Opinion-Corner.net » gardening

Know How to Landscape with Rocks Along Lawn Edges

Sean — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 12:01:07 +0000

Among the many different ways of preparing lawn edges, rock lawn edging is one. It is mostly preferable for providing a natural ambiance to the landscape. The rock landscape edging blends to the natural greenery of the lawn. However, select the right sized and colored rocks which are suitable for the landscape area.

Planning is necessary for adding any feature to the lawn. Determine the location of the edging of the lawn and create a preferred border along it. Mark the line of the edging. Then, the grass or sod should be removed from an area of about 6 to 8 inches deep along the border. Newspapers or mulch is then laid along the border with a depth of about 3 inches. This helps in fighting the weed development and avoids the use of chemicals. Finally, the rocks are placed on the top of the mulch or newspapers. The size and shape of the rocks may vary.

It is good to leave gaps of 3 inch or 4 inch size for certain fixed distance, say 5 feet. This helps to allow creeping plantings to fill in the spaces. Once the rocks are laid, the edging should be watered well. This helps the rocks to settle into the place. When building the rock lawn edging, be careful to see that the bottom of the trough is free from any uneven rocks or bumps. This is to ensure that the rocks are placed evenly around the edge. While creating the border, you can also fit uneven rocks together by holding them together with mortar or sand. You can also create rock landscape edging around the pools or garden ponds.

Different Roofing Styles of a Garden Shed

Sean — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 12:12:32 +0000

A garden shed is necessary for one who needs to store the tools used in gardening and landscaping. However, people these days are also installing the sheds for certain non-traditional uses such as playhouses, leisure rooms, and so on. Garden sheds are made of different materials like wood, plastic and metal. They can be built in various shapes and styles. Here are some roofing styles for building garden sheds.

Gable Roof Garden sheds of this roof style have two equal sloped sides. These sides rise to a peak forming a triangular shape. The most beneficial part of this roof is that rain water can be drained off easily. The chances of water penetrating into the shed is very less. The roof provides much internal space for storage.

Flat Roof It is the most easiest one to install because of its flat nature. However, using specific good quality materials can prevent the risk of water penetration.

Hipped Roof It is another variation of a gable style. This roof has four angled sides among which two are small and two are large. All of them meet at the peak of the two large sides. The shape of this roof resembles a pyramid. It is best suitable for buildings where there is no need for additional storage space.

Lean-To Roof This is a simple roof design. It is visualized as a single, sloping plane or one side of a gable. Sheds of these style are generally near to the buildings, garden walls, or fences.

Saltbox It is similar to the gable roof style but has one longer flat side and a shorter steep side. It is much beneficial as it allows to drain off water freely and also provides extra height space on one side. A garden shed of this roof style has to be built up against another building or a wall. However, the structure of the building may look unbalanced.

Apart from these, gambrel and pent roofs are the roof styles which can be used for building a garden shed. You can choose any of them that best suits your needs.

Tips For LED Landscaping Lighting

Sean — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 12:16:53 +0000

LED (light-emitting diode) is a electric light source which was invented by a Russian named Oleg Vladimirovich Losev, in the 1920. LED lights are available in various colors and wavelength. They are used for variety of purposes and are quite popular because of their durability, efficiency, environment-friendly nature, etc.

A good arrangement of lighting gives perfect view of landscape garden. It should be installed in well placed location with prior planning. An elegant lighting landscape garden can be installed by following ways:

In first phase of installation draw the sketch of house patio, deck and landscape. Be sure that everything of home like trees and shrubs, flower beds, any garden ornaments and important features of your landscape should be include in the sketch.
Make a planning for lighting fixtures placement. In this process you have to decide on the features and parts of the landscape that you want to highlight.
These lights are available in two models: solar-powered and low voltage lights. choose the light as per the need of landscape design
Make a planning to choose real LED lighting because they are available in a wide range of shapes and colors. Portable floodlights, camping lanterns, flashlights, patio and deck lights, pond lights, etc are some common LED lighting.
For highlighting a tree or a garden ornament or some flowers spotlights are the best option. This type of lighting effect can also be achieved by ‘up lights’, which gives dramatic lighting effect.
To illuminate pathways and the outdoors in general down lighting is an appropriate choice. This kind of light fixtures are placed above eye level and mainly used to cover wide areas.
These lights are available in different amperes and voltages. A individual can use them as per the need of landscape design.

These types of lighting fixtures are capable to visualize various features of landscape as per your imagination. You can display your creativity in your landscape, with the help of these lights.

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What Is Rain Garden And Its Benefits

Sean — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 09:06:08 +0000

A rain garden is a flat, constructed cavity which is covered with deep-rooted native plants & grasses. It is present in landscape to receive overflow of water from hard surfaces like a roof, a sidewalk and a driveway. Rain gardens helps to sink the overflow of water from these hard surfaces and to hold the water for a short duration of time and enables it to naturally percolate into the ground.

A rain garden can be considered as a personal water quality system as it filters the overflow of water from roof and lawn and revitalizes the groundwater. It also conserves municipal water resources by decreasing the requirement for irrigation.
Rain gardens are a beautiful and colorful method for homeowners, businesses and municipalities to help in curing storm water problems. There is an advancing progression by municipalities and homeowners to include natural processes to help in relieving flooding and pollution.
Benefits of rain gardens are:

They help in rising the amount of water which percolates into the ground, which refreshes local and regional aquifers.
They help in protecting communities from occurrence of flooding and drainage problems.
They help in protecting streams and lakes from pollutants like lawn fertilizers and pesticides, oil and other fluids which leak from cars that are transported by urban stormwater and also prevents many harmful substances which wash off roofs and paved areas from entering rivers or lakes.
They will improve the beauty of yards and neighborhoods.
They will provide relevant habitat for birds, butterflies and several beneficial insects.

How To Design A Home Garden

Sean — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 07:17:11 +0000

Home gardening requires proper planning. Flowers, shrubs, and grass give natural beauty to your garden. Many beautiful artificial designing items are also available in the market. The three basic requirements for home garden are light, soil, and water.

Ideas for designing home garden:

Berms: Berms means the uplifted earthen areas in the garden. Berms give mysterious look to the garden. You can raise that hill by growing grass or some plants. Berms height should be 18 to 24 inches. These are also useful in controlling the soil erosion.
Patios: Patios are constructed with stones. Plants can be grown within the stones.
Building garden pathways with stairs: You can make garden pathways with limestone, wood chips, bricks, and granite. It is better to construct the stairs adjacent to the lane, which are safe and convenient.

The design elements for home garden design:

No mow: Cut down the lawn using a lawnmower by avoiding sharp corners.
Cover it: It is better to use fibrous membrane material to cover beds.
Learn your plants: Research the plants before buying for home garden. Keep the sun needed plants in lighting area. It is better to choose plants, which are easier to take care.
Get dirty: One of the basic requirements for home gardening is soil. Learn about the soil according to the plant desire. Fertilize the soil in a proper concentration of plants requirement.

Beneficial Insects Of Garden

Sean — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 05:01:51 +0000

Beneficial insects are insects, which can be attracted to garden, which kill harmful insects or their larvae. There are many different species for different problems.

Brachonids, Chalcids and Ichneumon Wasps
These small beneficial insects kill leaf-eating caterpillars. They can be attracted to garden by planting carrots, celery, parsley, caraway, and Queen Anne’s lace, all members of the Umbelliferae family.
Ladybugs
These common insects swallows aphids, mites, whiteflies, and scale. They can be attracted to garden by planting members of the daisy family (Compositae), tansy, or yarrow.
Lacewings
Lacewings are intense consumers of aphids, and their larvae eat aphids and other varieties of insect pests. They are generally attracted by “composite” flowers, like yarrow, goldenrod, black-eyed susan’s and asters.
Hover-flies
Hover-flies are intense consumers of aphids and the larva of hover-flies eats aphids and other insect pests. Like the Lacewings, they are attracted to “composite” flowers, such as yarrow, goldenrod, black-eyed susan’s and asters. Seeds for these flowers are available online, or at most garden centers.
Praying Mantis
These large insects have hunger for many garden pests. Praying mantis eggs are deployed in the garden where they hatch and rapidly grow to adult size.

Nematodes
Nematodes are also effective against beetles, cutworms, and root weevil larvae. Nematodes do not cause harm to humans and pets. Nematode eggs are microscopic (very small) and is available in the form of a small sponge which has million of eggs. These are combined with water and applied to the soil, where they hatch and work.

‘Mini – Insectary’ garden can also be established nearby to a small garden plot of flowering plants designed to attract and withhold beneficial insects.

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