A Flower Garden Adds Color to Your Yard

If you are looking to beautify your home, few things will
do it as cost effectively as a flower garden. Just think of
it; the garden can be large or small, in one area or spread
out, roses, tulips, daffodils or any other kinds of flowers
you fancy.

Some people think you have to have the proverbial green
thumb to have a beautiful flower garden. While this is true
with some types of flowers, if you stick to the easy to
grow varieties you can have a gorgeous garden in no time!

Visit your local nursery or check online to discover what
flowers grow best in your area. You will want to choose
flowers that blossom at various times of the year so that
there is constantly some flowers blooming.

Before you begin to plant your flower garden, you will need
to prepare the soil, which means getting it ready to
receive the plants. This should be done whether you are
planting bulbs, seeds or annuals.

You will want to select a spot that is near a water source
so you will not have to carry a bucket to and from the
flowers every day. Next, remove any weeds or rocks from
your new garden. Using a shovel or tiller turn the soil
over. This will let oxygen in and help promote healthy
roots.

Next, add some slow release fertilizer, making sure to
follow the directions. Turn the soil again and you are
ready to start planting.

After you have gathered the necessary tools, it may be
helpful to arrange the plants while they are still in their
seedling containers so you know where you want them to go.

Now, remove the plants and gently loosen plants that are
root-bound. You only want to put the plants as far down as
the soil it is in now. In other words, do not get over
zealous and bury it too deep or not deep enough. A good
thing to keep in mind while planting is that the crown of
the root ball should be level with the soil.

Now, place the plant into the hole you just dug. Then push
down the plant and soil with the side of the trowel or with
your hands. You want to make sure the plant is set, but do
not manhandle it.

Water the plants right away, the plants will be thirsty.
Using a low-pressure garden hose or a watering can, try to
keep the water on the roots, not the leaves of the plants.

When planting, do so either in the early morning or later
in the evening. This will help prevent the roots of the
seedlings from drying out.

If you are going to start your plants from seeds, you will
want to do so inside six to eight weeks before you plan on
putting them outside.

Bulbs for flowers such as tulips and daffodils should be
planted in the fall so they have time to rest over the
winter and be ready to sprout in the spring.

With a little work and a little expense anyone can have a
stunning flower garden to brighten up their yard. Nothing
adds beauty to a yard or patio like some colorful flowers.


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Carol Stack enjoys writing articles. She lives with her
husband, children, four dogs and seven cats in the United
States. They have a large yard that they are constantly
working on to make more beautiful. Her website,
http://www.freegardentips.info covers lawn care, organic
gardening, landscaping and more.

 

Lawn Weed Control - Don't Let Weeds Take Over Your Lawn

How quickly weeds appear

A weed is a plant that grows where it is not wanted.
Keeping a lawn free from weeds is nearly impossible as
their seeds are very quick to germinate and only need to be
within an inch of the soil surface to be able to sprout.
Once they have sprouted, it doesn't take long for them to
appear.

The key to weed control is to make sure you stay ahead of
them. If your garden is neglected, even for a couple of
weeks, it could quickly become overrun with weeds.

How to keep weeds away

A weed is just like any other plant that requires
nutrients, except they compete with other plants to get the
nutrients they need. A way of keeping your lawn free from
weeds is to focus on how to make your lawn grow healthier.

The key things to having a strong and healthy lawn are,
proper watering, sufficient nutrients and regular aeration.
A healthy, strong lawn will become an unhealthy habitat for
weeds. It will then be able to fight off the weeds and
pests that try and take over.

What to do once they appear

Weeding is an ongoing process but once you have a healthy
lawn, weeding shouldn't take much of your time at all. When
they appear, the way to keeping your lawn free from weeds
is to simply dig or pull them up as you see them appearing
and your lawn will be kept weed free with the minimum of
effort. A little weeding here and there is far better than
a whole weekend's worth of work.

Use of chemicals to fight weeds

Daisy is a weed that can stand close mowing and still
flower. It spreads by seed so it will be able to cover
anywhere quite quickly. They are however susceptible to
weed killers and you would only need to use one application
to kill them.

Dandelion is a perennial weed that has large rosettes and
bright yellow flowers. It can stand close mowing so the
best control method is to pour salt on to the center of the
weed, which will kill it overnight and then remove it by
hand with removing the long tap root.

Always be careful when using any kind of chemical. Most
chemicals that are used are for keeping your lawn free from
weeds. However, they can also be used in flower beds but do
not use chemicals until the existing plants and flowers
have matured to at least four or five inches in height.

The use of herbicides should be used as a last resort. When
applying any type of chemical or herbicides, make sure you
have the correct weather conditions, as the slightest
breeze can carry the chemical onto your plants and flowers
and kill them. When spraying weeds, the nozzle should be
kept close to the ground and sprayed directly onto the weed
itself.

A beautiful lawn requires regular care, including the time
to keep the lawn free from weeds. A little bit of time
spent controlling weeds each week is much easier and more
successful than trying to get rid of the weeds once they
have taken over.


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Carol Stack enjoys writing articles. She lives with her
husband, children, four dogs and seven cats in the United
States. They have a large yard that they are constantly
working on to make more beautiful. Her website,
http://www.freegardentips.info covers lawn care, organic
gardening, landscaping and more.

Why should you choose Teak Patio Furniture?

More and more people are beginning to appreciate the beauty
of teak patio furniture. This is particularly true for
those people who care more about the quality of their
wooden patio furniture rather than the quantity of it. Teak
is an elegant and long lasting wood which grows mostly in
Burma, Indonesia and other exotic locations. Popular belief
is that Egypt was one of the first countries to use wood
patio furniture. However, over the years the whole world
has recognized the beauty and grace of teak patio
furniture. The popularity of Teak for wooden patio
furniture is based on its resilience, unique grain, and its
durability to resist insects and natural decay.  Even in an
untreated form, the longevity of unfinished teak is
impressive, as it can last up to 75 years.

Wooden patio furniture comes in many styles and in various
finishes. Nowadays the best outdoor wood patio furniture
sets can rival the quality of indoor dining furniture.
There are many different types of wood used. As well as
Teak, these include Cypress with its unique grain; Cedar
which transforms from a red or reddish-brown colour to a
silvery-grey appearance; and Knotted Pine which has a
natural resistance to the outdoor elements, pests, and
decay.

So why are so many people interested in Teak patio
furniture? Well, the answer lies in the wood itself. Teak
is a very hard wood that has a strong resistance to winds,
pests, humidity, and all manner of conditions that a normal
wood faces in its lifetime. It is an extremely durable wood
that is often used in construction around water, such as
decking in marine locations. As a result teak patio
furniture can withstand very harsh weather during the
winter months and still look fantastic during summer. In
fact some people prefer the look of this type of wooden
furniture as it gets older, as the wood matures to a
beautiful silver-grey colour.

It is important to have a word of caution here. Just
because Teak is durable, it doesn't mean you shouldn't care
for your wooden patio furniture. Teak does not splinter but
it may develop small cracks with time; due to its high
content of natural oils. It should be treated if you plan
to leave it out in the winter or during bad weather, as its
oils do not create a great surface sheen.

As with any form of wooden patio furniture it is a good
idea to avoid spilling drinks or other foodstuffs on it. If
an accident does happen do not try and clean it with common
household detergents. Either just leave the stain to fade
over time or sand the area down with high grade sand paper
and re-polish it. Remember, you must make sure your Teak
patio furniture is clean before re-polishing otherwise you
will trap the dirt into the wood.

You will probably pay more for a Teak patio furniture set
than for other types of wooden patio furniture and
certainly more than for plastic furniture. However, you are
buying quality. It is very satisfying to sit outside on a
sunny winter's day enjoying your garden in the knowledge
that your neighbours have had to pack their garden
furniture away for the season.

The final point to note is that after making that
investment in elegant Teak patio furniture you should not
spoil the effect by finishing it off with cheap
accessories. So do not buy cheap cushions or a flimsy
umbrella. Cushions should be thick, about for to six
inches, and be made from good quality material that
enhances the wood. The umbrella should be made from teak
and material that complements the cushions. Get these
accessories right and your patio furniture will be
aesthetically pleasing to both you and your visitors.


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Michael Saville has written other articles on patio
furniture. These can be found by visiting
http://www.patio-furniture.org.uk The site also includes
information about buying and maintaining all other types of
patio furniture.