Archive for Online Gardening
May 1, 2010 at 9:40 pm · Filed under Misc Stuff, Online Gardening
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Ultimately, any gardener starts looking to purchase garden accessories in the UK or alternatively checking out some Alan Titchmarsh garden forks - but it’s worth noting, only over much of human history have we come to this level. Rakes and shears are comparatively late adaptations, but as you know, the concept of gardens is as old as Man. The activity we look at as an everyday recreation started to take shape prior to Ancient Egypt.
Ancient peoples cultivated gardens for pleasure, for practical reasons, and we shouldn’t omit to mention spirituality. The critical vegetables and similar edible plants would grow around pools for fish. Some of this was allotted for other things, holy plant life grown and nurtured for use in the temples. And other roots, treasured by the priests, were grown elsewhere. Persians, Assyrians and Babylonians combined flowers, fruits, vegetables, and water features with stunning architecture and nuts to create beautiful settings. As you’d imagine, another culture who practiced this would be the Romans - the Greeks, mind you, dedicated their efforts to the food potential of their plantations alone.
Although they would not have used garden forks or lawn rakes, these cultures did use a number of simple contrivances and utensils not dissimilar to modern hoes and spades. Hoes were initially constructed from stone, but their replacements made use of bronze, copper, and iron.
Everything was abruptly halted under the pressure of the Dark Ages. Gardening suffered, but fortunately, the priests kept the old techniques alive.
Slowly we went back to designing gardens for pleasure. This trend advanced right through the seventeenth century, at which time gardens became much more established and systematic than hitherto. Several awesome exemplars of this include knot gardens and hedge mazes, derived from labyrinthine patterns.
So if you’re investigating ways to fix some vexatious garden fork deformity or perusing some in-depth lawn rake reviews, don’t forget that as time went on men such as Humphry Repton, Lancelot “Capability” Brown, not to mention William Kent picked up a garden fork and other garden contrivances to engineer mind blowing gardens. William Kent and those like him took the conventions - so fixed by that point as to be essentially frozen - and discarded any that detracted from their intent, blending a natural panorama with appropriate statuary and other such accessories.
Yes, the situation has evolved as time moves on, but gardens are still cultivated for the same reasons as our forebears’. Ultimately, they’re always some of the most wonderful places in the world.
March 23, 2010 at 5:38 am · Filed under Online Gardening, Shopping Stuff, Tool Portal
Gardening must rank as one of the highest summertime pursuits, especially in the UK. Along side gardening, comes a large amount of garden tools and equipment, particularly for the enthusiast. Once Summer and Autumn has stopped, winter draws close. All the garden equipment you have need to be tided away in the shed. It might not be a great job but it pays to be coordinated
Gardening equipment just have to be one of the most problematic collections of household items to manage. Small tools such as the trowel are quite easy to store away somewhere. Their issue is their very smallness, this makes them prone to be lost and AWOL by spring. The major problem comes with putting away the problematic sized larger accessories.
Can you imagine anything more tough than a lawn rake for finding somewhere sensible to put for any length of time? Hurl in the garden fork with its lethal forked spikes, the garden hoe, garden rake, forged spade, shubbery spade and you have a recipe for cataclysm lying in wait for you. If you have kids, then the risks are even bigger.
Apart from anything else, though, it is better all round to have your accessories housecleaned and hived away in a safe place, precisely where you can obtain them when you need them. That is why garden accessory shelves, especially fashioned for the purpose of hiving away garden accessories, are such an essential feature of any shed, or garage if that is where you have to store your gardening things.
A effective garden rakes stand will help you to keep your instruments in good condition, as well as convenient to find. The issue is, which rack do you select? There are many options, and most of them are very well fashioned for the function intended. While freestanding holders, if dependable and fortified, might be acceptable, it is surely advisable to have a wall stand that is permanently secured to the shed or garage wall. In doing this it will be less likely to go down on top of you when too much free weight is added. If you have tiddlers, a wall stand that can be heightened out of the stretch of the tiddlers is fundamental, as is opting one that will carry the shovel and other serious horticulture instruments firmly in place.
July 19, 2009 at 10:11 pm · Filed under Online Gardening, Web Of Home Improvement
Discuss the topic of working from home, and you’re likely to experience a heated debate. On the one side, people claim that working from home is promotes productivity, you have no car drive necessary, no office politics, no lost time by just having to be in one location for a set time, no senseless group meetings, no dull chit-chat. Others say they simply could not muster up the self-control that’s necessary to be a telecommuter. They might be a tad emabarrassed to invite any customers to their household. The kids, when they are on holiday, are just too much of a distraction. There’s simply too many distractions to even get started. Finally, the office is fantastic because they feel a need to escape the house.
Naysayers of home working now have something that may really make them reconsider their argument : garden studios. Garden studios are built in your own back garden, not adjoining your home. A garden office offers a chance to work in a serene, creative surrounding, with greenery viewable from your office windows, and a peaceful location to conduct group meetings.
The fact that the garden office is isolated from your household is a vital one. It gives you an opportunity to escape from domesticity to work. Using the web and VOIP, it’s easy to acquire a separate telephone number just for the garden office.
Think about other advantages :-
- They are eco-friendly : the commute from home to garden uses only human footprints (as opposed to carbon footprints).
- You can work anytime of the day. Creative juices don’t automatically flow from nine to five, so if you have a new idea, or only wish to finish off a project in good time, step into your garden office.
- It’s a comfy, well-lit, natural surrounding. No glaring lights, grey partitions and non-specific background-noise of regular office life.
Garden offices can recoup their costs in just a few years, and repayments on a loan for a garden office are often comparable, or even cheaper than, renting office space.
May 27, 2008 at 3:47 pm · Filed under Online Gardening
Most businesses consist of the owner only or the owner and a few employees. The owner continues to do the same activity whether it is labor or crew management for many years. He gets into the”comfort zone” or “rut” and does the same thing day in and day out.
You need to put your time and energies into growing your lawn business or landscape business. This needs to be directed toward advertising, marketing, or other services.
Good employees are needed to run the daily activities of a lawn business.The things you are doing now.Filling your labor or management position is crucial for your continued growth.
Some people tell me that it’s tough or scary to let the employees run a large part of the business.
Yes, it may be uncomfortable but you need to ask yourself “Do I want to be doing the same activity in my business 5, 10, or 15 years from now?” If you do that’s fine.
So what we have are 2 choices
1. Do the same activity in your business years from now that you are doing today
2. Put some major responsibility on the eployees and GROW your business.
Number 2 is not easy and can be difficult and stressful.
You have to, have to, have to think about the FUTURE and the end result.
Your business should not become dependent on you. Additionally, I’ve seen many employees actually do a better job in the position the owner gave up than the owner.
The owner should spend time
1) Advertising
2) Marketing
3) Making the business more profitable
4) Building relationships w/ customers
5) Internet and website6) Adding additional services
Write a plan and clear objective of how to make a successful lawnbusiness run without you.
Don’t just turn your employees lose and say go get em.Make sure they all know their job. Everything will work much smoother thisway.
Give employees titles and certain responsibilities, and hold them accountable. Titles can make employees feel wanted and appreciated. When they do something good, acknowledge it and praise them. If they screw up, introduce them to a better way to avoid the problem the next time. Encourage them to ask questions.Tell them there are no stupid questions just stupid mistakes.
You must listen to their needs not just hear what they are saying. Ask them occasionally, “Do you see any areas that can be improved upon or do you have any suggestions to make the business run smoother?” Ask them about the chemistry of the crew such as “Is there someone here slowing the crew down or is a disruption to the performance?”
We talked about the comfort zone earlier. I want to share with a short story..
There was a native tribe in South America who had been dying prematurely from a strange sickness for many generations.Scientists were sent in to find out the cause of the strange disease. It was finally discovered that the disease was caused by the bite of an insect, which lives in the walls of their homes.The natives had several options:
(a) They can destroy the insects with insecticides
(b) They can destroy and rebuild their homes
(c) They can move to another location where there are no such insects
(d) They can continue to live at the same place and die early, as they had been doing for generations.
The saddest thing is that they chose to remain as they were and died early.
THE POINT IS- It is sad that most people have fear and don’t like change. They are comfortable with what they are, where they are, and they would rather die than change. The comfort zone is a dangerous place to be in, and you may not even realize that you are in it.
You have all this money invested in equipment and if you are doing the same activity in the business that you really aren’t happy doing, you have actually “Bought Yourself a Job.” Please don’t make that mistake.
Best of Luck!
Kevin Whiteside is the owner and editor of LawnForum.com Monthly,an online newsletter and website for lawn and landscape professionals.Get a FREE subscription here LawnForum@aweber.com
He is also the author of “Turn High Grass Into Cold Cash- How to Start the Ultimate Lawn Business” http://www.GrassToCash.com
You can use this article as long as the bylines are included.
May 16, 2008 at 4:34 pm · Filed under Online Gardening
As every season passes, I am so thankful to still be here as if life will never end. Today, as we experience the first day in the Fall and embrace the ol’ world charm and beauty of it, I write my heartfelt expressions about it.
I love this time of year when the fields are ripe for the pickings and the harvest is good. Here in northern California, the ground is dry and exhausted. In my area, people flock to the apple orchards in Apple Hill, California and visit the local crafters, eat fresh apple pies and pastries, get our feet dirty, and mosey around.
The blistering heat of 100-105 is behind us which only makes the cooler Fall weather so sweet and enchanting. I love to garden, but by the time Fall comes around each year, I’m ready to let it go for the winter. For most of the year, however, I feel like nurturing my plants and fortifying the ecosystem in my backyard. I love to see the different species of vegetation, birds, flying insects, and earthworms cohabit together.
I especially love the nesting birds in my backyard and lay out cut-up yarn for their nests. I love to see the birds bathe in my bird baths filled with fresh water. It’s even fun to watch them eat from my strawberry patch.
In fact, I love the cute little birds so much that I paint huge, bigger than life paintings of them. No doubt about it, my garden experiences have influenced on my artistic expressions.
Love for life and enjoying all the wholesome activities life has to offer is an artist’s ultimate resource. Just as when we speak from the heart, true feelings come out when artists draw from our own personal experiences. Really, once you find the connection between art and our personal experiences, good things happen artistically. (Revised 2/16/2006)
Debbie Jensen, Graphic Designer and Photographer http://www.debjensendesigns.com
April 10, 2008 at 2:21 pm · Filed under Online Gardening
Sofa slipcovers are designed to be easy to fit over your existing upholstery, to give your furniture a fresh new look and protect the fabric underneath. If your favorite sofa is looking a bit tired or outdated, but is generally in good condition, you could give it a new lease of life simply by adding some stylish sofa covers. Furniture slipcovers are a quick and affordable alternative to re-upholstery or buying a new suite. A well made sofa slipcover can be bought for under $200. If you want to improve the appearance of your sofas or chairs, without a lot of inconvenience or expense, slip covers could be the answer.
Ready made slipcovers for sofas are large sheets of fabric made to cover the whole sofa and are held in place with elastic or ties. Many people like to have several sets of these relatively cheap slipcovers, so they can change the look and feel of their entire room whenever they like. Most sofa slip covers are made from durable fabrics such as, stretch cotton or twill, that can easily be washed clean in the machine, so there’s no need to worry about them getting dirty. And there are so many different slipcover patterns to choose from, you’re sure to find a style that fits in with your decor and color scheme.
For a more fitted look, custom slipcovers are a slightly more expensive option. Custom made or fitted slipcovers are specially cut to fit your furniture’s exact measurements, and you can completely change the style of your sofa if you wish. For example, you could choose to hide the legs with a pleated skirt. Custom fit covers are often a good choice if you’re looking for sectional slipcovers. There are lots of online stores selling top quality furniture covers, such as Surefit slipcovers, in a huge range of designs at great prices.
And it’s not just sofas - all kinds of seats can be slipcovered. The choice includes ottoman, loveseat, recliner and dining chair slipcovers. With slipcovers you can smarten up all your favorite chairs in a matter of minutes!
About The Author
Caroline Smith is a successful freelance writer and regular contributor to http://www.a1-slipcovers.com - An online resource to help you find the very best sofa slipcovers, furniture slipcovers and fitted slipcovers. Shop online and save!
April 9, 2008 at 11:23 pm · Filed under Online Gardening
In the summertime, one sees many St. Louis homeowners toiling on their lawns to make sure they are perfect. Autumn lawn chores are just as important - they prevent winter damage to your lawn, and help ensure a beautiful turf once winter thaws.
Don’t Put Your Lawnmower Away Yet
Continue mowing your lawn regularly throughout the fall, setting your mower’s blades at 3-1/2″. Never remove more than 1/3 of grass’ standing growth because this inhibits photosynthesis, which is vital to the health of your lawn. Proper mowing techniques aid in the development of healthy root systems and help lawns resist weeds, disease, insects and thatch. At the end of autumn, stop mowing your lawn once the grass starts going dormant, which is easy to tell.
You can also keep your grass green and strong this fall by leaving grass clippings on your lawn to produce organic mulch. The shorter the clippings are, the quicker they decompose and nourish your grass.
Water, Water Everywhere
Autumns in St. Louis might not feature the scorching heat of our summers, but your lawn still needs plenty of water to stay healthy. This fall, water your lawn two or three times a week, preferably in the early morning to prevent diseases from forming, for 30 to 45 minutes per zone. This will result in approximately one inch of water per week, and ensure that the water is absorbed below the root area, as shallow watering promotes weed growth and prohibits deep roots from forming.
Autumn Aeration Gets the Air Moving
To keep your lawn healthy throughout this winter, aeration is important to any fall lawn care plan. Annual aeration allows air, nutrients and water to circulate within the soil to feed grass roots, and it also allows our hard clay soil to absorb nutrients.
The day before aerating your lawn, drench your grass with water for 30 to 45 minutes per area. The next day, walk back and forth across your lawn using a manual or mechanical aerator. After aerating, fertilize once with a slow-release turf grass formula and continue your regular watering schedule, but avoid mowing your lawn for a minimum of three weeks. If homeowners are unsure of how to aerate, they can consider hiring a professional lawn care company.
Fall is the Perfect Time for Seeding
Fall in St. Louis brings cooling temperatures, but the remnants of summer warmth are often with us throughout the season. One of these welcome guests is warm soil. Combined with the comfortable temperature, this makes fall the best time to seed your lawn. Seed germinates faster and warm soil, but doesn’t get burned by the excessive heat of summer. New seedlings establish themselves quickly in these ideal conditions, and are allowed a chance to prepare for winter.
Two general seeding techniques are appropriate for the St. Louis area, depending on the current condition of your lawn. Slice seeding is a method used for stressed lawns that need renovation, but eliminates the need to strip and till the existing turf. Slice seeders are available for rent at many local rental centers. The equipment slices the sod and precisely plants new seed into the earth, allowing the lawn to regenerate from within.
Another, more common and simple seeding technique is called overseeding, which typically is best performed after aeration. Overseeding makes use of a rotary or drop spreader, which are small and relatively inexpensive to purchase at home improvement centers and hardware stores. Hand held models are available for small areas, while larger, push units are ideal for larger lawns. Overseeding is appropriate for lawns in good general health, which simply need some sprucing up for strength and fullness.
Your choice of seed is just as important as the method of seeding you employ. A fescue blend is ideal for St. Louis, with new, stronger varieties being introduced each year. Many fescue blends are disease and drought resistant, and bounce back well from the stress of summer. Avoid fine bladed fescues because they are not resilient to humidity, traffic or disease.
Regardless of which seeding method is right for you, mow your lawn to a height of 1-1/2 to 2 inches and bag all clippings prior to seeding. After seeding, lightly water the lawn three or four times daily to keep the seed moist. Apply 1 lb / 1000 square feet of quick release nitrogen fertilizer five weeks after germination, and repeat in another six weeks. When the grass reaches 3 inches tall, set your mower’s blades at 2 inches for the rest of the fall. When spring arrives, your lawn will be fresh and luxurious rather than worn out from a cold winter.
More Mulch for the Lawn & Trees, Please
Many homeowners think of mulching as a spring task, but fall mulching is in many ways more important. Applying a fresh blanket of mulch around trees and landscaping will insulate the soil and root systems from the winter cold. Once spring arrives, simply freshen up the mulch by turning it over with a rake, or add a thin layer of new mulch.
Recent studies have shown that the best type of mulch for your trees and shrubs is a premium blend, organic mulch. Organic mulch produces more microbial nitrogen, allowing trees and plants higher nutrient uptake, than non-composted mulch, which is typically made from tree bark, and actually takes nutrients away from your plants.
Before applying mulch to trees and shrubs, remove all weeds and grass from the areas to be covered. Rake two to four inches of mulch into a flattened doughnut shape over these areas, keeping the mulch at least six inches away from trunks. Form a “moat” around the base of the tree or plant to help catch water, and leave a small gap between the mulch and the edge of the surrounding lawn.
Aside from its functional uses, mulch can add color and beauty to your lawn this autumn. Mulch is available in numerous colors, ranging from golden tan to rich mahogany to nearly black, and even organically dyed varieties, which are less likely to bleed or bleach, and will not harm your lawn.
St. Louis is experiencing unseasonably warm weather right now, so take advantage of the situation and begin your autumn gardening tasks. Not only will your lawn look nice throughout fall, but you will have less work to do in the springtime.
Jeff Hansen is president of Hansen’s Tree Service, a full-service tree and lawn care company that performs diagnosis, treatment, pruning, tree removal, stump removal and lawn care. Hansen’s is fully accredited by TCIA and ISA, and serves residences and companies throughout the entire St. Louis metro area. With nine fully certified arborists on staff, Hansen’s educates the public on the values of proper tree and lawn care, its maintenance and the importance of environmental responsibility. For more information visit http://www.hansenstree.com
