Lawn Landscaping

When you walk around your neighborhood, do you find that everyone else has a lush, green lawn, whereas your own lawn has patches of dead grass, and most of it is yellowish and unattractive anyway! It's time to do some work to bring your lawn back to health.

Just because you live in the same geographic area as your neighbors doesn't mean that your soil is necessarily the same as theirs. So the first thing you should do is some soil tests, to find out what the pH balance ("power of Hydrogen") of the soil is. If your soil is too alkaline, or too acidic, your grass and flowers will not grow well.

If your soil is not balanced properly, there's no need to despair. Add lime (for example calcic limestone) to the soil if it is too acidic, and add iron sulfate to your soil to correct alkaline soil. You'll want to consult with a gardening professional to know exactly how of this material you should add.

What type of soil have you? If you've got soil with too much clay, you're going to have drainage problems - because clay retains water practically forever, which is bad. Sandy soil, on the other hand, dries out too quickly. These problems can be solved by adding peat moss or compost.

But let's say your soil is just right for growing lush green grass. Then what's the problem?

Does your lawn receive enough sun?


If your lawn is scattered with lots of large trees, it's quite possible that their foliage prevents enough sunlight from getting through to your lawn. Consider thinning out the branches. And if you have trouble with your grass dying right underneath your trees, try using groundcover instead, although there are other solutions you can try.

Does your lawn receive enough water? Or too much?


Water's water at all times, but it doesn't behave the same at all times. The heat of the sun evaporates water, of course, so it is best to water in the early morning, or late at night. Never water during the heat of the day. And never water your lawn too much - that's as bad as watering it too little.

Do you water the entire lawn fairly, or do you cheat? Do some spots get more water than others? It's important that your entire lawn be watered equally. If you want to take the human element out of the equation, you can always install an automatic sprinkling system in your yard. But that requires digging up sections of the lawn in order to bury the hoses, and those sprinkler heads can play havoc when you're trying to mow. Still, it's something to consider.

The patter of tiny feet


If you have a lot of kids, or teens, for that matter, playing active games on your lawn such as touch football or catch, they're going to be running around compressing and compacting the soil, which drives out the oxygen plants need to survive. The solution to this can be to aerate your lawn - use a device that punches holes in the soil to loosen it. Aerate your lawn at least once a year.

Does your lawn get mowed properly?


If you don't like to mow the lawn (and who does?) you may decide to solve the problem by mowing it as short as possible, so that it takes a while for it to grow out before you have to mow again. But this actually stresses out the grass, and is not at all good for it. Neither is letting your grass grow too long. Apart from aesthetic considerations, it causes problems with the amount of water and sunlight that reaches the soil.

Ever heard of thatch? It's the dead grass and other material that forms a layer on the soil below the grass itself. This chokes out new growth. Get a de-thatching rake and take care of it.

What kind of grass do you have?


If you've implemented all these solutions and your lawn still doesn't look as nice as your neighbor's, it may be something as simple as the kind of grass you have. Grass comes in different shades of green, from dark green to yellow. Some grass is more resilient to pounding feet than others, and to extremes of heat and cold.

By considering these elements, you'll find that your lawn will soon be the smooth, velvet carpet of green you always envisioned.

The True Spirit of Japanese Gardens

The first thing that greets you as you step into a Japanese garden is the calmness and serenity of the place. The Japanese gardens reflect men's efforts at harmonizing the beauty and force of the nature in an effortless fashion. With the essential presence of water body, thin streams, short bridges or artificial hillocks created with gravels and rocks; in the final shape the Japanese gardens become resonant with the mellow notes of spirituality and tranquility.

You can find three basic styles of Japanese gardens:

Hill and Pond (Chisen-Kaiyu-skiki)

Flat Garden (Hiraniwa)

Tea Gardens (Rojiniwa)

The basic rules are more or less same, while the particular features are incorporated in lieu with the specific type of the garden.

In Japanese gardens you will come to find a rare bonding with nature. Despite the use of many artificial structural elements like bridges or water bodies or artificially created hills, Japanese gardens are created to reflect the nature in her most unadulterated form. Thus "harmonious asymmetry" becomes the rule for Japanese gardeners and simplicity becomes the inspiration behind their work. If you are going to recreate the Japanese magic in your garden, then follow the thumb rules described below.

The illusion of time and space

To the eyes accustomed to European style of gardening, where the perfectly manicured plants vie for your attention in every possible nook and corners of the garden, Japanese gardens may seem to offer an illusion of emptiness at a first glance. There are so many things, yet the garden looks so vast and spacious---this trick of space management is the first lesson with regard to the Japanese style of gardening.

Selection of plants

The Japanese gardens try to reflect the permanence of nature. That is why it is the evergreen trees that become the dominating feature of Japanese gardens. The plants in the Japanese gardens represent the seasonal cycles. Because of this selection, the Japanese gardens are not discarded during the winters. The essence of the four seasons can nowhere be better felt than in the changing appearance of Japanese garden through the year.

Bringing the balance

In an ode to nature, the Japanese gardens strive to represent the nature in a miniscule, but in its closest form. As for example, in a Japanese garden, you can not accommodate a pond that is a perfect square in shape. Because nature never produced s such a geometrical wonders. Similarly, in your pursuit of imitating nature, you have also to incorporate the spirit of balance. As for example to create a mountain in your small garden, you can make use of the small rocks, but not the huge ones.

Fencing

Creating the right enclosure has great symbolic value. The fencing is created with the aim of locking up the serenity inside the garden uninterrupted by the goings on in the outside world. Sometimes, small windows are created on the solid walls to lure the passer by with the beauty that lies inside the garden enclosure.

Ornamentation with the lanterns

No Japanese garden is ever complete with stone lanterns in variety of designs and styles. There are three main varieties of lanterns that are used in the Japanese gardens: the Kasuga style lantern, the Oribe style lanterns and the Yukimi or Snow-Viewing lantern.

In short, Japanese gardens are the reflection of natural balance between change and constancy. A little introduction to Zen philosophy can prepare you for the better perception about the Japanese style of gardening.

Zoysia Grass - Find Out How to Make Your Lawn as Soft as a Carpet

As winter rolls back its frosty landscape, your plants and lawn wake-up to another season of challenges. What would you say to keeping your lawn greener ... reducing your watering costs ... reducing insect infestations and even naturally eliminating crab grass and other 'invader species' from your lawns? Zoysia grass plugs might be the perfect solution.

Zoysia Grass Seed: Creating Thicker Greener Softer Lawns. Modern, suburban and committed to the look, and value, of your home and property, you want simple cost-effective and environmentally balanced solutions for a foot-soft lawn. Here's where Zoysia grass seed delivers Big Bang values. Although originally a 'wild' native grass in China and the Orient, Zoysia Grass was always recognized as a 'fast responder' carpet grass ... and remarkably was selected over 5,000 years ago to be spread over the primitive earthen mound grave sites in order to product thick green cover of Nature protecting deceased loved ones.

Zoysia Lawn Grass 'Chokes' Weeds Into Submission. Every homeowner contests Darwin's nature each year, as 'alien' and unwanted weed species float over your lawn and attempt to 'colonize' any available space. Crab grass, thistle, wild grasses, dandelions, wild carrot ... you name it ... but none of these qualify in the book of gardening as ideal lawn grass.

* Creating 'Smart' Lawn Growth. So, how can Zoysia lawn grass partner with you to block Nature's attack? Answer? Zoysia lawn grass plugs 'naturally' invest growth, not in developing vertical height, rather convert mineral, fertilizer and sunlight into a dense network of below-ground rhizome or arterial root system, along with an above-ground deep thick network of interlacing runners or stolons. What does crabgrass get? Next to nothing ... no available space, so weeds travel to your neighbor's ground or anywhere else that opens up.

Green Thick Lawns Yet Reduced Mowing. You work all week, you pay the mortgage, and you want to kick-back, chill-out in your free time. Wouldn't it be nice if your lawn looked great, but didn't demand that you race behind your mower with every free moment! Again, here's where Zoysia lawn grass delivers on its promise. Zoysia lawn grass plugs do the 'heavy lifting' ... conserving resources, exploiting the sun, yet remarkably need to be cut less than half the time of other lawn seed varieties!

Yes, you'll still need a sharp lawn mower, but you can conserve water plus reduce your mowing time but setting the cut-height higher than you would with other grass seed varieties.

Important Zoysia Grass Varieties To Know About. Meyer Zoysia grass emerged out of botanical lab research in 1951, reflecting genetic 'tinkering' in order to amplify the strong growth, sun-and-shade tolerance and low water needs that homeowners demanded as the modern era of suburbia caught on with city councils and developers. Meyer Zoysia grass evolved with the prodding from USDA engineers from the source japonica zoysia grass seed, the Japanese lawn grass native to Japan and Korea, and a key commercially exploited variety within the over four varieties of zoysia grass. In addition to Meyer zoysia grass, homeowners can look into Matrella and Emerald zoysia grass varieties.

Shade, Temperature Zones And Choosing The Best Zoysia Lawn Grass Seed. Growing grass, like raising children, can be complicated stuff. You have to know what you're dealing with.

* Temperature Zones Match. In the case of zoysia grass plugs versus other traditional lawn grass seeds like tall fescue or Bermuda varieties, you want to first check your location or temperature zone for the right variety-to-location match. From hot climate Zone 1 (think Florida, Texas latitudes) to cooler climate Zone 3 (think Maryland, southern Indiana latitudes), you'll be able to select from zoysia lawn grass varieties including Meyer, Emerald, and Zenith.

* Shade Tolerance. Experts' bottom line read on zoysia grass seed is that it's a robust, highly shade tolerant grass that will thrive in either fully sun-exposed areas or variegated shade areas, from light (think pine) to heavy (think leafed deciduous).

Easy Steps To Square Foot Garden Success

It's really not hard to set up a Square Foot Garden with these helpful hints.

With square foot gardening, it is possible to make a small space look like a beautiful garden area. You can build a square foot garden following an exact square foot layout, or you can garden using a square foot layout and put a few square feet together to make a larger space for vegetables and other larger plants.

It will be necessary for you to build or buy boxes that sit above the ground for your square foot garden. If you are using more than one box, space them 3' apart so you can walk in between them. You don't want to ever step inside the box and damage your plants. Place your boxes in an area that gets 6 - 8 hours of sunshine daily, and it should sit somewhere close to the house so you can water often. Because you are working with small spaces, you may have to water more often than you do your larger garden.

The soil mixture should consist of 1/3 part compost, 1/3 part peat moss and 1/3 coarse vermiculite.

Remember that your garden will be arranged in squares, not rows (it's a little deceiving because if you do it right, and all of your squares are the same size, it will look like you have rows. First, lay out your garden in 4' by 4' areas, then make a square foot grid on the top and start separating them into 1' sections.

Depending on what you like to eat, or view, you can mix flowers, vegetables, or herbs in each square foot. Don't be afraid to mix up the plants you grow in your garden, they each have their individual compartment, so it's a great place to test a variety of plants. You should plant only 2 or 3 seeds per hole; it doesn't take much to make a beautiful garden.

When you water, use a bucket of sun-warmed water and water gently by hand. The seeds are very delicate at first, and you don't want to just spray them with a hose and send them flying all over the place.

After everything is growing, you can sit back and enjoy it. At harvest time enjoy the fruits of your labor, or the beauty of your garden, and then when everything is done blooming and growing, add fresh compost and replant new crops.

SquareFoot Gardens do not always have to be exactly square. You can get creative and add a little flair by using an Octagon shape, or even round (although round is going to be harder to work with). When your plants are young, it might be a good idea to add some small garden art pieces so you have something beautiful to look at while your seedlings are sprouting It's up to you whether you leave the art in as the plants grow. Some people find that when their flowers start to bloom, they like to see the natural look and will take the garden art out. Others just enjoy the beauty of it all.

It's your garden, and now you will have enough information to make it enjoyable for years to come!

Looking For A Teak Furniture Sale? Buy Discount Teak Online

Are you scouring the Internet and you local newspapers looking for a Teak furniture sale? Join the club. Teak furniture, especially outdoor Teak furniture has become so popular that the demand is sending Teak furniture prices higher and higher with no end in sight!

That's why it's so rare to find a Teak furniture sale and why you should jump on one when you do find it. But don't confuse a Teak furniture sale with a simple Teak furniture promotion. Retailers frequently offer 10% to 20% Teak furniture "discounts", especially at the end of the outdoor Teak furniture season, but that's not a genuine Teak furniture sale.

Anyway, retailers are not who you should be spending your money with; not if you are looking for quality crafted Teak furniture made from only Grade "A" Teak, which is the best that money can buy.

Your true Teak furniture sale on the finest Teak furniture can usually only be found when you buy directly from the Teak furniture manufacturer. And make sure that you actually are buying from a manufacturer and not from a wholesaler or a distributor. That's because the further down the distribution chain you get from the manufacturer, the more of a markup you end up paying. Teak furniture sales that are discounting already high retail prices are not true Teak furniture sales. They're just a ploy to get you in the door.

So, how much can you expect to save when you encounter a true Teak furniture sale that's being hosted by an actual Teak furniture manufacturer? Fifty percent is a good starting point, but some Teak manufacturers will occasionally offer as much as 60% off to their customers who buy direct. Now that's what I call a Teak furniture sale!

When you buy from a Teak furniture manufacturer, whether they are having a Teak furniture sale or not, make sure that they talk the talk AND walk the walk.

Quality Teak furniture manufacturers will only use Grade "A" Teak. Grade "A" Teak does not have any knotholes or cracks in the wood. It's as near to perfect as anything nature can create. Only the best of the best Teak ends up being Grade "A". Anything else is plain inferior and is not worth your money even if they are having a Teak furniture sale.

You also want to make sure that every Teak furniture piece you buy, especially your outdoor Teak furniture, is 100% Kiln-dried. This ensures that your outdoor patio Teak furniture is dry through and through so it won't shrink, slip or move after it is manufactured. If you can find a 100% Kiln-dried Grade "A" Teak furniture sale, it will be your lucky day!

Hands-off the handmade Teak furniture

We've all been conditioned to think that nothing is better than hand made. That might be true with chocolate chip cookies, but just the opposite is true with Teak outdoor furniture sets.

When you buy a matching Teak outdoor furniture set, regardless of whether it's part of a Teak furniture sale or you're paying full price, the key word is "matching". You want to make sure that each piece looks exactly like the next and that can only happen when your Teak furniture is machine made to exacting quality tolerances. Humans just can't reach those levels of perfection and it will show when all of your Teak pieces are grouped together.

So remember – the next time you're looking for a Teak furniture sales, look for prices that are 50% to 60% off of retail, and pieces that are machine made from genuine Grade "A" kiln-dried Teak. Otherwise, there's no Teak furniture sales that's worth your money.

The Secret Movie- Your Friend or Foe?

There has been a flood of media coverage recently on the movie The Secret and the subject matter of the movie, the Law of Attraction. For those that have not viewed the film, its function was to introduce the universal law that "like attracts like", "what we focus on, we receive", or "to every action there is a reaction". By learning these theories a person can go from accepting whatever lands in the middle of their life to a healthier place of obtaining prosperity and joy.

The world as we know it right this minute has those people that want to see the glass half full and those that see it half empty. The critics of the film have zeroed in on the fact that the folks that made the film are profiting from it. Uh…duh. People coach football teams for the love of teaching (or football), AND to make a living. What is wrong with people making a living doing what they love whether it is teaching, acting, selling soap, or any number of countless activities in as much as it is for good and not evil. That's like saying we shouldn't pay the milk man…that he should deliver the milk for free because our body needs the milk. We seem to forget that the milkman will need funds to buy his own milk.

Other critics have focused on the fact that the film doesn't give every detail of the Law of Attraction and therefore has caused people to believe in magical thinking. During my lifetime I have watched thousands of films and never have I expected to get 100% of the facts and details within a 90 minute period on a subject that I am studying. That is just plain silly! Can a person become a concert pianist in a 90 minute period of practice?

It is my opinion that this film does a great job of introducing the teachings of the Law of Attraction to people that have never heard of it. It is opening eyes to greater possibilities for their lives. It shows people they do not have to settle for bread crumbs when there is a freshly baked loaf of bread sitting right in front of them. However; I don't believe for a moment that one film has the time to "do it all". If people are serious about making a complete lifestyle change they may have to continue their study and then put into practice the teachings until they make it a habit. For those that are just beginning their journey to abundance there is a wealth of information to be found (just open your browser) and many schools and coaches that can help.

Do I agree that people should have to pay several thousands of dollars for one bottle of milk (or Law of Attraction information) when there is the same bottle of milk for sale at far less? NO, of course not! I don't support those that charge far more than they have to for the product or service they offer. I support the teaching of offering more value than you charge for no matter what service or product you provide. This leaves everyone happy and satisfied.

I would encourage those that are serious about changing their lives to continue your study. Look for places to get the most value for the cost. Here is just one place to start http://www.universityofprosperity.net

Fall into the belief that all you need to do is watch one movie and you will find disappointment. It is a complete life-altering concept, so step out and find how to put the Law of Attraction into action for positive results. You control your destiny; make it one of joy and beauty.

New and Improved Lawn and Garden Tools Makes Outdoor Maintenance Quick and Easy

If you're looking for ways to keep your lawn and garden chores to a minimum and still have your outdoors looking fantastic, here's a few tips to please and delight.

Every homeowner faces the chores of choosing the right lawn and garden tools to get the jobs done efficiently in the least amount of time. While you may enjoy gardening, you also need the time to relax and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Trendy new lawn and garden tools can help you do just that.

As you're choosing your lawn and garden tools there are three important factors to keep in mind. First off, evaluate the efficiency of the tool. Ease of use and performance are important benefits of quality lawn and garden tools.

Next, make sure the tools are made of durable materials that can withstand the pressure and other elements of outdoor use. Rust resistant sturdy metals and ergonomic grips are also important factors.

Make sure you choose the correct lawn and garden tools for the job. Today many lawn and garden tools are multifunctional. These tools are very handy and can eliminate cluttered storage space with many tools.

Listed below are a few improved lawn and garden tools that works great for a variety of tasks.

For planting, weeding, watering, pruning, and keeping your plants healthy and happy an industrial grade gardener's essential tool kit is a great choice. The kit contains all the items you could need stored neatly in an easy to carry case.

A Garden Utility Cart is a "must have" for yard and garden work. Make sure to choose one that has a liner for easy emptying and cleaning. You may also want to choose one with sides that can drop down to accommodate larger loads. Pneumatic wheels are the best type to handle all types of terrain.

To permanently remove weeds from walkways, driveways or other stoned areas try a propane fired weed burner. You can eliminate the weeds without using harmful chemicals.

A great new innovative lawn and garden tool is the groove and crevice cleaner. It's perfect for removing debris, from decks, between bricks, and tiles. Keeps these areas looking fresh and clean without bending or struggling to clean the crevices.

Choose your tools carefully based on usability and durability. You'll have a selection of lawn and garden tools that will provide you quick and easy use for years to come.

The Importance Of Dealing With Your Beliefs

Now, if you are like most people who understand the powerful Law of Attraction that was all talked about recently on Television with respect to the movie - The Secret, know that it is entirely up to us to create the future in the way we want.

In fact, the concept is so stupidly simple that most tend to pass it saying, " Nah, it doesn't seem like it will work ..." And that is where this article comes in.

You see, the Law of Attraction says, "Like attracts like". We are sort of magnets attracting unto us what ever we put out - most importantly whatever we think about. Our Universe is an inclusion based Universe that says "yes" to every though that we put out. It doesn't distinguish if we want it or not, it just fulfills whatever we are thinking about.

And, if we have a belief that is counter to what we are thinking, we are offering a mixed signal to the Universe, saying, " Bring me that. OK, forget about it, because I don't thing that I will get that".

We human beings have been so conditioned by our surroundings to think and behave in a certain way. We have so many beliefs that we have formed all around us that get us more of what we believe. Most of us have grown up not believing there was enough and that there was always going to be a shortage. Which ones of the following disempowering beliefs do you think you face?

• I am not deserving enough. "You know, even John who is always at work doesn't make that much money. How can I even dream of making that much?"
  
• If I am rich, I will not fit in my social circle. My friends will see me as an outsider. They will say, "Look at Jane! She is a big show off with her new sports car."
  
• You have to be really smart to be rich, and well, mine is a different case. "You need at least a college degree to be successful and make money. I know about Bill Gates, but who else. You know that is one case"
  
• I always have to work hard for making my ends meet, and that's what I will be doing all my life. "Isn't that what most of the world do? They work all day and then frugally run their households and raise great children"

Do you get the idea? If on one hand, you are asking the Universe for a million dollars and your inner beliefs are saying otherwise, then what do you think you will get?

There are a few methods of dealing with your belief system. In the next article, I will get into more details of exactly how to approach the beliefs and how to change them.

Be patient. You didn't get all these beliefs in a day, so changing will take time. And here is the best part, when you do change them then the manifestations will begin to flow in easily. More of the things that you want will come your way faster than ever.

Organic Gardening Advantages

The definition of organic gardening is a garden that does not use pesticides to kill pests. This method can be used in either vegetable or flower gardens. In vegetable gardens organic is the safest for you since you will be consuming what you have grown. But, if you utilize it in flower gardening also, it is safest for the environment.

Raising an organic garden has many sound reasons to encourage gardeners to go this route. As mentioned above all of your vegetables will be pesticide free, which means no poison on the food you are growing. While in flower gardening, many people plant flowers that will attract butterflies or bees which you won't attract if you use pesticides. You especially want to remain pesticide free if you have small children or pets because chemicals could be harmful for them.

Your organic garden will be anything but simple gardening. Every garden takes effort and research and your organic garden is no exception. As with all gardens you must start with a plan. Research the plants you wish to grow. Find out what their needs are when it comes to light, fertilizer, PH in the soil and drainage. Be diligent in picking a spot that is well suited to your plants. If you are planting an herb garden select a site that is close to your kitchen door for easy harvesting. Find out if there are companion plants and if there are, consider using them.

When planting an organic garden you will need some really good compost. You can make your compost out of soil and organic matter. Organic matter includes leaves, manure, vegetable refuse, coffee grinds and eggshells. You can include peels from fruits and vegetables. (Potato skins, apple skins, orange rinds, etc.) Start your compost early, find a place to put your compost and work it frequently. By working it I mean turn it with a shovel so the organic material will break down. When you are ready to start planting work your compost into the garden beds before you plant.

Your garden location is very important. You need to pick a spot that gets lots of light and drains well. If it is a very windy spot you will have to figure out some way of sheltering. Don't pick a low spot on your property since that might flood during heavy rains. You really want to put the garden in a place that has easy access for you and for watering with your hose.

Mentioned above were companion plants. Companion plants are plants that repel unwanted pests. If you plant roses, plant some garlic. It is said that garlic will repel rose's nemesis, aphids. Cucumber beetles will not be a worry if you plant oregano. Marigolds will also repel many pests. For a good natural pesticide follow this recipe:

In a jar, combine 1 teaspoon dishwashing liquid and 1 cup vegetable oil. Shake vigorously. In an empty spray bottle, combine 2 teaspoons of this mixture and 1 cup water. Use at ten-day intervals (or more often if needed) to rid plants of whiteflies, mites, aphids, scales, and other pests.

If you come up with a good plan you can have flowers and vegetables mixed together. Make sure that you know your zone and the conditions that apply in your area. Flower and vegetable gardens will be very different in Alaska than in Florida.

Your organic garden will take some work, but it will not be in vain when you can sit back and enjoy your beautiful blooms or make some culinary delights from the vegetables and herbs you have grown.

Happy Gardening!

Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.

This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged.

The Garden Shed

Garden work requires some basic tools and equipment. You can purchase these as the need arises. Yard and garage sales are a good place to find good quality tools at bargain prices. When you buy garden tools how can you tell good quality from poor. Basically the higher-priced tools are made of heavier more durable materials. Here are some basic things to remember when purchasing tools.

A heavy gage steel blade holds its edge better and lasts longer.
A wooden handle should be sealed with varnish. You can use linseed oil to seal the wood to prevent dry rot, and to provide a smooth grip.
A tool head with a socket that fits over the end of the handle is strongest and will resist breaking.

Tools for Trimming Cutting and Pruning

The pruning shears are small hand-held pruners used to cut away excess or dried ends of woody shrubs and plants. They are made to cut small and medium-sized shoots and branches. Attempting to cut larger branches can easily damage them.

Another useful tool in the garden is a micro blade pruner the stainless steel blades on this personal pruner are ideal for cutting flowers, fruit or harvesting vegetables. It could easily become your favorite tool for dead heading flowers. These handy 6 1/2-inch pruner include 2 inch long blades. It has rubber grip handles. They are easy to sterilize.

Loppers are another useful tool. Heavy-duty pruning shears. They have two arm length handles that produce high cutting force at the blade, they are used to trim and cut heavy branches pruning shears can't handle.

With the appearance of a giant pair of scissors hedge shears are suitable for trimming branches of hedges. With their long reach and quick straight cuts they are useful garden tools. A notch in one blade close to the center pivot, helps hold the branches close to the center pivot were the most cutting force is leveraged and gives better control.

A bow saw has a steel blade stretched tight across the U-shaped handle this resembles a bow. The very deep teeth on the thin wide blade cut through Greenwood quickly. Bow saws are used to cut large branches.

A pruning saw has a stiff blade with sharp teeth on both edges and a handle on one end. The fine teeth on one edge are used for cutting small branches. The large coarse teeth on the other edge are suitable for cutting larger branches. The single-edged pruning saw has a curved handle and a folding blade. Because of their small size pruning saws are easy to maneuver in the tight quarters of an overgrown bush or shrub.

Whether gas, muscle or electrically powered a lawn mower is an essential piece of equipment in maintaining your lawn.

Gardening Tips For Landscaping A Slope Or A Hill

Not every gardener is lucky enough to have flat property on which to garden. If you do have a slope or a hill, it is often very difficult, confusing and challenging trying to figure out how to landscape. There are many ideas and tips on gardening on a hill, which helps you deal with the special challenges and problems you are likely to encounter. If the garden slope is extremely steep, stay away from planting grass or gardens that need any kind of maintenance, as it can be hazardous trying to cut or look after them.

A couple of great tips on gardening on a slope are to plant trees and shrubs. Their root system will slow water runoff, especially during heavy rainstorms, and anchor the soil. Tall perennial grasses also work well on hills and require no maintenance. If you like the natural look, sow wildflower seed over the area, which will look beautiful and keep the topsoil from eroding or washing away. Wildflower seeds are readily available in bulk at large garden centers and nurseries. For every square foot you need approximately fifty seeds. If you have a small area to seed, buy a small can, but for large areas, wildflower seeds are available in bulk. Make sure that whatever you plant requires no regular maintenance if it is a steep hill.

In Pennsylvania I saw a beautifully landscaped hill planted with different colors of azaleas. The site in the spring and early summer was breathtaking. This was on a steep hill so it not only helped with erosion but was gorgeous too.

For shady areas, the tips on gardening on a hill are a little different. Most wildflowers require lots of light so a shady area is not a good choice. Instead, consider shade-loving ferns, perennials and low growing vines. Not only does the leaves slow erosion by catching the rain before it hits the ground but the roots help keep the soil from washing away. Another couple of great tips on gardening on a slope are to create stair steps or terraces. This requires some work, as you need to do a lot of digging. You may need to construct a retaining wall, depending on how steep the slope is. A level area to plant helps with erosion problems and makes it far easier to work in your garden.

For anyone that has a few garden challenges, such as land that slopes, they are always happy to find tips on gardening on a slope. If you are lucky enough to have weathered or interesting looking rocks on your hill, then it is the perfect area to create a rock garden. It would be good to plant some low growing vines and perennials in your rock garden to add texture and interest to your rock garden.

Definitely come up with a plan before you attempt your hill garden. Ask your garden center for some advice about your garden; they will be of great assistance. As with all gardens it is most important that you take time to enjoy your gardens whether they are on a hill or in beds.

Happy Gardening!

Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.

This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged.

How to Build a Concrete Patio

Building a concrete patio is hard work, but with a lot of planning, a bit of sweat, and the know-how below, it's definitely a job that you can tackle yourself.

1) Like most home improvement projects, a little planning goes a long, long way. You should not only plan your concrete patio itself but be sure to have all the materials you'll need.

Anything other than a tiny concrete patio will require renting a cement mixer. If you're building a typical six inch thick patio, you'll need one bag of pre-mixed concrete for every two square feet of patio.

2) Dig out the patio shape with a shovel, digging down at least six inches if you live in an area that freezes in the winter. If you're building next to your house, establish a grade so that water will run off the patio.

The easiest way to establish a grade is to drive stakes into the ground at the high end as well as the low end, and then hang a string and line level between them.

Try to dig out the patio so that you have a grade of 1 inch for every 3-4 feet.

3) Build a form from 2x6 lumber that will hold gravel and concrete. This is the basic frame for the outer edge of the patio and once inserted into the area you've excavated, it should be level with the ground, assuming you want your patio to be flush.

4) Once the form is in place, put down a two inch base of gravel. This will provide some flexibility so that the concrete won't crack during the winter when it freezes.

5) Insert rebar as reinforcement into the hole, making a grid by placing sections of rebar either one foot or two feet apart, moving from front to back and then from left to right.

6) Mix the concrete in the automatic mixer. Pour the concrete as quickly as possible, mixing in filler rocks as you go and using a straight board (called a screed) to keep it level. Drag the screed down the length of the form, with it resting on both sides.

Use a float to smooth out any lumps, sweeping it in a long arc and taking care not to gouge it into the concrete.

7) For larger patios, you'll need to cut control joints with a trowel to prevent the slab from cracking. These are grooves cut every 3 feet or so in the concrete. For the first pass, use the trowel to etch them in place, with the edge of a board as a guide to keep them straight. Once in place, extend the grooves deeper to about one inch deep with the jointer.

8) Cover the patio with plastic sheeting so that it can cure properly. The sheeting traps moisture in and prevents the concrete from drying to quickly. Try to keep the patio covered for at least a week with the sheeting and avoid putting too much stress on the new patio for at least a month, as concrete takes 3-4 weeks to completely cure.

Patio Umbrellas for Home Decor

Patio umbrellas are not only a value by adding shade for comfort, but have become one of the best ways to add a splash of rich colorful character to your back yard, patio and home garden areas. With the many new types and styles of umbrellas on the market, some people are looking more for an esthetically pleasing color and shape then an actual shade structure. With hundreds of beautiful colors from manufactures like Sunbrella and Outdura, you can add just about any colorful combination of stripes, patterns and solids to accentuate your patio furniture cushions, colorful plants or even rock structures.

Some of the new outdoor umbrella styles to choose from are oval shaped umbrellas that actually follow the design of your larger patio tables, or even square umbrellas that can help put a few smaller patio tables together for a larger table fit. One of the most recent fads has become the offset, side post and cantilever type umbrellas that will cover a Jacuzzi or spa area. These offset type umbrellas cover larger areas up to 15 feet or more depending on the style you choose!

At a recent home and garden trade show, we found a manufacture that has a new style off the wall patio umbrella that is actually only half an umbrella, that fits against the outside patio wall and perfect for the small bistro or apartment balconies. It even comes with a great little half a bistro set the makes small apartment balconies warm and inviting for any outdoor enthusiast.

So, if you are looking to add a quick splash of colorful character to enhance your backyard home and garden areas, be sure to take a look at the patio umbrella as one of your first choices in back yard living design.

Container Gardening- Tips on How To Choose Healthy Plants

Container gardening is a method of growing portable plants that might otherwise be impossible to cultivate because of unsuitable soil or climatic conditions. Container gardening caters to your imagination because it asks that you combine plants of all colors, shapes, and textures toegether to enhance an existing garden. There are virtually an unlimited number of pots and plants that you can use to create your canvas, which means that every taste and style can be catered to.

One of the keys to a successful container display is the choice of healthy plants. Healthy plants make for longer-lasting, lower-maintenance, and more vibrant displays. Therefore, before you head off to your local garden center, you need to know what types of plants you're looking for, and you need to know how to distinguish between the healthy and unhealthy plants. To follow are some tips that can be followed on how to pick out healthy plants for that perfect display.

1. GENERAL CONDITION OF PLANTS

Avoid plants that do not look healthy on first inspection. The moss and weeds growing on the surface of the potting mis indicate that the plant has been in its pot for too long. Spots and speckles on the leaves may indicate damage from pests and diease.

2. POTBOUND ROOTS

Ensure that the roots of the plant are not packed in a tight mesh because buying it. Plants packed in a tight mesh will take longer to establish itself in a container display. Check this by lifting the plant out of the potted container.

3. YELLOWING LEAVES

This is a sign that the plant is undernourished or has root problems. Once a plant has used up all the nitrogen in its potting mix, nitrogen will be carried away from the older leaves to the younger ones (causing the older ones to turn yellow).

4. LEGGY STEMS

If plants do not have access to sufficient light, their stems will extend in an attempt to reach a light source. This may lead to growth which the plant is unable to support because the stems will become weak, easy to break, and susceptible to fungal attack.

This gardening tip was made available from GardenSuperMart.

How The Bombing of Africa Can Save Millions from Dying

The Great Apes of Africa are nearly extinct due to human hunters. Most of the wildlife on the African Continent is stressed. Each year more and more species are put on the endangered species list. While Americans worry about one Polar Bear species and blame it on Global Warming Africans are killing off 1000s of species and devastating the eco-system in Africa.

The Big Think Tank has looked into this problem and determined that Africans need to become farmers. In Zimbabwe, natives ran off the white farmers and killed many and squatted on their properties. The natives were upset that these farmers who worked the land and worked hard to provide the food had all the wealth. Some farmers fled and saved their lives just in time.

The natives after murdering many plantation owners and stealing their homes and land did not bother to replant the fields for the next year. Thus, today there are huge food shortages there and people are dying of starvation in Zimbabwe. Now they want the farmers who fled to come back and farm; they are not coming back. Should anyone wonder why?

The Big Think Tank has a plan to help feed millions and protect the future farms in the area. The plan is simple. First we use B-52 Bombers with 500 and 1000 lb bombs and we drop them in rows every eighth of a mile. The giant craters will make natural water retention basins to collect water after it rains. Other craters can be used as natural barriers to keep out predators (other hostile humans) trying to steal food. Inside these craters they can grow crops to feed themselves.

The food in each small crater village can be sold or traded for other food in other crater villages. Since the natives are lazy and will not plant the crops themselves, we shall have specially modified UAVs to drop seeds each Spring into the craters used for farming. This will insure that the natives can maintain their food supply even though they refuse to work.

The Big Think Tank therefore recommends the building of 2.8 Million Bombs and upgrading of the United State's Air Force B-52 Fleet. Additionally the Big Think Tank recommends that the United States Congress allocate $35 Billion Dollars to this project. This solution is sound.

I bet you think I am kidding don't you? I am not. I certainly hope this article is of interest and that is has propelled thought. The goal is simple; to help you in your quest to be the best in 2007. I thank you for reading my many articles on diverse subjects, which interest you.

Three Essential Tips In Caring For Bamboo

Caring for bamboo is not a tough experience once the plant has become established. It's in the initial stages that some well worn rules need to be followed to ensure your plant survives.

Caring For Bamboo Plants

In recent years, many people have transformed their gardens into lush havens simply by planting bamboo. It prefers the full sun so make sure your plant will receive adequate sunlight. The clump variety is prefered over the running type but this is a preference that may depend on your skill and experience with this hardy plant.

Running bamboo could cause problems in time, especially with neighbors but also can affect building structure. When planting the running variety, a barrier down to about 2 1/2 feet is essential. Packing down the soil next to the barrier wall is highly recommended.

Three Elements Of Caring For Bamboo Early

In the early stages, it comes down to three basic things;

- water liberally...
- apply the appropriate fertilizer...
- make sure the young plant doesn't get invaded by weeds.

Watering Bamboo

When watering your plant, make sure there is a good drainage level as it can be particularly fussy about having to sit in water for extended periods of time. For new plants, watering up to three times a week should be sufficient but this could be increased to daily if you live in a hot climate. If you need to water daily, don't water for more than just a few minutes.

At the other end of the scale, be careful not to water too often or for too long. The bamboo plant may react such as overshedding it's leaves. It's just applying some simple common sense and striking up a good balance. This will depend upon which season you plant and whether you live in a hot or cold climate.

Fertilizing Bamboo

Fertilizing is an intricate part of caring for bamboo during the establishment phase. You run the risk of producing an unhealthy plant or at worst, your bamboo may not survive so fertilizer is highly recommended. What type of fertilizer should you use? Certainly one which is high in nitrogen.

Once maturity has been reached, caring for bamboo becomes a lot less rigid. It's like caring for a new born baby; getting it through the initial stages requires patience and care but once into maturity, bamboo is a beautiful addition to any garden.