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Problems with transplanting:

Once a homeowner decides to add a new tree or shrub to their landscape there are several factors to consider when doing this. Three of the most important factors are selection of the plant, where they will plant, and the actual process of planting the new addition. Trees and shrubs not planted correctly will show signs of slow growth, poor colour, decline and or may grow too large for the location you have chosen.

Selection:

Many times a homeowner will be tempted to use a lower priced tree or shrub. Often these plants will have an underdeveloped root structure that is unable to support the plant. The root structure may be overgrown from being in a container too long. It may have broken branches or damaged bark. Ensure the plant is suited for the hardiness zone you live in. Check with a local nursery if you are unsure of which zone you live in. If you choose a tree or shrub that will outgrow the location you have chosen, move it to another location. Try to imagine what the plant will look like in 15-20 years, this will aid in your selection of location. By doing this you will cut down on the need for excessive pruning in later years. Generally trees and shrubs of poorer quality will be slow to establish themselves, they will exhibit signs of reduced vigor, die-back, and poor growth.

Choosing your site:

Characteristics of a location will also contribute to transplant problems. Almost all trees and shrubs need a well-drained soil that is moist. Many areas within an urban environment are poorly drained. The soil pH level may be unsuitable for the tree or shrub you have selected. Most trees and shrubs also require a specific sun and shade schedule. A poorly chosen site will affect a tree or shrub in many ways. Poor growth, and or poor colour will occur. Generally speaking trees and shrubs in poor locations will also not respond favourably to a good fertilizer program or good cultural practices.

How to plant:

By planting incorrectly you dramatically increase the chance of your new tree or shrub failing. Several things that can go wrong are as follows. Many times the homeowner will plant too deep or too shallow. By planting too deep you have a good chance of suffocating the roots. This is caused by oxygen deprivation. Planting too shallow can cause exposure of the root structure. This will cause drying out of the root system and kill the plant. Watering improperly is another problem encountered by the homeowner.

By watering too much you run the risk of root decay or you have the potential to drown the roots. By watering too little the plant becomes stressed and could eventually die. Leaving wire, string, rope, or burlap on the plant can encourage girdling which can eventually kill the plant in later years. Improper staking can cause the plant to be blown over in severe weather. If you leave the staking material on too long you once again run the risk of girdling.

Solving the problem:

When you are planting your new tree or shrub ensure you correct as many of these problems as possible. Do not purchase plants with poorly developed root structures. Ensure the plant is compatible with the zone in which you live. Solve any drainage and pH problems before you transplant your new addition. Remove all burlap, wire, string, or rope that has the potential to cause girdling in later years. Make sure you plant at the proper depth. Generally you do this so the top roots are just covered by soil. Water deeply and infrequently. This will encourage your new plant to develop deep roots that will aid in stability in the years to come. Water slowly as this will enable more moisture to be taken in by the plant. Watering quickly causes run-off and is just wasting your time and money. Stake your plant if it is in an exposed area to wind.

Remember to remove the stakes and wire in the second year to prevent girdling. Use a good fertilization program throughout the life of your new additions. Water and prune correctly. By alleviating these problems you will ensure the good health and appearance of your new trees or shrubs.

Paul is a Certified Pesticide Applicator in the province of Alberta, Canada. He has over 15 years experience in the lawn care industry.

For more lawn care information, please visit http://www.fairyring.ca/

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It is really a wonderful activity to grow tomatoes around your house. You can retain the tomato on the plant itself till it turns fully ripe. But when you are buying them from the stores or in the market you have to sometimes pick up the raw ones. The ripe ones are not always available.

The following is the procedure of growing tomatoes around your house.

Select a pot that will allow the excessive water to drain away. Then fill the pot with compost. Add about an inch of seeds into it. To allow the seeds to germinate, layer the pot with a plastic cover. Then remove it later and pour water into it till it penetrates the bottom. After a few days you will see a small growth. Keep the pot under the sunlight so that it grows rapidly.

When you observe a proper growth, shift the plant to a new pot. Possibly plant it besides a shrub or near a tree so that it is protected from the strong wind. Provide the essential nutrients for the normal growth. Use fertilizers almost after every month and water them at least twice a day.

Wait for about 4-6 weeks to let the tomatoes grow in full shape. If the temperature falls to 50 degrees Fahrenheit then cover it up.

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You are welcome to republish the above article only if you add our hyperlinked URL.

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Trying to be green is something that is going to concern us all in the next eleven years. We have Eco Travel, Electric Driven Automobiles and Biological Diesels to look at now.

There are several types of Biological Fuels. Bio Diesels are many on the whole plant based substitutes to oil- based Diesels such as petroleum, diesel & cooking oil. Using biodiesel discharges C02, still this is counterbalanced through the fact that the crops used to construct it uses CO2 emissions from around the environment to develop. Though the eco advantages of Bio Fuels are hotly pondered, with some climate friendly authorities stating that Biological Fuels cause more destruction than good. There is two main breeds of Bio Diesel & Ethanol.

As the brand suggests, biodiesel is planned for use in diesel tanks. Bio Diesel is decidedly comparable to vegetable oil & is constructed from the identical varieties of plants- oil rich sources such as sunflower, palm, rapeseed and groundnut. Biodiesel might well also be constructed from animal fat or oils recycled from Malaysian cuisine restaurants. Biodiesel and fuels can often be used neat in some diesel cars, however, at present it is much more often reflected in a mixture with normal diesel- traditionally 0.05 biodiesel with regular diesel fuel. This mix should be used by any diesel automobile. Get green and environmentally friendly with reduced carbon dioxide Eco Travel.

Ever thought about getting an eco friendly car? There are 2 breeds the G WIZ and the Mega City electric car. The above are many genuinely climate friendly travel machines; in fact they are an environmental dream. Bio Diesels cars don’t fabricate any carbon dioxide emissions in fact more to the point electric cars do not even have an emission pipe. Because if you power an electric car from renewable energy, it fabricates not any emissions. Although this battery car has various advantages it does have quite a few cons as well. The apparent one being it is an electric car and it may only do 99 miles before you have to charge the batteries and this usually has to be powered up over the course of the night, if you are organising on doing a long journey, this may have to be finished over the course of a few days.

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Wind chimes are an eclectic addition to any landscape. They add a dynamic element to yards that host flower gardens and water features and can accessorize walkways, herb gardens, and entry ways. There is no limit to how you can use wind chimes to enhance your backyard environment.

If you are one who enjoys sound integrated into your outdoor view, you might want to consider creating a wind chime garden - it will set your view to music. A wind chime garden can cover the entire area of your back yard, or be limited to a small section of your backyard landscape - the choice is up to you. The beauty of a wind chime garden is that you can design it to be uniquely your own - you decide on wind chime placement, tone and style. Following are a few ideas to get you started thinking about how you might implement a wind chime garden into your outdoor scenery.

1) Select spots for your wind chimes throughout your yard, paying close attention to the direction and patterns of the wind. Through proper placement, you could create your own gentle, whimsical outdoor concert.

2) Choose wind chimes that are simple in appearance to void clashes in décor styles. This way, they will effortlessly blend in wherever they are placed. When it comes to wind chimes, it’s more about the sound than the look. In fact, many of the more decorative types of wind chimes are not made in such a way that allows for the same pristine sound quality as those of a simple aluminum design.

3) Create a wind chime garden by hanging your chimes at different heights. For example, place a set of wind chimes up on a deck, another in a smaller tree line and yet another among your flowers. The sound will dance with depth across your yard each time a breeze blows through.

4) If you like the look of wind chimes and want them in your sight, hang them where they will reflect the sun as it comes up in the morning and moves down at night. Aluminum wind chime gardens go well with stone décor, flowing water (like in a water fall or a bird bath), and near evergreens.

5) Sprinkle your wind chime garden with dream catchers, bird houses and sculptures. This will provide additional visual aesthetics while providing areas of mass for the wind chime sound to bounce off of - depending on the frequency and directions of your breezes, you could hear an entirely new sound when least expected.

6) If you have a street that runs near your house carrying a lot of traffic noise, consider concentrating your wind chime garden on the side of your yard that borders that particular street. You might want to mingle taller flowers and designer grasses with bold toned wind chimes to create a sound barrier. Then, place lighter toned wind chimes nearer the house, radiating from the outside edge of the wind chime border. This additional placement of wind chimes will further soften any traffic sounds that do happen to make it through.

7) Create a living wind chime garden by incorporating sight, sound, smell, and touch into a selected area - preferably the one you will spend the most time in. This can act a stress relieving vista - the place you go to unwind at the end of each day. Your wind chimes provide the sound and partner with the other elements in the area to form a pleasant sight. The scent sense can be aroused by floral elements and touch can be integrated into the wind chime garden in the form of comfortable seating. Light a large candle or burn a fire in a metal fire pit to create a romantic aura.

Incorporate wind chimes in your flower garden on sections of wrought iron trellis or hang them inside the upper areas of a gazebo. Place them near doorways and breezeways for a special effect as guests come and go - wind chimes are quite welcoming upon arrival and a pleasant good-bye upon departure.

9) Create an outdoor room, placing your wind chime garden in an area beyond the main seating area so that the chimes ring as gentle background music to engaging conversations or star gazing. What is an outdoor room? It is a concept that is growing in popularity — a fully-furnished space, complete with a fire place or fire pit, a wet bar and even rugs. The area is “walled in” by trellises, potted plants, stone half-walls, etc. A wind chime garden that sits just beyond the “room” adds an unparalleled ambiance to an evening “out.”

Regardless of your preferred decorating style - whether it is southwest décor, country home décor, fen shui home decorating or something else - a wind chime garden can be a unique and relaxing part of your outdoor spaces. The best part of creating a wind chime garden is that you can make it as unique as you are. Show off your personality using the scents, sights, and sounds of nature and wind chimes as your personal creative tools.

Tuned Wind Chimes Stephen Betzen is a loving husband/supporter/and friend to his wife Rachel Betzen. Rachel and Stephen are dedicated to socially and ethically responsible business practices. Lovers of gardening and simple living. They own and operate an online wind chimes store.

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There’s a running joke among my friends that the odd jobs never
get done around the house because the man of the house can’t do
it without the right power tools - which he hasn’t bought yet.
Most women, on the other hand, have never met a nail that can’t
be hammered in with the heel of a shoe or a screw that will
stand up to a nail file. I’m no exception - my “tool box”
consists of one Phillips head screwdriver, two flat screwdrivers
and a ‘lady’s hammer’. More often than not, though, if I need to
break into my computer’s case, I’ll send a kid out to the
kitchen to bring me back the butter knife with the flower on the
handle - it’s the only one with a narrow enough tip to get
seated properly in those tiny screws. Even I have to admit,
though, that there are some power tools that make impossible
jobs easy as pie. In fact, there is one power tool that no woman
should be without, especially if she’s living alone.

Essential Power Tool Survival Kit

Number one on the power tool hit parade is a cordless electric
drill. If you’ve ever spent forty minutes trying to hang a towel
bar or curtain rod, you’ll swoon over what an electric drill can
do for you. Sure, given the time and the right nail file, you
can get any screw into any wood - but why spend 20 minutes
twisting your wrist when an electric drill with a screw bit can
have that little sucker in place - tight and flush - in less
than 30 seconds?

Electric drills are also the best - and sometimes only - way to
get a screw that’s gone in wrong UN-stuck. Once you have a power
drill in the house, you won’t know how you ever did all of the
little fix-it jobs without one. It’s easily the handiest of all
the power tools to own. The best drill to own? One with a 3/8″
chuck and variable speeds, including reverse. It will set you
back $25-$50 and be worth every single penny.

More than Power Tools - The essentials you need in your tool kit

1. A claw hammer. While I can drive any nail with the heel of a
shoe, getting nails OUT is a different matter. A 16 ounce claw
hammer is an absolute necessity for all sorts of jobs around the
house.

2. A screwdriver set. There are some screws your trusty nail
file just won’t handle. Pick up a good screwdriver set that
includes flat heads, Phillips heads, star tips and a set of hex
keys. If it also has a set of socket tips for unscrewing nuts,
you’re in great shape.

3. Adjustable pliers, needle nose pliers and wire cutters.

4. Tape measure.

5. Duct tape.

6. An assortment of nails, brads and screws.

Tools aren’t just for men. They can make your life much easier -
and save you money on repairs around the house that you never
thought you could do yourself. If you haven’t made friends with
the power tools aisle at your local hardware store, it’s about
time you did.

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If you didn’t have a healthy lawn last summer, your lawn care
practices might be at the root of the problem. Actually, a
healthy lawn needs very little care and quite often learning
what lawn care tips not to try is the best advice you can get.

Don’t over water. A healthy lawn needs about an inch of water a
week and it’s best if it gets it all at once. You can check this
easily by digging a plastic cup into your lawn. Watering deep
allows the water to sink and gives your grass incentive to grow
roots and find the water. Saturating your lawn will drown the
roots and watering too shallow will keep them satisfied with
their present depth. Shallow rooted grass is no competition for
deep-rooted weeds.

Don’t over fertilize. In fact, if you rarely fertilize, both
your turf and your topsoil would be better off. Aside from the
fact that chemical fertilizers aren’t safe for your family and
the critters that live in your lawn (which are mostly
beneficial), chemical fertilizers aren’t safe for your soil.
Although they are called “lawn food”, what they really are is
“turf candy”. Grass, like any other plant gets its true
nourishment from the soil. Don’t feed the plant… learn how to
feed the soil through sound organic lawn care methods.

Healthy lawn care starts with healthy topsoil. Your lawn will
thrive with four inches of healthy top soil, but it will be at
its best with six. The problem is how do you get more top soil
without ruining the turf you already have? Simply said, topsoil
is the top four to ten inches of dirt under your turf except
that this layer of earth should be nutrient rich and robust with
organic matter and some little critters (like earthworms). If
you don’t have good topsoil, you won’t be able to maintain good
turf. You can start building good topsoil in the fall by
mulching with good organic compost. About a third of an inch of
fine compost on top of your grass will fall between the blades
and soak into the earth over winter.

In the spring, aerate your lawn. This will work some of the left
over compost deeper and in addition give your lawn and the
critters that live in the soil a breath of fresh air. Aeration
also makes new channels for water to pass through and helps
break up clumps of earth that impede drainage.

When mowing, mow high. Mowing high gives your grass takes weeds
out of the competition for sunlight. In addition, longer grass
is more apt to propagate through rhizome growth. More grass
means less weeds and less weeds mean more healthy grass! Healthy
grass means less lawn care and more time to enjoy your lawn!

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