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Lawn Alternatives and Natural Gardens [ March 10th, 2010 ] Posted in » Gardening Advice

From coast to coast the lawn is one the most ubiquitous garden features in the landscape. Though all gardens require some maintenance, lawns require far more than most. Between fertilizing, weekly mowing and other requirements such as aerating and thatching, lawns are among the most labor intensive and chemically drenched types of landscape. While some lawn space may be managed with little trouble, large vast, weed-free lawns should be rethought. Consider the alternative, introducing native plants species into your garden. Reducing the size of your lawn and replacing it with a more low maintenance garden would be an environmentally friendly alternative.


Natural gardens emphasize native plant species of a local environment. Plants which are native to a specific area have adapted to certain site conditions and are generally self sustaining. They’ll need little, if any, fertilizer and no more water than is provided by rain. Natural gardens introduce diversity to the landscape and use trees, shrubs and perennials not found in traditional gardens. They also provide a garden with a sense of place. Lawns are everywhere and it’s often difficult to distinguish a garden in New York from one in Washington even though their landscapes and climates are completely different.


Gardens which draw inspiration from the natural environment are successful because they’re easy to maintain and will thrive even in the most extreme conditions. Planting a natural garden can help restore the landscape, attract a variety of bird species and provide the garden with a wonderful mix of under utilized, interesting plants.


The woodland garden, for instance, is a landscape which focuses on the forest ecosystem. Woodland gardens are low maintenance and provide your garden with a wide range of plants which add seasonal interest. In the dappled shade beneath deciduous trees, perennials bloom profusely throughout the spring months. In the shadier conditions of the woodland garden in summer, the spring floral display gives way to perennials and shrubs with rich varied foliage. Woodland gardens also provide a shady respite from the hot afternoon sun of summer. In the fall, colorful leaves brighten up the garden.


Wildflower meadows are another natural landscape type. Meadows are noted for their easy maintenance, wide diversity of plants, vibrant colors, interesting textures and distinct seasonal changes. Along with these aesthetic benefits there are ecological benefits as well, including the reduced need for maintenance, the creation of a habitat for native species of animals and the fact that wildflower meadows are very effective at trapping airborne pollutants. Meadows are relatively easy to create and need minimal maintenance once established. The reward is a colorful, self sustaining, low maintenance landscape.


All gardens require some sort of care and attention, natural gardens, those requiring less of it, are no exception. As with any garden, you’ll need to deadhead, prune and occasionally weed in order to encourage blooming flowers and healthy growth.


If you’re attached to the more traditional garden setting you can still introduce native trees, shrubs or perennials to your garden. Many of them flower just as beautifully as the ones commonly found in the garden.

Tim Birch is the publisher of GardenListings.com, a Garden Resource site for the gardening enthusiast.

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Garden and Landscape Ideas – Part 2

www.watchmojo.com video on how to decor your garden-ideas for different size gardens

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March 10th, 2010 | 4 Comments

Safety Tips If You Are Operating Trenchers

No matter what types of trenchers you are using, there are risks associated with all of them. Thus, it is required for one to be trained before starting to use trenchers, especially big heavy duty trenchers
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Before starting to use the machine,the very first thing to do is to read the operator’s manuals that come with the machine before starting operating the machine. It is important to understand everything in the manuals completely. The attire for the job is also important. Wear safety attires such as comfortable clothes, safety shoes, safety goggles, hearing protection and safety helmet, or according to the safety attire in the company’s policy.

Checking the machines are also important; check for any loose, broken or missing parts and repair them before starting any jobs. Apart from this, also check that the safety devices on the machines are working properly. For example make sure that the seat belts and the buckles are working fine, warning lights and shields as well. Usually, there are warnings and safety guidelines on the machine itself, such as warning on parts that get hot during operation and take extra precautions while you all are near such parts.

As most tenching tools and machinery are operating based on hydraulic, it is critical to check whether they are leaking or not using a piece of thick-paper or wood. The next step is to check on the radiator coolant. Addition of fuel can only be done when the engine is stopped and has cooled down. As fuels are dangerous and highly flammable, it is important to check that there are no sources of flames around while re-fuelling.

Next, it is advisable to research on the types of soil that you will be working on. This allows you to choose the best trenchers to work with. Apart from the types of soil, you must also check with the authorities whether are there any electric or gas lines at the job site. Although some trenchers are not very tall, it is important to check whether there are any overhead utility lines such as electric cables.

When you have checked everything above, you are ready to operate a trencher. While you are on the trencher, adjust the seat to a comfortable position and then fasten your seat belt. It is both important and mandatory to make sure that there is nothing surrounding you and the machine before starting to operate the machine. Similar to driving, make sure that the controls are in neutral position and the brakes are on.

When you all have started the engine, test all controls to make sure that they are working fine. Start to operate the tenching tools and machinery at slow speed. One important thing to keep in mind is that tenching tools and machinery are designed only for one operator at one time, thus there are no riders allowed during an operation.
Other safety precautions include never make any sharp turns while digging as this might causes imbalance and the machine might topple. For hand-held tenching tools and machinery, make sure that your hands are well away from the chains and augers.

Service and get a quote from Backhoe Service Today.

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March 8th, 2010 | Leave a Comment

Toilet Hire Tips When Landscaping The Home Garden

A plumber can be your toilet hire and fix your sinks and fixtures, but a landscaper can do these things as well as landscaping the home garden by putting in an entire irrigation system into your lawn and garden. You see, the latter needs to know about plumbing before he can provide a sprinkler system to your geraniums. So, if you have a problem with the toilet, hire your landscape designer to do the job.

Because pine trees may need to be watered less than roses, your landscaper will know how to set up your timed sprinkling system. He may even be able to plant a cactus in one area, and a garden of color in another. He can dig the trench for piping, lay the pipe, assemble it using specialized quick-drying glue, and connect it all to your timer box for appropriate watering of your plants.

From flowers, to fruit trees, to gladiolas, your professional will be able to let you know if they will grow richly in your type of soil. Since each area of the country is different, you will need to inquire about which plants will be able to grow well in yours. In some regions, it may not be practical to plant a weeping willow tree, in others gardenias will not grow well outdoors.

You will be surprise at the education he has given himself about soil and different types of fertilizers and amendments. He will suggest different additives, such as bone meal, or green sand, or bat guano. He will amaze you with the choices you have to enhance the growth and beauty of these living things being planted in the ground.

The shades and hues you choose will be the fun part of this setup. If you would like a row of roses of all colors along the side of your home, your landscaper can help you with this, as well as the amendments to the soil and the irrigation system. For greenery, the lawn has many types and colors of grasses to use, and you may select several for different areas of the property. Shrubbery can certainly enhance the grass, and there are variegated shrubs to offset this also. In some areas, pampas grass is used as a burst of red color, although it comes in several shades. It is also an interesting added texture, if you will, to the entire look of the landscape. They also grow very tall and gently flow with the breeze.

Organic, or naturally, may be the way for you to go. Otherwise, some prefer their lawns to be green all year round. In this case, there are fertilizer enhancers to cause this to happen. You can add chemicals to your new growth, and they will grow abundantly. Of course, going green can also mean using all-natural fertilizers and enhancers, and you will most likely get the same results.

So, do not be shy to ask questions. He will need to know exactly what is on your mind and will want to please the homeowner.

If you need to have fixtures or a new toilet installed, such as hose bibs or specialty streams coming from your sprinklers, this is no problem for the man you hire to do this job. He will install the correct size and pressure of the stream, according to the entire plan while landscaping the home garden, and be your toilet hire.

To get your chemical toilet hire or portaloo hire sorted, visit www.nixontoilethire.co.uk today.

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March 8th, 2010 | Leave a Comment

Backyard Landscaping for the Do it your Self Person


If you have always been interested in the topic of landscaping you should learn about it from the experts. While you can read various gardening magazines, the best way for you to learn about landscaping is to take a landscaping class.

You might be surprised to know that landscaping classes are an excellent option. These classes are usually something that people who are interested in botany like to take, as it is a way to implement their love of plants.

You’ll learn about:

* Plant health, soil, and fertilizers

* Servicing garden tractors and other tools used in landscaping

* Creating landscaping designs using shrubs and ground covers

* Specialty landscaping, starting and operating your own landscaping business

* And you may be able to learn it right at home

With the right credentials, you can:

* Work for an established landscaping firm or start your own business.

* Complete your training in as little as six months from today, or take longer if you wish.

If you have a basic knowledge of flowers and plants, that basic knowledge will help you when it comes to learning about the basics of landscaping. If, however, you really do not know much about either, that is not a problem, because a landscaping class will teach you all of the basic knowledge plus more.

There are usually several levels of landscaping classes that you can choose from, in accordance with your current knowledge. The basic landscaping classes will most likely have to do with being able to identify certain kinds of plants, and how they can be implemented into various landscaping designs.

One important thing that you should know about landscaping is that you will need to pay attention to the kinds of plants that work well in your climate. For example, if you like a certain kind of plant, but that plant is only right in warmer climates, and you live in a colder climate, you will need to find a plant that can work with your climate.

Another important thing to learn about landscaping is the quality of soil that you have, because it varies with the climate. The kind of soil that you have should have sufficient nutrients, so you might need to get soil that has all the nutrients that your plants need. If you decide to take a class about landscaping, that should be one of the topics.

While your front yard landscaping is generally going to be about other people and what they see, your backyard landscaping is all about you. Backyard landscaping is one of the most popular methods in improving your outdoor space without spending too much money on materials, labor and other tasks involved in implementing a landscape design.

With backyard landscaping, not only can you achieve an improved overall appearance of your outdoor area, adding landscape elements can also benefit your home by providing environmental functions, increasing real estate value of your home, saving energy costs and adding privacy to your home.

Backyard landscaping can alter a person’s mood and perception because of the environmental feel of the area. As a result, people who work at home can improve productivity from work when they can work on a stress-free environment. Landscape elements in your backyard can have a positive effect on people with illnesses by giving the patient’s mind a relaxing state that speeds up recovery.

The good thing about backyard landscaping is you can take control of sunshine and air purification. By planning the placements of trees, shrubs and other elements, you can improve air circulation in your backyard, while maintaining adequate sunlight to enter your outdoor space. In addition, planting trees can help reduce pollution because plants can control erosion, reduce wind speed levels and noise effects, disperse mist and help in influencing snow deposition.

Backyard landscaping is not just positioning plants in your backyard, it can Save Energy Costs. Backyard landscaping not only provides beneficial effects to the environment and improves overall appearance to your outdoor space, it also helps you lower the costs of electricity throughout the year, even in summer or winter.

Adding trees and shrubs in proper patterns for your backyard landscaping can provide your outdoor space and house with a cooler environment during summer and a hotter surrounding during the winter. The process of plant transpiration absorbs heat from the air and results in cooling the air from water vapor. In addition, trees can shield your home from solar reflection and radiation, reducing the walls and other concrete elements in your backyard to store heat.

When you choose to plant trees that loose their leaves in winter, they help in reducing heat around your property during the summer. On the contrary, planting trees can also help in warming up your property during cold seasons by allowing sun to enter your surroundings. However, you need to consider proper placements of each element you want to add into your backyard landscaping to ensure that everything can function to provide your home with energy-efficient components. With a little investment and careful planning, you can beautify your outdoor space, save electricity costs, add real estate value and reduce air pollution. It is a win-win situation.

Copyright © John 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.

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March 7th, 2010 | Leave a Comment

Save Energy With the Right Landscaping

You are in the process of modernizing your home, and as such you would also like to do some contemporary landscaping. (Contemporary- existing or occurring at, or dating from, the same period of time as something or somebody else). You would really like to do your own landscaping, but are considering hiring professional landscapers because you are not especially familiar with landscaping. So, what you need are some contemporary landscaping ideas.

About Contemporary Landscaping

History: Contemporary landscaping began to emerge in northern Europe during the first half of the 20th century, and combined elements of English landscape gardening with influences from modern architecture. New materials such as wood, concrete, metal and glass, and other non-traditional materials found their way into the creation of this new vitality. Contemporary landscaping utilized variations in scale, time, space and texture to create abstract patterns. Newer designs also created innovations in light and space, often told in color, creating new focal points and visual patterns.

There is actually no one kind of contemporary landscaping, since modern houses love to emulate older styles, especially the English Garden look. If this look appeals to you, consider that for one of your contemporary landscaping ideas.

Most people will say that the point of landscaping is to “beautify” your yard but energy efficient landscaping is a type of landscaping designed for the purpose of conserving energy and to be beautiful.

Remember, if you decide to landscape only one section of the yard at a time, you will still need an overall plan. That’s why when it comes to landscaping put the plan on a plain sheet of paper. So for people who are into landscaping, it is best to have a copy of some of the landscaping books that are available in the market.

Best of all, landscaping books do not just provide techniques and methods that are ideal for the activity, they provide different information regarding plants, the materials to be used, and other topics that have something to do with landscaping. Consider spot and flood lighting that will highlight the rock placement within the landscaping and where you will obtain the power feed for that lighting. Increasingly, homeowners are going to the next level with landscaping, and are investing time and money in outdoor lighting.

Everyone knows that landscaping can enhance the beauty of your indoor or outdoor area, but not everyone is aware that you can use this method to save money for heating, cooling and electricity costs too. Be aware that if you place shrubs and trees strategically in your backyard, you can guarantee a reduction in your bills.

During cold seasons, these shrubs and trees can protect your home from frosty winds, allowing your home to reduce losing heat at a rapid rate. Equally, landscaping can reduce the need for cooling equipment because the trees could provide your home adequate shade. Not only can landscaping beautify your indoor or outdoor area, it can improve residential privacy, increase the real estate value of your home and provide you with a more comfortable living area while saving energy costs. With a little investment, your can benefit from a long-term energy efficient solution that you can perform on your own.

However, if you’re planning to cut energy costs by landscaping, be aware that you need careful planning and implementation of your project to ensure all elements can work to benefit your home.

Steps to Follow

To yield maximum results from your landscaping, you need to consider and implement some energy-saving methods. For instance, some energy commissions recommend using specific trees that could reduce the cooling costs of your home to over 25 per cent. The type of tree you choose to plant in your backyard largely affects how much shade it could provide your home. Ask for recommendations from your local Energy Commission or other landscaping experts about the right tree to plant based on your available area and needs of your home.

Planning how to give shade to your home is an important part of landscaping because it can reduce air temperature inside and outside your home up to 6 degrees. The location on where you plant the trees can also affect the cooling and heating benefits they could provide in your home. Most experts recommend planting trees at the northwest-southwest and northeast-southeast parts of your home. When you are planning to plant vines and vegetables for your landscaping project, make sure to consider air circulation before starting the project. Be aware that improper placement of vines, fences and other elements in your backyard could trap summer heat and increase the need for cooling equipments.

With any kind of elements you wish to add with your landscaping, it is best to plan carefully to ensure that each location and placement will reduce energy costs. With a successful project, not only can you beautify your home, you also reduce bills throughout the year, regardless of the season.

Copyright © John 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.

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March 6th, 2010 | Leave a Comment

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