Growing An Indoor Herb Garden Is Easy

Instead of planting a big outdoor herb garden consider
planting one indoors. Many smaller varieties and dwarf
varieties of herbs grow quite well in small pots that can be
placed on a kitchen window sill. Now when you are cooking
you do not have to run to your outside garden to pick a few
herbs to add to your cooking. You can just simply turnaround
and grab a few leaves!

It's easy to grow your own indoor herb garden. Many kits are
available that have everything that you need to get started.
Look for the chia herb garden which is a fun way to get the
kids involved too. You can enjoy the same benefits that you
would outside, but with a few distinct advantages with an
indoor herb garden.

Advantages Of An Indoor Herb Garden

Monitoring your plants with an indoor herb garden is easy.
If they need any maintenance you will notice quickly. If
they need a quick misting you can accomplish the task with
little effort. Outdoor gardens are more frequently
overlooked. You will not have issues with bugs eating the
leaves of your herbs indoors. You will not have to contend
with trying to find a safe chemical that can be used to
treat your herbs to keep bugs away.

When it is time to harvest all of your fresh herbs you can
do it within the comfort of your own home. You will not have
to deal with mosquitoes or other bugs while you are trying
to garden.

When you plant an indoor herb garden you can bring in the
wonderful fragrance that they provide. Now your kitchen will
smell delicious like fresh basil or rosemary. Being
surrounded by the fragrances of an indoor herb garden might
even inspire your cooking. Any meals you do cook will now
taste even better as you will be able to add fresh herbs
instead of dried herbs that have been sitting in a cabinet.

Having an indoor herb garden will also protect any other
plants that might be in your garden. Known to be extremely
invasive are some species of herbs. Once they start growing
they are hard to stop and before you know it your herb
garden has taken over. By planting your herbs in small
individual pots inside you can control its spreading.

Plants can make indoor spaces feel warm and cozy. Why not
add a few practical plants to your kitchen to achieve the
same result. You can generate an inviting atmosphere while
growing herbs to use in your cooking.

Cultivating your own
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indoor herb garden is easy. Several kits are available that
have everything that you need to begin. Now when you are
cooking you do not have to run to your outside garden to
choose a few herbs to add to your cooking.

Grow Fruit Indoors With Indoor Fruit Trees

One of the latest popular additions to the gardening scene
is growing fruit indoors with indoor fruit trees.  These
small, suited-for-indoors fruit bearing trees are ideal for
gardeners of all levels of experience.  Even those with very
little living space can comfortably fit one of these
economical fragrant trees.

Indoor fruit trees are available in wide varieties.  Not
only are these handsome, fragrant trees ideally suited for
indoors, they yield regular size lemons, limes, grapefruits,
oranges, and more.  You can even own an indoor kumquat tree!
 If you're worried how tall they grow, don't be ... indoor
fruit trees top off at 10 to 12 feet maximum, and only reach
that height if they're never pruned.

How Do Growers Ship Indoor Fruit Trees?

Indoor fruit trees are usually shipped from the grower in a
standard container, anywhere from 3 to 7 gallon size.
Indoor fruit tree growers are able to ship all over the
United States at any time of year as indoor fruit trees are
quite hardy and durable.

Does An Indoor Fruit Tree Need Special Care?

Indoor fruit trees are perfect for a beginning gardener
because they are relatively low maintenance.  Two key
elements to help your indoor fruit tree thrive are making
sure not to overwater, and ensuring the indoor fruit tree
receives plenty of sunlight.

What Is The Fruit Yield From An Indoor Fruit Tree?

Typically, an indoor fruit tree will yield several pounds of
fruit annually.  Of course, this depends on the type of
indoor fruit tree and how well the tree is cared for.

Indoor Fruit Tree Miscellaneous

While it isn't completely necessary, indoor fruit trees can
benefit if they spend warmer months outdoors on a patio or
balcony.  When the temperature drops consistently into the
low 40's, bring the indoor fruit tree inside.  In terms of
watering, usually every 10-14 days is sufficient.  You may
also want to consider a time release citrus fertilizer for
your indoor fruit tree, which are available online or at
garden centers. - 13418

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Growing New Plants

Cuttings that have successfully developed into small plants
will need be transferred from small pots to 5 inch pots as
they grow. Ideally, this should be performed just as the
roots reach the side limits of the pot and before the plant
becomes "pot-bound".

Be very careful when repotting that you do not remove too
much of the soil around the root ball and that the plant is
placed straight and upright in its new pot. The plant should
then be treated as per repotted plants.

The use of a portable potting tray

A portable potting tray is very useful for people who do not
have a greenhouse or potting shed. It can be made from 6
inch boards: the ideal size is a base of 24 x 15 inches,
sides and back 9 inches deep and the front around 4 inches.

Seed raising of house plants

There are a number of house plants and in door plants that
are easy to propagate from seed. These include Aloe, a
succulent plant with medicinal qualities, species of
Asparagus, some of the Begonias, many examples of Cacti,
Clivias, Cyclamens, members of the Eucalyptus family,
varieties of Fuchsia, Grevilleas including G. robusta,
Opuntia, the Phoenix palm, Primulas, Ricinus, Rochea
(another succulent), hybrids of Saintpaulia and Solatium
capsicastrum.

The best compost

Seeds, including those above, can be sown in top quality
rich potting soil.

If you decide to use compost it should be sterilized by
heating it for approximately 10 minutes in a sterilizer at
around 180 degrees F, then allowing it to cool before use by
spreading it out on a level surface.

Cheshunt Compound sterilizer, which can be purchased at any
seed store can also be used to sterilize compost. It is a
powder that, when dissolved in water, can be lightly sprayed
over the compost either before or after sowing the seeds. It
is safe to use for both humans and the smallest seedlings.
You can also sterilize equipment such as seed boxes and pots
this way, rendering them pest free. A good compost for seeds
can be made by adding peat, sand and fertilizer to
sterilized loam.

Seed compost preparation

All ingredients to make the soils for repotting
houseplantsshould be carefully mixed after being sifted
through 1 inch mesh. Fill the bottom of the pots or seed
pans with the larger pieces from the siftings to cover
drainage holes before filling them with the finer compost.
It should then be pressed down slightly with the fingers and
then made moist by placing the pot in a water tray, making
sure that the water does not come above the rim (the water
has to come up through the compost). Once the surface of the
soil appears moist it should be taken from the tray of water
and allowed to drain for some time before any seeds are
sowed. Seeds should be sown sparsely then covered with more
sifted compost. Covering depth of the seeds is dependent
upon the size of the seeds; generally, the smaller the seed,
the finer the cover and larger seeds should have a coverage
in proportion to their largest diameter.

Once the seeds are sown and covered, panes of glass can be
used to cover them and sheets of paper can be used as
shades.

Tilting the glass to afford air

Turn the glass panel over each day to prevent condensation
dripping on to the soil as this can promote decay. Once the
seedlings appear, remove the paper shade and begin
ventilation. This can be achieved by raising one side of the
glass slightly ( a plant label between the panel and the pot
works well).Continue this until it is safe to remove the
covering completely.

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Garden Landscaping, Wilmington, DE Services - Selecting The Best

There are several different things that need to be
considered before you go ahead and employ the services of a
landscaping  company.  One of the first things you actually
need to do is sit down and decide just what it is you want
out of your garden and the way in which it will be used.
After you have come to this decision can you then start your
search for the most appropriate landscaping, Wilmington DE
company for you to use.

Below we provide a few guidelines to help you when it comes
to determining and then selecting the right Wilmington, DE
landscaping company to use for your own particular garden
project.

1.  One of the best ways of finding a good landscaping
company to carry out a garden project for you is to ask
family, friends or neighbours.  Just getting their feedback
is often a great way of deciding whether the company they
used is in fact the right one for you and can often more
helpful than if you read the companies advert or look at
their website.

2.  Before you do hire anyone whether it be recommended by
someone you know or because you like their website you need
to actually determine if they can meet your particular
needs.  There are a few landscaping companies who will work
in specific areas of landscaping such as ponds or rockery
and these may be complete unsuitable for the project that
you have in mind.

3.  Never when looking for a landscaping, Wilmington DE
company to work for you on a garden project use the first
one that is recommended or you see online or in a newspaper
or telephone directory.  Rather spend some time contacting
several and explaining what your requirements and whether
they have the facilities to accommodate these.

4.  Also before you employ the services of a landscaping
company no matter where you live make sure that they have
all the appropriate licenses as well as insurances.
Companies with the right credentials are those who will
guarantee to make right any problems and deal with any
untoward situations as they arise.  One of the most
important pieces of documentation any reputable landscaping
company is going to have is liability insurance.

You should spend time investigating the company prior to you
employing them as this will save you a lot of heartache in
the future.  What could be any worse than you employ the
services of landscaping company because they are keep only
to find that they actually do not know what they are doing.
So again we reiterate you should never employ the first
landscaping company that you come across no matter the size
of the project.

If you think finding the right kind of landscaping,
Wilmington, DE firm is going to be somewhat difficult then
you need to think again.  As long as you keep the above in
mind then finding the right company for your particular
garden project will be much easier than you first imagined.

Above we have provided some information on finding the most
suitable Landscaping Wilmington, DE Service for your home.
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using such a service then please visit
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Avoid These Common Gardening Mistakes

The gardening season is upon us, and the number of novice
gardeners planting vegetables, flowers, and shrubs in the
wrong place or at the wrong time, and under watering and
over watering different varieties, will no doubt put many
new gardener's new love in jeopardy and end in frustration
and hopelessness.

Count me in the "hopeless" category, or at least those were
my feelings about gardening last year. This year, I've
taken matters into my own hands, and instead of giving into
the temptation of hiring a professional landscaper, I
decided to buckle down and take the time to read about what
I had been doing wrong to see such a dismal turnout of the
flowers I'd planted and other gardening disasters I'd
endured since I bought a house just a year ago.

Mistake Number One : Planting bulbs and plants that attract
common garden pests who will destroy them with great
exuberance the following spring. You will need to be
careful to get varieties that are resistant to animals and
vermin that inhabit your area, such as deer, or else you
may end up seeing your hard work eaten within a matter of
days.

Deer are some of the worst offenders, as they will blow
through an entire garden of tasty bulbs in a matter of one
night, as they did with about 50 of my bulbs just days ago.
Be sure to read the labels and look up deer resistant
varieties and be aware of any other animals that may
inhabit your area as well.

I have intimate knowledge of this foible unfortunately, and
with my new barely-over-an-acre yard, I was pretty bummed
out that I must have had, as my sister would say a "black
thumb" (get it, instead of a green thumb, I kill
everything).

Well, that's not really the case, I just had to find out
what I was doing wrong and give my plants, trees, flowers
and shrubs what they were looking for, since each had
different needs.

My biggest mistake was that I thought all plants were
treated the same. I believed that as long as you watered
them a lot, gave them a spot with plenty of sunshine, and
planted them in the same sort of soil, there was no way you
could go wrong. That's simply not true, as many of you
know.

Some plants, like tomato plants, which happen to be the
most popular vegetable grown here where I live in Northeast
Ohio, love sunshine and can grow in just about any soil,
while others, like ivy and foxglove, love the shade and
flourish in the darker, richer soil that tends to be
present in shady areas.

Pruning is another huge issue that causes confusion amongst
newbie gardeners (yes, I'm a case in point on this one
too). For example, I pruned my hydrangea bushes all the
way down last fall, and because of that, I will most likely
see very little to no flowers this summer and fall.

The reason is that the wooden pieces that result after the
hydrangea has lost it's greenness actually create the buds
in the fall after their current blossoms die and fall off,
and if you prune this all the way back in the fall, you
will be cutting off the producing stems of the buds for
flowers next season. Sometimes gardening is going against
what you would think is common sense, and this is a good
example.

Many other plants, like most rose bushes, do require a
drastic pruning in the fall after they have "died" for the
winter and essentially gone into a hibernating state. I
mistakenly used this rule of thumb for roses and applied it
to hydrangeas, which essentially is going to result in my
bushes not having any blossoms this season.

Watering is another huge fauxpas where new gardeners tend
to apply the same rules for all of their plants and
flowers, even though they do not require a lot of watering.

An example of this is the difference between the salvia
plant, which is actually an excellent choice for
drought-prone locations, and the beautiful hanging plant,
the fuchsia, which thrives on tons of water.

Most plants do come with a tiny little direction stick when
you buy them as starter plants in greenhouses, and if you
are unsure of how to take care of a particular plant to get
the maximum enjoyment out of it as well as maximum beauty
and durability, then you can always ask a knowledgeable
assistant in a local greenhouse where you are purchasing
plants.

Of course, this wonderful thing called the internet and
it's revolution of data at your fingertips is always a good
source as well, where anyone can search for the best
gardening techniques for specific plants is also a boon to
any new gardener, and of course many who've been doing it
for years as well!

----------------------------------------------------
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An Overview of the Art of Bonsai

Bonsai, the artistic representation of a natural tree,
first appeared in China over a thousand years ago on a very
basic scale known as "pun-sai". The Japanese have been
recorded to adopt and refine the art to an extent not yet
approached in China. The Japanese today regard bonsai as a
symbol of their culture and ideals.

On its arrival in the western world, the art of bonsai has
been warmly welcomed and embraced as a rewarding past time
or hobby. It is said to allow a greater understanding and
being with nature in addition to enhancing our gardens.

The five basic bonsai styles are formal upright, informal
upright, slanting (or windswept), semi-cascade and cascade.
All have their own individual beauty and serenity.

A tree with a style such as formal upright occurs when it
has grown in the open under perfect conditions. The most
important requirement for this style is that the trunk
should be perfectly straight, tapering naturally and evenly
from base to apex. The branches should be symmetrically
spaced so that they are balanced when viewed from any
direction. It is quite a demanding style to achieve.
Junipers, pines, and spruces are great to try and grow in
the formal upright style.

In an informal upright bonsai the trunk should slightly
bend to the right or left - but never towards the viewer.
This applies to all types of bonsai. Neither the trunk nor
branches should be pointing towards the viewer when the
bonsai is viewed from the front. For this style, try a
Japanese maple, Trident maple, or almost any conifer and
ornamental tree.

Trees that slant naturally occur as a result of buff
setting winds or deep shade during early development.
Whether curved or straight, the whole trunk leans at a
definite angle. The stronger roots grow out on the side,
away from the angle of the trunk lean, to support the
weight. Almost any type of tree will work well with this
style.

The growing tip of a cascade bonsai reaches below the base
of a container. The trunk has a natural taper and gives the
impression of the forces of nature pulling against the
forces of gravity. Branches appear to be seeking the light.
The winding main trunk is reminiscent of a stream
meandering down the side of a mountain. There are many
types of trees that can be used to achieve a cascading
bonsai. The key here is to make sure the tree isn't
naturally straight and upright.

The tip of a semi-cascade, like the cascade, projects over
the rim of the container, but does not drop below its base.
The style occurs in nature when trees grow on cliffs or
overhang water. The angle of the trunk in this bonsai is
not precise, as long as the effect is strongly horizontal,
even if the plant grows well below the level of the pot
rim. Any exposed roots should balance the trunk. Flowering
cherry trees, cedars, and junipers work very well in this
style of bonsai. Many people feel this style of bonsai is
the epitome of beauty in the art.

It is important for you to remember, as a beginner, that no
single bonsai style is the "right" style. More than
anything else you should not try to train a bonsai to grow
in a style it is not accustomed to. Study the natural
growth patterns of the tree you are going to grow and
enhance on the pattern nature gave it.

----------------------------------------------------
Patrick Carpen is the designer, writer and owner of the
website http://bonsaitree.infobay.ws/
He is an internet entrepreneur who helps the average user
better understand the workings of internet in addition to
providing high quality content on selected topics

How to Build a Window Box

Building a window box is an easy DIY project that is great
for any beginner. The best choice of wood for a window box
is cedar or cypress, because both woods will naturally
resist rotting the best. This will give your window box
the best chance of lasting more than five years. The
process of building a window box begins with measuring the
window for window box length, followed by assembly,
followed lastly by hanging it. Let's skip straight to the
middle and focus in on the actual building of a window box
and the steps that are required. You'll need a drill, a
few special bits, a brad gun, and a miter saw for this
project.

For simplicity purposes let's build a 36" window box from
3/4" thick cypress. Cypress wood stock can be attained
from most local lumberyards in a variety of dimensions.
For window box purposes, a 1" x 8" board is recommended.
For this box we will need roughly 12 feet of length. Now,
miter the board at 34.5" three consecutive times such that
you have three boards, one for the bottom, front, and back.
We want to join these three boards with screws so that the
boards are held tightly together. Butt two boards up at a
ninety degree angle and join them with some gorilla wood
glue. You want to make sure you use a wood glue designed
for exterior purposes. Once glued, shoot a few brad nails
along the joint to hold the two boards together
temporarily. Next, countersink three small holes through
the boards in preparation to pass screws in to more
securely join the boards in a ninety degree fashion. A
countersink drill bit is one that drills a pilot hole deep
and a big hole shallow so that the screw head can sink pass
the face of the board. Countersink a hole on the left, in
the middle, and on the right. Next, sink a screw into the
boards so that they grab tightly. The butt joint should
show on the bottom of the box. Repeat the same steps to
fasten the back board to the bottom boards. Once finished,
you will have everything but the side pieces.

For fastening of the side pieces I recommend again using
gorilla glue and brad nails to quickly secure the piece to
the box. Follow that up with countersunk holes and screws
to secure the side pieces to the box firmly. The side
piece should be cut to size first. Once the side pieces
are attached, the structural assembly of the box is
complete. Next, use a drill with a 1/4" drill bit to drill
drain holes in the bottom. I recommend placing a hole in
each corner of the box and one in the very center where
water will likely migrate to the most. Next, caulk inside
the box to seal all the inner joints. This will reinforce
the box and also keep water from seeping through. Lastly,
staple an erosion tarp to the inside of the box. This will
act as a filter between dirt and water so that water can
drain through the box easily while keeping the dirt in.
Viola, now you're ready to hang it and put flowers in it.
It's just that easy. If you're not up for the challenge of
building a wooden window box every five years, a good idea
may be to consider investing in a PVC window box. They're
moisture resistant, reasonably priced, and because they
don't rot they're designed to last 30 years and more
without any maintenance.

----------------------------------------------------
Matthew Buquoi is the owner of Flower Window Boxes, Inc.
His expertise is manufacturing PVC window boxes and custom
window boxes. He has many years of experience in building,
painting, and installing window boxes. Flower Window Boxes
specializes in affordable PVC window boxes and are known as
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When should you prune your roses

As with many other aspects of pruning, deciding when the
best time to prune is can be confusing for many people.

Though the general rule of thumb is to prune in spring, the
best time can vary a bit from climate zone to climate zone.
There are a couple of tips that can help you decide the
very best time to prune your roses. In warmer zones in the
south pruning can be done as early as February. In colder
zones in the north it may be wise to wait until late March
or even April. How to decide when is right for your area
can be done easily by taking a couple of factors into
consideration The first thing to take into account in
choosing the best time to prune is the weather. You'll want
to be sure there is no risk of severe weather such as a
freeze. Pruning prior to a freeze can leave your roses
prone to damage that can prevent new growth or even kill
your plant. The next thing to look for is the signs of new
growth. Watch for the swelling of leaf buds which shows by
the bumps getting larger and turning a reddish color. When
you see these buds appear, and the weather is favorable,
then its the right time to prune your rose bushes. The
second exception is pruning done for winter preparation
purposes and is done generally in late fall or early
winter, depending on the climate zone you live in. The
third exception is pruning hybrid tea roses. Hybrid tea
roses should be pruned when dormant, generally in December
or January, depending on your climate zone. As you can now
tell, the best time to prune roses is not as big a mystery
as you may have thought. Making a few, simple observations
can give you the information you need to make the right
decision on when the best time is to prune your roses.
Water Gardening There are many new trends
surfacing in gardening, and water gardening is one of the
main new interests. Water gardening can be in the form of
waterfalls, ponds, fountains, all of which can be enhanced
by rock work combinations and lighting, plants, and fish.
Water gardening doesnot have to be a pond or natural water
source either, it can consist of just a plastic tub,
basically anything that can hold water.

The most important thing to consider in water gardening is
probably the spot chosen. Since plants and fish both need
plenty of sunlight, places in direct light away from trees
and bushes is the best place. This will also help prevent
leaves and debris from collecting in the water. When
planning for a water garden first decide the size you want.
This will depend on how much money you are willing to spend
because water gardening can get expensive if you opt for a
large garden full of plants, rocks, fish, and lights. Also
consider the size of our property, and the amount of time
you want to spend with maintaining your water garden. When
you choose what type of aquatic plants you wish to have,
remember that the plants should only cover about half of
the water. Plants can be free floating, submerged, or
marginal. Which you choose is all a matter of personal
preference. Some plants are good for their scent, some
provide more oxygen than others and will keep the pool
health, and some are just beautiful. Fish are not only nice
to look at but they are also very beneficial. Fish help
keep debris at a minimum and help in controlling larva and
other insects. One of the main difficulties in water
gardening is keeping water clear of algae. Algae problems
are usually caused from too many nutrients in the water
from feeding fish too often or from over fertilizing
plants. If ponds are made correctly and are maintained
properly algae problems and control will be kept at a
minimum. All garden pools regardless of size will need
maintenance throughout the year. With proper planning you
can ensure a healthy balance between living and decorative
features of a water garden that can almost care for itself
with simple maintenance inputs from you. You can get rid of
algae by reducing on the nutrients that cause the algae by
cutting back on feeding and fertilizing, planting more
plants, installing a filter system, or replacing existing
water with fresh water. There are some chemicals that can
be used, like copper compounds, but overuse can kill plant
life and fish. Water gardening does not take anymore time
than regular gardening, but obviously isnot near the same
thing. You may be the type person who couldnot grow a
flower if you tried but would be excellent at water
gardening. If you are looking for a way to occupy some time
or to beautify your yard, water gardening is an excellent
way. .

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Creative Window Box Ideas

When it comes to window box ideas, personality will tell
the whole story. Plants are a good way to keep a window
box neutral and flowers are a good way to add highlights.
A window box should contain a mix of plants and/or flowers
that considers size, color, layout, and most importantly
pesonal style.

Here are some ideas to help stir up your imagination:

1. Hanging plants are a great window box idea if you want
to give the look of fullness or if you want to blend the
box into a garden are below. You can also use them to flow
into a landscaping area beneath a window or to draw
attention away from a plain wall. Potatoes vines, aubretia,
or geraniums are all great ideas that can create this
artistic flow.

2. Climbing plants and vines can be used to integrate the
window box upward and outward into the home. If you've
already got climbing vines on your house try adding a
window box and having them flow down into the window box
where a tall plant or some bright colors can pop out: great
choices are virginia creepers, wisteria, and ivy.

3. Tall plants are great window box ideas when surrounded
by smaller complimenting plants. They can act as center
highlights that draw attention to your window box and make
it a focal point on the house: lillies, amaryillis, and
gladiolus are all popular choices.

4. Perrenials are flowers that will last 2-4 years and are
great choices for lesser maintenance: foxgloves are popular
and one of my favorites. If you like the idea of switching
it up more often make sure you get flowers that are annuals.

5. Color is a good way to draw attention to a window box
and make it stand out: Impatients, violets, tulips,
jasmines, and daisies are colorful options that are great
for
accenting a box on the sides or even for filling it up
completely. Stick with simple green plants if you want to
remain neutral and accent rather than highlight your window
box.

No matter which window box ideas you use, remember to take
into consideration how you want it to look and feel.
Should it stand out or blend in? Should it stand alone or
flow with your landscaping? Should your window box have a
mixed variety or a consistent look? There's no wrong
answer, just the answer that make you the most happy so let
your imagination soar.

----------------------------------------------------
Matthew Buquoi is the owner of Flower Window Boxes, an
online manufacturer of PVC window boxes and custom window
boxes. He has built and installed window boxes for many
years and loves to write about the many ideas he has come
across over the years when it comes to window box planting
and gardening.
http://www.flowerwindowboxes.com

Add A Koi Pond To Your Landscaping Project

Landscaping your lawn could entail a number of things. It
could be as simplistic as having several plants and shrubs
surrounded by various rocks and woodchips or even a water
garden complete with fountains and flowers. The largest,
most elaborate form of landscaping is a Koi pond.

A Koi pond is a project that will require a large surface
area, and even more research. This illustrious landscape
is very stimulating, but also may require some work when
the changing of the seasons occurs.

Once the weather breaks and the leaves appear to be
changing colors, it is generally a good idea to install
netting over the Koi pond to eliminate the amount of leaves
and sticks that will land in the Koi habitat. This will
drastically lower the amount of debris to be removed at
seasons end. Another precaution that should be taken
during the break of the weather is winterizing the Koi pond.

In winterizing the fish habitat requires several pieces of
advice. One of the most important steps to take into
account is the cleaning process. It is wise to physically
take the fish out of the pond, place them into a bucket
full of the water in the pond, and clean the excess
bacteria from the pond. However, completely removing all
the bacteria will destroy the harmony of the pond through
the summer months; the plants feed off the bacteria while
the fish feed off the plants. Other things that need to be
removed are the remaining leaves and sticks that were not
caught by the netting. Failure of removing these materials
will result in creation of methane gas, a byproduct of the
decomposing that will occur. Lowering the amount of water
will allow the pump to circulate water, allowing the fish
to survive below the level of ice that accumulates in the
cold weather. Another tip worth perusing is to create a
hole in the ice when the winter season approaches. Do not
use force when attempting to create a hole. The best
method for this is to place a pot filled with boiling water
over the ice to allow a hole to be melted into the ice.
This will allow the gases that accumulate in the pond to
escape.

The largest problem that occurs with the overall presence
of the Koi pond is mobility throughout the surrounding area
of the piece. Installing a bride over the center or an
area of interest will serve a dual purpose. The practical
purpose for this landmark is to be able to cross over the
pond to access other portions of the yard or landscape. On
the other hand, the second purpose of building a bridge is
to create the effect of vastness and attractiveness.
Bridges can come in a variety of styles with according
costs.

----------------------------------------------------
Purchase a bridge for your koi pond at
http://www.redwoodgardenbridges.com . Article by Steve
Cancel - http://www.slwebsolutions.com .

Choosing a Window Box

When choosing a window box it is essential that you have
all the information in front of you. First off, there are
many materials to choose from: wood, vinyl, PVC,
fiberglass, aluminum, wrought-iron, and copper to name a
few.

Wooden window boxes are the old standard that have been
around for centuries and they're an affordable solution to
window box planting and gardening. The advantages are that
they can be painted, they can be made custom, and they are
often affordable. The disadvantages are that the average
wood window box lasts 3-5 years and usually shows signs of
rotting after just 2 years. They will require a liner
inside and they are vulnerable to splintering, warping,
fading, peeling, moisture, and insects. The ideal choice
for a wooden window box is either cypress or cedar. Both
woods have the ability to resist rotting and will help the
window box last longer than other woods.

Vinyl window boxes are an alternative to wood that is a no
rot solution to window boxes. Vinyl is resistant to
moisture, however, vinyl window boxes usually do not accept
paint, have a shiny appearance, and are made from thin
double walled material that can crack over time. Vinyl is a
great choice for someone who wants a no rot planter that
needs to be white and lives in an environment where
temperature changes are minimal. Although vinyl window
boxes are not ideal for supporting heavy loads they are
lightweight and easy to install and many smaller sized
boxes can easily be clipped to a window with accessory
brackets. Vinyl has many advantages over wood and is an
affordable no rot solution to window box planting.

PVC window boxes are an upgrade over vinyl in that they are
made from solid core material that makes them more durable
and prevents them from splitting, cracking, or warping over
time. Additionally, PVC window boxes are also moisture and
rot free. Unlike vinyl, they have the ability to accept
paint readily and they have a matted finish to them that
keeps them from looking like plastic. In fact, they often
look like wood after being painted. The disadvantages are
that they are heavier than vinyl and can cost more on
average.

Fiberglass planters offer many of the advantages of PVC
window boxes in that they will not rot and are moisture
resistant. The advantages of fiberglass window boxes are
that they are available in custom sizes and they can
usually be painted as well. The disadvantages are that
they are generally heavier, limited in availability, and
pricier of all the options. They can be more difficult to
install, especially for larger boxes. They tend to have a
glassier finish to them, but they can usually be painted.

Next, that takes us to aluminum, wrought-iron, and copper
window boxes. Aluminum is an upgrade over wrought-iron in
that it can be sprayed black to look like iron but will
never rust. A wrought-iron window box will generally show
signs of rust in 3-5 years and may require maintenance.
Metal window box cages will need liners to hold potting
soil directly or they can be used to hold potted plants
instead. Some metal window boxes are bulk manufactured in
certain sizes and are made affordable at that size.
However, custom sizing can be pricey or limited in
availability. Copper window boxes tend to be pricey, but
offer a very distinct look that cannot be substituted in
any way.

With so many new materials on the market it's important to
understand the advantages and disadvantages to all of your
choices. Whether you're look for affordability, low
maintenance, or a distinct look, window box gardening can
be a fun hobby that brings lots of joy into your life.

----------------------------------------------------
Matthew Buquoi is the owner of Flower Window Boxes, a
manufacturing company that specializes in affordable window
boxes, PVC window boxes, and custom window boxes. He has
built and installed window boxes of all sizes, shapes, and
types and regularly writes about window boxes and window
box gardening.
http://www.flowerwindowboxes.com

Make Your Landscape Energy Efficient to Save You Money

It has been proven by experts that cost effective backyard
landscaping which takes into account energy needs can save
the average household approximately a third of their usual
costs on heating and cooling throughout the summer and
winter months. In reality, we could be talking about $250
of savings over a twelve month period.

The question is ' how do you create an energy efficient
yard? There are several things to consider when learning
how to do this, whether your yard is already landscaped or
still yet to be done. Here are a few suggestions.

Keep Out the Sun

One of the main things to think about when landscaping is
the prevailing weather conditions. Where does the sun
shine on your property and what path does it take? When
hit directly by the heat of the sun, the walls of a house
will attract nearly 90% of the sun's heat, and in doing so,
put more pressure on the air conditioning or other cooling
system to keep the inside of the house at a pleasantly cool
temperature.

If you want to block out the sun you can plant dense and
wide trees at south or west facing areas of the house and
the foliage will give shade from the hot summer sun. You
will find that temperatures within the property are reduced
by nearly ten degrees Fahrenheit simply by following this
procedure.

During the winter months when the deciduous trees shed
their foliage, the winter sun will be allowed access to
your walls and foundations, just when the heat it needed.

Break the Wind

The winds which blow through your house are a main
contributor to the lower indoor temperatures experienced
especially in the winter-time when the cold wind chill
factor is present.

If you can set up a wind break, either by the use of
strategically placed fences or evergreens and trees, this
will cut down the winds blowing through your home a great
deal.

Capturing the Heat or Cool Indoors

Much energy is regularly wasted when the heat or cool
within the house is allowed to disappear through the
windows, doors and even the roof so it is necessary to find
a way to capture the heat or cool and store it inside the
home. Shrubs around the perimeter of the foundations of the
property will create a dead air barrier, thus keeping the
heat and cool indoors. It has been suggested by the experts
that to widen the area between the foundations or walls and
the planted shrubbery will create more space for the dead
air.

When landscaping your garden or yard, maximize the
advantages of using materials and greenery which are
appealing to look at. You will then find that not only is
your garden a pleasure to behold but it will be preserving
energy and saving you money at the same time.

----------------------------------------------------
Get many more landscaping tips, including ideas and
designs, at http://landscaping.freegardentips.info . You'll
find many landscaping ideas and plans that make landscaping
your yard less hassle and more enjoyable.

Rainwater Tanks- Every Gardener's Best Friend

One of the biggest drains of a city's water supply can come
from people using their water for gardening. Many people
enjoy the look of beautiful lawns and lush gardens, however
this is using precious water that is needed for bathing or
cooking or drinking. Gardens account for most of the water
used in the home and is therefore the biggest domestic
contributor to the water shortage. No matter what type of
water problems you are experience, and whether you are in
Sydney, Brisbane, or Perth, or anywhere else in the world
for that matter, there is a way to have lush gardens
without using up your city's water supply.

Using rainwater tanks is the perfect way for you to create
the garden of your dreams and keep it green all year round.
The most important part of the operation is to have enough
rainwater tanks and the right types of systems to suit your
needs and your gardens. By using slimline tanks you can
keep your tanks out of the way so they don't take up
valuable space in your garden. It's also a good idea to get
modular tanks so you can simply add another unit or two
anytime to increase your storage capacity. Slimline tanks
are typically round or elliptical, and can look a bit
unsightly in your backyard however some new tanks are
rectangular and flat so that fit together and look just
like a normal wall or fence

Using rainwater for your gardens is also a great idea
because you don't have to do anything to the water before
you use it for your plants and vegetables. In fact, some
research shows the water even healthier than watering them
out of your own water supply, depending on where your local
water comes from. Most mains water is treated with
chemicals to take out any colour and smell. The water is
then delivered through underground pipes which can be over
50 years old! Compare that to rainwater which falls
directly from the sky.

Once you have a tank, you will need a method of getting the
rainwater to your gardens. This can be as simple as
watering can or hose for small blocks, or with an
integrated set up with pumps and controllers which is
better for larger gardens. If you are concerned with small
particles getting caught in the sprinklers or you also
intend on using the water in your home then you might
consider a first- flush filter or an inline filter to take
out any dirt or sediment. Be sure that there is also a
cover that will keep out bugs and animals so the water does
not become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and bacteria.

Rainwater tanks will make big difference to your garden and
water use and will cost you a lot less than you think.
Water is free from the sky so why pay for it!

----------------------------------------------------
Dave is an Architect and General Manager at Superwall
Systems, an innovative water tank company based in Perth,
Australia which produces the 'Supertank'- The world's only
structural water tank. Build your house out of water!
http://www.superwall.com.au

Basic Pool Landscaping Tips

There are many things to consider when getting into pool
landscaping, but the main one to think carefully about is
choice of plants. Whether the pool landscaping is for a
pool above the ground or in the ground will have a big
impact on the sorts of plants that should be chosen. The
plants used for pool landscaping are also being exposed to
lots of chemicals, so they need to be hardy enough to take
it.

Swimming pools that are in the ground don't do well with
shrubs and trees. The expense of a swimming pool means that
extra care should be taken to make sure that it lasts for a
long time. Pool landscaping with shrubs and trees often
causes problems when the roots start to grow into the
foundation of the pool, often leading to expensive repair
work.

Fences are a popular for pool landscaping, often required
extra for pools that are in the ground. A pool fence can be
purely for safety, but can also be put in place to get a
little more privacy or perhaps add a bit of character to
the rest of the pool landscaping. Pools that are inside
should be paired with non-deciduous plants that don't lose
their leaves every year. The leaves tend to fall in the
pool and clog up the filtration system. Leaves are
inevitable, but avoid planting big trees that will drop
lots of leaves into the pool. Evergreen shrubs will also
drop some needles, that will get blown into the swimming
pool during stormy weather.

Low-blooming plants are better for pool landscaping. Annual
plants will wither and die if they get exposed to any pool
water. Creeping plants can create a certain amount of cover
for fences, turning an otherwise ordinary fence into a good
looking, privacy creating fence. They can however become
overgrown very quickly and require regular attention to
keep them in place.

Protection for Pool Landscaping

Lots of flowers around a swimming pool might sound tempting
to spruce up the general look, but bear in mind that every
flower added is a little more work. Keeping low-maintenance
plants that don't grow too tall will help to keep the
amount of extra work required to keep the swimming pool
area looking decent, to a minimum. This allows more
enjoyment time for the pool, rather than maintenance time.

Dense areas of flowers are not always necessary and
sometimes the most effective thing is to just add a few in
the places where they will have the most effect. Use them
in the right places to give a sprinkling of color. Shrubs
can be used to add a little height to the fence.

As a final note on pool landscaping, avoid flowers that
will attract flying pests. The swimming pool area is likely
to have people around, and kids and adults swimming.
Skipping plants that attract bugs like bees will help to
keep the swimming pool area safe. Bee attracting plants are
not appropriate for pool landscaping.

----------------------------------------------------
More pool landscaping tips are available from
http://best4yardlandscaping.com

Adding A Koi Pond To Your Home

One of the newest crazes that are catching on with
homeowners is the koi pond. Koi ponds are in ground water
gardens that contain koi fish and are deep enough to
support life year round even in colder winter climates.
Many homeowners are finding it to be a great addition to
their front or backyard. The can add great scenery and a
tranquil environment for you to relax in.

There are two different ways to add a koi pond to your
home. First of all, you could call a landscaping company
to add one for you. Many landscaping companies have added
this to their list of services due to its popularity. This
would be as simple as looking thru the yellow pages and
calling landscaping companies to see if they offer this
service and see what the prices are. Once their service is
completed all you would have to do is add the fish that you
choose.

The second way to add a koi pond to your home would be to
install it yourself. This way will require a little more
patience and dedication. You would first have to start
with digging a hole for the pond. It is recommended that
the hole is a least 4 feet deep and 4-5 feet wide. Then
you would have to install your pond liner. You must
install a liner or else you will risk getting debris into
your pond from the ground. Then you need to install your
filtration system. Flirtation systems can be tricky, so
your best bet would be to go into your local pet shop and
let them know your needs and dimensions of your pond. Your
next step would be to add plants and vegetation to your
pond. Types of plants and vegetation you should use depend
on the type of climate you live in and can be researched
online. Your final step would be to pick out your koi fish
and add them to your pond.

Many people do not want this to be the last step in
finishing their koi pond but instead add other decorative
elements to their pond. These decorative elements can
include decorative rocks, sculptures, and decorative
redwood bridges which come in many different shapes and
varieties. All of these items can be purchased online
rather than fishing around at a local store for each item.

Both of these ways are good methods of adding a koi pond to
your backyard. You just have to choose which method is
best for you. Either way you do it, once your pond is
complete it will be there for you to enjoy for years to
come.

----------------------------------------------------
Add a Redwood Bridge to your home by visiting
http://www.redwoodgardenbridges.com . Article written and
distributed by Steve Cancel, IT Manager of Secure Link -
http://www.slcomputerrepair.com

How to Build a Greenhouse - Designs, Planning and Material

You will have to plan carefully before you buy or build a
greenhouse of your own. There are several things to
consider when building your dream greenhouse. You can save
a lot of time and energy by planning ahead. You will need
an array of factors all working together to have the right
greenhouse system, including an advanced lighting system
depending on how much light you do or do not want into your
new structure.

Greenhouses come in a wide variety of styles and sizes. You
can find premade greenhouses that will give you all the
options you can think of, including a variety of designs,
sizes and prices to best accommodate your budget. You can
find an array of different materials, including plastic,
polycarbonates, glass, partial wood, aluminum and more that
makes up your greenhouse. If you build your own, you can
find even more materials that you can use.

You will find similar issues if you buy or if you build a
premade greenhouse. You will have to solve some questions
on your greenhouse.

You will have to figure out what kind of foundation you
want, including no foundation at all. Most times, however,
your foundation will be either gravel, wood or cement. You
can even find brick foundations. You will have to decide
whether or not you want to cover your foundation with
linoleum, tile or carpet on top of that, depending on your
preference and where you live. You can also find floor
heating systems that will keep your floors comfortable in
the winter months. These systems, however, will take time
to clean and investment funds.

Depending on where you live, you will have to see what
kinds of trees are around you and how many trees there are.
This will influence how many hours of direct sunshine you
get. You will have to learn your own local environment as
well, to accommodate around wind, hail, snow and rain. You
will need to ensure that your greenhouse can withstand your
own elements.

Depending on your geographic location, you will find
greenhouses that can best accommodate your surroundings. In
the northern states, you will see less sunshine in the
winter months and have to deal with a high amount of snow,
but you can find greenhouses that will help you around
these factors, including electrical lighting and heating
systems to protect your plants and flowers.

The amount of heat and moisture in the area will also
affect your plants. Summers can be more dry in some areas
of the country than in others, so these dry areas will need
more water than more lush areas like the Northeast New
Hampshire area.

You will need to also make sure that the size of your
greenhouse matches the size of your property. You will need
a flat area ideal for your greenhouse. You also don't want
an area that has too much wind or too many trees if you
want more sun in your greenhouse. You can find trees that
will block rainfall and the sunshine so depending on what
you wan to do with your greenhouse, you will have to look
out for these things on your own property.

----------------------------------------------------
Moses Wright loves greenhouse gardening during his free
time. You can find more tips and resources on greenhouse
gardening on his site:
http://www.homelyfamily.com/greenhouse.htm

Adding A Water Garden To A Landscape

Water gardens are a very nice addition and add to the
overall quality of your landscaping. Like anything else
though, starting small allows you to learn valuable lessons
that you could attribute to greater projects you take on in
the future. Several reasons why you should start small and
work your way up include that these mini-projects are cost
effective for a starter project and smaller projects
require less maintenance attention. Also, small fountain
landscaping projects fit easily into tight quarters, and
could simply be just the slight edge needed to bring a
focus into an existing landscape.

These starter projects can either be purchased at the store
or even homemade. If building a homemade fountain is your
best alternative for a starter project, it is recommended
to start in a flower bed. Begin by creating a simple
shape, and line it with a supple liner. From there,
install a fountain inside a piece of clay pottery. This
will provide you with a simple, yet effective accent to a
normal flower bed. Building and maintaining this man made
creation will allocate skills and knowledge for future,
more illustrious fountains. Unfortunately, the clay
housing for the fountain cannot sustain the impact of the
weather in some region's winter weather. During this time,
it is recommended that the pot be removed from the water to
avoid breaking.

Once the time comes that you decide you would like to
dispose of the starter project, and move on to bigger and
better things, the process is simple. All that needs to be
done is to remove the liner (which can be reused for the
next project) and fill in the spot where the fountain used
to be with dirt. As mentioned previously, as you build
your new, larger landscape, you will be aware of the
shortcomings and mistakes you encountered when building the
previous development. Applying the experience gained to a
new landscape will allow you to maximize the quality.
Another positive that you could apply is the boldness of
the landscape itself. With one venture under your belt,
you are more likely to take chances and experiment with
more complex components. Some examples could include a
bridge as a new focal point of the landscape that showcases
a stream running to the pond area with a fountain. The
more sweeping the features are means that the more in depth
the project will require you to be.

----------------------------------------------------
Purchase a bridge for your water garden at
http://www.redwoodgardenbridges.com . Article by Steve
Cancel - http://www.slwebsolutions.com .

Garden Perennials Provide a Riot of Color

Garden perennials are popular with many gardeners, though
there is a danger that the new gardener will over-plant
them as they wait for those already planted to mature. The
secret with perennials is patience, and if you want
something to add color to your garden while you wait, then
plant some annuals for the first year until the perennials
really show their true colors.

A perennial needs at least a year before it flowers
properly and that is when some gardeners get impatient. In
year two, although you get some show of flowers, you will
still not be impressed and might start to wonder why you
chose perennials. That feeling totally changes, however,
with the explosion of color in year three. That is when you
will start to regret the extra plants you put in because
the first ones did not seem to be doing anything.

Once your perennials are established it will seem very easy
just to sit back and admire your work, but you will have no
time for that. Perennials do not last for ever, and the
definition of the term is one that lasts for more than two
years. As some die away you will have to remove and replace
them with fresh plants. You can even move them about the
garden since perennials are ideal for replanting. In fact
many gardeners have a space set aside for starting off new
garden perennials in a variety of colors that they can use
later for filling in gaps as plants die. This avoids them
having to wait until the plants mature.

It is not easy to fill an empty space in a row of flowers
if you have to wait two or three years for a plant to
flower, and a small personal nursery area is a good idea
and quite common with gardeners experienced in growing
perennials. Others fill spaces with annuals, but they never
quite look as though they belong.

Growing perennials takes experience. Perhaps not so much
the growing, but the planning and envisaging what your
garden will look like in three years time. It is not easy
to space your plants correctly since they will spread out a
great deal more than you think as they mature, and some
such as asters, can continue to bloom when others have died
out. The overall plan of a garden should take several
aspects of the plant into consideration, such as height,
spread, color, whether it prefers shade or direct sunlight,
and how long they flower for.

As mentioned, the aster can bloom past September into the
fall, and you don’t want to plant asters together
with summer blooms that die off in August. You will then
be left with some asters all on their own and, while asters
are lovely plants, it might not be as you planned it.
Perennials can bloom right through from April to November,
sometimes even later depending on the climate and the
weather conditions.

Let's face it, there are more to perennials than most
people think, and they include plants as diverse as
rhubarb, daffodils, and other bulbs, corms and rhizomes,
lilac and even dandelions and daisies. You also have the
soft, fleshy stemmed herbaceous perennials such as the
peony. These have fragrant flowers, the smell of which
varies between varieties and come in reds, pinks and whites.

The beautiful blue cornflower, also known as
bachelor’s buttons because they were once worn by
bachelors when they went courting, are excellent flowers
for cutting, and the lovely flower belies the foliage that
can get quite ugly as it ages. For this reason cornflower
is best grown among other flowers with sufficient foliage
to hide that of the cornflower.

Lobelia plants can be either annuals or perennials, and the
delicate purple lobelia is very attractive. Although most
people generally regard lobelia as being a purple plant,
there are over 350 species of lobelia, and the short-lived
perennial lobelia cardinalis has red flowers that appear in
the summer through to the fall. The lobelia siphilitica
(Azure Sage), on the other hand, does not appear till the
fall and has delicate deep blue flowers. These plants
prefer to be planted in clumps where they show their colors
to best advantage.

The geranium is another garden perennial that looks good in
borders, beside ponds or even as ground cover. The true
geranium is a hardy perennial with a fabulous range of red
to blue colors that love well drained soil and shady
conditions. There are over 300 species, and new hybrids
coming along all the time.

In summary, garden perennials have to be understood, and
once the gardener new to them gets past the first two or
three years then he or she will be hooked. They provide a
riot of color to any garden, large or small, and are able
to be easily moved and transplanted to suit your particular
planning needs.

----------------------------------------------------
Want to find top qualitity perennials for your garden then
visit http://www.mygardencenteronline.com .
Where you will find a full range of Aster, Black Eyed
Susan, Clematis, Dianthus, Geranium, Peony and alot more
other types of garden perennials.

Hydroponic Supplies You Need for a Productive Garden

Those who are new to hydroponic gardening often overbuy on
supplies that they possibly may not need when first
starting out. After all, the very basic hydroponic
supplies that you need when starting out can readily be
found in and around your home! Use these first before
expanding to the more expensive hydroponic supplies.
Beginning tables for your plants can include items as
simple as plastic tubs and a child's swimming pool!

You may wish to purchase a kit called a 'plug and go'
hydroponic gardening kit. These kits will include
everything you need - nutrient solution, plant cubes,
heating pad, and seeds. The only additional items that you
need to add are sun and water.

As a hydroponic gardener you will need a dedicated space
for your gardening. An easy to install 'grow room' is
preferred for the beginner. This can usually be completely
installed in less than an hour and the price can range from
$250 to over $500 depending on the features.

A small greenhouse can be considerably be more expensive.
Depending on the features, the cost of a greenhouse will
range from $500 to a few thousand dollars. A greenhouse
will typically need a cement floor and drainage system, or
some other kind of flooring such as gravel.

A temperature control unit will be necessary depending on
how many plants you will be growing in your grow room or
greenhouse. Usually the more plants you have the hotter
your greenhouse will be. The temperature control unit will
turn the fans or blowers on. It can also be set up to open
and close the air ducts.

Hydroponic gardeners also use a special type of lighting -
blue and green spectrum lights. These are instrumental in
increasing plant growth.

As you become more skilled at hydroponic gardening you can
will upgrade to a more advanced irrigation and drainage
system. The plant types and quantities that you are
growing will determine what other equipment you will need.

The typical hydroponic supplies that you will be purchasing
over time are a temperature control unit, light fixtures
for your blue and red spectrum lights, heating mats,
exhaust fan, an aeration system and other incidentals.

Beginners will find all of their hydroponic supplies at a
hydro shop. They specialize in selling hydroponic
gardening supplies and are very helpful in giving useful
and practical advice. You will also find the fellow
gardeners to be more than willing to help.

----------------------------------------------------
Author of Hydroponic Gardening Website: Tony Buel
http://www.hydroponics.com-afl.com
Hydroponic Gardening Supplies Article Found at:
http://www.hydroponics.com-afl.com/Hydroponic-Supplies-You-N
eed-for-a-Productive-Garden.htm

Riding Lawnmower Buying Tips and Guide

If you have a lawn, you will eventually have to mow the
lawn. And if you have mowed a lawn with a push mower for a
few weeks, the idea of a riding lawnmower might look really
enticing. These small tractor-type mowers can be a great
way to mow your grass if your lawn is at least .25 acre.

There are electric models for your lawn mower as well as
the standard push mowers that everybody has seen. You can
find strong batteries and these models can usually go at
least a half acre before it needs to be recharged. These
electric models are really quiet, good for the environment
and don't produce any noxious fumes. They don't have the
power of the gasoline ones, however, and can get stuck in
thicker areas.

If you are a professional lawn care specialist, you might
want to look into models that have reel blades that cut out
in front. The rotary type is good if there isn't a golf
link to mow. The mowing blades are usually found below the
deck below the seat and can give you some vibration. A good
seat with plenty of cushion, however, won't bother you.

You can find smaller riding mowers that will work with your
lawn as well. The designs are basically the same as the
bigger ones. The only difference will be the size and the
power of the machine itself. You will always want more
horsepower with your mower, but if you have a well-built
machine, it won't need as much horsepower to do a great job.

If you have an even, smooth yard, you also won't need very
much horsepower. If you have a very hilly area, however,
you will need a lot more. If you have a lot of hills, a
lawn tractor will be your better choice.

A lawn tractor will have 10-15 horsepower and can work
well. Considering that a car has 150 ' 300 horsepower, it
seems that it's a lot less energy, but you don't need that
much. You will pay more for more horsepower, just like with
a car. Make sure you really need it first.

Prices will go up if you have a mower that can cut a bigger
area. Lawn tractor blades usually cut between 38 ' 42
inches and can cut the lawn quicker. But you will probably
be only able to cut your lawn 10% more quickly and the
mower might be a lot more inaccurate.

You can get a garden tractor with 20 horsepower and up to
60" mowing blades for a powerful, efficient machine. If you
need to haul dirt or tree parts with an attached trailer,
you can use this more efficiently.

You will want to look at the turning radius of the mower
you are about to buy too. If you have a very low or even
zero degree turning radius, it will cost a lot more. If you
don't have a lawn that is difficult to negotiate, you
probably won't need it.

----------------------------------------------------
Moses Wright loves to take care of his own lawn at home. He
sets up a site to provide fellow lawn care home owners with
more tips and resources:
http://www.homelyfamily.com/lawn.htm

Creating and Maintaining a Visually Stimulating Landscape

Creating an effective landscape is a significant task.
However, landscaping is a continuous process that requires
constant attention. Planting and setting a landscape makes
your area look presentable, but maintaining the area
furthers the quality of the landscape over time. There are
several key points in maintaining the scenery that you have
invested time and money in.

First and foremost, with the growing of your plants and
shrubbery in your scenery comes the growing of weeds.
There is a variety of options that you can pursue to
minimize the amount of weeds in your setting. If your
layout is small enough, hand pulling the weeds is an
effective method for removal. Organic fertilizer is
another option that can be looked at when reducing the
amount of weeds in your landscape. Regular household
vinegar or corn gluten meal contribute to weed control, and
are not as harsh for the environment as chemical
fertilizers.

In addition to reducing the amount of unwanted growth,
another step in maintaining a scene is a process known as
deadheading. This simply means that you should manually
remove the flowers that are dead and worthless to the
appearance of your landscape. The removal of these useless
flowers not only adds to the overall appearance of the
plant, but also provides an outlet for more flowering.

An effective landscape allows for continuous appeal.
Unfortunately, some plants’ lifespan will come to a
close at the end of the season. This is the optimal time
to replant or replace various types of plants.

Mulching your landscape will also benefit the overall
effect of the piece. Fall is the best time to apply the
new two inch layer of organic mulch. Too much mulch can be
bad for the landscape, because it can block the oxygen
barter between the air and the earth. Using mulch will
serve a number of purposes; it will help in weed control as
well as provide a temperature moderator when the plant
needs it most.

One final piece of advice for maintaining a visually
stimulating landscape is pruning. Pruning the various
plants in the scenery maintains the overall appeal that
viewers will have for the landscape. Organic fertilizers
will allow your plants to grow in more of a controlled
manor. This is not the case with a synthetic fertilizer.
As a result, the organic mix will require less pruning, and
consequently will require less work for you as the
landscaper.

----------------------------------------------------
Add a garden bridge to your landscape from
http://www.redwoodgardenbridges.com . Article written and
distributed by Steve Cancel of Secure Link -
http://www.slwebsolutions.com .

Improve Your Yard With A Bridge

A great feature to add to your home whether for decorative
or functional purposes is a bridge. Bridges not only add
beauty to your home but it can also serve a number of
purposes, such allowing easy access to both sides of a
stream or pond or using it as a walkway to explore the many
different elevations in your garden.

There are many different types and styles of bridges that
are available. You can even customize the type of bridge
you would like, including what material you want it made
out of, the length and width of it and what body style you
would like. You can also add solar post caps and light up
your bridge day and night. This is a beautiful accent that
will definitely get your yard noticed.

The most common type of bridge is 4 feet to 8 feet long;
however you can have a custom built bridge up to 40 feet
long. These bridges are used as accents to ponds or
streams and are fish safe. They can also be used to
compliment your backyard or garden. You can normally
customize these bridges with posts and ropes. Another
type of bridge you can purchase is a swimming pool bridge.
These bridges are designed so that swimmers will have a
clearance to swim under.

If you want a bridge that is easier to maintain and won't
be harmed by weather, they also offer plastic bridges.
These bridges are made with Choice Premium composite
materials that have rich wood grain look and feel. A
plastic bridge needs no sealer or weather treatment and
most importantly, you'll never have to worry about
splinters.

If you prefer a bridge that is a little less eye-catching,
they offer bridges with no posts that will give your yard
an elegant look, without being too overbearing. There are
also bridges with short posts available.

Once you have chosen your bridge, if you decide to go with
a wooden one, you may want to apply a finish or a wood
sealer to it; however, most people opt to letting their
bridges age naturally overtime without any finish at all.
You can purchase a bridge at your local home and garden
store, or you can customize your very own bridge on online
specialty stores. When ordering online, your bridge will
arrive in pre-cut easy to assemble pieces.

Whether you're looking to add decoration to your yard, or
use it for functional purposes, a bridge is a beautiful
accent that you and your family will enjoy for years to
come.

----------------------------------------------------
Add a Landscape Bridge to your yard -
http://www.redwoodgardenbridges.com . Article written and
distributed by Steve Cancel, IT Manager of Secure Link -
http://www.slwebsolutions.com .

Floribunda Roses

Floribundas are available in a vast array of colours and
styles and can grow as high as 4 feet. They are often grown
for display rather than as a cut flower. Planted as an
elegant landscape bush, they can produce abundant colour
for many seasons.

Floribunda roses are some of the most amazing out there
because of the large, dense amounts of buds that are
produced. These roses will have simultaneously occurring
blooms in each truss. They are less perfect looking roses
but are so dense in their production that they can truly
make a statement in virtually any landscape especially when
planted together.

Floribunda roses first became popular in the middle of the
20th century. They resulted from crosses between hybrid
teas and polyanthas, to create roses that bloomed with the
polyantha profusion, but with hybrid tea floral beauty and
color range. In 1909, the first polyantha/hybrid tea cross,
'Gruss an Aachen,' was created, with characteristics midway
between both parent classes.

Their profuse,nonstop blooming over relatively compact,
dense-leaved plants and their general ease of care make
floribundas truly all-purpose roses. They are ideal for
both beds and edging. They are best planted in groups of
three or more and produce a stunning effect in mass
plantings.

Floribundas are considered particularly easy to grow and
are quite hardy, but they do require some winter protection
in cold regions.Floribunda roses can be planted in any open
but not vulnerable location. They enjoy the sun and
varieties are available for different amounts of sunlight
as well. They can and should be planted as bare roots from
the months of November to March in most climates. Remove
faded flowers to ensure continual bloom.

Trim those roots before you plant them, make sure to prune
back the roots to allow for new root growth to take place.
This can make a large difference in the quality of these
roses.Feed them when they begin to grow in the spring,
you'll want to feed them with a rose fertilizer that can be
commonly found. Do this monthly until the end of the summer
months.

Simple step by step planting guide

First pick a good site must have good drainage and 4-5
hours of sun.Do not crowd your rose with other trees and
plants. Some roses, such as climbers and shrubs, don't mind
company, but most like to mix with other roses or other
non-invasive plants.

Dig a hole, slightly larger than the pot size or root
system of your rose bush.If you're replacing an older rose
bush, it is important to remove an 18 cubic inch area of
soil and replace it with fresh soil. A newly planted rose
doesn't like to grow in the same soil that an older rose
bush has been in.

Add a small handful of bonemeal to the planting hole. Spade
in some compost or peatmoss to loosen the soil. Mix the
soil you took out of the hole with more compost or peat
moss.

Remove the rose from the pot carefully place in the hole
and shovel the extra soil around the new plant. Plant the
rose with the crown slightly deeper than the original soil.
The crown or bud union should be about 1 inch under the
soil.

Some of the varieties of floribunda rose available,Rosa
Amber Queen,Rosa Aurthur Bell,Rosa Chinatown,Rosa
Dearest,Rosa Fellowship,Rosa Happy Anniversary,Rosa
Honeymoon,Rosa Iceburg,Rosa Korresia,Rosa Many Happy
Returns and Rosa Margret Merril.

There are so many more varieties available to be listed
here.


----------------------------------------------------
Visit a wide range of modern roses from
http://www.mygardencenteronline.com Rose Garden,Climbing
roses,Hybrid tea,Floribunda roses,Shrub roses and Rose
Collections

How To Garden In The Spring

Gardening in the spring is the next best time to garden
behind the fall.  The increased rainfall and temperatures
provide a perfect setting for plants and their roots.  Well
established roots will help your plants fight off the
damage droughts and insects throughout the year.  Although
not as good as planting in the fall, spring planting is
still a very successful time to build a garden.

Each plant has specific needs to be considered prior to
planting.  Certain plants require direct sunlight, shade,
frequent watering, certain soil types, and drainage.  A
soil test can be done to understand the existing
conditions.  This test will reveal the nutrient level, pH
level and soil texture.  Without this information you could
be wasting your time and money planting less tolerant and
needy plants.  Unfortunately, these often tend to be the
more exotic and attractive plants.

The next step would be to plan the grounds of your garden.
Popular items to include are garden bridges, landscape
rocks, and koi ponds.  Garden bridges completely enrich
your environment and require very little maintenance.  Koi
ponds on the other hand can require more work and
maintenance but bring another sense of life to your garden.
 Make sure you plan your landscape prior to planting your
spring flowers to ensure your project is completed
properly. After you complete your site layout you can start
preparing for planting.  Based on your soil tests,
fertilizer can be added to the soil correct whatever is
needed for the plants chosen.  Any changes to the soil
should be mixed in well and as deep as possible to make
sure the plant is able to take advantage of the adjustment
as deep as it roots go.

You will want to dig the wholes for each plant in a
oversized funnel shape.  You will want to loosen the roots
from the existing soil in the planter and place the plant
in the hole.  Release the plant from any basket or wiring
prior to planting.  Breaking the roots from the extended
sides can stimulate the plant and allow it to grow larger
within the hole.  Mix in the soil in with the freed roots.
Make sure the plants face is showing it's best side if it
is visible and be sure it is planted straight.  Do not pack
the soil down to hard to allow the roots to expand easily.

All that is left is to ensure that the plants are properly
watered and not damaged.  Following the steps listed above
you can expect to enjoy your garden year after year.


----------------------------------------------------
Customize garden bridges for your garden at
http://www.redwoodgardenbridges.com . Article written and
distributed by Steve Cancel, IT Manager of Secure Link -
http://www.slwebsolutions.com .

Bring your garden to life with a garden pond

A garden pond adds new dimensions to any garden. As well as
providing a tranquil spot to sit and relax on a hot
summer's day, it attracts a whole range of wildlife to your
garden such as frogs, newts, and water birds and almost
inevitably gives you a mini nature reserve. It also opens
up new plant growing opportunities both in the water and at
its edges.

Choosing the right location, shape and size of garden pond.

An ideal spot for a garden pond is in an open area with
plenty of sunshine, but not too exposed to the wind and it
is best not to locate it directly under trees to avoid
accumulating soggy leaf mould every autumn.  You should aim
for as large a size as you can manage and the location will
comfortably support, as larger ponds will gave a greater
impact and are easier to clean and maintain than smaller
ponds and are less prone to green water. The shape should
be gently curving to blend with the environment and it is
best to avoid narrow necks of water if possible. The ideal
depth for a garden pond is around 2 feet deep, any
shallower and it will be prone to drying in the summer and
if much deeper it will accumulate mud in its base.

What lining material to use

Flexible liners are generally the best materials to use and
are usually made of either butyl or PVC. If  working to a
lower budget then polythene can be used but this is thinner
and generally won't last longer than 3 years before it
needs to be replaced.

Preparing the hole

You should mark out the area to be excavated with a trail
of sand or an old hosepipe and the best months for pond
making are April and May, so you should start digging
around March. The hole should be dug to a depth of about 3
feet at its lowest point and be prepared to dispose of a
large amount of earth from the dig! If you want marginal
plants it is a good idea to leave a shelf around the border
and the sides of the hole should slope upwards at about 45
degrees. It is also advisable to protect the liner with a
layer of fibreglass matting or sand in the base of the hole.

Laying the liner and filling the pond

Make sure the liner is large enough and then stretch it
over the hole and hold the edges down with some heavy
stones and check that it overlaps an even amount all around
the pond and even out any wrinkles. Now you can start to
fill it with water. Lay a hosepipe on the liner and run the
water in, this will push the liner flat against the soil
and again look out for wrinkles and smooth them out. Fill
the hole to the brim.

Edging the pond

Usually the best way to edge a pond is by laying flagstones
and tucking the liner under them, they should be laid so
that they overlap the edge by about 2 inches. These should
be laid carefully to get a level finish and should be
bedded with fine soil or sand. It is best to avoid
concreting them in or repairs can be difficult. Now it's
time to stand back and admire your new pond but a little
patience is required as it requires about 2 weeks to bed
down and for undesirable chemicals in the water to disperse.

Then it is time to start planning to decorate it with water
plants of your choice and for you local wildlife to
discover it and hopefully take it up as their new residence.

It should always be borne in mind that open water can
present a dangerous hazard to young children and this
should be considered before making a garden pond.

In a future article I will discuss the range of plants now
at your disposal and some of the fish wildlife that you may
wish to introduce.


----------------------------------------------------
John McGuire is an active gardener and manages his own
smallholding with extensive gardens and keeps a range of
farm animals. He is also an internet marketer and runs his
own gardening information and products website.
http://www.TheGardenLovers.com

Garden Containers, Flower Pots and Planters

There are many reasons for growing plants in garden
containers, flower pots and planters. An obvious one is if
you are growing exotic plants that can be placed outdoors
in summer in a location that suits each plant, and then
taken indoors or into a more shaded spot in the fall and
winter. They are also very convenient for people who live
in mobile homes.

People who rent their homes and tend to move around with
their job can grow their own plants that can move with
them.  Plants grown in garden containers are portable, and
to many people this is big advantage. Not only that, but
you arrange your garden as you please rather than the
plants being in fixed positions.  Using containers and
flower pots it is possible to plant a whole garden that can
be rearranged to suit the flowering patterns of the plants.

No more bare patches in spring due to some plants flowering
late, or in summer when the short-lived flowers die off
quicker than their longer lasting or hardier cousins.  You
can fill in the bare patches with new pots or planters, and
arrange the colors to suit your preference. You can
decorate your veranda or patio with the flowers that are in
season, and are not restricted to the same ones all year
round.

While this all sounds like a very good reason for using
nothing but pots and planters, there are certain aspects
using them that have to be considered.  Potted plants are
totally depended on you for their water and nutrition.
Their root growth is restricted and you have to know which
plants are suitable for this type of environment. You
should also consider the overall look of your garden and
the shape and color of your pots and planters.

First the plants.  Pots are restrictive and the size will
depend on the requirements of the plants.  Ferns, for
example, grow better when the root system is crowded
whereas roses prefer a bit more space in which to grow,
especially climbing varieties.  Cyclamens too prefer more
space, and so would be more suited to large pots or
planters.  Trees prefer large pots, and the larger garden
tubs would be more appropriate for the larger varieties.

The same is true of shrubs and larger perennials such as
hydrangeas. You can start these off in smaller pots, and
gradually increases the size as they grow.  Bulbs can be
grown in planters, about two to three bulb widths apart,
though the fall bulbs will need some exposure to the frost
since they need a low temperature for a strong root growth.

Annuals are ideal for color, especially if you get a lot of
frost in the winter, and they can be replaced each year.
If you plant them fairly close together in garden
containers or planters, you can design a lovely looking
garden, or a fine display for a patio. Planters are
available in a wide range of colors and shapes, and can be
made of concrete cast into a variety of shapes or stained
or painted wood to suit their surroundings.

Hardwood planters fitted with a trellis are ideal for
climbers, and can be free standing units suitable for
outdoor use, or even for hallways, vestibules and
conservatories. Cedar is popular, but so also are cypress,
oak and cherry.  They are suitable for a number of climbing
plants from sweet peas to cyclamen to passion fruit.

Most annuals are suitable for garden containers, pots and
planters, some particularly attractive choices being
petunia, tobacco plant (nicotiana) with its wonderful
smell, and begonias.  The latter two are particularly
suitable for growing in shaded areas, as is impatiens or
‘Busy Lizzie’.  Other flowers suitable for
containers are lavandula, gaura and salvia which provide
colorful opportunities for any type of garden design.
Cigar Plants (cuphea) love lots of sun and have unusual
flowers. These shrubs are ideal for tubs in sunny climates.

Many people use containers for window ledges and balconies,
and if you have decking, then deck rail planters are an
attractive means of hanging plants from the handrails. Many
people prefer the look of natural terracotta, but keep in
mind that earthenware pots and planters dry out very
quickly, and so need a lot of watering.  The plastic
equivalents are much more practical, if not as attractive.

Garden containers, flower pots and planters are an
attractive and very practical way of decorating your
garden, patio or conservatory, and a little bit of
imagination can work wonders.  They also provide a very
practical means of planting for those that like to
frequently rearrange their garden, or are often on the move.


----------------------------------------------------
Want to find that pefect Garden Container, Planter or Pot
for your garden  then visit
http://www.mygardencenteronline.com .
Where you will find a full range of containers, hanging
baskets and planter boxes in our Garden Containers Planters
and Pots department.

 

Affordably Landscape Your Home

Many homeowners would love to have a nicely landscaped
yard; however, it is not very affordable to hire a
professional.  If you happen to be someone that falls into
this category you should look at this as a great
opportunity for a project you can appreciate every day.
The internet provides a vast amount of information and
ideas to assist you in customizing the new look for your
home.

Building a budget for yourself is often the first step if
you plan on completing the project yourself.  Although it
is much cheaper, it can still cost quite a bit based on
your needs.  Next you will want to plan your layout.  Make
sure you think this through well before your plan is
finalized.  You can include things such as a garden, pond,
brick pavement, bridge, deck or patio.

You will definitely want to include flowers in your
landscape.  When choosing your plants you will need to know
what portion of your yard is shaded and what is not.  Of
course, shaded areas will need flowers that require little
sun to exist.  You will be able to find all of this
information on each plant at your local flower nursery.
Always remember to put a risen soil base in your flower
beds.  To keep things low maintenance, it does help to have
a wood chip or rock topped bed.

Large garden rocks also will also give your yard a very
natural feel.   Based on what direction you are going with
your yard, many retailers also sell imitation rocks that
have speakers inside for outdoor music.  This combines a
natural look with modern technology.  It can be very
elegant to play natural sounds through them during a
backyard outing.

Adding water to the landscape provides a relaxing feeling
and sound.  Water brings a natural touch to any surrounding
and is sure to impress anyone.  Ponds and waterfalls can
often require more upkeep but they are a great addition if
you use your yard often.

Another great way to improve your landscape is using a
bridge.  These can provide the ability to walk across your
pond or connect two walk ways.  Most people don't realize
that a bridge can be purchased online for a very reasonable
price and adds excellent structure to a nicely landscaped
yard.  If you can fit a bridge into your budget and plans I
definitely recommend it.

Be sure to respect your yards openness with your new
additions.  A back yard is meant to have a large amount of
open space for any activities that may arise.


----------------------------------------------------
Customize a landscape bridge for your yard at
http://www.redwoodgardenbridges.com . Article written and
distributed by Steve Cancel, IT Manager of Secure Link -
http://www.slwebsolutions.com .

Create a Haven for Butterflies

Whatever the reason most people enjoy seeing butterflies in
their gardens and would welcome more.The good news is that
it is not that difficult to add the essential ingredients
that attract lots of these beautiful creatures, and keep
them happy once they have turned up.

It is worth saying that a garden that works for butterflies
is perfect for other creatures too.Like the canary down the
mine, the presence of lots of butterflies is often an
indicator of a healthy environment. Butterfly lifecycle

Every infant school pupil knows caterpillars turn into
butterflies (and moths).But most of us are often less clued
up about the details of the butterfly lifecycles.In the
late summer months buddleias and other flowering plants are
alive with the flutter of butterflies, but within a few
weeks the majority though not all will die as winter
approaches.

Others like the small tortoiseshells and red admirals, look
for a quiet dry hideaway and prepare to sleep until
spring.When warmer weather arrives they find a mate and the
female lays eggs that hatch out as the years first brood of
caterpillars.Once those caterpillars have eaten their
fill, they go through the transformation from chrysalis
stage to winged adulthood.

Some species lay a last brood of eggs in autumn which then
remain unhatched until spring.A few others survive the cold
months tucked away in chrysalis.If you are setting out to
make your garden more butterfly friendly, it is worth
thinking about different strategies for winter survival.

Obviously you need to provide flowers for adult butterflies
in summer and early autumn, but just as important is some
sort of shelter during winter and somewhere for
caterpillars to live. Now for something sweet to eat

The main priority is definitely nectar, Butterflies will
visit any garden if it has the right mix of plants.Pick a
selection from the list below.

* Flowering March to May Aubretia, Alyssum, Sweet rocket
and Forget-me-not.

* Flowering June and July Buddleia, Red Valerian and Pot
marigold.

* Flowering August to October Buddleia, Candytuft, Sweet
William, Sedum spectabile and Michaelmas daisy.

Where you position the nectar plants can make all the
difference.Butterflies are very sensitive to heat loss and
will avoid chilly winds, so a south facing border that
catches the sun but is protected from breezes is a certain
favorite.

To get the maximum value from what you plant, it is best to
put flowers together in blocks rather than scattering
individual varieties here and there.This is because as
butterflies move around an area they are more likely to
spot blocks of the colours they are searching for.
Somewhere to lay eggs

The best butterfly garden needs to be more than a nectar
cafe.It should also provide somewhere for females to lay
their eggs and for young caterpillars to feed.Watch a
female butterfly looking for the right foliage to lay her
eggs on and you will see her briefly taste each leaf.She is
very choosy as most caterpillars will eat only the leaves
of one or two plant species.

This means that if you allocate some space to growing the
right plants you will probably end up growing beautiful
butterflies too.

Also it is worth finding some space for some plants
caterpillars love to eat.EG:the caterpillar of the orange
tip will eat honesty, while the brimstone's caterpillar
likes buckthorn leaves and the comma enjoys munching
hops.The favorite caterpillar food of the peacocks, red
admirals and tortoiseshells is the stinging nettle. Provide
a shelter

Lastly but not least caterpillars and butterflies need
shelter during the winter, it is a matter of life or
death.This doesn't mean you need to buy the "butterfly
homes" you sometime see in garden centres, the best tactic
is to be a little more relaxed about your end of year
garden clear up.

When we clear dead flower heads from borders in autumn we
often destroy chrysalises.While over grown hedges and
climbers are typically the places adult butterflies pick to
hibernate so leave the tidying up until spring.


----------------------------------------------------
Butterflies will visit any garden if it has the right mix
of plants visit http://www.mygardencenteronline.com and our
garden perennials department to find those plants.