homes

October 26, 2009

October Transplanting Time

Perennials - Perennials should be cut back after blooming and reset this month (October). Perennials set now will be established and ready to grow in the spring. Some of the biennials tend to become perennials in our gardens, and occasionally a half-hardy annual lives on and on.

If you have not yet cleaned up all litter or garden trash, be sure it is done this fall. Do not provide a winter home for insect pests.

Chrysanthemums - October is the month of heaviest bloom for this queen of fall flowers. The most important thing to remember is to provide plenty of water for them. They are heavy feeders (which should have been taken care of in September) and heavy drinkers. Visit the fall shows and gardens of chrysanthemums and write down names of varieties you like and try them another year. The fall shows are wonderful places to see the best in the seasonal flowers. Keep a close check on the weather, and before killing frost lift clumps of chrysanthemums and put in the garage or basement for continued bloom. A few may even be potted and kept in the house. An additional month of flowers may be had in this way.

Soil Preparation - In open spaces in the garden, dig the soil deep, adding a little complete fertilizer. Or plant some type of cover crop and turn it under for a green manure. Soil preparation can go on all year in a garden. Just turning the soil will keep it in good tilth.

Miscellaneous - Take cuttings of herbaceous plants like the donkey ears plant and root them for next year’s garden. Many gardeners carry over plants of all kinds like the donkey ears plant simply as rooted cuttings taken during October. The cutting wood should be firm and seasoned, and not soft and succulent, for best results. Plant pansy seeds for transplanting next month. Pansies are the chief source of bloom in many winter gardens. Continue planting the garden lilies started last month.

Visit the countryside and gather seed pods, weeds and flowers for drying. Many interesting materials are available for winter bouquets, and October is the month for collecting and drying them. Divide and replant peonies, or plant new ones, this month.

We’ve created an outstanding resource for you on donkey ears plant. Visit us at http://www.plant-care.com/kalanchoe-donkey-ears-i809.html. Don’t reprint this exact article.

Filed under Garden by Thomas Fryd

Permalink Print Comment

July 17, 2009

Landscape Edging Tools You Can Use

At times the finest home improvements are the simplest ones. Instead of spending thousands of dollars on high-end outdoor installations or lawn service companies, simple landscape edging can attach inestimable value to your lawn and enlarge the curb appeal of your home exponentially. Of course, landscape edging is only a simple project by relative standards, and excellent edging involves more than just throwing down rocks at the outer limits of your lawn.

The intention of using planting bed edging or edger or border is to separate the flower bed, shrub bed or groundcover area from lawn grass and keep grass out of the planting bed; garden edging may also be used to outline and define a specific area in the landscape.

Amongst the most familiar types of edging materials are the wooden cut-offs which come pre-joined in chain-like configuration ready for laying into position. The benefit of using wooden edging is that it blends beautifully with gardens achieving a very natural look. Concrete, stone or brick pavers can be used as garden edging. They are obtainable in a wide variety of colors, shapes and patterns, thus provides a gracious decorative element to most garden themes. Flat stone or level bricks manufacture a softer line. Bluestone and brick are both good quality choices for color and texture. Consider laying lengths of smooth bluestone on both sides of a grass path, or set bricks halfway in the ground in a dogtooth pattern.

Perhaps the least classy edging products are the thin plastic ones that have a rounded top. Thin edging material comes in handy if your path and drive are curved. These materials bend around very tight radius curves. Other popular types include bricking, decorative iron boarders, using other plants to form a mini hedge-like edge and cutting away a small clearing between the lawn and beds. The metal, wood and plastic materials might satisfy your earth-friendly requirement as they could be made from recycled materials.

Curbing machine You can use the landscape curbing machine in a variety of applications that require the placement of durable concrete edging, such as golf courses, parks and recreation areas, water-retention areas, garden borders and miniature putting greens. In addition to decorative landscape curbing, the curbing machines apply to commercial tack-down curbing, ranging from low-profile rollover curbs to standard parking lot curbing. The auger drive provides high-density extruded curbing that eliminates flat spots and weak areas in the curb.

Metal edging frequently comes with clips that are easy to use to secure each piece together. Stone edging is another costly edging material. Stones can be effortlessly used for round or straight beds. They last even longer than metal edgings, though. The prevalent issue with stone edging is that it allows for grass and weeds to grow between each piece.

Landscape edging adds a fastidious look to a landscape project. It helps to classify and protect beds. Edging helps to keep a crisp, clean looking bed. In some situations, like landscaping done near a pond, edging can help to prevent the erosion of the soil. There are edging choices for any budget and any type of project.

Trimmer: The trimmer has a hard-chromed cylinder and fully-caged needle bearing. The trimmer has a debris shield with built-in cut-off knife to achieve optimal line length and a heavy-duty gear case with sealed bearings to prevent moisture, dust or dirt from entering the engine.

Filed under Landscaping Tools by Easy Landscaping Ideas

Permalink Print Comment

July 13, 2009

Stone Landscaping - Adding a creative angle

Locating the right stone

During the process of building your home, the probability of finding suitable rocks and stones in the area is also great. It is also very much possible that you may come across rocks of considerable importance. In case of the premises being located in a rocky terrain, the prospects of unearthing rocks which could adorn the space is on the higher scale.

Places to trade for Landscaping Stones

Towards the procurement of the stones, most of requirements towards buying the appropriate landscaping stones should be reasonably met from any of the local horticulture stockist. Another sphere to be explored is that some of the organizations undertaking landscaping projects could also cater to the requirement along with its home delivery.

Assortment of Shapes and Colors

The stones are also available in uneven formations and sizes. The strong, craggy and jagged appearance of the stones adds to the persona of the individual in the home or office. They could also be custom made to suit your needs in terms of oval, squarish shapes etc. Whatever be your visualization of the finished appearance, stones could definitely find their own place.

Stonewalls as secure mechanism

Another method of putting the rocks and stones to effective use is by indulging in projects by building retaining walls. They have the distinct advantage of providing security and splendor to any landscape. It could be just another option of using stones other than the pathway to your home.

Gardens and Borders

Stone bordering is another fine way to decorate a garden or flowerbed. There are quite a few techniques to allow your thoughts to take wings to add color, variety to the pond or garden by arranging an assortment of stones and rocks.

Identification of the best stones

For some of the best stepping stones and retaining walls for a wonderful landscape are the flagstone and river rock varieties being two prominent kinds. River rock although smaller, is available in a variety of colors and in great quality. To suit to any kind to interior, flagstone can be found in different colors.

The best pick for filling the empty spaces in any landscape is the river rock. By filling the gaps river rock also effectively keeps away the weeds.

Towards the beatification of any office or home landscaping stones would add to the value and splendor in a revolutionary manner.

Read full articles about landscaping equipment and gardening stones available at this web.

Filed under Back Yard, Patios, Walls by Easy Landscaping Ideas

Permalink Print Comment