gardening

Enjoying The Shades Of Your Trees

If you are currently trying to plant trees in order to shade your garden, you will probably want something that grows very fast and provides plenty of shade. With the many types of trees available, you will have no problem finding a variety that will grow extremely fast and provide all the shade that your garden needs to survive. There are also many things you can do to speed up the growth of trees.

Generally trees are separated into two categories: long lived and short lived. If you are just looking for some temporary shade for your garden, you should stick to a short lived tree. But if you plan on keeping it for years, go for a long lived tree.

If you decide on a short lived plant, you are probably looking for something with speedy growth. This means the root system will be particularly aggressive, so be sure not to place it near any septic tanks or other deep rooted plants. If the roots have plenty of area to grow, then they will shoot out extremely fast and your tree will take off in growth. Your placement should also be based on the tree’s relative position to the area you are wanting to shade. You should keep it to the western or southern sides for maximum shading.

Preparing your soil well for the shade trees can be the best way to enhance the plant growth speed. The bigger hole you dig for the root ball, the better. Also when you dig out the soil from the hole, you should work it over well before you replace it. This will allow the roots to penetrate through the soil better. If you mix in all your fertilizer and nutrients to the soil before you replace it, you will end up with a superior tree. Also try to use organic materials as mulch. Bark and any branches or twigs work well for this, and will encourage the quick growth.

When you buy your shade tree, it will usually come with the root ball balled up and in a burlap bag. It might also be grown in a container or simply with bare roots. If you get a tree in a burlap bag, you should plant it anywhere between fall and early spring. Trees grown in containers are ok to plant at almost any time of the year. If the tree just has bare roots, then the ideal planting time is anytime in winter and early spring. If you buy a tree that has been grown in a container, make sure that the roots are not constricted by the container. This will usually cause the roots to go in circles underground after you plant it. After you buy the tree and before you plant it, be sure to constantly add moisture to it.

The ideal planting process would include putting it in the ground at the proper depth, and replacing the soil without compressing it too much. Immediately after planting, you should give the tree its first watering before putting the layer of mulch on. You should always use organic mulch, and have a 2 or 3 inch layer of it at the base of your tree.

You should always use nitrogen fertilizer during the first segment of the tree’s life. Simply follow the instructions on the label in order to find out exactly how much to apply and when to apply it. Never apply too much fertilizer while the tree is young. You should usually wait until it has been established for about a year. The fertilizer that you do add should be sufficiently watered down.

If you are trying to grow a tree speedily, there are many more things that you need to consider. However, with proper planning you can create the perfect environment for the tree to spring right up and provide you with plenty of shade within months.

Waterstone Kitchen Fixtures And More

Waterstone is a USA owned and operated manufacturer of top-of-the-line kitchen faucets, water dispensers and other kitchen accessories. Waterstone prides itself on its authentic passion for kitchen faucetry, carefully crafting each kitchen accessory with the highest level of care and dedication to customer satisfaction.

Waterstone recognizes the need for perfectly composed and coordinated kitchens ? that?s why they provide complete ?suites? of kitchen faucets, creating a cohesive and stylish look for all of their kitchen accessories. From potfillers, prep faucets, side sprayers and gantries right down to the soap dispenser, Waterstone ensures that each one of its kitchen faucets gracefully compliments its counterparts. Here at , we feature:

Waterstone Faucets: Kitchen fixtures from Waterstone are designed with solid brass or stainless steel construction, 360 degree swivel spouts and above the countertop access for easy servicing and installation.

Waterstone Hot Water Dispensers: These stylish kitchen faucets play the essential role of delivering hot water to your kitchen, melding form and function into a single decorative unit. Hot water dispensers also come coupled with cold water spigots and filtration units,

Waterstone Soap Dispensers: Kitchens with Waterstone soap dispensers have an integrated, sophisticated look. Coordinated soap dispensers clear clutter from your countertop and give your kitchen a professional look and feel.

Waterstone is dedicated to delivering water to your kitchen with the utmost in quality and composure. With a visual appeal and product quality matching luxury class kitchen faucets and a price that rivals the most economical faucetry, Waterstone makes designing a coordinated, efficient kitchen simple and affordable.

What You Need To Know When Buying Vegetable Seeds

Spring is on its way and many people are looking forward to planning and planting their vegetable garden. There are so many options, it can be hard to know what to choose and from whom to purchase your seeds. Because there are so many online vegetable seed companies to pick from, the choices can be overwhelming. This article will help to point you in the right direction.

Buying vegetable seeds online can be a very good choice. Many companies do not package their seeds ahead of time, which helps the seeds stay fresh longer. Likewise, many stores will ship the next day so you are guaranteed quick delivery. You will also find a very large selection of seeds that you may not be able to find at your local store. Even greenhouses or nurseries cannot provide a comprehensive array of viable vegetable seed options. If you are looking for that rare organic tomato seed, chances are you can find it online.

Most online vegetable seed companies offer some type of warranty. Some say that if a seed does not produce within a certain time frame, they will refund your purchase price or replace the item. This is the most common type of warranty you will come across. Other guarantees say that they will refund your money if you are not satisfied for any reason. Regardless, make sure you understand the terms before you buy.

Prices are usually fairly comparable, but check a few things before you purchase them. See how much you are really getting. Some sites may be cheaper, but they may be selling a lighter weight. Also be aware of the quality of the seeds. For example, heirloom seeds produce the best tasting tomatoes. There are also a lot of different types of the same vegetable. Be sure you are comparing the exact same vegetable or you will not get an accurate picture.

Have an idea of the type of vegetables you would like to plant. Do you want an eclectic collection of classics and exotics. Are all organic vegetables your thing. Or do you just want an old fashioned vegetable garden with the staples of cooking in it. Whatever you choose, you can find a company that will cater to your preferences.

Make sure that you patronize a reputable vegetable seed company. If you are unsure about where to start, ask some of your friends where they purchase their seeds. If you know someone in the neighborhood who has a great garden, ask them where they get their seeds or if they have any recommendations. Another way to get tips is to join an online gardener?s chat group. Gardeners are always willing to help someone who is looking for advice.

Starting a vegetable garden can be an immensely rewarding experience. Have fun with your vegetable garden, but don?t forget the things we talked about. They can save you time and frustration later on. Buying your seeds from a reputable online company is a convenient and economical way to get your garden started.

Planting Pansies in the Fall

Fall is the main season for planting almost everything! For those who live in the 4-seasons regions, fall is the ideal time to plant spring-flowering bulbs, fruit trees, and some perennials.In the early 80’s, the gardening industry initiated a campaign called “Fall is for Planting.” While some folks saw this as simply a publicity stunt to help nurseries sell surplus stock at the end of the growing season, there are good reasons to consider planting certain things in the fall. Time to take the idea of “fall planting” to a new level!Many of your flowers and vegetables are withering… some may have declined so much that you’ve decided to remove them from the garden and from your deck and/or porch containers.

This year, rather than simply cleaning up all containers that just recently had flowers, why not replant some of them with pansies! Most nurseries have a very extensive offering of a reasonable price.Planting pansies in the fall? Why not? Not only do pansies extend the flower season beyond the normal time frame, but they can continue to grow and bloom through the winter!Most people always think of pansies as spring flowers; but, pansies can extend the flower season well into the late fall and even early winter. Some pansies can actually survive temperatures in the single digits! So, put off cleaning up some of your outdoor planters, and plant pansies to have some living color much longer this year!Planting pansies in the fall is not relatively a new trend, but more and more people are becoming aware of the opportunity. Certain nurseries might even be running specials. For example, Burpee is offering pansies for fall delivery. And, the folks at Southern Living Magazine have a nice little online slide show of 19 decorating ideas with pansies and violas.If you do choose to plant pansies this fall, be sure to plant as early as possible, choose healthy plants that will withstand the colder weather, and ensure good drainage for your plants.Chances are that you still have several weeks to plant some pansies in your containers or flower gardens. Jump of the nurseries offer of fall delivery & try something new this season!

Making Compost Bins On Your Own ? A Few Useful Tips

When a person is in possession of a fine compost heap, he can very well prepare his own mulch and thus can keep his yard to look good. To achieve all this, a compost bin is required. A compost bin has to be built to preserve all the organic matters that are added to the heap gathered in a particular place. The main concern of the compost bin is that all the materials are piled up in it and has no restriction for the flow of air to the materials inside. The best solution for this is to build a fence for making a compost bin.

The things that are required for the preparation of the compost bin are fence posts and the fencing. Let us now see the steps involved in making the compost bins.

Firstly, a good location has to be selected. Composting will work better only when the organic materials are allowed for touching the bare earth. This will benefit the user for a good composting since the microbes in the soil will take part in the process of decomposition.

Secondly, the fence has to be made by using the welded wire or the chain link to make the compost bin. The chicken wire alone will not be sufficient for making the compost pile. A 25 feet roll and 4 feet tall fencing is required to make a good quality compost bin.

Thirdly, fence posts need to be purchased. These steel posts of T-shape can be easily fixed in the soil to give support to all the sides of the fences of the compost bin.

Fourthly, a square shape has to be made. Four places have to be marked on the spot of composting to fix the steel posts. These steel posts, after fixing, will end up with a square shape. Each side of the square should be of four feet length.

Now the steel posts have to be driven into the four marked locations. This can be done very easily by using the post driver. If the post driver is not available, then the two feet holes have to be dug and the fence to be planted.

Next, the fencing should be rolled out between the posts that are adjacent. The light gauge wire of the fence ties have to be used to connect the fencing and the posts. The process has to be repeated for all the four sides.

The last part of the fencing has to be cut for using it as a door for the compost bin. One edge of this has to be fixed with the fence ties and a rope or the chain has to be used for holding the other side.

Now the compost bin is ready for accumulation of the waste from the kitchen and the garden to make good compost for the garden.

Weed Control – How To Prevent Weeds From Taking Control Of Your Yard

If bees are public enemy #1 for most farmers, lawn owners and gardeners tend to view weeds with very much the same perception. Weeds are non-native plants that are unwanted in a certain place and time and can be very much harmful to your plants and even public amenity.

It?s imperative that you prevent weeds from taking control of your yard lest you wish to see your plants die one by one before the year?s end. Don?t let their harmless-sounding names (chickweed, dandelion and crabgrass) fool you; if you allow them full liberty to grow, you might find it impossible later on to regain control and recover the beauty of your garden.

Found below are several tips for better and more effective weed control:

Defensive Measures against Weeds
Always remember that the healthier your garden or yard?s soil, the better defense your plants shall have against weeds. So make sure that you always keep your garden or yard as healthy as possible.

Excellent fertilization is a good defensive step to take against weeds. Using the right type of fertilizer that possesses the best combination of nitrogen and other important compounds four times a year will go a long way in improving the health of your yard. But don?t be surprised if some stubborn weeds still persist in growing; that?s the time when other more aggressive steps must be taken to achieve effective weed control.

Aggressive and Chemical Measures for Weed Control
When you choose a particular weed product to use, make sure that you use it during the active growth period of weeds. This often happens in late spring or early fall and temperatures must approximately be around 15 to 25 degrees. Extreme temperatures would simply lessen the potency of the product against weeds.

On the other hand, if the product you?re using is a weed and feed one, make sure that you spread them always in the morning. This is because morning dew can ensure that the weed and feed product would stick to the weeds, thereby increasing their effectiveness. Avoid watering or mowing your yard when you?ve just applied the product. And just to be on the safe side, prevent both your kids and pets from tramping in the law during those days as well.

The Right Attitude to Succeed
Be realistic when it comes to your weed control goals. Weeds are like mushrooms; they grow very fast and worse, they?re not exactly easy to get rid off. Hence, telling yourself that you?ll exterminate the weed your population in a bloody one-day battle is simply impossible to achieve. You?ll never get started or feel properly motivated if you think that way.

Weeding, like other difficult but highly rewarding tasks, is a huge goal that you must try to achieve by taking one small measured step after another. Give yourself a goal outline if you wish. Divide the gardens into several areas and get rid of weeds in one particular division after another. You need to motivate yourself properly if you wish to succeed and setting unrealistic goals for yourself is certainly not the way to do it!

The Right Time to Fight Weeds
Time management is equally important in weed control; pick a particular time of the day when you believe you?ll be most available to battle the invading army in your garden. Whichever time period you end up choosing, make sure that you stick to your schedule at all times. Consistency and perseverance are what?s going to win the battle and not a blitzkrieg style of offense.

Christmas Decoration Ideas For The Creativity Impaired

Are you creatively impaired? Were you the one in your high school art class who was happily creating bowls while your classmates were molding gargoyles? Do you face each Christmas season with a sense of foreboding, knowing that once again your best efforts aren?t going to measure up to the Johnsons down the street and their electronic flying reindeer and you are doomed to be the butt of many neighborhood jokes until the New Year?

Here?s some good news for you; you don?t have to try to measure up to the Johnsons. There are some people for whom decorating for Christmas comes easily, and these people are always going to hold the corner market on the splashiest house come Christmas Day. Attempting to mimic them is only going to result in failure.

This isn?t intended to be a doomsday news release. The previous paragraph was intended to help you to move beyond all of your preconceived notions about decorating for the Christmas season. You don?t have to compete with anyone. If your home is festive and comfortable no one is going to care that you don?t have live reindeer eating off of your roof. As a matter of fact, with the employment of the proper decorating techniques you could soon find your house becoming the talk of the neighborhood.

The best place to start decorating for the holidays is the Christmas tree. Indubitably, the process of purchasing (and cleaning up after!) a live tree is a hassle; however, to create a subtle hint of the holiday spirit there is no better way to go than with a live pine. Choose one that will take up space in your main room but that leaves at least a six inch space between the top of the tree and the ceiling. Be careful not to choose a Charlie Brown Christmas tree; you want your Christmas tree to be full and thick (exercise a bit of moderation here, however; you still need to be able to put the ornaments on!).

When you have purchased your tree and brought it home it is time to decorate. Contrary to popular belief it is not necessary to have a tree laden with ornaments; apply them sparingly. Skip over the tinsel and garland; in order to create a tree that serves as a true centerpiece you want to keep its appearance as classic as possible. Shop for handcrafted ornaments, preferably either ceramic or glass, and choose a central theme; as appealing as buying a wide variety of ornaments may be, putting them all on your tree is only going to make it appear gaudy.

Choose a top piece that matches the theme of your Christmas tree; or, you can choose not to have a top to your Christmas tree at all. Once your tree is decorated, allow that to be the theme that carries throughout the rest of your house. Decorate sparingly, but decorate in each room. For example, hang a wreath in the kitchen, place a centerpiece on the table, put a few pieces from a manger scene in the bathroom, etc.

By decorating a little bit in each room you will create a festive home that will make your visitors feel comfortable and you confident in your ability to create a reputation for yourself as a decorator without having to rely on your ability to outdo the Johnsons. Who knows; you may find yourself being the one asked to host the holiday party this year!

Creating A Greenhouse Window

Instead of looking out through your tumbler panes and study your not so long ago attractive flower beds that are now frozen in the chill, you can clearly transform your windowpane into a little greenhouse where houseplants, herbs, seedlings and flora will blossom.

A graphic greenhouse is also a great cast for the factory lovers with much partial interval. Also termed a backyard view, even with its very small plan, this little plot can equip you with enough break so that you can like year-curved blossoms.

Cost, equipment and your zone greenhouse amount factors to be considered when deciding the tailor that best suits you. Just do keep in brain that the elegance should sum the propose of your home.

There are determined kits bay screen flare units that are energy reduction and installs simply. They certainly will open any liberty and equally increase the functionality of a living cosmos. Window greenhouse seated lodge may be used as a cute breakfast nook or give a place for interior plants that takes up a lot of flummox liberty.

The bow greenhouse casement can also be a great array that composes of more than four wineglass segments to mimic a rounded look. Bay greenhouse windows commonly come in three segments with sides that are aslant at whichever thirty or forty-five degrees.

Your most loss-effective and clean to figure option will be a complete greenhouse bow period kit as compared to shop a new interface greenhouse yourself. With the kit, all you have to do detach your vacant view then enlarge the hole of the envelope in accordance to the essential mass stipulated in the kit and just screw and nail your greenhouse pane in place.

However, you should first elite an amount or measurement that suits your advantage as well as the plants that you will be housing. More plants will mean more time is required from you to focus to them. Starting with a minor greenhouse chance corps can be a good idea, as you can just invest another one. However when your goal is to have more open space then lead superior.

Bow greenhouse windows that come in vinyl maintenance-released fabric or aluminum coated coppice are very appealing. The interior is normal forest which could be marked or painted. With the imitation wood graining, often the stained or painted vinyl looks very heartfelt as well as maintenance-gratis.

Your choices when it comes to screen greenhouse features are endless. For energy economy, narrow a bow greenhouse screen configure with bendable foam insulation that is constructed into the seat board or headboard. Some truly effective kinds have foam-stuffed cavities and frames.

The tumbler paneling is considered to be the crux of any greenhouse graphic for shine charge, comfort, efficiency and resistance to vanishing. For most temperatures and toughen, low-emissive or “low-e” brand of tumbler having argon gas between gaps is not a good choice. Select a tumbler having insulating spacer.

Examine you home and explore for that theme having those “complete-made” qualities to put up your interface greenhouse. You necessary heat, good light supply and easy water access. Maintaining and upward plants within requires that you afford dampness, sunlight and loyal temperature.

Keep in thoughts that you will be running with the plants such as transplanting them when needed, watering, fertilizing and checking for disease, so you penury an area of the house that is certainly accessible to you, that will not clash with other activities in the home.

When you want and like the glimpse of colorful flora from where you forever inhabit for example, in the kitchen, it does not have to follow that you should have your interface greenhouse in the kitchen, even if there is limited space; you can just rotate acme plants to many parts of the house, and just revisit them commonly to the chance greenhouse for some breather and sunshine.

Once you have absolute where to put your porthole greenhouse, finish erode you will be building it yourself or you will leverage a kit.

Just reminisce that foliars are just the beginning. You can forever asset sealed pinnacle plants in glow and arrange them in your screen greenhouse. During tumble, you can already stand summer flowers in pots that you can like when summer comes. Also, herbs are attractive, effective and odorous addition to your transom greenhouse. You can now plot all year long and have it no stuff what the toughen brings.

Log Cabin Kits For The Garden

If extra space is needed for the home, a log cabin is an attractive and practical way to answer the problem. Log cabins are ideal as a home office, a gym, for housing Jacuzzi?s and saunas or as a playhouse for the children.

The size and style of your log cabin can be dependent on your budget. One way to make your budget go further is to use a log cabin kit and assemble the log cabin yourself. Most log cabin kits come with comprehensive assembly instructions, and with assistance from friends and family armed with tools, such as: a hammer, drill, spirit level, and a screwdriver, it can be a challenging and rewarding experience for everyone involved.

However, for some people, just the thought of assembling a log cabin kit is enough to give them a headache: so the next best option is to hire help though your log cabin kit company or from local trades? people.

Once you know your budget, the next step will be deciding what type of log cabin kit to purchase. Log cabin kits come in different packages: some are, handcrafted, and made from whole logs, whereas other log cabin kits are made from kiln-dried logs that are factory milled. Consider the quality and quantity of the wood in the log cabin kit: if your log cabin is to be used for twelve months of the year, you will need thicker logs than if your log cabin was for summertime usage. There are different shapes of logs to choose from, and a common choice is the ?D? log, which is round on the outside and flat on the inside and gives a horizontal wood-panelling look within. If you are concerned about the environment, check the logs are from substantially managed forests. Deliberate over the floor plans to determine what will work for you, what type of timber you want to use, e.g. pine or cedar, what insulation you need and your utility requirements.

The typical contents of a log cabin kit contain cut logs for a specific log cabin plan. Each log has a predetermined location in the wall of the cabin, with door and window openings already cut into the appropriate logs. Most log cabin kit companies offer a number of log cabin kit options that contain additional components: cladding, insulation, screws, corner panels, window frames and windows, doors frames and doors, steel brackets, anchor bolts, nuts and washes, studding, roofing and flooring. What isn?t included is: foundations, wiring, plumbing, heating, roof tiles, and guttering. Because each log cabin kit company structure their kit differently, it makes it difficult to compare costs between the companies, unless you can do an item-by-item comparison of the contents of the different log cabin kits.

Before the log cabin kit is assembled, a well-prepared level base that is the same size as the log cabin floor will be required to ensure a long lasting installation. A variety of materials can create a solid base, such as: concrete or paving slabs positioned on hardcore, and it should be 20-50mm above the ground level. Building regulations will need to be considered, for example, if your log cabin is to be located next to a boundary line. Some log cabins require planning permission and your log cabin kit company maybe able to provide advice on this matter. However if there are doubts, it is best to contact your local planning authority before work is commenced.

Log cabin kits do take time to assemble, but the finished product will be something you and your family can enjoy and appreciate for many years to come.

Guide To Bonsai Tools

To practice the art of Bonsai you must have the proper tools. I am going to list and describe the more common bonsai tools. When you first start out you will not need all of the tools listed and depending on your level of involvment in Bonsai you may never need them all.

Pruning & Cutting Tools
Pruning and cutting tools are used for any cutting that is too heavy to be performed with scisssors.

Concave Branch Cutter: These are heavy duty cutters designed similar to bolt cutters. They are used to cleanly and smoothly remove fair sized branches.
Spherical Knob CUtters: Are similar to the branch cutter except the cutting piece is spherical. These are designed to cut through heavy knobs or knots.
Folding Pruning saw: This is a small rough cut saw that with a blade that folds back into the handle similar to a pocket knife. They are used for cutting very heavy branches or when you need to cut down the trunk of your bonsai tree.
Shears: You use shears for many different medium to light cutting jobs.
Woodworking Gouges: Gouges are used for multiple artistic purposes in bonsai. They are frequently used to remove bark or to score the trunk to simulate natural damage to a tree.

Scissors:
Scissors are a staple tool for all bonsai enthusiast, they come in various shapes and sizes to handle various jobs.
Leaf Cutting Scissors: Just as the name implies these are used mainly for light work like pruning back or removing leaves.
Shoot Trimming Scissors: These are a heavier set of scissors designed for cut small to mid-sized shoots or branches.
Heavy Duty Shoot Scissors: These are an even heavier pair of scissors designed for all the shoots that are too large for the regular shoot scissors but too small for a pruner.

Potting Tools
The pot that you keep your bonsai in is very important for both it’s health and proper development. Bonsai need frequent re-potting and root modification. These are the tools most useful for those tasks.

Root Hooks: These are used to seperate the root ball into a more managable form for trimming and pruning. They are a heavy wire bent at one end and usually sharpened to a fair point.
Potting Trowel: This is just a small garden trowl that will be used to dig and manipulate the soil in your bonsai pot.
Soil Scoops: Are small metal or plastic cups with a handle and the open end is cut into a scoop shape. They are used to remove or add soil to the pot.

Brush: Soft brushes are used to lightly clean and maintain the trunk, branches and leaves of the bonsai.

Wire Tools:
Wires are frequently used to train the bonsai plant into the proper artistic form. There are a multitude of tools used to work with wire most of these are available at any hardware or automotive store.

Common Wire Snips: These are common wire snips that are frequently used by electricians, they should be heavy enough to handle any of the aluminumum wire used for bonsai.
Heavy Duty Wire Snips : These are just a heavier version of the snips listed above that might be needed if you are working with some heavier than average wire.
Pliers: Common house hold pliers are used for bending and twisting the wire into the proper shape and position.
Needle Nose Pliers: These are pliers that come to a fine point and are useful for working in tight confines around the trunk and branches.

Miscelenous Tools
Some general tools that do not fit in any of the other categories.

Chop Sticks: These are perfect for tamping and working the soil down around the roots of the tree.
Gardeners Knife: This is handy for many of the heavy non-delicate cutting you have to do.
Rake: A small rake just like a garden or yard rake except in miniature is used to clean and maintain the surface of the soil.
Tweezers: Tweezers are often necessary to work around the limited space on many bonsai.