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A budding gardener or landscaper starts out with simple tools such as rakes, spades, hoes and water cans. However, if he is devoted to serious landscaping, he will want to acquire powered landscaping and gardening tools to allow him to work faster and more efficiently. Unfortunately, powered equipment is quite expensive for the landscaper. Therefore, the first advanced tools that he can acquire would probably be used landscaping equipment. Used landscaping equipment are usually cheaper than brand new ones. Therefore, for the budget conscious landscaper, they are a relief and an opportunity. Most used landscaping equipment can still perform quite well. Since used landscaping equipment are[..]

It doesn't take a gardening professional to know that to getsustainable, quality growth in your garden you need good soilquality, sunlight, and the right amount of water. Nature oftenprovides these conditions, but modern gardening tools can helpkeep your garden looking as good as possible. The tools can helpto prune your plants and keep the growing conditions ideal. Using old deformed or defective gardening tools can injure yourplants by cutting them or pulling them from the soil. Making theinvestment in proper, high quality gardening tools will ensurethat your plants will be cared for more gently. The bestgardening tools overall save you work while being safe for theplants at the[..]

It may be the shortest month of the year, but February can often surprise us with a wide range of weather conditions. There might be snow and frost one week, followed by a few mild, sunny days, before bitterly cold winds blow in rain and plunging temperatures again. Any work you want to do in the garden has to be guided by the weather. But even if you can only get outdoors for brief intervals it’s well worth making the effort because some jobs are best done at this time of year. Here are some of them: Plant bare-rooted trees, shrubs and hedging plants as soon as possible after receiving them so they don’t dry out. If you are unable to put them straight into what will become their[..]

When done properly and with careful thought and planning, landscaping a garden brings a whole host of benefits ranging from environmental to social. But there is much to consider when embarking on a garden landscaping project. In this article we cover our top three: 1.    Space At the planning stage, make sure you take into consideration what the garden will be used for and factor in a range of practical features. For example, you may want a secluded area for sunbathing; a place for children to play that needs to be robust enough to stand up to heavy traffic; you may want to include a place to entertain; and you may also want to use trees to filter noise. Combining beauty with[..]

Many people see spring as the beginning of the gardening year, and it's the perfect time for a garden makeover. Any improvements you make now will get the new season off to a great start. Here are a few ideas that can give a tired garden a quick facelift: De-clutter: Resolve to get rid of anything you no longer want or need, but think green and recycle as much as possible. You might be able to sell or give away play equipment that your children have outgrown, building materials left over from DIY projects, even that wheelbarrow with a wonky wheel … Your junk could be someone else's treasure and just think of the extra space you'll have! Make a new lawn: Most lawns can withstand a lotof[..]

Even if you have run out of space within your home, you could still give it the impression of looking bigger by cleverly designing your garden so that it works as an extension to your living space. In doing so, you will be adding value to your property; don’t forget that buyers these days are looking for added extras and features that are ready-made so that they do not have to do the work themselves! A stunning garden that has been well-planned to incorporate practical benefits such as sectioning off areas for children to play, creating privacy from neighbouring properties and keeping animals contained will attract attention from prospective buyers. When designing the garden, consider[..]

When it comes to great home decorating ideas, it is important to remember that decorating isn't just about the inside of your home. In fact, if you want to create a well-rounded and attractive look for your home, you need to be certain to turn your attention to the outdoors as well. With a keen eye, you will discover that there are many things you can do to the outside of your home to help improve its look and to express your personal style. One area you should consider is the space around your windows. Some of the easiest home decorating ideas that you can use outdoors include placing a flower box on your window sill or adding shutters to either side of the window. Both of these[..]

The best mulch for roses is readily available at your garden centers. Mulching is preferred to regular cultivating because roses are at best poor root-makers. When you stir the soil with hoes and other tools you will inevitably destroy some roots. Sticky wet mulch, high in organic matter, is an ideal breeding place for the winter-over stage of blackspot. When possible use relatively inert materials such as rice hulls (these are largely silica), buckwheat hulls, or vermiculite. Corn cobs have been used but the disadvantage of these is that they are fairly high in sugar; fungi can use it for food. If high-organic mulch is used, it should be removed soon after the fall rains begin and weed[..]

The common name of Pansy (older form 'Pawnce,' as in Spenser) is derived from the French pensées, the name which is still used in France. Shakespeare's Ophelia says of pansies in Hamlet, "There's a pansy, that's for thought,” because their name comes from French pensée, "thought." In traditional "flower language," pansy's three colors-purple, white, and yellow-stand for memories, loving thoughts, and souvenirs, all of which ease the hearts of separated lovers. Pansy therefore is also called by the name heartsease. Wild pansy is indigenous to or naturalized in large parts of Europe and the Middle East as far as Central Asia, also found through the United States. In the Lithuanian[..]

There is no reason why you can't have both a beautiful garden and a happy, healthy dog who enjoys spending time in your outdoor living space. The trick is to match your landscaping with the habits and behavior pattern of your pet and thereby creating a dog friendly garden. Here are solutions to three common landscaping problems as they relate to your dog... First, it is best to recognize you will probably need to make a few adjustments to your gardening and landscaping plans if you are bringing a dog into the family. Over time, it is reasonable to expect your dog will adjust to your garden. But off the get go, you should plan to be flexible. Three of the most common gardening and[..]

Every December 21st, the Sun reaches its most southerly point on the ecliptic, its apparent path around the Earth. This is the time when nights are longest and days are shortest in the Northern hemisphere. It is a turning point and the time that the Sun begins its annual journey through Capricorn marking the official beginning of winter. It is a sacred moment, the astronomical dark before the dawn, so to speak, because from now on the hours of daylight will slowly lengthen as the Sun slowly makes it way north on the ecliptic. Many traditions have used the Winter Solstice as a time of celebration of the prior year's abundance and the time of long nights when we can look forward to longer[..]

Chicken Coop Care Chickens are self-sufficient pets. As long as they have fresh water every day and a dry, clean coop to sleep in, they should be happy living in your backyard. You want to keep a clean coop to stop parasites and rodents from being attracted to your coop. Your cleaning can vary from how many hens, size of coop, etc. I do a weekly maintenance inspection and change floor bedding and nesting boxes if needed. Twice a year I do a deep clean and disinfect the entire coop from top to bottom. Floor: Care can vary for the type of coop that you have. We use a portable coop that my husband built but I still put a piece of plywood in the run area with pine shavings. With our coop it[..]

The purpose of having landscaping for your swimming pool is to enhance the beauty of it. It should feel like a natural environment and not out of place. There are some things that you need to know about landscaping for an inground pool and an above ground pool. If done correctly, you can have a nice landscaping that is pleasing to the eyes. For an inground pool, you have more options because you have more designs and styles to choose from. You can have lights that can be installed under water. If you choose this option, please have a professional electrician install them for you. As you know, water and electricity don't mix. The electrician is trained on how to install lighting for these[..]

Eupatorium serotinum Family Asteraceae- Aster Late Boneset is a fall blooming wildflower usually found in woodlands and in the marginal areas around them. Its range runs from Massachusetts in the eastern United States, west to Kansas, and from Wisconsin in the north, south to Kentucky and West Virginia. It is pretty common here in Indiana, forming thick drifts of pure white blooms in and near the forest. Boneset was thought to be useful for aiding broken bones to set by early herbalists, so it was wrapped in bandages and splints and placed around broken bones. A tea made from its dried leaves was given for colds, coughs and constipation. It has been found to be more harmful than helpful,[..]

Evergreen trees are extremely valuable in your yard. Evergreen means that the plant retains its foliage all year long. Even in the smallest areas they can help to prevent a look of bareness in the winter months. They also make a great windbreaks and shelters for small animals and birds that live in your yard. You can plant evergreens in early spring and also safely in late August and in September. You can also transplant evergreens in these same seasons. You do not want to transplant an evergreen unless it is at least three to four feet in height. Try to select evergreens that are best suited for your yard and your landscaping theme. Dwarf and miniature landscape evergreens are an[..]

The lush greenery of the Auckland Botanic Gardens covers 64 hectares in the southern part of Auckland and consists of approximately 10,000 different plants. A young garden by both national and international standards, this beautiful botanical garden however has won many awards over time. Some of the awards attained include The Garden of National Significance, Creative Places Award for Built Environment and Threatened Native Plant Garden. The place continues to attract streams of tourists due to its attractive displays of native and introduced plants, and is an ideal location for a family outing. This picturesque Garden has a threefold vision for its existence. It aims to contribute to[..]

Growing tulips in containers is a quick and easy way to liven up your spring garden. To get started, you'll only need a few containers, some potting soil, and tulip bulbs. Make sure when you choose your containers that they are deep enough. Tulips usually are planted four to eight inches deep, and you need a few inches for the roots to grow, so plan accordingly. Try to avoid plastic containers, as they can overheat and hold in too much moisture. A better choice is terra cotta or ceramic, both of which will breathe, and allow moisture to escape. Regardless of the material, though, you need to make sure your containers have enough drainage holes. Don't be afraid to add more if you don't[..]

May is still a good month to get a lawn started, but the earlier the better. As the days grow longer and warmer, seed germination and seedling growth is not so good as when milder weather prevails. It is desirable to get a good stand of new grass well established before the hot, dry days of mid-summer arrive and weed competition becomes greatest. A good lawn is one of the main landscape requirements of a home and one that gives more problems and concern than any other landscaping problem. A State Department of Agriculture bulletin on lawns should be consulted for full and detailed information. The most common mistake made is to try growing grass in poor, thin topsoil and inadequately[..]

Cold hardy, disease resistant and beautiful - what more could you ask for? In the winter of 1990, the temperature at Rodney Henneke's farm in Indiana dipped to 30 degrees below zero. Henneke, a plant breeder, had grown several Virburnum dilatatum from seed. The extremely cold temperatures killed all of the plants except for one - 'Cardinal Candy.' From the moment he discovered this, Henneke knew he had a very special plant. 'Cardinal Candy' will bring beauty and interest to your garden for all four seasons year after year. From late spring into summer, it will be smothered in shiny dark green leaves and creamy white flowers. The small flowers are clustered in 5 inch flat heads and are[..]

Aster vimineus Family - Asteraceae - Aster This wild, fall blooming wildflower is so covered with small, pure white blossoms that it seems to explode with color. It usually is found in fairly large colonies in fields and meadows bordering woodlands. From a distance the plants almost seem like an intense white cloud of color, and when blooming in conjunction with goldenrod the effect can be quite breathtaking in the autumn sun. The freshly opening flowers can have a slight bluish hue, and look especially striking in the early morning or late afternoon autumn sun. The range of the Small White Aster runs from Maine in the United States, Ontario in Canada, and west to Michigan. Then south to[..]