Many different ground vines are available. These types grow fast and strong, and just inch their ways along the ground. They are very easy to direct, so they can make a border around your garden, or just weave in and out of the plants. I suggest using these as a hardy ground cover if you just want some green on your dirt or mulch. Usually you can find a variety that is resistant to being stepped on. It’s like a leafy, nice alternative to grass. Even if you have kids and a dog, it should have no problems staying alive.

Another type of vine that is available is a “twining” vine. This refers to their method of climbing. Twining vines require a lattice or equally porous surface to climb up, since they are not sticky at all. They just climb by sending out small tendrils to loop around whatever is nearby. I suggest using this type of vine for climbing up trees, or any type of mesh. Usually you have to guide them a lot more during their early stages, and after that they will go wherever you want them to.

Vines not only look good on the ground or on lattices, you can blend them in to the very architecture of your house. This is usually achieved through the use of vines with small tendrils that have adhesive tips. They extend from the vine and attach themselves to almost any surface. If your garden is adjacent to your house and you want something to camouflage the big unsightly wall, it’s a great idea to start out a few vines near the base. If you have a vine like the Virginia Creeper growing, then your entire wall will be covered in a matter of months. However I have seen situations where the vine got out of control. After that, you have no choice but to watch the vine take over your entire house.

One of the vines that you would probably recognize is Ivy. You see it around a lot, generally because it is so adaptable. Out of the types I mentioned above (ground, twining, and sticky pads), Ivy can fill in for pretty much anything. It makes a great ground cover, and will grow up about any surface you put it on. Although it grows quick and strong, I wouldn’t suggest growing it up your house. This is because recently, buildings which have had ivy for many years have found that it has been deteriorating the building.

So no matter what you want to do with a vine, you should have no problem getting it to grow. You should always do your research beforehand and find out about any negative qualities the vine has (such as its ability to destroy buildings, in Ivy’s case.)

This saw has a chain tip guard to prevent kickback and extend chain life.  The electric brake stops within ½ second of releasing the trigger.  It also has hand guards.  A hex wrench allows for rapid blade changes and adjustments.

The chain guard allows fast entry to the blade and motor housing area.  The 12 V.N1-MH battery gives you a longer operating time. You can buy an optional handle if you will need a longer reach.  This 4.6 pound dynamo cuts through a variety of PVC piping diameters.

We found two other brands of battery powered chainsaws.  One made in China has a 12 volt battery and a shock absorption system. The other brand has an 18 volt battery and a 10 inch chain.  There is little information currently available on these saws and most of what is available is anecdotal.

On one message board we found a discussion thread on cordless battery operated chainsaws.  One participant said he made 12 cuts and took down a five inch sugar maple. Another said he got one and it wouldn’t cut a two inch twig – he had the chain on backwards. Overall it looks like the ideal chainsaw for the occasional user who wants to do some light pruning or to take down small trees.

Learn how composting works. Even a newbie to composting can make good quality compost. It can be compared to cooking as art or part science. The following 7 factors will help you master the art of composting.

1. Materials
After a time anything that was once alive will naturally decompose. But, not all organic items should be composted for the home. To prepare compost, organic material, microorganisms, air, water, and a small amount of nitrogen are needed.

These items are safe to compost at home:
* grass clippings
* trimmings from hedges
* vegetable scraps
* leaves
* potting soil that has grown old
* twigs
* coffee filters with coffee grounds
* tea bags
* weeds that have not went to seed
* plant stalks

These items are Not safe to compost at home:
* weeds that have went to seed
* dead animals
* pet feces
* bread and grains
* meat
* grease
* cooking oil
* oily foods
*diseased plants

2. What To Do To Make It Work
There are small forms of plant and animal life which break down the organic material. This life is called microorganisms. From a minute amount of garden soil or manure comes plenty of microorganisms.

Nitrogen, air, and water will provide a favorable environment for the microorganisms to make the compost. Air circulation  and water will keep the microorganisms healthy and working. The nitrogen feeds the tiny organisms. You may have to add a small amount of nitrogen to the pile.

Putting on too much nitrogen can kill microbes and too much water causes insufficient air in the pile. You just cannot add too much air.

3. Beneficial Microorganisms
Bacteria are the most effective compost makers in your compost pile. They are the first to break down plant tissue. Then comes the fungi and protozoans to help with the process. The arthropodes, like centipedes, beetles, millipedes and worms, bring in the finishing touches to complete the composting.

4. Smaller is Better
The materials will break down faster if the microorganisms have more surface area to eat. Chopping your garden materials with a chipper, shredder, or lawnmower will help them decompose faster.

5. Size of The Pile
The activity of millions of microorganisms generates heat in the compost pile but a minimum size 3-foot by 3-foot by 3-foot  is needed for a hot, fast composting pile. Piles that are any larger may hamper the air supply needed in the pile for the microorganisms.

6. Moisture and Aeration
If you can imagine a wet squeezed out sponge with its many air pockets, then this would be the ideal enviroment for the microorganisms in the pile to function at their best. Pay attention while your pile is composting, to the amount of rain or a drought you may have. Water in a drought and maybe turn the pile in a lot of rainy days. The extremes of these two may upset the balance of the pile. The use of a pitchfork would come in handy at this time.

7. Temperature and Time
Keep your pile between 110F and 160F and the beneficial bacteria will love it. Not too cool nor too hot.
The temperature will rise over several days if you keep a good ratio of carbon and nitrogen, maintain lots of surface area within a large volume of material, and maintain adequate moisture and aeration.

-Importance of Compost-

+Compost has nutrients, but it is not a complete fertilizer.

+Compost provides nutrients in the soil until plants need to use them.

+ It loosens and aerates clay soils

+ Retains water in sandy soils.

-Using the Compost-

+ A soil amendment, mix 2 to 5 inches of compost into gardens each year before planting.

+ A potting mixture, add one part compost to two parts potting soil.

+ Make your own potting mixture by using equal parts of compost and sand or perlite.

+ A mulch, prodcast 2 to 4 inches of compost around annual flowers and vegetables, and up to 5 inches around your trees and shrubs.

+ A top dressing, mix finely sifted compost with sand and sprinkle evenly over lawns.

The final thing I would suggest once you have mastered the art of composting is to look very seriously at making your very own aerated compost tea. This elixir will give you results that are hard to believe.

Home and garden furniture can be made from wicker and wood.  Metal and plastic garden furniture can be used, but would probably be considered inappropriate to adorn this region of your home. You would want furniture that is not too elaborate, but on the other hand you don’t want the furniture ill-suited for the region either.  You will want it to blend with the surroundings you have created.   The enclosing of the back patio area convince visitors that this is just an extra room in the house.  You will want the room to give off the look of casual comfort.  A room in which to relax and have fun.  Home and garden furniture fabricated from wicker have a classic appearance.  The simplicity of the designs leans to the casual look of romantic, comfort.   Since the home and garden furniture constructed of wicker is made for the outdoors, care and maintenance should be a much easier, simpler task.  Consult your retailer for those requirements.

Wicker is also constructed to be durable.  It is a good investment in the future of your home.  The wicker constructed home and garden furniture comes in a wide range of style, designs and colors.   Along with the variety of colors you will have the option to choose one of the dining sets, or from a cluster of sofa, loveseats and chairs.  Wicker tables will complete the look of your conversation area of the room.  You also have the option of a porch swing a cozy, intimate seating for lovers and friends young or old.

Home and garden furniture is also available an array of wooden pieces or sets.   If you want to be able to move home and garden furniture, you may want to browse the teak wooden furniture lines.  Teakwood is well known for its lightweight and strength.  Its natural finish is a golden color.  Wooden home and garden furniture like the wicker home and garden furniture is also built to be sturdy and durable.  Wooden home and garden furniture is also available in the same furniture pieces as the wicker furniture from the dining sets to the conversation sets included with loveseat or sofas.  The porch swing is also one of the options available in the wooden home and garden furniture line.  The maintenance and care for the wooden furniture as with the wicker should be a much simpler and easy task.  For requirements for that care, check with the retailer.  As with the wicker home and garden furniture, wooden home and garden furniture is a great investment in the future for you and your home.

Aluminum strap patio furniture prides itself on its quality. Aluminum strap patio furniture is now made from the finest components including highest quality steel and aluminum. The straps have a powder coated paint finish for resilience. Aluminum frames are coated with a high quality sealant to withstand the elements. The aluminum is also resistant to rough handling and denting. Ideal for when furniture will frequently need to be moved or stacked.

There are a few furniture pieces that should be purchased for poolside seating. Every pool should have a few chaise lounges for sun bathing. Aluminum strap is a perfect choice for this because it will not mold or mildew from wet people or towels. An aluminum table and aluminum strap dining chairs are a great idea for serving food poolside. Another great idea is a bar table and aluminum strap bar chairs. Pool users can sit casually at a bar table and watch others. Aluminum strap patio furniture also comes in a variety of colors to compliment any decorating theme.

Aluminum strap patio furniture is easy to care for. The aluminum frames and straps are very stain resistant and will usually be cleaned easily with mild detergent and water. After years and years of use aluminum strap patio furniture can be recoated with sealant and paint powder in order to provide more years and years of service.

Furnishing the poolside is easy with a few tips and a little research on patio furniture. Aluminum strap patio furniture is one of the most popular choices, and for obvious reasons. Any pool owner will be happy with their choice for years to come.

Color

How will a particular color of rose look in your garden, be sure to look at other peoples gardens and in magazines to see how different color arrangements work together. For some people the color of the roses will not be a very important consideration for others it will be one of the most important. Either way you will need to be sure that the color will complement the other colors in your garden and not clash with what you already have in place.

Size

Size will also be an important factor, how will the roses look in your garden once they have grown to their full height. Can your garden aesthetically support twenty-foot roses or will you need to stick with a species that only grows to about eight feet high. You will need to measure your garden before you start looking for roses. You will need to know the width and height of your garden to aid in selecting the proper roses. Your roses will need adequate room to grow and will need enough exposure to sunlight and air to thrive. If you have limited space you might want to consider growing miniature roses instead. Miniature roses require much less space and our easy to care for and maintain.

Climate

While characteristics that deal with the visual appeal of roses like the height and color are important the most important considerations are the ones that deal with how well the roses will be able to thrive. The climate that the rose needs for proper growth is one of these, if the climate the rose needs does not match with your local climate these roses will never grow very well. For example if you live in an area that has long cold winters you will need to select varieties of roses that can tolerate cold weather.

Maintenance

How much time do you want to spend maintaining your roses? Do you live in your garden or are you a busy individual that only has small amounts of time to devote to their garden. Some roses require very high levels of maintenance, while these roses are quiet beautiful and would be a stunning addition to any garden you have to have the time and dedication to make them thrive. If you select a high maintenance rose and do not devote the necessary time to them you will be very disappointed with the results. There are roses on the market today known as “Modern Roses”; these are beautiful plants with a great fragrance and long lasting blooms. However they are also prone to disease and very high maintenance.

On the other hand you have “Old Garden Roses” these plants may not be quite as beautiful as the modern roses but they have been specially bred to be very disease prone and to only require minimal maintenance and care. They usually bloom for several months at a time and also have a very strong and pleasant scent. This strong scent can cause problems for people with allergies to fragrances. If that could be an issue for you should consider “shrub roses”, these are also long blooming plants with a strong resistance to disease without the strong fragrance.

If this is your first time attempting to raise roses you might want to consider “landscape roses”, they are very easy to care for and disease resistant. Landscape roses will add a great deal of beauty to any garden. If you have trellises around your home you might want to consider one of the varieties of climbing roses. These are very similar to landscape roses except that they grow upward like a vine.

Step Two:-
Next spread out the sugar cane mulch. If you cant access cheap sugar cane mulch, try straw, but ensure it has no seeds in it. Make sure all the paper is covered. It doesn’t have to be deep, just enough to cover all the paper. Once again apply water to damp down the mulch. Once watered it takes on a lovely golden colour.

Step Three:-
Now apply the bark. Just grab handfulls and throw it around. You don’t want to totally cover the yellow mulch, the barks mainly to give colour and to contrase with the mulch.

I have found this to be a very effective mulch. A year later and few weeds can get through. Nutgrass was the only successful one and I pulled those out by hand and even the nutgrass gave up the fight. The beautiful browns and golden colour unfortunately fade under the harsh sun, but by that time you should have plenty of flower to make up for it. Best of all – NO WEEDING, yes.

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Why Foliar Feed?
There are many instances when foliar feeding is very beneficial:

To perk up wilted or damaged plants whose roots are in poor condition

When variegated plants are too white, foliar feeding with fish emulsion or other high nitrogen fertilizer will ?green up? the leaves

For newly rooted leaves, foliar feeding helps in the development of baby plants.  Baby plants have little or no root system, so foliar feeding provides nutrients to help build a strong root system.

Show plants may also benefit with the extra boost foliar feeding provides

How to Foliar Feed
Select a fertilizer that is recommended for foliar feeding.  Use 1/8 to ? tsp. to a gallon of hot water.  Your spray bottle should deliver a fine, even spray.  Mist the entire plant lightly, early in the morning so the leaves can dry before cooler nighttime temperatures set in.  If any water accumulates in the center of the plants, blot dry with a tissue.

Do not foliar feed more often than 2 times per week and not during hot months when soil bacteria is more active.

The benefits of foliar feeding will be noticed in 2 to 3 week.african violets, foliar feeding,

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A pergola makes a striking accent to any landscaping theme; not only are they eye-catching, but functional as well. Depending on their size, pergolas often become an extension of the main home, and may be used for entertaining, dining, or as a getaway or quiet oasis for reading or enjoying morning coffee.

Ideas for Pergolas:

1. The most common version is a simple post construction with wood cross-pieces or lattice for the roof, and used to cover a deck or patio. It can be painted or stained, and accented with lighting, plants, and other accessories.

2. Install your pergola along the entire length of the house, similar to an awning. It can extend out farther at different points to create interest and seating areas underneath.

3. Use it to cover a hot tub.

4. Place in a random area of the yard to create a shady spot to escape from the afternoon sun. Add a nice little bench, and plant climbing roses or other scented vines nearby. Cover it with tin or shingles, to create extra coverage.

5. Create road appeal by placing your pergola over a front porch in place of a standard roof. Paint or stain it the same color as your shutters or house trim. It won’t entirely keep out the rain, but it will provide a certain amount of shelter, and create an impressive entrance.

6. Instead of the standard lattice look on the roof, use strips of bamboo placed side by side. It creates additional shade and gives the structure a twig furniture look.

7. Your pergola is the perfect place let those showy vines grow wild; creating a thick natural canopy. Vines that work well include Hops, Wisteria, Jade, Grapes, Morning Glory, Cypress, and many varieties of climbing roses. It’s also a great place to grow vegetables such as peas or Scarlett Runner Beans.

8. Give your pergola some style by adding architectural accents such as a curved top, cylindrical wooden column supports, or design a top that flows with the roof lines of your house.

9. Dress up the open sides with outdoor fabric curtains, bamboo shades, or a manicured Boxwood hedge.

10. Use your pergola to create a garden filled with your favorite shade-loving plants. You may want to try Hostas, Bleeding Hearts, Yellow Corydalis, Bigroot Geranium, Monkshood or Lungwort.

11. Give your pergola a rustic look by using rough logs and unstained beams. Weave willow or alder twigs in the roof and display your twig furniture below.

12. A pergola is the perfect place for that hanging swing, chair or hammock. Add a small table, a cool drink, a good book, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a lazy afternoon.

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Basil is an annual and grows 12 – 24 inches (30 – 60 cm) as the height varies according to the variety.  Cultivation requirements for growing basil: full sun; light, well-drained, nutrient rich, slightly acidic soil; frequent watering (don’t waterlog); will not tolerate cold; pinch off flower stalks for a longer season of leaf production.

Basil can be easily started from seed or can be brought indoors at the end of the growing season.  If you are bringing basil indoors, choose the most robust plants.  Before the first frost, dig them out of the garden and pot them up in fresh potting soil.  Basil can also be grown in pots outdoors and treated the same way when bringing them in for winter.  Check for insects and if there is an infestation, spray with a soap and water spray.  Gradually reverse the hardening off process by keeping the pots out of direct sunlight for about a week.  The plants will become acclimatised to the lower light conditions they will experience indoors.  Bring them inside and provide the conditions they need to continue growing.

Basil requires at least five hours of sunlight a day to stay healthy and flavourful.  If you are growing basil on the windowsill, turn regularly to ensure every side receives light.  Don’t let basil leaves touch the cold glass.  Basil grows even better under fluorescent lights in the winter.  Hang the lights 6 inches (15 cm) from plants and leave lights on for 14 hours a day.

There are many cultivars of basil.  Two that are particularly popular are: O. basilicum ‘Dark Opal’- only herb to win the All American Award of Excellence – can be used the same as sweet basil; O. basilicum ‘Citriodorum’- strong lemon scent – nice for tea and with chicken and fish.

In the garden, basil can be planted with tomatoes as it helps to overcome both insects and disease.  Basil also repels flies and mosquitoes.  In the kitchen, use basil in tomato dishes (both raw and cooked), pesto, sauces, salad dressings, soups, fish dishes, mushroom dishes, egg and rice dishes, mixed with other herbs, omelettes, pasta dishes, vegetables such as carrots, eggplant, cabbage, squash, and zucchini.  Use fresh leaves in salads and add fresh leaves to vinegar and extra virgin olive oil.  Basil can be used fresh, frozen, or dried.  Use basil with discretion, as it is one of the few herbs that increase in flavour when heated.

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