Ideas for having a wonderful yard

Good landscaping ideas are ones that everyone can make use of. There are many different landscaping ideas and most of them are pretty good but to find the one that is right for your yard’s needs may take some searching. Hopefully this article will help you to find the perfect landscaping idea for your yard and home.

One good landscaping idea for your yard is to use evergreens. The use of these fabulous trees will do a lot for any yard. They will add a stately nature to the feel of your home while keeping it welcoming and warm. Many people like to use deciduous trees in the yard and this is always a good idea but it is the evergreens that will give the yard the structure and the stability that it needs for a good idea for your yard’s landscaping and design.

You need to look for a good landscaping idea like the one above that will benefit you all year round. Deciduous trees don’t have the same appeal in all seasons, most perhaps, but not all. Evergreens on the other hand are always fantastic and they look as beautiful in the winter as they do in the summer and this is why they make for such a great landscaping idea.

Another good backyard landscaping idea is to use hardscape. This is the use of things like rocks, fences and walls. These can make your yard look very interesting during all of the seasons. You can have climbing plants on it in the spring and summer and pretty trees around it that will look great in the winter.

Stone walls are one of these good hardscape landscaping ideas that have really caught on like wildfire. Walls are what will frame the whole home. They can be a gorgeous frame to the glorious painting that is your front and back yard. There are many other reasons to have concrete landscaping such as walls as well. These walls are perfect for keeping your pet in the yard. If you have a dog that is prone to run away then it would be good to consider into this kind of concrete landscaping. These walls are also very good for keeping intruders out. The harder your home is to get into the less likely burglars will bother trying. You can also use a wall to keep your soil in place. If there is a part of your yard that is prone to sliding then you can build a retention wall expressly for this purpose.

You can also use concrete landscaping for many different parts of your yard. Most people use hardscape in their ideas and designs for the walkways and paths that wind through their gardens. This is more for those with larger yards but even if your yard is small these ideas can be really effective. You could put in a wonderful concrete patio that you and your friends could enjoy for drinks or a tea. There is nothing more fun than a little party out on the backyard patio on a nice day.

The best thing about hardscape landscaping is that while it can be functional you can make it look as if it is just there for looks. There is so much you can do with hardscape landscaping as concrete is so easy to work with. You can use concrete landscaping bricks or you can use whole solid slabs. You can even get custom made concrete landscaping stones that are in unique and creative shapes and patters. Take some time and see what all is out there in terms of concrete landscaping, you might just be surprised.

When looking for a good backyard landscaping idea you need to look for all kinds of options and combinations of ideas. There is much more to landscaping than just plants and trees. The key to any great landscaping design is to find a good landscaping idea like this that will keep your yard interesting no matter what time of the year it is.

Landscaping ideas “by the yard”

Searching for the Best Gardening Tools?

Different kinds of gardens require different kinds of garden tools. Hardware stores cater to a wide range of tools with average to good quality. There are shops though, that specialize in the more expensive kind of garden tool that shouts quality. You can find tools like this at your local Garden center. Wherever you decide to shop, here are a few pointers to help you in your decision making.

Do you have small garden or a large one? A small garden will not require the same large equipment that would be of use in an extensive one. A riding lawn mower is unnecessary if you only have a small strip of lawn. Another point to consider is who does most of the gardening? Some tools may be too heavy for use by women.

Pruners
When you buy pruners (secateurs) make sure the blade always stays sharp to avoid damaging the plant. Look for models that have blades that can be sharpened or replaced, models with tension control and with sizes that best fit your hands. Pruners usually cost around $50 - $130. I find there is a difference here. The quality ones stay sharp longer and just work and stand up a whole lot better.

Hedge trimmers
Hedge trimmers or shears are handy - but only if you have a hedge, or plan on growing one. Some hedge trimmers have curved blades to stop branches from sliding out when cut. You can buy manual or electric. If your job isn’t too big I would go with quality manual ones. They are safer.

Forks
Forks are used for turning and aerating compost and breaking up lumps of soil. The cheaper ones are often not strong enough for heavy soil, so go for sturdiness instead of price. Forks usually cost around $30 - $100.

Shovels
A shovel has a scoop blade and is best used to move around dirt and garden soil. A spade has a flat blade great for cutting edges, digging and dividing plants. The edge of a spade should be kept sharpened for clean and efficient cutting and will cause the least amount of damage to plants. These are a basic garden necessity and usually cost from $30 - $50. You can buy expensive ones with shiny blades that look great but don’t work any better than cheaper ones that are given the same maintenance.

Pruning saw
A pruning saw is used for pruning trees and larger shrubs, while pruners (secateurs) are for plants like roses. Pruning saws have a narrow curved blade that fits between stems or branches easily and cuts them as you pull the saw backwards. They are approximately $27- $55. Some are fastened to long poles for trimming small branches from trees. They work great.

Hoes
A chipping hoe is a handy tool for getting rid of small weeds. The Dutch or push-hoe is slightly more user-friendly as the action required to use it does not jar the neck and shoulder quite so much. These must be kept sharp to work easily and properly.

Rakes
A rake is also a basic requirement for the garden. The strong garden rake with the flat head and sharp metal prongs is used for smoothing a garden bed and getting out the last of the bumps and weeds. The plastic leaf rake is used to gather leaves and grass clippings only.

Here are some final thoughts. Gardening tools don't have to be expensive. Flea markets and garage sales can be excellent places to pick up great tool bargains. They may need some TLC but can really be worth the extra effort to get them back into shape. Again think of your garden or the garden of the person you are buying a tool for and buy accordingly. Having the right tool for the job certainly makes a job a whole lot easier and a joy to use.

Gardening Magazines: another great gift for the season

Gardening magazines are a great source of knowledge for all types of gardeners, from beginner to expert. Invaluable for the person new to gardening, a magazine will provide information and tutorials on everything from checking soil types to using garden tools, plant guides and much more. Even the most seasoned gardeners will have a question about their garden once in a while, and you can bet that beginners will be full of questions. Gardening magazines can help with questions that arise involving nearly every aspect of gardening. Not only will gardening magazines give instructions on gardening, they also provide readers with the latest news in the gardening world.

Gardening magazine subscribers are privy to all of the latest information regarding things such as new gardening tools, fertilizers, and pesticides that are introduced to the market. For example, there are always new programs and clubs for gardeners to join, or perhaps a local gardening class that is available. When new tools are produced, such as a new kind of blower or vacuum or new kinds of lawn mowers or tillers that are available, a gardening magazine is the best place to get all of the information. Not only will these magazines tell you about these products, they will also give you options on where to find them and for the lowest costs.

Gardening magazines offer hints and tips on how to rid your garden of those ever pesky insects. They will also discuss the many ways to recognize and fight diseases that may overtake your plants. The information you get from these magazines could be what ends up saving your garden.

Gardening magazines usually come with a gardening maintenance section that will instruct readers on things like how to prune, when to divide, which fertilizers would be better for your plants, and how much to water. They provide simple, easy to understand instructions on everything from how to deal with weeds to planting tulips.

Gardening magazines give ideas about landscaping and, if enforced, could change the entire outlook of your yard or flower garden. Gardening magazines are loaded with not only landscape ideas, but with beautifully designed living spaces that rival the most exquisite living rooms. Cozy fireplaces grace patio corners, built in grills and outdoor ovens create casual and relaxing eating atmospheres, and pools surrounded with tropical themes give an instant vacation feel to the tired worker returning home. Garden designs can be difficult at best, and magazines can supply gardeners with inspiration and ideas on what will look good and suit their area.

Garden magazines also give subscribers the chance to write questions to be published so that they can get a specific answer from a gardening professional. They also provide gardeners with the chance to share their knowledge and expertise with the public by submitting articles of their choice for publication. One of the highest honors in gardening is to have your lawn or garden displayed in a magazine for everyone to see. It is definitely the pinnacle of gardening.

Gardening magazines provide gardeners with inspiration, ideas, instruction, and even entertainment. Many times gardening magazines will also provide readers with coupons that they can use to purchase items that will either improve, enlarge, or enhance their gardens. Gardening magazines are a primary source for both beginner and experienced gardeners everywhere to get all the latest news and age old gardening traditions at the same time.

Gardening magazines are monthly garden inspiration and are a great option for thoughtful Dad, and yes, it's a gift that keeps on giving. Here is a list of gardening magazines you might want to consider getting a subscription to.

Magazines “by the yard”

Gardening Gifts for the Season

Gardening has become one of the most popular hobbies people have these days, and you probably know a gardener or two who would love a gardening gift for their upcoming special occasion. There are hundreds of gardening gifts to buy for both the beginner and expert gardener, and the great thing about gardening gifts is they can be bought just about anywhere: online, nursery, feed store, farmer’s market, even your local department store or grocery store.

Gift for a beginner

If buying a gardening gift for a beginner, an instructional or informational book is always a good idea. Books like this will give tips on how to eliminate gardening nightmares like disease, insects, and weeds. They will tell gardeners which kind of plants thrive in different climates, as well as how much sun, water, and nutrients various types of plants require. Books like this can be purchased at nurseries, online, or at your local bookstore. If your gardening friend is a “computer nerd”, a gardening information CD might be a better gift for them than a book.

Plants are always great gardening gift
Whether giving to a novice or expert professional, a plant is always a great gardening gift.
1. Whether buying the traditional gift, like a poinsettia at Christmas, or just some random plant, a plant is sure to be greatly appreciated and enjoyed.
2. Another idea is to buy seeds or just a bulb for someone to transplant. Giving a perennial would be a gift that keeps on giving.
3. Theme gardening gifts using plants can also be loads of fun. An herb can come with an attached card including a recipe using that herb. A plant that produces nectar and will attract butterflies can be coupled with a book on butterflies.

Gardening tools

Possibly the best and most common, gardening gift is gardening tools. This can be anything as simple as a hoe or rake to something more high-tech like an electric blower or vacuum. These are good for removing debris, leaves, or grass from driveways and side walks. Other favorites are gloves, hedge trimmers, and sprinklers.

A calendar
An excellent gardening gift that is rarely thought of is a calendar. Calendar’s can serve dual purposes; it can be decorative with beautiful gardening themes, or can be used to keep up with the moon phase that affects most all plants. A farmer’s almanac is also a good idea, it is full of information regarding the weather, moon phase, when to plant, when to prune; it is the best guidebook to gardening there is.

Gift certificate
The ultimate gardening gift for any gardener is a gift certificate to a nursery or store where gardening tools or plants are available. This way, your friend can get any tool they do not have in their collection, or any kind of plant their heart desires.

Gift giving is a difficult task at best, but if you have gardeners for friends, a gardening gift is an easy way out and makes your gift buying simpler. As we have seen gardening gifts can range anywhere from tools to actual plants and with gardening gifts you have a wide range of costs to choose from as well. You can give an inexpensive pair of gloves or an expensive power tiller. So the next time you go gift shopping, think about a gardening gift for your friends with green thumbs!

Gifts “by the yard”

Fall is the ideal time for planting new trees

Planting shade trees in your landscape this fall will allow you to bask in the glow of their autumn leaves year after year. From the red and orange autumn leaves of maples to the yellow autumn leaves of aspens, don't miss out on the colorful displays you'll get by planting these magnificent fall foliage trees!

The shade from these trees also cools hot streets and parking lots in the summer. Cities are "heat islands" that are 5-9 degrees hotter than surrounding areas. Shade trees that are properly located on your property can cut summer utility bills by 20 percent or more. For energy efficiency it is best to plant deciduous trees on the west side of your house.

But be careful where you plant them, as trees, like people, grow up. Planting a tree that will grow too large for its location is one of the most common mistakes people make (along with planting too many trees). Find out the mature size a tree will achieve before you plant it. Remember, that a small one when planted will look entirely different after only a few years of growth in your back yard. You should plant most shade trees at least 30 feet from your house and 10 feet from paved areas to prevent roots from damaging foundations. Columnar trees-such as birch and poplar-can be planted a little closer, about 15 to 20 feet from your home's foundation.

Planting a mature tree can be very difficult and costly, if done by a professional which includes their big machinery. At times, a mature tree is badly needed though for a patio or terrace or for screening, in these cases it may well justify the expense.

Planting a tree in the cool weather of Fall or if the weather is still hot in the evening is ideal. For sure the weather should not be blazing hot. Carefully place your tree into the hole you have dug and adjust until the crown of the root ball (or the "root collar," a slight swelling on the stem that develops in the nursery at the ground line, just above the roots) slightly above the surrounding ground. Be sure you handle the tree by the root ball, not by the trunk. In the past it was considered unnecessary to remove the burlap from the root ball of the tree, but loosening the burlap will make it easier for the tree to grow.

Now fill the hole in with native soil only. You do not want to place other amendments — not even compost or fertilizer — in the planting hole. After you have filled and made firm the soil around the tree you will want to give it a big drink. Trees lose moisture throughout the winter, so a good soak is what it needs.

You may also want to mulch around it. This is to protect the roots of the tree not the trunk. Mulch is helpful because it minimizes moisture loss. Mulch also may be used to prevent weeds and slows the freezing of the soil so root growth continues as long as possible.

Wrapping the trunks of thin-barked, young trees in late November helps prevent frost cracks, sunscald, and animal damage, but be sure to remove the wrap in March. Wrapping the tree's trunk is unnecessary for many trees and should be used primarily on new trees. If your tree comes already wrapped, remove the wrapping and inspect the trunk for signs of damage or wounds. Then you may re-wrap the trees trunk.

Planting hardy trees in the fall of the year is ideal, as it will allow the plants to form a good root system before they have to contend with the heat and humidity of our summers. If you had to pick the best time to plant a tree, fall and early winter is it!

Plant a tree today and make a difference for tomorrow!

Planting trees “by the Yard”

An eco-friendly way turn your yard debris into “black gold”

The evenings are turning cool and the leaves are beginning to turn into a brilliant bouquet of colors. The summer is gone and we welcome fall. But fall is not a time to hibernate indoors yet, there is a lot of work still to be done in our back yards.

Not the least of which is dealing with all those leaves and yard waste. If you’ve avoided composting because,
- you think its too much work and mess
- or you just aren’t sure how to get started.
Then fall is a great time to try your hand at turning this year’s yard debris into next year’s natural fertilizer.

You may already know that composting is the best way to turn those yard clippings, fall leaves and kitchen greens into valuable organic material that your plants will just love. But you may not know that by composting your yard and kitchen waste, you can also reduce the amount of waste you send to the landfill by over one-third. So why not get started.

Composting is nature's way of recycling. When you compost, you convert vegetable scraps, leaves, grass clippings and other materials into a useful soil builder. It is an aerobic process that requires oxygen and under the right conditions, microorganisms grow and multiply, converting the original organic material into a more stable, usable product.

Composting is not an exact science though. It’s a lot like cooking, and the easiest compost recipe calls for blending roughly equal parts of organic materials rich in nitrogen, referred to as GREENS (fresh veggie scraps or grass clippings), while the rest can be lumped together as BROWNS (hay, twigs, dried leaves). Some people think a good general rule of thumb is use 2-3 parts brown to 1 part green. Simply layer or mix these materials in a pile, enclosure or bought composting bin. It is maybe best accomplished with the use of a compost bin as the bin helps to keep the pile neat and rodent free, reduces moisture loss, and retains the heat generated in the pile. Experience will tell you what works best for you.

Community composting is the next best option for those who are unable to compost at home. Community owned sites are an ideal way to keep the waste and the finished product close to where it originates. We have a city run composting site in our city where householders can bring garden waste for composting at no charge. The city also collects it in the spring and fall.

Composting is the natural process that decomposes yard waste and food waste to make a brown, crumbly soil additive that is sanitized; stabilized; high in humic substances and that enhances the health of your lawn and gardens. This organic matter improves plant growth by helping to break heavy clay soils into a better texture, by adding water and nutrient-holding capacity to sandy soils, and by adding essential nutrients to any soil. Improving your soil is the first step toward improving the health of your plants.

Fall, by nature, is an exceptional time to begin composting. Dry leaves, grass clippings and woody materials represent a large percentage of total yard waste. Each offers either the carbon or nitrogen components necessary for the decomposition process that takes place during composting. Add air and water, and you’re well on your way to rich, loamy compost.

Composting delivers many benefits. Modern gardeners face strict waste removal ordinances in many communities. Plus, growing environmental consciousness inspires gardeners to minimize their eco footprint while cleaning up the back yard. It is a cost-effective, eco-friendly way to convert your yard debris into “black gold”.

Composting is so easy and enjoyable it can be part of your daily routine. Whether you own or rent, if you aren't composting yet, you are missing out on a great opportunity to reduce landfill waste and feed your garden with a nutrient rich, all-natural, safe fertilizer for next spring’s planting season.

omposting "by the yard"

Avoiding the Pitfalls of Autumn Yard Work, part 2

Last time we mentioned that approximately 42 million people seek emergency room treatment for injuries each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many of these injuries happen while homeowners are performing seemingly routine tasks; like fall yard work. In part one we were talking about how to prevent injury from raking leaves. So, now more on safety while doing your fall yard work.
Autumn is a great time to clear out gutters, check roof integrity and wash windows. More than 532,000 people were injured in falls from ladders in 2007, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

2. How to stay safe on a ladder:

a. Choose the right ladder for the job. A step stool or utility ladder is good for working at low levels or step ladders for medium height jobs while, extension ladders are appropriate for outdoors to reach high places, such as washing windows or for when you need to clean gutters or inspect the roof.

b. First of all inspect the ladder and make sure it is safe and free from loose screws, braces or rungs. Clean off any accumulation of mud, dirt or liquids that might make it slippery.

c. If it is a step ladder, make sure all four legs sit firmly on a level surface. Avoid setting it up on uneven ground or soft, muddy spots. If you need to make the ground level, do so by digging one leg into the ground.

d. Before you climb, be sure the ladder locks are in place and safety braces are engaged.

e. Never sit or stand on the top of a step ladder or on its pail shelf. These areas were not designed to carry your weight.

f. Do not stretch or lean to reach your work area. Be aware of your balance; instead reposition the ladder closer to your work.

Another area to think and be safe about is the lawn mower. It will soon be time to store the mower until spring but chances you are still going to mow the grass a few more times before the snow falls. You may also use it to collect leaves or and lawn clippings. Then you will be cleaning it up and storing it for the season. Lawnmowers are powerful tools and they can cause significant injury. In 2007, more than 225,000 people were injured by power, manual and riding lawn mowers, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

3. To avoid lawnmower-related injuries:

a. Make sure you shut off the engine and let it cool off before you refuel your lawnmower or begin to do any maintenance work on it.

b. Never use your hands or feet to clear debris from under a lawnmower, even if the engine is off as the blade can still move and cause serious injury. Use a stick or broom handle instead and you will be much safer.

c. Never remove any safety devices, guards or shields. This is true for any power equipment.

d. Never leave your lawnmower running unattended, though this is more difficult today with the kill switch on the handle of modern mowers.

e. Wear protective clothing like gloves, protective boots and long pants when mowing your grass. Never mow barefoot or in sandals.

f. Never mow while or after consuming alcoholic beverages.

Home safety is no accident. Working safe is not an option. Working safe is not something someone else does for you or to you any time there is a hazard or unsafe condition. It is what you do for yourself. Don’t become one of the statistics. Avoid the pitfalls of fall yard work this year.

Avoiding Pitfalls “By the yard”

Avoiding the Pitfalls of Autumn Yard Work, part 1

As the weather becomes cooler and the leaves start to turn color, many people start to do their fall outdoor cleanup. One thing you may want to consider is the number of Americans injured doing yard work every fall. Approximately 42 million people seek emergency room treatment for injuries each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many of these injuries happen while homeowners are performing seemingly routine tasks; like fall yard work. These facts may cause you to think that "fall" is actually short for "pitfall". Fall, it seems, is becoming the season for injuries, back injuries, tumbles from ladders and lawn mower accidents.

Here are a few simple tips to avoid common injuries while in the yard this fall.

The leaves changing color is one of the charms of fall, but once they get on the ground, raking them sends thousands of people to the emergency room each year. Raking is vigorous exercise, and you should pay close attention to your arms and back to avoid injury.

So to prevent injury from raking, make sure you:

1. Warm up with some stretching and light exercise before you start to do any raking. Sometimes we think this doesn’t do anything but I work out all the time at the Y and have learned that it does make a difference.

2. Use a rake that is comfortable for you, your height and strength. There are many tools being made today that are more user-friendly.

3. Protect your hands by wearing gloves or use a rake with padded handles to prevent blisters.

4. Wear appropriate clothes. Be aware loose clothes can sometimes get caught in things. Also sometimes your hat can obstruct your vision so you miss low branches, or uneven surfaces. Wear shoes or boots with slip-resistant soles as wet leaves can be slippery.

5. Always remember when picking things up like a bag of leaves, bend at the knees, not the waist. Do not overfill leaf bags, especially if the leaves are wet as they really become heavy. You should be able to carry the bags comfortably to avoid back injury.

6. Change your movement often by alternating your arm and leg positions or switching jobs for a few minutes.

7. Beware of twisting motions as it places undue stress on your back, like throwing leaves over your shoulder or to the side.

Raking leaves is an annual chore, and many people just throw the leaves away. If you just bag your leaves and have them carted off, the nutrients they contain cannot be cycled back into the soil as they would be in a natural habitat. It’s a waste of great fertilizer. Instead run them through a shredder then they can be used as an excellent mulch for the perennial garden. Or instead of raking your leaves at all just use your mower and mulch them into your grass. It is important though to not leave a layer of leaves on your lawn or garden because it doesn’t allow proper circulation of air and water to the plants under them, and can cause irregular growth, or smother what’s below them, especially in lawns.

Raking leaves is hard work and is an unavoidable fall activity but it is a good way to get to know nature and to smell the fresh air of the outside, though jumping in the leaves can be more fun. By taking the proper steps you can avoid the injuries and muscle strains of raking.

Avoiding Pitfalls “By the yard”

Attracting beautiful birds to your yard

Bird houses and feeders are a wonderful way to decorate your yard and garden. They can add a unique touch of whimsy to your property while attracting beautiful birds that bring your yard garden to life with splashes of color and nature’s music. Attracting birds to your backyard with bird houses and feeding them is an easy way to enjoy wildlife up close and personal. Feeders, and the beautiful birds that perch upon them, can brighten up any garden or yard.

North American birds like Finches, swallows, wrens, and others make their nests in tree hollows and other sheltered environments. This makes cedar bird houses an ideal location during nesting season. Bird houses carry another great benefit: the chance for young and old alike to watch the life cycle and development of the young birds. Birdhouses are popular gifts for year round and are a natural gift for life.

Bird feeders as well are uplifting, relaxing and entertaining. There are many types of birds that have become well-adapted to taking advantage of bird feeders. In fact, according to the National Audubon Society, more than 100 species supplement their natural diets with birdseed, suet, fruit and nectar obtained from feeders. There are a wide variety of feeders to accommodate this wide variety of birds: hopper feeders, platform feeders, tube feeders, suet feeders, Hummingbird feeders; and the list goes on. The birds you desire to feed will determine the type of food you put out and that in turn helps to determine which feeder you should use.

Some feeders work well for a number of different types of food. Hopper feeders and platform feeders are big and bird-friendly. They can hold almost any size seed and a lot of it, so they have to be refilled less often. Hopper bird feeders accommodate several feeding birds at the same time and are attractive to a number of species, such as grosbeaks, cardinals, jays, woodpeckers, finches, chickadees, sparrows and nuthatches. The biggest drawback is because of their open trays, there is substantial spillage. Hopper feeders are a great choice for general feeding. The difference between this type of feeder and a platform-style is the addition of a seed hopper. Hopper feeders come in a wide range of styles and sizes. The miniature barn design is the more traditional hopper feeder style, and with this type of feeder you don’t have to refill it daily because it holds a huge store of seeds.

Tube feeders are ideal for smaller birds like finches and pine siskins because they have small perches that large perching birds like starlings can't grip. Tube feeders are extremely popular and come with feeding ports or holes where the birds access the food. These ports can vary in size in order to accommodate different types of food. A tube feeder with large holes will let sunflower seeds and fruit pieces through, while others with small holes should be used for small seeds like Nyjer.

Suet feeders, which are wire cages specifically made to hold suet, are an excellent way to offer your outdoor pets a variety of dining options. Suet is the hard, white fat on the kidneys and loins of cattle and other animals, and is a favorite of many birds. If it were up to the birds, they would take the entire piece of suet away with them. Thankfully, the suet feeder cage design only allows small chunks to be eaten at a time, which means that desirable birds such as woodpeckers, cardinals, chickadees, wrens, and nuthatches visit more often -- so you get more time to enjoy watching them.

Hummingbird feeders are available in a number of shapes and sizes and are perfect for homeowners looking to attract these cute little creatures. Hummingbird feeders, in particular, are often placed near windows because the tiny, acrobatic birds are fun to watch. Hummingbird feeders, rather than dispensing seed, supply liquid nourishment to hummingbirds, in the form of a sweet mixture often colored red to attract the birds, but this is unnecessary and the food coloring may in fact be detrimental to the health of the birds.

There are a number of helpful resources today that can help you pick out the appropriate types of food needed to attract desirable birds, and the feeders that suit them best. In fact, Web sites such as www.WildDelight.com are becoming a popular reference point for outdoor pet lovers.

Wood is the preferred material for birdhouses and feeders. Western Red cedar, known for it’s longevity in exterior applications, is a primary construction material used in these wood birdhouses and feeders. The elasticity and natural oils found in western red cedar makes it durable to variations in outside temperature and humidity which ensures they will last a lifetime.

Finally, with all the different types and styles of feeders available today, there have never been more opportunities to enjoy outdoor pets and the entertaining hobby of backyard bird feeding.

Discovering wonderful backyard landscaping ideas

A good backyard landscaping idea is one that everyone can make use of. There are millions of different backyard landscaping ideas and many of them are pretty good but to find the one that is right for you and is just what your yard needs will take some time and research.

Your backyard landscaping is going to involve many different things but the most important one of these if your well being. Most people get into backyard landscaping because they want to change the look and feel of their yard; they want to make it a wonderful place where their family can feel safe and comfortable at any time of day or night.

Backyard landscaping is a great way to add some peace to your life whether you are alone or you have a large family and tons of kids. With great ideas you will be able to create a sanctuary with your backyard landscaping that you have never had before in your life.

This article hopefully will help you to find some backyard landscaping ideas that are right for your yard.

So here are a few ideas.

1. One good backyard landscaping idea is to use evergreens for height or a living fence or an accent. The use of these fabulous trees will do a lot for any yard. They will add a stately nature to the feel of your home while keeping it welcoming and warm. Many people like to use deciduous trees in the yard and this is always a good idea but it is the evergreens that will give the yard the structure and the stability that it needs for a good backyard landscaping design.

It is always best to look for a backyard landscaping idea like the one above that will benefit you all year round. Deciduous trees will not be gorgeous in all seasons, most perhaps, but not all. Evergreens on the other hand are always fantastic and they look as beautiful in the winter as they do in the summer and this is why they make for such a great backyard landscaping solution. The key to any great landscaping design is to find an idea like this that will keep your yard interesting no matter what time of the year it is.

2. When looking for a good backyard landscaping idea you need to look for other options besides just plants. There is much more to landscaping than just plants and trees. Another good backyard landscaping idea is to use hardscape. This is the use of things like rocks, fences and walls. They can make your yard look very interesting throughout all of the seasons as well. You can have climbing plants on them in the spring and summer and different trees around them that will make them look great in the winter.

Walls and fences can frame your property beautifully and using them will just accent all of your other wonderful backyard landscaping ideas. They will frame your yard as a picture frame frames a gorgeous painting.

Look into these and other backyard landscaping ideas as well in your search for the one or ones that are right for you. There are a couple of great places for you to learn more about backyard landscaping such as in magazines and on the internet like on this blog where you can find many good ideas or on another blog that I like Ideas for Outdoor Living .com . You can also get many backyard landscaping books out of the library. These can all help you to make the best decisions as to your landscaping needs. You can also get many do it yourself tips online like at homerenewall.com

A lot of the fun is discovering what you like and then the rest of the fun is doing it. Have fun on your road of discovery.

Landscaping “by the yard”

Flowering shrubs, a great way to add color to your yard

Flowering shrubs are a great way to add color to your yard or garden. They are becoming more and more prominent in our landscape as people are continuously looking for both a little height and season long color in their yard. Flowering Shrubs are sometimes called landscape darlings because they are relatively inexpensive, easy to grow and require little maintenance. They are perhaps at their best when in bloom as with their masses of blooms they can stand alone used for a focal point, or be grouped together with other shrubs or perennials; they are great any where in your landscape.

Flowering shrubs are major contributors to the garden’s summer color palette. You can have accents of color throughout the garden from glossy Abelia, Crapemyrtle, Butterfly Bush and Rose-of-Sharon, but the predominant player is Hydrangea.

Flowering shrubs are usually deciduous (shed their leaves in winter) and are grown mostly for their flowers. They are often propagated by softwood cuttings. Late spring and early summer are the best times for success with this method. They are best planted in the early spring to give the root system time to take hold before hot summer weather sets in. Flowering shrubs are never pruned in the spring though. They are pruned according to their bloom time. Early bloomers such as Forsythia and Lilac, in fact most flowering shrubs, are best pruned immediately after flowering but before their buds set.

Forsythia is one of the earliest blooming shrubs. It produces an abundance of vibrant yellow flowers that cover its branches. Forsythias can look great when in bloom and then pretty uninspiring the rest of the year. Many of these plants have an optimum age of each cane for flower production, say, canes three or five years old. Forsythias are quite easy to grow as they do well with most types of soil, although they thrive best in rich loose soil, needing only the occasional pruning after flowering.

Lilacs shrubs prefer a fertile, well-drained soil in full sun and provide spring blossoms along with the Forsythia and February Jasmine. Lilac mulching seems to help.

Rose-of-Sharon are slow to get going in the beginning. They're kind of lazy, actually, but they are fairly easy to take care of. They prefer full sun locations but also do well in partial shade. Rose-of-Sharon are much hardier than even the hardiest Hibiscus.

Azaleas are another type of flowering bush. They are often known as the royalty of the garden. Azaleas do best with plenty of organic matter in the soil.

Azaleas and Rhododendrons are really great shrubs, but for me the premier spring-flowering shrubs are the Viburnums. They are the favorite plants of many horticulturists, but are very underused in most of our gardens.

Flowering shrubs are planted in home gardens for a variety of reasons. They are typically sought after for their decorative qualities. They make great garden borders when planted side-by-side or in between other types of plants. Flowering shrubs provide an eye catching framework in any garden design.

Flowering shrubs “by the yard”

What part does water play in our yards

Water Gardening is playing an ever increasing role in our yards and it's easy to see why. They aren’t that difficult to set up or maintain and really the biggest reason is they bring tranquility to our yard. As a result water gardens are one of the fastest growing trends in gardening and outdoor living. All you need to begin water gardening is a container that will hold water! It can be small or large, ambitious or modest, but for sure it will be fun!

At first glance, it may seem that water gardening is too much work for the average gardener or too complex, but that is just not the truth. Once a water garden is set up, it requires less work than a regular garden to maintain, no watering, and no weeding. They are hard to resist.

A pond can be anything from a teacup to a natural bottom lake but generally, the larger the water garden, the more stable the environment is for the plants and fish in it. I personally have one that is sort of round and only 5 feet across but a 5' x 8' water garden is a good size, however no matter how big you make it, once you have the water garden bug, it will never be big enough. The real question is what size fits in your yard and will be in proportion to everything else?

Here are some points to consider.

1. Clear Water
Probably the main thing that all of us want is clear water. I believe this is best achieved by the pond finding its natural balance. This is done by letting the plants and fish, along with the good algae and beneficial bacteria work together to reproduce a natural setting. Though filters can be used to help keep the water clean they also can help grow the beneficial bacteria. They are sometimes a must for small ponds.

2. How about fish
It is not necessary to have fancy fish or snails; you can have just as much pleasure from having gold fish in your pond. You can buy large ones from your garden center that are meant for your pond. If you want to have some Koi fish that is great, they are a lot more colorful but whatever fish you use be sure to not feed them very much if at all. Feeding them contributes to excess nutrients in the water from their waste and they aren’t encouraged to feed off the natural food that is in the pond like algae.

3. What about the plants
Most people want at least one water lily and that is great but it is best to combine different plants mixing the tall, slender, spiky shapes of the fine-leaved marginal plant like the yellow flag iris with the broad-leaved foliage of say an arrow head plant. You can get great ideas from your garden center that will fit your pond. Most water plants require very little care. Once they are established, all you need to do is remove dead leaves and fertilize them regularly with special water plant fertilizer tablets or stakes.

If you are looking for information on how to install a pond in your back yard check out Installing a garden pond with a flexible liner at homerenewall.com where you will find step by step information.

At the end of the day, are you feeling tired, worn out and stressed? As humans, we are always seeking water to clean, refresh and rejuvenate ourselves. But we are only now learning about the benefits of stress relief and relaxation you will gain from just hearing the sounds of water created in your own backyard. Especially if you are relaxing on a comfortable chair or lounger from Teaks n More where you will find teak wood outdoor furniture that fits you lifestyle.

Water Gardening "by the Yard"

Trees provide focal points and serve as anchors

Trees provide many positive elements in your yard’s design and choosing the right ones is crucial. Trees provide focal points and serve as anchors for surrounding shrubs and plants. Your eye is drawn to focus in on the trees that have the most pleasing appearance. Trees are a very common method of providing privacy to your yard, both by blocking view, as well as noise and conversation, we all know our neighbors have those good ears! They will also keep street noise levels down. You may also want to consider the energy savings a tree will provide in the summer when cooling your home. A tree will absorb a considerable amount of heat from concrete and will block the sun during hot summer months.

There are many things to consider when choosing a tree for you yard. Begin by asking yourself: Why do I want a tree? For shade? Privacy? Something to look pretty, or block the view of the neighbor's less-than-lovely backyard? Here are some things that will help you make the right decision.

Size
You should take into consideration the ultimate size of the tree and allow enough room in the landscape to accommodate it. Choosing the right size tree will reward you with many years of enjoyment as the tree reaches its ultimate size and mature beauty. Size them proportionate to your yard by using small or medium-sized varieties for smaller houses and yards. On any site, put smaller trees near the house and taller ones farther out in the yard or at its edge. Planting a large tree in a tight area, such as beneath a power line or too close to a structure, can create maintenance problems or property damage. Choose small-spreading trees if you wish to locate them under overhead utility lines.

The Location you choose to plant it
Make sure you allow for branch growth and the full size of the tree in choosing where to plant them. Planting larger trees on the east, south and west sides of your home can maximize energy savings in southern climate and planting on the north side saves energy cost in the winter months in the north. Other things to consider are their root systems, such as willows, for instance, as they are particularly aggressive so they should be planted well away from structures. Ashes, red maples, white spruce, river birch and sycamore can do well in wet conditions if their other needs are met. Also, certain species shed leaves, sap, flowers, and seeds; crab apples and cherries drop fruit everywhere, tempting children and prone to sticking to your shoes. When trees are planted too close together, they cannot develop a healthy root structure as there is simply not enough space for the roots to grow.

The trees' shape, texture and color
There are trees used for privacy, small ornamental and other landscape trees and shade trees all with different shapes and color. They each provide a natural beauty of their own. Like the naturally symmetrical form of blue spruce which allows an attractive Christmas tree shape to often be produced with a minimum of shearing. Japanese Maples are usually quite small with red leaves and very attractive ornamentals. Red Maples are large and provide a large spreading canopy of shade and bring wonderful color to their fall leaves.

Climate and soil conditions
Your climate plays a very important role as to which tree species will grow well. So does your soils pH, which is a measure of its acidity, and your soil’s pH really makes a difference as to which trees will be healthy. Soils with a pH of 7.0 or greater will not grow healthy oaks and red maples. Also if the soils are heavy clay or drain slowly, that will limit species selection because many trees can not survive in these soils.

Lifespan
Different species have different life spans. For example, Maple and Oak will live it seems forever while Laurel Oak only lives about 50 years, and becomes increasingly susceptible to storm damage and disease the older it gets. Fast-growing trees will increase in height by several feet a year but typically have a shorter life span.

Care
Every kind of cultivated tree has assets that suit it for some landscape use. Each also has certain requirements critical to its survival in the yard. Giving your tree the proper amount of care and water will allow the root system to develop properly. A well developed root system means a full, lush, healthy tree! The success of your tree will also depend on how well you prepare the soil and how conscientiously you care for it.

Some people’s method of choosing a tree for their yard is to drive around town and look for ones they like and discover some of the common species that are being planted. This is not all bad but it can lead to less tree species diversity in your area.

You can also ask yourself what trees nurture your soul, fit your lifestyle, and will give you years of pleasure and enjoyment, but be aware a mature plant can look much different than a young one. Many specimens look nice as young plants, but look very different 20 years later. Others are just the opposite - they start off less appealing, but mature very nicely.

Just remember planting trees in your yard will enhance your neighborhood’s environment, produce colorful foliage and beauty and provide many years of enjoyment.


Planting trees “by the Yard”

Residential fencing is both functional and attractive

Fences are often a major element of a streetscape, and serve to indicate where public and private property meet. Residential fencing is a wonderful way to provide not only security for home, children and pets, but also provides excellent privacy.

We are going to look at four different types of fencing materials. Wood fencing is the traditional fence used around the backyards of most homes. Its functions range from decorative, containment, privacy as well as security and it’s aesthetically pleasing while vinyl fencing has timeless styling and is more intricate than wood fencing. Ornamental fencing, in turn, is high quality, elegant and high in toughness and strength. Chain link fencing is functional and cost effective but can look commercial.

Wood fencing is still one of the most popular fencing materials in North America. Many people prefer the look and warmth that wood offers. It is very rustic and natural looking and when you consider that many people are now concerned about the environment, the idea of putting up a fence made of a renewable resource is very attractive. Custom wood fencing is just that; custom. You can incorporate any design that you can imagine into a wooden fence. Custom Wood fencing adds beauty and value to your home and is a great choice for any yard, pool or garden. Pressure treated southern yellow pine is the most cost effective materials and will also last the longest. Western red cedar, a Pacific Northwest product is generally more expensive than white cedar from Maine and Eastern Canada due to high freight costs but is a desirable wood for fencing. Non Pressure treated wood or cedar generally needs a finish to protect the wood and add to its longevity as well.

Vinyl fencing comes in many styles and sizes and is available in a few different colors. By choosing from a variety of post caps you can further customize your fence. Vinyl is a sound and viable investment in the future of your home. Once your vinyl fence is installed, you will not have to deal with the problems of painting, rusting nails, splinters and rotting boards associated with a wood fence. Newer vinyls even mimic a wood grain look.

Specialty or Ornamental Fencing like wrought iron can also come in aluminum. Aluminum fences in wrought shackle designs are very popular. Aluminum fences are available in a wide variety of styles, designs, colors, and heights. Aluminum fences are priced according to their grade and style of manufacture. Fences for residential use are made of a lighter gauge and are thus priced lower than industrial grade fences. The use of appropriately designed aluminum fences can enhance the looks of your home, pool, yard, or wherever they are used.

Chain-link fencing is an affordable way to create a barrier for pets and children without using a privacy fence. Residential applications come in 4-ft., 5-ft. Chain-link fence is one of the most versatile and widely used fence systems today, but it is not always very attractive. It has become more colorful and stylish in the past few years as it is available in a colorized vinyl coated finish for a much more attractive look. The standard colors of vinyl coated chain link are black, brown and green. Its lattice structure also creates an excellent trellis for vines and bushes.

One mistake you should not make is erecting your fence without regards to legal property lines or local codes. To determine the legal boundaries of your property, it is recommended that a surveyor be hired.

Residential fences really make a difference and can be used to screen off an area of the garden; hide an unattractive spot, structure or object; to grow creepers on or add effect to another wall or surface. The style of your house and the look you are trying to achieve are factors to be considered in the design and type of fence you choose for your yard. They give definition to your yard and add style and value to your home no matter which type you use if it is done right.

Residential Fencing “By the yard”

Hedges are the perfect natural dividers

Many gardeners want a hedge to maintain privacy in their yard or protection from the wind when the cold weather arrives. But Hedges have many uses in your back yard and can be an important feature of any yard or garden. They are living walls that are restful to the eye and offer smooth contours and texture. They are formed by shrubs or small trees, and can be used to
-block views
- delineate boundaries
-direct pedestrian traffic
-act as barriers
-create garden rooms
-or serve as a backdrop for other plants.

They are also important features for other reasons. They provide habitat for birds and other wildlife, and insects from butterflies to bumble bees. When you incorporate living walls into building development, you create aesthetically pleasing environments, help reduce greenhouse gases, and decrease energy costs.

Hedges are the perfect natural dividers for your garden. They do make great wind brakes, and unlike wooden panels they don't create turbulence behind them. They can be trimmed low to define the edge of a walk or to bring neatness and order to a garden. Hedges make a wonderful boundary, even in small gardens, but they do need regular maintenance, such as pruning, in order to retain their shape. By mid summer, most will have that shaggy, unkempt look and are in need of a trim. They vary greatly in form and species. The ideal hedge should be made of a mixture of species, which do not grow rapidly, thus reducing the need for trimming. Trimming is not only done for visual appeal though, but regular trimming is necessary to train the hedge to grow to its fullest capacity. Managing your hedges is critical to the success of your yard.

Evergreen shrubs are an important choice to consider for your hedge, in order to insure green color presence during the long gloomy days of winter. Evergreen hedges are also easier to grow and require less training and pruning than deciduous hedges. Evergreens are my first choice, think of cedar, yews, blue or white spruce, hemlock, cypress, and juniper. They are, however, more susceptible to damage from heavy snow in the winter months.

Evergreen hedges are almost always used to define spaces and create a visible structure within the garden. These vegetative fences, tall or small, keep the garden organized by subdividing it into compartments that are proportionate to one another.

Deciduous hedges on the other hand can provide a great variety of leaf color and texture, interesting berries and beautiful displays of blooms in season. An example is the Fuchsia which can be grown into low hedges where they will give a spectacular show of flowers and edible berries. Trimming these hedges annually drastically reduces the availability of berries as they are produced on second year growth in woody hedge species, such as hawthorn. Also rotational trimming can save time and money. Cutting interior branches can promote good health but can make the hedge look bad and, if done after the main spring growth, may remain visible for months.

On the down side Hedges can be the cause of disagreements between neighbors. These often relate to the size and tidiness of the hedge, and about cutting the hedge. However if you get along with your neighbors you should be able to come to an agreement with them.

Hedges at their simplest are vertical gardens and are also known as green or eco-walls and as vertical wetlands. In addition to the stunning aesthetic benefits, they also benefit air quality as the plants can help filter our air and are sometimes used indoors as a sustainable method for curing 'sick building syndrome'.

Next time you think of putting up a fence in your yard stop and think of using a hedge instead. It is not as instant but with a little patience I think you will be pleased with the results.

The benefits of Hedges “by the yard”

Designing Foundation Plantings for a Picture Perfect Yard

This time we are looking at foundation plantings as the next area in designing a picture perfect yard. Foundation plantings are a vital part of good home landscape design and are undoubtedly one of the easiest and most satisfying landscaping elements in your yard. They can be used as backdrops, to define garden beds, and to simply add seasonal interest. Foundation plantings are another way to add appeal to your home by using them to soften, enhance or even hide certain features of your house.

Foundation plantings are often green shrubs intermixed with flowers. Shrubs have many uses within the landscape with foundation plantings being one; others are privacy hedges, and specimen plants. Evergreens can be broad leafed, or have needle-like foliage and can be large or small but whatever kind or shape they are, they are unsurpassed for tying the house to the ground and are desirable in the landscape because they stay green throughout the entire year as they don’t lose their leaves in the winter like deciduous shrubs do.

Designing your planting on paper ahead of time can save time and prevent costly mistakes. There are many ways to plan a landscape and designs can vary from formal gardens, to a naturalistic look, to carefully placed accent plants but one must always give special consideration to beds designed with small trees and flowering shrubs because these plants can get quite large. Plantings may be selected to shade the foundation edge, especially on the southwest corner of the structure and choosing drought-tolerant plantings that will require less irrigation will mean less chance for irrigation water to create a moisture problem in the house. Corners are one of the most important areas of the "foundation" planting. Houses appear awkward and bare without plantings at the corners since they define the outline of a house. Often this definition is created by plants, such as cone-shaped conifers acting like bookends. I prefer using shrubs with different heights and a mixture of foliar colors and forms because it is more appealing to the eye.

The most common mistake in designing foundation plantings is they are usually planted too close to the house because the beds are too small. They should be spaced away from the foundation and properly spaced apart to accommodate them at size of maturity. Typically, you are looking to establish these evergreens space appropriately spaced along the length of the foundation and around corners, approximately five feet out from the house. They not only need space but love good mulch made from well aged bark, peat moss and or pine straw which are all excellent mulches for all conifers.

One problem that people who live in northern climates have is foundation plantings are often injured by snow and ice falling from the roof onto their branches. Injury may be prevented by wrapping cloth or burlap tightly around evergreens to hold branches together. On the other hand avoid planting during the hot, dry months of summer; fall is a much better time to plant in order to ensure good plant health.

Foundation plantings are here to stay. You may want to get a garden designer to work with you on a design that suits both your lifestyle and personal preferences but the work can be done by you with some sweat and effort. It is said landscaping is good for your health and one of the most cost effective tools for improving and sustaining one’s quality of life, whether in the city, the suburbs, or the country.

Designing Foundation Planting “by the yard”

Entryway Landscaping Designs with pizzazz

The whole idea of Entryway Landscaping is to give the front of your house more pizzazz or presence and to make a connection between the outside and the inside. The front entry door and the spaces connected to it play an important role in setting the stage for the success of the entire house. It begins to establish your home’s personality and suggests how the rest of the house should be.

In landscaping for front door entrances, you are trying to achieve at least three objectives. For instance, you want to:
• Draw the viewer's eye from the street to the front door entrance
• Create an environment that says welcome
• Match the entryway planting to your home’s style and your personal taste

1. One challenge in landscaping for front entryways is that you want the design to blend in reasonably well with the overall landscape design, while still standing out enough to provide a focal point. In landscape design terminology, "focal points" force the viewer’s perspective to a central point. One way to focus attention on the front entryway is to provide an attractive Stone path leading up to it. Stones come in various shades of gray which may have tints of blue, green, tan, brown, rust, and plum mixed with the gray. You can and maybe should individually select the stones to insure quality and the desired color range.

2. As these paths lead to your front door, it is important that they are not only beautiful, but that the entrance to your home finishes their grand plan on arrival. Painting your entry door will help do that and should bring the finishes of the house together. Consideration for the brick, siding, soffit, facia and roof colours should all play a role in choosing the best colour. The owners of the house should be welcomed into their home through a space designed to greet them, to acknowledge them, and to recognize them as the reason it exists. It should make your house more visually appealing and say welcome.

3. Of course, what landscaping you install on the way to your front entryway will depend, in part, on what you have to work with. For instance, if your front entryway is at the top of a slope you may wish to use a ground cover instead of grass, to minimize maintenance. To give you another example, if you have a large open porch for your front entryway, you may wish to make liberal use of containers of flowers on the porch steps. A popular way is to line the sides of the walk way with flowers or small shrubs like boxwood. Gardening is a most important facet of your landscaping design because plants and flowers bring an enhanced and pleasing look to any area.

Numerous entryway landscaping designs and styles have been applied by people and countless other ideas exist in the minds of homeowners that would give an impressive shape and feel to their front yards. Choosing a front entry design which demonstrates the homeowner’s style will make this space in the front yard both usable and enjoyable. When you combine the landscaping (plant life) and hardscaping (walkways, steps, the porch) to create this area of transition and it's done right, the result is amazing.

Entryway Landscaping “by the yard”

The Front Yard Landscape

Although a home with a few trees and a nice green lawn in front looks fine, there’s a lot to be said for a house that has an attractive front yard landscape design. Curb appeal is something many homeowners only consider when trying to sell their home, it should however, be on the mind of every homeowner who cares about keeping their biggest asset in top condition.

Curb appeal is quite simply the attractiveness your home has to viewers from the street and re-landscaping your front yard is a great way to give a new impressive look to your home. Front yard landscaping can be the most tried form of landscaping because everyone tends to focus primarily on the look of a house’s front yard. Sometime however this can be a problem as we can get caught trying to do things others have done but they may not be the right thing for your yard.
Using different plants is one of the easiest and the best front yard landscaping ideas that you can use. Ideas for plants are numerous and vary widely from person to person. Selecting the best plants is often the most tedious and demanding part of working out your front yard landscaping ideas because it requires knowledge of the plants and depends on things like: - light conditions, wind, and how much time you can spend on maintaining and caring for it. Etc.
You can use flowers to line your sidewalk leading to the front door or along your driveway or in flowerbeds that will accent the front of your home. Flowers of different colors can blend harmoniously in landscape designs and evoke different emotions. In landscaping designs, green is believed to have a healing effect, red and orange rouse excitement and energy, and blue relaxes and refreshes. Flowers are great, but don't forget the characteristics of a plant's branching pattern and foliage. Varying form and texture is one way to bring diversity.

To add scale to the front yard design, you could plant a tree someplace near the middle or one at each end of the yard. Although tree and shrub possibilities are limited by your space, don't despair! Dwarf varieties and slower growing trees such as Japanese maples can, and should, be used to provide focal points though in the confined area of a city garden, you do not want too many features to compete. I definitely like using some nice small evergreen trees as you can frame in the porch or front steps with them, however don’t plant them to close to the house or to each other. Nothing looks worse then overgrown trees covering up the front of your house.

Having a sitting area in your front yard is another idea your might want to try as it can create a wonderful place to visit with neighbors, observe the daily happenings on your street or even watch your kids while they play. Of course you will need something both attractive and comfortable to sit on like a teak wave bench from Teaks n More.

The beauty of home front yard landscaping is that it does not have to be hard and much of it can be done by you. All it will take is a little elbow grease and some time to spare and you can design your own home front yard landscape quickly and easily. Invest a little time and energy to achieve the aesthetic appeal you want for your front yard, and it may turn out to be one of the most rewarding investments you make.

Looking at front yard design “by the yard”

Components of a Beautiful Yard

What are some of the components that make a landscape "really attractive"? We are going to explore some ideas over the next few weeks. I will begin with some broad brush strokes, and then focus in on some specific areas of your yard.

Whenever you are designing anything, there are some basic designing elements that underlie all design. These basic elements serve as the foundation in the design process. And so it is with landscape design. We must know and learn how to use these basic designing elements if we are going to be effective in our landscape design.

The basic elements of design are:
- Form: Shape i.e. circular, oval, columnar, are examples of form.
- Scale: Is simply the size of one component relative to adjacent components.
- Line: Refers to the how the viewer's eyes move as they look at something.
- Color
- Texture: Is seen as surface quality of an object as coarse, medium or fine.

These same fundamental elements also serve as building blocks for implementing principles for designing a picture perfect yard.

Some of the specific areas of our yards we want to look at over the next while are:
- The front yard, yes I know it isn’t our back yard but it is a very important part of making our over all landscape design one that is really attractive.
- Entryway Landscaping
- Foundation Plantings
- Hedges, Living Walls and Flowering Shrubs
- Fencing to Frame your yard
- Trees, which ones do I use
- What part does water play
- Flowering Shrubs

Some people think they can’t design while others take their designing skills for granted. We all have tastes, likes and dislikes and together we are going to discover what works and what doesn’t in our yards.

While hiring a professional landscaper serves many purposes, especially for large or difficult yards, they can cost a lot of money. So before you go ahead and hire someone, knowing a little bit can help you not only understand what they are saying but help you determine if they really are the right ones to work on your yard. On the other hand, if you only have a small space in your yard, you do not really have to spend so much money on complicated and extensive landscaping designs and with a little understanding and help you can often do it yourself.

Landscaping is a fun way to express yourself and make your home your own. If you aren’t a designer and you can’t afford a professional gardener, there is still a lot you can do, on your own, to make your yard come to life. Next time you can discover how to say, "Welcome to my Home" the way you want by redesigning your front yard.

Looking at Basic Design Elements “by the yard”

Taking the Backyard Back from those pesky Mosquitoes

I don’t know about you but I am becoming less tolerant in my old age. I love our back yard but during the day the sun gets so hot and then in the evening those pesky mosquitoes come out and I run for the house. How about you? They are annoying first of all buzzing in your ears and flying around your face then the itching and discomfort of being bitten, it’s enough to drive a person to distraction. Now to add to the problem we have to also worry about nasty diseases, including the West Nile Virus.

Whether you’re hosting a backyard cook-out or dolling up for a romantic evening under the stars, we need a solution before we head outdoors for some fun. So, let’s consider how we’re going to solve this problem.

Most mosquito elimination solutions come with some negatives also.

-Mosquito zappers are costly, not very reliable, and it’s unpleasant to be around them.
-Insect repellants can be effective, but are sticky, messy, and smelly and many people do not like putting chemicals on their skin.
-Citronella candles or oil has a distinctive smell that, though unpleasant to mosquitoes, can also be unpleasant to humans. So arranging a dinner party around a citronella candle will most likely not be something your guests will enjoy.
Other solutions:
-Watching what you wear can help as mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors like black and navy, therefore wearing light colored clothing such as beige or khaki can really help.
- Check your backyard for containers that can hold water, even very small ones, birdbaths, pet dishes, tires, toys etc. as mosquitoes prefer to breed in still water, regardless of how small a collection.
-To keep them out of your rain barrel, add a drop of olive oil to the water. The oil creates a thin film that mosquitoes can’t pierce to lay their eggs.
-Marigolds planted in your flowerbeds are also known to repel mosquitoes and other flying insects.
-“Conceal” outdoor mosquito candles are another type of candle solution. These new outdoor candles help keep mosquitoes away from you and your family by blocking your scent so mosquitoes can’t find you and it’s been said they are much more effective.

There are many products on the market today that make claims that we would like to be true. I am not saying they don’t work, I am saying that they often don’t live up to their claims. Are you one of the 78 percent of adults who believe in over a dozen myths about mosquitoes, for example that eating garlic will repel mosquitoes? With the information above you may want to rethink your protection rituals this summer. Eliminating pesky insects may not be possible but controlling them so we can enjoy our yard is what we really want to do.

Ah, now we’re ready to get outside in the backyard and enjoy cookouts and pool parties, so break out the cedar patio furniture and light up the barbeque – it’s time for summer entertaining!

Eliminating mosquitoes “by the yard”

Your back yard can still be an adventure today.

When you were young all you had to do to go on an adventure was go into your back yard and all of a sudden you were in a brand new world. The same can be true today. Let’s look at some ways of discovering new excitement and joy every time you go out your back door.
The jungle gym with fort or swing was always a favorite place for an adventure. You could be in a far away land discovering new worlds or fighting for your life. There was never a dull moment. Today relaxing on a hammock or comfortable lounger enjoying a sunny afternoon can quickly allow your mind to imagine you’re in some exotic resort relaxing on the beach without a care in the world.
Water play was the favorite activity on a hot summer day, running through a sprinkler or playing in a kiddie pool. Today we enjoy the hot tub or have a small in ground swimming pool in our yard. Back when we were kids our parents couldn’t afford things like that but today they are affordable by almost everyone, and with modern methods they are easy to care for as well. No longer do we have to pack the family up to go to the beach all we have to do is step out the back door and dive into a brand new adventure.
I don’t know about you but I spent hours playing in the sand box building sandcastles or roads to race on. Today I still like to get my fingers dirty playing in and enjoying my garden, don’t you? Gardening is a rapidly growing industry as people enjoy spending more time at home (because of rising travel costs) they are making their back yards a beautiful relaxing place to enjoy and entertain. For me the time I spend making and maintaining my yard helps me relax.

At night the back yard was always an adventure as you sat around a camp fire telling stories which stretched the imagination and took you to far away places. Today it is not easy for most to have an open fire in their back yard. Some places may allow enclosed fires in an outdoor fireplace but we can also give our yard a similar feel but without the smoke getting in our eyes with some of the amazing new outdoor lighting that is available. They can give just the right atmosphere for that romantic evening relaxing on some comfortable cedar outdoor furniture enjoying a drink and remembering stories from days gone by.

Don't allow your summer this year to pass you by without taking time to enjoy some of life's simple pleasures. With some thought and planning, you could be enjoying your paradise adventure right in your own backyard.

Adventures “by the yard”

Tips for a Successful Container Garden

Summer is here along with warmer temperatures and you're itching to get outside and start planting. But what if you don't have a lot of space in your yard?
Container gardening is an easy way to have fun gardening and add splashes of color to your back yard whether it’s on the patio, deck, balcony or even in the garden itself. Regardless of your gardening experience or ability, it's as easy as 1-2-3.

Here are some tips for having the best looking, and enjoyable flower pots around:

1. Plan
Begin by thinking about what you planted last year, what worked and what didn't. Find out what exciting new varieties are available. Check out gardening magazines for ideas on how you'd like your containers to look. You also need to think about how much sun your plants will get where you will be putting them. Shade lovers won’t do well in sun nor will sun lovers do well in shade. Think about bloom color, toy with interesting leaf textures and leaf colors as well, as variety adds depth to your garden. Herbs are also a popular trend for containers.

2. Plant
First, every pot needs a clear drain hole as pots with clogged drainage holes are plant killers. Some materials used to assist drainage are rocks, broken terra cotta pieces or a much lighter alternative is packing peanuts. These need to be placed over the drainage hole in the bottom of the container. Next fill the pot with potting soil, leaving four to five inches at the top for plants. It's imperative that you use quality potting soil if you want your plants to thrive. For a simple mix for making your own all you need to do is mix a bag of cheap potting soil with some finely ground bark mulch. Mix the two 50/50 and you'll be all set. There are other soil mix recipes that include sand, perlite, vermiculate and lime or you can buy bags already mixed at your garden center.

Next, set the plants in the pot. Start with the taller, wider plants and place them in the center. Then place smaller ones around the perimeter balancing them according to color and size. After arranging them, fill the pots with soil and water thoroughly. I personally love having mixed flower containers rather than containers all filled with the same flower. Though there are garden centers everywhere you look in the spring and early summer with different containers both hanging basket type and planter pots I love collecting my own unique containers for my garden. I have found that buying hanging baskets can save money as they usually contain larger plants than the individual pots and are cheaper by the plant as there are four in each. I then take them out of the hanging baskets, divide them up and replant them into my own containers. I save money and start with larger, stronger, healthier plants and dividing them allows me to mix my plants in the containers for the effect I am looking for. If you are using hanging containers make sure you include plants that hang or trail down as part of the mix.

3. Plant Maintenance
As your containers bloom and grow you will need to pluck off dead blooms and trim leggy growth to keep your containers looking good and blooming well all summer long. You will also need to keep your plants watered and fertilized regularly. Containers tend to dry out fairly quickly and so depending on the kind of containers you have and the weather you may have to water daily or at least every other day and fertilize once every week or two.
That’s it, the only other thing you need to do is enjoy your efforts and the wonder and variety of Gods creation. Enjoy your summer and the beauty surrounding you in your containers.

Container Gardening “by the yard”