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:

Have a good plan
Whether it’s your frontyard or backyard, it’s always a good idea to have a plan in place.  This will help minimize costly and annoying errors and ensure that you can carefully design a garden that has all the elements you like and still be easy to maintain. 

Browse through magazines and photos of gardens you like and decide on the kind of look you want.  Then begin planning by making measurements on your garden.  Make a rough sketch of the kind of landscaping you want so you know exactly which plants to use, where and how many.

Use only plants that will thrive in your area
Other than climate, you also need to consider the zone you’re living in.  Some plants will thrive in places where others won’t even survive in.  Factors that affect this include soil type, weather, amount of rainfall and sunshine.  Find out which plants will grow best in your locality. 

If the plant and trees you choose aren’t capable of surviving in your area, you will be forced to uproot them and replant now and again.  If the plants stay alive, you’ll have better chances at low maintenance landscaping.

Consider trees that don’t shed as much
Raking dry leaves can be an unpleasant gardening chore.  If you want low-maintenance landscaping, choose to plant trees that don’t shed too much.  Ask your local gardener for varieties of this type, such as crabapple trees and spruce.  These provide shade and coverage but won’t require you to perform backbreaking work everyday.

Go for sturdy plants and flowers
If you want a low-maintenance garden, stay away from varieties that require focused care such as orchids and some roses.  Go for plants such as pansies, juniper, tulips and rhododendrons.  Choose perennials over annuals so you do not have to replant.

Consider building a rock garden
Rocks never need to be watered, trimmed, protected from the sun, rain or snow.  If you find it hard to grow plants or flowers, consider putting up a rock garden.  Used carefully in groups, rocks can have a very beautiful, serene, uncluttered effect on your landscaping.  Plus, they can work very well just on their own, with only grass surrounding them. 

Rocks are also a good option if you’re planning to build a Japanese-style zen garden, complete with sand and a few well-placed concrete pagodas.  The advantage here is that this style of landscaping is extremely low-maintenance – water only the plants that need watering and leave the rest as is.

Work at the landscaping – a least, initially
Any type of landscaping will require some work at first.  The goal is to ensure that your plants are able to develop a good root system.  This should take from a few weeks to a few months, depending on the plant and the environment.  Once that’s done, though, you can simply sit back and enjoy the fruits of your low-maintenance landscaping efforts.

There are so many tips on how to do low-maintenance landscaping. A little creativity and the right tools can go a long way.

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Susan’s Lawn Gardens is pleased to feature this article from today’s guest author, STEFAN HYROSS. He is an expert on real estate landscaping, so we feel very comfortable recommending his work to our visitors.

Suggestions For Great Backyard Landscaping

by Stefan Hyross

Everyone enjoys relaxing outdoors on a nice summer day. However, if your backyard needs some work, you may not be enjoying it to the fullest. You may be overwhelmed by the size of the landscaping project, especially is you try to do it all in one growing season. The solution? Sectional landscaping.

If you determine sections for your backyard and remodel only one section each year, you will be able to revamp your whole yard in a few years without breaking your back or spending a fortune. Sectional landscaping is particularly useful if you care on a budget. It will be easier to absorb $1,000 every year for 3 or 4 years than trying to spend $4,000-5,000 in one season.

The most important element of landscaping in section is the overall plan. Without one, you backyard will look like a patchwork of landscaping styles. Begin by sketching the existing permanent structures such as house, shed, deck, pool and trees. Now is a good time to take inventory of the existing plants and shrubs and decide which ones will not be part of the new landscape plan.

Play around with ideas. Make copies of your sketch and experiment with various options. Look for ideas in magazine or visit neighboring gardens. At this stage, the only limit is your imagination. If you have frequent backyard parties or family barbecues, keeping the layout of the yard open will work best. However, if you have a lot of space or don’t use the backyard much, incorporating an island bed, pond or walkways will create nice drama. Consider your lifestyle and the way you normally use your backyard and plan accordingly.

Here are some landscaping ideas to get you started.

Use plants as screens

This is particularly useful if your backyard is not fenced in. You may want to consider lining the edge of the yard with hawthorn, juniper, cedar, etc to create privacy but also to provide a beautiful backdrop for your future flower beds. A screen of evergreen will also protect your yard from drifting snow and heavy winds.

Creating a border flower bed

The biggest challenge when creating a border flower bed is choosing perennials that will complement each other in both color and height. With so many plants to choose from, you can really let your imagination run wild. However, consider planting an uneven number of the same plant for more visual appeal. Leave some space between the various perennials you choose for more impact. Do not overcrowd the plants and they need air and light to grow. Now would be a good time to pick up a gardening book listings various perennials to help you make your selection. You can also visit your local nursery and speak to the staff. They will be happy to help you.

Island Bed

To create an instant focal point in any backyard, an island bed is a great idea. It can planted in the middle of the yard or off to one side and is surrounded by a sea of grass. An island bed has the most impact in a large yard. The bed itself can vary in shape and side.  Use your imagination! Just remember to scale the plants and place the tallest in the center and decrease the height as you make your way towards the edges.

Water Feature

What could be more relaxing than the still waters of a beautiful pond or the gentle splashing of a waterfall? Building a pond is easier than you may think. There are a number of preformed liners available on the market. Alternatively, if you want a pond with a specific shape, you can dig and build it yourself. Look online or at the bookstore for how to guides.

Before you go out and and buy hundreds of dollars worth of plants, you should visit a garden center for some advice on soil preparation and drainage. Bring a copy of your landscaping plan with you and maybe a sample of your soil. You may also wish to bring extra cash in case you get carried away!

Stefan Hyross writes on topics that include real estate Collingwood and surrounding areas. For more information about the Collingwood area, related real estate articles or to search for Collingwood cottages, please feel free to visit the website.

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

How to Build a Shed
By Keith Kingston

The easiest way to build a shed in the backyard is to make a trip to the local Lowe’s or other hardware shop to purchase a shed-building kit.

Never choose one from a picture in a brochure or from the Internet. When viewing in person, you can check for important quality control details such as thickness of timber, overlap structure of panels, type of wood, whether it is pre-treated with a preservative and the quality of flooring. Thick timber is longer lasting. An overlap structure on wall panels is important to prevent water leakage. It is beneficial for the shed to have been pre-treated with preservative, but in your upkeep you will still want to treat it once a year. Flooring should be thick so that it does not give with the weight of tools and equipment you want to store.

Do not skimp on size or quality, because in the long run, you will be happiest with a large, lasting building.

Before starting, make sure you have a level base on which to build the shed. Otherwise, the wall panels will not line up properly. Double check that you have all necessary building tools for the particular shed-building kit; you will not want to stop mid-project to purchase more tools. Find out if you need permission to erect a small building on your property. Detail an access route for getting large panels and other materials to the site for the shed.

To begin, make sure the land is dry. Excavate a place to put in a concrete floor. If you choose to make the shed above ground, then wood boards are acceptable. Follow instructions and proceed to screw all pieces together in the pre-made holes. Run a frame sealing mastic around windows to prevent weather damage.

To insulate, either use glass fiber loft insulation or expanded polystyrene slabs covered with wallboards. If the shed needs electrical wiring, be sure to bury cables in the ground or run them high overhead. Wires should never drag along the ground, wall or fence. Call a professional electrician for assistance if you are not familiar with these procedures.

It is possible to build a shed without purchasing the kit. Keep in mind that you are essentially building a box. Begin with the same flooring process- either excavate for a concrete floor or use a wooden floor. A simple shed can take the shape of a lean-to with one large slanted wall nailed to three smaller side walls. If you feel confident in your building abilities, then a more complicated shed would be a four-sided rectangular shed with a pitched roof. To attach the roof, nail the slanted slabs of wood to the upright walls. To finish the project, apply a preservative treatment, and any insulation or electric wiring that is desired.

Keith Kingston is a professional web publisher offering advice on garden sheds and outdoor storage sheds

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

How To Build A Shed Base
By Chris Hopkin

As spring draws to an end and a promising English summer begins, the gardening retail market is at its peak. With the garden on everybody’s mind, the sale of garden buildings and sheds in particular start to soar. This article explains something that not everyone is aware about, but everyone needs to know before buying a shed. Building a garden shed base which is firm and level is vital. A base must be constructed for any garden shed, and why pay excessive amounts to dodgy local handyman when you can do it yourself. With the help of the following, you can create your own base, and then you’ll have the perfect foundations for your garden shed.

Firstly, to ensure both ease of assembly and the longevity of your garden shed, it is essential that it has a firm and level base constructed from a durable material. Construction without such a base may not only invalidate any product guarantee that comes with your garden shed but also lead to problems such as doors dropping out of square and water leakage.

When choosing the location for a garden shed base, make sure not to place it too close to walls or fences as your garden shed may have an overhanging roof. Similarly, be careful when placing the base near overhanging branches or large bushes especially if they are likely to grow and come into contact with the shed in the future. If this is the case, cut these branches in advance and, once your shed is assembled, make sure to check nearby foliage regularly as any damage to the roofing felt may make your garden shed vulnerable to bad weather conditions. Finally, don’t forget to allow sufficient access to the outside walls so that you can apply regular wood treatments.

We recommend using a reputable local builder to construct a base for your garden shed where possible but if you feel comfortable with the task yourself, it is relatively straightforward to do.

It is strongly advised that you build your base slightly larger than the dimensions of your garden shed by approximately 30-40 mm (1.2-1.6 inches) on each side.

There are three main methods described below:

1. Concrete Base Method
2. Paving Slab Method
3. Timber Bearers Method

The first step is common to all methods:

Mark out the area where you plan to build your base with pegs and string and clear any vegetation within. You can ensure that your marked area is square by measuring diagonally between the top-left and bottom-right pegs and making sure that distance is equal to the distance between the top-right and bottom-left pegs. Alternatively, you can make use of a try square to ensure that all angles are at 90 degrees.

Concrete Base Method——————–

(This method is strongly recommended for larger garden sheds or log cabins.)

Excavate the ground in the marked area to an approximate depth of 150 mm (6 inches). Lay approximately 75 mm (3 inches) of firmly compacted hardcore, scalping or brick rubble to act as a sound foundation and level with compacted sand if appropriate with the aid of a rake. You can now remove the pegs and string.

The next step is to cut and fit four timber rails or steel shutters to create a frame for the concrete that will rest atop the foundation you just laid. Ensure that the base with its new shuttering is completely level and square with the aid of a tape measure, spirit level and try square.

Now lay approximately 75 mm (3 inches) of concrete. Concrete can be produced with bags of dry mixed concrete with small amounts of water added gradually or by making a mixture of “all-in” ballast, cement and water. If going for the latter option, mix five parts “all-in” ballast to one part cement. “All-in” ballast is usually sold in 40 kg bags at most building merchants and DIY stores and you will need approximately1.25 kg per cubic foot of concrete. Take care not to let the mix become too wet however as this will weaken the resulting concrete.

Spread the concrete evenly in the shuttering, making sure to push it into corners and edges. A good technique is to lay the concrete a layer at a time, compacting each as you go until the shuttering frame is full. Use a wooden or plastic float to make the concrete flush with the top of the framework.

Cover the concrete with sheets and allow it to dry naturally. Concrete must not dry too quickly so it may be necessary to spray it with water in warm and dry weather conditions to prolong the drying process.

Once dry, your base is complete and ready for you to begin assembly of your garden shed.

Paving Slab Method——————

Excavate the ground in the marked area to an approximate depth of 64 mm (2.5 inches) and remove the pegs and string. Lay approximately 40 mm (1.5 inches) of a mix of one part cement to eight parts building sand. Level this dry sand and cement mix with a rake and use a spirit level to check it.

Starting from a corner, lay paving slabs tapped down with a rubber mallet ensuring that the top of the slabs is slightly higher than the surrounding ground for rain water drainage. Again, use a spirit level when checking that the slabs are square, level and firmly butted together.

After brushing off any excess sand and cement mix, your base is now ready for your garden shed.

Timber Bearers Method———————

Excavate the ground in the marked area to an approximate depth of 50 mm (2 inches) and remove the pegs and string. Lay approximately 40 mm(1.5 inches) of gravel or soil, levelling it with a rake and checking with a spirit level.

Equally space concrete or pressure-treated (sometimes referred to as”tanalised”) timber bearers at intervals of approximately 400-600 mm(15.7-23.6 inches) across the gravel or soil. Ensure that the bearers are perpendicular to any floor joists that come with your garden shed. Use a spirit level to ensure that the bearers are level and use a rubber mallet to tap them down if necessary.

The number of floor bearers you need depends entirely on the size of your shed but here are some examples to give you a rough idea:

* 6×4 shed = 4 x 1150 mm (4 feet) long bearers

* 7×5 shed = 4 x 1450 mm (5 feet) long bearers

* 8×6 shed = 5 x 1750 mm (6 feet) long bearers

* 10×8 shed = 6 x 2350 mm (8 feet) long bearers

Your base is now ready for your garden shed.

This article is from an experienced journalist from http://www.TigerSheds.com.

Chris Hopkin is an experienced journalist who specializes in the field of garden care and outdoor structures. He is a key contributor to many online articles and blogs including offering in depth market advice and analysis on behalf of large retailers such as http://www.TigerSheds.com

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Susan’s Lawn Gardens is pleased to feature this article from today’s guest author, ANNE CLARKE. She is a gardening expert, so we feel very comfortable recommending her work to our visitors.

Wooden Garden Bridges – A Beautiful Touch For Your Garden
By Anne Clarke

My garden has a simple Koi fish pond, plenty of flowers, a porch swing and a beautiful pine wood bridge. I believe that wooden bridges are a beautiful touch for any garden pond, Japanese-style dry river bed, miniature garden, or even above your waterfall or reflecting pool. The garden bridges I have seen range in style and beauty, elegance and simplicity, length and width, made for all kinds of gardens.

A wooden bridge will be a perfect addition for your garden that will best suit your needs for virtually any outdoor décor, garden design, and can even be custom designed to fit perfectly among the specialized creations in your yard. There are wonderful wooden bridges available to suit the smallest possible waters or ponds to the most elaborate waterfalls, reflecting pools, and they can be used in any dry garden décor. In other words, you do not have to have a pond, waterfall, or even a dry, stone garden to create a beautiful new look with a wooden garden bridge.

When you find a place for the perfect garden, waterfall, a reflecting pool you prefer – or if you already have one of these – consider a bridge for your garden décor. There are four post as well as six post wooden bridges designed in pine, redwood and more. Most of the outdoor bridges on the market today are available at very decent prices. In addition you can build your own garden bridges with kits, materials, equipment and instructions. Build-your-own garden bridge projects are not only fun, but they can also save you a lot of money.

A wonderful place for meditation, reflection, contemplation, or just to relax and unwind, a wooden bridge contributes to the overall ambiance of any yard or garden. Relaxing at home in your own beautiful outdoor creations, whether your garden is floral, rock, contemporary or cultural a wooden bridge is always a lovely addition. You may be the very best judge and have the very best eye for your own garden, but consider the wide variety of wooden bridges.

There are wooden bridges with tall posts and tightly placed together vertical beams, or wooden bridges with four to six poles using ropes or horizontal pieces of wood in between and more. There are tall bamboo railings you can install, and there are bamboo bridges with wooden bases that are perfect for your oriental, stone or miniature garden. The list goes on. Get a bridge for your garden in all kinds of styles and designs to choose from. Have a look at all of the possible benefits of a wooden bridge and the many styles available on the market today.

Arch bridges with poles or without poles, straight bridges, bridges with stairways – all of these are possible considering the space and type of garden, pond, or waterfall you have. The most important thing about your garden is that you enjoy being there. Therefore, if you love your garden as a hobby you will likely want to have a different kind of garden than one that is low–maintenance. The point is that when you are able, you have a beautiful sort of sanctuary all your own.

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background includes teaching, gardening, and fashion. For more of her articles on fountains, please visit pondepot.com, supplier of high quality Water Fountains and Pond Pumps.

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Susan’s Lawn Gardens is pleased to feature this article from today’s guest author, JOSH GRAY. He is an expert gardener, so we feel very comfortable recommending his work to our visitors.

Summer Lawn Care Tips
By Josh Gray

Summer is just around the corner, and your lawn could probably use a little maintenance before the summer season of backyard BBQs and swimming in the pool. So what are you doing now to get your lawn ready? Lawn care is often feared as a difficult and time intensive process, but with a few guidelines and tips, you can easily have a healthy green lawn in time for the first backyard party of the season.

First of all, if you can spare a minute of your time, don’t hire a lawn care “specialist” or professional landscaper. Buying your own lawn care products is cheap and easy, with hundreds of vendors offering products online and in Do-It-Yourself stores. A wide variety of products such as weed controllers to fertilizers can be found online, and usually can be found at reasonable prices, especially when you do a little online coupon searching.

Starting off on the right foot is important to reviving your lawn after winter. Fertilizer is the key to ensuring strong healthy growth of the grass in your yard. Fertilizing the grass does more than just make it green. Of course it will make it grow too, but lot’s of things happen when you fertilize. Fertilizer makes the seed germinate faster, and get started out of the ground. After the grass has a good start fertilizer will make the grass get thicker and send off beneficial chemicals like Rhizomes, Stolons, and Tillers all making the grass thicker and healthier.

What most people want to know about fertilizing is – how much and when? Typically, you want to fertilize 4 times each season, spread 60 days apart. Start in early spring approximately 30 days before the growing season begins in your area, continuing through the growing season until fall. Spring fertilizing gets the grass off to a fast start giving you that rich green color everyone wants. A word of warning though, don’t use too much fertilizer, follow the listed guidelines on the bag.

Mowing is the most misunderstood part of lawn care, and the most often incorrectly performed part of lawn care. Far too many people will set their mowers too low or “scalp” the lawn. How many times have you spent time mowing your grass in hopes of a beautiful result only to end up with brown spots? Cutting too much off the top leads to thinned out grass, and shallow root systems.

Now once you have achieved the perfect lawn, you must do regular maintenance to prevent it from going back to being a pasture. Spend a little time and money and keep it watered and you will keep the lush grass you spent your hard earned money and time on. The ideal way to water your lawn is with an Automatic Underground Sprinkler System. This way the watering is done every day that it needs it, you don’t have to drag hoses, you don’t waste water from over watering, and you get all of the lawn watered, not just where you happen to set the sprinkler. If you implement this type of sprinkler system, make sure to water shrubbery and annuals separate from the lawn. If you applied the same amount of water on your landscape as gets put on the lawn you would surely kill some plants from over watering.

Now that you’re ready to care for your lawn, you’ll need to get your supplies. Lawn care products can be found at many local gardening centers, or through many online merchants. Buying gardening supplies online is growing in popularity, and made even more economical by online coupons and discounts. For coupons on everything from fertilizers to lawn tools and equipment, check out www.CouponChief.com and easily save yourself some big bucks. Spend the extra cash on your first big BBQ of the summer and invite all your neighbors over to drool over your well manicured, lush green lawn.

Josh Gray, President of UC San Diego’s Gardens Club, is a consultant to CouponChief.com. This online coupon website provides free coupons and discount codes to many favorite gardening websites on their home and garden coupons page.

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