My Lawn Care

By Jon Bassfarm

One of the best parts of being a homeowner is actually "owning" a piece of land. No matter how big or how small, this piece of land is yours to do with what you please. The Native American ideal of land stewardship is a fantastic one, the idea that none truly own the land, but should feel encouraged to diligently keep the land as merely stewards of it. If you think of yourself as a steward of the land you inhabit, you will accept and take on willingly, the responsibility of maintaining it, protecting it, and keeping it looking its best. Is this a too high-falooting ideal when discussing your lawn, your very own patch of green? Perhaps so, but if thought of in this manner, maybe you'd be more inclined to treating it better and looking out for its best interest.

In the Middle Ages, no one groomed or mowed their lawns, obviously. Lawns were kept as special green spaces for enjoyment, yet were not bridled, restrained, and hacked, to look like the British Open's long greens. Lawns were mostly kept under control by use; by being trampled by horses, sporting activities, and the like, allowing them to grow a little longer, a little healthier, and greener, without the introduction of chemicals or fertilizer. Could perhaps a secret to a greener lawn be letting it grow longer between cuttings? Yes, it very well could. I'm not suggesting you let your lawn look like "Little House on the Prairie", mind you. Letting it grow a little longer between cuttings and setting your lawn mower to its highest setting can make a world of difference in keeping a healthier lawn. The longer blades of grass can help you be certain that the root systems of your lawn are flourishing below the soil with the roots being themselves longer and better established as well. Longer blades mean more surface area for photosynthesis to take place, allowing more light to be collected, to promote a healthier, more lush look in appearance as well as promoting the ability to stave off pesky weeds. Instead of watering your grass daily, extend your sprinkler or hose nozzle from your hose reel for longer, deeper watering sessions. Apply around one inch of water to your lawn once every mowing cycle to ensure proper immersion and absorption. When mowing, you should really only ever take a third of your grass' height off, in order to ensure healthy growth. Mowing once every ten days will save you quite a few mowings over the year, allowing you to spend more time with your family, and less money on gas (or electricity) to mow your lawn.

Let's all let our lawns grow in healthier ways by simply letting our lawns grow more!

About the author: Jon Bassfarm is an Internet content writer who enjoys researching and writing about many subjects including hose reel, landscaping, and much more.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

By Jon Bassfarm

Flowers do so much to beautify the front of your house, the border of a parking strip or driveway, and brighten up a shared public garden. More than any other flower, the rose possesses a beauty and aroma that makes it a favorite among professional gardeners, hobbyists, and admirers alike. A garden, bounteous with beautiful roses is sure to catch the eyes of all neighbors, young and old, beckoning them to walk by again and again, enjoying the beauty and smells as they emanate from its borders. There are secrets to growing the fullest, most exquisite roses imaginable, including picking the ones that are the best suited for particular climates and geographical locations.

Many who admire roses from afar would be surprised to find out just how easy growing roses of their own can be. Many types of roses are especially hearty and grow abundantly with little upkeep. Floribundas are among the easiest to grow and tend. Producing large clusters of attractive blooms late into the fall, these roses do well as broad landscaping, expanding easily to cover large areas. If low and expansive growth is not what you desire, many enjoy the climbers, climbing varieties of roses. These types of roses grow best on a trellis or really any structure that strikes your fancy. Climbers can be trained to grow on an antique bicycle frame if you so desire. Climbers are especially attractive to passersby as they greet them at eye (nose) level with sweet smells and alluring petals.

If a small space or border is in need of some brightening, you may want to choose miniature roses. These types are made to grow to a small height of less than a foot, allowing them to be ideal for rockeries or lining walkways or paths. If you have a shed or outbuilding that needs brightening up, creeping roses can do the job. They do well in cooler climates and are easily trained to creep along your garden wall or up the side of your garage. By placing objects in their way and guiding them, a very natural look of creeping landscaping can be achieved and add to a wild, natural looking garden motif.

As a rule, roses should be planted after winter temperatures arrive and after chances of frost or snow has past. Roses enjoy ample sunlight each day, between six to eight hours, and enjoy routine watering sessions, so make sure the garden hose can extend from your hose reel to your plantings. Having found your special types of roses, get to planting and next season, you will reap the odoriferous rewards of a rose-filled garden!

About the author: Jon Bassfarm is an internet content writer who enjoys researching and writing about many subjects including hose reels. Please visit http://www.roboreel.com for more information.

Article Source: Ezinearticles.com

By Chris Rudolph

There are many different sources where you can find landscaping ideas free. The first and most obvious is the internet. Thousands of websites exist where you can find gardening and landscaping ideas. Free information is easy to locate simply by searching on Google for 'free landscaping ideas' or similar. You could also try landscaping blogs and forums where authors are always adding new ideas.

You can also find free landscaping ideas in books which you may already have at home or that you can borrow from friends or family. They don't necessarily need to be landscaping or gardening books, but any that have pictures that inspire you. You can also look in magazines for ideas. Many newspapers also have a gardening section which may prove useful.Another simple way to get new landscaping ideas is to explore your local area. Look in friend's gardens, local parks and buildings for garden design ideas. It's amazing what you can pick up on a morning walk.

Another great place to go for landscaping ideas free is your local garden centre. Many garden centres have landscaped areas showing off the plants and materials that they sell. Before you think about installing a new landscaping feature, make sure you check that it will fit and also look right in your garden! Make a list of your ideas and then carefully consider which will work best. You should start by taking a walk around your garden in order to get a good sense of what can be achieved. Check how good the drainage is and also check out the slopes and levels of your garden. Finally draw a plan to check that everything will fit.

If you are new to garden landscaping, before you start work take a little extra time to learn the basics in order to implement your landscaping ideas. Free advice is often available from friends and family. This is imperative if you have never done any work like this before.

Chris Rudolph is a keen gardener and blogger. Obtain a free landscaping ideas ebook when you visit his landscaping ideas blog.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com