Sign up for our Email Newsletter

 

 

Japanese beetle

The Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica Newman) is a highly destructive plant pest native to Japan as the name suggests. Natural predators in Japan keep populations in check. However it is rampant in the United States where infestations have been observed from Wisconsin in the north to southern Alabama to the eastern seaboard as far as Maine. Strict regulations and pest management strategies have prevented the establishment of the Japanese beetle in other parts of the country.

They are about ½ inch long and are easily recognized by their iridescent metallic green body and copper colored outer wings. The adults feed on the foliage and fruits of several hundred species of plants and are a serious threat to American agriculture. If you see your lawn browning out in certain areas it is most likely that the grubs or larvae are developing in the soil and are feeding on the roots. They can also be found under the  turf of lawns in parks and golf courses as well as the roots of various other plants. Try lifting up a portion of your sod and you will see them merrily eating away. Turn the sod over a newspaper and count the number of white grubs visible. If the grub density is over 10 per square foot treatment will be required.

If you like to go fishing you might want to collect some of them for bait. Otherwise you will have to try and get rid of them by chemical, biological and cultural methods that can be effectively used to manage these pests.  However, you must consider the environment and refrain from using chemicals, biological or cultural substances that might kill off potentially beneficial organisms in the area.

It would be like using a broad spectrum antibiotic to cure a common cold and kill everything else along with the cold virus when something less aggressive would suffice. Eliminating the pest can cause disruptions in the food web of an ecosystem and can seriously damage it. The risks and benefits of the pesticide must be determined prior to using it. Correct timing and application are also essential for successful control. It is important to read and follow the directions and safety precautions when using chemicals. However the use of these chemicals is not encouraged due to the potential environmental threat they pose.

If your lawn or garden seems to be badly infested you can obtain a rough estimate of the Japanese beetle population by using mechanical traps for capturing the adult beetles. Japanese beetle traps consist of a pair of crossed planks fitted with a clear plastic bag placed under the junction of the planks and baited with floral scent, pheromone, (a chemical compound, produced and secreted by an animal that influences the behavior and development of other members of the same species) or both. They a re clumsy fliers and fall into the bag when they hit the planks. However, studies done at the University of Kentucky suggest that the traps attract more beetles than they actually trap. They damage plants by skeletonizing the foliage consuming only the leaf material between the veins.

Another, perhaps safer control would be to employ biological means by using agents   such as parasites, nematodes (tiny worms) and fungi can be used to control Japanese beetle populations. Some of these control agents are commercially available, and though they take longer to produce the same results as insecticides, biological control agents last longer in the environment and have no adverse effect on the environment.

Diseased and malnourished plants are susceptible to attack by beetles. Therefore plants and crops should be kept healthy. Also prematurely ripened fruit should be picked off plants as the odor tends to attract Japanese beetles. This includes planting resistant plant species and removing the more susceptible ones. Homeowners and cultivators should have a well dispersed variety of plants that favor beetle resistant plant species in order to reduce the level of damage.

Precaution should be taken if they are captured. Stepping on them or other wise crushing them could result in producing a most offensive odor that is not easily quelled.

Although these control techniques and procedures will not completely eliminate the Japanese beetle they will help to keep populations under control and minimize the damage they inflict. In certain areas of the country where the infestation is abundant people should also be aware of the pest control methods they use and of the costs and risks associated with them. In some states or counties community efforts such as cooperative pest management programs can go a long way in suppressing Japanese beetle attacks.

Cascading Waterfalls

Great Water Feature Ideas That Can Turn Your Simple Garden into a Paradise

We all know for a fact that a great number of people already have an idea on how they can make their garden stunningly beautiful. However, most gardens are more or less the same and they eventually become boring to look at. It somehow becomes monotonous and the water feature looks like they have been copied off a magazine, repeatedly.

A great garden idea with a water feature would be creating a Japanese garden. Japanese gardens emit that certain peaceful aura. It is very simple but also very unique and will give your home a very sophisticated and elegant look. The great thing about Japanese gardens is that the elements in it are artistically placed with one another that it becomes an epitome of simplicity and design, not to mention that it is also very relaxing.

If you want to create a Japanese garden in your own backyard, then you would be more than glad to know that there are several ways and means for you to be able to do so. And, you will see that with the right elements and design, you will be able to achieve elegance with a touch of your personal style.

With a Japanese garden, you have to remember that it needs to have both art and meaning. Each element in it should have a story to tell, which in turn will have a wonderful effect on the people which would be visiting the garden. Traditionally, Japanese gardens have water features, such as a small pond or even a water stream.

Water features in your Japanese garden will make your garden look more peaceful and also in tune with the environment. One modern feature that you should definitely have in your Japanese garden would be a cascading waterfall.

You need to know that cascading waterfalls are constructed where the water can fall to the surface and it will have several curves. Being the designer of your own garden, you can be very creative on how your waterfalls curve until it reaches the bottom, which will eventually give you the desired effect.

The great thing about these waterfalls is that it isn’t only aesthetically pleasing to look at. The sound of falling water has that calming effect that is more subtle than a real waterfall.

The hum of falling water has that certain rhythm that is close to a mystical harmony. For that nighttime effect, you can install a halogen lamp beneath the waterfalls. When you turn the light on at night, you will find that the waterfall will be twice as beautiful to look at.

Cascading waterfalls in Japanese gardens will definitely provide you with a peaceful and calm environment in your backyard. With it, you will be creating your very own sanctuary where you can meditate or simply relax.
 

Tips on Landscaping With an Outdoor Water Feature in Your Backyard

As an avid gardener and homeowner, you probably want something in your property that has the power to increase the value of the land as well as provide you with something that can make your property look more beautiful. If this is what you want, then you definitely would want to get an outdoor water feature custom built or installed in your property.

Water features can include a pond, waterfalls, fountain, or even a small stream. Whatever it is you want created in your backyard, you can be sure that water features can really enhance the look of your property as well as your backyard garden.

Even if you are not one of the lucky ones who have a natural water feature in their backyard, you can still create a beautiful water feature using some of the tools and water feature kits available today. Or, if you have extra cash lying around, you can always hire a professional landscape garden designer. They will be able to provide you with a beautiful water feature that will truly enhance the look of your backyard or your entire property.

You have a lot of options when it comes to choosing an outdoor water feature for your garden. You can get wall fountains for your patio or even a pond with a waterfall that can provide you with the gentle and soothing sound of trickling water.

Or, you can also install a simple bird batch and bring all kinds of birds in your region into your garden. You can also put a fish in your pond, such as the Japanese Koi fish or a gold fish. If you have a large garden, you can also install a large statue fountain and give your garden that ancient Greco-Roman look.

Another great water feature and landscaping idea for your garden is developing a Japanese garden. The simple beauty of a Japanese garden is so popular among a lot of people today. The reason is that it’s so simple yet very elegant and it provides a relaxing atmosphere to anyone visiting the garden.

These are just some of the possibilities that you can create in your backyard garden. With water features, you will be able to make your garden look more striking and also let you have your very own personal sanctuary where you can relax and take it easy after a hard day at work.

However, you need to remember that you have to properly position the water features you install in your backyard garden. Installing one is more complicated as it may seem and it is highly recommended that you seek the advice of a professional landscape artist first especially if your project is exceptionally an ambitious one.
 

Organic Insecticides

Organic insecticides are made from by avoiding harmful chemicals. You can get hold of organic pesticides from the local stores. When purchasing organic insecticide, you need to check for the label which gives you a sign of approval. Apart from that you can also make organic pesticides from your own home. This is cost effective and healthy too for the environment. There are so many ways in which you can make organic intestacies with the help of day to day products which are available at home. Organic pesticides are the safest way of fighting pesticides. Chemical insecticide do more harm rather than curbing away pests, often they also kill useful insects too. The origin of insecticide was to protect our crops, time and produce food which is healthy for everyone. However the disadvantages of insecticides have over ridden the advantages. Unlike organic insecticides, chemical insecticides fully stop the growth hormones of plants.

On the other hand organic insecticide are made out of insecticides that is retrieved from plants hence reduce the need for using chemicals. Very often we tend to forget that before the invention of chemical insecticides, plants use their own chemical mechanism to shield themselves against pests. These organic insecticides are less harmful to the plants as well the animals surrounding it.

Organic insecticides will give you fresh organic food which is less harmful to your health. You could be rest assured with having to feed your loved ones with organic food. The taste and the appearance of fruits or vegetables grown with the help of organic insecticide tend to make them look fresher and healthier. This is quite opposite in comparison if you take a fruit or vegetable which is grown with the help of chemical insecticides. They contain full of in toxic chemicals.

Apart from the good side to organic pesticides, you also get the disadvantages. Since the use of organic insecticides is a naturally made spray, this may not quite agree with your pets. You need to be extra cautious when your pets are around the garden.

With the help of organic insecticide, you do not have to worry about those horrible pests or have to allocate a lot of your precious time trying to make your garden look appealing. It’s simply a call of nature; your garden will look fresh as ever. You don’t have fret over your kids coming to contact with harmful insecticides. Instead you could sit back and enjoy. Organic insecticides also save you on your budget, you do not have to purchase insecticides every now and then or call for pest control. Organic insecticide can be made from using products that are freely available around your house such as alcohol, garlic, cloves and the list is endless.
 

Know What To Look For When Buying Rural Property

Country living is increasingly popular but rural property buyers must be cautious.

With food and energy prices soaring and population centers exploding; many people who possess a pioneering spirit are exploring outlying rural areas so they can create a new homestead. Many intrepid individuals are buying land to hold for now, and gradually planning to build on it and move there at some later point in their lives.

However, unlike buying a generic house in a typical subdivision, country living involves analyzing various factors before one even plants the first stakes and tomato plants in the ground. With urban properties you there's no urgent need to concern yourself with water rights, boundary lines, property access, utilities, or hard-up bulls. When looking at rural properties there are vital areas that should be considered before making that purchase. Some important factors to consider are:

Climate:

We often take climate for granted when living in an urban area as it involves little more than looking out the window to see whether short sleeves or umbrellas are in order. Is it hot, cold, wet or dry?

In the country it can be a different experience. Sure, the sun glistening off the morning dew can take on a whole new meaning, but so does a torrential downpour of rain that makes the road to your home impassable or transforms your lovely green meadow into a big brown mud pit.

If the area is prone to freezing temperatures, then clearing a long dirt road of three foot snow drifts is a dilemma that needs to be considered.

Forces of nature can also affect the property values and insurance rates. You’ll also want to consider variations in temperature, humidity, rain, hail, snow, drought, floods, lightning, dust storms, tornadoes, and hurricanes. It pays to be aware of how the area is affected by all four of the seasons.

Water:

Without access to water, even the most beautiful land is a non-starter. If the property does not have access to a sufficient water supply, then it may render the property nearly worthless. After all, just one person can use 50-100 gallons per day, and a robust vegetable garden might use nearly as much.

In rural areas the expense and effort can go much farther than the simple turn of a faucet tap. Simply getting running water can require a generator, pump, pipeline, holding tank, and a well.

You may be informed that everyone has wells in the area but that is no guarantee you’ll find underground water. And drilling wells can be a hit or miss proposition, with large costs involved, only to end up either not finding water, or that it’s been contaminated by pesticides.

Finally, don’t be misled by rushing rivers and surging streams when exploring properties in the spring and early summer, as this is likely the peak flow rate for the year.

Land:

When looking at a site for building your country house you must determine soil conditions, drainage patterns, slopes. For example, surface soils that expand and contract during freezing temperatures or do not drain properly can devastate the house’s foundation.

Of course soil conditions will also impact your gardening or farming plans. Areas with lots of wild vegetation can indicate good top soil conditions. On the other hand, soil that is parched and light in color and the roots of trees and bushes have been exposed indicate that your topsoil is eroding.

Access:

It’s important to know your rights with regards to access to the property. In certain cases, you may need to gain entry to your property by using an easement or right-of-way. This gives you the right to travel across property owned by another person. Use of this entry way could require negotiations and legal papers, so it’s essential to know about this before committing to a property.

Another factor to consider with property access is emergency response times. Larger emergency-response vehicles such as a fire truck may not be capable of traversing over small or poorly maintained roads or an ambulance may not readily find a poorly marked parcel.

Boundary Lines:

In order to minimize boundary line disputes, most states have implemented laws that state you must have a fence to keep roaming animals off your property.

If you do not have an appropriate fence installed per local regulations, and the neighbor's big burly bull wanders onto your property and tramples your tomatoes and dents your Dodge, you’ll have no legal recourse. Most rural property fanciers never conceive of this until after the fact.

In order to avoid litigation, you must perform the legal research to stay abreast of property statutes.

Zoning:

Many states have zoning laws which mandate that rural landowners accept all the activities and operations of neighboring farmers and ranchers, including smelly cow manure and dream-ruining roosters. Urban-escaping property owners must accept these disturbances as long as they are operating within the constraints of the law.
 

PLANTING SOLUTIONS

The big question has to be what type of soil do you have now? Is it sandy soil or is it clay soil? When planting trees and shrubs in sandy soil, you must incorporate some type of organic matter to help hold all of the moisture that you can. In heavy clay soils, it is better that you use the same clay soil because you are creating a planting hole that may not drain well.

The addition of organic matter will act like a sponge and may result in a dead plant because of too much water in the root area.
Flower areas must have a well prepared soil mix. Soil, manure, nature helper or any local organic material that is available in your area.

 Mix the soil and materials well and I like to raise or mound the flower area because it adds to the landscape look. After planting the flowers, mulch with mini-bark or other mulch material to help hold moisture and help to maintain a more even temperature.

Perennial and ground cover areas should have a good soil mix for proper growth. The soil needs to be loose by incorporating organic materials. Thoroughly mix the soil and the organic together before planting. With a good soil mix, you have happy plants for years to come for your enjoyment.

Pruning

As spring approaches, Pruning has to be a must chore to do before new growth begins. Trees can be worked on to making sure crossing branches are removed. thinning out branches that will never be a part of the main shape of the tree.

Suckers are wild growth stem which are growing from ground next to the trunk or they could be growing off a branch up in the tree/straight up. They need to be removed to help the tree appearance.

Flowering shrubs need to be cut back and thinned out by removing 2 or 3 cane all the way back to the ground.

When pruning, remember that where you make the cut is where the new growth will take place. Hand shears, lopper shears and a small tree saw are your main tools for the pruning task. Hedges shears are alright for the final shaping or for trimming a formal hedge.

Don't use them for all of your pruning work. Remember if you prune only on the outside edge of the plant that is where the new growth will take place.

Using only a hedge shears, the plant over time will form a very thin layer of foliage and the center of the plant will be dead looking with no foliage. Your plant will begin to look like a piece of molded concrete. Let your plants look like they should, just reduce their size.

 LANDSCAPE LIGHTING

1. When buying landscape lights buy quality!!!

 2. Quality light should provide light without seeing the source. They should not shine at you. They should up light a small tree, down light a flower area, walk or steps or maybe all three.

3. Low voltage lighting will be your choice for residential landscape use.

4. Up lights include different small fixtures that have 35w to 75w bulbs. They have a soil spike included or they may be sold separately to install the fixture at the base of a tree. Adjust the angle of the fixture to light area of the tree that you want. Larger tree may require two fixtures.

5. Flower area lights would include down lights or mushrooms types. They come in different heights and sizes of the fixture top. Select the proper bulb size from 10w to 20w depending on the desired light.

Landscape lighting can provide safety around the home as well as a great new dimension to your landscape. Night time beauty that you won't believe and you will enjoy your home landscaping even more

What is required to light up your landscape?

1. Select the fixtures.

2. Determine the amount of watts your fixtures will be using.

3. Based on the total watts, select the transformer for your job. Transformers come with a electric eye or a clock to turn the lights on and off. The clock type is generally cheaper to buy. The Transformer is most costly item to buy, but you must have it to run the lighting system.

4. Low voltage wire size will depend on the number of fixtures and the length of the wire needed. Your supplier should be able help you select the proper wire size for your project. Use silicone wire nuts to water the proof the connections. 5. You must have outdoor electric outlet for the hook- up.
 

My Plant Choice

Iceplant - Delosperma floribundum

Starburst Iceplant is one variety that with a abundant show of flowers all summer and into late fall. If you have a dry spot in your landscape, Iceplant could be your answer. It is also great in window boxes, planters, retaining wall planter area and around the mail box.

The brilliant orchid-pink blooms with a bright white center really put on a great show. My clients love this plant. It needs full sun, dry, average good garden soil. The succulent foliage grows only 4 inches and will spread out at least 18 inches in diameter. Grow well in zones 4 - 9. They are usually sold in 4" pots.
 

Dealing with Rose Diseases

To make sure that your prized roses remain in the best of health, simply follow these tips.

1. Black Spots on Leaves

This disease is commonly known as black spot. Black spots appear as circular with fringed edges on leaves. They cause the leaves to yellow. Remove the infected foliage and pick up any fallen leaves around the rose. Artificial sprays may be used to prevent or treat this kind of rose disease.

2. Stunted or malformed young canes

Known as powdery mildew, this is a fungal disease that covers leaves, stems and buds with wind spread white powder. It makes the leaves curl and turn purple. Spray with Funginex or Benomyl to treat this fungal disease.

3. Blistered underside of leaves

Known as rust, this disease is characterized by orange-red blisters that turn black in fall. It can survive the winter and will then attack new sprouts in the spring. Collect and discard leaves that are infected in fall. a Benomyl or Funginex spray every 7-10 days may help.

4. Malformed or stunted leaves and flowers

This is caused by spider mites. They are tiny yellow, red or green spiders found on the underside of leaves where they suck juices. The application of Orthene or Isotox may help in treating this infestation.

5. Weak and mottled leaves with tiny white webs under them

This is caused by aphids. They are small soft-bodied insects that usually brown, green or red. Often clustered under leaves and flower buds, they suck plant juices from tender buds. Malathion or diazinon spray may help roses to survive these bugs.

6. Flowers that don't open or are deformed when they open.

Thrips could be the reason behind this problem. They are slender, brown-yellow bugs with fringed wings that also suck juices from flower buds. Cut and discard the infested flowers. Orthene and malathion may also treat this problem.

Remember that roses are hungry feeders that require much fertilizer to become healthy bushes.

     GRASS DYES -- COLORING YOUR LAWN

Each year questions are raised about how to keep grass green during the winter months-especially Bermuda, Zoysia, and Centipede.  Actually, this can be rather easy thing to do.  You have two choices paint the grass green or over seed it with temporary cool-season grass like Annual Rye Grass.  Please note that Annual Rye Grass seed may contain some perennial rye that may persist in the lawn long after the winter months to give the lawn a raged look.  Annual Rye Grass is supposed to die off as the summer heat approaches.

Coloring compounds for grasses are not new.  Several have been used for a number of years.  One of the earliest compounds was Malachite Green a common dye.  Cost has always been a major draw back.   Estimated cost for dyes could be as low as $30.00 Per acre to over $500.00.  The second cost factor is how green is your desired look.

I recently was in a subdivision where several lawns had been sprayed by the largest lawn care company in the USA. No it was a dyed lawn, it was a dye that they are now using with weed control applications to see where they have sprayed.

Here is one chemical supply for commercial applicators: Green Lawinger is the professional’s way to keep the natural appearance of turf which

is dormant, damaged or discolored.  It is an environmentally friendly permanent green pigment.  The liquid formula is easily applied with most types of sprayers.  Keep turf looking fresh for 10-14 weeks or until you mow it away.  By adjusting the mix water ratio you can control the color shade for your turf.  One gallon covers 4,000 to 12,000 square feet depending on the type of grass and color of turf desired.  It can also be used to color a divot and give it a natural green appearance.

TODAY’S NEGLECTED

        LANDSCAPES

Dirty, crowded, overgrown and stressed out-half dead. No,  this isn’t a typical city or village. This is the typical American Home Landscape.

They have no design, totally disorganized and over planted, with little or no maintenance. No maintenance usually means that plants are now 10 ft. Tall across the front of the house, our lawn is half bear and the rest is a weed patch.

It is funny that we all work hard to buy that first home. We take great care of the landscape and the home, after 10 years, a heavy work schedule and tons of kid activities not enough time and don’t seem to care how things look any more attitude.

Our home is a mess and later the subdivision becomes run down is a mess also.  Is this part of our normal life cycle. Build, run down, rent, tear down and rebuild.

Design  -  Build  -  Maintenance for improved property values and stable neighborhoods. Design your landscape to increase in value over time not decrease in appearance. 

A good designer knows, what plants to put where so the plants fit the design of the home. Landscaping is suppose to enhance the home's
Architecture. The designer should be capable of making the home fit into its local micro environment and frame it like a picture.

 Design is not about showcasing different odd plants that you might like.  It is making a pleasing picture with your home as the center piece.

Choosing and Planting

 Perennials



Perennial flowers are strong, local flowers that come back every year without having to replant or do any extra work. During their off seasons, the flowers and stems die back and you can hardly even tell the plant is there (rather than just dying and looking like hideous brown clumps in your garden). When it’s time to bloom, entirely new flowers shoot up where the old ones were.

Before deciding whether to put in perennials or not, you need to make sure that your soil has proper drainage. If the water stays saturated for long periods of time, you should build a raised bed. To test, dig a hole and fill it with water. Wait a day, and then fill it with water again. All traces of water should be gone within 10 hours. If the hole isn’t completely dry, you will need to build a raised bed.

Picking your perennials can be a complicated process. The goal should be to have them flowering as much as possible during the year, so you should create an outline of the year. Research the different types of flower you want, and create a timeline of flowering. If you plan it right, you can have a different type of flower blooming at any point in the year. Getting just the right mixture of plants can give your yard a constantly changing array of colors.

When you go to buy the plants from your local garden center or nursery, you might be able to find a custom plant mixture for your area. This takes the really tough research part out of the job. Usually these blends are optimized for the local climate, and do great jobs of having flowers always grow in your yard. If one of these isn’t available, you can ask the employees what they think would be a good mixture. They should be happy to help you put something together which will be optimal for whatever you desire.

You should definitely use mulch when planting perennials. This will reduce the overall amount of work you have to do, by reducing the amount of weeds and increasing the water retention. Bark or pine needles work great, I have found, and depending on the rest of your yard you might have them on hand at no charge. As for fertilizer, you should use it sparingly once your plants start to come to life.

When you actually go to plant the plants, you should put them in small, separate clumps according to the directions. This is because they tend to spread out, and if you have too many too close together then they will end up doing nothing but choking each other out. As you plant them, throw in a little bit of extremely weak fertilizer. In no time at all you should start to see flowers blooming up.

Building an Arbor

It may difficult to believe, but building an arbor for your landscape can actually be quite inexpensive. If you keep the arbor small, to a two-post size, you can have a very attractive landscape feature for a small cost. Even the novice landscaper can build a small arbor without too much trouble in about two days (three at the most). It can be a very rewarding project that provides a sophisticated sense of beauty to your over all landscape design.

Essential to building your arbor is thinking of it as five distinct phases. This will help you break the project down into doable goals and help you accomplish the task better. Breaking projects down into sections also aids the landscaper, as he or she will find that the task does not seem so daunting when done in bite-sized pieces. Additionally, a sense of accomplishment at the end of each stage can help the landscaper stay motivated throughout the project.

The first layer is to prepare the site for concrete placed under ground to secure the structure. In order to lay the concrete, you need to first get some things out of the way. Dig two holes where you want the posts to stand. The holes should be one inch wide and three inches deep. Put half an inch of gravel or crushed stone inside the holes. This will help water drain away, preventing cracks in the concrete. Set one post in each hole and lay a board on top of them. Use a carpenter’s level to determine whether or not your posts are standing at equal heights. Adjust, if necessary, until the level shows that your posts are equal in height. You can use scrap lumber, nailed to the posts, to form temporary stabilizers.

The second layer is anchoring your arbor posts (they should be 4x4 posts) into the concrete. Before doing this, check again for equality in height with the stabilizers in place and make your adjustments to the stabilizers to adjust the height. Next, mix your concrete using concrete mix and water from a garden hose in a wheelbarrow; a shovel stirs the concrete to mix it well. Pour the concrete to fill each of the holes and allow at least a day for the concrete to dry. You can remove the stabilizers after the concrete has hardened.

Layer three of building your arbor consists of laying two 1x6 pieces of wood along the sides at the top of the posts. These crosspieces should be perpendicular to the posts, and they will be opposite each other, one on the inner side and one on the outside. This creates a sandwiching effect for the tops of the arbor posts, as they are surrounded by the 1x6 pieces of wood. If you would like, you can cut designs into the ends of your crosspieces with a jigsaw for a piece of added flair.

The next layer, the fourth, consists of using 4x4 rafters to lie on top of your 1x6 crosspieces. These will be perpendicular to the crosspieces, and parallel to the line of the posts. There are five of them, only four inches long, so you will need to cut your 2x4s into pieces of the proper length. They should also be notched so that they fit tightly across the crosspieces. Notching can help you adjust for level differences in the rafters as well.

The final layer is the actual assembly of the arbor. Making sure that everything is properly aligned can help you as you bore the holes necessary for the arbor construction. You will need bolts that will go through the posts and the crosspieces on either side, making sure that the one bolt holds all three pieces of wood together. Additionally, you will need to secure the rafters in place and add any finishing touches you would like to add.

Different plans for simple arbors exist, with variations on different themes and looks (using similar principles it is possible to build an arbor that has four posts). Looking on the Internet for plans and instructions is very simple, and can help you find an arbor that would complement your landscape design. Once you have found that, acquiring the lumber is simply a matter of searching for a good deal in lumberyards or warehouses. It is possible to get your wood for $30 to $40, and most of the other tools needed are commonplace and usually found around the house or easily rented. Once you have your arbor, you can use it as a backdrop for intimate weddings and for entertaining. An arbor can quickly become one of the focal points of a classy landscape.

How to Start a Fruit and

 Vegetable Garden

Vegetable gardening can be a very rewarding experience. But if you've never had a vegetable garden before, the task can seem overwhelming. Here are several easy ways to start your first fruit or vegetable garden.

First, some vegetable gardening basics. Most vegetables need full sun, well-tilled soil, and the right fertilizers to bear fruit (or vegetables). Using the wrong soil enhancements will cause your plants to produce leaves and flowers, but little fruit. Most vegetables need long and deep water - water the roots, not the leaves. Pick your harvest regularly to encourage more fruit or vegetables. Finally, know when to plant, and when to harvest. This information will be found on the seed packet or the plant container. As you gain more experience, you will be able to rotate crops based on how early they mature.

One of the easiest ways to begin to grow vegetables is in a container. Buy your plant from a good nursery - don't try and start with seeds. Select a planter large enough to hold the full grown plant, and fill with potting soil made for vegetables. Follow the directions on the plant container for watering and sunlight needs. Plants that do well in containers include tomatoes, strawberries, herbs, and peppers.

Another easy way to start a garden is to pick a few easy vegetables to grow, and start with plants, not seeds. You will need to choose a sunny area of your yard to prepare. Use a tiller to break up the soil, and add organic material if your soil has a lot of clay. Then, decide what plants you will grow. Once you know how big the mature plant is, you can figure out how many you can grow in the space you have prepared. Plants that are easy to grow include tomatoes, squash, peppers, herbs, cucumbers, and strawberries.

Trees and shrubs can also be an easy way to start fruit gardening. Again, you will begin with a plant. In this case, however, you need to take a little more time preparing the soil. Some berries, like blueberries, need a very acidic soil to grow well. Raspberries need a lot of space to grow and will usually multiple fairly rapidly. The easiest way to begin this project is to choose which fruit you want to grow, and research exactly what kind of soil and environment they need. Start with one plant or tree, and once you are growing that successfully, add another variety. Because you only plant them once, not year after year, the time you spend to plant them correctly will pay off in the long run. Plants to consider include apple or peach trees, or blackberry and raspberry bushes.

Seeds are usually more difficult to start a garden with than plants. But, there are some seeds that easier than others. Carrots, lettuce, and peas are all easy seeds to plant and harvest. You can plant the seeds directly in the ground, and keep them well-watered until they sprout. Thin according to the package directions, and harvest at the proper time.

There's nothing better than fresh from the garden produce, and hopefully these ideas will help you start an easy vegetable (and fruit!) garden.

Additional Helpful

 Information!

http://www.hydroponichomegardening .com

http://www.my-gardening-site.com

http://www.earthfriendlystores.com

http://www.my-gardening-site.com/DoItYourselfGardening

http://www.download-super-mall.com/Biofuels

http://www.homeremodelsite.com

http://www.my-gardening-site.com/EasyGardening

http://www.my-gardening-site.com/LandscapeGardening

http://www.satelliteradiocenter.com

http://www.bestvacationplans.com

 

Rose Cones may not save your roses!! If you are going use them make holes around the top as shown.

 

Search plant database:

 Link Market - Free Link Exchange, Link Building and Link Trade Directory
Have you ever tried to exchange links, link building, or trade links? Was it hard? Use link market instead; - it is easy to use, free and very smart. It will save you hours of work.

Cottage gardens are English in origin and were built by workers who lived in cottages and these gardens provided food and herbs. They also planted beautiful flowery plants for decoration like perennials or bulbs. Watering and weeding efforts were reduced as plants were planted very closely and in abundant sunlight. Flowery plants like hollyhocks, delphinium and daisies, which are not seasonal, are the cottage garden favorites.