(Via Plant Care)

Posted by admin to Landscaping, Lawn Care, Lighting on 2008-03-20, 05:20:49

For many “Spring” arrives in different ways. For some it’s the time change, others it’s the Azaleas starting to bloom… for me I’m just weird, I know it’s “Spring” from TV commercials.


In the just the past week I’ve seen or heard the audio rumbling through our home commercials for Lowe’s and Home Depot. But the one that always gets my attention is the Miracle Gro commercials. The reason why that piques my interest comes from some obscure fact that sticks in my brain.

A few years ago it was report that “Miracle Gro” spent 1 million per week during the season to promote their products. That season starts during the “Spring.” Do they make the best potting soil, media or dirt? You’ll have to decide, but there must be money in it. The Miracle Gro fertilizer commercial has not come across the radar yet but will soon I’m sure.

Spring is also in the air because of the weeds starting to grow. That means the “Round-Up” commercials with homeowners spraying have started. You’ll soon see them. The problem I have with the commercial is not the use of “round-up” it’s been a great product I use. However, you should always play it safe with some safety eyewear and gloves. Kill the weeds but keep the chemicals off and away from your body. That goes for the Spectrcide commercials and products also. But having someone applying these products in a Hazmat suit would not sell them as well.

It’s safe to say you probably won’t see many commercials on landscape rocks, outdoor landscape lighting for safety purposes or outdoor wireless speakers for your backyard landscape on TV. So next time you’re at the local garden center looking at the flowers, dirt and chemicals give them a look also - since Spring is here - cuz the TV told us so!

(Via Plant Care)

Posted by admin to Irrigation, Landscaping on 2008-03-05, 09:00:38

No matter how “Green” we may think we are a survey conducted by TechnoMetrica Market Intelligence found that Americans have little taste for conservation - that’s the conservation of water.

The survey looked at the attitudes and the activities of 105 million US consumer households. The finding showed that one out of three households had ZERO plans to conserve water in their gardens or yards for the upcoming season.

One in four or approximately 21 million plan on using the least efficient way to water plants or irrigate! They plan to water by hand. Here’s 10 Tips to Improve your Irrigation

Anytime the economy turns people may not have the same money to travel but look to stay home and make improvements around the house. The survey showed the same thing.

Plans for major landscape upgrades to not only improve the look but landscaping can also improve the property values of a home. Tops on the landscape upgrade include renovating the patio landscaping or deck, installing water gardens and building sheds. Don’t forget improving the watering system with installing irrigation.

Almost half plan to grow some garden vegetables but 1/3 did not think very much about fertilizer needs. One in five plan on going the natural or organic route.

This speaks volumes to me. Plants are a way of life for many of us, but as consumers we have a long way to go in the basics - that being watering plants indoors and out along with using safe natural controls for pest to make our environment safer.

What are your plant plans for the summer. Is an updated patio in your future or even a garden?

(Via Plant Care)

Posted by admin to Irrigation, Landscaping, Outdoor Color on 2008-02-13, 05:34:43

The prices in real estate seem to continually keep creeping one way or another up and down. The whole home real estate market bounces around like a ball. Some areas find selling a home a hot commodity and other regions across the country find slow sales.

No matter what a home may be worth you cannot “tap into” the money inside the house unless you decide to refinance or sell. There are things you can do inside to make the house appraise higher for the refinance, a coat of paint can go a long way. But what about outdoors… in the landscape.

Adding some landscaping or upgrading the backyard landscape with ideas could not only enhance the look but add to the value for refinancing or make the sale easier.

Usually the return on investment for what you put in not only returns in money later but you can gain the benefit of shade and privacy. If you add fruit trees you may also enjoy nature’s foods. Flowers also make the landscape more appealing.

Where do you start in the landscape design path?

First ask yourself what are you looking for? Do you want shrubs for privacy or for beauty.

Borders offer a low cost solution that can add a lot of punch, either on entry ways or in front of hedges.

If your neighbors are close, placing a line of shrubs or a hedge at the property line can “define” the property. When you’re looking at shrubs don’t pick things based on “likes” but also what is best in terms of soil, sunlight, water, and other factors. Make sure you take into account the exposure of light available. Sunny or shady will affect your plant selection.

Water is becoming more and more of a precious commodity. You never know what can happen in terms of drought. Putting plants in the landscape is good but also consider the long term maintenance in water and care. Consider putting in an automatic sprinkler system, the long term benefits is not only watering the plants regularly but also it adds to the “salability” of your home.

From personal experience I’ve watched small landscape jobs of $2500 - $4000 increase the value of a home between $10 -12,000 dollars. Last time I checked that’s a pretty good return on investment!

(Via Gardening Tips 'n' Ideas)

Posted by admin to Landscaping on 2008-01-21, 15:58:24

We became alarmed when animal species began to decline and become extinct. Then we started exposing tree fellers in the Amazonian jungles. But now a new scourge has lifted above the horizon that many gardeners are seemingly unaware - garden decorative pebbles or river stones as they are also affectionately marketed.

Fast becoming the mulch of choice for many landscapers due to their varied textures, colours and size, these decorative pebbles are turning up in gardens all over the world. And why not? They're natural, can quickly transform a garden area and are basically maintenance free. Plus, they don't need to be renewed - so long as we don't take fashion trends into account.

So what could possibly be wrong with gardeners utilising these natural resources?

Two reasons, really. Firstly, most decorative pebbles come from a finite source - ie. that being the rivers of the world. What has taken hundreds - maybe thousands - of years to cultivate through erosion of larger rocks will take the same amount of time to replenish. However, at the rate that the world is excavating these for home gardeners there will be a lag of a few thousand years before the next harvest is ripe.

The second reason is far more concerning. These pebbles play an important part in our river systems. While they get tumbled and smashed against each other or larger rocks on their descent therefore producing more silt, it is actually the silt that they hold back from moving too fast through the river.

If you take these river stones out of the equation then silt can become a problem further down the river. Increased levels of silt can bring a heap of problems as it builds within the river delta. The sheer volume can increase water temperatures killing fish and producing algae that destroys the life within these rivers.

And the effects are irreversible.

While it may not effect your backyard it is having, and soon will have, devastating consequences in developing nations where these are sourced. Counties such as China, Vietnam, Thailand and India are the big exporters and while the price is high these countries will always put economic gain ahead of their future environmental welfare.

What can be done about this?

Firstly, if you plan to use decorative pebbles in your landscape then buy them from a producer that sources them from less important rock specimens. If they come from a river bed somewhere they will always be doing the environment harm. Yet, if they are produced as a byproduct of mine tailings or sourced from rocks that have little impact on the earth's structure then they will be far more appropriate.

Even better than the first option is not to use them at all. Stick with organic mulches that are readily renewable and are much better for your garden soil anyway.

Decorative pebbles may be the current landscaping trend but is the cost worth the aesthetic appeal?

(Via Gardening Tips 'n' Ideas)

Posted by admin to Landscaping on 2008-01-21, 15:58:24

We became alarmed when animal species began to decline and become extinct. Then we started exposing tree fellers in the Amazonian jungles. But now a new scourge has lifted above the horizon that many gardeners are seemingly unaware - garden decorative pebbles or river stones as they are also affectionately marketed.

Fast becoming the mulch of choice for many landscapers due to their varied textures, colours and size, these decorative pebbles are turning up in gardens all over the world. And why not? They're natural, can quickly transform a garden area and are basically maintenance free. Plus, they don't need to be renewed - so long as we don't take fashion trends into account.

So what could possibly be wrong with gardeners utilising these natural resources?

Two reasons, really. Firstly, most decorative pebbles come from a finite source - ie. that being the rivers of the world. What has taken hundreds - maybe thousands - of years to cultivate through erosion of larger rocks will take the same amount of time to replenish. However, at the rate that the world is excavating these for home gardeners there will be a lag of a few thousand years before the next harvest is ripe.

The second reason is far more concerning. These pebbles play an important part in our river systems. While they get tumbled and smashed against each other or larger rocks on their descent therefore producing more silt, it is actually the silt that they hold back from moving too fast through the river.

If you take these river stones out of the equation then silt can become a problem further down the river. Increased levels of silt can bring a heap of problems as it builds within the river delta. The sheer volume can increase water temperatures killing fish and producing algae that destroys the life within these rivers.

And the effects are irreversible.

While it may not effect your backyard it is having, and soon will have, devastating consequences in developing nations where these are sourced. Counties such as China, Vietnam, Thailand and India are the big exporters and while the price is high these countries will always put economic gain ahead of their future environmental welfare.

What can be done about this?

Firstly, if you plan to use decorative pebbles in your landscape then buy them from a producer that sources them from less important rock specimens. If they come from a river bed somewhere they will always be doing the environment harm. Yet, if they are produced as a byproduct of mine tailings or sourced from rocks that have little impact on the earth's structure then they will be far more appropriate.

Even better than the first option is not to use them at all. Stick with organic mulches that are readily renewable and are much better for your garden soil anyway.

Decorative pebbles may be the current landscaping trend but is the cost worth the aesthetic appeal?

(Via Plant Care)

Posted by admin to House Plants Care, Landscaping, Lawn Care on 2008-01-21, 10:47:56

Plant Roots - I’m going to beat on that drum again! The roots of plants - unfortunately - are many times the most neglected and least maintained part of the plant. Yet they are probably the most vital.

Instead of considering a root is a root, let’s look a little farther. I know we in general all roots being equal what their basic functions they are.

One area I find many homeowners caring for:

• House Plants
• Landscape plants in the garden
• Potted Plants on the Patio or Deck area
• Grass - that plant which makes up our lawns

They assume all plants must have a vigorous root system. Don’t assume (myself included) that a newly purchased plant has a container full of roots. Stop and take a look at the root system before jumping into any regular maintenance routine.

Some plants don’t have a vigorous root system or deep root system. Probably the most widely grown indoor plant is the pothos or golden pothos. That “philodendron looking” plant with gold coloring on it. The pothos is a shallow-root plant. Many times I’ll see a basket or pot of pothos with the center completely rotted out.

The plant vines around and hangs over the edge of the pot, but the center looks pretty sad.

Why does this happen?

What is this person caring for? Roots or Soil?

Most likely what happens is they watch and water the soil - not the roots. The dirt doesn’t Grow!

Does this sound like you? Not all plants need a thorough soaking, but would prefer a light watering - depending on the plant and root system. Also most of the water is probably being poured right into the center of the plant and not around the pot.

Yes, roots may reach the bottom of the pot, but will most likely be found at the outer edges of the pot and not the center. The outer edges allow the soil to drain off, leaving the soil moist and not wet. This is one reason I like sub-irrigation - watering from the bottom up!

Another place we may find a shallow rooted plant is in new plant arrivals. These plants have been in transit and had their root systems knocked around. They need time to slowly repair themselves and become efficient again. In the case of an under rooted plant, it may need time to fill out it’s growing media in its new surrounding.

A plant in a 10 inch pot may only have the developed root system of an 8 inch pot. The bottom soil may take a long time to dry out. It may be necessary to allow the plant(s) to dry down halfway before watering again.

That being said, take a look at your plants and plant watering techniques.

Are you pouring your water right in one spot? Are you watering a plant with a shallow root system or undeveloped root system?

Take some time to look at the roots of your plants. Don’t forget plants in lower light levels probably aren’t going to use as much water. Learn to water the roots and not the soil.

Your plants like it much more and has less chance to create plant root problems.

(Via Plant Care)

Posted by admin to Landscaping, Outdoor Color, Plant Pictures on 2008-01-08, 09:46:48

The Adenium is an odd looking plant - colorful, but look right at home in a bonsai dish. It can really make a colorful statement!

Recently, a new “Desert Rose” variety was introduced - Adenium “Hot Pink”. Now another additional to the Adenium family is Adenium “Ice Pink.”

Like Hot Pink it is grown from virus tested stock which will produce a consistent looking and with a new color.

(Via Gardening Tips 'n' Ideas)

Posted by admin to Landscaping on 2008-01-04, 19:37:19

More than 12 months after starting this project (some of my long term readers would remember when we commenced construction) our garden pergola is now finally complete - well...almost! There are still a few little things to fix but nothing of major importance.

Did it actually take 12 months to build this feature? No. If I added up all the time we actually spent ('we' being a few friends that offered help over the course of time) then we could have completed it over a long weekend. However, with so many other commitments tearing at my free-time, and money not always being readily available the project stalled for more than 9 months. The rest was a culmination of an hour here, or an hour scraped from there, to get certain parts achieved.

Was it worth it? Of course it was worth it. Most of our summer has been spent sitting under its shade allowing the gentle breeze to keep us from baking in 35°+C days. Deb spends most of the day reading while I gaze over the garden considering which plants are likely to stay and which will go.

Planning a garden pergola

Before starting our garden pergola there were a few issues that needed to be sort through. I wanted an open pergola that would accommodate a grape vine with summer fruit dangling through the rafters. Deb didn't want
the bees. I wanted rustic and old-world charm whereas Deb was more geometric shapes and lines.

In the end, we opted for a gabled, covered roof and I got my bush poles.

But that's not where the planning ended. At every turn we were given a few more options and the pergola that we ended with was certainly not what we had initially planned. It was, in fact, far better.

I guess this is one of the blessings of building your pergola yourself. If you had signed off on a contract with a builder making changes along the way can become very costly. Doing it ourselves made it a 'work-in-progress' and it took its shape over time.

The pergola roof

The roof is always the most contentious issue when building a garden pergola. Should it be covered? With what? Should it be gabled, flat, leaning or convex? Should it remain open? There are just so many considerations for the most important part of this construction.

One of our issues is that Busselton receives a considerable amount of rainfall. It's said that it rains for 9 months of the year and drips off the trees for the other three and sometimes it certainly feels like that. So, to keep our pergola open meant that the area would rarely be used.

Also, our backyard faces east so it cops the morning sun - albeit mostly hidden behind the towering peppermints. We didn't want to lose this aspect of our climate so we chose to cover the east facing roof side with tinted polycarbonate sheeting. This allows the sun to still shine through and warm the living areas in the house and gives us uninterrupted views of the tree canopy above.

However, the west side is a different story. On most summer days the sun would penetrate the patio and render it unusable between 12 and 5 pm. With this side we covered it completely with Colorbond™ sheeting. Now the whole roof keeps out the elements but we don't feel like we're cocooned within an indoor space.

It's really the best of both worlds.

(Via Plant Care)

Posted by admin to Landscaping on 2008-01-04, 06:41:14

Rutgers University Office of Continuing Professional Education (OCPE) announced their 2008 Landscape Program course offerings. The 48 courses have been carefully designed to be enjoyable and interesting for both landscape professionals and novices alike. Many of the courses offer field experience on and around the Rutgers campus where the class is being held in addition to classroom learning with one of the expert instructors.

The centerpiece of the Landscape Program is the Landscape Management Certificate; consisting of 9 courses which allow a student to confirm and advertise their knowledge and experience. Karen Tizzano, Rutgers Office of Continuing Professional Education Landscape Program Coordinator said, “Earning this certificate gives you a competitive advantage and helps you market yourself better. Plus, we are affiliated with Rutgers University a name synonymous with quality education.”

The certificate series consists of courses that are diverse in their content but that complement each other in providing useful knowledge to students. For instance, Introduction to Plant Identification is a two day course that teaches students the basics of plant classification and biology to so that they will have confidence in identifying, keying out and talking intelligently about landscape plants. On the other hand, Water Management and Drainage teaches students how to evaluate site conditions in order to make better plant selections and maintenance decisions.

Other classes in the series include: Growing Ornamental Plants, Soil and Plant Relationships, Introduction to Pruning Techniques, Basics of Turfgrass Management, Integrated Pest Management, Pest Management of Landscape Turf, Pest Management of Ornamental Landscape Plants.

Complete Landscape Program course descriptions and registration details including the Landscape Certificate Series can be found online at www.cookce.rutgers.edu/landscape

(Via Plant Care)

Posted by admin to Landscaping, Lawn Care on 2008-01-01, 06:45:49

With the price of oil continuing to climb the new “buzz” of renewable fuels and hybrid cars and engines continue to make the news. However, one “alternative” few which has been around for many years and can provide some relief when mowing lawns especially for commercial lawn care specialist is diesel powered lawn mowers.

Diesel does not have the same glamorous ring to it that some of the newer technology fuels have but diesel powered engines can provide 18% more energy compared to gasoline on a per unit of volume measurement.

For the homeowner this saving may not appear significant but for lawn care professionals the saving can be measured in real dollars besides fuel savings alone. Diesel engines prove to last 3 to 5 years longer than gasoline engines. The extends the time between equipment replacement. Also the engine parts inside are built stronger.

Don’t look at the fuel cost alone but all the other factors associated with operating an engine on an ongoing basis.

For example, when I first installed a diesel pump in my nursery I was surprised by the fuel savings. A gas engine used about 1.5 gallons per hour where the diesel used about 2/3 of a gallon. Over the course of years the fuel saving alone was significant.

Many homeowner also like the zero turn mowers available for mowing their lawn and they are all come with diesel engines if you want. Give deisel a serious look for your next lawn mower purchase.

Lawn Mower Deals at eBay!