Landscaping your backyard

January 2nd, 2010 -- Posted in backyard landscape, pondless waterfall | No Comments »

One of life’s simple pleasures is to come home from a long day at work to your quiet backyard to relax your body and renew your spirit. It is very satisfying to look at the work you did to create a retreat from all of life’s stresses. It did not just happen, the result took planning and a lot of work to get to where it is now.

In planning stage, you look at the size of your yard, the shape of your yard and what you plan on doing with your backyard landscape. How many of the existing plants are you going to keep and are you going to be adding plants. Make decisions about any demolition in your backyard and decide if you are going to be constructing an addition to your backyard. With all of the possibilities at hand, the result has to come in on budget.

With your planning complete, getting all of the required elements together to start the actual backyard landscaping would be the next action to do. Having a ‘to do’ list would be a good organizational tool.  You could even have a time line projection, but keep a large eraser handy because that time line needs to be flexible. If you’re backyard landscaping project needs large power tools such as backhoes and the like it would be best to hire outside contractors who specialize in this type of work. They can also be a source of useful information and someone to bounce ideas off of.  Having a water feature in your backyard will add to the tranquility that you are trying to create, it can be a pondless waterfall or a pond for fish and aquatic plants. Remember this backyard is your get away from everything.  

 Landscaping your backyard One of life’s simple pleasures is to come home from a long day at work to …

 

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Quick Color in the Garden

November 26th, 2009 -- Posted in backyard landscape, front yard landscaping ideas | No Comments »
by Thomas Fryd
Dutch Iris are one of the most colorful of all fall-planted bulbs. They have been propagated heavily in Oregon and Washington for the Pacific Coast market. The flower is excellent for cutting and a generous crop may be expected. The colors include white, yellow, lavender, blue and purple. The plants are fairly hardy although they require some protection if planted in a windy spot. Plant in the open sun or semi-shade with the bulbs 3 inches deep and 3 inches apart. Average garden soil will suffice and the bulbs should not be disturbed until the plants become so thick that the clumps need dividing.
Aftercare of Bulbs – Many – including gladiolus, tigridias and tuberous begonias – should be taken up now and stored for a good rest. Remember, the foliage should be thoroughly ripened before cutting off. Dust the bulbs with an insecticide to take care of any insect eggs present. Also, all bulbs and tubers should be dried off thoroughly before storing in peat. Guard against mice eating tigridias especially.

For quick color – In the mild sections of the West, snapdragons, stocks, annual chrysanthemums, larkspur, Iceland poppies, violas and pansies may still be set out, although the blooms will be later than on those set out last month. For shady spots, try cinerarias and primroses.

Wildflowers – Sow seeds after the first heavy rains. For dependable ground covers on bulb beds, sow linaria, brachycome, Gilia lutea (G. micrantha), nemophila, Virginia stock, Johnny-jump-up and other shallow-rooted annuals. These make colorful beds by themselves and are a boon both to the busy gardener pressed for time and the “lazy” gardener.

Winter pot plants – For the shaded patio use primrows, cinerarias, pansies, daffodils, browallias, reinwardtias, alocasia amazonica, beloperones, ericas, eranthemums, azaleas and camellias.

Pyracanthus and cotoneasters are the answer for time-pressed gardening enthusiasts who require colorful berries with a minimum of time spent on upkeep. Berried shrubs thrive here in the West. Although they can be planted at any season, this is a good time to select choice kinds at local nurseries, for now you can not only choose the ones with the best forms but also the proper colored berries.

About the Author:
Thomas Fryd shares his knowledge at http://www.plant-care.com. Knowledge is power – get more power and find out more about alocasia amazonica. Get a totally unique version of this article from our article submission service

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Butterfly Gardening

October 5th, 2009 -- Posted in backyard landscape, front yard landscaping ideas | No Comments »

By: Pamela Kazmierczak

What is butterfly gardening? Simply put butterfly gardening is the art of growing flowers and plants that will attract these colorful and dainty creatures to your garden. Delight your family and visitors with beautiful butterflies, but be sure to create a safe habitat for them. If you own cats rethink your plans, because it would be a shame to attract these lovely insects to their death.

The design your butterfly garden is a matter of personal preference. Typical points to consider are the size of your garden and the types of flowers and plants you want to grow. Pick a style of garden that appeals to you, but ensure it also contains the plants and flowers that appeal to the butterflies you wish to attract.

It is important to find out which plants and flowers will attract the species of butterflies. That live in your area. This information can be found at the local library.

To create the kind of environment that they find attractive, you will also need water of some kind. A birdbath will look attractive and keep the butterflies up off the ground, away from stray cats or mischievous puppies. A shallow dish on a post or hung in a tree will do just as well.

When planting your butterfly garden be careful how you coordinate the colors you choose for your flowerbeds. Although butterflies do not care about your choice of color, you don’t want your garden to be a hodgepodge of unrelated colors and textures.

Butterflies are attracted to those flowers that have nectar rather than pollen, like honeysuckle, milkweed, summer lilac, Valerian, daisies, Purple Coneflower, Yellow Sage, day lilies and lavender.

Some people find it helpful to draw and color a layout of their butterfly gardening plan to see what the finished product would look like. Keep in mind that warm colors like red and orange are flashy and showy.

These colors have a greater impact against a strong green background. Cool colors such as blue and purple are soothing and toned down and would work better with a white contrast to create the look of freshness and brightness.

Article Source: http://www.uberarticles.com/articles

Pamela Kazmierczak is an expert in the wedding field. She reports on all wedding subjects including Wedding Flowers. Looking for something seasonal, check out June Wedding Flowers Now.

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October Fertilizer For Great Green Summer Lawn

October 2nd, 2009 -- Posted in backyard landscape, front yard landscaping ideas | No Comments »
by Marshall Clewis
October is your last chance to get your lawn in good condition for the rigors of next summer. If you haven’t already fertilized your lawn this fall, do it now, using any complete commercial fertilizer. This may be 4-12-8, 6-10-4, 4-12-4, 5-10-5, 5-10-10, or something similar. Although it can be put on without a spreader, you get a much more uniform job using one. Never forget that fertilizer does not go sideways, but straight down, so that the pinch you put on here will do that spot an inch away no good.In case you are worrying about commercial fertilizers being dangerous, forget it. If you follow the instructions on the package, using no more than three or four pounds to 100 square feet, you need not worry about any burning.

Unless there are bare spots the size of your head don’t bother to reseed. With the cool weather and, we hope, fall rains the desirable grasses will grow out and fill in the bare spots.

Fall is the ideal time for the good grasses to fill in the gaps so that there is that much less chance for crabgrass to get started next spring. Any of the many brands of weed killers will get rid of broadleaf lawn weeds such as plantain, buckhorn, dandelion, ground ivy and other kinds of ivy, and many others. If you are spraying it is necessary to do a thorough job of wetting the foliage to get adequate control. Whether spraying or putting it on dry, be sure there is no wind or the plants in the neighboring beds will get the typical weed killing heebygeebys. The leaves will be twisted and twirled so that they worry you even if the plants are not killed.

Check your flower beds and shrub plantings for all the volunteer tree and shrub seedlings, and tag them for digging later on this fall when you have more time.

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Materials, Means, Methods, and Background – 4 Factors For Successful Gardens

September 30th, 2009 -- Posted in backyard landscape, front yard landscaping ideas, swimming pool landscaping | No Comments »
by Marshall Clewis
The smallest garden, no less than the elaborate estate, represents the results of the combination of four basic factors. They are: (1) the materials of gardening; (2) the means; (3) the methods; and (4) the background. These four factors, as well as the all-important human element.

Materials – These are, first of all, the plants that make gardens; and, second, the soil in which they grow. In the plant articles, the objective has been to describe each subject, then to give simple cultural directions, and finally to list and describe briefly the more important and promising kinds available and especially suitable in gardens.

When looking for any plant (or a genus) always look for the correct botanical name. Sometimes botanical and common names are the same, as Chrysanthemum or Zinnia. Sometimes a plant has a botanical name and also two or more common names.

Means to Gardening are the implements, accessories and aids with which plants are grown and gardens are made and cared for: tools, fertilizers, spray materials, hotbeds in fact, all objects that are neither plants nor parts of the soil. All these subjects should be studied in connection with the cultural notes on the various plants, and other articles covering the plant care factors.

Methods, which include all details of design and planning; construction and planting; and maintenance, or culture and protection. To get the most out of this information, you may have to consult several items in order to gain complete understanding of a certain subject just like caring african violet. For information on pruning a rosebush of about african violet, for example, consult not only the directions under rose, but also separate articles on pruning, shrubs, shears, etc., as well as the Garden Know-How articles. This is especially true in the case of plant enemies and their control.

Background is, of course, what all gardens furnish for the lives of those who live in them or view them. But we mean the relation of individual plants and gardens to one another, and to things outside them. It includes elementary facts about the natural sciences which underlie plant growth; it touches theories and principles, and the agencies and institutions from or through which gardeners can obtain information and help. It is that which gives to garden work a larger outlook, a broader horizon, more vision than are associated with mere manual labor.

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How can I determine how much dirt I need to landscape my backyard?

September 23rd, 2009 -- Posted in backyard landscape | 2 Comments »

The ground is almost solid rock, so I need to put some type of sandy loam or top soil on it. I want to order this but I do not know how to figure how much I would need to buy.
I would also suggest going to a local garden center and looking at the different ammendments and soil mixes they sell there. I agree with the tape measurement of the yard. The bags tell you how much to buy and what they cover. I would also get the soil wet to see how dense it really is. You might even take a sample with you to the store.

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I would like to some ideas on landscaping my backyard in a southwestern landscape?

September 23rd, 2009 -- Posted in backyard landscape | 4 Comments »

Iwould also like some plant and flower ideas; I live in the north
Check the yellow pages under “Landscape Architect.” They are experts in design, and know which plants will be suitable for your particular area. A Concept Plan isn’t too expensive, and should include a general design layout and a list of plants to use for different situations. Unfortunately I’m probably not licensed in your State. I have done a lot of work in the Las Vegas area woking with someone who was licensed in Nevada, so am quite experienced in that style of design and won a couple of awards on projects I’ve worked on down there. I use a similar design here, which is probably a similar climate to where you are. Click on my profile and e-mail me and give me the specifics on where you are, I may be able to recommend someone in your area.

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Phoenix Swimming Pools and Spas – Arizona

September 19th, 2009 -- Posted in swimming pool landscaping | No Comments »

An Arizona Pool & Landscape Company – Unique Landscapes & Unique Custom Pools presents some incredible video of all of our swimming pool and spa projects in Phoenix & Scottsdale Arizona. Check out how we incorporate our Phoenix landscaping & landscape design with our swimming pools and spas – making it great for ONE COMPANY to design and install your next project www.unique-landscapes.com 480.969.1911 for your design consultation

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solar water fountains?

September 15th, 2009 -- Posted in solar water features | 1 Comment »

Does anyone know where I can find a reliable solar water fountain, or how I can change an existing water fountain to a solar one?

I don’t know about specific manufactures or dealers but it is recommended to check if the place you wish to place it is suitable.

"When checking if a certain garden is suitable for solar powered water fountain, there are two aspects that will determine if a garden is suitable. The first aspect is pretty obvious, the weather conditions and level of sun exposure……… The other aspect is the landscaping of the garden, particularly surrounding the solar water fountain…"
This was taken from http://www.onlinesolarpanels.com/solar-garden-fountains.php

What should I do to prepare my vegetable garden for planting?

September 15th, 2009 -- Posted in vegetable garden layout | 5 Comments »

I am new to this gardening thing and I want to have a vegetable garden so that we have vegetables and fruit from early summer through late fall. I know that each vegetable has it’s own PH requirements. How do I prep the soil for all the things I’m wanting to plant? Is there a fertilizer that I should use that would be good for a wide range of veggies? I live in northern Ohio. When should I start prepping the soil? When should I plant? Should I plant a second time during the season to ensure that I have veggies into the fall? What should I plant? The area I want to plant is roughly 15 X 20 ft.
We live in an area of northern Ohio that has extremely fertile farm. The soil is dark brown/black and not very much if any clay. We have high sulphur in our water so I’m assuming that the ground has a high sulphur content as well.

you can get some really good gardening info from: ohio state university.. they have a very good website for gardening info… as well as your county agriculture extention agency… check ohio government to find the web address… when i’m starting a new garden area I : cut sod out, till soil, add ammendments (compost, leaves, organic matter), and continue to add leaves and grass clippings every fall
vege gardening is a lot less complicated than it first appears from all the horticulture info
you can also visit my past answers for more info on improving soil conditions.
Happy Gardening!

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