The Best Way to Grow Your Vegetable Garden From Organic Garden Seeds

If you're starting on your vegetable garden, you should consider growing your vegetables from seeds. Although the easiest way to start any garden is to purchase plants seedlings and grow them to full, matured plants, others would still prefer to start them from organic garden seeds because it has its own benefits.

More varieties of plants and vegetable are offered as seeds than as young plants. And growing them from seeds gives you more control over what products you use. It's crucial, especially for organic gardeners, because some nursery and garden centers spray non-organic products to seedlings to protect them from pests and give them instant nutrient boosts. Take also into consideration that nurseries have specialized greenhouses that provide highly suitable conditions for seeds to grow. And since these seeds were pampered, once you bring the seedlings to a less perfect and harsh environment of an outdoor garden, they might find it more difficult to adapt and will struggle to grow. And if they were fed with chemical fertilizers early on, introducing them to organic fertilizers will require more effort.

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Another reason to start your vegetables from organic garden seeds is it's not really as hard as it sounds. All you need to know are the basics things that seeds require in order to grow and sprout new plants. One good tip is to keep the seed packets because they can give you specific information on what the seed needs and how best to take care of it.

Most organic garden seeds will benefit from a good soil, adequate light source, water and a lot of care. But there are two ways you can raise your vegetables from seeds: sowing them outdoors and growing them indoors.

Sowing Seeds Outdoors

Sowing seed directly into the garden soil is for vegetable seeds that grow too quickly and are not too sensitive to outdoor elements. Before sowing the seeds, be sure to prepare your soil. Rake the soil and remove large and hard lumps or rocks, or break them into finer particles. The young and tender roots of the newly emerging plant will not be able to penetrate through them and they might block some nutrients from getting to the roots. Depending on which vegetable seed you have, it's a good practice to put appropriate organic fertilizers or organic matters into the soil to give your seeds a healthy place to start.

When sowing the seeds, don't place them deep into the soil because they will suffocate. Pressing them less than an inch deep is good, but some really tiny seeds have better chances of growing if they are left on top of the soil. Don't overcrowd the seeds to give each emerging plant enough room to grow.

Next step is to keep the surface of the soil evenly moist but be careful not to soak your seeds in water or your seeds will rot. If you've planted them during the peak of summer, a light sprinkle will keep the soil from drying out.

Growing Seed Indoors

Starting seed indoors are for seeds that grow slowly and don't like to be disturbed often. Like in the garden, a good soil, light source and water is needed in order to grow organic garden seeds successfully indoors. But a good container also plays an important role. You can use small pots, egg carton, milk cartons, tin cans and paper cups. But for convenience, you can always purchase specialized plastic seeding tray or pots from your local garden shop.

To grow seeds from a container, mix a good starting soil mixture and some organic fertilizers. The organic fertilizer that you choose must be mild enough so it won't burn the young roots once they emerge. Moist the mixture with warm water and place them into the container. Once they've cooled, press the seeds into the soil following depth requirement specified on the packet. If the packet is no longer available, press the seed no more than four times its diameter or twice its length is another good practice.

Place them in an area with warm temperature but away from direct sunlight until they germinate. You may also cover the pots and just make sure to check them regularly. Since you've already moistened the soil, you won't have to water for a while until the seed germinates (except only when the soil has dried out before they germinate). Once they germinate, you can place them in brighter and sunnier areas like your windowsill.

Once they've grown two to four true leaves, you can feed them mild organic fertilizers to promote fast and healthy growth. A good indication that they are good for transplanting is when the roots have almost filled the container, but are not yet growing out of the drainage holes.

The Best Way to Grow Your Vegetable Garden From Organic Garden Seeds

Nova Person is an organic gardener and has been tending her garden for over 20 years. She has become a real expert in her field. If there is anything you would like to know about Growing Vegetables from Organic Garden Seeds, go visit http://theorganicgardeningsecrets.com.

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Garden Greenhouse - Heated or Cold

The home, or garden, detached greenhouse can be a simple, portable structure, or a permanent building. It simply depends upon your needs and what your expectations of the greenhouse are. Detached greenhouses are usually more expensive to heat and construct than lean-to greenhouses. There are basically two types of greenhouse for the gardener to choose from.

A portable, cold greenhouse can be erected right in the garden. Using pre-bent metal hoops or PVC pipe, the greenhouse can be built to harden off seedlings and get an early start for seeds planted right in the garden. This type of house can either be left unheated, or use of a small electric or propane heater can keep light frosts from damaging plants. This type of greenhouse can be torn down at the end of the spring season and used again the following year, or to extend the fall season for some garden crops. The cold greenhouse can also be used to over winter perennial plants and shrubs for spring planting in the flower garden.

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A more permanent heated greenhouse structure can either be glass, fiberglass, plastic, or plexi-glass covered. This type of structure may need a foundation for stability. Heating and irrigation equipment can be installed inside to make operation of the greenhouse easier. Benches are usually installed to grow the plants on to bring them up to a manageable height for the owner.

This type of greenhouse, if properly insulated and glazed, may be used to grow many different types of plants including tropicals and cut flowers for the home. With proper design, a greenhouse can be built to accommodate both types of greenhouse. One portion can be kept warm, a divider can separate part of the house to provide a cold environment for plants which need the colder, unheated conditions of a cold greenhouse. Indeed, many annual flowers produced for the spring garden, like petunias and pansies, benefit from growing in cold, sometimes slightly frozen conditions.

Heated and unheated greenhouses both play their part in producing and storing plants for the home gardener. And with proper planning, one structure can satisfy both needs.

Garden Greenhouse - Heated or Cold

© 2006 Paul Wonning is the owner of Gardens and Nature.com a web site about gardening, hiking and other nature related topics.
Our blog about gardening is located here:
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Thinking About the Organic Food Garden Beginners Manual?

Summer is now half over, and though the larger part of our Midwestern planting season is now past there is still much that can and must be done in your organic vegetable garden. Pests and weeds are probably running rampant and watering is a constant necessity. There are even preparations that should be made for canning, freezing, drying and preserving your crops.

As much as we all might wish it were the case, your garden isn't something you can just forget about after you plant the seeds. You must watch it constantly and if you are not sure what you need to watch, give The Organic Food Garden Beginners Manual a look.

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I, as a Horticulture Major have found this e-book very useful. For the first time in the twenty odd years I have lived on my family farm, we have a garden and the Organic Food Garden Beginners Guide was one of several resources I used in establishing that garden. The instructions contained in the e-book are clear, concise and to the point and very comprehensive. Strategies for soil building are included, along with proper watering techniques, sowing seeds, transplanting seedlings and countless other vital basics that any beginner should know. The book even has instructions for creating your own organic fertilizers and organic pesticides. Thus even an experienced gardener could pick up a few tips from the Organic Food Garden Beginners Manual.

The e-book was created by a woman in Australia by the name of Julie Villani and although our seasons are reversed here in the northern hemisphere the information can be easily adapted to life in the Midwest. There is even a vegetable sowing chart included for the northern and southern hemispheres, and though it may take a moments to figure out how to read the chart the information is still quite useful.

Local organic food is always the best and it doesn't get much more local then your own home garden. So even as the summer months begin to wane, keep an eye on your organic garden. Enjoy the fresh organic food it is producing and get ready, because winter is fast approaching and there is still much that needs to be done. The Organic Food Garden Beginners Manual can guide you even now.

Thinking About the Organic Food Garden Beginners Manual?

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Did Eve Have Sex With the Devil Or Did She Just Eat Some Fruit? - Part 1

Is my title question preposterous? If it is, how is it more preposterous than to think that the literal eating of a particular fruit from a particular tree, albeit forbidden by The Lord, can be considered that evil that Adam and Eve should lose their opportunity of a physical life in paradise and access to the Tree of Life? If a child in our care were to disobey our instruction for the first time would we lash out with a severe punishment at the first offence of disobedience? Obviously not, so why did The Lord punish our original parents so severely for eating the wrong kind of 'apple'? OK, I know it doesn't say apple but it might just as well say it, so does this apparent trivial error and the punishment that follows it make any sense, or, in other words, does the punishment fit the crime? Well, if we take it a step further and accept the Biblical narrative as symbolic for something else, then, yes it does make sense. Indeed, we can then assume, without much doubt, that Adam and Eve's sin was so serious, so heinous, that the Lord had no option but to banish our original parents from the Garden. This then leaves us with the question of what kind of offence(s) or sin(s) could it have been that would warrant such a severe punishment?

Up until recently I was of the mind, like so many others, that Adam and Eve's sin was just a simple act of disobedience, but writings I have discovered just lately have thrown a giant spanner into the works of my original understanding of their original sin. My understanding, too, not helped much by what is written in the King James Bible. However, always remember, that as believers, our understanding is never ours it's the understanding we are given and The Lord does not give us all understanding, all at once, or at the beginning of our walk with Him. It takes years of study and much waiting on Him. Having clarified that little aside, let's write the crucial verses here so that we can see for ourselves what the Holy Scriptures actually say:

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Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

This verse is the most important and influences the whole of this study, for it mentions two seeds. Now what are these "seeds", because before we can move on we must be clear in our minds as to what they represent and, after a little research, we find it's all very straight forward. Most readers will know what the word 'seed' means in this context but to make sure, let's use another example or two so that there is no ambiguity or confusion:

Genesis 9:8-9 And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying, 9 And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you.

Gen 15:3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.

So as we can plainly see, the word 'seed' refers to offspring and if we refer to Strong's Concordance for further evidence we will find that the Hebrew word for 'seed' in Genesis 3:15 is the same as in Genesis 9:9 and 15:3. OK, so if we go back to Genesis 3:15 we can see that the Lord is going to put enmity between these two very different seeds or lines, but who is the Lord speaking to? Let's go there now:

Genesis 3:14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

There we have it; the Lord is speaking to the Devil, Satan, that serpent and arch-deceiver also known as the destroyer, the adversary and in this instance the arch-seducer, for, without doubt, one of the two seeds mentioned here is his seed. Notice too the phrase "because thou hast done this". From that we can easily deduce and know that Satan actually did something and the term 'doing something', more often than not, refers to a physical action, not just an 'action' of sitting idly by on the sidelines enticing, goading or provoking as an exuberant spectator.

So what does all this mean for we are very definitely dealing with a physical seed that belongs to the Devil? In turn, this now beggars the question, how can a spirit being or a fallen angel have physical sexual relations with a human being? Well, the only verse in the Holy Scriptures we can rely on or turn to for any evidence to this event is in Genesis once more:

Genesis 6:1-2 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, 2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

Who were these "sons of God" here that took the descendants or daughters of Adam for wives? Well they can only be one thing, they were fallen angels or angels that went astray and left their first estate as described in Jude 6

Jude 1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

The important words of this verse are 'kept not', 'first estate' and 'habitation'. The words 'kept not' mean they failed to keep a guard or failed to hold as precious their Spiritual inheritance or estate, i.e. to maintain any value upon their Spiritual substance and the honour bestowed upon them as Spirit beings. Instead they took it upon themselves to choose the lower order of the physical or the base level of physical men. This means they despised their first estate and placed more value upon human fleshly desires and, don't forget, these daughters were human beings in the fallen condition. These angels treated with contempt their manifestly higher order that the Lord had blessed them with, their 'first estate' - their position. Not only that, they gave up their home as well or their superior habitation; very reckless and foolish indeed. So much so, it ultimately cost them their freedom because the Lord incarcerated them in darkness, where they are to this day and where they will remain until the Last Great Day at the end of the Millennium or the end of the Lord's one thousand year reign on this earth as King of kings.

Now this brings us to the original issue, this wickedness was not a one off, this had all happened before, and it was a follow on from the earlier wickedness of their leader, Satan the Devil, otherwise known as Sammael in the other writings I mentioned. He set the example and these fallen angels followed in his footsteps, and their actions were a repeat of his wickedness. So what was this wickedness? Quite simply, it was the seduction of Eve. We can then add in the cuckolding of Adam or possibly even the sodomising of Adam - we do not know all the details. What we do know, though, is that the Devil contaminated their Godly union which up until that point had not been consummated. Adam and Eve discovered the sexual act through perversion and through lust and nothing but lust. This event was a compounding event, because after the Devil had had his evil way with Eve he then, through Eve, encouraged Adam to take her afterwards thereby reducing her to the status of a sexual object, an adulteress or possibly worse, a promiscuous slut. This, in effect, was the first pornographic act - the first threesome; the use of the woman's body for nothing but selfish sexual gratification. There was no love in this event, and it was the first sexual act on earth between a man and a woman. This, too, is how they knew they were naked and covered themselves with leaves and why, too, they hid from the Lord in the garden. They covered their sexual parts, they were laden with shame and guilt - they felt dirty and contaminated. Furthermore, it was this act that gave them the knowledge of good and evil, not through the literal eating of an 'apple', the fruit is pure symbolism. Not only that, if we think the literal eating of fruit from the wrong tree can make us feel dirty, unclean and shameful what kind of fruit could that be. OK, we could and would feel guilty for having disobeyed God but not dirty and ashamed. No, there is only one act that could have had that kind of effect on a previously innocent human being and that act is the promiscuous, lustful, loveless sexual act.

OK, so we now have the evidence that this wicked event took place, but where does this lead us? Quite simply, back to the two seeds, the two seeds that produced two offspring - Cain and Abel. One child was of the Devil's seed and the other was of Adam's seed. How do we know this? Not easy, because the King James Bible is not that helpful, so we have to look elsewhere, but where? Well, before I do that let's copy the KJV verse here, first, to analyse what it says:

Gen 4:1-2 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. 2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

Now, based upon the evidence that I have revealed from the Holy Scriptures, Genesis 4:1 seems to read like a complete contradiction of the previous verses. We know there are to be two seeds, but this verse looks as if it's saying that Cain is Adam's son and Abel is Adam's son and not only that, but that Cain was a gift to Eve from God himself no less. Now where have the two seeds gone, because if Cain and Abel are both Adam's sons then they can only be of the one seed for they are both of Adam's seed, so what's going on in this verse? Well we know don't we, the true evidence has been written out of the narrative by the translators. Now there's a surprise, and why would they do that!? They would do it, because it would mean having to admit what I have stated above, that Eve had sex with Devil and produced Cain from that illegitimate union. The thing is, we have got a whole load of stuff going on in Genesis 4:1 and it will require another article to cover it, so stay with it folks.

Did Eve Have Sex With the Devil Or Did She Just Eat Some Fruit? - Part 1

Charles Crosby.

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"If you want to make someone angry tell him a lie; if you want to make him furious, tell him the truth. All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed, second it is violently opposed, and third it is accepted as self-evident."

Arthur Schopenhauer, Philosopher, 1788-1860

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Car Heater Not Working - Blowing Cold Air!

There are several reasons why your car's heater may be blowing cold air, instead of heat. It is important to understand how the heater works in your car before you can begin to try to diagnose why it is not working. First, there is NOT an electric heater element in the heater system in automobiles, like in portable heaters used in the home. The part that transfers heat into the passenger compartment is called a heater core. A heater core can be thought of as a miniature radiator. The car engine's coolant flows through the heater core while the fan (also called a blower), blows air through the heater core fins. When air blows through the heater core fins, it is warmed, therefore warming the passenger compartment.

Start by checking the coolant. As we already said coolant is what warms the heater core. So if the coolant is low, there may not be a sufficient amount of warmth to transfer heat to the air in the passenger compartment. Since it 's cold outside, low coolant may not effect the operating temperature of the engine significantly, so you won't be alerted to a coolant problem by the temperature gage on the instrument panel. Once the coolant is full, feel the heater hoses that go through the firewall. With the engine at normal operating temperature, BOTH of the heater hoses should be hot to the touch. If only one is hot, this indicates there is is a blockage in the heater core or there is air trapped in the heater core. Using a Lisle coolant funnel is helpful in purging the air from the cooling system. If the coolant is really brown, has been neglected, or if "stop leak" has been used at some point, the heater core could be stopped up. The blockage can sometimes be unstopped by removing the heater hoses and using a garden hose with a sprayer to flush the heater core out. If neither of the hoses are hot to the touch, there could also be a malfunctioning heater control valve, if used on the model you're working on. Check for presence of a heater control valve by following the heater hoses back to the engine. Sometimes, a vacuum line could have a break causing there to be no vacuum to operate the valve. Also it should be noted that if this is your first winter with this car (and you're unfamiliar with the car's repair history), the previous owner could have by-passed the heater core because of a leak. When a heater core leaks, usually they wet the passenger side floorboard. The labor cost to change heater cores is usually expensive, so sometimes people will loop the heater hoses and by-pass a leaking heater core instead of repairing it properly.

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Next check for proper airflow. After you're sure the heater core is getting hot water flow, read the following information. Doors within the heater case are either controlled by electric actuators, cables or vacuum motors. Adjust the heat control to both extremes while listening for movement of the blend door. With a cable operated heater door it's easiest to hear the door thump when it closes. If the door is not operating, find the door that controls the airflow across the heater core. If there is an electric motor that controls the door, tapping on it can sometimes make it work temporarily for testing purposes. A vacuum operated motor needs vacuum to work, so using a handheld vacuum pump for testing is usually recommended. If the vacuum motor does not hold vacuum, the diaphragm is leaking requiring replacement. To go deeper into diagnoses of the control head's function and diagnosis, specific vehicle repair manual information is needed. But hopefully the basics laid out in this article has helped to get you started on the right track. 

Car Heater Not Working - Blowing Cold Air!

About the Author. Hi I'm Dennis Bandy, thanks for reading about my background. I've been an ASE Master Auto Technician for over 23 years and have also sold professional auto tools since 2005. I am in a unique position to help readers on certain automotive repair related topics since I've had personal hands on experience with many auto repairs and automotive specialty tools. Let me just say, this is not a hobby for me, this is my business. Your feedback is really appreciated, if you thought this article was helpful or informative, please rate it below (thank you in advance).

Half the battle when it comes to auto repair is having the right tools, that's why we have supplied name-brand automotive tools (like OTC, Makita, Ingersoll), shop supplies and automotive shop equipment at discount prices, at DenLors Tools since 2005, many readers put us on their favorites list and visit our site when auto specialty tool needs arise, we hope you do the same.

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Japanese Garden Design - 5 Simple Steps to Create a Magnificent Japanese Garden!

If you've grown a container garden or two but want to advance your gardening and decorating skills, Japanese garden design is the way to go. This ancient form of garden design was created to promote peace and tranquility. You can be relaxing in your own paradise in no time by including these 5 key ingredients in your garden.

Moss. Adding plants like tufted moss to your garden makes the space look like a retreat, and allows you to focus on relaxing and renewing your strength. You can put the moss at the entryway and throughout the sides of the garden for a welcoming but secluded feel.

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Stone lantern. A Japanese stone lantern will make a space look mysterious and alluring. You may even want to put a few hanging baskets around the lantern to bring more attention to the plants. A container herb garden would look nice around the lantern as well. The lantern not only helps to conserve energy, but gives your Japanese garden design a warm, exotic look.

'Planting' other gardens. Even though your container garden or organic seed plants may be the focus of your garden, you can also include other gardens in the scenery to make your Japanese garden design complete. A sand garden is great if you've planting things like cactus or bonsai trees and a Zen stone garden goes well with any plants in your garden. These gardens offer special places within your new space for reflection and meditation.

A tea house. This can be a small house or building within your garden where you can go to spend time alone or to interact with loved ones in a peaceful environment. The windows in your tea house should be facing other peaceful scenes in the garden, such as the Japanese lantern or the Zen rock garden, so that even while you are inside you can experience the tranquility of the entire garden. You can even bring some of your container plants into the teahouse-things like lavender flowers and aloe vera plants will add to the atmosphere nicely and you can use these plants for medicinal purposes as well.

A bamboo fountain.  A well crafted high quality bamboo fountain brings the air of tranquility to your garden unlike anything else.  The soothing sounds of water in combination with beautiful bamboo makes your Japanese garden design complete. 

Japanese Garden Design - 5 Simple Steps to Create a Magnificent Japanese Garden!

For more information on how to design a high-quality Japanese bamboo fountain, Shishi-Odoshi, check out this squidoo lens on how to design your own Shishi Odoshi

Amy C. offers expert fountain advise and tips on how to design your own Bamboo Fountain. She is a fountain expert at http://www.TabletopFountainStore.com - a perfect place to shop for an ideal bamboo water spout for building your bamboo water fountain.

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Garden Water Fountains and Safety for Kids

Just because you have children or frequent visits from children doesn't mean you can't have a lovely garden pool or a water fountain complete with safety for kids. Consider something like a garden fountain surrounded with stones that has no pooling water in which a little one can come to harm.

Safety for Kids is a Valid Concern

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One of the biggest concerns about water gardening or a water fountain is the safety of kids. A toddler can drown in just an inch of water or in a partly filled 5-gallon bucket. No wonder that parents, grandparents, and neighbors are fearful around any kind of garden fountain. No garden fountain can be made absolutely childproof, but there are a number of ways you can make yours safer. Shallow pools and garden fountains designed for safety and have strategically placed boulders, and fencing help children and garden fountains to coexist with less worry. Of course, you should never leave children unattended even around shallow water or the most carefully designed water feature.

No Garden Water Fountain is Childproof

Keep in mind that safety for kids is dependent somewhat on age-a garden that is safe for older children may not be safe for toddlers. You may feel confident that a 5-year-old is safe near a half-whiskey-barrel tub garden, but don't expect an 18-month-old to be.

Even 8-and 9-year-olds should be supervised near garden water fountains that have 3 feet or more of water. It's a mistake to believe you can create a large pond and train children to stay away from it. The same attractions that draw adults to splashing water, pretty fish, and the joy of dangling a hand in cool water also entice the best-behaved children. And even well trained children have friends or neighbors who will be drawn to your garden fountain.

Although you should make sure your homeowner's insurance will cover a water garden fountain accident, the best approach is to design the garden water fountain with safety for kids in mind so that tragedy doesn't happen in the first place.

Fencing Ensures Safety for Kids Around Garden Water Fountains

A fence, as long as it surrounds the pool and has a childproof or locked gate allows you to have peace of mind with any kind of water garden that you want. Pretty picket fencing, 6-foot privacy fencing, and stucco or adobe walls-all can keep young visitors out of harm's way. However, before building a fence, check your local building codes. Your community may require a certain type of fencing.

Depth

By controlling the depth of your garden water fountain, keeping it to an inch or less, you can improve its safety. Fill fountain gardens and tub gardens with attractive stones so a child's face cannot be submerged.

Height

Fountains can be made relatively safe by building the bottom tiers too high for toddlers to tip into; walls should be at least 2l/i to 3 feet. Similarly, a wall fountain is a less likely threat if its basin is higher than a toddler's head. Above ground pools will be similarly safe if you build the sides too tall for small children to climb onto.

Edging

every garden water pool will have an edge of some material and if it's made of stone, brick, slate, or concrete, it will get slippery, from water or from algae growth. This is not good for the safety of kid's around a garden water fountain.

Edging around an in-ground pool creates a path that beckons children to walk around or balance on. It's better to use turf or edging that blends with surrounding materials to make the contours of the pool less inviting as a play area.

Placement

The placement of your garden water fountain also will affect its safety. Don't locate it just outside the back door; small children can slip out easily and unnoticed and into the water. On the other hand, if you position the pool far away from the house or out of sight, you won't be able to supervise older children.

A garden fountain by the deck is striking (and an increasingly popular addition), but it could be dangerous in homes where small children live or where they will be frequent visitors.
For additional safety, install a floating alarm (designed for swimming pools) in your garden water fountain basin. The alarm will sound if the water surface is disturbed. Consider constructing a shallow reflecting pool, a millstone fountain on a mound of river rock, or a shallow stream. Fill fountains and tub gardens with attractive stones so a child's face cannot be submerged at any point.

Garden Water Fountains and Safety for Kids

Elizabeth Jean writes water fountain and related articles for Garden-Fountains.com, the #1 destination on the internet for wall fountains, garden fountains, and Distinctive Water Features.

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Garden Gnomes - The History Of Mythical Garden Ornaments

Our charming decorative outdoor gnomes have found a place in the heart of most Western cultures. We can find the first stories of gnomes showing up in European folklore. These mystical creatures were understood to be creatures of goodwill. Under the cover of darkness they would reward the efforts and enterprise of farmers, merchant traders and wives through lending assistance in the garden fields, stores and in home gardens.

Ceramic gnomes were first crafted in the countryside of Germany. Their creator was Phillip Griebel and gnomes first came into being in the mid-nineteenth century. The gnomes were purchased for superstitious and metaphysical reasons as they were believed to fend off thieves from grain and vegetable supplies.

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Gnomes were brought into England by Sir Charles Isham and this happened in 1847. Isham was wanting to spice up his garden with a burst of color and he found that the gnome was the ideal way to go about it. One of Isham's surviving gnomes is valued at over two million pounds sterling.

Griebel was originally only making statuary in the form of deer and fairies. When he began manufacturing the gnomes, demand skyrocketed. Demand exceeded supply and the gnomes were a hit amongst the German customer base.

Manufacturing the humble gnomes continued until the start of World War I. The ability to maintain production was affected by the German war efforts but production resumed in the mid 1940s. Communist police had suspicions that the garden gnomes were being used as conduits for smugglers but the gnomes went on to become the leading export of Eastern Germany.

The fall of Communism lead to the market becoming flooded by cheap imported Czech and Polish imitation garden gnomes. The legacy of Griebel's original garden gnome design continues on today with the family's original manufacturing plant still standing in Central Germany.

Garden gnomes today can be found frozen in many positions such as riding a motorcycle, wearing roller skates or even holding solar lights. They have been completely revamped to suit the variety of peoples' modern day interests and hobbies.

Garden gnomes remain to be one of the most popular garden ornaments on the market today. Garden gnomes are now being manufactured from a number of different materials - resin, concrete, cement, and ceramic. These endearing little garden gnomes are traditionally made to be less than 14" tall although they do come in a variety of different heights.

Gnomes have been used as decorative garden ornaments since 1847 and their popularity continues today.

Garden Gnomes - The History Of Mythical Garden Ornaments

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How to Keep Raccoons Out of Your Home Vegetable Garden

I love the commercial on TV where a lady is at her back door and she is calling for her cat that she had let out. Using the normal calls for domesticated cats she tries fervently to retrieve her pet. Unbeknownst to her, due to her poor eye sight, she thinks she is letting in her cat when it turns out to actually be a raccoon. This commercial holds true to life exactly what you could be doing with raccoons in your own vegetable garden. Your vegetable garden is an inviting source since it gives them easy access to the food they need.

Issues with raccoons most often occur in areas close to the woods, a forest and sometimes in the city if you live near an alleyway with lots of dumpsters. In order to get the best solutions for raccoons I once turned to the experts on our vegetable gardening Facebook fan page. Here is what they came up with.

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Traps
Traps are a good way to remove not only raccoons from your home vegetable garden, but other rodents as well. They are fairly inexpensive and can be used over and over. Many of the respondents to the post suggested using dog food as bait as that seemed to work well for them. Once trapped drive the animal at least 10 miles from your home to a wooded area and release it. Just be careful when you do. Raccoons are very protective of their young, in the event you trap their babies as well.

Animal Control
If trapping the animals yourself is not appealing many areas have animal control that is available to them. A phone call or two to your local animal control and they can take care of the problem for you. They might even have the cages to rent so the raccoons can be trapped and they will get rid of them for you.

Hot Pepper Spray/Powder
This one is also popular for squirrel control as well and that is to either use hot pepper powder/flakes and surround the perimeter of your garden with it or crush hot peppers and mix them with water, blend thoroughly and put in a spray bottle to create a pepper spray that you can also spray the perimeter of your garden with. You will have to reapply after every rainfall. The hot pepper works as a good repellent.

Water Sprinkler on a Motion Detector
This was my favorite option of all and that was to put a water sprinkler on that would spray water once a connected motion detector sensed something was moving in the garden. It is safe to both the gardener and the animals of course and all respondents that used this method claimed the raccoon problems were gone within a week. Just remember to shut it off when you are heading to the garden or you may become a victim of your own trap.

If you have an issue with raccoons or other animals that are causing problems in your home vegetable garden then put one or all four of these methods to work for you. You could be raccoon free in no time.

How to Keep Raccoons Out of Your Home Vegetable Garden

About the Author
Mike is the administrator for the largest vegetable gardening group on Facebook. You can join the vegetable gardening group for free.

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Garden Shed Storage Construction

A garden shed storage is a structure, much like a regular cabinet, that holds all the garden tools and other garden things in one place. This is a good way of organizing all your gardening needs, and making your backyard look neater and more pleasant to the eyes.

There are many garden shed storages sold in the market. However, you can also build your own if you are on a budget. Also, sometimes it is better to build your own shed storage so you can customize the dimensions and materials accordingly. Follow simple steps in constructing a garden shed storage.

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First delineate shed perimeter to identify the exact location and reduce mistakes. Using three 2x3 stakes, trace right angles and triangles to create impression of second perimeter. Attach strings in the triangle to form four-sided perimeter. The strings must cross over the corners of actual perimeter.

To concretely block foundation, use concrete pillars or concrete slabs. Concrete pillars are elevated on at least 8 concrete piers buried below frontline. On the other hand concrete slabs are formed by digging hole and placing plywood and truss beams which will rest on the ground.

To build floor systems, floor joists must be arranged corresponding with the shed. Two parallel joists are marked for every 12 inches. Create right angle patterns using the triangle method. Brackets are nailed in the center and strings are also attached. Plywood is nailed to cover entire surface of the floor. Ensure that plywood is perpendicular to joists.

Build walls one by one on the shed floor. Nail studs at both ends. Attach plywood panels to walls. Use temporary braces to hold up the wall until all of them are joined together. Nail four walls with each other.

Build rafters every 16 inches. Mark rafters where the truss beams will be placed. Cover with oriented strand board. Install the doors next.

As for windows, there are pre-built windows available. Install them next. Then install the roof

Generally garden sheds use 3 types of materials: metal, vinyl, and wood.

Metal is usually galvanized steel or aluminum coated with baked enamel finish to achieve toughness. They come in variety of colors and are easy to maintain.

Vinyl panels are tough and come with paintable steel doors. The structure withstands any type of weather and is also easy to maintain.

Wood possesses traditional look of barns. It has solid lumber frames and resembles into a small house.

Some of the most popular accessories used in garden sheds are listed below.

Ramps are sturdy single story structure used to move equipments in and out the sheds like the lawn mower. It is usually made of wood or metal. Some ramps are wiser than lawn tractor tires.

Windows and skylights are used to increase natural light within the shed. Skylights are horizontal windows placed in the roof of the shed. It helps save money and energy. Shutters and window boxes are also available together with the windows.

Lofts are created as parking spaces for mowers. They are basically used as space for larger equipments.

Shelves are installed to serve as storage place for tools and other materials to achieved organization.

Work benches are important when shed is used as hobby shop or gardening area.

Garden Shed Storage Construction

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Building a Garden Pergola - What You Need to Know

Building a garden pergola can be a fun and rewarding experience, but there are a few things you need to know before beginning this type of do it yourself project. If done right, a wooden pergola just might be the most beautiful addition to your home garden. If you enjoy building things and take interest in experimenting with home improvement and gardening projects, it is time you learn about various pergola designs and understand what they can do for your garden.

What is a Pergola?

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If you have heard of pergolas but are still not quite certain of what they are, let me offer you a brief description. A pergola is a structure which creates a cool, shaded, and pleasant area beneath. Support columns run along the sides, connecting to various types of latticed framework above. It is most common to leave the sides of the structure open, while the top may be covered by a variety of plants or vines across the top.

You can certainly train your plants to climb to the top of your pergola, so choosing things such as roses, grapes, or jasmine are most appropriate. Climbing plants or vines are not a requirement however, and choosing what you want your structure to look like will depend on your own personal likes. Professional pergola builders will often incorporate their structure into a trellis or gazebo, offering even more accents to the garden. Your pergola might be a simple feature in your garden, or it might even be a more elaborate structure acting as a walkway or pathway, or designed as a corner pergola.

Materials to Build a Pergola

Pergolas can be made of either wood, stone, or a combination of the two. Popular pergola structures of today feature wooden materials, as they are much more affordable to construct. Weather-resistant wood will be important, since this type of garden feature will most certainly be exposed to some harsh elements of weather. Western red cedar is a fantastic choice when choosing wood for your project. This type of wood is easy to use, easy to maintain, looks beautiful, is extremely durable, and even gives off a pleasant aroma. You'll find that todays most top rated pergola kits will feature western red cedar.

My personal preference is to build a cedar pergola, but you may choose to construct an aluminum pergola, vinyl pergola, or an iron or metal pergola. Again this will be determined by how you want to incorporate the structure into your own garden, focusing on each particular garden and pergola style.

The Importance of High Quality Pergola Plans

The last thing I would like to focus on is the importance of following high quality and detailed pergola plans. Anyone who experiments with woodworking projects knows how difficult and time consuming DIY projects can be without good blueprints or plans to follow. This is why I highly suggest taking the time to do some research and obtain a good set of plans for your project. Plans with clear step by step instructions accompanied by photos will make a do it yourself pergola project much easier in the long run.

Building a Garden Pergola - What You Need to Know

William E. Shepherd is a DIY woodworking enthusiast. Shepherd enjoys tackling a variety of home building projects, and takes pride in all of his completed projects. He incorporates high quality and detailed woodworking plans, such as trellis plans, pergola plans, and a variety of landscaping plans for his garden. Shepherd has experience building a various outdoor pergolas, most recently building a patio pergola, deck pergola, and custom hot tub pergola for his personal property.

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Woodworking Projects - Veggie Garden

The world is swinging back to backyard vegetable production. We are sick and tired of the chemicals etc. that gets poured into our food these days and we are revolting. Back in the old days everyone had a backyard veggie patch and it was considered the norm. Along came all those leisure activities and functions and before long there was no weekend left so the veggie garden became just weeds and our vegetables were all purchased form the local fruit and veggie shop. Even that has almost gone by the wayside as the giant supermarkets take over the fruit and vegetable industry and dictate prices to the growers. However, we are now seeing veggie gardeners returning to that backyard veggie patch in droves.

One of the main objections to growing veggies at home was all that hard work in digging and garden preparation. But that has all gone too and is no longer necessary. If you are a woodworking buff you can easily build some of the new style no-dig garden beds for your veggies. Imagine that, no more garden digging. Put your garden spade on the hook in the shed and leave it there. Check out some of the plans for raised bed gardening and get started on nice healthy vegetables.

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Basically you will make lumber garden beds with lumber 8" to 12' high and peg it and fasten it securely. These beds need to be only 3' to 4' wide so you can garden without standing in the garden itself as this compacts the soil. Fill these beds with good top soil and then cover with several inches of straw mulch. This will stop weeds growing and will keep your soil at a good happy growing temperature as well as keep it moist. When you plant your seedlings just part the straw and plant. As the mulch breaks down into the soil it will only enhance it so add more as it is needed. That is your only maintenance. A little fertilizer and a water now and then and you are producing happy pest free vegetables. And you haven't used a spade or done any digging. Check out the ideas now in some woodworking plans and patterns and you will soon be harvesting your own healthy veggies.

Woodworking Projects - Veggie Garden

Have a look at some woodworking plans for some ideas here.

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Shade Garden Tips - How to Design a Relaxing, Beautiful Shade Garden

Lots of gardeners are more in favor of sunny spots and will avoid placing their gardens in the shade. You see, they think it's too difficult to grow anything there!
I find that to be very sad because they are missing out on a huge benefit of shade gardens: a unique beauty that gives you a refreshing rest from the hot sun.

I want you to have that luxury and that's why I'm going to share some tips on how to design your shade garden.

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The first, most important thing you can do is the same for any garden - shade or not - you need to plan it out!

Start by investigating that shady spot you're thinking of: are there any weeds growing? If not then that's a bad thing - if weeds aren't growing, it's likely nothing else will grow either!

Go ahead and get some graph paper - don't worry, you don't need to be an artist! - but you *do* need to sketch in whatever trees and buildings provide shade and (this part is important so make sure you're paying attention!) make note of what times and how long the sun crosses over that spot!

Remember to consider what time of year it is, since shade could be seasonal! Also make sure you have a water supply that can reach that spot.

Another thing people often forget when designing a shade garden: they forget about light! I recommend placing a dim light around the shady patch

What Type Of Plants To Include In Your Shade Garden

Shade garden plants should have white or pastel flowers... they'll stand out in the dark of the shady areas of your garden!

My favorites are: Foxglove, Daylilies, Primroses, Impatiens, Forget-Me-Nots and Pansy.

For anchor plants make sure to use evergreens or grasses and not just in one place - use them several times in your garden! I like plants with big, coarse leaves and shrubs like viburnum and hydrangea. Perennials like canna and iris work great too!

The bigger plants will cause some visual gaps so you'll want to use smaller shrubs to fill them in. Go ahead and use boxwood and Compacta holly - they work great!

Use Colorful Flowers To Offset All That Green

I like the silver tones of wormwood and bulks like daffodils and grape hyacinth. These do really well in the shade!

I have lots of people ask me: "What if my flowers have difficulty growing in the shade?"

No problem! Just use pots or containers to plant your flowers and place them in your shade garden.

It's Not Just About Plants And Flowers... Make Sure You Don't Forget This Crucial Part

The success of your shady garden is not just about planting the right stuff... you also need to have good soil and proper drainage!

Preparing the soil is nothing fancy or different from "sunny gardens" - use a good organic compost and spread it with mulch.

Healthy Soil Tip: Make sure you test the pH of your soil! (Most woodland plants grow best in soil that's slightly acidic... that's a pH of 6 to 6.5. Others like blueberries or azaleas grow best with a soil pH of about 5.5

Shade Garden Tips - How to Design a Relaxing, Beautiful Shade Garden

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Types of Garden Arbors

For centuries, garden arbors have been a fixture in homes and gardens from the most expensive mansions to the most humble villa and everything in between. The garden arbor originated in Italy, but they can be found all over the world bringing fragrant smells and character to any garden area. There are many different types of arbors and trellises to meet every personal taste.

Archway Arbor

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The archway arbor is best used to divide a large lawn by stacking the arbors behind each other in a row to make an arbor tunnel. This line will divide the expanse and allow the archway arbors to give a clean break to plant different plants on either side and make the area cohesive.

Traditional Arbor

The traditional arbor has trellis sides to allow flowering plants or vine vegetables to grow upwards toward the top of the arbor. The design for the traditional arbor has a flat roof and has a clean line for a garden entrance. The traditional garden arbor can also have a wooden seat installed to in the summer afternoon shade.

Metal Arbors

All arbors look amazing when they are first built and installed. But as time and weather take its toll, an alternative to the wooden garden arbor is a metal arbor. Steel, bronze and iron are just a few of the options to make your garden come to life without having the maintenance required for wooden garden arbors.

Vinyl Arbors

If the upkeep of a wooden garden arbor or the heaviness of a metal garden arbor is not the arbor of choice, consider the ultimate maintenance-free garden arbor, vinyl. The vinyl material can give a look of wood and the durability of metal without having to paint and re-paint each season. Vinyl garden arbors come in many colors and styles and are easily installed to make the garden or yard more attractive and add character to a large space.

Garden arbors enhance any garden whether it be a small vegetable garden or a large flower garden. Place a garden arbor for vine plants to crawl up and make a home for many seasons to come.

Types of Garden Arbors

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Proper Care and Handling of Your Garden Tools is Important - Consider a Garden Tool Storage Shed

Money is tight all around. Now it is time for you to buy some garden tools. Even though you have to spend the money, you would also like to look after your expensive garden implements and store them correctly. You should protect your investment the best way that you can. You do not want to take your expensive garden tools and just toss them in the garage. Worse than that would be to leave them outside for extended periods of time. You need a place to put your equipment and help it to last for many years to come. How? You need to purchase a garden tools storage shed and organize it for your needs.

I bet you have seen those sheds at the big home improvements stores. They are normally set up in the parking lot so that you cannot miss them. They are made for you to store your equipment, no matter if that means pool supplies or you need the building for garden implements storage.

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Check out one of those building at the home center, or look through some magazines. You will find the perfect size garden paraphernalia storage for your needs. Look after your expensive tools and store them correctly. You can buy a storage building a little larger than you think you currently need. It is always good to plan on expansion and have room for all the garden tools you plan to buy in the future. Although you might be starting out with a few shovels, a rake or two and a post hole digger, you need to keep them clean and protected.

When you get a new garden tool you might want to also put your name on your implements. That way, in case a neighbor borrows something from you, you might be able to get it back faster! That works both ways, don't forget to return things you borrow from your neighbors.

There are many sizes, colors, styles and prices of garden storage sheds. You can get metal buildings in various sizes and colors. If you live in the hot part of the country, you may prefer a wooden storage shed for your garden tools. They usually have some vents near the ceiling so that the air can circulate and it won't be so warm inside the garden storage building you pick.

There are products on the market that hold your shovels and rakes, but why spend the money. Just nail a long board onto the wall, put a few nails in that will act as rests for your shoves and rakes. That way they are up and out of the way and will stay clean and dry. You can add some wooden shelves to your garden tool storage. Use the shelves for flower pots, seeds, small hand garden tools and nippers and clippers for trimming your plants. That is also a good place to store your unused hoses and sprinklers.

A garden tool storage building will serve you well and it will help you to look after your expensive garden tools and store them correctly.

Proper Care and Handling of Your Garden Tools is Important - Consider a Garden Tool Storage Shed

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Your Efficient Garden Maintenance Checklist

If you are a Hertfordshire resident frustrated with the condition of your garden and no matter how hard you try, your garden maintenance efforts are not succeeding. You might want to consider one of the many gardening firms in Hertfordshire who offer effective and efficient garden maintenance services.

The majority of Hertfordshire based gardening services companies are well versed with the requirements of what it takes to successfully carry out garden maintenance and achieve the result required results. Of course, every garden is different and its important for you to understand your requirements.

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It is a good idea to have a checklist that you can use to assess whether the gardener you are speaking to, is able to offer a full maintenance service that meets your needs. Also, having a checklist removes the emotion from the exercise and will help you to look at it more objectively.

Set out below is a garden maintenance checklist that will help cover off main areas and hopefully make you aware of some others.

Lawn and Turf Care

- Lawn Maintenance
- Grass Cutting
- Lawn Treatments
- Lawn Scarifying
- Lawn Top Dressing
- Lawn Core Aeration
- Turf Replacement and Removal

Maintenance of Flower Beds and Hedges

- Weed Prevention
- Hedge Trimming
- Weeding Planted Areas
- Pest and Disease Control
- Pruning and Planting

Miscellaneous Garden Areas

- Pressure Washing of Paths, Patios & Driveways
- Rubbish removal
- Leaf Clean Up
- Rubbish removal
- Sprinkler Maintenance & Irrigation Systems

If you are a Hertfordshire resident frustrated with the condition of your garden and no matter how hard you try, your garden maintenance efforts are not succeeding. You might want to consider one of the many gardening firms in Hertfordshire who offer effective and efficient garden maintenance services.

The majority of Hertfordshire based gardening services companies are well versed with the requirements of what it takes to successfully carry out garden maintenance and achieve the result required results. Of course, every garden is different and its important for you to understand your requirements.

It is a good idea to have a checklist that you can use to assess whether the gardener you are speaking to, is able to offer a full maintenance service that meets your needs. Also, having a checklist removes the emotion from the exercise and will help you to look at it more objectively.

Set out below is a garden maintenance checklist that will help cover off main areas and hopefully make you aware of some others.

Lawn and Turf Care

- Lawn Maintenance
- Grass Cutting
- Lawn Treatments
- Lawn Scarifying
- Lawn Top Dressing
- Lawn Core Aeration
- Turf Replacement and Removal

Maintenance of Flower Beds and Hedges

- Weed Prevention
- Hedge Trimming
- Weeding Planted Areas
- Pest and Disease Control
- Pruning and Planting

Miscellaneous Garden Areas

- Pressure Washing of Paths, Patios & Driveways
- Rubbish removal
- Leaf Clean Up
- Rubbish removal
- Sprinkler Maintenance & Irrigation Systems
- Fences/Sheds painted and repaired

In addition, an efficient garden care provider should also offer sound horticultural planning services to fit your individual plans. Better still, if they offer hard and soft landscaping services, you can consider their garden design skills for future projects.

Fences/Sheds painted and repaired

In addition, an efficient garden care provider should also offer sound horticultural planning services to fit your individual plans. Better still, if they offer hard and soft landscaping services, you can consider their garden design skills for future projects.

Your Efficient Garden Maintenance Checklist

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A Sprinkler Hose Vs A Regular Garden Hose

If you are looking to buy a new water hose you will quickly learn there are a variety of hoses available. In order to choose the best one for your needs it is good to know a little bit about the different types available. It may be best to have a couple different types, but if you are short on space, or money, you may want to choose the one that will give you the most functionality.

Round Hoses

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A typical garden hose is round and usually 1/2 to 3/4 inch in diameter. While 1/2 inch is sufficient for watering the garden or using a sprinkler if you need greater water pressure you may want to get one that is larger in diameter.

When it comes to length they are usually anywhere from 25 feet to 100 feet. If you have a small space it is better to go with a shorter one so you don't have to drag the excess around with you. But if you plant to use it for multiple purposes make sure you have enough length to for all of your needs; other than a little extra weight having a little excess is better with this type of hose.

Round hoses are pretty flexible. You can attach a sprinkler to water the garden or lawn. You can add a sprayer attachment to wash the car or the patio. Or you can use it without an attachment.

Flat Hoses

A sprinkler hose is a type of flat hose that has evenly spaced tiny holes on one side of it. It is placed on the ground with the holes facing up, when the pressure of the water is forced through the sprinkler hose it creates a fine spray that works well for newly seeded grass or gardens.

Another type of flat hose is the soaker hose. This type also has tiny holes on one side, but this one is placed with the holes facing down. This allows the water to seep into the ground at a slow but continuous rate. This type is good for dry or windy climates as it helps cut down on water evaporation.

While flat hoses are less versatile they do help fulfill a specific need.

A Sprinkler Hose Vs A Regular Garden Hose

Having the right hose storage is an important part of protecting your new purchase. Learn more about the best types of garden hose storage to lengthen the life of your garden hose.

Build Your Own Garden Sheds in No Time

Garden Sheds As Storage Buildings

A garden shed storage is a structure, very similar to a regular cupboard, that holds all the gardening tools and other garden things in one place. This is an excellent method of organising all of your gardening equipment and making your yard look neater and more pleasant to the eyes (of you and your visitors).

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Garden sheds are a kind of tradition in Australia and New Zealand and also in some other counties too.

There are large number of garden shed storages sold in the market. However, you may also build your own in case you are on a restricted budget. Also, infrequently its better to build your own shed storage so you can customise the dimensions and materials used appropriately.

First delineate shed fringe to identify the precise place and cut down on mistakes. Utilising 3 2x3 stakes, trace right angles and triangles to form impression of 2nd fringe. As a next step, tie strings in the triangle to form four-sided fringe. Please pay attention as the strings must cross over the corners of real fringe.

To concretely block foundation, use concrete slabs. Concrete pillars are raised on at least eight concrete piers buried below frontline. However, concrete slabs are created by making hole and placing plywood and truss beams that is going to lay on the ground.

To build floor systems, floor beams must be organised corresponding with the shed. Two parallel rafters are marked for each twelve inches (this one is very important too). Create right angle patterns using the triangle technique once again. Brackets are attached in the middle and strings as well. Plywood is nailed ( nail gun will be very handy here) to cover whole surface of the flooring.

Construct walls one at a time on the shed floor. Nail studs at both ends. Attach plywood panels to walls. Use short lived braces to hold up the wall until every one of them are joined together. Nail 4 walls with each other.

Construct rafters each 16 inches. Mark rafters where the truss beams will be placed. Cover with orientated strand board. Place the doors next.

As for windows, there are ready-made windows available. Install them next. Then install the roof.

Usually garden sheds use 3 categories of materials: metal, vinyl, and wood.

Metal is often galvanized steel or aluminium lined with baked enamel finish to gain toughness. They come in spread of colours and are straightforward to maintain. In Australia and New Zealand they are mostly produced by BlueScope Steel and named Colorbond (painted steel sheets) and Zincalume for the galvanised finish). These names are trademarks for BlueScope Steel.

Vinyl panels are complicated and come with Steel doors that can be painted. It withstands any type of weather and requires minimal maintenance.

Timber has got normal look of barns. It has solid lumber frames and looks like into a little house.

Some of the most liked accessories utilised in garden sheds are noted below.

Ramps are robust single story structure used to move equipments out and in the garden sheds like the grass mower. It is usually made of wood or metal.

Perspex Windows and skylights are great additions to bring natural light into the garden sheds. Skylights are replacing a roof panel most of the time. It helps save cash and energy. Window screens and window boxes are also available along with the windows. Louvre windows are also popular in Australia.

Studios are made as spaces for mowers. They are basically used as space for larger machinery.

Shelving system can be added to increase practicality and make the best of the storage space.

Tool holders can also help with organising tools in garden sheds.

Roof ventilation is a very handy addition in areas where summer gets very hot.

Work benches are crucial when the garden shed is employed as hobby shop or gardening area.

Build Your Own Garden Sheds in No Time

Clark is passionate about gardening and DIY projects. He finds great pleasure writing about his garden sheds.

Lawn And Garden Detergent, or Garden Soap, or

A few years back I wrote a small piece on the benefits of using detergent as a surfactant or spreader/sticker for herbicides, insecticides, and fertilizers. Since then I've discovered a few other worthy uses for detergent in lawn and garden.

Before I recap what a surfactant is, I want to make sure you notice that I'm referring to detergent and not soap. There is a difference. Detergents generally have a healthy breakdown, less build up, and have phosphates which are good for your plants.

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A surfactant?

A surfactant is a widely used agricultural agent that, when properly mixed with liquid fertilizers and such, helps the chemical to spread more evenly and thoroughly over the plants. This in turn means that you have to use less chemicals because they're more efficient. The chemicals spread over every part of the entire plant and do their job much better. So you save money and the environment by using less.

Adding a few drops of liquid dish or laundry detergent to your spray fertilizers and such will do the same exact thing for just pennies per application. A quarter to half a teaspoon per gallon of mix. That's all it takes.

More uses of detergent in lawn and garden.

If you've ever tried to wet down dried out peat moss or potting soil that refuses to take on moisture, you'll appreciate this. A drop or two of liquid detergent in your water will do the trick.

Have a hardpan lawn surface that refuses to accept moisture? You guessed it. Except this time, use a about a teaspoon per gallon through a hose end sprayer. The detergent will break the surface tension of the soil allowing water to soak in.

This is just a quick fix that you can repeat as needed. However, a hardpan soil is a sign that your lawn, garden, or soil needs some serious organic attention.

Until my next gardening wisdom discovery.....

Lawn And Garden Detergent, or Garden Soap, or

Written by Steve Boulden. Steve is the creator of The Landscape Design Site which offers free professional landscaping advice, tips, plans, and ideas to do it yourselfers and homeowners. For more free landscaping and gardening advice, visit his site at http://www.the-landscape-design-site.com/landscapeideasgallery.html

Craigslist's Farm and Garden For Sale Section - What You May Find

If you want to use Craigslist.org, you will find a for sale section. There are many different categories listed under this heading, including one for farm and garden. In that particular section, what are you likely to find?

Farm animals for sale - Common farm animals listed for sale or even for free on Craigslist include horses, cows, goats, chicken, ducks, rabbits, and more. Many times, a current farmer wants to make room for new animals or eliminate them altogether. Buying farm animals on Craigslist.org is a great alternative to attending local auctions. You may also find pet listings for household pets, such as cats, dogs, birds, and fish.

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Farm services extended to the public - It is common for farmers to offer services to the general public. These may include ground tours, summer camps for kids at horse stables, horse boarding, or animal renting. Animal renting is generally reserved for kids. They get an animal to care for on site. They can then use that animal to participate in local 4-H programs and to attend shows. Most services offered to the general public require the payment of a small fee. Ask if a fee is not listed on Craigslist.org.

For sale farm equipment - Unfortunately, many farmers across America are closing down their businesses or decreasing in size. Others regularly update their farm equipment, like John Deere tractors and John Deere lawn mowers. To help offset the cost of a new purchase, they resell the older models. Whether you are a current farm owner or just need equipment, you can find quality equipment and good prices.

For rent farm and garden equipment - Not only can you find equipment for sale, but for rent too. Gardeners regularly need tillers to treat the ground, but only once a year. It isn't worth it to buy the gardening equipment, but it is to rent it for a day or two. Many equipment owners know this, so they list their equipment for rent or even free borrowing on Craigslist.

Whether you are looking to buy or rent farm or garden equipment, buy farm animals, or use services open to the public, you can find what you need on Craigslist.org. To search more than just your local page, but the surrounding area too, download and use a Craigslist search tool to save time and find what you need. Perform multi-city searches with ease.

Craigslist's Farm and Garden For Sale Section - What You May Find

Click here to search farm and garden on Craigslist with ease; try the Craigslist Reader.

Vegetable Garden Layout - Choosing Materials and Layouts For Garden Paths

When designing your Vegetable garden layout, it is important to consider what materials you will use in making your garden paths, how wide you will make these paths and where you will position them.

Loose materials for garden paths

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Gravel, scoria, wood-chip, blue metal, leaf mulch, straw
These can be less expensive than bricks or paving stones but after a while, they can allow the weeds through. It is best to line the pathways with weed-mat to hinder this weed growth. These loose material paths must have a solid edging (like timber) to prevent the materials from migrating into your garden beds. Bear in mind too that the organic mulches such as wood-chip, straw, and leaf mulch will eventually break down and will need replacing and that gravel-type materials, once in place, may be very hard to move should you want to rearrange your garden layout especially if they get into the soil.

Growing pathways

Grass, herbs
Grass pathways are a labor-intensive idea. They require regular mowing and weeding, and the grass in them can invade your garden beds. Herbs such as chamomile or creeping thyme may be a slightly better option since they don't need mowing and they can release a wonderful scent when you walk on them. But both herbs and grass can get muddy in the rain and also get worn by too much foot traffic.

Paved garden paths

Bricks, paving stones, concrete blocks
This is a more expensive option. You will need to take into account the size of your bricks when planning the width of your paths to avoid a lot of unnecessary cutting of the bricks to fit the width. You can make some interesting patterns with bricks or paving stones: stack bond, running bond, basket weave or herringbone amongst others.

Width of your garden paths

For ease of access, paths should be a minimum of 2 feet (60cm) wide although if you wish to push a wheelbarrow between your garden beds, 3 feet (90cm) would be a better width. Consider the sort of people and equipment which will be likely to use your paths. Do you need to allow for wheelchair access? A walker? A lawnmower? Two people side by side?

Vegetable garden layout - positioning your garden paths

Because garden paths are semi-permanent features you will need to make a vegetable garden plan to avoid costly (money and time) mistakes.

Vegetable Garden Layout - Choosing Materials and Layouts For Garden Paths

Your vegetable garden layout will determine where your paths will be placed. You may choose a symmetrical layout in which your garden paths will mark out geometrical garden beds (such as a four square garden or potager kitchen garden). Or you may decide on a less formal layout with random raised garden beds. Whatever you decide, it is a good idea to get your design down on paper or on the computer so that you can see if everything will fit.

Happy planning!

How to Erect a Garden Fence

New fencing can do wonders to improve the look of your garden, as well as creating privacy and security. There are several types of fences, but the wooden ones remain the most popular and economical. Here is some advice on planning and erecting a garden fence.

When planning a new or replacement boundary, you should decide if you are going to employ a tradesman or do some DIY yourself. But first, you should talk to your neighbours and establish who is responsible for the boundary. The standard height of most fences is 6 foot, so if you plan on increasing the height of a boundary to more than this, you may need to obtain planning permission and should seek advice from your Local Council or Planning Authority.

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The standard width of panels is 6 feet and posts can vary from 75 mm to 100 mm. When measuring up, deduct 2 inches from each fence post to allow for where the panels slot in. Once you have taken measurements, you can then determine the number of panels and posts required. Where a fence will be resting on soil or grass, it is recommended that a concrete gravel board is used to stop the wood rotting. These are 1 foot high, so 5 foot fencing panels would be required in addition to make a 6 foot fence.

Concrete fencing posts are designed so that the wood panels slot into the edge without any fixings. Timber posts may have the same feature, or they can be a plain wooden post which should be attached to the panels with brackets.

Building a fence could involve digging holes and mixing concrete. However, a simple fence can be created without any of this hard labour! Wooden fence posts may be secured to soft ground with metal spikes or to a hard surface with bolt down post supports. The panels should be secured to the posts with brackets.

Whilst the Do-It-Yourself option could save you money, employing a professional fencing contractor can make life easier. They would remove your old fence and dispose of it, measure accurately and advise on the best type of fence for your needs. As they buy materials in bulk or may make their own panels, you could even find that they are cheaper than buying fencing from a DIY store.

How to Erect a Garden Fence

For details on the products required to erect your own garden fence, or for a competitive quote without obligation on the supply and fitting of wooden fencing, visit Beeston Fencing Company, who are fencing manufacturers and fitters specialising in all types of domestic, commercial and agricultural fencing.

7 Garden Decor Tips

Your garden is your own little oasis. Your retreat from the rest of the world. Naturally, you'll want to add your own touches to your garden, to set it apart from everyone else's. You'll want to add your own accents to make your garden truly your own. Here are 7 ideas for little touches that you can add to your garden, to make it your own personal space.

1. Wind-Chimes - You can find wind chimes in many styles and materials. You can find copper and metal chimes, clay and ceramic. They may feature random shapes of metal or ceramic, or they may be tubes, tuned to certain pitches. So, chances are, you'll be able to find a set of wind chimes that suit your style and your budget. If not, you can easily create your own. Just look around at some of the wind chimes that are available, to give yourself an idea on how they are made.

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When you place your wind chimes, look for a place with a slight breeze. Outside, you shouldn't have much trouble finding such a place. Hang the chimes so they'll blow gently in the breeze, creating a relaxing chime. Just don't put them in too strong a breeze, or the relaxing chiming sound will become a harsh, clanging noise.

2. Lighting - Several lighting options are available for your garden or patio. You can use candles for a soft, flickering light, or a string of electric lanterns for a more steady light. If you don't have an outlet available, you can find solar lights, which soak up sunlight during the day, storing the electricity, and then come on at night when the sun goes down. You may want to include a citronella candle or torch in your lighting to keep mosquitoes away.

3. Garden Furniture - These days, you can find a wide selection of outdoor furniture for your garden. I'm not talking about those uncomfortable, aluminum framed, nylon webbed, camping chairs, that trap you as soon as you sit down. You can find comfortable, cushioned chairs and couches, suitable for outdoor use. A hammock strung between a pair of trees can provide a relaxing place to take a bit of a nap on those hot summer afternoons. Several styles of benches are also available to accent the garden, and provide a place to sit and rest under the lilac bushes.

4. Fake Flowers - If you have a spot in your garden where you just can't seem to grow anything, a container of silk flowers can certainly brighten up the area. You may also put in some small planters on the wall or fence, with trouble-free fake flowers.

5. Containers - You can plant flowers in a container, or vegetables and herbs, or you can build a small water garden to show off water lilies and other aquatic plants. A well placed container garden will add a touch of color and texture to a bare corner of your garden or patio. You can re-plant the containers every season to provide some continual color to your garden, year round, and if you don't like the placement of the container, you can simply move it to a more suitable location.

6. Water Features - A water feature can range from a simple container with some water and a few plants up to a large pond, with fish, waterlilies, bridges, and fountains. It all depends on how much time and money you want to spend in creating it, and how much space you have available. Even a small container with a fountain can add the soothing sound of water to your garden, without taking over a lot of space.

7. Rock Gardens - Rock gardens, like container gardens, can provide color throughout the year, if you plan it well. When plants from one season are done blooming, you can remove them, and replace them with others. A rock garden will take a bit of work to build, especially moving the rocks. Make sure that all parts of the garden are accessible for weeding and watering. Try out different rocks and plants until you find a combination that you like.

These are just some ideas for accenting your garden, and making it your own personal space. Sprucing up your garden doesn't have to take a lot of time, or cost a lot of money. You can build a water feature or rock garden, or you can simply add a few inexpensive decor pieces throughout your garden. Either way, you need to make an effort to set your garden apart from everyone else's. You need to take action to make your garden your own.

7 Garden Decor Tips

Visit Garden Style Decor for more garden decor tips and resources.

Recycled Metal Garden Art - Fun, Playful and Eco-Friendly

Avid gardeners are generally very green folk. They like digging in the dirt, recycling and composting, and easily incorporate other people's discards into their outdoor decor. When looking for interesting pieces to decorate their yards, recycled metal garden art is a popular choice.

Recycled metal garden art is a true reflection of the artist's personality and ingenuity. What may be trash to you or me is reborn in the hands of these eco-artists. One artist, Andrew Chase, makes amazing mechanical structures of giraffes, elephants and robots from recycled automobile and plumbing parts. He gets discarded engine and transmission parts from his local auto repair, and by combining these with plumbing pipes and fixtures he is able to create wonderful, moving creatures.

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Old oil tanks and drums are quite commonly used to make metal garden art. Painted oil tanks that once supplied fuel to cottagers are cut down into brightly colored critters, including dogs with bones, dancing sheep or moose, lurking alligators and climbing frogs. For something a little different you can even add a diva or a devil!

In Haiti a growing crafts community is creating wonderful metal wall sculptures from flattened drums which were once used to transport oil or other products. After removing the ends these drums are flattened and then carved by hand into exotic works of art. Using only hammers, chisels and other simple tools, the artists carve elaborate, decorative designs out of the steel. Haitian drum art is world renowned and spreading in popularity. It makes a striking piece of wall art for inside the house or in the garden.

Saving bicycles from untimely graves a new breed of artists are using recycled bikes parts to create their art. Bike art has become so popular it is a genre of its own. With gears and wheels, nuts and bolts, spokes and bars, a bicycle is the perfect raw material for recycled metal art.

Part of the appeal of recycled metal garden art is the weathered and often rusted look of some of the pieces. Rusted metal has a natural, earthy feel to it and blends with the garden rather than making a loud statement. For this reason a lot of gardeners seek out pre-rusted metal art.

The ingenuity of artists working with recycled metal never ceases to amaze me. Add some recycled metal art to your yard and add instant character and charm.

Recycled Metal Garden Art - Fun, Playful and Eco-Friendly

Ann Wallis is a long-time gardener and lover of beautiful things for her garden. All year round she pores through gardening magazines and websites looking for colorful perennials to fill the holes in her garden and fun, whimsical garden art to add life and character to her yard.

Ann's favorite metal creations can be found at http://metal-garden-art.com