Lawn care blog
Just because Old Man Winter has punched a travel ticket back to the Arctic Circle does not mean you cannot prepare your garden for spring. In fact, now is a good time to take advantage of the dry weather, before spring’s onslaught of rain dampens your garden. From homeowners that were born with a green thumb to the casual gardener who tends to garden soil on weekends, you can follow five tips right now that prepare your garden for spring.
Mulch about Everything Mulching a garden creates an attractive landscape that draws praise from your neighbors. However, mulching your garden produces several other benefits that ensure a lush garden grows in early spring. Soil and plants left unprotected during winter because of the absence of a thick layer of mulch causes the loss of moisture during the driest time of the year. A thick layer of mulch also prevents frost from wreaking havoc on the fertile topsoil you need for growing plants and vegetables. Bulb Location Matters Another strategy for fending off winter frost is to place bulbs in locations that limit exposure to harmful frost. Experienced gardeners place bulbs in the darkest location of a garden to allow the bulbs to become acclimated to cooler temperatures long before frost creeps into the soil Spring Cleaning Before Winter To create a healthy garden for spring, homeowners must clear leaves and other debris from topsoil. Collect leaves for a compost pile that produce the nutrients you need to feed the topsoil over the course of the winter season. Clean topsoil allows the three vital nutrients of nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium to enrich topsoil. Remove Weeds By removing weed in your garden before the onset of winter, you create topsoil that does not sprout weeds when the weather warms up in spring. Weeds choke the life out of topsoil by preventing nutrients from moving deep into the ground to enrich plant and vegetable roots. Winter Planting It sounds strange, but make sure to plant tulip and winter wildflower seeds before winter starts to enjoy a vibrant garden full of blossoming plants in time for spring. Plant the seeds in small plots of soil inside of your home, preferably near a window that takes advantage of the winter location of the sun. Homeowners that treat gardening as a year long job typically enjoy healthier gardens than the gardens grown by homeowners that take the winter off. Take advantage of the down time winter weather causes by getting a head start on spring gardening.
0 Comments
Well here we are again, it's November and the leaves have fallen again. This will make my lawn look a bit rugged and messed up because I expect the leaves to continue falling until at least the end of November. However, this is a different year for us at home. We will not do a thing about the leaves. We will let them be. Why is this? you ask.... Simple. We'll just use the leave as mulch in our garden. This, we believe is going to do not only the county a good turn because they will not have to spend money carting the leaves away, but the environment too because there will be no emissions let off because of our leaves. Did you know that blowing leaves alone produces noise that rises up to 77dB of noise, 15dB more than the normal 60dB of the usual outdoor hubbub? In addition, blowing leaves will provoke the allergens, putting allergic people in a compromising position. Let the leaves be, right there on the ground - Here is why You will be doing the toads, centipedes, worms and other organisms that build their homes in different layers of leaves some good. The layers of leaves are also a good source of food for these organisms as the National Wildlife Federation says. The decomposing leaves provide the best soil nourishment and before they decompose, they act as good mulch for the plants in your garden. Can you use the autumn leaves? Yes
For lawn mowing done in an efficient way, you can’t go past the Draper 03468 1100W Hover lawn mower for an unbeatable cost and a convenient size. Coming in a sleek and thin style, this lawn mower is perfect for small sized gardens and yards with small patches or strips of grass. It has a 340mm cutting width and three cutting heights, so it is able to cut all different lengths of grass. The slim design makes it easy to access grass growing against walls or pavers and curbs.
The lightweight design of this lawn mower makes it easy to carry and transport around. It also features a carrying handle so you can easily pick it up and carry it to where you need to mow. The safety switch means you won’t need to worry about accidently starting the motor while carrying it. This lawn mower is very easy to store as it folds down and can lean against the wall, therefore not taking up much space at all. Pros -Cost efficient-Space effective and easy to store -Carrying handle-Ideal for small yards Cons -Not suitable for larger yards-Less power than a bigger mower -No grass collection abilities If you are in the market for a quick snip of your grass and don’t want anything that takes up too much space, then you have found your perfect lawn mower in the Draper Hover. This is a basic, no frills lawn mower that is ideal for small sized gardens that just need a trim every now and then. Keep in mind that this mower does not have a powerful engine and does not have grass collection capabilities so it is not suitable for bigger yards. It is a very cheap solution if you don’t need to mow your grass often and it is very reliable and sturdy. With free delivery in the UK, this can be the perfect investment for your small garden. When your hedge is well trimmed and looking fresh, it really adds invaluable aesthetic character to your home. While hedge trimming and maintenance can seem tedious and burdensome work, there are some things you can do to reduce the effort and get better results. Try these top five tips to get the perfect cut next time you get those shears out of the garden shed. Timing is everything. The summer time is the best time to cut your hedge. Certain types of hedges will only need one annual summer cut, but others like conifer hedges will need to be trimmed during the whole season. Evergreen hedges should be cut two or three times in late spring and deciduous hedges should be cut just once in late summer. Cut straight for best results Hedges look best when they have a straight and even cut. To achieve this, set up a string line between poles on either side of the hedge. First, cut the top of the hedge about a centimetre below the final cut. Move the string slightly towards the middle of the hedge to make a mark where you want to cut the hedge’s side. Cutting technique To trim your hedge effectively, you need to pay attention to the way you are cutting. Use your dominant hand on the front handle and line it up with your eye. You should start cutting from the base of the hedge and move up, paying attention to the shape of the hedge as you go. Safety first You need to be aware of your safety when you are cutting hedges. This means wearing protective gear, such as a plastic mask to protect your eyes from falling twigs as well as gloves so that your hands don’t get blisters. Also wear a long sleeve top that is tight fitting so your arms don’t get scratches. Make sure you choose the right weather conditions to trim your hedge so that the ground isn’t slippery or wet from rain. If you are using a ladder, ensure the ladder has a platform or stabiliser and ideally have someone else around to hold the ladder when you are on it. Caring for your hedge When you are trimming your hedge, it is also an ideal opportunity to check the health of the hedge. It is important to get for fungal diseases on any branches or leaves on the hedge. Make sure you collect clippings from around the base of your hedge once you are done trimming. Top of the fertilizer around the base and give your hedge plenty of water after the trim is finished. Mulch and compost are popular terms in gardening and in the maintenance of plants. Many confuse these two by using mulch in place of compost and vice versa. However, there is a distinct difference between the two.
Mulch is anything that is used to cover the soil around plants. There are two types of mulch: organic and inorganic. Organic mulch (for example saw dust and straw) decomposes while the inorganic variety (for instance polythene paper and gravel) does not. Compost on the other hand is mixed with natural soil to improve its fertility. It is very easy to make since its components are easily accessible. For example, kitchen waste is a good component for a compost pile. When you decide to make compost, make sure the pile of waste is turned frequently and kept moist to ensure even decomposition of the organic waste used to make it. If you do not have time to make your own compost, you can buy it at your local garden centre or DIY shop. The Role of Mulch and Compost Mulch and compost are both good for gardening, but mulch specifically provides insulation to the soil, and it prevents the soil from losing its moisture through evaporation. Mulch also suppresses the growth of weeds. Mulch also retains water from evaporation making it available to plants, especially during dry seasons. When it decomposes, it acts as manure to the soil, consequently improving soil fertility. Compost on the other hand makes hard soil easier to work with by breaking it down. It also helps in improving soil fertility since it contains nutrients. Compost loosens hard clay soil, thus making it more porous and easier to till. It also improves the drainage of sandy soil. What to Consider When Using Mulch and Compost When you decide to use mulch, remember to consider the leaf drop. In other words if you are going be sweeping the surface you consider mulching, let the mulch be fine not dense. This is because as you use the rake to sweep you might actually dig up the mulch by mistake. The rake easily passes through finely mulched surface. Otherwise, use gravel or stone as they are not affected by leaf blowers. Apply mulch around the plant; but do not put it on the trunk of whichever plants you are mulching. Remember, mulch retains moisture, thus applying it on the trunk will provide a good environment for fungal diseases, which will ultimately harm the plant. As you make your own compost, avoid including weeds or their seeds in it. The seeds will grow into weeds when you apply the compost in your garden. Obviously weeds are not good for the growth of plants, they are in affect plants growing where they are not supposed to grow. Apply mulch on the surface after getting rid of weeds. Consider applying thick mulch in dry seasons, but remember mulch can be used any time in whatever season. Compost is mixed with soil and it is good when working on a new bed. You can also use it when planting. Good luck mulching and composting! One day, I passed by a farm where I was scheduled to do some work, and unfortunately another labourer had had an accident with a chainsaw, what I saw made my blood go cold, chilled even! I remembered this scene when I looked at the chainsaw injuries statistics for every year, which amount to a figure close to 150 people. No one can overemphasize the need for safety when using a chainsaw.
Many people think that most timber related accidents can only occur when trees crash during felling, or when split by lightning. No one seems to remember that chainsaws pose a serious risk and that proper training for handling is paramount. If you have a chainsaw, you know it is the perfect workhorse for you, but then, if mishandled, it does have serious risks to it. Like I saw with this chap... It was nasty and it really brought gory images to my mind. With one foot on the log that he was splitting, he was actually cutting in the direction of his foot. I should also mention that the only protective clothing he was wearing was rubber wellingtons(!) and an overall. The HSA says that you should only use a chainsaw if you are very competent and if you have the right protective clothing. If you lack one or either of this two requirements, then you are mandated to use a professional chainsaw services provider. This means that you should fill a risk assessment form before you can start working with the chainsaw. This will make you alert as to the dangers that you face. If you live on a farm, you may regularly use a chainsaw and therefore it is wise to take a training course (there are many available). This will again make you competent to use a chainsaw. Protective clothes What should you wear when you are getting ready to use the chainsaw? Protective clothing, definitely. It is advisable to do this even for the smallest task that you intend to perform with the chainsaw. Your trainer will of course let you know about that. Note that while personal protective equipment may prevent injuries, some of the more profound ones like cuts from the chainsaw or falling trees may not be prevented by PPE. You should use protective clothing and gear such as:
Precautions Never work alone. You need someone watching you. And most importantly, have a first aid kit handy because even minor injuries need attention. If you have insurance, find out whether the chainsaw is included. If it is, the insurer will require that you always have a person present, always wear full protective gear, and that you must take a chainsaw usage course. Is all of the above important? Yes it is very important. Anything to keep you safe! That way, your use of a chainsaw will not pose any threat to other people or to yourself. http://www.familyhandyman.com/tools/power-tools/using-a-chain-saw-safely/view-allhas more information on how to use chainsaws safely and has the contact information for providers who offer chainsaw training. Safety checks for the chainsaw Don't start using the chainsaw blindly. Make sure that all of the following are in place: The on/off switch should be clearly visible
the chain brake Dead handle throttle for safety • Anti vibration mounts • Exhaust pipe that should be facing away from the operator, if you are using a gas petrol powered chainsaw • Chain cover for storage and transportation • A full toolbox for preventative maintenance and repairs I recently read a tweet from a pal who claimed he wished he could have a robot lawn mower. It should be a surprise for him when he learns that some three brothers have already come up with that magnificent technology.
Dan, David and Dough Leonard got an outstanding award at Provo, Utahh’s StartFEST Gigabit Hackathon on 5 September. The award was presented by Google Fiber and DevMountain. During the occasion that lasted the whole day, Doug, Dan and David all who are software engineers, proudly showed off their invention.The components of the invention were taken from a Ryobi electric lawn mower, Raspberry Pi and some unique wheels. A smart phone was used to direct the mower. Provo’s Google Gigabit Fiber application was in the Smartphone and through the phone camera it ensured that nothing was in the way of the mower as it moved. The machine worked in such a way that it followed the route instructions they gave the Raspberry Pi through the chat room. So in essence the instructions move the lawn mower in the direction that you tell it to. Since they created the mower in just 24 hours, they are still doing a lot to improve it. According to Doug Leonard, they need to work out a way for it to charge itself. They also need to ensure that it won’t pursue the neighborhood dogs! Once they get the logic sorted, then its production will (hopefully) go mainstream. The siblings have already given a step-by-step account of how they created it. It is a great practical home project that you can try if you have the skills and access to the technology. Listen up folks because this one is important at this time of year. Autumn is a beautiful time, don't get me wrong, the reds, oranges, and yellows that fill the view in every direction are a sight to behold. You might not give a second thought to the leaves that lay scattered across your lawn, but whether they're from an oak, sycamore, ash, or any other tree, they can actually cause damage to the grass.
In effect what happens is that if left to their own devices the leaves decompose thereby promoting the growth of harmful mould, not only that, but they also stop water from soaking into the ground and block sunlight, thereby starving the grass out of two vital resources that it needs to stay healthy. If you have a small and relatively flat garden then using a rake is the ideal method for clearing the leaves off the lawn and out of harms way. If the problem exists on a bigger scale then there are two more powerful and less tiring methods of leaf clean up you can employ. The first is to use a mulching lawn mower to chop the leaves up so that not only are they reduced in size thereby preventing the blocking of water and sunlight, but they also break down in a manageble way that actually rest When conditions get a bit wetter as they are starting to at this time of year, you might notice moss beginning to emerge on your lawn, or indeed elsewhere in your garden. Now, let's be clear on this, there are worse afflictions to be faced with in terms of the overall damage that moss will do, but it can none the less be a headache to be faced with. Therefore it's worth knowing exactly to do (if anything) should the dreaded soggy green carpet make an appearance.
What makes my garden more prone to moss? The answer(s) to this question are logical when you think about it. Basically if your lawn is either:
then it stands to reason that you might come across moss in your garden, as moss favours dark damp conditions. So, if your garden is like that for the best part of the year, then when the cold strikes you're open to a double whammy of moss infiltration. How do I protect my garden from moss? Short of resorting to chemical methods to kill moss, you can actually be more effective by preventing the moss, or at least the amount of moss, from growing. To do this consider where the weaknesses in your garden lay, and try to improve on them. This might mean:
It's getting to that time of year when the mower gets put away, and the leaf blower is dusted off, but let's have a little look at what leaf blowers are all about and how to use them safely.
Introduction Here I'm going to demonstrate to you the best possible approach if youi plan to use a leaf blower, and in addition the various sorts of leaf blower and variety of different tasks that leaf blowers aere able to perform. Having read this, and your manufacturer supplied manuals, you should fully understand how to utilize a leaf blower all the more securely and politely to help make life for both yourself and those around you more pleasant. Why do we utilize leaf blowers? Leaf blowers have been around since the 70s and since their introduction have quickly turned into a vital time and work saveing device for professional and amatuer gardeners alike. Leaf blowers are greatly effective for cleaning leaves and other rubbish from paths, walkways, parking spaces, tennis courts, parks and a whole host of other oudoor locations. a leaf blower is more time and cost effective than a rake, broom or pair of hands. Leaf blowers also clean areas covered in mulch or wood chuppings effectively as they don't disturb the ground in the way that a rake might. What do leaf blowers do? You can utilize a leaf blower to: Vacuum organic matter Seperate tangled up grass Clean areas such as driveways and paths Clean large tools and equipment such as those used in agriculture Shift light dustings of snow Different types of leaf blowers There are two types of leaf blower besides the different types of power source: those held by hand and those worn on the back. Both are normally fueled by either a petrol engine. Some handheld blowers are also able to both blow and vacuum matter. There are a whole variety of different hand held leaf blowers, and most work on the same basic principles whether powered by an electric motor or a petrol engine. Crucially, compared to leafblowers from say 20 years ago, today's leaf blowers are far more effieicent and quiet. Using a leaf blower Before you get started with your leaf blower, read the manufacturers instructions. On the off chance that you don't have the instructions, you can should have no issue obtaining one from the manufacturer or supplier. Also, these days many manufacturers have them in PDF form online. You have to know how the leaf blower functions and how to utilize it safely before you begin work. General rules outside of the manufacturers guides:
Ensure you are always stood on a flat level surface during operation - no standing on stools or ladders Appropriate clothing
|
AuthorHi I'm a lawn and gardening enthusiast, here to share my experience and advice. Archives
May 2017
Categories |