September 24, 2009
Grass Growing? Mow It The Right Way
One of the weekly activities of most households is keeping their lawn pretty and healthy. Different styles and approaches are employed in taking care of your green outdoor carpet. There are elementary rules that every mower should follow. Here are some must do advises for mowing the correct and safe way.
Always clear the area before you start mowing. It is very important to eliminate hazards and the likelihood of mishaps. Keep children away from all lawn mowing activities at all times. Make sure that none of them are in the mowing area. Never introduce kids to rides in a riding mower as a recreational activity. Children can fall off a mower resulting to serious injuries. They can also interfere with safe unit operation.
Remember to always inspect the area prior to mowing. Take out all debris, rocks and branches from the mowing area. Injuries can befall you or anyone else by flying debris and rocks. They can also inflict damage on your lawn mower costing you a considerable amount of money.
Protect yourself at all times. Goggles to protect the eyes for safety measure is a good idea. For a mowing activity, sandals and sneakers may not be very practical. Wear shoes that have non slip soles and footwear that is sturdy. Slips while mowing can also inflict considerable damage.
Take care of your lungs. Do not start your lawn mower inside your garage or in a garden shed. Keep in mind that burning gasoline produces carbon monoxide which is highly poisonous. Rev up your lawn mower out in the open space where there is lots of fresh air. When adding gasoline, do it out doors also, with the engine turned off of course. Choose a fuel that with at least 87 minimum octane.
Mowing is best done when the grass is dry, and during daytime when vision is better. When approaching blind corners, shrubs, trees or other objects that could obstruct your view, always exercise caution. Cut just a third of the grass’s length every time to keep your grass healthy. You can adjust the cutting length by shifting the mowing deck. Turn the engine off before you do any adjustment.
Make a different pattern every time you cut your grass. You can go from east to west, or north to south, or do it in angles. BY doing this, you can keep your grass healthy and keep the soil from compacting because of your mower wheels.
If you are cutting grass on a hill, mow across it when you are using a walk behind mower, mow across. Do not mow up and down and never pull the mower backwards towards your feet. When using a riding mower on a hill, do the opposite. Command your rig up and down the hill as mowing across would cause you to tip the rig.
People employ different ways to keep their lawns in excellent condition. Always refer to these unfailing basic tips for a wonderful, safe, and accident free greenery.
Filed under Back Yard, Front Yard, Landscaping Tools by Easy Landscaping Ideas
July 24, 2009
Front And Backyard Landscaping
Backyard landscaping is all about making your surroundings look better. When you do it right, it can almost become a science of planting, growing, constructing, and sculpting the area to look its best. All the elements need to be taken into consideration such as climate, presence or lack of wind, lighting, and overall weather conditions to beautify the areas around your house.
The soil that is in your backyard or garden along with the climate will have an impact on what types of plants and flowers you should use. You might also find out what kinds of pests might be a problem and what you will have to do to fertilize and keep everything pest free and growing. Once you have considered these things you will then be able to start putting together a plan of what you want things to look like.
Designing a garden will allow you to pick from a wide spectrum of colors, shapes and sizes of plants and flowers. There are plants that have purple, yellow, blue, pink, and red colors and of course there are also vines and shrubs that have all sorts of looks. You will also need to decide whither you want your trees and plants to be evergreens where they always stay green or whether you want ones that lose their leave at winter time.
Plants and trees can be chosen for functionality as well as looks. Big shrubs and trees can help shade a house from the sun during the summer and hedges can be grown that serve to provide privacy. Natural walls built of plants and shrubs always seems to look better than a wood fence that will grow old and worn looking over time.
For the landscaping of a backyard, on the other hand, other ideas come into play. The more practical use of space is to be considered in a backyard. Front yards are usually for aesthetics and for show. Backyards are living spaces. In a household with children, the backyard could be landscaped as a mini playground for young kids. A house with no kids and plenty of backyard space might consider a wading pool for a cooler house atmosphere. A young couple as homeowners might want an entertaining area for the occasional get-together with friends and family. A busy homemaker might want an herb or vegetable garden in lieu of the flowering plants.
Filed under Back Yard, Front Yard by Easy Landscaping Ideas
July 9, 2009
The Basics Of Using Correct Plant Fertilizers
There isn’t a one size fits all fertilizer that works on all plants. You must learn how to not only pick the right fertilizer, but also how to use it for your selected plant. Fertilizer is key to maximizing the potential that your flowers and plants have, so learning the basics is necessary.
Before even thinking about adding fertilizer to the soil, be sure that your plant is getting food the natural way- through direct sunlight and plenty of water. You can use all the fertilizer you would like, and still not come out with a good result if you err on the water and sunlight distribution. Each plant has its own schedule and limits that you must learn in order to master gardening them.
Some studies have shown that organic fertilizer has been much more efficient in creating healthy produce, so we know that organic fertilizer is a good way to go. With that said, do know that you do have the option of picking a fertilizer with pesticides or chemicals. It is cheaper choosing that route, but you are hurting the environment and potentially your plants.
Fertilizer can come in different shapes and forms. Liquid fertilizer is more quickly taken in by the plant, whereas granular counterparts will dissolve over time as water is added to the surrounding soil. Liquid forms will typically be applied every couple of weeks, while granular forms will release up to 12 weeks or more. Granular forms are the easiest to use, but experts go with more targeted solutions for more control over what their plants take in.
You wont have to be a chemistry major to understand fertilizer types, but it is good to know the three nutrients that are the most well known. Potassium and phosphorous are important for warding off disease and encouraging roots to grow in strength. Nitrogen is key to making the plant a livelier color and growing up with vigor. Not all plants will require each of these nutrients, and feeding too much of one nutrient to a specific plant can spell disaster if you aren’t careful.
Don’t forget to be safe while handling the fertilizer of choice. Some chemical-based fertilizers will be toxic if eaten or exposed to certain body parts. Always handle fertilizer with gloves and protective gear to prevent any unintended contact. Wash hands thoroughly afterward and follow any other instructions to prevent harm to the local environment. Some events such as erosion make it possible to feed the fertilizer into water sources.
Flowers and plants are great to have as a hobby, but for the serious gardener there is a fine science when it comes to fertilizer. Companies constantly do research and development to try and find the best way to grow the next generation of necessary crops, plants, and scenic greenery.
Filed under Garden by Easy Landscaping Ideas
July 6, 2009
Lawn Maintenance: Consider Using Lawn Aerator
If you have never used a lawn aerator you should know that a lawn aerator is a special type of lawn tool that can be used to turn the soil in the lawn.
The lawn aerator should only be used when the soil is damp. The problem could be due to the soil being impacted. Remember that even if gardening is only a hobby, using a lawn aerator can do a great deal toward helping your lawn to be beautiful and healthy. It also makes it possible for earthworms to burrow into the soil, which assists in fertilization of the soil. A lawn aerator can help your lawn to look more beautiful as well as healthier.
When the soil becomes compacted, the grass may begin to slowly suffocate and eventually it is at risk for dying. Furthermore, the aerator should not be used when the lawn is highly wet. This often happens as a result of human activities, like walking playing or driving on the lawn. It should be noted that a lawn aerator should not be used when the soil is very dry. A lawn aerator could be used on a regular basis, particularly during the spring and the autumn.
Using a lawn aerator on a regular basis can result in a lawn that is full of healthy, rich grass. This can be critical to the roots of the lawn while helping the grass to grow and remain healthy. This can be quite important if you want to establish a garden in your lawn. When that is the case a lawn aerator could make it much easier for the lawn to become healthy again.
Aerating the lawn will make it feasible for crucial elements such as oxygen, water and earthworms to reach the soil and keep the plants and grass healthy and strong. Creating holes in the lawn makes it possible for the soil to receive water as well as air. It is also a good idea to use a lawn aerator right before you plant any type of seed as it will help aide the growth process. One of the reasons that a lawn aerator may be required is the fact that the soil can be compacted. Basically, the lawn aerator makes holes in the top surface of the soil.
Many people assume that an unhealthy lawn is the result of insects, but this may not be the case.
Filed under Garden by Easy Landscaping Ideas
