The Ivy League
October 31, 2007
Parthenocissus tricuspidata is commonly known as Boston Ivy, Cottage Ivy, or Japanese Ivy. It covers the exterior walls of a number of prestigious northeastern universities and is probably responsible for the term "Ivy League." Boston Ivy is a deciduous, self-clinging vine with large (to 4-8 inches) glossy leaves. The color of the leaves changes with the season starting with light green in spring, dark green in summer, and peach to scarlet crimson in fall.
The Boston Ivy vine has tendrils that have 5 to 8 branches, each of which ends with an adhesive-like tip. It secretes calcium carbonate, which serves as an adhesive and gives it the ability to attach itself to a wall without requiring any additional support. It can be easy to confuse this plant with evergreen English Ivy, which clings much tighter to a surface. Boston Ivy will grow along the ground but the vine loves to climb the brick or stone walls of buildings. A north or east wall works the best. It can get spread 30-60 feet and is one of the fastest growing vines. Other than buildings, it will also climb tree trunks, arbors, trellises or retaining walls. In addition to growing it on walls you can use Boston Ivy for screening or camouflage. It is a tough vine that tolerates urban settings, is salt tolerant, and easily handles most conditions including shade and drought. This fast-growing vine is hardy from USDA Zones 4 to 10 but does best in climates with cool summer nights.
Teak Patio Furniture Is The Perfect Choice For Your Terrace
October 30, 2007
You have spent hours of time and quite a lot of money on getting your back yard just right. The trees are lush and green, the flowers are blooming and everything looks beautiful. The only thing missing is somewhere to sit down and enjoy your beautiful yard.
There is nothing like the look of natural wood in your yard or on your patio. Many prefer the look of natural wood to aluminum or plastic, and there is nothing more beautiful than the natural look of teak patio furniture. Teak furniture will blend in to a natural surrounding beautifully and will look elegant and relaxing as well as being comfortable.
What About The Weather?
Many people believe that wood furniture cannot hold up to the demands of outdoor weather. Some people believe that outdoor wooden furniture can only be utilized in environments where there is little rain or snow. This could not be further than the truth. Wooden furniture is perfect for an outdoor environment, it just requires a little bit of care and maintenance in order to stay looking beautiful.
With So Many Choices For Patio Furniture, Finding The Perfect Set To Complement Your Yard Is Easy
October 29, 2007
There is nothing more relaxing than kicking back with a cold drink on a hot summer day. Or unwinding with a big backyard barbeque with all of your neighbors. When the weather heats up and the days get longer, you need the perfect patio furniture in your yard or on your deck in order to relax and enjoy the beautiful summer weather.
No two back yards or patios are the same, and fortunately, there are many different types and styles of patio furniture for you to choose from these days. Is your style sleek and sophisticated? Alternatively, perhaps you enjoy a rustic and earthy feel. Maybe you are constricted by a tight budget. Alternatively, maybe you enjoy an unlimited budget to shop for your patio furniture. No matter what your budget is, or what your personal style reflects, you can find a perfect patio set or patio furniture to suit you.
Common Types Of Patio Furniture
There is such a wide variety of patio furniture these days that utilize a number of different materials. More and more, you can find patio furniture that will use a few different types of materials or materials that are not listed here, however the most common types of furniture that you will find are:
With Outdoor Lighting You Can Enjoy Your Garden Into The Evening Hours
October 28, 2007
It is a beautiful evening and you are relaxing on your patio, enjoying the cool summer air. The flowers are blooming, the lawn is green and lush, everything is perfect, if only you could see! We spend so much time and money on our backyards, decks and patios, and then the sun goes down and we must abandon these beautiful oases. However, it does not have to be that way if you have outdoor lighting.
There are so many choices on the market these days for outdoor lighting that you can find something for every budget and something to fit into any outdoor design. Whether you are looking to brightly light a patio or deck, or simply add some atmospheric lighting in your garden, there are endless options with outdoor lighting.
What Are My Choices?
There are a few different options when it comes to lighting your backyard environment. The first thing that you need to decide is what your primary goal is with the lights. What do you want to achieve? Do you want a subtle effect or bright lights that will extend your living area? Do you want to display plants or trees? Alternatively, do you simply want to light up your walkway?
Green Thumb Gifts: Beyond Gardening Gloves
October 27, 2007
Ahh, spring! It has sprung! Gardeners (and budding gardeners - no pun intended) have begun the quest for a weedless lawn, or a bountiful garden. But if you’re looking for gifts for someone with a green thumb (or someone with green thumb envy), consider the situation first.
Some people think of gardening as a chore. Others see it as relaxing. Some will see it as exercise, and still others consider it art. Some people have the magic touch in the garden, while others couldn’t grow mold if they tried! This is important when considering gardening gifts. You need to know if you should give something to make gardening easier, more fulfilling, more challenging, or more fun.
For those people who see it as a chore, gardening just adds more items onto the never-ending to-do list. In this case, you need to consider gardening gifts that will make these outdoor chores easier, faster, and less of a hassle.
Power tools and storage & organization aids usually fall into this category, along with the ever popular lawn tractor. A leaf blower/vacuum can make clean-up a breeze (again - no pun intended). The same can be said for a pressure washer. Heavy jobs are made easier with a wheelbarrow or yard cart. And organizing a collection of garden tools is simple with a storage bench or shed. Other ideas include a convenient watering timer.
Lawn Care Business Owners - Dont Buy Yourself A Job
October 27, 2007
Most businesses consist of the owner only or the owner and a few employees. The owner continues to do the same activity whether it is labor or crew management for many years. He gets into the”comfort zone” or “rut” and does the same thing day in and day out.
You need to put your time and energies into growing your lawn business or landscape business. This needs to be directed toward advertising, marketing, or other services.
Good employees are needed to run the daily activities of a lawn business.The things you are doing now.Filling your labor or management position is crucial for your continued growth.
Some people tell me that it’s tough or scary to let the employees run a large part of the business.
Yes, it may be uncomfortable but you need to ask yourself “Do I want to be doing the same activity in my business 5, 10, or 15 years from now?” If you do that’s fine.
So what we have are 2 choices
1. Do the same activity in your business years from now that you are doing today
2. Put some major responsibility on the eployees and GROW your business.
When to Plant Vegetaibles
October 26, 2007
Planting times for vegetables and other annual plants vary from species to species. In much of the United States the prime consideration is the date of the last spring frost/freeze. Many vegetables can be planted up to four weeks before the last frost, while others need to wait until a couple of weeks after the frost.
Another consideration is the date of the first fall frost/freeze. In northern latitudes, where summers can be short, the length of time some vegetable species take to reach maturity (most notably tomatoes and peppers) make it necessary to plant vegetable seeds indoors and then transplant the seedlings outside at the appropriate time.
Other vegetables and fruits, such as winter squashes and some melon varieties, seem to do better when planted as seeds directly where they are going to stay. With maturation times up to twelve weeks, it may be critical to get vegetable seeds planted as early as it is safe to do. If you have a short growing season, and wish to grow these crops, choose vegetable varieties that will reach maturity within a safe time period for your area.
Themes of Shade
October 25, 2007
A Shade Garden can be created in any of several different types of shade. It can be in the mottled shade that comes from a broad leaf tree to the deep dark woods mentioned in Robert Frost’s “Stopping by A Woods on A Snowy Evening”. We have morning shade (not so good for a shade garden if this area gets afternoon sun - it will much too hot and drying) and afternoon shade. And we can even create or modify our shade with man-made constructions. Each type of shade supports different types of plants although there is over-lap. Of course, you should always be prepared to experiment with your garden.
Each of these types of shade can have a different theme with different type of plants. The possibilities are almost endless and they do not all have to be gray or green types of gardens. You will be able to make use of most of the shade spots you have around your home.
If you have no shade, as was discussed in a previous article, you can plant trees to provide some partial shading. These trees can provide shade for part of the day, like maples, or have a mottled shade, like aspens. In the shade of these trees you can plant a Hummingbird Garden.
Theme Gardens
October 24, 2007
Flower gardens are for enjoyment. They provide you with visual beauty, the joy of working with soil and plants, and the pride of showing others what you have created. As a gardener, one is always experimenting and learning anew what delights a flower garden may bring forth. This enjoyment can be intensified by creating your garden, or a room within the garden, with a theme.
Think of the old formal gardens with their hedges uniquely designed to provide a visual appeal that has survived the ages. Think of the Japanese Garden with its calm Zen-like quality. Theme gardens can be based upon a historical time or place or special types or colors of plants. They can be created for the wild creatures we hope to draw to our garden such as butterflies or hummingbirds.
Each type of garden has an unique appeal and some even more pleasing gardens can be had by using combinations. We Americans are famous for being the “Melting Pot”, for combining things we have brought from the rest of the world. Imagine having a butterfly garden surrounded by old rose varieties. Imagine a vegetable garden with a Zen garden in the middle. The combinations are endless.
Ladybugs, Ladybugs, Come to My Garden
October 23, 2007
Ladybugs, also called lady beetles or ladybirds, can be a gardener’s best friend. The ladybug’s bright coloring brings welcomed cheer to the garden, as well as helping with pest control. Since medieval times, ladybugs have been valued by farmers all over the world. Many believe that the ladybug was divinely sent to free crops of insect pests. In fact, that is how the ladybug got its name. People dedicated the bug to the Virgin Mary and therefore called it "The Bug of our Lady", which was eventually shortened to the present name "ladybug".
Adult ladybugs are usually oval or domed shaped and have red wings, yellow wings or shades and variations of these colors. The number of black spots can range from no spots to 15 spots and they are typically about one quarter inch in size or smaller.
The length of the life cycle of a ladybug varies depending upon temperature, humidity, and food supply. Usually the life cycle from egg to adult is about three to four weeks, and up to six weeks during the cooler spring months. During the spring the adult female ladybug can lay up to three hundred eggs in an aphid colony. The eggs normally hatch in two to five days. The newly hatched larvae feed on aphids for up to three weeks and then enter the pupae stage. About one week later, the adult ladybug emerges. There can be as many as six generations of ladybugs hatched in a year.
