Archive for January, 2010
Summer Upkeep For Your Garden
Jan 31st
There are various things that go into preparing and even seeding a summer garden. Too frequently wannabe gardeners fail to consider the time and energy which should end up being used preserving the summertime garden in order to keep it looking stunning and strong while in the long days of summertime and well, many times, into the 1st frosts of fall. If prolonging the life and beauty of your summer garden is a priority then there are things that must be done in order to keep everything ship shape and in good working order.
Make yourself a calendar of the different chores that need to be done in the garden for its maintenance needs and stick to it throughout the season as is allowed by the weather. Try to work in for situation like inclement weather that will not allow you to be out in the yard doing maintenance, like to much rain, or weather that is just to hot to work in comfortably. By having a list of things to do written down in a place where it can be seen it will weigh more heavily and be much more likely to be accomplished than if it were out of sight and out of mind.
Make sure you keep your garden weeded, watered, mulched, and fertilized according to the needs of specific plants within your garden. Keep your eyes out for yellowing leaves and other pruning needs that your plants will have on a weekly schedule.Whenever you have leaves that need to be removed, it is important to do so, as well as the weeding and cutting whenever you get the opportunity and it needs done. If there is starting to be a proliferation of weeds popping up you might want to try putting more mulch into the garden beds.
In the areas that are between your spring grass care and garden, try and get the grass to look as uniform and neat as possible. You don’t want the eye to stray from the beauty of your garden because of an unkept grass. You need to make sure to dedicate some of the time allotted for care of your garden is put into grass care as well. At least enough to keep it up to par with your garden.
It is important to understand each of the plants that you have in your garden so you can cater to each plants specific needs and help them to thrive. If your plants that need shade or extra water are either receiving too much sunlight or not enough water you need to make efforts to add shade to them and get more water to them throughout the remaining months or you risk losing the investment of time and money you have already made in procuring and growing these plants.
Making sure that your garden is taken care of through those long months of the summer will help the harvesting in the fall be much more fruitful, and it will make it a lot easier to plan for the coming winter months. Learn from the maintenance of your garden and plan the next garden with the needs you became aware of this season in mind. In order to get the best possible results over time, you need to take not of both your successes and your failures and glean from this knowledge the fruit of your labors. After a few seasons of growing, you will know how big of a garden you will feel comfortable with maintaining and whether or not you want to take on a larger or a smaller responsibility.
Tips for Getting Rid of Skunks
Jan 31st
Are you looking for the best tips for getting rid of skunks? Have skunks been causing trouble around your property? Have you stopped opening your windows or sitting on your front porch because skunks are wandering around leaving a horrible smell in their wake? You may not have to deal with it any longer. There are some preventative steps that you can take to help minimize or remove the problem completely. A little prevention goes a long way! If you are motivated, you can send these creatures packing.
First of all, it helps to try to put yourself into the mindset of a skunk. Try your best to think like a small, wild animal looking for easy food and shelter. Skunks are not that ambitious. They are generally creatures of opportunity. If you have a skunk problem in your yard or on your property, chances are that you are providing what they need. You are providing a home or food. You may even be unknowingly providing both! Free food and rent? Who wouldn’t want to move in?
So, what can you do? Here are some tips for getting rid of skunks to help you get started:
Remove access to their living quarters. Where do skunks live? Skunks love to live under front porches or back patios. It is dark, quiet and cool during the day. At night, they don’t have to travel far to find food on your property. If you have ever wondered if you have a skunk living under your front porch, you probably do. You will need to remove any point of access that a skunk could find to the area under the porch or patio. Skunks have a lot of fur, don’t be fooled into thinking they can not fit into a small opening. Close and cover every opening that you find, regardless of size. Taking care of this problem is a huge step toward getting rid of skunks.
If you don’t want to close it up unless you are sure that there is not a skunk in there, call a local exterminator. They will usually be willing to clear it out for you. This is probably a great idea. A dead skunk under your house cannot be a good thing!
Skunks love sheds and garages. Be sure they are secured completely.
Pick up any dog or cat dishes that you have outside. If at all possible, find a new spot to feed your pets. Even if you feel that your pet eats all of his or her food, this is a good idea. The smell remains and skunks are attracted to that. Not to mention any bits or pieces that have fallen out of the bowl and are left behind. If you do not want to feed your pet inside, try the garage. If this is not an option, be very meticulous about picking up the bowl and scraps in the early evening.
Make sure your outside trash bin is very secure. If it is knocked over, will it stay closed? Also, be sure that anyone who is charged with emptying the trash to the outside bin is aware of the importance of making sure that every bit of trash goes into the bin and not onto the ground. Skunks love table scraps! If necessary, remind them to secure the lid tightly every time they use the trash bin.
Cut any tall grass or weeds. These make it easy for a skunk to move around undetected. Remove their sense of security.
Do you love to BBQ? Do you have an open grill with some scraps on it or nearby? Not a good idea. Cover your grill after it cools down. A bit of meat left behind is an open invitation for a skunk. At the very least, the smell will be attractive to skunks.
Now is not the time to compost. If you have a compost pile, skunks will be attracted to it. If you must continue to compost, purchase a secure bin. If these animals have become a huge problem and you want to take every step you can toward getting rid of skunks, composting may need to wait.
Remove any rock piles or wood piles. If a skunk can find a small opening to relax and feel safe, they will use it. The same goes for fallen trees and brush.
Take a walk around your house and property. What looks like it would be appealing to a skunk? If anything catches your attention, get rid of it.
If you follow these tips for getting rid of skunks, they will eventually move on to another yard that is more inviting.
For more information and ideas for getting rid of skunks, visit Skunk Smell Removal.
Improve The Home Plus Economize With Low Voltage Landscape Lights
Jan 31st
People install low voltage landscape lights for a number of reasons. For some, the goal is to provide some level of security by illuminating the home. Obviously, keeping burglars from breaking into a home is important so when it comes to security, outdoor lighting is an exceptional option.
Not only is low voltage lighting for the home great landscaping ideas for security, with so many different designs and styles, this is also a great way to enhance the appearance of the home. For instance, you could add lighting in various shapes in the garden area or use lantern lighting to light up a winding pathway.
Cutting Down On Energy
With the current economy, why not make choices that will save money. One way is by using outdoor low voltage landscape lighting. With this, you still get all the illumination you want but for a fraction of the cost when compared to other lighting types. Using low volt bulbs, the amount of energy consumed is dramatically reduced.
As you can see, this is a great option but to save even more, you could leave the outdoor low voltage lighting on for just a few hours each day. Typically, this type of system is on at night for protection and then off at day so it is used only when needed.
Finding Unusual Shapes
Another interesting aspect of today’s outdoor low voltage lighting is all the unique and unusual shapes. While some lighting systems are more traditional, others are designed as a theme. For instance, you will find outdoor low voltage lighting in shapes of fish, seashells, and even lawn ornaments. With this, you create something special for your home but again, you still enjoy the bright illumination produced. People will be amazed at the unique shapes, finding them whimsical and fun.
Easy Assembly
For this type of lighting system to be installed, assembly and installation is so easy. In fact, of all lighting systems available, this is without doubt the easiest. Even so, you will need to understand the basis of wiring in that some is required.
If you don’t have any experience then it’s best to leave this to the professionals as even with a low voltage system there is a risk of electrocution. Choose lights based on what fits the aesthetic of your home best. You want to make sure that it doesn’t jar with the overall décor; you need to be especially careful with an older home as modern fixtures often look garish on old homes.
