocus is a fall flower bulb that does double duty in your flower garden. Lilac flowers display the burnt orange-red stigmas that are the source of the spice, saffron. The flowers only last for two days. Pick the stigmas on the second day, air dry them and you have just harvested flower and fruit gardening guides homegrown saffron to season your dishes.

Linda is the driving force behind our flower gardening section. Tulip Flower and Bulb Flowers section of http://www.gardening-guides.com

You Can Grow Your Own Herb Garden Part 1

Writen by Melinda Robinson

Growing your own herb garden can be rewarding in many ways. You can enjoy the relaxation of gardening and reap the various benefits of what you grow. The problem is, many people simply don't know how, or fear that it entails too much work or expense. In this article, I will guide you, step-by-step, through the process of easily and inexpensively growing your own herbs.

Early in the Spring, or even late in Winter, take some time to decide what your own needs are. Do you want herbs purely for medicinal purposes, craft uses, or are you more interested in cooking with the fruits of your labor? With pen in hand and a small notebook, make a list of the herbs you would like to grow. You may want to go through a book such as "Rodale's Encyclopedia of Herbs."

After you've made a list, see if you can determine what herbs will grow in your area. Many of the more common herbs, such as basil or sage, will grow just about anywhere, but there's always a chance you chose a plant that just cannot thrive in your climate or "zone." Check in books, look at seed packets, call local nurseries, or check with your local County Extension service if you can't find the information anywhere else.

Going through catalogs is also a fun way to plan and learn. I know many people who love looking through their catalogs throughout the year; they dream of the green, fertile garden they'll have in the Spring. It also seems to bring a touch of warmth to the cold days of late Winter when we're all getting cabin fever and longing for the sun. Some good catalogs to send for come from:

Gurney's Seed and Nursery Co.
110 Capital Street
Yankton, SD 57079

W. Atlee Burpee Co.
300 Park Ave.
Warminster, PA 18974

George W. Park Seed Co.
P.O. Box 31
Greenwood, SC 29647

Nichols Garden Nursery
1190 North Pacific Highway
Albany, Oregon 97321-4580

Richters Herbs
Goodwood LOC 1A0
Ontario, Canada

All this brings us to another consideration -- where to grow your herbs. Are you ready to invest the time necessary to have an outdoor herb garden, or would you rather grow a few choice plants indoors? If you choose to have a mini-garden indoors, a warm window with good Southern exposure is a good choice, and you might even consider installing a special plant window for this purpose. There are plant windows available at larger hardware stores for around $200 - 400 and they are easy to install.

In Part 2 - Set it up and plant it!

Melinda Robinson is controlling partnerin Rodeo City Technology Group, a Texas-based company that offers TMS (Total Marketing Solutions) -- including custom content creation -- that fit your business and bring maximum ROI. http://www.rodeocitytech.com

A Gazebo Can Make Your Landscaping Spectacular

Writen by Rae Bennett

It wasn't to long ago in history that a gazebo could only be had by royalty or the very elite. Well that is not true anymore! The average homeowner can have a gazebo to brighten up their landscape with just a little money, a weekend, and maybe a few friends.

What kind of gazebo you choose will depend on what your use for the gazebo is. Do you want an outdoor living space? You will probably want one of the enclosed type of gazebos. An enclosed gazebo has windows and a door, almost like a miniature house. This type of gazebo can be used for an outdoor living room or den, it can be your own little hideaway.

Do you want an outdoor entertainment center? You will probably want to purchase one of the large rectangular or oval gazebos. You can get these without any railings or walls to allow for a large group to use it without running over each other. These can be used for large cookouts, just add a grill to one end. You can then set up tables under the gazebo for a lovely feast, regardless of what the weather happens to do.

Do you want a lovely focal point for your garden? Then a small to medium type garden gazebo is what you need. You can get these in round or square, with many options to customize your garden gazebo to fit your personality. You can either have benches built into the garden gazebo or use standard patio type furniture for seating, just make sure you use something meant for the outdoors.

Now you have decided what type of gazebo you want, how do you get one? There are several options to getting your gazebo, the include: hiring a contractor, purchasing the material and plans and building it yourself, or buying a gazebo kit. There are advantages and disadvantages to each kind.

Hiring a contractor is probably the most expensive method. You also have to be careful to hire someone reputable, this can be a job in itself to find someone you can work with. This method can also be the most creative. You generally get to decide on every detail that goes into your gazebo, so that when it is complete it is a one of a kind.

The second option, buying the material and plans, can be almost as expensive as hiring a contractor. You will also need to know quite a bit about reading plans, measuring and cutting the wood, and proper placement of each piece. If you possess these skills then this can be a very rewarding experience. Every time someone compliments how nice your gazebo is you can reply "Thank you, I built it myself."

The last option, buying a gazebo kit, is probably the least expensive of all the options. It is a lot easier than building one from scratch. Most kits come with all the pieces precut (and sometimes also has panels pre-assembled), very detailed instructions, and all the nuts, bolts, and screws. You just have to provide a few basic tools. The downside to a gazebo kit is that you lose some customization. Most kit suppliers do offer several options that will make it a bit more how you want it, but you are not able to have a totally one of a kind.

What ever type of you decide on and which ever way you decide to build it, a gazebo will add value (in the form of raised property value) and pizazz to your landscaping.

Rae Bennett is the owner and author of Want Info About, offering information on a variety of subjects. For more information on this topic visit Indian Trails is a special camp for special needs people of all ages. Camp is staffed with a registered nurse and camp counselors. The counselors are college students. Many of them come from other countries that are studying and training in a special needs field. Last year there was a counselor from Australia, Yolanda thought he was a HUNK! It's a good respite for all. Mom is dealing with another bout of pneumonia. They brought her to the hospital for a 12 hour stay and she's still at the nursing home. I just don't know any more, I weep every time I leave her. BIRDBATHS. Recently I have had several questions on and about birdbaths. So........ I will address many of these questions again. Now for you old timers......... you can still read this anyway. Birdbaths come in many different shapes and styles. From a several hundred dollar fancy one to something as simple as a terra cotta saucer. All too often, the fancy ones are more of a hassle to clean and keep clean. The sculpting and flowers are a magnet for trapping dirt and algae. They can have the proper dimensions and work great as a bath and a quick drink. Just remember they are extra work to maintain. The width of the bowl isn't a problem. A problem can occur when the bowl is too deep. A proper depth for a birdbath is 1 1/2 to 2 inches deep. Anything deeper without a raised flat surface (stone or brick) can be asking for trouble in the way of drowning or birds unable to escape quickly. It's true, I have a clay bowl 3 inches deep for my robins and bluejays. I also have a raised flat surface in the middle. A Petoskey stone I found one year in the Little Traverse Bay at Bayview, Michigan. It makes a nice added surface and a bit of a conversation piece for visitors to see a Petoskey stone that size. We also have a two-tiered concrete bath on the tree stump style. This is a left over from the years we owned our wild bird specialty store. It's very functional and gets used, but it takes more time and care to clean. Still, I like it in my yard as an added feature. The easiest one to clean and the one that gets used the most is a simple two piece concrete birdbath. The bowl is 1 1/2 inches deep and has a bit of a raised surface in the middle. It is a neutral color and a plain surface. My smaller birds as well as my mourning doves are at this bath all the time. We need to fill it constantly it seems and it needs sanitizing more often. THINK LIKE A BIRD. I keep bringing that up don't I? Thinking like a bird does not mean bird brained : ) Take notice as to where birds congregate for a bath, some playtime and a drink. A simple mud puddle or where the sprinklers puddle up on streets and sidewalks. Nature's way of water for birds. Natural looking sources will help attract birds to your yard and birdbaths. Earth tone colors. Tan, brown, terra cotta, gray etc. Are you getting the idea now? Natural feeling and looking surfaces. Stay away from pretty colors like bright blues and greens. These bright colors are usually found on the glazed baths which as a BIG NO, NO! Oh sure, the glazed baths are nice and easy to clean, but how often are they getting used? A glazed bath is also an invitation to a potential death or two. Birds need something to grip, something to hold onto and feel safe. Too often a thirsty bird or a juvenile will fall in and drown. Young birds are clueless to life's traps and dangers. They see water or just a place to perch and may easily fall in. Bigger birds like robins and smaller birds that may be perching, lose grips as well. A soaking wet bird is slow in flight and a poor surface impedes flight a split second longer. In nature, that fraction of a second can mean life or death. Location, Location, Location. A common phrase in business. Also an important phrase when it comes to locating a birdbath. Your bath(s) should be out in the open yet near protection. An oxymoron? Not really. A bath should be placed in an opening or where nothing is growing, yet make sure there is a shrub or a tree near by. Birds need to find a safe place to perch while they preen themselves. A wet bird is a slow bird. All of my baths are within 15 feet of a tree or other protection. If you plant anything around your bath, make sure it is a low growing plant. Cats will hide in your garden and pounce on your unsuspecting birds if givin the chance to do so. Danger also comes from the sky, but birds will be looking for hawks Also, place your source of water where you can enjoy the action. Place it where it is easy for you to keep clean and filled. I can't number the times I've seen an empty or filthy birdbath that is totally ignored because it is located as a piece of yard art, not as a birdbath. KEEP IT CLEAN Well, you've got your birdbaths or other sources of water. Now how do you keep it clean? This isn't rocket science, yet many people neglect this task. Maintaining is more efficient then having to do a total scrub all the time. Yes, it's true a good cleaning is needed and you will know when it's needed. Here are a couple of things that I have found that work for me. Near dusk, if my bath needs filling, I will refill with fresh water and put a cap or two of chlorine bleach into the water. This keeps germs and algae down between cleanings and the chlorine will have oxidized by morning. My favorite stuff is the oxygen bleach products. I use this on a lot of things. I was reminded by a dear friend that this stuff foams up some. My apologies for not making that all too clear. I can use my Oxi-Boost any time of day and feel safe. It sanitizes and kills algae, even when my birds take a sip. They don't mind a little foaming action. I sprinkle in just enough around the edges and a bit in the middle and let it go to work. Experiment on this one until you find what works for you. I would guess a table spoon full. I like this stuff because it is all natural, environment friendly, won't stain my clothes or if spilled, kill my plants. The only drawback is it leaves a white residue when water evaporates. I can live with that, however. Every now and then, a good scrubbing is needed. Especially on baths that have grooves and patterns. Even worse to clean, are the ones with stone embedded. If using chlorine or another harsh cleaner, place your bowl on a neutral surface like a driveway. Let it soak for several minutes and then scrub. Rinse and re-rinse. Oxygen bleach can be done right where it stands without a problem. I appreciate all the questions and inquirers. Keep them coming and I will do my best to help out. Whew.............. I'm pooped. I hope this has been some help for you. Hey............. until next time my friend. Have a blessed week and I look forward to chatting with you all. Remember to SMILE. Ron Ronald Patterson, has been caring and feeding wildbirds in his backyard for more then 40 years. Ron and his wife Karen also owned and operated a wild bird specialty store for many years. With his gardening skills and knowledge as a Michigan Certified Nurseryman, Ron publishes a weekly newsletter called Backyard Birding Tips. http://www.backyardbirdingtips.com/ Sign up now and learn how to attract, garden and care for wild birds in your backyard. Ron, Karen and their daughter Yolanda live in the Grand Rapids Michigan area. http://www.backyardbirdingtips.com/ Choosing The Proper Pond Pump Writen by Gerry Fung Whether you have a preformed or a liner pond, a pond pump is a paramount component of any water feature. Stagnant bodies of water attract mosquito infestations, which are a nuisance, and also undesirable, due to the recent outbreaks of the West Nile virus. Therefore, it is paramount that you utilize a pond pump that circulates your body of water. Pumps are available in both submersible and external (out-of-pond) models. For the smaller pond (up to 1000 gallons of water), a submersible pump is the more economical and practical option. Submersible pumps can be placed directly in the pond and require relatively little installation. They are free of distracting noise, and for smaller ponds, can easily be utilized to drain your pond (if you hook up a hose to the output flow). In the old days, the main disadvantage of submersible pumps was that the pump seal could rupture and release oil coolant into the water. However, this is not the case nowadays, because newer pumps are magnetic-driven, and no longer require coolant. "Mag-driven" pumps are slightly more expensive, but they have the added advantage of consuming less electricity. Pumps are sized by gallons per hour (GPH) output at one foot of lift or height. Manufacturers usually offer charts that break down the power of each size pump according to incremental heights of one foot. It is recommended that you circulate your body of water at least once every 2 hours. Therefore you will need to size your pump to ensure that it has half the GPH rating as the volume of your pond in gallons. For example, if you have a 1000 gallon water feature, you will require at least a 500 GPH pump. Calculating the proper pump for waterfalls is a bit trickier, because you must estimate your waterfall's height. To do so, you must measure the vertical height from the top of your pump to the top of your waterfall. In addition, you must add another foot of height or lift for every 10 feet of hosing you will be using (this will allow for loss of volume from resistance within the hose). To calculate the required pump GPH, a general rule of thumb is that each inch of width of the channel will require an extra 100 GPH. For example, if your stream or waterfall spillway will be 10 inches wide, you will need a pump that produces an excess flow of 1000 GPH at your waterfall's height. If you plan on having fish, your water circulation demands will be drastically increased. Fish rely on the oxygen in the water to survive, hence a proper pump for a fish pond must ensure that extra oxygen is both introduced into the pond, and distributed throughout the pond. The general rule of thumb is that you must double your pump GPH if you plan on raising fish. An example of a pump that would be appropriate for fish is GardenSuperMart's UltraFlo line of pumps. These pumps have oxygen intake valves and an unique air/water air mix system which effectively increases the oxygen concentration in your pond. The advantage of GardenSuperMart's low-maintenance, magnetic-driven UltraFlo pump kits is that they contain a sealed unit with a large enclosure that prevents debris from clogging the water intake. The UltraFlo line of pumps starts at 200 GPH, and increase up to 660 GPH. All UltraFlo pump kits come complete with a telescopic riser and diverter and 3 fountain heads. If you require a more powerful pump, GardenSuperMart also has a SuperFlo line of pump kits that can provide up to 1585 GPH. All SuperFlo kits come complete with a telescopic riser and diverter, 4 fountain heads, and a sponge pre-filter. An optional SuperFlo Mechancial and Biological filter can also be added to the pump to provide additional water filtration for your fish. Both the SuperFlo and the UltraFlo pumps can be purchased online at GardenSuperMart's store, www.buypond.com. In late May 2005, GardenSuperMart will also introduce a new line of MaxFlo waterfall pumps that can provide up to 2780 GPH of pumping power. Please stay tuned for further news and details. Gerry Fung is the Vice President of GardenSuperMart, http://www.GardenSuperMart.com More information about their pond pump lines can be obtained from buypond.com Thursday, May 8, 2008 Add Nighttime Function To Your Home With Outdoor Lighting Writen by Amanda Taylor Would you like to increase the amount of time that you can spend outdoors at your home? Having the right scheme of outdoor lighting to allow for nighttime use of an area is the most important factor for allowing you to do this. The types of lighting you should consider using to enhance your outdoor area include: porch or patio lighting, garden or landscape lighting, and path lighting. Porch or patio lighting should be carefully planned, since these places are the most common functional outdoor areas used at night. This is also a great type of lighting to use around a swimming pool to allow for use at night. Lighting for these areas is very important for safety and visibility. The lighting needs to be relatively bright, making wall mounts and flood lights common choices. Lighting for a porch or patio doesn't have to be mounted on the exterior of the house. Rope lights and deck post lights are two examples of lights that attach to your porch, not your house. Garden or landscape lighting is used to highlight special features and focal points of your landscaping. Many lights of the same lighting type can be used in an area, and they can be placed at strategic locations in your garden so that you can enjoy its beauty at night as well as during the day. Special garden lights such as spotlights can be used to highlight focal points of your landscape, such as a fountain or water garden. Path lighting is great for defining a walkway in your outdoor living area. It also looks great when it's used to define the perimeter of an area, such as a freestanding flower garden. Before purchasing outdoor lighting fixtures, be sure that they are designed for outdoor use. Outdoor lighting fixtures are made to be durable and resistant to weather conditions, so they are made of strong materials including shatterproof glass, plastic, aluminum, and stainless steal. If you have enjoyed this article and would like to learn more about finding the perfect lighting for your home including information about outdoor lighting, landscape lighting, bathroom lighting and more, visit http://www.home-lighting-depot.com to get all the facts and info today. Wednesday, May 7, 2008 How To Naturally Dry Hydrangeas Writen by Lesley Dietschy Beautiful, colorful hydrangeas are amongst the most popular flowers to be used in dried floral arrangements. The most important step in preserving and drying hydrangeas is choosing the right time to cut them. Follow the helpful steps below and you'll be on your way to creating a beautiful dried floral arrangement. 1. Hydrangeas have two types of flowers on each head. The larger flowers have a small flower on top. At the end of the blooming season (late summer) the small flowers will have almost opened up. Also at this time, the flowers will begin to age and take on a vintage look. This is the prime time to cut the hydrangeas. 2. Cut the stems 12-18 inches down from the base of the flowers and remove the leaves. 3. Position the flowers in a vase filled with fresh water. At least half of the stem should be submerged in water. 4. Place the vase away from direct sunlight in a cool, dry location. 5. The water will evaporate naturally from the vase. Do not refill the vase with water. After the water has completely evaporated, the hydrangeas should be dry. They are now ready to use in dried floral arrangements. To make a dried hydrangea wreath: You will need: • Styrofoam wreath in desired size • Wire U pins • Dried hydrangeas Before attaching the hydrangeas to the styrofoam wreath, immerse the flower heads in warm water for approximately 15 minutes. This causes the flowers to become more pliable, prevent breakage, and allow the flowers to be torn apart to the right size. Attach the hydrangeas to the styrofoam wreath using the wire U pins. After the wreath is completed, it must be dried again for approximately 24-48 hours. To make a hydrangea basket: You will need: • Basket • Dried hydrangeas To make a basket of hydrangeas, simply arrange the dried flowers in one of your favorite baskets. This basket is now ready to be placed on a coffee table, nightstand or hallway table for the perfect home decorating accent. There are numerous arrangements and crafts you can make with beautiful dried hydrangeas. Try your hand at drying and arranging a beautiful hydrangea creation today! Lesley Dietschy is a freelance writer and the creator/editor of The Home Decor Exchange. The Home Decor Exchange is a popular home and garden website featuring resources, a shopping marketplace, articles, decorating pictures, decorating advice, free projects, and more. http://www.HomeDecorExchange.com Tuesday, May 6, 2008 Growing Dahlias Successfully Writen by Doug Green Growing dahlia tubers is one of the traditional garden activities because this Mexican native has won gardener's hearts with its ease of growth and massive blooms. This is one of the most sold plants for summer blooms. Dahlias do not survive winter frosts however and should be dug in the fall right after the first frost crumples and blackens their leaves. Dig and store cool but frost-free and dry for the winter. Excess moisture will rot the tubers. Check every few weeks and if rot has started, cut out the rotted part and dust with sulphur to stop the damage. Excess heat will kick the tuber into growth and the only solutions are to cool it down and hope it stops growing or pot it up in a sunny windowsill and hope it grows. The following spring, plant outdoors after all danger of frost when the soil is starting to heat up. Alternately, plant indoors in large pots 6-weeks before that last-frost date and force them for much larger blooms. Again, plant the potted tubers outdoors after all danger of frost. Do plant dahlia in the full hot sun. Light morning shade will also work for them but they do love that sunshine to bring along flowers. There are many classes of flowers and heights, ranging from the petit pompoms that are ideal for containers to the massive dinner-plate sized blooms that sit on 6-8 foot tall plants. There's something for everybody in this plant family. Doug Green an award winning garden author of 7 books answers questions in his free gardening newsletter at http://www.beginner-gardening.com/gardeningflowertips.html Reduce The Need For Pesticides Correct Mowing And Watering Writen by Terry Blackburn Correct Mowing and Watering Technique An excellent way to reduce the need for pesticides - and we're all "green" (forgive the pun) nowadays, is to grow the Lawn Taller than you would expect. Tall grass provides shade! That is the Secret! * Shade cuts down weed germination, such as Crabgrass! * Tall grass has larger roots, which increases the uptake of nutrients and moisture. * Tall grass is better able to withstand Summer heat. * Correct mowing and the use of natural fertilizers can, by themselves keep a Lawn Healthy and thick. So, cut down the use of pesticides and let the grass grow. * Set your Mower Blades to at least 3 inches for regular mowing. * Four times a year reduce this to 2 inches - generally in the Spring and Autumn. This will prevent and remove Fungus. * Always leave grass clippings on the Lawn. This will provide a natural mulch which further reduces the need for fertilizer. Pesticides are in fact harmful to Human Health. They can result in decomposition and lead to thatch, apart from the dangers to children and pets. * When mowing ensure that the Mower blade is sharp. * Mow when the Sun is at its lowest. This is usually in the early morning or more preferably in the cool of the evening. * Make sure the grass is dry. Mowing with a dull Mower blade will tear the grass roots, turning the grass brown. Mowing when the grass is wet will have the same effect and leave the grass more susceptible to disease. Correct Watering In these days of Water Conservation it is important to water only when needed. This should be every few days as required, not every day. Try to water later in the evening or early morning. Water deeply, but there is no need to water if there has been recent rainfall. Only water lightly if a fertilizer has just been applied. Watering promotes growth during the Summer and ensures a thicker Lawn which will reduce pest problems. Terry Blackburn. Internet Marketing Consultant, living in South Shields in the North-East of England. Author and Producer of blog http://www.lawnsurgeon.blogspot.com Author of "Your Perfect Lawn," a 90 Page eBook devoted to Lawn Preparation, Lawn Care and Maintenance. Find it at http://www.lawnsurgeon.com Monday, May 5, 2008 Landscape Fabric Is Landscape Fabric Even Necessary In Landscaping Writen by Steve Boulden Landscaping fabrics are by no means an answer to a no maintenance landscape. I know a lot of folks are under the impression that they can simply buy it, place it, cover it, and forget it. Forever. First. There is no such thing as a no maintenance landscape. In many instances landscape fabric can make your life a lot easier. However, there is an upside and a downside to using it. And as with most everything else, proper installation and maintenance is required if you intend to use it. Also, keep in mind that I'm referring to professional quality grade materials and not the flimsy products sold in do it yourself and home centers. If you're going to use that, you might as well use newspapers or cardboard boxes under your groundcover. Landscape fabrics have their applications. They aren't necessary in all applications but might be preferred in regards to the type of groundcover you use. Our company uses weed barrier in 95% of the designs we create. It's the nature of our business as we use decorative rock as the preferred groundcover around here. When using rock for groundcover and path work, it's necessary to have a separator between the soil and groundcover. Otherwise, you'll have mud rocks by the first rain storm. In theory you should be able to use almost anything as a separator. I've seen do it yourselfers use anything from plastics to newspapers and cardboard boxes to old carpet remnants. Of course, as a professional, I can't use or even suggest something like this to my clients. You're on your own there. Now personally, on any given project, I would much rather do away with fabrics altogether. I prefer to create living soil planting areas that are mulched and tended rather than being covered and forgotten. However, some areas are simply too large to apply this method and some folks just outright prefer to cover an area with decorative rock. Both mulched living beds and rock beds underlain with fabric will require some work to keep them beautiful. Neither is maintenance free. As long as there is wind, rain dirt, and blown in seed, there will be something for you to do in your yard. When we create a design using landscaping fabric and rock, I make the client aware of a few things. 1) There will be blown in seed and dirt. 2) Something will have to be done about it to keep it from accumulating. I assure them that with the quality of fabric we use, nothing will grow in from the bottom. However, we have no control of what blows in on the top. Spraying the unwanted weeds with herbicide will take care of the weed problem. However, this does nothing for the dirt, leaf, and plant particles that are hiding under your rocks. And if you allow these to accumulate, they'll continue to accumulate and you will never get rid of them. So periodic maintenance is required even if you do use landscaping fabric. Periodically using a blower on your bedding areas will slow down the accumulation of dirt and in some cases eliminate it altogether. How easy and thorough this is depends a lot on the type and size of rock you use. Small pea gravel accumulates and holds onto dirt, and is harder to clean than rock of a 1 ½" + nature. Not only does it hold onto dirt but has a tendency to be blown all around when being cleaned with a blower. Pea gravel works well for paths, walkways, and smaller areas but I don't recommend it for covering larger areas. As far as using landscape fabric under bark and mulch covered beds? In many cases this can actually be easier to take care of than living beds or rock covered areas as it can easily be picked up and replaced every few years. This will keep your landscape always looking new without having to blow dirt or mulch beds. Remember. There's no such thing as a no maintenance landscape. Landscape fabrics can make things easier in many applications but like everything else, they require a little bit of keeping up. No, they aren't necessary in all landscaping applications. However, I believe you'll find them to be your best choice for many groundcover types and uses. Written by Steve Boulden. Steve is the creator of The Landscape Design Site.com which offers free professional landscaping advice, tips, plans, and ideas to do it yourselfers and homeowners. To discover more about choosing and using landscaping fabrics and weed barrier, visit his site at: http://www.the-landscape-design-site.com/landscapefabric.html Choosing Gardening Tools Writen by Philip Swindells There are many tools that are available to gardeners. Indeed the range can be quite confusing to the newcomer to the hobby who may be uncertain about which tools are needed to perform given tasks. Hand tools are very important for both garden creation and subsequent maintenance. However, the spade, fork, hoe and rake are the most important. Few gardens can function successfully without all of these. Spades are essential for digging, for planting and for removing various materials such as soil and sand around the garden. They are available in varying lengths and weights, some being lightweight and especially designed for ladies. There are two main kinds of spade, the digging spade and the border variety. The latter is narrow-bladed, light in weight and used for general maintenance and planting purposes, while the digging spade is a robust tool which is intended for turning over raw garden soil during fall and winter. Garden forks come in similar variety, there being both border and digging kinds. The border fork is mostly used for pricking over the soil amongst plants. The digging variety can perform a similar function to the digging spade except that it provides only a complete inversion of the soil, whereas the spade can be used for both trenching and double digging as well. Hoes come in a number of configurations and are used to knock down the lumpy soils created by the spade and fork. They are also used for cultivating between plants and rows of plants as well as for taking out seed drills. The Dutch hoe is a flat-bladed tool that is used solely for cultivating while the swan neck hoe is excellent for taking out seed drills as well as mounding-up potatoes. Rakes are usually solid tined and made of metal. They put the finishing touches to soil preparation before seed sowing. Spring-tined rakes and wooden landscape rakes are mostly used for raking up cut grass and fallen leaves, although the spring-tined variety is tough enough to be used as a scarifier. A dummy rake, which consists of a flat board on edge that replaces the tines of a wooden landscape rake is used for grading soil, especially during lawn preparation. Apart from spades, forks, rakes and hoes, most gardeners require a number of smaller complementary hand tools. For planting small plants a trowel is necessary. This is like a much-reduced version of a spade but with a blade, which is curved and bowed. While the trowel may be regarded as the diminutive version of the border spade, the hand fork is the equivalent of the border fork. It is used in confined spaces, such as the rock garden, for pricking over the soil amongst plants. Onion hoes are like large swan-neck hoes in shape but much reduced and with very short handles. They originated in Europe and were first intended, as the name suggests, for using amongst commercial onion crops, not only cleaning the rows of weeds, but also removing crowded plants. Now they are utilized for all hoeing tasks where a larger hoe is difficult to manoeuvre. Secateurs and loppers are essential in the majority of gardens. Secateurs are well-balanced hand cutters which are used in pruning and for cutting back herbaceous plants. It is always worthwhile buying a high quality pair so that they not only last for a long time, but also do a good clean job of cutting. For left-handed people it is possible to buy left-handed secateurs and there is also a design with rolling handles, which are easier for gardeners who have a weak grip to use. Loppers are enlarged versions of secateurs used two-handed. They do all the same things that secateurs do, but on larger branches. They are usually straight bladed, but there are versions with curved blades that are popularly referred to as parrot bills. To complete the array of tools necessary for pruning, there are special small hand saws with narrow blades and coarse teeth that are especially designed for pruning. There are many mechanically operated tools for the garden, but the lawnmower and rotavator are probably the most commonly used. Hedge trimmers are also important along with shredders and chippers. Lawn mowers are available in two basic kinds, the cylinder mower and the rotary type. Both are well suited to specific jobs. Cylinder lawnmowers are used on fine decorative lawns. The more blades the cylinder has, the finer the cut, those mowers used for very fine lawns having as many as sixteen blades. Rotary mowers on the other hand can do a good job of cutting a domestic lawn in a backyard, but with adjustment can be used for much longer grass than might be thought conventional. They are available both electrically and petrol driven. Rotavators cultivate the soil with a series of fast rotating slashing blades, sometimes on a spindle, occasionally on a drum. They are very effective at creating a tilth on sandy or medium loam soils, but on clay soils can often produce a polished pan beneath the surface at a spade's depth, thereby creating drainage and rooting problems. Most models are driven by petrol engines. With both mowers and rotavators it is wise to have a demonstration in the garden before purchasing. Not all are as good as they at first might appear and they really should be tested under realistic conditions. Hedge trimmers are available powered by a small petrol engine or by electricity. Most of the modern brands are excellent value being of very light weight and in the case of electrical models having built in safety cut-out facilities. They have various cutter bar lengths, the size chosen depending very much upon the configuration of the hedge or topiary to be trimmed. Shredders are available as both petrol and electrical models. These shred garden waste prior to composting. Chippers on the other hand pulverize woody material and are best hired in rather than purchased. Finally we have the most useful and probably most used tool in the garden - the wheelbarrow. A builder's wheelbarrow is far better than any garden wheelbarrow, unless you are not strong enough to wheel it when fully laden. Modern garden wheelbarrows are fine for pushing a few weeds around in, but the builder's wheelbarrow is what is necessary for moving soil, rocks or paving. If you decide upon a standard garden wheelbarrow, then choose one of the models with two wheels. These are more stable and resilient than the traditional one wheeled kind. Generally avoid the kind of wheelbarrow where a ball replaces the wheel, unless you garden on very wet, heavy clay soil. They are not very efficient and most gardeners find them quite tiring to use. Philip Swindells has over 40 years gardening experience. A former botanical garden curator and an international horticultural consultant, he has worked extensively overseas. The Author of more than 50 gardening books, he has been awarded a Quill and Trowel Award by the Garden Writers' Association of America. He is also a former UK Garden Writer of the Year. He writes a popular daily garden blog with gardening news, views and updates http://www.gardenmessenger.blogspot.com. Sunday, May 4, 2008 How To Keep Birds Off Of Your Patio Furniture Writen by Anne Clarke Believe it or not, there are many different solutions for how to keep birds off of your patio furniture. Perhaps you have already tried to put up a scarecrow on your patio, but you know what? A scarecrow is much more likely to scare your guests than to scare any birds away. So, how do you keep birds off of your patio furniture? Well, these days, there are many innovative ways to keep birds off of your patio furniture… ways that are a bit more high tech and much more effective than the classic scarecrow. One such solution is a magnet. A magnet that can keep birds off of your patio furniture?! Now, the idea may sound a bit odd, but it really works. You can buy a powerful magnet whose main purpose is to keep birds away from your patio (in a safe and humane manner). How does such a tool work? Well, it disrupts the birds' means of sensing direction, and they will therefore stay away from the 15-20 foot radius that such a magnet might cover. Birds cannot adjust to the effect of such a magnet. Of course, if you are going to use one of these devices to keep birds off of your patio furniture, be sure to keep your computer, pacemakers, or other magnetically coded devices away from it. Another tool for keep birds away from your patio is a bird repellant. There are simple non-toxic bird repellants out there that you can apply to surfaces that you do not want birds to land on. Such a bird repellant is stick and birds do not like the "feel" of it. Of course, seeing as how it is sticky, you will not want to apply it to your patio furniture, but you may want to consider applying to branches that hang over your patio or a gutter that surrounds your patio. If a bird cannot land around your patio, it is much less likely to poop on your patio! There are also more modern takes on the scare crow to keep birds off of your patio furniture. Birds really are afraid and nervous around things that remind them of a predator bird, and also sometimes bright colors and bold designs. Pick up some of these items at your local gardening store. There are also many other ideas on how to keep birds off of your patio furniture that pertain to specific species. So, if these aforementioned hints do not help you with your bird problem, then there is still hope. Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, and home decor. Her background includes teaching and gardening. For more of her articles on gardening please visit Garden Benches. Skid Steers Attachments For The Right Job Writen by Rey Dizon A Bobcat skid steer is a very versatile piece of equipment and if you have the right skid steer attachment, then there are a lot of different things that you can do with them. The angle broom is a very useful skid steer attachment, especially if you are trying to keep a site clean but do not want to go to the expense of hiring a full size road sweeper. A skid steer is able to work in small spaces and the angle broom skid steer attachment can also be used to keep every bit of the site clean, unlike a regular road sweeper which is limited as to where it can go because of its size. There is also a water kit skid steer attachment available. The brush cutter skid steer attachment is very useful if you might have to clear areas of brush. It is a very powerful saw that could quickly clear areas that are overgrown. This skid steer attachment also has a steel deflector as a safety attachment so that the operator is protected from the blades. The brush cutter skid steer attachment is also very useful for cutting fire breaks and clearing field edges. A very useful skid steer attachment is the digger. This can be attached to the front of the skid steer and used to dig and move large quantities of earth or gravel or rocks. The digger skid steer attachment can also remove tree roots and loosen soil that is too hard to work. Using a skid steer attachment to do your digging can let you get a lot more work done and help you to finish jobs quicker. This is undoubtedly one of the most verstile of the skid steer attachment and will be useful to most people. Another very good skid steer attachment is the bucket. This means that you can carry much larger quantities and make fewer journeys to move the same amount of stuff. Saving time like this can help to increase profitability and allow you to get the job done more quickly. If you get the right one for your needs then a skid steer attachment can make a real difference to the way that you work. And the more time you save, more that you can do and the more money you make. There are a great many skid steer attachments that can make a difference to the way that you work and they can mean that you can work quicker and more effectively. Skid Steers Guide - Your online resource for skidsteers including Skid Steer Attachments, and Caterpillar Skid Steers. Subscribe to: Posts (Atom) Blog Archive ►  2009 (97) ►  March (7) Perennials For Your Garden The Low Maintenance Cho... 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