Lawn Care - Lawn Care Maintenance Tips

• Home
• Build Your Own Sprinkler System
• FREE Lawn Care Secrets

What Works Best In Gardening When Dealing With Shaded Property

July 30th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

When it comes to successful gardening, you are the creator of your design, the master of your art. And it is up to you to determine the best plants which are compatible to your property’s layout, which will appeal to your sense of beauty. One of the first items on your checklist should be to qualify which plants are best planted in contrast to the shady areas of your garden.

If you are confused about what “levels” of shade you should be looking at to get a better idea, below are the three general differences:

1. Some areas may have shade that is considered “light”. If your property is light shaded then you probably have only a few trees that are lightly branched which allows your garden to receive 75% sunlight or more throughout the day.

2. The next level is considered “medium” shade. Some landscape grounds are surrounded by tall structures which may block the sunlight for the better part of the day. This type of shaded area may seem almost gloomy due to the deep shade that covers the area, which at the medium level is at least 50% or more of the day.

3. The darkest level of shade, but that still permits some sunlight, would be considered “dense” shade. Densely shaded areas have very little sunlight, less than 25% of the day. If your landscape is similar to this description and considered to be covered in dense shade, then chances are that you are probably surrounded by very tall buildings and fences, and possibly covered by canopy structures.

Which shade level is best to work with when cultivating perennials?
There is no “better” when it comes to the right shade for your needs. However, if you are concerned about cultivating a garden on your property that is considered to be densely shaded as described above, your best bet is to create a dynamic mulch design which is pleasing to the eye. You could even have a wooden deck built to enhance both the atmosphere and the look of your yard.

Medium shade gardens have a lot more options to work with in terms of choosing the right flowers which can thrive in this condition, such as woodland plants. But of course, it’s best to have the opportunity to work with limited shaded garden areas that have mostly sunlight available. This gives you the best of both worlds. Your garden will have just enough shade to protect those plants which need it from burning, and the perfect amount of sunlight to satisfy all of your flower’s needs.

Why Mulching Can Be Good For Your Garden (Part 2)

June 3rd, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Here are some more benefits of mulching:

1. Mulching controls the growth of weeds in your garden. Not only do weeds make your garden look unattractive and unkempt, but they also rob your plants of necessary nutrients and water that they need to stay healthy. And because a bare soil is like an open invitation for weeds to grow, think of a mulch as a posted sign that says “keep out!”

Some types of mulches are better in controlling weeds than others. Therefore, if weeds are a constant problem in your garden, consider using an organic mulch which is more effective in controlling them. Be careful, however, when choosing your mulch because some types can actually carry weed seeds.

2. Mulching also protects your perennials from extreme changes in temperature. Mulch helps your garden soil by allowing it to slowly warm-up when the temperature gets really hot during the day, especially in the summer, and also for the soil to slowly cool down at night, especially during the harsh, cold winter air. Mulch also acts as an insulator in places that has broad seasonal change of cold and hot.

Envirocycle Composter & Compost Tea MakerSay Goodbye to those messy hours spent in the compost pile, simply give the drum a few turns and your compost remains well mixed. Even better, the base of the composter collects liquid, producing up to five gallons of compost tea with no additional effort! Compost tea is full of nutrients, and is a great way to fertilize vegetables, flowers and even houseplants. Easy Compost Removal removal — simply roll the tumbler to the area where you want the compost, open the door, and remove the compost from the bin. Made of recycled plastic Volume: 7 cubic feet Eight rollers easily spin the tumbler. Ready to Use compost in 2-3 weeks 4-6 Weeks to create under normal conditions. Great for all organic household waste Produce 450 to 900 pounds of compost per year Aeration through top and bottom openings allowing for better animal resistance. Dimensions: 26″” x 20.5″” x 31.5″” Now on Sale! This is the best price on the NETThis Item is in stock and ships within 24 hours!”

3. Mulching enhances the appearance of your perennial garden. Applying mulch to your flower beds makes your garden look complete and aesthetically pleasing, especially if the same kind of mulch is used all around your landscape. Different types of mulch creates different kinds of visual aspects to your garden, depending on your preference and choice of theme. In addition to making your perennial garden look pretty, mulching also prevents dirt from splashing up into the flowers, walls, and walkways, thus, reducing mud spots when it rains.

Selecting The Best Mulch To Use For Your Perennials
There are dozens of materials that are effective and readily available to use for mulching. However, to find out the best one to use for your garden, you need to be familiar with the the different types of them in order to make the best choice. Mulches are divided into three types:

1. Organics: This kind of mulch came from a living material and gradually decomposes. Some examples are straws, compost, grass clippings, and pine needles.
2. Inorganics: Inorganic mulches are inert materials and are sometimes used in conjunction with organic mulches. This includes several types of stones, rocks, gravel, and stone chips.
3. Weed control barriers: This type of mulch can be organic or inorganic and is often used along with organic or inorganic mulch. Examples are woven fabric and newspaper.

Why Mulching Can Be Good For Your Garden (Part 1)

June 1st, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

A mulch is a protective layer of covering that is left on the surface of the ground for the purpose of protecting and insulating the soil, as well as improving the appearance of your garden. There are many types of materials that can be used as mulch. Some of the most common ones are

1. sawdust,
2. paper, and
3. compost.

If you are not very concerned about giving your garden a pleasing appearance or an aesthetic appeal, then you may use just about any type of material that you can find in your house. Some gardeners use their old polyester clothes that they shred into tiny strips while other people use plain old ground rubber tires (a relatively new concept that has yet to be concluded as effective). The point here is that there are dozens of mulch choices that are available for your garden that fits into your design and budget.

Nature is the first one to come up with the concept of mulching and does an excellent job creating its own. For example, trees have a way of producing a natural mulch by collecting their own falling leaves, strips of bark and twigs, needles, and fallen flowers and fruits, and spreading them all around the ground. You’ll also find broken gravels and rocks covering the ground of an unmoved soil.

Mulching, regardless of the type you use, helps by protecting your soil and giving your garden a more attractive appearance. Below are two important ways that mulching benefits your garden.

1. Mulching prevents soil erosion. Soil erosion occurs when water or wind gradually washes away the surface of your soil. Without proper mulching, heavy drops of water from sprinkles and rain breaks into the surface of the soil and removes it. In addition, water erosion also cuts deformed channels through the flower bed. Mulching gives the soil a protective layer that traps the water while letting it flow down underneath the soil where it’s supposed to go.

2. Mulching helps retain moisture in you garden soil. Covering with a layer of mulch slows down the evaporation process (loss of moisture) to your soil by protecting it from extreme heat of the sun, especially during the hot summer months. Therefore, you spend less time watering, which also helps you save money on your water bill.

Microbe Lift Compost Maker A specially formulated blend of highly active micro-organisms, nutrients, and special enzyme systems that will synergistically accelerate the natural compost degradation cycle. 100% natural, environmentally friendly, non-corrosive, non-acidic. Micobe Lift Compost Maker has bio-dynamic composting action which breaks down organic material into compost. It helps prevent yard and garden wastes from overloading landfills. Compost Maker is odorless and will not harm earthworms Converts leaves, grass clippings and other organic matter into beneficial mulch and soil conditioner. Rapidly breaks down organic material into compost. Helps prevent yard and garden wastes from overloading landfills. Will not harm earthworms. Turns grass clippings, leaves and waste into healthy soil-enriching humus.

« Previous Page — Next Page »

Copyright © 2007 Lawn Care - Lawn Care Maintenance Tips at www.TheGreenFingers.com