A Gardener's Tale:

So often in life we start down a path and do things with out really understanding why. After all I've always like flowers; as a young man they were a frequent gift to my girlfriends of the era and most often to the woman who would become my wife.

Then somewhere in my late twenties we bought our first home and it was a new construction. The landscaping that came with our house was at best sparse and truth be told it should be more accurately described as uninspired and barren. So we set off to the local building supply company for a few containers of this and that to take the area and make it ours.

That led to a few more trips that turned into a station wagon filled with flowers for a spring or two and then a Mini van with all the seats removed teeming with trees, grasses, and perennials after spending the entire winter reading books and magazines, and watching the countless hours of gardening and home improvement shows on the weekend mornings.

Eventually we settled into the type of plants and garden designs that suited our land scape, taking a three quarters of an acre lot and adding an extended rolling back yard with a little professional help.
Roses were the corner stone of the garden by our front walk. Now I've already admitted I like flowers, but I absolutely love roses . I've never stopped to think about why. I just did and that was that. As I age, I find myself spending more time thinking about why I do things rather than doing them just because - finally it all started to make sense.

I played sports because my dad played sports. I love to cook in part because of my mother but also because when big family event were held it was my uncle who then and now mans the kitchen. The reality is that with age I 've come the conclusion as to why I garden.

Sure the flowers are pretty. In a lot of respects I still love the physical nature of the work, the chance to break a sweat and get a little dirty. It's an escape and a way to relax, to look at something that's been done and take pride in it and to learn patience with trial and error. My flower beds, herb gardens and lawn all give me something to look forward to with each changing season.

Chances are these are many of the same reasons but if you look deeper there might just be something a little more. The Roses were my take on the rose gardens my mother had at the houses we lived in during my youth. The one I spent the most years in was maybe 5 bushes in front of a white picket fence and was always seemingly plagued with beetles. The second was larger and more elaborate with a rose gravel walk way winding through it, a path very similar to one I would emulate to house a vegetable garden on one side and flowers on the other at my own home years later.

The memories of a sun porch filled with countless potted plants and the proverbial little old grand ma, in my case, in a grey house dress and black shoes holding a watering can and talking to each plant as she passed, grumbling a bit at the ones that weren't growing quite so well.

Now you can find me in a quiet moment discussing how well my spider plant is or isn't doing in a rather matter of fact manner. Or like her, spending time grumbling about the weeds in one flower bed or another, lamenting what happened to one patch of Phlox or another on a warm spring day.

There is the memories of the morning glories on my the long porch of my childhood home, the summer mornings behind their foliage with the flowers opened wide, humming birds coming in to take a quick drink from the feeder and the simplicity of it all. Not a care in the world except for what to do next and what time was dinner.

When you get down to it that's why you can find me outside on the lawn, whiling away the time in the garden, and remembering all those other wonderful times and people that plants represent to me.

Now if you'll excuse me, there's a few sunflowers that need a good talking to.

Happy Growing!

Write A Gardening Ebook & Sell It Online:

The Internet has had an enormous impact on the way in which information about gardening and horticulture is being published with more and more information being made available in the form of downloadable ebooks. Let's look at why you should consider writing and selling your own gardening ebook.

If you have a good knowledge of gardening and you can write a book providing helpful information to readers, then publishing it as an ebook is a great way to go. Electronic books or "ebooks" have changed the publishing world.

The Advantage of Gardening Ebooks

There are several advantages with ebooks. If you write a gardening ebook you can get it published far easier and in much less time than for a traditional print book.

Once you have created your gardening ebook once, you can easily copy and email it to your customers, or have them download it immediately following payment. That means almost zero costs for production, storage, and shipping. In other words, your gardening ebook will be a highly profitable product to sell.

Don't forget that many people search for information online before even go anywhere near a bookstore. A few of the common gardening topics that people search for online include growing flowers, growing vegetables, growing herbs, organic gardening, trees and sustainable living.

How Much Do Ebook Authors Make?

Some ebook authors make just a few extra dollars per month. Others make hundreds of thousands of dollars with a single ebook launch. Whether or not you can achieve that with your gardening ebook will depend upon many factors but one thing to keep in mind is that as an ebook author you will get to put more from each sale into your own pocket.

By comparison, readers readily spend around $25 for traditional gardening books such as "New Illustrated Guide to Gardening" and "The Complete Vegetable & Herb Gardener". But gardening ebooks have good ticket prices too. Consider "Organic Food Gardening Beginners Manual" that sells at ClickBank for $24.

Many traditional book authors only earn a dollar or two for each paperback book that sells, but with ebooks you will normally pocket 80% to 90% of the cover price for every copy sold.

Plus an ebook business is open 24 hours. As long as your web site is up, customers from around the world in any time zone can visit your store and make a purchase.

What Makes A Gardening Ebook Sell?

Your gardening ebook will sell if it is well-written, if it is helpful to your target audience, and if you promote it effectively.

Be sure to know your target audience and provide information about gardening that is clear, concise and answers real questions that people want answers to.

And remember that your target audience is not limited to flower gardeners, it could also be vegetable gardeners and herb gardeners.

Ultimately sales of your gardening ebook will depend upon you actively and relentlessly promoting it. Use articles. Use advertising. Use a blog or newsletter. Don't let up and you will see sales of your ebook grow.

In closing, a couple of questions. Would you like to be recognized as an expert on gardening and horticulture? Would you like to be able to tell people that you are a published author?

You can take the first step today by deciding to write and sell your own bestselling gardening ebook.

Different Types of Gardens:

Gardens are places to reflect on your life or spend time alone in the sun and in private. They are a safe haven or an oasis in a busy life. Gardens are hosed with water at the most inappropriate time of day, say between 10am to 4pm, to suit the maid/helper work timings. If you go swimming then the pool will typically use 500 liters to clean its treatment filter and to annul evaporation effect at the pool. Gardens are cultivated at all levels right from the local administration to the small house owner. Botanical gardens are cultivated and maintained by the local administration to maintain the botanical diversity of a place.

Urban gardens provide environmental sustainability and reconstruction, sustenance in the form of fresh organic produce, and fulfill our longing for communion with the earth. Urban gardens are one way to become less dependent on the infrastructure for food. Where I live, there are a few houses that have been vacant for years.
Plants selected for this garden should be able to tolerate inundation for a more extended period of time. However, as in the case of the under drained rain garden, the surface is drained within four hours, although the soil may be saturated. Plants are selected to provide a succession of bloom from early spring through the first killing frost. Each is located in a setting akin to its natural habitat: woodland, wetland, flood plain or meadow. Plants are like our children. A child who is loved thrives no matter what the conditions are, but a child who has no love dies.

Plants are much less important (and sometimes nonexistent) in many karesansui gardens. Karesansui gardens are often, but not always, meant to be viewed from a single, seated perspective, and the rocks are often associated with and named after various Chinese mountains. Plant them so the base of each sits squarely on the bottom of the hole it occupies, and pack the sand firmly against it. After the cuttings are planted, water them thoroughly with a fine spray, and then cover the frame with the sash. Plant sales at the Gardens are important for supporting its maintenance and expansion. In the future they hope to offer more plant varieties to the visitor for their own garden as well as growing advice.

Organic fertilizers such as fish emulsion or blood meal can also be used if desired, but may be available too slowly for actively growing plants, or may develop sour aromas. Organic matter in the form of leaf mulch (20%) blended into a sandy soil (50%) with and about 30% top soil. The planting soil mixture provides a source of water and nutrients for the plants to sustain growth.

Flowers, shrubs, vegetables and herbs may share the same beds, and roses abound! Vines soften fences and walls, and furniture and decor is simple and comfortable. Flower gardening is simple, inexpensive, and loads of fun. It can be done for yard decoration, simply as a hobby, or even professionally.

Container Gardening - The Best Way To Feed Your Pot Plants:

Container or pot plants, should always be grown in an artificial, soilless medium. One of the consequences of this is that they are dependent on a consistent and reliable feeding regime to a far greater extent than the garden plants growing in regular soil.

The best potting “soils”, or media, available today are those based on perlite, a natural glass that has been excavated and processed to form the white, ultra light product sold in the garden centers. It is used by landscape professionals mainly because of its light weight, an important consideration in roof and balcony gardening, and because it supplies an almost perfect balance between air and moisture. Another property is that it is chemically inert. While this is generally considered an advantage, it does create a total dependency on readily soluble nutrients being available to the plants. The gardener must take this fact into account when choosing which feeding regime to adopt for the container plants.

The use of compost and other organic materials, while essential for the health, aeration, and mineral balance of garden soils, is virtually irrelevant when growing plants in perlite. The name of the game, unpalatable perhaps to organic gardeners, is simply to ensure a ready supply of mineral nutrient, in other words, chemical fertilizer, at all times. How is this best done?

Clearly, hand fertilizing with the highly soluble products such as Ammonium Sulphate or 20-20-20, is highly laborious and time consuming. For while one can fertilize about once a month with the peat-based potting mixtures, plants growing in perlite, by virtue of it being chemically inert, require spoon feeding at least once every two weeks, if not once a week. The majority of home gardeners will tire of such a regime sooner rather than later.

An elegant alternative is to install a fertilizer pump that adds soluble fertilizer at very low concentrations, to the water that is emitted by the drip irrigation system. This method, known as fertigation, is undoubtedly the most convenient, efficient, and successful way of supplying nutrient to pot plants growing in a soilless, inert mixture such as perlite. There are however a few drawbacks that should be noted.

*Many states require the installation of an expensive backflow, prevention device that has to be approved yearly by a qualified person, rather like a road vehicle license. Failure to do so can lead to criminal procedures in some countries.

*In mild winter climates, plants continue to grow and therefore require some feeding during the winter, albeit at a reduced level. This often results in the need to open the irrigation system (the fertilizer is applied via the irrigation system) even when there is no need to do so �" an unacceptable waste of water, especially in dry climate gardens.

An alternative to both fertilizer pumps and readily soluble fertilizers is slow, or controlled release fertilizers. These release the essential nutrients over a set period, ranging from two months to one year. They require some labor, as the pellets have to be inserted into the soil, but this only has to be done a couple of times a year.

Container Gardening - Watering Pot And Container Plants For The Best Results:

The successful watering of pot plants can be reduced to the aim of maintaining a balance between air and moisture in the potting mixture, so that both are readily available to the plants’ roots. The best way of ensuring this is to water the growing mixture to saturation, while making sure that the excess water drains away as quickly as possible. How, in practical terms is this best achieved?

Firstly, one should water so that the entire surface area of the potting mixture is wetted, and that enough water is applied, so that the excess drains out of the bottom of the pot into a receptacle, or preferably, is carried away by a collecting pipe. Secondly, the next watering should take place when the top 2-3cm (1in) of potting soil has dried out somewhat. Generally, this allows for the desired air/moisture balance.

This method is somewhat counter intuitive, especially as many people confuse it with “over watering”. Over watering, is a situation whereby the soil or potting medium permanently lacks sufficient air. It is generally caused by very frequent but shallow watering, as opposed to the method just described.

Another advantage with less frequent, but deeper irrigation (watering to excess) is that it prevents the buildup of salts in the medium, which is a major, but often overlooked reason for poor results with container plants. Tap and irrigation water are becoming increasingly saline, particularly in dry climates, while dissolved fertilizers (which are mineral salts) add to the salt concentration of the potting soil. Watering to the point that the excess drains out of the pot, periodically leaches out the excess salts.

Which method is best for watering your container plants? Obviously, hand watering with a hose or canister is laborious and time wasting. In outdoor situations, especially in areas with hot, dry summers, where it may be necessary to water at least once a day, hand watering, while feasible for indoor plants, becomes unsustainable. Undoubtedly, installing a drip-irrigation system is the most efficient and effective way of watering the pot plants. Here are some guidelines to help you get the most from the system, bearing in mind that the aim with each watering is to wet the total surface area and the total volume of the growing mixture.

*Space the drippers close enough to each other so that the all the surface area is covered by the water that they emit. A distance of about 20mm (3/4in) is usually enough.

*Be aware of the different flow rates of the drippers. The flow rate is the amount of water emitted per unit of time, expressed in gallons per hour (GPH), or liters per hour. Common metric flow rates are 1, 2, 4, and 8 liters per hour, which is ¼, ½, 1, and 2 gallons per hour.

*Use drippers with low flow rates for shallow and small pots, and drippers with higher flow rates for the bigger and taller containers. The aim is arrive at a total flow rate for each pot that is proportional to its volume, relative to the other pots. So a container that has four times the volume of another container, should have drippers whose total emission, is four times greater per unit of time.

*Turn on the tap, and time how long it takes for the water to emerge. If the drippers have been placed evenly within each pot, and the flow rates are proportional, then water should start coming out of the bottom of the different containers, at almost the same time!

*Set the water timer appropriately, adding perhaps a minute of watering time, in order to leach out the salts.

Container Gardening - Choosing The Right Potting Soil For Optimum Results:

The potting “soil” in which container plants grow, is one of the most crucial factors behind the quality of their growth and development. The basic needs of plants are the same whether they grow in garden soil or in pots. But as the conditions created by containers are quite different, the potting soil, more correctly termed the potting medium, has to have different properties from that of ordinary garden soil.

Air and Water

The plants’ root zone has to contain a proper balance between moisture on the one hand and air on the other. Garden soil, especially heavy, clay soil, if used in pots, invariably lacks sufficient air that the roots require for breathing. In such anaerobic conditions, the roots rot, causing the plant as a whole to wither and die.

Alternatively, a potting medium composed entirely of sand, would contain plenty of air in the root zone, but as it dries out so rapidly, would be unable to supply enough moisture for the roots to take up. As sand and soil do not mix well, it follows that an artificial potting medium is an essential precondition for obtaining satisfactory results with container plants. The question is, which type of medium is best?

Today, the various potting media available, attempt to create an optimal balance between air and moisture. Mixtures based on peat and processed substances like vermiculite are most commonly sold in nurseries and garden centers. More recently though, landscape professionals are turning to soilless growing media such as perlite, and because of its special properties, using it almost exclusively in pots and containers. There are a number of reasons for this.

Perlite provides for a virtual optimal balance between air and water. This means that it retains moisture for a reasonable period of time after wetting, but at the same time, contains sufficient air too. It is virtually impossible to over water plants that grow in perlite. It is also extremely light in weight, which is often a vital consideration in roof and balcony gardens. Another important property is the fact that it is chemically inert, which reduces the danger of the medium becoming excessively saline.

Environmental Considerations

Environmentally conscious people have become increasingly concerned about the degeneration of natural bog habitats throughout the world, as a direct result of peat extraction, of which the horticultural industry is a major consumer. Perlite can therefore be preferred on these grounds alone, although its extraction and processing also impacts the environment. Furthermore, being chemically inert, the plants are entirely dependent for their nutrition, on a steady supply of chemical fertilizer, thereby adding indirectly to the pollution of water sources.

Winter Comfort Foods:

Winter is the best excuse to load up on your favorite comfort foods. Nothing beats a nice hot meal to warm you up on those cold nights, or unwind after a long day at work. Soups, sweets, barbecueswhatever you're into, there's sure to be a winter recipe that suits your tastes. To get your imagination going, here are five of the best winter comfort foods for the whole family.



Winter soups.<EM> </EM>Soups and stews go down easily, so they're perfect for those really cold days when you need to warm up fast. And thanks to crock pot cooking, there's no need to wait all day for the soup to cookjust pop them in the slow cooker in the morning and you'll come home to a nice full pot in the afternoon.



Macaroni and cheese.<EM> </EM>Comfort foods are all about bringing back the past, and what better way to do that than with a classic children's favorite? It's fairly simple and you can whip one up in half an hour. Serve your mac and cheese piping hot with your favorite topping: bacon, cream, mozzarella, you name it.



Sweets and desserts<EM>. </EM>Got a sweet tooth? Head to the fridge and toss up a quick dessert snack. "Warm" desserts such as hot fudge and brownies make excellent winter comfort foods. If you're watching your weight, go for fruit-based foods like baked apples and peach cobblers, and use low-fat alternatives for butter, sugar, and other basic ingredients.



Wines.<EM> </EM>Alcohol has an instant warming effect on the body and makes a good finish for winter meals. After dinner, enjoy a glass of your favorite wine while relaxing in front of the fireplace. Red wine is a classic, but if you're feeling adventurous, try some warm spiced wine or ale.



Fondues.<EM> </EM>Having a winter party? Serve up a cheese or chocolate fondue and you've got a cheap but elegant-looking main course. Pair it with wine or offer a variety of hot drinks so your guests can help themselves. Spicy finger foods add warmth to the party and will keep everyone in a festive mood.

Dwarf and Medium Height Shrubs for the Rock Garden Background:

Here is a wide list to select fromthe problem is not so much what to take as what not to use.

Azaleas: Any of the hardy deciduous azaleas are available, but it is easy to overdo them. In most types of landscaping, azaleas and rhododendrons should be used in masses; in rock gardening a single plant often better answers the purpose.

Dogwood: The native Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida), is in character of growth admirable for the rock garden; it is possible to keep the trees at any height by pruning for lateral growth.

Forsythia: Most varieties rather large and coarse. Suspensa litboldi is the lowest growing and most graceful.

Goldflower (Hypericum moserianum) : Good for yellow flowers in midsummer; variety Buckleyi is more dwarf and spreading.

Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum): The natural growth of this fine native shrub is often such as a Japanese gardener might spend a lifetime in achieving; few plants are more picturesque.

Rhododendrons: Almost too large and too heavy even for the background, excepting in rock gardens of large size. The Myrtle rhododendron (myrtifolium), Wilson rhododendron, thriving in sun or shade (both of which are hybrids of r. minus) and ovatum, are dwarf alpine forms.

Roses: Several of the taller-growing species, not mentioned in the preceding list, such as Hugonis and the Redleaf Rose (r. rubifolia) with its small starry blossoms, carry the spirit of the rock garden.

Tamarix: I have never seen this shrub recommended for use in rock gardening, but it is particularly pleasing and effective; its feathery sprays of pink blossoms may be enjoyed from spring until late summer by using the several varieties; africana, the earliest; gallica, blossoming in midsummer, and indica in late summer.

Witch-hazel: Our common Witch-hazel (hamamelis virginiana) frequently found growing on rocky hillsides, unfurls its graceful little tasseled yellow bells in late October or even in November, and in January or February the Vernal Witch-hazel (h. vernalis) bursts out impatiently; the Chinese Witch-hazel (mollis) follows a bit later; the Japanese is impartial, and flowers either in latest autumn or in earliest spring; plant against evergreens; semi-shade will do.

Growing Your Own Juicy Tomatoes:

With the health scare at restaurants and retailers earlier this year concerning tomatoes, you might be thinking, why am I not growing my own to enjoy? Good question. Tomatoes are quite easy to grow in many areas of the United States, they are a beautiful addition to any garden, and biting into a juicy tomato, bursting with flavor and goodness, is its own reward for the diligent attention it received while growing. You’ll also notice the taste difference between your backyard garden variety and the store-bought product; yours will taste unbelievably more delicious and satisfying than you had ever imagined they would!

In most areas of the U.S., it is best to start your planting in late spring, unless planting indoors, when temperatures are securely 65 degrees Fahrenheit or above, the necessary temperature for successful germination. Make sure that the spot you pick gets adequate sunlight, around six hours each and every day. Ensuring that the soil is warm and kept nice and moist, as seeds that are planted in this hospitable environment should start to sprout within only a few days. When planting from starts acquired from your local garden store instead of seeds, the same conditions apply, though it is often easier for starts to take hold and prosper sooner than seeds since they are farther along already.

As your plants sprout or your starts take hold, you must make sure to water them adequately, but never too much. Simply make sure to use the H2O from your garden hose reel wisely, allowing the plants to be moist, but not swimming. Plant fertilizer can be most helpful as it can help contribute to whatever nutrients your soil inherently contains, amplifying and augmenting these nutrients for more successful growth and heartiness.

Though it is hard to resist picking your tomatoes early, you must wait until they achieve a deep red color, ensuring they are at their ripest condition. You will be so glad you did as you slice into that very first one. Whether you enjoy it in a deliciously healthy salad, paired with other healthy vegetables from your garden, on a sandwich with your favorite spread, or simply biting into it in your backyard, the reward of growing your own healthy tomatoes will be so deliciously satisfying, you will undoubtedly repeat the process year after year, forever forsaking your local grocer for your beautiful, backyard bounty.

Grow Great Grass!:

Selecting seed for your yard can be an intimidating and daunting task. The first thing you’ll need to consider is the lay of your lawn, shade versus sunlight, and the amount of water your yard typically receives. Most commercial seeds are formulated for sun and shade, but if you’re lawn will receive less than three hours of light, or you’re planting under trees, you may want to consider a specialty seed.

Kentucky bluegrass is a top choice for grass. There are years when it is difficult to find. One downside to bluegrass is its need for a midsummer rest period. Kentucky bluegrass will also stain your clothing more easily than other grasses, but it is a hearty, easy to grow grass that will resist weeds.

For small lawns or gardens, you can consider a ‘bent’ grass. Colonial bent is a widely used choice. It thrives under less than stellar conditions and is low growing. It will spread quickly and requires frequent grooming and top-dress.

If you’re looking for a combination, Redtop combines very well with Kentucky bluegrass because its rest period is different from that of bluegrass. Another plus to Redtop is that it will not stain your clothes.

Chewings fescue is a shade grass. It matures late in season and resists midsummer drought conditions. It will grow well in acidic soils and is also great in the fight against weeds.

Rye grass is a plus for new lawns. It’s tough and quick growing that helps keep out weeds while the lawn grows.

Bermuda grass will grow well in sandy areas and is commonly used in the South.

Some people like look of clover in their grass, others find it a nuisance. The plus to clover is its ability to grow in poor soil and it typically prevents weed growth. The downside is that it tends to look patchy and sports white blossoms.

Generally, mixing grasses will provide a more satisfying look. Varying grasses are active during different times of the year and will keep your lawn in continual lushness. Mixtures also tend to fair better against weeds than do single seed grasses.

If you’re not content to grow grass by planting grass seed in spring, you should consider alternate ground cover. Juniper, wild trailing rose, and evergreen vines make excellent ground cover in areas where mowing would be difficult or a unique landscape design is desired.

Lily of the valley and sandwort are also excellent ground covers that will add to the appearance of your lawn.

Whatever your choice for the look of your lawn, educating yourself on the options will guarantee that you get the most bang for your buck and may even allow you to grow the best looking lawn on the street!

Excellent Resource for DIY Landscaping in Austin:

If you are looking for direction on what to plant in that achingly empty plot outside your front door and the thought of watering every day has you retreating to your living room sofa before you can say soil-prep you will not have to look any further.

The City of Austin has excellent recommendations for you. You will be the smartest person on the block with minimal maintenance and delightful results. Writing a smaller check to Austin energy for water consumption helps too.

Earthwise, sustainable plants that are native to or have successfully adapted to Central Texas are the focus of their free picture filled 41-page booklet compiled and sponsored by a joint effort between the City of Austin and a host of their earth conscious partners. The goal is to preserve Austin's water resources. This not only equates to watering less but using fewer chemicals and fertilizers, if any, to maintain your own piece of paradise.

Austin is sitting at the mouth of the recharge zone and watershed of the Edwards aquifer, which is one of the most prolific artesian aquifers in the world. Austin promotes responsible planting to prevent overall depletion and detrimental runoff into the aquifer and other pristine natural pools such as Barton Springs.

You may be thinking that choosing plants from our native landscape precludes the "exotic and lush rainforest canopy you have always wanted off of your breakfast nook". It does. What about, "predictable?" you may ask. To this we say, no-siree. You may not be able to transplant the abutilon megapotamicum you adored in Costa Rica but the tremendous variety of native vegetation available enables you to create unexpected and heavenly compositions.

The City of Austin has included non-native but adapted plants for special situations like shady areas, poorly draining soil, deer resistance and due to their unusual beauty. They are selected because of their non-invasive nature and their inability to out-compete local vegetation.

The guide entitled, "Native and Adapted Landscape Plants", but referred to by most Austinites, as the Grow Green Guide is available at nurseries in town. The plants are placed in categories such as trees, shrubs, perennials, vines, groundcover, etc. They are listed alphabetically under their common names with details on height, spread, light conditions required for growing, color and features, maintenance and other helpful details. The guide makes it easy to select plants from a purely aesthetic standpoint due to very clear and enlarged pictures. As a builder you may receive Green Building credits when plants from the guide are utilized.

If you do not have access to one of the local nurseries the city of Austin site is filled with information. Here you will find the pdf's of the printed guide and you will find updated information including local partnering nurseries, the least toxic way to deal with bugs and pests and many other issues related to landscaping in Austin and Central Texas.

Home Budgeting: Time to Cut Back:

How much do you spend on food on a day-to-day basis? For most people, the simple answer is too much. It's not just the extra bag of chips or the impulse trip to the diner. There's also the cost of gas, electricity, and production time involved in getting food to your table. But saving money on food doesn't mean going hungry or giving up nutrition. Often, it only takes a few simple tricks. Here are five you can try today.



Make a weekly menu:<EM> </EM>Knowing what's ahead for the week will keep you from buying things that aren't on your shopping list. Or if you do buy stuff on impulse, you'll be able to keep it under control. It also saves those quick trips to the store for last-minute ingredients, which cost you time, gas, and money.



Take advantage of sales:<EM> </EM>If something's on sale, go ahead and stock upbut not more than you can consume before it goes bad. Get vegetables in bigger packs, bigger cans of broth, an extra pack of meat. You can always use the extras to liven up other dishes or even make a new dish altogether.



Use that crock pot:<EM> </EM>Slow cookers are great for budget cooking because they let you choose cheaper meats, use up less energy, and offer more creative meal options. They're not just for pot roast; there are lots of crock pot recipes for breakfast, soups, and even desserts!



Do some DIY:<EM> </EM>Whenever possible, make a batch of your own commonly use ingredients. Use meat drippings to make gravy or sauces, pre-cook your meats and save the broth for soups, or make a large batch of your kid's favorite dip. In the long run, you'll save a fair deal since you won't have to buy pre-mixed stuff anymore.



Switch off as you go:<EM> </EM>Don't leave appliances running longer than they should. Set your cooker to turn off automatically when done, and wait to the dishwasher to get full before turning it on. When you're done cooking, make sure everything is turned offeven that little blinking light in the microwave.

Stamped Concrete Patios Popular and Easy to Manage!:

A great way to add value to your home is by adding an outdoor living space as an investment in your home and your lifestyle. Adding footage to your house does not have to be under a roof, as patios are growing into full size rooms complete with furniture, fireplaces, and kitchens. Stamped concrete patios blend the materials of your home with the nature around it, which make them a perfect transition from indoor to outdoor.

Any look is possible with stamped concrete. It is, simply, concrete that is patterned or textured to look like brick, stone, wood, tile, slate, or other various materials. It can also follow patterns like herringbone, basketweave, cobblestone, or custom designs like fanning or symbols. When deciding on your patio layout, consider breaking from the normal open, square concrete block. Making a pathway to a gate at the side of the yard or a garden in the back makes your lawn more accessible and utilized. Keep growing tree roots and flourishing plants in mind, as they may interfere with your traffic later.

The process of stamping starts with dying the concrete mix a base color that reflects what the concrete will be imitating, such as reddish brown for clay tile or blue gray for granite. This coloring can be integrated into the concrete mix, or can be applied just after the concrete is poured by throwing color hardener powder over the area and letting it absorb. The second step uses an accent color to bring out the texture of the stamping. Using this color release agent prevents the texture mats from sticking to the wet concrete. It will accentuate the shadows and design of the stamp, but much will wash away after being pressure washed, leaving the primary color to be the most prominent.

Thirdly, the concrete is stamped, using polyurethane or metal stamps shortly after the concrete is poured. Metal stamps were used since the 60's and could not texturize the concrete well, so the polyurethane was developed to make the exact replica of other materials. When done by an experienced stamper, it is virtually impossible to tell the difference between stamped concrete and the real material just by looking at it.

Stamping concrete has become increasingly popular among homeowners because of the ability to take elements from surroundings and other buildings and apply it to the patio or driveway. No longer is there only a paved blacktop or commercial looking concrete, but now creative features are being taken outside the home and onto the seemingly least artistic parts of the architecture. The outdoors become an extension of the indoor living spaces and provide more room to relax, entertain, and casually unwind.

These luxurious patios become even more well-dressed when accessorized with pieces such as built-in seating, outdoor kitchen stations, a fireplace or hearth, dining areas, water fountains, lantern lighting, flower beds, and decorative accents. Patios are no longer furnished with Adirondacks or wicker. Now there is patio furniture that is as comfortable, stylish, and plush as indoor furniture, made with special fabrics that resist weather damage. Your favorite interior décor has an equal for the outdoors, and can be replicated for the new "backyard room". Stamped concrete can even be covered with outdoor mats under a patio table as a formal dining room table would sit on an antique rug.

Stamped concrete patios are the affordable way to give the facade of natural stone, wood, or brick without worrying about the maintenance or cost. For a stunningly beautiful, completely custom designed driveway or patio, concrete allows you to choose your color, texture, and shape to make a warm appearance that reflects and accents your homes style.

The Benefits of Using Artificial Plants:

If you own or manage any business then you may have already thought of incorporating plants into your decorating scheme. It just makes so much sense. Having some nice potted plants available for your customers or clients to enjoy lightens the mood. Also, having a nice assortment of potted plants reflects positively on you as a person. Remember that having a "green thumb" means that you are a bit of a horticulturist which is a "good thing".

Your Office Space is Just Like a Desert to Plants

If you have already given potted plants a try in your place then you most likely got to watch them as they died a slow lingering death. Don't blame yourself however, because air conditioning and heaters will dry the air out, also plants need good sunlight. This unfortunately means that the average office space happens to be the worst environment to keep plants in, because its just like a desert to them.

Todays Artificial Plants Look Amazingly Real

One simple solution that more decorators are using in todays commercial environments is artificial "plants". However; you may be thinking that you have seen fake plants before and they look good from across the room but up close they look like crap. What you may not know is the artificial plants and flowers have come a long way in recent years and now there are artificial plants that look "perfectly real" even up close.

Its All About the Natural Presentation

Also, it is important to remember that "presentation" goes a long way in an artificial plant arrangements. This means that a good pot and "organic"

ground cover, such as bark or Spanish moss are so important for the "complete" natural effect. Also, artificial plants that are hung up high from the ceiling, such as ferns look fantastic and because they are out of reach, no one can ever touch them to see that they are artificial.

Blending Natural Plants With Artificial Plants

Another trick that decorators use is to augment "thick sturdy" natural plants such as thornless cactus or other plant species that thrive in arid climates with artificial plants. This particularly works great if you want to string light green flowering vines up along a wall or window. People who are seated close to the arrangement will see the the large sturdy natural plant and assume that the vines also "growing" out of the pot are real as well.

A Beautiful Permanent Solution that Looks Perfectly Real

Its important to remember that beautiful natural plants that you will find for sale at your local nursery have been raised in optimal environments.

They grew up in climate and humidity controlled greenhouses and were tended to by experts who do what they do every day of the year. So, if you think that you can bring a fresh bushy natural plant into your "arid" work environment you are sadly mistaken. This is why so many business people have said "screw it" and have found a permanent solution in artificial plants.

Setting Up A Herb Gardening :

Herb gardening is becoming more and more popular every day, and for a good reason. Herbs have practical value, serve a purpose, and with herb gardening you can actually use your plants. When most people think of herb gardening they automatically think of cooking, but herbs are also grown for their pleasant aroma and their beauty.

One important part of herb gardening is drying the herbs for use during the winter months, especially if you plan on cooking with them. First the tops of leafy herbs have to be cut, washed, and hung up for the water to evaporate. Then, tie stems together and hang up in a paper bag to dry. After two to three weeks they must be removed; crumble the leaves, dry them out in the oven, and store in a glass jar.

One of the most common herbs gown in herb gardening is basil. "Dark Opal" and regular green basil are beautiful additions to any garden and often used as decoration. Dark Opal has light pink flowers and dark red leaves. Basil isn't just used for its looks; it is used for extra flavor in tomato juices and pastes.

Chives are very petite looking and resemble a blade of grass. They are much stronger than they look, however, and will grow well through a drought and a drought. Their toughness and sturdiness makes Chives a perfect plant for herb gardening, especially if the gardener doesn't want plants that require a lot of hassle. Chives are good used in salads, egg dishes, and many different sauces.

Mint is also very simple to grow and is good to use in mint jelly, mint juleps, lemonade, and any other kind of fruity drink. Mint is also good in herb gardening for its unique minty smell. Two herbs that appear in nearly everyone's herb garden are thyme and sage. Both of these herb gardening favorites are used for flavoring soups, chicken, turkey, pork, and other sausages. Sage is also grown sometimes for its beautiful blue spiked flowers.

Lavender is probably the best smelling herb in all of herb gardening and is often used in candles, as a perfume scent, and to improve the smell in linen chests. The light purple flowers smell absolutely lovely.

Other types of herbs often grown in herb gardening include borage (used in salads), chervil (used in egg dishes), sweet marjoram (flavors lamb, fish, salad, and soup), sesame (flavors crackers, cookies, and bread), and dill (flavors meats and used in pickles). Herb gardening allows gardeners to use herbs from their own garden for cooking, looks, and smell. Herb gardening will produce much fresher herbs with more flavor than store-bought herbs, and are a lot cheaper.

Different techniques to rid holes in the lawn :

Fill the hole with topsoil and firm it down then reseed it as if it were a bald patch. In removing the plugs of soil from your lawn this process severs roots, rhizomes and stolons. The affects of this stimulate your grass to produce new shoots and roots that will fill in the holes and increase the density of your lawn. They help aerate the soil, loosen it up, and are more beneficial than a problem. The little mounds will eventually disappear and the holes will fill in.

Manure with a high content of bedding materials may rob more nitrogen from the soil than it provides. A knife-type of tine also can be used to shatter dry soils and create many cracks in the ground that also serve for aerification. Most lawns receive a real benefit from solid, hollow and shatter tine aerification. Lawns like Barry's, struggling to grow in heavily compacted soil, may fail to thrive or die out no matter how much water and fertilizer you give them.

Winter freezing and thawing cycles and earthworm activity can help loosen slightly compacted soils. If the lawn has a thatch layer in excess of 1/2 inch, then core cultivation can be used as a preventative approach to control excess thatch build up. THATCH REMOVAL In addition to the deeper roots, the plugs of soil that are deposited on top of the ground help decompose thatch - without the risk of turf damage that power dethatchers pose. If you are doing a light fall overseeding on a fescue lawn, the holes left by the aerator make a perfect place for the seeds to fall into and germinate. While spiking will put holes in the turf, it actually compacts the soil rather than removing the core.

Aeration helps to prevent soil compaction and enables oxygen and water to get to the roots of the grass. Soak the food into the soil by watering (see second image below). Feed any new plant with plant food in the spring and fall until it reaches maturity. Because the grass clippings will be pulled into the soil and decomposed by soil organisms, you will need much less fertilizer. It is a myth that grass clippings cause thatch.

Without lawn aeration, grass roots tend to knot into each other instead of growing vertically into the soil. Due to the root's diminished contact with the soil's nutrients, lawn grass becomes vulnerable to predators like worms and insects as well as weeds like dandelions or crabgrass. Some professionals prefer to use a blend of 60% compost and 40% coarse sand because it is heavier than pure compost, it will move more easily through the grass to the soil. If the soil is saturated with water or even too dry it may lead to poor results.

Researching your vegetable garden :

Getting started with your vegetable garden is something that is going to take some planning. You need to figure out what you want to plant and how the best way to go about it is. There are special needs of all different plants and you want to make sure that you meet each one so that you are getting the best possible outcome.

Vegetable gardens are a lot of fun if you do it right. Research is the best thing that you can do so that you are giving it one hundred percent. You want to raise healthy plants so that you are better to enjoy the vegetables that you produce. Once you see how rewarding a great garden is you will want to do this year after year.

Thinking about the plants that you want and need is part of your research. What do you like to eat? If you are a beginner what is going to be the easiest for you? There are different answers or each person and it is up to you to find out what is going to be better for your garden.

Digging up the garden is the next part of the process. You should think about digging by hand or with a root tiller. This is a great machine that will give you perfect soil without the backbreaking work of a shovel. You will also be able to start planting sooner with the help of a garden tiller.

Knowing how to use a roto tiller for your garden is a must. You should read the directions on how to use it so that your safety comes first. You do not want to make a mistake and have to pay for it later.

Once you have your garden tilled and ready to plant you will then begin the gardening process. You have to take care of your plants and give them the care that they deserve. You want to make sure that the environment that you create for your vegetables is perfect so that you can have a plentiful harvest of vegetables all year round.

Other garden tools required for safe gardening :

For safe gardening, you require a number of garden tools, however these tools should be selected carefully so that you can enjoy safe gardening. If you are also growing vegetables in your garden, you will require garden tools including seeding and planting tool, harvesting tool and composite equipments generally.

For growing vegetables in your garden you will generally require a number of garden tools and details of these tools is given below.

Lawn edger for gardening:

If you want to draw a line between your lawn and sidewalk driveway, you will need a lawn edger. You need to spend money on latest lawn edger, however a simple and cheap lawn edger is sufficient for drawing a line so that you or other people can easily distinguish the pathways.

Common seeding and planting tools:

You will require seeding and planting tools only if your garden is big enough and you want to either grow vegetables or cover crop. Row seeders are helpful especially for seeding vegetables or corn crops. You can buy a row wheeler with wheels especially if your garden size is large.

These seeders are quite effective in placing seeds at equal distance and these seeders make furrow, place seeds and close furrow and all the job is done in one pass.

If you have a small gardener, hand held seeder will be the best option for you. Broadcast seeders are also available in the market for sowing seeds of cover crops, however for small gardener these are not quite useful.

Composting tools:

You can also make compost bins in your own garden or you can buy the readymade available compost bins from the market. If you find difficulty in making your own composite bins, it is better to get a readymade compost kit including slat sided cylinders.

Cages:

You can get a variety of cages in the market, however for selecting a cage for your garden, you need to look for the material and its quality. You should select a cage, which is made from a heavy-duty material so that it can withstand all seasons including rainy season.

Growing A Beautiful Lawn:

Taking proper care of a lawn is vital to the success of any landscape design. A beautiful, healthy lawn will always add to the aesthetics of the landscape, whereas a poorly maintained lawn will ruin the effect. Here are a few lawn care tips that will assist you in the maintenance of your lawn.

Choosing the Right Grass for Your Lawn

There are many types of lawn grass and these are used according to the purpose of the lawn and the climate. Consider the following points when deciding which grass you need.

What is going to be the use of the lawn? Is it to be purely ornamental or is it a play area for the children?

What budget are you able to afford for the lawn?

Do you have the amount of time required to spend on the maintenance of the lawn you choose?

What are you looking for regarding the appearance of the lawn?
How much sun or shade will your lawn have?

Is the area wet or dry?

What characteristics does your soil have?

Mowing your lawn

It is important that the lawn is regularly mowed to make sure it looks its best. However, there are some things you should consider before you start mowing. Firstly, you should not cut the lawn too severely as it can cause damage to the grass. It is also the case that a lawn that is cut too low will grow faster and in turn require more watering and therefore further maintenance. Follow these tips when mowing your lawn:

* Don't cut the grass too short. Not only does it damage the grass, it will also allow weed growth.

* The different types of grass require different cut heights, so make sure that you check this with the landscaping company. As a rule of thumb, the best height is 3-4 inches.

* It is not a good idea to remove more that a third of the leaf in one cut.

* Ensure that the mower blades are sharp before each mowing. Having a spare set of blades will help you.

* Maintain your mower, including changing the oil once or twice in the mowing season.

Watering your Lawn

As with most living things, grass is able to adapt to varying conditions. "Stressing" the grass a little, by not watering too much, is a good idea as it promotes deeper and stronger root growth. This stronger root growth will in turn ensure healthier grass growth. Consider the following points:

* Early morning is the ideal time to water your lawn as it will reach the roots before the heat of the day causes it to evaporate. Mid afternoon is not so good as the water will evaporate and if you water at night you increase the chance of diseases developing.

* Water evenly, avoiding "pooling" in areas or missing others.

* For lawns on sloping ground, take care that the water does not simply run off or it may wash down all lawn fertilizer that you might have added. You may need to water this area in shorter, more frequent bursts to be sure that the lawn has enough water.

* During hotter times in summer or in periods of drought you may have to make a decision between more regular watering or allowing the lawn to become dormant. Repeatedly allowing the grass to become dormant is not a good idea as it creates too much stress on the plant.

* A newly planted lawn will require more frequent waterings to ensure that it "beds" down well and that the roots are well established.

Push Reel Mowers, Real Benefits:

I remember as a young child, trying to mow our small front yard with a reel push mower. I remember my dad made it look so easy but as a kid, I couldn't wait for the day I could get a mower with a motor! Well, guess what, now I want a push reel mower again! And as luck would have it, there are plenty to choose from.

Yes, whether you call them push reel mowers ,push mowers, old fashioned mowers, or just manual mowers, they are making a big comeback. Many people have never seen a push reel mower, maybe on an old episode of Leave It To Beaver, but that's about it. Consider some of the benefits these push reel mowers provide.

They're Green. Gas powered lawn mowers are a major contributor to emissions. The engines on most gas mowers are very basic and contribute to pollution. Once a push reel mowers is manufactured, the pollution it produces is gone. Push reel mowers provide clean pollution free mowing. They also put out little noise pollution, just a peaceful whurr. Can you imagine mowing your front lawn at 5:00 am without disturbing your neighbors?

They're Economical. I never thought mowing my lawn was an expensive task, until gas hit $4 a gallon. I used to be able to fill my gas can with pocket change, now I use my credit card. Push reel mowers run on a renewable resource, you! Push reel mowers are available under $100 and need very little maintenance and always start on the firs pull or, push if you will. As for service, you may need to oil them here and there and sharpen the blades every so often, but you never need to change the oil or replace a broken starter rope. It has also been my experience, that most of my gas mowers have only lasted a year or to before the motor gives out. I know it is partially my fault for not changing oil, plugs an filters or draining the gas in the fall, but who remembers all of that stuff?

They give a free workout. We have spent so many years trying to make things easier for ourselves that we now have it to easy and have to pay to get a good work out. Push reel mowers will give you a nice low impact work out at your own pace.

Your lawn will love it. A good sharp reel mower will leave your lawn in beautiful shape. If you wear your old steel golf spikes, you will can aerate your lawn at the same. Speaking of golf, many golf courses use a form of a reel mower to keep their grass in top shape. You can even get bagger attachments for many of the models although, they tend to cut the grass into fairly small clippings.

While push reel mowers may not be for everyone, many smaller lawns and their owners, not to mention our planet and our economy can benefit.

Using an Antique Garden tractor is better then a conventional mower:

Antique Garden tractors were quickly used for all different facets of farm work, including digging and moving soil. The invention of the garden tractor has great increased a farmer's efficiency in taking care of a farm. Garden tractor pulling also helps to bring families and friends closer together. You and your family and/or friends get to travel to other towns (sometimes out of state), see the beautiful countryside or interesting sights along the way while on the road, meet interesting people and make new friends, dine at nice restaurants, even stay at a motel before or after a pull! Antique garden tractors are designed to use many different attachments and have the ability to mow your lawn. Antique garden tractors are designed for one thing and that thing is mow.

Lawnmowers in this range are fitted with either an electric key start system or a recoil pull start. Some people personally prefer an electric start. Lawnmowers in this range are equipped with either electric start system or a key drop draw departure. Lawn equipment stores should let you get a demonstration and test ride the mower--especially for the price you're going to pay.

Garden tractors, on the other hand, are larger machines, built on heavier duty frames and usually have more horsepower. They have larger wheels, stouter axles and transmissions, and the rear wheels are usually bolted on. Gauge wheels on the deck prevent scalping of your grass in uneven terrain. Additional features include 6-position cutting height adjustment, 4 gallon fuel tank, an 18 inch turning radius and comfortable 15 inch high back seats. Antique garden tractors with mower decks count as one item, see delivery information above for carriage charges. Optional accessories such as grass collection systems and additional mower decks may incur an additional charge as they will normally need to be shipped on a separate pallet.

Gardens with an area of around 2 to 3 acres can make use of Antique Garden Tractors for mowing. Small Antique Garden Tractors come in capacities of 4 to 6 HP. Garden tractors provide more brawn than a riding mower, and you need to do more than just cut the lawn, don't you? Garden tractors have larger engines, taller tires and rear connections for ground-engaging attachments, such as tillers and cultivators.

Safety Checks Before Lawn Mowing:

Smart lawn care means including safety checks in you lawn care and maintenance routines. Safety checks are especially done when in the mowing process. But what every homeowner should consider is the safety checks done before mowing the lawn. Pre-mowing routines are just as important as any other lawn care and maintenance procedure. In fact, safety checks before lawn mowing are recommended to avoid any future lawn problems.

The first and foremost pre-mowing check you have to do is to go over your lawn and remove any objects on the lawn surface. This includes twigs, stones, toys, and even pet droppings. One reason for this is to ensure safety for the people around when the lawn is being mowed. Lawn mowers can throw stones and other objects in various directions and can cause cuts, injuries, and maybe even broken bones.

Another reason to clear up the lawn is to avoid damage to the lawn mower. The lawn mower blades and other parts might get damaged because of stuck stones or other hard objects.

Clearing up the leaves or pet droppings from your lawn may not seem all that important because they are not hard objects and will not cause considerable damage to either you or the lawn mower. However, they will be scattered on your lawn by the lawn mower weight. It could then cause lumps or bumps on the lawn surface, which will block the penetration of sunlight. It could be the reason for the grass underneath to die or wither.

You should also check for waterlogged turfs or parts on the lawn surfaces. They will be compacted by the weight of the lawn mower and will be further pressed down. The outcome of this will be ugly depressions, markings, and tracks on your lawn.

Brushing your lawn with a besom broom is also a good idea. The broom will prevent the grass from lying flat and help you cut them thoroughly as you mow them. Brushing the lawn will also disperse any worm casts that may be there on the lawn surface. It can also remove and remaining dew from the grass, which is important because mowing the grass when wet is not good for your lawn.

Before mowing your lawn, you also have to plan on which direction you want your stripes to go. It is recommended that you aim to make the stripes at right angles to the stripes you created on your previous mowing. This change in the stripe directions helps avoid washboarding.

The last task for a homeowner to do before mowing the lawn is to check the lawn mower itself. This is to ensure that the lawn mower is up for the job ahead of it. For those using a petrol mower, check to see if there is enough petrol in the tank. Check other parts of the lawn mower and see that all parts are not broken or in danger of being broken when used. The lawn mower blades, which are practically the most important part of the lawn mower, should also be checked. Don't forget to set them to the correct height, as the length of the grass cut is a factor in the growth and health of the lawn.

These safety checks should be a normal routine for every homeowner who mows their lawn. Aside from preventing any accidents, these checks before lawn mowing also helps to provide your home a healthy and green lawn.

Differences in opinion- stories from the garden :

Mr John Smith
Every time we pass a gardening centre, without fail my wife will want to pull over to have a look. I know that sometimes she denies it but I can see that familiar expression etching itself into her face as we trundle past, her eyes clouding over as she imagines the possibilities of the gems inside, lying in wait to be bought and given a loving home.

I don't understand what all the fuss is about. Usually I can't be persuaded past the car park. It's not that I am an impatient man, far from it! In actual fact I have sat for blooming ages staring at glass houses full of leaves and sheds advertising deals on begonias and petunias. I would go in with her you see but on entering such establishments my wife inexplicably exits the real world and transcends into another one that I like to call, 'la la land.' Imagine the final ping that a microwave gives out to signal it has finished re-heating your food, it's just like flicking a switch and she's gone, lost to the world.

All I know about gardening is how to rake the lawn to get rid of the leaves and how to hang up flower baskets in the correct positions i.e. not upside down. All I have to do is run the sprinkler occasionally in the summer, push the lawn mower up and down the lawn a few times every now and again, hose the driveway and throw out grass cuttings. I am not supposed to throw away the grass cuttings because Iris likes to compost them but I forget most of the time and they usually go right into the bin. I don't think she ever notices though.

Sometimes I even catch her talking to the plants when she thinks that I am not looking. I will be on my way to the kitchen to make a cup of tea and there she will be, sat in the conservatory asking chrysanthemum how he is feeling this afternoon and stroking his little yellow leaves. She never strokes my leaves like that.

Mrs Iris Smith
I admit that it's true I am passionate about my plants. I don't think that I am one of those 'extreme' gardeners but surely there is nothing wrong with enjoying the nurturing of another living thing is there? I didn't think so, especially not if it looks pretty in your garden once you have finished.

I have always been one for aesthetics myself, I know John isn't your typical tool belt, garden shed man but I would appreciate it if just for once he would get off his side and give me some help with the heavier garden tools.

It doesn't seem fair that I do all the real hard work when all John does is mow the lawn once in a blue moon. Even when he does do that he always manages to chuck the grass trimmings in the garbage. He thinks I don't notice but I just can't be bothered to keep reminding him every time. He doesn't listen to a thing I say anyway, a complete cloth ears I swear. I have actually started to talk to the plants because they're more attentive. Sometimes I wait till I know he can see me, hoping he will get the hint but it hasn't worked.

I do get quite frustrated in the summer when I am on my hands and knees in the soil trimming the borders or tinkering with my garden tools whilst John sits on the sun lounger with the hosepipe in his hand 'cleaning' the drive. I am going to make a better attempt to introduce John to the joys of gardening. He has been spending rather a lot of time on the internet recently so I have sneakily set his home page to the gardening section on blackanddecker.co.uk to stimulate his imagination. Maybe a few garden power tools will get him going? Not exactly subtle I know but it's my last hope.

My mum always told me I should have married a man who was good in the garden. 'A man who knows how to look after his plants,' she told me 'knows how to look after his woman.'

Keeping Your Lawn Looking Good:

Some things to consider when wanting to improve the appearance of your lawn are where you are located, what type of grass is most prevalent, what products you apply or have been applied to your lawn such as insecticides, fungicides, or herbicides, whether your lawn has been fertilized and how often to you water or irrigate your lawn. Others include if you have re-seeded or recently added sod, have had soil tests done on your lawn, and at what height the lawn is mowed and how often. Problems occurring in your lawn might be too much shade, standing water, insects or pests, weeds, moss, rocks, and heavy traffic. If the problem is weeds, determine what type of weeds invade your lawn and how long have you noticed the problem.

When solving a specific problem to make your lawn more beautiful and healthy, decide whether you want to use a synthetic or an organic solution. Take into consideration past efforts to solve the problem, if there were any.

Grass should be mowed at the highest setting or at 3 inches, and each time the grass is mowed it should be cut down about one third of its height. This will give you a good idea of how often you should mow your lawn. Some warm weather grasses such as Bermuda centipede and bentgrass that grow densely need to be mowed at lower mower settings. Make sure to water your lawn deeply and infrequently. Most lawns do best with one inch of water per week. It is best to water all at once instead of over several days. Of course, how much rain the lawn has received must be taken into consideration too.

Because mulching returns nutrients to the lawn, as well as organic matter, it is preferred to mulch your lawn instead of bagging the grass clippings. Mulch also helps to retain water. Sometimes it may be helpful to bag if you have many weeds in which case you will want to get rid of the weed seeds. If your grass has gotten extra long between mowings, it is better to bag also not to create a messy looking lawn. You want your lawn to be free of thatch. Thatch is caused by the grass roots growing too near the surface. By helping with the decomposition process, mulching helps to deter thatch. Grass clippings decompose very guickly because of their high water content.

You may find there are bumpy spots in your lawn while mowing. They can be leveled. One way is to gradually spread about a one quarter inch layer of topsoil or sand in the low spots. Avoid smothering the grass when you do this. If you are concerned about this, then try lifting up the sod and placing dirt underneath and then replacing the sod back making sure not to disturb too many roots in the process. Water the area after this is done.

Aerating your lawn from time to time is a good thing. It improves growth. Core aeration is preferred over spike because it removes small cores of dirt to ease compaction. Spike aeration can compress some types of soil adding to compaction issues. However, if you have grainy or sandy soil, spike aeration is better to use.

When over seeding your lawn, apply a pre-emergent to prevent germination for weed seed germination and allow for grass seed germination. A newer pre-emergent under the name Tupersan is a selective pre-emergent for this purpose.

How to Care For Your Lawn:

Having a great looking lawn adds to the appearance and appeal of your house. For some people the look of the lawn in front of the house makes or breaks the look of your house. To some extent this is true. Curb appeal is very important. If you don't know how to care for your lawn, you might just give up or pay a great deal of money to have someone else do it for you. There is no need to pay a great deal of money to have a great looking lawn just by following these simple lawn care tips.

The key to a great looking lawn is proper mowing. There is a right and a wrong way to mow your grass. When you first lay grass, experts recommend that you leave it until it grows above your ankles before you mow it. This will give your grass time to take root and for the pieces to grow together. Cutting too soon will show the seams and the grass may die. When you do mow your grass from the first time on you should always keep the blade of the mower two and a half to three inches high, off the ground. Mowing the grass too soon after it starts to grow weakens the roots system. Gardening experts say that you should only remove two thirds of the grass blade.

Each time you mow your grass and especially for the first couple of times, you should mow in different directions and you should alter the pattern each time. For example if you decide that you are going to mow your grass in a circle pattern then do it opposite directions each time, the first time clockwise and the second time counter clockwise and so on. While maintaining the appearance of your grass you are also reducing soil compaction and turf wear from the wheels.

In order to mow your lawn correctly you need to make sure that you have sharpened your blades frequently. A general rule of thumb amongst gardening experts is to sharpen the blades at least once a year. While you may be able to leave it longer on newer lawn mowers if your mower is not used frequently you cannot do this on older mowers. When the blades are not sharp the grass will look choppy and uneven. This is because the blades are not really cutting the grass but rather they are tearing it.

Most of the mowers that you buy today will come with a bag attached that will allow you to collect the cut grass as you mow it so you don't have to rake it up after. While this saves time it is not always a good idea for your grass. When cutting freshly lain grass you should always keep your blade high and then allow the cut grass to go back into the grass and the soil. This will fill in any open spots and it will help to improve the look and feel of your grass.