Archive for November, 2010

In talking to homeowners over the years, I common question I get asked is, “When should I aerate my lawn.” The correct answer for optimal lawn aeration is it depends. Although aerating will almost always benefit the soil, there are certain time of the year when aerating does the most good. The best time to aerate depends a lot on the soil, the climate and where you are geographically located. For instance, winter lawn aeration will work great in Southern California, but not in most other parts of the country.

The most popular aerating time in most States in the Spring. This ranges from mid February to the middle of May. The reason why this time is so popular is because the benefits of aeration can easily be combined with over seeding and fertilizing to help you give your lawn a tune up and have it looking its best. In order for grass seed to in quickly, average daily temperatures should be in at least in the mid 60s, low should not go below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Spring is also a good time to aerate because the turf is starting to actively grow and this means you can reap the most benefit aerating lawn. If your lawn is soggy or damp most of the year, summer lawn aeration is the best for you to do. One of the main benefits of lawn aerating if to prevent expanding clay from hardening your lawn in summer weather .

Fall aeration helps out the most in areas of the country where lawns go dormant over the winter. If your grass grows all year long, (Like in Oregon and Washington) Fall aeration can be combined with shade seed over seeding. Another nice advantage is that there are a lot less weeds in the Fall. This will keep your lawn full in the winter and also help to prevent seasonal moss infestations.

Installing a garden pond has become very popular over the last decade or so. A garden pond can add elegance to your garden and enhance your property overall. There are two types of garden pond you can build; one is a pond full of plants only, and the other housing fish too. To build your own pond you need a pond liner. Pond liners differ depending on whether you are going to keep fish or just plants. Generally, there are three different types of pond liner on the market.

Firstly, there is the rubber EPDM pond liner. These are very popular as they are extremely reasonable to buy. This is the most flexible of liner you can purchase, as you are able to bend the rubber into almost any shape you desire. Being rubber the liner is resistant to UV rays, which makes it very durable and it a safe, non-toxic material in which to keep fish.

An alternative is a Polyethylene liner which is also quite cheap to buy and also popular. This particular liner can also be shaped and is lightweight. The disadvantage with this type of liner is that the material isn’t build to last. They tear easily and are not impervious to the sun’s rays. Repairing Polyethylene is not easy either; specialist equipment is required for any damage.

The third type is a rigid pond liner and is generally made out of plastic or fiberglass. The shape cannot be changed so you must buy the particular shape you desire and then install it as it is. These liners are however, very simple to use, just make sure that you have dug your hole big enough to accommodate your chosen liner and place it in the dug earth. Fiberglass is extremely long lasting and is safe to use with both plants and fish. The only disadvantage is that this particular kind of liner is more expensive than the other two types.

When you figure out your lawn doesn’t look as green as it used to be when you moved in, then you definitely need to change something. Before, you must understand the problem. Not taking too much care of your grass will lead to a thick layer of thatch that harms your lawn. It is like a cover that is hard to be penetrated by water, nutrients and oxygen. Therefore, your grass cannot grow anymore and just like any other living thing, it starts to die. In order to fix this problem, you need to consider grass lawn aeration. But how do you know which lawn aerators are the best? Well, you need to understand what each type is used, then making the right decision should be a piece of cake.

Mechanical core lawn aerators are the most common pick for homeowners. They are considered to be the best such machines due to their reliability and maneuverability. In order to aerate lawn successfully, you can even set the length or width of the soil plugs.

The hand aerator is good for aerating small lawns. If you got a small yard, it may be worth using one of these. They are not recommended for rocky soils. Anyway, they are also very cheap, so you may consider purchasing one.

The lawn aerator shoes are also popular among small yard owners. They are ideal for those who cannot operate machines or encounter back problems when using manual lawn aerators. Basically, the aeration is made as you walk.

Last, the liquid aerator is great for tough soils. It breaks such compacted and rock soils and contains humic acid that is applied immediately after.

Now that you know what your lawn aerators palette contains, you can easily make the best decision. Some lawn aerators are easier to use, while some others require extra work; some may be expensive to rent, while others are cheaper to purchase. Depending on your problems and budget, it is all your decision.

Garden urns are considered part of the best garden décor ideas you could have. With your magnificently landscaped lawn lighted with pendant lamps or down lights, you could totally take it a few notches higher with the presence of garden urns. These are garden accessories that give elegance to the garden. So if you want class, these are a must.

These urns are made in various materials and designs and fall under different themes. Themes available include Grecian, Roman Stand, Petal, Tuscan, and many others. There are also designs that are contemporary, ethnic, and classic or antique. The different materials used to make these urns are aluminum, resin, copper, clay, and brass. Choose the one that would endure all-weather conditions, so you would not end up buying frequently if the urns become damaged because of frequent weather changes. Also, it would be a good idea not to be a penny pincher this time because you would end up saving a lot more if you buy the durable ones even though they cost a bit more. You can have large garden urns if you prefer bigger ones.

You can find them at any garden depot or even through the internet. Usually, you get discounts if you buy more than one piece. And before buying you should consider the layout of your garden. Consider this as one of those good garden and home decorating ideas. If you own a small garden area, you could use petite or small to medium sized urns. You should decorate with one to three urns only in a target area or it would look overcrowded or cluttered. But if you have a medium or large garden area, you could then use larger urns and you could put more than two, depending on your desired design.

Your creativity would play an important role on the success of designing your garden. A tip on the location to place them at is to position them where they would stand out. Position your urns in foliage that are in contrast with their color, so it will really stand out. Do not put them along with plants that have the same color as your urns since your goal is not to camouflage your urns, but rather make them into focal points.

Once you have strategically positioned all your beautiful urns all around the garden, you are ready to throw garden parties anytime. All your guests will certainly comment on how beautiful your garden is. And that’s because garden urns always make any garden stand out.