Susan's Lawn Gardens

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-mould.

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

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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.

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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.

There are numerous types of in garden fountain lights, and each one produces its own special effect, depending upon how you position it almost all designs demand lights that have dark, subdued cases. Chromium steel or white casings can be obtrusive, particularly during daylight.

Garden fountain lights, either in white or colorations, add drama to a sprayer. A few garden fountain lights also come equip with transparent rolls of various colors. Colorful light, nevertheless, should be used sparingly-it can easily become tacky.

A lot of garden fountain lights have installed  timers that let you to automatically turn the lights off and on. You are also able to put in an independent timer in the lighting setup. Timers not only save you the hazel  of regularizing the light, they also save on your electricity bill.

How to place your garden fountain lights

The first rule in setting up your fountain lights is to never them shine straight on the water since they’ll produce a harsh glare. In-ponds, lights need reasonably clean water to be efficient. Muddy water obstructs too much light and decreases the light’s effectiveness substantially. If you’ve fish in your water garden, allow dark areas where they can back away from the light. Fish need a great deal of crevices for safety. And never brighten the entire pond, particularly all night. If possible, place out-of-water lights to hide their casings and cord underneath a deck, behind a stone, or tucked into the leafage of a shrub. Any type of lighting you prefer, be sensitive to its effect on the neighbors. Do not let the lights beam in their windows.

Installation of Low Power Garden Fountain Lights

Contrary to  normal 120-volt lights, installation of low-power landscape lights is a breeze, even for novices. And they are fairly safe because of their low voltage. Numerous low-voltage lighting schemes are sold as kits, complete with instruction manuals.

Installing a low-voltage system begins with installing a transformer, which cuts down the regular home current from one hundred twenty volts to twelve volts. Set up the transformer just about the GFI receptacle closest to the water feature, using the manufacturers directions. Even 12-volt systems should utilize a GFI unit to prevent shocks. Most transformers are plainly mounted next to an electric outlet and plugged into it.

Harry is the creator of Garden Fountain Auctions this is the place where you can get the best deal for you’re Garden Fountains he has the latest auctions on his page here.

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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.

Shovels, rakes, trowels, and hand cultivators. These are the most basic of tools when it comes to landscaping. Every home should be supplied with these basic implements. They make just about every landscaping endeavor possible. Shovels to remove sod and turn soil, as well as dig the holes necessary for fixtures like trees and hardscapes, Rakes are essential to smooth out planting beds and prepare ground for things like sod without packing the dirt. Trowels and hand cultivators allow you to perform minute work that requires more attention to detail. All of these tools are necessary to the proper functioning and care of a landscape.

Pruners and shears. These tools are used to improve the appearance of woody plants and trees. They keep plants from encroaching in other areas, and they also promote the overall health of the plants. They help maintain a neat appearance, and if you have topiary concerns, they are indispensable in maintaining a set shape. There are hand pruners, tools that help with the smaller branches and are easier to use, loppers for getting thicker branches that are to large for pruners, and even pruning saws that can help you with the toughest of branches. Hedge shears provide a way for hedges to be trimmed more conscientiously than with electric or gas-run trimmers (although these are widely available and can make maintaining hedges much easier).

Lawnmower. This is perhaps one of the most common and most obvious of landscaping tools. It is meant to keep the grass at a reasonable level, and to keep the lawn neat and healthy. Related to lawnmowers in the trimming department are things like weed wackers, which are very useful in keeping edges that can’t be cut by a mower nice and neat. Additionally, the use of some special machinery, designed to eliminate thick brush is useful to have on hand, even it is only in the form of a machine rented once a year.

Other tools of interest. Of course, there are specialty tools that may be needed depending upon on the features of your landscape. If you have a water fixture, it is important to make sure that you have the proper pumps and filters, and that you have little skimmers that can allow you to remove larger pieces of debris from the water. Automatic sprinklers can make watering the lawn and your other plants much easier, and you should have a garden hose for special watering needs. Regular household tools such as hammer and nails, levels, and drills can be helpful if you have built landscape features like patios, decks, pergolas, and trellises. They can also be useful in building things like containers and creating raised beds.

Wheelbarrow. A wheelbarrow will always be of infinite use for the avid landscaper and improver. Wheelbarrows are very useful for moving debris as well as bringing needed implements to their proper places. They haul dirt and bring in plants. They make it possible to for one person to carry a load that otherwise she or he would not be able to handle. For the serious landscaper, a wheelbarrow is indeed necessary.

When you have all of the tools necessary to take care of your landscape, then you are well rewarded for your hard work. Acquiring the more common tools can also save you money in the long run, as they can be used over and over again. Additionally, many of the more common landscape tools are fairly small in size and easy to store in a garage or a shed. As long as they are kept neatly arranged in place, they are easy to get to when needed, and not hard to find. Proper maintenance of you tools is important: keep them from becoming rusty, and make sure your lawnmower and other gas or electric implements are well oiled and always have plenty of gas. Proper care of your tools ensures that you will be able to properly care for your landscape.

Above information is brought to you by www.Landscaping-Blog.com   Landscaping-Blog.com is world’s online informative resources for Gardening & Landscaping where you may find information related to landscaping, gardening, flowers & plants, gardening equipments, various tips & tricks for your home garden etc. To find out more, please visit www.Landscaping-Blog.com

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Susan’s Lawn Gardens is pleased to feature this article from today’s guest author, JOE SWANTACK. He is an expert on outdoor flooring, so we feel very comfortable recommending his work to our visitors.

How to Install Modular Outdoor Flooring Deck Tiles

by Joe Swantack

 Modular Outdoor Flooring Decking Tiles, made of Ipe hardwood, also known as Brazilian Walnut, can be installed over most hard surfaces such as concrete, existing wood decks, brick pavers, asphalt, rubber roofs, etc., either indoors or outdoors, in protected or unprotected locations.  To ensure trouble free installation and long life, the surface must be as firm and as even as possible, with no major irregularities or depressions.  In exterior installations, the underlying surface should slope slightly to allow water to drain away freely.

1.) Calculating How Many Decking Tiles You Will Need

One carton (10 tiles) will cover an area of 10sqft.  Additional tiles may be required for cutting as spacers, if the finished deck is to fit flush against walls or other structures.

2.) No Additional Tools Required

Modular Decking Tiles require no nails, screws, adhesives.  A handsaw or jigsaw may be required if tiles need to be cut to fit around posts, or pipes, or to trim the outer row of tiles in confined areas.

3.) Installation Step by Step

Place a single tile in one corner of the area to be covered.  Taking a second tile, align the plastic connecting tabs on the outside edges of the tiles to be joined and push down firmly on the second tile close to the connection point.  This will engage the tabs and lock the tiles together.

Continue this process adding tiles in both directions until the area is covered, ensuring each tile is securely locked to the neighboring tile.

Different patterns can be achieved by joining tiles so that the wood slats of adjacent tiles are aligned in different directions.  To fit around pipes, posts, or corners, cut to fit using a jigsaw or handsaw, sawing through both the wood slats and plastic base.  Take care to avoid the screws in the base.

When cutting irregular shapes, it is best to first make a template from a piece of stiff paper or cardboard.  Make sure that cut slats remain securely attached to the plastic base with at least 2 screws.  Extra screws may need to be inserted if any slats appear loose. (Blank screw holes are molded in the plastic base for this purpose). To provide a smooth transition between the tiles and the base surface, optional reducer strips are available which lock securely to the outer row of tiles.

For more information on  modular decking tiles, please visit OutdoorFloors.net, a leading distributor of outdoor flooring, decking materials,  premade modular patios, and  fire pits.

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