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.