Susan’s Lawn Gardens is pleased to feature this article from today’s guest author from  All States Landscaping. They are landscaping experts, so we feel very comfortable recommending their work to our visitors.

Ideas for a Low-Maintenance Landscape

by Raily Arena

Landscaping.  The very word conjures images of sophisticated machinery and esoteric knowledge.  To some degree, this may have a semblance of the truth, especially since landscaping is generally associated with professionals and experienced gardeners.  However, the activity itself is not really limited to the chosen few.  Whether you are too busy, too lazy or have very little gardening skills, as long as you have the willingness and the basic knowledge in gardening, you can actually perform decent yard work.  Learn how with these easy, low-maintenance landscaping tips: Read the rest of this entry »

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Susan’s Lawn Gardens is pleased to feature this article from today’s guest author, MUSHARF… one of the gardening experts at Infozabout.com, so we feel very comfortable recommending their work to our visitors.

Learn how to compost- the easy way.
by Musharf

It is becoming more and more obvious these days that we need to recycle as much as we can, and anyone with a garden has a head start and can make a great contribution. To many novice gardeners, including myself, this subject can be somewhat difficult to grasp; but in fact it is really straightforward – there are just a few very simple rules:

You need a compost bin, and the type you decide on rather depends on the size of your garden, but there are a couple of options:

• A purpose built plastic bin purchased from a garden centre, not too expensive; and you just fill up from the top and a few months later, you can take compost from a small hatch at the base.
• Alternatively, if you can wield a saw and some nails, you can make a wooden slatted enclosure, one metre square – or you can buy them ready made – and cover it with a piece of old carpet to keep the worst of the weather off.

What you can compost:

• all uncooked vegetable and fruit peelings
• teabags, tea leaves and coffee grounds
• egg shells
• dead flowers from the house
• and from the garden, soft prunings spent bedding plants, dead leaves, lawn mowings
• spent compost from hanging baskets or containers
• some dryer materials such as shredded paper, rabbit and guinea pig bedding.

The only thing you have to be careful about is to mix different types of material; if you have too many grass clippings in a big mass, they will turn soggy and slimy, or if there is too much paper and prunings, it will be too dry. So keep an eye on it, especially if you are using the wooden enclosure, and mix it with a fork occasionally.

What NOT to compost:

• all meat products and bones; bread, cooked food – these will attract vermin
• dog or cat waste
• woody material – which takes too long to compost
• weeds – these can ‘infect’ your compost with their seeds
• anything that is non-biodegradable, such as plastic.

And because you won’t always feel like taking a trip to the compost heap when it’s wet or cold or every time you peel vegetables why not keep a lidded container by the back door which you can fill up and then make the trip to the compost bin every one or two days?

Over a period of time – 3 months to 1 year, depending on conditions – all this matter will have broken down into lovely dark brown crumbly compost, which you can fork into your beds and borders. It makes an excellent soil conditioner and can be used as surface mulch, helping conserve moisture and discourage weeds.

You can also convert fallen leaves into wonderful compost. Rake up any leaves from your lawn – you may have to do this several times over the autumn – and collect them from the borders. Put them all into a black waste sack, sprinkle with water, put a few holes around the sack with a fork, tie the top, and leave it in a corner for about a year. What you end up with is known as leaf-mold.

Did you find this article useful? For more useful tips and hints, points to ponder and keep in mind, techniques, and insights pertaining to gardening and gardening implements, do please browse for more information at our websites.

http://www.infozabout.com
http://www.gardening .infozabout.com

Article Source: Article Directory | Free Articles

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Susan’s Lawn Gardens is pleased to feature this article from today’s guest author, ANNE HARVESTER. She is an expert on outdoor fireplaces, so we feel very comfortable recommending her work to our visitors.

The Proper Maintenance and Care of your Outdoor Fireplace

by Anne Harvester

One of my favorite summer activities involves sitting around our fireplace made from soapstone on cool those cool summer nights with a refreshing drink in hand.  Now that the temperatures are warming up, it’s time to get your backyard ready for the summer and this means getting everything cleaned and ready to go.  One of the first things we do during our backyard cleaning days is to clean up the outdoor fireplace.  Depending on the type and style of outdoor fireplace you may have, maintenance can be simple or complicated.

Did you know no matter what your fireplace is made of they are still mostly all built the same and then spring cleaning of them are all similar. You’ll need an ash can, a good broom, and some sturdy work gloves. You’ll find it can be a pretty dirty job from all the remaining ash and wood in it. Use your brush or broom to sweep the ash into the can for proper disposal.

Iron Fireplaces
Fireplaces made from iron are probably the most popular models because of how sturdy they are.  You’ll find different styles implementing steel or aluminum chimneys to go along with an iron base. Make sure you can purchase any replacement parts before you purchase a certain type of iron fireplace since the other parts don’t last as long as the iron base will. Why replace the entire thing if you don’t have to? Apply high-temperature paint to the iron portions of the fireplace to protect it from rust.

Copper Outdoor Fireplaces
Another common type of outdoor fireplace is the ones made from copper. While a little more expensive, these particular models are sought after for its unique and brilliant copper shade which is much different than the plain black iron types. Storing the fireplace in a dry place away from the harsh weather helps to keep it at its original color. You can use covers for copper fire pits as a way of protecting them from the rain and such without having to move them when not in use.

Brick and Stone Fireplaces
Soapstone fireplaces, brick fireplaces and soapstone masonry heaters must properly be cleaned as often as you do with your indoor fireplace.  Remove the ash and debris from the fire box after use with soapstone fireplaces. A good investment is installing a chimney cap to keep leaves out of the chimney which can sometimes spark fires. Although soapstone fireplaces don’t have to be covered during the rain or in winter, you’ll still want to clean the exteriors in order to keep its attractive appearance.

It is important to the necessary time to care for your outdoor fireplace properly.  With the right amount of maintenance, you’re fireplace can last you many years of summer enjoyment.

Anne has worked on many home improvement projects with soapstone. Her specialties are redesigning ordinary houses into the extraordinary using soapstone fireplaces or soapstone masonary heaters.

Article Source: The Proper Maintenance and Care of your Outdoor Fireplace

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Susan’s Lawn Gardens is pleased to feature this article from today’s guest author, HARRY NACK. He is an expert on garden water features, so we feel very comfortable recommending his work to our visitors.

How To Light Up a Garden Fountain

by Harry Nack

You are able to make a fountain shine, light up an entire pond from inside, highlighting an attractive statue, or raise the expression of a particularly gorgeous tree.

You can install garden fountain lights inside or outside lighting. You need to know that all should be connected to a GFI for your own protection,

Before you start shopping for garden fountain lights, try out different effects with a strong flashlight or a spotlight on an extension cord. Focus for simplicity and nuance. Do not let yourself get carried away and chance your garden fountain into a amusement park , but keep your eye on elegance. Read the rest of this entry »

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Susan’s Lawn Gardens is pleased to feature this article from today’s guest authors at  LANDSCAPING-BLOG. They are landscape experts, so we feel very comfortable recommending their work to our visitors. 

Common Landscaping Tools for Each Landscaper

by Landscaping-blog

For the avid do-it-yourself landscaper, the right tools are important. After all, if one wishes to save money on the expenses associated with having a well cared for yard, it is best to make sure that he or she has all of the tools necessary to create an attractive landscape. By understanding some of the most common tools used for basic landscaping needs, you can ensure that you have everything you need to keep your lawn in the best possible shape, bringing delight and distinction to your grounds, be they large or small. Read the rest of this entry »

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