Feeding the Birds in Your Yard: Are you at risk for the Bird Flu?

This is the time of year in which the birds come back to
your home in droves.  Many bird enthusiasts actively
attract birds through the use of birdhouses, bird feeders,
and bird-baths.  With the growing threat of an avian flu
(bird flu) pandemic, it is wise to consider the threat that
wild birds may bring to your home. Are you at risk?

The United States is preparing for the eventual spread of
the avian flu to this country and has an aggressive
interagency detection program led by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA).   This involves testing of tens of
thousands of live and dead birds from our coastal regions,
including Alaska, which is the state in closest proximity
to Asia. In addition, the USDA has a "Biosecurity for the
Birds" program, which provides important information about
reducing the probability of birds becoming infected with
the avian flu.  This program develops practical, common
sense management practices to keep the avian flu and other
poultry diseases out of our commercial and backyard flocks.

The good news is that up to this point, the avian flu has
not been detected in the United States, although some
predict that it is only a matter of time before it affects
this country.  The avian flu is carried primarily by
waterfowl and shore birds but is also found in domestic
poultry such as chickens. So far songbirds and your typical
backyard birds such as hummingbirds, bluebirds,
woodpeckers, purple martins, wrens, and many others remain
unaffected.

The Department of Interior's National Wildlife Health
Center has issued guidance to follow routine precautions
when handling wild birds.  This is not because there is a
threat at this time for avian flu but for general hygiene
against other bird-related illnesses.

The Center recommends that people handling wild birds:    
1) Do not handle birds that are obviously sick or birds
found dead,
2) Wear rubber or disposable latex gloves while handling
(and cleaning) game, wash hands with soap and water (or
with alcohol-based hand products if the hands are not
visibly soiled), and thoroughly clean knives, equipment and
surfaces that come in contact with game,
3) Do not eat, drink, or smoke while handling or cleaning
birds.

The Author recommends that you continue to invite wild
birds into your yard through the use of bird feeders,
birdhouses, and birdbaths.  At this time, there is NO
threat for the avian flu, especially in North American
songbird populations. Monitor your local news service for
updates on the spread of the avian flu and other related
bird-born illnesses.


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Mike Kershaw is a wild bird enthusiast and owner/operator
of the online wild bird supplies superstore
http://www.TheBirdWarehouse.com . Mike has a graduate
degree in biological sciences and is an expert in
attracting and retaining wild birds to your backyard.

 

Can Plants Grow Without Soil? Hydroponic Gardening is the Answer!

Hydroponic Gardening is the system in which plants can be
made to grow without soil.  Using hydroponics to grow
plants can be beneficial for many growers since it allows
plants to be grown much faster and many times with less
problems.

Plants are grown in a solution which consists of water and
dissolved nutrients required for the particular plant.
There are several hydroponics techniques and systems that
are used in producing thriving plants

The different types of hydroponics systems and techniques
include the nutrient film technique (or NFT), aeroponics,
and the aeration technique.

With the aeroponics technique, plants are secured using
rigid pipes, screens, or films.  The nutrients are
dissolved into the plants' water supply and the plants'
roots are suspended within the water. The plant then
obtains its food nutrients directly from the water or from
an air mist which is sprayed directly onto the plant roots.

Hydroponic gardening also requires the use growing media.
Different mediums can be used which have to retain the food
rich moisture.  They must also be able to physically
support the plant roots.  The following have been the most
effective media so far: expanded clay, perlite, styrofoam,
sand, rockwool, vermiculite, pea gravel.

Many types plants that can be grown in a hydroponics
system. Some plants will grow better in hydroponics system
than others, but some of the most popular are lettuce,
tomatoes, cucumbers, herbs, watercress, and various other
edible plants.

Tree seedlings and flowers can also be grown using
hydroponics. Hydroponic greenhouses have been producing
millions of plant seedlings every year.  These are then
transplanted and grown at other locations where they are
later planted into soil.

If you are just a beginner at hydroponic gardening, you
will no doubt be satisfied with the quality of your crops
and the faster rate of growth.  Hydroponically grown plants
will grow and mature faster and yield an earlier harvest of
vegetable crops.

There are many benefits to growing your own plants in a
hydroponics system. Hydroponic gardening doesn't require a
fertile farmland or a large water supply growing plants.
Vegetable and plants can be grown year round.  Hydroponic
vegetables and plants in almost any small space, or a
basement, or even an apartment balcony.

The hydroponic systems require less space because the plant
roots don't have to spread and search for food and water.
The smaller space requirement makes hydroponic gardening
perfect for limited space home gardeners.

Hydroponic plants can also be grown in nurseries and
greenhouses as well.  The benefit of growing these plants
without soil in a sterile medium includes not having to
remove weeds or dealing with soil-borne pests and diseases.
 And since all the nutrients necessary for the plant are
readily avaliable to it, the plant is noticeably healthier
than the plants grown in soil.

The greatest benefit to hydroponic gardening is the ability
to automate the hydroponics system with timers and remote
monitoring equipment. This reduces the time it takes to
maintain the plants and the growing environment. It also
allows the grower to leave their system for long periods of
time without worrying about watering plants.

Hydroponic growing without the use of soil is not simple,
but with time it will become an easy routine. Hydroponics
offers the advantage of many techniques that can be
beneficial to your plants and produce a richer and
healthier plant.


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Author of Hydroponic Gardening Website: Tony Buel
http://www.hydroponics.com-afl.com
Hydroponic Gardening Article Found at:
http://www.hydroponics.com-afl.com/Hydroponic-Gardening--Plants-Grow-Without-Soil.htm

 

Using Mulch to Control Garden Weeds Naturally and Inexpensively

Using Mulch to Control Garden Weeds Naturally and Inexpensively
It's springtime and the home gardener is busy planting
flowers, shrubs and vegetables in anticipation of the
enjoyment they get from a beautifully landscaped yard
and/or a bountiful harvest. Springtime also means that the
weeds are popping up in your garden, threatening to take
over. Now is the time to get those pesky plants under
control and clear the way for your plants.

Mulching is the recommended way to not only control weeds
but retain precious moisture and protect root systems from
extreme temperatures. There are many different types and
ways to apply mulch. Some of them can be very costly. I've
found a better way to control weeds naturally and
inexpensively.

If you're putting in new plants, be sure to follow planting
procedures like proper depth and spacing as well as
watering the holes where your plants will go. For
established garden areas, make sure to hoe or pull weeds
more than two inches tall. Also be sure you have applied
any compost and tilled it into the soil well. Level the
ground and break up any large clods of soil.

Then it's time for the mulch. While you can purchase rather
expensive commercial mulches, a more cost effective
alternative is to use newspapers and shredded bark. The
newspapers are of course free, and you can feel good about
recycling them. The shredded bark can be picked up in
quantity at a very reasonable cost from your local sawmill.

First, wet the ground to be covered. Don't make a mud
puddle, but be sure to soak it well. Then lay out the
newspapers. You can use 1-2 sheets, overlapping them to
keep them in place. Put rocks or some other heavy object
down to hold them down temporarily. Once you have an area
covered, wet it again to soak the newspapers. This will
keep the paper from blowing away and you can pick up and
move the rocks or weights to the next area. Repeat this
procedure until the entire area is covered.

If you have existing plants, you can tear and fit the
newspapers around them. Make sure they snug right up
against the base of the plants to keep the weeds out.

Then apply the bark mulch. Since you've already put down a
weed barrier (newspapers), you won't need nearly as much
bark mulch as is usually called for. You can apply just
enough to cover the newspapers. Commercial applications
calling for mulch at a 2 inch depth will require one 2
cubic feet bag to cover 12 square feet. So it will take
about half that if you use the newspapers under it.

Which kind and size of mulch to use will depend on your
budget. The treated mulch will help repel insects, but is
about twice the price of plain medium sized bark mulch at a
commercial outlet. Purchasing shredded bark from a sawmill
will cost less than that.

Be sure to spread the mulch evenly. To keep your garden
weeds down, reapply as needed in the fall or spring each
year.

The newspapers will work as a weed barrier and are free
compared to expensive weed cloth. They will also retain
moisture in the soil and degrade naturally to improve the
condition of the soil in your garden. The mulch will cover
the newspapers giving your garden or flower beds an
attractive look. They too will degrade into soil-enhancing
nutrients. Mulching will also help protect roots from
extreme temperatures, keeping the root system warm during
cooler spring nights and cooler during the hot summer days.


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Cindy Dykstra writes for Article-DirectorySite.com, where
you can find articles on everything from gardening to
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