skip to main |
skip to sidebar
More and more people are beginning to appreciate the beauty
of teak patio furniture. This is particularly true for
those people who care more about the quality of their
wooden patio furniture rather than the quantity of it. Teak
is an elegant and long lasting wood which grows mostly in
Burma, Indonesia and other exotic locations. Popular belief
is that Egypt was one of the first countries to use wood
patio furniture. However, over the years the whole world
has recognized the beauty and grace of teak patio
furniture. The popularity of Teak for wooden patio
furniture is based on its resilience, unique grain, and its
durability to resist insects and natural decay. Even in an
untreated form, the longevity of unfinished teak is
impressive, as it can last up to 75 years.
Wooden patio furniture comes in many styles and in various
finishes. Nowadays the best outdoor wood patio furniture
sets can rival the quality of indoor dining furniture.
There are many different types of wood used. As well as
Teak, these include Cypress with its unique grain; Cedar
which transforms from a red or reddish-brown colour to a
silvery-grey appearance; and Knotted Pine which has a
natural resistance to the outdoor elements, pests, and
decay.
So why are so many people interested in Teak patio
furniture? Well, the answer lies in the wood itself. Teak
is a very hard wood that has a strong resistance to winds,
pests, humidity, and all manner of conditions that a normal
wood faces in its lifetime. It is an extremely durable wood
that is often used in construction around water, such as
decking in marine locations. As a result teak patio
furniture can withstand very harsh weather during the
winter months and still look fantastic during summer. In
fact some people prefer the look of this type of wooden
furniture as it gets older, as the wood matures to a
beautiful silver-grey colour.
It is important to have a word of caution here. Just
because Teak is durable, it doesn't mean you shouldn't care
for your wooden patio furniture. Teak does not splinter but
it may develop small cracks with time; due to its high
content of natural oils. It should be treated if you plan
to leave it out in the winter or during bad weather, as its
oils do not create a great surface sheen.
As with any form of wooden patio furniture it is a good
idea to avoid spilling drinks or other foodstuffs on it. If
an accident does happen do not try and clean it with common
household detergents. Either just leave the stain to fade
over time or sand the area down with high grade sand paper
and re-polish it. Remember, you must make sure your Teak
patio furniture is clean before re-polishing otherwise you
will trap the dirt into the wood.
You will probably pay more for a Teak patio furniture set
than for other types of wooden patio furniture and
certainly more than for plastic furniture. However, you are
buying quality. It is very satisfying to sit outside on a
sunny winter's day enjoying your garden in the knowledge
that your neighbours have had to pack their garden
furniture away for the season.
The final point to note is that after making that
investment in elegant Teak patio furniture you should not
spoil the effect by finishing it off with cheap
accessories. So do not buy cheap cushions or a flimsy
umbrella. Cushions should be thick, about for to six
inches, and be made from good quality material that
enhances the wood. The umbrella should be made from teak
and material that complements the cushions. Get these
accessories right and your patio furniture will be
aesthetically pleasing to both you and your visitors.
----------------------------------------------------
Michael Saville has written other articles on patio
furniture. These can be found by visiting
http://www.patio-furniture.org.uk The site also includes
information about buying and maintaining all other types of
patio furniture.
The Tremendous Benefits of Organic Gardening
The art of organic gardening is simply growing food in an
environmentally and health friendly manner. Because an
organic garden is produce without the use of pesticides and
commercial fertilizers you are not only providing yourself
and your family with healthy foods, you are also helping
the air, water, and soil within our environment.
Organic gardening carries many benefits that you may not be
aware of. This article will help you identify the benefits
of an organic garden and determine whether organic is the
way for you to go.
When you produce organic foods, you are producing all
natural, safe, and much healthier foods. These foods will
have a greater amount of nutrients and minerals within them
than those grown with the help of commercial products. You
are reducing your family's risk of ingesting harmful
additives and pesticides, and increasing their nutrition at
the same time.
Let us have a look at some of the other health benefits of
organic gardening. One important benefit that research has
discovered in organic foods is the fact that by eating
foods grown organically, you are building your body's
immune system, thus giving it the ability to fight of many
different types of diseases, one of which is cancer.
Organic vegetables have been proven to contain a higher
concentration of nutrients. A team from Rutgers University
did a study comparing produce from a grocery store and the
same items grown organically.
While the Rutgers team expected the organic food to show a
slight increase in minerals compared to the non-organic,
they were astounded by the results of the tests. The
organic produce contained much greater amounts of essential
minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium and potassium.
Non-organic spinach had only three percent of the iron
contained in organic spinach. Non-organic tomatoes had only
a tiny fraction of one percent of the iron found in organic
tomatoes. What was more surprising was that many essential
elements were completely missing from the non-organic
produce.
Not only are organic foods higher in vitamins and minerals
but they also lack the harmful chemicals found in
non-organic foods. Thanks to the lack of chemicals within
organic foods, you are reducing the amounts of toxins such
as fertilizers, hormones, and pesticides in your body.
Furthermore, while reducing the harmful instances, you are
increasing the amounts of healthy minerals within your body
such as vitamins, phosphorous, magnesium, and iron.
Another great benefit of organic gardening is that the
foods you produce will have a longer shelf life and taste a
whole lot better. Research has shown that without additives
and other such elements, organic foods can be stored better
and longer than foods with chemicals and processes.
Furthermore, without the chemical additives, the foods from
your organic garden will simply have a better taste, which
is delicious. The taste of a fresh, organic tomato is far
superior to a tomato bought at the local grocery store
which was probably pulled from the vine weeks earlier when
it was still a bit green.
These are some of the great benefits to growing your own
organic produce. There is also the benefit you get from
working in your garden, out in the sunshine and fresh air,
reducing any stress from a day at the office. Organic is
simply better for your overall health.
----------------------------------------------------
Carol Stack enjoys writing articles. She lives with her
husband, children, four dogs and seven cats in the United
States. Find more tips about organic gardening by visiting
Carol's gardening site at http://www.freegardentips.info
How to Have a Beautiful and Lush Green Lawn
Having a green, lush lawn is easier than you might think.
If you don't have the ideal lawn you have always dreamed
of, don't worry. With just a few simple steps, you, too,
can have an amazing lawn.
In order to have a beautiful lawn, you must start with a
good foundation. Whether starting from scratch or trying
to bring life back to your lifeless lawn, start with
seeding. A rotary spreader will evenly distribute the
grass seed over the entire surface.
Once you have enough seed down you will need to make sure
the grass has sufficient water. In some parts of the world
where there is normally enough rainfall to maintain a lawn,
you might still need to water after seeding the lawn. You
will want to make sure you water the seeds enough to help
them grow.
On average, a healthy lawn needs between one and two inches
of water a week. If you are fortunate enough to live in an
area where it rains throughout the summer, you will not
need to bother with sprinklers. However, if a drought
occurs it might become necessary to water by hand to keep
the lawn green and healthy.
If you need to water by hand or with sprinkler, it is
important to water for short periods of time in order to
avoid run-off or puddles. Also, you want to water in the
early morning hours when it is cooler outside. Otherwise,
you risk frying the grass from the hot summer sun.
To help the lawn maintain a healthy look, you will need to
fertilize it. In the early spring, you will want to wait
until you have mowed the grass several times before
applying a fertilizer.
Be sure to match the fertilizer with the specific time of
year. Spring, summer and winter fertilizer all contain
different ingredients and are designed for use during the
specific seasons. In the fall it is important to fertilize
the lawn before the first frost.
Another step in maintaining a healthy lawn is to properly
mow it. You will want to mow at least once a week. Be
sure not to set the mower blade too low or you will end up
killing the grass. Also, be sure not to mow in circles.
When mowing, be sure to overlap the strips you have mowed.
This will ensure that all of the grass is mowed evenly.
Mowing shorter grass more often is better for your yard.
One final step in having a healthy lawn is weed control.
If your grass is fighting with weeds for nutrients, it is
less likely to grow properly. So be sure to apply a weed
control throughout the lawn-growing season. Often, weed
control can be combined with fertilizer.
If crabgrass appears in your lawn it is very important to
get rid of it at once. Pull it out by the roots. If
necessary, dig it out with a shovel. Then re-seed the grass
and water. Be sure you don't ignore the crabgrass or it
will soon take over the entire lawn. A little work now is
better than a lot of work later.
In conclusion, having a beautiful and healthy lawn requires
some effort. However, the rewards are so great that you
won't mind putting a little effort into the care of your
lawn. By following a few simple steps, you can maintain a
beautiful lawn all year long.
----------------------------------------------------
Carol Stack enjoys writing articles. She lives with her
husband, children, four dogs and seven cats in the United
States. Find more ways to keep your yard and garden looking
great by visiting Carol's gardening site at
http://www.freegardentips.info
Although we live in a do-it-yourself culture, there are
sometimes when it pays to hire a professional. Landscaping
can be a perfect example of this. A quality landscaper
will have equipment, know how, design skills, and talents
to transform your property into a living show piece.
Landscaping can be complicated and labor intensive. It can
require specialized tools and equipment. Landscaping is
also an art, and the experts have a strong understanding of
good design, composition and aesthetics that allows them to
make the most of any piece of land. Professional
landscapers also possess voluminous knowledge about various
plants, grasses and trees that assists them in making the
best possible decisions for any given job.
Try as we might, we can't, as amateurs, produce the
breathtaking results that a professional landscaper can.
Thus, if we need serious landscaping help, it makes sense
to call in the expert. That part of the decision calculus
is relatively easy. Once we decide to hire a pro, however,
another question emerges: how can we choose the right
landscaper. Let's look at a few helpful hints that can
point those in need of professional landscaping assistance
in the right direction.
First, don't let cost make your decision. We have a
natural inclination toward bargain hunting, but the old
maxim "you get what you pay for" is often true. A cut-rate
provider may keep your wallet thick, but the grass could
turn out thin and brown. Cost is always a consideration,
but one should not compromise the integrity of their
landscaping project in order to save a few dollars.
Second, ask for reference and then take a look. Get
references from prospective landscapers and then take the
time to actually follow up on them. Take a personal look
at their handiwork and see what you think about the quality
of their efforts. Talk to former customers about the
landscaper's ability to get work done on time and other
important considerations. Your landscaper will be making
potentially permanent changes to your property. Take the
extra effort required to make sure those changes will be
positive.
Third, call appropriate agencies. Check with the Better
Business Bureau and other consumer watch dogs and find out
whether the landscaper in question has been the subject of
any complaints or valid criticisms. This is not a
foolproof way to weed out sub par options, but if you find
that a prospective contractor is a magnet for consumer
complaints, it only makes sense to think twice before
hiring them.
Fourth, talk about the project. Before making a decision,
spend time on the property discussing the project with the
landscaper. Get a feel for his or her vision of the
project and find out whether or not he or she is receptive
to your ideas and capable of meeting your specific needs.
The fact that a landscaper did a wonderful job on a modern
commercial property doesn't necessarily demonstrate an
ability to handle the yard of your restored Victorian home,
after all. Make sure you have found the right person for
the job.
Following these recommendations won't necessarily guarantee
landscaping success, but doing so will improve your odds of
hiring the right landscaper considerably. Remember not to
cut corners, to check references, to consult with consumer
agencies, and to have a meaningful discussion or two about
the project in order to assess whether a specific
landscaper is the right person for the job.
Landscaping may not always be a do-it-yourself project, but
that doesn't mean you have to rely on the first
professional you find in the Yellow Pages. Take the time
to find the right landscaper for you!
----------------------------------------------------
Free landscaping ideas & 2,183 landscaping pictures be sure
to visit http://www.landscapingideasonline.com . It's the
website landscaping contractors & homeowners use to get
landscape design ideas - by Brad Palmer
Palm trees are popular in gardens all over the world. Some
species are considered fast growing. These grow faster than many
other species. In fast growing trees, the trunk quickly becomes
tall. This may be important if you want a tall line of trees
around your property in a shorter amount of time.
The climate affects the growth of most types of <a
href="http://www.alicante-spain.com/palm-trees.html">trees</a>.
Some need continually warm weather. This equates to faster
growth in some species. Others grow well in slightly cooler
areas, and can even with stand frost. It's important to find out
the requirements when choosing the best plants for your garden.
Types of Palm Trees
The King Palm is a quick growing tree. They are a good choice if
you want a canopy of trees. This palm likes rich soil with ample
nutrients and needs plenty of water. They can grow twenty five
feet in ten years, with good care. The maximum height they reach
is about forty feet. They grow faster in full sun.
Queen Palms are the most common species of tree. These grow
about twenty five feet in seven to ten years. They can reach
heights of up to sixty feet at maturity. Queen palms need good
soil and lots of water. They are hardy in colder weather.
Majesty Palms are fast growing palm trees. They grow about ten
feet in ten years. They often reach thirty five feet within
twenty years. This species needs plenty of water and soil that
is rich in magnesium. They do well in sun for part of the day.
Majesties don't do well too near the ocean. There is too much
salt in the air.
Royal Palms are moderately fast growing. They will grow twenty
feet in ten years with good care. This species needs soil rich
in nutrients, water and plenty of sun. They grow a fat trunk
base and then grow tall. This species does not do well in
temperatures below twenty six degrees Fahrenheit.
Fishtail Palms are a common and fast growing species. They reach
thirty feet tall in about seven years. At maturity, they can
reach over sixty feet tall. The trunk diameter of this species
is about twenty four inches. Fishtails need rich soil and plenty
of water.
King Kong or Black Trunk Palms are fast growing trees. They get
wide before they get tall. They can reach up to eighty feet tall
and grow large, horizontal leaves. This is one of the wider
species in terms of trunk diameter.
Growing Palm Trees
Consider the needs of the species before you plant it. The
temperature range needed varies by species. Some do better in
consistently warm climates. Others do well in slightly cooler
areas. A few can survive frost, while others will die. Make sure
the species you choose is hardy in the climate where you live.
Ask about the day length of each species. This need varies by
species, so ask at the nursery. The tree will need enough to
promote growth and prepare for changes with the seasons. Some
need a lot of sun, while others do better in partial sun. The
heat needs vary according to species as well. Find out the heat
and sun tolerances of the species when shopping for trees.
How much water does the species need? Some need a lot more water
than others. If you choose a species with a high water
requirement, make sure you can meet those needs. If you don't
get much rain, you will need to be sure to water it frequently.
The pH range needed varies by species as well. Find out the
proper pH for your species to take up water and nutrients. You
may be able to add nutrients to balance this range as needed.
The nursery will be able to help you with this.
About the author:
Being specifically passionate about palms and plants, Robert
Carlton is writing plenty of informative papers in the area. His
publications on<a
href="http://www.alicante-spain.com/palm-trees.html"> palm
trees</a> can be discovered on <a
href="http://www.alicante-spain.com/palm-trees.html">http://www.a
licante-spain.com/palm-trees.html</a> as well as other web
sites.
There are sprinkler systems, and then there is the Rainbird
Sprinkler System. The Rainbird Sprinkler System belongs in a
class all to themselves. Does your lawn suffer the results of
not getting the proper amounts of watering during the summer?
Wouldn't you rather get rid of that old brown lawn and have a
beautiful lush green landscape? Well, with a Rainbird Sprinkler
System you can have just that.
If you already have a Rainbird Sprinkler System installed, then
you probably already know what I'm talking about. But, if you've
never had the benefits that a sprinkler system offers, then you
should take some time and explore this landscaping area. A
sprinkler system is a perfect home improvement addition for any
home.
The sun is brutal on your grass during the hot summer months.
Who has the time to play with an old garden hose connected to a
lawn sprinkler? You constantly have to time it and move it
across the yard all the time. It quickly becomes a huge hassle
every week. Well, you can take some action and liven up that
dead looking lawn. Before you know it a Rainbird Sprinkler
System can have your yard the envy of the entire neighborhood.
It will keep your grass looking its best all summer long.
It's not only your lawn that will benefit from a Rainbird
Sprinkler System, but it's your entire landscape. Flowers,
bushes, trees, plants and shrubs will also benefit from being on
a watering schedule. All you have to do is set the timer up on
the sprinkler system and it does all the work for you. It
doesn't get any easier than that.
With a Rainbird Sprinkler System you can be assured that you're
getting a top of the line sprinkler system. The company doesn't
cut corners or produce some piece of junk that will need
replaced in a year or two down the road. Rainbird is an industry
leader in providing quality sprinkler systems. Everything they
manufacture is built to last for years.
If you haven't sat down and taken a look at some of the great
deals on Rainbird Sprinkler Systems, then I would encourage you
to start today. Go online and take a look at what they have to
offer. Their products will have any yard looking like a
professionally landscaped masterpiece in a few shorts weeks. You
can easily find a Rainbird Sprinkler System that will fit your
budget and have your yard looking its best this next summer.
About the author:
You can find much more information on <a target="_new"
href="http://www.sprinklersa-z.com/Rainbird_Sprinkler_System.html
">Rainbird Sprinkler Systems</a> as well as more information on
all types of sprinklers at <a target="_new"
href="http://www.sprinklersa-z.com">http://www.SprinklersA-z.com<
/a>
