Archive for December, 2010

Gardening is a good way to relax and distract from what is happening around you. It is an old hobby that dates back centuries. Many people of all ages can take part and enjoy the benefits that gardening provides, especially if your getting good results with your plants. New technologies such as LED grow lights have changed the way we tend to our garden in a positive way. With this new innovation also comes some new rules in how we deal with our gardens.

With a traditional light, there is more heat, and as a result there is more evaporation. Since LED grow lights put off much less heat, there will be less evaporation. If you over water your plants, you will stunt root development, which will slow their growth. Over watering will also cause problems with the plants ability to absorb nutrients. Water your plant once and then let them out of the water. This will help you create a watering your plants when you use LED lighting. Be careful so you do not over water your plants and ruin all your hard work and time you put into your garden.  Your plants will be most fruitful if you can keep the temperature at 70-80 degrees area. Despite the temperature the root zone will also be helpful in ensuring your best results with your plants. LED lights put out much less heat than traditional lighting because it would be prudent to provide some warmth. At lower temperatures, the plants tend to bloom less and usually develops slowly. Making sure you have the proper temperature will give you the best results in your garden.

Some gardeners have found that plants grown indoors and with no direct sunlight can produce better results when your using led grow lights for twenty-four hours every day. All day lighting from the grow lights may be neeeded to encourage flowering or fruiting at the end of the season. Sometimes it can stress the plant, which usually blooms and provides better results. If you look at the professional type of led grow lights, you will notice that one or more LEDs in each group looks like it does not burn. Do not worry, it’s very common. People can see only a limited range of wavelengths and professional LED headlamps emit a wide range of wavelengths. Most plants use wavelengths that humans can not see. That is why plants look green to us. They reflect the wave of white light in the absorption of all other wavelengths of light. There are several stores online that carry a variety of LED grow lights that can help you get the most productive garden ever.

For me, enjoying my garden is where it’s at, and the best way to enjoy it is from a comfortable, classy wood deck.

How you plan on designing your deck will depend upon many factors. The key factor to consider is how it will suit your lifestyle. You can imagine having your own custom designed deck or patio and entertaining friends and family. This is what the best type of decking designs include. You must use your personal judgment and taste to define exactly the elements you’d like to include.

Think in terms of overall layout, size and scale. Some basic outlines to consider are the decking materials, railings, lighting and layout. The size of your deck can be based upon the overall proportion of your home. Some ideas suggest that you make the largest part of your deck no larger than the largest room in your home. This is just a suggestion based upon balanced proportion.

In terms of the decking materials, woods like cedar make great choices. Cedar is a softer wood, accommodates a variety of stain choices or natural sealants and will weather to a nice silvery gray. There are also composite decking materials like Trex™ that are much more low maintenance. These materials include paper products and resins to bond it all together in a waterproof product.

Deck railings can be made of metal or even wood that complements the overall design of your decking floor. Railings even come in pre-made units that can be assembled or installed on your deck. These ensure that you have an evenly made and measured unit. This will save you considerable time on construction and will last much longer than wood without the need to maintain as you would with wood. However, consider that a traditional 4”x4” post can accommodate great styles of deck lights. There are also rope lights and string lights that can highlight your rails or steps. All in all, decking designs are critical to help you get the most from your deck space.

A great use of grow lights is to start seeds indoors. By mimicking spring lighting conditions you are extending the growing (or sprouting) season and kick-starting your garden. Many gardeners have had success with growing vegetable, herbs and flowering plant seedlings under grow lights. And it doesn’t have to be expensive. If you are tempted to start your own grow light seedling garden then read on.

Plant grow lights fall into three main categories.

First there are the standard fluorescent grow lights which are relatively inexpensive to purchase and to run. They do not emit light with as much intensity as HID grow lights, the second main type of grow light on the market, but are adequate for small gardens and for seedlings. The third type of grow light are LED grow lights which are specially designed to emit light at precisely the wavelengths of light most useful to plants as they photosynthesize.

Once you have decided on your grow light, it’s time to set up your seeding containers. You can use most household containers, just make sure they have drainage holes. Add a layer of potting mix, then the seeds and then finish with a light covering of soil. At this stage it is a good idea to label the containers if you are growing more than one plant variety.

Keep the soil moist at all times. Many gardeners use a plastic wrap or coating over the container and place these in a tray with some water in it. At this stage set the grow lights. If you are using fluorescent grow lights, hang these around 4-6 inches from the top of the container. HID lights will need to be placed further away to reduce the risk of dehydration and scorching.

As soon as the seeds begin to sprout, remove the plastic cover. The grow lights needs to be on a timer alternating between 12-14 hours of day light and 10-12 hours of darkness. Once the seedlings are large enough, or the container becomes too crowded, transplant into a more permanent location.

Modern storage shed plans come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and…well, plans. I would dare say that for almost any style of shed you want to build, there are already shed plans available to meet your needs. If you search online, you can find many sites offering free storage shed plans. It’s amazing how many different styles are available. Today’s storage sheds range from the traditional types that store yard or garden tools, to fantastic “living spaces” that are tailor made to fit any theme. Storage sheds can be made to match the style of your home, such as contemporary, colonial, guest house or log cabin.

These extra backyard living spaces can be utilized for playhouses, hobby rooms, work spaces or even living quarters. It’s not uncommon to see shed plans that include porches, lofts, and utilities in their designs. Some of these added features are quite easy to incorporate into shed designs since wireless phone and internet connections are commonplace. Think about it. Just add a sleeping area, space heater and maybe a small refrigerator, and your storage shed has now become a micro-house.

I have done carpentry work for many years and I would still use storage shed plans for building any type of shed. The small tips and material saving ideas that someone else has already perfected, can save you lots of time and money. The more shed plans you research, the more ideas you can come up with. Some of the most interesting sheds combine different styles together, to create a really unique design. You can connect different sizes of sheds together, which allows for varied floor plans. If you really want to customize your shed, you can add a cupola and landscaping.

Any storage shed, from the simplest, to the most extreme, can be built in a few weekends with some basic carpentry tools. Do some research online and you’ll soon come up with great storage shed plans that are just what you’re looking for.

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