Landscaping Small Yards

Tips to Help You Create the Most Alluring Landscape

2008-10-07T21:42:00.001-07:00

A patch of green adjacent to your home--- a great idea indeed! It’s a refreshing dream that every urban dweller loves to cherish! But few of them get to the job for fulfilling this dream; or rather they don’t just dare to undertake a landscaping project out of the fear that the task may turn out to be too imposing to handle.

But believe me; it is not going to be that exorbitant that you are imagining! What you need are the right tips, and it’s just a matter of few weekends’ efforts and you get your private heaven ready right at your threshold!

Don’t get nervous just because you are a novice at the job of landscaping; go by our tips and your pro-looking landscape is just few weeks away.

Plan well

Irrespective of the size or type of a project, the secret of success lies in good planning and planning needs great deal of research.

As it is said, landscaping is the combination of both scientific knowledge and great aesthetic sense, a good deal of research can supply you with the practical information about ideal plants type for the type of the soil and climate in your area, local wind patterns, the requirement of irrigation and so on.
Also roam around a bit in the public gardens as well as in your neighborhood to get more design ideas.
You might have your own visualization about your dream landscape. Now blend your dreams with your new found knowledge to create the most alluring garden in the neighborhood.

Weave it around a focal point

Pick out a focal point for your landscaping project and then spin the entire design around it. It offers the viewer the right perspective. Such elements as a fountain, a stone statue, a birdfeeder, a solarium and even an old big tree in the middle of the lawn can serve the purpose of a focal point to give a natural flow to your landscaping efforts.

Follow consistency in the use of shapes and lines

For the right visual impact, use the shapes consistently in your garden. These govern the viewer’s eye movements and as such your aim will be to draw the viewer’s attention to the focal point.

As for example, if the garden has a natural poodle in the middle, design the beds and pathways in meandering lines to naturally flow with the spirit of a curvy water body.
If you want a British style landscaping with a more formal look, make more use of the straight lines and geometric shapes instead.

Make sure, the landscape appears attractive all through the four seasons

It is practical to choose the plants cautiously so that you have the shrubs in full bloom through the summer, autumn and fall. Make sure your landscape has some elements to withstand the chill of winter and offers something to look at.

So combine deciduous shrubs and evergreen trees in your design.
While deciduous plants add to the variety, the evergreens with their bloom and foliage offer year long continuity.

Choose the right landscape edging

Use the edging to make the right design statement; the proper edging not only provides your garden the necessary framing, it also gives a finished look to the greenery.

A last tip: your landscaping project must suit your lifestyle. Before getting started, keep in mind that some plants require more attention while others thrive with little attention. So ask yourself first how much time and efforts you are going to invest in your landscape. If you are a novice, start with a few easy to grow varieties.

Money Saving & Energy Efficient Landscaping

2008-10-06T05:35:00.001-07:00

All of us like to save money. With easy energy efficient landscaping you can save up to 30% or more on your energy bills. Just a few simple adjustments to your existing landscape or by careful planning of your new landscape you can create an energy saving home.

Of course we would all like to save on our energy costs but how can we do this? There are several innovative ideas to look into when relandscaping your yard.

Keep the Sun Out

One of the key considerations in energy efficient landscaping includes the various weather conditions that prevail in the area. This means taking into consideration where the sun shines and what path the sunlight takes. A house's walls and foundations, when hit directly by the sun, will absorb almost 90% of the sun's heat, thereby increasing the burden on the air-conditioning or cooling system to keep the house cool.

You can protect your home from the sun's hot rays by a shade landscaping design, planting large shade trees on the south and west side of your home. Of course on the flip side, if you want your home to be warmer in the long winter months you would want to do just the opposite, creating large open areas so that the sun can naturally warm the home.

You will also want the warm rays of the sun to heat the hardscape surrounding your home this will also increase the heat levels inside the home.

Break the Wind

A cold winter wind seeping into the home can rapidly cause a temperature drop. This will also be reflected in your next energy bill.

There are several types evergreens and other trees as well, that can act as excellent wind breaks. A sturdy fence, sturdily set in place, can also help stop the wind.

Keeping Your Home Cool or Warm

One way you can help save energy by making sure the warm or cool air does not escape from your home by adding insulation in the ceilings, gaskets around the doors, vents and windows, and having double pain windows.

Another way to help is through your energy effecient landscaping with thick shrubbery close to the home creating a natural barrier. This barrier should be close but leave a small space between the walls and the plants creating a dead air barrier. By communicating with your landscape architect your intentions he will know the best distance between home and shrubbery for this dead air barrier to be the most effective.

In landscaping your yard or garden, it is important to maximize the benefits by using an aesthetically pleasing landscape. After all, energy efficient landscaping in the area will effectively save energy and money in the long run.

Get more information on landscaping visit Landscaping Ideas

Sprinkler Systems - Keep Your Garden Green!

2008-10-05T19:09:00.001-07:00

The growth of vegetables, plants, shrubs and flowers in your garden depends upon the level of water you supply. And hand watering or moving a lawn sprinkler attached to the hose to supply water to your garden is not an easy task. Therefore, plan a layout of proper watering system which can supply required level of water and also save your time and your money as well.

Installing drip irrigation supplies can offer your garden a sufficient level of watering by way of dripping at the root level of plants. The main thing you need to consider for selecting a watering system is the need of your watering schedule keeping in mind what sort of plants or lawn you need to grow.

Planning a Lawn Sprinkler System

Planning a watering system for your garden depends upon the climate, the sort of soil. Furthermore, it is very essential to keep in mind that the watering system you plan for your garden need to have right flow of water and pressure.

While planning a watering system, first of all measure your yard and estimate how much pipe you will require to buy. Secondly, you need to consider which kinds of sprinkler supplies like valves or sprinkler heads you will need .

Measuring your yard can give you fair idea where your sprinkler heads will go to get the maximum water coverage. Moreover , it will work good for you if you keep the valve boxes at the right place so that your valves can serve each zone satisfactory level of water.

Why Garden Sprinkler Systems are suggested?

There are reasons for recommending garden sprinkler systems for your garden. This system involves moving water through pipe from one place to the other. You see that hand watering and shifting watering pipe from one place to other is painstaking task. So, such water supply by using oscillatoris or hand watering is often time consuming activity and also waste of water. This can give your garden either over-water supply or under-water supply. Thus , installing suitable lawn sprinkler system can give your garden a proper level of water supply which is responsible for its growth.

Finding and choosing suitable equipments for your watering task is very crucial because right amount of watering is the key to the growth of your garden plants and vegetations.

Solar Powered Landscape Lighting: The First Step to a Perfect Summer Evening

2008-10-04T00:01:00.001-07:00

Summer is for evening parties and what can be better venue than your backyard lawn for hosting a cozy gathering with your friends? Proper lighting plays a key role in the success of such parties.

Now the question is: what do you mean by the term, proper lighting? Here are four main points to consider:

The light should adequately illuminate the place, so that your guests can sit or move around comfortably. This is the functional side of your landscape lighting scheme.
On the aesthetic side, the lighting should be such that it rightly accentuates the beauty of the landscape.
More importantly, the lighting should be power efficient.
The wireless lighting offers a fuss-free way of installation, and that make them more suitable for outdoor use.

Solar powered landscape lighting is one that helps you meet with all these criteria in one.

Solar powered landscape lights offer you the most energy efficient solution. They are virtually free, as they need nothing but clean energy from the sun to run.
With solar powered landscape lighting, you are not only cut benefit on the personal plain by saving on energy bills, at the same time you are making valuable contribution in conserving precious environmental resources.
It may sound unbelievable, but you will need as little as twenty seconds to install a solar powered light in your outdoor space. Spare fifteen minutes more and you are done with the task of illuminating the entire outdoor space for enjoyment after sundown.
With no wiring required, solar powered landscape lighting can be installed even by an inexperienced homeowner. Your task almost ends with locating the proper place of installation of light; after that all you need to do is just plant them in the ground, without needing any cumbersome wiring.
In case you need some alteration with your original scheme, it is easy to just pick the lighting fixtures up and replace them.
You don’t have to compromise on the aesthetic side too; these solar powered lights are available in variety of styles starting from decorative lanterns to accent lights.

What makes a basic solar light?

In a solar powered landscape light, the source of illumination is an LED lamp that is expected to withstand 10,000 hours of usage.
The solar panels are made of photo cells that charge up the battery from solar power.
The solar panels need to receive enough sunlight during the day, so that you can get illumination throughout the evening. The rechargeable batteries provide about 8 hours of light at a stretch.
These lights come with built-in light sensors that work for automatic turning on and off of the lamp.

Ideas for creative use of solar powered landscape lights

You have worked hard to give the desired shape to create your dream landscape; now is the time of finishing touch. Add the final polish with a stylish lighting scheme.

First locate the places in your garden that requires lighting and use different types of lights for different areas.
If you happen to have a pond in your plot, use floating lantern style lamps for an unusual look.
In the sitting areas or in the places where foods are served, place the table top solar powered lanterns.
It is equally important to lit up driveways and pathways; use pole lamps or pedestal style lanterns here. Pole lamps are also ideal for illuminating the patios and decks.
The solar powered accent lights are also available to decorate the rock sculptures or other architectural attractions in the garden.
Use footlights in the corners of edging and fences for a dramatic ambience. For the same effect, you can hide the source of light behind the bushes to bring about a silhouetted view.

In the end here are some useful facts about solar powered landscape light that may help in your selection.

Solar lights come both with ornamented outdoor fixtures, and without them. Select the type according to your plan of using them.
Your local garden store can be a great source of solar powered landscape lighting options. If you want to spark off the imagination a little more, surf the internet; the online stores are the ideal place for finding out the products that you are looking for.

Landscape Design Software For Creative Outdoor Landscaping Ideas

2008-10-03T14:13:00.001-07:00

Outdoor Landscaping Ideas

One of the best investments you can make in your home is adding a few attractive outdoor landscaping ideas. This can be done by hiring someone or using your own imagination.

Using a home computer to pre-plan landscaping ideas with landscape design software is one way to help the do-it-yourself type. With this software inter-changing different layouts can be easily done until finding the best one to suit the individual needs.

The internet can also be utilized to find unusual or new outdoor landscaping ideas. There are tons of photos of completed projects, plans, plants and materials.

Utilizing the online resources to find out what plants do well in your area and how large they will grow are practical things to discover before beginning a landscape makeover. The internet can help in locating the best place to purchase materials at the most economical price.

What is your Landscape Budget?

Being patient and purchasing smaller trees and shrubs and allowing them to mature over the years can be a huge money saving idea. Try to Cut back on expensive water features, rock and tile. "Less is more" is a great saying and can be a great way to not overspend on unnecessary items.

Call in the local utility companies to locate any possible gas or electric lines that may be running through the are to be excavated. A dangerous accident can be avoided as well as money saved in relocating these lines. It is far cheaper and easier to rethink the project than to redo something after it is already done.

You should also check with the city regarding zoning and setback restrictions. Most cities will give you a set of guidelines to follow. Some cities also have restrictions on tree elevations and fencing so be careful and comply with all the requirements. Do you homework and find out all you can before you start your project and avoid any wasted time and unnecessary costs

Step out of the box, so to speak, and research unusual and unique outdoor landscaping ideas. Take advantage of the online resources available. You may discover new and innovative patio materials and plants. This will increase the value and look of your most valuable asset - your home.

If you would like more landscaping ideas go to Landscape Patio Design.

Build A Patio Around Your Landscape

2008-10-02T16:49:00.001-07:00

patio awning

If you want your garden to look good, you have to do a little landscaping. The same goes when you landscape around a cast aluminum patio so there is always something new to show to your guests.

The materials that you will use for your patio will include both soft and hard materials. The soft ones are namely the plants, the shrubs and the trees. They can be placed on the exterior perimeter of the patio while you use hard materials such as brick, concrete, rock, stone and tiles inside.

So you have an idea what plants to buy later on, it is best to check the condition of the soil since this will determine what type of flowers will survive these conditions.

As a rule of thumb for landscaping around a patio, start working on the insides of the patio then make your way outwards.

When choosing an area for the patio, make sure that this will be done on a flat area of land. Once you have found it, you must first build forms to be able to add height to the patio perimeter. This is important to achieve the foundational support you will need later on. This work should be completed evenly up to the doorway.

To prevent any incidents of tripping, you should smoothen the edges and make sure that there are no nails sticking out from the sides of the patio.

Once the forms have been completed for the patio, this is the time that you can add curves by using a bender board made from plastic so it can be moved very easily. To keep these in place, you will have to add stakes every 12 to 18 inches.

When it is ready, this is time that you put the stones in. These should be placed one by one so everything will fit nicely into place.

Since the patio is now ready, those of you who want to make it look colorful should add flowers and shrubs along the walkway. You may choose to use one color or mix this among several. The important thing is that it looks good.

Those who don’t want to plant flowers around the patio can still add color by using potted plants. These pots can be purchased with various designs and colors from the store. The advantage of using this is that you can move them to different locations and during the winter, they can be placed indoors then brought out again during the spring.

Either way, you can choose plants that bloom during different times of the year so there is always something that stands out all season long. Keep in mind the amount of sun required for each and every one of them.

You should also get plants of different heights so there is a smooth transition from the patio all the way up to the house. If there are budget constraints, get the smaller ones since these are cheaper. It will just some time before they mature unlike the older plants that are almost ready to bloom.

For those who want to decorate, you should look into adding lattice patio covers.

Landscaping around the patio is no different than fixing one section of the house. Once you have a plan, it will be very easy to implement. If you are not happy, don’t be afraid to make some changes so it will look better than it did before.

Cedar Fencing in Massachusetts - A Insider's Guide by Alan Bates

2008-10-01T21:06:00.001-07:00

There are a lot of different types of wood fence that you may see in the Boston area. For example, you'll see a lot of cedar privacy fencing in suburban yards. of course in Metro Boston, one will find tiny yards, with very unique buildings and styles of fencing that fit in with these conditions. In Boston, you'll see a little less fencing than you will in many other cities. Why? Well, while Boston has the fifth highest population density among major U.S. cities, it also is small in terms of land mass ? nearly third smallest! However, the classic and timeless look which only a wood fence can achieve lends itself perfectly to this, a city with so much history that it's there to be found around every corner.

Once you're ready to build a cedar fence, you need to figure out what style fits you and your neighborhood. In suburban Boston, you can put up really any kind of fence you want; though the stockade picket fence is the most popular. Also common in suburban areas is 6' cedar privacy fencing. Both styles of fencing are often seen with new homes. Older colonial homes, on the other hand, are better suited by more traditional fencing ? as are newer homes which emulate their look.

In the city itself, fencing has more to do with the personal preferences of the homeowner. The brownstones seen in many neighborhoods often have low picket fences to delineate property lines while keeping the feeling of a tight knit community (a trademark of many Boston neighborhoods) intact. In backyard Boston wood fencing, though, you'll see both the low picket fencing common to the front of homes as well as tall basketweave privacy fences which can create a private space even in the most densely populated of urban areas.

Based on homeowners who have located Boston wood fence contractors to build their fencing, we can give you a good idea of how much you'll pay to have a wood fence built. In the Boston area, the cost for most wood fence installation by contractors we work with is somewhere between $1,000 and $4,000, with $2,500 being the average cost with materials and labor. The job generally took a speedy two weeks, with four weeks being the slowest and eight days the fastest. Of course, longer jobs usually mean it's more expensive.

So what does all of this mean to you as a homeowner in the Grater Boston area? It's pretty good news, as it happens. Boston wood fencing prices are consistent across the board in this area, so if you find a good contractor to build you fence and know what to ask for; you'll get a good value for your money ? and a good wood fence. And what should you ask for? Wood which can stand up to the hot, humid summer and cold, wet winters of New England, with all of its Nor'easters and offshore storms. Cedar is the best wood to use; its natural oils repel moisture, making it a good choice for the tough weather of the Boston area.

If you want a cedar fence to stay looking its best and protected from weather damage, you should treat it every five to ten years; a small price to pay for a wood fence which looks great and will last. If you don't use cedar, pressure treated lumber is the next best option. Be certain to sustain it if you want it to last for a long time however. Lastly, always do your research into any wood fence contractor you're thinking of using and evaluate their track record. It may take a little of your time, but it's well worth it for a fence which will hold up over the long run.

Ready to save a ton on cedar fencing in Massachusetts? Watch my new video review revealing exactly how I saved $1442.17 on a cedar fence with the best-rated Boston fence company.

Lawn Care Tips for Everybody

2008-09-30T11:03:00.001-07:00

Lawns often vary in size, shape, and form for most homes. Some lawns are beautifully ornate with lush gardens, and pruned to look like art. Other lawns are thick with weeds, grass, and often give off a sense of an old style farm to passers by. There of course are thousands of other types of lawns that typically fall in between the categories of impeccably groomed, and garden of weeds. For all lawn owners, no matter what type, there are several helpful tips to maintain your lawn, because no matter the look of the lawn, it will hopefully be one that’s healthy.

The first thing lawn owners should do is create an ideal lawn type they are striving to achieve. It’s often said that we can’t know where we are going unless we have a destination to begin with. Many lawn owners make the mistake of winging it, or going with whatever inspires them that day. This can lead to unforeseen obstacles, as well as changes of heart in the overall design or landscape of the lawn. To create a visualization of the ideal lawn should take time, and sincere thought. Once you have a vision for your lawn, write it down, review it for plausibility, and start to plan for what you will need. By visualizing your idea lawn a clear set of steps to achieve such a lawn will start to arise.

No matter what type of lawn you are interested in having, be sure to invest in water for your lawn. This could mean investing in sprinkler systems, or hoses, or even just a hand held water pourer. The idea with investing in water for the lawn is that your lawn will only be as healthy as the amount of water you put into it. Lawns need water to grow, and maintain color. Without water your lawn will face struggles in staying vibrant.

As with any enduring task we humans put ourselves up to, we must make it fun. Create incentive for you to get in the lawn and work on it. Make lawn care fun, by getting a workout from it, or getting a suntan, or just spending time with family while tending to the lawn. The more fun the lawn care is, the more likely you will be to continue it over the years.

Get help when your lawn is growing to proportions you can’t attend to. Most lawns, when put on the right track will be able to grow consistently, and thus have greater needs for ones time. This is when help can take your average lawn and make it exceptional. Lawn care doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. For a more reasonable rate negotiate a long term contract with your gardener, for bi weekly visits. The longer commitment should lower the rate you have to pay per visit.

Landscaping Ideas: Make Your Neighbors Go ‘Wow’!

2008-09-29T09:48:00.001-07:00

A patch of greenery right within the boundary of your own property can be your retreat at the end of hard day’s work. It can be the place where you can recharge your emotions; it can be a place for rejuvenation of your senses! The color in it can brighten up your inside, literally….here are few ideas to get you started in the creation of your very own wellness resort.

Decide on the style

When it comes to brightening your own patch of green, first decide on a definite style… an English landscape, a Zen garden, a Swiss style cottage landscape, etc.
Take cues from several styles and forms to create something unique of your own. But in this case, you should be careful about the right balance and co-ordination between the different elements.

Co-ordination of five elements of design

Whenever you blend more than one element to create something new, you become a designer. Same is true of landscape designing where you can experiment with five major design elements:

Color
Line
Form
Texture
Scale

When you are designing the landscape, it is imperative that you give due consideration to all these five elements.

Treat your backyard as a canvas

Imagine yourself to be a painter and treat the small patch of land lying in your backyard as a canvas. The only difference is that instead of filling it up with colors by using paints and brushes, you are filling up your land by growing plants in the different corners of it.
The perspective of an artist will help you in your experimentation with the form and texture of the selected plants.

Make use of rocks

Not only in the forms of sculptures, can rocks in their natural forms do wonders for a landscape. Just place a huge rock in the shady corner of your garden; it will serve the purpose of a seating area without interfering with its natural look and feel.
Use the stones of different sizes to create the edging for your flower beds.
If you happen to have a pool inside the garden, border it with rocks with different size and shapes.
To add some fun elements, use stone structures of unusual shapes.

Brighten up the space with a series of landscape accessories

Before adopting just any style of landscaping, make sure of the purposes you are going to use the space. Add accessories to keep with the spirit. As for example, you can consider keeping a hot tub if the space is meant for private family relaxation.
If you are planning to use your garden for frequent outdoor parties, you can consider erecting a pole lamp and adorning it with creepers like ivy.
In addition to that you can place a buffet table fitted with mirror; it will enhance the drama by reflecting the lighting in the evening.
Comfortable lounge chairs and a coffee table are the must have accessories for enjoying a peaceful summer weekend in your backyard.

Always let your ideas grow and evolve; mix and match different styles, elements and concepts. Be bold in your experimentations and soon you will be full of innovative landscaping ideas of your own that inspire other landscape enthusiasts in their creation.

Attractive Japanese Landscape Design

2008-09-28T09:33:00.003-07:00

Japanese Landscape Design

For a Japanese landscape design, you will find a list of specific items to consider. Now, some Japanese gardens are simplistic while others include everything that would be found in a traditional Japanese landscape design. Therefore, the first thing you would need to do before shopping for the various types of Japanese garden supplies and materials is to determine the completed look you want.

Some of the most beautiful Japanese gardens have some type of water feature, which is often a small pond or stream if room allows. Water in this type of garden helps create the overall look and feel of peace and tranquility, making it a vital element. To not only complement the look but to actually make the water more functional, you could consider a Japanese garden bridge.

A Beautiful Japanese Garden Bridge

With a Japanese garden bridge, you would actually walk over the water features or simply stand or sit on the bridge to soak up the gorgeous view. After all, a Japanese garden design also features tons of greenery in the form of plants, flowers, shrubs, and trees, bamboo fences, waterfalls, statues, lanterns, lily pads, pebble walkways, and so on. In fact, for the larger gardens, some will also feature a teahouse, which is authentic.

The Japanese garden bridge is typically constructed from wood or stone with a design that fits with the Japanese style. In Japan, these bridges are used to connect a shore with an island or in some cases, even to connect one island with another island. Of course, in a smaller residential Japanese landscape design, the Japanese garden bridge goes along with a strolling garden, again to go over a pond or stream.

Dry Japanese gardens consist of stone arrangements and gravel symbolizing the ocean and islands. It may also include sand that has been carefully raked. Traditionally five large stones will represent the five basic elements...sky, earth, wind, water, and fire. It is very traditional to have stone figures of Buddah or various animals representing longevity, happiness, or peace, etc.

Locating Japanese Garden Supplies

The thing to remember is that when shopping for Japanese garden supplies to include a bridge, you want to choose the size that will work with the size of the garden, and then go with the style and material that looks best. After all, in Japan, the bridge is believed to be a journey, taking a person from one place to another. For this reason, the bridge in your own Japanese garden needs to represent your own personal journey and the movement involved.

When shopping try to find authentic accent pieces for your Japaneses garden. Items such as the small Japanese garden bridge, a small replica of a pagoda or tea house, Japanese lanterns, water features such as a pond, waterfall or stream.

Get more information on landscaping visit Outdoor Landscaping Ideas

Building a Garden Pond for Koi Fish

2008-09-28T09:33:00.001-07:00

Would you like to have a water pond for koi fish? Keeping these colorful fish in your backyourd pond is very rewarding and it is not as time and money consuming as most people imagine. With the right care koi live very long getting really huge - the bigger ones are of the most value. Follow these simple rules to build your pond properly so your koi will live and make you happy for a long time.

Depth is important

Depth of your garden koi pond is crucial. You pond should be at least 4 feet deep, however it is much better to give your fish six or even 8 feet deep pond. This will ensure that your koi are safe from raccoons, cats and other animals dangerous to fish. Deeper fish pond also helps to keep water cool in summer months

Make your pond as large as you can

Small ponds are not suitable for koi. Remember, with time your fish will multiply and grow and they will need a lot of room. Also there are so many color variations of koi, that later you will probably want to buy additional fish. So it is better to create a large garden pond from the start than rebuild it later. About ten thousand gallons is considered decent space for a backyard pond with fish , bigger would be even better.

Heat the water in colder months

Unlike tropical fish, koi are resistant cold; however you should never let your pond freeze completely. Installing a proper garden pond heater will always keep an opening in the ice. Also keep in mind, that like most fish koi only grow when the water is warm, so with a heater your fish will grow faster

Provide some shade for your koi

When selecting a spot for your pond, make sure it is out of direct sun. Also keeping water plants like water lilies in your pond makes sence - not only they add beauty to the overall design, but they also provide shade for the fish. However, you should avoid building your koi pond under trees. Cleaning a fish pond of fallen leaves is a nightmare.

Plan to install a bird net

There are many birds of prey that would eat your koi. Don't give them the opportunity; plan your pond location so it is possible to protect it with a net.

Keep insecticides away from your pond

When planning your pond keep in mind that you should not use any insecticides or herbicides so they can get into the wate. Even a small amount of common garden poison can kill your beautiful fish.

Koi fish pond acsessories that you might need

Several accessories are absolutely essential for a healthy koi pond. Ideally you must buy a water pump, filtration system, pond water aerator and an ultraviolet sterilizer. If the water in your pond is still, your fish might get sick and eventually die. Koi pond filtration systems are expensive, so if money is an issue you can make your own homemade filters.

Easy Care Types of Desert Landscaping Plants

2008-09-27T08:17:00.017-07:00

Desert Landscaping Plants

Some believe that you can only have types of desert landscaping plants if you live in the warm and dry southwestern part of the U.S. But they can also thrive in the high deserts of the Pacific Northwest and in most humid tropical areas.

The various varieties of the cacti, with their sharp thorns, have been used as a fence to ward off predatory animals and other uninvited guests. They can also be used to protect a vegetable from animals that enjoy stealing your prized tomatoes. The short and stout "Barrel Cactus" would be very uninviting.

While creating a look using desert landscaping plants, you might find that you have some areas of the property or perhaps a side of the home with lots of shade. Obviously, this would require you to use landscape shade plants, those that will handle the hot and dry climate but also do well growing in shade. Again, the possibilities are tremendous, giving you great coverage and beautiful blooms during the year.

Regarding some of the desert landscaping plants and landscape shade plants, we wanted to provide you with some excellent options that you might consider. Those listed below are just a few samples of the hundreds of possibilities.

Opuntia Varieties, or better known as the prickly pear due to its colorful fruit-shaped flower bud. The bud blooms into the most beautiful, almost rose like flower.

Opuntia phaecantha variety discata, this plant is very hardy, it is able to withstand a bit of cold weather. It is very heavily covered with some with vicious long spines and would not be a good plant to have around children. It will also produce beautiful, deep yellow flowers.

The Agave or "century plant," so named due to the flower stalk that is said to only bloom every one hundred years. In reality, the flower stalk appears at the end of its life, which can be as long as twenty to thirty five years. It has been used for ropes with the fiber, some for tequila, and baked and eaten.

Landscape Shade Plants for the Desert

Another great shade plant is the astilbes, also known as the feather flower, due to the shape of its blooms which are puffy, feather like spires that come in white, ivory, pink, red and purple. For an easy care plant with lots of color, great texture and toughness astilbes would be a great addition to your garden.

Hostas are another shade variety that blends in well with desert landscaping plants. They are perennials that come in several types, some with solid green or variegated leaves. They produce flowers white, pink or purple flowers and can grow in full or partial shade.

The Liriope Spicata is one more great shade plant that looks like grass and is often times referred to as border grass. The flowers turn from white to purple when in bloom then in the fall it produces a dark berry.

The Foxglove which is better known as a day lily grows well both in the sun and shade. It will produce unusual looking flowers of different colors depending on the species. The Foxglove is a poisonous plant so it should be kept out of reach of children and pets.

Get more information of landscape plants visit Desert Landscape Gardens

Insecticides

2008-09-27T08:17:00.015-07:00

If insects were supermen then insecticides would be kryptonite. Insecticides are a chemical agent that kills of insects, or acts as a deterrent to hungry insects looking too impeded on our food, flowers, or plants. Insecticides became popular during World War II, and remain popular as ever today. There are several types of commonly used insecticides that are worthy of having a look at so when we are buying them we know which works for our needs, and what won’t work.

Malathion is the most popular insecticide; it’s synthetic and remains effective for 1 to 3 days at a time. It keeps multiple insects and bugs off of our plants and fruit, and most effectively vegetables. It seems to be the insecticide of choice among those that grow vegetables because of its nature to keep off the bad bugs without compromising its taste, and growth patterns.

Diazinon is another popular insecticide that lasts for up to 1 week after being applied. The problems with this insecticide are that it can hurt the good bugs. That’s right, there’s such a thing as good bugs. Some creatures, like the bumble bee, are beneficial to an organism’s growth. Daizinon is more toxic then most insecticide and thus deters the good bugs from doing their good deeds to our fruits and vegetables. Also Dizinon can damage nearby water organisms, and thus is not used when near ponds, rivers, and other bodies of water that contain organisms.

Carbaryl also known as Sevin, is also an effective insecticide. The reason Carbaryl is such an effective insecticide is because it is less toxic, lasts longer, and keeps away some nasty bugs like the codling moth. This insecticide can be harmful to such good bugs as bees, and is not always effective on certain types of spiders.

Regardless of the insecticide you choose to utilize for your garden, be sure to read all instructions on the packaging before applying. Also be sure to check to see where you are spraying it, and be sure to keep pets, kids, and any other unknowing characters away from the hazardous chemicals. Finally when eating something that has been sprayed with insecticides be sure to wash it thoroughly, and dry before eating.

{You Can Stay Awake All Day and Not Think of These Gardening Tips}

2008-09-27T08:17:00.013-07:00

{On a preliminary note, different gardeners strain to circumvent fall gardening as much as they can as a result of the winter frosts that often come forth quite early and have the tendency to make things alittle challenging. Learning all you can that’s related to fall gardening plus other gardening information will certainly prove important to you in dealing with any hitches that would spring up.}

{If you are one that absolutely loves flower gardening, you can dudge additional work at the time of the approaching flower gardening time by taking every of the debris out from your garden and shrouding the soil with compost, peat moss as well as additional wholly natural nutrients. This is perfect with the well known saying that goes – a stitch in time saves a whole lot!}

{Do you truly know about the Tiller? For those who do not, listen - The Tiller is a useful garden equipment which is used to work on the soil by cracking it, setting it up for planting, demolishing dirt fragements and combining fertilizer or compost. It is highly priceless for lots of serious gardeners.}

{When shopping for your gardening gloves do not brush off the truth that some gardening gloves are meant for filling gasoline tanks up, working with chain saws, cropping thorns. Nonetheless, there’re some which are just for easy obligations, like getting rid of weeds, raking or digging. Make sure that you get the accurate one from the onset. To get a pretty garden throughout the winter you can get gardening plants which bloom in those challenging months; such as- the cosmos, Christmas rose, Japanese Anemone and the Rudbeckia.}

{Okra, sweet potatoes, peppers together with tomatoes are the types of crops that benefit from the heat and they’ll certainly keep doing great until the frosts begin to hit despite the fact that the southern areas experience it late in the year. If you’re in the process of growing tomatoes you can protect them from the wind by making use of a tomato cage. More so, vines can be kept safe by fencing them around. All these safety measures are on account of the fact that different gardening techniques are vital to grow herbs and veggies.}

{Choose plants that are bug resistant; and be sure to breed them when they’re at their best; this will obviously keep away plant infection when you are gardening the organic style.}

{On a final note, nothing if not the finest gardening kits will do simply because the unsuitable ones might cause destruction to your plants; in order to prevent such damage to your plants, make use of just the best ones.}

Come visit us at http://www.gardening-facts.info for more useful and informative articles about gardening. See you there.

Firepit Building Basics 101

2008-09-27T08:17:00.011-07:00

outdoor firepit

For those who love the ambiance of a fireplace during the colder months of the year, spring temperatures can force them to say goodbye to those crackling flames. However, now you can simply move that fire from inside to your outdoor space, by adding a garden firepit to your yard area. A number of reasons may be implied for adding a firepit in your backyard such as, adding warmth, cooking, or simply just to relax. And with the many types of pits that are available today, you can rest assured that you will be able to find the perfect design for your outdoor space that will provide every possible function that you might need. But before you run out and purchase a firepit for your yard, there are a few factors that you will want to consider.

Safety First

Your outdoor firepit will also come with safety concerns similar to an indoor fireplace. However, if you follow a few basic guidelines, you will be able to enjoy your outdoor fire without worrying about possible risks that might be lurking. Take into consideration the location of the firepit. These units are not appropriate for use on decks or outside apartment buildings. You should always make sure that you have enough distance between your house and firepit to make burning fires completely safe. The retailer that you purchase your pit from should be able to advise you as to the recommended requirements here. It is also important to check with your local municipality in regards to building codes that might apply to your firepit.

Function

What is your reason for a propane firepit in your backyard? Are you looking for a way to keep warm so that you can enjoy the great outdoors well into the fall season? Are you interested in doing some cooking over an open fire? Perhaps ambiance in your outdoor space is your primary interest in adding a firepit. It is important to determine what function this pit will fill so that you know what type of fire pit will work the best for you. Take into consideration how many others will be occupying this space. If you are looking for an atmosphere that is conducive to socializing outdoors, a larger pit might be more appropriate. On the other hand, intimate, romantic setting might just call for a pit large enough for a small fire that will work for marshmallow roasting.

A firepit can be a great addition to an outdoor space, particularly when evening temperatures begin to drop. You can continue to enjoy the brisk, fresh outdoors, while keeping warm and cozy.

Choosing the Right Lawn Mower

2008-09-27T08:17:00.009-07:00

Maybe you live in a apartment, or even better a big city, whatever your excuse may be it’s about time you start to think about lawn mowers. Keeping a lawn in shape can not only benefit the look of your yard, it can also keep you healthy, and save you money. Lawn mowers are becoming more popular every day as record rates of home ownership occur. Lawn mowers come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and prices. To know what type of lawn mower to get now, will benefit you in the future because it can be a daunting task to pick one from the many styles available.

The push mower will run you about $100 at your local hardware store. Push mowers are the most simple, cost effective way to cut your grass. Push mowers typically won’t provide enough power to cut a large yard in a few hours, but for those with modest needs they can be the perfect start. Also push mowers don’t require gas, motors, or bags. Further push mowers won’t leave you with noise, smoke, and sometimes rocky rides. Push mowers are anything but obsolete, and will work well for those with a small yard.

The electric mower with a bag or without a bag usually costs around $300 depending on size and style. Electric mowers are the most popular lawn mower available. These mowers will cut a lot of grass in just a few minutes. They typically run for several years without problems, and usually hold up their value. Push mowers do require some gasoline, and may have problems with their engines. Further push mowers can be loud, and without a bag can spew grass all over the place.

Lawn tractors run about $700 to $2000 dollars. Lawn mowers don’t have seats, lawn tractors have seats. This shouldn’t be confused with an ATV, and is not meant for the road. But lawn tractors offer big time landscapers a chance to mow as much grass as they need without doing much more then swapping gears, and steering. Lawn tractors come in various sizes and styles, most of them come with four tires, a driver’s seat, and a bag to keep clippings in. Some perform alternative duties such as tilling, weeding, and sowing.

Automatic lawn mowers will cost you between $1700 and $3000 dollars. That’s right, we said automatic. Now for the ultra lazy that want to swap in your lawn tractors for an automatic mower you can. There is nothing to do but switch on, and tell the kids to watch out. These automatic mowers are just becoming popular, and will inevitably lower in price as technology advances.

Learn more about lawn mowers and lawn care at Savvy Lawn Care.

Candle Holders: A Wide Palette to Choose from for Your Home Decor

2008-09-27T08:17:00.007-07:00

Candleholders come in many different styles, textures, and colors. From the ordinary to the extraordinary, holders come in all shapes and sizes. Materials used for candleholders depend on the reason that the candle is being used or how it is displayed. There are many markets that sell candleholders and that have someone available who can help you choose what is right for you.

Types of Candle Holders

We are most familiar with the candleholders that we see in the home such as those used on the dining table for special occasions. These can be the one-piece glass holder that holds a single tapered candle to a large three-wick candle that is used with flowers or fruit to decorate and set the mood for dinner. Candleholders may also be made of metal. Metal candleholders are great for outdoor use or to create a rustic feeling in your décor. The types of metal holders that come to mind most often are those seen in front of a fireplace or used as wall sconces. There are some extraordinary wooden candle holders on the market today. One example is driftwood that is treated and used to pour candle wax into to make a beautiful centerpiece. Most of us have seen the candleholders that have been made from old mason jars. These are great to help give that country feel to your home. One favorite is to use decorative teacups as candleholders to give a Victorian feel to any room.

How to Choose the Right Candleholder

Where you want to place your candles and the type of setting you want to create both play an important role in the type of container that you choose. For a garden party you may want to buy little metal buckets to use as candleholder. They are easily made and decorated. This type of candle holder makes a wonderful gift that you can send home with your guest to remember the occasion. If you are making the candles for a wedding then you will want to make a unity candle that is special for the couple. For this type of candle you can use a large cylindrical glass container that will shimmer and stand out. Because of the size of these containers you can decorate around them without fear of catching something on fire. If you are choosing candles for the bathroom be sure that they are in appropriate candle holders to prevent fires. A crystal candle holder is one of the greatest ways that you can present candles that you have created. It gives the impression of multifaceted lights are being thrown out from the holder.

Safety First Please

Safety is an important factor when selecting the candle holders that you wish to display and use. Be sure that the materials used are safe and will not break or change when becoming heated. Keep any flammable material away form the holder if the outside does get warm. Many home fires occur in the United States and elsewhere from the misuse of candles. Be sure that you think safety first when deciding on the type of candleholder that you want to use.

The type of candle holder that you choose to use for displaying or holding your candle in can make a difference in how others see your setting. Don’t be afraid to explore the wide variety of candleholders on the market from the usual to the extraordinary. Always keep in mind safety. For the candlemaker, the candle holder only adds to the beauty of your creation, so enjoy!

Bermuda Grass: Turf for Your Lawn

2008-09-27T08:17:00.005-07:00

A suitable lawn grass favored for its texture and color is the Bermuda grass. This is also known as Dog’s Tooth Grass. The genus Cynodon (Greek word for dog-tooth) contains the nine species of grasses native to the warm temperate to tropical regions that constitute the Bermuda grasses. This only requires moderate lawn grass care, maintenance and mowing. This is a sun loving grass of the warm seasons and is usually planted from grass seed though propagation can be made possible by rhizomes, offsets and seeds.

Bermuda grass is a perennial grass. Though native to Europe this grass has now become cosmopolitan in warm regions. This grows in the tropical, sub tropical and transition zones. In southern United States and India this grass is largely being grown now. This grass is found on golf courses, sports arenas, sports fields, reclamation areas, parks, coastal areas and pastures apart from lawns.

There are now being introduced special Bermuda varieties that are tolerant to colder climes to a greater extent and species of the grass that are more drought resistant. Thus the grass planting area is moving further northwards and the grass is becoming more prevalent in the transition zone also.

An advantageous aspect of using the Bermuda grass is that once planted the grass can provide complete lawn coverage in a year’s time. This is a most persistent and aggressive grass species. Even its germination from seed is very quick. It can grow in a variety of soils too. It has also got a fair salt spray tolerance level thus making it suitable for coastal regions also.

An excellent way to transform your lawn is to use Princess 77 Bermuda grass that is among the latest seeded Bermuda grasses available. This produces a dense, green turf while costing far less than using the sodded varieties. For establishing a Bermuda grass lawn it is important to first eliminate all existing grass and weeds by the application of a nonselective herbicide. The Bermuda turf can be mowed low for a green type look. It can also be maintained at greater heights for a denser fairway look.

Two cold tolerant varieties of the Bermuda grass are the Yukon and Rivera. While Yukon has a darker green color the Rivera has a fast growing and damage repair ability, Bermuda grass is fairly resistant to diseases and insects. Some varieties of the grass are, however, more resistant than others. Personal preferences play an important role in the selection of the Bermuda grass type that is to be used for covering the lawn. The cost factor is important too.

The Joy In Making A Japanese Garden

2008-09-27T08:17:00.003-07:00

Making A Japanese Garden

The Beauty of Bamboo Landscaping

Bamboo landscaping is really quite appealing. Moreover, bamboo has long been a popular product used in gardening and landscaping but currently with so many people concentrating on the environment, bamboo landscaping has blossomed.The explanation is that bamboo is more like a grass than a tree. When bamboo is cut, it grows back fast.

While bamboo can be used in any garden, it is frequently incorporated in the creation a Japanese garden. For this type of garden, there are very specific elements and materials used. Furthermore, there are a variety of styles that can be created. With the dry garden, sand is used, raked carefully into patterns that reflect the rippling of waves. In the center of the “pond”, a rock is placed, which represents an island.

However, the most amazing styles for making making a Japanese garden are plant life and water. This type of garden would generally have a small water feature, which would have a waterfall, pond, or stream. As a part of the pond you could consider adding a small bridge, a deer chaser, lantern, and different types of plants such as water lilies.

Then, Japanese garden fences are also a common dynamic, which are created from bamboo. These fences are utilized to create a sense of privacy. The whole concept of the Japanese garden is balance of peace and tranquility. This is the one place where after a stressful work day, you should be able to sit and relax, finding peace for the body, mind and spirit.

In Japan and even some of the bigger Japanese gardens in this country, a teahouse will be erected. Now, in creating Japanese landscaping, the teahouse does not need to be big and complicated, just a small space where you can sit and relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the garden. In fact, many home improvement centers and gardening stores actually have kits if you want to do it yourself.

The bottom line is that while there are many types of gardens, it is hard to surpass the charm found with a well planned Japanese garden. Incorporating bamboo construction and landscaping, Japanese garden fences, lots of trees, shrubs, and flowers, as well as the other elements cited, the appearance would be finsihed. With the garden being completed, you are certainly to be the envy of every other person in your neighborhood and for good reason.

Again, to gain a more complete understanding as to the creation of a Japanese garden, you will find several fine resources that can be used for guidance.

Also, the internet is an abundance of information. While scanning, you can look at the many different, taking the different elements you like the most and planning a garden based on personal preference, yard size, yard configuration, and budget.

The Benefits of Solar Garden Fountains

2008-09-27T08:17:00.001-07:00

Solar powered home electronics, like water and pool heaters become more and more popular in modern society. Many home owners invest into solar powered home heaters, and of course solar fountains. You can see many plus sides when installing a solar fountain for your garden, but there are some disadvantages as well.

How do solar fountains operate?

Usually solar garden fountains don't requare much installation. Just like many other home appliences that are solar powered they use solar panels with Photovoltaic (PV) cells to collect energy of the sun. Since a fountain pump doesn't require a great deal of energy, the panels are small.

There are two kinds of solar fountain. First are fountains where solar panels are incorporated in the design of the fountain itself. This type is the easiest to install, but you have to make sure that you place your new fountain in a sunny spot otherwise it isn't going to operate properly.

Another type has remote solar panels, which can be positioned several meters away from the fountain. If you chose this type, it doesn't matter whether your fountain is in a sunny or shady spot as long as the panels are exposed to the sun. Most solar fountains with remote panels come with easy to set up mounting system for the panels. Usually you can mount them on the wall, use grass stakes to position them on the loan or use a tall wooden stake to put your panel high up above all the plants.

The benefits and downsides of solar fountains

There are many benefits!advantages of getting a solar fountain for the garden rather than the electric one. The most obvious advantage is that you save on your energy bill. An electric pump won't add much to your energy bill in a day, but if you want your fountain to work all summer, you can save a lot by using sun energy instead of electricity or batteries.

Another advantage is that you are not limited by proximity to a power source when selecting a place for your fountain. This gives you freedom to install your fountain whereever you want. You can place your fountain in the farthest corner from the house, as long as the solar panels are on a sunny spot.

Also solar fountains don't requare much installation work. The ones with panels built into a body of the fountain don't require any special installation at all. This type is perfect as a solar pond fountain that sprays water from your pond. Since there is no cord the fountain can just float on the surface.

The main disadvantage of a solar powered garden fountain is its dependence on the sun. Most pumps will still work on a slightly cloudy day, but if it is really overcast the flow of water will be much less. And, of course, your fountain won't work at night.

Also, it is best to disconnect your fountain in winter. It would work fine on a sunny day without snow, but snow and frost can damage your pump.

Basic Lawn Care

2008-09-26T08:05:00.003-07:00

Give a verdant look to your home landscape

Keeping the natural environment intact in your lawn is a pre-requisite to beautiful lawns. Grass is a natural element and adequate sunlight, air and water is what you require to give your lawn plush look.

A patch of green in your home landscape adds to the health and beauty of your neighborhood. A lush landscape around your home will make your home look better and make you feel re-energized at the start of each day. True lawn lovers are never afraid of putting in their efforts to create a beautiful lawn. Maintaining the lawn can be challenging and you need to keep in mind a few details to maintain a healthy lawn.

Grasses exactly suitable for your lawn soil

It is better to choose the plant that adjusts the climate of your region than to create an artificial climate for a foreign plant that is non-compatible to your soil and climatic conditions. Selecting something natural that automatically thrives with a little care and effort in the natural environment is best for your lawn. However, choosing and using fertilizers is crucial to the growth and survival of plants in your lawn. So be very careful to use these wisely on your plants.

Growing the particular grass that is compatible to the physiographic and soil condition of a particular region is best suited for homestead lawns. Trying to grow grass that is not suited to the climate and soil of the region is a wasteful effort and requires artificial climate. Turf grasses are suited for regions to the southern parts of USA whereas Kentucky bluegrass requires huge water and fertilizer is best suited for the northern regions.

Maintain your Lawn

To maintain a healthy and a verdant look, two important lawn care steps to take are to clean your lawn regularly and check your soil and inspect for damage.

Doing a soil test is the best way to understand your soil type and its requirements. You might find a high PH level in your soil in which case you need to balance it with lime. Your soil test will let you know about the mineral adequacy in the soil. Accordingly you need to provide the nutrition supplements to your soil that keeps the grass and other plants growing. If your soil is microbe rich then do not worry about plant growth but if it lacks organic material then you need to supplement your soil with the same.

Aeration and use of compacted sols helps breeding microbes in the soil. This soil is extremely favorable to growth of plants and grass. If your area experiences heavy rainfall then compacted soil will prevent water logging.

However, if your area is dry ensure enough water supplies especially in the morning. Deep watering nourishes the roots and makes your lawn healthy. Over watering should be avoided just like infrequent and shallow watering. Never water the streets and sideways and never water after putting fertilizer to your lawn. Your lawn needs about 1/2" of water in a week to survive and providing any amount in excess to this will be unfavorable to the grass growth.

Raking up accumulated leaves, removing dried and fallen leaves should be your regular task. If there is accumulation of dried leaves and other debris on the lawn grass then this will block the sunlight from reaching the grass and the condition of your grass suffers. Mowing the lawn regularly contributes to the healthy growth of grass. Make your lawn ideal for mowing would require maintaining a constant grass level to enable to mower function properly and avoid scalping which is detrimental to grass growth.

Landscaping Ideas to Beautify Your Outdoor Space

2008-09-26T08:05:00.001-07:00

by Sarah Duke

No matter the size, if your home has a yard you are certain to get a lot more enjoyment from it if you undertake some interesting landscaping ideas. You can add a water feature or a rock garden, or create a secluded nook shaded by trees and shrubs. You can probably come up with even more own ideas of your to make your yard more pleasant and attractive.

One of the more popular landscaping ideas today is to create a walkthrough garden. Carefully select the perfect flowers to lend color and charm to your outdoor space. A mix of annuals and perennials is ideal because it reduces your labor and cost while still allowing for the more colorful show that annuals provide. Investigate various kinds of shrubs and trees to provide contrast and balance. And place some stepping stones throughout the garden to encourage easy enjoyment of the surroundings.

Another great landscaping idea is to create different sections in your yard, each with a distinct feature, then unify the entire space by repeating certain aspects of each section in other parts of the yard. You don't have to have a large yard to pull this off, either.

If children will be making use of your yard, designate a section of it as a play area for them to enjoy. A wooden play set will look more natural and blend in with the surrounding landscaping features. Adding a tree house lends even more interest to your outdoor space.

A lawn is frequently a big part of any landscaping effort. Choose a variety of grass that's appropriate for your soil conditions and climate so you'll have a luxurious expanse of green to set off your other natural features. Surrounded by trees, shrubs and flowers, a lawn can be an attractive showpiece.

Many people like to include a water feature in their yard. Ponds and waterfalls add a dramatic touch to your outdoor decor, and the sound of water is considered very soothing by many people. There's a huge variety of designs and products from which you can choose. Your only limits are your budget and available space.

A rock garden is a perfect solution for problem areas of your yard where it's difficult for many plants to thrive. Maybe it's a spot that's too dry or the soil conditions won't support plant growth. Or perhaps it's an area that doesn't drain well and is always wet and soggy. Putting in a rock garden that includes a few exceptionally hardy plants can be ideal for these problem areas. But it's also an attractive and low maintenance feature for any area of your yard.

There's no doubt that landscaping can provide you with great enjoyment, both in the process and the final result. Do your research, get some professional advice if necessary, make a plan, and get going! That's all it takes to turn your landscaping ideas into reality.

Edible Landscaping: Practical and Delicious!

2008-09-26T08:04:00.003-07:00

by Sarah Duke

More and more people are moving away from the idea of simple lawns and looking for innovative landscaping ideas. They want to make their outdoor space into a more natural setting, and this can include useful, even edible plants! A lot of edible plants happen to be quite aesthetically pleasing; some vegetables and herbs also have ornamental varieties. It's great to have your own vegetables - fuel costs are driving up the price of all food products, and produce is no exception.

If you're interested in creating edible landscapes yourself, you'll likely want to opt for perennials, since they will return year after year, saving you a lot of work each spring. After planting them once, these plants will give you food and something pleasing to look at for years to come.

These plants require little in the way of care; just watering, feeding, a bit of weeding, pruning and keeping any insect pests under control will be sufficient. There are plenty of perennial vegetable plants which are great choices. Remember, perennials do die back in the winter, so don't be alarmed when your plants appear to go away in the fall - they'll come back in the spring!

Perhaps you are a little leery of this idea - after all, doesn't a vegetable garden require a lot of care? This is certainly the case for traditional vegetable gardens; however, edible landscapes require only a little bit more work than other landscape plants!

This is all easier than you may think. You can simply replace some elements used in traditional landscaping with edible plants. For example, plant fruit trees rather than non-fruit bearing varieties. Wouldn't you rather have say, plums than acorns? Many vegetables work well as ornamentals and can be planted in place of flowers and other landscape accents.

Edible plants can also be mixed in with others to create your own outdoor look. Herbs in particular look wonderful planted among other, non-edible flowering plants. You can create any look for your garden or yard that you like this way.

Sage and oregano work very well as small shrubs, especially as edging for larger shrubs. Try planting curly parsley among flowers such as lobelia, dianthus and pansies. Strawberries also work well in flower gardens.

Why not plant some leaf lettuce in beds as accents? Leaf lettuce comes in different colors and shapes - combine them for a stunning look, edged with a border of grass.

Edible flowers are also a wonderful idea. There are plants which give in more ways than one. Snap peas, for instance. Besides producing peas, they also give you the gift of beautiful pink, white and purple flowers on attractive vines.

Chives are a joy to behold with their purple flowers (edible and great in salads as well). The red and white flowers of fava beans add interest to any garden. Dill's yellow, pleasant smelling blossoms are an attractive and fragrant addition. Salvia and sage boast blue and purple flowers which are a welcome sight and nasturtium (did you know the flowers are edible?) flowers are colorful.

Requiring little maintenance (and delicious), perennial herbs and vegetables are a fantastic idea in any landscaping. Dandelions, chives, rhubarb, sweet potatoes, ginger, asparagus, sorrel and more are all wonderful to look at and to eat as well.

Everyone likes to make their property and their home look better and one of the ways to do that is to improve your landscaping. For more great landscaping tips, check out the Landscaping Ideas site.

Why Take Care while Landscaping Your Lawn

2008-09-26T08:04:00.001-07:00

There are many things to keep in mind while you are landscaping your lawn, and the first is that you want to take care while you are landscaping your lawn. Landscaping can be something that drastically changes the way your lawn looks, and it can also be something that wrecks havoc on your lawn and any progress you might have made before you began the landscaping project. In order to truly care for your lawn while you landscape, you should be sure to follow some advice.

In order to take care while landscaping your lawn, you need to make sure that you are protecting your lawn while you landscape. You can put down tarps and other things that will help you to not cause huge ruts and holes in your yard if you have to drive machinery into your yard and you can be sure to save as much of the original grass as possible while you are landscaping. Try to be sure that nothing too heavy drives on your yard, as it is almost impossible to fill in ruts if they have been made by machinery. A big part of caring for you lawn while landscaping is to be sure that you are taking care of your lawn at all times, not only while landscaping.

Deciding On the Landscaping

Also, be sure that you are only putting things in your yard that your yard can handle. Try not to put too many flowers or trees in your yard if there aren’t the resources for it. Cares for your lawn while landscaping includes making sure that you are only doing the things that your lawn can handle. Don’t try to plant too many new trees at once, because there will not be enough nutrients or water in the soil to support that many new things. It might be difficult, but you have to judge what your lawn can handle, and only do that much.

A good way to make sure that you care for your lawn while landscaping is to be sure to keep it clean while you are working on projects. Be sure to clean up after yourself and take care that you don’t leave tools and other materials lying around in your lawn. Pick up when you are finished, and try not to use chemicals or products in your landscaping that will damage your lawn. It is your lawn, and you must care for it, even while landscaping.

Landscaping Small Yards

2008-02-04T14:49:00.000-08:00

Landscaping Small Yards

Landscaping small yards is not just positioning plants in your backyard. Consider it as an art, a masterpiece that shows your creativity and personality. There are three elements in landscaping your backyard: structure, area and texture of your plants.

Structure refers to the form of the plant and the arrangement of the branches. Plants, such as trees, come in different shapes. This ranges from the hanging form of the white bark willow, to the stiff form of the Lombardy poplar trees.

The second element of backyard landscape is the area. This refers to the visual flow and the arrangement of plants in the backyard. The movement of the eyes is affected by different grouping of the plants.

Texture is also an important component of backyard landscaping. The texture of the plant refers to appearance of the plant as it is perceived with the other plants surrounding it. A good example is the texture of marigolds can be distinguished as rough or smooth when grouped with other plants.

Knowing that we have defined the elements of backyard landscaping, you can now begin putting this knowledge to use. Below are more tips on how you can landscape your backyard.

Planning

Make a list of the needed materials and tools to redesign your backyard. Most importantly, you need to list the plants that you wish to place in the area. Do not forget to include a list plants that you can substitute in case your preferred plants are not obtainable.

Organize a schedule for the construction process and outline the process according to priority. Creating a schedule helps you estimate the time the landscaping process will consume. Most landscaping design projects can be done in a week or two.

Selecting the Plants

Apply what you have learned about the elements of backyard landscaping that were mentioned earlier. There are many kinds of plants that work well in a group. The pattern of the plants should create a 3D effect and should look well from all perspectives.

Remember to be creative. You can use themes on your backyard. These may involve a country, romantic or tropical theme or others.

Make it work… the Construction Process

Prepare the soil where you will plant your selected plants. One method you can use is by creating an elevated bed. You can pile soil or use rocks to do this. Creating an elevated bed also helps you solve the problem of losing excess water when irrigating the plants.

Generally, the best period to plant foliage or trees is during the months of October and November. Plants can develop sturdy roots during the winter season prior to development of other parts during the spring.