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