Solar Garden Lights - a Modern Way to Light up Your Garden

By John Monsholi

Solar garden lights are unique garden lamps, powered by natural solar energy. Solar garden lights do not require wiring, and thus there is no threat of anyone in your garden (i.e., pets, children, or, yourself) getting an electric shock. The lights help you save on the cost of electric, and are very easy to install.

Solar garden lights produce light with the aid of solar energy, which is the only powerful free of charge natural source of energy on earth. Unique solar cells are capable of generating electric, when exposed to the sun for long enough. A rechargeable battery makes the unit capable of storing the energy and producing light when an electric current is passed through special diodes.

Solar garden lights have been known to produce a modest amount of light for a short period of time. However, constantly improving technologies allow the lights to shine brighter and longer nowadays.

Benefits of Solar Garden Lights

1. Solar garden lights are very easy to put together and to install. When needed, they can also be very easily relocated. They can be mounted virtually anywhere in your garden, where there is sun in the daytime.

2. They are low voltage lights. This means that they are very safe.

3. Solar garden lights are very energy efficient. They are powered by DC (direct current) electricity, i.e. common batteries being charged by the sun and thus giving electricity for the lights to shine. They allow you to save on electricity and fossil fuel costs.

4. Most of the solar garden lights come with a built in photo sensors, which make the lights go on and off according to if there is sunshine or if there isn't. At the same time, most of the lights have an on and off button for maximum convenience.

5. Solar garden lights do not produce dangerous environmental pollutants, which is a common thing for other electricity generating utilities.

6. Solar garden lights will create a unique pleasant ambiance in any garden. The lights are very stylish, nice-looking and compact.

7. Merely four hours of a direct exposure to the sun will provide your garden with up to nine hours of light in the evening. Good solar garden lights are also capable of shining even during the months with limited sunshine, such as autumn and winter.

8. They do not have to be connected to any electric socket and there is no need in electrical wiring. Solar garden lights with no connecting wires can never be damaged by animals.

Please remember several things, when choosing your solar garden lights:

1. Be sure to opt for the solar garden lights with the spike made of metal or a durable plastic.

2. If you want your solar garden lights to shine bright and for a longer time in the evening, you should opt for lights with more solar cells and with batteries of a higher capacity. The light intensity will vary from one type of lights to another. Therefore, it is better to check the feedback from other buyers before purchasing the lights.

3. When it rains, some solar garden lights may get filled up with water through the "sealed" solar panel, resulting in the lights stop working. Read the comments of other buyers to see if they have encountered such problems.

4. You should also try to place your solar garden lights, where there is no shadow cast in your garden. Note that on the overcast days, the lights will not shine for so long and as bright as on bright sunny days.

5. If you are experiencing any problems with your solar garden lights, be sure first to check for the following problems: corroded batteries, low quality batteries or corroded battery terminals.

6. Look for a model with an On/Off button, so that you can turn your solar garden lights on and off if you need to.

Concluding:

Solar garden lights are low cost, safe and a modern way to light up your landscapes. Solar garden lights will provide any landscaping with a special relaxing atmosphere. These lights are environment friendly and cost efficient. - 30234

About the Author:

John Monsholi knows a lot about solar lighting systems and solar garden lighting.

These Elements Are The Keys To Organic Lawn Care

By Dewey J Capasso

Spring arrives and the smell of freshly mown grass fills the air. Which is your signal to begin the annual rituals of spreading synthetic lawn care products, firing up the mower and having at it against nature.

Or not. I mean if you want to ditch the bags of poison and get your grass off the performance enhancing drugs you can. Employing more sustainable tactics and products that will still enable you to have a near perfect lawn, that's the talk of the neighborhood yet earth friendly as well.

Organic lawn care starts with planting grass likely to do well in your locale. It also means you have to water wisely, feed in a way that works with your soil, and mow more frequently among other things. Let's briefly cover what's involved.

Going Native When Deciding Which Grass to Plant

Planting indigenous varieties means you can get away with watering, feeding and treating for pests less often - if at all. Since any species of grass suited to thrive in your local conditions is more apt to make it on it's own naturally. That means you want to stick with grasses adapted to cool seasons across the northern tier, warm season grasses across the southern tier and more transitional strains if you live in-between.

Taking the Organic Route When Feeding

After picking an appropriate grass strain you want to attend to your plant's macro and micro nutritional needs. Spreading compost is a no brainer. Compost teas are another approach. While things like blood meal, liquid fish fertilizer, and various seaweed fertilizers can help fill in the gaps.

To pull that off, you want to get an idea of the soil's pH. That will tell you want it needs to best support the grass. Because if your soil is anything other than a pH of 6.5 (just slightly acidic) to 7 the grass will have trouble absorbing nutrients. To fix that you'd use either sulfur or limestone depending on whether it's too alkaline or acidic.

Turf Truth: A green lawn in an integral part of home ownership. Americans have roughly 40 million acres with sod under cultivation. That comes down to an area equal to about the state of Washington covered in grass.

Be Smart When Watering

Grass that has a strong root system doesn't need to be watered as often. Which is good since too much rain or watering can leach out vital nutrients needed for healthy growth. Yet as you know it's best, if you have to water, to do so in the morning. That way diseases won't gain a foot hold plus the least amount of water will be lost to evaporation.

More Mowing Means a Better Lawn

You can water less if you mow more - often. The idea is to remove no more than a third of the blade each time you mow and leave it behind. So you can't let the grass grow too long. Leaving clippings to break down can provide up to 50% of the nitrogen you lawn needs to stay vibrant and green. The most earth friendly may opt for a hand powered mowing machine - if you're up to it and your yard it sized right for it. But going electric is a good alternative too.

Eliminating Weeds and Insects Naturally

A lush lawn naturally crowds out the weeds. While corn gluten can be used to keep weeds from sprouting. Up to 90% control takes a couple two three years to achieve but it's an earth friendlier way to keep weeds at bay.

See, nothing totally radical in that list of organic options? So if another year of chemical warfare isn't something you are looking forward to, maybe it's time for a different tact. Because in the long run organic is not only more sustainable, it's simply better for your yard, your pets and your family. Why not give it a chance? - 30234

About the Author:

This article is just a sample of the help available at leading mower review site MowerMania.com. Whether it's electric lawn mowers reviews, comments about ztrs, or facts about which are the best riding lawn mower for the money, you'll find it at MowerMania.com.

Tackle Landscaping Projects with the Help of Landscape Tools

By Jeremy Szechenyi

Landscape tools are very important when it comes to landscaping projects. Landscaping projects can help improve the look of your yard considerably, but there is a good deal of work required. Many tools available can help make these jobs easier, or in some cases, even possible. There are a few basic groups of tools that can help you perform a multitude of task. They are listed below.

The first tool group is the shovel.

The rake is the second group of tools.

The third tool group is the pruner, shear or lopper.

The wheel barrel or garden cart is the fourth group of tools.

Group 1 is the shovel, which can be one of the most important tools for most. It is basically two parts, a handle and a flat piece of metal on the end. There are three types of shovel, each which varies by the shape of the metal. The first is the pointed or round tip shovel, which slices in to soil well. It is primarily used for digging. The second is the narrow shovel, which also digs, but makes smaller holes and work well in tight spaces. The last is the flat shovel, which is great for scooping. It does not dig into soil well, but has a larger surface area for moving things like gravel or sand.

The second tool group is the rake. There are two main varieties. The bow rake is a thick and sturdy rake, and is used to move heavier items around, such as rocks. The second type is the leaf rake. This has long prongs that flex, pulling leaves along without damaging things under, such as grass.

The third tool group is the pruner, shear or lopper. These cut, trim and clip things to size. Small pruners cut through small, but tough, material. Long grass shears are used to trim materials such as tall grasses or shrubs. Loppers are powerful tools used to cut through thick and tough material such as tree limbs.

The fourth tool group is the wheel barrel or garden cart. These both carry large amounts of bulky materials for easy movement from place to place. Wheel barrels traditionally maneuver on one wheel, which makes them able to move around tighter corners. A garden cart is normally on two wheels, which makes it easier to balance but harder to maneuver around.

Landscape tools provide you the ability to perform many landscaping tasks. From digging holes with a shovel, to carting loads of gravel for a walkway with a wheel barrel, these tools are critical for many landscaping jobs. - 30234

About the Author:

If you are interested in landscape tools, make sure you check out Jeremy Szechenyi's blog, hubpages.com/hub/Landscape-Supplies. It will give you all the information you need on landscape supplies, including landscape tools.

Choosing Lawn Aerators for Your Aeration Needs

By Mike Smith

If your lawn is brown and drab, it can be easy to chalk it up to a lack of water or proper fertilization. You might even be convinced that insect pests have infested your yard. However, while all of these scenarios are possible, they're far less likely than you might think. What your lawn might truly need is aeration. Lawn aeration is nothing more than the process of punching holes (or removing cores) in the soil, in order to allow more water, air and fertilizer into it.

If you need a bit of help in the lawn care area, then you'll certainly want to consider the types of lawn aerators out there. The most common type is the gas-powered lawn aerator. You will find these for sale and rent, though they might be under the moniker "corer" or "plug" aerator. These have hollow tubes, called tines, that penetrate the soil and remove a piece of turf. This allows water, air and fertilizer to reach the roots of your lawn. However, due to the size and cost of these aerators, they're best suited to large expanses of yard in need of improvement.

You will also find another option on the market: pull-behind aerators. These are quite similar to the aerators mentioned above, but are designed to be pulled behind a lawnmower, rather than being self-propelled. Usually, you will have to add some extra weight, which can be done by adding bricks or cinder blocks. Finally, as with the devices mentioned above, these are good solutions for large yards.

A push aerator is another option that you have. These devices incorporate a design similar to a push mower, but use a rotating drum studded with tines to aerate the soil. The tines bite into the earth as you push the aerator across the yard, helping to ensure grass enjoys the best mix of air, water and fertilizer. As with other options, extra weight must sometimes be added, particularly for areas that see a lot of foot traffic.

Some people find that one device that works well for their needs is a pair of aerator shoes. These are simple plastic sandals that fit over your regular shoes and tighten with adjustable straps. The bottom of the sandals feature long spikes, making them look a bit like vicious golf shoes. When you walk around your yard, the spikes dig in, doing all the work for you. - 30234

About the Author:

Visit our site for more information on lawn aerators including lawn aerator shoes and rolling lawn aerators.

Is That Crabgrass You're Seeing

By Neoma Archer

Insects may be the thing that some people dread their lawns or gardens of having. There are also people who may look at drought as a phenomenon that their lawn would not want to experience. And then there are also those who would point at weeds as the worst thing that they would want to have in their lawn or garden. Weeds may look not that menacing but it can be difficult to deal with. You have to make sure that you take out all of them or else you may just see them growing back again. All they need to survive is just one good leaf and a good root and they are all set.

There are plenty of weeds out there. One of those that you should be on the lookout for is crabgrass. It does look a whole lot like orchard grass. But this one grows in patches. They will have side branches and these branches come with wide leaves that look like a star in a way. This weed will have wide blades as well as wide leaves.

The best period for crabgrass falls during the months of July and August. This period is known as their peak time. With that, crabgrass is also known as a summer annual grass. But before the weed blooms during this time, you can actually make sure that it does not get to that point. What you can do is take out your chosen herbicide. Choose a pre-emergent one so that the seeds of the weed do not germinate and so the weed does not grow.

When summer is around, you will see that there is plenty of this weed growing around. It does not have to be just your lawn or your garden - it can also grow in various locations. The list includes the cracks on the roads. Or maybe even in the sidewalks. Experts say that when you see such already working their way, you should be on the alert that the seeds may have found their way to your lawn or garden and they may soon be growing there too. Now if you want them to grow there, then just let them be. If not, then start on the pre-emergent herbicide.

You do not want your lawn or your garden to suffer from any kind of harm - especially the kind of harm that you brought. So if you are thinking that herbicide may do more harm than good, then you can opt not to use that. You can just manually attack the crabgrass. But the downside to doing that is that there may still be some roots or even seeds. Come next year, you will probably see the weed growing back again. - 30234

About the Author:

Neoma Archer loves her lawn. Find out more about her crabgrass killer ideas at her website.

Solar Christmas Lights - Brightening Your Holidays with No Energy Costs

By John Monsholi

Solar Christmas lights are a very popular and cost effective Christmas decoration. Such lights will save you up to 100 watts per each string. Another advantage of solar Christmas lights is that you will never have to turn them on or off. The lights will start to shine on their own in the evening, making for a magical Christmas.

One of the advantages of solar Christmas lights is that they eliminate the need of a power outlet. You can decorate any tree in your garden, no matter how far away it is from the house. Decorating your Christmas trees this way is much safer, easier and more cost-effective.

Small solar panels of solar Christmas lights can be conveniently placed on a tree branch or stuck into the ground. The panels usually include four solar cells, a light sensor and a regular rechargeable AA battery. The cells are capable of converting solar energy into regular electricity. A bright and sunny day, will allow the battery to completely recharge.

Solar Christmas lights are also available with special built-in polycrystalline cells, which better absorb the sunlight, allowing the lights to shine bright even after a snowy, rainy or an overcast day.

How to calculate how long the lights will shine after the sun goes down? It is actually quite easy. Solar Christmas lights will usually stay on for about one hour at night, after being charged for about one hour in the daytime. Therefore, if the area where you live gets about eight hours of sun per day, you will also get about eight hours of shining lights in the evening.

Most common shapes of solar Christmas lights include: round, oval and teardrop shapes. Most common colors include: blue, red, green, and yellow. You can choose the type of light to your preference; some lights have soft and dim light, while others have bright and clear light.

There is no need to put down your solar Christmas lights after Christmas is over. You can use these lights to decorate your deck, the pathways, as well as you can use them for different other holidays, such as birthdays and anniversaries.

Not everybody lives in an area with constant sunshine. It is better to opt for the solar Christmas lights, which are operated with a rechargeable AA size battery. If the day was rainy or snowy, the homeowners can recharge the battery themselves with a regular battery charger.

Main advantages of solar Christmas lights are that they will allow homeowners to save hundreds of dollars on their electric bills. Other advantages include eliminating the need in electrical outlets, not having to turn the lights on and off, and not having to worry about the wires running across your yard.

A good idea would be to watch your garden for a couple of days prior to placing your solar Christmas lights. You would need to ensure that the area where you want the lights placed, does not have a shadow cast. Furthermore, make sure to place the solar panel of your solar Christmas lights so that it is directly in the sunlight. - 30234

About the Author:

About the author: John Monsholi is passionate about solar Christmas lights and solar holiday light ideas.

The Right Way To Mow Your Lawn

By Ian Cordingley

To many people mowing there lawn has become an art. While others may choose to simply mow their way along the grass and disregard what happens, properly mowing the lawn is important especially in keeping the grass and the ground healthy.

Want some tips on how to do that? Then read the tips below and get a healthy lawn.

1. Before you start to mow your lawn, pick up any stones and sticks that may get in the way. Doing this prevents the materials from getting thrown by the lawn mower. It is something that could be fatal and therefore should be avoided.

2. To keep your lawn healthy do not cut it to short. In general, leave about a half of an inch of grass sticking out of the ground. By cutting your lawn any shorter than this, you will not only ruin it but also kill it of.

3. If you find the activity of mowing your lawn as something therapeutic, try not to be overeager about it. You do not need to cut your grass on a weekly basis, it is best to mow your lawn when it starts to look unkempt. Give you grass time to grow and it for sure will grow healthy.

4. Always keep your grass cuttings. While it may seem that it helps in keeping your lawn looking neat and tidy, you should keep it on top of your grass. Once the cut grass breaks down, it will work as a mulch or a fertilizer for your lawn.

5. And last of all, its advisable to keep your mowing pattern as varied as is possible everytime you do this activity. It keeps the growth of your grass straight. Not all gardeners agree on this though.

If you follow the previous points then you should have a terrific looking lawn. But likewise do not forget that the quality of your lawn mower is crucial to.

A poor quality or old lawn mower can ruin your lawn and make difficult work of mowing it to. So if you do want a great looking lawn, then make for certain your lawn mower is up to the the job. You cansearch for the right lawn mower for your needs online and sure enough get it far cheaper than at your local gardening store. - 30234

About the Author:

For further FREE advice on lawn care and lawn mowers be sure to visit Lawn Mower Tips.

The Dandelion Is A Weed

By Neoma Archer

Spring is one of the four seasons and there are plenty of people who would choose spring over the others. According to them, spring is about hope. Spring is also a miracle. This is because they say that after the cold months of winter, spring brings everything around you back to life. That is some kind of magic and that is what spring has the ability to do. This is season is about bringing back all those plants from hibernation and make them alive once more.

The dandelion is one of the plants that springs back to life when the season comes around. It is known for its beautiful flowers. And then there is that part which lawn owners or garden owners hate - when the plant chooses to live in their gardens or lawns. The dandelion to them is a weed and spring is when they are at its peak. This weed comes with broad leaves and has yellow flowers and is known as a perennial weed.

The dandelion is said to be beautiful. But did you know that it hides something beneath the beauty that we see? What it is hiding is its taproot. It is a fleshy one and it has the capacity to go really deep. This is why many lawn and garden owners hate having this weed growing in their piece of land. Taking it out by hand is going to be quite a task. Plus, this weed also has yellow flowers that turn to seeds when it matures. The seeds are then spread by the wind so the chances of the weed growing again next spring is still there.

Dandelions may look good on your lawn or your garden but if you think that such a weed is just not right for what you had worked on, then you can actually take it out. One of the techniques that most people resort to is to actually pull them out by hand. But that takes quite some time and quite a lot of effort since the taproot really goes that deep down. Now you can also opt to use herbicides for dandelions. You should apply the chemical once every 5 to 6 weeks to do the trick. You will know that it is working when the leaves of the weed start to wither. It may take you around six applications to successfully finish what you started.

If you hate the fact that dandelions may be sprouting in your garden or your lawn any time soon, there are some things that you can do to prevent them from growing in case seeds have found their way in. One is to actually apply pre-emergent herbicide sometime in April so that the seeds do not grow. Or you can also make sure that your lawn is mowed to the second highest so that the grass grows tall and crowded and any dandelion seeds underneath do not get the right sunlight. - 30234

About the Author:

To know how Neoma Archer worked on her lawn and dealt with weeds and grass fungus, check her site out.

Warm Season Grass For Lawns

By Dewey J Capasso

As you probably know there's not a lot to growing grass. Or so it would seem. But that's not so say it's super simple either. Or that you justy need to pick up a bag of grass seed, scatter it about and then sit back as a well manicured lawn sprouts up.

No, ideally you want a grass strain that anymore demands little to no watering and thrives when summer temperatures climb into the brutal range each afternoon. That and ease of maintenance and length of time to become established all need to considered before choosing a specific variety for your lawn. Keeping in mind there is no perfect turf grass.

Now five strains that should be on your short list to consider would be Bermuda, Zoysia, Centipede, St. Augustine and Bahia. Here's a quick rundown on each.

If you want a fast, dense growing grass that does well regardless of the quality of soil then St Augustine might be the one for you. But before you run out to buy some seed you need to know you can only establish a St Augustine lawn from sod or plugs. It's also a thirsty variety that surprisingly isn't all that drought tolerant either. Others are not taken with its Astro Turf like appearance either.

Bahia grass might be the ticket if you want to establish a drought resistant lawn from seed. It's a coarse textured blades ward off insects and disease. Fans of this variety point out it pretty much survives on rain water alone and can hold on nearly indefinitely in a dormant state when things get too dry. Those who aren't fans are quick to point out it doesn't do well in shady applications. Also mowing it can be a challenge that compares well to mowing wire. Probably not that bad but you get the idea.

Now those looking for a slow growing, low maintenance, warm season grass will find Centipede to their liking. It's a drought tolerant strain that flourishes in full sun. The fact that it's low maintenance, meaning less need for mowing, appeals to many busy homeowners. As is the fact you can establish a lawn quickly with this grass from either seed or sod. It's not for high traffic applications however.

If you've got plenty of flower bed common Bermuda may not be a good choice since its runners can quickly take them over. This is a grass that appreciates full sun and has little tolerance for shade which for some would be a deal breaker. Bermuda has enough cold and drought tolerance however and has no known disease susceptibilities.

One of the most cold hardy in the group is Zoysia. It's a thick growing strain that makes it hard on weeds. A slow grower compared to Bermuda it's got average tolerance for shady growing conditions. Typically you establish a Zoysia lawn with sprigs or plugs. If you go that route you'll need to be patient. The biggest draw back here is the need for frequent mowing. Plus Zoysia should be regularly de-thatched as well.

Your lawn is a beautiful and integral part of your home's landscape. Getting a heat-and drought-tolerant yard with warm season turf grass is not all that tough. As long as you know how much time and money you want to devote to the project you can pick a strain of grass that fits the bill. - 30234

About the Author:

About the Author: Dewey J Capasso is a bit of a mower jockey. He's written about dealing with lawn grubs that are turning your grass brown, how to pick walk-behind motor-powered lawn mowers, plus offered other zyosia grass tips. Get the lawn care help you need at MowerMania.com.

Efficient Way To Make Detailed Plans For A Lawn Maintenance

By Carl Philips

Lawn care is one area that consumes plenty of time and a good memory as regards what to do and when to do it throughout the year. That's why a lawn calendar is a must have item for efficient lawn care. With a calendar, you can make a note of the things that need to be done every month in the year. This could guarantee you a lush and good looking lawn and you will not forget the jobs that need to be done daily. If you need a calendar specifically evolved to the requirements of your lawn, then you may also get a customized one. This way, lawn care will not seem a hard attainment anymore.

With the calendar, you can make detailed plans as to the necessities of your lawn and the time it must be looked into. Since issues like weather and location have to be considered, you do not have to blindly follow what is prescribed but can chart your own strategy. Generally, the calendar year starts with March when the soil must be readied for new planting. Readying the soil includes scouring the garden for moles and warming up the soil. At this juncture, it is advisable to go for a soil test to measure whether the turf wants any pesticides or herbicides. Seeding may also be done in this time. April is for taking off damaged clippings and for cutting the grass as also for soil aeration. After April comes May during which herbicides, insecticides and fertilizers are applied as needed.

June is the time for watering. Be sure that you do not pour either excess water or limited water to your lawn, as both could have damaging results. During this time if you feel that the area covered by the grass looks meagre, then you could increase the mowing height. In July, you may need to water your lawn at more regular intervals than June. This is also the time to scan your lawn for grubs. With the arrival of August, it's time to consider seeding again while watering the garden as before.

Another soil test at this time would possibly not be remiss, as you have to purchase more manure and seeds. What you have to do in Sep is to keep the earth damp as well as go in for fertilization and sowing of grass seeds. In this time, weed murdering, raking and aeration are also things that you need to do.

Lawnmowers can also help in this case. Application of lime if necessary and mowing are some of the things to be done in October and November. In these last months, leaf blowing and fertilization are also relevant. - 30234

About the Author:

If you liked this content about Dallas lawncare, then go over and look into this new internet site dealing with lawn care maintenance Dallas.

Why You Should Use Organic Lawn Care Products in Your Lawn

By Andrew Caxton

In the United States, the total area covered by lawns comprises more than 30 million acres and there are around 200 different pesticides which are available for lawn care. The sad thing is that the majority of households resort to the commercial and chemical fertilizers and pesticides which contain harmful elements in them.

The best alternative to these chemical fertilizers and pesticides is to use organic lawn care products on your lawn. The two most important ways to get hold of organic lawn care products is either to manufacture it yourself or to buy it from the market. Organic lawn care products are a great option since there is no health hazards associated with it. So, it is great for you and your family. As far as the environment is concerned, the benefits of organic products are manifold.

To be more precise, there are many reasons why you should eschew chemical fertilizers and opt for organic products. The most important reasons are obviously the health of your family and the environmental factors.

Before you start with using organic lawn care products for your lawn or garden, you have to gauge the condition of your lawn. You need to determine the quantity and kind of weeds in your lawn and also find out whether your lawn is prone to unwanted creatures and pests.

If your lawn does face the problem of weeds and other pests, it is advisable to eliminate the problem before you change to organic lawn care products. The reason is that the grass and soil in your lawn have been used to the chemical fertilizers and abruptly changing to organic methods without treating these problems might have unpleasant results.

After you make the change, however, you will see a striking difference in your lawn in a matter of a few days. The grass will appear very healthy and green and watering can be significantly reduced without causing any harm to the grass. Using organic lawn care products has innumerable benefits and if you have not already switched to organic lawn care, now is the time to do it.

If the thought of manufacturing organic products intimidates you, then you can easily buy it from the market. Various companies produce these organic products and some of them are of very high quality. Usually, any organic or natural plant store should have a good stock but if you are not satisfied with the variety, then you can ask the store for information on where to find more of the organic lawn care products. Ensure that you have the right landscape tools and the relevant information with you.

Read full articles about backyard landscaping and landscaping equipment available at this web. - 30234

About the Author:

Andrew Caxton is the author of many articles on subjects like lawn care and published at http://www.lawn-mowers-and-garden-tractors.com .More articles on backyard landscaping and landscaping equipment at http://www.lawn-mowers-and-garden-tractors.com/1906landscape-equipment.html .

I'm Sure You're Using A Natural Fertilizer...Right?

By Tina Hull

There's no doubt about it. Natural fertilizer is the only way to go when it comes to fertilizing our lawns, gardens and crops. How did anyone ever conceive that applying chemicals to our plants, food and soil could help anything in the long run? If an alien were to visit our planet and saw us applying chemicals to the plants we eat, hed have to question our intelligence. Natural fertilizer is the only way to go if we want to keep our bodies and our planet healthy.

Many will stand firm by their synthetic fertilizer, swearing that its the only thing that keeps their grass thick and pretty. Sure, it may look nice, but can their bare feet enjoy that lush lawn that's decorated with warning signs after fertilizer application? Not for awhile at least, and even then I'd be hesitant letting a toddler play on the lawn or my dog walk on it. Fish emulsion, as your natural fertilizer, doesn't have any of those downfalls.

Chemical fertilizers are way too risky. The harm they cause can easily be avoided by simply using a natural fertilizer instead.

If you can't understand or pronounce the ingredients in the fertilizer that you're using then chances are that your soil wont understand it either, nor will your plants or your lawn.

When you use a fish emulsion fertilizer, you can rest assured that you aren't using anything that is going to harm our environment. An all natural fertilizer is your best bet to keeping our food and water supply safe. They wont end up somewhere in the atmosphere turning rainbows black or our clouds green.

Natural fertilizer has made a path of its own. You can compare plants grown with synthetic fertilizer to those grown with a natural fertilizer and the results are undeniable. Natural fertilizer is the only way to go.

We don't want to harm our birds or butterflies either, and natural fertilizer poses no threat to them at all, unlike chemicals. It's the way to go if you want a worry-free lawn and garden. Let your children and pets roam about without worrying about toxins. You wont have to call poison control when your little one decides to eat her dirt pie.

Using a natural fertilizer is a no-brainer. Needless risks will be a thing of the past. No benefits can come from using a synthetic fertilizer, any which way you slice it. The benefits that shine from using a natural fertilizer will enhance your lawn, gardens, crops and most of all your life! - 30234

About the Author:

Find out more about all natural fertilizer by visiting Tina's website about liquid organic fertilizer.

Best Preventive Tips On Lawn Care Mistakes

By Carl Philips

There are top suggestions to care for your lawn. Just as important as lawn care tips are the turf care mistakes that we should know how to avoid. Lawn care and maintenance takes more than the usual cutting and watering.

Here are the top 10 lawn care mistakes that many folks make. Some are so common that we think it's just standard, when in reality it is basically damaging to your lawn.

1. Cutting the lawn too short. Many of us want to save time in cropping our gardens so we decide to cut them too short. This will give us a longer break between mows, but this does not bode well for your lawn. The idea here is that removing more than a third of a grass blade will weaken its root system. This could steadily result to future lawn issues.

2. No or very little preparation on the planting technique and methods. Bear in mind that plants grow better when they're planted at the acceptable depth and spacing. Naturally, this would force some research about the plant and its most favorable conditions and some preparations to take better care of it. Conducting soil tests is particularly relevant as the pH balance can help identify which type of grass is best to grow on your lawn.

3. Disregarding the difference between mature plants and the young ones. It might not appear to be a gigantic thing, but noting which plants are new and which are mature is important. This concern involves the water consumption of the plants. The water wants of the new and young plants have a tendency to be bigger. They need more water and they may need to be in a sun condition different from that of the grown up and established plants.

4. Watering and fertilizing at the wrong time and schedule. A watering schedule is endorsed for homeowners who would like to maintain a healthy lawn. Watering amounts will rely on the seasonal changes, the climate and weather, and the area. Generally, the ideal time to water your lawn would be early in the morning, when you will have the least amount of evaporation. Timing and scheduling also is applicable to fertilizing you lawn. Depending on your location, fertilization of the lawn varies.

5. Ignoring the importance of mulch. Mulch is critical for lawn care and upkeep because of its assorted uses. Mulching can help add or keep nutriments in your soil, repel insects, control weeds, and can reduce fertilizer needs by a 3rd.

6. Mistaking when to use seed and sod. Most householders choose one or the other based totally on the quantity of time to build a lawn. The truth is, you must select between seeding or sodding by the its most beneficial purpose in lawn care. Sodding helps against soil erosion and is the most efficient in building a new lawn. Seeding is better in filling gaps and bare parts of a lawn.

7. Using powder products and "green" products. Power products might be less expensive but they can get blown away before it can get into the soil. Using organic products, or "green" products, can be time-consuming since it takes more time to work and plenty of applications are wanted to achieve results.

we can see that these are all normal mistakes. But we will also see how each of these lawn care mistakes can impede us from making a great and healthy lawn. - 30234

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If you liked this write up about lawn care Dallas, then you should check out this different site dealing with lawn care service.

Caution! Are You Using A Natural Fertilizer?

By Tina Hull

There's no doubt about it. Natural fertilizer is the only way to go when it comes to fertilizing our lawns, gardens and crops. How did anyone ever conceive that applying chemicals to our plants, food and soil could help anything in the long run? If an alien were to visit our planet and saw us applying chemicals to the plants we eat, hed have to question our intelligence. Natural fertilizer is the only way to go if we want to keep our bodies and our planet healthy.

Some could argue that their grass is greener because of the chemicals they use on their lawn, but I bet they haven't tried a quality natural fertilizer. Many natural fertilizers deliver the same results, if not better, and without any negative repercussions. Only positive benefits for our environment will be left behind.

Natural fertilizer saves us damage control in the future that wed inevitably have using a man-made fertilizer.

If you can't understand or pronounce the ingredients in the fertilizer that you're using then you're most likely not using a natural fertilizer. Fish emulsion happens to be an outstanding organic fertilizer that has been used safely for centuries.

An all natural fertilizer is the best insurance to keeping our food and water resources clean and safe. Fish emulsion is a hands-down winner when it comes to guaranteeing a safe and productive fertilizer. No worries about poisoning our environment.

There is no denying the difference between plants grown with a synthetic fertilizer and plants grown with a natural fertilizer. Natural fertilizer has made a name for itself and its the only way to go for the best growing results ever.

One of the greatest benefits from using natural fertilizer is that you will have no worries about harming any critters that happen to visit your yard, and little kids can run around on the lawn barefoot. You can too! Soft green grass under your bare feet in the summer time is such a sensational feeling. Can't imagine you would want to walk around barefoot on a bunch of chemicals, and then track them into your house.

It doesn't take much to figure out that natural fertilizers are wonderful for our environment, and fish emulsion is the best thing to use for your lawn and garden. Natural fertilizer won't just enrich your vegetation, it'll enrich your life, keeping your mind at peace. - 30234

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Find out more about natural fertilizer by visiting Tina's website about organic fertilizer.

I'm Sure You're Using A Natural Fertilizer...Right?

By Tina Hull

When it comes to fertilizing any vegetation, natural fertilizer is the only way to go. Whoever it was that came up with putting chemicals on our plants to benefit them must've been nuts. How could this possibly help in the grand scheme of things? If a being from another planet were to come and visit us, and witnessed someone pouring chemicals onto the garden that was going to provide us with our food for the next few months to come, this being would have to wonder how smart or stupid we are. Natural fertilizer is the only way to keep our bodies and our environment safe and healthy.

There are plenty of people out there that will insist that they have the greenest lawn on the block due to the plethora of chemicals they apply every year you know the lawns, the ones with all of the caution flags on them for a week or two every spring. Chances are, and I'll bet on it, that they have never tried a quality natural fertilizer. Organic fertilizers dont just deliver equal results they give us better results, and without any negative effects.

Natural fertilizer saves us damage control in the future that wed inevitably have using a man-made fertilizer.

If you can't understand or pronounce the ingredients in the fertilizer that you're using then chances are that your soil wont understand it either, nor will your plants or your lawn.

When using an all natural fertilizer you'll be able to sleep at night knowing that you aren't adding any harmful chemicals into our environment. They don't just disappear. Even if they evaporate, they end up in the atmosphere in some form. If they drain out of the garden they end up in ground water, sewers, and eventually into a water supply of some sort. Any way you shake a stick at it, synthetic fertilizers can't be justified.

Natural fertilizer has made a path of its own. You can compare plants grown with synthetic fertilizer to those grown with a natural fertilizer and the results are undeniable. Natural fertilizer is the only way to go.

You wont have a single worry about harming any critters that may happen to visit your yard when using a natural fertilizer. Children can run around carefree and barefoot, and no one will fret over whether or not they washed their feet before they shot through the back door.

Using a natural fertilizer is a no-brainer. Needless risks will be a thing of the past. No benefits can come from using a synthetic fertilizer, any which way you slice it. The benefits that shine from using a natural fertilizer will enhance your lawn, gardens, crops and most of all your life! - 30234

About the Author:

Find out more about all natural fertilizer by visiting Tina's website about organic fertilizer.

Basic Maintaining Tips To Have A Great Lawn

By Carl Philips

Summer is the time to relax in your garden and the true importance of a lawn is only understood when you need it the most. The benefit of having a great lawn is not only that it's a great asset during summer or other times when you need it, but that it enhances the value of your house. So, in order to have a correctly maintained lawn, there are certain precautions you need to take frequently.

Many folks cut their grass extremely short so they can take some off before the next cutting. However, the smartest thing is to let your grass be a height of 6-8 cm and not cut your grass lower than this. This will make sure that the soil can preserve moisture better and also the grass will have a deeper root system which will support the expansion process. Never cut your grass when it is wet. Cutting grass when it is dry assists in avoiding close crop cutting ; and also protects the blades of the lawnmower from rusting.

Always ensure that your mower has sharp blades so that your lawn is maintained properly. The truth is that cutting your grass with a blunt blade will hamper the expansion of the grass and so mower blades have to be checked intermittently for sharp blades. A smart idea to provide nitrogen to your grass is to let the turf clippings remain on the turf after cutting it. This could give you a healthy and green lawn.

However in certain eventualities like when the lawn is extremely wet, grass clippings can prohibit the expansion of the grass. In such an eventuality, the grass clippings are capable of covering the grass to the limit that sunlight does not penetrate the grass below and it actually withers off and dies.

Another vital facet of lawn care is suitable watering. Acceptable watering includes even distribution and the perfect quantity of water that's given to the lawn. As far as quantity is anxious, about 2.5 cm of water is the right proportion to be given to your lawn. To be sure, place a container while watering the turf and check the level of water after you've finished with your watering.

This will make sure that you never go over the top with the watering. Excess watering or shortage of watering can both harm your garden. The ideal time to water your lawn is the small hours of the morning as this forestalls evaporation due to sunlight. Watering your garden in the morning also stops it from being troubled by diseases.

As far as tools are concerned , also check out for used landscaping appliances. If you take these simple steps into account, you will definitely have a great looking garden which you can enjoy during the summer and spring. - 30234

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If you liked this piece about lawn care Dallas, then go over and see this different site dealing with lawn services dallas.

No More Dependent Soil Organic Soil Fertilizer Keeps The Dirt Healthy

By Tina Hull

Synthetic fertilizer turns your soil into an addict, becoming chemically dependent just to get the job done, and not even necessarily a good job done. Fish emulsion is a great natural soil fertilizer. It keeps your soil working for your plants as well and jolts earthworms into delivering the fishes nutrients to your plants root systems. Soil fertilizer should help the environment, not deplete it.

Naturally occurring nutrients that are in your soil are depleted when using a synthetic fertilizer. Earthworms are your natural nutrient delivery system, and chemicals kill them. A good organic soil fertilizer, like fish emulsion, won't get your soil hooked on man-made concoctions to nurture your lawns and gardens. You cant go wrong with fish emulsion since it only builds up your soil with the good stuff and makes it that much more workable for the next season.

Fish emulsion is a premium soil fertilizer, distributing nutrients quick as lightning. It doesn't pollute groundwater like synthetic fertilizers do. It also clings to the soil, meaning you aren't literally letting your money run down the drain during a good rain storm.

Soil is fertile and crammed with beneficial vitamins, minerals and amino acids when fish emulsion is used as your primary soil fertilizer. You'll be able to plant worry-free next season knowing that your soil is still rich, unlike planting after a season of using a synthetic fertilizer. Keeping our earth organic is a huge part of keeping our planet livable. Organic soil fertilizer keeps everything underground natural, as well as what it produces above ground and ultimately our bodies are the true beneficiaries.

Microbial activity is essential for a healthy lawn, garden or crop. Fish emulsion promotes this greatly whereas synthetic fertilizer only kills the vital natural activity that our soil needs to feed our plants roots. And then the soil needs chemicals to do its job. Organic soil fertilizer is the best way to go to ensure our vegetation is getting what it needs. Synthetics are a quick, destructive fix that only cause damage. Chemical fertilizer companies are essentially the drug dealers of the fertilizer industry.

If you keep your soil fertilizer chemical free, you keep your garden yields chemical free which means your body will be chemical free. You won't be weighted down with harmful toxins that slow you down throughout the day, and your soil wont be burdened with cravings for synthetic fertilizer.

The harm done to the earth from chemicals we've put in our soil, plants in our food is almost unforgivable. Mother Nature is giving us a chance to fix what we've done. The soil we grow our food in, that we grow our livestock's feed in needs to be natural or else were going to self-destruct, and that's not what we want for future generations. Natural soil fertilizer is the answer to healing from the damage already caused.

I'm sure you've heard that if you aren't part of the problem then you're part of the solution, or vice versa. Let's all go green and be a part of the solution. We can't go wrong when we go green and keep our soil fertilizer organic. It isn't as crazy as it sounds. Soil fertilizer is a significant part of keeping our planet here and our society thriving to see the next century. - 30234

About the Author:

To find out how to grow organically with natural soil fertilizer you can visit Tina's website about organic fertilizer.

What Are Sod Webworms

By Neoma Archer

Did you hear them coming? Did you even sense that they were going to come visit? Did you even know that they would come to like what you have and decide to stay with you indefinitely? Now that is the kind of visitor that you do not want knocking on your door. But what would definitely not be good is the kind that you did not even invite and the kind that does more harm than good.

Your lawn is definitely going to tell you a lot of stories about such. After all, with all the care and the love that you have given it, there are some insects that sure find their way to what you proclaim to be precious to you and then claim that piece of soil to be their very own. And everything that is on or beneath is becomes theirs. That is the way with insects. After all, you just cannot communicate with them. The only thing you will know is that they are already there and they are already wreaking havoc which you certainly do not like. Right now, you are in a daze and you are thinking of what you should exactly do to make sure that they go away as soon as possible.

How do you know that you are looking at sod webworms? Sure, your lawn or your garden may have their share of insects but most of the time, these insects do not do any harm. Unless you have some really harmful ones like sod webworms. Now you have to know just what they look like so you can be sure that you would be battling with the right kind. You do not want to shoo away and harm any other insect which may be doing good for your lawn or garden.

They are called sod webworms because they are indeed worms. They are just about 3/4 inches long. Gray, brown, green, and beige are the colors that its body could come in. Try to take a closer look at its stomach and you will see that it has four rows of brown spots. Now these are the signs that you are looking at a sod webworm. Now that you have confirmed that, start working on how to get them out of your lawn or garden.

These insects usually are at their peak around the late portion of June right into September. So if you do notice some browning of your grass during such period and then you see such worms crawling about, then you know who the culprit is and you will know just what they could do to your lawn if you do not do anything about it. See, they actually work their way into the grass that the grass becomes unhealthy and then starts to go brown. When you pull it up, it would be easy for you to do so. Just treat the areas with insecticide and you are going to be all set. - 30234

About the Author:

Neoma Archer has a green thumb. Learn more about lawn care at her website about, well, lawns and gardens.

What Is The Cranberry Girdler

By Neoma Archer

You are asking yourself, "What could go wrong?" And when you ask yourself that, you know that nothing could go wrong. After all, you have studied and worked and spent almost every waking hour working on your lawn or your garden. And you believe that you have prepared yourself and the lawn for anything bad. But you should take note that despite all that you did, there are still bad things that could happen to your precious piece of land and you should be ready for them.

Your lawn or your garden can definitely attract insects especially if you have one that really can be a good place for you to stay in and also a good habitat for them as well. Do not get me wrong. Insects can be a real blessing to your lawn or garden and they can definitely make your otherwise boring piece of land into something that is worth visiting every day. Maybe even your neighbors would want to relax there with you. However, you should also keep in mind that not all insects are cool and are going to help you with your lawn or your garden. There are also some of them which have the responsibility of bringing harm to what you have worked hard on. So you should actually learn how to deal with them so that they would go away.

One of the insects that you definitely would not want to be staying in your lawn or in your garden is the cranberry girdler. Its name may actually sound to be something sweet and juicy and really nice but it really is not going to be that nice when it comes to your lawn or your garden. And when they decide to use your lawn as their home, oh you should be very angry because it can totally destroy what you had sweated over for months.

Are those cranberry girdlers that you are seeing? Well, they may be. But they may also not be. You would never know. Unless you do the right research to know just what you would want to avoid having in your lawn or your garden. Well, the cranberry girdler is just like an ordinary worm. Its color can be gray though it can also be dirty white. It has a brown-orange head. There are not many insects which look like that. Also, the cranberry girdler is the kind of insect that is not really huge. It should be about 3/4 inches long. It may not even look harmful when you first look at it but it can bring about the same kind of damage that billbugs can bring.

July until September is the peak period for the cranberry girdler. So you will find them most active during this time. If you have them in your lawn or garden, go with insecticides. Experts suggest that you use such. It would definitely take out them cranberry girdlers. - 30234

About the Author:

To learn exactly how Neoma Archer did lawn care, go to her website about lawn care tips.

Battling With Sod Webworms

By Neoma Archer

You can be called unfortunate. Those sodwebworms have found a place in your lawn. They have called it their own. Right now, they are already there starting to organize things so that it would really be home. And right now, you have no idea that such is going on. They may not look harmful but what they can do is the total opposite. You will start to know that you have these insects around your lawn when there are brown spots that appear that water could not cure. Do something about it now.

Before you go marching off with a hatchet to your lawn where the sod webworms are, take time to learn about what they are first and what they are capable of doing. Remember Puss in Boots in Shrek? He may look harmless but he can be fierce when he wants to. To know a sod webworm from others, this insect has brown spots in four rows in its abdominal area. The body can be beige, gray, green, or brown. They are just about an inch long.

The sod webworm also grows into the type of insect that flies around. However, as a worm, it can pretty much bring about much of a headache on your end. See, they not be that fierce as you may deem to be by just looking at their appearance but that just ends there. See, this insect during its worm or caterpillar stage can be really harmful. They would actually dig deep into the soil just right where your grass and your plants are thriving. And then they would start work their way to the roots and the important parts so much so that the green leaves up high would turn brown because everything below it is being damaged. And so when you pull up that patch of brown grass, all the brown parts would pull up easily as if it were some mat.

To actually battle it out with sod webworms, you have to be prepared. One of the things that you have to do research on is just which of the various insecticides in the market would work best for you and your lawn. Any expert would say that you get any kind of insecticide. However, on your end, you have to also make sure that the insecticide would harm the insects but not necessarily the plants that you have.

The war is now about to begin if you have the insecticide at hand. Apply the chemical to the brown parts. That is most probably where the sod webworms are staying. Check after a week if the situation has improved. If not, go on and add some more insecticide. When they are all gone, you will see your lawn turning back to how it was before. - 30234

About the Author:

To find out exactly how I did lawn care, get some tips from my website.

Ways To Find Excellent Places For Garden Fences

By April Kerr

In the event that you are thinking about the installation of garden fencing you could soon realize that it can be a costly and time consuming plan to do so. Although it doesn't have to be. There are a few different tricks and tips you can utilize to make fencing an area easier and more within your means. Here are a few things to allow for.

The first is what you will utilize the fence for. This is something that will influence all other considerations. Are you using it to keep deer or other animals out of your garden? You will require an awfully high fence if this is the case since deer can without problems clear a four foot fence so you will need to put in one that is taller than that. Loads of animals will frequently dig under a fence so you may well want to consider this when you are installing yours. Coyotes can often be kept at bay by means of electrified fencing but this is not an choice if you have small children that might be outside unsupervised.

Are there any regulations where you live about what materials a fence can be made from? Numerous housing developments wish to accomplish a unified appearance to the homes so they might restrict the style of fencing you may use. It is essential furthermore to make sure that if you are enclosing a pool that you pay attention to height requirements for fences. This can save you a lot of time and money given that it can save you needing to tear down and replace a fence you have put up.

Do you want to have a secure and private yard? This can be important in the event that you are enclosing a pool. You may want to think about a six foot board fence that can be really private. If this is what you are interested in, you must check different plans to see what your options are. Consider that these fences are available in a number of different woods and board configurations to provide you the appearance you wish.

Finding places to purchase your fence from is easier than ever. Various hardware outlets have kits that you can buy and may offer fence panels that are pre-built. In the event that you choose pre-built panels they can save you time although they will also be more pricey than building them yourself.

There are additionally a number of first-rate websites that can allow you to buy fencing materials and plans. Websites or shop staff can also provide you advice about what materials will be required and help with planning your fence to best suit your needs.

Constructing a fence can be one of the best choices you make for your home. A fine-looking fence can add stylishness and class to your yard as well as making it appear larger. Bear in mind that there are considerations beyond personal taste and you can be sure that you will get the fence you want for the amount of money you are agreeable to spend. - 30234

About the Author:

At Gardening Content you'll find info on such topics as wooden fencing types and inexpensive vinyl fencing.

Dealing With The Cranberry Girdler

By Neoma Archer

What comes to your mind when somebody tells you to think of cranberries? A good number of people will think of a fruit that is delicious and juicy and is fresh. Now when you are told to think of a cranberry girdler, what comes to your mind this time? There are people who would believe that it is some kind of food that has to do with the cranberry. But it sure is not. This cranberry girdler is the actual opposite of the things that you would describe the cranberry.

What are cranberry girdlers you may ask? Well, the thing is, cranberry girdlers are actually insects. They look like worms though they are not really such. They are usually gray or dirty white in color and have a head that is brown-orange in color. It is just around 3/4 of an inch long and they bear no markings that are distinct to them. They may be small and look harmless but they can bring much chaos to your lawn or your garden. Now that is something that you do not want to happen after all the effort you had put into it.

You may not actually notice that your lawn or your garden already has cranberry girdlers in them. See, these insects actually work their way right in the important parts of the grass and they stay there. You will find them usually in the crown of the grass and even in the roots. With that, they stay away from sight but they really do much damage. They actually start taking in the nutrients from the plants so much so that the grass starts to have less of what it needs to be healthy. The grass then withers and browns up and when you try to pull it out, it can be easily done and it would be as if you were just pulling out a rug from your homes floor.

Aside from the sign that the grass is turning brown, you will also notice that when you pull out the brown parts of the grass, you will see what is beneath it. When you see larvae below, then you have a cranberry girdler infestation. Do not take that for granted because they easily work their way through the crown and roots of the plants and the next thing you know, there are no more green patches. Instead, all of what you see is brown. Now that would not be a good sight for your eyes.

Apply insecticide where the cranberry girdlers are - and that is on the brown areas. Check back weekly to see if it works. If the brown areas are still spreading, apply more insecticide. You have successfully stopped the insects when the brown areas remain as they are and there are already dead insects on the soil already. - 30234

About the Author:

Neoma Archer has been in the field of lawn care for a long time and maintains a website about caring for your lawn where you can get answers to the rest of your questions.

Grass Watering TipsThat Really Saves You Water

By Dewey 'Jeep' Capasso

Question: If I want lush green grass how much should I water it?

Good question. Sounds innocent enough too, doesn't it? But it's one with many nuances in the answer. Which is why someone who understands grass would answer "It all depends." Here's why.

Typically an inch a week is the off the top the head response to this query. But like many rules of thumb that start out as guidelines they all too soon become more rules to live by that you deviate from at your own peril.

But how often you need to water and how much depends on a variety of factors. So one can't simply mutter a rule of thumb and feel that covers it. Because it doesn't.

For instance how often to water depends on how often it rains. Obvious I know. But I had to say it.

A related point is it's best to water only when you have to. Is your grass looking rather limp? Stressed? Are your foot steps clearly seen> All suggest your grass isn't springing back like it should. If so it's not a stretch to say you should be watering.

How often to water also depends on the grass you've got. Some varieties require more others need less - water.

Then too what setting your mower is set to plays a role. The longer the grass the less often you'll likely need to water and still have a decent looking lawn. Then too leaving the clippings is a good way to recycle moisture back into your lawn.

What's the state of your lawns root system? Hopefully it's deep into the soil. If not, deep watering will encourage that. As opposed to just a light watering which encourages shallow root growth that is scorched off during a prolonged dry period. Yet over watering is no more beneficial. As water soaking beyond the root zone doesn't help your grass much if at all.

Grass Truth: The height of the blade affects how deep the roots are. You will find the longer the blades the farther down into the soil the roots will be found.

It's also wise to let the top of your root zone to dry out. Doing so helps keep diseases at bay, weed seeds from germinating, and causes shallow rooted weeds to die off.

Another factor is how much sun the grass gets. The more sun the faster is it likely to dry out.

Finally you don't want to put the water down at such a rate that it runs off. Kinda defeats the purpose don't you think.

See? There is more to watering your grass than the old inch a week rule of thumb alone. Those that realize that soon realize a lusher looking lawn as well. - 30234

About the Author:

Featured Author Dewey "Jeep" Capasso is a lawn care fanatic. He enjoys sharing what he knows about such things as the best riding lawn mowers to zero turn mower reviews. All to help you achieve the best looking lawn on the block.

The Year Of The Topnotch Garden And Greener Landscape Lawn

By Thomas Fryd

If you're a Northwesterner or a Northern Californian, put those dreaded memories of spring flood conditions behind you. Determine now to make this the year for a topnotch garden with bright flowers, finer shrubs and greener lawns.

Make this a year of changes. Dont be content with the same old flowers of yesteryear. Take a good look at the flower seed stands at your neighborhood seed store and select lots of those brightly colored packets.

One way to prevent your garden from looking just like every other garden in the block is to select some of the less familiar annuals.

The "big three" - petunias, marigolds and zinnias - may be planted heavily, but at the same time be adventurous and try plants such as the exotic bells of Ireland, linaria and nemesia (especially good for covering a bed where spring bulbs are planted), appealing dwarf dahlias, fast-growing cosmos for hedge effects, and mixed gourds for their wonderful harvest of curiously shaped fruits in the fall.

The cool weather annuals such as calendula, sweet alyssum, larkspur and nasturtium, can be sown in the open ground now. The seeds will germinate quickly if the ground is kept moist.

But theres more to March gardening than seed planting. Its the time to finish planting roses; begin to do the spring pruning; plan for summer bulbs; start spraying or dusting the garden for disease and insect control; and sow some backyard vegetable crops.

Timing of these jobs depends on the region you live in. If youre gardening in the Southwest, youre probably up to your ears in chores right now. But as you go northward to the Canadian line, the pace slows down. But in these areas, too, once the ground warms up, gardening will start in earnest.

How is your lawn?

Except in the colder spots of the Northwest where the soil usually cannot be worked, March has always been an ideal lawn planting month. Then it is warm enough for the seed to germinate rapidly yet early enough in the season for the grass to develop into a thick, healthy turf before the summer heat arrives. If you are starting a new lawn, dig the soil to a depth of 6 to 12 inches.

Better than digging, of course, is a mechanical tiller. This piece of equipment will pay for itself because it does so many other jobs, in addition to preparing a lawn site. At least look at renting one!

Remove all rocks from the soil and then roll it. The usual advice at this point is to sow the grass seed. However, youll find it worthwhile to soak the soil instead, to encourage the weed seed to germinate. Then you can dispatch the weed seedlings with a chemical weed killer like Round-Up. Ten to twelve days later you can plant your grass seed, with a lot more confidence and the knowledge that a few weeks hence you wont be on your knees pulling out unwanted weeds. The secret of getting a lawn off to a good start is to keep the seed bed moist.

Children should share in the spring gardening enthusiasm, too. Give them a spot to grow some nasturtiums and some radishes, and you may win a garden convert for life. Its true that theres nothing new about nasturtiums or radishes, yet their very speed of growth means they must have been designed to win the hearts of young gardeners. In 21 days from sowing, the youngsters will be eating plump red radishes. In 35 - 40 theyll have good-sized nasturtium plants and a couple of weeks later, incredulous bouquets of honey-loaded nasturtium blooms. Part of the fun of growing nasturtiums is to suck the nectar from the base of each flower after the tip has been pinched off.

Your backyard vegetable garden design and plan can be started now. Outdoors, radishes, spinach, peas and parsley can be sowed. Indoors, sow early cabbage, cauliflower, tomatoes, celery, eggplant and, in the Northwest, lettuce. In most coastal areas with lawn irrigation system California lettuce can be planted outdoors practically the year round.

Perennials that can be divided now include most of those blooming after June. Some of these are Shasta daisies, campanulas, helenium and rudbeckias. Some perennials, such as peonies, appreciate being left alone for twenty years or more. But generally speaking, its time to use the dividing knife on most perennials about the third year.

Transvaal daisies, though hailing from South Africa, will withstand Northwest winters west of the Cascades as long as the soil drains well. In the other sunny, warm parts of the West, Transvaal daisies really thrive. Set out husky young plants now. The blooms are available in all colors and are excellent for cutting. - 30234

About the Author:

For more details on lawn irrigation system design. Drop by today at http://www.plant-care.com/lawn-irrigation.html.

Growing Great Bermuda Grass

By Dewey J Capasso

Bermuda grass is a low growing, uncomplicated, durable choice for southern lawns. Being a warm season grass it is both heat and drought tolerant while requiring less water than most other varieties. Which combines to give you a dense, medium green, low maintenance yard. All its positive qualities makes it an ideal choice for yards getting plenty of foot traffic from kids and pets.

Considered to be an easy to care for strain it will flourish with even a modest amount of maintenance. For instance, as it emerges from any dormant period, running over your lawn with an aerator will be beneficial. As will dethatching if needed. Both will help water penetrate deeper into the root zone rather than running off.

Even with a reputation of drought tolerance that doesn't mean you shouldn't water. Because if you do so deeply you'll not only encourage deep root development but your turf will take on rich, green carpet-like appearance. While the deeper roots will give it enhanced survivability during dry spells.

Did I mention Bermuda grass loves sunlight? To thrive it needs full sun for most of the day. So don't go planting this sun loving strain in the shade and expect lush success. Yet given plenty of sun it will give you a nice tight turf that can withstand wear better than most grasses.

While Bermuda grows well during summer you generally want to mow Bermuda grass short, quite short. The ideal cutting height ranges from half an inch to one and a half inches. Mowing it to an inch twice a week gives you a lawn that is dense and even in appearance.

Even though Bermuda grass is a variety that adapts well to poorer soil with good drainage fertilizing can't hurt. Once it shows signs of greening up and is actively growing again in the spring you'll want to feed then. And again in the fall. Applying nitrogen at the rate of one or two pounds per thousand square feet will produce vigorous growth.

After it has become established weeds won't be much of a problem for a Bermuda grass lawn. The weeds simply can't gain a foot hold. You can ensure that happens by regular mowing to remove the seed heads that are needed for any invader to multiply.

As it gets cooler and the season changes Bermuda grass will start to look like it's dead as it browns out or goes dormant. Some like to over seed with an winter rye to maintains their lawn's green color during the cooler part of the year. Others don't miss cutting the grass so leave it as is.

The big reason for the popularity of Bermuda grass is it many desirable traits. Most report it to be durable, hardy and very resilient. Plus as a heat loving strain of grass once established it needs very little help in the water department. Even better it can also fend off most weed invasions on it's own too. So what's not to like? - 30234

About the Author:

Dewey J Capasso not only understands the benefits of Bermuda grass he can tell you if that lawn tractor you've been eyeing is the ubermower of your dreams or a money pit. Not only that he can advise on the best zero turn mowers and help with other lawn care concerns.

Fall Lawns Call For Seed Feed And Weed

By Kent Higgins

Selecting Stock Plants - September is a good time to begin making cuttings for starting next year's plants. Lantana cuttings should be made from seasoned wood before any lush growth occurs after the fall rains. If the cutting wood is soft, the cuttings will rot or blast instead of developing roots. The colorful Jacob's coat (Alternanthera) can be kept as cuttings over winter as can other types of herbaceous plants such as hibiscus, geraniums, coleus, ice plant, sultana and wandering Jew. By September, these plants are conditioned properly for taking of cuttings.

Roses - The cool nights of September will stimulate new growth for a lush crop of bloom during early October. This means the last application of fertilizer should be made this month. Light liquid feedings will be very beneficial, or you may use your own pet brand of commercial fertilizer or rose food. Cottonseed meal is a wonderful food and should be used at the rate of one-half teacupful per plant and worked in lightly around each plant. Heavy watering should follow so that the rose plant may absorb the food. Throughout our section, the quality of fall roses often surpasses that of spring blooms, even though they are usually fewer in number. In watering, keep the water off the foliage and do not water after mid-afternoon in order that the plants can go into the night with surfaces dry. The usual disease and insect pests are prevalent during this fall season, so be on constant guard to protect these plants.

Fall Lawns - Seed, feed and weed - these are the lawn problems during September. There is still time to seed bare spots in a lawn and get a cover before killing frost. The final feeding of the season should be applied by mid-September and usually a shot of potash will help to harden off the grass for winter. By light feeding is meant about four pounds of a balanced fertilizer per 1,000 square feet. For this last feeding, use a balanced fertilizer rather than straight nitrogen. This will keep a good color and a healthy turf without over stimulation of vegetative growth and will insure hardening off of the grass to withstand winter conditions. For those who want a winter lawn, this is the last call for planting Italian rye to give that lush green sparkle to the lawn during the winter. Sow seed as suggested last month, and follow with careful care and grooming. A neglected winter lawn can ruin the permanent grass and become an unsightly mess.

By the end of summer many lawns have become infested with weeds and foreign grasses which have persisted in spite of mowing. In my lawn, i put kimberly queen fern but still infested with weeds. These lawn enemies will set seed in a short time and a major infestation may result the next year. The new weed killers will get most of these pests, and there are special selective killers for some of the more difficult kinds such as crabgrass, dandelions and plantains. These chemical controls work better during the warm part of the day, but anytime is a good time for killing weeds just like caring for kimberly queen fern.

If there is serious infestation, large scale spraying will bring them under control. The beautiful feature of the liquid killers is the ability to "spot" kill and most of them do no harm to the permanent grasses. Occasionally, weeds will escape detection in other parts of the garden in out-of-the-way places and these can infest an entire garden, so be on the lookout for them. - 30234

About the Author:

Now is the time to learn the topic on kimberly queen fern. Visit us at http://www.plant-care.com/kimberly-queen12-i809.html.

Should You Aerate Your Lawn

By Jodi Nations

When a lawn appears sick even though it has received plenty of water and fertilizer and issues like worms, infestations and other problems have been ruled out, the need for aeration may be the problem. When soil becomes compacted, aeration may be the cure. The top few inches or so of topsoil needs to be able to breathe and absorb water and other nutrients. When it becomes packed down and hardened, this becomes harder to achieve.

When the soil becomes compacted, the lawn starts to wilt and dry up because water and nutrients are not able to reach the roots. Aeration is a great way to help crucial nutrients and water reach the roots, while increasing oxygen levels in the soil. Oxygen-rich soil helps promote root growth and enables grass to withstand drought. Aerating improves the health and beauty of the lawn.

Timing is important in deciding when to aerate, and the frequency of aeration depends on several factors, including the type of soil and the variety of grass. Soil with lots of clay should be aerated in the spring and fall, and soil with more sand should be aerated in either the spring or fall. Warm-season grasses should be aerated in late spring or early summer, while cool-seasons grasses, which can be found throughout Colorado, should be aerated in the early spring and the late fall.

It is recommended that aerating be undertaken on a day with mild temperatures when the soil is a bit moist. Watering the lawn the day before aerating is suggested. The ground should be moist but not saturated. Aerating in high heat and drought is not advised. Additionally, weed problems should be under control prior to aerating, and newly laid sod should not be aerated until its roots have been well established.

Most people don't realize that aerating is essential to a healthy carpet of grass. While most homeowners don't own an aerator, either because of price or time constraints, aerating on a regular basis is highly recommended. That's where hiring a lawn care company to aerate makes good sense. Lawn care specialists can determine the type and frequency of the lawn's aeration needs. Hiring a lawn care professional to maintain the lawn's health and beauty is a wise and cost-effective move to ensure a lush, robust lawn. - 30234

About the Author:

When selecting a lawn aeration company, make sure that they are licensed and insured! You can be sure that Nations Harvest, a provider of Lawn Aeration in Thorton, Colorado is licensed and insured. We also offer some of the best prices for Lawn Aeration in Thorton, Colorado.

How To Discover Excellent Sources For Garden Fencing

By April Kerr

If you intend to install garden fencing you may discover that there is such a huge assortment on the market it is tricky to know what to pick. There are a few different items of info that can make choosing the correct fencing system effortless and uncomplicated and may influence where you will obtain your fencing from.

First is whether you in actual fact need to fence an entire yard. If you are simply concerned in keeping animals out of your vegetables, costly fencing will not be required around the entire yard. Consider using temporary deer fencing or chicken wire caging to shield your plants. This can be fantastic due to the fact that after the growing season is over you can always take the fence down and re use it the next year. This can be a wonderful way to give security without straining your wallet.

Are there any regulations where you live about what materials a fence can be made from? Many housing developments wish to accomplish a unified appearance to the homes so they may well control the style of fencing you can utilize. It is essential also to check that if you are enclosing a pool that you pay attention to height requirements for fences. This may save you a lot of time and money because it can save you needing to rip down and replace a fence you have put up.

Are you planning to enclose a pool or other water source? There are regulations in loads of cities that say pools deeper than about 24 inches. Nevertheless the precise depth that is the cut off may differ from area to area so you ought to confirm that you follow the guidelines for your area. There are removable mesh fences that are specifically designed to meet municipal guidelines. These can be excellent ways to fence the area immediately around your pool.

There are so several places that you can come across fencing materials and advice. Take into account home improvement centers, hardware stores, specialty internet sites and even farm supply stores. These last places may offer excellent deals on chain link fencing supplies and provide you tips on the subject of the best methods to keep animals out of a garden.

You may what's more order plans and materials via the internet too. These can be excellent sources for extremely specialized kits including pool surrounds or electrification kits to keep prey animals away from livestock.

Whether it is privacy, safety or convenience that you desire, garden fencing can be a big investment. Plan in advance and think about what you wish to get out of your fencing and you will be much happier in the long run. - 30234

About the Author:

At Gardening Content you'll find info on such topics as types of wood fencing and affordable vinyl fencing.