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Showing posts from August, 2018

How Sagebrush Can Help Keep Your Landscape Healthy

Sage brush is the common name of a large family of herbaceous, woody plants native to the steppes in the western part of North America. The plant usually grows to the height of two feet, it is extremely long-lived, some specimens surviving in their harsh habitats for over a century and it is known to play a beneficial role in maintaining the fertility of arid landscapes – here is how: - The plant might look short, but its tap roots extend to 1-4 meters underneath the surface and they extract moisture from the deeper layers of the soil, thus facilitating growth for other plants and grasses that have shorter roots including good drought tolerant grass in the area ; - In winter, the sage brush captures the snow and maintains the surface layers of the soil sufficiently moist for other plants to survive; - The sage brush is also known as a nurse plant not only for various species of grass, but also for animals, such as sheep, cattle and wildlife, including birds, elks, deer and rabbits t...

Why Is It a Great Idea to Shop at Local Garden Centers?

If you’re into gardening, you already know what a garden center is. However, for those who are still unfamiliar with the term, a garden center is a place where you buy products associated with gardening – including anything from fertilizer to trees and potted plants.   While there are a few garden centers that offer products of a diverse nature, sometimes even products relating to pet care, most garden centers will bring you strictly things that have to do with plant care. In a sense, garden centers are retail plant nurseries, and they can bring you fertilizer, organic pesticide, compost, organic lawn care products to green up your grass , garden ornaments, and of course, lots and lots of plants.   So, why should you consider a local garden center to shop for your favorite plant-related resources and ornaments? First of all, these centers can provide you with everything you need in one place – usually very close to home. Secondly, they don’t charge more than the prices you...

Efficient, Natural Methods to Control Garden Slugs

Slugs are small, slimy gastropods that live in most gardens. These tiny beasts might not look harmful, but they feed on plant leaves and fruits, so if the size of the slug population in your garden is not under control, you precious plants will suffer. Using the right lawn care products for the situation is recommended.  Here are a few ways to control the slugs in your garden: - Feeding your slugs to other species – creating an ecosystem that is not favourable will drive the slugs away naturally. The cheapest and easiest to create that kind of environment is to spray the slug-infested area with nematodes, microscopical worms that attack the slugs and kill them – you can find out more about the treatment method from your local garden store. Frogs, toads, ducks, beetles and hedgehogs also feed on slugs, so their presence can significantly reduce the slug population in your garden; - Trapping – slugs are attracted to beer, they will go a long way to find their favorite beverage, so...

Beautiful and Intuitive Low-Maintenance Garden Design Trends You Can Use

Garden designs have evolved a great deal in the past few years. Even though some gardens are still built on old concepts of control over nature, many more are arising that have to do more with the spirit of cooperation between us and the beautiful elements that make up our gardens.   If you want your garden to be low-maintenance, you have to first stop trying to control it. Instead, pay close attention to what your plants need. Which ones require more sunlight or shade? Which ones are better equipped to handle droughts and which need more water and fertilizer? Also, make the same analysis for vegetables and trees. Simply apply organic fertilizers if you question how to make grass green . You might even need to move some saplings around.   Another good option is to use organic gardening materials and pesticides that don’t harm your plants. Organic materials will prevent any complications, so you can rest easy and avoid having to spend countless hours in the garden dealing w...

Do Weed Barriers Work?

The proliferation of weeds is one of the most serious problems that gardeners are faced with. Most weeds are stronger and more efficient than cultivated plants and they extract the nutrients that would be essential for whatever you have planted in your garden to thrive, what’s more, some types of weed wrap themselves on the stem of your plants, practically strangling them. Grabbing the weed and pulling it out is a common method to combat the problem, but it is definitely the most tiring and the most inefficient way – weed being such a survivor, if there is the tiniest fraction of the root left in the soil, the plant reinvents itself within a few days. Instead of pulling at weeds all the time, most gardeners today use weed barriers to prevent weed growth – here are some of the most efficient natural barriers: - Thick layers of mulch, peat moss or straw placed around your plant beds don’t allow water and oxygen to penetrate the ground, thus preventing the appearance of weeds as well, an...

Safe and Natural Protection Practices to Keep Your Garden Free of Pests

Experts these days are recognizing the importance of using organic preventive practices not only to keep the environment safe but also to make your garden more beautiful and vibrant. True Organic liquid fertilizer and other organic products and methods will also assist you in keeping your herbs, flowers and vegetables healthy all year round.   An excellent approach is to pull out any plants that are weaker or already infected by disease. These can attract predators, so pulling them out is the quickest and most effective method you can consider overall.   Another approach is to build healthier, organic soil. This means you can select natural mulching and composting methods that make use of the appropriate natural fertilizer to develop stronger and healthier plants.   You can also think of disinfecting your tools, since in some cases infected plants can pass on disease via your tools. After tending to your plants, clean and disinfect your tools properly to prevent fu...

How to Prevent Turf Rust

Turf rust, also known as lawn rust disease, is a turf health issue caused by a fungus that appears and thrives among the leaves of grass as the result of excess moisture and should not be confused with brown spots in grass caused by animals or lack of water. The problem usually appears in late summer or in early fall, when hydro-circulation becomes less efficient and it manifests in the form of orange, brown or yellow deposits of fungus spores on the surface of the grass leaves. The disease can spread quickly throughout the entire lawn, but fortunately it is easy to prevent – here are a few tips how: - Mowing to the right height with clean equipment – to prevent spreading, make sure that you disinfect the blade that you use for mowing. Mow the affected area frequently, but to moderate height to avoid exposing the leaves to harsh sunshine; - Watering – water the turf early in the morning to give your lawn sufficient time to use up the water and to evaporate unnecessary quantities bef...

Helpful and Exciting Tips for Starting a Vegetable Garden in Colorado

Vegetable gardens are easy enough to plant at first glance. However, before starting it’s important to gather as much knowledge as possible, not only about the process itself, but also about the specific vegetables you’re interested in planting: • Begin by researching the vegetables you want to add. Some of them might be more challenging when it comes to maintenance, while others are fragile. Depending on the specifics of each plants, you will have to make up your mind about which ones to plant and which ones to just keep for later. • Buy organic seeds to make sure you get the best possible experience. Organic is no longer as difficult to find as it was before, and you’ll be surprised to see just how quickly you can locate the perfect seeds for your vibrant, new vegetable garden.  • Learn about the climate in Colorado and how it relates to the vegetables you want to plant. Some vegetables require warmer climate conditions, while others might be perfect in a wetter environment. A...

The Benefits of Having a Healthy Turf

A healthy turf on your property adds value and comfort to your home and it also creates a great atmosphere, but these are not the only benefits of a rich and healthy lawn – here are some more: - Safe fun – playing in the yard is more entertaining and safer on healthy grass – kicking the ball, sleeping outside or just running around without shoes is much more enoyable on well-trimmed, soft and healthy lawn; - Stress reduction – a healthy turf around your house can transform your yard into an oasis for relaxation and can help you replenish your energies as well; - A healthier area in and around your home – a yard covered in healthy lawn can reduce the quantity of airborne allergens and contaminants in the house and can reduce the risks of developing respiratory illnesses; - Reduced home cooling costs – green grass and trees around the house reduce the temperature around the house, making the home in the middle of the landscape cheaper to cool down; - Reduced risks of fire – healthy,...

How to Enhance the Appearance of Your Landscape for Springtime

So you own a beautiful home, and you’d like to spruce everything up before springtime comes. How do you go about doing that? In most cases, you won’t have to make too many changes. You can start by cleaning out your garden, removing weeds, applying the best lawn fertilizer in Spring and making sure your patio is clean along with your exterior doors and windows.   However, there are other approaches as well. For example, you can start by planting new flowers. Roses are a great first choice, but you can primarily get a great experience with petunias, bidens, begonias and celosias. Many other flowers are also available for you to choose from.   Clear any drainage ditches to make sure all the rainwater can flow away as easily as possible. Also, make sure that your garden’s elevation is toward the exterior so that any puddles that form will be far away from your house and from your precious flowers.   The winter can put a strain on raised beds, so you will have to repai...

What Is Necrotic Ring Spot?

What Is Necrotic Ring Spot? Necrotic ring spot is a very severe, extremely destructive turf disease caused by the proliferation of a fungus that kills the roots and the leaves of your grass. Like any fungus, the species that causes necrotic ring spot disease thrives in moist environments, making its appearance if the soil underneath the lawn is not able to drain properly, either because it has become too compacted or because it cannot evaporate excess moisture for some other reason, such as overwatering, improper grass height or prolonged and excessive raining. Fortunately, necrotic ring spot can be easily prevented with the help of adequate lawn care practices – here is what you should do: - aerate the lawn first, preferably in fall – remove any plugs of soil and break up compact layers to allow the lawn to breathe; - apply special fungicides and slow-release fertilizers is how to make grass green and to strengthen the lawn and to protected against fungus; - use an appropriate ...

What Is the Average Cost of an Outdoor Kitchen, And Is It Worth It?

An outdoor kitchen can be a great idea if you and your family loves the outdoors, if you want to connect with your neighbors, or if you just enjoy quiet weekend evening barbecues and a lively party atmosphere at home. The question on the minds of a lot of homeowners, however, is whether or not building an outdoor kitchen is actually worth the expense. First of all, let’s take a look at the actual expense that’s involved in the construction of an averagely priced outdoor kitchen. The grill is the centerpiece here, so if you get a large and powerful gas grill that costs a lot of money, then the price of your entire kitchen will go up. Typically, however, the average cost will be kept somewhere between $2,000 and $15,000. Special weatherproof countertops, as well as cabinets and shelves designed for proper storage will add to the expense, should you get them. Finally, you might also want a kitchen sink, and the total cost of installation – should you consider bringing in a professional ...

Tips for Keeping Your Sprinklers in Great Shape

The easiest way to maintain the health and the beauty of the lawn in your garden or in your front yard is to water it regularly, applying just the right amount of water on your turf, and apply Revive products to help water less.  If you have a sprinkler system installed to take care of the tedious and lengthy watering process, here are a few methods to make sure your sprinklers are always in tip-top shape: - Regular check-ups – sprinklers can get easily damaged if they are out of use for a lengthy period, so it is very important to check them thoroughly before you start using them in spring or at the beginning of summer and regular inspections are very important during the period when you use your sprinklers more often as well; - Hire experts for the repairs – if any of the individual sprinklers or a component of the control panel gets damaged, hire specialists to handle the repairs for you – that way you can be sure that the repairs are done right and you will have warranty on ...

Which Flowers Are Good to Plant in August?

The best flowers to plant in August are species that can survive the freezing winter temperatures and will be first to bloom in spring or will bloom during the entire summer – here is a short list: - Iris – these beauties must be planted at the end of summer to have the time to develop strong roots before the winter. They are great survivors, able to stand up to harsh winters and they will start blooming among the first heralds of spring the following year; - Crocuses – planted at the right time at the end of summer, crocuses may start blooming just about a month after being planted; - Bulbs to be planted in August – tulips, hyacinths and daffodils are also best planted when the summer heat subsides a bit, in late August or during September; - Summer-flowering plants to be sown in August – it might seem a bit early to prepare your garden for the following summer, but with annuals, such as calendulas, cornflowers, forget-me-nots, pot marigold, flax, bishop’s weed, poppy or baby blue...

What Is the Best Time of Year to Plant Your New Trees?

If you want to plant trees, it makes sense to gather as much intelligence as possible about the best approach you can employ when it comes to the planting process. One of the key issues to keep track f is the ideal time to plant your trees. This concern is of vital importance, because young trees can’t survive as easily at certain times of the year, especially when they also have to deal with the process of adapting to new soil. The main thing to remember about planting trees is that they need to be given enough time to establish their roots securely, before they are subjected to stressors such as intense winds, high temperature fluctuations and extreme heat or cold. It is suggested that you give your tree a good organic liquid fertilizer to nourish the soil and help them grow. Droughts are of particular importance, since young trees that require a lot of water will not do very well in these periods, especially when having to also deal with extreme heat. So, planting them in the lat...

Why is Water Conservation Important?

Water is currently one of the greatest global challenges. We witness extreme weather phenomena that become more frequent due to climate change; in some parts of the world we see flooding, while in others the lack of water threatens public health and reduces the production of food. By 2050, it is estimated that there will be more than 9 billion people in the world, because of the current huge emphasis put on pronatalism. This increase is huge and is going to bring with it various problems. The need for water is expected to increase by more than a half, if we keep consuming at the current rate. In the study "An outlook on the environment in 2050," the OECD estimates that around 1.5 billion people already live in regions severely altered by water scarcity. The lack of water affects the production of food and energy. Specialists say that agriculture is currently the most responsible for water consumption. If we do not make some changes, estimations show that by 2050 we will ne...