Landscape Design

Garden Plans

2008-08-05T23:17:00.000Z

Garden Plans

Planning for Garden Structures

by Dennis Goinich
When a garden is first created, structures play an important role in defining the mood of the garden and giving the person walking through direction to what they should be looking at. These garden structures are often walkways, benches, and fountains. There can also be small barriers or a picket fence to guide people along. These structures are very useful, but there is a general rule in the world of gardening - the more natural a garden is, the better.

It's really very enticing to go out and buy small plants or seeds, then begin planting your garden as soon as you come home, but you should show some restraint and carry out some designing. The way to make your garden beautiful is by not rushing but by taking your time and planning with the space and area you have. Before you plant, you should take a few minutes to sit down and map out the basic layout that you'd like to achieve. Remember to take into account the way your plants will grow, as well. Different plants grow to different heights, and you'll want to make sure your garden structures enhance that without looking out of place. You don't have to feel tied to this starting design forever, of course. It can change as your garden grows, but having a basic plan before you start digging is a good idea.

Now it is time to determine the structure of your garden. You need to consider which plants should be in the garden, and where they should be positioned, to ensure that all of them grow well. It is important that you decide which plants will be harmful next to others, and which will compliment their neighboring plants. Most importantly overall is to build your garden so that it will become it's own structure.

If a wall must separate the walkway and garden, you should start with a picket fence or some artificial structure; then choose bushes that will be firm enough to trim into walls when they are fully-grown. Also, of those tools available, many are tailored to define which way your plants grow. For example, you can use a plain wire walkway to create an area for people to meander through, especially if you cover it with ivy.

Even with the work you've put into it, it's important to keep in mind that your garden will look awkward and good things come to those who wait. Your garden will likely seem cluttered while your plants are first growing, as structures are more apparent during the supporting stage. However, once your plants start reaching maturity, you can remove supports and the cluttered look will disappear, leaving only beautiful nature. You'll be very happy that you took the extra time to plan the layout of your garden properly.

Dennis Goinich and his wife wanted to do their garden structures right so they went to the Sacramento landscape architecture firm of Hall Design and started by looking at the online galleries of ideas from their expert residential landscape architects. Hall Design took care of the whole process from design to getting contractor bids.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

Lawn Care

2008-08-05T06:54:00.000Z

Lawn Care

Rye Grass - Keep Your Lawn Green in Winter

by Ti Grant Eckert
Keeping your grass green all winter long can be a challenge. Most home owners would love to have a green lawn throughout the fall and winter, but how do you make this a reality? Rye grass is what you need to keep your lawn beautiful all year long. You have to over seed your regular grass with Rye grass preferably in the summer heat. Rye grass is also considered cool grass which also helps to prevent the invasion of aggressive winter weeds.

Perennial ryegrass is the preferred cool season grass for over seeding regular Burmuda grass lawns. Many new types of perennial ryegrass are available. These new types are fine textured and form a dense, attractive lawn. They are also frost tolerant and will persist longer in the spring, allowing time for the Burmuda grass to green up.

Carefully preparation of the lawn prior to over seeding is the key to success. In order to germinate and grow, the seed must come in contact with the soil. A dense Burmuda grass lawn will need to be lightly verticut or power-raked to remove the mat of dead grass plants, called thatch, which accumulates in the lawn. This work is best left to a professional lawn or landscape maintenance service. If you have a small lawn area you can remove some of the thatch by hand-raking with a steel-tined lawn rake.

After raking, scalp the Burmuda grass by cutting it as low as possible. Then remove the thatch and clippings. With some space opened up in the lawn, the seed that is spread will be able to drop through to the soil surface.

You can apply the seed by hand, but for better uniformity use a drop spreader or cyclone spreader. Seeding the lawn in a cris-cross pattern will also help provide a more uniform stand of grass. Whether you’re using perennial or annual ryegrass, apply 12 to 15 lbs. of seed for an area of 1,000 square feet. After spreading the seed, use a strong spray of water to help wash the seed down to the soil surface. To help retain moisture and encourage seed sprouting, fine compost or steer manure can be lightly spread over the area. A leaf rake or broom can be used to evenly distribute this top dressing and work it down through the Burmuda grass.

Keep seeds moist until they germinate and become established. This may require watering several times daily, with just enough water to keep the top 2 inch of soil wet. When the grass becomes established, watering should be reduced gradually to about once a week. During the coldest part of the winter the grass may not need water more than once every two weeks. When the grass reaches a height of 2 inches, mow the turf to 1.5 inches. Gradually increase the height of cut to maintain the grass at a height of 2.5 inches. A rotary type mower can be used, making sure to keep the blades sharp.

Begin fertilizing 2 weeks after seedlings sprout. Apply 4 lbs. of a lawn fertilizer such as 16-4-8 or similar analysis for every 1,000 square feet of lawn. After the initial fertilization, apply 1 to 2 lbs of lawn fertilizer per 1,000 square feet, every 3 or 4 weeks. If the lawn is green at the time of a scheduled fertilization, skip that fertilization.

By following these steps of over seeding now, you will be creating a beautiful cool season lawn that will last well into spring.

After the second mowing, apply one-half pound of nitrogen per 1000 square feet using a complete fertilizer, such as 16-4-8, 10-10-10 or others. Apply complete, quick-release nitrogen in late winter or early spring. Pythium blight disease can be a problem on over watered, over fertilized ryegrass, especially during warm, humid weather.

An established winter lawn requires the same maintenance as a permanent lawn. Mow when the grass is tall enough to cut, about 1 to 2 inches. Mow to 1 to 1½ inches thereafter whenever the grass reaches 2 to 2½ inches. Make sure the mower blade is sharp to prevent ripping of the ryegrass. If ryegrass is properly fertilized, weekly mowing may be necessary. So if you want to keep up a summer time routine in the winter add ryegrass to your lawn. You will be mowing all year round but your yard will look wonderful. You will have nice green color all year long.

About Author:
Grant Eckert is a freelance writer who writes about topics pertaining to home maintenance such as Lawn Care
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

Landscape Design Software

2008-08-04T03:52:00.000Z

Landscape Design Software

Landscape Design Software

By Eric Morris
Landscape design software is useful for visualizing your ideas before actually starting the work. These software programs are powerful yet user-friendly, and can be used by homeowners and professional landscape designers. Looking at the landscape design beforehand can save you a lot of time, effort and money trying out various ideas on your land.

The landscape design software is meant to work on a picture of the area that needs to be landscaped. The photo needs to be scanned and opened in the software for editing. You can overlay images like plants, trees, shrubs, grass, flowerbeds, waterfalls, fountains, ponds, sprinklers, lighting, steps, gates and pathways onto this background to get an idea of how the landscape design will look in reality. These designs can also be printed for reference. Most of the landscape design software programs now provide a quotation and material list along with the design.

Generally, these programs run on Pentium III and similar configurations with a Windows operating system. Check out the cost of the software; it can range from $20 to $70, depending on the features. Two-dimensional software would cost less than three-dimensional software, which gives a view of the landscape from various angles. Some popular landscape design software programs available are Realtime, Water Garden Studio, Dynascape Pro, 3D Garden Composer and DesignWare V3 Landscape, which is relatively easy to use. It is always better to see a demonstration of the software before buying. If you do not wish to buy the software, you can still use it through landscape design companies. These designers take a photo and your ideas and generate a design for you as per your needs. These services are available online also. One can also search for free landscape design software downloads on the Internet. Landscape Design provides detailed information on Landscape Design, Landscape Design Software, Free Landscape Designs, Landscape Design Plans and more. Landscape Design is affiliated with Landscaping Ideas.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_Morris http://EzineArticles.com/?Landscape-Design-Software&id=254849

Shrubs

2008-08-03T07:31:00.000Z

Shrubs

How to Choose the Right Shrubs for Your Yard

by Craig Elliott
Choosing the right shrubs for your yard is based largely upon what to hope to achieve in your landscape design. Shrubs can play any number of different landscaping rolls from structural to purely decorative, and anything in between. Finding the right shrub for the right purpose is an art as well as a science, so you are going to want to spend a lot of time at your local nursery or garden center talking to the experts and finding out everything you can about different shrubs that you're considering.

Prior to your research it is important to have a good idea in mind of what you're hoping to accomplish with your shrubbery design. Are you looking to build a living privacy wall? Are you looking to add interest to the outside of your home? Do you want evergreen shrubs or deciduous shrubs? Do you want your shrubs to bear flowers or berries? What sort of space do you have for the continual growth of your shrub? Will you be able to handle aggressive burning?

These are just a few of the questions you should be asking yourself before you even start researching shrubs. Like all plants shrubs, in many different varieties that can suit any number of different needs. If you are looking to add wildlife to your yard you'll probably want a shrub that produces berries, if you are looking for butterflies you should look toward the shrub that produces a lot of flowers. If you want privacy you should look for a shrub that grows very dense. Having the answers to these questions in mind will allow you to go forward with your research in a much more specific and organized way and thus hopefully leading you towards the right shrubs that will meet your needs.

Before going to the greenhouse or nursery however you should probably spend some time researching on the Internet to get an idea of what sort of shrubs you are looking for. The Internet is a great way to start your research because of the wide variety of opinions available. This unfortunately is also the Internet's downfall, with all of this opinion becomes a lot of misinformation so choosing your sources carefully is the first step towards researching a successful shrubbery design for your landscaping needs.

A good place to start for your Internet research is to look at gardening forums where you can read many users opinions on various topics. Some of these forums require you to go through a trivial registration process before you can search through all of the messages, and this is well worth it. The vast majorities are free, and offer a wealth of user experience and opinions on a variety of topics including a shrubbery. Keep in mind however that this is all user opinion, however, because there are so many users posting their opinion it is easy to judge the overall opinion of the entire community towards certain subjects like shrubs and their care and maintenance; thus allowing you to glean some valuable insights from people struggling with the exact same decisions.

In addition to visiting Internet forums you will want to check out various horticultural web pages that offer lots of technical information about any species of shrub you may be interested in. These web pages will have information about zone requirements, as well as growth patterns; all of which is necessary information for you to successfully plant your shrubs. After all picking a pretty shrub is only half of the battle, making sure that it will flourish in the space provided is what will separate a successful attempt from a failure.

Armed with all of your new research you should then head to the garden center and evaluate what is available in your area. Just because you found it on the Internet and researched that it would grow well in your zone does not mean that your local nurseries and garden centers will have it available to you. Should this be the case with a shrub that you absolutely have to have you may want to ask if they can be special ordered or even check out online nurseries that may be able to ship it. A word of caution here; and shipping charges for a large shrub can be enormous and in fact end up equaling or exceeding the cost of the original shrub. Therefore if you are on a budget is better to be flexible in your design, and work with what is locally available. Remember, you can always call around to different nurseries and garden centers to see if they have something that their competitors do not carry.

At the end of the day realize that planting a shrub should be fun. It can be a great family activity, and working in the yard is always a good time especially if you are an avid gardener. So long as you keep your research in mind you should have no trouble selecting a great shrub that will thrive in your yard.

About Author:
Craig Elliott is a freelance writer frequently writing about lawn care | lawn service
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

Gardening

2008-08-02T03:03:00.000Z

Gardening

How To Garden In The Spring

by Steven Cancel
Gardening in the spring is the next best time to garden behind the fall. The increased rainfall and temperatures provide a perfect setting for plants and their roots. Well established roots will help your plants fight off the damage droughts and insects throughout the year. Although not as good as planting in the fall, spring planting is still a very successful time to build a garden.

Each plant has specific needs to be considered prior to planting. Certain plants require direct sunlight, shade, frequent watering, certain soil types, and drainage. A soil test can be done to understand the existing conditions. This test will reveal the nutrient level, pH level and soil texture. Without this information you could be wasting your time and money planting less tolerant and needy plants. Unfortunately, these often tend to be the more exotic and attractive plants.

The next step would be to plan the grounds of your garden. Popular items to include are garden bridges, landscape rocks, and koi ponds. Garden bridges completely enrich your environment and require very little maintenance. Koi ponds on the other hand can require more work and maintenance but bring another sense of life to your garden. Make sure you plan your landscape prior to planting your spring flowers to ensure your project is completed properly. After you complete your site layout you can start preparing for planting. Based on your soil tests, fertilizer can be added to the soil correct whatever is needed for the plants chosen. Any changes to the soil should be mixed in well and as deep as possible to make sure the plant is able to take advantage of the adjustment as deep as it roots go.

You will want to dig the wholes for each plant in a oversized funnel shape. You will want to loosen the roots from the existing soil in the planter and place the plant in the hole. Release the plant from any basket or wiring prior to planting. Breaking the roots from the extended sides can stimulate the plant and allow it to grow larger within the hole. Mix in the soil in with the freed roots. Make sure the plants face is showing it's best side if it is visible and be sure it is planted straight. Do not pack the soil down to hard to allow the roots to expand easily.

All that is left is to ensure that the plants are properly watered and not damaged. Following the steps listed above you can expect to enjoy your garden year after year.

Customize and order garden bridges for your garden onlne. Article written and distributed by Steve Cancel, IT Manager of Secure Link - Free Domain Registration.
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

Landscaping Mature Trees

2008-08-01T13:39:00.000Z

Landscaping Mature Trees

How to Decide On a Tree Arrangement for Your Property

by Craig Elliott
One of the most enjoyable parts about owning a new home, or doing extensive work on an existing home is creating an attractively landscaped exterior. Before you start digging up the ground however it is important to have a clear design goal in mind so as to avoid any lengthy delays or complications once you begin work. It is also beneficial to consult as many reference books and garden professionals as possible before committing any final project details; these sources will help alert you to any potential conflicts between different plant growth habits. With these cautionary tips in mind it is now time to start focusing on designing a landscape.

There are three areas to be concerned with what landscaping your home. There are the small plans (annuals and perennials), the hardscape features (ponds or statues), and is there are the trees and shrubs which we will be focusing on in this article. Deciding which aspects you want to start your design process with is a bit like the chicken and egg scenario, you will largely find that each of these three areas will have a great effect on each other so rather than focusing on designing them in chronological order instead to keep an open mind and be willing to go back and reevaluate certain features as it becomes apparent that you need to tweak your design.

It is generally a good practice to start your design process by focusing on the larger landscape features like the trees and shrubs. You should start with the trees and shrubs not only because they are the largest features in your yard, but also because they are considered structural elements of the landscape, and just like you would build the frame of a house before you add the tiles so too would you use structural elements in your landscape design before adding the final touches. Trees and shrubs to not only provide decorative structure, but they also serve a number of other different purposes that are practical as well as visually appealing.

You are going to want to plant a variety of trees around your home not only to help draw the eye visually to the area, but also because trees planted around the home provide a good amount of energy savings. In the winter trees planted around the home help to stave off some of the biting winter winds that would otherwise rattle against the side of the house and cause you to turn up your heater. Likewise in the summer trees provide shade to your home and thus keeps the sun off of the walls and roof so that you do not have to run the air conditioner as high or as long.

If you own a larger plot of land directly next to a neighbor's plot of land you may wish to consider using tall narrow trees as property dividers. Generally Cyprus is a good species for this purpose, and depending on the region in which you live it is likely you will be able to find a species of Cyprus that will fit your needs as well as flourish in your climate. Understand however that Cyprus trees will not provide a perfect privacy screening, but rather just make for a very clear, and tall, visual divide of the property line. If ultimate privacy is what you are after you'll probably want to choose a hedge rather than trees, as hedges grow lower to the ground and much more densely offering thicker cover.

It is important that you plan specifically where you wish to plant your trees because they will have a huge impact on the surrounding landscape. Trees act as natural focal points so rather than distributing them willy-nilly across your property you should instead plan for each tree to be a small focal point surrounded by accessory plants that help complete the picture. It is important to remember however that larger trees will directly effect the micro climate around them; so what was one a hot and sunny location will now become a warm or cool shady location. This is important because if you have pre-existing plantings they will likely be affected by the introduction of a large tree. Rather then looking at this as a negative it should instead be seen as an opportunity to expand your current plant collection and branch out in to some new species that you previously could not have used on your property.

Lastly it should be noted that ornamental trees can make for a very splashy addition to your landscape design. Unfortunately flowering trees tend to have short flowering seasons so instead of planting an entire grove of flowering cherry trees you may wish to consider planting several different species of flowering trees so that the flowers are spread thought the growing season. With these tips in hand you are well on your way to adding some great trees to your landscape design.

About Author:
Craig Elliott is a freelance writer frequently writing about lawn care | lawn service
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

Tropical Landscape Design

2008-07-31T05:55:00.000Z

Tropical Landscape Design

Tropical Gardening

A tropical climate offers a gardener warmth and humidity although tropical conditions vary in different parts of the tropics. Areas near the equator have high rainfall and temperatures throughout most of the year. In areas a little further away there is more variation in temperature during the year with quite distinct wet and dry seasons.

Tropical areas in general receive enough rain to allow six to nine months of vigorous plant growth a year. Patches of areas further from the equator that are also free from frost will be suitable for growing tropical plants.

The effect of a tropical garden, with its large shiny leaves and vivid colours, can be achieved in many sub-tropical areas through careful selection of plants such as palms and crotons.

Some of the plants suitable for a tropical garden include crotons, bougainvillea glabra, cannas, water lilies, bananas, palms, and tree ferns. There are several varieties of palms that grow well south of the tropical zone.

Japanese Garden Design

2008-07-30T12:39:00.000Z

Japanese Garden Design

Japanese Garden Design

The house and garden are designed as one unit in Japan. When you enter the house the relationship with the garden is usually apparent immediately. The garden appears as a private world including foreground plants to establish a visual point of reference.

Distant scenery will be included in the planned effects of the garden perhaps from nearby hills or forest. Sometimes neighbours trees will be used as a background for the garden.

Their gardens usually incorporate a feature of water, sand or rocks and an enclosure of greenery that may be used to block out unsightly views. Rocks, still or flowing water, river pebbles, sand and plants are selected to show their own essential characteristics. They are combined to look like a fragment of nature…

Picket Fences

2008-07-29T06:35:00.000Z

Picket Fences

Picket Fences Give A Traditional Charm

A traditional picket fence is usually 1 metre high and painted white. You will find usually find them between the front garden and the street.

The picket fence is most suited to those who are good at maintenance as the main characteristic of picket fencing is its neat appearance. Picket fences require frequent repainting to maintain their neat appearance. Also, make sure that the picket fence is in keeping with your house design or it may look particularly odd.

The picket fence is easy to construct and there are many options in the design of the fence. Different shape pickets and/or posts can be used with the width between the boards being adjusted to suit your taste. Many of the shapes for the pickets can be bought pre-cut. A home builder can shape so

Landscaping Mature Trees

2008-07-28T10:02:00.000Z

Landscaping Mature Trees: "Landscaping Mature Trees"

Landscaping With Mature Trees: Branching Out

By David Faulkner
You love the look of that stately old trees can add to a yard, but you can’t imagine having to wait fifteen or twenty years for the trees you plant to attain a size which begins to give your yard the same look. Is there a way that you can reduce the time between planting a tree and enjoying the shade and graceful elegance it provides?

There is, and it involves landscaping with mature trees. But landscaping mature trees is not for everyone. You need to go into the process with your eyes wide open and with your brain full of information gleaned from extensive advance research. You have to be certain of two things when you begin landscaping mature trees.

Tips For Landscaping With Mature Trees

First, you must have places in your yard where the mature trees will fit; and second, you must know that when you plant the mature trees in those locations that they will flourish.

Landscaping mature trees requires your yard to have plenty of space to accommodate them. You’ll not only need a large expanse of unused ground; you’ll need a location where you can dig a hole deep enough to contain the mature tree’s root ball without crowding it. You’ll have to select a location where the tree’s height will neither interfere with existing power lines, nor threaten your home should it be uprooted in a storm.

The whole point of [http://www.onlinelandscapedesigns.com/Landscaping_Design/Landscaping_Stone.php]landscaping mature trees

is to place them where they will add visual impact to your yard, and this will take some thought. You should have a clear idea of how the trees will look before you start.

You don’t want to make the mistake of planting your mature tress, deciding you don’t like their positioning, and having to remove them and begin again. Landscaping mature trees is a labor-intensive project, so getting it right the first time can save you a great deal of grief.

If you think landscaping mature trees will give your yard the established look it is missing, consult with the experts at your local plant nursery or home improvement store about what other landscaping elements will look best with them. Mature trees, because of their size, can overwhelm landscaping features which would look fine with younger ones.

Consult With a Pro

Talking to an expert may answer your questions about successfully landscaping with mature trees; you can learn both which species of trees will thrive in your yard’s soil, drainage, and light exposure conditions, and what sort of maintenance they require.

If the expert answers you get sound like gibberish to your ears, don’t be shy about asking to have them explained in language you can understand. The last thing you want to do is begin excavating your yard without very clear ideas of what you are doing and why you are doing it!

You can also find more info on [http://www.onlinelandscapedesigns.com/Landscaping_Design/Landscaping_With_Rocks.php]Landscaping With Rocks and [http://www.onlinelandscapedesigns.com/Landscaping_Equipment/]Landscaping Equipment. Onlinelandscapedesigns.com is a comprehensive resource to get help in landscape issues.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Faulkner http://EzineArticles.com/?Landscaping-With-Mature-Trees:--Branching-Out&id=582542

Landscape Pictures

2008-07-28T06:10:00.000Z

Landscape Pictures

Pictures Of Landscaping - Using Other Peoples Ideas To Design Your Landscape

by Steve Boulden
One of the most common searches on my site is for pictures of landscaping. So I know that a lot of folks rely on photos of other peoples designs to get ideas. But at the same time, while I do have a large picture directory of other peoples projects on my site, the most common questions I receive are still related to specific shapes and design ideas.

It would seem that with as many pictures of landscaping there are to look at online, just about everyone could find a close match to their own property that could be copied. It would seem so.....if every yard was square or rectangular. However, the fact is that most yards aren’t square or rectangular. So even with the endless landscaping ideas and examples out there, it’s still highly unlikely that you’ll find an exact match to the shape of your property.

Don’t tell anyone... but even as a professional, I still use pictures of other peoples landscaping as an educational tool and to get new ideas. However, unlike most people, I don’t search for an exact idea to copy. I look for unique, creative, and new ideas and pieces of the puzzle.

Now here’s a piece of advice and the point to this entire article.

When looking at pictures of landscaping, pay attention to the details, ideas, and principles that are universal to most designs. Look for the things that are common and repeated often by different designers. These are the elements that look good because they are generally based on basic principles of art. These are the things that will probably incorporate well into your own design project regardless of shape.

Other peoples landscaping pictures are a great design tool to help you get your project done. However, instead of hopelessly searching for your exact layout, borrow several ideas from several different designs. You’ll save yourself a lot of frustration and have a much better chance of creating something unique to your own property.

Written by Steve Boulden. Steve is the creator of The Landscape Design Site which offers free landscaping ideas, pictures, and advice to do it yourselfers. Check out his free gallery of pictures of landscaping at www.the-landscape-design-site.com/gardenstyles/
Article Source: http://www.articlesphere.com

Backyard Toys

2008-07-23T23:23:00.000Z

Backyard Toys

Backyard Playground - Safety First

By Michael MC Curry
Kids love their fun and break periods. For them, playtime frequently means spending time in the local playground. With time however, things have changed drastically as parents now realize that it is possible to build a playground in their backyard.

Even though building a safe playground at the back of your house costs a lot, it doesn't necessarily mean that the playground equipments are safe for the kids. Each year, playground injuries send nearly 200,00 children to the emergency room, according to figures compiled by the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and research. In fact statistics show that over two hundred thousand accidents resulting from injuries and wounds sustained in the playgrounds are treated annually. This rounds up to over five hundred occurring on a daily basis.

Kids get hurt when they fall off slides and structures, collide with moving pieces equipment or catch their clothes on something. Research shows the most dangerous pieces of playground equipment also happen to be children's favorites, including swings, monkey bars, climbers and slides.

With all that said, what are the necessary things you need to do to ensure that you minimize the incidences of injuries sustained from using the playground equipments? Build a well-designed play area can be fun as well as safe. The Consumer Product Safety Commission and the national Program for Playground Safety have created recommendations for homeowners who want to build safe play spaces for their children.

So, how do you build a safe playground? What are the factors to be considered when building a safe playground?

1. First, ensure that the flooring on the playground makes for reducing the effects of a fall rather than worsening it. Woodchips can help cushion a fall, as can sand, rubber or pea gravel. Avoid the use of hard surfaces such as grass, sand, and asphalt. They are typically too hard and can worsen an injury.

2. Next, design a play space that can grow as your child grows. Equipment that works for a 6 to 10-year old children will be too dangerous for toddlers. Therefore, the floor should extend to over six feet beyond the play area. When working on the design, think about where you will be while your child is playing on the equipment. Make sure your design allows you to see your children no matter where they're playing.

3. If you're building a fort that's more than four feet high, it would be a good idea to not leave the guard rails open. you'll want the guardrails close together, so little heads can't get trapped between them. For kids that are of school age, make sure that the railings are above thirty eight inches.

4. Finally, landscape around your children's playground to help shield it from the street. Fences and shrubbery work well and can help keep your children safe without taking the edge off the fun.

The next time your kids come home from a friend's house and beg you for a backyard playground of their own, surprise them with an answer they're not expecting. Say yes. You'll be doing them a big favor.

For more useful articles about Home and Garden, visit http://www.theperfectbuildingguide.ca

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_MC_Curry http://EzineArticles.com/?Backyard-Playground---Safety-First&id=1213444

Landscape Designs

2008-07-23T08:46:00.000Z

Landscape Designs

Do It Yourself Landscape Design - Where Do I Start?

by Steve Boulden
There’s an old saying that states something like - “Getting Started Is Half Finished”. And so many times I find this to be true as I see do it yourself landscapers struggle to find their initial design idea. However, once they establish a framework of necessary design elements, it usually goes pretty smooth from there.

It’s not surprising that the most common landscape design question that I get is - “where do I begin?” or “how do I start my design?”. I know it can be difficult. And, especially if you don’t have a vision for your design.

So where do you begin? How do you start your landscape or garden design?

While every design is different and every designer follows a set of rules and principles, I find that most do it yourselfers all have the greatest success from using the same starting point. Begin by laying down any paths, driveways, access routes, or walk areas that might be needed. And also create access to any areas that you may plan on creating. In many designs, this will help to establish a framework that you can simply design around.

Of course, this won’t be applicable in all designs as many don’t require any access or travel. So take and use this advice where and if you can.

Paths and walkways can accomplish many functions in your landscape or garden. Their main function, of course, is to create a designated space for people to walk on.

However, in design and as an aid to design, their function could be to guide your visitors to, through, or away from some other area in the garden. Also, they're a great way to break up a vast expanse of lawn, meadow, or bed area.

First, let's look at walkways, paths, and such as necessary elements.

Walkways are needed to guide visitors or yourself to and from another area. Observe that almost every home has a walkway leading to the front door, which is, of course, where most folks want to invite guests to come. So walks, whether refined (brick, flagstone, etc.) or primitive (gravel, mulch, etc.), are necessary to "guide" or "lead" visitors to, through, or away from an area.

So where are the necessary areas where you need other walkways or access? Maybe from the back door to the alley where you dump the trash. Or from the house to the pool area. Or from the pool area to the kids play area or the outdoor cooking area. You get the picture.

In a design sense.

Establishing walk, drive, and access areas will in turn help to create borders and boundaries. Once you have your walkways laid out, you can simply design a lot of the landscaping around them. The same goes with driveways and parking areas as well. You can plant beds on either or both sides of a walk or use a walkway as an edge to create borders.

Keep it interesting if you can.

If you were to, for instance, plan to place a sitting area at the back of the garden. Of course you would need some type of path for you and your guests to get there. However, instead of plotting a straight path, why not create a winding tour through other interesting areas of the garden on the way there?

Curves and winding paths do more than just create interest. They can also create an illusion of more space, distance, and travel. This is especially useful in creating small gardens and landscapes.

Once you lay down walkways, driveways, and access areas, you'll have a good starting framework for the rest of the design. Now, simply design around them.

Written by Steve Boulden. Steve is the creator of The Landscape Design Site which offers free professional landscaping advice, ideas, tips, and designs to do it yourselfers and homeowners. For more free advice on landscaping and garden planning, visit his site at: http://www.the-landscape-design-site.com
Article Source: http://www.articlesphere.com

Landscape Design

2008-07-21T22:27:00.000Z

Landscape Design

6 Things To Consider For The Perfect Landscape Design

By J. Lloyd
If landscape design were an easy undertaking for anyone to tackle, there would be a lot of landscape designers out of work. The truth is there is a lot more to landscape design than just digging a few holes, tossing in some plants and hoping they'll grow.
When a real landscape design is desired, the prospect requires some serious planning. Many people choose to hire the pros to do the job, but others either enjoy doing it themselves or they simply cannot afford professional services.

Creating a landscape design at home is possible, but it will take a little work. There are some great things to consider when endeavoring to put together a design plan:

* Space available. It is very important to map out the exact dimensions of the garden area in question. Measure them out by hand to be certain. Either use paper or a design program to match the dimensions for creating the eventual landscape design plan.

* Lighting conditions. Choosing the right plants to go into the landscape design will hinge a whole lot on this. Some plants thrive on full sunlight, others do not. When lighting conditions are studied, it is possible to avoid some very big mistakes in choosing and buying plants. The locations of full sun, full shade and partial sun should be jotted down on the drawing or made clear in the computer program. This will help later when plant choice needs to come into play.

* Soil conditions. As it is with lighting, landscape design that will work will depend a whole lot on the type of soil present. Sandy soil, for example, is ideal for growing certain plants, but not others. Choosing plants to match the available soil can be very important for creating a design that will last, or at least has the opportunity to do so.

* Available water. While it's possible to water as much as one might like in some locations, others endure drought after drought. If water is a concern in the locale in question, it is a good idea to choose plants accordingly.

* Native plants. This can be a great consideration for landscape design, especially for those who aren't very handy with growing plants. Native plants tend to thrive where they belong, even if they have to go through a bit of neglect.

* Creating the plan. This is the most important step for landscape design prior to actually putting the plants in the ground. A plan can be drafted on paper or on a computer using design software. The drawn product should pay heed to the factors listed above. It's best to draw things as specifically as possible. For example, list out full sun plants in areas where full sun is present.

Landscape design is something that pros spend years working on, but it's possible for any homeowner with a desire to try to pull it off. If careful attention to detail is used, a solid plan can be created that should result in a fantastic garden design.

Still looking for the perfect landscape? Try visiting http://www.landscapediscussion.com, a website that specializes in providing landscape advice, tips and resources including information on landscaping design.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=J._Lloyd http://EzineArticles.com/?6-Things-To-Consider-For-The-Perfect-Landscape-Design&id=598233

Garden Decor

2008-07-20T22:48:00.000Z

Garden Decor

The Crazy Gazebo

by Sally Rogers
The gazebo is that odd-sounding piece of the landscape that just seems to make a home complete. It is that quintessential finishing touch to your landscape that means you plan on staying for awhile and want to be comfortable while doing it. The gazebo may be growing in popularity for homeowners but it remains a relatively rare building to see on people’s lawns. Part of its rarity is no doubt due to the fact that so many people are relatively unfamiliar with the gazebo and its potential role in their landscape.

Strictly speaking, a gazebo is little more than a stand alone building. Like a building, a gazebo has a roof to provide occupants shelter from the elements. A gazebo may even have electricity running out to it when people decide to add ornamental lights or perhaps a ceiling fan. However, a gazebo is a completely open structure on all sides.

The structure is free of any windows or doors. This creates a sense of openness that is a preferred feature for gazebo owners. However, in colder climates, this overwhelming sense of openness becomes too costly in the winter and the structure is generally abandoned until late Spring when the air is warm enough to enjoy without a parka.

Manufacturers are making owning a gazebo easier than ever these days. A growing number of companies are selling pre-fabricated gazebos that simply have to be delivered. These quality-made units can be dropped off and enjoyed on the same day.

If you don’t want to spend the extra money for a pre-fabricated gazebo, you can always order a kit. A typical gazebo kit will include all the lumber, hardware, and instructions necessary to construct your very own piece of paradise at your own leisure. Kits are typically much less expensive than pre-fabricated models but it takes a lot more time and effort to build the gazebo on your own than to simply have one dropped off. For the really tenacious do-it-yourself buff, there is always the custom-built gazebo option.

In all reality, a custom gazebo is the surest way to ensure that it matches with your home. Have you ever seen a gazebo that just seemed to have nothing at all to do with the home—like it was made out of natural wood and the home was a brick ranch? The gazebo is a stand alone structure but it is also found in proximity to your home and should be considered an accessory to your home—and therefore be similar in style or theme.

A custom gazebo may be your only option if you have a very unique home or rare building materials. However, the added time and expense required to build a matching custom gazebo to your home will be well worth it. The entire landscape will be unified and it will a depth to the overall architecture scheme.

Whether you choose to have a pre-built gazebo dropped off in your back yard, build with a kit or design and build your very own, the added comfort and value of a gazebo is well worth the effort and expense. Besides, it is nice to have a place outside where you can just sit back with a great book and a cup of tea and just relax—and a gazebo is just such a place!

Gazebo Info is an information site that contains links, a directory and other Gazebo Information. It can be found at: www.gazeboinfo.com

Article Source: http://www.articlesphere.com

Landscaping

2008-07-20T10:10:00.001Z

Landscaping

Landscaping Basics - Principles Of Landscape Design

by Steve Boulden
Garden design and the principle of simplicity. While it's rarely mentioned or practiced, simplicity is one of the basic principles of landscaping. It is by far one of the most important principles and guidelines to follow. Keep it simple and your design will be easier to create, much more appealing, and much more professional looking.

Creating simplicity doesn't have to mean that your landscape design should be absolutely empty or simplistic so to speak. It basically means to stick with the other related principles like unity and repetition.

A frequent blunder that first time do it yourselfers do is in placing too many varied objects and elements in their design. This can bring about a very unprofessional cluttered look to the completed design plan. Keeping your ideas simple in the beginning will make the design process much easier. You can change things later if you want to.

The best illustration That I can think of is in choosing plants and color variations. Choosing plants is commonly a major problem for most do it yourselfers. Most folks simply don't have an understanding of the countless varieties of plants. And regardless of that, most do it yourselfers bring home many different varieties of mismatched plants to place in their landscaping. And this one small thing can make the whole landscape unbalanced.

So how can we keep garden design simple?
While the majority of people don't have a large knowledge of plants, most people are somewhat familiar with at least a variety or two. Don't worry about what you don't know yet. That's where a lot of people go wrong with design. Create some visual effect from a simple selection of two or three choice varieties that you're familiar with. Repeat them through the landscape and you'll get much more appeal than you will from a variation of unrelated plants.

In simpler terms, pick a few good types of plants and repeat them throughout the landscape or garden. Repetition is a balancing principle of art and landscape design.

Keep in mind that I'm only using plants as an example here. This basic principle should be applied to all of the many different elements and design factors of your landscaping. Not just plants.

Here's a pretty easy design "trick" to try using plantings:
If you want to create some visual impact in your garden, build a few flower beds or borders using a variety of shades of the same color. Do this using different species of plants and you'll also create a contrast of texture. And the same as other elements, contrast and variation of texture are also principles of design and art.

Keep your design simple to start with. It will be easier to design and you can always add more later if you want to. Every good garden or landscape design project ought to involve the principle of simplicity.

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

Landscaping

2008-05-15T12:03:00.000Z

Landscaping

Landscaping Stone

By Kevin Hendrix
If you have interest in using landscaping stone in your yard,
garden, koi pond or walkway, don’t limit yourself to the
traditional. Consider finding or shopping for unique stones to
add flair or accent to your plans. Landscaping stone can be
versatile, used for simple decoration or as a foundation for
much more.

Some of the uses for landscaping stone include flooring, such
as for a patio, foundations for outbuildings, such as a gazebo,
or even outbuildings completely made of stone. Fireplaces look
great in stone (just watch out for river rock; pockets of steam
could heat up and explode in a fire pit or fireplace) as do
bases for planters. Entire columns could be made of stone,
either as end caps for a stone wall or to support lamps or
planters.

Whatever you eventual use of landscaping stone, seek out the
unusual. Below are just two examples of what you might find.

Geodes

Geodes, on the surface, seem like unremarkable, round, fist
sized lumps of white or tan rock. They could serve well in a
planter or flowerbed for a little hardscaping, but the real gem
about these rocks lays inside. Some geodes are lined inside with
layered siliceous material of various color or even clear quartz
crystals; the effect is a wavy, smooth, crystalline surface. You
may not have a diamond-saw handy to slice one open, but you
should be able to find nice specimens in a rock shop. They make
great bookends for indoors, and can frame a showcase plant in
your garden.

Thunder Eggs

It is almost worth using Thunder Eggs as a landscaping stone
just for the great conversation possibilities. If the name was
not unusual enough, it is also the State Rock of Oregon
(although it is more a stone than a rock, but I suppose State
Stone is asking too much.) Thunder Eggs are very much akin to
geodes, as they are a shell filled with agate. They are
different from geodes in that they have a solid center, often
displaying a great contrast between the rocky shell of brown and
the milky white and clear crystal center. Even solid, undivided
Thunder Eggs are interesting to look at, with bubbly protrusions
that do give the appearance of some strange egg.

Check with rock shops that cater to rock hounds for some unique
finds. While the expensive might prohibit you from paving your
patio with Thunder Eggs, a combination of a few unique specimens
with more traditional landscaping stone would work well with
almost any plan.

About the Author: Kevin Hendrix makes it simple to learn how to
landscape your property. To learn more visit
http://www.landscaping-solutions.com
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=17109&ca=Gardening

Palm Trees

2008-05-05T00:51:00.000Z

Palm Trees

The Many Types of Palm Trees

By David Chandler
There are thousands of species of Palm Trees. They are considered to be tropical in nature, but most people are not aware that cold hardy palms may be planted outside without any visible damage from temperatures as cold as -20°F. You can see this as far north as Canada and Switzerland

Palm trees, like banana trees, give your home and garden that tropical look, usually found around pools and family recreational areas. Once established, Palm Trees are relatively maintenance free and are not significantly bothered by insects and disease.

There are two basic types of Palm trees and we will tell you about the Northern and Southern Palms.

Cold Palms (Northern Palms)

Afghanistan palm - Pakistan Palm and Mazari Palm - This palm may be the coldest hardy in the world, according to authoritative doctors on the subject of Palms. Their fruit is also edible and very popular to eat in that impoverished nation. The tree grows very slowly and thrives in desert conditions.

Dwarf Palmetto or Sabal minor - Blue Palmetto is widely distributed throughout the Southeastern United States and grows about 6ft. tall in shaded locations. This Palm is very difficult to transplant from the wild.

Needle Palm - Rhapidophyllum hystrix is a needle palm, which are the most frost hardy palms on earth surviving -20°F weather with little damage.

Saw Palmetto or Serenoa Repens - Sassafras Palm has been found growing wild as far north as Virginia, Washington D.C., and New Jersey, and is cold hardy to -10° F.

Windmill Palm or Trachycarpus fortunel has been known to be cold hardy for many years and have been growing in Switzerland for 100 years along Lake Lucerne.

Adapted palms (Southern palms)
Cabbage Palm or Sabal Palmetto - Sabal Palm and Palmetto Palm is the state tree of South Carolina and Florida. It is popular as a landscape tree in southern states with excellent cold-hardiness and transplanting success. Sabal palms are salt water tolerant.

Canary Island Date Palm - Phoenix canariensis or Majestic Palm. Is the most desirable palm to give a tropical look to the landscape. The trees grow about 50ft tall with leaves up to 20ft long.

Chinese Fan Palm is a slow growing palm; forms very large leaves, which will give a full-grown, tree a look of weeping. This palm can withstand below freezing weather, and can grow inside patios. You can find this palm tree along highways. This type of palm tree can grow up to 25ft tall.

Date Palm is the true date palm of North Africa. It has been planted widely in Arizona and California for production of dates. Date palms work well in mall landscaping.

Gum Palm is cold hardy to light freezes, but will freeze in weather below 20°F. The long leaves look like fern fronds, but the leaflets are bright shiny green in colour and stiff and sharply toothed.

European Fan Palm or European Palm. Has a large crown of blue-green fanlike leaves. This palm is considered to be one of the coldest hardy and grows outside. The plant can be relocated and will survive easy with little transplant shock when moved, even in during the summer months.

Pygmy Date Palm is a good container plant when potted indoors. Fine-leafed, small scale, single-trunked palm; grows slowly up to about 5ft.

Washingtonian Palm or Mexican Fan Palm has a tall slender trunk, has a crown of large fan-shaped evergreen fronds, and can provide a very tropical appearance to the landscape.

Sago Palm is a feather leaf palm that is found along the Atlantic coast beach and is 300 years old and 12 feet tall with dignified umbrella crowns.

Phoenix Sylvester Palm or Toddy Palm is very similar to the Canary Island Palm and the edible date palm.

Zamia pumila or Coontie Palm is known as the prehistoric plant, which dominated the earth 200 million years ago and grows 3ft tall on separate male and female plants.

For more information, visit one of these sites: http://www.PalmsInof.com or http://www.PalmTreesInfo.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Chandler http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Many-Types-of--Palm-Trees&id=58386

Rose Flower

2008-05-02T04:00:00.000Z

Rose Flower

Landscaping With Roses

By Alex Fir
Roses have many uses in the home garden, both as standalone
bushes and climbers and as part of an overall landscape of
plants and flowers. The newest thinking in landscape gardening
is to combine roses with other types of native plants and
flowers, and roses certainly lend themselves to a striking place
in the garden.

Roses are also wonderful when used to enhance and highlight
areas of the home or surrounding landscape. For example,
climbing roses can be trained to grow up and over a trellis or
to highlight and enhance a bare wall or garden shed. In
addition, a spray of yellow roses growing against a brick or
stone home can be a beautiful addition to the landscape.

Landscaping with roses is one of the best ways to add beauty to
the home, and even to enhance its value. Before you can
landscape effectively with roses, however, it is important to
determine just where roses will fit in your landscape, and how
best to use them. Landscaping with roses is not difficult, but
it is important to plan properly before the first rosebush goes
into the ground.

Planning for next spring’s garden should begin the winter
before the garden is to be planted. Planning early allows you to
determine the best location for the roses in the garden, and to
research the varieties that are most likely to thrive in your
climate.

It is also important to ask yourself what you want to get out
of your roses. Roses can be used for many different reasons,
from providing an attractive ground cover to providing a
dramatic backdrop for a beautiful home.

Planning is also important in order to prevent rose specific
problems. There are, for instance, a number of pests and
diseases that are specific to roses, and it is important to take
steps to prevent those problems before planting your roses. It
is also important to ask yourself how much time you have to
devote to growing roses, since some varieties are harder to grow
than others. If your time is limited, it may be best to stick to
hardier, easier to grow varieties.

It is also important to choose roses in colors that will best
highlight your home and exterior landscape. For instance, a
spray of white roses can be quite striking against a dark
colored home, just as red roses can beautifully compliment a
white exterior.

It is also important to examine your landscape and determine
which roses will work best where. For example, hybrid musk roses
grow well even in less than full sun, so they are often used in
shady areas. It is important to note, however, that hybrid musk
roses do not do as well in colder climates. It is important to
take your own climate into account, as well as sun and shade
considerations, when planning your rose landscape.

About the Author: Visit Gardening Information website and learn
gardening tips. You will also discover which gardening tools
match the tasks in your garden.
http://www.gardening-information.info/blog/

Source: http://www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=25396&ca=Gardening

Herb Garden

2008-04-30T10:11:00.000Z

Herb Garden

A Herb Garden Landscape Design Should Be Chosen For A Specific
Purpose

By Ann Marier
People have used herbs for thousands of years in their everyday
lives from medicine to seasoning people have used herbs. Today
people sometimes take inspiration from older herb garden
landscape designs to create something new from a classic idea.

Choosing herb for herb garden landscaping design is very
personal; one needs to plan the desired focus of the garden.
This is a very basic gardening theory but a good one; think of a
single intent for the garden and build from that.

The Chef

A culinary herb garden landscape design can combine the beauty
of the outdoors with their passion for cooking. Common herbs
like sage, parsley, garlic, rosemary, oregano, chives, and mint
have many lovely qualities that can be enjoyed outside of
cooking.

Sage is very aromatic; parsley is beautiful, garlic flowers and
grows easily in most areas. Rosemary is also very aromatic,
oregano is another herb that makes a nice bushy ground covering
and chives will flower as well.

The Aroma-therapist

Herb garden landscaping designs are ideally suited for
aromatherapy. People may enjoy the tranquil effects of herbs and
combinations of herbs simply by sitting in a comfortable chair,
hammock, or swing in their herb garden.

Aroma-therapists can plant complimentary herbs together to form
the best combinations for mood enhancement. One form of herb
garden landscaping design is to plant herbs in beds according to
a need or aesthetic appeal. This type of container gardening is
also ideally suited for aromatherapy.

Lavender for example is a very common aromatherapy herb; it can
be planted alone for some purposes and can be planted with other
herbs in a container to achieve a specific blend of herbs.

Medicinal Herbs

For thousands of years people have used herbs for medicinal
purposes, once people started cultivating the most useful herbs,
herb garden landscaping design was born. People would often have
two separate herb collections, one which was grown towards the
back of their property for herbs that would be dried and stored.
A second herb garden was often grown closer to a person’s home
to be used as needed.
Pure Enjoyment

Many herb garden landscaping designs are inspired by people’s
pure enjoyment of the herb they grow. Herbs can make a fragrant
border to a lawn and a beautiful ground covering for gardens.
Combining vegetables, flowers, and herbs in one garden bed can
make a very beautiful and interesting garden area.

One way to accomplish this type of herb garden landscaping
design is to grow things together which are used together. Bell
peppers, tomatoes, and basil all like the full sun and plenty of
water, the three plants will grow well together. Mint, lemon
balm, and impatients can all be grown together in the shade for
a beautiful accent under a porch or flowering shrub.

About the Author: Ann Marier writes informative articles about
the house and garden issues. Her lastest are about garden
design. Click on http://www.gardendesign.4houseandgarden.com to
read about her garden design ideas Click on
http://www.gardendesign.4houseandgarden.com to see the other
house and garden topics

Source: http://www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=149694&ca=Gardening

Bonsai Trees

2008-04-25T20:01:00.000Z

Bonsai Trees

The Japanese Maple Bonsai Tree Is Great For Beginners

By Thomas T
If you have always found the Bonsai Tree to be a fascinating plant but have thought that you just don't have the skills necessary to grow one yourself, you may want to consider the Japanese Maple Bonsai. These are not only beautiful trees, but perfect for beginners as they are easily grown and cared for.

The Japanese Maple Bonsai Tree comes in several different varieties, and all of these different trees offer some great color during the spring and fall. Just like outdoor maples, the Japanese Maple Bonsai tree will have leaves that change color in the fall. The tree will also lose its leaves and become dormant during the winter months.

These trees are not only easy to care for but very colorful. The Japanese Red Maple Bonsai has red leaves all summer that become brighter in the fall. The trunk and branches can also become different shades of green and red.

Another popular species of the Japanese Maple Bonsai is the Bloodgood Japanese Maple. This beautifully shaped tree has leaves that are reddish purple during the warm months and become a bright crimson color in the fall.

For a Japanese Maple Bonsai that you can keep outdoors on the patio, the Crimson Queen Maple is a good choice. This tree is actually a dwarf and grows to be about ten feet. When pruned properly, this type of maple also can make a good indoor Japanese Maple Bonsai Tree. Its leaves are long and have a feathery appearance that transforms from dark red in the summer, to a deep red in the fall. It has a charming, sweeping shape.

Though the Japanese Maple Bonsai is the most popular of the Maple Bonsai Trees, there are other Maple species that work beautifully as Bonsai Plants. This includes the Sugar and Norway Maple Trees. Another option is the Red Sunset Maple. This tree offers a good red fall color as well as a nice balance of proportion.

All different types of Bonsai Trees are available from specialty nurseries; or you can try growing one yourself from seed. It is advised that you find out all you can about growing and caring for the Bonsai Tree before you start. This will help avoid unnecessary frustration.

If you want to try growing a Bonsai Tree for yourself, take a closer look at many of the Maple species, especially the Japanese Maple Bonsai. You just may find that it is much easier than you would have believed.

Thomas T is the owner of http://www.Indoor-Bonsai-Tree.com
Lots of free info about target=_new [http://www.indoor-bonsai-tree.com/japanese-maple-bonsai.asp title=Japanese Maple Bonsai]Japanese Maple Bonsai, and more about target=_new [http://www.indoor-bonsai-tree.com title=Indoor Bonsai Tree]Indoor Bonsai Tree.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Thomas_T http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Japanese-Maple-Bonsai-Tree-Is-Great-For-Beginners&id=1040863

Garden

2008-04-20T07:06:00.000Z

Garden

What Vegetable Garden Is Right for You?

By Mary Amos
Two Types of Vegetable Gardens

For those of us who love to nurture and consume vegetables, home gardening is a great activity to take part in. Once you have decided to have your own vegetable garden, the next step is to decide what type you want. There are two types of gardens: land gardens and container gardens. When one plants vegetables in the ground, it is called land gardening. When one plants vegetables in pots, it is called container gardening. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Find out which is right for you through this simple guide to land and container vegetable gardening.

Land Vegetable Gardening

To plant a vegetable garden on solid ground, you must carefully determine the size, location, and soil of your garden.

When you're planning a garden, it's important to decide the size of garden you want. In order to easily maintain a garden, you should start out small with a small garden and gradually expand if you later on desire to. I recommend starting out with a garden of 25 square feet or smaller. As you get the hang of gardening, you can expand your garden to be as big as you wish.

Before beginning a vegetable garden on solid ground, consider the location of your garden. Plants need about six hours of sunlight in order to fulfill their potential. Therefore, it is inadvisable to place your garden where there is a lot of shade. You should also make sure that you can locate your garden in a place with sufficient drainage. To protect your vegetables from drowning, make sure you can position your garden away from the bottoms of hills and other places where water is likely to collect.

Before planting in the ground, you should make sure that the soil is compatible for gardening. Soil that's slightly loose and simple to till is best. Stay away from hard, difficult-packed soil. If your yard has mediocre soil, mulch or compost will be a big help for your garden. In fact, composting won't only greatly help your garden, it will also decrease the amount of your trash.

If you have the desired size, location, and soil for a land garden, you will enhance your chances for success in gardening on solid ground for beginners.

Container Gardening

If, on the other hand, you have little space, little sunshine, infertile soil, or impaired mobility, you may want to grow vegetables in containers. Container gardening allows you to position the plants in places where they can receive the best growing conditions in your area. Container gardening also creates better pest management and a chance to have color in areas where you want color. The downside of container gardening is that containers demand daily watering, which you must do by hand.

Some plants are especially fit for container-gardening. Vegetables that grow appropriately in containers are those that are used to growing in confined spaces, such as salad greens, spinach, eggplant, Swiss chard, beets, radish, carrots, peppers, bush beans, tomatoes, bush varieties of summer squash and cucumbers, green onions, and many herbs. Other plants will also grow well in pots, even if they are not meant for container gardening.

Regardless of the type or size of container used, adequate drainage is a necessity for successful plants. It is wise to add about 1 inch of coarse gravel in the bottom of the container to control drainage. For most vegetable crops, 5-gallon containers are the most appropriate size.

Some Last Notes

Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to have a garden without pests, and land gardens attract the most bugs. Unless you want to use chemicals, you will have to kill any pests on the plants yourself and with the help of pest-eating bugs. You can buy these pest-eating bugs, such as ladybugs or praying mantis, from garden stores to get rid of pests. For larger bugs like grasshoppers and such, you will have to pick them off by hand.

Another issue you may have while vegetable gardening is to make sure the weeds do not take over your garden, especially if you have a land garden. If you don't go out daily to pick the weeds, the weeds will choke out the plants and take over. Watering your garden is important not only to keep your plants alive and healthy, but also to repel some of the bugs that might otherwise eat your plants.

Your Final Decision

This is a rewarding experience, because you end up with a delicious plant harvest. The question is whether you should start a land garden or container garden. This question is usually answered by one's own resources. If you have an area outdoors that is sunny for at least six hours a day and yields good soil, opt for the land garden. If you live in a city, let's say, and do not have a parcel of land to garden on, then create a container garden. Either way, don't miss out on the cherishing moments of farming in and eating from a vegetable garden. If you loved the ripe vegetables that grandma used to grow, you should relive those precious memories by starting your own land or container vegetable garden.

Mary Amos loves to garden and is blessed with green fingers. Take a look at [http://www.gardenswebsite.com]Vegetable Garden | Organic Vegetables to make the most of your garden. Also visit [http://www.homediyweb.com]Home Improvement | Home DIY for other home improvement ideas.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_Amos http://EzineArticles.com/?What-Vegetable-Garden-Is-Right-for-You?&id=956087

Landscape Architecture

2008-04-13T10:17:00.000Z

Landscape Architecture

Landscape Architecture And Garden Design - Melbourne Australia

By Susan Czermak
In Australia it has not traditionally been important for the
house holder to employ a landscape designer or landscape
architect often feeling that this is within their own expertise.
However in recent years, people have come to realise that they
do not have either the skill or design ability to create a fully
sustainable and coherent garden design to suit their lifestyle
and choose plants suitable for the size and climatic conditions
of their area.

Botanical Traditions - Landcape Architecture (Melbourne,
Australia)
At Botanical Traditions we strive to capture the imagination
with landscape design that enhances the constructed environment.
The goal of all our garden design is to maximise the quality of
indoor and outdoor living while at the same time providing cost
effective sustainable returns for our clients.

Professional Landscape and Horticultural Design
Our landscape design team consists of designers,
horticulturists and strategic thinkers committed to mixing art
with design and technology. We pride ourselves on having a
strong partnership with our clients and other related
professionals, such as landscapers and paving firms, to create
beautiful, functional landscape and horticultural designs that
really are an asset to their surroundings and the garden and
lifestyle of their owners.

The Roman Landscape [750 BMA - 400MA]
The Romans carried out landscape design on a scale not seen
again until recently. They left a strong imprint on the land.
The Romans designed large urban open spaces with perforated
edges. These public open spaces were designed to keep the masses
entertained – a point highlighted in the movie Gladiator. They
combined garden and lifestyle ideas from the Greeks, Etruscans,
Persians and Egyptians. In comparison to their public
environments their residential site developments were typically
inward looking.

The Greek Landscape [3000BMA - 31BMA]
Stretching over many centuries the Greek design style still has
an impact on garden design today. Buildings were generally
simple and symmetrical but many exhibited optical corrections.
They also created optimum viewing points and used the
proportions of the ‘Golden Section’. Typically a house was built
around 1 or 2 garden rooms called a ‘peristyle’.

The Gardens of Islam [600BMA - 1700]
The Koran states that individuals should try to create paradise
on earth and it defines paradise as a garden with shade and
water. All Islamic gardens are enclosed and provide privacy. The
gardens are typically square in plan and are entered through an
impressive gate. There is usually a main axis which is often a
body of water which can be crossed by other axis. The gardens
never have any depiction of the human form but will use
elaborate patterns instead.

The Gardens of China [1700BMA - today]
Chinese gardens typically have a strong natural character in
many cases influenced by the natural countryside, painters and
poets, mythology, philosophy and social background of the time.
Chinese landscape design represents the longest period of
continuous development of any garden style.

The Landscape of Japan [650 - 1870]
Japanese gardens are designed for repose. They do not try to
copy nature but to idealise and abstract it. Typically they have
no geometric order. They is carefull attention given to the
transition between the inside and outside areas.

The Landscape of Renaissanc Italy [1400 - 1700]
During this period of time there were two distinct periods –
the Mannerist and the Baroque. In Mannerist designs the aim was
not to create harmony but to use tricks to create astonishing
affects. Baroque design originated in Rome and was chiefly
interested in creating spectacular displays.

The Renaissance Landscape of France
Many medieval built forms such as moats, corner towers and
steep roofs were retained in France long after they had been
abandoned in other countries. There were three distinct periods
during the French Renaissance. In the early 16th century there
was a strong Italian influence, followed by a brief period of
transition and experimentation which resulted in a distinctive
Baroque French Grand Style.

The Landscape of England
The English landscape has been influenced by the many different
groups of people that have inhabited the land. Medieval
developments in England were typically centred around the
residential environment. During the 17th century ideas from
Italy and France were incorporated into the English landscape on
a small scale. It was not until the early 18th century and the
emergence of the English Landscape School that landscape design
was applied on a large scale. It was also at this time that the
artistic ideas of unity, harmony, contrast, balance and focus
began to be explored in landscape design.

The 19th Century English Garden
This period was one of rapid social change with the industrial
revolution. The urban areas expanded and the provision of public
recreational spaces became important. Botanical Gardens were
established in most major towns and many royal estates were
opened to the public. In the 1830’s gardening magazines emerged
as did a wider selection of plants. There were many notable
designers from this period and they include Joseph Paxton,
William Robinson and Gertrude Jekyll. Some designers through
this period searched for a local style which used indigenous
plants to create a national character rather than relying on the
many new introduced plants at the time.

The American Colonial Landscape
The English, French, Dutch and Spanish all had an influence on
early American landscape design. There were three distinct
phases in colonial site developments. The early colonial period
was characterised by a strongly utilitarian style. This was
followed by the Jefferson period which was characterised by
eclecticism and palladianism such as Monticello. The last period
lasted from 1800 – 1860 and was characterised by eclecticism and
neo-classicism. Public open space was provided in towns.

The 19th Century American Landscape
This was a period of great change and expansion in the United
States. There was a period of great social change and after the
civil war there was a greater focus on providing public parks in
cities. Two major designers at the time were Andrew Jackson
Downing and Frederick Law Olmstead. There was a strong belief
that the environment could influence human behaviour and the
first state parks were formed during this period.

The 20th Century American Landscape
After WWII there was a change in the type of landscape projects
that occurred. There was a large increase in the numbers of
houses, schools and universities as well as the large scale
adoption of the car. This meant that an increasing amount of
work was carried out in the outer suburbs. This also coincided
with the establishment of large scale firms with international
offices and a turn away from the traditional approach of an
individual offering a personal service to clients.

The Landscape Design Revolution
It was not until the 1930’s that there was a significant change
in the design philosophies of the previous 100 years. This was
the beginning of modernism. Modernism in landscape design was
influenced by Modern Art (Cubist Garden, Hyeres, Gabrial
Guevrekian), Science and the relationship between natural
systems and human needs, Asian design and the technology and
teaching of the Bauhaus. Fletcher Steele and Thomas Chruch
followed by Garrett Eckbo, James rose and Dan Kiley practiced
during this period.

About the Author: http://www.botanicaltraditions.com.au
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=129948&ca=Gardening

Landscaping Ideas

2008-04-09T00:05:00.000Z

Landscaping Ideas

Contemporary Rugs

By Lanny Hintz
Rugs help to change the look of your room and also provide
comfort to your feet. These days rugs are available at prices
affordable to all the people. When you purchase them, a few tips
are given regarding the practical considerations about how to
use rugs to your advantage. These rugs provide a good value for
your money. Using contemporary rugs in your rooms can change the
entire look and feel of the room.

The application of contemporary rugs is that they can either be
used to separate various living areas of the room or to unify
the entire room. After choosing the size and the number of rugs,
their color should be chosen the suit the surroundings of the
room. They must also be able to withstand the traffic in that
particular area of the room. The advantages of contemporary rugs
are:

a. These can be hung on the walls and also moved to the floor
later as desired.
b. These are easily portable and can be moved from one room to
another.
c. Rugs help to protect your carpets that are placed in high
traffic areas.
d. They help in sound proofing.
e. They help to add multi-colored look to your dull rooms.
f. They are available for modern as well as traditional styled
homes.
g. They lessen the need for other decorative elements in the
room.
h. These are available at highly affordable prices.

The color or size of the rugs must be chosen depending on the
requirements. Rugs can be chosen as the focal point for the room
or to separate various areas of a bigger room. The color of the
rug should be finalized after considering the colors of walls,
curtains, and furniture in the room. A contemporary rug can also
be used to preserve a hard-wood floor or carpet in an area with
high-traffic. These days many discount outlets are offering
contemporary rugs for less prices.

The contemporary rugs come in models of flowers, stripes, bold
and bright colors. They have the capacity to make your small
rooms look big and also your big rooms look small. They can be
made either of olefin, polypropylene, wool or cotton.
Contemporary rugs with cartoon designs can be used to brighten
up your children’s rooms. However, buying rugs with cartoon
designs is always a risk because the children’s minds change
very quickly. If after a while they do not like the design or
cartoon on the rug, then they will even hate the idea of having
the rug in their room.

The quality of the contemporary rug depends on the material
from which it is made. Though wool is expensive, it is highly
durable, soft and easy to clean. Synthetic fiber rugs are
cheaper, stain-resistant, water-repellant and easier to clean.
One idea would be to select the design or texture of the rug
such that it joins together with the surrounding items or
furniture. Whatever be the material, the contemporary rugs help
to add charm to your room and also provide comfort to your feet.

About the Author: Lanny Hintz writes about
http://www.buyarearugonline.com/Coupons/RugClick.html,http://www.buyarearugonline.com/Coupons/Rugman.html
and http://www.buyarearugonline.com/Coupons/Rugs%20Express.html

Source: http://www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=108877&ca=Internet

Landscape Design Software

2008-04-06T13:04:00.000Z

Landscape Design Software

Gardening And Landscaping: The Benefits Of Landscape Design
Software

By Jena Luthovski
Many a person who is interested in crafting and creating a
lovely lawn and garden spends a great deal of time scratching
his or her head trying to figure out exactly how to get started
on the landscaping process. Perhaps you find yourself in such a
position at this point in time. Perhaps you have decided that
you want to better and beautify your yard but you do not exactly
know how to get started.

In this regard, if you are like most people you do not have
unlimited funds to invest into gardening and landscaping.
Consequently, you may not feel as if you are in a position to
hire a professional landscape consultant or garden expert. In
short, you may feel rather adrift on a what might be coined a
sea of bare dirt.

One tried and true solution that you might want to seriously
consider when it comes to gardening and landscaping is the
utilization of landscape design software. Indeed, in the 21st
century, an ever growing number of men and women who are
interested in creating lovely garden spots are relying on
landscape design software programs to further their efforts.

Many a gardener wrongly assumes that typical landscape design
software programs are out of their reach for two reasons. These
people assume that these software programs will be too
expensive. Additionally, these people conclude that a landscape
design software program will be complicated and difficult to
utilize.

Of course, there are a number of high end landscape design
software programs that are designed for garden and landscape
professionals. It is true that these types of programs can
require a significant financial investment and it is likewise
accurate to note that some of these programs can be quite
complicated in their operation. However, in recent years, a new
generation of landscape design software has been created with
the typical consumer in mind.

As a result, there are now a number of different, reliable
landscape software programs on the market today that are both
economical and easy to use. These programs allow a person with
only rudimentary computer skills to be able to design truly
attractive and appealing landscaping schemes.

There are a number of different outlets through which a
consumer can purchase user-friendly, economical landscape design
software programs. Of course, the Internet is a natural resource
for such software (as it has become for so many items and
services in the 21st century). Additionally, an ever increasing
number of garden supply shops and stores in the brick and mortar
world have taken to adding tried and tested landscape design
software to their stocks and inventories. Indeed, many of these
merchants offer classes and training in the use of landscape
design software for their customers and patrons.

About the Author: Jena Luthovski writes about
http://www.simplybestcoupons.com/Coupons/WaySideGardens.com/ and
http://www.simplybestcoupons.com/Coupons/ParkSeed.com/
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=60723&ca=Gardening

Garden Design

2008-04-01T09:08:00.000Z

Garden Design

Creating A Landscape Garden Design

By Ann Marier
Many people enjoy gardening and caring for their lawns as a
hobby, making a beautiful outdoor space with one’s own thoughts,
ideas, and work is very rewarding. Making a beautiful landscape
garden design can be difficult for new gardeners or for some
experienced gardeners as well.

Making a landscape garden design implies grafting a plant for
each walkway, garden bed, tree, rock, and blade of grass to
create the perfect outdoor space. This can seem like an
overwhelming or daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. There
are very basic forms that can be followed to make the space seem
just right without taking so much work that it isn’t fun
anymore.

Themed Gardens

Most landscape garden designs are based on a theme of some
sort; it could be birds, relaxation, fragrance, a favorite plant
or flower, a favorite color, or just about anything else. The
point of a theme is to create a pattern and point of interest
with in the landscape garden design to hold the viewer’s
attention.

This can be accomplished subtlety or with obvious focal point.
The key is pattern and repetition. The human eye likes to see
pattern and repeating patterns; this can be accomplished in
landscape garden design with color, size, species, or with an
external commonality such as an animal the plants will attract.

Color is an important tool for landscape garden design, using
bright cheery colors can create an entirely different feel than
more subdued cool colors or neutral colors. Using bright colors
in combination with cools or neutrals can enhance an overall
theme.

If the subject of the landscape garden design were to attract
butterflies, the garden beds could reflect this by creating
floral wings on each side of the garden path, filled with
flowers and plants butterflies need to grow and breed. To
enhance the butterfly feel even further the colors used in the
floral wings could reflect the butterflies the garden is meant
to attract in color as well as shape.

Most landscape garden designs allow for paths and section
planting areas into beds or by other likenesses. To create a
unique garden space one can create lines with plant height,
plant color, plant type, and the garden paths to create an over
all affect that is pleasing to the gardener and their guests.

Using the butterfly garden example, choosing the plants a
particular species of butterfly prefers and working around those
colors, pairing it with like colors or plant heights can create
dimension or a pattern within a pattern, which will give the
garden a unique effect.

About the Author: Ann Marier writes informative articles about
the house and garden issues. Her lastest are about garden
design. Click on http://www.gardendesign.4houseandgarden.com to
read about her garden design ideas. Click on
http://www.gardendesign.4houseandgarden.com to see the other
house and garden topics.

Source: http://www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=150571&ca=Gardening

Landscape Lighting

2008-03-31T11:06:00.000Z

Landscape Lighting

The Use Of Lighting In Landscape Design

By Mr.Andrew Caxton
Lighting is a great tool for the garden designer. Whether used
to draw the eye to a focal point or as a feature themselves,
lights are a great landscaping tool.

Using Lights Garden Design
You can bring your new garden design scheme to life by adding
light. Landscape lighting can be stunning in itself but in
addition to being stylish it can make your property more secure.
You can install lighting in just about any garden setting, front
of back, and most people should be able to do carry out the
installation themselves.

Feel Safer
Lighting is a very useful way to add a sense of security to
your home and garden. One of the non-negligible benefits of
having lights is that you can easily draw attention to any
hazards like steps or irregular terrain.

Make a Feature Of Your Design
Lighting is a great way to accent the garden features that you
have planned around your landscape project. It is a cheap way to
increase the character and atmosphere of your design, and is
useful to accent specific areas.

Various Kinds of Lighting

You will typically find two types of lighting suitable for
landscape use. The first option is traditional mains powered
lights that connect to your house’s electrical supply. This
option can be quite practical for the larger projects but you
will need to bury any wiring. The installation would be best
left to someone familiar with the process.

The second option is to use lighting fixtures powered by solar
energy. They work by absorbing the sunlight via a special cell,
and storing it as energy in a battery. Solar lighting is good
value for money and can be put in place very quickly indeed, in
a few easy steps that require no prior electrical knowledge. The
drawback, however, is that their effectiveness depends on the
sun exposure they receive.

Using Lighting To Decorate
You can easily increase the charm factor of footpaths and
features by lining them up with lights. Going with the
mains-powered lights will also give you the option to swap the
white light bulbs for colored ones, which can add a great twist
to your holidays decoration scheme.

Entertaining
It’s actually quite essential to plan the right lighting in
your landscape project in order to make the most of your
entertaining areas. It gives you the option to hold evening
parties where your guests can enjoy the sights of your newly
made-over garden.

Using lights as part of your landscape project is an easy way
to make the most of your new design and accentuate its features.
Lights will also give you and your guests a chance to enjoy the
garden at all hours.

About the Author: Andrew Caxton is a consultant who writes on
many consumer topics for
http://www.lawn-mowers-and-garden-tractors.com . For additional
information on outdoor lights have a look at his web
http://www.lawn-mowers-and-garden-tractors.com/1906outdoor-landscape-lighting.html
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link:
http://www.isnare.com/?aid=144568&ca=Home+Management

Landscape Ideas

2008-03-26T11:34:00.000Z

Landscape Ideas

How To Save Money On Your Landscaping Project

by Cindy Heller
The planning stage of creating a landscape requires you to carefully think about what you would like to do, figuring out the budget for your landscaping. If you do not carefully plan your landscape, the process can become very costly and you might end up with something you do not want. When you think carefully about what you are doing and create a plan, you’re much more likely to experience a successful landscape design for your home.

The first thing you should know is your landscape budget. Do you have enough money to execute your entire design straight away? You need to decide how much money you have on hand for each stage of your design, and what you’ll do if you cross the line under finances. The main thing is you need to set a target amount for your landscape project and then stay within the budget.

As a rule of thumb, the cost of landscaping is roughly about 5-10 percent of the value of your home. This cost estimation includes decks, patios, irrigation, fencing, ponds, and other elements you want to incorporate into your backyard. It is not necessary to finish everything at the same time. It’s much more practical to progressively make improvements over the years with ready money than getting yourself into heavy debt because of landscaping.

Before when you do your budgeting for your landscaping project. There are many hidden costs in nearly any landscaping project. It is imperative to be alert to some of the costs that you might not usually think of before you begin a project. Or else, you will find that the projects true cost is much more than what you have budgeted for. Worse still, you may realize that you are unable to afford the monthly expenses that is needed to sustain the operation of your landscaping design.

To give you some quick guide, here are some areas where you can possibly under estimate the costs:

The first hidden cost is having landscaping features that require lighting. Most people only consider the cost of buying those landscaping features without considering the cost of operation. You can minimize your electrical bill by buying energy saving lighting. Another way to reduce your electrical cost is to reserve the use of your outdoor lighting for times when you are entertaining people outdoor, or when you are sitting in your yard at night.

Another hidden cost is the cost of water consumption. Water consumption for some landscaping feature can cost a bomb to your monthly electrical bill. Some examples of landscaping design that need substantial water consumption include the water sprinkler system for your lawn, a small pond and your water fountain. It is a good idea to bear in mind the amount of additional water you will be using to. This can add up to be quite a bit of extra water, and if you city charges more money once your usage reaches a certain point, it can be even more costly. Some people spend a fortune making expensive water features, only to realize that they are unable to afford the daily operation. What a waste.

Last but not least is the cost of soil improvement. If you have landscaping materials such as a plant or a lawn, you will have to add fertilizer to your soil regularly in order to maintain the healthy grown of your plant. The costs of adding fertilizer to your yard can easily add up. This problem can be minimized by choosing plants that grow well in the soil you have, or in near conditions, so that you can save a great deal on soil amendment. Most local master gardeners will give you guidance on native plants for free, or for a very small fee.

There are ways to save your landscaping cost. One way is to approach your neighbors about sharing costs. If you gather your resources, you can get some good bargain on items bought in bulk, and everyone benefits. At the same time, you can split the rental fees for machinery such as tillers, chippers, and aerators. If everyone chips in a few dollars, you can work out a calendar that lets each neighbor use the equipment before it is due back. This is how you can lessen the costs of your landscaping.

Once you’ve done your homework, and know exactly how much you can afford to spend every month, you can make your purchases without buying excess materials that waste your money. By heeding a few of these money-saving tips, you can hold down your costs and create a beautiful landscape that you can afford to maintain.

Cindy Heller is a professional writer. To learn more about pool landscaping and concrete landscaping, visit backyard landscaping idea.
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

Garden Fountain

2008-03-24T12:49:00.001Z

Garden Fountain

Why I've Always Wanted A Garden Fountain

by Martin Stoleman
I have always been smitten with the smallest things in life. In fact, even as a kid I remember being fascinated with small things and with finding beauty in places that most people ignored. So when it came time to purchase a home for me and my own family, there were naturally so many detail things that I was concerned about. As an architect, I was obviously concerned in detail with the layout of the house and with the way each room would fit into the bigger plan for the house. But I was also concerned with whether or not the home we chose would be able to accommodate the small things that I wanted to have for my home like a garden fountain.

I think that I first started liking garden fountains in a movie I saw. The first word that comes to mind when I think about a garden fountain is magic. I believe that there is something truly magical about a garden fountain begin part of a backyard, and that is the main reason why I have always wanted one in a home of my own. I love sitting in a backyard on a warm summer night and watching the fireflies dance around a garden fountain. I love seeing fish swim and play in a garden fountain too.

If you are thinking of adding an extra special touch to your home and yard, then consider carefully putting in a garden fountain. Why? Not only because a garden fountain adds a certain amount of magic, but also because a garden fountain is a relatively easy and simply way to add a touch of uniqueness and beauty to your property. After all, not everyone you know will have a garden fountain. I'm convinced that if everyone had the opportunity to see what an astetic difference a garden fountain really makes then they would be sure to add one to their landscape as soon as possible.

It is a good idea to visit a few homes that have a garden fountain before choosing one of your own. See what other people are doing and determine what kind of garden fountain is best for you. You should keep in mind that you can install a garden fountain on your own or you can have one installed for you. So take your time and make a wise decision.

It is true that adding a garden fountain to your outside space is a small decision, but it is also true that some of the small things in life are also the most magical and make the most difference.

Martin Stoleman is an architect who equally loves giving advice on the landscape of his clients' homes. He suggests a garden fountain to anyone who will listen. See www.gardenfountainnews.info for more details.

Article Source: http://www.articlesphere.com

Garden Fountain

2008-03-24T12:49:00.000Z

Garden Plants

2008-03-21T13:15:00.000Z

Garden Plants

Using Plants To Make Us Happier

by Justin Brown
If we fill our time taking care of plants we can get rid of stress, it is a scientifically proved thing. Taking care of our green friends (the ones with leaves not Aliens!) we will discover new hidden sides of our personality and will get to know better how to love and care for others, firstly because a plant that we won’t care for will die for sure.

Accepting a plant we are assuming a new responsibility, we are adopting a breathing being. This way, we learn just what it means to pay attention to those around you.

We have to concentrate over needs that are exterior to our ego. We become aware of the needs of another being: we know how much water the plant needs, how much light it gets, the intervals it needs to receive water again, and slowly we will transfer these cares and abilities in our social relations. We become more and more aware of others. Visual contact with a beautiful plant makes us realize our own beauty.

Studies show more and more that taking care of plants can be the most efficient method to improve our physical and emotional general condition. They have a serene effect, they can reduce stress and relax muscles and therefore improve the mood people taking care of them are in.

Different studies have demonstrated that the existence of plants reduce mental exhaustion. When we are overwhelmed with work, we just have to look up for a couple of minutes to a plant and we’ll instantly feel more relaxed. In conclusion, plants fascinate and attract people, they break boredom and monotony generated by forced attention. The oxygen generated by plants creates a feeling of mental agility.

Some big plants placed in the right spot will help us insolate ourselves from annoying surrounding noises. The technique is the same as the one of hanging paintings in an empty room to minimize the echo effects. The thick leaves will absorb a part of the noises, including the sound of the phone, printer, coffee maker or any other noise, making these sounds a little bit friendlier.

To discover some great gardening tips visit www.gardeningtoolsandtips.info for information such as container gardening.
Article Source: http://www.articlesphere.com

Garden Plants

2008-03-21T13:14:00.000Z

Landscaping

2008-03-20T12:10:00.000Z

Landscaping

Backyard Landscaping

2008-03-18T11:18:00.000Z

Backyard Landscaping

Creating A Backyard Landscape With Gardens Full Of Beautiful Flowers

by Ann Marier
Not only do landscaping and gardening add to the beauty of your home, they can become a very fulfilling hobby as well. What could be more satisfying than filling your home with vases full of fresh flowers from your own garden landscape, or feeding your family fruits and vegetables that you have grown yourself? There is something tremendously peaceful about spending a morning in your beautifully landscaped garden, tilling the soil and reaping your harvest. Of course, gardens don’t appear on their own – they require much work to plant and maintain. But with a few tips and hints for creating a beautiful garden landscape, you will be on your way to growing your own amazing plants.

How Do Gardens Fit Into Landscape Design?

Landscape designs should include zones for various outdoor activities. These can include areas for play, entertaining, and (yes, indeed) gardening. Gardening adds to the beauty of landscaping by providing a variety of plants and flowers that will bring color and texture to your yard. But before you haul out the hoe and shovel, you will need to prepare your garden area for seeds. Soil is the most important starting point for a healthy garden landscape. Your garden soil should contain three key ingredients: nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. Most bagged soil at your garden centers will provide you with the proper balance of these nutrients, but if you are in doubt there are test kits available so you can check your soil content for yourself.

Once your garden has been planted, you will be faced with the dreaded “need to weed” issue. There is actually a simple solution to your weed problem. Pre-emergent herbicides can be safely used in gardens once your seedlings have reached a height of at least three inches. These herbicides can be applied to the garden once current weeds have been removed, and should keep new weeds from cropping up.

Pests are another problem that can appear in your garden landscape, so keep an eye out for any signs of distress on your plants. If you do finds a potential problem, taking a leaf from your infected plant to a local nursery will help you to diagnose and treat any diseases or pest infestations. Taking action at the first sign of a problem will increase your chances of saving the infected plants as well as the rest of your garden.

Gardens can be a beautiful addition to a landscape design. They can also provide many hours of pleasure for a gardening enthusiast. By preparing your landscape properly for garden beds, you can enjoy the additional color and plants that your garden will provide.

Ann Merier writes articles about family health,house and garden Topics. Gardening and Landscaping
Barbq Ideas Enjoy Your Garden
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

Backyard Landscaping

2008-03-12T23:41:00.000Z

Backyard Landscaping

Backyard Landscaping and Planning

by Hana Lee
Today's home owner is all about making his or her home his or her "castle". This includes the outside of the home as well. Today, as we have more leisure time more and more people are spending this leisure time enjoying the pleasures of their own backyards. As the price of gasoline goes up and up more and more people are spending vacations closer to home, or taking vacation in their back yards. How we landscape our yards says a lot about us to neighbors and strangers alike. You are judged by how well you keep your front yard, and your backyard, and if you want to co-exist happily with neighbors it's best to keep it looking good. There is another reason to consider keeping up with your landscaping, or doing new landscaping if it's needed. Today's home buyers are savvy and it's a buyers market. Home buyers are looking for a well manicured lawn and a well thought out and appealing landscaping, and this can be the actual deciding factor on whether or not people buy a home.

Every neighborhood has a home store like Lowe's or Home Depot or a wonderful garden center where you can get supplies and advice on how to landscape. And don't every think it's a waste of money. Any money spent on your home always comes back to you in the end. If you do a bit of planning before hand you can make sure that you spend wisely. So, making your backyard your oasis away from the world has dual purpose! You make a splendid place where you can entertain family and friends and add to the value of your home at the same time, a win-win situation!

Perhaps you already have the makings of a fabulous backyard but you don't know it. Most homes have a deck or patio. If you have a deck you don't use, why not? If you don't like the way it looks a cleaning and water sealing can bring it back to new life. You should make cleaning and water sealing something you do at least every third year to keep your deck work in good condition. Many homeowners find that their deck or patio is just too hot to use. Many are in the blazing sun all day. That's also easily fixed. Building a simple pergola over an existing patio, or putting an awning over your deck can give you much needed shade. Sunair, Sunsetter and Durasol carry a wide range of retractable patio awnings, which can be manual or motorized. Sunbrella is the most commonly used fabric as it is guaranteed not to fade.

Maybe you've fallen out of love with your patio furniture and it's time to buy a new set. Cast aluminum patio furniture is very popular. Practically care free cast aluminum gives the look of wrought iron. All it needs is an application of car wax once a year. Choose from any number of fashionable and affordable patio furniture sets from manufacturers like Hanamint, Mallin and Tropitone. Update your old patio furniture with replacement patio furniture cushions. A new set of cushions will breath new life into your patio furniture.

Ok. Now we've got a shady spot with comfortable furniture. What's next? Something to cook steaks and burgers on! If you go out today looking for a gas grill be prepared to find choices you've never seen before. Gourmet cooking has come out of doors. Look at grills from Char-Broil, Vermont Castings, Weber, Broilmaster, Fiesta or Ducane and see the features you can get. Side burners, built in refrigerators, rotisseries to name just a few. Want to have an outdoor kitchen? Outdoor kitchens are all the rage. From a grill built into a counter top with cabinets underneath to full fledge kitchens the only thing standing in your way of the perfect outdoor kitchen will be your imagination.

Homeowners are also spending more time doing their own lawn care. Again, it's easy to do and today's manufacturers such as Scott's, Green Light, Schultz and Espoma have a wide range of products that area easy to use. Some people prefer the thought or organic lawn care. This can be done using very little chemical, perhaps only organic fertilizer and some simple lawn care tips. Visit your local garden center and get some helpful hints from the experts about lawn care. Depending on the amount of landscaping you want to do you may want to have a professional visit your home to give you hints and ideas before you start your project.

What about trees, shrubs and flowers around your backyard? If you don't have lots of space, or the inclination to take care of a flower garden try container gardening. Container gardens are easy care and nothing looks more lovely than lush colorful flowers spilling over flower pots. Use annuals in your container garden for color all season long. Just remember a simple rule of gardening, make sure that you can give any tree, shrub or flower you use in your landscaping proper lighting conditions. If you don't have full sun, don't plant something that requires full sun, the same goes for shade. Your plant will not thrive and you'll be disappointed.

Now that you've patio furniture, a gas grill and you're taking care of your lawn, how about a proper place to store all your equipment? For most of us all out outdoor equipment ends up in the garage taking up way too much space. Look into a garden shed. You'll be amazed at the styles you find. You can have one built to your specifications, down to the colors which you can have echo the colors of your home. Garden sheds come in metal, wood or carefree vinyl finishes.

About the author: Hana Lee wants you to enjoy your backyard. To learn about frontyard and backyard landscaping ideas and metal garden sheds, outdoor storage sheds visit her site.
This and other unique content patio furniture articles are available with free reprint rights.
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

Evergreen Trees

2008-03-09T07:36:00.000Z

Evergreen Trees

Reasons to Plant Evergreen Trees in Your Yard

by Ti Craig Elliott
Evergreen trees are extremely valuable in your yard. Evergreen means that the plant retains its foliage all year long. Even in the smallest areas they can help to prevent a look of bareness in the winter months. They also make a great windbreaks and shelters for small animals and birds that live in your yard. You can plant evergreens in early spring and also safely in late August and in September. You can also transplant evergreens in these same seasons. You do not want to transplant an evergreen unless it is at least three to four feet in height. Try to select evergreens that are best suited for your yard and your landscaping theme.

Dwarf and miniature landscape evergreens are an excellent choice for home landscaping projects. Very little trimming is needed for miniature or dwarf evergreens. They fit into today's more compact yards easily and they can be combined in their own endless mix of color and texture. There are enough cultivars available now that a person could have a bed of all dwarf blue conifers or all gold. Dwarf conifers are the ideal choice to use in a bed that will be seen from inside your home. They are also ideal to use as foundation plantings if acquired at a large enough size to be seen. While the dwarf evergreens start out very small and slow they won't usually overgrow their allotted space.

Unlike annuals or perennials, landscape evergreens will be there for you year round. As your shrubs and trees grow and become established they will need very little maintenance. They provide shade that inhibits the growth of weeds. In spring the colorful new growth on evergreen trees and evergreen shrubs is a delight. Often a lighter shade of color the new growth lends a bi-tone effect to plants. As new growth hardens off the shrubs become one solid color again, except for those that are actually bi-tones like the Snowtip Cedar. In the summer and the fall the dark green conifers are a lush backdrop for bright colored annuals and perennials. And what would winter be without a dusting of snow shown off on a rich green backdrop of evergreen shapes? This makes for a beautiful family Christmas picture in front of the snow topped evergreens.

Tall and narrow evergreen trees like Pyramidal Arborvitaes and Hetz Junipers add height and drama to the landscape. Use these next to a tall, two or more stories, building. In the yard and garden use them as a dramatic accent when you want a sweeping up toward the sky effect. They can also be effective in screening utility poles from view. Large evergreen trees like Native Spruce, Hemlock, Pine and Fir are best kept at a slight distance from buildings. Pruning such evergreen trees while still young will cause them to become chubbier and thicker growing. Use them to block unsightly views, as windbreaks, large hedges and noise blockers. Large evergreen trees create an atmosphere of calm. Having a group of evergreen trees in the yard is like having a group of friends always there waiting for your return.

Broad growing evergreen trees such as Techney and Nigra Arborvitaes, mid size Junipers, Muhgo Pines and Capitata Yews are quite versatile. They can all be used as specimen plants alone or in groupings. They make fine hedge stock. All can be used as foundation plantings around fairly large buildings. Any except the Muhgo Pine would be a good choice to hide service meters or screen from view any number of distracting items that might be eye sores in your yard.

Dwarf and Intermediate evergreen shrubs are excellent used as foundation plantings. Most of the dwarf and Intermediate evergreens are compact and dense growing. They fit well as accents in perennial gardens. Dwarf Alberta Spruce, Emerald Green Arborvitae and Holmstrup Arborvitae are often used in this way. There are several very compact growing Arborvitae and Chamacyparis that can be used as tiny specimen and hedges in and around the perennial garden. Hetz and Little Giant Cedar grow two and three feet tall. Their natural round shape and size adds a touch of whimsy to flower and evergreen shrub gardens.

Evergreen trees and shrubs provide nesting for birds during the warm weather and protected roosting sites during the cold of winter. Evergreens come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and you should be able to find one or two suitable to any yard. Choose from any of the firs, spruces, pines, junipers, hemlocks, and hollies to make your yard look bright and beautiful all year long.

About Author:
Craig Elliott is a freelance writer who writes about topics pertaining to home maintenance such as Lawn Care
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

Tropical Landscape Design

2008-03-07T02:11:00.000Z

Tropical Landscape Design

Tropical Landscape Design - Have That Relaxing and Rejuvenating Atmosphere

By Tim Lee

Having a tropical landscape design will not only increase value and aesthetic features of your property but will help create a surrounding that provides peace in mind, relaxation and rejuvenation venue, and a cool yet natural place to immerse you and your family in. A landscape such as this is like a gateway to the natural resources right in the comfort of your home.

So, how are you going to build a tropical landscape design?

Here are the following elements that will guide you throughout the stages:

1. Greens and wild colors

Plants and flowers are obviously the main attraction of this particular landscape design. All greenery plants you have in mind can contribute to the tropical illusion you are running after, as flowers of different colors and hues are. Just remember not to overdo it and a perfect tropical landscape will emerge on your property area.

2. Water and fish feature

Be it in the form of pond, swamp, or cascading water system, water adds to the entire tropical theme. Water is an element known to create soothing and peaceful ambiance, so never leave your landscape without one. It can be small or wide. Whatever it is, there is never a better way to let the landscape the most relaxing place. Rocks and stones strewn all over where water is installed will complete the drama and look.

3. Furniture

Of course, you need something where you can sit, or stand by together with your family and friends. So the right infusion of furniture to the natural surrounding is a must. You can find tropical-themed furniture pieces from the stores. Select some that will add touch and comfort but make sure they match the specific theme.

4. Accessories

There are garden items and essentials that you can find in the many home improvement stores. These are your finishing touches for the landscaping plan. Pick accessories that will compliment overall theme of the landscape and add calming effects to the scenery.

And, most importantly, don't forget landscape lighting. What better way there is to complete a tropical landscape design than having assorted lighting system? Major lighting devices will perfect the tropical theme. Aside from that, it will add to the security of the garden.

Properly lit landscape is an essential task you should not ignore. Add lighting accents, such as a string of small lights, to the patio and on the plants will further enhance the landscape theme. There are many types of garden lights that are available, and you have lots of choices for you.

Remembering all these essentials will let you finish a tropical landscape design just like how you visualize it in no time at all. If you need help with this particular project, consult a landscape design professional.

For landscape design ideas, visit http://www.landscapingideas101.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Lee http://EzineArticles.com/?Tropical-Landscape-Design---Have-That-Relaxing-And-Rejuvenating-Atmosphere&id=817412

Garden Statuary

2008-03-06T12:19:00.000Z

Garden Statuary

Planning for Garden Structures

by Dennis Goinich
When a garden is first created, structures play an important role in defining the mood of the garden and giving the person walking through direction to what they should be looking at. These garden structures are often walkways, benches, and fountains. There can also be small barriers or a picket fence to guide people along. These structures are very useful, but there is a general rule in the world of gardening - the more natural a garden is, the better.

It's really very enticing to go out and buy small plants or seeds, then begin planting your garden as soon as you come home, but you should show some restraint and carry out some designing. The way to make your garden beautiful is by not rushing but by taking your time and planning with the space and area you have. Before you plant, you should take a few minutes to sit down and map out the basic layout that you'd like to achieve. Remember to take into account the way your plants will grow, as well. Different plants grow to different heights, and you'll want to make sure your garden structures enhance that without looking out of place. You don't have to feel tied to this starting design forever, of course. It can change as your garden grows, but having a basic plan before you start digging is a good idea.

Now it is time to determine the structure of your garden. You need to consider which plants should be in the garden, and where they should be positioned, to ensure that all of them grow well. It is important that you decide which plants will be harmful next to others, and which will compliment their neighboring plants. Most importantly overall is to build your garden so that it will become it's own structure.

If a wall must separate the walkway and garden, you should start with a picket fence or some artificial structure; then choose bushes that will be firm enough to trim into walls when they are fully-grown. Also, of those tools available, many are tailored to define which way your plants grow. For example, you can use a plain wire walkway to create an area for people to meander through, especially if you cover it with ivy.

Even with the work you've put into it, it's important to keep in mind that your garden will look awkward and good things come to those who wait. Your garden will likely seem cluttered while your plants are first growing, as structures are more apparent during the supporting stage. However, once your plants start reaching maturity, you can remove supports and the cluttered look will disappear, leaving only beautiful nature. You'll be very happy that you took the extra time to plan the layout of your garden properly.

Dennis Goinich and his wife wanted to do their garden structures right so they went to the Sacramento landscape architecture firm of Hall Design and started by looking at the online galleries of ideas from their expert residential landscape architects. Hall Design took care of the whole process from design to getting contractor bids.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

Lawn Care

2008-02-28T21:07:00.000Z

Garden Fountain

2008-02-24T21:24:00.000Z

What Do I Plant In A Flower Box

2008-02-22T09:30:00.000Z

What Do I Plant In A Flower Box

Using Plants To Make Us Happier

by Justin Brown
If we fill our time taking care of plants we can get rid of stress, it is a scientifically proved thing. Taking care of our green friends (the ones with leaves not Aliens!) we will discover new hidden sides of our personality and will get to know better how to love and care for others, firstly because a plant that we won’t care for will die for sure.

Accepting a plant we are assuming a new responsibility, we are adopting a breathing being. This way, we learn just what it means to pay attention to those around you.

We have to concentrate over needs that are exterior to our ego. We become aware of the needs of another being: we know how much water the plant needs, how much light it gets, the intervals it needs to receive water again, and slowly we will transfer these cares and abilities in our social relations. We become more and more aware of others. Visual contact with a beautiful plant makes us realize our own beauty.

Studies show more and more that taking care of plants can be the most efficient method to improve our physical and emotional general condition. They have a serene effect, they can reduce stress and relax muscles and therefore improve the mood people taking care of them are in.

Different studies have demonstrated that the existence of plants reduce mental exhaustion. When we are overwhelmed with work, we just have to look up for a couple of minutes to a plant and we’ll instantly feel more relaxed. In conclusion, plants fascinate and attract people, they break boredom and monotony generated by forced attention. The oxygen generated by plants creates a feeling of mental agility.

Some big plants placed in the right spot will help us insolate ourselves from annoying surrounding noises. The technique is the same as the one of hanging paintings in an empty room to minimize the echo effects. The thick leaves will absorb a part of the noises, including the sound of the phone, printer, coffee maker or any other noise, making these sounds a little bit friendlier.

To discover some great gardening tips visit www.gardeningtoolsandtips.info for information such as container gardening.
Article Source: http://www.articlesphere.com

Tropical Landscape Design

2008-02-17T10:45:00.000Z

Landscape Design Software

2008-02-13T06:30:00.000Z

Plant Encyclopedia

2008-02-05T10:04:00.000Z

Plant Encyclopedia

Using Plants To Make Us Happier

by Justin Brown
If we fill our time taking care of plants we can get rid of stress, it is a scientifically proved thing. Taking care of our green friends (the ones with leaves not Aliens!) we will discover new hidden sides of our personality and will get to know better how to love and care for others, firstly because a plant that we won’t care for will die for sure.

Accepting a plant we are assuming a new responsibility, we are adopting a breathing being. This way, we learn just what it means to pay attention to those around you.

We have to concentrate over needs that are exterior to our ego. We become aware of the needs of another being: we know how much water the plant needs, how much light it gets, the intervals it needs to receive water again, and slowly we will transfer these cares and abilities in our social relations. We become more and more aware of others. Visual contact with a beautiful plant makes us realize our own beauty.

Studies show more and more that taking care of plants can be the most efficient method to improve our physical and emotional general condition. They have a serene effect, they can reduce stress and relax muscles and therefore improve the mood people taking care of them are in.

Different studies have demonstrated that the existence of plants reduce mental exhaustion. When we are overwhelmed with work, we just have to look up for a couple of minutes to a plant and we’ll instantly feel more relaxed. In conclusion, plants fascinate and attract people, they break boredom and monotony generated by forced attention. The oxygen generated by plants creates a feeling of mental agility.

Some big plants placed in the right spot will help us insolate ourselves from annoying surrounding noises. The technique is the same as the one of hanging paintings in an empty room to minimize the echo effects. The thick leaves will absorb a part of the noises, including the sound of the phone, printer, coffee maker or any other noise, making these sounds a little bit friendlier.

To discover some great gardening tips visit www.gardeningtoolsandtips.info for information such as container gardening.
Article Source: http://www.articlesphere.com

Shrubs

2008-01-30T11:04:00.000Z

Shrubs

How to Choose the Right Shrubs for Your Yard

by Craig Elliott
Choosing the right shrubs for your yard is based largely upon what to hope to achieve in your landscape design. Shrubs can play any number of different landscaping rolls from structural to purely decorative, and anything in between. Finding the right shrub for the right purpose is an art as well as a science, so you are going to want to spend a lot of time at your local nursery or garden center talking to the experts and finding out everything you can about different shrubs that you're considering.

Prior to your research it is important to have a good idea in mind of what you're hoping to accomplish with your shrubbery design. Are you looking to build a living privacy wall? Are you looking to add interest to the outside of your home? Do you want evergreen shrubs or deciduous shrubs? Do you want your shrubs to bear flowers or berries? What sort of space do you have for the continual growth of your shrub? Will you be able to handle aggressive burning?

These are just a few of the questions you should be asking yourself before you even start researching shrubs. Like all plants shrubs, in many different varieties that can suit any number of different needs. If you are looking to add wildlife to your yard you'll probably want a shrub that produces berries, if you are looking for butterflies you should look toward the shrub that produces a lot of flowers. If you want privacy you should look for a shrub that grows very dense. Having the answers to these questions in mind will allow you to go forward with your research in a much more specific and organized way and thus hopefully leading you towards the right shrubs that will meet your needs.

Before going to the greenhouse or nursery however you should probably spend some time researching on the Internet to get an idea of what sort of shrubs you are looking for. The Internet is a great way to start your research because of the wide variety of opinions available. This unfortunately is also the Internet's downfall, with all of this opinion becomes a lot of misinformation so choosing your sources carefully is the first step towards researching a successful shrubbery design for your landscaping needs.

A good place to start for your Internet research is to look at gardening forums where you can read many users opinions on various topics. Some of these forums require you to go through a trivial registration process before you can search through all of the messages, and this is well worth it. The vast majorities are free, and offer a wealth of user experience and opinions on a variety of topics including a shrubbery. Keep in mind however that this is all user opinion, however, because there are so many users posting their opinion it is easy to judge the overall opinion of the entire community towards certain subjects like shrubs and their care and maintenance; thus allowing you to glean some valuable insights from people struggling with the exact same decisions.

In addition to visiting Internet forums you will want to check out various horticultural web pages that offer lots of technical information about any species of shrub you may be interested in. These web pages will have information about zone requirements, as well as growth patterns; all of which is necessary information for you to successfully plant your shrubs. After all picking a pretty shrub is only half of the battle, making sure that it will flourish in the space provided is what will separate a successful attempt from a failure.

Armed with all of your new research you should then head to the garden center and evaluate what is available in your area. Just because you found it on the Internet and researched that it would grow well in your zone does not mean that your local nurseries and garden centers will have it available to you. Should this be the case with a shrub that you absolutely have to have you may want to ask if they can be special ordered or even check out online nurseries that may be able to ship it. A word of caution here; and shipping charges for a large shrub can be enormous and in fact end up equaling or exceeding the cost of the original shrub. Therefore if you are on a budget is better to be flexible in your design, and work with what is locally available. Remember, you can always call around to different nurseries and garden centers to see if they have something that their competitors do not carry.

At the end of the day realize that planting a shrub should be fun. It can be a great family activity, and working in the yard is always a good time especially if you are an avid gardener. So long as you keep your research in mind you should have no trouble selecting a great shrub that will thrive in your yard.

About Author:
Craig Elliott is a freelance writer frequently writing about lawn care lawn service
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

Gardening Tips

2008-01-25T01:25:00.000Z

Gardening Tips

How To Garden In The Spring

by Steven Cancel
Gardening in the spring is the next best time to garden behind the fall. The increased rainfall and temperatures provide a perfect setting for plants and their roots. Well established roots will help your plants fight off the damage droughts and insects throughout the year. Although not as good as planting in the fall, spring planting is still a very successful time to build a garden.

Each plant has specific needs to be considered prior to planting. Certain plants require direct sunlight, shade, frequent watering, certain soil types, and drainage. A soil test can be done to understand the existing conditions. This test will reveal the nutrient level, pH level and soil texture. Without this information you could be wasting your time and money planting less tolerant and needy plants. Unfortunately, these often tend to be the more exotic and attractive plants.

The next step would be to plan the grounds of your garden. Popular items to include are garden bridges, landscape rocks, and koi ponds. Garden bridges completely enrich your environment and require very little maintenance. Koi ponds on the other hand can require more work and maintenance but bring another sense of life to your garden. Make sure you plan your landscape prior to planting your spring flowers to ensure your project is completed properly. After you complete your site layout you can start preparing for planting. Based on your soil tests, fertilizer can be added to the soil correct whatever is needed for the plants chosen. Any changes to the soil should be mixed in well and as deep as possible to make sure the plant is able to take advantage of the adjustment as deep as it roots go.

You will want to dig the wholes for each plant in a oversized funnel shape. You will want to loosen the roots from the existing soil in the planter and place the plant in the hole. Release the plant from any basket or wiring prior to planting. Breaking the roots from the extended sides can stimulate the plant and allow it to grow larger within the hole. Mix in the soil in with the freed roots. Make sure the plants face is showing it's best side if it is visible and be sure it is planted straight. Do not pack the soil down to hard to allow the roots to expand easily.

All that is left is to ensure that the plants are properly watered and not damaged. Following the steps listed above you can expect to enjoy your garden year after year.

Customize and order garden bridges for your garden onlne. Article written and distributed by Steve Cancel, IT Manager of Secure Link - Free Domain Registration.
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

Trees

2008-01-16T01:13:00.000Z

Trees

How to Decide On a Tree Arrangement for Your Property

by Craig Elliott
One of the most enjoyable parts about owning a new home, or doing extensive work on an existing home is creating an attractively landscaped exterior. Before you start digging up the ground however it is important to have a clear design goal in mind so as to avoid any lengthy delays or complications once you begin work. It is also beneficial to consult as many reference books and garden professionals as possible before committing any final project details; these sources will help alert you to any potential conflicts between different plant growth habits. With these cautionary tips in mind it is now time to start focusing on designing a landscape.

There are three areas to be concerned with what landscaping your home. There are the small plans (annuals and perennials), the hardscape features (ponds or statues), and is there are the trees and shrubs which we will be focusing on in this article. Deciding which aspects you want to start your design process with is a bit like the chicken and egg scenario, you will largely find that each of these three areas will have a great effect on each other so rather than focusing on designing them in chronological order instead to keep an open mind and be willing to go back and reevaluate certain features as it becomes apparent that you need to tweak your design.

It is generally a good practice to start your design process by focusing on the larger landscape features like the trees and shrubs. You should start with the trees and shrubs not only because they are the largest features in your yard, but also because they are considered structural elements of the landscape, and just like you would build the frame of a house before you add the tiles so too would you use structural elements in your landscape design before adding the final touches. Trees and shrubs to not only provide decorative structure, but they also serve a number of other different purposes that are practical as well as visually appealing.

You are going to want to plant a variety of trees around your home not only to help draw the eye visually to the area, but also because trees planted around the home provide a good amount of energy savings. In the winter trees planted around the home help to stave off some of the biting winter winds that would otherwise rattle against the side of the house and cause you to turn up your heater. Likewise in the summer trees provide shade to your home and thus keeps the sun off of the walls and roof so that you do not have to run the air conditioner as high or as long.

If you own a larger plot of land directly next to a neighbor's plot of land you may wish to consider using tall narrow trees as property dividers. Generally Cyprus is a good species for this purpose, and depending on the region in which you live it is likely you will be able to find a species of Cyprus that will fit your needs as well as flourish in your climate. Understand however that Cyprus trees will not provide a perfect privacy screening, but rather just make for a very clear, and tall, visual divide of the property line. If ultimate privacy is what you are after you'll probably want to choose a hedge rather than trees, as hedges grow lower to the ground and much more densely offering thicker cover.

It is important that you plan specifically where you wish to plant your trees because they will have a huge impact on the surrounding landscape. Trees act as natural focal points so rather than distributing them willy-nilly across your property you should instead plan for each tree to be a small focal point surrounded by accessory plants that help complete the picture. It is important to remember however that larger trees will directly effect the micro climate around them; so what was one a hot and sunny location will now become a warm or cool shady location. This is important because if you have pre-existing plantings they will likely be affected by the introduction of a large tree. Rather then looking at this as a negative it should instead be seen as an opportunity to expand your current plant collection and branch out in to some new species that you previously could not have used on your property.

Lastly it should be noted that ornamental trees can make for a very splashy addition to your landscape design. Unfortunately flowering trees tend to have short flowering seasons so instead of planting an entire grove of flowering cherry trees you may wish to consider planting several different species of flowering trees so that the flowers are spread thought the growing season. With these tips in hand you are well on your way to adding some great trees to your landscape design.

About Author:
Craig Elliott is a freelance writer frequently writing about lawn care lawn service
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

Landscape Design

2008-01-02T07:17:00.000Z

Landscape Design

Using Plants To Make Us Happier

by Justin Brown
If we fill our time taking care of plants we can get rid of stress, it is a scientifically proved thing. Taking care of our green friends (the ones with leaves not Aliens!) we will discover new hidden sides of our personality and will get to know better how to love and care for others, firstly because a plant that we won’t care for will die for sure.

Accepting a plant we are assuming a new responsibility, we are adopting a breathing being. This way, we learn just what it means to pay attention to those around you.We have to concentrate over needs that are exterior to our ego.

We become aware of the needs of another being: we know how much water the plant needs, how much light it gets, the intervals it needs to receive water again, and slowly we will transfer these cares and abilities in our social relations. We become more and more aware of others. Visual contact with a beautiful plant makes us realize our own beauty.

Studies show more and more that taking care of plants can be the most efficient method to improve our physical and emotional general condition. They have a serene effect, they can reduce stress and relax muscles and therefore improve the mood people taking care of them are in.

Different studies have demonstrated that the existence of plants reduce mental exhaustion. When we are overwhelmed with work, we just have to look up for a couple of minutes to a plant and we’ll instantly feel more relaxed. In conclusion, plants fascinate and attract people, they break boredom and monotony generated by forced attention. The oxygen generated by plants creates a feeling of mental agility.

Some big plants placed in the right spot will help us insolate ourselves from annoying surrounding noises. The technique is the same as the one of hanging paintings in an empty room to minimize the echo effects. The thick leaves will absorb a part of the noises, including the sound of the phone, printer, coffee maker or any other noise, making these sounds a little bit friendlier.

To discover some great gardening tips visit www.gardeningtoolsandtips.info for information such as container gardening.Article Source: http://www.articlesphere.com

Tropical Landscape Design

2007-12-29T06:22:00.000Z

Japanese Garden Design

2007-12-24T08:10:00.000Z

Japanese Garden Design

The house and garden are designed as one unit in Japan. When you enter the house the relationship with the garden is usually apparent immediately. The garden appears as a private world including foreground plants to establish a visual point of reference.

Distant scenery will be included in the planned effects of the garden perhaps from nearby hills or forest. Sometimes neighbours trees will be used as a background for the garden.

Their gardens usually incorporate a feature of water, sand or rocks and an enclosure of greenery that may be used to block out unsightly views. Rocks, still or flowing water, river pebbles, sand and plants are selected to show their own essential characteristics. They are combined to look like a fragment of nature…

Picket Fences

2007-12-15T06:37:00.000Z

Landscape Pictures

2007-12-12T12:39:00.000Z

Landscape Pictures

Pictures Of Landscaping - Using Other Peoples Ideas To Design Your Landscape

by Steve Boulden
One of the most common searches on my site is for pictures of landscaping. So I know that a lot of folks rely on photos of other peoples designs to get ideas. But at the same time, while I do have a large picture directory of other peoples projects on my site, the most common questions I receive are still related to specific shapes and design ideas.

It would seem that with as many pictures of landscaping there are to look at online, just about everyone could find a close match to their own property that could be copied. It would seem so.....if every yard was square or rectangular. However, the fact is that most yards aren’t square or rectangular. So even with the endless landscaping ideas and examples out there, it’s still highly unlikely that you’ll find an exact match to the shape of your property.

Don’t tell anyone... but even as a professional, I still use pictures of other peoples landscaping as an educational tool and to get new ideas. However, unlike most people, I don’t search for an exact idea to copy. I look for unique, creative, and new ideas and pieces of the puzzle.

Now here’s a piece of advice and the point to this entire article.

When looking at pictures of landscaping, pay attention to the details, ideas, and principles that are universal to most designs. Look for the things that are common and repeated often by different designers. These are the elements that look good because they are generally based on basic principles of art. These are the things that will probably incorporate well into your own design project regardless of shape.

Other peoples landscaping pictures are a great design tool to help you get your project done. However, instead of hopelessly searching for your exact layout, borrow several ideas from several different designs. You’ll save yourself a lot of frustration and have a much better chance of creating something unique to your own property.

Written by Steve Boulden. Steve is the creator of The Landscape Design Site which offers free landscaping ideas, pictures, and advice to do it yourselfers. Check out his free gallery of pictures of landscaping at www.the-landscape-design-site.com/gardenstyles/
Article Source: http://www.articlesphere.com

Landscape Design

2007-12-04T06:33:00.000Z

Landscape Design

Do It Yourself Landscape Design - Where Do I Start?

by Steve Boulden
There’s an old saying that states something like - “Getting Started Is Half Finished”. And so many times I find this to be true as I see do it yourself landscapers struggle to find their initial design idea. However, once they establish a framework of necessary design elements, it usually goes pretty smooth from there.

It’s not surprising that the most common landscape design question that I get is - “where do I begin?” or “how do I start my design?”. I know it can be difficult. And, especially if you don’t have a vision for your design.

So where do you begin? How do you start your landscape or garden design?

While every design is different and every designer follows a set of rules and principles, I find that most do it yourselfers all have the greatest success from using the same starting point. Begin by laying down any paths, driveways, access routes, or walk areas that might be needed. And also create access to any areas that you may plan on creating. In many designs, this will help to establish a framework that you can simply design around.

Of course, this won’t be applicable in all designs as many don’t require any access or travel. So take and use this advice where and if you can.

Paths and walkways can accomplish many functions in your landscape or garden. Their main function, of course, is to create a designated space for people to walk on.

However, in design and as an aid to design, their function could be to guide your visitors to, through, or away from some other area in the garden. Also, they're a great way to break up a vast expanse of lawn, meadow, or bed area.

First, let's look at walkways, paths, and such as necessary elements.

Walkways are needed to guide visitors or yourself to and from another area. Observe that almost every home has a walkway leading to the front door, which is, of course, where most folks want to invite guests to come. So walks, whether refined (brick, flagstone, etc.) or primitive (gravel, mulch, etc.), are necessary to "guide" or "lead" visitors to, through, or away from an area.

So where are the necessary areas where you need other walkways or access? Maybe from the back door to the alley where you dump the trash. Or from the house to the pool area. Or from the pool area to the kids play area or the outdoor cooking area. You get the picture.

In a design sense.

Establishing walk, drive, and access areas will in turn help to create borders and boundaries. Once you have your walkways laid out, you can simply design a lot of the landscaping around them. The same goes with driveways and parking areas as well. You can plant beds on either or both sides of a walk or use a walkway as an edge to create borders.

Keep it interesting if you can.

If you were to, for instance, plan to place a sitting area at the back of the garden. Of course you would need some type of path for you and your guests to get there. However, instead of plotting a straight path, why not create a winding tour through other interesting areas of the garden on the way there?

Curves and winding paths do more than just create interest. They can also create an illusion of more space, distance, and travel. This is especially useful in creating small gardens and landscapes.

Once you lay down walkways, driveways, and access areas, you'll have a good starting framework for the rest of the design. Now, simply design around them.

Written by Steve Boulden. Steve is the creator of The Landscape Design Site which offers free professional landscaping advice, ideas, tips, and designs to do it yourselfers and homeowners. For more free advice on landscaping and garden planning, visit his site at: http://www.the-landscape-design-site.com
Article Source: http://www.articlesphere.com

Landscape Designs

2007-11-29T05:19:00.000Z

Landscape Designs

6 Things To Consider For The Perfect Landscape Design

By J. Lloyd
If landscape design were an easy undertaking for anyone to tackle, there would be a lot of landscape designers out of work. The truth is there is a lot more to landscape design than just digging a few holes, tossing in some plants and hoping they'll grow.
When a real landscape design is desired, the prospect requires some serious planning. Many people choose to hire the pros to do the job, but others either enjoy doing it themselves or they simply cannot afford professional services.

Creating a landscape design at home is possible, but it will take a little work. There are some great things to consider when endeavoring to put together a design plan:

* Space available. It is very important to map out the exact dimensions of the garden area in question. Measure them out by hand to be certain. Either use paper or a design program to match the dimensions for creating the eventual landscape design plan.

* Lighting conditions. Choosing the right plants to go into the landscape design will hinge a whole lot on this. Some plants thrive on full sunlight, others do not. When lighting conditions are studied, it is possible to avoid some very big mistakes in choosing and buying plants. The locations of full sun, full shade and partial sun should be jotted down on the drawing or made clear in the computer program. This will help later when plant choice needs to come into play.

* Soil conditions. As it is with lighting, landscape design that will work will depend a whole lot on the type of soil present. Sandy soil, for example, is ideal for growing certain plants, but not others. Choosing plants to match the available soil can be very important for creating a design that will last, or at least has the opportunity to do so.

* Available water. While it's possible to water as much as one might like in some locations, others endure drought after drought. If water is a concern in the locale in question, it is a good idea to choose plants accordingly.

* Native plants. This can be a great consideration for landscape design, especially for those who aren't very handy with growing plants. Native plants tend to thrive where they belong, even if they have to go through a bit of neglect.

* Creating the plan. This is the most important step for landscape design prior to actually putting the plants in the ground. A plan can be drafted on paper or on a computer using design software. The drawn product should pay heed to the factors listed above. It's best to draw things as specifically as possible. For example, list out full sun plants in areas where full sun is present.

Landscape design is something that pros spend years working on, but it's possible for any homeowner with a desire to try to pull it off. If careful attention to detail is used, a solid plan can be created that should result in a fantastic garden design.

Still looking for the perfect landscape? Try visiting http://www.landscapediscussion.com, a website that specializes in providing landscape advice, tips and resources including information on landscaping design.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=J._Lloyd http://EzineArticles.com/?6-Things-To-Consider-For-The-Perfect-Landscape-Design&id=598233

Landscape Ideas

2007-11-24T01:35:00.000Z

Landscape Ideas

The Crazy Gazebo

by Sally Rogers
The gazebo is that odd-sounding piece of the landscape that just seems to make a home complete. It is that quintessential finishing touch to your landscape that means you plan on staying for awhile and want to be comfortable while doing it. The gazebo may be growing in popularity for homeowners but it remains a relatively rare building to see on people’s lawns. Part of its rarity is no doubt due to the fact that so many people are relatively unfamiliar with the gazebo and its potential role in their landscape.

Strictly speaking, a gazebo is little more than a stand alone building. Like a building, a gazebo has a roof to provide occupants shelter from the elements. A gazebo may even have electricity running out to it when people decide to add ornamental lights or perhaps a ceiling fan. However, a gazebo is a completely open structure on all sides.

The structure is free of any windows or doors. This creates a sense of openness that is a preferred feature for gazebo owners. However, in colder climates, this overwhelming sense of openness becomes too costly in the winter and the structure is generally abandoned until late Spring when the air is warm enough to enjoy without a parka.

Manufacturers are making owning a gazebo easier than ever these days. A growing number of companies are selling pre-fabricated gazebos that simply have to be delivered. These quality-made units can be dropped off and enjoyed on the same day.

If you don’t want to spend the extra money for a pre-fabricated gazebo, you can always order a kit. A typical gazebo kit will include all the lumber, hardware, and instructions necessary to construct your very own piece of paradise at your own leisure. Kits are typically much less expensive than pre-fabricated models but it takes a lot more time and effort to build the gazebo on your own than to simply have one dropped off. For the really tenacious do-it-yourself buff, there is always the custom-built gazebo option.

In all reality, a custom gazebo is the surest way to ensure that it matches with your home. Have you ever seen a gazebo that just seemed to have nothing at all to do with the home—like it was made out of natural wood and the home was a brick ranch? The gazebo is a stand alone structure but it is also found in proximity to your home and should be considered an accessory to your home—and therefore be similar in style or theme.

A custom gazebo may be your only option if you have a very unique home or rare building materials. However, the added time and expense required to build a matching custom gazebo to your home will be well worth it. The entire landscape will be unified and it will a depth to the overall architecture scheme.

Whether you choose to have a pre-built gazebo dropped off in your back yard, build with a kit or design and build your very own, the added comfort and value of a gazebo is well worth the effort and expense. Besides, it is nice to have a place outside where you can just sit back with a great book and a cup of tea and just relax—and a gazebo is just such a place!

Gazebo Info is an information site that contains links, a directory and other Gazebo Information. It can be found at: www.gazeboinfo.com

Article Source: http://www.articlesphere.com

Fences

2007-11-21T20:28:00.000Z

Fences

Picket Fences Give A Traditional Charm

A traditional picket fence is usually 1 metre high and painted white. You will find usually find them between the front garden and the street.

The picket fence is most suited to those who are good at maintenance as the main characteristic of picket fencing is its neat appearance. Picket fences require frequent repainting to maintain their neat appearance. Also, make sure that the picket fence is in keeping with your house design or it may look particularly odd.

The picket fence is easy to construct and there are many options in the design of the fence. Different shape pickets and/or posts can be used with the width between the boards being adjusted to suit your taste. Many of the shapes for the pickets can be bought pre-cut. A home builder can shape one of the simpler styles to create a unique fence.

Landscaping

2007-11-13T08:27:00.000Z

Landscaping

Landscaping Basics - Principles Of Landscape Design

by Steve Boulden
Garden design and the principle of simplicity. While it's rarely mentioned or practiced, simplicity is one of the basic principles of landscaping. It is by far one of the most important principles and guidelines to follow. Keep it simple and your design will be easier to create, much more appealing, and much more professional looking.

Creating simplicity doesn't have to mean that your landscape design should be absolutely empty or simplistic so to speak. It basically means to stick with the other related principles like unity and repetition.

A frequent blunder that first time do it yourselfers do is in placing too many varied objects and elements in their design. This can bring about a very unprofessional cluttered look to the completed design plan. Keeping your ideas simple in the beginning will make the design process much easier. You can change things later if you want to.

The best illustration That I can think of is in choosing plants and color variations. Choosing plants is commonly a major problem for most do it yourselfers. Most folks simply don't have an understanding of the countless varieties of plants. And regardless of that, most do it yourselfers bring home many different varieties of mismatched plants to place in their landscaping. And this one small thing can make the whole landscape unbalanced.

So how can we keep garden design simple?
While the majority of people don't have a large knowledge of plants, most people are somewhat familiar with at least a variety or two. Don't worry about what you don't know yet. That's where a lot of people go wrong with design. Create some visual effect from a simple selection of two or three choice varieties that you're familiar with. Repeat them through the landscape and you'll get much more appeal than you will from a variation of unrelated plants.

In simpler terms, pick a few good types of plants and repeat them throughout the landscape or garden. Repetition is a balancing principle of art and landscape design.

Keep in mind that I'm only using plants as an example here. This basic principle should be applied to all of the many different elements and design factors of your landscaping. Not just plants.

Here's a pretty easy design "trick" to try using plantings:
If you want to create some visual impact in your garden, build a few flower beds or borders using a variety of shades of the same color. Do this using different species of plants and you'll also create a contrast of texture. And the same as other elements, contrast and variation of texture are also principles of design and art.

Keep your design simple to start with. It will be easier to design and you can always add more later if you want to. Every good garden or landscape design project ought to involve the principle of simplicity.

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

Landscape Designs

2007-09-08T09:48:00.000Z

Landscape Design

2007-08-08T23:14:00.000Z

Landscape Design

Landscaping Basics - Principles Of Landscape Design

by Steve Boulden
Garden design and the principle of simplicity. While it's rarely mentioned or practiced, simplicity is one of the basic principles of landscaping. It is by far one of the most important principles and guidelines to follow. Keep it simple and your design will be easier to create, much more appealing, and much more professional looking.

Creating simplicity doesn't have to mean that your landscape design should be absolutely empty or simplistic so to speak. It basically means to stick with the other related principles like unity and repetition.

A frequent blunder that first time do it yourselfers do is in placing too many varied objects and elements in their design. This can bring about a very unprofessional cluttered look to the completed design plan. Keeping your ideas simple in the beginning will make the design process much easier. You can change things later if you want to.

The best illustration That I can think of is in choosing plants and color variations. Choosing plants is commonly a major problem for most do it yourselfers. Most folks simply don't have an understanding of the countless varieties of plants. And regardless of that, most do it yourselfers bring home many different varieties of mismatched plants to place in their landscaping. And this one small thing can make the whole landscape unbalanced.

So how can we keep garden design simple?

While the majority of people don't have a large knowledge of plants, most people are somewhat familiar with at least a variety or two. Don't worry about what you don't know yet. That's where a lot of people go wrong with design. Create some visual effect from a simple selection of two or three choice varieties that you're familiar with. Repeat them through the landscape and you'll get much more appeal than you will from a variation of unrelated plants.

In simpler terms, pick a few good types of plants and repeat them throughout the landscape or garden. Repetition is a balancing principle of art and landscape design.

Keep in mind that I'm only using plants as an example here. This basic principle should be applied to all of the many different elements and design factors of your landscaping. Not just plants.

Here's a pretty easy design "trick" to try using plantings:

If you want to create some visual impact in your garden, build a few flower beds or borders using a variety of shades of the same color. Do this using different species of plants and you'll also create a contrast of texture. And the same as other elements, contrast and variation of texture are also principles of design and art.

Keep your design simple to start with. It will be easier to design and you can always add more later if you want to. Every good garden or landscape design project ought to involve the principle of simplicity.

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

Zen Garden

2007-08-07T06:05:00.000Z

Zen Garden: "Garden Centers Garden Decor Garden Design"

Yellow Flowers

2007-08-06T01:55:00.000Z

Yellow Flowers: "Different Type Of Flowers Different Types Of Flowers Edible Flowers"

Yard Hose Holder

2007-08-03T22:49:00.000Z

Yard Hose Holder: "Backyard Landscaping Backyard Putting Greens Backyard Toys"

Yard Art

2007-08-02T02:38:00.000Z

Yard Art: " Backyard Landscaping Backyard Putting Greens Backyard Toys"

Wrought Iron Patio Furniture

2007-07-29T08:51:00.000Z

Wrought Iron Patio Furniture: " Patio Furniture Patio Furniture Covers Patio Heaters"

Garden Fountain

2007-07-28T04:58:00.000Z

Wood Fences

2007-07-27T04:37:00.000Z

Wood Fences: "Better Homes And Garden Better Homes And Gardens Birch Trees"

Wood Fence

2007-07-24T04:09:00.000Z

Wood Fence: " Philadelphia Flower Show Picket Fence Picket Fences"

Winter Trees

2007-07-22T09:04:00.000Z

Winter Trees: "Pictures Of Trees Pine Bark Mulch Pine Trees"

Winter Landscape

2007-07-19T00:20:00.000Z

Winter Landscape: "Concrete Patio Container Gardening Cypress Trees"

Wildwood Flower

2007-07-16T11:58:00.000Z

Wildwood Flower: "Bush Gardens Butterfly Garden Ceramic Garden Stool"

Wild Flowers

2007-07-13T11:04:00.000Z

Wild Flowers: " Rock Garden Rose Flower Rose Garden"

White Flowers

2007-07-12T08:42:00.000Z

White Flowers: "Flower Encyclopedia Flower Garden Flower Gardens Flower Guide Flower Landscape Software Flower Names"

What Do I Plant In A Flower Box

2007-07-11T00:11:00.000Z

What Do I Plant In A Flower Box: "Beautiful Flowers Better Homes And Garden Better Homes And Gardens"

Water Gardens

2007-07-10T08:41:00.000Z

Water Gardens: " Garden Decor Garden Design Garden Designs"

Water Garden

2007-07-09T08:31:00.001Z

Water Garden: "Garden Fountain Garden Fountains Garden Furniture"

Water Features

2007-07-09T08:31:00.000Z

Water Features: " French Patio Doors Front Yard Landscaping Fruit Trees"

Violet Flower

2007-07-09T08:30:00.000Z

Violet Flower: "Purple Flower Purple Flowers Rainforest Trees"

Landscape Design

2007-07-07T14:09:00.000Z

Ultrasonic Pest Control

2007-07-06T08:14:00.001Z

Ultrasonic Pest Control: " Pest Control Pesticide Pesticides"

Types Of Trees

2007-07-06T08:14:00.000Z

Types Of Trees: "Birch Trees Blue Flowers Bonsai Trees"

Types Of Flowers

2007-07-06T08:13:00.000Z

Types Of Flowers: "Fig Trees Flower Encyclopedia Flower Garden"

Tulip Flowers

2007-07-05T16:50:00.000Z

Tulip Flowers: "Flower Names Flower Pictures Flower Seeds"

Tropical Flowers

2007-07-05T16:49:00.001Z

Tropical Flowers: "Flower Encyclopedia Flower Garden Flower Gardens"

Tropical Landscape Design

2007-07-05T16:49:00.000Z

Tropical Landscape Design: "Hawaiian Flower Hawaiian Flowers Heather Flower"

Tropical Flower

2007-07-04T06:22:00.000Z

Tropical Flower: " Flower Names Flower Pictures Flower Seeds"

Trees

2007-07-04T06:19:00.000Z

Trees: " Landscaping Mature Trees Landscaping Software Lighted Palm Trees"

Tiered Garden Decor Fountains

2007-07-04T06:17:00.000Z

Tiered Garden Decor Fountains: "Garden Fountain Garden Fountains Garden Furniture"

Landscape Design

2007-07-03T07:24:00.000Z

Landscape Design

Landscaping Basics - Principles Of Landscape Design

by Steve Boulden
Garden design and the principle of simplicity. While it's rarely mentioned or practiced, simplicity is one of the basic principles of landscaping. It is by far one of the most important principles and guidelines to follow. Keep it simple and your design will be easier to create, much more appealing, and much more professional looking.

Creating simplicity doesn't have to mean that your landscape design should be absolutely empty or simplistic so to speak. It basically means to stick with the other related principles like unity and repetition.

A frequent blunder that first time do it yourselfers do is in placing too many varied objects and elements in their design. This can bring about a very unprofessional cluttered look to the completed design plan. Keeping your ideas simple in the beginning will make the design process much easier. You can change things later if you want to.

The best illustration That I can think of is in choosing plants and color variations. Choosing plants is commonly a major problem for most do it yourselfers. Most folks simply don't have an understanding of the countless varieties of plants. And regardless of that, most do it yourselfers bring home many different varieties of mismatched plants to place in their landscaping. And this one small thing can make the whole landscape unbalanced.

So how can we keep garden design simple?
While the majority of people don't have a large knowledge of plants, most people are somewhat familiar with at least a variety or two. Don't worry about what you don't know yet. That's where a lot of people go wrong with design. Create some visual effect from a simple selection of two or three choice varieties that you're familiar with. Repeat them through the landscape and you'll get much more appeal than you will from a variation of unrelated plants.

In simpler terms, pick a few good types of plants and repeat them throughout the landscape or garden. Repetition is a balancing principle of art and landscape design.

Keep in mind that I'm only using plants as an example here. This basic principle should be applied to all of the many different elements and design factors of your landscaping. Not just plants.
Here's a pretty easy design "trick" to try using plantings:
If you want to create some visual impact in your garden, build a few flower beds or borders using a variety of shades of the same color. Do this using different species of plants and you'll also create a contrast of texture. And the same as other elements, contrast and variation of texture are also principles of design and art.

Keep your design simple to start with. It will be easier to design and you can always add more later if you want to. Every good garden or landscape design project ought to involve the principle of simplicity.

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

Terrace A Steep Garden

2007-07-01T08:49:00.000Z

Terrace A Steep Garden: " Landscape Designs Landscape Edging Landscape Ideas"

Symbolic Meaning Of Flowers

2007-07-01T08:48:00.001Z

Symbolic Meaning Of Flowers: "Flower Encyclopedia Flower Garden Flower Names"

Swimming Pool Landscaping

2007-07-01T08:48:00.000Z

Swimming Pool Landscaping: "Garden Decor Garden Design Garden Designs"

Spruce Trees

2007-06-30T06:58:00.000Z

Spruce Trees: "Types Of Trees Violet Flower Water Features"

Spring Flowers

2007-06-30T06:57:00.001Z

Spring Flowers: " Flower Names Flower Pictures Flower Seeds"

Split Rail Fence

2007-06-30T06:57:00.000Z

Split Rail Fence: " Picket Fence Picket Fences Pictures Of Flowers"

Sound Garden

2007-06-29T04:10:00.001Z

Sound Garden: " Garden Decor Garden Design Garden Designs"

Solar Powered Landscape Lighting

2007-06-29T04:10:00.000Z

Solar Powered Landscape Lighting: " Garden Lighting Garden Ornaments Garden Plans"

Solar Landscape Lighting

2007-06-29T04:09:00.000Z

Solar Landscape Lighting: " Landscape Ideas Landscape Lighting Landscape Pictures"

Backyard Landscaping

2007-06-27T01:14:00.000Z

Backyard Landscaping

June 27, 2007
Home Away
In the Backyard, Fireplaces
By AMY GUNDERSON

Steve and Terri Tucker have three fireplaces in their vacation home, but it is the fireplace on the deck that gets the most attention. Even in the summer months, when evening temperatures never fall below 60 degrees in the mountain town of Blue Ridge, Ga., Mr. Tucker said, “the outdoor fireplace definitely gets used.” In fact, he said they “light it every single day.”

While luxury amenities for backyards and patios may include built-in barbecues and plush sofas surrounding a weatherproof plasma television, it is the outdoor fireplace or fire pit that is increasingly becoming a backyard staple.

“The fireplace creates a mood in a yard and gives the space an anchor,” said Mitch Kalamian, an owner of the Garden Design Group a landscape design firm in Huntington Beach, Calif. An increasing number of his clients are requesting this feature, Mr. Kalamian said — “it is right up there with pools and spas.”

The cost of installing an outdoor fire pit can vary widely and is generally cheaper than installing a fireplace. “A fireplace might cost in the range of $12,000 to $15,000,” Mr. Kalamian said, “while fire pits are about $3,000.” This estimate is for a custom fire pit, which usually has a built-in gas line burning over lava rock. It is a cleaner option than wood-burning pits.

Off-the-shelf, portable fire pits are cheaper. Clay or cast-iron chimeneas or pits with copper-lined bowls can be found at any home-improvement store, often for less than $200.

At the luxury end of the spectrum are custom fireplaces designed with mantels and intricate stonework. Jeffrey Bershaw, the marketing manager for Moberg Fireplaces in Portland, Ore., said outdoor fireplaces from his firm start at $30,000 and can top $100,000, a price tag that clients readily accept. “Fire has been an elementary part of the interior of homes, and owners want to take that with them outside,” Mr. Bershaw said.
So what does a six-figure fireplace look like? “They vary from ultra-contemporary to re-creations from the 15th-century,” Mr. Bershaw said. He noted that they can be very large. The firm designed a see-through indoor/outdoor fireplace with a movable glass partition that had a 7-foot-wide outdoor hearth and a 10-foot-wide interior opening.

The bigger the fireplace, the larger the flue. While Moberg Fireplaces can install fans that decrease the height of the flue, other considerations, like local homeowner-association rules or the simple fact that a 14-foot-high chimney is a backyard eyesore, can limit fireplace size.
Designers will position the fireplace or pit in an area that is downwind, or in a spot that will ensure that the smoke moves away from the house or a neighbor’s yard.

Local zoning may prohibit fireplaces or built-in fire pits. So for homeowners without the option for outdoor fire, there is an option: Dimplex, a maker of electric fireplaces, released an outdoor model this spring in which lights create the illusion of flames. What it lacks in heat, and perhaps the aesthetics of a roaring fire, is made up for in convenience. Just plug it in, sit back, and watch the fake flames.

Sliding Patio Doors

2007-06-25T05:09:00.001Z

Sliding Patio Doors: " Patio Design Patio Designs Patio Doors"

Shrubs

2007-06-25T05:09:00.000Z

Shrubs: "Landscape Design Backyard Landscaping Beach Landscapes"